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American healthcare is full of challenges for patients and medical professionals alike. With affordability concerns, interference from insurance companies, and healthcare staffing shortages, it can be hard to access treatment. An often neglected concern, however, is when doctors and patients have a communication breakdown, failing to realize that they're on the same team.
With health and lives at stake, communication and cultural competence is essential in healthcare. Cultural competence increases empathy and the necessary trust between medical professionals and the patients that rely on them.
Ageism and Medical Care
Doctors often ignore our experiences because of our age. Some patients present with chronic health symptoms at a young age, but don't receive diagnoses until later in life. "You're too young to have joint problems," most of the doctors will say. "Lose weight," they might advise, refusing to look deeper into the issue. Practitioners may also discriminate against the old, dismissing serious medical concerns as a natural part of aging.
When added in with a lack of knowledge regarding generational differences concerning diet and exercise habits, many doctors have failed at some point when it comes to cultural competency in regards to age.
Se Habla Español? The Importance of Language
When your medical staff doesn't speak the same language as the populations you serve, you're bound to experience communication issues. An example: a Spanish-speaking grandmother has difficulty communicating with doctors because of the language barrier and the provider's lack of patience. Like many aging Americans, our hypothetical grandma has Alzheimer's and often repeats herself.
While the grandmother could take measures to bridge this gap, this presents an unreasonable barrier to healthcare access. If the grandmother brings along a younger relative as a translator, it requires extra time, travel and expense on the family's part. They shouldn't have to do that.
By the year 2050, the United States will have 132.8 million Spanish speakers, making it the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. Unless you get medical care in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood (and our insurance rarely lets us choose providers freely), it can be challenging to find bilingual doctors, even through insurance referral services.
This results in misunderstandings and lack of care. This situation is very dangerous, and it may cause health complications for the patient and legal complications for the doctor.
Recognizing cultural differences is a key ethical concern in healthcare administration. In some cultures, such as those from East Asia, the family comes together to make a healthcare decision for one family member. In other cultures, individual autonomy is paramount. As a healthcare professional, are you ready to take input and discussion from an entire family?
The Root Cause of Health Concerns in Cultures
Racism is pervasive and dangerous when it comes to interactions with healthcare professionals. For example, many white doctors are unconsciously, culturally conditioned to falsely think of black Americans as lazy. At first glance, they might imagine that the obesity rate of 56.1% in African American women might confirm their unexamined, racist notions; however, there are a host of other reasons black Americans experience disproportionately high incidences of health issues, including:
- Cultural trauma: Exposure to trauma affect our descendents on an epigenetic level. Doctors need to empathize with patients whose ancestors have battled oppressive conditions, including slavery.
- Racism leads to stress: Even if black Americans did receive equal treatment (or equal opportunities to access quality healthcare), they'd still be at a major disadvantage. Racism is pervasive, and it causes stress, which harms people on a physiological level.
- Systemic racism: Systems that continually place minorities at an economic disadvantage hinder access to quality healthcare.
Misunderstanding any or all of these points leads to a breakdown in communication and an inability for a doctor to understand, diagnose, and treat a patient realistically.
Healthcare for Immigrants
Have you ever seen how much health insurance policies on the marketplace vary in price and coverage based on state of residence? That's nothing compared to the varying levels of healthcare access throughout the world.
Immigrants from countries with socialized and semi-socialized medicine may be accustomed to paying little for their healthcare, but in the United States, the price of healthcare is exorbitant, even with coverage. This can be difficult to communicate to patients.
Similarly, some countries don't provide economic potential for citizens to afford or access doctors. Other immigrants may come from remote places or severely traumatic situations. Almost 30% of uninsured people in the United States are immigrants. How do they receive affordable care?
Cultural Competence: Solutions in Healthcare
Diversity training is a huge benefit to hospital systems that require it. Currently, 64.5% of hospitals mandate diversity training, which helps impart cultural knowledge, teaches healthcare staff to recognize linguistic and body language cues, and assists in building empathy between doctors and patients from different cultures.
Providers must understand that individuals from different cultures may be more inclined to rely on natural remedies rather than prescriptions. When possible, providers must find ways to embrace a holistic approach to healthcare, incorporating both holistic and conventional approaches. For instance, home remedies can be effective for treating STDs when used in conjunction with medicine. Providers must earn the trust needed from patients to follow medical guidelines and achieve optimal healthcare outcomes.
Hopefully, hospitals and medical offices realize how important it is to ensure the medical staff can communicate with patients. Having a third party translate via phone or family member can cause communication problems. As we've seen before, inadequate communication and training can be deadly.
With education, training, and patience, medical personnel can become more sensitive to cultural needs. How are you stacking up?


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"Spare the Rod" is not in the vocabulary of this sadistic teacher, played by Goddess Deanna Storm. She gives her student Bart an absolutely vicious caning for failing her class. Hundreds of full force cane strokes delivered by a sexy sadist.
Category: CANING
File Name : Syren Productions – Caned By His Teacher. Starring Goddess Deanna Storm
Video Length : 8min 55s
File Size : 198 MB
Resolution : 1280×720
Audio Codec : WMA2

subset: commoncrawl


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+1300 007 387
The pizza dish can also be used for cakes and tarts. Serve your gourmet pizza's on our stylish plates. We provide coloured, patterned and large plates, they are ideal for professional use. We sell different types and sizes of commercial Pizza Plates for the Australian market. We ship to all metro areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane & Adelaide.
5 Items
5 Items
Pizza Plates in Australia
Perfect for eating Pizza, the pizza plates can also be used for tarts and cakes. A variety of pizza plates are available at Petra.
The cost of Pizza plates are based on the following factors:
1.) Size
2.) Material
3.) Brand
4.) Manufacturing Method
5.) Style / Shape / Design
Petra offers pizza plates at $36, available in a variety of style. Perfect for all bars, restaurants, hotels, cafes and even personal use.
A plate is usually made of 4 key sections:
- Well: this is the surface where food is placed, the bottom of the plate. Various art style or design can be applied here.
- Lip: the raised usually somewhat flat part of the plate. The width of this part of the plate can vary greatly with the well. It can have a slight slope upwards, or it can be in line with the base.
- Rim: the most outer edge of the plate which can be commonly decorated.
- Base: this is the underside of the plate.
See more related products: kitchenware: rectangular plates, round plates & melamine plates.
For more information about our whole range of pizza plates, please call +1300 007 387.
You need to choose options for your item for estimaste shipping


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adidas just dropped this bold and bright new colorway of the adidas AR Trainer. Done in a Shock Pink/Hi-Res Aqua-Ice Mint color scheme, let's take a closer look and see what this release is all about.
Channeling the head-turning flair of late-'80s tennis outfits, this adidas AR Trainer steps out in style. The perforated leather upper shows off the famous 3-Stripes in vintage-inspired colors. An exposed EVA midsole wedge adds a modern twist to the design of the shoe. Covered in a Shock Pink upper, the tonal motif is broken up by the contrasting colors noted on the top eyelets, Three Stripes branding and heel tab.
Available now, the adidas AR Trainer Shock Pink is now available at select retailers and adidas.com for the retail price of $100.


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Attune yourself to this wonderful energy After the empowerment you learn how to make Harmony Stones!
MP3 and instructions included.
The Harmony Stone helps one to stay balanced and in harmony and works perfectly during healing sessions. Just place one or several stones on the person receiving the healing. As a distance healing just write the person's name on a piece of paper and place the stone on the name. Additionally, it can be used by placing it under one's pillow during sleep.
When placed in a room, the stone will begin to work with the energies in that room. It will send out soothing and balancing energies to lift the atmosphere.
The Harmony Stone can also charge your drinking water. The stones do not need to be cleansed as they will not absorb negative energy.


