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Foreign Financial Risk Emerging – Are Pharmaceuticals Hitting the Skids?
CreditRiskMonitor's proprietary FRISK® Stress Index recently indicated a spike in credit risk for the pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug delivery industry. In addition to weakening financial performance, certain companies with the pharmaceutical preparation industry are being negatively affected by high leverage and increased regulatory risk. These problems are impacting companies that exist both domestically and internationally.
To put it bluntly, if you are a business customer, supplier, or partner with a company in the pharmaceutical manufacturing and/or drug delivery industry, you need to stop and examine your credit risk exposure. More than 35% of the Fortune 1000 use CreditRiskMonitor's service to do just that, with their research actions improving the accuracy of the proprietary FRISK® score. The FRISK® score predicts the risk of financial distress over the following 12 months, effectively flashing warnings signs that you shouldn't ignore.
A Big Trouble Spot
Currently, there are a handful of pharmaceutical businesses showing increased financial distress. Endo International (NASDAQ: ENDP), however, which is involved with drug development, manufacturing, and distribution, is among the riskiest. Over the last twelve months, the company's FRISK® score has slowly fallen from a 4 to a 1. While both of those scores are in the high-risk "red zone," a score of 1 is the lowest possible on the 1 (worst) to 10 (best) scale, suggesting a materially increased probability of financial distress, and even bankruptcy:
Endo's score of 1 reflects a statistical probability of bankruptcy between 10% and 50% within the next twelve months. This compares poorly against the industry average, presently hovering around a 7, which is fairly neutral – showing that the overall industry is in much better shape than Endo International. See the scoring reference chart below:
Does Endo Need Medicine?
Endo International's integrated business works on developing and selling both generic and specialty drugs from start to finish. Over the last few years, management at Endo International had been executing an aggressive business plan that involved a variety of acquisitions. The goal was to expand the drug company's product line, and in turn, generate higher sales revenue.
Unfortunately, the moves didn't play out as hoped, with industry competition and other headwinds getting in the way. One of the biggest problems is that the company's high margin product portfolio quickly eroded, where gross margins were cut in half over the last three years, going from 61% to 30% on a trailing twelve month basis. That led to a massive incremental decline in operating income, even after backing out one-time items related to impairments and restructuring. The negative trends don't appear to be changing for the better either. During the third quarter conference call, CEO Paul Campanelli explained that volume and pricing pressure would in all likelihood continue.
Taking a look at the company's credit profile shows a mixed picture. Endo International is highly levered, but current liquidity appears sufficient particularly as there are no major near-term debt maturities. Standard & Poor's credit rating puts the business at non-investment grade with a B+. That said, the outlook is negative, which means Endo International could be put on review for a downgrade at any time. On the positive side, current liquidity is supported by a sizable revolving credit facility. CFO Blaise Coleman emphasized that the company is not currently at risk of a covenant breach during the most recent conference call held on November 8th, 2016:
That's well and good, but those are "adjusted" numbers. Endo International now has fairly high leverage and a business model that's not performing nearly as well as it has historically. If we look at the raw data, the numbers aren't nearly as encouraging. For example, over the trailing twelve months through September, Endo reported approximately $563 million in EBITDA and $502 million in free cash flow. Given the net debt position of $7.73 billion, debt is roughly 13.7 times EBITDA and 15.4 times free cash flow.
And those aren't the only troubling numbers. Endo International's working capital position is declining rapidly, too. From the third quarter of 2015 to the third quarter of 2016, working capital decreased by approximately $1.25 billion. And while the cash ratio remained unchanged year over year in the September quarter, the quick ratio and the current ratio both fell, with the current ratio showing a steady sequential decline each quarter over the span:
Bottom Line
You won't find too many people surprised when a biotechnology company files for bankruptcy, since the financial risks are incredibly high due to the operational hurdles of research & development, FDA drug processing, finding a licensor, and so forth. However, heads are being turned by the credit risk developing in drug preparation space, particularly among the international operators. Endo International is an example of the type of company that counterparties need to watch closely. Although it appears to be weathering the storm right now, its financial risk is increasing. If the business' performance continues to spiral downward it will only get worse.
Take a fresh look at your portfolio: Get in touch for a personalized risk assessment
The FRISK® score is calculated by a proprietary model that measures the degree of financial distress for a public company. The model has been back-tested over the last decade to predict 96% of public company bankruptcies. The score is enhanced by our subscriber base through crowd sourced behavioral data patterns. Provided below is the scoring chart that displays the statistical probability of bankruptcy within the next twelve months for each score category:
FRISK® Stress Index is a model that provides the average probability of failure for a group of companies (e.g. by industry, portfolio, or country) over the next 12 months. The level of risk is measured through a scale of 0 to 50, with 50 being the most risky.
About CreditRiskMonitor
CreditRiskMonitor is a financial news and analysis service designed to help professionals stay ahead of public company risk quickly, accurately and cost-effectively. More than 35% of the Fortune 1000, plus thousands more worldwide, rely on our commercial credit reporting and predictive risk analytics for assessing the financial stability of more than 56,000 global public companies.
At the core of CreditRiskMonitor's service is its 96%-accurate FRISK® score, which is formulated to predict public company bankruptcy risk. One of four key components calculated in the FRISK® score is crowdsourced subscriber activity. This unique system tracks subscribers' patterns of research activity, capturing and aggregating the real-time concerns of what are essentially the key gatekeepers of corporate credit. Other features of CreditRiskMonitor's service include timely news alerts, the Altman Z"-Score, agency ratings, financial ratios and trends. CreditRiskMonitor's network of trade contributors provides more than $150 billion in trade data on their counterparties every month, giving them visibility into their biggest dollar risks.


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The Sunday New York Times Business Section had a fascinating article about a Canadian Company called Carbon Engineering that was founded in 2009 with $3.5 million from investors, including Bill Gates.
Carbon Engineering is attempting to develop a commercial scale plant that would remove 100,000 tons of carbon per year from the air, about the carbon emissions of 20,000 cars each year in the US. To put that 100,000 tons further in perspective, annual energy related carbon emissions in the USA are now about 5.3 billion tons and world emissions are above 30 billion tons.
The article suggests that Carbon Engineering is making progress toward its goal of a commercial plant. The hurdles that must be cleared to reach success, however, are large, with the principal one being the cost per ton of carbon removed from the air. The NYT states the cost of removing from the air is uncertain and to underline that point states that estimates range from $20 to $2,000 per ton.
It, nonetheless, impressive that this company has secured investment from Bill Gates, and Carbon Engineering's concept has one huge advantage over capturing carbon at power plants or other sources. Capturing the carbon at a power plant is just the beginning and the easiest part.
Once captured, the carbon must be transported by pipelines to a place of storage. Often power plants are impossibly far from viable storage places, making carbon capture and storage impossible. And building pipelines is never easy or cheap, no matter how long or short the line may be.
A plant designed to take carbon out of the air, of course, can be built near or on top of places where excellent storage exists. As such, Carbon Engineering's approach solves what now is often a fatal barrier to carbon capture and storage projects.
Discussion about key facts in energy, environment, the economy, and politics. Tired of ideological junk? This is your place.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Hopeful Fact: Bill Gates Invests To Take Carbon Out Of The Air
1 comment:
- Scott CannonJanuary 8, 2013 at 8:00 AM
John, I sincerely hope you do a review of "FrackNation". I want your take on Mr. MacAleer's word spin and how its hurting the industry, especially "the water in Dimock has always been fine" BS. Also, the big fact that methane migration from drilling operations is and does cause your tap to be lit on fire. Several Dimock residents told me Mr. MacAleer tricked them into interviews by telling them he was making a film to save Ireland from fracking. Think about it. Would an fracavist do an interview for a pro gas video?ReplyDelete
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subset: commoncrawl


