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Strings often used in programming. Most of the programs use strings such as names, addresses, messages and many more. A string is a sequence of Unicode characters. Unlike most of the programming languages such as C/C++ where strings treated as an array of characters, Java treats a string as an object. Java provides the following classes for storing and processing strings.
• String
• StringBuffer
• StringBuilder
All these classes defined in java.lang package so they are accessible to all your programs by default.
The java.lang.String class is used to bring a String object(s). String objects are immutable (read-only), i.e. once the String object has created, there is no way to modify the string of text it represents.
You can construct a String object implicitly or explicitly.
A String object can be created implicitly by using a string literal in the same way as you initialise variables of primitive types. For example:
String str = "Welcome to Java";
When the Java compiler encounters this statement, it creates a String object with the contents Welcome to Java and assigns its reference to string reference variable str.
Since strings are immutable so if we write the statement,
str = "Good Morning";
the new String object with the contents Good Morning will be created and its reference is_assigned to str. The String object with contents Welcome to Java still exists after this assignment, but it is no longer referenced by str.
Another way of implicit conversion is by using the + or += operator on two String objects to create a new one. For example :
String s1 = "Hello";
String s2 = " World";
String s3 = s1+s2;//Results in Hello World
Consider another example
String s4 = "Good";
s4+ = " Morning";//Results in good Morning
The String object can be created explicitly by using the new keyword and a constructor in the same way as you have created objects in previously. For example The statement
String str = new String("Welcome to Java");
Creates a String object initialised to the value of the string literal "Welcome to Java" and assigns a reference to string reference variable str. Here, String ("Welcome to Java") is actually a constructor of the form String (string literals). When this statement compiled, the Java compiler invokes this constructor and initialises the String object with the string literal enclosed in parentheses which passed as an argument.
You can also create a string from an array of characters. To create a string initialised by an array of characters, use the constructor of the form
String (charArray)
For example, consider the following character array.
char[] charArray ={'H','i',' ','D','I','N','E','S','H'};
If we want to create a String object, str1 initialised to value contained in the character array chrArr, then use the following statement,
String str1 = new String(chrArr);
One should remember that the contents of the character array are copied, subsequent modification of the character array does not affect the newly created string.
In addition to these two constructors, String class also supports the following constructors,
• String (): It constructs a new String object which is initialized to an empty string (" "). For example:
String s = new String();
Will create a string reference variable s that will reference an empty string.
• String (String strObj): It constructs a String object which is initialized to same character sequence as that of the string referenced by strObj. For example, A string reference variable s references a String object which contains a string Welcome On execution of the following statement
String s2 = new String(s);
The string reference variable s2 will refer to a new String object with the same character sequence Welcome in it.
• String (char [] chArr, int startIndex, int count): It constructs a new String object whose contents are the same as the character array, chArr, starting from index startlndex upto a maximum of count characters. For example: Consider the following statements
char[] str = {'W','e','l','c','o','m','e'};
String s3 = new String(str,5,2);
On execution, the string reference variable s3 will refer to a string object containing a character sequence me in it.
• String (byte [] bytes): It constructs a new String object by converting the bytes array into characters using the default charset. For example, consider the following statements,
byte[] ascii ={65,66,67,68,70,71,73};
String s4 = new string (ASCII);
On execution, the string reference variable s4 will refer to a String object containing the character equivalent to the one in the bytes array.
• String (byte [] bytes, int startIndex, int count): It constructs a new String object by converting the bytes array starting from index startIndex upto a maximum of count bytes into characters using the default charset. For example: On executing the statement,
String s5 = new String(ascii,2,3);
The string reference variable s5 will refer to a String object containing character sequence CDE.
• String (byte [] bytes, String charsetName): It constructs a new String object by converting bytes array into characters using the specified charset.
• String(byte[] bytes, int startIndex, int count, String charsetName): It constructs a new String object by converting the bytes array starting from index startIndex upto a maximum of count bytes into characters using the specified charset.
• String (StringBuffer buffer): It constructs a new String object from a StringBuffer object.
Now let us consider an example to explain how these constructors are used.
The String class provides us with numerous methods. These methods help us to access individual characters of the string, compare strings, search string, extract substrings and so on. These methods are divided into the following:
• Determining string length, characters and combining strings
• Searching strings
• Comparing strings
• Converting, replacing, splitting and matching strings
• Obtaining substrings
• Conversion between strings and arrays
• Obtaining the characters in a string as an array of bytes
While discussing all these methods, we assume that the strings st, s2 and s3 exists which are defined as follows,
String s1 = "Welcome";
String s2 = "Welcome";
String s3 = "Where there is a will, there is way";
The String class provides methods for obtaining length, retrieving individual characters and concatenating strings. These include
• length()
• charAt()
• concat()
• int length (): This method returns the number of characters in a string. For example: The statement,
int k = s1.length();
will store 7 in a variable k i.e. the number of characters in the String object referenced by s1 (i.e. Welcome).
• char charAt (int index): This method returns the character in the string at the specified index position. The index of the first character is 0, the second character is 1 and that of the last character is one less than the string length. The index argument must be greater than or equal to 0 and less than the length of the string. For example :
will return character 'e' i.e. character at index position 1 in the string referenced by s1.
• String concat (String str): This method concatenates the specified string to the end of the string. For example : The statement,
will concatenates the strings 'Welcome' and 'Everybody'.
Searching a string for finding the location of either a character or group of characters (substring) is a common task. For example: In some situations, usernames and passwords are stored in a single string in which they are separated from each other by a special character such as the colon (Example: username: password). To get the username and password separately from such a string, there must be some method such that we can search the string and return the location of the colon character. The String class provides the following methods for performing these tasks,
• indexOf();
• lastIndexOf();
• Int indexOf (int ch): This method returns the index position of the first occurrence of the character ch in the string. If the specified character ch is not found within the string then -1 is returned. For example:
The statement, s1.indexOf('e') will return 1 as index starts from 0.
Another version of this method is int indexOf (String str)
It is same as above except that it accepts a string argument. For example,
Will return 6, i.e. the index position of the first occurrence of substring "there" in the string.
• Int indexOf (int ch, int fromIndex): This method is same as the previous method, but the only difference is that the search will start from the specified index (i.e. fromIndex) instead of 0. For example, s1. indexOf ('e' ,2) will return 6 as searching will start from index 2.
Another version of this method is int indexOf (String str, int fromIndex)
It is same as above except that it accepts a string as the first argument instead of a character.
For example, The statement s3.indexOf ("there", 8) will return 23.
The lastIndexOf() method also has four versions as that in case of indexOf() method. The four versions of lastIndexOf() method have the same parameters as the four versions of the indexOf() method. The difference is that this method locates the last occurrence of the character or substring in the string depending upon the argument passed. This method performs the search from the end of the string towards the beginning of the string. If it finds the character or substring, the index is returned. Otherwise, it returns-1.
For example, consider the following statements.
s1.lastIndexOf('e') // returns 6
s2.lastIndexOf('e',3) // returns 1
s3.lastIndexOf("there") // returns -23
s3.lastIndexOf("there",20) // returns 6
s3.lastIndexOf("Hi",5) // returns -1
The String class also provides some methods for comparing strings. While discussing these, we assume string s1 contains 'Welcome' in it.
• boolean equals (String str): This method checks whether the contents of the String object referenced by str is equal to the contents of a String object through which this method is invoked. It returns true if the strings are equal and false otherwise. For example:
s1.equals("Welcome") // returns true
s1.equals(s2) // returns false
• boolean equalslgnoreCase (String str): It is same as above except it ignores the case of the characters in the string (i.e. treats uppercase and lowercase characters to be equivalent). For example,
s1.equalslgnoreCase("welcome") // returns true
s1.equalslgnoreCase(s2) // returns true
• int compareTo (String str): This method compares the contents of String object referenced by str with the contents of invoking string by comparing the successive corresponding characters, starting with the first character in each string. The process continues until either the corresponding characters are found to be different or the last character in one or both strings is reached. Characters are compared lexicographically (i.e. according to their Unicode representation). This method returns
• 0 if the two strings are equal, i.e. they contain the same number of characters, and the corresponding characters are identical.
• A value greater than 0 if the invoking string has a character greater than the corresponding character in the String object referenced by str.
• A value less than 0 if the invoking string has a character less than the corresponding character in the String object referenced by str. For example:
s1.compareTo("Welcome") // returns 0
s1.compareTo(s2) // returns-32
s2.compareTo(s1) // returns 32
NOTE: A syntax error will occur if you compare strings using comparison operators >, >=, <=, <.
• int compareTolgnoreCase (String str): This method is same as compareTo() method except that it ignores the case of string characters. For example:
s1.compareTolgnoreCase (s2) returns 0.
• boolean startsWith (String str): This method determines whether the invoking string starts with the specified string str. If so, the method returns true otherwise returns false. For example,
s1.startsWith("We") //returns true
s1.startsWith("Well") //returns false
• boolean startsWith(string str, int startIndex): It is similar to the previous method, but it tests whether the invoking string starts with the specified string str beginning at a specified index, startlndex. For example,
s1.startsWith("We",2) // returns false
• boolean endsWith (String str): This method determines whether the invoking string ends with the specified string str or not. If so the method returns true otherwise returns false. For example:
s3.endswith("Java") // returns true
s1.endswith ("come") // returns false
• boolean regionMatches(int startlndex, String str, int strStartlndex, int len): This method checks whether a region (portion) of the invoking string matches the specified region of the specified String object referenced by str. The parameter startIndex specifies the starting index in the string that invokes the method. The parameter str is the comparison string, and the parameter strStartlndex specifies the starting index in the string str. The last parameter len specifies the number of characters to compare between two strings. It returns true if the specified number of characters are lexicographically equivalent. For example,
s1.regionMatches(2,"come",1,3) // returns true
• boolean regionMatches(boolean ignoreCase, int startlndex, String str, int strStartlndex, int len): It is similar to the above method except that it will ignore case if the value in the first parameter ignoreCase is true. For example,
s1.regionMatches(true,2,"COME",1,3) // returns true.
Now let us consider an example to shows how these work.
The String class provides methods for converting, replacing, splitting and matching strings. These include
• String toLowercase (): This method converts all of the characters in the string to lowercase. For example,
"Hello".toLowercase(); //returns hello
• String toUppercase (): This method converts all of the characters in the invoking string to uppercase. For example,
s1.toUppercase(); //returns WELCOME
• String trim (): This method returns a copy of the string, with leading and trailing white spaces omitted. For example,
String s1 =" Good Morning ";
s1.trim(); //returns Good Morning
• String replace (char oldchar, char newchar): This method returns a new string resulting from replacing all the occurrence of oldchar in the invoking string with newchar. For example,
s1.replace('e', 'E'); //returns Welcome
•String replaceAll (String regeX, String replace): This method replaces all substrings in the invoking string that matches the given regular expression pattern regeX with the specified replacement string replace. For example,
It will replace all vowels in the invoking string with # symbol. Here [aeiou] is a regular expression which means any of the characters between the square brackets will match
This statement will replace the substring is with the substring was in the given string.
• String replaceFirst (String regex, String replace): This method replaces the first substring in the invoking string that matches the given regular expression with the specified replacement string replace. For example,
It will replace the first occurrence of substring is with the substring was in the given string.
• String [] split (String regex): This method splits the invoking string into substrings at each match for a specified regular expression regex and returns a reference to an array of substrings. For example, consider the statements.
String str = "Welcome to Java";
String[] s = str.split("[]");
The first statement defines the string to be analyzed. The second statement calls the split () method for the str object to decompose the string. The regular expression includes the delimiter space so it will return a reference to array of strings where s[O] contains Welcome, s[1] contains to and s[2] contains Java.
Now let us consider a program that explain these operations.
Programmers often need to retrieve an individual character or a group of characters (substring) from a string. For example: In a word processing program, when a part of a string is copied or deleted. While charAt () method returns only a single character from a string, the substring () method in the String class can be used to obtain a substring from a string.
• String substring(int beginIndex): This method returns a new string that is a substring of the invoking string. The substring returned contains a copy of characters beginning from the specified index beginIndex and extends to the end of the string. For example,
s1.substring(3); // returns substring 'come'
• String substring (int beginIndex, int endIndex): This method is another version of the previous method. It also returns a substring that begins at the specified begin Index and extends to the character at index endIndex-1. For example,
s1.substring(3,6); // returns substring "come".
As we know that strings are not arrays, so the String class also provides methods to convert a string to an array of characters and vice versa. These include
• char [] toCharArray (): This method converts the invoking string to an array of individual characters. For example The statement,
char[] ch = s1.toCharArray();
will convert the string Welcome which is referenced by s1 to an array of characters such that ch [0] contains 'W,' ch [1] contains 'e' and so on.
• void getChars(int srcBegin, int srcEnd, chsr[] dest, int destBegin): This method copies a substring of the invoking string from index srcBegin to index srcEnd-1 into a character array dest starting from index destBegin. For example The statement,
char[] txtArray = new char[3];
will copy characters from the String object slat index position 3 to 5 (i.e. 6 - 1) inclusive, so txtArray[0] will be 'c', txtArray[1] will be '0' and txtArray[2] will be 'm'.
• static String valueOf (char [] ch): This method will covert an array of characters to a string. For example : The statements,
char[] ch = {'W', 'E', 'L', 'C', 'O', 'M', 'E'};
String str String.valueOf(ch);
will return the string Welcome from a character array ch and store the reference in str. There are several versions of valueOf () method that can be used to convert a character and numeric values to strings with different parameter types including int, long, float, double and char.
Now let us consider an example to show how these work.
The String class also provide methods for extracting characters from a string in an array of bytes. This is achieved using the getBytes () method in the String class. This method converts the original string characters into the character encoding used by the underlying operating system which is usually ASCII. For example : The statement,
byte[] txtArray = s1.getBytes();
extracts character from the String object s1 and stores them in the byte array txtArray. There are many other forms of getBytes () available.
Now let us consider an example,
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Lederer Gallery
The Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery presents exhibitions of contemporary local and national artists, Geneseo art faculty, juried student work, and graduating art students' final projects. The Brodie Fine Arts Building opened in 1966 and the Bertha V.B. Lederer Fine Arts Gallery was dedicated to its namesake in 1981. Bertha V.B. Lederer (1912 - 2009 ) began teaching at the college in 1945 and went on to chair both the college Art Department and the Division of Fine Arts. She was deeply dedicated to encouraging an appreciation for the arts. Bertha Lederer founded the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts and supported arts in education through her service as college liaison to the National Arts & Humanities Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts, the State Education Department in the Arts, and the American Association of University Women. Lederer's philosophy of art in education was one of developing aesthetic awareness: "Art education...should teach them how to see..." Her legacy lives on in the exhibitions and related presentations in Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery.
Lockhart Gallery
The Lockhart Gallery serves as a cultural and educational resource for Geneseo, the greater Rochester area and Western New York through changing exhibitions. The range of exhibitions includes contemporary and historical exhibitions and regional and nationally recognized artists. The gallery engages in and supports interdisciplinary exhibitions that intersect art and society. Lockhart gallery's mission is to exhibit, preserve and enhance the SUNY Geneseo Art Collection.
Bridge Gallery
The Bridge Gallery provides a student exhibition space.
Gallery B2
Gallery B2 is located within the Bertha V.B. Lederer Gallery. Its purpose is to exhibit objects and artifacts held in other collections
on the campus of SUNY Geneseo. Gallery B2 broadens the scope of exhibitions and at the same seeks to encourage faculty and students across disciplines to view and access Gallery B2 as a site of experimentation allowing for the development of interdisciplinarity between art, the humanities, and the sciences.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What Islam Teaches About Wealth
Islamic teachings on wealth are vast, spanning from how to spend it to how to earn it. Muslims are taught that God blesses them in infinite ways, including their wealth. They believe that all things belong to and come from God, and learn how to deal with their wealth properly.
Wealth As a Pleasure Of This World
Muslims are taught that wealth is a pleasure of this life and that one can be distracted by this pleasure. The true believer is the one that deals with his wealth as if it is merely a worldly matter. Muslims are taught that their wealth does not follow them in the afterlife. Muslims are warned in the Quran not to hoard their wealth and to be aware of greed. A Muslim's isn't supposed to be preserved but spent towards those who are in need of it.
How To Earn One's Wealth
Muslims wealth must be earned in a lawful, or halal, way. It is not to be earned by selling or buying things that God forbids a Muslim to enjoin in, such as alcohol, pork, etc. A believing Muslim should not sell unlawful, or haram, items in order to obtain wealth. God advises them against this:
"O you who have believed, do not consume one another's wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent." [Quran 4:29]
Wealth Should Be Given To the Poor Or Orphans
The faith of Muslims is built on the five pillars of Islam. One of those pillars is giving wealth to charity, or Zakat. In fact, in the Quran, charity is often mentioned with prayer. One example of that is:
"[True] righteousness is [in] one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives of their wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes Prayer and practices regular charity…" [Quran 2:177]
The Prophet Mohammed was the greatest example of a Muslim who spent his wealth in charity. He would provide for others before he would take for himself. He was a simple man and was never greedy. He himself was an orphan and Muslims are taught in the Quran that their wealth should be spent towards orphans and those who cannot provide from themselves. If one does not have an abundant amount of wealth this should not stop them from giving in the cause of God because even the smallest amount is an act of charity.
Do Not Fear Poverty
In the time before Islam, the pagans would kill their children in fear of poverty. Muslims learned that, after Islam was introduced, the companions who used to practice this tradition would abstain from it.
"[D]o not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them," [Quran 6:151].
God is the provider of all so therefore a true believer should not fear poverty because a believer is firm in their belief that God will provide for them. It is generally believed by Muslims that a fear of poverty equates to having a bad opinion of God.
Giving Of One's Wealth Does Not Decrease It
"The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of God is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And God multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And God is all-Encompassing and Knowing." [Quran 2:261]
When one spends his wealth in the way of God there is no decrease in wealth. Ones wealth actually increase as they give their wealth God replaces it with something better and greater.
These are just a few examples of the many ways Muslims are taught to deal with their wealth. A Muslim's wealth should always be gained through lawfully means in order for them to be true believers. And to discourage greediness, they should try to spend in charity as often as they are able to (after bills, debts and other expenses have been met). Islam teaches that the wealth a Muslim spends in charity will never decrease.


