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Today in Source News Flash: Nas teased that his new album is coming this summer and promised that it will definitely heat up the streets.
The meaning behind the mysterious 4:44 Tidal ad was revealed – the numbers stand for a title of an upcoming Tidal & Sprint movie starring Mahershala Ali, Donald Glover and Lupita Nyong'o.
Sevyn Streeter will be releasing her debut album, Girl Disrupted, on July 7th.
OFF–WHITE and Ikea have officially announced a collaboration is on the way.
The adidas Campus sneaker will be releasing in two new colorways for the summer – they will be releasing on June 15.
South Korea's new government has suspended the deployment of a controversial US missile defense system that strained relations with China and angered North Korea.
In NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors are on a steady path to complete sweep. Cavaliers lost at home in Game 3 yesterday, 118–113.
Come back tomorrow for more and hit SUBSCRIBE on our YouTube to never miss a beat.


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This blog post is largely based on an article by Marina Fernandez-Andujar and eleven others titled, "Remote Thalamic MIcrostructural Abnormalities Related to Cognitive Function in Ischemic-Stroke Patients," published in Neuropsychology (2014), 984-996. Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a brief period of lack of blood flow to an area of the brain. This impairs the function of brain cells, so a person suffering from TIA develops symptoms of brain function impairment, such as
Weakness of the face and/or arm, and/or leg muscles on one side of the body
Numbness of face and/or arm and/or leg on one side of the body
Inability to understand spoken language
Inability to speak
Unexplained dizziness or vertigo
Loss of vision through one eye
Double vision or blurry vision
These symptoms of a mini stroke/TIA disappear completely within 24 hours. Nevertheless, it is important to visit an emergency room as soon as possible. Even if the event occurred a few days ago, medical attention should still be sought.
The thalamus is a midline symmetrical structure of two halves, within the vertebrate brain, situated between the cerebral cortex and the midbrain. Some of its functions are the relaying of sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness. The two parts of the thalamus surround the third ventricle. It is the main product of the embryonic diencephalon.
The study compared 17 patients who had suffered right hemisphere ischemic stroke three months previously with 17 controls matched for age, sex, and years of education.
In the interest of brevity, technical terms will not be defined and certain details will be omitted. However, this article reports the results of sophisticated brain imaging and contains a wealth of information for the technical specialist. Stroke patients showed lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values and higher mean diffusivity (MD) values in specific areas of the right thalamus compared with controls. In patients, decreased FA values were associated with lower verbal fluency performance in the right thalamus, and the left thalamus after adjusting for diabetes mellitus. Increased MD values were associated with lower verbal fluency performance in the right hemisphere after adjusting for diabetes mellitus. The FA and MD values were not related to any cognitive function in the control participants.
Alzheimer's research has been largely focused on neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid plaques in spite of autopsies indicating the presence of these abnormalities, but not cognitive or behavioral of Alzheimer's symptoms during the lifetimes of these individuals. It is important to be aware that dementia can also result from ischemic strokes or Type II diabetes mellitus.

subset: commoncrawl


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WWE Hall of Famer Pat Patterson is now officially the oldest Superstar to win a championship in WWE, following his 24/7 title win at RAW Reunion.
Patterson, 78, captured the gold from Drake Maverick on this week's show, before losing the title off-screen to his fellow stooge, Gerald Brisco.
Before Patterson's huge victory, the oldest champion was the Fabulous Moolah, who won the WWF Women's Championship in 1999, aged 76.
In addition to being a 24/7 Champion, Patterson is also a former Hardcore Champion, as well as the very first Intercontinental Champion.


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Andy York recently bought a T-shirt that captures how he feels about his city.
The design includes various implements of violence that include brass knuckles, a switchblade, a noose and a brick in the shape of a heart.
"It all comes down to self-deprecating humor," said York, a Pigtown resident who plans to wear the tee to live music events or festivals. "I would be really upset if someone from Pittsburgh was wearing a shirt like that."
Elected officials and tourism industry leaders have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars developing slogans to emphasize Baltimore's finer points. But several designers in the Baltimore area have capitalized on the demand for ironic T-shirts among hipsters and have created products featuring obscure landmarks and inside jokes.
Though the T-shirts are mostly sold by entrepreneurs and out-of-work artists who don't release financial statements, T-shirt makers and printers say they are doing a brisk business both in the city and nationwide through online sales.
The "I (heart) BMORE" shirt has been around for many years, and it's just one of 12 designs by local artists marketed by More Collective, a project in its second year started by Mike Watts, the owner of Stem Graphics in Abingdon, along with Drew Pump and Chris Muccioli.
"It's basically by Baltimore, for Baltimore," Watts said. Many of the designers either went to school at the Maryland Institute College of Art or grew up in the city and "have an inward perspective of what Baltimore is all about."
Watts said they asked artists to avoid the typical "Baltimore" images, like crabs, that are often emblazoned on souvenirs. "We were looking for just some artistic perspective to what Baltimore means to them," said Watts, 38.
Not all of the shirts focus on the city's gritty reputation. One titled "Mustache Connection" features three iconic examples of Baltimore facial hair: Edgar Allan Poe, Mr. Boh and John Waters. Another highlights a headless version of the controversial Man-Woman statue at Penn Station.
"People from outside Baltimore might not even understand that shirt," Watts said.
He said he usually sells as many as a dozen of the $20 shirts online to customers nationwide each week, and makes additional sales at festivals.
Tom Doxanas of T-shirt maker Gimmickwear, enjoyed a steady business at this weekend's Fells Point Fun Festival selling shirts that insult Baltimore's athletic rivals.
He also designed a series of shirts representing Baltimore neighborhoods, most with line drawings of street scenes from each community. Most are pretty straight-forward, such as a T-shirt depicting the Washington Monument for Mount Vernon.
"It's accentuating what makes Baltimore Baltimore, or what we perceive is unique about Baltimore neighborhoods," he said.
His most popular neighborhood T-shirt is Dundalk. The shirt features a drawing of what some people call the "golden domes" – towers that are part of a sewage treatment plant and are visible from Interstate 695.
Doxanas' business used to be based in Dundalk and "you could see it from the bay doors," he said.
Since 2004, he must have sold 15,000 of the shirts, which come in yellow and brown, Doxanas estimated. He said he has received orders from California and even overseas.
Some agree that the domes are worth celebrating.
"It's really something to be proud of," said Kurt Kocher, spokesman for Baltimore's Department of Public Works.
"Without this facility you'd have a pretty messy Chesapeake Bay," he said.
In Hampden, people have been chuckling over the "Real Housewives of Hampden" shirts sold at Kiss n' Make-up, a shop on The Avenue. Debbie Stoll, the owner, said the concept, depicting women pole dancing, shooting a gun, pushing a stroller and smoking while pregnant, was her husband Malcolm's idea.
"We were wondering if it would offend anybody in Hampden," Stoll said. But Hampdenites, she said, "seem to be the ones who find them the most amusing."
She agreed that the humor was self-deprecating. "I tend to say to people, 'it's funny because it's true,'" Stoll said. "As Baltimoreans, we're very good at laughing at ourselves."
Stoll said she's never seen any of the "Real Housewives" TV shows, but "I can only imagine, based on what I see on a daily basis, this would make a much better show," she said.
A similar "Real Housewives of Baltimore" shirt is available online with other tongue-in-cheek designs, said Rob Goldberg of Hampden. The out-of-work graphic designer, 46, said he started selling the shirts at festivals and online about three years ago "kind of out of boredom."
While some of the T-shirt designers say they're making profits, Goldberg said he's barely breaking even. "It's almost like a labor of love," he said.
York picked up his black BMORE shirt Sunday at More Collective's stand at the Fells Point Fun Festival. He was showing two friends from Seattle — one a visitor, the other a recent transplant — around the city. The 24-year-old pharmacy and law student said he had been describing the city's different neighborhoods.
"It's neat that a small town has so much pride," he said.
Andy York recently bought a T-shirt that captures how he feels about his city.


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Latest Posts
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Tag Archives: size
Filesize and Resolution of Images Distributed for Microstock
By bobbigmac | Published: May 17, 2012
Just a quick reference post to share some charts showing the most common file sizes and resolutions of images (photos and illustrations) distributed by Microstock contributors through picWorkflow. File sizes of JPEG images distributed to microstock agencies Interesting to see that 80% of files are 10meg or less, and on a steep curve. Whereas the […]
Posted in Research | Also tagged distribution, downsizing, files, filesize, images, microstock, photographs, photography, photos, resolution, sizing, stock photography, stock photos | 3 Comments


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An interesting difference in table top rpgs* and story games** is their accessibility. To be clear I don't think either style is more accessible, but each one is accessible and inaccessible in different ways.
Recent Posts
- Why have stats in an rpg?
- Player Activity and Pacing.
- Easy > Difficult > Hard: Why nacho combo works
- fudge dice that are not
- The "Pop Music" of Role Playing Games
- Starting with purpose
- An embarrassing story
- If not Books?
- Books are a trap
- RULE 0… Hunters (only read if you are an extremely experienced RPG player)
- 0 Hunters (3)
- hardcore (7)
- seed rpg foundation (6)
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Music sets your emotions to a whole new level; whether you are happy, sad or reminiscing about your old colorful days, Music is something that can hack your mood and make you feel better! Who doesn't listen to Music?
The Online Radio Station
You can make use of online radio channels to listen to quality, yet free music online. The benefits of utilizing these services are endless. In fact, if you keep digging the web for radios then you can find tons of exhaustive radio station channels. Among many, SomaFM is the one that I'd be reviewing.
Somafm.com is an commercial-free internet radio that streams 19 unique radio channels featuring progressive house, desi beats, pop, jazz, indie rock, underground and many more tip top tunes. The blend of music is hand picked by popular DJ's as their are thousands of online listeners on Somafm 24/7.
Similar to other radio websites, you can listen music at somafm in the range of 32k to128k with AAC and Mp3 streams. These can be played on Winamp, Windows media player, iTunes or VLC player. You can also browse through the radio playlist and listen to the recent 15 tracks too.
Somafm has been online for more than 10 years now. Just explore, pick your radio channel and enjoy the flow of music!


