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All undergraduate students at Michigan State are required to have a laptop computer that can connect to the Internet.
All students should check with their prospective major college and department to see if they have specific laptop computer requirements. For example, some programs require that all of their students have a laptop computer. Others make strong recommendations about computers using particular operating systems.
If there are no specific laptop computer requirements for the student's program of studies:
- MSU requires a laptop computer.
- The laptop computer may be any brand, running a modern operating system that still receives security updates. Students will want to be sure the laptop computer can run software they will use for homework (e.g., office applications).
- The laptop computer must be able to connect to MSU's campus network and the Internet using Wi-Fi or a high-speed Ethernet connection. Laptop computers should have an Ethernet cable and wireless card. The MSU wireless network supports all current wireless communication protocols (802.11a, g, and n. The 802.11n standard operates in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies.).
- The laptop computer must be equipped with virus protection and firewall software, which needs to be installed and running prior to connecting the laptop computer to the MSU network.
- All students that utilize MSU resources such as network, campus labs, etc., are expected to abide by the MSU Acceptable Use Policy.
- MSU does not recommend students rely on tablet devices (e.g., iPad), mobile phones, or netbook computers (e.g., Chromebooks) as their primary computer due to software limitations.
Note: Some course sections may be taught with the expectation that students use laptop computers in class (this is noted in the schedule of course listings), so a laptop may provide expanded instructional opportunities for students. Many students also meet in groups to work on class projects using laptops or choose to study outside their residence hall rooms.
Financial aid
Students who qualify for financial aid should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss funding options for technology. Most students who qualify will receive loans. See MSU's Office of Financial Aid for more information.
Laptop computer purchasing
The MSU Tech Store sells laptop computer hardware and software to MSU students, faculty, and staff at educationally discounted prices. Popular software is available in some cases for less than half the retail price.
The MSU Tech Store is located in room 110 of the Computer Center Building at 450 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. The Computer Center is next to the Administration Building. Purchases can also be made online.
If you think you have a virus, you can take your laptop computer to the MSU Technology Store in room 110 of the Computer Center.
Note: Students do not need to buy their laptop computers at the MSU Tech Store.
Microsoft Office Pro Plus downloads are available to all active MSU students through Spartan 365. Office Pro Plus includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. Each student can download Office Pro Plus on up to five computers (Windows or Apple iOS), five tablets (Windows, Apple iOS, and/or Android), and five smartphones. Additional software is available through the MSU Tech Store.
Limitations of other devices
MSU doesn't recommend students use tablets, mobile phones, or netbooks as their primary computing device, though these devices may help supplement their computing needs.
The reasons for this are:
- Many courses rely on video and interactive content to deliver essential course materials. Not all video and interactive content formats are supported by these devices.
- The primary learning management system at MSU, D2L, can be used with iPad or Android devices. However, some critical features may require additional applications to function that are not available on all devices.
- There are some applications (e.g., MATLAB) which are required in some majors that will not run on the iOS or Android devices. While students can use MSU computer labs to overcome this limitation, it does reduce the convenience of having all the applications needed on one primary computer.
- Netbook computers tend to be underpowered and will likely be insufficient for students' use throughout the duration of their college experience. In addition, netbooks may not be able to run some high-powered software students need for coursework.
Computer security
MSU considers computer security to be extremely important. Protect your computer by:
- Adding your equipment, especially laptops, to your family's insurance coverage.
- Purchasing and using a security cable if you own a laptop computer.
- Making sure to lock the door to your room and not leaving your laptop unattended in libraries or other public areas.
For additional SecureIT information, read "Safeguard Your Devices."
(Last updated May 22, 2017)


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Branded USB Drives Pretoria & Fourways
Branded USB Drives Pretoria & FourwaysJuly 5, 2016 Comments Off on Branded USB Drives Pretoria & Fourways
Branded USB Drives | Memory Sticks
A popular trend currently is for companies to give Branded USB Drives to their clients. These are great as they are practical and needed by almost everybody. Custom branded USB Drives are great for advertising purposes and brand recognition. Memory sticks or Branded USB Drives are without a doubt one of the most favored promotional items or corporate gifts. We offer you memory sticks with your own branding. Please allow us to show you what great service and turnaround time is all about.
At Redblock we offer an assortment of USB flash drives from pens to key rings, etc. On larger orders of 500 units or more, we can provide USB flash drives in all shapes and sizes, e.g. cars, planes, trains, etc. Anything to suit your specific needs. Feel free to click HERE to find what you are looking for.
Most of these USB flash drive designs are 4 GB and 8 GB with some available up to 32GB. Commonly Branded USB Drives used for corporate gifts are 4-8 GB. On this catalogue you will find over 40 different USB memory-sticks, some novelty, some basic and some practical. If you can't find exactly what you are looking for, we can (through our suppliers) custom manufacture USB memory-sticks to your specifications (minimum orders apply). These can be ready in as little as 8 weeks. We also stock and brand accessories for the USB flash drives for e.g. key rings, cases, lanyards, presentation bags and boxes and much more. On promotional items our company policy requires a minimum order of a R 800 (your order can contain various different items not just USB flash drives).
Branding Options
USB flash drives can be branded in three different ways:
- Pad printing
- Laser engraving
- Dome stickers (this is the quickest option as these stickers are simply glued to the USB flash drives)
Ordering process
Visit our online catalogue HERE
Chose the items you would like to purchase (check stock availability), then supply us with the product code, colour option, branding preferred, memory size and the quantity you require. Then email this information to us and we will send through a detailed quotation for you.
Check whether your logo/design is in a vector format, (saved as adobe illustrator (AI), Corel draw (cdr), portable document format (PDF) or encapsulated postscript (EPS)). If not or you do not have a finalised logo, one of our agents can redraw it at a cost of R150-450 depending on the complexity.
Depending on the item chosen, the quantities in question and the complexity of your design, we can help you to decide which of the printing methods we could use to brand your USB memory-sticks, e.g.
- Pad printing (works great on large orders of a 100 or more)
- Laser engraving (great for any metal items)
- Domed stickers (the printing method with the quickest turnaround time, also great for small orders).
Once the design has been signed off and a 50% deposit is received by us, your order will be processed and ready for collection within 5-7 working days (when standard stock is ordered and in stock) at which time the balance of the account will be due.
You can cololect your order at either of our offices, Menlo Park or Fourways. we could also courier your order to the following areas: Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Sandton, Fourways, Randburg, Roodepoort and the East Rand delivery will cost R120 excl vat. In all other major cities around South Africa through our courier company, it will cost R130 excl vat. (Add + 2 working days). Please note that orders can only be courier once full payment has been made. We can send you an image of your completed item if you request this before paying your full order.
In the unfortunate event that the products aren't what we promised we will retrieve the products and refund you in full.
What is the lead time for my USB flash drive order?
Depending on stock, quantity and branding method that you choose your order should be completed within 5-7 working days.
Do you deliver my order?
Our head office is located in Pretoria and we have a branch in Fourways. We deliver orders to Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Sandton, Fourways, Randburg, Roodepoort and the East Rand for R120.00 excl vat. But, we are not confined to these areas, daily we courier products across the country so do not let it bother you if you are located in Bloemfontein, Cape-Town, Port Elizabeth, East London etc. We can get your order to you for R130.00 Excluding VAT. Please note courier delivery can take up to 2 extra working days.
How will the USB flash drives be branded?
The USB flash drives will be branded either by pad printing, engraving or using domed stickers. On quantities of 100 or more we advise using pad printing, although domed stickers have a faster turnaround time.
I would like custom made USB flash drives, can you produce them for me?
Yes, on orders over 500 units we can supply anything to meet your needs. Within 8 weeks your product can be designed, manufactured and delivered.
I have a design I would like printed on my USB flash drives, in what format should I send it to you?
In a vector format (saved as adobe illustrator (AI) Corel draw (cdr), portable document format (PDF) or encapsulated postscript (EPS). However if you do not have this our graphics department will gladly design or redraw it for you at a cost of between R150-450.
In Gigabytes, what are the largest USB flash drives you can supply?
We can provide you with drives up to 256 GB. Unfortunately these are not ideal for promotional gifts due to their high costs. But with technology growing rapidly on a daily basis these costs will come down over time.
What is the paying procedure for my USB flash drive order?
50% deposit upfront on placing of order, balance due on collection/delivery.
I am uncomfortable paying for something I have not seen, why should I?
To ease your mind we will email you close-up photos of your order, once completed before shipping. In the unlikely event that your order isn't what we agreed upon we will gladly collect the order and refund you.
If I would like my order within 5-7 working days could you print the USB Flash drives in time?
Yes, although your order will likely be branded with dome stickers, a rush fee (30%) will be charged for this.

