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Monthly Archives: April 2017
Is Europe's Economy Pulling Ahead of the United States?
April 24, 2017
The Eurozone Composite Output Index for March rose to a 71-month high of 56.4, while the same metric for USA retreated to 53.0.
This data comes from IHS Markit Ltd. (Nasdaq: INFO) Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) monthly survey of 30 countries. PMI survey data is closely watched by central banks and financial markets worldwide.
Despite the lingering effects of the Greek debt crisis from 2015 and the surprise Brexit vote of 2016, could the European Union GDP nonetheless be pulling ahead of the US economy?
As another data point, the Q1 2017 European Scaleups Report from the Antwerp Management School documented 466 VC funding deals totaling €3.8 Billion in Q1 alone, an 11% increase in deal volume from the same period last year. France, Germany, UK and Sweden led the pack with the most deals. And last year, Spotify broke records and impressed everyone with a €1.3 Billion capital raise.
Importantly, the study counted only VC fundings larger than 1Million Euro, so the €3.8 Billion figure doesn't even include the thousands of incubator deals, friends and family rounds, and seed investments that precede institutional VC investments.
What do these trends mean for VCs, CEOs and CROs of US technology companies looking to grow their revenue base via global expansion?
Economic growth attracts investors' attention and dollars (or Euros, or…) and keeps their focus. Germany is currently the top-growing country in the EU, followed by Ireland, Spain and France. Italy's GDP output slowed a bit and is currently lagging the EU average. Global investors and traders usually move their money into the stock markets of countries where overall economic growth is already evident or anticipated, because an increase in the overall economy translates to good news for constituent corporations and their stock prices. Rising revenues and stock prices for these publicly traded companies means a healthy budget for technology investments and purchases from companies like yours.
In a nutshell, the healthy fund-raising environment in Europe shows investor confidence and maturation in the tech ecosystem, and the rising Composite Index scores means that Europe is a good place for American tech companies to sell their software and products. European companies are buying.
Here at Sales Force Europe, we have engaged with more than 200 clients selling their technology products to enterprises in 28 different countries within the EU. Depending on what metrics you follow, we believe the economies of EU versus USA will continue to trade places for the lead—which is a good thing. What this neck-and-neck race means for US and EU tech companies is sustained investor attention, and an economic environment that continues to be ideal for expanding sales internationally (both US-to-EU and country-to-country within the EU). Trade fluctuations on either side of the Atlantic may cause short-term index gains in one region over another, but the long-term trend is that both EU and USA economies are winners.
Sales Force Europe is a pioneer of the sales-as-a-service model, starting in 2003. More than 200 enterprises have trusted Sales Force Europe to expand their sales into Europe and other international regions using our Accelerated Sales Platform. Our Platform includes Accelerated Market Analysis, Accelerated Lead Generation, and Accelerated Sales modules, which can be delivered as an integrated service or as stand-alone modules.
Our platform is deployed through our international team of 75+ Sales Professionals who represent your brand in-country/language, blend into your company culture, and use their local market knowledge and sales contacts to make revenues and ROI manifest quickly.
If your company is interested in setting up channel sales or selling direct to enterprises in Europe, we can help you so let's talk.
How to Hire & Manage SaaS Sales Teams
April 5, 2017
In our previous post, we offered '4 Best Practices' for how to sell SaaS technology products to enterprises throughout Europe—from choosing the right country as your entry point, to how to act like a local in each territory. In this post, we'll talk about how to hire and manage the sales teams to deliver stellar results.
Sales teams that are accustomed to typical software license deals often take an expenses-be-damned approach to making the sale. However, a SaaS license does not generate the same kind of up-front fees, so a more measured approach is needed to keep customer acquisition costs in line with revenue ramp-up. Below we talk about how to build the right sales team to go after SaaS sales, and how to keep them motivated.
Identifying the Right Talent
Sales teams are usually built either from the bottom-up or from the top-down. Bottoms-up teams hire young account managers and promote from within; top-down teams find a VP of Sales who then attracts a senior team around them.
Hiring large teams of entry-level reps tends to be expensive-per-dollar-booked, because each rep books a smaller quota. Less senior teams also require more training. On the other hand, you can recruit a top VP of Sales who will bring with them a team of senior account exec's and a spreadsheet of enterprise buyer relationships—but they will be more expensive.
The SaaS business model is a relatively new invention (from the late 90s), so if you can find an experienced VP of Sales who knows SaaS, hire them! That said, it's rare for a startup to have the resources to attract such an experienced sales executive, in particular when launching in foreign markets.
Setting Commission Expectations
Because SaaS products are sold on a subscription model, the value of a deal is difficult to measure up front and therefore your justified cost-per lead and cost-per-acquisition is hard to nail down as well. You need to factor in sales, the sales cycle time, renewal rates, and other factors that are beyond the control of the initial salesperson.
Due to the opacity in the up-front value of the SaaS sale, it's equally imprecise to put an exact value of a sales person's contribution. A fair and objective formula for compensation is to value the deal based on a formula based on recurring revenue. You might also want to factor in the total acquisition costs and expected lifetime customer value when setting goals.
In addition to gross sales goals, keep in mind that improving the sales conversion rates at any stage of the cycle goes straight to top line revenue. In a high volume sales operation like SaaS sales, you can't afford to waste time on window shoppers, or custom deployment requirements, or highly competitive bake-offs. Increasing conversion ratios requires sales reps to properly quality opportunities, then provide timely feedback about a prospect's true level of commitment.
Accelerating Revenue (Leverage Through Marketing)
Successful SaaS sales executives can't do this alone. Outbound calling and in-the-field meetings can quickly mushroom acquisition costs by sucking up too much sales investment in relation to too little commitment from prospects. Instead, SaaS price points demand that sales teams have a tight working relationship with marketing.
Marketing provides leverage for your sales investments.
By providing leads in bulk (vs. sales reps creating leads one-at-a-time), and automatically (digitally) qualifying and nurturing leads until precisely the point that they are ready to make a decision, sales teams can leverage marketing to scale their own efforts and accelerate their revenues. Clients often implement these marketing strategies in their home markets, but then forget or delay marketing when expanding to new countries, and this creates a huge impediment to success.
For our clients at SFE, we offer an 'Accelerated Lead-Gen' module where we take responsibility for finding and qualifying leads for sales, using the latest digital marketing technologies and inbound-marketing techniques.
Motivating Performance
The skills needed to deliver on a $1 million quota when the average SaaS deal value is just $10K are different from the skills required to land a single $1M deal: your sales reps need the stamina (and support) to deliver 100 deals vs 1.
Public acknowledgement of sales wins, creative perks, and team-building activities can make a big difference in performance—as can ongoing mentoring and coaching. Especially for international sales, sending a team off to figure it out for themselves (even an experienced team) will lead to frustration. Sales staff members need to be backed by quality leads, efficient internal processes, and time and attention from senior management.
Sales as 'Service Delivery System'
The SaaS software model presumes large scale economies—volume and speed—to make low subscription-based pricing work. Likewise a SaaS sales operation needs to function with an efficiency that can deliver sales within optimal cost parameters. It requires a capable front-line sales team, supported by an efficient marketing process and lead hand-off, and a management infrastructure that can monitor, guide, and mentor.
SFE has honed its SaaS sales experience across 200 companies in 28 different countries, and has developed its 'Accelerated Sales Delivery' system to bring those efficiencies to you.
If your SaaS company is considering the daunting challenge of building up sales teams to crack open international markets, please consider the services of SFE.
Rick Pizzoli
CEO & Founder
Xeerpa – Social Network Profiling Tool
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Unlike other solutions, Xeerpa creates unique profiles for each user, storing them in a database specifically designed to help you personalize your marketing campaigns, increasing ROI and improving customer experience.
SQL Governor for capacity optimization for Microsoft SQL Server platforms
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DB Pro Oy takes special pride in Governor® software – a unique product we have developed for the optimization of the capacity of SQL Server platforms. Governor® combines ease of use with efficiency and scalability – from small one-server systems to the largest platforms, with thousands of servers.
Their customer base consists of large and medium-sized companies representing a broad range of industries, such as logistics and trade, manufacturing-based industries, and SaaS software production. Over the years, their satisfied customers have praised DB Pro's ability to solve their problems and improve the efficiency of their operations.


