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A traditional relational database makes use of an encoding strategy laying out tables, each of which has a particular known schema, and then uses the Structured Query Language (SQL) to find specific matching values within the various tables, using principles first laid out by IBM designer Ted Codd in the early 1970s. A table could represent a set of atomic attributes, but could only indirectly associate a record with a different set of values by creating a matching a foreign key in the table to a primary key elsewhere – what's called a join in relational circles. The process of identifying such relationships and then building tables for this is called normalization, with the most basic form of normalization being called the first normal form.
The advantage of being able to normalize document structures is that you can identify certain columns within a table for special indexing. Typically, an index associates a value with a set of records in a given table. For example, if you had an employee database you could create an index on the last name. Then, even with just a partial map you can very quickly identify the identifier of all of the records for which an employee had that last name. This means that rather than having to look through every single entry in the table, you only have to do a comparison against an ordered list of names, which will generally be much faster (especially if you have several people sharing the same name). When you try to compare against both first and last name, the SQL engine then performs an indexed lookup and takes the intersection of records, which can be done much faster than a linear search as well. It is this mixture of normalization and indexing that makes relational databases comparatively faster than other kinds of databases.
Document NoSQL databases represent an interesting challenge from a search perspective, however. A document is often referred to as a denormalized structure, though this isn't quite technically true. Instead, most NoSQL databases typically will take a document structure, and will then break it down into first normal form tables internally, but will also hide the key relationships as implicit joins – fast and optimized, but not necessarily evident. Moreover, JSON structures are combinations of arrays (linear sequences of items) and hashes (an unordered collection of key/value pairs). Structures may include both arrays and hashes, possibly with hashes of arrays, arrays of hashes, arrays of arrays and hashes of hashes. All of these make using SQL with JSON all but impossible, unless SQL itself is modified to take into account the ideosyncracies of document structures.
Querying JSON within document stores for the most part has come down to one of two approaches. The first is a simple indexing solution – you can retrieve content by using specific key value indexes to find for a specific hash key, a document that contains this hash key. then use set logic operations (intersection, union, not, etc.) to reduce this set. This works reasonably well when you've taken the time to set up indexes, but doesn't necessarily perform well when you have a commonly used property such as "name" – for instance:
might end up matching thousands of documents in all kinds of contexts that isn't of interest to you.
The other solution has been to use JSONiq (originally developed by a group of developers from Oracle, 28msec and others). to treat JSON structures as being analogous to XML structures, with JSONiq hewing closely to the XPath/XQuery model. While this can work quite well for retrieving content, for many people who are more used to working with SQL the document path approach can be off-putting.
A N1QL For Your Thoughts
Couchbase tried a different tack with their N1QL language, now part of the Couchbase 4.0 preview. Their interest was getting people who were familiar with SQL to make use of their database via a SQL-esque language called N1QL , one that was close enough in structure to make it easy to adopt. The term itself comes from First normal form (N1) Query Language, though this is easily turned into "Nickel". It represents a fairly significant shift in thinking: JSON structures are close enough in form to make querying it through N1QL attractive to SQL developers who don't want to lose their favorite tools.
In Couchbase, from a query standpoint, all documents are in a universal array within a bucket. If you pass in an array of objects, via JSON, they will be added to this universal array. This means that every document at its root is a JSON object. Also, unlike with relational databases, there is no guarantee that documents within this array – what Couchbase refers to as a keyspaces – have the same or even similar structures (schemas), though in most cases it makes sense to have a keyspace hold relatively similar documents. Typically, the keyspaces serve a function similar to tables as an organizational tool – you may have an Employee keyspace, a Project keyspace, and a Department keyspace, as an example, with each keyspace having subtly different structures but in general having documents that represent Employees, Projects and Departments respectively.
Getting started with N1QL in the most recent Couchbase 4.0 preview was much simpler than it was in the original preview, as was the whole installation process (http://docs.couchbase.com/4.0/getting-started/set-up-couchbase.html), with the only real potential for confusion being a screen that asks whether you wish to set up a cluster to contain only data, or to also contain indexes and query. To install N1QL, you must have all three servers working within the cluster.
The Data and Index RAM quotas can also be set. By default Couchbase allocates roughly half of the available memory, but this can be reduced considerable then scaled up as needed.
Once set, it's worth taking a moment to load the sample databases, including the beer database, which contains both documents pertaining to beer brands and to brewers, as a playground. For the examples discussed here, you should open up the web administrator tool (typically this will be on http://localhost:8091 if installed locally, and set up a new data "bucket" called "employees".)
Once the server has started, you can launch the Couchbase query client by running
where $couchbase is the main Couchbase folder on Windows, Mac, or various flavors of Linux. This will make it possible to directly type in N1QL commands. Adapters for nodejs, Java, Python and other application platforms are available as well – in general they follow a pattern of exposing a connection object to the database along with a specific query object retrieved from the connection object to run specific N1QL queries. The queries themselves generally do not change whether run from cbq or from external libraries.
Just as SQL has a Data Manipulation Language (DML), so too does N1QL. The following populates the employees database with five employees:
INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "janedoe",{"employee":{"empId":"janedoe","firstName":"Jane","lastName":"Doe","startDate":"2012-03-01","gender":"female"}}); INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "janettedoe",{"employee":{"empId":"janettedoe","firstName":"Janette","lastName":"Doe","startDate":"2012-04-01","gender":"female"}}); INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "johndoe",{"employee":{"empId":"johndoe","firstName":"John","lastName":"Doe","startDate":"2012-04-01","gender":"male"}}); INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "johnkeel",{"employee":{"empId":"johnkeel","firstName":"John","lastName":"Keel","startDate":"2012-04-04","gender":"male"}}); INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "samvimes",{"employee":{"empId":"samvimes","firstName":"Sam","lastName":"Vimes","startDate":"2012-04-03","gender":"male"}}); INSERT INTO employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ( "karendohr",{"employee":{"empId":"karendohr","firstName":"Karen","lastName":"Dohr","startDate":"2012-06-01","gender":"female"}});
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 1.5;">The first argument in the VALUES() statement is a specific primary key from the entry. This may (and usually will) be referenced elsewhere, such as in the empId field, but this provides a way of accessing information via a user friendly key. In general, documents are not immediately indexed when inserted. Instead, once a set of documents has been loaded, the current index should be dropped and a new index created: </span>
DROP PRIMARY INDEX ON employees; CREATE PRIMARY INDEX ON employees;
Once content has been indexed, it is fully available for querying via N1QL using a SELECT statement, in a manner similar to that used by SQL.
SELECT employee from employees;
The output, however, is likely not what you'd expect from SQL, instead, coming out as JavaScript:
{ "requestID": "e366b364-c7c7-46ed-8d12-6ae286c25438", "signature": { "employee": "json" }, "results": [ { "employee": { "empId": "johnkeel", "firstName": "John", "gender": "male", "lastName": "Keel", "startDate": "2012-04-04" } }, { "employee": { "empId": "johndoe", "firstName": "John", "gender": "male", "lastName": "Doe", "startDate": "2012-04-01" } }, { "employee": { "empId": "janedoe", "firstName": "Jane", "gender": "female", "lastName": "Doe", "startDate": "2012-03-01" } }, { "employee": { "empId": "janettedoe", "firstName": "Janette", "gender": "female", "lastName": "Doe", "startDate": "2012-04-01" } }, { "employee": { "empId": "samvimes", "firstName": "Sam", "gender": "male", "lastName": "Vimes", "startDate": "2012-04-03" } }, { "employee": { "empId": "karendohr", "firstName": "Karen", "gender": "female", "lastName": "Dohr", "startDate": "2012-06-01" } } ], "status": "success", "metrics": { "elapsedTime": "25.738414ms", "executionTime": "25.588915ms", "resultCount": 6, "resultSize": 1430 } }
A similar query can be used to both filter out specific facets and shape the output. For instance, suppose that you wanted to find all female employees, but you were only interested in the first and last name of the person. The query to do this is as follows:
SELECT employee.firstName, employee.lastName from employees where employee.gender="female";
The output is terser, since only properties are being returned:
{ "requestID": "d044f291-a3ee-4e73-818c-dc0b4591dc49", "signature": { "firstName": "json", "lastName": "json" }, "results": [ { "firstName": "Karen", "lastName": "Dohr" }, { "firstName": "Janette", "lastName": "Doe" }, { "firstName": "Jane", "lastName": "Doe" } ], "status": "success", "metrics": { "elapsedTime": "65.967121ms", "executionTime": "65.877558ms", "resultCount": 3, "resultSize": 227 } }
This kind of output accords well with table structures, but JSON is multi-dimensional: it can support arbitrarily nested structures and levels. For instance, suppose that you wanted to add an address to Jane Doe's entry. This can be accomplished with an UPSERT statement, which combines the UPDATE and INSERT functions into a single statement that inserts a new record only if the document doesn't exist. Otherwise UPSERT updates the document, replacing old content with new:
UPSERT into employees (KEY,VALUE) VALUES ("janedoe",{"employee":{ "empId":"janedoe","firstName":"Jane", "lastName":"Doe","startDate":"2012-03-01","gender":"female", "address":{"street":"123 Sesame St.","city":"New York","state":"NY", "postalCode":"01254"}}});
You will likely use UPSERT far more than INSERT.
This more complex structure can similarly be queried, but it's also possible to create a different structure using this:
SELECT concat(employee.firstName," ",employee.lastName) as fullName, employee.address from employees where employee.address.state = "NY";
When run, this produces the output
{ "requestID": "2e5c3529-2bcd-4a2d-8fa3-ce306e8be503", "signature": { "address": "json", "fullName": "string" }, "results": [ { "address": { "city": "New York", "postalCode": "01254", "state": "NY", "street": "123 Sesame St." }, "fullName": "Jane Doe" } ], "status": "success", "metrics": { "elapsedTime": "63.526706ms", "executionTime": "63.114672ms", "resultCount": 1, "resultSize": 235 } }
Note here that a new property "fullName" has been created using the AS statement, which holds the concatenated first and last names, while the address block is returned as an entire JSON structure. Also note that even when only one item is returned in a query, that this is still contained in an array (this eliminates the need to have to test whether an item is an object or an array, which can be a frustrating experience when done repeatedly).
The examples covered here scratch the surface of what can be done with N1QL. It is possible to join documents together along primary/foreign keys, iterate over documents to create transformed documents, jperform aggregate operations and create global secondary indexes (GSIs for handling indexes that utilize multiple keys, such as geo-spatial indexes). While there are still some limitations (most notably being that it is not currently possible for users to define libraries of functions), what N1QL does offer is a dramatically expanded toolset for querying NoSQL.
Why N1QL Matters
One of the key problems that SQL faces is a very old design flaw – it was never intended to be serialized. In most cases, when a SQL query is run, the output is a table, and access to that table is then provided via some kind of data translator that lets people iterate over the result set. There is no standard way to serialize a relational database, which means that there are an almost absurd number of non-standard ways to do so, to the extent that the most reliable way of performing a transfer between databases is to literally set up a set of instructions to construct not only table schemas but even data and indexes.
Now, a great deal of information in the world can in fact be contained in an output table, if you're willing to go through some kind of a recordset navigator. However, there is also a significant percentage – perhaps even the overwhelming majority of all datasets in fact – where denormalizing everything down into giant, frequent sparse tables with loss of relationships loses information, increases redundancy, and adds considerably to the potential of data becoming corrupt or dirty.
This realization has already made its way into the world of services. Most services today utilize JSON or XML to transmit content, because structure matters. A JSON data structure is in essence a self-contained database, and an array of such structures can generally transmit schematic structure and provide implicit joins. What's more, JSON handles missing information well, and it also handles structural variations that are very difficult for relational table structures and SQL to deal with.
The JavaScript community (and the JSON movement) have generally taken a Wild West approach to standardization, especially in comparison to XML. The XML community developed the XQuery standard for querying XML document databases, and around 2010, a group of JSON enthusiasts developed a language called JSONiq, which utilized XQuery and XPath-like structures to manage navigating across JSON documents and working with JSON databases. However, while undoubtedly powerful, JSONiq tends to appeal to those people who are used to working with document structures first. Given the large number of people with more traditional SQL skills, JSONiq can appear at best cryptic, and at worst more cumbersome than the tools that they are familiar with.
N1QL has the potential to bridge that gap. It is more than just another JavaScript library. N1QL also doesn't suffer the callback misery that many Javascript database engines run into, due to the asynchronous nature of many database calls. As a language, N1QL segues nicely into the SQL patterns, critical not only for queries but also (perhaps even more so) for updates, which makes adapting it into other tools easier than is the case for XML-like tools.
There is no doubt in my mind that Couchbase's N1QL is still a work in progress, but even at this stage, it is a powerful tool, and it may be well worth the while of the Couchbase team to attempt to establish N1QL as an ISO standard. Given the role that JSON NoSQL databases are poised to play moving forward, being able to standardize on a common web SQL is a not inconsiderable achievement. Certainly, expect it to become one of the pillars of querying the web.
Kurt Cagle is Principal Evangelist for Avalon Consulting, LLC, a consulting services company specializing in NoSQL, Big Data and Data Analytics Solutions.


