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Term Paper Samples
Term Paper Sample- INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION REPORT
This individual reflection report is based on the discussions which we had in our group. Our group was headed by Eugene. As coordinator and implementer of the group, this repot is presented. This role was in accordance to the Belbin team role self-perception inventory (BTRSPI) which was structured to measure the traits which people display when working in a team. The individual traits assist in designing the role which a person is awarded in the group. Other group members were given different roles depending on the characteristics they displayed. Proper role allocation was essential in the effective achievement of the set group objectives (Belbin 2013).
As the group coordinator and implementer, one had a task of looking at organizational development and its relations with the human resource department in an organization. Basically organizational development can be defined as a deliberate effort which has been planned and managed by top executives to promote organizational performance in the implementation of organizational activities through application of behavior science knowledge. It is clear from this definition that organization development mainly emphasizes on organizational performance which can only be attained through employee motivation (Richard 1969).
There is a close connection which is evident between organization development and human resource department. They both focus on the important people processes. For organizational performance to be attained human resources require an effective management. The top executive has to ensure that their demands are met appropriately. However, it is worthy looking at the distinction that exists between the two fields. Human resource mainly focuses on short-term processes such as employee performance reviews, remuneration and recruitment. Organizational development on the other hand aims at long-term people processes such as organizational mission, training and management (Terrence 2010). Human resource supplements organizational development processes (Kandula 2006).
Common goal and ground rules for team
To promote unity of effort, our team formulated common goals and ground rules for the team members. They were binding to all members, and they were under duty to observe them. Ground rules were meant to attain group objectives for example completing the assignment on time. Every group member had to understand the group mission for them to comply by the group rules. While structuring our team goals, we considered the main aspects of team goals. First there was the basic requirement of a team. The physical presence of presence of the team members was necessary. Our group was comprised of five members, and they all actively participated in the goal formulation process. Secondly, the success of our group in accomplishing the assignment was dependent on goals (David 2014).
Hence, our goals were more directed on the side of academics because we were handling an assignment together. Thirdly, the aspect of individual motivation was evident in our goals. The goals clearly depicted the individual inspiration for academic success which was in all the members. Members' motivation was examined by their willingness to contribute in the goal formulation process. They had believed that they would accomplish team goals. Finally the feature of clarity in goal setting was properly followed. The ground rules were clear and consistent with the team goals. Group members were able to clearly tell what we're looking for and how we were bound to attain it. The group was focused, and had a significant level of Cohesiveness. I would like to look at the main ground rules which were important in the group discussion. First we had the rule concerning common goals (David 2014).
Normally, common goals give group members a common sense of direction. For example, in our group each member was committed towards handling of the group assignment that would otherwise not have been completed by one member. Secondly the members were to maintain high levels of punctuality when attending group meetings and submitting their research work. Assignments are supposed to be finished within one week before the submission date. Maintaining a conducive environment for the group meetings was another matter that the rules checked on. Everyone had to ensure that the mobile phones were switched off during group meetings to avoid disruptions. Fourth, the group rules provided for the freedom of expression. Individuals feel a sense of belonging when their views are accepted in a group. Members of our group for example have proposed that we maintain the same groups while handling other assignments. This is a good idea though we are still waiting for official communication. Extending a helping hand is another principle successfully structured in the team. Whenever one member is in need, the others are willing to help (David 2014).
Team building
Team building is management of individuals so that they can reach the set objectives of the group. The process of team building is continuous, and this helps the teams to maintain their level of togetherness. For a team to exhibit high performance level, the team members have to share a common goal, trust, respect and supportive values. Team builders have a role to guide their teams towards attainment of high performance levels. This is because organizational development is directly related to teamwork. That is to mean poor team performance will be depicted in organizational performance (California 2014).
In the current environmental setting, the composition of teams is continually changing, and there is more urge to develop competitive skills in members so that their presence in the team can be effective. In summary the main stage involved in team building are: setting clear goals. This will involve communicating the objectives of the team in a clear manner. Secondly, the team builder will be needed to establish the challenges to attaining group performance and finally dealing with those challenges appropriately for the common goals to be attained. The solutions to challenges could be attained through forums such as discussions and performance evaluation (Steve 2014).
Advantages of teamwork
Teamwork promotes synergy whereby individuals with varied talents are integrated together in a group. Much more is attained when employees work together as a group. They inspire each other, and this boosts individual's intrinsic motivation. The individuals are willing to offer more. Improve motivation will inspire organizational development through the improved performance. Secondly, we noted that teamwork gives the members a good opportunity of learning from one another. Their skills and personal performance at the workplace is improved by their participation in teamwork. Group and teams formation should thus be emphasized in organizations (Medsker 1997).
Disadvantages of teamwork
According to the team building process we analyzed, we realized that the process of building stable and performing teams is time consuming. Normally team formation needs coordination, and it takes time to make decisions. Most organizations are not willing to concentrate their effort to such processes. Secondly, the possibility of conflicts arising in a group is very high especially when members fail to agree on a topic. Application of conflict resolution methods brings unnecessary expenses (Medsker 1997).
Theories we applied when building our team.
Belbin roles theory: we successfully applied Belbin roles in building our team. These roles majorly emphasize on individuals using their abilities for the benefit of the team. This enhances in the team performance because group members give their best to the team. He identified nine team roles which are classified under: intellectual roles, people oriented roles and action oriented roles. Intellectual roles: planter, monitor and specialist. Action oriented role: implementer, shaper and finisher. People skills oriented role: coordinator, team-worker and investigator. We appropriately applied these roles in our teambuilding whereby every member was allocated team roles.
Advantages and disadvantages of Belbin role theory:
Disadvantages: first, it is interesting to emphasize that this theory is specifically designed for teams. Information obtained can only be useful in cultural change, individual development and team development. Secondly, the theory is mainly concerned with behavior. It cares less on personality. When making decisions in an organization, information obtained from Belbin theory needs to be supplemented (David 2014). Advantages: the theory gives team members an opportunity to share information and further unites the team. These are major aspects that attracts inspires team members and also attracts individuals to join the team (Belbin 2013). Tuchman four stages: this team building model explains the different changes that happen when a team develops from formation stage to the later stages. In our discussion we noted that as the development proceeds to later stages, more decision are made, and the time required making such agreements decreases. The stages can be explained as follows:
Formation stage: the members of the group highly depend on the leader, there is little agreement and the duties of members lack clarity. Storming stage: the roles of group members are progressively determined but still there is uncertainty. Decisions are made at a slow rate. Team members are required to be focused to avoid distractions. Norming stage: the level of agreement is high, and the members cooperate with the leader. The level of commitment is high and it is common to have social activities. Performing stage: every member is aware of his roles. They have a common vision and the level of unity is high. Any disagreements arising are solved in a positive manner. The team leader is able to comfortably delegate tasks. The level of intrinsic motivation on members is high (Alan 2013).
Advantages: this model provides clearly detailed explanation of the stages which teams undergo and whenever one is planning to form a team he can use the model as a point of reference. Disadvantages: this method was specifically designed for small groups. It cannot be used to predict stages for larger groups. Secondly, it is difficult to determine when the team has proceeded to the next stage because we are dealing with human beings. A change in human traits is hard to determine (Quantum 2014).
Team development process: in our team building we applied team development process whereby we evaluated the development of our team within a period of one and half years. During this process we used questionnaire to measure the development of the team. The level of productivity was high during this period and this promoted innovation in the team (Quantum 2014). Advantages: a closely monitored team development process improves the ability of the team achieve better performances because the process promotes innovation which is essential in organizational development. Secondly, the acts of team members are closely monitored to check on their accountability for team performance. Disadvantage: the level of rigidity of this method is very high in such a manner that the individuals' performance should be monitored closely. Failure to implement this monitoring brings poor performance (Quantum 2014).
Challenges encountered
While working has a team we encountered various challenges. Most of them were unexpected but others we expected their presence. As highlighted above in Tuchman's team development stages, there is reduced member integration in our stage during the first meetings. Members were not very cooperative and we entirely depended on our leader to offer guidance and carry out the tasks. Other members were confused because their role in the team was not clearly. This made me feel de-motivated during this period due to the failed expectations. However, we eventually solved the issue and our activities proceeded smoothly (Quantum 2014).
There were also challenges when collecting information on organizational development from the field especially on measuring the contribution of organizational development. This is because organizational development has some aspects of behavioral science. As a result we could get varied results. We had to technically balance the results (Quantum 2014).
Organizational development techniques applied We mainly applied the organizational development technique of management by objectives (MBO). We worked together with our team leader, Eugene to attain our objectives for the study. Whenever any member faced a challenge, we all participated to find a solution. Survey feedback technique was also applied in the part of team development process to acquire the required data. The information obtained was important in the planning process. Challenges encountered in the team were also analyzed (Harshmandavia 2012).
Conclusively, developing teams face many challenges mostly in their early stages. There is a great need to put any team building process under the supervision of a professional human resource practitioner so the teams formed can reach the maturity stage. This will help to reduce team break-ups while in the initial stages.
Reference list
Allan, C., 2013, Tuchman stages, Retrieved from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Techniques-Of-Organizational-Development-Used-To-1299465.htm
Belbin, H., 2013, A Comprehensive Review of Belbin Team Roles. Retrieved from www.belbin.com
David, R., 2014, Goals, Retrieved from http://www.odportal.com/teams/effective/chapter5.htm
Kandula, S., 2006), Human Resource Management and Organization Development Practitioner Readings, ICFAI Books, New York.
Medsker, G.J. and Campion, M.A., 1997, Job and Team Design, in Salendy, G., Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics,
Quantum Learning, 2014, Team Development Process, Retrieved from http://www.quantumlearn.com/team-building/team-development-process/
Richard, B., 1969, Organization Development: Strategies and Models
Steve, M., 2014, Team Building, Retrieved from http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/tt/h-articl/tb-basic.htm
Terrence, S., 2010, HR and OD- What Does the Future Hold. Retrieved from http://learningvoyager.blogspot.com/2010/10/hr-and-od-what-does-future-hold.html
University of California, 2014, Team Building, California university, California university press.
check the PDF sample below.
Term paper sample Advanced Criminal Justice Ethics
Question 1
Individuals have their own different definitions of what ethics entails. However, one thing that all these definitions have in common is that, ethics deals with knowing what is right or wrong. Ethics can be defined as the body of cognition that is responsible for the study of worldwide rationales that determine right from wrong. Many people are inclined to thinking that ethics revolves around their feelings; what they feel is right or wrong. However, this is not the case. Individuals have their own perception regarding particular scenarios or subject. As a result, one's feelings may deviate from what is ethical. The main purpose of ethical conduct is to govern and guide one's behavior. Ethical conduct increases the probability that an individual will behave accordingly in certain ways. This is achieved by partly focusing on the actions of individual characters and penalties for infringement. Ethical conduct encourages organization. Without ethical conduct people would do things in their own way based on their own moral choices, which may not be right. (Preston, 2007)
Possessing the knowledge on ethics is not enough. It is very significant for individual to evaluate their own conduct and that of other people. Evaluation of conduct involves the critical judgment of individual behavior. It serves as a gauge for progress; success and failures. Evaluation of one's conduct can be based on two categories: formative and summative. The formative category identifies what an individual expects to achieve in a particular endeavor. The summative category investigates what has been achieved at the culmination of the program. These two categories assist in determining any deviation in ethical conduct which may result in failure of achieving the intended purpose. (Preston, 2007)
