text:
Ride-Sharing Apps, Cab booking system, Cab booking marketplace, Online taxi hiring, Airport transfer services, Cab booking user-friendly apps.
The uses of mobile phones for the business purpose have had an adverse impact on the businesses. Now a day, every business is getting online to maintain its online presence, reputation and to have a hold on the market. Our expertise plan, strategies and develop the most effective mobile application with the user-friendly interface and maximum features. Scientific Web Solutions is a Cost-effective solution for all client requirements.
We, at ToXSL Technologies, expertise in developing taxi solution and successfully accomplished 40+ taxi app with various exclusive features and functionality as per our client requirements.
Key Features:
• Advance Booking: You can book advance before leaving to anywhere.
• One touch booking: Simply open the app and click on 'book'.
• Meter Rates: Drivers can set their default meter rates and get fare quotes in the app according to vehicles.(SUV, Sedan, Limousine, VIP etc.)
• Location:
- Track your location through GPRS in real time.
- or Manually edit or select your location.
- Confirm your location and tap "Request taxi".
• Map Feature:
- Track the jiCabs driver coming your way on the map.
- or Call him directly.
- See your ride en-route on the map.
• Know your driver:
-Once you book a taxi cab, you get detailed information about your driver.
• Payment options: Pay by cash or by Payment gateway
• Rating: Client helps us to serve better.
• Safer: Set a destination to calculate the fare and the arrival time while tracking drivers identity and cab info. We thoroughly screen and train each driver to ensure that only those with clear history and best skills became our partners.
• Social media integration: User can log in through the Facebook.
For more details check the document :


text:
Here is a list of most common problems with Digger Machine. If you can't find your problem – please contact us using this form.
Thank You.
What you can do right now:
- try click on "back button".
- if you still can't open the game you can check if you have an connected account to the Google Play and if you have a latest version of Google Play (Google Play download).
- try open game without internet connection.
- open Digger Machine
- go to: "Settings" – "Export Saves"
- Click "Export Saves" – but please remember to have Internet Connection
However if you have an older version of Digger Machine you can export saves using tutorial below:
- open your File Manager (in this tutorial we use – File Manager Download)
- go to: /Android/data/com.game.drillworld/
- now you should be able to see folder "files"
- compress this folder into "zip"
- send this zip folder to your account or at "email@example.com"
- You saves are saved 🙂
- clear your data using settings,
- uinstall the game
- (in Android 5 and newer) when you don't give permission for "Storage" and "Contacts"
Also if you export previously you saves then you may just go to "Settings" – "Export Saves" and click "Import Saves".
If you still have a problem please send us information at firstname.lastname@example.com
- click "power button" to "blank the screen"
- click again to display the screen – now you should be able to play without closing the game.
This issue is because of wrong Ads format – we are working on it. (and it should be fixed in version 1.8.1)
- restart your game
- click "New Game" and click "Pause" (top right button)
- click on "Tutorial is" and to dismiss tutorial you should have an icon of "red cross"
Now you can play without tutorial.
- (in Android 5 and newer) when you don't give permission for "Storage" and "Contacts"
- you don't have enough space for save (need about 3 MB per one save)
To fix this issue you should:
- give Digger Machine permission for "Storage and Contacts" – www.hongkiat.com/blog/android-app-permissions/
If you still have a problem please send us information at email@example.com
You have an other issue? Comments? Feedback? Please use this form. Thank you.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tucked away in a leafy residential suburb in Pattaya, you'll find a home workshop producing top quality coconut oil. Each batch is lovingly produced by hand, often by Sakuntip Innoi, an affable, meticulous local who started her home business more than 10 years ago.
Coconut oil boasts a wealth of health benefits including weight loss and improved immune function. When applied to the skin, it is also nourishing and fragrant. Sakuntip's range of coconut oil products is especially precious, because of the time-consuming method of cold pressed extraction, which yields a purer oil that retains most of the nutrients.
Prices are also reasonable, from THB 150 (US$4) for a 150 ml bottle to THB 650 (US$18) for a one litre bottle. All the coconut is also responsibly sourced from Pattaya itself.
H Directory
Cold-pressed Coconut Oil
Online and Pop-ups
Tel +66 87064 9231, +66 86654 1699
Enjoy a Rockin' Stay at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya with a Free Upgrade when you Book Direct!Visit Hotel Website


text:
Studies find those who eat a healthy breakfast experience longer attention spans, more efficient problem solving, increased verbal fluency, more positive attitudes, and better scholastic scores.
A good breakfast is essential for maximum efficiency of the body and mind, especially during the later morning hours.
Healthy fats are essential to a good diet.
Research shows that dwelling on and highlighting the good is beneficial for your body, mind and spirit.
How many of us today are prisoners of appetite? Amazingly, we construct our prisons ourselves.
Proper nutrition isn't just about what we eat – it's also important when we eat.
Consuming more plant foods reduces the risk of obesity as well as many chronic illnesses.
In the Garden of Eden, God gave us a plant-based diet for our enjoyment and blessing.
Making seeds a regular part of our diet has amazing health benefits.
There are many benefits from eating fruits and vegetables, and science is discovering more all the time.
Join thousands of members helping each other take small steps toward healthier living.
Sign up for our Newsletter


text:
I've an issue on my work laptop at home with the wifi all my scp loose the connection after few seconds.
I'm getting randomly the following after having being able to upload or download between 50MB and 250MB
- Code: Select all
packet_write_wait: Connection to 192.168.1.254 port 22: Broken pipe
lost connection
Same thing if I resume the transfer using rsync via ssh. It is suddenly loosing the connection and I've to relaunch it manually. pretty boring!
I've no issue with an ssh connection. It is never failing. only scp.
I've tried from another laptop which is quite old and using wifi at a low speed (< 3MB) and there is no issue. (between my work laptop and this other old laptop or between the old laptop and my home server) This issue is only with my work laptop and my home server that is connected on the box by ethernet and thus can support an 100MB bandwidth.
So I'm thinking the issue may come from the firmware of my laptop wifi controler.
Here is the detail:
- Code: Select all
# lspci -nn | grep -i w
21:02:00.0 Network controller [0280]: Intel Corporation Device [8086:24fd] (rev 78)
I'm running a debian stable (SMP Debian 4.9.110-3+deb9u6 (2018-10-08) x86_64 GNU/Linux)
It seems that I can only load the firmware iwlwifi-8265-22.ucode
- Code: Select all
# dmesg | egrep -i 'dmi:|firmware'
[ 0.000000] DMI: Dell Inc. Precision 3520/0G0G6Y, BIOS 1.9.3 03/08/2018
[ 0.052617] Spectre V2 : Enabling Restricted Speculation for firmware calls
[ 0.242574] ACPI: [Firmware Bug]: BIOS _OSI(Linux) query ignored
[ 8.881459] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-8265-26.ucode (-2)
[ 8.881549] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-8265-26.ucode failed with error -2
[ 8.881565] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-8265-25.ucode (-2)
[ 8.881688] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-8265-25.ucode failed with error -2
[ 8.881704] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-8265-24.ucode (-2)
[ 8.881793] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-8265-24.ucode failed with error -2
[ 8.881803] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: firmware: failed to load iwlwifi-8265-23.ucode (-2)
[ 8.881898] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: Direct firmware load for iwlwifi-8265-23.ucode failed with error -2
[ 8.889196] Bluetooth: hci0: Firmware revision 0.1 build 82 week 37 2016
[ 8.893722] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: firmware: direct-loading firmware iwlwifi-8265-22.ucode
[ 8.894302] iwlwifi 0000:02:00.0: loaded firmware version 22.391740.0 op_mode iwlmvm
[ 8.975115] i915 0000:00:02.0: firmware: direct-loading firmware i915/kbl_dmc_ver1_01.bin
[ 8.999572] [drm] GuC firmware load skipped
I've checked online, there is the 36 available but my kernel doesn't support it.
I don't find the information on which kernel I should build in order to be able to use this firmware.
Which would be the procedure. I suppose it is available in testing but this is my work laptop and I'd prefer to stay in stable.
What are the options?
Thanks in advance for the help,
PS: I can't find only the iwlwifi-8265-26.ucode, I suppose it wasn't stable... and anyway I guess it would be best to use the latest version available. I've read some people tried to fool the kernel by renaming the latest version in iwlwifi-8265-26.ucode bu this wouldn't work. I didn't try it so... could I?
PS2: I didn't try yet to do such scp on another network. The issue could be my internet box in the middle but as there are newest version of the firmware, I'm thinking it could be the problem. What do you think?


text:
Connecting Leaders with Opportunities and Analytics
LeadChange exists to exemplify the following core values:
We seek excellence in all endeavors of LeadChange no matter how trivial the task or grand the strategy. Excellence in client service, innovation, operations, and the way we serve customers, employees, investors, and partners.
We approach business focused on the long term; building a company that creates lasting value through honesty, respect, and under-promising to over-deliver. We seek people with intellect, drive, creativity, and business acumen, but most important, resilient character that endures through adversity - people who will never sacrifice what is best for the company, clients, and shareholders for short-term gain.
We do not "own" anything and we are merely stewards of our time, energy, possessions, and talents. LeadChange exists as an organization to reflect these talents through hard work, solutions, ideas & creativity on behalf of our clients.


