text:
Why does League of Legends make people so mad?
This was the question we were starting answer in the first part of this article. In it, we compared League of Legends to a game with similar team sizes, long play sessions and a critical emphasis on teamwork – Left 4 Dead 2. As a result, we've already found that League of Legends has several prominent aspects to its design that encourage competition and therefore more intense emotions. In this second part of the article, we'll take a look at these two games from the opposite angle – what does Left 4 Dead 2 do to encourage more cooperation and therefore less intense emotions?
One of the things that Left 4 Dead 2 does constantly is reward the player for teamwork. Before I explain how it does that, let me first elaborate on what exactly I mean when I say "rewards." Rewards in games are not as straightforward as points, unlockable content or health items. A reward is anything that is intentionally gratifying to the player. Sandbox games like Grand Theft Auto are an excellent example. You don't get anything helpful by causing random chaos, but the cartoony carnage that ensues is gratifying enough to be its own reward.
In League of Legends, most in-game rewards are centered around destroying the enemy. For example, every time you kill an enemy, you get the statistical rewards we mentioned earlier like gold and experience, but you also get something less tangible.
"You have slain an enemy!"
Hearing the announcer say that is such a gratifying sound that it's almost enough of a reward on its own, but to make it even more satisfying, a huge announcement appears in the middle of the screen telling everyone present that you just smoked somebody. Nice! If you string several kills together, you'll hear the announcer cry, "Double kill!" or "Triple kill!" She even says it with more enthusiasm as the number goes up, peaking at the elusive, "Penta kill!" The other time similar rewards are received are when you destroy enemy buildings, which helps your team claim victory. As you might expect, announcements that carry a twinge of disappointment occur when a teammate is killed, allied structure is destroyed, or you yourself meet your doom. Other less obvious rewards come from things like comedic death animations, the light clinking sound that occurs whenever you receive gold from killing creeps, or even just the sound of a successfully aimed skill-shot – bless your Javelin Toss, Nidalee.
Left 4 Dead 2 has these kinds of rewards as well. When you kill a special infected – which in Versus mode is an enemy player – a game-wide announcement appears on the side of the screen letting everyone know, accompanied by a satisfying sound effect. Another reward for kills is the display of ragdoll physics that follows. Watching a dead hunter twirl past your head like a Frisbee simply doesn't get old. The game's characters sometimes even compliment you on your shooting. So if Left 4 Dead 2 rewards the same kinds of actions as League of Legends, what's the difference? The difference is that it expands these rewards to include actions that demonstrate teamwork. For example, every time someone protects a teammate by shooting a nearby infected that's attacking them, a game-wide announcement is made for that as well saying, "Player 1 protected Player 2," again accompanied by a satisfying sound effect. When someone kills a special infected that has a teammate captured a game-wide announcement is made saying "Player 1 saved Player 2." Now here's where things get subtle. For the player that has been saved, that message saying "Player 1 saved you," is bright blue and appears on the middle of the screen next to a large icon of a shield if the player who saved you isn't visible or if you're recovering from an attack. If they are visible and you've recovered from the attack, that message and icon move to hover over the player that saved you. The same thing occurs for the player who did the saving, with the roles reversed so the message says "You saved Player 2," and the message hovers over the player you saved. Notice that the action that provided the most direct help to a teammate was emphasized the most.
Similar emphasis is placed on players reviving or healing their teammates. When you're reviving or healing a teammate, a meter appears on the middle of your screen labeled "Reviving Teammate" or "Healing Teammate". When you're healing someone, it tells you your target by saying "Target: Player 1." However, for the player being healed or revived, that bit of text changes from "Target" to "Your Savior." When the meter is filled and the healing or reviving action is complete, the "saved" announcement and sound effect occur. However, in addition the characters thank each other as an added reward. Given the focus of the Left 4 Dead franchise on its characters, the significance of this should not be overlooked. Characters also thank each other when given minor healing items like pills or adrenaline shots. As you might expect, this action is also accompanied by a global announcement and positive sound effect. In summation, players are constantly rewarded for actions that help their teammates just as much as they are for killing enemies, sometimes even more so.
Using these almost Pavlovian techniques, Left 4 Dead 2 is constantly urging its players to cooperate rather than compete. As a result, teams are less likely to turn on each other during a match, as everyone feels a shared responsibility for what occurs. When someone goes down, it's not always their own fault, as the game has constantly reminded players that they should protect their teammates. When someone isn't revived in time and bleeds out, everyone feels responsible for similar reasons. The player that died feels bad for dying, but everyone else also feels bad for not reviving them. In this way, the game creates a cooperative environment where both defeat and victory are shared more equally, rather than a competitive environment where blame and credit tend to go to individuals.
Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu was known for – among other things – having an unusual focus around food and drink in his movies. Important conversations between characters often occur over meals or when sharing a quiet drink together. The theory behind this is that mealtime signifies a moment of recovery. It is a small window of calm where people can relax and let their vulnerabilities show without repercussions as they recuperate from the daily grind of their lives. According to Ozu, there is a sense of safety in eating. You don't have to worry about showing weakness, and the people you eat with become the people you trust. Such a theory could, perhaps, explain why most dates include a meal. In Left 4 Dead 2, teammates do not share a meal together, but there are many moments that echo what the meal signifies in an Ozu film. As a result, it provides the players with many opportunities to bond as a team.
Although both League of Legends and Left 4 Dead 2 have very long play sessions, Left 4 Dead 2 is broken up into segments. These segments start and end in areas called Safe Rooms. As the name implies, the enemy team cannot spawn in them and heavy doors prevent AI controlled infected from breaking in. The Safe Room at the beginning of a level is truly a place of recovery. You take a moment to heal your wounds, restock your supplies and just prepare yourself mentally for the round ahead. It should be noted that in Versus mode – as opposed to the single player or cooperative modes – players always start at full health, so there's no need to heal. Even so, just having that moment where you truly don't have a worry in world is a very relaxing feeling. I found it wasn't uncommon for even teams of total strangers to just take their time and chat with their team a little before putting their game faces on and getting the competition underway.
In addition, Left 4 Dead 2 has a lot of moments over the course of a level that evoke a similar feeling. Often, there will be rooms where it's difficult or impossible for the infected team to attack, such as a trailer on the second level of The Parish. In these lesser imitations of a Safe Room, players can again take a moment to relax and lick their wounds while figuring out how they're going to proceed. As with the Safe Rooms, casual conversation often finds its way into these moments and these are the times when teammates tend to get to know each other a little better.
League of Legends doesn't really have an equivalent to Ozu's meals or Left 4 Dead 2's Safe Rooms. In the chat before the game, a team will be focused on their composition as I explained previously and once the game has actually started there's always something to worry about. It takes about two minutes for creeps to spawn when playing a traditional League of Legends game on Summoner's Rift, but even then players don't have much time to lollygag. Setting up protection for your jungler or going after a level one gank will require immediate attention. Sometimes, teams will be content to leave each other alone, which provides about a minute of relaxation. Once that's over, though, forget about it. Time wasted is time better spent on farming creeps or reacting to an enemy push. The only real break players have is when they teleport back to heal or purchase an item, or are killed. Obviously, the latter is not a good thing, and the former is something done alone and kept to a minimum whenever possible. The only time a team can really relax as a together is when they're absolutely obliterating their opponents, and that's really not the same.
Even in that one minute of peace I mentioned earlier, though, League of Legends has another handicap when compared to Left 4 Dead 2 – it lacks in-game voice chat. It's a lot harder to have any sort of casual conversation when you have to willingly remove your ability to play the game effectively to reply to someone. Because of this, a lot of in-game communication is done through pinging, which is when a player temporarily marks a point on the their team's mini-map. This sometimes restricts players to saying little more than "GL HF" when a game starts and "GG" when it ends. Without moments of safety and recovery, team bonding is difficult enough in League of Legends, but without a voice chat, the likelihood of a team of strangers gaining a sense of comradery becomes even slimmer. In fact, players almost never even refer to each other by their screen names while playing. Instead, they refer to each other by the names of the characters they're playing. One could make a strong argument that it's just part of the game's jargon at this point, but the sense of detachment that it symbolizes shouldn't be ignored.
So, at the end of the day, why does League of Legends make people so mad? Clearly, it's not a simple answer. A myriad of factors can be listed, but the gist of it is that League of Legends encourages more competition than cooperation. It's not just the fact that the game takes a long time to play and has small teams that need excellent teamwork to succeed. Left 4 Dead 2 is evidence of that, as it has those traits as well, but creates less aggression and intensity by encouraging cooperation over competition.
I hope that this pair of articles has explained that adequately, because it's important to understand both as an outsider looking in at the League of Legends community and as a player within the community itself. When a player gets mad during a bad round of League of Legends, nothing's wrong with them. They're not an angry person. League of Legends is just built to bring out that kind of emotion. It's neither a bad thing nor a good thing. It's simply intense by design.


