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Copyright (c) 2017 Mr. Inside Sales
Whether you're a fan of Tom Brady or not, you've got to agree he's a winner. In fact, if he and the Patriots win this week's Super Bowl, he will break the tie with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana of winning four Super Bowls. Tom Brady will have five, and he will be the best of the best.
There are lots of articles written about both Tom and coach Belichick, and the Patriots, and I read one last week that, yet again, provides a big lesson for all of us in sales.
The article talks about how, after a good practice, coach Belichick came down hard on Tom and admonished him to stop throwing so many times to his best receiver. Tom didn't agree and pointed out that he was simply polishing his timing, but Belichick was adamant.
"Throw the ball to somebody else!" he said, in not so polite terms.
Just when Tom was about to object and let his ego take over, he stopped and took it in. "I'm the player and he is the coach," was his attitude. And this is what makes Tom so great: He is willing to keep learning and keep growing.
The article said it best: "The Patriots' best player likes to be coached the hardest."
The reason this is such a good lesson for sales is that I coach and work with "players" – sales reps – all the time. And what I find is that the ones who make the most growth (and the most money) are the ones who are open to being coaching.
This contrasts sharply with those who insist on doing it their own way; those who remain stubborn and think they have it all figured out. While many of these sales reps are talented, smart, intuitive, and even motivated, what they lack is a willingness to take a step back and consider possibly better way.
Unfortunately, many professional football teams and elite athletes are resistant to coaching as well. In the article, coach Eric Mangini points this out by saying: "There is almost this stigma to being coached." And:
"The head coach of another AFC club tried a similar tactic with his team this season, showing the entire team clips of mistakes by a handful of his best players. One recently paid veteran responded by standing up in front of the room and screaming at the coach."
I used to be resistant to coaching as well. Years ago, I thought I knew it all and was resentful when my manager – who wasn't on the phones and didn't have to make the calls – tried to teach me a better way. It wasn't until I became committed to performing better that I became willing to be coached.
But when I did, my sales and my career took off.
The lesson I hope you all take from this is that you can and will benefit from advice, suggestions, and coaching from other people who have been there and done that. It's when you think you know it all that you stop growing.
Just like when Tony Robbins was starting out, he read and listened to and absorbed everyone else's ideas in his field. He said that if he got just one good idea from them (and he got a lot more), that would help make his motivational training and career better.
And it worked out for Tony. And for Tom. And for me and countless other top professionals.
So my suggestion for you is: Who can you learn from today? What piece of advice or which technique, or which suggestion can you try to make yourself better? How open are you to being coached?
The moment you become willing, that is the moment you will begin improving.
(See the full article here.)
Article Source: http://www.abcarticledirectory.com
Mike is the go-to inside sales trainer and phone script writer in the industry. He is hired by business owners to implement proven sales processes that help them immediately scale and grow Multi-Million Dollar Inside Sales Teams. If you're looking to catapult your sales, or create a sales team that actually makes their monthly revenues, then learn how by visiting: www.MrInsideSales.com
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Don't be fooled by the bright sun and lingering warm breezes, winter is most definitely on its way toward North America. Even though it seems like just yesterday we were talking about how to stay cool without cranking the air conditioning, it's already time to start keeping your home warm without creating a painful heating bill.
In honor of October being National Energy Awareness Month, we decided to round up five of the best home winterization tips we could find. Home energy upgrades can be costly, but we tried to narrow it down to actions that were easy, relatively cheap, and sensible for both homeowners and renters. Meet you after the jump!
1. Replace your HVAC filters once a month to maintain an adequate and clean air flow which can help reduce energy costs.
2. Use energy efficient light bulbs like CFLs or LEDs. Light bulbs meeting new standards can result in significant energy conservation of 25%-80%. Light your home with the same amount of light for less money. Upgrading 15 of the traditional, less energy efficient incandescent light bulbs in your home could save you about $50 per year. Can't decide between CFLs and LEDs? This post can help.
3. Add caulking or weather stripping around windows and doors. Your home may have small openings around doors and windows that cause heat loss. Caulking and weather stripping can reduce energy waste and protect your home from moisture damage. Covering large windows with affordable insulating plastic can also be a way to trap the sunlight's heat inside your home during the day, and prevent drafts at night.
4. Close doors and central air vents in rooms that don't see a lot of use. This prevents you from paying to heat empty rooms, and redirects the air to the parts of your house that need to be the warmest.
5. Reverse the direction on your ceiling fans. During winter, the warm air generated by your heating system naturally rises to the ceiling while cooler air sinks. By switching the direction that your fan blades turn, that cooler air is drawn upwards, which forces the warmer air near the ceiling back down into the space. How does this save energy? According to the folks at Apartment Therapy, since thermostats are typically located at human level, keeping the warm air low where it's needed means you can turn the temperature down a few notches and still stay warm.
Think we omitted a really big energy saving tip? Share it in a comment below!

subset: commoncrawl


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Desmond Tutu has urged Aer Lingus to start carbon-offsetting its flights.
Ireland's flagship airline launches its first service between Ireland and Seattle in the US later this week, and the South African elder statesman is backing change.
The carrier is part of the first airline group worldwide to set its own carbon emissions targets.
Irish green campaigner Don Mullan will be on board the first Aer Lingus flight from Dublin to Seattle, and Archbishop Emeritus Tutu said: "It is a flight we also hope will encourage Aer Lingus to connect carbon-offsetting with our initiative."
The cleric was instrumental in helping end apartheid and has known Mr Mullan since 1982 when the Irishman opposed the regime.
He added: "I am now in the twilight of my life and my travelling days are evermore restricted.
"But my passion for Africa and for a world at peace with itself has never diminished.
"And this includes humanity learning to co-exist, not just with each other, but with the biodiversity of all living things on Earth."
Budget airline Ryanair's customers can offset the carbon cost of their flight by making a voluntary donation to a climate charity at the end of the booking process.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of Aer Lingus parent International Airlines Group (IAG), has said the airline industry is the only sector that has agreed to reduce its net carbon emissions with the introduction of an emissions cap from 2020 and a 50% cut by 2050.
He has said these ambitious targets can only be achieved if governments and airlines agree on a global deal to address carbon emissions as proposed by the United Nations aviation specialised agency ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation).
Mr Mullan is heavily involved in a major international environmental project spearheaded by Irish missionaries.
Ireland has been invited to plant a million trees as part of the re-greening of one of Africa's most parched regions.
Irish missionaries are helping spearhead the Great Green Wall initiative to combat desertification in a massive swathe of land south of the Sahara known as the Sahel.
Mr Mullan said: "The marketing of the new Dublin to Seattle route as 'from the Emerald Isle to the Emerald City' is ingenious.
"However, given that the only thing green about Aer Lingus at present is the colour of its aircraft, we hope the company will embrace the symbolism of this new route to launch a new environmentally progressive policy."
IAG's carbon efficiency is expected to improve from 95.4 grammes of CO2 per passenger kilometre in 2015 to 87.3 by 2020, a statement from Aer Lingus said.
It added: "We are working closely with ICAO's Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (Corsia).
"Our early adopter stance will ensure that we gain experience in carbon trading, providing us with a significant advantage over our less proactive competitors.
"The airline industry is the only sector that has agreed to reduce its net carbon emissions with the introduction of an emissions cap from 2020 and a 50% cut by 2050."
- Press Association


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The Rover Company was a British automobile manufacturing company originally founded as Starley & Sutton Co. of Coventry in 1878. After developing the template for the modern bicycle with its Rover Safety Bicycle of 1885, the company moved into the car industry. It started building Rover cars, using their established marque with the iconic Viking Longship, from 1904 onwards. Land Rover vehicles were added from 1947 onwards, with all production based in Solihull after moving to these premises after World War II. Later on, Rover cars were also produced in Cowley.
I have added these pages to Classic Cars Online to allow any Rover SD1 3.5 VDP owners or enthusiasts a quick and easy reference and a place to share pictures of Rover SD1 3.5 VDP 's. Technical specifications are also listed on this page as are Rover SD1 3.5 VDP 's for sale, Rover SD1 3.5 VDP spare parts and Rover SD1 3.5 VDP books and memorabilia. This page will be updated and improved on an ongoing basis with more Rover SD1 3.5 VDP information.
Remember to Bookmark this page, and call back again to view the latest Rover SD1 3.5 VDP adverts on these pages.
If you have a birthday to buy for or to help with a rebuild project, you are looking for books and manuals on this car, have a look at the titles Amazon has available. They stock both new and rare out-of-print titles.


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Okay…I need some assistance here.
On occasion, usually around birthdays, my wife will bake a cake or cupcakes. Once in a while from scratch, usually from the mix- this is irrelevant because she is also generous with the frosting of said baked goods, so we don't much care about the source of the initial product.
However, after the initial consumption of the first few cupcakes or slices of cake, she then will put said baked goods immediately into the refrigerator.
This seems strange to me, and a little bit irritating, as the wonderful cake gets cold, and the frosting becomes hard and nearly tasteless.
Am I weird for wanting to leave something like this out so it doesn't get cold and hard? Or is my wife's assessment that it will keep better in the fridge correct? Do I need to sacrifice tasty for 'not ruined?'
Should I just google this and be done with it? I did, and the results were mixed, so you're my final say in the matter.
Do you refrigerate baked goods? Why or why not? Am I being ridiculous? Why or why not?
Was I really this strapped for an entry this morning that I settled on putting cake in the refrigerator?
Only I know the answer to that.


