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The employment of a patently dishonest person in an office requiring absolute objective fairness is outrageous. One example, that comes to mind—that I copied before he tried erasing his multiple calumnies—is the false charge against my company—not just me personally—of giving "80,000 to Democratic candidates." This on it's [sic] face was untrue, since he knew, or should have known that this would be illegal. The CORPORATE dollars were given on a BALLOT issue—else they would have been illegal. They were used successfully to defeat the "no exception" abortion on the ballot.
There are a number of other cases of total untruthfulness. This was not just the case with me, but others as well. Ragging on me for years, month after month—even when I was out of office—indicates a public hatred that renders Mr Powers unfit to occupy an office that requires impartial treatment of citizens. Treatment that we have come to regard as only natural in that office with the last three occupants, all whom I knew well both politically and as an active operator of a large complex corporation, many "not for profits", numerous LLCs and Rapid City Enterprise funds [State Senator Stan Adelstein, blog comment, submitted 2010.12.14, under Kevin Woster's "From War College to SOS, in a cloud of nuked archives," Mount Blogmore, 2010.12.13].
Such is the risk we bloggers run. Mr. Powers has made a number of enemies with his political blogging. Now elevated by political chum Jason Gant to a particularly sensitive public office, Powers himself will now face harsh scrutiny to see if he can go beyond stepping away from the blog mic and develop the reputation for strict adherence to the law and fairness that were the hallmark of outgoing Secretary Chris Nelson and his staff (far too many of whom are clearing the decks to make way for Gant's appointees).
Bonus Blog Snark: Mr. Kurtz says the delete-fest continues at Dakota War College, as he says a comment he submitted linking to Adelstein's charges was deleted by DWC committee-blogger Tyler Crissman. Mr. Crissman replies that "Forces beyond our control made it necessary for us to take that story down." Evading responsibility, hiding behind vague, unnamed forces—sounds like dark Powers at work. (I also can't link to Crissman's response directly, since their new new theme omits comment permalinks. Sigh.)


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Our Staff takes the initiative and believes in Capturing Kids Hearts and promoting Positive Behavior Supports. Through planned activities, students learn and practice what we call our R.O.C.K.S. theme which stands for Respect; Ownership; Character; Kindness; Safety.
Union City Elementary is dedicated to improving student achievement, using strategies, enrichments and interventions to meet the needs of all students. It is a joy and honor to work with the staff, students and families within this community and surrounding areas. Together we work to make learning successful for all, to have fun and celebrate achievements. As state and federal expectations continue to increase, so must the work effort involved to meet those goals. Working together is crucial for sudent success..

subset: commoncrawl


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"90 % of surveyed Canadians said that if the functionality was available, they would be likely to book an appointment with their health care provider electronically."
(Commissioned by Canada Health Infoway in February 2013, an Ipsos Reid Survey conducted through an online panel of 1675 adults asked whether he/she would "make appointments with his/her health care provider(s) electronically.")
Increase efficiency and ease of access to your medical clinic by allowing your patients to book their appointments even when your clinic is closed. By providing patients multiple appointment options, the number of incoming calls is reduced, saving time for both staff and patients.
Practimax eBooking can record appointments from the general public for your walk-in clinic, or restrict appointments to returning patients only.
Configure the length and type of appointments offered for eBooking according to your preferences. Allow a patient to book the next available appointment only with their own physician or the next available appointment with any physician at your clinic.
Your patients will receive an email confirmation of the booked appointment along with an appointment notification to save to their calendar – reduce no-show rates.
Automatically synchronize physician availabilities and preferences with appointments offered to patients while keeping Practimax EMR updated in real-time. All appointments are entered at the time they are booked, ensuring only one patient is booked per available appointment.


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EVIL PAWN JEWELRY, an accessory line that goes way beyond the norm consisting of edgy and eclectic pieces that are sure to command attention and add a little rock n' roll to your wardrobe.
From the bohemian to the gothic, the demure to the outrageous, this line offers a variety of diverse looks that would compliment any style. Whether you choose one of the silver cuffs or cocktail rings as a single statement piece, or pile on layers of hair pieces, belt buckles, and feathered chokers, Evil Pawn is sure to turn heads. Faith Evangeline, the designer and mastermind behind this line, prides herself in crafting each piece with intricate detail, so you truly feel special when you put it on. She also limits the quantities of each piece, and is constantly adding new merchandise, so your look is ALWAYS fresh and unique! This line is a great way to keep your style cutting-edge, and is a welcome alternative to the mass-produced, cookie-cutter jewelry lines out there today.
Visit Evil Pawn Jewelry Online.
Follow Evil Pawn Jewelry on Twitter.
Like Evil Pawn Jewelry on Facebook.
|Do you like these? – Moulin Rouge black beaded necklace.
|Some like it goth! – Cameo skull ring.
|How do you like me now? – Limited chrome cameo skull belt buckle.
Photos credit: http://www.evilpawnjewelry.com/


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Life in Slow Motion
The album begins with "Alibi" which is a perfect example of what Gray means by getting out of the bedroom. Although the track could easily have been arranged as an understated, piano-based song, it has a full orchestra performing along, giving it a lushness not previously heard on Gray's albums. "Alibi" and the first single "The One I Love" both feature orchestras, and two others have a string or horn section.
Largely gone are the electronic beats from the backing tracks (think "Babylon" or "Caroline"). Instead, Gray tries his hand at songs like the terrific "Hospital Food" which hints at sounding like a classic Phil Spector arrangement yet with a flourish of New Wave-era keyboard runs.
Life in Slow Motion was produced by Marius De Vries, who did some keyboard programming for Gray on the White Ladder album. De Vries also oversaw Rufus Wainwright's Want One and Two albums, and has worked for Bjork, Madonna, and Bebel Gilberto. This is the first time in a several albums that Gray has had an outside producer, preferring recently to handle those duties himself with his band.
Gray's lyrics are concerned with people not able or willing to come to grips with their surroundings. Some of the songs, like "Lately," wax poetic about broken urban landscapes. "Taste the broken hearts in the vacant lots," Gray sings, in that song. "See the fruit that rots on the trees."
The characters in Gray's songs seem to be doing much running. In "Alibi," the song concludes with a chorus of "tonight I'm running wild, I'm running." In the song "Nos Da Cariad," the title of which means "goodnight darling" in Welsh, "Then we'll be running, afraid of nothing." These lyrics contrast with others about people in no hurry, and getting nowhere. In a song called "From Here You Can Almost See the Sea," he sings of a man saying "I'm smoking, killing the time/How long's a piece of twine."
Regardless of his song's subject matter, Gray's incredible vocals nearly always hit their target powerfully. Despite the glacial landscape depicted on the album's cover, Life in Slow Motion is a smoldering set of music.


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National Incentives
Looking to get behind the wheel of your next vehicle, but are still shopping around for special offers and incentives to sweeten the deal? When you shop at Mazda of Manchester, you can take advantage of a variety of Mazda finance deals whether you want to buy or lease. Our rotating specials are offered to accommodate all Manchester area drivers, no matter if they want to drive home in a Mazda CX-5, Mazda3, or Mazda6. Browse our Mazda discount offers online, then stop by to explore our inventory in person!


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I don't write reviews … this is probably my first review … but when I saw such a bad response from audience for such an exceptional movie, I couldn't resist.
I am not an Anurag Kashyap fan, I enjoyed Dev D but I was not awestruck as I was by this one. It's a movie which reaches to your brain and squeeze it so badly that either you can't stand the pain and quit or just enjoys it till the climax.
I don't know about Rajasthan, but spending my teenage in MP, I've seen how filthy college politics could be. I could so relate me, you, any one to Dileep Singh played by Raja Chaudhary. That is what exactly happens to many bright students who are just there to study but ultimately end up loosing themselves, just because they get sick of being called fattoo.
And there is one name which should be praised more than Mr. Kashyap for the movie, and that name is Piyush Mishra. He is the Music Director, Lyricist and Actor in the movie. There's no doubt that songs of the movie are outstanding and have been placed so perfectly it carries the tension and mood from the beginning to the end.
Gulal is pleasant break from the usual ha ha he he ho ho cinema. I would strongly recommend this movie for two and a half hour of tryst with reality.


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Kajoin 1280x960 Motion Detection Spy Toothbrush Hidden Bathroom Spy Camera DVR 32GB
- Http://www.kajoinhk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1182&products_id=5200 This is a mini toothbrush spy camera, it looks like an ordinary toothbrush, however, no one will know, it has a powerful feature, hidden inside a miniature pinhole spy camera. Therefore, it has become a private detective cameras and bathroom spy camera, you can be placed anywhere, even in the bathroom, it will not cause other people suspect. This toothbrush is your personal items, other people will not be picked up. With it, no matter where you are, it can help you to record what happened. Thieves and intruders will never suspect this toothbrush is actually a hidden camera capturing their every move. Is not your good helper? You no longer have to worry about thieves broke into your home, whether your nanny to take care of your child dedication. In order to ensure the safety of your family and your home and property.
- Price:
- 213.99
- Read more »
(Use contact form below)


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Big Red Printing
Printing • Graphic Design • Mailing Services
Basic Information
Serving the Norfolk and Columbus Area. Established in 1985.
Big Red Printing, Inc. on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/bigredprinting
Buy Printing Online: bigredprinting.net
Company Overview
Since 1985, Gene Walter has been providing professional printing services to the Norfolk and Columbus, NE and surrounding areas. Through the years, the print industry has changed drastically, but Big Red Printing has continued to provide outstanding service and excellent products to the local community.
To establish Big Red Printing, Inc. as the only local printer of the finest printing in our region, while maintaining our principles of outstanding service and excellent products.
Printing, Mailing, Marketing and Graphic Design Services.
Gene Walter • email@example.com


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Adventure Time Blogs
An Adventure Time fangirl's blog about Fitness, Fandom, Pen palling, and more!
Owner: AnnDroidGirl
Listed in: Lifestyle
Other Tags: fitness, snail mail, pen pals, fandom
Watch hundreds of cartoons and anime series online for free.
Owner: Anime_Squish
Listed in: Entertainment
Other Tags: cartoons, anime, avatar korra, young justice


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Loganlea state high school is committed to providing a safe, respectful environment, where learning and teaching makes a difference for every student so that they may become active and resilient citizens of the future.
Loganlea state high school is committed to providing a supportive school environment,where all members feel safe and are valued; where social and academic learning outcomes are maximised through a quality curriculum, interpersonal relationships and school organisation; where school practices are proactive rather than reactive and where appropriate and respectful language and behaviours are defined, modelled and reinforced.
Loganlea state high school's responsible behaviour plan for students focuses on developing a supportive school environment and responsible, positive behaviour in all students. The Plan provides a framework for teaching students to use positive and appropriate behaviours, which demonstrate respect for themselves and others.


