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Risk Management
Is it the future of quality management?
by Greg Hutchins
All business proceeds on beliefs or judgments of probabilities, and not on certainties.
Charles Eliot, past president
Harvard University
There's a lot of talk about the future of quality and quality management. First let me put your fears to rest. Quality is alive and well. It won't disappear. It'll just morph into something that reflects market needs.
In discussions with senior executives at major companies about these changing times, I've learned that their No. 1 heartburn issue is maintaining the stratospheric price to earnings ratios of their companies' stock. How can they do this? One strategy is to improve the top line by increasing sales. Another way is to improve the bottom line by increasing earnings.
Improving the top line is accomplished by enhancing brand value, acquiring hot growth companies, capitalizing on new ideas and innovating. Improving the bottom line is done through containing costs, managing people assets, minimizing costs and, most important, managing risks, and risk management is where I think quality is heading.
Stability and consistency
Top executives have unusual thought processes. While they talk about wanting breakthrough this and that, the reality is that most want stability and consistency. Top executives, by nature, are risk sensitive but not risk taking. Only a few really believe in bare knuckle competition. Instead, most of today's senior executives at major corporations decided to fight the corporate promotion wars instead of opting for riskier careers such as selling real estate, pitching penny stocks or managing the new dot-coms.
Risk is defined as the potential for the realization of unwanted negative consequences of an event. In Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk, Peter Bernstein says the mastery of risk is the foundation of modern life and what divides modern from ancient times.1
Murphy's law--if something can go wrong, it will--applies to markets, customers and businesses equally well. A company can try to understand and anticipate what can go wrong or be victimized by it. Risk management is the process of controlling what can go wrong. So, by consciously or unconsciously calculating probabilities, top executives make intelligent decisions based on perceived risk.
Software development risks
There are many examples of business risks. Software project development risks are huge because these projects are complex, take longer and cost more. Many projects are not completed on time or within budget. Of 175,000 information technology projects started in the last few years, 31% were canceled before they were completed and another 53% came in at nearly twice their original cost estimates.2 Whoa! You certainly can't run businesses like that.
"The bogeyman for corporations is anything that can disrupt business--hackers, rogue traders, product tamperers, regulators or Mother Nature," said the Wall Street Journal recently.3 According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, 69% of fast growing companies are concerned about risk, yet only one-third have risk management processes. This results in an opportunity for quality professionals to relabel quality processes and redeploy quality practices into risk management.
And that's the power of quality management. Quality, health, safety and environmental issues will coalesce into a risk based approach to management. Continuous improvement, prevention, systems/processes, stakeholder satisfaction, optimum quality for invested dollar, adherence to standards and checks/balances are all quality principles and practices that are immediately transferable to risk management.
Six Sigma may illustrate this. I don't get Six Sigma, which seems like a rebranding of many of Walter Shewhart's ideas. But the important thing is what Six Sigma means to top executives in today's business climate. If it's just another fad or tool, it really won't mean much. But if Six Sigma can help define an organization's core processes, ensure its stability and mitigate risks through process consistency, it then becomes a vital tool for top management. So, think of Six Sigma as the probability or risk of achieving 3.4 nonconformances per million occurrences, and it doesn't take much of a stretch to realize that your future depends on risk management.
1. Peter L. Bernstein, Against the Gods: The Remarkable Story of Risk (New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1996).
2. "When All Else Fails," CIO, April 1, 1995, pp. 14-16.
3. "Business Bulletin," Wall Street Journal, Jan. 27, 2000, p. 1.
GREG HUTCHINS is a principal with Quality Plus Engineering, a process, project and supply chain management company in Portland, OR. He can be reached at email@example.com or 800-266-7383 or on ASQ's members-only career forum at www.asq.org.
If you would like to comment on this article, please post your remarks on the Quality Progress Discussion Board, or e-mail them to email@example.com.
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PONY Advent Calendar – Day 16
PONY has teamed up with Horseware in the run up to Christmas, to give a fantastic prize away every day!
Remember to check back each day to see what prize is up for grabs and to enter for your chance to win!
Happy Christmas!
16 December – Maya padded jacket
This warm coat is water repellent and features a cosy neck design with a hidden hood. Available in blue jean or chocolate in sizes XXS–XXL. Click here for a size guide – please note, once you have entered, you cannot change your size or colour preference.
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WIN a Wintec saddle!
One lucky reader will win a Wintec saddle of their choice up to the value of £1,199Enter
WIN a riding outfit and grooming kit from Decathlon
Eight lucky winners will each receive a riding outfit and grooming kit from DecathlonEnter
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Check out the fab prizes in the April PONY giveaway!Enter

subset: commoncrawl


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Porcelain Veneers in Nashville, TN
Cosmetic flaws such as wear, chips, or cracks on your teeth can make you cover your smile when you laugh, speak, or pose for pictures.
At Clint Newman, DDS, we can craft lifelike veneers out of advanced materials to carefully conceal concerns and transform your smile.
What makes veneers such a great option?


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Dr. Rachael Fionda (Director), Welcomes you
to the UCD Applied Language Centre
Established in 1989, UCD Applied Language Centre (ALC) is engaged in offering a wide range of high quality language provision across many of UCD's activities. The ALC has a university-wide remit to provide teaching, self-study, testing and advisory services across UCD and to the wider national and international community. UCD ALC is one of Ireland's main test centres for IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examinations and is also a centre for Cambridge English exams.
The ALC also offers a wide range of courses in the following areas:
- English for Academic Purposes
- Foreign Language Modules
- External English Programmes
- Graduate TESOL programmes
If you have any questions or queries, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Dana Point Roofing and Roof Repair
South County Roofing believes in going to extra mile even if it means we have to crawl into some tiny space in order to find out where exactly the roof leak is coming from. No matter what type of roof you may have we can find and fix the leak the first time. We do not use any sub contractors for roof repair work.
All of the employees you see are ours. We have been repairing tile roofs in Dana Point Dove, Ca since 1997. Most of our employees have been here over ten years. No matter what type of tile roof you have (concrete tile, Spanish tile, clay tile, or slate tile) we have fixed it over and over.
We offer a number of other roof repair services such as roof inspection and roof tune up. If you are looking to buy a home located in Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, or Laguna Beach you should have us take a do the roof inspection.
We inspect roofs for new home buyers and document roofing problems that can lead to costly roof repairs. We can get these paid for by the seller with our exclusive four page roof inspection report.
Dana Point Roof Leak Detection Specialist
Concrete tile roofs and Spanish tile roofs will leak for a variety of reasons. If the roof flashing was not originally installed correctly you will need us to replace the flashing.
Roofs also leak just from normal wear and tear. No matter what the cause of your leaking roof hire South County Roofing to repair your roof leak and leave the rest to us.
We believe South County Roofing is the right company to fix your leaking roof and we back it up with our exclusive "No Leak Warranty. We make sure that before you pay for your roof we will furnish you with the proper lien releases.
This is very important because some many roofing contract pay their employees in cash and that could be big problems for a home owner. We do everything right from paying our employees by check to following all building codes, and operating our Dana Point roofing company in a professional manner.


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The Allport Surgery
43 Bridle Road, Bromborough, Wirral CH62 6EE
It's Friday 3:56 AM — Sorry, we're closed
Telephone: 0151 328 5630
Out of Hours: 111
GP Net Earnings
NHS England requires that net earnings of doctors engaged in the practice are publicised, and the required disclosure is shown below.
However, it should be noted that the prescribed method for calculating earnings is potentially misleading because it takes no account of how much time doctors spend working in the practice, and should not be used to form any judgement about GP earnings, or to make any comparison with any other practice.
All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice.
The average pay for GPs working in The Allport Surgery in the last financial year 2017/18 was £52,949.00 before tax and national insurance.
This is for 1 full-time GP and 2 part-time GPs.
Patient Participation Group
Friends & Family Test
Opening Times
- Monday
08:00 – 18:30
- Tuesday
08:00 – 18:30
- Wednesday
08:00 – 18:30
- Thursday
08:00 – 18:30
- Friday
08:00 – 18:30
- Saturday
08:00 -12:00
- Sunday


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Our world is changing. It is complex, hyperconnected, and increasingly driven by insights derived from big data. And the rate of change shows no sign of slowing. Nor does the volüme of data show any sign of shrinking. But, the economic and social value of big data does not come just from its quantity. It also comes from its quality – the ways in which individual bits of data can be interconnected to reveal new insights with the potential to transform business and society. Fully tapping that potential holds much promise, and much risk. By themselves, technology and data are neutral. It is their use that can both generate great value and create significant harm, sometimes simultaneously.This requires a rethink of traditional approaches to data governance, particularly a shift from focusing away from trying to control the data itself to focusing on the uses of data. It is up to the individuals and institutions of various societies to govern and decide how to unlock the value – both economic and social – and ensure suitable protections.
As part of the multiyear initiative Rethinking Personal Data, the World Economic Forum hosted an ongoing multistakeholder dialogue on personal data throughout 2012 (See Figure 1 for more details). This dialogue invited perspectives from the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East and involved representatives of various social, commercial, governmental and technical sectors, who shared their views on the changes occurring within the personal data ecosystem and how these changes affect the collective ability to uphold core principles. The dialogue also addressed key regional legislative and policy approaches, particularly the proposed European Commission Data Protection Regulation and the US Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights. The global dialogue centred on a set of foundational principles that are familiar across a broad range of cultures and jurisdictions. The dialogue was based primarily on three clusters building on the 1980 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Privacy Principles:• Protection and security
• Accountability
• Rights and responsibilities for using personal data
This document captures some of the key outcomes of the dialogue. It highlights areas that need to be resolved in order to achieve a sustainable balance of growth and protection in the use of personal data.
Source and full report:


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posted by Andy Lazris & Erik Rifkin
on March 23, 2017
Overtreatment and undertreatment can occur when patients do not fully understand the implications of medical interventions. Studies show that patients can best comprehend medical data when it is: in a graphic form; free of numbers; uses a denominator of 1000; stated in absolute rather than relative values; and presented in a straight-forward and comprehensible format.
We have designed a universal decision aid that includes those characteristics and uses the familiar setting of a theater with 1,000 seats. Blackened seats designate the risks and/or benefits of medical interventions. We call it a Benefit-Risk Characterization Theater (BRCT). We will demonstrate how it works for statin cholesterol medicine.
Statin cholesterol medicines have become a mainstay in treating coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when people have blockages in their hearts or have had a heart attack. There is ample evidence that the use of statins in people with known CAD can reduce heart attack and subsequent death. According to robust studies, after five years of statin use by people with CAD, 46/1000 will avoid having a bad outcome (Figure 1) compared to people with CAD who do not take statins (including 12 deaths, 26 heart attacks, and 8 strokes). Patients can look at this BRCT and make a decision regarding the benefits of statin use based on how they determine what constitutes acceptable benefits and risks.
A recent study that looked at compliance with guidelines given to people after a heart attack determined the use of certain drugs, including statins, led to a reduction in heart attack and death. Per patient savings were $900/year among patients who took these drugs compared to those who were noncompliant. Given the large number of people who have heart attacks and other CAD, the savings can be substantial with a higher rate of statin compliance. Unfortunately, compliance with statins is not high; approximately half of people on statins stop taking them after a year, most citing side effects as the reason.
Why do people resist taking statins despite their benefit? Statin side effects are not trivial. All statins cause muscle damage, and every study of statins finds the extent of damage varies based on the patient. In the studies cited above, 100/1000 people had severe muscle damage, while many others get weak or tired muscles that can impact their function. Pain and weakness can be worse as people age and when they are more active.
One study suggested approximately 250/1000 people (Figure 2) who are active (and 750/1000 marathoners) can get pain or weakness with statins impacting their ability to exercise. Another study showed up to 400/1000 people on statins say they are more tired than 1000 people on placebo. Also, statins are a known cause of diabetes, and it is felt that about 10/1000 people who take statins will get diabetes compared to 1000 people who take placebo.
Lowering statin dose, or giving the medicine every other day, can possibly diminish the intensity and incidence of muscle pains and other side effects. While many studies do not show increased muscle damage in those taking high dose statins, there are more withdrawals among those taking high dose drugs, very few older people are enrolled in those studies, and there is no consensus as to whether high dose are more effective in real outcome measures.
A recent study of high vs standard dose statins in older people (over age 75) who have known CAD found no benefit in high dose use (0/1000 benefit when compared to standard dose statin therapy; Figure 3). Other studies have shown some improved outcome, but it is small. Certainly, even if there is a marginal benefit of higher dose statins over more moderate doses, the higher withdrawal rate makes their use suspect in people who report side effects.
Perhaps the most prudent way to help a patient remain complaint with statin treatment is to demonstrate the drug's value while being upfront about the drug's potential side effects. If patients understand there are side effects from the medicine, and that these side effects can be mitigated – by lowering dose or changing drugs – then patients and doctors can work together to find a statin regimen that is tolerable.
It is also important to know that statins have a much less proven benefit in people without known CAD. Thus, when attempting to achieve compliance with statin treatment, it is wise to focus on those people in whom these drugs have the most benefit. Overtreatment can very easily lead to higher rates of discontinuation. Showing people BRCTs, such as the ones in this article, can help them to decide if statins can help and understand their potential side effects. Such shared decision-making between doctors and patients can lead to better compliance with treatments and better health.
Andy Lazris, M.D., CMD, is author of Curing Medicare and co-author of Interpreting Health Benefits and Risks. Erik Rifkin, Ph.D, is Adjunct Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.


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More died on roads 500 years ago
You may find it hard to believe, but a higher proportion of people died in traffic accidents in medieval times as they do now. The only difference is that 500 years ago the big killers were being hit by a horse or falling off a farm wagon.
Take poor Joan Heyward, for example. In 1651 she was walking home in Chichester when a 'light grey nag' ridden very fast by Edward Short knocked her down – 'grievously beating, bruising and wounding her head and face'.
And an unfortunate Herbert Noke was travelling on an ox cart in 1577 when the animals broke free. 'The cart, with its wheels, ran violently down the hill and fell in pieces and Noke was injured by the cart and wheels whereby he immediately died.'
The realisation that we have only been treading water in the travel safety stakes emerged after a study of coroners' records in Sussex between 1485 and 1688. It found 30 per cent of people who died from an injury were in a travel accident. By comparison, 25 per cent of injury deaths in 2000 were from road traffic incidents, World Health Organisation figures show.
Crime tip (again): See those cameras? They are watching you.
A bungling burglar went to the same cashpoint more than 50 times – to try and guess the PIN numbers of bank cards he had stolen.
Taxi driver Trevor Agnew, 44, thought he might strike lucky if he kept on putting in random sets of four numbers into the ATM machine. But with the odds of correctly guessing a card's PIN number ranked at one in 10,000, Agnew never managed to make a single withdrawal.
His repeated failed attempts at the same cashpoint, at a post office on Stockport Road, Timperley, only served to arouse suspicion and he was filmed by police on a CCTV camera. Agnew's picture, published in the Manchester Evening News and broadcast on Channel M, was recognised by one of our readers – and now he is starting a prison term of three years and four months.
Yum, yum! Frog Leg Pizza! And for dessert? Anchovy sorbet!
A restaurant chain has introduced Britain's first ever frogs' legs pizza.
The 'Hopper Pizza' is topped with between six and eight legs on a traditional tomato and mozzarella base with capers, fresh herbs and a scoop of anchovy sorbet.


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Use this vinegar to add warm flavor notes to butternut squash soup or roasted vegetables; mix into creamy Alfredo sauce or your next homemade macaroni and cheese.
Ingredients: Juneberry-Currant vinegar (made from Juneberry & Currant wine) and fresh sage.
Nutrition Facts: Serving size 1 tbsp (14.8ml), Servings per Container 10. Amount Per Serving: Calories 0, Total Carb. 0, Sugars 0, not a significant source of fat cal., total fat, sat. fat, cholesterol, fiber, protein. Percent Daily Values (DV) based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Contains Live aceto-bacteria culture, sediment is natural
5% acidity. Gluten-Free.


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Benefits of spinach for health
The efficacy of spinach vegetables
The content of this spinach vegetable is apparently can be used to improve the quality of our health by consuming it every day. Below I will explain some of the efficacy of spinach vegetables for body health.
10 benefits and efficacy of vegetable spinach for health
Combating cancer cells
Inside spinach Vegetable contains flavonoid substances, folic acid, fiber, vitamin C and vitamin A have the function to fight cancer cells. The content of such spinach can reduce the threat of cancer especially stomach cancer, skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and uterine cancer.
Improving eyesight
Spinach Vegetable is a source of vitamin A and the content is very effective to improve eye vision.
Can be heart-healthy
Unhealthy life patterns can cause heart disease and have a great risk of heart attack. Then try to consume spinach to avoid heart attack. All these nutrients make the efficacy of spinach vegetables can make the heart organ to be more health protected at all times.
Avoiding Diabetic disease
The content of magnesium found in spinach vegetables has the benefit of improving in avoiding complications arising after a diabetic disease. By consuming this vegetable with routine will support to avoid from fluctuating too much and can balance blood sugar.
Improves memory and protects brain health
With increasing age, the power to remember what things will decrease. To increase your memory and protect your brain health, it can be a good choice to consume spinach regularly.
Strengthening joints and bones
In the efficacy of spinach vegetables has a calcium content that can strengthen the whole bone in the body. So it can prevent osteoporosis from now by consuming spinach regularly.
Protecting the digestive system
Spinach vegetables have abundant fiber content and very precisely protects the digestive system in the body to stay healthy.
Avoiding Anemia
Spinach is a very effective source of iron. Iron is needed to avoid anemia and serves to reproduce/regenerate red blood cells, so as to avoid suffering from disease anemia.
Making Skin Healthy
The other benefits of spinach vegetables can be healthy skin. Because spinach has abundant vitamin A content so that it can make the skin appear healthier and can be good moisture retention for epidermis that at the end can resist the esophagatization, psoriasis and acne wrinkles.
Useful in growth period
Spinach that has mineral and iron content is very effective in adolescent growth. Not only that, spinach vegetable is also good for women who are menstruating. Spinach is rich in calorie-like content such as spared cholesterol and low fat than red meat.
Such explanation about the benefits and efficacy of spinach vegetables for the body health by consuming spinach vegetable containing magnesium, vitamin A, and abundant minerals so that it can nourish the body.


