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Int. J. Business Intelligence and Data Mining, Volume 4
Volume 4, Number 1, 2009
- Stefan Wallin, Viktor Leijon, Leif Landen:
Statistical analysis and prioritisation of alarms in mobile networks. 4-21
- Shigeaki Sakurai, Ryohei Orihara:
Acquisition of a classification model for a risk search system from unbalanced textual examples. 22-37
- Hiroaki Nishino, Akira Yamaguchi, Tsuneo Kagawa, Kouichi Utsumiya:
A networked virtual environment for teaching handwritten characters through shared haptisation. 38-61
- Takahiro Hayashi, Koji Abe, Debabrata Roy, Rikio Onai:
Discrimination of personal web pages by extracting subjective expressions. 62-77
- Shintaro Imai, Atsushi Takeda, Takuo Suganuma, Norio Shiratori:
Effective ubiquitous service provisioning based on Knowledge Circulation Framework. 78-98
- Tomoya Enokido, Makoto Takizawa:
A purpose-based synchronisation protocol of multiple transactions in multi-agent systems. 99-117
Volume 4, Number 2, 2009
- Mihaela Brut, Dana Al Kukhun, Florence Sèdes:
Towards service-oriented recommendation functionalities within pervasive e-learning systems. 122-140
- Luis A. Casillas, Thanasis Daradoumis:
Knowledge extraction and representation of collaborative activity through ontology-based and Social Network Analysis technologies. 141-158
- Angel A. Juan, Thanasis Daradoumis, Javier Faulin, Fatos Xhafa:
A data analysis model based on control charts to monitor online learning processes. 159-174
- Santi Caballé, Fatos Xhafa:
Fostering collaborative knowledge building by the effective provision of knowledge about the discussion process. 175-194
- Daphna Shwarts-Asher, Niv Ahituv, Dalia Etzion:
Modelling the characteristics of virtual teams' structure. 195-212
Volume 4, Numbers 3/4, 2009
- Ronnie Alves, Joel Ribeiro, Orlando Belo:
Mining significant change patterns in multidimensional spaces. 219-241
- Marc Plantevit, Anne Laurent, Maguelonne Teisseire:
Mining convergent and divergent sequences in multidimensional data. 242-266
- Sébastien Nedjar, Alain Casali, Rosine Cicchetti, Lotfi Lakhal:
Reduced representations of Emerging Cubes for OLAP database mining. 267-300
- Alfredo Cuzzocrea, Jérôme Darmont, Hadj Mahboubi:
Fragmenting very large XML data warehouses via K-means clustering algorithm. 301-328
- Véronique Cariou, Jérôme Cubillé, Christian Derquenne, Sabine Goutier, Françoise Guisnel, Henri Klajnmic:
Embedded indicators to facilitate the exploration of a data cube. 329-349
- Lucio Ieronutti, Maurizio Pighin:
A novel visualisation and interaction technique for exploring multidimensional data. 350-374
- Salim Chikhi, Sadek Benhammada:
ReliefMSS: a variation on a feature ranking ReliefF algorithm. 375-390
- Zohreh Asgharzadeh Talebi, Rada Chirkova, Yahya Fathi:
Exact and inexact methods for solving the problem of view selection for aggregate queries. 391-415
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Mohali: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has hit out at his batsmen for failing to accelerate after a blistering start that cost them the crucial World T20 match against New Zealand.
Chasing 181, Ahmed Shehzad (30 off 32 balls) and Umar Akmal (24 off 26 balls) failed to capitalise on a good start provided by Sharjeel Khan (47 off 25 balls) to lose by 22 runs, which dampened Pakistan's prospects of securing a last-four berth in the mega-event.
"If you see, we didn't move at all from the eighth to the 15th over (run-rate slowed down). Two of our so-called youngsters, upcoming cricketers...they both batted for a good chunk of time in the middle, where we thought you would take the game away. We just hoped so, but couldn't finish," an upset Waqar said at the post match press conference.
He said Pakistan's performance was just not good enough.
"I think the platform we needed, we had got that. I think they bowled really well, one must admit that. In the middle, I think we couldn't find the boundaries, which were important. And simply not good enough, I guess," said the coach.
Stating that it was "very painful" to see the batsmen repeating the same mistakes, Waqar said: "I think the Cricket Board and the selectors will have to take a call. Once again, I will say, not good enough."
On some batsmen complaining that they are not getting to bat at the desired positions, the former pacer said: "Twenty20 cricket is such a format where one should adjust and be able to adapt to the conditions. Those who are raising this issue that they are not getting to bat at desired position, there could not have been a better opportunity after Sharjeel created the platform.
"At one stage, we needed to score singles and doubles to win the match. But one must say, we are not good enough, I am simply saying that. No matter, how much we keep talking about we lack this and that, but people need to introspect, is this about number or is this about Pakistan," he slammed.
Having lost two out of three games, Pakistan are virtually out of the competition but Waqar said he would not like to lose hope.
"Look, we will keep hope. But the brand of cricket we are playing is unfortunate. It is not the question whether we should keep hope or not, after all life carries on hope. However, the type of cricket and the kind of performance we are putting up, (we) don't deserve," he said.
Asked if angry reactions back home were affecting team's performance, Waqar said, "I don't think we played good enough cricket. The situation was tailor-made for some of our players in the middle order. We couldn't really capitalise on it."
Waqar praised Kiwi opener Martin Guptill (80) for playing a great knock.
"He is a fantastic player. This is not for the first time he has played such an innings, he has done so against other sides also. I thought we brought it back well. It looked at one stage, they may get 200 or may be more. I am pleased with the bowlers' performance, they brought it back in the end. Unfortunately, it was not our day."
44-year-old said it was a "very good pitch".
"A very good strip to bat on. I have seen in IPL and other games that 200 has been chased here comfortably. We need to find out what exactly went wrong, with boundaries drying up. We will probably dig into it and find out what went wrong," he said.
Asked about Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi last evening giving clear indications that he would retire from the shortest format after his team's campaign ends in the ongoing World T20, Younis said, "What should I comment on that? Of course, he has decided to finish playing cricket for Pakistan. I do not know what other sort of cricket he is going to carry on playing. But yeah, of course, he is looking to finish it."
On whether he would also like to continue as the coach in wake of Pakistan's poor performances, Younis said he would take a call only after returning home.
"Look, I don't know. I think, a lot of things need to be told to the Cricket Board, Also what is going wrong. I have told it in the past also, it's not for the first time I would be telling. But yeah, I will go back and have a look, and I will try to make people understand who are in control (at the helm), if they agree or don't, it is entirely up to them," Waqar signed off.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Updated Date: Mar 23, 2016 13:47:09 IST

subset: commoncrawl


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These are one of the three types of Mangroves in Florida. View pictures of the Red Mangrove tree leaves, the seedlings, and the roots of the Red Mangrove trees. These photos were taken at Weedon Island Preserve.
The Red Mangrove Seedlings in February
Leaves of the Red MangroveTree
Next: Florida Aquarium in Tampa »
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Thursday, March 22, 2012
How a Trails Map Should be Made
The Nature Valley Trail View is a beautiful map of trails in the Grand Canyon.
The map includes a number of trails, each of which can be experienced with a glorious animated custom Street View tour. If you click on the menu link you can select any of the trails and then virtually walk the trail with custom Street Views of the whole trail.
Each tour includes an option to animate a walk on the trail, so you can just sit back and watch as you walk the trail with custom Street Views. Below the Street View is an altitude graph and a compass rose is also provided.
The Nature Valley Trail View Grand is a great example of what can be achieved with the Google Maps API. I'd almost go as far as to say it nearly matches the beauty of the Grand Canyon itself.
Hat-tip: Street View Funny
Posted by Keir Clarke at 8:11 AM
Labels: Custom Street View, travel, USA
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Explore the "Adoption Revolution" with One of the Nation's Leading Experts, Adam Pertman – With a Newly Updated Edition of His Groundbreaking Book "Adoption Nation" – Sees the Revolution Accelerating
Media Advisory: For Immediate Release
NEW YORK – November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and never before has the issue been more relevant and important in our society. Adam Pertman, head of the pre-eminent adoption policy, research and education organization in the U.S., explains that a gamut of significant issues illustrates a growing "revolution" in adoption and foster care in our country. Put simply, adoption is profoundly affecting tens millions of lives, and more by the day.
"Whether it's another warm and wonderful search and reunion story in the news, another celebrity adoption from Africa, another abandoned infant left in a horrible place, another heart-warming account about an adoption from China, or another state effort to find loving families for children in foster care – the adoption revolution surrounds us," said Pertman, Executive Director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute. "We haven't fully understood its scope yet, but it's clear that the impact is growing both on our society generally and on the personal lives of Americans everywhere."
During National Adoption Month, the Adoption Institute will release a study entitled, "Safeguarding the Rights and Well-Being of Birth Parents." This unprecedented research comes on the heels of a major Institute report on how schools can better serve children who were adopted or in foster care, and another high-profile examination of the growing trend of adoption by gays and lesbians.
Pertman and the Adoption Institute regularly provide reliable, research-based information and interviews to journalists and policy-makers on such issues as:
- Laws and policies that prohibit or inhibit adoption and foster parenting by gays and lesbians.
- Sperm and egg donation, "embryo adoption," and other new reproductive technologies.
- The garowing phenomena of "open adoption" and reunions of adoptees and birth families.
- Ongoing problems – and effective new remedies – in foster care systems nationwide.
- The burgeoning, radically changing worlds of international and interracial adoption.
A new, updated "Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute Special Edition" of Pertman's ground-breaking book Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming America is being released for National Adoption Month; it has been reviewed as "the most important book ever written on the subject." Pertman also has contributed chapters to three additional new books, on subjects ranging from his personal experience as an adoptive father to an examination of the media's portrayal of adoption.
The Institute itself is celebrating its 10th Anniversary with unique new initiatives including:
- Adoption in the Schools: A Lot to Learn
- The Adoptive Parents Preparation Project
- Beyond Culture Camp: Promoting Positive Identity for Adoptees
- Safeguarding the Rights and Well-Being of Birthparents
- Expanding Resources for Children: Gay and Lesbian Adoption
The Adoption Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit national organization. Its mission is to provide leadership that improves laws, policies and practices – through sound research, education and advocacy – in order to better the lives of everyone touched by adoption, especially children. The Institute's award-winning website is www.adoptioninstitute.org.
For more information, to schedule an interview or to request a copy of the updated edition of "Adoption Nation," please contact:
Greg Abel, President
Abel Communications
(410) 466-2210
April Dinwoodie, Chief Executive
Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute
(212) 925-4089


