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Hip and happening outdoor gear and clothing retailer Moosejaw Mountaineering (#297 on Internet Retailer's top 500 of 2006 is blazing new trails in mobile marketing. Recognizing its key demographic spends more time texting than talking or emailing, Moosejaw joined forces with mobile marketing firm Messagebuzz Inc, and introduced "Moosejaw Texting."
With the intention of making their customers' day "fun," Moosejaw allows customers to subscribe to the Deal of the Day or the quirky Daily Remark texts. Apparently the company had no idea how successful the "Moosejaw Texting" strategy would be. For example, this message achieved a jaw-dropping response rate of 66%:
"Text me back with rock, paper or scissors. I already know what I'm throwing and if you beat me I'll add 100 Moosejaw Points to your account now."
Fun, quick (the longest message would be 8 characters) and a bit of playful generosity. Everybody in the customer loyalty program who replied to the text message got the points, even if you didn't pick the correct "paper" option. Another promo asked their text-list to message back with their least favorite flick and rewarded them with 20% off coupons. Humor + Discounts = Customer-Engagement-Marketing-Genius. Throw in a little customer service to the mix: the texting goes both ways — customers can text product or order questions or just random messages to THEJAW.
Moosejaw uses Seattle-based mPoria's GoMobile! m-commerce platform. When customers place an order by phone, it's processed just like an online order and payment processing is handled by Paypal Mobile Checkout. Retailers and etailers can subscribe to GoMobile for a monthly flat fee based on SKUs with three tiers: $69.99, $99.99 or $149.99. mPoria also runs a shopping portal that charges 5-20% per sale. Even if you don't have a mobile presence, you can choose your site colors and upload a logo and mPoria will get you up and running for a modest set-up fee of $99.
You gotta check out the live demo, super fun, even if a search for Lionel Ritchie yields no results.


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Come experience the best of Italy and more with our fabulous steak, seafood and pasta dishes! We feature your Italian classics along with American favorites. With our extensive wine list, you will be able to find something for any occasion.
The Lunch Menu is available from 11am-4pm. The Dinner Menu is available all day.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kristine Apostol
As a Certified Life Coach, Registered Acupuncturist and Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, I offer a process that flows seamlessly between the therapeutic benefits of Acupuncture, WholeHealthcare BodyTalk System™ and Classic Coaching principles and approaches. You'll receive the ideal custom blend of modalities guided by your innate wisdom for optimal health and vibrant living.
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A unique combination of modalities tailored to your BodyMind's health needs + heart based life goals.
Integrating Life Coaching principles, Acupuncture therapies and BodyTalk balancing techniques, you'll receive the ideal custom blend of modalities to optimize your health, promote well being and offer one-of-a kind support to energize your life.
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Created in a fun group setting with your health & well-being in mind, but designed to gain personal insights + wellness tips & tools to help you become more of an active participant in your own health.
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Lim Chu Kang mangrove is a lovely mangrove I was unfortunate enough to see halved in 1990. Still regularly visited by researchers, it is a rare gem in Singapore which, like other shorelines around Singapore, is plagued by the problem of marine debris. The site is fronted by a beach on which a trash line is clearly evident.
In order to limit the impact of the trash on that non-recreational shore, volunteers visit the site during the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore and during year-round cleanups in order to limit the problem of marine trash entering that mangrove.
The cleanups for 2010 have been:
- 07 Aug 2010 – 116 trash bags, 811 kg, 42 volunteers.
- 11 Sep 2010 – 53 bags, 588 kg, 53 volunteers.
The third cleanup will be conducted this Saturday, 9th October 2010 by the youth group, Pangaea Young Explorers Program. Led by Nicolette Meyer, their cleanup will investigate how much trash accumulates on the Lim Chu Kang beach in a month, in the last quarter of the year. It has been a month since the last cleanup and 15 of the will tackle the beach as the tide recedes.
Lend the group a hand this Satuday- sign up here, thanks!
Meet at Lim Chu Kang Road end (end point for Bus 975 from Bt Panjang Interchange) at 4pm and look for Nicolette. Cleanup operations begin at 4.00pm and will end at 5.30pm with weighing of trash.
Lee Bee Yan & Jessica Ker of the NUS Biodiversity Crew who will be at the mangrove for a research trip will conduct an informal chat with volunteers after the cleanup about the mangrove ecosystem there.


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I'm not an expert at much, but I've got naming baby boys down pat. As the mother to three strapping little guys, my husband and I have spent countless hours over the years scouring baby name lists looking for the perfect monikers for our children. Like us, many parents weigh the pros and cons of unique versus traditional names. Since mine is both difficult to spell and pronounce, we were more inclined to assign our kids names that are easy for people to grasp, but not too common. Plenty of other parents opt for traditional, classic baby names, whereas many select biblical or pop culture-influenced choices.
Fortunately, there are plenty of naming options out there to go with every last name and still suit parents' styles and beliefs. Keep reading to learn more about 10 of the most popular baby boy names in recent years.
Jacob often lands near the top of most popular baby name lists because it can be used in its entirety, as well as in short form (Jake). Religious in nature, Jacob's origin is Hebrew, but plenty of Christians and parents with other beliefs use it now. The name comes from the well-known Bible story of Jacob and his brother Esau. In fact, the name's meanings ("supplanter" or "heel grabber") are directly related to the biblical figure, since Jacob was born holding onto Esau's leg. Jumping forward a couple thousand years to modern times, the name also shows up regularly in popular culture, most recently as one of the main characters of the "Twilight" series of books and films. With more than 21,875 Jacobs born in the United States in 2010 alone, even if you're not a member of Team Jacob, chances are good you know more than one kid bearing the moniker.
Mason exploded in popularity around 2005 and has since hovered near the top of popular names. The trend has undoubtedly been helped along by celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Melissa Joan Hart choosing the title for their babes. In terms of definition, Mason is French in origin, and since a person who is an expert in masonry is a stone worker, so it's not surprising that that's literally what the name means. Also a common last name, Mason occasionally doubles as a name for baby girls, although not nearly as often as with boys.
The name Jackson has seen a significant uptick in popularity in part because of the last-name-as-a-first-name phenomenon (think: Tyler, Taylor, Carson and so on). Many famous people sport the surname, including Michael Jackson, Andrew Jackson and even Civil War general Stonewall Jackson (which might account for some of its popularity in the South). As an added bonus, Jackson is a cinch to spell and goes well with a lot of last names. Another Hebrew favorite, Jackson is similar to Mason in that its meaning is quite literal -- it means "son of Jack."
Another popular moniker of Hebrew origin, meaning "firm" or "strong," Ethan has steadily climbed to the top of the baby name lists in the last few years. Part of the reason for the name's popularity might be that it's an intellectual-sounding moniker, but it doesn't come across as nerdy. Although famous Ethans are harder to come by than some of the other names on our list, droves of parents around the world are selecting it for their tiny tykes, so it'll undoubtedly begin to show up more often on screens and in modern literature.
Much like Jacob, Alexander is one of those names that lends itself well to formality, but also comes with a friendly-sounding, casual nickname (Alex). Greek in origin, Alexander is a very strong, authoritative sounding name; probably thanks to the influence of historic figures like Alexander the Great (he wasn't Alexander the Mediocre, after all). Appropriately, the name means "defender of mankind." This timeless name showed up near the top of American baby name lists beginning around 2000 and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The growing popularity of famous actors like Alex Pettyfer and Alexander Skarsgard virtually ensure that TV and film buffs will continue to consider this moniker for their little ones for years to come.
Plenty of parents pick this name because it's classic without sounding old-fashioned. In fact, it's held firm near the top of baby name lists since 1954! A popular biblical choice, Michael is another Hebrew original that stands for "who is like God," which can be quite a lofty expectation for a baby to live up to!
There's no shortage of famous faces with this prestigious moniker. Whether your kid turns out to be into sports (Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps), film (Michael Keaton, Michael Douglas) or music (Michael Jackson), there's someone out there for your little Mikey to model himself after.
William's longevity makes Michael's 60-plus years at the top seem downright paltry. A classic name which lends itself nicely to nicknames (Liam, Billy, Bill, Will or Willie), William has been a perennial favorite since 1900. German and English in origin, William means "protector," which is appropriate, since many men bearing the name have done exactly that throughout history. In fact, there have been too many famous and influential Williams to keep track of. A sampling includes former President Bill Clinton, baseball player Willie Mays and world-renowned playwright William Shakespeare. Let's not also forget the dashing young heir to the British throne, Prince William.
Elijah is another biblical frontrunner that's become significantly more popular in recent years. Often nicknamed "Eli," babies named Elijah have a moniker with a very holy meaning. Elijah means "Lord is my God" in Hebrew.
Another probable side effect of the increase of baby Elijahs is a rise in pop culture characters with the name. The film "Book of Eli" was a blockbuster hit, and television and film characters like Eli Stone (of the television show of the same name) and Eli Gold (major character on the series "The Good Wife") are just a few examples of the growing prevalence of the handle.
A relative newcomer to baby name lists, infants dubbed Noah have enjoyed an uptick since about 2005 or so, when it began to surge in popularity. Another Hebrew favorite, Noah means "peaceful," which is appropriate since it's not overwhelming, but it isn't a wimpy choice, either. Although other famous Noahs have graced our TVs, cinema screens and literature over the years, the best known is undoubtedly the biblical figure of ark, animal and flood fame.
Aidan (or Aiden, depending on personal preference) isn't a new name, but it did seem to explode out of absolutely nowhere in the early 2000s. Since jumping to the top of the baby name charts, Aidan has spawned a handful of other popular rhyming names, such as Caiden, Jaden and Brayden (spelling varies). In fact, celebs like Britney Spears and Will Smith chose the Jayden/Jaden moniker for their own little guys.
Irish in origin, Aidan's meaning is "fiery." Although it's impossible to pinpoint beyond a shadow of a doubt, tiny Aidans started popping up en masse right around the time that the character Aidan Shaw made his debut on the popular television show "Sex and the City." Played by the ever-so-handsome and likeable John Corbett, it's no wonder the name skyrocketed in popularity and resulted in a bunch of copycat names, to boot.
This App Can Explain What Your Baby's Cries Mean
HowStuffWorks reports on ChatterBaby, an app developed by a UCLA scientist and mother to take the guesswork out of a baby's cries.
Related Articles
- Babycenter. "Popular Baby Names for 2012." 2012. (March 23, 2012). http://www.babycenter.com/popularBabyNames.htm?year=2012
- Babycentre. "Top 10 Baby Names Around the World." January 2011. (March 23, 2012). http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/naming/top10namesaroundtheworld/#10
- Moy, Suelain. "Q&A: What are pros and cons of baby names with more than one meaning?" BabyZone. 2012. (March 23, 2012). http://www.babyzone.com/baby-names/baby-names-with-multiple-meanings_77193
- Parenting. "Top Baby Boy Names of 2010." 2012. (March 23, 2012). http://www.parenting.com/gallery/baby-boy-names
- Parents. "Top 100 Baby Names." 2012. (March 23, 2012). http://www.parents.com/babynames/topNamesCensus.jsp
- Social Security Online. "Popular Names in Territories." March 11, 2011. (March 23, 2012). http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/territories.html
- The Bump. "Popular Baby Names." 2012. (March 23, 2012). http://pregnant.thebump.com/baby-names/popular-baby-names.aspx?MsdVisit=1


