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Morah - Wehnimer's Landing
Light flickered across her features, shifting in hue as she paced past the many-colored globes that danced just beneath the rafters. Her skin, pale as Liabo's face, showed the colors perfectly, a blank canvas for the whim of the mages who had imprisoned the wisps of crimson and indigo and emerald flame. Bare feet touched stone too hard, allowing a faint whisper of sound to coil about the silent room and further revealing her nervousness. This night, she did not care how clearly her feelings were betrayed.
The pacing only tensed her mind and muscles further, but she continued to circle the room. Eight steps. Turn. Eight steps. Turn. At last, with a sigh of disgust as soft as her footsteps, she settled onto the low pallet, reaching for the sheathes that lie before it. Eyes half-lidded, she caressed the hilts, running fingers over roughened leather and smooth steel before finally drawing the blades and crossing them in her lap.
The edges were as sharp as stone could make them, and the flats gleamed in the colored magelights like gems, though she would have found them as beautiful were they nicked and streaked with blood. Carefully, she inspected them for imperfections before re-sheathing them with a silent promise of "tomorrow."
When she slept, she curled tightly in a ball, weapons laid beside her like a child's stuffed doll.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
The test was difficult, as expected, but my skills sufficed to carry me through. I have a small cut on my arm -- I must remember that a shield, properly sharpened, is nearly as dangerous as a blade -- and others elsewhere, but nothing worth purchasing the services of a healer for. I am the least bloodied but for Halreithan Koial Faendryl, who crouches behind that massive shield of his. He moves with all the grace of a human, and will one day learn that not all attacks can be hidden from. There will be chances to show my skills against him later. It is not worth the worry now. I showed myself well, and there will be no lack of offers for hire once tomorrow's ceremony is complete.
From where will my first employment come? No noble or Basilican would hire a new graduate, even I, but it had best be better than some two-bit magnate ofmushroom farming. The choice is in the hands of the Palestra and not myself, in any case. I will wish for someone interesting, someone whose summonings may challenge me. Someone of more power than the sorcerer who hires Halreithan.
* * *
The first thing she noticed was the roundness of his chin; the second, the pale, watery blue of his eyes. She wondered idly how many centuries ago his family's blood had mingled with that of a lesser race; slightly less idly, she wondered how often he called others to a duel of honor for voicing insinuations of just that, and whether she might be asked to stand in his stead as his bodyguard. She would prefer to be fighting creatures of magic, to be sure, but it might be a source of practice.
"Morahael Lyshven Faendryl?" he asked, looking at her as if she were some new and interesting species of insect. She ignored the expression outwardly, although her hands shifted imperceptibly closer to the hilts of her weapons. It was a gesture of comfort, nothing more; she could draw them quickly regardless of her pose.
"Yes," she said, shortly. Her instructors at the Palestra had told her his name and all the other details of the contract. She was impatient to leave the compound, to see Rhaeshem Jakine Faendryl's house and books so she might begin to judge the skills of her charge for herself. She waited patiently nonetheless, still as a statue as he blandly recited all that she already knew of their contract and then described his skills in terms that made the highest Basilican seem incompetent by comparison.
She paid little attention his words of self praise, instead studying his richly adorned robes and other garments and constructing from them a not entirely unsatisfactory portrait of his position in life. No second-rate magnate, to be sure; he had money, either from his own skill and cunning or from inheritance. Her analysis was interrupted by the end of his introductory speech, and she set aside further conclusions for later thought as she followed him through the city to his home.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
Rhaeshem is skilled; I cannot deny this. Hiscreatures are well-bound enough for there to be little need for me, and they are no lesser imps. Any knowledge I have of them, however, must come from my own research and learning, for he is more close-lipped than a tongueless slave. He calls me when he requires my services and dismisses me when he does not, and no more words pass between us than that. I have not heard him speak longer with anyone else; the household staff receive their orders and nothing more, and he never once stops to offer a greeting on the street, nor does he receive callers. I wonder sometimes how he managed to let the stream of words at the Palestra slip past his grudging lips.
I grow bored here. I gain less practice in combat than I did within the walls of the school, for I have only the walls as my partners in the dance. Rhaeshem does nothing that might teach me more of magic, and I can gain no connections from him, for he has no associates. I might almost consider means of shortening the time of our contract, but no one would wish an escort who allowed a creature to slip past her guard.
* * *
She did not know where they were, or why. Her guard duties had rarely taken her outside the walls of her house, but they were beyond the limits of the city now, in desolate lands she had never seen. The ground was parched and cracked, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up at the wild whistling of the wind. She thought, from the direction of the sun, that they walked towards Maelshyve, but she had chosen not to break the silence he wore like a cloak to ask.
When he stopped, she halted a few paces behind. She found the chosen destination as surprising as the journey itself; there was nothing to her eyes to distinguish this patch of ground from any other. He seemed pleased, however, and reached within the pockets of his robes for the bones and blood and other stranger things of his trade. After a slight pause, she drew her dagger and began to sharpen it, finding the shrill noise of steel on stone more calming than the wind.
Both blades had been whetted to as sharp an edge as they could hold by the time he finished marking his circle, and she had turned her attention to studying her surroundings for any sign of what had drawn him to this particular place. She shifted her focus as he began chanting, raising her blades in defense as he called whatever creature he sought to summon. The airwithin his circle had shimmered from heat even before he began, but now it became opaque, writhing in a fashion that might have turned the stomach of one unused to such spells. She only stared at it, struggling to make out the shapes forming within.
The air congealed slowly, like blood thickening and scabbing on the surface of skin. At Rhaeshem's final word and gesture the creature's outline solidified, separating from its surroundings like a shattered spike of crystal. Its body was clear as air, but with a faint silvery tinge that showed her a reflection of Rhaeshem's exhausted collapse. She watched her own reflection warily in its crystalline skin, stance never wavering. Time seemed to slow to a halt.
Then, as Rhaeshem's creatures never did, it moved. Slowly at first, it stalked the boundaries of the summoning circle, pressing against the unforgiving bindings. Hands melded to the hilts of her weapons, she watched. It paused for a moment as it completed its circuit and then, without any seeming difficulty, stepped beyond the borders. Breath hissing through her teeth, she raised her sword and lunged, dagger dropping into place to ward off any retaliatory blow of its claws.
There was no impact when the sword hit its torso, and she nearly lost her balance as the blade slid forward as smoothly as it would through air. She drew back the blade just in time to parry as the creature struck out with both claws at once. Now it was solid enough, and the strike of its crystal claws against her steel rattled her teeth. Her lips pulled back in a snarl that matched the creature's as she twisted her sword to slice off its hand, but again the steel passed through without harm.
It struck again, and she narrowly turned the blows away, all the while seeking to draw it further from Rhaeshem's prone body. She fell silently into the pattern of the dance, blocking each blow while never attempting to return one. The world narrowed to her blade and its claws as she closed even the searing lines of pain where it had succeeded in its attacks out of her perception.
She did not know how long she had fought before the creature suddenly jerked back, screaming. At first the change made no impression, and she pulled her dagger up to parry a blow that never came. The strange creature fell to the ground, writhing in agony, and began bit by bit to dissipate into the surrounding air. Turning her head once she judged hersafety likely, she saw Rhaeshem propped up on one arm, the arrogance of his face hidden behind a mask of concentration. He hissed a final word, and the creature vanished silently, leaving only a hint of a breeze in its wake.
"Well fought," he told her tiredly, as she stared at him with ill-concealed surprise. "Guard me. When I awake, we will return to the city." His eyelids fluttered shut.
She stood over him with her sword until sundown, jumping at every breeze that tousled her hair, and ignoring the slowly spreading stains on her ashen tunic.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
I was no idle student in the Palestra; I learned my lore of summoning well, from tomes barely less complete than those of the Basilica. How else might one learn to defeat whatever challenge arises? I know the charts of vulnerabilities and styles and magical abilities as well as I know my blades, and I know also this: what Rhaeshem summoned was nowhere on the lists. No creature is immune to blades, properly forged and magicked, else what use a guard? No creature yet catalogued.
Such a discovery ought to have had the Basilica reeling, yet Rhaeshem has let slip not a word. Indeed, he has not to my knowledge left his study since we returned. For such a discovery to go unreported so long is dangerous and unwise. Much fame would be his were he to reveal his discovery; what, then, does he await? Does he seek only to perfect his notes and knowledge, or does he have deeper plans?
I might march to the Basilica myself, but have I not sworn myself to him for the year? What future for a guard proven so willing to betray her employer? And yet, were he to summon another, my own skills might be insufficient for my survival. Best to wait and watch his plans. Perhaps, if fortune smiles, he will go to the Basilica tomorrow.
* * *
The city still lay in shadow, though to the east she could see a faint blush framing the darkened spires. The guards at the gate to the Basilica paid no notice to the time, however, but simply stood, straight as ablade, and watched the empty streets with the same intensity that they would gaze upon the crowds at high noon. Jealousy and contempt mixed in her as she approached them; they were the most skilled of any in the city, and the position had high prestige indeed, but they were forced to waste their days waiting like statues.
None of that showed in her voice as she requested entrance in tones that made her words little less than a demand. The request was routine, and they let her pass with barely a glance, resuming their vigil. Her summoner's robe, purchased the previous eve, swirled about her legs as she crossed the courtyard, and she was uncomfortably aware of how little freedom of movement it would give in battle, but her belt was free of weapons in any case.
A few scholars, more likely stumbling off to bed from candlelit books than newly risen, passed her as she paced down the echoing halls. She ignored them, and they, her. The keeper of records nodded to her as she reaches the hall of his office, but she could not be bothered to return the courtesy, so focused was she on reaching the book. Softly, she turned aside the cover on the last volume of the Enchiridion Valentia.
The early pages flipped past her fingers quickly, but she slowed as she approached more recent months, scanning down the column of names and occasionally glancing at the intricate descriptions. Rhaeshem appeared twice; Rhaeshem Jakine, not at all. Her expression dark, she turned from the room, leaving the book open on the table. The Archchancellor's office was near by, and if he had not yet risen she would wait.
The keeper of records glanced up as she left, then crossed the room to return the volume to its place. He did not even need to look to see that it had been left unshelved. The arrogant came and the disappointed left every day; it was a ritual he was more accustomed to than any ceremony of the summoning circle.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
By now, Rhaeshem must be wondering why I am late to arrive for this day's practices. He will not need to wonder long. The guards have been sent to collect him, and the Archchancellor awaits him within the Basilica. I do not doubt they can draw out of himwhatever truths he will not admit willingly.
I wonder what he thought to do, in summoning such new creatures and hoarding the knowledge for himself. Did he not care for the prestige his reports might have brought him? Did he think they gave him such power that the laws no longer applied? He hired me, no doubt, in hopes that my inexperience would prevent me from identifying, or rather failing to identify, his summonings. I wonder if he expected me to survive the first fight and why he did not kill me when it was through. I do not suppose I will have a chance to ask him; the Basilica may learn, but they have little reason to tell me.
I know the escort's contract. Confidentiality is the most important guarantee, for who would summon before one who might turn and sell the knowledge to a neighboring sorcerer? Yet I had no other choice, for I also know the laws of the city, and the reasons for them. He could have destroyed the city with his creations, as others have come near in the past. More importantly, he would certainly have destroyed me, calling me to defend against creatures which cannot be fought.
So I break my word to keep my life: a simple enough exchange. It will not seem so simple to the other mages, and I do not know from where my next contract will come. It is not the season for hiring, and even if it was, who would take me when my last charge lies dead by my own words and deeds? No one except the most desperate: those whose coin is too poor for better, or those who have killed too many escorts for most to look favorably upon their offers.
* * *
