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Push to speed up development as new sites released
[SINGAPORE] New sites rolled out yesterday stirred excitement in the market, even as the government adopted a cautious approach to private housing in the latest land sales programme for H2 2014 to account for the twin factors of oversupply and weaker demand.
The new sites were rolled out under both confirmed and reserve lists in the residential and commercial property sectors.
In particular, the strategy to accelerate the development of various growth areas as identified in the latest land-use master plan is made clear in the latest slate, noted Lee Lay Keng, DTZ's regional head (SEA), research.
For instance, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will launch the tender for a much-awaited commercial and residential development site in Holland Village in December.
"The sale of the site will further enhance the existing urban village character of the area," said the Ministry of National Development (MND).
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In addition, URA has enlarged a commercial site next to Paya Lebar MRT Station and moved it up from the reserve list to the confirmed list, reflecting its commitment to drive the growth of Paya Lebar as a regional commercial hub.
Sites on the reserve list are launched for sale upon successful application by a developer, while confirmed list sites are launched according to schedule regardless of demand.
Elaborating on the enlarged 3.98-hectare commercial site in Paya Lebar, MND said yesterday that the site comprises a plot that was on the H1 reserve list and another plot immediately south of Paya Lebar East-West Line MRT Station.
"The two plots of land will be connected via a subterranean space under Sims Avenue. The sale of the larger land parcel provides greater flexibility for building design, layout and placement of uses. It will also facilitate the development of Paya Lebar Central into a commercial node, which is in line with the government's objective of decentralising employment centres and bringing jobs closer to homes," MND said.
The earlier plot has a drain running diagonally across it, severely constraining any potential design scheme. While the additional plot to its north also has a drain running through it, the drain divides the plot into two more regular-shaped rectangular plots, which would allow a developer to put a tower on each half. Market watchers reckon that besides a minimum office component, the enlarged sale site is likely to have retail and residential elements, and possibly hotel uses too.
The enlarged Paya Lebar site can generate about 167,160 square metres (nearly 1.8 million sq ft) gross floor area (GFA), compared with 86,940 sq m for the old plot. This will limit participation at its tender to big players, say market watchers.
With the focus on decentralisation, two sites for office developments in the city - a commercial site on Beach Road and a "white" site in Marina View - will take a "back seat on the reserve list", said JLL national director Ong Teck Hui.
The 2.14-ha Beach Road plot, a new site that includes the former Central Police Station grounds, can generate 89,880 sq m GFA of commercial space.
The Marina View plot, which can produce about 101,400 sq m GFA, has been on the reserve list for more than two years, though MND yesterday announced a new sale condition: banning strata subdivision of office space for the future project on the site.
This is "in line with the vision for quality office developments within Marina Bay, Singapore's key financial and business district", it said.
Over in the Holland Village area, the 2.31-hectare site is estimated to yield about 580 private residences in addition to 13,500 sq m GFA of commercial space. It is being placed on the H2 confirmed list as part of the Holland Village Extension plan unveiled in Master Plan 2014.
"It will provide new housing options within a mixed-use development that is well connected via pedestrian linkages to surrounding transport nodes and public spaces," MND said.
When contacted by The Business Times, URA said an existing car park that will be part of the sale site will be shut by the first half of next year to facilitate development of the sale site.
Future development on the site will provide parking lots to meet the demand in the area. In the meantime, an interim car park will be built to replace the public parking lots affected.
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Kool Families
Each month we receive hundreds of customer reviews and testimonials from families across the country, telling us how Kool Smiles has made a difference in their lives. We choose the best stories and name that family as our Kool Family of the Month.
Here's what families just like yours are saying about Kool Smiles.
The Varela Family
"I love the way Kool Smiles treats my children. What I normally see is that my kids love coming here and they leave HAPPY all the time." Read their story »
Susana Varela has been taking her three children, Alondra, age 14, Luciano, age 11, and Ashley Nicole, age 9, to the Kool Smiles in Brownsville, Texas, since February 2009. Ms. Varela was very excited when she found out that Kool Smiles was in her area, because as there are not many dentists in Olmito, Texas, where she lives.
Ms. Varela said, "The best part of Kool Smiles is that it is totally different from the other dentist offices. I love the way they treat my children. What I normally see is that my kids love coming here and they leave happy all the time."
"My children are always ready to come to Kool Smiles because there is somewhere for them to play while they wait for their appointment time," she said. "The jungle gym and the waiting area are totally different, colorful, and fun."
Ms. Varela really loves the way Kool Smiles takes care of her children. She said, "My children all want to go back to the dentist. Even I can not believe it!" She added, "Even me as a parent, I love coming to Kool Smiles. I want to come back because I feel confident and well-treated."
The Toure Family
Kool Smiles "went above and beyond," said Ms. Toure. "They prepared the office for Isaiah's visit the night before, gave us a private room, and provided us with the first appointment of the day." Read their story »
Bethany Toure had spent eight years looking for a dentist to accommodate her son Isaiah's special need. Isaiah, age 11, has a life-threatening allergy to Latex, which was diagnosed at age 4. Ms. Toure knew how important it was for Isaiah to get regular dental check-ups, but hadn't been able to find a dentist willing to see Isaiah—until she found Kool Smiles.
Ms. Toure is a social worker and was attending a resource fair when she met her local Community Relations Specialist (CRS) for Kool Smiles. She shared her challenge of finding a dentist, and the CRS told her Kool Smiles would not only see Isaiah but make sure all precautions would be taken to ensure a safe and satisfying visit for both patient and mom.
The Fall River, Massachusetts, Kool Smiles "went above and beyond," said Ms. Toure. "Even though there had been a lot of preparation behind the scenes, when Isaiah arrived he was treated like any other kid. The staff treated him great and he was so excited to get his teeth cleaned that he took a picture of them!"
Ms. Toure could not be happier with Kool Smiles and Isaiah's experiences there. He has been back two more times, and each time he has had the same positive experience. Ms. Toure thanked "Kool Smiles of Fall River for easing the fears of a parent and allowing my son to have what every child deserves—comprehensive dental care."
The Salinas Family
Ms. Salinas became emotional and began to cry when given the opportunity to share her Kool Smiles experience. She couldn't be happier with the services her family received at Kool Smiles and said, "We are so proud of our daughter!" Read their story »
Hannia Salinas, age 2, had her first dental experience at age 1 in Monterrey, California. The family was vacationing when they realized that Hannia had a tooth with a cavity, and they did not want to delay taking her to a dentist. They found a pediatric dentist who was willing to see her while they were on vacation, and they made an appointment. Unfortunately, that experience was less than pleasant. The family was told to leave Hannia while she was in the treatment room. Little Hannia ended up having a very bad impression of going to the dentist.
When the Salinas family returned home, they saw that Kool Smiles was building an office close to them in Brownsville, Texas. They were overjoyed to think of a dentist accepting Medicaid in their area, since there is limited access to dental care where they live. Ms. Salinas immediately made an appointment for Hannia to have a hygiene visit.
Before Hannia's appointment, Ms. Salinas spent a lot of time preparing her because of the little girl's previous bad experience. But she was surprised at how well Hannia behaved. "Hannia feels like a big girl because she goes in on her own and tells me that there's no problem—and that she'd rather that I wait outside!" said Ms. Salinas.
Ms. Salinas enjoys the fact that "the staff explained step by step what they were going to do during the visit and the fact that they have a lot of patience." It's given Hannia's parents much peace that their only daughter is so excited about going to the dentist and actually looks forward to the experience.
The Ramirez Family
"The office is beautiful, clean, and entertaining," said Ms. Ramirez. "It is evident that kids are Kool Smiles' focus." She is referring all her friends to Kool Smiles. She said her children "love to come to Kool Smiles," and if they're happy, then she's happy! Read their story » You can also watch the video.
Susana Ramirez first heard about Kool Smiles through a postcard she received in the mail. The name and logo caught her eye, but it wasn't until a friend highly recommended Kool Smiles that she decided to bring in her two sons, Luis Angel, age 7, and Osvaldo, age 5, for dental appointments. Both boys have received hygiene and operatory treatment at the Kool Smiles in Eagle Pass, Texas, and both mom and kids were very satisfied with the treatment they received.
After Ms. Ramirez received the "seal of approval" from her older sons, she decided to bring in her 16-month-old daughter, Kayla, for her first dental hygiene appointment in her young life.
She said all three of her children "love" coming to Kool Smiles. Although Ms. Ramirez was satisfied with her children's former dentist, he relocated. The children are now very enthusiastic about going Kool Smiles. She said, "It's the perfect place to take children to the dentist." She only wishes there was a comparable office for pediatricians!
It's very important to Ms. Ramirez that her children feel comfortable and not fearful of going to the dentist. She likes the approach Kool Smiles has taken in their office. She believes it helps her children feel confident and responsible. She said all her children are treated with respect, regardless of age.
The Gamez Family
Ms. Gamez and her four sons are very happy they visit Kool Smiles. All the children love coming to the dentist and mom loves how easy it is on them and her. "We are seen right away, there are no long waits. It is a great place and I am very happy with Kool Smiles. They even remembered our names after the first visit, which really made us feel good," she said. Thank you, Kool Smiles. Read their story »
Priscilla Gamez watched and waited with eager curiosity as Kool Smiles built their office in Eagle Pass, Texas, in mid-2008. She said when Kool Smiles did open in September of that year, she began to see fliers in local stores around town and receive postcards in the mail about the new dentist office for kids. The advertisements were bright, colorful, and appeared very child-friendly, so she decided to give Kool Smiles a try.
Ms. Gamez initially brought Giovanni, age 7, George Allen, age 4, and Kevin, age 2, to Kool Smiles for hygiene exams. Ms. Gamez was thrilled with her first experience! She said, "The staff was so nice and friendly and they knew how to work with children." She also took note of the "fresh and clean environment" and the playground to occupy the children while waiting for their appointment.
After taking three of her sons to Kool Smiles, she brought in her 6-year-old, Alekxander, for an appointment. She said, "He was very happy and wasn't afraid at all. It was awesome. The environment is much different than other dental offices—it is so bright and clean and the staff is so nice."
Alekxander obviously agreed with his mother's opinion of Kool Smiles. When his appointment was over and it was time to leave, he turned to Ms. Gamez and asked, "Mom, can you leave me here and come back in an hour?" If that doesn't tell you how much he loved it, then nothing else will!