text:
Stanislav Ginzburg is a Russian-born artist. He uses 3D computer-modeling technology to create stunningly beautiful sculptures and then incorporates them into photographs.
From the artist's statement:
Ginzburg explores the universality of biological form by combining photographic plates and computer generated three-dimensional imagery to create ethereal sculptures. These works delicately interweave insect morphology that resembles blossoming flora with anatomical elements and bits of veiled autobiography. They remind the viewer of the cellular and the metaphysical connections between all living things.


text:
Herring Defeats Gonzalez; Murray Wins GOP Nod
In the race for the Democratic nomination to replace Brian J. Moran in the Alexandria-based 46th House district, Charniele Herring defeated Ariel Gonzalez after only 234 people voted in the special election.
Herring, who was homeless as a teenager but rose to become an attorney and civic activist, received 191 votes. Gonzalez, director of governmental affairs for the American College of Radiology, received 43 votes, according to unofficial returns.
In the race for the GOP nomination, only 49 ballots were cast. Joe Murray, a special assistant to U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), won with 20 votes. Phil Cefaratti, a local realtor, received 16 votes. Sasha Gong, a scholar who runs a blog for Chinese Americans, received 13 votes, according to unofficial returns. Murray, who is also a law student at Catholic University, decided to file as a candidate for the Republican nomination a few hours before the voting began, according to GOP officials.
Called over the weekend after Moran abruptly resigned the seat he has held since 1996, both parties held their elections from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at a recreational center in Alexandria.
Herring, an African-American, will face Murray in a Jan. 13 special election. The winner will likely be sworn in the following day, when the General Assembly convenes for a 45-day session.
Herring should have an advantage because the 46th District is heavily Democratic, but, as tonight's abysmal turnout proves, Murray could pull off an upset if he convinces a couple hundred supporters to show up at the polls.
Tim Craig
December 16, 2008; 9:49 PM ET
Categories: Tim Craig
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I thought it was not that abysmal given that only 96 hours from Brian Morans resignation to the caucus occured.
There is 4 weeks till the general election, and Ms Herring has 35 times the helpers that the republican has.
Posted by: pvogel88 | December 16, 2008 10:28 PM | Report abuse
Er, Tim, this was not a special election, it was a caucus to choose a candidate for the special election. And frankly, without some supporting evidence from past nominations, I think it's overblown to call the turnout "abysmal" for a nominating caucus for a special election for a legislative seat, at least if you're drawing conclusions about turnout in the forthcoming special election.
Posted by: jimeh | December 17, 2008 3:18 PM | Report abuse
Posted by: VADelegate09 | December 17, 2008 3:37 PM | Report abuse
it was pretty abysmal. shows the inability of the ADC to get people other than themselves and their next-door neighbors out to vote.
Posted by: dcgal4 | December 18, 2008 10:06 AM | Report abuse
Supporting evidence? Over 40,000 registered voters in the 46th and barely over 200 voted. No supporting evidence is needed - this isn't a court room. And if it was - cased closed.
Republicans are upset (as well as many Dems) and they just may pull it together faster than the local Dems. Whatever the case is, Moran resigning from his seat last minute doesn't bode well for his decision making as a potential governor.
Posted by: UVANick | December 18, 2008 11:56 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.


text: Dispensary: Measurement and Try-on Silhouette Debuts iMirror Try-on App By Staff Thursday, August 15, 2013 12:21 AM More Images Product: Silhouette iMirror Top Line: Silhouette Optical has simplified the process of eyewear styling with its new iMirror app. The Silhouette iMirror app lets eyeglass wearers use an iPhone or iPad to try on Silhouette's rimless glasses and sunglasses in three dimensions. Wearers can download the iMirror app and point their device's camera at themselves. The app makes it possible to show a live video image with correctly positioned 3-D data to virtually wear eyewear in real time. "The Silhouette iMirror is primarily meant to be used for making a pre-selection before visiting an optician. And, of course, it's meant to be fun as well," said Silhouette's Arnold Schmied, a member of Silhouette's managing board. Close Up: While trying on a pair of glasses, the wearer can move, turn and rotate to view themselves in the mirror and see how they'd look to an observer. The webcam acts as a mirror that follows the wearer's movements. The iMirror user can try on as many models as he or she likes from the large selection of rimless glasses and sunglasses by Silhouette. Simply clicking on a pair allows the user to see how well the selected model would fit his or her face in all of its expressions and angles. Once the user has found the model they like best, they can take a screenshot and send it to friends using an iPhone or iPad, who can then express their opinions about the eyewear. Vital Stats: The Silhouette iMirror can be downloaded from the iTunes Store for free. www.silhouette.com; (800) 223-0180


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JMH LaunchPad 2017 gives go-ahead for lift off
Competition results
|Ormhel Manuel of Listedmotors.ca presents his brainchild at the JMH LaunchPad 2017.
On April 5, the fifth rendition of JMH LaunchPad provided a boost to five entrepreneurial endeavours that got their start on campus. The evening was a smashing success with a total of $75,000 in cash and services being handed out to this year's competitors.
One of the groups that presented - Listedmotors.ca - was recognized by three generous donors: JMH & Co., LaBarge Weinstein and the Busy Foundation. Listedmotors.ca was created by Ormhel Manuel and Abby Mejia, and connects those looking to exchange vehicles in Calgary. The pair sees the night's presentation as a stepping stone for expansion.
"It means we can grow, and we grow fast, which is what we wanted," says Megia.
With plans to expand quickly into the Vancouver market, the news could not have come at a better time.
"We just really want people to know there is a better solution, you don't necessarily have to deal with the Kijjis and dealerships," says Manuel. "Any inspiring entrepreneurs, keep reiterating, reach out to your mentors, reach out to any resource you have because there is definitely a world of knowledge out there for you to tap into."
Listedmotors.ca received:
- $10,000 in legal services from LaBarge Weinstein
- $10,000 cash from the Busy Foundation
- $10,000 cash from JMH & Co.
- $10,000 cash from JMH & Co.
- $5,000 in branding services from Trout + Taylor
- $2,500 in cash from the Institutes for Community prosperity and Environmental Sustainability
- $5,000 in cash from the Busy Foundation
- $5,000 in cash JMH & Co.
- $10,000 in cash from JMH & Co.
- $2,500 in cash from the Institutes for Community prosperity and Environmental Sustainability
- $2,500 in cash from JMH & Co.
- $2,500 in cash from JMH & Co.
Mount Royal University is home to more than a few well-known entrepreneurs. The campus is a virtual breeding ground for a multitude of successful start-ups, exciting ventures and innovative business ideas. You don't have to look too hard to find a wide array of success stories related to Mount Royal students graduates trying their hand in the entrepreneurial game. TLink Golf,GNS3,Turtle Valley Bison,Green Cup and Smoke Barrel are just a few.
On April 5 the best and brightest of Mount Royal's present day entrepreneurial community wowed onlookers with their pitches at this year's JMH: LaunchPad: 2017.
This year's competition was packed with superb talent. Seven groups presented their business pitches in five minutes, which was followed by another five-minute Q&A period. The most promising demonstrators walked away with the lion's share of $70,000 in cash and services to take their venture to the next level.
The JMH LaunchPad program was created to help Mount Royal's most entrepreneurial students pursue their passion to start their own venture. Now in its fifth year of existence, the competition has grown substantially in terms of outside attendance and student participation.
"It's a platform to help students here on campus. It allows them to gain exposure and funding for their ventures," says Jennifer Richardson, entrepreneur development manager with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Competitions like this aim to break down stereotypes related to what it means to be an entrepreneur. LaunchPad has enabled many participants to continue to work on their ventures after graduating in a supportive environment.
Ray DePaul, director of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, deserves much of the credit for getting LauchPad off the ground. Previous winners have gone on to be named Calgary's Student Entrepreneur of the Year for the past three consecutive years running, with one being named Canada's Student Entrepreneur.
"Our students consistently stand out as the most entrepreneurial young minds in the city," says DePaul.
"I believe our success in fostering an entrepreneurial mindset among students is evidence of Mount Royal's commitment to personalized learning. When our students show the initiative and want to learn more, we are able to deliver more courses, more opportunities, more mentorship, and yes, more money."
For DePaul, LaunchPad is about taking great ideas and giving them a boost.
"Students always have great ideas, but LaunchPad provides an opportunity to actually turn those ideas into reality. Our students consistently tell us that the mentorship and funding that they receive to keep moving forward results in a transformative learning experience. That is what it's all about."
Mentorship and funding helped former LaucnhPad competitor Rudi Schiebel turn his venture, Turtle Valley Bison Company into a prosperous accomplishment.
"Launchpad was my first kick at pitching my business in front of investors and a crowd. The experience was an absolute highlight from my time at Mount Royal. I use it as a gauge from where I started to where I am now," says Schiebel.
Today his company attempts to set the bar by building a sustainable future, all while providing a product that is unparalleled in the meat industry. Turtle Valley Bison Company prides itself on challenging the status quo, and is viewed as unique in the agriculture industry. Schiebel and his business partner specialize in eco-friendly farming and utilize values adopted by the industry's leading farming experts.
"If you think you have a great business idea, just get out and share it. I might not have had the best pitch but the judges obviously could see the merit in my business model and in turn I won recognition and monetary support," says Schiebel.
The Alberta economy is no reason to put a hold on great ideas, say the experts.
"The downturn is enabling entrepreneurs to create their own opportunities for growth. Those who build their own businesses gain a lot of experience. They learn to fail and we believe that is a positive thing. They take on a lot of risk and that's something employees appreciate," says Richardson.
"Seeing gaps and turning them into opportunities helps our students distinguish themselves from the rest of the crowd."
Nine Ten tracks employee's cycle commuting metrics via their phone's GPS. Organizations can access the data to reward, incentivize and celebrate participation, improving both corporate environmental responsibility and employee engagement.
Ad Artis enhances businesses and homes with the rental and sale of high quality local artwork. The regular rotation of new pieces of art engages customers and employees, transforms any space, and provides a platform for up-and-coming artists to have their work showcased. Talia has 5 minutes to pitch, followed by 5 minutes of Q&A from the judges.
Listedmotors.ca connects trustworthy buyers and sellers of cars without the need for stepping foot inside a dealership or meeting a stranger on classifieds. Listed's 10-day money back guarantee, financing options, 200 point vehicle safety inspection, and secure financial transaction results in a positive experience and better prices for both buyer and seller.
Barrow Espresso transforms high-traffic unused space into vibrant micro-cafés serving specialty coffee beverages along with grab-and-go food options. After a successful 8-month pilot in the Bissett School of Business, Barrow is taking their small footprint, low overhead concept to other spaces in the city.
BeMuse is an online retail hub for high-quality, sustainably sourced and ethically manufactured apparel. By carrying brands that are doing their part to maintain the health of mother earth and our communities, BeMuse allows consumers to confidently purchase beautiful apparel without the fear that they are contributing to one of the most polluting industries in the world.
Solidariteas provides local consumers with the ability to support local social justice movements, simply by buying tea. Taking inspiration from Canada's reconciliation movement, $1.50 from each sale of the popular first flavour is donated to community programs that support and empower vulnerable Indigenous women through violence prevention and healing programs.
Unravelled is a zero-waste yarn company that transforms laundered corporate t-shirts into high quality, easy to use t-shirt yarn. Unravelled has created an in-demand craft product by tapping into a reliable and low-cost supply of t-shirts that are destined for the landfill.
LaunchPad success stories
Stephen Guppy was part of the first JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition in 2013. He blew away the audience when he shared that his software application had been downloaded over 7 million times. No one was surprised when he walked away with $10,000. But what he proceeded to build with that money and mentorship over the next 3 years has been amazing. Surrounding himself with an incredible team, his company, GNS3, quickly become the world's biggest community of networking professionals - over 500,000 users from companies like AT&T, Google, Visa, Starbucks, GE and NASA. Stephen's exceptional strategic and sales skills ensured they could continue to self-fund the growing company. In 2016, Stephen capped off an amazing run with an attractive acquisition by a large US company, all before his 27th birthday.
Aislinn Taylor was part of the first JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition in 2013. While at Mount Royal she balanced coursework, a marketing manager position for one of Calgary's hottest startups, EZ Robots, while also growing her own startup, Aisy Cakes. Following graduation, Aislinn leveraged her combined experience, launching Trout + Taylor, a branding company, with clients like Lululemon, Westjet, Anthropology and TD Bank. Trout + Taylor is a donor for the 2017 LaunchPad Pitch Competition.
Dustin Paisley is a connector, creator and community builder. While at Mount Royal he lead the Enactus team and was a 2014 winner of the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition. That first attempt at being an entrepreneur proved to be a wonderful learning experience for what lay ahead for Dustin. Following graduation, he left his mark on Mount Royal by laying the foundation for the future Social Innovation Hub at MRU. His skills and a vast network of admirers landed him a role as the Entrepreneurship Manager at ATB Financial, advising local startups and small businesses. Dustin continues to flex his entrepreneurial muscle as a founder at Calgary's hottest clothing company, Local Laundry Apparel.
Alistair Shipley spent his post-secondary years thriving in his entrepreneurship classes and paying for tuition by mastering sales door-to-door. He was a 2014 winner of the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition. Alistair's entrepreneurial mindset and impressive sales numbers landed him among the top must-hire list in Calgary. But after graduation, he took his new found experience to California to experience the thrilling life of working for a technology startup in Silicon Valley.
March 31, 2017 — Jonathan Anderson