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British American Tobacco Q3 FY2017 Results
The Group registered market share decline from 54.5% in the second quarter of 2017 to 53.9% in the third quarter of 2017. Dunhill, the biggest Premium brand in legal market, registered 38.4% market share in the third quarter of 2017 (-0.6% versus previous quarter). The decline is mainly due to the prevailing high level of illegal cigarette incidence at 56.1% as of August 2017 (Source: Consumer Track by Kantar Research Agency) as well as the growth of a lower price segment within the legal market.
In relation to the cessation of the manufacturing operations announced on 17th March 2016, the Group has further recorded a one-off restructuring expenses of RM7.9 million as of year to date September of 2017 which consisted of on-going cost of the project, outplacement programs and one off expenses associated with the storage and transfer of unprocessed leaf and raw materials.
Demand for data continued to grow with 6.0 million 4G LTE users (3Q16: 4.1 million) and an average usage of 7.4GB per month (3Q16: 4.4GB). This was supported by the increase in smart-phone penetration which stood at 80.3% against 73.7% on a blended basis. The Group continued to lead the market with its expanded 4G LTE network at 89% population coverage, enabling customers to enjoy high speed and unmatched digital experience. In addition, the Group recorded an all-time high touch point net promoter score of +52 in the current quarter compared to +41 in Q3 2016.
Bursa Malaysia Q3 FY2017 Results
Bursa Malaysia-i , as the world's first fully integrated end-to-end Shariah-compliant investing platform, will continue to intensify its efforts to promote Shariah investing in the market. Meanwhile, trading activities in Bursa Suq Al-Sila' ("BSAS") continues to record improvements. Bursa Malaysia will continue with its efforts to expand BSAS reach in new regions such as North Africa and Central Asia.
Bursa Malaysia recorded a significant milestone with the launch of the Leading Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform ("LEAP") Market in July to assist small and medium enterprises ("SMEs") to raise funds from the capital market for their business expansion. The LEAP Market went live on 3 October with the successful listing of Cloudaron Group Berhad.
Gadang Holdings Q1 FY2018 Results
On-going projects i.e. RAPID package 301 and 402, KVMRT V206 and TRX are executed on a fast track basis to optimise on cost saving and design effectiveness. With the latest award of Cyberjaya Hospital in August 2017, the outstanding order book of the Division has increased to RM1.98 billion.
The Group's Common Equity Tier I capital ratio, Tier I capital ratio and total capital ratio stood at a healthy level of 11.7%, 12.4% and 15.4%. The Group's liquidity position also remained stable and healthy with Loan to Fund ratio standing at 88.6% as at 30 September 2017.
Tan Sri Teh said, "The Public Bank Group has always focused on asset quality in the pursuit of business growth. Thus, the Group has been able to sustain its stable asset quality even in challenging times. As at the end of September 2017, the Group's gross impaired loan ratio of 0.5% continued to remain the best in the domestic banking industry."
Lotte Chemical Titan Q3 FY2017 Results
Overall market started off moderately in Q3 2017 after the Hari Raya holidays. Market demand rebounded by late July following the Chinese government's announcement to ban importation of plastic scrap by end of 2017. The capacities taken offline caused by Hurricane Harvey in United States had temporarily affected supply from United States, especially to Latin America. The market was briefly lifted up as concern on the supply disruption from US lingered. Meanwhile, supply from other regions was reportedly diverted to Latin America to fill the void.
Group plant utilization was lower at average 77% compared to average 92% in corresponding quarter. This was mainly due to statutory routine turnaround (every 5-6 years) for Cracker 1 plant in Malaysia and Indonesia polyethylene plants load was reduced during the quarter due to poor polyethylene economics as a result of tight ethylene supply and high cost.
The revenue recorded for YTD Q3 2017 was RM192.2 million against RM164.3 million in YTD Q3 2016. The Restaurant division incurred pre-tax loss of RM1.6 million against pre-tax profit of RM4.3 million in YTD Q3 2016 mainly due to closure costs of RM5.2 million arising from cessation of business by a subsidiary and losses from new concept restaurants.
The Manufacturing division experiences high prospect projects entering commercialization stage during the past few months. The Group foresees continuous growth in the flexible electronics sphere. The new expansion project at Batu Kawan has also taken off and the rate of construction work is progressing in accordance with the milestone target. The Group will continue its mission to create and add values to all customers, employees, and shareholders by delivering innovative, competitive and quality interconnect technology solutions.
For civil engineering and construction segment, the Group not only accumulated an order book to last for the next two to three years but also the Group is confident that its order book will grow beyond the run-off rate. The outlook of this sector is promising with the Group benefiting from Government expenditure in infrastructure.
Full restoration of plant may take up to 1 year, says Notion VTec (filing to Bursa Malaysia)
It has affected more than 552 Computer Numeric Control ("CNC") machines and Work-in-Progress ("WIP") goods and the Quality Control "QC" building but not the rear building and the surface treatment plants are good and operational.
Notion has adequate insurance coverage – RM350 million for property damage, RM217 million for business interruption up to 18 months. The preliminary estimate of the loss is about RM150 to 200 million. Once we gain access to the site we shall be able to assess the extent of damage and provide a more accurate estimate of loss.
At this moment, the Company estimates the affected segments are the camera, Hard Disc Drive top clamps and automotive parts but the Company will re-commence production in Factory 3 using any spare capacity that Notion has as well as sourcing and renting suitable CNCs and if needed, rent additional floor space to meet current and new customers' requirements. It is not easy to outsource to other machinist companies as it requires safety certification and approved vendor which will take time. Notion is committed to restoring the orders to the customers' requirement.
The immediate effects of this outage in this affected Plant are about 50 to 60% of the Company sales revenue but with the fast recovery plan, Notion will have restored 75% of the outage progressively within 5 months and the balance within another 3 months. But of course, the full restoration of structure and Certificate of Fitness may take up to a year.
Comintel to give special cash dividend after sale of subsidiary (filing to Bursa Malaysia)
The buyer is Aurelius Holdings Sdn Bhd, a newly incorporated investment holding company, where Comintel executive director Loh Hock Chiang is also a shareholder of Aurelius. As at 29 August 2017, Loh holds direct interest of 0.07% in Comintel. Comintel's CEO of Comintel's manufacturing segment Lee Chong Yeow is also a shareholder of Aurelius.
Comintel said the proposed disposal will give the company the opportunity to unlock and realise the value of its investments in BCM Electronics. BCM, which is involved in electronics manufacturing services, provides turnkey manufacturing services. Comintel said "there is limited leverage to further increase the competitive edge of the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) and EMS-related industries." If Comintel is unable to continue to maintain the competitiveness of the EMS business, there could be adverse impact of potentially losing its key customers to its competitor's, the filing said.
Thriving Top Glove believes growth is sustainable
"We are very fortunate to operate in a growing industry. Not only demand for medical gloves is growing but even the food industry, such as in the restaurants and supermarkets, is using a lot of gloves, especially disposable gloves. Demand is growing, so growth is definitely sustainable. To grow by 10% a year in any industry is very good and we have been growing for the past 30 years."
"Margins over the past 15 years is about the same, which is about 10% for net profit margins. I think these margins are reasonable. Profit margins, which are too high at 30%-40% in the manufacturing industry, won't last. You will invite competition when your margins are too high. Margins which are too low will affect the industry as it cannot grow well. I think net profit margins at the 10% level is sustainable and will likely continue for the next 10 to 20 years."
"On average, our revenue per worker per year is about RM250,000. This figure is better than an electronics factory, which is about RM200,000. Some 10 years ago, we were only at RM150,000. So we have improved a lot, much more than an electronics factory."
Surgical gloves are thicker than the normal gloves due to requirements during surgery. It also requires more raw materials per piece to manufacture. Top Glove presently only produces 2% of surgical gloves compared to its total product mix by sales quantity. "It is certainly good to consider expansion in terms of acquisition for surgical gloves. We are No. 1 in terms of examination gloves and rubber gloves that is exported from Malaysia. When it comes to surgical gloves, we are at No. 4 or 5. It is also in our plans to tap into the growing market of surgical gloves."
This little known Malaysian stock has surged 400%
"The margins are beautiful," Yap, 61, said in an interview at the company's headquarters on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, referring to the Manno tie-up. Clients in those sectors are willing to pay more for quality machined parts, such as shoulder screws used to secure protective casings for sensitive equipment, he said.
The company, which supplies its mold-cleaning rubber sheets to about 70 percent of Malaysia's chipmakers, is expanding into markets like Taiwan and China after winning clients including Chinese chip-testing company Tianshui Huatian Technology Co. "There's a reason why we control the market here, and Tianshui as a client is a testimony to our capabilities," Yap said. The manufacturing process may seem simple, but "it's difficult to replicate," he said, adding that there's plenty of room to expand in those countries: while they require about 180 tonnes of rubber-cleaning sheets per month, Techfast currently only supplies about 12 tonnes.
Still, for Yap, the share-price surge is just the start. He says he plans to return 40 percent of the company's net income to shareholders starting this financial year, up from 26 percent in 2016. The "big leap" in profit will be in 2018, he said.
Favelle Favco's next phase of growth
Although the decline in oil prices for the past three years has not deterred the company's growth, Favelle's orderbook replenishment is slowing down. This is because more than 60% of its business is in the offshore oil and gas (O&G) cranes. As such, diversification has been part of the company's plan. Presently, it has an orderbook of RM536mil, halved from its orderbook in 2014 of RM1.02bil. Earnings wise, the company saw its net profit grew marginally to RM32.3mil in the first half ended June 30, 2017, from RM31.3mil a year ago.
Favelle says it has inked a heads of agreement to acquire 70% stake each in Exact Automation Sdn Bhd, Sedia Teguh Sdn Bhd, Exact Analytical Sdn Bhd and Exact Oil & Gas Sdn Bhd. These companies are primarily involved in the provision of engineering services, industrial automation solutions, and specialised equipment mainly for the O&G industry.
It is worth noting that Favelle has about 40 years experience in the crane business. With the O&G sector starting to gain traction as crude oil prices continue to stabilise, it is timely for Favelle to embark on its next phase of growth.
Higher capacity boost for Hartalega
The world's largest nitrile glove maker, which has been enjoying an average year-on-year revenue growth of 28% for the last 13 years, has attributed the stronger growth to the expansion of its production capacity.
At an investment of RM2.2bil, the NGC will comprise six state-of-the-art manufacturing plants housing 72 of the most technologically advanced production lines in the industry. Upon completion, the NGC will see Hartalega's total installed capacity increase substantially to 42 billion pieces per annum from the current 29 billion pieces. Over the next five years, Hartalega aims to have an average growth of 15% per annum in terms of manufacturing output via capacity expansion.
On the likelihood of diversification to rubber products, he said the company would not undertake such an exercise. "We don't plan to diversify. This is because our profit margin is double than the industry average. Furthermore, we have the competitive advantage in terms of strength and there is good potential for future growth in the glove business."
Caring to launch digital platform
"We want to streamline all our channels, from our [present] bricks and mortar stores and e-commerce store to a website and mobile app, for our customers' convenience in enjoying a seamless shopping experience. Customers can order products and have them delivered to their doorstep, or if they want to save on courier charges, they can order online from home and pick up their products from our outlets three days after."
As of Aug 31, 2017, the group operated a total of 110 pharmacies, Chong said, adding that it plans to open 10 to 12 new outlets a year.
"We are conducting surveys and studies on locations in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak to prepare for our expansion there. Last month, we opened [a branch] in Kuantan and in December, we will open a branch in Kota Baru. We have identified a site in Sabah where we plan to open [an outlet], hopefully in six months. [Our aim] is to be a complete national player," said Chong.
Nationwide Express sees Airpak buy as growth catalyst
The acquisition of Airpak, Rosilawati said, fits in with the group's strategy of expanding its business-to-consumer (B2C) or consumer-to-consumer segments, which currently account for just 5% of Nationwide's revenue. The bulk of its revenue is derived from serving business-to-business (B2B) customers.
While Airpak's courier business is seen as complementary to Nationwide's existing operations, the acquisition of MTR is geared towards the group's diversification, expansion, and long-term sustainability, she said.
"By having Alibaba here, the programme would help startup to establish e-commerce and transaction and payment. When you have access to global market, the growth rate of e-commerce would be in a single-digit but once the ecosystem is implemented, it will quickly jump into high double-digit."
"Commercial airlines have the opportunity to carry e-commerce cargo, which in turn would boost airlines profitability and good for the airport. Thus, airlines would also look at other opportunities to either same or introduce new destinations."
"The aviation industry is about inbound foreign direct investments. For example Boeing and Airbus will save 40 per cent of their new aircraft deliveries over the next 10 years in Asia. Aircraft manufacturers need to move a lot of those activities in Asia to serve their customers. They need to open up more MRO centres."
ES Ceramics seeks new revenue streams
"We want to further diversify our portfolio to include complementary new products within the dipping industry. It does not help that key glove makers have been expanding so aggressively over the years. There is a price competition because some players are hungry. Why? Maybe they have increased capacity, but utilisation has not caught up."
On its part, ES Ceramics has diversified from producing moulds for different glove types — examination, household, industrial and specialty — to include breathing bags and balloons as well. Wong did not reveal the latest products that ES Ceramics is looking to include in its list, noting that discussion is still at its infancy stage.
"We do not have the advantage of some manufacturers who can purchase turnkey machinery [to adopt automation]. Our machinery needs to be modified and tested. For that, we need engineers. But some engineers are from fields that are relevant to our operations, and some are inexperienced. We have been hiring and firing, that has caused our staff costs to increase slightly, but that will stabilise when the right team is established to speed up the adoption."
"Right now, our factories are not applying automation at a significant level," said Wong. The group is currently focusing on less critical parts of the manufacturing line to allow for more room for modifications. "The first objective is to make sure automation can work before it is being applied across the board. Only then can we look at improving quality," he said, without giving a timeline for the adoption to be meaningful to ES Ceramics' financial performance.
Perodua has no plan to introduce EVs in Malaysia yet
Daihatsu holds a 20% stake in Perodua and is also the latter's technology and technical partner.
"I would rather we focus on our bread-and-butter internal combustion engine (ICE), which is energy efficient and can still be used in Malaysia. What we're doing now is looking at how we can realise the full potential of this engine in terms of fuel consumption. Until such time we cannot improve on it anymore — that is, once it already reaches its full potential — then only we'll consider EVs." Zainal said it does not make sense for Perodua to venture into EVs now as the infrastructure that is needed to support such technology, such as charging stations, is not yet widely available in Malaysia.
He explained that the government's policy on EVs is two pronged — to try to bring down the cost of EV production by allowing lithium-iron batteries to be produced in Malaysia, and to install more charging stations nationwide. He said there are currently 230 charging stations being installed and it is expected that by 2020, there will be 1,000 stations.
"We have not committed ourselves to a time frame for the IoT project. But we can safely say that we are committed to the project, which is now part of five-year business strategy. The Malaysia IoT Consortium (MyIoTC) is looking into creating an IoT ecosystem so that it could better tap into the IoT business opportunities worldwide, leveraging on the members' respective strengths and area of specialisation."
On the local front, Weng Khak said the company has been granted nationwide MYTV set-top box (decoder) distributorship in anticipation of Malaysian television broadcasting going digital in 2018. "The decoders would be a required item to receive television signals for continued access to Free-to-Air TV channels. The management is of the view that this distributorship would contribute to the group's revenue in the short to medium term."
Top Glove's Lim buys 10.24% of Tropicana
The transaction price was not disclosed in the filing with the stock exchange. Based on yesterday's closing of 93 sen, Lim's 10.24% stake will cost him RM139.6 million.
"Over the years, Tropicana has proven itself by delivering high-quality and iconic projects to its customers. With my business experience, and regional as well as international contacts, I hope to contribute positively in moving Tropicana up the value chain."
TMC to expand bed capacity to 1,100 in five years
"We are hoping to achieve this target if, and only if, we manage to complete the expansion of our capacity at Tropicana Medical Centre, as well as get the health ministry's go-ahead to kick-start the Iskandariah Hospital in Johor. Most importantly for us is to expand our current facilities first, as we bank on the growing local population and increasing demand for medical services. Gradually, I am hoping the facility in Kota Damansara will reach to 600 beds by 2020."
The construction of the additional facilities on a six-acre (2.43ha) land in Kota Damansara, serving a neighbouring population expected to increase soon to 200,000, will take three years to complete and cost around RM300 million. The centre's overall weekly utilisation rate is 60%.
"We are also planning to open a fertility centre in East Malaysia. Hopefully, this will garner more interests from the locals and tourists. We recently celebrated the delivery of the 1,000th baby born via the in-vitro method. Obviously, this business is doing well."
TNB's net profit could fall by RM1b p.a. if 2% tariff mark-up removed, says CIMB Research
Under the IBR framework RP1 (2014-2017), TNB's return on its transmission and distribution (T&D) assets is 7.5%, said CIMB Investment Bank Bhd in a note to clients today. However, its actual average tariff is about 2% higher than the base tariff set by the IBR due to higher electricity consumption by the commercial sector.
"As such, when the regulator revises the IBR parameters for RP2 starting in 2018, the allowable return may be lowered and we see potential earnings risk as it may no longer enjoy the additional 2% tariff," said its analyst Ngo Siew Teng.
"Assuming TNB is only allowed to earn a 6.5% return (its weighted average cost of capital based on CIMB estimates) on its T&D assets and the 2% mark-up in tariff is entirely removed, we estimate that TNB's net profit could be lowered by as much as RM1 billion per annum. This, plus the risk of a higher effective tax rate, may lead to a RM2 billion reduction in TNB's annual net profit," she added.
"Delay of shipments is about three to four months now, and port inventories are down in Japan while the demand continues to be strong. Plywood mills operate with very little log inventories. Also quality logs are hard to come by now," revealed International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) report in its latest issue. Reduced supply volume and higher export prices will continue.
"Floor base plywood demand has been shifting to domestic softwood plywood. Demand for softwood plywood is brisk mainly by large precutting plants. August softwood plywood production was high at 254,700 cu m, 10.8% more than August last year. It is a fact that domestic plywood is now more than imported plywood in Japan but imported plywood is absolutely a necessary product for Japan. But in the coming years, the (Japanese) market would not accept any product without traceability of forest certificate."
"In Indonesia, 40% of total harvest is now planted timber and in Sarawak, share of planted timber in total harvest will be more than 50% in five years."
Tax laws must not be complicated
Seah noted that the government had in recent times amended the laws after losing out in court disputes with taxpayers. The CTIM, she added, supports amendments that are made for tax laws to stay relevant to current trends and to maintain their original intent. "However, amendments [made] after the loss of a tax case are often drafted with a very wide scope to cover any imaginable circumstances and they [the amendments] sometimes unintentionally affect other taxpayers and put them in a difficult position," said Seah.
Seah said policymakers should have guidelines and implementation plans ready to be rolled out immediately after amendments are proposed. Similarly, for all the rulings, Seah opined that the effective date should not be on a retrospective basis.
To avoid hiccups in implementation, communication between different government agencies and policymakers is essential to enable harmonisation of laws whenever there are changes or implementation of new rulings.