text:
I am chuffed to be able to report that the joint project that TTR Steve and I did to rebuild a TTR250 rear shock (and to document the process so as to create a user guide) was successful
The guide is now online click here and, as usual with new guides, feedback will be appreciated!
Now that new shocks are no longer available from Yamaha, it is important that owners have a way to repair their existing shock. If an owner doesn't feel able to do the work themselves then they can find out from the guide the correct parts to buy to give their mechanic to do the job for them.
Any questions, please ask!
Exeter, Devon, UKhttp://www.ttr250.com - The one and only dedicated TTR250 FAQ!
TIP: For easy viewing bookmark the "Recent Posts" view - http://ttr250.activeboard.com/p/recent/
Not a lot of interest in this topic it seems
Is there anyone out there with a shock to rebuild willing to test the instruction?
Alternatively, is there anyone that has done the job themselves and is willing to cast their eyes over the guide and feed back some (hopefully!) constructive criticism? If so, that would be really great
Should have the kits in the shop by the end of the weekend. This is good news that me and Brian did this, as new shocks are no longer available from Yamaha and it is good that owners can check the pressure in their shocks, before they go to a rebuild stage.
Another great how to
Si sólo quiero reemplazar el aceite tengo que desarmar ,,,saludos desde México
I think it would be difficult to fully drain out all of the old oil and replace it with new oil without dismantling the shock - but I could be wrong!
Can I ask why you want to do this?
El TTR es de 1999 y parece que nunca lo antes remplazado en ambas suspensión. México
OK - I understand. Good luck with changing the oil and let us know how you get on please.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alicia Miniature Pine Needle Basket
$ 8.00 $ 11.00
This gem of a basket is cleverly designed with a triangular base and uses delicate raffia stitches to create an distinctive new addition to our growing collection of miniature pine needle baskets. Perfect for tiny treasures.
- Pine needles and raffia
- 3" diameter x 1.25" high


text:
Long list of records to write about, and all too late and after-the-fact now, but this one's a goodie and an interesting snapshot of a nebulous network of which I am but a minor node and so of course I would want to thank the people that drew attention to the Um contribution with some grey writing innit. And innit.
Gonna hopefully expand on this post tomorrow when and if etc. I also wanted to make the point that I did the lyrics in the run-up to the last election and it was kind of addressed to the government of the time. Obviously I'm totally happy wth the current lot.


text:
OekoVision Ethical Investment Fund Focusing on Small and Mid-sized Businesses
The OekoVision mutual fund or investment trust invests primarily in small and mid-sized companies that are ecological and ethical leaders in their sectors and regions, and that have the highest prospects for growth and profitability. OekoVision's asset management is A-rated by Standard & Poor and has received a prestigious Lipper Award.
OekoVision is marketed primarily in the German speaking regions of Europe. The MSCI World Index is the benchmark for OekoVision.
Profitable investments (see chart) are made in quoted companies which produce or trade in environmentally friendly technologies, durable consumer goods, or foods and other produce from certified organic agriculture, or that produce and use renewable energies. Businesses are also eligible if the show a strong commitment to social causes or promote Fair Trade and consumer protection.
OekoVision does not make investments in companies involved in atomic power, military defence or chlorine chemistry, or that allow animal testing, use discriminating practices against people or a active in countries in which human rights are violated.
OekoVision's management at Fortis Bank specialises in the analysis of businesses and searches world-wide for interesting stocks from various sectors for investments that are suitable from a economic and financial perspective. This selection is then screened by the Investment Advisory Board, which is co-chaired by R. Andreas Kraemer.
The independent Investment Advisory Board then assess the application of ethical and sustainable investment criteria, and - where appropriate - makes suggestions for the adaptation of criteria. The Board consists of representatives from organisations engaged in environment and development policy, consumer protection, and of experts in ecologically and socially sustainable economic development.
OekoVision is suitable investors seeking to diversify and are interested in investments in clearly defined and credible, ecological and ethical investment universe, and are looking for an above-average long-term return in an important future market.


text:
As technology progresses, the everyday things we own in our households evolve into bigger, better and more convenient items. The same can be said about our garage doors in general; though its evolution is slow because people have a habit of following a certain saying: if it isn't broken, don't fix it. However, common sense dictates that if the quality of these garage doors were to ever grow exponentially, then garage door replacement is certainly in order.
Still clinging onto your old garage door due to sentimental value? Here are some benefits of owning a garage door with an aluminum frame.
Maintenance is now much easier
Yes, you definitely read that right. Garage door maintenance has now become incredibly easy thanks to the material used in these modern doors. Because of the aluminum, maintenance is now no longer necessary as it lasts as long as it possibly can without the help of the owner. This means that you can now concentrate on more important aspects such as the springs or the garage door motors.
One would think that the use of aluminum frames on the door would actually boost its price up considerably - but when you compare it to steel or an all glass door, it is actually far more affordable. It even rivals some of the more conventional doors in price, which is often more than reason enough to purchase it.
Garage door repair Ho-Ho-Kus experts all agree that when it comes to garage doors, you really can't go wrong with aluminum. It was made to last, is easy to install, is an incredibly affordable options and you actually have to put in far less work in order to keep it in working order. With so many advantages, there really is no reason for anyone not to replace their doors with these new frames.


text:
A few words that describe this story are, 'vibrant', 'confused' and 'unfinished'.
It's a fun tale, it moves at good pace. Its set ten years after the Pied Piper has stolen the children from Hamelyn. While that's a a fab backdrop, the title is baffling. If you're expecting a story about dragons you'll be sorely disappointed. Apart from a very brief cameo, the only dragon in the story is a dracogriff (half dragon, half griffin) who talks and acts like a human.
The hero is, Patch, a failed piper who gets himself into trouble and thrown in jail, the same jail as the Hamelyn Piper. Dragons attack and break the jail walls, killing the Hamelyn Piper and allowing Patch to escape. Adventure ensues, danger is faced and overcome and people turn out not to be who we thought they were.
I say that it's confused because nothing really sits together in any coherent way. Far too much seems to happen by sheer fluke. As the story opens, Patch has no goal at all, certainly nothing that relates to the events at the end of the story (thereby reducing their significance to him). By chance he meets a girl that's been turned it a rat and, again by chance, meets Barver the dracogriff. Mid way through (for no apparent reason other than perhaps to create some tension…) Patch is thrown a prophesy about someone who will betray him. This sort of kicks in later on, but not fully. The plot thread with the Hamelyn Piper is not resolved nor are the effects of the prophesy. By the end of the story, Patch hasn't really changed or learned anything and the book finishes with a line about music which, while obliquely relevant to the story, doesn't really chime with any of its themes. So it's fun but a bit confused and directionless and with a misleading title. It's clearly the first in a planned series, so we can expect resolution of plot lines later but I still feel that a more satisfying arc should have been woven into this first outing.
The world building is good though and the tie-in to the Pied Piper does carry the story well. I'm sure children will enjoy it but it could have been made so much more memorable.
Rating out of 5: ♦♦♦
Suggested age: 7-12 years


text: The PTC Asia Exhibition was finished on Nov.3rd. We had a nice experience there. We really appreciated the all friends came to our showroom, giving us an opportunity to introduce ourselves. We met the old customers and served the new customer here. These will be the most precious memory to us. We are a professional manufacturer for producing rubber o-ring. We can provide your all standard rubber, such as AS568, JIS2401, BS1806, DIN3771, and etc. NBR, FKM, Silicone, EPDM, HNBR are all available. We have CNC center, so we can produce the o-ring by your sizes or drawings. Here we want to share some pictures with you: 1> ↓ This was our venue of PTC exhibition (SNIC). You can see from this pucture, there are many people to visit this exhibition. 2> ↓ This is our Hall -E5 : 3> ↓ This is our booth (Ningbo Jiaodian Sealing Industry Co.,Ltd). CBD is our brand. The red color is our main color, it make our booth jubilant. 4> ↓ These are our ornaments in the showroom. You can see from these pictures, o-ring is our main products. 5> ↓ We are the professional team: 6> ↓ Great thanks to all customers. Our exhibition would not succeed without your highly support. If you have time, we warmly welcome you to visit our factory in Ningbo,China. Please feel free to contact us.


text:
Stunning Basalt black Panamera with unmarked light stone interior , Great specification , Full service history last serviced November 2019 / major service , 20 " Gloss black Porsche alloy wheels upgrade yellow calipers package , Sports design package , Sport mode , Cruise control , 8 way adjustment heated driver & passenger seats with memory , Heated multi-function steering wheel with tip-tronic paddle shift , Stop / start system , Climate control , Speed sensitive power steering , Power operated tailgate , PCM with touch screen navigation / Bluetooth telephone preparation / Bose premium multi speaker sound system with I phone / USB / Aux connectivity , Rear entertainment screens with Aux / USB / Disc / crosslink , Factory privacy glass , Piano black trim , Bi- xenon automatic headlights with wash , DRL LED day running lights , Wheel centres with Porsche crest in full colour , Porsche over mats ,This Panamera is in immaculate condition throughout , Perfect road manners , great performance matched with economy ( 7 speed PDK gearbox 40mpg extra urban ), All service books & manuals present , Will be supplied with 12 months premium national parts & labour warranty , Any inspection welcome , Part exchange welcome , Low deposit finance available on this vehicle , All major debit cards accepted .
Auto Elite are a credit broker and not a lender. We are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA No: 722379 Finance is Subject to status. Other offers may be available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. We work with a number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you finance for your purchase.
Registered Office: Unit 10 , Kelburn Business Park, Woodhall, Inverclyde, PA14 6TD


text:
WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, in the 1980s, we were both teaching at New England schools. It was a dark and snowy night, but the friends and faculty who came out that evening for Sedgwick's lecture at Williams College (where I had recently joined the Romance-languages department) were excited to hear the Amherst professor who had authored the groundbreaking book Between Men: English Literature and Male Homosocial Desire (1985). Sedgwick's talk was a thunderbolt. At a time when "theory" was riveted to analysis of Foucault's power-knowledge axis, her presentation revalued ignorance. In her discussion of Denis Diderot's The Nun, later published in her 1992 essay collection Tendencies, she proposed to "pluralize and specify" ignorance by looking at "psychological operations of shame, denial [and] projection," topics that would preoccupy her throughout her life and
Artforum print subscribers have full access to this article. Please sign in below.
Not registered for artforum.com?
SUBSCRIBE NOW and save up to 65% off the newsstand price for full online access to this issue and our archive.
Order the PRINT EDITION of the September 2009 issue for $17 or the ONLINE EDITION for $5.99.
* This rate applies to U.S. domestic subscriptions.


