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A fun and accessible guide for children to use on their own or with adults, Kids in the Garden encourages children to learn about gardening, healthy eating and caring for the environment. Instructions are easy to follow and step-by-step, with … Sale Price:$9.95 Read More Link to this post!
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The recent bloodless rescue of 15 hostages in Colombia, including a former presidential candidate who had been held for more than six years, was seen internationally as a signal that the Bogota government was finally prevailing over the nation's leftist guerrillas.
Fernando Araujo Perdomo, who was Colombia's foreign minister at the time of the July 2 rescue operation, said recently in Tokyo that the successful liberation of Ingrid Betancourt, three American private contractors and 11 Colombian authorities was a significant achievement for his country.
"It showed that Colombia's security level is definitely improving," Araujo, 53, said. "At the same time, its success was the result of many other actions taken by the Colombian government against the insurgence over the years."
Araujo's words bear weight, as he also suffered six years of captivity. He managed to escape when government forces came to his rescue.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) is notorious for taking hostages for ransom or for prisoner exchanges with the government.
High-profile hostages, including foreigners, are considered strong bargaining chips. The names of more than 700 people are on Colombia's official missing persons list.
Araujo was abducted by FARC on Dec. 4, 2000, while jogging in his hometown of Cartagena in the north. He had just resigned as economic development minister under former President Andres Pastrana.
Although he had no official position in the administration, the fact that he was a close friend of Pastrana probably made him a good target, Araujo said.
From that day on, Araujo was held captive for six years. During this time he was subjected to harsh living conditions in the jungle.
"It was an extremely tough experience, and I suffered terribly," Araujo said in an interview during his official visit in mid-July to celebrate the centennial of Japan-Colombia relations.
"I was very frustrated because there was nothing I was able to do," he said. "But even if I did not have my physical freedom, I would never let them take my soul away."
During his captivity, Araujo said he learned to accept the difficulties in everyday life, including the bad food as well as not having anything to read.
"I gave up my desire for things that I didn't have. All I cared about was how to be free in spirit," he said.
"I also wanted to be someone who my parents and sons can be proud of even though I was not near them. I thought all the hardships were part of the process for my liberation."
As with the case with other hostages, the government searched for Araujo. Finally, on Dec. 31, 2006, the military ran an operation to rescue him. Araujo learned later the government was able to discover his whereabouts because there were some within the guerrillas who leaked information to authorities.
That day, the military sent five helicopters with armed commandos. As they alighted, FARC members started shooting at them. As the firefight intensified, Araujo fled. He wandered in the jungle for five days before authorities found him and took him to safety.
In late February, only two months after his escape, Araujo was appointed by current President Alvaro Uribe as his foreign minister. His appointment was "an effective way to deliver a message against the barbarity of kidnapping by the FARC," according to Colombia's leading weekly magazine, Semana.
During his recent visit in Tokyo — his last official duty as foreign minister before he resigned on July 16 — Araujo said in an NHK TV interview that he was informed of the undercover military operation to rescue Betancourt and the other hostages. He said he prayed it would succeed.
"I was extremely grateful that it succeeded, and that the hostages gained their freedom again," Araujo said.
FARC has lost several senior commanders in recent months, and more than 2,000 of its members have surrendered this year alone, Araujo said.
"The Colombian government's fight against terrorism is bearing fruit," he said, stressing that the administration is not only taking strong action but calling out to guerrilla members that they are ready to help them return to society once they surrender.
On Colombian Independence Day on July 20, thousands joined rallies in Colombia and elsewhere to demand that FARC free the rest of its captives.
Araujo has written a book due out next month about his years in captivity.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ibong Adarna
Ang Bunga ng Pagpapakasakit
jigger enriquezon 19 September 2012
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Transcript of Ibong Adarna
UMAOY- umalis Yumao NGABANAMA- mabantayan NYOGNANUY- napag-isipan;napaglimi Maabangan Nagnuynoy LATARUDAM- dumarating Dumaratal HAPALONUG- napagwari AAKYG- Bihis Napaghulo GayakFull transcript


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Welcome to Green Fairy Studios, LLC.
Green Fairy Studios LLC is a small, independent publisher of tabletop games, including miniatures, card games, RPG supplements, and more!
Our initial product offering is still in development, but you can read through the Developer's Blog to get an idea of where things are.


text: I am testing out a few leather grips to try and match the thickness of a standard synthetic grip. Most synthetic grips seem to be about 1.7 to 2mm thick. My initial thought was a leather grip that comes in at 1.8mm would replicate the thickness, but I didnt take into account the compression that naturally happens once you grip a synth grip, compared to a firmer leather grip. Therefore, in your opinions, do you think that to replicate thickness more accurately, a leather grip that is 1.5mm thick would be more like for like than one that is 1.8mm?


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Govt Jobs Recruitment 2016: All candidates are warm welcome to Govt Jobs 2016 page. Every day we update latest jobs information on this page which is published by various government departments. We update jobs which is more suitable for all type of candidates. Applicants if you are searching jobs in government organisation then you are at right place where you search and get all jobs information related to your educational qualification. Now a day's all young educated students wants jobs but due to lack of proper information regarding the new vacancies they are unable to apply in that. At this digital platform you will get all type of Central Government Jobs, State Govt Jobs 2016 and Employment News related update like last date for application, number of vacancies, Selection Process etc..
New Govt Jobs Recruitment in India
India flexing its muscle in all sectors and due to that our economy is booming. As our economy is growing fastest in the world and people around the world is looking towards the country. Due to that private companies are doing heavy investment in india. To securing its investment and for smooth growth of indian economy, government need qualified work forces. As we all know that every year private as well as state government organisation needs thousands of well educated and qualified persons. In India, every day thousands of Jobs Notification are published by the different Government Organisation and offices. Independent recruitment organisation statics shows that every year one million skilled graduates are required only in india and in coming years government institution needs thousands of well qualified person who can take his jobs responsibility for the nation.
As now we said that private as well as govt organisation are expanding their business and try to reaching at the poorest place of india. Indian government wants better control and efficiency in governmental projects for that they recruit and publish numerous Government Jobs Recruitment Notification 2016 by various government agencies. We have seen that some government sectors are providing consistent opportunity for young jobs seeker. Students who are desperate towards the jobs they can get jobs within few years. But for that you have to make some strategies and apply to all Govt Jobs as per your qualification. Economic growth of india is given extra edge to all government sectors department and due to that more and more jobs are coming and it is good for jobs seeker who is looking towards the Government Jobs Vacancies. All we have seen that many people are apply for the fewer sets of Govt Jobs 2016 and that's why getting govt jobs like winning gold medal in Olympic.
Government Jobs Notification
Now jobs trend are shifting towards the private to government. Everyone wants to join Government Organisation and wants to work with the central as well as state government. Many high salaried candidates in private sectors are left their jobs and chosen the Government Jobs. So now many intelligent persons are taking interest in govt organisation. It shows the popularity of Government Jobs 2016. To crack any jobs, basic things is that you can get all information related the latest govt jobs notification. In current digital world somehow everybody is connected with internet. Nearly all govt organisation published their recruitment advertisement on their website, in rare cases students finds any new jobs recruitment advertisement on the print media. So we suggest that candidates who are looking for the Jobs Notification they should search on the internet or in social media. Applicant you can get all Jobs Vacancies notification on the internet. Lot of sites are providing information related to all types of Jobs 2016. We are one of them and important website where you can easily find all new govt jobs information.
- Search on the google for typing any Govt Jobs Name
- On social media like Facebook, Twitter, Google+
- Jobs Portal like Naukri, Fresherworld and govtjobsguru
Govt Jobs Eligibility Criteria
Each jobs notification has some eligibility criteria. Some eligibility criteria are already mentioned in the Indian constitution. But some of the criteria are framed by the particular exam selection committee or organisation. As we already told that different jobs recruitment is organised by the different governmental institution or body and as per requirement they change eligibility criteria. According to the post type educational qualification, age limit and other eligibility criteria are change. We are listing some important eligibility criteria which are applicable for the All Jobs Posts 2016.
- Nationality: Candidates should be Indian for applying in any Jobs Posts. This is the basic and important eligibility criteria of any person who has desire to work with Indian government. Candidates who are belonging to other nation they can also fill the form but before that you have to get Indian Nationality from the government of India.
- Educational Qualification: Educational qualification is most important eligibility criteria but it depends on the Jobs Post. Whenever jobs advertisement is published by the concern department they also mention educational qualification in that. All new Jobs 2016 has different educational criteria. First of all candidate should read full Government Jobs Notification then only apply in any jobs. Whatever degree is required for the govt exam that degree or certificate should be from the government affiliated colleges/institution or university.
- Age Limit: Age is third criteria for any Jobs. In each jobs advertisement they will mention the age limit as per jobs requirement. Each jobs having age limit if candidates are not full fill age criteria according to the notification then they are not eligible for that. Government provided age relaxation to Scheduled Cast, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class (Non Creamy Layer) students. All these categories students get three to five year of age relaxation in nearly all Jobs Notification.
Sarkari Naukri Selection Procedure
Sarkari Naukri selection procedure is framed by the department which is involved in the selection process. But some guide line is given by central government and state government. We can't able to discuss about all Govt Jobs Selection Procedures but we can give you overview of selection procedure which is nearly same for all jobs Posts.
- Written Exam: All government exams took written test or aptitude test. It depends on the selection board. In some exam they take two or three written test. In written Exam they ask current affair, reasoning and aptitude maths.
- Physical Test: In some cases, Candidate should also clear the physical test. It is mainly in police related jobs.
- Face To Face Interview: After written and Physical test, Candidates should face the interview round. In this round they check the candidate's problem solving skill and presence of mind. There is no interview for the Group C and Group D in Central Govt Jobs
- Merit List: After all three tests conducted by the authority they prepare final merit list of selected candidates and published on the official website. Candidates whose name in the merit list they will get joining letter.
How to Apply for Government Jobs
As we all know that Government Jobs 2016 are hot trend among the young job seeker. But some young candidates don't know how to apply online in Notification of Govt Jobs 2016. We are providing all information related to that so that you get some idea about applying in govt exam. Candidates have three ways to fill the application form of any government exam.
- Online Application: Trend is changing and lot of government jobs selection organisation is accept only online form. So for that candidate should visit on appropriate website and submit the all information as they mentioned on the web page. You should also upload picture and signature via online. Candidate should pay examination fees through net banking or credit or debit card.
- Offline Application: In offline mode candidate should fill the form by hand and paste the photo, provide signature on that. Candidates should provide photo copy of document with self attested which is mentioned in the advertisement. You should pay the application fees by postal order, demand draft or via bank challen. Candidate should send the all document in an appropriate envelope. All candidates would mention proper addresses on the envelope because small mistake will reduce the chances of reaching application form in appropriate addresses.
Govt Jobs 2016
Government jobs in India are hot jobs among the students as well as for the parents. Day by day competition is drastically increases in Govt Jobs Recruitment 2016. Millions of applications are received by the authority for the each Government Jobs Notification 2016. As per our knowledge we are given full overview about the Govt Jobs Selection Procedure, How to Apply Govt Jobs 2016 and many more. All these information are only for reference purpose and for more detail you should check the official advertisement of particular Jobs Notification 2016.


