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Interconnection of the Grapevine Canyon Wind Project, Coconino County, AZ, 36689-36691 [E9-17700]Download as PDF
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 141 (Friday, July 24, 2009)] [Notices] [Pages 36689-36691] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E9-17700] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration Interconnection of the Grapevine Canyon Wind Project, Coconino County, AZ AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report and Conduct Scoping Meetings; Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of the DOE, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the interconnection of the Grapevine Canyon Wind Project (Project) in Coconino County, near Flagstaff, Arizona. Foresight Flying M, LLC (Foresight) has applied to Western to interconnect the proposed Project to Western's power transmission system on its Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak Transmission Line. Western is issuing this notice to inform the public and interested parties about Western's intent to prepare an EIS, conduct a public scoping process, and invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, alternatives, and other issues to be addressed in the EIS. The EIS will address Western's Federal action of interconnecting the proposed Project to Western's transmission system and making any necessary modifications to Western facilities to accommodate the interconnection. The EIS will also review the potential environmental impacts of constructing, operating, and maintaining Foresight's wind generation facility and associated facilities, including access roads, collection and feeder lines, step-up substation, communications system, transmission tie-line, and switchyard. DATES: The public scoping period begins with the publication of this notice and closes on August 28, 2009. Public scoping meetings will be held on August 10 and 11, 2009. ADDRESSES: Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for scoping meeting locations. Written comments on the scope of the EIS should be addressed to Ms. Mary Barger, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Desert Southwest Region, P.O. Box 6457, 615 S. 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85005 or email@example.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Mary Barger, NEPA Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, Desert Southwest Region, P.O. Box 6457, 615 S. 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85005, telephone (602) 605-2524, fax (602) 605-2630, or e-mail email@example.com. For general information on DOE's NEPA review procedures or status of a NEPA review, contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom, Director of NEPA Policy and Compliance, GC-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585, telephone (202) 586-4600 or (800) 472-2756. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western, an agency within DOE, markets Federal hydroelectric power to preference customers, as specified by law. These customers include municipalities, cooperatives, irrigation districts, Federal and State agencies, and Native American tribes. Western's service territory covers 15 western states, including Arizona. Western owns and operates more than 17,000 miles of high- voltage transmission lines. Foresight has applied to Western to interconnect the proposed Project at a new switchyard on Western's Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak Transmission Line. Western offers capacity on its transmission system to deliver electricity, when such capacity is available, under Western's Open Access Transmission Service Tariff. Foresight also has applied to the U.S. Forest Service for a permit to build, operate, and maintain a portion of the proposed project on Coconino National Forest land. Additionally, Foresight is subject to State and local approvals prior to building the proposed Project, including the following: a Certificate of [[Page 36690]] Environmental Compatibility from the Arizona Corporate Commission, right of way from the Arizona State Land Department, and a Conditional Use Permit from Coconino County. Project Description Foresight proposes to construct a wind energy generation project up to 500 megawatts (MW). It would occupy approximately 55 square miles in Coconino County, Arizona. The wind generation component of the proposed Project would be located about 22 miles southeast of Flagstaff and about18 miles south of the Twin Arrows Interstate-40 interchange. It would be located within the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland Ecozone of the Colorado Plateau Semi-Desert Province in the northeastern quarter of Arizona. The area has primarily pinyon-juniper and desert scrub vegetation types. The current land use is agricultural, primarily livestock grazing. Each wind turbine would involve the disturbance of about 1.0 to 1.6 acres. The wind generation component of the proposed Project would be constructed on private lands and land administered by the Arizona State Land Department. The proposed Project would generate electricity from wind turbine generators rated at 1.5 to 3.0 MW. Final turbine selection and size is subject to further wind analysis, and will determine the number of turbines. Each turbine would have three blades that would revolve at less than approximately 18 revolutions per minute. Each blade would measure 125 to 185 feet long. The single pole structures supporting each of the turbines would be up to 325 feet high and approximately 20 feet in diameter at the base. Each turbine structure would be up to approximately 500 feet high, when a blade is in the 12 o'clock position. Each would be installed on a concrete base, and would have a pad-mounted transformer near the base. Lighting would be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements. There would be an all-weather service road constructed to each turbine location. The wind turbines would be connected by an electrical collection system, power collection circuits, and a communications network. This collection system would be buried, where feasible, in areas without major subsurface obstructions. Foresight would site the wind turbine generators to optimize wind and land resources in the area while minimizing environmental impacts to the extent practicable. Foresight would comply with local zoning requirements, including setbacks from residences, roads, and existing transmission and distribution lines. Foresight would begin construction on the proposed Project approximately fall 2010. The life of the proposed Project is anticipated to be a minimum of 30 years. To support delivery of the power generated by the Project, Foresight proposes to build a new 345-kV transmission tie-line, approximately 9 miles in length, to a new 345-kV switchyard, located immediately adjacent to Western's existing Glen Canyon-Pinnacle Peak Transmission Line. The transmission tie-line would cross lands administered by Coconino National Forest. The right-of-way for the transmission line would be about 8.5 miles in length by 200 feet wide, for a total disturbance area of about 206 acres. The physical area affected by the new switchyard would be about 10 acres. The proposed Project area would be accessed by an existing road about 18 miles in length that would require some realignment for construction activities. Proposed Agency Action and Alternatives Western's proposed action is to interconnect the proposed Project to Western's transmission system. The U.S. Forest Service's proposed action is to grant a permit for the transmission line to cross Federal lands and for associated road improvements. Any additional action alternatives identified will be analyzed in the EIS. Western will also consider the no-action alternative in the EIS. Under the no-action alternative Western would not interconnect and/or the U.S. Forest Service would not issue a permit. Agency Responsibilities Because interconnection of the proposed Project would incorporate a major new generation resource into Western's power transmission system, Western has determined that an EIS is required under DOE NEPA implementing procedures, 10 CFR part 1021, subpart D, Appendix D, class of action D6. Western will be the lead Federal agency for preparing the EIS, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.5. The proposed Project includes construction of a tie-line across Coconino National Forest land, for which the U.S. Forest Service has jurisdiction and has agreed to be a cooperating agency for preparation of the EIS. Western will invite other Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies with jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to environmental issues to be cooperating agencies on the EIS, as defined at 40 CFR 1501.6. Such agencies may also make a request to Western to be a cooperating agency by contacting Ms. Barger at the address listed above in the ADDRESSES section. The proposed Project may affect floodplains or wetlands. This notice also serves as notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action, in accordance with 10 CFR part 1022. Environmental Issues This notice is to inform agencies and the public of Western's intent to prepare an EIS and solicit comments and suggestions for consideration in the EIS. To help the public frame its comments, the following list contains potential environmental issues preliminarily identified for analysis in the EIS: 1. Impacts on protected, threatened, endangered, or sensitive species of animals or plants. 2. Impacts on avian and bat species. 3. Impacts on land use, recreation, and transportation. 4. Impacts on cultural or historic resources and tribal values. 5. Impacts on human health and safety. 6. Impacts on air, soil, and water resources (including air quality and surface water impacts). 7. Visual impacts. 8. Socioeconomic impacts and disproportionately high and adverse impacts to minority and low-income populations. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to imply any predetermination of impacts. Western invites interested parties to suggest specific issues within these general categories, or other issues not included above, to be considered in the EIS. Public Participation The EIS process includes a public scoping period; public review and hearings on the draft EIS; publication of a final EIS; and publication of a record of decision (ROD). The public scoping period begins with publication of this notice and closes August 28, 2009. At the conclusion of the NEPA process, Western and the U.S. Forest Service will each prepare a ROD. Persons interested in receiving future notices, Project information, copies of the EIS, and other information on the NEPA review process should contact Ms. Barger at the address listed above in the ADDRESSES section. Western will hold public scoping meetings as follows: 1. August 10, 2009, Mormon Lake Fire Station, 43 Mormon Lake Road, Mormon Lake, AZ 86038. 2. August 11, 2009, Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technologies (NACET), 2225 N. Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. [[Page 36691]] Each meeting is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. with an open-house format, during which attendees are invited to speak one-on-one with agency and Project representatives. Project presentations will be given at 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Attendees are welcome to come and go at their convenience throughout the meeting. The purpose of the scoping meetings is to provide information about the proposed Project, review Project maps, answer questions, and take written comments from interested parties. All meeting locations are handicapped-accessible. Anyone needing special accommodations should contact Ms. Barger to make arrangements. The public will have the opportunity to provide written comments at the public scoping meetings, or send them to Western by fax, e-mail, or U.S. Postal Service mail. To help define the scope of the EIS, comments should be received by Western no later than August 28, 2009. Dated: July 15, 2009. Timothy J. Meeks, Administrator. [FR Doc. E9-17700 Filed 7-23-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P


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subset: commoncrawl


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The death toll resulting from mudslides that devastated a California town has climbed to 18 as rescue crews continued to search Saturday for seven people who are still missing, amid diminishing hope that survivors would be found.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office issued a plea to the public to provide information about the missing people, while acknowledging that finding survivors would be a "miracle."
As rescuers continued to dig through mud, rocks and flattened homes, Sheriff Bill Brown said crews found the 18th victim, 87-year-old Joseph Bleckel, in his Romero Canyon-area home late Friday morning.
The number of missing has fluctuated widely after heavy rains unleashed a fury of devastation. Many of the 43 people unaccounted for have since been determined to be safe. The number of missing now stands at seven.
Most of the 9,000 residents of Montecito, located north of Los Angeles, remain under orders to stay out of town as gas and electricity were expected to be shut off Saturday for repairs. Sheriff Brown said those who did not evacuate what is known as the public safety exclusion zone, which incorporates most of the town, would be subject to arrest.
"It's martial law here, basically," said Sarah Ettman, whose home was undamaged. But with the anticipated loss of utilities and sewage running into a nearby creek, "you have to leave," she said.
The catastrophe struck on Tuesday after heavy downpours drenched the area near Montecito, where vegetation that normally would have soaked up heavy rainfall had been stripped a month ago by the largest wildfire in California's recorded history.
Flash floods swept down hillsides, unleashing torrents of mud, and uprooted trees and boulders into the valley below.
Some 2,100 local, state and federal officials are involved in search and recovery efforts, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.