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We love to get feedback from our clients – both positive and negative – so we can continue to improve the services that we offer. If you have experienced our services, then we invite you to leave your feedback by clicking here
Below you can see some of the feedback left by some of our existing clients…
My husband called after hours because our heat went out. The technician returned our call and diagnosed the problem over the phone. It was a simple fix my husband was able to do. These are good people who will have our business in the future.
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PBA Schedule OPPO Governor's Cup 2016, Top(3) rank Brgy. Ginebra vs top (11) Purefoods Star Hotshots latest rank update stat. Full game replay result, recap,video highlights and post your reaction.
Latest PBA replay August 28, 2016(Sunday) [5-2]Brgy. Ginebra vs Purefoods Star Hotshots[1-5]. PBA replay as of "Sunday" 6:45pm at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Gin Kings will face off Hotshots, The Game match-up will available soon Fan's support you team today!!!!.
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Brownlee responded with a three-pointer that made it an eight-point game and Mercado returned the favor with a celebration of his own, but was docked with a technical foul.
Star entered the half with a 58-50 lead with the two imports playing starring roles. Wright led the Hotshots with 20 points but Brownlee topped that by scoring 23, though his team was behind at the break.
Simon and Pingris made some big plays in the third to keep Star in front but back-to-back baskets from Aguilar, the latter a huge jam off a pick and roll with Tenorio, swung momentum Ginebra's way.
Brownlee made a basket in the paint and Scottie Thompson scored off a tip-in before Tenorio escaped for an uncontested layup to tie the game at 67-all after a 10-0 run.
The run didn't end there, though. Aguilar muffed a dunk attempt during a fastbreak but Tenorio made up for it by knocking down a triple, 70-67, that finally gave Ginebra the lead for the first time in the game.
RR Garcia tied the game at 76-apiece late in the third but Star failed to get a stop in the dying seconds as Ginebra broke their press and created an open look for Jervy Cruz that beat the buzzer.
Cruz then opened the fourth with three straight baskets, padding the lead back up to eight, 84-76, before Star was able to score its first basket of the quarter.
Mercado created separation for the Kings, though, after knocking down a triple and jumping into the passing lane for a steal that he dribbled all the way to the other end for a layup. That pushed the Ginebra lead up to double-digits, 94-82.
Brownlee would later hit another triple and Mark Caguioa made a steal that he turned into a three-point play on the other end that made it a 15-point lead, 102-87.
Brownlee and Mercado each knocked down triple and Aguilar capped the game by finishing an alley-oop lob from Tenorio in transition with a monster two-handed slam for a whopping 19-point lead, 112-93, with 2:44 remaining.
The Final Boxscore Result:
GINEBRA 116 – Brownlee 38, Aguilar 21, Mercado 14, Tenorio 13, Cruz 8, Caguioa 8, Thompson 6, Marcelo 4, Mariano 2, Devance 2, Helterbrand 0.
STAR 103 – Wright 31, Simon 22, Pingris 13, Garcia 10, Barroca 9, Yap 9, Melton 5, Sangalang 2, Maliksi 2, Reavis 0, Pascual 0.
Quarters: 21-33, 50-58, 78-76, 116-103


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Starring:Max BozykIrving BrunerGertrude BulmanSimche FostelLucy GehrmanMisha GehrmanItskhok GrudbergSamuel LandauChana LevinAlexander SteinEdmund ZayendaDirected byJoseph GreenA Letter to Mother - A Brivele der MamenA deeply religious husband immigrates to America while his wife struggles desperately to support her three children in pre-WWII Polish Ukraine before finally making her way to New York to join her husband. The highest grossing Yiddish film of its time, A Little Letter to Mother is one of the last Yiddish films made in Poland before the Nazi invasion. This wonderful old-fashioned melodrama fraught with historical significance is one of the precious few documents of the Polish Jewish community left to us. The film was made on location in Warsaw and the Polish countryside. Originally released on September 14, 1939, two weeks after the German blitzkrieg over Poland, at the Belmont Theater in New York.Full of drama as well as humour and beautiful Yiddish songs !! Yiddish speaking with English subtitles.105 min.Black and White
Please note: These classical Yiddish Movies have been electronically enhanced to get the best possible video and sound quality. Due to the age and condition of the original movies, it was not always possible to have perfect results.


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Scenic City Opera is a brand new organization based in Chattanooga, TN. We have big goals, but we are still very small. Following is a little bit of information about how we operate right now:
Do you have your non-profit status?
Do you have your non-profit status?
YES! All donations made to Scenic City Opera are tax deductible to full the extent allowable by the law.
Are my donations to Scenic City Opera tax deductible?
Are my donations to Scenic City Opera tax deductible?
Does Scenic City Opera pay their artists?
Does Scenic City Opera pay their artists?
This is a tough question to answer. The goal, of course, is to pay everyone involved a fair fee for their time, talent, and effort. In the early stages of the company, this won't always be possible. We hope to pay at least a travel-stipend to out-of-town performers, and plan to pay all principal singers at least a nominal honorarium. It's not much to begin with, but with your continued support of what Scenic City Opera plans to do in coming seasons that's sure to improve.
How can I help?
How can I help?
There are many MANY ways you can help Scenic City Opera reach it's goals.
- Volunteer as an usher or ticket taker
- If you are a skilled craftsman, costumer, or other sort of service useful in the theatre, we will always welcome volunteers
- You or your company could buy advertising in our programs and on our website
- You or your company could sponsor an aspect of the show and get sponsor-status in our programs and on our website
- Donate
- Buy tickets, and tell your friends to buy tickets
- Talk up our shows on your social media pages! Word of mouth is the single best way to bring in an audience.
- Donate refreshments for intermission
- Serve on our Board of Directors
There are innumerable other ways in which we could make use of your help. If you have an idea of how you'd like to help Scenic City Opera, let us know!


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Our friend Debby, another Texan transplant from the same area of Michigan I'm from, says Michigan is God's Country. As a Michigan native I agree. We spent the greater part of April there in my brother's driveway (thanks Wayne and Deb) getting some improvements done to the camper for our next big push to Alaska. I'll do a separate post on those since some of them are pretty significant for us. Glenn bore the brunt of doing the upgrades and had to do them in COLD temperatures. All of our visiting and 'home improvements' put me behind in posting so this one will be a catchup post.
Kyle (who is lucky enough to be married to Debby); owns Devil Hole Lodge, a nicely-located cabin on the Muskegon River in Newago, so we headed up there for a few days to fish for Steelhead. Steelhead are a cross between a rainbow trout and salmon and are BONIFIED FIGHTERS. We had a great day fishing with Mike Dragon, a local fishing guide. He was super knowledgeable about trout, salmon, and steelhead fishing since he has been a guide in Alaska, Michigan and Chile for the past several years. We drift fished on the Muskegon River below the Hardy dam for several miles and caught some monsters.
After we left lower Michigan, we headed over the Mackinaw Bridge (which is sooooo beautiful) into the Upper Peninsula and over to Hog Island State Forest campground on Lake Michigan. Campsites are rustic – only a few water pumps in the campground and vault toilets all for the great price of $13. We chose site #39 which is right on Lake Michigan so you can hear the seagulls and the waves lapping onto shore. Almost all the sites are private with tall trees and vegetation between each one.
We left Michigan and headed into Wisconsin to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. We arrived in the Lakewood – Laona District office too late to talk to a ranger so picked up a map and tried to find a dispersed camping site. (Dispersed camping means no hookups or vault toilets and are free.) National forests are notorious for poor quality maps, etc because of budget cuts so we obtained a map and a separate rudimentary description of some sites. We drove for 45 minutes, never finding the areas we originally planned, instead found a pristine spot. It is the only camping spot on Himley Lake which has no boat access so it is very quiet and remote. Turned out to be perfect – we slept to the sounds of thousands of frogs singing throughout the night. We also saw a beaver and a pair of loons. I looked for bear and never saw any signs, even though this is black bear country in Northern Wisconsin.
Next we are onto Western Wisconsin and Minnesota.


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So remember Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn shared their matching tattoos on instagram last month? They showed off a pair of Double Ds for the camera and that was that - not much more said. Well, it's all come full circle and Dunn is sharing a look at the night that brought the two together for the tattooing extravaganza.
Here, in full HD video, we have Jourdan Dunn and Cara Delevingne eating thai, sharing tattoos (did you know Cara had a white dove tat on her finger?) and getting stamped for all eternity. Oh, and Cara Delevingne explains why she got that "Made in England" Tattoo - because at the time she felt like a doll and actually was contemplating getting "Made in Taiwan" instead. Interesting, all very interesting.
Oh, but about that Double D tattoo. Well it seems it all stems from their surnames, as expected, and Jourdan Dunn's Double D boobalas. Here's a first look at how the whole night went down.


text: Max Laier wrote: > On Fri, May 12, 2006 11:38 pm, Bjoern A. Zeeb wrote: >> On Fri, 12 May 2006, Max Laier wrote: >> >>> Log: >>> Remove ip6fw. Since ipfw has full functional IPv6 support now and - in >>> contrast to ip6fw - is properly lockes, it is time to retire ip6fw. >> could you add an entry to UPDATING because of incompatible syntax etc. >> so people will be able to find out before updating that their ip6fw >> rc.firewall6 scripts no longer work... > > Will post to UPDATING, bump __FreeBSD_version and update ObsoleteFiles in > a bit. Hi, I am probably missing something here. But both rc.firewall and rc.firewall6 flush all rules before adding their own. The result on my system is that v4 rules were wiped out. Any ways to resolve this? (I commented out the flush line in rc.firewall6 for now. But that's not good if you are v6 only.) Thanks, yushun