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Elite Fine Foods Winter Brochure
Winter is coming..................... the new Elite Fine Foods winter brochure is available to view and download
Please click on link below
Call on 01273 616400
Our multi-temperature vans deliver chilled and dairy produce to businesses across South England. We can provide bespoke products on request, and our standard range includes meats cooked to order, pastries and pies made daily and an international selection of cheeses. Deli products and dry sandwich fillings (just add mayonnaise!) are also availableView our full product range »
Elite's fresh greengrocery managers have a close relationship with all of our suppliers. Where possible we source from UK farms. From May to October all of the wholehead lettuce and prepared lettuce used in our mixed salad bags are grown on farms in Kent. We also buy carrots from Lincolnshire, cabbages from Lancashire and broccoli from Kent, to name just a few. All of these farms are committed to their responsibilities in maintaining the environment.View our full product range »
Elite's butchery is run by a team of master butchers, between them they have an excellent rapport with all of our suppliers. At Elite we understand the importance of buying locally, with our recently launched range of Sussex and Surrey farm steaks. Our team of butchers pride themselves on the meat we supply and the service we offer delivering the freshest, full flavoured premium quality cuts of meat available.View our full product range »
Elite fine foods is based on the South Coast at Newhaven, which is Sussex's premier fishing port, where local boats supply quality seafood all year round. Our seafood department is operated by a team of experienced fishmongers, offering traditional values of quality and service which have been enhanced by the latest technology, to enable us to source and bring to you the best fish from the world's oceans, lakes and rivers.View our full product range »
Our bakery offering has dramatically increased over the last few years to reflect the ever increasing variety in the UK market, covering everything from French rustic bread to bespoke burger carriers. A mixture of part baked and thaw 'n' serve for conveniance , speed and quality.View our full product range »
Our extensive grocery products are available on their own or as part of a fresh produce order - no need for a separate delivery. The range includes stocks, bouillions and sauces, famous brand condiments, speciality ingredients and a full range of dried, canned and bottled products.View our full product range »
Our multi-temperature vans can deliver your frozen goods alongside fresh, chilled, ambient and grocery items. One van, one invoice, one delivery. Less hassle, no compromiseView our full product range »
From cling film to candles, non-food items are the backbone of any good catering service. Elite fine foods can deliver all your items from any range as a single order, with a single invoice. No more split deliveries!View our full product range »
Winter is coming..................... the new Elite Fine Foods winter brochure is available to view and download
Please click on link below


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We are still taking orders but you should expect them to take longer to deliver than normal.
We will fully re-open only when the government tells us it is safe to do so.
ideal for
• exterior timber • decking • fencing
unique qualities
• water repellent • protects against warping • protects against swelling • protects against cracking
at a glance product info
water resistant
biocide boost
does not blister or peel
application and advice
New timber should be well sanded, non-oily and thoroughly dry. Old paint, stain or varnish - strip back to bare wood, sand and clean, coat as new wood.
Stir thoroughly before and during use. Do not apply below 5°C. Brush apply one coat evenly with the grain in a full flowing coat, do not overbrush.
Recoating will be required every 1-2 years depending on degree of exposure. Clean down and lightly sand.
Timbers containing high natural oils, e.g. Teak and Iroko, may inhibit drying and cause impaired adhesion. Wiping surface with methylated spirit will assist adhesion.
Application rollers, sponges and pads, or clothes soaked in this product, may spontaneously combust if left. Dispose of after soaking in water. Wear a suitable face mask if dry sanding.
Protect from extremes of temperature during storage and application.
health, safety and the environment
Clean brushes and spillages with white spirit.
May produce an allergic reaction. Flammable. Harmful to Aquatic organisms, may cause long-term adverse effects in the aquatic environment. Keep out the reach of children. If swallowed, seek medical advice immediately and show this container or label. Use only in well ventilated areas. Do not empty into drains, dispose of this material and its container at hazardous or special waste collection point. Restrict interior use to small surface areas such as doors, skirting boards and window frames. Not recommended for interior use on large surface areas. During spraying, wear suitable respiratory protective equipment. After contact with skin, wash immediately with plenty of soap and water or a proprietary skin cleanser, do not use solvent, thinners or white spirit.


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Thanks For An Amazing 2018
"Thanks For An Amazing 2018" by Pastor B
"Thanks For An Amazing 2018" by Pastor B
"The Next Chapter For Pastor B" by Pastor B
"The greatest question of all isn't who is Jesus to Pastor B because who Jesus is to me may be totally different from who Jesus is to you. Which is why the greatest question of all is who do YOU say that Jesus is?" by Bryan Kizer "Remember God's Goodness"
Hello Everyone! My name is Bryan Kizer. I am the founder and pastor of Pastor B's Ministry. I am the author for both Pastor B's Blog and BryanKizer.com. I am a husband, a father, a Marine Veteran, and a son. I am also the author of the book 7 Hebrew Words for Praise. If you'd like to know more about me just ask. Thank you for taking a moment to get to know me. Blessings & Grace ~ Pastor B


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MDE and Michigan Virtual Partnership
Michigan Virtual™ is partnering with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to offer educators free online and blended professional development opportunities.View All MDE Courses
Assessment Security Training
This MDE-approved course will help you establish and maintain appropriate and secure test administration practices. When test day comes around, this course will help you build a fair testing environment.
One-hour | self-paced course | free of charge
Early Literacy Essentials Training
These MDE-approved courses help address our state's most pressing literacy issues, including Michigan's ranking as 41st among U.S. states in 4th-grade reading scores and the fact that less than 50 percent of Michigan 3rd graders are proficient readers.
Research suggests that the practices overviewed in these courses will have a positive impact on literacy development. We believe that the use of these practices in every classroom every day could make a measurable positive difference in the State's literacy achievement.
Seclusion & Restraint Awareness Training
This one hour, self-paced course — created in partnership with MDE — fulfills the State of Michigan requirements for seclusion & restraint awareness training.Learn More
Educator Evaluation in MI
This set of courses explores specific strategies and opportunities that empower participants to take ownership of their evaluation and become the driving force behind their own professional growth. Participants will learn how to leverage specific strategies and opportunities to engage in evaluation cycles, including self-reflection and goal-setting, student growth planning and tracking, identifying professional learning needs and opportunities, processing and implementing feedback, gathering evidence of effective practice, and preparing for evaluation conferences.
Browse all Professional Learning Courses
Access 300+ high-quality courses, meet professional development requirements and earn State Continuing Education Clock Hours!


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Water Temperature Sensor
Model: UTB3
UTB3 water temperature sensor uses Pt100 thermal resistor as sensing element. The thermal resistor transforms the measured temperature into electrical signal, after this signal is processed, it will be amplified to 4~20mA or other standard simulated signals on industry scene.
This water temperature sensor is featured with good performance and stability. It is sealed with epoxy resin, this construction makes this temperature sensor have good ability on anti-shock and withstand high temperature.
● Use Pt100 or other thermal resistors as sensing element.
● High accuracy low power consumption wide operating ambient temperature range.
● Zero & span adjustment.
● Integrated construction, easy installation.
|temperature measurement element
|Pt100 or other thermal resistors
|measured medium
|solid, gas or liquid compatible to stainless steel
|measured medium's temperature
|-200℃ ~+500 ℃
|insert depth
|50~2000mm or as you need
|output signal
|4~20mA(0~5V,1~5V option)
|power supply
|10~30VDC(15~30VDC for products with indicator)
|process connection
|G1/4" or others
|electrical connection
|DIN543650 connector
|material of housing
|stainless steel
UTB3 water temperature sensor has widely been used for temperature meansurement in such industries as petroleum industry, chemical industry, electric power, as well as scientific research and so on.
Packing and shipping


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An easy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies recipe full of whole grains for everyday enjoyment. There's less sugar and butter in them, so they're on the healthy side without losing out on those best oatmeal cookie flavors everyone loves!
I love a good oatmeal cookie. When I was younger and still living at home, my parents would sometimes buy this big box of chocolate oatmeal cookies at IKEA. With three growing boys in the household the box never lasted long, and my sister and I regularly had to fight for our cookies!
Now that I have my own family I still love the combination of chocolate and oatmeal in cookies, but I absolutely love making them at home with my kiddo.
You want to make these when you need some comfort food for your soul. Or just when you want to connect with your kids in the kitchen – these are so easy to put together and baking with your kids can be an awesome way to spend some quality time together.
Especially if you're one of the moms who don't really enjoy playing Little People for hours on end. Talking about a friend here, of course.
Having homemade oatmeal cookies at home makes me feel all mom-y and grown up and caring, and I want YOU to have all of those feelings, too.
I know it can be intimidating to try baking with kids, but don't be, because this recipe is truly one of the most simplest things you'll ever bake.
How to make these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies a real success with kids
Get the ingredients out yourself
There's not many, so you won't end up with an overflowing counter. If your kids don't care about the measuring, measure everything out by yourself too, to decrease your stress.
Don't bake when the kids are fussy
Sounds simple enough, but it's one thing I often overlook myself.
When even just one kid is being super fussy and needy, consider moving your baking project to a different day.
Set the right expectations
Look, I know it can be easy to hope for our kids to be nothing but perfect angels.
But the truth is that no cookie your two-year-old is going to make is going to look like one you would make.
The beauty of connecting with kids in the kitchen is in letting them experiment, be, create. Try to allow them the space in a safe environment and don't expect the next Master Chef creation.
And above all: Have fun with your kiddos!
Here's the Printable Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies Recipe:
Everyday Easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipemade it? tap the stars to add your rating!
- 1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- In a medium bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, oats, baking soda and salt until well mixed.
- In a large separate bowl cream the butter with a mixer until it starts forming little peaks. You can also do this by hand if you don't have a mixer, it just takes a little longer.
- Once the butter is creamy, add the sugar and mix it for 2-3 minutes or until it is really well incorporated. Add the egg and continue mixing until it's well incorporated, but don't overmix. Add the vanilla and quickly mix it in completely.
- Set the mixer aside and stir the dry ingredients into the egg mixture, using a silicone spatula or wooden spoon. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
- Chill the cookie dough for 10-15 minutes while washing up and preheating the oven to 360°F. Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
- Remove the cookie dough from the fridge. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out the dough onto the lined cookie sheet, allowing some space between the cookies for spreading. You might need to bake them in two batches!
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes or until they are starting to lightly brown and crisp up. Allow them to cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool down completely. Or eat them while they're warm 😉
Nora's Tips