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This might have been obvious for anyone who isn't me, but I had to actually look this up. The issue came up when I asked the seventh graders to bookmark the library site and realised I had no idea how to do it on the ipad. It turns out the answer was right in front of me:
1.Click on the framed arrow on the left side of the URL.:
2. Click on "Add Bookmark" (duh!). If you want to put it in a folder, click the open book icon right beside the boxed arrow:
3. Click on Edit.
4.Click on New folder.
5. Type in the name of your folder.
6. Go back to your bookmarks and drag the ones you would like in your folder. Or if you are smarter than me. Do the folder first and then when you are browsing, stick them in the folder as you add them!
And I think will probably reduce the chances of your ipad freezing up. Beth has shown me this before, but my brain being the sieve that it is, I had to look up how to do it again. It turns out that ALL my apps were open when I did this. Hmmm, that must be why my battery seems to have sprung a leak…
1. Double click the centre ipad button
2. Press on an app you would like to close.
3. All the apps will go wiggly and a minus sign will appear on each app:
4. click on the minus sign to close the app.
5. To finish, click the centre button again.
Stuff I've used the ipad for this week:
- To roam around the library and change students' library catalogue passwords (much easier than yelling for them to come to my desktop- they couldn't escape).
- Making a QR Code Scavenger Hunt for orientation! (But I will write a whole post about this when I'm done…)


text:
View Other Items in this Archive |
View All Archives | Printable Version
Deerfield Beach Community
Redevelopment Agency
Special Meeting
City Commission Chambers,
Deerfield Beach City Hall
2, 2008
19, 2008
General Items
1. Supplemental Work
Authorization for Continuing Services for Post Design/CEI Services for
the Phase II "S"
(SR-A1A) Street Improvement project with McMahon and Associates in the amount
of $27,900.
from the August 19, 2008 meeting)
Comments: See
attached back-up material.
Action: Motion
to approve Work Authorization (Resolution)
2. Scope of Services
Proposal for the Cove Shopping Center Phase I Parking Lot Improvements:
Design, Permitting,
Construction Administration. (Continued from the August 19, 2008 meeting)
Comments: The
Iler Planning Group has submitted a proposed Scope of Services to prepare the
construction documents and monitor the construction of the Phase I Cove Parking
Lot Improvements. The proposed scope has been reviewed by Mr. DaBrusco and his
staff and has been found to be acceptable.
Action: Motion
on the decision of the Board.
Board/Administration Comments


text:
I recently started going to a writer's group that meets every Wednesday since September. The class will soon end, but it's been a lot of fun. One of tonight's prompts gave us the word "blue." The word "blue" made me think of the ocean which made me think of seashells, which in turn made me think of the beach.
I'd love to be on a beach right now with the warm sand under my feet, the ocean waves, a musical relaxation…this is the poem I came up with:
I'd like to write about an ocean day
where you can stick your toes in the sand
the waves make music, the birds will cry
where you shed away the day's demands
Each ocean wave is a symphony
of blues and greens
an orchestra of ups and downs
the sand between toes
an artist's dream
a blanket of softness, surrounds
Observe the birds, the bright blue sky
the curve where the land meets the water
watch the day's demons go floating by
"You forgot your swim suit? Ohh, it doesn't matter!"
Your beach is private, your view is too
and your thoughts can go on forever and ever
There's no limit to what you can do
you can tackle any endeavor!
To own my own beach, is a glorious thought
to find myself there, is better
one is a dream, possibly bought
Reality is quite a bit wetter


text:
Jul. 23, 2018
As the pioneer of doctor-directed, at-home invisible aligner therapy, SmileDirectClub has helped more than 500,000 happy grinners smile confidently. Our customers get a straighter, brighter smile in an average of 6 months. Each customer receives a 3D smile plan that shows how their teeth will move, month by month, when wearing SmileDirectClub invisible aligners as directed. And as a member of the Club, if at the end of your plan you don't love your smile, our SmileDirectClub warranty is here to help you out.
If at the end of your smile plan, you've followed the guidelines but haven't achieved your desired smile, contact us so your duly licensed dentist or orthodontist can re-evaluate your results. You could be eligible for re-evaluation if you:
If your re-evaluation is approved, you may be eligible for additional aligners to continue your smile journey. Don't forget: Reach out to us within 30 days of completing your smile plan for the warranty to remain valid. Give us a call at 800-848-7566 or send an email to email@example.com.
Club members score free swag, partner discounts, exclusive event invites, and savings to share with friends and family. You'll also have full-time access to our dental team.
We are here to make you smile! Start your smile journey today by clicking the link below.


text:
Our Sculpt tight will feel like a second skin with a high-rise, comfort waist and 7/8 length. The black-on-black styling is sure to make these your new go-to tights!!
Product Features: Moisture wicking, breathable, 4-way stretch, security pocket in waistband, comfort waistband, 7/8 length
Color: Gray
Fabric Details: 90% Polyester, 10% Spandex
Care Instructions: Machine wash cold on delicate with like colors, hang dry for best results.
For Fit Reference: Model is wearing a size small
Model Measurements:
Height - 5' 8"
Waist - 27"
Bust - 32"
Hip - 37"


text:
Yahoo seems to be taking a page out of the NFL's playbook: the official Android app just jumped from version 1.1.4 all the way to 3.2. (It's probably been changed to match the iOS version.) But at least there's plenty of new content to justify the jump. In addition to a new Holo-style user interface sporting the revamped Yahoo logo (which still clings annoyingly to that vestigial "!"), the app has a ton of new options for content consumption.
First of all, Yahoo user now get treated to slideshows and videos embedded into stories, something that the original app was sorely lacking. The category filter (the page where you choose which news items you want to see and which to ignore) has been significantly overhauled. It's easier to select individual topics to see more of after each story - one of the screenshots of the dynamically-filled list includes "Government shutdown."
You can save stories from the Share menu on the summary page, though "save" is a bit of a misnomer - it's more like a bookmark that's tied to a Yahoo account. The app now includes optional notifications for breaking news, which should be handy for those who want to keep abreast of their topics without constantly checking the app. But watch out: a few early upgraders are reporting significantly increased battery usage with this feature enabled. All in all, the upgraded app looks like a pretty decent news service, though I really wish it had some kind of widget available.


text:
Techniques for Clock Mootr Choice and Virtuosity
The clock motor (or clock motor) is the heart of every modern-day timekeeping task, as it regulates the rotation of each hand in addition to the display screen of various other essential info. Selecting a clock motion for your timepiece is usually not a challenging endeavor as soon as you have determined the full performance or full set of attributes asked for. However there are occasional subtleties one need to be alert to, and satisfying the artistic tastes of your consumers is likewise something not to be neglected.
Developing a separate clock movement for every possible mix of functions is totally impractical for makers, so they generate the most popular and also salable subsets. This suggests that the expert clockmaker or hobbyist on the market for one (whether for a new layout or to fix a broken-down wrist watch) has to occasionally change his attribute established wish list somewhat to make the most of the overlap with what is readily available.
Normally the various other clock parts, the hands, dial, structure, and also devices, likewise play a crucial role in the finished item. And some care ought to be provided to make sure that these various other parts harmonize as a device, blending their individual shades, dimensions, and styles. Yet, like the structure of a home or a body's skeleton, the motion has to be developed first in order for everything else to operate properly.
When you develop a clock from the ground up you can pay for to think about including supplementary functions that you probably wouldn't find in an off-the-shelf watch. We are considering such points as chiming, alarms, and also pendulums. The motor controls the procedure of these additionals along with common timekeeping functions, and so be sure to add them to your wish list during the selection procedure if you wish to implement them.
Obviously, if you struggle to think up a shopping list, there is absolutely nothing avoiding you from making your clocks inning accordance with a different approach, that of investigating exactly what's readily available and also choosing what ignites your fancy. This is likewise a convenient means to discover several of the more esoteric clock activities available.
Furthermore, you can eschew building from parts as well as just get an insert (or "fit-up"). This strategy will certainly save some labor too. But also for optimum customization as well as to completely regulate your work's look, acquire the components, including the electric motor, separately, building everything from the ground up.
Many motions existing time in the basic 12-hour layout. But you can locate electric motors that sustain a 24-hour layout and even more time expansions. These typically need an unique dial (which must be adjusted or a minimum of combined to the motion) and occasionally an extra hand.
This additional hand can be utilized to present the day of the week or the day of the month, again, all according to what timing the motion outputs. As well as though all movements support revealing seconds, the used is optional and also there is a selection between discrete and also distinct ticks or a continuous as well as quiet sweep.
For showing moisture, temperature level, and/or barometric pressure, there are strictly weather movements, additionally available via the same distributor as that for temporal clock components. These retrieve up-to-date worths from sensing units and translate them right into a hands-over-dial format. Showing trend degree is additionally an alternative; in this case the movement is a crossbreed of calculations from lunar cycles, solar cycles, and local conditions.
large clock hands hobby lobby
One thing to watch out for is the quantity of torque supplied by the motion to turn the hands. Criterion motors have sufficient pizzazz to transform minute hands up to concerning 7 inches long, whereas clocks larger than 14 inches in size call for a high-torque movement. Look additionally for electric motors that support the supplementary functions of chimes or pendulums.
We have covered a lot of the problems one should know to construct classy as well as functioning watches from square one. Because of its utmost relevance, focus has been on the techniques that come in handy for clock movement option and artistry.


