text:
- Research article
- Open Access
A model of tripeptidyl-peptidase I (CLN2), a ubiquitous and highly conserved member of the sedolisin family of serine-carboxyl peptidases
© Wlodawer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd 2003
- Received: 23 July 2003
- Accepted: 11 November 2003
- Published: 11 November 2003
Tripeptidyl-peptidase I, also known as CLN2, is a member of the family of sedolisins (serine-carboxyl peptidases). In humans, defects in expression of this enzyme lead to a fatal neurodegenerative disease, classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Similar enzymes have been found in the genomic sequences of several species, but neither systematic analyses of their distribution nor modeling of their structures have been previously attempted.
We have analyzed the presence of orthologs of human CLN2 in the genomic sequences of a number of eukaryotic species. Enzymes with sequences sharing over 80% identity have been found in the genomes of macaque, mouse, rat, dog, and cow. Closely related, although clearly distinct, enzymes are present in fish (fugu and zebra), as well as in frogs (Xenopus tropicalis). A three-dimensional model of human CLN2 was built based mainly on the homology with Pseudomonas sp. 101 sedolisin.
CLN2 is very highly conserved and widely distributed among higher organisms and may play an important role in their life cycles. The model presented here indicates a very open and accessible active site that is almost completely conserved among all known CLN2 enzymes. This result is somehow surprising for a tripeptidase where the presence of a more constrained binding pocket was anticipated. This structural model should be useful in the search for the physiological substrates of these enzymes and in the design of more specific inhibitors of CLN2.
- Fugu
- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- Xenopus Tropicalis
- Oxyanion Hole
- Chloromethyl Ketone
Although the existence of tripeptidyl-peptidase I (TPP-I) was first noted over 40 years ago [1], the structural and mechanistic basis of its activity has been largely misunderstood until quite recently. The situation changed after it was shown that TPP-I is identical to an independently characterized enzyme named CLN2. It was also demonstrated that mutations leading to abolishment of the enzymatic activity of CLN2 were the direct cause of a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disease, classical late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis [2]. This important observation was followed by the identification of CLN2 as a serine peptidase [3, 4], without, however, specifying its structural fold and the details of the catalytic site. More accurate placement of CLN2 within the context of a family of related enzymes became possible only after high-resolution crystal structures of two bacterial enzymes with a limited sequence similarity to CLN2, sedolisin and kumamolisin, became available [5–7]. These structures defined a novel family of enzymes, now called sedolisins or serine-carboxyl peptidases, that is characterized by the utilization of a fully conserved catalytic triad (Ser, Glu, Asp) and by the presence of an Asp in the oxyanion hole [8]. Sedolisin and its several variants (e.g., kumamolisin, aorsin [9], and physarolisin [10]) have now been found in archaea, bacteria, fungi and amoebae, whereas the higher organisms seem to contain only variants of CLN2 [8]. The physiological role of sedolisins in the lower organisms has not yet been elucidated.
Despite the potential medical importance of CLN2 and related enzymes, no systematic studies of their genomic distribution have been published to date. There are also no published reports of the crystallization of this enzyme. In the absence of an experimental structure obtained by crystallography or NMR it is sometimes necessary to resort to molecular modeling in order to provide a structural basis for the explanation of the biological properties of an enzyme, and, in particular, to initiate design of its inhibitors. Examples of such very successful and useful modeling efforts are provided by HIV protease [11], or very recently by the peptidase from a coronavirus involved in the severe acute respiratory syndrome [12], among others. We have now applied the tools of molecular homology modeling to predicting a structure of CLN2 that could be used as a basis for a search for the biological substrates of this family of enzymes and for the design of specific inhibitors.
Results and discussion
Sequence comparisons of the CLN2-like enzymes
CLN2 is present not only in fish, but also in amphibians, in particular in Xenopus tropicalis (a species of frog). A partial sequence of its sedolisin-TPP (AL594774) found in the EST database http://www.sanger.ac.uk/Projects/X_tropicalis/blast_server.shtml spans the middle part of the catalytic domain, without reaching the part of the active site closer to the N terminus that contains the aspartic and glutamic acids that belong to the catalytic triad. However, the sequenced part of the enzyme shows 75% identity with the fugu sedolisin-TPP, and 69% identity with human CLN2 (Figure 3). Sequence similarity to bacterial or fungal sedolisins is much lower, indicating that the enzyme found in frogs might also share the functional properties of the CLN2 subfamily.
The discovery of highly conserved CLN2-like enzymes not only in mammals but also in two fish species and one of frogs may indicate that these peptidases are universally present in the vertebrates, and that their important role identified in humans [2] and mice [14] might be a more general feature.
Modeling of the structure of human CLN2
Comparisons of the substrate binding pockets of CLN2 and sedolisin
Considerable differences are seen, however, at the bottom of the pocket, where the side chains of Asp179 in kumamolisin and the equivalent Ser190 in sedolisin make hydrogen bonds to the P1 tyrosine of the inhibitor (if present). The equivalent residue in CLN2 is Thr182, but it is very unlikely that it can assume an orientation that would allow it to make a hydrogen bond to a P1 tyrosine. Other polar residues in the vicinity are Glu175 in sedolisin and the corresponding Asp169 in kumamolisin. However, the residue found here in CLN2 is Cys170, much less polar than its counterparts. There is also no equivalent to the polar interaction between Glu175 and Glu171 in sedolisin, since the equivalent of the latter residue in CLN2 is Ser166, much smaller and pointing away.
The side of the S1 pocket that is created by the very flexible side chain of Arg179 in sedolisin contains only a much smaller Ser174 in CLN2, and thus is much more open in the latter protein. This part of the pocket, with the main chain of the protein quite distant from the substrate, is indeed not well conserved in these proteins, with kumamolisin missing it entirely due to a deletion in the corresponding sequence position. In summary, the S1 pocket in CLN2 has less polar character than the equivalent pocket in the related proteins, and is lacking direct polar anchors for any side chains that might be present in the substrate.
The S2 pocket in CLN2 is also quite open and accessible to solvent. It is most likely larger than the equivalent pockets in either sedolisin or kumamolisin, since these are limited by Trp81 in the former and Trp129 in the latter (these residues originate from different parts of the backbone in the two enzymes and are not topologically related). Tyr130, an equivalent of the latter residue in CLN2, is unlikely to come into direct contact with the P2 residue of the substrate due to its greater distance (almost 4 Å for the closest atoms).
An important remaining puzzle is that the predicted structure of CLN2 does not show any clear limitations of the S3 pocket that could explain the tripeptidase activity of this enzyme. The location of the P3 side chain of the substrate is ambiguous, since it could point in either one of two directions by exchange with the N-terminal amine. The only negatively charged residue of CLN2 that is found in this vicinity is Asp132. Although in the current model the distance between its carboxylate and the nitrogen of the N-terminus of the modeled substrate is about 6 Å, these two groups could be brought into hydrogen-bonding range by some allowed changes in the torsion angles of the protein. Such a conformational change would involve breaking of the hydrogen bond between Asp132 and Ser139. However, this latter interaction is not likely to be structurally crucial since the serine is not absolutely conserved in all CLN2-like enzymes.
Location of mutations implicated in disease
Location of mutations found through a genetic survey of families of classic late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis patients has been described previously [17]. Most such mutations result in expression of either truncated enzyme or in incorrect intron-exon splices. However, some of the mutations lead to single amino acid substitutions in the mature enzyme. Such mutations include I92N, E148K, C170R and C170Y, V190D, G194E, Q227H, R252H, A259E, and S280L (Figure 5). Only the role of the latter mutation is completely clear, since it replaces the catalytic serine of CLN2 with a side chain that cannot support its enzymatic activity. No other residues appear to be located in the immediate vicinity of the substrate. Residues Val190, Gly194, and Arg252 are very highly conserved not only in CLN2 but also in other sedolisins and must play an important structural role. The reasons why the remaining mutations would lead to the loss of enzymatic activity are much less clear, but the wide distribution of these mutations in the structure supports the conclusion that any modifications to CLN2 that would abolish or impair its function could lead to the development of the disease.
Substrates and inhibitors of CLN2
Little is known at this time about biologically-relevant substrates of CLN2. Various defects that include truncations and single-site mutations in CLN2 have been found in the genes of patients that display symptoms of late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis [17]. One of the symptoms of the disease is the accumulation of an autofluorescent material, ceroid-lipofuscin, in lysosomal storage bodies in various cell types, primarily in the nervous system. Since a major component of such bodies appears to be intact subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, this protein has been implicated as a potential biological target of the protease. It has been shown recently that CLN2 can indeed degrade this subunit on its N terminus [18], but the unambiguous proof that this is indeed the most important target is still lacking. CLN2 is capable of processing a number of different angiotensin-derived peptides [19], with the efficiency of cleavage dependent on the length of such peptides. The most efficiently processed peptide consisted of 14 amino acids, with the tripeptide Asp-Arg-Val removed from its N terminus. The model of CLN2 presented here can easily accommodate this peptide on the P side of the substrate-binding site, although the exact mode of binding of the long P' portion of the substrate remains obscure. The observation that an analogous peptide acetylated on its N terminus cannot be processed supports the postulate that the interactions of the N-terminal amino group with the side chain of Asp132 may be the most important feature defining the tripeptidase specificity of CLN2. A number of different tripeptides can be serially processed from glucagon, with their sequences varying widely [20]. Again, however, all of these tripeptides can be easily accommodated in the substrate-binding site of the CLN2 model. Other potentially biologically relevant substrates include cholecystokinin and possibly other neuropeptides [21].
An intriguing property of CLN2 is its reported ability to cleave collagen-related peptides [22]. The tripeptides resulting from such processing include Gly-Pro-Met, Gly-Pro-Arg, and Gly-Pro-Ala. It has been recently reported that kumamolisin, and particularly a closely related protein from Alicyclobacillus sendaiensis (kumamolisin-As) can efficiently cleave not only collagen-related peptides, but also native type I collagen [23]. With the substrate-binding site of CLN2 resembling that of kumamolisin more than sedolisin (the latter enzyme has low, if any, collagenase activity), the potential collagen-processing role of CLN2 might warrant further investigation.
Since the catalytic machinery of CLN2 matches closely that of sedolisin, kumamolisin, and other members of the family of serine-carboxyl peptidases, the enzymatic mechanism of all these enzymes is most likely the same. Design of inhibitors specific for CLN2 should incorporate the features that have been proven to be important for the related enzymes, such as the placement of an aldehyde functionality capable of making covalent interactions with the catalytic serine, or the utilization of chloromethyl ketone for the same purpose. Since the few inhibitors that have been successfully used in the studies of sedolisins are either longer than tripeptides or contain blocking groups on their N termini, new tripeptide-based inhibitors with free N termini are now being synthesized (Oda, unpublished). It will be necessary to test the binding properties of different substrates in order to determine the most promising peptide sequences. Analysis of the model of CLN2 suggests that the size of the S1 subsite is much larger than in either sedolisin or kumamolisin, and thus the use of a large P1 group might be indicated. Of course, the availability of an experimental crystal structure will make the design of inhibitors easier and we are continuing our efforts to crystallize CLN2 from different sources.
Homology modeling
Three-dimensional, atomic-scale models of CLN2 were developed by exploiting the sequence similarity to the sedolisin and kumamolisin proteins (r.m.s. deviation of 1.0 Å for 273 pairs of Cα atoms in the core of the enzymes). Presently, these two enzymes are the only members of the newly-defined sedolisin/serine-carboxyl peptidase family [8] for which the crystal structures have been published [5–7]. The actual Protein Data Bank [24]: http://www.pdb.org/) entries used in the modeling were 1GA4.pdb and 1GT9.pdb for sedolisin and kumamolisin, respectively.
The first step was to form a global, multiple sequence alignment between all known members of the sedolisin family. Studies have shown that incorporating the specific patterns of amino acid residue-type variation and conservation among a family of homologous proteins provides superior results over simple, pair-wise sequence alignment [25]. Sequence files representing the different subfamilies were extracted from the non-redundant GenBank database [26] using sedolisin, kumamolisin, and the human CLN2 sequences as queries to the web-based version of the BLAST program [27]: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/. Initial multiple sequence alignments were formed with the ClustalX computer program [28]. As is expected for a family of proteins, highly-conserved segments were found aligned to the crystal structure-identified core regions of the sedolisin and kumamolisin sequences. Subsequently, the sequences were divided into two groups: those closer to sedolisin than kumamolisin and vise-a-versa. The alignment of these two groups was then manually set by the observed structural alignment of the sedolisin and kumamolisin proteins. Finally, some additional adjustment was required to correct the few places where highly conserved residues of the core regions were slightly out of alignment among different subfamilies of sequences.
The model of human CLN2 was built using the structure of sedolisin complexed with the inhibitor pseudo-tyrostatin [5, 6] as a template. The reason for this choice is that while different protein models were generally comparable, the chosen inhibitor was most compatible with the tripeptidase character of CLN2. With the correspondence of residues specified in the alignments, atomic coordinates were transferred to the target sequence by a variety of methods, including the homology modeling modules of the Look/GeneMine [29] and DeepView [30] computer program packages. For the core and active site of the protein, coordinates for identical residues were simply transferred unchanged; whereas, special care was required to position the side chains of residues differing from the template. This was first accomplished automatically by the two computer packages, then manually adjusted in the Quanta molecular modeling package (Accelrys, Inc.) to better mimic the templates and optimize the interactions with surrounding residues. A similar two-step approach was used to manifest the insertions and deletions in the variable, loop regions of the protein, where it was necessary to create new backbone as well as side chain coordinates for the models. It should be noted that, for obvious reasons, the conformation of poorly conserved loop regions is generally the least accurate aspect of a homology model. Fortunately, these problematic loops will not significantly affect the active site of the model, since only two of them impinge on the boundary of this highly conserved, functional region.
Refinement and analysis of the model
The model was finished by performing energy minimization in vacuo with the computer program CHARMM [31]. This refined the structure by bringing the covalent geometry and non-bonded interactions into agreement with experimentally observed and calculated values. Such optimizations included adjusting bond lengths, 3-point angles and 4-point dihedral angles, as well as eliminating atomic overlap and forming salt-bridges and hydrogen bonds. Since presently the potential energy functions used to describe the atomic-scale models are not sufficiently comprehensive and accurate, the final energy of the model was not used as an indicator of the realistic quality of the structure. The final quality of the structure was analyzed with the computer program PROCHECK [32]. The structure was deposited at the PDB under accession code 1R60.
Extensive discussions with Dr. A. Barrett (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK) are gratefully acknowledged. Modeling efforts were facilitated by Dr. Robert Jernigan (Iowa State University). This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), 15380072, from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (to K.O.); by NIH grants DK18865 and AI39211 (to B.M.D.); and in part with Federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under contract No. NO1-CO-12400. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the U. S. Government.
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New interest and questions keep arising as we continue this blog. One of which came up was the question of "why do they have victims that continue to be fans?"
There are a few reasons for this, the N will have one or the other; the "fan" or the ones who "ran". How does this happen when a toxic person like this is in your life? Easy. Let's take the fans first, the reason they are a fan is because all they have experienced was the love bombing stage and then maybe a small faded away exit with no real explanation. They never saw the other two stages. These are the victims that are in and out of their lives. It is possible the victim is intoxicated with the love bombing, charm or attention, but then the N, they just moved on. These are either short dating relationships or ones who do not spend a lot of personal time with them. This could be a short fling, yet the victim wanted (or hoped) it would continue. Fans can try to contact the N often, give up, then try again. They will continue to be hooked on the N, which is sad because it makes it truly hard for them to move on completely. Does the N care they are doing this to this person? NO. Instead of having a heart to heart talk with them. They will let this continue, they love the attention, even if they are in a relationship at the time, they will welcome the fan to flatter them with no respect to the new partner (victim). In a sort of a different way of looking at this, remember young teen years and a teen that is totally love sick over a rock star, or an actor? They do not know who they are in real life, or their true personality, they only see their performance on stage. But yet, they want them and will continue to want them.
Now there are cases where the victim cannot accept there is no love, the N/psychopath cannot generate love, they can only want and desire, but never have deep true love. Many victims cannot understand that nor accept that, so will continue to be a fan. Another case is where they feel they can fix them, or they can change them. This is the far most worst idea or thought process a victim can have. They will never change, it is embedded within them, it is who they are, and the victim will not accept that. So they stay a fan, going back over and over, never getting past the trauma, wasting the days and years of their life. The N/psychopath can play it on forever; victim will want this person while feeling there is hope and can fix them, which all ends up being a long or lifetime emotional roller coaster never getting to experience true love.
I guess you have to look at it if you, yourself never experienced anything but high to mild love bombing and then they faded away. You will still have a want or wish for them to return, because you never have seen any of the mask removed. Now there are some fans that were old relationships that knew each other for a long time or off and on or bootie calls, but did not spend the seriousness enough to see the dark side. Like they say, many family members have never seen the dark side of them can be very common. Some of these older Fan victims will go on, find a new mate and marry, yet will still stray to spend a night in bed with the N. In this case, both are in the wrong, and the N will find this exciting and an ego booster. They have no pride or ethics of who they hurt along the way.
Now there is another issue that creates the victim from not letting go. It is called "Stockholm Syndrome" and it more common than you think. It is an unhealthy bond with the abuser. If you want to know more about Stockholm Syndrome, go to the menu on the homepage for more insight.
Now the victims who Ran, well those are obvious. They are the ones that saw the real side, experienced the true side over and over again. In most cases there is enough mental abuse, damage and repair to the victim. They too have a hard time doing the "Ran" due to the conditioning and mental abuse; but once they ran and healed it is forever and no return.
In short, and sad, the Ran victim had to go through all the phases, most likely many times. They must live it and go through the abuse to even KNOW they were in a toxic relationship with a N/psychopath. While the Fan victim never even reached or even seen the second phase.
Besides the fact they continue to collect new victims as reserves, they also use (and try to retain) past Fans as part of their reserve in between victims.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Goulders wrote:When Kyle says check valve I think he means a demand valve (same thing? I don't know). But pubs use them and I bought one recently.
Kev888 wrote:Check valves are different to demand valves; the former are usually intended to ensure flow only goes one way, whilst demand valves are intended to allow the beer past only when the hand pump calls for it (to prevent keg pressure pushing it through at other times). In this case though, it seems neither are the ticket; what is wanted is an on/off electrical valve.
Unfortunately the only cheap ones I know of are the appliance solenoid valves (like washing machines); most are inlet valves but a few are in-line barbed types. However many have quite small orifice diameters, and I'm a bit concerned the restriction could cause foaming. Some do have larger orifices, though suppliers tend not to use specs (rather replacement part numbers) so its hard to tell before purchase. I believe some can overheat if used for longish periods, too - generally they hold open just whilst the machine fills and that kind of thing. So they may work but some would be better than others.
EDIT: Would an alternative be some sort of lock-out or cover on the beer engine, so that removing it to use the engine switches on the gas? I doubt you'd actually need a properly secure one, just something that will be bleeding obvious if you go to use the tap.
PhatFil wrote:...
the solanoid valves even those that work without back pressure will open a narrow path for the beer and will risk you fobbing considerably.
PhatFil wrote:...
dont you flush the pump out post session as to not leave it with beer stood in it? if so you would need to isolate the beer manually anyway?
PhatFil wrote:Ha, im sure your system works well for you, I know nothing, just shooting the breeze..
while not a one button solution, how about a simple low tech mechanical approach, employ a strong spring to compress or pinch closed a short length of more flexible tube in the feed line and a foot pedel/lever to open the 'pinch' it may need beefy springs and levers to operate to compress some silicone tube with a thick enough wall not to collapse with the pumps suction.
closed by default needing foot down on the lever to open up and pour?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-2-Way-1-2 ... ThU21AOzCQ
is the sort of thing a few folk have used on the hot side of brewery automation?
PhatFil wrote:sorry about the out of stock link, ss versions seem thin on the ground on ebay atm, lots of brass tho..
if the problem your trying to avoid is a pull on the pump without co2 pressure how about fitting an inline flow meter on the beerline, and use that to trigger on flow the opening of the gas valve?? you could also then employ the flow meter to measure the volume of beer pulled and indicate the volume left in the cask Im assuming the co2 on/off is via a needle valve and therfore almost instantly on/off??
cyclops wrote:Still not sure the benefits of this?
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13) Reflective safety vest (Where I keep a spare switch key, knife, pen, and extra gaskets for glad hands)
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
What's in RT's grip?
13) Reflective safety vest (Where I keep a spare switch key, knife, pen, and extra gaskets for glad hands)
15 comments:
- Kev said...
I take it this was to prove to all those people who tell you to "get a grip" that you already have one ... and it's fully stocked.
- 07 November, 2006 08:51
- mist1 said...
That's pretty much what's in my purse. Except you don't have any mascara.
- 07 November, 2006 12:19
- Cheryl said...
Dang. Sounds like your job requires heavy (to me) lifting...
- 07 November, 2006 13:09
- tsduff said...
I've got gatorade today at work. Love the stuff.
Interesting to peek into the mysterious inner grip of an engineer....
- 07 November, 2006 13:51
- honkeie2 said...
What no porn???
- 07 November, 2006 14:30
- AlaskaJen said...
It's like Mary Poppins' bag! Everything but the coat rack...what a gripping post! LOL!!
- 07 November, 2006 15:48
- cmk said...
- 07 November, 2006 16:19
- Fathairybastard said...
Man, cool possibles bag. A few grenades would round that package out nicely. Toss one out the window when the opportunity arises. Think of the possibilities.
- 08 November, 2006 01:20
- Lisa said...
You need more cowbell.
(Ok that was really stupid. But its 12:30 a.m. and I'm really tired.)
- 10 November, 2006 01:38
- Spankdawggy said...
An engineer's grip, like mine contains very few thing related to job and lots of things related to entertainment. Palm pilot, Mp3 player, PSP. I guess I do have the emergency response guidebook. And a spare reversor.
- 11 October, 2007 23:56
- Jason Plett said...
Seriously you carry four extra batteries, and your own fusees? What a tool
- 24 November, 2007 18:00
- Susan said...
I have my dad's grip from the New York Central. He was a conductor.
- 05 August, 2008 19:30
- Ranger Tom said...
Jason: Yes, my own fusees and four extra batteries. If you really knew how fucked up my railroad is in supplying this shit to us you'd realize it's a nessesity. I need to grab as many of them as I can, when I can because noone knows when the fuck we'll get more. So if that makes me a tool, I'm a tool.
- 13 May, 2009 23:40
- James said...
I just want to post a comment FRA Rule requires at least 6 Fuses per engine if your railroad does not provide them they are in violation, one battery last a week or 2, you are carrying too much stuff,
- 04 October, 2009 14:21
- Ranger Tom said...
James: The railroad I work at is not governed by FRA rules. We're considered a short-line industrial railroad and fall under OSHA.
So considering that, I'm carrying just enough stuff to get me by until the next supply delivery.
- 04 October, 2009 14:36