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Service still working fine. Here's our video guide on how to use it:
This is an official IMEI based service to unlock Verizon iPhone XS MAX, XS or XR permanently and use it with any SIM on the planet. An iPhone has always been a trendy device and always was among the top and best premium class phone on the market. With an unmatchable quality, clarity, style, and features iPhone's have gained millions of customers over the past few years.
It is a simple and common fact that premium class phone comes with a premium price tag and it is not affordable to most of the people, this is where network service providers come in with attractive plans that offers both network connection and iPhone at offers that most of the people cannot say no to. The network connection and the device are offered to the customers under a contract that could vary. However, the contract cannot be broken, as simple as, that. Most the contracts come with some compensation terms that could prove the user should pay a hefty amount to end the contract.
Unlock your Locked Verizon iPhone NOW
One of the greatest disadvantages of purchasing an iPhone from a network service provider is that the iPhone comes with preset network locks that forbid and prevents the user from switching the network under any circumstances. Most of the people purchase an iPhone from a network service provider without actually knowing this, however, there is a way to bypass this network lock officially, in the article we will discuss all about it.
Advantages of unlocking a Verizon network locked iPhone XS Max/XS/XR
- Unlocking a Verizon network locked iPhone allows you to switch to any network without any restriction whenever the user desires.
- A Verizon unlocked phone commonly has a comparatively higher resale value than an iPhone locked to Verizon network
- Verizon network unlocked iPhone could be installed with any local SIM which means that you could travel anywhere with your iPhone and use your iPhone without any restrictions on which network to use
As mentioned earlier, unlocking a Verizon locked iPhone is not easy. Unlocking the Verizon network locked iPhone is not that easy, if the user needs to unlock the device he/she has to close the contract with Verizon by paying the pending amount according to the agreement. May be compensation too, apart from this method, there is one more option that you could use. Third party unlocking service providers, UnlockBoot one of the top websites that offer Verizon locked iPhone unlocking service. The UnlockBoot could unlock Verizon iPhone XS MAX, XS, XR, X, 8, 7, 6S, 6, SE, 5, 5C, 5S & 4S at a price lesser than what you have to pay the network service provider. Here is how to use the service and unlock the device.
Steps to Unlock Verizon iPhone XS MAX, XS or XR By IMEI in 12-72h
Step 1: Open your favorite web browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE or Safari).
Step 2: Now, on the webpage that appears on the screen, search for "Verizon iPhone unlocking" or click here to go directly to the unlocking service page: [url]https://store.unlockboot.com/unlock-verizon-iphone/[url]
Step 3: if you have clicked the link above, you will find a new page appears on the screen, there you will find the details of unlocking mentioned the time it would take, the price, and the models that could be unlocked. On the same page, you will find a field to enter the IMEI number.
Step 4: Now, pick up your iPhone and then dial *#06#, note down the IMEI number, then enter the IMEI number in the field and click the "Unlock Now" button below it.
Step 5: In the next page that appears on the screen, there will be fields asking you to enter the billing details, enter all the appropriate details as requested and click the "Proceed to payment" button
Step 6: The website will take you to a next page, where the summary of your order will be displayed. Click the "Proceed to checkout" button.
Step 7: You will now land on the payment page, select your country from the field below and select the type of payment you are considering. Click the "Continue" button below.
Step 9: In the next page, enter the contact details and the cardholder details carefully, click the "Continue" button.
Step 10: Now, on the next page, enter all the card details and click the "Purchase" button.
Step 11: Once, the payment is completed, the unlocking process will be initiated and within a period of 2-3 days, the unlocking will be done.
Step 12: After the unlocking is done, you will receive a mail mentioning the same. With the mail all, the information required to proceed with the unlocking would be mentioned, follow these instructions and you could unlock your device with ease.
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Advantages of using UnlcokBoot.com Verizon iPhone XS, XS MAX, XR Unlocking Services
- UnlockBoot offers unlocking services at a price comparatively lesser than other unlocking service providers do and less than what you need to pay Verizon to close the contract.
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Service still working fine. Here's our video guide on how to use it:
Service UP - iPhone 11 series supported