text:
Earlier this year, I decided to revisit an old short story of mine.
I liked the premise, but the execution was sub-standard and there were problems with continuity. It was hard. Let me tell you, editing sucks (says the girl currently stuck editing chapter 5 of a 29-chapter novel). It involves a whole new set of skills where you have to be critical without wanting to set yourself and everything you've ever written on fire. It's often tempting to stop halfway through, but you've just got to push on.
Because sometimes, it pays off.
Story completed more or less to my satisfaction, I decided on a whim to send it off to the Bridport Prize. I didn't think anything would come of it. After all, I'd sent a story a few years back that had received excellent grades during my MA in Creative Writing and it got absolutely nowhere. This was just for laughs. Just because I felt daring and like I had to do something with this piece that was finally ready.
Several months later, while waiting for news of another story that had been submitted to a charity anthology (found out this morning: didn't get in), I got the big email. I thought it was a promotion at first, then saw it was addressed to me by name. Then, to my mounting shock, saw that they'd actually included the title of my story in the body of the email.
The penny dropped: my story, The Lioness, had been shortlisted. It hadn't won, but it was in the final 100 out of 4521 stories submitted.
I cried. Hysterically. Then I told my Mum, laughed and cried some more.
But then came the next question: what should I do with it now? Should I tuck it back in a drawer to wait for the next big competition to enter? Should I send it off to a magazine, hoping they'd see in it what the Bridport judges did? It was tempting. It really was. There's very little that beats receiving that email full of good news…
… but then I looked at it a different way. What if it doesn't get anywhere in another competition? What if no magazine wants to publish it? Would it stay in my drawer forever? Wouldn't that be a little bit sad?
So I decided this: if I want to do another competition, I can write another story. But what if it's not good enough? Well, it'll be my job to come up with something good enough. That's what writers do. I can't just sit on one "good" story forever. I have to let go and move on. It's the only way to ever get better at writing.
So for your reading pleasure, here it is. It's a little dark, but I hope at least some of you will like it.
The Lioness
It was mid-afternoon when the man and the girl walked into the bar. Leaning over the narrow zinc counter, Maybelle caught a glimpse of their black pickup sitting alone at the end of the dusty parking lot. Hot air shuddered around it, blurring the license plate.
Not your typical father and daughter, Maybelle noted as she surveyed the pair. They kept a certain physical distance between them at all times. Neither seemed willing to bridge it, keeping just out of reach of the other.
The girl brushed her fingers over the worn leather of a bar stool, stuck her finger into a hole and picked at the loose stuffing. A few foam crumbs tumbled to the floor. The man opened his mouth to say something, then thought better of it. He waited for the girl to climb onto the seat and settle, her bare legs dangling, before stepping forward and placing an open hand on the counter. Maybelle's trained eye spotted a pale strip of skin near the base of his ring finger. She gave the girl a second glance. Her body belonged to a twelve-year-old, but her dark brown eyes seemed to say something more.
The Beach Boys blasted out of the radio, cheap and cheerful. It was a hundred degrees outside and even hotter in the car, despite two open windows and the desert air rushing by. Jane squirmed in her seat. A bead of sweat rolled down the back of her neck, soaking into her shirt. Beside her, her mother was tapping her long pink nails on the steering wheel in time to the beat. She had the same dark hair as Jane, only longer, and a pair of heart-shaped sunglasses kept sliding down her glistening nose.
"Almost there, honey," she said.
Jane nodded, desperate for a soda. She pressed her forehead against the window and watched the heat play tricks with the land.
"What can I get you?" Maybelle asked, hoping they wouldn't stay.
The man nodded at the old television where a baseball game was in full swing. "Got the Discovery Channel?"
Chewing loudly on her piece of gum, Maybelle leaned forward and made a show of looking down both ends the counter. Pleasing the locals was always more important. That afternoon, however, Freddy Bale was the only one there. He was slumped in the corner booth with a cap over his eyes and the fizz dying in his rum and Coke. Maybelle shrugged and fingered the remote. She stared as a couple of lions crept through long blades of grass, shoulders rolling.
"Jane?" the man pushed, his voice strained.
Jane's gaze was already pinned to the TV.
"Milk," she whispered. "Please."
A while later they saw the overturned truck by the side of the road. Three men waved, the sun turning their eyes to slits, while a fourth rested with his back against a crate. Brake marks snaked across the cracked tarmac. Jane was suddenly conscious of how wet her shirt felt against her back. An unpleasant clenching turned her stomach upside down, as if she'd only just missed falling off a cliff. Something bad had happened here. Bad things always made her feel that way.
"Looks like they need help," her mother said, craning her neck to get a better view.
Jane swallowed hard as the car slowed down.
"What if someone's dead?" she asked, her voice weak.
Behind the heart-shaped sunglasses, her mother shot her a stern look. It was the kind she usually reserved for squeamish patients.
"Exactly. We're stopping."
Jane's father looked at Maybelle, who shrugged and nodded. Bottom lip tucked behind her teeth, Jane paid them no attention. Her eyes were fixed on the lions stalking their prey, following the felines' every move.
Maybelle went to get the milk. The five rings she wore on the fingers of her right hand clinked against the cold, damp bottles in the fridge. Wiping the icy condensation on her forehead, she hovered over the box of straws. The girl was probably too old for pink. Something about her reserved expression and serious eyes excluded all notions of childishness. Whatever the reason, it wasn't natural and it made Maybelle nervous.
The pink straw went in.
After all, Maybelle reasoned that it was her job to set people right, even if only for the time it took them to finish their drink. Like when Freddy Bale and the others came in to complain about their jobs and their wives. Maybelle set the glass down in front of Jane.
"Here you go, Miss," she said, trying for a smile.
Jane muttered her thanks without moving. Maybelle studied the father, but he seemed barely even there.
"For yourself?" she asked.
"Nothing, thanks." He sighed and jerked his thumb in the direction of the pickup. "The engine's got a problem. Can you fix it?"
When she saw them up close, the first thing Jane noticed about the strangers was how calm they looked. The man on the floor had some bruises on his jaw and appeared to be nursing a broken arm. His eyes were closed, his brow furrowed. The other three shared an air of mild impatience. The middle one had a large amount of stubble on his face and a dirty checked shirt, while his two standing companions, identical twins, were tall and bald. The sun had baked their smooth heads brown.
"Jane. Wind down your window," her mother said, leaning over.
Jane did as she was told, focusing on the handle rather than the men. The middle one was approaching. Out of the corner of her eye, Jane saw him drop a cigarette butt on the ground and squash it underfoot.
"Can we help you? I'm a certified nurse," her mother smiled.
Suppressing a sigh, Maybelle nodded once. She knew the code. Demands like this were infrequent, but not unheard of. She thought of her father. He would have been over the counter with a shotgun, leaving no opportunity for apologies. It was lucky her father was dead.
Maybelle let herself out from behind the counter and headed for the door, the man's heavy footfalls close behind. The heat outside the building felt as solid as a wall. Maybelle knew better than to rush into it. Her steps were slow, grating on the dirt and stones in a steady rhythm. They walked to the truck in silence. Maybelle popped her gum and made a show of opening the hood.
"What seems to be the problem?"
The man leaned against the passenger door and looked right through her. She wondered what he was really seeing.
"You got any kids?" he asked.
Maybelle frowned and said she didn't. This wasn't the sort of chat-up line she was used to. Maybe they did things differently where he was from. She checked the contents of the hood methodically. The temperature made it difficult to touch anything, but she noticed the oil was running low. Her hands left dark smudges across her apron and jeans.
"You're not used to looking after stuff, are you?" she remarked, spitting out her gum and straightening up.
The man was staring at the ground. She'd wounded his ego, but she couldn't bring herself to apologise. He deserved it after making her believe all he wanted was a quick fuck. Men and their engines, and all that.
Maybelle thought of Jane, sitting inside the bar with only a slumbering Freddy Bale for company, and blushed. Why did she always expect the worst with people?
"You sure can help us, ma'am," the middle man grinned.
Jane watched a fleck of spit settle on his lower lip as her mother got out of the car, keys still dangling in the ignition. Jane's hands hesitated over the buckle of her seatbelt. She wouldn't be able to drive if something happened. She was too short, too young. She didn't know how. The sun hit the skin on Jane's legs as she opened the door and followed her mother.
"That your daughter?"
One of the twins stepped forward, hand outstretched. Jane wanted so hard to back away, but she also didn't want to be called rude. Relief flowed through her when her mother stepped up and took the proffered palm instead. Her hand seemed tiny inside the man's much larger one.
"My name's Monica. We're headed out West. What happened?"
The middle man pointed to his injured friend.
"That fool thought he saw a coyote and swerved. The load made our truck tip over. No one else is hurt, but we don't wanna leave him."
Jane frowned. A thought came to her in a voice that sounded like Mr Travis, the sports coach from her school.
Two can walk and one can stay.
She stared at the man on the ground, at the expression on his face. He looked bored.
"Jane and I have been through a lot, lately. I've decided to hit the road until things settle down."
The man was talking now, his pride forgotten.
"How old is she?" Maybelle asked.
He sighed. "Thirteen next week."
Maybelle tried to remember what it was like to turn thirteen. She could picture a lot of fights with her mother and the cold, scrutinising glare of her father. Sudden curfews, slack-jawed boys and the first burning sip of alcohol. The heady feeling of suddenly understanding the world like no one else could ever hope to. So much heartache. So many mistakes. Did it always have to be that way?
"How does she feel about going on the road?" Maybelle said, seeking distraction.
"Nothing. She doesn't talk much."
Raising her eyebrows, Maybelle blew out a puff of hot air. Clearly, the pickup wasn't the only thing that needed fixing. She'd never met a girl that age without an opinion about everything. This guy was clueless.
"Go get yourself a drink while I change the oil. Please."
The man hesitated, then nodded. He seemed relieved to let her take control of the situation. He went back to the bar as Maybelle headed for the shed.
The injured man's face was dripping.
It was dripping so heavily in fact that the fresh bruises seemed to be sliding down his jaw. He lifted his good arm to wipe the moisture off, but caught Jane's eye at the last moment and paused. He frowned at her, but she kept on staring. The man put his arm down and looked away. A swollen drop of sweat left his hairline and ran straight through the middle of the biggest bruise. A bleeding line of blue disappeared into the creases of his neck. Jane reached for her mother's arm and tugged.
"You should have left him in the truck," Monica was saying. "He's going to get sunstroke."
"We thought no one would stop, if they couldn't see the damage," the middle man replied.
Jane tugged again, harder.
"Fair point. What, honey?"
"Can I talk to you in the car?" Jane asked.
Behind her heart-shaped glasses, Monica frowned. "These gentlemen need my help. Can't it wait?"
Jane heard that no-nonsense tone again and realised she wouldn't get another chance.
"That man over there," she said, pointing.
"That's Jesse," one of the twins offered with a strained smile.
His brother grunted and turned to the injured man. "The lady's right," he barked. "Go sit in the truck."
Keeping his back to them, Jesse shuffled to his feet.
"What about him?" Monica asked. She was staring at the arm that was supposed to be broken. Jane detected a sliver of doubt and latched onto it.
"I think he's faking," she whispered as quietly as she could.
Once she was done with the oil, Maybelle went back inside to find father and daughter sitting at opposite ends of the counter. Freddy Bale hadn't moved from the corner and Jane was still enthralled by the show. Her father had a glass of water in front of him.
"I meant beer or something," Maybelle said.
The man's passive mood unnerved her. There was something there she couldn't touch. Maybelle didn't like things she couldn't see or touch. Ghosts, for example, or the desert winds that blew dust into her eyes.
"I don't drink anymore," the man said.
Maybelle nodded. Was that why the girl's mother had left? Perhaps he used to be violent. Maybelle stared at the lines on his brow and the two-day stubble on his cheek. The muscles underneath his shirt seemed weak and unused. He'd had the fight knocked out of him some time ago. Something else then, perhaps… but why should she care so much about strangers?
Jane's mouth fell open in a small gasp. Both adults turned their heads towards her, then followed her gaze to the screen. One of the lions leapt out from the long grass, limbs pounding the ground, chasing after a startled gazelle. The prey's panic was contagious. Maybelle felt her painted nails scratch the zinc counter as they all watched the race, Jane's eyes widening with every passing second. It was all a blur of brown and blue until the second lion leapt in from the left and slammed its body into the gazelle's fragile frame. The animals toppled over, dirt flying everywhere.
"You've got yourself one smart-ass daughter there, Monica," the middle man said with a grinding laugh.
Jane's hand flew to her mouth as he walked towards them. Behind him, Jesse had stopped, his bad arm swinging free. There didn't seem anything the matter with it at all. Jane felt her mother's fingers dig into her shoulder, but found she didn't mind that kind of pain. She thought she saw a different kind playing around in the middle man's eyes. She didn't like the look of it one little bit. Behind him, the twins drew closer.
"I see you gentlemen will be fine without us," said Monica, trying to sound firm. "Come, honey. We're leaving."
Jane could hear cracks forming in her mother's voice. She'd never seen Monica this nervous before.
"I wonder, is Jane any good at puzzles?" the middle man remarked to his friends.
He stopped a foot away from the women and leered at them. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another cigarette and stuck it between his lips.
"Jesse!" he barked.
Jesse retrieved a lighter from the inside of his jacket and brought it over. Silently, he lit the middle man's cigarette and stepped back a pace. He kicked at the desert floor with his dirty shoe. Jane kept looking at him over her shoulder as her mother pulled her back towards the car. He seemed upset about something, like he didn't really want to be there.
The middle man's voice grated against their backs. "I wouldn't hurry so much if I were you."
Jane was tired of the way he spoke. She didn't even glance at him. It was Jesse that fascinated her. She didn't often see adults wear their emotions so plainly. His expression had worsened. There was pain in the hard set of his lips. It was what he should have looked like in the first place, with a broken arm and a battered face, Jane realized. Hurt, not bored.
"I want to go home," she whispered.
They were almost at the car when they heard a clicking sound behind them. Jane's mother turned her head to check on the middle man. Jane heard a gasp and followed the arrow of her mother's gaze.
The perfectly round mouth of the middle man's gun made a dirty spot of darkness in the midday heat.
There was blood. Maybelle saw blood all the time, smeared on the faces of brawling patrons and the soft cotton panty liners she threw away each month. Still, she had to look away.
Searching for something to do, she focused on Jane instead. The girl's eyes never wavered, drinking it all in like a multilayered cocktail.
Colourful. Intoxicating. Deadly.
It reminded Maybelle of the time she'd been watching a movie with her parents and the characters on screen had started having sex. She couldn't have been much older than Jane. She could still feel the heat radiating off her cheeks as her mother made nervous, offhand comments about what she was going to make for dinner later, followed by the awkward silence when her father found the remote and turned the TV off, mid-action.
Maybelle leaned towards the man. He too had averted his eyes.
"Has she always liked that kind of stuff?" she asked.
More importantly, did he notice the way Jane brought her teeth down on the straw, chewing it fiercely while leaving her drink intact? It made Maybelle wanted to snatch the piece of dented pink plastic away and bury it far out in the desert soil.
Jane's father rubbed the spot on his ring finger. "No," he said.
The stuffy air and half-answers were getting to Maybelle. Thinking she'd have a drink, because why the hell not, she reached under the counter for a bottle of Bud. Her hand met only empty space. She sighed.
"Wanna help me carry some beer?" she asked the father. "I could use a hand."
She led him out across the yard and into the storeroom, where she sat down on a crate and stretched her legs. The bulb had blown out months ago, but she knew her way around so well she hadn't replaced it. Her own father would have been proud. Maybelle liked the storeroom that way, dark and silent and safe. Especially now.
The man standing next to her, veiled in half-darkness and confusion, was nothing but a man, Maybelle decided. She could look at him without having to see every last line on his face. Here, right now, he didn't have a wife, didn't have a daughter. Never had.
She didn't normally do this kind of thing. Not like that, at least.
Maybelle smiled.
"Come here," she said.
There was silence in the darkness and then he moved in close.
The word was clear and round too, just like the gun.
Just like the wound, Jane imagined, that a bullet might make when passing through human flesh. No matter how much she wished it wouldn't, the picture froze in her mind and stayed there. Suddenly, there were bullet wounds everywhere, on the mean-looking hands of the leering middle man and the place where the fake bruise had dripped off Jessie's face. On her mother's soft, tanned arms and between her sweat-covered breasts. Right on top of Jane's belly button. Giant bursting sunspots with a blinding pain behind every single one.
"No," Jane whispered, just an echo.
The middle man didn't hear.
"I'm afraid you can't decide, today, Monica. It's not up to you," he said.
Jane closed her eyes. She felt her mother inch towards her. A hand rested on the damp skin at the back of Jane's neck. Despite the heat, her mother's fingers were turning cold. Jane squirmed. It was distracting. She couldn't think.
"I like your daughter, Monica," said the middle man. "I like her so much I'm going to make a deal with her."
Jane wanted to shake her head. Was it something she could refuse? She turned and hid her face against her mother's arm. Somewhere, in the distance, she heard a voice. She heard words. Six simple, meaningless words.
"I'm going to let her choose."
Jane heard them loud and clear, but still they didn't make any sense.
They kissed and stumbled, a black canvas of wet on wet. Maybelle heard a couple of bottles shatter as they felt around for each other's body. Shards of glass crunched under the soles of her shoes and the heavy smell of cheap alcohol wafted through the air, enough to fill her with the illusion of intoxication. It wasn't a particularly good kiss, but it was real.
And then he broke it.
"Her mother's gone," he said.
Maybelle straightened, suddenly wishing she still smoked. She considered asking the man for a cigarette, but there were no notes of tobacco on his breath. What a waste.
"I figured," she mumbled.
The man sighed. "They can't explain it to me."
Bending over, Maybelle skimmed the floor with the tips of her fingers. There was a lot of broken glass. Her mouth turned sour. She would have to get that bulb fixed and let some light in. The prospect bothered her almost as much as the abrupt end to their kissing. There might be others again, from time to time, but she would never be able to pretend. No wives. No daughters. Just men.
"They?" she asked, latching onto something, anything.
There was a creak. A blade of daylight pierced the storeroom. Maybelle blinked. Jane's father had found his way to the door. He looked outside, towards the bar, then shut the door again.
"The cops. The doctors. The school shrink. No one can find me an answer."
Maybelle stopped her rummaging, back still bent. She hadn't heard any more noises coming from the bar, but that didn't mean anything. Most animals ate in silence.
Life. Jane thought about life.
With the sun shining in her eyes and the taste of dust in her mouth, she thought of what it felt like to hold hands with someone and run through heavy rain. Feet skidding on metal grids. Clean drops rolling down dark hair, soaking it through. Towels. Hot cocoa. Marshmallows, if Dad remembered to get some from the store.
Dad. Dad was life.
"Please," she whispered.
That word again. It seemed to Jane like she was being followed by that one small sound, so definite and so unpleasant. It would be nice never to have to say it again and never to hear it said. It would be better not to have to think or choose. The middle man, whose stubbly face she saw but couldn't recognise, was asking her to choose.
"Jane," her mother said.
It was so simple and in this new, horrifying world, simplicity was heaven.
She couldn't turn away. She looked straight at those heart-shaped glasses, twin shapes far prettier than the ones standing next to her, leering and waiting. Behind the dark lenses, Jane felt the presence of light. Soothing touches on a sweating forehead. A sharp word, pale eyes gazing into the distance. She let the years fall away from her mother until there was only Monica. The woman her father had fallen in love with. The woman who'd learned to process pain, through watching others suffer and die at the hospital on a daily basis. But could she process this?
Me, screamed a voice inside Jane's head. Me.
She'd been taught the value of sacrifice, like all good kids. But she'd also been taught to think things through. To sift through problems in a logical way, in order to reach a logical conclusion. Would her mother be able to live with this?
"Come on kid," the middle man said. "We haven't got all day. Who's it going to be then? You or her?"
Two can walk and one can stay. One can stay and one must die.
Me, she thought.
It has to be me…
"I waited all night before calling someone," Jane's father said. "I thought they'd stopped at a motel somewhere, because Monica was tired from driving."
"It wasn't your fault," Maybelle said without thinking.
Why did people always say that? It might have been his fault, for all she knew. He should have been with them, instead of waiting at home. Picking up an unbroken bottle, she pressed it against her brow.
"It was some trucker who picked up Jane," he explained. "The car turned up in Albuquerque two weeks later, torched almost beyond recognition. They never found her body."
Maybelle shuddered. She'd grown tired of the dark. It made it all too easy to picture the long desert road and the blood on the ground. Jane's father had described the blood several times, as though it held some key, some secret message. Maybelle saw only a tiny stain on the parched ground. It was the only thing the trucker had found, beside the overturned van… and Jane, of course. Twelve-year-old Jane, huddled in the small patch of shade alongside the van.
"She really saw it all?" Maybelle heard herself ask.
"Yeah," the father said. "That's how I know not to hope. Monica's gone."
"But won't Jane tell anyone what happened?"
The door opened again, blinding her. The man's silhouette moved out into the light.
"No," he said and left it at that.
Noise from the TV reached Maybelle's ears as she crossed the yard. Baseball. When she popped her head inside, she saw Freddy Bale sitting at the bar. He was gesturing at the screen and talking to Jane. The girl was staring straight ahead, as if he didn't even exist. As if she wished she didn't exist. Freddy didn't seem to care.
Dropping a couple of bills on the counter, Jane's father walked over to her. "Time to go, Jane," he said.
It cost him all his resolve and energy to reach out across the divide and place his hand on the back of her neck. Jane's eyes widened and a tremor shook her body. She started to pull away, but caught Maybelle's gaze instead. They stared at each other for a second, lost for words.
Then Jane remembered herself. "Thanks for the milk," she said with a faint smile.
The glass was still full, white and tall and heavy, read to turn sour in the afternoon heat. The straw hung at half mast, almost chewed to a pulp.
"You're welcome," Maybelle muttered.
Long after they'd left, Maybelle thought about the creature with the dark brown eyes. She thought about it as she cleaned the glasses, then again when she locked up for the night. It stayed with her when she crossed the short stretch of cooling desert road and fumbled for the keys to her parents' old house.
Because in the midst of Jane's stare, Maybelle had spotted it. Hidden in those dark irises, tucked away just out of sight. Breath rumbling and shoulders rolling. Biding her time. Waiting.
A lioness.
© Zoe Perrenoud


