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The guys at Peak Chocolate are bringing sweet snacks back into the lives of athletes. Oh yeah with some added nutritional benefits too.. 🙂
Come on, who does not like chocolate? And I give it to the boys, it actually tasted pretty good.
Their business was tapping into the booming marketing of cacao, coffee and sports supplements. They are trying to create a new category and the product is impressive.
What concerns me about people with no background in food or that their lack of advice from experts is that they create a product mixing various caffeine's and supplements with no testing on what that product can do to the consumer. With anything in the food realm, testing is a must do.
After having a couple of pieces of chocolate I could feel my heart start to pump faster, and I am sure that is not a good thing.
As you could tell, I was very concerned about the labelling. There are very strict rules around what you can and cannot say on labels and the really (really) big rule is around health claims, and just because Google says it is so, it may not be the case. You need to get experts in the field to advise you before you do anything.
You could not knock their enthusiasm, but sometimes a little information can be dangerous. Ralph was studying a law degree, this does not make him an expert in food labelling which you could tell from the show.
The guys were clearly passionate about CrossFit and were extremely fit and healthy guys, but they needed to do some more research to make sure the product and the labelling is 100% correct.
Steve is very funny. For a guy who says it how it is, he does get upset when things are not quite right. He complained that he is always last when they hand out the products. I am not sure if you picked it up on the show, but I reminded him that there was research done and he was the least liked. This was completely made up and I have no idea if any research even exists, but it is always fun to torment Steve.
I believe we could have got around the labelling but I could not get my head around the fact that these guys also had three other businesses that needed their attention and I will not invest in businesses unless the person has 100% focus.
TIP: Very few people can make a business work with a part time focus. Great businesses are normally lead by obsessive people who spend every second of the day focusing on how to make their business better… Be obsessive.
Cart-a-lot is the 4WD of carts.
It was a great product. I purchased one for the beach and it is very handy.
Remember that we get an hour of the pitch and Rebecca could talk a lot. Often when people are nervous they do tend to talk too much, which can sometimes cause confusion during the pitch..
Was not an investment for me..
Congrats on getting a deal with Naomi.
Blendies is a product by Hummingbird Superfoods that is essentially a 'nutrient ball' designed to be added to home-made smoothies.
It's a good product, the packaging looked great and Ben was an experienced business operator so it was of interest to me.
He had quite a complex structure in his business and I was not sure if the product was strong enough to make a business.
In store we do a similar thing called a 'ball drop' where we blend a protein ball into an existing nutrient packed smoothie – it is a bit of fun but not a business. If you are going to the effort of gathering the items to blend your home made smoothie, you could just add some protein powder to it and it would create the same result.
His valuation was really high and it was all based on blue sky.
Naomi's offer was very reasonable, but it was not to be.
Scope it Education is paving the way for kids in this digital age to be able to be able to get ahead in the one industry that is constantly evolving.
There is a real challenge for schools to keep up to date with the digital world.
65% of the students going to school today will be working for a business that does not yet exist, so I like the business and I liked that they were finding a solution for students of the future.
But this was really a business for Steve.
Lots of cute puppies in next week's episode of Shark tank Tuesday 7.30pm.


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Charlotte Bistro has been a favorite of ours since chef-owner Elida Villarroel first brought her talents to Miracle Mile in 2009. The French bistro fare was always elegant and sublime, the signature chocolate soup was fab, and the eclectic décor was charming and cool (Best Restaurant for Intimate Conversation, 2010). Villarroel is a graduate of the Institut Paul Bocuse in Lyon, France.
When Charlotte closed last year, we were saddened; when it re-opened, we were cheered; now that it has closed again, we are saddened again. But when Villarroel tells us she's plans to open back up, "hopefully by April 1," our hearts and palates soar once more.
The reason for Charlotte's closing, Villarroel says, is things got "very bad with my other partners." The next project, in the same space, will be called Mesa, she says, "Because I'm putting a little bit of my Spanish heritage into it -- as well as of course my French thing. That's forever."
Never mind forever -- we're looking forward to April, when one of Miami's underrated chefs gets to fly once more, this time without others weighing her down.
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subset: commoncrawl


text: RFID4U was the first to become an authority on RFID training as the industry started to wake up. RFID4U was a cornerstone member of a committee for creation of the first RFID certification by CompTIA (and published a book CompTIA RFID+ Passport) and now works with RFID Professional Institute to administer a range of RFID certifications that were developed based on today's applications of RFID technology and driven by the need for standardized testing for RFID professionals. RFID4U developed what is today the largest RFID eLearning portal launched under the brand name TEAMRFID. TEAMRFID is used by leading manufacturers, media and associations including RFID Journal, AFCEA, Bluestar, Omron , ThingMagic and Metalcraft, among others.


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POSTOLOWO, Poland — In June, some 30 protesters assembled at dawn in Postolowo, a tiny village in northeast Poland. At the edge of a woodland, they chained themselves to a red forest harvester that can cut up to 200 trees a day, making a statement against large-scale logging in the last primeval forest in Europe.
"This is a sacred ground, and we need to protect it," said Klaudia Wojciechowicz, a 41-year-old artist who had driven half the night to get to Postolowo.
The Bialowieza Forest, a United Nations World Heritage site, has been a battleground for more than a year between Poland's conservative government and dozens of scientists and environmental advocates. Polish officials argue that logging protects the forest from a violent infestation of bark beetles. Logging is also an important source of jobs for local residents.
"They want to destroy the forest," said Mariusz Agiejczyk, a deputy forest district manager here, watching the protesters from afar in the early morning mist. He said the infestation had killed 10,000 acres of forest. "If it weren't for those so-called ecologists, we could have saved it."
But the protesters, backed by environmentalists, say all invasive operations in the primeval forest endanger its ecosystem. They are supported by the European Union, whose executive branch has warned the government that if it does not stop the logging, it will be sued by the European Court of Justice on accusations of violating the bloc's rules on environmental protection.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or Unesco, is on their side, too. Last week, during a meeting in Krakow, the delegates adopted a decision in which they urged Polish government to halt logging in the forest, especially in old-growth tree stands. Unesco is also considering adding the forest to the List of World Heritage in Danger, a move usually reserved for land and properties threatened by armed conflicts and natural disasters.
"It's a unique biological laboratory, in which we can observe how natural processes worked 10,000 years ago," said Tomasz Wesolowski, a forest biologist at the University of Wroclaw. "To move anything within it is a barbarity."
The protest staged in Postolowo was just one in a series of civil disobedience acts organized here recently by environmentalists to block the logging.
"We already tried everything else — negotiating with the ministry, alerting international institutions," said Katarzyna Jagiello, an official from the Polish branch of Greenpeace. "The time has come for desperate measures."
The Bialowieza Forest sits in the middle of the European lowlands at the border between Poland and Belarus. As a relic of ancient forests, it has some of the oldest and largest trees on the Continent, as well as species that are rare or extinct elsewhere. It is also home to the largest colony of bison in Europe.
The biodiversity of the forest is immense and comparable to that of rain forests, said Mr. Wesolowski, who has been visiting Bialowieza to conduct fieldwork every spring for the past 43 years.
Still, government officials say Bialowieza is not a so-called virgin forest, which is usually defined as having spontaneously generated itself with a variety of tree species, sizes and age classes and with minimal interference from humans.
"There is not a single part of this forest that hasn't been touched by a human hand," Grzegorz Bielecki, one of the managers of the forest, said in an interview.
That doesn't matter, environmentalists say. "Hardly any place on earth carries no signs of human activity," said Jerzy Szwagrzyk of the University of Agriculture in Krakow, an ecology and forestry expert. "But in no way does this change the significance of this forest. There is no other place like this on the Continent."
Poland's environment minister, Jan Szyszko, an avid hunter and former forester, recently told Parliament that Unesco had "illegally" listed the Bialowieza Forest as a World Heritage site in 2014 and asked prosecutors to investigate the designation.
Mr. Szyszko, who did not respond to an interview request, complained in a panel presented by a right-wing news organization that the Bialowieza Forest had become "some kind of a flagship for the left-wing-libertine movement of Western Europe."
Officials with State Forests, a governmental organization that manages Polish forests, which are all state owned, say the infestation of a European spruce bark beetle broke out in 2012, after the previous center-right government significantly lowered how much logging could occur. As a result, they say, over 10 percent of all spruces have been attacked.
The government tripled the logging limits in 2016. In February, it repealed the protection of tree stands that are over a century old.
Since 2012, the foresters have logged almost 180,000 infected trees. Of those logged this year, 25 percent were at least 100 years old.
Mr. Szwagrzyk of the University of Agriculture said that since the logging could take place only in certain areas in the forest — excluding the nature reserves and national park — the infestation may continue to spread from the areas that are off limits even if infected trees were removed.
The woodland's complicated legal status has added to the difficulties in protecting it. Poland and Belarus have been managing their portions separately for decades.
The Polish side has more than 20 nature reserves, a national park and a commercial forest. Borders of some of the reserves are unclear, leading to disputes over how deep into the forest harvesters can go.
The best solution, experts agree, would be to turn the entire forest into a national park, but the regional government has torpedoed all the efforts to do so.
The fate of trees already killed by the beetle is another disputed point. The foresters say dead wood must be clear-cut for safety reasons. But environmentalists say decaying wood is an indispensable ingredient of a primeval woodland. About 40 percent of all organisms living in it, including insects, fungi and birds, are critically dependent on dead or dying spruces.
They say State Forests is cutting the dead trees because it needs the money. The institution is required to be financially self-sufficient, and nearly 90 percent of its revenue — 7 billion Polish zloty (close to $2 billion) in 2015 — comes from selling wood.
The forest district office said it did not keep records of dead trees removed, but Mr. Bielecki, one of the district managers, called the accusations "deeply unfair."
While the fate of the forest is being considered, Mr. Wesolowski, the biologist, warned that some things cannot be undone.
"We can't restore a primeval forest," he said. "If we could, we would have done it already somewhere near Berlin or London. Our Bialowieza Forest is the only one, and we, like some idiots, are trying to destroy it."