He slouched casually a step beyond the doorway as she swung the door open, and her first impulse was to slam it shut in his face. Only an unwillingness to allow him such a disgracefully clear view of her feelings kept her standing there, one hand curled tightly around the thick maoral door.
"Hello, Morahael," he said, gaze flicking casually and almost dismissively across her. "You're looking as lovely as ever." Her fingers bit deeper into the wood, and her eyes narrowed as she gazed at her old rival.
"Halreithan. What do you want?" He clucked his tongue slightly. "You leave the gates of the school and your manners desert you. Is this any way to treat an old friend?"
"What do you want?" she repeated, more sharply.
"I have an. . .opportunity for you. May I come in?"
"You can explain what it is here."
"No, I'm really afraid I can't." He dropped his breezy tone, letting the distaste that they both felt slip into his voice. "I'd love nothing better, but it requires privacy."
She stared at him long enough that he began to shift his weight slightly. Smiling a little at that, she let the door open fully and turned to walk into her house. Her back itched at the thought of him standing armed behind her, but she resisted the urge to turn her head as he followed her, shutting the door behind him.
She turned to face him when they reached her living room, waiting for him to pick a seat before settling onto a carved wooden chair that allowed her a clear view of his hands. He gave an exaggerated sniff.
"A bit dusty, a bit shabby. Money's not coming in like it used to, is it? Tell me, why did you do it? We're all wondering, you know."
"You said," she told him, struggling to keep her voice even, "that you had an offer. What is it?"
"Always straight to business? Not even a glass of wine to barter over? Very well. There may be someone willing to hire even you."
"Why --," she started, but he shook his head and raised his voice over hers.
"Manners again. Let me finish. You may have heard of Cilhyr Verani Faendryl? No, perhaps not. You're rather young." He steepled his fingers on one arm of his chair, pausing long enough to allow the insult to draw a response, then shrugged and continued. "She's a sorcerer, one of the best. And for the past two hundred years, she hasn't left her tower, nor allowed any to enter it. Her servants are all summoned creatures, and occasionally she sends them out to procure a book or two and to remind us all that she hasn't yet died. One appeared last week and mentioned, curiously, that she was interested for the first time in procuring the services of an escort fromthe Palestra."
"Fortunately," he continued, "my employer was the only one to hear this, and I'm afraid the creature suffered something of an accident afterwards. The Palestra won't be hearing of it to send forth their best and brightest to apply. As she's been rather secluded, she may not have heard of the circumstances which befell your late employer, and may thus be willing to consider you for the position. Of course it's not the idea job; who wants to be locked in a tower for a year on end, and who knows what strange and illegal creatures she'll call up while you're there. But I doubt you'll do better." Halreithan settled back in his seat, looking pleased with himself.
"Why are you telling me this?" she asked again. This time, he made no attempt to interrupt.
"As I told you, she's rather seclusive. My employer desires an opportunity to speak with her and to. . .exchange a few pieces of knowledge. Call it a favor for a favor. We provide you with the opportunity to contact her, and you ensure that she accepts a visit from my employer. Of course," he added lazily, "you could break your word. It wouldn't be a first, would it? But then, I assure you, I would make certain Cilhyr learned of your last employer's demise, and you would shortly be out of a job. Do you accept?"
"Why not simply ask a friend, with a purse of coin to sweeten the purse? Why this elaborate charade?"
Shrugging again he said, "Perhaps my employer simply wishes to save coin? But no, in truth, there are few available to take a contract in this season, and fewer still who are female. Cilhyr was rather specific on that point."
She was ashamed to find she had leaned forward slightly during his speech. Licking the inside of her lips, she said slowly, "I will need more time to think on this."
"Of course you will. But I'm certain you'll come to the right decision in the end. Here," he said, dropping one hand into his pockets in a sudden gesture that made her fingers twitch towards her weapons, "this scroll will tell you all you need to know to contact her." He tossed the rolled paper across the room to her and she caught it, not bothering to glance down. "No need to stand. I'll show myself out." He gave the dusty room one last distasteful glance before leaving her to contemplate the scroll alone. * * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
I wish nothing more than to throw Halreithan's scroll into the flames of my fireplace and forget the whole sordid exchange. If his master wishes to blackmail a warrior into serving his bidding in this, it is a clever enough plan, but I would not be the one so taken advantage of. Surely there are others in the city willing to take such a chance. And yet.
And yet the food does not appear on my table out of air, and if I do not find employment soon I will begin to starve. No other offers have been made. It will be many decades till I am experienced enough for the Palestra to accept me as a teacher, if indeed they will ever cease to frown upon me for breaking the contract they wrought. The Basilica guard hires as much on politics as on skill, and I have no patron to sponsor me nor, in truth, sufficient ability to join their number. No noble would accept a guard with a history of betrayal any more than a summoner would. I will shortly be reduced to taking a job as a common servant.
There is my family, of course, but they have not spoken in a dozen years to their promising daughter who set aside spells in favor of the path of the sword and I doubt they will be any more willing to accept me now that I return in disgrace. Better to allow Halreithan to blackmail me than to be thrown across the doorstep of my family home again.
Even if I apply, there is little guarantee that she will accept me, alone and without the sponsorship of the Palestra. And should she be willing to hire me, there is hardly more guarantee that I will be able to arrange the meeting which Halreithan desires. Still, perhaps by the time the first contracted year has ended, she will be willing to overlook my past if I proven myself trustworthy enough.
I dream and hope like a child. Enough. I will follow the scroll's words and seek out her creature to arrange a meeting. The future will bring what it will bring.
* * *
Her stride through the streets was quicker than it had been of late, and for the first time in months she felt a sense of purpose. She ignored the commonservants scurrying about the city in the faint dawn light, too focused on her destination to spare attention to her surroundings.
The tower was just beyond the outskirts of the city proper, and she vaguely recalled passing it on her last fateful trip with Rhaeshem. Simple stone, just the faintest shade away from black, and a blue slate roof had not been enough to catch her eye for long. If anything about the tower was notable, it was its plainness against the background of the splendor of New Ta'Faendryl.
What kept attention on the tower once it had been drawn there was the lack of anything resembling an entrance. Morahael glanced up, judging the position of the rising sun, and paced carefully around the tower's base. The instructions had been very specific about the proper angle of approach, and she eyed the sun three times more before settling on a stone that looked the same as any other. She knocked twice, crossed her arms, and waited.
The time she waited made her seethe inwardly, sharpening a temper already honed by the thought of serving as Halreithan's lackey. Still, when a slight, almost frail woman with ebony skin at last stepped through the side of the tower, the hour was still early enough that the road was deserted. She turned her piercing eyes upward to gaze at Morahael, though her bearing made it seem as though she was looking down her nose.
"Mor--," Cilhyr began, and stopped as a bolt of fire shot towards her, striking her arm only a moment after the caster faded out of invisibility. Her words quickly changed to the arcane language of sorcery. Morahael whirled, weapons in hand, to seek out any other attackers, and froze as Halreithan stepped out of invisibility a few feet from her. She managed to move again in time to parry the blow of his broadsword.
Cilhyr's battle with the mage faded from her consciousness as her sight narrowed to include only Halreithan. She fought with more enthusiasm than she had ever gathered in the Palestra's practice melees, spurred not by the thought of her death but by a hatred born of the realization of how easily she had been set up.
Longsword parried broadsword away with a screech of steel and dagger stretched past to score his shoulder a moment before his shield came up. Broadsword swungback into place too quickly, drawing a thin red line across her arm. She heard a scream behind them but did not look to see who had fallen.
She fell into a simple pattern of parry and riposte, hoping to lull him into dropping his guard, then switched to trying to maneuver him into facing the sun as he proved too cautious. One more step would have brought him there.
A new blade imposed itself between Halreithan and her. She let her gaze slide up its length to see the distinctive hilt decoration of the Basilican guards and dropped her weapons, followed a moment later by Halreithan. For the first time since the fight had begun she allowed herself to look towards the tower. Cilhyr's body lay on the pave stones, her black skin charred and torn.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
One moment longer and he would have fallen. He will have the death he deserves, but it will not be at my hands. That I regret above all.
Halreithan and his employer, Sivald, did not hide their tracks as well as they might have supposed, and the Basilicans rooted out their guilt in the assassination easily enough. That much I have been able to determine. Their executions will be soon, or perhaps have already been completed. Time passes strangely in these cells, and it is difficult to tell the hour or day.
My own involvement has been more difficult for them to uncover, I believe. Halreithan named me as willing accomplice in drawing Cilhyr from her tower and our battle as mere show. It hurts almost as much to deny this and admit to the truth, that I was a mere dupe, as it would to accept his words and follow him to the block. It is my word against his, but the guards, I think, saw that our fight was more than a game, and it seems the Archchancellor to whom I reported Rhaeshem has put in a few words on my behalf.
So. I am not guilty, but neither am I declared innocent. My punishment at least will be lighter than theirs, but that does not mean I look forward to the hour. For now, there is only waiting. There is a mark on the wall of the cell. It seems Rhaeshem stayed here last. When I saw, I did not know whether to laugh or cry, but I have not the energy for either.
* * *
She felt naked without her blades, and wished she could have them for comfort's sake alone, something to whisper to and caress as she waited in the cell. It would have been foolish to use them against the armored guards who stood silently in the hallway, and she was not so bereft of hope that she would turn their edges against herself. The weapons would have been safe in her keeping, but such a request would have been foolish.
Instead, she paced the cell, loose tunic brushing against polished stone walls and exquisitely wrought iron bars. Nothing in the Basilica was allowed to be merely utilitarian, no matter how low its purpose. Had it been furnished properly, the tiny chamber would have been finer than her modest dwelling in the city. Even fitted with only the barest necessities, it would have been comfortable enough were it not for its purpose.
She let her mind gradually refocus, slipping away from the blank and empty planes of thought where it had drifted, as a key slowly turned in the lock. Her pacing brought her before the door just as it opened, and she did not break her stride as she turned at the orders of the guards to follow them out into the marble hall. She thought she might recognize one of the guards, perhaps from her days in the Palestra, but his eyes narrowed as he caught her studying his features and she let her gaze slip away.
The room to which they lead her was no larger than her cell, and she took in the lone occupant and all his equipment in one glance. The guards stopped at the doorway, and she walked forward alone.
"Morahael Lyshven Faendryl?" he asked, and she felt a moment a deja vu. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Do you understand why you are here, and what your punishment will be?" She nodded again, and he smiled, though without much mirth. "You might as well speak now, for you won't have much chance later."
She licked her lips, hating herself for the weakness, and said, "Yes." He watched her for another moment, the gestured to the chair, reaching for his tools as she slowly sat. Her eyes flickered, once, towards the guards, before he turned back towards her and carefully fastened each leather strap. The last held her mouth open.
She did not have time to scream between the fall of the knife blade and the touch of the red hot iron, and even when both were withdrawn she could do little more than whimper. Tears filled her eyes, but at least the surgeon had done the small kindness of turning away, cleaning his tools as she sat and shuddered with pain. She spat out a mouthful of blood, staining her tunic a brilliant crimson. Her memory told her of the coppery tang that her mouth could no longer taste.
* * *
Journal of Morahael Lyshven Faendryl
I can still feel the scab, but it no longer hurts when I slide my fingers into my mouth to search in disbelief for what my mind says is there. I may eat true food now, though it makes little difference to me whether it is fresh meat or poor brown bread. Only the texture changes. My coin will last longer on liquids in any case, and I have little enough of it.
There is nothing in the city for me now. The healing is complete; I have lost even that reason to remain. I will take what little coin and few possessions I have and turn north. My House is exiled from the Empire, but there are lands beyond there, across the mountains. Perhaps they will have home for a fool.
* * *
She had meant to choose a different path, but somehow her feet brought her to Cilhyr's tower nonetheless. She paused, searching for some sign of the battle, but time and the efforts of slaves had scrubbed it from the pavestones. She forced herself to turn away, towards the wastes beyond the city, and took one step, then another. She did not allow herself to look back.