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Managing people can be a rewarding but also challenging experience. This course explores ways in which to manage employees fairly.
Often, as a manager, you find yourself in a situation where you have to manage not just the situation but also the emotional input of the people involved. Managed well, these moments can have a positive outcome. But managed poorly or ignored they can be disastrous for staff morale and effectiveness. In this interactive course we look at:
- Recognising the warning signs of challenging scenarios
- Understanding others' perceptions and expectations
- Reacting in an appropriate way
- Techniques for defusing arguments
- Keeping calm and confident
- Giving positive criticism and getting feedback
Do I have to book using Eventbrite?
No. You can simply contact us at email@example.com with your name, organisation, billing address and a note of any access issues. We will issue an invoice in advance of your attendance.
What refreshments are served at the training?
Two free rounds of tea, coffee and biscuits are served on arrival and at mid-morning. A sandwich and wraps lunch is served as part of the day.
Is there disabled access?
The venue is fully accessible. There is a flight of stairs at the front of the building, however, so wheelchair access is at the rear. A Civicos staff member can be on hand to assist, as the entry point is not obvious. Please let us know in advance of any access requirements.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
Please refer to the Google info here
What can/can't I bring to the event?
No need to bring equipment or laptop unless we specifically ask in the training descriptor. Pen and paper may be handy for notes.
Is my registration/ticket transferrable?
If you want to transfer to another training course, please contact us with five or more days' notice at firstname.lastname@example.com
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
No need
What is the refund policy?
Civicos Training requires five working days' notice of cancellation. We will always attempt to place you on a later version of the same course, or transfer your booking to another course at no extra cost. However, if you cancel with less than the required notice, we do reserve the right to charge for the full cost of the course


