text:
The Education of Google's Larry Page – Businessweek
Larry Page is surrounded. On one side, Google's (GOOG) chief executive officer confronts Facebook, the social networking phenom that is about to go public. On his other side is Apple (AAPL), which has moved the playing field off the desktop computer—Google's fiefdom—and onto smartphones and tablets. Thus Page, who became CEO of Google a year ago, has the task of steering the company he co-founded through territory defined by two rivals while fending off accusations that his brainchild has become yet another lumbering monopolist or, worse, a follower.
Sitting for an April 3 interview at the Googleplex in Mountain View, Calif., Page bridles at any suggestion that Google isn't the destiny-defining innovator it once was. He's wearing geek business casual—fleece jacket, logo shirt, jeans, black Converse sneakers. "Producing the best [products] we possibly can for users is our paramount thing," he says. "I think we have demonstrated that over a very long period of time, with a whole variety of different issues we've faced around the world."
Page isn't the first founder to reassert himself as leader of the company he helped to create. There was Howard Schultz's return to run Starbucks (SBUX), which has worked out well, and Michael Dell's reclaiming the reins of his eponymous PC maker, which has not. For a still-young tech entrepreneur such as Page, Steve Jobs's triumphant homecoming at Apple in 1997 is the most obvious benchmark of success. Their situations aren't totally analogous—unlike Jobs, Page never left the company he founded. Though the comparison is apt in one important way: In the 1990s, Apple needed a more sophisticated operating system to navigate changes in the computing landscape, and so bought Jobs's company, NeXT. Today, Google also needs to figure out a new world, in which its users increasingly see the Web through the lens of their friends, instead of a cold, calculating algorithm. Although Google started social networks such as Orkut in the last decade, Page acknowledges that the company underestimated the power of friending. "Our mission was organizing the world's information and making it universally accessible and useful," he says. "I think we probably missed more of the people part of that than we should have."
Google's tardy embrace of social networking and its other moves, such as the strict terms it dictates to licensees of its Android operating system, have opened the company up to the kind of criticism it rarely encountered during its days as a mere colossus-in-the-making. Antitrust authorities in the U.S. and Europe are investigating whether Google gives preference to its own content in Internet search results instead of being a neutral arbiter. Privacy watchdog groups are calling Google out on changes to its privacy policies, charging that it has abused its users' trust. Bloggers now routinely wonder if the company is doing evil, a caustic play on Google's famous dictum in its 2004 initial public offering prospectus. A recent headline on the technology site Gizmodo hyperbolically summed up the stew of distrust: "Google's Broken Promise: The End of 'Don't Be Evil.'"
Page smiles at the charge. Google, he insists, has not really changed at all. "Our soul is the same," he says. "What we're about is using large-scale technology advancements to help people, to make people's lives better, to make community better. If you look at the river of things we're doing, like automated cars and things like that, those things are fundamentally about [using technology] to help people. And I think there is still a huge amount of that to be done."
With Sergey Brin, Page founded Google in 1998 at the age of 25. By any measure, the company is among the most remarkable in the history of Silicon Valley, growing from a research project at Stanford to a multibillion-dollar global behemoth in a little more than a decade. Yet by the time Page took command last April, Google had grown unfocused and unwieldy. A freewheeling atmosphere of invention and curiosity spawned countless unpolished, unsuccessful products. (Take Google Buzz. No, really, take it!) The previous CEO, Eric Schmidt, was spending much of his time on the road, focusing on the company's mounting problems with antitrust and privacy regulators and dousing controversies such as the interception of home networking data by Google's roving, camera-equipped Street View cars.
An ongoing discussion among Google's leaders about refocusing the company around key product lines precipitated Schmidt's decision to step aside. Now Google's executive chairman, Schmidt is still the public face of the company at industry conferences and government hearings. Brin, Page's co-founder, works on futuristic technology products, such as augmented-reality glasses. As CEO, Page handles the day-to-day decisions—and takes the blame when things go wrong. "He's probably working harder than anyone at Google right now," says Sundar Pichai, senior vice president of the group that makes the Chrome browser.
Page spent the months before his formal appointment as CEO reshaping the leadership team. "He had a very clear sense of the organization he wanted to have and handpicked people to run large areas of the company and set their objectives," says Ram Shriram, a longtime Google board member. Newly elevated deputies included Pichai, Vic Gundotra of Google+, Salar Kamangar of YouTube, and Susan Wojcicki, who runs the ad unit.
Page also wanted to speed up decision-making at the company, whose ranks had swelled to almost 30,000 employees. He plucked one management idea from New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who requires that the city's department heads spend time sitting together in City Hall (Bloomberg is founder of Bloomberg LP, which owns this magazine). Page fashioned an open bullpen of desks on the fourth floor of Building 1900 in the Googleplex and required top managers, called the L-Team, to spend part of each day there. "The insight I got from Mayor Bloomberg was that it's maybe more efficient to tell people, 'For these hours of the day we're going to be all together, and at these hours of the day, you're going to be with your team,'" he says. "I'm just trying to get people together for a fixed set of hours in one place."
Page also started cutting back on products that weren't working. Services such as Knol, the Wikipedia knockoff, and the complicated productivity tool Google Wave were sent to the Google graveyard. The company reorganized into seven divisions: search, ads, YouTube, Android, Chrome, commerce, and social networking. Page worked on defining clear short- and long-term goals for the leaders of each group. "In some ways we have run the company as to let 1,000 flowers bloom, but once they do bloom you want to put together a coherent bouquet," Brin said at a technology conference last fall.
In June, Google unveiled the work of the seventh product group—Google+. Page demanded that every employee embrace the new focus on social networking, and linked yearend bonuses to the overall success of the effort. He says he's pleased with the service's progress. "We're not even a year into that, and that's going very well; much better than I expected in many, many ways, and I think than most people would have expected," he says. "It doesn't mean tomorrow it's going to be bigger than any other social network out there. That's not realistic. But it's growing faster, I think, than other services have."
Many Google watchers, and more than a few shareholders and analysts, question the extent of that success. Google+ has attracted 100 million members, who spent an average of 3.3 minutes on the service in January, according to ComScore (SCOR). Facebook's 850 million users spend an average of 7.5 hours a month on that site. Page cites his own Google+ follower count of 2 million users as evidence that people are engaging with the service. And he promises the social network is just getting started with new features.
Page also judges Google+ success in another way, arguing that it has added a necessary dimension to Google search results. He cites the dilemma of a friend, a Google engineer named Ben Smith. It's such a common name that a Google search returns millions of results. Now that the company knows that Page and a particular Ben Smith are connected, the results are more specific. A common name "is good if you want to have privacy, and it's bad if you want to have other friends find you," Page says. "For the first time, we can put Ben Smith into the search box, and it can be the Ben Smith that you know."
Linking data from Google+ into its search engine, however, has also invited scrutiny. The integration, named "Search, Plus Your World," was rolled out in January to a chorus of protest from bloggers, privacy groups, and competitors who charged that Google was giving special treatment to its own content. Bloomberg News has reported that the Federal Trade Commission is reviewing Google+ as part of a larger antitrust investigation into whether Google is unfairly abusing its monopoly in search. Regulators in Europe and the U.S. are also looking into accompanying changes in Google's privacy policy that allow the company to track consumers' use of various Google services.
Page sounds more than a little exasperated by the doubters. He says he'd be happy to include social data from Facebook and Twitter inside Google results but can't because those companies will not agree to make it available. "We would love to have better access to data that's out there. We find it frustrating that we don't," he says. As an example, he points to ongoing friction over the one-way transferability of users' address books between Gmail and Facebook. New members of Facebook can quickly and easily find their Gmail contacts, but it doesn't work the other way: New Gmail users cannot similarly find their Facebook friends. "Our friends at Facebook have imported many, many, many Gmail addresses and exported zero addresses out," he says. "They claim that users don't own that data, which is a total specious claim. It's completely unreasonable."
As for the parts of their sites that rivals do make available to Google's search engine, such as individual tweets or profile pages on Facebook—Page dismisses the idea that Google should do a better job of getting those to show up in its search results. "We don't force anyone to index," he says. "That's not the way we operate. … That's always somebody else's choice, whether their data is indexed or not."
Last July, Google lost an important battle that was mostly invisible to the public. It bid for the patent portfolio of bankrupt Canadian telecom pioneer Nortel and was outspent by a consortium of rivals that included Microsoft (MSFT), Sony (SNE), Research In Motion (RIMM), and Apple. Suddenly, Android, the open-source mobile operating system that powers about 50 percent of the world's smartphones, seemed vulnerable to the wave of licensing shakedowns and patent lawsuits breaking out in the high-tech industry. The next month, Google paid an astonishing $12.5 billion for Motorola Mobility (MMI), the American technology company with its own trove of mobile patents dating back to the invention of the cell phone. "Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google's patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anti-competitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies," Page wrote in a blog post announcing the deal.
Page laments the tendency among technology companies to sue each other over intellectual property. "The general trend of the industry towards being a lot more litigious somehow has been a sad thing," he says. "There is a lot of money going to lawyers and things, instead of building great products." Google, he insists, has never aggressively enforced its own patents in search, and he blasts the aggressors engaging in warfare in the mobile arena. "I think that companies usually get into that when they're towards the end of their life cycle or they don't have good confidence in their abilities to really compete naturally."
Although Google's acquisition of Motorola was approved by regulators in the U.S. and Europe, it remains under review by Chinese antitrust officials and the deal has yet to close. Dennis Woodside, a longtime Google executive, will head the new Motorola division inside Google, Bloomberg News has reported. Page won't elaborate on his plans for Motorola Mobility, though it's hard to imagine he wouldn't introduce Google-branded phones and tablets to help the company compete with the runaway success of Apple's elegant hardware. Existing Android tablets "are great experiences," Page insists, "but they are going to get a lot better. I think we're at the pretty early stages of this."
At the end of the conversation, Page addresses one anecdote relayed in Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography of Steve Jobs. According to a story in that book, Page called Jobs before his death, seeking advice on how to run Google. Jobs had threatened "thermonuclear war" on Google for copying elements of the iPhone, Isaacson wrote, but put aside his animosity over Android to counsel the young CEO.
Page offers a different version of those events. He says that Jobs reached out to him, not the other way around, and that when they met, in the last months of Jobs's life, the Apple founder offered useful insights into how to run a company. Page believes that Jobs's fury toward Google was not entirely genuine and was "actually for show." Asked to explain, he suggests that Jobs's apparent rage about Android was merely meant to motivate Apple employees. "For a lot of companies, it's useful for them to really feel like they have an obvious competitor and to rally around that. I personally believe it's better to shoot higher. You don't want to be looking at your competitors."
That could be a classic Silicon Valley-style distortion of reality. The man who pioneered the practice and would know for sure is gone. It's now Larry Page's world, and he'll have to work even harder than he already does to keep it that way.