subset: commoncrawl


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Mountain Ways Ireland is a leading provider of walking holidays and hiking vacations in some of the most stunning European landscapes. Walking wild and ancient pathways you will embrace the experience that will immerse you right into the history and rich culture of our land. Based in Irelands ancient east, we're an experienced, Irish owned and operated company. Trust in our expertise and local knowledge in hand crafting, planning and delivering the walking holiday of a lifetime tailor made just for you. Lose yourself in an adventure as you wander through a diverse geological history and more than 7000 years of human history in Irelands most inspiring countryside.
Get off the beaten track as you explore the past, enjoy the present and discover the real heart and soul of our beautiful Emerald Isle.
Walk at your own pace through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in……
Ireland, Scotland, England and Spain -Camino de Santiago
A wide range of walking holidays to suit all levels.
Choose your dates and destination and leave the rest to us.
Listen to the stories, myths and legends from the local guides as they welcome you to where they call home.
Learn about Irelands flora and fauna, unique geology and thousands of years of history.
Trek the mountains, lakes and coastal pathways with qualified Mountain leaders.
Tailor make your perfect break to suit your interests. Climb a mountain or jump in a lake !
Take a boat trip to a remote Island off the wild Atlantic Coast or spend a day in one of our vibrant Irish cities or towns.
Iconic 7th Century Monastic site of Glendalough, Glenmalure Valley - Historic battle site and stunning U-shaped glacial valley, Explore Dublin city, Picturesque Lough Tay (The Guinness lake), Lough Dan and the lakes of Glendalough, Wicklow Mountains , Dublin Mountains, and so much more.
Traditional Irish Music, Irish speaking 'Gaeltacht' areas., Star Wars movie location, National geographic traveller magazine most beautiful place on earth, Archaeological and historical points of interest, Inch Beach , Conor Pass , Annascaul Lake, Part of the Wild Atlantic Way, and so much more.
Glenariff forest park and the Glens of Antrim, Quaint villages, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge , Dunseverick Castle ruin, Game of Thrones filming locations, Bushmills oldest distillery in the world, Rathlin Island, Giants Causeway UNESCO world heritage site, Relatively flat Coastal walk for much of the way, and so much more.
Full of tips and pointers. Everything from history, heritage, culture and of course walking advice.
We're here to help. You ask the questions and tell us what you want. Be sure that we'll listen and one of the Mountain Ways Ireland team will be back to you as soon as possible.
Follow on instagram @mountainwaysireland or view other hikers pictures by searching #mountainwaysireland.
Join us and add photographs from your own adventures.
8 Nov 2019
Packing for any holiday can be a stressful and daunting challenge even for the seasoned travellers amongst us. As promised,[...]Read Full Story
A Self- Guided vacation has the best of both worlds. After listening to what you tell us, you then trust us, the local experts on the ground, to pre-plan your routes, how far you will walk each day, book your accommodation, point out the points of interest along the way and recommend best places to eat and drink. All of this plus a comprehensive custom information pack and back up support without being tied down to a guide or group schedule.
On a Mountain Ways Ireland Self- Guided break, you spend an extra hour in bed if you feel like it, have a great breakfast to set you up for the day and later enjoy the stunning landscape that awaits you as you walk at your own pace and in the company of who you choose.
Meanwhile we'll transfer your bags to the next wonderful accommodation that we've booked for you meaning that all you have to carry are the essentials in small day-pack.
You can begin your self -guided holiday on any date between the 1st of March and the 12th of October
No, our 9-Day vacations include 7 days of hiking. The first and last days your hiking tour are always travel days used to transfer you to/from the town where your hike will begin/end. If you have seven days in total for your break, then you can hike for 5.
No, our 9-Day tours include 8 nights of accommodation. To explain- these will be the first 8 nights on your hiking tour. Your vacation with us finishes on the ninth day when you check out of your last B&B.We will provide all onward travel information.


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'Using RightAnswers, our field technicians can access information about our products very quickly and easily, enabling them to troubleshoot our customers' systems efficiently and keep them running.'- Arthur Marck, Lely
Edison, New Jersey (PRWEB) April 28, 2014
Lely revolutionized the dairy industry by introducing automated milking machines. Today it maintains its leadership position by focusing on customer service on a wide variety of products and services: from milking robots to feeding systems to grassland and stable maintenance.
Maintaining high milk yield and quality requires consistent milking intervals. Therefore, any delays in milking can impact the dairy farmer's product and profits. To minimize downtime of milking robots due to maintenance or repairs, Lely required a way to centralize its knowledge and provide information to engineers in the field through mobile self-service.
InfraVision, an IT Service Management consultancy company and RightAnswers reseller, introduced RightAnswers to Lely as a platform that would address all their knowledge needs.
"Using RightAnswers, our field technicians can access information about our products very quickly and easily, enabling them to troubleshoot our customers' systems efficiently and keep them running. This is a key function of knowledge at our company," says Arthur Marck, Lely.
Major reasons Lely selected RightAnswers to manage its knowledge:
- Mobile self-service, for access to the knowledgebase in locations without internet connectivity
- Client Success program that works closely with the customer to tailor a solution to its needs
- RightAnswers best practices on knowledge creation and structure
- Ability to limit access to information by audience (Lely initially defined 40 different audience types)
- Ability to make knowledge available to dealers, partners and consultants, to provide the best advice to their customers
- Integration with Lely's existing ITSM system
About the Lely Group
Since 1948, Lely directs all its efforts towards creating a sustainable, profitable and enjoyable future in farming for its customers. Lely is the only company worldwide to supply the agricultural sector with a complete portfolio of products and services ranging from forage harvesting to automated feeding systems, barn cleaners and milking robots. Lely is also working on business concepts to ensure energy-neutral operations in the dairy sector. The Lely Group is active in more than sixty countries and employs some 2,000 people. Visit http://www.lely.com for more information.
About InfraVision
InfraVision has more than 15 years' experience with setting up and professionalizing service-oriented IT, Shared Service and Managed Outsourced organizations by implementing proven practices and methods, supported by software products from leading vendors in the IT Service Management and Knowledge Management industry. InfraVision has a presence in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain and delivers services across EMEA. For more information, visit http://www.infravision.com.
About RightAnswers
RightAnswers is the #1 provider of cloud-based knowledge management, web and mobile self-service and social knowledge solutions for optimizing customer service and IT support. Our 500+ clients around the globe use RightAnswers seamlessly integrated with their CRM, ITSM or other customer service software, to provide stellar support experiences while saving millions of dollars a year. For more information, visit http://www.rightanswers.com.