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Hanu Reddy Mangoes takes pride in producing some of the sweetest and most delicious mangoes that Chennai has ever tasted. We have been growing mangoes in our orchards in Tamil Nadu and Andhra over the last 60 Years. We allow the fruit to mature fully on the trees before they are harvested without using harmful chemicals to artificially ripen them. This sets them leagues apart from the ones that are available in the market.
It is that time of year again! Hanu Reddy Mangoes is pleased to inform you that our mango farm near Allur Village, Nellore District, AP is now available for lease for the year 2019-2020. Our 180 acre mango orchard has Banganapalli, Imam Pasand and Totapuri mangoes amongst other varieties. Hanu Reddy Mangoes produces high quality fruit that are suitable for export markets such as Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, USA, etc. Kindly refer our farm to any interested parties.
For further enquiries contact us at:
+91 99672 55823 | [email protected]
+91 99672 55823 | [email protected]
The Great Mango Festival 2019
A grand celebration of the King of Fruit with activities, events and mouthwatering food was lined up on our farm last summer. Farm life was the theme of the day, with ploughing, planting, traditional games, pottery and bullock cart rides for an authentic experience. Take a look at the fun and be sure to join us next year!
We grow some of the finest Banganapalli Mangoes in our orchards. This variety is the most sought after and is called the King of Mangoes. It is a household favourite because of its sweet taste and is comparatively less fibrous.
Our Orchards
Our farms are located near Nellore, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai, Tamil Nadu. They are well maintained with horticultural practices that keep our crops thriving. The original saplings were brought into our farms from Kadiam in Andhra Pradesh, several decades ago. Our extensive mango orchards have had consistently large yields every year.
Pre-book Your Mangoes!
Our farm fresh, naturally ripened mangoes will soon be here! Pre-order them before they run out!


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Quality Assurance for the Freelance Translator
Quality Assurance (QA) in translation can be defined as all the systematic and planned actions established to ensure translation services adhere to client requirements and meet the expectations of the target market. The translation service provider bears the responsibility of establishing the methodologies and processes necessary to meet customer quality requirements. Language and Technical Quality: To ensure the highest quality translation, you should only accept translation jobs where you are a native speaker of the target language and possess professional expertise in the subject matter. Having a […]More info


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Liquid Alprazolam Online 7195d46709cbb6e3983dd66fc3a4e572 Dolphins on a roll
Buy Brand Name Xanax Bars Buying Alprazolam Online By Byler Henry
Cheap Xanax In Mexico The Miami Dolphins have been on a roll winning three games in a row. They pulled out an impressive win against the Falcons coming back from a 17-0 deficit at halftime. This week they entered a rivalry game against the Jets and came out with a 31-28 win and a 4-2 record.
Xanax From Mexico Online Buy Real Xanax Bars Jay Cutler had a good game going 12 of 16 passing for 138 yards two touchdowns and one interception, before he went down with an injury. Matt Moore came in and kept the offense afloat while completing his fifth fourth quarter comeback of his career. He passed for 188 yards going 13 of 21 with two touchdowns and an interception. The two main wide receivers Kenny Stills and Jarvis Landry contributed to their offense combining with three touchdowns. Landry was targeted 7 times and he gathered 93 yards while Stills was targeted 6 times gaining 85 yards. Jay Cutler has been ruled out against the Ravens with cracked ribs; however the offense won't miss a beat with Matt Moore under center. It's always good to know that there is a reliable veteran backup who can step in and contribute when called upon.
http://tamaralounge.com/sitemap-pt-page-2018-09.xml Buy Xanax France Before the season started, I pick the Dolphins to make the playoffs grabbing a wild card spot, and I'm still feeling good about that pick. Looking at the rest of the schedule, the Dolphins have the Ravens for a Thursday night road game, the Raiders (home), Panthers (road), Buccaneers (home), Patriots (road), Broncos (home), Patriots (home), Bills (road), Chiefs (road), and Bills (home). I can see them going 6-4 to finish out the season and grab an 11-5 record. They already have a better start over these six games than last season. Last year they started off 3-4 but found their stride late in the season finishing 7-2 and grabbing a wild card playoff spot. If they continue to pull out wins they can surely be back in the playoff mix. They are currently tied with the Bills in the AFC East. With their remaining schedule getting an 11-5 record is certainly possible.


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ELAW's work in Africa began nearly 25 years ago. Since then, we have helped young lawyers in Tanzania, Kenya, Liberia, and Zimbabwe launch their nations' rst environmental law organizations, and helped lawyers in 26 nations strengthen or enforce environmental laws to protect the rights of local communities.
ELAW gives its partners the tools and resources they need to protect air, soil, water, and ecosystems, and builds a worldwide corps of skilled advocates working to protect ecosystems and public health for generations to come.
The key to our strategy is locating strong advocates who are committed to protecting communities and the environment in their home countries. By collaborating with these advocates and providing legal and scienti c tools, we achieve substantial impact around the globe.
Decades of work building the corps of grassroots advocates in Africa is having a big impact:
Partners in Liberia advanced their nation's rst framework environmental law, partners in South Africa ensured that corporations must share information about pollution, partners in Kenya are waging a historic battle to halt what would be East Africa's rst coal- red power plant, partners in Ghana are fearlessly standing up to mining industry giants to ensure that natural resource extraction bene ts local communities, and a new partner in Sierra Leone is launching his nation's rst public interest environmental law organization.
Since 1995, ELAW has hosted dozens of Fellows from across the continent, including Fellows this past year from countries new to the ELAW network: Morocco and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Earlier this year, 25 grassroots attorneys from 14 African nations participated in the 2017 ELAW Annual International Meeting.
Enjoy the highlights of our work with partners in Africa in our newsletter, ELAW Advocate.


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Using the 3D terrain modelling function in QGIS as well as SRTM data from NASA, I created a 3D map of North-West England.
2D View
Here you can see the 2D view of the map; this gives a sense of the area and resolution of the map.
The translucent blue region shows the the administrative boundaries on the county of Manchester, just to give a bit more reference.
3D Terrain View
This shows the terrain generated from the SRTM data. The scale has been exaggerated to make the altitudinal range more obvious.
The way that QGIS interprets this is that the darker the region, the higher the point.
If you look closely, you might be able to see some white 'gaps'. This is because it takes a lot of processing power to generate the 3D models and so it is best to allow an element of error. The result is that the edges of the tiles don't always match up exactly.
3D Model View
When I overlay the 2D map from the first step onto the 3D terrain, QGIS generates a 3D model. This can be dynamically manoeuvred and zoomed into/out of within the 3D browser to provide a real sense of reality to the model.
Here are a couple more images of the 3D model.


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A drunk driving charge is one of the scariest things you can experience. A conviction can wreck your finances, destroy your reputation and damage your professional standing.
How can you avoid a drunk driving charge?
Failed a Breathalyzer test? Don't give up just yet
There's nothing more soothing on a cold day than a shot of whiskey in your tea or a little cream liquor in your coffee. Or, maybe you just enjoy celebrating the good cheer of the whole holiday season with an occasional glass of wine.
North Carolina's 'On the Road, On the Water' campaign has started
For the ninth year in a row, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) have teamed up to spread the message that it's illegal and unsafe to drink and drive -- whether you're behind the steering wheel of a car or the steering wheel of a watercraft.
Don't rely on pocket Breathalyzers to avoid drunk driving charges
There's no shame in enjoying a night out on the town -- or a drink with dinner while you're out with friends. If you're a responsible adult, you know you don't want to get behind the wheel if you're too inebriated to be driving. However, given the fact that a .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) isn't very high, you know you could be over the legal limit even if you don't feel drunk.
Don't get fooled into a DWI by these old drinking stories
North Carolina's drunk driving laws are fierce -- and you don't want to find yourself facing a charge of driving while intoxicated (DWI) under any circumstances. Punishment if you're convicted usually involves mandatory jail time, even at the lowest-level offense.
Don't try to handle a drunk driving charge alone
Did you wake up on the wrong side of a jail cell on New Year's Day thanks to a drunk driving charge?
Don't ruin your Thanksgiving with a drunk driving arrest
Social drinking tends to increase during all holidays -- and Thanksgiving is no exception. Unfortunately, social drinkers (unlike regular drinkers) are at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing their limits. Not every social drinker who gets intoxicated sets out to end up that way, which is why not everyone has a designated driver ready to take them home.
What do 'implied consent' laws mean in Illinois?
The implied consent laws in Illinois essentially say that the ability to own a driver's license is a privilege, not a right. By implication, anyone with a license has given the police consent to test for chemical impairments.
Use these tips to stay free of drunk driving charges this summer
A lot of people look forward to summer, whether they plan to go on vacation to the beach or indulge in a "staycation" at home with friends.
Woman pleads guilty in felony drunk driving case
A 27-year old North Carolina resident entered a guilty plea to a felony DUI. After hearing all the evidence and pleas from the woman, her family members and the family members of her victim, the judge issued a sentence of 15 years.