text:
Pregnant ?
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
April 23, 2009, 11:32 am
Filed under: Randomness | Tags: ad, Exact, lowe, pregnant
Filed under: Randomness | Tags: ad, Exact, lowe, pregnant
Sometimes advertising goes a bit too far. I'm not particularly shocked by these next images, but I really think they are in bad taste. In an attempt to market their pregnancy test, EXACT has comissionned Lowe (ad agency) to create this campaign and have aptly labelled it "the second best way to know if you're pregnant". I suspect a viral strategy, because there is no way people are not going to be talking about this all week.
Overall ridiculous, but very intriguing and I have to say the idea itself isn't so bad. The visual representation though, is another story. It's borderline nauseating and somewhat alien.
PS: I secretly love it.
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A map of strings to a vector space that enable your app to find similar strings by looking at a string's neighbors.
- macOS 10.15+
- Xcode 11.0+
- Create ML
Use an
MLWord to configure and save a word embedding to a file, which you then add to your project in Xcode. Your project uses that word embedding file at runtime to create an
NLEmbedding instance, which finds similar strings based on the proximity of their vectors.
You configure a word embedding with a dictionary, keyed by strings which make up the vocabulary of the word embedding. The value for each string is an array of doubles, which represents a vector. The length of the arrays is arbitrary but all arrays in a word embedding must be the same length. The length of the arrays determine the number of dimensions in the vector space. For example, the following listing creates a word embedding with four dimensions and a vocabulary of two strings.
Once you've configured an
MLWord, save it to an
.mlmodel file to include in your app.
A word embedding file can efficiently store many strings and their vectors.


text:
06 Oct Livnot Global Shabbat – October 24th and 25th
Join Chevre from around the world in hosting or being a guest for this special Shabbat
On Friday 24th and Saturday 25th October, Jews from all around the world will be coming together to host a global Shabbat dinner…and we invite you to be a part of it!
We are asking all of you to either organize or participate in this incredible Global Shabbat experience in your local community. Just imagine the impact that you can have on the Jewish world if we have hundreds of our Alumni participate and even organize a Shabbat meal after the program.
We already have dozens of chevre hosting Shabbat meals across the US, Canada and Israel. If you live in one of those cities and want to be hosted for a Shabbat meal, let us know!
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Los Angeles, California
- San Francisco, California
- Berkeley, California
- Denver, Colorado
- Washington, D.C.
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
- Southwest Florida
- Chicago, Illinois
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Swampscott, Massachusetts
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Highland Park, New Jersey
- Randolph, New Jersey
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- New York City
- Bronx, New York
- Far Rockaway, New York
- Brooklyn, New York
- Great Neck, New York
- Westchester, New York
- Ithaca, New York
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Richmond, Virginia
- Seattle, Washington
- Montello, Wisconsin
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Beitar Illit, Israel
- Birya, Israel
- Efrat, Israel
- Jerusalem, Israel
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Yad Binyamin, Israel
- Yishuv Neria, Israel
- Tzfat, Israel
Even if your city is not on the list and you would like to be hosted, please let us know as we have new hosts registering each day. Our Livnot staff are at your service to help you with any organizational assistance you may need. Whether it's connecting you to other chevre in your area, finding the right venue to host or organize a meal or with planning.
You don't need to plan a big meal with lots of chevre to participate, just invite your friends or family round for a Friday night meal at your place or somewhere in the community such as a Campus Hillel or Moishe House.
Please make sure to send us pictures or videos from your get together, such as preparing food, guests arriving or lighting candles, OR write a short paragraph to send to us about your experience on the Global Shabbat!
Fill in the form below and register as either a host or a participant, and we will help connect you with chevre in your area. Or you can contact us directly by emailing [email protected] subject heading Global Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!
[Formstack id=1835441 viewkey=OPdtU7uHzi]


text:
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Sat, August 15, 2015
Lord Jesus, increase my faith and make it strong that I may never doubt your word and promise to be with me always. In every situation I face - whether trials, setbacks, or loss - may I always find joy and strength in your unfailing love and contentment in you alone. Amen.


text:
Raz-Plus resources organized into weekly content-based units and differentiated instruction options.
Descriptive (nonfiction), 32 words, Level A (Grade K), Lexile BR50L
Buttons come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. All Kinds of Buttons describes different types of buttons, using repetitive text and simple photographs, to support emergent readers. This book can also be used to teach students how to compare and contrast as well as to identify and use antonyms.
Leveled Book Lesson
Use of vocabulary lessons requires a subscription to VocabularyA-Z.com.
Reading Strategy
Visualize to understand text
Compare and Contrast : Compare and contrast
Phonological Awareness
Initial Consonants : Discriminate initial consonant /b/ sound
Consonants : Identify initial consonant Bb
Grammar and Mechanics
Capitalization : Capitalize the beginning of sentences
Word Work
Antonyms : Identify and use antonyms
Think, Collaborate, Discuss
Promote higher-order thinking for small groups or whole class
You may unsubscribe at any time.


text:
Quiz: Can you remember how today's NBA stars performed in the NCAA tournament?
These days, every NBA player has to spend at least one year in college. It might be a bummer for guys who could jump right to the NBA but it's a treat for college basketball fans, who get to see the best players in the world perform on the biggest amateur stage.
Before they became NBA stars, guys like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Dwyane Wade introduced themselves to a national audience in the NCAA tournament. Do you remember how they did in March Madness? Prove it with the quiz below.
Follow SI.com's March Madness coverage to find out which college stars in this year's tournament will go on to take the pros by storm.


text:
Important Shipping Info Click Here
Returns Guarantee
The next time you have a canyoneering adventure planned, bring along this harness. A sturdy, three-buckle design comes equipped with a removable protective seat.
This product will be shipped directly from Singing Rock and will leave their warehouse in 2-3 business days. Eligible for ground shipping only.


text:
Our new site on SmugMug is now up and running. We continue to work out some wrinkles, but the experience for visitors should be better. SmugMug made more of the site options configurable, so there's more to figure out as we manage the site. One of the features we used to have was a "visitor view" button that would allow us to see what visitors see without us having to log out of the site. In the "owner view" we can see things that visitors won't, so it can be tough to determine if a certain configuration change has the intended affect for visitors.
We hope everyone enjoys the new look and feel. Please share your reactions as you visit our site:


text:
For those to whom this comes as a surprise, following the periodic jaunts of Tim Geithner to Europe explaining just what is truly important in life, not to mention Obama's daily phone calls to Mario Monti, we feel truly sorry:
And the punchlines:
- "Obama doesn't want anything on a macroeconomic scale that is going to rock the global economy before Nov. 6," a senior EU official told
- "As far as European leaders are concerned, they don't want Romney, so they're probably willing to do anything to help Obama's chances," said the source, an EU official involved in finding solutions to the debt crisis.
One kinda wonders: just what has Obama promised a broke Europe in return? Don't answer: it's rhetorical. It's also "fair."
At least it is finally clear that the entire world's agenda is to get Obama reelected, broke Athens municipalities no longer collecting garbage, and running out of cash to pay the local Five-Oh notwithstanding.
Get ready for reality to come crashing down once the second coming is completed on November 6, and surreality is no longer needed.
Full article confirming that the entire developed world is now not only broke, but socialist as well:
An EU-IMF report into whether Greece's debt is manageable looks set to be delayed until after Nov. 6 because policymakers want to avoid any shock to the global economy before the U.S. election, EU officials and diplomats say.
The report by the 'troika' of Greece's foreign lenders -- the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund -- was expected during October, possibly before a meeting of eurozone finance ministers on Oct. 8.
The study provides the basis for decisions on whether to disburse the next tranche of aid to Athens, which may otherwise run out of money to pay wages and pensions, default on its debt and perhaps be forced to leave the euro area.
Differences inside the troika about the precise extent of Greece's debt problems, combined with political pressure to hold off for another few weeks, look likely to mean a delay until mid-November. In the meantime, Greece will be kept afloat by issuing short-term treasury bills and its banks will get access to emergency funds from the Greek central bank.
"The Obama administration doesn't want anything on a macroeconomic scale that is going to rock the global economy before Nov. 6," a senior EU official told Reuters, adding that previous troika reports had also slipped.
Several sources in Germany said top officials in Washington had made clear in numerous conversations with their German and European counterparts that they would prefer no surprises before the tightly contested election.
"It's likely the troika report will be pushed back beyond the U.S. election date," said a Berlin official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Asked if that was a special request from Washington, he replied: "They don't want any surprises."
The European Commission's spokesman on finance said on Friday the troika would take a week-long break from its work in Athens, the second time it has interrupted its mission since it began in late July, adding to expectations of a delay.
"The inspectors are expected to return to Athens in about a week," spokesman Simon O'Connor told reporters.
"As for a conclusion of the mission, I don't have any dates to share with you," he said, adding that it should be some time during October. "We can't say exactly when."
If Greece is off-target by a wide margin, as many economists predict, financial markets will react negatively, concerned that another round of debt restructuring will be required to get government finances back on a stable footing.
A negative troika report could also revive pressure to force Greece out of the single currency area with potentially devastating knock-on consequences for other European countries and the global economy.
European leaders have the same interests as the U.S. president in not destabilising markets -- their own economies have also been badly affected by the fallout from Greece, where the sovereign debt crisis began in January 2010.
But one source said EU leaders' motives went beyond macroeconomic stability. They also had political reasons to avoid rocking the boat before the U.S. election.
"As far as European leaders are concerned, they don't want Romney, so they're probably willing to do anything to help Obama's chances," said the source, an EU official involved in finding solutions to the debt crisis.
The problem for Obama is that if Europe's leaders are seen, implicitly or otherwise, to be working to bolster his reelection chances, it could provide ammunition for the Romney campaign.
European leaders have repeatedly been accused of acting too slowly and in a confused way to resolve the crisis, with a knock-on negative impact on the United States. If they are now seen to be allying with Obama, it could dent his popularity.
So dear Greeks, Spaniards, Portuguese, and all other soon to be broke nations, who are stuck not knowing if you will ever get a pension payment, if the money in your bank is safe, or if there is nobody to collect your garbage, thank the US president.
Also: buy every December VIX call option you can find cause the feces sure are gonna hit the fan once the BS is finally over and truth can no longer be delayed.