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Multi Genre Mini Resume
As I began exploring different genres of compositions and song writing in the last 12 years, I realized that I love incorporating singing into my music. I found my sonic preferences & vibes to be in alignment with Chill out moods, taking it to different directions and variations. Publishing 2 albums of original music in the cross genres of Pop & lounge as well as collaborating with numerous amazing local talents helped me expand in both experience and style.
Here are some of my recent collaborators:
- Dave Schulz- Goo Goo Dolls/ Berlin Keyboardist with whom I'm building the duo project "Into The Frequency"
- Fernando Perdomo- guitarist extraordinaire with whom I have an Improvisation project called "Fern & Celli". We released "The Conversation" Improv album in February 2017.
- Dave Kerzner- (Progressive rock Keyboardist & Producer)- Cello recordings on the album "Static" (2017), and "In Continuum" (2018). Guest performer on The "New World" Live DVD (2015), band member on the "Static"- Live Performance DVD during Progstock, Rahway NJ- 2017 and for "In Continuum" on Progressive Rock "Cruise To The Edge 2019".
- Ken Sharp- (New York Times Best Selling Writer, & Singer Songwriter)- Cello Recordings on Album "Beaty In The Backseat" (2018)
- Earl Kayos- (Singer songwriter)- Cello & Vocal recordings on the Albums "The Resurrection of Ants" (2017) and "Trans Formations" (2018) as part of the "Life on Mars" project
- Kevens- (Reggae Dub & EDM Fusion Performance Artist)- Cello recording on the single "Sweet Lady Liberty" (2018)
- Karin Michaels (Flutist and songwriter)- Cello & Vocal recordings on the single "Must Be Your Magic" (2016)
- Steven Buckner (Film Composer)- Cello recording on "Separate Journey" (2018)
- SJ- (Guitarist and Folk Music Singer Songwriter- cello recordings on the albums "Coffee"- (2011), Live DVD Album-"Coffee unflitered (2011), "Nikki"- (2018)
- Kate Eaton- Colorado Singer Songwriter (with whom i collaborated on a series of live performances of music from her album "God id Love" and other original compositions)
- Jim Camacho- (Guitarist & Singer Songwriter/ former member "The Goods")- Songwriting collaboration project- "Alive"


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Meet Master Jason Hammond,
South Austin Head Instructor
Master Jason has been a training in Shaolin-Do for over 15 years. He is unique in that he has tested and achieved the level of 5th degree Associate Master in both our internal program (Tai Chi 5th Black Sash) and in our external program (Kung Fu 5th Black Belt). He has been teaching for over 10 years at our north Austin school and now heads the south school programs.
Master Jason is a licensed massage therapist and massage therapy instructor, as well as a licensed acupuncturist. His wife, Sara, an Austin lawyer, is currently training in both kung fu and tai chi also. They are excited to become a part of the south Austin family!
Take 71 east and take take the first exit (turn South) after going under IH-35 (near Mcdonalds)
Look for the sign saying Austin Industrial Park on the North side of Burleson Rd (5214 Burleson Rd). We are in the first row of suites (suite 211) near the very end of the row. The chainlink fence at the edge of the property will be on your left as you drive back to our suite.
Our South Austin school is located at: 5214 Burleson Road Suite 211, Austin Texas 78744.
If you'd like to call us we can be reached at 512-505-8248
Request was denied for some reason.
Master Jason pictured with South Austin Blue Belts Following testing
And some of the assistant instructors you will meet at South Austin Shaolin-Do:
Darrell Kreitz (left), Lisa and Mariah Edelmon with Colby Adams (bottom left) and Mike Dingus (bottom right).


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Portland Sprocket Growler
With spring and warm weather (hopefully) coming soon, you'll need something rugged and hearty to keep your beer cold. Luckily, the Portland Growler Co. offers just that: handmade, hand poured ceramic growlers that are slip cast and carefully trimmed from local clay. Available with three handle styles and your choice of matte black, gloss white, satin grey or gloss blue colour options. Standard sized growlers measure in at 64oz, however PGC offers a smaller, 32oz 'Growlette' version to match all your beer-drinking needs.
Retail $48 - $65


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Loved by the queen of drag queens
DerekPlease.com was featured in an extended segment on Episode 54 of the Emmy-winning icon's hit podcast. The feature occured after Derek was approached by the podcast's cutting edge production company, The Paragon Collective.
Cited by the iconic Internet pioneer
A DerekPlease.com blog post was quoted in a Yahoo! Style article written by Sabrina Rojas Weiss.
Content used by the iconic publication
Billboard Magazine, the source behind the Hot 100 singles and Billboard 200 albums charts, used multimedia exclusively obtained by DerekPlease.com
Video used by America's #1 radio provider
An @DerekPlease video tweet exclusively broke the story of Britney Spears paying tribute to the Las Vegas tragedy victims. It was prominently featured in a iHeart Radio blog post.
Blogworthy content
Popular and established entertainment blog JustJared has shared photo and video content exclusively obtained by DerekPlease.com
Video posted by influential magazine
Ebony Magazine posted an exclusive @DerekPlease video edit in an April 2018 story.
Quoted by this leading newspaper
DerekPlease.com Writer + CEO Derek was quoted in a 2017 article written by Sharyn Jackson. It appeared in the print edition.
Content used by NBC affiliate
Photo and video content exclusively obtained by DerekPlease.com was broadcast and blogged by NBC television affiliate KPRC 2 Houston.
Ongoing relationship with pop culture blog
BreatheHeavy.com shares memes, exclusive videos, and Britney Spears merchandise news credited to @DerekPlease & DerekPlease.com
Video shared by hot blog
ThatGrapeJuice.net shared an exclusive video from @DerekPlease in an April 2018 blog post.
Media used by "the Queen of All Media"
Perez Hilton posted an exclusive edited video from @DerekPlease in April 2018.
Cover Star
An in-depth interview and photoshoot with Derek was the cover story for a special Pride Month print edition of Twin Cities Gay Scene magazine.
Cover Star
Derek has been interviewed on the front cover of Minnesota's syndicated ABC Newspapers Entertainment section twice. Once for his YouTube Partner program success, and a second time for the release of his popular debut dance-pop album, Flakes.
Lead Writer
Derek is a Lead Writer at Twin Cities Gay Scene, an all-digital LGBTQ+ magazine based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. His columns, celebrity interviews, and concert reviews are local favorites shared with pop culture fans globally.
Celebrity Guest
Derek has appeared numerous times as celebrity co-host of the storied KFAI radio program "Fresh Fruit," America's longest running LGBTQ+ radio broadcast.
Derek has been a celebrity spokesperson and brand representative for all-natural beauty brand Beauty Kitchen by Heather Marianna since 2012. DerekPlease.com content has been featured on Heather's blog several times.
Market Partner
Derek is proud to offer naturally-based Monat haircare. Message @DerekPlease on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Twitter for a fun and free consultation from the man himself!


