text:
Welcome to BlackWood Booking
The property including its contents ("the Property") is offered for short-term furnished holiday rental to the Client ("the Client") under the following terms and conditions, subject to confirmation by the Agent, Blackwood Booking, on behalf of the owner of the Property ("the Owner").
All Included
Normal use of gas, water and electricity is included within the rental price. In some cases there is an extra charge for electricity but this is agreed with the Client prior to arrival. Some Properties have telephone, broadband, etc. The rules for use of these items will be made clear through the contractual arrangements for the individual Property. Bed linen and towels (including pool towels) are included. Should you request a baby cot it is advisable to check if cot linen is provided. Linen is changed once per week. If you require more frequent changes there will be an additional charge. Cleaning of the Property is also included in the rent.
The Owner shall not be liable to the Client:
- For any defect or stoppage in the supply of public services and broadband either to the Property or in respect of defect in any equipment, machinery or appliance to the Property, that is not due to the Owner's negligence.
- For any loss, damage or inconvenience which is the result of adverse weather, strikes or other matters beyond the control of the Owner.
- For any loss, damage or inconvenience caused to or suffered by the Client if the Property shall be destroyed or substantially damaged before the start of the rental period. In any such event the Owner shall within seven days of the notification to the Client refund to the Client all sums previously paid in respect of the rental period.
Your responsibility
We expect that you keep the Property and all furniture, effects, facilities and equipment in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the holiday, and in the same state of cleanliness and general order to which it was found. This also applies to all outdoor areas.
The Client acknowledges that the improper use of furnishings and appliances, particularly those in the kitchen and bathroom, may prove dangerous. The Client and those accompanying him are fully responsible for taking all necessary precautions before using any appliance or equipment they are not familiar with. The Client recognises that showers, bathtubs and floors may be slippery when wet particularly when those floors are of ceramic tiles and agrees to remind his guests of this. The Owner and his Agent accept no responsibility to Client for any injury of whatever sort as a result of use of such facilities. It is the Client's responsibility to take all necessary precautions to avoid any accident to himself or his party.
The Price
The prices given are in Euros (€), and the rental price is weekly unless otherwise stated. Some property owners will only accept bookings with a minimum of two weeks. A surcharge may be added for weekly bookings.
Reservation and Payment
When making a reservation of a Property, a deposit of 25% of the total rent must be paid to BlackWood Booking within 8 days of the reservation being made. This payment confirms and ensures your reservation. The remaining 75% must be paid at the latest 6 weeks prior to arrival. A communication will be sent to you regarding the payment of the balance.
In all cases of cancellation, the 25% deposit is forfeited.
In case of cancellation later than 6 weeks prior to the planned arrival date, BlackWood Booking will attempt to rent the Property to another guest. If this can be done, 75% of the total payment will be refunded, only the 25% down payment is forfeited. If the Property cannot be rented the entire rental payment is forfeited.
The refundable deposit will however always be refunded immediately in all cases of cancellation.
If reservation is made within 8 weeks of the arrival date, then reservation can only be made by payment of rent in full.
Refundable Deposit
The Owner requires a refundable damage deposit. This fully refundable deposit is required to cover the costs of any damages or breakages and the cost of telephone calls or other services that are not included in the Property. This amount will be cashed.
The deposit will be returned immediately after you have left the Property in good standing. Delays can be caused while waiting for utility bills or proof of damage. Some damages may not be immediately obvious and therefore BlackWood Booking reserves the right to calculate damages noted in the Property after your departure.
Cancellation by us
BlackWood Booking reserves the right to cancel the rental before or after payment of the total amount in special cases like unforeseen major repairs of the Property. In this case, BlackWood Booking will endeavour to offer another Property of similar character or to refund the full amount.
BlackWood Booking also reserves the right to cancel the rental without warning in cases where the guest or members of the guest family or friends of the guest family act in any way threatening, make extreme noise, or incur damages to the Property or any other situation that may legally or financially jeopardise BlackWood Booking or the Owner. In such cases, no refund will be possible.
Number of people using the Property
Only the number of people mentioned in the appendix may use the Property without prior agreement. The maximum number of people, including infants, allowed at the Property may not be exceeded. Please inform BlackWood Booking of any guests visiting and staying over night at the Property on the booking form.
Arrival and Departure
Normal arrival time is after 16.00 and departure is before 10.00. Later departure may incur an extra cost. You must, as least 2 weeks in advance of arrival, inform BlackWood Booking of your expected arrival time so that BlackWood Booking can welcome you to the Property and be sure that the Property is ready for you. In some cases we can accommodate an earlier arrival time to the norm but this cannot be guaranteed. Once in France and en route we ask you to call the person meeting you 1-2 hours before arrival to give the precise arrival time. If you are delayed we ask that you keep us informed. Please be sure to keep your mobile charged and on.
Four weeks prior to arrival you will receive the full Property address and a guide to finding it.
Our Liability/Insurance/Security
Neither BlackWood Booking (as an agent for the Owner) nor the Owner shall be liable to the Client for any injury loss of limb or life of the Client, any member of the Client's party, or any visitors of the Client to the property during the rental period. It is a specific condition of this contract that the Client and all members of his party have comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of their stay in the Property. Consequently, the Owner and his Agent accept no liability for the recourse that their insurance company might exercise against the Client in the event of damage. Any valuables left at the property are left at your own risk. Neither Blackwood Booking nor the Owner is responsible for any loss. It is imperative that the shutters, doors and windows of the Property are locked at night and whenever unattended. Failure to do so may result in invalidation of the Oroperty insurance and any losses or damage as a result of your failure to secure the property will be passed on to you in full.
Damages and Complaints
Clients are responsible for all damages, accidental or otherwise, which they may incur during their stay in the Property. Clients must inform us about damages at departure when BlackWood Booking will review the state of the Property with the guest. If damages are discovered after departure, we will contact you immediately as we expect you to inform us of any damages caused by you or if you find something damaged upon your arrival. If there are more serious damages then the involvement of the insurance companies will be necessary
If you have any complaints about the Property you should contact us immediately. BlackWood Booking cannot act on any complaints that are received after departure unless you have informed us about the problem during your stay and in writing to us within 28 days after departure.
Under no circumstances shall the Owner's liability to the Client exceed the amount paid to the Owner for the rental period.
We at BlackWood Booking try to keep up with all the projected construction work in the area, but we cannot take responsibility for side effects such as noise beyond our control. We will always inform you of construction work that we know of but unfortunately it is not possible to be informed of all ongoing projects.
Swimming Pools
All Properties rented with pools have a pool regulation. The Client acknowledges that he is informed by Blackwood Booking of the installation by the Owner of the Property of a safety device for the swimming pool in accordance with the law of January 3rd 2003 and its implementing order of December 31st 2003. Instructions will be given to the Client upon taking possession of the Property. The Client undertakes to comply with the technical instructions and to comply with the directions for use of the safety device installed. This device will be applicable from the beginning of the rental period. In the case there is a fault and it is out of order this will be explained to and will be repaired as soon as possible, but it does not avoid the necessity of vigilance.
As far as necessary Blackwood Booking reminds the Client:
– That a safety device does not in any case replace the vigilance of responsible adults, who must keep a continuous and full surveillance,
– That he must be aware of the instructions relating to the safety device installed,
– That he must never let a child get access on his / her own to the swimming-pool, nor leave him / her on his / her own or let him / her out of his / her sight even though for a few moments,
– That when bathing, it is very much advised to fit out your children with floating devices (appropriate rubber ring, armbands, floating bathing suits, etc. …).
Swimming pools are not open all year. If your rental period is outside 1st. June – 30th September, please check with us that the pool is open and filled.
Pets are not allowed unless stated in the brochure/website. Number of pets must be agreed prior to acceptance of the booking.
All of our Properties are private homes and this is reflected in the quality of the decor and furnishings. The Property that you rent from us should be seen as a home of a special standard, and we expect you to treat it as you would your own.
Blackwood Booking Subsidiary of Bay Agent Limited
9 Templeton Court, 18 Manor Road, London, E10 7AL UK registered Company number 5060680

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hi all its been too long but the hacking of the site a few months ago made us update security features and to the latest version of vbulletin.
One of the downsides was a massive loss of positions in Google which is one reason for the bringing back of all the DCEmu Network sites whilst keeping the new DCEmu CMS system..
But also since then no one has been able to register and even get their lost passwords back.
finally last night Martin traced the bug that caused this and that side of the site is now working properly again, thank god.
Ill be sending an August newsletter out detailing all the recent news and fixes on DCEmu in the next few days.
This weekend im hoping to bring back the remaining sites inc the coders sites and open new ones covering PSvita, 3DS, WiiU.
Thanks for now.