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About Me
- Leslie:
- Delta, British Columbia, Canada
- I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.
Monday, September 20, 2010
J is for Joints
39 comments:
- Powell River Books said...
Good girl, I should do a bit more exercise myself. - Margy
- Mon Sep 20, 07:05:00 pm
- Beverley Baird said...
Great post for J Leslie!
I am in the same boat - I can't take anything like that for my arthritis.I only have one kidney and I really want to protect it!
I use heat a lot (magic pads are good). I've tried different rubs but most don't last that long. I try to keep active - lots of walking at school. But sometimes I just nget so tired of always having pain.
I am still keeping you both in my prayers! Take care.
- Mon Sep 20, 07:12:00 pm
- nancygrayce said...
Hey, at least you're doing something! I have just become a lump that never moves. I absolutely have to start an exercise program. I hear pool exercise is really effective. Let me know how it goes!
- Mon Sep 20, 08:38:00 pm
- Shrinky said...
Poo, so sorry the meds have rebelled on your body, so unfair! I think you are amazing, and the pool exercises sound a great step towards an alternative aid to ease and limber your joints. I hope it helps.
- Tue Sep 21, 09:21:00 am
- ♥♥ Willa ♥♥ said...
That's a lot of healthy J to do! :)
My ABC Wednesday
- Tue Sep 21, 09:46:00 am
- Annelie said...
Great Job Leslie! Well done...
Annelie E
ABC Wednesday team
- Tue Sep 21, 09:48:00 am
- ☺lani☺ said...
I love your post for J! Happy Mid-week!
- Tue Sep 21, 09:48:00 am
- Cezar and Léia said...
It's very interesting, I know nothing about these anti- inflammatory medications reactions, thanks for the advice.
Good luck with your aquatics goals!
- Tue Sep 21, 10:01:00 am
- Sylvia K said...
Terrific post for the J Day, Leslie! And good for you to be exercising. I don't do as much as I should simply because my knees are such a mess, but I ride my stationery bike and am grateful for a wonderful acupuncturist who is really the one that keeps me moving!
Holding good thoughts for both of you!
- Tue Sep 21, 10:12:00 am
- MaR said...
Good for you!! hope the "Gentle Fit" also helps to alleviate your pain...Keep up the good work-out!
My ABC Wednesday
- Tue Sep 21, 10:16:00 am
- Gigi Ann said...
Sorry, the meds have to go. I hope the Tylenol will help relieve some of the pain. However, I enjoyed your many uses of the J words today.
- Tue Sep 21, 10:17:00 am
- RuneE said...
They say there is Joy in Jogging, so where better than a pool to do it? Take care!
- Tue Sep 21, 10:21:00 am
- photowannabe said...
Sorry to hear about the latest jog in your life journey. I do really hope the pool helps. It sounds like it should and I guess it can't hurt. Thinking of you Leslie.
- Tue Sep 21, 10:23:00 am
- Carver said...
Great post for the letter J. I'm sorry you aren't able to take NSAIDs. I hope that the pool exercises help.
- Tue Sep 21, 10:26:00 am
- SDCrafts said...
Hiya Jumping Jilly
Just because you tried to help your pain does not
Justify your body reacting badly in the kidney department. But the idea that
jumping in the pool with other health-
jeopardised ladies DOES
justify you being
jolly proud of yourself!
- Tue Sep 21, 10:48:00 am
- Reader Wil said...
You are a brave lady doing all those exercises! I hope they make you feel better. I am sorry that you suffer from arthritis. Take care.
- Tue Sep 21, 11:06:00 am
- Rajesh said...
Great collection of words. Exercise is always good and helps a lot. Take care.
- Tue Sep 21, 12:35:00 pm
- Self Sagacity said...
A great round up of Js. Why can't I do that? Smiles.
- Tue Sep 21, 01:13:00 pm
- EG CameraGirl said...
I'm glad you are getting more exercise but what a bummer about the medication!
- Tue Sep 21, 01:37:00 pm
- Kay L. Davies said...
I don't know if my bathing suit still fits.
So sorry about your kidney function and all, Leslie. My doctor recently told me I couldn't take any more ibuprofen because of my stomach. I have been talking about exercising in the water for a long time, but it will have to wait due to one of my other health problems. It looks like such fun, and I have a friend who will go with me, so I'm hoping I can do it soon. I'm very much looking forward to it, and glad to hear you enjoy it.
- Tue Sep 21, 02:17:00 pm
- Joy said...
Hope the water exercise helps the pain, that and the laughter of the group.
My grandmother had rheumatoid gout but she refused to give up the only thing that gave her pain relief (not so many things around in those days) so her kidneys eventually packed up.
- Tue Sep 21, 02:18:00 pm
- Tumblewords: said...
Good for you to get started on this method - I'm such a stop/start person. For a while my dedication is admirable, then the slippage begins and pretty soon I find that starting over is the next step. Take care of yourself - sending good thoughts!
- Tue Sep 21, 02:28:00 pm
- Roger Owen Green said...
I really ought to take that up. My left knee just can't bear running. Hope you feel a little better w just the Tylenol.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
- Tue Sep 21, 03:35:00 pm
- Roger Owen Green said...
I really ought to take that up. My left knee just can't bear running. Hope you feel a little better w just the Tylenol.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
- Tue Sep 21, 03:35:00 pm
- Hildred said...
A great post Leslie, - after a bleed a few years ago Charles had to give up his anti-inflammatory and now depends solely on Tylenol - amazingly he now has less pain, and less danger to precious organs. I hope it works that way for you, too. Love your Jolly J's
- Tue Sep 21, 03:49:00 pm
- Wanda said...
Wish I could fit in my swim suit.
Good for you...it was a good read.
- Tue Sep 21, 06:42:00 pm
- Carol said...
Methinks there is a bit of tarnish on these "golden years". I hope the pain isn't or doesn't become debilitating. With all our medical marvels, wouldn't it be wonderful if they could come up with a solution for things like arthritis?
- Tue Sep 21, 06:58:00 pm
- Rumya said...
Lots of J's there!! :) Will join the 'stay-fit' regime to live a healthy life!! Have a great week!!
- Tue Sep 21, 10:50:00 pm
- Nanka said...
Seriously taking up the health regime. Can't take jogging but walking can surely help those ailments I guess. Inspiring J post!! :)
- Tue Sep 21, 10:54:00 pm
- mrsnesbitt said...
I love swimming but do not visit our local pool as ex-pupils work as life guards and I find it all a little too intimate - I mean how embarassing to be rescued by an ex-pupil who at one stage I taught to swim! lol! Yet in my keep fit attempt I know I must think of an alternative and we have an aqua fit session - now there's a thought!
Thanks so much Leslie. Much appreciated - I so appreciate the time you take to document what you are going through and you know you have love and support here!
- Wed Sep 22, 01:38:00 am
- Liz Hinds said...
I hate jumping jacks on land. (Make me need to wee!)
Well done, you, on being proactive in dealing with the issues. I hope it helps. It is funny, isn't it, comparing the delights of not-so-young-age?
How's old Cranky?
- Wed Sep 22, 02:06:00 am
- Mara said...
I hope the pool will help. Otherwise you might just have a great morning with some nice people, which is a good thing.
- Wed Sep 22, 04:08:00 am
- Snow Leopard said...
Good to know that you had fun doing the exercises. Take care of yourself and stay healthy. :)
- Wed Sep 22, 09:51:00 am
- Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...
Jumping jiminy! What a line up of j's!
The pool is a good choice. My husband started over a year ago and loves it. The best part is that your body is not fighting with gravity.
- Wed Sep 22, 02:47:00 pm
- Amy said...
Leslie, I enjoyed your "j" fest - good for you! Water exercise is a fantastic option.
- Wed Sep 22, 05:40:00 pm
- A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...
J for Joints... didn't think like this! very interesting!
- Fri Sep 24, 03:48:00 am
- A Restless Mind With A Sensitive Heart! said...
J for Joints... didn't think like this! very interesting!
- Fri Sep 24, 03:48:00 am
- Unknown said...
Dear Leslie,
I keep hoping that this text is fiction just for the letter 'J'!
But something tells me that it is factual.
Beautiful post about a purplexing problem!
My father had osteoarthritis.
I'm no doctor, so I can't give you any good advice other than that I think that exercising in the pool (especially if the water is warm) may be a very good thing. The water supports your body and the strain on your limbs and joints is less.
Take care of your kidneys.
To talk about another subject. You and Lorne have inspired me to think about weddings for couples that are a little older. (You never know. I might find myself in that situation one of these days.) I don't know if I will be able to pull it off. Time is often a problem. This is for 'Mrs. Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday-B', this Thursday September 30th. Otherwise, I'll just have to write a poem about 'Bears' or 'Bottle-tops' or 'Bell-bottom pants'!
I'll keep you posted.
Best wishes & hugs,
Anna's J-word (abc-Wed rd-7)
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It takes a long time to create heirlooms. Photos and information on this blog are not free to be pinned, copied, or transferred without my permission. Please be cyber savvy and ask before taking.
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Let the fun begin!
I have stitched the first flower and a green and burgundy leaf. I am going to work across to the left and down on flowers and leaves.
1 comment:
- The Chilly Hollow Needlepoint Adventure said...
That's right pretty! I love the happy colors in this floral. It's perfect for the dreary winter days we have this time of year.
- December 20, 2016 at 5:46 PM
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Ben Carson appears to be slipping.
For the first time since early October, Carson has dropped out of the top three in the weekly GOP Power Rankings.
Each week we ask 30 smart political types who they think is the strongest candidate in the GOP field, and in the wake of the Paris terror attacks the answer is clear: Trump up, Carson down. This is the first week that Carson did not receive a single first-place vote from our panel.
"Carson is cratering," said Texas-based Matt Mackowiak. "Support was soft to begin with and his campaign was woefully unprepared for front runner scrutiny."
... "Cruz and Rubio are moving up," said former presidential candidate Herman Cain. "Carson is losing a little support."
Journalist Carl Leubsdorf said Carson is "losing strength because of questions about his autobiography and his foreign policy knowledge. Some of his evangelical support appears to be moving to Cruz, especially in pivotal Iowa."
"I'm putting Cruz second this week," said former congressman Dan Maffei. "He is holding his own in the polls and the Christian right loves him. When Carson eventually collapses, he will benefit." ...Read the full story HERE.
Links to previous weeks:
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6
Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12
If you like what you see, please "Like" us on Facebook either here or here. Please follow us on Twitter here.