subset: commoncrawl


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Lush Christmas 2016
14 comments :
Lush comes out with the cutest seasonal products. I cant wait to try out the Magic Of Christmas bubble bar!ReplyDelete
They so do!! I love everything this year... Might have to make another trip Haha!! XDelete
Ever since I discovered Lush even existed, I knew I really wanted to try the Magic of Christmas bubble bar! I've heard only amazing things about it, and I have smelled it in shop too, only I never had any cash on me. Peeping Santa is another one I really want to try, and hopefully I can get my hands on both of these this year. Are they released in stores? My Lushie usually is pretty late with new collections, and I wanted to ask before I went in with a wad of cash and no festivity, haha! Love the photos xxReplyDelete
Kyia at WANDERLUSTGIRL// lifestyle & beauty
Let's be BLOGLOVIN friends!Replies
Thanks so much lovely!! Yes, both of them are avaliable in stores and if they're the only things you buy from Lush this Christmas I could not recommend them more!! :) The magic of Christmas just makes me feel so festive and cosy!!Delete
I am jumping for joy over here! Part of the reason I get so excited for holidays is because of the amazing products that Lush comes out with. That Peeping Santa Bubble Bar is absolutely adorable, but I am definitely most excited about the Magic of Christmas Bubble Bar! It is so festive haha, I might have to make a trip to Lush very soon! Great post!ReplyDelete
Ashlee Liz
You definitely do! They have so many cute new bits in too, but yeah the Magic of Christmas is by far one of my favourites too!! :) xDelete
So cuteeee!ReplyDelete
Haha! :) I know!! xDelete
Autumn and Winter time is the perfect time for baths I think! there is nothing better than coming home from the chilly outside to enjoy a festive bath! I just picked up all their autumn range so don't think my bank can handle the christmas range (just yet...). I haven't seen a lot of people buying the Snowie Bubble Bar but he's so cute! Definitely one for me! Peeping Santa was one of my all time favourites. The Magic of Christmas was too as I love all things cinnamon and this was just so pretty! xxReplyDelete
I couldn't agree more! Snowie is a cutie and definitely Peeping Santa is one of my favourites too!! :) xDelete
I love the Magic of Christmas, it's so pretty, festive and the smell is just amazing! Sophie xReplyDelete
Cinnamon is definitely one of my favourite autumn-winter scents, thats why I love it so much! :) xDelete
Oh gosh I adore the christmas range! I work there now over christmas so I get can get my hands on all the goodies if I need too, I've bought so many already!ReplyDelete
You need to get your hands on the sleepy body lotion and the snow fairy body conditioner, they're seriously under rated and I think you'll love them!
Jem xo | JemsJournal.comReplies
I'm so jealous that you work there - I would LOVE to do that!! :) I've tried the snow fairy body conditioner but never the sleepy body lotion - so I definitely want to go and give that one a go (and a sniff, since I imagine it smells amazing.. as all Lush products do, haha!) xDelete


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If you need just one reason to watch the new web series Little Things, it is Mithila Palkar.
The actor and singer, who made her presence felt with shows like Confusing Things Girlfriends Say and Girl In The City, plays the adorable Kavya aka Kavu, in the Dice Media series opposite Dhruv Sehgal, which documents the little things (duh!) that make mundane moments special for this couple.
You've seen Mithila earlier in this ad with Kangana Ranaut ("Extra class!")
Source: youtube
The talented singer beautifully mashed up Anna Kendrick's Cup song with a Marathi number, "Chal Turu Turu":
She also used this gift of hers in a soulful rendition of "Maharashtra Desha" with Gandhaar:
Her Instagram is a goldmine of short clips in her divine voice:
And if that talent isn't enough for us to fall in love with her, look at her rock a Maharashtrian Nath like no one else!
In fact, she takes the whole Nath-Chandrakor game and ups it with her oh-so-gorgeous curls:
Life goals reset to Mithila Palkar!
Watch her in the first episode of Little Things here:
Title image: ibtimes
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You can also download Reacho app on Android or iOS to get interesting stories at your fingertips.
Like our facebook page to stay updated. You can also download Reacho app on Android or iOS to get interesting stories at your fingertips.


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State Licensure
In addition to submitting annual statements to the IRS, Radiant Hands must submit paperwork to both the State of Florida, Department of State, to certify that it is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Florida. The annual document number of this corporation, N05000005948.
In order to solicit contributions, organizations must be registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Our registration number is CH19875.


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Being in close proximity to Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Hartbeespoort Dam is most certainly one of the province's most popular destinations for weekend getaways and day trips. For the explorer seeking some exhilaration, this region offers such activities as parasailing, windsurfing, water and jet skiing, paragliding, hang-gliding or hot air ballooning. The tamer trekker can roam the village of Hartbeespoort and pay a visit to the local aquarium, private zoo, snake park and cable way, or simply indulge in the sheer scenicbeauty of this magnificent land.
We have an aquarium, private zoo, a snake park and a cable way. Explore and discover the scenic beauty, entertaining attractions, fun activities & places of interest of this wonderful land.
The Hartbeespoort Dam was constructed in 1925. Its current capacity is 205 million cubic metres and its shoreline, when full, is about 56km. Surrounded by the majesty of the Magaliesberg mountain range, Hartbeespoort Dam is very popular for weekend getaways or day trips.
The 60 000 ha Madikwe Game Reserve, adjacent to the Botswana border, is home to 66 large mammal species including the Big Five and approximately 300 resident and migrant bird species.
One of South Africa's largest game reserves, Madikwe has the distinction of being one of the few game reserves in the world to be proclaimed purely on the grounds of being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for an area.
Guests are taken on conducted, day and night game drives or bush walks. Excellent accommodation is available at various private lodges. There are no day visitor facilities.
Situated a mere three hours' drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria, the Madikwe Game Reserve is renowned as one of South Africa's premier safari destinations. Being home to 66 large mammal species, including the 'Big Five', and approximately 300 resident and migrant bird species, Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Guests can enjoy day and night game drives and bush walks, or just be treated to the absolute luxury of the area's many fine accommodation facilities.
The name Mafikeng (Mahikeng) means "The place among the rocks". This name was given to the area by early Barolong chiefs who had settled along the Molopo River, near the present day village of Rooigrond, in 1852.
Mafikeng later attracted the attention of the world during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 – 1902 as the small British garrison under the command of Colonel Robert Baden-Powell held out for 217 days against Boer forces.
Today Mafikeng is a vibrant provincial and commercial capital and a major tourism attraction for the the history, culture and wildlife of this unique region of South Africa.
"The Volcano that gave birth to a game reserve" The structure of the park was formed by volcanic eruptions some 1 200 million years ago. This extinct volcano is the most perfect example of an alkaline ring complex. Pilanesberg National Park rates high amongst the world's outstanding geological phenomena.
Pilanesberg exists within the transition zone between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld vegetation, commonly referred to as "Bushveld". Unlike any other large park, unique overlaps of mammals, birds and vegetation occur because of this transition zone. The very topography makes the area a feast for the eye – syenite koppies, thickly forested ravines, typical bushveld and also rolling grasslands and lightly wooded areas.
In the centre of a volcanic valley, surrounded by the slopes of the Pilanesberg mountains, a wonderland rises from the dust. Shimmering in the African sun, the fantastic Sun City Resort Complex could be mistaken for a mirage.
The complex is one of the world's largest adult entertainment centres. Gaming on the casino tables, golfing on its superb 18-hole course, watching boxing matches, attending performances by some of the world's most popular stars, lazing in the plush ambience. The Lost City – an illusion of some idyllic ancient civilisation rediscovered – with the Shrine of the Sacred Monkey, ruins of old temples, ancient carvings, grottos, the Valley of the Waves, Bridge of Time, The Palace – one of the architectural wonders of Africa.
'The Place of the Lion' named after Tau, the chief of the Bataung people, who made his headquarters here during the 18th century. Taung became famous in 1924 with the discovery of a fossilised skull of a child. This discovery led many scientists to believe that the origin of early man was initiated on the African continent.
It was at the limestone diggings at the old Buxton quarry in 1924 that the lime encrusted child-skull (Australopithecus Africanus), belonging to an early hominid was unearthed and taken to Prof Raymond Dart. A monument to this discovery is at the site and an old mine tunnel has been opened for exploration. The Buxton quarry is no longer being mined,but remains an important scientific research site and is also a place of great peace and tranquillity.
From the limestone cliffs at the head of the valley, a constant flow of clear water flows through a succession of attractive pools in descent down to this ancient valley. Besides for its archaeological importance, the area's magnificent scenery, Blue Pools, limestone cliffs and picturesque caves provide an ideal spot for hiking, abseiling and picnicking.
The Taung Heritage Site was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO.
The Vredefort Dome was created by a massive meteorite which struck the earth about 3,000 million years ago, near the present day village of Vredefort. The Vredefort structure is currently regarded the biggest and oldest clearly visible impact structure on Earth. It just beats the Sudbury impact structure in Canada for this ranking.
Several landowners in the region have come together to form the Dome Conservancy. Today, the Conservancy is one of the province's prime adventure tourism sites and caters for the needs of campers, hikers, cyclists, rock climbers, canoeists and white water rafters.