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In addition to regular recipe posts, I'm going to be posting snapshots of what we've been eating at home, along with loose recipe guidelines. I hope you'll be inspired to try something new. Also, I'm doing this for selfish reasons! Most of the time, I just make up whatever we're eating for dinner. Weeks or months later, when that meal is requested again, I don't remember how I made it! So, I'd like to remember how to prepare the big hits.
Today's dinner is: sushi-seared tuna, edamame "risotto," and seven-spice Brussels sprouts.
I call the tuna "sushi-seared" because it incorporates many elements of your favorite sushi roll: soy, ginger, wasabi, and sesame seeds. Missing the rice and edamame? Well, they'll be on the other side of the plate, looking something like risotto. I added roasted brussels sprouts, sprinkled with Japanese seasoning, because they're healthy and delicious.
Let's get started!
You might need to buy:
- Ahi tuna steaks (one per person)
- Edamame (shelled, or whole)
- Green onions/scallions
- Brussels sprouts
- Japanese seven-spice powder (I got mine from SpiceHouse.com, http://www.thespicehouse.com/spices/japanese-seven-spice)
- Sesame seeds (black and white, or whichever you have on hand)
- Prepared wasabi
What you'll need that you should have in your fridge or pantry:
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Salt
- Black pepper, ground
- Arborio rice
To make the whole meal, which comes together startlingly fast:
First, make the marinade for the tuna, being sure to grate double the ginger so you'll have some for the risotto. Marinade it while you do the rest.
Preheat the oven, then trim and prepare the Brussels sprouts.
Prepare the rest of the aromatics (garlic, scallions) and mise en place.
Stick Brussels sprouts in the oven, then start risotto.
Towards the end of the risotto's cooking time, heat up the pan for the tuna.
Everything should finish around the same time.
For the sushi-seared tuna:
- Ahi tuna steaks
- 1 one-inch piece ginger, grated
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoons wasabi
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Sesame seeds (black and white, mixed together), 2-3 tablespoons per tuna steak
First, prepare a marinade. In a bowl that will hold the tuna steaks, stir together the grated ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, wasabi, and salt. Add tuna steaks, coat well, and allow to rest covered at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The idea here is to let the steaks warm up so that the chilled insides don't cool off the entire steak when it's pulled from the pan.
(If you're making the other dishes, prepare them here).
Preheat a large non-stick sauté pan over medium-high. Immediately before cooking, sprinkle both sides of each tuna steak with sesame seeds. Press into tuna to coat.
Add a tablespoon of canola oil to the pan. When hot, add tuna steaks. Sear on each side for 1-2 minutes max, flipping when brown and the sesame seeds have become a crust.
Serve immediately.
For the Brussels sprouts:
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts
- 2 tablespoons Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese seven-spice powder)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Just enough sesame oil to coat
Preheat oven to 450F.
Prepare Brussels sprouts by trimming tough stem end, removing loose leaves, and slicing into halves or quarters.
Toss with salt, Shichimi Togarashi, and sesame oil. Spread on a baking sheet, careful not to overlap – you want them to roast, not steam.
Roast for about 15-20 minutes, stirring once or twice throughout – when they are beginning to brown and crisp up, they're done.
For the "risotto:"
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 one-inch piece ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
- 4 scallions, sliced thin, separated
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 1 cup sake
- Salt to taste
- ½ cup edamame (shelled – so you have ½ cup of little beans, not ½ cup of whole pods)
In a medium saucepan, heat the sesame oil over medium. When hot, add ginger, garlic, half of the sliced scallions, and salt. Saute until fragrant, about one minute, then add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute.
Pour in sake and stir to coat. When almost all of it has evaporated, add water until the rice is just covered. Cook, stirring occasionally, until almost evaporated. Again, add more water and repeat. Continue adding water and stirring until rice is tender and creamy. Add edamame towards the end. The whole process should take 15-20 minutes.
Garnish with remaining sliced green onions.


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Dorota Sadovská – Angels and Saints
In the Nedbalka Gallery, Dorota Sadovská presents works from two of her cycles that she has been working on for a longer time: Saints (since 1995) and Angels (since 2008).
The Body and its depiction is the crucial point of the internationally renowned Slovak painter Dorota Sadovská. She works at the inspiring border of two media – traditional painting and photography. She has been successful since the beginning of her career, because of her depiction of the figure in connection to innovative and bold use of Christian iconography.
Venue: Nedbalka Gallery


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TSC's New TX200 High-Performance Desktop Printer
TSC has introduced its new TX200 Series, a high-performance desktop label printer designed to handle a wide variety of applications ranging from high-volume production of shipping labels to safety signage and fine-jewelry labeling.
The TX200 Series is the latest next-generation TSC desktop printer to support an economically efficient 300-meter ribbon on a one-inch core. The new printer features several firsts for TSC, including an LED multi-icon display (standard), blazing fast print speeds of up to 8 inches per second, a more user-friendly patented label-holder design, and an optional color LCD display. The TX200 Series will be available worldwide starting in Q1 2015


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Hope all of you have been having fun with the London 2012 Games so far. I am! Though I personally thought Beijing's opening ceremony was a slightly better show than London's, I was very impressed by the creativity that went into London's flame "cauldron." (I was wondering during the entrance of the athletes what the point of those metal pieces were). I was also delighted by Rowan Atkinson's Chariots of Fire bit. I used to watch Atkinson's Black Adder series (yes, as a teen, I was into historical comedies), so seeing him as part of London's opening ceremony was an unexpected treat.
Anyway, this will be my final Olympic fun fact as the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators have their LA conference this weekend, and I'll likely be too scattered to do a post next week. I will try to do a conference write-up though. So here's our final factoid:
Spartans did not participate in boxing or pankration.
Both these events ended when a competitor got knocked out or admitted defeat, and to lose in either manner would've been dishonorable to a Spartan.
The ironic thing is that the Spartans probably invented boxing to toughen their faces. (!!!)
Enjoy the rest of the Games!