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Robin Sanders, NP
Nurse Practitioner Robin Sanders is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She graduated from the Associate Degree Nursing Program at McLennan Community College in 2001. In 2008, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, College of Nursing, then continued on to earn her Master of Science in Nursing degree in 2013. NP Sanders has over 13 years nursing experience in critical care Surgical ICU, education, and advanced wound care. She has worked at Hillcrest since 1998 and joined Hillcrest General Surgery in 2014.
Raised in Waco, Sanders has lived in the Hewitt area for more than 10 years with her husband, Shon, son, Riley, and daughter, Audrey. She enjoys crafting, exercising, being an active participant in her church, and especially spending time with family and friends. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, affiliate member of American College of Surgeons, and affiliate member of American Society of Breast Surgeons.


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Price: $40.00
Quantity: 1 available
Book Condition: Good
23200 - Cloth - English - Octavo - octavo xvii 393 pp. plates original cloth with dust jacket wrapper has minor wear at edges otherwise a good copy special edition limited to 1000 copies and signed by both authors. - New York: Reynal & Hitchcock 1942
Title: Rebels and Gentlemen Philadelphia in the Age of Franklin
Categories: Other,
Publisher: New York, Reynal & Hitchcock: 0000
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Good
Item: 1.00 Item
Seller ID: 2192012112715


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VP interview: The reawakening of Babylon
Area vice president at Rotana, Mohamad Haj Hassan who oversees more than 12 hotels in Iraq, Sudan, Egypt, Iran and Bosnia speaks about the signing of the Babylon Hotel Baghdad, its challanges and Rotana's operations and pipeline in Iraq
Mohamad Haj Hassan joined Rotana in 2003, serving as director of conferences and catering at the flagship Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi. Today, he is the area vice president at Rotana and the general manager of the five-star Babylon Rotana Baghdad Hotel in Iraq, which, fully operational, Rotana took over on February 1 this year.
The Babylon Rotana Baghdad Hotel is not Rotana's first hotel in Iraq. It joins Erbil Rotana – 2011, Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana – 2013, and Erbil Arjaan by Rotana – 2017. But evidently, Rotana's latest signing comes with a great deal of history, despite that it was only constructed in 1982.
To use the old adage "been through the wars" is an understatement when describing Iraq, and the hotel.
The hotel, then operated by Warwick International Hotels, was one of two "upmarket" hotels that were attacked in a double bombing in May 2015. The attack at the Babylon hotel saw six fatalities.
Fast forward to today, and according to Haj Hassan, Iraq's ambitious reconstruction efforts have seen the country achieve "tremendous progress in accelerating economic growth and development and improving the security environment over the last few years. This makes it a perfect destination for our expansion," he says.
Iraq is not a new market for Rotana, which, according Haj Hassan, has been operating there "with great success since the opening of our first property, Erbil Rotana, in 2011." This said, Iraq is a risky market in terms of security. Yet this has failed to dampen Rotana's confidence.
"Iraq – Baghdad in particular – has been experiencing an increase in the number of corporate and leisure travellers, thanks to its greater financial stability and rebounding tourism sector," says Haj Hassan, who goes on to say how the country is increasingly becoming an attractive market for hospitality investments that holds great potential for Rotana.
"We will continue to seek new opportunities to further enhance our presence in this market," he adds.
On a regional level, Rotana has been active, with more in the pipeline. On February 17 Hotelier reported on its online news site that Rotana is to add more than 1,000 keys to Saudi Arabia in 2019 alone. During its 2019 GCC Roadshow, Rotana confirmed its plan of four new hotels in Saudi Arabia, as the company steps up efforts to deepen its footprint in the Kingdom.
Centro Corniche, Al Khobar and Dana Rayhaan by Rotana, Dammam are scheduled for opening in the first and second quarters of 2019 respectively, while Salama Arjaan by Rotana, Jeddah and Centro Medina, Madinah will open their doors to guests in the second quarter of 2020.
Currently, Saudi Arabia is home to six Rotana hotels under operation across three cities: Al Marwa Rayhaan by Rotana in Makkah; Rosh Rayhaan by Rotana, Centro Olaya and Centro Waha in capital Riyadh; and Centro Shaheen and Centro Salama in Jeddah, with a combined room inventory of 1,603 keys.
Furter north in Iraq, Rotana also has pipeline plans, albeit on a lesser scale in terms of key numbers. Apart from the recent signing of the Babylon Rotana Baghdad, which brings the Rotana's total inventory to 838 operating keys in Iraq, Rotana said that Q4, 2019 will see the opening of Slemani Rotana, Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, adding a further 240 rooms to the country's growing hospitality inventory.
Guy Hutchinson, Acting CEO, Rotana, said that the signing of the Babylon Rotana Baghdad was in line with the company's plans to expand its presence in the region. "At Rotana, we will continue to seek new opportunities to further enhance our presence in this market."
Speaking about the agreement, Ima, with a highly trained team and extreme Al Yasri, chairman, Al Ibaa Company (the hotel's owner) said that they were looking forward to the upgrade of the famed hotel.
"We are confident that the partnership with Rotana will present a compelling value proposition for our guests, employees, and stakeholders, and further drive our business growth," he said.
Apart from the signing of the Babylon Rotana Baghdad, which brings the Rotana's total inventory into 838 operating keys in Iraq, Q4, 2019 will see the opening of Slemani Rotana, Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, adding a further 240 rooms to the country's growing hospitality inventory.
The five-star Babylon Rotana Baghdad is located next to the green zone, close to the banks of the Tigris River and just 30 minutes' drive from Baghdad International Airport.
"The hotel] offers guests convenience and comfort in the heart of downtown Baghdad with extensive measures implemented to make it the most secure hotel in the downtown Baghdad area," he says.
"We are looking at a diversified and an optimal business mix that will enable us to drive revenues," he adds. "Our main target market is Iraq, followed by Lebanon and Jordan. The majority of our business is from corporate clients and companies operating in Baghdad."
Fifty percent of guests are NGOs, 30% corporate, 10% MICE and 10% leisure reveals Haj Hassan.
"We are seeing a new market segment in terms of guests, which is honeymooners from the domestic market. They travel to Baghadad from different parts of the country, ' he says.
In terms of foreign leisure guests staying at the hotel, Hassan revealed that "famous" singers from Lebanon, such as Fares Karam, have been booking rooms at the hotel. "They play concerts in Baghdad" he adds.
Haj Hassan describes how the market [in Iraq] has been witnessing extremely positive trends. He says that overall in Iraq, that Rotana hotels have been "performing well with positive results that have benefitted from stable market conditions in the country.
For the Babylon Rotana Baghdad, Haj Hassan says that the strategy includes driving business across all verticals, which, he says, will provide a steady mix of the various segments. "Depending on the market conditions, next year we are aiming to achieve an average room rate of more than USD $225 with an average occupancy of 90%," he adds.
That Iraq is still an emerging market, means challenges exist for all industry sectors, including hotels.
"Guest amenities such as shampoo and soap are not available locally and have to be imported via Jordan," he says. "The majority are from Dubai and Turkey. It's the same for service operating equipment. There are no showrooms here Iraq]. Most is imported from Dubai."
Importing supplies has an effect on hotel budgets. "We import 80-85% of the foodstuff needed for the hotel, such as margarine, Danish pastries, flour. This increases costs. In a normal environment, food costs would be 18-20% but at the hotel it is 30%," he says.
Haj Hassan describes how having to helping import much of the hotel's food can lead to a lack of consistency. "Sometimes, it is available and other times it is not," he says, pointing out that since the hotel maintains large quantities of the stock, guests are unaffected by it.
Hiring experienced and qualified staff who have a background in hotel s is also challenging, espeically at a five star level.
"Iraq is not an attractive destination for skilled foreign labour, as they prefer safer destinations," says Haj Hassan.
"In order to attract [such talents] cost plays a big role since you have to pay 25% to 30% above the market rate. There is also the cost of insurance, which for exapts is quite high," he says.
"The hotel does hire locally but you need to train them, since they are fresh graduates."
Other challenges he describes are related to the infrastructure, which he says is "still very far behind."
Despite the added costs, Haj Hassan says that the the profit margin of hotel owners' in Iraq is 50%.
"None [hotel owners] in the region are now making 50% profit," he says.
When asked what will drive people into his hotel over the competition, Haj Hassan is clear. "Security," he says. "It is the hotel's most important feature. It is the most secure hotel in Baghdad, with a highly trained team and extreme precaution measures taken when entering the hotel, not to mention the hotel being fully fenced by a concrete wall."
There are additional factors helping drive footfall, too. Haj Hassan describes the 280-room hotel as a destination in itself. "It is in Baghdad's most desirable districts, with an incredible array of dining, recreation, relaxation and entertainment options," he adds.
The property features four dining venues, serving a range of regional and international cuisines, recreation and leisure facilities including tennis courts, Bodylines Fitness & Wellness Club and temperature-controlled indoor and outdoor Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Onsite, there are also extensive business facilities, including more than 1300 sqm of flexible event spaces such as multiple meeting rooms and a ballroom that can host up to 600 guests. The hotel also includes an executive lounge and business centre.
Today, refurbishment is underway at the hotel whose current average room rate is USD $200. The completion date for the refurbishment is two years.
Clearly, Haj Hasan and his team have their work cut out. That said, Haj Hassan's experience in the hotel sector spans more than two decades, with a stint as general manager of the five-star Al Salam Rotana in Khartoum, where he spent two years.
Haj Hassan, who holds a BA in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Hampshire in the UK, and has completed the General Managers Program at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, not to mention holding positions world wide. Despite such accolades, Haj Hassan is adamant that it will be "Rotana's company culture' that will be behind the success of the Babylon Rotana Baghdad.