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Creating a Focal Point
When designing a room, some designers like to create a focal point and then add in decor, pops of color and furniture to make the ideal space. When the focal point of the room is a stunning Valor Gas Fireplace, we'd like to think that we have some great ideas for ensuring your space truly stands out among the rest. Whether you want to keep it simple, modern or traditional, Valor fireplaces will always be able to bring the room together and offer steady, efficient heat.
Depending on your space there are a ton of different options available, review some of our thoughts below:
Keep it Simple, Keep it Light
The image above showcases a Legend G3.5 Insert Series fireplace in neutral colored living room. The fireplace is the main focal point of the space with more neutral tones being incorporated throughout. Neutral can only get your so far, so to offset the white walls and light furniture the designer added pops of pink flowers and pillows, wood tables and silver accents. By understanding what kind of color scheme and decor will work for a neutral space you can try playing off of other accent colors around your home to see what works best.
Color Matching
Shown above is a Legend G3 Insert in a more traditional setting using brown and beige undertones throughout the room to create a cozy space. The dark trim and surround of the fireplace blends perfectly with the brick mantel and dark furniture. The wood accents and personalized decor give the room an inviting feeling, making it the perfect place to enjoy a Valor gas fireplace.
Avoid Cluttering Your Space
Sometimes the easiest way to ensure that your fireplace is the focal point is to just keep things simple. Display your fireplace, as shown above, on stunning feature wall and then surround that area with simple decor that color matches the surroundings. Just make sure that the decor, furniture or TV doesn't take away from your beautiful Valor gas fireplace.
For more information on Valor Fireplaces, please visit us here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to our 33rd party. I would love to share with you this week one of my finds for my booth. The case is loaded with delicious vintage patina. And I just thought the coloring of this old instrument would be perfect in the Autumn decorating scene. Don't you?
Enjoy the party. Your host for SHARE YOUR STYLE is Debra Oliver of Common Ground. This will be her last post with us as a host. We thank you Debra so much for sharing your beautiful decor and your expertise with us. You will be missed by all of us at Share Your Style.
Welcome Friends,
Glad you're here to Share Your Style!
First, I have 3 great features from last week,
then please read on, I have a little blogging news.
Nancy from Nancy's Daily Dish gave us
Rhonda from Ramblings of a Southern Girl shares
Mary Jo from Masterpieces of My Life shows us how
to take Dollar Tree pumpkins and make them over 4 different ways!
pssst...I think the moss covered ones are my favorite!
And this last week was spent giving
and now to my update...
I just wanted to let you all know, this will be my last week co-hosting Share Your Style. Nothing dramatic going on, my health is staying stable, but my life is changing, as it has a habit to do. Traveling with my Hubby and some family things are on the horizon, and I know I need to dedicate more time to those things. I'll still be posting, I just can't keep a weekly time schedule. Stepping down frees me up to post when it's easier, and hopefully no pressure. Don't worry about me, you all that have been with me over 6 years know I tell it like it is. I hope you'll still come visit me, and I hope you'll link up all the fun and inspiration with one of the other seven great bloggers who are still participating in Share Your Style. Thanks to the other co-hosts of Share Your Style! And thanks to all my readers, you know how much I love you guys! OK, hard part done...
So now,
Let's get on with the party!


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Just another quickie for you all. This go 'round we have a rather Easter Island-ish Darkseid!!
Okay, back to the old drawin' board for me.
i. want. that.
SHIT, that's good!
Like you, my first impression was that it looked like an Easter Island statue, albeit an absolutely badass statue seething with power. Pretty profound stuff, Chris.
What Mr. Hawthorne said! ;)
Where did I put my credit card? Damnit.


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4 comments
hi hollister. or is it hovey? ms. hovey? pardon my laziness - i'm always so taken by the images i see in your latest post, that i don't take the time to dig deeper. i've only recently stumbled upon your blog and although for some reason i always feel a little confused and slightly less hip, i thoroughly enjoy the charts of shit and what not. and now i'm in love with desiree dolron. anyhoo please keep up the good work.
Caroline says:
What a wonderful idea for a party invite! Now, please invite me to any and all future parties. Thank you.
baroness says:
ha! i have a single copy of this magazine, and it is this issue. truly a treasure, from the vintage couture to the flip book in the corner, but especially these images. i check your blog out here and there and always see something fine. i am here (but on a self-imposed hiatus): www.banquet.typepad.com.


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How to Grow Lychee Indoors
The lychee tree (Litchi chinensis) produces sprays of small, greenish-yellow flowers followed by clusters of round and bumpy red or pink fruits, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Although this tree with shiny, pinnate leaves can reach 30 to 40 feet when planted outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 through 11, where it is hardy, it remains smaller when grown in a pot indoors. When peeled, a lychee fruit, also known as a litchi nut, reveals off-white, grapelike flesh and one polished-looking brown seed. Sowing lychee seeds is an entertaining project for children.
Eat lychee fruits, and save all their seeds that are plump and at least 1/2 inch long. Rinse all pulp from those seeds.
Dampen sand with water. Fill a 5-inch diameter pot, which has drainage holes, with the damp sand. Plant the lychee seeds 1 inch deep in the sand, covering them with sand. Enclose the pot in a 1-gallon, clear, plastic bag. Zip the bag shut, or fasten it shut with a tie, such as a twist-tie. Set the pot in a warm, shady location. Sprouts should appear above the sand in about two weeks.
Remove the bag from the pot, and place the pot where the lychee seedlings will receive bright light but no direct sunlight. Transplant the seedlings when each has four leaves, moving each seedling to its own seedling pot filled with African violet potting soil. Plant each seedling at the same soil depth at which it grew in its previous pot.
Water the lychee seedlings with rainwater, if possible. Tap water tends to be hard and may cause a buildup of alkaline salts in the soil. Keep the soil evenly damp, but never soggy, at all times. Leach the seedlings' pots once each month, if you use tap water, by pouring tap water through the soil until it runs freely out the drainage holes, carrying excess salts with it.
Expose the lychee seedlings gradually to more sunlight after they are 1 month old. After they adapt to the increased light, give them a permanent position in a south-facing window where they will receive sunlight for most of each day. Move each seedling into its own larger pot with drainage holes when its roots begin to emerge from its seedling pot's drainage holes.
Feed the lychee trees every two weeks in spring and summer with a water-soluble plant fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants. Use the fertilizer at one-half strength, about 1/2 teaspoon of the crystals per 1 gallon of water, when the trees are young. Increase that amount to 1 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water when the trees reach fruiting age, but refrain from fertilizing them during fall and winter.
Give the trees at least 100 to 200 hours of chilling -- temperatures above 32 degrees Fahrenheit but below 45 degrees Fahrenheit -- the winter before you want them to bloom. Expect them to blossom in early spring and fruit in late spring to early summer. The trees, however, probably won't flower and produce fruits until they are at least 5 years old.
Things Needed
- Lychee fruits
- Sand
- 5-inch diameter plant pot with drainage holes
- 1-gallon, clear, plastic bag
- Tie (optional)
- Seedling pots
- African violet potting soil
- Rainwater (optional)
- Watering device
- Larger plant pots with drainage holes
- Water-soluble plant fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants
- Container
- Room thermometer
Photo Credits
- Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images


