text: Kofi Annan, the Arab-UN envoy entrusted with finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Syria, has cautioned against military intervention in the country, saying it risks making the conflict worse. Speaking at the Arab League in Cairo on Thursday, the former UN secretary-general said the solution to the worsening conflict "lies in political settlement" and must be "Syrian-led and Syrian-owned". He said military intervention had made matters worse in other regional conflicts, though he did not mention any by name. "I hope no one is thinking seriously of using force in this situation," Annan said. "As I move to Syria, we will do whatever we can to urge and press for a cessation of hostilities and end to the killing and violence." Annan was set to arrive in Damascus and begin negotiations with Bashar al-Assad's government on Sunday. Al Jazeera's Rawya Rageh, reporting from Cairo, said clear divisions remained among Arab League countries, some of whom support armed intervention. "Some have a hawkish stand, Saudi Arabia or perhaps even Qatar, when it comes to arming the Syrian opposition," she said. "If you arm the opposition ... you exacerbate the possibility of an all-out civil war and the biggest risk, of turning Syria into a proxy battlefield for wars in the region." The SNC's Radwaan Ziadeh discusses diplomatic efforts The UN estimates that at least 7,500 people have died since protests first broke out a year ago. The government responded brutally, enlisting paramilitary militias to attack demonstrators and assaulting opposition neighbourhoods with tanks and artillery. Civilians took up arms and joined with defected soldiers to form opposition units that are now engaged in guerrilla warfare with the government. Valerie Amos, the UN humanitarian chief, said she was "struck" by the devastation she saw during a visit to the shattered city of Homs on Wednesday. Amos was allowed access to the former opposition stronghold of Baba Amr after the Free Syrian Army, a rebel group, withdrew in the face of a nearly month-long artillery barrage and a major government ground assault. Amos said in Damascus on Thursday that Baba Amr is "completely destroyed" and that most of its residents were gone. She was the first independent observer allowed into the neighbourhood since government forces entered on March 1. The army prevented aid convoys associated with the International Committee of the Red Cross from entering for more than three days. "The devastation there is significant, that part of Homs is completely destroyed and I am concerned to know what has happened to the people who live in that part of the city," Amos said. John Ging, an official in the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Assistance, said the UN was preparing a plan to deliver food to 1.5 million people as part of a three-month plan worth $105 million. SOURCE: Al Jazeera and agencies Politics Middle East Qatar Saudi Arabia Syria's Civil War


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Capital: AshgabatPresident: Gurbanguly BerdimuhamedowCurrency: Turkmenistan manatOfficial language: Turkmen Language
ECO Cultural Institute (ECI) is affiliated with ECO and aims at fostering understanding and the preservation of the rich cultural heritage of its members through common projects in the field of the media, literature, art, philosophy, sport and education.
No. 10, Naz Alley, Movahed-Danesh St.
Tehran - Iran
Tel: 0098-21-2767 3000
Fax: 0098-21-2612 4996Fax: 0098-21-2767 3456
Email: info [at] ecieco.orgregistry [at] ecieco.org
Email Address:
Full Name:

subset: commoncrawl


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Creative Commissions
You can work together with me to create your own unique collection of handmade pottery. You will be involved in every step of the artistic process.
I welcome commissions for a set of ten or more pieces using my chosen materials and palette below. (If you are looking for one or two bespoke pieces then I recommend that you pop into the Studio to see my display of one-off pieces)
Your Creative Commission will include:
- Creative consultation meeting at my studio
- Your own personalised crest made into a potter's stamp which will feature on each piece alongside my own personal markers mark
- A sample piece posted to you for approval before I start production
- An artist's book of the whole process, including, notes, weights, measurements and drawings
- Step by Step pictures and videos of the process as it happens
If you would like to commission your unique collection of handmade British pottery, take the following steps:
- Choose which pieces you would like from our Shop (e.g bowls, mugs or plates etc.)
- Choose the style of decoration from 'Our Range'
- Choose three to four colours from the Colour Palette
- Get in touch with me using my Contact Form
From here, I will do the following:
I will get back to you via email with some further questions including when you would like to meet or chat about the project.
I will then send you a 'ball park' quote before the consultation and a definite price thereafter.
During your creative consultation, I will work out the finer details, discuss what is important to you and work out a time frame.
This is definitely for you if:
- You want to own something nobody else has
- You appreciate British artisan crafts – and the people who make them
- Want to dine from durable and functional pottery
If you need a quick solution, want uniformity, perfection and full control of the outcome then this is not for you and perhaps visiting the Studio for our smaller range of one-off pieces would suit you better. I am an artist through and through and I pride myself in working loosely and with expression.
I will need to receive a 50% deposit before the sample is made and the remainder before product begins. Once the sample is signed off then the 50% deposit is none refundable. If the order is cancelled before the sign off then we will refund 40% of the deposit to allow for our costs thus far.
See our Ranges
Colour Palette
Please see note that our regular Terms apply.


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The Telegraph reports that parents of summer born children will be given the option of delaying when their children join reception, Nick Gibb the schools minister has said.
The Government intends to change the admissions code so that children born between April 1 and August 31 are able to start school a year later with the option of joining either a reception or a Year One class.
His comment came after the results of an international literacy test published on Tuesday which showed that by the time children are aged nine to ten, September-born children outperform their August-born classmates in literacy and reading.
"I do accept there is a link between the month that your child is born and academic results, particularly in the early years of primary school and that's why we want to give parents that option."
Dr Joshua McGrane, from the University of Oxford, said that the PIRLS test show that England had a "unique" result when it came to how age affects performance.
He said September-born pupils – who are the oldest in the year- score around 36 points higher than their classmates who were born in August, making them the youngest in the year.
"There is an interesting and somewhat unique result for England where there is such a close relationship between the month you are born in, and your age within your grade level," he said.
Read more Parents of summer born children will be allowed to start school aged five, minister says
Do you see evidence of this in your classroom? Please tell us your thoughts in comments or via Twitter ~ Tamsin
Are you a trainee teacher, NQT, teacher, headteacher, parent or just someone who cares about education and has something to get off your chest in a Schools Improvement Guest Post? Follow this link for more details at the bottom of the page.Don't forget you can sign up to receive our daily email bulletin (around 7am) with all the latest schools news stories. Your details will never be given to anyone else and you can unsubscribe at any stage. Just follow this link.
We now have a Facebook page - please click to like!