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In this week's Gadget Lab podcast, we discuss the top stories from the world of gadgets.
First up: new technology to bring 3-D to your cellphone's screen.
It's not quite fully-baked yet, but as Priya Ganapati reported earlier this week, cellphone manufacturers are already looking into technology that will enable cellphones to sport 3-D displays that don't require special glasses, much like the Nintendo 3DS screen.
Reports continue to pour in about reception problems with the iPhone 4's antenna design. We think it's time Apple fessed up to the problem and fixed it, already. (Note: This podcast was recorded before Apple's Friday press conference, at which the company admitted to the problem — sort of — and offered free cases to all iPhone 4 customers.)
In addition, Gadget Lab's Dylan Tweney and Brian X. Chen show off two new headsets: The $60 Jabra Halo and the $80 Nox Audio Specialist.
And then we tackle a few reader questions about 3-D displays, how not to hold an iPhone, and the future of digital tablets.
Like the show? You can also get the Gadget Lab video podcast via iTunes, or if you don't want to be distracted by our mugs, check out the Gadget Lab audio podcast. Prefer RSS? You can subscribe to the Gadget Lab video or audio podcast feeds.
See Also:
- Gadget Lab Podcast: Dell's New Tablet, Sluggish iPhone Uploads and More
- Gadget Lab Podcast: The Death of Kin and Other Wireless Drama
- Gadget Lab Podcast: Droid X, iPhone 4, Android 2.2
- Gadget Lab Podcast Returns: E3 Gadgets, Dolby 7.1 and More


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Mine Blocks 1.26.4
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Get ready to try the most creative game in the Minecraft collection? Here comes Mine Blocks 1.26.4 , all fellows! Can't wait any longer, huh? Let's relish now! Just like other Mine Blocks versions, this time, the players will make another adventure in a new land. The significant thing in this game is to turn the existing land into something marvelous and wonderful. First of all, guide a Minecraft man to move around the place and instruct him to collect some valuable materials, such as wood, brick, grass, sugar cane, etc. Next, store them in the Inventory. Then, find an ideal location to set up your constructing process. Players can build any structure they want (a shelter, a tower, a garden, or even a castle). Don't forget to craft some useful tools and weapons to support the man. Have enough ability to complete all the requests in Mine Blocks 1.26.4 ? Good luck!
Date added: 2015-03-30
Date added: 2015-03-30
Walk around: the WASD/arrow keys or.
Place blocks: the mouse and Shift key.
Mine blocks: Hold left mouse.
Open Task list: T.
Place blocks: the mouse and Shift key.
Mine blocks: Hold left mouse.
Open Task list: T.
More games


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Summer Jams
Downtown Ocala on the Square
Jun 15, 2012-Sep 21, 2012
Friday June 15th, July 20th, August 17th, September 21 7pm-10pm. Back for a second season, local young artists showcase their talent in this summer concert series. All genres.
Installation Art Exhibition
Appleton Museum of Art
12 Unique works of Art in the Appleton Biennial 2012:Florida Installation Art exhibition. Installation Art is one of the fastest growing areas of 21st century artistic production. 10-5 Tuesdays through Sundays, noon to 5pm on Sundays.
Appleton Museum of Art 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Ocala, FL 34470 Installation Art Exhibition Web site
Downtown Ocala on the Square
Red, White and Blues
Jul 03, 2012
So bring your flags and your red,
white and blue!
This patriotic festival will feature music,
food and fun for the entire family from
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Downtown Ocala.
God & Country Day
Jul 04, 2012
The Ocala Jaycees' big 4th of July bash will run from late morning into evening at the corner of US Hwy 27 and County Road 225A. The large festival will include family activities and entertainment. Fireworks display after dark.
Silver Springs, Natures Theme Park
Jul 04, 2012
Mark Chesnutt
3pm- Mark Chesnutt celebrated his first LP release in 1988. One of Billboard's Ten Most-Played Radio Artists of the '90's. Mark's singles were some the decade's most memorable; from the fun tempo "Bubba Shot The Jukebox" to emotional ballad "I'll Think Of Something."
Silver Springs, Natures Theme Park
5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. Silver Springs, FL 34488
Mark is easily identified for his string of hits including "Brother Jukebox," "Blame It On Texas," "Old Flames Have New Names," "Old Country," "It Sure Is Monday," "Almost Goodbye," "I Just Wanted You To Know," "Going Through The Big D," "It's A Little Too Late," "Gonna Get A Life," and one of his biggest, "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing;" a song that held its position at the top of the charts for four consecutive weeks. "I just make records because I want people to come see my show"
Ocala-Marion County
Veterans Memorial Park
Jul 04, 2012
Freedom Run
7AM Veteran's Memorial Park HWY 40 and NE 25th Ave.
2601 SE Fort King Street Ocala, FL 34471
Downtown Ocala on the Square
First Friday Art Walk
Jul 06, 2012
First Friday Art Walk Web site
Flick & Float
Jul 13, 2012
Hampton Aquatic Fun Center at the Martin Luther King Recreation Complex
Come enjoy a splash in the pool while we watch a movie on the big screen. Movie TBD.
255 NW Martin Luther King Blvd, Ocala, FL 34475
Saturday in the Park
Jul 21, 2012
Jervey Gantt Park
10am- 2pm. Come on out to a "Saturday in the Park." There will be health screenings,
fitness demonstrations, clinics, games and FUN for all ages!
2200 Southeast 36th Avenue
Dancing with the Doctors
Jul 21, 2012
Circle Square Cultural Center
Tickets are $125/person, with proceeds benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County and Marion County YMCA.
8395 S.W. 80th St. Ocala, FL 34481
Dancing with the Doctors Web site
Looking to purchase a home… I can sell any home in Marion County… Call me today for more information regarding all your Real Estate needs.
Teresa Fikaris, (Realtor) Buyer's Agent, Fontana Realty Cell: 352-208-5874 Website:www.OcalaBuyersAgent.com
Going the extra mile with a smile!


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Inflation and Monetary Regimes
Gerald P. Dwyer and Mark Fisher
Working Paper 2009-26
September 2009
Download the full text of this paper (419 KB)
Correlations of inflation with the growth rate of money increase when data are averaged over longer time periods. Correlations of inflation with the growth of money also are higher when high-inflation as well as low-inflation countries are included in the analysis. We show that serial correlation in the underlying inflation rate ties these two observations together and explains them. We present evidence that averaging increases the correlation of inflation and money growth more when the underlying inflation rate has higher serial correlation.
JEL classification: E31, E5
Key words: money and inflation, inflation, quantity theory
The authors have benefited from comments from participants in the conference Money and Monetary Policy, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and Fordham University. James R. Lothian and Paul D. McNelis provided helpful comments on an earlier draft. Budina Naydenova provided helpful research assistance. The views expressed here are the author's and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or the Federal Reserve System. Any remaining errors are the author's responsibility.
Please address questions regarding content to Gerald P. Dwyer, Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 1000 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309-4470, 404-498-7095, 404-498-8810 (fax), email@example.com, and University of Carlos III, Madrid, Departamento de EconomÃa de la Empresa, Calle Madrid, 126,28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain, or Mark Fisher, Research Department, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, 1000 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30309-4470, 404-498-8757, 404-498-8810 (fax), email@example.com.
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Aligning Partners in Collective Impact
The success of a collective impact initiative is often tied to the success of the partnerships that make up its foundation. What can we learn from other initiatives about their practices related to building and sustaining long-term partnerships with their stakeholders?
Join us on December 6 from 3pm – 4pm ET for the next Collective Impact Forum Virtual Coffee, Aligning Partners in Collective Impact.
We'll be talking with Marjorie Mayfield Jackson and Joe Rieger from the Elizabeth River Project, a long-running initiative that works collaboratively to restore the Elizabeth River to the highest practical level of environmental quality through government, business and community partnerships.
Date: Thursday, December 6
Time: 3pm - 4:00pm ET
Cost: Free
Register for this virtual coffee
Can't make the actual virtual coffee time? Registering also means you'll be notified when the recording is uploaded to the Collective Impact Forum resource library.
Come join the discussion on December 6!
Virtual Coffee Resources
The Elizabeth River Project was one of 25 sites that participated in the research study When Collective Impact has an Impact. This new study, more than a year in the making, looks at the question of "To what extent and under what conditions does the collective impact approach contribute to systems and population changes?"
Read the full report and executive summary
Read a summary of the results in the Forum blog.
Watch a webinar explaining the report's findings.
Listen to past Collective Impact Virtual Coffee Chats


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Ted Cruz is extremely smart, and he is a master debater. Ted Cruz believes in upholding the Constitution, such as the Second Amendment. Ted Cruz is strong in his beliefs, and works nonstop for efforts and causes he believes in. Ted Cruz correctly predicted about how ObamaCare would be one of the worst things to happen to America, and he spoke passionately for 21 hours in the Senate about this. Also, Ted Cruz is an amazing father, reading Green Eggs and Ham to his daughters as a bedtime story when holding the filibuster on ObamaCare, at the same time using that story as a metaphor for ObamaCare. He said that unfortunately, unlike in the book when America tried ObamaCare we didn't like it.
Too often I turn on the TV and I see some stuffy Capitol Hill politicians reading their carefully crafted speeches, and their lack of genuine enthusiasm makes for boring speeches. Who knows, Ted Cruz might be way too conservative, but at least he makes it interesting, know what I mean?
And there's certainly nothing amazing about that. Cruz isn't a "Public Servant". He's self-serving. To be honest, we have more than enough of them in Washington, D.C. We don't need more!
Should we be amazed that Cruz concealed his Canadian birth from voters? Why not admit that, from the start? Is he ashamed? My guess is that he knew most Texans wouldn't vote for him.
Should we be amazed that he spearheaded the government shut-down in 2013? It doesn't impress me. I saw my sister in-law struggle to make ends meet, as a government employee, during that mess. According to S&P, the shutdown took $24B out of the U.S. economy! No need to complain about Obama's spending. It wasn't the Democrats who took that chunk out of America's GDP growth. It was Ted Cruz & the Tea Party!
America needs people in elected office who want to serve the nation -- not themselves. Cruz, with all his elitist connections, just does not measure-up. And his power-driven, ambitious wife is no help. Amazing? No. He's typical of what the GOP keeps trying to sell as the "future" of this country. Thankfully, the majority of us just aren't buying it!
Ted Cruz has not done anything to be considered amazing. What has he done to earn the respect of being called "amazing?" Cruz has not done anything of significance except complain and impede Congress. Some may celebrate the government shut down last Fall but that does not make Ted Cruz a hero. Heroes do great things in a great way. Cruz can be replaced by any political dissident willing to make a ruckus.To be considered amazing, you need to do amazing things. Not offer maddening complaints in the face of polarization. But still, I will admit I respect Ted Cruz for standing up.
Ted Cruz is looking out for Ted Cruz, and that is all he cares about. He is a blowhard who is filled with hate and conspiracies. He is a showman, a snake oil salesman, and those foolish enough to buy his product will be sorry when they find out they were ripped off. Ted Cruz is as phony as they come, there is no difference between him and a dishonest used car salesman. Listen to him at your own risk, not me, I wasn't born yesterday and where I'm from you learn to spot a fraud a mile away, in this case, 10 miles away.