Question 2
Ethics is a body of knowledge applied by different professions. Teachers, doctors, students, researchers, scientist, politicians among other individual must possess and apply the knowledge of ethics. There has been continuous emphasizes on ethics in leadership. Leadership is a broad subject. It not only pertains to political leadership, but also organizational leadership. An ethical leader can be defined as the demonstration of prescriptive appropriate conduct through individual actions and social relationships, and the advocacy of such conduct to acolytes. The current President of USA, Barack Obama is good example of a reputable ethical leader. Elected to be the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama was sworn into power on January 20, 2009. He is a charismatic and transformational leader who strictly follows ethics when dealing with other people. He is a man who has earned the respect of many individuals for his action of integrity and impartiality. Owing to his reputable character and behavior, the economy and country in general, has gradually thrived. (Finser, 2003)
Barack Obama is an autonomous minded individual possessing charismatic speaking skills. He is bent on consensus building and will not, for any reasons whatsoever compromise his values for the sake of profit or any other vested interest. Apart from possessing all these qualities and being a good leader, he is also a talented, introverted writer. He is the writer of two bestselling books. His leadership qualities and values have been strongly supplemented by his expertise as a civil rights attorney and a Constitutional Law professor, and by Christianity. Prior to his position as the President, he served 7 years as Illinois State Senator. Barack Obama also worked as community organizer.
Question 3
Ethics refers to the well established touchstone or reference on what is right or wrong. These standards determine what individuals ought to do. It also refers to the study and growth of an individual's ethical standards. One's feelings, laws, and social norms may vary from what is ethical. As a result it is necessary and mandatory to regularly analyze one's standards to ascertain that they are resolved and well established. In order for an individual to be regarded as ethical, it takes much more effort than just studying ethics. One has to apply the knowledge acquired. The study of ethics is very significant. This is so because, almost every profession, organization and entity applies ethics in achieving set objectives. Societies have their own definition on what is right or wrong. Equipping oneself with the knowledge of ethics serves as a stepping stone towards better relation with individuals. (Preston, 2007)
Ethics serves as a road map on how individuals should conduct themselves. For example ethics imposes obligations that refrain individuals from indulging in vices. Currently, there are many vices in our society today. For instance rape, fraud, theft, slander, murders are just a few of the many vices some individuals engage in. Some individuals will engage in such vices since they have inadequate or no information regarding what is ethical. Others possess the knowledge on ethics but for various reasons, they choose to be ignorant of what they already know. The study of ethics is very significant in an individual's lifetime. Although ethical knowledge may be learnt from our seniors, the study of ethics gives individual detailed information on what is right or wrong in the society. ( Millar & Poole, 2003)
Millar, C., & Poole, E. (2011). Ethical Leadership: Global Challenges and Perspectives. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Preston, N. (2007). Understanding Ethics. Australia: Federation Press.
Finser, T. (2003). In Search of Ethical Leadership: If not now, when? United States: SteinerBooks
Sample Term paper Economics
Question 1
This practice of taking money away from the rich and giving it to the poor might reduce efficiency because it makes some individuals worse off to make others better off. These programs are a form of disincentives for those individuals who have to contribute as well as those who work. Because of distinctiveness on the side of those who work and contribute, the overall output of the society decreases. Moreover, the introduction of taxes into the marketplace leads to a reduction in the economic efficiency because taxes cause a deadweight loss. In addition, prices for economic goods in a competitive market always adjust to ensure that all the transactions that benefit both buyers and sellers occur. When this balance is distorted, it leads to fewer transactions and reduced welfare. All these contribute to reduced efficiency in both the market and society.
Question 2
In the field of economics, the term opportunity cost is used to refer to the value of the next valued alternative use of a given resource. This implies the cost of using a certain resource is already the value the next best option that an individual gives up in favour of the chosen option between equally exclusive economic uses. For instance, the opportunity cost of going to the movie would be losing 10 points of my grade. This means that spending money (AED 35) and time in the movie, I cannot be able to spend that time (3 hours) studying economics. Thus, my opportunity cost of choosing to watch the movie would be the money spend (AED 35) plus the points I lose (10 points) for not studying economics. The opportunity cost of studying economics losing AED 35 and time spent watching the movie.
Question 3
Using the formula, opportunity cost= cost of the selected alternative-cost of the next best option. Leila's opportunity cost would be AED 120,000- AED 74,000 = -AED 46,000.
Question 4
- a)It will produce at point E (160) bushels of corn and produce zero (0) cars.
- b)Combination B and C
- c)The opportunity cost of moving from D to E is 3 cars. The country has to forgo 3 cars in order to produce 20 extra bushels of corn.
- d)Production at point C or F would mean that the country is underutilizing its resources. The country is not producing enough cars or corn given the potential of its resources.
Question 5
Nominal GDP = ($2.5*40 +$5*20) = $200
Real GDP= ($2.5*40 +$5*20) = $200
GDP deflator = 100%
Inflation rate = (0%-100%) = -100%
Nominal GDP = ($3*50 +$6*25) = $300
Real GDP = ($2.5*50 +5*25) =$ 250
GDP deflator = ($300/200)*100% =150%
Inflation rate = (150%-100%) = 50%
Nominal GDP = ($4*40 +$6*30) = $340
Real GDP = ($2.5*40 + $5*30) = $250
GDP deflator = ($340/$200)*100% =170%
Inflation rate = (170%-150%) = 20%
Question 6
GDP is all the products produced within the country's borders and GNP comprises of the products produced by firms and companies owned by a country's citizens. The parts of the restaurant production included in UAE are salaries of expats, food and fresh produced by UAE nationals, and all the utilities to UAE companies. The GNP of UAE will not include the salaries paid to the expats.
Question 7
Cost of basket = (6*$3.25 +2*$75) = $169.5
Inflation rate = -100%
Cost of basket = (6*$3.75 +2*$82) = $186.5
Inflation rate = (11.00%-100%) = -89%
Cost of basket = (6*$4.50 +2*$96) = $219
Inflation rate= 129.204%-11.00%) = 118.204%
Term Paper Sample Bone Experiment Lab Report
Question 1
The spongy bone is located on the inner part while the compact bone is located on the inner part. The spongy bone that is concentrated on the edges of the bone has large cavities appearing in wide mesh filled with red marrow. Compact bone appears to have very small cavities with very narrow mesh congaing pale yellow marrow.
Question 2
Spongy bone is pink in color
Question 3
The major difference is that, cartilage is white while bone is cream
Question 4
Cartilage felt soft compared to bone, which was hard
Question 5
Periosteum is thin and appears to be transparent while endosteum is thick and appears to be red in color.
Question 6
Bone marrow is red
Question 7
Articular cartilage is one found between joints
Question 8
The color of tendons is white
Question 9
They are made of strong elastic fibers
Question 10
The raw bone appears to be soft and cream while the baked one appears cracked and white
Question 1
The bone bends slightly as I apply pressure
Question 2
Calcium phosphates
Question 3
It does not bend but cracks as pressure is applied
Question 4
Collagen substances are responsible for bone flexibility.
Question 5
The vinegar soaked bone
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Operations and supply management
Operations and supply management is a crucial aspect of organizational performance. This paper highlights the different characteristics of goods and services and how they affect production and operations management. Furthermore, the distinction between production and capacity has been described. Finally there is a reflection on the relevance of inventory management in both the goods and services firms.
Operations and supply management
Goods and services are produced by organizations with the consumers in mind. Consumers have expectations with regard to goods and services that are available in the market. In the course of addressing consumer expectations, firms have to make their operations and supply chains effective. This is achieved through the use of different strategies that aim at satisfying the needs of consumers.
Goods and services have differing characteristics that are significant in understanding operation management. Goods are tangible such that they can be seen physically by the consumers. For instance consumers are able to see mobile phones or cakes as goods in the market. On the other hand, services are intangible in the sense that they cannot be seen by the consumers. For instance customers cannot feel or touch courier services provided by some organizations. They are only supposed to trust the providers based on their understanding. An inventory of goods can easily be kept because of their physical characteristics. It is very difficult to make an inventory of services produced by an organization(Jacobs 2010, p.22).
Services are usually unique and they can be used to identify a particular firm or agency. Water and Electricity companies are unique with the intangible products they produce to meet the expectation of consumers in the market.
For instance customer may require support services when they are supplied with internet services. This might become necessary especially when technical problems occur in the course of using the services provided.
Goods are made with the intention of reducing human customer interaction in the course of their utilization. For instance most producers provide instructions on goods concerning their use by the consumers. Goods such as electronics and automobiles are distributed with reduced customer interaction because the consumers can freely manipulate them in the course of their use (Jacobs 2010, p.22).
Buying a loaf of bread is different from buying a car based on the requirements needed by the consumers. Buying a loaf of bread is a simple process compared to buying a car. A loaf of bread is known by all consumers and can be returned to the seller if a defect is found. For instance, if a consumer cuts the loaf and finds some foreign materials, he can return to the supplier for a refund or exchange with a good loaf. Buying a car on the other hand is not simple based on the number of processes the buyer has to go through before deciding to become the owner of the car. For example the owner has to ensure that the car is in good condition and the documents are valid. It is only after verification of documents that a decision to buy it is initiated by the seller.
Production is different from capacity in a number of ways. Production refers to the process through which goods and services are created in an organization. Before goods or services are created, a number of things happen and they all aim at producing the goods or services.
Operations management ensures that activities are directed towards creation of goods and services. Activities in operations management work to create value which later comes out as goods and services. In a manufacturing scenario, operations management ensures that the raw materials are delivered in time and are acted upon so as to come up with goods that can satisfy the expectations of consumers. Operation management therefore makes sure that inputs are transformed into outputs hence becoming valuables in the market (Jacobs 2010, p.43).
Capacity on the other hand is different from production in the sense that it is concerned with the ability to hold, store or handle goods and services. This ability is determined by the resources available in an organization. Some organization may have larger capacities in handling goods and services while others have a small capacity. Capacity can be used as a measure of the effectiveness of operations management. With well managed operations in goods and services, there is always preparedness in handling of goods and services. A hospital that has efficient operations management can handle emergency situations because of a good capacity that is facilitated by the available resources. (Jacobs 2010, p.45).
Economies of scale in inventories are relevant in the case of a steel manufacturing plant. Steel manufacturing requires bulk and homogenous production. This can be well achieved though making good use of the inventories. In terms of efficiency, economies of scale are relevant to the steel manufacturing companies. This is in light of the fact that when firms expand, their efficiency to utilize the available resources is enhanced. When resources are being well utilized, more desirable results are realized. With economies of scale, the cost of transport of raw materials to and from the steel manufacturing plant tends to influence the size of the firm. When the costs are low, firms may expand and serve the customers to their satisfaction. However when the costs of transport are high in the same firm, it becomes difficult to reach out to many customers. Economies of scale, in the inventories, helps steel manufacturing plants to reduce the costs that can be associated with the transport of raw materials to the plant, and distribution of the finished products to the customers. The economies of scale are therefore crucial in production planning of a steel manufacturing plant. Good production planning would therefore aim at reducing the costs of processes such as transport (Jacobs 2010, p.76).
In the case of a hospital, dependability of inventories is relevant. This is in light of the fact that hospital falls under the service sector. The clients in this case have higher expectations that should be met by the supply chain. Inventories have to be dependable to prevent failure which can have a huge impact on the organization especially when the needs of clients are not addressed or there are delays in the delivery of services. A good inventory guarantees efficient services to the patients in a hospital. In the production planning strategy of a hospital the inventories are selected based on their capacity to provide the most efficient services
In conclusion, operations management is essential for organizations both in the goods and service sectors. Consumers of goods and services can only be satisfied if the operations management is effective. The goods and service firms show differences in their structure and inventories but they are all focused on the needs of the customers. Inventories play a very significant role in the production planning and management of steel manufacturing firms and hospitals. Their ability to satisfy the needs of consumers is based on how efficient their inventories have been organized.
Jacobs R(2010) Operations and supply management. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies


text:
Good board games are challenging and entertaining. Great games have flexibility and replayability. But the best games are the ones that let you and your friends enjoy the action as well as each other, an excuse to laugh while defending yourselves against certain doom.
They keep getting better, too. Monopoly and other static games with fixed boards have been old and busted for two decades. The not-so-new hotness: games with multiple character choices, flexible winning conditions, flexible difficulty levels and boards that change each time you play them -- not to mention living storylines, sequel "episodes" and refereed tournaments.
Because it's Star Trek month here at Blastr, I found eight post-modern board Star Trek games, plus two classics that have withstood the test of time. I hope you relish them as much as I.
Risk: Star Trek
Risk: Star Trek isn't just a skin variation on a theme. Well, it kinda is if you play it as a straight-up Risk game. But there's a second, more advanced way of playing it that adds a more cut-throat element to an already cut-throat game. Players choose from one of the five Star Trek captains, as well as their crew; with four crew members in play at any round, they really can save you when some inferior captain tries to invade your hard-earned territory.
Here, Q has gathered all five Star Trek captains and pitted them against each other in an Arena-like fashion. However, invading and defending are critical to meeting Q's many quests, and the first captain to meet three of them wins the game. But you're also subjected to Q-vents, which need to be resolved, some of them more dastardly than others...particularly the Tribbles.
This game is as vicious as it is fun. And the Tribbles were as insidious as they were adorbs.
(2 to 5 players)
Star Trek Catan
As with Risk: Star Trek, Star Trek Catan is a twist on the fabulous Settlers of Catan game. The gameplay mirrors the original game as well, where the first player to reach ten points wins. But tnstead of the standard five resources in the original — wood, wool, ore, clay, and wheat — this version substitutes food, water, oxygen, tritanium, and dilithium. Also, the robber doesn't appear on a 7 roll; the Klingons do.
In addition, players get support cards in the form of the original crew, plus Sarek — Spock's father, who doesn't get nearly enough board game love.
But your support card can also be a hindrance, as you can't discard it until its condition is met. So if your Kirk card lets you avoid penalties on a 7, you're stuck with it until someone actually rolls a 7. Damn it, Jim.
(3-4 players)
Star Trek Fleet Captains
STFC, a game based on the Heroclix system, has a great deal to recommend it: Randomized tiles and randomized ships give this game decent replayability, plus if you don't like your mission (based on either science, influence, or combat), just replace it with a new one.
Players choose subdecks of cards from a static deck, which gives this game the flexibility of a CCG without having to spend your house down-payment on a card that gives you Star Trek equivalent of three mana.
It's not a perfect game. It's two or four players only (no three or five players). It's kind of spendy. And sadly, because of the game's randomization of cards you need for your winning condition, your missions may not be completable. But whether you're attacking the Klingons or bombarding the Federation, you'll see it's Star Trek through and through.
(2 or 4 players)
The Captain Is Dead
TCID isn't an official Star Trek game, but I'm including it because it has as much Star Trek feel as any game here. But really, it's more like the Kobayashi Maru. Our captain is dead, and to win, the crew must save the ship and warp away from the attacking aliens. Sounds simple. It is and it isn't.
Players choose a station (medical, engineering, science, etc.), then from there, you can pick a character (you're given two or three choices). For example, in Engineering, you can become either the Chief Engineer or a Teleporter Chief.
TCID is a cooperative game, so instead of trying to stab your buddy, you're actually trying to save their life so they can save yours. As a veteran of too many combat games, I'm thrilled with the 21st-century trend of collaborative games, and this is one of the better ones.
Pro tip: Even with a less challenging winning condition, TCID is hard. To me, that made it more fun. The Admiral card is way overpowered, making every game with him in it more likely to succeed. Stick with the First Officer for an extra challenge.
(1-7 players)
Star Fleet Battles
Where would any list of Star Trek games be without Star Fleet Battles? This 1979 game boldly went where no game had gone before, by blending the world of Star Trek with the tactics and strategy of a war game. This is a game for the strategically minded and the answer to every half-written manual you've ever encountered.
However, it's not for everyone — myself included. Although it has a simple kill-or-be-killed goal, the manual is so densely packed that playing the game felt more like work than entertainment. To wit:
But if war games and battle simulations are your cup of tranya, then you can't do better than Star Fleet Battles. You just can't.
Pro tip: Beginners should play with smaller ships. With fewer weapons systems, no shuttle craft, no transporter bombs, no high-energy maneuvers — and no positron flywheel — your game will much more streamlined and much less complicated. You can always graduate to larger ships later.
(2+ players)
Star Trek Trivial Pursuit Anniversary Edition
This pared-down version of Trivial Pursuit has no board and no pies. But what it lacks in traditional Trivial Pursuitness, it makes up for Star Trekiness. In some ways, Star Trek Trivial Pursuit was my favorite — and not because the box does double duty as the Galileo shuttle. It's because it gave me the opportunity to unleash my raw geek power.
It's a simple enough game: Answer the trivia questions in every category before some other know-it-all beats you to it. With questions like "What was Spock's betrothed wife's name?" and "What stigmatizing disease did T'Pol contract?" winning this game pretty much justified all of those hours watching Star Trek. Hell, it justified my entire life.
Pro tip: Shuffle your deck thoroughly before you begin. It took several rounds before we realized that this large deck wasn't solely dedicated to the original series.
(2+ players)
Star Trek: Five-Year Mission
5YM is a fun cooperative game, challenging enough to keep your interest yet simple enough to play with different age ranges/stages of inebriation. Players choose between classic Trek, Next Gen, or a combo of both, before they pick their characters.
You start off with three mission decks: a general blue deck, plus yellow and red decks, which need to be separated into classic or Next Gen piles, depending on which version you've chosen. Players are given five dice of different colors, and each card has a mission you can complete by matching the die colors and number on your roll. If you can only match one number, that's fine. The next player may be able to match the other on their turn. If your rolls are dice-tastic, it's mission accomplished.
But certain cards can result in injuries, damage to the Enterprise, or time-based challenges that may or may not be met. Losing one mission is bad. If you lose five missions, or if your Enterprise takes five points of damage, you're as dead as Edith Keeler.
Too soon?
(3 to 7 players)
Tridimensional Chess
As Star Trek fans know, tridimensional chess, also known as 3D chess, was shown on the the classic series in episodes "Charlie X" and "Court Martial." Fan Andrew Bartmess took that game and made it real and playable.
In many ways, tri-d chess plays like standard chess, where the object of the game is to take your opponent's king. But the extra dimensions give the game, well, extra dimension. While in traditional chess, you can move your pawn one space forward (two on its opening move), here, you can also move it one space forward, one space forward above, or one space forward below.
It's a simple shift in perception, recognizing that the overlapping boards are actually the same main board. The trick is to pay attention to the other "attack" boards. For a fun twist, you can pick up and move one of the smaller boards and replace them in other positions — as long as the board is either empty or has only one pawn on it.
It takes practice, but if you can get the hang of standard chess, you can get the hang of the Star Trek version (Note: When I say "you," I mean "not me." I lost hard).
(2 players)
Star Trek: Attack Wing
Do you like miniatures? Strategies? Precise measurements? Do you hate boards? Star Trek: Attack Wing has got yer game right here.
Using multiple components (like dials and maneuver templates), players must balance characters and actions against the strength of their ships. Plan, attack, and yes, measure your firing arc. If your opponent can't evade, you'll be sending them to Stovokor. Or vice versa.
Attack Wing is a solid combat game that doesn't force you to wade through encyclopedia-sized manuals (I'm looking at YOU, Star Fleet Battles.) But even though it's enjoyable, it has one serious flaw: WizKids' multiple expansion packs encourage you to make extra purchases. Let me do the math for you: $12 here + $15 there = the freakin' DLC of board games.
Side note: Attack Wing has a living storyline, with new challenges each quarter that wrap up with a tournament. The prizes aren't stellar, but the bragging rights are.
(2 to 4 players)
Star Trek Panic
In Star Trek Panic, you need to complete five missions with the original Star Trek crew in order to win the game. However, that's secondary to the real goal, which is to keep the Enterprise from going out in flames (Really. There are flames.). Romulans, Klingons, and Tholians converge around the board and pummel your shields and eventually your ship until you take them out. But don't bask in your sweet victory. Before your turn ends, you draw two more enemies.
The thing about Panic — particularly Star Trek Panic, based on Castle Panic — is that the s**t hits the fan pretty much the moment you begin, and the game feels as if you're scrambling to keep up. It's OK the second time around, when you know what you're doing. The first game? It feels like you're about to die at any moment. It's the very definition of panic. This makes it hard to implement an offense when you're too busy on the defense.
But what Star Trek Panic lacks in strategy, it makes up for in creating a bonding experience. After all, you're working together to save the Enterprise. That makes you and your buddies the best crew around.
Pro tip: Go around the board and do damage in order of sector. And make sure one person moves the ships, to avoid confusion as to who moved what .
Side note: My sharp-eyed buddy Frank thinks the Klingon Bird of Prey graphic comes from Star Trek VI and not the original series.
(1 to 6 players)