text:
Hi. If you are reading this post, then I'm guessing you're a writer or at least someone who has a way with words. I'm also guessing you are interested …Read More »
Writers Space Africa (WSA) MAY 2019 Edition| Call For Submissions
Writers Space Africa (WSA) is accepting submissions for her May 2019 Edition Writers Space Africa (WSA), an international literary magazine, published by the African Writers Development Trust (AWDT), is calling …Read More »
2019 African Writers Award | Call For Submissions
Opportunity For African Writers | Submit to Issue II of 20.35 Africa: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry
The arrival of 20.35 Africa: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry—curated by the Nigerian poets Ebenezer Agu, D.E. Benson, Chisom Okafor, Gbenga Adeoba and the visual artist Osinachi—pushed institutional boundaries in …Read More »
Enter 2019 Africa Book Club Short Story Competition
The Africa Book Club Short Story Competition features short stories drawn from contributors across the African continent. It accepts unpublished fiction and creative non-fiction submissions, not exceeding 3,500 words, and whose setting …Read More »
Vanguard Literary Services Calls Submissions For 2019 Valentine's Day Anthology
Nigerian book marketing company Vanguard Literary Services (VLS) is compiling a romance and sexuality-themed anthology, for the 2019 Valentine's Day, and is calling for short story submissions. While the anthology …Read More »
Broken | Poem by Ayomide Tella
BROKEN by Ayomide Tella Flood of tears; dropping like the rain, She feels dejected, shuts the door on all As aching memories of dissent revisit her canal Causing an undeserved …Read More »


text:
Ethos & Styles of Yoga with Ingela in Ross
Ethos: I believe in what I like to call "Guilt-Free Yoga". This basically means that there are no class term commitments; there's no required pre-payment of blocks of classes and you only attend when the Spirit of Yoga moves you! Hopefully this means that I get to see a lot of you but we all know ,"Life Happens" so just relax and be present when you can.
Style of Yoga: I teach a combination of many different disciplines of Yoga with a driving passion for sharing the knowledge and the positive effects of a regular practice. The style of Yoga is a lively mixture of Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow. The aim is to learn to "feel" yoga : not to "do" yoga.
Levels: The level of classes varies depending on the students and their previous experience.
Please refer to the 'Class Schedule' tab for more details of classes and times.
Summing it Up: No matter what level of student you are, just starting out or a seasoned Yogi, I will share my knowledge and experience in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. We have plenty of giggles along with a lot of active teaching and emphasis on alignment. My goal is to impart confidence and energy to all students.. with a big smile and a light heart!


text:
Explore Point Sublime
0.1 miles 20 ft gain - Out-and-Back Trail
Added by Jeremy Meek
Point Sublime requires a bit of work to get to, but after traversing the 14 miles of narrow, rocky roads you will be rewarded with an unprecedented view of the Grand Canyon. It is truly sublime: of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.
Its name says it all; this panoramic viewpoint at the north rim of the Grand Canyon is sublime: of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. For newcomers to the Grand Canyon, this view might just leave you speechless!
A relatively few people get to experience Point Sublime, largely due to the rough and narrow 14 mile dirt road that needs to be traversed to reach this epic viewpoint. For those that don't have a high clearance vehicle that they don't mind getting a bit scratched up (you will need to get it buffed afterwards!), you could mountain bike out to Point Sublime from the vicinity of the Grand Canyon North Rim Lodge. Whether driving or cycling, from State Route 67 just a couple miles north of the Lodge, turn west on to the road signed as "Widforss Trail". This quickly turns into the road to Point Sublime and all signage adjusts accordingly. The first 3 miles is an easy and well maintained dirt road. Miles 4-10 are much rougher and quite narrow (see example photo included in this post). Be careful on your drive out and keep an eye out for wildlife (bison roam this area!).
If you are familiar with the road, have a great off road vehicle, and the road conditions are good, you could make this drive in 45 minutes one way. Most people will take 90-120 minutes one way, taking a leisurely pace stopping at a viewpoint or two along the way. Drive safe and keep in mind places behind you that you could reverse and pull over to let someone pass, in the event you encounter someone driving the opposite direction while on a narrow portion of the road.
For the yoga enthusiasts among us, it would be hard to find a better place than Point Sublime to practice yoga; sunrise or sunset would be epic!
Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!
Nearby Adventures
Backpack Hermit Trail into the Grand Canyon
16 miles 4000 ft gain
Photograph a Sunset from the North Rim Lodge
0.5 miles
Hike to Ribbon Falls in Grand Canyon NP
16.8 miles 4521 ft gain
Backpack the Grand Canyon: Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim
47 miles 10141 ft gain


text:
Did you know that 80% of new QuickBooks users are choosing QuickBooks Online versus QuickBooks Desktop?
It's the way the world is moving, so many platforms are cloud-based, and it's hard to beat the convenience and ease-of-use – however, it may not be for everybody (yet).
QuickBooks Desktop still holds a major advantage over QBO (QuickBooks Online) when it comes to inventory and job costing – better, more in-depth reporting as well as all the mechanics to truly run a full and accurate inventory. However, the online version offers much more in the way of automation. You can automatically schedule and send transactions, your bank automatically imports transactions into QBO each night, and you can easily setup custom rules so QBO knows how to categorize transactions. You can also attach documents, images and signatures to areas of QBO for greater backup and storage utilization. And then there are the 3rd party Apps that can integrate making life seamless and easy – for the most part.
The Details
In terms of pricing, you're looking at a monthly fee for using QuickBooks Online, somewhere in the range of about $25 to $75 per month depending on a few factors but that monthly fee would be all inclusive. When purchasing QuickBooks Desktop software, the price is anywhere from $300 for the Pro (we don't recommend) up to $1155 for the Enterprise version. Yes, this is a one-time purchase… until they require you to upgrade it every 36 months usually for a little more money. Also, you'll need to make sure that you're backing up the QB file after every time you use it so as not to lose any data. Where you choose to store these backups may be an additional fee, not to mention the time and remembering to do so.
Finally, Intuit is noticeably investing more into their QBO software than they are in their Desktop software and have started to discontinue some of their Desktop versions.
If you're on the fence about which one to go with, call us at Spark! We'll know what to do!
Additional posts that may interest you


text:
As a parent of two young ones, (a 3-year old and an 18 month old) the winter months can be tough when looking for activities that hold their attention.
There's only so much time to be played inside before the cabin fever sets in. I mean, there's only so much Peppa Pig and Handy Manny to be seen. Although, I think my 3-year old would disagree. Now, there's certainly no shortage of activities available for kids in our area, but keeping them interested is key.
This past weekend we were invited to attend "Playtime at the Palace" at the Palace Theater and I think we've got a winner.
In its second season, Playtime at the Palace is a weekly series featuring live music, puppets, slapstick, and more.
This past weekend featured the a National Circus Project, a three piece troupe of jugglers, hula hoopers, plate spinners and more. The large crowd was dazzled as this threesome of circus performers entertained with a circus like show on the UpStage at the Palace.
The coming weeks will bring a range of acts from puppet shows and silent slapstick to magic, story times, and even some rock music.
Btw: playtime at the Palace is a great place to celebrate your little ones bday! The kids get VIP treatment, including a meet & greet with the performers – click her for more.
Entertainers are sure to charm families with up-close-and-personal performances on Sunday afternoons. Check out this schedule:
Sunday, February 15
How To: Puppet Show
Kids get hands-on training with professional puppeteers from Monkey Boys Productions (from Nick Jr.'s Go, Diego, Go Live!) to make their own puppets and perform a full-on puppet show – in just an hour!
Sunday February 22
1:00pm & 3:00pm
Silent Slapstick
Your kids will laugh themselves silly at this program of uproarious '20's comedy films, presented with a live pianist! Lincoln Center's famous silent film accompanist/historian, Ben Model, improvises original scores for 3 short slapstick silent comedies – an ideal opporunity to introduce youngsters to inventive visual humor. Presented in the Palace Cinema!
Sunday, March 8
Hatched: Life on the Farm
Hatched is the delightful musical story of a newborn chick emerging from her shell at sunrise to a strange and busy world. Performed through lively movement, handcrafted puppets and sprightly songs, the story is set amidst an American family farm. Fantastic fun for the whole family!
Sunday, March 22
Bari Koral Family Rock Band
Refreshing simplicity and tuneful bounce mark this collection of splendid pop-rock songs for the wee set from singer-songwriter Bari Koral, who can write a clap-along song with the best of them ("Clap It!) and capture a young child's "I'm a big kid now," lunch-packing pride ("Backpack Song") with her expressive pop soprano.
Sunday, March 29
Magical Stories
Enjoy a rich tapestry of unforgettable stories from Ireland, England and Scotland about magic fairies, goblins, notorious kings and fearless princesses! Great for ages 4 and up.
Mara McEwin,Storyteller
Roderick Jackson, Drummer
Sunday, April 12
The Amazing Max & The Box of Interesting Things
PBS Kids calls The Amazing Max "an awesome & hilarious live magic show" and the Huffington Post says "his ability to astound is something to see!" The show bursts with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation. Magician Max Darwin makes objects appear out of thin air, defies the laws of physics and performs miracles inches from spectators' faces!