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MasterCard May Go For Selfies To Authorize Payments
New York, Oct 21 (IANS) If you never felt inclined towards taking selfies, you may have to change your habit now. MasterCard is mulling to introduce a new technology that allows shoppers to authorise a payment with a selfie instead of a password or signature.
MasterCard's president of enterprise security solutions Ajay Bhalla was reported as calling it the "next wave of technology that will change the consumer experience for shopping digitally", www.news.com.au reported.
A selfie, by definition, is a self-taken photo, normally with a phone.
"It's all part of our role in making commerce available anywhere, any time, on any digital device," Bhalla said.
The new selfie payment technology will be implemented in MasterCard's Identity Check app.
When a customer purchases a product from an online merchant that requires a verified identity, the customer's mobile phone will receive a 'push notification', which will open the app and ask to take a selfie.
While the customer poses for the selfie, they will be required to 'blink' to show the facial recognition scan software that they are a real person - in order to prevent criminals from exploiting the system by simply holding up the person's picture.
The new selfie technology will also remove the necessity of remembering a password, which can become an issue in a society dependent on multiple passwords.
MasterCard is also looking at voice or heartbeat recognition as payment options in the future.


text: More than 28,300 people applied for refugee protection in Austria in the first half of the year, with many coming from Syria [EPA] Up to 50 refugees have been found dead in a truck in Austria, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Balkan leaders gathered in Vienna to decide on how to collectively tackle the biggest refugee crisis to hit Europe since World War II. The vehicle, which contained between 20 and 50 bodies, was found on a parking strip off the highway in Burgenland state, police spokesman Hans Peter Doskozil said at a Thursday press conference with Interior Minister Johanna Mikl-Leitner. "This tragedy affects us all deeply," Mikl-Leitner said. "Human traffickers are criminals. Anyone still thinking that they're kind helpers cannot be helped." It was not immediately clear how the people in the truck had died, since bodies had begun to decompose. "We can assume that it could be 20 people who died. It could also be 40, it could be 50 people," the police chief said. He said "many things" indicated the refugees were already dead when they crossed the border. The refrigerated truck, which had Hungarian number plates, had apparently been standing off the highway since Wednesday. A Hungarian government official said a Romanian citizen had registered the number plate in the eastern Hungarian town of Kecskemet. More than 28,300 people applied for refugee protection in Austria in the first half of the year, with many coming from Syria. 'Must take responsibility' "The refugees who died today wanted to save their own lives by fleeing, but instead lost their lives at the hands of traffickers," Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann told the summit in Vienna. "It shows once again how necessary it is to save human lives by fighting criminal traffickers. It shows that we must take responsibility and give asylum to those people who are fleeing." The German chancellor said everyone at the summit had been "shaken" by "appalling" news of the bodies found. "This reminds us that we must tackle quickly the issue of immigration and in a European spirit - that means in a spirit of solidarity - and to find solutions," Merkel said. Related: Migrant crisis a failure of European policy, UN says The talks came amid growing criticism of the European Union's failure to agree on a joint response to the unfolding crisis. Countries taking part include Macedonia and Serbia, two major transit nations for the thousands of migrants and refugees trying to enter the EU by taking the so-called "western Balkans route". The foreign ministers of both countries called for a concerted EU action plan at the start of the summit. "Unless we have a European answer to this crisis ... no one should be under any illusion that this will be solved," Macedonia's Nikola Poposki said. Meanwhile, EU member state Hungary, which is a member of the EU's passport-free Schengen zone and has become the bloc's main entry point for refugees arriving by land along the Balkans route, was not at the meeting. The daily number of people crossing into Hungary hit a new high on Wednesday, topping 3,000, including nearly 700 children, police figures showed. Hungarian lawmakers will debate next week whether to deploy troops to stem the influx. 'Prove compession' Alarmed by the growing humanitarian disaster, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has urged countries "in Europe and elsewhere to prove their compassion and do much more to bring an end to the crisis". UN refugee chief Antonio Guterres and French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve meanwhile have called for the urgent creation of more so-called "hotspots" - processing centres to sort refugees fleeing war, from economic migrants simply in search of a better life. RELATED: A Syrian family's journey to a new life in Germany Nearly 300,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year with 2,373 migrants and refugees dying in a bid to reach Europe, nearly 300 more than the same period last year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Hungary has plans to reinforce its southern border with helicopters, mounted police and dogs [Reuters] SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Europe Refugees Austria


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Until very recently, the solar industry was mainly concerned with getting a toehold in the production of electricity at a utility-level scale. Now a New Jersey company is looking for its niche in a different field — how to handle a system that is saturated with solar energy, sometimes enough to destabilize the electric grid.
The company, Petra Solar, has a highly visible product: it is under contract to supply 200,000 panels that Public Service Electric & Gas will attached to utility poles around New Jersey. Around 75,000 are already up.
About six feet wide and four feet high, the panels make 200 watts when in full sun, and newer models will make 225 watts, the company says. On a mild day, one could almost meet the needs of an entire house in the daytime; on a hot day, four or five would run a window air conditioner.
On the top side of the panel, the side angled toward the sun, is the obvious attention-getter, the polycrystalline solar cell. What is different is the electronics bolted to the bottom, which are meant to prevent a
solar power overdose. They could turn out to be crucial, according to company executives.
At the moment, in most places there are only a few solar panels scattered across a utility's service area, and they make very little difference to the flow of electricity. If enough of them were concentrated in one small area, however, they could produce more energy than neighborhood power lines could handle.
The reason is that those lines were sized to import the amount required for the customers in the neighborhood, and with enough rooftop solar installations, local production can amount to more kilowatts than local consumption was ever anticipated to reach.
And New Jersey is getting itself set up for relatively high concentrations of solar power in distributed locations. The state's current plan is to have 22 percent of its energy generated from renewable sources by 2020. Of total consumption, 2.5 percent is supposed to come from solar. But that is a year-round average. For about 14 hours a day the sun is either below the horizon or too low to be useful, and some days are of course cloudy.
That means that to hit an average of 2.5 percent, solar will sometimes have to be 6 or 7 percent of the total amount of power generated.
Joe DeLuca, vice president for development and product management at Petra, said the peak percentage for solar would come each May, when days are long but the air-conditioning season has not really gotten under way and demand is therefore low.
When local production of power exceeds the combination of local consumption and the ability to export the power, voltage rises and so does frequency: while the electrons are supposed to dance back and forth 60 times per second, they can go faster. (As a practical matter, the pace is measured down to a thousandth of a cycle, and the system is almost always between 59.9 and 60.1.)
This is where the electronics box on the bottom of the panel comes in. It is a sort of Veg-O-Matic of the electrical world, slicing and dicing.
The typical function for the electronics attached to a panel is to convert the direct current produced by the solar cells into alternating current, at 60 cycles. But Petra's box, a device about the size of a home wireless router but hardened to survive the variations in temperature and humidity outdoors, also produces something called reactive power, a type of electricity product that can regulate voltage. Voltage is a property of electricity sometimes compared to pressure in a water pipe, and reactive power can be thought of as taking up space in the pipe and thus increasing pressure. The Petra box incorporates circuitry that can make reactive power or destroy it.
The box is also set up to manipulate frequency, although that is not a problem that solar power poses yet.
The box, which Petra calls a Smart Energy Module, is designed to regulate voltage autonomously and to act in intervals of less than one-sixtieth of a second in response to local conditions. It could in theory send signals back to a central computer that would make such decisions and relay them back to the box, but "by that time it would be too late,'' said Hussam Alatrash, an engineer at the company who wrote the algorithm to allow the box to function autonomously.
The widespread adoption of electric cars would also have an impact in voltage, Mr. DeLuca said. Plugging in a single one to recharge could easily double a home's energy demand, and if three or four such cars were in a single cluster of houses served by a single transformer, that could cause overloads. "It's going to be like the Fifties when everybody was adding air-conditioners,'' he said.
Making or destroying reactive power takes energy. That can come from the solar cell itself, or the box can take the energy off the grid. The box does "talk" to a central controller that funnels information back to utility control rooms, giving an instantaneous picture of voltage and frequency.
It can also talk to nearby streetlights, or it may be mounted on a street light pole. Most streetlights have sensors that turn the light on at dusk and off at dawn; with some ingenuity, the light could also be dimmed in the middle of the night, when there is little traffic, or alternate lights could be turned off to save energy. The box can also monitor consumption of power by the light emitted, and tell a worker when the lamp has burned out.
The Petra concept is inherently more expensive per kilowatt of capacity because each panel requires its own inverter to make DC power into AC power. But its "smart" functions could make it a better investment, Petra says.
So far the panels have performed well in the sun, rain and snow, although one was on a pole that was knocked down in a car crash, Mr. DeLuca said. When emergency workers arrived, he said, "they saw our name on the panel and called us to ask what they should do.''