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What they're saying about Kawhi Leonard in the new Sports Illustrated story
The nation is clamoring to learn more about Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard.
Sports Illustrated delves deeply into the reticent emerging Spurs superstar forward with a story that is a cover story for some regional issues.
The magazine features Leonard with the cover line, "Kawhi Leonard is wise beyond his years (and the biggest roadblock to a Warriors repeat)."
The cover story also features an in-depth profile of Leonard by SI's Lee Jenkins in which he analyzes "the calm, quiet mind of Kawhi" and gets extensive insight from San Antonio Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich.
Jenkins explains how Leonard has developed into one of the NBA's most dominant defenders and how his development will be critical in attempting to derail Golden State's repeat championship hopes. Comments are also included from Tim Duncan and David West, the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Clippers guard J.J. Redick, as well as members of the Spurs coaching staff and GM R.C. Buford.
The issue will be arriving at homes in the San Antonio area on Thursday and should be at magazine sellers by the weekend.
Here's a few of the notable parts of the article.
Kawhi Leonard on his reserved nature: "I don't like to bring attention to myself. I don't like to make a scene."
On being told by Popovich that he needs to be the best defender in the league: "That's how I grew up…Just play defense—and make a basket."
On his defensive preparation: "I look at film, but more than watching individual players, I'm trying to watch a team's whole offensive scheme. I'm trying to know their tendencies so I can . . . guess. That's what it comes down to, really, making the best guess. I'm trying to change up their scheme."
Popovich on his hesitation after the Spurs sent George Hill to Indiana for Leonard on draft night: "We were all looking at each other like, Are we really going to do this? We were scared s‑‑‑less. We don't know this kid. He's not a shooter. He's not a scorer. He's not a perimeter player. He's a big guy who can rebound."
On first meeting Leonard: "He was as serious as a heart attack."
Popovich divulges to SI his coaching strategy for Leonard: "I try to keep things light with him..but I also let him know it is now his responsibility to bring it night after night like Kobe, like Michael, like Magic, like Larry, like Tim Duncan. He is in that category."
Popovich on Leonard's mindset: "He wants the greatness badly… He doesn't give a damn about the stardom… He loves the game. He ignores the rest of it … "If [the arena] were empty, he'd probably like it a lot more."
On Leonard's modest personality: "When Kawhi makes a mistake, he's almost apologetic. He doesn't want to disappoint anybody. There are times he does something well, and I have to tell him, 'That was super. That was fantastic. That was a helluva job. You can smile now. You can feel great about yourself.' "
On their style of communication, Popovich tells SI: "If I bring him out too early, for example, he'll go like this..what he's saying is, 'Pop, why the f‑‑‑ are you bringing me out so early?' but he'd never actually say that. So I tell him, 'I'll get back to you,' and he nods and sits down."
Popovich defines Leonard's style of defense: "He's not Allen Iverson, wild and bizarre like, getting steals because he's in passing lanes. This guy guards you. People do not like playing against him."
Spurs GM R.C. Buford on Kawhi's impact on the organization: "He changed the course of our organization… He gave us a second wind. He was the breeze in our sails."
J.J. Redick speaks to SI about playing against Leonard: "More than his length, his strength, his quickness, that mother‑‑‑‑‑‑ is so . . . locked . . . in… I have no idea what scouting report they give him, but he knows every play, and he takes no breaks."
Former Spurs star and now TV analyst Sean Elliott says of Leonard: "To be a true scorer, like Kobe or Michael or LeBron, I think you have to be a little selfish…. You have to be a little cocky…. I don't know if there's ever really been a superstar like this."
San Antonio forward David West defines Leonard: "Kawhi Leonard.. is Tim Duncan 2.0."
SI's Lee Jenkins compares Leonard to an NFL shutdown corner: "Leonard is to the NBA what Deion Sanders, and more recently Darrelle Revis, have been to the NFL."
Twitter: @TimGriffinBig12