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Looking forward to the new release Push + Pull by Juno winners July Talk? One of the engineers on the album is Jason Dufour, a 2007 alumni from OIART's music production course. After graduation Jay assisted at two of Canada's top recording facilities, Phase One and then Revolution Recording, assisting on projects by The Barenaked Ladies, The Trews, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Three Days Grace and legendary Canadian supergroup Rush amongst many others.
Working his way up to Engineer, Jay's credits include "Forcefield" by Tokyo Police Club, "Siberia Acoustic" by Lights, "Eliminate Ya!" by Big Sugar, "The Ocean at the End" by The Tea Party and Juno winner "Volition" by Protest the Hero. He has recently moved into a new studio space in Toronto where he engineers and mixes with Producer and Songwriter Michael 'Sonner' Sonier.
Jason says, "As I look back, I realize how invaluable my time spent at OIART was and still is — It gave me the foundational tools that I needed to build upon my skills and develop into my career as a recording engineer/mixer. I would highly recommend OIART to anyone seriously thinking about pursuing professional audio as a career."


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Click through for five ways to boost online sales, as identified by Kelly O'Neill, senior director of commerce, Acquia.
This year presents an interesting -- and relatively new -- opportunity for brands to increase their direct-to-consumer relationships. Limited retail floor space and an increasing number of online-only shoppers means a brand's website has a much greater influence on sales and brand loyalty than most people think.
And the reality is that when the website is designed correctly, the potential to inspire greater loyalty, engagement and sales increases significantly. Here are the top five ways brands can better leverage their websites this holiday season to drive sales and increase the direct-to-consumer relationship, from Kelly O'Neill, senior director of commerce, Acquia.
An eWEEK Property
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Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.


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S.W.A.N is a confidential, free, independent advocacy service for adults who live in the Salisbury District.
"Advocacy is taking action to help people to say what they want, secure their rights, represent their interests and obtain services they need. Advocates and advocacy schemes work in partnership with the people they support and take their side. Advocacy promotes social inclusion, equality and social Justice."
The Advocacy Charter, 2002.
Advocacy is about people having a voice and being listened to. Advocacy means supporting someone in expressing their views and feelings about their situation
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ
T: 01722 336262 E: email@example.com
© 2013 Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust


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JYJ's Park Yoo Chun Is Not Eating or Sleeping
Starting from the morning of March 14 until now, JYJ's Park Yoo Chun is in a hospital, currently mourning the loss of his father.
Since March 6, JYJ has left for their South American tour. Yoo Chun's father passed away while Yoo Chun was still in South America. Thus, he has not been able to get much rest for the past ten days. It is reported that fortunately, Yoo Chun's cold has finally gone away and his health is in a normal state.
A source of Park Yoo Chun spoke with OSEN on March 15 and said, "As the chief mourner, Yoo Chun is neither eating nor sleeping and is continuing to mourn the loss of his father. His younger brother Yoo Hwan is resting here and there but Yoo Chun is taking up the role of the chief mourner. Fortunately, his cold is gone. His health is normal but because he's still young, he's taking it very hard."
In Korea, it is customary for the eldest son to become a chief mourner when a family member passes away. It is also customary to go through a mourning period for the deceased family member for about three days.
After ending a successful tour in Chile and Peru, Yoo Chun took a long flight back to Korea. Despite having jet-lag, after the mourning period is over on March 16, he will return to the set of "Rooftop Prince," and start his schedule there.
The source also said, "We still haven't decided when he is going to start shooting but we're at a situation where we can't really ask for an extension. We need to discuss this further after the mourning period ends."
Once again, Soompi expresses our deepest condolences and we hope for the best for Yoo Chun in the future.


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Parents Can Be So Stubborn!!! Remember when you wanted to stay at your friend's house for a sleepover, and...
Susie Landsem
Certified Aging in Place Specialist
(360) 220-4980
1407 N Forest
Bellingham WA 98225
Aging in Place
Universal Design & Why Do I Want It?
Aging in Place Beyond the Home
When Hiring a Contracor


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20 Jul 2014
# 428 The Quads - Gotta getta job
Side a: Gotta getta job
Side b: Gang of kids
Superb 4th single by this Birmingham based band. they are very well known for the "There Must Be Thousands" single , a favourite by John Peel. Please read ore here. I love this record!
2 comments:
- Liquidator said...
Love this track...I've just discovered your blog and I'm glad I did, many good memories on here. shame about your media fire links its a drag when that happens. Looking forward to seeing your future posts and thanks
- 4 August 2014 at 00:57
- bat29 said...
Thanks for this Quads single. I hadn't heard it before. I've got their Peel Session posted on my blog: http://noiseaddiction2.blogspot.com/2014/04/quads-john-peel-session-8-29-79.html
- 13 January 2015 at 15:41
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"Educating the Emerging Generation"
The Cherokee County School District won top awards for communications and community engagement including two "Best in State" top honors!
The Georgia School Public Relations Association's Annual Publications, Photography & Electronic Media Contest recognizes outstanding work by public schools, school systems, post-secondary institutions, and educational agencies and associations. The winners were announced at the Association's Annual Conference in October; CCSD earned the highest total number of awards presented with 17 Gold Awards – including two "Best in State" honors -- and four Silver Awards.
"These awards recognize our long-standing commitment to effective communications, community engagement and transparency," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian V. Hightower said. "I'm proud of the Office of Communications' daily work to ensure our community understands who we are, what we do, and, most importantly, our why – to not only educate every child for future success, but also to care for them and their well-being."
The award-winning staff members will be recognized by the Cherokee County School Board and Superintendent of Schools at the School Board's Nov. 21 meeting.
Category: Photography
For "Grad Jump" photographed by Carrie McGowan, Supervisor of Strategic Planning, Community Relations & Publications
Category: Newsletter
For the District Delegate monthly employee newsletter edited by Penny Dempsey, Coordinator of Events and Recognition Programs
Category: Crisis Communications
Gold Award
• Barbara P. Jacoby, Chief Communications Officer
• Carrie McGowan, Supervisor of Strategic Planning, Community Relations & Publications
Category: Excellence in Writing
Gold Awards, "Teacher of the Year Finalist Announcement" and "#CCSD1stDay"
Category: Internet Website
Gold Award, CCSD Connections parent newsletter
Gold Award, Connection Points employee newslettter
• Bobby Blount, Chief Information Officer
• Robby Carmichael, Executive Director of Information Technology
• Brad Orth, Executive Director of Business Information Systems
• Dr. Shannon Carroll, Supervisor of Instructional Technology
• Dr. Jennifer Scrivner, Supervisor of Research
• Chris Saxon, Supervisor of Technology Field Services
• Karla Tipton, Supervisor of Technology Support Services
• Derek Brock, Facilitator of Technology Support Services
• Matt Roper, Facilitator of Technology Support Services
• Jeremy Gravley, Manager of Technology Logistics
• Marsha Pickens, Administrative Assistant
• Kaity Littlefield, Copy Editor/Support Clerk
Gold Awards, "Teacher of the Year" and "Region Champs"
Category: Social Media
CCSD Office of Communications
Category: Special Event
Gold Awards, "2019 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration," "CCSD 2019 Support Staff Employee of the Year Awards" and "Partner Up! with CCSD"
• Penny Dempsey, Coordinator of Events and Recognition Programs
• Anne Reed, Executive Secretary for Office of Communications
Category: Special Purpose Publication
Gold Award, 2019 Legislative Partnership Priorities
• Mike McGowan, Chief of Staff
Silver Award, CCSD FY20 Budget
• Kenneth Owen, Chief Financial Officer
• Marjorie DeFrank, Executive Director of Financial Management
• Tina Farmer, Director of School Nutrition
• Shannon Nolan, Director of Procurement Services
• Mindy Woosley, Supervisor of Accounting & Budgets
• Connie Henderson, Supervisor of Payroll
• Jenna Williams, Coordinator of Financial Compliance & Reporting
• Tammie Hunter, Administrative Assistant for Office of Financial Management
Category: Annual Report
Silver Award
Category: Electronic Media
Silver Awards, "Bronco's Surprise" and "#CCSD1stDay"
Category: Marketing Campaign
Silver Award, #SafeCherokee


