text: On Mar 4, 2011 2:49 AM, "Karthick Gururaj" <karthick.gururaj at gmail.com> wrote: > > Ord has to be compatible with Eq, and none of these are. > Hmm.. not true. Can you explain what do you mean by "compatibility"? Compatibility would mean that x == y if and only if compare x y == EQ. This is not a restricrion enforced by the type system, but it is something that I would think ought to be true (though it is not,for example, for the IEEE floating point types; I personally consider that a bug and believe the IEEE notions of comparison ought to be exposed in a different set of operations rather than instances of Ord and Eq). In this sense it is much like the monad laws. So whether it has to be true depends on what you mean by "has to be". > Ok - at this stage, I'll just take your word for it. I'm not able to > still appreciate the choice of the default ordering order, but I need > to wait until I get to see/develop some real code. The most common use of Ord in real code, to be honest, is to use the value in some data structure like Data.Set.Set or Data.Map.Map, which requires Ord instances. For this purpose, any Ord instance that is compatible with Eq will do fine. -- Chris -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://www.haskell.org/pipermail/haskell-cafe/attachments/20110304/d3417834/attachment.htm>


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John M.wrote a review of ThirtyTwo Focus Boa Snowboard Boot - Men's on March 21, 2015
686 Focus Boa 2015
Familiarity: I've used it several times
I've had 2 previous versions of these boots and these by far the best pair I?ve ever had. They have more support and better fit. I spent 6 days boarding @ Breckinridge March 2015

subset: commoncrawl


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Carl GibbsLos Angeles, California, US
Warm, honest, young with a great range. Anything from announcer to regular guy on the street. Youthful to mature, energetic to laid back, clear, precise, and extremely "easy" to listen to. Authoritative yet approachable - the perfect combination !
English, English (North American), English (British), English (Australian)
Australian, British, North American, US Mid-Atlantic
Middle Aged, Young Adult
Special Skills
Audiobooks, Business, Cartoons, Documentaries, Educational, Internet, Movie Trailers, Podcasting, Radio, Telephone, Television, Videogames
USB MXL Condensor microphone
Computer & Software
PowerMac G5
Turnaround Time
Same day.... matter of minutes
Voice Over Clients
NASA/JPL, Epson, Targus, D-Link, Darfon Solar, Volkswagen, Sony, Westwood College, CloudCompli, Panasonic, American Express, etc...
Payment Terms
Hire Carl as a voice actor. Payment is made through Voices.com SurePay, an escrow service that guarantees your work is done to your satisfaction. Send payment securely by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal through Voices.com then download your files from the website.
Watch a video to see how to make a payment
Next Steps
To contact Carl Gibbs about your project, request a quote today. We'll walk you through the process step-by-step. It's fast and easy.
Manulife Financial for Job #112495 DESTINATION LEADERSHIP – ANIMATION It was really great to deal with Carl, he made sure we got exactly what we were looking for the recording.Aug 1, 2014


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Version: 1.7.9 Updated
Platforms: Android
Developer: MX Technologies
Distribution Type: Freeware
Downloads: 26223
File Size: 4405 Kb
MX Player Codec (Intel x86) - MX Player Codec for Intel x86 type CPU.
Note: This is a software component for MX Player. You don't need to install an extra codec package unless MX Player asks to do so on its first run.


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Betting on fast-food wages
CONCORD, N.H. – Ben Nawn, a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, says his friends who work at McDonald's are envious of what he earns working for the Boloco burrito restaurant here.
While they make $7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage, Nawn receives $9 an hour, which Boloco sets as the floor at its chain of 22 restaurants, most of them in New England."That's pretty high," said Nawn, who hopes to work in sports broadcasting someday. "Nine dollars is a good base, and the benefits are great."
Nawn works at one of the handful of restaurant chains that deliberately pay well above the federal minimum wage. In-N-Out Burger, a California-based chain, pays all its employees at least $10.50 an hour, while Shake Shack, the trendy, lines-out-the-door burger emporium, has minimum pay of $9.50. Moo Cluck Moo, a fledgling company with two hamburger joints in Michigan, starts everyone at $15.
These companies' founders were intent on paying their workers more than the going rate, partly because they wanted to do the right thing, they said, and partly because they thought this would help their companies thrive long term.
"The No. 1 reason we pay our team well above the minimum wage is because we believe that if we take care of the team, they will take care of our customers," said Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack.
The nation's fast-food restaurants, which employ many of the country's low-wage workers, are at the center of the debate over low pay and raising the federal minimum wage – fueled by protests, including several in Western New York, demanding that fast-food chains establish a $15 wage floor. McDonald's was pilloried last year for a hot line that advised employees how to seek food stamps and public assistance for heating and medical expenses.
During the lunchtime rush at the Boloco here, four workers showed impressive teamwork in stuffing beef, chicken, salsa and other ingredients rapid-fire into burrito after burrito. Scott Newman, the restaurant's manager, said that Boloco's above-average pay enabled him to pick from among many talented job applicants, adding, "When you teach talented individuals, once they get it, they'll be a rock star for you."