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For Immediate Release — May 18, 2018 | Europe
ALEXANDRIA, VA — May 18, 2018 — Vicenza Middle School science teacher Anna Sansone has been selected as the 2019 Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Teacher of the Year.
DoDEA Director, Mr. Thomas M. Brady spoke to her teaching style and educational philosophy.
"Ms. Sansone brings a persistent and relentless belief in student achievement and success, and she pursues engaging learning activities that bring the community into the classroom and the classroom to the community," said Brady.
Ms. Sansone is a 7th grade science teacher at Vicenza Middle School in Vicenza, Italy. Ms. Sansone has twelve years teaching experience, eight of which have been with DoDEA. Prior to her present work in Vicenza, she also taught science and social studies and served as an Educational Technologist at EJ King High School in Sasebo, Japan and taught math and science at the Incirlik Unit School in Incirlik, Turkey.
An undergraduate Environmental Science and Policy major at Clark University, Ms. Sansone has a Master of Arts from National Louis University in Secondary Science Teaching, and Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from Walden University. She is currently working toward a PhD. Certified in science, math, social studies, Spanish, and as an Educational Technologist, she focuses on developing STEM literacy in diverse learning contexts. Her goal is to help students develop an identity as scientists and historians in her classroom through collaborative learning, real-world applications, and inquiry-based instruction.
The DoDEA Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors exemplary Pre-K through high school teachers. The process begins at the nomination level where teachers may be nominated by peers, administrators, parents, students or community members. Each District Teacher of the Year is selected by a district panel using specified criteria to review District teacher of the Year applications. Eight teachers were named District Teacher of the Year for 2019. Each District Teacher of the Year is invited to apply for the DoDEA Teacher of the Year.
Along with public recognition and the award, Ms. Sansone will gain entry into the National Teacher of the Year application pool and will be recognized by the President at a future event at The White House. Ms. Sansone will also attend the National Teacher of the Year Conference and participate in the Council of Chief of State School Officers (CCSSO)-sponsored Teacher of the Year events.
The year of service for the 2019 Teacher of the Year will begin on January 1, 2019 and run through December 2019. The selection is made months before the term begins to allow the DoDEA candidate and other candidates from the 50 states time to participate in the National Teacher of the Year program which selects a finalist in December. The current (2018) DoDEA Teacher of the Year's term runs through the end of December 2018.
A complete listing of this year's recipients is listed on the next page. Additional information about DoDEA's Teacher of the Year Program, including point of contact, may be found on our web site.
DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to Local Educational Activities throughout the U.S. that serve children of military families.
(Listed alphabetically by last name)
|2018-2019 TOYs
|Courtney Conover-Woodworth
|Pacific East
|Yokota West ES
|Special Education
|Colleen English
|Europe West
|Spangdahlem ES
|5th Grade
|Emily Hatch
|Pacific West
|Daegu ES
|Stephanie Marley
|Americas Southeast
|Wilson ES
|3rd Grade
|Theresa Martin
|Americas Mid-Atlantic
|Quantico M/HS
|Social Studies
|Megan Reyes
|Pacific South
|Kadena MS
|Social Studies
|Anna Sansone
|Europe South
|Vicenza MS
|Roswitha Timbrell
|Europe East
|Wiesbaden HS


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Jamling Tenzing Norgay is the son of famed mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, who climbed Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary. Jamling is also the star of the IMAX film Everest, and lives in Nepal. Broughton Coburn is the author of the National Geographic Society book Everest: Mountain Without Mercy. Coburn has lived in Nepal for 25 years and has a deep knowledge of Himalayan culture and Tibetan Buddhism.
A gripping and inspirational piece of mountaineering literature, shortlisted for the Boardman Tasker awardBuy now


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text: Is one of your New Year's resolutions to save money on your utility bills, create a smaller carbon foot print, and reduce wear and tear on the national electrical grid? Then join Chris Hawkins, Building Performance Institute dual-certified residential energy auditor. He will share his knowledge and experience from working as an energy auditor in the DMV. Chris will highlight a multitude of energy efficiency and environmental concerns in your home. Topics will range from air leaks allowing unwanted air to enter the home where/when it should not and other factors that impact your home's air quality. Chris will also provide you tips to deal with these issues and help you save money on your utility bills as well. Do not miss this wonderful opportunity to take simple and inexpensive steps to create a greener and healthier home.


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- A 37 year old male gamer
- United States
- Joined on September 2nd 2011, last online on 27 April 2017.
- Profile Views: 12,110
- Forum posts: 1,145 times which averages 0 posts per day
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Nice sig...
Make sure to vote for the final top 10 games of the Generation. Last time we will be doing it for this generation.
This list only shows a selection of games from this user's favourite games.
flagstaad said: killerzX said: vgchartz member's fail rate is like 3.5% Thanks for the data, are we keep track of it? 0.4% is too low, but 3% looks a little above average. http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=172356&page=2#92 Euphoria14 said: MORNING UPDATE : (59) VGC members with a PS4 and (2) casualties. VGC members PS4...
flagstaad said: BenVTrigger said: Imaginedvl said:Sorry to hear that you are part of the "supposed" 0.4% :( Its certainly higher than .4% we are starting to see the returns If you have guesstimate, do you think is 1%? 2%? higher? vgchartz member's fail rate is like 3.5%...
WrathofTank said:I have one you have 2. i also got one on launch day....
University: Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies
Height: 5'11


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Next week Discoperi team is heading to San Francisco to participate in TechCrunch Disrupt 2018. We are extremely excited and can't wait to present System 'Eye' device for the very first time and show how it works to the tech community.
Our Location: Mobility powered by Here Technologies, Booth C105
Traveling across the world for the last two years and pitching Discoperi and System 'Eye', we have learned some valuable lessons and we are glad to share them with our colleagues today.
1. Contact journalists and investors
Once you've decided you are coming to TechCrunch Disrupt start your intense ground game immediately and go to everybody you can reach to share that you'll be at the event. Tell them who you are, what you're showing and why it's unique. Make your calendar full of meetings with journalists, investors, and experts who could become your advisors. Disrupt is your best chance to have a real talk with the tech leaders.
2. Make eye contact
One of the most common mistakes almost everyone makes is standing with your back to the aisle. No one will see you and the worst thing — you will see no one. Remember how disparately you wanted to pitch your startup story to WSJ editor or Business Insider reporter. Now imagine, that most probably they will be at Disrupt and you can actually talk to them and introduce yourself and your company. This is the best way to reach out to journalists and get them interested in your project.
Another great opportunity is to find your next investor. Make eye contact with everybody who comes along and if you see their eyes are intrigued come up to talk with them and invite them to your stand. Be ready to make a conversation either they look interested or bored, prepare to answer questions, make sure you learned your pitch backward and forward.
3. Stand out from the crowd
Disrupt is very noisy. Last year, TechCrunch gathered over 5,000 attendees. Probably, your stand will be next to lots of other prominent startups. If you want to be heard and noticed, you have to rise above the crowd with fewer words, not more.
Putting your startup's idea or solution in one succinct sentence will show prospective investors the essence of the business and possible opportunities.
4. Make a perfect pitch
We already know that time is everything and you have to put the most distinguishable features of the product in front of your words. As mentioned above, you should know your pitch from A to Z. But what really makes it work for you?
A pitch should always include three major pieces:
- Who you are and what you do (7–10 seconds)
- What differentiates you, your innovation (10–15 sec)
- What is your story, your team or how you implement/monetize, use cases
The audience at Disrupt is interested in working with innovations, funding and acquiring it.
Prove that your solution is revolutionary, has no direct competitors or will outstand with undeniable advantages.


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Hi, I'm Laura.
I have been painting faces since 2011.
It started out with the need for a costume and suddenly I had a full kit of colours. Woops, how did that happen?
I taught myself how to paint by looking at pictures, talking with other Facepainters and experimenting.
Painting is how I share my passion with others.
I grew up in Australia in the Dandenong Ranges.
In 2015 I moved to Berlin, taking full advantage of the European Bodypainting events.
There is a lot of planning and practice to get quick and percise with each design. As a face painter you need to be spontanious and learn to go with the flow. You learn how to paint moving faces as perfectly as the still ones. Occasionally waking up children that fall asleep in your hands - who would have thought that getting your face painted is unbeliveably relaxing.
Over the years I have entered many Body painting competitions around Europe, the highlight being
These competitions have been to challenge myself and I have learnt many valuable skills along the way, not only about painting.
There is a huge amount of preparation, not to mention the concentration and pressure on the day to complete the design in only a few hours - it is an incredible challenge.
11. # World Award
- Brush and Sponge - 2018
6. # Munich Bodypaint Trophy
- Open Category - 2017
7. # World Amature Award
- open Category- 2017
10. # French Award
- Open Category - 2017
10 # Leipzig Bodypaint Trophy
- Open Category - 2017
1. # Euro Award
- Face painting - 2016
2. # French Award
- Brush and Sponge - 2016
5. # World Amature Award
- Brush and Sponge - 2016
27. # World Amature Award
- Brush and Sponge - 2015