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The author is an agricultural extension educator in Jackson County, Fla.
As a county agent for the past 20 years, one of the things I have noticed is that there are two general categories of hay operations. There are "sellers" and "marketers." The real difference in these two operations is the focus of the owner or manager.
In general, farmers spend most of their efforts on production. When it comes to hay production, there are a lot of variables to deal with: machinery, weather, fertilizer, pest control, harvest, and storage. While all of these are vitally important, one area that tends to be overlooked is the sale of the product.
"Sellers" focus on what is most important to them and simply try to find customers who like what they produce. While this can be successful, a challenge is inconsistent sales. The goal is to sell at a fair price and move hay as quickly as possible.
The problem with this approach is that there is no real relationship forged with the customer. Deals are made based on quantity, price, and perceived quality. One year a customer buys a large quantity and the next year you don't hear from them. One year all the hay sells in just a few months, but the next year hay sits in the shed and sells only after prices have been significantly reduced. Sellers also tend to rely more heavily on a local market, which are greatly influenced by local supply and demand.
Shift the focus
The first step is to figure out the profile of the "ideal" customer. In many cases, it is not the large volume buyers. Volume buyers expect a discounted price and special services, like free or reduced delivery.
In Florida, the ideal hay customer is the small to medium-sized horse farm that buys square-baled hay almost year around for stalled horses. Typically, these farms lack adequate storage to purchase large quantities of hay soon after harvest. Instead, they need a constant supply and recognize that they will be paying a premium for their hay.
Selling to these customers means you will either have to provide storage directly for the customer, or work through a local supplier such as a feed store or hay broker for continuous sales throughout the year. Either way, this will require a shift from immediate sales to year-round sales. While this shift in cash flow may not be feasible for your entire inventory in the first year, it may be something you can slowly work toward.
Build a relationship
The second step is communication. Whether sales are direct with the customer or with a retail outlet, communication is paramount for building customer relationships. This does not have to be elaborate newsletters or a fantastic professional website, but at least enough two-way communication to stay connected.
Begin with a simple contact list of your most valued customers. Whether this is an old-school physical address book or a more powerful tool on your computer, the point is to keep track of your customers so you can touch base throughout the year.
A simple letter, email blast or phone call can trigger your customers to make you aware of their needs for the year. Many farms are finding that simple social media sites like a Facebook page is a low-maintenance way to communicate, but you do have to get your customers to follow your page.
Communication is a key component for developing working relationships, instead of random purchases initiated by the customer. With this type of basic communication, you can take care of your most loyal customers and truly become "my hay farmer."
Record customer needs
Once you begin to establish a loyal customer base, the third step is to develop a better understanding of their needs and the answers to some key questions: 1) How much hay do they need for the year? 2) How often do they need deliveries or purchases? 3) How satisfied are they with your product?
This is going to require some sort of customer record system. It may be as simple as an index card box, a notebook with tabs and records for each customer, or a more powerful Excel spreadsheet with a tab for each customer.
Whatever system you develop, the ultimate goal is to figure out how much hay your best customers need, and when they will want it so that you can manage your inventory to consistently meet demand. It only takes one breakdown in this system to lose a valued customer.
Customer is always right
The fourth and final step is service. Customer service is not just what you do, but also your attitude as you perform the service. Customer loyalty ultimately comes down to how happy they are with the service you provide. They will come to rely on you for their hay if they are treated well, the product they purchase is consistent and satisfactory, and they can get it when they need it. The old adage is true, "the customer is always right."
It is not worth haggling over a few broken bales, how the ants got in a few bales, or how a few off-colored bales accidentally got loaded. Make it right for the customer and they won't forget it. Haggle and force them to pay full price for an inferior product, and they will not only remember it but will share their frustration with their friends as well.
If there are multiple family members or employees working on the hay operation, figure out who has the most patience and the best attitude — let them lead in this area. Your service will be evaluated with each and every transaction. The way to build loyal customers is to go the extra mile to keep them happy, and do it with a positive attitude that shows you genuinely care about their needs.
What I have described is a lot of extra work. However, if you want to sell hay to the best customers every year, you have to become "my hay farmer," or the trusted source they feel confident will treat them right every time. People don't mind paying full price or possibly even a small premium for excellent service.
Consider the businesses that you have become loyal to, and think about the extra things they do to keep you coming back. It may be a lot less effort to simply sell hay "first come first served," but in the end marketing to a loyal customer base will make your business much more stable and more profitable for the long term.
Selling vs. marketingSellers ≡ focused on fast sales
- Produce what is easiest to grow
- Sell at the most convenient time
- Sell at most convenient place
- Sell as soon as possible
- Customers come and go
- Price taker
- Get cheaper to move hay out
Marketer ≡ focused on customers
- Produce what the customers wants
- Focus on long-term sales
- Communication with customers
- Have some control over price
- Customer focused
- "You are my hay farmer"
This article appeared in the April/May 2016 issue of Hay & Forage Grower on pages 10 and 11.
Not a subscriber? Click to get the print magazine.


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Author: Marie Sheehan
Which mobile phone provider is best at meeting customer needs at the initial engagement stage online? – Comparing the top performer Optus (Australia) with Tesco Mobile (UK)
In Q4 2014 Global Reviews ran a multi country study into the Digital Sales Effectiveness (DSE)* of mobile phone providers. Our study included sixteen providers from across the UK, USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Looking at Five Key Providers within the Industry
Optus (Australia), Tesco Mobile (UK), Verizon (New Zealand), Vodafone UK and Three (UK)
These five mobile phone providers (Fig 1) include top performers, providers who perform stronger in a particular area and providers who are under performing.
Optus is the strongest performer in the early part of the customer's pathway to purchase, scoring 74% and 69% in the 'initial engagement' and 'introducing options' stages respectively.
Tesco Mobile spikes at the 'evaluating options' stage (62%) which a noteworthy improvement on how they perform in the earlier stages.
Verizon comes up strongly at the 'online purchase' stage (67%), where Three scores just 26%
What is driving Tesco Mobile's 'Initial Engagement' score down?
The initial engagement stage is the consumer's first encounter of a provider's website. We measure how effective that website is at helping consumers to locate what they are looking for, while considering their first impressions of the website, how fundamental site elements like navigation and privacy perform, as well as if the website build trust.
Optus performs best in the initial engagement stage with 74%, Lebara are the weakest with 28% while the industry averages at 62% The underlying parts of this stage are 'meeting expectations and building trust' and 'assisting the needs of the customer'. Optus performs exceptionally well in the latter part achieving 83% which drives up their high score for the 'initial engagement' stage.
If customers can't find what they are looking for in the first ten seconds of being on a website they are very likely to abandon and leave the site. We completed a behavioural audit as part of the study, and from this we know that Tesco Mobile's website falls well behind the top performer particularly in the areas of first impression, its visual appeal, its layout, how easy to use it looks, and whether or not it displays all the impression a customer would expect to see.
Voice of Customer
"The visual design was almost too bland and basic. It gave the impression of not wanting to make too much effort for the person looking. It needs to retain the basic layout, but put a little more 'home' into the design, to make it feel less sterile"
Does this customer have a point? Is Tesco Mobile's site bland?
When consumers visit a website for the first time, they don't read a website, they scan it. The human eye is very good at picking up on colours and indeed shapes, so when you want a consumer to slow down and actually read a website, colours and shapes help to group relevant information together. While the Tesco Mobile site is simple, a lot of the colour is the same. The website design does not deliver any friction to prompt visitors to stop and read, so the visitor is more likely to abandon and leave the site.
The homepage is also missing a value proposition, a contact phone number, FAQs, a comparison table and information on why consumers should choose Tesco Mobile as their provider. These are some of the elements that would help Tesco Mobile to improve in this area, by building trust and showing customers that they actually want to engage with them.
Looking at Optus, the Top Performer
The value proposition is very strong and obvious on Optus' homepage – both above and below the fold. The information, layout and visuals above the fold encourage scrolling. For example the headings on the fold 'Popular Phones', 'Latest Phones', 'Hot Offers' and 'Prepaid Phones' indicate that there's more information further down the page worth looking at.
Looking at the right hand side of the page, you can see how Optus has grouped information together on the basis of customer needs and presented in different coloured boxes. The dark grey box contains links to info such as billing and usage, and the darker blue box has links to their community and social sites. Along the top of the page are more generic information tabs – different types of signposts depending on the customer's needs. Lexical and illustrated signposting also increases success and it gives the visitor more than one way to read the text.
Due to the methods Optus has used to signpost key information and a clear balance of funnel pages with call to action pages, when a visitor clicks on the image of a particular device the information which appears beside that device changes. The filter option is on the homepage which also brings the information forward, which means the customers does not need to leave (or abandon ) the homepage and keeps them close to the call to action.
Research Calendar
The next Global Reviews International Mobile Phone Providers Digital Sales Effectiveness Study will be fielded in May 2015. If you would like to know more, please contact us
International Best Practice
To find out more about what best practice looks like and those who are achieving it, view our recorded webinar: Digital Sales Effectiveness of International Mobile Phone providers.
* The Global Reviews Digital Sales Effectiveness (DSE) programme focuses on the Consider and Act stages of the online purchase journey.
Through a proprietary, task based methodology; we invite 'In market' consumers to visit and experience the customer journey on your site.
We also measure the performance of your competitors' sites in a similar fashion with a separate group of 'In market' consumers. This enables us to benchmark the performance of your brand within the marketplace and against the competitive landscape. We can tell you why some customers abandon the purchase journey on your website and complete purchase with a competitor.
We can provide you with a totally unique insight into how 'In market' consumers research and make decisions about your brand, your products and your competitors online and will help you to answer the following strategic digital sales questions:
1. Is your online sales journey more effective at converting prospective leads than your competitors?
2. Where do you need to focus resources to maximise online sales and customer experience?
3. Does your website meet best practice customer experience design for that product purchase journey?
4. How much effort is it to buy from you online?


