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We believe in striving for and maintaining the highest possible standards within the remedial industry and are proud to be approved and accredited by the following organisations.
The PCA represents the UK's damp-proofing and timber preservation industries, as well as structural waterproofing and structural maintenance.
All members have to be regularly checked for technical expertise and ethical stance and are financially assessed. More and more professional specifiers, Local Authorities, Building Societies and Lending Institutions will only recommend companies who are members of the PCA to carry out surveys and work on their behalf.
For more info click on the PCA logo.
Guarantee Protection Insurance Ltd (GPI) offer genuine Insurance Backed Guarantees (IBG's) for your complete protection.
As members of the PCA we are able to offer genuine IBG's to ensure that should the unthinkable happen, your long term guarantee will still be honoured. IBG's are genuine insurance policies and must be 'optional' under FCA rules. Therefore if a contractor 'includes a guarantee free of charge' it's not genuine insurance and doesn't offer the same level of protection.
For more info click on the GPI logo.
RTC was also one of the first companies to become a TrustMark registered firm.
TrustMark is an exciting industry initiative supported by Government and consumer groups to help clients find reliable and trustworthy trades people who can help with property improvements and repairs. They also offer advice on how to protect yourself from rogue traders.
For more info click on the Trustmark logo.
Which? is the UK's most respected consumer advice brand and have launched the Trusted Trader scheme to help identify reputable companies.
We are proud to be the first remedial contractor on the Fylde Coast to be awarded Which? Trusted Trader status following their rigorous inspection procedure which includes contacting a random sample of past clients to ask their opinion of our service.
For more info click on the Which? logo.
Blackpool Council has created the Safe and Secure Directory of trusted local contractors in partnership with Care & Repair, Age UK Blackpool and the Police to provide you with confidence when employing tradesmen for jobs in the home.
RTC have been thoroughly vetted and must adhere to the schemes code of practice and not only act in a fair and honest way, but offer high standards of workmanship. All our staff carry photo ID and are 'CRB checked' (now run by 'Disclosure Scotland').
For more info click on the Safe and Secure logo.
CHAS is the fastest growing Health and Safety assessment scheme in the UK. They are dedicated to completing health and safety pre-qualification assessments to a nationally recognised and accepted threshold standard.
CHAS accreditation means you can be confident that RTC have robust and compliant health and safety procedures in place which protect our workforce, clients and the environment.
For more info click on the CHAS logo.
Construction Line is a register of pre-qualified suppliers for construction contracts. They pre-qualify all suppliers to government standards, and maintain relationships with a range of industry and Government partners to ensure that they remain relevant to procurement professionals within the construction industry.
Construction Line accreditation means commercial clients know RTC have completed industry standard pre-qualification criteria.
For more info click on the Construction Line logo.


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Let Us Quickly Build Your Telemedicine Program
While We Drive & Deliver Global Clients To You!
Quickly implement our framework of technology using as well as our insight and experience into an already tested design and applications that can be easily designed, customized and branded specifically to YOU. At the same time we will deliver our global client outreach to your system seamlessly!

subset: commoncrawl


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Teaching French can give you a really rewarding career, tons of travel opportunities, and the rewards of expanding your student's experiences of French culture though language. It's actually not that difficult to teach, especially for native English speakers. Because at its core, the English language is heavily influenced by German and French.
Also, courtesy of modern media, most native English speakers already have exposure to the French language, from Moulin Rouge to Pepé Le Pew's funny accent on Saturday morning cartoons.
One of the major dialects of the world and one of the five romance languages with an estimated 75 million native speakers, the "language of love" is also beautifully melodic. If you're aspiring for a career teaching French, you'll definitely find beautiful old world or exotic locations where your skills will be in demand!
You may want to familiarize yourself with the French language as it applies to business with this course.
The Traditional Way
While there are many ways to become certified to teach French, all of them involve demonstrating both proficiency in the French language and teaching. It's actually best and easiest if you're a native speaker, but if not, you've got to obtain both accredited certification and experience.
The traditional way is to get a 4-year Bachelor's Degree in French and Education, or even Linguistics. Then you've got to pass the necessary certification exams for French proficiency in the region you want to teach in, at the same time immersing yourself in French culture by spending time abroad in a French speaking country. The latter is usually a mandatory requirement of any French degree.
Prepare for your time abroad with this blog posts on interesting facts about France.
The Non-traditional Way
If you're an aspiring French teacher without the 4 year degree for whatever reason, there are many non-traditional ways for you to get certified. If you've already got the French cultural background, or you live in a majority French speaking area, that'll help you along with your certification quite a bit.
There are two general areas for certification, teaching French as a language and teaching English to French speakers. Both certifications go through a test of the four foundational aspects of language — reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Generally, you'll have to pass intensive French proficiency tests, both oral and written, teacher's exams to cover the basic subjects, and maybe spend a semester abroad in a majority French speaking region. These requirements vary depending on where you are or where you'd like to teach, so make sure you look into your regional certification requirements first.
Alliance Française and the Centre National D'enseignement à Distance are highly recognized institutions that help educate, prepare, and certify you when it comes to languages. The former is one of the premier schools for preparing you to get certified, and offers comprehensive preparatory courses. The latter offers correspondence courses as well, and both offer the exams. If you have a learning center near you, it's definitely worth checking out.
Certification For Teaching French
Teaching French for those in the EU region can be obtained through the CIEP, which stands for Centre International d'Etudes Pédagogiques. This certification is recognized internationally and more specifically supported throughout the EU region.
They administer the DILF (Diplôme initial de langue française), the DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française), and the DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française), which let you bypass any language exam in entrance tests to French universities. Either exam you take will still intensively test your proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking French.
These proficiency tests are the counterpart of the English TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), but instead of taking a 4 hour test and getting a score, the French proficiency tests require you to go through multiple levels. You work towards acquiring one of 7 diplômes from the Ministère de l'Éducation nationale, de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche, the highest of which is the DALF C2, and the lowest of which is the DILF A1. We will discuss more on the certification rankings through the CEFR later on in the article.
This course provides some valuable insights on teaching vocabulary.
Certification for Teaching English to French Speakers
Teaching English to French speakers requires a high level of French proficiency too. You need the necessary certifications in CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages). You've got quite a number of options if you seek to teach English to French speakers. There are several institutions that provide programs to certify as well as to educate you in teaching French or English to French speakers.
You could go through a packaged program like the kind offered in ILSC, one of the more recognized certification programs specific to the French language. They provide TESOL/CELTA certification alongside some review or educational packages.
The CEFR
Regardless of your formal certification for teaching French, your proficiency in the language is usually ranked using the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) ranking. The CEFR is a an international standard that institutions use to rank people learning foreign languages.
We talked about the DILF/DELF/DALF offered by the CIEN earlier. Those groups of proficiency exams are one of the foremost basis of certification for CEFR ranks. The lowest rank is DILF A1, which is a beginner's standing. You go through DELF A2, DELF B1, DELF B2, DALF C1, and finally, the highest rank that French teachers require is the DALF C2 level, or Master/Proficient level.
Once you have the necessary proficiency certifications, continually learning and honing your skills through more formal education or alternative programs is always a good idea to enhance your teaching skill. When looking into a program, it is best to, at a minimum, apply for a program which has experience abroad as part of the curriculum.
Where to teach?
If you've never stopped to think how far French's reach actually is, you may be surprised. This language has got one of the largest non-native speaking populations and has widespread use all over the world. It's an official language in 29 countries, ranging from European French speaking countries to almost half of Africa and areas of Central America.
In Europe, French is still the main second language taught in schools. For aspiring teachers who've already got their certifications down pat, areas like Canada, which is a French-English speaking country, have high demand for foreign language teachers, especially in their public high schools. The notable Universite Laval in Quebec, Universite Montreal in Montreal, and University of Ottawa in Ottawa are top picks for aspiring teachers or those looking to gain more experience in French background.
From a more traditional standpoint, aspiring French teachers may look for opportunities in Universities in Europe like the Sorbonne or Universite Jean Moulin in France, Universite de Lausanne in Switzerland, or the Universite Libre de Bruxelles in Belgium.
For tips on teaching almost anything, including French, check out this awesome course.
Final Words
Regardless of your choice of location, teaching French is a long term commitment that requires passion and a strong dedication to the language, culture, and students that you teach. This course will give you even more info on teaching to anyone.
Keep in mind, most of your students will be from different backgrounds and cultures and may not necessarily have the same perspective. You'll be one of the first and most critical experiences they will have with the language, so you're responsible for providing them with good communication tools and a cognitive framework to understand French culture.
It might sound daunting, but the uniqueness of the language, the culture, and the opportunities it brings you make it a wonderful love affair. If you enjoy sharing your passion for French with others, traveling, and immersing yourself in French culture, then teaching French a great potential career move.