text:
The release candidate for Windows Server 2012 became available 31:st of May and the learning path for MCSA Windows Server 2012 wasn't far behind.
I found this really exciting news at the Born2Learn Blog in an article written by Veronica Sopher
Gear Up for Windows Server 2012 Training + Certification
And I'm really excited, there is a upgrade path for MCITP Virtualization Administrators.
There are two paths to achieve this new MCSA certification, upgrade your existing MCSA/MCITP or pass three exams.
MCSA Windows Server 2012 exams:
70-410 – Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
70-411 – Administering Windows Server 2012
70-412 – Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
The upgradeable certifications are:
MCSA: Windows Server 2008
MCITP: Virtualization Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator
MCITP: Lync Server Administrator
MCITP: SharePoint Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator
The additional exam 70-417 – Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012 grants you the MCSA Windows Server 2012 and are a prerequisite for the MCSE Server Infrastructure and MCSE Desktop Infrastructure
What resources are available for us now?
Free e-book
A few days ago a free e-book was released Introducing Windows Server 2012 which is based on the beta release of Windows Server 2012.
Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform
There is a lot of information found regarding the new platform at the Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform that will be useful in preparation for the exams.
Download the release candidate and start building your environment.
Download Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate (RC)
Windows Server 2012 Jump Start
Leveraging the popular "Jump Start" virtual classroom approach, Microsoft Senior Technical Evangelist Rick Claus and Microsoft Partner Corey Hynes will walk you through their personal favorite feature sets while answering why and how each one will have a positive impact on improving your day-to-day IT environment. These accelerated, engaging and demo-heavy sessions are guaranteed to get you excited and ready to try them yourself.
Windows Server 2012: Preparing for the Datacenter Evolution
Now I really look forward to see the announcement for the new MCSE Private Cloud based on MCSA Windows Server 2012
My guess is something like this:
Open your books and start preparing,
you know I do…


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DEREK KITCHEN, MOUDI SBEITY, KAREN ARCHER, KATE CALL, LAURIE WOOD, and KODY PARTRIDGE, Plaintiffs, ORDER ON MOTION TO STAY
On December 20, 2013, the court granted summary judgment for the Plaintiffs in this lawsuit. (Order, Dec. 20, 2013, Dkt. 90.) The court held that provisions in the Utah Code and the Utah Constitution1 that prohibited same-sex marriage (collectively, Amendment 3) were unconstitutional because they denied the Plaintiffs their rights to due process and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The court enjoined the State of Utah from enforcing Amendment 3 to the extent that it prohibited a person from marrying another person of the same sex. The courts Order did not include a stay of its judgment as none had been requested by the State. The court had a telephone conversation with counsel from both parties a few hours after it The courts Order specifically mentioned Sections 30-1-2 and 30-1-4.1 of the Utah Code and Article I, 29 of the Utah Constitution. The courts Order also applies to any other Utah laws that prohibit same-sex couples from marrying.
issued its Order. The State represented to the court that same-sex couples had already begun marrying in the Salt Lake County Clerks Office and requested the court to stay its Order of its own accord. The court declined to issue a stay without a written record of the relief the State was requesting, and asked the State when it was planning to file a motion. The State was uncertain about its plans, so the court advised the State that it would immediately consider any written motion as soon as it was filed on the public docket. The State filed a Motion to Stay later that evening. The court ordered expedited briefing on the States Motion and set a hearing for 9:00 a.m. on December 23, 2013. The State requested in its Reply Brief that, if the court denied the States Motion to Stay, the court order a temporary stay of its Order to allow the Tenth Circuit to make its own determination about whether a stay should be issued. Having carefully reviewed the parties briefing and oral arguments, and for the reasons discussed below, the court DENIES the States Motion to Stay and the States request for a temporary stay. ANALYSIS Rule 62(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: While an appeal is pending from an interlocutory order or final judgment that grants, dissolves, or denies an injunction, the court may suspend, modify, restore, or grant an injunction . . . on terms that secure the opposing partys rights. Fed. R. Civ. P. 62(c). The purpose of a stay is to preserve the status quo pending an appeal. See McClendon v. City of Albuquerque, 79 F.3d 1014, 1020 (10th Cir. 1996). When considering a motion to stay pending appeal, the court considers four factors: (1) whether the stay applicant has made a strong showing that he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) whether the applicant will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay will substantially injure the other parties 2
interested in the proceeding; and (4) where the public interest lies. Hilton v. Braunskill, 481 U.S. 770, 776 (1987). The court analyzes each of these factors below. I. The State Has Not Shown that It Is Likely to Succeed on Its Appeal The State argues that the court should stay its judgment because the State is likely to succeed on appeal. But the majority of the States assertions in support of its argument are the same assertions the State made in its Motion for Summary Judgment. For the same reasons the court denied that motion, the court finds that the State has not submitted any evidence that it is likely to succeed on its appeal. The court granted summary judgment for the Plaintiffs on two separate grounds. First, the court found that Amendment 3 violated the Plaintiffs fundamental right to marry. Second, the court found that Utahs prohibition on same-sex marriage was a violation of the Plaintiffs equal protection rights.2 The State can only succeed on its appeal if the Tenth Circuit rejects both of these holdings, and the State has not provided any reason to this court to suggest that the court overlooked crucial cases or other issues in its Order. The only new argument the State makes to challenge the courts reasoning is its assertion that the court misconstrued the case of United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), because the court cited portions of the Honorable Antonin Scalias dissenting opinion. The court is not persuaded by the States argument. Although Justice Scalia clearly disagreed with the outcome in Windsor and believed the majority of the Supreme Court had decided the case wrongly, his opinion about the reasoning underlying Windsor and the possible effects of this reasoning in future cases is nevertheless perceptive and compelling. The court therefore cited Justice Scalias
The court applied rational basis to its analysis of the Plaintiffs equal protection claim, but noted that the claim was also subject to heightened scrutiny because Amendment 3 discriminated against the Plaintiffs on the basis of their sex. 3
dissent not as binding precedent, but as persuasive authority. For these reasons, the court finds that the State has not carried its burden to make a strong showing that it is likely to succeed on appeal. II. The State Has Not Shown that It Will Suffer Irreparable Harm The State argues that it will suffer irreparable harm for three reasons. First, the State contends that Utah has recognized only opposite-sex marriage for over one hundred years and that it must therefore be cautious about any changes to this approach. The court addressed this argument in its Order and found that neither the States asserted need to proceed with caution or its interest in preserving its previous laws about marriage were sufficient to withstand rational basis scrutiny. Second, the State maintains: [I]t is clear that a state suffers irreparable injury whenever an enactment of its people . . . is enjoined. Coal. for Econ. Equity v. Wilson, 122 F.3d 718, 719 (9th Cir. 1997) (citing New Motor Vehicle Bd. v. Orrin W. Fox Co., 434 U.S. 1345, 1351 (1977) (Rehnquist, J., in chambers)). The Plaintiffs point out that both cases cited by the State are inapposite because they involved statutes that the court considering the stay believed were valid. See Wilson, 122 F.3d at 719 (holding that a stay of the Ninth Circuits mandate would be tantamount to extending the preliminary injunction entered by the district court . . . which we have already held rests on an erroneous legal premise.); New Motor Vehicle Bd., 434 U.S. at 1347 (I am also of the opinion that a majority of the Court will likely reverse the judgment of the District court. . . . [T]he respondents for whom judgment is stayed are free to move the full Court to vacate a stay if they feel the Circuit Justice has miscalculated on [this] point.). The court agrees with the Plaintiffs that these cases are distinguishable from the facts presented here. 4
If the court were to follow the States argument, it should automatically grant a stay of its judgment whenever it invalidates a State law. The court is unaware of any such practice within the Tenth Circuit. Finally, the State argues that same-sex couples who marry pending an appeal to the Tenth Circuit face a cloud of uncertainty. It is the States position that it will seek to invalidate any same-sex marriages lawfully entered into during this time if the Tenth Circuit or Supreme Court later upholds Amendment 3. But under this prong of the courts analysis, the court only considers the harm done to the State and not to the same-sex couples whose marriage arrangements may be subject to legal challenge. For the reasons stated in the courts previous Order, the court finds that there is no harm to the State in allowing same-sex couples to marry. III. Granting a Stay Will Irreparably Harm the Plaintiffs and Other Same-Sex Couples In contrast to the speculative harm faced by the State, there is no dispute that same-sex couples face harm by not being allowed to marry. In its Order, the court has already discussed these harms, which include harms to the partners in a same-sex couple and to members of their family. The State argues that the only harm caused by a stay would be a delay in the time that a same-sex couple would have to wait to marry in Utah or have their out-of-state marriage recognized. But some couples, including Plaintiffs Karen Archer and Kate Call, may be facing serious illness or other issues that do not allow them the luxury of waiting for such a delay. IV. The Public Interest Will Be Harmed by a Stay Finally, the State contends that the public interest will be harmed if the court does not issue a stay because the public has an interest in deciding public policy issues such as the definition of marriage. The court agrees that the public has a strong interest in exercising its 5
democratic powers. But as stated in its Order, the Constitution does not permit either a state legislature or the states citizens through a referendum to enact laws that violate constitutionally protected rights. And while the public has an interest in the will of the voters being carried out . . . the public has a more profound and long-term interest in upholding an individuals constitutional rights. Awad v. Ziriax, 670 F.3d 1111, 1132 (10th Cir. 2012). The court therefore finds that the public interest factor weighs in favor of protecting the constitutional rights of Utahs citizens. V. Temporary Stay The State requests that, in the event the court denies its Motion to Stay, the court grant a temporary stay to allow the Tenth Circuit an opportunity to decide whether a stay is warranted. But the purpose of a temporary stay is to preserve the status quo. The court agrees with Defendant Sherrie Swenson in her official capacity as the Clerk of Salt Lake County that the status quo is currently that same-sex couples are allowed to marry in the State of Utah. As a result, the court would no longer be issuing a stay of its judgment, but an injunction enjoining county clerks in Utah from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Under these circumstances, the court finds that its appropriate role is to issue a ruling on the merits of the Defendants Motion to Stay as expeditiously as possible, thereby immediately allowing the Tenth Circuit to exercise jurisdiction over the merits of the case and the question of whether a stay should be issued pending appeal. ORDER For the reasons stated above, the court hereby DENIES the Defendants Motion to Stay (Dkt. 94). 6