Complaining of low profit margins that generally accompany inexpensive menu items, most fast-food restaurants try to keep wages down – the median hourly wage for fast-food workers nationwide is $8.83, compared with $11.50 at Boloco and $10.70 at Shake Shack.
When fast-food executives offer above-average compensation, it is good not only for employees, but also for the brand. Starbucks received a public relations lift recently in announcing that it would finance online college educations for thousands of its baristas.
Some competitors assert that these fast-food companies are also influenced by regional economics. They note that many of the companies that pay more are based in high-wage, high-cost-of-living states such as Massachusetts and California that often have minimum wages well above the federal law. California has a $9 statewide minimum wage, while the State of Washington, home of Seattle-based Starbucks, has the nation's highest state minimum wage, $9.32.
According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator, the living wage for a single adult in California is $11.20 an hour (and $22.70 for an adult with one child), while in Massachusetts, it is $11.31 for a single adult – $2 or $3 an hour higher than in many less-expensive states.
In the Buffalo Niagara region, according to the calculator, a living wage is $8.87 for a single adult, $19.99 for an adult with one child and $27.58 for an adult with two children. New York's $8 minimum wage will rise to $8.75 in 2015 and to $9 in 2016.
John Pepper, Boloco's co-founder, said the strategy for his Boston-based company evolved after it initially adopted a low-wage approach.
"In the company's early years," he said, "our goal, like much of the industry, was to pay as little as you can get away with and have people still show up and be reasonably productive."
But while watching employees mop floors and work late into the night, he realized that for his company to be as great as he hoped, it needed to treat its workers better.
"We were talking about building a culture in which we want our team members to take care of our customers," Pepper said. "But we asked, 'What's in it for them?' Honestly, very little."
So in 2002, when the minimum wage was $5.15 an hour, Boloco raised its minimum wage to $8. It also began subsidizing commuting costs, providing English classes to immigrant employees and contributing up to 4 percent of an employee's pay toward a 401(k).
"If we really wanted our people to care about our culture and care about our customers, we had to show that we cared about them," Pepper said. "If we're talking about building a business that's successful but our employees can't go home and pay their bills, to me that success is a farce."
When the company raised its minimum wage to $8, "that was an immediate hit to the P&L," Pepper acknowledged, referring to the company's profit-and-loss statement.
He said his privately held company, unlike some fast-food chains, did not sense an urgency to achieve a 20 percent profit margin per restaurant.
Fast-food industry executives have long contended that raising the minimum wage would result in fewer jobs and higher prices.
Scott DeFife, an executive vice president at the National Restaurant Association, said it was inappropriate to compare restaurants such as Boloco and Shake Shack with chains such as McDonald's and Subway.
"The price point and convenience factor are more appropriately compared to casual table restaurants that have wait staff," DeFife said.
But prices at Boloco and In-N-Out are largely similar to those at Chipotle or McDonald's. The prices at Shake Shack are higher, but consumers flock to it because it is known for its premium hamburgers.
DeFife noted that restaurants paying higher wages tended to be in places where consumers were willing to pay more for their meals.
In addition to its higher-than-average hourly wage, Shake Shack, which is part of the restaurant impresario Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group, offers a 401(k) match and a monthly bonus based on store sales. Those working more than 30 hours a week qualify for health coverage.
At the McDonald's shareholders meeting in May, CEO Don Thompson defended the company's compensation policies, saying that many managers there started as hourly workers.
"We continue to believe that we pay fair and competitive wages," he said. "We provide job opportunities and training for those entering the workforce. We are trying to be a really great employer."


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From San Francisco Chronicle:
SAN FRANCISCO — President Obama spent only a few hours in San Francisco on Tuesday, but he took just seconds to prove once again why he's the baby whisperer.
Moments after landing at San Francisco International Airport on Air Force One, Obama greeted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee before making a beeline to a crowd of well-wishers on the tarmac.
Obama spotted 6-month-old Josie Knight, who was crying while being held by her mother, Gina Odom, 37, of Oakland. Odom, a real estate agent who had received an invitation to meet Obama, had dressed her daughter in her prettiest pink outfit for the occasion.
Click here to read the rest of this story.


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In a turbulent environment, investors are inclined to put in some extra work to stay on top of the latest market happenings. Analysts and investors are typically highly focused on company earnings numbers when they are published. Company earnings are a good way to analyze the profitability of the company. Sell-side analysts are currently looking for Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) to post quarterly EPS of $1.17. The company's next earnings report is expected to be released on or around 2017-02-16 for the period ending on 2017-01-31. The company posted EPS of $1.17 for the same quarter last year. Most recently, the company reported EPS of $0.84. Prior to the last earnings report, Zacks Research had a consensus estimate looking for EPS of $0.52. The gap between the estimate and actual number was $0.32 which created a surprise factor of 61.54%. The surprise factor can cause substantial stock fluctuations after the earnings release.