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If #holiday stress is already nipping at your enjoyment of the season, your friends at MembersFirst understand, and we've got tips to help bring the cheer back and keep it! #beatthestress #tistheseason #holidaze #membersfirstga
8 Ways Online Retailers Push Us To Overspend
Overspending during the holidays is easy…and even easier when online retailers deploy every tactic to get your attention. Here are 8 ways online retailers push us to overspend.
1. They offer free shipping… with a minimum purchase.
When retailers offer to sponsor shipping costs if you spend $50, they lure you into spending more.
2. They make it super-easy to check out.
Websites make their checkout process ridiculously easy to keep you from overthinking your purchases and opting out.
Live In the Moment or Plan for the Future?
When used responsibly between peers, payment and cash transfer apps can be a very convenient way for friends to share expenses or pay back borrowed funds, but exercise caution before hitting "send." Catch our latest blog post for more on Peer-to-Peer (P2P) payment systems. #membersfirstga #paymentapps #p2p #peertopeerpayments
Credit Repair Do's and Don'ts
Our handy guide of #creditrepair do's and don'ts will help get you on the road to improving your #creditscore.


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Protein powders are very popular among health conscious people of all ages and stages of fitness experience.
There are many types of protein powders, made from a wide variety of sources.
Among the many options, it can be confusing to figure out which will provide the best results.
This article explains scientifically the best types of protein powder:
Protein powders essentially provide high-quality protein in a concentrated, convenient form.
Although not everyone needs protein powder supplements, they can benefit people who strength train, exercise frequently, or find it difficult to meet protein needs with food alone.


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Corporate Catering Services in (VT) Vermont
Farmhouse Group Events offers full-service corporate catering featuring farm-to-table food and bartending services for meetings, employee lunches, and corporate events.
Corporate Catering Menus
From Summer and Autumn themed plated and family style meals to a full-scale barbeque or taco bar, Farmhouse Group Events has your corporate event's meal covered with a variety of menu options for any style event.
Farmhouse Group Events is proud to support the local food industry through the utilization of Vermont food and beverage vendors to supply our farm-to-table corporate catering menus. Your main course can feature a variety of options such as Vermont Heritage Grazer's pork loin or locally sourced sweet pea quinoa cakes. Whether your desert is to be savoury or sweet, Farmhouse Group Events can supply house made mac n' cheese or ice cream from one our preferred vendors, The Sweet Spot out of Waitsfield, Vermont.
Wow, your potential business partners or give thanks to your employees with a unique farm-to-table corporate catering menu from Farmhouse Group Events.
Corporate Bartending Services
Full-service bartending services for small corporate cocktail parties to full-scale corporate events in large venues! Farmhouse Group Event's bartending services feature local beer, craft cocktails, wines from around the world and a staff sommelier.


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The easiest way to get a divorce record under the jurisdiction of Florida is to securely request Florida county divorce records free of cost and within a short span of time. Do you want to verify that a divorce that was filed or finalized in the State of Florida was due to any religious, legal, genealogical or any journalistic reason? You have to search for the online divorce record. The related websites will help you to get the copy of the divorce records. This website can provide divorce decrees and records from almost every state in the U.S. To get a copy of any divorce decree, our researchers will go to the city or county of Florida where the divorce was filed.
The Florida divorce section offers a professional directory of the divorce lawyers, mediators, counselors, financial planners and other divorce professionals. You can find articles on child custody, visitation, child support, alimony, and property and debt division. This collection will be very helpful for gaining a fair concept about the unique features to the divorce laws, process and paperwork that is filed and finalized in the court of Florida. Here the petitioner or the filing party is the spouse who is initiating the divorce by filing the required papers to the court.
The respondent is the non-filing party who does not initiate the separation. The title and name of the legal document that is the Florida Divorce Process and the spouse initiating the divorce process is required to submit the respondent a copy of this document. That means the respondent will also be the owner of the copy of this legal document. If, in distant future any problem arises, the respondent may take any legal step. The judge, master or the referee who will declare the dissolution of the marriage will duly sign the legal document. In Florida the spouse may file any document claiming the separate maintenance of the child. It is to be noted that all the property will be equitably distributed among the two according to the Florida property law.
The letter of the petition for the dissolution of the marriage is the main document of the divorce case. In this document the filing spouse will request the court to legally terminate the marriage with some certain and particular grounds. It is mandatory to occur the following facts:
- The complete breakdown of the marriage
- The mental incapability of one of the spouses
Every divorce cases that are filed under the jurisdiction of the Florida court must have adequate grounds to grant the request of the dissolution. The grounds on which the dissolution of the marriage is going to be happened must be substantiated with the submission of the proper legal documents, evidence or testimonials. Otherwise the court may duly dismiss the divorce request. So it is very much important for you to be fully aware about the rules and the regulations of the divorce system.
Search for Divorce Records County by County
There are some documents that the court needs to initiate and finalize the process of the divorce, among them:
- Florida Filling Instructions
- Petition for the divorce
- Marital settlement Agreement
- Schedule for the visitation
- Family court Information Sheet
- Request for Notice
- Affidavit of Appearance and Waiver of Rights
- Decree of Divorce
- Stipulation to Incorporate Settlement Agreement
- Affidavit of Children's Rights
- Custody Separate Statement
- Non-Military Affidavit (if appropriate)
- Financial Report
- Child Support Calculation Worksheet
The following is the list of information we need to conduct the search of the divorces of Florida:
- The Husband's full name
- The wife's full name
- The date and time of the divorce
- The relation of the divorced with you
- The purpose of your request
Generally the divorce records are made up with two parts, the divorce decree and the divorce records. A divorce decree is a statement of the rights and duties of the both parties. It is a final summarized document stating the basic information of the divorce, the involved parties, the divorce date, the case number and the terms of the case. The divorce records are the legal pages of the divorce. For a complex divorce record, the pages can be two hundred long. To receive exact results what you can do is to provide huge information as you can.
You must provide the following information:
- Your full name and address
- Your contact number for any type of queries related with the divorce
- The proper mailing address to send the copy of the records
- The type of records needed whether in hard copy or via mail


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A lower price tag, fewer tracks and a fresh commitment to fund rail improvements in north and south California are among the features that the California High-Speed Rail Authority plans to unveil in its revised business plan, rail officials told a state Senate committee Tuesday night, March 13, at a public hearing in Mountain View.
The revised plan, which the rail authority's board of directors plans to release later this month, will also emphasize what has become known as the "blended" approach for the rail system -- a design that would have the new rail system share two tracks with Caltrain along the Peninsula corridor. This design, which was proposed by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, and Assemblyman Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park, a year ago, has been the subject of much debate in recent months, with many city officials along the Peninsula urging the rail authority to commit to the two-track alternative.
At Tuesday's packed hearing in the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, rail officials indicated that with the new business plan, they are preparing to do just that. Dan Richard, chair of the rail authority's board of directors, and Jim Hartnett, a board member, both said that the "blended" approach is central to the agency's new vision for the project. The members made these comments at a meeting hosted by Simitian, who chairs a Senate budget committee on resources, environmental protection and transportation.
Last year, rail officials resisted the "blended approach," suggesting that it would run counter to Proposition 1A, a $9.95 billion bond for the rail system that voters approved in 2008. The agency's latest environmental analysis for the major project sill refers to a four-track system, much to the consternation of officials in Palo Alto and elsewhere.
But Hartnett said Tuesday that the agency, in its revised plan, now embraces the idea of a "blended system" for both the northern and the southern sections of the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles system. Hartnett called the new emphasis on the "blended system" a "rethinking of the whole high-speed-rail approach."
"The new direction for high-speed rail is a high-speed-rail system that is dependent on its success on a blended approach both in the north and in the south," Hartnett said.
This new vision could have dramatic implications for Caltrain, which has also been adamant about scrapping the four-track design in favor of the less disruptive blended system. The new business plan, Hartnett said, would place greater emphasis on relying on existing infrastructure in what the rail authority is calling the "bookends" of the line (its northern and southern segments). Specifically, he said, it will lay out a plan for "early investment in the north and in the south that will have direct positive impact on the regional transit systems" and lay the foundation for high-speed rail.
For Caltrain, this early investment could mean getting the funding it needs for electrification -- a project that the cash-strapped agency has been planning for more than a decade. The project, which the agency sees as key to raising its ridership numbers and achieving long-term financial stability, also includes positive train controls and a new stock of electric trains. It would cost more than $1 billion, money that the agency currently does not have.
The rail authority's new vision for the rail system could change that. The authority is preparing a "memorandum of understanding" with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTC) that would identify "early investment opportunities" that the authority can make in the Bay Area. Though the document is still in the works, Caltrain electrification is widely expected to top the list of the Bay Area's transit priorities.
"This is an opportunity for Caltrain as much as it is an opportunity for high-speed rail," Hartnett said, referring to the early investment. "We believe the plan will set out a reasonable way of doing that."
But even as they talked about making early investment in the "bookends," rail officials on Tuesday defended the authority's decision to begin the line's construction in the Central Valley. This decision had prompted many critics of the $98.5 billion project to refer to the system as a "train from nowhere to nowhere." Some, including the agency's own peer review group, have challenged its earlier business plan for inadequate discussion of funding sources and for its vagueness in discussing plans to build the system beyond the initial segment.
Aside from the voter-approved bond and about $3 billion in federal money, the project has no other committed funding sources. The agency's business plan anticipates private investment in the later stages of the project.
The challenge, Richard said, is to demonstrate that the first segment of the line would provide significant improvements even if the agency doesn't get the funding it needs to build the entire system. The revised business plan, he said, "will have a more rational basis for showing how the system develops over time so that each station that we'll have in front us will have something that is useful -- like Caltrain electrification, for example."
Richard, who was recently appointed to the board of directors by Gov. Jerry Brown, defended the decision to start in the Central Valley. Starting the rail system in this region will allow the agency to test the new 225 mph trains, he said. On the Peninsula, the trains would reach speeds of up to 125 mph.
Richard also said the agency believes that the new system's ridership will be sufficient to cover its operating costs. The rail authority's ridership and revenue numbers have been a subject of major criticism on the Peninsula and elsewhere. Uncertainties over these projections, along with the project's escalating costs, were among the major factors that prompted the Palo Alto City Council to officially adopt a position last year calling for the project's termination.
But Richard said that the numbers show that even in the line's "initial operating segment" (the first constructed segment that would be capable of accommodating high-speed trains), ridership would be sufficient to pay for operations.
"We believe that the ultimate ridership projections will mean that there will be sufficient riders on the high-speed rail so that we will not be needing a public subsidy in order to operate," Richard said.
Though Richard did not specify how much the rail system would cost under the "blended" approach, he said the number will come down from the prior estimate of $98.5 billion. He called the price tag (which was a major jump from the agency's prior estimate of about $40 billion), a "sticker shock" for many people. It will be incumbent for the agency to show, in its new business plan, the ways in which the capital costs can be reduced.
"The key to it is the blend approach," Richard said. "This is one of the things that will lock us into the course that I think will save us a lot of money."
Though the rail authority's new vision is more consistent with the views of many Peninsula officials, some said Tuesday that they remain skeptical about the latest plans. Palo Alto Councilman Pat Burt, who chairs the Peninsula Cities Consortium (a coalition that also includes Atherton, Menlo Park, Belmont, Burlingame and Brisbane) said that when it comes to early investment opportunities on the Peninsula, the "devil will be in the details" of the agreement between the rail authority and the MTC. He noted that the MTC signaled that cities along the Peninsula would not have any direct participation in the process.
Burlingame Councilwoman Terry Nagel also said she is concerned about the MTC's ability to adequately represent the Peninsula cities in the "eleventh hour."
"I don't think the majority of the cities are opposed to high-speed rail if it's done right -- and that's a big if," Nagel said. "It would require money that is well spent on the Peninsula."


