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As they say, if you're tired of seeing London, you're tired of life. From magical West End Musical to the famous red double decker busses, the heartbeat of Britain - London - has got it all. Think of it as the L.A and New York of Britain, a thriving coral reef of mankind, complete with the beautiful chimes of Big Ben in the background. Some of London's top attractions include Stonehenge on the outskirts, The Shard with its viewing platform (Western Europe's tallest building), Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, the Tower of London, Europe's biggest Ferris wheel - The London Eye, and the ever-impressive London Zoo.
Top Attractions in London
The House of Parliament and Big Ben
The iconic Big Ben has been a touristic hotspot for well over 150 years, and if you don't see it while you're in London, your trip would be incomplete. Make sure you visit the adjoining Houses of Parliament with its Westminster Hall that dates back to 1097. Other interesting sights here include the robing hall of the Queen and the Lords Chamber.
The Tower of London
It's been a prison, a palace, a treasure vault, an observatory and even a menagerie, which is why the Tower of London is considered one of England's most important buildings. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site of which the White Tower is the showcase building. Here you'll get to see exhibitions like the Line of Kings, which happens to be the world's oldest visitor attraction. But you'll also see the Crown Jewels exhibition, the Yeoman Warder Towers and the Royal Mint to name just a few great sights on these 18 acres of land.
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral is located in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the Cradle of English Christianity and also home to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cathedral dates back to 597, but it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what you can see and do in Canterbury. The city is home to some amazing shopping complexes, cafés and galleries, not to mention Chaucer's medieval England attractions and the tangible Roman past that lingers in the air.
Located on Salisbury Plain, just 10 minutes from Salisbury, Stonehenge is definitely Britain's most famous ancient site. Make sure you purchase you tickets well ahead of time to ensure you get to see the marvel and splendor on offer here. Stonehenge covers 8 square miles of land and these "hanging stones" date back to 3000 BC. The stone circles that were used in the Bronze Age is a great sight, but to get all the info you need pop in at the Visitors Center where you can browse some great exhibitions and enjoy a meal at the café afterwards.
North, South, West and East Riding are what make up the historic Yorkshire. The region is home to some of the most beautiful towns and cities in all of England. Durham, Beverly and York are three of the most beautiful with their half-timbered houses and shops, their medieval guildhalls and churches and their romantic streets surrounded by impressive town walls. The nearby countryside of Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors are well worth exploring too.
Britian's most beloved Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, called Chartwell home from 1924 up until his final days in 1965, and it's not hard to see why it's a popular touristic attraction. Churchill's legacy can be seen all around the area with annually rotated exhibits telling his tale. You might also want to explore the gardens with their lakes and looped walking trails through the adjoining woodlands. Tip: you have to buy your tickets in advance if you want to embark on a visit inside the iconic home in Mapleton Road.
Bath is an iconic English city, and it's so fascinating that it could suffice as the one and only city you really need to see in England. It's probably most famous for its 2,000 year old Roman Baths that are built around the town's hot springs, but you'd be missing out if you didn't get to see the beautiful Georgian Townhouses on the Royal Crescent. The entire city of Bath has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its historically important buildings, but it's also a great starting point from where you can venture into the English countryside. Nearby you'll find the awe-inspiring Avon Valley, the Mendip Hills and some other pristine Somerset landmarks.
Cambridge University
Yes, a university is really that important to see. The Cambridge University has an old-world charm that just can't be missed, and it's a massive touristic attraction for that reason. Cambridge is home to the world's largest collection of historic buildings most of which are clustered in Cambridge University's 31 colleges. On offer here is magnificent shopping and dining opportunities, spectacular events like the Midsummer Fair and the Cambridge Folk Festival and some of the most captivating experiences to be had in these parts.
The Eden Project
Eden Project is a breathtaking collection of artificial biomes that house plants from all across the world. You can find it in Bodelva, Cornwall, but don't be surprised if you fall in love with this collection of huge domes that resemble an igloo-shaped greenhouse collection.
Dover is one of Britain's principal cross-channel ports and is best known for its White Cliffs. You might have thought about just passing through Dover en-route elsewhere in the UK, but there are a lot of reasons why you need to linger just a little longer. Dover has a tangible Roman heritage, and as such boasts a number of Roman-era attractions like lighthouse on Castle Hill and the Roman Painted House, but to get behind the whole history there's an abundance of museums and historic sites in and around town. Some of Dover's other top attractions include the South Foreland Lighthouse (the first ever lighthouse to use electric light), the magnificent Dover Castle, the Dover Museum located in the Market Square, the tranquil 6 acre Pines Garden, the grand Deal Castle and the impressive Richborough Roman Fort to name but just a few.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is yet another hugely popular wedding venue, since it was where Kate Middleton became the wife of Prince William. But the Abbey is remarkable for much more than just being a wedding venue, the Gothic architecture will take you back to a time of ancient kings and queens.
Lake District National Park
England's Lake District National Park covers roughly 900 square miles, and it's a destination you can't miss out on seeing. This is where you'll find 12 of England's largest lakes nestled in over 2,000 miles of explore-worthy terrain. You'd be mad not to see the abundance of fells like Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain, the little towns and villages like Grasmere and boat excursion opportunities across Lake Windermere and Ullswater.
Warwick Castle
For those of you traveling with the kids, Warwick Castle has an amazing English family excursion on offer. Take a peek into life in the medieval times inside the castle located in the city of Warwick on the River Avon. This majestic fortress has been the dominant figure of the landscape for well over 900 years, and today boasts some of the best medieval fairs and events around. Warwick also makes for a great base from where you can explore Cotswold and other cities in the vicinity like Stratford-upon-Avon, Liverpool and Manchester.
St. Paul's Cathedral
The iconic St. Paul's Cathedral might be best known for the fact that it was where Prince Charles and Princess Diana said their vows, but it's a site steeped in British history. The 1,200 year old history is almost tangible, and if you're up for it, climbing the 237 steps to the top of the Dome offers you some truly unbeatable views of the surrounding area. Make sure you see the Whispering Gallery as you make your way up for the sight of the London skyline.
The Royal Academy of Arts
The Royal Academy of Arts is located in the heart of London's West End, and as such, is one of Britain's oldest fine art institutions. If you're looking to find a little calm amid the city buzz, this is the place to seek it at.
Windsor Castle
It's been the summer residence of the British Royals since 1078, which makes Windsor Castle the largest inhabited castle in the world, and also one of the most beautiful. It's built around two beautiful courtyards, and you can visit the castle with an admission ticket when the Queen is not at home. Nearby you'll find the scenic Great Park, a 6 mile long park you might have seen if you flew in from North America's side into Heathrow. The Changing the Guard in the Castle Precincts is an experience that'll complete your visit to Windsor Castle.
The Cotswolds'
Covering roughly 787 square miles, the Cotswolds' is where you'll find some of England's prettiest counties like Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. It's designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty by UNESCO mainly due to the limestone grasslands and old beech woodlands, but the whole picture would not be complete without The Cotswolds' small towns and villages like Castle Combe, Chipping Norton and Tetbury. Discover the area by foot through the Cotswold Way, a 10 miles footpath that boasts some of the most aspiring views over the Sevem Valley and the Vale of Evesham.
What used to draw visitors to Durham was the iconic cathedral perched high above the River Wear, but with over 600 listed buildings, including the likes of Crook Hall, Kingsgate Bridge, Elvet Bridge and the Town Hall, modern Durham has a lot on offer for the avid tourist. Some of the old region's top attractions include the Durham Cathedral (the Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham) that dates back to 1093 and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll see the likes of the Galilee Chapel, the Norman Nave and the Monk's Dormitory inside of the Cathedral. Don't miss out on seeing Durham Castle that dates back to 1072, the tranquil Botanic Garden, the Durham Heritage Centre and Museum and the Durham Town Hall, which are all major, must -see sites. There's also the nearby Beamish to explore, which is a 300 acre countryside area that gives you a look back in to the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian eras. It's much like a living museum with its costumed characters bringing the displays to life to tell the tale of the Industrial Revolution.


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Jamie Whincup will enter Adelaide's Clipsal 500 as the favourite, but punters with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au are tipping Shane Van Gisbergen can pull off an upset and win the event for the second time.
Whincup, having won four times, is the man to beat at $4.00, but Van Gisbergen has been the best backed at $6.00.
Even Scott McLaughlin has received more bets than Whincup at $7.00.
Punters have turned their backs on veteran Mark Winterbottom, with only a handful of bets coming for him at $9.50.
"Whincup has dominated the Clipsal, but punters are looking for a bit of value and have identified Van Gisbergen as the one to be on at $6.00. Given he won only two years ago, they might be onto a winner," said sportsbet.com.au's Shaun Anderson.
Market courtesy of sportsbet.com.au:
Clipsal 500
$4.00 Jamie Whincup
$6.00 Shane Van Gisbergen
$7.00 Scott McLaughlin
$9.50 Mark Winterbottom
$11 Craig Lowndes
$12 Chaz Mostert, Garth Tander, James Courtney
$21 James Moffat, Michael Caruso, Fabian Coulthard
$26 David Reynolds, Jason Bright, Rick Kelly
Others quoted

subset: commoncrawl


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Quickstart after vacation: Overview in less than 60 minutes
This week, my wife and I took two days off and we went for an extended weekend trip to a beautiful recreation area. But for today, I expected to get lost in a load of emails that flooded my company inbox during the last two days. Thus, I decided to quick start this morning by "speed processing" my inbox to get an overview as fast as possible. – This is how I achieved it:
1. I got up early to be one of the first people in the company to minimize interruptions by colleagues.
2. By screening my inbox for outdated and deletable emails, I could easily delete all newsflashes that came in during the days and I quickly checked for updated appointments or requests that were already answered by colleagues. This reduced my inbox by nearly 30 percent.
3. Finally: Strict application of my inbox processing methodology (delete, delegate, do within 2 minutes, schedule) to get to zero email in my inbox.
To be honest, I was a little bit surprised that I was really able to process all new emails (approx. 60) within less than 55 minutes. But I did! 🙂
What is your experience? How do you process your emails after a vacation? Please post or email your experience! Many thanks in advance!