text: If you haven't been to the Monash Gallery of Art recently (or never) get along now. It's one of the best photography galleries in the country and you get to see Ponch Hawkes' two forthcoming shows - 'Our mums and us' (1976) and 'These women have just run twenty six miles' (1982). The works are great and surprisingly contemporary. Showing from 13th August - 29th September.


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It was a classic right-time, right-place scenario: CJ Mackintosh couldn't make it to a gig opening for Todd Terry at the Ministry of Sound in London, so the 15-year-old kid working at the local record shop got his chance to play, even though he wasn't old enough to get past the club's door person. In 1994, Tim Deluxe was that kid, a north London DJ barely out of the bedroom when he played one of the busiest clubs in the UK.
"It was the first time I'd ever played on a UREI mixer or on decks that were on springs, so they moved about," Deluxe recalls. "There were all these challenges, but the club was packed, and I totally rocked it!"
Ten years later, Deluxe is still rocking it, playing his unique brand of funk-fueled house around the world as a member of Darren Emerson's Underwater Records family. Known for a Latin groove and soulful vocals, Deluxe topped off his discography in 2002 with "It Just Won't Do," a playful party tune that hit Ibiza like a swirling Mediterranean storm and eventually went to No. 14 on the UK Top 40 chart.
Now, that song is nestled into Deluxe's first full-length album, The Little Ginger Club Kid (Underwater, 2004). Recorded in his London studio, the album resulted from equipment that Deluxe calls "a weird combination of old and new," but, lately, the older gear has suffered the more grueling workout. "I've gone back to using my E-mu SP-1200 drum machine," he says. "It's irreplaceable — such a unique sound. Since it's 12-bit rather than 16, it sounds crunchy and dirty, which is making my new work very sparse. I think some of the newer synths just sound too digital and clean, and I still want my music to sound raw and not overproduced."
For Deluxe, the songwriting process starts with a groove that might be inspired by another record, a sample or even a single bass line. "I'll go in and start tinkering on the keyboard, or I'll set the bpm clock at 100 and just see what happens," Deluxe explains. "Once I've got a backing track, then I'll start hearing things over the top of it. Maybe it's a female vocal, maybe a rock vocal or a soulful vocal. Then, I'll bring someone in, and we just start putting down lyrics."
Using Steinberg Cubase VST 5, Deluxe records vocalists with an AKG C 414 mic. From there, the road to a complete vocal sound is surprisingly short because Deluxe relies largely on his vocalists' talent rather than studio trickery. "On 'It Just Won't Do,' there isn't that much effect on Sam [Obernik]'s voice," he says. "She doesn't sound like that normally, but we literally told her to imagine she was a 5-foot-tall Latino girl from New York. That sound just came out because she went into character. It was exactly the same process with 'Less Talk, More Action.' We asked Terra [Deva] to pretend to be Eartha Kitt. Doing it like that makes the song believable. All these different effects are inside of us, and it's really just a matter of bringing the characters out."
Now that the characters are out, they're hitting the road. Deluxe's live show made its debut last summer at Underwater's residency at Pacha in Ibiza. With nine people onstage (Deluxe on the decks, joined by a percussionist, a guitarist, a saxophonist and five vocalists), the shows are injecting some much-needed energy into an otherwise stale club scene. "People are used to having just a DJ," Deluxe explains. "Then, all of a sudden Jaime [Anderson]'s blowing a live sax in their face, or there's a guitar solo going off. The atmosphere changes immediately. There's no denying that dance music is in a bit of a slump, but it's up to us to change that. We're not being creative enough. Let's get musicians involved. Let's fuse styles together. It's the only way to make it fresh again."


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Ford Motor Co.'s new Transit Connect is becoming quite popular with small businesses but some U.S. motorized RV manufacturers may see it as a candidate for use by a downsize-minded RV industry. The vehicle gets an EPA-estimated 22 mph in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and features a 2.0-liter Duratec I-4 engine. The smaller of two versions of the van sold in Europe, Transit Connect is specifically designed for tight, urban environments, where space is at a premium and fuel prices are high. It has a surprising amount of cargo room inside, a total of 143 cubic feet in the 6-foot-six-inch by 4-foot-8-inch space.
Ford's Transit Connect Appeals to Down-Size Market
By: RVBusiness|Published on: Jan 5, 2010|Categories: Today's Industry News| 0 comments
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Thornton May: The time is now for information governance. But do you even know what it is?
Information governance covers the entire spectrum of information management, but most people have a fuzzy notion of what it is. This must change, because the real value of information can't be fully realized unless it is properly governed.


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Hello and welcome to MOAN DAY. Yes, it's Monday again, but never fear because naughtiness is here! Today we're taking a break from pony-girls and moving on to VAMPIRES. Here's a little something from 'Good As Dead' to tickle your tastebuds.
Good As Dead
"Kiss me," she whimpered, tilting her head up towards his and parting her lips. Her five foot six frame was no match for his though. He towered above her. Admiring the glistening wet lips before him, which she'd artfully licked not seconds before he decided that they'd probably completed the foreplay part. It was time to get down to business.
"Your wish is my command, darling."
Leaning down with exaggerated slowness whilst flashing a cocky grin, his lips finally connected with the base of her collarbone. His tongue traced a meandering path upwards towards the pulse that was happily ticking away like a metronome in her neck. It thundered in his ears as the sound of her breathing washed over him in crashing waves. He loved the build up to a bite…the glorious anticipation and then the first mouthful of sweet rich oxygenated blood. He felt cheated by the earlier bite he'd experienced, and he intended to make up for his misfortune. Wasting no more time, he sank his fangs into her neck, while his eyes sought yet another willing victim.
Whilst he was immersed deep in the brunette, he caught the attention of a raven-haired beauty who had been eyeing him up for most of their short spell on the floor. Pinning her with his eyes, he gave her a sultry wink and she smiled at him. Humans were such foolish creatures. Deepening the bite, he fed then watched as the girl in his arms orgasmed. Immediately, he wiped her memory giving her a little push that would send her back to the bar. She'd be a little unsteady for a few minutes but Assellio and the others would take care of her, not that he gave a damn. The beast was back.
Beckoning his new conquest forward, he realised he couldn't even be bothered to swing her around for a bit. Putting both hands on her ass, he pressed her up close. One quick look in her eyes was enough. She was down for what he wanted and even if she hadn't been, it wouldn't have taken long to convince her. He had a few advantages to most of his peers. It came with old age. He could make women fall at his feet with little more than a glance, and tonight he was going to use that skill to his full advantage. Once upon a time, he might have had morals, but that was at least a few hundred years ago.
Sliding his hands up her waist, he cupped both of her breasts, rubbed his fingertips lightly over the already pointed nipples and swooped in for dessert. He sucked hard at her neck. She gave a delightful moan. Unfortunately, his inner radar chose that moment to sense danger and he felt a prickling sensation upon his back. Whilst it wasn't a tried and tested method of spotting threats, it was never a good sign. He needed to hurry. Sucking harder, he drew powerful jets of fresh blood into his body and swallowed them down quickly. He felt her body tremble violently under his hands and he realized he was drinking too deeply. Something had him spooked, and he needed to pull back or he risked killing her.
Dragging his head up from her neck, his tongue laving gently at the twin red pinpricks that were already fading back into her skin, he sucked in a painful breath and twisted his head around.
"You are the loveliest creature," said a voice in his ear but he was barely listening. His eyes scanned the room from top to bottom trying to work out from where the source of his discomfort was coming. Someone in this room shouldn't be here. He was sure of it.
Not turning around, he laughed and said, "If only you knew, darling. I'm the meanest thing there is around these parts."
She tried to tell him otherwise whilst whispering sweet nothings in his ear but as sharp as his sense of hearing was, he heard nothing. His eyes had zeroed in on a problem. A big fucking problem, and they were heading straight for him—four .38 Smith and Weston special bullets. Two seconds later, the room erupted in high-pitched screams.
Want more NAUGHTINESS? Of course you do! Head on over to MASTURBATION MONDAY HQ.
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Cartoon Miniatures, all miniatures
Cartoon Miniatures ( 70 )
Ancient Warriors (8)
Miniatures (62)
- Tail Brotherhood (14)
- Without Faction (48)
Can't find your miniature? Add it.
What miniatures to add next?
A few clicks and we will hear you!
Why to click on "Like"?Like
If you see a miniature that is looking very good, but you never will buy it because it's not for you - just click on Like. This will let everybody to know
best miniatures of the year!
best miniatures of the year!