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COVID-19 update
Find out about how we'll be delivering our courses in 2020.
Full Time: 3 Years
With our BA Ancient History degree, immerse yourself in the rich cultures of ancient Greece and Rome - their history, societies, achievements, beliefs and values - and discover how these ancient civilisations have influenced the modern world.
Ancient history is the study of the Greek and Roman worlds over a period spanning from 2000 BC to around 600 AD and covers parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. You will learn about these ancient cultures in their political literary, social, cultural and religious contexts.
This flexible course allows you to pursue your own interests and choose from a wide range of research-led subjects. Our Classics Department has a wide range of specialist subjects, from the Bronze Age to late antiquity, and we are ranked third in the UK for our research output. (Times Higher Education Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of Research Excellence Framework 2014 - Classics.)
In 2020, our students gave the Department of Classics a 90% satisfaction score for our teaching in the National Student Survey (for more details, ask us at www.reading.ac.uk/question).
You can enhance your knowledge of the ancient world by studying Latin or Greek, or gain an understanding of the ancient past through hands-on experience with artefacts from the Ure Museum – the University's internationally important collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. You can also explore ancient Rome through our unique digital model of the city.
Your first year will be one of discovery and experimentation. Core modules will provide you with a solid grounding, while optional modules let you explore the different approaches, periods, and cultures that interest you. In your second year you will be encouraged to become more independent, proposing your own areas of study and setting your own essay questions. You can refine your interests in your final year and focus on your dissertation.
You will be encouraged to gain direct experience of ancient sites through independent travel, for which scholarships are available. You can also apply to study at the British School at Athens and the British School at Rome, which both offer summer school opportunities to University of Reading students.
All students are encouraged to undertake a work placement and the Department benefits from a dedicated placements officer to help with CV writing and letters of application. Students in previous years have gained experience in charities and barristers' chambers, and within a division of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The University's museums can also provide a number of voluntary and work placements.
If you would like to gain first-hand experience of life in another culture you can choose to study abroad for part of your degree through our Erasmus+ programme. The Classics Department also has close links to overseas institutions including the University of Malta.
For more information, please visit the Department of Classics website and the Museum Studies website.
Typical offer A Level BBB | IB 30 points overall
What will you study?
How much will it cost?
New UK/EU students: £9,250* per year
New international students: £17,320 per year
* UK and EU fee changes
UK undergraduate fees are regulated by the government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK and EU** students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.
From 2020, the UK government may link tuition fees to the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
**EU students
For more information on fees, loans and grants for EU students, see fees and funding for home/EU students.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
Flexible courses (price per 10 credit module)
Home/EU students: £750
International students: £1275
* UK and EU Fee Changes
Subject to the Government passing legislation to raise the minimum fee cap, we will raise undergraduate tuition fees from £9,000 to £9,250 for new UK/EU students applying to start courses in the 2017/18 academic year. You will not be affected by this rise if you have deferred entry to the 2017/18 academic year. The Government will confirm future arrangements for EU students in due course.
The tuition fee will remain £9,000 per year for the full duration of this course if you start in the 2016/17 academic year or have accepted an offer but deferred your entry until the 2017/18 academic year. This is unlike other institutions who are planning to raise fees midway through courses.
For further information, please see our webpage on the Teaching Excellence Framework and future tuition fees.
Additional costs
These course fees cover the cost of your tuition. Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.
Financial support for your studies
You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK and other EU countries may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.
What career can you have?
A degree in Ancient History will provide you with a range of transferable skills. Historians have to analyse a wide variety of sources to produce reasoned conclusions, and this helps develop clear thinking, written and oral communication skills, time management, adaptability, independence, and the ability to understand different cultures.
Our recent graduates have gone on to a wide variety of careers, including work in accountancy and banking, government and the civil service, law, heritage and museums, teaching, publishing, public sector management, libraries and archives, and media research and production. Recent employers include GCHQ, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Oxford University, the British Museum, the NHS, the Environment Agency, and Sotheby's.


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Thursday, April 17, 2008
Waves Bracelet PATTERN
This elegant micro macrame design is a fairly easy one to make and would be good for beginners. The trickiest part is the finish, but even that is not that difficult. It just requires a little practice and dexterity. Don't worry, I will show you how in the instructions. As with all my basic designs, there is lots of room for creativity. Just vary the colors, the focal beads, the number of seed beads, etc and get a different look. To make it into a choker, just increase the length to where you want it and then finish it off. You can even make matching earrings! I provide tips on how.
Find this pattern and more in the "Patterns" section of My Etsy Shop. Want to try one out, but don't want to go out an buy all the materials in bulk? I offer kits for this pattern (both for the bracelet and for the earrings) here.
I provide continued support in case you have questions regarding the pattern instructions. So, if you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to ask. You may contact me (see my profile) or leave your question in "comments" below.
1 comment:
- Pall Mall Cigarettes said...
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- April 17, 2008 at 3:40 PM
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text: |audioJazz (musician Dirty Turk and engineers Bai-ee and K. Koltz) launch their own label with the massive "Summer City Nights" EP featuring vocals by Yvonne Gage and Diamondancer. First up is the title track featuring Yvonne Gage's distinct vocals, illustrious keys and grand piano over a bass heavy late night groove, followed by the gentle "In the park" featuring sounds of children, luscious chords and jazzy sax over a stompin' backdrop. Last but not least, "Come back to me" features the spoken word poetry of Diamondancer and sensual vocals by Yvonne Gage together with delectable melodies over an intoxicating backing track. A fantastic release not to be missed.


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There were fewer food booths at the 2011 Lunar New Year Festival this year, but that didn't mean the vendors at the Chinese Community Center were any less creative in their offerings. The longest line of the day belonged to a food stand that was turning out little egg puffs stuffed with octopus: takoyaki, that Japanese street food favorite.
The takoyaki stand had three lines: One for the little puffs, one for pastries shaped like rabbits and filled with lavender-colored taro, and one for Hong Kong-style egg waffles. All three offerings were going as fast as they were being made. Other lines were moving faster, but none culminated in a cup full of octopus balls or a waffle cone.
The second longest line ended at a booth selling two more favorites: congee and beef chow fun. I grabbed one of each along with a Thai-style milk tea from the Kim's Tea House booth and made a cross-cultural meal out of it, Japanese egg puffs, Hong Kong beef chow fun, Chinese congee and Thai tea all mingling happily together.
And those bunny-shaped taro pastries made for an excellent breakfast the next morning with coffee. What a way to ring in the Year of the Rabbit.
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See more photos from the Lunar New Year Festival in our slideshow.