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Sofia Coppola to direct Somewhere | Focus Features Press Release
By Dave Campbell | April 17, 2009
Reuniting with the film company with which she made the Academy Award-winning hit Lost in Translation, writer/director Sofia Coppola will make her next movie, Somewhere, with Focus Features. Somewhere will star Stephen Dorff (soon to be seen in Public Enemies) and Elle Fanning (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button). Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.
Ms. Coppola is also reteamed with Pathé, which will have rights to the film in France, Benelux, and Switzerland; and Tohokushinsa, which will hold rights to the film in Japan and select Asian territories. Medusa Film will have rights to Somewhere in Italy, where a portion of the filming will be done, and is lending production assistance. Focus will hold rights to the film in all other territories.
In addition to directing Somewhere from her original screenplay, Ms. Coppola will produce the feature with Roman Coppola (The Darjeeling Limited) and G. Mac Brown (Australia) through American Zoetrope. Harris Savides (cinematographer on Focus' Academy Award-winning Milk) will be director of photography on the movie. Lost in Translation executive producers Francis Ford Coppola and Fred Roos and Marie Antoinette executive producer Paul Rassam will encore in the same capacities on Somewhere, which will be overseen for Focus by president of production John Lyons.
Somewhere will begin production on location in Los Angeles this summer. Somewhere is the story of Johnny Marco (to be played by Mr. Dorff), a bad-boy actor stumbling through a life of excess at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood. With an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter (Ms. Fanning), Johnny is forced to look at the questions we all must confront.
Ms. Coppola won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for Lost in Translation, which grossed over $100 million worldwide for Focus and was an Academy Award nominee for Best Picture. Ms. Coppola was also an Academy Award nominee for Best Director; she is one of only three women to ever have been nominated in the latter category. Her other films as writer/director include The Virgin Suicides, which she adapted from Jeffrey Eugenides' novel, and Marie Antoinette, which won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero).
Mr. Schamus commented, "Lost in Translation remains among Focus' most beloved movies, so we have long looked forward to making another picture with Sofia. Somewhere will have all the witty, moving, and empathetic qualities that characterize all her work."
Ms. Coppola said, "I'm very happy to be back making a movie with Focus. I've wanted to film an intimate story set in contemporary Los Angeles, and I'm looking forward to working with Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning."
Source: Focus Features
Topics: News | No Comments »


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Ottawa, Canada – October 13, 2009 –
â"¢, creator and world leading provider of Storage Management Solutions for secure archiving Compliant Data Protection and Retention, today announced it has reached the 40 year milestone marking four decades of delivering customer-centric solutions and service excellence. KOM Networks has led the Archive Storage Management software space since 1983, successfully supplying solutions to over 10,000 government agencies, Fortune 100 and Global 100 companies.
"Very few vendors have been able to survive the competitive storage market space for decades,� said Gene Ruth, Senior storage analyst at the Burton Group. "The few that have survived have done so not just because they have functional technology, but the ability to adapt to changing infrastructures, technology and business processes. This requires an inordinate amount of experience working not just with network hardware, OS, virtual systems, document management, but knowledge of real world business acumen.�
A client list that reads like a list of the world's most respected companies and customers ranging from the small business to large enterprise, have recognized KOM Networks as the quickest, easiest and most affordable way to store, access, and protect their data and meet compliance requirements. KOM Networks has set the standard for compliant data storage by pioneering flexible, effective solutions that enable enterprises to control and protect their business and mission critical information across many markets including Finance, Government, Healthcare and Education.
Founded in 1969, KOM Networks has set itself apart from other storage providers by being operating system and application agonistic. KOM is the only major vendor that does not require the purchase of proprietary hardware. KOM products seamlessly integrate with leading technology solutions from HP, DELL, IBM, Microsoft, and Sun Microsystems, to name a few.
KOM's technical expertise is based on an intimate understanding and appreciation that every customer environment is different and that deploying and employing a secure storage strategy should not impact the way they conduct their day to day operations nor impede their existing business processes or uproot their existing infrastructure. This knowledge and expertise coupled with a complete understanding of all major storage devices, enterprise network functionality and regulatory mandates such as the
, PCI, FDA, FAA, DoD and
for data security, privacy, access and retention is rooted within the design of every KOM solution especially
â"¢ and
â"¢ technologies to ensure the integrity of data and provide their customers a simple, efficient, cost-effective way to manage all aspects of information storage.
"KOM has been leading innovators in the archiving community for many years and we've gained a certain level of industry respect for that,� says Kamel Shaath, CTO of KOM Networks. "We may not be a household name, but our customers are, and they rely on us to protect, preserve, secure, store and retrieve their most critical data.�
KOM Networks is credited for the creation of the first software to manage optical disks in 1983, the first optical storage management software for Windows NT in 1995, and the first virtual file system with electronic file lifecycle management in 2001. KOM Networks holds nine US patents and four Canadian patents in data protection, archive, eWORM, drive names, virtual file systems, global namespace and electronic lifecycle management. Other notable achievements include the 2006 Microsoft Storage Solutions Excellence Award in advanced Infrastructure Solutions in recognition of KOM Networks'
technology in providing a Windows-based hard disk archiving solution that simplifies compliance processes. KOM's achievements have always been measured by the success of its clients and OEMs such as a little unknown company from Massachusetts in the late eighties that has now grown into the household name EMC.
"We have successfully competed with many a player in the storage management space only to have them either adopt and embrace our approach or simply disappear from the market and close their doors. We have worked diligently to protect and secure our knowledge and intellectual property to make sure that we will be around for another 40 years,� added Kamel. "At KOM Networks, customers and partners are top priority. Our 40 year anniversary is more than a marker of the company's success; it's a celebration of our continued commitment to our KOMunity Partners and valuable customers who are the cornerstone of our continued growth and success.�
About KOM Networks
KOM Networks is the world leading provider of flexible, secure data archiving and storage management software. Over 10,000 of the world's leading corporations have recognized KOM Networks as the most logical, unobtrusive and secure way to store access and protect their data. KOM is enabling enterprises large and small a cost effective way to improve productivity and meet compliance requirements without altering their network infrastructure or daily business routines. The industry pioneer holds vital industry patents for electronic file lifecycle management, virtual file management and eWORM fixed content hard disk archiving. For additional information about KOM Networks, please visit
All trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.


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Our number one goal is happy customers and delivering quality products one vanity at a time!
We appreciate all the love from each and every one of you. We love it when you share photos of vanity set ups with CosmoCube. Please continue to share your experience on Instagram and Twitter and post your favorite set ups on our Facebook page.
Use @CosmoCube and the hashtag #CosmoCube.
We noticed many of our glamour girl customers love how big our CosmoCube organizers are, from our original, Luxury edition to our lovely Posh. Sometimes pictures don't do justice with how much you can store in your CosmoCube!
Also, our popular HotCube for storing your HotTools is a must have for keeping your hot tools out of the sink or off your counter top.
Our newest products, CosmoCube's brush holder and lipstick divider is perfect storage as well.
View our shop tab for more details.
We love you CosmoCube fans, happy shopping!!!


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Once Upon a More Enlightened Time by James Finn Garner
Age: 16 +
Once Upon a More Enlightened Time is a humorous spin on some of our more beloved fairy tales and children's stories. This volume, the sequel to Garner's ever popular Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, covers 9 stories, including; the story of the Princess (with multiple personality disorder) and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty with a very philosophical Prince Charming, the speedy Tortoise and the Hare, and even Beatrix Potter's City Mouse and the Country Mouse and more.
Each story is given a modern twist, staying on the politically correct spectrum, which makes more some funny statements and descriptions. Each story is about 5 -6 pages and are very quick reads. These two books came out when I was in high school, this one published in 1995. It was a huge hit at my school. It was an easy way for us to poke fun at our childhood while feeling more adult and educated at the same time. High school is that middle state where you are too old for traditional fairy tales, but too young to really understand the value, consequences and overall effect of the type of themes Garner discusses in the stories. We laughed, because the thought of Sleeping Beauty waking up to a Prince Charming who would rather meditate than kiss her is ironic, because Hansel and Gretel turn into Wiccan tree huggers after being ditched by their dad in the middle of the forest. The country mouse falls in love with the big city living, after spending 2 hours looking for parking, getting mugged and finding out that he is indeed homosexual.
Although the book and the stories are incredibly short, it did start to feel a little repetitive for me. I think this is one of books where you have to read the stories over a span of time. I was able to finish the book on my lunch break, but didn't enjoy it towards the end as much as I had in the beginning.Once Upon a More Enlightened Time by James Finn Garner Macmillan, 1995 ISBN 0028604199 84 pages
Find this book at your local library