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Your business demands reliable, secure technology.
On Time Tech delivers the level of service and
satisfaction that you need.
No matter your business, On Time Tech
provides the solutions that you need to
maximize productivity and drive growth.
In today's economy, every small to mid-size business has to have a deep investment in data and technology whether they want to or not. We have spent years working with companies just like yours across the region.
On Time Tech offers the full range of managed services that can help make your practice better. Managed services mean all your IT needs are taken care of by a single provider. Do what's right for your patients and employees! Make sure you get experienced IT support services.
Non-profit organizations can benefit from an IT company that has the flexibility to provide a managed IT service plan at an affordable cost. Take advantage of our full-menu, IT managed services for one, easily budgeted monthly payment.
With the evolving regulatory requirements and increasing client demands, your architecture firm must adopt innovative technologies to eliminate vulnerabilities and address security concerns while streamlining day-to-day operations.
Simply put, we've been supporting emerging and mid-size financial services firms for over two decades. We are a boutique, high-level IT consulting firm – not an IT support franchise or a solo operator with no accountability.
How Can The Best IT Solutions Benefit You?
Smart organizations have moved away from using break-fix services to Managed IT Services—Why? Because they want to stay up and running. The break-fix strategy no longer works for businesses today. If you still use this method of IT service, you risk downtime that can literally shut your business down.
Business IT Services & Technology Solutions For Companies From San Francisco to Los Angeles…We've Got You Covered!
Connect With Your Next San Francisco Bay Area Technology Company Right Away.Work With On Time Tech Now!
On Time Tech specializes in helping San Francisco organization with all their day-to-day business IT needs.
Lance Stone established On Time Tech in 2004 to provide IT services and support for small to mid-size businesses. Prior to On Time Tech, Lance graduated from LMU in 1994, obtaining a business degree with an emphasis on information systems. He worked as an IT Director for several law firms and accounting firms in Los Angeles during the mid to late 90's. In December 1999, he moved to the Bay Area to work as an Internet System Engineer at the data centers that ran Google and Yahoo.
After several years of working in the enterprise, Lance decided to create something meaningful. He wanted to build a company that was a positive work environment for himself and others. At On Time Tech, Lance always says, "We work together." In fact, the team has weekly company meetings and yearly company outings. Lance believes in doing what's best for the customer. When he approaches a problem, he does so with high morals and integrity.
Lance resides in Danville, CA, with his wife and two children. He enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about science; but above all, his family is the most important hobby of his.
Antony serves as our Chief Technology Officer and oversees all technical aspects of the company. He actively works with the On Time Tech team to grow the company through the use of technological resources, as well as by staying on top of current trends in IT and evaluating upcoming technologies. He completed a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Psychology & Economics, spent 6 months working in HR and decided that IT was far more exciting!
He has spent the last 20 years helping small and mid-size businesses get the best use and value from their IT infrastructure both as an on-site and remote support engineer. Passionate about service, his motto is "We don't fix computers, we help people."
Antony resides in Cape Town, South Africa and when he is not working, he can be found collecting shells on the beach or exploring the forest with his family.
As our Service Manager, Nicky manages all activities of our stellar Support Desk and Onsite Teams. She is also responsible for organizing and managing all incoming support and dispatch requests, and ensures that client issues are addressed timely by the best-available technician. Nicky also assists in the analysis of all the tickets logged and identifying recurring issues. Nicky says she enjoys working for On Time Tech because the people on the team are all very dedicated to their roles and have a wonderful sense of humor. What interests Nicky most about working in IT is how the automation of everyday tasks can save us so much time!
Nicky has been in the IT Industry for almost two decades. For the first few years, she worked as a software trainer, then moved onto Database/Application Development and then onto Project Management. Just prior to working for On Time Tech, Nicky spent 3 years developing an application to be used as an interface between a text order and the final product – Care Labels. All the care labels on your clothing or your soft furnishings may very well exist because of the application she developed!
When Nicky is not working for OTT, she enjoys being creative with activities such as pottery and refurbishing furniture, and enjoys doing large 5,000-piece puzzles. She is also a huge fan of Nutella and chocolate, and is a Candy Crush addict!
Moani has been with the OTT team since early 2017 and serves as our Project Manager and HR Manager, keeping the team on task and communicating with clients. She brings several years of management experience to OTT, having previously served as a Director of Operations and Sr. Paralegal for a law firm. She also serves as our Social Media Coordinator, helping to market the OTT brand and expand its presence across all social media platforms, and handles internal HR tasks for the company.
Though not a computer tech herself, she is fascinated by all the different aspects of the technology industry that help connect people with one another and make people's lives easier.
When not working, Moani is off traveling the world with her husband, writing for her travel blog and making travel videos for YouTube. Moani is also an avid photographer, scrapbooker, discoverer of new craft beer, and foodie that has an unhealthy obsession with burritos.
Luis is a dedicated troubleshooter with over 30 years of technology experience and has been a Senior Field Technician with On Time Tech for over 11 years. As a field tech for OTT, Luis' main focus is to bring peace of mind to our clients by not only solving their technology issues, but through education on technology solutions that can address their current or future needs. As part of the support team at On Time Tech, he is responsible for understanding our clients' technology and business needs, and making sure the two align. He does all this while keeping everyone confused with his warped sense of humor.
Prior to working at On Time Tech, Luis entered the semi-retired life but still earned a fair amount as a freelance writer and a Telecom/Network tech. Luis successfully enjoyed the satisfaction of working in his pajamas with feet on the desk and a RockStar drink close by – he still works this way many nights a week. Luis also brings multiple certifications from AT&T, TCI, Viacom, ASE, Scientific Atlanta, and of course, Microsoft.
When not working on computers and networks, you can probably find Luis at the gym, or out on the water jet skiing in the summer and snow skiing in the winter. He is passionate about his health and being active, as well as about the health of others and probably spends more time thinking about this than he should.
David Hansen has been a fantastic asset to the team at On Time Tech for over four years. He has well-developed skills for using and understanding today's technology, as well as great customer service skills, in order to resolve technology issues effectively. He also has a deep interest in Windows and Linux operating systems, electronic engineering, and computer programming.
David was introduced to computers in the mid-80s on arguably the first true IBM PC clone, the Compaq Portable. His introduction to DOS and the command line interface at an early age deeply rooted his interest in the technology field. He learned skills and ideas that developed throughout his childhood and adolescence. David not only learned the ins and outs of the PC through this time, but also began system and network building through middle and high-school and partook in such extracurricular activities as C++ programming and robotics to pass the time.
During his sophomore year in high school, David joined the Willow Glen High School's robotics class, where he helped design, build, and program a hand-built robot to compete in NASA's F.I.R.S.T. robotics competition. This was his school's first year participating in the battle, and his team took 8th place.
David was born and raised in San Jose, heart of the Silicon Valley, where he continues to enjoy servicing computer systems, repairing automobiles, and designing the occasional one-off electronic gizmo to fill a void where no other product may exist. He enjoys a quiet evening at home with his family while writing code for a project, tinkering on a broken device, or just having a good un-wind at the sticks of his Xbox.
Brian is our newest Bay Area field technician, having joined OTT in early 2017. As a field technician for On Time Tech, he makes onsite client visits to ensure their technology is running smoothly. Brian has been in the tech industry for a little over 5 years, but has been interested in technology as far back as he can remember (when he had his first Windows 95 IBM computer). He always seemed to know how technology worked and how to explain it to people so they could also understand.
Though Brian is a native to Upstate NY, he really loves living here in the San Francisco Bay Area and servicing OTT's clients personally. His first foray into IT service started out as a freelance technician, working with a few small Bay Area businesses. He discovered he truly enjoyed the work, set out to make a full-time career of it, and the rest is history! He loves learning about new technology and how it can help businesses grow and make people's lives easier. It's a fast-paced world and it never gets dull, and working with On Time Tech has let him turn his passion into a great career. What could be better than that?
In his spare time, Brian likes to read, go to shows/concerts (he is a big music fan), and plays guitar every now and then. Brian's favorite movies are the Back to the Future trilogy, and he can get a little obsessive over fictional worlds and universes (such as Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and Wheel of Time), and knows all the trivia! Think of a question that can stump him during his next onsite visit with you!
Richard currently serves as one of our Los Angeles-area Senior Field Technicians and has been in the IT/technology industry for roughly 24 years. Prior to working with On Time Tech, Richard worked as a Disaster Recovery Planner Lead for Continuity of Business for Citibank, and holds a Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification.
Richard's role at OTT is to make onsite visits to our clients, diagnose and troubleshoot technical issues, network administration, and overall IT consulting to make recommendations to uphold the technology infrastructure at each client. Richard enjoys working for On Time Tech because of our awesome comradery and the level of shared knowledge amongst all the techs. He also appreciates the drive and vision of the OTT team to constantly improve our company processes in order to better serve our clients.
When Richard is not working at OTT, you can find him watching action movies, binge watching a good TV series, relieving stress by playing Xbox games, or indulging in his favorite foods of sushi and burgers! He also enjoys learning about new computer-related items (such as tinkering with Raspberry Pi and Python) and learning programming languages and chip programming.
At On Time Tech, Johan is responsible for administering our remote monitoring agent and other technology tools to ensure our clients' networking equipment and individual workstations are running at optimal performance. This involves monitoring patches and updates, scripting to help deploy software more efficiently, and testing new programs to see if they fit our clients' needs.
David adds 15 years of tech industry experience to our Support Desk Team at On Time Tech and is both a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Cisco Certified Network Associate. As a Senior Support Desk Technician for On Time Tech, David is responsible for analyzing our clients' technology and business needs to ensure their infrastructure is current with today's trends, and working with clients directly to troubleshoot and resolve high-level and complex issues.
Prior to joining OTT, David worked as an Infrastructure Manager at Fortune-500 Company. He enjoys working in the technology field because it is always changing and evolving – and he gets front row seats to watch the process of a simple idea grow into a nationwide business. Every day is different, and it is a constant adventure!
When David is not working for OTT, you can find him enjoying the outdoors riding Moto X bikes.
Jacques is a recent addition to our Support Desk team, having joined On Time Tech in the spring of 2017, and brings roughly 8 years of IT experience to the company. Jacques is certified in NDip Support Services, Cisco CCNA, Microsoft Installing and Configuring Windows 8.1, and A+.
Prior to working for OTT, he was a field technician and had his own set of clients, looking after their IT needs. As a Support Desk Technician for On Time Tech, Jacques assists our clients remotely, responding to tickets and incoming calls, assisting the team wherever he can. What Jacques enjoys most about working for OTT is that it provides him with a good challenge. He loves the adrenaline rush when pushed and the end result of clients appreciating what you've done for them. He also loves the fact that the team is always willing to jump in and help, and if you don't know how to resolve an issue, they are right there to guide you and help you learn something new.
Jacques has been interested the tech industry for as long as he can remember. He started fixing PCs and laptops in school, and his teachers would even send their personal PCs to him or bring them to school so he could help fix them! What interests him the most about the tech industry in general is improvement and innovation in technology on a yearly basis, and the fact that it makes both your personal and professional lives easier.
As a parent and family man, when Jacques is not working for OTT, he spends as much time as possible with his family, taking them out camping and on small holidays. You'll be interested to know that he is also an avid gamer, although found it a bit difficult to do both so he has decided to bind the two together – his daughter games with him!
Tyrell brings 10 years of IT/tech industry experience to the Support Desk Team at On Time Tech. As a Support Desk Tech for OTT, he provides front-end assistance to our clients remotely for anything from quick fixes and walkthroughs, to scheduled weekly tasks and backups. Prior to working for OTT, Tyrell worked as a Systems Administrator/IT Consultant and managed and trained interns for a corporation that focused on government contracts. Tyrell has many certifications under his belt, including A+, N+, MCSA, MCSE, and MTCNA (MikroTik), and also spent two years in Film School and still likes to spend time behind the camera if the opportunity calls for it.
What Tyrell enjoys most about working for OTT is the dynamic that we share with our clients. He has enjoyed being able to grow relationships with our clients, understanding not just every client's expectations, but the expectations of every individual that is a part of their organization. Recognizing and meeting their needs and making sure that trust and comfort ensue is a top priority. He also enjoys the friendliness and enthusiasm of the OTT "family," and can always trust that all hands will be on board when required.
Tyrell finds that the pace at which technology moves is the most interesting part about IT/technology in general. Nothing has evolved more rapidly and feels that every day, a new piece of technology has the potential to make the world a better place.
When Tyrell isn't working for OTT, you can find him exploring the outdoors enjoying free running and parkour. He also indulges in his creative side when feeling inspired, playing the guitar, drums, and piano, and also enjoys drawing, motion graphics, animation, and 3D modeling.
Niel serves as one of our stellar Support Desk Technicians, bringing over 13 years of experience to the company. As a support desk technician for OTT, Niel assists with incoming tickets for end users and server management, as well as addressing NOC issues remotely. Prior to working for OTT, Niel worked as a Senior Primary Support Engineer, and comes to us with qualifications in administering SQL Server 2012. He is also Continuum certified, and is currently studying for the MCSE Server Infrastructure 2016 certification, as well as studying Azure AD.
What Niel enjoys most about working the tech industry is the fast pace at which technology moves, and keeping his finger on the pulse. He also enjoys the challenge with regards to infrastructure design and deployment.
When Niel is not working, you can find him cooking for friends and family, or spending lazy days on wine farms. He also enjoys a night out trying new craft beers, hitting the dance floor here and there, and playing a round of pool!
Gerry brings 20+ years of tech industry experience to the Support Desk Team at On Time Tech and is a Microsoft Certified Professional and ITIL certified. As a support desk technician, Gerry assists our clients with incoming support tickets and phone requests for end user, network, and server support issues. Prior to working for OTT, Gerry worked for a corporate company providing internal IT support assistance. Gerry enjoys working in the tech industry because he says "it's always growing and getting better. You never stop learning in IT and no, you don't always know everything!"
As an avid dog lover, Gerry spends his free time with his 7 dogs at home, and also likes to fly freestyle drones in First Person View, feeling the freedom of what it's like to be sitting in a pilot's seat. He also likes to ride his super bike with friends, and enjoys good Sci-Fi, action, and humorous animated movies!
San Francisco:182 Howard St. Suite 108 San Francisco, CA 94105
Los Angeles:8350 Rex Road Pico Rivera, CA 90660