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One-one session Personal Training Sessions
Private training with one of our coaches, this type is very personal and will allow you to get a custom-made program to reach your goals.
Semi-Private Training
Semi-private training, consist of both group and personal training perks. The ratio of coach per clients is 1:6 which makes it fun to be in a group environment while keeping it small enough to have some quality time with your trainer.
Need to prep for an event, competition or combine? Talk to one of our Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist to see what is the best approach for you or your team.
NUTRITION Session
This consist of a consultation with our nutritionist that will guide you through nutrition and create a plan easy to follow for you to reach those goals.
Recovery System
(compression boots, theragun, rocktape…)
Recovery is crucial and a lot of the time not paid enough attention. We put our body through so much stress during the week whether it is at work or in the gym. For this reason, Biofit offers recovery systems such as compression boots, theragun, and rocktape to help you recover faster and feel better.
Infra-red Sauna
Research shows infra-red sauna to be highly superior to the traditional sauna. Using infra-red and near-infrared light produce heat but also penetrate muscle tissue this allows ATP production which then rejuvenates the cells in our bodies and triggers many beneficial effects.
All whole body cryotherapy consist of going into the cryo-chamber at a temperature lower than (-160F), this will put your body into a flight or fight mode and create a flushing mechanism that will get rid of toxins and reduce inflammation.
Stretch Therapy
Stretch therapy sessions are 30 minutes sessions of stretching. Whether you are tight, in pain or poor posture stretching is a tool that is often undervalued but can aid in the recovery or healing process.
Can't train with us in Florida? That's ok; we offer online training with customized programming and nutrition.
Massage therapy
Our massage therapist will help you recover faster or simply relax through different massage techniques.
Contrast bath Therapy
A great recovery tool, backed by research contrast bath therapy is a must if you want to rejuvenate your body. Going from hot to cold water increases blood flow to the muscle tissue which in turn reduces inflammation.


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Full-on autonomous vehicles won't be here for years. That's due to legal, as well as technical, hurdles. However, some automakers are inching along toward that future with various types of assisted self-driving tech. The systems require that the driver continuously pay some attention. All this, while the onboard autonomous computer controls a portion of the driver functions. Today, Tesla's "Autopilot" and General Motors' "Super Cruise" systems are considered Advanced-Level 2 assisted driving technology. In other words, a system that is able to drive the car, even while requiring drivers to pay attention to what's going on with the road.
However, quietly, automakers are moving toward Level 3 assisted driving. That's what the next generation of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class will offer as early as 2020. That made Gildshire stand up and take notice. Automotive News helped with our research.
We are on the verge of jumping to Level 3, which is our target for the next S-Class," Ola Kaellenius, Daimler's head of research and future CEO, told reporters during the Paris Motor Show. "That is something that you can then buy as an option, and you can proliferate it relatively quickly into higher volumes – especially with a brand like Mercedes."
Level 3 assisted driving is technically referred to as "Conditional Automation." In other words, the driver can take his/her eyes away from the road ahead (Or, I suppose, behind if the driver chooses to let the car handle reverse.) However, the driver must be ready to take over when the vehicle requests help. Under normal conditions, though, the tech can do the driving, scanning the surroundings for hazards.
If, as planned, Mercedes-Benz can fit the S-Class with the new tech, they will beat BMW's iNext car to market by a full year. Only Audi already has a Level 3 system on the road in the A8.
Of course, there are legal hurdles to even this technology's implementation. Autonomous systems between automakers aren't uniform. Regulators continue to debate any and all possible safety risks within the Level 3 systems.
Developers, though, feel encouraged by the test results. Incidents involving self-drive vehicles aren't always the result of system limitations or malfunctions. Instead, inattentive drivers cause an accident. These Level 3 systems have the potential to make driving, for everyone, safer.
Gildshire supports that kind of thing. We will continue to monitor the self-drive news as it breaks.


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(250) 384-7611
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Francis Jewellers
Adeline Ring
For payment and product info call us at 250-384-7611
This beautiful and unique white gold ring features a 1.23ct oval yellow Sapphire and 36 Diamonds totalling 0.48ctw. A twist on a classic halo ring, this would be perfect for that woman looking for something a bit different.
style # 3207
10k Yellow Gold Diamond Ring
This bold 27 gram yellow gold ring features 25 round brilliant diamonds totalling 2.45ctw and 11 round brilliant diamonds totalling 0.10ctw. All these stones are beautifully set to complement the design and offer the wearer a chance to highlight the craftsmanship our goldsmiths put into this ring.
style # 3840
14K and 18K White and Yellow Gold Blue Sapphire Pendant
This ring features a blue sapphire in the centre to enhance the abstract flower and leaves design. All hand crafted in 18K white gold and 14K yellow gold. This piece is perfect for anyone searching for that little touch of something special.
Gemstone Details: Type: Sapphire Colour: Blue Carat: 0.95cts Cut: Square Number of Stones: 1
Style# 1729
14K Black Rhodium Gold and Star Sapphire Pendant
A new, edgy way to spice up your black wardrobe, is to where this black star sapphire pendant, finished with 14k black rhodium plated gold. This piece gives you the metallic reflections and sophisticated style all in one. Hand-crafted in house.
Gemstone Details: Type: Star Sapphire Colour: Black Carat: 9.16cts Cut: Cabochon Number of Stones: 1
Style # 4162
14k Diamond and Emerald Ring
Gypsy set diamonds shine in this 14k white gold ring with accented emeralds. Add a touch of modern flare to your set of rings when you wear this piece that is hand-crafted in house.
7 Diamonds = 0.25ctw, SI-1 Clarity, E colour2 Emeralds = 0.10ctw Fine quality


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STAGE TUBE: MURDER FOR TWO Welcomes ACT ONE to Broadway!
In the video below, the writers of Murder for Two play one of the songs they definitely wrote from the new Broadway hit, Act One! Check it out below!
ACT ONE, James Lapine's new play from the classic autobiography by Moss Hart, deemed one of the finest books about 20th -century American theater, eloquently chronicles the playwright/director's impoverished childhood and his determined struggle to escape poverty and forge a career in the theater. A path which led to his collaboration with George S. Kaufman and their first great success, Once In a Lifetime. he company of twenty-two actors will play multiple roles with Tony Shalhoub,Santino Fontana and Matthew Schechter playing Moss Hart at different stages of his life.Buy Tickets to Murder for Two - click here.


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Create fun Thanksgiving activities with this assorted set of turkey professions.
You will receive 24 high quality image files, which includes 12 color images and 12 black & white images in 300dpi png.
The turkey jobs included are:
* Each clip art set comes with a Standard License Agreement. A Standard License Agreement includes usage for personal, educational, and small business. Click here to learn more about the Standard License Agreement.


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CBS 5 From Gangs to JobsIt's here! The CBS 5 feature on From Gangs to Jobs. Todd McFarlane, legendary artist and McFarlane Toys founder shares his experience as an employer of FGTJ students. Please share this with your friends on social media to help further our mission. Please remember us in your end of year donations. Thanks Friends! https://www.fromgangs2jobs.com/contribute/
Posted by From Gangs To Jobs on Monday, December 21, 2015