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Mistakes as a Source of Innovation
Effective leaders adhered to an unalterable expectation that mistakes and failure need to be an acceptable part of the process of innovation. They opposed "zero tolerance for mistakes" policies, many of which are still being practiced in many companies today. They considered these to be hindrances to innovation.
"It's easy to believe that Jeff Bezos is one of the great innovators. But that's not exactly the case. His rise into Fortune 500-dom actually has little to do with innovation and more to do with iteration. If anything, Amazon demonstrates how a cutting-edge Internet company – of all things – can succeed slowly. The trick is taking a million tiny steps – and quickly learning from your missteps." [1]
The mega-inventors of the 19th Century are also prime examples of this philosophy. "[George] Westinghouse (Westinghouse) built on his engineering skills, learning how to design and evaluate industrial trials. Time after time he turned trial failures into commercial successes. Even his competitors hailed his problem solving skills…" [2] "[Thomas] Edison (Edison Electric) viewed even disasters as an opportunity for learning. On one occasion his lab stove went out in the dead of winter, causing an assortment of expensive chemicals to freeze. On another occasion unprotected chemicals were damaged by sunlight. Instead of bemoaning the losses, Edison put aside all other projects to catalogue changes in the properties of the bottled substances… 'He knew how to turn lemons into lemonade.' " [3]
Walt Disney (Disney) took a proactive approach toward mistakes. "Walt found a way to push improvement without laying blame. [He] take(s) a look at what [someone says]… not glossing over a problem with the gag. He implicitly acknowledges it could be better. But rather than indulge an employee's criticism of another worker, he demands a positive, forward-thinking attitude – 'what we can do to make it better…' Walt kept employees engaged and contributing by not shooting down suggestions, but instead steering employees toward improving their ideas… Walt's approach to suggestions as the difference between responding 'Yes, if…' or 'No, because…' " [4]
As Sam Walton grew Wal-Mart into a retailing giant, he realized that "not all of his ideas worked. The minnow buckets didn't sell. People in Wisconsin didn't go for his Moon Pies. But when he saw he was wrong, he admitted his mistake and went on to try something else. And he wanted his associates to be the same way. He'd get them together on Saturday mornings to share their success and admit their failures. That culture of candor produced a great environment to capture ideas. It helped that he had 'very little capacity for embarrassment.' " [5]
[1] Quittner Josh, The Charming Life of Amazon's Jeff Bezos (Fortune Magazine, April 15, 2008)
[2] Quentin R. Skrabec, Jr., George Westinghouse: Gentle Genius (Algora Publishing, New York, 2007) p. 61
[3] McAuliffe Kathleen, The Undiscovered World of Thomas Edison (Atlantic Magazine, December 1995)
[4] Niles Robert, Disney Legends Recall Walt Disney and the 'Yes, It…. Way of Management (Theme Park Insider, November 19, 2009)
[5] Walton Sam Made in America. A Money Book Summary (character-education.info)
Excerpt: Great! What Makes Leaders Great: What They Did, How They Did It and What You Can Learn From It (Majorium Business Press, Stevens Point, WI 2012)
Timothy F. Bednarz, Ph.D. | Author | Publisher | Majorium Business Press
Author of Great! What Makes Leaders Great: What They Did, How They Did It and What You Can Learn From It (Finalist – 2011 Foreword Reviews' Book of the Year)
Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter | Web| Blog | Catalog |800.654.4935 | 715.342.1018
Copyright © 2013 Timothy F. Bednarz, All Rights Reserved


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Honda vehicles are some of the most reliable, cars, trucks and SUVs on the market today so it is no wonder that you see them everywhere you go. If you own a Honda new or old it is important to keep in mind that every vehicle thrives on regularly scheduled maintenance. Oil changes are great example of a regularly scheduled maintenance service. This differs from auto repair in that fluids need to be drained and replaced to make sure that your oil is clean and able to perform its job.
Your engine oil is the lifeblood of your Honda vehicle. It cleans and lubricates the moving components within your engine compartment. Every time you bring your Honda vehicle into our garage, our knowledgeable and friendly technicians can perform a quick and comprehensive inspection of your vehicle. Therefore you are not only having a necessary service performed, we can also point out issues that you should keep an eye. We help our customers catch small cracks and leaks before they have a chance to become larger more involved repairs later down the road.
We have a passion for repairing and maintaining Honda vehicles no matter the model. Give us a call anytime you have a check engine light come on your dashboard, if it has been a while since your last oil change or whenever you feel that your vehicle is not performing as well as it should.
Here at Japanese Carmasters, we have the tools to quickly diagnose any issue you may be experiencing with your Honda car, truck or SUV. We also know that your life doesn't stop whenever your vehicle won't start. That is why we can easily help you with all your automotive needs with effective and efficient repair and maintenance services. We can also recommend a maintenance schedule that fits your vehicle's current condition and your driving style. You might be surprised to find that most modern automobiles today can now go longer between service intervals. It is important to note that often times these manufacturers maintenance intervals are based on ideal driving conditions and that even long stop and go commutes can often be considered severe driving conditions.
Let us be your local Honda maintenance and repair experts. Give us a call, drive on into our shop or conveniently schedule an appointment online for a day and time that works best for you!