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Top 50 Restaurant Management Blogs
Rebounding Economy, Increasing Tourism feeding Local Restaurant Boom
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Hospitality Consulting Firm's Gemberling on Choice Hotels ready to push its boutique brand nationally
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A New Book Blooming
By The Editors
Quail Bell Magazine and Eudaimonia Press, publisher of the recently reviewed Love_Is_Love, are teaming up to do an anthology to benefit She is Rising, a nonprofit devoted to ending human trafficking and gender violence. We cannot tell you how excited and grateful we are for this collaboration! Stay tuned for news about our forthcoming book. Learn more about Eudaimonia Press at www.eudaimoniapress.org.


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More than four hundred Williamsburg residents came out to the Church of God of Prophecy on South 1st Street for the Thanksgiving celebration organized by Southside United HDFC – Los Sures last week.
This is the 12th year of the annual Thanksgiving feast put together by the Southside-based non-profit. Over the years it has continued to meet the growing needs of low-income Williamsburg residents, who find it increasingly hard to celebrate the holidays with the growing rents and cost of living in North Brooklyn.
"We have held this event for 12 years now, and every year it has grown," said Ramon Peguero, the Executive Director of Los Sures. "We are glad to see the community participate and come together to celebrate this American tradition, but the high attendance also highlights the growing need of the population as costs continue to increase."
"Nevertheless, we're very thankful for the participation of the entire neighborhood from the volunteers who helped cook and serve the food to the business leaders that donated resources for the event," he added.
Almo Group Corp., Dime Bank, Food Bazaar, and Mamita's Foods were among those sponsors that made the event possible.
At the event, Los Sures also raffled off 100 turkeys to local families giving them a second chance to celebrate the holiday – this time on the actual day and at home.
"Bringing residents together is vital to creating a sustainable and understanding community," said Iris Minaya, a community organizer at Los Sures. "We hope that the turkeys that we give away will help families celebrate thanksgiving individually and take part in this long American tradition, as they may otherwise not be able to."