text: Losing data in MindJet for iPad When I come back to my map after doing something else I've lost data. It is not saving correctly. I have just experienced this today and ... Ian Pilborough, 7 years ago Last reply: Andy Markham, 7 years ago 2 2 me toos 13 13 replies Problem Acknowledged


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Mines and Money Asia is the region's largest mining investment forum, bringing together investors and miners to Hong Kong from 31 March – 1 April 2020, for two days of networking, learning, and deal-making.
This year we're taking Mines and Money to the investors, taking place at the luxury Conrad Hong Kong, the self-contained nature of the venue will allow you to maximise your networking and conversations from breakfast, right through to evening drinks. See all networking opportunities https://asia.minesandmoney.com/networking/
You'll find conversations and new opportunities waiting for you at every turn, with a showcase of more than 100 mining projects from around the globe and across the commodity spectrum. See who's exhibiting https://asia.minesandmoney.com/exhibitors/
Mines and Money Asia is the only place to gain access to more than 500 leading investors. Whether you're looking for private equity, or private investors; our bespoke AI-driven matchmaking platform pre-qualifies your investment needs, so your pre-arranged meetings deliver and drive business outcomes.
Running alongside your extensive networking schedule you'll hear from over 100 leading mining, investment and finance experts with a two-day conference program. This year, sessions will explore what miners and investors can expect from the commodity outlook in 2020, a look at how mining companies can work with Chinese investors, and discussions about how miners can speed up the process of taking a mine from exploration, to development to production and start delivering bottom-line profits sooner. View the program here https://asia.minesandmoney.com/download-program/
Investors and miners attend Mines and Money Asia and leave with new connections, deals, and business opportunities.
Claim your complimentary investor pass or receive 10% off with the discount code MH2060EL Click here to register https://asia.minesandmoney.com/register/
View previous campaigns.


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*We require a credit card to reserve your pick-up.
Your credit card will be charged the service amount at the time of your reservation.
And a $15.00 charge for any additional wait time which occurred
after the original scheduled pick up time. Which will be charged in quarter hour charges until party meets driver to be driven.
Cancellations after a service that has been booked i e a special event meaning new years eve, super bowl, opening day, concert events.
And after a team has been dispatched and that are in route for a scheduled
pick up will be charged a service fee of $75.00
Discounts available for Military, Veteran, Reservist personnel, Law Enforcement Personnel, Fire Fighters & City Officials
(With Valid I.D. only)


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If you don't want to use an S3 Endpoint to access an S3 bucket, you can access it using the internet gateway. For example, you might do this
- Ensure that the access permissions for the S3 bucket permit access from your cloud SDDC from the internet.
See Managing Access Permissions to Your Amazon S3 Resources for more information.
- Enable access to S3 through the internet gateway.
By default, S3 access goes through the S3 endpoint of your connected Amazon VPC. You must enable access to S3 over the internet before you can use it.
- Log in to the VMC Console at https://vmc.vmware.com.
- View Details
- Networking & Security
- Click Connected Amazon VPCs, and then click Disable next to S3 Endpoint.
- From the VMC Console, create a compute gateway firewall rule to allow https access to the internet.
- Under Compute Gateway, click Firewall Rules.
- Add a compute gateway firewall rule with the following parameters.
Option Description Source The CIDR block for the logical network that the VM in your SDDC is connected to. Destination Any Service Select HTTPS.
VMs in your SDDC can now access files on the S3 bucket using their https paths.


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studio blog
in with the best
The Designers Institute's annual awards finalists have been announced and our work is again well represented among the finalists, with 13 entries up for awards. This year, we've been recognised for our work in graphic design arts, identity development, visual communications and even exhibition spaces and apps. Our clients vary from arts organisations to building suppliers, physiotherapists and furniture retailers. We're celebrating another year of doing the very best work for our clients – be they big or small, new or old. The Best Awards winners will be announced on October 11 at Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre.


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Cherokee Blog
Posts tagged with 'races'
Discover Kituwah Mound, Cherokee Mother Town, at Two Upcoming Run/Walk EventsDate: 4.18.2017
Seven miles outside of downtown Cherokee is Kituwah, the original Cherokee settlement, also known as the "Cherokee Mother Town." Kituwah is considered by all three of the federally recognized Cherokee tribes as the place of origin for the Cherokee people. Archeologists date the site back to nearly 10,000 years ago. Kituwah Mound was the center of the village, according to Cherokee legend. Originally, the mound was 15 to 20 feet tall, and one of the places of the "eternal flame." Experience it for yourself at two upcoming run/walk events: the Mother's Day 5K and the Turkey Trot.Read More


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story. . . .
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
When we came to preschool today we had a couple of St. Patrick's Day books sitting on my chair. We noticed that a couple of our toys had been moved around and there was green glitter everywhere. We read our books and then we found something special at the end of our
story. . . .
It was a clue that the little leprechauns had left us!!
We followed all of the Shamrock clues that led us all over the house.................and finally!!! We found the treasure! Mr. Leprechaun left us a pot of treats.
Ava brought a really cute St. Patrick's Day treat for us to eat. A licorice rainbow with a marshmallow cloud and gold candy at the end!!
We played games like Skittle Bingo and Count the Shamrocks and we practiced finding the letter S on lots of Shamrocks. We had a really fun day!
March 2018