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Even film about Mezhyhirya scares the authorities
Various means were used to stop documentary film showings which include a film about the President's controversial and top secret residence at Mezhyhirya | detail
|Human Rights in Ukraine. Website of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
Various means were used to stop documentary film showings which include a film about the President's controversial and top secret residence at Mezhyhirya | detail
The Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Kharkiv, Kherson and Sumy are refusing to scan their declarations into digital form which effectively restricts people's access to important public information | detail
The civil movement CHESNO reports that only 183 MPs have published income declarations in open sources. The other 261 MPs have not published them, nor did they make them available when requested by CHESNO | detail
One of the heads of the money watchdog "Nashi Hroshi" and regular writer for Dzerkalo Tyzhnya Oleksy Shalaisky has received the Oleksandr Kryvenko Prize for Progress in Journalism | detail
Journalists writing on corruption have begun collecting signatures to a petition calling for a return to transparency over public procurement following the disastrous bill signed by the President in August 2012 | detail
Two years after adoption of the Public Information Act, Roman Kabachiy from the Institute of Mass Information writes that officials either don't know their duties or know them enough to write formal fob-off responses. There remain also areas of great importance which the public are prevented from knowing about. | detail
On Tuesday Ukraine's parliament adopted a law on implementing State anti-corruption policy, and rejected two draft bills aimed at strengthening that same anti-corruption policy | detail
During 2012 the President's Administration paid 100 thousand UAH to Tantalit - a firm believed to have links with the Yanukovych family - for renting an office for Viktor Yanukovych in the latter's sumptuous residence at Mezhyhirya. | detail
Oleksy Khmara from Transparency International in Ukraine believes the President's "royalties" for non-existent publicaitons, as well as the entire business of Yanukovych's elder son may be about trying to legalize income | detail
The Verkhovna Rada has refused to publish information about the officials working for the Office of the VRU and indicate how much they earn, claiming that this is internal organizational information | detail
Mega-earnings in royalties for a second year running with not a word published and from a printing firm not known for publishing books - everything ripe, you'd think, for a grandiose scandal and some very hard-hitting questions. Not, however, in Ukraine. | detail
Well-known journalist Serhiy Leshchenko's appeal was lodged after the first instance court upheld the Constituitonal Court's refusal to show the submission claiming that it contained official information and personal data | detail
The Head of Ukraine's State Archive, Olha Ginzburg from the Communist Party continues to assert that Ukraine's archives are the most open in the world and still maintains her position that they should be much more restricted. | detail
The Regional Press Development Institute has reported two cases where the court has allowed legal suits against refusals by the authorities to provide information | detail
Olexander Afronin, President of the Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers Association has never heard of royalties (like the President's 15 and a half million UAH) for books which have not been written where there isn't even a plan for it | detail
The largest amount in President Yanukovych's income declaration, as in the previous year, is supposed to be 15 and a half million UAH in royalties according to an agreement signed in 2011. | detail
Not only are the Roma being used to nominally fulfil EU requirements needed for visa liberalization, but the "Strategy" supposed to fulfil these is being treated as classified information. | detail
OPORA has drawn attention to the questionable situation where public funding is allocated to pay MPs substantial amounts for "assistants", yet the public and media are refused information about who these assistants are | detail
Serhiy Leshchenko, well-known Ukrainska Pravda journalist is asking the European Court of Human Rights to confirm his right to know how much the President paid for a State-owned piece of land within Mezhyhirya | detail
The Regional Press Development Institute are preparing an application to the European Court of Human Rights over refusal to provide information about public funding allocated for each official of the Rivne Regional State Administration | detail


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Scrum Process 16oz Tervis® Tumbler w/ Lid
Perfect for your morning coffee during your Daily Scrum meeting, this 16oz Tervis® Tumbler features Braintrust's famous Scrum Process Diagram. It's great for a quick refresher when you have a question about process or roles. Like all Tervis® products, these tumblers are great for hot or cold beverages, they're microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe, they're made in the USA, and they're backed by Tervis's unconditional lifetime guarantee. Each tumbler comes complete with travel lid.


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Omar Shariff Home DeliveryNever in my wildest dreams would I have thought of ordering Indian Food takeaway beyond murtabaks and pratas. Well never say never the cliche saying always goes and there was a week where I had to order in almost daily and it was time to exercise my chops when it came to finding a reasonably priced caterer without ridiculous surcharges.
For sure going through a third party provider does involve some administrative fees and thankfully Omar Shariff had none of that - just a catch, minimum $40 order for free delivery and at $50, each other comes with a complimentary half portion of Tandoori Chicken.
Dinner is served, without a fuss.
Vegetable Samosa ($5.90)
I was surprised it was still crispy after the bumpy ride from Sixth Avennue! Not the bestest of samosas eaten but hey, after the long wait it was a major surprise especially when paired with their tantalizing mint chutney dip.
Omar Shariff Briyani ($$17.90)
Fluffy briyani rice studded with chicken and mutton pieces and a boiled egg within. Incredibly fragrant and light, this briyani was easy to get full on by itself. Even more perfect with the delicious curries.
Fish Curry ($16.90)
Filled with dory fish chunks, I would have much preferred a fish with better texture and more bite. The curry itself albeit on the watery side but was complementary to the other heavier dishes.
Bhindi Do Piaza ($10.90)
The first time eating curry ladies fingers, this was actually very tasty!
Tandoor Chicken ($14.90)
A recipe perfected over the grill, this tandoor chicken had both the succulence and fragrance. I always find it hard to choose between curry and grill for meats and this definitely had me in a tougher decision for future orders.
This takeout dinner was a gamble that paid off, we had a belly good time and would definitely consider another of these options.
The waiting time is definitely not for the ravenous or faint hearted, the supposed 60-70 minute wait in reality was 90 minutes worth and weather conditions were fine and dandy. I suppose harsh weather conditions would mean ordering dinner at lunch to play safe.
Omar Shariff
805 Bukit Timah Rd, #01-02, Sixth Avenue Centre Building


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One recent morning, as I stepped onto a footbridge, a huge tree trunk carved flat on its upper side and laid across a shallow stream slipping into the nearby Eno River, I heard drums playing and the voices of women raised in joyful song. Pillars of smoke rose from inside the Occaneechi Village, just off the main street of Hillsborough, where the local natives, Indians and others, had gathered to celebrate the reconstruction of the tribal compound that stood near here in pre-Colonial times. The sweet smell of wood smoke tinged the air, crisp with autumn's chill.
The work of artisans was displayed all around: silver jewelry; pots and belts covered with intricate beadwork; and arrows, hatchets and lances decorated with striped feathers. A woman silently wove a cylindrical basket, while next to her a man dressed in leather extolled the virtues of using pine bark and hemp to make sturdy ropes. Women pulled steaming ears of corn from the coals of a fire above which roasted a turkey on a spit. But this celebration was not about commerce.
In the center of the circular village, surrounded on all sides by tall spikes cut from saplings and webbed together with vines, sat a huge communal drum, its open heart covered by a sturdy skin of beautiful brown leather. Men, young and old, gathered to pound out rhythms. First one and then the rest sang out passionately as they drummed, and the women joined in. Two young girls danced around one of the thatched huts, tossing their blankets over their heads like herons soaring on multicolored wings, while a smaller girl practiced her first shy dance steps nearby.
I closed my eyes and let the voices take me away. Something went through me, like a current of fire in my veins. The courthouse disappeared, along with the cars, the stoplights and the noise of the nearby city. It was only us--this small tribe and their friends--gathered here on the lip of this river, free to wander where we pleased, to settle where we liked, making peace with our neighbors, taking our very life from these woods.
When the singing stopped, John Blackfeather, leader of the Occaneechi, thanked his guests for coming to share in the dance. With reverence in his voice, he said, "It has been 250 years since the drum has been heard in this place." He and Warren Perkinson, the lead drummer, a huge handsome man with a beaded headband, spoke for a while of their favorite songs, and the young men who were just beginning to learn the intertribal cadences listened attentively. Blackfeather insisted how important it is for these far-flung people to remind others, and most especially themselves, that "we are still here, we still survive, and we're still strong."
I stood to go, taking with me the slender arrow with a quill of wild turkey feathers and a tip carved from buffalo horn, that I'd bought earlier from Blackfeather. "Hey, that's my favorite arrow," he said. "Look at the split." I turned the arrow over and, sure enough, there was a 3-inch gash in the shaft. When I looked up with a question in my eye, he laughed. "It's a whistle." Walking back to my truck, I hummed one of my favorite hymns, "There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place," and shunned the asphalt to walk gently through the browning grass.