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Gilbert Garfinkle, the hero of my latest novel, Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, book one), is the ultimate geek. He has vintage Star Wars sheets on his bed, and posters of dragons, sci-fi movies, and Albert Einstein on the walls of his tiny room in the basement. He takes apart video game systems because he so desperately wants to see what he can do to improve them.
Character sketch of super geek Gilbert Garfinkle, the hero of Why My Love Life Sucks (The Legend of Gilbert the Fixer, book one) by Shevi Arnold
Some people see being a geek as a bad thing, but I don't, and neither does Gilbert.
In one scene he explains to Amber--the gorgeous, mixed-up vampire who wants to turn him into her platonic BFF literally forever--what it means to be a geek: ""Geeks are awesome. If other people can't see that, it's their problem. The very definition of being a geek is that you love something just because you love it, not because someone is telling you you should, but in spite of them telling you you shouldn't. There's no greater love than geek love. If you're lucky, maybe someday you'll find it too."
I've always been super geeky about comedy, fantasy, and science fiction.
When I was little, I'd take them apart and analyze them, kind of like what Gilbert Garfinkle does with video game systems. If I didn't like what I found, I would try to fix it. And sometimes I would take parts of a story and use them to create something new. This continued into my college years, when I majored in English Literature and Theater Studies. Actually, it continued through my time as an editorial cartoonist, illustrator, editor, consumer columnist, and arts-and-entertainment writer specializing in children's entertainment and, of course, comedy--and it continues to this day.
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I'm geeky about writing stories that make people laugh, cry, and think, and that transport them to worlds only reachable through the imagination. I'm geeky about books. I'm geeky about Gilbert, and Why My Love Life Sucks. And I'm geeky about my fellow geeks who love books just as much as I do.
What are you geeky about? What do you love so much that you don't care what anyone else thinks?