text:
How Big Pharma, the CDC and Big Medicine Have Deceived Us
What People Need to Know About Flu Shot Propaganda - "The CDC falsely claims that 36,000 people die from the flu every year in the
What People Need to Know About Flu Shot Propaganda - "The CDC falsely claims that 36,000 people die from the flu every year in the
In his iconic anthem "The Times They Are A-Changin'" (1962), Minnesota's Bob Dylan immortalized the totally logical imperative ("don't criticize") that admonishes those who want
Dogs are considered to be "man's best friend" and for many reasons, they love unconditionally, make great comfort keepers and companions, they don't talk back
It has been only a decade since I really started studying vaccine science in some depth. That was much too late for many of my
The issue of Healthcare in America is front and center again just in time for the 2020 election. The Affordable Healthcare Act, known as ObamaCare, has
For profit corporations don't pledge the Hippocratic Oath like physicians and nurses used to do. And the only "ethical" duty of corporations is a fiduciary
How to explain California US House of Representative (and Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) Adam Schiff's March 1, 2019 demand that Jeff
An internet troll is a person who starts quarrels or tries to upset people on the internet to distract and sow discord by posting inflammatory
Any journalist (medical or otherwise) - or physician or nurse, for that matter - worth his or her salt will study this document and report
Following is my response to an average American, of average intelligence and gullibility, who is also a brain-washed "true believer" in Big Pharma's propagandistic "Big
Medical writer and vaccine immunology expert Vinu Arumugham has written one of the best articles concerning the issue of vaccine toxicology that I have ever
In 2017, President-elect Donald Trump sent pharmaceutical stocks into a nosedive by speaking an important truth. Drug companies, he said, are "getting away with murder" with their


text:
The Blunderbuss is a ranged weapon added by Balkon's Weapon Mod. It is less advanced than the musket, but more advanced than the bow with a standard arrow. However, it is the most powerful short-range non-melee weapon.
The blunderbuss is a decent firearm, but has a few drawbacks compared to the bow and musket. The bow shoots much faster and the musket does more damage. On the other hand, the blunderbuss fires a scattershot like a shotgun, making it VERY deadly at close range. However, attacking very dangerous mobs with a blunderbuss is not advisable, as this range will probably not give you an opportunity to back off and reload before being hit, and has a small chance of back-fireing during high usage. On the upside, shots are cheaper to make than the musket rounds, and the blunderbuss reloads faster.
Gun ShotEdit
Blunderbuss shots are relatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to musket rounds, as they use common gravel instead of iron ingots for the projectile.


text:
Big Boys Moving and Storage
13605 W Hillsborough Ave,
Tampa, FL 33635
Monday – Sunday
© 2020 Big Boys Moving and Storage. Any/all domain names forwarded here are for marketing purposes only. Moving Services provided Intrastate in Florida. Big Boys Moving is registered with the state of Florida as a mover. Fla. Mover Reg. No. 1226. Design: OPM


text:
Beech forests listed as UNESCO World Heritage destroyed in Zakarpattia
20:34, 03 September 2015Economy
251 0
Beech forests inscribed on the World Heritage list are being cut down, according to Deutsche Welle.
Please Subscribe For Full Access
UNIAN Web subscription
Get a complete information picture of the day by subscribing to UNIAN's news feeds.
For more information, please call:
+38 (044) 354-28-06
If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter


text:
Introducing FRN
Despite my health issues, I've been working on a new project this week. It's now ready enough that I can formally tell you about it, though links to it have been turning up in sidebars and footers on this site already.
Announcing FRN, a blog about trains and the people crazy about them.


text:
Excavators are a type of heavy hydraulic machine which uses a dipper, boom and bucket on a platform which rotates with wheels or tracks on the bottom. Its main purpose is the digging of holes, trenches or foundations, but they can also be used for forestry mulching, mining and the handling of materials. These machines are a mainstay of construction projects since they are flexible, simple to operate, and use both electric and pneumatic control systems. CMS Funding provides the most competitive leasing rates for this equipment that you'll find anywhere.
About Our Excavator Leasing Solutions
Consistent growth and profitability is the goal of most enterprises, and CMS Funding plays a key role in making this happen. We accomplish this by offering practical leasing solutions which can help you acquire the excavators needed to complete your project on time and within budget. These machines can be used for river dredging, demolition, snow removal, the driving of piles and brush cutting. Our team of experienced account managers can speak with you to help develop a leasing plan which is specific to your business needs.
Benefits of Excavator Leasing Solutions
The most important benefit you'll gain from leasing rather than buying heavy equipment are the substantial savings. Not only is heavy equipment very expensive to buy outright, it has to be upgraded every few years, which drive up the costs further. Many firms, especially startups, simply do not have the funding needed to do this, and will run into cash flow disruptions if they attempt to do so.
This is why the services provided by CMS Funding are so important. By leasing excavators through us, you will free up a tremendous amount of capital and funding which can then be applied to more important things like marketing and the expansion of your business. Best of all, using our leases can make your organization eligible for tax exemption.
What CMS Funding Offers for Excavator Leasing
Here is a list of our excavator lease service features:
- Application only up to $150,000
- Simple one-page application
- Terms ranging from 24 to 84 months
- Master lease lines of credit
- Fast 24-hour credit approvals
- Prefunding options
- Flexible terms and deferred payment options
- 100% financing (including soft costs)
- Finance and operating Leases
- … and more!
Lease Excavators with the Help of CMS Funding Today
Over the last twenty years CMS Funding has established itself as New Jersey's number one leasing provider for heavy equipment. We've helped businesses of all sizes get the tools they need to get their projects done on schedule and without the costly overruns which are all too common in the construction business. All of the applications we receive are processed within twenty four hours, as we've developed a fast, efficient, and hassle free system that values the time of our customers.
If you have any inquiry about our leasing solutions for excavators, do not hesitate to fill out our online form or call us at (855) 793-8637 to learn more. You may also send an email to email@example.com.


text:
Welcome to the "Brilliant Bunch" Second Grade Class!
We Work Each and Every Day the "Wildcat Way" with Swag!
Mrs. Polhamus
Please feel free to contact me at anytime as your child's safety, happiness, and learning success are my first priority!
Mrs. Polhamus
Dear "Brilliant Bunch" Families,
I look forward to a final Zoom meeting on Thursday, June 11th at 12:00 p.m. Our Theme will be Summer Attire, Popsicles, and our Favorite Second Grade Memories!
On June 12th, from 11:00am-12:00pm, second grade families are invited to pick up classroom materials and to close out the school year with a car parade with their teacher! I have packed each student's Roar to Success Binder, Folders, Composition Books, Handwriting Book, Pencil Boxes, Art Work, and Personal Belongings from their Cubbies, and Preordered Year Books.
Please see the following chart detailing the exact location to drive to in order to pick up your child's materials:
June 12th
Front of Building
Bus Loop
Please pay close attention to the time and location of your child's teacher! There will be no other time to pick up materials, so please coordinate with a neighbor or friends if you are unable to attend these times. For the safety of both your family and our staff, please stay in your car throughout the drop-off, car parade, and pick-up processes.
Please see the attached Instructional Calendar for the week of June 8th, Our Brilliant Bunch Father's Day Coupons, "B.B." Father's Day Diamante Template, "B.B." Father's Day Diamante Final, and the flyer for the June 12th's Car Parade.
Once again thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and support throughout this school year and the end of school year process.
Warmest Regards, Thoughts, and Prayers,
Marylouise Polhamus
Brilliant Bunch Online Learning Resources:
Pebblego Website / Pebblegonext - Online Reading,Science,& Social Studies
A wonderful resource for Inquisitive Minds! Second grade has utilized this web site to enrich our studies in science and social studies. The Brilliant Bunch LOVES this resource and will enjoy furthering their knowledge base of Famous Americans, States of Matter, and then SOME MORE LEARNING!
Pebble Go appears to designed primarily for grades K-2 and Pebble Go Next for upper grades. Please take a moment to share and explore this amazing resource with your children.
Raz-Kids Online Reading
Raz-Kids is a free online leveled student reading program with interactive eBooks and reading quizzes which students may access online or through a mobile app.
This incredible resource provides our second-grade students the opportunity to access hundreds of books within a uniquely leveled individual library created by their teacher.
As the year progresses, teachers will adjust Raz-Kids reading levels as needed to ensure students are accessing books they can read with ease and independently.
This is a great way to make reading fun at home
Go to Raz-Kids log in page, click on kids login, if you don't go in through thiis link, you may have to type in mpolhamus0, and your child's name. Next, your child will type in their password (name+ numeric birth date-month and day i.e.Marylouise0218) to gain access to a multitude of leveled books to read.
IXL Math
We are excited to utilize and share IXL with our second-graders and their families. IXL is a comprehensive learning program offering unlimited math practice across thousands of skills—all of which are aligned to Virginia SOL. One of the best things about IXL is that your child can access it from home, so you have a chance to see your child's progress! Your teacher will provide you all the information you need to get your child started.
IXL is designed to help your child learn at his or her own pace. The program is adaptive and will adjust based on your child's demonstrated understanding of the material. Your child's results will be saved, so you can monitor his or her progress anytime by clicking on Analytics. For on-the-go practice, you can download IXL's free tablet apps for iPad, Android, or Kindle and sign in with your child's username and password.
We hope you'll encourage your son or daughter to use IXL regularly. Please go in through Clever and use your child's State ID number as a username and password.
Some of the optional activities require students to use their Clever accounts to access the videos on Brainpop Jr.. To get to Clever you will need to go to the BMES webpage, click on students, and click on Clever. Once you are in Clever you can click on login with Office 365 and use student email and password to access online resources. If your child does not have their student email or password information, then please reach out to your teacher and they can provide it to you.
IBPYP-Sharing the Planet
Central Idea-All living things are dependent on people using resource responsibly.
IBPYP-Famous Americans and Matter
Transdisciplinary Theme-How we organize ourselves
Central Idea-All people and things contribute to change.
Lines of Inquiry
Questions to Think About-
IBPYP Learner Profiles:
I care about people, plants, animals, and the Earth. I help others and I look after the environment.
I can share my ideas with others in many ways, and in more than one language. I listen to others.
I look after my mind and body. I try to stay healthy and happy.
I have confidence to try new things. I stand up for the things I believe in.
I listen to other people and respect their ideas.
I tell the truth and I'm fair. I share and play well with others.
I think carefully and show initiative. I make good decisions and I am a problem solver.
I know about many things and I remember what I have learned.
I am curious. I enjoy learning. I try to find out new things.
I think about my own work. I know when I have done well and when I could have done better.
RAZ Kids Online Reading
RAZ Kids is a free online leveled student reading program with interactive eBooks and reading quizzes which students may access online or through a mobile app.
As the year progresses, teachers will adjust Raz Kids reading levels as needed to ensure students are accessing books they can read with ease and independently.
This is a great way to make reading fun at home. Go to www.kidsa-z.com, click on kids login, type in mpolhamus0, and your child's name. Next, your child will type in their password (name+ numeric birth date-month and day example: Marylouise0218) to gain access to a multitude of leveled books to read J
Blue Communication Folders:
Beginning Monday 9/11 & Friday 9/15 and every other Monday & Friday that follows, you will find all your child's graded classwork, quick checks, quizzes, and/ or tests will be sent home via their individual "Blue Communication Folder."J
Each Friday, you can expect a newsletter outlining "Important Notes, Announcements, Upcoming Dates, Curriculum Information and Assessments for the upcoming week." Please use this newsletter to support the success of your child and his or her learning goals!
Study Guides
A study guide for our social studies unit on "Civics" was sent home last week. If you have not received a study guide, please request one from your child's teacher. Occasionally, a math study guide may come home at the beginning of a unit, as well. These are simply to afford you, the parents, to see what our academic focus is in class. It is a tool for you to use with your child to review and practice at home. The study guides do not need to be returned to class at any point. Please don't have your child complete all the activities the first day they bring it home, because all concepts and skills may not have yet been taught in class. We encourage you to wait and have your child work on potential activities at the back of the packet a night or two before an upcoming quiz or test!
IBPYP Learner Profiles:
I am curious and I enjoy learning. I try to find out new things.
I think about my own work. I know when I have done well and when I could have done better.
IBPYP Learner Attitudes:
Basic Math Facts:
If your child has not yet mastered basic math facts to 12, please be sure to support him or her at home with flash cards, manipulatives, and/or basic counting games. As we continue to teach more challenging math objectives in second grade these fundamentals will be necessary for success with computational fluency and accuracy.
Weekly Communication
Each Monday & Friday you will find all your child's graded classwork, quick checks, quizzes, and tests being sent home via the "Blue Communication Folder."
Each Friday, you can expect a newsletter outlining Important Notes, Announcements, Curriculum Information and Assessments for the upcoming week. Please use this newsletter to support your child in his/her learning.
Sincerest thanks for the lovely "Brilliant Bunch" Valentine's Day! Love was in the air on this very special day in our second-grade class. I greatly appreciated spending the day with the "B.B." filled with Valentines and "Sweet Acts of Kindness." Lovely and generous thoughts were enjoyed by all!
I especially appreciated the beautiful words of appreciation, homemade cards, gourmet chocolates, roses, Pentomino's, Sharpie Markers, Mechanical Pencils, and a bounty of other thoughtful gifts! Hearts and Lots of Love, Mrs. Polhamus