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Our Volunteer Champions lead all of our Give Volunteering a Go opportunities. Afterwards, they write about their experiences. Why not read the reports and find out which opportunities you would like to try?
The Breakfast Challenge event at Whitechapel Mission is always a pleasure to be part of, and our visit on the 18th November was no different. The enthusiasm the staff has for the mission allowed our volunteers to have an extremely fun and energising morning, that many of the members of the group noted. It was an extremely busy day for the Mission, due to the wet weather and consistent demand of their assistance. Our volunteers took on many responsibilities and tasks that ranged from cooking all food fit for a perfect English breakfast, serving tea and coffee to the clients all morning, charging any of their phones and finally cleaning the kitchen to a spotless standard and having fun, enlightening conversations with the guests.
Once again, a huge thank you to everybody who took part in this Give Volunteering a Go opportunity, your dedication and hard work is vital for the Mission and is very inspiring to see, especially with that challenging 5:15am start! - Ariane


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Art's Birthday Online Performance
Art's Birthday Online Performance: NAISA will present a live re-mix of NAISA's January 15th activities plus recordings of other Art's Birthday broadcasts from around the world. Also, included are Art's Birthday gifts by artists uploaded to Kunstradio. To send your own birthday gift for Art upload pictures, video or sound here.


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Research Hydrology Chair
The main research activities of the Chair of Hydrology are related to Surface Water Hydrology and Geohydrology, within a civil engineering context.
The following are the main fields of interest:
- River Basin Hydrology. The focus is on understanding, describing and modelling of rainfall-runoff processes in terms of runoff production and runoff routing in river basins. The research programme concentrates on the impact of land use and related underlying systems of reticulation. The challenge is to understand the role of different processes in generating runoff and to describe the components of the rainfall-runoff relation based on physical laws. The chair tries to develop innovative modelling tools that reflect the dominant processes in a catchment without introducing unnecessary complexity, and which can be used both as a learning tool for understanding how the catchment functions and as an instrument to predict catchment behaviour under changing circumstances.
- Hydrology and water management in rural areas. On a local and regional scale in rural areas research in hydrology is focused on understanding, describing and modelling the water system as a whole, in relation to local meteorological conditions, soil conditions and land use. Both quantity (discharges, surface and groundwater levels) and quality (contamination, protection of surface and groundwater) are research items in the water system approach to maintain and improve economy of agricultures, environmental quality of soil and water, and hydro-ecological aspects in a sustainable way.
- Hydrology of deltas. In hydrological terms, the Netherlands is a delta characterized by a flat topography, shallow aquifers, and low elevation, which is flood prone and sensitive to water logging, pollution and salt water intrusion. At the same time the delta is densely populated and a node of economic activities. The hydrological questions related to water (quality) management, drainage, flood protection, salt intrusion, land subsidence and hydro-ecology are important subjects of research.
- Hydrology of Groundwater Systems. Groundwater in relation to different functions and users of groundwater; groundwater model development; groundwater-surface water interaction; groundwater-nature interaction; groundwater as a source for drinking water; salt water intrusion in coastal areas; protection of groundwater resources; recharge of groundwater; and the influence of subsurface flow on hill slope stability.


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All Families Belong Together: Immigration and Incarceration | Link TV
All Families Belong Together: Immigration and Incarceration
This week, the Laura Flanders Show discusses how families are torn apart at the border and through our prison system. Can we use this moment of public awareness to create change? Emani Davis, a long-standing advocate for children of incarcerated parents, and Color Of Change's Rashad Robinson are this week's guests.
Also, this episode features a short film on the cash bail system by Molly Crabapple and John Legend.
Full Episodes
Laura Flanders Show
Laura Flanders Show
Tech: Existential Threat or Life Support?
How can we harness the transformation of the information revolution for good?
Laura Flanders Show
Laura Flanders Show
Commoning Our Cities: Mary Miss, Silvia Federici, Peter Linebaugh
Who gets a say in designing where they live and what if more of us did?
Laura Flanders Show
Laura Flanders Show
Amazon Pulls Out When NYC Organizers Say #NOHQ2
Laura Flanders Show
Laura Flanders Show
The Next Economy: Worker-Led, for Public Interest
It has been 10 years since the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the financial crash and people are building economic alternatives to climate devastation and capitalist extraction.
Laura Flanders Show
Laura Flanders Show
Special Report: Ableism Out, Independent Living Now!
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Laura Flanders Show
Days of wonder, days of rage. We're living through an information revolution as profound as any since Gutenberg and the printing press, but are we the people, the so-called "users", using the technology or is the technology using us and for what ends? How can we harness this particular transformation for good? That's the question, and we have some answers from Data & Society fellow Chancey Fleet, Team Human's Douglas Rushkoff, and technologist, educator, and organizer Nabil Hassein.
Listening to Our Better Angels
Trump's Wall and the End of the American Frontier
Sex, Pleasure, and Liberation: Desire in A World Transformed
Popular Videos
In this new season, "Earth Focus" examines the politics of the environment, including youth climate activists around the globe, the transition away from coal in South Africa, curbing illegal, poisonous gold mining in Peru, and a feature-length documentaryKCET Original
Claudia is feeding the police information about Christensen, but fails to give them any concrete evidence.KCET Original
Mads waits nervously in the hospital not realizing there is also trouble at home.KCET Original
In this gorgeously animated drama, the stories of several women reveal the hypocrisies of modern Iranian society, where sex, drugs, and corruption coexist with strict religious law.KCET Original
On today's episode, a grim forecast from the World Health Organization, but some hope from America's leading expert.KCET Original
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Five old friends decide to move in together as an alternate to living in a retirement home; joining them is an ethnology student whose thesis is on the aging population.
Nicky's assignment from Christiansen, to kidnap the granddaughter of his ex-colleague, proves troublesome.
Helena and her team must pull off an impossible run of five wins in a row to save the club from relegation and financial ruin.


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For Enterprise
Voice AI for Brands
Voice AI for Influencers
Voice AI for Alert Systems
For Individuals
Human Voicebank
Vocal Legacy
Bespoke Voice
About VocaliD
The Ethics & Opportunities of Voice AI
In the past few decades, we have seen an explosion of voice interfaces. There are 500M speaking devices today and by 2021 they outnumber us. We are using voice to access financial accounts, health records, and other personal information. All of this is exists today because of a wild idea, a moonshot. Voice is changing, evolving, exploding and the opportunities and risks are limitless. Before we share our founder Rupal Patel's vision for the Voice AI Moonshot, let's have a look at the future of Voice AI.
Voice AI Today
Despite the sheer number of voice interfaces we have access to today, we are still treating voice as functional modality today → a way to transmit information. Even today's spherical hardware devices that we refer to as conversational agents are merely for timely and topical information exchange.
One monolithic voice – a butler of facts.
How can we move past this and harness the true power of Voice AI?
"Our Voice AI Moonshot is a world where voice benefits all, not just some."
Opportunities and Ethics of the Voice AI Future
future of voice AI
lies in tapping into the intrinsic, human characteristics of
voice as a social connector
There is an evolutionary reason that we each have a unique voice. Our voice defines us – our age, size, cultural background, habits, sexual orientation, socioeconomic level and more. Specifically, voice is biometric data that can be used to predict and monitor physical and mental health, while also offering a window into cognition and learning readiness. This is the untapped power of voice.
future of voice AI is about connection
. To create contextually adapting voices that can calm or inspire with the flip of a bit.
future of voice AI is about TRUST
. To create relatable, compassionate voices that can engage a toddler and the aging lonely. It is important to note that these voices would not substitute for human contact, they would be an augmentation.
future of voice AI is
one voice for all
. It will be a multitude of vocal persona that capture the full range of human expression. Brands will design vocal persona that speak to their diverse audience, not just a few users. As individuals, will each have our own vocal avatars.
As we harness and emulate this awesome and powerful human trait, we must anticipate the unintended consequences. We must proactively identify and protect against the potential for nefarious use. Voice is identity that cannot be swapped like passwords PINs, it must be secured from the start.
The Voice AI Moonshot
For this reason, as technologists, it is important that we take seriously our role in the creations of new technologies. While our technology provides great social benefit, In every new advance in our technology we are
proactively creating measures
to ensure that it can not be misused. We are committed to being active in the shaping and realization of the Voice AI future and the Voice AI Moonshot.
To our founder,
Rupal Patel
, the Voice AI Moonshot is a universe of voices that are convincing without being deceptive. The Voice AI future she envisions is one in which voices connect us rather than divide us, and where these voices will celebrate our diverse yet common humanity. Finally, our Voice AI Moonshot is a world where voice benefits all, not just some.
To learn more about Rupal Patel and VocaliD, please read our
company page
Spread the word