text: pecial focus on LEADERSHIP need to know that if they are wrong, it is ok and that their team will work to help them correct the mistake and learn so it does not happen again. Leadership is not synonymous with perfection and to expect as much will lead to burnout and an early exit. "I am a believer that good leadership is underrated," Brown notes. "You see, you can have quality teammates and excellent systems but if you have poor leadership you will not survive, you may have a good year or two, but your long term prognosis will be suspect. At the end of every day, we as leaders must think about how we could have been a better teammate and how we could have made someone feel better about their efforts." Leadership is not a popularity contest. When necessary, leaders must be prepared to make difficult decisions and be comfortable saying no. As Brown says, "Genuine leaders know when to show grace, and when they have to say 'no,' realizing that they will lose popularity, but gain respect." As managers we are tasked with looking at things from a team perspective first. There are often times where we are approached with ideas from individuals that may benefit them but would be harmful for the team. In situations like these, we must explain why we a special focus on LEAD "By demonstrating our trust and belief in the leaders we bring in to our teams, we help them gain the trust and support of those they are tasked with leading." -Amy Slotnick, branch manager, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation are saying no to hopefully help the individual understand even if they do not agree. We have found that the most obvious person in the room, the loudest, most daring, talkative, or popular does not always make the best leader. Rather, it is often the most humble, patient and thoughtful person. We've been fortunate enough to work with and for incredible leaders throughout our careers. It is our belief that the best of the best understand the servant mentality. They are humble in spite of their success. If you have had the good fortune to work for a great leader, you can feel the impact they have in their speech and see it in their eyes. 77 David Lazowski entered the mortgage industry in 2005 after spending 12 years working on Wall Street. In 2008, he joined Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as a branch manager and loan originator. In 2007, Amy Slotnick joined Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation as a loan originator. In 2014, she became the company's Newton Mass. branch manager and has since grown the branch exponentially. Put the pieces together for savings and service. Vist www.TheBondExchange.com for automatic underwriting, rating, and quoting in less than a minute. n National Mortgage Professional Magazine n APRIL 2017 Join the thousands of mortgage professionals who pay just 1/2% premium for their state mortgage license bonds. NationalMortgageProfessional.com them and encourage them to step forward. For example, a few years ago when we were going through reorganization and our region was growing, there was an opportunity for the development of a regional marketing manager position. We had an individual filling the role of marketing director on a branch level and when the regional position presented itself it was clear to us that she should fill the role. In this instance we recognized that this person had the skillset necessary to develop this role and excel in the position and saw the characteristics necessary to get the region behind her. By us raising her hand for this position, her job responsibilities were greatly enhanced and her impact on the entire region and company was significantly increased. As she celebrates her fifth year with Fairway it is shown daily how much she adds to our region. When hiring leaders from outside of the organization the process is similar. To put it simply, leaders attract leaders. You must first define the parameters of the job and identify what skillset is necessary to make the person successful in their day-to-day role. From there you must show that anybody joining the organization will continuously have support, a trusted sounding board when they need it, a platform for their strengths to shine and opportunities to elevate their skillsets. As managers we have to make sure whoever is joining the organization fits into our company culture, has a strong track record and most importantly will take the time to ensure every person they are leading, trusts them to do so. By demonstrating our trust and belief in the leaders we bring in to our teams, we help them gain the trust and support of those they are tasked with leading. Retention depends on two things; existing leadership and culture. Management needs to be collaborative, provide a strong example and work to make everyone in the organization better. Additionally, the environment must be one that makes a leader feel safe to lead. They a special focus on LEADERSHIPhttp://www.NationalMortgageProfessional.com http://www.TheBondExchange.com


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Watch Keiji Inafune Draw a Mighty No. 9 Enemy
posted on by Karen Ressler
The official YouTube channel for game designer Keiji Inafune's company Comcept posted a video on Sunday of Inafune drawing a "humanoid robot enemy" for its upcoming game Mighty No. 9.
Inafune and his company raised over US$3.5 million in its crowdfunding campaign in October. The side-scrolling adventure will be released for PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, PC, Mac, Linux, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
Alongside Inafune, Naoya Tomita (Mega Man level design, Mega Man 2 stages, Mega Man 5 & 8 character designs) will be designing the game, and Takenori Kimoto a.k.a. "Kimo Kimo" (Darkstalkers 3, Vampire Hunter 2 character design) is designing the characters. Original Mega Man soundtrack composer Manami Matsumae will be providing the music.
In addition to the game, Inafune is in talks with Contradiction Films writer and producer Tim Carter for a possible Mighty No. 9 live-action adaptation.
His team now aims to release the game in spring 2015 for the PC with gamepad support.


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Well so much for the road being messed up I've just waited at Runcorn station instead of going to South Parkway as the radio said the express way & speke boulevard were messed up. Ah well no worries! I'm too chilled out to worry about anything!
I heartily advocate Indian Head Massages as a form of relaxation & definatley they are good for revision/exam stress! Zoe did it yesterday & I'm all calm & floaty!
So yes F9 take 1! We'll see what happens in Feb, but I'm not too worried.
Ok almost there so I'd best sign off now.
Hope all is shiny & well with you!


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Every modern city wants to be smart. We allow it to achieve the highest level of smartness, as confirmed by our installation which improve the operation of many cities in Poland. The position of one of the best IT integrators in Poland gives us certain obligations: our offering is very broad and our installations meet the individual needs of our clients.
We ensure comprehensive services:
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) represents a new, however already thriving market segment in which Sprint successfully operates. The systems combine many elements aimed at improving broadly understood transport and making it more efficient with regard to safety, efficiency, communication, prevention, traffic control and management, event detection, supervision, elimination of traffic violations, etc.
The experience we already have and our cooperation with leading international product and system providers allow us to design and build comprehensive ITS Systems, including for instance:
- Traffic Management Centers,
- Integrated traffic management systems,
- Traffic control systems,,
- Public transport management systems,
- CCTV and ANPR video surveillance systems,
- Speed and red light monitoring systems,
- Variable Message Signs,
- Weigh in Motion systems,
- Vehicle height measuring systems,
- Parking information systems.
The diverse and open nature of the technologies offered by Sprint allow full integration with existing customers' systems , making it possible to optimize comprehensive implementation costs.
All systems designed and delivered by Sprint are based on products from leading manufacturers of equipment and systems, such as for instance:
- Applied Traffic,
- Betamont,
- Kistler,
- Golden River,
and many others.
The diversity of devices and technologies allows us to offer our customers full integration and adaptation to specific individual needs.
We are proud that our commitment to the implementation of systems related to transport management contributes to improving effectiveness and safety in overland traffic.