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Picture Lights: An Invaluable Investment for Your Artwork
Whether you are living in a mansion in Beverly Hills or renting out a small apartment in San Francisco, your walls are probably adorned with artwork. From family portraits to vintage movie posters, our picture lights serve to illuminate any display and bring it to life. Constructed with LED lighting technology and sophisticated craftsmanship, our lights will draw attention to your pictures 41x longer than traditional lights! This invaluable investment is not only energy and cost efficient but will add that high definition resolution to your artwork without the damaging effects.
At Cocoweb, our pictures lights come in three different styles in various sizes and finishes to fit your needs. We offer free shipping and shipping within 24 hours, on top of prices that are comparably less than most pictures lights sold in the market.
Our Classic Picture Lights are made with an elegant rounded shade with no extra ornamentation, giving off a vintage vibe to your home. Its LED lighting adds fullness to the red, yellow, and blues in your pieces at a Color Rendering Index of 90+. With a color temperature of 2,700 Kelvin, our lights bring warmth to your pictures similar to the radiance of natural sunlight in the early morning. The light intensity can be controlled with our exclusive Cocoweb Dimmer and the lighting angle and height are adjustable upon its arms. At prices ranging from $63.00-$481.00, our products last up to 21 years with 50,000 hours of lighting without any replacement needed. They are crafted with no mercury and consumes little power, lessening energy pollution while saving you money on electricity bills.
Similar to the Classic Picture Lights in quality are the Tru-Slim Art Lights. The Tru-Slim Art Lights, however, are created to be more minimalist. Its thin design promotes precision in the amount of light illuminating the picture. Its evenly spaced LED nodes bring direct light to the painting, capturing the fullness of each color. Prices go from $163.00 to $473.00 for a priceless touch to your prized artwork.
The Hardwire Art Lights are the most minimalist in design out of the three, being only 7/8 of an inch thick. Each light has a directional swivel shade for maneuverability and direct wire fixtures that connect right to the walls and the junction boxes. Its understated simplicity shifts the viewer's attention to the canvas while powered by a reliable source of electrical input. This museum-quality art light can go from $173.00 to $483.00.
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This question was emailed to us with photos attached:
Can you identify the attached chair, sorry, the attached photo of the chair?
Ahh, what a lovely chair, Vincent!
Immediately the things that stand out to identify this chair are the sculpted armrests and the thoughtfully attractive wood stretcher on its backside. These details are indicative of designer Folke Ohlsson of Dux.
"Folke Ohlsson moved to the US from Sweden in 1953, and established DUX, Inc. in San Francisco the same year. In 1959 he moved the company to Burlingame, California. His design is generally referred to as "Scandinavian Modern" but frequently gets categorized as "Danish Modern" or "Danish Teak".
A popular designer of the late 1950s early 60s, and highly collectable, Folke Ohlsson has been credited for creating the concept of knock down furniture, or KD. This is furniture which can be flattened and assembled at its final destination which makes it less expensive to ship.
Folke Ohlsson passed away Oct. 23, 2002." (via)
If you're planning on selling the chair, I highly suggest you research further before you slap a big price tag with DUX on it – but if you're going to keep the chair and love it, feel free to impress your friends with your "I believe it's a piece by designer Folke Ohlsson" chair.


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Man points gun at Efficiency Lodge employee
A man was arrested Tuesday after he pointed a gun at an employee at the Efficiency Lodge on Boxwood Place, according to a Columbus Police Department report.
Jerrell McClenton, 27, reportedly pointed a gun at a 50-year-old employee at the Efficiency Lodge on the 1700 block of Boxwood Place during a dispute. He was arrested and charged with pointing a pistol at another person.
McClenton was transported to Muscogee County Jail.


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After making the crossing to the other side of the sea,Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaretand tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on matsto wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,they laid the sick in the marketplacesand begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
* * * * * * * *
No sooner had Jesus landed on the other side of the lake than once again he was surrounded by crowds. Just sometimes he must have looked on the crowds with a certain wistfulness, because there was hardly a person in them who had not come to get something out of him. They came to get. They came with their insistent demands. They came—to put it bluntly—to use him. What a difference it would have made, if among these crowds, there had been some few who came to give and not to get. In a way, it is natural that we should come to Jesus to get things from him, for there are so many things that he alone can give; but it is always shameful to take everything and to give nothing in return, and yet it is very characteristic of human nature. If we examine ourselves, we are all, to some extent, guilty of treating God in such manner from time to time. It would perhaps give him tremendous joy if on certain occasions, we come to him, not so much to ask something for ourselves, but to simply offer him our love, our service, and our devotion.


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Copyright 2012 Agameshow.com. All rights reserved.
All Games and Graphics Agameshow.com are copyrighted or trademarked by their respective owners or authors
Home - Advertise - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Submit Games - Free Games For Your Site
The Great Magicians Curse
Game Plays: 1578
Published: 2014-08-15
Category: Adventure


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To view the number of adviser, paraplanner, and consumer licences available in your firm's subscription:
1. Visit our website. Which website you go to depends on which version of Voyant you use.
Canada - canada.planwithvoyant.com
Ireland - www.planwithvoyant.ie
United Kingdom - www.planwithvoyant.co.uk
United States - www.planwithvoyant.com
2. Click My Subscription in the website's top navigation bar.
A count of the number of used and allowed adviser, paraplanner, and consumer licences will be shown on this screen.
If additional licences are needed, arrangements can be made by contacting us at Voyant customer support at email@example.com.


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ROC United Calls for the Elimination of the Subminimum Wage for Tipped Workers
The federal minimum wage has been stuck at a mere $2.13/hr for over two decades. It's time to end this two-tiered wage system. Stand with us for better wages by eliminating the lower minimum wage for tipped workers. Sign up below to contact your legislators. Take action today!


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What is business litigation?
Unfortunately, with business comes business disputes – whether internally or externally. Business Litigation is the legal consequence of these disputes should they not resolve. Litigation means that you're going to pursue a lawsuit or you're going defend a lawsuit regarding a dispute. Business litigation is often stressful and many times a costly and timely process, but, unfortunately, it is just as often a necessary evil that comes with doing business. That is, if you're being sued, you need to protect your rights. And, if you have vendors, for example, breaking contracts, you have to stand your ground to protect your rights.
What are my alternatives to litigation?
At Carpenter Gandhi, we create a custom strategy for each business dispute that comes through our door. While we prepare for litigation, we exhaust every possible avenue for an amicable result as possible. The reason is that you shouldn't be emptying your pockets, losing your sleep, and being distracted from you business so that you can march into Court if you can avoid it. TV shows, movies, and even actual attorney commercials have hyped up being "aggressive" to such a point that its laughable. But the point of this marketing is simple – to scare you into believing that the only way to "win" is to be a bully. Frankly, that's not true. Sure, sometimes litigation is the only way that will provide a resolution. Nevertheless, at Carpenter Gandhi, we utilize our professional relationships to help us negotiate resolutions both informally and through such structured settings as mediation. Our focus is to accomplish your goals while keeping your dollars, your stress, and your focus on your business.
External v. Internal Dispute
Most small business immediately think of an external business dispute when they think of business litigation. Most business owners are concerned about premises liability, product liability, breach of contract, regulatory liability, and on and on. These types of disputes are what we call 'external' to the business and are perhaps more typical than internal disputes, at least in terms of litigation considerations. External disputes tend to be easier to conceptualize because there's generally an outsider suing you and you suing an outsider – its business, not personal.
However, when a small business faces an internal dispute, it can get messy—and get messy quickly. Internal disputes tend to arise among business partners. Sometimes it's about money, sometimes about control… and sometimes it's due to a death or a divorce. If you have a solid operating agreement (in additional to personal documents like wills and pre-nuptial agreements), the dispute is usually easier to resolve because the problem is more clear-cut. In the absence of such guidance, the problems can exacerbate until lawyers and lawsuits are involved to sort out the rubble. Our advice when you see an internal dispute beginning to brew is to open the lines of communication. Get to the root of the problem before it grows and consumes the business. Unfortunately, communication doesn't always solve the problem; when that happens, act early. Sit down with a local small business attorney to determine your rights and figure out a strategy.