text:
Friday 24th March 11:30am – The Innovation Centre, Sci-Tech Daresbury
Keynote Speaker: Mike Shaw, Marks & Clerk
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12:00 pm Welcome and introduction, Adrian Quayle
12:05 pm Keynote Speaker – Mike Shaw, Marks & Clerk
12:20 pm Suggested discussion topics, David Ashworth
12:25 pm Q&A and discussion facilitator, Adrian Quayle
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After three sessions, the draft collaboration policy template will be made available to all attendees, regardless of which session(s) they attended and will be distributed to a wider network to solicit opinions. All attendees will be identified as contributors to this process.
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You get a free lunch, participate in an interesting discussion, network with people facing the same challenges as yourself and maybe even learn a few things!
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Adrian Quayle – IAOP's Leadership Hall of Fame, Member of BS 11000 Committee, Chair of ISO 37500 Committee, Managing Partner, Avasant – Following many years working with customers across Europe and globally, Adrian focuses on helping organisations to foster and maintain effective collaborative relationships. He was a member of the committee that drafted the BS 11000: Collaborative Business Relationships Standard.
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The Cheese Boutique - Mostly, it is...
Feb. 17th, 2008
02:05 am - The Cheese Boutique
So, some time ago, leahbobet wanted some Gloucester with Stilton on toast very badly. While looking for ways that this desire could be met within her parameters, I came across this Toronto Life article and thought "this Cheese Boutique place looks interesting, though not useful for the task at hand."
Thanks to a tip from an acquaintance, Leah eventually did get her cheese, and all was well with the world. But there was still that other cheese place... so we decided that it was worth a visit.
For various reasons having to do piffling things like being unable to be in more than one place at a time, the oddity of co-ordinating an outing between two people who under many circumstances are really quite content to stay home, physical ailments, and the unreliability of e-mail, we have yet to actually manage a joint visit.
However, I did manage a quick stop by when I was on my way to exchange a ticket. It being a short visit, and wanting to save the cheese cave itself for when I can go with someone else, I restricted myself to the first floor area. This therefore will not be a review - more a collection of impressions and exclamations.
For example: They have at least eight different varieties of chestnut puree! French, Swiss, I can't remember what else (they didn't have the almost jelly like sliceable variety that we get from Chinatown, but eh.), of differing sweetness and preparedness. ~$17 a can for the 900g Hero without having to drive out an hour-and-a-half to Kitchener-Waterloo, or the waste of the small tubes from Pusateri's in town. They have a good eight linear metres of shelf space of different kinds of mustards and horseradish. They didn't have exactly the one that I'd been looking for since we finished the last jar, but something pretty close I think.
But perhaps a beginning from a calmer place. The building used to be The Cheese Boutique's warehouse before they closed their original location and converted it. It still has the high ceilings with shelves requiring ladders and confined parking area of a place not originally intended for grocery style retail. For all that, they do have a deli counter, along with a small bakery and pastry case. They do also carry some fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, which, by the way, are among some of the most beautiful and carefully handled that I've seen. But most of the ground floor is devoted to the cheese and butcher counters, and the surrounding wooden shelves containing a very, very wide selection of jars, cans, bottles and boxes that sing or whisper of intriguing culinary possibilities (Too twee? Perhaps, or maybe you have to have been there.).
The layout is sort of closed in such a way that you can't really tell how much there is, or what it consists of, until you are almost right in front of each shelf. For the first time visitor, this can lead to extended periods of time where you experience repeated moments of amazement at high frequency as you turn corners or edge past a ladder or another customer. The effect for me was a bit like reading Charles Stross' Accelerando, but more beautifully dream-like. Speaking of customers, while there are restaurant and hotel chefs who make The Cheese Boutique one of their habitual suppliers of ingredients, and foodies who come in from out of town, it is located in a fairly small pocket of warehouses adjacent to residential zones, so they did look like they got a fair bit of neighbourhood traffic as well.
The music played is nicely eclectic, and definitely not unobtrusive. Not your standard Muzak. At a guess, this being a family business, the music is chosen along the lines of what they want to work to, within the limits of what customers might also find interesting. So in the short time I was there, I heard opera, tango, rock, 60s French pop, and a couple of things that I'm not sure how to classify. I heartily approve.
I'm not sure what else to say in terms of specifics until the more complete review-ish thing that I might do after a proper visit. Generally, I can say that they have a really nice variety of seasonings, spreads, rubs, marinades, syrups, dressings, drizzles, oil, vinegar, pasta, preserves, baking and drinking chocolate, tea, and oh, hmmm. A cautionary note:
Alas, I didn't follow my own general advice against going to a place with lots of interesting food to see but not eat there as a meal, in an afternoon when I've not eaten lunch or breakfast or much of dinner the night before. Therefore I can report that the entirely inappropriate late 'lunch' consisting of pastries was of excellent quality, and that, once again, hungry people should decide how much they are going to spend before entering the store. Granted, I had intended to go in and just look around, but um, nevermind.