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Cross Country
November 1, 2017
It doesn't matter if you are a senior or a freshmen, everyone is equal on the course. Cross country is a sport that tests your willpower – improving yourself by pushing through exhaustion and pain. As their season raced to a halt, the members of the Merion Mercy Cross Country reflected on all they have accomplished this season with pride and nostalgia.
The season began at Haverford College in the middle of August. Practice started early in the morning so the girls wouldn't have to torture themselves by running in the heat of the day. They ran about fifteen miles each week, sprinting workouts sprinkled throughout the days. It was a challenge, as most of the team had never run cross country before. They came out stronger because of it. With preseason complete, they were on their way to their weekly Wednesday ACAA meets.
The team competed in six ACAA meets. Lorimer was the most challenging course. It was an uphill climb the whole 3.1 miles! Rosetree did not fall far behind in difficultly. Thankfully, the team got that meet out of the way quickly. Their meets at Villa Joseph Marie, St. Basils, and Gwynedd Mercy fell somewhere in between. Their meet against Villa Marie and Villa Joseph Marie at Malvern Preparatory School was a team favorite. They came in eighth overall at ACAA championships.
Throughout their season, the team ran at invitationals such as Paul Short, Penncrest, and at Belmont Plateau. At Belmont Plateau, the team was split into two relay teams of four. Each leg of the relay ran two miles each. At Penncrest Invitational, Claire Mckernan '17, Cate Aaron '21, and Isabelle Millan '21 placed top ten in their races and earned a plaque. Paul Short was the biggest meet the team participated in! They raced against 298 other girls. They each got their best times for the season at this race.
It's been an eventful, exciting and unforgettable season! In the words of Anna O'Brien, "The Merion Mercy Academy Cross Country team has proven themselves to be the little team that could."


text: How to give yourself a gift during the holidays: What about a few clients? December 23, 2015 Steve Fretzin Networking Client Retention, Gift Giving, Tips from Steve Fretzin 95 CommentsIt's Holiday time! Do you have the Santa Claus Blues? When you think about the holidays, what runs through your head? Is it the department store music? Is it the…Read More


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Park Fell Mountain Bike Routes
About Park Fell
Park Fell is a 284m hill overlooking Windermere and Little Langdale in the Lake District. One bridleway contours its western flank, in a north/south direction and serves as a link to the area's routes.
Map of Park Fell Routes
All Routes for Park Fell
The Tribe Ambleside Ride 2012 (aliweb_gt / CC BY-NC 2.0)
Ascent: 916m / 3,005ft
Offroad: 73%
Difficulty: 71%
A medium-difficulty route in the heart of the Lake District with enough technical riding to keep it interesting and some stunning scenery along the way.
We start in Ambleside and initially head south, keeping to the west of Windermere before veering right and heading west to Hawkshead. The route then takes you across the rocky crags of Furness Fells into Little Langdale.
Then, passing Elterwater and traversing Loughrigg Terrace, you'll be spat out on the banks of Rydal Water ready for the short blast back to Ambleside.


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Let me tell you a little story about when I went to Philly last month. I was there, as mentioned before, for work, and staying near the waterfront. I decided to walk around the city the morning of my last day before heading back home. I wandered into Shane Confectionery, as I've done so many times before, and browsed all the incredible handmade chocolates. I admire the craftsmanship and the tradition of their candies from a very artistic and aesthetic perspective but I just really hate chocolate so on a culinary basis the place does nothing for me. I don't like chocolate. I find it needy and cloying. That's beside the point but would be a fun extra supplemental just so you understand the nature of the beast that is Man.
For now, the only thing you need to know is that I purely and unhesitatingly despise chocolate and do not partake of it in any forms. Yet here I was in a confectioner's renowned for their chocolates filling up a beautiful decorative gift box with all sorts of ganache, milk and dark chocolates, buttercreams, and caramels. The shop charges for the size of the box, not the weight or the number of chocolates inside. So I was on a quest, striding from one display to another, inquiring about the flavors of one, the ingredients of another, and the popularity of something else. I wanted to build a bouquet, an assortment of flavors and styles and techniques that would showcase the best that Shane Confectionery had to offer. I was conscious of size and shape and made the most efficient decisions to maximize my gift box and when it was all said and done we wrapped it up in a pretty white bow and I was on my way.
But…to where?
The situation at the time was this: Beautiful had broken up with me about a week ago and I had just met Bird and we were talking and exchanging messages daily and excessively. At the time I did not know about Beautiful's real, hidden feelings still for her ex, or that she had barely left the still warm corpse of our dying relationship to pine after someone who did not want her anymore. I did know that Bird was single and looking and active on Tinder but I did not know that she had set up a date for that weekend with a cute Japanese podiatry student who lived in the city and liked to make puns and play Fire Emblem. The only thing I did know was that I had a beautiful box of exquisite chocolates and an equal reason and desire to give it to either of them.
See I could give them to Beautiful, remind
her of the times we spent in Philly, and maybe try to change her mind and convince her there was something here worth wanting, worth working for. I could surprise her at her place on my way home and overwhelm her with chocolates and a rose I could pick up along the way. I was always sweet to her, always the romantic, always wanting to surprise her with unannounced visits. I never did, never have, and probably never will stop loving her. What better way to show her than with this gesture. That I was thinking of her even when she wasn't thinking of me, and that I see her beauty in everything I do and every place I visit. I wouldn't make a big show of it. Just show up at her door, hand her the chocolates and the rose, and leave. Acknowledge that we are no longer together and therefore have no obligations to each other. Let her think about the weight of the gesture and her decisions.
But that wouldn't change the reasons why we were separated. And even though at that time she was hiding the most egregious and painful reasons why, what she fed me was still relevant, still bitter enough, delivered still with enough sting. I could not share in her interests, and aside from a passing involvement for her sake I would not be able to invest myself as much as she has already invested herself, and in the pursuit of her interests I knew there would be a point where I could no longer even condone or support her decisions. In our time apart she had become an avid hiker, rock climber, thrill seeker. I could accompany her on local hikes, even entertain backpacking and camping with her for a weekend or two. But I had neither the interest, the time, nor the resources to devote much more than that. And yet still I knew there was more she was seeking. She wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail, a months-long process that would have her out in the wilderness unaccounted for and untracked. She wanted to climb up frozen waterfalls in winter. Rock climb upside down in the canyons. I'm a man of creature comforts but I can rough it and enjoy it still. I still enjoy the idea of retreats and simple living. I want to hunt and be in the wild and learn to forage for myself. But I know I wouldn't be able to maintain, nor would want to maintain, that lifestyle. And I know that eventually when she goes on one of these off-the-grid ventures she won't just be leaving me, or her family, or her friends behind for some thrill. Eventually she'd be leaving the home we built together. And the child we'd be taking care of. And I could not condone that kind of risk-taking, that kind of absence, when we should be trying to build something back here, at home, where everything we care about still is. Eventually she would either relent and agree and learn to resent me for it, or I would have to let her go and worry and feel abandoned every time she left. So no, perhaps this was really not meant to be, and maybe I would be fighting for borrowed time, and maybe I really did not want her back. Had I really thought about what it was I wanted to save. Was it her or the relationship or just me from being alone? I hadn't started this blog at that point and I was not used to asking myself these questions.
So I could instead give them to Bird. I'd show up at her store, stroll in, leave the chocolates at her desk with a cleverly written Post-It 'don't let the others give you flack for eating like a Bird' which she would love because it worked on so many levels and I was such a clever bastard for coming up with it. See the office would make fun of her for loving to eat and always having food and snacks around, which is torture for a self-conscious young woman who has to live under the constant watchful judging gaze of a Korean family and community. And her name is a type of bird, hence her nickname, and it's ALSO a play on the fact that people say 'eating like a bird' means you eat very little even though factually speaking birds eat like, twice their body weight during the day to handle the intense metabolic load of flight. It would have been a tactically brilliant move to undercut all the digital suitors after her and remind her that I was here, physically, immediately available, and clearly interested. The chocolates would segue into future interactions. We still had to plan DC (this was back when the original plan was for us to share a room and explore the city together) and I wanted to take her to a Filipino restaurant (she had expressed interest in trying Filipino food as she had never had the opportunity before). I would drop off the chocolate, give her the note, and she would of course mention it and thank me later on that night when we would normally start exchanging messages. She would mention she owed me, and I would tell her she could buy lunch. Filipino of course, and then we could discuss DC, and I would take her to a homemade ice cream stand near the restaurant that was built in an old train stop in a park.
Bird represented a new start. A chance to get over old pain by opening up the potential for a new wound. My father used to say that the best way to get over a stubbed toe is to cut your finger. The idea was new pain helps you get over old pain quicker. I was ready for another mistake a la so many Taylor Swift songs. She was attractive, into video games and anime (Beautiful never was, and I never pushed her into it), was an adventurous eater, and had a similar sense of humor. When I first met her I was single and too self-conscious and self-deprecating to do anything about a very strong initial attraction. So I was my usual cold and stupid self, which she verified once we actually got closer and started talking. She thought I hated her for some unknown reason. We discovered that we had lived in the same town our entire lives and even went to the same elementary school, but she was four years my junior so I had never noticed her (as is appropriate, I honestly wouldn't want to have thought about a sixth grade me going after a second grader). We had the shared experiences of youth and the present, working for the same company. We both loved jazz and swing and planned on listening to that and singing and dancing in our own after-party after the DC company ball. I appreciated her frankness, which is refreshing when dealing with Asian girls. I was attracted to her and I knew she was attracted to me because she had said so. You never forget that rush you feel when someone you like tells you they like you back. Well, to be fair, she admitted that I was cute and attractive and that if I weren't she wouldn't have been talking to me anyways. I can dig that.
But the timing was just never right. When I first met her we were both single and available but I couldn't make the move because I wasn't confident enough. By the time we met up again and actually got to know each other she was still single but I was in a relationship that (I thought) was going to last the rest of my life, so this was an attraction that would go unreciprocated and unpursued. When I was ready (I thought) to pursue her, I was just out of another relationship. Whether my interest was honest or not, whether my feelings were legitimate or not, it did not change the fact that I was superseding honest, genuine interest with a desire to cover hurt with more hurt. I was just running away and doing what I usually do hopping from one to another and despite how honestly and intently I felt these feelings, it would have no chance to blossom or grow under those circumstances. And did I mention Bird was also incredibly smart and emotionally intelligent? She saw right through my attempts. In her gentle but frank manner, she made it very clear that though there may be something here, my wounds were too fresh and needed proper dressing. It would have been awkward and unfair. And though I thought I was ready I really was not, and though there may have been something, there was no reason for her to wait around and so she pursued something else with someone else to leave me my space.
So what happened to the chocolates?
They melted. They rotted. The box was never even opened. The ribbon turned gray. The box is bent and creased. The insides have long lost their appearance, their sheen, their appeal. I wasted money, time, effort, and valuable commodities. I pondered and considered my options the entire drive back home and couldn't come to a satisfying solution. I had bought these candies for the sole purpose of giving, but I had no one to give it to and no one who would want it. So it went bad, unappreciated and unenjoyed. Neither of them even ever knew I had bought it in the first place.
What does it all mean?
This is very obviously not about chocolates. It was never about chocolates but I had inadvertently taught myself a very important meaning through the chocolates.
This is about love. This is about my, and your, heart.
This is about understanding both the energy and effort it takes to build your heart and acknowledging how important it is to find the right person to give it to.
I have spent my entire life trying to be a better person. I have cultivated the best parts of me and I have, through reflection and honest introspection, come to terms with my shortcomings. I have gained the wisdom to accept the things I cannot change about myself and the humility to amend the ones I can. And I believe you, dear reader, have done the same. I believe that every good person in this world has lived a life of betterment and self-improvement, and that we are all incredibly appealing packages of a wide assortment of goodies wrapped up in a pretty white bow.
But do not do what I have done. Do not throw your package at the first hungry passerby. Do not let yourself be consumed by those who wish to just consume. Love yourself, appreciate what is inside of you, know the assortment of sweet, bitter, salty, and rich that makes you so enticing. Know who this was all meant for, or at the very least know who it is you want. I was at first content simply to offer what I had to anyone who would have me. I would continually throw myself at the masses and make destiny out of chaos. Until there came the point when no one wanted me, and not knowing how to move forward, how to measure my worth, I spoiled and went bad.
My box is bent and creased. My bow is gray and fading. But I still have the recipes for everything inside. The package may be worse for wear, but I can recreate every buttercream, every milk and dark chocolate, every caramel. I will never stop making incredible candies. But I will be more careful who I offer them to. I will learn what it means to want to give it to someone so honestly and openly and I will learn again the immense joy and bliss of giving it to someone who wants it so honestly and openly. I am not unwanted. Just unappreciated.
Until then, you and I, we need to remember there is always someone worth sharing with. I could have given the box to my family. I could have enjoyed it with drinks with my friends. I could have given it to those less fortunate. The truth of the matter is that there will always be an opportunity, always be someone who could use exactly what you have in your box.
Day 38:
Man: 25 Loneliness: 13