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Craft (Trapmaking)
Craft (Trapmaking)
Key Ability: Intelligence
Use Untrained: No
Armour Check Penalty: No
You are trained in the art of trapmaking. This is a Craft skill.
When you use the Craft skill to make a particular sort of item, the DC for checks involving the creation of that item are typically as given on the following table.
|Craft Skill
|Craft DC
|Mechanical trap
Note: Traps have their own rules for construction.
Special: A dwarf has a +2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal, because dwarves are especially capable with stonework and metalwork.
Synergy: If you have 5 ranks in a Craft skill, you get a +2 bonus on Appraise checks related to items made with that Craft skill.
page revision: 3, last edited: 19 Apr 2011 10:35


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I thought this was pretty cool. I went to the dump last weekend and they discovered that I did not have my dump sticker on my truck. So I got this new dump sticker only to have to go in an month to renew it but it was worth it
Bolens 1886-Nottingham Town Dump Model
Posted March 09, 2016 - 12:52 PM
- LPBolens, pharmer, boyscout862 and 5 others have said thanks
Posted March 09, 2016 - 01:20 PM
Only an aficionado would find significance like that in the most trivial of things.
- Husky, MH81, pharmer and 4 others have said thanks
Posted March 09, 2016 - 02:58 PM
And 666 Posts lol
- Husky, LPBolens, KennyP and 2 others have said thanks
Posted March 09, 2016 - 03:08 PM
- pharmer said thank you
Posted March 09, 2016 - 05:27 PM
I have to buy a sticker ($1) for each large (55 gallon) bag of trash I take to the local dumpsters...operated by the county.
Cheap at twice the price!
Recycle items are taken free of charge.
- pharmer and propane1 have said thanks
Posted March 09, 2016 - 06:17 PM
Here in rural New England, most towns had a town dump.
Sorry for asking this, but are you not allowed in the dump with out a sticker. And if no sticker, what do you do with the garbage. I guess I don't understand. We don't need a sticker here where I live.
You could take anything there and dump it. It was buried without question.
But as time went on, people realized there was a limit to how long you could do this.
So now the EPA doesn't allow things that can be recycled or composted into the waste stream.
It used to be free to use the dump. But then towns decided they could charge a fee for it.
They sell most of what they get. So, it's just a win win for the town.
Usual fee for a dump sticker is $25 a year.
It's the easiest place to get rid of old tires, motor oil and paint. As well as any metal.
- pharmer said thank you
Posted March 09, 2016 - 06:37 PM
- Rock farmer and propane1 have said thanks
Posted March 09, 2016 - 08:01 PM
Posted March 10, 2016 - 08:26 AM
And 666 Posts lol
Ha ha I never noticed that.
Posted March 10, 2016 - 08:27 AM
Our dump sticker is free but you need to pay to get rid of a piece of carpet, a computer, a tv, a toilet, a mattress shall I go on and on?
- EricFromPa and propane1 have said thanks
Posted March 10, 2016 - 12:34 PM
I have a heck of a time getting rid of stuff like that here but Luckily there isn't many Burn laws here.They allow you to burn up to 2 tires a day if there in a brush pile.Old TVs and computer monitors get torn apart,burned and the glass gets crushed up and buried deep in the ground.
I burnt a few tires but I still don't like doing it.Would rather pay a couple dollars each to the recyclers.
Posted March 10, 2016 - 04:26 PM


text: 308 Arctic Yearbook 2014 economic growth (Putnam 1993; Fukuyama 2002). Thus, both natural and social capital are tightly linked to economic and human dimensions of development and have been developed to evoke attention and advance discussions on the role of alternative forms of capital to sustainable development. This paper introduces the concept of socio-natural capital to identify hindering and facilitating factors for sustainable land use in the Fennoscandia. Sustainable land use can be defined as practices that maintain and provide opportunities for land use for current and future economic and social benefits, while not deteriorating the ecological state of the used areas. There may be also contradictions between the ecological, economic and social dimensions of sustainability. Here the discussions on socio-natural capital are placed within the context of social-ecological systems (SES). SES literature highlights that the sustainability of resource use needs to take into account coupled social-ecological systems and their interrelations (e.g. Folke et al. 2005). SES examinations have been previously connected to natural capital (e.g. Biggs et al. 2012) and to social capital (e.g. Olsson et al. 2004). Natural capital is seen as a stock of properties of ecosystem structures and processes, which provide so called 'ecosystem services' to people (e.g. Daily 1997). Following the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES 2013), there are three types of services: 1) provisioning (products obtained from ecosystems e.g. food, wood, water), 2) regulating and maintenance (moderate or control of environmental conditions e.g. flood control; water purification by aquifers, carbon sequestration by forests, etc.), 3) cultural (non-material benefits obtained from ecosystems e.g. recreation, education, aesthetics). Today, supporting services (MA 2005) or natural capital (Costanza et al. 1997) are mostly assigned to ecosystem functions as parameters of the ecological functioning grounding the other types of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services can be understood as a flow from natural capital to ecosystem services, which further provide benefits and values for people (Haines-Young & Potschin 2010). However, the accounts on provisioning of ecosystem services need to take into consideration the inseparable social and ecological dimensions affecting ecosystem services, and further on human benefits and well-being (Heikkinen et al. 2012; Spangenberg et al. 2014). The ecosystem services, values and benefits provided by natural capital are socially negotiated, and also contested due to divergent social conceptualisations of what constitutes for example environmentally and socially sustainable land use. In this article we apply this idea, and do not focus on natural capital as such, but on contested social definitions on the sustainable use of that capital. Therefore, the notion of socio-natural capital seems to hold promise for integrating more clearly the social dimension inevitably linked to the concept of natural capital, and expanding it though the notions of trust, networks, communication, power, norms and governance practices. The concept of human capital refers to the stock of competencies, knowledge and social attributes that increase an ability to produce economic value (Simkovic 2013). Bourdieu (1986) has introduced sub-dimensions for human capital, those being social, cultural and symbolic capital. Here we apply the concept of social capital to build up our notion of socio-natural capital. In recent discussions on development, the concept of social capital has been described as the glue that holds societies together (Serageldin & Grootaert 1999). The most important aspects of social capital are trust, norms, reciprocity, leadership and networks (Putnam 1993). Furthermore, communication has been Socio-Natural Capital for Sustainable Land Use in the Fennoscandia


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Server-based - Sends and receives faxes over a central fax server PC
Network clients - Allows private fax numbers for persons or divisions
Fax to e-mail - Forward received fax documents as TIF or PDF e-mails
Mail merge - Supports the mailing function of most Office programs
iFax support - sends faxes as e-mail attachment (T.37) or via fax gateway
Up to 60 channels - Two versions for up to 8 (Pro) or 60 (S2M) channels
LAN or terminal server - For normal workstations or terminal server clients
Check it out! - Demo version with full functionality: Download
Price excl. VAT: CapiFax-Pro (up to 8 channels) 193.97 €, -S2M (up to 60 ch.) 672.41 € [Order] - Shamrock Software, +49 8137 5882
CapiFax runs with all 32-bit and 64-bit Windows versions, including Windows Server 2003 and 2008/R2. Suitable ISDN adapters, depending on the OS and the required channels, are e.g. AVM-Fritz PCI or -USB (2 channels), Primux 1/2/4 S0 (2 to 8 channels) or Primux S2M (30 channels, requires CapiFax S2M). Alternatively a fax-enabled ISDN router can be used, e.g. models from Lancom or Bintec.
Clients: Each person or division can have a private fax number (MSN/DDI). For transmitted fax documents a private outgoing number is possible. Automatic printing of received and/or transmitted faxes is supported. Besides normal network workstations, even terminal server clients can be used.
Fax to mail: Depending on the called number or the caller's number you can easily define if and to which address received faxes are forwarded by e-mail as PDF or TIF attachment, e.g. to Microsoft Exchange or any other SMTP server.
Fax polling: Offer multiple documents for fax polling, one per number (MSN/DDI). In addition it is also possible to deliver different documents depending on the CLIP number or fax ID of the caller, e.g. for offering regional information based on area codes or countries. Fax polling documents can quickly be created using the fax printer driver.
The CapiFax demo is equivalent to CapiFax Pro and can transmit or receive on up to 8 channels at one time. It runs for two hours after each program start, or for up to 20 sent or received faxes. After this, you simply have to restart the fax server program. The fax ID is always "Shamrock CapiFax" and cannot be changed in the demo version.
On the fax server PC, please unpack the file CFAXDEMO.ZIP (2 MB) into an empty temporary folder like C:\Temp and then launch SETUP in it. Answer "Yes" if Windows asks if you want to install the software. The temporary folder can be deleted later.
The printer driver and client software is installed by launching SETUP from the CLIENTS subfolder below the CapiFax folder on the server (via the network neighbourhood on other workstations). The software can be switched between English and German at any time using Configuration/Language in the client menu.
Software and manual can be found in the Windows Start menu after installation. The required ISDN MSN as your local fax number is displayed at the bottom of the fax server window (Last call) after a test call.