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The Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting "investor testing" as part of its rulemaking efforts on target date funds, to help the agency assess "the types of information that investors believe are most useful when they choose their investments," Eileen Rominger, director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management, said Tuesday.
In 2010, the SEC proposed rule changes to address concerns regarding target date fund names and information presented in target date fund marketing materials, Rominger said in a speech before securities lawyers. To date, Rominger (left) continued, target date fund disclosures have been tested on about 1,000 investors.
"After we analyze the testing data and consider public comments on the proposed rule, the division will evaluate whether to recommend that the commission adopt rule changes to address target date funds," she said.
As of October, assets in target date funds had reached approximately $360 billion, Rominger said. The new cash flow that target date funds netted in 2010, she said, was over 10 times what it was 10 years ago. She cited a recent survey that found that 70% of U.S. employers use target date funds as the default investment in their defined contribution plans.
"The increasing significance of target date funds in 401(k) retirement plans–together with the market losses suffered in 2008–gave rise to concerns about those funds."
The SEC, Rominger said, will continue in 2012 to incorporate "empirical data" into the regulatory process. The SEC's oversight of money market funds, she said, "is a good example of our continued focus on improving information collection and utilization."
As a result of the first phase of money market reform approved by the commission in February 2010, the SEC has been receiving detailed holdings data for each of the past 12 months, which is submitted via form N-MFP and is "extensively analyzed and considered by the SEC staff," Rominger explained.
In the last year, the SEC has received filings from over 650 money market funds each month, or about 8,000 filings altogether. Each month, she said, "these funds report about 70,000 different positions in all their portfolios, and we are using the data to monitor characteristics and trends of holdings, and to identify areas that raise questions." This data will also help us better assist other regulators with systemic risk monitoring responsibilities, such as Treasury and the Federal Reserve.
The data, she continued, is increasingly used as a point of reference during examinations. "As our IM staff participates in exams of money market funds, we will occasionally ask questions about holdings and trends. This is helpful in gaining a general sense of the portfolio decision-making process. If you are part of one of these discussions, I encourage you to avoid reading too much into these high level questions, as it is not our intention to convey a specific point of view on these individual securities."


text: Many prestigious colleges are posting classwork on the Internet. By Anne Kates Smith, Executive Editor June 30, 2007 Ever wish you could go back to school? Now you can, without spending a dime. Colleges and universities worldwide are posting course materials on the Internet. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which pioneered the so-called open-courseware movement, will have at least some teaching materials online from all 1,800 undergraduate and graduate courses this fall. Other schools with a free online presence include the University of California at Irvine, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Notre Dame, Michigan State University and Harvard Law School. RELATED STORIES Best Deals on Student Loans Best Values in Private Colleges Best Values in Public Colleges But access to materials is just that. You don't get credit toward a degree, nor are you able to interact with professors or other students. And the utility of what you can access varies greatly. You might get little more than a syllabus and reading list for one course, but another might have a full complement of lectures -- via audio podcasts or video webcasts -- complete with exams and answer keys. What is posted is often left to the teachers. Sponsored Content Larkin Fessenden, 53, was surfing the Web when he found UC Irvine's "Fundamentals of Financial Planning." Fessenden, a computer programmer who happens to live in Irvine, got "a good overview" of investing, insurance, taxes and retirement at http://ocw.uci.edu/courses. "I don't know if I hit every part. I like that you can jump around." Easy to do in a virtual classroom.


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decor fashion faith garden design food film travel
Thanks for linking up! Love the verse :)
Beautiful scripture! Thank you for linking up, Fabiana! :) By the way, your name is so beautiful! What does it mean? :)Thanks for the follow - following you back! :)
let me know what you think....