text:
I have a point in an image which I can locate by right clicking and using my mouse. Call this point $p = (100,100)$. I'd like to use ImageTake to grab an image, centered on this spot $p$ with $k = 10$ pixels above, below, to the right, and to the left of $p$. Unfortunately, it seems like ImageTake is switching coordinates on me somehow.
How might I accomplish this task?


text:
Hydropeptide Facials
Anti Gravity Facial 60 min
This relaxing, age-defying collagen boosting facial infuses the skin with a mega dose of powerful peptides, natural antioxidants and organics that visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles to immediately reveal; brighter, smoother and tighter skin.
Single Facial 60 min $110 Package of 5 $495
Pumpkin Clarity Facial 60 min
This facial will clarify, exfoliate and draw out impurities while nourishing skin with peptides, vitamins, enzymes and nutrients. Instantly activating the skin's defense mechanisms against both aging and breakouts.
Single Facial 60 min $110 Package of 5 $495
Advanced Stem Cell Resurfacing Facial 60 min
This advanced facial incorporating the power of natures own stem cells and peptides will re-energize your own skin cells, increase hydration, reduce wrinkles, firm and lift the skin. After just one treatment, skin feels smoother, looks brighter and is energized.
Single Facial 60 min $110 Package of 5 $525
HydraFacial MD®
The HydraFacial® resurfacing procedure thoroughly enhances the skin using patented Vortex Technology™ to cleanse, exfoliate, extract, and hydrate simultaneously. The procedure is soothing, moisturizing, non-irritating, and immediately effective.
Ranked above IPL for facial rejuvenation, the HydraFacial®is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that delivers instant results with no downtime.
- Suitable for all skin types
- Ranked above IPL for skin rejuvenation
- Provides non-invasive, non-surgical procedure options
- Shows immediate results without discomfort or downtime
- Targets specific skin concerns such as sun damage,
- Fine lines and wrinkles, dehydration and oily/congested skin
HydraFacial Classic 45min $140
HydraFacial w/DermaBuilder 60min $165
HydraFacial Ultimate 75min $195*
*(Includes DermaBuilder and LED photo light therapy for the Ultimate Anti-Aging treatment)
The HydraFacial with Dermabuilder is an additional infusion of a system of complex peptides that help to repair collagen and elastin proteins. Resulting in a reduction of wrinkles and fine lines, as well as improving skin tone, texture and skin firmness. Think of it as "topical Botox".
LED Light Therapy
(Red or Near IR) NuFace Microcurrent Peel or Enzyme Oxygen Hydration Mist Microdermabrasion Dermaplanning best for Hand or Chest Treatment
This special Red LED is used for treatment of acne, pore reduction, fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation issues. Near IR LED for Collagen stimulation facial toning and tightening.
The Ultimate Facial – LED Light Therapy 75 min
See the light with one of the most advanced skin technologies available today! The LED light facial is offered with one of our distinct custom facial remedies to: Firm, Brighten, Smooth and Clear.
Single LED Facial-$135 Package of 5-$575
LED Light Therapy
(Red or Near IR)
NuFace Microcurrent
Peel or Enzyme
Oxygen Hydration Mist
Hand or Chest
Bombshell Peels
Glycolic, Salicylic, TCA, Retinol and Jessner.
Progressive 30 min 1-$85 3-$225
1-2 layers. This is a light superficial peel exfoliation and great add on to a facial. Little to no peeling is to be expected.
Mid Depth 30 min $95 3-$250
3-5 layers. This is a moderate peel and light flaking and peeling will occur 3-5 days post peel.
Deep 30 min $125 3-$325
5-8 layers. Must be a current client and have had a prior peel. Moderate to full peeling will occur for up
to 7-10 days.
Body Peels
Chest & Body Peels…$25-$65
Enjoy as an add on to a facial or
as a stand alone service.
Microdermabrasion…45 min $110
Includes mini facial and mask
*Add on Peel, Oxygen or Specialty Facial ($25)
Epidermal Leveling…45 min $110
(AKA dermaplanning) includes light peel. *Add on Micro, Oxygen or
Specialty Facial ($25)


text:
#20:00 - 20:45
#Rybny Square
Ale Risorio "La Kermesse"
- country: Spain / Italy
- language: English
- duration: 45 minutes
- clown, comedy
- age: all ages
- free admission
ErnestoR, a fan of games, fairs and cha-cha cha music, travels with his surprise-filled kermesse trolley. The fortune wheel spins and the game begins. Impossible missions await the audience who will also become part of this madness. In this game, everyone is a winner and silliness has no limits!


text:
Fashion Bluetooth 3.0 Wireless Gamepad Game Remote Controller Joystick MOCUTE For Android Smart Phone TV box PC TV games
Specifications : Single : 110*65*20mm
Packing : 155*75*45MM
Weight: Single : 20G
Packing :Mao :13KG, Net :12KG
Product Description
Multifunction Wireless Bluetooth V3.0 Joystick Gamepad / Controller
Support Android 3.2 or above system devices
Compatible with Android smartphone, TV Box, PC etc.
Download supportive games (Android system without root), mobile phone connects directly without root, without having to install drivers or set up the key mapping
Small and light, easily fits in your pocket or on key ring.
Bluetooth wireless transmission can be operated within 10 meters
There are no reviews yet.


text:
Our Unique Process for Estate Planning and Asset Protection
At Dennis Sullivan and Associates we help clients meet their goals and objectives through a unique process that combines both education and counseling. The process begins with educational Trust and Asset Protection Workshops.
19-Point Analysis
We will even provide a unique 19-point analysis of your existing plan, if you have one. Our unique 19-Point Trust, Estate and Asset Protection analysis provides you with the ability to identify and fix hidden mistakes in existing planning. If you do not have a plan, we will help you develop a plan based on your personal goals and objectives.
In our experience, we often find more than 9 mistakes! Research shows that 86% of trusts and estate plans are outdated. The reason for this is that many estate plans focus on what happens when you die, instead of how to protect your home, spouse and life savings while you're alive.
We don't just create trust documents. Most important we help people discover, review and analyze estate plans to make sure that your existing plan provides you with peace of mind and the level of protection that you would like for you and your family.


text: Abandonment rates slowed down during the economic boom, which is now coming to an end [Philippa H Stewart] Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia - Most of the children at the Lotus Children's Centre, an orphanage located away from the dust and noise of the big city, have no idea how long they've been here. Sitting on the steps outside their classroom overlooking the countryside that separates the children's centre from Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar, four boys aged between seven and 11 all shrug when asked how old they were when they arrived. "I don't remember," seven-year-old Otgonbayar told Al Jazeera. "I have been here a long time, since I can remember. I don't know what happened to my family, I don't know anything about them." Previously children's rights have been very vague, there was no such concept. - Tumurkhuyag Enkhtaivan, National Authority for Children Little is known of the backgrounds of most of the 80 children in the orphanage. Many were abandoned at birth, sometimes in hospitals, but often at bus stops or on the side of the road. About 18 children are new to Lotus. Before they lived in an orphanage run by Catholic nuns that was closed down after disputes with the government. They have the same answers as Otgonbayar when asked about their past, but speak French instead - a language learned from the nuns who used to look after them. "When the orphanage closed, some of my friends went back to their families," said Batbayar, 11, who has stunted height caused by a lack of care when he was an infant. "I can't go back, but it is good here. We go to school and there is the river and the grass." Abandonment Orphanage founder and director Didi Kalika told Al Jazeera when she arrived in Mongolia 21-years ago, economic instability and alcoholism among adults were major factors leading to the abandonment their children. Definitive figures on the number of abandoned children are difficult to come by. Child rights advocates have said previously that thousands had been deserted by parents or orphaned in Mongolia, a northern Asian nation of nearly three million people. Before the economic boom from mining in the early 2000s, children were often left to fend for themselves, or rounded up and put in prison cells. The situation has improved dramatically thanks to the work of NGOs and new government initiatives such as the opening of a temporary children's shelter last year. However, kids with mental or health disabilities often fall through the gaps with no structures in place to help them, and few education options available, Kalika said. "The abandonment has slowed down quite a bit as the economy has improved. When they had this mining boom, they [the government] did give money to families who had children and that has improved the situation somewhat," Kalika said. "The mineral wealth payment meant a lot of people started looking after their kids who weren't before. Also, when the economy was up, companies invested in us." As Mongolia's economy grinds to a halt , orphanages such as Lotus are concerned abandonment rates will spike again. The lack of government social workers and nation-wide infrastructure to support abandoned, orphaned, and abused children means that often orphanages are put under pressure to provide care for families as well. "A lot of the time they want us to do things with the kids and their families - like follow up if we send the kids home and deal with the families. It is too much because I already have 80 kids. The government do expect a lot of us without offering financial support," said Kalika. "We need to deal with the kids here, we can't deal with families on the edge. We end up giving them food items and support to make sure they still look after the children once they go back home. Kalika said, however, the government has imposed greater regulations to ensure the safety of children. "Before no one was doing anything and the NGOs stepped in ... Now we have to go through quite a few authorities to accept kids and we do get a number of inspections, so some of it is going in the right direction - I wouldn't say all of it." No protection law A major issue surrounding child protection in Mongolia is the lack of any law ensuring the rights of children. NGOs have been working to try to redress this, but the legislation is continually hitting delays in Mongolia's parliament. World Vision, a Christian charity operating in Mongolia, is one of many NGOs working in the sphere of child protection. The charity is working on implementing a system of "mapping" all Mongolia's children, to make sure they are given follow up care. Tansgmaa Tsog, public engagement manager from World Vision Mongolia, told Al Jazeera the lack of progress on the protection law was "frustrating", but the key issue is bringing child abuse into the open. "For me it looks like there is a lot of family violence, but it is under shadows. It is kept in the family and it is not appearing in public, and we don't know how much it is happening. RELATED: Mongolia's mines threaten herding "We have set up a free child [help] line, so children can report abuse, and we are trying to develop the mapping system so there is a process in place if a child is the victim of abuse." Because of the lack of a legal framework, however, charities such as World Vision are reliant on individual communities to step in and protect a child and make the abuse known. Sometimes, in a bid to highlight issues, children's images have been shared on social media by caseworkers and others involved. "Someone who was working on that case revealed what had happened [on social media] and it came to public attention and caused a lot of outrage. Now incidents like this can be better prevented," said World Vision in Mongolia's communications manager Enkhbold Byambjav. "It is a double-edged sword - you have to be very careful about what's being posted. It could be done for the good of the public, but it might give the wrong idea to the wrong people." 'Urgent' need for law The only government agency concerning children is the National Authority for Children, which advises on policy rather than implementing it. Deputy director Tumurkhuyag Enkhtaivan told Al Jazeera the NGOs were relied upon to provide services while the authority tried to push policies through government. She said she hoped a child protection law would be passed in 2015. "Previously children's rights have been very vague, there was no such concept. In the new law, children's rights will be specifically mentioned," said Enkhtaivan. Parents and police will also need to play active roles once clear laws are established, Enkhtaivan added. "We need to show parents they have a responsibility to their children. The passing of the law is urgent," Enkhtaivan said. "We have to align all the laws and make sure that if a child is involved in crime, the police look at whether it is a form of child abuse and considers the rights of the child." Names of children quoted in this story have been changed to protect their privacy Follow Philippa H Stewart on Twitter: @Flip_Stewart ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philippa H Stewart Human Rights Mongolia Asia Pacific Child rights