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You're a homeowner and determined your home's roof needs fixing or needs to be improved with a replacement roof. You're all set to get moving. What's the optimal way to get a high quality roofer who will accomplish a good job? What could you look for in a roof contractor or contractor to obtain this work? Virginia Dale
When homeowners choose to repair a roof or replace that roof with asphalt during the cold winter months, they're often plagued by worries that their family will freeze before the job is completed. In the same vein, those starting a roofing job in the sweltering summer months worry that they'll be facing heat stroke. These concerns are perfectly normal and common among many homeowners looking for roofing fixes or roof replacement contractors.
Virginia DaleGetting a reasonable roof repair estimate can be easy or difficult. Obviously the single biggest factor will be the condition of the roof. If it is heavily damaged, then getting a fair estimate can be tricky. However, there are tried and true ways that a person can follow to get a good estimate. The following are some of the main ones.1. The first thing to do is, never settle with the first contractor or the cheapest one you can find. As with anything that costs a lot, shop around as much as possible. This way it will be possible to get a good idea on average prices. 2. Once a suitable contractor is found, some questions regarding the roofs health will have to be answered. Questions such as the age, life span and damage history of the roof should be made clear from the beginning. For this, getting the help of an expert is well worth it, even if it costs a few hundred extra. Otherwise there is always the possibility of a contractor giving an over estimate and charging thousands more than needed.3. When talking to various contractors, never commit immediately to a roof repair estimate. Let them know that you are looking at other options. This will bring out their competitive spirit, which will lead to lower prices. 4. Always look into materials the contractor will use. See if the material comes with some sort of guarantee. There are many options out there, so be sure to do the homework well. Ideally, a contractor should have brochures available. If they do, ask for a copy and study the material.5. Last but not least, check out the character of the contractor. If they are impolite or rude during the sales pitch, then there are a good chance they will be worse during the actual work.
How to Find a Reputable Roofer to Fix Your HomeWhether you have sustained damage to your home following a hurricane or bad weather, or if your roof shows signs of wear from age and the elements, the knowledge that you need a roofer to replace your roof doesn't make for a simple choice. This is a big responsibility, for the installation of a new roof over your head is something that should be done correctly the first time, therefore you need to be certain you hire the right person for the job. When you properly invest the time searching for a contractor, you increase the chance of a job well done.Finding the Best Roofer For the Job These days, it seems finding any type of contractor is just a Google search away. However, just because a construction company is first in the Yellow Pages or on top of Internet search results doesn't mean that you're always getting the best. Before you compulsively click through to an email form or pick up the phone, do a little research on the company you want to hire. A little time used for investigation could save you some headaches and mounting bills in the future.Word of Mouth Works: Talk to your neighbors and friends. Have any of them had a roof replaced, and if so, whom do they recommend? Consult websites like Angie's List or look for testimonials from past customers on Web searches - with Google's expansive information, you can find links to various consumer sites with information.Go Straight to the Source: Your local Better Business Bureau will have updates on contractors in your area, especially if the one you wish to hire is a member. Research what you can find - chances are if a customer is displeased, they will let the BBB know. Read the Signs: Most contractors working on a home will erect a small sign on the yard informing people who is doing the work. If you happen to see a roofer on the job, pay attention to how they work - do they keep the yard area tidy? Do the trucks look clean and neat? How many people are working on the roof, and does it appear they disrupt the regular work day for the homeowners?The more you learn about the roofer you want to hire, the better your experience - and your new roof - will be.