Before and after the earnings report, covering Wall Street analysts often make updates to their projections. Analysts taken into consideration by Zacks Research have a current mean target price of $57.166 on shares of Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN). This target consists of 12 research analysts polled by Zacks Research. Analysts may have different stances on where they see the stock headed in the future.
Among the polled analysts, the highest estimate sees the stock going to 68 in the next year. The analyst with the lowest target price views shares reaching $39 within the same period. In looking at the standard deviation of all estimates, we arrive at 9.103. Zacks Research also compiles analyst ratings using a scale that ranges from 1 to 5. If the company has a ratings score of 1, this would represent a Strong Buy. If the company has a 5 rating, this would signify a Strong Sell. Combining all the ratings on Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN), the current mean stands at 2.55. Breaking those down we see that the ratings are as follows: 8 Strong Buy, 0 Rated Buy, 8 Rated Hold and 1 Rated Sell.
Want to receive stock recommendations on Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) as well as the latest stock picks before the Street? Sign up below!
Analyst recommendations and estimates are for informational purposes only and should be used along with a number of other factors when considering an investment position. Part of the data in this report is derived from Zacks Research and FactSet. Ratings and estimates change daily and thus the numbers may differ slightly if a new report has been issued within the last 24-hours. The consensus numbers take into account the reports from over 160 brokerage firms. The job of analysts is to issue recommendations for their clients, and not typically for the general public. Analyst forecasts, earnings estimates and price target projections are issued to help their clients make money through stock investments. We in no way are suggesting that readers make any decision on Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE:JWN) based on the information in this report.


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We drove out there this morning to hang the show. There was a little drizzle, but it was warm. It was too bad we both had appointments this afternoon because this area is so much fun to photograph. (I did manage to sneak in a few shots and will probably share those next week.)
Hanging a show is like putting a puzzle together. It always seems like an overwhelming job at the beginning and you wonder how all the pieces are going to fit.
Many of you will recognize these images from our show "Visions of Translucence", but for those of you that don't, I thought I would re-post the video that I put together last fall. If you can't see the video on the blog, click here: Video Be sure to turn your speakers on!
I am calling this show at Bogle Vineyards "Visions of Translucence Lite" because many of the same images are included. However, Donald has one brand new amazing piece making it's "debut" this weekend.
If you are in the area, come by on Saturday, March 17th from 1 - 4 for the reception. Click here for more information: Bogle
I am going to try to stay inside during the reception and not sneak out with my camera, but I am not making any promises.....................


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The jury's still out about whether Google CEO Eric Schmidt is trying to regale the world with his dark wit about people changing their names if they don't like their Google results or whether his giddy comments about Google purview are actually meant in earnest. Until Schmidt's intentions are established, CNN thoughtfully removed his statement that people who aren't keen on Google Street View photographing their home "can just move" from the video of the interview. Thankfully, they left in Spitzer's knowing smile in response to Schmidt saying, "We keep the searches that you do for roughly a year, or a year and a half."
In the category "newspapers that don't understand the Internet" we present you The North County Gazette.
(CNN) — Authorities in northeast Texas were assessing damage Monday morning after a tornado destroyed homes, knocked train cars off their tracks and injured at least four people.
Five homes in Rice, Texas, were destroyed as 125 mph winds whipped through a seven-mile swath of Navarro County Sunday evening, said Eric Meyers, the county's emergency management coordinator.
Meyers rode out the tornado inside a vehicle and videotaped the twister as it tore the roof off a school about a block away.
"We are in the tornado! We are in the tornado!" Meyers yells several times in the video.
Fox News wants to maintain an ideological divide within the media for marketing reasons, says a senior reporter that recently left the network.
Appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe Monday, Major Garrett explained that his former employer has a vested interest in making sure the media is as polarized as possible.
A four-month-old baby is dead and 10 other people are injured in the small town of La Verriere, west of Paris, France after they jumped out of their apartment's third-storey window after believing to have seen the devil.
A STOWAWAY crocodile on a flight escaped from its carrier bag and sparked an onboard stampede that caused the flight to crash, killing 19 passengers and crew.
A lone survivor from the Let 410 plane told the astonishing tale to investigators.
Ironically the crocodile also survived the crash but was later killed with a machete by rescuers sifting through the wreckage.
(Reuters) – The United Nations should impose a moratorium on "geo-engineering" projects such as artificial volcanoes and vast cloud-seeding schemes to fight climate change, green groups say, fearing they could harm nature and mankind.
The risks were too great because the impacts of manipulating nature on a vast scale were not fully known, the groups said at a major U.N. meeting in Japan aimed at combating increasing losses of plant and animal species.
Some of the geo-engineering schemes proposed include:
— Ocean fertilization. Large areas are sprinkled with iron or other nutrients to artificially spur growth of phytoplankton, which soak up carbon dioxide. But this could trigger harmful algal blooms, soak up nutrients and kill fish and other animals.