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VMware cloud management goes multi-hypervisor with DynamicOps buy
After insisting it wouldn't go there, VMware went there; with its DynamicOps purchase, VMware offers cloud management for third-party hypervisors.
After years of insisting it wouldn't go there, VMware will finally offer customers a way to manage third-party hypervisors, but not because it wants its customers to run Hyper-V; it comes as part of a strategy to help the company compete in the cloud.
VMware Inc. said on Monday it will acquire DynamicOps, Inc., maker of cloud management software capable of commanding multiple hypervisors, physical infrastructure and public cloud services.
For some VMware customers, the news came out of left field, but most saw it as the inevitable result of increasingly heated competition in the cloud management market where Cloudstack, OpenStack, Red Hat, Eucalyptus and other providers all support multiple hypervisors.
VMware really blew a chance at taking center stage by not offering it out of the gate with vCloud Director.
John Bythrow, systems and solutions engineer for Open Sky Corp.
"With open source, multi-hypervisor, cloud management platforms sprouting from the ground, VMware simply has no choice," said John Bythrow, systems and solutions engineer for Open Sky Corp., which consults with large firms in the Hartford, Conn. area. "VMware really blew a chance at taking center stage by not offering it out of the gate with vCloud Director."
Others agree it's a move VMware had to make.
"I think it fits in the category of 'if you don't cannibalize your own market, someone will do it for you'," said Bob Plankers, a virtualization architect at a Midwestern university. "And it's better [for VMware] to be part of someone's infrastructure than not."
This news also represents a shift in posture for VMware.
While there had been some toying around with support for other hypervisors such as Microsoft's Hyper-V, VMware CEO Paul Maritz said emphatically at the launch of vSphere 5 last year that there were no plans for multi-hypervisor management. The company has also expressed uneasiness with physical infrastructure management. Until now, the company was steadfast in marketing a soup-to-nuts software offering that didn't take into account any competitors' products.
Now, VMware has admitted that at least some of its customers are using hypervisors and cloud infrastructures other than its own.
"A number of customers have told me that … they have … pockets of other hypervisors for various reasons, and they are looking for a multi-hypervisor management solution," wroteRamin Sayar, vice president and general manager, cloud infrastructure and management for VMware, in a blog post about the acquisition.
Burlington, Mass.-based DynamicOps, founded in 2008, has been a VMware partner for about two years, and also has partnerships with Amazon Web Services, Citrix, Microsoft, Red Hat and Sun Microsystems, Inc. Almost all of its 100 customers to date, which include Dow Jones, News Corp., the Internal Revenue Service and investment firm Man Group, are VMware users, according to DynamicOps officials.
In a separate interview, Sayar emphasized VMware "still fundamentally believe[s] that the best option is a standardized vSphere infrastructure," but the company is offering users the option of heterogeneous management if they choose it.
DynamicOps to integrate with VMware tools
VMware will first integrate DynamicOps' software, which is built on the Microsoft .NET framework, with the Linux-based vCloud Director to "provide a policy automation and integration layer" and "a single cloud storefront across heterogeneous infrastructure pools," according to Sayar's blog post.
VMware needs to make sure it doesn't allow development to stall and irk users while it wraps everything together in a bow.
Carl Brooks, analyst at 451 Research
VMware's vCloud Director is already integrated with DynamicOps through the vCloud API at joint customer sites today, but the company would work to "productize" this integration over the next two quarters, Sayar said. vCloud Orchestrator integration will be similarly packaged for sale to the masses.
Following that will be integration with vFabric Application Director, vCenter Operations Manager and finally with the IP VMware acquired with Digital Fuel for IT business management, according to Sayar.
"Integration of DynamicOps with VMware's core products is going to be an interesting process," said Carl Brooks, analyst with 451 Research based in Boston. "VMware needs to make sure it doesn't allow development to stall and irk users while it wraps everything together in a bow."
The acquisition is expected to close this quarter. Integration will be ongoing through the second half of next year, Sayar said. Financial terms of the deal for DynamicOps were not disclosed.
Beth Pariseau is a senior news writer for SearchServerVirtualization.com and SearchDataCenter.com. Write to her at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow @PariseauTT on Twitter.


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What Happened to Love thy Neighbor?
By Dahni
© 2017, all rights reserved
There was a day. It was warm and beautiful. The skies were blue and friendly puffy floating clouds drifted by. Birds were on the wing and in song. Hope was in your heart. Possibility in the air was blowing through your hair. You felt good and walked with confidence in every step you took. You smiled. You smiled at others you knew or met. You said hello and they in turn, gave it back freely and friendly, like a hug and kiss from just a gesture. You opened doors for others and they for you. You complimented and were complimented. You helped out and others helped you. You checked on others and they checked on you. You stood together with them and for them and they stood together with you and for you. Your joy was theirs and theirs was yours. Their sorrow yours and yours, theirs. You were alive and glad to be. You stepped as if you knew where you were going. You were fearless with nothing to fear as all you met and would meet, had your back. You had no doubt, no worry and no fear. You loved and you were loved. The sun and moon and planets and stars and the whole earth revolving under your feet, were all in alignment, for you. You were in agreement with everyone and everyone agreed with you. Life and Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness was good, very good, good for you and good for everyone and anyone!
Then, something you did not agree with happened. Someone that was different happened. What happened to— Love thy Neighbor?
A fever of the mind took you. It took your heart. It started slowly – no opinion, no confrontation, no questions asked, no getting involved, no making waves, no want to offend. As evil surmising(s) began coursing through your veins, you kept to yourself, you kept quiet, but your temperature continued to rise. Your apathy began to boil and boil over and out of your words and deeds. Disagreements led you to arguments and the fever took your heart. It was only a matter of time; it is only a matter of time until, the fever took and takes, all of your body, your heart, soul, mind and strength. And it is contagious. It is highly contagious. What happened to— Love thy Neighbor?
I am writing here, to you, you of this country, The United Sates of America. Whether loving your neighbor is, a universal truth like, the golden rule, doing unto others as you would them do unto you or not, I am writing this and speaking to you. WE were never united because, we are all the same. WE were and may yet still be united because, all of us created equally, are all equally fervent and desire the same— Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness! What happened to— Love thy Neighbor?
What happened to— Love thy Neighbor? I will tell you, whether you believe in God and believe God or not—the love of money happened! Not money, but what it represents—power and control. Not just power and control, but the love of power and control! Things like money, are made to be used, not loved. People are made, not to be used, but to be loved. What happened to— Love thy Neighbor? The love of money (power and control), happened. It is, the root of all evil! If you require a reference, here it is: 1 Timothy 6:10 King James Version (KJV)
How easy it to love Him that we cannot see, if we cannot/will not love him or her we do see? How can we say we love Him, if we cannot/will not love them He created equally? What stone do you first cast at yourself, for your own weaknesses and errors, sins, shortcomings, your differences and flaws, and corruption and imperfection? If you are to love others as you love yourself and you do not, how much even self love do you have?
Whom or what has made you feverish? Whom or what has infected you? Whom or what owns you? Whom or what controls you? Whom or what bribes you? Whom or what gags you so that you cannot/will not speak? Whom or what blindfolds you that you cannot/will not see? Whom or what has stopped your ears that you cannot/will not hear? Whom or what binds your hands or places instruments of destruction in them? Whom or what chains your feet so that you cannot or will not move or threatens you, your loves and/or whips you, harms you, kills you or your loved, unless or until you do? Whom or what has stricken history, from all your memory or your recall and whom or what strikes it still? Whom or what will come to your aide, if you cannot or will not come to the aide of others? What happened to— Love thy Neighbor?
I write these words. I have read these words. I read these words. I am just like you. What happened to— Love thy Neighbor, my Neighbor?
Do you remember, do I? Do you know, do I?? What are you, what am I, going to do about it???????
If I have a fever, I do not need or want to spread it! I do not need or want the undertaker, the mortician! I need and want a physician! I need and want to be healed! I want and need to Live! I want and need Liberty! I want and need, the Pursuit of Happiness! I want and need to be made whole! Please come my neighbor, come and love me and make me whole!!!! I will do the same for you!!!!!
"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature."
Excerpt from: The first inaugural address by Abraham Lincoln
Fourscore and seven[now, Twelvescore and three (243=1774], years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863
1 of WE
PS My inspiration for this piece is from a four-year old movie I just watched yesterday (twice in fact), called: 'Copperhead.' It is very similar to the times in which we are living in today. It has always been thus—What happened to— Love thy Neighbor?
Tags: Inspiration, Liberty, Life, Love thy Neighbor, Pursuit of Happiness, The root of all evil, WE the People