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Recent Posts
- Starting to rethink education. June 10, 2020
- Knowledge and education for the future. May 25, 2020
- England's unexpected exam revolution. May 5, 2020
- Tsitsi Dangarembga's 'Nervous Conditions'. May 3, 2020
- Rebecca Solnit on Hope. April 23, 2020
- In praise of lightness – Calvino's Leggerezza. March 29, 2020
- An A-Z for a world which has to change. March 22, 2020
- Decarbonising education. March 15, 2020
- The mighty pencil November 2, 2019
- Knowledge-rich and skills-rich August 18, 2019
- 'Unsheltered' by Barbara Kingsolver August 11, 2019
- 'The Overstory' by Richard Powers. March 10, 2019
- Familiale (Jacques Prévert) March 10, 2019
- Fred Jarvis and 'what the future holds'. January 20, 2019
- The promise of a National Education Service January 13, 2019
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Tag Archives: Hannah Uzor
Meeting the widening participation challenge
My contribution to the Westminster Higher Education Forum seminar on 1st July 2014. Thank you very much for inviting me and I'm going to keep it short. I think my take home message is probably the same as Les Ebdon's … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Education policy, NewVIc Tagged Aim Higher, aspiration, Cambridge university, Colleges, Colleges and Universities, competition, Hannah Uzor, Les Ebdon, Newham Sixth Form College, Peter Claus, Queen Mary University of London, Russell group, Samina Khan, Universities, University and college union (UCU), university progression, widening participation Leave a comment


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Teen Read Week is officially October 16th through 22nd, but here at The Hub, we're celebrating all month long with 31 Days of Authors. On each day in October, we'll bring you author interviews and profiles and reflections on what YALSA-recognized books have meant to us.
Nick Podehl is the hilarious, talented and award-winning audiobook narrator of The Knife of Never Letting Go, Will Grayson, Will Grayson, Carter Finally Gets It, Swim the Fly and more. After seeing him at the 2011 Odyssey Award Reception in June, I knew this was someone The Hub readers needed to know better.
I have heard some interesting rumors about how you got involved in narrating for Brilliance Audio. But can you set the record straight and tell us how you started your illustrious career? Was it something you aspired to? Something that happened on accident?
For the record, I can wholly thank my mother and my grandparents for getting me involved in audio book recording. They have been listening to audio books since they were on cassette tapes! I thought it was crazy to even try. How could I get into this kind of business? But they kept on telling me I could do it. I was in a dead-end job, just getting ready to graduate from college and really wasn't sure I could make a living as an actor, so I finally decided to make a demo using my mother's computer, and sent it into Brilliance Audio. I lived near their studio and figured, "what have I got to lose?†I was amazed and giddy when they called me back and said they wanted me to come in for an audition for a Mercedes Lackey book. I got the job and they have been calling me for the last three years. With the support of my family and my loving wife, I have been living this dream.
Can you give us some insight into the world of a narrator? What does a typical day look like for you?
The work begins the moment I get the script in my hands. I begin by reading the script in detail, figuring out character voices, moods, tones and the like, getting a list of words or names I need to find meanings for, and looking up dialects, accents, and other details that bring the story to life. I work closely with my directors in this capacity and they do far more of the legwork that makes an audio book the production that it is. When it comes to recording, the director, engineer, and myself all get together in the studio and begin bringing the story to life as we lay it down in its digital format. Depending on how long the book is, we might spend an afternoon in the studio or up to three weeks, eight hours a day for one of the longest books I have worked on.
I love all the voices you have created for your characters, after listening to Will Grayson, Will Grayson [a book that appears on the 2011 Odyssey, Amazing Audiobooks, and Best Fiction for Young Adults lists), I couldn't believe it was the same person reading The Knife of Never Letting Go [which appears on the 2011 Amazing Audiobooks, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, Odyssey and 2009 Best Books for Young Adults lists]. How do you create the voices for your characters? Who has been your favorite character to narrate?
The characters for the books I work on come from a combination of celebrity voices I know and people in my every day life that I come in contact with. I try to mimic the sounds I hear around me and when I am preparing a script, I will hear the tone of the character or the way they say a certain thing and think "that sounds like this one person I heard in line waiting for coffee…†or something of that nature. I take interesting voices that I hear in my daily life and try to catalog them so that I can some day use them in a book. I get my inspiration from life around me.
My favorite character to narrate so far has to be Manchee the dog from The Knife of Never Letting Go because it was so fun to get into the mind of a dog! I love dogs and have always wondered what they were thinking. Patrick Ness did a wonderful job fleshing that out. My other favorite character would have to be Carter in Carter Finally Gets It. Brent Crawford captured the mind of a fourteen year old boy in a way I have never read before. The timing in that book was just perfect and I really felt like I was reading my own thoughts from when I was fourteen and it just came so naturally to me.
What was the most challenging book you have recorded so far and why?
I would say that The Name of the Wind, and The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss would have to be my two most challenging books to record for the simple fact that they were each more than two weeks of recording. Rothfuss wrote some epic stories, which were amazing tales, but so grand in their scope that it was a test of my abilities. I had to come up with more than one hundred seventy characters for each book! Keeping all those characters straight and making sure they were differentiated enough was a challenge. But thanks to my wonderful director, Colleen Willits, we succeeded.
You have done solo projects, and worked with other narrators. Which do you prefer? Any especially great stories to tell about your fellow narrators? (Come on, there have to be a few good ones about you and MacLeod Andrews.)
Getting schedules to match up can sometimes be a problem, but I really enjoy working with other narrators. More often than not, we will each record our own portions separately, on different days, sometimes in different locations. But MacLeod and I got the unique opportunity to record in the same studio, same day, same time! We traded off sitting in the sound booth and director's chair and got to direct each other for a portion of the book Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He is a most talented actor and hilarious coworker. There was not a moment that went by that those of us not in the sound booth were either on the edge of our seats, or in tears we were laughing so hard. I think my favorite memory of that project was when MacLeod was teaching me the rhythms and tempo to the songs he created based on the lyrics from Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He spent the previous evening recording whispered versions of the songs into his computer in his hotel room at eleven o'clock at night.
What audiobook are you most looking forward to recording?
I enjoy any audiobook that comes my way and I truly look forward to every project that comes across my desk. Doing this kind of work is a dream come true for me. It also happens that my wife is a book fanatic, so she enjoys the work I do as well. We both hope that I get to record another Carter book as well as continuing the Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss.
— Kate Pickett is currently laughing her way through the audiobook of Zombies Vs. Unicorns, which features the voice of Nick Podehl.
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Kate McNair
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Online payday loans are easy loans to get that show a revolution in the financial world. In today's Burgos.id article, we will talk about an easy type of online loan, and which one is the simplest to obtain and how to apply for the loan.
Need help paying off bills? We offer easy payday cash loans to everyone
A few years ago, we didn't think of a loan from your own home without leaving your place right now. Normally, we have to go to the bank when we want to apply for a loan. Collect the required documents, wait in line, answer lots of questions, and wait a few days to receive the funds you submit. In addition, since the banking crisis, banks no longer offered loans as easily as they had offered before.
However, times have changed. At present, funding options have increased with the emergence of online financial institutions (such as Burgos) which allows all procedures to access funding to be made via the internet in minutes. Even without leaving the house. Without having to answer questions and without collecting documents. Online payday cash loans published on www.paydaynow.net are the easiest loans to obtain, both in terms of convenience and requirements, because these loans are given based on trust in the client.
Benefits of Easy Loans
Undoubtedly, easy loans are the best financial product for cases that are urgent to the point of urgency. A financial product that does not involve your long-term economic conditions. In addition to the convenience offered, easy loans have more advantages than other financial products, including:
- Speed: both when applying for a loan (the application process takes less than three minutes) and when fulfilling the submission procedure, until the loan agreement is very easy. Given that it usually only takes about 15 minutes in total to approve a loan and send funds to the loan bank account.
- Full availability: available to you at any time of the day, even on holidays.
- Data security: Burgos Indonesia guarantees client security, encrypts all data securely.
- Fair and transparent financial products for clients: the low complexity of this easy loan makes it easier to understand and more transparent. In addition, the loan terms are fairer than those usually offered by banks. You will only pay fairly and transparently.
- More facilities with fewer requirements: In online entities such as Burgos, it may be for people who do not have jobs, who cannot find guarantors, or who are included in the list of debtors, to get the same funding opportunities as everyone.
The Best Easy Loan with Burgos
At Burgos.id you will find the best fast and easy online loans. Why the best? Because we are the entity that manages the best online personal loans and what we do is manage your loan application and find the best loan that suits your needs. That is, we save on the search process and so you get a loan that saves you money, choose the cheapest loan with a better loan interest for you. At Burgos.id you will find the cheapest easy loans, which are given faster with fewer obstacles to getting loan approval.
What do you need to do to access the loan?
As mentioned earlier, Burgos manages several online loan provider entities, so the requirements can differ depending on the entity that offers it. However, most of these entities only require the following three basic requirements to access easy loans online :
- Age of legal competency at the time of signing the contract.
- Have a bank account.
- Have stable income sources (pension funds, scholarships, rental income)
No wonder Burgos.id receives more than 98% of loan applications. A unique role among online financial institutions that offer fast and easy loan types. Do you need an online loan now? Visit Burgos.id and get it in less than 15 minutes! And if you need more information, contact us. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the week.