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On The Brad And Angelina Divorce – My Last Bus Stop Theory
I'm not a huge fan of celebrity hookups and marriages. Yes of course some of them are just absolutely adorable but the heartbreak that comes when such couples announce their divorce – not cool at all. Look at the last few years, we've had:
- Tom Cruise and Katy Holmes
- Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow
- Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson
- Guy Ritchie and Madonna
I could go on and on and on but no matter how I feel about these marriages, celebs are also human beings and they also deserve to be happy. Thankfully we still have couples like Will and Jada, Bey and Jay, Kim and Ye still going strong (for now) so it's not all doom and gloom. However, after Brad and Angelina announced their divorce yesterday, I thought to share a few things I've had on my mind concerning marriage and divorce.
To begin with, if you look at the list I have above you'll notice that most of the couples are Americans married in the US (with the exception of Chris Martin). Now, lets look at marriage and divorce in the US. I did a quick search online and found the following stats:
- Number of marriages: 2,140, 272 (49 reporting States and D.C)
- Marriage rate: 6.9 per 1,000 total population (49 reporting States and D.C)
- Divorce rate: 3.2 per 1,000 population (45 reporting States and D.C.)
As an average Nigerian, you'll probably say this information is quite scary. To think their divorce rate is almost half of the marriage rate is indeed worrisome right? And I used the Nigerian context because another quick search showed the following as our marriage and divorce numbers for Nigeria:
0.2% of men and 0.3% of women have legally untied the knot, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. And well under 1% of couples admit to being separated.
But of course, we know data gathering isn't our strong point in this part of the world and as such, this data definitely excludes majority of Nigerians, who only got married traditionally. It is also important to note that despite the inaccurate nature of our data, the numbers provided by the NBS still shows that separation is about five times more than divorce in Nigeria.
How does all of this tie in and where am I going with this? To start off, the divorce and marriage rate figures for the US weren't so surprising to me. Why? Because for the average American, divorce, no matter how hard it is to take, is just another part of life. It's a norm for them – one could even say it's a part of their culture. However, for us in this part of the world, it's almost some sort of taboo.
Let me explain it this way. For the average American, marriage is a race while for us, its more like a journey on a one-way road. In a race, say even a marathon, you can get half way and feel tired, exhausted and just drop out. You entered it willingly and even though you might be tagged a failure or feel disappointed with yourself for not completing the race, it's all well and good – life goes on. On the flip side, we tend to see marriage more like a journey on a one-way road. Yes, you also decide to take the journey willingly (even though you can be dragged into it sometimes), but with a journey on a one way road, you're going from point A to B and even though you can stop along the way to catch your breath or do whatever, there really is no turning back. You just have to make it to point B. This probably explains why we have more separations than divorces in Nigeria. This is the norm for us and you can also say it has become part of our culture. This is why from as long as I can remember, people use such terms as "my last bus stop" when referring to their spouse in Nigeria.
I'm one person who is very vocal about the need for aspects of our culture to become more dynamic so as to help us grow as a people and many attack me for thinking I want to change all aspects of our culture. Today, I'm glad I will be siding with this aspect of our culture because I believe for anyone going into a long term relationship – especially one with legal and religious commitments, having this 'last bus stop mindset' is extremely important.
I don't know about you guys but whenever I go into something knowing I can always get out of it, my level of commitment has already been compromised. In terms of relationships, a simple example here is a casual relationship. You're 20, he's 22 and you guys are just messing around. Yes, he has asked you to be his girlfriend officially and you guys have been dating for two years but as long as there's no commitment beyond "let's see how things go", either of you can easily leave the relationship and no body will die. With more serious relationships like an engaged couple or a married couple, I have come to realise that the moment either half of the couple begins to find excuses for having options for his/her partner, that's like building a bridge towards the end of that relationship.
I believe every man and woman should go into a marriage with the mindset of "this is last person I'm ever going to have sex with". Heck, you could even go as far as accepting your partner will be the last person you will ever make out with. Accepting this not only emphasises the commitment you made before man and God but it helps or rather 'forces' you to do all you need to do to remain committed to this extremely tough decision.
Oh, you thought I'd say this is a piece of cake? HELL NO! If you haven't gotten married, I'm sorry to break it to you but – this is possibly one of the hardest things you will do – EVER (And I'm less than two years in this so this isn't solely based on my experience). I've written a lot about the male ego and the emotional side of women. These two factors alone make it super super difficult to stick to this script. Something as simple as finding another 'gist partner' instead of your husband because he never really listens to you is a red flag. It seems so fickle right? But the moment you start telling that your male colleague all the things you should be telling your husband you're creating an exit door. Let's not even talk about the more serious stuff like sex. So your wife isn't into the things you're into in the bedroom so you decide to visit prostitutes to ease the pain. That's an exit.
The hard alternative is to sit with your wife, talk it out till you find a reasonable/compromise-able middle ground. And don't get it twisted, 'exit doors' don't always come in the form of other people. Take for instance the guy I mentioned above. Let's say instead of visiting prostitutes, he decides to masturbate. Yes, some will say there's nothing wrong with learning how to please yourself every now and then – also, technically he's not cheating on his wife right? WRONG. If a guy goes from the occasional wank maybe whenever his wife isn't around to a regular thing as a way of giving himself what his wife can't give, that's a MAJOR exit door right there because that has technically given him an alternative to his wife.
The Americans and Europeans are brought up in a way that they understand that there's always an "out" in marriage and so they really don't need to go out of their way to create exit doors. If you're not a celeb with millions of dollars that you have to split with some guy or woman who broke your heart, it's almost not a big deal. I've met regular American's who have divorced twice and don't have a problem with doing it again. As far as they're concerned, marriage is trial and error. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. That's the norm in their society and even though I think it's only down to the fact that their system is so effective and as a result, getting a divorce is so easy, it is what it is.
Before some people come at me, let me state clearly that there are exceptions to every rule. Every contract has terms, clauses and what not. Even though I strongly support this 'last bus stop theory' if you can call it that, I do not support people staying in abusive relationships. Yes, the vows talk about 'sickness and health' and all that but it doesn't say you should stick around if your husband abuses you or even worse, your kids every day. All I'm saying is, there is a stronger possibility for a serious relationship/marriage to work out if both parties go into it with the mindset of having to alternatives.
For a lot of guys marriage is check box. They look round and pick whoever they feel will make a good mother to their kids but not a ride or die partner who they can stand for the rest of their lives knowing the are stuck with them forever. For most of our women nowadays, marriage is about the change in status – being addressed as Mrs., having an elaborate wedding and having kids. When push comes to shove, their emotional side takes over and they find other people or things to run to.
Not having that 'out' has its disadvantages – a lot of them actually. After watching my parents remain in a loveless marriage for several years all in the name of staying in a marriage, trust me, I know. However, I think the positives outnumber the negatives but that's up for debate and that's where I'd like your input today. Please use the comment box to share your thoughts.
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In the same issue of the Guardian last week (June 14, 2016) Two mass killings were reported. They were the shooting of more than 50 people at a gay club in Orlando, Florida and the scientific confirmation that a tiny rodent- the bramble cay melomys, is extinct almost certainly due climate change. Have a look:
You probably heard about Orlando,-front page news for days, it loosed Barak Obama's eloquent rhetoric and laying of flowers and wreaths all over the world. I'll guess you did not register the melomys' extinction. I found it buried deeply amidst news of Euro soccer, Britain's (possible) exit from the EU and Donald Trumps latest excesses. It got no reported political attention. We respond quickly, almost as if pre-programmed, to even distant violence but struggle to recognise or respond to climate change, though its all around us, caused by us and affects us all. I wonder why.
Try this idea: could a significant marker of development be the way a population captures information about itself with respect to its context and its ability to change its behaviour adaptively in response. Usually development applies that to a selected population: indigenous people in North-East Cambodia, street kids in certain suburbs of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, people with mental health disability and their families in Deheradun, India, whatever. Development organisations try to get people to relate in different ways among themselves, behave more appropriately to those around them and find, use and distribute resources better. Lets use those two illustrations to look at all seven messy billion of us and our development trajectory, also based on how we behave towards each other, distribute and conserve resources and change our behaviour based on what the planet throws back at us.
Which of the mass killings is more important, which one got more air time , which might significantly change the way we organise ourselves with respect to each other and the planet that supports us? Is the first (known) extinction of a fellow mammal, collateral damage of climate change, significant for the human development trajectory? More or less significant than the deliberate killing of 50 people by a psychiatrically unwell man in USA? What makes humans change behaviour? Of all the information the world throws at us, how can we capture the 'important' stuff and change behaviour appropriately? Who decides what's important?Today science and computer modelling give humans more, better processed information than ever. Does that lead to better decisions, better ways of organising ourselves? Is information the critical lack in development? If more information doesn't lead to better decisions what does? Could development be about a group of humans better recognising important information and developing their ways to respond? I'm illustrating these ideas at a global, whole-of-humanity scale but they are equally relevant to any other scale. Try applying them to your development work.
Questions, questions, questions...What do you think?


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Numerous bank card firms supply incentives to people with large debts. Until you venture away out of your consolation zone and face the judgement, you will by no means know the way traveling by yourself could doubtlessly change your life. Long term traveling has time and again been life reworking for us and we really want to encourage others to hunt this chance as well. Cheryl Hoffman, forty six, of Sumerduck, Virginia stated she was thrilled that Trump ordered the ban.
The simplest way of doing this can be a easy phone name to your travel insurance supplier or a quick electronic mail enlightening them on your current state of affairs. Travel Republic champions value, selection and flexibility and does not sell, organise or prepare package holidays. The record for the shortest woman in historical past remains with Pauline Musters, who died in 1895 at 2 feet tall even.
Finding that compassion inside of ourselves for others (your fellow human beings…) is likely one of the biggest benefits of traveling. The Super Visa's most troublesome requirement is probably the necessity to buy an insurance coverage policy. Trying out the various offers and discounts supplied by Skylux Travel will shock customers to no finish.
About one quarter of parents did not bear in mind to securely store medicines when traveling with their toddler, the ballot additionally discovered. Just keep in mind to travel good by having your entire mandatory medical supplies and emergency data readily accessible. Due to this fact, if you're planning to visit this national park through the winter season be sure to carry warm garments to guard oneself from cold while touring in jeep safari.
We are free to select the sort, duration and value of travel that fits our interest and price range. Eligible purchases do NOT embody ticketing service or other fees, curiosity fees, balance transfers, cash advances, purchases of travelers checks, purchases or reloading of pay as you go playing cards, or purchases of different cash equivalents. Governments from London and Berlin to Jakarta and Tehran spoke out against Trump's order to put a four-month maintain on permitting refugees into the United States and quickly ban travelers from Syria and 6 other Muslim-majority countries.