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Here's the Trailer for 'Devil's Knot,' the West Memphis Three Movie Starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth
Devil's Knot, from the Oscar-nominated Atom Egoyan, tells the true story of the West Memphis Three. The infamous case spans nearly two decades after three teenagers were wrongfully convicted for the violent murders of three eight-year-old boys in 1993. The three were released from prison in 2011, after eighteen years in prison.
Devil's Knot stars Reese Witherspoon as the mother of one of the murdered boys and Colin Firth as an investigator. Stephen Moyer, Amy Ryan, Mireille Enos and Dane DeHaan also have supporting roles. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year (to not-so-great reviews) and is expected to be released sometime next year.


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The UK coalition government has reached almost exactly the halfway point in its electoral term. Quite soon, it will be too late for it to change its economic approach in time for the results to be seen before it goes to the polls on May 7 2015. Whether the prime minister recognises it or not, he is therefore facing a major strategic choice. Should the government change tack, while there is still time?
The strategy chosen by chancellor George Osborne in 2010 was based on a more rapid tightening in budgetary policy than was adopted in most other developed economies. The chancellor knew that the Bank of England would aggressively ease monetary policy in support of his plan, and hoped that this would result in a sharp depreciation of the real exchange rate, though he did not say this in public.


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The New Jersey Naval Militia Foundation (NJNM F) was formed as a 501c3 Corporation in 2002 to support the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command (NJNM). The Foundation's sole purpose is to raise funds in support of NJNM. Contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible under the Section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The NJNM Foundation is not a militia organization, either organized or unorganized. It holds no drills and does not lobby. The Foundation does not own any property, and pays no rent. Foundation board meetings are not uniformed military events. The Foundation is subject only to state and federal regulations regarding charitable organizations. The Foundation's officers do not receive any compensation, in any form, for their time and efforts on behalf of the Foundation.
Link to Membership Application
About the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command
The New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command is a legal entity of, and subject to, the Laws of the State of New Jersey, and to the Governor of the State of New Jersey as its Commander-in-Chief.
This is Part I, to view Part II Click here
New Jersey Naval
Militia Foundation
c/o William Ed Griffin, President
225 South Harrison Street
Princeton, NJ 08540-5609


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James Gandolfini and Julia Louis-Dreyfus Get Goofy in 'Enough Said' Bloopers
For anyone who hasn't seen Enough Said it's been hailed as a celebration of James Gandolfini's true acting talent.
And it wouldn't have been the same without the undeniable chemistry on and off screen between the late star and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who's a Golden Globe nominee for her performance.
It's a charming love story about Eva (Dreyfus), a divorced single mom and masseuse, who meets Al at L.A. industry party… and when sparks fly, the drama and comedy unfold. (Oh, and as a twist, Eva's client is Al's ex-wife.)
From dancing to joking and sharing a few laughs, this exclusive bloopers clip shows it all and reminds us why we'll always miss the beloved actor.
Enough Said will be available on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, Jan. 14 with more clips from the gag reel on Blu-ray special features.


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Chinese Characters - From Trading Phrases
Trading Phrases is offering a collection of Asian character words that are bold graphics combined with the English translation. You decide whether to put up the translation or simply let everyone guess what the character trait is. These are beautiful combined in groups of 3, 4, or more, depending on the traits or words you'd like to display. Fun ideas are displaying your house numbers, the seasons, girl/boy for bathroom or bedroom markers... the list goes on. The photo shows a popular combination of Love, Laugh, Dream--sentiments that never go out of style. These designs are beautiful additions for a piece of slate tile to stand on a sideboard or hang on a wall for a modern chic addition to a room. The tiles make great gifts and are perfect DIY projects that fast, easy, and make a great impression.
So perfect for valentines day
Great saying for a family room that needs some inspirationAdded 9 Years Ago from Tradingphrases
This one is a designer favorite. Carpe Diem!Added 9 Years Ago from Tradingphrases
Great home family blessingTags: kids, home, art, bathroom, kitchen, bath, modern, interior design, home decorAdded 9 Years Ago from Tradingphrases
Beautiful saying - I would love to see this over my bed.Tags: kids, home, art, bathroom, kitchen, bath, modern, interior design, home decorAdded 9 Years Ago from Tradingphrases


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This fictional letter and its response addresses the stereo-types that many people expect to find in girls who have vocations to the religious life.
Dear Sister,
You must know by now that P. has applied to enter the convent next month. After all these years, she's really going to do it. It's hard to believe!
Sister, I need you to settle something for me once and for all. Yesterday P. and I were laughing about how different our lives would be a year from now. Then she stopped laughing and said, "You know what? I think you have a vocation too." I brushed it off, but she kept insisting, to the point that I got irritated. Just because she's always wanted to be a nun doesn't mean that I have to be one too!
Sister, P. and I are exact opposites. She'll be a perfect nun! She doesn't like to be around people and she spends a lot of time praying. And she doesn't care much for boys. Sometimes I think she was born a nun. But me? I love to be with people and I have a lot of friends! And I like boys! I look forward to getting married and having children. Prayer doesn't come easy for me like it does for her. Sometimes I even get in trouble at school because I'm a little TOO fun-loving. Sister, you know I don't do things that are really bad and I'm careful about the friends I choose — I just love to talk and laugh, that's all. Even though I won't get involved in things that would offend Our Lord, and I really love my Faith, I'm a pretty normal, active teenager. I think Our Lady has protected me because I pray her Rosary every day.
Okay, it's true that sometimes during Mass, and at other times when it's quiet, I wonder what it would be like to be a Sister. But it's obvious I'm not cut out for it! For one thing, I could never keep the silence. The only things I know how to do well are the things that nuns aren't allowed to do. Besides, I just KNOW that I would still be able to do a lot for God and for the Church if I get married. Who knows, maybe one of my children will have a vocation?
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say. I know I'll feel a lot better once you tell me that I'm right — that I'm just not cut out for life in the convent.
Sincerely, L.
Dear L.,
I couldn't help smiling as I read your letter. But your consternation is perfectly understandable. You are at a point in your life when you want to — and need to — take charge of your own future, and it's only natural and human that you resent someone's trying to tell you what vocation to follow. But P. is human too, and she did mean well after all. I'm sure you can give her room to be a bit over-enthused about her chosen vocation.
It is a strange thing, but the idea of religious vocation conjures up certain stereotypes of the types of girls who "should" enter the convent: girls who are ladylike and reserved, or who don't quite fit with the "in" crowd; girls who are shy and show no interest in boys; girls who are known for being deeply spiritual and devout. Yet religious vocations come in many forms — just think about all the Sisters you know. Some are quiet, others are outgoing; some are lively and energetic, others always seem perfectly unruffled and serene; some are outstanding leaders and "go-getters," others are good at listening and supporting and showing compassion. Some have wanted to be nuns since they were very young; others came to the decision more quickly when they were adults.
True, there are some basic signs of a vocation, but they can be found in almost every temperament. I think the simplest way of putting it is the 4 H's: Head, Heart,
Humor, and Health.
So, as you see, these 4 H's can be applied to the whole gamut of temperaments and personalities. Of course, a girl also must want to become a Sister — not necessarily in the same sense that P. does, but she must truly be willing to embrace this life if that is what God is asking of her. It must be her free choice. She should not enter the convent simply because she is expected to, or because she doesn't know what else to do, or because she thinks no one will ever want to marry her, or because everyone tells her that she would make the perfect nun. Above all, she should not enter the convent to escape life's hardships.
But as for you — well, what do you think, now that you've become acquainted with the 4 H's? Is a vocation, perhaps, not so unthinkable after all?
In Jesus and Mary,
Sister Mary N.
Back to top
Return to CMRI Home
St. Michael's Convent
Bishop Mark A. Pivarunas, CMRI