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Your Support Impacts Generations
tags: True Care Casper WY, pro-life, donors, pro-life donors, pro-life supporters, pregnancy center supporters
True Care impacts women, their children, men, families, and others. We have that impact because of YOU! Your support allows True Care to exist and serve pregnant women at risk for abortion. Read some patient stories and how your support of True Care impacts women and future generations.
Our Work in 2020
tags: True Care Casper WY, donors, pro-life, non-profit fundraising, pregnancy center friends
As we approach the close of the first quarter in 2020, we reflect upon the work God has been doing in this new decade and where we plan to go
Reflections on 2019
tags: pregnancy centers, True Care Casper WY, donations, impact of pregnancy centers, pro-life, make a difference
We've experienced several amazing stories this year. Our donors and supporters make these positive impacts possible. Read about two of 2019 patients and how together we can continue making a difference in the lives of women and their unborn in 2020.
Make a Difference for Life on #GivingTuesday2019!
tags: #GivingTuesday2019, pro-life, True Care Casper WY, donors
Donors and supporters are necessary to keep our doors open and to reach these women and save the lives of their unborn babies. As we approach #GivingTuesday2019, we ask you to help us help the women of our community. Help us reach them, help us teach them. This special international day of giving takes place Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. We want to be the first stop for women like Sandra, who recently came to True Care undecided as to the outcome of her pregnancy. Read her story on this blog.
Standing on God's Promises
tags: True Care Casper WY, non-profit mission, donations, pro-life, pregnancy center support
Each day True Care staff and volunteers gather for prayer before opening our doors to patients. We pray for the women who have appointments; we pray for each other; and we pray for our supporters. We thank God daily for those who stand beside us, and we thank Him for his presence in our ministry. We thank Him for all the promises He gives. Pro-life work isn't easy. Yet, even in darkness the light shines, through our abortion recovery program and even simply in the love and compassion bestowed on our patients. Many, even those who go through with an abortion, return for another pregnancy because of the love of Christ lavished upon them. As we enter the last quarter of the year, we continue standing on God's promises.
Choosing to Share the American Dream
tags: pregnancy, abortion, True Care Casper WY, events
Earlier this month, True Care hosted a large fundraising event, our annual Walk for Life. The endeavor brings together supporters from across the community, making a public stand to save unborn lives and empower the mothers who carry those babies. In April, Grace Reformed Church at City Park hosted a fundraising event for True Care called Hymn Sing for Life. Once again, people from around the community came out to support the important work we do. Both fundraising endeavors involved young people, and we are thankful for the youth and children who choose to stand for life.
This blog post is written by Hannah Tippin, a student attending the University of Wyoming, who participated in the April Hymn Sing. She used this writing as part of a class assignment regarding a service project, and she graciously said yes to having it posted on our blog.
Adopt-A-College-Student: Encouraging Women to Continue Their Pregnancies and Their Education
tags: abortion, going to college while pregnant, college and abortion, empowering women, True Care Casper WY
True Care sees patients who attend institutions of higher education and plan to abort their pregnancies because of school. Finances play into that as well. Whether it is the fear of losing a scholarship or concerns about pursuing an education while pregnant, some women believe they have to choose one or the other: school or baby. However, that isn't true, and at True Care, we strive to help young women understand that.
True Care - More Than a Pregnancy Test
tags: unplanned pregnancy, True Care Casper WY, hope, pro-life
True Care is more than a free pregnancy test. In addition to the medical services we offer, including ultrasound and limited std testing, our advocates and follow-up specialists engage with our patients, learning their needs and responding as the Holy Spirit prompts them. Read about two recent patients who were helped by medical services and promptings from God which greatly impacted them and their unborn.
Why What We Do Matters
tags: unplanned pregnancy, hope in Christ, pregnancy centers, True Care Casper WY
Hope comes from God, and we at True Care are the instruments He uses to provide that hope. From the medical services and options education to the Gospel presentation and the community resources, True Care offers the hope women experiencing unplanned pregnancies need. Read about a recent patient who found hope at True Care and learn why what we do matters.
Why We Run or Walk for Life
tags: True Care Casper WY, fundraising, Walk for Life, 5k run, pro-life, pregnancy centers
Saturday, June 2, 2018 marks this year's Run/Walk for Life, an annual event that helps sustain True Care. This fundraiser is one of our biggest of the year, bringing in much-needed dollars to continue the ministry. Sponsored runners and walkers are vital to helping us help the women of our community. Meet a few of those women and learn how your participation helps the ladies whom we serve.


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We tried it last week and loved it so we went back to have another full blast of a weekend with the refillable classic mojito nights at TGIFriday's. The taste was stronger this time and I had 6 full glasses. Not bad for someone who's still writing as of this time. LOL!
I've been going out a lot the past couple of weeks – rekindling friendships, strengthening and forging new ones. Despite it being taxing to the body and wallet (at times), I feel a sense of fulfillment being able to do such a thing. I'm also thankful that I'm getting to spend more time with my father and family members. I can get to talk to them about anything no matter how shallow the topics may be. We can even talk about fashion, shoes like ugg boots and the latest showbiz happenings without having to justify why we talk about it. What's important is that I get to connect with them again in ways or means that's easy and fun.
I will opt to have a low-key weekend next week for a change. But I don't really like planning things because they don't usually happen the way I want them to. So who knows? Maybe one of these days, you'll be surprised as to where I spent my unpredictable weekends.
Enjoy the photos!