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Use the putty knife to remove patching compound from container and liberally apply compound around the edge of the wall patch. Start around the edges and work your way out before getting to the middle of the wall patch. Make sure that the all edges of the wall patch are covered by patching compound..
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wholesale nfl jerseys Get daily updates directly to your inbox+ SubscribeThank you for subscribing!THE exploits of Scottish football's bad boys are often recalled with as much fondness as the successes our teams once enjoyed at club and international level.Players such as Jimmy Johnstone and Billy Bremner are remembered as much for their antics on rowing boats and in Copenhagen night clubs as their prowess on the pitch.Even Rangers keeper Allan McGregor, who will be asked to keep our bid for Euro 2012 on course against the Czech Republic on Saturday, commanded as many headlines last year for his ill timed boozing session at Cameron House as his ability between the sticks at Ibrox.But neither Johnstone, Bremner or McGregor, Hughie Gallacher, Willie Johnston, Jim Baxter and the rest could hold a candle to Robert Crawford, the scorer of Scotland's very first goal and the first man to find the net in the history of international football.It's all very well tangling with strippers or going for benders the night before important World Cup qualifiers.It's something else to revel in your standing as a genocidal warlord, dishing out vigilante justice in west Africa before being sentenced for murdering your slave after beating him to death while rubbing salt into gaping wounds on his bare back.A couple of assault charges or a breach of cheap nfl jerseys the https://www.vec-ievc.org peace seem tame by comparison.Crawford's story has been revealed by ex SFA media boss Andy Mitchell, who has published a book on Lord Arthur Kinnaird, the first superstar of British football.Scot Kinnaird played in nine FA Cup finals in the 1870s and 1880s and won five.Kinnaird, who died aged 85 in 1923, selected Crawford for the first inter national game played, between Scotland and England, at Kennington Oval in London in March 1870.Until now, it has been accepted the first official game between the countries took place in Glasgow in November 1872, the year before the SFA was even formed, but the five unofficial matches in London in the previous two years are being increasingly recognised.Crawford, born in Jersey to military parents with Scottish roots, was a 17 year old schoolboy when he made his international debut and scored before an English equaliser secured a 1 1 draw.The game established a passion for international football that continues to thrive almost 150 years later.Mitchell said: "Crawford lived in Edinburgh until the age of 12, when he moved to North London to be closer to his school, Harrow. He played in four of the five early internationals against England and there was an interesting collection of characters in both teams."There were a couple of bankrupts, a wife beater and the wife of one player even had a string of lesbian affairs, but Crawford is by far the most notorious."I contacted his great grandson who knew nothing about him. He said Crawford's story is like a nightmarish episode of 'Who Do you Think You Are?'"Crawford quit in 1871 after playing for London side Wanderers in a 0 0 FA Cup semi final draw with Queen's Park, who could not afford to stay for a replay and scratched from the tournament.Crawford began a career as a wine importer before following his family into the military and was decorated as a war hero before resigning his commission in 1884.In 1888, he took up a post as head of police in the Sulymah province of Sierra Leone in west Africa, then a British colony, and set about the local tribes with brutal glee.The British High Command told him to stop, but he continued to hand out vigilante justice."Records talk of Crawford ordering "slaughter and incendiarism, the burning of six or eight towns," with casualties "of 300, and may have been 700 or 1000."However, the last straw came with the manslaughter of his personal servant in February 1889, a 17 year old Kroo boy, who had been given the name Walker.Mitchell added: "The boy was accused of stealing money and was beaten to get a confession wholesale nfl jerseys.


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We wanted to design a series that celebrates protest. Don't just shout it, wear it!
11X17 inch Poster Print
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shift for
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia.
shift for (oneself)
To do things for oneself; to not rely on the help or patronage of someone else. It's no wonder that kids these days can't hold down meaningful jobs, when they're pampered from birth and can't shift for themselves by the time they leave school. You're going to have to learn to shift for yourself before you head off to college.
See also: shift
shift for
To provide for, take care of, or defend oneself without assistance. Used reflexively: The teenagers went camping, confident that they could shift for themselves.
See also: shift


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United States 1934
Installation, Prints
Sheila Hicks is an American artist who lives and works in Paris, France. She is best known for her "minimes", miniature weavings made on a wooden loom.
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Igniting Imagination: Tom Gayler
At the Royal Garden Hotel, we believe that igniting imagination and building everlasting memories are at the core of the perfect family break. Therefore, as part of our family-friendly promise, each month we will be interviewing passionate professionals to inspire your little ones.
First up we have Tom Gayler, a design workshop leader at the V&A Museum. Read all about the work he does and why he believes museums are important for a child's imagination.
Please introduce yourself and your role at the V&A Museum
My name is Tom Gayler and I lead design workshops at the museum for children and young people from schools in and around London.
Can you expand on your role? What do you do on a day to day basis?
My full-time job is as a designer and researcher, I work mostly with digital technology and have recently spent a lot of time working with 3D printed food. This gives me some really interesting ideas and approaches to bring into my workshops I run at the museum. My normal day at the V&A can be really varied depending on what I am doing, I often get in before the museum opens to set-up, getting the making materials ready and going through my plan. The group arrives and we start the session, often this means getting out to explore the museum and then returning to the studio space to do some 'making' activities. Once the session finishes, it is time to pack up and think about the next workshop!
What inspired you to do what you do? How and when did you learn this kind of job existed?
I was first inspired to share my design practice with other people when I was still in education. I studied at the Royal College of Art just down the road from the Royal Garden Hotel and got involved with workshops for school groups. This led to working with different museums both in London and further afield. I was first put in contact with the V&A through a former colleague and since then, have been able to get involved in a wider variety of projects.
What has been your favourite moment in the job so far?
I think my favourite moment was putting up the Door2Design exhibition that I was luckily enough to work on, alongside a local school. The school took part in a series of workshops over 3 months and then had their work put on display within the museum itself.
What did you have to do in order to get to where you are now?
I started studying design after A-levels and now have a bachelors and master's degree in design. However, my interest in workshops came about through taking on extra projects and getting involved in programmes that looked to educate a wider audience about what goes on in an art school.
How important do you think museums are for a child's imagination?
I think museums are very important as they are a great way to see so many different things in one place. By walking round the galleries you are able to see what people from different periods of history and people from around the world think makes a beautiful or a useful object. This diversity is really important and can be the spark that sets a child off on the path to their own creative future.
Do you remember your first visit to a museum? When and where was it?
I think my earliest memory of visiting a museum was probably going to the Eureka Science museum in Halifax, whilst visiting family with my grandparents. I would have been about 7 and I remember sending letters through the vacuum tube, an experience I can still recall to this day. I think that is why interactive exhibits are the future for museums. Play is so important to the way that children understand and get inspired (and also how designers come up with inspirations!).
What did you want to be/what job did you want to have growing up as a child?
I remember wanting to be a marine biologist or an inventor. I think this was inspired by what I liked watching on TV, either nature documentaries or Wallace and Gromit!
Have you got any advice for children wanting to work in the design industry?
Design is a field that changes so quickly, so two things are really important. The first is the ability to be creative, this is the constant thing across all design jobs is the ability to solve problems and come up with new ideas. The second is the ability to be flexible, you will always need to learn new skills, work with new technology or tools so the ability and desire to keep learning will put you at the head of the pack.
Any other advice or words of wisdom you would like to impart?
Don't stop playing!
Share your stay with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with our hashtag #RGHFriends.
We would also love to see your family adventures in London with our hashtag #RGHFamilies.