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Cornrow styles
Braided hairstyles are regaining popularity. Elaborate woven hairstyles hit the runways for the spring 2012 fashion season. Now is the time to look into some fashionable cornrow styles for 2012. Cornrow hairstyles range from basic rows to elegant updos. There are also trendy, punk-looking styles you can rock this year as well.
Basic Cornrows
Basic cornrows are styled with rows of dutch braids, starting from the front hairline extending to the back and down the length of the hair. The cornrows can be fat or skinny and can be braided into different patterns. A lot of young men and women often have their cornrows parted into zig-zag patterns or graduated parts to add a little extra interest to the basic style.
Goddess Braids
When women wear long cornrows, they are often called Goddess Braids. Goddess Braids are typically skinny cornrows with long tails that usually fall down the back. This style should not be confused with micro braids, which are just many individual plaits. If you don"t have long hair, you can buy hair at your local wig and weave hair supplier to have it added to your hair while it is braided into cornrows.
Cornrow Chignons
Those with long hair who wear cornrows can create elegant chignon hairstyles at the nape of their neck. A chignon can be created whether or not the cornrow braids are thick or thin. I find the thicker braids more attractive when worn in a chignon. If you don"t have long braids, there are chignon clip attachments and ponytails you can buy to create a fake chignon, such as the Cherish Synthetic Hairpiece by easihair.
Faux Hawk
A very trendy and punkish style for cornrows is the faux hawk. This is typically done on those with curly and kinky hair types to create a curly hawk or a "fro hawk. With this style, hair is braided into cornrows on both sides of the hair angling towards the middle of the head. The hair in the center is left out in its curly or kinky state, resulting in a mohawk-type hairstyle.
Reverse Cornrows
As you might suspect, reverse cornrows begin from the nape of the neck and are braided toward the front of the head. Sometimes the tails of the braids are left intact and styled (usually curled and tucked under). Most of the time, the hair is braided about halfway up with part of the middle and all the front left loose to be styled in curls or pin curls. As with the faux hawk styles, reverse cornrows look best on hair that is curly or kinky.
These five cornrow styles to rock in 2012 will keep your look current for the year. Experiment with different ways to wear cornrows. Keep in mind the longer your hair is, whether by nature or extension, the more styling options are available to you.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Project
The Story
Sharing Is Caring!
First Meeting
Follow Up
Share This Story
Click here to read the story.
Sunday 2nd October 2011, St Fort, Bordeaux.
I had the first part of the trip planned but didn't have anywhere to stay for the rest of the week. I remembered my friend's mum had a beautiful house in Bordeaux and two phone calls later we were on our way from Paris. We had the place to ourselves for a couple of days before Sue joined us and we cooked her dinner as a mark of our appreciation. We sat up talking for hours, fuled by some truly delicious red wine, and I told her all about Wearelucky. Sue is one of the most proactive people I know, constantly busy and always ready to give up her time for other people. I knew the Wearelucky money would be safe in her hands.
We tried some photographs late at night in the house, but the light was poor and I wanted to have another go. The next morning we ventured onto the incredibly photogenic streets of St Fort and improved on the dismal efforts of the previous evening. As ever, Sue was generous with her time and seemed to enjoy having her photo taken.
Questions & Answers
1. What have you decided to do with the money?
I have two areas that I'm passionate about. Firstly, child and adolescent mental health and secondly, hospices. So I haven't completely made up my mind yet as I need more time to research.
2. Has it changed the way you think about giving?
I don't think the project has changed the way I think about giving. I've always been of the mind that every little bit counts in terms of the wider problems or needs we have in society, even if it is helping out with reading in your local infant school. However I also feel glad that I've helped out and perhaps had a big impact on smaller problems that my family or friends have experienced.
3. Did you think about spending the money on yourself and what difference the money might make to your life?
I didn't think about spending the money on myself. I think the project is too special. I feel privileged to be part of it and eager to share.
4. What, if anything, have you learned from this experience and has it changed how you feel about giving?
I've learnt that whilst giving in isolation is rewarding in itself, being part of a wider project like Wearelucky adds a special sort of excitement.
Sue Supergran Sunday 2nd October 2011, St Fort, Bordeaux.
Whilst giving in isolation is rewarding in itself, being part of a wider project like Wearelucky adds a special sort of excitement.
  Click to view the gallery.
The gallery is loading, feel free read to the story whilst you wait.
This is an ongoing project.
(CC) {Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs} 2012
This website is handmade by
Kris Cook
Jared Woods.


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A Gastonia mother allowed her 16-year-old son to sell marijuana from her home while a 4-year-old sibling was also present, according to police.
Dusti Wells Stamey, 41, and her teenage son both face drug-related charges, while Stamey faces an additional charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Stamey said she does not allow her son to sell pot from her home.
�They blew it all out of proportion,� Stamey said of her arrest.
�He does not sell pot. He�s 16 years old,� Stamey added.
Gastonia Police Officer C.L. Thomasson went to Stamey�s home at 2108 Withers St. in the early morning hours of Tuesday to investigate a runaway case, according to a warrant affidavit.
Stamey invited Officer Thomasson into her home.
�Upon asking whether or not the juvenile in question was there, Dusti Stamey advised he was in the room with her son,� Thomasson wrote. �When the door to his room was opened, the runaway juvenile came out and there was an immediate odor of burnt marijuana coming from the room.�
Inside the room officers reported finding a little more than one-half ounce of marijuana, which was packaged individually in small plastic baggies, along with several glass devices used to smoke marijuana, a digital scale, rolling papers and a grinder.
Stamey told the officers she knew her son smoked marijuana in his room, according to the warrant affidavit.
In addition to contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge, officers also charged Stamey with maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance.
She was in jail about two hours, but was released around 5:30 a.m. after posting $5,000 bail.
The 16-year-old son also was released after posting $5,000 bond.
He faces charges of possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and maintaining a dwelling to keep a controlled substance.
Police notified the Department of Social Services of the incident because of the 4-year-old child. Stamey did not lose custody of the child, she said.
�They�ve already been here,� Stamey said Tuesday of social workers. �They said she was perfectly safe.�
Stamey said she was asleep when police came to her home around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. She said she did not know that her son had a visitor at the time.
She said because police found drugs in the home both she and her son were arrested.
�I hope you don�t make me out to be a bad guy because I�m not,� Stamey said.


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I had an abundance of apricots. Somehow I got it in my head to make an apricot-glazed chicken…but somehow ended up somewhere else.
I whipped up a balsamic vinaigrette in the blender and tossed in 3 very ripe apricots. I marinated a few boneless, skinless chicken thighs to bake later and still had plenty of salad dressing left over. It's tangy and subtly sweet. Perfect with that exquisitely crispy red leaf lettuce in my CSA box.
Apricot-Balsamic Vinaigrette and Marinade
- 2/3 c olive oil
- 1/3 c balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp GF spicy dark mustard
- 3 very ripe apricots
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Blend all ingredients until smooth


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This little known DC release, Lucifer, is a spin off from the very popular title The Sandman – written by Neil Gaiman. The comic series, which is under the Vertigo imprint, continues this character's story arc within the wider DC universe – even meeting with John Constantine once! Here are my thoughts…
Spoilers ahead…
I literally screamed 'NOOOOOOOO!' at the screen when this episode ended, I was far too into it for it to end!
Luckily the season finale is tonight and we can begin the cycle again.
Our episode kicks off with what looks to be a satanic ritual taking place, with a woman dressed in white being 'sacrificed'. Although it is soon revealed to be staged as she is carried off still alive. But then she is murdered for real (assumedly by her boyfriend who just carried her.)
Lucifer is then called in by Chloe since he might have expertise on the matter, however he has been avoiding her since finding out he is mortal around her! In a desperate attempt to ignore this face he has Maze throwing daggers at him to find another reason for his mortality, at the same time worrying that his brother is behind Chloe's weaponization.
Chloe then bursts in demanding to know why he's been avoiding her for three weeks! The case needs his input and he needs to see the scene. When they get there the girl is in the middle of a pentagram stabbed like in the false ritual, but when Lucifer asks why he needs to be there, they roll her over to reveal 'Hail Lucifer' carved into her back.
A man then barges in and begins calling Lucifer the devil, but Malcolm quickly gets rid of him. He also pretends to not know Lucifer and introduces himself, but he appears to be disturbingly obsessed with him since his lucky escape. However Lucifer tells him to get lost, but this seems to have little effect.
Chloe and Lucifer then make their way to the girl's father's house, in separate cars due to his paranoia. Sadly the father seems to be clueless about his daughter's satanic interests, stating they have grown apart in recent years. But Chloe finds a secret door in the house which leads to a room filled with paraphernalia linked to satanism, including a book which alludes to a boyfriend.
Rose had several implants under her skin which Chloe is sure are trying to spell something, but the characters just don't seem to make anything relevant. Lucifer takes one look and realises they allude to a satanic cult names 'Children of the goat'. She looks them up and finds a website, with some luck she manages to obtain an address.
A man in a cloak answers the door and after Lucifer flashes his true face, the man runs screaming leaving the door open for them. They walk in on what seems to be a memorial service for Rose, albeit slightly creepy! After talking with the cult leader (who only wants out) they find out Rose had a boyfriend but he used his alias there… he does however have his PayPal details.
Lucifer then questions Trixie about her mother while Chloe takes a quick shower, asking if she has any scars on her back or other indicators of being angelic. Trixie says she only has a bite from a dog, but Chloe overhears and asks Lucifer about his recent behaviour. Then they get a phone call from Malcolm, they've found the boyfriend's car outside a warehouse. Upon entry it is clear that he is dead, strapped to the ceiling, arms spread and dripping blood all over the floor. They find the word 'Morningstar' painted over several boxes in the warehouse. Dan asks Chloe if she can truly trust Lucifer.
Meanwhile Maze and Amenadiel are sleeping in bed when she wakes and pulls her demon knife on him. She appears to hesitate several times before he wakes up and looks truly heartbroken then disappears.
Lucifer gets mobbed when he returns to Lux and the pastor protester confronts him, resulting in Lucifer gripping him by the throat and ranting angrily before Malcolm intervenes. Safely inside he starts drinking, joined soon by Malcolm who tells him he is the only one he can talk to about hell. Who after being caught with paint from the last crime scene on his hands, spills that it was he who murdered the two satanists, claiming them to be frauds in the face of true evil. This anger's Lucifer even further who says he can never condone senseless murder, shouting that he is not evil, but punishes evil! But before anything else happens Amenadiel appears livid that he was played by Maze at Lucifer's bidding. While they fight Malcolm manages to slip away, which makes Lucifer even more angry, but before they can kill each other Maze herself steps in and says SHE is the one who was played. She then angrily quits and leaves them both with her blades.
Thinking the Reverend is behind the fanatical murders, Chloe and Dan head to the club, where she finds Lucifer drowning his sorrows. She sees his bloody face and asks him what happened, he says he wants to be his own man and people everywhere betray him. She feels sorry for him, but then stumbles across the Reverend with a bullet in his head on the floor behind the bar. Chloe pulls a gun on him and says he's being arrested for murder as police file down the stairs.
Things we learnt this episode:
Amenadiel and Maze truly care for one another and i'd love to see them work out!
There was a nod to the comics and Mike Carey when Lucifer was told they thought he'd be blond.
Malcolm was far more disturbed than we thought…
The Lucifer finale is scheduled to air TONIGHT, Monday, April 25 on Fox (9/8c).
Betakitten is a Classics student who fangirls when she should be studying. A lifelong DC, Sci-Fi and Horror fan. After writing for blogs about TV shows she ended up here with The Collective to add a little Devilry to the mix.
(Twitter @betakitten)
Check out the incentives for our SDCC 2016 fundraising campaign here.