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Flexible financing options to launch or expand your beauty salon.
Wondering about your options for salon business loans? The beauty industry is one that continues growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims it will grow 13% faster over the next 10 years. You need funds to keep up with trendy new styles, products, and equipment. There's not always extra cash laying around to invest. Depending on the season, it may even be tough to get the bills paid.
Whether you're a startup or a seasoned salon owner, you have options to get funds for your beauty business. Start by pinpointing how you need to use the funds. From there, calculate your financing needs. Once you have the why and how, you'll know your best option of the salon business loans.
See Your Options


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Browse or buy now on our webshop:
Timber decking is a low cost & versatile way to enhance your outdoor space. You can use wood decking to create single or split-level areas for entertaining or just relaxing in, giving your home a valuable outdoor 'room'. Whether you've got rolling lawns or a small back yard, and want to create a modern, contemporary look, decking will add an attractive & functional feature. Timber decking is a natural product, so it blends perfectly with outdoor surroundings. Timber decking is also a hard-wearing and practical solution for pubs, clubs, restaurants & hotels wanting to create outdoor areas for customers to enjoy.
At Quay Timber, we offer unbeatably low prices on our decking,
and can give advice on measuring & installing.
We only sell pressure treated boards. All our timber decking products are accredited with the Timber Decking Association's DeckMark™ standard. DeckMark™ provides assurance that the materials supplied and installed as part of a timber deck or associated outdoor structure are quality products, fit for purpose.
As well as our standard treated softwood decking boards, we also offer a range of hardwood decking, both from stock or as a special order, for a really special outdoor space.
Additionally we supply Composite Decking from NewTechWood's UltraShield Range. These composite boards look the part, are highly durable and are made from 95% recycled content. They are engineered for resistance to fading, scratches, stains and mould.
We can also provide you with the handrail, spindles and newels to create a decorative balustrade or safety barrier for your deck.
We also sell timber decking treatments and fixings.


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Cold backups after SHUTDOWN ABORT
An Oracle user asks if a cold backup can be performed after closing the database with SHUTDOWN ABORT.
I have had some instances that take a very long time for an orderly shutdown. For those cases, I perform a SHUTDOWN ABORT, STARTUP RESTRICT and then a SHUTDOWN IMMEDIATE. This way, I can ensure an orderly shutdown has been performed, and the instance terminates much more quickly than if I did not do the SHUTDOWN ABORT.
Dig Deeper on Oracle database administration
Related Q&A from Brian Peasland
Managing Oracle connections from third-party apps
Oracle expert Brian Peasland answers one reader's question about common pitfalls when connecting Oracle to outside programs. Continue Reading
Perfect the Oracle RMAN duplicate 10g command
One reader asks expert Brian Peasland a question about datafile sizes with the Oracle RMAN duplicate 10g command. Continue Reading
Managing SQL parent table-child table relations
Managing parent table-child table relations in Oracle SQL environments is key to efficient programming. Continue Reading


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The public affairs community is a small world. It is also one – if a new BBC drama is to be believed – in which ambitious young lobbyists flirt with political researchers, sleep with reporters and take class-A drugs in trendy nightspots.
Party Animals, now in its second week, depicts the high-octane lifestyles of twentysomethings working in the Westminster village. There is the earnest male researcher for a junior 'Blair babe' who stays in to watch Newsnight.
There is the glamorous female researcher who works for (and sleeps with) a Cameronite MP.
And there is the lobbyist who fled Labour and is now attempting to join the Tories. Already we have seen this fine representative of the PA community bedding a posh hack, flirting heroically with a Tory researcher over a boozy lunch, and snorting cocaine.
The programme's creators insist that the show is a realistic take on life in the Westminster bubble. Producer Elena Greene tells PRWeek: 'As part of the research, myself and the writers went to last year's Labour Party conference. We hung out with various members of think-tanks – but we always told them we would never mention their names.'
Martin Bright, political editor of New Statesman, played a role as a programme consultant, introducing Greene and her colleagues to various MPs, lobbyists and researchers.
'We did lots of research'
Greene hopes the end product strikes a chord with those at the sharp end in Westminster.
'I'd be very, very disappointed if everybody was saying it's nonsense,' she says. 'We did lots of research, and we did use a lot of the stuff that people told us, weaving it into the fabric of the show.'
So, do the real-life lobbyists and researchers recognise themselves in Party Animals? PRWeek spoke to four people who have experienced both sides of the political fence (see below).
Luke CHAVEAU, director, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs
WAS: Researcher at Conservative Central Office (1990s)
'Party Animals bore no resemblance to the real world of lobbying. In fact, it showed the industry in a pretty bad light, especially if anyone believed it was true. Ministers and researchers, as well as lobbyists, were shown in a stereotypical way and there was some very questionable acting.
'The scene with the lobbyists wanting to engage with the Conservative Party, much to the incredulity of the Labour-sympathising consultants, raised a smile. But what struck me was how the image of lobbying portrayed in the programme fits perfectly with the media view of the industry.'Overall, I'd say this is a gritty, relatively entertaining watch – but if you believe the programme, how could I be at home to watch it? The lobbying industry has become dull with a very strong focus on share price and competitive advantage – not really the stuff of compelling drama.'
Andrew HOBSON, account manager, Insight Public AffairsWAS: Researcher for Labour backbencher Ivor Caplin (2001-2004)
'The first episode was total trash, but good trash, and wasn't too far off the mark. Obviously the actors are all better looking. Also, the writers understandably airbrushed out anything that isn't about high-level power brokering, or trying to sleep with one's intern.
'They've done a remarkably good job of capturing the essence of the Westminster bubble. But in real life, people around Portcullis House spend much more time trying to sleep with the interns, and less time power brokering.
'On the other hand, why is the government minister in the programme speaking from the back benches? Where are the constant phone calls from complete nut cases?'
Katie PERRIOR, director, In-House PR
WAS: Media adviser to shadow home secretary David Davis (2003-2004)
'Exciting? Yes. Demanding? Yes. Glamorous? Not always. Party Animals is great entertainment but off the mark in terms of the reality of Westminster.
'The long hours, low salaries and the commitment meant I was more likely to be glued to the news than doing what most twentysomethings do at night.
'The focus on the well-dressed, beautiful young things (how do they afford to look so good?) and the affair between the adviser and the Tory MP (it really doesn't happen that often!) means we see little of the grittier side to the job.
'There were some good scenes though. I was impressed when I saw how well they had recreated the insides of Portcullis House. Also, the scene where one of the characters leaves his minister's speech in the loo rang true - luckily in the past, I have been the one to find it, rather than loose it.'
Peta CUBBERLY, policy and parliamentary officer, 4Children
WAS: Researcher for Liberal Democrat children and families spokesperson Annette Brooke (2001-2006)
'Party Animals portrays a little-known profession in a positive light. Of course, the lack of Liberal Democrat representation and the focus on two-party politics simply reinforces the stereotype of Westminster politics.
'As for the storyline, I did have to laugh at some of the similarities to my experiences, including losing vital pieces of work (though fortunately not confidential policy papers), working with interns, liaising with lobbyists (who absolutely always do try to ply you with wine over lunch) and dealing with moody MPs.


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High School
Case Study
Montville High School Case Study
Montville High School is a public school in Montville, CT, serving over 1,200 students.
Montville High School was spending over $150,000 annually on energy costs, in part due to energy waste in areas with both intermittent and inadvertently high energy usage during peak periods. Given that a school operates much differently than a factory or office building, Montville HS needed a flexible solution that could meet the particular needs of the school schedule and behavior.
Using our energy analytics platform, RTIS®, and working with local energy utility Eversource, Montville gained a better understanding of equipment performance and was quickly able to identify wasted usage in intermittently occupied areas of the building. As a result, the school was able to better manage their idle load usage and mitigate peak demand charges, without interrupting the school's schedule. To manage idle load, the school deployed sub-meters to monitor intermittently occupied areas and identify wasted usage. Once the school determined their most inefficient areas, they deployed Variable Frequency Drives and CO2 sensors to modulate and curtail usage in these parts of the building. To mitigate demand costs, the school used RTIS® to setup demand thresholds that both notified facilities management and automatically curtailed certain building loads when these thresholds were reached.
Montville HS has already reduced energy costs by over 15%, equating to $22,692 in annual savings. June is typically the school's peak demand month of the year, and before using RTIS®, the school's peak demand hit 319.5 kW in June 2016, whereas peak dropped to 236 kW in June 2017. Montville HS can now monitor energy consumption in real time. Going forward, Montville HS plans to add additional sub-meters and sensors to further improve their carbon footprint, with the goal of reaching "building zero," where only critical loads are used during unoccupied periods.


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The Olive Oil Skincare Company
Aboriginal Series Gumby Gumby With Blue Mallee Eucalyptus Oil Soap
Regular price $15.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
A unique fusion of Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil with indigenous flora suitable for all ages. Uplifting and invigorating Blue Mallee has antiseptic properties to help restore and nourish the skin. All-natural ingredients. No SLS, no parabens, no artificial fragrances or colours.
Massage onto wet skin until a creamy low lather form, and rinse clean.
Key Ingredients
Sodium Olivate, Water (Aqua), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sodium Stearate, Pittosporum Phylliraeoides (Gumby Gumby) Extract, Eucalyptus Fruticetorum (Blue Mallee) Oil, Sodium Citrate
Avoid contact with eyes. For external use only. If irritation or rash appears, discontinue use.