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- Off road parking
- Ground floor bedroom
- Smoke-free
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Broadband / WiFi
The property
This property is a traditional, stone-built Yorkshire cottage which offers sleeping accommodation for groups of up to four people.
Organised in an 'upside-down' fashion, the bedrooms are on the ground floor, whilst the living accommodation is upstairs, benefiting from spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.
For the summer months there is a walled garden to the rear of the property, allowing you to sit and enjoy a glass of wine as the sun goes down.
In the winter, you can still watch the sunset from the sitting room, warmed by the gas central heating and the flame-effect fire.
Two ground floor bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin. First floor bathroom with bath with shower over, basin and WC. First floor fitted kitchen with dining area. First floor sitting room with flame-effect fire.
- Gas central heating with flame-effect fire in sitting room
- Electric cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, TV with FreeSat, video, DVD, stereo/CD player, WiFi
- All fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Cot and highchair available
- Abundant off road parking
- Enclosed lawned garden to rear with garden furniture and BBQ
- Up to two well-behaved dogs welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop 2.5 miles, pub 2 miles
- Note: The cottage enjoys a filtered, natural spring water supply.
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas
About the location
Guisborough 9 miles; Pickering 19 miles; Whitby 18 miles.
The North York Moors National Park covers 554 square miles, with landscape ranging from heather-clad moorland and deep secluded dales, to the cliffs and coves of the magnificent coastline making it a haven for walkers.
Set in the breathtaking and beautiful location of the Upper Esk Valley in the North Yorkshire Moors, Castleton is the main village in the area and a centre for walking, bird watching, shooting and many other pursuits. There is a bowling green adjacent to the Downe Arms public house (which is dog and walker friendly and has won accolades for its real ales) and a cricket pitch and children's play area close to the River Esk. There are many footpaths and bridle ways - all providing superb views of the surrounding countryside. Castleton is a short walk from the North York Moors Danby Visitors centre from where a number of walks start and local arts and crafts events held. Castleton is a thriving community which has ample provision for visitors and boasts, several shops, public houses, tea rooms, a post office, garage and a bank. The North Yorkshire Moors National Park Centre is also nearby and it has a train station on the Middlesbrough to Whitby line.


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Published: 5th May 1993
Number Of Pages: 334
Earn 13 Qantas Points
on this Book
Three Men in a Boat :
There are four of them - George, Harris, the writer himself and that dog, Montmorency - all participants in a boating expedition on the Thames. The difficulties and vicissitudes heaped upon these innocents develop to epic proportions as they experience the hazards of the great English waterway.
Their problems are in no way diminished by the outrageous behaviour of Montmorency, who lays waste several riverside communities in the course of their journey.
Three Men on the Bummel :
'What is a "bummel"?' said George. 'How would you translate it?' 'A "bummel",' I explained, 'I should describe as a journey, long or short, without an end; the only thing regulating it being the necessity of getting back within a given time to the point from which one started . . . '
After considerable indecision the bummel takes our heroes to Germany's Black Forest where they manage to disrupt the tranquil way of life usually enjoyed by the denizens, whose curious behaviour they closely observe and record in their account of this second epic journey. Even without that dog, chaos and mayhem reign supreme.
About the Author
Novelist, essayist, humorist and playwright. Jerome Klapka Jerome was born in Walsall, Staffordshire.
Series: Wordsworth Classics
Audience: General
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 334
Published: 5th May 1993
Country of Publication: GB
Dimensions (cm): 20.4 x 12.6 x 1.9
Weight (kg): 0.223
Earn 13 Qantas Points
on this Book


text: Not sure I'm in the right forum here, but here goes: Right now I have a chance to be a commodities broker for Lasalle Futures Group in Chicago (CBOT). Its all commision and they say theres a lot of potential to make a lot of money. I also am close to an opportunity to a trading clerk at Tradelink (35K-45K), but I don't know what to do? Any of your thoughts would be much appreciated, Thankyou.


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When you decide to enter the property market and take out a home loan, it's important to understand all the ins and outs of mortgages. It's highly likely that you won't have enough money to buy a property outright, so you will probably need to take out a home loan.
However, the type of home loan you choose, the deposit you can put down and the most attractive offer you can find depends on your financial standing and a number of other factors. Before you visit a lender or broker, it's advisable to conduct some research so you know what your options are.
Have a look at our guide to 95 per cent LVR home loans to get your head wrapped around them before you take the plunge.
What is a 95% LVR home loan?
A 95 per cent LVR home loan is a type of low-deposit home loan for which you are only required to have 5 per cent of the total property's value to put towards a deposit.
'LVR' is an acronym for loan-to-value ratio, which refers to the amount you are borrowing, represented as a percentage of the value of the property being used as security for the loan. When a lender looks at how much you want to borrow, they will look at the deemed value of the property against how much of a deposit you can put down. That's why a 95 per cent LVR home loan only requires a 5 per cent down payment.
Many standard home loans require a 20 per cent deposit, but there are other types of home loans available. They include 70 per cent LVR home loans, 90 per cent LVR home loans and 95 per cent LVR home loans.
What are the benefits of 95% LVR home loans?
Some of the potential advantages of taking out a 95 per cent LVR home loan include:
Entering the property market quickly – Because you only need a 5 per cent deposit, you can take out a loan and buy a home faster than waiting to save the standard 20 per cent deposit.
Easing short-term financial pressures – If you want to a buy a home but saving a lump sum for a deposit isn't feasible in the short term, a 95 per cent LVR home loan could temporarily relieve some of the financial burden.
Taking advantage of low interest rates – You could be able to enter the property market when favourable interest rates are available even if you don't have enough for a standard deposit.
What are the drawbacks of 95% LVR home loans?
As with all loan options, there are also some potential disadvantages to 95 per cent high LVR home loans:
Lender's mortgage insurance – 95 per cent LVR home loans often come with lender's mortgage insurance (LMI), which offers protection to the lender – not you – if you default on the loan. LMI can be hefty, so you'll need to consider if the cost is worth it.
Borrowing more money – Because you're only putting down a 5 per cent deposit, you'll be borrowing 95 per cent of the property's value, which could mean higher monthly repayments and a longer loan term than with a standard 80 per cent LVR home loan.
Rates could rise – Even if you enter the property market quickly to secure a favourable interest rate, those rates could change at any time (except for during fixed rate periods).
Features of 95% LVR home loans
Home loans with a 95 per cent LVR typically have similar features to other types of home loans, but the associated rates and fees may differ. For example, a lender might choose to offer a more favourable interest rate to customers who can put down a larger deposit.
Aside from the interest rate and deposit amount, though, here are some of the other common features to consider:
- Fixed rate or variable rate – You can usually decide whether to lock in an interest rate for a set period or have a variable interest rate.
- Repayment options – Some lenders will allow you to make additional repayments above the minimum, so you can pay off your loan faster and avoid interest.
- Redraw facility – Some home loans come with the option to redraw additional repayments you've made if you need the money down the track.
- Offset account – You may be able to have a bank account linked to your home loan, known as an 'offset account'. Your lender attributes your account balance towards your loan so you only have to pay interest on the difference.
- Loan term – Usually, the term for a home loan is 25-30 years.
Consider speaking with a financial adviser to discuss your situation before sitting down with a lender or mortgage broker. You can also use RateCity's home loan comparison tool to see what's currently available in the market.


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Leaving the western show
Cost-cutting networks responding to the shrinking number of major cable operators are abandoning the Western Cable Show. Absent from the floor of the annual convention in December will be Showtime Networks, Encore Media, In Demand, and Playboy Television. C.J. Herschfield, vice president, industry affairs, for the California Cable Television Association, said she regrets the defections, but said there are a number of technology and Internet companies clamoring for extra space.