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New client – It's always fun and motivating to start a new project and this was no different. It made me take my time more seriously so that I have enough of it for the new client and the other projects I have going.
My new work chair – I used to work sitting on a stool and believe me if you sit on a stool for several hours your back will be sore. So I finally went and got myself a supporting chair to work on and it has made all the difference! It is supportive, comfortable and the colour and the style makes me smile! Of course, the cats love it as well and during the hot days we had there they were rather sleeping on that chair.
Miroslava Duma launches Fashion Tech Lab with $50 Million To Invest – It is amazing to hear how the big names in fashion want to transform it and help it grow into a more sustainable market!
The Orphan Master's Son – This book by David Mitchell has been so interesting, it nearly keeps me of work. Definitely worth a read!
Brunch with a Friend – It's always lovely to spend some time catching up with your friends and who doesn't like brunch? I had the loveliest meal at Kember and Jones, who really do make a nice and good sized side salad for your sandwich! And no, I didn't take pictures. Sometimes you can just enjoy the food!
Lucky Clover – My sister gifted me with the cutest thing! It was a little pot with three seeds to grow my own lucky clover. Somebody knows what I like… It had this little pallet of soil, which I added into a little bit of water and it swelled to fill the whole miniature pot. Now it's growing and it is so exciting! I just love seeing the plants I have been caring for growing!
2017 Ethical Activist Book Club – I just stumbled upon this and got so excited. I love reading books and knowing more about how to make our planet more ethical and sustainable is always on my agenda. There are only 6 books on the list for 2017, so one book for every two months. That should be manageable!
Strange man stroking a cat – While working at my desk I looked outside where I saw a cat walking on the pavement. It had come out of the house next to it. It was a sunny day, so it is no wonder the cat was yearning to get out. Along the pavement walked a man towards the cat. Usually, people don't pay attention to cats, or cats quickly run away and hide, but this time it was not the case. The man kneeled down next to the cat and started stroking it. The cat seemed so happy it dropped on its side and started rolling on it's back to get some tummy rubs, a sign that the cat is happy. I was sure this man was no stranger to the cat, as no cat would let a stranger touch their tummy. In a few seconds, the man rose up and kept walking away from the cat. Not into the house from where the cat came but kept going along the pavement and the cat the other way. It seems these two strangers just shared a nice moment in the middle of a sunny beautiful day.
The Happy Day – Once I started writing this post I realised I had nothing to add up. For some reason, I didn't feel happy about anything and it made me anxious. I usually find happiness in the smallest of things and suddenly I just couldn't think of anything. I gave it a couple of days and I started adding something to this post by force, just to have something to say. Until the happy day came and suddenly I wanted to fill this post with writings of all kind. Suddenly I remembered the happy things from several days previously. Everything seemed to make me happy. I think these are the days that we live for, the happy days. When every little detail makes you smile and you are just happy to be alive and living in the current moment!
What is your happy day like?
With love,