text: Advertisement SEE ALSO: College Finder Map|See, Sort All 300 Best College Values|SPECIAL REPORT: Kiplinger's College Rankings|How We Rank the Best College Values Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA) (0) selected | Compare up to 5 View College Compare List Mount Holyoke College is ranked 37 in Kiplinger's list of Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges and is ranked 69 among all colleges. Visit College Website ACADEMIC QUALITY Applicants who took SAT 54% Applicants who took ACT 25% SAT Critical Reading Score 700+33% 600-69948% 600+81% SAT Math Score 700+42% 600-69940% 600+81% ACT Score 30-3659% 24-2939% 24+98% Students applied3,543 Students admitted1,849 Admission rate52% Students per faculty10 4-year graduation rate78% ANNUAL COSTS Tuition$47,740 Fees$200 Room and board$14,060 Estimated book expense$950 Total cost$62,950 Cost after need-based aid$30,177 Cost after non-need-based aid$38,706 Average debt at graduation$23,872 SALARY DATA Salary yardstick #$46,100 FINANCIAL AID % of aid need met100% Average need-based aid$32,773 Average non-need-based aid$24,244 STUDENT BODY Total enrollment2,199 Full-Time Men0 Women2,162 Part-Time Men1 Women36 Freshmen retained91% # - Based on the median earnings of workers who started at a particular college 10 years earlier and who received federal financial aid. The data don't consider whether the student graduated or went on to graduate school.NA - Not available SOURCES - Peterson's Databases (© 2018 Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. SEE ALSO: College Finder Map|See, Sort All 300 Best College Values|SPECIAL REPORT: Kiplinger's College Rankings|How We Rank the Best College Values


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Explore extraordinary new depths with the Swiss Legend Seamonster men's chronograph. This dynamic, Swiss-made diving watch features ultra-bold and modern lines combined with water-resistance to 200 meters. The generously oversized round case is presented on a high-performance silicone strap with a push-button deployment clasp for added convenience. The multi-layered dial features three sub-dials, luminous hands and hour markers, along with a rotating outer dial bezel that operates with the left-sided crown. Choose from styles in stainless steel, black ion-plated stainless steel and rose gold-tone ion-plated stainless steel.
Swiss Made
We are independent watchmakers who create and design our very own timepieces. Our expert team of designers and creative directors with over 30 years of experience in the watch industry take great personal pride in the step-by-step process of the timepieces we produce...
Each and every Swiss Legend timepiece is Swiss-made or features Swiss-made movement inside. Our watches are water-resistant 100 to 200 meters or more, so you can wear them wherever you go, by land, sea or air. At Swiss Legend, we want you to Express Your Time.
We only use the finest premium-grade components and materials, matched with state-of-the-art production and careful hand-applied application techniques, followed by rigorous quality testing and assurance processes to produce timepieces of the highest aesthetic and functional value to you.


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Welcome to All Sensors "Put the Pressure on Us" blog. This blog brings out pressure sensor aspects in a variety of applications inspired by headlines, consumer and industry requirements, market research, government activities, and you.
Fan Static Pressure
Fan static pressure is one of the two parameters that define the performance of a fan. The other, and more common, is the volume of air the fan delivers per minute or per hour. Fan static pressure is the resistance pressure the fan has to blow against to move air in the desired direction.
For PC gamers, high airflow and high-pressure static fans are two distinct classifications. High-pressure static fans are used on radiators, central processing unit (CPU) and graphic processing unit GPU coolers, in front of hard drives, and other places where airflow might otherwise be blocked by an object. Because of their high-pressure capability, they can overcome the restrictions caused by the blockage.
The Masterfan Pro 120 Air Pressure Fan is ideal for funneling concentrated air short distances at hot components or through tight spaces. Image courtesy of Cooler Master.
In wood drying operations, kiln static pressure is not a constant and depends upon the performance of the fan chosen. For example, replacing a small fan generating 45,000 cubic feet per minute (cfm) at an estimated pressure of 0.5 inches H2O in a kiln with a larger fan rated at 60,000 cfm at 0.5 inches of H2O will not achieve 60,000 cfm. The actual air flow will be less than 60,000 cfm due to the rise in the static pressure – a situation that can cause complications in the end application.
In heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, static pressure measures the effectiveness of the fan to the ducts in a particular installation. If the static pressure is too high, the HVAC unit will have to work harder to push the air through the duct work.
In all of these low-pressure situations, an accurate microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) pressure sensor with a digital output, such as All Sensors DLLR Series, can address the manufacturing, installation verification or ongoing operation measurements.
Do you have a pressure sensing question? Let us know and we'll address it in an upcoming blog.
Email us at email@example.com


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Hani Kablawi to head BNY Mellon's EMEA investm't services
Hani Kablawi, a well-known figure in Gulf investment management circles and 19-year-BNY Mellon employee, has been named to head up investment services for BNY Mellon's EMEA operations.
He succeeds Michael Cole-Fontayn, who remains with BNY Mellon, in his existing other role, as chairman of EMEA.
Kablawi's appointment marks the first time that the EMEA investment services role is free-standing, which the company said reflects its intention to "further bring together buy-side and sell-side solutions across asset servicing, alternative investment services, corporate trust services, broker-dealer services, depositary receipts and treasury services".
Most recently Kablawi, who joined BNY Mellon in 1997, had been head of asset servicing for the EMEA operation, where he is being succeeded by another BNY Mellon veteran, Daron Pearce. During his time with the company, Kablawi has held a number of business, functional and risk management roles based in New York, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and London.
Kablawi continues to be based in London, BNY Mellon said, where he reports to Brian Shea, chief executive of Investment Services, and Cole-Fontayn.
Shea said that with Kablawi in charge of the EMEA investment services operation, in addition to continuing to "bring together buy-side and sell-side solutions" across the financial services spectrum, BNY Mellon would also be looking to "capitalise on our significant investment in technology and innovation to drive growth across the [EMEA] region".
Kablawi is a board member of the Arab Bankers Association, and also recently featured in the Top 100 inaugural UPstanding Executive Power List, which celebrates the work carried out by the Black Asian Minority Ethnic business community.
BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of New York Stock Exchange-listed Bank of New York Mellon Corp.


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A jury will decide whether or not to recommend the death penalty for an insurance salesman convicted of fatally shooting three people -- a woman, her 2-year-old son, and a nanny at a Los Angeles apartment in May 2003. Deliberation is expected to begin Monday.
Prosecutors, who have not provided a motive for the triple killing, say 53-year-old Robin Kyu Cho shot the child and his nanny as they were in a bathtub, and then shot the mother as she walked into the apartment.
Last week, Cho was convicted of murder with special circumstances. Latex gloves found at the scene provided DNA evidence linking him to the attack, say prosecutors.
It took Los Angeles police detectives six years to track down the killer, notes KPCC's Frank Stoltze. Cho, it turned out, lived three floors below the victims in the same 150-unit Miracle Mile apartment complex.