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In January 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMS, will launch a new initiative for some older adults and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. People in some states with certain chronic conditions will be able to choose a Medicare Advantage plan–a commercial insurance plan that contracts with the government to offer Medicare benefits–that has "value-based insurance design," with the goal of providing them better care at lower cost. How good the care will be is still a big question mark.
Just to say it, the vast majority of people with Medicare are enrolled in traditional Medicare because it gives them easy access to care and predictable costs almost anywhere in the country. Medicare Advantage plans appear less costly, but they generally come with very little choice of doctors and hospitals and high out-of-pocket costs, particularly for people with costly and complex conditions. While there is a limit of $6850 on out-of-pocket costs in 2016, on top of that you usually must pay the full cost of your care, or a large chunk of the cost, if you use doctors or hospitals outside the health plan's network. And, your copays and deductibles may not be included in the out-of-pocket limit.
Medicare Advantage health plans are supposed to provide the same benefits as traditional Medicare, but they often have a narrower view than traditional Medicare of when those benefits are reasonable and necessary, further limiting people's access to care. The Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model (VBID), launching in 2017 is intended to benefit people with diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), past stroke, hypertension, coronary artery disease, mood disorders, rheumatoid arthritis (starting in 2018) and dementia (starting in 2018).
How does VBID work? The goal is to make out-of-pocket costs for people with these chronic conditions low enough to encourage them to take advantage of Medicare Advantage plan "high-value clinical services" that help manage and improve their care. CMS is encouraging plans to help members with these chronic conditions. Health plans have the flexibility to lower their members' out-of-pocket costs if they use particular doctors, services or disease management programs; health plans can also offer extra benefits to meet their needs.
Historically, Medicare Advantage plans have tried to avoid enrolling members with costly and complex conditions in order to maximize their profits, so presumably CMS is giving them a financial incentive to participate in this pilot. That said, CMS says that another goal of this pilot is to reduce Medicare spending.
Medicare Advantage plans in seven states–Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee–may be able to test the VBID model. CMS will announce in September which plans will be offering VBID. In January, 2018, CMS will expand the model to three more states–Alabama, Michigan, and Texas.
Here's more from Just Care:
- Four things to think about when choosing between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans
- Medicare checklist: What to do?
- Large Medicare premium increased projected in 2017
- Four things to know if your income is low and you have Medicare


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Pryors In Vietnam: The First Day in Ho Chi Minh City
We arrive in Ho Chi Minh City around 2:30pm local time, and will spend the next hour and a half inside the airport getting ourselves set up with Visas and making our way out of the building with our luggage. The airport is cool, like all the others we've been to, but the temperature outside is still the stark contrast that we expected. It's actually a bit cooler than when I remember, since I'm not sweating within the first 10 seconds this time. My dad turns to me as we're walking out and says "that's not really all that bad at all," so I know it's definitely cooler this time around. For our first day in Ho Chi Minh City, I'm guessing it's probably 78 degrees fahrenheit.
We make our way outside and around the large group of people searching for the other people getting off of the plane. From the very back of the group, Hang's mother is the first person I spot (she's giving us hugs already). Immediately after, our brother Tuan, and my father-in-law, as well as another in which I recognize as Hang's uncle, although I don't at all remember his name (kinda expected that). Quickly, we all make our rounds giving introductions, and then make our way out to the edge of the street, where a bus is waiting for us. Hang's parents have apparently rented a bus for our arrival, so we'll easily fit everyone and the luggage in one vehicle.
The traffic is light at first, not giving much surprise to my family, who've already read the stories and seen the videos about it before. It would take only 5 minutes of driving to get far enough away from the airport for that all to change.
The surprise from vehicles is overwhelming sometimes, even forcing physical reactions from them at times (moving their body as if to brace for a collision). We're now in a bus surrounded by dozens of scooters moving in more than just two different directions. The streets are mixed with professionals, parents, kids on their way to work, people carrying large loads for delivery, and of course it wouldn't be complete without plenty of horn honking.
Later, we'd arrive at Hang's house, where they've already ordered pizza for us to eat, from Dominoes. This is something even I didn't expect. The last time I had came here, we immediately went out for phở at a place near the airport, and I was told multiple times that this was the plan for today as well. I suppose this occasion called for a bit of an audible or something.
We arrive at the Le family home in a little under an hour from when we'd left the airport. The home is exactly as I'd remembered it from before, with a few modifications since the wedding. Large images on canvas of our family, and one large canvas of Hang and I rest securely on each side of a large, nature-like painting.
In the dining room, where a painting of an elephant used to sit, another photo of Hang from the wedding in the USA sits in shrine-like beauty. It's abundantly clear from the layout of the home that family is the number-one most important thing to the Hang's parents, and the welcoming we've received has been wonderful.
For the first night, we're off to a 5-star restaurant, where the buffet is filled with every sort of fresh food and fish that you can imagine, a huge plethora of deserts, and much to my surprise, includes any alcoholic beverage you want within the "all-you-can-eat-and-drink" dinner. Yes, you read this correct… the drinks are all inclusive as well. $50 per plate, and a brilliant dining setting that I simply cannot properly show you with pictures. I'll have a bit of time preparing this one with video, so I may not release that "in order of appearance" if you know what I mean. Stay tuned.


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To honor the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a Year of Faith, starting October 11 and ending November 24, 2013, meant to strengthen the faith of Catholics and draw the world to faith by their example. Pope Benedict has encouraged Catholics to study the lives of the saints as part of the Year of Faith in order to follow their example.
Jeannine Marino, program specialist for the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offers "10 American Saints for the Year of Faith" to help Catholics learn about the lives of the saints and to appreciate the history of the Catholic faith in America. Marino is a canon lawyer who has served as a postulator and advisor to several canonization causes. A postulator conducts research into the life of a proposed saint.
Two saints from the list, Marianne Cope, OSF and Kateri Tekakwitha, were canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. Here is the full list:
More information on American saints and holy men and women for the Year of Faith is available online: www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/saints-for-the-year-of-faith.cfm


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Canoe & Sit-on-Top Kayak Hire on the River Wye. Enjoy a leisurely paddle downstream and take in the natural beauty of the the Brecon Beacons.
If you're looking for a fun way to explore the Brecon Beacons & Black Mountains hiring a Mountain Bike might just be the thing for you! With over 20 years experience, we have a great deal of knowledge of the industry & the surrounding area.


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You wouldn't think it from my other posts, but I'm a pretty worldly fella. I dabble in some politics every now and then mostly because of the unintentional humor the debates and discussions provide. The Republican candidates are something else when it comes to sanity and common sense. I can't lie to you and tell you I actually understand what any of the candidates are talkin' about. That's where Bad Lip Reading comes in. The guys at BLR have made normal videoclips dubbed with "sound bites" that actually seem to make more sense than the candidates themselves. This would seem to be a good thing until you actually listen to the hilarious outcome of the dubbing. It might make MORE sense than what they really say, but it still doesn't make ANY sense. That's the Republican party for ya at this point. See for yourselves….
How it took me so long to find this site is beyond me, but man this cracks me up. Hope you enjoyed it, and if you actually understood what was being said in those videos, you probably have a career in politics ahead of you.
(The title is play on the old Olivia Newton-John song "Let's Get Physical." I was really hoping not to type an explanation of that, but after watching the Republican candidates I kinda lost all kinds of faith in society.)


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Just moved house, and to dived straight into the project of making a ceramic house number. Scary stuff, flat things are difficult to fire in the kiln, and at a high risk of cracking – especially when it comes to screwing it into the wall.
Paper resist was the technique I used for this, and royal blue works quite nicely with the brick work.
Onwards! To more home-projects!


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May 04 2017
I teach at the School of Engineering and Architecture (Languages and Computer Systems Division at the Computer Science and Systems Engineering Department) of the University of Zaragoza, Spain.
Tutoring schedule: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 11:00 to 13:00.
- Bachelor's and Master's Thesis supervised (in Spanish).
- Subjects:
- Data Structures and Algorithms (in Spanish).
- Basic Algorithms (in Spanish) Follow @AlgoritmiaB
- Former courses and material:
- Performance modeling: The Petri nets paradigm (Mendoza, December 2014, in Spanish).
- Advanced Data Structures (Zaragoza, 2013, in Spanish).
- Advanced Techniques in Programming (Zaragoza, 2000-2013, in Spanish).
- Formal Models in Bioinformatics (Zaragoza, 2010-2013).
- Data Structures Analysis (Turin, June 2008).
- Petri Nets and Performance Evaluation (Barcelona, June 2007).
- Performance Modelling and Evaluation (Mendoza, November 2006).
- Algorithms (Zaragoza, 1995-2001, in Spanish).
- A talk on Genetic Algorithms (Zaragoza, 2005, in Spanish).
- About Ada and gnat (in Spanish).
- Training and job offers:
No responses yet


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Valley Gas Speed Shop can call on many years of experience with the five guys in the workshop-Micki, Ben, Tom, Gary and of course proprietor Jimmy his wife Eloise on the desk. Jimmy has owned various cars from race cars to street rods, standard yanks and even a couple of bikes (not the push kind!) And dare I say it some Scooters.
The workshop is 4,000 sq ft and is fully equipped with folder/ guillotine / fly press/ rollers swaging tool/ English wheel/ chassis jig. and many more pieces of equipment. Valley Gas's workshop is fully equipped for any job be it Street Rod, Custom, British, Race Car or Chopper. We also have a service bay for standard yanks. Also we stock many parts be it stock or street rod. Most stock parts are supplied next day if they're not on our shelves. All street rod parts are sourced within 8-10 days from date of VG ordering.
Our shop is open
8:30-5:30 Monday to Thursday
8:30-4:00 Fridays
Saturday-Please call us beforehand to make an appointment


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Tag: election
Quote This
I realize this an important and well discussed election this year. As a youth of our great nation, I strongly recommend to not vote based of statues and "That one good speech"but base your decision on the outlook of our future.
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.
-Eleanor Roosevelt.