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Lowrance Fish for the Wish Big Bass Challenge | Clear Lake Nov 11
November 11th.....Clearlake team tourney in two weeks. Giving away 3 Lowrance HDS 12 units Douglas Outdoors Rods plus..plus..plus.. Lots of big raffle prizes. Get you and your kids friends and family signed up. Konocti Vista Casino and Resort hosting the event. Douglas Outdoors Sheldon and I will donate a prize to the Team that places right behind us! We will call it the almost enough prize! Lol See you all there!
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How to Trim the Top of a Maple Tree
They say that the only difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut is two weeks, but this maxim does not apply to drastic pruning of maple trees (Acer spp.). "Topping" a tree is more like decapitation than a cosmetic procedure, causing serious pruning wounds and destroying the maple's natural shape. If you own a maple whose upper branches scrape an electric line, you can use crown reduction pruning to reduce the tree's height.
Prune your maple in the late fall while it is dormant. While the tree is without leaves, it is easier to see its structure, and dormancy prevents excessive sap flow from the pruning wounds. Use hand pruners for branches with diameters of under 1 inch, lopping shears for diameters up to 2 3/4 inches, and pruning saws for those that are larger. For branches out of reach, use a pole pruner.
Prune for safety first, removing dead and dying branches at the point where they connect to the trunk. Prune out diseased or broken branches at least 6 inches into healthy wood. Make each cut just above a lateral branch that is at least 1/3 the diameter of the cut stem. Take out one of two crossing branches to prevent rubbing wounds.
Walk around the maple and determine how many inches must be removed from the top of its crown. Cut each of the highest branches just above a lateral branch at least 1/3 the diameter of the branch to be cut. Select lateral branches with strong, U-shaped angles of attachment to the tree rather than narrow angles of connection.
Limit pruning to a maximum of one-quarter of the maple's canopy in any one year. If more pruning is required, save it until the following year.
Things Needed
- Hand pruners
- Lopping shears
- Pruning saw
- Pole pruner
- Crown reduction pruning is far preferable to topping but remains a method of last resort. Even this gentler version of shortening a mature tree leaves large pruning wounds that can decay or get infected. Never try crown reduction if a tree has a pyramidal shape; in that case, remove the tree and replace it with one of appropriate size.
- If one of your trees will need to be shortened when it is mature, you are better off beginning size-control pruning as soon as the tree reaches the maximum size for its space. If you wait until the tree is out-sized, your job is harder and the tree will have move difficulty recovering.
- Do not buy or apply wound dressings to the pruning cuts. These products do not prevent decay or disease. In fact, they can interfere with the maple's own healing mechanisms.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service: How to Prune Trees
- University of California Cooperative Extension Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture: Pruning Trees
- University of California Cooperative Extension, Master Gardener Tulare and Kings Counties: Pruning Deciduous Landscape Trees – Let's Do it Right
Photo Credits
- Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images


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The work culture in Godrej supports learning at every stage of your work life. Opportunities in learning are available in the technical, functional, behavioural, general management and leadership areas through options like EDPs (Executive Development Programmes), MDPs (Management Development Programmes), E-learning and On the Job exposure to International Practices.
Respect and recognition of performance is an inextricable part of our work culture. Consistent performance becomes the benchmark for growth opportunities, job rotations, remuneration, reward and recognition. We provide equal opportunities to our employees to grow both horizontally & vertically through cross functional, cross business and cross location job rotations. This gives immense opportunities to professionals to add value to them and to satisfy their career aspirations.
We believe in the philosophy of holistic employee care. We not only take care of the employees but of their families as well. Take a glimpse of the facilities and welfare activities provided for our employees & their families at Vikhroli campus.
Godrej Infotech Ltd is forging ahead in the global markets. We invite you to join us. Come and fulfill your cherished dreams & ambitions by joining our dynamic team of young professionals. You may apply against existing vacancies, alternately create and maintain your CV online on our database and we shall revert to you as and when we have a suitable position befitting your experience & expertise.
For HR Enquiries :
Tel.: +91-22-6796 4022 / 4097 / 4084 / 6175
Email : email@example.com