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Weekly Food for Thought with items on a create your own pork burger contest, "Smokin' with Myron Mixon: Recipes Made Simple, from the Winningest Man in Barbecue" by Myron Mixon and Kelly Alexander and more.
Are your pork burgers the stuff of neighborhood legend? Do you love dreaming up inventive recipes?
Your inspiration could win you free groceries for a year, thanks to the first ever No Ordinary Burger Recipe Contest, sponsored by the National Pork Board and Johnsonville Sausage.
With pork's versatility, even the most unconventional toppings make top-notch burgers. Backyard chefs can share their spin on the traditional burger from now until Sept. 6.
Visit www.johnsonville.com/burgercontest to submit your recipe and/or vote for your favorite pork burger. One finalist will be selected by online votes, and five more will be selected by the Johnsonville culinary team. Winners will be invited to compete in the No Ordinary Burger Grill-Off in Bentonville, Ark.
Two grand-prize winners will be awarded a year's worth of groceries from Walmart, and their recipes will be featured on Johnsonville Brat and Italian Sausage Patty boxes.
Here are three ideas to get the juices flowing:
* Play up your family's favorite flavors: Love the spicy kick of jalapenos or the smoothness of good old fashion yellow mustard? Let your favorite toppings do the talking.
* Elevate your sides: Try piling your go-to side dish onto the pork burger, and create a two-in-one meal.
* Think beyond the bun: Just because it's a burger doesn't mean it needs a hamburger bun.
For more ideas on how to keep pork sizzling, visit www.PorkBeInspired.com.
Tip of the Week: Before you grill
Before using your charcoal or gas grill, be sure to wash the grate, utensils and grilling tools with soapy water. Also, use two different brushes when basting raw and cooked meat to avoid foodborne illness and contamination. A food thermometer is the only way to ensure meat is cooked to the proper internal temperature and is safe to eat. Finally, don't let meat go unrefrigerated for more than one hour when outdoors on a hot day or more than two hours when indoors. If outdoors, keep meat in a cooler at 40 degrees or lower.
-- EatRight.org
Easy recipe: Pizza Burgers
1 package (32 ounces) frozen sausage patties (package of 6)
6 slices provolone cheese
6 ciabatta rolls, split
1/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoons pizza sauce
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Grill patties according to package directions. Top with provolone cheese; grill 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Brush rolls with oil; grill until lightly browned. Serve burgers on rolls with pizza sauce and basil.
-- Johnsonville Sausage
Did You Know?
Nectarines keep for five days if stored in a plastic bag in the coldest part of your refrigerator. Or leave them at room temperature for three days to ripen. -- FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov
Critic's Cupboard: Beer Chips
Saimi Bergmann: I thought it was impossible to mess up a kettle-cooked potato chip. I thought wrong. I'm not sure why anyone would want a potato chip that tastes like beer, but it doesn't matter because these don't. Nice hint of sweetness, but weird aftertaste. Comes on a 9-ounce bag.
Jennifer Mastroianni: Crispy, crunchy, perfectly-salted kettle potato chips with the faintest hint of ale. What's not to like? Maybe the price and the calories, but it's hard to factor in the negatives when you are chowin' on chips that taste this good.
-- Canton (Ohio) Repository
Food Quiz
Mix egg yolks, sugar and flavorings with thickened cream. Freeze. What have you made?
A. Frozen yogurt
B. Sherbet
C. Ice cream
D. Sorbet
-- funtrivia.com
Answer is at bottom of column
Wise to the Word: Watermelon
Native to Africa, the watermelon is one of two broad categories of melon, the other being muskmelon. It's considered the less sophisticated of the two because it lacks flavor complexity and has a watery texture. But there are those who wouldn't trade a slice of watermelon on a hot summer day for anything. There are an untold number of watermelon varieties, but America's most popular is the large elongated oval shape with a variegated or striped two-tone green or gray-green rind. It averages 15 to 35 pounds but may be much smaller or larger, depending on the variety.
-- epicurious.com
Number to Know
57: There are 57 calories in one 2.2-ounce baked potato with skin and salt.
– calorieking.com
The Dish On …
"Smokin' with Myron Mixon: Recipes Made Simple, from the Winningest Man in Barbecue" by Myron Mixon and Kelly Alexander
The secret to the best barbecue from the man who barbecues the best: Keep it simple! In the world of competitive barbecue, Myron Mixon has won prize money, trophies and has competed in three world championships. Now he is stepping out from behind his rig to teach you how he does it. Mixon will show you how you can apply his "keep it simple" mantra in your own backyard. You'll learn to cook like Mixon does when he's on the road competing with great tips on choosing the right wood, getting the best smoker, creating the right formulas for the marinades, rubs, sauces and more.
-- Random House Publishing Group
From the Beer Nut's Blog: Green Tea IPA benefits Japanese Red Cross
It's good to see breweries trying to help those in need. Stone Brewing Company announced the all proceeds from the new collaboration beer with Ishii Brewing Company and Baird Brewing Company will go to Japanese disaster relief. Here's the press release:
Stone Brewing Co. is proud to announce the release of its latest collaboration beer, Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA, now in stores. Toshi Ishii, former Stone Brewing intern and now owner of Ishii Brewing Co. in Guam, got in touch with Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele shortly after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami disaster with a proposal to make a beer that could help with recovery efforts. Bryan Baird of Baird Brewing Company in Numazu, Japan, was brought on board, and ideas were soon flying. All proceeds (minimum $50,000) will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
"We wanted the beer to have a Japanese spirit, so we decided early on that we would be using green tea in the recipe," said Baird.
"We decided to brew an IPA to accentuate the tea's herbal character," adds Steele.
To read more from the Beer Nut, visit http://blogs.townonline.com/beernut/.
Food Quiz Answer
C. Ice cream
GateHouse News Service


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If your child has celiac disease, one of the most stressful Back to School tasks is preparing for school lunches. Blogger Julie Terrano of Best Whole Self gives parents easy-to-follow advice about packing gluten-free lunchboxes this school year.
By Julie Terrana of Best Whole Self
Labor Day, cooler nights and football games are right around the corner. And with those comes another familiar event: Back to School.
Some parents consider it the best time of the year, while other parents dread the thought of beginning homework, after-school activities and carpooling all over again. But if you are a parent with a child who has celiac disease, the most stressful task of all is packing a school lunch.
Parents, always remember to give your child S.P.A.C.E. by making lunches that are:
If you have several children and only one is gluten-free, you may run the risk of cross-contact when making their lunches.
Using the same knife to apply peanut butter to their gluten-free sandwich that you used for a non-gluten-free sandwich can make them ill. Using different knives, but cutting on the same cutting board without washing it off before cutting the gluten-free bread can also create cross-contact.
One way to avoid cross-contact while making your child's gluten-free lunch is to create a drawer that is just for them. Use colored tape to give their utensils flare and have a designated color twist-tie for their bread to match. They can even have their own "Lunch Drawer" with their lunch box or brown paper bag, napkins, utensils, snacks, etc. to ensure the proper safety precautions are taken when preparing their lunch.
What is the best method to transport these lunches?
Sure, plastic baggies are great for sandwiches, but what about containers for veggies, fruit, dips or crackers? My go-to place to find such devices for transporting food is The Container Store. They have all shapes and sizes of containers that hold the smallest of dips to the several-compartment-required lunches. Make sure to get enough to last you at least 5 days and color code them for your gluten-free child to separate them from your other children's containers.
Not all gluten-free breads are created equal.
Let's face it, while the gluten-free world has recently become far more palatable, some bread still tastes like cardboard. Not everyone likes the gluten-free versions of bread, pasta, crackers or pizza. So if your child fits into that category, what do you serve them for lunch? A go-to power lunch for me is fresh veggies cut up with some hummus, natural peanut butter or almond butter. It is crunchy, full of healthy fats, satiating and fun to mix and match different spreads with various veggies. You can even pack veggies with hummus and fruit with peanut butter as sweet treat. Kids love choices, so offering several fruits and veggies with two or three spreads will allow them the creativity to make their own favorite combinations.
Who remembers trading something from your lunchbox for something from your friend's lunchbox?
Your child may not be able to share their lunch with classmates, so it is important to provide them with options that are kid-friendly and as close to what the other children have as possible. One of my favorite brands is Annie's Homegrown, which has numerous gluten-free options. They have great gluten-free fruit chews, crackers, cookies and more.
There is no contest when packing lunch for your child.
It does not have to be a 4-part meal that includes fruit shaped like animals or anything that involves reheating. Keep it simple, and your child will love it. Gluten-free lunchmeat rolled with cheese and lettuce, an apple and mini bag of almonds is the perfect combination of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats your child needs to power through the rest of the day without feeling hungry or sluggish.
Following these easy steps to create S.P.A.C.E.for your child's lunch will start the school year off on the right foot and allow your child to be full, satisfied and, most importantly, HEALTHY!
Be your best,
Julie is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach in Philadelphia. She has been a volunteer for Beyond Celiac since 2013. Living with Crohn's Disease, Julie has had a goal to reach remission since 2009. Despite trying numerous medications, she continued experiencing severe flares that led her to being hospitalized and eventually having surgery. In the summer of 2013, Julie went gluten-free and it changed her life. She has since experienced fewer flares and was able to run a half marathon in November 2013. Julie's journey adjusting to a gluten-free diet has led her to develop a passion for helping others adapt to a similar lifestyle changes. She shows her clients that living with dietary restrictions does not have to be difficult and teaches them to navigate the obstacles of gluten-free living with ease and grace. Physical and emotional health are the main focal points in working with clients, which has led Julie to committing to her motto, "It is not about being skinny. It's about being your best whole self."
Opt-in to stay up-to-date on the latest news.Yes, I want to advance research No, I'd prefer not to


