text: Empowering SMEs through Digital Innovation We, at Hashbrown Systems, have a wealth of experience in designing intelligent and robust solutions for multiple industries –financial services, media, retail, consumer goods. All things Hashbrown | 12/19/2019 UTC By Prabhleen Bhatia "In Today's era of volatility, there is no other way but to re-invent. The only sustainable advantage you can have over others is agility, that's it. Because nothing else is sustainable, everything else you create, somebody else will replicate." - JEFF BEZOS, AMAZON FOUNDER The business environment of today is witnessing digital disruption coupled with continuous regulatory and economic changes. The reality is that a large number of organisations-big or small and industries- manufacturing or service providers, have already embraced technologies and completely digitalised themselves but there still remains a huge number of firms struggling to incorporate the digital changes necessary to remain at the top of their game.While it is relatively easier for large corporations-the well established players in the market to deploy the best of technologies, it's the small and medium enterprises that are under immense pressure to reach a position where they can reap the benefits of digital transformation while managing their operations. Many SMEs may view technology and automation as just a way to support their current activities or probably just a way to do things quicker. But we all know it is much more than that. If you are a small to medium scale business, you cannot continue with your old ways and expect better results. Ask yourself "Am I generating more sales? Are my marketing activities achieving the intended objective? Am I meeting customer requirements a 100%? Can I differentiate myself from competitors?" If your answer to any of these questions is a "no", truth is you could make use of digital innovation to drive your business to the next growth phase. According to McKinsey, Industry 4.0 is "the next phase in the digitisation of the manufacturing sector, driven by four disruptions: the astonishing rise in data volumes, computational power and connectivity, especially new low-power wide-area networks; the emergence of analytics and business-intelligence capabilities; new forms of human-machine interaction such as touch interfaces and augmented-reality systems; and improvements in transferring digital instructions to the physical world, such as advanced robotics and 3-D printing." It's inevitable to ensure that the technologies you invest in integrate seamlessly within your organisation. Any technology, intelligent solution, software, etc would need to be updated time and again. Going digital is a continuous process and requires you to be adaptive. While as a business owner you can undertake internal assessments, talk to your customers, keep an eye on competitor activities to understand your needs, it's always best to reach out to the experts who can and will provide you customised solutions best suited to your business. We, at Hashbrown Systems, have a wealth of experience in designing intelligent and robust solutions for multiple industries-financial services, media, retail, consumer goods. We design, develop and deploy feature rich web applications that automate business operations and processes. We design and deploy cross platform mobile applications to create a constantly connected, intelligent enterprise. The seasoned data analytics and artificial intelligence team authors and deploys its own algorithms, giving our customers the necessary competitive edge. Our order management solution helps retailers, restaurateurs and the like to send orders and manage vendors at the click of a button. Our outdoor media monitoring software helps better manage advertisements, vendors, clients and campaigns. Our online marketplace brings together buyers and sellers of print machinery. The brightest minds in the business work with us to provide you the best possible, tailor made solutions to help you take the road to digital transformation. Get in touch with us right away. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter for regular updates. Tags: date and time stamp Add Date and Time stamp GPS Stamp on Photos add watermark to image inspection app add watermark to photo Subscribe to our Newsletter Stay updated with what's trending in the field of Business of Information Technology and emerging trends. Subscribe Trending in hashbrown arrow_forwardThe Business of Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence - Part IV arrow_forwardOOH Media Monitoring, Audit and Compliance arrow_forwardMachine Learning for Insurance Industry


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States pass 'kill switch' legislation against wireless industry wishes
For years now, wireless companies have been fighting against any substantive database to track stolen phones due to the profitability for the carriers if they do nothing and cash in on stolen phone re-activations. Then two years ago, AT&T was sued for doing nothing to prevent cell-phone threats and therefore agreed (with other wireless carriers) to collaborate on building a new nationwide database to track stolen phones through their IMEI numbers. But since the beginning, law enforcement has complained that the database has proven ineffective because many phones wind up overseas.
ReadWrite reviewed this carrier-lead agreement:
Cellular carriers in the U.S. want you to think they have your best interests at heart. That, hey, if your smartphone gets lost or stolen, they will have your back. At least that's what those carriers would have you believe with a new smartphone "kill switch" proposal from the CTIA, the largest U.S. trade organization that supports the cellular operators.Unfortunately, the CTIA's new proposal looks a lot more like it is covering its bases to avoid state and federal regulation than going out of its way to altruistically help users of lost or stolen smartphones. The CTIA is putting the onus of anti-theft software on the platform makers and device manufacturers. The biggest carriers—Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint—are able to ride on the technology of others while hiding behind the CTIA for policy protection. In the end, nothing will drastically change for smartphone users in the U.S. The carriers win by protecting the lucrative smartphone insurance business while letting other companies do the heavy lifting.
On Thursday, California and Minnesota took steps toward becoming the first states in the country to pass laws requiring smartphones to feature stronger anti-theft technology. The California Senate approved a measure that would require every smartphone sold in California to include a so-called kill switch that allows victims of theft to disable a stolen device. The bill fines retailers between $500 and $2,500 for selling smartphones without a kill switch. Apple and Microsoft dropped their opposition to the bill once tablets were excluded from the requirement and extending the deadline to July 2015.
The Minnesota House of Representatives also passed a bill requiring smartphones and tablets sold in that state after July 1, 2015, to feature a kill switch.
Both bills featured strong opposition from the wireless industry. There reason for the opposition was due to the legislation being so-called "unnecessary" and would "stifle innovation." Phone companies also claim that they have already taken steps to protect consumers from theft through a stolen phone database and voluntarily committing last month to offer free anti-theft features on all phones made after July 2015…..which law enforcement continues opposing.
Law enforcement officials have been pressing the industry to introduce new technology to reduce the rising number of smartphone thefts nationwide. About 3.1 million phones were stolen in the U.S. in 2013, nearly double the number of thefts from the previous year, according to Consumer Reports.