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CxO Transformation Dilemma: Digital Businesses and Innovation Clockspeed
"The retail industry is in the midst of a seismic shift. We can bemoan changes in the marketplace or embrace them." Target CEO Brian Cornell
Every CEO today must have an answer to the question, "What is your digital strategy?"
Consumerization, prosumerism, crowd sourcing, sharing economy, millennial experiences, omni-channel services and other digital-enabled transformations are challenging the status-quo.
Few things have jumped into the consciousness of business executives as quickly as digital business. Executives realize that their companies must succeed in creating transformation through technology, or they'll face destruction at the hands of their competitors and next generation "unicorns" – Uber, Airbnb, Netflix, Amazon.com, Pinterest, Google/Nest etc. – that do.
TechTarget's Tom Goodwin had an insightful observation: "Uber, the world's largest taxi company, owns no vehicles. Facebook, the world's most popular media owner, creates no content. Alibaba, the most valuable retailer, has no inventory. And Airbnb, the world's largest accommodation provider, owns no real estate. Something interesting is happening." All are Asset-lite digital businesses.
These new-age firms have an inherent advantage. Digital startups by their very nature tend to be more user-centric, for several reasons:
- They are often founded on the premise of improving or simplifying the lives of end users;
- Their business is built from the user's perspective, rather than on an established business model;
- The digital platforms (applications and infrastructure) on which they build their products and services enable a much higher degree of user centrism;
- They lack the legacy infrastructures, bureaucracies and operating models that force many traditional companies to continue thinking from the "inside- out" rather than from the "outside-in".
There in lies the classic Innovator's Dilemma made famous by Clayton Christensen.
Seven Core Principles of Modern Digital Enterprises
Improving customer experience results in lower attrition. This is one of the core principles of business.
With respect to customer experience and engagement, the separation between technology, customer and business has vanished with digital. While some innovative companies have already embarked on their digital transformation journeys, many more are struggling to get the execution model right around these 7 execution principles.
- Engagement at scale by leveraging the web and technology to build brands and engage customers
- Engagement is more important than commerce or transactions… effective digital engagement of customers is at least a top-five priority in every company
- Leveraging social intelligence and capabilities
- Work and processes are collaborative, mobile and real time.
- Data is the core and is available in formats that are digital, sharable and structured.
- User Experience is intuitive
- Mobile First is the new design principle of digital – over 70% of consumers are using Mobile as their primary device
Engagement at scale is one of the core differentiators of the modern digital landscape. Pinterest is an online pinboard, a social networking service, that allows people to collect and organize items of interest, so they can be viewed by others. Pinterest in a span of three years has more than 75 million users (more than 85% are women).
Pinterest in 2014 gathered 20 terabytes of user generated data each day, and have around 10 petabytes of data in S3. Instead of building their own infrastructure, Pinterest uses the cloud service, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazon's S3 (Simple Storage Service) and Amazon's EC2 (Elastic Cloud Compute).
According to Ryan Park, operations engineer for Pinterest, "The cloud has enabled us to be more efficient, to try out new experiments at a very low cost, and enabled us to grow the site very dramatically while maintaining a very small team of 2 people." The advantages Pinterest is leveraging: (1) elastic capacity; (2) quick and global deployment; (3) No CapEx, no initial spend; (4) Pay as you go, for what you use; and (5) Automation and Reuse.
Engagement at Scale (and Engagement in Real-time) is something very few large corporations using internal data centers can match or support. Plus they would need years to build something capable of doing this. By then the marketplace has moved on to something different. This inability to match the development and engineering speed of pure digital firms is corporate innovation and marketing dilemma.
Digital Transformation…. More than technology…it's about the Multi-Level Change
The Digital Advantage
Digital transformation has hardly been uniform across or within industries. It's clear that some industries surpass others in their transformation. It's also no secret that within every industry, we find digital novices, the beginners, the evolved, and the mature, and everything in between.
In a 2 year study of 400 large firms – it was found that digitally mature companies outperform their competitors. The world class digital firms are making digital marketing and customer engagement a high strategic priority. Take for instance Banking. Customers are increasingly engaging with banks through digital channels which enables them to reduce service costs.
So in digital, what separates good from great firms? What does world-class and high performance mean? We know the typical thing to avoid or overcome… lack of leadership and alignment among management, legacy IT systems, conservative culture, and a lack of talent and skills. What we are still developing are guidelines/rules around what managers need to really do to become best in-class.
Source: Capgemini & MIT Sloan Management Review, The Digital Advantage: How Digital Leaders Outperform Their Peers In Every Industry, 2013
The Digital Transformation Challenge
Even as CEOs push forward with their digital agendas they are facing significant transformation headwinds. There is a lot of work to be done: most executives estimate that at best, their companies are one-quarter of the way toward realizing the end-state vision for their digital programs.
Executive leadership must be the stewards of the new digital mindset and skillsets. They must recognize that the separation between technology and business has vanished.
One of the companies that i consider digital best in class is JP Morgan Chase, whose digital strategy for retail banking is shown below. JP's customers are increasingly engaging with them through digital channels which enables them to reduce service costs at the branch and call-centers.
Digital is embedded and core to all of the retail banking strategic themes: Acquire and deepen relationships; Rapid adoption of digital capabilities as customers continue to change the way they bank with us; and Drive down expenses.
Source: JP Morgan Investor Day
What makes JP Morgan unique is that executives are systematically transforming a super-tanker and repositioning it for digital. Jaime Dimon, like many of his executive peers, rate digital transformation as "a matter of survival."
What does "Good" in Digital look like?
As businesses continue to embrace digital tools and technologies—especially when engaging with customers—C-level executives have to step up their own involvement in shaping and driving digital strategies. This is vital to the success of digital programs, as lack of senior-management interest and support is the primary cause of transformation failure. Getting the right organizational alignment is critical to seeing real business impact from digital.
Additional Resources and References
- Digital Marketing Architecture: CMO Martec Playbook
- Digital Architecture 101
- Digital Integration – Why do you need a new breed of innovation vendor/partner
- Digital 101 – The Basics
- Due to abundance of VC funding chasing deals, there seems to be an explosion of me-too digital business models. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, "There's an Uber for everything now. Washio is for having someone do your laundry, Sprig and SpoonRocket cook your dinner and Shyp will mail things out so you don't have to brave the post office. Zeel delivers a massage therapist (complete with table). Heal sends a doctor on a house call, while Saucey will rush over alcohol. And by Jeeves — cutesy names are part of the schtick — Dufl will pack your suitcase and Eaze will reup a medical marijuana supply."
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
- Implementing Digital Architecture: A CIO and CDO Roadmap | Digital Transformation, Engagement and Experience
- Digital Personas, UX and Customer Journey Mapping | Digital Transformation, Engagement and Experience
- Customer Journey Analytics and Data Science | Business Analytics 3.0
- Digitizing Customer Journeys – Programmatic Marketing | Digital Transformation, Engagement and Experience
- The Art of the Possible: Digital Masters | Digital Transformation, Engagement and Experience
- Retailers and the Curse of Digital | Digital Transformation, Engagement and Experience
- The Retail Paradox: the Curse of Digital | Business Analytics 3.0
- Digitizing Wealth Management – The Rise of Robo-Advisors | Business Analytics 3.0
- Analytics and ML Use Case – Robo-Advisors in Wealth Management | Business Analytics 3.0 – Cameron's Code


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Photographer's Note
Good Morning Everyone,
Please click on Snow Sculptures to see the photograph much larger and with much clearer details. It is truly worth the effort.
I had two photographs that I wanted to share, today and had great difficulty deciding which to use as the main post.
One is artistic, the other humorous.
Anyway, if I post them both, you can make your own choice.
The photographs are both from my archive and record a time when we had a huge snow fall.
My first photograph shows how the snow looked sculptured along the top of the drystone wall. Can you see faces?
My workshop is just humorous, the road sign indicating that the road narrows. Would you be in any doubt?
I hope your days are warmer than these, Bev
Critiques | Translate
ikeharel (102161) 2018-01-05 2:04
White cream on top of the chocolate, snow on the rocks, Beverley. What another name can I give to this winter scene.
Good that it is from 2009, maybe the WS can explain how severe this was. Now 4C in Manchester area will be 2C at night - we also have a stormy day today, winds gusting but only 14C.
My best regards,
Tue (76564) 2018-01-05 2:05
Hello Beverley,
Wow, nature shows itself to be a great artist once again. The shapes of the snow are beautiful and lit so wonderfully by the strong sidelight. The landscape in the blurry background looks good too. Well spotted and captured.
jhm (196657) 2018-01-05 2:27
Hello Bev,
Normally has the nature no people hands required, for make nice snow sculptures.
The nature is wonderful, but the photographers must are on the just place on the just moment.
Pictures have no date, everything come back.
Very well composition and nice presentation.
Nice done, TFS.
Best regards,
snunney (130967) 2018-01-05 2:31
Hello Bev,
This would make an interesting set of gargoyles. The oblique point of view shows the sculpted 'faces' to great effect helped by an ideal ambient light. Good control over white light resulting in true rendering of the colour of the snow complete with crystals. Very wet here again today.
ChrisJ (156123) 2018-01-05 2:51
Hello Beverley,
Brrr! Not only is it cold but judging from the snow sculptures it was windy too, meaning wind chill factor. A perfect exposure on the bright sunlit highlights with excellent density levels and sharpness. Tfs!
BennyV (30922) 2018-01-05 3:38
Hello Bev
Putting Trawden on the map yet again. A lovely close up shot this time. I liek the textures of the snow in the sunlight and the line of rocks just visible at the top of the wall. The main post is my favourite, but it's a close call really.
jean113 (18337) 2018-01-05 4:03
Hello Beverley, I do miss having scenes like this to photograph, but on the other hand, I do not miss having snow!
Yes, I can imagine some faces in the snow formations on the wall.
Lovely composition, with the strong diagonal, and just a glimpse of the distant landscape beyond.
dkmurphys (77526) 2018-01-05 4:11
Hi Bev,
Well observed nature work of art. The sunlight is perfect, good contrasts and quality.
Have a nice weekend.
Lidka (527) 2018-01-05 4:53
Dear Beverley!
Art of Nature.
Amazing sculptures of snow.
Fine minimalistic composition.
Perfect quality, good contrast and sharpness, superb texture.
Nice lightness and colours.
Perfect cut and frame.
Well done!
lousat (125153) 2018-01-05 5:52
Hi Bev,another pic where the effect of the wind is clear to watch,simple but very nice memory of the winter 2009,great exposure and fine details too. The WS is funny,a brave attempt to clear the street signal..ehehe..have a nice day and thanks,Luciano
Sergiom (117241) 2018-01-05 6:48
Bonjour Beverly,
C'est tellement simple comme recette mais pourtant si difficile à faire par soi-même. Un petit muret de pierres, une couche de neige et un bon vent et le tour est joué. Il ne te restait plus qu'à passer par là.
holmertz (87455) 2018-01-05 7:24
Hello Bev,
This is like a very temporary sculpture garden, where black heads have been given white masks. The figures will probably be individually adapted to each one's personal imagination, as with clouds. The WS may still have the advantage of the red and black details of the traffic sign, but it would be a matter of individual taste. Both photos have a wonderful brightness and a well captured texture of fresh snow.
Kind regards,
danos (110395) 2018-01-05 8:10
Hello Bev,
nice the view of the snow formations that embrace the rocks of the beach i think.I like the created sculptures with the warm light of the day to make it even more attractive.
Cricri (176) 2018-01-05 9:22
Hi Beverley
D'abord bravo pour avoir affronter le froid, c'est joli , la nature réserve de belles choses, tout simplement sur le mur, la lumière en plus est belle, j'aime ce décor
Belle soirée
cornejo (61504) 2018-01-05 10:10
Hello Bev, very good photograph of this beautiful and interesting composition with the shapes of the snow, very well captured in this beautiful image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and interesting work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this beautiful work.
Good night and happy weekend.
Best wishes from the south of Spain.
Fis2 (148576) 2018-01-05 11:03
Witaj Bev!
Very nice photo from your archive.
This year we are waiting for the winter ;)
Excellent frame and composition.
I like sharpness and light.
Snow sculptures make impression.
Nice weekend.
carlo62 (81157) 2018-01-05 14:19
Ciao Bev
non era facile la scelta tra le due foto, si possono alternare ottenendo sempre lo stesso risultato, due belle foto.
La neve, con le sue forme, rende tutto più bello e interessante.
Buon we
Nicou (193790) 2018-01-06 1:42
quel mur de pierre sombre recouvert de neige et quelle neige quelle forme elle a pris elle épouse ce mur superbe perspective et dessin de neige génial.
Bravo et amitié
emka (145587) 2018-01-07 15:58
Hello bev, Where are the snows as they were before? I would love to see such a view for a short while - the big snow, with the sun shining. marvelous view of this stone wall all covered.
But on the other hand, I have quite a long path that I should remove snow from it, it is hard work, so better that there is no snow in the town.
Kind regrad s MAlgo
gervaso (28141) 2018-01-08 2:42
Hello, Beverley!
It really looks like a sculpture, and you captured it with excellent texture, we can almost feel the snow! And the perspective is also very nice! Wonderful composition! Very good job!
alvaraalto (40236) 2018-01-09 5:24
Hello Bev
Splendid close up scene of this snowed wall on front of the vague horizon. The additional picture gives us attractive further information about the situation.
Also interesting to wee how you placed your copyright sign in the scene.
Well done
Have a nice day. Groet Rob
Hello dear Beverley and have a nice
time and a happy new day
original version
wonderful capture with the fresh snow
wow!!!breathtaking view
greetings for the right timing
mkamionka (56114) 2018-01-12 0:03
Hi Bev,
you have made such a great use of those days with snow. Here a brilliant idea to focus on the detail, no artist would be able to invent such a beautiful composition, Nature is incredible.
Excellent capture with so well exposed snow details.
Sometimes I miss abundant snowfalls but then again I hate when the traffic is completely stuck.
Beautiful composition,
GyurMaster (18548) 2018-01-12 12:54
Dear Beverley,
Beautiful portrayal of the snow bitten land. I like how the bg ins blurred due to the shallow DOF.
Best Wishes,
maloutim (13617) 2018-01-14 13:20
Hi Bev,
Like Ike said, it could be chantilly on top of a chocolate cake ! Or I see faces too, noses, although I am not sure what of ! Whichever way, it was a photo not to be misssed, and you captured it very well with great exposure, sharpness and composition.The background almost looks like a frozen lake !
Thanks for sharing.
Kind regards.
Photo Information
- Copyright: Beverley Robinson (Royaldevon) (68385)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2009-02-06
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Nikon D200, NIKKOR AF-S 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED DX
- Exposure: 30 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
- Date Submitted: 2018-01-05 1:49
- To ikeharel: Snow Sculptures (1)
by Royaldevon, last updated 2018-01-05 02:07