subset: commoncrawl


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With advancement in technology, PCB manufacturing process has evolved as well. The procedure for acquiring custom PCBs is no more hustle, and an engineer can quickly order a complex PCB online and acquire in days. Multiple manufacturers are offering PCBs manufacturing services at low cost with outstanding quality. Always do proper research regarding manufacturers before placing an order otherwise you might end up making inappropriate choices. It is often troublesome for an electronics engineer to know which PCB manufacturer should be selected. This article provides you a detailed analysis which will be helpful to you while making a selection for PCB manufacturing and PCB assembly manufacturer.
Tips on PCB manufacturing
Consider the following parameters when placing an order for PCB manufacturing.
Certified Manufacturer
Make sure the manufacturing company has necessary certifications for manufacturing. You surely don't want to place an order at a startup company where your project will serve merely as a learning experience.
Quality Assurance
Lower-level materials. Are they buying the actual laminate materials from high-quality vendors or whatever's cheapest at the moment? (Does your application need the higher-quality material?) Will they use the same material for every lot? If they're buying at the lowest cost, the product is likely to vary from lot to lot.
Technical Support
Are they providing engineering support to review your design and catch mistakes (mostly your layout mistakes) before you spend money on the fab?
Tested Products
Are they providing 100% connectivity testing on the boards after manufacturing?
It is feasible to deal with an experienced manufacturer as he knows precisely how to make your experience friendly and comfortable. Furthermore an experienced professional understands the value of quality and on-time delivery of the product.
Modern Labs
The technology is evolving day by day and with the passage of time manufacturing units have adopted these changes. Make sure your manufacturer has the latest equipment, and your product is being developed as per modern techniques with the latest tools.
Trustworthy Brand
Do you trust this brand to build your board right the first time, or is there a chance they'll mess it up and have to re-do it, causing a delay?
Lead Time
As these components come from different vendors, keep in mind the lead time. It can be up to 8–16 weeks for some components. Many low-cost fabs require several weeks to schedule and build your boards.
Fab Notes
Will, they respect your requirements (fab notes), or build to a standard set of tolerances and specs? Many low-cost vendors severely limit what they will accept in fab notes.
Minimum Order Quantity
Before purchasing, ensure the MOQ is following your requirements. Always consider MOQ, cost, and need when placing an order and accordingly place an order.
Sometimes, the PCBs are other components are damaged during testing/soldering. It is a good practice to order at least 10% extra components just in case if some units are damaged, you may have extras.
PCB Fabrication
While you send out your Gerber file to the PCB manufacturer, they can print out the circuit board. This will be the basis to build up further, to add the components to the PCB and manufacture PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly). Make sure they have correctly understood your requirements.
Material preparation
At this point in your EE design, you should already have components selected. It is sometimes uneconomical or unfeasible to directly order the parts. In such case, prefer a company that offers to provide the facility of ordering parts for your project.
RAYMING PCB Provides Effective, and Affordable PCB Solutions
RAYMING PCB is a top-notch PCB solutions provider with more than a decade of experience. We are offering PCB fabrication, components procurement, and assembly all under one roof. We can work with you to develop circuit boards customized to your specific applications.
We have state of the art Prototype PCB Assembly which is not only capable of handling complex projects but provides flawless results with quality assurance. Furthermore, we also conduct testing on your prototype to make sure it serves the purpose.
Our PCB assembly section not limited to only automated procedures but it is designed to work on the manual configuration as well. The qualified professionals at RAYMING have required expertise for handling BGAs and fine-pitch parts for products such as FR-4 PCBs. The manufacturing of volumes 1-25 PCBs is a routine task for your team.
We know precisely how inconvenient it can be for engineers to look for parts and order them on their own, we are not only offering manufacturing services but outsourcing services as well. Our association with various part suppliers and companies ensures that all parts are acquired according to requirements in the least possible time, resulting infeasibility of our clients.
Isn't it hectic to look for alternate parts when you have an obsolete part in your design? We can take care of part searching and managing from our suppliers.
In case if a part needs to be replaced in design, client satisfaction is ensured. As soon as all parts are acquired, the product is finalized and delivered. Our technical assistance is always available for any queries. Customers are assisted even after sales to make our customer's experience friendly and satisfactory.Usually, the lead time of turn-key PCB assembly is two weeks, but it can be even shorter if all parts are readily available as per requirements.
Willing to place an order?
Please contact us at email@example.com for a suitable quotation. What we require from the client is
The quantity of units requiredGerber files of PCB design
Our team has experience in handling PCB assembly designs and parts ordering online. We are dedicated towards quality assurance and customer satisfaction.
Our services include both Through Hole and Surface Mount Technology based PCB designing. If you are looking for urgent development of PCB, our experts can deliver PCBs in as short as 24 hours interval.
We Focus on Delivering Superior Customer Service
Next Post: How RF Microwave PCBs are different from ordinary PCBs


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Mozilla's flagship browser was, for a long time, the top browser pushing the threshold of browser technology, dethroning the king of all browsers, Internet Explorer, and driving the web to new possibilities. For the past couple of years, however, it seems to have been rapidly declining overall in quality — especially for Mac users. With … more »
Category Archives: Browsers
Why Mozilla has abandoned Mac users
Giving Chrome a Real Go
Despite my already mentioned disdain towards Chrome, I decided to give it a real go and use it for my day-to-day activities which include web development. To really put it to the test with my usual work flow, I setup two different Google Accounts in order to be able to sync my work bookmarks, settings … more »
Chrome 17 released
I know that this is old news by now, but I figure I will make a brief statement about it since it is relevant to this blog. Google released Chrome 17 just over two weeks ago which includes some very important fixes. Several security holes were patched and, most importantly for this blog, the YouTube … more »
Problem with Chrome and YouTube
In a previous post, I ranted about why I dislike Google Chrome. One of the main reasons I gave was that it doesn't load this blog. Since I wrote that post, I think I have been able to determine what the problem is. In another post of mine I embedded a YouTube video and it … more »
Firefox Beta with New Developer Tools and Add-on Sync
Mozilla has announced several new features for the new Firefox Beta which will eventually become Firefox 11. The first and, in my opinion, the most interesting one is a new approach to make distinguishing elements on a webpage easier using a 3D rendering of the page. They call it 'Tilt'. It is based off of … more »
Separating browsers: home and work
Recently I've been experimenting with a different workflow when it comes to dividing my private tasks and my work. To make myself more efficient, I've essentially adopted a multi-browser system. I've already alluded to this system in a previous post, but now I will fully explain it. I work with a system where I divide … more »
Firefox 10 Mobile
I'm currently sitting in the waiting room at a train station waiting for my train to arrive. Whilst waiting I have been using the internet on my Android phone. My browser of choice for mobile browsing on Android is Firefox. The reasons for this are pretty straight-forward. I enjoy using Firefox regardless of the platform … more »
Why I dislike Google Chrome
I hear an awful lot about how much people love using Google's browser, Chrome. I have many friends and fellow web developers who swear by it, but honestly I can't understand why. Recently I gave it a fair shot. I downloaded it for my MacBook running Mac OS X Lion and used it as my … more »
Firefox 10
Mozilla officially released Firefox 10 today. I've just downloaded it on both Windows and for Mac OS X and am playing around with it a bit. Visually it looks much like Firefox 9 with the exception of the back/forward button. The back button is now 'attached' to the address bar and the forward button is … more »


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Forge Weigh Sling Classic
Regular price
Classic "half moon" design, made using 600D rip-stop polyester fabric, soft PVC inner coating, ultra soft mesh drain hole, fixed metallic weighing loops, dimensions W112cm H55cm, transport size W32cm H9cm D9cm, weight (carry bag included) 620g.
Classic "half moon" design ultra compact and lightweight to transport. It feature a ultra soft mesh drain hole in the bottom for fast and accurate weighing, fixed metallic weighing loops and full length webbings for an optimal support of the fish during the weigh process. Supplied with waterproof carry bag.
Classic "half moon" design
Made using 600D rip-stop polyester fabric
Soft PVC inner coating
Ultra soft mesh drain hole
Fixed metallic weighing loops
Dimensions W112cm H55cm
Transport size W32cm H9cm D9cm
Weight (carry bag included) 620g


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Murder Exclusive -- Get the hottest new crime show on telly before anyone else
Tuesday, 7 April 2015 13:20:25 Europe/London
The father of Nordic Noir is coming to Nottingham -- and his hot new show is only available right here at Acorn DVD.
Murder: Joint Enterprise is the latest critically acclaimed crime drama to assault our screens and it boasts fantastic pedigree. It is directed by Birgir Larsen, the man who is credited with inventing the slow and unsettling style of Skandinavian crime shows like Wallander, The Bridge and, of course, The Killing.
Not only did the latter change the game when it came to TV crime dramas, it raised the benchmark for visual experimentation in a genre production. Now Larsen is at it again with murder.
Plot wise, you could be forgiven for thinking that Murder isn't bringing a great deal new to the table: a woman has been murdered in her Nottingham flat, while her terrified sister has barricaded herself into the bathroom. Meanwhile, a drunk and disabled squaddie is pulled over for speeding and his shirt is covered in blood.
Where Murder excels, however, is in the execution: the central figures in this mystery all give their versions of events, directly to camera, with the help of accompanying flashbacks. But when their versions of events don't fit together, who is telling the truth and who has something to hide.
Murder: Joint Enterprise uses direct-to-camera testimony, CCTV footage and flashbacks to paint a vivid and thrilling picture. The cast is excellent, particularly Misfits star Karla Crome as the victim's sister and Game of Thrones' Joe Dempsie as war veteran Stefan.
But it wasn't the cast that convinced the highly respected director Larsen to venture to the UK, it was the script. Written by British telly veteran Robert Jones, the screenplay placed the emphasis on its extremely convincing, human characters. Fans of British or Nordic crime drama simply cannot afford to miss the show and they can purchase the DVD right now at Acorn.
The Murder: Joint Enterprise DVD is not available anywhere else until 11 May 2015, but you can order your copy right now at Acorn DVD and receive it weeks in advance.
It's just the latest excellent exclusive from Acorn DVD. Purchase your copy today.
The Westeros Connection
Joe Dempsie isn't the only Game of Thrones alumnus to feature in this all new BBC2 drama: prosecuting barrister Stephen Dillane is probably more familiar to viewers as Stannis Baratheon on the hit HBO fantasy show, and the investigation policeman is played by Robert Pugh, who viewers loved to hate as Craster the wildling.
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Other Treatments
Laser Tattoo Removal
Premier Dermatology and Skin Renewal Center is proud to offer RevLite - the top of the line laser tattoo removal system. Lasers are the safest and most effective way to remove tattoos and avoid scarring. The RevLite laser works by sending different wavelengths safely into the skin to target the tattoo... Click here to learn more.