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To assess a vehicle, tests are carried out under comparable conditions. For this purpose, accurately specified barrier and dummies are used as test devices. DYNAmore develops and distributes the FE models of these test devices.
For side impact load cases models from DYNAmore (FAT, PDB) and from FTSS are available. Soon free models from LSTC will complete the product portfolio.
Humanetics develops validated dummy models based on their physical anthropomorphic test devices (ATD), that are used in car crash testing all over the world.
The BioRID 2 model is used for the investigation of seat performance under rear impact loads, with the focus on the prediction of whiplash injuries. It is developed by DYNAmore.
For the consideration of the human body under impact loads, the THUMS model can be used. Human models of different sizes and positions are in preparation.
The *Strasbourg University Finite Element Head Model* (SUFEHM) is actively developed at the Strasbourg University since 1997.
Humanetics and DYNAmore develope validated child models based on their physical anthropomorphic test devices. These models are used in frontal and side impacts all over the world.
Different developers support LS-DYNA models of the pedestrian impactors; FTSS (First Technology Safety Stystems), OASYS (Ove Arup SYStems) and a consortium of Daimler, Porsche, Lasso and Peng (DPLP).
Headform models are available either from LSTC (Livermore Software Technology Corp.) or from Humanetics. These models are distributed by DYNAmore.
Side and rear barrier models following specifications of ECE, FMVSS, IIHs, NCAP,... have been developed by Oasys and Cellbond.
A range of LS-DYNA finite element models for frontal barriers have been developed by Oasys and Cellbond.
This dummy model is developed for the evaluation of the crash-worthiness of new cars regarding moose crash accidents. A physical moose crash dummy has been developed by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI).
Glass structures have to comply with several requirements relating to different loading scenarios and design variations. For that purpose, the deformable pendulum model was developed.


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Mental health issues cost Canadian businesses up to $1494 per employee per year. Promote positive mental health within your workplace with these free resources.
- Take the free Pulse Check to get your action plan for workplace mental health.
- Mental health: Strategies that support your business (PDF)
- Demystify the new Canadian Psychological Health & Safety Standard with this handy FAQ (pdf)
- New developments in measuring the bottom-line impact of mental health
- Download our Workplace Learning Solutions Catalogue - Over 100 programs, workshops and seminars (pdf)
Morneau Shepell's 5Rs
[Resilience, recognizing risks, recovery, return to work and removing stigma] - provide an organized and focused approach to workplace mental health.
Recognizing Risk
Return to Work
Removing Stigma
Visit these sites for more information
Download our Workplace Learning Solutions Catalogue (PDF) – over 100 programs, workshops, and seminars:
- Mental Health in the Workplace workshop (PDF)
- Workplace Mental Health LeadershipTM certificate program (PDF) – This program is approved for CPD hours by the Human Resource Professionals Association (HRPA).
Contact us
To learn more, contact Morneau Shepell online or call 1 800 461.9722.


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A2Z SS-MIRFM Solar Wireless Multi Megapixel HD IR Bullet Security Camera Systems are built with multiple Fixed cameras providing full location awareness with configurations for 360 Degree coverage. Equipped with absolute night vision thanks to on board LED Infrared illumination these units can operate effectively in 0 lux environments. A2Z SS-MIRFM Solar Wireless Megapixel IR Camera systems also have a comprehensive selection of security cameras with options for various Megapixel / High Definition resolutions, Fixed to Motorized Zoom Lenses and different IR arrays. The SS-MIRFM Series Solar IR Megapixel Cameras are the leading-edge in modular solar powered remote surveillance systems with intelligent on board functionality. Those functions include support for Audio or External sensors as well as edge-storage and on-board video analytics. Utilizing only the top tier Security, Surveillance, Wireless and solar technology the A2Z SS-MIRFM series solar powered cameras are the most diverse and capable remote security systems the industry has to offer. A2Z Solar Powered Infrared Security Camera Systems are available with countless configurations and mounting options for optimal performance and maximum user satisfaction.
A2Z Multi Megapixel IR Bullet Cameras:
The SS-MIRFM Solar IR Camera Systems is a multiple fixed IR camera solution scalable from one to four cameras on the standard designs and additional camera capacity by request. A rich selection of Megapixel HD Infrared Security Cameras are offered with such a variety of camera options including Motorized Zoom Lens, Video Analytics, on board storage and so much more. Infrared Camera choices can further be mixed and matched to enable the ideal combination for each surveillance project. System support for a wide range of integration possibilities thanks to functions like Two Way Audio and External Alarm inputs or Relay outputs. A2Z solar systems integrate with a wide range of 3rd Party NVR (network video recorder) or IP Video Management Software manufacturers and support of ONVIF allows universal video monitoring system installation. The solar camera systems use the latest in H.264, MPEG-4 or MJPEG compression methods for excellent video quality, optimized bandwidth and video storage reduction. The SS-MIRFM Solar Powered Infrared Bullet Security Camera Systems incorporate the highest quality Infrared Megapixel and HD Bullet Cameras for professional IP Video Surveillance!
A2Z Wireless:
A2Z SS-MIRFM Solar Megapixel Infared IP Camera Systems offer a full range wireless frequencies from 900Mhz to 5.8Ghz license free bands as well as specialized units like 4.9ghz for public saftey and law enforcement. The Wireless communications are provided in both LOS (line of sight) and NLOS (non line of sight) versions for versatile wireless system design and installation. The wireless communications selections further include Point to Point (PTP), Point to Multi Point (PTMP) or MESH radio configurations. Alternatively 3G / 4G cellular mobile wireless solutions are another option for completely off site locations. Moreover WiFi on-site local connection is an excellent option for viewing and configuring from close by. All radios are built with advanced qualities and functionality, however military level encryption and other communication types can be provided upon special request.
A2Z Solar Power Systems:
A2Z Wireless Solar Powered IR Network Camera Systems are constructed from only the industry's top tier equipment. By using only high grade components we ensure longer life expectancy and lower maintenance needs. Furthermore with A2Z each system is designed per locationn to guarantee adequate Stand-Alone Solar Power with wireless communications, security and surveillance equipment selected specifically to meet your system needs. Other options such as extended power back-up or remote power system management shows our systems can provide all the operational requirements. A vast collection of mounting hardware enables the systems to be installed nearly anywhere on anything.
A2Z Solar Powered Infrared Security Camera Systems are designed to provide superior surveillance and security to distant or completely remote locations. The systems are fully built to withstand the environment while offering a cost effective and easy to install solution.
A2Z SS-MIRFM Solar PTZ Camera Systems:
**designed/configured per location
Accessory Options Available on some models Include:
Specialized Powder Coating/Paint Schemes
- i.e. Camoflouge, Solid Colors, etc.
Alarm and Device integration
- including Sirens, Strobes, Tamper Switch, Intrusion Sensors
- Single to Multi I/O Input Output Device Integration
- One Way and Two Way Audio Support with Mic / Speaker Add-ons
Customized Mounting Solutions
- Mounting Solutions for Pole, Roof, Ground, and more
- A2Z Sectional Utility Pole System


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Posted by Brian Proctor, Kathryn Charlton, Dana Flynn-Rea and Dave Yerks on October 4, 2017.
Your organization, like most of those we see, is probably already incorporating contingent workers in your talent mix, and likely seeing year-over-year increases in the number of contingent workers in your workforce. In Deloitte's 2016 Global Human Capital Trends report, 51 percent of global executives surveyed said they plan to increase or significantly increase the use of contingent workers in the next three to five years, with only 16 percent expecting a decrease.1 But, even if you think your contingent workforce program has been up and running efficiently, it's important to revisit it regularly. The contingent market is evolving rapidly, and keeping your program on autopilot could risk it falling far behind.
Many organizations believe their contingent workforce programs are running effectively; however, our analysis shows that even organizations that have invested in this space often still fail to meet the minimum criteria for a long-term successful program, including the following:
- Contingent workforce costs are controlled and are not "hidden" in account codes that are untracked.
- Foundational compliance programs are in place and are effectively managing risk—joint employment risk is managed through strong manager education programs, policies, and processes.
- Contingent workforce metrics are being captured and reported.
- Vendor Management System (VMS) technology has automated much of the contingent workforce source-to-pay process.
- You know who your contingent workers are and how many have access to your sites or systems, and you have a standard taxonomy to define and describe the contingent workers.
- Traditional sourcing avenues are under control, and managers appear to be sourcing talent appropriately from approved vendors.
Organizations that have invested in their contingent workforce programs should constantly monitor their programs and watch for warning signs of diminishing returns. In addition to the traditional concerns around cost, quality, and speed, disruptive market influences are rapidly influencing the contingent workforce market, sources of talent have broadened and evolved in recent years, and new technologies are delivering contingent workforce talent in ways not thought possible in prior years. However, many organizations are unclear about how to determine if their programs are effective.
At Deloitte, we assess status across a number of dimensions including process, technology, vendor management, policy, compliance, and talent management. Periodic health checks are valuable to evaluate how your program is responding to market disruptions. If you see any of the following warning signs, your program could be in trouble:
- Pockets of risk exist, such as contingent worker roles intermingled with employee roles, raising concerns of co-employment (two or more employers having responsibility for the same contingent worker at the same time).
- You rely on certain sourcing channels exclusively, and you're not taking advantage of changes in the talent market.
- Your organization doesn't capture the important skills and competency levels of employees and contingent workers, limiting your ability to make sound decisions regarding the contingent workforce and FTE (full-time equivalent) ratio appropriate for your business.
- You're tracking contingent worker metrics, but haven't gotten as far as total talent management—considering contingent workers in overall strategic workforce planning.
- Contingent workers are used for urgencies and specific needs, but aren't seen as an ongoing piece of the organization's talent strategy.
In the evolving market, sources are readily available to not only feed talent needs but also provide end-to-end servicing of contingent workers, from recruiting and onboarding to payment. And, of course, services are increasingly becoming mobile, giving workers easy, on-demand access from their device of choice. This entire sourcing arena is ripe with potential—in our 2017 Global Human Capital Trends survey this year, more than half of surveyed global business leaders (53 percent) report weak capabilities in relation to gig and talent economy resources, and only 8 percent rate their companies' ability to manage crowdsourcing as excellent.2
All of these factors, coupled with an evolving regulatory environment governing employment matters (scheduling, overtime, health care, benefits portability)—as well as more sweeping societal and economic shifts involving demographics, multiple generations in the workforce, and changing attitudes and expectations about work and working—underscore the importance of progressive, and even aggressive, contingent workforce management.
If you see value in recharging your program, potentially making it more strategically relevant and even creating a competitive advantage, consider evaluating your program with a critical eye:
- Consider how well the program is meeting customer needs.
Focusing on the employee experience is a Top 10 2017 Global Human Capital Trend, and that experience extends to contingent workers as well. What are the "moments that matter" for the customers of your contingent workforce program—hiring managers as well as the contingent workers themselves? Are there processes in place to support those moments and provide for a positive experience?
- Evaluate the role of contingent workers within the total workforce.
In terms of performance and productivity, are you getting satisfactory returns for your investment in contingent workers? Is the way you've traditionally used contingent workers adequate to support the business strategy going forward?
- Consider the source.
Evaluate staffing models, current sources for contingent workers, and the merits of diversifying to include other types of sources and technology into the mix. Perhaps it makes sense to establish your organization's own "window" into the contingent workforce. At Deloitte, for example, we've created Deloitte Open Talent—an online community/portal to match independent workers with project opportunities within our firm—to give us greater insight into our contingent talent population and add consistency and clarity to our contingent management processes.
We'll be sharing other examples of how companies are managing and deploying contingent workers as we explore each of these topics in upcoming posts. Even if contingents make up only a small part of your total workforce today, that may not be the case in the future, whether by choice or by necessity. How well you manage total talent resources, both on and off the balance sheet, is not only a question of competitive advantage but also, increasingly, a matter of survival.
1Jeff Schwartz, et. al., The gig economy: Distraction or disruption?, The new organization: Different by design, 2016 Global Human Capital Trends, Deloitte University Press, February 29, 2016.
2Michael Stephan, et. al., Talent acquisition: Enter the cognitive recruiter, Rewriting the rules for the digital age: 2017 Global Human Capital Trends, Deloitte University Press, February 28, 2017.