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Gardens & Leisure
Warpool Court Hotel is set in 15 acres of extraordinarily peaceful, prime, private coastal land with direct footpath access to the Pembrokeshire Coast and St Davids Peninsula Coastline.
Hotel Gardens
We are proud of our Country Hotel gardens with sea views. The hotel is nestled in 15 acres of private, Pembrokeshire coastal land and landscaped Italianate gardens. There are ample terraced lawns, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the sea views or for taking a beverage or tea in a quiet corner.
Covered Heated Swimming Pool
Hotel guests have exclusive use of our covered heated swimming pool, 42ft (12.92m) x 21ft (6.46m)
The swimming pool will be open from Friday 1st May until Wednesday 30th September 2020 inclusive.
Swimming pool towels are provided without charge, just ask the reception team.
All Weather Tennis Court
There is an all weather tennis court available at all times for our guests. Play a leisurely game of tennis or spend time raising your fitness levels.
Tennis equipment is provided without charge. To book the court or equipment please ask our reception team.
You can walk the hotel gardens and escape onto the St Davids Peninsula Coastline along a mown swathe which takes you directly to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path at St.Nons Bay.
There is a lawned area for croquet and separate fields for kite flying, amateur cricket, kicking a ball or throwing a frisbee. Lots of fun in the Pembrokeshire sun.
Dog Walking
We are a dog friendly hotel and the hotel has a designated dog friendly exercise area. Garden paths lead to the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. Dog walkers can also enjoy the safety of walking their dogs at the nearby disused St Davids Airfield, now a conservation area owned and managed by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Enjoy some family fun in the Pembrokeshire sun or a relaxing walk around the grounds under a Pembrokeshire sunset. Pembrokeshire can really offer everything.
Thanks for a lovely stay...
With grateful thanks for a lovely stay. Everyone has been so welcoming and we have really enjoyed being at the Warpool Court. Diolch yn fawr.
Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our stay...
Just wanted to say how much we enjoyed our stay with you over the weekend. Lots of lovely memories and a stay made memorable by your helpful staff.
A memorable time in a fine hotel...
I wanted to tell you that, not only did we have a memorable time in a fine hotel, but very much appreciated the friendly and helpful staff, reception, catering, cleaning and so on. Hope to return in the near future.
A wonderful week in Garden Cottage...
Having stayed last week in Garden Cottage, we wish to express our gratitude to you all for making us feel so welcome. The cottage was perfect and we were spoilt every evening with dinner in the restaurant.
"The most perfect place in the world" April 2016....
"The most perfect place in the world" April 2016.


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Film review rating: *****
BBC Films (88mins)
Starring: Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Rory Kinnear, Olivia Williams, Sharon Horgan, Harriet Walter, Ken Stott and Stephen Campbell Moore
Director: Ben Palmer
Producers: Nira Park and James Biddle
MAN UP is a romantic comedy about being yourself… or perhaps not being yourself. It's about taking chances, making decisions and rolling with the consequences.
It's the story of mistaken identity and misunderstanding resulting in unexpected and hilarious consequences. It's a roller coaster of a journey with numerous, exciting plots twists and turns that keep you gripped throughout.
The film is directed by Ben Palmer, director of The Inbetweeners Movie and produced by Nira Park and James Biddle (Hot Fuzz and Paul).
The plot is based around Jack, 40, played by Simon Pegg, turning up for a blind date with a 24 year old woman he "met" on the internet, at Waterloo station, London. He is set to meet his date under the famous clock in the middle of the station which is apparently a popular meeting place. However this is where it all starts to go wrong for he ends up meeting 34 year old Nancy (Lake Bell), who is not his date but somehow happens to be in the wrong place at the right time and due to Jack's absolute certainty that she is his date, Nancy goes along with it. The premise is slightly reminiscent of 'Sliding Doors' and the drama's that unfold when events take on an unexpected turn.
From there what unfolds is a warm, hilarious story that keeps you guessing regarding what will happen next. This is a British rom com of the highest order. It's an enjoyable, exciting story that just makes for great, great cinema. There are multiple strands to it that will appeal to people of all ages – teenagers, middle aged men and women, twenty somethings and even long-termed married couples in their 60's or 70's (and younger of course).
In addition and in keeping with it's wide generational appeal there is no sex, violence or swearing in the film! The film calls to mind The Love Punch (2014), another great British film starring actors of a certain vintage, where the cast were in a way acting below their age in an American University Campus film that would normally star a teenage / twenty something cast.
The film depicts various stories of singledom interwoven with unrequited lust, plus a celebration of the 40 year marriage of Nancy's parents. All stories are given sufficient space to develop rather than being cameo's.
The two lead actors, Simon Pegg and American Actress Lake Bell, deliver outstanding performances, which capture a really warm and genuine looking chemistry between them.
The motto of the film is #take chances and whilst not exactly the honourable thing to "steal someone's date" it made for an enjoyably innocent romp all the same.
Man Up is without a doubt one of the best rom coms to come out in years. It's a terrific feel good movie and a gem of a movie from BBC Films. With reported cuts of £150m to the BBC's license fee this could be a way for the BBC to start recouping it's imminent loss of revenue. This film deserves to be a huge hit and I hope to see to more films of this quality from BBC films.
Review © Tiemo Talk of the Town
Photograph © BBC Films
UK Screenings of Man Up film


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Aug 2, 2016
Some sex questions are harder to ask than others, but have no fear! In today's show, Emily tackles a few of your most taboo sex questions and provides judgement-free guidance to quell your concerns.
Is swinging really the best way to get out of a relationship funk? Should you take a step back from your grieving online match? What do you do when your partner cites a vaginal odor as the reason for not going down? Emily and Anderson debate the best way to work through these issues and examine a study that reveals the real secret to being an expert lover—It's a lot more simple than you might think!
From unfulfilled fantasies to oral sex insecurities to a whole new kind of sexy stocking stuffer, this podcast makes your sexual satisfaction the #1 priority! Don't miss it..


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This wall mounted quilt rack will hold one quilt that is folded and fanned out for display.
This quilt rack looks great at the end of a hall or in a living area. This is a great way to display a quilt in a small area. It is made of red oak.
The back of this quilt holder is heart shaped. The pictured quilt rack has a "warm brown" stain.
The dimensions of the quilt rack are 10" wide x 8" height x 7" depth. The area for the quilt is approximately 4" by 3" giving you 12 square inches of space to accommodate your quilt. This quilt rack is great for those places with a small hanging area.
Our handmade quilt racks all have a beautiful lacquer finish. It comes with an metal holder that you can hook over a screw that has been placed in a wall stud. This quilt rack is handmade in Oklahoma!


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Our History
On April 8, 1992, New Hope Mission Church with an Easter Sunrise service at 6:30am, with thirty-two (32) founding members listed below. Rev. Wilbur Bush the founding pastor conducted service. Rev. Wilbur Bush served as the first pastor until his resignation on October 28, 1993. Through the efforts of the pulpit committee, Rev. Dennis L. Gilbert was called to pastor New Hope. Rev. Gilbert was installed as pastor on February 6, 1994. In the spring of 1995 Rev. Ronnie Rampersard was called to be the associate pastor. Under the devoted leadership of Rev. Gilbert and Rev. Rampersard with the support of dedicated members New Hope grew strong in faith. Rev. Rampersard returned to his homeland due to the illness of his wife. Rev. Dennis L. Gilbert resigned as pastor on August 3, 1997.
On August 31, 1997, Rev. Roy Liburd became the interim pastor. Through the teaching and preaching of Rev. Liburd our church grew in faith and members.
Rev. Freddie Hinson Jr. was installed as pastor on August 8, 1998. On November 5, 1998 New Hope Mission Baptist Church and Day Care Inc. was changed to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church of Hudson, Inc.
On Friday, February 26, 1999, after four years of concerted efforts of its members the church mortgage was paid off. Pastor Hinson led by the Spirit of God in his teaching and preaching has brought the membership to an understanding of the scriptures. Also, under the guidance of Pastor Hinson, there was breaking of ground in April 2001 for a new sanctuary. New Hope progressed and the new edifice was erected. On July 14, 2002, Pastor Hinson and the congregation moved into the new church home.