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Slam Dunk Festival 2014 Lineup Announced
Slam Dunk Festival is back this year, and its lineup is filled with famous acts you won't want to miss! You can check out the lineup on the poster below, after the jump. The festival will be taking place in Leeds, England from May 24 through May 26, so check your calendars and buy concert tickets here. Also, purchase a CD from your favorite band in preparation! Please follow and like us:Read More


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African Cotton / [Untitled article] / The Black Swan (Three Items)Journalism
William Gilmore Simms's collection of scrapbooks represents one of the most significant, but least accessible, resources for the study of the writer. Housed as a part of the Charles Carroll Simms collection in the South Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina, there are nine volumes of scrapbooks, each comprised of works of numerous genres from throughout Simms's career.[1] While the majority of the included works are Simms's own, the scrapbooks also features writings by others, as well as works of uncertain authorship. Prior to digitizing these volumes, access to them ...


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Family Services Windsor Essex offers a variety of programs to help with managing your finances, we've asked them to explain their Adult Protective Services Worker and Voluntary Trusteeship Programs:
These are voluntary financial programs that Family Services WE offers to the community. Here's a quick Q&A with one of the APSW's at the agency to get a sense of their role along with the role of the Trustees in providing financial assistance to clients!
Q: What is the main role of an APSW?
A: We work with adults that have developmental disabilities and are living on their own in the community
Q: What are the types of financial services you offer to the client?
A: There are great efforts made to provide support for the individual so they are able to manage their own finances. It is the APSW's job to direct the client towards programs and services that will help them. Financially, the APSW may utilize the trusteeship program as a route for working out some financing struggles. There is a trustee agreement made that is voluntary and it is up for alteration based on a change in the client's financial responsibility after some sessions.
Q: Can you provide some more details on the Voluntary Trusteeship Program?
A: Yes, we provide our expertise with clients in developing budgets, paying bills and rent, deciding how much spending money they will have for the month, etc. We are a safety net for the clients, giving them useful advice and helping them manage their money. We also offer financial seminars and workshops to our clients at no cost. These help them to learn the skills necessary to achieve long term independence.
Q: What is the eligibility criteria to enter the Voluntary Trusteeship Program?
A: The program is open to all residents of Windsor-Essex Country that are 16 years of age and older and that qualifies for one or more of the following:
- Experiences difficulty when managing finances
- At risk of homelessness
- Receives OW, ODSP or a federal government pension
- Is living under the Low Income Cut-Off
- Must be able to provide direction to program staff on their needs and what they require assistance with
Contact Family Service Windsor Essex
1770 Langlois Ave.
Windsor, ON N8X4M5