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MS-RT Ford Transit Connect review: van meets hot hatch
I don't remember the last small Ford van I drove with a great deal of fondness. It was around the turn of the millennium, and the van – a white Ford Escort – must have been four, maybe five years old.
It was a rental van, so the years hadn't been kind to it. Forget 'one careful owner', this thing had endured a lifetime at the hands of wreckless renters with as much mechanical sympathy as Ken or Ryu when faced with a Lexus LS400.
Not that a pair of streetfighters would ever mistake an Escort van for a Lexus. Besides, this battered Ford had taken more punches than Kristian Laight and more kicks than an expectant mum. I suspect it wasn't long for this world.
Built in Spain, enhanced in Wales
A rubbish Escort van isn't the best introduction to the MS-RT Transit Connect, but it was my single point of reference as I ventured into Wales to the firm's certified facility located in an old British Nylon Spinners factory on the outskirts of Pontypool.
This is where standard Ford Transit vans and the smaller Transit Connect arrive to allow the Welsh wizards to weave some motorport magic. The vans enter as workhorses, but leave as thoroughbreds. Or something.
The Ford Transit Connect is the latest van to go under the MS-RT knife, as the company seeks to build on the success of the hugely popular MS-RT Transit Custom. The formula is the same, but the Connect is aimed at a different clientele. Think mobile valeters, mechanics and posh couriers.
But equally, you could see the MS-RT Transit Connect jostling for position outside a surfer's shack in Cornwall or at the foot of a mountain bike trail in the Lake District. Because lifestyle, innit.
There's an increasingly thin line between Ford's cars and its range of light commercial vehicles. Assuming you can live with having just three seats, a Transit Connect 200 L1 – the version used for the MS-RT makeover – could make for an extremely practical and efficient daily-driver.
'What will the neighbours think?', might be a question you're pondering. We can't have the yummy mummies of Costa and dashing dads of Waitrose thinking we've taken up labouring for a living, dahr-ling.
Nonsense. These things are in high demand, to the extent that some chancers are producing knock-off kits and dressing them up as authentic MS-RT items. Take it from me, they're not the real thing. It takes 75 to 78 hours for each Transit Connect to pass through the various rooms of a famous old building that once posted the largest factory floor in Europe.
Plastic, fantastic
Having failed to source a reliable supplier in Eastern Europe, the guys at MS-RT took it upon themselves to pioneer the production of injected-moulded plastic used to create the exterior body styling.
The front bumper, grilles, front diffuser, side skirts, rear diffuser and spoiler are all created in-house before being hand-finished, painted and installed by a small but dedicated team. Crucially, they're built to withstand the same level of abuse as a standard Ford van and are designed for ease of removal at a Ford dealer.
The result is something that looks fresh out of the Ford factory. It's little wonder, then, that Ford is happy to list the MS-RT option in its brochure, while orders have to be placed via one of a select number of official Ford Transit centres.
Still unconvinced? Maybe the fact that MS-RT is the first European firm to achieve Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) status will change your mind. Having seen the process for myself, I can assure you these vans bear close scrutiny. It's a proper job, as they might say in my part of the world.
In addition to the body makeover, the Transit Connect gets a quad stainless steel sports exhaust system, 18-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels, Michelin tyres and MS-RT badges. Bronze alloys are available if you're brave enough.
On the inside, the steering wheel is removed to be refinished, while the seats are wrapped in hand-crafted suede and nappa leather. It's like having a Transit Connect Vignale without the concierge. Or the extravagant price tag.
It's £23,995 plus VAT, in case you were wondering, which is around £5,000 extra on top of the standard Transit Connect Limited. Not bad, especially considering the time and money spent designing, building and installing the bespoke parts.
There aren't many options, but you can order a Maxhaust exhaust system, black exhaust tips and a full carbon steering wheel. You can also go a bit lairy with the racing decals, if you like that kind of thing. Personally, I think less is more.
Express delivery?
"Cor, mister, I bet that goes really fast," might be a common question you'll be asked as you fill up with diesel or unload your garden rubbish at the tip. It'll top 100mph, so it's plenty quick enough, but MS-RT hasn't touched the engine.
Which means it's powered by the same Euro 6.2 1.5-litre EcoBlue diesel engine producing 120hp and 199lb ft of torque. A six-speed manual comes as standard, but you can order an eight-speed automatic for a touch more torque. You can expect to achieve around 55mpg if you ain't misbehavin'.
It all feels very car-like. Every MS-RT van is based on the Limited trim level with a few optional extras, so aside from the bulkhead behind the seat and the slightly iffy acoustics in the cabin, it feels every inch a Ford car.
There's a heated driver's seat, air conditioning, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, reversing camera, Ford Sync 3 with voice control, heated windscreen and LED loadspace lighting. You also get bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. This van wants for nothing.
The car-like vibes continue once you're on the move, with the motorsport-enhanced Transit Connect dealing with the rutted roads of Wales with aplomb. There's very little in the way of wind and road noise, while the six-speed gearbox is a delight to use. It's genuinely good fun to drive.
Cooler than a crossover?
There's something mildly amusing about pushing a bright red van to its limits on some of the best roads in Wales. Insert your own Postman Pat gag here.
I'm not saying it turns in like a Fiesta ST, but it feels like a fast Ford, and that's high praise. The steering is nicely weighted, the gear stick is well positioned for quick changes, and the low- to mid-range torque makes overtaking a doddle.
Everything in context – this remains a diesel van with a 602kg payload and a focus on delivering stuff – but it has the potential to put a smile on your face at the end of a long working day. And that's as much a testament to Ford's engineers as it is to the team at MS-RT.
It feels a bit naughty, slightly unhinged and maybe a little anti-establishment. Stick two fingers up at convention and do your own thing.
Cooler than a crossover, more space than an estate car and – in my opinion – better resolved than the Transit Custom, it has banished my memories of that tired Escort once and for all. I'm not sure I'll ever buy one, but I'll give a knowing nod to anyone who does.


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- airdatAsked on December 19, 2016 at 08:58 AM
Is it possible to make the heading of a matrix 'float' so they are always visible to the user? I have a long matrix and want to be able to fix the headings so they are always visible.
I have tried to use position: fixed; but this seems to group all three headings together.
Many thanks in advance.
- JotForm SupportemilyAnswered on December 19, 2016 at 09:20 AM
Thank you for contacting us.
I cloned your form with ID: 63532463376964 into my account and tested on my side.
By matrix heading, do you mean the Question Text of the Matrix or yes, no, n/a columns?
You can alter, edit the Question Test as shown in the following.
1. Click on Edit Properties of the Matrix Field.
2. Type the instruction to the Question Text field.
If this is not the case, you are referring to yes, no, n/a columns, could you clearly describe your problem with screenshots?
I can see the labels on the top of the matrix in both the URL you have provided and in the test submission I have sent to the form I cloned. Could you clarify the issue?
Waiting for your response.
Thank you.
- airdatAnswered on December 19, 2016 at 09:30 AM
My aim was to get the column heading Yes, No and N/A to stay in a fixed location so that when you scroll down the page the user can see which columns they refer to.
I tried position: fixed; but all three column heading seem to group together under one column but this is what I want to achieve. The column heading is always visible when you scroll down the page.
Screenshot below
- JotForm SupportemilyAnswered on December 19, 2016 at 09:42 AM
Thank you for your reply.
Unfortunately, we do not offer that feature. In Matrix fields, the columns and rows are fixed.
If you have further questions, please let us know.
- JotForm SupportemilyAnswered on December 20, 2016 at 03:05 AM
Hi again,
I apologize for the misinformation. I consulted one of our developers and came up with a solution to your problem. To fix your issue kindly inject the custom CSS codes below to your form.
table.form-matrix-table tbody .form-matrix-values {
width: 40px !important;
margin-left: 98px;
margin-left: 49px;
Here is the user guide on injecting custom CSS codes.
This should fix your issue. However, since you cannot put any restrictions to the matrix column headers, they can be shown outside of the matrix field.
Thank you for your understanding.


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CMS: Premiums Will Rise for 11M Small Business Workers Under ACA
New Affordable Care Act regulations could raise premiums for as many as 11 million small business employees but lower them for six million others, according to a report from the CMS Office of the Actuary, AP/Modern Healthcare reports (AP/Modern Healthcare, 2/24).
Under the ACA, health insurers must limit premium costs for older adults to no more than three times the cost of premiums for younger people (California Health Line, 3/18/13). As a result, small companies with generally younger employees will see premiums rise, while small businesses with generally older workers will see premiums decrease (AP/Modern Healthcare, 2/24).
Overall, the ACA will increase premiums for about 65% of small businesses, while about 35% of small companies will see declines in premiums.
'Large Degree of Uncertainty'
According to the report, there is "a rather large degree of uncertainty" about the estimated effect on premiums. The report stated, "The impact could vary significantly depending on the mix of firms that decide to offer health insurance coverage." The report also noted that businesses' decisions on whether to provide coverage for their workers will be based on a variety of issues beyond factors examined in the analysis.
In addition, the report found that two other provisions of the ACA -- guaranteed issue for people regardless of pre-existing conditions and guaranteed coverage renewal -- will not affect premiums.
ACA's Impact on Businesses' Bottom Lines Already Evident
In related news, the ACA's effect on businesses already is evident, as more than 80 public companies have said the ACA either is currently affecting or is expected to affect their earnings, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of earnings-call transcripts.
According to the Journal, the bottom-line effects the ACA will have on businesses are evolving as changes are made to the law, such as the Obama administration's recent decision to again delay the employer mandate.
Still, trends of the ACA's effect on businesses, particularly earnings, are emerging, such as:
- Media and advertising companies and staffing and outsourcing firms are seeing revenue gains;
- Insurers, which are heavily investing in both technology and staff, are experiencing financial losses ahead of what they anticipate to be gains; and
- Large employers are spending more on health coverage for full-time employees or to train new, part-time workers who will not necessarily qualify for employer-sponsored coverage under the law (Knox, Wall Street Journal, 2/24).


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As mentioned earlier, the Visitors' Guide to the 1875 Yorkshire Exhibition states that, while Vice-Consul in Cyprus, T.B. Sandwith relieved the hardship of local inhabitants by paying for the products of their excavations.
"A famine had taken place in the island at that time, and Mr Sandwith, knowing that there were ancient graves in various parts of the island, set the people to excavate them… The sale of many of these articles relieved the starving people" (p.10).
On the face of it, this seems rather unlikely. However, I've come across further sources that add weight to the idea that Sandwith's excavations were motivated, at least in part, by a desire to help local Cypriots. As noted in a previous post, the Cypriot oenochoe bought by Mr Joseph Hall came with the following provenance:
"The digging has been under the charge of Mr Sandwith our Vice Consul, brother to the late Dr Sandwith of Kars celebrity, and the pottery sent to England to be sold for the relief of the inhabitants, who were suffering from famine."
(Letter to Mr Joseph Hall, © Leeds Museums and Galleries)
Perhaps this is no more than a repetition of the story circulating at the Yorkshire Exhibition. More weight can be given to information provided by Mr John Holmes (1815-1894), a notable Leeds collector who was acquainted with the Sandwith family. He provided a brief biographical note of Dr Humphrey Sandwith, T.B. Sandwith's brother, for the 1889 volume of Old Yorkshire, a multi-volume compendiary of notable Yorkshire places, events and people. In this he says:
"I made his [i.e. Humphrey Sandwith's] personal acquaintance in 1873-4. It begun [sic] in the old pots, sent from Cyprus by his brother, T.B. Sandwith (then Consul), for sale, to relieve the Cyprians, who were dying of famine from a three years' drought and locusts. I purchased from a shop window in Sheffield certain of the very curious pottery, of at least over 2,000 years old, became acquainted with and was visited by the Rev. Henry Sandwith, of Todwick, and was induced to visit Humphrey at the Old Manor House at Wimbledon, 1874 – presumably because I had, in 1871, sold so many vases, etc., at such prices as, among others, to enable the Consul to do much good, as I realized myself in Larnaca, 1873." (Old Yorkshire series II volume 1 (1889), ed. W. Smith)
This account gives a tantalizing glimpse of the dispersal of the Sandwith collection in Yorkshire in the 1870s. What was the shop in Sheffield, and who else bought the Cypriot artefacts? Eight Cypriot pieces in the Leeds City Museum are from John Holmes' collection, and it is at least possible that some of these were originally shipped to England by Sandwith.
There is further testimony from even closer to home. The Leeds City Museum archive includes a couple of hand-written letters from the Reverend Henry Sandwith, the third of the Sandwith brothers, who seems to have been involved in the sale of his brother's collection. Dated only 'Sep 10', one letter to an unknown recipient begins as follows:
"Will you kindly let me know how many pieces of pottery remain unsold and the prices of each. I will then consult with Mr Holmes whether any reduction in the prices of them should be made. Personally I should feel strongly disposed to favour a considerable reduction if the purpose be as you suspect; but I have a great object in view; the relief of famine which must also guide my decision."
Again, this raises intriguing questions about the 'purpose' alluded to; but it also confirms a relationship between Henry Sandwith and John Holmes, and explicitly links the sale of the Sandwith ceramics with famine relief.
The hardship caused by locusts and resultant famine in Cyprus in the later 19th century is not in doubt. The evidence above strongly suggests that T.B. Sandwith took steps to ensure that local Cypriots benefited from the appetite for antiquities in the West, and that at least some of the profits from sales of pottery went to those who excavated them.