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Thomas F. Dapp (+49) 69 910-31752
Alexander Karollus
...more information on Technology & Innovation
Talking Point - Archive
Operation Big Data: Challenge accepted (Fintech #3)
August 17, 2015
Big data is a hot topic. The large digital platform operators in particular have long recognised the economic potential of algorithm-based data analysis. They demonstrate this to billions of customers professionally every day. With their analytical technologies they generate high revenues and tie us loyal customers ever more firmly to their platforms via convenient and, above all, individualised services. A steadily growing number of companies want to imitate this lucrative lock-in effect so they can also capitalise on the benefits of big data. Nonetheless, in many sectors the implementation of modern data analysis tools is proceeding only sluggishly. Contrary to the expectations of some market participants, big data is not a simple add-on.
The professional handling of data on digital platforms shows, in particular, the potential of big data under almost fully digital conditions, that is, in an ideal environment. For companies like Google, data records and data analyses constitute core activities. To improve the results delivered by a search engine every search request entered has to be stored, enriched with metadata such as the IP address and then evaluated using algorithms specifically devised for this purpose. Furthermore, platforms promise optimum utilisation of their products and services when users register with them in order to open a customer account, for instance. With this approach, the platform can create an individual search profile for every user. This mass generation of search profiles enables the platform operators to monetarise various services by, for example, using these data for advertising purposes.
Advantages of a fully digital infrastructure
Such data analysis is made possible by the fact that every interaction between the user and the platform operator is executed via diverse digital channels. This provides the platform with all the (personal) data in digital form from the outset. An IT infrastructure developed specifically for this purpose and consisting of a network of powerful, state-of-the-art computer centres naturally enables the platforms to a) store these data in a structured format and b) evaluate them in real time if necessary, so c) the customer can be offered personalised services. Furthermore, this infrastructure enables data derived from other sources to be seamlessly integrated into already existing databases. For many companies, these ideal, virtually fully digital conditions are more or less a pipe dream. Correspondingly, they face new challenges when the idea is to replicate similar data analyses or implement algorithm-based solutions in short order.
Companies whose core businesses are not transacted (only) on the internet and whose value-added networks are not 100% digital have a much more difficult job of reorganising their business processes in such a way that these generate as much data as possible. In a hospital, many processes focus, for example, on nursing individual patients back to health. Depending on the medical condition, a substantial amount of information is collected to this end; this takes place via sensors which cover an array of activities ranging from measuring the pulse right through to recording conversations between doctors and patients. This information is in most cases not (permanently) stored on a digital or machine-readable basis, since up until recently it would neither have been possible nor useful to keep cost-efficient records of all these data. The pattern is similar in other sectors in which production steps are performed manually or customers interact largely offline.
Company architecture has to be adapted to the digital age
Evidently, the challenges of implementing modern data analysis tools go hand in hand with a company's progress in adapting its own corporate architecture to the digital age. Companies that succeed early on in digitising their upstream and downstream value-added networks to the greatest possible extent will form the basis required for the future use of algorithm-based data analyses. For the front-end this means, for example, that the development of digital distribution platforms and the channel-overarching standardisation of customer communication will noticeably simplify the creation of data profiles, assuming applicable data protection rules are in place. This can help to boost the benefits to the customer. At the back-end, by contrast, the increased use of automation technologies, e.g. robotics at production sites, will enable every stage of production to be documented down to the last detail in order to optimise internal processes. Ever smaller and increasingly powerful sensors, which for example enable goods to be traced along the logistics chain, will give rise to further valuable data sets that can later also unleash internal and external optimisation potential (the "internet of things").
Although digital structural change has barely begun it is progressively forcing a rethink in all sectors. There are many companies founded back in the analogue era that are sitting on data goldmines which could start to yield rewards also on partly digitised processes and structures. However, they have dragged their feet on implementing the reforms required to do so, and technological progress is being impeded by the fact that IT infrastructures used up to now have not been optimised for modern digital data analyses. The existing data are usually stored in fragmented systems that are not linked in a common network. Moreover, different divisions of a company may perhaps use differing data formats and standards. The more complex a company's structures and the more they resemble the structures of a corporate group, the higher is the probability that the different business divisions do not collaborate sufficiently to enable potential synergies to be tapped. These incompatibilities have either grown over time or been created in-house due to a silo mentality that prevents the merging of complementary data. As long as such incompatibilities exist big data solutions can only be deployed at a few isolated data collection points. However, the algorithms used for data analysis stand out in comparison with conventional methods especially because they can discover unexpected correlations in very complex data sets in particular. This suggests that these algorithms can only develop their full potential once all of a company's data have been stored in an integrated, networked, compatible infrastructure whose features can be clearly grasped by various internal interest groups.
Big data also has its limits
In order to maximise the benefits of big data solutions it is vitally essential to structure data and enrich them with metadata. A database consisting of recordings of all of a firm's consultations – to cite an example of particularly unstructured data – can only be evaluated sensibly by an algorithm if it understands what type of advisory service is being offered, who the customer is and what problem needs to be solved. True, artificial intelligence (AI), that is the self-learning algorithm, can increasingly select the relevant details from complex types of data on its own. However, the algorithm still approaches its limits at present when it comes to understanding nested language constructs, comprehending ambiguities (e.g. irony) and interpreting differences in pitch. Existing AI systems (still) lack the human intuition and experience needed to address these weaknesses. This calls for data scientists and algorithm operatives who collaborate closely with the respective experts of a company in order to define the context of individual data sets, convert them into machine-readable format and, at the end of the day, interpret the results of the analysis. Moreover, the expertise required for such an undertaking is also needed to correct unrealistic results triggered by programming errors or poor data. In addition, there is a need for "common sense" in order to differentiate between causal relationships and purely correlative ones, something that algorithms can only deliver to a limited degree at present. Finally, an understanding of the day-to-day business will be required in order to translate the results of the algorithms into concrete recommendations for action.
To push ahead with the deployment of big data technologies many companies would have to start redefining and/or restructuring their processes and business models now. In practice, however, this proves to be a Herculean challenge especially for large companies in view of their ongoing day-to-day business. Especially companies from those sectors in which the digital transition process is in full swing would therefore be well advised to start off by hiring data scientists and algorithm operatives who, in conjunction with experts from the operating businesses, can gain an unprejudiced overview of all the databases and data-generating processes at hand. The resulting ideas and analyses should then be implemented in short order. Moreover, a new infrastructure should be built up in parallel in order to gradually replace outdated systems with new ones. By contrast, relatively small companies that prefer to seize on the opportunities of digital structural change more for their own use could find an attractive alternative in outsourcing. That is, instead of implementing proprietary infrastructures that are geared to big data, smallish companies could use cloud-based services. Collaborating with a firm specialised in this field will enable them, in compliance with applicable data protection rules, to store their data, enrich them with external data, structure them and evaluate the content.
Further commentaries from the Fintech series may be found here:
Fintech #4
Fintech #2
Fintech #1
Details about the opportunities and risks of "Big Data" can be found here.
Click here to find out what the Fintech movement holds in store.
Here's where you can discover why traditional banks should transform themselves into a digital platform (Fintech reloaded).
What is blockchain technologyall about?
Thomas F. Dapp (+49) 69 910-31752
Alexander Karollus
...more information on Technology & Innovation
Talking Point - Archive
© Copyright 2016. Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Research, 60262 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. All rights reserved. When quoting please cite "Deutsche Bank Research".
The above information does not constitute the provision of investment, legal or tax advice. Any views expressed reflect the current views of the author, which do not necessarily correspond to the opinions of Deutsche Bank AG or its affiliates. Opinions expressed may change without notice. Opinions expressed may differ from views set out in other documents, including research, published by Deutsche Bank. The above information is provided for informational purposes only and without any obligation, whether contractual or otherwise. No warranty or representation is made as to the correctness, completeness and accuracy of the information given or the assessments made. In Germany this information is approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG Frankfurt, licensed to carry on banking business and to provide financial services under the supervision of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). In the United Kingdom this information is approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch, a member of the London Stock Exchange, authorized by UK's Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and subject to limited regulation by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) (under number 150018) and by the PRA. This information is distributed in Hong Kong by Deutsche Bank AG, Hong Kong Branch, in Korea by Deutsche Securities Korea Co. and in Singapore by Deutsche Bank AG, Singapore Branch. In Japan this information is approved and/or distributed by Deutsche Securities Inc. In Australia, retail clients should obtain a copy of a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) relating to any financial product referred to in this report and consider the PDS before making any decision about whether to acquire the product.