text:
The distribution of target ownership and the division of gains in successful takeovers
Article Abstract:
This paper presents evidence that the distribution of target ownership is related to the division of the takeover gain between the target and the bidder for a sample of successful tender offers. In the whole sample, the target's gain is negatively related to bidder and institutional ownership. In the sample of multiple-bidder contests, the target's gain increases with managerial ownership and falls with institutional ownership. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.)
Publication Name: Journal of Finance
Subject: Business
Year: 1990
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Wealth destruction on a massive scale? A study on acquiring-firm returns in the recent merger wave
Article Abstract:
A study is conducted to find out the effect of acquisitions on the returns of acquiring-firm shareholders.
Publication Name: Journal of Finance
Subject: Business
Year: 2005
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
- Abstracts: Making acquisitions work. Leadership passages: being part of an acquisition or merger. Doubling in size, post-merger, SBC learned to consolidate functions quickly and effectively
- Abstracts: The antecedents of consumer expectations of services: an empirical study across four industries. Preventing or fixing a problem: a marketing manager's dilemma revisited
- Abstracts: An investigation of market microstructure impacts on event study returns. New findings regarding day-of-the-week returns over trading and non-trading periods: a note
- Abstracts: Assessing specification errors in stochastic discount factor models. An investigation of commodity futures prices using the consumption-based intertemporal capital asset pricing model
- Abstracts: The arbitrage pricing theory and supershares. The effects of different taxes on risky any risk-free investment and on the cost of capital


text: Leading European Tour stars confirmed for RACV Gold Coast Challenge Less than a month out, tournament organisers of the RACV Gold Coast Challenge have received a huge boost with Ladies European Tour stars Aditi Ashok and Florentyna Parker confirming their entry into the tournament. Eighteen-year-old Ashok is coming off a superb rookie season on the Ladies European Tour in 2016, which saw her win two tournaments (Hero Women's Indian Open and the Qatar Ladies Open), represent India at the Rio Olympic Games, capture the LET Rookie of the year award and finish 2nd on the LET Order of Merit. Ashok finished off her superb season at USLPGA qualifying school, finishing in 24th place and securing a conditional card for the 2017 LPGA Tour.For those who had been following the teen sensation from Bangalore as an amateur her success in the professional ranks in 2016 had come as no surprise. From the moment the youngster won the 2013 Asia Pacific Junior Championship as a 14 year old she was on the golfing radar, progressing through the amateur ranks to represent India at the Espirito Santo Trophy in 2012 and 2014, before her final year as an amateur in 2015 which saw her capture the prestigious St Rule Trophy at St Andrews, the Southern India Ladies & Junior Girls Championship, the Ladies' British Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the Thailand Amateur Championship. Ashok turned professional in late 2015, and made history be becoming the youngest and first Indian to win the LET Lalla Aicha Tour School and therefore secure her Ladies European Tour card for the 2016 season. This win also made her the youngest winner of a Qualifying School for any international tour.The talented youngster made her professional debut here in Australia at the 2016 Oates Victorian Open. Englishwoman Florentyna Parker is also coming off a stellar 2016 season on the Ladies European Tour. The 27-year-old, who was born in Germany to English parents finished 3rd on the LET Order of Merit in 2016 and has been a model of consistency throughout her 8-year career on the Ladies European Tour.She finished second in the LET 'Rookie of the Year' race in 2009, with her maiden win coming the following season at the ABN AMRO Dutch Open. The next 3 seasons saw the Englishwoman record twenty top 20 finishes, before her second LET victory finally came at the Italian Ladies Open in Perugia in 2014. Parker secured the win with an 'albatross' during her final round, the first ever to be recorded in Ladies European Tour history.While Parker was disappointed not to add another victory to her resume in 2016, her consistency once again shone through as she bagged 8 top 10 finishes. She finished 2nd at both the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in May and the Lacoste Ladies French Open in September and finished the season in style with a 3rd place finish at the Dubai Ladies Masters.Parker has shown a liking for RACV Royal Pines in the past, finishing 2nd in 2015 and then T12th in 2016 on the redesigned Graham Marsh layout. Ashok and Parker will join a high-quality field in 2017, already confirmed are former world number one's Jiyai Shin and Laura Davies, along with Aussie stars Katherine Kirk, Sarah-Jane Smith, Rebecca Artis, Sarah Kemp and Stacey Keating. For more information go to https://alpg.com.au/gcc Follow ALPG on Twitter @ALPGTour Instagram alpgtour and Facebook Australian Ladies Professional Golf


text:
Sorry, this product is temporarily unavailable or out of season
Surprise friends, family or colleagues with our easy-to-maintain Bejeweled string of pearls plant, a unique and attractive succulent with leaves that resemble little peas! Sure to be a real conversation starter, it arrives in a concrete pot that gives it a fun, urban vibe.
Approximate Dimensions:
Width: 15cm
Height: 12cm
Customers who recently bought Bejeweled String Of Pearls said:
My daughter loved her plant and I would definitely use Plants across Melbourne again. Also great communication they informed me when the plant had been delivered.
Terry, 24 August 2018


text:
Santa Barbara Wine Tour – Wine Shuttle
If you want to explore the breadth and diversity that Santa Barbara and the Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country have to offer without the restrictions of specified tastings and lunch, our wine shuttle service is the most economic option out of all of the Santa Barbara wine tours. Pick up and drop off from a selection of wineries and other points of interest – you decide! At only $89 per person, you'll also enjoy special access to a variety of winery specials, from discounted award winning truffle boxes for the perfect wine pairing to tasting discounts.
Included in your $89 price on this Santa Barbara Wine Country Shuttle
- Shuttle pick up from your hotel or private accommodations in Santa Barbara or Santa Ynez Valley
- Pick up and drop off from a selection of wineries and other points of interest
- Special access to a variety of winery discounts
- A friendly and knowledgeable guide
- Discussion on winemaking and historical insights
The shuttle service gives you the freedom to pick from a selection of some of our favorite partners in Santa Barbara Wine Country and the Valley, allowing you to skip tastings you don't want, explore a brevity of lunch options in the quaint town of Los Olivos, focus on specific varietals or even enjoy an olive oil tasting stop! Better yet, you'll still enjoy discussion of local history and gain insights into the Santa Ynez wine region along the way with our knowledgeable guides as you would on a Santa Barbara wine tour. This is also a great option for guests who are already wine club members who enjoy free tastings but prefer the stress free option of letting someone else take the wheel! Tasting prices are not included in the shuttle.
Pricing: $89 per person
Outline of the Day
Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours selects some of most unique wineries in the region. Each venue provides an experience that sets it apart from the next, whether it is it's beautiful outdoor space, knowledgeable pourer, or award-winning varietal. This is the best of Santa Barbara wine country. We work with a variety of vintners, all with bottles to please each palate. There is also opportunity to stop for an olive oil tasting.
Stop 1:
Once you arrive in the Valley, you'll have the choice of one of the following wineries for your first stop:
- Andrew Murray Vineyards
- Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard
- Firestone Vineyard
Stop 2:
- Los Olivos Tasting Rooms and Lunch Stop
Located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, the charming historic town of Los Olivos is home to most of the wineries we visit on our tours. Boasting expansive views of Santa Barbara Wine County's vineyards and horse ranches, Los Olivos is noted for its love of the arts, wine tasting opportunities, unique shopping, epicurean restaurants, fun festivals, antiques, recreational landscapes, and friendly residents found throughout the village. We like to give our guests some time to explore what this beautiful town has to offer. There are about 25 tastings rooms in town you can visit. Three of our favorites in Santa Barbara Wine Country are Dragonette Cellars, Epiphany Winery & Sarloos & Sons.
Guests may opt to bring their own lunch or enjoy one of the many great options in town including gourmet deli sandwiches, incredible tri-tip specials & above average pub fare, to name a few.
Stop 3:
For your final stop, you'll have the choice of one of the following wineries:
- Brander Vineyard
- Vincent Vineyards
- Roblar Winery
There is also an optional olive oil tasting stop at Rancho Olivos Artisan Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Some Santa Barbara wine tours have dates not available for online reservations. Please call for more dates and options. 2 person minimum, tour may be canceled if less than 2 people book on any date.
(805) 965-1414 or toll free (877) 884-9283.