Leaflet

Video surveillance is an indispensable element of supervision and security. It is extremely useful in businesses and other institutions, in industrial plants, hotels, sports facilities, shopping malls and in urban conditions, in places with intense vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
Video surveillance system functions:
- prevention: the presence of video cameras scares off criminals;
- direct supervision: the facility is monitored in real time, making it possible to react immediately when a hazard occurs;
- evidence: an event recorded by video cameras can be used as evidence.
We design and implement video surveillance for the following:
- cities;
- industrial plants,
- commercial and office facilities;
- manufacturing processes;
- distributed objects security management.
Video surveillance is treated mainly as a part of the Integrated Security System, including for instance an information exchange system, surveillance networks and locating threats to public and environmental safety. This makes it possible to significantly improve performance by directing forces and means to the place where they are required.
The video surveillance system is used increasingly more often in industrial plants. It makes it possible to supervise and control manufacturing processes, especially in places not accessible for staff as well as loading and unloading areas in ports and transshipment stations. It makes it easier to assess the situation and take the right decision in the case of equipment breakdown, or to launch a rescue operation if human life is threatened.
Installation of a CCTV system contributed to quick and effective action on the part of repair or emergency services.
The video surveillance system makes it possible to watch several places simultaneously, regardless of the time of day or night and the weather. High sensitivity of the devices makes it possible to record image even in low lighting conditions (e.g. street lighting).
The devices used by Sprint have already found successful application in systems in such places as for instance the White House in Washington, DC, Pentagon, FBI, United States Mint, U.S. Department of State, IBM, Compaq, General Motors, Honda, the biggest open-pit mine in the world (Diamond), Gold and Iron Ore Mines, Jagiellonian Library and National Museum in Krakow, Poland, at Heathrow Airport in London and at the airport in Sydney.
Sprint renders turnkey services related to surveillance system installation. We ensure the following:
- technical designs;
- technical and financial assumptions;
- professional technical consultancy;
- delivery of equipment from reputed international companies;
- complete systems;
- warranty and post-warranty service.
Access to public data, more effective collaboration between public administration offices, municipal services and residents, as well as openness to a swift exchange of information between the city and its residents are all key trends in modern social life. For several years, these processes have been actively supported by the Safe City Platform.
The Safe City Platform (Platforma Bezpieczne Miasto) provides residents with information from the city authorities and municipal services, while at the same time allowing them to report on any issues they find concerning. It includes a website and a linked mobile app, which operates as part of popular mobile operating systems. Both the website and the app present information uploaded by specific organizational units of city authorities, municipal services, emergency management services, the municipal guard and others. On a nearly real-time basis, residents can obtain information about current events in their city; they have access to information about traffic problems, municipal infrastructure failures, as well as ongoing cultural and sports events. The information channel also offers access to updates from many municipal agencies and services. In addition, residents can conveniently check important emergency phone numbers, not only the key ones, but also the contact details of many organizations, services and public benefit institutions. Precious information can also be found in guides focusing e.g. on identifying and coping with emergency situations. This solution also plays an educational role – it provides interactive instruction manuals which may help to save lives. It also includes a list of locations of the nearest available AEDs and a resuscitation assistant.
Current event notifications and threat alerts are another valuable feature of the mobile application. City residents can themselves decide what information they want to receive directly to their phones. On the other hand, the website and application also enable residents to communicate with public authorities and services. It can be used to report a worrying situation or a different event, which may help emergency response services and quickly inform other residents of the situation. Each report is marked with a number and the app user may track its status. Residents can view current information on a one-stop-shop basis and easily communicate with the city and its institutions, which increases the safety and comfort of their functioning in the society.
VIZAN is a set of modules which enables system application building. Its task is to exchange dispatch information and to visualize obtained information and events on the map. VIZAN organizes and manages exchange of the information essential for the decision process being made via tele-network. User defines types of events and describes procedures for each one (event support). Every new event can be initiated by an operator ('manually') or automatically as a result of receiving data from other systems, databases or readings registered by specified devices. When a new event occurs, it is being processed by the system in accordance with defined procedure, e.g. system notifies specified receivers or waits for making and registering applicable decisions, etc. If events managed by VIZAN are physical (i.e. of spatial character) or are related to objects on the map (static or dynamic), they can be presented as graphic symbols, layers or some additional information on the proper map. Thanks to that feature VIZAN users can not only read detailed descriptions of the events but also observe their behaviour. Map functions enable thorough observation of selected fragments, they can also indicate objects' movement, their precise location or other attributes.
In VIZAN system 'the map' is only conventional term, it can signify a scheme or another graphic presentation as well. All resources related to VIZAN functioning can be kept on one server, based on Open Source software. System structure enables central management of user rights and proper protection from unauthorized access. System requires only a PC compatible computer with a network connection, equipped with a browser and a lightweight application for map viewing, provided as the system component.
DART System is an on-line tool for registering and monitoring various public events and coordinating city services (City Guards, Police, Fire Brigades and others). The System also uses GPS technology for vehicle positioning on a digital map of a city.
The underlying idea behind creating the System was to help municipal and emergency response services in their daily work. Specific problems which they face required unique technological solutions. The main innovative aspect of the System is its on-line multi-access character and the features which provide huge amounts of necessary information for the employees working outside. Advanced software solutions enable the System to work also on mobile devices.
DART System is based on the Linux operating system, PHP, Perl, Javascript, Ajax scripting languages and MySQL database. Using these tools makes DART cheap, easy to implement and to expand in the future.
Module structure makes it flexible and easy to adjust to the constantly changing needs of local users.
The System has been created with the use of cutting edge technologies.
Its functioning is supported by VoIP and video conferencing, which contributes to cutting the costs of municipal and emergency response services functioning. DART System has been in use since 2004. In the course of these years the services have switched from traditional paper diaries and documentation to a modern, fast, efficient on-line IT system. Communication between the services is now much faster and so is the access to archive information. Huge amounts of statistics provided by the System enable to manage the resources, equipment and employees in a much better way. The car positioning feature allows to react to incidents faster by immediate dispatching the nearest patrol to the right place.
A special feature of the System - Wish List - enables the users to enter their particular needs and facilitates reacting to them.
DART System could be implemented in any city or town of any size.
Currently, it operates in Olsztyn, Ostróda, Biskupiec, Lublin, Gdańsk, Kielce, Gdynia, Poznań, Kwidzyn, Elbląg and Łódź.
The System has impact not only on the employees of municipal and emergency response services but also on the quality of life of citizens of Olsztyn and other cities where it is in use. Thanks to it the citizens may feel safer and can count on fast reacting emergency services.
Anyone interested in the System is warmly invited to Olsztyn, where one can get to know all its functions, observe its "live" functioning and obtain any technical information.
The VIZAN SOFIT (Fleet Management System) system provides complex monitoring, visualisation and organisation services for fleet management, including the management of vehicles, drivers and tasks' database. Sprint uses dedicates tracking devices in its products concerning safety on land and water. The devices are available both in personal and vehicle versions. There are two vehicle tracking devices, which differ in technical characteristics.
Tracking devices' capabilities:
-real time GPS tracking and positioning,
-GPRS location data transfer to the server,
-internal memory for location data storing in case of GSM signal loss,
-smart algorithm of data aquisition (time, distance and angle based),
-wire button for driver identification,
-digital and analogue inputs and outputs (fuel level, door status etc.),
-voice communication,
-accurate distance counter (independent from track points settings),
-acceleration detection (e.g. in case of sudden braking),
-speed measurement,
-multiple geofence zones,
-remote configuration.
SOFIT combines state-of-the-art technologies which provide the user with flexibility and wide spectrum of possibilities.
Information and location data is presented in separate windows as graphs, charts and tables. The digital map in the background shows current positions of the fleet vehicles. The digital map is updated automatically, offers dynamic scale change and works in different modes (topographic, satellite, hybrid and terrain).
The system enables the user to restore the route of each vehicle from a chosen time period and print out a detailed route report. The system is able to suggest the shortest route to reach the destination. The destination is automatically located on the map. The operator is able to define the geofence zones to limit the number of tracked vehicles and drivers.
The database allows to find the vehicle, driver, route and task archive information immediately. The system monitors the data transfer limit and forecasts the monthly usage which allows to manage the costs effectively. The system generates various PDF reports and charts ready to print and email.
Other system capabilities:
-over-the-limit alerts concerning vehicle speed, zones, and working hours,
-summary reports on vehicles, drivers and tasks,
-location search engine,
-uses Google Maps or the map provided by the user,
-internal messages between operators,
-built-in sms gateway to communicate with the service staff,
-context help and user manual.
Sprint has extensive knowledge and experience with regard to the design, implementation, maintenance and optimization of all kinds of Call/Contact Center systems. This concept includes extensive multimedia solutions as well as self-service voice communication portals or traditional telecommunications systems.
Call/Contact Center systems are an essential tool in remote customer service. The task of such systems is to support the company's employees in communication with the outside world and thus to improve competitiveness and profitability of the business. The systems also enable efficient cost management and improve the employees' satisfaction.
Experienced engineers define and provide the Call/Contact Center solutions in order to satisfy to the best possible extent the customers' needs and requirements, by applying state-of-the-art technologies offered by global suppliers. We use the best methods of providing consultancy, design, implementation and maintenance services for systems.
We also specialize in the integration of the Call/Contact Center systems with business applications, leading to more effective use of the information acquired, optimum business management as well as the creation of various kinds of analyses and reports based on information and data. The said integration leads to the improvement of sales efficiency and makes it possible to modify business processes rapidly.
Almost every contemporary Contact Center system offers an integrated reporting and analytics tool kit allowing to control the performance of the CC unit at the operating level. The solution we offer to our customers is called Avaya WorkForce Optimization.
Avaya WorkForce Optimization (WFO) is an additional tool kit for the complex optimization of the operation of Contact Centers and Back Offices. The modules in the suite include: Speech Analytics (SA), Desktop & Process Analytics (DPA), Workforce Management (WFM), and Quality Management (QM).
Contemporary communication networks are made using many different technologies. Sprint's offering also includes solutions from well-known manufacturers (Alcatel-Lucent, Juniper, Motorola, Aviat and Microsense), making it possible to build any kind of wired and wireless networks. Our customers have the possibility of using all technologies to implement any type of wireless network, such as for instance WiFi, WiMax and fiber optical networks with MPLS or DWDM.
Sprint's offering includes comprehensive wireless access systems making it possible to build networks providing broadband services, such as Internet access, VoIP or video surveillance. We design, build and maintain systems based on point-to-point topologies (radio links), point-to-multipoint topologies (LMDS, WiMAX, BWA, WiFi) and mesh topologies in licensed (open) and non-licensed bandwidth. The solutions we offer make it possible to build stable, efficient backbone connections links and a "last mile" for customers such as operators, self-government bodies, governmental organizations and enterprises.
The Sprint Data Center is one the most advanced centers in Poland for data storage and processing, created in response to the growing demands of the market related to information availability and security.
Today's business world is based on access to information. Quality, certainty and speed of data exchange and processing have become some of the key elements allowing businesses to develop and compete. The security of data storage and exchange systems has become one of the priorities in management. Loss of data or unauthorized access to data may lead to large financial losses and to the business losing customers' trust and market position.
The key to ensure secure, quick and continual system operation is to select suitable technical infrastructure (apart from computers this also includes accessories, power supply systems, air-conditioning systems and firefighting systems). Ensuring professional care and protection requires significant financial expenses and actions which for many companies appear too extensive or too distant from their business profile.
This problem can be solved by using the comprehensive offering provided by a professional Data Center, such as the Sprint Data Center.
Free information flow in ICT networks of businesses and high availability of multiple resources contribute to the occurrence of all sorts of hazards. The absence of an appropriate security policy and of suitable security measures often leads to serious consequences, including loss of data and resources, decrease in performance and large financial losses.
The effectiveness of security measures is determined by the weakest link in the solution chain, therefore efficient security rules need to be applied in the entire system.
In order to ensure confidentiality and integrity of your data and to provide security against unauthorized interferences with the system, we provide comprehensive solutions based on various technologies and tools:
Centralized security rule management
Enterasys (DSCC, NetSight ASM), CheckPoint (Smart Center), McAfee (ePO), Fortinet (FortiManager)
CheckPoint (Firewall-1), Fortinet (Fortigate)
Anti-virus protection
McAfee (VirusScan)
Intrusion detection systems (IPS/IDS)
Enterasys (Dragon), McAfee(IntruShield)
Detecting gaps in the security system
IBM (Internet Scanner)
Content protection and anti-spam
McAfee (SIG), Fortinet (Fortimail)
McAfee (SafeBoot, eBusiness), Thales (nCipher)
Authorization, authentication and network access control (NAC)
ActivIdentity, Enterasys (NAC), McAfee (NAC, Secure Computing)
Network monitoring
Entersys (NetSight, DCSS), Fortinet (FortiAnalyzer)
Post-intrusion analysis
Enterasys (DCSS)
SIEM, compliance control
Enterasys (DCSS), Fortinet (FortiAnalyzer)
Integrated security measure system (UTM)
Fortinet (FortiGate), CheckPoint (UTM-1)
Mass memory and server systems
IBM, EMC (storage, VMware), Citrix (XenServer, XenDesktop), Infortrend
Data backup and archiving
EMC (NetWorker, Avamar), HP (DataProtector)
We provide an extensive range of services as part of our product:
- security policy creation,
- system audit – resource and process survey, vulnerability analysis, security rule analysis,
- security system design, installation and configuration,
- implementation of security policy based on installed solutions,
- training for security system administrators and users,
- comprehensive security system monitoring based on outsourcing,
- design, installation and configuration of data processing, storage and replication systems with regard to hardware (including backup locations),
- design, installation and configuration of desktop and server virtualization solutions,
- service & support.
Sprint has laid over 13 000 km of fibre optic lines, and designed most of them.
Due to advanced technologies used during technical works we can guarantee fully-satisfying execution of fibre optic and copper networks/buses, telephone and distributing networks/ building, cable sewage system building and maintenance, and existing network maintenance.
We are proud to have carried out such investments as telecommunications network modernization in the former Gdansk voivodship, made within the confines of the contract between TP Co. and Lucent Technologies and "turn key" realization of the whole length of fibre optic in covered in the first contract between TP Co. and the World Bank.
We have the complete equipment in place allowing us to perform construction of several fiber optic lines at the same time:
- cable burying plows;
- chain excavators;
- bucket excavators;
- complete sets for pneumatic cable pulling;
- full technological transport.
The design process is among the most important project execution stages. This is the stage at which ideas are created and converted into the best technical and technology solutions. Its quality determines the efficiency and effectiveness of subsequent investment project stages, i.e. implementation, operation and maintenance.
Our project teams specialise in designing all types of telecom infrastructure, mainly based on fiber optic as the best transmission carrier guaranteeing the highest throughput, unlimited functionality, negligible failure rates, moderate installation cost, long life and low maintenance cost. Currently, having completed the construction of regional broadband networks, we are focusing our activity on designing access network in the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) architecture. Such a network allows every subscriber to be connected via a dedicated optical fibre, and the P2MP topology (Point to Multipoint) uses passive optical couplers to optimise the cost of its construction.
In the design area, we derive our greatest advantage from competent, experienced designers with state-of-the-art, certificate-proven technical knowledge, the necessary construction licenses and – if designing in classified information areas – also the appropriate security clearances.
We offer a broad range of design deliverables and services, including:
• assumptions, conceptual designs, feasibility studies;
• building permit, detailed and as-built documentation;
• acquiring real estate for investment projects;
• approvals and permitting;
• specifications, cost estimates, expert opinions;
• site architect and owner's engineer services;
Examples of completed projects:
• trunk fiber optic lines: Płock – Toruń – Bydgoszcz – Grodzisk Wlkp. and Toruń – Gdynia (750 km in total);
• licensed public operator's fiber optic and copper networks in northern provinces (several thousand kilometres altogether)
• TASK telecom network connecting academic facilities in Tricity (approx. 50 km);
• ZSRN Gdańsk – Krynica Morska fiber optic trunk cable line (approx. 90 km);
• fiber optic network for the Warsaw video surveillance system (approx. 150 km);
• TRISTAR Integrated Traffic Management System (approx. 140 km);
• Podlaskie Province Regional Broadband Network (approx. 193 km);
• Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province Regional Broadband Network (approx. 266 km);
• Szczecin FTTH network (55,282 HH);
• Elbląg FTTH network (13,340 HH).
We design systems in many regions of the country, both for traditional telecom operators, and also other private or public sector entities. We work with all major technology vendors. In every project, we pay particular attention to the quality, the schedule and complying with the Client's requirements.
The primary task of Vizan SMS is to integrate the security systems of the building, the entire facility or even several facilities quite remote from one another. It thus makes it possible to monitor different security systems in buildings. The current version supports five main systems:
The solution developed by Sprint does not replace the systems supplied by their above manufacturers nor does it interfere with their operation. Its main purpose is to improve their use and ensure the immediate, correct response by the appropriate first responders in emergency situations.
Vizan SMS allows the operator to use a single workstation (sometimes even installed far away from the supervised buildings) to monitor all critical systems of the facility. The operator is provided with clear, unambiguous information about events at the facility on a current basis. Every change to the state of a sensor, reader, door, subsystem etc. is signalled on the operator's screen. In addition, the system supports recording scenarios, i.e. information for the operator about the action they should take in a specific situation. Depending on the system configuration, every event may require the operator's confirmation, and the failure to confirm it within the required time may cause the appropriate message to be sent to a higher level.
Apart from observing the situation in the facility, the operator is able to control some of the functions of all the connected systems (with the exception of the fire alarm system). If an alarm is sent by a fire or access control sensor, the operator can check the view from a camera located close to the event and assess the situation (by replaying the CCTV recording) or check what is happening at the alarm location at present without leaving their workstation. They are able to remotely unlock doors, arm the alarm system in the zone, confirm that all windows and doors have been closed.
Vizan SMS has been developed as a web application. This makes it accessible from practically any network-connected device anywhere on Earth. Access is granted after a successful authentication.
For small systems, Vizan SMS can be installed directly on the operator's PC and remain fully functional.
The modern, intuitive application interface has been developed with easy, user-friendly operation in mind. This allows even untrained individuals to operate the system.
To improve security, the system supports defining rights for different user groups. As a result, it can be made available to external services, who are granted access, for instance, to the fire alarm system.
Communication with dedicated systems is possible, e.g. using the OPC UA protocol.
The term "smart buildings" refers to office and commercial buildings, industrial facilities, schools, hospitals, residences or private houses with an integrated management system, regardless of their purpose or size.
A "smart" building should ensure comfortable conditions for its users to take advantage of all of its functions, high quality working environment for staff members and a top level of security, while at the same time guaranteeing economic and convenient operation. These requirements may only be met by applying top technical solutions and by equipping the building with ample advanced technical and software features to create extensive ICT infrastructure.
The Integrated Management System (BMS) plays an important role in the infrastructure.
Besides direct functions related to maintaining optimum climate conditions and supervising energy consumption, the system also fulfils monitoring tasks and integrates other building systems, such as energy, lighting, heating and security systems, as well as otherwise reduces operating costs.
The advantages of the implementation of the Integrated Management System include:


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|With Rhonda Joy McLean at Oceana Restaurant in New York City
Postscripts on Facebook
From Rhonda —
Darling Tammy, How wonderful to commune with you again after so many years! Thank you for being such a wonderful sister-friend and mentor. I continue to learn from and be inspired by your strength and courage. Be blessed as you move forward. Love Always, Rhonda Joy
From me —
Weeping has resumed on savoring our reunion of stretching back, catching up, and pondering shared or similar aims, nagging questions, and promising stances. Much love to you, your core peeps, and wide community!


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Built Up Roofing Repair
True Engelmeier Roofing is equipped with experience, the tools, and the knowledge to help you with just about all of your roofing needs. So whether or not the job is big or small, residential or commercial, we can help you with the utmost quality guarantee. One roofing task that we can assist with is Built Up Roofing (BUR).
What is Built Up Roofing?
Essentially, a built up roof is a custom "product" constructed on the job site.
Typically found on older homes with minimally pitched roofing or commercial buildings, a built-up roof system is composed of a roof membrane, bitumen, and sometimes an aggregates surfacing. This roofing has been in use across the US for more than 100 years. BUR roofs may also be referred to as "tar and gravel" roofs.
Why Would You Choose This Type of Roofing?
There are multiple advantages when you choose built-up roofing. One of the biggest advantages is what you would expect from every roof you invest in: durability. Many BUR roofs can have a 20-40 year lifespan before having to replace the materials. Aside from durability, there are other benefits that you would be experiencing if you chose to use a BUR roof:
- Multi-Layer Protection: BUR supplies multiple layers of bitumen and bitumen saturate "felts." This way it builds up a resistance to water and other elements that may cause damage and enter the structure.
- Thermal Performance: BUR systems will save you money on heating and cooling costs since they have extraordinary resistance to heat conduction. Controlling your climate will be much easier!
- Fire and Uplift Resistance: BUR roofing goes through FM Approvals and Underwriters Laboratories to meet a very strict standard of fire resistance. This way BUR can ensure you sufficient uplift resistance when it battles extreme wind conditions.
- Economically Smart: The competitive cost of BUR roofing makes it one of the most economically sound investments you can make for the sustainability of your building. Its lifespan and ability to last outweighs your financial costs in the long term. You don't want to invest just to simply continue making maintenance calls. Get your roofing done right the first time!
Why True Engelmeier?
True Engelmeier Roofing has been servicing commercial and residential buildings since 1959, which most contractors cannot say! We have been in the business for a large expansion of time because everyday people continue to trust in our brand and in our work.
Our team of licensed and insured craftsmen does not consist of temporary labor or independent contractors. Instead, we have people on staff that have been in the business for 10 years or more on average. We take pride in our quality, thus we will only employ the best to work on your roofing.
Moreover, we can setup warranties on most of the materials that we use and we guarantee a 10 year warranty on all labor! We are so confident in our work and the products we choose to use, that you get this warranty that will relieve you of mistakes gone array.
How We Do It
True Engelmeier Roofing always removes the existing roof down to the roof deck and begins building from the deck up. Our basic built-up roof consists of a 43# base sheet and three plies of fiberglass felt applied with hot asphalt. We then flood coat with hot asphalt and cover with gravel. Any metal used for gravel stop on the perimeter is 26 gage galvanized painted metal. In addition to the basic system, we can quote prices for the installation of additional products to fit your needs:
- A slope to drain water from your roof to prevent "ponding"
- Drains
- Skylights
- Insulation
- Kitchen roof vents
- Various flashings
How You Can Do It
If you're ready to install, replace, or repair a BUR roof, then you can request a quote, or even faster you can give us a call at (407) 291-8600. This is highly recommended for commercial buildings so we can analyze the situation and develop quotes and a plan of action right away.
So don't hesitate to give us a call, you won't regret it!