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Hi Guys!
I've got some gorgeous Sleek Makeup products to show you today! I have the Rio Rio I-Divine Eyeshadow Palette (£7.99) Three Gloss Me Lip Glosses (£4.99 each) and an Eyebrow Stylist Pencil (£5.99)
The Rio Rio palette is full of gorgeous bright shades, reflecting the exciting celebrations of the famous Rio carnival. As with all I-Divine palettes, you receive twelve shadows in a sleek glossy black casing. The shadows themselves are a fabulous array of bright and exotic colours, and at only £7.99 this would be a fab palette to buy if you wanted to start experimenting with colour! Some of these shades are amazing, and some are ok. Luckily ten out of the twelve are amazing! The only couple I wasn't so keen on was Ipanema (third along on the below picture) and Copacabana (third along on the second below picture) These shades just didn't have the pigmentation of the others, but the others were so good! Where often matte shades can be a bit of a let down on budget palettes, these were amazing! Just look at that electric orange! The shimmers were also to die for, hello golden yellow!
The Gloss Me lip glosses I have are (top to bottom) 22 Maria Maria, 21 Hawaii Honey, and 20 Angel Falls. These are all fabulous glosses that I have to say, I expected to be pretty sheer – how wrong was I!? Well two out of the three are actually super pigmented! Angel Falls is the perfect nude, if you like a lighter colour than your lips nude shade then definitely go for this. Maria Maria is a gorgeous intense red, and Hawaii Honey was the only gloss that came out sheer, so it just gave my lips a hint of sparkle.
And finally the Eyebrow Stylist in light is a really nifty little tool to have in your makeup bag! On one end you have the twist up eyebrow shade, in a handy kind of teardrop shape to suit the shape of your brows, and on the other you get a brush to tame those brows into shape! Awesome!
So all in all Sleek have come up with yet another bunch of fab new products! (You can check out my previous Sleek post here) So what do you think? I'd love to hear if you've tried any of these products?