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Soundtouch Family
7 Products
Sort by
There's always room for better sound
SoundTouch is a full family of wireless speakers designed to grow with you. Start with one and add more over time for music throughout your home. Plus, the SoundTouch family is packed with technologies that bring out the best in your entertainment. So, it's not just sound, it's an experience.
Less effort. More music.
Enhance your experience with the SoundTouch app. All your favorite music is in one place, so you can seamlessly jump between different playlists, stations, and services. Compatible with other SoundTouch speakers, so you can play the same music in every room or different music in different rooms.
Stream what you want, how you want.
Wirelessly pair any Bluetooth® device or connect to your home Wi-Fi® network for instant entertainment. If you can get it on your phone or tablet, you can hear it through SoundTouch speakers. Music services may vary by region.
Upgrade your existing speakers
Don't have a SoundTouch speaker but want to stream music? Use our SoundTouch SA-5 amplifier or Wireless Link adapter to add a world of wireless music to your existing stereo or home theater system through a simple Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection.
Future ready
SoundTouch speakers have the technology to be compatible with external voice control devices for when they become available in your region. All of your favorite music will be at the tip of your tongue — all you have to do is ask.
* Voice commands and controls will vary by country.
Show us yours, or see how other people listen. Post your photos to Instagram using #SoundTouch and tag @Bose to share your story.


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Communicating with your significant other through your smartphone and tablets seems harmless and easy since it's the most convenient way to stay connected, but it may pose a problem if both of you rely heavily on technology to keep in touch.
Brigham Young University researchers Lori Schade and Jonathan Sandberg say that constantly being connected through technology "can create some disconnects in committed relationships" and may leave couples dissatisfied.
Case in point: things didn't turn out well when the couples in the study used technology, or texting specifically, for relationship maintenance or to make amends. "Reaction to disappointment and reality testing occurs more quickly face to face," Sandberg said. "There is narrowness with texting and you don't get to see the breadth of a person that you need to see."
However, there is also a benefit to it. According to a neuropsychological perspective by Christina Leggett and Dr Pieter Rossouw from the University of Queensland, the advantage of technology is based on how partners use it on a daily basis. "Technology may enhance or hinder couple relationships depending on the couple's ability to manage, monitor, and reflect on its use." This only means that technology can sabotage your relationship if it keeps you and your partner from getting intimate or having a decent conversation.
To achieve the proper balance, keep all gadgets away before bedtime. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Facebook and Instagram, cuddle up with your partner and get to know them on a deeper level–talk about your dreams and ambitions in life.
PHOTO: Pixabay


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"So wonderful, so magical, so joyous [...] If you don't find anything of interest in this enchanting new volume, you are not a proper human being."
"This follow-up volume, delivered in the same beautifully designed format, is engaging, eclectic, geekily and gleefully enthusiastic — and both laugh-out-loud funny and heart-breaking."
"A beautifully produced compilation."
"Shaun Usher's More Letters of Note mines the archives for more gems of the epistolary arts."
Discover an enthusiastic letter written by a young David Bowie in response to his first piece of American fan mail; J.K. Rowling's reply, in character as Albus Dumbledore, to a Professor of Colloid and Polymer Science who applied to become Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts; from 1930, a missive from Lili Elvenes in which she describes her relief at finally being able to undergo surgery in what was one of the first cases of gender reassignment; a long letter sent by Tom Clancy to his friends just his star was beginning to rise, in which he speaks of his rapidly changing life; an embroidered letter of such incredible dimensions that it spans several fold-out pages; the charming illustrated letter that introduced Peter Rabbit to the world, written by Beatrix Potter to a five-year-old boy; a letter from legendary "dinosaur hunter" Barnum Brown, in which he describes having just discovered the Tyrannosaurus rex; Florence Nightingale's harrowing account of the "appalling horror" of the Crimean War, written in 1854, and many, many more. As with the first volume, you are soon to embark on a rollercoaster ride that soars as high as it does low, travelling back in time as far as 2000BC to read an ancient Egyptian letter to the dead and coming as close as 2014 to read a wonderfully entertaining letter by Robert Crumb.
Includes letters from:
Jane Austen, Richard Burton, Helen Keller, Alan Turing, Albus Dumbledore, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry James, Sylvia Plath, John Lennon, Gerald Durrell, Janis Joplin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Janis Joplin, Hunter S. Thompson, C. G. Jung, Katherine Mansfield, Marge Simpson, David Bowie, Dorothy Parker, Buckminster Fuller, Beatrix Potter, Che Guevara, Evelyn Waugh, Charlotte Brontë and many more.
Published exclusively by Unbound, crowdfunded by over 1,500 supporters.
Published by Canongate.
Coming soon


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Hosted by BBC Radio 4's Today programme presenter John Humphrys, it follows a similar format to the original series hosted by Magnus Magnusson.
Four contestants answer questions on their specialist subjects, followed by a general knowledge round.
But the original black leather chair in which contestants sat is missing - it was claimed by Magnusson after the final recording at St. Magnus Cathedral, Orkney in 1997.
Contestants still have to sit in one, however, as a replica has been designed for the new series.
"His track record on the Today programme made him perfect for the role," she added.
The quiz was devised by producer Bill Wright, who was a former prisoner of war in Germany.
Wright wanted a hard, inquisitive format which gave the impression the contestants were being interrogated.
Mastermind had been revived for cable channel Discovery in 2001 with presenter Clive Anderson but it has not had a regular spot on television since 1997.
A new series was commissioned following the success of a one-off BBC celebrity special of Mastermind, celebrating its 30th anniversary in Christmas 2002.
No cash prize
Humphrys revived the well-known catchphrase used by Magnusson during every show: "I've started so I'll finish."
The original theme tune has also been retained and the winner of the grand final will still receive a crystal glass bowl, engraved with their name and the date of the series.
Unlike many current quiz shows, there will be no cash prize.
Topics chosen by participants for the new series include The Life and Films of Stanley Kubrick, Flora and Fauna of Great Britain, The Who and English castles.
The original series began in 1972 and saw 1,231 contestants in the hot seat before the show was axed in 1997.
Joe West scored the highest specialist knowledge score on Nelson in 1979 with 22 points.
Mastermind returns to BBC Two on Monday at 8pm and the series will take place in a studio in Manchester rather than on location at various venues around the UK.


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Social Worker II
Integrated Case Management
Franciscan Health
8111 South Emerson Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46237
Days; Holidays; Weekends
Master's Required
Resourceful, supporting counselors
Patients and families healthcare often need guidance and counseling to help resolve problems and deal with what might be a very different way of life post-illness. Our Social Workers are an important link in our home healthcare team. These are the people who educate staff and families and find needed support and resources.
Are you a good listener? Are you a resourceful problem-solver? Do you enjoy helping others enhance their quality of life? We have a special role that needs your skills.
- Asses the psychological status of patients related to the patient's illness and environment.
- Carry out social evaluations and interventions based on evaluation findings.
- Provide information to patients or families and care givers and community agencies.
- Provide patient and family-focused therapeutic crisis counseling.
- Continuously update case manager.
- Maintain clinical records on all patients referred to social work.
- Perform tasks involving physical activity such as heavy lifting and extensive bending and standing.
- Identify personal learning needs. Seek opportunity for continued learning.
- Utilize time productively.
- Demonstrate flexibility in staffing and adaptability to changes in patient care practice.
- Exercise safe judgement in decision making.
- Demonstrate tact and understanding when dealing with others. Respond in a positive manner to constructive criticism.
1-3 Years Experience
It is the policy of Franciscan Alliance to provide equal employment to its employees and qualified applicants for employment as otherwise required by an applicable local, state or Federal law.
Franciscan Alliance reserves a Right of Conscience objection in the event local, state or Federal ordinances that violate its values and the free exercise of its religious rights.
Franciscan Alliance is committed to equal employment opportunity.
Indianapolis, IN, US, 46237
Nearest Major Market: Indianapolis