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Defender admits recent form has breathed confidence into campJon Guthrie can't wait to get going this weekend and hopes to return from the long trip to Crawley with a maximum haul.
Guthrie hasn't featured in recent weeks, but a spout of illness, injury and suspension in the camp may see the defender re-instated.
Having won three of the last four, the Alex are in buoyant mood currently and despite Crawley having some dangerous players like former MK Dons man Izale McLeod, Guthers is just focusing on getting down there and putting on performance.
He told Crewe Alex Player: "We're going into games a lot more confident now, thinking positively and we're going for the win.
"Everyone knows he's a good player (McLeod). He's guaranteed to get you goals in this division, I'm sure it won't be long before he's kicking but you can't just focus on one player you have to focus on the whole team. They're a good team so we'll be looking forward to it.
"I'll be getting up nice and early to get my nice comfy seat on the bus! We're all ready to go and we're looking forward to it."
There's much more from Jon on Crewe Alex Player, sign-up today at www.player.crewealex.net for all the behind-the-scenes interviews and features, as well as live match commentary from ALL of our first team games, including the trip to West Sussex.


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Inspirational quotes Happy birthday cards, Christian cards, Bible cards
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Little Abby recites Psalm 23
A little girl, Abby, recites Psalm 23.... Amazing!
Psalm 23 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell[a] in the house of the Lord
Publicado por Pat MV en 7:17 AM
Etiquetas: Bible verse, quote, Video, Word of God
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In just the last few years, some of our most popular fantasy stories include material that at one time would have been considered porn.
These include films such as Passengers, Blade Runner 2049, and The Shape of Water, as well as TV shows such as Game of Thrones, Westworld, and Altered Carbon.1
Concerns about content like this are often raised in relation to children and teens, whose emotional and physical development make them more impressionable. When it comes to adults, however, we find little concern expressed.
In fact, a lot of people claim to have no issues watching films with explicit sexual content. The material doesn't affect them—or so they say.
But is this true? And if so, should it be true?
Let's give a little pushback and look at four considerations. (This article will conclude in part 2.)
1. Criticism of fantasy porn from inside the church
If you asked a fish to describe what it's like being wet, what would happen? Provided that you could actually speak fish, the answer might be unhelpful. After all, everything about a fish's life involves water. The inability to detach itself from an aquatic existence would severely limit, if not eliminate, its ability to answer your question with any real accuracy or objectivity.
We need to acknowledge at least the possibility that we are in a similar situation.
After all, ethnocentrism (using the customs of one's own culture as the standard by which to evaluate all others) and chronological snobbery (asserting that beliefs held by previous peoples are inferior simply because they are older) are temptations for most any given person in any given culture and time period. That our culture is now more lenient toward explicit sexuality only proves that social and moral standards have changed, not necessarily that they have gotten better (or, for that matter, worse).
It would be wise for us to ask if we have progressed or regressed as a culture: why exactly is it now considered normal, and possibly even defensible, for there to be graphic nudity and simulated sex scenes in our entertainment?
Are we considering other cultures and time periods in evaluating answers to questions like that?
And for Christians, what does the wisdom of ages past have to say about where we are now?
When it comes to entertainment, we have no church fathers commenting on film and television, for these mediums are fairly new. What we do have, however, is thousands of years of commentary on the theatrical arts, and much of that commentary can apply, at least in principle, to the visual arts of our day. If the concerns of men like Tertullian, Lactantius, Richard Baxter, Pascal, and William Wilberforce seem legalistic and archaic, we need to ask ourselves why these giants of the faith were horrified by certain types of entertainment that we find permissible.2
Is it not at least possible that we, as ambassadors from another kingdom, have grown so comfortable with this culture's norms that we have lost sight of the standards from the eternal and heavenly culture we are called to represent? I would argue that, to a certain degree, we have. To quote author Joe Rigney:
Cultural engagement (and enjoyment) can easily become a cover-up for indulging sinful desires, an excuse to watch trashy movies. We must never forget that worldliness is easy, that plundering the Egyptians is hard, and that many an Israelite has convinced himself that he is absconding with the world's wealth when he's merely in the process of going native.3
2. Criticism of fantasy porn from outside the church
Porn is losing much of its original stigma.
In fact, terms like "food porn," "word porn," "car porn," and even "wedding porn" show just how normalized—and even standard-setting—porn consumption has become. It is safe to say that ours is a porn-ified culture. And within this environment, some people, deeply entrenched within our culture, are raising red flags—or, at the very least, pointing out some inconvenient truths.
Consider the responses to various sexual acts portrayed in HBO's Game of Thrones. Each time the show pushes the envelope a little more, there's a backlash of some sort, with cultural commentators asking some form of the question, "Has the show gone too far?"
What I have found interesting—or, more like disturbing—is that most of the genuine and intelligent critiques of Game of Thrones have come, not from Christian sources (those ostensibly "in the world but not of it"), but from within the culture itself (those ostensibly just "of the world").
Sure, conservatives and Christians have criticized the show, but often with a poorly constructed, knee-jerk reaction that unconvincingly communicates any real depth of thought.
Meanwhile, in articles I read and conversations I participate in, I see and hear Christians excusing and defending Game of Thrones' sexual content.
Expanding our focus, observers outside religious circles freely admit the gratuitousness of much of the sex and nudity utilized in popular culture today—groups like Beauty Redefined, Collective Shout, and Feminist Current. They have brought pointed, thoughtful, and specific critiques of the sexualization and objectification on display all around us.
In the realm of film and television specifically, here is what Richard Brody, movie-listings editor for The New Yorker, has to say:
I think that very few sex scenes…are ever of use in movies. Most sex scenes simply check boxes for viewers, providing visual confirmation that a relationship has been consummated; the pneumatic heaving and thrusting has no additional dramatic or emotional significance.4
None of the above critiques are coming from those with a strict, let alone a Christian, sexual ethic. Still, they are pointing out what is obvious to them.
So why is this not as obvious to followers of Christ? When Scripture tells us not to be like those in the world, I don't think the implication is that our standards should be lower than those who profess no love for God's truth. Should we, as those who have been rescued out of darkness to "walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8) and to no longer "live according to the flesh" (Romans 8:4), exhibit standards of moral decency that are more lenient than those who are still conformed to the "elemental spirits of the world" (Colossians 2:8)?
Of course, to ask the question is to answer it. Light should not succumb to darkness—especially in ways that the darkness itself would criticize.
Next week, we'll look at two other possible answers to the excuse that "explicit sexual content in media doesn't bother me."
- Editor's note: This topic is bigger than any one film or show. But see previous Speculative Faith articles more specifically about Game of Thrones's role in pushing this envelope: But 'Game Of Thrones' Still Has Porn In It, Why We Condemn 'Game Of Thrones' Porn and Think You Should Too, and 'Game Of Thrones' Sex: It's Not Just Awkward, It's Violation. ↩
- See chapter three, "What Does the Church Say?", in Wayne A. Wilson's Worldly Amusements for a helpful survey of early, medieval, and modern church responses to theatrical performances involving nudity and simulated sex acts. ↩
- Joe Rigney, The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts, pp. 147-148. ↩
- "Amber Heard and the Artistic Problem with Contractual Nudity," Richard Brody, The New Yorker, Nov. 23, 2016. ↩
Thank you for this article, it does need to be said. So, say on! *thumbs up*
I appreciate the encouragement, Allen. Thank you!
Thank you for talking about this topic. I'm very concerned about how desensitized we are all becoming to so much.
"Desensitized" is a good word. That's why I'm thankful for the wisdom of others (both within and without our modern culture) who are helping me check the accuracy and reliability of my own senses (which I will talk about more in the second installment of this series).
Such good points! I HATE the use of "porn" in hashtags etc too, as if it's an innocent little word we can attach to whatever we're obsessed about.
I've never watched GOT (having heard about its explicitness being worse than the books) but I've listened to most of the audiobooks. I noticed a serious shift in Martin's use of sexual innuendo (as in shifting from innuendo to TMI) as well as using offensive language to convey character's attitudes towards it. His first couple of books alluded to something with a sentence or two–but was over with before I could tap the fast forward button.
As the stories went on, I made use of the FF quite regularly, disappointed that he found it necessary to delve into things in such a way.
What an excellent and true quote from Richard Brody! And what does it say about Christian complacency? I think it is the frog in the boiling water scenario…I know I'm guilty about not noticing that the water is getting warmer in other ways.
Thanks for the thought-provoking article!
Yes, the normalization of porn is a public health crisis. We are indeed like the proverbial frog in the water. Thanks for your thoughts and encouragement!
Well said. I know that I try avoid movies and shows with content. Unfortunately, that means I can't watch a lot of what friends, including Christian friends, are watching and I often feel left out of a discussion. But this content shouldn't be any sort of real entertainment, so I'll support creators who don't shoehorn it in.
Thank you, Rebekah! Yeah, it sometimes feels a little lonely when we have to miss out on something that everyone seems to be enjoying, but the end result–a purer conscience, and a greater love for the actors whose privacy, dignity, and sexuality were violated–is well worth it.
Excellent beginning! I've been struck by the tendency (which I myself fall into) to simply blink at the bedroom (or wherever) scenes in shows I enjoy (never been tempted by GoT since I couldn't stand the book, but some other shows have my eye). There's an immediate jump past lip-service objections to praise and (self-)justification "But it's good storytelling!" or "The characters are so compelling!" or "They raise such important issues!" – which might be reasonable arguments for watching, but it's too easy to hide behind the excuses. It's kind of falling into the same category as the old crack, "I only read Playboy for the articles" – it might actually be true, but everyone knows it's probably not. Looking forward to the followup article(s).
Searching Playboy for a good article to read is like rooting through a bin of over ripe garbage in the summer in hopes of finding a good sandwich.
An excellent analogy, Rachel!
I appreciate the comments, Tim! I remember we touched on the whole "but the story required it!" excuse a few years ago: http://speculativefaith.lorehaven.com/actually-fantastic-films-dont-require-sex-and-nudity
I'd like to posit that nudity is different than sexual content. Related, but there are contexts that make nudity not really that sexual.
Also, at what point does nudity become "graphic nudity"? Shirtless guys are relatively "normal" in our culture, and ladies can often get away with sports bra-type tops for contexts like exercise and swimwear.
Yeah, the whole "sexual nudity vs. non-sexual nudity" can be a lengthy discussion all on its own. I agree that there can indeed be a difference between the two. (One is more likely to be titillating than the other, for example.) But then one could ask, "Is public nudity only a problem when it has the potential to sexually arouse its audience?" I've heard convincing arguments on either side of that debate.
One line can be how many 'details' are present. Like how in some anime there's nudity but the 'details' are omitted, kind of like a mannequin. Or, even better, the nudity is there but the chars are obscured in shadows or something.
thanks for these articles. As a writer, I'm questioning my writing and that of other Christian authors with a similar question. What issues are we writing about that stand in the gap for readers to understand true biblical content or expression. With the liberal tendencies of our generations, it's easy to see the trend. My writing makes a stand for Jesus, for purity before Him. anything at all which is more important than our worship and relationship with Jesus is sin. Of course porn is included here. Most of the third episode of my new series is dedicated to several of my characters involved in porn, then have a 'Jesus moment', find their place with Christ, and move on to a life in Christ and as a testimony to others to watch out for the trick of satan…. tough , tough issues.
I have a lot of mixed feelings on this topic, and it's hard to define an exact line for every scenario when there is so much complexity to this issue. For my own writing, I don't mind indicating that sex happened, the impact it had in the characters' lives and, to an extent, having chars mention or hint at the topic. But I have yet to find it necessary to actually go into a full graphic scene.
To an extent full graphic scenes tend to limit the audience of a story, since not everyone is into that stuff, and a lot of times if there's a sex scene I actually feel slightly annoyed since in the average movie it kind of subtracts from the story. Like, sheesh, can't we just get back to the plot?
Great points! What I see in regard to social justice and being "culturally relevant" among most Christians is simply standing in the way of God in order to pretend to be God-like.
Well-meaning Christians often want to send the message to those around them that they're above the legalism of others. We think we're not affected because we know the truth. But there's a reason we're not sharing the gospel as much. There's a reason we're not finding joy in the ordinary. There's a reason our love for God Himself is waning. We're infected by what we're ingesting.
I plead with Jesus. I'm Peter who's gone back to fishing, and my only hope is that you will come to my shore and call me back, Lord. God is faithful.