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SPT IM-600US Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker 2020
With the scorching heat of the sun, you would want to enjoy the magic of Chilled drinks. Even if you are just a throwing a big party with friends, having, refreshing drinks and beverages can surely quench thirst. But the problem is that relying on your freezer alone would not be enough especially when you are in need of enough supply of ice. A small ice tray cannot produce the required quantity of ice in the usual freezer. So, stop blaming your freezer and take it as a right time to buy the best Ice machine which fulfills all your party needs. The good thing is with this SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker in just a matter of minutes; you can create ice perfect for the hot season.
SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker Overview
To serve drinks like cocktails and champagne one must have crushed ice from beforehand. You need to have a large quantity of ice to serve the drinks to your guests in the parties. Especially in summers, guests need cool and refreshing drinks in reasonable amounts. Do you want to enjoy the chilled ice cubes without any hassles like filling Ice cube trays every time? Buy Sunpentown which fulfill your business needs perfectly. With this Sunpentown 50 pound Under Counter Icemaker, you can make ice cubes in 21st Century way. Here I present you with an exceptional range of World Class Ice machines of Sunpentown. Check out the SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker Reviews, Specifications in the following section.
The cube tray is not always convenient for making ice, where this best under counter ice maker comes into play. Here are some of the advantages of the SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker. This Sunpentown Undercounter Makes up to 50 lbs restaurant-quality clear ice cubes per day. This Product came up with a Front ventilation and used for Built-in or free standing application. The Removable bin stores up to 25 pounds of ice. The special attraction to this SPT under counter ice maker is the Reversible stainless steel door with full-length handle. Stainless steel door with black cabinet gives an elegant look to your modern kitchen. Auto shut-off helps to save power consumption when ice bin is full. Removable ice bin, gravity drain hose, water supply hose and ice scoop are the special accessories along with this SPT 50pound Stainless Steel under counter Ice Machine.
All about Sunpentown
The Sunpentown is a leading manufacturer of electrical home appliances in California, USA. The company has a reputation for providing its customers with cost-effective products and unbeaten customer service. Sunpentown International Inc was founded in 1993 and specializes in an extensive selection of home appliances. Although its innovative solutions are mostly used for residential applications, they find commercial uses as well. This company manufactures a broad variety of household appliances including evaporative air coolers, air control products, dehumidifiers, fans, wine coolers, ice makers and more. Although the Sunpentown started by targeting the local market, it has significantly expanded, and its products are now available in different parts of the world. These products are available in most of the online platforms.
The products offered by the Sunpentown's are mainly known for their reliability, quality, and ease-of-use. Even this Sunpentown company manufactures hundreds of products; its best-selling products include air cleaners, dehumidifiers, portable air conditioners, window air conditioners, ceiling fans, evaporative air coolers, and misting fans.
IM-600US: 50lb Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker Review
If you have been thinking about getting an under counter ice maker, then you're in the right hands. Hopefully, after seeing the benefits of this Commercial ice machine, your mind will be made up to buy this product. If you want a medium quantity of clear gourmet ice, this product is perfect for you. I have bee using this icemaker over a year and It's working trouble free and produces way more ice than the Marvel it replaced. It's vastly cheaper than the competition but still expensive, so you've got to want this ice."
User Friendly, Stylish Design, Crystal Clear Gourmet Ice
The Ice Machines provided by Sunpentown are energy efficient, hygienic, durable, easy to maintain and User-Friendly. The Stainless steel door with black cabinet gives an elegant look to your kitchen. The Uniquely-shaped, crystal-clear, odorless ice won't change the flavor of drinks. So you can enjoy your loved beverages with its original taste.
Auto shut-off, Reversible door & computarized controls
This Sunpentown 50lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker comes up with the Auto Shut-off facility when the bin is full. The Scotsman 15 inch 50 lb Stainless Steel Clear Ice Maker machine comes equipped with a Reversible door with full-length stainless steel handle. This Sunpentown 15″ 50lb Clear Ice Maker has the easy to operate computerized controls.
Ice Production Capacity & Accessories included
The SPT IM-600US 50lb Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker designed to produce 50 pounds of Ice within 24 hours. And it can store up to25 lbs of Ice in the Bin. This Scotsman 15 inch 50-pound clear gourmet ice making machine produces 50 pounds of gourmet ice within 24 hours. It comes with accessories like removable ice bin, gravity drain hose, water supply hose and ice scoop.
|Specification Name
Item model number
Product Dimensions
23.6 x 14.6 x 32.8 inches
Item Weight
84 pounds
Stainless steel door with black cabinet
Installation Type
1.67 cubic feet
Form Factor
Stand Alone
120 volts
Door Hinges
Material Type
Batteries Included?
Batteries Required?
Sunpentown Undercounter Ice Maker Placement
The SPT IM-600US 50lb Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker is one of the best ice machines used indoors and outdoor that too in a controlled environment. Do not locate the unit in low-lying areas where puddles like pools will accumulate.If you have placed the Sunpentown 600US Undercounter Ice Maker Outdoor, then the ability of ice maker for making and storing ice will get reduced due to the Heat from the sun. Also, the ultraviolet radiation from the sun can potentially damage the plastic components of ice machine. So, while placing the Scotsman Brilliance Nugget Ice Maker consider all these factors.
How to Install Sunpentown Ice Maker?
The following ways can do the Installation of this ice maker.
Freestanding installation: The freestanding installation will allow you to install the icemaker in any place you desire proved you have access to a water supply and a drain. You must follow the stated instructions below.
- Electrical requirements.
- Water supply and drain.
- Leveling the icemaker.
Recessed installation: This type of installation will allow you to install the ice machine under a counter, or in a kitchen cabinet provided the required clearance around the unit is respected.
Built-in installation: If you chose the Built-in installation it would be necessary to allow adequate ventilation space around the unit.
- Place the Ice Maker unit in front of the installation location. Remove the feet and place unit flat on the floor or a platform, depending on your installation requirements.
- Water supply must be plumbed before connecting to the ice machine. Install the drain line to drain.
- Turn on main water supply and tap. Check for water supply connection leaks. Tighten any connections (including connections at the tie-in).
- If electrical outlet for the unit is behind the cabinet, plug in the icemaker.
- Push the icemaker into position.
- Make sure to seal all around the cabinet to the floor with an approved caulking compound.
Warranty of SPT Commercial Grade Ice Machine
The warranty period for this SPT IM-600US 50 Lb Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker is 12 months but should be from the date of purchase by the original owner. You may return it to the place of purchase immediately If your unit is not working or damaged when it was taken out of the box for the first time. If this appliance is found to be faulty as a result of defective materials or workmanship within one year, it will be repaired free of charge. The warranty after repair will not be extended beyond the original one-year period. And also the warranty applies for the use of the product in the USA only. But there are some exclusions regarding the warranty because the company does not easily change your product for some simple reasons.
Warranty Exclusions:
- Freight charges are not included.
- Damage to the product caused by improper power supply voltage, accident, fire, floods or acts of nature.
- Improper installation or failure to perform the necessary maintenance is not covered.
Customer Service
If you have any doubts or questions regarding the SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker, you can contact the executives via email or customer service number. These services are available to the customers from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM (PST). Every day, the executives will not be available during lunch hours, i.e., from 12:00 to 12:30 pm. Before you call for service, check the troubleshooting guide. It lists causes of minor operating problems that can be corrected by yourself.
Warnings of SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Cube Maker
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock or injury when using the Ice maker, you should follow these basic precautions.
- Disconnect power before cleaning.
- Replace all panels before operating.
- Disconnect power before servicing.
- Have two or more people to move/install the ice maker.
- Do not use an adapter and an extension cord.
- Never allow children to operate, play with or crawl inside the appliance.
- Improper use of the grounded plug can result in the risk of electrical shock. If the power cord is damaged, have it replaced by an authorized technician.
- Never turn the water supply off when the ice machine is working.
- Do not touch the evaporator by hand when the unit is operating.
Sunpentown Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker Safety Measures
One should follow the basic safety measures while using the electrical appliances. For this SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker, the important safeguards are
- Make sure that two or more people should move and install this SPT Stainless Steel Under Counter Icemaker. Failure to do so may result in injury.
- Do not store gasoline or other flammable vapors/ liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.
- Never install or operate the unit in an enclosed area, such as a closed cabinet. Select a well-ventilated area with temperatures between 50°F to 100°F.
- Do not connect or disconnect the electric plug with wet hands.
- Never clean the ice maker with flammable fluids. These fumes can create a fire hazard or explosion.
- Always turn the unit off and disconnect power and water line before servicing.
- Replace all panels after servicing or maintenance.
- The SPT Stainless Steel Under Counter Ice Maker must be installed with all electrical, water and drain connections by state and local codes.
- Check for leaks after water line connection.
- Use filtered or purified water for unit's longevity.
Customer Review 1: So Far So Good Ice maker!!
Just had a plumber install this one day ago. It took him 4 hours because it needed a pump, a filter installed, and a PVC drain pipe for rigidity (The included drain hose was too flexible and risks coming out of pump hole.). Rear adjustment buttons for the thickness of ice is poorly placed in the rear of the unit. This makes adjusting near impossible if installed in a cabinet to replace garbage compactor, so make sure you're satisfied with the default ice size setting, which I am. Regarding the noise, it is no louder than a quiet dishwasher but does run a long time to fill the unit with ice. After about 30 hours, the unit's running well but does seem to omit quite a bit of heat.
I can feel the temperature difference when entering the kitchen. Time will tell but as of now, the ice is nicely shaped (square) and although it is a dump operation, most breaks free in cube form and pieces that don't, break apart easily into cubes when scooped. Next month will be a year and every negative in my previous review can be ignored. This baby just got better with time! It's been a great ice maker!!!
Customer Review 2: Lots of clear cubed ice. Loud at times.
Our old ice maker died and my husband replaced it with this one. It makes tons of ice and has never run low. The cubes are made in sheets which then drop into the bucket and break apart. The cubes are clear and square, about 3/4″ each. The exterior of the unit is stainless and blends well with our decor. The only downside to this unit is that it is very loud when it is actually making the ice. Most ice makers are, but, I just want to point out that this one is loud. Other than that, it's fantastic.
Customer Review 3: Good Ice Maker.
The ice maker was easy to install and started making ice the minute it was turned on. This one is much, much quieter than the Kenmore Elite that it replaced. In fact, we don't notice it running at all until it dumps ice. This ice maker seems to be all it has been purported to be.
No, there is no pump for SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Built-in Ice Maker to empty water from the ice bucket.
SPT IM-600US ice maker uses approximately 8 to 10 gallons of water to produce 50 pounds of ice.
Yes, we can put a custom panel on the front of SPT IM-600US 50 lb Stainless Steel Built-in Ice Maker, but it is not necessary.
Bottom Line
This SPT IM-600US 50 lbs Stainless Steel Under-Counter Ice Maker will be the best choice for the one who are looking for a Built-in application. Some ice makers give the facility of both tap water and filtered water. Here in this Freestanding Ice Maker you need to use filtered water only. It is best in giving the crystal clear ice. Not only production, you can also store ice of up to 25 lbs in this SPT IM-600US. There is no need to check frequently as there is auto shut-off option when the ice bin is full. In our research along with its advantages we even went through some drawbacks like this unit is a bit noisy and may bother some. Hope this review helped you to choose the best undercounter ice maker.
SPT IM-600US Ice Maker is a stainless steel unit which is used for Freestanding or Built-in applications. If you want to ice of ample quantity, you can go this SPT Undercounter Ice Maker as it produces upto 50 lbs of ice every day. It can also store upto 25 lbs of ice which you can use later. Altogether, it is the perfect unit for bars, restaurants, etc.


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Melanza Wrap
With Eggplant, Fresh Mozzarella, Roasted Pepper, Tomato, Red Onion & Balsamic Vinaigrette. $7.99
Grilled Chicken Wrap
Grilled Chicken Wraps With Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Roasted Pepper & Choice of Dressing. $5.99
Served with Italian Bread & Your Choice of Pasta (Spaghetti, Linguine, Fettuccini, Rigatoni & Penne) Tortellini Add 2.50
Served with Italian Bread, Small Garden Salad & Your Choice of Pasta (Spaghetti, Linguine, Fettuccini, Rigatoni & Penne). Tortellini Add 2.50
Eggplant Rollatini
Fresh Eggplant Rolled W/ Wholesome Ricotta & Topped W/ melted Mozzarells Cheese. $15.99
Chicken Cacciatore
Tender Breast of Chicken Sauteed W/Onion, Pepper & Garlic in marinara Sauce. $16.99
Coram [25-09 Gibbs Road, Coram]
25-09 Gibbs Road, Coram, NY 11727