text:
Before leaving Pokhara, I met a Polish/Australian rider who also started in Australia. He had crossed Myanmar with people I know. Both of us were heading the same way so we grouped up and made our way back to the lowlands to catch the main east-to-west highway. The road follows a rushing muddy river through thick green valleys.
The monsoon has everything growing like wild and all the villagers are out planting. They find and use every available nook to grow crops. Terraced rice paddies have been built into the landscape.
Without rain dampening the mood, it was one of the prettier rides I've had.
It took us most the day to slowly get out of the hills and back to the hot sticky lowlands. I wasn't able to climb Mt. Everest this time in Nepal, but this random bunch put us up in the Hotel Everest.
Was still rocking the sock and flip-flop on the injured foot and boot on the other. I was scared to try wearing the boot again after all the pain it caused last time. I'd been doing it for long enough that I forgot about it most the time until I noticed someone staring at my feet. The looks I get are priceless.
The next day we continued our journey west towards India. In the afternoon we got diverted on to a muddy road because of some bridge construction. While pulled over, I gave one of my roses to a serious man standing nearby.
Hopefully he took it home and got on the wife good side. I sensed he liked it, but a minute later bad luck struck and I wondered if he had put bad voodoo on me for giving him a half dead rose (being bungie-corded to the back of a motorcycle since Kathmandu hadn't improved their health). As I was slowly bouncing down the crappy road, all the electronics on my bike went out. I opened everything up and spent an hour checking all the fuses and fiddling with the wires. Randomly it would come back, but when I'd push the start button it would make a fizzy noise and everything would be gone again. Sometimes it would come back when I jiggled one wire and then a different one the next time. The mystery of electronic problems.
I thought dead battery since it would get just enough juice to be back on, but die again when trying to start it. Polish dude headed back to the highway to try and find a truck that could give the bike a ride to town. I stayed behind and closed everything up. As I waited I looked at the eleven roses all shriveled up and faded maroon and it seemed like the appropriate time to bid farewell. I gave them a kiss and tossed them back to nature.
A couple of minutes later as I was waiting I turned the key for the heck of it and the electronics came on. A push of the start button and it started right up. I couldn't believe it and jumped on and started riding. I figured I might as well get closer to the next city incase it went out again. I think the roses had used up all their good vibes and were casting some dead magic over me. Once he saw I was gone it would be obvious I got it going. Fifteen km down the road he caught up with me. My bike ran fine the rest of the way and never had any more electrical issue. Ever since that one time it's never done it again and the mystery continues. That day in an empty shop I had seen a guy reading people's futures.
I thought about seeing what was going on and where I was headed, but that would take all the fun away. Unfortunately the evil roses also cast dead magic on my exhaust, or maybe it was just the dumb idea of using asbestos paper as a gasket for the header pipe to silencer. Pushpa's idea in Kathmandu had lasted for not quite a week before the crackling and popping slowly returned and that familiar hot air was blowing on my calves. By the end of the day it felt like about half of the hot exhaust was blowing out of the joint. I would take me a few days before I finally came up with my own Macgyver home-made part. It's impossible to find actual parts for my bike in this part of the world so I have to become an inventor. After a few failed creations and attempts, one did the trick. I made a gasket size ring out of a beer can, wrapped it with steel wool, and duct tape around it to keep it tight so the silencer would fit over it. With the clamp tightened all the way down at the joint the problem was solved. I'll be selling these little bad boys on Ebay for $19.99.
It was a night in a random crossroads town at the world-famous Hotel Pop Life.
It actually might have been one of the nicest rooms I've stayed in on my trip. I forgot how wonderful air-conditioning can be on hot days. In the morning, fruit sellers had set up their carts all along the road. One guy had apples all the way from America, or at least they had stickers saying it.
As usual we packed to a group of staring eyes. I saw Wolverines Nepalese brother.
The last day riding through the far-west of Nepal was really nice and full of rural people at work and passing the time. A lot of friendly characters and excited kids, which felt like a nice send off from Nepal.
In the first part of the day I lost my riding buddy. I was surprised he'd lasted as long as he did. I like to stop a lot and enjoy the little things, but he was in a hurry. He was hoping to have already been in Europe so was in a pretty big hurry with an end point on his mind. He wasn't too into anything along the way and seemed a bit annoyed by it all. I told him a few times not to worry about staying with me because I was moving at a different pace and taking a lot of pics. I was enjoying the company of some local kids on the side of the road and he finally had enough and got on his way. I took my sweet time towards the border. There's a lot of farming work going on this time a year as all the rains are watering their fields. The women are the ones I see working their butts off the most.
They handle a lot of the work in the rice paddies.
Herd the goats.
Become giant shrubs walking down the roads and collect plants.
And some chill out on the sides of the road keeping an eye on their water buffalo.
The water buffalo are everywhere and a lot of them are led around by young kids.
While I looked at the animals they looked at my bike.
Cool kids who are always curious who the hell I am.
Big grinned older fellows also heard the animals along the highway.
But they're definitely the masters of kicking back and watching the world go by.
I pulled over for a break and was engulfed by a crowd. There's always different types of kids. Some aren't intimidated at all and come right up to me full of curiosity.
Others need to see these brave ones do it without terrible things happening and then they join and aren't nervous anymore.
Then there's the few that just can't get over their fear of me and always give a safe distance while watching my activities closely.
I let one of the adults write the name of the village on my bike and the kids were immediately enthralled in this. I gave them the white-out pen and set them loose on one of my ammo cans. Every kid had to have his turn. I now have about twenty Nepalese kids names covering my right side case.
The adults all stood around watching with amusement and I sensed some jealousy. Some of them wished they could be kids and enjoy it as much as they were. So do I. The area near the border had flooding a few days before and the water levels were still super high.
The villagers were out in the rushing streams net-fishing for little minnows.
Crossing back to India over the Banbasa/Bhimdatta border is a breeze on the Nepal side. A quick visit to the customs shack to clear the carnet, slipping by the gate, and getting stamped out of Nepal at the little turquoise immigration building.
Ten to fifteen easy minutes later and your done. There's a bit of a no-mans land in-between full of traders.
I knew I was back in India when everyone started wanting pics with me again. In Nepal it happens, but it's rare. In India the guys are always so excited to get some pics. I think a lot fewer people have the ability to have a camera phones in Nepal.
The Indian side of the border takes a bit more time, but is painless. You pass one checkpoint where they get your passport info and send you on your way. Then at a collection of busted up buildings you get stamped into India at immigration and carnet filled out at customs. The customs guys were friendly and had some Chai brought to me. No pictures of the Indian side because they really get serious about the no photo thing. Even the little man who opened the gate for me was saying something about my Gopro being off. I was able to snap a few going over the bridge, which delivered me to India and back to the insane traffic.
As soon as I reached the small town I was back into the madness of stuffed roads and found myself missing the relatively open Nepali roads. I came in at sunset over the expanse of rice paddies. Getting dark I had little choices of where to hang my hat for the night and ended up in a filthy, spooky, dank hotel along the highway in Sitarganj. The guy running the place was a bit strange and off at first, but ended up driving me to the city center on his scooter and went around picking up a bunch of food for dinner.
A long brutally hot day took me all the way to Rishikesh. A pretty uneventful day except for being run off the road eighty times. By the end of it I was ready to beat the shit out of any Indian truck driver I could get my hands on. The only good part about this stretch of highway was the marijuana growing thick everywhere. The sweet delicious aroma filled my helmet and was the only pleasant thing to fill my brain during those 300km.