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We know plaid shirts are always in (Rails has a monopoly on them at the moment) and crop tops seem to have some staying power, so why not combine the two? Nasty Gal did just that and Kourtney Kardashian wasted no time in scooping up this After Party Vintage Red Alert Crop Flannel ($31.50, down from $45). If preggers Kourt can rock this, so can you. The best news? It's 30% off, which is basically a steal for Nasty Gal's already-affordable clothing. Isn't it refreshing to see a celeb wear something so cheap? Shop it below!
After Party Vintage Red Alert Crop Flannel ($31.50, down from $45)
Don't miss celebs wearing One Teaspoon jeans, Ariana Grande's crossbody bag and Mindy Kaling's sheep sweatshirt.
[Photo: Splash News]


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Once upon a time there was a kid named Jesse. He came to our gym looking for a coaching opportunity and we put him through the ringer. He started out the same way we all started out, as athletes. It has been almost four years now and Jesse has been vetted. He is a successful professional coach, teaching privates and group classes at the gym. He is also diligently working his way towards being a top CrossFit athlete. He is hard working, passionate and gifted and we are stoked to have him as part of the team.
For time:
Three rounds of
30 Kettlebell swings, 1.5 pood
20 Chest to bar Pull-ups
Row 1,000 meters


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Blue Razz Lemonade Mr Salt-E E-Juice 30mL is a sweet beverage blend from Mr Salt-E that is manufactured using a salt-based nicotine for use in low output pod vaporizers.
Mr Salt-E's Blue Razz Lemonade E-Juice combines the flavors of an ice cold glass of tart lemonade with juicy blue raspberry to create a delicious beverage vape like you've never tried before.
Each bottle of Mr Salt-E E-Liquid is carefully crafted in a US-based clean lab facility using unique and fresh ingredients to deliver only the top of the line in quality and flavor.
Enjoy the amazing flavors of blue raspberry infused lemonade in 30mL child-resistant bottles with nicotine strengths of either 25mg or 45mg.
Please note Mr Salt-E E-Liquids are manufactured with high amounts of salt-based nicotine, therefore they should not be used in high output sub ohm tanks or dripper atomizers. These liquids are intended for use with low output Pod based devices like Wismec Myjet or Eleaf iCare.
- 1 x Blue Razz Lemonade Mr Salt-E E-Juice 30ml


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We woke up this morning still feeling tired so we decided to stay another night and get some more rest in. Plus, Wrightwood is a pretty ideal little spot to pass time; it's quaint and friendly and easy to walk around in. Last night we got into the small town spirit and attended the first ever Wrightwood little league game under the lights. Yankee Son, Just Retired, Fairway, Iceman, Auto Pilot and I rooted for the Cubs, ate hot dogs, bought raffle tickets and chitchatted with local folks. A definite highlight was in the bottom of the fourth when the sprinklers came on and the game got delayed. The school principal had to come over from home to turn them off.
Today we've run errands and relaxed at the Pines Motel. More hands of Spades got played and more delicious food was eaten. A pretty nice little Zero, I'd say.


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A Lao Village Along the Mekong
The splashing of water lures me out to my stern balcony. They must be diving under the ship to fix the faulty propeller, I think. As I lean over the edge of the railing, I discover I am wrong: four Lao children are swimming gleefully around the boat on a competitive circuit, the weakest swimmer ending up dangerously swept downriver by the strong Mekong current before grasping the stern of a longtail boat docked nearby. He struggles hard to keep up and eventually disappears with the others upstream again.
The clean, sandy beach where we have docked for repairs presents cameos of life along this mighty Indochinese river. A woman in a straw hat busily plants her vegetable seedlings, while keeping an eye on her nearby toddler, who happily digs her own holes. Another woman waters her sandy field, and scolds children who come too near as they practice their somersaults, cartwheels and handstands. Three children emerge from the water and run to join the gymnastic group, one of the littlest pausing to remove her chafing, sandy underwear and continue on unimpeded.
From the beach, one of the crew beckons me to join them. He and a group of passengers seem to be heading inland. Clearly, the
repairs are going to take a while. Within minutes, I emerge on the wide, sandy expanse, impressed by how the muddy Mekong, during the drier season, can sport beaches to compete with the seaside resorts of the world. Our small group climbs the dunes into the jungle to discover wooden pens containing healthy piglets, sows and ducks. A few more steps upward, and the stilted
thatched traditional Lao homes emerge, neatly arranged along a main artery parallel to the Mekong. Hearing giggles
behind me, I turn just in time to see two naked boys of seven or eight years rushing past, wet clothes in hand. They grin at me unabashed, then stop at a clothesline up ahead and neatly lay out their shorts and shirts to dry, disappearing into their home.
Every adult and child we encounter smiles broadly and the traditional greeting echoes throughout the village "Sabaidee!" Hens and chicks scuttle under a home, two pot-bellied pigs squeal their way under a fence and trot past us, ducks of all kinds paddle around a small central pond, and random dogs and kittens sun themselves on ledges and in doorways. Mothers wearing the intricately woven sarong skirts lean in doorways with babies on their hips, and occasionally call out to older children, perhaps admonishing them to behave. Giddy children follow our progress, as we tour their empty new school (it's Friday afternoon), complete with five classrooms, desks and blackboards. The villagers saved for years to buy the construction materials to build this school, and now they are able to educate not only their little ones but also several other nearby villages'. Neatly piled bricks, wood, and bags of cement under eaves suggest that another construction project may be under way soon.
Heading to the top of the village, at the highest point, we come upon a temple, home to a handful of monks. A boy of eight or so in a saffron robe is busy sweeping the large fallen teak leaves and debris from around the temple grounds. An old monk
and his young apprentices sit idly under a thatched pavilion, talking and relaxing. Saffron robes catch the saturated rays of sun on a clothesline behind the temple. Marigolds, Helliconia, and Crown of Thorn flowers abound, adding even more color and a sense of paradise to this elevated, peaceful scene above the Mekong.
As we come back down through the village on our way back to our boat, an old woman with high cheek bones and twinkling eyes strolls past elegantly, clothed in a woven Lao skirt and simple shirt, with a towel regally wrapped around her head. "Sabaidee!" she repeats again and again, smiling at each of us toothlessly. Something about her makes me wonder if she dressed up just for us.
Returning to the Mekong Sun, our floating home, I return to the orchid-ringed sun deck and take in the soft light of the waning sun on the river. The breeze is fresh and I marvel at how this major waterway and South East Asian lifeline can be so clean and smell so sweet in the Pacific Century. It can't last for long, I fear. The Chinese and Thai have many dams planned in the next decade, and the industry that is so absent now will arrive, no doubt marring the beauty of this land and spoiling the purity of these waters. I only hope that the happiness and serenity of Khokphu village and many others along the river's edge will survive the inevitable development ahead.