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|Tot, kto ostavlyaet vse na volyu sluchaya, prevraschaet svoyu zhizn' v lotereyu. - T. Fuller
RFE/RL NEWSLINE Vol 1, No. 186, Part I, 29 December 1997
A daily report of developments in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus and Central Asia prepared by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. This is Part I, a compilation of news concerning Russia, Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Part II covers Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe and is distributed simultaneously as a second document. Back issues of RFE/RL NewsLine and the OMRI Daily Digest are online at RFE/RL's Web site: http://www.rferl.org/newsline Note to readers: "RFE/RL Newsline" will not appear on 31 December or 1 January, which are public holidays in the Czech Republic, or on 2 January. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Headlines, Part I * DUMA APPROVES BUDGET IN SECOND READING * OFFICIALS AGREE TO SEEK COMPROMISE ON LAND REFORM * TURKMENISTAN, TURKEY SIGN AGREEMENTS xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx RUSSIA DUMA APPROVES BUDGET IN SECOND READING. The State Duma approved the draft budget for 1998 in the second reading on 25 December by a vote of 231 to 155 with three abstentions, RFE/RL's Moscow bureau reported. The previous day, deputies approved the document provisionally, but then on two successive votes the budget fell just short of the 226 votes needed for approval. The Duma again failed by a small margin to pass the budget in the second reading on the morning of 25 December, but later in the day, after some lobbying in the corridors, the budget was finally approved. The budget, which faces another two readings in the Duma, calls for 367.5 billion new rubles ($62 billion) in revenues and 499.9 billion rubles in spending. The planned budget deficit of 132 billion rubles totals 4.7 percent of estimated 1998 GDP. LB LIMITED COMMUNIST SUPPORT KEY FOR BUDGET PASSAGE. Although Communist deputy leader Valentin Kuptsov announced on 23 December that his party would vote against the budget, 35 Communist Duma deputies supported the budget in the final, successful attempt to approve the document in the second reading, RFE/RL's Moscow bureau reported on 25 December. As on 5 December, when the Duma approved the budget in the first reading with some Communist support, Communist Party leaders including Gennadii Zyuganov voted against the budget (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 8 December 1997). The Our Home Is Russia, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, and Russian Regions factions voted nearly unanimously for the budget on 25 December, as did most Agrarian deputies and some members of the Popular Power faction. Grigorii Yavlinskii's Yabloko faction voted unanimously against the budget. LB OFFICIALS AGREE TO SEEK COMPROMISE ON LAND REFORM. Top officials in the executive and legislative branches agreed on 26 December that the government and parliament will revise the Land Code and submit it to the president within three months, RFE/RL's Moscow bureau reported. In his speech to open the roundtable talks in the Kremlin, Yeltsin argued that the current version of the land code, which he vetoed in July, must be amended. While not explicitly prohibiting private land ownership, he said, the code bans citizens from selling, giving away, or mortgaging farmland. "What kind of private property is that?" he asked. A protocol adopted by the roundtable participants and signed by Yeltsin calls for strict state regulation of farmland transactions, which, among other things, would ban foreigners from buying farmland and would restrict new owners from quickly re-selling such land or converting it from agricultural use. LB PARLIAMENT APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON GOVERNMENT. The Duma on 25 December voted by 404 to zero with one abstention to approve amendments to the law on the government, RFE/RL's Moscow bureau and ITAR- TASS reported. Before the vote, Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin urged deputies to pass the amendments. Among other things, the amendments stipulate that the president directs the work of the so-called "power ministries" (defense, interior, and security services), as well as ministries and agencies dealing with questions of security, foreign affairs, and emergency situations. Yeltsin recently signed the law on the government after Duma Speaker Gennadii Seleznev promised that the Duma would approve the amendments (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 18 December 1997). The Federation Council also passed the amendments on 25 December, but the legislation was put to a vote three times before the necessary three-fourths majority was achieved, according to ITAR-TASS. LB YELTSIN RULES OUT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. While meeting with Deputy Presidential Chief of Staff Mikhail Komissar on 25 December, Yeltsin said, "As long as I am president, I will not allow any changes to the constitution," Russian news agencies reported. Duma Speaker Seleznev recently sent the president several proposals on constitutional amendments, but Yeltsin argued that "attempts to change [the constitution] can only lead to the destabilization of the situation" in Russia. The Communist Party, of which Seleznev is a member, has long advocated constitutional amendments to reduce the power of the presidency and increase the power of the legislative branch. LB NEMTSOV UPBEAT ON YELTSIN'S HEALTH. First Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov on 25 December denied rumors that Yeltsin is seriously ill, saying the president "is in better shape than I am," RFE/RL's Moscow bureau reported. On 24 December, exactly two weeks after he was brought to the Barvikha clinic with a respiratory infection, Yeltsin checked out of the clinic and held a partly-televised meeting with Nemtsov at the Kremlin. He also made trips to the Kremlin on 26 and 29 December. He has spent the rest of his time at his residence at Gorky-9, outside Moscow. Aides have not said when the president will return to work full- time. LB DUMA CALLS FOR NEMTSOV'S DISMISSAL... The Duma on 26 December passed a resolution calling for Yeltsin to fire Nemtsov for making "irresponsible" comments during a visit to Sweden earlier this month, Russian news agencies reported. The resolution accused Nemtsov of trying to scare potential foreign investors away from regions with "red governors," who were elected with the backing of the Communist opposition. Meanwhile, the Federation Council, which is made up of regional executive and legislative leaders, voted on 24 December to summon Nemtsov to explain his comments in Sweden and his more recent remarks on the drive to pay wage arrears to state employees. Nemtsov has charged that regional governors-- not the federal government--will be to blame if the wage debts are not cleared by the end of the year (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 23 December 1997). LB ...NEMTSOV SAYS HE WAS MISUNDERSTOOD. In a letter sent to the Duma and Federation Council on 25 December, Nemtsov claimed the comments he made in Sweden have been misinterpreted, Russian news agencies reported. He denied having implied that "red governors" would "liquidate" invested foreign capital. Rather, in reply to a question about which regions were most promising for foreign investors, he merely noted that regions in Russia's "red belt" have seen less foreign investment than other regions, such as Moscow and Moscow Oblast, St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast, the republics of Karelia and Tatarstan, Novgorod, Samara, Tyumen, Nizhnii Novgorod and Sakhalin Oblasts. Nemtsov told the Duma and Federation Council that such information is "confirmed by statistical data" and that he hopes more regions will create an attractive environment for both foreign and domestic investors. LB FEDERATION COUNCIL APPROVES SEVERAL TAX LAWS. The Federation Council on 24 December approved six out of nine draft laws aimed at increasing 1998 budget revenues, ITAR-TASS reported. The legislation approved includes a law outlining a new income tax scale, a law raising the tax on foreign-currency purchases from 0.5 to 1 percent, and laws establishing an excise duty on oil transports and fees for alcohol production licenses (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 December 1997). Also on 24 December, the Council rejected proposed changes to the law on excise duties, on the grounds that the high duties that law would set on alcohol production would unintentionally encourage the black market in alcoholic beverages. LB YELTSIN SIGNS LAW CHANGING 1997 BORROWING PLAN. Yeltsin on 26 December signed a law amending the 1997 budget, ITAR-TASS reported. The changes, which were approved by the Federation Council on 24 December, will allow the government to borrow $1.1 billion less on the domestic market this year and $1.1 billion more abroad (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 December 1997). LB NTV TO CONTEST HIGHER TRANSMISSION CHARGES. The private network NTV will appeal to the Moscow Arbitration Court against a decision to charge it higher fees for using state-owned transmission facilities, RFE/RL's Moscow bureau reported on 23 December. Under an agreement with the Communications Ministry, NTV has paid government rates for its transmissions since January 1996. However, the State Anti-Monopoly Committee recently ordered that NTV be charged the commercial rates paid by other private electronic media. Igor Malashenko, the president of NTV-holding, thinks the order violates Article 8 of the constitution, which guarantees equal conditions for all enterprises, whether they are state-owned or private. Some observers believe First Deputy Prime Minister Nemtsov, who oversees the State Anti-Monopoly Committee, is behind the decision to charge NTV higher rates. Since this summer, the network's news coverage has frequently portrayed Nemtsov and especially First Deputy Prime Minister Anatolii Chubais in an unfavorable light. LB DUMA DEMANDS ACTION AGAINST 'PROPAGANDA OF VICE.' The Duma on 26 December approved a resolution calling for the government to take legal action against NTV and other Russian television companies that allegedly broadcast "the propaganda of vice, sadism, blasphemy, permissiveness and crime," Interfax reported. Such legal action could include revoking the broadcast licenses of some companies, the resolution said. It specifically condemned NTV for broadcasting the film "The Last Temptation of Christ" and declared the Duma's "complete solidarity" on this issue with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksii II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Duma recently passed a separate resolution calling for more regulation of NTV and other private electronic media (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 22 December 1997). LB GAZPROM FORMS MEDIA SUBSIDIARY. The gas monopoly Gazprom has formed a subsidiary, Gazprom- Media, to manage its media assets, Russian news agencies reported on 27 December. Viktor Ilyushin, up to now Gazprom's vice president in charge of public relations, was elected chairman of the board of Gazprom-Media. Ilyushin, a longtime aide to Yeltsin dating from Yeltsin's time as secretary of the Communist Party committee in Sverdlovsk Oblast, served as first presidential adviser from 1992 until August 1996, when he was appointed first deputy prime minister. He joined Gazprom soon after losing his government job in a March 1997 cabinet reshuffle. Gazprom owns shares in Russian Public Television, NTV, the Prometei network of regional radio and television stations, and the newspapers "Trud" and "Rabochaya tribuna." LB ACCUSED SPY GOES HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. U.S. citizen Richard Bliss, who is being investigated on spy charges, arrived in San Diego, California, on 25 December after Russian authorities allowed him to go home for Christmas. Bliss was arrested on 25 November while carrying out a land survey using satellite technology for a cellular telephone project involving his U.S. employer, Qualcomm. He was released from custody on 6 December after promising not to leave Rostov-na-Donu. Federal Security Service spokesman Aleksandr Zdanovich told Interfax that the authorities may summon Bliss back to Russia in January, depending on the outcome of the investigation. U.S. officials including Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright have called on Russian authorities to drop the charges against Bliss. LB ZHIRINOVSKY SHIPS HUMANITARIAN AID TO IRAQ. A plane carrying 21 members of Vladimir Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic Party of Russia landed in Baghdad on 25 December with a consignment of five tons of medical supplies. The plane had been detained in Iran on 22 December as it lacked authorization from the U.N. Security Council's Sanctions Commission to enter Iraqi air space, but allowed to proceed after the Russian Foreign Ministry requested permission from the U.N. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennadii Tarasov on 24 December denied media reports that the ministry had been informed in advance about the LDPR's planned mission. LF TRANSCAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA TURKMENISTAN, TURKEY SIGN AGREEMENTS. Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz completed his three-day visit to Turkmenistan on 28 December by overseeing the signing of several agreements between the two countries, ITAR- TASS reported. The most significant document was a memorandum of understanding for a gas pipeline across the bed of Caspian sea and via Azerbaijan and Georgia to Turkey and further to Europe. Prior to Yilmaz' departure to Baku on 28 December, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami arrived in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, and discussed with Yilmaz and Turkmen President Saparmurat Niyazov the Turkmen- Iran-Turkey-Europe pipeline. Khatami and Niyazov attended the opening ceremony of the first stage of this route, the 200-kilometer Korpedzhe-Kurdkui pipeline, on 29 December. BP DELAYS IN TAJIKISTAN. Tajikistan will hold a national referendum on amendments to the constitution in the first half of 1998, RFE/RL correspondents in Dushanbe reported. Possible amendments are being discussed by the National Reconciliation Commission but some members of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) favor waiting to name a date for the referendum until its members have officially taken up positions in the Tajik government. The announcement of which positions the UTO representatives will receive is already overdue. The last 650 fighters of the UTO still in Afghanistan awaiting transportation back to Tajikistan also have been delayed by weather, logistics and lack of finances, and may not return before mid-January. BP AZERBAIJAN, KARABAKH ASSESS COPENHAGEN SUMMIT. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Hasan Hasanov told Interfax on 22 December that he was satisfied with the outcome of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe Foreign Ministers' meeting in Copenhagen, Interfax reported. Hasanov said the meeting laid the foundation for resolving the conflict via negotiations. In an interview with the independent Armenian newspaper "Azg" on 23 December, Hasanov termed Armenia the instigator of the conflict and called on Yerevan to "withdraw its forces from Azerbaijani territory" and negotiate Karabakh's status. But the Prime Minister of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Leonard Petrossian, and the enclave's Foreign Minister, Naira Melkumian, both complained that "nothing was done" in Copenhagen to expedite the resumption of negotiations, Interfax and Noyan Tapan reported. Melkumian noted that the meeting also rejected Karabakh's request to be recognized as a "conflict party" for the entire duration of the negotiating process. LF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT PASSES 1998 BUDGET. The National Assembly on 27 December voted overwhelmingly to pass the 1998 draft budget, RFE/RL's Yerevan bureau reported. Deputies agreed to the government's proposed increase in excise tax on gasoline in return for a wage hike for government employees and other provisions that had figured in the1995 election program of the ruling Hanrapetutyun coalition. The budget forecasts a 5.2 percent increase in GDP and an annual inflation rate of 13 percent, which will reduce the budget deficit to 5.5 percent from its current level of 6.7 per cent. LF GEORGIAN-SOUTH OSSETIAN TALKS CANCELLED. Talks in Moscow under joint Russian and OSCE auspices between Georgian and South Ossetian representatives on an interim agreement on the breakaway region's political status within Georgia have been cancelled because of the Ossetian side's maximalist approach, Interfax reported on 23 December quoting Georgian presidential representative for resolving conflicts, Irakli Machavariani. Machavariani said that the South Ossetian leadership had reverted to its original demand, modified three years ago, of independence from Georgia and unification with North Ossetia within the Russian Federation. Both Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and his South Ossetian counterpart Lyudvig Chibirov had expressed confidence that their meeting in mid-November had given fresh impetus to the search for a compromise settlement of the conflict. LF AZERBAIJANI PM IN GEORGIA. Visiting Georgia on 26-27 December, Artur Rasi-Zade and the President of the Azerbaijani state oil company, Natik Aliev, assessed progress in reconstruction of the Baku-Supsa oil export pipeline, which is scheduled for completion in late 1998. Aliev subsequently told journalists that the choice between Russia and Georgia as the main export route for Azerbaijan's Caspian oil will depend on how those countries meet the obligations they have signed to date. An agreement signed in September between Russian, Chechen and Azerbaijani officials on the transit of Azerbaijani oil via Chechnya is valid only until 31 December. Following a brief meeting in Baku on 28 December with Turkish Prime Minister Yilmaz, Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliev again endorsed the western export route via Turkey, ITAR-TASS reported. LF NEW IMF LOANS FOR AZERBAIJAN. The IMF has approved further loans to Azerbaijan totalling approximately $64 million, an RFE/RL correspondent in Washington reported on 23 December. The loans are intended to support the country's ongoing transition to a market economy and to prepare for the anticipated influx of revenues from offshore oil production. The IMF is apprehensive that while increased oil revenues will relieve constraints on growth, they may also drive up the value of the manat and crowd out development in the non-oil sector. LF THE PARTY'S OVER; THE NOMENKLATURA ISN'T By Paul Goble Six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the communist party has largely disappeared in most of the successor states. But one of its most unfortunate creations -- the nomenklatura -- continues to exist in most of them, albeit in a somewhat modified form. In Soviet times, the communist party used a variety of institutions to control society -- the army, the secret police, and so on. But one of its most effective levers was a system of control over personnel appointments in virtually all aspects of public life. Party committees at various levels had the final word over who could be appointed to this or that post and over who would be pushed up the career ladder or be cast aside. Known as the nomenklatura, this group of people selected by the party formed the real elite of the Soviet Union. At each level, they tended to interact only with each other. And they formed a ruling class every bit as tightly defined as any other in history. Some of the members of this group were committed to communist ideology, but by the end of Soviet times, most were driven by careerist motives. And not surprisingly, many of its members were largely indifferent to the fate of communism at the end of the Soviet Union. Indeed, in their pursuit of individual and collective self-interest, some of them viewed the demise of the Soviet system as a golden opportunity to enrich themselves, to own what they used to merely control. Or as one shrewd Estonian observer of this situation once put it, "1991 was less about democracy and freedom than about giving the nomenklatura the retirement plan." The continuation of the nomenklatura class, if not the nomenklatura system of appointments, has taken a variety of forms which cast a shadow over the life of these countries. The first and most important is simply the continuity of individuals in office, people used to working together and working together in the peculiar style of the Soviet past. Ten of the 12 presidents of the countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States were senior members of the nomenklatura. And even one of the three Baltic presidents -- Algirdas Brazauskas of Lithuania -- is as well. On the one hand, that should come as no surprise: these were the most politically active members of Soviet society, and after only six years, these are the people one might expect to be in power. But on the other hand, whatever they choose to call themselves -- democrats, reformers, or something else -- their experiences of the hard school of the Soviet nomenklatura are likely to dominate much of their behaviour with each other and with the rest of society. Indeed, many things that are otherwise inexplicable about the ways in which senior officials in these countries interact with each other -- the kinds and extent of corruption, the secrecy, the power of shadowy figures occupying no clear post -- become clear considering the positions these same people occupied in Soviet times. The continuing role of the nomenklatura even has an impact on the way in which the governments of CIS states deal with each other. Armenian officials have pointed out that Russian President Boris Yeltsin, himself a senior nomenklatura member, deals very differently with the presidents of Georgia and Azerbaijan, both of whom share that tie, than with the president of Armenia who does not. And this lack of nomenklatura ties, these officials suggest, limits rather than enhances the special relationship that exists between the Russian Federation and Armenia. At the very least, they say, it colors the way in which the Russian president receives the Armenian president when the latter comes to Moscow. And yet a third example of the way in which the nomenklatura works is its efforts to find and promote politicians who can function in the more open democratic marketplace but who are committed to defending the interests of the nomenklatura class defined now, as often as not, as the "new" Russians or the "new" generation of leaders elsewhere. One case of this very much on public view this month is in Lithuania. There, Arturas Paulauskas, who led the first round of voting for a new president, appears to be someone the old nomenklatura hopes to use to defend or even advance its privileges. The son of a KGB colonel with close ties with many of the former communist elite, Paulauskas, 44, presented himself as a man of a new generation -- even as an appointee of Vytautas Landsbergis, the man who led Lithuania's march to the recovery of its independence. Like some other former members of the nomenklatura, Paulauskas may be able to emancipate himself from its claims and its habits. But his candidacy and the support the old nomenklatura is giving it are yet another reminder that communism may in fact be gone but one of communism's most unfortunate creations is going to be around for a long time to come. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright (c) 1997 RFE/RL, Inc. All rights reserved. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SUBSCRIBING: 1) To subscribe to RFERL-L, please send a message to email@example.com 2) In the text of your message, type subscribe RFERL-L YourFirstName YourLastName UNSUBSCRIBING: 1) To un-subscribe to RFERL-L, please send a message to email@example.com 2) In the text of your message, type unsubscribe RFERL-L Current and Back Issues Back issues of RFE/RL Newsline and the OMRI Daily Digest are online at: http://www.rferl.org/newsline/search/ Listen to news for 13 countries RFE/RL programs for countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia and the South Slavic region are online daily at RFE/RL's 24-Hour LIVE Broadcast Studio. http://www.rferl.org/realaudio/index.html Reprint Policy To receive reprint permission, please contact Paul Goble, Publisher Email: email@example.com Phone: 202-457-6947 Fax: 202-457-6992 Postal Address: RFE/RL, 1201 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036 USA RFE/RL Newsline Staff: * Paul Goble, Publisher, firstname.lastname@example.com * Liz Fuller, Editor-in-Chief, email@example.com * Patrick Moore, Team Leader, firstname.lastname@example.com * Laurie Belin, email@example.com * Bruce Pannier, email@example.com * Michael Shafir, firstname.lastname@example.com * Jan Cleave, email@example.com Freelance And Occasional Contributors * Fabian Schmidt * Matyas Szabo * Jeremy Bransten * Jolyon Naegele * Anthony Wesolowsky * Julia Guechakov RFE/RL Newsline Fax: (420-2) 2112-3630
©1996 "Druz'ya i Partnery"
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The more I tune in to the deepest expressions of myself, the more I realize how much guidance nature, our true home, can offer to us. We go to great lengths to separate ourselves from our natural selves, but ultimately that path is more destructive than supportive. How can we not feel a primal connection to nature? Nature is the reason we are pulled to the ocean and long for the mountains. It's the reason we love our domestic animals and have such an embedded curiosity in the wild kingdom. We are all one. All forms of nature are distant cousins to us, and by recognizing and honoring this understanding, we can discover an effortless way to balance ourselves.
Nature is the most perfect expression of balance there is, and we can gain so much from following its example. This time of year, I find myself not only following the beautiful guidance of nature but also depending on its lessons. I love summer and appreciate how gentle and healing the energy in those months is. As summer flowers in their magnificence surrender to their autumn wilt, I feel sadness in letting them go. I catch myself trying to hold on to their beauty. I feel resistance to accepting the change. But what nature teaches me is that as one expression of beauty leaves, another inspiring manifestation shows up.
As I release my tight grip on wanting things to stay the same, I get to see the amazing breath of life move in and out. It is this type of balance that teaches me to move with confidence and surrender my natural self from one change to the next. And if I forget how to do this, nature's brilliance will be patiently waiting just outside my door to offer all the guidance I need.
Ayurveda and the Art of Balance by Janelle Salzman
Ayurveda, the oldest holistic and preventative medicine in the world, is also known as the "Science of Life" or "Wisdom of Longevity." This beautiful practice follows the laws of nature and their effortless flow and ease of transition. As we know without question, the sun rises and sets daily, radiating its warmth for all to thrive on. The birds fly south when the cold months approach and the squirrels gather their nuts to feed on throughout the deep chill of winter. Mother Nature and her creatures know what to do to sustain balance.
We humans with our intellect and egos fight with our natural born instinct for self-care. We partake in what is known in Sanskrit as prajnaparadha, or "crimes against wisdom." We know better but do not always do better. We brush over our natural urgencies to do what is best for us and only us. We lose our way and get off balance. Prajnaparadha has been practiced by the human race for 5000 years. I think we all can agree that it's time for a break!
When we slow down, breathe, and take a few moments to check in with ourselves, we tap into our own wisdom and the answers come. We start to understand which foods our bodies will receive best. We know when we must rest and rejuvenate. We identify who we should surround ourselves with to maintain support and inner peace. This knowing comes clearer the more we pay attention to the subtle messages our soul speaks.
Ayurveda teaches the balance of the opposites. Start simply: if you are cold, warm yourself up with blankets or hot tea. If you feel sluggish, go for a walk or apply stimulating essential oils to your body. If you are feeling down, surround yourself with loving people or inspiring music. If you are unsure of how to reset, submerge yourself in nature. Ride the coattails of the earth's powerful instincts. This is how we tune in. Slow but sure, and always remember to be kind to yourself.