text:
"I've been in the same shoes."
Habiba's Story
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"My name is Habiba Boru and I came to the United States in April of 2000. I'm originally from Ethiopia, but I came here from Kenya — a refugee camp in Kenya. Oh boy, my experiences in a refugee camp were really, really tough. As a young girl,
when I came to the refugee camp, I was about 4. And we just, you know, ran away from our home country because of a war. And we were just relocated by the United Nations in a refugee camp — Kakuma.
Kakuma Refugee Camp
This camp currently serves over 179,000 people who have fled wars and violence in neighboring countries. The majority of refugees are from South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia.
And at this time, when we came over there, we were separated. All my family was separated. Me, my mother and my father — it was just the three of us. I have other siblings. I have five siblings older than me that were left behind during that
tough time. So they were with my grandmother. They ran a different direction and I ran a different direction. And my parents were just able to grab me and run for safety. So, when we came into the refugee camp it was very tough to adjust.
Because when we first came we were the first refugees who were resettled in Kakuma refugee camp, which was in 1992. It was us and the Lost Boys from Sudan. And at this time when we first came there was nothing. It was just like trees everywhere.
You would see like snakes in the bushes. You would see poisonous scorpions and spiders everywhere. So when we first came, what they did was they cut down the trees. The United Nations just gave everybody a tent to sleep in. So, not knowing
when these poisonous animals or stuff is going to come inside and somebody is going to get bitten. So, it was really, really tough being in that type of situation.
We didn't have water and if there was water you have to get in line. It's like first come first served. And if that water runs out, then you don't get water. You have to wait until the next day or the following day or travel a long distance
to go find water. They provided us with a ration, food for survival basically. But for you to go and get this ration it was a struggle itself because you have to be in line. There's like thousands of refugees over there and they call them
by groups, but there are so many people from different cultures from different ethnicities. And people get up in the morning sometimes at like 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning to get in line. so they can get in first and get their ration. Because
if you come later you have to wait until your group is called again next week or so. So it's a very tough situation to be in in a refugee camp.
I'm currently a job developer here. I help clients, or my fellow refugees, help them find jobs and connect them to the community, too, sometimes. I can relate to them. I know their struggles. I know what makes them happy. I know what they
need. Because I have to empathize. I've been in the same shoes. I personally speak five different languages. So when they come, I'm able to communicate with anybody who speaks those five languages. And if not, there's somebody else on the
side that's always there that has an extra language under their sleeve. Working with them, sharing stories, laughter. Sometimes we sit down and just talk about things that everybody has been through and that just — it brings out. It's really
nice working with them and I love it. You can't change it for nothing."
"What is your name?"
ESL Class
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Omar Ahmed: "I have to teach them basic English. For them, people who cannot even read and cannot write. Like 'What is your name? How long have you been in the United States? When did you come to the United States?' So that's what basically we teach them
right now."
"We're doing a lot of things to them but you know that when you've never been to school, it's difficult to understand. You repeat, you're reading 'What is your name? What is your name?' And then after five minutes you came back and say 'What
did I teach you today?' He say, 'Ah. Teacher, I don't know. I don't know teacher.' Again, again again. It's difficult. It's a headache. Yeah, it's a headache. It's not easy."
"It's the same like when I came here I didn't speak any English. So it's the same thing with them, too. Some of them, they live here only like six months, some of them they live one year. And they never, they never went to school back home.
Somali Education
- Population : 9,832,017 (2009)
- Official Languages: Somali and Arabic
- Primary School Net Enrolment/Attendance : 9–22 % (2000–2007)
- Adult Literacy Rate: (15 years and over, 2000–2006
- Female: 25.8%
- Male: 49.7%
- Total: 37.8%
Everybody is doing farming and doing their job. So this is a good opportunity for our kids and also our families, and everybody that cannot speak English. It's better for them to have this opportunity."
"We the People"
Citizenship Class
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Omar: "I've taught 70 people since I've started, but 25 people have passed the test.
Naturalization Test
From October 1, 2009, through August 31, 2015 more than 4,495,000 naturalization tests were administered nationwide. For those applicants taking both the English and civics tests, the overall national pass rate as of August 2015 is 91 percent.
The test is not easy because when you're going to take the test, when you go for example, you drive here three hours to Buffalo. And you went there, you don't know what they're going to ask you — the questions. It's not only asking questions
and you can answer.
You also need to write something, too. If you fail or you miss only two, he says, 'OK, I know the questions you answer is good but, just, you need to go back and you have to learn how to write again.' So, and then tomorrow when you come back,
and you say, 'OK, I want to write it again. So, OK, vice president, who's the vice president?' Tomorrow if you're going to go, he's going to ask you different questions. Not like before.
They're ready. I'm for sure I'm ready. And I tested them for the whole week and we've taken training without looking and I want to say it and they answer too. They've finished 100 questions."
"I am so happy with my life right now"
Omar's Story
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"My name is Omar Ahmed and I was born in Somalia but I grew up in Kenya and I'm 35 years old. I came to the USA on September 8, 2003. It's not easy to come to United States I was like waiting for United States to come almost 20 years or 18
years I believe and I was in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya
The site of a large UNHCR base hosting 329,811 people in five camps as of October 2015, making it the largest refugee camp complex in the world.
It's just the life there is very difficult. It's no food, no water. When you go to market, no job, no nothing. It's difficult, it's difficult. It's amazing, amazing. So if I can talk about that one maybe I would feel like crying, but the life
right now there is difficult. In my country they have suffered wars, people fighting each other and the reason why I go is they said to get a better life, get a good education and because the United States is a good opportunity.
When I came to this country I didn't speak any English but I proved myself, to become self-sufficient. It's a great country. The way I see I want to change my life right now. Everybody has a dream here, but my dream is to finish school. In
college, I can get a better job.
Actually what I'm doing here right now is several things, like, for example: teaching the ESL class, teaching the Citizen class, filling out the paperwork…whatever they need. I love my job, what I'm doing right now and I have to continue
to do this job. I am so happy with my life right now."
"Immigrants and Refugees are hard Working people"
Volunteer: Vicky Chan
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"I'm Vicky Chan and I am from Syracuse University and my major is International Relations and Citizenship and Civic Engagement. I'm from Boston MA and I'm here because it's part of my CC major, I'm required to do a community placement so I chose RISE because I wanted to help with the refugees and the immigrants. Coming from a foreign country as a refugee or immigrant it is definitely really scary, just being in a new country, RISE really helps with that helping with the settlement process and just the day to day tasks like booking appointments or helping their children find schools, it's all the little things.
I think I'm really passionate about helping the immigrants and refugees because being an immigrant myself, I understand the struggle of being an immigrant, and I just applied to be a citizen a few months ago, so I definitely want to help out and help them practice on how to become a citizen. So I come her on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to prepare clients for the naturalization exams. I get really proud, sometimes I'll be teaching them Atlantic Oceans on the east coast and then the Pacific Ocean is on the west coast, and at the end of two hours they got it, so that makes me really proud.
I came here in February and I've seen a lot of progress they have begun to memorize the 100 questions provided by the United States Immigrant and Citizenship Services. Immigrants and refugees are actually really hard working people and I know that under this administration there are a lot of opinions around immigrants and refugees, but most of them just want a better life for themselves. I ask them why did you come to America, and they say there is a lot of war, there is a lot of violence, it's just really unsafe for them, they just want the best for their family. So that's what I would tell people about RISE. We are just trying to help them to get a better life."
"I just found the place where I belong"
Khadijah's Story
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"My name is Khadijah Muse and I came from a refugee camp in Kenya. In July I came from Rio, Texas and they were working on getting this kind of office but it broke apart. They didn't have the funds or anything so the people were struggling with everyday life, they get a letter in the mail they have no where to go to, they knock on door to door to find someone to read to them and RISE being here.. When I came here I found out this kind of office existed and it's right here. I was like wow.. this is amazing.
So when I came here, to this office I just felt released of all the stress and the depression I was going through of being in America because I just found the place where I belong, where my people are there, people that understand me and that are always there to help. I'm a Bridging Case Manager. When you don't know where to turn to sometimes they say like "I came here I didn't know nobody and I was lost, I didn't know where to go".
So I help with the online cases, like applying, for food stamps, certifying doctor's appointments. Like any letter they get in the mail, translating because people are like.. they have one place where they can rely on, depend on this is always there to help, Like anytime they come with the letter, with the paper, any kind of emergency, they get the help they need. My favorite part about RISE is just that working here I get to see the whole community. All refugees, with their different experiences, with their different lives, coming together in one place and that they rely on one place that can always help them."
"I see how challenging it can be"
Volunteer: Perrine Wasser
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My name is Perrine Wasser, I'm from Scranton, PA, I go to Syracuse University, I'm studying Sociology and Citizenship in Civic Engagement. For my CCE major we have a community placement requirement, so I'm teaching citizenship class here at RISE.
RISE is an inclusive community center, it offers refugees and immigrants a place to connect with each other, a place to find employment and education, and it helps them to become a part of the Syracuse community.
I personally love the English and citizenship classes because all of the clients that come in are so dedicated to learning and they work so hard, it's rewarding to see when they make progress.
I think that working here has made me more compassionate and empathetic towards the refugees and immigrants and the daily struggles they face. I see how challenging it can be to find education and employment when you have little English knowledge. I've also had the opportunity to become more aware of the cultures they practice. It's been really rewarding for me.
I would tell people who are not familiar with RISE or the refugee community to do their own research and become familiar with it because a lot of people are just unaware and once you start to read a little bit about it and learn more. I feel like people will become inspired to get involved. The volunteers here are all so helpful, and passionate I would say and it's really wonderful to see the volunteers from the community and the refugees and immigrants coming together and working together.
"Relationships are the key for why we are here"
Director of Programs: Todd Goehle
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My names Todd Goehle I've recently been hired as the director of programs. I work with the staff and oversee our bridging program, our education programs, ESL programs and citizenship programs.
For me, RISE provides opportunities for refugees, immigrants and others to become empowered, and for me RISE is also a vehicle for allowing us who work here as well as the larger community to join together with clients, to join together with the people we provide services for, and to build a stronger community based around compassion, empathy, dialog and humanity.
Yesterday I observed one of our ESL courses and what I found absolutely amazing and confirmed that I made the right decision to come here, is that the instructor yesterday, his name is Paul, he is a retiree who volunteers his time here. He's speaking English to students, adults who have little to no English and the ability for them to still communicate and engage in a dialog not even with words but through laughter and through gestures, that was something that I found very attractive and for me that's one of the things that I've seen the most from engaging and working with the refugees so far. Language is only one way of forming bonds and helping one another.
So I would argue right now my goals for this group is to continue to build upon the successes that we have had. In terms of our program, in terms of forming strong bonds with the community, whether it be clients, whether it be students, whether it be the university, and to further expand our programs to, for example programs that include more forms of technology, that can help us train clients to not only be competitive in the job market, but also to be independent, empowered, not just employees but also citizens.
Particularly in our current environment we as citizens and humans in general need to come together and help one another. These should be general attitudes that we have here respective of what is currently occurring, and I argue, why should someone volunteer, why should someone donate? Because when you donate or you volunteer you actually see the impact that you are having on lives and I really believe that relationships is the key for why we are here. So donate and volunteer, you're helping people and you're also going to find it a really rewarding experience.
"I just love to work this way."
Kul's Story
Learn More
"My name is Kul Regmi. I came to the United States in 2010. Everyone wants to come to the United States, but the way is not easy. It's not easy. I didn't come very easily. I wish I could come long back. I tried, let me tell you. I tried
to come here in 1990 when I was a student. And I tried going to Canada. Even I thought of going to Australia. Coming to the United States is a boon to me at the end. I was longing to come and I came in the form of a refugee.
Obviously when I came to this country I had to struggle a lot, initially. Number one because of the language barrier. Though I speak a little bit of English, still the accent is not as good as it should
Somali Languages
Serves as the official language of the somali people. As of 2006, there were approximately 16.6 million speakers of Somali, of which about 8.3 million reside in Somalia.
Another prominent official language in Somalia. Many Somalis speak it due to centuries-old ties with the Arab World, the far-reaching influence of the Arabic media, and religious education; particularly the Yemeni dialect.
So, still I am struggling. That's the one part, but, I manage to speak now.
My job title is a bridging case manager here. Basically, I help the clients, refugee clients. [I prescreen clients seeking jobs based on their skill, experience, education and interest, assist them in developing resumes and help them apply to online jobs. I make phone calls to set up appointments as well as conduct mock interviews. I provide feedback to clients from the mock interviews and help correct issues so that they can present themselves more confidently.] So when I'm able to help them a little bit and bring smiles on their face, I become more happy than them. That makes me why I am happy to be a part of this organization. I just love to work this way.
I have started to have my own vision. I have started to plan how I can lead my life. What I can contribute as a human being, not only to my community but at large to the American people."