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Spotlight on Rob Ferry, San Diego
I had the unique pleasure to interview Race Guards team member extraordinaire, Rob Ferry, for our first profile on our Race Guards Spotlight
Rob was an original member of Race Guards, which launched in March of 2012. The first race was "Finish Chelsea's Run" which was a 5k in Balboa Park that honored and encapsulated the amazing spirit of Chelsea King.
With no further ado, meet Rob Ferry, San Diego Race Guards team member and all around great guy.
Q. What made you decide to join Race Guards?
A. My decision to join Race Guards was an easy one based upon the opportunity to give back to the racing community in a fun and unique way. My involvement with Race Guards has enabled me to assist race participants in a way that ensures their safety and well being while helping them meet their athletic goals. Race Guards has also provided me the opportunity to meet people across the racing community while participating in all kinds of events. Even though you aren't racing while working on the Race Guards team, you still get to enjoy the race day vibe and all that goes with it.
It has been fun to watch the Race Guards concept evolve over the past four years. I remember the first couple of years we would get asked by race participants, "What is Race Guards?" and "Who are you guys?" Now during races, it is very common for participants to thank us for being out there on the course. The awareness of the Race Guards organization has grown immensely over the past few years. I think this is due to all the hard work by Andy Voggenthaler and his core team, but also all the volunteers who provide their time to make the Race Guards experience what it is today.
Q. What is your funniest Race Guards moment?
A. Two funny moments come to mind. The first was the Race Guards' inaugural Finish Chelsea's Run 5k in March 2012. We were all first time Race Guards and really didn't know what to expect. I remember before the race the Race Guards were asking each other, "What could go wrong in a 5k race? This will be a walk in the park". Well, as soon as the starting gun went off, we soon found out otherwise. Race Guards were busy with incidents throughout the race. After the race, all the Race Guards were excitedly sharing their race experiences. I think we learned a lot about ourselves that day and our ability to provide great value to the racing community. The moral of this story is never underestimate a race!
The second funny memory just occurred at the Oct 18 Esprit de She Triathlon here in San Diego. In this case I was lucky enough to lead a great team of Race Guards. During the post race festivities I saw two of our team members walking with a little 4 year old girl until they disappeared into the crowd. A while later, I saw the same Race Guards without the little girl, so I asked them what had happened. It turns out that the little girl was lost and couldn't find her parents. Someone had asked them for assistance to reunite the little girl with her parents. They took charge and a successful reunion was made. Moral of this story is whenever you wear the Race Guards jersey, you are a target for all kinds of requests for assistance.
Q. Which Race Guards moment is most likely to bring you to tears?
A. One of my more sentimental memories just occurred at the Portland marathon. At about mile 20 I first made contact with a 70 year old gentleman that was obviously hurting but just kept plodding along without any complaints. He was beginning to cramp and so we provided treatment and sent him on his way. At mile 21 we encountered the same gentleman and provided similar assistance, again no complaining on his part. Although he was hurting it was obvious that he was determined to finish the race and he was going to run, not walk. At mile 25 we met up with the same gentleman and he was really struggling at this time. I think his whole body was hurting but you could see the determination on his face that he was going to finish what he had set out to achieve. At this point I was just as determined as he was to get him to the finish line. I stayed with him for the last mile providing gentle encouragement. In the last 50 meters, I peeled off and let the gentleman finish his race in style with everybody cheering him on. I caught up with him post race and congratulated him on a job well done. He was so grateful for the Race Guards' assistance provided to him during the race. That experience made my day and keeps me coming back. One of the race photographers saw us shaking hands and asked if he could take a photo of us. In hind sight, I wish I would have made arrangements to get that photo.
Q. What is your sports background?
A. As a kid I was always involved in the typical hand/eye coordination sports (football, baseball, basketball, hockey). In high school, besides the normal sports, I belonged to our school physical fitness team that competed in presidential physical fitness events with other schools. We became one of the top 20 teams in the nation and earned the opportunity to compete in Washington DC at the National Presidential Physical Fitness competition. I began my amateur triathlon career in the early 80's as triathlons became popular here in San Diego. I was always a "middle of the pack" participant but enjoyed the competition. As I get older, I have migrated more to trail running, mountain biking and open water swimming. I find that off road training and open water swimming is as much an adventure as it is training.
Q. Why do you train/ race?
A. Of course there are the obvious health benefits, but I think the social aspect and the opportunity to meet and train with people that have a similar outlook on life appeals to me. I was just commenting the other day to my fellow swimmers after a morning swim session at La Jolla Shores, that no matter what the conditions are, we always come out of the water smiling. There is something to be said about that. As I get older I find that training and racing provide me with an inner peace. Not to get to philosophical about this, but while training I find that this is my quiet time away from the everyday stress of our hectic lives. If you ever join me for a morning or evening training session, I will always make sure to stop to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. I guess this is my way of taking time out to "smell the roses".
Q. What is your favorite post race pig out food?
A. This is the question I should respond with "No comment". But, I'll bare my soul. Usually after a long race or a long hot day on the course my body is craving salt. I get the urge for a great cheeseburger, fries and a cold beer! After the recent Portland Marathon, the Race Guards team was sitting around post race talking about the race and how we were all very hungry. Someone said that they could go for a burger, fries and a beer and the whole group got excited and wanted the same. I laughed and no longer feel guilty about my post race cravings.
Q. How would you sum up your philosophy of life in one sentence?
A. "One life, don't blow it"
There is a Kona Brewing beer commercial where two Hawaiian guys are on the beach conveying the message about not working as much and taking the time to enjoy life. At the end of the commercial one of the guys says "One life, don't blow it". I love this statement. I think it applies to everything we do in life and the choices we make every day. I think I have always subconsciously tried to follow this wisdom. Isn't it sad that I found my life's philosophy through a beer commercial?
Q. Can you tell us a little about the Esprit de She race at which you were the Race Guards team leader?
A. The Esprit de She Triathlon San Diego is a Sprint and Super Sprint triathlon that promotes and encourages women of all ages to get out and exercise. The program is a charity that benefits Girls on the Run International, Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. So as you can see, this is a great race to support. I had a great group of Race Guards. Race Guarding a Tri has its challenges because of the transitions from swim to bike, bike to run and then the actual bike segment itself. Whenever you add a cycling segment it adds an element of opportunity for high speed accidents we don't normally see with running events. Luckily this race went off without any major incidents. The team of Race Guards supporting this race did an exemplary job!. My sincere compliments to the Esprit de She Race Guards team for a job well done!
Thank you, Rob Ferry, for a job well done with this interview. We are looking forward to seeing more of you out on the course at your future Race Guard events!
Interviewed by Race Guard Patty Mas.