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Pune, Oct 24 (IANS) New Zealand batsman Tom Latham on Tuesday said to counter the Indian spinners, he finds the sweep shot easier than hitting them down the ground.
Latham, who scored an unbeaten century in New Zealand's comprehensive six-wicket win, said playing spin effectively will be the key in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against India.
"One thing that comes to me (naturally) is the sweep that I have played throughout my career. It's something that I find easier to play than hitting down the ground," Latham told reporters here.
"The other guys may find hitting down the ground easier. It's important to have different game plans for different conditions and try and stick to that," he added.
Latham and Ross Taylor (95) contributed a 200-run stand for the fourth wicket to outplay India in the first match. Latham smashed the opposition bowlers all over the park to notch up eight boundaries and two sixes in his 102-ball innings.
The middle-order batsman also revealed the preparation he did back home to tackle the spinners.
"I put little bit of work in terms of coming over here and playing spin. On surfaces back home they were a little bit drier and quite responsive to spin. So, that was (a part) of the preparation," he said.
Post Source: Ians feed


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A golden-brown sponge cake is laid on a wooden table, basking in the warm afternoon sunshine. A red plastic brush moistens the genoise with syrup, and then heavy cream covers the sliced sheets layer by layer. Spinning the cake turntable slowly, the patissier spreads cream evenly on every side of the cake. The 5-minute mesmerizing baking journey ends when sugar-coated strawberries are gently placed on top of the cake.
|Chef Kook Gabie demonstrates how to make strawberry pavlova (Gabie Kook's YouTube Channel)
Such dessert-making videos are taking YouTube by storm in Korea. The simple clip featuring strawberry cake, which was filmed by Korean YouTuber Honeykki, has been played nearly 14 million times on the video-sharing platform. Other sweets-making videos from various cooking channels are also garnering a significant number of views from local dessert lovers.
The content does not seem very different from ordinary "how-to-make" video recipes, but trending baking clips share common features: plenty of close-up shots and brain-tingling sounds. Rather than giving cooking instructions step by step in detail, the videos tend to focus on showing high-resolution footage and delivering clear sounds. Viewers say such videos are "oddly satisfying" to watch.
Soothing visuals
While a Nutella chocolate cheesecake would arguably taste like heaven, some people feel gratified just watching how it was made.
Kook Gabie, a chef from the TV show "Master Chef Korea," is well-known for her YouTube video recipes that satisfy viewers' dessert cravings. From Nutella cheesecake to apple crumble, the video recipes on Kook's channel have a natural visual style that comforts people.
|Dessert baking videos feature close-up shots (Gabie Kook's YouTube Channel)
"The sunlight is crucial on filming baking videos," Kook told The Korea Herald in an email interview.
"I sometimes record indoor under artificial light, but most of the videos are filmed in morning or daytime," Kook added, explaining the use of natural light creates a warm mood in her baking clips.
Even though Kook puts voice-over narrations on each video recipe, she rarely appears in the footage while she bakes.
|Dessert baking videos feature close-up shots (Gabie Kook's YouTube Channel)
Instead, the camera shows various close-up shots that highlight the textures and colors of ingredients. Footage of mixing egg yolks, melting chocolate chips and whipping thick cream instantly whet viewers' appetites, the comments on videos say.
"The footage itself is already so sweet and tasty," a YouTuber user said, garnering over 370 likes.
"I've wondered how you always create such (a) warm and comforting atmosphere on your video," another user commented.
Clear sound that tingles
YouTube creators are now adding ASMR elements to their baking videos, making their clips even more relaxing to watch.
ASMR, an abbreviation of autonomous sensory meridian response that evokes pleasant sensations in the ears, has been an internet phenomenon over the years.
Lee Seung-mi, better known on YouTube as "Cho," is one of the YouTubers who feature the clever use of sounds in their food videos.
Since the creator first pioneered the "cooking ASMR" genre in 2014, her channel has gone viral among dessert lovers. The number of subscribers now surpasses over 431,000.
|Dessert baking videos include close-up shots (YouTube channel 'Cho's Daily Cook')
Her seven-minute chocolate cake video, for example, delivers all kinds of sounds made while she bakes. The sounds of pouring water in a glass bowl, melting butter and chocolates, cracking eggs and mixing it all together trigger pleasant sensations in listeners.
"The first and most (important) thing I care about (during filming) is to record the real sound of baking," Lee said in an email interview with The Korea Herald.
To create soft and soothing sounds, Lee uses kitchenware made of wood or silicone and takes extra care to avoid making loud noises while baking.
Her 1 million-won ($894) recorder captures every little sound -- so she turns off her refrigerator ahead of the recording.
"I even control my breath while filming to reduce unnecessary noises," Lee said.
|Dessert baking videos include close-up shots (YouTube channel 'Cho's Daily Cook')
Once filming is done, she carefully tones the sounds through an audio editing process. Comments on her channel's videos are full of positive reviews, saying they felt a deep sense of satisfaction while watching the clips.
"I love the way you keep silent and focus on baking. I often lose patience when people keep talking too much in the tutorial. Hope you make more," a YouTube user said.
By Park Ju-young (email@example.com)


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Find Hostels all over the World
A2 Design Hostel, HOSTEL in Budapest Hungary.
A2 Design Hostel.
Wesselenyi street 4.2nd floor 9/A, Budapest, Hungary
Located near: Address: wesselenyi u.4 1077 budapest Location: we are located within walking distance - all 2-10 minutes: -Deak Ferenc Ter - the central metro station of Budapest where the city's underground rail roads meet -Red line station of Astoria -Blaha Lujza ter -Andrassy Avenue (which is part of the world heritage), -Famous pedestrian street: Vaci Utca. -Central synagogue -Elizabeth bridge
A2 design hostel is located in a historical building, in the heart of Budapest with a view to the synagogue.
We are in walking distance to every activities.
our hostel brings the flair of budapest modern city lifestyle.
We wanted to provide our guests a warm and welcoming design without any compromi


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The U.S. Congress is considering many measures that would, if enacted, undermine long-standing environmental protection laws. Among the bills in jeopardy:
- The Migratory Bird Treaty Act—One measure addresses incidental deaths (those caused as collateral damage during development projects) and would remove incentives for companies to adopt such protective practices as preventing bird deaths in oil waste pits or coal ash ponds.
- The Endangered Species Act—Efforts are under way to weaken the law's science-based decision-making process.
- The Land and Water Conservation Fund—Some administration and congressional officials want to cut funding for this program, which has helped preserve wildlife habitat in most states, including Virginia.
To learn more and to send your message to Virginia's members of Congress, click here.


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Publication: OECD/UNESCAP Multi-dimensional Myanmar Review: Volume 2. In-depth Analysis and Recommendations
We are pleased to announce the launch of the publication jointly prepared by OECD and UN-ESCAP, Multi-dimensional Review of Myanmar: Volume 2. In-depth Analysis and Recommendations co-authored by Mr. Masato Abe. This is a follow up publication of the initial report, Multi-Dimensional Review of Myanmar, published in July 2013.
After an initial assessment of constraints to development in Myanmar found in Volume I, the second phase was conducted in 2013-2014, and this Volume II assesses key issues and makes policy recommendations.
Some of the topics discussed includes: modernisation of the agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors; promotion of education and skills training; analysis of multiple sources of financing; and lack of institutional and social capital.
More information can be found here.


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General-B 803597
Dan Antonioli is a licensed general contractor specializing in green building and ecological design. He is distinguished by his commitment to sustainability and offers a "deep shade of green" to his work. From green materials, good green designs, conservation and energy efficiency, to renewable energy systems, Dan is committed to seeing projects be environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Dan grew up working for his family's construction companies. After high school he worked for two years as an apprentice carpenter and took courses at community college, which lead to his attendance at UC Berkeley for a BA in psychology and then Sonoma State for a masters degree, also in psychology. He often worked as a carpenter during the summer months, and after finishing his masters degree began to focus on green building while simultaneously getting exposure to permaculture and natural building.
Former employers include: Creative Spaces, John Lieb Construction, Sun, Light & Power, and assorted bay area construction companies for short-term summer positions.
Dan is currently finishing a minor subdivision in Laytonville, California, with the intention of creating an ecovillage. He is also the founder of Oakland's 611 Ecovillage, an urban, two-building green renovated intentional community.


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There's this feeling one gets when listening to Atlanta band Lyonnais' new LP, Want For Wish For Nowhere (Hoss), that's not unlike being jettisoned off into some anesthetic-addled dream state. It creates an atmosphere immediately and refuses to let you drift back to consciousness until it's through with you. Even when you're alert again, the record's noisy yet beautiful and melancholic passages remain cemented for days. Want's structure adds to this blissful delirium, stretching five songs out to the length of an LP, on which "The Fatalist" plays a key role. And, despite the rather long track times, the music itself never grows tiresome. There's a narrative at work here, one that prods with harsh, oblique textures at points and pulls back (albeit darkly) into paens to astral wonderment at others. And through it all runs a clear dedication to craft, to something larger than the sum of its parts: an atmosphere, yes, but also a sense of place within so many of rock's great subcultures, oft-maligned by the guileless and embraced by the daring. Download "The Fatalist" below.
"The Fatalist" (download):


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Our SHOW TEAM dancers are required to have mastered a certain level of dance skill, including multiple spins, advanced lead & follow techniques, and precise partnering. Dancers at this level are looking to improve rapidly, are able to learn choreography quickly, and are comfortable with changes in choreography. Routines at this level are advanced in both patterns/styling and dancers learn advanced lead and follow skills, musicality, footwork, styling, spins and challenging tricks. There is a full season of performances and members are leaders and positive role models in the dance company. Our Show Team is ideal for dancers looking to compete or aspire to dance on the pro-level salsa circuit.
The SHOW TEAM rehearses every Sunday at the LA Dance Center. Interested in joining? Please contact our director at
firstname.lastname@example.com 213-632-9607
Remember Me