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How good are the medical centers, hospitals and health clinics in Algarve, and how close are they?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
According to the World Health Organization, Portugal has the 12th best health system in the world. Just to give you a basis of comparison, I believe the US is 38th on the list. In addition, my estimate is that the cost of healthcare in Portugal via the public healthcare system comes at about an 80% discount to the cost of healthcare in the US.
The quality of healthcare in Portugal is very good, both private and government-run. We have in the...
According to the World Health Organization, Portugal has the 12th best health system in the world. Just to give you a basis of comparison, I believe the US is 38th on the list. In addition, my estimate is that the cost of healthcare in Portugal via the public healthcare system comes at about an 80% discount to the cost of healthcare in the US.
The quality of healthcare in Portugal is very good, both private and government-run. We have in the Algarve both a public and a private network. There are two very large hospitals and a few smaller public hospitals. The large hospitals are located in Faro and in Portimão, which are the two largest cities in the Algarve. The private hospitals are located in the towns of Lagos, Portimão (or very close to it in Alvor) Albufeira and in Faro, although there are also health centers located in a number of other locations, including the city of Loulé.
The private healthcare in the Algarve is basically controlled by two major groups: HPA, which is a large hospital group; and the Lusíadas Group, which used to be the old HPP group owned by Portugal's largest public bank called CGD, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, that was privatized. There is then a network of little clinics that are typically privately run and would cover anything from small surgeries, general medicine, perhaps specialties such as ophthalmology, dentistry, and specialist diagnostic exams. So if you need to have a blood test and a CAT scan, you must go to a private clinic.
Everything in the Algarve is located quite close. We often ask people how close they want to be to the coast and they tell us "half an hour." Well, in half hour you can cover literally half of the Algarve. So when describe the medical facilities as being "close," we mean that most medical facilities will be within a driving distance of around 15 minutes for most expats.
In order to qualify for the public healthcare system, you have to have the right to live in Portugal permanently, which is like any universal franchise system. The government wants to make sure that the people who are benefitting from the system are actually paying into it or have paid into it at some point. Other than that, if you are from a member country of the European Union such as the UK or Scandinavia, you will not pay for healthcare, and settlement of payment will be done behind the scenes between your home country and Portugal. Alternatively, if you come from a country such as Canada or the US that is not part of the system, there will be a different mechanism to determine how much access to the universal system you will have and at what cost.
For example, if you are on a visa which is not a permanent visa or you are still in the process of moving to Portugal, there will be an interim period during which you need to use private healthcare because you won't have full access to the public healthcare system. You may need to make some contributions to make sure that there is enough contribution to allow you to reap the full benefits. In some cases, during the transition period, the government may force you to have private insurance because you're not yet, as a non-resident or as a soon-to-be or future resident, eligible for the public health system.
Generally speaking, everyone has access to the government-run, universal system. There is a slight copayment, although the new Socialist government which only came into power recently has already reduced that from €10 to €5 (US $10.60 to $5.30).
Portugal operates its universal healthcare system under the principle of social justice. In other words, if you are an American in health trouble and you need to go to a public hospital, they will not turn you away; they will serve you first and ask financial questions later. As a contrast, I'll give you my personal example. My middle son was born in Miami, when I had a very, very good private insurance. When my wife went into labor we went a hospital, and I showed my insurance card. They said, "Yes, you're covered. Come in. We'll treat you." The hospital was in such good condition, it looked like a hotel. As my wife continued in labor, she needed an epidural. Before they would administer the epidural they needed me to write an extra check, which I did. Before they would administer the epidural, however, the lady in the hospital went away to ensure that the check cleared. By the time she came back, it was too late; the baby was being born. This is the kind of situation that would never occur in Europe or in a country that runs essentially a universal franchise health system.
I know there are many criticisms in the UK and Portugal about their public healthcare systems, but essentially there is still the patient at the core of the service. This is not to say that the public healthcare system here is perfect because there have been many, many cutbacks. However, after having lived in 10 countries, my opinion is that the system in Europe is good.
Once you qualify for the Portuguese healthcare system, you should register at the local health center, which will then assign you a doctor. If there are no doctors available then you would go into a pool and they would give you the same rights as if you had your own doctor. You just have to book consultation in advance and you show up. The general practitioner will write any prescriptions and, if needed, will write any requests for specialist consultations or treatments.
It is not by chance that the Portuguese healthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists—are very much sought after by many other countries. We sometimes have a problem in Portugal with the availability of medical staffing because countries like Germany, Sweden, and the UK poach a lot of the medical professionals from Portugal because these countries can afford to pay two to four times the amount earned by a doctor in Portugal.
Waiting times have definitely improved, as well as other aspects of the public healthcare system. In the past, we had this old system wherein when you arrived for your appointment, you would take a little piece of paper and wait. If you wanted to be served promptly you would have to arrive 3 or 4 hours early in order to get in line. Now, of course, it's much more modern. You can book by telephone and you get an assigned time slot and then you're attended to at that time slot, which is a lot more efficient.
There's a marked difference between non-urgent and urgent situations. If you present with a non-urgent situation it is likely that you will have to wait. So if you go to a hospital they will do triage, which means that they determine whether or not you are a serious case or non-serious case. If you're a non-serious case and you hit a particularly busy day at the hospital, you could have a wait of several hours. If you present, however, with a serious case, you will be dealt with in minutes.
You are just as likely to find someone who speaks English in a public hospital as you are in a private hospital. If you have the need to see a doctor on a regular basis for something that's not very serious and you're not willing to wait the 35 to 50 minutes or so you would wait in the public system, you may want to choose the private healthcare system. But generally speaking, no, there is no reason to go to the private health system.
Assuming you've met the condition of residency and access to the Portuguese public healthcare system, you're on the plan. Once you're on the public system, you're on it. There are not different types of plans; it's everyone's plan. The reason there are some differences is that people of a certain age, above a certain age or below a certain age, people with some acute conditions, people in very difficult financial situation for example, all these people would qualify for a reduction in copayment and even an exemption. Countrywide, Portugal has one universal plan for everyone and then depending on your demographic in terms of age group profile, state of health, and even financial situation, you may have some exemption.
(Hospital of Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.
Posted December 4, 2015