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Frontier Centre: The first charter school opened in Minnesota in 1991, now there are more than 2100 in the United States. Why have they been so popular?
Henry Zondervan: Charter schools are popular because they are providing a vastly needed improvement in choice and various alternatives of delivery within the public system. They are creating a stronger voice for parents, which is one of the main reasons why many are dissatisfied with the broader public system.
FC: What made the province of Alberta come to approve its Charter school legislation; how successful has it been?
HZ: Charter School legislation came about because a handful of parents and educators who believed that they could make a difference by lobbying their government to enact legislation that would enable greater choice in public education through charter schools. The work of many more small groups has now precipitated ten charter schools to which about 2500 students attend. That certainly isn't large in terms of numbers, but in terms of its current impact in improving public education services, we think it is actually quite enormous. The ability to do that in the face of direct opposition from the propaganda of teachers' associations and school boards' associations is testimony to the fact that parents are interested in this kind of choice.
FC: Much of the public school establishment has equated charter schools with private schools. Is that the case?
HZ: Yes, there is certainly a myth that charter schools are private schools, that they are elitist and skim the cream of the crop. In reality charter schools are taking a large number of dissatisfied parents with public education and making them satisfied. They are taking students who are falling through the cracks and helping them become successful. As such, they are an improvement to the public system and, in no way, should they be considered divisive or categorized as publicly funded private schools. These are but myths perpetuated by their opponents.
FC: They are public schools?
HZ: Charter schools are public schools. They are an extension of the public school system and ought not to be confused with alternative, private or independent schools.
FC: How have Alberta's ten chartered schools empowered parents? Contrast that with the level of input parents have with public school boards.
HZ: Parents elect school boards but unfortunately they have chosen, in many jurisdictions, not to be as responsive to parent's needs as they should be. A charter school is operated by a group of individuals who are interested in making a difference in public education. They get involved in forming a society to operate a school with the intent purpose of allowing parents more direct influence into the governance and the operations of that school. They provide directives through policy to administration and then actively become involved in school on a day-to-day basis in a way that school councils would typically have been empowered to do so. They have the added advantage of being able to create policies that ensure the administration will be responsive to the input of parents within the school.
FC: The board and the principal, in fact, have the power to hire and fire personnel, including teachers. Yes or No?
HZ: That is correct.
FC: Could this be one reason why, let's call it, the public education establishment seems to distrust charter schools?
HZ: It certainly takes away a level of influence that unions would tend to protect. The unions say that they are not in the business of trying to keep bad teachers, but they certainly create a structure of bureaucracy that makes it difficult for parents to work through teachers, principals, superintendents and school boards to have their concerns met or addressed in an appropriate way.
FC: You contrasted the experience grid of the traditional system with the performance grid of the charter school yesterday. Could you explain that?
HZ: Yes, in our particular school we have moved from the typical experience grid where a teacher's salary is determined by the number of years of post-secondary training that they have and the number of years that they have been teaching. We don't happen to believe that simply teaching a year constitutes a year's growth and improvement. Teachers need to earn their increments, not just by putting in time but actually by adding value to the organization through their performance and continued growth and improvement each year. Increments should not be automatic just because you put in another year. There must be demonstrable evidence of sound teaching practice and performance as measured by the teacher's contribution and an evaluation of the students' performance as well.
FC: Does this allow teachers to earn more money than they would in the public system?
HZ: Yes, it does. Our base salaries are competitive with the public schools in surrounding jurisdictions. In addition teachers have the opportunity to earn more through a merit/bonus pay system that evaluates their individual contribution and performance in the school.
FC: How important were standardized tests in making the need for charter schools apparent?
HZ: Standardized tests are critical in providing information to the school about its practices. In order for any of us to become effective and efficient in what we do, we must be open to evaluation. I always say in our particular school that excellence does not fear observation. As such students are going to be measured and teachers are going to be measured on an on-going basis – not to label or criticize or condemn – but simply to find a means by which we can collect information for growth and improvement.
FC: The government of Manitoba recently removed standards testing here. What is you candid opinion on that?
HZ: It's a mistake. They are needed to monitor and track whether schools are actually doing what they are supposed to do, which is to teach children. The evidence should be in the results of the performance on these tests and, as such, these need to be undertaken. They need to be written, they need to be used in a meaningful way to continue to improve education in our schools.
FC: Charter schools in Alberta must still conform to the province's curricula guidelines. Has this restriction stifled their ability to specialize?
HZ: No, not at all. Certainly the basic requirements for provincial achievement testing for grades three, six and nine and diploma exams in Grade Twelve set out core expectations which can be accomplished fairly easily in whatever type of program a charter school and/or public school might put forward. They are general learning outcomes that would be considered just sound practice and core knowledge for all students. There is plenty of time to enrich and enhance programs to improve and extend the mandated curricular boundaries.
FC: You said that the Edmonton School Board now allows more than thirty different programs of curricula within its jurisdiction. Was this new diversity in public schools a direct response to the charters?
HZ: No, I don't think it was. The Edmonton public board had been progressive in establishing alternative schools over a number of years and I certainly commend the leadership within that system with regards to the development of a number of different choices. Unfortunately, the thirty-one choices that they currently have available – has not added to a stronger voice for parents in operating those schools. I am not convinced that the learning outcomes have been significantly changed, altered improved or enhanced — which is the mandate of a charter school. Charter Schools don't exist unless they can provide a unique program that does improve and enhance student learning and the results. Edmonton's approach has certainly limited the number of charter schools that may have been considered in that area.
FC: Alberta is stalling approving new charters – is that a permanent situation? You have ten charter schools in Alberta – do you expect that ceiling to be lifted or to be abolished?
HZ: Currently, we have ten. The Charter School regulations allow for fifteen. We have not had any new charter schools approved over the past three years. Certainly roadblocks at the local school jurisdictions, where initial approval is sought, and reluctance by the government to push forward on the development of charter schools has limited any advancement in terms of the number of schools. In fact, the school act is now being rewritten to further promote alternative schools. Now groups of individuals who might have anticipated operating a charter school must now first apply to the local school board for an alternative school and, if that is not granted, then they may appeal to the Minister for a charter school.
FC: So, there doesn't seem to be a movement to try to increase the number of charter schools but simply a way to try to manage choice within the existing public school system. What is the waiting list at your charter school?
HZ: Over 3,500 students are waiting to get into our K-9 school.
FC: How do you deal with the "cherry-picking" argument that somehow the less sophisticated student will not benefit?
HZ: It is another myth of charter school education that only the best students and the best parents are coming. It is true that this is a school of choice and, as such, people who come are made aware of what our mission is and what our focus is and what our expectations are. They are expected to work within those guidelines. We have the opportunity to coach people to an understanding of what we do and they have the opportunity to leave if they don't like the choice that they have made. We have seen by the registration statistics, that we carefully track and keep from year-to-year, that many of our students are below grade level when they come to us and their parents have become largely dissatisfied with public education. Helping these students to grade level and beyond and satisfying the concerns of the parents, has got to be seen as a win-win situation.
FC: So have you ever turned anybody away?
HZ: In the first two years we only had enough time with everything else we had to do, to simply take whoever came next on the list and wanted to come. In the past two years we have done entry-level assessments on an academic basis and have never refused any student based on behaviour. We have not taken students who require special education services. If students are more than a grade level behind in math and language skills, we consult with the parents to place their child in a lower grade level. If this is not acceptable to the parents we try to help them find an alternative program somewhere else that might be able to deal more individually with the needs of that child.
FC: Traditionally, the teachers' unions have been suspicious of charter schools but you talked about how it was changing in the U.S. Can you elaborate?
HZ: Yes, we have seen over a ten-year period the United States grow from one charter school in 1991 to over 2,100 schools and over half a million students now in attendance at charter schools. Wherever charter schools have been considered, school boards' associations and teachers' associations have adamantly opposed their enabling legislation. It is interesting now in some states that the teachers' associations are now waking up to the realization that Charter schools are meeting needs within public education and turning dissatisfied parents into satisfied parents. In Florida the Teachers' Association in conjunction with the Edison Foundation hopes to open 10 Charter schools in the near future.
FC: So they are becoming competitive?
HZ: In the face of success they appear to be willing to get with the program. They don't want to be left behind.
FC: There was a comment that charter schools are a minor development and that the great bulk of students is still in the established public system. It downplayed charter schools.
HZ: It is unfortunate that the voices of leadership within public education would want to minimize improved choice for parents and an opportunity for them to have a greater voice. The current state of dissatisfaction of parents in public education testifies to the fact that we have not responded to the needs of parents and students over the last decade and, as such, we need to change. Reforms in public education are needed to improve school practices and teaching for the benefit of the children in our society. Charter schools are an effective and efficient way to bring about some of those changes.
FC: Can you just sum it up – what is the experience with the student results in charter schools?
HZ: A new study has just been started in Alberta to take a two-year look at the achievement of students in charter schools. I can speak for Foundations for the Future charter academy in that we have seen that the average growth of our students is one and a half grade levels per year on the Canadian Test of Basic Skills. That means that by grade eight average students will be performing at a Grade 12 equivalency on basic skills testing. The Alberta Provincial achievement tests expect 15% of students to be at the excellent level. At FFCA 60-70% of our grade nine students are approaching this level scoring 85% or better on these provincial exams. All students can learn – all students can get an "A" grade with effective teaching processes and programs.


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Hey everyone!
Two mornings each week, I visit the Parkwood Senior Home where I am a fitness supervisor. Sometimes I teach programs, like Gentle Stretch and Flex (a blend of yoga and gentle weights, all seated!). Other times, I work with individuals on walking independently or strengthening their arm muscles. Usually, residents have physiotherapists that give them "routines" of stretches to work on, and I assist with those.
Today, Jean, Lisa, and I went on a nice walk in the sun, making a loop around the pond and looking at some geese. Then, I came back to the Crafts Room to do some cleaning and was lucky to find Elaine working on her newest puzzle! This puzzle has 1000 pieces and is about 40% complete by puzzle expert Elaine! Check out these crazy-looking pieces. I stared at the table for about 45 minutes and managed to put two pieces together. Meanwhile, Elaine had completed part of the border and almost a whole person. Skills.
Hair nets, disposable gloves, and lab coats were donned by my friend Amanda and myself as we experimented with these quinoa-oat coconut snack bites with chopped apple. We thought they were awesome, but might need a few tweaks before they are served to the elderly residents in Long Term Care.
If you haven't checked them out yet, I've made some new pages on the blog that I update every day or so. These galleries are photo journals that are so fun (and a little cringe-y) to look at. Looking at photos of my own practice from a couple months ago is almost embarrassing, but rewarding, because I know that improvements have been made – and there is still a long way to go. 🙂
So check these out by clicking on the blue links!
ACRO YOGA: partner and group yoga with some friends from school. Did you know that acro yoga in Mandarin is literally translated as "thrilling/dangerous yoga"? Since one friend hasn't been here for a week or so, we haven't been practicing recently.
AERIAL SILKS: I practice twice a week at the local studio, and I love being there. It is really empowering, and my instructor Sara inspires me SO much.
YOGA PHOTO JOURNAL: this is essentially where I can share pictures of my own practice and see where I'm headed! Recently I've been doing lots of headstands, and unfortunately 65% of the headstands end with a fall on my back – so I'm going to take it easy for a bit with the headstands. 😛
Sneak peek from some of the most recent practices!
Now, onto the food! The best part, as always. (Mission Nutrition and I actually made that)
Thick and Hearty Paleo Banana Pancakes
Serves 1: makes 2 pancakes
- 1 small overripe banana, or half large
- 1 egg
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 3 tbsp. almond flour
- 1 tbsp. coconut flour
- coconut oil for frying
- desired toppings
- Mash banana. Add egg, cinnamon, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Whisk well.
- Add almond flour and coconut flour, whisking until combined.
- Heat coconut oil over medium-low heat and fry two pancakes. When golden brown, flip and cook the other side. If the pancakes get too brown, lower the heat.
- Serve immediately with toppings, and enjoy!
Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bake
- 1 very ripe banana, medium
- 2 eggs, large
- ⅓ cup peanut butter, creamy
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1.5 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup oat flour (or any kind of flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- First, preheat oven to 375ºF and spray a medium-size baking dish or cake pan with coconut oil cooking spray. I used a 1.5 qt. baking dish, but a 9×9 inch cake pan will also work!
- In a large bowl, mash 1 very ripe banana until liquidy. Then, add in eggs, peanut butter, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and almond milk and mix until smooth.
- Add rolled oats, flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix until everything is thoroughly combined.
- Transfer batter into baking dish and slice a few bananas on top.
- Bake at 375º for about 30-40 minutes (it will depend on the size and depth of your baking dish) or until firm.
Creamy overnight oatmeal topped with crumbled muffin and banana – recipe below.
Overnight Oatmeal
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 banana or 1/3 cup fresh fruit
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Pinch kosher salt
- Pinch cinnamon
Stir everything together in a bowl. Place in fridge overnight. In the morning top with something crunchy and something with healthy fats – like nut butter or nuts.
Above is the butter chicken that I made one day and ate for about four days in a row. With rice and broccoli.
Falafels are a new favourite! I loved it with this grain mix, avocado, and sautéed vegetables.
This was so delicious! It was the first buckwheat bake that I made, and I did another one just recently.
Banana Buckwheat Bake
Serves 2
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 2 tbsp oats
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1 flax egg (1 tbsp ground flax + 2.5 tbsp warm water, set out for 5 minutes)
- 1 mashed banana, mashed to a silky paste
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- Preheat oven to 350*
- Combine dry ingredients. Shake together.
- Combine wet ingredients. Mix.
- Add wet to dry. Mix.
- Pour into 2 greased (with oil, butter, etc) oven-safe ramekins
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- De-pan.
- Top with amazing toppings!
More creamy oatmeal with banana, granola, and hemp hearts.
Avocado toast, fried egg, fresh sautéed vegetables.
Fresh-from-the-freezer lasagna and garlicky green beans.
More eggs, more veggies, more avocado toast. I feel like this is such a filling and balanced meal! What do you think?
The BEST thing I've ever made out of coconut flour. I absolutely LOVE this recipe!
Paleo Coconut Cake
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 3 tbsp. coconut flour
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Whisk together all ingredients except coconut flour until very well combined.
- Add coconut flour and stir until no lumps remain.
- Grease baking dish with coconut oil.
- Pour batter into baking dish and bake for 35 minutes, or until golden-brown and knife inserted into centre comes out clean.
- Remove cakes from the oven and let cool.
- Slice, frost if desired, and enjoy!
More buckwheat bake, this time with my newest obsession: creamy Greek yogurt with sunflower butter stirred in. Just like frosting!
This was a mousse-like chocolate cake with frozen raspberries thrown in. This paleo cake was made with 3 eggs and coconut flour.
The housemates and I thought the taste was good, but it was a little bitter and had a strange wet, spongy texture. 😦 No recipe for y'all today.
Happy Thursday, everyone!