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Happy New Year!
It is January 1st 2018 in The Netherlands! heartlinker.nl wishes all the Heartmongers worldwide a Happy New Year!
As I look back on the past year I can't ignore (sorry!) that both Ann & Nancy seem to have no idea if Heart ever takes the stage again. During 2017 lots of Heartmongers began to understand and deal with the situation as both Ann & Nancy reflected multiple times on the impact of what happened on August 26th 2016 at the White River Amphitheatre. The impact on themselves, the family and the band Heart.
I don't think we see the whole picture, not by far, but there is little to cheer about. Yes, their time apart has sparked new wonderful things like Nancy's Roadcase Royale with their phenomenal debut album "First Things First" and Ann's solo adventures on the road. But the hurt within the Wilson family must be immense. Let's hope 2018 brings good things.


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Rates are per 1,000 cubic feet of water used.
Each year, the Great Lakes Water Authority updates their rates for the 125 communities that use their water and sewer service including Farmington Hills.
As of July 1, 2019 sewer rates will be billed at a rate of $39.37 per 1,000 cubic feet of water with a minimum bill of $62.99 per quarter. Minimum bills are necessary to share in the cost of operating and maintaining the water and sewer systems. Residents without City water will pay a flat rate for sewer of $157.48 per quarter. Bills will be prorated so that sewer use prior to July 1, 2019 will be billed at the 2018/2019 rate. Sewer use after July 1, 2019 will be billed using the 2019/2020 rate.


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Welcome to Fearless Formula Feeder Fridays, a weekly guest post feature that strives to build a supportive community of parents united through our common experiences, open minds, and frustration with the breast-vs-bottle bullying and bullcrap.
Please note, these stories are for the most part unedited, and do not necessarily represent the FFF's opinions. They also are not political statements – this is an arena for people to share their thoughts and feelings, and I hope we can all give them the space to do so.
This story speaks volumes about – well, about so many things.
So for once, I'm going to be quiet and let it speak for itself.
Happy Friday, fearless ones. And Happy Valentine's Day – I've got nothing but love for each and every one of you, including the wonderful Caroline.
-The FFF
Caroline's Story
Recently, I was putting the final touches on the spread I had laid out for our lunch guests when I unexpectedly began to panic. We were awaiting a visit from a new-to-town couple and their toddler, and I wasn't worried about normal things, such as kids behaving and everyone having a good time. Instead, I realized it had been an hour since my baby had had his bottle, and with the frequent feedings his reflux demands, I knew he'd have to eat again during our guests' visit. My mind began racing to consider if this was going to be an issue and I immediately recalled the first time I'd met the mom at church, and her tone then and comments as she'd discussed infant feeding with another mom. I had forgotten about that, and now I was worried about the inevitable discussion (you all know the one!) when the bottle would come out. Was I going to get the verbal "At least you tried," accompanied by the condescending smile, or would it be the, "Well, so-and-so's milk/baby didn't do x for y whole days, but then she tried z and she was able to nurse!"? Should I just plan to take my son covertly upstairs to the nursery for a diaper change and give him a few RTF bottles in private? I spotted my bottle sterilizer – was there still time to hide the contraband from the kitchen?
You know, I promised myself it wasn't going to go down like this…AGAIN. You see, this was me (FFF Friday: "These are the memories I have of my sons first few weeks"). Short version: no milk supply. The happy ending to that story didn't take place until my first born son's twelve month pediatric appointment when we were given the clear to switch to cow's milk. I drove home that day crying tears of joy, thinking, "He's FINALLY going to be eating the same as all the other kids his age! Thank God! It no longer matters!"
While pregnant with my second born, I became committed to not having another horrible first year. I read up on IGT and myth vs. fact regarding nursing (yay for this website and Joan Wolf's Is Breast Best?) and talked at length with my best friend who happens to have both an MD and a PhD in biomedical research. While I knew in my head that the supposed benefits of nursing are often overstated without proper scrutiny, in my heart I still genuinely wanted to be able to nurse. I hated bottle feeding my first born – aside from the social pressure and guilt, I hated the preparation time and hassle of keeping sterile equipment, not to mention the mess and cost. However, while I had decided to give nursing another shot, I wasn't going to go overboard spending hundreds of dollars on supplements, equipment or consultations – this time, the only extra thing I was willing to try was the one thing we had not tried with my firstborn: placenta encapsulation (talk about the epitome of crunchy motherhood!!).
My second born son's arrival was nothing out of the ordinary, save him being post-term, with nothing happening that might interfere with nursing. The day he was born, he had no interest and would not latch, but I was encouraged not to worry. Eleven hours after his birth, he still wouldn't latch and had been crying out in hunger pains, so I chose to give him his first bottle. It honestly felt wonderful to be able to feed my newborn and ease his pain with a bottle! I had dehydrated and basically starved my first born and wasn't going to do that with my second born – I refused to put nursing above my child's health again. By day two, the placenta pills were ready, my son had a perfect latch, and we spent the day working on getting my milk to come in. To my utter amazement, it did! Something white began to come out of my chest, and the feeling I got the night of the third day when I heard a child of mine actually swallow for the first time while attached to me was amazing. I was not given that blessing with my first born son, so I am grateful to have had it with my second born.
As the days went on, we spent the majority of my newborn son's waking hours nursing. I would switch him from side to side to side for one to two hours, and only when he was super fussy from hunger and would no longer latch would I allow him a bottle. The formula milk would then settle him to sleep for a quick nap, and the cycle would repeat. I was determined to give nursing all that I could, and began to dream that my milk supply would increase so that I could drop off the formula. As the days and weeks began to pass, the ounces of formula seemed to be winning the race, so I added pumping in to the mix to try to increase my supply, sometimes able to pump one or two full ounces in a twenty-four hour period.
For the following months, I rode the combi-feeding emotional roller coaster. Breastfeeding became my primary focus. I knew most of my son's daily calories were coming from the formula milk, but I continued to get my hopes up about one day nursing exclusively. I remember getting so happy just to see a bit of breast-milk poo mixed in with my son's dirty diaper and hoping the next diaper would have more. I found nursing to be so much easier than bottle feeding. My son had a textbook latch with only the occasional lip tuck, and he would drop off and re-latch himself if he wasn't on properly, so I didn't have pain from the latch – the only pain I experienced was the glass shard sensation from him sucking on an empty breast. It was also a breeze to soothe a baby at 2 a.m. with the breast while my husband prepared the bottle of formula that would eventually get the baby back to sleep – so much better than having the baby scream while waiting for a bottle! When I had female visitors over and had to nurse in front of them, they gave me happy smiles as though to say, "Welcome to the club!" Our pediatrician even treated us differently, talking about the superiority of breastfeeding and how she wouldn't need to monitor his growth like she did with our toddler (even though they are following a similar curve), which meant no monthly weight checks or daily intake reporting this time. I even got to experience the odd sensation of nursing in public, both in a private room and in our car, finding that to be an extremely efficient way to soothe a crying baby when out and about. The only drawback to the nursing side of combi-feeding came in the bonding department: it wasn't the bee's knees I'd thought it was supposed to be. We nursed tummy to tummy with him looking over my shoulder, and I found I better enjoyed gazing into his beautiful eyes while he ate from a bottle.
Eventually, combi-feeding with low milk supply proved to be unsustainable. By the time my placenta encapsulation pills ran out, we were giving him a bottle every two hours plus nursing every four, and I had lost all hope of ever being able to nurse exclusively. When my son was a few days shy of four months old, he refused to latch for several days. I tried to express, but could no longer get anything white to come out. My milk had dried, and my son had self-weaned (yes, such things actually DO happen!!!). Rather anticlimactically, with no painful swelling or leaking, nursing was now over. Meanwhile, my husband had noticed some of the familiar signs of post-partum depression creeping into our lives again, but so long as I had been nursing even a tiny bit, I was unwilling to feed anti-depressents to my son. Looking back, I know it was a stupid decision to put the idol of nursing above maternal mental health, but at the time, all I could think of was how much we'd gone through with my older son and how I would have done anything just to have been able to give him a teaspoon of breast-milk. I just didn't have the heart to pull nursing away from my younger son (once he pulled himself away, though, I did get back on the medication).
So, there it is. That's my story for unsuccessful breastfeeding, take two. There were some lessons I learned the first time around that made things easier: avoiding public baby groups, feeding my son at church in an out-of-view location, ordering formula online or sending my husband in to the store when we had a coupon, avoiding militant lactivists on the internet, staying away from baby books, and taking the toddler but leaving the baby home with my husband when our whole family is invited to a party. Maybe such tactics make me a far-from-fearless formula feeder, but if you recall my goal of not having another horrible first year, it was essential for me to avoid hurtful comments and invasive questions. It has also helped to read every post on the FFF so that I can be reminded that I'm not alone. I have learned the hard way to limit my interaction with some of my more judgmental friends so as not to have another criticism of my child's feeding, my birth choices, or my parenting decisions bouncing around in my head for days afterward… except for that tiny little omission I mentioned at the beginning of my story.
So, did I cower in the nursery? Did she see the bottle supplies? In the end, the family ended up not coming to our house that day, so I was worried for nothing. That's how it goes.
Be my valentine. Email me your FFF Friday story: email@example.com.