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Ursula Kalin the veil Passenger
anyone that needs me. I do not judge
Ursula has always been connected spiritually. Growing up in a family with roots down in the Bayou,and Mississippi readers and candle burning for luck and money were not unusual. Ursula's mother and grandmother both have the gift of sight, although they may not admit it. Ursula did not embrace her gifts until later in life, when she allowed herself to open up spiritually and mentally. Once that happened, the flood gates opened. Always interested in the paranormal, Ursula began experimenting with EVP's. It was at this time that she started noticing her abilities to communicate with the spirits. No matter what device she used (digital recorder, tape or computer) she was receiving very clear messages. She began experimenting with ghost boxes (radio transmitters that sweep the airwaves) and once again she was getting uncanny messages from beyond. However, these were intelligent responses that referred to her by name and often mentioned her children's names. Her senses began to develop where she began to smell and feel the presence of spirits. As her senses improved, so did her sight. Yes, she was now vividly seeing spirits to point where she could describe their gender, features and clothing. Ursula suddenly was being contacted from individual all over the globe who were drawn to her because of her gift. They convinced her that she needs to embrace her gift and help others pursue the light. Through a chance meeting over the net, Ursula was introduced to Frank Sumption, creator of the "Frank's Box". He sent one to Ursula because he said he had been hearing her name for year's on the boxes and thought she was supposed to have one. Since that time, he and Ursula have become long distance friends and he has shared a few more boxes with her. Ursula is now using the boxes and meditation to communicate with spirits that are looking to crossover into the light. So a new chapter has begun, Ursula has encountered a number of individuals who have been drawn to her for advice and counseling. While she was not ready to embrace the inevitable, she now knows she can help many. She was convinced of this when she began uncovering details of individual encounters that she had no prior knowledge. She had never met these people and began telling them about things that were going on in their lives. Ursula can bring her amazing gifts to your private party and is available by appointment. Her accuracy has astounded those encountering her for the first time. Ursula is dedicated to helping the living and the deceased. She lives with her loving supporting family in the Chicago Western suburbs


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RE: Bloomberg and Mathematica
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg46455] RE: [mg46342] Bloomberg and Mathematica
- From: David.Annetts at csiro.au
- Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2004 03:02:06 -0500 (EST)
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
Hi Vlad, > this is my first post, so don't kick me yet if I do something wrong. > > I have a task at hand to retrieve Bloomberg's historical data into > Mathematica. I'm not even sure where to start looking, so any advice > will be highly appreciated. I'm pretty much an experienced programmer, > but just saw Mathematica for the first time, so consider me as a total > newbie :) > > Thanks in advance and hope to hear some responses soon. Perhaps you might get more assistance with an example of the data. It is entirely possible that Mathematica can import the data, but without specfics, who can suggest which of 3-4 methods might be best? Regards, Dave. ========================================== Dr. David Annetts EM Modelling Analyst CSIRO DEM Tel: +612 9490 5416 North Ryde Fax: +612 9490 5467 Australia David.Annetts at csiro.au ===========================================


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Personal Company Data
When you have hacked/homebrew wii, you may notice that Nintendo launched a new Shopping Channel replace (v21). Final March, Amazon launched Fashion Code Dwell , a every day reside on-line show that regarded like an try to bring the house procuring channel into the twenty first century. The channel showcased varied merchandise which viewers might purchase by an e-commerce website or by phone.
Look by the vendor data (often found on the channels' websites) as well, to find out what sorts of products are accepted and rejected. Test Accept cookies from websites to enable Cookies. Anne's natural leadership capacity, confirmed track record, and incomparable information of the retail trade made her the ideal candidate for this role," said Brace.
ITV sources mentioned the channel was categorised as promoting and that responsibility for content material rested with JML. Get the top offers from 100s of outlets, including The Buying Channel, in …


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Reading A-Z resources organized into weekly content-based units and differentiated instruction options.
In this Close Reading Pack, students read fantasy stories about people solving problems. Students read closely to understand the story and to locate information and examples to support their answer to the Key Question.
You may unsubscribe at any time.


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This doesn't mean Mack is backing off its 12-liter E-Tech engine introduced last year, says Mack President and CEO Michel Gigou. In fact, E-Tech production levels will continue to increase into 1999. The agreement with Cummins will allow Mack to offer smaller or larger electronic engines.
A large part of the new agreement involves Mack vehicles that have not yet been introduced to the market. The companies did announce that Mack will be offering Cummins 8.3-liter ISC engines, 9-liter ISL engines, ISX and Signature 600 engines in certain vehicles.


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What a FHEA application looks like
Below is what an Application form will look like, along with some examples from previous applicants. You can download this form along with other relevant documents from here.
In the examples given, notice how there is a mixture of description and reflection and how the Professional Standards Framework (PSF) elements are cross-referenced where appropriate.
Please do not copy or mimic these words or styles. Your reflective writing, and the benefits to you of reflective practice, will be much more powerful if you adopt your own style.
|Section 1. Application cover sheet
|Complete the cover sheet, sign it and scan it to attach to the start of your application. By signing, you are declaring that:
|Section 2. Overview of my learning experience in teaching/learning (400 words max)
|In this paragraph, you should concisely explain the context of your teaching, and the breadth and depth of your teaching roles and experiences.
I have always been interested in teaching, inspired by great teachers at school and university. When I became a PhD student, I was keen to become a tutor in [my discipline], and tutored one course a semester for three years. I started convening courses as soon as I took on my position as Lecturer in [my discipline] here at ANU in 2013, and I have convened the undergraduate courses AAAA2000 [Name] and AAAA3000 [Name] for the past three years. Each course has 30-60 students, and I do all the 'lecturing', tutorials and assignment marking. I participated in the Foundations of University Teaching & Learning modules in 2013, and have been attending the annual teaching seminars in my College. I have just been invited to sit on the College Education Committee as an early career representative.
|Section 3. My philosophy of teaching and learning (400 words max)
|In this paragraph, you should concisely explain what motivates and drives you as a teacher. You might find it appropriate to refer to some of the Professional Values here.
Key motivators driving me as a tutor are my own memories of teachers who made a difference, and my concern for the pressures that today's students have to work under. I had a wonderful high school teacher who always gave me feedback in a great way, even when I was not really producing to my capacity. I also had a really tough lecturer when I was a first year student, who wouldn't let us slack off as learners, but always reminded us of why we were studying.
In my approach as an academic today I have both those teachers often in mind, and that makes me work hard to treat each student as an individual as an individual (V1) wanting to become a professional in my field rather than as a 'knowledge machine'. I am also conscious that most students pay very high fees to study at university (V4), so I try to make sure that at least my students receive 'value-for-money', and are really treated like individuals with different needs and strengths (V1). My teaching is also driven by my constant desire to learn more about how to communicate what I am researching, because I am passionate about my discipline and want my students to feel excitement of primary research. A compelling influence on me as I have moved into running my own courses has been the notion of 'servant leadership', as discussed by Robert Greenleaf and Larry Spears (2002) in 'Servant Leadership: A journey into the nature of legitimate power and greatness'. It seems to me that in our courses, every convenor is a 'leader' and yet also a 'servant' in terms of making sure their students are well supported as learners. I try to remember this when students ask the 'same old question'.
|Section 4.1 Reflective narrative on Area of Activity (800 words max)
A1 Design and plan learning activities and/or programs of study
|Section 4 is the main feature of your application. Reflect on all five Areas of Activity starting with A1 here.
Describe and reflect upon your recent (past three to five years) engagement and experience of teaching and support of learners, including reference to all elements of your Core Knowledge K1 to K5 and your commitment to Professional Values V1 to V4. At appropriate points, describe the professional development activities in which you have participated, and how you have incorporated that new knowledge into your activities. Include references to scholarly works that have influenced your teaching.
This is a reflective narrative, so please make sure you not only describe what you have done in teaching and/or supporting learners, but also reflect on why you did it that way, what you learned from your experience, and how that has affected what you do now (or plan to do in the future).
Annotate your narrative with the relevant Knowledge (Ks) and Values (Vs), but make these substantive, not tokenistic. Also keep looking back to Descriptor 2 to make sure you are providing all the evidence needed to meet this set of criteria.
I am very keen on online learning as the future for taking my discipline to a broader audience. I have spent a great deal of time designing my courses in a blended format that makes really good use of technologies such as Wattle (Moodle) and multimedia, for example by making very thoughtful use of Socrative for student engagement in classes, and making small videos about lab techniques, which I have uploaded onto Wattle (K4). My knowledge about working in online environments comes from training I did on Moodle in 2009, and my work experience at ANU since then (K1). I have attended Moodleposia for three or four years now, and an ascilite conference last year (A5), and that really helped me understand more about relevant learning theory, and how online learning needs to be designed (K2). I am particularly keen on Laurillard's Conversational Framework (Laurillard 2000, 2008) as a model for designing online learning, and also see Khan Academy videos as a model to work towards.
|Section 4.2 Reflective narrative on Area of Activity (800 words max)
A2 Teach and/or support learning
I'm a researcher in the same field that I teach, which means that I am confident in my knowledge of the subject I am teaching, and am usually quite up to date with new research (K1). I attend conferences in my field, and last year attended the Education stream of the Association of [my discipline] annual conference, so that I could really be up to date with the way my discipline is taught. I came back very keen on a particular way of teaching using an online role play that was demonstrated there, and has subsequently been published, by Mahanty and Beckmann (2016). I used their ideas to create my own online role-play, with the help of an educational technologist from the College (K4). I evaluated the role-play at every stage of development (K6), using design-based research (Reeves, 2006), and the students were very positive. Next year's version will be even better. When I teach, I try to help the students focus on concepts from their readings rather than detailed information recall. I learnt about doing this through a group work technique I learned from the Foundations modules I attended at CHELT (A5, K2). Through attendance at an APD module on "How students learn" (F4, Nov 2015), I came to understand about constructive alignment and the power of learning outcomes in course design (Biggs & Tang, 2011; V3). I was also able to talk to other lecturers at Foundations and get their ideas on dealing with worried students. I now focus on making the students feel comfortable and safe as learners, as a starting point to each lecture and tutorial. For example, I share with them that I also find deadlines an issue sometimes, so then we can talk about time management techniques when thinking about assignments.
|Section 4.3 Reflective narrative on Area of Activity (800 words max)
A3 Assess and give feedback to learners
In my courses I use a range of assessment approaches: essay, lab notebooks, online self-paced and self- correcting quizzes, and a short end of course exam. I find that planning is the key to good assessment – so I spend a lot of time on trying to get the assessments right. I think students must feel respected, emotionally safe, and comfortable to admit gaps in their knowledge and skills, regardless of their background (V1). This means they must be sure that they are safe to admit when they don't know something, or if they get something wrong, so I try to be very fair and careful in assessment and feedback all times, especially in the face to face and group settings in lab sessions.
Thinking about student support and guidance in the context of feedback, I have tried the 'feedback sandwich' model of 'tell them something good they do, then their weakness, then another strength', which I learned about from a CHELT seminar on assessment by David Boud last year, but usually most students seem to focus on the negative feedback anyway. But after reading some of the research on assessment (V3), I have more confidence in following through with my own intuition.
I design assessments to be formative as well as summative, and develop the marking criteria well in advance in the form of a rubric that I can share with students, so that they are primed for the kind of feedback I will be giving. In a safe learning environment, I find students can listen carefully and start to develop better skills, as long as they feel I am being fair with my feedback.
|Section 4.4 Reflective narrative on Area of Activity (800 words max)
A4 Develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance
I spend several hours each week teaching students in small groups (20-25 students). I strongly believe that a safe and supportive environment lays the foundations for effective learning (V1). This means I work hard to create a nurturing learning environment in my lectures and tutorials and spend time thinking about this in my planning. I make sure I never sit behind my desk if we are meeting in my office but sit next to them, so they feel like we are equals. I don't always have such control over the physical environments in which we meet as a group, but, if possible, I certainly try to ensure a comfortable temperature, appropriate seating and lighting, and an arrangement of seating that suggests (and supports) collaborative learning rather than a 'me and them as individuals' pattern. Last year I tried out a flipped classroom model (supported by advice Professor Joe Hope in Physics) which meant we spent many hours a week in the drab and fairly ugly tutorial rooms. I started to bring along a set of research posters (relevant to the topic) each time, which I stuck up with blu-tak. This was an idea I picked up at a conference. It takes a few minutes but it is worth it. Students have remarked that this bit of colour brightens up their day and makes them more cheerful in my classes than in others that they attend. The psychological environment is even more crucial.
As appropriate, I try to ensure that the students know I think of them as real people, all individuals with their own needs (V1). I also make sure I am up to date in what ANU expects us to do to help students with problems—I did the online Foundations module F9 'Supporting our Students' and that really gave me all the information I needed (V3, V4). I have had several students come to me with major issues in their lives that are impacting on their learning, so I make that I listen well, but then ensure that they get professional support from the Counselling Centre or medical services. Last year I had to phone Access and Equity to help me with a student with a learning issue: the student was encouraged to register and then I was sent an Educational Access Plan for the student, which helped me to know what to do (V1). I worked with the Head of School to identify first the 'inherent requirements' of the courses I teach, and then the 'reasonable adjustments' I should make. For example, I found that giving a student with a learning disability a week longer to think about the essay topic, and a longer consultation time to discuss it, worked quite well to meet that student's needs without drawing attention to differences.
|Section 4.5 Reflective narrative on Area of Activity (800 words max)
A5 Engage in continuing professional development in subjects/disciplines and their pedagogy, incorporating research, scholarship and evaluation of professional practices
Last year I completed the ANU Foundations of University Teaching and Learning decamod. The online module F1 (Teaching at ANU: Policies and Context) really helped me understand the national regulatory context in which ANU operates, which I had no idea about before! I also now understand the ANU policies that impact on me as a teacher at ANU.
I found I learnt ideas from nearly all the Foundations modules that I was able to put in place immediately. For example, I'd never heard about constructive alignment before, but it really made sense to me as a way of thinking about teaching, and I am now reading 'Quality Teaching at University' (Biggs & Tang, 2011) to try to understand more.
I have so many students from different language groups and cultures in my courses that I have to work hard to be inclusive in my teaching (V1). I don't always find this easy, I admit, so I have taken every opportunity to read about cross-cultural competence in my field of business studies (e.g. Johnson, Lenartowicz, & Apud, 2006) and to talk to my students about times when my teaching style of asking lots of questions may make them uncomfortable or unsure what to do. Helping international students achieve their best is an issue for all Australian universities, and it's something we talk about in our School quite often, so I have been identifying some research supported by the Office for Learning & Teaching (V4).
I always try to write down one actual practice I could incorporate into my teaching whenever I read educational research, and my favourite so far has been the use of student response systems – like the 'clickers' that Eric Mazur used in peer instruction at Harvard (V3). For example, I now use the free software Socrative in all my classes, either to test students' knowledge of concepts, or their ability to solve problems, or to get feedback on how the teaching has gone that day.
|Section 5. Reflective case study on an aspect of my peer engagement practice (1000 words max)
|The case study allows you to focus on describing, and reflecting on, an area of your teaching or learner support in some depth. It should extend your narrative to ensure you have addressed all the elements of Core Knowledge and Professional Values, AND all elements of Descriptor 2. How to approach writing a case study is discussed in module E3.
|Section 6. Literature reference list
|Include a reference list of all literature cited in your application in the reference style of your choice.
|Section 7. Referees
|Your application must be submitted with statements from two referees who can authenticate your practice. You can also provide evidence in your reflective narrative that your practice has been authenticated by others, for example, through peer observation or review. You can download a Referee Report template to send them.
Referees are required to attest to the effective elements of your practice, through their personal experience. Your referees should therefore be able to provide informed corroboration of your teaching experience and capabilities in the context of the PSF and your application.
At least one Referee Report must come from an existing HEA fellow in your College (AFHEA, FHEA, SFHEA or PFHEA), who can comment on the evidence you have provided, your teaching and/or supporting learning activities, and the relevance to Descriptor 2. This is the part of the intra- College and cross-University mentoring within the EFS. If this poses a problem for you, please seek advice from your EFS mentor).
Please include both completed Referee Reports at the end of your application in one PDF document.
What's next?
Go to Application forms to download all the required documents. Once you have completed a draft, send it to firstname.lastname@example.com for feedback from an EFS mentor. When you're satisfied with your final application, you are ready to submit.