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their iconoclastic enthusiasm and religious zeal. En route from Kwang Si, their starting point, to Nanking, victory had perched on their standard all the way. They had despatched a division of their army to Peking, and, on its way to the northern capital, it had met with a repulse and defeat at Tientsin from whence they had turned back to Nanking. In their victorious march through Hunan, Hupeh, Kiang Si and part of An Hwui, their depleted forces were replenished and reinforced by fresh and new accessions gathered from the people of those provinces. They were the riffraff and scum of their populations. This rabble element added no new strength to their fighting force, but proved to be an encumbrance and caused decided weakness.^-They knew no discipline, and had no restraining religious power to keep them from pillage, plunder and indiscriminate destruction. It was through such new accessions that the Taiping cause lost its i prestige, and was defeated before Tientsin and forced to retreat to Nanking. After their defeat in the North, they began to decline in their religious character and their bravery. Their degeneracy was accelerated by the capture of Yang Chow, Suchau, and Hangchau, cities noted in Chinese history for their great wealth as well as for their beautiful women. The capture of these centers of a materialistic civilization poured into their laps untold wealth and luxury which tended to hasten their downfall. \/The Taiping Rebellion, after fifteen years of incessant and desultory fighting, collapsed and passed into oblivion, without leaving any traces of its career worthy of historical commemoration beyond the fact that it was the outburst of a religious fanaticism which held the Christian world in doubt and bewilderment, by reason of its Christian origin. It left no trace of its Christian element behind either in Nanking, where it sojourned for nearly ten years, or in Kwang Si, where it had its birth. In China, neither new political ideas nor political theories or principles were discovered which would have constituted the basal facts of a new form of government. So that neither in the religious nor / yet in the political world was mankind in China or out of China benefited by that movement. The only good that resulted from the Taiping Rebellion was that God made use of it as a dynamic power to break up the stagnancy of a great nation and wake up its consciousness for a new national life, as subsequent events in 1894, 1895, 1898,1900,1901, and 1904-5 fully demonstrated. CHAPTER XII
My Nanking visit was utterly barren of any substantial hope of promoting any scheme of educational or political reform for the general welfare of China or for the advancement of my personal interest. When I was thoroughly convinced that neither the reformation nor the regeneration of China was to come from the Taipings, I at once turned my thoughts to the idea of making a big fortune as my first duty, and as the first element in the successful carrying out of other plans for the future.
One day, while sauntering about in the tea garden inside the city of Shanghai, I came across a few tea-merchants regaling themselves with that beverage in a booth by themselves, evidently having a very social time. They beckoned to me to join their party. In the course of the conversation, we happened to touch on my late journey through the tea districts of Hunan, Hupeh and
Kiang Si and also my trip to Nanking. Passing from one topic of conversation to another, we lighted upon the subject of the green tea district of Taiping in An Hwui province. It was stated that an immense quantity of green tea could be found there, all packed and boxed ready for shipment, and that the rebels were in possession of the goods, and that whoever had the hardihood and courage to risk his life to gain possession of it would become a millionaire. I listened to the account with deep and absorbing interest, taking in everything that was said on the subject. It was stated that there were over 1,000,000 chests of tea there. Finally the party broke up, and I wended my way to my quarters completely absorbed in deep thought. I reasoned with myself that this was a chance for me to make a fortune, but wondered who would be foolhardy enough to furnish the capital, thinking that no business man of practical experience would risk / his money in such a wild goose adventure, surrounded as it was with more than ordinary dangers and difficulties, in a country where highway robbery, lawlessness and murder were of daily occurrence. But with the glamor of a big fortune confronting me, all privations, dangers and risks of life seemed small and faded into airy nothing.
My friend, Tsang Mew, who had been instrumental in having me sent traveling into the interior a year before, was a man of great business experience. He had a long head and a large circle of business acquaintances, besides being my warm friend, so I concluded to go to him and talk over the whole matter, as I knew he would not hesitate to give me his best advice. I laid the whole subject before him. He said he would consider the matter fully and in a few days let me know what he had decided to do about it. After a few days, he told me that he had had several consultations with the head of the firm, of which he was comprador, and between them the company had decided to take up my project.
The plan of operation as mapped out by me was as follows: I was to go to the district of Taiping by the shortest and safest route possible, to find out whether the quantity of tea did exist; whether it was safe to have treasure taken up there to pay the rebels for the tea; and whether it was possible to have the tea supply taken down by native boats to be transhipped by steamer to Shanghai. This might be called the preliminary expedition. Then, I was to determine which of the two routes would be the more feasible,—


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Northside Missions
"The Mission for Northside Church of God is to make lives better through Jesus Christ. We intentionally live out this mission in our local community as well as abroad.
We believe our church is to function as a mission house in Jacksonville. We value using our gifts and talents to serve our community, individually in the course of our daily activities, and corporately as we join together to make a difference in the lives of others.
We also believe our church is to have missional impact beyond the borders of our city. We financially contribute to several overseas missionaries and each year we send a work-camp team from our congregation to give physical support to a foreign mission.
If you would like to engage in making lives better here in Jacksonville and around the world, you are welcome to join us!
Local Mission Events
- "Laundry Love" Join us as we love our community by paying for their laundry. Location: 1403 Dunn Ave
- Family Outdoor Cinema Location Northside Church of God Free movie and refreshments for our Jax Community!
- Feeding the Homeless Join us as we prepare sack lunches and distribute them to the homeless in Jax
- Trunk n Treat Free treats and activities for our Jax Community! Location Northside Church of God
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Check our Calendar for Special Mission Events
Foreign Mission Events:
- Peru Workcamp


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August 25, 2016
After a short summer break where hopefully everyone enjoyed the few minutes of sunshine the Berlin summer has granted us, we are back with our next Kubernetes Meetup in September!
Join us on the 14th of September at the Endocode headquarter and learn more about OpenShift and lessons on saving AWS with Kubernetes. We are very excited to welcome Lutz and Felix as our speakers.
Lutz (@AtomicContainer) studied computer science at TU-Berlin and worked as a sysadmin in mixed Linux / Windows environments. He started as an infrastructure IT instructor with Red Hat back in 2007. He discusses use cases and customer requirements on a daily basis as a Red Hat Solution Architect, a role he fills since 2011. His main focus is now on container technologies.
Felix (@feelobot, GitHub) is a Devops Engineer and digital nomad currently working out of Berlin and absorbing all things Golang, Docker, Kubernetes. His focus is on metrics, R&D and tools integration.
6:30 – 7:00 – Social
7:00 – 7:45 – Lutz Lange, OpenShift and Ready to Use Kube Clusters – from Dev to Prod
7:45 – 8:30 – Felix Rodriguez, Kullecting All the Things
8:30 – 9:00 – Social / Wrap up
And here is what you can expect from the talks:
OpenShift is a Container Platform that builds on and extends Kubernetes. It gives you a Kube based cluster that is enhanced with several services and solutions to be ready for use in dev and prod environments. This starts with source to image build mechanisms and an internal registry, over to service discovery with dns, persistent storage and network config up to security mechanisms. It includes solutions to get to grips with log files and metric data as well. This presentation will give an architecture overview and introduction to the OpenShift Container Platform. The presentation concludes with live demo and Q&A.
Kullecting All the Things: Felix will walk us through a set of deployments containing open source tools you can use to monitor nodes, pods, as well as a demo to setup a basic alert off of this data. He will also explore an interesting method, they took to providing estimates on which apps are costing the most to run.
Make sure to sign up at the Kubernetes Berlin Meetup page here.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Meetup!


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Sample Size T Shirt Sends Fashion Week Into A Spin
Fashion brand Chromat do things right.
Chromat, a NY-based clothing line, is our new favourite fashion house after it debuted its Saturation collection at New York Fashion Week. For two reasons: 1. Their whole collection was inspired by wet t-shirts, "to reclaim the experience of hiding under a giant T-shirt at a pool party and make it a garment to wear proudly." and 2. They created "sample size" shirts and sent them down the runway, making a huge political statement about body diversity and body positivity. And now you will want one.
Chromat offers sizes XS-3XL as standard. Which is sublime in itself.
"'Sample sizing' tends to be an excuse that other designers cite as a reason why they don't feature a range of sizes in their runway shows. At Chromat, we know that the designer has the power to choose what size they prototype their collection in," the label stated in a press release. "Our goal is to encourage more designers to sample their collections in a range of sizes, in order to celebrate all different size bodies on the runway."
They also sent a hugely diverse range of models down the runway -- again showing how inclusive they are -- like activist and model Mama Cax who walked the runway with her prosthetic leg.
Albino model Diandra Forrest also walked, as did trans activist Layna Bloom
"I wanted to reimagine the whole idea of throwing a ginormous shirt over your swimsuit at the pool because you're too embarrassed to be seen," Becca McCharen-Tran, the designer, told Vogue backstage about the Saturation collection. "To take that moment of vulnerability and make it something to be proud of."
The Sample Size shirt itself is available to buy on Chromat's website for $60 US, which has a message for us all. "Every size is Sample Size. Click 'add to cart' if you agree."
Feature Image: Getty