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Iraq Intelligence
CIA report reveals analysts' split over extent of Iraqi nuclear threat
WASHINGTON — The CIA released a new report Friday on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction that added little to earlier appraisals but exposed a sharp dispute among U.S. intelligence experts over Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons program.
The dispute centers on thousands of high-strength aluminum tubes that Iraq allegedly has tried to purchase from foreign suppliers. According to the CIA report, most intelligence experts believe the tubes were to be made into casings for centrifuges that could be used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons.
But the CIA report notes that some intelligence analysts disagree, arguing that the tubes probably were intended to make conventional weapons, the report said.
Despite the conflicting opinions, President Bush has publicly asserted that the tubes were intended for use in making a nuclear weapon. Speaking on Sept. 12 to the United Nations General Assembly, Bush flatly said the tubes were to be "used to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon."
A White House report released in conjunction with Bush's speech repeated that unconditional assertion. "Iraq has sought to buy thousands of specially designed aluminum tubes, which officials believe were intended as components of centrifuges to enrich uranium," the report said.
That speech and report marked the start of Bush's aggressive effort to drum up support in Congress and the United Nations for military action if Saddam continued to defy U.N. efforts to discover and destroy his weapons of mass destruction.
Several senior administration and intelligence officials, all of whom spoke only on the condition of anonymity, charged that the decision to publicize one analysis of the aluminum tubes and ignore the contrary one is typical of the way the administration has been handling intelligence about Iraq.
The White House and the Pentagon, these officials said, are pressuring intelligence analysts to highlight information that supports Bush's Iraq policy and suppress information and analysis that might undercut congressional, public or international support for war.
Some U.S. intelligence and military experts dispute the administration's suggestion that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction pose an imminent threat to the United States. One senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the threat has not increased appreciably beyond what it was when Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990.
Iraq does have considerable experience with high-speed centrifuges. U.N. inspectors discovered after the 1991 Persian Gulf War that Iraqi scientists, with illicit assistance from German experts, had succeeded in constructing large networks of centrifuges for enriching uranium.
But the administration's assertions about the aluminum tubes provoked considerable debate among nuclear weapons experts. One who reviewed a government analysis of the tubes said he did not believe they were intended for use in Iraq's clandestine nuclear weapons program.
"From what I've seen, this is not conclusive evidence," said the expert, who also spoke on condition of anonymity. He said that the tubes were not suitable for manufacturing into high-speed enrichment centrifuges because their diameters were too small and the aluminum they were made from was too hard.
"It seems to me that the tubes are clearly dual-use, and therefore you cannot conclude they were for uranium enrichment," he said.
David Albright, a physicist and former U.N. weapons inspector, disputed the CIA's assertion that a majority of analysts believe the tubes were intended to help make nuclear weapons.
Albright, the director of the Institute for Science and International Security, a non-partisan think tank, said he has been told that scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California and other U.S. nuclear weapons facilities disagreed with that assessment but have been ordered not to say anything.
He quoted one scientist as saying that "the administration can say what it wants and we are expected to remain silent."
The publication of the CIA report came as the Bush administration continued pressing its efforts to win resolutions from the Senate and the U.N. Security Council authorizing military force.
The 27-page document said Iraq has large stocks of chemical weapons, has accelerated its efforts to produce biological weapons, including anthrax, and has manufactured missiles capable of hitting targets beyond the 93-mile range permitted by the United Nations.
The report also said that it could take Iraq until the last half of the decade to produce a nuclear weapon if it has to produce its own bomb-grade uranium or plutonium. But if it obtained such materials on the international black market, Iraq could have a nuclear weapon within a year, the report said.
Iraq denies having any weapons of mass destruction.


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Webinar Video: Overview and Implementation of Europe's New Copyright Legislation
Frank Scholze has been Director of Library Services at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) since January 2010. KIT is the merger of the University of Karlsruhe and one of the National Research Centers within the Helmholtz Association.
He is a federal board member of the German Library Association (dbv) as well as a member of a number of scientific boards and councils (among them German Classification Society, FIZ Karlsruhe and DARIAH-DE).
LIBER is the voice of European Research Libraries. It does lobbying and strategic planning in the areas of open science which correspond very well with the activities of KIT Library.


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Your engagement is an incredibly important moment in time, shaped by your relationship and shared between you and your beloved. It's only natural to want your engagement ring, the symbol of this moment, to be as unique and singular as your engagement. That's where it can get tricky. Creating the perfect engagement ring might seem daunting given the number of options when it comes to settings, stones, and cuts. Not to worry – the right custom engagement ring designer can make the process a walk in the park, and this article will help you find them.
We'll let you know things to look for in the right jeweler, to help make creating the perfect custom engagement ring a dream. With the right custom engagement ring designer on hand, you and your partner will see how easy it can be to create the perfect representation of your bright future together.
Qualities to Look for in a Custom Engagement Ring Designer
Finding the right jeweler makes creating your ring a dream. To make sure that happens, you'll want to find a designer that will involve you in the process, working with you to create a perfect work of that you'll admire for the rest of your lives. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you're looking for the right designer.
1. Make sure you find someone who wants your input, and who you find easy to work with. Ask them during your consultation how the process works and how often you'll be asked to weigh in on things. The right person should be able to answer this easily and affably.
2. The right gemologist will be able to state clearly what your options are in terms of the gemstones you want to incorporate, and how different cuts will play into your vision. They should be able to clearly lay out your initial options to give you a good start. During your consultation, tell them your budget and what aspects of the ring are most important to you. Then ask them for your options and what cuts they would recommend.
3. Once you are both on the same page, the right custom engagement ring designer will be able to source the right gems for your vision. Ideally, they're able to show you different gems so you can see the difference. When you're looking for the right gemologist to work with, ask about their ability to source gems before you commit to working with them. A great designer will be able to secure the perfect gemstone to complete your vision.
4. Make sure the designer you choose is excited to work with you on the design. If you've opted for a custom ring, it means you want something unique, personal, and genuinely special. The right designer should acknowledge this by soliciting your participation and getting you involved with the design process. Make sure you feel some level of involvement from them during your initial consultation.
As you go through the process, many high-end designers these days will create digital 3D models of your design so you can look at it from every angle. Wax models are also a common way to preview what the finished work of art will look like. Get ready for an exciting experience!
Once you're happy with the design, and the jeweler has your approval, kick back and relax. The hard part is done. Now you just need to order the celebratory champagne and practice holding a coffee cup at the right angle so that everyone can see your gorgeous custom engagement ring.
The Perfect Work of Art Can Only Come from the Perfect Custom Engagement Ring Designer
We hope the tips in this article have given you a good idea of qualities you should look for when you're hunting for the perfect custom engagement ring designer. The right artisan can immortalize your love and lifestyle into a memorable and wearable work of art, and make you feel comfortable about the process while doing it. Be very wary of anyone who makes you feel pressured into a sale, or anyone who wants to hurry you through the process. It's worth spending the time to get it right. After all, a custom engagement ring is more than just a ring; it's an enduring art piece you'll be attached to for years and years to come, and the ultimate symbol of a bond between two people.


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This is an example of a scammer posing as someone fighting scams.
The email claims to be from the Cyber Crime Recovery Commission based in England, but is in fact from an Outlook address hence it's not a business email at all.
It says that my name (even though the email is sent to undisclosed recipients rather than my name) has appeared in their database as a victim of fraud that has financially ruined my life. Then it lists many common types of scams and suggests one of them applies to me.
They don't appear to know who am or how I was scammed, yet they want to refund my losses (they don't know how much that is of course).
The majority of the email is actually statistics about fraud and how many people have lost money.
It even has a section about staying safe, including the line
"Don't assume an email request or caller is genuine – people are not always who they say they are"
All I need to do is send them full name, contact address, telephone number and the amount defrauded.
These scammers must have a good laugh each time they get a reply with the requested information – another victim for them.
If you have any experiences with scammers, spammers or time-waster do let me know, by email.