text:
Guilty Pleasure
William Bolcom discusses Milhaud with George Loomis (from May 2015)
From almost the time Il barbiere di Siviglia first appeared in Rome in 1816, composers have been tempted to write an opera that would continue the story begun by Rossini\'s classic work and continued by Mozart\'s Le nozze di Figaro. Indeed, many have succeeded in doing so, resulting in numerous possibilities for completing an operatic trilogy based on Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais\'s Figaro plays. Some of these operas are actually quite good, and at least two of them have been performed with success in recent years: John Corigliano\'s The Ghosts of Versailles, seen first at the Metropolitan Opera in 1991 and in numerous revivals, and Mercadante\'s I due Figaro from 1826, which received its first modern performance at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival in 2011, conducted by Riccardo Muti.
Of course, it would need a miracle for an opera to come along worthy of taking its place as the fully-fledged equal of Barber and Figaro, yet it is surprising that there have not been more attempts to produce integral stagings of these two operas together with a carefully chosen third, with consistent sets and singers. The problem of finding a successor to the two classic works, however, is not unlike that experienced by Beaumarchais himself, who only late in life got around to writing his third Figaro play, La Mère coupable, after other playwrights had written Figaro plays of their own.
Easily the weakest of the three plays, La Mère coupable ('The Guilty Mother\') suffers from an abundance of action to little purpose and a lack of psychological depth. It is small wonder that most composers of Figaro sequels have produced works that either ignore Mère coupable (I due Figaro) or merely borrow details (The Ghosts of Versailles) and that, in each case, have librettos that essentially strike out on their own. Although its plot goes off in fanciful directions, The Ghosts of Versailles does include the three new principal characters introduced by Mère coupable, which picks up a generation after Figaro leaves off: Léon, the Countess\'s son by Cherubino (who does not appear in Mère coupable, having been killed in battle); Florestine, an illegitimate daughter of the Count; and Begearss, an Irishman who schemes against the Count in the manner of a Tartuffe. (The play\'s subtitle is The Other Tartuffe.)
Darius Milhaud is by far the best known of the few composers who remained faithful to Beaumarchais and made an opera out of Mère coupable. In his case, the project was suggested by Guido Valcarenghi, the head of Ricordi (which in due course published a vocal score). Milhaud, perhaps impulsively, agreed to the idea, but was aware of the play\'s defects. He called it 'an endless play in five acts, with a lot of repetition\', adding, perhaps as a bit of wishful thinking, 'But bad plays often make good librettos\'. His wife, Madeleine, who had written the librettos for two other of his operas, prepared the French-language libretto essentially by condensing Beaumarchais\'s play. The resulting work, also called La Mère coupable, received its premiere at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva in 1966 with a cast that included Phyllis Curtin as the Countess and Louis Quilico as the Count; Serge Baudo conducted. It was not a success. The Milhaud scholar Jeremy Drake has called La Mère coupable the 'one real operatic failure\' of Milhaud\'s career, which included 15 other operas. Drake describes it as 'full of bustle and commotion and very little inspiration\'.
Although the New York Times published a favourable report of the premiere, the opera\'s scant performing history means that there is little received wisdom otherwise about its merits or lack thereof. Accordingly, when he commissioned me to write this article the Editor had the idea of seeking out the opinion of the composer William Bolcom, who was once a student of Milhaud\'s and remains a champion of his work. 'When he was good, he was very, very good,\' Bolcom said of Milhaud\'s music, talking by phone from his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 'and when he was bad, he wasn\'t all that bad.\' Recently, Bolcom was the force behind a concert performance of Milhaud\'s L\'Orestie d\'Eschyle, a grand work-part opera, part incidental music-written in conjunction with Milhaud\'s frequent collaborator, Paul Claudel. The performance, given at the University of Michigan, where Bolcom taught for 35 years, was issued on disc by Naxos and received a Grammy nomination (see January 2015, pp. 106-7). 'Milhaud considered it his magnum opus,\' said Bolcom. 'The last 20 minutes will knock your socks off.\'
Bolcom first came into contact with Milhaud in 1957 as a student at Aspen during the summer before his senior year at the University of Washington. At the time Milhaud was on the faculty of Mills College in Oakland, California, where he had taught since his arrival in the United States. Milhaud, who was Jewish, emigrated to the United States after the fall of France in 1940 and, in fact, received the offer to teach at Mills by telegram during the ocean voyage. The favourable impression Bolcom formed of Milhaud at Aspen proved decisive in Bolcom\'s choice of graduate schools. It was either Yale, where he would study with Hindemith, or Mills-and Mills won out. 'I liked Milhaud personally and felt he liked me; I didn\'t know Hindemith and had heard he was tyrannical as a teacher. Milhaud was probably a little wilder, less predictable.\' The choice proved especially fortunate, Bolcom said, because, unbeknown to him, Hindemith had already left Yale and returned to Germany.
Bolcom says that as a teacher Milhaud was 'open to any aesthetic and wanted people to be exposed to everything\'. He commented further in a 1977 article in Musical Newsletter, 'Reminiscences of Darius Milhaud\': 'To me, the proof that Milhaud was a good teacher was that I could shed his advice as often as I took it.\' The emphasis was on 'how the sound was manipulated, how the instrumental colours came out, the use of rhythm and tessitura. When we studied a work, we emerged with a greater sense of the grand design of the piece than of the welter of detail recent musical analysis has concentrated on.\' After the war, Milhaud returned to France as a professor at the Paris Conservatoire, spending alternate academic years there and at Mills. In 1959 Milhaud opened new horizons to Bolcom by inviting him to Paris, where he continued his education as a student at the Conservatoire for two years. Bolcom remained in touch with Milhaud for the remainder of the latter\'s life.
The idea of eliciting Bolcom\'s thoughts on Mère coupable initially appeared to have one significant drawback: he didn\'t know a note of it. But out of curiosity and a gracious desire to oblige, he obtained the vocal score and the only available recording-a private one of the premiere, in poor sound and with gaps-and familiarized himself with it. 'Yes,\' he says, 'it is very talky and uniform in texture\'; but there is a positive side to that. 'It\'s fun to look at it as a piece for the stage. It moves around like a chatty play, like something by Noël Coward. It reaches climaxes and moves right on. The downside is that it never stops long enough for you to savour. The first act is the strongest, but the others could be better than I think. Overall, it shows good theatrical sense and the prosody is terrific. Madeleine, who had a very dry sense of humour, did an excellent job of putting the libretto together.\'
Bolcom agrees that the plot is difficult to follow, not least as regards the relationship between the young lovers Léon and Florestine. At first, in the belief that Léon is the son of the Count and the Countess and that Florestine is an adopted orphan, the two hope to marry. Then Begearss reveals that Florestine is the Count\'s daughter (which would make the couple half-siblings) and obtains the Count\'s permission to marry her himself. Finally, it becomes known that Cherubino, and not the Count, was Léon\'s father, so that the couple do not have the same father after all. This not only means that they can marry, but it sets the stage for a Figaro-like forgiveness scene. This time, however, the forgiveness is for mutual transgressions, which helps to explain the title. Beaumarchais could have called his play The Guilty Couple, but presumably everyone assumed the Count would continue his philandering. 'His name, Almaviva-lively soul-pretty much tells you he\'s a womanizer,\' says Bolcom. In contrast, the Countess\'s extramarital fling, which she came to regret, was something new and, therefore, worthy of supplying the title. In a subplot, Begearss schemes to cheat the Count financially but is thwarted by Figaro.
As for the music, Bolcom concurs in the view that there is a lack of variety. 'Open any page and the music will be very much the same. Milhaud\'s opera David has a lot more variety and even includes, just for his own amusement, a tone row he derived from the Commendatore\'s music in the final scene of Don Giovanni. But there is something wearing about Milhaud\'s music from the 1960s-he was in a lot of pain when he wrote the opera.\' (Milhaud suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for most of his adult life.) 'But he kept on writing right up until he died-over 400 opus numbers. He used to joke about being lazy because he was old by the time he\'d written as much as Mozart and Schubert. There is something very 18th-century about Milhaud\'s music, the kind of balance of music and text that you find in Mozart.\'
Bolcom also comments on the many short arias embedded in the score. 'They\'re definitely there, but I wish they were more clearly defined. So many composers think they need to write continuously, but it\'s hard to write that way.\' Listeners may also find Milhaud\'s harmonic vocabulary challenging, but polytonality was apparently in his bones. Bolcom says that as a conservatory student, Milhaud was 'thrown out of his harmony class because he kept screwing around with polytonality. He just couldn\'t handle doing exercises straight.
'Milhaud was truly French when people thought German music was greater than French,\' says Bolcom, but his Frenchness didn\'t prevent Milhaud from being criticized by Boulez. 'Boulez knocked everybody. He said he wanted to blow up opera houses but a few years later he was conducting at Bayreuth.\' Similarly, 'Robert Craft forbade Stravinsky from seeing Milhaud because he wasn\'t a 12-tonist, but Stravinsky would sneak out to see him anyway. Milhaud introduced me to Boulez, who has always treated me nicely. Boulez was critical of Milhaud\'s music but respected him as a man. As for me, I never really heard a bad piece by Milhaud.\'