text: Compliments are one of the most amazing and powerful components of social life. If given correctly they create a lot of positive energy. As important as knowing how to give compliments is receiving them. We all need to know how to do both the right way. The Effect After you give a compliment, watch the... Continue Reading →


text: I'm all about romance! If you've been on the blog before or if you check my posts and the books I review, I pretty much read and talk about romance books. I do enjoy other genres but definitely those that contain a bit of romance in there as well. And this month of August, it's time to get into the celebration that is Read-A-Romance Month (RARM)!


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Customer Testimonials for Mapledale Motors
Tim H. - 2002 Honda Accord
I had been looking all over for a nice Honda Accord with mid-range mileage in my price range. Came across an 02 Honda Accord SE with decent mileage and more than in my price range! Called up Dave from Mapledale Motors and he worked around my schedule to set up an appointment! Talk about knowing how to pick them! Dave has a great eye for used cars! I bought the Accord and then a few months later I came back and bought a nice 1987 Mustang and in the fall I also bought my wife a SUV from him too! Prices are great, service was awesome! Dave took care of everything from start to finish. I made an awesome decision going with Dave at Mapledale Motors!
Mike - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado
I recently bought a Chevy Silverado and the process of buying was quick and easy. Owner really cares about his customers and I would definitely refer this dealer to others. Mike from Utica, NY
Mary Z. - 2013 Honda Civic
I recently bought a honda civic there great experience would definitely buy there again and will recommend to others


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Reports serve a very useful purpose in our work. They capture and document meetings, activities, processes, projects and events. They help those involved as well as those who weren't involved to know what was happening, discussed, shared and decided.
But how many of you have seen reports that look like those in the picture, to the left? For a start, they aren't very enticing, and in this format they aren't going to travel very far. However, the good news is that there are other, creative ways that we can use to capture information, present it and share it.
Innovative event design and documentation that travels
I recently helped to organize and facilitate a mini Share Fair on Agri-water projects. The objective of the event was to do something different to bring together a number of projects that are all working on agri-water issues, all in Ethiopia, and many of which share the same goals, methods, partners and donors — but which previously had not been engaged with each other much.
A Share Fair was suggested because of the innovative style of activities and methods it could bring to the task. And it delivered just that – making use of a reverse Rubik's cube method.
So while Peter Ballantyne from ILRI did some social reporting (a topic we will soon have available as part of our How Can I… series), we still needed to capture the content, process and results of the event and make it available to the participants and others. But how can we create a report that:
- reflects an innovative event, activity or process?
- captures the information in a way that engages people?
- can be widely shared and accessible?
Well, below are three things that I did for the Agri-water Share Fair 'report' to make it more innovative — you might want to try them too.
Use PowerPoint instead of Word as the format for your report
For the Share Fair report I decided to use PowerPoint as the format for the report instead of Word – because I could more easily replicate the flow of the event, allowing people to move through the report as if they were moving through the day. This format also allows you to make use of a lot more images to showcase the activities that took place and the information shared – using both the photographs taken and the interesting graphics that PowerPoint allows you to create. More importantly, by using PowerPoint, I think it also makes you focus your content, rather than just writing large swathes of text.
Moreover, since there were ten presentations made by different projects during the Share Fair, it meant that I didn't have to worry about converting these into a different format, but could just build upon what was already there.
Display information creatively, not just all text
As part of the Share Fair, the projects involved were each asked to make a brief presentation using a common template that would allow us to carry out analysis and synthesis across all the projects with regard to things like:
- People involved in the projects: lead organizations, partners, funders and stakeholders
- Budgets, time lines and geographical areas
- Goals, activities and approaches
- Unique selling points and challenges
So in order to show some of the trends coming out from across all the projects in the areas noted above, I made use of some online applications like Wordle and TagCrowd, which create tag clouds. Text is put into the application, which analyzes how often the various words appear and creates an image of those words in a tag cloud. The more often a word is repeated, the bigger its corresponding image within the tag cloud, compared to other words.
For example, instead of just listing all the approaches being used by the projects at the Share Fair, I made a tag cloud from the text in their presentations. The resulting image above, highlights some of the most common and frequent approaches: case studies, dialogue, modeling and knowledge sharing!
Put it online using SlideShare
A PowerPoint presentation filled with images makes it difficult to send via email. Plus, only those on the participant list get to see the 'report' and not others working on the projects, in the organizations, in the countries, or even just those who may be interested. I therefore decided to upload the 'report' onto SlideShare to make it widely accessible to as many people as possible.
The 'report' is in two parts because the ten project presentations were already enough to fill one presentation , and the report on the Share Fair activities and process was then put into another one (with a link to the project presentations on SlideShare too).
SlideShare makes it easier to share presentations, simply by distributing the links via email and other social media channels. For example, the presentations on SlideShare can be embedded into a blog post like this one for people to view instantly, as shown below:
Now wasn't that a more exciting 'report' to read?
Photo Credits:
Blog post thumbnail- Uploaded by Rybson at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1088940
Tag cloud- Created by Nadia Manning-Thomas