text: I went and saw Dick Dale last night...it totally rocked!!! Richie had to work early today so he didn't go but my friend Shawn and I went together. I got Dick Dale to sign a poster for me and he gave me a kiss on the cheek. I also bought a kick ass shirt. Richie, our friend Adam, and I are going to go see him tomorrow night. I tried to go see him about 8 years ago but the show ended up being 21 and up...I was only 19 at the time. I'm so happy I will be able to see him twice and all in the same week!


text:
Fabulous photographic card featuring an up close and personal portrait of penguins, one of our beautiful iconic species. Blank inside to write your own special Christmas greetings.
Printed on FSC® certified card from a responsible source, with AZO free dyes and packed in biodegradable cello wrap.
Image credit: ©NaturesMomentsUK
Size 125mm x 125mm
Pack of 10, one design, two penguins


text:
Build a workforce for a digital future
Standing still is moving backwards
In an ever-changing world, continuous learning is an absolute necessity. Employers need to invest in upskilling and reskilling initiatives. If you want to create a culture of learning and growth, Tobania.Academy is your wingman. Personal development is the key.
Discover your strengths
We organise guidance and training programmes for employees in digital organisations. Talent scans boost self-awareness and personal growth. Our expert trainers provide guidance from their own practical experience. Our leadership programmes inspire the leaders of tomorrow to reach their highest potential and to maximise the employee motivation.
A blended learning approach
We offer a large number of digital experts, who cover their own specific subject. Doing so, we can provide a unique range of training courses in the digital field. It's all about being digital without losing touch with the human skills. Let's blend it!
Facts and figures
Coffees a day
Need to build a bridge between business and IT?
Enter your email address below
Thank you for your interest! We will contact you soon.


text:
Online shopping is the thing in which you may face some of the mistakes. This happens with people and causes a headache for them. Due to this problem a vast number of people feel hesitation in shopping online from online stores. But don't be irritant because here emerges iShop Global which entreats you to experience the services and feel the difference. We never let you down in any case. If you experience any error from our side for instance :
Then no need to feel sorry for that but we're always here to compensate your loss. You are freely allowed to resend the package and we'll deliver you the right one.
For the relaxation of our customers we've established a policy about the return of package. This helps you a lot to get rid of the aches of the mistakenly sent items. Because we focus on your satisfaction. All you need to do is to follow these steps :
And remaining work you just leave on our shoulders. We'll deliver you your things in your doorstep as soon as possible.
As we're offering you the facility of cash on delivery that you can pay at the time of receiving your packages. Then you need not to worry if you get a different item mistakenly. Because you will have your money in your hands. Only you'll have to pay the return shipping fee and you will return the package to our warehouse.
Another thing that we facilitate you in is that if you have paid all the charges earlier then we'll refund your money in case of any issue. You can freely ask for your right and we'll definitely act upon what we've claimed. We only think of your satisfaction and ease because your satisfaction comes first.
We courteously look for your experience of iShop Global because unless and until you don't experience the services you won't be able to believe what we say. You can compare the return package facility of our store with other online stores and surely you will feel the difference because our policy is Simole and plain as compared to other online stores. They have got a complicated and confusing sort of a policy which irritates you a lot. But our policy always attracts the customers due to its simplicity and fineness. We're always sure of our words because we never step back from our words. We'll warmly welcome you and wish you the best of your times here being the customers of iShop Global.


text:
This should be my last Valentine's Day related post this year…I think! No promises. I kind of went all out on the blog this year for Valentine's Day. I just adore holiday's and any excuse to celebrate! I love getting my nails done according to what holiday is nearest, so today I'm bringing you 10 adorable Valentine's Day inspired nail art designs! I'm sure a lot of people will be going to the nail salon this week, I know I will.. hopefully this will give you some inspiration! XOXO enjoy!♡
Wishing everyone a great Valentine's Day this year! Spend this time with the person/people you love! ♡
Disclosure Statement: The above images do not belong to www.melissalucy.com and I do not claim ownership of these images. They are property of Pinterest. No copyright infringement intended. Will remove if necessary. Thank you.


text:
With the evolution toward to NGN, packet services will play as a more important role, but MSTP based on SDH is still the most widely used in transmission network. FiberHome's new generation MSTP solution fully takes requirements of MSTP practical application into consideration and makes highly effective improvements on MSTP configuration, security, packet service encapsulation , dynamic bandwidth allocation, QOS guaranree and adaptability to next generation network etc., further optimizing MSTP metro transport network.
- High-effective packet service processing capability
- Super cross/switching capability and system capacity
- Perfect protection measures
- Powerful integrated network management platform
- Smooth migration into next-generation optical transport network


text:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
My best friend & i live 8 hours away from one another. Im in Dallas/ Ft. Worth & she lives in New Orleans. It has been like this for a whole year now & it doesn't get any easier. I still miss the little things like going on car rides & listening to "our songs", getting caramel frappuccinos with extra caramel (she never finished hers so she would always leave the whip cream on the bottom for me.) We have been best friends for 3 years and both of us have changed so much & our circunstances have changed drastically. But i know no matter what even when i live on a different contenent we will always stay in contact with each other, maybe not on a daily basis, but i always know she will be there for me.
So to Lexie, I know i some times don't listen t you, or when you tell me something it doesn't always click right then! I know that can be frustrating for you, but i hope with all the frustrating parts that the good always weighs out the bad & i will always ALWAYS be there for you, because i am your best friend and you dont ever have to apoloigize for anything. I love you & i think that you are absolutely beautiful( have u seen those legs OW!) inside and out.
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Facebook Community Help Can Now Be Used by Companies to Contact Users
Facebook has added another feature to its Community Help tool that would allow businesses and nonprofits to reach out to users during a crisis.
The company announced the update in a blog post published Thursday.
Companies and nonprofit groups can inform those in a crisis-hit area about relief services and volunteer opportunities.
A Mashable report said Direct Relief, Feeding America, Save the Children, the California Department of Forestry and Fire, ride-hailing company Lyft, and Chase are among the first ones to take advantage of the feature.
Asha Sharma, who is the product lead of Social Good for Facebook, said: "Enabling organizations and businesses to post in Community Help will give them a new way to reach communities impacted by crises."
About Community Help
Community Help was launched in February last year and is tied to the Safety Check feature of the social network.
(Read: Facebook Creates Community Help Tool so Users Can Aid Each Other After Disasters)
Community Help users can ask for and offer help after marking themselves "Safe" during a crisis.
Once a user marks himself or herself as safe on Facebook, it will lead to a page that shows safety statuses of other people and posts from those offering and looking for help in the area.
During Community Help's launching in New York, Naomi Gleit, vice president of Social Good at Facebook, told Mashable: "Community Help is the next evolution of Safety Check. You might be safe, but that doesn't mean you don't need help."
(Read: Facebook's Safety Check Feature Now Rests Solely in the Hands of Its Users)
What's Next?
Companies and nonprofit groups can now get in touch with users who may need help through a new feature of Facebook's Community Help tool during a crisis.
What can you say about the initiative? Share your thoughts by commenting below.