subset: commoncrawl


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AFPA's Certified Autoimmune Holistic Nutrition Specialist (CAHNS) Program is a holistic nutrition program for certified health, wellness, and nutrition professionals that focuses specifically on autoimmune diseases and how you can apply specialized knowledge of nutrition, diet, lifestyle, and environmental health to support your clients.
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The key to maximizing your Google My Business page is to provide worth to possible clients. Google is all concerning attaching searchers to the ideal services. Your Google My Business listing must supply in-depth, legitimate info.
Google is continuously seeking brand-new ways to make the internet a far better area, which suggests providing your clients the information they require. Right here are some valuable ideas to optimize your Google My Business listing.
We really hope these pointers will certainly aid you boost your local map rankings.
To make the most of Google My Business, you need to take the time to maximize your listing. As with any other website, your GMB listing requires to be updated regularly and with top quality info. Adhere to these pointers to boost your GMB SEO.
Confirmation: You'll desire to ensure that you're verified on Google. Google has numerous means to verify your listing, consisting of mailing a postcard, texting a code, or emailing it to you. Make certain your contact info is current, as a blunder can decrease the confirmation process and require you to get in touch with customer care. Along with entering the confirmation code appropriately, you can likewise submit a video clip to enhance your business's exposure as well as website traffic.
If you're asking yourself just how to obtain a higher Google Maps Ranking for your service, you're not alone. Over 5 billion individuals search Google each day, and if your service isn't provided on Google, you're missing out on out on a significant chance.
Make certain your GMB listing has the ideal keyword phrases relating to your service. These keyword phrases can be area, solutions, or items. They need to target the sorts of people who are looking for companies in Google Maps. Vital: the key phrases ought to be the very same as the name of your company - utilizing different names for your GMB as well as your actual organization is against Google plan. Furthermore, avoid keyword stuffing. It's never ever a great concept to use more key words than necessary.
Next off, Google offers top priority to services that are appropriate to the location in which they run. While it's appealing to think that you can simply pop up on a map and get much better rankings, the reality is that you require to take on other businesses that have far better listings. Keep in mind that many people do not click on a little red map pin. They want the most effective choices, and also they don't wish to wait for ages to find them. It's important to achieve a high Google Maps Ranking for your company.
When it comes to ranking well on Google Maps, neighborhood SEO plays a significant role. Selecting the ideal key words is essential to boost presence, and also making use of pertinent neighborhood keyword phrases will enhance your company's opportunities of rating well. The initial action is to effectively classify your company. Google places regional outcomes based on distance, significance, as well as importance. A business near a large city will certainly be rated higher than a company situated far away. The telephone number and URL of business ought to be provided in the correct classification.
Ensure to include all the info requested, including pictures. The more comprehensive the listing is, the far better. An excellent SEO company ought to likewise concentrate on producing high-ranking natural results. These results are based on individual actions and also are created by all-natural search queries. Higher-ranking sites will have more popularity, which translates to more revenue.
So, when choosing an SEO company, make sure to consider their in-bound and also off-page SEO approaches. By focusing on both, your service will certainly get the web traffic and the earnings it deserves.
Enhancing your Google My Business listing is important to enhancing your business's exposure on the internet. Your listing feeds Google important details, and providing as much info as possible is the most efficient SEO tactic. While it is possible to consist of added keywords, it is versus Google's Terms of Service and also might result in your listing being banned. When optimizing your Google My Business profile, make certain you include all the information that consumers will certainly require. Google will rate you higher for your organization if it has a complete listing.
One way to enhance your exposure in local searches is to optimize your Google Business Listing. By doing this, you'll get the highest rankings for clients searching within Google Maps.
Right here are some pointers and methods to boost your service's exposure on Google Maps. Optimize your profile. When a person key ins "allergy medical professional in Davenport," the first page will certainly detail neighborhood organizations that meet their specific demands. If you've got a top notch profile with positive evaluations, Google will highlight it prominently in the maps. If your listings have low-quality evaluations, however, your neighborhood exposure might be restricted. Thankfully, there are a few simple pointers to assist you enhance your neighborhood visibility on Google Maps. Obtain your listing on Google My Business. Your Google My Business account enables you to manage your presence throughout Google. Produce an account as well as upgrade your company' details on a regular basis. The more in-depth information your listing includes, the much better. Furthermore, local maps have better search engine rankings. If you can include even more info, you will certainly get detailed in Google's neighborhood 3 pack.
Nonetheless, if you do not have a brick-and-mortar place, it may be difficult to get visibility in regional search results page. {SEO Ranking for Google Business Accounts in Davenport Search engine optimization placing for Google Business accounts varies depending on the website. It has actually been estimated that 40% of GMB accounts utilize terms that are not associated to their real-world company. This will certainly enhance your SEO as Google's algorithm is configured to look for key phrases in the title.
A business's evaluation profile has 4 primary elements that can impact its SEO. In enhancement, recent reviews are more essential than older ones, because customers presume that companies alter. Post regularly on your Google Business Profile. Uploading regularly on your Business Profile provides Google the perception that your business is active and upgraded.
It will boost your visibility on regional searches. Additionally, posting frequently with relevant web content will certainly reinforce your interaction with your consumers and also raise brand understanding.
In addition, publishing on a regular basis will cause greater rankings in Google. Once you've published a message including your target key words, it will show up on Google Maps based outcomes.
To Rank in the Google Maps 3 Pack, you should have a brand name. You need to be cautious concerning the information that Google gathers from your company. Having an existence in the Google Maps 3 pack is extremely important, as it will certainly bring even more focus to your brand name and motivate customers to call. By enhancing your site for regional search, you can make sure that your service will appear high in the Google Maps 3 pack. Neighborhood SEO is likewise essential, as it needs to look appropriate and also have several positive evaluations.
Check out: optimize google my business 2020
Another crucial ranking factor is mobile-friendliness. If you have multiple places, you ought to maximize your pages for mobile phones. You ought to compose one-of-a-kind material for every location, as Google thinks about mobile responsiveness when placing websites. In addition to content, Google likewise considers mobile responsiveness when placing websites.
For this reason, you must have a separate mobile internet site for every area. This is because separate mobile sites call for more effort and also duplicate content problems.


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Tips on Sweet Watermelon
Watermelons were first grown in Africa according to Burpee, but today you'll find them in sunny gardens throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11. Is your watermelon not sweet enough? Make sure you're starting with the sweetest varieties such as Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby or Congo. Then, a few changes to how you care for your watermelon plants can actually improve the fruit's sweetness and flavor even more.
Plastic Mulch Increases Yields
Plastic mulch doesn't just block out weeds that would otherwise compete with your watermelon plants for soil moisture and nutrients. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, watermelons like warmth and black plastic warms the soil, increasing both watermelon fruit quality and total yield, meaning you get bigger and tastier fruit compared to other kinds of mulch. If a fall crop is planned, Clemson University recommends that you spray the plastic white so soil doesn't get too hot in the summer.
Black plastic mulch is available in most garden stores or nurseries. After preparing the soil for planting, lay the plastic mulch over the planting site's bare soil. Bury the edges of the plastic mulch under a couple inches of soil, and cut holes in the plastic where you plan on planting or transplanting watermelon plants. In most cases, these holes should be spaced apart by 6 feet to give the watermelon plants room to sprawl.
Watermelon Not Sweet? Try Boron
Boron increases the chances of a watermelon vine's flowers turning into fruit. Is your watermelon not sweet enough? When given a mineral boost of boron, watermelon vines produce sweeter fruit.
While you can buy commercially prepared boron plant sprays, you can also make your own solution at home. Simply mix a tablespoon of household borax in a gallon of tap water. Once watermelon vines start to ramble across the soil, spray the base of the plant and all its leaves with your homemade solution.
Taper Off Watering
When watermelon plants are young, provide them with lots of water to improve vine growth and root development. For the best results, water every morning and use enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of at least 1/2 foot. However, once the vines have produced fruit, taper off watering to just once every three or four days. This helps to concentrate the sugars in the developing watermelon fruit, increasing both the level of sweetness and the strength of its flavors.
More Tips for Sweeter Watermelon
According to Modern Farmer, you should add four to six inches of composted manure to the planting bed before you plant for maximum sweetness. They state that watermelon is at its sweetest point when the vine shrivels at the fruit or the fruit detaches on it's own.
Heat and sun exposure improves ripening and fruit sweetness. Once vines have grown little baby watermelons, slide some straw or similar dry material under the fruit to protect them from rotting. Then, every few days, turn the fruit by a few degrees. This helps to expose all parts of the watermelon fruit to the sun's warming rays, thereby improving fruit flavor, sweetness and quality.


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Audit questions Elwood's bookkeeping methods
ELWOOD, Ind. – A state audit has raised questions about a central Indiana city's bookkeeping methods and travel expenses its mayor racked up during a business trip to Japan.
The Indiana State Board of Accounts' audit of Elwood's books was critical of Mayor Ron Arnold's expenses in Japan, the city's employee compensation and a lack of documentation for claims.
The audit said the city gave the Elwood Community Development Corp. a $7,000 cash advance to pay for Arnold's trip to Japan to seek economic development prospects.
The Herald Bulletin reports Arnold provided travel expenses for himself and a marketing consultant in the amount of $7,543.
Arnold wrote in a response letter that the Elwood Board of Works reviewed and approved the Japan trip expenses, including all receipted and non-receipted expenses.


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Alley Front Window Historic Center Houses
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By Ivan Mwine Popular social media App Facebook, which is owned by billionaire Mark Zukerberg, has changed its brand name to Meta and has finalised
By Ivan Mwine Popular social media App Facebook, which is owned by billionaire Mark Zukerberg, has changed its brand name to Meta and has finalised
By Simon Abaho Makerere University has developed the first locally made diesel engine, adding to many other innovations by the institution. The one-stroke engine can
By Simon Abaho Jeff Bezos has offered to cover $2bn (£1.4bn) of NASA costs in order to be reconsidered for a key contract to build
By Agencies Silicon Valley giant Google was fined $593 million by French antitrust authorities on Tuesday for failing to negotiate a deal in "good faith"
By Norman Isaac Mwambazi Uganda is set to join a plethora of countries that have invested highly in space technology sending shuttles to outta space
By Norman Isaac Mwambazi The days from January 13 to 15, 2021 will be remembered as when there was absolutely no internet activity coming from
By Norman Isaac Mwambazi President Joe Biden was took his place in the White House as the 46th President of the United States of
By Norman Isaac Mwambazi WhatsApp users of certain older iPhone and Android models must back up their messages and update to iOS 9 or
By Nellie Nakitende With the fast pace of Smartphones evolution these days, there is always something waiting in the wings. Here we
By Mable Nakibuuka Untold panic has gripped the Uganda Police, especially the Communications Department, after unknown hackers hacked into the Uganda Police Force website