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By Jared Olar
Library assistant
This week's "From the Local History Room" column spotlights a recent addition to the Pekin Public Library's Local History Room collection (previously announced here).
The library last month received a donation of an impressive collection of materials and memorabilia from the 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns of Barack Obama as well as some historical materials from Obama's time as a U.S. Senator for Illinois from 2004 to 2008.
These materials, which include numerous U.S., European, and Canadian newspapers, magazines, and assorted political campaign and convention memorabilia, were donated by Amy and Mark Werner of Pekin. Amy Werner was the first director of Pekin Main Street, and she and her husband are active in Democratic Party politics.
Obama's chief place in history is as the first African-American to be elected president of the United States. Notably, one of the articles in the Werners' collection is a Peoria Journal Star opinion column by James Unland, formerly of Pekin, which recalls the link between Obama's historic election in 2008 and perhaps the most important achievement of U.S. Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen of Pekin.
"As President-elect Obama prepares to enter the White House," Unland wrote in the Jan. 4, 2009 Journal Star, "it is worth remembering that it was central Illinois' own Senator Everett Dirksen who orchestrated what has been called the single most important congressional vote of the 20th century, the U.S. Senate's vote to close off the civil rights debate on June 10, 1964.
"That vote, which ended a 12-week filibuster by southern Democratic senators, paved the way for the final passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The move was significant enough that it landed Dirksen on the cover of Time magazine on June 19, 1964.
"Without the support of Dirksen and Republican senators, who were in the minority, this landmark legislation would have been dead at the starting line . . ."
As it happens, the Werners until recently owned and lived in Dirksen's former home. Obama's own direct link to Pekin is a visit to the Pekin Public Library during his time in the U.S. Senate.
The Werners' donated materials are available for researchers in two archival boxes in the wide storage cabinet in the back corner of the Local History Room.


text: Nino Homes is a family-owned and managed custom home building company. With over 20 years of experience they build quality homes that stand as a testament to fine workmanship. They work closely with local subcontractors, suppliers, designers and craftspeople who have helped them earn a reputation for value, dependability and enduring quality.


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When you hire a candidate for an open position, you don't simply hire for skills. Skills will not play themselves out nor will they remain intact. It is the personality that you should hire for.
Why Test Candidates for Personality?
There are three questions the employer has to find answers for during the selection process:
- right skills and experience
- enthusiasm and motivation
- fitment, in terms of personality, attitude & general work style
To answer the last two questions, employing a personality test is important as it is the personality that is playing an important role in answering the questions about motivation, fitment, trainability and attitude towards work.
Previously, personality check were not scalable for various reasons. With technological advancements and the help of competency mapping in place, it is easier to find the right candidates.
What is Personality?
Merriam-Webster defines personality as a complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual. It further adds that it is the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics.
Significance of Personality to Employment
Employers worldwide are using different forms of tests and tools to decide whether you have the enthusiasm, cultural fitment, and motivation that the employer is looking for.
In terms of cultural fitment, employers assess personality, attitude and general work style of the candidate.
In this article, I will elucidate different personality test types, different tools used to measure personality, theories behind each one and their significance.
I will also discuss common psychometric test* questions asked during job employment.
*Psychometric tests and personality tests are interchangeably used in the TA industry. If you'd like to get into the depths of it, follow this link.
What is Personality Test?
Personality testing refers to techniques that are used to accurately and consistently measure personality.
Personality is something that we informally assess and describe every day. When we talk about ourselves and others, we frequently refer to different characteristics of an individual's personality.
Psychologists do the same thing when they assess personality, but on a much more systematic and scientific level.
Different Types of Psychometric Tests
Behavioral interview techniques employed depend on the type of job. These are usually included in pre-employment tests.
Most common types include:
- Verbal Reasoning
This type is used when the candidate is requires good communication skills. The tests usually include questions that require sentence completion, reading, and paraphrasing a passage.
This test is used when employers seek clearly written reports and documents from the candidates. Also used to understand if the candidate can articulate work-related issues in a clear and simple manner to colleagues, managers and customers.
- Numerical reasoning
These tests are used to find the candidate's ability to analyze, interpret, and draw logical conclusions based on numerical data presented in graphs and tables, not just find mathematical answers.
- Abstract Reasoning or Conceptual Reasoning
As the name suggests, it measures the candidate's ability to think laterally or out of the box for any given problem. Usually the answers have multiple ways to find the solution. It is the way in which the candidate solve the problem that matters.
This is usually used to find the capability of the candidate to quickly analyze new information and come up with a solution for difficult situation.
- Logical Reasoning
This is similar to abstract reasoning tests, the only difference is that in this test the candidate's ability to work flexibly with unfamiliar information and solve problems is assessed.
- Mechanical Reasoning
This is also called as Mechanical aptitude reasoning test. Commonly used to test engineers. This is employed when the employer would like to know if the candidate understands the use of each mechanical and engineering principles & concepts.
- Situational Reasoning
Also known as Situational Judgement Test or SJT is almost always tailored to a job requirement. For instance, questions are presented that are Sales or customer support specific situations and asked to respond to the situation. This lets the employers know how well can the candidate assess the situation and respond.
- Cognitive Ability Test
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT, CAT) is a test designed to measure candidate's learned reasoning abilities. Questions are mostly asked related to Verbal, Quantitative and Nonverbal reasoning.
Employers Looking to Assess Candidate's Personality Click Here.
Tools Used to Measure Personality Type
Globally, many organizations have realised the importance of hiring for personality along with assessing the candidate's skills. And hence, there are innumerous tests, tools and vendors who provide personality tests.
Some provide free personality tests, some premium, some provide simple personality tests and others provide comprehensive tests reports.
- Hogan Assessments
The Hogan Assessment captures key behavioral tendencies relevant to the job and are based on the 11 personality scales.
This is applied in selection, development and identifying leadership qualities of new hires or existing employees.
- DISC Personality Test
DISC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Compliance/Conscientiousness. In a DISC personality test, employers can find out the applicant's DISC type. This helps to predict the everyday behavior towards others and everything you do.
Most commonly applied to a group of coworkers to find their likeability and match to avoid any internal conflicts.
Mostly used in building productive teams, finding effective leaders, minimize team conflict and develop stronger sales skills.
- 16 Personality Test
A common career personality test where the candidate is categorized under INTJ-A, ENFP-T, or ESTJ-A. Each letter refers to a specific trait - it helps describe how people belonging to a specific personality type are likely to behave. Various vendors have their own version or variant of the test based on how they perceive the parent theory.
This test is loosely based on Myers-Briggs (MBTI) model which is an introspective report questionnaire designed to indicate psychological preferences in how people make decisions. Has several deficiencies including reliability and validity of the measurement.
- Behavioral Insights Test
This behavior-based test is based on Big Five theory - each personality-type is tagged to a skill that the job demands. Based on the responses from the candidates, the test reveals the likeability of the candidate to the job.
This is the only type of test that DOES NOT ask apparent behavioral questions to the candidate. It leverages psycholinguistics and video interviews to assess the candidate. This test has been designed with the help of experienced occupational psychologists. (You can read more about it here)
What makes this test reliable than most is that the candidates come prepared to answer a job assessment test or an online personality test. They provide socially acceptable answers to pass the test.
Whereas this test has formed targeted selection interview questions in such a way that it invokes the applicant's true intent. Thus, providing accurate personality mapping of each candidate.
Pre-employment Personality Test
It is apparent that all the tests here are for employment. What constitutes of a preemployment test? It completely depends on the employer or the job. A mixture of all the tests and tools mentioned above are used as a pre employment test.
Profile analysis of the candidate happens on various levels for various reasons. For example, it may be for selection or training or leadership. It may also be used for personal development of the candidate or to test the strengths, weaknesses and trainability.
Trainability is an important trait the candidate must possess. Most freshers cannot prove their trainability as they have no prior experience at a job. These tests provide insight into candidate's trainability or in other words, ability to grasp information and use it to improve on a personal and professional level.
Moreover, this can also be used to invoke a need for personal development in the candidate. This is a plan that lets the candidate set personality goals to nail the next job or attain the next step at the workplace.
Popular Personality Test Questions
There are numerous free personality tests out there that help candidates prepare for the test beforehand. To a large extent, it diminishes the authenticity, reliability and genuineness of the responses. However, they are available and here are what some of the popular vendors ask.
Institute of Psychometric Coaching
This is based on a 5 point scale. Asking candidate to choose between options ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. There are no right or wrong answers.
- My goals in life are clear
- If people are rude to me I just shrug it off
- I can work even when things are disorganised
- I consistently put full time and effort into everything I do
- I would describe myself as an extremely competent person
- I tend to take on other people's problems
- People often comment on how comfortable I am in giving orders
16 personalities.com
They ask similar questions but are based on a 7 point scale. Again, no right or wrong.
- You find it difficult to introduce yourself to other people.
- You rarely do something just out of sheer curiosity.
- Your home and work environments are quite tidy.
The questions are bespoke to each job role. The following was asked to engineering graduates.
- What programming languages do you know? Describe the process that you will use to join two data tables, and you can use any programming language to illustrate the answer.
- Why are recursive relationships bad? How do you resolve them?
- Describe a time when you worked in a group on your last technical project.
Cons of Commonly Employed Behavioral Tests
- The tests employed usually have questions that are unrelated to work situations. Common questions include:
- Do you consider yourself to be shy?
- Do you like parties?
- Do your friends sometimes say about you that you are a somewhat self-important person?
- Do you like to talk to strangers?
- These questions make it easier for the candidate to provide socially acceptable answers defeating the purpose of employing psychometric tests.
- These tests are often expensive reducing the scalability of the tests.
- And more importantly, most tests come in lengthy, complicated formats that require psychometrician to analyse and interpret it.
Choosing a Vendor
As an employer, it is a true challenge to find the vendor that provides with accurate personality results. It is more difficult to find a vendor that provides detailed report that doesn't require a psychometrician to interpret the report. The vendor must be able to provide scalable solution as well.
It is important don't end up spending more on resources to help you select candidates.
Some famous personality test providers around the globe are: Thomas International, CEB, 16 Personalities, Talview, and OPP.
A lot of projects, money, and resources can be saved by using psychometric test. Not only that, it will hep improve productivity, success and maintain coherence among the teams.