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Dallas News reports that a man who hit a utility pole on April 22 claims that he was run off the road. The incident occurred in the morning hours. The man struck a utility pole and hit a fence, as well, after going into a spin. The driver was not seriously injured in the accident, but suffered nearly $10,000 in damages, according to the article.
According to the victim's statement, as related by the article, another driver in a pickup truck caused him to go off the road. The truck came up behind him, started flashing its lights and eventually slammed into his car from behind, causing the driver to spin off the road. In the end, the driver's vehicle ended up turned over on the side of the road. The truck is alleged to have kept on driving after the accident.
Dangerous drivers.
There re dangerous drivers and then there are those who go beyond the pale. Drivers who harass other cars on the road, even to the point of ramming them, are not unheard of and, in fact, are likely more common than people think. There are some ways that you can protect yourself in these situations.
Move out of the way.
If someone is engaging in extremely aggressive driving, your best bet is always to get clear of them. Get off of the road by pulling over in a parking lot or to the side of the road, if you can do so safely. Alternately, you can slow down and let the person pass you more easily so that they can go on their way.
Don't get road rage.
Road rage is a very real thing and it causes people to take dangerous actions in heated situations. You may find yourself wanting to retaliate against a bullying driver by slowing down, tapping your brakes as a warning or taking other actions. This will generally only increase the risk of you getting hurt or killed due to someone else's negligent driving.
Contact a lawyer.
If someone causes you to come to harm because of their dangerous driving, contacting a Dallas car wreck lawyer is advisable. They may be able to help you by taking that driver to civil court and getting an award from a jury that could help to pay for your expenses. These expenses can include property and personal damages, so there is good reason to contact an attorney.


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The solar session included the below presentations.
You can download a PDF of the combined solar presentations.
This session was also recorded and can be found embedded below or on our youtube channel.
Solar chimney - improving power output with the inclusion of semitransparent organic photovoltaic films in a power plant canopy
Student: Pedro de Araujo Falcao Pessoa
Supervisor(s): Dr Ned Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics)
Poster: #46 Download PDF COMING SOON
Solar chimney power plants (SCPP) work by utilising solar heat to heat air under a transparent canopy to generate an updraft through a chimney of hundreds of metres in height. Turbines placed in the chimney can then generate electricity from this updraft. This research aims to accurately model the radiation exchanges that occur inside the collector region of a SCPP. This model is used to simulate the effect of covering a portion of the canopy with semi-transparent organic photovoltaic films with the goal of increasing the power output of a SCPP.
Emissivity control in photovoltaic devices
Student: Liav Harel
Supervisor(s): Dr N. J. (Ned) Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics) and Dr. Alexander Mellor (Department of Physics)
Poster: #47 Download PDF COMING SOON
It is well known that an increase in the temperatures of solar cells has a detrimental effect on their efficiency. This thesis explores the radiative properties of photovoltaic devices in the infrared wavelength range, and particularly the atmospheric "transparency window" range, where heat is radiated directly to the cold outer space in a process known as radiative cooling. This could prove an attractive mechanism in solar cell design for passively reducing operating temperatures.
Optimising connections of PV farms in constrained feeders
Student: Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos
Supervisor(s): Professor Tim Green (Director of the Energy Futures Lab), Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #48 Download PDF COMING SOON
The expected continued growth of solar PV in the UK poses threats to the operation of the distribution grid. One of the main threats is over-voltage occurrence to the local electricity network in regions where the network is weak or where significant PV deployment has already happened. Since network reinforcement is highly capital intensive other solutions must be sought. This research focuses on identifying the most effective and financially viable methods and technologies that allow increased solar PV capacity to be connected to the grid without network reinforcement.
Live solar minigrid storage analysis and implementation of demand response
Student: Andreas Livera
Supervisor(s): Professor Jenny Nelson (Department of Physics), Mr Lukas Lukoschek (MeshPower), Mr Phillip Sandwell (Department of Physics)
Poster: #49 Download PDF COMING SOON
MeshPower provides electricity through solar powered mini grids in rural areas. This energy service provider would like to minimise service outages to connected customers and provide a more reliable energy service by integrating demand side management (DSM) and energy storage analysis. The aim of this project is to develop a three-staged programme that can achieve the following: (a) accurately estimate the state of charge (SOC) of the batteries, (b) predict energy shortfalls within the next few days and (c) implement demand-response strategies when needed to cope with generation shortfalls without blackout periods.
Modelling PV and Storage Systems in UK commercial buildings
Student: Arthur Mariaud
Supervisor(s): Dr Salvador Acha Izquierdo (Department of Chemical Engineering), Dr Ned Ekins-Daukes (Department of Physics), Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #50 Download PDF COMING SOON
Growing concerns about climate change have led industries such as food retailers to rethink their energy consumption. This research aims to evaluate production systems that have been identified as potential solutions for decreasing energy consumption, such as PV coupled with battery storage. This project focuses on the development of an optimisation model, assessing potential benefits of such systems and helping to provide critical information to achieve decarbonisation and economic viability by taking into account technical aspects, project finance and policies. This model is an analytical and practical tool, developed as a guidance for decision-making.
Agent-based modelling of adoption of solar photovoltaics in the UK
Student: Phoebe Pearce
Supervisor(s): Dr Raphael Slade (Centre for Environmental Policy)
Poster: #51 Download PDF COMING SOON
Much of the work relating to innovation diffusion and energy transitions has focused on modelling such processes. Recently, agent-based models have become more popular for such applications because they allow simultaneous consideration of, for instance, learning by doing, spatially explicit environments, population heterogeneity, different kinds of agent (e.g. governments and households), social networks, and decision-making strategies which go beyond simple optimization. The aim of this project is to construct an agent-based model and thus predict the uptake of solar panels in the residential sector in the UK and the effect of policy and supporting technologies on people's likelihood to adopt.


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Photo Gallery of 2013 Ford Fusion Review (6 of 10)
Showing Photo of 2013 Ford Fusion Lamp
Ford has introduced a generation of more expressive vehicles. It is the all new 2013 Ford Fusion. This is the first sedan that offers gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid version. Its main objective is to fuel savings and provide a pleasant driving experience.
Follow the subcompact Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus as small car, the all new 2013 Ford Fusion displays slim silhouette and fresh faces. Functional design elements such as headlamps, LED taillamps and exhaust tips polished communication skills enhanced technology. Inside, the Ford Fusion offers, sporty driver-oriented environment with the generation of a seat that brings expanded functionality. A higher center console supports driver-centric themes and generating intelligent storage for the driver to keep useful items. This is really a driver's car.
2013 Ford Fusion offers plug-in hybrid, a pair of four-cylinder EcoBoost ™ engine, normally aspirated four-cylinder engine, automatic start-stop system to shut off the engine at idle stationary drive, front wheel and all-wheel hard application, and the choice between automatic and the manually shifted six-speed transmission. This is expected to be a car that is environmentally friendly and fuel efficient. The turbocharged direct fuel injection Ecoboost models include a 133kW/233Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder and a 177kW/339Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder.
Ford Fusion will be manufactured in 2012 at Ford's Hermosillo, Mexico. Then be introduced in the U.S. in late 2012 and in 2013 will be introduced in Europe and Asia.


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What a fun session! Three very diverse women presenting here gave lots of different perspectives on how they balanced life & work!
Cecilia Aragon, Computer Scientist, grew up in a small town in IN, feling she was good at nothing, but after getting out of her small town she has had quite a successful career, obtaining a PhD in computer science & moving forward with an exciting life. She's an aerobatic pilot - quite a task, considering she was afraid of heights and flying and much smaller than the standard man the cockpit of most planes was designed for! She had to get special shoes cobbled with thick soles, a booster seat & 40 pounds of weights.
Barbara-Ann Fox, Technologist - grew up a tom boy and has found the best role models for her professional career were men. She ran her own "personal workshop" asking herself these questions: Who am I? What do I want? Where do I find Satisfaction? How do I operate most effectively? Her beest advice: Trust yourself. Reengergize yourself, be human, design your life. (Don't evolve: sometimes you need to start over from scratch). She realizes that she'll never be the expert, but it's not part of her requirement path so it doesn't stress her out. She recommends doing things you think are impossible - because you may surprise yourself!
Robin Wilensky, Solution Architect, hasn't been afraid of reinventing herself as needed. Once she joined Sun, she started making her own niche. This was good, because she could do what she loved - but troublesome as people didn't know what to do with her. She makes personal & professional goals, and balances the issues together. Working 'til 1 AM every day is not conducive to good social life, which she wanted, so that had to stop. She was surprised to find she was still productive, got a lot of work done & nobody was really requiring her to work those crazy hours! Robin has a slightly different perspective on being expert: if you talk about something enough, you will eventually become an expert!
We got to hear more from Cecilia Aragon after the panel, when she showed us a cool video of her in her specially built plane, She went into detail about how somehow being an aerobatic pilot was somehow less scary than getting a PhD in computer science! (she does all of this while working full time and raising a family with the help of her husband)
Official GHC 2007 Blogger. You may comment on this blog by visiting the GHC Forum.