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How '90s inside design software program laid the muse for right now's life sims
In 1994, my mother, a working inside designer, determined to leap on the house computing bandwagon and get 3D Residence Architect (opens in new tab). The Broderbund program was a part of a clumsy, curious wave of computer-aided design (CAD) software program tailored for the burgeoning dwelling market (opens in new tab)—the typical joe seeking to redecorate and transform in an thrilling new digital world. I used to be already accustomed to ground plans and architectural drawings from watching my mother at her drafting desk. My mom made a valiant try to get used to this system, however as a diehard traditionalist, she finally returned to working along with her trusty pencil and paper. Out of the blue 3D Residence Architect, which my dad and mom did not take into account a videogame (and subsequently not one thing to fret about), was all mine.
A long time later, I've sunk oceans of time into arranging furnishings in Animal Crossing and laying out my free firm room in Remaining Fantasy 14. In video games, particularly life sims, inside design generally is a harmful street to a spot the place time stops. However at first, the world of digital dwelling design was a really completely different animal: easy-to-use client CAD packages that formed a technology of dwelling laptop customers.
"When these merchandise first got here out within the Nineteen Nineties, folks wished to play with them as a result of they actually allowed you to do issues on a pc that have been inconceivable earlier than… it felt like being a part of the 'future'," says Dr. Laine Nooney (opens in new tab), who specializes within the historic, cultural, and financial evaluation of the videogame and residential computing industries. Like me, Nooney has sturdy recollections of their mom taking part in with 3D dwelling design and landscaping packages within the mid-to-late '90s when their household was going by means of a interval of upward mobility.
"Even into the mid-90s, solely a couple of third of US households had a pc. Journalists, buyers and innovators put great effort into convincing folks a house laptop was one thing you need to need or not," Nooney explains. "The concept of dwelling computing was not merely about having a pc at dwelling. It was a cultural attraction, asking customers to think about one's life as accessible for growth by means of computing."
Even with its blocky, unsophisticated graphics, in my eyes 3D Residence Architect was a gateway drug to the pure uncut concept of a fantasy dwelling. A few of its software program siblings, like Sierra CompleteHome, had price estimation instruments, which I blithely ignored. In any case, I used to be a child, and if I might construct an enormous and bodily inconceivable mansion with the best supplies accessible, by god, I used to be going to do it. It was the primary time I might experiment with a digital house with out limits—a far cry from the bodily limitations of my Barbie Dream Cottage (opens in new tab), which by no means appeared to have sufficient room.
Within the realm of video games, I would already blasted by means of 1991's Jones within the Quick Lane, Sierra Leisure's bitterly humorous social life sim the place you began off in a crummy, run-down condo and labored as much as a luxurious rental. It provided a primary display displaying your private home, replete with hard-earned furnishings and electronics, however there was no management over the place to put objects or modification choices.
Whereas 'taking part in' 3D Residence Architect, I handled it as a freeform sport to check hypothetical houses of the long run for myself and fictional characters. Maxis started trotting out extra centered Sim video games that took a extra granular lifestyle simulation on a smaller scale, like SimTower (opens in new tab)—the primary Sim sport that basically prompted me to get psychological about how and the place I positioned completely different facilities within the titular skyscraper.
Not like SimCity 2000, it was each a literal and figurative close-up of recent life, exemplified by the glitz and futurism of the high-rise format. There was additionally a way more visceral, emotional connection between the inhabitants pictured on-screen and the setting—for the primary time I needed to actually take into consideration the place I used to be putting eating places and leisure facilities, in addition to the elevators within the constructing (if the residents waited too lengthy or received too impatient, they might merely blip out of existence in a crimson rage).
The psycho-spatial, psychogeographical side in social/life sim video games actually got here to a head when Maxis launched The Sims in 2000. It was, admittedly, a bewildering time for grown-ups struggling to parse this new cultural phenomenon (opens in new tab), together with the concept you needed to make a cushty house for laptop folks to thrive in. For teenagers like Sophie Mallinson who had grown up with dwelling design packages, it was a no brainer.
One in every of Mallinson's earliest laptop recollections have been the free CD-ROM demos of dwelling design packages that got here along with her mom's dwelling decor magazines. "Whereas these merchandise have been clearly aimed toward adults, with bland aesthetics and built-in price estimates, at eight years previous all the things on the pc was a sport to me," says Mallinson, who now works as a simulation sport designer at Maxis. "I keep in mind being stunned by the power to navigate a sensible 3D setting, my creativeness operating wild as I created rooms for imaginary characters and invented a backstory for every dwelling."
In 2000, drawn to the attract of home-making and the imaginative energy of dwelling design, Mallinson determined to get The Sims, which shortly grew to become her favourite sport. "Not solely might I design houses utilizing a large catalog of furnishings, from heart-shaped beds to inflatable chairs, however all the things was interactive," she says. "I might see my Sims use every merchandise I would thoughtfully picked out and stay their lives within the house I would created for them."
Mallinson, who just lately purchased her first dwelling, recreated the ground plan in The Sims 4 to mess around with renovation concepts. "It is humorous to suppose I used to play with inside design software program, and now I am utilizing a videogame to plan out my own residence," she says, including that she always thinks about higher, extra accessible methods to combine The Sims' core elements—structure and residential design—into gameplay.
Now, ideas of dwelling, dwelling decor, and customizable habitation have develop into acquainted options in all the things from fantasy RPGs and chill puzzlers to devoted inside design cell video games. The position of 3D dwelling design packages in cultivating this customary, in addition to their impression on a technology of sport designers and simulation followers who grew up fascinated with issues like 3D Residence Architect, stays largely unexamined. Whereas there hasn't been a lot analysis on this space, Laine Nooney believes there are some "fascinating resonances" between the way in which video games method room or unit composition, and the way in which 3D dwelling design packages offered us with houses as items of divisible house.
"I believe we severely misunderstand videogame and laptop historical past after we draw very agency strains between video games and different sorts of software program," says Nooney, who means that these packages is likely to be thought-about one of many first "sandbox" 3D rendering instruments accessible to the typical dwelling laptop consumer. Finally, in our search to grasp human fascination and the cultural attraction of computer systems, early novelty software program like 3D Residence Architect hasn't obtained practically sufficient credit score for his or her affect in trendy sport design. "Curiously, I do suppose we're seeing a return of those sorts of instruments within the type of augmented actuality offered by furnishings and residential decor retailers," provides Nooney. "In its personal approach, novelty by no means appears to get previous."