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Items by Tony Davis
In Tucson, Ariz., a mayoral election is heating up over whether the city should try again to make use of the notoriously foul water that comes through the Central Arizona Project.
Dove Mountain, a planned mega development near rapidly growing Marana, Ariz., is put on hold when a pair of endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls are sighted, and environmentalists, developers and officials are wrangling about what should happen next.
Arizona's Pascua Yaqui Tribe buys a 5,300-acre cattle ranch, thus expanding the growing tribe's land base to 6,300 acres.
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant outside Carlsbad, N.M., receives its first truckload of nuclear debris as anti-nuclear activists continue to protest.
In Arizona, a new national park is proposed - the Sonoran Desert National Park - combining Organ Pipe National Monument, the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge and the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range.
Environmentalists applaud the Pima County Board of Supervisors' decision to kill the Canoa Ranch development, planned on the outskirts of rapidly growing Tucson, Ariz.
Real estate broker Bill Arnold says environmentalists are not helping Tucson.
Morris K. Udall, former Arizona congressman who recently died, is remembered as a dedicated statesman who understood compromise.
Environmentalist-turned-zoning-consultant Ron Asta describes his journey through Tucson's land-use politics.
Planner David Taylor says the issue of sprawl is complex and has deep roots.
Statistics show the frightening pace of growth in the Tucson area.
Environmental activist Gayle Hartmann talks about the long struggle to keep development under control.
Tucscon residents Doug and Christina McVie describe the developers' assault on desert.
Resident Dee Dee Arnaud remembers the Tucson of her childhood and mourns the changes she has found on her return.
In Tucson, Ariz., where a dozen acres are cleared for development each day, environmentalists and concerned locals try to find ways to rein in runaway growth, and to save the desert and its remaining endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy owls.
In Arizona, an open space-saving scheme called "Growing Smarter" wins despite environmental opposition.
Growing Tucson suburbs invade land on the edgoe of Arizona's Saguaro National Park West, when federal funds for a promised buyout of the land fail to materialize.
As Tucson, Ariz., grows and sprawls, Pima County creates a long-range plan to protect the Sonoran Desert from being overrun.
Saguaro National Park's recent land swap added 632 acres to the park in exchange for 4,332 acres of land north of Phoenix, and some say the trade sacrificed too much land.
Fish biologists Jim Cooper and Jerry Stefferud and retiree Leon Fager are among the staffers of the Southwest Region of the Forest Service who say the agency has betrayed its trust by favoring timber and grazing over wildlife and forests.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department orders the BLM to get cows off 15 allotments in southeastern Arizona.
The town of Tortolita, Ariz., in the middle of lush, privately owned Sonoran desert, incorporates to protect its landscape from developers.
Biologists and conservationists protest BuRec's plan to drown habitat of the southwestern willow flycatcher by raising the waters of Arizona's Roosevelt Lake and by leaving other sensitive habitat areas off the list of designated critical habitat.
A federal judge orders the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list four Southwestern species as endangered and to set aside habitat for them and two others already listed.
The endangered cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, which has unexpectedly been found near Tucson, may help to stop or slow the city's explosive sprawling growth.
A contrast between two attempts at consensus shows Oregon ranchers willing to work at compromise while their New Mexican counterparts "just say no" to any change.
Environmentalists and Native Americans object to a proposed Park Service management plan that would develop bike and horse trails in New Mexico's Petroglyph National Monument.
In New Mexico, U.S. District Judge Howard Bratton orders that all 863 cows belonging to ranchers Kit and Sherry Laney must be removed from national forest land.
The Oakridge Ranger Station in Oregon is destroyed by unknown arsonists.
Small-town doctor and environmentalist Patrick Shipsey shoots 11 cows in John Day, Ore., and accidentally kills a ballot measure that would have removed cattle from polluted streams.


text:
March 16, 2011
New blog!
8 comments:
just found you, looking forward to new ideas.
- November 13, 2011 at 7:35 PM
- Teddi said...
Help! has anyone seen a an quilt pattern embossing folder? think Chanel quilting.
- February 12, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Can I cut fabric with the quickutz ??
- March 18, 2013 at 4:52 PM
- John Lepsky said...
- April 25, 2013 at 4:28 PM
- John Lepsky said...
I liked your blog...
But if you want to move, it's you right....
- April 25, 2013 at 4:30 PM
- toga costume said...
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- October 29, 2013 at 8:02 AM
I just purchased a new computer with a Windows 8 program. I had all of my information transferred by professionals and also placed on an external drive. I also used my disc to manually install my Silhlouette Digital Cutter that I purchased in July, 2008. The machine itself installed but I am unable to do anything on it. I did a compatability search and tried to sync it with my old Windows XP program and it did not work. I also looked on the external drive and the machine is listed but it does not recognize the drive path to open. Help!!! I had a lot of dies stored and cannot recover them. I love my machine and do not want to purchase a new one and start over.
- March 17, 2014 at 10:13 AM
- Melisa Marzett said...
Excellent post!Thanks for a reminder. Click on this link if you were given an assignment to be tackled and handed in shortly!Keep up the good work! Good luck!
- February 16, 2016 at 7:28 AM


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This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
|FICTION / Literary
|Publisher Date
|2005-08-01 00:00:00.0
|Harper Perennial Modern Classics
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|8.0 in
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Submit News
T-Mobile Offering iPhones, Cutting Cell Phone Subsidies in 3-4 Months
Tiffany Kaiser
January 9, 2013 12:57 PM
Recipient E-mail
Sender E-mail
John Legere
(Source: businessweek.com)
T-Mobile is the last of the major U.S. carriers to join the iPhone bandwagon
T-Mobile USA's CEO said that the company will finally begin selling the iPhone and
eliminate cell phone subsidies
in about three to four months.
"They're all, I would call them, in three to four months as opposed to six to nine months," said John Legere, T-Mobile USA CEO.
Last year, T-Mobile said it would try to bring in more customers from rivals by offering the iPhone and cutting cell phone subsidies in 2013. By eliminating these cell phone subsidies, customers can enjoy lower service prices and more flexibility (meaning that customers will pay the entire purchase price of the phone right off the bat instead of getting a discount in exchange for a two-year contract).
Meanwhile, rivals like Verizon and AT&T still depend on subsidizing cell phones to give device discounts while pulling customers into two-year contracts.
"If the old industry structure chooses to ignore what we do, that's a potential," said Legere.
T-Mobile is the last of the four major U.S. carriers to sell the iPhone. AT&T was the first carrier to sell Apple's smartphone when it was released in 2007. In early 2011, Verizon finally got its hands on the iPhone as well, and later that year,
Sprint started selling the iPhone 4 and 4S
with unlimited plans (which was a competitive edge, considering AT&T and Verizon had both nixed their unlimited data plans for tiered packages).
T-Mobile is now moving along with its introduction of the iPhone as well, and seeks a competitive edge of its own with the elimination of cell phone subsidies.
T-Mobile also has a few other tricks up its sleeve, such as a possible merger with MetroPCS. The companies are currently seeking approval.
"I f***ing cannot play Halo 2 multiplayer. I cannot do it." -- Bungie Technical Lead Chris Butcher
Related Articles
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October 6, 2011, 9:47 AM
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text:
12" Crochet Doll by Mamachee
Welcome! You are browsing as a guestWould you like to see 19 projects made from this pattern and much more? create a free account What am I missing?
© Mamachee 2008
© Mamachee 2008
© Mamachee 2008
12" Crochet Doll
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download
You can find more of my free patterns at my website here: www.mamachee.com : )