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Interview with Scott Grimmer – founder of milevalue.com
I first met Scott a last years FTU in Los Angeles. milevalue.com invented the term of the "free oneways" – a technique that allows to add extra flights to a regular award.
How, why and when did you get started to blog your thoughts on travel?
I started my blog in March 2012 by sketching out an equation for the value of my frequent flyer miles at a gate at LAX at 5:30 AM.
There were already a lot of blogs about frequent flyer miles, but I thought they weren't very rigorous in their thinking about the value of miles, which has profound implications for how to use miles and when to buy a cash ticket instead.
What is your blog all about?
I quickly ran out of posts on the value of miles (though I still reference all the original posts), so I started writing about creative ways to redeem miles.
When I started my blog, I also started an award booking service, so I was personally redeeming millions of miles a month on others' behalf in every frequent flyer program imaginable. That experience taught me a number of tricks, like adding "free oneways" to United awards.
I consider sharing tricks to maximize award redemptions to still be the heart of my blog. While other blogs focus mainly on earning miles-the easy part in my opinion-MileValue is best known as the leading blog about redeeming frequent flyer miles.
What do you think has been your most popular post so far?
Master Thread: Free Oneways on United Awards
Who wouldn't want half the flights for their next vacation for zero extra miles? The post discusses how to add a free oneway to Hawaii, Canada, your parents' houses, wherever onto a United award for zero extra miles.
What's your favorite country/place you have traveled to and why?
My favorite country scared me when I first stepped off the plane in 2006. I thought, "Why did I decide to do this study abroad in Lima, Peru?" But Peru grew on me fast because it has enough to blow you away for three months or more.
Start in Lima, a throbbing mega-city of 8.5 million with food and entertainment options galore. Don't miss the quieter side either, with a string of parks set atop cliffs looking out at the Pacific.
Head to Cuzco, a city steeped in Inca tradition with a sneaky nightlife scene to go with its overwhelming cultural options.
Cuzco is the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. I've been to Machu Picchu three times, and my number one tip is to arrive at dawn to beat the tourists. Machu Picchu is one of the most hyped destinations in the world, and yet I don't know anyone who's been disappointed. The stone city ruins in the mountains are stunning.
Large tracts of Peru are in the Amazon Rainforest. Start an Amazon tour in Iquitos, the largest city in the world not accessible by road (air or river only.) Nothing in the world compares to experiencing the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest.
Head to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake where you can sleep on the natural islands of Amantani and Taquile and be invited to cultural dances. Even better, spend the night on the man-made Uros floating islands, which Uros people have to constantly regenerate with the lake's reed grasses.
For outdoorsy folks, don't miss Colca Canyon, twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, where you can spot wild condors, visit villages that just got electricity in the 90s, and hike to the bottom where mules bring in the supplies.
You're not done yet because you still haven't dune-buggied or sand-boarded in the desert, flown over the mysterious Nazca Lines, checked out the aquatic wildlife in Islas Ballestas, gone to a vineyard to taste wine and pisco, headed to the incredible white sand beaches of Mancora in the north, or climbed the volcanoes near Arequipa.
See my Top Ten Things to Do, Eat, and See in Peru: http://milevalue.com/top-ten-things-to-do-see-and-eat-in-peru-prologue/
How many countries have you been to?
42. I wish I didn't know the number because there are far more interesting goals than counting countries in my opinion. I do not have a goal number, and the travel I am most looking forward to in 2014 would be returns to several of my old favorite countries.
What's currently in your TOP 5 list to go to?
World Cup 2014 in Brazil
North Korea
Semuc Champey, Guatemala
Return to the Croatian coast for more cliff jumping
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
What was the most complicated flight itinerary you have ever booked?
For myself, I booked a standard US Airways award that included stops in South America, Africa, Europe, and North America. It had 40 hours of business class beds for only 100k miles.
Because US Airways only allows one stopover OR one open jaw, I had to include throwaway legs from Chicago to Buenos Aires that I never intended to fly but including them saved me a few hundred thousand miles.
The full story of the award planning and booking is here: http://milevalue.com/anatomy-of-an-award-south-america-africa-europe-and-north-america-in-biz-for-100k/
What is your favorite airline product you experienced and why?
Emirates First Class on the A380 by far. The shower was refreshing, the suite was comfortable and private, and every detail of the plane was over the top. But it all paled in comparison to the service.
I remember walking back to the back of the upper deck to the fully-stocked bar shared by First Class and Business Class, and a flight attendant rushed back from First Class: "Sir, if you know what you'd like to drink, I can bring back the special First Class spirits."
The bartender saw me taking a lot of pictures, so he suggested standing behind the bar for one.
On most flights, I feel like the flight attendants are counting down to the end of the flight. On Emirates, I felt like every employee's goal was for me to have the best flight of my life.
What airline are you dying to try?
I really want to fly Cathay Pacific First Class, Singapore Suites Class, and Lufthansa First Class out of Frankfurt to experience the First Class Terminal. I have all three booked for 2014! 🙂
Where do you earn the majority of your miles? Credit Cards, Online Shopping Malls?
Credit card sign up bonuses, and it's not even close.
With a lot of time and energy and money, you can earn a lot of miles through buying gift cards, flying mileage runs, and using online portals. With very little effort and very little money, you can rack up hundreds of thousands of miles per year from credit cards.
For me, the choice is simple.
Do you have a simple advice for a beginner – how to collect and use miles easiest?
Pick a blog whose writer's style matches your thinking style. Get two rewards cards he recommends that earn the same type of miles (or transferable points). As you meet the cards' minimum spending requirements, start fantasizing about the nearly free trip you'll take with the miles. Then start playing around on an award search engine like united.com to find award space. By the time you book your trip, you'll already have effortlessly learned a lot about miles from reading the blog you've been reading the whole time and doing all the dummy award searches.
You are now addicted to miles and points and have the tools to sustain your addiction!
What is your biggest learning from earning so many miles and points?
The best use of miles is often to give them away.
In 2013, I traveled nine months outside the US to 20+ countries. And yet I had more miles than I could use. I booked four trips for friends that they otherwise couldn't have taken, in all cases either flying them to visit me or to accompany me on a trip.
The happiness I got from those redemptions exceeded the happiness I got from my Emirates First Class redemption.
Recommended for you:
See how to save $190 on ANY airfare ticket with Mighty Travels Premium. Plus get up to 95% off Business and First Class fares with Real-Time Mistake Fare Alerts.
Start your 30 Day FREE TRIAL now.
About the author: Torsten is a serial entrepreneur who started almost a dozen ventures on four continents. Torsten's love for travel has brought him to 130+ countries and travel with most of the world's airlines. You can reach Torsten at [email protected]
This post has been tagged with: A380 | airline | Airways | Amazon | angeles | Argentina | award | award booking | awards | beaches | bonuses | Book | booked | Booking | Brazil | Buenos Aires | business | BUSINESS CLASS | Canada | Card | cathay | Cathay Pacific | checked | Chicago | class | comfortable | credit | Credit Card | credit cards | destinations | Earn | Emirates | entertainment | Europe | favorite | first | First Class | Flight | flights | food | Frankfurt | frequent flyer | gift | gift cards | Haven | Holidays Inn | hotel booking | ISLANDS | Lima | lines | Los Angeles | lufthansa | Lufthansa First Class | Machu Picchu | Mileage | miles | month | online | pacific | parks | Peru | Photo Review | points | program | Redeem Miles | redemptions | Rewards | service | shopping | Singapore | south | South America | things to do | travel | Traveling | trip | united | United award | United.com | world


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In Nigerian high schools we were never taught the history of slavery and colonization, it was mostly glossed over making white people look like great people. This is so because we were educated by missionary schools used by colonial powers for disinformation. – @OgbeniAyotunde
Tag: education
Queen's English.
The average Nigerian kid speaks 4 languages including English, so pardon them if they don't speak the Queen's English. – @OgbeniAyotunde
Educated in Nigeria means you can write, read and speak English.
Educated in Nigeria means you can write, read and speak English. – @OgbeniAyotunde
Ushafa Primary School
Ushafa Primary School field trip to Radio House Abuja Nigeria
Ushafa Primary School At Radio House Abuja
Ushafa Primary School field trip to Radio House Abuja Nigeria
Kano and The Paradox of High Divorce Rate
In December 2013 Kano State governor, Mr. Rabiu Kwankwaso announced the state had spent ₦250k per couple on mass marriages for 1,111 divorced women. This is an attempt by the state government to intervene in the ever-increasing population of divorced women in the state. The matchmaking process included screening for HIV/AIDS and interviewing potentials suitors for individuals.
Just over a week ago, the new Emir of Kano Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II stated at a meeting that he would like to see divorce rates in Kano brought under control. His proposal was to have stiffer penalties for men that will prohibit them from seeking divorce based on minor excuses and complaints that could have been easily sorted among couples.
In his interview with BBC editor Mansur Liman, the Emir highlights child bride issue, lack of education for girls, lack of respect for women's consent in their choice of whom to marry and the choice of culture over individual happiness as the key areas he sees to be contributing factors to the high rate of divorce in Kano.
Mallam Sanusi also made points regarding education and child brides, which is very common amongst Muslims especially in Northern Nigeria. He noted that child marriage is more of a
Cultural practice than Islamic, that Islam preaches education for all and Western education as a key to liberate minds of his people.
Mallam Sansui's strong stance on finding lasting solutions to curb high divorce rates in Kano is long awaited news to forward thinking Nigerians. It was met with resistance by a handful of critics however, those that see change as an attack on their culture and religion
There is an organization set up for divorce women to voice their concerns and plight. Under the current system men are allowed to marry up to four wives. They are also allowed to send any of their wives packing for something as trivial as 'She didn't let me sleep with her two days in a row.' or 'She cooked the kind of fish I didn't like for super.' Seriously, I read a case just a little while ago about the fish example and their customary court granted divorce based on just that.
If education is to do any good to the present situation, I believe everyone needs to be carried along. Parents and children need re orientation about what is good for them versus holding on to harmful traditions.
As it stands today, parents believe their daughters must be married off when she reaches puberty, which means 13years old for many girls or a little earlier for some. In this case, whether or not the little girl understands or wants it, she will be married off.
Wasilu Umar's story earlier this year is an example of this. Wasilu a 14year old girl was forced to marry a 35year old man. She was not attracted to the Mr. Umar and did not want to marry him. The only way she believed she could get out of the unwanted and loveless union was to do something drastic.
She killed Umar with rat poison. Kano courts operate under Sharia law and Wasilu was sentenced to death. There was an outcry from Nigerians that Wasilu is a child, and she has the rights to be tried in a Juvenile court. There is a legitimate defense she acted in self-defense.
Mass weddings seems like a temporary solution with good intentions however, millions of naira wasted on these marriages could be better invested in community education where families can get the needed education to help them make informed decisions about how important it is that children and couples are not forced into unions.
The Emir's stiffer penalties for men getting divorced on frivolous reasons will not offer the permanent solution he yawns for because people will always find their way around this law. As he rightly stated in the interview, education is the key.
According to UNICEF, 26 % of girls in Kano do not go beyond primary school and more than 50% gets married off by 15. Maybe keeping the girls in school is the priority for now as they are less likely to be married off when in school.
Kano is one of the poorest states in Nigeria therefore many parents marry off their little girls in hopes of better living. Here I believe the state could have spent the ₦278million it spent on quick fix marriages on job creation, education and family planning. | Folakemi Odoaje for #JujuFilms
Lekki Expressway Lagos, Nigeria.
Lekki Expressway in Lagos State Nigeria.
Nigerian National Anthem (Nigerian Youth Symphony)
I believe the sun shall rise tomorrow, I believe the rain nourishes the earth. I believe in creation and understand evolution. I believe in the innocence of children. I believe given the chance the youth shall grow. I believe in life.
Loyola College Ibadan
Loyola College Ibadan a documentary film by Ogbeni Ayotunde
English International School
English International School – Cotonou, Benin, a photo by Jujufilms on Flickr.
Via Flickr:
English International School
Cotonou Benin


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Grille Utah
Radiator cover grille decorative grille screening panel, The design is as per the pictures the open square is approx 10mm and the space between the squares 35mm.
If you require multiple sheets or you are a trade customer please contact us for discounted rates.
All our white grilles are satin white faced on the front and bare mdf on the rear.
The grilles are manufactured from 3mm thick mdf, they have many uses other than radiator covers.
The grilles are easily cut with a jigsaw or stanley knife.