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The pre-holiday weekend in Singapore was utter madness. There were so many things to do in Singapore during Christmas period but the rain was not helping. It almost made me feel sorry that we would be away from Singapore for so long! One thing for sure, we would miss the Star Wars opening weekend and there were a couple of movies such as The Good Dinosaur which we had not gotten to watching.
On Friday itself, Z had to skip his wushu class for his birthday dinner with the family. We also had an impromptu visit from our relatives in KL. By the time we were done with dinner and shopping at Daiso (we had to grab vacuum bags), we got home at 1030pm.
On Saturday, Mr H brought Z to soccer class. X went along too because I had facial appointment. They had lunch and we convened at Metro. We barely made our way past 313 when it started to drizzle and my plans for my Xmas moments' phototaking at Ion were dashed. We went to the "Christmas Market" at OC, redeemed some vouchers and popped over to OG to buy woollen socks for the kids. No thanks to our late decision, we were unable to buy the ski accessories from a local website which was also undergoing some massive relocation and could not accommodate self-collection.
I shopped at Metro alone and picked up my skincare, a swim suit, a silk quilt (20%+20%) and silk-like quilt cover (60% off).
Thereafter, we had to rush over to catch "The Future of us" exhibition.
The wet walk in
Getting in soon – the entrance was so near to the fairground of Xmas Wonderland that I thought we should have parked at Gardens by the Bay.
Entering exhibit soon
To ponder over what made Singapore Singaporean
First video clip
There was a second clip and we were shown this exhibit room. It showed endless possibilities of how we could use technology to create our future.
Checking out urban farming
Z's favorite section was the one showing how SCDF used technology to resolve a problem and how the soldiers secured a building.
Casting a wish for his future
Enjoying a swing
The Future of Us – visited and checked!
I felt the exhibition was rather disappointing. Great concept but the experience was too short and abrupt.
In the evening, we attended a birthday party!
The kids enjoyed running around while I enjoyed the live prata station.
Live station
Z tried his first tissue prata
Then we rushed to USS for the Xmas show and fireworks!
Extent of smoke from fireworks – so glad that they went ahead despite the rain
For Xmas, Mr H renewed our season passes so here was to more USS.
I also realized we had more Xmas shows to catch!!!
We definitely had to come back here before the holiday trip!


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Thursday, February 05, 2009
Nanny's Tree Hugging Tendancies
It would seem that the good councillors of Cambridge City care more about trees than children.
The council want to ban nursery children (aged 2-4) from playing under a 30 year old cedar, to safeguard the tree from damage.
Cambridge City Council prepared a report into the health of the tree at the Under Fives Roundabout Pre-School in Cambridge. The report concluded that the tree will suffer if the ground is "poached and compacted" by "constant activity" which could stop water reaching the roots.
The report says:
"Ideally, the children would not be able to play beneath the tree."
How heavy can a bunch of 2-4 year olds really be?
Here's a radical thought, if the tree really does end up being damaged (highly unlikely I think), why not just plant a new one somewhere else?
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Show your contempt for Nanny by buying a T shirt or thong from Nanny's Store.
www.nannyknowsbest.com is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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Why not really indulge yourself, by doing all the things that Nanny really hates? Click on the relevant link to indulge yourselves; Food, Bonking, Toys, Gifts and Flowers, Groceries
9 comments:
- Anonymous12:09 PM
I knew we should never have ventured out of our caves all those millennia ago, trees are so fragile, I myself killed a huge oak tree yesterday by jumping on one of its roots. If only our ancestors had known we'd become a civilisation of tree killers... won't someone please think of the trees.ReplyDelete
Actually, if the choice is between a tree and a bunch of overweight, snotty, chav kiddie-winkles, I'd hug the tree any day.ReplyDelete
Trees are nice and polite (they only very occasionally fall upon anyone) and they eat carbon dioxide and shit oxygen.
Kids are almost universally not terribly polite, they (these days, anyway) grow into spotty little hoodies and require personal social workers, counsellors and a team of litigious sub-adults' rights workers to ensure the Universe's complete and utter acquiescence in their domination of the adult world.
The deification of children is almost complete.
The demonisation of those who do not deify kids is almost complete.
The universe is not a nursery.
Adults - even those distasteful ones without kids (eek! - how awful! their lives must be so empty! who will pay their pensions and wipe their OAP bottoms? Yadda yadda yadda! Yawn!) - have rights and expectations too.
Sorry but to be honest I'm all for the planting of trees, preferably the planting of trees on top of children with some sort of ceremony involving sunset, drums and flaming torches.
Horrible of me, I know.
I shall immediately excise myself from society and await the hanging, drawing and - if anyone can still do the geometry these days - the quartering.
- Anonymous12:21 PM
Given that most tree roots go many feet underground, I doubt that a few young kids would do any real damage playing under the tree.....Ohhhh Hang on a minute.....If all the two and three year olds are as obese as nanny tells us they are, mainly due to not being allowed to run around under trees, then perhaps there is something in this crazy report:-)) How much does the average two year old weigh now due to selfish parents?...Thirty stone? Half a ton?ReplyDelete
The world has gone crazy.....I wonder if I did any damage bonking under the large oak in Hermit Road Park in Canning Town, East London back in 1968? Mmmmmm I better get back down there and have a look!!
- Anonymous5:22 PM
If the tree is thirty years old there have most likely been children playing under/near it from when it was a fragile sapling. Furthermore said playing will have already compacted the soil under the tree as much as it can be. This decision has no doubt been taken by some parasite in a suit trying to justify his exceptionally well-paid (and gold-plated pensioned) non-job.ReplyDelete
Anyone reading this blog live in Cambridge? Stick 'em with an FOI request to find out who and why. That should keep some minion busy while costing money that would otherwise be spent on jollies.
Yes, here in Cambridge we are blessed with three full time tree officers http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/planning/conservation/tree-preservation/ReplyDelete
Its a wonder it wasn't for the children's health and safety reasons, goodness knows what can fall out of a tree.
Where is Dutch Elm Disease when you really need it?ReplyDelete
Geoff said ...ReplyDelete
... goodness knows what can fall out of a tree. ...
Er - would you believe the Human Race?
I like to think of it not so much as our ape ancestors falling out of the oaks as the oaks sneezing hard to get rid of parasites.
- Anonymous2:11 AM
On the basis that the location of the tree may mean that it has become used to children playing around it (and that it has rights and feelings too you know), has anyone asked the tree whether it wants to have its little chums removed from its presence?ReplyDelete
Other than that I'm with the Porrit-alike person who wrote the report and prefers trees to children, for pretty similar reasons to those expressed by SHMO.
One of the main benefits of trees over children is that, come the post-modern world of energy lack in the next decade, one can burn trees for heating and light but as yet burning children is frowned upon and, I suspect, not very efficient.