text:
EventsView all Articles
"Lacaton & Vassal / inhabiting: pleasure and luxury for everyone" exhibition at AUT
August 15, 2018
The architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, winners of the latest BigMat International Architecture Award are among the internationally most important representatives of a "pragmatic" and at the same time social architecture that questions the economic as well as the ecological foundations of building.
They see the creation of open areas and "luxurious" living spaces as one of the main tasks of their architecture. Thanks to simple and industrial materials, they succeed in generating affordable and architectonically high-quality living space. In their first project, the single-family House Latapie from 1993, they already formulate the basic features of their further work. An adapted greenhouse construction is pulled over a simple wooden structure and defines a climatic shell that acts as a winter garden or extended living space. In this way, 185 m2 of usable space arose for what was then just over 55,000 Euros. The greenhouse theme subsequently assumes a central role in their work, because there is hardly a project that does not take up certain elements or set pieces of this industrial horticultural product.
Practical Information
"Lacaton & Vassal / inhabiting: pleasure and luxury for everyone"
June 22 – October 6, 2018
AUT. Architektur und Tirol
Lois-Welzenbacher-Platz 1, Innsbruck
This also applies to the experimental terraced housing estate Cité Manifeste in Mulhouse – an internationally acclaimed project by Lacaton & Vassal which was already on display at aut in 2005. Here an oversized greenhouse construction rests on an exposed concrete base. Costly details were deliberately omitted and only two-thirds of the constructed volume is thermally insulated, while the remaining space can be climatically controlled by the inhabitants with the help of flexible elements. Of the five commissioned architecture teams, they most radically fulfilled the demand for more space, not only because they constructed almost double the volume of the usual standard in social housing, but also because the loft-like apartments allow plenty of latitude for individual appropriation. At the same time, the usual clichés of the users are challenged and the maxim of space reduction in social housing is called into question.
In their study PLUS, published in 2004 with Frédéric Druot, Lacaton & Vassal oppose the demolition and transformation of large housing estates from the 1960s and 1970s. They react to plans by the French government to replace 200,000 residential buildings
from this period with new ones by showing that conservation and conversion are more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. On the basis of this concept, they converted several high-rise residential buildings in France with simple strategies and with the participation of the residents. These structures are technically redeveloped while in full operation and the apartments are extended by a spatial layer consisting of a winter garden and a balcony placed in front of them—without raising the rent.
Using projections of numerous buildings and studies, the exhibition shows the social and sustainable approach of the two architects and opens up conceptual alternatives to current discussions in social housing. Through the large projected photos of the transformed spaces, the quality of their stance becomes directly perceptible. Several architectural concepts of public buildings and their design methodology will additionally be presented via slideshows. In the aut lounge, a photograph of the interior of the Palais de Tokyo conveys an almost true-to-scale impression of the architect's attitude in dealing with historical building fabric. The exhibition is complemented by books and project documentation by Lacaton & Vassal and two lectures by the architects presented on screens.
Anne Lacaton
born 1955 in France; 1980 graduated from the school of architecture of Bordeaux; 1984 diploma of urbanism at the University of Bordeaux; 1989 co-founded the Paris based architectural practice Lacaton & Vassal; visiting professor: 2007 – 13 at the University
of Madrid, Master Housing; 2004, 2006 and 2010 – 11 at the EPFL Lausanne; 2012 at the University of Florida; 2013 at the University of NY-Buffalo; 2013 – 2014 at the Pavillon Neuflize OBC-Palais de Tokyo; 2016 – 17 in Harvard GSD and at the TU Delft; since 2017 she is professor at the ETH Zurich
Jean-Philippe Vassal
born 1954 in Casablanca, Morocco; 1980 graduated from the school of architecture of Bordeaux; 1980 – 85 worked as urban planner in Niger (West Africa); 1989 co-founded the Paris-based architectural practice Lacaton & Vassal; visiting professor: 2007 – 11 at the TU Berlin, 2010 – 11 at the Peter Behrens School of Arts in Düsseldorf and the EPFL Lausanne; 2013 – 14 at the Pavillon Neuflize OBC-Palais de Tokyo; since 2012 he is professor at the College of Fine Arts in Berlin.
News source: AUT. Architektur und Tirol
Subscribe here to get weekly updates about architecture events and exhibitions.


text:
The Epiphone DR-100 Acoustic Guitar
Epiphone is now creating more of a reputation for itself with their quality guitars. No longer are they considered the affordable copies of other famous brands. With the DR-100, you can expect more than what you invest in and is regarded as one of the elites in its price range.
New Standards For Beginner Guitars
What's impressive about the Epiphone DR-100 is that you get more than what you expect from its price range. You have the mahogany back and sides, a solid spruce top, and the decent tonewoods that helps the guitar's tone improve as it ages. And the best part is that it comes at the entry-level price but can be used for performances or backups while traveling.
Epiphone creates the new standards for affordable acoustic guitars thanks to the DR-100. Priced like a beginner guitar but versatile enough to be played by both amateurs and advanced players, you have an instrument you won't want to give up anytime soon.
Ideal For Either Beginner or Professional
Like mentioned, you have the incredibly adorable guitar but with the real and quality materials that produce the sweet sounds. It's beginner-friendly but can also be used by professional players thanks to its design!
It has the SlimTaper neck shape which is ideal for beginners or young players. Seasoned and advanced players will appreciate the preferred neck shape that makes it easy to play. Another excellent part of the DR-100 is that it has the ambidextrous design that makes it compatible for both right and left-handed people to play with.
Whether you would like to play it for practice at home or performances, the sound and design will look perfect while performing its best. All this without breaking the bank!
Excellent Tone
Despite its low price, the Epiphone DR-100 delivers the warm and mellifluous sound over gritty undertones. You can describe this as sweet thunder, with the rich and full sound impressing many players. Plus, there are no issues with buzzing or dead frets, so enjoy smooth and comfortable playing all throughout your practice!
Thanks to the Mahogany and Rosewood combination, you can expect sweet, complex highs and the thick and creamy lows. It also has the solid spruce top for clear sounds, making it the ideal formula for beautiful music. However, the mid is a bit lacking, which is not a significant issue.
Classic and Sturdy Build
There is nothing that needs improvement with the dreadnought shape, so Epiphone gives the guitar a unique feature with the mix of mahogany, spruce, and rosewood. With a blend of these three, you have the bright sounds and balanced tone.
It comes with a mahogany neck, which is resilient to stand on its own but still comes with a truss rod for extra support. The string gauge is light and can be strummed smoothly while bringing the complex highs and thick lows together for a fantastic jamming session.
With these quality materials, you have the solid construction built to last.
Epiphone DR-100
- No dead spots or buzz when strummed
- The guitar travels well and is an excellent option because of its sturdiness
- Durable material that can withstand a few dings and durable to last for years
- Solid spruce top for the clear sounds
- Has an ambidextrous design for both right and left-handed people to play
- Affordable price but worth more than what's paid for
- Versatile for all types of guitar styles and genres
- Excellent starting guitar for beginners, only requiring a bit of tuning straight out of the box
- A warm and sweet sound with its mahogany body
- Has a sharp fret that may be painful for beginners without callouses
Comfort and Good Action
While the action is a bit low, there aren't any dead spots on the fretboard, so there are no buzzes while strumming. Also, the guitar is at the perfect length that makes it easy to chord. While you don't get the silky and smooth feel, the guitar grows on you as you practice and will play comfortably.
The guitar can be used for many types of genres or strumming styles, still maintaining its excellent tones. And while the fret is a bit tough for beginners who have no callouses at first, you do get used to playing and will feel no discomfort as you continue practicing.
Other Guitars to Consider
My Verdict
It seems like Epiphone did their research on the competition and customer expectations when releasing the DR-100. While it isn't a new model, it dominates many guitars of its price range and looks to be as if it were created yesterday.
That is what makes the Epiphone DR-100 a wise choice for beginners or seasoned players. It isn't only a guitar for first-timers but also a good investment for those who need backups during performances. With its solid construction and sweet tones, this guitar is fantastic for all styles of playing.
My No Nonsense Recommendation
For beginners or seasoned players needing backup and when traveling, you'll appreciate it at a price. Coming from a reputable brand with quality in mind, you can't go wrong with the Epiphone DR-100.


text:
Linux Utils Quick Reference Guides
Linux Filesystem Octal Formats
Ok, I'm mostly doing this for my own references, because even after all these years of working purely on Unix based systems (mostly Darwin) I tend to forget the exact options I need. In the case of this first one, it's not like I ever memorized every octal code besides maybe 755 and 644 for web server files.
You pretty much never want to set the permission of a file to 777, perhaps only in rare cases and I mean super rare! If you have file permissions set to read, write, and execute for all users you're doing something else wrong like ACLs are skewed!
IPTables - Packet Filtering or Firewall
Now this one I never remember and I mean like never! I always end up searching DuckDuckGo almost immediately or I'll quickly list my rule table from existing servers I have already locked down. Soon enough I'll have this configured in some sort of custom resource in a configuration management system like Chef or Ansible. Or maybe just cut to the chase, save me some time and effort and use a pre-existing cookbook!
Always remember to allow loopback connections from your network loopback interface. The loopback interface is also used if you configure your application server to connect to a database server with a
localhost address, which is common!
$ sudo iptables -A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT
$ sudo iptables -A OUTPUT -o lo -j ACCEPT
As always, Digital Ocean has a shit ton more tips and tricks for IPTables https://do.co/2elFqq0.
rsync - Quick Remote and Local File Util
I love rsync!! I'd have to say it's in my top 5 favorite Linux tools, I've used it for so many use cases and I swear some of those fancy deployment tools you find on the internets are simply just wrapping rsync! Can't back this theory up, nor do I care enough, just sayin…
But I can never remember how to copy files locally. Here are some memorable flags that should stick to the ol' membranes:
Just like this person says, I also use this to backup/copy files to thumb drives. When it comes to using rsync as a backup tool or even worse a deployment mechanism, it can be done and I'm sure some people do it. As for myself I'd rather just use a tool specifically built for backing up files like Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper! are just two that I own and highly recommend. As far as deployments go, I'm not gonna lie, I've used rsync plenty of times for the quick-n-dirty, but I definitely don't condone this. Although I do understand you need to get shit done sometimes and "nobody got time for Jenkins!"
more to come…comments powered by Disqus