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The Dangerous Music Convert-2 gives you high-definition stereo reference monitoring, audiophile-grade mastering front-end playback conversion, and a USB input that lets you connect directly to your DAW. Its no-compromise design leverages Dangerous Music's many years of experience and dedication to the creation of truly "transparent, yet musical" high-end professional studio gear. The sound is stunningly detailed, with a lavishly defined bottom and breathtaking clarity across the entire audio spectrum. Convert-2 is smartly designed, extremely useful, and sounds incredible. At AudioBuy.com.au Australia, we'd expect nothing less from Dangerous Music.
Dangerous Music Convert-2
- Audiophile-grade mastering front-end playback conversion
- USB port for direct DAW connectivity
- Smartly designed, extremely useful, and sounds incredible
Audiophile-grade mastering front-end playback conversion
Dangerous Music set the standard for audiophile-grade D/A Conversion in 2002 when they unleashed their Dangerous Monitor, which provided a new reference for mastering engineers. The DAC-ST, D-Box, and Source followed. Now the company's Convert series raises the bar further with a new generation of D/A conversion which provides the sought-after qualities that have made Dangerous the choice for tracking, mixing, and mastering engineers worldwide, along with the latest technology in audio electronics.
USB port for direct DAW connectivity
Dangerous Music designed the Convert-2 to integrate into your modern studio, however you have it configured. One feature you'll especially appreciate is bi-directional USB, which lets you send and receive digital audio. Any signal you've jacked to the Convert-2's AES-2 input, for example, can be concurrently routed to the USB path. This gives you the option of sending digital audio to your DAW from any digital source.
Smartly designed, extremely useful, and incredible-sounding
The Convert-2 also rocks a custom volume pot you can use in two ways. Use it as a volume knob, connecting the L-R analog outputs directly to a pair of studio monitors. Turn it fully clockwise, and a switch engages a relay, removing the pot completely from the signal path. This lets you use the Convert-2 with an external monitor controller. Whether you have a home-based project studio, a mobile production rig, or a world-class commercial facility, the Dangerous Music Convert-2 will significantly enhance your sonics, and your workflow.
Dangerous Music Convert-2 Features
- High-definition stereo reference monitoring
- Audiophile-grade mastering front-end playback conversion
- USB port for direct DAW connectivity
- Five digital input formats: USB, AES, SPDIF, ADAT, and Toslink (optical SPDIF)
- Compatible with Monitor ST/SR for remote switching
- USB digital pass-through
Enhance your sonics and workflow with Dangerous Music's Convert-2!
Dangerous Music Convert-2 Tech Specs
- Channels 2
- D to A Yes
- Analog Outputs 2 x XLR
- Digital Inputs 2 x XLR (AES/EBU), 2 x Optical
- Digital Outputs 2 x XLR Thru (AES/EBU)
- Clock Inputs 1 x Word Clock
- Clock Outputs 1 x Word Clock
- Other I/O 1 x USB, 2 x Remote
Following checkout you will receive a Paypal invoice if your order is in stock or readily available with the manufacturer. Your Paypal account , credit card or debit card will not be charged if your order is not in stock or available with the manufacturer. In stock orders are shipped within 1-2 business days (FEDEX tracking details provided). Un-stocked orders require a special order from the manufacturer and ship within 7-10 business days.
The includes a 1 Year return to base warranty. This warranty applies to all equipment which has developed a manufacturer defect during application. Please contact us to confirm the availability and lowest price for any product. For quotes and price matching requests, contact us and include the competing website address.
|Sealed / New
|Insured Value
Contact us for stock availability , price quotes , expedited shipping quotes or to arrange a return of your (for the full purchase price of ). You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. AudioDubai are very proud to carry a large selection of gear. You demand quality, reliability, and innovative design from your gear, and we're here to help you find exactly what you need. We're glad to answer any questions you have and you can always depend on AudioDubai to give you the best possible value on musical instruments and accessories with responsive customer service.


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Lindsay Lohan out of jail after posting bail
Lindsay Lohan posted bail and left a Los Angeles jail late Friday night, theLos Angeles Times reports. The actress was taken into custody on the morning of Sept. 24 for violating the terms of her probation stemming from a 2007 conviction for driving under the influence. The judge had denied her bail, but later that same afternoon another judge granted her a writ of habeas corpus and set bail for $300,000 following an appeal by her lawyer. Lohan left jail shortly before midnight Pacific time. She is due back in court on Oct. 22. The Mean Girls star used her Twitter account on Sept. 17 to express regret for the circumstances that led to her brief incarceration–she had reportedly failed a drug test–but she has yet to Tweet anything about her release. There has been some speculation that her Tweets about the matter played a role in her being sent to jail.
More Lindsay Lohan:


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For a decade, ICANNWiki, the online portal that checks the pulse of the ICANN community, presenting its achievements and happenings, has been doing so diligently and with gusto.
And now, ICANN might cut off its funding, all while millions of dollars went to paying off members' trips!
ICANNWiki announced the news today:
ICANNWiki was recently informed that ICANN might choose not to renew its contract, which accounts for 60% of our annual revenue. The contract began in 2015, with an initial three-year term, which enabled us to bring on two full-time co-directors to steward the project and improve its services. ICANN has stated, 'At this time, while it is highly unlikely that ICANN will be renewing its contract with ICANNWiki, we have not come to a final determination.'
The ICANNWiki folks continue:
With over a decade of community work in limbo, there is a lot at stake. ICANNWiki owes its success to the tremendous support we have received from our sponsors and community over the years. With all of the time, money and resources you have all contributed to ICANNWiki, we feel it is only right to keep our stakeholders informed.
If you support or have have benefitted from ICANNWiki, we are going to need your support now, more than ever. You can help by spreading this message and making your voice heard about the value of ICANNWiki.
Should ICANN continue to fund the existence of ICANNWiki?
For a large organization with a budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars, we believe that ICANN should trim its members' travel expenses and fund ICANNWiki's successful continuity, pronto!
There is no fun in ICANN without the Wiki!
Copyright © 2020 DomainGang.com · All Rights Reserved.
Comments7 Responses to "#ICANN might end its support of #ICANNWiki, leading to its shutdown"
The chances of ICANNwiki shutting down due to lack of funds are, I reckon, zero. The web site could continue to function for $10 a month. I'll run it for free if they don't want to.
The site gets under a quarter million views a year. Under a thousand per day. Fewer, I'm fairly confident, than Domain Gang. Certainly fewer than Domain Incite.
How much do you pay for hosting?
Even if I'm wrong by a factor of ten on the hosting cost, it's still only a tenth of what ICANN is paying in sponsorship.
The beauty of a wiki is that you don't have to pay anyone to update it.
I'm not saying ICANNwiki would be as good without ICANN funding — and we may have to say bye-bye to those lovely caricatures — just that the chances of its "shutdown" based on lack of funds should be close to nil.
I'm not even sure that ICANNwiki is claiming it would have to shut down without ICANN money.
After all, the site was up for a decade before ICANN gave it a penny.
There is very little content on ICANNwiki that is up to date. They may need to re-assess why their staff travel to events like the IGF, and not only to ICANN meetings, if they need to cut their own costs. Still, without ICANN's support, they still receive $70,000 from Amazon et al. That's enough to support their hosting expenses ($150/year, per their budget), two staffers, and their travel to meetings. I'm not sure they work full-time for ICANNWiki as it is.
I agree that content on our website needs to be updated. I'll give you that.
Regarding the IGF, we've been twice now and our thinking behind the trips was to promote the site, look for more sponsors and to engage a broader internet governance community that could help to improve our articles and hopefully work on some of our translation initiatives. We thought a second trip would give us the context we needed to decide whether it was worth it or not for us to continue going. The ICANN meetings have always been priority #1. The IGF has always been negotiable.
Yes, we have $60,000 in sponsorships outside of ICANN. We try to keep a low overhead and try to maximize our time and efforts wisely. $60,000 is hardly enough though to pay two full-time employees a living wage with health insurance AND account for travel. ICANNWiki requires more than the hosting expenses if it is to be a successful project. Our budget includes our giveaways, travel, and engagement workshops to improve the site. Here's a better breakdown of our work: https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/correspondence/king-et-al-to-atallah-05dec17-en.pdf