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Betfred is one of the UK's largest bookmakers, and the brand is well known throughout the country thanks to its chain of betting shops which can be found all over England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Betfred may not be one of the biggest names in the online betting world, but continual expansion efforts have seen the bookie not only move successfully in this direction, they have also become one of the more trusted names in British online betting, with thousands of players logging in and placing bets every single day.
Now boasting features such as mobile betting, live-streaming, and an impressive number of betting markets, the bookie's online presence continues to grow. In this post, we're going to look at the Betfred website, as well as some of the markets and bet-types that the company offer.
Sports Betting at Betfred
As one of the UK's most prominent names in bookmaking, Betfred offer an incredibly diverse range of betting markets for players to enjoy. As well as a wide coverage of different markets, they also host a very generous range of bet-options within those markets.
Due to the layout and design of the site, finding all of the different markets is a breeze; you don't have to navigate through hundreds of menus to find the area of the site you want, which can be maddening.
Betfred's biggest market is football, and you'll find football betting opportunities from all over the globe, although naturally the emphasis is on UK leagues like the Premiership, the Championship, and the various lower leagues.
The dominance of football on the site is further compounded by the regular ACCA's Betfred offer, allowing players to receive money back in the shape of a free bet if one selection loses.
Football aside, Betfred's other most popular market is probably British horse racing, and virtually all races from each of the country's 60 racetracks can be wagered on at Betfred, thanks to their partnerships with other bookmakers and racing tracks nationwide.
American markets are available too, such as: NFL, Baseball, Basketball, and Ice Hockey (NHL). Although in our opinion, where Betfred really shine is with their 'unusual markets', where you'll find a number of weird and wacky betting opportunities.
Unusual Markets
While not necessarily unusual these days, the Political markets at Betfred are still worth mentioning simply because they're always current and up-to-date. The two main Political markets offered are understandably the UK and US Political scenes, although other elections are available; at the time of writing, for example, the 2017 German Federal Election is being covered quite heavily, with a number of betting options available.
As you'd expect, UK and US Political markets are equally as varied, and you can bet on who the next Prime Minister will be, who the next majority party will be, and so on.
Elsewhere, if you head over to the TV/Specials menu, you will find some of the really fun bets, which are separated into four sections: Royalty, TV Shows, Awards, and Novelty.
The 'Royalty' bets are, unsurprisingly, all based on the activities of the Royal Family, and you will be able to place bets on everything from the gender of the next Royal baby, to what colour dress the Queen will wear in public next.
Head to the 'TV Shows' section, and you'll find the ability to bet on the winners of a number of TV shows: The Apprentice, Britain's Got Talent and MasterChef being just a few of the options available.
The 'Novelty' bets section is where the really wacky stuff happens, and while they are subject to change quite quickly – due to the fact these markets are not generally that popular, and often get taken down at a moment's notice – one of the most common bets here is "Will it snow on Christmas day". This UK bet is something of a household name, allowing punters to predict whether or not various different regions in the U.K will see a White Christmas.
How Good are the Odds?
Betfred are known for offering odds that are OK, and OK is about as fair a word as can be used here really.
Their odds might not be the best, but they are steady; you won't usually find any exceptionally long or short odds displayed, which is preferred by their regular bettors who like to have that stability.
Promotions, however, come along regularly at Betfred, and many of these include price boosts and enhanced odds, so it's well worth keeping an eye on the latest promotions and bonuses to make sure you take advantage of any of these price increases.
In Play Betting
Betfred offer decent in-play betting options, although many of these in-play services are piggy-backed from other bookmakers; and while this isn't anything to get concerned about it is worth knowing, especially if you are wondering why the interface and odds are the same as you would see at other bookies.
Perhaps the best feature about Betfred's in-play betting is the cash out feature, and while most sports books offer cash-out on in-play bets, Betfred are one of the most responsive, with their cash out prices often ranking highly. So, if you're a fan of cashing out your in-plays, then Betfred is likely a good option for you.
The Betfred Website
Betfred's website has recently undergone a welcome re-vamp, with a complete redesign resulting in a more modern look and up-to-date feel.
The functionality of the site is pretty good, and the easy-to-use navigational menu makes working your way around the site hassle free. You can also add 'Favourite' sports to your account, which means you can quickly and easily access the markets and events you most commonly bet on – not exactly pioneering, but useful and worth pointing out none-the-less.
Mobile Betting
The Betfred mobile website is aimed primarily at Apple and Android users, but the site is likely to work on most mobile devices providing they are connected to the internet and are capable of running mobile websites.
The mobile website allows you to enjoy a seamless betting experience whilst on the move on your mobile phone or tablet. Whether you're watching the football at the pub and want to make a bet, or just lounging around at home on the sofa watching some late night Basketball and want to bet on the overall winning margin – Betfred's mobile site allows you to bet from anywhere so long as you have a working internet connection.
You can access thousands of betting markets from your mobile device, and each sports market includes thousands of individual bet types which you can wager your money on.
Deposits and withdrawals are also really easy thanks to the user-friendly design of the mobile website, and you'll be able to deposit funds instantly thanks to their quick-deposit system. Withdrawals are also made easy thanks to their no-frills withdrawal service, and you can expect your funds to arrive in your bank account (or other chosen payment method) within 2-3 business days.
There are also downloadable Betfred Apps, available to iOS and Android users, which are virtually identical to the mobile version of the site, carrying the added benefit of not needing login details to be entered repeatedly.
Best Features
Mobile Betting
While we have already covered this, the responsiveness and adaptability of Betfred's mobile betting deserves a second mention, as it really is one of the core features of the bookies makeup. Regardless of whether you choose to download the apps or just use the mobile-optimized website, you'll enjoy a high-quality and reliable bet experience, so it's well-worth checking out, especially if you are a keen mobile player.
Cash Out
Betfred's cash out system is simple, reliable, and fast, and you'll experience some of the most up-to-date price options around. In fact, Betfred were recently voted "Best UK bookmaker for online cash out prices", so it's definitely worth looking at if you use cash out functions regularly.
Market Variety
Most bookies these days offer a varied and well-rounded selection of betting markets, but Betfred deserve a special mention here due to the sheer number of markets you'll find. It's not just the markets that are attractive; Betfred also offer a tremendous number of events within most markets, particularly football, and as stated earlier the sports book offer betting markets on every UK and Irish Horse race, appealing to all type of player.
High Street Betting
Betfred are one of the UK's largest high-street bookmakers with hundreds of stores spread throughout the UK and Ireland, second only to William Hill and Coral.
One of the reasons that Betfred have seen significantly more success on the high street than say, Paddy Power, is the fact that their prices and market-ranges are superior; and with such a large network of high street betting shops, they are able to offer very generous prices and jackpots (in the case of their lotto games), and this is just one of the reasons why they're so popular with punters.
While they've come under criticism for the inclusion of the FOBT machines (known also as fixed odds betting terminals), the shops display high levels of customer care, with responsible gambling at the forefront of their ethos and brand messaging.
Payments & Limits
Betfred don't technically operate a maximum bet policy, although certain markets and events are automatically limited in how much you can wager.
This will be displayed when the bet is added to your betslip, and if you're trying to place a bet that's worth more than the allowed amount, you will see an error message which explains the trading decision.
Payouts are generally capped at either £500,000 or £1 Million, depending on the event and the type of bet placed; although again, some markets do have different payout limits, so it's always worth familiarising yourself with these before placing large ACCA's or Lucky 15's etc, so that you aren't left disappointed.
Payment methods at Betfred are numerous, with UK players able to use all major Debit Cards alongside a number of EWallets, such as: PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Entropay.
Withdrawals are usually processed within around 24 hours, although as per Betfred's terms and conditions, they can take up to 72 hours and potentially longer if you are not yet a verified user.
History & About
Named after its co-founders, Fred and Peter Done, Betfred is one of the world's oldest bookmakers. Since the company's first shop was opened in 1967, the bookie has gone from strength to strength, with their last recorded turnover a whopping £3.5 Billion – and that was back in 2004 before the online market really kicked off.
The company's head office is based in Birchwood, Warrington, and while the management side of the business has seen quite a lot of change during its lifetime, the chain remains one of the strongest performing and most trusted bookies in the UK, both on and off line. This is evidenced by the large market presence that they enjoy, with 1,370 betting shops throughout the United Kingdom.
One of the most notable events in the company's history was during the 2004-2005 Premier League season. The company founder and CEO at the time, Peter Done, bet Victor Chandler (the namesake of BetVictor) a cool £1,000,000 that Manchester United would finish higher than Chelsea. Unfortunately for Done, Chelsea ended up finishing top, and Done lost the lot.
While this was probably a drop in the ocean for Done, some punters questioned the move being so public, apparently worried about potential conflicts of interest. These claims and fears were generally debunked however, with most agreeing they were irrational and silly.
Another notable moment in Betfred's history was in 2011, when they purchased Totesport from the British Government. This widened Betfred's reach and ensured that the Tote markets – the most highly-regarded and respected in British horse racing – remained intact; and Betfred won the rights to offer exclusive pooled-betting on UK horse racing for 7 years. So come 2018, all bookies will be able to offer the same. Interesting times ahead.
Today, the company focuses largely on mobile betting, and their apps and mobile website are regularly updated and improved to ensure they are at the forefront of betting technology.


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A 31-page report the Russian LGBT Network released on Monday notes those it has helped leave the semi-autonomous Russian republic in the North Caucuses "were relocated" to shelters in central Russia. The Russian LGBT Network, which is based in St. Petersburg, also said more than 130 people from Chechnya and neighboring republics have "requested assistance of a different nature because of the persecution from the local authorities and hostile relatives."
Novaya Gazeta, an independent Russian newspaper, in April reported Chechen authorities have arrested more than 100 men because of their sexual orientation since the beginning of the year. At least three of these men reportedly died after their arrest, while others have been beaten and tortured and sent to secret prisons.
"They threw me to the floor and beat me," said a person identified as I.J. in the Russian LGBT Network report. "They beat my chest and my face with their feet, and they hit my head against the floor."
I.J. also told the Russian LGBT Network he thought authorities were going to rape them as they took off their clothes. A person identified as A.B. said authorities forced them to watch a video of them torturing a man by inserting a hollow tube and a piece of barbed wire into his anus.
"They enjoyed the torture," said A.B. "We were forced to beat others up and to electrocute them. They instructed other inmates to do whatever they wanted with us."
Novaya Gazeta reporter Elena Milashina contributed to the report, which indicates Chechen authorities have begun to target lesbian women. The Russian LGBT Network also notes dozens of gay Chechens may have been killed by their relatives in so-called honor killings.
U.S. remains 'deeply concerned' about crackdown
The ongoing crackdown against gay and lesbian Chechens has sparked widespread outrage around the world.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley in April said the U.S. is "disturbed" by the crackdown. The State Department has also urged the Russian government to conduct an investigation.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are among the world leaders who have condemned Chechen authorities. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told the Washington Blade last month the State Department has raised the crackdown in "conversations at the highest levels," even though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) in June during a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing he has not discussed it with Russian officials.
Neither Tillerson nor President Trump has yet to publicly condemn the crackdown.
Tillerson on Tuesday made no mention of Chechnya when he spoke to reporters about relations between the U.S. and Russia during a State Department press briefing.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson comments on US-#Russia relations pic.twitter.com/yjsyC9HjwR
— Department of State (@StateDept) August 1, 2017
"The United States continues to be deeply concerned about the situation in the republic of Chechnya, where credible reports indicate at least 100 men have been detained and tortured with some killed on the basis of their sexual orientation," a State Department official told the Blade on Tuesday in a statement.
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said last month during an interview with HBO's "Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel" that gay people don't exist in the republic. The Russian LGBT Network has also expressed skepticism over the Kremlin's claims it has launched an investigation into the crackdown.
Nauert on July 18 described Kadyrov's comments as "very concerning and upsetting to us." The State Department official with whom the Blade spoke on Tuesday stressed the U.S. "categorically condemns the persecution of individuals based on their sexual orientation or any other basis."
"We urge Russian federal authorities to follow through on its promise to conduct an independent and credible investigation into these reports, and hold any perpetrators responsible as soon as possible," added the official. "We also urge Russian federal authorities to speak out against such practices and take steps to ensure the release of anyone wrongfully detained."
Media Matters criticizes lack of Chechnya coverage
The Russian LGBT Network released its report a day before Media Matters for America published a study that notes there have only been three "significant mentions" of the Chechnya crackdown in the six major networks' evening newscasts between April 1-July 31.
A segment of NBC's "Nightly News" broadcast on April 23 focused on Chechnya. CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper" and "Anderson Cooper 360" highlighted the anti-gay crackdown on April 24 and May 4 respectively.
"Chechnya's brutal attacks against and murders of queer men in the region have become an international human rights issue, but the American public would not know that by watching the evening news," said Media Matters. "Though NBC's and CNN's pieces provided solid reporting, one package on each network's evening programming over a four-month span is not enough, and the utter silence of ABC, CBS, MSNBC, and Fox News does a disservice to their viewers."
in MANHATTAN
has written
a new stage work
"silence = accomplices/chechnya secrets"
which PLAYWRIGHTS SANCTUARY will preview
in san Francisco at
on castro street
in San Francisco where myers is playwright in residence