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Video Shows How You Can See Proof Of Evolution On Your Own Body
Ever wondered why humans have tailbones or why we get goosebumps when we're cold?
This video goes a long way to explaining things and basically it's all down to evolution, reports Elite Daily.
This fascinating video posted by Vox shows how we can all see the marks of our own evolution through 'vestigial characteristics' – features that have been 'left over' from our ancestors that we no longer need for survival.
There are dozens of examples of vestigial traits. Some of them – like the tailbone – are physical, while others – like a baby's instinct to tightly grasp his or her feet and hands when stimulated, are behavioural.
All of them are proof of the evolutionary process and show us the incredible journey mankind has gone on in the history of our existence.
If you've got any mates who are 'non-believers' this may not change their minds – but it will be fun to see them try and explain away the evidence.
Topics: News


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You are hereJune 27, 2014
New stem cell production method could clear way for anticancer gene therapy
A new study released today in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine suggests a new way to produce endothelial progenitor cells in quantities large enough to be feasible for use in developing new cancer treatments.
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are rare stem cells that circulate in the blood with the ability to differentiate into the cells that make up the lining of blood vessels. With an intrinsic ability to home to tumors, researchers have focused on them as a way to deliver gene therapy straight to the cancer. However, the challenge has been to collect enough EPCs for this use.
This new study, by researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore and Zhejiang University led by Shu Wang, Ph.D., explored whether human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could provide the answer. iPSCs, generated from adult cells, can propagate indefinitely and give rise to every other cell type in the body, much like human embryonic stem cells, which are considered the gold standard for stem cell therapy.
"However, human iPS cells can be generated relatively easily through reprogramming, a procedure that circumvents the bioethical controversies associated with deriving embryonic stem cells from human embryos," Dr. Wang said.
After inducing human iPS cells to differentiate into the EPCs, the research team compared the stability and reliability of the induced EPCs with regular EPCs by injecting them into mice with breast cancer that had metastasized (traveled) to the lungs. The results showed that their induced EPCs retained the intrinsic ability to home to tumors, just as regular EPCs do. They also did not promote tumor growth or metastasis.
"We next tested the induced EPCs' therapeutic potential by infusing them with an anticancer gene and injecting them into the mice," Dr. Wang said. "The results indicated that the tumors were reduced and the animals' survival rates increased.
"Since this approach may use patient's own cells to prepare cellular therapeutics and is based on non-toxic immunotherapy, it holds potential for translation to clinical application and may be particularly valuable as a new type of anti-metastatic cancer therapy."
"With the increasing potential of using EPCs as cancer therapeutics, it is important to have a reliable and stable supply of human EPCs, said Anthony Atala, M.D., editor of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. "This study demonstrates the feasibility of generating EPs from early-passage human iPS cells."


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Kids To Camp Donation $50
The Waterloo Region Record and Lyle S. Hallman Foundation Kids to Camp Fund enables children, in need of financial assistance, to attend a variety of day, overnight, recreational and educational camps.
Any individual or organization may make a gift to the Waterloo Region Record Kids to Camp Fund. Any and all donations are welcome.
If you have a question, or would like to provide a different donation amount please click here, or contact Rachel Chivers, Marketing & Community Relations Advisor,
519-895-5582, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Teacher of MFL ( French) – Walsall
First for Education are seeking an experienced Teacher of MFL (French) – Walsall. This is a long-term post starting April 2018 until the end of the school year.
This is an excellent opportunity for a qualified Teacher to work at a great school, that boasts of a well facilitated MFL department.
The school require an enthusiastic, passionate and determined professional to join their MFL team.
It is required that you are able to plan and deliver lessons for Key stages 3 to 4 French. In addition to having extensive subject knowledge and very recent experience of the secondary curriculum.
You will be working with both Key Stages 3 and 4. Supporting with French GCSE speaking and writing tests.
The successful applicant will be an experienced MFL Teacher who has the ability to enchant students, inspiring them to ever greater heights in the pursuit of academic advancement.
In return, you will receive great support from a strong and dedicated team. In addition to a highly competitive salary for the duration of your temporary contract.
This role will be starting April until July 2018.
To qualify for this position, you must:
• Hold British QTS
• Have subject specialism
• Be passionate about education and have a creative approach to your work
• Excellent time management
• Demonstrate strong classroom management
• Provide 2 references
FFE pride ourselves on our excellent staff and are always on the hunt for new Teachers to join our pool. Apply today if this role suits you or refer a Teacher and get excellent bonuses!
How to apply: If you wish to apply, simply fill out the required fields on the application form and press submit.
Alternatively, if you wish to gain more information please do not hesitate to contact Jaswinder Sidhu on 01902 505 560 or email email@example.com


text: Locals angered by US army actions against innocents But people in Falluja, 50km west of Baghdad, say the men firing rocket-propelled grenades at occupation forces are just ordinary taxi drivers, labourers and professionals avenging the deaths of relatives. With all its high-tech weapons, the US military has overlooked what rules the gritty streets of this town where it has faced many of the most deadly attacks against its troops - the tribal code of revenge. "Saddam's people have nothing to do with Americans killed in Falluja. If you want to know why we hate the Americans so much in Falluja, look at this," said Muthanna Salih, pulling up the flowing robe covering his stump as he balanced on crutches. "If I see an American I will definitely kill him if I can." Abu Taha, Falluja resident"I was in my house when the Americans started shooting. They hit my leg, they killed my brother and they left me jobless with eight children." Sixteen other people were also killed in that incident in April, when US troops fired into crowds of protesters just outside Salih's house. Tribal revenge Hot-blooded residents avenge the killings of their people American soldiers have been entangled in Falluja's tribal quest for revenge since then. Every time they kill someone in the crackdown on suspected Saddam supporters, they invite the wrath of tribes who can spend decades seeking revenge. "The Americans hit a roadside bomb and then instead of catching the culprits they just open fire on everyone in sight," said policeman Haitham Abd al-Wahab. "That's why Falluja is boiling." It is a vicious cycle that is never mentioned by politicians in Washingto who always blame remnants of Saddam's Baath Party or foreign Islamic militants for killing American troops. On the ground, Falluja's hard-nosed people describe the bloodshed in simple terms. "The Americans killed innocent people. Remember this is a place where two people who get in a little argument over a plant in a field that lies between them, they pull out the guns and shoot each other," said Abu Taha. "If I see an American I will definitely kill him if I can." On Sunday, 15 American soldiers were killed when their Chinook helicopter was shot down over a village near Falluja. Worse than Saddam "Saddam's people were terrible but they never humiliated us like this" Hamid Kasim, shop employee In this conservative Sunni Muslim city of cement block houses and a turquoise-domed mosque, people only respect the elders of dozens of tribes who look down on US troops and their only allies - Iraqi policemen tainted by past corruption. It is not just deaths of civilians that enrage Falluja. American soldiers conduct humiliating house searches, breaking furniture, frisking men and women and stealing cash and jewellery, Iraqis said. "Saddam's people were terrible but they never humiliated us like this. We are a tribal society. We are hot blooded. What do you expect?" said Hamid Kasim, a shop employee. SOURCE: Reuters


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RICHTON PARK, Ill. (WBBM) — The first charter high school in the Chicago suburbs now has its own building, more than seven months after classes began.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports, Southland College Prep charter school in Richton Park was initially housed in a middle school. But as of Monday, there is a new building students and 10 classes in a school described by Southland chief executive officer Dr. Blondine Davis as more of a junior college campus.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Bernie Tafoya reports
"It's 85,000 square feet; sits on 8 acres of land. We were able to purchase it for $3.4 million and to upgrade it to what it is now, and it's absolutely beautiful," Davis said.
The Southland College Prep building used to house an insurance company call-in center. The school serves seven south suburban elementary districts.
Two hundred seventy-two students have applied to be freshmen at the school next year, but only 122 of them will be chosen next week.