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Holiday Inn Lugano Centre
Images of Holiday Inn Lugano Centre
General Information
Placed at the very foot of Mount San Salvatore, the Holiday Inn Lugano is one of the more centrally-located hotels in Lugano. It's eight miles from the shopping of Foxtown, less than 3 miles to the Swiss Miniature Village, and steps from the funicular that takes visitors to the upper of the mountain. The popular sites and treveller sights of the city centre area are all within 2 miles of the site as well. The Holiday Inn Lugano Centre is situated at Via Geretta 15, which is two miles from the Lugano airport.
Each of the 92 bedrooms in the Hotel Holiday Inn Lugano is outfitted with a confidential secure, minibar, a hair dryer, climate controls, satellite television, and high-speed Internet access.
The Holiday Inn Lugano Centre Hotel provides customers with plenty of services and amenities including, 24h facade table amenities, festive facilities, hole golf course access, washhouse and dry cleaning services, self-sufficient car park on the site, an in-house restaurant, a hall with brasserie amenities, a concierge table, a currency exchange, a stylish sport apartment, pet hospitable policies, a pool, airport shuttles, a work amenities centre, meeting and meeting rooms, a florist, and tour table.
The closest main airports to Holiday Inn Lugano Centre are:
Lugano (LUG Agno) three. two kilometers / two mi
Milan (LIN Linate) 64. four kilometers / 40 mi
The preferred airport for Holiday Inn Lugano Centre is Lugano (LUG Agno).
Distances are calculated in a direct line from the property's peaceful location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance.
Distances are displayed to the nearest 0. 1 mile and kilometre.
Holiday Inn Lugano Centre Facilities
|24 Hour Reception
|Air Conditioned
|Banquet Facilities
|Bar / Lounge
|Cable / Satellite TV
|Coffee / Tea Maker
|Conference Room(s)
|Connecting Rooms
|Direct dial phone
|Disabled Access
|Elevator / Lift
|Fitness Room/Gym
|Golf Course
|Hair Dryer
|High-speed Internet
|In Room Movies
|Laundry service
|Meeting Rooms
|Mini Bar
|Modem / Data Port
|Multilingual Staff
|Non-Smoking Rooms
|Pet Friendly
|Room Service
|Safe-Deposit Box
|Swimming pool
|Tour Desk
|Wake-up Service
|Wheel Chair Access
The Worldwide Hotel Price Comparison Engine.
© Copyright 2015 All rights reserved.


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Despite having 2 e-readers, an iPod, and about 3 dozen book books on my shelf, I've only managed to read 2 books this summer. Pitiful! I'm so ashamed of myself not even reading enough to log an entry in the library's summer reading program (you need 3 for each ticket). There are reasons/excuses, of course, but truth is I really wish I could carve out more time for reading because I truly do love a good book. So anyway, excuses aside, I did just finish a quite good book and thought I'd offer a little review.
I picked up Sweet Delicious Madness when it was a freebie for Kindle. This indie book tells the story of Lily, an American in Italy who is working to support her young twin boys while trying to get a divorce from her philandering husband. Lily seems a bit of a ditz to me, but a very likeable ditz. Her estranged husband's aunt lands here a job as a housekeeper at the vacation home of a famous Hollywood actor where she is in charge of staff. The story revolves around a small cast of somewhat eccentric characters, I liked that there weren't so many characters that you can't keep them all straight. The plot lines are easy to follow as well making for a very enjoyable read. There's a little romance, a little mystery, a little escapism to the lovely country of Italy. Recommended for a light, fast read. I believe there will be/is a sequel but I don't see it on Amazon just yet.


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254 Articles Found
A former Wirral police station is up for is up for grabs at Sutton Kersh's March property auction.read more
BBC One's Homes Under the Hammer came to Liverpool this month to film Sutton Kersh's February property auction.read more
Sutton Kersh's May auction saw a great selection of properties both in and out of the city. Regions that saw a particular interest were St Helens, Wigan and North Walesread more
Sutton Kersh offered 99 lots at their May auction, and after strong bidding from a packed auction, over 70 lots were sold, bringing in sales of over £4 million so far, with sale's figures still rising.read more
Sutton Kersh has seen a promising first quarter with an increase in their sales and lettings figures. Sutton Kersh is now part of the UKs largest estate agency network Countrywide and following the acquisition the local business appears to be going from strength to strength.read more
Liverpool's property auction house, Sutton Kersh has announced instructions for their next auction are up by almost a fifth.
Their May auction will see 102 Lots offered for sale, a 19% increase compared to the same auction last year.
Amongst the lots on sale there are many unique properties that are worthy of mention such as the well known Banjo Pub, in Bootle and the Tabernacle United Reformed Church, in Holywell.
Sutton Kersh's March auction saw 121 lots on sale, another huge auction for Liverpool. Bidding was particularly fierce on some of the city's landmark public houses and de-commissioned churches.read more
Countrywide plc's renowned northern estate agency and lettings brands, including Clive Watkin, Sutton Kersh, Beresford Adams, Entwistle Green and Bridgfords will be hosting their first 2016 Property Roadshow event at Liverpool's Everyman theatre on Wednesday, 16 March 2016.read more
Sutton Kersh's February auction was the largest the Liverpool city region has seen in more than 10 years.
There were over 160 lots at auction and sales figures topped £9m, with 80% of properties sold on the day.read more


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How important do you feel the metronome is for daily practice in your studio? Do you make it a requirement or just a suggestion? Can it be overused?
And, wouldn't you know it, I had the perfect illustration of the usefulness of metronome practice this week! I had a student working on memorizing a piece who came back to me this week super excited about the work he'd put into memorization. And then he started playing...
The rhythm was TOTALLY wrong! I sat there and listened to him perform, cringing through the entire performance as his rhythm errors continued throughout the piece. At the end, I handed him back the music, discussed a few of the pertinent areas, and then we tried it again- this time with the metronome. And guess what- the counting problems magically fixed themselves!
I had asked him to practice with the metronome while memorizing the piece, but since I could tell it hadn't happened (hence the rhythm errors!) I stressed again that he MUST ALWAYS practice this week with the metronome.
It's amazing to me how students can really not seem to hear their rhythm mistakes, even when they are counting out loud. Sometimes, just relying on a students' own ability to count just isn't enough. Enter the metronome.
As my studio continues to grow, I've become increasingly convinced as to the indispensability of the metronome in daily practice. Not only does it force the student to slow down, it also ensures the students feels and maintains a steady pulse.
I don't often use a metronome with my younger students, except maybe as a fun exploratory exercise, but for those who are at a late elementary level and beyond, I think it's too valuable of an asset to overlook.
Whether you make metronome practice a suggestion or a requirement depends largely on the individual. Some students take every suggestion to heart and follow through, others won't and need more specific directions (ie orders!). If you know your students well, you should be able to tell which method is needed.
Finally, can the metronome be overused? I think so. While some practice is essential to help a student in developing pulse and learning the benefit of slow practice, too much metronome work can result in a lack of musical expression and a rubato feel. Students need to understand the value of pulse, but also the fact that a good sense of pulse is relative to the larger construct of the piece as a whole, and that each piece will require a different emphasis.
So there you have it, my rather wordy answer to the QotW! Hope this gave you some food for thought. Stay tuned for next week's question.


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Lorma Highlights – Student Publication
The slogan of Lorma Highlights shall be "Balanced, Aware, Free".
It shall signify the publication's commitment to be balanced in presenting its stories, to be impartial in all issues except in the interest of the students, who are its publishers. It shall be vigilant and aware of all the issues relevant to the students and shall strive to advocate social consciousness among the students and promote the interest of the Filipino people.
It shall endeavor to struggle for press freedom and the student's right to know and shall not let any force deter its pledge to inform the students of issues affecting their interest.
LH is a student institution that publishes periodicals and other printed materials funded, managed and read by the students. LH shall optionally publish at least five issues with the option of supplements, a special magazine issue called Medium and a literary folio called Sulat Kamay annually.
The Editorial Board shall administer and set the criteria for the selection of new staff writers, visual artists, photojournalists and layout artists through a Qualifying Examination and Interview which shall be held every 2nd month of the academic school year.
Bonafide undergraduate students aspiring no position in the student bodies and Sangguniang Mag-aaral ng Lorma are eligible to join. Application forms are available at our Office.
You can find us at the 3rd floor, Old Computer Building, Carlatan Campus.
Visit LORMA HIGHLIGHTS
Click on the images below to get LH's Big Picture (literally!)
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Humanities degrees include several subjects that deal with the unique features of human beings in a social, cultural, and personal context. Popular Humanities studies include History, Philosophy, the Arts, and Sociology. Universities and colleges worldwide offer applied Humanities degrees preparing future professionals for careers as teachers, counsellors, editors, linguists, and more.Read more about studying a Humanities degree
Study a PhD's degree in Hungary
Study abroad in Hungary, one of the most popular touristic destinations in Europe. If you haven't heard about the famous Balaton lake or the thermal water cave system, you have heard of the beauty of Budapest and the delicious Hungarian cuisine. Universities and colleges in Hungary are affordable and specialise in degrees in Medicine, Psychology degrees, Business degrees and Engineering.Read more about studying in Hungary