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Overland Park, Kansas – June 2, 2016 – DeScribe, a transparent PFD patch is now introduced in one of the leading practices of Kansas City – RSVP Med Spa. Post the Q-Switched lasers, this is the most innovative and technologically advanced solution for removing tattoos. The FDA-cleared system brings a great new method for removing multi-pass tattoos rapidly.
The number of customers opting for tattoos is continuously increasing by the day and as a result, the number of people wanting to remove their tattoos is also on the rise. Kimberly Woydziak, a Certified Laser Technician at RSVP Med Spa commented, "We always receive patients at our clinic who are looking for a less painful, affordable and faster tattoo removal procedure. With the benefits of DeScribe, we are able to offer patients everything they need and that's why it is one of the best new products at our practice."
This technology can be easily integrated into the current process of removing tattoos by placing the patch over the tattoo. The professionals working on the tattoo elimination procedure can pre-treat the tattoo using the harmless liquid PFD that is included with the product. Once the area to be treated is covered with the patch, multiple laser passes can be performed through the patch within just a few minutes. Since the patch is made of silicone, it prevents the evaporation of PFD, helps draw away heat from the epidermis and blocks the ejected skin debris. The scattering of light is prevented by PFD, making it easier to break the ink particles within the skin tissues. Patients find this process much more comfortable than traditional laser and plus, the tattoo can be treated with laser several times using the patch compared to a single session at a time in the conventional methods.
Kimberly also mentions, "We're always focused on introducing the best-in-class treatment options for our patients at the practice. With DeScribe, we can easily integrate multi-pass laser treatments in our office and satisfy customers with technologically advanced tattoo removing procedures."
Till date, both physicians and patients have been highly satisfied with the results of DeScribe. RSVP Med Spa is one of the first practices in the area to embrace this new technology that delivers substantially better results.
About RSVP Med Spa
RSVP Med Spa is a leading practice in Kansas City aimed at providing superior laser and aesthetic services to patients. The company offers a complementary consultation to customers and delivers the most advanced, safe and effective results at reasonable prices. The tailor-made approach towards cosmetology differentiates the company from its competitors and delivers outstanding services and results in every visit.
To know more, visit http://RSVPMedSpa.com
Distributed by RSVP Med Spa
Media Contact
Company Name: RSVP Med Spa
Contact Person: Kimberly Woydziak
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 913-387-1104
Address:13300 Metcalf Ave.
City: Overland Park
State: Kansas
Country: United States
Website: http://rsvpmedspa.com


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Watercolor a la Plage
Towel: Target
Purse: Kelly & Katie via DSW
Mug: Betsey Johnson
Swimsuit: ASOS
Another post at the beach. I go to the beach a lot when it's warm. I don't want all of my posts to be at the beach but it's just so easy and fun. I'm sure there will be many more this summer too. I got this beautiful new beach towel the other day from Target. I am in love with it's design, size and quality. It was only $11 too. It's really great quality for the price. I know how hard it is to find an awesome beach towel that isn't designer. That's why i'm making this post. If you need a new one go to Target.


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Former special counsel Robert Mueller will testify for the first time on Wednesday about his investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election.
The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. EST. Listen to Mueller's live testimony here.
Mueller will testify to Congress, answering questions about the investigation, bringing it back into the public eye.
The Justice Department instructed Mueller not to stray past his report's findings. Associate Deputy Attorney General Bradley Weinsheimer said in a letter sent to Mueller that he should not speak about redacted material from his report, including material pertaining to pending criminal prosecutions, "uncharged third-parties" and "executive privilege," such as "presidential communications privileges," according to the Associated Press.
Mueller also reiterated through a spokesman that he plans to stay within the bounds of the 448-page report.
Here's what to expect:
Mueller will be questioned about his findings on Trump's possible obstruction of justice, which spans across 10 potential scenarios, according to Vox. This includes Trump's involvement in then-FBI Director James Comey's handling of the investigation, as well as Comey's subsequent termination from his role.
Viewers of the hearing may see Mueller's longtime aide, Aaron Zebley, as a witness, according to The New York Times. Mueller was the only witness listed for the hearing until Tuesday, when Mueller asked that his aide be sworn in.
Zebley's position as a witness at the hearing has yet to be approved, and would shake things up for both Democrats and Republicans, who have already planned their questioning around Mueller being the sole witness.
Republicans sitting on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees are likely prepared to address various anti-Trump texts sent between his team members, as well as anything that diminishes the damaging information about the President found in Mueller's report, according to CNN.
Meanwhile, Democrats are likely prepared to focus on five major obstructions outlined in the Mueller Report – namely, Trump's efforts in terminating Mueller's role, and his tampering with witnesses, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, reports CNN.


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We had overlooked Mt Roskill as a place to walk and explore… until today. The volcano double cone and twin craters of Mt Roskill have been destroyed through the installation of a water reservoir, but from the top it is easy to view Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Big King and One Tree Hill.
2 of the 3 parks are currently closed until 2018. The detour around the parks takes a long time. Read: Auckland Council Public Notice.
Our flat walk (if you choose not to walk up to the summit of Mt Roskill) links up three reserves – War Memorial Park, Walmsley Park and Underwood Park. Take some bread to feed the ducks in Oakley Creek. The final part of the walk is at the colourful shops of Stoddard Road.
The walking route is also great for cyclists, prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash and off leash dog exercise areas in Walmsley Park and Underwood Park.).
We stopped for a very good coffee at an almost hidden Ethiopean cafe in the Tulja Centre called Cafe Abyssinia.
9th December 2013 – a new cafe has opened at 740 Sandringham Road Extension. Give your support to a community project – the Roskill Coffee Project.
Please note: An upgrade of Oakley Creek storm-water project has been proposed by the Local Board. If it goes ahead, there will be some disruption along this route within Walmsley and Underwood Parks from 2016.
Read about it here.
Description: Mostly level paths, steep paths ascent to summit of Mt Roskill. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs if Mt Roskill summit is avoided.
To see: Views of Auckland City skyline, Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Three Kings, One Tree Hill. Oakley Creek and ducks.
Time: approx. 90 minutes (about 7.5 kms).
Start: Corner of Sandringham Road extension/Stoddard Road.
Stay on track…find this walk's map and directions guide (AC-093 Mt Roskill Loop) and other walk self-guides at our Walk Store
(Click on the photos to see an enlarged view.)


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CRIKEY!!!! The Croc Hunter is Dead!
It is being reported by Reuters wire service that Australian real world Pitfall Harry, Steve Irwin, died today. Irwin, famous for his wild antics wrestling crocodiles and enraging venomous snakes around the globe, was said to be filming a documentary when he was stung in the chest by a stingray barb.
Irwin was one of the main reasons that Animal Planet, a Discovery channel owned station, took off and made itself a mark in the vast sea of cable TV. His child like excitment of nature was contagious and he was one of the few guys that could make poking a viper with a stick seem fun and light hearted.
At least he died doing what he loved. And thats all we can really ask for from death.
"Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die." - Amelia Burr


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What is FyneFest?
Is it a Beer festival? Is it a Music festival? Is it a Family Holiday?
I guess we will never really know
But for me its of all that and more.
Most importantly FyneFest is an opportunity to relex, and enjoy the slow pace of life in good company. Its not a beer festival to dash round and try and get all the lovely new beers, its not a family holiday to be crammed with as many exciting things as i can make fit, Its one of only 2 times in the year that i truly stop and relax.
The festival is nestled between two hills giving a stunning 360 degree view of some of the most wonderful scenery that scotland has to offer. The site of the festival is amazingly well laid out (well apart front the single entrance/exit that doesnt half get muddy) with camping not to far from the car and even closer to the bar, with a decent range of food and non beer stalls and plenty of space for camping.
Friends from near and Far gathered as our tent village grew to over 15 tents, some containing people i know well, other not so well,yet more ive only met at previous FyneFest, and more still being friends of the previous, but all there with the same aim, to relax and enjoy the event what ever the weather.
Welcome to the Village
This is my 3rd FyneFest and each year the beer list gets better and better. Despite neither of the previous two years catering to my love of trying new beers, the beer list contained many gems and keep me very happy. This year prior to the event on seeing the beer list i couldnt help but drool at the number of new beers and few other favorites. But what surprised me most was that unlike most beer festivals i didnt dash round trying to complete the set but found myself casually picking them off one at a time, inter-spaced mostly with the delightful Mills and Hills, the number of these climbing beyond my capacity to count.
I dont know any one thats been to FyneFest that doesnt want to come back again and again, some of those who have been coming for years have build up traditions, and i enjoyed hearing from some people i was chatting to on the Friday evening about their tradition and how they stop off at the same pub on route up from Cumbria for a pint of Tennants Lager, and how on Saturday morning they had to head off to Inveraray for a Pie before returning for the 2nd day.
The Three Musketeers
But on asking one the Saturday how the pie was, i discovered Disaster had struck, and the shop had changed hands and no longer did pies. Wandering around they found a pub, had a pint and on way out passed a butcher as disaster was averted, of course now tradition demands a visit that same pub next year.
So heres to tradition,
and long may FyneFest continue to be traditional part to my year