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Lot of 19 units of Philips Respironics Trilogy 202 Medical Ventilators. We are selling 19 units as one lot for one low price! They are used & are in good working condition but require a PM Update. Visit our Website or call 844-823-3800 to inquire more.
C2C is a Multi-specialty ISO which buys, sells and services all brands of capital medical equipment. We have one of the most comprehensive inventories in the world! Visit our DOTmed WebStore or email your special request.


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YV-2030MS Vibraphones New
Product Information
YV-2030MS Vibraphones New
Perfect for limited budgets, beginning percussionists, or those in need of a compact instrument
- Bars utilize the exclusive Yamaha tuning method for true pitch and a full sound.
- Non-graduated bars help keep this keyboard compact while the silver matte finish produces a warm sound.
- Quiet motor, the YVD-10, is sold separately. Includes silent pause and silent fan speed slider control, allows musical expression without unwanted noise.
- Locking 3 inch casters on the player side are easy to reach, and secure the instrument while playing.
- Only essential accidental resonators are used to reduce weight and size for transport.
The colors and finishes shown may vary from those on the actual products.


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Women of color have a variety of responses when employing digital technologies for empowerment. New communication technologies have expanded the opportunities and potential for marginalized communities to mobilize in this context counter to the dominant, mainstream media. This growth reflects the mobilization of marginalized communities within virtual and real spaces reflecting a systematic change in who controls the narrative. No longer are mainstream media the only disseminators of messages or producers of content. Women, in particular, are employing social media to highlight issues that are often ignored in dominant discourse. However, access itself neither ensures power nor guarantees a shift in the dominant ideology (as the use of #Misogynoir by Katy Perry reveals among other examples). Operating under the oppressive structures of masculinity, heterosexuality, and Whiteness that are sustained in digital spaces, marginalized women persevere and resist such hegemonic realities. Yet the conceptual frameworks intended to capture the digital lives of women cannot deconstruct the structural inequalities of these spaces.
Kishonna L. Gray (Ph.D., Arizona State University) is currently a MLK Visiting Scholar in Women & Gender Studies and Comparative Media Studies/Writing. She is also the Founder of the Critical Gaming Lab at Eastern Kentucky University. She is expanding on the work created here to develop new initiatives surrounding Equity in Gaming (www.equityingaming.com). Her work broadly intersects identity and new media although she has a particular focus on gaming. Her most recent book, Race, Gender, & Deviance in Xbox Live (Routledge, 2014), provides a much-needed theoretical framework for examining deviant behavior and deviant bodies within that virtual gaming community.
About Andrew Whitacre
Andrew directs the communications efforts for CMS/W and its research groups. A native of Washington, D.C., he holds a degree in communication from Wake Forest University, with a minor in humanities, as well as an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. This work includes drawing up and executing strategic communications plans, with projects including website design, social media management and training, press outreach, product launches, fundraising campaign support, and event promotions.


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20 July 2012
Set and Costume Design
This course will be delivered by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Design Lecturers and will take place in the newly opened Speirs Locks Studios.
The course consists of practical and theoretical teaching in set and costume design. Students will be set projects applying this knowledge and will work towards a presentation on the final day of the course. This may provide students with evidence for portfolio building as well as an opportunity to present the product of the projects work to others.
The course will provide a fun, supportive and challenging environment in which all students from beginners to advanced can explore and learn.
Course leader
Jamie Mackay - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Lecturer in Design and Scenic Art
Christine Murphy - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Lecturer in Costume
Target group
This 10-day course is aimed at anyone aged 16 plus who is interested in developing skills in set and costume design. It may be useful for anyone wishing to pursue a pathway to further training or explore a career in this field.
Course aim
By the end of the course students should have:
• developed an awareness of the design process from initial idea through to production
• worked with experienced industry professionals to develop and expand specialist skills
• gained greater insight into how design works within the context of the performing arts
• participated in a collaborative practical project culminating in a presentation
Fee info
GBP 850: 50% deposit must be paid at time of booking


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Discussion in 'The Dallas Art Gallery' started by southfork88, Apr 2, 2017.
This thread is so much fun! Thanks to everybody contributing!
Page 2: Who is the woman in black with the hat and veil? (Probably it's from an episode I haven't seen in a long while...)
Page 3: Gosh, Jenna's wedding dress is hilarious! I had totally forgotten that one...
Page 2: Lady Jessica Farlow Montford
Page 3: Sure, Jenna's wedding 'rosa schocking' dress is hilarious
Separate names with a comma.


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First-in-Class Assets & Promising New Targets
Repare is building a portfolio of assets addressing both novel and well-characterized targets with the potential to precisely treat identified patient populations with genetically defined cancers. Behind the portfolio of assets rapidly advancing towards development candidate selection, a growing pipeline of novel and industry-validated targets continues to be generated by Repare's proprietary discovery platform.
For partnership and business development contact us at: email@example.com


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Exhumed-All Guts, No Glory
Relapse Records
Exhumed should have called their new album "All Guts & All Gory". With such lovely and charming song titles as "Your Funeral, My Feast", "Dis-assembly Line" and my personal favorite "So Let It Be Rotten… So Let It Be Done" this is one blood-drenched album. Having been around since 1990 this San Jose, California death/grindcore band have always been an underground favorite. After all these years not much could be done to change that lets face it. Even with nods to thrash it isn't as if this new album could suddenly make Exhumed overnight sensations. Quite honestly I don't think the band cares at this point just as long as they have a gore-filled good time. And they seem to. They thrash and grind their way through "All Guts, No Glory" like a pack of half-crazed demon dogs. Either you love this kind of metal (with a grinding death assault) or you don't so depending on where you find yourself on the heavy metal scale approach with care. If vile, ugly and nasty death/grind sounds appealing right before Halloween then dive right in!


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On 7 November 2013, the Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, released the Galilee Basin Development Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy acknowledges the long-term economic benefits that opening up the Galilee Basin to mining would bring to Queensland and is designed to support and encourage business and industry to develop key infrastructure across the region.
The Strategy details government initiatives aimed at early development of the southern and central Galilee Basin (with priority to be given to 'first movers'). These initiatives include:
- lowering start-up costs by offering a discounted royalty period which will gradually ramp-up to full royalty by the end of the period,
- streamlining land acquisition, planning, approvals and red tape reduction by compulsorily acquiring land for projects, delivering project approvals in a timely way and consider declaring projects 'prescribed projects' to overcome unreasonably delays in obtaining project approvals,
- positioning Abbot Point as the Galilee's gateway to the world by reserving the Terminal (T2) development site for a proponent to develop coal stockpiling and handling infrastructure, and
- supporting infrastructure development and corridors by supporting the development of localised water solutions, encouraging and assisting private investment in relevant electricity transmission and prioritising the development of roads critical to opening up the Galilee Basin.
No further details have been released at this stage.
Notably, the Strategy comes less than a week after approval of GVK's Kevin's Corner project which is expected to be Australia's biggest coal project. Kevin's Corner joins the adjacent Alpha Coal project which was approved in August 2012.
In addition, Aurizon has been developing an integrated rail transport and port solution for Galilee Basin coal over the past two years.
For further information, please contact Jay Leary, Partner, Roger Allingham, Graduate or your usual Herbert Smith Freehills contact.