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Monday, May 11, 2009
Etiquette Lesson
On Friday one of Doug's coworkers dropped off a giant bag of clothes for Drew. We were thrilled, because the poor boy is currently wearing high-water pants since he grew over the winter and all his pants are too short. I'm not about to spend money on pants since he'll grow over the summer, again. I'll just wait until fall. I digress. In going through the bag though, we were disappointed. The clothes were either MUCH too small (size 6-9 months doesn't fit ANY child in this house thanks) or three sizes too big. Argh.
I can understand if you want to share clothes and I appreciate the thoughtfulness. But don't just dump stuff on me that I have to go through and then get rid of MYSELF. That's disrespectful. Ask me what size my child is wearing before you load up a bag of junk for me that I can't use. Now we have to find a home for almost an entire bag of clothes that we can't use. Like I don't have enough to do with my time.
Do I sound whiny and ungrateful? Maybe so, but I don't care. I have four kids, one income and lots to do. Be respectful of that.
5 comments:
- Jill said...
That's just lame! Why would someone do that? I say make it easy on yourself and find the nearest Salvation Army or Goodwill drop off. Someone will use them!!
- May 11, 2009 at 2:25 PM
- brooke b said...
I agree....one fast dump at the nearest goodwill. Total bummer. Any chance they thought you were 'trying for a 5th' and would need tiny clothes again? :)
- May 11, 2009 at 2:44 PM
- Painless Mama said...
I feel your pain. When a friend of mine found out my second baby (who isn't even due until September, mind you) is going to be a boy, she said, "I've got clothes for you!"
Then proceeded to give me two ginormous bags of sizes 3T-5T...great I live in a tiny NYC apartment too...frenemy!
- May 12, 2009 at 9:53 AM
- creative kerfuffle said...
i think i'd have to just give her the bag back and let her deal w/ it herself. that blows. and i am soooo not opposed to hand-me-downs or thrift store clothing.
- May 12, 2009 at 9:57 PM
- Astarte said...
That's just rude. You shouldn't hand-down something that you wouldn't go to a store and buy for them. Sheesh!!! I would totally give them back, with a polite note thanking them for what they gave you, and indicating that you thought maybe they knew someone else that could use the thing that you couldn't.
- May 13, 2009 at 9:59 PM