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Day 01:Arrival and transfer to hotel in Kathmandu Upon arrival in Kathmandu.
Our airport representative will be waiting outside the airport terminal a few metres from the exit door. Please check your name at play card. He will bring you to hotel in kathmandu. The drive from the airport to the hotel is around 20 minutes
Day 02:Free day in kathmandu or self sightseeing around Kathmandu valley ( option are)
Day 03: Kathmandu to Shayge trek to Jagat
Breakfast. Our trekking guide will come to the hotel at 07:00 hrs to pick you with private transport to leave for Besi Shahar (185km) and will take us about 6 hours. Along the journey you will witness some spectacular scenery of white mountains, green hills, rivers and hamlets. We overnight at a guesthouse.
Day 04: Jagat to Dharapani
We start the day by descending on a steep slippery trail past amphitheatreshaped rice terraces. There will be a small hot spring after this descend. The rest of today's trek will have us pass the river a few times and we will see a few waterfalls as well. As we near the village of Jagat we will have a steep 200m climb to a trail that has been blasted out of the rock face. 15 minutes below this village we can visit another small hot spring. From Jagat we climb up to Chamje (6 hrs).
Day 05: Dharapani to Chame
Today we will do the 940 meter ascent to Bagarchap through bamboo and rhododendron forests, on a trail high above the river bank. We will pass the village of Tal at 1700 meter which lies at the foot of a large waterfall. The trail crosses a broad, flat valley that was once a lake (Tal means lake) after which we will cross the Marsyangdi by a 60 meter long suspension bridge. The trail will climb up from a second suspension bridge to a stone kani (an arch over the trail) which marks the entrance to Dharapani at 1960 meter. All old villages from here to Kagbeni have these arches and they become more elaborate and
Picturesque as the Tibetan influence becomes stronger. The trail slowly climbs from here on through a forest of blue pine, spruce, hemlock, maple and oak to Bagarchhap. This is the first village on the trek with typical Tibetan architecture: closely spaced stone houses, with flat roofs piled high with firewood. (7 hrs).
Day 06: Chame to Pisang (3190m)
We will first pass the older part of Chame and climb up to Telekhu at 2840 meter and continue with a long pleasant and mostly level walk through the forest to Brathang, which lies at 2950 meter. After the trail rounds a bend here we will see the first view of the dramatic Paungda Danda rock face, a tremendous curved slab of rock rising more then 1500 meter from the river. We will cross back to the south bank of the Marsyangdi on a suspension bridge at 3080 meter and then make a long gentle climb over a ridge through blue pine forests. After this the trek will be reasonably level as it heads to the upper part of Manang valley to Pisang. This town marks the beginning of the region known as Nyesyang, the upper portion of the Manang district (5 hrs).
Day 07: Pisang to Manang (3540m)
Today our trek will slowly climb up to the Tibetan-style village of Bryaga at 3500 meter following the valley floor. At Bryaga we will see houses stacked one atop the other, each with an open veranda formed by a neighbour's rooftop. The gompa, perched on a high crag overlooking the village, is the largest in the district and has an outstanding display of statues. We then continue through a very arid countryside, dominated by weird cliffs of yellow rock, eroded into dramatic pillars alongside the trail to reach today's destination, the village of Manang, where the shops are surprisingly well stocked with all the things you might want to refuel on (5 hrs).
Day 08: Manang Acclimatization Day
Today we stay in Manang where we can do a short hike to ascent slightly higher to for instance Khangsar, which is a 200 meter ascend. It is important to have a relatively restful day today, to allow your body to acclimatize to the higher altitudes and thinning air. It also gives us the possibility to wash some of our clothing.
Day 09: Manang to Yak Kharka or Letdar (4250)
Trekking slowly upwards to Thorung La we will leave the large trees behind and see vegetation consisting mainly of scrub juniper and alpine grass and we will pass a few meadows where horses and yaks graze. After we reach Yak Kharka we will see herds of blue sheep grazing the steep slopes as well. About an hour after passing Yak Kharka we will arrive at Letdar (4:30 hrs).
Day 10: Letdar to Thorang Phedi
Again a relatively easy day to get used to the altitude before we have to cross the highest point in the trek, and possibly the highest point you have been on in your life. From Letdar we will continue to climb along the east bank of the Jarang Khola to Thorung Phedi, a rock-strewn meadow surrounded by vertical cliffs at 4420 meter. Blue sheep and even snow leopards can be sometimes seen in this valley. High in the skies above us we can see lammergeyers and Himalayan griffons circling around (3-4 hrs).
Day 11: Thorang Phedi via Thorang La Pass (5416m) - Muktinath (3800m)
Today is a long trek starting before sunrise at maybe 04:00 hrs to reach the pass by 09:00/10:00 hrs at the latest, as otherwise weather conditions will greatly affect the journey. We cross over at an altitude of 5416m so can be exposed to strong winds if crossing too late. Local people have used this trail for hundreds of years to bring herds of sheep and yaks in and out of Manang Thus the trail, while often steep, is well defined and easy to follow. Snow can block the pass at any time of the year if there has been an unseasonable storm. It takes from four to six hours from Thorung Phedi to the pass, but the many false summits mean the climb seems to go on for ever. At the Thorung La pass, with its traditional prayer flags and stone cairn we will have outstanding views. You can see the Annapunas, Gangapurna and Khatung Kang, a heavily glaciated peak. Amazingly there is a teashop here on top of the pass at 5416 meter. From here we start a long descend of about 1600 meter with outstanding views of Dhaulagiri mountain standing alone in the distance across the valley. After the trail becomes less steep we will enter grassy fields and cross meadows to our final destination of Muktinath, which means place of Nirvana and is home to the Muktinath temple as well as several monasteries. It is said that all sorrows you feel are relieved when visiting the Temple, which is a scared pilgrimage site to both Hindus and Buddhists. The main pilgrimage normally takes place in September. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and has 108 waterspouts around it from which Holy water pours. Another attraction nearby is the Jwala Mai Temple and this contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural underground gas (9 hrs).
Day12: Muktinath to Marpha
From today we will follow the "Jomsom trek" in reverse order. We will first go down to Kagbeni, which is a 990 meter descend through meadows, streams and fruit trees like peach orchards. Then we will continue going down to Jomson (more correctly Dzongsam, or "new fort"). Our descend continues through the Kali Gandaki Valley to Marpha. Marpha is home to many apple orchids as well as all the various food products made from the fruit. Apple Brandy is a local specialty that you may be lucky enough to taste en route (6 hrs).
Day 13: Marpha to Ghasa (2080m)
This day will be a rewarding day when we trek further down the Kali Gandaki valley alongside the Kali Gandaki river to Ghasa. We will pass the villages of Tukuche at 2580 meter and Larjung at 2560 meter. We then cross the the Kali Gandaki river by a high suspension bridge and continue through an area covered with fir, juniper and cypress trees. Towards the village of Kalopani (2530m) we will have splendid 360˚ views of Dhaulagiri, Tukuche Peak, the three Nilgiris, Fang and Annapurna I. After crossing another very long suspension bridge (107 meter long) we will reach Ghasa, our base for this night (6 hrs).
Day 14: Ghasa to Tatopani (1190m)
Today our trek leads us through the steepest and narrowest part of the Kali Gandaki valley; much of the way is cut through solid rock and subject to frequent landslides. Before we reach the village of Dana (1450m) we pass the Rupse Chhahara ('beautiful waterfall'). Descending further down past several landslides we will reach Tatopani, meaning hot water, which is situated on the riverbanks where we will stop to make the most of a well deserved hot bath (5 hrs).
Day 15: Tatopani to Ghorepani (2834m)
Leaving the hot springs behind us we have a day of climbing ahead of us to Ghorepani. We leave the Kali Gandaki valley and we will follow the Ghar Khola river and cross this river on an old swaying bridge. We will continue ascending to Ghara (1780m) and Shika (1935m) where there still is a British army training centre. The last part of the trail today will have us climbing through rhododendron and magnolia forests to Ghorepani, where we will arrive mid afternoon (7 hrs).
Day 16: Ghorepani (2834m) to Poon Hill (3210m) via Tadapani (2520m)
An early start and an hour's hiking to Poon Hill (3195m) leads us to a brilliant spectacle, this viewpoint provides an unobstructed beautiful sunrise over the high Himalayas. After spending about 40 minutes on the hillside, we come back to Ghorepani for a hot breakfast, and start walking to Tadapani. From Ghorepani the trail climbs along ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests and if the weather allows it we have a panorama all the way south to the plains of India. The trail follows a stream bed which becomes larger as we continue. The stream has some clear pools alongside the trail and finally becomes a series of waterfalls. Today's final destiny is the village of Tadapani, meaning 'far water' and the water supply for this village is a long distance below (5 hrs).
Day 17: Tadapani to Ghaundrung (1950m)
The Ghaundrung trail descends steeply through forests to the village of Ghaundrung where we will arrive around noon. We will overnight here so have the afternoon to visit the Annapurna conservation office and museum. As well as take time to explore this maze like village (3 hrs).
Day 18: Ghaundrung to Pothana (1910m) and Phedi (910m)
Day 19: Pothana (1910m) to Phedi (910m) drive back to Pokhara
Day 20: Return back to Kathmandu by tourist bus. The bus journey will take 5 to 6 hours
Day 21: Free day in Kathmandu and shopping
Day 22: Tour ends