text: CULTURE New Media vs. Old Guard: Where the Industry's Power Players Eat, Shop and Work Out 7:00 AM PDT 4/18/2014 by Carson Griffith FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME They both have power, influence and money — but the haircuts are totally different. Here's how the establishment and the insurgents go their separate ways. A version of this story first appeared in the May 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. New Media: Coffee Young webheads wouldn't be caught dead slurping joe from a Greek diner cup. Startup entrepreneurs start up the day with far more trendy brew. BuzzFeed president and COO Jon Steinberg swears by Jack's organic fair-trade java; Vimeo CEO Kerry Trainor gets his fix at Intelligentsia in the High Line Hotel; Jezebel creator Anna Holmes likes the espresso at the Sweetleaf outpost in Queens (about which Rap Genius creator Mahbod Moghadam says, "Their dragonwell [tea] is straight crack"); and Reddit GM Erik Martin says Baked in Red Hook is the best. Lover.ly founder Kellee Khalil goes for the East Village Mudtruck and Cosmo.com's Amy Odell favors Financier Patisserie. Old Guard: Coffee Older members of the media elite aren't trying to make any statements with their morning beverage -- they're just looking for a caffeine boost. Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter walks down the hall and grabs a cup from his private kitchen in his own abode. Marie Claire's Nina Garcia pops a Nespresso capsule into the office machine, while z100's Elvis Duran ventures no further than the coffee cart guy at his building. "He has ice coffee year round, and I only drink ice coffee." PHOTOS: Exclusive Portraits of THR's Most Powerful People in NY Media New Media: Power Lunch They're on the cutting edge of the technology revolution -- but they prefer their lunches made the old-fashioned way, by hand, at restaurants featuring artisanal fare. Guestofaguest founder Rachelle Hruska likes the kale salad at Margaux, while Cosmo.com's Odell thinks "the fried chicken is amazing" at Ma Peche. Cameo co-founder Matthew Rosenberg eats lunch at Jack's Wife Freda, while Vimeo's Trainor says he takes lunch, and meetings, at Cookshop, where College Humor co-founder Ricky Van Veen also dines. Complex magazine's senior editor Foster Kamer gives a nod to Joseph Leonard, and SweetGreens in the NoMad Hotel, has "awesome salads and wraps," according to Khalil: "But be prepared to wait for 45 minutes." Old Media: Power Lunch For the old guard, it's still all about the established scene. The New York Post's Richard Johnson heads to either one of the twin citadels of Manhattan media power lunching: The Four Seasons or Michael's, mostly "for the crowd." Marie Claire's Garcia gravitates toward The Lamb's Club, a favorite for media elites. Vanity Fair's Carter will pop into one of his own establishments -- The Waverly Inn or The Beatrice Inn -- but z100's Duran rarely strays from Walker's in Tribeca. "I leave there so drunk sometimes, I forget to pay my bill, so I pay next time." New Media: Dinner From kitschy to costly, late-night dining for this crowd is far-ranging, but one thing is for sure: This group is full of foodies. "Mari Vanna is an amazing Russian place in Gramercy that's perfect for a date or a big group," says Reddit's Martin, who says the "roaming accordion players and sparklers" are a draw. Complex's Kamer goes for the ramen at Ippudo on Fourth Avenue (after a two-hour wait, usually), but for a "perfect restaurant" prefers Marlow & Sons – as does Rap Genius co-founder Moghadam. "That place is impressive and will make my date think I am cool," he says. Some make it a habit of dining out, like Guestofaguest founder Hruska, who is married to hotelier and restaurateur Sean MacPherson and has a list of nightly favorites "on rotation" including Raoul's, OMEN, Giorgione, Neta and Il Buco. When in doubt, however, and needing to dine, Thrillist CEO Ben Lerer has a backup plan, which consists of "walking in at Lupa or Babbo" (the former a fave of Twitter vice president Matt Derella as well). Old Media: Dinner Classic is the byword for nighttime eateries for this crowd, with Michelin-starred staples like Le Cirque for author Gay Talese and Le Bernadin a popular pick for Harper's Bazaar's Glenda Bailey and the Post's Johnson, who goes for the fish. The more casual choices included Roberta's pizza, a favorite of NY1 anchor Pat Kiernan ("Nothing gets a friend's attention like a random industrial block in Bushwick"), and "BBQ in Koreatown" for Garcia. And Duran proves that even New York's most well-known can't always get a reservation: "Everyone loves Carbone if I can ever find a friend who can get me in!" STORY: The Next BuzzFeeds? 5 Hot New Websites New Media: Nightcap Location factors in just as much as looks for that last drink of the night. Khalil stops off at Maysville not just for the great selection of Bourbon but because it's "very close to Lover.ly headquarters," and Lerer's go-to is Soho spot Rogue & Canon. Twitter's Derella and his wife head to Marc Forgione in their hood, where they are friendly with the bartender, while Curbed network founder Lockhart Steele heads to the bar at Mark Joseph Steakhouse, "a seaport living gem tucked in the cobblestones way downtown on Water Street." If at a hotel, this group is less likely to be at The Carlyle than The Mark (Steinberg) or the Bowery (Hruska and Into the Gloss' Emily Weiss, who says the lobby is "dark but not dank, with a fireplace and lots of nooks and crannies"). And those who need to blow off a little extra stream should take a cue from Odell and Kamer: The Cosmo.com editorial director goes for a pitcher of margaritas at La Esquina or General Assembly, while Kamer ends up at a local watering hole in Bushwick called Pumps post-2 a.m.: "I'll say this, it's an acquired taste, but their music selection is impeccable." Old Media: Nightcap Iconic standbys like The Carlyle Hotel are popular, where Katie Couric goes to hear live music and Marie Claire's Garcia grabs a drink at the hotel's Bemelmans Bar, where she might run into Carter or Talese. But Kiernan and Bailey laugh at the idea of late-night imbibing: "If only," says the Harper's Bazaar EIC, while the early-morning news anchor says he's usually in bed "for the 'night-cap' portion of the evening." New Media: Haircut When they take off their trilbies and slouching beanies, they're sporting 'dos from some of New York's trendiest (and sometimes cheapest) stylists. Thrillist's Lerer gets sheared at the popular Dop Dop in SoHo, while Twitter's Derella cuts costs on his haircuts, splurging for a $15 trim at Ray's Barbershop on Park Place. Into the Gloss' Weiss, meanwhile, gets her blond locks dyed by her "platinum ninja" at Sally Hershberger. Old Media: Haircut As one might guess, the men of the old guard prefer old-school styling. Johnson gets his hair cut at the barbershop in the IRT subway station at 50th Street. "All the haircutters are Russian women dressed in black," he says. But the female media elite put much more care into their grooming. Katie Couric goes to Louis Licari, while Garcia splits her beauty-parlor time between Warren Tricomi (styling) and Frederic Fekkai (coloring). As for who does Carter's famous tresses, his lips are sealed. "I promised him I would never tell," he says. "Can you blame the poor fellow for remaining anonymous on this job?" New Media: Shopping "I work in the new-media economy, which supports significantly less flashy lifestyles than the old-media economy," says Upworthy's Peter Koechley. Which is a roundabout way of saying he buys his suits at Century 21. Cosmo.com's Odell isn't above shopping at Zara, and neither is Lover.ly's Khalil. BuzzFeed's Steinberg favors Uniqlo because "everything is cheap," but not everybody in new media is so frugal when it comes to their rags. Into the Gloss' Weiss is crazy about Dover Street Market. "Far and away the coolest store in New York right now," she insists, and Hruska agrees. "My husband is thankful it's not in comfortable walking distance for me!" says the Guestofaguest founder. Old Media: Shopping Print and TV journalists like their labels like they like their interview subjects -- famous and rich. Couric wears Michael Kors, Town & Country's Jay Fielden goes for Bottega Veneta, while Duran and Garcia shop at Barneys, Bergdorf's and Saks. But even more important than the label is the tailoring. And Talese has some advice on that subject: "Contact Sal Cisiano, or his son Carl, at their L&S second-story shop at 138 East 61st Street." STORY: THR Names 2014's 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media New Media: Workout The new-media elite like to exercise outdoors. Where they can be seen. Koechley works out at the Brooklyn Bridge Park; Derella stretches his muscles at Red Park in Tribeca, and Holmes likes the Central Park loop. When it rains, there's always yoga. Hruska does private sessions at home, and Rosenberg drops by Yoga Vida, where "everyone is in their mid-20s to mid-30s." But at that age, who needs exercise? "This is New York," says TheLI.st's Rachel Sklar. "I take three flights of stairs to my apartment." Old Media: Workout The old-media elite like to exercise indoors, where it's safe. Couric keeps fit at Flywheel and Pure Yoga; Fielden hits the gym at the Hearst Tower; NY1's Kiernan takes spin classes at Revolve; and Talese belongs to the Equinox on 63rd Street, "where there is a good pool, top trainers, great steam room and a minimum of cell phone addicts." Duran, though, just laughs when he hears the word "exercise." New Media: Live Entertainment Call it generational, but new media insiders had a lot of suggestions where the traditional fell short. From Van Veen's frequenting of Upright Citizens Brigade comedy club to Weiss' newfound love of The Comedy Cellar: "I went for the first time a few months ago and Darrell Hammond performed, unannounced." But it was New York's music venues that hit the right note for many new-media players. "S.O.B's has the best Latin and world music in the city," says Martin, while Rap Genius' Moghadam swears by the Glasslands, and Rosenberg picks Williamsburg Music Hall or the Bowery Ball Room, which is also a favorite of Complex's Kamer. "The acts I've seen there before they exploded -- TV on the Radio, The National, Frank Ocean -- are some of the best shows I've ever seen in a long line of concert-going." The Brooklyn Academy of Music got Koechley's vote, although he said he's a fan of "mostly theater," and he's not alone: Both Hruska and Khalil professed their love to Broadway, with TheLi.st's Sklar heading to 54 Below to get her fix when she can't get to the Great White Way: "Incredible stars from Broadway and unbelievable up-and-coming talent in a lush supper club with amazing sound, fantastic food." FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Carson Griffith firstname.lastname@example.com @thr