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Product Description
Our doonas have been made the traditional way since the 1950's right here in Australia. Firstly we take the only highest quality imported European feather and down and wrap it in a 100% cotton Japara cover. Then we finish our doonas off with a piped & double stitched hem for added strength, designed to give you years of trouble free use.
All our doonas come with a 7 year guarantee, are Oeko-Tex 100 certified (free from harmful substances) and are hypo-allergenic.
Goose down is regarded as superior to duck down. This is because the goose down clusters are larger than duck and therefore are more robust and longer lasting.
Our doonas are custom made to order so they typically take 10-14 business days to be dispatched. Once you have placed your order, our team will make contact with you to confirm our current lead times and advise an estimated dispatch date.
Once dispatched, delivery will normally occur within
1 – 4 days (VIC and NSW)
4 – 6 days (TAS, SA and QLD)
6 – 9 days (WA and NT)
If you order multiple items you may receive multiple shipments. All of our items are not in the same warehouse so are sometimes shipped from different locations.
To assist your selection, our doonas are rated in Warmth from 1 (coolest) to 5 (warmest). The warmth rating is the average wool blanket equivalent – for example a Warmth 3 is approximately equivalent to the warmth of 3 wool blankets. The best way to choose the right warmth is to consider how cold your house gets at night (on the inside).
If you and your partner like different warmth levels – check out our His n Hers DUO Range
The table below provides some suggestions based on the internal overnight temperature of your house and your sleep type:
|Sleep Type
|Internal Overnight Temperature
|Suggested warmth rating
|Very hot sleeper
|25+ degrees
|Warmth 1
|Hot sleeper
|20-25 degrees
|Warmth 2
|Average sleeper
|15-20 degrees
|Warmth 3
|Snuggly sleeper
|10-15 degrees
|Warmth 4
|Toasty warm sleeper
|5-10 degrees
|Warmth 5
If you are a cold person or are older (55+) consider going one step warmer than the suggestions above. If you are a hot person or if you are buying for children, consider going one step cooler than the suggestions above.
When buying a doona from Alora House you can shop with confidence because of our Comfort Guarantee.
We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to be sure that a doona is right for your without sleeping under it first and so with our Comfort Guarantee means that we will happily adjust the warmth of your doona during the first 100 days following initial purchase.
Whether it be removing fill to reduce warmth, adding fill to increase warmth or differently filling a doona – we will not charge you for the time & labour involved.
You are required to pay the return freight costs to our factory in Melbourne and the cost of any additional fill.
Please Note: Fill (warmth) can be added or removed from duck and goose channelled doonas. Due to the construction of the boxed doonas it is only possible to add fill (not remove) once it has been manufactured. This service is not offered on Alpaca doonas.
Single: 140 x 210cm
Double: 180 x 210cm
Queen: 210 x 210cm
King: 240 x 210cm
Super King: 270 x 240cm
All of our feather & down doonas are made here in Australia. The Factory has been supplying high quality (to meet European Standards) feather quilts and pillows in Australia for over 50 years. The factory is located in the Melbourne area and they offer a natural approach to bedding using 100% cotton and feather filling. The products are hypo allergenically treated and ecologically safe and come with our 7 year guarantee certificate.
All fillings are free from any impurities like odours and dust that can be experienced in down products from some Asian countries like China, Thailand and Vietnam. Our products are approved by AQIS ( Australian government inspection service).
There are 4 different quality levels of feathers.
CIS: these feathers are from China and are the lowest quality (We never use these)
US Standard: these feathers are from the US and are mid range quality (We never use these)
European & Japanese: these 2 are the same standard of feathers and are the highest quality available. All of our feathers are European Standard and therefore are the highest quality available due to their cleanliness and quality (We select these high standard feathers for all of our doonas)
Not found the answer? – see our Frequently Asked Questions
HINT! When you first unpack your new quilt it will have virtually no air or loft to it, so just give it a vigorous shake and leave it uncovered for a while.


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Have you been enjoying the Sew Weekly Reunion? There are some gorgeous pics in the Flickr group. The challenge was to use colours from the Pantone autumn palette, and I already had this vintage Laura Ashley fabric with two of the colours – emerald and vivacious.
The pattern is Simplicity 2644, which I won during Sew Grateful Week from Ellin at Ellikitty – thanks again Ellin!
Sadly, I'm not in love with this dress. It's a lovely shape, and I will make the pattern again, but I think the fabric is wrong. It's too thin and strange creases appear. I also had to do a lot of unpicking due to stupid mistakes, which doesn't help the way I feel about it!
I have quite a bit of this fabric left, so I think I'll recycle the dress and make something else out of it. Ah well, it's a learning experience this sewing lark!
The Facts
Fabric: vintage Laura Ashley cotton. Green cotton lining recycled from old dress.
Notions: zip, thread
Pantone Challenge colors: emerald and vivacious
Pattern: Simplicity 2644
Year: 2009
Time to complete: 2 days
First worn: 31 August
Wear again? Hmm….no.
Total Cost: £15


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Jeff Brown & Still Lonesome's very own Jeff Brown was recognized and honored for his long standing contributions on Saturday. Jeffrey was commissioned as an honorary Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steven L. Beshear. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels does not appoint or commission Kentucky Colonels; that can only be done by the sitting Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The name "Kentucky Colonel" has become synonymous with strength of character, leadership and dedication to the welfare of others.
Jeff Brown is instrumental in both creating quality bluegrass music and in promoting traditional music to upcoming generations. Jeff began playing at the very young age of nine. He and his brother formed the Richlands Bluegrass Boys performing at festivals, fairs, Churches, family reunions etc. In 1993, Jeff started to work for the legendary Larry Sparks as bass player and tenor singer. Jeff worked as a Lonesome Ramblerfrom 1993 to 1996. He continued to play various dates and recording projects with Larry until forming Still Lonesome in 2012.
Jeff has performed on many famous stages such as: the Grand Ole Opry at the world famous Ryman Auditorium in Nashville Tennessee, along with the television shows Austin City Limits in Austin Texas and Song of the Mountains on PBS. One notable, while performing with Sparks at the Carter Fold in Hiltons Virginia, Jeff was ask to play bass for Johnny Cash along with his wife June Carter Cash.
Jeff has taught traditional music for many years. He helped establish the Traditional Music Program at Southwest Virginia Community College as well as taught an after-school program for elementary and middle school students. Jeff also has served as Coordinator and Co-chair for the Virginia Mountain Music Festival for the last decade. Jeff serves on the musician's board with The Crooked Road and is always looking for ways to help preserve the music and heritage.
The honor has been given to a broad variety of notable people – including various celebrities, artists, writers, athletes, performers, businesspersons, U.S. and foreign politicians, and members of foreign royal families – some of whom have no obvious connection to Kentucky. The selection process is intended to identify only those with a reputation for high moral standards and a record of "good works" accomplishments.
Over the years, many celebrities have held the title Kentucky Colonel. Here is a list of a few of the individuals: Ashley Judd, Bill Clinton, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Crystal Gayle, Dwight Yoakam, Elvis Presley, George Bush, Hugh O'Brien, Jeff Foxworthy, Jeff Gordon, Louise Mandrell, Marie Osmond, Mel Tillis, Muhammad Ali, Naomi Judd, Phyllis Diller, Richard Petty, Ronald Reagan, Tom T. Hall, Whoopi Goldberg, Winston Churchill and Wynonna Judd to name a few.
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55 Million Consoles Sold In 2015 But PS4 Is Doing A Lot Better Than Xbox One
Gamers have been bustling contrast their skills and perplexing out new titles with good fervour on a Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One, as evidenced by a new report, that reveals that scarcely 55 million consoles were sole in 2015.
But that of a dual behemoths is a apple of gamers' eye? If Electronic Arts (EA) CFO Blake Jorgensen is to be believed, afterwards a PlayStation 4 surpassed a Xbox One's sales worldwide.
At a company's gain call, Jorgensen revealed that a total worldwide sales of Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One stood during 55 million per EA's estimates.
"The console purchases adult by a finish of calendar year 2015, a guess is 55 million units out there, that has exceeded probably everyone's foresee for a year, and is now roughly 50 precent aloft than a prior console cycle," says Jorgensen. "So all of that is very, really positive; all a gameplay we are saying and a rendezvous in things like Ultimate Team we're saying as positive."
Earlier in January, Sony spilled a beans that a Japanese association sole 35.9 million units of PlayStation 4 given a console was launched.
If one does a math and subtracts this sales figure from a 55 million units sole as disclosed by Jorgensen, afterwards it can be deduced that a series of Xbox One units sole is during a 19 million mark.
The numbers simulate that sales of PlayStation 4 units were scarcely double those of a Xbox One. Not usually did a PlayStation 4 outperform a Xbox One, yet it did so with thumping success.
The holiday deteriorate was cited as one of a vital reasons for boost in a consoles' earthy sales. Nearly 13 million copies of Star Wars: Battlefront were shipped in 2015 alone, that according to EA "skewed even some-more physical" than it estimated. According to Jorgensen, over a million units of a diversion were sole in bundles with gaming consoles.
"Star Wars: Battlefront was a largest digital launch ever. Although it did gaunt some-more towards earthy copies over a full quarter, as holiday present giving became a widespread motorist of purchases," says Jorgensen.
Even yet a sales total of a Xbox One demeanour gloomy when compared to those of a PlayStation 4, a fact that consumers are purchasing consoles is enlivening news for a market. Moreover, both Microsoft and Sony's current-generation consoles are behaving improved when compared to their particular predecessors.
For those wondering if a EA sales figure of 55 million console units enclosed a Wii U from Nintendo, it seems doubtful as a association does not rise games for a platform.
Photo: Fe Ilya | Flickr
© 2016 Tech Times, All rights reserved. Do not imitate but permission.
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After three weeks of our Why Millennials Love EquiLottery series, are we really telling you this research points to Millennials being like every generation before them when it comes to lottery appeal? In a word, yes. Lottery is hardly a new concept, dating back to the Han Dynasty in 205 BC funding projects such as the Great Wall of China. It has an innately human appeal.
What about horse racing? This sport has appeal for Millennials as well, just like every generation before it since…4500 BC. The core of a sport that has been a part of the human experience since the beginnings of the Egyptian Empire didn't suddenly lose all interest over the last 20 years. Millennials love horse racing too.
But they don't love either of these industries as they have always been conducted. Millennials have grown up in one of the major economic revolutions in the history of the world and it's made them a generation that wants to engage in the human experience in a much different way than preceding generations. The research we've presented over the last month shows that both lottery and horse racing simply need new packaging and they can successfully tap into this generation.
This is great news for all of us because it's a problem we can solve for two industries so important to our current economies.
Millennials haven't turned away from the idea of television programming. They just want it streaming over Netflix as opposed to NBC. They haven't stopped communicating with their friends and family. They just do it via text and social media instead of landline phones. And they haven't stopped using household products such as laundry detergent, they just want to make sure these products are as environmentally friendly as possible. No one would say, "Millennials don't use landlines, therefore they must not want to communicate anymore" and yet when it comes to lottery and horse racing it seems easier to believe Millennials have somehow evolved beyond millenniums of human behavior.
It's far more logical to see Millennials as having the same wants and desires as previous generations. They just experience life in a different packaging.
It's why a product such as EquiLottery, which delivers live event excitement through a mobile app, creates lottery and horse racing appeal for Millennials. At a rate of 74%, this age group said they would purchase a lottery ticket based on a live horse race and when they make this purchase, they are volume buyers, purchasing between 2 and 5 tickets per race 71% of the time.
From that 74% of Millennials that would purchase an EquiLottery ticket, 80% would play at least monthly, 56% would play every 2-3 weeks, 35% would engage with our product weekly and 20% would make EquiLottery a part of their routine on a nearly daily basis. That's serious appeal and shows the power of effective packaging for a generation which grew up during this unprecedented Technology Revolution.
But of course, this revolution has influenced all living generations. No one can escape the impact technology has had on our lives and the rapidly adapting world around us.
That's why our Generation X numbers are right in line with Millennials. They record a net positive EquiLottery experience score of 85% compared to the 88% score from Millennials. They have a favorable opinion of our prize offerings 83% of the time, one percentage point more than Millennials. And when it comes to purchasing a ticket, Gen Xers even show separation from Millennials with 80% saying they would buy a ticket versus 74% from the younger generation.
Many Gen Xers were young enough to adopt these technologies natively and have come of age professionally in a world where adapting to this new way of doing things is essential to their survival. And because they have more expendable income, they are more likely to make purchases on products like lottery. They may be familiar with the old way of doing things but they are open minded to this brave new world.
Even Baby Boomers tested well despite EquiLottery being a much different way to look at lottery for a generation that came of age during the modern lottery boom. They may be more used to the old way of playing lottery and horse racing, but they still recorded a net positive experience score of 72%. They were drawn to the prize structure at a 65% clip and 69% of this generation indicated they would purchase our tickets. Boomers are slower adopters of new technology but as companies such as Facebook and Uber can attest, once they get it, this generation is accepting of new packaging for longstanding industries.
EquiLottery is a new way of looking at lottery. It infuses the excitement and authenticity of a live event such as horse racing into a lottery experience whose packaging has needed some tweaking to stay with the times.
It delivers a sport that has struggled to find its place in a rapidly changing world through a convenient and relevant presentation. And it simplifies the process so that players can easily connect to the excitement of the horse racing experience.
The last month of research findings show we're on the cusp of creating a positive disruption in two industries that are important revenue generators and job creators for their states and provinces. It's time to work together to lift both boats and create something players of all generations clearly say they will love.
Let's play EquiLottery.