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The past few weeks I've been rounding up a lot of great patterns to knit for moms, grads, people with spring and summer birthdays and beyond, so I thought it would be fun to gather all those pieces together in one place for easy reference and in case you missed any of them. Consider it your ultimate guide to spring gift knitting.
Is there a specific kind of pattern round up you'd like to see? Let me know and I'll see what I can do.


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Happy Saturnalia (barely)
Thomas Whitley
Saturnalia is the feast with which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn. It was traditionally on December 17 and over time it got extended to run from December 17 to 23.
Christmas has a distinct relation to Saturnalia.
Christians in the fourth century assigned December 25 (the Winter Solstice on the Julian calendar) as Christ's birthday (and thus Christmas) because pagans already observed this day as a holiday. As the dates of Saturnalia are not precisely coincident with Christmas, a more refined argument is that Christmas was set on the feast of Sol Invictus, which was on December 25, and which had supplanted Saturnalia. However, with many of the traditions of Saturnalia incorporated into Sol Invictus, it is possible that some of those traditions — such as the exchanging of gifts — were also carried forward as a part of the Christian holiday.
Saturnalia ends in less than a few hours. I hope it was a great festival for you.
Now we turn to Christmas. I hope that is wonderful and merry for you as well.
Happy Saturnalia (barely).


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"Ever asked how your Instructor always finds the boat? Finding your way is not a matter of luck! When everyone's checking out the sea life, taking photos or just chilling out, they turn to you, because as a Underwater Navigator, you will also know the way back to the boat.Underwater-Navigator compassIn this course, you'll learn how to use a compass to navigate from point to point and back again. You'll learn "natural navigation" using indicators like ripples in the sand, the reef formations and depth. Not being sure where you are or where the boat is adds stress to any dive. Relieve the stress. Take this specialty this course and become a human GPS."
• Open Water Diver Certification or equivalent
• 12 years of age
• Medical Exam for diving within the past 12 months
• 1 Day complete Underwater Navigator Speciality Course
• Special equipment
• All Instruction
• Certification fees
• 2 Dives
If you would like to participate in any of our activities, please call us or send us an email to reserve your place in advance. Please be advised that a Doctors certificate is required for any diving activities (See below).
MEDICAL FORM: Please consult your physician for approval.
Click Here To Download The Medical Statement.
Deep Diver Speciality
Night Diver Speciality
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Digital Underwater Photography Speciality
Search & Recovery Speciality
PADI Multi Level Diver Speciality
Dry Suit Diver Speciality
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Enriched Air Nitrox Speciality
Emergency First Response – React Right


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Wartime statue unsold
NATO's Afghan move
Nato countries are considering keeping up to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, the date when foreign combat forces were due to leave the war-torn country.
In what was the first official indication of how many foreign troops would remain on the ground after the handover to local forces, the Pentagon said yesterday that a number of between 8,000 and 12,000 was under discussion at a NATO meeting in Brussels.
Wartime statue unsold
A long-forgotten World War Two statue expected to sell for close to $2m (€1.5m) has been passed on by buyers at a New York City auction.
Bonhams Maritime Art Department sales specialist Gregg Dietrich says an original cast of the famous 1945 flag-raising at Iwo Jima went unsold yesterday.
Three potential buyers stopped the bidding at $950,000, below the undisclosed minimum sale price.
Despots demolished
A TOP architect has condemned the willingness of his rivals to "build gleaming streets for despots".
Daniel Libeskind, who designed Dublin's Grand Canal Theatre but is most famous for historically and culturally sensitive projects like the Jewish Museum in Berlin, said beautiful architecture was no excuse for working with "morally questionable" clients. "Even if they produce gleaming towers, if they are morally questionable, I'm not interested," he said in an outspoken interview with 'The Architects' Journal'.
Stranded penguin dies
A penguin found stranded on a New Zealand beach more than 1,000 miles from its home has died. The royal penguin was found on Sunday by hikers. It was emaciated and suffering kidney failure.
The bird was taken to Wellington Zoo, but vets were unable to save it. It was only the fourth time in the past 100 years that a royal penguin has been found on the North Island of New Zealand. They generally live around Macquarie Island, about half-way between the country and Antarctica.
Prayer meeting ban
Muslim students at a London university have had their weekly Friday prayer meeting on campus shut down because they refused to allow staff members to view and authorise their sermons before delivery.
City University ordered the students to submit their weekly khutbah sermon in advance so that staff could check "the quality and appropriateness of what is being delivered".
Irish Independent


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Bought some shoes in the past three weeks! I'm excited to show you what I got...
I also did a quick outfit of the day (OOTD)
Click here for the high-waisted demin cutoff shorts video:
Itemized list of shoes:
1.) Michael Kors Melody Wedges ~$140-150
2.) Michael Kors Greenwich Pumps ~$90 (on sale)
3.) ALDO Doyscher Nude Pumps ~$90
4.) ALDO Gel Instep Cushions ~$6
SUBSCRIBE www.youtube.com/jenncyu


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Todd Medema
Inventor at FabricateIO
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Thinking about crowd-funding your product? Want feedback on your page before you hit the "Launch" button? Meet with Todd Medema, Inventor at FrabricateIO, to make your next Kickstarter a success.
Education & Resources
Courses & Degrees
Experiential Learning
Extracurricular & Networking
Mentorship & Funding
Outside Resources


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Buy.com Reports Best Black Friday Ever
Buy.com reported that its Black Friday performance was its best in company history, with more than 45 percent sales growth compared to last year.
PayPal also reported a strong increase in Black Friday sales. and QVC realized more than $42 million in Black Friday sales, the company said in a Saturday statement.
As of 5 PM on Friday, Buy.com reported 45 percent growth, with an 100 percent increase in Buy.com marketplace sales, the company said. The company also reported "record numbers" of online consumers. An industry uptime study, however, reported that the site's stability wobbled a bit during the peak sales periods.
"Shoppers have come to know Buy.com as a one-stop destination for the best return on their dollar," said Neel Grover, chief executive and president of Buy.com, in a statement. "Our initial holiday results point to a strong start of the season, as consumers responded favorably to the newest initiatives we put in place to create an even more wallet-friendly shopping experience."
Sears also reported strong sales, although the company did not provide details. "Following the rush [Friday] morning, both Sears and Kmart stores across the country continue to see a steady flow of customers," said a Sears company spokesperson. "Customers took advantage of our Doorbuster deals on home appliances, consumer electronics, jewelry, apparel and holiday trimmings while also earning valuable Shop Your Way Rewards points at both retailers."
Buy.com said it offered free shipping with no minimum purchase on nearly 2.7 million products. Many of the site's Black Friday deals were sold out on Saturday, although some, such as a 23-inch Samsung B2330 LCD Monitor, remained. That deal offered the monitor for $145, versus a regular price of $310.
NextTag, another online shopping comparison Web site, predicted that online sales would be spread out over the holiday. "All of our search and traffic patterns lead us to believe that the concept of Cyber Monday is outdated," said Jeffrey G. Katz, chief executive officer of Nextag, in a statement. "We expect that consumers will go online as early as Thanksgiving Day to research, compare products, get advice, monitor price changes, and share information with friends and family. That's why we have added new features such as product reviews and coupons to our site. We will continue to evolve our site to make sure we provide a fun and rewarding shopping experience, giving holiday shoppers the tools they need to find exactly what they're looking for."