— Spray seawater into the atmosphere to increase the reflectivity and condensation of clouds so they bounce more sunlight back into space.
— Placing trillions of tiny solar reflectors out in space to cut the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth.
— Artificial volcanoes. Tiny sulfate particles or other materials are released into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight, simulating the effect of a major volcanic eruption.
Ray Ozzie wrote a good-bye memo, but unfortunately it seems to be in a dialect of marketeese I can't translate yet.
Anybody want to try for me?
BP and several other big European companies are funding the midterm election campaigns of Tea Party favourites who deny the existence of global warming or oppose Barack Obama's energy agenda, the Guardian has learned.
In Colorado Springs, sales tax revenue from medical marijuana has risen to about $50,000 a month, allowing the city to mow grass medians and consider restoring some Saturday bus service.
"When you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you say, with 'justice for all," Stiglitz said. "People aren't sure that we have justice for all. Somebody is caught for a minor drug offense, they are sent to prison for a very long time. And yet, these so-called white-collar crimes, which are not victimless; almost none of these guys, almost none of them, go to prison."
When logging into a website you usually start by submitting your username and password. The server then checks to see if an account matching this information exists and if so, replies back to you with a "cookie" which is used by your browser for all subsequent requests.
It's extremely common for websites to protect your password by encrypting the initial login, but surprisingly uncommon for websites to encrypt everything else. This leaves the cookie (and the user) vulnerable. HTTP session hijacking (sometimes called "sidejacking") is when an attacker gets a hold of a user's cookie, allowing them to do anything the user can do on a particular website. On an open wireless network, cookies are basically shouted through the air, making these attacks extremely easy.
This is a widely known problem that has been talked about to death, yet very popular websites continue to fail at protecting their users. The only effective fix for this problem is full end-to-end encryption, known on the web as HTTPS or SSL. Facebook is constantly rolling out new "privacy" features in an endless attempt to quell the screams of unhappy users, but what's the point when someone can just take over an account entirely? Twitter forced all third party developers to use OAuth then immediately released (and promoted) a new version of their insecure website. When it comes to user privacy, SSL is the elephant in the room.
Today at Toorcon 12 I announced the release of Firesheep, a Firefox extension designed to demonstrate just how serious this problem is.
Weeks of strikes, protests and demonstrations have brought much of France to a standstill as workers, students and others voice their strong opposition to a government proposal to raise the age for a minimum pension from 60 to 62. A quarter of the nation's gas stations were out of fuel, hundreds of flights were canceled, long lines formed at gas stations and train services in many regions were cut in half. Protesters blockaded Marseille's airport, Lady Gaga canceled concerts in Paris and rioting youths attacked police in Lyon. The unpopular bill is edging closer to becoming law as the French Senate is preparing to vote on it today. Collected here are recent images of the unrest around France. Update: Pension reform bill just now passed by French senate. (40 photos total)
French high school students kiss on the road in front of the police at the end of a demonstration over pension reform in Paris October 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes) #
"Google is not associated with things you pay for, and Android is an extension of that," said Mr. Hall of Larva Labs. "You don't pay for Google apps, so it bleeds into the expectations for the third-party apps, too."


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be as unique as you. Every beautiful Gemvara princess november birthstone gemstone jewelry design will be made just for you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from a wedding or anniversary to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your princess november birthstone gemstone jewelry with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. November's birthstone is citrine, the golden gem with a lovely lemony hue. Princess cut gemstones are the second most popular shape, after the round brilliance. Our wide selection of princess november birthstone gemstone jewelry by Just Like You Designs, Damon Washington, Ji Hwang, and other talented designers means you can find rings, earrings, and necklaces that are exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Flower, Fashion-Forward, or Heart Collections. When our work is done and you open that box, you'll see your design is even more beautiful when brought to life in the finest precious materials.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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As if Fridays weren't already great enough, now they're even better! Each Friday, Craftsy brings you a batch of free patterns. Today, we've got a fun batch of free quilting patterns, including a fantastic free machine quilting pattern. Check these out, download what you like, and make sure you stop by next Friday, when we'll have a whole other round of free quilting patterns!
This free Boston Star Block pattern from the Eric Homemade Design Studio is positively striking! We think it's perfect for a wall-hanging, a bedspread, or table runner. Or anything else you can think of!
This free Placemats with a Difference machine quilting pattern by Stitching Times is the perfect way to quilt something to adorn your table! It adds warmth to modern furnishings and depth to traditional/antique ones.
Here's a wonderful free quilting pattern for you quilters who love babies (which would be, roughly, all of us)! It's the lovely free Charming Pachyderm Baby Quilt pattern from Happy Dance Quilting. It's whimsical and fun, and just as exciting as a storybook!
Quilt something that pays homage to quilting itself with this free Classic Sewing Machine pattern by Sewhooked. What a tribute!
If you're looking for a super-easy, super-fast pattern that makes something that's, simply, super, then you should definitely consider this free Free-Form Five Patch pattern by Doe's Designs.