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|Join A Committee!
Share |
Take the Plunge! Join a Committee!
Get the most out of your IDC membership by joining a committee! Committee involvement is a great way to participate in the IDC and assume leadership roles. IDC committees provide numerous networking, social and educational opportunities. The committees sponsor topical seminars, with members often participating as speakers. Monthly and/or quarterly meetings are held where the latest developments in the law are addressed.
Active committee involvement is a great way to advance your career. Application for appointment to IDC Committees is open to any IDC Member at no extra cost. Committees are appointed by the President.
If you are interested in serving on an IDC committee or in being reappointed to a committee, please complete the form below.


text: My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night! James O. Tate - DECEMBER 08, 2017 PRINT PAGE | SEND TO FRIEND History is rewritten, memory is transformed, recognition is withdrawn, and the cultural context is recast. The recent toppling of historical statues has proceeded so effectively that we can hardly remember a previous period of statue erection or insertion in Richmond, Virginia. PLEASE SUBSCRIBE OR LOGIN WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION CREDENTIALS TO SEE THE FULL ARTICLE


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Working Music: Bon Iver
New album out today and definitely going into the collection as soon as the pay packet arrives. This cover, widely circulated from Fallon a week or two back, of Bonnie Raitt's 'I Can't Make You Love Me', peppered with a taste of Donnie Hathaway's 'Song for You'. Ridiculously beautiful.


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Mine bests come in lots of saps and sizes.
A mine best is sumthing smool like a bug or a creepy crawli.
Mine bests lith on land and in water,
Some fly walk and swim.
A snail has a slimy body called a foot and a shell. Some live in dark places. It eats leaves. A snail moves at only 45 metres per hour. They are alive for 5-25 years.


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Sweet Mango Moment
Last week I went into town for some office supplies and took along my 23-year-old nephew for a ride-a-long. While in town, he decided to look around for a new Polo style shirt so I dropped him at several places. After carousing three different stores, he came up empty. So I suggested going to the "Five Star" Department store which is a three-story variety store In Calbayog City that carries a little of something for everyone. When I pulled up, he was ready to jump out and I told him "hold on, I'm going to park and come inside with you." He asked me what I was going to look for and I replied "Nothing, I'm just going to the third floor and chase the girls around." After a short pause with an astonished look on his face he replied "You are going to chase girls Uncle?" I explained that I wasn't really going to chase them, but more like herd them. Usually when I go to the third floor (where they seem to put all the non-English speaking sales girls), and when the young ladies see a foreigner coming, they all immediately scatter in opposite directions. Because they know very little English, it is a struggle to try to communicate with a foreigner like myself, who keeps asking many questions. It is also well-known in the Philippines that folks here claim to get a nose bleed from having to think too hard. So, I like to just move around the floor to see if I can herd and trap about 3 or 4 of them together. Once they are cornered, they will huddle together and start giggling. As I approach, they will get nervous and turn pale. This is an excellent time for me to fire off tons of questions and cause multiple nose bleeds at the same time. Being retired, it's a fun and challenging activity that kills a little time anyway.


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Sunday, February 6, 2011
Soul Food #76~
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca
Love this little tree..it is magical..A weeping pussy willow~ I hope you can read the text..it's so sweet and I believe in it~
23 comments:
i hope all your wishes come true :)ReplyDelete
I love my weeping pussy willow tree. I had no idea it was magical :)ReplyDelete
That is so beautiful ; it will be a while before we have pussy willows around here. Spring is coming.ReplyDelete
awww. love this. may all of your wishes come true. This is wonderful. I am your newest follower. too! Please stop by my blog and say hello. LindaReplyDelete
Beautiful.....so pretty, lovely poem........for sure some soul food!ReplyDelete
Margaret B
may all your wishes come true :)ReplyDelete
That's so sweet and thoughtful ... I'll never think about pussy willows in the same way again.ReplyDelete
How coincidental you posted one of a pussy willow. It's the plant to have during Chinese New Year - they represent the invitation of abundant luck and prosperity into homes. :) I hope your wishes are fulfilled. xoxoReplyDelete
Such a pretty tree, Monique...YOU are such an individual...strong graceful and kind!ReplyDelete
Many blessings
Shel xxx
magical power... i like your post. have a great week, monique.ReplyDelete
Love this Monique. Spring can't be too far off, our rose bushes are all in bud as are the hydrangea. I love pussy willows. We used to go and gather bunches of them when I was a child. They were always spring to me. xxooReplyDelete
May all your wishes come true. Sweet, lovely post. Thanks, Monique.ReplyDelete
What a lovely weeping pussy willow. The story is precious Monique. I agree with the others. I'll never see another pussy willow without thinking of this. May your wishes come true.ReplyDelete
You are the epitome of kindness.ReplyDelete
What a lovely idea... I used to pick pussy willows in winter and force them inside.. they had the sweetest gray fluff... what great idea to have one indoors... now you must tell us your wish!!ReplyDelete
Beautiful tree so sweet and graceful - and the story is a treasure.ReplyDelete
"All Things French"
Monique, the tree is adorble. I have never seen one before. I would love to tie a knot or two. What a fun and as always beautiful post.ReplyDelete
What a sweet little tree! Are you growing indoors, M? I love the story of it :)ReplyDelete
I love the collage and the little willow tree too!ReplyDelete
Have a great week,
Thank you for sharing the little verse. The pussy willow is a favorite here. I have branches in a vase that moves about the house. A friend brought me a bouquet of pussy willow branches for my 60th birthday. I still enjoy them 3 years later. ;-)ReplyDelete
~ Sarah
May all your dreams come true!
Que de belles photos! et pour finir et nous faire rêver une note optimiste de printemps... BisousReplyDelete
Thank you..I love it too..as for the wish it's like birthday candles you blow out on a cake..you must keep your wish secret or it won't come true~:)ReplyDelete
What a lovely story. I wish many un-knotted and graceful branches for you!ReplyDelete


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On a personal note: First World War stories
|Ref: 'The experience of a lifetime...' conference poster, 22-24 August 2014.
Professor Sir Hew Strachan of Oxford University spoke at the conference and will be speaking at Auckland War Memorial Museum tonight, Friday 29 August, at 7.30pm. The tickets for Sir Hew's talk in the museum auditorium have sold out. However, there are tickets now on sale for seating in the auditorium lobby.
|Ref: Auckland War Memorial Museum image, Sir Hew Strachan.
In the current Sir George Grey Special Collections exhibition 'World War 1914 - 1918' you can read many personal accounts of the First World War. From diary entries, letters and postcards to writing in the form of a novel and poetry.
|Ref: Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. Battle. London: Elkin Mathews, 1916.
|Ref: Postcard. Unexplosed Turkish shell at Anzac 1915. Photo ref: 657-4.
Author: Zoë Colling, Sir George Grey Special Collections.


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In keeping with the focus of Dell's robust portfolio of systems and information management solutions, the new release aims empower organizations to spend less time worrying about how to migrate data onto these modern platforms, and more time fueling innovation by driving reporting and analytics initiatives forward.
The new version allows organizations to eliminate the anxiety of migrations to SAP HANA, Teradata, or EnterpriseDB Postgres Advanced Server with a proven solution that replicates data in near real-time with no impact to the production database – and does so at half the cost of other leading database replication solutions.
With the addition of support for SAP HANA, Teradata, and EnterpriseDB Postgres, SharePlex now supports a host of target environments, including Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, SAP ASE, Java Message Service (JMS), SQL and XML Files.
The expanded platform support from Dell SharePlex gives organizations the agility and flexibility needed grow, diversify and modernize their database infrastructure to better leverage improved performance from in-memory databases and better manage evolving analytic requirements.
Regardless of the target, transforming database infrastructure is a major undertaking for companies of all sizes. Whether implementing new production databases or off-loading data for reporting and analytics use cases, SharePlex enables organizations to migrate and upgrade their environments while ensuring high availability of mission-critical systems.
With the new version, organizations migrating to SAP HANA, Teradata, or EnterpriseDB Postgres can achieve dramatically reduced downtime, deploy unlimited practice runs with no impact to the production environment, and put control of scheduling back in the hands of the IT team.
"SharePlex pioneered the concept of Oracle database replication and customers around the world depend on it every day. Now, with the addition of support for SAP HANA, Teradata, and EnterpriseDB Postgres, Dell continues to evolve SharePlex to help customers grow and sustain an increasingly diverse database environment," said Darin Bartik, Vice President - Marketing, Systems and Information Management, Dell.
"Whether structured or unstructured, proprietary or open source, on-premises or in the cloud, Dell is committed to supporting all data across all platforms. This deliberately agnostic approach enables us to meet customers where they are and help them get where they want to go next by providing the right solution at the right time," said Bartik.
The new release will be generally available on May 24, 2016 and will be available both direct and through channel partners.


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"Lennie Tristano returns to Chicago to play a club date for the first time in 1 1/2 years tonight (April 6). The brilliant pianist opens at the Blue note with his sextet which includes saxists Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Rest of the personnel was unknown at writing, but Billy Bauer with studio work in New York, probably won't be along.
Also on the bill will be the eminent mixologist, linguiest and master of many instruments, Bulee Slim Gaillard. He'll be heading his trio..."
DOWN BEAT April 20, 1951 - Chicago Band Briefs
Magazine articles and newspaper references to Lennie Tristano.
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Did you know that we can design custom Christmas cards for you? Or, custom invitations? Some customers who have done the custom Christmas cards from us have had feedback from their friends & family who received the cards, saying that, "Yours was the best Christmas card of the year!" What a compliment!
If you'd like us to turn your pictures into some custom Christmas cards or custom graduation invitations for you (or any other sort of card you can come up with), just shoot me an email or give me a call and either myself or Callie will design something just for you.