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How to improve your daily work?
Assuming you're an holder of a business that manages delivery plus merchandising of items, you completely know how to deal with your clients and be in a good relationships.
Moreover, in today's world here is a answer that has been invented to improve the daily work of the sales reps including the delivery men.


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Author Meets Critics - fall semester 2017
CEMES is proud to host the coming events in the fall semester 2017:
Awkward Europeans? Sweden and Denmark in the European integration process
Dr. Malin Stegmann McCallion (Karlstad University) and Prof. Anders Wivel (University of Copenhagen
28 September 2017, 13:00-16:00
The Hegemony of Growth. The OECD and the Making of the Economic Growth Paradigm
Dr. Matthias Schmelzer (University of Jena/University of Zürich)
24 November 2017, 13:00-16:00
Double event - Competing Visions of World Order After 1945:
The Emergence of Globalism: Visions of World Order in Britain and the United States, 1939–1950
Dr. Or Rosenboim (University of Cambridge)
American Empire: A Global History
Prof. A. G. Hopkins (University of Cambridge)
29 November 2017, 14:30-18:00
Christian Human Rights
Prof. Samuel Moyn (Yale University)
8 December 2017, 14:00-17:00


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US Senator Kelly Ayotte's December 20th op-ed (Foster's, A4) decrying a 1 percent reduction to military retirement benefits for those under age 62 is a perfect example of a politician who fails to grasp the larger issues at stake. As a veteran with a background in economics I thus feel obligated to challenge Senator Ayotte's article.
There are three different military retirement plans: Final Pay, High-Three, and Career Status Bonus. The third option, Career Status Bonus, is an elective plan that already includes the 1% reduction to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is used to calculate the cost of living allowance (COLA). Thus there is nothing new in the recent legislation for Ms. Ayotte to rail against in regards to this third option.
For the first option, Final Pay, the 1% reduction would apply to a maximum of nine annual COLA adjustments. This is because the reduction doesn't begin till December 2015 and the Final Pay plan only includes retirees who entered military service prior to September 8, 1980. Those maximally affected by the change, probably a very small number, would see nine years of impacted COLA adjustments at most before turning 62, when full benefits are awarded. In this case, the impact would be minimal.
The High-Three plan is the primary concern. Using Senator Ayotte's example of a Sergeant First Class (E-7) with 20 years of Army service who retires at age 40, Ms. Ayotte's $72,000 lost income projection is reasonable. After some calculations, it appears Ms. Ayotte assumes an approximate 2.0% long-term average CPI rate, which also is reasonable. Thus there is nothing wrong with this part of her argument. But it should be noted that under Ms. Ayotte's guidance the federal government would pay this one retiree approximately $700,000 before he/she turns 62. That's a lot of taxpayer money for a single retiree, not to mention earning full benefits thereafter.
However, Senator Ayotte fails to mention the much larger picture. A retiring E-7 is on the low end of the military retirement spectrum. Personnel from the officer corps, warrant officer corps, and higher-ranking enlisted soldiers comprise the majority of retirees, all of whom earn greater base salaries. For example, using the same mathematical framework for a retiring Army Major, the projection for lost income from the 1% reduction would approach $120,000. But this retiring soldier would still be paid approximately $1.1 million by the federal government before turning 62 even with the 1% reduction (with full benefits thereafter). Again, that's a lot of money for one retiree. Now multiply that by the thousands of other military retirees throughout the country and the number becomes astronomical. (The $6.3 billion, 10-year budget figure pales in comparison to the longer-term budget challenge, especially since the 1% reduction doesn't begin till late 2015.)
I can agree with Senator Ayotte's position that reducing future benefits to military retirees is a suboptimal budget strategy. But Ms. Ayotte is clearly not serious when she instead offers compensatory loophole fixes meant to curb supposed mooching by illegal immigrants and poor people. In fact, it's shockingly obtuse for Senator Ayotte to suggest that massive long-term federal outlays for military retirement benefits can be ameliorated with a few quick fixes.
Despite Senator Ayotte's constant attempts to pass herself off as a deficit hawk I find that she is nothing of the sort. For those who truly care about the federal government's long-term fiscal challenges, they should realize that the Democrats—and some Republicans—who voted for this legislation are the ones who actually took the politically courageous, more fiscally prudent course of action. Ms. Ayotte instead just stands on an empty soapbox.
Dean Lamirande


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Carolyn Magill
Carolyn is a health care technology executive with over 20 years of leadership experience in driving the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care.Read More
Jeremy Rassen, Sc.D.
Jeremy is an epidemiologist and computer scientist with nearly 25 years of experience in the science and technology of big data.Read More
Sebastian Schneeweiss, M.D., Sc.D.
Sebastian is a physician and pharmacoepidemiologist with 25 years of experience in analyzing health care databases.Read More
Lori Bennett, J.D.
Lori is an attorney with broad experience advising corporate clients in intellectual property, privacy, data security, corporate governance, and risk management.Read More
Selvam Velmurugan, M.S.
Selvam has 20 years of experience building and managing distributed web-scale systems and high-performing engineering and product teams.Read More
Liz DeMatteis
Over her 20+ years in health care transformation, Liz has tackled numerous and varied go-to-market challenges across many high-growth, high-tech firms.Read More
Richard Jenkins
Richard is Chief Growth Officer to Aetion and has led business development for several health care technology companies serving the life sciences industry.Read More
Yin Ho, M.D., M.B.A.
S. Yin Ho is Chief Product Officer to Aetion and a veteran in health information technology and data analytics.Read More
David Vavrasek
David is Chief People Officer to Aetion and has over 15 years of experience building and leading human resources teams across public and private companies.Read More


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Coronavirus Update: Washington College responds to coronavirus outbreak. More Info
Please note:
• The Presentation time frame is approximately 50 minutes with 10-15 minutes for Q&A
• An Honorarium of $100 will be awarded after completion of a W-9 form which will be sent to you post lecture.
• All luncheons are provided on campus in the Hynson Lounge of Hodson Hall starting at noon.
• You may bring one or two persons to the luncheon as our guest.
For Purposes of Advertising and Introduction, we will need the following information 45 days prior to your presentation date; the title of your presentation, a photo of you or a photo related to your talk, a brief bio and a description of your talk. Please send the photo by email to Sue Calloway, the WC-ALL Administrator at email@example.com then complete and submit the form below. Click on the line for each question, fill in the information, press tab to go forward and then submit when done. If you are having difficulty completing the form please call the WC-ALL office @ 410-778-7221.
Thank you, Hanson Robbins
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, Maryland 21620
410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782
Maps & Directions | Contact Us | Site Index
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Blogger competition : win a nine-night trip across Europe
The perfect place to refresh, have fun, and enjoy great cuisine : Pullman Tokyo Tamachi.
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Shopping tips from the pros
Your guide to the ultimate romantic getaway
Edinburgh's Best for Less
In Queenstown - New Zealand
in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
The final step of her nine days trip across Europe
Second step of her nine days trip across Europe
First step of her nine days trip across Europe
Being one of the most-widely filmed cities in the world, in Paris, each façade looks like it must have appeared on the big screen at some point.
In London
At random
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Financial Roadshows
Specialists at high profile roadshows with complex itineraries
Airport Chauffeur
All major airports, private terminals seaports and heliports served.
Corporate Events
Setting the highest standard for your corporate image
The Golden Fleet Uk
Golden Fleet Uk has been serving the City of London with a professional executive chauffeur service for over 10 years.
Over this period our core philosophy has been to deliver the most luxurious, professional and reliable chauffeur service in the market.
Driven by an exceptional team of impeccably presented professional chauffeurs, efficient UK based management and support staff to ensure your itinerary runs exactly as planned.
Alternatively call +44 20 862 234 50