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About #FairKitchens
The foodservice industry faces a challenge: more people are eating out, yet we're losing talent. Great chefs are leaving the industry, and young people are less likely to want to work in professional kitchens than any previous generation.
Why? Research by Unilever Food Solutions reveals a serious wellbeing issue within professional kitchens: 74% of chefs are sleep deprived to the point of exhaustion; 63% of chefs feel depressed, and more than half feels pushed to the breaking point.
We can't continue to ignore this.
At #FairKitchens, we believe that a positive kitchen culture will make for a healthier business. Because your staff will be stable; your team will be happy and productive; and your guests will receive the best quality offering your team can provide.
It's time to act now, for the talent that we are losing from the industry today and for the talent of the future that we need to attract.
How does #FairKitchens work ?
The #FairKitchens Code is the starting point of the movement. Its values are the ingredients of a happy kitchen: passion and communication, teamwork and time for individuals.
Let's work as TEAMS.
Talk openly
We speak out when we have something to say, we make sure others do the same.
Excite passion
We train, mentor and inspire the next generation. We fuel their flame.
Act as one
No matter our ethnicity, gender or religion, we share the same goal. We respect each other, hold back from abuse and ask "R U OK?" if we think someone's not.
Make time
We make time for breaks – for fresh air and daylight. We rest, relax and recharge where we can.
Say 'Good job'
When one of us does a good job, we say it because a pat on the back can make their day.
The #FairKitchens code is supported by training videos, advice and tips by chefs for chefs, and short guides on topics including improving communication and supporting team members experiencing a personal crisis.
- Join the movement to access your starter kit today, including the #FairKitchens Code, advice to use the Code with your team and a #FairKitchens sticker
- Explore our website to find training, tips and guides to help you understand more about how chefs run a "Fair Kitchen" and discover how you could learn from them
- Receive a regular e-newsletter highlighting new insights, tools and training at www.fairkitchens.com
- Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and share your experiences using #FairKitchens


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Campus to Meet New Chancellor Thursday
UC Regents will meet Thursday to vote on new chancellor for UC Riverside
Campus Welcome is set for 4 p.m. Thursday in the University Theatre
(May 14, 2008)
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTName: Kris Lovekin
Tel: (951) 827-2495
E-mail: email@example.com
The Regents' compensation and educational policy committees will first meet jointly in closed session at 8:30 a.m., followed by a closed session of the full board. At approximately 9 a.m., following public comment, the compensation committee and then the full board will meet in open session to approve the new chancellor's compensation.
Live audio broadcasts of all of the open-session meetings will be available via the Internet. For more information: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/regents/regmeet/may08.html
Immediately after the Regents' action, the new chancellor will be available for interviews with media attending the meeting at the UCLA Covel Commons location. After that the new chancellor will travel to Riverside for a campus welcome event at 4 p.m. in University Theatre. UC President Robert Dynes will introduce the new chancellor to students, staff and faculty. That welcome event will be Web cast and available from the campus home page, www.ucr.edu
The new chancellor will succeed France A. Córdova, who was appointed president of Purdue University in May 2007. Córdova had served as UC Riverside's seventh chancellor for five years, beginning in July 2002.
Robert D. Grey has served as acting chancellor since last June. He previously had a long and distinguished career at UC Davis, where he had been a faculty member since 1967 and served as dean of its division of biological sciences and as provost and executive vice chancellor.
The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment has exceeded 21,000 students. The campus opened a medical school in 2013 and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.
A broadcast studio with fiber cable to the AT&T Hollywood hub is available for live or taped interviews. UCR also has ISDN for radio interviews. To learn more, call (951) UCR-NEWS.


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Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
Shop front - Contents - Search - FAQ - Contact us -
Scenic index : Cherry blossom - Flowers - Summer - Autumn - Winter - Mt. Fuji - Japanese castles - Temples and shrines - Trains - Mountain roads - Bridges - Tokyo - Kyoto scenes - Fireworks - Scenic 300 - Scenic 500 - Scenic 1000 - Scenic 1500+ - Exotic
Traditional art : Traditional - Tigers - Dragons - Gods 7-4-2 - Lucky! - Kimono - Rural - Hari-e - Woodblock - Art with words - Flowers - Kaname - Ogasawara - Kayomi - Hakuga - Zigen
Illustration : Haruyo - Chihiro - Reina Sato - Okamoto - Uchida - Animal art - Cartoon fun - Wachifield
Fantasy : Horaguchi - Fujishiro - Kagaya - Kusuda - Nishino - Shu - Teppei - Takaki - Other fantasy artists
Anime and characters : Studio Ghibli - My neighbor Totoro - Kiki's delivery service - Evangelion - Conan - Suzumiya Haruhi - One Piece - Dragon Ball - Naruto - Gintama - Rage of Bahamut - Sailor Moon - Pokémon - Children's anime - Hello Kitty
Western art : Classics - Mucha - Alice - Lassen - Wysocki - Americana - Moomins - Peanuts - Ellenshaw - Thomas Kincade - Tim Rogerson - Gonzalez - James Coleman - Disney
Miscellaneous : Mandalas - Heian period - Floral collection - None of the above - Tiny pieces - Scroll - Bargains
We are gradually beginning to accept orders, but with very limited shipping options, which we have to handle manually. Please use the checkout form to request puzzles, and we will get back to you when we can. Please see the front page for more details.
Jigsaw puzzles from Japan
© CLS/Minatoya
1000: Minatoya (Yumeji)
This woodblock print was used as a poster for Minatoya, Yumeji's venture selling his designs on stationery and textile accessories, which opened in Tokyo in 1914. The three characters in the foreground stand by one of the huge lanterns that hung outside the shop: the man with the cane is Yumeji himself, with Tamaki, his business partner, ex-wife, and lover. Could the figure leaning against the tree be Hikono, his next love, who he met at this time?
This is a powerful evocation of an interesting period in Japan's history.
Minatoya lives on as an online store - and includes a good page of history, in Japanese, but with many photographs. The three women at the botton are (l. to r.) Tamaki, Hikono, and O-yô.
Takehisa Yumeji (1884-1934) is a very well-known, even iconic, figure of early twentieth-century art in Japan. Born in Okayama, western Japan, at 19 he went to Tokyo against the wishes of his family, to study and be an artist. At 23, he met Tamaki, first of a string of loves, a young widow running a postcard shop. They married, and raised two children, despite divorcing in the middle of the process. Tamaki was the model for many of his early portraits, and also his business partner in opening the Minatoya shop in Tokyo that sold paper and textile accessories that he designed. Meanwhile, his next love, perhaps the greatest, was Hikono, 11 years his junior, who succumbed to TB at age 25. Yumeji portrayed his women in languid poses, curiously reminiscent of illustrations of the same era in the West. Another great love and model was Sasaki Kaneyo, whom he nicknamed "O-yô" (lit. 'Little leaf'); even in photographs she has the characteristically angular look of his paintings.
After recovering from the losses in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, Yumeji achieved considerable recognition, and travelled the world: to America in 1931, and on to Europe the next year. In 1933 he made a trip to Taiwan, but his health failed, and he died in a sanitorium in September 1934, at the early age of 51.
His real name was Takehisa Mojiro, the -jiro indicating him as second son; his adopted moniker Yumeji is literally "dream-second [son]".
Permanently unavailable
An Epoch puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: E11136 (11-136 on package)
Retail price ¥3000