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Sergio Palos Director · (562) 774-7495 · firstname.lastname@example.com
Fontana Ca + Surrounding Areas
Bill Martin Park / Bud Bender Park / Pakumma ParkSchedules are not final until 12pm the day before the tournament start date.
$250.00 Ages 6u | $275.00 Ages 7u-8u
$300.00 Ages 9u-12u | $350.00 Ages 13u-18u
Bill Martin Park / Bud Bender Park / Pakumma Park
All teams are required to pay the Tournament Entry Fee in full by 9:00pm the Wednesday prior to the tournament weekend.
Please note that the entry fee listed on the Tournament Schedule page is for mailed-in entry fees.
To pay online, visit USSSA.COM. Entry fees paid online will be an additional 5% credit card processing fee added to the entry fee by the National Office.
To pay by check / Money Order, please mail payment to
USSSA – Sergio Palos


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Walter P Moore provides 24/7 emergency response services to disaster events such as construction collapse, explosions, earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Our team of more than 260 licensed professional engineers provides unique, practical, and timely ways to implement improvements to structures at risk during catastrophic (CAT) events. We work with property managers, institutions, brokers, underwriters, claims teams, and external partners to evaluate the risks in your property portfolio.
Emergency Response or Forensic Requests
Submit Your Request
As part of our pre-loss services, we review property portfolios to identify areas of potential exposure to water damage, structural failure, or collapse. Walter P Moore provides clients the ability to protect your assets and guard against additional damage and lost revenue. Our services include:
- Emergency preparedness services
- Multi-risk assessments
- Probable Maximum Loss (PML) studies
- Flood and wind vulnerability evaluations
- Flood and wind resiliency solutions
With offices in North America, Central America, and India, we're used to responding to CAT events such as hurricanes, wind, and flooding. Within hours of a CAT event, whether man-made or weather-related, Walter P Moore's engineering experts mobilize to conduct damage surveys and report findings in a timely manner.
Through our assessments, our experts identify patterns of damage and diagnose failures in heavily damaged structures. We determine the types of buildings that performed well during a CAT event, and identify those that were most vulnerable. In times of unfortunate weather events, our clients look to us to help with creative mitigation solutions such as flood doors, roof performance enhancements, and other areas of water damage restoration. We offer the following post-CAT event services
- Structural forensics
- Structural/enclosure post-disaster assessments
- Flood/wind loss evaluations
- Building code evaluation and consulting
- Property mapping and documentation
We also collaborate post-event with construction service providers for:
- Opinions of cost
- Bid phase services
- Water damage restoration/storm damage restoration
- Third-party design review
- Construction administration services
Click here to learn more about our Forensic Analysis services


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About the Group
Our Story
Our Directors
Our People
Major Operating Entities
Investor Relations
Financial Results
Corporate Announcements
Circular to Shareholders
ECM Libra Foundation
Link to Bursa Malaysia
Link to Bank Negara Malaysia
Link to Securities Commission
Link to FIMM
Link to Securities Industry Dispute Resolution Center
ECM Libra Group Berhad (formerly known as ECM Libra Financial Group Berhad) is the listed holding company of ECM Libra Group. Commenced in 2002 as a boutique financial services group, we have since expanded our footprint across the country and achieved several marking milestones in our business journey. We are guided by our philosophy of "commitment to deliver and growth through innovation" and broke new grounds in providing our clients with flexible and innovative products, services and solutions.


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Property ID : MS-00004-R
For Rent 89€ Price / Night From - Apartment
Skol 317 – 2 bed, 2 bath Luxury Beach Front Apartment Marbella
Skol 317 is a beautiful and very fully-equipped, air-conditioned apartment offering great privacy with 2 completely separate bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (one en-suite) and 2 toilets. Skol 317 sleeps 4 adults. Child cot available on request.
317 has a fantastic, south-facing, front corner location on the third floor. Two balconies give spectacular and uninterrupted views: East across the Constitution Park to the Old Town, South across the Marina and Mediterranean to the African Coast, West to Gibraltar and North to the protective La Concha mountain.
The South balcony is fully-glazed with 'glass curtain' style retractable windows that allow year-round use. Particularly attractive in the cooler winter months. The glasses incorporate sun shades for use as required.
High quality appliances include American-style fridge/freezer, fan oven, microwave, food processor, Nespresso, dishwasher and washing machine. The ensuite master bedroom has a double bed and the smaller bedroom, 2 adult-sized bunk beds. Both bedrooms have direct access to the East balcony. USB charging points are liberally sprinkled.
Free, high-speed fibre optic internet (500mbs nominal) in the apartment. 2 Samsung Smart TVs: mainroom (55" 4K Ultra HD) and master bedroom (FHD) in English, Spanish and most other European languages plus Netflix, YouTube, VOD and UK catch-up services. Plenty of kids' channels too.
Google Home Mini – bilingual English/Spanish with Spotify Premium.
The Skol benefits from a 24hr Reception service, 2 adult swimming pools and one separate for children and sunbeds for hire. Cafeteria in the gardens. Free Wi-Fi in the Business Centre at reception and direct beach promenade access for residents. Laundry, electricity and water included in the rental price. Beach towels also included.
Additional Details
- Max. Number of Guests: 4
- Check-in after: 4pm
- Check-out by: 12pm
The description, availability and prices indicated for the properties offered for rental and sale on this web site are believed to be correct. Notwithstanding, the information contained on this web site is subject to errors and omissions, and the properties themselves subject to price changes, prior sale, prior rental or withdrawal from the market.


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Non-market Entrepreneurship
Interdisciplinary Approaches
Edited by Gordon E. Shockley, Peter M. Frank and Roger R. Stough
Chapter 11: Social Entrepreneurs: A Neoclassical Theory
Simon C. Parker
Simon C. Parker INTRODUCTION A growing body of research highlights the scale and importance of nonmarket entrepreneurship. A central premise of this book is that despite growing interest in this phenomenon, serious gaps in our knowledge remain. The present chapter explores one gap in particular, relating to the people who create and operate non-market enterprises – people I shall call 'social entrepreneurs' in this chapter. I ask the following questions: What kinds of people become social entrepreneurs? Why do they choose to participate in non-market rather than market activities? Are people more likely to become social entrepreneurs at particular points in their lives? And if so when? The present chapter contains a novel theoretical framework designed to answer these questions. The extant literature on social and not-for-profit entrepreneurship contains little by way of theory on these issues, so I believe that such a contribution may be timely. In an excellent recent survey, Haugh (2006) draws attention to various motives of people driven to become social entrepreneurs. These motives include the articulation of one's beliefs; making a contribution to society; and realizing a dream or vision. There are also various claims that social entrepreneurs possess particular character traits (Drucker, 1989; Leadbeater, 1997; Bornstein, 1998; Prabhu, 1999; Thompson et al., 2000). However, there is little agreement about what exactly those traits might be. Weisbrod (1988: 32–33) cites some evidence that managers of non-profit enterprises may attach greater importance to being cheerful, forgiving, and helpful than managers of forprofits – who...
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In the fast-paced arena of content creation that is fueled by technology innovation and social media trends, it's not a bad idea to step back occasionally to review some basic foundations of your approaches and re-calibrate as necessary. Are you giving your clients and social media followers content that appeals to their specific mode of processing and retaining information? And, are you utilizing your employees' main strengths?
Howard Gardner is a Harvard professor of Psychology well-known for his work begun 35 years back on multiple intelligences, the theory that different individuals have particular intellectual strengths in areas that vary widely. His work has spurred other avenues of research along these lines – Learning Styles is a more recent iteration that plumbs the same depths. Gardner named seven original intelligences and those have expanded over the years of continued research, but they include verbal, aural, visual, kinesthetic, mathematical, natural, interpersonal and intrapersonal.
How does all this relate to content development? Simply that if you are too heavy in one particular area or another – consistently and constantly – you may be missing out on large swaths of potential clients.
Verbal Intelligence
The verbal intelligence is clearly word-driven (and, along with mathematical intelligence, the one that has been focused on and some would say catered to by our society in every fashion). This is not to downplay its relevance. Verbal learners can access many modes of discourse including blogs, articles (including and sometimes especially) long ones, podcasts, interviews, case studies, white papers, and email correspondence.
Mathematical Intelligence
The mathematical or logical intelligence naturally lends itself to system-thinking, data analysis, deductive and inductive reasoning. Infusing content with charts and diagrams, checklists, in-depth tech-based information, and case studies that analyze processes are all positive sources for this group.
Aural Or Audio Intelligence
Aural or audio intelligence obviously nods to the auditory learners – musical intelligence lands here as well as spoken word to some degree, and an array of sound-related content. Podcasts, webinars, online presentations, and video supported with strong soundtracks are all examples of information these learners absorb well. Think creative ways to utilize Spotify or YouTube, also.
Visual Or Spatial Intelligence
Visual or spatial learners clearly have a penchant for images to enhance their information intake. Everything from how-to, whiteboard, and explainer videos to diagrams and flowcharts, animation/gifs, Instagram, and infographics work well for this intelligence.
Kinesthetic Intelligence
Kinesthetic or hands-on learners have often been given short shrift over many years. Simply speaking, it's probably a matter of logistics that limits people's vision in how to cater to the large segment of the population whose dominant strength lies in kinesthetic learning. But anytime these folks can be exposed to things such as interactive apps or tools, touchscreens, game-based activities, reveal-based marketing, podcasts they can create or listen to while moving, face-to-face meetings with wall boards/white boards/get-up-and-move-around-the-board-room, are all helpful to these learners.
Social Intelligence
Social learners may be the greatest beneficiary of modern tech – indicated by the term 'social' media! This intelligence gravitates toward group-related content. Meetups, events, conferences, Google Hangouts, interactive webinars, and of course FB, LinkedIn, and Twitter play into the strengths of this group.
Intrapersonal Intelligence
Intrapersonal intelligence acknowledges those who seem to thrive in solitary learning or solution-creating activities. They do well in a DIY environment or with manuals, e-books, some online training courses, problem-solving with dedicated time and minimal interruption. They are often but not always introverts by nature. Indeed, there are very strong intrapersonal learners who also can excel in social situations.
Natural Intelligence
Natural environment intelligence is one that Gardner identified after some of the others, but it is an intelligence that we see more and more evidence of in the modern world (and not a moment too soon!) Think of those who have a strong predilection for working in nature, with animals, have an extraordinary green thumb, or process through a lens that focuses strongly on how the earth impacts us and we impact it. Or to take it a step further, those who don't see a division between nature and humankind (as so many of us sadly have been subtly trained to do) but only a connection. Content with nature analogies or comparisons, environmental data, and visuals or audio based in the natural world are all good approaches for this group.
Remember, nobody has just one intelligence. We tend to peg people (and a lot in the marketing industry) as the tech person, the graphics person, the word person, etc. By doing this you risk leaving a lot of untapped potential on the office floor. Surveying staff may help you discover these secondary strengths. And simply asking your clients or potential clients what methods they prefer for their information-access can impress them and validate them.
Aim for a balance by injecting different approaches within your content, be it a stand-alone piece or by hitting various intelligences throughout the course of an extended campaign. It's not that you have to go down a checklist of each intelligence and try to force feed representation in every single piece of content you create, but in general terms, simply be conscious of appealing to various learning styles. Need help to determine the 'intelligent' approach to content creation? Connect with us today.
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[…] This Facebook Pixel change is going to help continue the trend of intentionally posting content that is going to perform well in ads. When creating an ad it's important to make sure that it is done right. What type of message, or call to action are you trying to portray? These are the keys! Take a look at how multiple intelligences can help your content creation. […]
[…] couple of weeks back, we blogged about the importance of tapping various intelligences and learning styles in content creation. As a follow-up, we thought it would be interesting to check with a few members of our Steven […]