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George Papandreou received a Diploma and a PhD degree in electrical engineering and computer science, in 2003 and 2009, respectively, both from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. He is currently a research scientist at Google, following appointments as research assistant professor at the Toyota Technological Institute, Chicago (2013-2014) and postdoctoral research scholar with the University of California, Los Angeles (2009-2013). His research interests are in computer vision and machine learning, with a current emphasis on deep learning. He regularly serves as reviewer and program committee member to the main journals and conferences in computer vision, image processing, and machine learning. He has been a co-organizer of the NIPS 2012, 2013, and 2014 Workshops on Perturbations, Optimization, and Statistics and co-editor of a book on the same topic (MIT Press, 2016). He is a senior member of the IEEE.
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KARACHI: Speaker of Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani on Tuesday offered to play the role of a mediator in the current crisis between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Speaker said that he was ready to negotiate between the upset parties on neutral basis and that he would try to convince MQM not to sit on the opposition benches.
Agha Siraj Durrani was of the view that whenever there is a misunderstanding, the concerned parties should set aside their egos and sit together to discuss the matter.
He further said that there should be unity in the government and its allies as they all have to live in the province and work for its development.
He continue saying that the Local Bodies Amendment Bill has been introduced and any amendment can be done if needed.


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Are you drowning in debt? Is all this debt causing you out quite a bit? Debt consolidation may be a viable option to consider. Continue reading to find out how debt consolidation.
Bankruptcy may be a better choice for some who might otherwise consider debt consolidation. However, if you are missing payments and unable to pay off your debt, you credit is already suffering. Filing for bankruptcy lets you to start reducing your debt and financially recover.
With mortgage rates at their lowest, it's a great time to pay off your other debts. Your mortgage payment might also be lower than it was originally.
Don't borrow from pros that you haven't researched. Loan sharks know you are in a terrible financial situation. If you choose to consolidate debt by borrowing money, make sure the loan provider has a great reputation and a reasonable interest rate compared to what the creditors are currently charging you.
Understand that debt consolidation arrangements will not impact on your credit score. A few debt reduction strategies do have adverse effects on your rating, but debt consolidation just gets your interest rates lowered while making the bills easier to afford. It can be a very powerful tool as long as you keep up with your payments.
You might consider drawing money from your retirement fund to help you get your high-interest credit cards paid off. This should only be done unless you're sure that this money can be paid back quickly. You have to pay tax and penalty if you cannot.
When consolidating your debts, consider what debt is worth consolidating and what must be kept separately. For instance, it doesn't make good sense to consolidate into a loan with higher interest. Go over each loan with the lender to make wise decision.
Make certain counselors of the debt consolidation agency is certified. You can use the NFCC in order to find reliable companies that hire reputable counselors. This can help you feel more comfortable as you'll be dealing with your debt consolidation.
After you've found your debt consolidation plan, start learning to pay for everything in cash. You should avoid relying on credit cards again. That's exactly the habit which probably put you into your current situation. Paying with cash means that you just use what you have.
If you are in a bind and quickly need to pay down your debt, you may want to consider borrowing from your 401K. This allows you to borrow money from yourself instead of turning to a financial institution. Be sure you're aware of the details prior to borrowing anything, since it is a somewhat risky proposition.
Do you feel that debt management might be an answer for your issues? Paying off bills that accrue interest can save you money because they will be better for your credit score. Simply pick a company to work with that can help you decrease interest rates.
The goal of debt consolidation is having a single monthly payment scheduled each month. A solid five year repayment plan is something to shoot for, but other terms can be considered, as it all depends on your own situation and what you can afford. This provides you a goal to work towards and a predictable payoff time frame that lets you pay it off.
Write down everyone you have. This includes the amount your owe, the due date if any, the amount of interest you're paying, and the amount of your payments. This information is essential to a debt consolidation counselor.
Debt consolidation can help if you are in the midst of a bankruptcy. You could qualify for having interest eradicated while paying your debt off.
Even if you're given a longer period of time, plan to pay it within five years. The longer you take to pay it in full, the more interest charges will accrue.
You may not need debt consolidation if you have low interest rates on your existing accounts.
Consider what you need to do financially now and in the future before deciding to use debt consolidation company. If you want to become debt free because you need to finance a larger purchase, then you may need to consolidate your debt.
You must be patient when trying to reduce your debt.
Most debt consolidation companies want you debt-free in less than five years. If you meet with a professional who does not present you with a realistic solution, find another professional who can offer you a better strategy.
Calculate the total savings with a type of debt consolidation program can help you. You have to total all balances and see how the interest charges. Compare this number to what your debt consolidation service is going to even save you anything.
Companies with low grades and many complaints against them that aren't resolved are companies you should stay away from.
Use these cards sparingly and only when you need to get discounts being offered.
If you owe a lot of money, talk with a credit counselor first. Debt counselors help by figuring out the root causes of your debt and how to prevent it from happening again. It doesn't make sense to pay off your debt if you're going to get back into it again.
Among many options for how to tackle your debt, which one is best for you? Debt consolidation may be the right choice for you. Many people have been able to end their debt and feel free again with this method, and so can you.


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Altaf Rizvi
Director of Partnerships & Acquisitons, Airlines, Amadeus
The goal that makes the difference between victory and second place in the World Cup finals is not the work of one single individual, but a complete team of expert athletes working in perfect unison. This sums up pretty much what Amadeus is trying to do with our partnership strategy as it builds a strong roster of players.
We're excited about what partnerships can do for our airline customers, and for the travel industry. Airlines want to increase revenues, improve efficiencies and deliver memorable travel experiences for their passengers. By creating an ecosystem of partners, we're helping airlines achieve their ambitions.
The Accenture Amadeus Alliance's startup competition Air Pitch is a great example of how we are fostering innovation and collaboration. Volantio, the winner, spent a week at the Accenture Amadeus Innovation Center in Dublin. Our teams explored how Volantio's buy back technology can be integrated with Amadeus Altéa inventory and revenue management platform in order to deliver a seamless experience and better results for our customers.
Here's some of the ways how our partnerships help our airline customers:
A tailor made digital experience
We're fully committed to open systems. This is central to our partnership approach. Take our partnership with Adobe, a global leader in digital experience. Our - Digital Experience Suite Open Platform, and our Customer Experience Management solution work together with the Adobe Experience Cloud. This gives airlines unmatched insight into who their travelers are and why they want to travel. Airlines can use these insights to deliver a more engaging and personalized digital experience throughout a traveler's journey.
Since we announced our collaboration last year, Avianca and Malaysia Airlines have already boosted their personalization capabilities. Recognizing the value we bring, Adobe named Amadeus its Exchange Partner of the Year 2018.
Easy cash-in for frequent fliers
The right loyalty program can be crucial to drive repeat customers and give an edge to any airline brand, and drive additional revenue. Our collaboration with Points makes it easier for our airline customers to improve loyalty currency sales, redemption and engagement with members.
Alleviating stress around flight disruptions
Flight delays and cancellations can easily be the worst nightmare of travelers and create a significant cost burden for airlines. Through our partnership with Stranded Flight Solutions, we are helping airlines tackle this by empowering passengers to self-manage service recovery during disruptions... Amadeus takes care of the airside details, like rebooking, while SFS supports the passenger with their groundside needs including helping passengers book a hotel, get refreshment, or receive payment in case of overbooking. The result: A smoother recovery experience.
Better flight schedules
Flight schedules are a complex but core part of an airline's offer. Technology can enable schedules that are more profitable, reliable, and quicker and easier to develop. Leading airlines such as LATAM, Southwest Airlines and easyJet use Amadeus Sky Suite by Optym, to develop better and more profitable flight schedules.
These are just some of the line-up in our elite squad of airline partners. In the coming weeks, look out for more on our blog on how partnerships are enhancing how airlines do business and serve their customers. Tune in to find out how we are promoting openness and innovation in travel.
Airline IT, Traveler Experience, Startups, Altea, Digital transformation