text:
The Photographer's Irresistible Model
Hattie Bell is beautiful, brilliant and bigger than your average plus-sized model. For top fashion photographer Tom Metcalfe, Hattie is the muse he needs to help him break into the art world.
Working with Hattie is going to send his career rising into the stratosphere.
Falling in love with Hattie is going to bring his life crashing down around his feet.
The Photographer's Irresistible Model is a 40,000 word novella previously sold as Flirting with the Camera.
The last of the models pulled on her jacket, slung her satchel over her shoulder and grunted in response to Tom's automatic, 'I'll be in touch.'
It would be a no. He'd seen more than enough six-foot-tall sulky teenagers to know that wasn't what he needed for this shoot. They might appear fragile with their stick-thin limbs and barely-formed features, but their eyes were hard as nails. They had to be, to survive in the fashion industry. Not all of them survived, of course.
He cut that thought off before it could take hold. Today wasn't about Lianne. Today was about moving on. After fifteen years photographing girls who got younger and thinner each season, Tom Metcalfe knew exactly how to find the provocative glint in the eye of the dullest coat-hanger of a model. But this wasn't a fashion shoot. He wasn't taking pictures to sell clothes, or perfume, or make-up, or any other overpriced and unnecessary frippery. This time he was selling himself. His own vision of the world. He had no idea whether anyone would want to buy it.
The gallery for his first exhibition was already booked. Most of his portfolio was ready, but there was something missing. Initially, he had decided not to include any portraits. Everyone already knew he could shoot women. Where was the challenge in that? But when he had shown the preliminary portfolio to the gallery owner, she had skimmed through it and shaken her head.
'It's too pretty.'
'Shallow. Decorative. Pretty. But there's nothing of you in here, Tom. You can't just be a spectator, dispassionately observing pretty bits of the world. Not for this kind of show.'
As soon as she said it, he knew she was right. He needed more depth, more emotion. For him, that meant people. Faces hiding feelings. Eyes telling stories.
That was the reason Tom preferred to be the spectator. He stayed behind the camera while the attention was on the girls in shot, and that was how he liked it. No one ever interviewed the photographer, asking awkward questions or intruding into matters he would much rather keep hidden. No one could see into his eyes and find out what he really was.There was no way he would be taking any self-portraits for his exhibition, but the world he was trying to portray needed to be more than pretty and shallow. It needed to show depth. Complexity. Humanity.
For that, he needed a model. He had to find someone with that depth and complexity in a way he could capture in a photograph. He'd advertised an open casting, hoping to find someone a bit different from the girls he usually worked with, but none of the models who'd turned up had caught his eye.
'Am I too late?'
The woman who was leaning against the door of his studio was more than a bit different. Bright, dyed-red hair, heavy dark make-up, a scarlet jacket that swirled out around her hips. She grinned at him, her blue eyes twinkling in a way that made him suspect she wore coloured contact lenses.
'I had to leave work early, but I still missed the bus. Isn't it odd how the one you miss is always exactly on time, while the one you have to wait for is always running late?'
Tom nodded, though she didn't pause long enough for him to speak. He watched her instead. She had a natural grace to her movements and a charm that would be a fun challenge to capture in her face. He'd take close-ups to catch the depth of expression in her eyes and the allure of that wide, mobile mouth.
'Anyway,' she said, 'I'm Hattie Bell and I'm here about the modelling job. You said you were looking for someone out of the ordinary, so I thought it was worth a shot. You wouldn't believe the amount of castings I've been to where they wouldn't even let me through the door. And the samples!' She threw up her hands in horror. 'Made to fit a Barbie doll. No, that's not right. Barbie dolls have breasts and hips. So do I.' She gestured at her body.
'I can see that.' She had them in abundance, along with thighs, stomach and bum, in a gloriously voluptuous shape that invited further exploration. More than that, she had presence. Personality by the bucket load. He couldn't tear his eyes away.
'So, what do you think?' Hattie gave him a twirl. 'Have you already found someone? You have, haven't you? Oh, well.' She made as if to leave, disappointment written all over her expressive face.
'I haven't found anyone. Yet.' He'd found her the moment Hattie had appeared at the studio door. But the cautious, professional side of him insisted that he needed to take her through the audition first, just to make sure. He hadn't even seen her through the camera lens. He had to check that what he saw he could recreate for others.
'Really? Well, great.' She grinned at him and took off her jacket. 'Where do you want me?'
Tom picked up his small camera and pointed to the backdrop. 'This is just a test. To see how you look on film. Relax. Smile. Move around. Whatever you want.'
Under her jacket, Hattie was wearing a clingy floral top and a neat black skirt. She looked comfortable in front of the camera, smiling at Tom, blowing kisses and laughing as she posed in traditional – and some not-so-traditional – ways. He took shot after shot, entranced by her total lack of self-consciousness and her evident delight in the process.
Sex, he realised suddenly. That was what made her different. Hattie was sexy. She wasn't a faux-innocent teenage Lolita. She was a grown woman; she was in tune with her body, and she was intensely sexy with it.
'Turn your back to me and look over your shoulder,' he suggested. 'Yes, like that. Smile.'
She did more than smile. She winked. Then she laughed and tossed her head back, sending that extraordinary hair flying. Without thinking, Tom dropped his hand so that he could watch her without the filter of the lens. She was gorgeous. Sexy and alluring and incredibly sensual.
What would she be like in bed?
Come-to-bed eyes were such a cliché, and yet there was no other way to describe Hattie's expression. She would only have to crook her finger and Tom would be there, kissing those luscious lips, ripping away her clothes, revelling in the generous curves of her body. It was clear that Hattie enjoyed sex as much as she was enjoying modelling for him now.
'Are you just going to watch, or do you want to take more photos?' Hattie confronted him with her hands on her hips. Tom stared down at the camera in his hand.
He swallowed, finding his mouth unexpectedly dry. 'I, um, I need to find a new memory card.'
He turned back to his case, searching for the unnecessary memory card, while he took a moment to compose himself.
'No problem. You know, if you've already decided you don't want me, you only have to say so. No point wasting both our time.'
He fitted the new card and stood up. 'I want you.' He deliberately kept his voice calm. He wanted her more than he was prepared to admit.
'Really?' A huge smile spread over Hattie's incredibly expressive face.
'Really.' Tom nodded. She wasn't what he'd had in mind. She was better. Different, interesting, intelligent, unexpected. He would never have found her on a fashion shoot, but for what he was planning, Hattie was ideal.
She threw her arms around him. 'Thank you! I was beginning to think no one would ever give me a chance. I mean, look at me.' Hattie stepped back and waited until Tom did as she instructed. 'Do I look like I should be working in an office all day?'
'No, you don't.' Tom had limited experience of working in an office, but he couldn't imagine colourful, vibrant Hattie in that kind of bland environment any more than he could stand it himself.
'Exactly. I always knew I should be in front of a camera. But I can't act to save my life. Or sing. So it had to be modelling.'
'Right.' He knew he was shaking his head. Her logic was incomprehensible.
'I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I don't have the figure for modelling.'
'You could do plus-size modelling,' he offered.
She shook her head. 'Those castings I told you about? They were all for so-called plus-size models. When the fashion people say plus-size, they mean average in the real world. I'm too fat.'
Tom didn't bother to contradict her. None of the plus-size models he'd worked with had breasts like Hattie's. They didn't have double chins, either, or fat which spilled over the top of their skirts. On the other hand, none of them had ever fizzed with energy the way Hattie did. And none of them had ever made him want to break through the invisible barrier of the camera lens to touch them. But now his fingers were curled into fists against their longing to stroke the ivory-pale skin exposed by the deep 'V' of Hattie's neckline. She'd be soft and warm… And just that one, relatively innocent thought was enough to make him catch his breath.
He dragged his brain back to the conversation. 'What about life modelling?' She'd make an incredible model for an artist. Renoir or Rubens would have killed to have a Hattie as their inspiration. She could have been a Venus for Botticelli, or… Oh God, Titian would have made her his Eve, an irresistible temptation of red-gold hair and creamy skin, embodying all the pleasures of the flesh.
'Done that. It's not bad, though it doesn't pay too well. I couldn't make the rent. Besides, they don't like you to talk while you're doing it and I'm not very good at keeping quiet for hours on end.'
'I can see that,' he said wryly. A chattering Venus would ruin the image.
'But I just knew that I would get a break eventually. And now I have.' She beamed at him.
'Look, Hattie.' Tom ran a hand through his hair. 'Don't get too excited. I can only offer you a few days work. A week at the most.'
'Brilliant. I've got some holiday left. Just let me know when. And with this on my CV, who knows what could come of it? I mean, you're seriously famous, right? All the girls want to have a shoot with Tom Metcalfe. Vogue, Marie-Claire, Elle…' She waved expansively. 'The sky's the limit.'
'I'll do you some portfolio shots, if you like,' said Tom. 'But this isn't going to be a fashion shoot.'
'What kind of shoot is it? The advert didn't say.'
'Art.' Tom cringed inside as he said it. The decision to expand outside his commercial work had been a hard one and he still hadn't quite got used to the idea of calling himself an artist.
'Does that mean naked?'
'No!' Tom stared at Hattie, a vision of her naked form burning itself onto his brain. 'No, it doesn't. Probably not. It just means art. In an exhibition. At a gallery.'
'Okay. But just so you know, if it did mean naked, that would be fine with me.'
'Right.' He took a deep breath and tried not to think of Hattie reclining on a couch, one arm flung back and the other pretending to cover her breasts but actually drawing the eye directly to them. She'd make men's jaws drop and the rest of them rise to attention. 'Right.'
'I did life modelling, remember.'
'So you did.' Tom busied himself with packing his camera gear away. He wasn't going to bother with any more shots today.
'I'm not embarrassed by my body.'
'Good to know.' None of the models Tom worked with were. At least, not after their first shoot. It was hard to hold onto any modesty when make-up artists were brushing bronzer in every crevice of your body.
'You know, you're nothing like I was expecting.'
'Uh huh.' Neither was she.
'Aren't you going to ask what I was expecting?'
'No.' The deflection came instinctively after all these years. He didn't get into conversations about himself.
Hattie laughed. 'You don't give a lot away, do you?'
'There's a reason I like to be behind the camera.'
She stepped closer, head tilted to one side, and examined him. 'I wonder if you'll ever tell me the reason, Tom Metcalfe.'
Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Smashwords
September 2013
40,000 word category romance