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Baby red river hog debuts at Houston Zoo
A newborn red river hog has made his debut at the Houston Zoo. The tiny hoglet was born April 9 to first-time mother Vidalia. The red river hogs at the Houston Zoo share a habitat with two troops of western lowland gorillas in the Gorillas of the African Forest, which opened in 2015. Though gorillas and red river hogs share the same forest lands in Africa, this is truly a unique experience as you won't see them together in a shared habitat in any other zoo.
The yet-to-be-named hoglet can be seen frolicking in the dry riverbed of the habitat along with his mother, the other two adult hogs, Neptune and Luna, and nearly one-year-old females Artemis and Ophelia.
The Houston Zoo is protecting red river hogs in the wild by providing funding for wildlife saving education programs in the area the hogs live in Africa. The education programs guide local people to protecting red river hogs and other local animals in the wild.
— Houston Zoo


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Leadership Styles and the Impact/Role of Followers
This content was COPIED from BrainMass.com - View the original, and get the already-completed solution here!
In studying leadership, one primary focus is the impact on and by followers. The three styles of leadership are participative, delegation, and empowerment. Each of these styles has a significant effect on followers.
1) Explain how each of these three styles impacts followers in an organization.
2) Provide a description of participative leadership, delegation, and empowerment.
3)Compare and contrast each of these styles by stating their advantages and disadvantages.
4) Identify the appropriate circumstances for using each style by providing one example for each.
5) Correlate the engagement of each style with the effect on the follower.
6) Ascertain the role that the follower plays for leader effectiveness when exposed to each of these three styles.
Thank you.© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com October 9, 2019, 10:12 pm ad1c9bdddf
Solution Preview
The response addresses the queries posted in 654 words with references.
// In order to start such a paper, one must consider the overall impact of leadership. There are various styles of leadership that have been adopted in different Organizations. It is important to pay equal emphasis on each leadership style. Firstly, one must explain the impact of the leadership styles in a short introduction. Like this. //
Impact of Leadership Styles on Followers
Participative technique is highly motivating. It motivates followers as they feel important when their thoughts are considered in decision making. In the delegation leadership style, followers are able to develop their independent personality (Leadership Styles, 2008). Employees get freedom for work and they have the decision making power. The autocratic leadership is exactly opposite of Delegation style. Decision making is centralized and followers remain uninformed to the situation.
// Above we mentioned in brief, the impact of leadership style on followers. Now, we'll proceed with discussing the different kinds of leadership in brief. //
Participative Leadership
This style of leadership is considered to be most effective. Participative leaders give guidelines to follow and they also take part in groups. Leaders promote and encourage participation from the group but the final decision making power remains with them. Due to this, members feel engaged with the team and develop high morale (Wagner, 2008).
Delegation Leadership ...
Solution Summary
This solution discusses the overall impact of leadership, defines each of te three leadership styles, and discusses advantages, disadvantages, circumstances and the role of the follower. This solution is 654 words with three APA references.


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Looking for Chiropractic Clinics ? Find in our list of Chiropractic Clinics companies offering Chiropractic Clinics products and services
Chiropractors at our clinic utilize specific chiropractic adjustments to gently move the spine into a more normal functionally centered position.
Golden Given Chiropractic P.S. has been a trusted chiropractic office in Tacoma, Washington for over 15 years. Are you looking for an alternative option to western medicine? We offer chiropractic treatments for a variety of conditions that may be causing you pain. We specialize in injuries and more complicated cases. By using the Gonstead Technique, we get our patients results.We can help with pain associated with: Chiropractic adjustments Auto accident care Work injuries Massage therapy Sports injuries PediatricWhether it is your neck or back, arms or legs, our dedicated team can help you on your road to recovery. We're the golden standard. Open 7 days a week for your scheduling convenience.Call today for a free initial consultation. Be sure to ask about our Military Discount. We also accept many forms of insurance and payment plans.
Chiropractic care is an important aspect to your overall health, whether you are suffering from a minor affliction, or dealing with a life-long condition. As a holistic health-care approach, chiropractic care focuses on a whole-body approach to health. Problems like stress can affect multiple body systems, and other difficulties can affect more than one portion of your body. We do not focus on the site of the pain, but on your entire body. Its never too late to start the journey to health and wellness. Here at Three Fountains Chiropractic, Dr. David Gooldy and his team are committed to get back your vitality and attain your health goals. You will never have a more professional, yet friendly experience than you will here at Three Fountains Chiropractic, here in Lexington.
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At Performance Spine & Sports Medicine, we recognize that. As a new patient, you will find thats just one of the aspects that sets us apart. We understand that a cookie-cutter approach to caring for our patients is not appropriate. Each individual is different and a treatment program that works great for one person may not be the best for another. Whatever your injury or need, even if youve addressed a condition previously, well start from scratch in designing a treatment program that will meet your unique needs.
Joni Landau Hands Of Treasure offers you Neuromuscular Trigger Point, Sports Massage and Pre-post Natal Massage in Ithaca, NY.
Chiropractic Baltimore, Chiropractic in Baltimore, Chiropractor Baltimore, Chiropractor in Baltimore, Back Pain Baltimore, Baltimore Chiropractor, Baltimore Chiropractic Office, Neck Pain Baltimore, Back Pain Baltimore, Spinal Decompression Baltimore, Headaches Baltimore, Back Doctor Baltimore
We provide professional, relaxing therapeutic massage services in order to provide our clients with a variety of benefits. Some of the more common benefits our patients experience are: reduced pain reduced stiffness and motion limitations reduced muscular and emotional stress increased flexibility increased blood flow enhanced soft tissue healing
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Shopping at Shin Wellness in Florida guarantees quality Chiropractors products.
Evolve Sports Chiropractic is a center for chiropractic care at Carlsbad. If you want to be healed for neck pain, injury back pain, herniated slipped discs etc. then call us today!


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One of the first things a personal trainer will have you do is test your level of fitness using a variety of exercises typically including push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, bench press, squats, a 10 minute walk test and more.
Read the full article in the Feb. 23 issue of Navarre Press. Subscribe online at navarrepress.com for as little as $38 per year.
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British sailor dies in Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
by Risa Merl
Andrew Ashman, a British sailor in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, has died after being knocked unconscious while sailing approximately 120 miles off the coast of Portugal. His boat was heading south on the first leg of the race, bound for Brazil.
Sailing for team IchorCoal, Andrew Ashman was reefing in the main sail in moderate seas and a strong Force 6 breeze when he was hit by the mainsheet – and possibly the boom, according to an official statement by Clipper. Ashman was knocked unconscious, and although medical assistance and resuscitation was provided immediately, he never regained consciousness.
A democratic sailing race, the Cipper Round the World Yacht Race is designed to attract participants from all walks of life and sailing skill levels. Andrew Ashman, 49, worked as a paramedic in Orpington, Kent, UK but was an "experienced yachtsman" according to race officials.
This is the first death in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race's nearly 20 year history.
Legendary sailor and Clipper Race Founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said, "This is extremely sad news and my heart goes out to his bereaved family and friends, and to his fellow crew who have come to know Andrew with great affection during his training and the early days of this race. Safety is always our utmost priority, as our record shows, and we shall investigate the incident immediately in full cooperation with the authorities."
IchorCoal diverted to northern Portugal after the incident. On September 6, 2015 at 1pm local time, the entire Clipper fleet observed a moment of silence to honour their fallen sailor.
The crew of IchorCoal have decided to keep on sailing the race, as Skipper Darren Ladd explains, "It's partly out of respect for Andy that we want to carry on, and partly a way that as a team we can deal with what's happened. I think the only way we can all deal with it is to jump back on the boat and get back sailing and do it with Andy in our hearts and minds at the same time."


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Upload files have 644 permissions
I'm writing a script that deletes files that no longer are used. The problem is when DFP uploads files the file permissions are set to 644 which doesn't allow my delete script to delete the file. I don't want to keep a lot of orphaned images in my folder. If someone already has an image that is uploaded and the name is stored in the database lets say its called image1.jpg and they replace that image with a new one named image2.jpg then I'm trying to delete image1.jpg since it's no longer being referenced in the database. Is there a way to set the file permissions to 705 on upload? The directory permissions are set to 777.


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There I've said it and it's true. I have a real fondness, a huge affection, a love for a shop.
I've known Woolies for as long as, well almost anything. This is where my Mum clothed me. This is where I'd 'borrow' the odd sweet, save up and buy my first single, and obsess over those impossibly long felt-tip sets.
Is it just me?
Surely this great institution has been a part of all our lives? And what a sad thought that I might not be able to share those same experiences with my children. I really don't want to watch the reflection of the screen in my son's eyes when we choose his first stationery set.
This is real potent emotion stuffed full of sherbet-smelling nostalgia.
And I know it's not just me. A friend told me the other night that if someone knocked on his door asking for a pound for Woolworths he'd "throw a couple in". Which is an odd thought because he'd probably tell a charity that "times were a bit hard..."
Woolworths and all its Britishness and commercial incompetence might be a million miles from the high street charity but I think there is a lesson to draw on.
My relationship with Woolies started when I was young - it answered my early desires. Perhaps not the clothes but a bag of pick 'n mix and some 80s Pop.
So not surprisingly, I find I have a deeper level of affection for charities that were part of my childhood. I have really fond memories of going out at night with my mum and doing the house to house collection for Barnardo's. It answered my desire to spend time with her, away from my siblings.
Charities should try and engage more with children and their families. Become integral players in childhood memories. I know this might seem like long-term planning but it's really not that long before a child in primary school will be graduating and starting work.
So what went wrong for poor old Woolworths?
Well that's easy. They didn't plan for the long run. They didn't go on-line.