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Rider Profile
Name: Stuart Wilcox
Primary Club: Scott UK
Born and bred in Edinburgh, now at University in Glasgow. I've been racing for the past 6 years and 2013 will be my 2nd year riding for Scott UK. Cycling is my passion and I'm looking to progress this year and who knows, maybe one day fulfil my dream of becoming a professional cyclist.
Career Highlights to date:
British XC Champion 2009 & 2011
Scottish XC Champion 2009
Scottish XC Series Champion 2009 & 2010
Scottish Cyclocross Champion 2011 & 2013
Scottish Downhill Champion 2011
Who inspires you and why:
I find myself inspired by cyclists from all disciplines and races, whether that be the Tour de France or mountain bike World Cups. Coming from a downhill background I've always looked up to riders like Steve Peat and Sam Hill, and ever since I started riding I've tried to emulate them, admittedly not quite as successfully!
How do you celebrate/relax after a big event:
It's always nice to get home and be able to indulge in the smaller things that you sometimes miss out on when preparing for a big race, like spending a bit more time with family or having one of those cakes you've been eyeing up for a while. It tends to be nice to have the pressure taken off for a little while, and a night out with friends always tends to go down well!


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LAS VEGAS (KGO) -- New video shows a man helping and loading victims in his truck during the mass shooting that killed at least 58 people and injuring 527.
He said everyone looked so helpless and vulnerable, and had to help.
RELATED: Who are the victims of the deadly mass shooting?
In the meantime, investigators are trying to determine exactly what happened. Officials said the more they look, the more it seems the gunman had help. "It's troublesome this individual was able to move this amount of gear inside the hotel room unassisted, Clerk County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said.
VIDEO: Timeline of mass shooting on the Las Vegas strip
The head of trauma at the University Medical Center says more victims are expected to be released from the hospital on Thursday.
Pres. Trump visited patients at the hospital on Wednesday, and some doctors said the president's visit really helped lift the mood there.
Click here for full coverage on the Las Vegas mass shooting.
New video shows man loading victims in truck during Vegas shooting
More Videos
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More TOP STORIES News


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Corsair AX1200i PSU review -
Corsair Professional Series AX1200i PSU - the new enthusiast standard ?
The sheer amount of PSUs out on the market are plentiful. Only a few names really stand out though and amongst them obviously is Corsair. AS IF their power supplies are not good enough they decided to bring out yet another upadted series aimed at the true aficionado's and PC entrepreneurs.
Amongst the Power Supply product lines there is the Corsair Professional Series AX PSU, they just released the AX1200i which is a 1200 Watt power supply that is tagged as digital (DSP) ATX power supply.
The AX series are all about being quiet and very efficient. The PSU as tested today carries a Platinum certification. Bronze, Silver but really Gold or Platinum is what you want, however the upper stack in hardware is expensive.
Yes, the new updated AX1200i is now Platinum certified, that means it's 92% efficient at 50% load. Efficiency matters; years ago PSUs were as low as 70% efficient, meaning that 30% of the used power simply vanishes, whilst you are paying for it on that electricity bill. If your components eat away 500W then with that 70% efficient product you'd actually use 650W. With today's AX1200i Platinum Platinum you'd be using 540W. It's that simple.
The PSU itself is 100% modular, for most of you with a side panel window in their chassis a must really as you'll want modular cables. Even the ATX power connector for the motherboard can be removed. The new PSU also improved on the audibility front, if your PC is in idle and pretty much doing nothing, the rather silent fan will actually disable itself.
That's right, the thermally-controlled fan spins up gradually above 30% load thus up-to 360W power consumption this PSU makes no noise whatsoever, but even during normal use and when gaming it remains silent really.
The 1200W PSU is massive in performance, the one massive 100A 12-volts says it all really. Excellent for multi-GPU solutions and hardcore overclockers. Corsair also embeds their LINK technology into the PSU. That means you can monitor the PSU with the help of software, things like PSU efficiency, power usage or simply to adjust the fan RPM. We'll show you that in the review though.
All in all we have plenty to show you and test. Mind you that being the Professional range you'll get an added benefit as well, Corsair Professional Series PSUs are backed by an excellent 7-year warranty.
But have a peek at the product and then let's head onwards into the review.
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text: folk music WBAA Arts Spotlight: Delphi Opera House WBAA Concert Series By John Clare • May 29, 2018 facebook.com/Delphi-Opera-House WBAA's John Clare talks with Sara Daly Brosman, who runs the Delphi Opera House in Delphi, and WBAA Development Director Rachel Lattimore. They'll discuss the brand new series of concerts taking place this summer. Listen Listening... / 7:30 Listen There's more about the concert series here.


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30 August 2012 at 5.55pm | Comment on this article
Dance is a fundamental part of African culture. The characteristics of local communities and the things that those communities hold important – family lineage, the natural environment, religion and historic events – are integral to dance practice. Dancing in Africa is a way of passing stories from generation to generation, ensuring that they are kept alive and relevant to communities today.
Traditional dances draw from a time when songs were sung by mothers tilling fields and pounding corn or fufu with their babies tied to their backs. Children learned melodies and rhythms from being so close to their mothers.
Dances such as Isukuti from the Western province of Kenya tell stories that celebrate birth and good harvests, and relay gossip about infidelity and events across the country. The Muchongoyo dance of the Ngoni of South Africa is based on exercise drills undertaken by Zulu king Shaka's arm. High kicks and foot-stomping are accompanied by manoeuvres in battalion formation.
Watch the Muchongoyo dance:
In the Ga Adangbe region of Ghana the Tokwe dance is equivalent to a 'Debutante's Ball': young women who have come of age are presented to the local community for the prospect of marriage to the most eligible young men. Prior to this, private ritual ceremonies take place and young women are taken from the village by elder women and taught how to look after their future homes and families. Once the training is complete, they are dressed in the finest cloth, expensive beads and scarves, which they wave in the air as a sign that they have come of age.
As African dance evolves, it is absorbing influences from around the world. Benin-born dancer and choreographer Germaine Acogny, founder of L'Ecole des Sables, a centre for African dance based in Senegal, is internationally renowned. Acogny's style fuses classical and modern technique with her knowledge of traditional African dances.
Watch some dance choreographed by Germaine Acogny:
You can try out African dance for yourself at one the free workshops run by IRIE! dance theatre on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 September during Deloitte Ignite 2012. If you can't make it, have a look at the classes and events listed on the website of The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora. They list opportunities to watch or participate in African dance around the UK.
Judith Palmer is the Chair at The Association of Dance of the African Diaspora (ADAD) and Development Manager at IRIE! dance theatre.