text:
Note: there's a giveaway AND a special announcement at the close of this post — so be sure to read to the end!
Recently, I watched the documentary film, Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic as research for a feature piece I was writing for Autism After 16, wherein I interviewed director Todd Drezner. Within minutes, his film had me captivated. The documentary explores the nature of autism, asking the tough questions: what causes autism? Is there a 'cure'? How do we best support individuals with autism, and how can we learn more about their inner worlds? Drezner includes scientific research and interviews with professionals, but what stands out most about the film are the personal stories, the interviews with parents and adults on the autism spectrum.
Specifically, I remember an interview with Sharisa Joy Kochmeister, a woman with autism who was perceived as having a very low IQ…until she had the opportunity to utilize assistive technology to communicate. Nowadays, she's an honors college grad who's self-publishing a magazine, as well as teaching, speaking, and advocating for adults on the spectrum.
In Drezner's words, "[Filming Sharisa] was very eye-opening because the difference between outside appearances and what's happening inside her is so great. Seeing such a 'low functioning' person who was actually so brilliant really brought home that some of the ways we think about autism are not fully accurate."
For example, when asked about her perception of the nature of autism, Sharisa typed a reply into her computer. Her gaze was focused, determined. In the pause between her typing and the sound of the automated voice, I felt a chill run down my spine, and my breath caught as the computer intoned her words: "Autism is a gift disguised as a dilemma."
That bold statement reminds me of my friend Miguel*, someone who has taught me about beautiful gifts hidden within terrible dilemmas. Though Miguel has a high level of medical need, he's one of the strongest people I know. And one particular experience illumined that strength for me.
I was sharing time the hospital with Miguel, something that, unfortunately, happens on a semi-regular basis. Usually, sharing time at the hospital means translating his Spanish into English for nurses, helping him to do stretches so he doesn't get bed sores, and allowing him to steal all your pens and place them in his mochila, the small, black carrying case he loves. On this day, however, sharing time meant something more.
The short, fact-based version: Miguel needed a central line put in.
The real version: Miguel's doctors told me he needed a central line. I helped them to contact his guardian, and she gave consent. When I learned that she can't be there, I suddenly realized: I'm going to be the one to help him get through this very painful procedure. True, I knew some Spanish, and I'd cared for Miguel for several years, but neither of these things seemed like enough to get us through what was about to happen. Miguel had had central lines before, but, in the words of his guardian, "It's awful. We do everything we can to avoid it."
She was right. It was awful. Within moments, Miguel knew what was coming, and he started making small, scared sounds. I stayed close, touching his hands, his forehead, whispering every reassurance and endearment I could think of. I kept saying, "Por favor, amor…no te movas." (Please, love, don't move), because even small movements on his part would dramatically increase the pain he was feeling.
The doctors were nervous; they didn't know Miguel, and they were afraid he might not allow them to put the line in. For my part, I was afraid of the same thing. Miguel needed the line, but I wasn't sure he understood that to the extent that he would allow them to insert it, and inflict a great deal of pain in the process. I wasn't sure if he'd be able to endure it. And, deep down, I wasn't sure I would be able to endure it. I saw blood on his pillow, and terror in his eyes. Part of me wanted to flee.
But a better part stayed me. A better part knew that, while I might not be the ideal candidate to help him through this, I was the one who was there, and I had to step up. I had to trust in our relationship, to trust that, despite my faltering words, my love for him would not falter. My stomach shuddered as Miguel cried out, but still, they were getting the line in. I kept saying, "Mirame." (Look at me.) Look at me, Miguel. I kept steady eye contact with him, knowing that all I could offer was my willingness to go through this pain with him. To not leave him alone and in agony.
And as I looked at him — this man who the world considers profoundly disabled — his gaze fixed on mine. Strange as it may sound, we had each other's full, focused attention, even as the procedure continued. As our eyes locked, I felt something I can hardly describe, a sensation of reality opening up in a new way. It was akin to the shiver that moved through me later on, when I heard Sharisa speak those profound words about autism. It was the experience of seeing someone the world perceives as weak, and realizing that their incredible strength was what truly defined them. (Ah, the strange benefits of being wrong!)
As I looked at Miguel, I could see that, though he felt the excruciating pain of what was happening to his body, he'd arrived at a place of surrender. He had, in some profound way, accepted his frailty, the pain, everything. (I use 'acceptance' in the most powerful sense; acceptance in the sense of being fully, fiercely, gracefully present to what is.) When he looked at me, I saw no blame, no recrimination.
Instead, I saw love. He knew that I loved him, and I could see that he'd made a choice to trust me, even in his agony. This man, who the world considers profoundly disabled, taught me about real love that day.
Have you ever experienced a 'gift disguised as a dilemma'? Tell me in the comments!
All commenters will be entered to win a free copy of the Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic DVD.
Thank you to those of you who purchased Love's Subversive Stance! I deeply appreciate your generosity.
Yours ever,


text: 20th International Week at Karelia UAS 11-15 Fabruary, 2019 Our international week is open for the teachers, lecturers, heads and international developers from our partner universities – please join us! Come and get introduced into the northern collaboration and see cases of the Barents region development meet with diverse group of colleagues, businesses, development organisations and other stake holders create new ideas for co-operation share your knowledge and your expertise gain new experiences and strengthen professional networks During the week you may enjoy Barents region seminar and joint workshops discussions and planning sessions with colleagues experiences of Finnish hospitality, nature and culture The joint programme starts on Tuesday afternoon with an opening lunch event. Wednesday is booked for collaborative meetings and Thursday for the Barents seminar and feast - join the discussions and reflections! And, of course teaching is part of the programme throughout the week. Read more and register


text:
Writing a paragraph that provides evidence for an idea?
1. Choose a topic sentence.
2. Read and collect notes using a format.
a. Page number, if applicable
b. Subject or 'doer'
c. Verb or 'does'
d. Predicate or details
E.g. Crispin complained to himself (92). Notice: the page number is in parentheses before the period.
Bear encouraged Crispin to think for himself (75)
3. Review all your notes and divide them into categories.
a. Make sure your categories relate to your topic sentence.
b. Discard any notes that do not relate to your topic sentence.
c. Notice any slight changes in the main character that might modify your topic sentence.
4. Sequence.
a. Choose a logical order for the categories.
b. Choose a logical order for the evidence in each category.
c. Number your notes in the order they will go in our paragraph.
5. Write your paragraph.
a. Indent.
b. Start with a topic sentence.
c. Stay in the same tense.
d. Write in clear, straightforward sentences.
e. Include page numbers in parentheses.
f. Avoid contractions.
g. Avoid 'you' and 'your'. You may switch to plural format.
h. Avoid addressing the reader; remain in the third person.
i. You may smoothly insert quotations.
j. You may smoothly insert transition words if they are necessary.
k. Conclude with an emotive sentence.
6. Go back and proofread.
a. Check that your paragraph has rhythm; e.g. parallel structure
b. Check that it has a logical flow.
c. Check spelling and punctuation.
d. Check that it is neatly written in blue or black ink.
e. Make sure your full name and division is in the top right hand corner.
[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2012 Sophie Rosen.]
I think King Canute was the best king in early England. First of all, he protected his people and didn't flee to France like King Ethelred. Secondly, he brought peace and had a very huge empire. Thirdly, he wasn't as cruel as William who cut off hands and feet and was a bully. Fourthly, he wasn't as hated by people, unlike William and Edward. Fifthly, he made marketplaces and more towns. Finally, King Canute was the best king in early England because he chose the greatest nobles in the land and made them "earls," and he conquered Norway and Greenland. In conclusion, there is no doubt King Canute was the best king in early England. (Da Eun)
Bear wants to change the society in which he lives. He has joined a group of people trying to make life better for people in England (137). He wants everyone to enjoy freedom (138). He explains to Crispin that he is travelling around England so that he can gather information about the problems people are facing (139). Bear, a good man, wants to improve conditions for the poor people in his society.
Crispin changes because of meeting Bear. There is much evidence that proves it. First of all, Crispin becomes more cheerful. Bear's words makes Crispin grin:"'… I promise, it shall bring us pennies of plenty and we shall prosper greatly!'"(125). Secondly, Crispin talks more, and asks more questions. For example,"'… can you read what it says?'" Crispin asks when Bear is looking the words on the cross (134). Furthermore, "'… do you know where you are going?'" Crispin says to Bear when Bear and Crispin move without speaking. Thirdly, he makes some choices and decisions for himself and takes more control: "… Perhaps it was time for me to make the decision for myself" Crispin tells himself when he tries to ask God whether he should trust Bear or not. Then, "… the decision would be mine" Crispin says as he chooses to trust Bear (157). Fourthly, Crispin becomes cleaner than before: "'… are you different?'" Bear asks after cutting Crispin's hair (119). He adds, "'…that was only water and blade…think…if you were cleansed of thirteen years of dirt, neglect, and servitude'" (119). Moreover, Crispin is getting much more knowledge about his own history. He figures out the meaning of the words on his cross and soon realizes they are important to him (135). All this shows that Crispin is changing because of meeting Bear. (Ina)
Crispin is becoming a more observant person. As Bear and Crispin are sitting in the Widow Daventry's Inn, Crispin breaks the news to Bear. Earlier in the morning, Crispin wakes up and sits on the steps to remain unnoticed (213). A young man walks into the Inn and searches around and leaves. Crispin recognizes him as the guy from the first village they performed in (214). Later after Bear wakes up, Crispin tells Bear about what is going on, "I think someone is spying on us." "Explain yourself," Bear replies. Crispin tell him about the guy that came into the Inn and that he recognizes him as the one eyed guy (221). As Bear is leaving the Inn, the one eyed guy and a man dressed in blue and gold ivory follow him to the shoe shop where Bear is going to meet John Ball (225). Then Aycliffe and the other men go toward the store and Crispin runs quickly in the back door and tries to warn Bear that they are coming before it is too late (231). Crispin is becoming more of observant which is good because he is trying to protect himself and Bear. (Kendra)
Evidentiary Paragraph
by _____________________ _____
___ name, div, date
___ double-space
___ indent
___ topic sentence
___ 5+ evidentiary sentences
___ concluding sentence
___ excellent conventions
___ smooth flow
___ literary techniques
___ quotations
___ deep thinking
___ beautiful presentation
You produced ____ star work.


text:
The Asanas
Cotton Yoga Blanket Rose
Our popular natural yoga blankets are sold out & available for Pre-Order. Your order will be shipped out the 30. November
Made from 100% organic cotton
FREE Express Shipping Worldwide for all orders over $100. Otherwise, the shipping fee is $10.
The Asanas is located in Norway, so please be aware that VAT and customs charges may be added when importing into your country.
We use DHL EXPRESS for a fast and reliable shipping service to your door in 2-5 days
*Any orders placed during weekends, special promotions and during holidays or periods of very high order quantities may take additional processing time due to increased order volume.
You can easily return your products up to 14 days after receiving your order.
*Please note that we do not ship to PO boxes, only private and/or business addresses.
Read more about our shipping and returns here.


text: The DI Teams have voted to hold a special election for the NCBA Rules Committee D1 Team Representative Position. This is a one year term which will require the elected D1 Teams Rep to travel to Pittsburgh for the Annual Rules Committee Meeting in the Summer. The D1 Rules Rep will gather rule suggestions from D1 Teams during the course of the year and present them on behalf of the D1 teams to the rest of the Rules Committee for vote. Anyone can run for the position, so if you are interested in running, please fill out the D1 Rules Rep Candidate Form. To be considered, this needs to be completed and sent to email@example.com by Sunday, November 18th at 11:59pm EST.