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Booker to introduce climate bill
Editor's Note: Weekly Agriculture is a weekly version of POLITICO Pro's daily Agriculture policy newsletter, Morning Agriculture. POLITICO Pro is a policy intelligence platform that combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day's biggest stories.Act on the news with POLITICO Pro.
With help from Helena Bottemiller Evich and Ryan McCrimmon
Quick Fix
— Sen. Cory Booker plans to introduce the Climate Stewardship Act today with hopes of getting the bill into President Joe Biden's infrastructure package.
— The Agriculture Department's budget would grow by 16 percent under Biden's first budget request, including extra funds for rural projects and ag research.
— The FDA has issued a warning to the leafy greens industry after years of deadly and costly outbreaks.
HAPPY MONDAY, APRIL 12! Welcome to Morning Ag, where your host is excited to check out this ag-themed park the next time she is in Idaho. Maybe I will finally get thatBig Idaho Potato Airbnb and definitely snack on an ice cream potato, too! Have other suggestions? Send ideas and tips to [email protected] and @ximena_bustillo, and follow us @Morning_Ag.
LAWMAKERS AIM TO BOOST CONSERVATION PROGRAMS: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) exclusively told POLITICO that he will reintroduce his Climate Stewardship Act today to expand voluntary conservation programs. He's hoping to attach the bill to Biden's infrastructure package.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) will introduce a House companion bill, previously sponsored by then-Rep. Deb Haaland in the last session.
In a statement provided to POLITICO, Booker recalled the infrastructure expansion under FDR's New Deal and said tackling climate change will require "the same kinds of bold investments...to seriously engage farmers, ranchers and rural communities as part of the solution to climate change."
What's in the bill? The bill is largely similar tothe one proposed in 2019 by increasing funding and expanding USDA programs, including: the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP); the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; the Conservation Stewardship Program; and the Conservation Reserve Program. The bill would also triple conservation technical assistance funding to $2.1 billion.
Changes include the additional practices that can be eligible for funding under qualifying "climate stewardship practices," an increase REAP funding and it creates additional priority and increased level of cost share for solar projects that include pollinator habitats.
The bill would also increase grants to farmers to buy equipment to implement climate stewardship practices and improve soil health.
The measure would also set aside funding for socially disadvantaged and new and beginning farmers and ranchers and aims to plant "billions" of trees by 2030, according to a congressional aide familiar with the legislation.
The bill would satisfy some of the demands of some groups looking for REAP expansion. Last week, dozens of national and regional agricultural groups, along with businesses and cooperatives, sent a letter to Biden, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and ag committee leaders asking for an expansion of the program to be included in the President's Build Back Better agenda.
The bill would increase REAP funding to $3 billion per year over the course of 10 years, well above the $300 million the coalition of advocates was looking for.
Let negotiations begin: Booker and Spanberger see this bill as a top priority for inclusion in Biden's infrastructure package, according to a Booker aide. Since the Climate Stewardship Act is largely budgetary, and can be included in a spending package, there is hope the full bill will pass without being split up.
What's next: The bill didn't see much action in either chamber in the last session, nor did it have Republican co-sponsors, but proponents of the bill are looking to pick up more co-sponsors this time around and be active in infrastructure negotiations.
BIDEN'S FIRST AG BUDGET: The White House on Friday rolled out its so-called skinny budget, a fiscal 2022 spending plan that would raise funding for every major wing of the government. The administration wants USDA to get a 16 percent bump, bringing its discretionary budget to $27.8 billion for the year starting in October, reports Pro Ag's Ryan McCrimmon.
The highlights: Biden's budget request mirrors many of the rural priorities included in his infrastructure blueprint, like broadband access, reclaiming abandoned mines and helping rural communities transition to cleaner energy sources. It also would expand funding for USDA research and education programs.
Next up: Congress can now get started writing the annual spending bills for each agency. But the appropriations process will run parallel to Democrats' work on a sprawling infrastructure package, which is likely to dominate the agenda for several months.
Biden's full budget request, including tax changes and more detailed funding plans, is expected later this spring.
USDA REACHES 1 MILLION VACCINES: USDA has administered 1 million shots and counting, with many of its employees becoming part of FEMA teams around the country to administer doses to anyone eligible. More than 1,000 employees have been a part of the vaccine campaign, with about 450 deployed currently. The deployments are time limited so participants can resume their regular jobs at USDA.
"Vaccines are going to the general public eligible to receive the shot wherever we are deployed to administer the vaccines," a USDA spokesperson told your host. "Success is getting shots into the arms of anyone who is eligible to receive the vaccine."
The department began this effort in February as part of the Biden-Harris administration's "whole-of-government strategy" to the pandemic.
USDA EXPANDS FOOD ASSISTANCE TO YOUNG ADULTS: The department announced on Friday it will be expanding the Child and Adult Care Food Program to allow homeless young adults under the age of 25 to receive meals at emergency shelters participating in the program.
The program previously limited reimbursements to shelters for meals served to children under 18 but the American Rescue Plan allowed for an expansion of the program,according to USDA, by providing $12 billion to a variety of programs to tackle food security.
Eye on FDA
FDA's 'WARNING SHOT' ON LEAFY GREENS: The FDA last week put the multibillion-dollar leafy greens industry on notice as it released the results of the agency's investigation into an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak last year.
The move didn't get much media attention, probably because the announcement was heavy on regulatory speak. But it could have potentially far-reaching consequences for the industry and for consumers.
Lest you forget: There were at least 30 E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada linked to leafy greens between 2009 to 2018.
In 2019 alone, there were three outbreaks tied to leafy greens that sickened at least 188 people, including 92 hospitalizations and 16 cases of kidney failure. In October, Canada essentially banned leafy greens from the Salinas Valley after food safety officials there became fed up with the repeated outbreaks.
A call to action: Michael Taylor, former FDA deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine and "godfather" of Food Safety Modernization Act, called FDA's latest statement an "unmistakable warning shot," in an opinion piece published in Food Safety News.
"I hope it will serve as a call to urgent action that gets to the root of the problem of the persistent presence of dangerous E. coli in the growing environment for leafy greens and other fresh produce," Taylor wrote.
A regulatory threat: In the investigation report, FDA cites regulatory language from its produce safety rule (part of FSMA) and points to the recurring problem of pathogenic E. coli as a hazard in the Salinas and Santa Maria growing areas. It attributes the problems to the presence of cattle on land near where greens are grown.
What's surprising, Taylor noted, "is that FDA used regulatory language to express its finding and spelled out the implications: farms covered by the FSMA produce safety rule 'are required to implement science and risk-based preventive measures" to minimize the risk of serious illness or death from the E. coli hazard.'"
The bottom line: The industry is being put on notice.
Looking beyond the greens fields: Leafy greens producers contend they are constantly improving food safety and welcome FDA's call to work on better solutions. There's also a growing recognition that the industry has to look beyond its own operations (remember: FDA keeps pointing to proximity to livestock).
"It's clear that we can't limit our focus to leafy greens farms, but we must take a more holistic approach that considers the environment outside of our farms," said said Tim York, CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, a voluntary industry program that submits members to food safety audits by state inspectors. LGMA said it is working with landowners with vineyards and cattle operations near growing operations.
The beef industry perspective: MA asked the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to weigh in on all this, too.
"Previously, FDA has worked primarily with the leafy greens industry to resolve safety concerns – we strongly urge the agency to make livestock producers an equal partner in food safety conversations, as we all share the goal of providing safe, high-quality food to consumers," said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall, noting the group's members can "provide valuable contributions" to FDA's research into minimizing dangerous strains of E. coli.
Movers and Shakers
— The International Foodservice Distributors Association is bringing on Mala Parker as vice president of government relations. She was most recently deputy administrator at the Federal Highway Administration (hat tip: POLITICO Influence).
— Biden will nominate California's workplace safety chief, Doug Parker, to lead the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, POLITICO's Rebecca Rainey and Eleanor Mueller first reported. Parker heads California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health and previously worked at the Mine Safety and Health Administration during the Obama administration. He also started his legal career as an attorney at the United Mine Workers of America.
Row Crops
— An increase in storm intensity is reflected in the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's new baseline. Better observational technology, including satellites, and human-driven climate change played a role. POLITICO Pro Energy's Zack Colman has more.
— POLITICO Pro has a Q&A with Radhika Fox, who is leading the Biden administration's work to incorporate environmental justice into EPA's water work.
— Biden proposes a $2.4 billion increase to the Interior Department's budget to boost funding for environmental and Native American programs. POLITICO Pro Energy's Ben Lefebvre reports.
— Food pantries became mass distributors of food during the pandemic resulting in overwhelming capacity. The New York Times has more.
— There is an expected increase in the demand for feedstocks from renewable fuel producers as companies scramble to expand output. Reuters has the report.
THAT'S ALL FOR MA! Drop us a line: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] and [email protected].


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[Techtaffy Newsdesk]
The Federal Trade Commission adopted final amendments to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Rule, that strengthen kids' privacy protections and give parents greater control over the personal information that websites and online services may collect from children under 13.
The final amendments:
— modify the list of "personal information" that cannot be collected without parental notice and consent, clarifying that this category includes geolocation information, photographs, and videos;
— offer companies a streamlined, voluntary and transparent approval process for new ways of getting parental consent;
— close a loophole that allowed kid-directed apps and websites to permit third parties to collect personal information from children through plug-ins without parental notice and consent;
— extend coverage in some of those cases so that the third parties doing the additional collection also have to comply with COPPA;
— extend the COPPA Rule to cover persistent identifiers that can recognize users over time and across different websites or online services, such as IP addresses and mobile device IDs;
— strengthen data security protections by requiring that covered website operators and online service providers take reasonable steps to release children's personal information only to companies that are capable of keeping it secure and confidential;
— require that covered website operators adopt reasonable procedures for data retention and deletion; and
— strengthen the FTC's oversight of self-regulatory safe harbor programs.
The COPPA Rule was mandated when Congress passed the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. It requires that operators of websites or online services that are either directed to children under 13 or have actual knowledge that they are collecting personal information from children under 13 give notice to parents and get their verifiable consent before collecting, using, or disclosing such personal information, and keep secure the information they collect from children.
The rule also prohibits them from conditioning children's participation in activities on the collection of more personal information than is reasonably necessary for them to participate. The Rule contains a "safe harbor" provision that allows industry groups or others to seek FTC approval of self-regulatory guidelines.