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By paying attention "in detail" to the prospective employer's needs and the needs of the individual candidate we can make a far better placement that will result in a "win-win" for both!
Please browse our website or give us a call. To see our current job openings please click on the button in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. We look forward to hearing from you!


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Hidden Path Residence
Shelter Island, NY
Hidden Path Residence, located on New York's Shelter Island, is a weekend retreat for a Manhattan chef and his partner who enjoy hosting gatherings for family and friends. Beyond serving as a comfortable and quiet reprieve from the bustling city, the home provides the amenities for preparing gourmet meals, entertaining, and accommodating overnight guests.
Approached through a deciduous forest, the house is sited near a protected tidal lagoon and oriented to take advantage of sweeping panoramas of Peconic Bay. The house's curved roof lifts as it nears the waterfront, engaging with the horizon and offering curated views from inland to bayside.
The residence is arranged in two overlapping volumes. A main level pavilion accommodates the home's shared spaces, anchored by an open kitchen, dining, and living room with sliding glass walls that blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors. A concrete fireplace defines one end of the pavilion, while an outdoor kitchen and stone terrace extends the space at the opposite end.
Intersecting the lower level, a double-height entryway defines a clear axis from the front door through the house to the water's edge. A wooden staircase leads from the entry hall to the upper volume, which contains guest rooms, a private den, and the master suite. From the second level, the most dramatic views of the bay are revealed via an intimate balcony that adjoins the master suite.
The home's exterior, clad in copper and Western Red Cedar, will weather and patina naturally over time, resulting in a dynamic relationship with the landscape. Delicate wood trellises and angled bay windows offer shade and privacy, while offering views to the lagoon.
Though the site and footprint is compact, exterior pathways leading from the residence allow the homeowners and their guests direct access to the lagoon, as well as opportunities to meander along a winding trail to the bay beyond.


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Cranberry Thokku Recipe
Thanksgiving is almost here, Cranberry season started. Fresh cranberries are always tempting me. I love making cranberry chutney and cranberry thokku. Thokku is a spicy and tangy thick gravy made out of cranberries. A very simple and easy to make, yet delicious thokku. We can mix the thokku with rice or best served with curd rice.
Preparation and Yield:
|Preparation time
|5 mins
|Cooking Time
|20 mins
|Recipe Category
|Recipe Cuisine
|South Indian
|Cranberry Thokku Recipe
|1 small gooseberry size
|Turmeric Powder
|1/4 teaspoon
|Red Chilli Powder
|2 teaspoon
|To taste
|Fenugreek Powder
|1/4 teaspoon
|Gingelly Oil
|2 tablespoon
|Mustard Seeds
|1 teaspoon
|Curry Leaves
|Cranberry Thokku Recipe
|Cranberry Thokku Recipe
- Soak the tamarind in water and squeeze out the tamarind extract
- Wash the cranberries to get rid off dust or any sand. Keep this aside. Heat gingelly oil in a pan, add mustard seeds when the oil is hot, add mustard seeds. When the mustard seeds starts to sputter, add hing and broken curry leaves and saute it for few seconds
- Then, add the cranberries, stir-fry the cranberries in medium flame for 3-4 minutes. Add turmeric powder and keep stirring till it gets mushy
- When the cranberries becomes mushy, add tamarind extract along with salt and red chilli powder. Keep stirring occasionally till the whole mixture becomes thick like a pulp. Then finally add the fenugreek powder and mix well and switch off the flame
- Take the Cranberry Thokku in an air-tight container and keep refrigerated for more shelf life
- Serve the cranberry thokku with hot rice along with a teaspoon of gingelly oil. Or you can relish this delicious cranberry thokku with curd rice!
|Cranberry Thokku Recipe
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There are rumors spreading among the transformers fans that Jazz is making a return in transformers: revenge of the fallen. As yet these are just rumors and there are no confirmed reports about this fact.
Jazz was in the first transformers movie and was destroyed by Megatron in the last encounter. His pieces were passed to Ratchet who could not mend him as his glow had faded. Those who have seen the first transformers movie or have pursued the mini series or the comics they would easily remember Jazz. Earliest Lieutenant Jazz is the smallest of the Autobots but is a happy go lucky sort of fellow. He is also quite a talker as compared to Ironhide and Prime. He may be the smallest robot but he does not run away from a battle. His only grumble is that he gets stuck fighting with people who are closer to his size.
Jazz went with Optimus Prime to earth in the former film and he likes the place. But in the end he dies fearlessly. Now that transformers 2 is about to be released public is thinking if Jazz will be recreated and become visible in this film. Some admirers think that he will live as a robot of the past while others suppose that he will be reformed. As the robots can be recreated and if Megatron can re reconstructed then why not tiny Jazz.
The director and the authors may be trying to hurl curious fans off the track when they fire up a rumor about the return of Jazz. Some fans have even said that they have found a Pontiac Solstice on the sets of transformers 2. But there is no verification of Jazz returning in this film. There are new robots putting in their first emergence in the movie. But the secrecy of the return of Jazz remains undisclosed.
Jazz converts into a Pontiac Solstice and is the smallest as well as the garrulous Autobot. He is fearless and enters into fight with Megatron so that Bumblebee can get away. He gets thumped by the Decepticons fusion gun and is out of shape and gets murdered. We know all this from the first movie and if he does returns in transformers 2 that will be something that the fans will like.
Michael Bay says he disclosed wrong information concerning the arrival of Jazz in transformers 2. He says he did this to guide the fans off track. Well in the comic series Ratchet restructures Jazz by means of the last of the 'All Spark'. At the moment the Pontiac Solstice returns is what we will be acquainted with on the movie premiere.
If Jazz does arrive in transformers 2 he is going to take part in a great part in it. He may end up getting killed in the last fight once more. If Jazz does not return then that will be the ending of Jazz. Who knows he may come back in a later sequel. Keep in mind there are passionate admirers who just love the transformers.
There are lots of Jazz fans out there who will feel like seeing Jazz coming back. He is there in the comic book series so why ending him up in the movies. Some admirers were fond of Jazz and some detested him for the way he chatted. But what on earth may be the attitude of the fans, Jazz was a genial Autobot according to most of the viewers.