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Angelo Parra!
-Angelo Parra
Happy Spring!
The calendar is telling us that spring arrived sometime around 1:45 AM here in the East...the weather is telling us otherwise. This has been an incredibly gorgeous March in New York!
Hoping you're looking forward to an artistic day. I'm having lunch today at Sardi's with some pretty heavy hitters. Maybe I'll have some photos for my blog tomorrow. One would be a great coup for my book. I hope to secure another interview this afternoon for my book...since I'm going to be in the city. Tonight, we will be celebrating Terese Genecco's 3rd anniversary at The Iridium and her new CD (Check out my blog from Saturday).
Before I focus on me today, I want to celebrate Angelo Parra who has a new book coming out later this week, Playwriting For Dummies. I'm a huge fan of Angelo's work. I met him year's ago through my friends, Joe Brancato, artistic director of Stony Point's Penguin Rep Theatre, and my late great friend Heather Duke. I was already a fan of Angelo's work having seen his acclaimed play, The Devil's Music, about Bessie Smith, currently playing at St. Luke's Theatre in Manhattan.
I was very excited about the prospect of this happening. Unfortunately, I could not afford him! Therefore, it never happened. When I got the press release for his book, I suggested doing this blog on him. So, today, I'm celebrating Angelo Parra!
The first live show Angelo saw was a production of "The Miracle Worker" done at his high school, Cardinal Spellman, in the Bronx. It was a spectacular production of a great play. The first professional show he saw was the amazing "Man of La Mancha" on Broadway. Though one is a straight play and the other is a musical, what they both have in common was a high degree of theatricality. And he was hooked.
Angelo has learned – and does – to share with his theatre colleagues leads and contacts that come his way. In other words,when he hears that such and such an organization is conducting a playwriting competition, whether or not he sees the opportunity as right for him personally, he sends out an email to his playwriting colleagues to let them know about it.
|The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith
His feeling is that, if he doesn't win or get the production, whatever, it'd be great if someone he knows gets it. We're all in this together.
Angelo teaches playwriting and intro to performing arts at SUNY Rockland as one of his day jobs, but also because he loves sharing his passion and opening the eyes of students to possibilities they may never have considered. And, it keeps him young. A point that he stresses in his classes is this: anyone can learn technique or structure, to one degree or other, but what's going to set you apart from others is how much of yourself you're willing to share with the world. How you see the world and what you believe is your unique resource. If you want to hide, the arts is not the place to be. A writer once said, "writing is easy. You sit at a keyboard and open a vein."
Angelo told me that if he could go back for a week to any time and place, it would be Philadelphia during the Second Continental Congress. He would have loved to have met and chugged ale with the likes of Ben Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. These were very flawed men – with differing opinions – who put aside their differences to invent a country. The politicians of today could learn a lesson or two from those guys.
Needless to say Carol Channing is a remarkable performer. She has starred in some of the great shows of American Theatre. And, in addition to her acting, singing, and dancing talent, she has a unique knack of making everything she does joyous. Her signature wide-eyed smile and relentlessly upbeat persona is contagious, infusing everything she does with life, cheer, and love. She is a theatre icon and a national treasure.
Most recent appearance
As a playwright, appearances normally are not relevant; playwrights mostly work behind the scenes. However, as author of "Playwriting for Dummies," I am making appearances at libraries and bookstores to talk playwriting. It's a pretty heady experience.
Next appearance
My next playwriting talk and book signing is Sunday, March 25, at 2 p.m. at the Palisades Mall Barnes and Noble, to be followed by a appearance at the Nyack Library on Sunday, April 22, at noon.
What is your biggest success in Show Business?
My biggest success is the critically acclaimed play with music, "The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith," which is currently running Off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theatre on West 46th Street. The show was written in collaboration with Director Joe Brancato, artistic director of Penguin Rep Theatre in Stony Point, New York, and Miche Braden, our Bessie and the show's musical director. Over a decade, "The Devil's Music," has been performed up and down the East Coast, from Cape Cod to Palm Beach, Florida. We have been invited to perform the show at the Montreal Jazz Festival this summer, and, not long after, we make our first foray westward, to Cleveland Play House.
What one change would you like to see in today's industry?
What I would like changed is the tragic trend toward reducing public support of the arts. Some short-sighted people see the arts as a luxury to be cut back first when times are tough. What some of these people don't realize is that every book they read, every painting they enjoy, every song they hear, every play, movie, and TV show they see is art – art that is the end result of the sweat, blood, and tears of artists throughout the country. When you cut off support for the arts, you choke off inspiration and effort that produces the entertainment we all enjoy. No one wants life without art, but you can't have art without artists, and artists need all the nurturing and assistance we can provide – much more, not less.
Are you happy at the point you are right now in your career?
I got into performing arts late; I was in my late-30s when I quit my full-time corporate job to focus on playwriting. So, having a show running Off-Broadway and a book on playwriting in bookstores all over the country ain't half bad. And I've made so many great friends in the performing arts; wonderful people. Thus, despite the financial ups and downs (and the "downs" can be very vexing), I wouldn't change the decision I made for the corn in Kansas.
How did you get into this business?
When I was in high school, college, and in my early corporate career, I was terrified of standing in front of people and speaking. I would go to pieces. One day I finally decided to do something about that, and I signed up for an improv course at NYU. And I loved it. It brought the inner ham out. I made actor friends and began writing skits for them to perform. Seeing my work performed by actors was exhilarating. I had found my niche, and two or three years later, I left the secure (at the time) corporate world for the unknowns of a career in the arts.
Do you make a living at this or do you have a survival job? As I tell my students, the fact of the matter is 95% of those who consider themselves artists need to do something else to support their habit. It's not a matter of talent or successful output so much as it is an issue of numbers. There are thousands upon thousands of folks out there doing the same thing you and I do. The amount of competition is overwhelming. So, the fact that I teach part-time and do other things (like selling books on Amazon.com) to bring money in is no shame. I'm among the 19 out of 20 artists who need the "day job." I'm in good company.
What is your favorite compliment?
My favorite "compliment," so to speak, is when I hear people say that a play of mine made them think, made them see something in a different way, made them argue about the issue(s) of the play in the car on the way home. To me, to make people see an issue – from bigotry to love – in a new way is so cool.
Please do what YOU can to be more aware that words and actions DO HURT...but they can also heal and help!
Tomorrow's blog will be..Remembering Donald Smith
Thank you, to all the mentioned in this blog!
Here's to an INCREDIBLE tomorrow for ALL...with NO challenges!
Please contribute to the DR. CAROL CHANNING and HARRY KULLIJIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
Richard Skipper, email@example.com


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I'm surprised too that they shot those in without a bit of a haircut first. Since you might have been a little woozy, are you sure you didn't accidentally go to an Office Depot instead of the doctor's office? :surprisedThat must be some newfangled time saving stapling. I thought they shaved a head first and then stapled. Oh, and ouch. Quit doing that. It hurts.
Somebody's using the streak free windex. That's just good sense about stickers or decals on glass doors. Especially the sexy devil girl. That way even if you do forget to open the door at least you will break the glass before you walk through it. :rolling:having had similar scalp, injurys in the past, (walking through a closed glass sliding door)
I can assure you that after it heals the scars under the hair are not all that noticeable and with time get almost non-noticeable
btw put a decal on all glass doors:thumbsup:
Ya know. We are all doing the best we can. The date and time here explain that this happened at my awesome job..Seriously though, what happened?
Funny ending to this story is that I know when I have an excuse.
No such luck. But I wish I did. The best buy credit worked out nice for me. No interest for the 24 months. I mean I could have dug that hole a little deeper. :laughing:Did you pick up a soundbar? Most new TV's don't have onboard sound. Just asking... because you hit your head. :laughing:


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Koufuku Graffiti thread
New episode in 4 hours. Are you ready for more cute eating and Ryou being the perfect wife?
The only thing I'm not ready for is
S2 never.
SHAFT is finally back to high form.
But they're not saying she has to be married to a man, you shitlord. Or are you implying traditional feminine roles are bad and it's only acceptable to encourage women to pursue traditionally masculine occupations? That's even worse.
That's a screencap from /u/. Tell it to the crazy dykes there.
They don't think Ryou will make a perfect wife for Kirin if she can cook?
Weird people.
It's time for her to shine!
Yeah sure I'm ready for more newfags getting pissed off at the amount of head tilts they're getting from their first SHAFT show.
Wait, I thought only neckbeards hanged out on /u/?
isn't /u/ a red board?
Was she played by Yoshinoya sensei?


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New Ellora's Cave contract
I just got a new Ellora's Cave contract for Made to Order. It's the sequel to Made for Me. Due to personal reasons, this is my first new contract in awhile and I'm really excited. Hopefully, this is the first of many.
Made to Order is a futuristic, erotic romance. For those of you that read, Made for Me, this is Holt and Rebecca's story.
Holt and Rebecca are sent undercover to a sex therapy club. To prepare for the assignment they become intimate or at least that the excuse they use for doing what they both want. Holt believes that Rebecca is just pretending to be submissive and Rebecca believes she's just another in a long line for Holt. Working through their "Sexual Problem" they both find what they are looking for but neither is brave enough to admit it. It takes a helping hand from Cupid (Mav, their boss) to open Holt's eyes to the truth. From there he is more than capable of proving that he is man enough to enjoy her persona at work as long as she's woman enough to submit to his Cragon side in the bedroom.
If you want to check out, Made for Me, the first book in the series, here's the link.