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  How To Lose Weight Fast - Just Got Easier - Weight Loss
- Weight Loss Through Understanding Muscles, And Hormones Too.
We need to discuss the mechanics of losing fat. The stored fat on your body can supply the calories needed to run the metabolism. If you want to know about how to loose weight fast exercise 0f and how to lose weight fast , then know that muscle action, equals increased metabolism, equals burning up of stored body fat. If you sit on the couch you will only accomplish watching TV, not losing weight. Muscles have gotten you out of a lot of jams in the past. So why not employ them now? Use your muscles. Work them. Do what they want to do. Muscles like working so much you could say they love working. Work your muscles. Get rid of fat. And get more vitality at the same time. Is this something that you knew?
In the day to day operation of the body hormones are used to regulate and control many activities and one of those activities involves how you are able to burn off the fat. You may be wondering how these hormones are released. To get these hormones flowing in your blood, you just need the right foods in your diet.
So what we are going to do is adjust the balance, or you could say the ration of proteins and carbohydrates. Keep the percent of carbohydrates low or as much as medium. Keep the proteins high.
- Do You Know How Many Calories Are In The Foods You Eat?
Discussion of how to loose weight fast exercise 0f and how to lose weight fast . You know, folks don't always realize the basics, of how important it is to understand how many calories are in the food they eat daily. Foods labels have data on them that you must know. So read them. An example will illustrate this.
The difference in common food calorie content is going to be a real eye opener for you. Even among some pretty popular and common vegetables. Consider 1 cup of each, cooked, you will find that green beans possesses only a tiny 38 calories while lima beans are overflowing with 260 calories.
This is quite important. Think on this for a moment. Two good vegetables. Two very different calorie contents. This can add up. Eat limas every day and gain weight every month, 2 to 3 pounds.
Fresh fruit is a great dessert. Did you know that an average apple, a raw apple, has only 60 calories in it? Not much eh? But a single slice of apple pie is burgeoning with 400 calories.
- Negative Calorie Truth.
The negative calories are real and will help you achieve how to loose weight fast exercise 0f and how to lose weight fast . Nothing could be simpler than this.
You are actually using up calories when you eat. The process of eating and digesting requires calories to go on. It is possible to eat a food that has fewer calories than the amount of calories needed to digest that very food. We should definitely apply this as we look at how to loose weight fast exercise 0f and how to lose weight fast .
Where can the body get the needed calories? Well the fat calories are just sitting there. Yes, a bit of a surprise. But please think about this. You reduced your body weight by eating something.
If you have too many or not the right kind of snacks, that alone can cause you to gain fat on your body. So think about what will happen if you put negative calories as your snack food. It is sooo useful. Include negative calories throughout the day.
Apples and oranges are one of the most popular negative calorie foods.
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Many women have questions about if they can breastfeed with implants and wonder if it's safe for their babies. We interviewed two of our breast augmentation surgeons and asked them to answer some of the more common questions around breastfeeding and implants.
Can you nurse after a breast augmentation?
Women of all ages come to Belcara Health to explore their breast augmentation options. Some of them are women who are looking to have their first child, or plan on growing their family. If you expect to have children, you might be concerned about whether a breast augmentation, specifically implants, will affect your ability to breastfeed. Luckily, with a bit of forethought during surgery, you should have nothing to fear about nursing after a breast augmentation procedure.
Can I breastfeed with implants?
Yes! The majority of women can nurse with breast implants. But, for those wanting to be as careful as possible, surgeons can avoid moving tissues involved in milk production.
During a typical breast implant surgery at Belcara Health, our doctors intentionally avoid ducts and glands that produce milk after pregnancy. However, you should always discuss your future breastfeeding plans with your surgeon beforehand, so they know which precautions to take during the procedure.
Is breastfeeding with implants safe?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found no evidence that materials from an implant (such as silicone) can enter a mother's milk supply. Depending on where they're placed, breast implants can theoretically impede the amount of breast milk produced. However, this can typically be avoided by using "breastfeeding safe" techniques during your breast implant surgery.
Will breastfeeding ruin my implants?
No! There are multiple ways that surgeons can ensure breast implants stay intact and protect a patient's ability to breastfeed after a breast augmentation. Incision location and implant placement are two of the most important factors.
- Incision location: Incisions during breast implant surgery have the potential to disrupt milk glands or damage nerves. You want your breast surgeon to avoid periareolar incisions as they circle around the areola and cut close to the nipple. Inframammary or transaxillary incisions are safer options as they run along the outer edges of the breast and are farther from glandular tissue.
- Implant placement: Breast implants placed too close to breast tissue can occasionally put pressure on glands and negatively affect milk production. To keep the implant away from direct tissue contact, it can be placed underneath the chest muscle.
Even without specialized care, both breast implants and breastfeeding ability usually stay intact after surgery. With proper incision and implant placement, women can truly rest easy. Be sure to discuss your family plans with a board-certified plastic surgeon during a one-on-one consultation. Together, you can customize your procedure and protect your ability to nurse with breast implants.
Browse our before-and-after gallery to see pictures from our own breast augmentation patients. If you would like to learn more about your breast augmentation options here in Baltimore, or have specific questions regarding breast implants and nursing, request a consultation online or call us at (410) 417-7822.


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Unions top list of N.J.'s special-interest spenders
Unions, led by the New Jersey Education Association, head a list of special-interest spenders that has poured more than $300 million into politicking in the state over the past 15 years, says a new analysisby campaign-finance regulators.
The report issued Wednesday by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission tallies campaign donations, lobbying and independent spending since 1999.
The 25 highest-spending special interests shelled out $311 million — $57 million by the NJEA, including $19.5 million last year, the largest annual total ever for any group.
"NJEA is considered a powerhouse in Trenton and for good reason," said ELEC's executive director, Jeff Brindle.
ELEC limited its analysis to political action committees, or PACs, though the commission acknowledged that doesn't completely measure the financial clout of special-interest groups.
"Some interest groups, such as public contractors, make massive contributions without PACs. Those groups also exert an influence in the state's Capitol," Brindle said.
Unions hold five of the top six spots and accounted for $171 million of the $311 million.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers spent almost $27 million, the New Jersey State Laborers $26.4 million, the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters $21.2 million and the Plumbers and Pipefitters $14.6 million. Totals include spending by their affiliates.
The Communications Workers of America ranked ninth at $11 million.
Top 10 spenders from the business side of the political spectrum include the Realtors ($17.5 million), Verizon ($12.8 million), the New Jersey Hospital Association ($11 million) and the New Jersey Builders Association ($10.7 million).
More than half of the $311 million dished out by the biggest special-interest spenders since 1999 went to political contributions, with lobbying accounting for nearly one-third.
But that balance has been changing in favor of direct independent spending, both in New Jersey and nationally since 2009. Last year, direct spending in New Jersey surpassed contributions to political candidates, primarily because of the NJEA's $14.6 million.
In total, the nearly 300 PACs that file reports with ELEC spent a record $59.5 million in 2013. That's not surprising, in part because it was the first year since 2001 in which the governor's race and all 120 seats in the Legislature were on the ballot. The spending included $22.1 million in contributions to candidates and political parties


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Check out all the matches today involving NCAA Division I-II men's volleyball teams and how to follow them live.
Charleston (9-10, 0-7 EIVA) vs. North Greenville (7-12, 6-6 ConfCarolinas)
Match vitals: 3 p.m. in Tigerville, South Carolina
Follow live: Live stats, Online video
No. 14 USC (7-12, 5-9 MPSF) vs. George Mason (8-10, 2-5 EIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Los Angeles
Follow live: Live stats, Radio feed, In-match tweets
No. 15 UC Santa Barbara (9-11, 5-9 MPSF) vs. Harvard (6-8, 3-4 EIVA)
Match vitals: 7 p.m. in Santa Barbara, California
Follow live: Live stats, Online video


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Termites are bugs that can cause structural damage in your home. They can be costly to exterminate. Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year. Fortunately, termites are not known to be direct carriers of any diseases. However, they have been known to contaminate food with dangerous substances called Formosan termite droppings or fecal pellets. These particles contain a highly corrosive substance.
Here are some ways to know if termites have invaded your home;
1. Half-eaten wood.
Consider a wooden door or window frame that has been chewed through. Look for small holes or tunnels on the wooden support beam of your home's exterior walls. In severe cases, termites can cause your house to collapse.
2. Swollen and cracked wood.
Termites will damage your home's wooden support beams and structures by gnawing their way through the wood. These bites may be noticeable as they look like small holes, or in circumstances where they are not visible, aqueous storage tissue may form in the affected section of wood.
3. Wood rot.
Termites can cause dry rot, which is when the timbers in your home begin to rot away, often with little or no evidence of actual termite presence. Pollution is usually caused by a lack of structural support, allowing moisture to seep into your home's timbers.
4. Live termites.
Look for swarms of winged termites flying around in dimly-lit areas of your home's basement or storage areas, such as your pantry or attic. It is also possible to spot them on the ground outside your house or in the trees near your home.
5. Dead termites.
Look for dead termites lying on the ground or in the grass outside your home. You may also find them inside your house, usually around windows, doors, and inside walls and floors.
6. Mud tubes.
Termite mud tubes are a sure sign of an infestation as termites use these to travel in and out of their nesting area and get food outside their colony when necessary. Termite mud tubes can be found on your exterior walls, floors, and furniture.
7. Fecal pellets.
Fecal pellets are a byproduct of termite digestion expelled from the nest. They can be found on the floor near the nest, in cracks and crevices, and inside your home. If you suspect termites, you should remove all fecal pellets immediately, beginning with the areas closest to the nest, as these are most likely to contain Formosan termite droppings.
8. Subterranean odors.
You may notice a foul smell from your home that you cannot identify, nor can you find the source of the scent. This will be due to termites releasing Formosan termite droppings in multiple locations throughout your house, and it can mimic an odor caused by rotting food.
If you know what to look for and how to detect a termite infestation, then you can take immediate action to protect your house and family from termites. If you suspect that your home has a termite infestation, contact a professional. They will be able to inspect your house and advise you on how to get rid of them.
Comments are closed.