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Shotspotter Blog
ShotSpotter Respond Released!
We are proud to announce the release of our latest user application, ShotSpotter Respond. We listened to you and have added some new great features while maintaining the previous ones that you loved and used frequently. ShotSpotter Respond is still available on a mobile device, desktop or browser.
ShotSpotter Respond is aptly named as it is designed specifically for those personnel who are assigned to respond to the alerts in real-time. It has much of the information needed for responders to 1.) determine a safe, tactically sound approach and 2.) search a defined area for evidence after the scene is secure. Although it is designed with responders in mind, this application can be used by other personnel who wish to receive real-time alerts. ShotSpotter Respond is not an application recommended for communication centers, but we will have a new application for those important personnel sometime in early 2018 (look for the release of ShotSpotter Dispatch!).
Some of the key benefits that remain in ShotSpotter Respond include:
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If your agency is looking for training or support materials for ShotSpotter Respond, please contact ShotSpotter at email@example.com.
To visit our ShotSpotter Respond page, go to: https://www.shotspotter.com/ShotSpotter-RespondandDispatch


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28/03 2019
20 Years Of Genomics
Twenty years ago, the ENS genomics core facility has been established from a partnership between the Institut Curie, the École Supérieure de Physique et Chimie Industrielles de la ville de Paris (ESPCI) and the École normale supérieure (ENS).
In order to celebrate this anniversary they will organize in Paris on March the 28 th 2019 a half-day meeting entitled : "20 years of genomics past and future directions".
This event will feature a series of talks covering key research fields in genomics. (...)


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So i have convinced myself to start this to document the adventures of my historical recreations. I have entered the Realm of Venus' Italian Renaissance Costume Challenge, and with 112 days left there is still so much to do.
There are four levels in this challenge, the first being to complete an article of underwear, either a camicia or corset or drawers. I have begun my camicia, using an ivory linen/cotton blend and an embroidering pomegranates down the front in pale gold and deep purple. I also have seven yards of petite gold lace that I plan to sew on the neckline and cuffs, and perhaps the hem around the bottom. I was originally planning to embroider three rows of the pomegranites down the sleeves as well, but after briefly dabbling in the trim i plan to make for the gown itself, I have quickly decided to do the minimum amount of embroidery on my camicia, as it will not be seen. If I have time I also would like to sew a matching pair of drawers with matching embroidery around the hem.
I am currently about halfway done with the embroidery on it that must be there. If i had a nice long evening, i could easily get that finished. I am still trying to decide if I want to hand sew the entire thing, or just the visible stuff. I guess I need to set myself a deadline.
I usually just wing it when doing blackwork, count my stitches and try to make them as even as possible. For this I am using a water soluble marker and tracing the pattern from 'Why Call It Blackwork?' by Marion Scoular. I am using a double running stitch, and using cotton floss, so nothing too exciting. I have included pictures, a close up of the embroidery and then of what I have done so far. I love the examples in some depictions of period camicias, which show the embroidery down all the seams. Mine will go only down to about waist level. As my gown will be a front ladder lacing gown, I want the embroidery to be visible through the lacing center front.
Other than that, I have my bodice already sewn and have begun to applique'/embroider the trim. I will post pictures and details tomorrow if I get to it.


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The first time I walked into a yoga studio I was terrified. I had just had three panic attacks in 2 days and spent my lunch break at work that day crying in the bathroom. My anxiety had become so bad I confessed to my mom what was going on and she suggested I go to a yoga class. I can honestly say (like many people who practice yoga) that that class changed my life. That night, for the first time in months, I fell asleep within minutes and slept through the whole night. When I woke up I felt like more of my body was sunk into the mattress than usual. I was letting go and relaxing in a way I wasn't at all used to but I desperately needed.
Since then I've practiced yoga fairly regularly for almost 6 years. I'm now a yoga teacher and my friends make fun of me for wearing tights and yoga pants all the time, but I honestly just don't feel comfortable in anything else. I need to be able to move in my clothes and jeans just don't do it for me. But here's the thing, even though I'm a yoga teacher I can see how the western yoga world is an un-safe and un-welcoming place for many people.
In many ways, I am the target demographic for yoga studios. I'm white, from a middle class back ground, thin, able-bodied and cis-gendered (that means I identify and am perceived as the gender I was assigned at birth). When you speak to people who work at yoga studios you will commonly hear them say things like "everyone is welcome here". Many studios hold the intention to be welcoming, healing places for everyone, the reality is that yoga studios set some exclusive and damaging standards for who belongs and who doesn't.
For example check out the websites from Semperviva and YYoga in Vancouver. Take a look at the people on their sites. They are all thin. Pretty much all of them are white or fair skinned. Based on their clothing and the prices they pay at these studios, you could guess most of them are financially comfortable. None of them appear to be trans* and many of the photographs show people who are unusually flexible. What do you think these photos teach people about who belongs in the yoga world? Can you see why many people would feel unwelcome? When you fit this mold it's easy to feel like our spaces are welcoming: because they are welcoming, to you.
These photos are just the tip of the iceberg to this problem, but instead of listing more examples here are some steps yoga studios could take to move closer to truly "opening their doors to everyone":
Offer by-donation classes
Lots of people can't afford a $20 drop in or a $100 ten class pass (I know I can't). If you want people to practice, give them opportunities to do so that they can afford. Consider asking new teachers to offer the classes. They'd probably love a chance to practice their new skills.
Make your studio an LGBTQ safe space
It's one thing to say your studio is safe for queer, trans* or just generally non-gendernormative or non-heternormative people. You can easily do this with a sticker or a tag line on your pamphlets. But like I said before, what you say is not as important as what you do. For example do you assume your students' genders or do you ask for and respect their preferred pronouns? Does your studio have gender-segregated bathrooms? Some people would feel safer and more welcome if they didn't have to choose.
Multi-language posters/teachers
This one is pretty straight-forward. If all your marketing and classes are in English then only people who speak English will come. Non-english speaking teachers and classes allow immigrants (legal or otherwise), ESL students and people who speak other languages to practice yoga and build a community that they might not otherwise be able to do in English.
Celebrate fat bodies and body diversity
There are lots of healthy, happy fat people who kick butt at yoga and many fat people who are terrified of studios because they think they don't belong. Make sure your teachers know how to offer adjustments and alternatives for fat bodies. Consider offering fat classes and avoid making judgmental comments about people's weight or eating habits. You have no idea about the quality of someone's health based on their weight and you're not going to make them more physically active or healthy by shaming them.
Offer meditation classes
In the west, asana (all the poses you do in a yoga class) have been transformed into an en-vogue fitness trend, rather than a stepping stone towards meditation. Not only does this shift contribute to the consumer-capitalist cultural appropriation of yoga, it also demands that yoga practitioners be able to do physical asanas. Think about how many more people would come to yoga studios if they offered affordable meditation classes that could literally be useful to everyone.
Make your studio accessible to people with non-normative physical abilities
Can people in wheel chairs or who use walking aids make it into your studio? If not, could you do a simple renovation to fix this? More importantly, do you offer classes that can be taken by people who don't have a "normal" range of movement. Think about offering classes in meditation or chair yoga and make sure to include accessibility info in your advertising (eg: do students need to go up stairs to enter your space? What are the size of your doorways?). It's important though, not to assume that because someone has a non-normative body they can't do asana. Talk to them before or after class and listen to what they know about their bodies. Try to make them feel comfortable asking questions and offer creative, non-patronizing adjustments if needed.
Offer trauma sensistive classes
If you practice yoga you know that your body holds stress, tension, bad memories, samskaras, you name it. Lots of people don't want to do yoga because being in their body simply doesn't feel safe. On top of that yoga studios can feel unsafe for people because they are filled with potential triggers (eg: aggressive teaching instructions, vulnerable poses, teachers touching them without asking, ropes hanging from the wall.. trust me, the list goes on). Do your best to learn about trauma sensitive yoga and offer classes that respect your student's boundaries. You can help them feel safe, rather than scared and re-traumatized.
Don't set up in a gentrified neighbourhood
I live in Vancouver so I understand that finding a space to teach can be expensive and that this can translate into high prices for students, but please don't set up in a neighbourhood filled with people you don't intend to teach to simply because the rent is low. We may feel that we are working to "revitalize" a neighbourhood, but often our presence works in tandem with opportunistic and vicious property development companies to displace low-income people and racialized communities from the places they call home. I understand that many studios do intend to teach to the people whose communities they intruded on, but I've rarely seen this succeed when classes are filled with people wearing lululemon and class prices are unaffordable to residents.
Offer YTT scholarships
If your studio gives teacher trainings find ways to offer scholarships to people who otherwise could not afford to attend. Prioritize people who have greater barriers to overcome than others. Teacher trainings are expensive. By offering scholarships you will encourage a more diverse group of teachers and their future student bodies to blossom and feel welcome.
This is a long list. Many of the things I wrote about here are vastly more complicated than a couple of sentences could explain. I plan to write about many of these issues in more detail in the coming weeks, so check back if you're interested or want more info. If you have any other ideas about increasing accessibility feel free to send them my way, or better yet, take steps to implement them in your studios. The only way we can make more people feel welcome is if we think critically about our behaviour, our privlege and the kind of spaces we want to create.
Actions speak louder than words people, so please, open your doors, your hearts and your studios. Everyone is welcome, right?
Kula Yoga in Toronto is an example of a studio taking concrete steps towards increasing accessibility.