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Darris Peal could face life in prison after a jury yesterday convicted him of the October robbery and murder of 22-year-old Aaron Hobson.
Peal, 22, was found guilty of second-degree murder, with an underlying felony of second-degree robbery. Testimony for the three-day trial concluded at 11:30 a.m., and the Clay County jury announced its verdict just before 4:30 p.m.
Sentencing was set for Nov. 7. Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Knight said he will recommend a life sentence.
Hobson, who was in Columbia on Oct. 23 to watch his cousin, Trey Hobson, play in the Missouri Tigers� Homecoming game against Oklahoma, was meeting friends in the parking lot of Break Time, 110 E. Nifong Blvd., after a party when he was robbed and shot.
�I was concerned,� said Al Hobson, the victim�s grandfather, of Peal�s defense and its effectiveness. �But the prosecutor did a yeoman�s job.�
Al Hobson said he wishes Peal would have shown more remorse and noted it was difficult to view blood-soaked clothing and surveillance video that recorded the incident during the trial.
He describes the group of men who attacked his grandson as a wolf pack and believes Peal was its leader.
Knight contended that Peal was obsessed with money and that obsession was motive for robbery.
He said Peal�s actions, as shown on video surveillance footage, show him participating in a well-organized attack of Hobson, who witnesses said was flashing money shortly before the incident.
But the fact Peal also was shown in videos flashing money does not make him obsessed with money, said his attorney, Kevin O�Brien. He told the jury Hobson was never flashing money, as police found none in the passenger seat where he allegedly threw it during the robbery. More than $370 in cash was found in Hobson�s glove compartment.
Knight said surveillance video shows co-defendants picking up the cash Hobson threw out the passenger door when he was approached by a gunman, and witness testimony supported the statement.
Surveillance footage shows Peal darting across the parking lot to Hobson�s vehicle. O�Brien said his client did so in response to a fight at the vehicle, not to participate in a robbery.
�By the time I looked up, it was already happening,� Peal said of the alleged fight during a recorded police interview.
None of Knight�s witnesses identified Peal as being present during the robbery, although detectives traced his activities on surveillance video for the jury.
Peal was the first of the remaining co-defendants to face a jury trial. His brother Daron Peal, 24, the triggerman, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and armed criminal action and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Patrick Marshall, 18, was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty to second-degree robbery and armed criminal action. Deshon Houston, 21, pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and is awaiting a Feb. 13 sentencing hearing.
The jury also heard about four other men present at the scene who are known to be associates of the co-defendants. Those men were never charged in the incident but can be seen in surveillance video. The murder weapon belonged to one of them, Jerel Bryant.
Bryant in December was found in Decatur, Ill., traveling on a bus from Columbia to Chicago.
The weapon was recovered from his suitcase, and two .9 mm shell casings discovered at the scene later were determined to be fired by the weapon, a Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab forensic firearms supervisor said.
Knight said yesterday the four men remain under investigation.
Co-defendant Lee Carter is scheduled for an Oct. 18 jury trial.