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Back to Journals » Infection and Drug Resistance » Volume 9
Enzymatic degradation of in vitro Staphylococcus aureus biofilms supplemented with human plasma
Authors Watters C, Burton T, Kirui D, Millenbaugh N
Received 24 December 2015
Accepted for publication 2 February 2016
Published 27 April 2016 Volume 2016:9 Pages 71—78
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S103101
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single-blind
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Professor Suresh Antony
Chase M Watters,1,2 Tarea Burton,1 Dickson K Kirui,1 Nancy J Millenbaugh1
1Maxillofacial Injury and Disease Department, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, TX, USA; 2Wound Infections Department, Naval Medical Research Center, Silver Spring, MD, USA
Abstract: Enzymatic debridement is a therapeutic strategy used clinically to remove necrotic tissue from wounds. Some of the enzymes utilized for debridement have been tested against bacterial pathogens, but the effectiveness of these agents in dispersing clinically relevant biofilms has not been fully characterized. Here, we developed an in vitro Staphylococcus aureus biofilm model that mimics wound-like conditions and employed this model to investigate the antibiofilm activity of four enzymatic compounds. Human plasma at concentrations of 0%–50% was supplemented into growth media and used to evaluate biofilm biomass accumulation over 24 hours and 48 hours in one methicillin-sensitive and five methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus. Supplementation of media with 10% human plasma resulted in the most robust biofilms in all six strains. The enzymes α-amylase, bromelain, lysostaphin, and papain were then tested against S. aureus biofilms cultured in 10% human plasma. Quantification of biofilms after 2 hours and 24 hours of treatment using the crystal violet assay revealed that lysostaphin decreased biomass by up to 76%, whereas a-amylase, bromelain, and papain reduced biomass by up to 97%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the dispersal agents detached the biofilm exopolysaccharide matrix and bacteria from the growth surface. Lysostaphin caused less visible dispersal of the biofilms, but unlike the other enzymes, induced morphological changes indicative of bacterial cell damage. Overall, our results indicate that use of enzymes may be an effective means of eradicating biofilms and a promising strategy to improve treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Keywords: MRSA, α-amylase, bromelain, lysostaphin, papain
This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.Download Article [PDF] View Full Text [HTML][Machine readable]


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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Warming Up to Malbec
I have to confess that when Argentine Malbec first hit the market, I was not a fan because I tended to dislike malolactic, oak-y, prune juice. But since we are in the dead of winter I drove myself to my local merchant and asked for some recs for substantive reds under $15. In the process I consciously decided to put aside my aversion to Argentine Malbec. Then in my inability to decide between two different Malbecs, I decided to pick up both of them. Due to sheer coincidence I happened to purchase another cheap bottle of Malbec a few days earlier at another local merchant. So I found myself with with three Argentine Malbecs... and here they are:
2007 Urban Uco Malbec (Mendoza)- Medium bodied, red & black fruit, discernable amount of spice & oak, balanced. 90
2008 Dona Paula Estate Malbec (Mendoza) - small amount of earth disappeared quickly after opening, medium bodied, not much fruit, almost no attack, seamless transition from middle to end, longest finish of the three. 89
2008 Gouguenheim Malbec (Mendoza): light bodied, strawberry (fruitier than expected), dry finish, balanced. IMO a nice table wine. 87
The first two Malbecs were purchased at Wine Warehouse for $9.99 each. The third was purchased at New Leaf Market for $7.99. Both the Urban Uco and Dona Paula were very good and I'd recommend both, but personally I preferred the former because it had more complexity and because the Dona Paula did show more oak. But I was pleasantly surprised by all of these wines mostly because none showed any malolactic treatment. If you are like I was--Malbec-phobic--please give any of these a try and shed your Malbec phobia.
4 comments:
- WineDudeJanuary 21, 2010 at 5:24 PM
I am a little puzzled by your comment on malolatic fermentation. To the best of my knowledge most red wine undergoes ML fermentation. The exception being Nouveau Beaujolais which doesn't have the time for ML to occur. ML is used to control acid levels, and to develop aromas and flavors.ReplyDelete
So if I take a look at your tasting notes these wines all show ML traits. Without the ML they would have been tart wines with no depth, faint aromatics and dull fruits. Maybe a little simplistic but you get the drift. I guess you might be refering to the over use of new oak by some producers?
WD, my malo comment re some Argentine Malbecs is that some Argentine Malbecs that I've tasted have a super-creamy texture. And the way I understand it is that this creamy (buttery in whites) texture is due to malolactic fermentation ("malo" for short"). Per "malolactic fermentation" here: http://www.vinology.com/dictionary/ There may be other techniques used in combination with malo that produces this creamy texture.ReplyDelete
Oh dear, my palate needs some training. I haven't noticed creaminess in my Malbec tastings. I went to wkikpedia for more info. Latic acid is what imparts the fuller mouthfeel & buttery taste. Should I be looking for butter in my Malbecs? The one disagreeable trait that I have found in a bunch of Argentinean Malbecs is OAK...way too much OAK.ReplyDelete
Argentine Malbecs do tend to be unpleasantly oaky (as mentioned in the 1st sentence in my post), but the first ones that I tried also had a creamy/round/velvety texture. Cheers!


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A methodology to obtain the directional pressure loss coefficients in a porous media model of an electromagnetically compatible screen of a radio base station model is presented. The directional loss coefficients of this compact model are validated against a detailed computational fluid dynamics model not only by comparing the total pressure drop, but also by evaluating the flow pattern after the screen. The detailed model was validated in an earlier article by the authors. A parametric study is conducted for 174 cases. Seven parameters were investigated: velocity, inlet height, screen porosity, printed circuit board (PCB) thickness, inlet-screen gap, distance between two PCBs and screen thickness. Based on the compact model parametric study, two correlations for the directional loss coefficients are developed as a function of the Reynolds number and the above geometrical parameters. The average disagreement between the compact model that uses the directional loss coefficients from the correlations and the detailed model was of 3% for the prediction of the total pressure drop and less than 6.5% and 9.5% for two coefficients that accurately characterize the flow pattern.
The objective of this paper is to investigate the performance of five well-known turbulence models, in order to find a model that predicts the details of the flow patterns through an electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) screen. The turbulence models investigated in the present study are five different eddy-viscosity models; the standard k-epsilon model, the renormalization group (RNG) k-epsilon model, the realizable k-epsilon model, the standard k-omega model, as well as the shear stress transport k-w model. A steady-state 3-D detailed model, which serves as the most accurate representation of the model, was used in order to evaluate the details of the airflow paths and pressure field. The flow was assumed to be isothermal, turbulent and incompressible. A general model that covers a considerable range of velocities and geometries was validated experimentally by wind tunnel measurements. The result shows that for most of the k-epsilon models used with correct y(+) and mesh strategy, the pressure drop and the velocity field deviation is small compared to experimental data. The k-omega models overpredict the overall pressure drop. When using the RNG k-epsilon model, the total static pressure drop predicted differs around 5%-10% and the average velocity deviation at several locations before and after the screen is around 5%.