There will be more free quilting patterns next Friday, so be sure to come see us again!


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A loving family, good food and hard work is the secret to a long life according Pontefract centenarian Nancy Orr.
Mrs Orr, of Baileygate Court, reached her 100th birthday on Tuesday.
The Fairburn-born former nurse was one of ten children.
At the age of 22 she married William Henry Flatters, and they had five children, Edna, Ann, John, Peter and Robert.
After her husband's death in 1962 she joined St John Ambulance as a volunteer nurse.
Over the years she trained to become a qualified nurse and worked at Headlands Hospital and Pontefract General Infirmary.
In 1971 she remarried John Orr and moved to Doncaster where she worked as a nurse at a school for deaf people.
When she retired at the age of 66, she moved to Pontefract to live near her children and grandchildren.
Her grandaughter, Margaret Pimperton, said: "Over the last 12 months she has given up her love of embroidery due to arthritis but otherwise she is in excellent health and looks much younger than her 100 years. She says the secret to a long life is a loving family, good food and hard work. We are all extremely proud of her."
Mrs Orr's special birthday celebrations included a coffee morning at Baileygate Court, where she has lived for the past 15 years, and a party and buffet with her family.


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Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne linebacker Dorian Hendrix won't be putting on his Kentucky jersey for another year but he's got high expectations for the Wildcats this fall nonetheless.
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I don't quite understand "Cons
I don't quite understand "Consecutive Integer Problems". Here's the example question; The sum of three consecutive integers is 75. Find the largest integer. They then show the process on how to go about solving. But throughout it just looks like variables and numbers to me, I need a more thorough explanation on how to solve these kind of things or I'll never get it!
Tutor Answer
Brown University
1271 Tutors
California Institute of Technology
2131 Tutors
Carnegie Mellon University
982 Tutors
Columbia University
1256 Tutors
Dartmouth University
2113 Tutors
Emory University
2279 Tutors
Harvard University
599 Tutors
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2319 Tutors
New York University
1645 Tutors
Notre Dam University
1911 Tutors
Oklahoma University
2122 Tutors
Pennsylvania State University
932 Tutors
Princeton University
1211 Tutors
Stanford University
983 Tutors
University of California
1282 Tutors
Oxford University
123 Tutors
Yale University
2325 Tutors


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IMO, European Directories and WorldPay have done little to sort out intercreditor disagreements.
Linklaters" src="Pictures/web/c/c/i/Syson_150.jpg" />
It all used to be so beautifully binary. In the 1990s, workout battles were usually between the company and its banks. But that was before the complex financing arrangements associated with the leveraged market became the norm.
"In the good old days, the arrangers of the senior were the arrangers of the junior," says one magic circle lawyer. "They would agree all the docs and they would do very little negotiation with the junior creditors."
"The intercreditor agreement was a very formalistic document and the product of 15 years of negotiation and refinement," says Kirkland & Ellis partner Stephen Gillespie.
"From 1993 onwards the terms of the intercreditor didn't change very much. Those terms were pretty favourable to the senior lenders: it gave the junior lenders the right to pull the trigger but it gave them no control over the process or little protection in terms of valuation."
All change
But the entrance of players such as Intermediate Capital Group and MezzVest into the market changed everything for lawyers. Not only did it become clear that separate representation was required for senior and junior investors, but the intercreditor agreement itself became the key battleground for lenders, not least because the junior lenders were looking at the bond market and eyeing their protection with some envy. While valuation had remained the core discussion point in restructurings, all of a sudden debt release mechanisms became a huge issue.
Over the past four years, there have been several major deals and cases, along with a revision to the Loan Market Association (LMA) standard agreement. But despite two high-profile court cases where the senior lenders got the results they wanted, market practice is shifting towards accommodating the junior lenders.
Talking about the Car Wash
"The mezz have spent the past few years lobbing rocks," says one finance partner who habitually acts for senior lenders. One of those rocks turned out to be a case that went all the way to the High Court in August 2009 – in the matter of Bluebrook Ltd & Ors. Following the 2006 leveraged buyout (LBO) of IMO Car Wash Group by Carlyle Group, the holding company Bluebrook had senior and mezzanine credit agreements, where the later was subordinated to the senior.
The restructuring proposal was backed by an HBOS-led consortium of senior lenders, advised by Lovells (now Hogan Lovells) partner Paul McLoughlin and Debbie Gregory, while the company was advised by Latham & Watkins insolvency partner John Houghton. The restructuring involved a pre-pack administration, with the transfer effected free of the security and guarantees of the mezzanine lenders following the value breaking in the senior debt.
The mezzanine creditors, led by Partners Group and advised by Gide Loyrette Nouel partner Michael Doran and consultant Claire Pointing, most assuredly did not like the proposal, challenging it on fairness grounds. Despite the company commissioning three valuations of the senior from PwC, Rothschild and King Sturge, which all arrived at the same conclusion that the value broke in the senior, the junior lenders published an independent valuation from LEK Consulting stating the contrary, using what was dubbed a 'Monte Carlo' simulation.