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By: Dr. Mike Walden
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Operating a business is tough. Meeting payroll, hiring qualified workers, attracting buyers and complying with regulations are just a few of the challenges faced by business owners. Statistics show 44 percent of new businesses shut down within three years. Opening a business is no guarantee it will be a success.
This is why I was excited recently to run across a small paperback book titled The Roadside MBA. Although written by university professors, this isn't a typical textbook. Instead, it's a series of stories – 45 in total – based on the authors' travels around the country (including North Carolina) and their visits to successful businesses (most of them small). Each chapter illustrates a principle of profitably running a firm.
Of course, I don't have the space to discuss all 45 ideas. But here is a sample of those I consider to be at the top of the list.
Factor in Your Fixed Costs: There are two important kinds of costs for a business: fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are the costs of machinery, equipment or any other input a business has to have just to be open. For example, a restaurant needs a stove, refrigerator and other kitchen equipment, plus a space where customers eat. These costs are the same whether the restaurant serves one meal a day or 100 meals, hence the term fixed costs.
In contrast, variable costs increase as the business sells more and decline as the business sells less. Continuing with our restaurant example, food purchased for the meals is a prime example of variable costs: The more meals served, the more food has to be purchased.
An important business fact is that as sales increase, fixed costs per sale decline. Say our restaurant has monthly fixed costs of $5,000. If 500 meals are sold during the month, fixed costs per meal are $10. But if 1,000 meals are served, fixed costs per meal are only $5. One reason businesses like to sell more is that they lower their fixed costs per sale, meaning they can make more profit per sale or they can lower their price and be more competitive.
It's typical for a beginning business that sales will be low, fixed costs per sale will be high, and profits will be low or non-existent. Not to panic; it may take time for customers to come around, and when they do, fixed costs per sale will drop. But if they don't, it may be time to throw in the towel!
Build a Better Mousetrap: In business, if often pays to be different. Many successful businesses have been built on finding shortcomings in the current market and developing ways to correct them. Uber, the personalized taxi service, is using smart-phone technology to better coordinate trips for travelers.
Recently two entrepreneurs calculated the time and costs of installing misting services in supermarket vegetable sections. They developed a company providing less costly and portable misting systems that many supermarket chains are now using. There's even an annual competition for developing an improved mousetrap!
Treat Customers Differently: Successful businesses know not all their customers are alike. Even though all customers may be purchasing the same general product or service, their costs of accessing the product or service can vary.
The authors of The Roadside MBA give an example of a gym in a small town. Many of the customers came to the gym because it was close to home or work. But to broaden the geographic scope of their customer base (and to reduce fixed costs per customer!), the gym operators put coupons in local newspapers in farther-away neighborhoods offering discounts on a membership. So members living nearby paid the full price, while members living farther away paid a lower price to compensate for their higher travel costs.
Go Around, Not Straight Ahead: There are many advantages to being a big business: Fixed costs are less of an issue, input prices are often lower due to bulk buying, lenders and advertisers may be more likely to cut big businesses a deal, and it's easier to establish a brand-name and command the loyalty of consumers.
With all these pluses of being big, how's a small business to survive? One recommendation is, don't compete head-to-head with the big guy, but go around him. Don't try to offer customers what the big business has. Instead, a small business should provide to customers what the big business doesn't have.
And what might this be? Personal service. A downside of being big is that the distance between the business decision-makers and customers can widen. This results in less attentiveness to customer needs and a slower response to solving problems. Larger bureaucracies and a tendency to do things "by the book" can be drawbacks of big companies.
In contrast, small companies can be fast, responsive and more adaptive to special circumstances. It's these benefits that small businesses can push to allow them to successfully compete with the giants.
There are numerous other good tips for keeping a business alive, and you'll find many of them in The Roadside MBA. If you are in business – or thinking of starting a business – I think you'll decide it's worth the trip!
Dr. Mike Walden is a William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor and North Carolina Cooperative Extension economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics of North Carolina State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He teaches and writes on personal finance, economic outlook and public policy. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences communications unit provides his You Decide column every two weeks.
Previous columns are available at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/tag/you-decide
Related audio files are at http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/category/economic-perspective
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The Wall Street Journal published a biographical article (free till May 10th) on George Gilder, one of the chief exhalers that inflated the optical bubble of 1999.
I mentioned Gilder last week in my first post on Wintegra (WNTG). He has consistently spoken positively of a network processor company called EZ-Chip and the holding company LanOptics Ltd. (LNOP). His support for the company has been unwavering for years as he continues to predict an NPU revenue ramp for EZ-Chip 6 months into the future. I hope this isn't because EZ-Chip is a leading sponsor of his annual Telecosm shindig. How about some introspection into why things aren't working out as he projected?
I attended the Lightreading "Future of Optical Networking" conference in New York last week.
I had high expectations for the conference based on one I attended two years ago on Ethernet in the WAN. At that conference there were a number of participants from start ups and established companies who led a vigorous debate about what the future of SONET/SDH looked like. Even though I lived and breathed Ethernet over SONET/SDH at the time, and met regularly with the companies on the panel, the debate that ensued was highly educational and enlightening.
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A few weeks back, while in CA for OFC/NFOEC, I was lucky to get a late night tour of 365 Main, a massive, state of the art data center near the Embarcadero in San Francisco. My guide, Peter Kranz, was someone I worked with and co-adventured with in College who is now the owner and CEO of Unwired, a San Francisco based CLEC. His equipment is in this data center, and he invited me in for a look.
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Two things happened today. Ciena (CIEN) inked their contract with British Telecom for the BT's 21CN project. And Marconi shareholders approved the sale of the company to Ericsson. Many readers know these two minor events have a bellwether common denominator – a willingness to meet the new price targets set by Chinese competition.
Just as Vietnam and Afghanistan were proxy wars for the 20th century superpowers, BT's 21CN will be the first full-blown encounter between incumbent and Chinese research, customer service, accounting practices, and cost structures.
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With 55 hours of design time on the computer model for my planned 3D printed Jenny aircraft I think I finally have the model dialed in to starting construction. A lot of the sub-assemblies for the aircraft were a real puzzle to figure out how to make. The design for the model had to work and not throw the general shape of the aircraft way out of wack with the effort. So I thought I would show you the progress with this posting about this portion of the project.
The model is looking very complete now with a lot of the littler details added from the first time I posted about the project. In this image you can see the addition of seats, wing king posts and more detailing in the aileron assemblies. With the king posts in the model I plan on adding all of the wires that you would see on a real plane. These wires criss-crossed at each of the wing struts, up to the king posts and even inside the fuselage between each vertical support. I will just have to see how difficult it will be to add this level of detail in the model. Hopefully I can make it all work and give the model that much more realism in the effort.
The landing gear on the model was quite an effort to design as well for the model. I wanted to keep the look as close as possible to the real plane and yet not make it a pain in order to assemble or 3D print. The wheels will be printed in four parts each. This way I will be able to get the white tires and red wheel covers put together easily. This is simply a matter of printing the parts as though they are halves of a tire split down the center line. Like a bagel would be cut for breakfast and gluing them together using plastic modeling glue.
The landing gear is mounted using cylinder and pin mounts that are attached to the upper portions of the assembly. You can see these mounts (in blue) in the image above just under the fuselage.
The axle for the landing gear is shown here in close up with one of the front wheels. The oblong hollow protrusion on the top of the axle is the receiving mount for the lower portion of the right landing gear. It took some doing to get all the landing gear parts to line up correctly to make this portion of the model work and look proper. The wheels are glued to the axle with a printed .10 diameter protrusion on the end of the axle. I will have to make sure that I do some testing of this portion of the axle to make sure that the strength needed is designed into this portion of the assembly. Would hate to find out that it would fail after I get the model all put together.
Another brain teaser for the model was the engine and exhaust. This took a number of hours to figure out how to design using actual photos of a real Jenny Aircraft engine. The exhaust is pretty close to the real thing so I am happy with my efforts on this portion of the model. There were several different variations that I found on different planes for the exhaust. Some had the exhaust tip tipped down, others were straight back to the rear of the plane and still others were tipped up with an extension that would route the exhaust up over the top wing. I went with the straight back version as it was the simplest to design.
Here you can see the seats and mounts along with the windshields for the cockpits. The engine sticking out of the left front cowling looks good in this image as well. In the model as in the real plane the engine and exhaust stick out of both sides of the aircraft. I had to mirror the parts for the exhaust in this portion of the assembly to make it look right.
I started printing some of the pieces of the top wing as you can see from the photo above. These ribs are only 2.5 inches long and .10 inch thick. The notches in the spar (the long piece in the photo) match up to the ones in the ribs so there is no guess work when it comes time to assemble the parts of the wing.
Here is the layout of one of the rib and strut assemblies. It took me a little while to realize that the simplest thing to do with this portion of the assembly was to combine these parts into one piece for strength, ease of assembly and ease of 3D printing.
Here is the completed 3D print of one of the rib/strut assemblies. Only two of these parts are needed for the wing assembly and printing one only takes around 30 minutes to complete. Turned out very well and will make the wing assembly nice and strong when it is mounted into the model.
These two wing/strut parts are different versions of the same part. The one on the left I printed first. The upper portion of the top rib is called the king post. This was used in the real aircraft to attach mounting wires to strengthen the upper wing. After I had printed two of these parts I realized that the wing skids (the lower loop on the bottom rib) for each of these parts was missing from my model. So I had to reprint the parts again (the part on the right) to make the model correct. As before the parts turned out very well and give the model the correct look. The last rib/strut part is good sized being nearly 7 inches long and 4 inches wide. Will be fun to see the model come together now with the design portion of the project nearing completion. I'll keep you posted once I get enough parts printed and some of the wing assembled. Enjoy the photos.


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Topistar Were, Supporting Orphans Through Income-Generating Activities
Topistar Were is among one of the few women in Kakamega, Kenya committed to protecting children and dedicated in fighting for their rights. In recent years the number of orphans and vulnerable children in Sichirayi Village has rapidly increased as a result of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Inevitably, poverty and hunger have also increased among this population. Her project, Supporting Orphans Through Income-Generating Activities, aims to ensure that twenty orphans and vulnerable children have access to proper nutrition, balanced diet and clean water to foster healthy living through kitchen gardening. She is been dedicated to ensure that this information is clear and understood among her participants and is implementing a training for the caregivers that will then be followed up with fruit and vegetable seed distribution where they will be able to practice their gardening skills. This fresh and nutritious produce will then be consumed as part of a balanced diet and the surplus will be sold, serving as an income for these families.
Topistar's project has been positively accepted and described as having a direct impact that offers a new journey of hope for the lives of the orphans and vulnerable children. Topistar's long-term vision for this project is to promote and grow a community of healthy people and watching these children grow into future trusted leaders.


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Oklahoma City Moms Blog is a rapidly growing community of moms in the Oklahoma City metro area. We are a collaborative blog written and read by local moms. We are passionate about engaging with our readers offline through our exciting local events that connect moms to each other and great businesses.
Mom Bloggers are more influential than ever. OKCMB is a great way to get useful information into the hands of moms active in our community. We offer creative and affordable ways to promote relevant information to our readers in ways such as sponsored posts, image ads, event sponsorships, and more!
We love telling our readers about upcoming family events, great local businesses to support, and anything that might make their parenting lives richer. Our readers look to us for recommendations, reviews, and announcements on what's going on in our community. We love being their go-to resource for all their parenting needs!
If you are a local business, service or event looking to partner with us and our community, we invite you to fill out the contact form below. We make every effort to be in touch within 1-2 business days. We look forward to learning more about you and your business goals.
Get the conversation started by filling out the form below or e-mailing Caitlynne.


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Gloryhold 4oz Magnum
or 4 installments of $10.00 by More info
An easy-to-use paste now in a larger size, which can be worked through both hair and beard to sculpt strands in any desired style.
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- Provides a durable hold on the simplest or most sophisticated hair and beard styles.
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- Rub a significant amount of product through your hands and work through damp or dry hair to style as desired.
- For a smoother look, use Kuschelbar Hair and Beard Straightener before application.
For international shipping, customs duties and local taxes are customer responsibility and must be paid separately by customer.
1 review for Gloryhold 4oz Magnum
Makes my beard Very soft!


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See the latest about a temporary release delay on new titles. Learn more.
DR. DELORES M. ETTER, a leading engineering and computer science educator, was formerly a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Colorado, a faculty member at the University of New Mexico and a visiting Professor at Stanford University. She was elected a Fellow of the Instituted of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) for her contribution to education and for her technical leadership in digital signal processing. In addition to writing best-selling textbooks for engineering computing, Dr. Etter has also published research in the area of adaptive digital signal processing. She is currently working as a consultant for the federal Department of Defense in Washington, D.C.
JEANINE A. INGBER is currently a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at the University of New Mexico. She also works as a consultant for Sandia National Labs. She has a master's degree from the University of Michigan. Prior to her teaching at the University of New Mexico, Jeanine was a faculty member at Iowa State University.


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I held the broken vase in my hands and searched for the seams. Surprisingly, the wings had broken off in pretty whole chunks. The first wing had lost one piece; the second wing had lost two. I started with the first wing, grasped broken wing-tip and reached for the Elmer's.
The directions said, Spread heavily - weight or clamp, wait 35 minutes. I squeezed on the glue, then wedged that piece into its original place.
And then I held it.
And held it.
I felt like Horton the Elephant sitting on his nest, patiently, obediently. There was nothing else remaining. The house was quiet and I was alone with my forlorn, once-beautiful work of art. I sat holding the piece in place, both my hands needed. I sat breathing, humming a little. I held the vase together - for 35 minutes.
I realized it's not the fixing that's difficult. It's the holding. None of us wants to have our hands tied up that long. It feels a bit wasteful and foolish when there are so many other things to be done.
But the piece held. And I went on with the next wing. Twice more I sat for half an hour, breathing, holding, waiting. At some point I realized what I was doing was a kind of prayer.
And that's all I need to do when a thing is broken. Sit. Wait. Hold. Breathe. Believe, if at all possible. Believe.
When a thing is broken, the question to ask is not: "Can it be fixed?" but:
"Who will hold the broken piece?"
Who will realize the value of what was once beautiful? Who will hold this thing lovingly, gently? Who will wait for it?
Who will hold the broken piece?
I found out my hands could do this thing, and I was as delighted with the repair as if I'd been the original artist. For there is a gift in this. A wholeness. A bird waiting to take wing.