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I read through the speeches by Obama and Cheney. It was clear to me that Cheney outperformed Obama, in large measure, because Cheney knows what he is doing...
The first thing I would say is that Cheney was perhaps too modest about the results of the tough on terrorist approach of the Bush administration. Under their approach, Libya flipped to being a peaceful influence in the world and Iran dramatically slowed its progress on nukes. Unfortunately, I think it is sometimes difficult to claim credit for these successes, if only because we do not want to embarrass the folks who bent under U.S. pressure. Nevertheless, it seems silly not to call attention to those who reacted positively to U.S. resolve now that Obama is charting a new, more dangerous course. In this vein, I do not think it is wrong to call attention to the two U.S. female journalists currently being held hostage in North Korea as evidence of Obama's weakness.
Next, Cheney was right to call attention to the persistence of terrorists who attacked U.S. interests prior to 9-11. The fact that we have been quite safe since 9-11 is remarkable evidence that the Bush administration did the right thing and that Cheney is right to suggest: "In the fight against terrorism there is no middle ground, and half measures keep you half-exposed."
Third, Obama's speech was timed to minimize the impact of Cheney's words. Cheney had scheduled the speech well in advance and Obama dropped right on top of it - on purpose - with the aim of lessening Cheney's impact. Obama's effort looks all the more weak and defensive because of the role that Senate Democrats played in slowing down his plans to shut down the Guantánamo Bay Detention Camp by cutting off funding for that effort. This was a huge embarrassment to Obama and he and his staff felt they needed to take public action. Historically, this is similar to LBJ scheduling presidential announcements to undercut Sen. Robert Kennedy's charisma, visibility, and campaign efforts.
Finally, I was very pleased that Cheney used this brief moment of national attention to "leak" the truth about Speaker Pelosi.
"On numerous occasions leading members of Congress, including the current Speaker of the House, were briefed on the program and on the methods," Mr. Cheney said. He also pointed out: "Some members of Congress are notorious for demanding they be briefed into the most sensitive intelligence programs. They support them in private, and then head for the hills at the first sign of controversy." In my view, these comments show that Cheney is still on the job, protecting the United States.
John C. Drew, Ph.D. is an award-winning political scientist who is featured in Trevor Loudon's documentary, The Enemies Within.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Experience Rules: Comments on the Obama v. Cheney Debate
1 comment:
- Snowflake said...
I wholeheartedly agree. As a teen living in liberal New England, you have no idea how often the concept of Republicans being stupid is drilled into my head (yesterday I was thinking, "Wow, they call Bush dumb for mispronouncing a word, but Biden's a genius even when he accidentally shares the VP secret hiding bunker?!") In actuality, I think Cheney is such a brilliant guy, and he's not given enough credit.
- May 22, 2009 at 1:08 PM
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Bird Aid is a rescue and rehabilitation centre specialising in gulls. Having worked with wildlife, specialising in garden birds, our founders recognised the desperate need for specialist facilities for larger birds and, hence, Bird Aid was formed.
With gulls now in serious decline, and a real lack of information on how to care for them correctly, we aim to improve gull welfare through improving resources, collaborative efforts with associated organisations, and improving public perception of our beautiful and fascinating sea birds.
We encourage volunteers from all sections of the community, but especially young learning disabled adults, who benefit from the theraputic effects of being outdoors and among animals. In order to provide a variety of different work experience activities we also intend to give sanctuary to other animals and to expand into gardening, woodwork, wildlife conservation and other outdoor activities.
Our aims:
- to promote the welfare of Gulls, Corvids, and other sea birds through rehab and release programmes.
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- to provide outdoor learning for the learning disabled.


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Welcome To Health in Hands Chiropractic PLLC
We are dedicated to staying on top of the latest chiropractic tools and treatments. It is our goal to create a friendly and professional atmosphere that you can rely on for all of your chiropractic needs.
We couldn't be the office we are without our staff. They are always helping patients by giving them the information they need to make the right decision. Our staff will discuss all of your options and what to expect. They are here to answer your questions and address your concerns. It is their goal to give you a satisfying experience every time you walk through our doors. Quite simply, they are great at what they do!
If you would like to visit our office, feel free to contact us today at (801) 686-0625. You can call and text our number.
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Chiropractor in Ogden, UT
Contact Health in Hands Chiropractic PLLC to schedule an appointment or to request additional information about our services. We look forward to hearing from you.
We are proud to serve Ogden, UT and the surrounding areas. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of chiropractic care along with friendly, compassionate service.
Phone: (801) 686-0625
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm


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- What Makes A Successful CRM Project?
Posted by : Unknown Tuesday, 29 October 2013
The answer? Well, in truth, this is no single right answer. Often each department, or even individual will have their own idea of what a successful CRM project look like for them.However, what fascinates me is that so many companies often embark on large scale CRM projects without taking the time to truly outline what will be viewed as success. The management team see a business issue, perhaps relating to cost or efficiency, and jump for a quick "fix". "Hey, everybody is using this CRM thingy....we should do that!". The only trouble is that partner's are enlisted, budgets agreed and scope documents signed off before anyone has actually asked "Why do we actually need this again?".
This probably sounds very much like an odd thing to say for a CRM Consultant who spends his life encouraging people to implement CRM. However, implementing it for the right reasons, with clear business objectives is essential. Only then can you truly define true success, see measurable improvements and significant ROI.
What does failure look like? Now that's a different story! Everybody has clear in mind what failure is (Going over budget, missing deadlines...) but that too is often very subjective and is often nothing to do with the objectives of the project. So, without getting any more philosophical, what can an organisation who is implementing a CRM solution do to ensure that their project is successful?
Take Your Time
I chaired a discussion with over 30 delegates at a UK Housing Association conference last week on implementing CRM. When asked what they wanted to get out of our session, one delegate commented "To get it right first time with our CRM deployment".....Good answer
The only way to achieve this is to take your time in the first stages of any project. Rather than coming out of the meeting where you have identified your issue, reaching for Google and searching for CRM companies, take the time to really think about what the issues you are facing are. Identify the issues clearly and the solutions become more defined. Then, document what you would like to achieve from deploying a CRM solution, even writing a list of 2-3 key bullets of what are must-haves for the project to be a success.
Reaching back for Google yet? Hold on! Take the time to think about the wider business. If you are going to invest the time money and effort into a CRM project, why not see what else you can achieve whilst doing it? Can you bring teams that are working in disparate systems together and enable information sharing? Can you drive efficiency in areas that perhaps you would not expect (i.e warehouse, accounts dept...). Doing all of this takes time, time you may not think you have. But take it from one who has seen CRM projects rushed through by managers desperate to resolve their issues, if you don't take your time, you will pay the price down the line.
The time spent at this stage will save days even weeks of time resolving issues during or even after go-live.
Establish A Project Team
But who should make up this team? Your first inclination may be to involve all the people who have been involved in your discussions so far, or people who agree with your view on things. This is not always the best selection criteria and really any project team should be balanced. Your project team should have people from all areas and levels of the business with varying experience. Fresh ideas can come from the most unlikely of places. At a high level any project team should have:
A strong, driven Project Lead - This individual will be the first to read the documentation cover to cover and the last person to leave the night before go-live. They will get to know the system and therefore your business process inside out. They need to have the skills to draw out of people what they need and the strength to say no when asked for things that could derail the project. Clearly, this person is the most important member of the team and wouldn't normally be a member of senior management (trust me, you wont have the time)
At least 2 members of the senior management team as Project Sponsors. There is nothing more frustrating for this team of individuals who are working hard to make the system a success if there is no buy-in, perceived or actual, from the people at the top. They need to know that their hard work, often on-top of what they do as a day job, will not be for nothing. The individuals chosen to fulfill the project sponsor role must also have a key quality: They must actually care about and be invested in the project aims. I mean no offence, but there is no point in asking the VP of manufacturing to do this if the project will not impact his area of the business in anyway. In addition, even though as senior management they will be extremely busy, they must commit to attending the project meetings. This is crucial if the project is to be a success.
Project Champions from each affected department. These also must be chosen carefully. You are looking for people who are "up for it" and willing to really get stuck in and provide good feedback. These individuals need to know the processes carried out by their area of the business inside out as you need them to bring to the team all the scenario's and "What if's" that everyone else isn't aware of or would forget. In addition, really investing in these people, getting them involved in revisions of the scoping documentation and even asking them to sign-off the relevant parts will give your project a strong presence in each department meaning when things aren't going to plan post-deployment (which always happens no matter how good you are) your project lead isn't running around the building having a meltdown.
Getting the right people in place will be a major factor in a successful implementation.
Chose The Right Partner
Choosing the right consultant/organisation to handle your project is crucial. This person(s) is going to be your guide on so many things for what could be up to a year, the relationship needs to be strong. You need a partner who will support you through the changes that your business will go through during the project. You need a partner who will take the project as seriously and invest as much of themselves as you will. Obviously this comes at a cost, but a good partner can be worth their weight in gold.
What should you look for? A good partner will have a strong track record of delivery and be willing to let you talk to previous clients. They should also be able to assign you a main contact who is technical, who you can bounce ideas off when you need. They should also be easy to get along with. I know that sounds strange, but you will be putting these people in front of a large proportion of your staff. They need to present a positive and supportive attitude and, where possible, be easy to engage with. Your not looking for a partner who wants to make a quick buck and run.
Your CRM partner will get to know your business processes better than you do and going forward as your business develops your solution can do so to with the support of a partner who knows you and your ethos.
Chose The Right Technology
So, how do you measure success in a CRM project? Actually, only you can answer that. However, what is clear is that answering that question, setting your critical success factors before you do anything else, is almost the answer itself.
xRM Consultant (UK) Ltd provide consultancy services in all areas of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Projects. If you would like to discuss your requirements please contact us - email@example.com
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Posts Tagged 'Maruti'
Alto likely to take on Nano.
Posted March 6, 2009on:
Maruti Suzuki could slash the price of its largest-selling model, Alto, as it looks to take on the Nano, the world's cheapest car being rolled out by rival Tata Motors
with a price tag of Rs 1 lakh later this month, said an executive familiar with the car market leader's plans.
The executive, who asked not to be named, said the Alto, whose entry model costs Rs 2.3 lakh, will not be priced as low as the Nano, but will see "a significant mark-down".
However, any cut in Alto prices will not be immediate, the executive said, adding that Maruti will wait to launch a full-frontal battle only after Nano volumes gain critical mass. This can happen only in 2010, when the Nano mother plant at Sanand in Gujarat goes on stream. Until then, Tata Motors is likely to produce only 3,000-5,000 units of the Nano every month from its plant at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand.
A Maruti spokesman did not confirm or deny the plan, only saying, "We don't comment on our product plans."
It's still unclear whether Maruti will turn price aggressive with its current Alto model, or a new, souped-up version will be introduced so that the existing variant can be pushed down the price ladder to take on the Nano.
The decision to pit its best-selling model against the Nano is a major strategy shift for Maruti. The market leader was expected to cut prices of the M800 to counter the Nano. But according to people with knowledge of the situation, Maruti has decided that it's too expensive to upgrade the M800 to meet the Euro 4 emission norms.
In 2010, 11 cities in India will embrace Euro 4, and the M800 will be phased out from these markets. As the rest of the country moves to the new emission standard, the M800 will slowly be phased out countrywide. The M800's Euro 4 non-compliance is the reason why Maruti has to pit its best-selling model against the Nano, slated to be launched on March 23.
India's largest-selling model, the Alto standard, is priced at Rs 2.3 lakh. It has an 800cc engine, no AC and no power steering. The Nano standard version has a 624cc engine, but is expected to be priced Rs 1.2 lakh lower. Maruti sells around 2 lakh units of the Alto a year on an average. Alto sales recently crossed 1 million units.
Maruti's price aggression in the face of competition isn't new. When the Tata Indica was rolled out 10 years ago, Maruti reacted by cutting the price of its then best-seller, the M800, by Rs 25,000 to take on the Rs 2.95-lakh Tata car. Post-rebate, the M800 was priced around Rs 1.8 lakh, substantially cheaper than the Indica.
Maruti has always maintained that it will not develop a Rs 1-lakh car. Company chairman O Suzuki has gone on record saying the Rs 1-lakh car is not a segment Maruti would want to be in.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday said its premium hatchback Swift has reached the three lakh units sales
Claiming that Swift is the fastest model to reach the three lakh units mark, the company said it is setting up an online club, 'Swift Life', for all Swift-owners to commemorate the occasion.
"Swift represented the first Suzuki world strategic model produced in India. Built on a brand new platform, Swift marked a radical new trend in Suzuki design, representing a new philosophy and fresh thinking at Suzuki Motor Corporation," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) Mayank Pareek said.
Launched in May 2005, the car crossed the milestone in three years and eight months. It reached the first one lakh units in under 21 months, second one lakh units in under 13 months and the third one lakh units in under 11 months, the company said.
The Swift is available in petrol and diesel engine
options. The diesel variant Swift Diesel in January 2007.
Industrial and automotive battery company Amara Raja Batteries has entered into a tie-up with Maruti Suzuki. Alongwith the largest car
manufacturer, it has launched the co-branded replacement battery under 'Amaron MGB' brand.
This is aimed at capitalising on the Amaron brand, which has been an OE fitment in the automotive battery segment for most models of passenger cars from the Maruti stable. The tie-up has made 'Amaron' as the brand endorsed by Maruti Suzuki as a replacement battery.
Amaron MGB will now be an addition to Maruti Suzuki's existing array of genuine spares offerings, according to a release here on Wednesday.
Amara Raja MD Jay Galla said Amaron MGB now presents customers with the dual advantage of Amara Raja's finest battery technology and a wide availability through Maruti Suzuki's largest network of 3,000 plus authorised outlets across the length and breadth of the country.
Source: www.pricewale.com
Maruti Suzuki A-Star Reviews
Posted January 8, 2009on:
Maker : Maruti Suzuki
Body Type: Hatchback
Price(Ex-Mumbai) :Rs 3,48,996 /-
Recently Maruthi Suzuki's new A-star has joined the growing small car revolution of the Indian car industry. When a high degree of vivacity, attitude, technology meets innovation and enthusiasm we call it A-star.
(Read More) (Technical Specifications)


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text: I am in the midst of recording an audiobook of Spiritual Connection in Daily Life. I did a draft of Chapter 8, "Yes!" and thought I would put an early draft of the audio up here on the site. The first part of the book introduces and goes through each of the 16 Daily Spiritual Experience Questions one by one. This chapter is part of the middle section of the book that looks at particular themes embedded in the questions. It is definitely a draft audio, and still needs to go to a sound engineer to clean it up. I offer a brief introduction and Chapter 8 itself starts at minute 2, and takes about 30 minutes to listen to.