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Covered My Tier With A Mix Of Modeling Chocolate And Fondant But The Color Is Too Bright! How To Fix It Without Doing It All Over?
Decorating By yumkat Updated 20 Jan 2015 , 9:21am by yumkat
Hi caker friends, my title says it all:
I covered my tier with a mix of modeling chocolate and fondant but the color is too bright! how to fix it without doing it all over again? The thing is ORANGE, and it screams "ORAAAANGE" when you look at it. I gave it a pineapple texture with a home made embosser and a bit of modelling; but pineapples aren't dark orange
So, would you have any idea of ways to improve it? I'm thinking maybe I have a go with the airbrush? or petal dust? both? which colour could I use to make it a bit lighter/ realistic?
Thank you very much!
I haven't tried this, so I'm not sure if it would work or not, but could you airbrush white on it to lighten a bit and then airbrush a color closer to what you want? If not, I can't think of anyway to fix it other that to take off the fondant, fix the color (or start over) and then recover the cake.
Thank you for your reply melmar02 ! I was thinking to give a go with a light coat of almost white yellow with the airbrush and then, once dry, try to define the pattern with some touch of light brown petal dust. Last resort I'd strip it off but I spent so much time on the details that it would really depress me
If you want it to look more like a pineapple, try brushing it with cocoa powder. It will accentuate your patterning and tone down the brightness factor. The best part: no more food coloring is needed.
Hi Kristen, thanks for your idea! Oh my goodness can't believe I'm having a conversation with the Queen of modeling chocolate I'm in France and follow you from here!


text: Last time I came to the press day displaying Me and Zena goodies, some of their brighter pieces had just been worn by Little Mix on the X Factor. This time round a picture of Rihanna wearing one of their rings stands proud on the display. I am completely besotted with all their designs, from their simple gold and silver pieces to their amazing paint themed collaboration with the Saatchi Gallery. Great for musicians for the use in performances and shoots and a must know for stylists!


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Brant lives quietly under the romantic radar until a coworker invites her to a concert where she meets Lyle Crane, the sexy singer of a heavy metal band. A little harmless flirting between the shy paralegal and the outgoing rock star provokes a crazed fan to eliminate her competition.
Chemistry brews between Evie and Lyle when a gunshot rings out in the dark and the unlikely couple is set on a collision course neither of them saw coming.
4 out of 5 stars ARC Kindle
4 out of 5 stars ARC Kindle
Evie Brant is too busy working living a quiet paralegal life. So when one of her co workers drags her out for a girls night out she is forced to listen to a band she was not aware of and meeting them afterwards with her friend backstage pass.
Innocent flirtation with Lyle Crane a sexy singer of a heavy metal band leads to an unlikely couple. Lyle uses Evie saying she is her girlfriend when a stalker tries to make moves on him as he been trying to get rid of her but she keeps popping up in different venues and manages to get backstage access.
Things quickly get out of hand when they are outside and shots are aimed at them. Lyle takes a bullet in his arm that was meant for Evie. As the stalker flees and on the loose, Lyle ends up in the hospital to check on his injuries as Evie goes with him. He ends up spending the night at her place where she is uncomfortable since she does not bring guys home.
There is sparks between them but can these two unlikely people find a common connection? Will Evie allow herself to be loved and accept herself?
Buy Link:
Author Bio:
Alyssa Breck is an author of horror, paranormal romance and erotic fiction. She grew up
Stallker Links:
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Streetsmart insurance Blog
Car owners would take pride in their cars. Aside from the fact that it cost a lot of money, the maintenance fees are not a joke. Automobiles also reflect a personal sense of style, not for a show-off but more of an outlet for the drivers. Though we can't deny the fact that its beauty will fade later, it can look like brand new again. With these proper care and techniques, car owners may hit it off just right.
Do Not Underestimate the Magic of Car Wash
While most car enthusiasts go for car wash services, it is crucial to do it on their own. No one would clean it better than the owners would. No one would take care of it more than the owners do. Cleaning the car by hand would give the owner more time to examine the materials. Is it clean and shiny enough for their liking?
It is also essential to use high-quality soap along with the microfiber cloth. Car owners should also wipe the car dry after washing. Cleaning the vehicle may leave splotch of liquid, and that does not look cool and new. The cloth used for washing should be cleaned regularly as well. It is all about tidiness!
Install Accessories
If you want your automobiles to look new, you can accentuate its facade with both chrome and window films. This method may take a while to do, but it will be worth it. Cars that are chromed and plated make the car's surface more resistant and sturdy. Meanwhile, window tints also help keep your interior and exterior in excellent condition. Chroming and window tinting will surely add aesthetic and new dimension to the automobiles as well.
Install Chrome
You can install a chrome cladding on the vehicle's door, make sure to choose the color that will highlight the design. It can also be put in mirrors or wheels. It will be more expensive if the whole car will be plated. If the car owners are really into stepping up the game of accent, it can be a good project. Well, only if they are willing to spend more than the budget.
Get Your Windows Tinted
Window films may be attached to the car windows as well for protection. However, car owners should consider the tint law in the city they are in. There are window tints that are too dark according to particular state's regulations. It is critical to know the bill before jumping on the bandwagon of making the car look cool. Safety first then, safety second.
Nothing will beat the car that is insured, though. You can get all these aesthetic, but insured automobiles would still look better. At StreetSmart Insurance, we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that makes your life easier. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (732) 462-8343. Get your free quote today by Clicking Here.
I appreciate your suggestion that regular maintenance could be very helpful to keep the vehicle in good running condition. Different types of fluids used in the vehicle for the various purpose needs to be replaced after certain time interval. So, the condition of different types of fluids should be inspected at a regular interval and if necessary should be replaced with suitable substitutes for smoother performance of the vehicle.
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March 2020


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Check out the fun new trailer and the Let's Play of the upcoming campaign add-on due out tomorrow
Tag Archive: borderlands 3
Prep for Borderands – Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot with a 13 minute gameplay video
Hold tight Vault Hunters, the first Borderlands 3 DLC is launching in the very near future.
Borderlands 3 review for PS4, Xbox One, PC
Borderlands finally returns with a non-port, non-remaster, honest-to-god sequel.
Borderlands 3 tops 5 million in 5 days
2K has announced that Borderlands 3 has already hit some sales records for both the publisher and the franchise.
Borderlands 3 – Bloody Harvest seasonal event kicks off next month
Gearbox is set to drop a free Halloween-themed seasonal event for Borderlands 3 quite soon.
Borderlands 3's official cinematic launch trailer has dropped
With just a few days before the official release of the Borderlands 3, 2K and Gearbox have dropped off what should be the final launch trailer for the game.
Gearbox shows off new Borderlands 3 modes, trailer & screens
For Gamescom 2019 Gearbox Software has so far released a new trailer and info regarding a couple of new modes for Borderlands 3, including the more challenging Proving Grounds.
FL4K the Beastmaster is revealed in the final Borderlands 3 character profile video
Today, 2K and Gearbox dropped off a final character profile trailer showing off FL4K's skills and background story.
Amara the Siren shows off her skills in the next Borderlands 3 character profile video
Check out Amara and her ethereal flying fists in a new trailer.
Meet Moze in another new Borderlands 3 – Vault Hunters character trailer
Just a few days after learning more about Zane the Operative, Gearbox and 2K dropped off new info for yet another new character
Get to know Zane in the new Borderlands 3 – Vault Hunters character trailer series
Check out a new Borderlands 3 character trailer showing off Zane Flynt the Operative.
Celebrate Togetherness with the latest Borderlands 3 trailer
Gearbox Software and 2K this morning blessed us with a fresh new trailer for Borderlands 3.
Borderlands 3 gets a new E3 trailer, DLC for Borderlands 2
New DLC drops today for Borderlands 2, plus another look at the upcoming Borderlands 3.
Check out the Borderlands 3 Worldwide Gameplay Reveal right now
Today is the big day! Check out all the live Borderlands 3 action going on.
Borderlands 3 to launch on September 13th, 2019
As promised, Gearbox Software and 2K have blown the lid off of Borderlands 3 and released a ton of game info, new media, pre-order details and most importantly… a 2019 release date.
Gearbox Software reveals Borderlands 3
And here it is folks, after all these years of waiting for a proper numbered release in the Borderlands franchise we're finally getting a Borderlands 3. See the reveal trailer and info.