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Crash and Burn [ COMIC ]
The Crash Bandicoot franchise had such potential. The first four games for the PSOne were great, but after that there was something missing. Oh, could it be because they removed Naughty Dog from the equation? Yup. It was a poor decision, kind of like creating a sequel for GoldenEye and using EA instead of Rare, but no ones that stupid.
Make sure to head over to the forums to vote for the color of the first Dueling Analogs t-shirt. Your opinion matters as you will be the ones buying it… hopefully. So head on over there and vote.
With the space I have left, I think I will plug Zoinks! Magazine. Zoinks! is webcomic industry's first print publication dedicated to promoting online comics and the people who create them. My other webcomic, the outer circle, has had strips that have appeared in the past three issues… and should be in the next one too. Maybe Zoinks! will decide to do an article about me one day… that would be cool.


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BBC News – Gold market breaches 'covered up' (Newsnight Whistleblower Report)
February 26, 2014 in cfci, Human Rights News by Rob Hallam
A timely article given the latter part of today's meeting on the front page of BBC News as part of a Newsnight report on conflict minerals failings in Dubai:
BBC News – Gold market breaches 'covered up'.
Dubai's biggest gold refiner committed serious breaches of the rules designed to stop gold mined in conflict zones from entering the global supply chain, a whistleblower has revealed.
The article gives a good level of backgroun info as well as reporting on the Dubai situation. That someone had to resign and blow the whistle on the auditing practices goes to show quis custodiet ipsos custodes applies as much to the conflict mineral supply chain. There needs to be vigilance and pressure at all levels.


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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UT Sports) -- No. 24 Tennessee held on for an 8-7 victory over Florida on Saturday at Alfred A. McKethan Stadium to even the series with the Gators and a pivotal force rubber game tomorrow afternoon.
Andre Lipcius was phenomenal at the plate, tying a career high with four hits while also driving in three runs and finishing a triple short of the cycle. Alerick Soularie had a big two-run homer in the fifth while Justin Ammons also drove in two runs on the day.
Camden Sewell recorded his first-career save, holding UF scoreless for the final two innings, while Garrett Crochet got the win to improve to 4-3 on the year.
For the second straight day, the Vols took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the first. After UF starter Jack Leftwich struck out the first two batters of the game, Lipcius hit an absolute bomb over the bleachers in left field for his 14th homer of the year.
Sticking to yesterday's script, the Gators answered in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one. Leadoff man Brady McConnell hit the first pitch he saw over the center-field fence to make it a 1-1 game. McConnell was one of five Florida players to finish the day with two hits, both of his being home runs.
Following a couple of scoreless innings for both teams, Florida made Crochet and the Vols pay for a hit batter and a walk to start the bottom of the fourth. Kendrick Calilao doubled to left center later in the inning to drive in both runs and give the Gators a 3-1 advantage.
The Big Orange responded with a big number in the top of the fifth to retake the lead. Ammons, Lipcius and Soularie all drove in runs as the Vols struck for five in the inning to take a 6-3 lead. Lipcius gave UT the lead with a two-run single, his third hit of the day, before Soularie hit a two-run bomb for his 11th home run of the year.
Ammons extended the Tennessee lead to four runs with his second RBI-single of the afternoon in the top of the sixth, but UF got right back in the game with a two-run blast off the bat of Will Dalton in the bottom of the inning to cut the UT lead to two.
The Vols went back up by three with a run in the top of the seventh when Ricky Martinez drove in a run with an infield single with the bases loaded. UT had a chance to add more runs, but Justin Alintoff struck out Landon Gray to end the inning and limit the damage to a single run.
Florida answered yet again in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to cut the deficit back to one. McConnell hit his second home run of the game to make it 8-6 before two singles and a double by Brady Smith made it a one-run game. The Vols were fortunate that Smith's double didn't tie the game as it seemed like Nelson Maldonado would score easily but tripped rounding third base. Lipcius made a fantastic defensive play to cut down Maldonado at home plate one batter later before Andrew Schultz struck out Calilao to end the inning and preserve the lead.
Florida had a pair of singles in the bottom of the ninth to get the tying run in scoring position, but Sewell got Calilao to fly out to left field to end the game.
VOLS SECURE SEC TOURNAMENT BERTH: With Saturday's win and other results around the league, the Big Orange officially locked up a spot in this year's SEC Tournament in Hoover, Ala. This year marks UT's first trip to Hoover since 2016.
THE BIG 5-0: With three runs batted in on the day, Andre Lipcius passed the 50-RBI mark on the year. He is the first UT player to drive in 50-plus runs in a season since Nick Senzel (59), Vincent Jackson (57) and Jordan Rodgers (56) all did it in 2016.
SEC EAST RECORD: Saturday's victory also secured a winning record for the Vols against the SEC Eastern Division for the first time since 2010 when they went 8-7. Tennessee enters tomorrow's rubber game with an 8-6 record against fellow eastern division schools and finishes the year with a series against Ole Miss, who is in the western division.
UP NEXT: The Vols and Gator square off one more time in tomorrow afternoon's rubber game, which is slated to begin at 1 p.m. and will be streamed online via SEC Network+ and the WatchESPN app. Fans can also listen live as John Wilkerson calls the action for the Vol Radio Network (FM 99.1/AM 990).


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'Its like the pot calling the kettle black'. In this case the pot is Government Environment Minister Ian Pearson, calling the kettle, budget airline Ryanair, black by recently saying they are "the irresponsible face of capitalism" for not acting to fight climate change. He has pointed to the airline and accused them of doing something that the Government he is a member of are guilty of doing themselves and so provides an excellent example of this saying.
"The pot" represented by the Blair Labour Government is very close to the kettle and has been going black cooking away over the fire for ten years. It has managed to achieve an increase in emissions that cause climate change of 2%, though one would never guess this from their warm words of concern about our climate. "The kettle" represented by the airlines has been boiling away over the fire, becoming black from the flames, helping the Government to achieve its rise in climate change emissions of 2% very efficiently and effectively.
The pot and the kettle are old friends who have turned black with time; the pot only sees the blackness which is on the kettle; he doesn't see the black on himself.
Its no wonder then that the airline critic was told by his bosses not to make any further comment on the issue!


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Exempt Vehicles
To obtain/enquire about exemption from Motor Tax – contact: Sligo Motor Taxation or the Department of Transport
The following vehicles are exempt from liability to pay vehicle motor tax:
- State-owned vehicles
- Diplomatic vehicles
- Vehicles exempted under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994 (SI No 353 of 1994)
- Vehicles (including any cycle with an attachment for propelling it by mechanical power) not exceeding 400 kilograms in weight unladen adapted and used for invalids
- Vehicles which are used exclusively for the transport (whether by carriage or traction) of lifeboats and their gear or any equipment for affording assistance towards the preservation of life and property in cases of ship-wreck and distress at sea
- Vehicles which are used exclusively for mountain and cave rescue purposes
- Vehicles which are used exclusively for underwater search and recovery purposes
- Vehicles which are used exclusively for the transport (whether by carriage or traction) of road construction machinery which is built in as part of such vehicle or otherwise permanently attached thereto, carries no load except articles or materials used for the purpose of the road construction machinery and is used for no purpose other than the construction or repair of roads
- Refuse carts, sweeping machines or watering machines used exclusively for cleansing public streets and roads
- Ambulances, road-rollers or fire engines
- Vehicles kept by a local authority and used exclusively for the purpose of their fire brigade service
The NVDF computer system should already be updated to show vehicle exemption otherwise the Motor Tax Office will have to verify its eligibility by contacting the Revenue Commissions, Coolshannagh, Monaghan, Telephone: 047 82800 or DDA, Ballindine, Co Mayo, Telephone: 094 9364266 prior to being able to tax the vehicle as Exempt.
Should a vehicle be no longer entitled to exemption and there is still a valid disc on the vehicle, the vehicle owner should surrender the disc and the Vehicle Registration Certificate to their nearest Motor Tax Office and pay the additional monies liable for taxation at the private rate.
If you sell a vehicle and there is still a valid exempt disc on the vehicle, please arrange to hand the exempt disc into your nearest Motor Tax Office for cancellation.


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Individual and Family Counselling
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Most of our counsellors have graduate degrees in Clinical/Counselling Psychology or related discipline and are registered with various professional associations. We ensure that our counselors receive ongoing training and education in order to keep our knowledge up-to-date.
We believe in high standards of professional conduct and maintain strict confidentiality for all client information except under the following circumstances: (1) under a court order; (2) suspected or known child abuse, or (3) danger to self or others.
Individual Counselling
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Individuals or families can be self referred or referred by agencies or ministries. For enquiry and referrals, please call our intake worker on weekdays during office hours by phoning 604-408-7266.
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Burnaby (Friday Only)
Address: Ministry of Children and Family Development Office
Address: 2058 Henderson Place, 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Fees range from $25 to $130 per hour, based on a sliding scale
Referrals from the Ministry of Children and Family Development will be FREE OF CHARGE
This counselling program is partially funded by Ministry of Children and Family Development
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