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It's not uncommon to sacrifice comfort for fashion. But wearing clothing that is too tight (i.e cinch belts, skinny jeans, and neckties) may also be putting your health at risk.
Melinda Beck's at The Wall Street Journal looked at more than half a dozen clothing styles that could lead to health problems like fainting, headaches, and back pain. Here's a quick list of some of the biggest offenders (you can read the full article at WSJ here):
- Tight jeans: can cause nerve compression and digestive issues
- Body shapers (i.e Spanx): can reduce lung capacity leading to lightheadedness
- Tight shirt collars and neckties: can reduce circulation in the brain and lead to muscle tension in the back and shoulders
- Tight boxers/briefs: reduced sperm production
- High heels: sky-high pumps have been linked to stress fractures, ankle sprains and bunions
- Flip-flops: shoes without arch support can lead to long-term ankle and foot problems
- Heavy handbags: can cause back pain
- Tight headbands/ponytails/braids: can lead to headaches


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Water coolers have become a necessity in every home because of its various benefits it gives. Actually, it is not just ideal for home use but also is very useful for offices as well. Basically, water coolers are best gadgets that give hydrating benefits to all the people which also encourages them to become more productive because they don't feel tired instead, feel refreshed after getting a very cold glass of water that is within their reach. As you read along this article, you will be able to know more about the benefits that one gets in having water coolers in their work establishments.
First and foremost, water coolers are way better than the tap water. Well, it is quite obvious that tap water tend to undergo series of processes just to get rid of the impurities that are present on the water component itself like for example, the lead and other harmful chemicals that are evident on the tap water. Whereas water coolers have applied high technology procedure which ensures that the water is pure, safe, healthy, and tastier.
Photo Credit : www.mtnproducts.com
Water coolers also give a benefit of making the people healthy. You may be wondering what is in the water coolers that make people have healthier bodies. Well, it is because, water in the coolers are cold which will really satisfy the thirst of those who drinks it. And with that, they have the tendency of drinking more water thus let them consume not less than the recommended amount of water intake per day. It is a fact that at least 8 glasses of water could clean your urinary tract thus keep you away from acquiring any infection on your urinary tract and at the same time, could decrease the possibility of having arthritis in the future.
Another benefit of water coolers is that, it hydrates the people. When people is well-hydrated especially at the office, it will allow them to work more and function more than what is expected of them. Actually, during the time when workers are tempted to take a nap, the best antidote for that is to have a glass of water which will enable them to get back their efficiency and have them function effectively.
Furthermore, water coolers can be replaced immediately once broken. Whereas in tap water, once the faucet encounters problems, a plumber has to do the job and fix the problem. This way, it will be time consuming and will definitely cost you much.
In conclusion, water coolers give a benefit of regulating the temperature of the body. Especially during summer time, it is ideally recommended to have this gadget in the office in order to give comfort and stabilize the body temperature of all the staff.
So what are you waiting for? Buy Water Coolers in Perth.


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Cut to today....Saturday and my ass is still not done!
I am so close and today will absolutely be the last day. I promise to post gobs of photos....and show tons of what I did. Just so you lovers can see a little before and after.
It has definitely been a week filled with a lot of really amazing lessons and experiences.
Also as an added bonus I have met some amazing people..all of who's names I will not drop...however I will give you a hint.
He is really, really,really easy on the eyes.
He has long flowing hair like Fabio...although currently his hair is short, which makes him look like a hotter version of Fabio..
His nips are TINY and I might have touched his chest for fun, cause that's not cheating.
He is currently on Redemption Island In Nicaragua on Survivor..the show.
.and his name might be Matt Elrod.
OK and he might look exactly like this...but I will never tell
OK so I know I am keeping you all in suspense. I am just really good at keeping secrets so I will not drop any names about who I have met this week........I AM A VAULT OF SILENCE....
P.S I love Matt Elrod- he is like totally my new BFF and he's really young so technically this makes me like the cougar version of a BFF.
I can't wait for all the comments of you guys trying so hard to guess who I have met.. I mean I am sooooo good at keeping secrets I will never tell.
Also this person who I have met this week has a sense of humor and showed me this video. Plus he is a Survivor.....get it!
I will also be running a campaign come Survivor Finale time to seal the deal as M.E to win "Fan Favorite" stay tuned.


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New York City is buzzing about Howard Stern and Beth Ostrosky's looming wedding that the New York Post is reporting will take place tonight at famed restaurant Le Cirque. Last month Ostrosky appeared on the Tyra Banks show where she revealed that her only bridesmaid will be her English bulldog Bianca. It was previously reported that Beth purchased a $350 collar for her dog from Hamptons Hound for the affair. The bride will wear a wedding gown designed by Marchesa's Georgina Chapman, and friend Mark Consuelos (husband of Kelly Ripa) will serve as the officiant. —Cari Wolfert
Wedding Widsom: While celebrities may choose to have Friday night weddings for different reasons, end-of-the-work-week weddings are becoming more popular for us regular folks because prices are lower and vendors are easier to book.


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Backpack vacuum cleaners are commonly used for commercial cleaning: they allow the user to move rapidly about a large area. They are essentially small canister vacuums strapped onto the user's back. Statewide specialises in supplying an extensive range of backpack vacuum spare parts including accessories, floor tools and bags ideally suited to many of the leading brands of back packs.
The Easy Spares Wizard


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A terrible durable goods report came out today. March orders were weaker than expected against downwardly revised February orders. The market hasn't paid much attention, focusing on earnings and FOMC meeting instead. This report confirms the manufacturing recession, and the recently weaker USD has done nothing to reverse the manufacturing weakness so far. The strength in the industrials sector seems based mainly on the weaker USD and higher oil prices in hopes they will translate into stronger orders. The durable goods report is in stark contrast to this view.
Leave a Reply.
September 2017
Michael Grove, CFA


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Is all of the talk about blogs starting to sound like the teacher in the Peanuts cartoons? Wah Wah Wah!
It's true that a very small percentage of individuals ever make even $100 from their blogging efforts, and it's also true there more than a few businesses that aren't seeing an increase in sales or leads as a result of their blog.
As far as personal blogging, not many of us can hope to make it our primary source of income and embrace it as a way to express ourselves creatively. For many it's a way to speak what's on their mind in a way that might just get them noticed.
I think anyone who posts on a regular basis has a secret hope that their blog will be the breakthrough to instant fame, fortune, and adulation. Visions of the beach and tropical drinks dance through our heads.
But back to reality – or shall I say, back to business. Let's talk about your company blog for a minute. Is your business blog generating leads or just traffic? Or maybe it's not doing either.
Business Blogging Quiz:
- Do you have a blog for your business?
- Are you posting to your blog on a regular basis (at least once a week)?
- Are you incorporating search engine optimization as a part of your blogging strategy?
- Are writing content that provides helpful information to your prospective customers?
- Are you including links to other websites that contain valuable content for your readers?
- Are you promoting your posts through social media networks?
If you answered no to any of these six questions (especially the first one), you're not getting the most out of your website and your SEO efforts.
5 Reasons Business Blogs are Beneficial
- Blogs are a great way to create user-generated content
- You're creating more opportunities to show up in the search engine results pages
- Fresh content keeps the search engine spiders coming back again and again
- New content keeps readers coming back again and again
- Increased visibility through social media channels (especially beneficial for newer websites
Still not convinced?
- 57 % of companies using blogs report that they acquired customers directly from their blog
10 Reasons Your Business Needs a Blog
- Increases traffic to your website
- Leads to more business
- Improves your visibility in search engine results pages
- Keeps visitors coming back
- Establishes you as an authority in your niche
- Provides your customers and prospects with valuable information
- Is an easy way to generate new, original, and relevant content
- Helps you create a community rather than targeting an audience
- Is a great way to gather comments and learn what your visitors are thinking about
- Gives you something to share on the social network platforms[/fancy_numbers]
Are you convinced yet?