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Home Security
Essential Information on DIY Home Security Systems
At exhibit, an extraordinary discuss 'Do-It-Without anyone's help '(DIY) home security frameworks is surviving. Everybody needs to have a secured and ensured home using different sorts of security gadgets. Be that as it may, because of exorbitant venture for the buy, establishment and upkeep connected to owning security gadgets, individuals have a tendency to have qualms of getting one for themselves. Be that as it may, through the assistance of DIY home security frameworks, everything appears to be better.
An assortment of explanations behind the rising ubiquity and notoriety of DIY security incorporate the way that the utilization of this write spares you from paying establishment expenses. This is on the grounds that DIY home security gadgets are normally easier and in this way can be effectively settled by anybody by examining the manual for the shoppers and following the headings and guidelines that accompany it.
Another preferred standpoint of acquiring DIY home security frameworks is that the purchaser can pick whatever segments required in defending one's home. Ordinarily, individuals are obliged to buy the whole costly bundle when they visit an expert security organization.
An awesome combination of DIY home frameworks are found in the market. There are the typical surveillance cameras, robber alerts, observation frameworks, movement sensors and prearranged wiring. The best time to introduce a DIY home security gadget is amid the development of your home. Amid this time, you can cause the establishment of the underlying wiring. This will spare you the inconvenience of drilling openings off of the recently built dividers of your home for the wires.
On the off chance that you are for all intents and purposes sure about the procedure, it is proposed that you begin the DIY security frameworks for your home. In buying the item, it is prescribed to acquaint yourself with the component of the framework. With a specific end goal to successfully introduce the gadget on your home, the required instruments ought to moreover be readied. These devices are effectively available in any close-by home advancement and change store. Ownership of some amount of specialized data would turn out to be positively useful and helpful, in spite of the fact that not required. Something else, there is data on the topic accessible either in books or magazines to help you in finishing your undertaking successfully.
Heaps of recordings are moreover accessible online to control you in self-establishment of your framework. The remote sort of DIY security frameworks is exceptionally suggested. In spite of the fact that this sort of framework is more costly than those with wires, the previous kinds are typically favored over the last as it wipe out the confusion of setting various wiring inside the house. A few people even introduce individually surveillance cameras at home. Endless supply of the home security framework, it is proposed that observing administrations be benefited of by paying a month to month total to a checking organization. This is better as the observing office will consequently caution you and the correct experts in instances of thievery endeavors.
In any case, should you wish to go for a mind boggling security set-up or a progressed and advanced wired DIY home security framework, an expert help proves to be useful. Muddled security set-up is normally used in the event that your home requires broad and exhaustive scope. Be that as it may, such set-up requires a progressed and complex level of home security frameworks to be introduced. Considering the previous, it is protected to reason that the establishment of various types of DIY home security frameworks is for all intents and purposes a straightforward errand.


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The Southern California News Group's team of NFL reporters and columnists have emerged from their film rooms, reviewed their notes, and sifted through all the statistics.
Kickoff of Sunday's Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles is approaching. It's prediction time:
Vincent Bonsignore: Eagles have overcome plenty. They've got this
In an NFL season marked by a seemingly endless string of injuries to major stars, it's only fitting that one of the last two teams standing has survived an almost unfair amount of afflictions to key players.
That the Philadelphia Eagles have managed to reach Super Bowl LII in spite of losing their MVP-candidate starting quarterback, their Pro Bowl-caliber left tackle and a starting running back and linebacker to season-ending injuries is a testament to just how well built and resilient they are under the leadership of General Manager Howie Roseman and Coach Doug Pederson.
And it makes them hard to best against, even while sharing the field with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the six-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
The Eagles didn't blink an eye after losing Carson Wentz, Jason Peters, Darren Sproles and Jordan Hicks to season-ending injuries this season on their way to winning their division, earning home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs and beating the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings to reach the Super Bowl.
A clever, balanced, sophisticated offense has enabled Nick Foles to seamlessly take over for the fallen Wentz, and a dominant defensive front backed up by an underrated linebacking corps and a deep, talented secondary has smothered opponents.
And while Brady and the Patriots represent the Eagles' biggest postseason challenge, their ability to play balanced offense combined with a front four that can get pressure on Brady and a secondary that can blanket his receivers will be too much for the Patriots, who didn't exactly look like a dominant team in getting here.
It's tough picking against the greatness of Brady and Belichick, but the Eagles have all the necessary components to beat them.
Injuries and all.
Pick: Eagles 28, Patriots 17
Rich Hammond: We all know what's coming, don't we?
There's just something coldly impressive about the Patriots. They looked lost in the AFC championship game, down 10 points and without Rob Gronkowski, but they never wavered and rallied to win. Expect something similar to happen in the Super Bowl. The Eagles' season did not end, as many expected, when Carson Wentz tore up his knee at the Coliseum in December. The Eagles adjusted and they've gotten more out of quarterback Nick Foles than anyone could have expected.
It's not unreasonable to think Philadelphia could score three or four touchdowns on a New England defense that has looked wobbly against the pass at times. Philadelphia's defense allowed a total of 17 points in playoff victories over Atlanta and Minnesota, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Eagles jump out to a lead in this game, and perhaps even hold it deep into the second half.
But everyone knows how this story ends, right?
The Patriots won't be phased by anything. Tom Brady's five Super Bowl victories have come by a combined total of 19 points. The Patriots no longer are a dominant machine. They're not particularly impressive in any statistical category, but they learn and adjust during games, and Brady's savvy will be enough for a sixth Super Bowl ring.
Pick: Patriots 27, Eagles 21
Ryan Kartje: The Eagles are the more complete team, but …
The Eagles are the more complete team in just about every facet of this game. Except for one. Without Carson Wentz, Philly's Super Bowl fate rests on the shoulders of Nick Foles, and while his NFC championship game performance will go down in the record books, repeating that performance against a team that's had two weeks to prepare will be no easy feat.
Foles won't necessarily have to outduel Tom Brady to win, but with the Patriots likely to stack the box to stop the run, daring him to beat them, Foles is going to need to make plays in crucial moments and avoid mistakes at all costs for Philadelphia to have a chance.
Creating pressure with the front four is crucial to slowing down Brady and the Patriots offense, but while the Eagles' front seven is dominant against the run, it still ranked in the middle of the pack at pressuring the quarterback this season. If Brady has time, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which the Patriots don't methodically wear down the Eagles' defense, using a combination of no-huddle and short, dink-and-dunk plays.
Philadelphia should keep it close, thanks to its ferocious defense and a game plan designed to keep New England's worse-than-you-think defense on the field. But the gap between Foles and Brady just seems too wide for the Eagles to overcome.
Pick: Patriots 27, Eagles 24
Jack Wang: This is what Brady and the Patriots live for
On one hand, what Tom Brady and Bill Belichick have achieved in New England stands as one of the most remarkable runs in recent sports history. On the other – can this dynasty please, please end?
Last month, ESPN hinted at fractures within the Patriots organization, a prospect likely welcomed by any football fans outside of New England. Such is the nature of consistent, overwhelming success: Everyone starts to turn against Goliath.
But giants aren't felled easily, and no franchise is as comfortable with the scale of this moment as the Patriots. Brady is about to appear in his eighth Super Bowl — and was so confident last year that he prerecorded a Boston-area commercial of himself holding a fifth ring. The 40-year-old has 27 career playoff victories; only one other quarterback, Peyton Manning, has even started that many postseason contests.
The New York Giants did beat New England in Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI, pairing a fearsome pass rush with Eli Manning. But the younger Manning will likely have a spot in the Hall of Fame. The Eagles might have enough juice on defense, but they remain alive thanks to backup quarterback Nick Foles' unlikely heroics. The journeyman looked like a star in the NFC title game, but the Patriots defense has had two weeks to prepare.