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Rolfe & Nolan Group's Chief Executive, Bob Freeman, commented: "It is most gratifying that we have been able to achieve our best ever result in our first year as a private company whilst also investing over £2m in our back and front-office initiatives, Merlin and Edge. Our licence renewal for another five years of a long-standing global client, HSBC, illustrates the strength of our commercial relationships. Our backers, HgCapital, have given unstinting support to our development plans and the business is exceptionally well-positioned for future growth.
"The new financial year has also started well and we have secured licence
renewals with other major clients, including Commerzbank, Goldenberg-Hehmeyer, Triland USA and Pioneer Futures. These wins, together with our high recurring revenue stream and new managed services and product initiatives give us exceptional visibility for a further material improvement on last year's excellent result against a backdrop of a growing and vibrant derivatives marketplace".
The Company is expecting a substantial increase in revenue and profitability
for the current financial year.


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Pearls of Oracle to PostgreSQL conversion
We have been working on a large Oracle 8i conversion to PostgreSQL. Our customers were not concerned with the data conversion: there are tools like ora2pg and oracle foreign data wrapper to accomplish this. They do, however, have a significant number of queries that needs to be converted.
Apparently, most queries from Oracle and PostgreSQL look similar; after all, both are relational database systems, as opposed to Cassandra or MongoDB, seeking to adhere to the same standards. Unfortunately, Oracle is known for the non-standard syntax extensions that are widely used by DB developers. Fortunately, the PostgreSQL community went great lengths not only to rely on SQL standards, but to use them as a source for the new powerful features.
How do recent versions of PostgreSQL stack up against Oracle syntax extensions, you may ask. The answer is very well; in fact, there is hardly anything in Oracle 8i syntax that cannot be emulated by PostgreSQL. Let's consider a couple of examples, starting from the one of the most peculiar syntax construction Oracle is known for, outer joins:
Oracle versions before 9 used a non-standard syntax for left and right outer joins; support for full outer joins was missing altogether. Suppose we have a schema to track orders:
CREATE TABLE users(id INTEGER, email VARCHAR2(200)); CREATE TABLE products(id INTEGER, name VARCHAR2(200), price FLOAT(126)); CREATE TABLE orders(id INTEGER, userid INTEGER, productid INTEGER, quantity INTEGER);
A typical LEFT JOIN, returning all users that haven't made any orders, looks like this:
SELECT u.id FROM users u, orders o WHERE o.userid IS NULL AND u.id = o.userid (+);
Oracle's OUTER JOIN is represented by a special WHERE clause with a '+' sign added. The '+' denotes the nullable side of the join: we are looking for users that don't have any rows associated with their ids in the orders table. The PostgreSQL equivalent of this query will be a straightforward:
SELECT u.id FROM users u LEFT JOIN orders.o ON (u.id = o.userid) WHERE o.userid IS NULL;
Clearly, the rule is simple: if you see a '(+)' in the Oracle's WHERE clause - it's really an outer join; if a '+' sign is on the left side of the binary operator - it's a RIGHT JOIN and vice versa.
Let's consider an Oracle construction that is a little more complex to emulate, Oracle's rownum column. This is a special pseudo-column that numbers rows returned by an Oracle query. For instance, to get positions of all products in the product list ordered by price, one can issue the following Oracle query:
SELECT rownum as position, id, name, price FROM (SELECT * FROM products ORDER BY price);
If 'products' stores data in no particular order, the rownum value would be different from the product id.
Unlike Oracle, PostgreSQL doesn't have a rownum column, so what would we do with the query above? Turns out, we can emulate it with the help of window functions, a feature available since PostgreSQL 8.4. These functions are capable of performing calculations over related group of rows called partitions. In our example, we need to apply the function called row_number() over the whole result set (denoted by the empty PARTITION BY clause), using ordering by price to compute the row number:
SELECT row_number() OVER (ORDER BY price) as position, id, name, price FROM products ORDER BY price;
Note that there is a subtle problem in the queries above. Different positions will be assigned to the items with equal price points. While there is no easy way to fix this in Oracle 8i, we can assign equal positions to the items with no price differences by switching the window function from row_number() to rank() in the PostgreSQL case:
SELECT rank() OVER (ORDER BY price) as position, id, name, price FROM products ORDER BY price
There is another common use case of Oracle's rownum column, to limit the number of rows returned from a query like this (used to extract the 5 most expensive products):
SELECT * FROM (SELECT * from products ORDER BY price DESC) WHERE rownum <= 5;
We need neither window functions, nor subqueries in the PostgreSQL equivalent of this query:
SELECT * FROM products ORDER BY price DESC LIMIT 5;
Easy, right?
You are probably wondering why am I comparing the recent versions of PostgreSQL to Oracle 8i, being almost 15 years old now? The reason is, there are a number of customers still running such an old products not ready to shell out hundreds of thousands for an upgrade to a new Oracle major version. PostgreSQL might be the best and cost-effective way to get their data to a modern relational database system and, of course, upgrades to new major versions are free (and can be performed in-place with pg_upgrade).
There are more examples I'd like to demonstrate (including the conversion of Oracle's CONNECT BY clause), but this post is already getting too long, so I'm wrapping up for now. Stay tuned for further posts!


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Friday, November 4, 2011
Back. But not all the way.
Me and the kid on Piha Beach in Auckland, New Zealand.
Quick update until I can get the time to do a proper blog post.
Yes, I survived the Armageddon Expo in Melbourne and Auckland, New Zealand. Both were spectacular, and thanks to anyone who came out. Liked it so much that the wife and I have agreed to retire to NZ in twenty to thirty years.
No, I'm not back on Twitter and Facebook, though it's been a bit over a month since my hiatus. Honestly, I may not be returning there. Ever. I may be totally over them both (as snooty as that may come off). Not that I don't love knowing what's going on in people's lives. After butting heads with folks on both platforms, I'm just coming to the conclusion that I may not be built for that level of internet inter-connectivity. We'll see.
Oh, and since I've gotten quite a few worried emails from folks that think I left the sites because I'm depressed or something.....Relax. I'm just doing my thing. I know it's weird in this day and age to willingly withdraw from "The Collective Mind" that is the Internet, but I'm fine. I just got back from friggin' New Zealand, for God's sake.
Finishing CHEW 22 inks today, and coloring next week. Sorry for the delay. Dense, dense issue that took a lot of time.
Back later. Take care.
Posted by Rob Guillory at 1:29 PM
Labels: random rob updates
3 comments:
- Wadeboski said...
Hey Rob - I met you in Auckland (you drew the Liono and Nova for me). I would like to thank you for coming out to New Zealand. I hope you enjoyed it - even if you didn't get to the South Island.
- November 4, 2011 at 6:38 PM
- Mathieu Doublet said...
As long as you make some great comics and give us infos here, that's all I'm waiting for. Too bad for the collective mind. :)
And the picture looks great !
- November 4, 2011 at 7:57 PM
- Reggie Davis said...
I feel you bro. You do you and your family. That's all that matters. Be content with what makes you happy and not what others think is happiness.
Keep encouraged!
- November 6, 2011 at 1:40 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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"When was the last time you watched a commercial?" I asked. "Never," he responded with a grin so big it that it pushed his ears back. "I work eleven hours a day," he added, "and I don't have time for commercials." I smiled back at him.
I smiled, because this is a classic Postmodern statement. Eric isn't saying he doesn't like commercials because they interrupt his viewing or that they're repetitive and generally banal. He zaps them, because they're a waste of his time — time that technology is helping him to better manage. And the truth is we would all do the same thing if we could. A new report by PhaseOne Communications shows there are 52 minutes of promotional clutter in a typical three-hour prime time block on the four networks. That's nearly one-third of prime time given over to sales. Who wants to give up an hour out of three to sit there and watch commercials? Hello?
The empowerment of the individual over the institution is at the heart of Postmodernism, and it's something institutional businesses, such as broadcasting, aren't easily accepting. And in our denial, we're wasting a lot of our time (and resources) pushing the same old rock up the same old mountain with the same old (and tired) muscles.
I was discussing this with a broadcaster friend recently, trying to argue the need to move forward with transitioning to a multi-media business model. Time, I said, was the enemy. "Terry," he said, "most of our people are so busy bailing water out of the boat that they don't have time to even think about painting the deck." The frustration that broadcasters feel is very real and disheartening, but the truth is if you're digging a hole and find that you can't get out, the first thing you need to do is to stop digging. Or, to use my friend's illustration, stop bailing the boat and find one that'll carry you to your destination.
The weekly print trade publication Editor & Publisher has discovered this and is acting on it. In January, the 120-year-old publication returns to a monthly magazine for the first time since 1898. The company is taking all those resources and putting them where the growth is — online. Their new Website will function like six separate news outlets: Business, Newsroom, Advertising/Circulation, Technology, Syndicates and Online Journalism. They're getting out of the weekly publication boat and putting their money in a new boat that they see taking them into the future. I couldn't agree with this strategy more.
As a growth industry, television is dead. Put a fork in it. It's done. Let the boat sink. Staff it with a skeleton crew that'll take it as far as it can go, but don't put energy and money into it. Instead, put those resources to work on a boat that'll eventually float even more than our current cargo.
Time is indeed the enemy. My overall New Year's resolution for the industry is this: 2004 must be an action year! It's certainly not a time to feel safe with revenues padded by the Olympics and elections. Stockholders simply must be made to face the truth, because 2005 will be devastating otherwise. If they, in fact, own the company, they must see that their entire investment is at stake, because status quo is a death sentence. Why do you think Wall Street analysts are downgrading many broadcasting stocks?
For all my broadcaster, rock-pushing friends, here's a list of 10 sub-resolutions that we might consider as the New Year dawns:


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The Top 10 Sporting Goods Items
Spring is in the air and everyone's stocking up on their favorite sports gear. It's time to start thinking about getting outdoors and enjoying all of the activities that you have been unable to do all winter. We've gathered a list of the top 10 sports gear that people are buying. Whether you are into cycling, mountain biking, golf, baseball, surfing or even football gear, now is the time to hunt for some incredible bargains.
Road Bikes and Mountain Bikes are incredibly popular this spring with a variety of models to choose from at all price ranges. Cycling is great exercise for the entire family and a super way to spend time together.
Road Bikes
If you're like me, you may think that Road Bikes are just like the old 10-Speed that you may have rode back in high school. Let me tell you, today's bikes bare little resemblance to those dinosaurs. Today's road bikes are a blend of advanced technology and design. Check out these road bike deals now.
Mountain Bikes
This spring it was finally time to upgrade my mountain bike. My old bike served me well for a number of years. However, it was build like a tank and weighed a lot. So, I decided to see what advances had been made in the past 10 years. I was pleasantly surprised to see a host of advancements from suspensions to better brakes to a comfortable seat (now that's a nice change). Check out the Mountain Bikes deals for yourself.
Camping & Hiking
It's finally time to get back outside and plan your trip into the great outdoors. It's probably a good time to think about ditching that torn and leaky tent that you put up with last year too. Check out the great deals on some awesome Tents.
There's nothing like spending a night under the stars after a long day of enjoying the outdoors. Of course, this implies that you are not freezing your butt off or listening to people moan about the fact their cell phone battery is dying. Way not enjoy the best of both worlds camping with some creature comforts built in. Yeah, it's cheating but it keeps the whole camping party happy! Check out the deals on Generators
I was able to start the golf season early this year with a trip Las Vegas. It sure was nice to swing the clubs. Golf continues to rise in popularity all over the world. People young and old are playing the game that everyone loves to hate. After all what other game to play against yourself? Get yourself ready for a great season on the links.
Golf Shoes
Let's face it. Golf is challenging enough, you don't need the added burden of uncomfortable shoes ruining your day. Your slice into the water on 3 and 7 already did that. I bought a pair of Footjoy golf shoes last year and they are as comfortable and supportive as a good pair of cross trainers. They may not have improved my golf game but my feet are a lot my comfortable. Check out the deals on Golf Shoes
Golf Swing Trainers
If you want to get better at golf, let's face it you have to practice. There's just no better way to shave strokes off of your game. That's led to a huge increase in the popularity of Golf Swing Trainers. The good news is there aren't the gimmicky gadgets that you may remember from late night TV. Today's swing trainers actually have some science behind them. Check out the deals Golf Swing Trainers
Vintage Golf Clubs & Shafts
For purists there is nothing better have a straight bladed iron. Forget perimeter weighting and cavity backs, give me a nice angled piece of steel to strike a golf ball with. The truth is people are as likely to collect vintage golf club and shafts as use them. Indulge your duel passions of golf and collecting and find deal on a Vintage Golf Club and Shaft today
Pitching Machines
Baseball season is here in earnest from Little League to the Majors. Given the number of people in love with America's game it's not surprise that the passion and devotion of people continue to increase - especially when it comes to training. Pitching machines are all the rage this year. Check out these Pitching Machine deals
Batting Cages & Netting
Batting cages and netting now come in all shapes and sizes. If you picked up a pitching machine like thousands of other people have this season this is a perfect compliment. Check out these Batting Cage deals
Football Equipment
The pre-season hasn't yet begun but now is the time to buy your football equipment for the season. Beat the rush later this year and check out these Football equipment deals now.
Surf Boards
What's cooler than paddling with the ocean and grabbing an oncoming wave and riding it on into the shore? If you're a surfer - nothing! Winter is finally over and the temperatures are heating up. Check out the deals on Surf Board now