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Gambling had always been part of any culture and tradition. It has gone through many developments over the years. In this generation, gambling has taken a step forward and made it available online. This step has proven to be beneficial to many players but at the same time posts some risks too.
Check out the best casino apps that really pay
While there are risks involved, there are also many approaches to manage and avoid risks. What's good about today's gaming industry is that there are pieces of advice that you can access for free. Even if it is not legal in many countries, there are still many places that allow betting under strict conditions.
Online Gambling Overview
If you like gambling, you can have a lot of money through online gambling regardless if its the lottery, the roulette, bingo, slots, or card games. Think about how many more gambling money you can dispose of if you choose not to go to Las Vegas. Online gambling takes away travel expenses and brings you directly to the game you prefer in casinos. Many reputable online casinos such as have relevant information about online gambling that proves helpful when you decide to take your game online. These set of information is also very handy when it comes to deciding which games to play.
Even before placing your bets and gamble online, you want to consider what specific games you would like to play. There are traditional casino-type online gambling sites that cater to poker players, slot players, and even bingo players. You could find all of the games that meet your internet gaming requirements.
Secure Betting System
An online casino with honest and transparent operations has a highly secure online gambling system. The best precondition for online gambling is to use a website that aims to maintain close and long term relationships with customers. It's really rewarding to have a place to go to whenever you have a desire for wagering and to get the right service you deserve.
A few online casinos offer advanced features such as facilities for searching financial and game records. The record allows you to review all of the bets posted on your account with precise details. For example, you can find specific deals, including the exact time, the exact amount you bet, as well as the detailed game results. Casinos online with this type of facility can provide information about deposits and withdrawals and have access to data is possible whenever hooked up to the Internet.
There are a series of games available online such as the lotteries you find at www.angkabursa.net. From sites to traditional casino games like bingo games, slot games, roulette, and the infamous blackjack. With this diversity, you will definitely find the best game for you.


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Handcrafted Painted Metal Frog, Outdoor Metal Garden Plant Stick, Garden Art, Painted metal art, Outdoor Metal Art - Garden Decor - Metal Plant Stakes - Tropical frog
Painted metal frog garden plant stake. Add delightful color to your garden with this darling painted metal frog plant stick.
Decorative metal plant stake measures 14" x 9" and comes with a 30" metal rod to display in your garden.
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The Fruit is Swelling
1997 HK Movie
Fantasy, Adult
Chun Chung, Stephanie Fong, Christine Hung, Shu Qi, Elvis Tsui, Maggie Wong
Category III soft porn sex comedy about two 8 year old girls who want to become adults. One day through magic this happens, but how should they handle this new situation?
322total visits,1visits today


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Reactive User Interfaces final by Konrad Krawczyk
an app that predicts flight delays for domestic flights in the US
tech stack: Python, sklearn (neural network), Flask (API), React (front end)
design tools: Figma
repo: https://github.com/krawc/holdup
- improving the model
- deploying as an API
- designing UI wireframes
- developing the React front end
Step 1. improving the model
BTW: I have the documentation of our final from last semester. [HERE]
For this part, my goal was to create a function that would get my six variables and output a result – either 0 or 1, ideally with a higher accuracy than last time I used the app.
Flight delays are very complex events, almost comparably to stock exchange or weather. There are certainly patterns with delays – for example, during Christmas there are always delays, certain high-traffic or underinvested airports are having delayed flights often. I tried improving the algorithm before proceeding to "pickle" and deploy the model. This, however, did not happen because of the time constraints. I could try to tweak parameters like layer sizes, or to add totally new features like weather – but training a neural network with this amount of data takes around 40 minutes each time, and I wanted to focus on other, more front-end-oriented features of the app instead.
What took me an extraordinary amount of time was making sense of the data I had. I wrongly recalled that it is possible to input around 6-8 variables and receive anything that makes sense. But no! The data was modified to fit into the sklearn package for data modelling. This meant that I could not input strings, and instead each of the over 220 airports listed in the database had to be converted into a 0-1 variable (the so-called dummy variable). And these were unlabelled, meaning that all I could see in our data was a set of nondescript zeroes and ones. I had to regenerate this dataset with labelled data, and make sure that the accuracies in the testing phase are the same. I spend some quality time doing that, and in the meantime I looked through docs related to deploying Python apps in React. There have also been some issues with data formats – for example one of the packages I used had its own special DataFrame format, and then I had to figure out whether my model accepts it. It didn't, and I had to convert to matrices.
step 2. deploying as an API
I found this guide on the Internet – and followed all of it: https://www.analyticsvidhya.com/blog/2017/09/machine-learning-models-as-apis-using-flask/
Halfway through, I realised I don't know how to save a model. The answer turned out to be the pickle library. It trains and tests the model, and then returns a "pickle" file that can be used to speed up the use of the app. Generating it was fairly easy. But the input still had to be sklearn-friendly, consisting of around 250 variables. What I did was: I got the names of all airports used, put them in an array, and then looped over that array to creat the 0-1 variables based on the name from the input. (basically, If input is XYZ, is_airport_XYZ = 1.).
First, I tried to convert the code into an API by myself. But then I reminded myself that I know nothing about back end, so I reached out for a nice Flask API boilerplate. It's here: https://github.com/smitthakkar96/flask-restful-boilerplate. It had a nice structure, where all the code responsible for specific requests was in one controller file called helloController.
My other struggle was that I worked mostly inside the Anaconda framework – which handles all the packages by itself. It only turned out after the deployment hat I had to manually install all of them.
But then, I ran into some issues when I was deploying to Heroku. Namely, the CORS error happened. I couldn't make a request from my own IP, as it was "unsafe". I had to edit the api.py file to add headers that would allow all domains to access. I am not sure if this is exactly safe, but there is little at stake in this case, and I really wanted to move on to the front end.
step 3. UX
For the wireframes I used a great tool I found called Figma. It's a vector graphics editor similar to Sketch, where one can easily create layouts for specific devices, and also share them in the cloud and collaborate on them. It's also free for individual users. Anyway. I tried to make the interface a simple set of direct questions to the user. Instead of just making one form, I decided to put each one field on a separate view. The form is simple, so in order to fill the empty space and to make the interface more interesting and informative I made a simple vector graphic that showed an airplane departing, flying and arriving. I also left some empty space to account for the mobile touch keyboards.
At the last stage, I prepared an infographic that would show if the user was curious about our model. I thought that since we know our model is far from perfect, there needs to at least be an indication of that if we are to be honest with our users. I thought: what if one day people start using this model, and they rely on it, and it gets some airlines in trouble even though they shouldn't be? I think a big part of the problem with the models right now is that their authors are embarrassed to acknowledge that they might be really wrong.
step 4. React
First, I made a basic HTML form that would simply grab the data and return a result. This was really easy.
Then I tried to put each input into a separate view. I really wanted to avoid making the entire form one component, as it would mean putting four different screens on one entity. Following Rune's advice, I split it into different components and played with the background-position parameter to move the sag background into the right position.
One of the big parts of the design was autosuggestion in the airport and airline fields. For the airports, it turned out that I have to manually make a list of every single airport I am using and the city or town it's located in. This list is saved as this.state.airports. Took a bit of time, but that was necessary.
Another thing I wanted to implement was automatic suggestion in the input field itself. I accomplished that only by creating a separate text element that showed up underneath the input, which showed the already typed-in letters in black, and the rest of the suggestion in grey. This way, the input field itself is invisible.
On componentDidMount, I also added an autofocus to the input field. This was made much easier since I separated the input fields into components.
Finally, I realised that I don't even need a form at all. Instead of sending the onSubmit form results, I passed the state (manipulated with onChange) to the API call. The rest was pretty straightforward – the API call was working, and on a specific state a result screen would show up.
Possible improvements:
I have a short list of things to improve:
- When working with CSS transitions, the screens would often stack on top of one another, causing the layout to overflow. I solved it with a nasty hack that translates the previous slide to the top of the screen, therefore preventing it from wrapping to the next "line". I have no idea how this would work if, for example, I added the option to move backwards.
- Moving backwards, as well as restarting the whole process, is also something I need to implement. People will make mistakes, and they might want to use the app more than once without restarting it. For that I would need to add a restart function that would change all states to their default values.
- Design details, especially after the app responds with a result. I wanted to make a little animation that would play along with the response, but it ended up being just one yellow screen. I agree with Kilian's suggestion to make the "How do we know" button an actual button, or at least a link. And, the result screen is set as position: absolute, because I wanted it to be a fade-in, instead of slide from the right. Position absolute has no place here.
Otherwise, building an app that stands on its own was a really exhausting, but rewarding task. I might even try and make this thing in React Native, and release a version for Android.