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Some months ago I wrote a series of posts critiquing the Reformed doctrine of total depravity. As a result, I was promptly accused, by some readers, of being a Pelagian. It was then that I realized that I had made a rather notable mistake: I had failed to expound upon what I believed with regards to sin, the human condition, and man's salvation. Having failed to explain what I believe, some readers misunderstood my critiques of total depravity and jumped to some rather extreme conclusions about my theology.
In consequence, I have decided to write this post in an effort to further clarify my position. This essay reflects, however poorly, what I believe about the depravity of man, the nature of sin and evil, and, in an extremely limited way, salvation. I will not discuss, in any detail, my theory of the atonement, justification, or sanctification; rather, I will simply emphasize man's utter dependence upon God for life and his unavoidable dependency upon God's grace and mercy to be saved.
I will begin by making several metaphysical observations. First of all, it's important to understand that everything that God has made is good and no matter how twisted or broken it becomes, it will never cease to maintain some vestige of its original goodness (Gen. 1:31). St. Augustine understood this fundamental point of ontology and communicated it very clearly:
"All things that exist, therefore, seeing that the Creator of them all is supremely good, are themselves good. But because they are not, like their Creator, supremely and unchangeably good, their good may be diminished and increased. But for good to be diminished is an evil, although, however much it may be diminished, it is necessary if the being is to continue, that some good should remain to constitute the being. For however small or of whatever kind of being it may be, the good which makes it a being cannot be destroyed without destroying the being itself."
Please note that St. Augustine is speaking of the good in an ontological sense and not in an ethical sense. Also note that, for him, evil does not have a substantial existence, in and of itself, but only exists in the form of a degradation of or corruption of something which is substantial good. Thus, when I say that human beings are by nature good I'm not claiming that they are without sin (i.e. ethically good) but that they are made in the image and likeness of God and, hence, in the image of Goodness and Perfection Himself. Therefore, no matter how much sin twists and degrades us, we never stop being human–for if the image of God was completely eradicated the good which sustains our being would have been destroyed and we would cease to exist.
St. John of Damascus is also extremely helpful in clarifying this point:
". . . evil is no more than a negation of good and a lapse from what is natural to what is unnatural, for there is nothing that is naturally evil. Now, as they are made, all things that God made were very good. So, if they remain as they were created, then they are very good. But, if they freely withdraw from the natural and pass to the unnatural, then they become evil. All things, then, by nature serve and obey the Creator. So, whenever any creature freely rebels and becomes disobedient to Him who made him, he has brought the evil upon himself. For evil is not some sort of substance, nor yet a property of a substance, but an accident, that is to say, a deviation from the natural into the unnatural, which is just what sin is."
It's clear, therefore, that sin is a corruption of what is substantially good and is fundamentally an ethical problem rooted in the will of man. With his capacity of self-determination, man choses to act in a way which is contrary to his nature, to turn himself away from the Good, and thus, to subject himself to futility. Hence, to speak of man being depraved, is to speak in terms of ethics and not in terms of ontology. Nevertheless, it is also clear that our sin, our depravity has profound ontological consequences. These truths are evident in Psalm 53:
"The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity, there is none that does good. God looks down from heaven, upon the sons of man, to see if there are any that are wise, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; they are all alike depraved; there is none that does good, no, not even one." (Psalm 53:1-3)
Further down the Psalmist continues:
"There they [those who have rejected God] are, in great terror, in terror such as has not been! For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly; they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them" (Psalm 53: 5).
Having rejected God in their hearts (which is clearly an act of the will) mans behavior becomes corrupt and he chooses to live an unethical life. His sinful choices, as the Psalmist makes clear, lead to his dissolution and destruction. This point is also made by St. Paul in no uncertain terms, who proclaimed that: "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Therefore, from a Biblical perspective, the depravity of man is an ethical problem with profound ontological consequences (1).
Furthermore, according to Psalm 53, this ethical problem is pervasive and universal; that is to say, every human being chooses, of his own free will, to turn away from God in order to serve his own self-interest; to worship the Creation rather than the Creator (this idea is more fully developed by St. Paul in Romans 1).
So, although man is by nature good, being made in the image of God, he suffers from the consequences of Adam's sin: namely, he is born outside the garden and, hence, estranged from God, he is subject to physical corruption and bodily death, he is tempted and manipulated by evil spirits, and constantly suffering from and profoundly affected by the sinful choices of others. Consequentially, this Fallen environment, this twisted and broken world system, drives man to make unethical choices and so, he also suffers from the consequences of his own personal sin.
The Bible teaches that there is only One who can save us from this horrible mess–Jesus Christ. For man, on his own, cannot save himself; he is utterly incapable of rescuing himself from this dilemma. Let me repeat this lest I be accused, once more, of being a Pelagian: man, on his own, cannot save himself; he is utterly incapable of rescuing himself from this dilemma. Salvation is an act of God who lavishes us with his love and grace. (2) St. Paul, speaking to the Christians in Ephesus, states:
"and you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirt that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of the body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus . . . for by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:1-8).
In summary, man is by nature good, being made in the image of God; thus, he is not totally depraved. However, man is born into a broken and corrupted world, subject to the consequences of Adam's sin, influenced by the sins of his forefathers and by the, "prince of the power of the air," and, hence, he inevitably chooses to sin (i.e. to act in a manner which is contrary to his own nature). In this way, in an ethical sense, man is radically depraved. Trapped in a dying world and being guilty of personal sin, man is unable to do anything, on his own, to save himself. He needs Jesus to pull him out of the mire, to give him life, and to fully restore the image and likeness of God which has been soiled by his sin and the sin of others.
(1) On this point, it should be noted, Reformed theology teaches the exact opposite of what we have just outlined; namely, it teaches that man has a serious ontological problem (being totally depraved or having a sin nature) with profound ethical consequences. This notion, aside from being unbiblical, is also incoherent (see my previous writings on total depravity).
(2) This statement does not negate man's responsibility or choice in the matter; nor does it deny he has free will. Man must chose to participate in God's work to save and restore Creation, he must chose to believe in Jesus; nevertheless, salvation is the work of God in man.


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Nassim Nicholas Taleb spent 20 years as a derivatives trader/risk taker before becoming a researcher in practical, mathematical, and philosophical problems in probability. He is currently Distinguished Professor of Risk Engineering at NYU's School of Engineering. His current focus is on the properties of systems that can handle disorder ("antifragile") as well as the development of statistical techniques with fat-tailed processes.
Taleb is the author of a multivolume philosophical essay, the Incerto (The Black Swan, Fooled by Randomness, and Antifragile) covering broad facets of uncertainty. It has been translated into 36 languages. Taleb has also published, as a backup of the Incerto, close to 40 scholarly papers in statistical physics, statistics, philosophy, ethics, economics, international affairs, and quantitative finance, all around the notion of risk and probability.


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Looking for some local fun for the whole family? Check out these upcoming events!
2018 RFK Campus Quarterly Meetings
Monday, January 8
Monday, April 9
Monday, July 9
Monday, October 15
Saturday, December 16 – Sunday, December 17
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
11:30am - 4:00pm
Winterfest is two days of baseball fun, including games, children's activities and special appearances by your favorite Washington Nationals players, coaches, mascots, and Santa.
Thursday, December 21
R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center
5:00pm – 8:00pm
This free community celebration offers fun holiday activities, arts and crafts, entertainment, and food – and a special gift for each child who attends. Please visit cozychristmas.eventbrite.com to register.
National Title IX Classic and Conference
Wednesday, December 27 - Saturday, December 30
DC Armory
This three-day high school girls' basketball tournament draws local and national teams with highly recruited players. It attracts a wide range of college scouts and lots of excited fans!
Thursday, January 4 - Sunday, January 7
DC Armory
The DC Armory will host its first professional e-sports tournament. Get your tickets now to join the fun – the event is expected to draw 3,000 patrons per day.
GK Elite 2018 All Star Games – East
Friday, January 19 - Sunday, January 21
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The GK Elite All Star Games gather athletes from a variety of events under one roof to inspire each other – and spectators – to greatness.
Saturday, January 20 - Sunday, January 21
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm
Find, plan, and book your next great vacation! Talk to destination experts who have "local" inside knowledge, and get packing tips and budget hacks from savvy travelers.
Saturday, January 27 - Sunday, January 28
DC Armory
Calling all budding paleontologists: Visit Time Trek Laboratories and travel back to a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth! Cuddle with a baby dinosaur, test your knowledge in our live-action family game show, and even encounter a life-like dinosaur skeleton.


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Well, the marketing dust has settled. Hopefully the chip on your credit or debit card has cooled off since Black Friday, your keyboard (or Buy Button thumb) didn't lock up on Cyber Monday, and your fingers didn't get pinched by the dispenser on "Withdraw Cash Wednesday."
Wait—hadn't you heard about that last one?
Withdraw Cash Wednesday, a brainchild of the ATM Industry Association, is a campaign to encourage consumers to keep their wallets stocked with cash and to use it for everyday purchases, touting its budgeting benefits and freedom from interest charges.
Designed as a year-round effort, it got an added push in November coinciding with the holiday shopping season.
Withdraw Cash Wednesday is one of several recent signs of pushback against the "cash is dead" narrative. The UK-based International Currency Association, founded in 2016 by industry players with a dog in the cash fight, also launched cashmatters.org as a consumer-facing site.
Card networks and other electronic payment providers have delivered remarkable growth and continuing upward volume trends. This has led many to surmise that cash is on the verge of extinction—and these firms certainly stand to benefit it that turns out to be the case.
But there's precious little evidence to support such a conclusion.
The San Francisco Federal Reserve reports that cash in circulation is growing faster than the gross domestic product (GDP) in 40 of the 42 countries it studied—including the U.S., where the ratio of cash in circulation to GDP has roughly doubled since 1990.
Primary research the San Francisco Fed conducted in 2016 revealed that while the number of Americans carrying no cash had ticked upward (to 17%), the average amount of cash held actually increased.
Cash use is notoriously difficult to measure, in part because its purpose extends beyond a simple means of transaction. Following the global financial crisis, many took to U.S. currency as a store of value.
There's little question that overseas U.S. cash holdings have swelled since 2008. Zimbabwe even adopted the dollar as its official currency.
Nonetheless, it's hard to square an expanding cash supply with the notion that its transactional use is plummeting.
Besides, this isn't a zero-sum game. A separate study by the Atlanta Fed found that the average household made nearly two times as many transactions per month in 2015 than in 2000. This suggests a change in shopping habits: There are simply more transactions to go around.
Payment providers generate revenue based on transaction counts as well as dollar values, which are on the rise as well, thanks to a growing economy.
The forces for electronification and for paper each have their own vested interests, and will, of course, offer selective data to advance their respective positions.
The Fed bends over backward to remain impartial. It provides a wonderful fact pattern, but leaves it to us to interpret.
In my view this latest flurry of info nudges the meter a bit back toward the cash side, which makes sense since the drumbeat for electronics had grown so loud.
Meanwhile, I'm the oddball on the high end of the cash and card metrics (and paper check, and Venmo…). Can't we all just get along?
GLEN SARVADY is managing partner at 154 Advisors and senior payments expert with Best Innovation Group, a CUNA consulting partner. Follow him on Twitter via @154Advisors. His views do not necessarily reflect those of Credit Union National Association.


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A folder with a minimum of 3 clear, up-to-date copies of your résumé (or 2 per interview, if you know you may have a couple of), paper, and 2 working pens. Among the operations which can be included in this section are immigration companies, airways, authorities tourism departments, railway reservations and providers, tour operators, and travel companies.