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Behold: the cosmic cloud of NGC 2359 also known as Thor's Hemet. To wit:
Heroically sized even for a Norse god, Thor's Helmet is about 30 light-years across. In fact, the cosmic head-covering is more like an interstellar bubble, blown with a fast wind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's center. Known as a Wolf-Rayet star, the central star is an extremely hot giant thought to be in a brief, pre-supernova stage of evolution. NGC 2359 is located about 15,000 light-years away toward the constellation of the Great Overdog. This remarkably sharp image is a mixed cocktail of data from broadband and narrowband filters, capturing not only natural looking stars but details of the nebula's filamentary structures. The star in the center of Thor's Helmet is expected to explode in a spectacular supernova sometime within the next few thousand years.
(Image: Bernard Miller)
Previously: Thor's Helmet


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The DragChamp Show with Greg Hicks
West Coast big money bracket racer Greg Hicks joins the show this week. Click below to listen to the DragChamp Show!
Sin City based big money bracket racer Greg Hicks joins the DragChamp Show this week. Greg shares his comedic talents with us along with a rant or two. We talk West Coast drag racing, running from security at Sonoma, his high school prom misadventures, racing with Scotty Richardson in Kentucky, missing flights and more.
"Kyle Seipel is the pinnacle of people that can't work on a racecar, and I might be right under him" – Greg Hicks
Greg also covered his "bromance" with Chad Axford, why he's not allowed to work on Shane Thompson's race cars, his success at the Guaranteed Million, and so much more.
"I like roast beef, it's my favorite" – Greg Hicks
About The DragChamp Show
The DragChamp Show is a weekly bench racing style podcast with some of the biggest names in sportsman drag racing. You'll find entertaining racing stories, interesting people, and an all-around good time with sportsman drag racers.
The DragChamp Show is hosted by talented drag racing announcers Jake Hodge and Ryan Gleghorn. They're joined by DragChamp founder Gary Don Free.
You can contact us at the following: firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, and firstname.lastname@example.com or find us on Facebook at @dragchampmagazine.
For more DragChamp podcasts click here.
Get the best of DragChamp in your inbox! Click here to subscribe.


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We are Loop
We redefine what an earplug should sound, look and feel like. Whether it's hearing protection or comfort for your ears, Loop enables you to live life at your volume. Our founders Maarten and Dimitri started Loop back with a big idea. And a chronic ringing in their ears. Since then, we've helped more than 1,000,000 customers around the world to find quiet, enjoy great experiences and keep unwanted noises at bay. Our team has grown to nearing 100+ staff and counting, with our Headquarters is based in Antwerp, with many employees dotted across Europe and the world.
Not to brag about it, but we've recently been named the fastest-growing technology company in Belgium (according to Deloitte - October 2022 awards), and The New York Times named us 'best earplugs for concerts and thousands of noise-sensitive customers call us 'a life changer'. Pretty cool, right?
About the role:
This year, Loop was awarded the fastest growing Belgian scale-up by Deloitte. By the end of 2022, we will be 120 Loopers and next year we'll double the current team once again. The Talent Acquisition Manager will play a key role in finding and attracting the excellent A-players we need to ensure the future growth of the company.
You will be entrusted with an ongoing quest to discover top talent, by adapting our value proposition to what is important for our audiences. You'll ensure great relationships with both candidates and hiring manager. We expect you to be experienced in full-cycle recruiting, direct sourcing and in managing a recruitment team. You should have a sharp eye for talented people and a steady commitment to help them find success in our company.
What you'll do:
- Determine current staffing needs and produce forecasts
- Develop talent acquisition strategies, hiring plans and feasible back time plannings
- Establish targeted sourcing plans for specific audiences, by mapping the market and exchange insights (collaboration with Employer Branding)
- Use metrics to create reports and identify areas of improvement
- Guide recruitment team and hiring managers through qualitative and effective hiring processes
- Monitor metrics as time-to-hire, time-to-fill, offer-to-fill... and take actions for improvement
- Find ways to fill our recruitment funnels in the most efficient way possible
- Educate hiring managers on setting up qualitative interviews
- Install techniques to identify and select high potentials / top talent and overcome bias
- Improve existing candidate experience, by monitoring and improving candidate touch points
- Set up proactive recruitment reporting towards internal stakeholders
- Install further automations in Greenhouse, focussing on efficiency, without jeopardizing our personal approach
- Be a role model for the recruitment team, by leading by example, in line with company values
- Stimulate a collaborative mindset with your vibrant and energetic personality
- Bring the skills and competences of the existing team to another level, by coaching and guiding them closely
How you'll do it:
- You have at least 5 years of recruiting experience and more than 2 years leading a team
- You have experience in setting up recruitment strategies, hiring plans and recruitment funnels
- You're not afraid of sourcing and direct search
- You show profound interview skills and are able to identify A-players and high potentials
- You know how to efficiently work with an ATS. We are now using Greenhouse
- As you'll lead a team that is eager to succeed, you are a great communicator and more importantly an active listener
- Good knowledge of product development and/or digital marketing profiles would be helpful
- Having worked in a fast-scaling context is a strong plus
Why join us?
- We're Belgium's fastest-growing technology company (according to Deloitte - awarded October 2022), and we want you to grow and improve alongside us.
- Our culture? We're all about enabling growth by giving our team full autonomy to manage their own projects, be a thought leader, and truly make an impact on the company.
- We take care of our people. So, we pay them what they're worth. Expect a competitive pay in the top 20% of the market rate for your level of experience and potential.
- Also: Senegal. The location of our last team building… just saying. Previous years spent in Iceland & Malta.
- Flexibility: For us, hybrid and flexible working is all about trust. And we trust you to get on with your job, so there'll be no micromanaging or peeking over your shoulder from us.
- Benefits: Our benefits are all aimed towards looking after your health, and enabling you to live life to the fullest. So everything from health insurance and pension savings to lunch vouchers, cruising credits and the latest tools is covered.
Come as you are, our equal opportunities employer statement
Loop is an equal opportunities employer. We invest in diversity, ensure equality and encourage expression. We have a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, bias or discrimination towards applicants and employees.
Live life at your volume. 🎶 We'll take care of your ears.