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'A-Hole' to 'Awesome?' The Unlikely Success of Marvel's LEGENDARY STAR-LORD
When actor Chris Pratt proclaims his self-imposed codename, Star-Lord, in the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer, Korath causes him to pause when he asks, "Who?" For many people, both the general public and comics fans, they might share Djimon Hounsou's question of just who is Star-Lord. For fans who have been reading the Guardians of the Galaxy comic series the past few years, in both the 2008 incarnation or the current run by Brian Michael Bendis, it might be an easier question to answer, but not by much; for decades he was rarely seen in comics, going years between appearances. So how did a once-forgotten footnote in Marvel's comic history turn become the unlikely leading man of Marvel's cosmic frontier? As it turns out, it was never the plan – but that turns out to be the key to Star-Lord's success.
"My original idea was to create a complete a-hole, and then have him evolve over time (and space) into a…Star-Lord," says Steve Englehart, the man who dreamt up the character back in 1975 before his debut in 1976's Marvel Preview #4 illustrated by Steve Gan. "He was to move outward across the solar system, having a mythological/astrological story on each planet - a fairy tale on Mercury, a love story on Venus, a war story on Mars, and so on."
At the time, Englehart was one of Marvel's top writers, handling both The Avengers and Captain America. Englehart's admittedly ambitious plans for Star-Lord's multi-issue story was get a star artist for each of the planetary-themed issues; Sheldon Mayer for Mercury, Jay Scott Pike for Venus, Joe Kubert for Mars, John Buscema for Jupiter, for example.
"Point being, the series was conceived as a series. But I only got to do the first issue, about the complete a-hole, and then I left Marvel," the writer tells Newsarama. "So for the next few decades, I was sorry about the grand idea that got away…"
After Englehart's departure, Star-Lord drifted to obscurity despite a last-ditch makeover of the character by then-budding writer Chris Claremont in Marvel Fanfare. To a degree, even Marvel has trouble remembering the character – sometimes forgetting the hyphen in the "Star-Lord" name in comics and on cover pages. After some minor appearances in anthologies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Star-Lord only popped up once in the 23 year stretch from 1981 to 2004 – as an ancillary character in 2000's Inhuman series. But in 2004, his inclusion in the latter part of Keith Giffen's Thanos series set him on a path to take the helm of the reconstituted Guardians of the Galaxy in 2008 after "Annihilation. "
Sam Humphries, who is writing this week's debuting series Legendary Star-Lord, says the character's near-complete absence from comics for nearly a quarter century between his earliest stories and his induction into the Guardians of the Galaxy is a "double-edged sword" for him as a writer.
"It's less confining," Humphries tells Newsarama. "But you don't have as much supporting history either."
That "supporting history," what little there is, was revised somewhat – thanks to the character's lack of popularity early on. In 2013's Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1, Quill's origin was retooled by Bendis and artist Steve McNiven to its current status as the half-human prince of an alien space adventure/ruler J'son of Spartax, something established early on in the character's existence but not explored (or explained) much in the intervening years. In the new origin, J'son directly set Peter to be the Star-Lord, a title belonging to his empire, rather than a somewhat mystical being doling out the role in his original story. This key trait – Star-Lord being half-human and half-alien – is a core element to the character going forward according to Humphries.
"His dual heritage is the key to making him tick," Humphries says. "He is the son of both Earth and space, of an honorable mother and a despicable king."
After that, Humphries says the key text from Star-Lord's earlier stories is his interactions in Annihilation. Outside of that, the writer says he influenced by outside works like the European comics series Blueberry and films such as Raiders of the Lost Ark. Although some people might compare him to John Carter giving their similar space-faring voyages, Humphries says they couldn't be further apart.
"Peter isn't John Carter – the archetypical space man striving and yearning to return home. Peter had a crappy life on Earth. In space, he is awesome," the writer relates. "Space is his home. For Peter, the cosmos rules."
When asked about the strange turn of events that has brought Star-Lord from obscurity to his highest measure of popularity ever, Englehart says it's all thanks to Abnett and Lanning. As a veteran writer of both Marvel and DC, he's all too familiar with some characters falling by the wayside.
"If Star-Lord had become a better person, he wouldn't have fit the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comic, let alone the movie, so good on the guys who put him in the comic," Englehart says. "It's the nature of comics that leftover characters get recycled, and there were very few more leftover than Peter Quill, but if I'd had to pick one of my creations to get recycled, he'd have been at the bottom of the list - and to be the star of a major motion picture, he'd have been laughed out of town. But here he is, and all because he never convincingly evolved."
To wit, the star of Guardians of the Galaxy when it hits theaters in August, Chris Pratt, says the character's unknown status has helped he and James Gunn craft the character more for their own use. In fact, his journey will play out on screen, Pratt told Newsarama during a set visit.
"Well, he is on a quest to escape, essentially. But in the same way that a lot of people are on Earth. Like, he, you know, he's got like a hope to him. Like, the kind of hope that you have when you buy a lottery ticket. You know, he thinks if he could just make that score, everything will be fine and everything will be taken care of. And I think he learns through the course of the movie that that's not ultimately where you find true satisfaction with yourself or real happiness. It's really gonna come from doing something bigger than yourself and giving yourself up to something that's bigger than yourself. So we find him in a hopeful, playful place where – and he's sort of escaping and a little bit on the run."
Although Englehart never worked on the Star-Lord character again after his abbreviated debut arc in 1976's Marvel Preview, the writer says Marvel "has been very forthcoming" about keeping creators involved in the process regarding characters they created. Although he wasn't involved in the film, the writer says Marvel "treat their creators like guys who created something valuable."
And Marvel is looking to actualize that value more with this week's debut of The Legendary Star-Lord, and it shows Quill coming full circle – at least in terms of his spirit and approach – to Englehart's "a-hole" origins. According to Humphries, it'll be cosmic swashbuckling like the character's initial promise in 1976.
"Star-Lord will be flying fast ships, flirting with alien girls, visiting astonishing new planets, getting into crazy trouble, and shooting his way out."


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You can create any project using the provided sketch it can be a layout, a journal page, a simple card, interactive cards, mixed media canvas or project, altered art, anything crafty,to participate…
- Last date of submission is 30th November 2017.
To win this amazing goodie bag!
it is so easy to use and you can use it on different surfaces!
- Fun Foil from Craftyscrappers
- Craftyscrappers Shimmer sprays
- Adhesive Foam Sheet
- White cardstock
- Fevicol
- Scissors
- Tissue paper
- OHP sheet or vellum
- Cardboard (to lay tissue paper)
- Embossing powder
- Heat tool
A brief tutorial on all the three creations:
- (PROJECT: fun foiled Tissue background )
- To create the tissue paper background,
- I took a piece of cardboard and glued tissue paper to it roughly
- Now give it a coat of white gesso…
- And spray it with shimmer spray "Sweet Sunshine" from Craftyscrappers
- Added diecut houses and sentiment tag to complete the look.
2.(PROJECT: fun foiled titled background )
- For this I have created the background using the same technique with tissue paper.
- Then embellished it with flowers and diecuts.
- To create the tiles follow the process in video.
(Further procedure is explained in the video…)
3.(PROJECT: fun foiled distressed background )
- And for this one I just picked some pieces of lace, natural twigs tied with yellow satin ribbon to create a bed for my butterflies.
- Background & butterfly making process is also mentioned in video.
(Further procedure is explained in the video…)
Heres the complete tutorial video:
Hope you enjoyed the tutorial,
Do leave some love and feedback below.
Don't forget to join our craft challenges (details at beginning of the post)
You can participate via mr.linky (at the end of the challenge post)
or via facebook, instagram and even via email.
(While sharing your creation post over social media
via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
please use #Craftyscrappers challenge17 to qualify for submission,
failing to do so entry will be disqualified.)
Happy Crafting!


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The only thing left to do is to begin…
Welcome to Pieces of HER, the blog home of Valerie Tookes and Her Holistic Health, a health counseling practice dedicated to working with women who crave a deeper, healthier relationship to the woman they see in the mirror everyday.
What do I have to share with you?
I am inspired by the words, images, ideas, recipes, stories and videos of list of amazingly talented bloggers out there. The ones that make me think, that make me feel are the ones I find myself going back to again and again and again. In the last year, as I have worked to craft a health practice that I would most like to find, there has been this voice in the back of my head, cheering me on, telling me that what I have to say, what I have to give to the world is important. That voice urges me to share pieces of myself. So with the help and encouragement of a lovely cast of characters here I am, welcoming you to my virtual home. Thanks for stopping by.
You are always welcome.


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Should Net Neutrality Be Restored? - Top 3 Pros and Cons
|Tuesday, June 5, 2018 | Author: ProCon.org | MORE HEADLINES
The net neutrality rules adopted in 2015 regulated the internet as a common carrier, the same category as telephone service, under Title II of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. [5] The FCC rules prevented internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking, slowing, prioritizing, or charging consumers extra money to access certain websites. For example, under net neutrality rules, Verizon could not speed up access to websites it owns, such as Yahoo and AOL, and could not slow down traffic, or charge extra fees, to other major websites like Google or YouTube. [4]
On Dec. 14, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted (3-2) to overturn those net neutrality rules and reclassified internet service as an information source, rather than a common carrier. [1][5]
Many state attorneys general filed suit against the FCC decision, and the US Senate voted (52-47) to approve a resolution to invalidate the decision. [6][25] Unless overturned by courts or legislative action, the FCC's removal of net neutrality rules will be officially implemented on June 11, 2018. [26]
Proponents of net neutrality say it preserves free speech on the internet by preventing ISPs from blocking lawful online content. They also contend that ISPs should treat all internet traffic equally and be prevented from engaging in anti-competitive behavior such as slowing down or speeding up certain websites. In addition, they say that net neutrality protects consumers from being charged more to access certain websites, such as online video streaming services.
Opponents of net neutrality say that internet service should be free from heavy government regulation, and that the internet has evolved spectacularly over the last decades without net neutrality regulations. They contend that net neutrality lowers investment in needed internet infrastructure. In addition, they say ISPs should be allowed to charge extra fees to online content providers that use disproportionately large amounts of bandwidth, such as video streaming services.
Should Net Neutrality Be Restored?
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text:
This opinion piece/announcement is by Carrie Bernier, executive director of the Community Fund of Darien:
The Community Fund's Thriving Youth Task Force has set its sights on reducing teenage binge drinking in Darien. When they launched the "Our Darien 06820" campaign last winter, they hoped to hit a nerve locally with parents and teens. They didn't suspect that it would strike a chord nationally, too. (more…) Continue Reading →