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Colombia Vacations and Tourism Guide
Overall rating
Who was there
Surface:Colombia has an area of 1,141,748 sq km.
Population: Colombia has a population of around 44,379,598, with Mestizos as the largest ethnic group.
System of government: Colombia is a republic.
Capital: With a population of around 6,776,009, Bogotá is the capital of Columbia.
Religion: Roman Catholicism is the largest religion.
Official Language: Besides Spanish, which is the official language, there are about 65 indigenous languages.
Government: Colombia is a republic.
Climate: Colombia has a tropical climate along the coast and the eastern plains, but it gets cooler in the highlands.
Units of measure and electricity: Colombia is the metric system of measurement, while the official unit of electricity is 110 V and 60 Hz.
Time Zone: The Colombian standard time is GMT – 5.
Currency: Colombian peso (1 € = 2,899.80 Col$)
Travel documents required: Passports are required by all. Nationals of many countries are exempt from a visa requirement for a period of 180 days.
Popular destinations


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Want to get the most out of your tent? Here are some useful tent maintenance tips to help you.
When considering which tent you should buy and you are not sure what to look for in a tent, use these pro tips. We wrote these pro tips specifically for those who are looking into buying a tent. Expected reading time: 3 minutes.
Are you currently shopping for a backpack or just wondering what to look for when choosing a backpack? We compressed all of our knowledge into 3 crucial tips for choosing a backpack. With the help of these tips we try to make your life a bit easier. Expected reading time: 7 minutes.
Winter is coming and you have a few options. You can either sit inside in front of your laptop and watch Netflix with hot chocolate, or you can embrace the cold and spend your winter outside having fun.
Kelty is coming to Europe! In 2017, Kelty will be launching onto the European Market, step by step. The first step(s): The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg!


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Well done to the girls who took part in the 7 a side tournament at Stanley High School today! They finished 3rd, narrowly losing to Farnborough Road in extra time in the semi-final.
The girls started solidly, drawing their first 4 games 0-0. Unfortunately, they then lost the next game 1-0 to Farnborough with the last kick of the game. They followed this with 3 consecutive wins, 3-0, 2-0 and 1-0.
This meant they finished 4th overall, qualifying for the semi final. The girls played amazing from front to back nullifying any attacks from the team full of Year 6's. Unfortunately, an unstoppable shot found its way into the back of the net in extra time meaning the girls just missed out on the final.
It was a great effort from the girls who hadn't played together properly before. Well done to Lily F and Olivia T in Year 6, Paige L, Lily JL, Leah M and Gracie B from Year 5, Olivia G from Year 4 and Paige PD from Year 3!
All website content copyright © Kings Meadow Primary School and Early Years Education Centre
Website design by PrimarySite


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Grant County
Rosedale, NM Schools and Schools Ratings
While perhaps not raised and educated in Rosedale, NM, more than 94.8% of residents have earned high school diplomas or higher, with 23.2% having graduated with a college degree or higher.
Schools Overview
It's no secret that schools and education opportunities are big motivating factors when choosing a best place to live. This is why we've taken the time to provide the most up-to-date statistics on public and private schools in the Rosedale , NM, area. We've also included data on the education levels of residents, and how to get in touch with the public and private schools near you.
Educational Levels in Rosedale , NM
|Graduate or Professional Degree
|High School Graduate
|Some College, No Degree
|Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher
|Percent High School Graduate or Higher
School Enrollment Total
267 in Rosedale, NM.


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The Seven Deadly Sins Book Tag
I thought it was about time for me to do another book tag, and this one seems like a lot of fun. I wasn't tagged, but I saw this over on Bookidote – hope it's okay that I stole this! (though I guess that's appropriate for the Seven Deadly Sins Book Tag). Greed – What […]Read More


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I've got a spare 300W, I was thinking of swapping that into the PC and running the GPU from the 400W one, probably mounted externally somehow- what it looks like is irrelevant .
I don't see why it shouldn't work, any opposing opinions? And what other precautions should I take, eg to make sure they both use the same 0v rail?
A level playing field is level in both directions.
_______________________________________Planes and Boats and ... ______________BQMs: IPv4 IPv6


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Who is Wymond Associates?
Wymond Associates is an expert technology solutions shop, comprised of software architects, technology consultants, project managers and contractors. We build technical solutions for organizations of all types and sizes.
Since 2001, we've worked with government agencies like the U.S. Patent and Trade Office and the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as small private businesses.
Learn more about our leadership team and the great work we do.
Where does Wymond have offices?
Wymond Associates is located just outside of Washington, D.C. in Alexandria, Va., but we provide staff on locations across the United States and abroad.
What is Wymond's corporate mission?
Our goal has always been to design solutions that work for the long term. That means working with you to identify business goals, eliminate inefficiencies and build tools that help you make more intelligent business decisions.
What benefits come with working with Wymond?
In addition to working with our top tech talent, Wymond Associates maintains a number of contract vehicles to help you get the software, hardware and other technical resources you need at competitive rates. We've also cultivated strong relationships within the financial community, which allows us to be flexible with capital and act quickly when it comes to ramping up resources for even the most complex project.
Learn more about the services we offer, our GSA schedule and read client success stories.
Who are your customers?
Our client list includes public companies like Dimension Data, large government agencies like the U.S. Patent and Trade Office and small private businesses.
We also partner with some of the world's largest IT contractors to fill project gaps, support specific skillsets and provide training and staffing.


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Hungary's industrial output rose both an unadjusted and a working-day adjusted 12.2% year-on-year in volume terms in July, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) reported on Friday. July output was up 1.1% from June according to seasonally- and working day-adjusted figures. Output rose by 10.5% year-on-year in January-July 2006, unadjusted figures show. Per capita industrial production or industrial productivity increased 13% year-on-year among businesses employing at least 5 workers in the first seven month of the year, taking into account a 2% reduction in headcount. Manufacturing sector productivity rose 13.3% compared to January-July 2005. Hungary's industrial output rose 7.3% in 2005. Domestic sales volume increased 4.4% and export sales increased 11.1% from 2004. Of Hungary's seven regions, production fell in one region alone, in Southern Transdanubia, by 5.6%, in the first seven months of the year. The biggest volume increase during the period was registered in Northern Hungary (18.4%). July exports of electric machinery and instruments, which account for more than one-third of all manufacturing industry exports, was slightly down in volume terms from one year earlier, the first year-on-year drop in several years. The 0.6% decline in the sector's exports was due to decreasing exports by the light fixtures and other electric products branch, KSH said.
The other major sector of manufacturing industry exports, vehicle production, which makes up more than one-quarter of manufacturing industry exports, saw, in contrast, its exports rise 32.1%. Vehicle manufacturing, which generates close to 20% of manufacturing industry output, increased production by 31.2%. Production of metal raw materials and metal processing products rose 22.4%, primarily due to increased production of iron, steel and aluminium. Production of machines and equipment increased 17.7% and rubber and plastic products rose 17.5% in volume terms. Production of electric machinery, which accounts for 27% of manufacturing industry output, rose 11.7%. Production of food, beverages and tobacco products was up a slight 2.4%, and textile industry output fell 2.1%, making it the only manufacturing branch to contract during the period. (Mti-Eco)