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I'm a windows developer, recently I'm having to work on a Mac in order to develop for iPhone.
Long story short, I want all the hotkeys to be identical to windows to my already "learned" hotkeys stay the same.
Is there an application to allow me to do this? Or can I just set this up through the standard keyboard settings?
For example, I want Ctrl+C/V to copy/paste, Alt+Tab to switch windows, End/Home to go to the end of a line and not the end of a file (Mac Ctrl+Right Arrow/Left Arrow).
I'm on Mac OS X 10.6 (I think called Snow leopard).
My best solution so far:
Use synergy and 1 keyboard to transition from Windows to Mac. It maps the windows hotkeys correctly to mac, and allows me to use 1 keyboard/mouse between 2 machines! There is some unix knowledged required to make this work on startup, as I had to write a .sh shell script to make it happen on the Mac.
I'm marking the top answer as the solution, as it led me to this option.


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By Hasraf "HaZ" Dulull
A few months ago I was VFX supervising on location for a rather large-scale commercial shot on the lovely Arri Alexa.
Whenever I am doing on-set VFX supervising, one of the many things I do is take notes of the lens used, height of jib crane, F-stops, FOV etc. To do this I usually hassle the camera assistants for that info and then scribble it down as we move onto the next shot and setup.
But when things start changing, such as different takes with different angles and lens or new setups made on the fly, it can be a nightmare to keep on top of all the camera info.
So on this particular commercial shoot, as I passed the DIT guy, I noticed he was dumping the footage using the Arri Raw Converter (freely available from the Arri Website).
I noticed as he clicked on the Info tab there was the usual metadata of timecode, roll number, frame rate speed, aspect ratio etc., but there were two other tabs available.
As he clicked on those tabs, at my request, I was surprised to see all the notes I had been taking down manually were being captured automatically and intelligently with the built-in software in the Alexa camera. It captured all the things I needed from lens size (35mm etc.) to type of lens used (Argenieux 19.5 – 94mm) to focal distance and right down to tilt and roll angle of the camera!
The only notes I had to take in terms of camera data were the start and end height of the camera on the jib arm, and the height of the camera from the ground.
The workflow between DIT and VFX is very tightly knitted, and the sharing of data is now much more possible compared to before. This got me thinking, that Arri has really created a camera designed for the demands of VFX shoots.
If they continue to develop their camera software, I can see why this camera is becoming the preferred choice for shoots involving VFX.
Dulull is a freelance VFX producer as well as a movie director (his film Project Kronos is currently in development). He has been nominated for several VES awards for his VFX supervision. He is also principal at his own production company HaZ Film.


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Read more!
The main ringleader of this gang of buffoons has been our old friend, Lurkerthe, masquerading under the pseudonym 'jnovitz'. After dispensing some highly hypocritical personal abuse (if I'm unqualified on this topic, where the fuck does that leave Sanning, Hargis and Rudolf, none of whom has doctorates in any discipline?), Lurkerthe launched into his first gambit by claiming that the Jewish population of Latvia fell in the 1930's by a similar pecentage to that which Sanning had claimed for Poland:
A reduction of 500 000 [for Poland] is not extreme. Jewish migration from Eastern Europe was heavy at this point. There are excellent population figures for Latvia Jews that show a similiar decrease...This is clearly false, as can be seen by the Latvian census figures for 1930 and 1935 shown in this link. The number of Jews fell by only 909, a ratio of 0.96%.
When I challenged Lurkerthe on this, he claimed that his source, The Holocaust in Latvia by Andrew Ezergailis, showed a population decrease from 1935 (the last census) to 1940. However, when I checked this source, I found this quote from the author on page 72, note 1 a:
Whether the Jewish population increased or decreased just prior to WWII is not clearLurkerthe then claimed, falsely, that I had argued that the Germans had conducted a census in Poland in September 1939. What I actually wrote was this:
Firstly, to justify his choice of sources, Sanning (p.44) makes a false claim about Nazi population data by asserting that "their figures were not based on a census, not even on estimates". This is a blatant lie because, as Sanning must have known, every Jewish ghetto in Poland was forced to conduct a census. This had been mandated by Heydrich on September 21st, 1939Clearly, as ghettoes had not been established by the end of September, I could not be arguing that the censuses were carried out in that month. Instead, my comment was clearly aimed at Sanning's claim (p.44) that:
In the ghettoes the Jews were accorded some kind of self-administration and the Germans never [my emphasis] bothered to count them.Consequently, when Lurkerthe states that "Sanning did not claim that a census was not taken, simply that a census was not taken in the middle of the Wehrmacht campaign as Mr Harrison strangely claims," he misrepresents Sanning's position as well as my own.
Lurkerthe then perpetrates an even greater falsehood when discussing Polish Jewish emigration to the USA:
The annual quota for Poland emigration to the US between the war was over 30 000. And it is most probable that Jews took up a greater than 10% proportional share of that quota. So 530 out of 30 000 is not a credible figure. Nor was all emigration from Poland confined to that quota.The fraudulence of the passage is easily exposed by contemporary sources, such as this one, which demonstrate that the Polish quota was 6524. Moreover, only one of every four Polish-Jewish applicants could satisfy the stringent requirements of the U.S. Consul in Poland (source: Jacob Lestschinsky, "National Groups in Polish Emigration," 5 Jewish Social Studies (April 1943), p. 113; cited by Zimmerman, Chapter 1, Note 15 here).
We can therefore see that, instead of rescuing Sanning from his ignominy, CODOH's unwise monkeys have simply helped to bury him further in the mire by imitating his modus operandi.