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The Igumen John [Scratch], 64, a member of the Monastic Community of Saint Silouan, former dean of the Cathedral of the Annunciation here, and in retirement attached to the Bishop's Chapel of Saint Silouan, fell asleep in the Lord at home on the morning of January 15, 2006.
Born in Lethbridge, AB, Canada on August 2, 1941, the son of Lydia and Clare Scratch, a Pentecostal minister, he spent his early life joining his parents and sister Lorraine on missions to the third world and the Orient. It was during one of these trips that he first encountered Orthodoxy as a young boy in the streets of Shanghai China, namely in the presence of Saint John Maximovitch. Father John would often say that his time in China was a definitive factor and blessing in his journey to and in Orthodoxy.
In 1967 he married Suzanne Park, and continued his studies at Bishops University near Sherbrooke, Quebec. He was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church in early 1969. By the late 1970s, he, his wife, and their family, were living in Ottawa. It was during this time of turmoil and secularization in the Anglican communion that he and his family found refuge in the Orthodox Church. In the spring of 1979, he, his wife, and their six young children left the financial security of Anglicanism and were received into the Orthodox faith at Saint Nicholas parish, Ottawa, under the omophonion of the late Archbishop Sylvester of Montreal. He was soon ordained to the diaconate, and shortly thereafter to the priestood. He worked as a security guard to support the family. Later, his wife also found work.
In the winter of 1980, Father John and a small handful of people, founded the first English Orthodox mission in Ottawa, Holy Transfiguration, in the living room of a house. In March 1987, his wife suffered a major stroke, forcing him into semi-retirement in order to care for her and their children. With all of this, he was still able to shepherd his flock into reconciliation with its mother parish, reuniting the two under the protection of the Mother of God, the Annunciation to the Theotokos-St Nicholas Cathedral.
For the next few years, Father John became more involved with the 24-hour care of if his wife, Suzanne. After a serious heart attack, he retired fully, but he always devoted himself to the care and well being of his flock, even if he was often not physically available or accessible.
On January 10, 1998, Father John's wife fell asleep in the Lord. After a period of discernment, he came out of retirement to serve with the Very Rev. Dennis Pihach at Saint Herman Sobor, Edmonton, AB. He again entered full retirement after a second, more serious heart attack, at which time he returned to Ottawa to be with his family and his ever-increasing number of grand children and later to witness the ordination of his eldest son, Gregory, to the diaconate in 2003.
In August of 2004, Father John became, as His Grace, Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada described, described "what he was" as he was tonsured to monastic orders, taking the name John in honor of the Forerunner of Our Lord. It was in these last few years of monastic life that his witness of faith, perseverance, and suffering for the love of the Lord were truly blessed and revealed to others. For him, and those around him, the assurances of the Lord's abundant mercy always brought consolation and peace. It was in this context that he always cared for, and in a fatherly way nurtured, those who turned to him as a Christ-like pastor to the end.
According to Bishop Seraphim, in the days just before his death, he was diagnosed with a large tumor, yet immediately he blessed and thanked God for all that was given him in his life, accepting the diagnosis with great peace and open confidence in God's love.
Father John is survived by his sister, Lorraine, and her husband Roy; his nephew Gregory; and six children: the Deacon Gregory and Taesia (and the child soon to be born of her) Scratch, Jeremy and Helen Scratch, Subdeacon Sebastian and Helen Scratch, Lydia and Michael Holden, Subdeacon John and Michelle Scratch, Mary-Teresa and Karl Nye, and by his grand children Juliana, Gabriel, Alexandra, Sevastjan, Maria-Suzanne, Taiece, Seraphim, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Parryn.
A Memorial will be celebrated at Annunciation Cathedral, Ottawa (corner of Lebreton N. and Eccles Streets) on Monday evening, January 16, at 7:00 p.m. On Tuesday evening, the Monastic Rite of Burial will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m., with the Divine Liturgy slated to be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Pinecrest Cemetery, Ottawa.
May Igumen John's memory be eternal!


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text: I'm terribly worried. I'm halfway through my pre-seniority period and I'm still only getting 800-900 packages an hour unloaded. Granted, I'm not in shape, but the minimum performance requirement is 1300. Any tips and/or tricks that can help me get a better count are highly appreciated. And yes, I realize that not meeting expectations can mean not getting seniority and not keeping my job, and, unlike some of the other people I work with, I like my job for the people and the work, not the money. I already talked to my super about this, and he was very sympathetic - so, before you guys bash my supervisor, he is a nice guy, so go easy on him. In then end, working at UPS has been rewarding in many, many good ways for me. And I want to stay here.


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Profiles of intelligence
by Brig Syed A. I. Tirmazi
- 39 Want to read
- 4 Currently reading
Published 1995 by Combined Printers in Lahore .
About the Edition
Book Description:
During the 20th century, advanced countries have increased their reliance on espionage and covert activities. Sophisticated techniques and state-of-the-art weapons have been developed for the sole purpose of gathering information through covert means. Agencies indulging in the intelligence-gathering which have earned notoriety in recent times, are American CIA, Soviet KGB, British MI6 and Israeli Mossad. Closer home, Indian RAW has also sponsored a number of covert operations to destabilize conditions in countries in its immediate neighborhood. Pakistan, too, has its intelligence arm.
Brigadier S.A.I. Tirmazi, in Profiles of Intelligence unveils some of the counter-intelligence operations undertaken by the Directorate General Inter Services Intelligence, in its home ground. Whatever little has been revealed, presents the portrait of a patriotic, committed, well trained and a highly efficient team under the dynamic and untiring directorship of Tirmazi.
ISI remained an almost unknown entity until the beginning of Aghan Jehad. It was only then that this important security-related Pakistan Institution came into limelight. In league with American CIA and other Intelligence agencies of a few friendly countries, it helped Afghan Mujahideen in such an effective manner that the then Super Power, the Soviet Union, had to beat a retreat from Afghanistan which it had invaded nine years earlier.
Primarily relying on his good memory and a few documents, Brig. Tirmazi has pieced together a good account of ISI, its activities and how it operates to protect country's vital security interests. The book presents an authoritative documentation of the activities of the ISI without divulging any state secrets or jeopardizing its security.
Publication of such revealing books as Profiles of Intelligence is good for boosting the morale of the people and in creating awareness among them about the designs and strategy our our unknown and not-so-well known enemies, who, in the garb of diplomatic activities, try to damage our vital national interests.
- Syed Afzal Haider.
First Sentence
In the Name of Allah the Merciful, the Compassionate. Intelligence is a profession of noble men...
Table of Contents
|Chapter 1 - Introduction
|Chapter 2 - The Team Captains - General Ghulam Jilani Khan - General Muhammad Riaz Khan - General Akhtar Abdul Rehman Khan
|Chapter 3 - The USA - The Strategic Doctrine - Tally-Ho Kill Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto - The Siege - The US Embassy, Islamabad, Burns - Weapons for Narcotics - Operation Blue Star - The Viceroy
|Chapter 4 - India - Modus Operandi - Mata Hari from India - Edge of Precipice - In Their Backyard - Visa Section - Subversion
|Chapter 5 - Libya - Pakistan Liberation Movement - To Libya Without Love
|Chapter 6 - USSR (Former) - Karakurum Highway - Air Attache to UK - Man for Man
|Chapter 7 - Israel - Israeli Intelligence and Security Services - The Mossad - Shin Beth - Military Intelligence
|Chapter 8 - Domestic Scene - Dark Days - An Aborted Coup De'tat - Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission - Flight PK-326 - Convention Tehrik Nifaz Fiqh Jafaria - Debacle in Karachi - The President's ADC - Ban on Shia Troops - Unfit for Promotion but Fit For - P & V Plots, Islamabad
|Chapter 9 - Islamic Republic of Iran
|Chapter 10 - In the Witness-Box - Not the Whole Truth - Fact vs Fantasy - Left-Handed Compliment
|Chapter 11 - Some Lessons
|Chapter 12 - Farewell Uniform: Good-bye ISI
- Created April 1, 2008
- 12 revisions
|September 6, 2016
|Edited by Smart Thunder
|A Few details.
|July 17, 2011
|Edited by 126.96.36.199
|Added new cover
|July 29, 2010
|Edited by 184.108.40.206
|reverted to revision 9
|December 11, 2009
|Edited by WorkBot
|link works
|April 1, 2008
|Created by an anonymous user
|Imported from Scriblio MARC record.