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There's a famous expression that readsl'here enter Chien et loup. It stands for that time of day between dusk and nightfall, a time where the light makes things difficult to see and to decipher. A shift from the known to the unknown, from the tame to the wild – a perpetual sense of ambiguity that carries on into the darkness.
Perhaps it is the obscurity of nature that intrigues us; not everything has to be what it appears to be, at least not during the hour of transition: twilight. This moment is what became the underlining inspiration for my work, the eerie but otherworldly lighting that merged the line between fact and fiction, between life and death.


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Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
~Matthew 5:4
The tears came before I could even hang up the phone, my heart breaking from the news of my friend's death. "How can this be, God? He was so young," I cried out into the emptiness that now engulfed me.
"He came home, Sparrow," God said lovingly and sat down next to me.
"But I loved him! I don't want him to be gone," I sobbed.
"Yes, you did love him, and love makes you vulnerable. It opens you to grief," God said.
"What do I do with my grief?" I asked.
"Keep your heart open. Keep reaching out. Your heart will soon feel me—my love—reaching back to it, holding it safe within my compassion," God replied.
I leaned my head against God's strong shoulder for comfort. He touched my face with His gentle hand and I felt His love flowing through me. I sighed, giving in to my anguish, but knowing that with His love I'd get through the pain.
Get Soul Reminders Delivered.


text: The 2.4" LCD display gives an overview of the speed, cutting height and battery charge, and enables you to activate the eco-mode function which reduces the battery power to save energy when cutting dry grass or perfecting your cut. The aluminium articulated joint enables you to fold the handle for upright storage of the mower, significantly reducing the space occupied when not in use. The 48 cm cutting width makes the lawnmower ideal for lawns up to 700.


text:
Singer-songwriter George Ezra is on track to reclaim the number one spot on the UK singles chart and end Canadian rapper Drake's reign at the top.
Ezra's former chart-topper Shotgun is in a close race with Drake's In My Feelings.
It currently has a lead of just under 2,000 downloads and streaming equivalent sales.
Shotgun previously hit number one in July before it was toppled by comedy duo David Baddiel and Frank Skinner's World Cup anthem Three Lions.
Ezra himself posted a video on social media urging his fans to help get the football song to surpass his own.
Canadian production and DJ duo Loud Luxury's song Body has climbed four places to reach number four, according to the Official Chart Update.
It is just behind DJ Khaled and Justin Bieber's No Brainer, which is a non-mover at three.
At five is Eastside by Benny Blanco featuring Halsey and Khalid.
On the albums chart, the soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again continues to rule the roost.
The recording features renditions of Abba songs performed by the likes of Cher and Pierce Brosnan.
It is fending off competition from The Greatest Showman and 13 new entries in the top 40.
UK indie rock singer Miles Kane looks set to claim the highest of the new entries with his third solo album Coup De Grace.
Kane has previously topped the chart with Arctic Monkeys singer Alex Turner as duo The Last Shadow Puppets.
Two places back on this week's albums chart update is US rapper Nicki Minaj's new album Queen.
Elsewhere in the top 10, there is a new Elvis Presley collection called Where No One Stands Alone.
The album features a collaboration with the singer's daughter Lisa Marie and is currently at number seven.
Just behind it at nine is Merseyside band The Coral's Move Through The Dawn.
Hot on their heels are classical crossover group Il Divo at 10 with Timeless.
This week's final singles and albums charts will be published on Friday.
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Today was an upgrade of sorts. We flew a Piper Archer which is a bump in space and in horsepower. It is equipped for a/c, but the a/c wasn't blowing cold air today. End result, I was a sweaty mess.
This morning, we worked on ground reference maneuvers. Basically, we identified objects on the ground and used them as reference points for maneuvers. We started by flying in circles.
It seems like a simple thing to find a point on the ground and fly around it, but the wind really complicates matters. We had winds of 20+ mph today, so it was challenging. But I did ok for the first time. I had a little trouble maintaining altitude and I'm pretty sure my circle looked more like an egg, but the instructor was pleased.
After that, we did some S-Turns over a linear object. The wind really makes it difficult to keep the turning radius consistent, but I managed to do ok here too. After we did that, we did a little cross-country over to the airport at Brenham. On the way, we passed near the glider club and I got to see a few of them in flight. Neat. What was supposed to be a touch and go at Brenham turned into a full stop. My instructor was having some digestive issues and had to take a break. :)
After we left Brenham, my time was up, so we made a beeline back to our home airport.
We met again in the early evening. This would be my fourth flight, second instructor, and third plane of the weekend. This time around, we took out the Piper Warrior (see a theme here?).
The plan for the day was to practice touch-and-goes and flying in the pattern. The winds were fairly high and out of the west/southwest, 10 to 20 degrees cross to the runway. That made for some challenging landings! But I managed to get the hang of using cross-controls to point the plane straight down the runway while dealing with the wind. My instructor was quite pleased. We wrapped up the day by scaring up a flock of birds right at the beginning of the runway and having to go around to avoid a bird strike, then with me hitting a nearly perfect landing. A perfect end to a perfect day.
Next time we'll be working on radios! Hope your Aviation Day was as good as mine!


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Recent Posts
- The Russ Liquid Test returns to Phoenix this March!
- Steve Aoki coming back to Scottsdale next Saturday to perform at the Birds Nest
- The Record Company >> Getting Up Off The Ground in Los Angeles [El Rey]
- Go HAIM or Go Home >> Going Under the Wire in Los Angeles [The Fonda]
- Hirie & Nahko and Medicine for the People >> Healing the Santa Cruz Crowd [The Catalyst]
- Nathaniel Rateliff >> Night Sweats in Los Angeles [Greek Theatre]
- All Rap Matters >> Atmosphere and Brother Ali in San Francisco [The Masonic]
- Crystal Castles in Phoenix [The Pressroom] >> Where's Alice?
- The Kills >> Killing It in Los Angeles [The Wiltern]
- Crystal Castles are coming back to Phoenix in September!
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Tag Archives: royce da 5'9
Lollapalooza > Day 2
Lollapalooza Day 2 > was even more madness for the masses. I thought Friday was crazy but it was dead compared to Saturday, the day that most chose to go if they were to go to only one. Makes sense. … Continue reading
Posted in festival, music, rando, shows Tagged 50 cent, atmosphere, bad meets evil, beirut, bloody mary, bruno mars, bud light, bull & bear, cee lo, chicago, chris cox, concert, crowd knife, debbie, dj, dr. dre, eminem, encore, fast lane, fest, festival, fitty, friendly fires, google, grant park, hell: the sequel, hurting, iphone, lighters, lil wayne, local natives, lolla, lollapalooza, music, music unlimited, my morning jacket, nantes, no love, perry farrell, perry's, perryetty, rihanna, river north, royce da 5'9, showzen, slim shady, sony, square dance, super smash bros, the drums Leave a comment


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geoplot is a high-level Python geospatial plotting library. It's an extension to cartopy and matplotlib which makes mapping easy: like seaborn for geospatial.
The Remote Sensing and GIS software library (RSGISLib) is a collection of tools for processing remote sensing and GIS datasets. The tools are accessed using Python bindings or an XML interface.
On open source geometry processing library focusing on regions and moving regions.
Algorithms for constructing regions, identifying connected components, creating moving regions, and performing operations on moving regions are included.
GeoViews is a new Python library that makes it easy to explore and visualize geographical, meteorological, oceanographic, weather, climate, and other real-world data. GeoViews was developed by Continuum Analytics, in collaboration with the Met Office. GeoViews is completely open source, available under a BSD license freely for both commercial and non-commercial use, and can be obtained as described at the Github site.GeoViews is built on the HoloViews library for building flexible visualizations of multidimensional data.
GeoViews adds a family of geographic plot types, transformations, and primitives based primarily on the Cartopy library, plotted using either the Matplotlib or Bokeh packages.
The pixelscan library provides functions to scan pixels on a grid in a variety of spatial patterns. The library consists of scan generators and coordinate transformations. Scan generators are Python generators that return pixel coordinates in a particular spatial pattern. Coordinate transformations are iterators that apply spatial transformations to the coordinates created by the scan generators. Transformation can be chained to yield very generic transformations.
CPC GeoFiles
This package makes it simple to load geospatial data from files. Currently binary and grib1/grib2 files are supported. Data can be loaded across a range of dates, forecast hours (for forecast data), and ensemble members (for ensemble forecast data).
PyNGL (pronounced "pingle") is a Python language module used to visualize scientific data, with an emphasis on high quality 2D visualizations.
PyNIO is a Python module used for reading and writing files in several different data formats, including netCDF, netCDF 4, GRIB1, GRIB2, HDF 4, HDF-EOS 2 and HDF-EOS5, and CCM history files.
A Python client for Mapbox web services
The Mapbox Python SDK is a low-level client API, not a Resource API such as the ones in boto3 or github3.py. Its methods return objects containing HTTP responses from the Mapbox API.
Open GeoJSON data on geojson.io from Python.
geojsonio.py also contains a command line utility that is a Python port ofgeojsonio-cli.