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The Emperor of All Maladies
Table of Contents
The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Last annotated on February 3, 2017
New drugs appeared at an astonishing rate: by 1950, more than half the medicines in common medical use had been unknown merely a decade earlier. location 461
Longevity, although certainly the most important contributor to the prevalence of cancer in the early twentieth century, is probably not the only contributor. Our capacity to detect cancer earlier and earlier, and to attribute deaths accurately to it, has also dramatically increased in the last century. The death of a child with leukemia in the 1850s would have been attributed to an abscess or infection (or, as Bennett would have it, to a "suppuration of blood"). And surgery, biopsy, and autopsy techniques have further sharpened our ability to diagnose cancer. The introduction of mammography to detect breast cancer early in its course sharply increased its incidence-a seemingly paradoxical result that makes perfect sense when we realize that the X-rays allow earlier tumors to be diagnosed. location 924
A model is a lie that helps you see the truth. -Howard Skipper location 2695
Skipper learned that he could halt this effusive cell division by administering chemotherapy to the leukemia-engrafted mouse. By charting the life and death of leukemia cells as they responded to drugs in these mice, Skipper emerged with two pivotal findings341. First, he found that chemotherapy typically killed a fixed percentage of cells at any given instance no matter what the total number of cancer cells was. This percentage was a unique, cardinal number particular to every drug. In other words, if you started off with 100,000 leukemia cells in a mouse and administered a drug that killed 99 percent of those cells in a single round, then every round would kill cells in a fractional manner, resulting in fewer and fewer cells after every round of chemotherapy: 100,000 . . . 1,000 . . . 10 . . . and so forth, until the number finally fell to zero after four rounds. Killing leukemia was an iterative process, like halving a monster's body, then halving the half, and halving the remnant half. location 2735
Imagine now that in one of those villages, a new, highly specific test for cancer is introduced-say the level of a protein Preventin in the blood as a marker for cancer. Suppose Preventin is a perfect detection test. Preventin "positive" men and women are thus immediately counted among those who have cancer. Preventin, let us further suppose, is an exquisitely sensitive test and reveals very early cancer. Soon after its introduction, the average age of cancer diagnosis in village 1 thus shifts from seventy years to sixty years, because earlier and earlier cancer is being caught by this incredible new test. However, since no therapeutic intervention is available even after the introduction of Preventin tests, the average age of death remains identical in both villages. To a naive observer, the scenario might produce a strange effect. In village 1, where Preventin screening is active, cancer is now detected at age sixty and patients die at age eighty-i.e., there is a twenty-year survival. In village 2, without Preventin screening, cancer is detected at age seventy and patients die at age eighty-i.e., a ten-year survival. Yet the "increased" survival cannot be real. How can Preventin, by its mere existence, have increased survival without any therapeutic intervention? The answer is immediately obvious: the increase in survival is, of course, an artifact. Survival rates seem to increase, although what has really increased is the time from diagnosis to death because of a screening test. A simple way to avoid this bias is to not measure survival rates, but overall mortality. (In the example above, mortality remains unchanged, even after the introduction of the test for earlier diagnosis.) But here, too, there are profound methodological glitches. "Cancer-related death" is a raw number in a cancer registry, a statistic that arises from the diagnosis entered by a physician when pronouncing a patient dead. The problem with comparing that raw number over long stretches of time is that the American population (like any) is gradually aging overall, and the rate of cancer-related mortality naturally increases with it. Old age inevitably drags cancer with it, like flotsam on a tide. A nation with a larger fraction of older citizens will seem more cancer-ridden than a nation with younger citizens, even if actual cancer mortality has not changed. location 4461
To compare samples over time, some means is needed to normalize two populations to the same standard-in effect, by statistically "shrinking" one into another. This brings us to the crux of the innovation in Bailar's analysis: to achieve this scaling, he used a particularly effective form of normalization called age-adjustment. To understand age-adjustment, imagine two very different populations. One population is markedly skewed toward young men and women. The second population is skewed toward older men and women. If one measures the "raw" cancer deaths, the older-skewed population obviously has more cancer deaths. Now imagine normalizing the second population such that this age skew is eliminated. The first population is kept as a reference. The second population is adjusted: the age-skew is eliminated and the death rate shrunk proportionally as well. Both populations now contain identical age-adjusted populations of older and younger men, and the death rate, adjusted accordingly, yields identical cancer-specific death rates. Bailar performed this exercise repeatedly over dozens of years: he divided the population for every year into age cohorts-20-29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49, and so forth-then used the population distribution from 1980 (chosen arbitrarily as a standard) to convert the population distributions for all other years into the same distribution. Cancer rates were adjusted accordingly. Once all the distributions were fitted into the same standard demographic, the populations could be studied and compared over time. location 4479
In 1870, the per capita consumption in America615 was less than one cigarette per year. A mere thirty years later, Americans616 were consuming 3.5 billion cigarettes and 6 billion cigars every year. By 1953, the average annual consumption of cigarettes had reached thirty-five hundred per person. On average, an adult American smoked ten cigarettes617 every day, an average Englishman twelve, and a Scotsman nearly twenty. location 4666
"By the early 1940s, asking about a connection619 between tobacco and cancer was like asking about an association between sitting and cancer." If nearly all men smoked, and only some of them developed cancer, then how might one tease apart the statistical link between one and the other? location 4684
It remains an astonishing, disturbing fact that in America-a nation where nearly every new drug is subjected to rigorous scrutiny as a potential carcinogen, and even the bare hint of a substance's link to cancer ignites a firestorm of public hysteria and media anxiety-one of the most potent and common carcinogens known to humans can be freely bought and sold at every corner store for a few dollars. location 5455
Notably, the average age of diagnosis of women with such preinvasive lesions was about twenty years lower than the average age of women with invasive lesions-once again corroborating the long march of carcinogenesis. The Pap smear had, in effect, pushed the clock of cancer detection forward by nearly two decades, and changed the spectrum of cervical cancer from predominantly incurable to predominantly curable. location 5727
By the early 1990s, cancer biologists could begin to model the genesis of cancer in terms of molecular changes in genes. To understand that model, let us begin with a normal cell, say a lung cell that resides in the left lung of a forty-year-old fire-safety-equipment installer. One morning in 1968, a minute sliver of asbestos from his equipment wafts through the air and lodges in the vicinity of that cell. His body reacts to the sliver with an inflammation. The cells around the sliver begin to divide furiously, like a minuscule wound trying to heal, and a small clump of cells derived from the original cell arises at the site. In one cell in that clump an accidental mutation occurs in the ras gene. The mutation creates an activated version of ras. The cell containing the mutant gene is driven to grow more swiftly than its neighbors and creates a clump within the original clump of cells. It is not yet a cancer cell, but a cell in which uncontrolled cell division has partly been unleashed-cancer's primordial ancestor. A decade passes. The small collection of ras-mutant cells continues to proliferate, unnoticed, in the far periphery of the lung. The man smokes cigarettes, and a carcinogenic chemical in tar reaches the periphery of the lung and collides with the clump of ras-mutated cells. A cell in this clump acquires a second mutation in its genes, activating a second oncogene. Another decade passes. Yet another cell in that secondary mass of cells is caught in the path of an errant X-ray and acquires yet another mutation, this time inactivating a tumor suppressor gene. This mutation has little effect since the cell possesses a second copy of that gene. But in the next year, another mutation inactivates the second copy of the tumor suppressor gene, creating a cell that possesses two activated oncogenes and an inactive tumor suppressor gene. Now a fatal march is on; an unraveling begins. The cells, now with four mutations, begin to outgrow their brethren. As the cells grow, they acquire additional mutations and they activate pathways, resulting in cells even further adapted for growth and survival. One mutation in the tumor allows it to incite blood vessels to grow; another mutation within this blood-nourished tumor allows the tumor to survive even in areas of the body with low oxygen. Mutant cells beget cells beget cells. A gene that increases the mobility of the cells is activated in a cell. This cell, having acquired motility, can migrate through the lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. A descendant of this mobile cancer cell acquires the capacity to survive in the bone. This cell, having migrated through the blood, reaches the outer edge of the pelvis, where it begins yet another cycle of survival, selection, and colonization. It represents the first metastasis of a tumor that originated in the lung. The man is occasionally short of breath. He feels a tingle of pain in the periphery of his lung. Occasionally, he senses something moving under his rib cage when he walks. Another year passes, and the sensations accelerate. The man visits a physician and a CT scan is performed, revealing a rindlike mass wrapped around a bronchus in the lung. A biopsy reveals lung cancer. A surgeon examines the man and the CT scan of the chest and deems the cancer inoperable. Three weeks after that visit, the man returns to the medical clinic complaining of pain in his ribs and his hips. A bone scan reveals metastasis to the pelvis and the ribs. Intravenous chemotherapy is initiated. The cells in the lung tumor respond. The man soldiers through a punishing regimen of multiple cell-killing drugs. But during the treatment, one cell in the tumor acquires yet another mutation that makes it resistant to the drug used to treat the cancer. Seven months after his initial diagnosis, the tumor relapses all over the body-in the lungs, the bones, the liver. On the morning of October, 17, 2004, deeply narcotized on opiates in a hospital bed in Boston and surrounded by his wife and his children, the man dies of metastatic lung cancer location 7597
In 2005, an avalanche of papers951 cascading through the scientific literature converged on a remarkably consistent message-the national physiognomy of cancer had subtly but fundamentally changed. The mortality for nearly every major952 form of cancer-lung, breast, colon, and prostate-had continuously dropped for fifteen straight years. There had been no single, drastic turn but rather a steady and powerful attrition: mortality had declined by about 1 percent953 every year. The rate might sound modest, but its cumulative effect was remarkable: between 1990 and 2005, the cancer-specific954 death rate had dropped nearly 15 percent, a decline unprecedented in the history of the disease. location 7801
The study, reported in 2006, appeared initially to confirm an increased risk of right-sided brain cancers in men and women who held their phone on their right ear. But when researchers evaluated the data meticulously, a puzzling pattern emerged: right-sided cell phone use reduced the risk of left-sided brain cancer. The simplest logical explanation for this phenomenon was "recall bias": patients diagnosed with tumors unconsciously exaggerated the use of cell phones on the same side of their head, and selectively forgot the use on the other side. When the authors corrected for this bias, there was no detectable association between gliomas and cell phone use overall. location 8676
as the fraction of those affected by cancer creeps1059 inexorably in some nations from one in four to one in three to one in two, cancer will, indeed, be the new normal-an inevitability. The question then will not be if we will encounter this immortal illness in our lives, but when. Atossa location 8923