"After the crunch there were a lot of question marks about where the value broke in restructurings," says a City lawyer. "In the mezz, IMO Car Wash answered the question in quite a disastrous way. And as for that Monte Carlo approach, well, it's like, on a fine day, with a following wind, if the stars are aligned, it would be worth more."
However, while many senior lender lawyers clearly feel that the mezzanine side was taking a punt with a weak case – and certainly, Mr Justice Mann found squarely for the restructuring proposal – the genie was out of the bottle. IMO Car Wash had weakened the hand of the mezzanine debt, but it had crystallised the concerns around valuation and given a voice to junior creditors.
In an enforcement situation, the senior agent can sell assets free of the claims of the subordinated lenders. Lawyers note that this can give rise to a situation where a group of companies is sold free of mezzanine debt, but with the senior debt in place, for a notional value to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that is owned by the sponsors and senior lenders. They can then invest in the SPV and de-lever the capital structure, which has been controversial in the mezzanine community, to say the least.
Junior lenders began to agitate for more rights. As Ropes & Gray partner Tania Bedi notes: "There's now a trend to see clear criteria and requirements that the senior creditors need to meet in relation to a security enforcement involving a sale to an SPV with the effect of stripping away the junior debt, such as a requirement to get a fair market value opinion, an auction process and so on."
Directories approach
After IMO Car Wash, the scene was set: when and for how much could the senior sell, and what protection did the junior creditors have? Only a year after the case, lenders were litigating again in HHY Luxembourg SARL & Anor v Barclays Bank & Ors (2010), better known as the European Directories case.
European Directories was formed in July 2005 when Yellow Brick Road was bought for e1.8bn (£1.59bn) by a consortium led by Macquarie, which was advised by Clifford Chance. The company ran into financial trouble not long after and turned to Kirkland & Ellis partners Kon Asimacopoulos and Partha Kar for the restructuring plan.
Security trustee Barclays Bank, advised by Allen & Overy (A&O) partner Ian Field, and senior lenders including Lloyds, RBS and Allied Irish Bank, represented by Linklaters partners Rebecca Jarvis and Yen Sum, worked with European Directoriess on the restructuring proposal. But in the intercreditor agreement, drafted by Clifford Chance, there was a key release provision that cut the junior lenders out of the picture, resulting in an enormous and eventually costly stumbling block.
The junior lenders, led by AMP Capital Investors and Hastings Funds Management and advised by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan partner Richard East and Ropes & Gray partner Maurice Allen, litigated.
At first instance, Mrs Justice Proudman held that the release of liabilities to the mezzanine lenders could refer only to the company whose shares were being directly sold, not indirectly held subsidiaries, but in October 2010 the Court of Appeal overturned the decision. Senior lenders, spooked by such a literal approach at first instance, could breathe easier, but it did not end the debate.
At the same time, the LMA was trying to get to grips with the debate. But the senior lenders' dominance of the body has left it open to criticism from mezzanine players and their advisers.
Over the course of 2009, the LMA revised its standard document. The document now allows claims to be released on enforcement where the security agent has taken "reasonable care to obtain a fair market price in the prevailing market conditions" for the assets or shares, but with no obligation to change the timing of that sale to get a higher price.
However, Linklaters partner Nick Syson points out: "The LMA intercreditor [agreement] doesn't cater for the current senior/mezzanine position, but there is a working party that's looking at what changes need to be made."
Stephen Mostyn-Williams of SMW Law, who specialises in advising mezzanine lenders, agrees that the current LMA intercreditor agreement has some way to go. "It's a menu, and a menu that can't necessarily steer you in the way you want to," he says.
Sifting through the debris
Restructuring lawyers, however, are still wrestling with the issues thrown up by European Directories. "Deficiencies in the drafting of release provisions in 2006 and 2007 vintage documents have proved problematic in the current round of restructurings," says Ropes & Gray's Bedi, "although the courts have upheld the pro-senior view in relation to release provisions even when the drafting has been unclear, as in European Directories."
Quinn Emanuel partner Richard East, who acted for the junior lenders on European Directories, has been heavily involved in unpicking the deals drafted at the height of the LBO boom.
"There are a whole raft of restructuring deals out there, all with the pre-2009 language," he says.
A WorldPay of difference
And yet despite the high-profile court cases and the attempt by the LMA to tweak its standard agreement, these have not been the only events to shape intercreditor dynamics in recent deals. The current driver is economic reality.
Given the fluctuating fortunes of the bond market according to whichever Southern European country is at risk at any given moment, private equity houses need to call on sources of finance other than the senior, and woo them because they can fill the gaps in the capital structure.
"The mezz are looking at the high-yield and saying 'they have protections in there that are better than the mezz'," points out one lender lawyer.
Nowhere was this better illustrated than on Bain Capital and Advent International's acquisition of RBS's payment processing unit WorldPay for $3.2bn (£1.99bn), where Bain turned to Kirkland & Ellis's Gillespie for financing advice and the senior lenders used Ashurst partners Nigel Ward and Jane Fissenden.