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'Dun cry. Please dun cry.'
'I'm going to lose my all time mate...' Her hot tears made me feel like weeping too. Tak masuk Kak Za lagi.
'Mek. Kak Za sedih la awak dah nak gi.'
'Jangan la macam tu Kak Za. Saya pun rasa cam tu jugak.'
'Naper awak nak pindah mek?'
Naper? Naper?
Bila hari terakhir aku di JB, baru aku umumkan yang aku akan berpindah kepada semua. Masing2 terkejut. Kenapa tak bagitau awal? Kenapa nak pindah?
Kenapa? Kenapa?
'We're gonna miss you.' Kak Eyna peluk aku. I hugged her & Layla tightly. 'I'm going to miss everyone of you too.' Looking at Layla's stomach, I said, 'Jangan lupa jemput majlis bercukur rambut baby nanti.' 'Insya Allah.'
Then it was the Fab Four. Chairman, blessed his soul, seolah2 terlupa aku dah nak pergi. The effort to gather the five of us together had twice been let down by him. Tak pelah Chairman. Maybe hanging out with 4 crazy girls are not that hot an idea as before. We had lunch. We laughed. We told stories. We laughed. I leant against Ainie's shoulder affectionately. I love my friends dearly. Then why am I leaving them?
Sekali lagi, sebelum naik bas, aku peluk Kak Za, Yana, Ainie, Jen, & Survivor satu persatu. 'Thank you. Thank you.' I couldn't say anymore. I have been so lucky to have them as my friends. I will miss them sorely. So badly.
Dari tingkap bas, aku cuba berlagak tenang. Melihat Jen menyapu air mata di pipi. Smile, I mouthed to her. I smiled. And waved. Then the bus moved away. It was so cold. Outside, and inside. There's this hollow feeling. My hands felt numb. I put my hand in my jacket pocket. I felt the hard, lumpy string. I pulled it out and stared at the tasbih beads.
'To calm your soul and as reminder to God.'
I started to cry.
Final Goodbye.
on January 01, 2006 No Comments


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Purchase this article with an account.
Karin R Pillunat, Sylvana Georgii, Eberhard Spoerl, Richard P Stodtmeister, Lutz E Pillunat; Central retinal venous pressure in patients with large discs. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2017;58(8):732.
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© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
Purpose :
To evaluate central retinal venous pressure (CRVP) in patients with macrodiscs and to investigate a possible association with retinal nerve fiber layer parameters.
Methods :
A total of 59 eyes with macrodiscs was included in this cross-sectional study. None of the eyes were treated with intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering medication or had visual field defects. IOP was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometry and CRVP with contactlens dynamometry calibrated in mmHg (Imedos, Jena, Germany). CRVP was considered to be elevated, if it was higher than IOP+2x standard deviation which approximately equaled IOP+5mmHg. Rim parameters were examined with the glaucoma modul of OCT (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany). Student's t tests were used to test for differences between the groups.
Results :
CRVP was within the range of IOP+5mmHg in 37 eyes (63%). The mean CRVP in this group was 12.8±2.5 mmHg and the mean IOP 12.7±2.3 mmHg. 22 eyes (37%) showed an elevated CRVP. The mean CRVP in this group was 32.1±8.5 mmHg and the mean IOP 13.7±1.6 mmHg. The difference of CRVP between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.001), the difference between IOP was not significant (P=0.088). There was no difference regarding age (49.5±13.8y; 48.9±10.6; P=0.849) and mean BMO (2.92±0.64 mm2; 2.82±0.38 mm2; P=0.536). Minimal rim width parameters showed no difference. Retinal nerve fiber layer parameters showed a statistically significant reduction in the group with elevated CRVP in the temporal inferior segment (154.8±13.7µm vs. 141.9±15.8µm; P=0.004) and the temporal superior segment (130.9±16.4µm vs. 116.9±19.0 µm; P=0.008).
Conclusions :
An elevated CRVP leads to reduced ocular perfusion pressures, which represent a risk factor for the prevalence and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma. Therefore, an elevated CRVP (>IOP+5mmHg) in clinically normal macrodiscs might be a sign of beginning glaucoma and could help discriminate normals from glaucoma suspects. The measurement of CRVP might be beneficial to detect patients with macrodiscs being at risk for developing glaucomatous damage.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.
This PDF is available to Subscribers Only


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Reading by the end of 3rd grade is critical for success in school and in life. After 3rd grade, the focus shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. Research shows that students who haven't mastered basic reading skills by the end of 3rd grade—whom we call 'striving readers'—are less likely to get on track and keep up with their peers' academic achievement. Research also shows that striving readers after the primary years are more likely to become school dropouts, teen parents, underemployed adults, and are at greater risk for involvement in the criminal justice system.
What would it really take for all children to read on grade level by 3rd grade? It takes many stakeholders—teachers and school leaders, of course, and parents, school boards, community organizations, residents, and policy makers at all levels, too. But teachers and school leaders are directly responsible for delivering the effective literacy instruction that is at the core of any course of action. What specifically should they do?
In 2008, Foundations joined the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Making Connections initiative, a decade-long effort to improve outcomes for children living in tough neighborhoods. Foundations works in eight Making Connections sites across the country. Specifically, we work with schools, districts, and communities to develop reading success plans for each striving reader by paying attention to health and attendance as well as to academics, and by bringing together the right data and the right people to determine the right interventions for each child, assess the impact of those interventions, and adjust them until every child reads on grade level. We support the sites through tools, on-site training, and technical assistance that includes facilitating virtual communities of practice.
The result of this collaboration is our 8 A's—specific recommendations we believe will lead to all students reading on grade level by the end of 3rd grade:
Download the complete report, Grade Level Reading: An Action Framework for School and District Le..., at foundationsinc.org.
The 8 A's will seem familiar to most educators as the logical and right thing to do. It also sounds straightforward, even easy. But our experience and national statistics suggest that it is not easy. Most schools, especially in under-resourced communities, aren't implementing the strategies that underlie these recommendations. And if schools are doing some of the 8 A's, it is rare for schools to do any one fully. It is even rarer for schools to implement the entire set and for districts to scale grade level reading district-wide and to sustain it over time. Yet our experience also suggests that every day countless teachers and school leaders across the country dedicate their energy and ingenuity to helping all students read on grade level.
Our 8 A's are a work in progress. We expect to amend and refine them as we continue learning from our own work with our partners in the field and from others' experience. What insights can you share?
Readers might also be interested in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2010 report, Early Warning! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters.
This is a re-post of an entry that originally appeared on our organization's blog, languageandliteracy.org. It discusses a report we released earlier this year that makes specific recommendations around supporting all children to read on grade level by third grade. Here's a direct link to the report: Grade Level Reading: An Action Framework for School and District Le....
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gomac Release Date
We are pleased to announce the official release date for gomac.
gomac will officially be available for users to sign up and use on and after 1st May 2016.
Some of the features available with this initial release of gomac include Stock Management, Customer and Supplier management and Order booking and tracking.
All users regardless of their subscription package with gomac, will also have the ability to request access to the gomac database which has been put together containing many products such as Mobile Phone makes and models, laptops, desktops and this database will be updated on a regular basis with new products and categories.
Our vision was to not just provide a software that people can use but make life simpler by giving users ready made and did I mention FREE access to many existing products so that they can get started as soon as possible without wasting any precious time that we all know matters in this fast moving and dynamic market of today.
Visit the gomac page to find out more about our software and sign up today for free.


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q)please tell us a brief info about yourself.
a)Well, I'm Kiko Alcazar. I live in Tarragona, a town near Barcelona. I am a photographer, but my pictures are beyond the simple picture, since I attempt to have a magical, dreamlike aura.
q)Tell us about your humble beginnings, When did you you first realized that you wanted to be an artist?
a)Since my childhood I inclined to drawing, crafts and everything related to art but almost without knowing it. Later I became interested in photography and notticed that this field could accomplish my needs because it gave me all the points I needed to express myself. At first, I didn't realize that I wanted to be an artist, it just came out by itself. I think that beeing an artist is something you're born with.
q)What are your tools of the trade and why?
a)My tools are my camera and Photoshop. I use the camera to catch the moment I need,to then tranfer it to my own world using Photoshop.
q)Who or what gives you inspiration on your morbid art?
a)I am inspired by my dreams, my fantasies and often the portrayed character. Each person inspires you something different, which they emanate. It's like a symbiosis.
q)Is your artistic background self-taught or did you go to college to study?
a)I consider myself an autodidact, because I only spent one year at a photography school. It was a very frustrating experience. They seeked to address me to their own idea of photography, and I couldn't adapt to that. I've always been a rebel, so I decided to quit. From then, I started learning photography techniques and Photoshop on my own.
q)How do you keep "fresh" within your industry?
a)Being true to myself and my style, trying not to follow fads, not beeing
a clone. I think that's what brings the freshness. Otherwise you have to adapt your work to the trends and that makes you lose spontaneity.
q)What are some of your current projects?
a)Now I am preparing an exhibition for the gay film festival in
Besides the exhibitions, I am preparing some photos for a book that will be released on 2010 and several pictures for some outstanding spanish actors and actresses.
q)Which of your works are you the most proud of? And why?
a)I am very proud of a picture that won a
a photography book published by Tate.
Besides this, I'm also proud of each photo I shot.
q)Are there any areas, techniques, mediums, projects in your field that you have yet to try?
a)Well, I must admit that there are areas that doesn't motivate me and I'm not interestd in, but over time I hope to try some other fields.
I think that my style would work perfectly on the audiovisual area, for example.
q)What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
a)Each project and each picture is a motivation, a challenge. If you are passionate about what you do, it's not easy to burn-out.
q)How do you spend most of your free time?
a)Well, I like listening to music, reading, going to art galleries, stroll and to party! Being surrounded by my friends and my partner.
q)What contemporary artists or developments in art interest you?
a)I really like painting, illustration, photography and audiovisual projects.
Steven Meisel (already a modern classic), Steven Klein .. Illustrators like Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, etc.
q)We really like some of your pictures, how can we get our hands on them? Do you sell them? How?
a)Yes, the photos are available. You can get them if you contact me via email on firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also get some more stuff related with my work on my online store