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Review: On The Plus Side by Tabatha Vargo
You know when they say opposites attract?
Well, that didn't happen in this case.
At least, not at their beginning.
Their start was more contractual. A business deal, if you may.
Desperation is a terrible thing. It can make one agree to despicable things. When someone holds a gun to your head, you normally don't tell them to pull the trigger. More likely than not, you do what they say.
Devin is a hot, young man from a not-well-to-do family. His love for his family trumps everything, and when given the opportunity to save them all from ruin, he grabs it with both hands and gives it his all.
Lilly, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. She is well-to-do, though she does not like to flaunt that fact. She is independent, a hard-worker and most of all, she is lonely. See, Lilly has always been shown that if a woman is not in the single digits size, she is unwanted and she is of the plus sized variety.
I guess that's why I loved this story so much.
When their paths cross, the process of falling in love begins. Though, both are not aware of it and even in the end, are in denial…
I really enjoyed their story. It's a build-up of sorts. We get to experience their romance, the moment they realized they felt things deeper than just the physical. I loved that Tabatha Vargo manages to capture the beauty of being romanced, of being slowly seduced by words and actions. I have felt what Devin was talking about, how he felt. There were times it was sweet, the butterflies –in-your-belly type and then there were times of pain, the type of feeling you get when betrayal hits and all you can do is survive.
Lilly and Devin's book is a sweet, hot, and emotional story of two people who start off on the wrong foot but somehow still manage to build a deeper connection. Their romance is written in such a heartwarming way, I loved every second. This story is a story of growth as well, a story of learning to be self-confident and accepting one's worth.
I really really enjoyed reading about Lilly and Devin. I enjoyed being a part of their world, hearing their thoughts and experiencing their insecurities.
This story is really about love.


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Tribute To Founder Of Brixton Basketball Club: Jimmy Rogers
Sunrise 17th December 1939 – Sunset 1st Ocbober 2018
Jimmy Rogers, a legend of the sport in this country, sometimes known as "The Bishop of Brixton". With his deep, very deep, as soon as he speaks everyone in the whole sports hall will hear it. He can't whisper … couldn't whisper to save his life. We remember Jimmy, coach and founder of Brixton Topcats Basketball Club, who sadly passed on 1 October 2018.
It was announced that the 78-year-old Rogers, the long-time coach of the Brixton Topcats basketball team, had died, six months after being diagnosed with lung cancer "His voice, both literally and physically, was a clarion call to all young men and women who wanted to participate and learn about discipline, life, bettering yourself and progression."
But what does "Drive the body!" even mean? "Oh, that saying rings in every Brixton player's head," "If you're at the gym you'll push one more time; if you're running lengths you'll go another length; if you're going through hard times in life you just get up. So I think that's what he's done for everyone."
So far we've only touched on basketball, but Rogers's reach went far beyond sport. He started working in Brixton in 1981, a few months after the April riots. Buffered by a small grant from Lambeth council, which soon ran out, the goal of the basketball programme was in part to make the local teenagers less "riot-prone", in the words of Courtenay Griffiths, a barrister who was Rogers's partner in the endeavour. To provide them with an activity, a distraction from life in an area where unemployment among black youths was estimated to be more then 50%. Playing sport, Rogers hoped, could make a meaningful improvement to their self-worth. The "Topcat" tag came from the cartoon character, forever on the run from the police. Although in jest, Brixton Topcats remain committed to working with all local partners agencies to combat youth violence in relevant troubled times, via positive activities in sport.
"Drive the body! "
Rogers's favoured invocation was: "Drive the body!" Those words were recalled this week by Luol Deng, the most famous alumnus of the Brixton Topcats. Deng met Rogers when he was 11, not long after his family arrived in south London from Sudan, having been granted political asylum from the civil war there. Deng was obsessed with football, fancied himself as the next Faustino Asprilla, but Rogers convinced him not to give up on basketball just yet. He was right: Deng is now entering his 15th season in the NBA, a two-time All-Star who has represented the Chicago Bulls, LA Lakers and presently the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Rogers's beliefs stemmed from his own background. His mother was from the Caribbean, his father an American merchant seaman, but he was born in Wales in 1939. His early years were spent in an orphanage in Newcastle upon Tyne, where a teacher introduced him to basketball. He became serious about the sport when he joined the army aged 15; he became a fitness trainer for his regiment and later played professionally in West Germany and made the British Olympic team in 1968.
As a coach – first in Liverpool, where he worked with kids in Toxteth, and then London – Rogers leant heavily on his military experience. His sessions were legendarily grueling. Deng has said that he's never run as much as he did in Brixton. Others remember Rogers chasing them down the court and throwing his hat at them in frustration.
Following Jimmy's Passing on social media, national press and TV there have been countless testimonies from individuals describing the life-changing work ethic that training with Rogers instilled. Many come from professional basketball players, but others grew up in Brixton and went on to become lawyers, teachers, journalists or musicians. "There are many men and women who have just lost their dad," reads one. No one sugarcoats the fact that Rogers could be hard, even uncompromising. He insisted on humility, grace in victory or defeat. No one at all can replicate Jimmy's determination to better Lambeth's youth.
If you've never heard of Rogers that says something for the profile of basketball in Britain. He himself complained that we were basically a "third world" country in the sport, mainly because we spent too little on developing coaches and players and too much on administrators.
Despite challenges, Rogers often used to insist that he was "rich". Despite severe funding challenges to make a difference to youth through basketball. Jimmy found a way to sustain the club which remains a challenge post Jimmy's death to this day. To make a difference to our youth please click here.
Jimmy Rogers Interview
When he was asked to sum up his coaching philosophy, Rogers once said: "Having a winning attitude. It's not about winning the game of basketball, it's about winning the game of life."
Jimmy Rogers will never be forgotten. He will remain in all our hearts forever.