text:
Our Honeymoon Cruise Review - Carnival Valor: Carnival Valor Cruise Review by jenafish
Overall Member Rating
Our Honeymoon Cruise Review - Carnival Valor
Destination: Southern Caribbean
Embarkation: San Juan
When my husband Ryan and I were discussing where to go for our honeymoon we tossed around plenty of good (and bad) ideas. Should we go to an all-inclusive and sit on the beach for a week? Would it be better to travel Europe or go someplace exotic? All along, my husband (or husband-to-be at the time) really wanted to do a cruise, but I was hesitant. I was uneasy about cruising because although my two previous cruises were fantastic, I experienced motion sickness both times. I did not want to spend my honeymoon sick in our cabin. I was also worried about going on a port-intensive vacation after the stress and craziness of wedding planning! However, I am EXTREMELY glad that in the end, we decided on the Valor.
After a busy wedding weekend (we got married on Friday and went on a wine More tour on Saturday with our family) we had a 6am flight out of JFK airport on Sunday morning. We arrived in San Juan at 10am, on time and without any issues. While Ryan waited for our luggage, I went and scoped out the taxi situation. It ended up being quite easy – the taxis were waiting for patrons – there was no line and since the price was fixed, there was no need for negotiations! We got in the taxi and were at the Port by 10:30am. We checked in and were told that we could embark within an hour. To kill some time we shopped in the duty-free shop. We purchased two bottles of champagne for our trip. (Our room steward put these on ice for us as soon as we got to our cabin!)
After waiting only a short while, we were able to embark and made our way to our cabin. While the room was not ready yet, we did notice that it had been decorated in celebration of our Honeymoon. -(My mother and father-in-law purchased the Honeymoon Decoration package for us – which included a "Just Married" sign, garland and several hanging swirly signs. Definitely a nice touch!!)
We were exhausted and it was overcast and rainy, but we made our way up to the Lido Deck to check out the pools and Rosie's Restaurant. The buffet had your typical buffet fare – plus a burrito station, a stir fry station, a sandwich bar and (if you venture upstairs) a fish and chips bar. Over the course of the week we sampled food from most of the stations at the buffet. Honestly, although there are things that are decent, I'm not a huge fan of the Lido buffet on any cruise. We tried the stir fry/wok station on a few occasions, and although we had high hopes it was never that good. Everything just tasted burnt! The burrito station was fresh (think Chipotle or Moe's) but the chicken was not too good. The other issue I had with the Lido buffet was that on a port-intensive trip, it was not open very often. Many days we would get back from port and want to grab something small before dinner and the buffet was already closed. One exception was the Pizza place. The pizza was AMAZING! As a New Yorker, I don't often find pizza tastes as good as I expect it to taste, but this was really, really good. I loved the Quatro Formaggi (Four Cheese) and my husband's favorite was the one with prosciutto. Other than the pizza though, I recommend eating in the MDR whenever you get a chance!
When our cabin was ready (around 2pm) Ryan and I spent some time on our balcony. We splurged a little (hey, it's our honeymoon!!) and got an Aft-facing extended balcony (Cabin 7447). Let me tell you – BEST decision ever! Our cabin was great. The room was spacious and had plenty of storage. (First time cruisers – don't forget the luggage fits under the bed!) And the balcony….was perfect. It was very large and had two chairs, a small table and a chaise lounge on it. The only issue was that balconies were staggered (so everyone had sun?) and the people above us kept throwing food at the birds and the food sometimes landed on our balcony. Overall though, I have absolutely no complaints. This was an amazing cabin and the balcony was blissful.
Now before I get into the rest of my review, you need to understand that I LOVE activities. I am always excited to get involved, meet new people and win ships on sticks. I love, love, love getting the Carnival Fun Times and checking out all of the stuff I'm going to participate in during the day. Yes, I'll admit it, I'm a cruise nerd.
But honestly, I think Carnival does an amazing job at planning a myriad of activities for people of all ages. Ryan and I participated in many of the activities onboard, and still did everything we wanted to do in all of the ports. The first day we exploded and took a tour of the ship. I always like to get the lay of the land and I love meeting the Activity Staff. The Activity Staff on this cruise was AWESOME. Kevin, our buddy from Canada was especially great. We spent every evening with him (and the other die-hards, aka Dan and Elizabeth!) in the Bronx Sports Bar. We loved all of the trivia games, participated in the scavenger hunt, played Scattegories and even won 7 (yes 7) 24k plastic Ships on a Stick. The rest of the activity staff was fun too, but we just loved Kevin.
The Valor is a GORGEOUS ship. She has an "American hero" décor and although there are some odd pieces of art, she really is a beautiful ship. The ship was amazingly clean and did not look run down at all. It was extremely well kept. We had no issues with maintenance on our trip. Our Cabin steward was quiet (and somewhat invisible) but the cabin was always clean and neat. Due to the intensive itinerary we didn't really spend much time in any of the bars or lounges other than trivia every night in the Bronx Bar.
Ryan and I are not big drinkers (although Ryan did have wine each night at dinner) but I LOVED the Raspberry Daquiris. I usually got them without alcohol but they garnished it with pineapple and it was delicious! We did spend about 15 minutes in the Piano bar on our last night and were disappointed that we hadn't spent more time there. It was an enjoyable experience. The casino was nice – had the typical casino selections and seemed pretty crowded at times. I played the slots for about an hour on one night, but didn't spend much time there either.
Although we didn't spend much time in the pool, but did check out the water slide on our last day. It was a fun slide, for both children and adults. The Serenity deck may have been my favorite place on the ship. The Serenity Deck is an adults only area with hammocks, loungers and hot tubs. Although I love sailing Carnival it is sometimes nice to get away from the noise and escape a little. Serenity Deck is the place to do it! Ryan and I also played Giant Chess and checked out the mini-golf. We enjoyed both activities. We also attended a few of the shows in the Punchliner's Comedy Club. A few of the comedians were good but some of them were terrible. The "club" itself had a fun vibe and really represented a comedy club, but the comedians themselves were hit or miss. The nightly shows in the Ivanhoe Theater were great. The dancers and singers were amazing and the special acts they brought in were very good too.
One negative that I feel I need to mention was the photographers. As it was our honeymoon, Ryan and I had decided we were going to get formal portraits done and buy a few of our favorites. Over the course of the week we must have had at least 15 different photos taken by different photographers at different backdrops. They were all terrible. Most of the photographs were blurry and our favorite (the only one that wasn't blurry) was taken by the grand staircase. The only problem was that there was a HUGE photo sign in the backdrop of the picture. We were really disappointed and didn't end up with a single formal picture.
We had dinner every night (and breakfast most mornings) in the Main Dining Room. We had the "My Time" dining, which we loved. Although there was sometimes a line we never had to wait very long for a table. The hostess sometimes gave us a problem when we requested a table for two (more at breakfast than at dinner), but we always got what we requested. A few mornings at breakfast we did sit with other guests and did have good conversation but many times we were rushing to disembark and the meal took much longer when sitting with other guests. We sat at a table for 2 each night at dinner (it WAS our honeymoon!) and had spectacular wait staff every single night. The food was…DELICIOUS. I cannot say enough about how much we enjoyed each and every meal in the dining room. The food was always hot and fresh and the wait staff was great about accommodating any special requests. Ryan had wine with dinner every night and we did have an issue on one night where they lost his bottle of wine. They did find it eventually and removed the charge due to the inconvenience.
We also enjoyed the Tasting Bar (not sure what it was called!) before dinner whenever it was available. Basically, they were offering "tastes" on small plates (or bowls) of the food that is available in the specialty restaurants on the 2.0 ships. The food was exotic, and the flavors were on par. We definitely enjoyed this! There is one specialty restaurant onboard as well. Although we did not have the opportunity to enjoy Scarlett's Steakhouse on this trip we heard fabulous things about it. We did attend the culinary tour/tasting that they hosted on the Day at Sea and what we did taste was unbelievable. The mac and cheese may have been the best thing I tasted all week. (which is saying a lot!!)
During this cruise we splurged on a very fine dining experience – the Chef's Table. At $75 per person this is definitely not something we will be doing on every cruise we take, but it was a great way to celebrate a special occasion. My husband and I are both interested in food and cooking and my husband is an adventurous eater. I am a far less adventurous eater so I was a little bit worried, but really had no reason to worry. When we checked in, the host asked if we had any food allergies or "dislikes." I do not eat seafood of any type, and told him this. I was pleasantly surprised that they arranged a special menu for me so that any seafood courses were replaced with another option. So, as I'm rambling on about eating, you may be thinking to yourself, what IS the chef's table? The Chef's Table is a semi-private, fine dining experience offered one night on board. We had 12 people in our group. You meet with the head chef, Chef Alwyn, in the lobby and he takes you on a tour of the kitchen. We were able to be in the kitchen during dinner service! The kitchen staff was so kind and gracious. We had a tour of the cold appetizer area and then were welcomed and served champagne and an appetizer sampler in the kitchen. We had Parmesan Core and Olive, Chorizo and Dates, Focaccia with Mascarpone Cream and Prosciutto Crudo, and Langoustine and Sundried Tomato Jam Fritters. (Instead of the Langoustine Fritter they served me a Duck Fritter.) As you can see the menu was already pretty adventurous. Everything was beautifully plated and although it was a little adventurous for me, I tried everything and was pleasantly surprised. Then we made our way through the kitchen to the main entrée area. I was amazed by the sheer amount of food! We went to the dessert area and they showed us how to make the Chocolate Melting Cake (yum!) The whole time they kept offering us refills of champagne.
After about 30-45 minutes, we made our way into a small private dining room. The chef explained that we were about to embark on a 7 course tasting menu. We each received a personalized copy of the menu and the chef explained each course as it was presented. If you are like me and have never experienced a true fine dining experience, you would be amazed at the service. Our glasses were always kept full (with complimentary red or white wine) and the waiters anticipated our every move. The first course was "Tomatoes Our Way" and consisted of a lot of molecular gastronomy. All of those techniques you see on Chopped or Iron Chef, yup, they used them! Courses two and three were a Tuna Banh Mi (pork was substituted for my tuna) and a Cornish Hen. Both delicious, of course. The fourth course was called "Bavarois" which was a broth/soup made of spinach, peas, turnip and apple juice. It might sound odd, but man it was delicious!! For the fifth course the group had salmon, but they served me chicken (at my request) and the sixth course was an amazing Wagyu with potato pebbles, pumpkin fudge and tomato dust. For dessert we were served Chocolate "88F" which was indescribably delicious as well. Everything was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were impeccable. The wine flowed freely and we had a private "show" by the magician/illusionist that was onboard. You also receive a complimentary photograph of the group signed by the chef. Overall, it was an amazing night and I can't say enough good things about it. We highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys food!
Now, on to the ports…
We basically chose this cruise for the itinerary. We have both been on several cruises in the past and have sailed to many of the Caribbean islands, but we had never done a Southern Caribbean cruise.
St. Thomas – We have both been to St. Thomas in the past and I LOVED Megan's Bay when I was there with my family 10 years ago. So we decided that we would just take a taxi to the beach and enjoy a nice relaxing day – which we reallllly needed! When we got off the ship we went to the taxi stand and asked for a taxi to Megan's Bay. The one person there rudely told us it wasn't the best beach to go to and that we should go where they were already taking another group of people. We explained that we really wanted to go to Megan's Bay and finally another couple came over that also wanted to go there. Then another driver came over and told us he would take us and off we went. The taxi cost about $15 and then we had to pay admission to Megan's Bay. We ended up just putting our towels on the sand and jumping in the crystal clear water. We didn't really want to shell out MORE money for a beach chair or float. I was disappointed at how dirty and run down the beach area was, but there is nothing in the world that beats that view and the beauty of the water itself. We spent several hours in the water, enjoyed a drink from the beach bar (also overpriced) and took some fun pictures with our underwater camera. It was a nice day, but I think next time we go to St. Thomas we will try another beach.
On Wednesday, we arrived in Barbados – my new favorite island. I was really excited about checking out Barbados, but I didn't anticipate how much fun we would have on this beautiful island. We got to Barbados and took a taxi to The Boatyard (theboatyard.com) in the very popular Carlisle Bay, for $5 per person. When we arrived we paid the entrance fee ($20 per person) which includes one drink, beach chairs and umbrellas, access to the water toys and rope swing and a shuttle back to the ship. We had gotten there pretty early so the beach was not crowded at all. The sand was pink and the water was clear blue and sparkling. We settled on a lounger (actually more like a bed on the beach) and rested in the shade for a bit. (Ryan had gotten a really bad sunburn in St. Thomas so he needed the shade.) We swam and enjoyed the warm, clear water and played on the water trampoline. There were vendors selling jewelry (I bought an ankle bracelet) and crafts which were a little bit annoying but they did leave when you said you weren't interested. There were also people trying to get you to go on jet skis and snorkel tours. We had planned on snorkeling with the sea turtles and had heard great things about Neville so when we saw him we negotiated a deal ($20 per person) to go snorkeling. Neville took us and one other couple out on his yellow boat and suited us up with snorkel gear. He found a good spot and let us into the water and dropped lettuce into the water to attract the turtles. It really was an incredible experience. It was ruined a little bit by another larger group that came in. Some of the people started chasing the turtles which made it a little less enjoyable, but overall it was a great experience. We left the turtles and went to two ship wrecks. One was kind of lame and boring, but the other was great. Tons of beautiful fish!
When we got back to the Boatyard, Neville gave us some complimentary rum punch (yum!) and we went to the bar to order lunch. I ordered Coconut Chicken and Fries ($12) and Ryan got Flying Fish and Fries ($10). The Coconut Chicken was crispy, sweet and delicious. I would order it again in a second! Ryan also enjoyed the Flying Fish, a Barbados specialty. We got our complimentary drinks at the bar and at "Happy Hour" got free shots too. We had a perfect day at the beach and will DEFINITLEY go back here again. Highly recommended!
On Thursday, we went to St. Lucia, another island I was really looking forward to visiting. My brother and sister-in-law had been to St. Lucia on a past cruise and had highly recommended the Full Day St. Lucia Tour through Cosol Tours. We are very glad that we took their recommendation because we had an excellent day. Cosol, the owner is available by email and he responds almost immediately. The tour costs $65 per person but it is a full day tour and you don't pay anything until the tour is over. This is the tour explanation that I had received from Cosol prior to booking.
"We will be leaving at 8:30am, we meet at 8:20am. As soon as you come off the ship you walk into the building right in front of you, where I will be standing with a sign "COSOL TOURS". The tour is 5 to 6 hours. You only pay in cash at the end of the tour. We will be stopping every 10 mins for your "wow" photo moments. Entrance fees to the waterfall, volcano, botanical gardens and water taxi is included in the price.
We will be visiting the banana plantation where you will learn about its growth and taste them, fishing villages (Anse La-Raye and Canaries), also Marigot Bay where the movie Dr. Doolittle was filmed. Then we will be stopping for breakfast where you can sample the local fish cakes, johnny cakes, coconut cakes, and different local fruits from the Island. We will be having a mobile bar with rum punch, local beer, water, soda. All eats and drinks are free. Then we head down to Soufriere where you will have an overlook of the pitons. Then to the only drive-in Volcano in the world where you will be getting an informative guide to show you around, there you can also do the mud bath and feel relaxed and rejuvenated. From the volcano we will be going to the Toraille Waterfall for swimming. Then to the Jalousie Beach between the pitons for swimming and snorkeling, where we will be taking the water taxi where you will enjoy unbelievable views of the coast. Please bring along your snorkeling gears, It is also available for rental.