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Bladt Church
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Being a single parent and being in poverty are intertwined factors in most societies today, with the American society being no exception. The factors and circumstances that put most single parents in financial difficulties are, to some extent, an undoing of the society and the way the policy makers have treated the issues. This paper will study some cases of poor single parents, described in movies, and publications, and will examine if such people have tried their best to pull themselves out of their situations.
The government and people's perception of poverty in America, and that it still constitutes is highly exaggerated and as one of the writers put it, it took hurricane Katrina for the Americans to realize that there is poverty amongst them. The policies of the government will also be discussed, to study if the country intervenes in the situations of a single parent, and the difficult financial challenges he/she faces with. Through the stories told by the single parents in the publications, and the video documentary, it will be seen if single parents, who are in poor economic conditions, have tried their best to get out of their situations, and whether they still have hope to reach the American dream.
In the book 'Work Doesn't Work', the author has presented the story of a woman, Christie, who has resolved to take special courses to increase her wage by 10 cents per hour. The increase in her wage meant that she would get a $10 per month food stamps drop (Shipler 41). This had the net impact on increasing her deficit by $6 per month. As it is evident in this case, she did work to improve her situation, but the system made her even poorer, and created much more difficult circumstances for her to make it in life.
Christie's children attended a boy's and girl's club, where they would go after the school, since Christie could not afford childcare, as it was a rather expensive service. In the program that Christie's children were in, there were rules that dictated a fine of up to ten dollars per child per five minutes if one is late to pick the children up. In one occasion, Christie forgot to pick the children up early, and went to pick them up an hour late. This meant that she had a fine of eighty dollars per child to be paid, which she could not afford. This effectively meant that she could no longer have her children attend the program again. In review of this event, and general circumstances, under which Christie lived, it is clear that as a single parent she was trying her best to make it in life, but the system did fail her.
Christie's hope and expectation was that, with the increase in her wage, she could better manage the situation; but it had never happened that way. This is a case of a betrayal of her effort to improve the welfare, but the structures put in place to help her are the same structures that are making her even poorer. Therefore, it is wrong for the society to judge her, as being the cause of her situation, yet she tries so hard to make the American dream come true for her and for her children. The program at the boy's and girl's club is rather unfair, since the reason for Christie taking her children there was that she could not afford childcare services. The penalty and the fine imposed meant that her children could no longer get the little benefit they had. This has the consequence of making her children being idle and disillusioned, and can result to social evils later in their lives. If they take such a path, it is less likely that they will have stable families; and the vicious cycle of poverty will be repeated.
In Roger Weisberg's documentary "Waging a Living", most of the characters are working citizens and single parents, who have remained poor despite working more than one job. The film maker, Roger Weisberg, states that it is wrong for one to work full time, and still remain poor. He notes that since the late 1970s, the number of working poor people have risen in a dramatic fashion. The people most affected by the situation of being poor and yet working are single parents, since most of their resources are channeled to the upkeep of the families, leaving them with deficits at the end of every month.
The film showcases the dilemma, and the unfortunate events that most of these people find themselves in when they can barely support their families. The American society in general does not seem to understand how one can work full time, and still remain poor. The complication with being poor is brought by the fact that the single parents are faced with more challenges as they have to take good care of their children all by their own. This film is about the impact that diminished power of most, if not all, labor unions and the economic transition from being a manufacturer to service-based economy has had on the working poor and the low wage workers.
The fact that poverty does bring with it a myriad of problems is well played out in the film. As a single parent, one will have to cope with the accompanied mental and physical health deterioration, and this could mean that the children become more vulnerable to social evils, early pregnancies, and possible juvenile. In the film, a story of Jean Reynolds of New Jersey, who works as a nurse, and earns $11 per hour after being a nurse for fourteen years, is represented. With this wage, Jean supports a family of eleven, which includes four grandchildren. In this case, one can clearly see why despite working so hard, it is not easy for Jean, as a single parent, to work out of her situation. The fact that she takes cares of four grandchildren is an indication that her children have fallen onto the same cycle of poverty that she is in, and unless a great deal of support is given to her, the situation is bound to get only worse. When Jean was unable to pay for her apartment, and sought the assistance of the social services, she was told that she was making a lot of money, so she could not receive any assistance.
Such is the predicament that a single parent at times finds her/himself in. Despite the difficult situation that Jean finds herself in, she has maintained a strong belief that she will eventually make it out. She has held onto the belief that hard work will always be ultimately rewarded, even when it is crystal clear that her circumstances indicate otherwise. It is such a case of strong determination and will to make something happen, and a lot of single parents find him/her under such conditions. From the observation and analysis of the case of Jean, one can tell that somehow the American dream has remained only a dream to such Americans. Despite having their dreams crushed once and again, single parents have held to the only thing they know how to hope, to believe that one day their circumstances, and that of their children will change for the better.
In the film the story of another single parent, Mary Venitelli, is told. She is a 41 years-old single mother. She works as a waitress, and is the mother of three children. Her wage is $2.13 per hour, with which she is expected to take care of herself and her family. Mary relies on the emergency food that she receives from food pantries and mostly ends up with up to $1500 debt on the credit card per month. This is still despite the fact that she has to borrow money from friends to keep things going.
In the film the other story of Barbara Brooks is presented. She has received an opportunity to have pay increase, but has opted not to take the job, and to remain on government benefits till she is done with her bachelor's degree. This is because by getting a pay increase of $450 per month, she was bound to lose government benefits of up to $600. This means that it would effectively leave her with a deficit of up to $150 in expenses. Thus the pay rise would not help in Barbara's case, and the best option for her was to just do things her way.
Barbara's case was extraordinary in that by working harder, she was getting a pay rise; however, in the same time this would cause her $150 deficit. This is a case of where the meaning of hard work being rewarded is watered down by the system. In such scenarios, it is clear that as a single parent, one will have to save extra hard and do extra job, if they are to save their situations. This film leaves the audience with the real picture of what it means to be a poor single parent.
In examination of the challenges that single parents face even after they have made it in pulling themselves out of their situations, the chronicle of Whitiker can be placed as the best read. This is the story of a woman who successfully struggles to make it in her thirties. She earns a nurse's degree and this effectively helps her move out of poverty into the middle class. Whitiker manages to overcome some of the greatest odds and ills in her life to eventually land the career of her dream, but even then she still has to cope with the new challenges that a working parent, who has teenage children from different fathers, faces. Whitiker recalls the challenges that she has had to cope with, especially when her children seem to be making the same kind of wrong choices, which she has made as a teenager, and that have landed her into problems for more than a decade. By the age of 23, Whitiker was the mother of five, and she had to work extra hard to get out of the situation. It is this kind of situation that she would never want to imagine her children are in. That Whitiker, at the age of 38, still did manage to complete her nurse's degree, and join the middle class is the indication of the extra-ordinary fate that single parents are ever willing to take, and to sacrifice everything to see a change in their situation. They have literally never lost the faith in the American dream, but it has been rather the other way round, when the American dream loses faith in them.
This is well-shown in the article by Mehta Nazneen, where she has illustrated how the policy makers have been so masked in their opinions and strategies to combat poverty in the United States. According to the investigations and observations by Nazneen, the reforms that the government did bring to collect the dilemma of the poor single parents did literally nothing to cultivate real or tangible change in their lives. She takes a look at the marriage initiative, which explains the suggestion that poor women's issues were a result of lacking husbands, and not the opportunities. This, she explains, had the effect of sending a message of degradation and mistrusts from PRWORA (The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act) in the choices that the poor single women-parent made. This message was cemented by the welfare queen, the public image. Nazneen contends that the United States policy makers have portrayed skepticism in that the women of the United States are potentially able to be affected by problems similar to the ones that affect the women in developing countries. This has had the impact of denying poor American women the opportunity to become the advocates of their communities in the developing world.
In summary of the above case studies, it is evident that poor single parents have faced far more problems than one can think. Being a poor single parent has brought more problems to the parents and their children, and the governmental policies have not managed to help them. If the situation is to change, the government will have to come up with policies that reflect the actual situation, and be more realistic in its policy formulation and implementation.


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Paradox has refined the interface somewhat, taking advantage of the more refined and polished presentation found in Europa Universalis III and EU: Rome, but that still won't make Hearts of Iron appealing to many outside of the hardcore grognard community. Since publishers of PC games of the last few years seem to have embraced the misguided notion that every game ought to appeal to every gamer, the unashamed complexity of Hearts of Iron III is, in my opinion at least, an awesome and rare thing. Still, be warned that this game is most definitely not for everyone. For the minority who appreciate the subject matter and are willing to invest the time to actually explore the features, there is a lot to love about this game.
Hearts of Iron III is a grand strategy game on a global scale that starts in 1936 and ends in 1947. It also includes a number of pre-set dates so players can jump right into the action after a key moment. Players can choose to lead any nation they want, from Canada to South Afrika to Japan, and will be in charge of selecting domestic policies, research goals, production priorities, diplomatic positions and army and navy orders. And while that's true of many grand strategy games, Hearts of Iron III gets down to such details as hiring and firing specific cabinet ministers, licensing designs for foreign production, building individual brigades, setting invasion times to take advantage of daylight and weather effects, and selecting sites for new rocket test labs.
The game also improves on the scripted history of Hearts of Iron II with the addition of new decisions and laws that come up according to preset conditions. So you may play a game where France holds out in a war against Vichy France, or where the US joins the Allies in 1937, or where Ecuador and Peru find themselves drawn into the alliances and wind up fighting their own war in South America. While the general alliances of the main powers are fixed, the game can go in many interesting directions from there. In one of our games, the Chinese crushed the Japanese invasion and Russia was able to liberate Europe by the end of 1943.
While it sounds like the player would soon get bogged down under such an avalanche of seemingly minor details, the sum total of all those individual details can add up to huge consequences. When facing a supply shortage, for instance, you may reduce consumer goods in order to trade other commodities on the world market in return for rare metals that your factories need. When they help increase production, you can start cranking out supplies for your soldiers, but dissent has risen because you cut consumer goods, so your population isn't producing as much as they were before. Now you need to balance your nation's industrial capacity between the two so your people are happy enough to keep working and your soldiers aren't left unsupplied on the battlefield. And that's not even considering that your factories are also responsible for upgrades and reserves for units in the field and for the production of new combat units, ports, radar stations and such.
That's just one small slice of a very large pie that also includes technology, diplomacy, espionage, military organization, theater strategy and even the occasional intervention in concerns over freedom of the press, worker strikes and suspicion of government officials.
It's not just the decisions you're making at a high level either. Hearts of Iron III has several thousand individually modeled territories, of which around 10,000 are on the land. That something like four times as many in the previous game in the series. While it may seem a bit overwhelming at first (and, face it; it is) the number of territories actually works to make the combat more tactical. Rather than having a front that's just a few territories across, you'll now be fighting on fronts that are 10-20 territories across. This means the attacker and defender will have smaller concentrations of units spread out over a wider area, which makes breakthroughs, flanks and envelopments even more sophisticated than before. Added infrastructure limits and supply needs make it impossible for players to create the capital-bound steamroller armies that appear in some other grand strategy games.