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We offer to all our gests:
Parking lot
In the locked garden is a parking lot for our guests.
Both buildings are connected with the garden, which offers beautiful places for relaxing as well as playground for your kids.
Barbeque area
Barbeque area with a round table offers enough space for a large group of friends. There is an option to use a gas grill. You only need to bring food you wish to grill and for small fee we will supply other necessities such as cutlery, tools, plates etc…
Outdoor sitting area on the back porch
Sitting area in front of the common room offers possibility to have a breakfast outside on fresh air.
Outdoor covered swimming pool
Our outdoor swimming pool has a greenhouse covering system as well as water heating system.
Common room
Every morning breakfast is served in the common room, for the rest of the day the room is available to your use.
Our guest may always use gratis natural spring water,make a tea or coffee.
History of our guesthouse
The smaller building is a functionalistic villa from 70s, it underwent reconstruction in 00s and since then is used as a guesthouse. Later in 2007 we build second building with a parking lot. Current capacity of the guesthouse is 7 rooms and 3 apartments.


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2012 17" Dell Precision M6700 (Q K3000M) [3rd,4C,Q] + GTX 1080 @ 4Gbps-EC2 (EXP GDC 8.x) + Win10 [You Thought]
System specs:
Base laptop is a Dell Precision M6700:
CPU: i7-3720qm Overclocked to 3.8Ghz all cores
dGPU: Quadro K3000M 'Gigahertz edition' Overclocked to 1006Mhz (there is no iGPU with eDP panels)
RAM: 2x8GB (16GB) HyperX Impact 1600Mhz
Storage: 256GB LiteOn mSATA SSD + 2x 750GB Toshiba 2.5in HDD in RAID 0
Screen: 17 inch 1920x1080 @ 120Hz + Nvidia 3D-vision (Samsung LTN173HT02)
Other stuff: Backlit keyboard, ePort Plus II w/ USB 3.0 dock, (will eventually have 4G LTE, but no WWAN card currently), Swipe Fingerprint reader, bluetooth 4.0, B/G/N Wifi (will upgrade to AC at some point)
eGPU hardware:
This is where it gets interesting:
eGPU enclosure: EXP GDC Beast V8.4c
eGPU: Gigabyte Windforce OC GTX 1080
eGPU PSU: Dell DA-2 (yes, I know the GTX 1080 pulls more than 220W, it's power limited to 85%, both of my desktop PSUs failed and I'm waiting on a replacement!)
USB Fan Mod: Windows driver conflicts cause the eGPU's fans to run at full speed because there is 2 Nvidia cards in the system, the card literally sounds like a vacuum cleaner, so I just unplugged the fans and wired them to a USB cable then plugged them into the USB on the eGPU dock, it works surprisingly well, they aren't too loud and the card stays cool.
Hardware pictures:
Installation steps:
the eGPU was pretty much plug-and-play on this laptop, no BIOS mods or DSDT override. Just plug it in, power the eGPU and boot up the laptop, needed to run Nando's error 43 fixer script to install drivers and get it working. Also in order to get full performance you need to disable the dGPU
more coming soon...
I had ~$300 for a new GPU, the options were a 980m MXM card or a Vega 64/GTX 1080 eGPU, I was waiting for a Vega 64 but a 1080 (with NOT a blower style cooler) showed up for only $275 so i bought it. Windows 10 has some bluescreens randomly, but it's windows 10 so I had it do that without the eGPU, it's just kind of trash. Feel free to ask questions, and ill say it again, I know a 1080 @ 4Gbps is extremely bottlenecked, but it's still cheaper than buying parts for a desktop and WAY better than a 980m so....
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
I have a precision M6700 with a GTX 1080 eGPU (Expresscard 2 @ 4.0Gbps, EXP GDC) and I noticed that other expresscard GTX 1080 setups are scoring way higher than my setup, even setups which also have an Nvidia dGPU (that has been disabled, I also disabled mine but it's still active as a basic display adapter, I ordered eGPU setup 1.35 to try and manually disable the dGPU completely and see if it helps, but other than that idk. I have tried newer drivers, older drivers, putting the dGPU in an errored state, disabling other PCIe devices, but nothing changed. I do have lower performance when the dGPU is enabled though. For context A desktop 1080 gets ~24k in Firestrike graphics, I've seen multiple expresscard setups that get ~17.5-18k, but mine only gets ~15k. (Link to my setup with benchmark screenshots)
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
Limiting power to 85% of the GTX 1080 is one good reason for the perceived lower performance. This will decrease turbo boost clocks.
As for the dGPU issue, there may be an Optimus option in the M6700 BIOS. Enabling it will enable the iGPU + dGPU and wire the internal LCD to the iGPU. Then can disable the dGPU to provide PCIe space to host the eGPU.
There is not an optimus option, the iGPU is only available if you are using an LVDS panel, I am using an eDP panel which is connected directly the the dGPU, I know that power limits could be causing some loss in performance, I will test later once a new PSU comes in that can actually handle the GPU. It is rarely power limited (GPU-Z shows limits) and it still turbos to 1900+ Mhz though so I don't think that's the whole story. I tried changing some options in your eGPU setup 1.35 and immediately noticed that changing absolutely nothing and trying to select 'Chainload OS from mbr' from the main screen results in a black screen once windows loads drivers. What could be causing this? I have no issues with error 43 and it works perfectly fine when just booting straight into windows.
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
Ensure the GPU-Z bus interface shows x1 2.0 when you click the "?" to do a render test. If so, there are no further Setup 1.35 optimizations.
Can proceed to optimize your configuration by:
1. Attach an external LCD instead of accelerated internal LCD mode (Optimus) to ensure bandwidth is dedicated to eGPU rather than display rendering traffic. There display traffic goes straight out to the HDMI/DP/DVI connector.
2. Disable the eGPU audio device and use the notebook inbuilt speaker. Again to ensure the bandwidth is dedicated for eGPU traffic.
3. Set NVidia Inspector 'Frame Rater Limiter V2' to 59 or 60Hz, matching your external LCD. This will prevent the eGPU rendering redundant images.
1. I already have external monitors connected, the internal one's performance is awful (less than half of my already not great performance) (I normally have 3 monitors connected to the eGPU, and yes I tested with just 1)
2. I already have disabled the eGPU and dGPU's audio devices as well as the dGPU and PCI-to-PCI bridges that don't contain the eGPU
3. I just set 'Frame Rate Limiter 2 Control' (there is not option for Frame Rate Limiter V2) to 0x00000090 (144) because that is my main monitors refresh rate but it made a negligible difference (15288 vs 15447)
Edit: Forgot to mention that yes, the link is 1x 2.0 in GPU-Z
The only other thing it could be is power limitting, which I don't think should cause a 15% performance loss but I will test it, sucks that I spent the time converting my windows install for UEFI to legacy and installing your eGPU setup for no reason though...
Edit 2: tried setting power limit to 108%, made almost no difference, 15.6k graphics score, I have no idea what could be causing it, the GPU scored ~22.8k on a regular system at 16x so it's not the card...
Edit 3: I'm even more confused... I installed the exact same driver as ChimyChunga (373.06) and my score went up noticably but still not to 17k, got 16.3k... so maybe it is a driver thing, keep in mind I disabled the PCI bridge with the quadro dGPU in it and the drvier is not compatible so the card doesn't even show up in device manager or as a second gpu in 3dmark so I feel like the issue I'm having is caused by the dGPU but there is no way to disable it because it is the only GPU in the laptop, there is no iGPU so I guess this is the highest score I will be able to get without so good Overclocking...
3Dmark Firestrike with 373.06 driver
Edit 4: I never had any issues with my RX 480 eGPU with an Nvidia dGPU, but now that both cards are Nvidia I am having some weird issues, so what if I flip it? My new plan is to swap in an AMD dGPU and see if I have any more performance issues...
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
In case you missed it ..
Running a dGPU and eGPU from the same family (Nvidia or AMD)
A dGPU and eGPU from the same family require a unified driver is required to run them concurrent. This can be a problem if the dGPU is older than the eGPU driver and there is no iGPU available so the dGPU can be completely disabled. The solution here is to disable the dGPU as follows:
1. Install and use Windows 10 or 8. Windows 7 does not allow the eGPU to work if the dGPU is disabled.
2. Set the dGPU to run as a VGA only device using these instructions:
3. Install your eGPU drivers.
Yeah, I am aware of the unified driver thing, I have 373.06 installed and both cards are recognized and work fine, but if I have the dGPU enabled I get significantly less performance even on external displays and the only way to increase performance again is to disabled the dGPU and reboot.... which is annoying because If I wanted to accelerate the internal display at it's native 120Hz refresh rate I have to have the dGPU enabled (unless someone knows of a way to add refresh rates to Microsoft Basic Display Adapter/Disabled video cards)
for reference:
dGPU enabled external: ~75 fps
dGPU enabled internal: ~18 fps
dGPU disabled external: ~110 fps
dGPU disabled internal: ~25 fps
framerates are from furmark and are just a quick test.
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
I am swapping my 1080 for a Vega 64, will either make a new post or update this one once the card arrives.
Dell Precision M6700 + RX Vega 64(EXP GDC @ 4Gbps Expresscard) STILL HAVING RANDOM DISCONNECTS ON GEN2!
Hi. Could you do a time spy benchmark please? Would be nice
Pending: Add my system information and expected eGPU configuration to my signature to give context to my posts