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Results tagged ' Trade '
Calling All the Angels
I have supported the Angels as a fan for over 30 years. I had the privilege to grow up in the shadow of Angel Stadium. In that time, I have seen the organization go through its ups and downs both on and off the field. Unfortunately, this has also included tragic events for the organization, including the passing of Nick Adenhart and now, Tyler Skaggs.
His passing yesterday of course was sudden and unexpected. At first, I thought it was a cruel joke. I was poring over statistics on the Angels' Facebook page and verifying the Angels' lineup for Sunday in preparation for an unrelated entry when the Angels statement on his passing was posted. Since I thought it was a hack at first, I went to cross-reference the news through other sources. There was nothing on the Angels' official page, nothing on ESPN, and no other references posted the news. Deep inside, I was holding out hope that it was a hacker. Unfortunately, that possible alternative was dispelled from my mind about 10 minutes later when the news started spreading. I am heartbroken. It's only a few months later after the 10th anniversary of Nick Adenhart's passing.
Tyler Skaggs was on his way to being the ace of the rotation. The Angels have not had a solid ace since Jered Weaver was in his prime. Skaggs was drafted by the Angels in 2009, the same year of Adenhart's passing. He worked his way through the minor leagues, and he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before Skaggs could make is major league debut with the Angels for Dan Haren. He was traded back to the Angels a few years later as a result of the multiple contract debacles of Josh Hamilton, C. J. Wilson, and Vernon Wells. Skaggs rejoined the Angels when he was exchanged for Mark Trumbo.
My brother and I have tickets for the first game when the Halos come back home to Angel Stadium after this current road trip. As part of the Angels pregame rituals, they show a video of Angels' history with the song "Calling All the Angels" and introduce their starting lineup with the song "Spirit in the Sky." For the rest of the season and beyond both songs will have a different meaning for the organization, the players, and the Angels' fans just like they did 10 years ago.
Tyler Skaggs was a phenomenal athlete, however, sometimes we forget that they are people first. Baseball players are just people playing a children's game. Today, I want to honor Tyler Skaggs the person rather the athlete. Tyler, rest in paradise.
Are the Angels Preparing a Winter Wonderland or Preparing for the Brunt of Bitter Old Man Winter?
The holiday season invokes different emotional reactions from different people, some people think about spending time with loved ones, others think about the family gatherings, the food, the games; while still others think of the lights the holiday decorations and the overall spirit of the season.
Baseball fans however, have an added bonus during the holiday season, the Major League Baseball winter meetings. The winter meetings can only be described one way, opening a holiday gift early. This is the time a year select front office personnel from all 30 teams get together in one place and discuss anything pertaining to the upcoming season; primarily free-agent signings and trades. Some teams going to these meanings with the intent of making a splash, while others stay relatively quiet.
This is the case of the Angels this year, unlike years past, they haven't made an eye-opening transaction during this year's winter meetings, on the contrary, I believe this year has much more uncertainty than years past. The Halos lost Garrett Richards to free agency. Richards signed a contract with the San Diego Padres, Shohei Ohtani is recovering from off-season Tommy John surgery and is unable to pitch this upcoming year, although he will be in the batters' box this upcoming season. Parker Bridwell, a once promising Angels' pitcher is no longer available because he was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees. Injuries combined with these transactions make the Angels' starting rotation questionable at best.
The Halos number one priority should be starting pitching, and/or pitching in general. This position is there Achilles' heel as of late. They've had more of their fair share of pitching woes and it doesn't seem that this year will get any better.
If that wasn't enough, the Angels need help in the infield, they had Ian Kinsler's veteran presence in the infield. I believe they gave up on Kinsler too early, alternatively, keeping Kinsler would have helped the Angels at the very least determine whether he deserved a longer-term contract to shore up the infield. His absence now not only leaves question marks in the infield for next season but it also creates a huge hole that the Angels need to fill; combined with the team's pitching needs, I don't see how they can possibly fill all these holes and expect to not only compete, but contend. Something they must do if they want to keep Mike Trout happy and in an Angels' uniform in the long-term, especially for a team that does not want to go over Major League Baseball's luxury tax.
It seems that the Halos are trying to do too much at the same time, this is a combination of bad contracts over the years with several players that have put them in this bind. How does one find the pieces they need to contend well still have enough money to sign the greatest player of this generation in Trout, long-term? This is a conundrum that the Angels face, a conundrum that won't be easy to solve. I believe that in order to keep Trout and be contenders at the same time they must go over the luxury tax. The Halos are already asking a lot of the Angels' fan base when it comes to paying to spend time at the ballpark, the least they can do is begin to show us that our investment of time and money is bearing fruit. The organization has two choices, create a winter wonderland or prepare for the brunt of bitter old man winter.
Does the Deck of Playoff Cards Have a Wildcard with a Halo?
A deck of playing cards comes with two jokers, often people do not use these jokers and they put them aside separating them from the deck. Traditionally the jokers are a pair of cards; they are considered the two traditional wild cards in the deck. Today, I will not discard them.
This metaphor is applicable to the game the baseball; just like in a deck of playing cards there are two wild cards. These wildcards are currently blank, including today's game that is yet to be played; there are only a dozen games left for the Angels in this baseball season, and the race for the American League wild card is tight.
As of today, the face of each wild card read "the New York Yankees" and "the Minnesota Twins". However, the Angels are only one game behind, due to the loss that the Twins suffered against the Yankees today, which means by the end of today if the Angels win, they will only be one half game out of the second wild-card with 11 games to go.
In order to determine if there is a Halo in the playoff deck, one must examine the four suits that the deck contains in order for their wild-card to be of any help towards the creation of a championship hand in this metaphorical game of cards. 12 cards (games) are yet to be dealt; with such a high number of cards left the creation of a winning hand is likely. However, equally as likely is that a losing hand which can be produced at the end of the season.
The Heart
The heart is in my opinion the most important suit, the Halos produced more than 40 comeback wins so far this season, leading Major League Baseball they also led the majors in stolen bases prior to the Cameron Maybin trade. There is no question that this team has the talent and the heart to make sure that one of those blank wildcards reads "Angels".
The Spade
Although there's no question about this team's heart, the spade has not been kind to the Angels. The Halos have survived virtually all year without a pitching staff. Garrett Richards, Andrew Heaney, Matt Shoemaker, and Tyler Skaggs have been injured in some combination or another for the entire year. This is virtually our entire starting pitching staff. With the exception of Matt Shoemaker, the rest of the starting staff is back. However, due to length of time they were gone, they have been unable to be the starters that they really are. Although the Angels have been hit hard by the spade there are still enough cards in the deck to turn their fortunes around.
The Clover
When the team is hit this hard by the spade, you need a little luck brought forth by the Clover. The Angels' patchwork and strategic positioning have allowed them to somehow stay in contention even with all the injuries to key positions. With 12 cards left, the Angels must make their own luck and take advantage of golden opportunities when they present themselves, something that they did not do yesterday when the Twins lost to the Yankees. The Angels did not close the gap, they lost yesterday's game six with three due to bad game management by Mike Scioscia, in certain situations he left players in two along and took others out too early. This can not continue if the Angels are going to let the Clover do its magic.
The Diamond
The clover's magic must work; the diamond suit in the deck must assure that. The diamond has been kind to the Angels. A diamond represents the value which the Angels have obtained the acquisitions of Justin Upton and Brandon Phillips, by acquiring these solid players, they Halos have strengthened their weak spots which will allow them to increase their chances of obtaining a winning hand, although I must admit I was very disappointed when Cameron Maybin was traded in order to make room for Justin Upton on the roster. I believe the Angels had a better option by letting go of Ben Revere instead of Cameron Maybin, slim as he is affectionately called; gave the Angels speed at the top of the lineup, it is the team's ability to run the bases that renders opposing starting pitchers less effective; something that needs to happen to be successful in the playoffs.
It is the right combination of the four suits that will determine whether one of the wildcards will have a Halo on its face. It is an undeniable fact that wildcards always make card games or in this case the Major League Baseball playoffs more interesting. Baseball wildcards cannot be simply discarded like the jokers in the deck of cards. However, all the other card suits must combine for a wildcard to be effective. In the Angels case, there are 12 cards remaining in order to create a winning hand.
The Essence of Halo Nature
Human nature is unpredictable; it is basic yet complex, logical yet chaotic, fascinating yet at times disappointing. It is this essence and the interplay between these opposing forces that spark various thoughts, ideas, and philosophies for many millennia. Human nature allows one to think about probabilities and possibilities; it gives one a choice; to think logically, or to think creatively.
Baseball is a thinking man's game; there is not a more perfect narrator for human nature than baseball. It doesn't matter if it's a dual between the pitcher and batter, the managers, or the front office; human nature is the ever present variable. It determines the difference between indecisiveness and insecurity.
There is not a better example of the various aspects and complexities of human nature than the current off-season that the Angels are experiencing. The Angels clearly had roster needs, and the market was full of players that could have satisfied those needs, especially in Left Field, yet despite those clear needs the Angels decided to do nothing of impact. They are opting instead to platoon Craig Gentry and Daniel Nava.
The Halos had their choice of opting for Yoenis Céspedes, Jason Heyward, or Justin Upton; all of which, are premier Left Fielders; all they had to do was surpass the 189,000,000 dollar luxury tax, something that Angels' owner Arturo Moreno, was not willing to do. Now the Angels find themselves in a situation where they are at the mercy of other teams in baseball, with a depleted farm system they do not have any real options in the minor leagues, and now must rely on trades to address any additional shortcomings.
However, in order to do so now they must give up a piece of the team in order to get something back, rather than just parting with contract money. Granted, free agents can be expensive and an organization can at times put themselves in the situation where they overpay a player for underperformance. On the other hand, in the Angels situation one would expect that they would learn from both the Vernon Wells and Josh Hamilton contractual catastrophes. In comparison, all three players mentioned above are relatively young, and are in their prime, and all three of them produced impressive offensive numbers this past season and show no signs of decline.
Are the Angels satisfied with another average or subpar season? How does the organization justify raising prices on season ticket holders and the average fan this coming season? The fan base was told in previous years that the organization wants to wait for a strong free agent market, how much stronger can the market get? Yes, this team can compete as is, but can they legitimately contend? It is my current belief that this team cannot contend as it's currently constructed. If an organization doesn't have a strong farm system, which the Angels do not, then the next logical course of action is to go after a free agent that fits a glaring need; something that the Angels did not do.
It seems that the organization is going in the opposite direction; the Halos traded Efren Navarro to the Baltimore Orioles for cash consideration. Navarro was a spark plug in the Halos locker room. He was a backup first baseman but he also played some left field which would have helped the Angels' situation should Nava and/or Gentry not work out in left field.
Indecisiveness is when one is presented with various feasible options and one cannot decide which option to go with. insecurity is when one is presented with the only clear option and one does not take action up on it. It is my strong belief that the Angels are very insecure as an organization.
In the past few seasons they have failed to balance short-term success with long-term sustainability. A shortcoming that they must address in the immediate future, the Angels' fan base is getting restless, impatient, and annoyed. We have every right to be, the face of the franchise, Mike Trout has been through three General Managers since he was called to the major leagues. This shows tremendous instability as an organization.
Human nature is a fascinating a variable, it is a mental chess game within oneself; for Angels' fans when our love for baseball is brought into the equation, human nature transitions to a fascinating metamorphosis, it becomes Halo nature. It is this Halo nature that drives our passion, love, and that times critique of this team. Halo nature allows for indecisiveness, but not insecurity. This organization needs to find out what the essence of Halo nature means to them.
Who Needs a Yule Log, When One Has a Hot Stove
I am back wearing my Christmas halo, my microphone broke since my last post, and it's taken me a while to find a compatible microphone for my voice recognition software. It's good to put the metaphorical pen to paper again; or in this case microphone to word processor.
Regrettably it's been a few months so there's a lot to cover, it's the holiday season, and because time is limited; for this entry I'm just going to cover the highlights of the off-season that stood out to me. I will expand on the rest of the activity that I don't cover in this entry at a later date.
On November 12, 2015, the Angels acquired shortstop Andrelton Simmons and catcher Jose Briceno in a trade for fan favorite, Erick Aybar, promising young pitcher Sean Newcomb along with another pitcher Christopher Ellis. Yes, Simmons can be considered a young phenom, the way he flashes the baseball glove is eye-catching, definitely highlight reel material. However, I worry that his handling of the baseball bat isn't up to par. Simmons may have a longer contract then Erick Aybar, but Erick is a solid defender in his own right, he is more patient than Simmons, he is a clutch switch hitter, and is less likely to pop the ball up in a crucial situation; something that Simmons is prone to do.
The price paid for the acquisition of Simmons is a little steep for my taste, not only did we lose Erick Aybar but the Angels also lost Sean Newcomb. Newcomb is a promising young pitcher, so much in fact that Angels' fans were wondering whether he was ready to join the pitching staff at the major-league level late last season, although he was not ready, he was very close; and with the Angels' farm system being as thin as it is in my opinion the trade hurts the Angels more than it helps. While I agree that minor-league prospects don't always pan out, the Angels need Newcomb, not only because as the old saying goes "you can never have enough pitching", but also because the Angels pitching staff is on shaky ground as it is, and to count on Weaver or Wilson to carry the pitching staff is simply not realistic anymore, thus, magnifying the need for Newcomb.
The Angels are not only in trouble for what they have done, but they are also in murky waters for what they haven't done. Earlier this week, Angels' owner Arturo Moreno was quoted in the local paper stating that it was unlikely that the Angels would pursue a big name free agent outfielder. I have a few issues with that, first the big question is what is this team going to do in left field? The Angels haven't had a solid left field presence since Garret Anderson. Shall I go down the list? First, on the list is Hideki Matsui, who joined the team when he was well past his prime. Vernon Wells, big contract, little to no results. Josh Hamilton, more of the same the only difference is that the Halos are still paying for him to play for the division rival Texas Rangers. Yes I know I neglected to mention Bobby Abreu; this is due to the simple reason that I feel that unlike the players previously mentioned Bobby did contribute substantially to the Angels and shouldn't be lumped with the aforementioned group of players.