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SAN FRANCISCO - Salesforce.com Inc. announced this week at Dreamforce two different products based on its acquisition of RelateIQ, a complete CRM solution for SMBs and a way for enterprises using the Sales
SAN FRANCISCO - If you've ever accidentally expensed your company for a late-night Uber trip home from the bar, then you'll be one of the people happy to know the San Francisco-based company
This will be my sixth year in a row attending Salesforce.com's Dreamforce event, a mega-conference that takes over downtown San Francisco for one week every year in autumn. Known as the world's largest
Salesforce.com is hoping to give its user experience a jolt with a new, more modern design for its marquee Sales Cloud service with the announcement of Salesforce Lightning on Tuesday. At its Dreamforce
At Dreamforce in San Francisco, APX Labs shows how it can bring data from a company's backend to a whole new class of workers in the field using hands-free wearable technology. Compatible with
At Salesforce.com's annual Dreamforce conference in San Francisco, Toronto-based Nudge is launching its beta software for sales professionals. It helps you keep in touch with your contacts, even if you don't often have
Some startups create new products or services, and others create an entirely new market category. Mark Organ is an entrepreneur that's done this twice with his marketing-oriented startups and he's at Dreamforce, the
Bionym is making the Nymi Band hardware available to developers for the first time. At Dreamforce in San Francisco, president Andrew D'Souza shows an example of what a customer-facing implementation of this wearable
SAN FRANCISCO -- Toronto-based Bionym launched its first wearable technology hardware that anyone outside the company can get their hands - or, make that wrists - on Tuesday, taking its persistent identity platform
The first time I attended Dreamforce in 2010, I was the only Canadian journalist in attendance. There were no press handlers herding me into presentation rooms, no familiar faces from my beat back
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This is an edited transcript of an interview between ITBusiness.ca Editor Brian Jackson and Influtive CEO Mark Organ, taking place Nov. 18 in San Francisco at the Salesforce.com Dreamforce conference. ITBusiness.ca: What do
SAN FRANCISCO - A group of three University of Waterloo graduates missed out on being selected as finalists in a $1 million coding contest hosted by Salesforce.com this week as some members of


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The 23-year-old has an interesting and truly international background. Born in Herrenberg, Germany, she grew up in Belgium, where she lives today in the small village of Lontzen close to the border with Germany and the Netherlands.
She is the daughter of Slovakians Michal and Marianna Cmelik Tomko and has represented Slovakia for the past four years.
Prior to that, Tomko spent six years studying in the United States. She graduated from Bradenton Academy Prep in Bradenton, Florida, while training at the IMG Academy and then completed a degree in interpersonal-organisational communication at the University of Central Florida in Orlando (UCF).
As a consequence of her travels, she speaks five languages and explained: "At my house I speak Slovak, since I grew up in Germany, German; English since I went to school in the States. My French isn't perfect but I'm dating a Portuguese guy so I'm learning Portuguese. I really feel European and I'm really glad to be back."
An established junior player, she was a member of the Belgian National Team and at the age of 11, had the opportunity to play with Bernhard Langer and Seve Ballesteros as a result of winning a short game contest in Belgium.
Whilst in the States at the Leadbetter Academy, she finished runner-up at the 2006 Doral-Publix Championship and runner-up at the Teens of the Greens World Championship. She registered more than a dozen top-five tournament finishes during junior competition.
During her time at university, she returned to her parent's home country, which led to her representing Slovakia.
"Just for fun I tried out a tournament in Slovakia because my parents are Slovak and back in the day we used to go there skiing there. Since I started playing golf we never went back there. We went for fun to play the Slovak Amateur and I won. It was a very fun atmosphere I've never been around Slovak young people too much and I really liked the atmosphere. It was friendly and fun," Tomko said.
"They proposed if I wanted to play for them, because they needed some representatives and I represented them for three or four years. They took me to the World Amateurs in Sydney in 2008 and to Argentina last year. I got a couple of wildcards and played the Allianz Ladies Slovak Open last year and this year so it was fun to play for Slovakia too. I won the Slovak Amateur three times, the international title and once I got Slovak citizenship too, the national three times."
Tomko has resided primarily in Lontzen, Belgium, for 15 years, but spent time in the United States.
"I was 16 when I went to the Leadbetter Academy in Sarasota. The first year I really loved it and went back for the next year in 2005/2006 and played a bunch of junior events. I didn't plan to go to college. I didn't know anything about the system but went there to improve my English and golf. In the senior year of high school I got a couple of offers and UCF was the best: 100 per cent scholarship.
"I must say I went quite downhill in the States. I didn't have a good coach and I lost it somewhat. After university I wasn't sure since my golf wasn't there but now I'm working with a new coach I've seen a lot of improvement and I know that I want to do this.
"When I came home in May 2010, I got a new coach near to Brussels, an English guy called Carl Ledbury, and it takes me one hour and 20 to drive to see him every week. I improved a lot under him."
Tomko turned professional in March and added: "I'm playing all the LETAS events and hope to get in to a few LET events. I will prepare for LET Q-School in January. I want to play on the LET next year. I went last year but I wasn't ready.
"This year that's the goal: to be ready. I saw that you need to have a good caddie and be ready. It's a war out there. The atmosphere is crazy.
"It's difficult for me, since I'm not on Tour, to play events. This year I played Portugal and Slovakia and the two Access Series events. All summer I played one event: the Belgian Championship and I played very well. I was the best pro there.
"It's hard to stay competitive. I played Terre Blanche and La Nivelle and made my first cut. It's a good experience and my first year as a pro. Teeing off in Portugal and Slovakia I was really nervous and every tournament I feel more comfortable."
She was inspired by watching Zuzana Kamasova make history as the first Slovakian winner on the LET when she won the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco in March, with no full card on the LET.
"It was definitely an inspiration seeing her win because she has been trying for so many years. It really gave me a boost and showed that you have to keep trying and trying and some day it will click. I know her, but not too well since I live in Belgium."
Aside from golf, Tomko's hobbies include going to the gym and she said: "I am obsessed with fitness, good food. I used to run every single day but I started getting some issues with my hips and pelvis. I lift a lot too to get stronger and hit the ball better. I feel better about myself and enjoy working out."
Her next appearance on the LETAS will be at the Murcia Ladies Open in November, before she heads back to La Manga Club in Spain for LET Qualifying School in January 2012.