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from PSYCHOGRAM: Fall 2009 – Volume 34 Number 4
Virginia Psychological Association
By Amber Lea Walser, Meghan McLain, & Kalika Kelkar*
Telepsychology, a recent development in clinical psychology practice, refers to the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide psychological services. It includes the use of the telephone, audio-video, email, and chat rooms to provide psychotherapy, assessment, consultation, diagnostics, education,and supervision (Nickelson, 1998). As with any emerging psychological practice, there is limited research and few studies with rigorous controls examining the effectiveness of this phenomenon. Additionally, current empirically supported interventions and assessment instruments have generally not been validated for use through these electronic mediums. Although it is being practiced with increasing frequency, telepsychology is such a new practice that explicit APA guidelines for its implementation have not yet been developed.
Studies by Aronson, Heckman et al., and Sandgren and McCaul (as cited in Koocher, 2007) have shown that telepsychology can be beneficial for clients. Other research by Wood, Miller and Hargrove (as cited in Miller, 2006) indicates that this technology can be used for supervision as well. However, a study by Reese, Conoley and Brossart (2006) demonstrated that while 53% of participants reported improvements after telephone therapy, it was not as effective as face-to-face therapy for those who felt "very poorly." It must be noted that the therapy in this study was provided free of cost, which may have confounded the findings, thus limiting the generalizability to "traditional" telepsychology which requires payment.
The telepsychology trend raises a number of ethical issues that need to be considered and researched before it is extensively implemented or recommended. Though no statistics exist, telepsychology appears to be growing in popularity as even private practitioners are entering offering these services across state lines. A primary concern is the effect of the inclusion of technological devices on the therapeutic relationship. Research indicates that positive outcome in therapy is consistently related to therapeutic alliance and cohesion between client and therapist (Lambert, 2004). Similarly, one could argue that therapeutic effectiveness is often contingent upon creating a confidential, appropriate, reliable and safe environment in which therapy can occur (Langs, 1979). A long-distance, electronic interaction decreases the therapists' control over the settings and the clients. Interpersonal dynamics, rapport and client concentration may be adversely affected and the less ersonal therapist-client interaction may risk diluting the benefits of the therapeutic alliance. Furthermore, certain therapy modalities which rely upon physical interaction (e.g., play therapy), nonverbal cues (e.g., interpersonal therapy), or therapy dependent on the interactions of multiple individuals (e.g., family and group therapy) may be difficult to conduct via electronic means.
Other serious repercussions could arise with respect to confidentiality and test security. Electronic communications can never be assumed to be completely secure from prying ears and eyes. Both client and therapist privacy must be considered. For example, a client could tape sessions without the therapist's consent and then disseminate information to the public. Some clinicians already conduct assessments via web based or emailed material (Koocher, 2007), which raises other potential pitfalls. Behavioral observations and honest test responses will be tricky to assess. It would be difficult to ensure that tests are not copied, and copyrights are not infringed.
Competency guidelines for telepsychology services have not been established. How does one become appropriately trained to deliver therapeutic services over the phone, email or in chat rooms? There is greater potential for therapist misrepresentation. For instance, how can one be sure that the therapist is who they claim to be during telepsychology sessions? Conducting teletherapy over state lines may pose a special challenge as rules and guidelines for telepsychological methods already vary from state to state (Koocher, 2007).
Even though telepsychology may, at first glance, seem to have significant disadvantages, it does have potential benefits when used appropriately. Telepsychology improves access to care by minimizing time and travel expenses, and easing other significant barriers to treatment, such as the unavailability of providers in remote geographical locations. This type of therapy may be particularly suited for those interventions that are more structured or less interpersonally demanding. Some research has shown that children may be more engaged by the technical aspects of telepsychology, such as participating in video conferences (Rabasca, 2000).
Telepsychology is a new frontier in the field and it would be myopic to dismiss it entirely. Despite differing viewpoints on the subject, it would still be a better option than not providing services to those in need when no other recourse is available. Further research must be conducted to determine optimal methods of delivering treatment as well as the efficacy and effectiveness of this new mode of therapy.
Koocher, G. P. (2007). Twenty-first century ethical challenges for psychology. American Psychologist, July-August, 375-384.
Lambert, M. J. (2004). Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change. New York:John Wiley & Sons.
Langs, R. (1979). The therapeutic environment. New York: Jason Aronson.
Miller, T. W. (2006). Telehealth issues in consulting psychology practice. ConsultingPsychology Journal: Practice and Research, 58, 82-91.
Nickelson, D. (1998). Behavioral telehealth: Emerging practice, research, and policy opportunities. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 14, 443-457.
Rabasca, L. (2000). Taking telehealth to the next step. Monitor on Psychology. Retrieved June 15, 2009 from http://www.apa.org/monitor/apr00/telehealth.html.
Reese, R. J., Conoley, C. W., & Brossart, D. F. (2002). Effectiveness of telephone counseling
*The PSYCHOGRAM is the newsletter of the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychology (VACP). The authors are graduate students within the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology (VCPCP), and the first author, Amber Walser, is the Student Representative to the VACP Executive Council and Assistant Editor of the PSYCHOGRAM. Reprinted with Consent.


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Dropped kerb installed which blocks the pavement
Reported in the Obstruction category anonymously at 11:45, Wed 12 June 2019
Sent to Bristol City Council 5 minutes later
The residents of 22 Ivor Rd have installed an unsuitable dropped kerb for this location.
Enquiry raised.
Posted by Bristol City Council at 10:50, Wed 12 June 2019
Under investigation.
Posted by Bristol City Council at 10:41, Thu 20 June 2019
Your enquiry has been investigated and deemed that no action is required at present.
State changed to: Fixed
Posted by Bristol City Council at 12:40, Tue 25 June 2019
This report is now closed to updates. You can make a new report in the same location.


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Centers… Revised!
by Kelli Lewis, M. Ed.
Whether you're a parent looking for some fun summer learning activities to keep your children's skills sharp, or an early elementary teacher who wants to breathe new life into your centers next year, this article is for you!
Rhyming Picture Pairs
Create picture cards for your students to match with words that rhyme. For example, print two cards: one with a picture of a house and the word house printed on it, and another with a picture of a mouse and the word mouse printed on it. Make about 10 sets of word-pair cards, and then scramble them in a box or bag for your students to sort through and pair up.
Here are some rhyming word pairs to get you started: (1) mouse, house (2) bear, chair (3) fan, man (4) moon, spoon (5) horn, corn (6) pie, fly (7) box, fox (8) crown, clown (9) snake, cake (10) car, jar (11) hat, cat (12) hose, nose (13) duck, truck (14) bed, sled (15) ant, plant (16) key, tree (17) soap, rope (18) farm, arm (19) zero, hero (20) check, wreck.
Purchase or create word magnets for your students to group into sentences. Don't forget punctuation! Students can use pie pans, dry erase boards, or even the front of metal teachers' desks to place their sentences on. When a student creates a sentence, have them record their sentence by writing it down in a Magnet Journal (a binder filled with lined paper that stays in the center with the magnet words).
For a set of 200 sight word magnets, click here.
Poetry Pages
Familiar students with the great poets and poetic language while allowing them to practice their writing skills. Make a binder of poems (one poem per page), and then have students select a poem of their choice to copy onto paper, illustrate, mount on construction paper and display in the classroom (or on the fridge, if you're doing this at home).
For an online resource of childhood poems, click here.
Now I Know My…
Create ABC cards (one letter per card) and allow students to put their ABC's in order. You can also create picture cards that go along with each letter. Then, allow students to place the picture cards on the letter that shows their beginning letter. For an extra challenge, they can also group the cards by their ending letter.
ABC Bag
Fill a paper lunch back with random things (a paper clip, yo-yo, a small toy car, small toy animals, etc.). Allow students to choose an item from the bag and draw it on their paper. Students should then write sentences about the object. Encourage them to describe their objects using as many adjectives as possible: How would you describe this item to someone from Mars who had never seen it before?
This center is an oldie-but-goodie. What child doesn't like to sit on a fun pillow or comfy couch and look at books? Set out comfy chairs, stuffed animals, pillows, and of course, books on book shelves or in baskets. This will be the perfect place for students to build positive associations with reading!
You may already use the computer in your center rotation, but have you visited www.starfall.com, yet? It covers early reading skills/phonics and is great for ages 3 through first grade. It's the perfect way to make learning to read fun and techy.
For more computer programs that balance educational goals with entertainment, click here (for math activities) and here (for reading CDs).
Whether you use these ideas at the kitchen table or in the classroom, hopefully they'll make learning fun for your little ones!
Kelli Lewis, M. Ed. recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a Masters in Education and will begin teaching in a third-grade classroom this fall. Congratulations, Kelli! And thanks for sharing all of your great ideas on A Learning Experience.