text:
Our School for the Young Years offers classes for ages 3 - 5
Evangelical is now enrolling children from kindergarten through 5th grade
Middle School available for students in 6th - 8th grades
-View all
The main goal of Evangelical Computer Lab Classes is to develop "computer literate" students by teaching basic computer ...
Grades 3-8 have the opportunity to participate in our orchestra program.
Students in grades 6-8 will have health class as part of their special class curriculum.
-View all


text:
Research Profile
Dr Vindelyn
Associate Lecturer (Business)
Faculty of Business and Law
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2008) A critical exposé of competition policy in selected African and Caribbean countries. Doctoral thesis. The University of Northampton.
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2007) Competition policy, inflation and corruption: evidence from African economies. Applied Economics Letters. 14(9), pp. 653-656. 1350-4851.
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2007) Market power, competition policy and developing economies: divergent conditions within African and Caribbean economies. Journal of Economic Studies. 34(2), pp. 120-135. 0144-3585.
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2007) Socially irresponsible, unethical or business as usual? UK case of Argos Ltd and Littlewoods Ltd v. OFT. Business Ethics: A European Review. 16(2), pp. 150-162. 1467-8608.
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2007) The challenge to Ghanaian economic growth: an investigation of the micro and small business experience with anti-competitive conduct. Paper presented to: International Academy of African Business and Development 8th Annual Conference, London Metropolitan University, 29 May – 2 June 2007. (Unpublished)
- Smith-Hillman, A. V. (2006) First a glimmer, now a …? The prospect of a Caribbean competition policy. Journal of World Trade. 40(2), pp. 405-422. 1011-6702.


text:
A Walking Car
Hyundai wowed the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas with their new vehicle, "Elevate." Like something out of Star Wars, wheels with robotic legs allow users to drive, walk or even climb over the most treacherous terrain.
In times of disaster, those first 72 hours are of upmost importance. Often the search-and-rescue missions are impeded due to the disaster . . . which led Hyundai to develop the first-ever vehicle with movable legs.
The design is capable of both mammalian and reptilian walking gaits, allowing it to move in any direction. The legs also fold up into a stowed drive-mode, where power to the joints is cut, and the use of an integrated passive suspension system maximizes battery efficiency. This allows Elevate to drive at highway speeds just like any other vehicle. But no other can climb a five foot wall, step over a five foot gap, walk over diverse terrain, and achieve a 15 foot wide track width, all while keeping its body and passengers completely level.
Design Manager, David Byron, offered a real-life scenario: "Imagine a car stranded in a snow ditch just 10 feet off the highway being able to walk or climb over the treacherous terrain, back to the road potentially saving its injured passengers – this is the future of vehicular mobility."
source: hyundainews


text:
Working With You to Find the Perfect Vehicle
At MidState Auto Group in Auburn, MA, we know that life can be messy, and that payments can get out of hand every now and then, but we don't want past problems to continue holding you back. Our team will work with any credit score to find you a plan that gets you into a vehicle that will meet your needs. We will approve anyone, no matter your credit, because we believe that everyone should be able to own a vehicle to simplify their life.
We have a customer-centric dealership, putting you first during the entire car-buying process. Our diverse selection of vehicles from the top manufacturers is designed to give you the best chances of finding one that will match the needs of your life while still appealing to your sense of style. We encourage you to visit us so that we can get you started as soon as possible.
We strive to be your one-stop automotive destination, offering everything that will satisfy your automotive needs. From our vehicle selection for you to browse, to our finance team making sure anyone can get into a vehicle, and, further into ownership, our service center will keep your vehicle maintenance when you need it. Our team looks forward to meeting you to help you find a perfect vehicle for your life. We have already helped many customers from the areas around Charlton, Southbridge, Worcester, and Webster in Massachusetts, and we are sure that we can help you too.


text:
Have you ever reviewed a product you have bought; I haven't. And nobody I know has every reviewed a product either. They just buy things and if they don't like them they complain to the company. If I am going to be paying money for a product then I will expect it to be a good product so I don't see the point of praising a company for doing their job. I would imagine that the vast majority of people who use web hosting don't write reviews so this begs the question of who is actually writing them.
I do know that there are people who do like to write reviews for almost anything; it seems like a hobby to them. However I wouldn't think that these people would be giving a fair representation of the web host user as they would be in the minority. I would not say that the web hosting reviews that are out there are reliable at all as they surely couldn't represent the views of the majority of people. So remember that the next time you read a web hosting review, it was probably written by the person who will write a review for absolutely everything that they buy.
Also remember that the web hosting providers can be guilty of writing reviews about their services themselves. Now if I had the job of promoting my company I would probably end up doing the very same thing. I have actually heard that while some web hosts concentrate on writing glowing reviews to promote their own service, others tend to focus on writing negative reviews of their competitors services instead.
This all means that those web hosting reviews we read might be of very limited value or maybe that is just me being a bit cynical.
Anybody thinking about venturing into internet marketing should have web hosting UK set up beforehand. But the world of web hosting can be confusing. An example of this could be coming across free web hosting or even dedicated servers while searching different options.


text:
BENEFITING: Edward Charles Foundation
Let's make the switch. Join Bloomberg Philanthropies in supporting organizations providing on-the-job training and new career opportunities in communities left behind by the coal industry. When you make a donation on CrowdRise to Coalfield Development, Just Transition Fund, and Western Organization of Resources Councils, Bloomberg Philanthropies will match 100% of your donation.
Click here for official rules. No purchase necessary to enter or win.
America's transition away from coal and towards cleaner energy is bringing health and economic benefits to communities across the country, with nearly 350,000 Americans working in the solar and wind industries alone. And while new jobs in clean energy are dispersed around the country, coal-dependent regions face acute job losses that harm families and depress local economies as the industry shrinks. Rather than relying on empty promises from Washington, communities are coming together to create new jobs and a sustainable future that does not rely on coal. Let's help coal communities as America makes the transition to cleaner energy.
Join Bloomberg Philanthropies in supporting organizations working with communities and workers left behind by the coal industry to create local solutions to economic diversification. Local organizations creating diverse, resilient and sustainable economies in coal regions deserve your support. When you make a donation here on CrowdRise to Coalfield Development Corporation, the Just Transition Fund, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils, Bloomberg Philanthropies will match a portion of the donation and cover all transaction fees.
For a compelling look at the lives of people in coal impacted communities, watch From The Ashes, a new documentary produced by Radical Media in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. Learn more about the film at FromTheAshesFilm.com and tune in to National Geographic on Sunday, June 25th at 9/8c for the broadcast premiere of From the Ashes.
Donations $100 and more
For donations of $100 or more donors will receive a signed copy of Climate of Hope, a new book by Michael Bloomberg and Carl Pope.
Donations $200 and more
For donations of $200 or more donors will receive a Little Sun solar-powered lamp, and a signed copy of Climate of Hope, a new book by Michael Bloomberg and Carl Pope.
Click here for the official rules for the John Mellencamp promotion. No purchase necessary to enter or win. The contests are over as of July 9, 2017.
Benefiting Charities
Coalfield Development Corporation
Coalfield Development Corporation, a community-based nonprofit working in southern West Virginia, is rebuilding the Appalachian economy from the ground up. Its mission is to support a family of social enterprises that inspire the courage to grow, activate the creativity to transform perceived liabilities into assets, and cultivate the community needed for real opportunity via job creation, higher education, and mentorship. Coalfield Development's enterprises provide jobs and new career opportunities in sustainable construction, solar installation, mine-land reclamation, sustainable agriculture, and artisanship. Coalfield Development hires unemployed people, including laid-off coal miners, according to a 33-6-3 weekly schedule: 33 hours of paid work for the enterprises listed above, 6 hours of higher education, and 3 hours of life-skills mentorship. The result is real work experience, an Associate's Degree, and renewed self-confidence.
Just Transition Fund
The Just Transition Fund helps to create robust, resilient communities in coal-dependent regions across the United States by strengthening projects that align with the Fund's commitment to sustainable economic development, equity, and energy resilience. In its support of frontline coalfield and power plant communities that are responsibly transitioning away from coal, the Fund aims to diversify and strengthen local economies, build resilient economies that prioritize people and protect workers, and promote clean energy policies and scale solutions. By convening a wide range of transition actors across both public and private sectors—including federal officials and philanthropic foundations—the Fund is an agile, proactive, and trusted collaborator in the complex discussions that accompany every exploration of innovative energy solutions. Guided by its conviction that communities have the power and wisdom to solve their own problems if given adequate support and resources, the Just Transition Fund is committed to nurturing the essential connections, initiatives, and momentum needed for transformative change.
Western Organization of Resource Councils
Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) is a network of grassroots organizations rooted in the Western coalfield communities in Montana, Wyoming North Dakota and Colorado. From the beginning, WORC has championed land stewardship, the protection of our water resources, the preservation of family farms and ranches, and ensuring that local communities have the opportunity to actively participate in the decisions that affect their lives. Formed in 1979 to protect its members from coal strip mining, WORC is now engaged in building sustainable environmental and economic communities that balance economic growth with the health of people and stewardship of their land, water, and air resources.