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I have to admit, I haven't seen all of Russia… but I've seen enough to reveal all these tips listed below. 4 months from now I am going to leave Russia for good, but this place will forever hold a special place in my heart. I'll be back for more.
- Citizens of most countries need a visa before taking off to Russia. Check with the immigration office beforehand!
- For Malaysians, I've prepared a step-by-step guide for you to apply it in Kuala Lumpur and also abroad (the Russian Embassy in London, United Kingdom.)
- If you decide to apply for the visa on your own, be prepared for some tedious (but manageable) procedures but if you'd like to get things over with easily, pay a travel agency. (I can't recommend one because I never hire an agent to do it.)
- That is not all! Upon arrival, remember to register your VISA within 7 days! Your hostel/hotel will assist you.
- Unless you are going for the experience, try to avoid late January to early February, when the temperature might reach -30c and below.
- If you are willing to brave the cold, regular winter coat like the those worn in the UK is not enough. Instead, pack fur coats, thermal underwear, wool sweaters, wool socks….etc. Read the full packing list for a winter in Russia here.
- Late February to early March is especially horrible time to visit, because temperature fluctuates between + (during the day) and - (at night), turning most places into unwanted skating rinks. The road will be in an awful muddy state when all the ice and snow melt in early March.
- Best time to visit, in my opinion, is in September to early October (Autumn) or mid-March to early July (Spring and the first part of Summer).
- Mid-Summer is not a good time as well, I am going to be bloody honest about this…. it's because of the heat, especially when there are no clouds in the sky, I feel like dying. An interesting point is, you will not find built in fans in most apartments in Russia (at least not in my part of the country!). Note that this is not Sahara, and temperature doesn't just drop at night, so imagine having to sleep in such stuffy, hot weather… I just can't. Hence, if you do come in the height of Summer, never board a train without air conditioner or book an overly-budget hostel (I mean those that only charge 200 Rubles/ $3.40 per night ). Plus, in Summer, there will be one particular week when the city is filled with cotton-like substance flying all around and annoying bugs attacking your face!
MORE ABOUT THE WEATHER (Because it's just too unpredictable)
- Weather in Russia changes drastically… I mean, we have snow occasionally in early October or late March, so remember to check the weather forecast daily so you do not underdress.
- When checking the weather, don't just take note of the shown temperature. Find out the "real feel" temperature. Sometimes, Google shows -10, but don't think you can wander out with those UK style winter coat! The real feel is often -20… you'll need down feather winter jacket.
- Oh, and if you are planning on a cross-country road-trip or Trans Siberia Train, things get even more interesting… because Russia is big, hence the difference in weather conditions (sometimes, a difference in SEASON!!!) One part of Russia may be celebrating Maslenitsa in a refreshing +10 weather and another part of Russia might be experiencing heavy snow.
- You can throw your Geographic knowledge out the window once you step into Russia. There are no such thing as 3 months of each season. I can't say about the other parts of Russia, but in Volgograd region, we often have 2 months or less of Autumn, 4-5 months of winter, 2 weeks of spring (the tulips indicate Spring), and 3+ months of Summer.
Read more: Winter in Russia— What it's like.
- Don't ever forget that Russia is the biggest country in the world, which means – many time zones. So remember to double check your departure time for trains, flights, and cruises. Intercity trains run in Moscow time, so beware!
- We used to only have Aeroflot and it sucked! Then we were delighted to welcome S7 airlines, Northwind, and Pobeda… and since that, Aeroflot improved a lot in every aspect. Nowadays, I can proudly recommend Aeroflot for longer journeys.
- As for domestic flights, I still prefer Pobeda (cheapest airfare starting from 999 rubles during promotion) or S7 (extensive routes + delicious sandwiches).
- I bet you've heard about the Trans-Siberia Rail. The train is the most popular (and also the cheapest) mode of transportation for long journeys within Russia.
- Read this complete guide to Train Travel in Russia to know how to book and what to expect on a train journey.
- Bus is another inexpensive way to travel, but be prepared for long hours and uncomfortable sleeping position.
- Yes! You read it right! You can actually travel from city to city in a taxi since they (honest ones) are inexpensive. Let me give you an example: A bus ticket from Dombay to Pyatigorsk cost 800 rubles and a taxi cost 3000 rubles, if you divide by 4, you'll only pay 750 rubles each (cheaper and Hassle free)...
- Recommended registered taxi companies:
(Caucasus region) Logan Taxi
(Moscow to towns along the Golden Ring) Angel TaxiContinue Reading:Travel Pyatigorsk and Kislavodsk 3 days by TaxiTraveling on the Golden Ring by Taxi
Within the City
- Public land transportations includes Tram, Trolleybus, Marshut/mini van, and bus.
- Do not attempt to drive in Russia especially in big cities like Moscow, or during winter (ice formed on the roads are deadly. )
- As for taxi, do not simply flag down any taxi on the road in order not to get scammed. For example in Moscow, Angel Taxi is the best option (this is the only taxi in Moscow that doesn't take travel time into account, so you can be sure that the taxi driver always takes the shortest route).
- If you have mobile data or wifi available, Uber and GettTaxi applications are most reliable car-share services (Something like taxis, just that they are not registered). Use the code to UBERHIPMUNKFREE to get $15 off your first Uber ride and GTLEEWE3 to get $10 off your first GETT ride.
- Use the Metro whenever you can, Russia is famous for the beauty of her metro stations. Ornamented in beautiful décor, these metro stations are not just a part of the public transport system… they are also a part of the most extensive underground art museum in the world.
- Also, you can definitely walk! Just use common sense — be careful with traffic, drunk man and ice.
- Is Russia good for solo traveling?
If you plan to visit only the bigger cities, then yes.
But if you're planning to go deeper following the less-traveled path, it is advisable to travel in a group… The more the merrier, the more the better.
For example, in Dombay, a full day rental cost of a 10 seaters- excursion marshut (little vans) was 4000. I traveled in a group of 4 so we paid 1000 each. My seniors who went in a group of 10 paid only 250 rubles each (They went 2 years earlier when the rental fees were 2500 per car. )
- Credit cards are accepted only in restaurants, cafes, and hotels in big cities. Hence, it is highly recommended to have some cash on you.
- Russian currency is "Ruble". They will never accept other currencies. Although some curious Russians will occasionally offer free services in exchange for some coins/ notes from your native countries! Now that's cool! That is why I carry a lot of RM1 when I travel. Hah!
- I know it's pretty hard to find a money changer that has Rubles in Malaysia. When I first came, I managed to locate a small money changer in Pasar Seni, Kuala Lumpur that have some Rubles. So, I changed a small amount (3000 Rubles) and took the rest from an ATM in Moscow. Read more: How to handle money while Traveling.
- Generally, Russia isn't too expensive. Apart from the biggest cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg, things are really cheap. For example, public transport tickets only cost $ 0.2 – 0.3, a kotleta on the go for lunch cost 40 rubles ($0.6) and a main course in a reputable restaurant starts as low as 280 rubles ($4.7 ).
- The cheapest hostels available cost only 200 rubles ($3.4) per night, but they are not recommended. Try to look for high recommended hostel starting from 350 rubles ($5.98) on booking.com.
- Russian restaurants aren't too expensive (except some really big names in the big cities) and they do serve quality food. If you are on a budget, look for a Russian style canteen called "Stalovaya", you'll often find the cheapest, most traditional food here. However, try to look up on the internet beforehand, some of these really good Staloyavas are not on the main room and could be a little tricky to find.
- Or, go to a cafe between 11am-3pm during weekdays. Often they will be serving set lunches called "business lunch" and here you'll get a main dish, soup, and drink for less than 200 Rubles ($3.7).
- Alternatively, go to the supermarket and you'll be amazed at how many types of salad these people came up with. They are delicious and cheap (priced by gram)!
- Use common sense. If you wouldn't do something in your home country, don't do it in Russia.
- I think the most you have to worried about is drunk people at night, and also pickpockets in really crowded places.
- If I were to compare Russia to other countries, they tend to have fewer street scammers in Russia. In Europe, I've encountered 20+ tourist scams in just 2 months and had written an article about it. In Russia, so far I've only experienced one — the taxi scam.
- Bring your passport everywhere! While traveling in other countries, I only carry copies because I am afraid that I might lose my passport… but in Russia, it's required by law to carry your original passport all times.
- I had heard a lot of stories about Russian police intimidating and taking bribes from tourists (?!?). Well, honestly, speaking from my 6 years experience in Russia, I'd never ever encounter such a thing. On the contrary, I always go to the police when I am lost in a new city. Why? Because you can be sure that these people are local (or at least they know the roads well from daily patrolling), secondly, they normally come in groups, so in case you only understand English, they can "refer" you to another police that speaks the language better.
INTERNET CONNECTION and MOBILE PLAN
- It is easy for tourists to get a prepaid Simcard in Russia. and no, you don't have to find a Russian friend to be your guarantor.
- In my opinion, the 3 best mobile service providers are MTS, megafon and Beeline.
- I am using MTS myself with a "SuperBit" internet package. That is enough for you to stream 2 movies back to back in a day (Yeah, that good!). It only cost about 399 Rubles ($6.70) per month. Of course, if you are a lighter internet user, there is another cheaper package called "Bit", but (if I am not mistaken) you won't be able to use the internet outside the region where you bought the Simcard. Example: I bought my Simcard in Volgograd region and my "Superbit" is still working when I was in Moscow. My friends who were using "Bit" couldn't access the internet.
- Saint Petersburg might be an exception, but Russians don't really speak English. Even in Moscow, I only found a handful of people who speak understandable English outside of the hotels and restaurants. If you are going to backpack your way across Russia, learning the Cyrillic is mandatory. It wouldn't help much in understanding words but at least you will be able to read the road signs.
- I speak Russian quite okay, so I find it easy to travel. But for those who don't, things might get confusing. Hence, I recommend everyone to download the Google Translator app, where you can just point the camera to a sign and it translate the word instantly. Now that's a life saver.
- If you speak a bit of Russian, it'll be even better! I dislike Russians so much during my first few years here but after I became comfortable speaking Russian, people immediately became a lot friendlier.
- Don't smile randomly to strangers because that is what Russians do WHEN THEY ARE DRUNK! Russians are well known for their stern face, not only on the streets but in restaurants and shops as well. The shopkeepers may look grumpy, and waiters aren't the friendliest (Although I've seen improvements on this over the years... it may be a huge culture shock for Americans)… but hey, that's normal… don't get confused and think Russians hate foreigners. Because that's their normal face. If you want to get them smiling, just crack a joke in Russian… but make sure that it's really funny, or else things might be even more awkward. Just remember, they have nothing against you, it's just their culture.
- However, once you get them engaged in conversations, you'll know that Russians are really sincere and positive. So try to make some friends. Who knows you might be invited over to their "dacha" (Summerhouse). Believe me, spending a day in a "Dacha" with a Russian family might just be the highlight of your trip.
- If you know you are visiting a church, (for ladies) wear long skirts and prepare a headscarf. Some churches prepare scarves at the entrance.
- Learn to say Thank you (Spasiba) and Please (Pazhalusta).Read more:14 Things to Avoid While Traveling in Russia
- Just go to the food section of MAN, OKEU or MAGNIT (Hypermarkets) and try as much as you can take in. Salad, pies, pork chop… and so much more.
Read more:
10 must try bizarre food in Russia.
20 actually delicious food to try in Russia.
10 Russian Desserts to hunt down
- Try alcohol if you are allowed to because 1. you are in Russia, 2. you need that extra heat if you come during winter (obviously it's just an excuse).
Read more: 10 Alcoholic drinks to try in Russia
- Moscow and Saint Petersburg are without a doubt already on your list. so here are more articles to talk about it in details.Continue reading:
- If culture and history are your thing, take day-trips out of Moscow to visit some small towns along The Golden Ring. Although you can go on your own by train, I don't recommend doing so because you'll be overwhelmed looking at things without knowing the significance and stories behind it. I took a 2-days guided tour by Angel-Taxi and it was just brilliant. My guide speaks fluent English and he is very knowledgeable about the towns. Hence, I highly recommend booking a tour with them.Continue Reading:Day Trip from Moscow— Suzdal and VladimirDay Trip from Moscow— Sergiev PosadThe beauty of Sergiyev Posad in Russia 🇷🇺 is indescribable, unbelievable and unimaginable... Especially in the beautiful last (or last few) snow ❄marking the start of Spring 🌸. After celebrating Maslenitsa🌞 in Suzdal, I continued exploring the Ring Road of Moscow Region with 👼🚖Angel Taxi Moscow👼🚖 and ended the tour here in Sergiyev Posad. Talk about perfect ending. 🙌 So visitors to Moscow, don't just stay in the city! GET OUT THERE! 📷
- Other cities worth a visit if you are spending more than a week in Russia: Sochi, Volgograd, Murmansk, Kazan.A strong reason to love Kazan? They celebrate D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y! This Temple of All Religions is an architectural complex which consists of several types of religious architecture including an Orthodox church, a mosque, and a synagogue etc. It is currently under construction since 1992. Upon completion, it will have 16 cupolas, representing 16 major world religions including past religions that are no longer practiced. ☝Ps: the building looks like toys, it kinda reminds me of Pena Castle in Portugal... #храмвсехрелигий #вселенскийхрам #kazan #russia #diversity #allreligions
- Nature lovers rejoice! Because Russia has it's fair share of most beautiful places in the world. I recommend checking out lake Baikal (especially in March to see the ice), Altai Mountains (The mushroom rock formations), Dombay or Elbrus (ski-destinations), Kamchatka (Russian's own Iceland), Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk and the Ural Mountains. Plan at least 3 days in each place.
- Bonus:
Do you know that it is possible to watch the Northern lights in Russia? in January 2016, I traveled to the Northest tip of Russia to see just that and the best part? I spent only 17870 Rubles ($225 in Jan 2016). However, after my trip, the tourism sector in the region developed exponentially so I doubt you can visit it with such a low price nowadays, but still, it is a lot cheaper than the same experience in Finland or Norway.
- Extra tips:
It's pretty tricky to identify opening and closing times for attractions because there is no fixed time. Try to find out online before visiting but don't get too disappointed if you find them closed for the day. Be very careful with Mondays because, for some reason, a lot of them get an extra day off on Monday… same goes to Friday. If not a day off, they'll most probably start working late.
So there you have it! The complete guide for your first visit to Russia. I hope my list will help you in your planning and let me know in the moment section if you have more tips to share!
Follow me on Instagram if you would like to see more photos from Russia!
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