After the beach we will be stopping for a drink and sample the local spice rum. Then we stop at the Botanical Gardens. On the way back to the north we will be stopping for the best local hot bread and cheese. Our last stop will be 5 mins drive from Castries where you can do all your shopping for local souvenirs to take back home. Bring along your camera and towels. Because of the small changing room at the beach you can wear you swimsuit under you garment to save time. If you have any more queries call me on my cell 1(758) 7196697 or visit my website at cosol-tours.com. Thanking you in advance as I await your confirmation reply.Cancellation policy is 24 hours prior to tour."
This tour was everything Cosol promised and more. We met up with the group as directed and were divided into smaller groups of 8-10 people per van. Our tour guide, Fat Man, was absolutely excellent. We had a nice group of all adults (other groups had kids with them) in their 20s and 30s. They did a good job of keeping people together as well. Two guys that we had met at the Chef's Table ended up coming with us and signing up day-of and they were put in the same group as us. We got in the 15-passenger vans and started driving to our first destination. The whole time, Fat Man told us about his island. You can tell he was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about St. Lucia and we learned a lot. We stopped at the Banana Plantation and had fresh bananas right off the trees and then stopped twice for scenic stops. St. Lucia is a beautiful island and it was great to be able to see everything.
For breakfast we stopped at this beautiful house on a hill, overlooking much of the island. We were treated to an authentic, delicious meal prepared by Cosol's wife. We tried many authentic dishes and fruits. The tour also included unlimited drinks, which were in coolers in the back of another van that traveled with the group. The drinks included beer, rum punch, bottled water and soda.
The Pitons are magnificent and I loved getting to see them from a distance and up close as we swam at a beach right between them! At the volcano we were given the option of getting out and taking a mud bath or staying in the van for a tour of the volcano. I ended up going for the mud bath while Ryan stayed in the van to see the volcano. The mud bath was a unique experience, not one that I need to do ever again, but it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Ryan said the volcano was pretty cool too.
Afterwards, we drove to a pier and boarded a ferry boat. We rode past the Pitons (so cool!) and landed at a small beach. The beach itself was very crowded and it was difficult to get a chair, but the water again was amazing. We swam and enjoyed the view (between the Pitons) and then Fat Man drove us to this tiny village where we picked up fresh bread and cheese from a small bakery (or maybe just someone's house?) A bunch of us really needed to use the bathroom, and since there wasn't a public restroom available, we were directed to a woman's home. This little family was cooking dinner and let us into their modest home to use the bathroom. They were so kind! We made it back to the ship with only about 30 minutes to spare before we needed to board. We did some shopping at the duty-free stores where Ryan purchased bamboo socks at Cariloha and I bought sunglasses at Del Sol! St. Lucia was a gorgeous island that we definitely plan on going back to in the future. Cosol's Tour is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
On Friday we went to St. Kitts. We had not heard much about St. Kitts and wanted a relaxing day after the long day of touring in St. Lucia, so did not plan much. A friend of ours had recommended Timothy Beach so we just took a cab to the beach. The view was spectacular, the beach was empty and the sand was BLACK! We really enjoyed a few relaxing hours in the water and I spent some time reading in the sun, but overall we choose a beach with not much action, and we wanted to spend some time on the ship, so we only spent a couple of hours here. We took a cab back to the port area, wandered through the shops and avoided the men with the monkeys! I didn't love St. Kitts as much as I was hoping, but I think it was situational. I know a lot of people really enjoyed their time in St. Kitts so we're hoping to go back and try something different in the future.
On Saturday, our final day of cruising, we went to St. Maarten. This is another island I have visited (and loved) in the past. This is the day Ryan was most excited for. We had booked an excursion through Carnival (which is VERY rare for us!) to participate in the America's Cup Regatta. Ryan's parents and brother had done this excursion on a previous cruise and it was something he was really excited about. It was definitely our most expensive excursion of the week (I think $90 per person?) but overall we had a great time. After we disembarked, we met up with the excursion group on the pier. We boarded a boat which had regular deck chairs bolted to the platform and went across the bay to where the sailboat was moored. Of course it started pouring as we were on the boat so we were delayed a little bit. When we got on board we were give assignments for when we boarded our sailboat. The jobs ranged from difficult to ridiculous. I wanted to enjoy the sail without any worry so I took an easy job as the timekeeper. Ryan wanted to work a little bit so he took a more difficult job. When we boarded the sailboat we sat according to our job and stowed our gear. They provided drinks (beer, water and soda) which were passed out by the "bartender." The premise of the excursion is that this is a sailboat that has actually competed in the America's Cup and we are racing another boat. It was fun to learn a little bit about the history of the America's Cup and sailing in general. We ended up losing the race but the rain cleared our quickly and we enjoyed a beautiful hour or two on a sailboat in St. Maarten, so really there were no losers. I actually enjoyed this excursion a lot more than I expected to. We had a great time. When the race is over, they bring you back (on the deck chair boat) to a pier with a store where you can purchase overpriced America's Cup merchandise and photos that they took while we were on the boat. The staff was EXCELLENT – friendly and fun. They also were helpful in directing us to other areas of the island when the excursion was over.
We had read about Maho beach and decided to check it out. The guides had told us to take a public "bus" – which was really a van – to the beach instead of a private cab. It was much cheaper, but did take a long time because of frequent stops. However, it was kind of a nice way to see more of the island. Maho Beach itself was pretty gimmicky. I think it was interesting to experience once, but like my mud bath, I don't think I need to do it ever again. Seeing the planes land was very cool and actually kind of beautiful (in a strange way) but I HATED when the planes took off. I know some people found it cool to hang on the fence and get blown back by the propulsion but even on the beach (and in the water) many yards away, you get pelted by sand and everyone's belongings which are blown across the beach. We weren't really hungry, but there was a bar/restaurant that was very crowded. We spent about an hour at the beach and then took the "bus" back to the port area. We wandered the shops for a while, found our friends Dan and Elizabeth on the main public beach and then went back to the ship.
On Sunday we had to disembark the Valor for the final time. We had a leisurely breakfast in the MDR and then wandered back to our cabin. Since we were spending three more days in San Juan we were in no rush to leave. We did take some fun pictures before we disembarked.
We self-disembarked which was actually very easy. It was a little bit difficult getting our luggage through the corridors since the room stewards already had their carts out but overall not a problem. We made it through security without an issue and found a cab. We took a cab to our hotel – The Embassy Suites in Isla Verde. We had gotten an excellent deal on this hotel using points, and did not expect it to be such a beautiful hotel. We were very early for check-in but they stored our luggage for us and gave us wristbands to use the pool. We spent most of the day by the gorgeous pool, had lunch at the Outback Steakhouse (in the hotel) and played in the casino (also in the hotel). Our room was very large and had a decent view. The happy hour was great – free drinks (the rum punch was EXCELLENT) and snacks and the breakfast was also included – and really good. That night we wandered to the beach in Isla Verde (which was about a 15 minute walk) but did not go swimming, since it was not such a nice beach. We ended up getting Outback for dinner as well since we were exhausted.
The next day we rented a car from the Dollar Rent-a-Car inside the Verdanza Hotel lobby. We arranged to pick the car up first thing Monday morning and they were very accommodating. They told us that we could drop the car off at the parking lot at the end of the day instead of paying for parking at our hotel. It was extremely convenient since we could just walk from our hotel. They also told us that they would give us a complimentary ride to the airport the next day. On Monday we picked up our car and drove to the El Yunque Rain Forest. It was a bit of a drive and since Ryan doesn't know ANY Spanish, it was helpful that I could read the signs. The Rain Forest is not really near the tourist-center of San Juan so it was a nice drive in the country.
We had previously set up a tour with a guide from the Parks Service through a friend of my father and it was an excellent private tour. I am not sure of the options visitors usually have but if you can arrange a tour ahead of time I highly recommend doing so. We met our tour guide basically at the highest point in El Yunque and had an excellent tour. Our tour guide (whose name I cannot remember!) was excellent. She was extremely knowledgeable in both the history of the rain forest and of the plants and foliage in the rain forest. Of course it started to POUR while we were there, but it was still enjoyable. After the tour, we took our time driving back out of the rain forest, enjoying stops along the way. We stopped at one point for lunch and had empanadas and rice and beans, which were pretty good. It was raining very hard at this point and the road seemed kind of dangerous, with water rushing down on either side of us, so we ended our trip to El Yunque a little bit prematurely. However, we really enjoyed our time there.
Next, we drove to the Bacardi Distillery. We got VERY lost along the way so it took a long time to find it. From what I understand the Distillery is very easy to get to from Old San Juan via ferry but we were driving in and it was extremely difficult to find. Once we found it though, we were glad that we did! The tour itself was fun and interesting, but the outdoor bar was really nice. We each got 2 free drinks – you could select any type of Bacardi Rum with any mixer. The bartenders were knowledgeable and made great suggestions of different mixers and rum to try. We had a great time and enjoyed the sunshine.
We had asked the concierge at our hotel about an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant in the area and recommended Los Platos and we are very glad she did. The restaurant was somewhat small but the waitstaff was excellent and the food and drink were outstanding. The waiter recommended we try the Coconut Sangria, (which was FABULOUS) and the fried cheese appetizer (also delicious!). For our entrees, Ryan tried the traditional Mofungo and I had steak with rice and beans. Overall a great meal!
We returned the car without an issue and returned to the hotel for happy hour (more rum punch, yay!) The next day we hung out by the pool and then went to the airport for our flight home. We had an amazing trip and can't wait to visit all of our favorite places again!! Less
Published 05/25/14
Cabin review: 8M7447 Aft-View Extended Balcony
We absolutely loved this cabin. The location was perfect - it was quiet and out of the way. The cabin itself was spacious and had plenty of storage. The balcony was FANTASTIC. It was large and we had great views of every port.Read All Aft-View Extended Balcony (8M) Reviews >>
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"I am in Hawaii and I got mine as a Christmas gift from my hubby. He went to Wet Okole. I dont know if they have "Wet Okole's in the mainland but they carry different colors with different trim and logos.. and they do have the smart logo…"
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By Dele Sobowale
"You are lucky you have a general who knows you – otherwise you would have been ruined a long time ago." Phocion 402-318 B.C in Plutarch, 46-120 A.D, THE AGE OF ALEXANDER.
Indisputably one of the greatest historians ever, Plutarch brought us the story of the Athenian general – Phocion – who led his people to several victories – often acting against popular advice. Phocion later received the blessing of Mandela, who had this to say about leaders.
"There are times when a leader must move ahead of the pack; go off in a new direction, confident that he is leading his people the right way." Left to the young "Turks" of the African National Conference, ANC, South Africa, shortly after the Madiba became President, would have driven out the whites and seized their properties.
But, Mandela, was more nationalistic and wiser. He knew what could ruin his nation and he was not going to promote such a policy. Phocion and Mandela had two things in common – they were old when monumental decisions affecting their nations had to be made; and they made them with everybody's vital interest in mind. Compromise was the bedrock of those decisions.
Thank God, Nigeria is not without its share of wise and old men. When the list of delegates to the on-going National Conference was released, one of the strongest criticisms was the large number of "old" people. In fact, given the statements and positions being canvassed by various groups, in the run-up to the "CONFAB", I was happy that hot-headedness was going to be held to the minimum.
The Power Devolution Committee, co-chaired by Architect (Obong) Victor Attah, former Akwa Ibom State Governor and Alhaji Coomasie, former Inspector General of Police, IGP, was bound to be the most explosive. The reason is simple. Our Federal Republic of Nigeria, since 1973, has been nothing more than "a geographical expression" based on sharing crude oil revenue.
Devolution of power was just another euphemism for wrangling over how we will continue to share the crude oil revenue. Of the two co-Chairmen, one, Attah, had been on record, since the 1994-5 CONFAB,for advocating RESOURCE CONTROL and a greater share of the oil revenue going to the oil producing states.
His co-Chairman, while not so publicly associated with a position on the matter, soon had that deficiency remedied by the Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Council of Elders and other groups who were adamantly opposed to derivation and who actually wanted existing concessions, granted to the states of the Niger Delta, reversed.
They had two powerful weapons on their side — The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Supreme Court decision which appeared sacrosanct. Total and violent breakdown in communications or a stalemate were the only options available; and only wisdom would ultimately decide the outcome. Had the Power Devolution Committee ended in disarray, the CONFAB would also have closed shop long ago. That was how vital that committee was. Thank God for old men; the CONFAB continues.
The heroes of this minor miracle include the co-Chairman, already named, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Professor A.B.C. Nwosu – former Federal Minister of Health. As Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, said, under different circumstances, "Never in the history of human conflict, had so many owed so much to so few."
Given a well prepared assault on the status quo by the North, including a document which was a parody of propaganda, aimed at reversing all the gains the Niger Delta had made since 1999, it is remarkable that the unprepared and negligent South South emerged unscathed after all the attempts to reduce its revenue substantially.
Let me illustrate what could have happened if the North has had its way with two oil producing states – Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa. Reducing derivation from thirteen per cent to five per cent would have meant, at first, going down from N25 billion a month to N9 billion for AKS and for Bayelsa from N19 billion to N7.32 billion.
With the re-introduction of the onshore/offshore dichotomy, AKS revenue allocation will dwindle to less than N500 million a month and that of Bayelsa about the same amount. In addition, the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry would have been scrapped and the Amnesty Programme would have come to a halt –with several hundred students stranded at home and abroad.
These were among the most obvious calamities averted. But, these are only economic in nature. In reality, these old men averted a greater calamity than what can be measured in terms of naira and kobo. They saved lives and Nigeria. How? Then answer these questions.
Does anybody in his right senses expect the people of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa, as well as other oil producing states, to meekly accept seventy to ninety per cent reduction in their revenue allocation without provoking another secession bid; this time spreading across the South?
And when the war of secession starts, can anybody tell us, in advance, what the costs will be – in lives, properties and hopes destroyed?
Thank God for the old men who saved us from ourselves.
P.S. Part 2 of the series on Chibok will continue next week. This is urgent business. Thank you.
"Nothing in the world is more powerful than an idea whose time has come." Victor Hugo, 1802-1885. (BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 96).
The call for a Christian governor in Lagos State in 2015 started on this page in May 2011. Some readers reacted with hostility; others with derision; and many with alarm. Today, it is a reality. People who could not have summoned the courage to throw their hats into the ring are now candidates. Was it prophecy? You decide.
However, like most events which have a humble beginning, and which gained momentum, some of those who were originally opposed to it are hustling to cash in on the matter. One of the candidates recently launched a book during which his hand was raised by one of the traditional rulers in Lagos State.
Unfortunately, the candidate had received the endorsement of a traditional ruler who would not want to see a Christian candidate emerge. Fortunately, the Oba rules over one of the least populated areas in Lagos State. Anybody who wants to know how thinly populated Lagos Island is should come on a Sunday. Kabiyesi's influence does not cross the lagoon – thank God for that.
Visit: www.delesobowale.com or Visit: www.facebook.com/biolasobowale