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What if we told you that now you can charge your IPod 5th generation, even when on the go with a power bank. Yes Ravin Solar Charger is in every way compatible with your ultra talented IPod. But when you choose a power bank to charge your versatile device, you must choose wisely. So without wasting any more time let us introduce you to SC 06001, a state of the art creation that with its sleek exterior and efficient output complements your IPod in every way possible.
Apart from a one year warranty, it also comes with a 6000mAh power capacity which is more than enough to charge your IPod at least 4 to 5 times. But what should always be an important aspect is the quality factor. Designed with lithium ion polymer battery and monocrystalline panels, this solar charger can charge efficiently by absorbing the infinite energy of Sun or even when you plug it in to a plug point. The best part about the solar charger is that it is an ideal companion when you go for an outdoor trip; it keeps you connected with music, with photography and all those funky things for which you love your IPod anywhere under the sun.
And it comes laden with a suite of attachments from micro usb, to lighting connector, as well as an usb adapter which can clearly charge many gadgets from Smart Phone to Ipads. The Ravin solar charger also takes into consideration your safety and is equipped with an electronic circuit protection, which prevents the solar charger from over charge, over discharge and short circuit.
Along with the above mentioned features, the exterior of the solar charger is designed with 4 LED lights, which indicates the charge level and thus keeps you intimated thus making it all the easier for you to track its charge levels. So power your IPod or any other compatible electronic gadget with Ravin's SC-06001 solar charger and be a part of the go green initiative.
Also when buying portable solar chargers or chargers in general do not settle in for a cheap brand, which does not come with the necessary attachments and required safety features, because it might just cause irreparable damage to your expensive gears. Instead invest in a good brand of power banks or solar chargers and enjoy the power of uninterrupted power supply.


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This was the first weekend with the new engine. Things went really well. Three races - three wins. Still need to do a few tweaks on the engine, but it's very close, and the car has decent power now. Pictures were taken during qualifying, and the Saturday race at Waterford Hills, Michigan.
|Running through the "esses." Just starting the get the feel for the new engine. The car drives a lot differently with the extra horses under my right foot.
|Another picture through the "esses." I'm in traffic, and obviously pushing a bit harder. Just take a close look at the right front tire just barely touching the ground.
|Start of the Saturday race. I qualified 7th overall, my best qualifying ever, and 1st in class. I finished 11th overall, and 1st in class. The first six cars are in front of me, but this turned out to be a great shot.
This page created on a Macintosh using PhotoPage by John A. Vink.


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The SmarK Rant for WWF Sunday Night Heat – 04.18.99
Hey, I bought a new car! We went out for a test drive and ended up taking a 2017 Chevy Equinox home, which is actually the newest car I've ever owned.
Taped from somewhere, I dunno. The heat machine is in full effect, though.
Your hosts are Kevin Kelly & Michael Cole
Shane McMahon joins us to start, after an overblown angle on RAW where he SLAPPED VINCE. Oh my god! The storyline is kind of hilarious because his motivation was turning on Vince out of fear that Stephanie would inherit everything from Vince and he'd be left in the cold. Which is pretty much happened in real life. Also, this storyline is even more ridiculous given where it was headed. Anyway, Shane will NOT apologize, and that's supposed to be the shocking twist, I guess. It's only getting dumber from here.
Test & Big Bossman v. Ken Shamrock
Shamrock is now a babyface again, which pretty much killed him off. Shamrock attacks Bossman with a spinkick, but gets beaten down by Test. But then Shamrock comes back and gets the anklelock, at which point Bossman walks out on the match and Test taps at 2:00. I guess Test is turning babyface as well now. This is SO Russo, booking handicap matches and then having the heels turn on each other because reasons. Also, Shamrock is feuding with Undertaker but the storyline here is with the Corporation. They might as well just…oh, yeah.
Meanwhile, X-Pac is unsure that Kane is going to show up tonight, and then Shane tries to broker peace between Bossman and Test.
Tiger Ali Singh joins us making remarks about how people "think he should be driving a taxi cab", which is actually an inside baseball reference to abuse he was enduring backstage. He offers $500 to any woman who will come out and massage his feet, so PMS answers, but Tiger clarifies that it's $250 each. At this point, we get the earth-shaking debut of Shawn Stasiak, aka Meat, as he jumps out of the crowd and beats on Tiger. Ridiculously awful and pointless.
The Rock sits down with JR, and he's pretty proud of his plan to lure Austin to the bridge and push him off. Because really, he didn't give a crap about the Smoking Skull belt anyway. JR: "But what if Stone Cold couldn't swim?" Rock: "Well then he'd be in some trouble." The Rock needs no one and doesn't need Shane McMahon as ref to regain the title. JR makes a pretty stupid statement, saying that Shane isn't even "a qualified ref". He started as a referee! He was just working as a referee a few months before this, in fact! The Rock should have smacked him upside the head. Anyway, Austin is a piece of trash and Rock is a man and a half.
The Brood v. Mideon & Viscera
Apparently the Brood split away from the Ministry on RAW as they just keep shuffling the decks with no rhyme or reason. Why did they even join in the first place? Christian & Gangrel double-team Mideon in the corner to start, but he catches Gangrel with a clothesline out of the corner and Viscera comes in to beat on him. Edge tags in and the announcers can't even explain why he's allowed in there, and E&C double dropkick Vis to the floor and Edge hits him with a dive and the Acolytes run in for the DQ at 2:40.
Sable joins us, and you know she's a heel now because she's wearing sunglasses. EVIL sunglasses! So for her own personal safety, she's hired her own bodyguard, Nicole Bass. Sable trying to be a heel was even worse than her babyface role, although it would be academic about three weeks later anyway.
WWF Tag team titles: X-Pac & Kane v. The Rock & HHH
Rock and HHH double-team X-Pac right away, since Kane is late as usual, but X-Pac hits Rock with a spinkick and then goes after HHH. Rock clobbers him from behind and the Corporation double-teams him in the corner, but Kane finally shows up and Owen Hart & Jeff Jarrett and the Outlaws all run in for the DQ at 1:40.
This show was hot garbage with about 5 minutes total of wrestling, and it's only getting worse as we go. Backlash 99 is still on my redo list, though. Thankfully there's only a couple of months left on the Network.


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Christmas is Dec 25th
Christmas flowers from DELICATE TOUCH FLORAL in Hudson, NC are the best way to send Christmas cheer! Flowers and poinsettia plants are a great way to spread joy throughout the season, but also make quick and easy party decor. DELICATE TOUCH FLORAL can help you with any Christmas styles or colors with our Christmas decor accessories. Need a centerpiece or a Christmas wreath for your party? DELICATE TOUCH FLORAL has it, and more!


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Pix courtesy : Facebook Profile of Harsh Desai
Courtesy: Shesha Patangi
The untold story of bus owner Harsh Desai.
The entire country was in a deep state of shock after the biggest attack on Amarnath Yatra Pilgrims in 17 years when a Jammu bound bus from Srinagar with 56 yatris, was attacked.
While media channels are busy glorifying the benevolent deed of a "muslim driver" whose sympathy and bravado saved Hindus, here are some chilling facts that the mainstream media channels chose to happily snub:
1) None of the Muslim Locals or Shopkeepers came forward to help and prove their "Kashmiriyat" any of the 56 pilgrims despite the horrendous tragedy and the bleeding survivors that included tiny tots. It took a "Gujarati Muslim" to break the norm.
2) Leave alone help or intervention, they even scoffed with Kashmiriyat and laughed at the deplorable condition of the victims when approached for help.
3) No Media talks about the fact that Harsh saved Saleem's life. Harsh's presence of mind helped him in pulling Saleem down from the driver's seat when he sensed trouble and suspected that the armed men couldn't be Indian Army Soldiers because of their typical body-language.
4) Harsh locked the doors to prevent the terrorists from coming inside. He knew that unless he did so, death would be inevitable for all. He sustained 3 bullet injuries.
5) He realized that everyone would die if the bus remained there and that they need to escape. IT was he who told the shocked & confused driver Saleem to drive the bus and stop only at military base.
Media Channels converted the biggest Religious Attack on Amarnath Pilgrims since 2002 into a Hyped-Up "Muslim Bravado" Story.
How did the attack unfold on 10th July 2017!!!
5:15 PM : 56 Pilgrims left from Srinagar after Darshan.
6:30 PM : They left Srinagar for Jammu. After about 30 kms of travel in a semi-hilly forest area full of zigzag terrain and curvy roads, the back-tyres got punctured. But they halted only after 5 kilometres where they could find a Mechanic. Everything was normal. Some Yatris got down while most of them were engrossed in chit-chat and sight seeing. After the Tyres were replaced in 25 minutes, Driver Saleem discovered that the none of the tyres had enough air. That consumed another 20 minutes.
7:15 PM : The bus departed for Jammu.
8:30 PM : A group of 5 to 7 gunmen in army dress blocked the road and started walking towards the bus. Suddenly there was a blitzkrieg of bullets sprayed via automatic guns (possibly kalashnikovs). Harsh Desai, who was sitted next to driver, had sensed the trouble and pulled the driver Saleem Down to safety. In the process, Harsh got hit by bullet.
The terrorists surrounded the bus from all directions. Harsh rushed to lock the doors in order to prevent them from entering into the vehicle as that could very well mean death for everyone. But another bullet pierced through his shoulders and he fell down.
Harsh somehow managed to close the door with the help of bus cleaner Mukesh Patel who also got hit by bullet.
Harsh realized that it was not safe for them to stay there so he ordered the driver, Saleem, who as shocked & confused over the sudden attack, to drive the bus and stop only near military base.
"Java do, Java do" (keep moving, keep moving).
Saleem mustered courage and drove the bus to safety and stopped only after they covered a good distance of roughly 2.5 kilometers.
The spot where the bus stopped had several shops nearby. According to a female survivor they were emboldened after seeing the shops. But nobody had the guts to get down. Some of them pleaded with the shopkeepers, "Please help us, several women and children are injured, we are losing a lot of blood! Please call the police!"
But the shopkeepers ignored them, some of them were even laughing and passing comments on the yatris.
No media covered and reported the reality that the local shopkeepers laughed at them and refused to help the survivors! Any Human Rights Activists Around? (And Home Minister Rajnath Singh was praising the Kashmiris & their Kashmiriyat for standing upto the victims.)
Suddenly, Army jeeps arrived and assured them that Nothing will happen to them.
Most of the victims couldn't hold back tears and were crying profusely. They were then airlifted to Surat after being treated in local hospitals.
The night of 10th July 2017 gifted all 49 survivors painful memories that will haunt them for the rest of their lives. Some families couldn't reach back their homes with their loved ones. But atleast the rest of them could because of the presence of mind & bravery shown by bus owner Harsh Desai who got hit by three bullets.
We salute the unsung hero.