Second, the Angels need to come up with a long-term strategic plan, cross the luxury tax threshold and responsibly sign a big-name free agent like Yoenis Céspedes to plug the gaping hole in left field, or hold on to promising prospects like Newcomb and forgo players like Simmons. It's impossible to have it both ways.
The Angels complicated matters further by trading away another promising pitcher to the Washington Nationals. Trevor Gott for Yunel Escobar, who is not a very impressive third baseman defensively, he is a natural shortstop. Here again the Angels are giving up a young hard throwing right-hander, for a questionable third baseman. The Halos in my opinion would be better off re-signing David Freese to a contract in order to resolve the issue at third base.
I would stop short of saying that the Halos' hot stove is burning hot, it's more like lukewarm. However it can definitely get considerably hotter. All that needs to be done is for ownership and the front office have to decide which direction they want to go, and commit to going in that direction. For a team that has drawn 3,000,000 fans for more than a decade, the very least Angels' fans deserve is a clear commitment from ownership and the front office whenever direction they decide to go.
Merry Christmas, and happy holidays and a happy new year!
DiPoto Turns in His Halo
Originally I was going to write about the seafaring Grinch from Seattle who stole Christmas, referring to the Angels' "Christmas in June" promotion. I thought it would be fun to discuss my impressions. I was almost done writing the entry and I was deciding what pictures to include in the post, when the surprising but not unexpected news broke, "Jerry Dipoto resigns as Angels' General Manager." There it was, the news that changed the entire destination of this entry. I guess it wasn't meant to be, the sudden course correction within the Angels' organization is more relevant.
Rather than talk about my personal opinions on the inter-office dynamics of the organization and the reported tension, real or imaginary; between Jerry Dipoto and Mike Scioscia, I would like to concentrate on Jerry Dipoto's legacy and impact on the Halos. ESPN, MLB.com, MLB network, and Fox sports have talked at length about the tumultuous relationship between the Manager and General Manager, if one wants to know more about the inter office dynamics of the situation, I strongly suggest you go to one or more of the sources that I cited above.
Jerry Dipoto was brought aboard in 2011, upon his arrival, he made an immediate title wave of a splash, he signed then free agent Albert Pujols to a 10 year contract. He also ensured the future of the organization by coming to terms with Mike Trout on a six-year contract extension. He also brought aboard C. J. Wilson to bolster the Halos' pitching staff, then he traded for Zack Greinke who was eventually lost to free agency. Jerry Dipoto also traded for Andrew Heaney, who is now on the major league roster and is starting to pay dividends for the Angels.
For all of Jerry DiPoto's wheeling and dealing, the Angels never won a playoff game under his tenure. He was an aggressive general manager, who believed in the modern baseball concept of saber metrics, the volatile and conflicting mixture between saber metrics and old-school fundamental baseball philosophies, did not allow Jerry DiPoto to execute his vision for this team.
Upon the General Manager's resignation, the Angels brought back a name from the past, former General Manager Bill Stoneman, he was at the helm when the Angels won the World Series in 2002. He also was the general manager who hired Mike Scioscia; so there is familiarity there, however, he is not known as an aggressive general manager, so I don't expect the Angels to do much at the trade deadline. They could use aggressiveness out of the General Manager's office, particularly with this team, and this time of year. I'm not a proponent of proceeding into the future by reaching into the past, unless one is trying to correct a mistake, this is definitely not the case with Bill Stoneman.
Perhaps Jerry DiPoto was very strategic in his actions; he picked the proximity to the trading deadline in order to make a point. This is purely speculation on my part; however, if I am right he definitely got his point across. One thing is for sure, the Angels' organization is in disarray. It will be interesting to see how this set of circumstances affects the Halos' playoff possibilities for this season. One thing is abundantly clear however, uncertainty has descended over Anaheim.
Happy Independence Day!
Josh Hamilton Trades in His Halo for a Cowboy Hat
Well, things have come full circle for Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was traded back to the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. While I realize this entry regarding the issue is a little late, I wanted to wait until the storm passed before I made my comments.
For those who read my entry when Hamilton was acquired, I questioned the Angels' organization's ability to handle Hamilton's off field issues. I inquired as to how they would react should Hamilton have a relapse of is well documented substance abuse problem. I guess I got my answer. The Angels were unable to handle that which was a well-known possibility. Trading him back to a division rival, while being responsible for all but $15,000,000 of Hamilton's $125,000,000 contract.
Why would the Angels' organization take the risk of basically giving Hamilton back to a team where he has had success? The Angels are essentially taking the risk of a player beating them and paying him to do so. It doesn't make sense. When the trade was being negotiated, the Angels pulled all of Hamilton's merchandise from the team store even before the trade was completed. A head scratcher indeed.
Before one starts feeling sorry for Hamilton, I believe that he should be held responsible for this fiasco as well. Hamilton stated during the Rangers press conference that his support system was not as good with Angels as it was with the Rangers. According to Los Angeles times, Mike Scioscia responded to Hamilton's remarks. The Angels' longtime manager stated that it was Hamilton himself who decided to downsize his support system while in Anaheim, relying almost exclusively on his soon-to-be ex-wife Katie Hamilton, family, and close friends.
Neither side is completely responsible for the circus, both parties have responsibilities as to how the situation turned out. The Angels have been punched in the gut, but they can't say, that they were blindsided and didn't see it coming. My hope of this entire situation is that it doesn't come back and bite them in the end.
For the Rangers' fan perspective on the situation please visit "One Strike Away Twice" on the MLBlogs network. http://40yearrangerfan.mlblogs.com/2015/04/27/its-josh-its-gonna-be-something-weird/
related articles:http://angels.mlblogs.com/2012/12/13/josh-hamilton-trades-in-his-cowboy-hat-for-a-halo
Happy "Halo"days!
After a long involuntary absence, The Angels' Ace is back on the pitching mound ready to throw more fireballs. The motherboard of my laptop went out. So I have been unable to write for a couple of months now, months of agony, it's very difficult to program another computer to recognize voice recognition now that my motherboard is repaired and I am back in business!
Given that the flash player produces snow on the MLBblogs website this time of year. I decided to write a holiday themed post, I will be discussing Halo gifts received (awards) and the Halo gifts exchanged (trades) then I will discuss my letter to Santa Claus hopefully there will be gifts waiting for me under the Angels tree this year.
"This is so exciting, which gift shall I open First?"
Let me start with the obvious one, congratulations to Mike Trout for winning the 2014 American League Most Valuable Player award. After two years straight of being a runner-up for this award he finally gets it. I guess the third time is the charm.
Speaking of runner-ups congratulations to Matt Shumaker for being the American League Rookie of the Year runner-up, the committee did well in considering him. If it wasn't for his performance, I don't know what the result of this past season would have been. He saved the Angels' season, and his contribution was definitely a critical one which allowed the Halos' to claim the best record in Major League Baseball this past year.
If Garrett Richards' season had not ended early, I believe he was a strong contender for the American League Cy Young Award.
Gifts Exchanged
The Winter Meetings for the Angels was largely uneventful in comparison to years past. Although none of their transactions were headline grabbers, I do want to concentrate on one transaction in particular, more specifically the Howie Kendrick trade to the Dodgers. The truth is I've never been in love with Kendrick's bat, in fact my friend Shaun jokingly teases me saying that Kendrick is my favorite player. I've told him on numerous occasions that I simply want an upgrade at second base, especially during the postseason when Kendrick seems to leave his bat at home. However, I've always respected Kendrick's defense, the Angels now have a gaping hole at second base defensively. I honestly think that Grant Green is definitely not the long-term answer.
Another transaction that I find intriguing is the acquisition of Matt Joyce from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Kevin Jepsen the long-time reliever that was drafted by the Angels. I think Joyce can contribute immediately to the Angels' organization and make the Halos better. What does this mean for C. J. Cron? Only time will tell.
Dear Santa,
Now for the wish list, of course Max Scherzer and James Shields are at the top of the list, but it's unlikely that the Angels can make a run at either one. This team has been plagued with a history of bad contracts in recent years, another long-term contract is not what this team needs.
Part of the Christmas spirit is to be selfless, so Santa please give Josh Hamilton a hitting instructor for Christmas since he is far removed from his MVP season with the Texas Rangers.
Santa, I would like Jason Grilli, and Gordon Beckham back in an Angels' uniform. They were the motor of this team this past season, and these two players would be good for the overall competitive spirit of the club.
The ultimate wish would be a World Series trophy this year, this is the one gift that all Angels' fans can enjoy. This also would be the best way to spread holiday cheer that would last a lifetime. Happy "Halo"days!
The Angels Give the A's an Elephant Sized Sweep
The best record in baseball, 30 games over .500, a six and one home stand, and an elephant sized sweep of the Oakland Athletics; the best case scenario happened, a five-game lead in the American League West; which yesterday, turned to a 4 1/2 game lead in the American League West with the Angels being idle and Oakland winning last night.
An 18-8 record from this point on would break the franchise record for most wins in the season with 101. An 101-61 record would be nice, but does something like that really matter? Of course not, however it would be a nice feather in our collective cap. What really matters is going deep in the playoffs and possibly winning the World Series.
With 26 games left, the season is far from over and the Angels still play Oakland the last week of the season for three games at the Oakland Coliseum. The Angels need as much breathing room as they can get. A specially with the acquisition of Adam Dunn, who looks who to replace Yoenis Céspedes. The Oakland A's are not the same team without him. For the A's this trade looms big for them for all the wrong reasons, but perhaps, all the right reasons for the Angels.
It is September 2, the September call ups are over, the Halos called up 11 players which will hopefully solidify this roster. The dog days of summer are here, the division races are amazing. Hopefully when the smoke clears, the Angels will still remain on top.
There Is a Halo Around the Peak of the Baseball Mountain
Baseball is a mountain with only eight ledges, one for each division winner and two wildcards. In reality there are only seven ledges and one peak, the halo shines brightly around that peak. The Angels staked their claim August 16th to the best record in all of baseball they have been in possession of this record for the last two days, their current record is 72-50 statistically one percentage point ahead of the Oakland Athletics.
The American League West
LA Angels
72 50 .590 –
73 51 .589 –
67 56 .545 5.5
52 73 .416 21.5
48 76 .387 25.0
Coming into this season the goal of every Angels' fan was to win the division after a long four-year absence from the postseason. The biggest question mark was the pitching staff, and whether it was strong enough to sustain the grind of the season. The bullpen issues were addressed with trades, and the emergence of Garrett Richards was certainly a pleasant surprise on the other hand, the pleasant surprises have been met with disappointment with the loss of Tyler Skaggs who will miss the rest of the season and the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery, this could possibly leave the Angels with a shorthanded rotation next season.
The Angels have had struggles, but every baseball fan knows that the baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint; like every team the Angels have, and will go through peaks and valleys and at this point the Angels are in front of the marathon pack.
Most Angels' fans would be ecstatic with a postseason berth, given the drought of the last four years, but to achieve the best record in baseball is more than anyone could have imagined. It's not enough to have the best overall regular-season record, because in the end that doesn't really matter, although I must say it feels extremely good to be able to say that. In the five years of this blog has been in existence, in its various incarnations, my statistical/analytical mind hasn't stopped to enjoy the view, I must say that the view from up here is spectacular. The view from atop of the American League West is awesome, however the view from the peak of the mountain is simply breathtaking. This unexpected surprise is great!
Without a Doubt the Best Player of This Generation is Trout
Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, and now one can add Mike Trout to this impressive list. All the players listed above were game changers not only for the respective teams but for baseball as a whole. Mike Trout's resume includes: The American League Rookie of the Year, two-time American League Most Valuable Player runner-up, and three-time American League All-Star in only his third year in baseball. His newest accomplishment is most valuable player of the All-Star game. Quite an impressive career thus far for a player who is only 22 years old; given all his accolades, it is equally as impressive that his ego hasn't stockpiled concurrently with his accomplishments. Trout's attitude is refreshing.
I know I am a little late on posting my reaction regarding the All-Star break, especially given the fact that an Angels' player was involved so heavily in the festivities. However, I wanted to wait until the much rumored pending transaction would materialize; it did, Houston Street is now part of the Halos' bullpen. The acquisition of Street solidifies the bullpen, the team's glaring weakness and biggest question mark in recent years.
Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for a dog fight for the right to claim the American League West championship. This is reminiscent of the battles the Angels and A's have had in years past. These teams are not only competing in the division, but they are competing with transactions; matching each other punch for punch akin to a boxing match that neither competitor wants to lose.
Both teams are building team chemistry quite successfully. It's no coincidence that these two teams have the two best records in baseball. I truly believe the Angels have the edge however, they lead all of baseball in runs scored, they strengthened a weakness called the bullpen, with the acquisition of Houston Street. The Angels now have options whether it's Houston Street, Jason Grilli or Joe Smith they now have weapons in the bullpen. However there is one greatest advantage above all other advantages, his name is, Mike Trout.
A Perfect Sweep, Not so Perfect Team
I think the World Cup has everybody distracted, at least that's my case; but now I'm back and ready to talk about baseball again. The Angels are coming off a perfect home stand with a sweep of the Rangers and a sweep of the Twins. The Angels themselves have been far from perfect. They have lost nine games when leading in the seventh inning or later, as well as 12 blown saves this season so far.
The Angels traded Ernesto Frieri to the Pirates for Jason Grilli in order to try to address the bullpen issues. I myself wasn't ready to give up on Ernesto, yes he has been responsible for some of the blown saves this season, however, he still seem to do well if he pitched as middle reliever with less pressure he seemed to perform better. I haven't seen Jason pitch so I can't comment on him just yet. But I'm sure either way I will reflect on him when the time is appropriate.
Ernesto is no worse than Francisco Rodriguez was when he was a closer. Both men are unpredictable and both men seem to do better as middle relievers. The Halos Would have been better served to wait a little bit more for Ernesto to come around just as they did for Rodriguez a few years ago.
The Angels might not be perfect just yet, however they have been getting better with the passage of each game. They may have some flaws, but the positives cannot be overlooked. They have an identical record to the Oakland A's of 7-3 over the last 10 games, and are currently only 4 1/2 back. If they can to shore up the bullpen issues, they will be just fine.