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17 April 2013
"Trade Unions and the Fight Against Austerity: A strategy to win"
Meeting and Pamphlet Launch
Monday 29 April 2013, 7pm, Ruskin College (Headington OX3 9BZ)
Speakers include: (personal capacity)
Zita Holborne, (PCS NEC and Black Activists Rising Against Cuts)
Ian Hodson, (national President, BFAWU)
Chad Croom, (CWU south central branch secretary)
Ellen Clifford, (Disabled People against Cuts)
Alan Whitaker, (former President UCU)
Supported by:
PCS DWP Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
CWU South Central
Click here to download the leaflet
We face the most concerted attack on our public services, jobs, pay
and pensions for generations.
The Tory led coalition is committed to austerity as an excuse to
drive down our pay and living standards and drive through cuts to
our services that even Thatcher never dreamed of.The national ballot by PCS members, key local battles like the action by health workers in Yorkshire and the growing wave of
protests against the cuts such as the 25,000 strong protest in
defence of Lewisham's health services show that workers are angry
and want to fight back.
The onslaught on the poor through the Tories ongoing attacks and
scapegoating of benefit claimants has to, and can be, stopped.
Workers across Europe are striking back against austerity.
We need our trade unions to lead the resistance to austerity.
We saw what our unions could do on 30 November 2011 when 2.5
million workers took action together against the attack on public
sector pensions.
Since then, despite the intensification of Tory attacks we've not
seen strike action on that scale.
We need to build mass industrial action to stop the Con-Dem's
austerity attacks.
Unite the Resistance wants to pull together all those who see
working class organisations as central to opposing austerity.
We want to see the TUC's vote on a general strike turned into
We want co-ordinated national action against the Tory onslaught,
uniting strikers and campaigners fighting every aspect of the cuts
and austerity agenda.
We are building a network of solidarity in every area so that every
group of workers and campaigners knows we won't fight alone.
Join us.