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Bring me to...
Wedding Dogs - The Paw-fect Guests!
We're unashamed dog lovers here, and although there is a One Fab Day dog, that hasn't stopped us collecting pictures of our favourite pooches at their owner's weddings. From little top coats & tails, to floral garland collars, these dogs are all kitted out and looking fab to celebrate the big day, and steal all the limelight...
So what you thinking - wedding dogs, yes or no? I bet you know what we think!
Image Credits:
1. The Nicols via Style me Pretty 2. White Tea Photography 3. EE Photography and Amanda Marie Portraits via Style Me Pretty 4.Imagination photography viagreenweddingshoes.com 5. Emily Takes Photos via 100 layer cake 6. Jackie Wonders Photography via My Sweet and Saucy 7. Cedar House Photography via Style Me Pretty 8. Jen Huang Photography via 100 Layer Cake 9. Dottie Photography via Love and Lavender 10. Abi Q Photography via Ruffled 11. Simply Jessie Photography via Elizabeth Anne Designs 12. EP Love Photography via greenweddingshoes.com
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A thrifty city centre wedding, full of inspirational ideas on how not to blow the budget.Read Now
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The Luna Shipyards were a Federation shipyard facility in the Sol system, in the vicinity of Luna, Earth's moon.
They were a functioning shipyard as early as the mid-23rd century, when they constructed the SS Xhosa, a fact listed on her dedication plaque. (DS9: "For the Cause" set decoration)
Luna Shipyards was never mentioned in dialogue, but on the dedication plaque of the Xhosa. Since the Xhosa was a civilian vessel, it is unknown if the yards also constructed Starfleet starships. It is also unknown if they were related to the Tranquility Base shipyard.