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Publisher: Avon Books
Published: April 30, 2002
Copyright: 2002
Pages: 250
Form: Paperback
Series: Avon True Romance (1)
Author: Site | Facebook | Twitter
Buy The Book: B&N | Book Depository
When she manages to get herself hired for the cattle drive, all of Samantha's prayers seem to be answered. The hundred dollars she'll earn will pull her family's Texas farm out of ruin and pay off their debts. But keeping the cowhands fooled that she's a boy becomes harder than she'd expected where one cowboy in particular is concerned.
Matthew Hart wants two things: to forget the tragedies he witnessed on the front lines of the War Between the States, and to reclaim his cowboy life. The last thing he wants is the responsibility of a tagalong youngster on the cattle drive. His closed mind and hardened heart are territory best left unexplored, until a fateful moment turns his world upside down.
Matt discovers what and who "Sam" really is, and he is furious. But soon a stronger emotion takes hold, and bound by Samantha's secret, Matt is torn between revealing her identity and his own sudden and frightening love for her.
My Thoughts
After seeing an advertisement for a cattle drive that will pay 100 bucks upon completion, Samantha thinks its just the opportunity to pay off her family's debt at the local store, and ease some of her mother's burdens. But when her brother Ben, who lost an arm in the war, refuses to go, she chops her hair, dons her younger brother's clothes, and becomes Sam the greenhand, and sets out to help her family. She is paired with Matt, who has been charged with helping her become a productive hand. But the more time she spends with Matt, the more attracted she is to him. However, Samantha must be careful if she doesn't want anyone to find out that she is really a girl.
This was such a sweet little story, and Samantha is such a great character. She's very concerned about her family and their finances and resolves to do something about it. She worries so much about her Mother and cares deeply for the wants and needs of her siblings. Her main motivation is just to help her family out the best way she can. Samantha is a quick learner, and not afraid of hard and exhausting work. She is diligent in her duties and has a special way of getting the most hardened person to open up.
I like the relationship she develops with Matt. Even before he discovers her secret, there was something about Sam that compelled Matt to look after her and be protective towards her. His fear of falling for her was endearing because it meant so much more than the usual teenage love story. With walls built up because of his experience in the war, Matt doesn't want to feel deeply for anyone again lest something happen to them.
Overall this was a lovely little story about family, friendship, and first love. I'd recommend this one especially for young girls looking to read a sweet romance.
Filed in: Reviews, Romance, Young Adult Tags: Lorraine Heath, Review, Romance, Young Adult
4 Responses to "Review: Samantha and the Cowboy by Lorraine Heath"
Sounds like a fun escape.
Okay, so I can't recall the last time I read a cowboy-type romance. But this sounds super sweet, and I like how the female protag sounds a bit different from the run-of-the-mill mc's of late. Yay!


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Over the last month or so, I haven't been all there. I can't share everything with you, as somethings just need to stay private but its not been the easiest of months.
I've lost that little part of me again. The fear and anxiety is back.
Not feeling all myself is so difficult now. Before, I could just hide away and no one would really make a fuss over it, they might just say 'oh Becki isn't feeling well' or 'she's exhausted', now its 21 questions. If I look down or a little tired, people notice and ever since a year or so ago with my anxiety lock in, I am even more vulnerable of an attack of the 'are you OK?'
I am not one to talk massively about how I feel. I had to a year ago, as I was destroying myself but even to get to that stage of telling people what was really going on, it took courage. Today I feel I am falling back into the same place. No energy. I'd make up every excuse under the sun to stay in my bed, keep away from friends and especially family, as they would know straight away that something was up.
I have no idea why this has been sprung upon me but I think i have been using that good old 'brave face' and tried to keep smiling. Smiling however can be exhausting. Lying about how you really feel can be exhausting. Life has become exhausting.
Right this moment, I will probably be strolling in from my weekend away with Mr LLP at our first wedding together* and I am praying that I feel happy. Not 'brave face' happy but true happiness.
I do have so much to strive for, now I am an auntie (ahhhhhh shit!!) and really I have nothing to complain about but sometimes it just doesn't feel enough. I don't feel I am doing enough. It's just difficult being me. I am so lucky however to have LLP, a place where I can share my thoughts, even if no body reads it, I can get it off my chest and feel at peace.
Hugs & Kisses
Becki xox
*PS. Had to schedule this one as I am away in goodness knows where dancing to some cheesy music in my new princess dress at my first wedding as a 'adult' guest hehe!


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I know I've left you all hanging in wondering what adventures we'd find in Iowa, and I'll get back to the road trip in a bit, but first a brief detour through Black Rock City, Nevada.
The playa was really tough on the little plastic camera. It was plugged up after the second roll; half the times the shutter stuck open if it fired at all. With the heat and dust, the film was sticking to the inside, and the third roll was all scratched to shit. I won't mention how many times I forgot to advance the film; the playa was tough on me too.
Considered setting the Diana on fire, but burning plastic is not cool. Next year I'll bring a wooden Diana!


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Please select your shipping destination
The Jr. Practice Mat provides soft cushioning for falls and landings. This high-quality, thick mat can be used by itself for tumbling drills and progressions.
Warranty24 Months on material and workmanship.
Have questions?We're happy to answer your questions regarding the Jr. Practice Mat or any other Tumbl Trak product. Simply use our quick contact form or call us at 1-800-331-4362.
All materials meet CPSIA standards. Made in China. Designed in the USA.
This mat is a great landing mat for many skills. It also provides cushion so you don't hurt yourself. I love this mat.
- P. Rasz | December 27, 2017
in love
- A. Gonzalez | June 2, 2017


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Google+ Now Provides Views
Until now, Google+ did not provide an option for displaying how many people viewed your content. There wasn't a big announcement, but the Google help page does explain that, "[y]ou now can tell how many times your content has been seen by other people, including your photos, posts, and profile page." What does this mean for marketers? While it provides proof that people view your posts on the platform, it still does not include the individual breakdown for each post. What frustrates most community managers is that this is a completely different metric compared to +1's. Engagement is measured by +1's, but views are relevant to who has seen your content. If Google utilized both of these metrics, managers could measure overall user engagement. Although this is a step in the right direction, there are so many metrics Google+ still lacks. You should have already seen this new change on your Google+ profile. If you would like to hide this count – follow the steps on the Google help page.
CEO Resigns Over Tweets
Mozilla recently announced that they promoted their chief technology officer, Brendan Eich, to CEO; and just one week later he announced his resignation from the company. Mozilla is the company behind the popular Internet browser Firefox, which currently claims 18% of the market share. Eich reportedly resigned when he received heat from Mozilla employees via Twitter. The problem employees had: Eich had donated to the Proposition 8 campaign – a campaign to overturn the court ruling granting same sex marriages. Mozilla wrote a blog post, regretting the decision of not listening and engaging with its employees sooner. This is the first time that we've seen social media as a factor in the ousting of a chief executive officer. What you should know looking forward: in the age of social media, practically everything is public.
People Get News From Social Media Willingly Or Not – And What That Means
Pew released a study claiming that 78% of users unintentionally see news while on Facebook. There is much more to be said about the study, but that stat alone should impact your social strategy. If you write social schedules in advance, you should consider leaving room for current events. Pew's study includes a breakdown of the different types of news found on Facebook: obviously 'entertainment' ranked the highest with 'people & events in community' close behind. Curating content on the spot for events that could be tied with your brand in a positive or comical way can keep your fans engaged. For example, leaving room in your schedule for events like award shows and taking advantage of the Ellen selfie. By adding frames to the image our client, Zenni Optical, made its way into the conversation. Even if their fans didn't see the award show, they might have heard about Ellen breaking records on Twitter. By posting fresh relevant content like that, they were able to engage their fans in a unique way. Overall, you should build your schedule with flexibility to shuffle engagements around when something relevant comes up.
Viral Video Of The Week – Lion King Singing On A Flight
Even if you have ever seen the Lion King musical, you do not want to miss this awesome moment captured. The Lion King cast was boarding a flight when they all started singing the classic "Circle of Life" song. A flight crew member uses a cast member's phone to record them singing together. It is really cool to see the energy these people bring with them off the stage. If this doesn't make you want to see it again, I don't know what will. The video was uploaded April 1, 2014 and has nearly 11 million views.


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A fast absorbing treatment-serum with phyto-effective ingredients such as ultra-lifting Oat kernel extract, decongesting Alfalfa seed extract and Hydrolysed white lupine protein. The formulation minimises puffiness and prevents the appearance of fine lines and contours the delicate skin, visibly improving firmness.
All skin type (Morning / Evening)
Directions for use: Apply a small amount to the delicate eye area on a clean, dry skin. May be used in conjunction with the Nourishing Eye Balm, i.e. Nourishing Eye Balm, Anti-puffiness Eye Serum (AM) and Anti-puffiness Eye Serum (PM). Apply underneath moisturiser. Store in a cool dry place..


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Graphic design, also known as communication design, is the art and practice of planning and projecting ideas and experiences with visual and textual content. Or as we put it around here, we help Forge Your Dreams. Graphic design is the lifeblood of advertising and whatever your product, skill or idea is, we can help you present it in the best possible way. Good design is sometimes rather elusive and we take pride in creating something unique and full of style.
Never underestimate the power of presentation. As an analogy, think of a really nice house with an immaculate front yard. It has already increased the value of the home (sometimes regardless of what is inside). A good packaging design can do just that. It can help catch someone's eye and can make a difference whether or not a shopper buys the product in the store or when pitching a product to a potential vendor.