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Property Location With a stay at Amoun Hotel Alexandria in Alexandria, you'll be minutes from Terbana Mosque and Manshia Square. This hotel is within close proximity of Unknown Soldier and Abul-Abbas Mosque.
Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 140 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
Rec, Spa, Premium Amenities Take in the views from a terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless Internet access and concierge services.
Dining Satisfy your appetite at the hotel's restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner. Dining is also available at a coffee shop/café, and room service (during limited hours) is provided.
Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include luggage storage, laundry facilities, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. A roundtrip airport shuttle is available for a surcharge.
vezi mai multe


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Monsanto's genetic engineering trials in India are dangerous and anti-democratic
The US transnational, Monsanto, is currently carrying out field tests of its genetically engineered crops in 40 locations in India. The manner in which these tests are being conducted violates all democratic and ecological norms, says Vandana Shiva. The absence of a proper regulatory framework and a proper regulating agency both nationally and internationally to deal with ecological risks associated with the new technology only serves to reinforce the call made by citizens worldwide for a five-year moratorium on genetic engineering in agriculture.
MONSANTO is establishing its empire in the agricultural sector in India at the cost of democracy and ecology.
This has once again been proven by the manner in which Monsanto began trials of its genetically engineered crops in India. Even the governments of the states where the trials were being carried out were kept in the dark by Monsanto and the Department of Biotechnology.
Mr Byre Gowda, Agriculture Minister of Karnataka, stated that the centre had not consulted the state before allowing the field trials in Maladahalli (Sindhanne Taluk, Raichur), Ramkhar (Gagarilsom-mananahalli Taluk, Bellary) and Adur (Hanagal Taluk, Kaveri) in the fields of Mr Sabassa J Hunsole, Mr V V Nanjundappa, Mr Mahalingappa and Mr Shankarikoppa. Public participation in decisions about whether trials can be carried out has not even been considered, although all environmentally destructive activity is supposed to be notified and cleared only after a public hearing.
Genetic engineering has serious ecological risks. That is the reason article 19.3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity called for a Biosafety Protocol, which is currently being developed through international negotiations. This is also the reason France has banned all genetically engineered crops and the UK has responded to the call of citizens by having a one-year moratorium on release of genetically engineered crops. Most recently, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the world's largest body for organic agriculture called for a ban on genetic engineering from agriculture, because it poses hazards without being necessary for the development of agriculture.
The risks of Monsanto's toxic plants
Monsanto's present trials in India are being carried out on its genetically engineered 'Bollgard' cotton or Bt-cotton which has genes from a bacterium engineered into it so that the plant produces its own pesticide, contrary to Monsanto's claim. Bt-cotton is not 'pest-resistant' but a pesticide-producing plant. The severe ecological risks of crops genetically engineered to produce toxins include the threat posed to beneficial species such as birds, bees, butterflies and beetles which are necessary for pollination and for pest control though pest-predator balance.
Nothing is yet known of the impact on human health when toxin-producing Bt-crops such as potato and corn are eaten, or on animal health when oilcake from Bt-cotton or fodder from Bt-corn is consumed as cattle feed. Further, while pesticide-producing plants are being offered as an alternative to spraying pesticides, they will in fact create the need for more pesticides since pests are rapidly evolving resistance to genetically engineered Bt-crops. The widespread use of Bt-containing crops could accelerate the development of insect pest resistance to Bt. which is used for organic pest control. Already eight species of insects have developed resistance to Bt. toxins, either in the field or in the laboratory, including diamond back moth, Indian meal moth, tobacco budworm, colorado potato beetle and two species of mosquitos.
The genetically engineered Bt. crops continuously express the Bt. toxin throughout its growing season. Long term exposure to Bt. toxins promotes development of resistance in insect populations, this kind of exposure could lead to selection for resistance in all stages of the insect pest on all parts of the plant for the entire season.
Due to this risk of pest resistance, the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) offers only conditional and temporary registration of varieties producing Bt. Monsanto's technology will therefore destroy beneficial biodiversity and create superpests both through wiping out pest predators and by creating pests which are resistant to pesticides. While Monsanto's pesticide-producing Bt- crops are not based on the terminator technology, which terminates germination of seed so that farmers cannot save it, they are in an ecological sense a terminator technology which terminates biodiversity and the possibilities of ecological and sustainable agriculture based on the conservation of biodiversity.
The ecological impact of Bt-cotton cannot be assessed on the basis of a three-month trial. The trial needs to be carried out over 2-3 growing seasons and impact needs to be assessed on all organisms, including soil microorganisms which have been known to be killed by the toxics in Bt-crops. To get the full ecological impact of biodiversity destruction and genetic pollution caused by genetically engineered crops, the following steps are necessary:
When Monsanto states that it has had 93% success, it is referring to agronomic performance, not to ecological safety. Further, since the Bt technology is aimed at pesticide production, not yield increases, Monsanto is deliberately distorting facts when it refers to yield-increasing characteristics of Bollgard cotton.
Monsanto is also misinforming the public when it states that pesticide-producing plants mean no pesticide needs to be sprayed. The primary justification for the genetic engineering of Bt. into crops is that this will reduce the use of insecticides. One of the Monsanto brochures had a picture of a few worms and states, 'You will see these in your cotton and that's O.K. Don't spray'. However, in Texas, Monsanto faces a lawsuit filed by 25 farmers over Bt-cotton planted on 18,000 acres which suffered cotton bollworm damage and on which farmers had to use pesticides in spite of corporate propaganda that genetic engineering meant an end to the pesticide era.
The inadequacies of present biosafety regulations
The clearance of Monsanto's trials with toxic plants without the democratic consent of concerned governments, from state to local level, and democratic participation of the public in biosafety decisions reveals the loopholes and inadequacies in the present biosafety regulations from both the democratic perspective and the ecological perspective.
The biosafety regulations need to undergo dramatic changes through increasing public participation in decisions related to genetic engineering.
The clearance for trials of genetically engineered crops and their release needs to be given not just by the central government but by all levels of government, from the state to the local level. Further before any clearance is granted for trials of a particular genetically engineered crop the application for trials should be notified to the public as part of the citizen's right to know. Public hearings need to be organised in the specific villages and districts and states where the trials and introductions are planned.
The scientific framework of the ecological impact of genetically engineered crops on biosafety, ecosystem health and public health also needs to be upgraded for dealing with the impact of field trials and deliberate releases under diverse ecological contexts existing in India.
If Monsanto and the Indian government fail to fulfil these ecological and democratic criteria for field trials of genetically engineered crops, we will have further evidence that the promotion of genetic engineering by corporations like Monsanto can only be based on dictatorial, distorted and coercive methods. In such context, genetic engineering in agriculture must necessarily be anti-nature and anti-people.
Urgent policy imperatives
1. Monsanto's trials for genetically engineered crops in 40 locations in India should be immediately halted since they violate all ecological and democratic norms.
2. A five-year moratorium should be introduced on all commercialisation of genetically engineered crops both through imports and through seed production and distribution in India while full and adequate ecological and regulatory frameworks for assessing the ecological impact of genetically engineered crops and public participation are evolved.
3. The regulatory framework for genetic engineering is not just inadequate in India. It is inadequate worldwide. In the US, trials for such crops do not have any ecological dimensions. They only assess agronomic performance. The data from the hundreds of US trials is basically 'non-data from non-trials' in the ecological context.
4. Biotechnology and genetic engineering in agriculture are evolving in a total regulatory vacuum as is clear from the US situation. Monsanto itself states,'Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food'. 'Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible.
Assuring its safety is the US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) job'. The FDA does not look at the safety of Bt-crops since such crops are treated as a pesticide.
The EPA, which is supposed to look at the safety of pesticides, treats genetically engineered crops which produce pesticide as conventional crops and hence does not look at the safety of such crops either. There is, therefore, no agency guaranteeing the safety of genetically engineered crops. It is to fill this policy vacuum in environmental safeguards that citizens worldwide are calling for a five-year moratorium on genetic engineering in agriculture. (Third World Resurgence No. 100/101, Dec 98/Jan 99)
Vandana Shiva is a scientist and activist. She is also a contributing editor for Third World Resurgence.