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Why Work With Us
At Venuiti, our experience speaks for itself. We've sold everything from razors to dog food and a whole heap of consumer goods and services. One time we even sold bubblegum by having a talking ape. How cool is that? Here's some hard facts about why you should work with us:


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- 11
Ringwood Road Closure
8th - 22nd Sep
Due to tree cutting works, service 11 and 14 will be unable to serve Alderney Hospital on 08/09/19 and 22/09/19. Buses will be on diversion via Canford Way and Mannings Heath Road. Your nearest bus stops during this time are - Alderney "Post Ofiice" Alderney West We apologise for any inconvenience during this time.


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More about Myibidder Auction Bid Sniper for eBay
Get Myibidder Auction Bid Sniper for eBay v3.1.4001.5512; you will need 6.1 MB for the installation on the hard drive. It's a shareware program created by Myibidder for $12.95. Belonging to the Personal category, specifically Shopping, makes it popular among such programs. Users from all over the world install the versions 3.1 and 1.1 on Windows XP/7/8/8.1. The most popular installation file name for this program is myibay.exe. The download link was analysed by a number of antivirus solutions and was found to be clean.


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Tropical Storm Isaac is on track to hit Haiti tonight, soaking the country with torrential rain and whipping winds up to 60 miles per hour.
Haiti, no stranger to natural disasters, still has hundreds of thousands of people living in tents since the devastating earthquake in 2010 who are even more vulnerable to the storm.
OutFront tonight with the latest is CNN's Martin Savidge in Jacmel, Haiti.


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Round out your year with this exclusive offer.
District member, and avid typographer Giuseppe Salerno is offering a discount on his brand new font Afrobeat Light for all new district members. All you need to do is Join The District, Africa's online community for creatives and you get a special discount for this font that will go perfectly with any creative project.
Join Now
Once you register or if you are already a District member set your status to 'Feel the Afrobeat' and you will receive the discount.


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DJ-MegaMenu module is necessary to display menu in the module position.
Navigate Extensions > Module Manager and choose DJ-MegaMenu module.
Let's take a look at Module Parameters:
- Menu Name – The name of the menu (default is mainmenu)
- Base Item - Select a menu item to always be used as the base for the menu display.
- Start level – Level to start rendering the menu at.
- End level – Level to stop rendering the menu at. If you choose 'All', all levels will be shown.
- Show icons in – Choose to show menu items' icons in mega menu, monile menu, both or disable the icons completly.
- Show subtitles in – Choose to show menu items' subtitles in mega menu, mobile menu, both or disable the subtitles completely.
- Use Note as subtitle – Use menu item note field as subtitle when subtitle parameter is empty.
- Include Font Awesome - Yes/No
Mega Menu Options
- Theme – Choose the theme for DJ-MegaMenu. You can create your own theme by copy the existing one and renaming the folder or copy the djmegamenu.css file from default theme into /templates/[your_template]/css/ and set theme to '- override from template -'.
- Orientation - choose if the menu will be displayed horizontally or vertically
- Dropdown direction – Use obnly id you want to force default dropdown direction, which is based on language direction by default. It can be overridden in menu item settings (DJ-MegaMenu Options).
- Submenu type – Show submenu items as tree or dropdown menu. It can be overridden in menu item settings (DJ-MegaMenu Options)
- Column width in pixels – Set default column width in pixels. It can be overriden in menu item settings (DJ-MegaMenu Options).
- Percent column width - Set default column width in percent for full width submenu.
- CSS3 Animations and scripts features – Enabling makes the menu animate with nice CSS3 animations and also add the extra features such as sticky menu, keeping submenus inside wrapper, delay before close submenu or touch screens better experience.
- Entrance animation – select one of available animations.
- Exit animation – select one of available animations.
- Animation speed – select one of available speeds.
- Delay time before open submenu - Set delay time in miliseconds (1000 ms = 1 second)
- Delay time before close submenu – Set delay time in miliseconds (1000 ms = 1 second)
- Open event – Bulid submenu which open on click event instead of hover. you can apply click event for all items or just for separators. Touch screens by default use click event for all items.
- Wrapper id – Submenu will change direction if it goes out the container with wrapper id. Default wrapper is container with .dj-megamenu class
- Sticky menu – It makes your DJ-MegaMenu always visible while scrolling page down.
- Keyboard acces (WCAG 2.0) - Enable keyboard access to meet WCAG requirements.
Mobile Menu Options
- Mobile Menu – Use mobile menu for screens smaller than the with set below
- Mobile Menu trigger width - Mega Menu will be switched to Mobile Menu for screens narrower than set value.
- Mobile Menu Theme – Choose the theme for mobile menu. You can create your own theme by copy the existing one and renaming the folder or copy the djmobilemenu.css file from a mobile theme into /templates/[your_template]/css/ and set mobile theme to '-override from template-'
- Mobile Menu Button Type - Choose between icon, icon with text or text only
- Offcanvas Logo - Choose logo image to display at the top of the offcanvas menu
- Offcanvas Effect - Choose transition effect for opening off-canvas menu. Partially supported effects should be used only if there is no fixed positioned elements on your website.
- Top Modules Style - Offcanvas Top Modules can be added by publishing modules in the dj-offcanvas-top module position. You can set default top modules style below.
- Bottom Modules Style - Offcanvas Bottom Modules can be added by publishing modules in the dj-offcanvas-bottom module position. You can set default bottom modules style below.
- Start Collapsed - Display collapsed mobile menu on a start.
You can put the Mobile Menu in another module position using DJ-MegaMenu - Mobile Menu Button module. Alternatively you can copy and paste the Mobile Menu Wrapper Code anywhere in your Joomla template or custom HTML module to display Mobile Menu whereever you need.
- Mobile Menu Wrapper Code


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Rules and Regulations for Visitors to the permanent exhibition "The history and culture of Kraków's Jews" in the Old Synagogue, the branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków
1. The permanent exhibition "The history and culture of Kraków's Jews" is open to individual visitors and organised groups.
2. Organised groups may only include 10-30 people, (including tutors, couriers, etc.)
3. Individual persons and organized groups can book a guide through the website of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków (www.mhk.pl). The guide, appointed by the Museum has to be booked at least 4 days prior to the intended visit.
4. The priority entrance to the exhibition is reserved for the individual persons and organized groups, who made a booking.
5. Sightseeing on Mondays:
a/ admission is free of charge
b/ the admission for organised groups is also free of charge, but the groups are required to pay the cost of the guide service, if it is booked in the Museum
6. Before entering the exhibition, visitors shall purchase tickets according to the current price list.
7. The current price list and the list of persons entitled to free admission, or reduced price tickets, are available at: www.mhk.pl.
8. The sightseeing time of the exhibition for organized groups with a guide is about 60 minutes.
9. The last admission to the exhibition for individual persons and organised groups without a guide is 30 minutes before closing time; for individual persons and organised groups with a guide service is 60 minutes before closing time.
10. The Museum shall be visited in accordance with the prearranged tour of the exhibition.
11. During sightseeing it is obligatory to comply with the remarks and suggestions of the guide as well as the employees of the Museum.
12. If a visit to the Museum that has been booked ahead does not take place, and if such a visit is not cancelled at least four (4) calendar days before, the booking entity shall be charged a fine of 100 PLN.
13. The Museum reserves the right to change the visiting date and limit the number of people at the exhibition site under reasonable circumstances.
14. The Museum reserves the right to deny admission for organised groups that do not comply with the rules herein.
15. At the permanent and temporary exhibitions the visitors are not allowed to take flash photographs, or use tripods.
16. The visitors are not allowed to eat or drink, smoke, or talk on the phone at the exhibition site.
17. Intoxicated persons, and persons behaving in a way that challenges the safety of exhibits, disrupts the tour of the exhibition, or violates the commonly accepted standards of behaviour in public, shall not be admitted to the Museum.
18. It is prohibited to bring along the following to the exhibition site:
- firearms, ammunition, objects considered potentially dangerous;
- explosives, combustibles, and toxic materials;
- pets.
Additional information may be obtained in the Visitors Centre, tel. (48 12) 426-50-60 from Monday to Sunday, 10:00-19:00 and by e-mail: email@example.com.
19. Buying a ticket to the exhibition shall mean that the buyer has accepted the rules herein.
20. The present Rules and Regulations for Visitors are effective as of the 3rd of April, 2012.