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Top 10 for 2016
Farr, Miller & Washington is a "buy-to-hold" investment manager, which means we make each investment with the intent to hold the position for a period of 3-5 years. Nevertheless, in each of the past ten Decembers I have selected and invested personally in ten of the stocks we follow with the intention of holding for just one year. These are companies that I find especially attractive in light of their valuations or their potential to benefit from economic developments. I hold an equal dollar amount in each of the positions for the following year, and then I reinvest in the new list.
The following is my Top 10 for 2016, listed in alphabetical order. Prices are as of December 28 close. This year's Top Ten represent a nice combination of growth and defensiveness. Seven of the 10 S&P 500 industry sectors are represented, and their average long-term estimated growth rate (in EPS) is nearly double that of the overall market. Also on average, these companies are much larger than the average S&P 500 company while carrying an average dividend yield of about 2.2 percent.
Results have been good in some years and not as good in others. I will sell my 2015 names on Thursday December 31st and buy the following names that afternoon. These are not recommendations to buy or sell securities. There is risk of losing principal. Past performance is no indication of future results. If you are interested in any of these names, please call us or your financial advisor to discuss.
Data obtained from Thomson Reuters, Value Line and Yahoo! Finance. Long-term EPS Growth rates are Farr, Miller & Washington, LLC estimates.
Chevron Corp. (CVX)
Chevron is a U.S.-based integrated oil and gas company with global operations. Chevron's production profile is 67 percent liquids (primarily oil), and oil prices are currently under $37 – a level we haven't seen since the great recession of 2009. The stock is trading at 26.2 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS with a 4.7 percent dividend yield. It helps to normalize earnings of companies that operate in cyclical markets, and doing this with Chevron leads to a valuation at 17 normalized earnings or 12 times its average annual EPS for the last 15 years.
CVS Health Corp. (CVS)
CVS Health Corporation (CVS) sold off from its high of over $113 to $92 recently as the company issued 2016 guidance that was below expectations. Only six weeks later, CVS increased its outlook for 2016, causing the stock to rally off recent lows to where it currently sits at around $98. We believe CVS offers value because of its undemanding valuation, its focus on returning capital to shareholders, and its exposure to long-term secular tailwinds, including increased healthcare coverage, an aging population, and healthcare cost control. Management recently reaffirmed its long-term target of 10-14 percent EPS growth while also increasing its dividend 21 percent to $1.70 (to a 1.7 percent yield). CVS is committed to increasing its dividend payout ratio to 35 percent by 2018, which implies a compound annual growth rate of 18 percent. Also, we expect $4-$5 billion in share repurchases annually. CVS currently trades at 16.9 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS.
Donaldson Company (DCI)
Donaldson is a global manufacturer of filtration systems and replacement parts. The company has dominant market share in many of its end markets, which are very diverse and have attractive long-term secular growth potential. And perhaps most important, well over half of company sales are for high-margin and recurring aftermarket products and services, including replacement filters. Financial performance has been outstanding, including very impressive low-teens annual growth in EPS over the past 20+ years. Finally, the balance sheet is very strong and free cash flow generally approaches net income an annual basis. At about 17.6 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS and a 2.4 percent dividend yield, we find the shares compelling.
Goldman Sachs (GS)
Goldman Sachs has come a long way since the financial crisis. The nation's premier investment bank is now on stable ground with a much stronger financial position, including far less leverage. Higher capital and liquidity requirements, along with restrictions on proprietary trading, however, have also led to much lower returns on equity. But, we believe the company should receive more credit for its more defensive balance sheet, lower volatility, and lower chance of financial distress. In addition, much of the company's past competition has melted away leaving Goldman to gain market share (though of a smaller pie). Finally, we think that Goldman's model is nothing if not dynamic, which means the company has the ability to adapt to any environment and earn outsized returns compared to the industry. Given these attributes, we think the stock is undervalued at 1.12 times tangible book value and 9.6 times the consensus estimate for 2016 EPS. The company also offers a 1.4 percent dividend yield, and the dividend should continue to grow.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Shares of Johnson & Johnson remain an attractive option for defensive investors. Johnson & Johnson has grown earnings at a compound annual growth rate of 10 percent over the 10 plus years. The company is one of the world's largest and most diversified healthcare companies. Its balance sheet is rated AAA, it generates huge free cash flow and high returns on equity, and it offers investors exposure to a truly global franchise (53 percent of total sales come from international sources). Uncertainty surrounding healthcare legislation and a sluggish global economy has left investors concerned about the company's future growth rate. Even so, the stock appears attractive for long-term investors at current valuation levels (16.1 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS with a 2.9 percent dividend yield). Assuming no change to its current P/E multiple, long-term investors would only need about 7 percent annualized EPS growth to achieve a 10 percent annualized return from the stock from current levels.
Lowe's Companies, Inc. (LOW)
The home improvement sector, and Lowe's (LOW) in particular, we feel remains one of the few attractive areas in retail. LOW offers relative immunity from online competition, and the company's economies of scale give it a competitive pricing advantage over smaller regional players. The company's strong free cash flow and commitment to returning cash to shareholders through buybacks will continue to be accretive to EPS. Margins have been improving in recent years, but they continue to trail 2007 highs by a significant amount, which gives us confidence this trend can continue. We think LOW represents good value given our expectation for mid-teens EPS growth over the intermediate term. LOW also offers at 1.5 percent dividend yield and currently trades 19.3 times calendar year16 estimated EPS.
Perrigo Company (PRGO)
Perrigo is a diversified drug company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland that stands to benefit from the growing need for low-cost health care products. A hybrid between a drug company and a consumer products company, Perrigo produces store-brand OTC products and drugs and specialized generic Rx drugs, and holds claims to escalating royalties from Biogen's blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. The company is unique in the drug industry because it is not affected by the patent cliffs faced by branded pharmaceutical companies or the intense competition faced by generic drug manufacturers. Perrigo's 3-year financial guidance calls for 5 percent-10 percent organic revenue growth to be leveraged into 10 percent-20 percent EPS growth. The current valuation (15.3 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS) appears reasonable given the expected growth rate, the less cyclical nature of PRGO's earnings stream, a strong balance sheet and solid free cash flow generation.
Qualcomm, Inc. (QCOM)
Qualcomm is a leading developer, designer, and manufacturer of digital wireless telecommunication products. Nothing went right for Qualcomm in 2015. In February, China concluded its probe into the company's licensing practices, and the result seemed like a victory. We believed the agreement would lead Chinese equipment manufacturers to become licensees, shrinking the gap between estimated global device sales and total reported device sales. Progress is being made, but at a slower pace than anyone envisioned. Also in 2015, the chipset division was caught flat-footed when leading flagship devices moved to 64-bit processors. This misstep has been corrected, and the news flow around the revamped offering for 2016 (Snapdragon 820) appears to be largely positive. The stock trades at 11.0 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS, a significant discount to other semiconductor companies. The dividend yield is 3.9 percent and the company is returning a significant amount of cash to shareholders through stock repurchases.
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM)
Sprouts Farmers Market, whose motto is "healthy living for less", operates healthy grocery stores that offer fresh, natural, non-GMO and organic food. Sprouts sits at the ideal intersection of natural/organic, affordability and accessibility. To drive foot traffic Sprouts prices produce 20 percent to 25 percent below traditional supermarkets, and even further below Whole Foods Markets and other natural foods competitors. This price point means Sprouts is attractive to both the everyday shopper and the hardcore natural foods customer. Sprouts' footprint is largely in the Southwest, but the company is expanding east and adding 14 percent to its total square footage every year. We believe that this rate of store growth, along with mid-single digit same-store sales growth, should translate to mid-double digit revenue and EPS growth for the foreseeable future. In addition, the company generates strong cash flow and is able to fund its store expansion internally while also returning capital to shareholders through a share buyback program. Sprouts is currently trading at 28.1 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS.
United Technologies Corp. (UTX)
United Technologies is a diversified industrial company that provides products and services to the building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. The company's aerospace segments target both commercial and government (including both defense and space) customers. The company has a fantastic long-term track record of financial performance, with strong double-digit EPS growth, outstanding cash generation, and a stock price that, until recently, had handily outperformed the market over the long term. Looking forward, there are certainly risks to the outlook, including slowing growth outside the U.S., an aging aerospace cycle, and the continued integration of a new CEO. However, trading at a significant discount to the overall market, we think patient investors will be rewarded. The stock currently trades at an undemanding 14.6 times calendar year 16 estimated EPS with a yield of 2.7 percent.


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The Most Insane 3D Tattoos Ever
These tattoos will put that little cross on your arm to shame.
I don't have any tattoos on my body but if I was to get one I would have to go with a 3D one but to bad I am scared of needles. But I still appreciate when someone is not chicken enough to go through the process. These are possible the most realistic tattoos you have ever seen on a person.


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This novella is short and sweet. Not sugary sweet, it's a bit more feisty than than that. It's set before The Art of Letting Go however it can be read as a standalone (but I'd recommend you don't!).The Saving of Benjamin Chambers Published by Soul Mate Publishing on 4 Dec 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Love & Romance, New Adult
Pages: 48
Format: eARC
Source: Received from Author
Buy on Amazon
Benjamin Chambers needs saving, he just does not know it yet. Bored of his life of repetitive gigs with a band going nowhere fast and one night stands with girls who are only interested in his role as a lead singer, something has got to change.
It's just what do you do when the only life you know involves messing around with guitars and attempting to run away from any female attention that comes your way.
Ben has a New Year's resolution and one that he is determined to keep, quit the band and get a life of his own.
Little does Ben realise that on his last night with his band Sound Box he is going to meet a girl who will turn everything he knows upside down.
As Ben sets himself the challenge to find 'The Girl' again, he may be about to learn that in an effort to rescue her, he himself will be the one to be saved.
First Line of The Saving of Benjamin Chambers:
"I don't need to open my eyes to know that there is something not quite right."
My Thoughts on The Saving of Benjamin Chambers:
I loved Ben in The Art of Letting Go. He is a swoony guitar-playing good guy and one that gave me all the feels. But I'm not sure how I would have felt about him if I read this novella first. He gets hit hard with insta-love and while it feels romantic, it doesn't feel very real.
Still it was fun to read about his first meeting with Lilah. Hint – nothing like that crazy girl remembers! This novella captures the fun vibe that I loved about Ben, he makes me laugh and I get that he wants out of the life he seems to be stuck in. BUT falling for a girl after one conversation and making that a basis for altering his life makes him seem a bit shallow and immature. But seriously, don't just read that and abandon the series, he isn't either of those! Pinky swear! And this series is so much more complex and creative than an insta-love beginning might suggest.
Overall a fun addition AFTER reading The Art of Letting Go but don't judge Ben by this book alone. I loved the scene where we saw them meeting again for the second time from Ben's POV, it was just as sweet, funny and steamy as when we saw it from Lilah's POV.
|Rating Report
|Did I feel it?
Who should read The Saving of Benjamin Chambers?
The Uni Files is a fun series for fans of NA books. I love the UK university setting and the mix of humour and FEELS in these books so if that's your cup of tea, then you will love these. I recommend reading this one as part of the series.
Thanks to Anna for giving me a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.


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Sat, 9 December 2006
Among all my other chosen heresies, I also occasionally venture into the realms of neo-platonic hereticalism. The witch hunters will be fighting over who gets to burn me, one day...
as ever your comments are most welcome here or on my homepage, and donations always welcome as well. your spiritual and financial support elevates my work to another level. thank you
Direct download: AUG12-A_Single_Thread.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 9:43am EDT


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Sara Sue Hoklotubbe is a Cherokee tribal citizen and the author of the award-winning Sadie Walela Mystery Series. She grew up on the banks of Lake Eucha in northeastern Oklahoma and uses that location as the setting for her mystery novels to transport readers into modern-day Cherokee life. Sara is the winner of the WILLA Literary Award for Original Softcover Fiction by Women Writing the West, the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Best Mystery, and Mystery of the Year by Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers. She has also been a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award and the Foreword INDIEFAB Book of the Year. Sara and her husband currently make their home in southwest Colorado.
Colorado Literary Network | Promoting Colorado Authors