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The Blog
Gutter Guards: Less Work for You, More Protection for Your Home
Although most of us tend to cringe at the mention of gutters, those shallow troughs fixed beneath the edge of your roof are crucial to have and maintain. Mold remediation, termite damage and deteriorating structure supports are some of the repairs you are potentially facing if you don't. And all of these repair services sound uber … Continued
In The News: CQC Aging in Place
From Durham Magazine, April 2016 (click to enlarge photo) Our very own Caroline Redding Crenshaw is a fabulous designer and colleague, but did you know she's a certified expert in Aging in Place? If you're like us, you've been hearing a lot about Aging in Place (AIP). The definition we like to use at CQC … Continued
What are the Six C's of Our Business?
By Kenneth Combs, Founding Partner Those of you who have seen our signs in front of homes around town are probably familiar with our CQC logo. When I started this company eight years ago, I had a vision, and the three letters in our name—including the two C's—helped me put plans into action to realize … Continued
How design-build saves time and money
An Interview with CQC Home's CEO Kenneth Combs What is the biggest benefit of using a design-build company vs. finding your own architects and contractors? The design-build process saves time, money, and reduces much of the stress associated with residential remodeling. When you work with a design-build company, you're able to design your project to … Continued
Kitchen Design Problems & Creative Remodeling Solutions
With full to the brim lives, it's easy to grow accustomed to our homes. We have work, kid activities, endless chores, and somehow manage to fit in time with family and friends. We learn to love the homes we have and the way we use our homes becomes routine. It's not easy to look at … Continued
Meet our Team: Justin Walker Safety Coordinator
Our goal at CQC Home is to break the mold of standard remodeling companies. We are constantly looking for ways to be the best company to work for. We encourage our employees to come to us with concerns and ideas. And we're thrilled that Justin Walker saw a need and stepped up to fill it. Justin … Continued
Kenneth Combs Installed as Presidential Appointee for 2016
Kenneth Combs Installed to HBADOC Board of Directors as Presidential Appointee for 2016 December 3, 2015: The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange & Chatham Counties (HBADOC) held their Holiday Party and Installation Banquet December 3rd at The Cotton Room in Durham, North Carolina. A new slate of Executive Officers and Board Members were elected, including new … Continued
Winner of 2 NCHBA STARS Awards!
Congratulations are in order for our CQC Team! We just won two of two North Carolina Home Builders Association STARS Awards! We won for best outdoor living space, and best billboard! We are shaking up the stereo type that remodelers need only rely on word of mouth for advertising. Michael Hayes, our co-owner and Chief Operating … Continued
How Our Team Building Translates to a Better Remodel for You
Our team got together for a company photo followed by a kickball game and picnic this past weekend. It was a fun day full of laughter (and a little healthy competition) and we all had an amazing time. But how does this translate to a better remodeling experience for you? We're a team. Many other … Continued
Qualified Remodeler Magazine's Top 500 list for 2015!
August 27, 2015 We are very excited to have been chosen as one of Qualified Remodeler Magazine's Top 500 list for 2015! We've been remodeling and transforming the fast-growing Durham, NC area for years and it's an honor to get a national accolade. More than 30 years ago Qualified Remodeler Magazine founded the award to … Continued
The CQC Process
For most people, the thought of home remodeling brings two emotions: 1) joy at having your dream realized; 2) and anxiety about how painful the process might be with some remodeling contractors. We have all heard the horror stories that have indeed been painful. But at CQC, we have honed our process over nearly 17 … Continued
What's Cooking in Kitchen Design?
When the recession hit several years ago, homeowners began to spend less time eating out and more time in their home kitchens. As a result, the space has become more central to the hub of activity that goes on in a household instead of just the place for meal prep. Open concept living means … Continued


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Category: Publication
The Hero's Journey Part I: What is a Hero?
Before we can create our hero on the page, whether it be a novel, a comic book, or a movie script; we must first know what makes someone a hero. Merriam-Webster provides two definitions for hero and they are all equally applicable. What is also important – is what individual people think of as a […]
Writing a Children's Book: Part Two
Well, I did it. I wrote, I illustrated, I published. I've been dreaming of this moments since I was 4 (Okay, maybe not that young, but pretty dang close). And now that it's here, it's surreal. Esi the Elephant was a project I started in August of 2017 when I worked at a preschool. I […]


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Let's Get To Know Generaction X
1- Where did you grow up? Bilbao in the Basque Country 2- What is one of the first songs you remember liking as a kid? I was obsessed with "Telephone" by Kraftwerk 3- What influenced you to get into music? When I was a teenager I had a little band with a friend, so I guess I have always been involved with music, but in late 2017, I discovered a new scene. It was so exciting that I decided that i needed to be part of it.
4- At what age did you start playing or singing? I went to music school at the age of 9. Years later I sang in a professional choir with adults which was very interesting, I learned a lot of vocal techniques and I sang in the most beautiful places.
5- If you could go back in time, what advice would you give to yourself after finishing school? Adult life sucks, enjoy and appreciate the little things. 6- What are some of your favorite songs at the moment? There are so many, I rarely listen to individual tracks though, I usually listen to entire albums. Lately, I've been listening to a lot of Duett, L'avenue, Hotel Pools and Decisive Koala to name a few.
7- Do you listen to your own music? Sometimes, when I'm in the mood, but I heard them so many times already. 8- Which musician would you like to collaborate with next? I've been ask to collaborate before but for one reason or another it never happened. 9- What is one of your favorite memories so far in your music career? 2020 was a very productive year for me. A couple of labels were interested and released 2 of my albums on tape which I never thought would ever happen. 10- What advice would you give to someone that is just starting to get into music? If you like what you do someone else will too, forget about likes and followers and do it for your own entertainment.
Generaction X just released a new album called Phases which is available now on Bandcamp. Check out more of his music, pictures and videos on his profile page by clicking on the button below.


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Title: Dust
Author: Devon Ashley
Series: Of Dust and Darkness
Publication: September 18th 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Format: Ebook, 151 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Content Rating: 5/5
Purchase: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
4. The number of times my delicate wings have been broken and clamped behind my back.
68. The number inked upon my skin, marking me the sixty-eighth pixie to be stolen.
87. The number of days I've been wrongfully imprisoned.
88. The first day the faeries will regret stealing me.
Healthy. Cheery. Vivacious. All traits Rosalie has before becoming enslaved by the faeries to make an endless supply of pixie dust. Now that Rosalie has been traumatized by slave labor, extreme desolate conditions and multiple deaths, this hardened pixie is anything but. When this rebellious teenager attempts an escape, she's isolated in cramped quarters until she learns her place. Just as she begins to let go of all that hope, she finds an unlikely friend in Jack, the faerie assigned to guard her. Interspecies dating is forbidden in the fae world, so their growing attraction is unacceptable. And even if Jack can find a way to free her, they know the prison is the only place they can truly be together.
My thoughts:
I got this book for review from the author, Devon Ashley. I've seen this book around before and I've always thought it sounded amazing. The cover is just gorgeous and so magical looking. I also love the catchphrase on the left up corner; With broken wings we fly. It fits perfectly with this fantastic story. The first part of the synopsis is very alluring to me because of the numbers. It just totally catches the attention of the reader in my opinion. The other half of the synopsis suck the reader also right in. Pixies enslaved by faeries? Sounds fascinating, right? Well, it didn't only sound that way, it was also pretty darn good!
Dust is a very original fae story that sets around a sixteen-year-old pixie girl named Rosalie. She lives in her Hollow with other pixies. She loves is there and yet she seems to be kind of an outsider. Even so, she would never have dreamed about leaving her home. One thing she hadn't count on was getting kidnapped to be forced into slavery. It's where this tale gets a darker twist. And I just loved it!
I was hooked instantly by this story. The writing, I mean, wow! It was amazing. So detailed and simply mesmerizing to read. I can say that this is one of the best books I've read writing-wise. I could simply not stop reading! So, it's not surprising at all that I finished this book in less than two days. So good!
I'm also very excited to check out some more of Devon Ashley's books. I have a feeling they'll also be brillant as Dust is.
I loved Rosalie. She's truly one of the best main characters I have read about. I had never read about pixies except for Tinker Bell. Rosalie is so damn brave, spunky, smart and absolutely not a quitter. We need more of this kind of female main characters ASAP!
I also loved Juniper and Willow, pretty much the two only pixies also trapped in the slavery with Rosalie that still could think straight. Juniper was so sweet, such a mother figure. I was pretty much crying when she
died. It was so terribly sad. Willow on the other hand was more of a tough, don't get in my face kinda girl, but when Juniper died she and Rosalie got a little closer. I liked that.
I loved this entire fae world. I've always loved books like that but this one is absolutely, without a doubt high on my favorite list. There were some dark scenes, where I could almost feel Rosalie's torment, especially when they broke her wings over and over again. But it's dark YA books like these that I find amazing.
It took a little while before Jack came into the story. But once he did, I knew right away that I would love him. He's so darn cute. And so sweet to Rosalie, once he got over being stuck with her for punishment. Slowly but surely I saw their feelings for one another grow. It was so refreshing to read something like this for a change, where love slowly grows instead of the insta-love you read almost in every YA book nowadays. And did I mention it's forbidden love? Who can resist that!
The end was heartbreaking and so hard for me to read. I just wanted for Rosalie and Jack to stay together and be happy even though I knew it had to happen like this. Thank god there will be a second book! I, for one cannot wait to get my hands on it. I can only hope it'll be as mind blowing as this one.
Dust is a captivating fae tale with a dash of romance that will entertain any reader who is remotely interested in reading young adult fantasy, paranormal or just any books that's simply astonishing to read with its richly detailed writing.
But there's one thing all the pixies do have in common. There's no magic left in any of their wings. No shimmer. No luminescence. And I have this awful feeling that my wings look no different.
Why can't our existence be like the stars? Happily twinkling and dancing in the night sky, bringing light and entertainment to all who see? The stars make everyone ponder unanswered questions, makes everyone smile. And no matter who you are, where you are or what you've done, they're always there for you. No matter what.
Devon Ashley resides in Texas with her husband and son She has a Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Microbiology. In her (not so) free time she loves to write, design, knit and read. (Super exciting, right?)
Also Available by Devon Ashley
The Immortal Archives (New Adult Urban Fantasy)
Ordained, One
Metamorphosis, Two
Catacombs, Three (Coming 2013)
Falling Novels (New Adult Contemporary Romance)
Falling In Between, One
Falling Away, Two (Coming 2013)
You can stalk her here:


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French Film
Catherine Spaak
1945 - 2022
The actress Catherine Spaak made especially a great career with Italian movies but she also took part in French productions during her long-standing career.
She made her film debut in 1959 with "L'hiver", it followed movies like "Le trou" (60), "Le puits aux trois vérités" (61), "Il sorpasso" (62), "La noia" (63), "La ronde" (64) and "Week-end à Zuydcoote" (64).
Catherine Spaak became a demanded actress in the 60's, especially in
Italian movies where she impersonated countless roles.
Her appearances in front of the camera became more seldom from the 80's, to her latest cinematical works belong "Io e Caterina" (80), "Claretta" (84), the serial "La voglia di vincere" (87), "Il ritorno del piccolo lord" (00) and "Julie, chevalier de Maupin" (04).
Catherine Spaak came from an artistic family, her father was the well-known
writer Charles Spaak, her older sister Agnès Spaak became also an
Other movies with Catherine Spaak:


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United States – Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is looking to hire following staff.
FCA Jobs 2020 | Warehouse Supervisor Jobs Dec 2020
About Fiat Chrysler Automobiles:
FCA US LLC, was formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with FIAT Group. The company produces vehicles and products under the Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge, Ram, FIAT, SRT, and Mopar® brands. The combined resources, technology, distribution technology, brands, engineering, and manufacturing allow us to compete on a global scale. Our alliance allows us to build on the culture of innovation first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 and FIAT's complimentary technology whose heritage dates back to 1899.
1- Warehouse Supervisor
Full Time
Morrow, GA, USA
High School diploma or GED.
Bachelor degree in technical field.
Experience working in a union environment.
Strong background in LEAN manufacturing systems.
A minimum of 3 years' experience and/or bachelor's degree.
Last Date to Apply: Dec-22-2020
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles – United States
|FCA Jobs 2020 | Warehouse Supervisor Jobs Dec 2020
|Hiring Organization
|Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
|Job Location
|Morrow, GA, USA
|Date Posted
|Base Salary
|Listed below
|Employment Type
|Full Time
|Valid Until
Latest Fiat Chrysler Automobiles USA Job Advertisement is available now..
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New Year's Eve 2022
Panoramarestaurant Edelweiss
31. December 2022, 18:00 o'clock to 23:59 o'clock
Let the year 2022 come to an end on the Pizol. The Panoramarestaurant Edelweiss will spoil you with a delicious dinner and "The Matt's Live Band" will entertain you musically.
Our evening programme
From 18.00 hrs, the new old nutters will entertain you and accompany you through the evening.
Our menu
Champagne, white wine, orange juice mineral and selected snacks.
salads, shrimps cocktail, Iberico ham, Bünder meat, Scottish smoked salmon and various terrines and pâtés
Main course:
Fillet of beef roasted in one piece, with pepper sauce
French fries Dauphine
Market vegetables
Pasta: Triangolo Grande Ricotta - Bufala & Spinachi
White and dark mousse, Caramelköpfli, Burnt cream; chocolate - fountain, various ice creams, Panna Cotta. Cheese buffet
At a late hour we serve you a delicious flour soup.
Prices, reservation and further information
Price per person from 18 years: CHF 99.00
Rail journey per person: CHF 18.00
Operating hours of the Bad Ragaz gondola lift:
31.12.2022: 18:00 - 22:30 hrs.
01.01.2023: 00:30 - 01:00 (last descent)
Reservation required by 20 December 2022 by e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com or telephone, 081 300 48 24.
Panoramarestaurant Edelweiss
Max Thoma
+41 81 300 48 24


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One big difference between me and Gwyneth Paltrow, the actress who has won a Golden Globe for her role in Shakespeare in Love, is that she has succeeded in acquiring an English accent. I tried and failed – and believe me, I tried.
"You tried to lose your American accent?" As a room-silencer, this admission is on a par with an announcement of an impending change of sex. On either side of the Atlantic, people step back for a new look. In Britain the clinical stare tends to be followed by a mollifying, "Oh, but you mustn't. I like an American accent. Besides, yours is, if I may say, very mild."
Americans are less mealy-mouthed. It would be safer to admit that you spent the morning burning American flags or that you are an anti-Semitic Jew. Being true to your origins is part of the national religion: e pluribus unum and all that.
Besides, of all accents, English is the most despised – villainous, imperial, haughty. Faking it is the ultimate snob-bery. In my Massachusetts hometown, my (Italian-American) mother did a very good take-off of Douglas Fairbanks Jr returning to the United States saying that he was "veddy gled to be beck in Ameddica".
So why bother? The answer is simple. London is home. I have lived here for well over half my not-short existence. And I am fed up, as I dash about the city I hold most dear, constantly to be treated as a tourist. "Enjoying your holiday?", taxi drivers ask me as they try to take me from Knightsbridge to Kensington High Street by way of Edgware Road.
A permanent transplant was not what I had in mind. It just seemed a good idea to have an English option to slip on, like a headscarf, when I wanted to pass in the crowd.
But which English accent? Thanks to My Fair Lady, the remotest part of the globe knows that the range is wide. Had I married an Englishman, I might have slid into Estuary or Home Counties without noticing. But my husband's Oxford-via-Wales can only be acquired from a childhood spent at rugby matches amid melodious cries of "Stop pro-CRASS-tin-atin', Llanelli!"
I was prodded at last into doing something about my voice by a Canadian friend. An actress in search of an Equity card, she needed an English accent in her repertoire; Lady Macbeth did not come from Toronto.
A voice coach, Penny Dyer, who teaches actors everything from Cambridge Fens to Brooklyn Italian, swiftly solved the problem of choice. What we wanted was basic RP, received pronunciation. It is not, strictly speaking, the Queen's English. Today's RP is more open and relaxed than the 1930s accent of the royals, which says "yaz" for "years" and "femiliz" for "families".
The lessons were not at all what an American would expect – not nannyish commands to "Enunciate properly!" and "Stop swallowing your consonants". Rather, the task ahead was physiological, learning to produce English sounds.
It is the American, I soon learnt, who has a stiff upper lip. The English work their lips furiously, drawing the vowels forward and sending them out to a waiting world with a little plosive push. When English actors are taught American (not very successfully, to my ear: I refuse to see Tennessee Williams at the National Theatre), they are told to hold a pencil across their upper lip to keep it still.
Physiology soon gave way to psychology. American is comforting to speak. The sound is produced low down in the throat, where, by and large, it stays. The English voice, in contrast, takes the column of air from the throat, pitches it forward where it rises against the soft palate, strikes the ridge behind the upper teeth and passes out through an small round opening of the lips. Our teacher held her thumb between her teeth to indicate the size of the desired gap.
The first thing we had to get rid of was the "r". In North American, it is delivered sharp. English excises it like a dirty sound. "Fatherrr" becomes "Fatha"; "verrry", "vey". Quite soon I learnt that I had been deaf all these years. I thought I was adapting to native speech simply by saying "GARage" instead of "garAGE" and "tewlips" instead of "toolips". But I had never noticed, even though I hear it from my well-spoken neighbours every time we meet, that RP renders the "ed" at the end of verbs as "id". "I waitid and waitid and then decidid to go home".
I was determined. "Listen," I said to my husband one morning, "and look." Pitching the vowels forward, sculpting each final consonant, I intoned: "I walked [wokked, not waahked] my dog to the shop." His look of astonishment was my reward. Friends, too, had sneered until I trotted out some more of my homework: "David Yates has gained in weight, from eight stone three to eight stone eight." "Hmm-mm," they murmured. "You're getting there."
But there I stuck. The first hint of defeat came the day when, hailing a taxi, I bared my teeth in a Home Counties smile and asked to be taken to "Slane Sqwar". "Wot part of the States you from?" was the reply.
Our coach counselled against despair. Actors don't master accents in an hour a week; they work at it all day long. And they do exercises that involve the whole body. The only way forward was to come to voice lessons in a tracksuit, to lie down on the floor and work at loosening those constricted American muscles of the lower diaphragm. That settled it. Learning "English" moved into the tedious category of instructions on the right way to hold a golf club or hurl a bowling ball. Life is too short.
My Canadian friend gave up, too.
So when I read in the Daily Mail that the New Yorker Gwyneth Paltrow speaks with "not some marbles-in-the-mouth American idea of an English accent, but just like one of us", I am only slightly envious. She must have worked hard, harder than you think. Besides, my Massachusetts family already thinks I sound like the Queen.