text:
There are a few easy methods to stream the app on your phone or tablet to your TV!
1) AirPlay to Apple TV
My Fitness can be streamed to your Apple TV (swipe up to your control center to find the Screen Mirroring option) or another AirPlay enabled device. Here is a link to view instructions on how to AirPlay and Mirror the app from your phone or tablet to your Apple TV with one click of a button: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204289
2) For newer Android devices, swipe down from the top of your screen to find the Cast button which will allow you to stream directly to your TV. For older devices, you'll need to install an app called Google Home to stream it. You can find instructions for that here: https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/6059461?hl=en Or, you can download this highly rated app for streaming: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobzapp.screenstream.trial&hl=en#details-reviews
3) Lightning to HDMI Adaptor Cable
You can purchase an lightning to HDMI adaptor cable (see picture below) for your Apple or Android phone that connects to your TV's HDMI cable. These are available from various retailers such as Amazon.
4) Chromecast


text:
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SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — An aerial acrobat died after falling 15 to 20 feet and landing headfirst during a circus-like performance.
Authorities were investigating how 33-year-old Jose Angel Vera of San Diego died during the performance Tuesday at a golf tournament.
Police Sgt. Mark Clark said Vera fell during stunt in which he unraveled his body from a sash while suspended in the air. There was no safety net.
Vera died about 35 minutes after falling on his head.
Clark said witnesses are "absolutely stunned" by the fatal fall during the Aerial Artistry performance.
He said investigators do not suspect foul play or criminal issues.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Remember that teaching I am working on with Colin about being thankful and grateful for things?
The other day, my mom was asking Colin about having another sibling (please no one get any ideas on this--SHE, may I make it clear, is the one hoping for a new baby--I'm all good for now, thanks.) This was the conversation...
Mom: "Colin, wouldn't you like to have a new baby in the house?"
Colin: "Sure!"
"Would you like a new baby brother?"
"How about a new baby sister?"
Long pause........"No, I don't think so......."
"No baby sister?"
"Well, why not?"
"Well................(long pause, thinking, trying to come up with exactly the right words to describe just how he was feeling)................I'm just not grateful for a baby sister."
At least he was honest.
Friday, August 17, 2007
And the funnies continue....
Remember that teaching I am working on with Colin about being thankful and grateful for things?
3 comments:
- Unknown said...
ok.. how cute is that! YOU should seriously send that in somewhere. Maybe a friday funny for the Girl Talk blog. So cute. I can picture him doing that whole thing too! Don't feel bad if you ever do have a girl. Ian never wanted one either until he saw Sydney at the hospital. He quickly got over it.
- August 17, 2007 at 10:09 PM
- The Boe's ~ said...
So do you want another one already???????????
- August 19, 2007 at 9:01 PM
- Karie said...
They really are fun Colin, I promise. Remember your baby sister, Reese. I think she would like some female blood in the family.
- August 19, 2007 at 10:31 PM


text:
10 pcs. [30x4 cm] YOUTUBE USERNAME
10 pcs. [30x4 cm each] YOUTUBE username vinyl decal. Hit of the season, the trend of the previous year and the eternal advertising your accounts! Attractively, briefly, into the brain. Each decal size is approximately 30 Width x 4 Height cm [The longer the name, the smaller the height. The shorter the name, the taller the letters.].
*Please make sure that you have correctly specified the user's name. This includes capital and lower case letters, @, underscores and dashes.
• Select background option [no background or with background].
• Size is approx. 30 x 4 cm [The longer the name, the smaller the height. The shorter the name, the taller the letters.]
(if you need other sizes please contact me)
• Each decal is made of HIGH QUALITY MATTE, self-adhesive and waterproof vinyl.
• For the decal we use vinyl film "ORACAL", the German company "ORAFOL".
• Every color has a beautiful matte finish that reduces excess glare.
• Our vinyl is easy to apply to walls, glass, tile, wood, metal, anywhere you want! For surfaces without too much texture.
• Own production of DECOSTICK.EU
• Made in Europe
• 10 pcs [30x4 cm] high quality decals
• Detailed installation instruction
• We ship worldwide from the Europe!
• Shipping to USA approximately takes ~ 14-21 working days. Shipping to Europe approximately takes ~ 7-10 working days. Shipping to Russia approximately takes ~ 7-21 working days. [varies by region].
• Orders are shipped through "Latvian Posts Service".
• Please allow 1-3 business days for production. The days of production of the sticker depends on the availability of material in the our warehouse and in the warehouse of our suppliers.
• Sticker's are shipped in envelopes A4 size.
• This package have a tracking number. [Only for worldwide shipping]
• Each decal is made to order by DECOSTICK.EU to specific sizes, vinyl material, color, and design per the order placed. We are not responsible for spelling or typographical errors made by the customer. Therefore DECOSTICK.EU is unable to issue refunds or exchanges. All sales are final.
• Replacements will be given only if the item is damaged in transit. You have up until 30 days from the date you purchased the item to request a replacement and need to provide proof (photo) of damaged item.
• If your item is lost in transit, we will ship a replacement item free of charge. Please keep in mind that a package is not considered lost through LPS [Latvian Post Service] until 30 business days after the ship date for Europe orders and 45 business days for international orders.
• If a decal has been damaged during installation, a replacement may be ordered at a discount. DECOSTICK.EU is not responsible for problems or issues with the surface, surface prep, application or installation process by the buyer.
Our vinyl is rated to last 3-4 years outdoors [Tested in Siberia] and virtually forever indoors.
Free Shipping
Free delivery in Latvia
Production time
Ready to ship in 1–3 business days.
Film ORACAL
The product is 100% safe for all residents of your home.
- Views: 1603
- Brand: ORAFOL
- Product Code: 10 pcs. [30x4 cm] YOUTUBE USERNAME
- Availability: In Stock
- 18.00€
Available Options
Tags: instagram, facebook, twitter, youtube, snapchat


text:
Job Offer: Mechanical Quality Engineer required in utterpardesh lucknow:
Job description:
Job Description
Employer's name- Tata Motor ltd
income :- 35000+food+room
location :- Maharashtra (pune)
Contact with us:- HR RUBI-9729943851 (also on whtsapp)
Job location:- All india
Dear Candidate,
We are hiring for Production Engineering/Quality ENGINEER
Listing description
Candidate will be responsible for fitting and manufacturing related work
Responsible for Production functioning
Candidate will be responsible for mechanical activities in the manufacturing unit.
Proven work practice in software quality assurance
Strong expertise of software QA methodologies, tools and processes
practice in writing clear, concise and comprehensive test plans and test cases
Hands-on practice with both white box and black box testing
Hands-on practice with Mobile testing covering Android & iOS platforms
Solid expertise of SQL and scripting is a must
practice working in an Agile/Scrum development process
practice with performance and/or security testing is a plus
BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related subject.
Other details
Other details
» Department: Production, Production Quality (QA-QC) Quality (QA-QC)
» Business Sector: Manufacturing Manufacturing
» expertise: production engineering, production engineering, electrical engineering, electrical engineering, quality engineering, quality engineering, maintenance engineering, maintenance engineering, diploma, diploma, mechanical engineering mechanical engineering
» Other expertise: b.tech, b.tech, degree degree
Recruiter details
»Employer's name Ratherford Service Hiring For TATA motors india ltd
»Email address: email@example.com
»Telephone: 9729943851
View similar jobs All Jobs by this recruiter


text:
Browse wiki
|Flower Faire (2)
|Query depth
"Query depth" is a predefined property that informs about the depth (numerical value computed on the basis of subquery nesting and resolved property chains) of a query while query execution is being restricted by the $smwgQMaxDepth setting.
|0 +
|Query format
This property is a special property in this wiki.
|list +
|Query size
"Query size" is a predefined property that collects the number of conditions used in a query.
|1 +
|Query string
This property is a special property in this wiki.
[[:Item:Cluster of pale pink forget-me-nots]]
|hide properties that link here
|Flower Faire (2) +
|Has query
"Has query" is a predefined property that represents meta information (in form of a subobject) about individual queries.


text:
Partition Trailer (2008)
Partition is an epic romantic story of two people caught in the events that divided India and Pakistan in 1949 – the partition. Determined to leave the ravages of war behind, Gian Singh (Mistry), resigns from the British Indian Army to live a quiet life in his Sikh village in Northern India. His world is soon thrown into violent turmoil when he suddenly finds himself responsible for the life of a 17-year-old girl (Kreuk) who is traumatized by a vicious attack that separates her from her Muslim family. Slowly, resisting all the taboos, Gian finds himself falling in love with the vulnerable and beautiful Naseem as he tries to locate her remaining family. Facing scandal and derision from the villagers Gian and Naseem marry. Five years pass and the proud parents of a daughter seem finally free from the ghosts of the past – even the villagers have come to accept the happy family.
The past however returns with a vengeance when Margaret Sitwell (Campbell) arrives with news of Naseem's relatives in Pakistan. This should be good news, but it sets off a series of events which separate Naseem from her husband and daughter. Having struggled so hard to find happiness Gian cannot let it go and risks all to reunite his family.
At a time when nations and faiths are divided, Partition is a breathtaking and moving story set at the dawn of a new world.
4 min 38 sec
Posted On
August 27, 2008
Vic Sarin
Patricia Finn
Myriad Pictures
September 12, 2008
Jimi Mistry
Kristin Kreuk
Neve Campbell
John Light
Irrfan Khan
No Music Available


text:
Reservations are now required when campgrounds are open.
Plan ahead, or make a fee-free same-day reservation. Learn more about reservations.
How do I make a reservation?
Reservations can be made online or by calling toll free: 866-857-2757 (TTY 952-936-4008).
What are the call center hours?
- April 1 through September 30: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
- October 1 through March 31: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat-Sun 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Closed Christmas and New Year's Day
How far in advance can I make a reservation?
One year.
What is the reservation fee?
It is $7.00 to make a reservation online and $10.00 to make a reservation by phone. There is no fee to make a same-day reservation.
How can I see my current and past reservations?
Log in and go to "Your Account"and then "Your Reservations."
This page will show all of your upcoming reservations. Use the date filter to see your past reservations.
How can I modify my reservation online?
Log in and go to "Your Account" and then "Your Reservations." Find your upcoming reservation on the list, along with options to cancel, modify or reprint your reservation. Select "Modify" to submit.
To shorten or lengthen your stay, adjust the nights under "Reservation Dates."
- If you are shortening your stay you will be due back a refund.
- If you made your reservation over 120 days ago we will be unable to issue credit online. You will need to contact the reservation call center to make the change.
- If you want more nights than are available, you will get an error message.
To change sites or parks, go to "Select New Unit" in the "Unit Details" box. This will take you to the calendar view for the park from your unmodified reservation.
- Search for and select a new stay just like you did when you made your original reservation.
- Go back through the shopping cart with your new stay. The system will adjust the amount you owe or the amount we owe you.
Can I purchase or redeem Minnesota state parks gift cards online using the reservations website?
Yes, you can purchase a gift card online and it will be mailed out to you.
You may use your gift card to make a reservation online so long as your gift card balance will cover the transaction amount (no split payments with credit cards). You can also use your gift card as payment if you make a reservation through the call center.
What else can I reserve or purchase using the reservations website?
You can make online reservations for tours and programs, including cave and mine tours and the popular I Can! programs.
Can I buy passes, permits, or licenses there?
State park permits (day and year-round passes) are available through the reservation website. Ski and horse passes, OHV and snowmobile registrations, and fishing and hunting licenses are sold through the electronic licensing system, not through the Minnesota state parks reservations system.
What should I do before I make my reservation?
To speed up the time it takes to process your reservation, please research the parks and campsites you're interested in, and consider having a campground map on hand for reference as you make your reservations. If your first choice is not available, having a map can help speed the process of selecting an alternative. Each state park has a campground maps available as PDF downloads. Here's an alphabetical listing of all Minnesota state parks and recreation areas.
It will also help speed things up if you have already set up your user name and account on the reservations system.
I don't know much about Minnesota state parks. Where should I start?
Start with the Minnesota state parks home page—there are virtual tours for every park and lots of good information to help you plan your trip.
You can also find seasonal tips in the summer and winter activities guides, or join the crowd on the Minnesota State Parks and Trails Facebook page.
What if I have a question not answered here? How can I reach a reservation specialist?
Staff at the Minnesota-based call center are available at 866-857-2757 (TTY 952-936-4008). Call center hours are listed at the top of this page.
And if I have a comment or suggestion?
If you have a suggestion on how we can improve the reservation system to better serve you, please send it to [email protected].