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New Corvette ZR1 2019 Review; V8 6.2 Supercharged Engine
The new generation of American sportsman sees the V8 6.2 supercharged delivering 765 HP and 969 Nm of torque. Thanks to a Carthusian aerodynamic care, it reaches 340 km/h.
Never a Chevrolet had been so powerful. Never a Corvette of a series had thrust so much in there. The new Corvette ZR1 2019 promises to write a new chapter in the history of the American House. Waiting on the market at Spring 2018, the sports star and Stripes sees the V8 6.2 supercharged reach the 765 hp. An extraordinary cavalry.
The heart does not change, at least at the structural level. Under-skin pulses a V8 6.2 with variable phasing supercharged by a volumetric compressor (LT5 series), led by the 647 CV fogging of the previous generation to the current 765 hp. A unit characterized by dry sump lubrication, by the distribution of two valves per cylinder and, for the first time in the history of the GM group, by the "double" direct injection of gasoline. A technology that provides additional injectors with respect to the standard to the full advantage of the optimisation of combustion and performance of the thruster. The Corvette ZR1 2019, as mentioned, arrives thus to deliver 765 HP and 969 Nm of torque.
The traction, traditionally, is rear, while the transmission department uses a classic manual unit with 7 reports or, alternatively, the first automatic gearbox ever dedicated to ZR1, i.e. an eight-speed type with torque converter equipped Manual option by means of the steering wheel levers. A shared endowment with the least extreme Z06. It's a roaring performance. In this regard, it is sufficient to think that American sport is accredited for a maximum speed of 340 km/h. A result on which positively influences the Carthusian aerodynamic care paid to the car, especially the line of the bonnet in carbon, modified compared to the past to accommodate the new compressor.
Among the aerodynamic innovations brought to the debut by the ZR1 MY18 stand out the composite fiber splitter with fixed incidence – an absolute first for the Corvette range – equipped with lateral appendages that increase the deportity in corners, and the aileron proposed in two Configurations: Low, full speed, or high, included in the ZTK Performance package package. In the first case, there is still a vertical load of 70% higher than the standard Z06, while in the second there is an increase of the downforce quantifiable in 60% if compared to the extreme Z06 with the Performance pack. Complete the technical equipment of the ZR1 MY18 the brakes brakes with 6-piston front calipers, 19 "rear wheels, 20", and magnetoreologiche suspensions from the specific calibration that, opting for the ZTK Performance package, They benefit from an even more granite setting.
Incoming search terms:
- 6 2 supercharged Corvette how many horsepower
- corvette 6 2 l supercharged engine specs


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The savvy salesperson knows traditional selling methods are no longer worth the time, money and effort. With almost 90% of potential buyers conducting their pre-purchase research online and 60-70% of sales taking place from these inquiries, using social media for lead generation is a no-brainer. Social selling gives you unfettered access to buyers when they are doing their online research so you spend all your time dealing with people who are ready to buy rather than wading through hours of cold call rejections.
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It's not a lawful prerequisite that you designate a bookkeeper. To get directly to the point, unless you require a review, there is positively no commitment for your business or organization to name a bookkeeper.
Numerous entrepreneurs are attempting to cut costs nowadays, and they frequently hope to cutting their bookkeeping charges; either by finding a less expensive bookkeeper to do a similar work, or essentially doing the records themselves.
Presently, in the event that you would like to do your records yourself, it's not outlandish; you simply must be set up to invest a touch of energy looking into how to do it. Here's a few things to look out for:
Ensure each exchange is in the correct place
Guarantee you utilize the required arrangement (this is especially essential for joined organizations)
You should figure out how to manage dubious, irregular, and in some cases, questionable exchanges
You have to know precisely what is duty deductible, and what is definitely not
You have to get the assessment calculations revise and in the correct configuration
Any data or structures you should finish your records are all accessible on the web. On the off chance that you are a sole merchant, you ought to take a gander at the HMRC site, and in the event that you are a joined organization, you ought to take a gander at the Companies House site.
Since iXBRL was presented by HMRC, you should present your records and assessment on the web.
Try not to stress however, the product to do this is accessible for nothing from the HMRC site. You should simply set up a login and after that sit tight for the PIN to land through the post (this could take some time, so prepare).
There are a few inquiries you ought to consider before doing your records yourself however, predominantly:
Is your time worth more than your bookkeeping expenses?
Will you focus on doing the records?
Can you be 100% certain that your workings out will be right? (There are numerous punishments and fines, and numbness is not a substantial reason)
Would you have paid less assessment if an expense master had done your records for you?
Might you be able to rather be focussing your time on a cash making movement that would more than take care of the expenses of your bookkeeper's charges?
Would you be able to manage a duty examination all alone?
So there you have it; in the event that you need to cut expenses and do your records yourself, ensure that you put forth these inquiries in the first place, in light of the fact that in the event that you can profit as opposed to doing your records, it could be an awful business choice.


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Filed under: Washington | Tags: economic recovery act, jobs, nouriel roubini, obama
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of the passage of the Economic Recovery Act and the White House seems intent on using the occasion to highlight job creation (or their very own "jobs saved" formula.)
President Obama will host "an event involving Americans from across the country have benefited from the Recovery Act,'' the White House said today, according to The New York Times "The Caucus" blog.
Despite the persistence of unemployment in this "jobless recovery," the White House has – to the derision of many – persistently claimed that the ERA created/saved? 2 million jobs. Officials from a laundry list of agencies will fan out across the country tomorrow in community meetings and speaking tours to drive home this claim, The Caucus reports.
I believe that many jobs are simply lost – and if the recovery act saved any jobs, let's be sure they were worth saving. As Nouriel Roubini reminded us all in an op-ed late last year, "recent studies suggest that a quarter of U.S. jobs are fully out-sourceable over time to other countries."


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The Dallas Stars have reassigned winger Ray Sawada to the AHL's St. John's IceCaps. Sawada, who has missed much of the season with two separate injuries, was slated to play his first game in over January 13th. Technically, Dallas still owns the rights to Sawada in the NHL. There is a possibility that Dallas feels that his development would be better served in St. Johns. Alternately, Dallas could feel that the return they got (two players) was better than having Sawada for the last 21 games of the season.
Those returns are two players from St. Johns. The first, Michael Forney, is in a similar situation to Sawada: his contract is still owned by Winnipeg and expires after this season. He has played most of the season in the ECHL with Colorado, where he racked up 16-26-42 in 49 games. The second, Shawn Weller, was traded in a technically separate transaction between the AHL clubs. Weller is 10-14-24 in 41 games with St. John's. He was traded for future considerations.
None of the three players will be active in tonight's action.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Stars Send Sawada to St. Johns, Pick Up Two Players in Return
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