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The below measuring chart is to help you get a better idea of our coat sizing. If you want to get the right fit make sure that all measurements are taken when your pup is standing in an upright position. The measurements on the product pages reflect the sizing of the coats, not the sizing of the individual dogs. In the case of breed specific items we made sure to use averages based on the breed, however every pup measures differently. Be sure to check the sizes carefully before placing an order, and don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions. You will find the each individual measuring chart for the coats under the product description. If your dog falls between two sizes, we recommend going with he bigger one for better coverage.
Back length
Measure your dog's back from the nape of the neck to the beginning of the tail. The nape of the neck is where the neck joins the body. Make sure your dog is standing upright before taking this measurement.
Neck circumference
Measure around the neck at its widest part. It is usually towards the nape where the neck joins the body, not necessarily where the collar is worn.
Chest circumference
Measure around the dog's chest at its widest point. Make sure your dog is standing upright before taking this measurement.
Underbelly length
Measure your dog from the nape of the neck to the end of their belly. This is how long the jacket will cover underneath.
Between the front legs
Measure the distance between the front legs, that's the width of the jacket between the legs.
Neck length
Measure your dog's neck from the nape to the beginning of the ears. This is the length of the fleece collar.


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Getting paid wouldn't be possible without the people who make it happen. National Payroll Week, which happens Sept. 3 to 7 in the U.K. this year, is a campaign that celebrates payroll professionals, highlighting the crucial role they play in the oversight and accurate, timely payment of workers. Employee happiness depends largely on the payroll professionals who keep processes smooth and efficient behind the scenes.
The campaign is also an opportunity to help workers better understand the payroll system, their compensation and benefits, and their payroll documents,, including how to make the most of their paycheques.
National Payroll Week is the perfect time to celebrate and recognize the value of your payroll professionals, and thank them for ensuring payroll runs like a well-oiled machine. It's also a great opportunity to generate awareness and education about one of the most critical areas of your business.
Here are some suggestions for celebrating NPW at your organisation.
The first step to acknowledging or celebrating any event is to spread the word. Inform your employees ahead of time that National Payroll Week is coming up. Tell them what it's about, get them excited for upcoming events, and share related links to encourage them to learn more. The more you share the message, the more people are likely to be involved and participate.
Whether you go all out with posters and balloons, or do little gestures throughout the week, these actions can make your payroll team feel appreciated. Here are a few examples from past Ceridian NPW celebrations to help plan your own:
A good point from CFODaily is to consider a mix of department-wide and individual recognition: "Thinking about how each person enhances your department and what he or she would appreciate as far as recognition can make the praise go a long way."
As mentioned above, National Payroll Week is a great time to build awareness of what the payroll team does. You can do this by creating opportunities for employees to ask your payroll pros their most pressing questions. Another suggestion, from CFO Daily News, is to focus on financial fitness. Show the value of payroll by sharing tools with employees that help them maximize their paycheques.
Recognizing your payroll employees should have a wider-reaching effect beyond just making those professionals happy. No matter their job, all employees should understand the effort needed and the importance of what the internal payroll team does for your organization. This is a great week to show your appreciation to payroll processors and all your employees who drive growth and success on a daily basis.


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Month: August 2018
Advertising With Great Hope
There are many kinds of things which allow to promote whatever that is necessary, given the relevant circumstances in relation to it. This would greatly depend on many factors which come across as concerns and need to be given every kind of consideration which it deserves.
It should be done in a form which seems to be the most suitable out of all. This would be providing everything which is required to get going at that level. Building signage is meant for this purpose where it allows the correct message to be passed on to the crowd.This might be how it is to be necessitated amidst everything else which could be formulated as a great part of it. It needs to be facilitated just as it is so that there is so much to think of in this regard. It could mean a lot of other factors of concern, with regard to it.
Shade cloth Melbourne is a different means of providing the required shelter to a place with great necessity of the same. This would allow much to happen with respect to this subject matter. It should be handled quite well within the given circumstances, leading to many more things as a result of it all.It should be able to take on a lot of factors which would come in to consideration as a part of this topic under discussion. Many of the advertising campaigns make use of the latest technology in hand, to provide everything which seem to be in line with the same. It is just like making it to last for long when there is so much to be done as a part of it.
You might be wondering how to get going in this regard when there is so much to do on behalf of it. It is surely going to need a lot of planning to be done from your part along with all of those who are involved in it. This should be an easy matter to handle as it would come with great convenience amidst everything else. This is known to provide so much more than just the basics of everything. It would provide you with what comes as an integral part of the most important criteria given in line with it. This could make it up at that level so that all of the possibilities form a connection between everything else and this would be much sought after in comparison to the rest of it. It needs that much of a consideration out of all.
Property Upgrades: Tips And Advice
Whether you are planning on renovating your home or want to change your office environment, you will have to start planning everything in advance and make a good investment instead of jumping to decisions. These changes have become quite mandatory due to different reasons and property upgrades are, therefore, vital for a construction. There are few benefits that you can gain from a simple property upgrade and those will definitely justify their costs too. For instance, you will be able to ensure quality and durability of your building through these upgrades and also, you can make them last a longer time without any issues or complications. However, a property upgrading project can become a pain in the neck if you don't plan it right. That is why this brief guide will discuss a few factors and tips that can help you get the most out of these mandatory upgrade projects.
First and foremost, you need to understand different types of tasks that are involved in a typical property upgrade. You will have to hire different professionals for different tasks and this, however, can be a bit overwhelming too. For example, you will need professionals that offer electrical contractors Fremantle as well as experts to carry out thorough inspection to figure out your property's strength factors. As you can understand, all these tasks will be vital for your project and hiring the right people will play an important role too.
Choosing a certain service provider involves a lot of different factors and you will have to spend some time looking for options too. However, you have to make sure to hire well-reputed companies and professional individuals with excellent working record instead of cheaper options if you want better results that worth your money.
Planning your expenses based on different factors will be very useful when you are planning a routine property upgrade. Most of the time, people tend to hire one company to handle all the tasks and frankly, it is not a bad idea unless you are on a tight budget. If you have a tight budget, you need to hire separate professionals and make sure to check their rates and service charges. If you are hiring industrial electrical contractors, for instance, you need to talk to them beforehand and get a quotation. This will take some time but it will definitely help you plan your project better and more efficiently.
Always focus on how important these upgrades and changes are and you will find it easier to make the right choices instead of making a series of unfortunate mistakes!