text:
- Dating Tips
- Make Your Top 25 List Profile Writing Tips Top 10 Photo Dos Profile Photo Donts Asking Questions Dating Excuses Men 1st Dating Tips Ending Relationships
Show me locale matches
Main info
- I am a:
- Man
- Age:
- 49
- Star sign:
- Leo
- Country:
- United States of America
- region
- Arkansas
- City:
- Blytheville
Seeking a
- gender
- Woman
- Age:
- 30 - 43
- Country:
- United States of America
- Region:
- —
- City:
- —
About me
I will tell you something that is so true I'm often asked how can someone like you be single and you're handsome too I will look them straight in the eye as I start to answer why. I choose to be single in tell that right one walk by and catches my eye and me hoping as I make my way towards her with a wide leg stride that her mind is not messed up with drama inside because I want her to receive me as I come to her respectfully being a gentleman as only a man should be thinking positively that there could be a future for us from the dawn of our days till we are dust filled with Honor respect love and trust because those are the things I want for us. ps- I'm sorry sometimes my poetic side of my heart comes out when I'm talking but at least you know how I feel thank you
About my match
Looking for
- Build:
- Curvy
- Children:
- Country of origin:
- Drinking:
- Don't drink
- Education:
- Some college/uni
- Eye colour:
- Brown
- Facial hair:
- Shaved
- Hair colour:
- Bald
- Hair length:
- Bald
- Health condition:
- Height:
- 6' 0" (183 cm)
- Marital status:
- Single
- Occupation:
- Other
- Religion:
- Smoking:
- Don't smoke
- Yearly income:


text:
From Marketing to a Professional Process - From the Field #57
2018-08-07 • 5 minute video
Taking your process from vapor to paper is Duncan's topic in this episode of From the Field shot on beautiful Okanagan Lake. Sending high quality greeting cards, especially for Thanksgiving Day, can help professionalize the client experience while reinforcing your personal branding.
Our friends at Lavish Cards produce the highest quality cards that will allow you to own the mantle and leave a positive, lasting impression with your clients. Visit their website to learn more: www.lavishcards.com


text:
In terms of "shot mentality,'' Terry Murray got what he wanted last night, as the Kings recorded a season-high 39 shots on goal. Of course, it only led to two goals, so the mission was not accomplished, and Murray pointed to one of his other favorite terms — net presence — to describe what the Kings could have done better last night. Entering tonight's game, the Kings rank 19th in the NHL with an average of 28.5 shots on goal per game.
MURRAY: "We've been talking about this over the last couple years, about the importance of getting pucks to the net. I liked the attitude. I thought we could have been better at net presence, though. There were not enough screens, not enough traffic at the net to take advantage of those shots going to the net. The fact of the matter, of more pucks to the net, is a real good thing, and we'll push the other part.''


text:
Stefan Grossman – Fingerpicking Blues Guitar Solos
Feb 09 2020
Stefan Grossman Fingerpicking Blues Guitar Solos. This DVD lesson is for the intermediate and advanced fingerstyle guitar player. It is for the student who feels comfortable with an alternating bass techique and wants to expand and explore ideas in blues and ragtime using more advanced right and left hand techniques. The four instrumentals featured in this lesson are all extended compositions offering a variety of musical ideas.
Piano sounding blues in the key of A are presented with Mississippi Blues and Blues For The Mann. A Blind Blake approach in the key of C is used for the Glory of Love. Struttin' Rag in the key of E brings together three distinct sections. It opens with a blues piano sounding motif and then steps into a more country atmosphere. It finishes with a series of bass licks reminiscent of Merle Travis's Walkin' The Strings. There are many challenges to master in these four instrumentals. Each is taught phrase by phrase and then played slowly on a split-screen. A detailed tab/music booklet is included.
Tunes include:
- Mississippi Blues
- Struttin' Rag
- Glory of Love
- Blues For The Mann
Language: English
Year: 2004
Country: USA
Running time: 01:16:00
Quality: DVD5
Video: MPEG2 720×480 9000 kbps NTSC: 4:3 29.970 fps
Audio: AC3 2 ch 192 Kbps 48.0 KHz
Booklet: Yes (PDF)
Size: 3.7 Gb


text:
Unveiling post-traumatic stress disorder
Often considered an ailment of only military veterans, this condition also can affect many older men.
Image: Devoryou/Thinkstock
Mention post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and most people immediately think of military veterans. While this group is highly susceptible to PTSD, research has shown that older adults, specifically men, are also vulnerable.
PTSD is a potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced a natural disaster, war, terrorism, serious accident, violent personal assault, or similar traumatic event.


text:
High-tech villa with incredible sea views in Nova Santa Ponsa
Property description
Unique house with high energy efficient characteristics ис located in the exclusive area of Nova Santa Ponsa in the south west of Mallorca, and its elevated position boasts stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea and the Malgrats Islands. The fully enclosed area of the plot occupies 1.230 sqm and offers a luxurious 42.5-sqm pool with Jacuzzi and shower, terrace with a lounge area, a stunning garden with a variety of plants throughout, and a space for parking. The living area of 513 sqm is distributed between two floors: on the 1st floor there are a living room, a dining room with an open-plan kitchen, a bedroom, a utility rоом, and a guest toilet. On the top floor three arebedrooms and three bathrooms (2 en suite), as well as a gallery lounge. The energy supply of the house is based on a solar bionic system and excels due to its state of the art eco-friendly technology. The equipment also includes grid connected to a photovoltaic system, the latest solar energy technology with a neutral level of CO2, a geothermal floor heating and cooling system, and a desiccant equipment for a very pleasant and healthy atmosphere, and alarm system. The unique character of the villa is underscored by its sophisticated interior design, as well as its home intellectual computerized system, apart from the use of innovative building materials, guarantees the highest quality of comfort.
The house is located in a quiet area, close to all amenities such as golf courses, shops, marinas and restaurants.
Energy Performance Certificate (for Buildings)
Essencial energy source: Solar
Class: A
Similar objects
Exclusive villa in the prestigious area of Nova Santa Ponsa
|Sale price
|3.400.000 €
Villa project with breathtaking views in Nova Santa Ponsa
|Sale price
|5.650.000 €
Modern villa in the exclusive area of Nova Santa Ponsa
|Sale price
|1.350.000 €
Duplex semidetached house in a first line community in Nova Santa Ponsa
|Sale price
|1.600.000 €
|Living area
|513 m²
|Plot size
|1.230 m²
|Balcony/Patio areas
|42 m²
|Sea view
|Sale price
|2.700.000 €
Your agent for this property:
Maya Bordihn


text:
by Richard Eshelman,
Pros: Contact was good, lots of emails to the trades and results, and phone calls when asked
Cons: Exaggerated skills and sloppy trades, too many losers over wins
I started out with a profit in my account that was made by me, and it was immediately increased at a very fast rate once the broker, Andrew, began trading it on a Power of Attorney agreement. The agreement allows the broker to trade with my permission, but without my involvement.I increased the amount in the account to double and almost as quickly as the profit was made it was lost and then a little more. Trade after trade was a loser. Andrew told me he would have "some losers" and I assumed it would not be so much in so many trades so quickly.I suspect the broker, Andrew Palwieski, is not either honest about his skills, or sloppy with the set ups to the trades. The trading platform and recommendations are average and have no particular " extra " so this brokerage is just another attempt to make a dollar on the backs of hard earned other peoples money.
by Peter,
Pros: None
Cons: Ineffective
As bad as they come. Lost thousands of $$$$ there, relying on their 'systems'. Their education sources is terrible and the broker I dealt with was incompetent and useless. Fooled once, never going back.
by Dan Wiseman,
Pros: None!!!
Cons: High pressure tactics salemen presenting useless and HARMFUL advises on trading!!!! Always having excuses on why the mkt would NOT trade the way they like to see it!!! AVOID THESE CROOKS!!!!!
by Daniel,
Pros: They are in Chicago
Cons: Useless, Not Helpful
I spent several months with Daniels trading and left them after losing thousands of dollars, relying on them to be the "experts." One of the advantages that a personal broker should add is to provide quality advice and execution. These guys are useless, beyond useless. Since leaving them, I have made up all of the losses and made profits following and executing my own strategies at a different broker. Hopefully, one day they will be gone and traders will be better off.
by Evan,
Pros: Personable, Knowledgable
Cons: None
I am a client of Daniels Trading and I am glad that I am.I signed up with them, in part, because I wanted to use a futures firm to help execute futures trades, given the specialized knowledge and ins and outs of the futures markets. Overall, they have been great, supportive, efficient, effective and helpful. Recommended.
by BeWarned,
Daniels Trading is the worst. The charts have data issues and they lag, sometimes over an hour behind. In addition, the brokers only want bankroll accounts. If you don't have the money they weed you out. Daniels Trading creates "fees" to nickel and dime your account. A wire transfer took 13 days and no one had any idea why. I closed the account three months ago and I am still waiting for my money. The NFA is looking into it. There are much better brokerages. Daniels Trading is by far the worst ... be warned.
Disclaimer: Your review, broker rating, pros and complaints information must be honest. Please use respectful and
professional language. Consumer reviews could be edited by the website staff to keep TopRatedFirms.com free of inappropriate or offensive language,
false information, speculations, or to remove spam. We reserve the right to delete any brokerage customer reviews that don't meet above
Disclaimer: TopRatedFirms.com reviews of companies is our personal opinion.
We may be compensated by the firms we review. See Terms Of Use
Copyright 2010-2020 TopRatedFirms.com. All rights are reserved.


text:
The Model 091-103-012-A, Time Delay Relay, is designed to keep a load energized for some time interval after the load is de-energized. A typical application might be the control of lighting in the interior of the vehicle to permit operators' time for cleaning or maintenance. Thirty ampere, both normally open and normally closed output contacts are provided. The device requires 3 input connections. +12 volts power and ground to operate the relay, and a +12 volt signal. When the signal is applied the relay closes immediately. When the signal is removed, the relay remains energized for the length of the time interval. See below for all models available.
Input: 12 Vdc
Time Delay Minimum: 2 Seconds
Time Delay Maximum: 3.3 Seconds
Time Delay Set Point: 2 Seconds
Relay Contacts: 30 Amps
Weight: .25 lbs
Warranty: 3 Years
Current Stock:
Shipping Cost: Calculated at Checkout