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Sonos and Bose are two of the biggest names in the business when it comes to smart speakers and home audio, both offering a range of top quality speakers. In this article, we'll put two of their biggest sellers head-to-head - the Bose SoundTouch 10, and the Sonos One.
The Bose SoundTouch 10 comes in at £159.95, while the Sonos One is £199 - but is the Sonos worth the extra cost?
Both of these speakers offer something different. Sonos have opted for an exclusively 'smart' setup, with the only way to connect to your speaker being via Wi-Fi or ethernet, and controlling it with your smartphone, tablet, or computer. The Bose speaker, on the other hand, gives you a few more options - you can connect via Bluetooth, plug a player directly into it using the AUX-In port, or connect it to your Wi-Fi network and use your phone or tablet like the Sonos.
The Bose speaker also features six programmable buttons on the top, that can be set up using the Bose SoundTouch app - you can add your favourite Deezer or Spotify playlists, or stations from one of the thousands of internet radio services on offer. This means you don't need to use your phone to turn it on, just press one of the six presets on the top of the speaker.
Bose also give you a handy remote control - you don't need to use it, but it saves having to get your phone out if you just want to skip a song or turn the volume down.
So when it comes to options, Bose definitely has the edge over the Sonos One.
Smart speakers don't just play the music that's stored or streamed through your smartphone or tablet, they actually come with services that can be added to your account.
When we're looking at pure numbers, Sonos wins hands down. They include around 50 different streaming services like Deezer, Apple Music and Spotify, with internet radio services on top, making it extremely unlikely that you won't be able to find your favourite. Take a look at the full list of services available on Sonos here.
With the Bose SoundTouch speaker you get far fewer music services, they offer 8 in total, but this depends on where you are in the world - for example, users in the US will get Pandora, but here in the UK, that's not included.
You do get the added option of being able to use the Bluetooth, or AUX-In functions on your Bose speaker so you can still play whatever you want, but this lack of services might put some people off.
Take a look at all the services on offer with Bose here.
It's worth noting that free streaming services like Spotify Free, or Deezer Free, don't work on either platform, but this can be bypassed on the Bose speaker by simply connecting via Bluetooth.
Considering their compact size, both of these speakers sound great, but there is a difference between the two.
The Bose speaker can certainly pump out a bit more volume than the Sonos, but you do get a little more clarity with the Sonos. The Sonos is an inch deeper than the Bose too, and this seems to be reflected in the audio quality, making the bass that little bit deeper, with slightly richer tones than the Bose.
The difference is subtle and you'd only really notice it if you were comparing them side by side but the Sonos does score slightly higher than the Bose when it comes to sound quality - that said, the Sonos is a bit more expensive.
This is another area where Sonos is slightly ahead of Bose, the Sonos One comes with Alexa built in so you can issue commands or ask questions like "Alexa, who sings this song?", or "Alexa, turn up the heating" - find out more about Alexa on Sonos here.
Alexa is currently only available for Bose speakers if your Amazon account is registered in the US, but they do have plans to issue a software update to add Alexa skills to UK accounts - so watch this space.
The Bose SoundTouch 10 comes in at £159.95, while you'll need to fork out £199 for the Sonos One.
So , to sum up, if you're looking for something versatile, that gives you loads of options for connecting your kit, the Bose SoundTouch 10 is great value for money - and those presets are really handy too.
On the other hand, if you're looking for the best possible sound quality you can get for less than £200, and you don't really care about Bluetooth, or plugging things in - go for the Sonos.
The Bose sounds great, but the Sonos sounds better.
Take a look at the Bose SoundTouch 10 in more detail, or find out more about the Sonos One.
If you were struggling to make a decision, we hope this helped you make up your mind. If you'd like help with anything else, you can contact one of our Team Knowhow experts here.


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I was healed four years and two days ago. So much has changed because of my diagnosis and miraculous healing, and yet I don't even think about it that much anymore. I think of the side effects of the surgeries and medicines, but don't always live like someone who received such an awesome gift.
I have been blessed so much in my life, and even in huge ways since my last post. I really appreciate the prayers and support, I'm glad I shared about the depression and other troubles. The Lord has been so gracious to me that I'm out of the pit and am more aware of His glory than ever. He's encouraged me with people and circumstances that speak to my Spirit and strengthen my faith.
I should share that since my post many have told me that they need or needed antidepressants after their bodies stopped producing estrogen (for all sorts of reasons). Several were able to wean off the drugs after a few years, and others continue. There's no shame if you're doing what God wants you to do, and sometimes He wants us to take medicine. I can definitely relate to more people with all the life and medical experiences I've had in the past five years.
More importantly, God is just so good that it's hard to not scream and shout about Him. He is always there. He knows everything. He answers. He is in control. If we don't see it or don't like it, there's something wrong with our hearts, not His. He is just, He is righteous, He is worthy. He never changes. He always wins.
Philippians 4:4-8, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


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Average United States rates for fixed mortgages crept higher this week but remained low by historical standards.
According to the Associated Press, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan increased to 4.48 per cent from 4.47 per cent last week. The average on the 15-year fixed loan rose to 3.52 per cent from 3.51 per cent.
Mortgage rates peaked at 4.6 per cent in August on expectations that the Federal Reserve would reduce its $85bn-a-month in bond purchases. Those purchases push mortgage and other long-term rates lower and encourage borrowing and spending. On December 18, the Fed finally decided the economy was strong enough to allow it to reduce the monthly purchases by $10 billion.
Mortgage rates are sharply higher than they were a year ago when the 30-year fixed rate was 3.35 percent and the 15-year was 2.65 percent.
The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that new-home sales dipped 2.1 per cent in November to a seasonally adjusted 464,000. But stronger figures for the previous three months suggested that housing may be regaining strength after a summer lull.
The National Association of Realtors said last week that the number of people who bought existing homes in November fell for a third straight month. Higher rates and the lingering effects of the partial government shutdown in October may have deterred some sales.
Still, the government said builders broke ground on homes at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.09 million homes and apartments in November. That was the fastest pace since February 2008 and was 23 per cent higher than in October.
To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.
The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was 0.7 point. The fee for a 15-year loan was 0.7 point.
The average rate on a one-year adjustable-rate mortgage slipped to 2.56 per cent from 2.57 per cent last week. The fee was 0.5 point.
The average rate on a five-year adjustable mortgage rose to three per cent from 2.96 per cent. The fee was 0.4 point.
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Offering this Don Post DR ZIRA mask from the PLANET OF THE APES line. This mask is the 1974 mold with the separate teeth, but was made in the 1990s through Don Post Jr as a special gift. The mask had not been reissued, but he had one made up unique. The hair should have a more quaffed look to it at the bottom, but a stylist can easily do that. The mask is in overall outstanding condition with no tears or decomposing at all.
She is cast thicker than the original 1974 masks, but not as thick as the Monster Calendar reissue masks. She is shown on the stand with nothing filling out her head, so you can see the form is overall excellent. The hair on this one is pretty awesome and soft. This is a unique and super nice one-of-a-kind example, because it is a single reissue that actually came from Don Post Studios. It comes from a smoke free environment with no odors.I also have an original Gorilla Soldier first issue mask and a Dr Zaius first issue mask I will be offering. Vintage Made in the USA! The item "1974 Don Post Planet Of The Apes DR ZIRA Mask Unique NICE Monster Mask" is in sale since Sunday, January 07, 2018. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Holiday & Seasonal\Halloween\Modern (1960-1990)\Masks".
The seller is "skelyton" and is located in Glendale, California. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russian federation, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica.


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DENY Schatzi Brown
Schatzi Brown Modern Mudcloth Rust Art Print
Get back to basics. The Deny art print is the decor staple every room needs. They're printed with gallery-quality archival inks on white, high quality paper in a smooth matte finish. They have enough weight to be hung on their own but the white border around the print also looks great in any frame you choose. Our curated selection of designs are sure to meet whatever your art needs may be. And the best part? Every purchase pays the artist who designed it—supporting creativity worldwide.
Details & Product Specs
Final sale item- no returns or exchanges accepted.
Tanya Brown is a surface and textile designer living happily by the sea on Long Island in New York. Tanya designs under the name Schatzi Brown. The word "Schatzi" is a German term of endearment. She is endlessly inspired by her many travels, global cultures, colors, and nature. She loves working with watercolors, inks, and markers. When not designing, she can be found hanging out in nature with her family at the beach, biking, running, or surfing!
She also designs her own line of surf leggings & gear Nalu Tribe ®.