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Chinese officials have removed more than 13,000 pig carcasses from a river near Shanghai, China's financial capital. This number has more than doubled since last week's report of 6,600.
The findings have ignited a frenzy of reactions from across the globe, though officials claim the water has not been contaminated. The Huangpu River, where the pigs were found, supplies water to Shanghai's 23 million citizens.
According to a report by NBC News, officials are struggling to put a positive spin on the ghoulish news. Officials have stepped up efforts to test food and water quality across the city. Shanghai's officials also reported that two-thirds of the most recent carcasses were piglets, suggesting that the worst has now passed.
Many of the pigs have tested positive for porcine circovirus, a virus that recently killed a larger number of pigs across the region. However, officials stress that porcine circovirus cannot be contracted by humans.
Read, "China river's dead pig toll passes 13,000 but officials say water quality is 'normal'


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A Superman Complex is an unhealthy sense of responsibility, or the belief that everyone else lacks the capacity to successfully perform any task.
Origin Edit
The expression seems to have been first been used by Dr. Fredric Wertham in his book Seduction of the Innocent and before the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency. He claimed that children reading Superman comic books were exposed to "phantasies [sic] of sadistic joy in seeing other people punished over and over again while you yourself remain immune."
References Edit
- Beaty, Bart (2005). Fredric Wertham and the Critique of Mass Culture. University Press of Mississippi, ISBN 1-57806-819-3.


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Paralympic swimmer Stephanie Millward is more at home in water than on a bike but that did not stop her from supporting the launch of the Bag4Sport spin-a-thon.
Training commitments permitting, Miss Millward, who is an ambassador for the Devizes-based charity, will be back at the Route2Fitness gym on February 9 when teams will compete in a 24-hour static cycle ride.
She was in Devizes on Monday just hours after she had been a guest at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony.
She said: "I firmly believe in the work of Bag4Sport which is raising money for grass root sport and to help stars of the future who as yet do not receive much funding."
Teams are needed to compete. Visit www.bag4sport.co.uk for details and to register interest in the event.