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Zoe Karssen returns for Winter 2010 with another strong outing. As comprehensive as ever, the line features the usual tongue in cheek graphics that customers have grown to love and expect from her. Perfect addition to any girls wardrobe in the cold winter months. Zoe also put comfy boyfriend fit sweatshirts into her collection. A natural progression from the staple graphic tee.
The new Zoe Karssen Tee's will be in our stores today, so come to one of our stores and get one for yourself or your girlfriend.. Besides it's a perfect gift for the holidays!


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Pelsall Civic Society is urging villagers to take part in the consultations about the proposed York's Bridge development.
Walsall Council has announced a series of consultations across the borough during March and April so that residents can find out more about the planned scheme for a new bridge to be built alongside the historic York's Bridge in Norton Road.
As part of the scheme, a small area of North Common will be deregistered to make way for building work and Moat Farm Pool on the corner of Wolverhampton Road/Norton Road will be transferred to common land status in a transfer.
Andrew Weller, chairman of Pelsall Civic Society, said: "We would urge all Pelsall residents to attend the meetings and ask questions.
"The Civic Society will be asking our local councillors to arrange public meetings so we can ask questions from a public meeting point of view rather than individual point of view where information can be confusing.
"We ask residents to also ask our councillors to call a public meeting as this proposal affects all village residents."
For more information about the consultation, visit the Walsall Council website, which has a page dedicated to the proposed scheme.


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Last month we reported that the Marine Corps was set to send over a company of M1 Abrams tanks to Helmand to help in its fight against Taliban insurgents there.
In an interview about a week ago with the former commander of RCT-7 in Afghanistan, we got another look at how the Marines plan to use the multi-ton behemoths and how successful they've been in the past. According to Col. Randy Newman, the tanks help in blowing up hardened positions.
From a firepower standpoint, we used Danish tanks up in Nawa, or up in Nawzad when we first went up there back in -- I think it would have been December of '09; I think December 14th, if I remember right -- that we went into Nawzad and we used Danish tanks to help us reduce some hard bunkers that the Taliban and that the enemy had established up there.But as security takes hold in the south, Newman admits the bunker-busting capabilities of the Abrams tanks will be less in demand.
I think there's vast areas of desert in southern Helmand Province that the enemy have rat lines in and that the Afghans utilize for lines of communication. Those areas need to be secured, and they also need to have the enemy's freedom of movement limited on them. I think the tanks would be great assets to use in that area.So let me get this straight -- you want tanks for a mission that's going away, then you come up with a new mission of route security after you've spent the time and money getting 14 of the 70 ton tanks thousands of miles across Pakistan and Afghanistan. Not to call into question the combat tactics of the leathernecks fighting in Helmand, but aren't there several other options available to reducing a Taliban bunker than an Abrams?
I have the sneaking suspicion that this tank deployment may have the makings of a PR stunt. There's been some talk about whether the Marine Corps really needs its tank battalions -- being as how it says its a lightweight, expeditionary force and all. Could this latest deployment to Afghanistan be a way of demonstrating some kind of relevance?
Seems overkill to me to be perching a $4.3 million tank to kill IED emplacers along the ring road.
-- Christian


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BIS Teacher Summer Smore
Meet the Teacher - BISD
Tuesday, Aug. 13th, 5:30-7:30pm
100 Grindstone Road
Millsap, TX
Don't forget to be processing your One Word for this upcoming school year. I have attached the link from our Blog last year.
Great online opportunities - some free! Check it out!
Please be sure and click here for BISD required professional learning expectations.
Upcoming on the Schedule:
ESC 11 Compliance Training Information
These courses are available online at www.ESC11.net . Go to the professional development tab at the top of the ESC 11 home page and click on it. It will open, and you will see a big red button at the bottom right-hand corner of the page that says "compliance." Click on it. You can register for the courses now, and they will open up on June 3rd for you to begin your videos.
Remember, when you log in, you are using your email address and your ESC 11 password, not your school email password.
Open Enrollment Benefits Information
Attached you will find info about our Open Enrollment and benefits provided by Brock ISD. Here is a flyer.
Please make note of the new plans offered:
** Hospital Indemnity Plan is a new plan that will take the place of MedLink. If you are currently on MedLink, you will automatically roll to the new one.
** Disability is a new carrier, Cigna to One America. If you are currently on this plan, you will automatically roll to the new carrier.
** Medical Transportation Solutions is a new plan.
The new Benefit Guide will be posted to the FBS site hopefully in the next couple of weeks. There you will be able to find more detailed information about these new plans.
Open Enrollment is July 22nd thru August 23rd. As always, you will have the option to make changes to your benefits during Open Enrollment. Like last year, FBS reps will be on campus August 7th to assist you with all of your insurance benefits after the convocation. I highly encourage you to see them to go over your benefits even if you don't plan to make a change.
Summer Training Opportunities
August 14th PM - Para support training at Co-op
- Kim, Carla, Peggy, Kristy, Sydney, Camille


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Assassin's Creed® Odyssey
About This Game
Choose your fate in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
From outcast to living legend, embark on an odyssey to uncover the secrets of your past and change the fate of Ancient Greece.
From lush vibrant forests to volcanic islands and bustling cities, start a journey of exploration and encounters in a war torn world shaped by gods and men.
Your decisions will impact how your odyssey unfolds. Play through multiple endings thanks to the new dialogue system and the choices you make.Customize your gear, ship, and special abilities to become a legend.
Demonstrate your warrior's abilities in large scale epic battles between Athens and Sparta featuring hundreds of soldiers, or ram and cleave your way through entire fleets in naval battles across the Aegean Sea.
Experience the action in a whole new light with Tobii Eye Tracking. The Extended View feature gives you a broader perspective of the environment, and the Dynamic Light and Sun Effects immerse you in the sandy dunes according to where you set your sights. Tagging, aiming and locking on your targets becomes a lot more natural when you can do it by looking at them. Let your vision lead the way and enhance your gameplay.
Visit the Tobii website to check the list of compatible devices.
Additional notes:
Eye tracking features available with Tobii Eye Tracking.
System Requirements
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64bit versions only)
- Processor: AMD FX 6300 @ 3.8 GHz, Ryzen 3 – 1200, Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.1 GHz
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 285, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 (2GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 46+ GB available space
- Additional Notes: Video Preset: Lowest (720p)
- OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64bit versions only)
- Processor: AMD FX-8350 @ 4.0 GHz, Ryzen 5 – 1400, Intel Core i7-3770 @ 3.5 GHz or better
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon R9 290, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0) or better
- Storage: 46+ GB available space
- Additional Notes: Video Preset: High (1080p)
How To Install
Assassins Creed Odyssey-CPY
- – Burn or mount the image
– Install the game
– Copy the crack
– Enjoy
Repack Features
- Based on Assassins.Creed.Odyssey-CPY ISO release: cpy-acod.iso (67,249,870,848 bytes)
- Game version is v1.0.6, all released DLCs included and activated (except uPlay rewards)
- 100% Lossless & MD5 Perfect: all files are identical to originals after installation
- NOTHING ripped, NOTHING re-encoded
- Selective Download feature: you may skip downloading and installing of voiceovers you don't need
- Significantly smaller archive size (compressed from 62.6 to 23.2~33.5 GB, depending on selected components)
- Installation takes: ~1 hour on 8-threads CPU; ~2 hours on 4-threads CPU for any single language
- After-install integrity check so you could make sure that everything installed properly
- HDD space after installation: up to 63 GB
- Language can be changed in game settings
- At least 4 GB of free RAM (inc. virtual) required for installing this repack
- ATTENTION! If you're installing this repack under Windows 10, run setup with compatibility set to Windows 7
- Like all my repacks, this one installs with lowered priority to allow you comfort browsing or whatever. This slowers installation a bit. To make it faster, while installing open processes list and change priority for AFR_x64.exe to "Normal" or "Above Normal"