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What Does It Mean to Wear a Red Dress to Prom?
Wearing a red dress to prom means making a bold statement in a color that complements and speaks to a spirited personality. Each shade of red in this collection of designer dresses evokes a different feeling and can be associated with a variety of meanings spanning different cultures, so choose the hue that best fits you! Though commonly associated with love and passion, the color red has also represented good luck in China, privilege in Sweden, joy in Singapore, and beauty in Russia. Shades of red dresses have been commonly used for various ceremonies for their association with happiness and power. In India, brides wear stunning red dresses on their wedding day as a symbol of a new life and prosperity. Cherokee Indians would dress in red to represent success and triumph. In any shade of red dress, you can exude confidence, strength, and joy when you make a grand entrance in your long or short red prom dress.
On the edgier side of traditional, a red dress is perfect prom and other special events too. Whatever message you want to send, a burgundy or red dress will help you do it. Suited to a confident personality, this collection of red designer dresses has many options for any dress-worthy occasion. Choosing a red gown as your next pageant dress is sure to leave a lasting impression and perhaps bring you a lucky win. Short red semi-formal dresses that are cute and flirty with lace details will add a little charm to your ensemble at a Valentine's Day or holiday party. Short red prom dresses with cut outs and open-back red gowns will give you a more commanding and daring vibe. Encouraging feelings of enthusiasm and confidence, any style or shade of red dress that you choose from this collection of red designer dresses will have you holding your head a little higher walking into any formal or semi-formal occasion.


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Welcome to WebmasterWorld Guest from 188.8.131.52
Forum Moderators: Robert Charlton & goodroi
I've considered setting up a "Sister" site with the same general overview of my company site, but with content worded differently and slight variations on the title tags. So if my main site is ever penalized with little chance of improvement, I'll have an additional one that I can try to move up the SERPs with links from sites that previously linked to my main site.
How would Google perceive a "sister" site with slightly varying content? Would a sister site be penalized if it was human-reviewed if a competitor reported it as possible SE spam? I see law firms frequently setting up multiple sites very similar in content for specific types of lawsuits they specialize in (medication specific, practice area specific). I also see web design firms with multiple sites, each dedicated to a specific type of industry or client they cater to (something I've considered, but for now I keep those pages on the same site). Those sites seem to rank okay, but I don't know for sure how Google sees them.
The fact of the matter is Google�s tolerance for collateral damage has risen dramatically over the past few years. Great sites, that are clean as a whistle can fall victim to algorithmic changes. Multiple sites and a healthy Adwords campaign broaden your scope, and help reduce the risky business model of relying on Google traffic to a single site.
Remeber that 2 sites is not 200% revenue. I guess 160% is the most you can get.
My interest in setting up a main sister site has nothing to do with revenue, its about having an umbrella in case my business site ever falls in the SERPs.
I have considered setting up one or two individual sites for specific types of industries, that would be for increasing revenue. I did set up one such site three years ago for a specific niche, only its completely different from my main site and isn't remotely connected by linking, its been at the top of the SERPs for years. But if I set up another industry specific design site, I'd be tempted to link to both sites from any new project I develop within that industry, and maybe that's something Google will notice and disapprove of.
[edited by: DXL at 10:38 pm (utc) on Nov. 29, 2007]
The problem might be though, that a competitor sees it and complains to google. If it is too similar they might manually affect one of them.


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Slow Cooker Pork Butt Green ChiliFrom sparow64 10 years ago
- 3 to 4 pounds bone-in pork butt, trimmed and cut into large chunks, or 1 1/2 pounds boneless pork butt shopping list
- 1 (27-ounce) can (or 7 4-ounce cans) chopped mild green chiles shopping list
- 1 head garlic, cloves peeled and left whole shopping list
- 3 canned chipotle chiles, or to taste shopping list
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin shopping list
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, mixed with 2 cups cold water shopping list
- salt and pepper shopping list
- flour tortillas or rice for serving shopping list
- sour cream, optional shopping list
How to make it
- Place the pork, green chiles, garlic, chipotles, ground cumin and flour-water mixture in a slow cooker and set to desired temperature. Cover pot and cook until pork is tender enough to pierce easily with a fork (at least 5 hours if set on high).
- Remove meat from pot and shred to desired thickness.
- With a wooden spoon mash garlic and chiles and spoon over pork. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Roll in tortillas, or serve over rice, and serve with sour cream if desired.
People Who Like This Dish 8
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- bellasmom Queen Creek, AZ
- chefmeow Garland, TX
- showmegirl Midwest, MO
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- Show up here?Review or Bookmark it! ✔
Reviews & Comments 5
- momo_55grandma ate it and said... Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
- notyourmomma ate it and said... Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
- conner909 10 years ago Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
- bellasmom ate it and said... Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
- chefmeow ate it and said... Was this review helpful? Yes Flag
The Cooksparow64 Sweetwater, TN
The Rating7 people
Greatness here my friend. High 5.chefmeow in Garland loved it
Now this is what I call comfort food...I cannot wait to smell it cooking on acold, rainy day like today-thanks!bellasmom in Queen Creek loved it
I love this. Yummy.notyourmomma in South St. Petersburg loved it


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OAKLAND — The governing board for Oakland's American Indian Model Schools — which boast some of the highest test scores in California — has been put on notice: If they don't make swift changes to the way the organization is run, it could be shut down.
A 1,080-page document from the Oakland school district cites numerous violations, from financial fraud and financial conflicts of interest to nonexistent board oversight. It gives the organization 60 days to remedy the problems and provide a written response or have all three charters pulled.
The violations — and much, if not all, of the evidence — compiled in the thick document stem from a report published in June by the state's Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team. The inquiry was prompted by whistle-blower complaints from former employees.
Investigators found that founder and director Ben Chavis, his wife, Marsha Amador, and their numerous real estate and consulting businesses received about $3.8 million in public funds between mid-2007 and the end of 2011. And the organization's governing board, which is responsible for ensuring the proper use of public money, did nothing to prevent it from happening, the report concluded.
For a time, Chavis, himself, served on the board while he was employed as the organization's director — and while his company leased buildings to the schools and his wife handled the books.
"There was no indication that the AIMS Board took any steps to account for the founder's financial interests in the agreements it approved, or was even aware that such agreements were illegal," said the notice from Oakland Unified.
The three schools run by the American Indian Model organization are: American Indian Public Charter School (grades 5-8) at 3637 Magee Avenue in the Laurel District; American Indian Public Charter School II (K-8) at 171 12th Street in Chinatown; and American Indian Public High School, also on Magee Avenue.
The original American Indian charter school opened in 1996 to help the city's Native American students and others who were struggling in the traditional system. Chavis took over in 2000, overhauled the curriculum and instituted tough and sometimes unorthodox disciplinary practices, such as making students sit on the floor when they hadn't completed their homework. He later added a high school and a second middle school, American Indian Public Charter School II. As of 2011-12, only six of the 641 students attending any of the schools were Native American, according to the California Department of Education.
For the charter revocation process to officially begin, the Oakland school board must approve the provisional "Notice of Violation" that has already been delivered to the charter organization. The board is scheduled to take up the matter at5 p.m. Thursday during the regular board meeting.
If the Oakland school board approves the violation notice, the American Indian board has 60 days to respond. If the district is not satisfied with the response, the school board may take the next step and issue an "Intent to Revoke" notice, which is followed by a public hearing and a final decision within 30 days.
Regardless of what the Oakland school district's staff members recommend, the fate of the American Indian schools will rest with the Oakland school board.
At a packed hearing in April, the board wrestled with a staff recommendation to close one of the three schools — American Public Indian Charter School II, whose charter was up for renewal — even after the investigators released initial findings that pointed to conflicts of interest and financial fraud. Supporter after supporter pointed to the schools' near-perfect scores, which were not part of the fraud investigation's scope, and said the board would be depriving students of an excellent education if it closed their school.
Ultimately, in a split vote, the school board voted to renew the school's charter, allowing it to expand to include grades K-8.
"We don't have one school in the Oakland school district with that kind of score," board member Alice Spearman, who has described Chavis as a friend, said at the hearing. She added, "I, for one, don't want to be on CNN as part of a group of people that can't even see beyond."
Messages left with American Indian were not immediately returned on Wednesday.
Jon Glover, who worked as a teacher and administrator at American Indian charter schools for five years until 2011, said the developments have been hard to watch. "My big hope is that the kids have an opportunity to be well-served — whether it be there or somewhere else," he said.
Read Katy Murphy's Oakland schools blog at www.IBAbuzz.com/education. Follow her at Twitter.com/katymurphy.


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Olympics venues to be moved from Sochi after 2014
The Russian PM met IOC representatives in the location for the 2014 Games. He explained that, by moving the venues, they'll be able to develop winter sports over a much greater area.
"We plan to build five ice palaces for the Olympic Games in Sochi. I believe five ice palaces in the Black Sea resort are too much. We have an idea to have three of them, which will be easy to assemble and disassemble, so that after the 2014 Games we could move them to other regions of Russia for the development of winter sports there," Vladimir Putin said.
"We have been saying all along that the funds required will be made available fully and on time, whatever the difficulties. And this is how things are actually getting done," Vladimir Putin said.