text:
Urgent care provider Integrated Care 24 (IC24) attended the UK Social Enterprise Awards this week, as finalists in the technology category.
The UK Social Enterprise Awards took place in London on 28 November and IC24 was joined in the category by six other shortlisted organisations.
In August 2018 IC24 was shortlisted for its development of a performance related mobile phone application.
The app makes real time data instantly available for operational and clinical managers twenty four hours a day 7 days a week. It provides a whole-organisation view in terms of demand and clinical capacity and local information linked to service area allowing them to make effective decisions to improve service performance, quality and service efficiency.
It also has the ability to provide live patient satisfaction information so managers can monitor live patient satisfaction to ensure the best possible service is being provided at all times.
The app was developed in-house by the IC24 IT team and has been rolled out across all its services in Kent, East Surrey, Sussex, Essex, Norfolk and Waveney and Northamptonshire.
David Brown, IC24's Director of Digital Technology and Performance said: 'We were delighted to have been finalists at the Social Enterprise Awards. At IC24 we are proud to be a not for profit organisation. We design a lot of our technology solutions in-house and we are constantly looking for opportunities where we can use technology to improve the digital experience for our people and provide high quality services to our patients.'
'As well as innovating in the form of our mobile app, we are also trialling other exciting opportunities such as electronic prescriptions, our clinical assessment service and video consultations to further improve our patients' experiences with us. Attending the awards was a great opportunity to hear about the amount of excellent work taking place within the social enterprise sector.'


text:
Should you choose the ethical option for your banking?
The fallout from the Barclays scandal has left many pondering the allure of so-called "ethical" alternatives to the big high-street brands.Navigating the various ethical banking options can be arduous, while different organisations may have different ideas of what constitutes an "ethical" option. The following explanations may help you to understand what is available………………………………………..Full Article: Source


text: Cheddar CheeseDough Lockerbie Cheddar, Mustard & Black Pepper Scones by Jevon February 7, 2017 Cheese scones are hugely important to the British cafe culture. The late breakfast of many an OAP. It's importance is not reflected in the number of good recipes. There is… 0 Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest


text:
Investment adviser Dock Treece released a Web site Wednesday containing more information about his plan for privatizing Toledo Express Airport and its smaller sister in Wood County, Toledo Executive Airport, but officials said Mr. Treece's proposal still leaves many questions unanswered.
Investment adviser Dock Treece released a Web site Wednesday containing more information about his plan for privatizing Toledo Express Airport and its smaller sister in Wood County, Toledo Executive Airport, but officials said Mr. Treece�s proposal still leaves many questions unanswered.
The site, toledoairports.com, describes the plan and identifies the partners, Mr. Treece, his wife, Cynthia Treece, and his two sons, Dock David Treece and Ben Treece.
Mr. Treece said in a live interview with WSPD-AM 1370 on Wednesday that he was holding back additional information for now � a feasibility study and business plan � apparently to maintain control over how the proposal is reported in The Blade.
�We�re going to put up the feasibility study, and we�re going to put up the business plan. But we didn�t put them all up at one time because if you do that, The Blade�s mode of operation is to go in and pick and choose what they want you to know and then publish that and then pretend nothing else exists,� Mr. Treece told host Fred LeFebvre, who agreed that was a good approach.
�We and our consultants believe that under private control Toledo Express can do far more to attract new commercial carriers, and also add alternative types of passenger service at both Toledo Express AND Toledo Executive, using little-known sections of FAA regulation previously unexplored by the Airports� current operator,� the site asserts in one of its sections.
The Treeces, who together run Treece Investment Advisory Corp. in Sylvania Township, which claims to manage more than $40 million, say they have decades of experience in both aviation and in property management, which they say, is �far more experience in aviation than the entire board of the current operator put together.�
Mr. Treece has a license to fly a small jet and owns an aircraft-leasing company that has owned 13 aircraft.
The Treeces have quietly shopped their plan for months to the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, which operates the two city-owned airports, Toledo Express and Toledo Executive, and to Mayor Mike Bell.
The proposal became public shortly before the Nov. 5 election after The Blade obtained copies of emails from Mr. Treece to the Bell administration alluding to a desire to keep city council out of the loop. The group is seeking �complete operational control of all public facilities� and the right to sell and lease property at or near the airport, an early e-mailed description of the plan said.
The Web site said the Treeces had not included city council in their initial discussions because �our plan was not yet finished.�
�Nothing has been hidden from City Council (or the public) � and nothing will be hidden from them,� the site says � despite Mr. Treece�s acknowledgement in his radio interview that he was withholding the business plan and the feasibility study for later release.
Jerry Chabler, chairman of the port board�s airport committee, said the Web site still doesn�t provide detail that policymakers would need to move ahead, such as the financing and the names of participants.
�There�s nothing new here. He bases his ability to operate an airport on the fact that he�s been a longtime pilot of airplanes. It takes a heckuva lot more to run an airport. What�s his experience in operating an airport?� Mr. Chabler asked.
The Treece proposal identifies eight businesses the family owns, including an 80-acre farm in Tennessee.
Mr. Treece, 63, is a longtime pilot who owns a jet aircraft, has more than 2,000 hours of flight time, and has operated in and out of hundreds of airports, the site states.
The Treeces also say that they have consultants willing to work with them, �but [who] refuse to get involved with Toledo�s airports so long as the current operator is in control.�
The Web site says the current operator has been responsible for huge operating losses.
�Privatization, on the other hand, would relieve taxpayers of having to pay for any operating deficits. In fact, it would lead to considerable property development, which would increase property tax revenues,� according to the Treece site. It adds that if they fail, management would revert to the city with no negative impact on taxpayers.
Under the port authority, Toledo Express earned more than $14 million in profits from 2001 to 2010, but has run a deficit of about $300,000 in each of the last three years, including 2013, because of the decline of the air freight and passenger business at the airport. Port authority officials attribute the decline to large increases in the price of jet fuel. Toledo Express has two passenger airlines offering daily flights to three cities in Florida and to Chicago.
Port Authority President Paul Toth said the board was projecting a deficit in 2013 of $674,000, but had reduced that by more than half.
The Treece Web site provides numerous links to aviation services which appear to be little more than placeholders because most of them are generic Web sites and for services far removed from Toledo, such as London Airport Transport and New York Limo Car.
Last week, Mr. Toth told Mr. Treece that the agency would defer any further discussions about the future of the airport to the city of Toledo. William Carroll, chairman of the port board of directors, said the issue doesn�t involve the port authority.
�If the city wants to have somebody else operate the airport that�s their business. We didn�t see anything there [in the Treece plan] � no business plan,� Mr. Carroll said.
Mayor-elect D. Michael Collins said he had not seen the Web site and while he remains open-minded about Mr. Treece�s idea, he does not plan to engage in conversations until he receives a detailed business plan.
Mr. Collins said he studied Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel�s decision to stop a plan to privatize Chicago�s Midway Airport � which would have been the country�s first major commercial airport to be placed in private hands.
�I have read the articles about it and this is not as simplistic as perhaps [the Treeces] are defining it to be,� Mr. Collins said. �The Chicago situation, realistically, couldn�t work based upon the funding scheme. ... When they do present a business plan I will be receptive to reviewing it and seeking professional opinions.�
Steve Herwat, deputy mayor under outgoing Mayor Bell, said Mr. Bell plans no action in his waning days relating to the airport and has had no recent conversation with Mr. Treece.
�The next administration is going to have to make any decision regarding the airport,� Mr. Herwat said.
The Web site didn�t offer much new for Toledo City Council President Paula Hicks-Hudson.
�It is not really saying too much more,� Ms. Hicks-Hudson said after looking briefly at the Web site. �Let�s see the real plan and understand what they are advocating. It�s a public entity and private operation of public entities don�t always pan out. Let�s see more information before we say anything more.�
Contact Tom Troy: email@example.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.


text:
The new early morning detraction from Trump. Attack Google and social media.
Without spending long minutes on verbiage, I have posted remarks from Fox News's Shepard Smith.
Trump has promulgated conspiracy bunko since before winning the 2016 "electoral" election. I offer the Google attack not only shows Trump has zero understanding of search engines and algorithms, and he is using Google as an opportunity to feed his base supporters.


text: UK Rapper Haze and Harry Fraud unite to release a new 5 track project. Haze has been hard at work and you might of caught a video single release from the up and coming artist last week that made a splash titled, "London Boy". With production coming from Harry Fraud on the entrety of the EP you know you are in for something special. Enjoy the free stream below