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Pack 876's
Home Page
Joining Pack 876
Upcoming Events
Leader Info
Cub Scout Pack 876
(Midlothian, Virginia)
Contact Our Pack
Member Login
Cub Scout Pack 876
Cub Scout Pack 876 is located in Midlothian, VA. We are sponsored by Mt. Pisgah Methodist Church. We consist of about 60 boys from grades 1 through 5. Our Pack meetings are on the 3rd Thursday of each month at Mt. Pisgah. Most dens meet on Sundays about 2 times a month. Some of the fun activities that we take part in include the Pinewood Derby, Scouting for Foods, Fall and Spring Campouts, Raingutter Regatas,Kickball tournaments, The Blue and Gold Banquet, and much, much more.
We are part of the Boy Scouts of America Heart of Virginia Council. Their website is
We are also part of the Huguenot Trail District. Their website is
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About Us
Grace Labbe is the owner of Shimmer and has been in the beauty industry for over 20 years. Her goal is to treat every person who walks through the doors as the special guest of the day.
Grace's experience is second to none and she manages an expert stylist design team as well as a salon team to provide the best possible experience.
We at Shimmer partner with many local charities to stay involved within our community.
Shimmer is very proud to be the really only Spa that provides the unique Gemstone Treatment. There are many wonderful facts about the energy from Gemstones. We use them during specific Massages, Facials and other treatments. Be sure to ask about our Gemstones.
We are also very proud of our facility, its one of the largest Salon & Spa space in Rhode Island, over 5600 square feet. Come in and check it out!
Grace and her team has the experience to bring the quality you can expect in a upscale Salon and Day Spa. Whether its ideas from us on how to style your hair, or the best relaxing treatment we offer every suggestion is backed by our experience.
Miss America Pagent
Shimmer Salon is the Exclusive Stylist Team to the Miss America contestants. From headshots, to stage ready, our stylist team is always prepared to work with the contestants. The Miss America organization women make a great impact on our local community that extends well beyond the pageant event!
If you are a pageant contestant, or are interested in becoming a contestant for the Miss America Pageant, please feel free to stop by our Salon or give us a call for details. We also encourage you to visit the pageants website!
Click Here to find out more information about the exciting things going on with the Miss Rhode Island Pageant.


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Included in your booking
Don't see an amenity you're looking for? Ask the host, Cindi
Cancel for free within 24 hours
Don't see an amenity you're looking for? Ask the host, Cindi
Available 7-days a week | 6AM-10PM $4,590 Rental Minimum (6-hrs) The Historic Manor Home in Piedmont is perfect for your next event, professional meeting, or production. We've hosted all sorts of activities in the past and are certain our space is the perfect for your next event. Tell us about your event and we'll do what we can to accommodate your needs. Photo Credit: smgcreate.com Chateau-my-goodness, we're crushing on this stately heritage home! THE VIBE From luxe landscaping to distinguished decor, this monumental mansion conjures images of old-world opulence. Reminiscent of European high-society, the stunningly statuesque property would fit right in on a ravishing riviera or cultured countryside. THE DETAILS Endowed equally with both style and history, there's nothing manufactured about the elegant air of this heritage home. Its classical character hints at other prolific productions of its iconic architect, who designed lauded landmarks like Coit Tower and San Francisco City Hall. We're pretty positive he just did those in his spare time, though, because this resplendent residence tends to upstage everything else. THE SCOOP The enduring style of this East Bay abode is as effortless as its logistics. The seemingly endless space inside mirrors the plentiful parking, lush landscapes, and grand gardens populating the property. You've got ample acreage (.66) for any array of projects, so bring trucks and teams, equipment and dreams!
FOOD AND DRINK Host works exclusively with [email protected] email them for options. ADDITIONAL TRASH FEE A cleaning fee is included in all rentals. An additional fee may apply for excessive trash removal at Host's discretion. Guests are encouraged to take all trash upon end of booking to avoid this fee. LOAD-IN TO LOAD-OUT Please coordinate with the host for any and all drop offs and pickups THE DAY OF the booking. An additional fee per day may apply for any load-in and load-out outside of date of the booking. RESTRICTIONS: *No nails, screws, staples, tape or gummed backed materials may be used to attach or affix anything to the furniture, walls, or building. *No glitter or confetti of any kind is allowed on site. *No sparklers, Roman candles, or fire producing gags or effects. *No face painting, hand paints, stains, or other similar activity allowed. INSURANCE: Additional Event Insurance is required and may be obtained through Eventhelper.com. Please list the host as additional insured. SETUP AND CLEANUP TIMES Set-up and clean-up time should be included as part of your total rental time. Please consider your setup and teardown needs for the evening and factor time into your booking accordingly. Per Peerspace terms, overtime charge at 1.5x NO SMOKING
All ages
Guests may cancel their Booking until 7 days before the event start time and will receive a full refund (including all Fees) of their Booking Price. Guests may cancel their Booking between 7 days and 24 hours before the event start time and receive a 50% refund (excluding Fees) of their Booking Price. Booking cancellations submitted less than 24 hours before the Event start time are not refundable. Learn more


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Cheapside Hoard Reproduction
Last year we launched our new Vintage Reproduction webpage, and ever since we have been inundated with your requests to create vintage and antique inspired jewellery.
One of these requests was from Simon Collins of Gvild (contemporary furniture makers), a client who wanted to combine our CAD and 3D printing skills with his artistic flare and creative ideas to make a reproduction of a ring that was found in the famous Cheapside Hoard.
This hoard was a huge collection of jewellery and precious gem stones dating back to Elizabethan and Jacobean periods. It was unearthed in the 1900's by a group of labourers excavating a cellar near St Paul's Cathedral. Amongst this collection was a particular diamond ring which was delicately hand painted with beautiful white and black enamel. The diamond is table cut, meaning the top had been cut so it was flat causing it to have a bit more sparkle in comparison to its predecessors, a particularly progressive way of cutting diamonds at the time, this gives you a bit of an insight into how diamond cutting has progressed to the round brilliant cuts we know today.
Simon Collins took inspiration from this intricate ring and wanted to recreate it for his partner as her engagement ring.
Working closely together, and with information from the Museum of London, we created CAD images and resin models of the body of the ring, allowing him to practice his enamelling skills to recreate those flower motifs.
After a lot of tests and experimentation, the final ring could go ahead and be made.
And here is the finished product, a beautiful enamelled diamond ring drawing inspiration from the past.


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Manaea sharp, Davis homers as A's top Angels 3-1
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Sean Manaea pitched six-plus innings of shutout ball and Khris Davis homered as the Oakland Athletics snapped a season-high eight-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.
The Angels, locked in a tight wild card race, were trying for their seventh series sweep and second against the A's this year. Los Angeles is among five teams competing for two wild card berths who going into Wednesday were separated by four games.
Manaea (10-9) struck out six and allowed five hits and three walks.
A's manager Bob Melvin summoned reliever Ryan Dull after Manaea gave up a hit and a walk to start the seventh inning. Dull stranded both runners, retiring the next three batters in order.
Davis hit an opposite field shot to right off Angels starter Tyler Skaggs (1-5) leading off the bottom of the fourth. His 39th home run broke a scoreless tie.
Skaggs struck out nine and gave up three runs (two earned), five hits and a walk.
Oakland opened a 3-0 lead in the fifth when Chad Pinder singled in Marcus Semien and scored when Angels left fielder Justin Upton dropped a fly ball by Davis - he appeared to lose it in the sun. Semien's one-out double started the rally.
Kole Calhoun tripled in the Angels' only run in the top of the eighth off A's reliever Sam Moll.
The Angels stranded nine baserunners and were 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position.
Chris Hatcher pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fifth career save and first this season.
Home plate umpire Mike Everitt ejected A's third baseman Matt Chapman in the bottom of the fourth inning. The ejection immediately followed an exchange between Chapman and Angels catcher Juan Graterol.
Mike Trout walked twice, extending his streak of consecutive games in which he's drawn a walk to a career-high 14.
Angels: DH/1B Albert Pujols returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday for treatment for a knee injury he suffered sliding into second in last weekend's Texas Rangers series, manager Mike Scioscia said. Pujols is expected to rejoin the team on Friday for a weekend series against the Seattle Mariners. . RHP Clayton Richards, who pitched on Tuesday for the first time since going on the DL on April 6 (biceps strain) will make his next start Tuesday on six days' rest, Scioscia said, noting the move was precautionary. . 3B Yunel Escobar (right oblique strain) did swinging drills and is ramping up baseball activities in anticipation of September activation from the DL. The window for a rehab assignment is narrowing with the Rookie-level Orem Owlz the Angels only minor league team still in the postseason, Scioscia said. . RHP Bud Norris was activated from the DL (right knee inflammation).
Angels: After Thursday's day off RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.08 ERA) will pitch Friday's series opener against Seattle. He is 2-4 with a 4.36 ERA in nine career starts against Seattle (1-0 with a 4.01 ERA) in four starts this year. The Angels have won five of his last seven starts.
Athletics: After Thursday's day off RHP Jharel Cotton (7-10, 5.33) will pitch Friday's series opener against the Houston Astros. Cotton is 2-2 with a 6.27 ERA in seven starts since coming off the DL (right thumb blister). He is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in three career starts against Houston.
More AP baseball coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball


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Join us in investing in the arts in Missoula. Your tax deductible donation to Arts Missoula is an investment in our community.Learn More
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