text:
Shaping Vancouver 2018: Contested Places
Conversation #2: Change in Living Communities – False Creek South
WHEN: Thursday, October 11, 2018 – 7pm to 9pm
WHERE: SFU Woodwards (149 W Hastings Street) – Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre,
ADMISSION: free; donations help us offset the costs of the event. – https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/shaping-vancouver-2018-change-in-living-communities-false-creek-south-tickets-49931188529
False Creek South is a 55-hectare stretch of waterfront land between the Burrard and Cambie bridges, characterized by extensive green spaces and a diverse mix of housing types. The design of this community has its roots in the values-based social planning that was revolutionary when introduced in the 1970s and 80s. By giving priority to values associated with quality of life and a livable city, this area was created with an equal portion of non-market rental housing, co-ops, and condominiums in a "Garden City" setting geared to a pedestrian culture.
The lease agreements, with strata leasehold owners, co-ops and non-market housing operators that made this diverse mix of housing possible, will begin to expire in 2025. The City, which owns approximately 80% of False Creek South, has begun to explore the future of this neighbourhood and its residents. There are many additional issues: the diversity of people supported by the current housing mix central to this community; development along the edges of the area; and retention and redevelopment of the existing urban fabric. False Creek South is an example of how values-based community planning can integrate with the ever-evolving urban fabric of the City.
In this session, we seek to provide a space for attendees to discuss:
- What physical and non-physical aspects of False Creek South are significant and definitive, and what degree of change is acceptable before these qualities are compromised?
- As a piece of city-owned land that can contribute to civic priorities – in particular housing issues – how much responsibility should be placed on False Creek South as a solution to housing needs?
- False Creek South is seen as a city real estate asset both for the potential density that can be added and the rate of financial return that can be achieved. Does this view trump the other ways in which False Creek South is of value to the City?
- What are the implications of the fact that the land is City owned? Does the City have a special responsibility to these areas which have become cultural and social assets to Vancouver?
- What can be expected in terms of a collaborative process based on the False Creek South Provisional Vision Statement and Guiding Planning Principles formulated and adopted by the City?
For more information click here.
About this series: Shaping Vancouver 2018: Contested Places
Welcome to our fourth season of Shaping Vancouver. This season, we focus on the multiple values of places. Change is a fundamental part of heritage. Places are not frozen in time- with the passage of time, changes occur in them layering additional meaning on top of another. These changes bring about the diversity and differing values that characterize a place. And these values may not be the traditional ones we think of – the historic and the aesthetic values of architecture. In many cases, some of those values may conflict.
We engage with these complexities of place and their differing communities by looking at several examples in Vancouver where these multiple values stand out. How do we learn, understand, capture, protect, and balance the differing values that are central for a place so that it contributes to social benefit and for the public to understand, appreciate, and experience the value of the sites. Importantly, we also explore the need to plan for and have appropriate policies that secure the advantages of this diversity and allow for the coexistence of these multiple realities.
Heritage Vancouver Society


text:
Your Mac Life in the Mediterranean!
Archives for November 5th, 2008
Will this be on the podcast?
On November 7th, 2008 jdalbec says:
Or will it only appear on this site?
Do you mean on the streamed
On November 8th, 2008 Shawn says:
Do you mean on the streamed file or the Audible.com downloadable version? Regardless, this *is* last week's show so - yes... :)
Shawn King
Host/Executive Producer
Your Mac Life
iTunes wasn't showing it.
On November 10th, 2008 jdalbec says:
I'll guess that's because it has the same GUID and filename as the previous episode. I unsubscribed and resubscribed and now iTunes shows this episode instead of the previous one.


text:
has gone up for sale. It's future raises some concern. Photos: courtesy Mary Edwards/Coldwell Banker
One of the last four Richard Neutra-designed homes left in San Francisco is on the market for the first time in decades at $2.2 million, possibly with its architectural integrity at stake.
Less than a year after the Neutra-designed Largent House on Twin Peaks was illegally demolished overnight, the home he designed and built in Parnassus Heights for a Dr. H.H. Darling hit the multiple listing service in late July.
"The original architecture and design of the home has been untouched, making it extremely special," said Mary Edwards, listing agent for Coldwell Banker, in an email interview. "The history of San Francisco is truly celebrated in this space because of its historical significance and stunning views of the city, which envelopes the home."
The Darling House, a 1937 home at 90 Woodland Avenue, has three beds, 1,5 baths over 1,964 feet that also includes a garage-converted den. The precedent of that change, reportedly made a half-century ago by the second owners, hints at the vulnerability of the master's design as the house hits the market.
That spectre of design ruination looms even larger in the wake of the demolition of the Largent House and three 'biorealist' buildings Neutra designed at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa that are being demolished this year. The Austrian born-architect worked much more in his transplanted home of Los Angeles and, in late career, Europe than he ever did in the Bay Area.
Edwards relayed a message in late July from the architect's son and former partner, Dion Neutra, to "work with any appreciative buyer who was cognoscente of this rare opportunity to rescue and restore an architectural icon like this."


text: Following the wildly successful The Dangerous Book for Boys and the Emperor and Conqueror series, Conn Iggulden brings us a deftly constructed new historic epic, Stormbird. The first in a gripping series retelling the Wars of the Roses, Iggulden had deftly explored through various protagonists, all with different viewpoints, the accession of Henry VI to the English throne in 1437 and his marriage to Margaret of Anjou. Henry's poor health and frailty render him a weakling king dependent on his closest advisors, particularly spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, and as territories in France come under threat and rumours of a revolt swell there are those that fear England's swift slide into ruin. Come to hear a cracking historical story from a man who really knows his material and his audience.


text:
CMS Decides to Put Treatment Decisions in the Hands of Insurers
On August 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance giving Medicare Advantage (MA) plans (private insurance plans approved by Medicare that cover hospital and medical expenses) the option of applying prior authorization and step therapy for physician-administered and other Medicare Part B drugs (effective January 1, 2019) stating that this policy change will lower costs, improve quality of life, and ensure that patients receive the most preferred treatment. CMS did not identify how "preference" is determined but one can conclude that it is for the treatment that is most preferred by the Medicare Advantage payer/ insurer.
CSC is concerned that this new guidance will delay access to treatment, limit patient preference, and will not lower the cost of drugs.
What Are Medicare Part B, Prior Authorization, and Step Therapy?
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B helps cover doctors' services and outpatient care. Historically, the majority of outpatient cancer care is covered under Part B, such as drugs that are given in the doctor's office.
Prior Authorization
Prior authorization is a requirement that your physician must obtain approval from your health insurance plan before prescribing a specific medication or procedure. While the guidance references prior authorization, the new policy focuses on step therapy, which is a form of prior authorization.
Step Therapy
Step therapy policies, commonly referred to as "fail first" policies, require patients to try a therapy on a lower, often less expensive tier and "fail" at it (not respond, experience complications, etc.) before moving on to a higher tier (more expensive) therapy. When step therapy policies are put in place, patients may have to start taking a therapy that is different than what their doctor originally prescribed.
CSC's Position
In alignment with CSC's position on step therapy policies, CSC does not believe that allowing Medicare Advantage plans to implement step therapy for Part B drugs is good for patients. For cancer patients, step therapy policies have the potential to cause significant harm as they may delay access to therapies that are the most appropriate and most effective. Patients have differing responses to treatments and personalized medicine is offering more targeted options. It is critical that providers have the autonomy to exercise discretion in treatment recommendations, incorporating both clinical evidence as well as patient input through shared decision making.
CMS has framed this guidance as providing an "option of negotiating for Part B drugs in a way that lowers costs and improves quality of life" as well as "ensuring that patients receive the most preferred drug therapy," yet it is not clear how either goal will be achieved, nor is it clear whose preference is taken into consideration, though one can assume that it is not the patient's preference. Ultimately, implementing step therapy lessens the role that patient preference plays when making treatment decisions.
The new guidance essentially takes the treatment decision power away from the patient and provider and puts it in the hand of the insurer. Beginning in 2019, MA plans will have the authority to determine which drugs are best for patients. For therapies that are accessible via a retail pharmacy (paid for by Medicare Part D) and are also administered by a physician (paid for by Medicare Part B), the MA plan will have the power to determine which therapy a patient will try first. This is not okay.
What Can You Do?
This is a perfect example as to why it is important for us to come together to advocate for policies that protect patients. At the Cancer Support Community's Cancer Policy Institute we advocate for access to affordable, comprehensive cancer care. The new policy will likely negatively impact vulnerable populations and we need to advocate to protect these vulnerable populations. To join us in our advocacy efforts please join our Grassroots Advocacy Network. Share your stories of delays to care.
For more information on CSC's approach to the drug pricing dialogue please read our comments in response to the Trump Administration's drug pricing blueprint to lower drug prices.


text:
I use this blog more as a race record than anything else. I can keep track of my past results and thoughts as I finish a tough race or pass through a threshold or just mark time and milestones. Unfortunately, life and work gets in the way more than I would like. So this is very easy to get left behind. I've had a lot of time in hotels over the past couple of months to keep things current but just haven't been able to pull the trigger. For those few that actually read this, I am attempting to make this happen now. Its not that I am a super human and did the next few reports in one chunk, but they were done over a period of a few months.
Just to catch up on a few issues. I had been partaking in the North Carolina XTERRA Trail Race series. This is a 4 race series trail run series where you earn points toward an age group ranking. Winners of this series get bragging rights and a free entry into the XTERRA National Championships in Bend, Oregon. Bend is unquestionably, my favorite place in this country. It is a place I dream of calling home one day. So, my goal was to get the series win and head out there for beautiful venue and a 13 mile trail race. Maybe hit a few of the killer brew-pubs while I'm there...maybe.
Well, I did indeed win the points series for my 45-49 age group. I competed in 3 of the 4 races and had AG wins in 2 of those 3. That part complete, I just needed to get work out of the way and train for the distance. What I didn't count on was a 3-week cold I caught on one of my business trips. It hit me very hard and especially hard in the chest. I opted to punt on the race. It bummed me out but it really made no sense to spend the effort and money to go out to the race when I really felt like shit. I may give it a shot again next year, but for now, I at least know that I have the potential to compete in this type of venue and am happy that I was able to set a reasonable goal and achieve it.