On WorldPay, many features of protection for bondholders appeared for the subordinated lenders, who were represented by Philip Bowden at A&O, which is normally seen as a senior lender firm.
WorldPay has become the flagship deal for the junior creditors; Mostyn-Williams describes it as "seminal", while Syson notes that WorldPay "has established the principle that mezzanine lenders are entitled to contractual value protection".
"Actually, it's unforgivable of A&O – it's messed the market up. It's not big and it's not clever," adds a senior lender lawyer, not entirely joking.
A&O's involvement on the mezzanine side may have raised eyebrows among its core senior lender constituency, but the firm was actually gifted the deal by Gillespie, since Ashurst was already involved for the senior. It was Gillespie who, mindful of the need to get mezzanine investors on board, put together the papers and who, while being non-deal specific, sounded out various terms to a series of potential lenders.
The decision to accommodate the subordinated lenders on WorldPay may have been entirely pragmatic, but it certainly led the thinking on additional release conditions for junior creditors, which has aped certain features seen in the high-yield market.
That said, Gillespie disagrees with many lawyers' analysis that the intercreditor on the deal relied on trends within the high-yield market.
"I'm not sure that WorldPay really borrowed anything from that market," he says. "The idea of consultation and putting conditions around forced releases has been out there in the senior/mezzanine context for years, the main difference being that before 2007 the seniors could swat most of the mezzanine issues away whereas now, when they need the mezz to get the deal done, they can't."
Features now being agitated for by mezzanine lenders also include process-related conditions, such as a stipulation that any sale should be enacted via a public auction or any other competitive sale process (although the definition of 'public auction' has sparked some debate). If a public sale process does not happen, some intercreditor agreements provide that release should be dependent on a fairness opinion, which confirms that the sale price of shares of assets is fair according to market conditions. Of course, there is more debate here over who should provide such an opinion: should it be an investment bank or one of the big four accountants? And how should conflicts be resolved?
However you calibrate it, WorldPay has moved the market on. As Syson notes: "The senior/mezzanine position had been pretty settled for the past 25 years, so the recentmarket changes have created an additional workstream for senior lenders."
"It does seem to be regarded by the market as a good starting point for senior/mezz intercreditor discussions," says Gillespie. "But in this very competitive market, there are fewer deals being done and those deals that are being done are pretty bespoke, so there's no hard and fast template or 'market standard' position that parties are sticking to. But WorldPay gives the junior lenders good negotiating ammunition."
Mostyn-Williams goes further. "This has definitely become the basic starting point," he declares. "People recognise the fact that if you produce an intercreditor agreement from 07, the mezz will say no. It's definitely shifted."
With the high-yield market currently fragile, sponsors will be looking increasingly to mezzanine financing over the coming year, and the junior lenders will not be giving up their newly won position any time soon.


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Whether it's as part of a high school track program or cross-country team or just a way of getting in shape, running is a wonderful sport. It's great exercise, virtually anyone can do it, and all you really need to get started is a good pair of sneakers.
But running is not without its risks. Injuries — from sprained ankles and blisters to stress fractures and tendonitis — are common. And runners need to be aware of some hazards (from vehicles to wild animals) when choosing a place to run.
To keep things safe while running, follow these tips:
Up to half of all runners are injured every year, so the odds are good that at some point in your running career you will get injured.
Running, especially on asphalt or other hard surfaces, puts a lot of stress on the legs and back. This can lead to lots of different problems. The most common running injuries include sprained ankles, blisters, tendonitis, chondromalacia (runner's knee), iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome, heel pain, and shinsplints. Teen runners are also at risk of growth plate injuries.
Two steps can help you avoid serious injuries from running:
Running might require less gear than other sports, but it is still vitally important to get the right equipment to minimize the stresses it puts on your body. Anyone who has ever run in the wrong shoes can tell you what a painful experience it can be, and anyone who has run in the wrong socks probably has blisters to prove it.
Here are a few tips to make sure you get the right footwear before you start running:
Before you buy a pair of running sneakers, know what sort of foot you have. Are your feet wide or narrow? Do you have flat feet? High arches? Different feet need different sneakers to provide maximum support and comfort. If you don't know what sort of foot you have or what kind of sneaker will work best for you, consult a trained professional at a running specialty store.
Minimalist shoes are becoming popular, but there's no evidence that they reduce injuries. Look for running shoes that provide good support, starting with a thick, shock-absorbing sole. Runners with flat feet should choose shoes that advertise "motion control" or "stability." Runners with high-arched feet should look for shoes that describe themselves as "flexible" or "cushioned."
Wearing shoes that fit correctly is more important in running than in virtually any other sport. As you rack up the miles, any hot spots or discomfort will become magnified and lead to blisters, toenail problems, and may contribute to leg problems.