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Editor's note: Terence Moore is a CNN contributor and a sports columnist of more than three decades. He has worked for the Cincinnati Enquirer, the San Francisco Examiner, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AOL Sports.
Since we're in the midst of the NCAA college basketball tournament called March Madness, inquiring minds wish to know: Why do folks strongly dislike (OK, hate) the Blue Devils of Duke?
I'm among them.
Jay Bilas isn't, by the way. Then again, the splendid television analyst for ESPN college basketball used to play for the Blue Devils during the 1980s. He also was an assistant coach for the team while attending the Duke University School of Law.
"For years, people hated Notre Dame football. For years, so this hatred is not unique to Duke," Bilas said. "I've got a pretty good idea that I can walk down the street in Boston and say, 'I hate the Yankees,' and I'd make a bunch of friends. If Duke has a persecution complex, it's not that big of a deal. You're always going to have this, and there is a lot of good associated with it. People don't hate (mediocre) teams."
Bilas is correct.
In addition to Notre Dame in college football and the New York Yankees in major league baseball, you have the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL when it comes to prolific winners through the decades. They all generate outrageously huge television ratings. That's because nearly as many folks will click their remotes to boo them as well as cheer them.
It's just that this Duke thing goes deeper than another gifted bunch of Blue Devils trying to join their 1991 and 1992 predecessors by pulling a rarity in college basketball: Back-to-back national championships.
For one, rightfully or wrongfully, Duke basketball carries a haughty reputation among many sports fans -- and, apparently, when it comes to at least one of Duke's former players.
Earlier this week, ESPN basketball analyst Jalen Rose (remember the name, because we'll return to him in a moment) tweeted a link from a Duke alumnus who blasted Elton Brand through e-mail in the spring of 1999 for leaving the Blue Devils for the NBA after that season.
Brand was only a sophomore, but he still was talented enough to win the National College Player of the Year award after taking Duke to the 1999 national championship game.
The Duke alum was Jennifer Taylor, and she wrote in part to Brand: "I graduated from Duke last May and just wanted to express my disgust for your decision to leave the Duke program after only two years. ... We are first and foremost an academic school, and you clearly did not belong at Duke in the first place if this was the extent of your commitment to Duke and a college education in general"
To which Brand replied in part: "Thank you very much, for reminding me of the reason why I left Duke. ... I'm sure daddy worked very hard to send your rich self to college. While real people struggle. I would also like to extend an invitation for you not to waste your or my time ever again. Never being considered a part of your posh group of yuppies really hurts me to the heart. Yeah, right. Because I don't care about you or your alumni."
This hurt more: Rose's racial rip of Duke.
Rose was a member of the Fab Five, the nickname of the University of Michigan basketball team during the early 1990s. It featured, not only what was considered the greatest recruiting class of all time, but a starting five of trash-talking, long-shorts wearing, hip-hop-promoting teenagers in black socks and black shoes.
They weren't Duke fans, especially after they were hammered by the Blue Devils by 20 points in the 1992 NCAA national championship game. They also lost two other times to Duke.
No wonder, Rose said during a recent ESPN documentary on the Fab Five that he felt as a 17-year-old that Duke flaunted its reputation as a snooty private school. He said he thought Duke recruited only "Uncle Toms" when it came to black players. Jimmy King, another Fab Five member, added on the documentary that he thought former Duke standout Grant Hill was nothing but a ... well, this is a family website.
Hill wasn't amused. He even took a break from his current role as a player for the Phoenix Suns to write a biting editorial in Wednesday's New York Times. He said it was "sad" that he would get attacked for growing up among college-educated parents in a middle-class family. When he didn't characterize Rose's remarks as "garbled" and "pathetic," he called them "insulting" and "ignorant."
Hill is black, all right.
The same goes for Rose and King, which means there is a racial component to this Duke basketball thing that smacks of Ali-Frazier.
Thirty years ago, when those two heavyweights boxers met during what was called "The Fight of the Century," blacks who cheered for the blue-collar Joe Frazier over the flashy Muhammad Ali were considered "sellouts" or worse by many in the African-American community.
Nowadays, if you're black, and if you play or cheer for Duke -- let's just say you aren't exactly hugged by a segment of your peers. I've seen as much from my friends and relatives forever.
That said, this hatred of Duke basketball goes beyond racial lines, and for a number of good reasons.
In no particular order:
As will be the case again on Friday afternoon, when Duke opens the NCAA tournament against Hampton in Charlotte, the Powers That Be always seem to let the Blue Devils play their first games in the state of North Carolina, just a few dribbles from their home in Durham.
I know, I know: The NCAA likes to keep top-ranked teams such as Duke as close to their campuses as possible. Ohio State, for instance, is the top-ranked team in this year's tournament, and the Buckeyes' first game on Friday is up the road from Columbus in Cleveland.
But Duke basketball is about perception to its bashers, and the perception is that the Blue Devils get all of the breaks.
The perception is that they get all of the calls, too. That's because their designated saint of a head coach is Mike Krzyzewski, the 64-year-old owner of four national championships, a spot in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the reputation of always being correct. So Coach K intimidates the referees just by clearing his throat.
You can't forget about Christian Laettner, the most despised college basketball player ever. He had a dramatic game-winning shot for the ages in the last seconds of a 1992 NCAA tournament game against Kentucky. In that same game, he stomped on the chest of a Kentucky player lying on the court, and he had no remorse afterward.
Are all Duke players arrogant? No.
Current Duke star Nolan Smith is an example.
While on a family cruise, Nolan's father, Derek Smith, died suddenly at 34 after a nice career in the NBA and at the University of Louisville. The shock of the situation didn't keep 8-year-old Nolan from telling his mother at the time, "I'm the man of the house now."
Nolan Smith has done little since then to show that he hasn't been the perfect son, and Duke has other touching stories.
Still, we're back to perception.
Oh, and to hear the Blue Devils and Dick Vitale (ESPN's Mr. College Basketball) tell it, Duke has the only rabid fans on Earth. They're known as Cameron Crazies, because they consist of Duke students who camp outside of Cameron Indoor Stadium before home games. They wish to get good seats in order to perform their clever chants, often directed at a star player of the opposing team, and to scream themselves Duke Blue before, during and after the opening tipoff.
Perception aside, Bilas isn't buying much of this, especially the Duke conspiracy theories involving an officiating bias. "With all of the television that there is now, and with all of the metrics with statistical analyses, there's no way," Bilas said. "It would be great if somebody could do that for one person, but it would be smoked out in two seconds."
And the Blue Devils mascot doesn't carry a pitchfork.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Terence Moore.


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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Sporting Kansas City keep making history. The LA Galaxy keep waiting for something to go right for their beleaguered defenders.
Kei Kamara exploited the defending MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield champs' backline struggles with a diving header late in the first half, and Sporting improved to 5-0-0 — the best start for any team since 1998 — with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
LA started that season with nine wins in a row. That was in the shootout era, when matches could not end in draws, but only the first of those nine victories came in a shootout. This year, they're off to a 1-3-0 start and have been outscored 8-5 through four matches.
Sporting have four shutouts in five outings, meanwhile, and have outscored opponents 8-1. On Saturday, Jimmy Nielsen faced only three shots and didn't have to make a save.
The Galaxy got Landon Donovan back from a quadriceps injury that kept him out of last week's 3-1 home loss to New England, but were without David Beckham for the first time this year. The LA captain stayed home to recuperate from a nagging series of knocks that forced him to come off the bench against the Revs.
Playing before a standing-room-only crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park, KC came out pressing hard against a Galaxy defense that had already given up seven goals through three league matches. Sporting had 68 percent of the possession in the first half, but didn't get a shot off until Graham Zusi fired high from just outside the arc in the 20th minute.
Galaxy 'keeper Josh Saunders had to dive to his left to deny Chance Myers his first MLS goal in the 23rd minute, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Kamara's goal after getting hung out to dry by his backline.
OPTA Chalkboard: Sporting dominates LA in possession game
Convey, working on the right wing as Kamara made one of his periodic shifts to the left side, worked into space against Todd Dunivant and sent a cross toward the six-yard box. Kamara — leaving right back Sean Franklin flat-footed three yards behind him — dove and buried the ball just inside the right post to give Convey his first assist with his new club.
On the other side of the ball, Sporting stymied the Galaxy's potent forward tandem of Robbie Keane and Edson Buddle.
Keane, who leads LA with three goals, didn't get a shot off all day — although he came close in the 82nd minute, when he was alone at the back post but couldn't get to Chad Barrett's through ball. Buddle had an even quieter day — he was lifted for Barrett in the 57th minute and twice got cleaned on textbook tackles by center back Aurélien Collin.
Mike Magee had two good chances for LA, firing wide on a counter in the 7th minute and shooting just outside the left post in first-half stoppage time, but was unable to break up Nielsen's clean sheet.
Steve Brisendine covers Sporting Kansas City for MLSsoccer.com. Write to him at firstname.lastname@example.com.