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Planning the ideal Patio or deck
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y our starting point When arranging a major upgrade to an current outdoor area or constructing from scratch, it important to understand your desires before you speak to some contractor?athe superior you articulate what you want, the a lot more likely you??£¤ll be to acquire it. Take into consideration exactly the way you plan to make use of your deck or patio, what type of upkeep you can handle, the look you??£¤re heading for, how much room you need and what sort of time schedule you??£¤re on. Gather photos of decks or patios you prefer. See the Think about This sidebar (at appropriate) for inquiries to ponder when you begin to strategy. composite landscape timbers solid
One with the most important considerations is your spending budget. Be sensible together with your spending budget. Adding a patio or deck is an expense in your property and really should be treated as such, states Rick Goldstein, architect and co-owner of MOSAIC Outside Residing. It greater to accomplish significantly less with greater top quality and integrity than to do a lot of with bad high-quality. Bear in mind that custom-designed perform charges will be higher.
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McLaren denies flexible front wing issues
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has denied stories eminating from Germany that suggest both McLaren and Red Bull could be hampered by a further clampdown on flexible front wings from the sport's governing body, the FIA.
The German publication Auto Moto Und Sport suggested that the FIA has been asked to investigate suspicions that the two leading teams have found a way to rotate the front wings at speed, reducing drag and affording a straightline speed advantage.
Whitmarsh, however, said: "I don't envisage any particular problem for McLaren in that regard in the near term and I don't think it's anything that will harm us. Also, I'm not aware of anything with Red Bull.
"The FIA technical department has to remain vigilant and be testing front wings, rear wings and attachments all the time, and making sure that teams don't find creative ways to circumvent the intention of the regulations.
"From time to time teams get spoken to by the FIA and are expected to correct a situation. We are not in such a situation ourselves."
McLaren has set the pace in F1 from the Hungarian GP at the end of July, taking pole position for the last four grands prix, leading them all and wiining three.


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After two, successful years, and in a move designed to further strengthen the TV commercial production industry's support of AWARD, The Kodak Gongs organizing committee and AWARD have agreed to merge resources.
The agreement will ensure maximum effort is applied to create a single, more powerful and effective regional organization. As a result, The Kodak Gongs will be discontinued and AWARD will embrace and build upon the Gongs intended charter.
"The Kodak Gongs were developed at a time when the general view in the advertising and production industry was that the bar needed to be lifted in relation to the quality of award shows for Film and TV. The organizing committee is extremely proud of the enormous respect the Kodak Gongs achieved, both locally and internationally, and in particular for its standards and depth in craft," said Richard White-Smith (below), co-chairman of the Kodak Gongs.
Throughout recent review meetings, the Kodak Gongs committee agreed that the creative and regional objectives were well aligned with AWARD, and rather than persist with a competitive program, it made more sense to work collaboratively toward the common goal of a superior outcome for the industry. The committee discussed the recommendation with naming rights sponsor, Kodak who fully understood the reasoning behind the move.
Following an approach by the committee to AWARD, the two organizations quickly realized the benefits in working together and have since discussed some exciting initiatives.
"Whilst it is rather sad to relinquish the successful Kodak Gongs brand," comments White-Smith "we are confident that we can preserve its charter of promoting excellence and education under the new arrangements".
The move has the full endorsement of AWARD co-chairmen Paul Prince and Philip Putnam (pictured). Says Prince:: "It just makes sense. Both shows had the same objectives: to showcase and educate the best of our region. The Gongs also recognized the changing medians that deal with moving images and we at AWARD will continue to work with our industry and clients to recognize the changing crafts within our business".
Putnam also embraced the merge, considering it a positive move for the industry: "This is a lovely surprise", says Putnam. "This is not only a terrific boost for AWARD, but for all those associated with the moving image. With their involvement, we can develop our educational programmes."
"AWARD looks forward to working with the former Gongs committee to co-ordinate a productive and beneficial assimilation," adds Lucy McKee, General Manager of AWARD.
White-Smith acknowledged the contribution of all The Gongs sponsors: "Particularly Kodak, The Lab, Panavision, Song Zu, Frame Set and Match and AAV Regency, who were all incredibly supportive of the concept. "
The Gongs committee included: Richard White-Smith (Euro RSCG), Mike Vanderfield (8 Commercials), Peter Cudlipp (Sydney Film Company), Matt Long (Goodoil), Michael Ritchie (Revolver Film), Emma Daines (Fin Design), Michael Cook (The Feds) and Loewn Steel (@radical.media).


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Pentacle Brown Leather Book of Shadows 7 Inch Journal with Latch
Beautifully hand tooled brown leather blank journal has an intricately embossed pentacle design and brass latch.
Pentacle Brown Leather Book of Shadows 7 Inch Journal with Latch by Leather Wear
Hand tooled leather book cover has an embossed pentacle with brass latch. Contains about 120 pages of hand made unlined paper. Book is 5 x 7 inches - a perfect size to take with you.
Please expect some variation in size, color or design from photo example as each is hand made and unique.Item Number: AA-BBBL642 | Approximate Size (Inches): 5.00 wide x 1.00 deep x 8.70 high | Approximate Shipping Weight: 1.00 lbs.


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Sunday, november 17th. City Park, Baton Rouge.
Last year, Baton Rouge held its 4th Cranksgiving. About seventy participants pedaled around Baton Rouge and donated a total of 400 pounds of food to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, as well as giving over $200 in cash donations!
Registration opens at 11:00am and closes at 11:45am. Cranksgiving 2019 rolls at NOON.
Cranksgiving started in New York City in 1999, and there are now nearly 80 independently organized events across the globe. The event has its roots in bike messenger alleycats, but there are no requirements other than "get food" and "do it on a bike". Participants register at the start location, and are given a shopping list and a selection of grocery stores to bike to in any order they choose. They bring their haul to the finish line - donated food items go directly to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.
What you'll need to bring:
A bicycle (duh)
A way to carry your groceries (basket, pannier, backpack, etc.)
Cash or a credit card (be prepared to spend about $20)
A bike lock and helmet is highly recommended
What you'll get :
A shopping list with five common grocery items
A map
A list of local stores
What you'll do :
Register with our AMAZING volunteers
Ride to each store (your choice of route)
Pick up one shopping list item per store
Return to City Park as quickly as possible with your shopping list completed
You shouldn't ride much more than twelve miles (ninety minutes) unless you take some 'scenic' routes...
There will also be a family friendly option - about five miles worth of riding.
After the ride :
Drop off your groceries
Get your grocery list checked and receive your official time
Catch your breath!
Hang out for a while at the after-party!
Receive awards (sure, there's an award for best time, but there's also worst time, biggest/smallest spender and more...)
After the after-party :
Bike Baton Rouge takes the donated food to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
You tell your friends how much fun you had - and bring them with you next year
Cranksgiving is 100% free aside from what you spend on food - all of which is donated to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.


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Hogrefe brings Kudos to its authors
Explain, share, measure. Watch the recording of our webinar and learn how scientists can use Kudos to maximize the impact of their research in three simple steps.
Recording of the webinar March 28, 2019
"Kudos allows me to efficiently disseminate my findings about wisdom beyond the limited range of specialists in my discipline and make my research more discoverable."
Igor Grossmann, Ph.D., Director, Wisdom and Culture Laboratory, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Canada
What is Kudos and how does Kudos benefit me?
Kudos is a sharing platform that provides tools for journal authors to explain, add links to, and share their work with a global network of researchers and a wider audience in a remarkably easy way. It is being supported by Hogrefe and is free of charge for researchers.
Using Kudos' tools to explain and share your work will help drive citations and downloads of the article – as well as drawing attention to it among a wide audience. A recent study has shown that using Kudos' tools is correlated with 23% higher usage of articles that have been explained und shared. It also allows you as an author to view metrics on your personal dashboard about how the article is being shared on social media.
Four simple steps will let you maximize the usage and impact of your publication. 15 minutes to impact:
- Explain your work and tell readers what it's about and why it's important.
- Enrich your publication by adding links to related materials.
- Share a link to your publication by email and social media.
- Measure the impact of your activities on your publication's performance. Metrics shown on your personal dashboard can include publication views, full text downloads, social media shares and citations.
Click here to register and get Kudos!
How is Hogrefe linked to Kudos?
Hogrefe is partnering with Kudos to provide this service for our journal authors. We supply Kudos with a list of journal article DOIs to facilitate linking these to your Kudos profile. Needless to say, it remains your choice whether you want to use this service and if so, how actively you want to use it.
What does Hogrefe's involvement mean, at a practical level?
Next time you publish an article with us, you will receive an email inviting you to use Kudos to explain and share your work. If you don't want to wait, you can already register now at www.growkudos.com to explain and share some of your existing publications.
Where can I find more information?
Try this information sheet.
Or visit www.growkudos.com, where you may want to look at the user guide and FAQs.
Or read about other researchers' experience using Kudos.
Or watch the video!