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Prosper, Texas (PRWEB) July 18, 2013
DryLet Technologies, a biotechnology company providing industry-leading products for use in applications such as bioremediation, animal waste reduction, wastewater treatment, aquaculture and grease, fat and oil reduction in wastewater treatment plants and restaurant kitchen settings, announced today the launch timing of its new product website and logo for MB Bioremediation™.
Patented MB Bioremediation™ is organic, highly concentrated, and utilizes millions of nanobioreactors to deliver hundreds of billions of live microorganisms that consume petroleum-based products including:
"MB Bioremediation has achieved significant success in the market over the past several years and we felt it was time to enhance the brand with a new product website and logo," said Steve Ellis, DryLet Technologies Executive Vice President. "The Uptech Upstream Oil & Gas Summit is the perfect event to launch our new brand-look and website in order to better tell the positive story of MB Bioremediation™ and how its field trials and results differentiate it from other products on the market."
UpTech, Upstream Oil & Gas Summit is North America's leading Executive Level Conference for the oil and gas industry. The Summit caters to Executives and Technical Experts from junior, intermediate and large cap oil and gas producing companies.
DryLet Technologies is a sponsor of the event and will be available to meet with attendees about MB Bioremediation™.
About DryLet Technologies
DryLet Technologies was founded on the guiding principle of "Helping nature do its job." As a biotechnology company, DryLet provides industry-leading products for use in applications such as bioremediation, wastewater treatment, aquaculture, animal waste reduction and grease, fat and oil reduction in wastewater treatment plants and restaurant kitchen settings. DryLet provides dry products for traditionally liquid product markets. This allows DryLet a strategic advantage by providing a superior alternative to traditional products that must be applied via spraying or have been freeze-dried. The patented products developed by DryLet provide superior results in all applications when compared to other products on the market. All DryLet products are completely safe for aquatic life and for human and animal contact. For more information visit http://www.drylet.com.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10939841.htm.
|Source: PRWeb
Copyright©2012 Vocus, Inc.
All rights reserved


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Shotspotter Blog
5 Proven Tips that Effectively Reduce Celebratory Gunfire
New Year's Eve is right around the corner and this is an exciting time for many people. As we ring in and welcome 2016, it's important to understand the reality of illegal celebratory gunfire. Almost 15% of all gunfire incidents take place around New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and the 4th of July. The dangers continue to be serious as stray bullets continue to injure innocent people and can be deadly. Law enforcement agencies can take a proactive leadership role to help communities reduce this illegal gunfire this year.
What works to reduce celebratory gunfire?
The ShotSpotter team has evaluated cities year over year that have had significant reductions in celebratory gunfire and the communities that have had a reduction on New Year's Eve continue to follow some simple best practices that can be used in any community. These tips have been proven to really work and make a difference in the number of incidents that happen on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. When using these tips year over year, reductions in illegal celebratory gunfire decline. Planning, community engagement and enforcement of consequences are all key to the success of bringing celebratory gunfire down.
ShotSpotter cities like Springfield, Rocky Mount, Miami Gardens as well as many other cities have successfully followed these 5 reduction strategies:
1. Plan ahead – It's not too early to begin planning for New Year's Eve! Take the time to do research weeks in advance of New Year's Eve to identify hot spots areas and record addresses where celebratory gunfire was detected last year. Then, use this list to engage the community and prevent it from happening this year in those same areas.
2. Engage agency personnel early – Communicate with your agency personnel along with probation/parole officers, and gang enforcement units and let them know the plan for reducing celebratory gunfire. Make a plan to reduce it this year, and talk about it openly at your agency.
3. Engage your community: Knock on doors, Use Social Media! – Assign uniformed agency personnel to visit each address on the hot spot list and talk with community residents weeks before New Year's Eve. Take the time to explain the dangers of celebratory gunfire and tell of first-hand tragedies the local agency might have experienced. Communicate your police department's New Year's Eve policing plan with meetings, notices and be sure to announce on social media – make it clear to everyone in the community that celebratory is dangerous and illegal. Tell people that your agency is committed to reducing it this year to protect residents.
4. Enforce Consequences of celebratory gunfire – Remind residents of the criminal consequences of celebratory gunfire. (The ShotSpotter team recommends publicizing and enforcing a strict "no tolerance" policy on this activity and aggressive prosecution of the case). You can also engage community leaders to make them aware of the dangers of celebratory gunfire and encourage them to report all incidents.
5. Assign special police units – During New Year's Eve period – Assign additional special police units, resources and/or overtime cars, to hot spot areas for quick response to gunfire alerts.
Bonus New Year's Eve tip from Rocky Mount, NC
Lieutenant Ryan Hepler of the Rocky Mount Police Department has had success with reducing celebratory gunfire over the past few years. Rocky Mount, NC had a 19.3 percent decline in celebratory gunfire incidents in 2014 vs. 2013 (from 57 to 46 incidents). Ryan told ShotSpotter this week that part of his success includes this: he has patrol officers hand deliver informational letters to residents of addresses that had gunfire alert(s) the previous New Year's Eve. He says this was an essential component to their success this past year.
For more celebratory gunfire reduction info:
• Download our new Celebratory gunfire reduction training video here.
• Download our Celebratory gunfire press release here.
• Visit our Celebratory gunfire resource center here.
Have a safe and Happy New Year from the ShotSpotter gunfire reduction team!


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I was in my first year of university, young, naïve and passionate, when I had my first "real" boyfriend. Boy is the operative part of that word, boyfriend, because that is what he truly was, just a boy.
We met in a crowded nightclub, influenced by the intoxications of the cheap drinks we were consuming, and had our first kisses on the many drunken nights in the same place. After a short negotiation we became boyfriend and girlfriend and began our lustful rocky relationship. Between the sheets of his single residence bed, as we listened to the slow and steady beats of the Bryan Adams CD over and over, we explored each others bodies. He told me he loved me and I returned his feelings in words, as far as I could understand about love at the time. He romanced me and made my face glow with delight, so much so that others often commented on the change. I remember thinking that if everyone else thought we were in love then I must be.
Over the holidays I travelled the long bus trip to spend a week at his house. His parents must have trusted him because they allowed us to stay in his double bed together. I was a little shocked and slightly anxious to discover this on my first arrival. During these heated summer nights we became increasingly experimental in the bedroom. We had never spoken about sex and so he frustratingly fought against invisible boundaries that I had set up inside my head but never voiced.
I was a virgin and unsure how far I was comfortable or willing to go. He was sexually confident and eager but never knew, or thought to ask, how I felt about sex and my virginity. What I did know at the time was that I was not going to be able to give myself completely to him, and I had no idea how I was meant to break this news to him.
On my final night at his house, exhausted from late night after late night of the same pattern of refusal, I fell asleep in the middle of one of our "make-out sessions". I was unaware of the impact of this on the male ego and was stunned by his response. He stormed out of the room, leaving me in shock and confused, only to return later with a storm on his face to tell me that we had become like an old married couple. He then climbed back into bed, turned away from me and went to sleep. We travelled on the bus together the next day, and the trip will always stick in my mind as one of the worst days of my life. You see he ignored me the whole 8 hour trip home only bothering to reply when a question was asked. Every now and then I remember looking at him closely and asking if he was ok or reaching out to touch him. When we finally reached our destination we said our goodbyes, and it was only after two days of telephonic silence that he phoned to break-up with me. I remember sobbing uselessly on the phone in my confusion, the reasons he gave me didn't make sense to me, as I tried to understand what he was saying. I was completely heartbroken.
It was only years later that I came to understand why exactly he broke up with me, and I know it is because I wouldn't sleep with him. Looking back, however, I don't regret dating this first "boy" and I am glad that I kept myself for someone who was willing to wait. What I learnt from this first relationship, which is invaluable as I move forward into any new relationships, is the incredible importance of communication, especially with regard to your sexual boundaries and your personal values and standards.


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Calder Stones – history and future collide at Heritage Open Days
Take a guided tour of Calderstones Park and view the architects' impressions of the refurbished The Mansion House at The Reader's Courtyard Fair this Saturday, September 9.
This Saturday, The Reader will be celebrating Heritage Open Daysat Calderstones Park with a bumper programme of family fun, crafts and community activities.
The day's events will include guided heritage tours exploring the rich history of Calderstones Park, taking in the Allerton Oak, Jet's Memorial and the Neolithic Calder Stones – the earliest evidence of human settlement in the area. This will be the last opportunity for the public to see the stones up close before vital conservation work begins.
George Hawkins, The Reader's Heritage Manager, said:
"We are very excited to be part of Heritage Open Days for the fourth year – it's a fantastic opportunity for people to come together to celebrate the unique and ancient history of Calderstones Park, especially while the Mansion House is closed for refurbishment."
Visitors can also enjoy a first glimpse at the architect's impressions for the future of the stones and Calderstones Mansion House. The historic building, which is now closed for refurbishment, will reopen in 2018 as The International Centre for Shared Reading, a community hub of Shared Reading and well-being activity. The plans include new businesses, an expanded café and opportunities for people to reach their full potential through employment, volunteering and training.
The Reader's Courtyard Fair will also feature regular Shared Reading taster sessions throughout the day, alongside poetry readings and a pre-loved book stall. Reader staff will be on site throughout the day to talk to visitors about ways to get involved and support the charity's work at Calderstones and wider North West region.
Families can enjoy free storytelling fun at The Storybarn, the big children's book swap (remember to bring a book to swap along on the day!), free children's mindfulness sessions with Little Sunshine Yoga and crafty workshops with The Reader's Knit and Natter group.
Jane Davis, founder and director of The Reader said:
"At The Reader we consider ourselves very lucky to call this beautiful park home and to be part of such a wonderful local community. We have exciting plans for the future of the Mansion House but it's so important to celebrate the history of the park too. This place is full of stories and we want to celebrate them through our Shared Reading activity here at Calderstones. Until the doors of The International Centre for Shared Reading are ready to open, days like this are a fantastic opportunity to bring everyone together."
The Reader's Courtyard Fair in partnership with Independent Liverpool is set to run between 10am and 5pm on Saturday, September 9 with specially curated market stalls, a bouncy castle and face painter.
Limited parking will be available in the park's public carparks so why not travel by bus? Plan your visit now with Merseytravel and Better by Bus.