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When: Sunday, April 24, 2016 – 6:30 p.m. Where: Dante Alighieri Society – 41 Hampshire St., Cambridge MA Professionisti Italiani a Boston and Dante Alighieri Society will host a special screening of the recently released North End documentary produced by the North End Historical Society. The documentary producers will be present at the screening. The screening will take place on April 24 at the Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts in Cambridge. Click on the flyer below for more details:Read More »
Dacia Maraini Presents New Novel (Mar. 4)
When: Friday, March 4, 2016 – 6 p.m. Where: Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts – 41 Hampshire Street, Cambridge MA A conversation with Dacia Maraini on Her New Novel and Homage "La bambina e il sognatore" is the latest novel by Dacia Maraini who uses for the first time a male voice as the narrator of the story of Lucia, a child who disappears one day while she is going to school. "Writing Like Breathing" is a homage to Dacia Maraini, celebrating a wiring career that has spanned over half a century. It is a unique anthology comprising some of ...Read More »
Bernini in Ecstasy staged reading at Dante Alighieri
When: Sunday, September 13, 2015 — 3 to 5:30 p.m. Where: Dante Alighieri Society — 41 Hampshire St., Cambridge, MA A staged reading of "Bernini in Ecstasy", a new play in two acts by Clay Ballard. (Director: Kate Caffrey. Producer: Phil Micali. Historical consultant: Franco Mormando.) BERNINI IN ECSTASY is a portrait of one of Italy's greatest artists: the sculptor, architect, painter and playwright Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598 — 1680). In his lifetime, the tempestuous, ambitious Bernini was both a legend and a scandal to the Romans; yet he became the intimate of eight popes. This play follows Bernini from ...Read More »
Dante Alighieri Society Elects New Board and President
The Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts recently held elections to renew its board and choose a new president. The center's new president is Anthony Cassano, born in the small town of Torre Le Nocelle, in Campania. In 1961, at the age of 13, he immigrated to the United States, where many years later he would build a successful construction and real estate development business. Cassano has served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea and has been a long-standing member of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce. He has been a member of the Dante Alighieri Society since 2000 and ...Read More »
Mario Pirovano Brings Francis, Dario Fo to Boston Area
Mario Pirovano runs on an inexhaustable fuel called theater. During a recent tour stop in Boston, the 62-year-old Italian actor was busy setting the stage lights at the Dante Alighieri Society in Cambridge. "How is that? Can you see my eyes? Too much shadow?" With a slight British accent, Pirovano ran around the stage, already practicing the evening's show: The first-ever U.S. performance of Dario Fo's "Francis the Holy Jester." "The expression, it's important, it's all in the facial expression." Pirovano grimaces, smiles, frowns and laughs — all in just a few seconds. They are all faces and masks he ...Read More »
Italian Historian Emilio Gentile Visits Harvard, Dante
One of Italy's major luminaries on the history of fascism, Professor Emilio Gentile, recently visited the Boston area to hold lectures at Harvard's Center for European Studies and the Dante Alighieri Society in Cambridge. A professor at Rome's Università La Sapienza and former student of Renzo De Felice, Gentile is considered one of Italy's foremost cultural historians of fascist ideology. At Harvard, Gentile held a lecture on October 16, titled "The March on Rome: How Antifascists Understood the Origins of Totalitarianism (and Coined the Word)." The lecture was part of the first annual Gaetano Salvemini Colloquium in Italian History and ...Read More »
Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero Praises Community Efforts in Boston
During a recent two-day visit in Boston, Italian Ambassador to the United States, Claudio Bisogniero, met with representatives of the Italian and Italian American communities at the Dante Alighieri Society in Cambridge on June 18. "It is a great pleasure to be here," said Bisogniero, after an introduction by Dante Alighieri Society President Spencer Di Scala and Comites President Maurizio Pasquale. During his visit in Boston, Bisogniero held meetings with community leaders, as well as with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, State House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Governor Deval Patrick. During the meetings, there was great appreciation for the increased ...Read More »
Alessandro Baricco Presents 'Emmaus' in Cambridge
On Thursday, May 31, famous Italian author Alessandro Baricco presented one of his latest novels, 'Emmaus,' recently translated into English and published by McSweeney's.Read More »
Results of Dante Alighieri Board of Directors Election 2012
The Dante Alighieri of Massachusetts recently held its annual election of the board of directors. Four members were reconfirmed and two new members were elected.Read More »
Dante Alighieri Fellow Allison Longley Heading to Camerino
Longley won one month of intensive Italian language courses offered in November by Scuola Dante Alighieri di Camerino, Italy.Read More »
Photos: Pirandello Lyceum's Annual Bel Canto Italian Opera Concert
On January 15, 2012, the Pirandello Lyceum held its annual Bel Canto Italian Opera.Read More »
A Tribute to Italian Song
The Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts in Cambridge celebrated Italian songs on Sunday, october 16, 2011, with performances by soprano Karen Fanale, composer Ferdinando Argenti, pianist Bradley Pennington and baritone Paul Soper.Read More »


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My mind tends to wander when I am at work.. You never know where it will lead me. It is usually wanders to shootin my bow, upcoming tournaments or adventures. Or it might wander back to great memories.. Today that is what it did.. It got me to thinking about something I really wanted to share.
I will start it off with this. I was not born into a hunting family but did learn to shoot a gun at a young age along side my older brother. But once I met Darrell and his family they are deer hunters. His dad told him to get me into my hunters Ed class and get me huntin.. That was almost 20 years ago.. I got to hunt one season with his dad before he passed away the day before Fathers Day 1997. Now that leads me to this part of the story. One of Darrell's uncles was a prankster.. He was always messin with someone at camp. Well one year it was decided by a group of the guys to go and take his huntin blind down in the middle of the night and hide it from him.. The next morning it was rainin and he headed out to hunt.. It didn't take him long to come back cussing sayin "I hope some SOB (but he said it) is happy with my blind!) Well Darrell went and go the blind and said "hey I have one u can borrow if you want." He knew right off it was his.. He started laughin and when he found out who all were in on it, I told him I went only to fold it up for them.. He said he believed that, that the guys weren't smart enough to figure out how to fold it up..
In 2008 that loving prankster uncle was killed in a head on car accident when a drunk driver crossed the center line in a curve while speeding on the road to camp. His wife was in the truck with him and was in the hospital for a few months. She still comes to camp but doesn't hunt much, she was just getting into it when the accident happened.. Well this last year she gave Darrell a bag full of his late uncles shirts. One of the shirts was a long sleeve button up camo. He always commented on it bein his lucky shirt. Well one morning this past Nov. he had that shirt on and said he dedicated that hunt to Raymond. And decided to go hunt one of Raymond's old spots. After about a mile 4wheeler ride in a freezing fog Darrell, me and a friend of ours headed to the spot. Darrell went to where he was goin and Jeff and I went around the lake cove from him.. We all had our radios cuz cell phone signal was zero down in the bottoms. The fog was so thick I couldn't see 50 yards in front of me. All of the sudden I hear not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 shots ring out from where Darrell was sittin.. I turn on my radio as was our routine. I hear him call to me, I key up and answer but it jumps channel.. He keys up again sayin "you got a copy on the killer?" So I hurry and gather my stuff up and go to where Jeff is.. We try his radio and nothing.. But I know where he is huntin so we get on the 4wheelers and head over there.. We park at the top of a steep hill that leads to dry lake bottom was out. Off in the distance I see Darrell waving his hat. Jeff says "look in front of you". There from the fog straight in front of me was a Rainbow, it arched over and ended on top of Darrell's head.. I told him about it when we got to him.. I told him that hunt was for Raymond (aka Rainman). So we replayed his hunt. He had shot at and hit an 8 point 3 times. And had shot at and missed a doe.. So I told him that I wanted to hunt that area in the afternoon since he told me he saw 12 or 14 deer that morin. So I went and sat on the high bank that evenin. Seein nothing.. About 45 min before dark I hear something runnin on the blind side behind me.. Slowly she makes her way down and around in front of me. 20 yard shot in the neck with .243. I didn't have to look for her.. Watched her go down. Since our radios had messed up that morning we had left them at camp with the agreement that if one of us shot we would go to them. I couldn't wait and started walkin to where he was .. We met in the middle.. I took him to her and then asked if he would ride my 4wheeler down the steep bank for me. And he did and I drug her out to the dry lake bottom to make it easier to work with her.. As I got to the bottom I looked up and saw the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen.. I said out loud "Thank you God for this day, and thank you Raymond, we know you were with us today."
Everyday is a new memory.. We just have to make them count, and mean something.. Plus everyday is blessing from God.. Make the best of it and Love every minute of it..


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Wild Seafood Bouillabaisse
Sea clams, pink shrimp and rockfish, slow cooked with roasted tomatoes, Sherry wine, fresh fennel and bay leaves.
Dive Deeper
Bouillabaisse has ancient origins. Originally a stew made by the fishermen of Marseille, France, hundreds of years ago, it consisted of a medley of different seafoods from the waters of the Mediterranean. Today, it's considered a classic Provençal dish. Our chef-inspired bouillabaisse starts with a broth rich with sea clams, pink shrimp and rockfish, slow-cooked with roasted tomatoes, Sherry wine, fresh fennel and bay leaves. The result is a flavorful take on a timeless soup. Bon Appetite!
This specially designed single-serving pouch is BPA free.
Rockfish, Shrimp, and Clams, the seafood in this very pouch, are rated "Best Choice" by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch rating system.