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Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond: From Production to Produsage
Author: Axel Bruns
Publisher: New York: Peter Lang, 2008
Review Published: November 2009
After reading various sections of Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari's A Thousand Plateaus, I have often wondered what an explicitly rhizomatic culture might look like. I found one answer in Axel Bruns' Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond. The culture evolving out of the internet is a rhizome and Bruns, though he does not specifically use the term, shows us how and why.
One of Bruns' objectives for this book is to define and justify the term "produsage" as a description of contemporary cultural creation. Bruns contends that our current metaphor, which compares the material production of physical objects (e.g., cars, shirts, or pencils) to the production of culture and cultural objects, fails to capture the reality of cultural creation in an age of computer networks and the internet. The old metaphor, like all metaphors, has concealed the opportunities for better social and political relations that are inherent in different metaphors. The distinction between producers of culture and consumers of culture is fast disappearing, Bruns argues, and there are new cultural participants who have invented new processes of cultural creation. The new formula is: producer + user = produser. Although Bruns does not press this point too strongly, he intimates that a better metaphor might be a comparison of the creation of social relationships to the creation of contemporary culture.
In addition to defining and describing produsage, Bruns also confronts some of the controversies that arise from a concept like produsage: e.g., trust, expertise, and governance. Bruns attempts to overcome stereotypes and outdated assumptions about the creation of internet content. A lack of order and hierarchy on the internet is not anarchy but is, instead, heterarchy. A lack of standard modes of organization on the internet is not disorganization but is, instead, a loose organization that produces a "hive mentality." In short, if culture is not produced that does not mean there is a lack of product but, instead, there is produsage.
Bruns' strategy for promoting the term produsage in Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond is two-fold: first, provide a conceptual framework and rationale for the term produsage; and then, discuss the term as it applies to virtually every realm of cultural creation on the internet. In the introduction to the book, Bruns launches and justifies the need for the term produsage. In the first chapter, he continues by describing the key characteristics of produsage. For instance, in produsage, there are not any firm boundaries between producers, distributors, and users of culture. Produsage processes and products are decentralized (as opposed to centralized), granular (as opposed to composite), and ownership is common (as opposed to individual). Produsage is self-directed in a "probabilistic" (e.g., hit or miss) fashion; the telos of produsage is holoptic -- decided by participants according to what they perceive as useful or worthwhile -- instead of panoptic -- predetermined by a small number of managers who are supposed to see the big picture. Because produsage creates artifacts that are unfinished variations of previous creations rather than products that are finished and then consumed, the results of produsage are never completed and never used up.
After these two definitional chapters, Bruns turns to computer networks and the internet and demonstrates how produsage is the paradigm for what is created there. Bruns spends a chapter on produsage in open-source software (such as Linux), a chapter on produsage in blogs and citizen journalism (such as Kuro5hin), and two chapters on internet encyclopedias (specifically, Wikipedia).
Bruns then devotes a chapter to folksonomies -- knowledge structures and methods of categorization and classification (such as delicious) -- and a chapter on the roles and redefinitions of experts in the realm of produsage. Bruns also allocates a chapter to produsage in file-sharing sites (specifically, photo-sharing, fan fiction, and music- and video-sharing sites), a chapter on the effects of produsage on media and copyrights, a chapter on produsage in online games and multi-user virtual environments (MUVES), and a chapter on produsage in social networking sites (such as Facebook).
Finally, Bruns turns toward realms where produsage does not yet play a significant role but might in the future: he has a chapter on produsage in education, and a chapter on produsage in politics and democracy. Bruns' concluding chapter addresses two topics: the possibility of produsing (instead of producing) physical objects and the likelihood of a cultural shift to a primarily prodused culture.
Obviously, this book covers a lot of ground while driving at a single thesis: prodused culture is a paradigm change. Bruns' chapters discuss an impressive variety of internet phenomena. At the same time, however, his repetition of claims, definitions, and his core thesis can become tiresome. Bruns' writing style is highly analytic: his ideas are thoroughly explained; his descriptions are detailed and subtle. But he also writes in long sentences saturated with independent clauses, asides, clarifications, and qualifications. He uses a large number of new and coined terms which, while necessary for a subject of this scope, are often difficult to wade through because the book lacks an index. (I found myself wondering whether this was a side effect of the very cultural change Bruns describes: a change where prodused internet word searches have replaced produced paper indices.)
Despite these flaws of expository style, Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond is worth looking through -- at least individual chapters if not the entire book. For one thing, the book is a good blend of information, argument, and evocation. Bruns' explanations of produsage and of various internet phenomena are thorough and realistic. There are also persuasive moments when Bruns argues that produsage is a new cultural paradigm and that this new paradigm is worth defending.
Some of the most provocative moments appear when Bruns explains why seemingly disparate concepts are, in produsage, actually interdependent. For example, the characteristics of produsage seem, at first glance, confused about whether produsage is the result of cultural creation or the process itself. It becomes clear, however, that produsage is both result and process and that, furthermore, this hybridization of product and process is what makes produsage different than production.
The dismantling of these distinctions and dichotomies has implications for audiences in communication studies. For instance, that staple of interactional communication studies, the distinction between content messages (primarily verbal messages that convey content or information) and relational messages (primarily nonverbal messages that negotiate or affirm the relations between communicators), is questionable in a produsage environment. We come to realize that while content is prodused, so are social interactions, and that the two are prodused in such a way that they are interdependent. Bruns, for example, writes that produsage overcomes certain communication barriers that afford effective collaboration. The reason why is because produsage creates new and different sets of content and relational rules for interaction. While production may start with an a priori set of rules for social relations, produsage negotiates those rules in every moment of content creation.
Furthermore, the collapse of the production-based producer-distributor-consumer model reflects the continued critique of the sender-message-receiver model of communication that appears in virtually every communication studies textbook. Whereas the old model conceptualizes communication as a transfer of information, in produsage, where the creator and the user are one in the same, communication can be conceptualized more like Hans-Georg Gadamer's (1989) formulation of communication as a fusion of two horizons of meaning.
The principal value of Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life, and Beyond is that it serves as an opening statement in a larger conversation that we are produsing. And although, as of this writing, the word "produse" does not yet appear as an entry in the English language edition of Wikipedia, the general framework Bruns proposes has merit and is one we should consider produsing. (A good starting place might be the book's companion web site.)
This book review, for example, is itself produsage: the rightness or wrongness of my review, considered on its own, devoid of context, presented in my authoritative voice, does not matter as much as how well my descriptions and judgments resonate with the content and context of the other reviews -- here or elsewhere -- of this book. From the perspective of Walter Fisher's narrative paradigm (1989), this attitude might be called narrative fidelity. Here, my review, in dialogue with Verena Laschinger's and Erin Stark's reviews, as well as Bruns' response, is produsage.
Gilles Deleuze & Felix Guattari. (1987). A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. Trans. Brian Massumi. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Hans-Georg Gadamer. (1989). Truth and Method. 2nd rev. ed. Trans. Joel Weinsheimer & Donald G. Marshall. New York: Crossroad.
Walter Fisher. (1989). Human Communication as Narration: Toward a Philosophy of Reason, Value, and Action. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press.
Alan Razee:
Alan Razee is an instructor of Communication Arts at Fresno City College. Alan offers his thoughts on the intersection of rhetoric and geography on his blog at alanrazee.blogspot.com. Alan reviewed Eloquent Images: Word and Image in the Age of New Media and From Counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism for RCCS. <firstname.lastname@example.com>


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The Benefits of Blogging for Business
Discover why blogging is so important for your business.
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When blogs are written with quality, search engines will take notice.
This is extremely valuable to your website. A search engine's job is to present its users with information that is relevant to what they searched for. They want to serve their customers with information it considers valuable.
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If a blog is written with valuable and relevant information, search engines will rank it high so it is available to its customers. This why you want your blogs to be high-quality and full of value. Do it right the first time, and you won't have to go back and fix it later.
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Your bounce rate shows you how interested in your website your visitors are. The longer they stay, the more interested they are.
Customer engagement is a term used for keeping your website traffic interested in your content. This means keeping them on your website longer. Engagement increases your chances of making a sale.
Again, this is where SEO blogs come in.
A good blog is full of information. It should also entertain. An entertaining blog can create engagement that is natural and lasting. Offer information in a conversational way, and never underestimate the ability to make someone smile.
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Many people understand the important role social media plays when it comes to your business. However, some still aren't sure.
Social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter help to grow your company or product's fan base, increase awareness, and help drive traffic to your website.
Blogs make social rounds by getting shared. When a blog is written and then posted on your website, the link can then be shared to your social media accounts. When This is done on a regular basis, your growing audience will learn they can depend on you for content. They can share it, and when it is read, you get site traffic.
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Many people wonder how you make money from posting blogs on your website. There are many ways, but this is what affects you most.
When someone searches a keyword into Google, the search engine will display the most relevant results. When that searcher clicks on your blog, it will take them directly to your website.
This is where conversions can happen.
A high-value blog will address what the searcher was looking for. If the blog is able to answer a question, clear something up, seamlessly sell a product, or build trust – you have increased your chance of having the reader look through your website and becoming a customer.