text:
Spiced nut Baklava with Coffee Syrup
Join me to visit childhood memories and flavors that unite different countries. I make a Turkish Baklava with cardamom and nutmeg and a filter coffee syrup. easy, turkish inspired, filter coffee, nutmeg, cardamom, baklava, south india
Bourbon Cherry Chocolate Upside-down cake
Its a fun and beautiful dessert. Bourbon roasted cherries and decadent chocolate cake are match made in heaven, with freshly whipped cream this comes very close to black forest cake
Triple chocolate cake
Make one of the most decadent Triple Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
If you are looking to make a cake to impress your guests, this is it. A rich and deep chocolate flavor with a hint of coffee makes it a perfect dessert and a show stopper
Kokum Granita
A refreshing easy to make vegetarian dessert that beautifully combines the Indian and Italian flavors.
Kairchi Daal
A healthy seasonal dish thats easy to make, combines tangy green mango, kiwi and earthy lentils.
Sattu Ka Sharbat & Banaras
A power packed drink perfect for summer to replenish the body, protein packed vegetarian, dairy free drink, a must try easy to make recipe
A Pair of Swans
A beautiful pair of Swans made with versatile pate a choux pastry, a french pastry that's easy to make
East-er Eggs – Indian scotch eggs
Its a riot of flavors on a platter, inspired by travels around the world. British Scotch eggs to Chap to Banh Mi to pickles, this dish showcases traditions and flavors.
Blood Orange Fennel Upside Down cake
I love Farmers market. Every few months you get totally different produce, and I am always excited and wait for the change. It's almost like the fruits and vegetables give you a hint of the season to come. For example, when you start seeing Persimmons…
Mumbai Pav
Ladi Pav is a necessary component of many street foods like Pav Bhaji, Vada Pav, Misal Pav etc. If you can not get Ladu Pav in the market, you can easily make it at home.
Hola I am Anagha, and welcome to my Kitchen.
I love to eat and hence I love to cook. I love to travel and take pictures.


text:
PRODUCTSCredibility ,
ASME B16.9 ASTM A815 F51 Welded Lap Joint Stub End 14 Inch Schedule STD
ASME B16.11 ASTM A182 F321 Socket Welding Cap 2 Inch 3000LBS
ASME B16.5 ASTM B564 Alloy C22 WNRTJ Flange 4 Inch SCH80S CL1500
ASME B16.11 ASTM A182 GR.F316L Threaded Hex Head Plug 1 Inch CL3000
ASME B16.5 ASTM B564 UNS N06625 WNST Flange 6 Inch SCH40S CL900
ASME B36.19 ASTM A213 TP347 Seamless Pipe Cold Finished 168.3 x 4.2 x 8000MM
ASME B16.5 ASTM B564 Incoloy 825 WNRTJ Flange 3 Inch SCH40S CL900
ASME B16.9 ASTM B366 Nickel Alloy 200/201 Concentric Reducer 4 Inch - 1-1/2 Inch SCH80
MSS-SP43 (A) ASTM A815 UNS32750 SAF2507 Stub End 3 Inch SCH80S
ASME B16.5 ASTM B564 Hastelloy C276 Blind Flange RF 80NB CL150
ASME B16.5 ASTM B564 Hastelloy C276 Socket Weld Flange 3 Inch CL150
ASME B16.9 ASTM B366 Hastelloy C276 Welded Stub End DN609.6x4MM
ASME B16.9 ASTM B366 Hastelloy C276 45 Degree Welded Elbow LR DN609.6x4MM
ASME B16.9 ASTM B366 Hastelloy C276 90 Degree Welded Elbow LR DN609.6x4MM
Product name:DIN Angle Bellows Globe Valve
Application:Hot oil system, steam system, hot and cold water system etc.
Medium:Steam, gases, hot water, thermal oil, ammonia etc.
Materials : GG25(EN-GJL-250),GGG40,1.0619+N(GS-C25),1.4308(CF8), 1.4408(CF8M)
Materials of bellows: SS304, SS316, SS316L,SS 310S ,Hastelly C
Size range : DN15-DN400
Pressure : PN16-PN40
Temperature : ≤600 ℃
1.Bellow seal element. The key part of bellow sealed globe valves is metal bellow. It is the connection between cover and stem with automatic roll welding. The metal bellow can keep the stem part no leakage.
2.Benefit from the con and streamline shape design, the disc has a reliable seal and longer service life.
3.Double seal design(bellows+packing). Bellow and packing can protect against leakage and provide a excellent seal.
4.Grease nipple. It can direct lubricate the stem, nut and sleeve.
5.Ergonomic hand wheel. It provide longer service life and easier operation.
Technical specification
Design standard: DIN 3356
Face to face dimension: DIN 3202
Flange ends: DIN 2543-2545
Test & inspection: DIN 3230
Features of bellows seal valves:
●Double wall bellows seal as standard.
●Plug with marginal seat
●Bellows seal welded to bonnet
●Welded seat
● Bellows seal 10,000 load cycles
● External stem thread
●Secondary sealing: gland packing(with bridge)
● Stem back seal
● Yoke gasket, double chambered
● Stem with roll hardened thread
Where can we find the high quality DIN Angle Bellows Globe Valve.
You can visit this website: www.yaang.com (Yaang Pipe Industry Co., Limited).
If any inquiry, please feel free to contact by email email@example.com
Tel No:+86-18267732328 / Fax No :86-0577-56809281 / Email:firstname.lastname@example.com
Address:Longwan District, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
Copyright Notice © Yaang.com Yaang Pipe Industry Co., Limited All rights reserved.


text:
Aux 88 Electro Boogie
Published Feb 01, 2000Techno may be Detroit's biggest export to the international dance community, but for local DJ-producers Aux 88, techno-bass is the music of the Motor City's people. Its sound parallels the futuristic funk of techno legends like Juan Atkins and Derrick May, but also remains deeply rooted in the bass-heavy, African-American tradition of electro-beats à la "Planet Rock" and Hashim. The selections on Electro Boogie, the only official techno-bass compilation/mix CD, are mostly comprised from tracks by Aux 88, their label Direct Beat, and other hardcore Detroit labels like UR, Metroplex and Detrechno. The duo's mix is defined by a dominant use of 808 drums, twitchy synths and minimalist production values, but these and other elements are envisioned differently by all of the artists on the disc. Underground Resistance's "The Final Frontier" and "Afro-Germanic" are boldly percussive, whereas Drexciya's "Bubblemetropolis" and DJ K1's "Erase The Time" indulge in darker soundscapes and man-machine fantasies. There's also the sexual side — something that techno at its most intellectual, and electro at its most nostalgic, tend to repress — on X-ile's "I Wanna" and Aaron Carl's "Down." The four tracks from Aux 88 slide between these modes, balancing aggressive beats and imaginative sounds with a infectious bounce. (!K7)


text:
On the Reddit forum 'Photoshop battles', earlier today a user launched a battle on the below photo of the town crier after Kate Middleton's birth, announcing the new royal baby had been born.
The results are incredible.
Keep reading!
The user 'bearsdriving' titled this one,
Using his emotion to create
The user Shashakeitup made a Simpson's reference:
"Total Recry" this one is titled:
"The power of Christ compells you!" joked -doitforjohnny-
"Every time." said ScopezX, submitting his entry:
"Are you not entertained?!" joked MRC_13:
"EEEEVVVVIIIIILLLLL!" added BroboT800.
"Ring your own bells Lizzy!"
The beatles fans can sure be crazy!