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15/11/2018 0 Comments
How Will the Legalization of Marijuana Affect Canadian Drivers?
Our lawyers weigh in on what will happen for Canadian drivers when marijuana is legalized.
Our Owen Sound Car Accident Lawyers Weigh in on Legalization & Driving
You've probably heard that marijuana will become legal in Canada on October 17, 2018. As this date approaches, it's important to think about how the new law will impact our nation's drivers. Cannabis, like alcohol, can diminish a person's driving abilities and lead to accidents and even fatalities. However, in contrast to alcohol, authorities still haven't figured out an effective way to test whether a driver is impaired due to marijuana use. Here's some information about driving under the influence of marijuana so you can stay safe on the road.
How Does Marijuana Affect Your Ability to Drive?
Most experts agree that cannabis use doesn't impair your driving abilities to the same extent that alcohol does. Nevertheless, it's still unsafe—and illegal—to drive while high.
Smoking or consuming marijuana in any form alters your spatial perception and slows down your reaction times, which can be very dangerous while driving. Drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to drive too slowly, swerve suddenly, make abrupt lane changes and fail to react in time to sudden dangers on the road. All of these factors make them much more likely to be involved in accidents.
What are the Laws Surrounding Driving and Marijuana Use in Canada?
Just like driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of drugs is illegal. However, while police can determine if a driver has consumed more than the legal limit of alcohol with a breathalyser test, it's more difficult to figure out if a person who's been using marijuana is impaired.
Right now, you can face charges for drugged driving in Canada if you're pulled over by the police and fail a general sobriety test evaluating your ability to function. Unlike with alcohol, however, there are no legal limits on how much THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, you can have in your bloodstream.
The government is in the process of instituting new laws to protect drivers when marijuana becomes legal. These laws will allow police to administer saliva tests (currently in development) to determine how much THC is in a driver's system. Depending on their THC levels, the driver may face steep fines or even prison time. If you use marijuana in moderation and don't drive while high, your THC levels won't be high enough to result in a charge.
Consult our Car Accident lawyers if You're Involved in a Marijuana-Related Accident
As personal injury lawyers who often assist car accident victims, the team at Tamming Law want to make sure Canadian drivers stay safe as the new marijuana laws come into effect. If you find yourself in need of legal services from a lawyer in the Owen Sound, Port Elgin or Collingwood areas, contact us to make an appointment right away.


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15 September 2012 Archived
Strauss & Co is delighted to have been entrusted with the sale of the contents of Keerweder the handsome Cape Dutch homestead on one of the oldest farms in Franschhoek, situated at the foot of the Franschhoek mountains against a backdrop of orchards, rolling vines and English rose gardens.
In 1692 Keerweder was the first farm in the Franschhoek Valley to be allotted by the Dutch East India Company to a European. The name originates from the high mountains surrounding Franschhoek which were insurmountable obstacles for travellers who, unable to pass over them, had to turn back, hence 'keeren weder' which in Dutch means 'to turn back'.
Pristinely restored over twenty years ago by the current owners, Keerweder has been furnished with items befitting the period and the grandiosity of this magnificent home and reflects their knowledge and passion for South Africa's diverse and interesting history.
Collectors and decorators alike will be presented with a unique opportunity to acquire rare and beautiful pieces, encompassing furniture, paintings, prints, carpets, silver, ceramics, garden statuary and even cars from the 680-lot sale.
From VOC to Hylton Nel, the sale spans several centuries and a myriad of tastes with estimates ranging from a few hundred rands into the millions for the more important pieces. Each item has been carefully selected and researched by the owners whose academic interest is manifest in their impressive collection of reference books which will also be on the sale. Everyday household items such as linen, curtains and kitchenware will also form part of the auction.
The core of the collection is formed by a large selection of Cape and Colonial furniture offering outstanding opportunities to collectors at every level. Chief among these is a highly important Cape armoire sporting silver escutcheons by the celebrated silversmith Johan Hendrik Vos, as well as an intricately engraved lock-plate after a design by Jacob Hoefnagel, (estimates R800 000 – R1 million), two 'Burgomaster' chairs (R80 000 – 100 000 and R60 000 – 80 000 respectively) and a commode from the Herbert Prins Collection (R120 000 – 150 000).
The sale also features eye-catching and unusual furniture from other parts of the world such as a rare 19th century Chinese painted and gilded marriage bed (R80 000 – 90 000), an elaborately carved Persian bed with panelled canopy (R15 000 – 20 000), and a palanquin or sedan chair (R20 000 – 30 000).
Painting highlights include Camelthorn Tree, Kalahari by JH Pierneef, master of the South African landscape (estimate R800 000 – R1,2 million) and, in keeping with the Cape Dutch theme of the house, several mid 18th century Dutch portraits, the most impressive of which is a 17th century double portrait which dominates the dining room (estimates R100 000 – 150 000).
Stephan Welz, Managing Director of Strauss & Co commented: "It is an honour for Strauss & Co to be handling this important sale. The Cape has a long tradition of house sales, the most important being undoubtedly Koopmans-de Wet House in 1913, today a National Monument. I was fortunate enough personally to have been involved in the sale of the contents of many renowned properties over the years including, amongst others, Newlands House, Ellerman House and Mostertsdrift. Not only is the sale of Keerweder another feather in our cap but it offers opportunities to many to own a piece of history, and will surely take its place among those major house sales which have become landmarks in the history of collecting in South Africa".
There will be viewing for three days prior to the sale, on Friday 19, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 October and all are welcome.
The sale will take place in situ throughout the day on Monday 22 October 2012. The three sessions will commence at 10am, 2.30pm and 5.30pm.
Bina Genovese
Media and Marketing
The Property of Keerweder (Pty) Ltd.
Franschhoek, Western Cape
Monday 22 October 2012
at 10am (Lots 1-225)
2.30pm (Lots 226-436)
5.30pm (Lots 437-662)
Keerweder, Franschhoek
Friday 19 October 10 to 5pm
Saturday 20 October 10 to 5pm
Sunday 21 October 10 to 5pm
+27 (0) 21 683 6560 / 078 044 8185
Vanessa Phillips, Ann Palmer & Kirsty Rich


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Estudio patológico conjunto residencial edificio de parqueadero Alcaparros de Sauzalito, ciudad Salitre
The residential complex was built in 1989 under the NSR-84. The parking is a structure of concrete porticos with the lightened, the enclosure of masonry, 3.5 mt of height and an area of 3470 m2 in its first level. First, ...