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Toying around with Google Photos. Here's what I learned so far:
- You can now upload ass-loads of high-res photos, and it doesn't eat up your Drive or Gmail space.
- Google Assistant will sometimes make little videos or GIFs like these.
- You can upload these little GIFs (or collages, or video clips) directly from Google Photos to your Instagram account for easy sharing!
Now, if I can only figure out how to embed specific albums up on-- say-- a WordPress website, my afternoon would be complete!
Technology for Businesses
As a small business owner myself, I see the value in getting things done as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Sure, a good work ethic can accomplish this goal, and so do proper time management techniques, but what really levels the playing field is technology.
In fact-- these are pretty exciting times, as technology allows us small business owners to collaborate online, better connect with our clients, and essentially keep the business running. There are apps for just about anything you need now, online services that let you do more, and even phones that pack more computing power than your old desktop PC.
Check out my collection of posts on tech for businesses here.
More Stuff on Renzie Baluyut Online
Have a look at some of my other posts: throughout the years, I've covered a number of topics ranging from business- and work-related stuff to more leisurely bits on travel or what I do on my spare time.
Click on one of the topics below for more:
Renzie on Instagram
Connect with me on Instagram, and hit me up for projects, tie-ups, collaborations, or if you'd like to reach out and start a conversation.
My feed is currently filled with stuff I do outside work (as my different work projects have their own respective Instagram accounts!)-- from stuff I watch, stuff I read, or stuff I eat.
Lately though, my feed has been seeing a lot more baby pictures. Hooray, first-time parenthood!


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NATO to talk energy security
( AP ) - NATO should be more involved in protecting its members' energy resources, the alliance's top diplomat said Thursday amid concerns that fuel supplies face threats ranging from terrorism to supply cuts by disgruntled exporters.
NATO has a "role to play in this field," Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told a gathering of ministers and senior diplomats from almost 50 allied and partner nations.
Some NATO allies want it to consider a military role in protecting pipelines, oil platforms and sea routes bringing oil and gas to Europe and North America. Poland, which is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas imports, has suggested a pact to support allies whose supplies are threatened.
But others, such as France - traditionally wary of extending the trans-Atlantic alliance's role - have been reluctant to see NATO take on new energy security tasks.
De Hoop Scheffer spoke at the meeting in this Macedonian lakeside city that drew officials from the 26 NATO members plus 23 nations in the alliance's "partnership for peace" program - including Russia, Ukraine and other former Soviet republics, Balkan nations and neutral countries, such as Sweden and Ireland.
The agenda includes talks on the deadlock over Kosovo, where Serbia and Russia oppose a Western-backed plan that would let the ethnic-Albanian majority province break away from centuries of Serb rule.
The meeting's hosts warned the impasse was holding back efforts by Balkan nations to integrate with NATO and the European Union.
"Kosovo directly affects the security and stability of our region," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said. "Its resolution will to a great extent determine the pace of the rapprochement of the region overall with the Euro-Atlantic structures."
Macedonia hopes to receive an invitation to join NATO next year along with Croatia and Albania.
Afghanistan is also to feature in the talks, particularly the military operations, concern over mounting civilian casualties and reconstruction efforts. Many of the partner nations have troops with the NATO-led force battling Taliban insurgents.


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A popular account of the pest is below:
For an account of the mite in Africa see: Negloh K, Hanna R, Schausberger P (2011) The coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis, in Benin and Tanzania: occurrence, damage and associated acarine fauna. Experimental and Applied Acarology 55(4):361-374.
The mite is also a threat to coconut production in India, and a socio-economic account can be found at: poliecon.com/2011/11/24/socioeconomic-and-livelihood-impact-of-invasive-species-on-marginal-homesteads-the-case-of-aceria-guerreronis-on-coconut-palms-in-india/
Clash of mites: hot on the heels of a destructive coconut pest
ScienceDaily (May 17, 2010) — Biological control experts are sending mites after their own kind as IITA and partners make headway in an initiative to naturally manage the most invasive and destructive pest of the crop, the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis Keifer.
The pest causes up to 60 percent loss in coconut production, directly affecting the food and income of millions of farmers already rattled by low prices of their produce and the high costs of farm inputs and labour.
Scientists working on a four-year biocontrol project to search for natural enemies of the deadly pest
from its area of origin -- the tropical belt in the Americas -- have identified a predatory mite,
Neoseiulus baraki, from Brazil. Experimental releases of the predator mite will start soon even as
the project team continues to search for other promising natural enemies of the coconut mite in the region.
"When organisms, like mites, that feed on plants invade areas with environments similar from where they came from, they tend to develop large populations and cause extensive damage to their primary host plants because they are free from natural enemies that checked their spread in their place of origin," explains Dr Rachid Hanna, biological control specialist with IITA.
"We are searching for and characterizing the biology and ecology of natural enemies of coconut mite in regions in the Americas that had not been previously explored. We will then
conduct experimental releases in Africa and Asia of one or more natural enemies that are likely to be most effective in controlling the pest," he added.
Under the biocontrol project, which started in 2008, IITA scientists are working closely with the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands as well as with agricultural research partners in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. It is being implemented in Benin and Tanzania in Africa, and Sri
Lanka in Asia.
In Tanzania, about 8 million people directly depend on the 25 million-plus coconut trees for their livelihoods. The tree is mostly found along the coastal belt as well as on the shores
of Lake Nyasa, Tanganyika and Victoria. In Sri Lanka, coconut accounts for 21 percent of the agricultural land use and about 2 percent of the country's GDP. Coconut and coconut products also account for 2.5 percent of Sri Lanka's total export earnings.
Commonly regarded as the "tree of life," coconuts provide about half of the total household incomes of tropical coastal communities where the tree thrives. They are an excellent source of food, as well as oil for cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Coconut by-products are used to make cakes for animal feed, while coconut shells are used as fuel for cooking, as extenders and fillers in plastics, and for making household items.
In many countries in Africa, the leaves and trunk are used as building materials and to make furniture. In Asia, the husks are used to make ropes, mats, and eco-friendly erosion control nets, among others.
The project is funded by WOTRO, the science division of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, which supports scientific research on development issues.


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The Props package of our Demon Dungeon environment containing 20 Props modular of Stylized, game ready meshes and materials to create stylized fantasy dungeon environment.
The entire package is built with handpaint stylized direction, so if you are aiming at a certain handpaint stylized approach such as Diablo or Torchlight then this is the package for you!
You will get 2 .rar files which include:
20 plus modular assets in FBX and prefabs.
Handpainting Texture maps in TGA.
All small props and Tilling texture are 2048x2048 size.
All normal asset and Big structures are 4096x4096 size.
Demo Scene with all assets.
Demo level with lighting set up
20 Plus stylized handpainted assets with many variations
Update Unity Asset
For personal use and one commercial project (up to 2,000 sales or 20,000 views).Tutorials
One copy to be used by a single user.Installable Tools
One installation by a single user.Learn More


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Childless couples face some different problems than couples with kids, but some of our issues are the same. One problem that I think any married couple has is spending time with one another. The specifics of the problem, however, vary whether or not children are in the equation.
It's well-known that finding time, period, when you have kids is a common conundrum. Finding time to do household chores, take a shower, spend time with your spouse, and still have some alone time can all be troublesome depending how many and what age children you have.
Obviously Jon and I don't have that problem yet. Maybe I should ignore it when I read all of these marriage advice sites telling me how imperative it is to spend time with my spouse. I feel like we do spend time together, but sometimes, prompted by marriage magazine articles, I wonder if we're not spending enough.
I already looked at this problem a little bit when I stressed how important alone time is in a marriage. This is the other side of the equation: finding that balance between making sure each spouse has enough alone time and being together.
Obviously Jon and I spend most days apart. Last week was an exception; due to a strange work schedule on top of a holiday Jon was around the house more than usual, and there was more than one day where I'd leave to do my own things for a few hours. They're things I do any week, but usually the only ones I'm leaving at home are the pets.
This might seem like common sense, but I admit sometimes I fight an impulse to clear my schedule if Jon's going to be around. If he's here I want to spend that time with him. But that's silly for a couple reasons: one, the things in my life shouldn't only be there to fill the time I don't have with him, I should do them for myself, and two: most of the time, I'm only talking about an hour or two anyway.
Although Jon and I both might be around the house when he has a day off, we're not spending every moment of it together. We always come together for meals and usually at other random times throughout the day, but often we watch something while eating. We talk the whole way through, cook and clean together, banter across rooms even if we're partially occupied in other things; we do spend time together, but I wonder: are we spending enough?
I know for sure I'm worrying too much. Perhaps it's good we're already in the habit of not spending every free moment together, because then we're already somewhat used to it for when our kids take up most of our time. I know I'm a worrier, and I often perceive problems where there are none. But I'm here to represent the childless couples, or at least other young marrieds, so I thought sharing my own experiences might be helpful for others in similar situations.
The key is to make sure that you want to spend time with your spouse and that you have no problem making time to do so. If you're constantly ignoring each other when you're both at home, maybe you need to make the effort to spend more time together. If not, if you're both happy and content, then all is well.
Related Articles:
The Couple that Does Chores Together, Stays Together
Finding Your Identity in Your Marriage
Balancing Families with Working from Home