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Honeymoon is a movie I had literally never heard of until Patrick Klepek recommended it as a part of his Shocktober 2014 writeup a few days ago. His actual recommendation over there was very vague, basically amounting to "this movie has a really terrible trailer, don't watch that, but check the movie out without really knowing anything about it." Any time someone says "go watch this movie without knowing anything about it," they get my attention, so I watched it. It didn't disappoint! I found it to be a really impressive low-budget horror movie, and most surprisingly, one which actually had characters in it, not archetypes.
I don't think it would be going too far to say that horror movies have something of a character problem. When there's a horror movie with truly standout characters, it can be amazing, and those characters will be latched on to for a long time to come (Ellen Ripley, Ash Williams, etc.), but because the genre sort of exists simply to kill characters off, we often get horror movies, even good ones, which don't so much write characters as they do fill archetypes. These are "characters" you're already familiar with, so you're not surprised when the cheerleader who went off to have sex in the woods gets slaughtered. The deconstruction of that was part of what made Cabin in the Woods such an amazing film back in 2012 (and, for the record, if you haven't seen Cabin in the Woods, go see Cabin in the Woods).
While none of the characters of Honeymoon are memorable in an Ellen Ripley sort of way, they're much more developed than a simple archetype, as well. This is partly due to the film taking a lot of time to show our two main characters (this is a movie in which you literally see four people over the course of the whole thing, by the way) and giving an impression of who they are, and partly due to two extremely strong performances from the two main actors, Rose Leslie (Ygritte from Game of Thrones!) and Harry Treadaway. This means that by the time some spooky stuff does start happening, I was more invested in it that I was in something like last year's Mama, a movie I liked a lot, except for the fact that the main characters felt like something of a blank slate. It's more of the slow-burn, tense, cringy type of horror movie as opposed to one which is going for the jump scares, which is a lot harder to pull off, but is actually effective here.
That said, without getting into specifics, if you're looking for an absolutely incredible story, Honeymoon might not be your best bet. I figured out more or less what was going on in the story by the half hour mark, and wasn't all that surprised by anything over the rest of the film. By that point, though, I was in it for the ride, and because the characters and acting were actually quite compelling, and the ultimate payoff at the end of the film wasn't bad or anything, just a touch predictable. I thought there was a specific bit of early foreshadowing that would have taken the movie in a much weirder direction than it actually goes in, but unfortunately it plays it pretty straight, seemingly leaving one plot thread unanswered to go for a more predictable ending. By the end of the movie it also leans a little too heavily on a certain horror trope, saying which one would be a spoiler, for my tastes.
I don't think Honeymoon is going to blow anyone's mind, but with impressive performances and legitimate scares, if you're looking for a solid 87 minutes of tension, Honeymoon is well worth checking out.
Also, seriously, yeah, don't watch the trailer, it shows most of the major plot beats and reveals.


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Last year I came across a Facebook group called 52 Weeks of Mail. I signed up and… well… never sent any mail! I have signed up again this year. I really intend on sending out some mail. May not send it EVERY week but maybe I will send a couple pieces one week to make up for the weeks I fail.
As part of this I signed up for something else I found called Postcrossing. You sign up and create a profile and start signing up to send out postcards to an international list of members. I'm hoping to get some cool postcards and mail art. Seems like a cool idea. I will let you know if it works.
If you think this would be fun I encourage you to sign up. If you want to share your address here and maybe get some mail from other readers feel free.
My address is Cheryl 1120 Orchard Oriole Ln., Durham, NC 27713
I would LOVE some original mail art pieces or cool postcards from your neck of the woods. Send me something and I will try to return the favor.
Happy Pen-palling!


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The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certified more than 1,000 TV models in North America, Europe, Korea and Japan as DLNA compliant in the first quarter of 2011 alone. That's more than the total number certified in the first four years of the program, and brings the total number of certified models to over 4,000.
DLNA makes it easy to stream content between devices. A DLNA server, such as a PC with media files, can stream to any DLNA enabled client, such as a PS3 or DLNA certified HDTV. Since it is a standard, any compliant client can connect to a compliant server. A recent CableLabs Interop event shows that MVPDs are looking at using DLNA to allow their STBs to stream content to other devices in the home.
The entire CE industry seems to have embraced DLNA, there's quite a list of supporters. There is a notable exception, TiVo. TiVo's lack of DLNA support has been the source of disappointment and frustration for users, myself included. Unless they're using DLNA for the as-yet-unreleased Premiere-to-Premiere streaming, which there is no indication of, there has been no sign of TiVo embracing DLNA.
If TiVo acted as a DLNA client consumers would be able to stream media off of their PC, or other DLNA server devices, quickly and easily. There would be no need to bend over backwards to make things work through TiVo Desktop, or to use reverse-engineered 3rd party products like kmttg, Streambaby, or pyTiVo.
And if TiVo acted as a DLNA server you could stream content off of your TiVo to DLNA client devices – like a PS3 or one of those 4,000 TV models. You could have instant multi-room viewing, a whole home DVR, without buying additional TiVo boxes – which is probably why they're not doing it. But that's a shame, DLNA is becoming almost standard in new CE devices and rather than locking users into TiVo, I think it will lock TiVo out of the larger DLNA ecosystem.
I'm hopeful that with cable MSOs looking toward DLNA, and TiVo establishing relationships with cable MSOs, TiVo will need to implement DLNA in their products to satisfy those MSOs. I love TiVo, but I hate walled gardens and TiVo feels increasingly walled off by comparison as other vendors become more open. I hope that changes, both for TiVo's sake and for consumers.
Press release below:
Jul 19, 2011 09:02 ET
Digital Living Network Alliance Certifies More Than 1,000 Television Models in First Quarter of 2011
PORTLAND, Oregon, July 19, 2011/PRNewswire/ —
Rapid Acceleration in Certifications Demonstrates Continued
Importance of Television as Centerpiece in Digital Home
The Digital Living Network Alliance [http://www.dlna.org ] (DLNA) experienced unprecedented growth in the number of DLNA Certified® televisions during the first quarter of 2011, certifying more than 1,000 models in North America, Europe, Korea and Japan. The number of television models Certified by the Alliance in the first three months of the year was greater than the total number Certified in the first four years of the program. There are now more than 4,000 Certified television models available, providing consumers with a convenient way to connect and enjoy content throughout the digital home.
Total shipments of connected televisions in 2015 are expected to reach 138 million worldwide, according to DisplaySearch, a global market research and consulting firm specializing in the flat panel display supply chain and display-related industries. As the number of connected televisions grows on a global scale, and the television remains the hub of today's digital home, DLNA is making the sharing of content across consumers' home networks easier via standards-based products.
"In just the first three months of this year, we saw an exponential increase in new television model certifications, demonstrating that the connected television is only increasing in importance as the focal point of today's fully connected digital home," said Nidhish Parikh, chairman and president of DLNA. "Consumers are demanding connectivity amongst all of their home entertainment products and require the flexibility to share content between products developed by a variety of manufacturers. This demand increases each year and we expect to see continued growth in DLNA Certified® televisions as a result."
With a DLNA Certified® television, consumers can enjoy their content from an array of DLNA Certified® products including mobile phones, tablet computers, digital cameras and laptops. DLNA Certified® televisions are currently available from member companies including: AwoX, Broadcom, Cabot, Compal, Funai, HP, Hitachi, JVC, LG, MStar, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, SANYO, Sharp, Sony, Toshiba and Trident. A full list of Certified television models can be found on the DLNA Certified Product Search.
For more information about DLNA, please visit our website http://www.DLNA.org or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dlnacertified and on Twitter at @DLNA.
About DLNA
Members of Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) share a vision of an interoperable network of personal computers (PC), consumer electronics (CE), mobile devices and service providers in and beyond the home, enabling a seamless environment for sharing and growing new digital media and content services. Founded in 2003, the group established and maintains a platform of interoperability based on open and established industry standards that, when used by manufacturers will support the sharing of media through wired or wireless networks. More than 200 multi-industry companies from around the world have joined DLNA, committing the time and resources necessary to achieve their vision. DLNA's Promoter Members include: ACCESS, AT&T, AwoX, Broadcom, CableLabs, Cisco, Comcast, DIRECTV, DTS, Dolby Laboratories, Ericsson, HP, Huawei, Intel, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, PROMISE Technology, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, Technicolor and Verizon. Additional information about the Alliance, its participating companies and membership benefits is available at http://www.dlna.org.
Source: Digital Living Network Alliance
John Kreuzer, McGrath/Power Public Relations, +1-408-727-0351, email@example.com, for Digital Living Network Alliance