If you plan on running on trails or in bad weather, you'll need trail-running shoes with extra traction, stability, and durability. Whichever type of shoes you end up purchasing, make sure they are laced up snugly so they're comfortable but not so tight that they cause discomfort.
Running socks come in a variety of materials, thicknesses, and sizes. The most important factor is material. Stay away from socks made from 100% cotton. When cotton gets wet, it stays wet, leading to blisters in the summer and cold feet in the winter. Instead, choose socks made from wool or synthetic materials such as polyester and acrylic.
Some runners like thicker socks for extra cushioning while others prefer thin socks, particularly in warm weather. Make sure you wear the socks you plan to wear when running while you try on sneakers to ensure a proper fit.
One of the nice things about running is that you can do it almost anywhere. Running on a track or indoors on a treadmill are options, but lots of runners prefer the variety and challenge of running on roads or trails.
In most cases, it will be possible to simply step out your front door and begin. That being said, there are definitely safer places to run and places that you might want to avoid.
Look for streets that have sidewalks or wide shoulders. If there are no sidewalks or shoulders, and you find yourself having to run in the street, try to find an area with minimal automobile traffic. Always run toward oncoming cars so you can see any potential problems before they reach you.
Avoid running routes that take you through bad neighborhoods. If you're running in an unfamiliar area, be prepared to change your route or turn around if you sense that the area you're headed toward may not be safe. Trust your intuition.
Find someone to run with if you can — there's safety in numbers. Can't find a running partner? Consider joining a running club through your school or the local parks and recreation department. When running in a group, be sure to run single file and keep to the side of the road. Always yield the right-of-way to vehicles at intersections. Don't assume that cars will stop or alter their paths for you. Obey all traffic rules and signals.
Choose well-maintained trails. Steer clear of trails that are overgrown or covered with fallen branches — you don't want to trip or encounter ticks or poison ivy! Also, you should avoid trails that travel through deserted areas or take you far away from homes and businesses. Know the location of public phones and the fastest way back to civilization in the event of an emergency.
Watch for dogs or wild animals. If you encounter a mountain lion, bear, or other dangerous animal stop running and face it. Running may trigger the animal's instinct to attack. Make yourself look larger by raising your hands over your head. Give the animal plenty of room to escape. If the animal appears to be acting aggressively, throw rocks, sticks, or whatever is readily available at it. Stay facing the animal.
If you run into an aggressive dog, don't make eye contact — the dog might see this as a threat. The dog may be trying to defend its territory, so stop running and walk to the other side of the street. If the dog approaches, stand still. In a firm, calm voice, say "No" or "Go home." If you keep running into the same dog, choose a new route or file a report with animal control.
If you intend to run in rain or snow, make sure you dress for the conditions (windproof jacket, hat, gloves, etc.). Wear synthetic fabrics that will help wick away moisture from your body. Consider putting Vaseline or Band-aids on your nipples to keep them from being chafed by a wet shirt.
If it's windy, run more slowly than you normally would when facing into the wind. This will help you keep from overexerting yourself while still giving you the same amount of exercise. Try to start your run by heading into the wind so that you will have the wind at your back later in the run when you are tired.
On hot days, drink plenty of water before your run and bring extra water with you. Heat prostration can be a very serious problem for runners. Wear white clothing to reflect the sun's rays and a hat to shade your head from the sun, and stop running if you feel faint or uncomfortable in any way.
Before you begin, warm up. Start with a brisk walk or light jog, or do some jumping jacks to get the blood flowing. Then be sure to stretch well, with a particular focus on your calves, hamstrings, quadriceps, and ankles. Dynamic stretching, where you do slow, controlled movements to improve range of motion is thought to be more effective than static stretching before a run or workout.
Carry a few essentials with you. These include some form of identification, a cell phone or change for a pay phone, and a whistle. Don't wear headphones or earbuds or anything else that might make you less aware of your surroundings while you run.
Tell a friend or family member your running route and when you plan to return. If no one is available, write down your plans so you can be located in the event of an emergency.
Try to run only during daylight hours, if possible. If you must run at night, avoid dimly lit areas and wear bright and/or reflective clothes so that others can see you clearly.
When you begin, have a definite idea of how far you intend to go. Less experienced runners should start by running short distances until they build up their stamina and get a better idea of how far they can run safely.
Younger teens,are still developing and may be at more risk for injury from over-training and running long distances. As a general guideline, a 10K race is the upper limit of what a 13-year-old should attempt, and no one under 18 should try to run a marathon. (Most marathons limit their entries to people 18 and older.)
Stay alert. The more aware you are of your surroundings and the other people around you, the less vulnerable you will be. Staying safe while running involves the same common sense you use to stay safe anywhere else, like avoiding parked cars and dark areas, and taking note of who is directly behind you and ahead of you.
If a car passes you more than once or seems suspicious, try to note or take a photo of the license plate number. Make it clear that you are aware of the vehicle. Most runners don't get attacked, especially if they take precautions like running in populated areas. You just need to use common sense.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: January 2014
|American College of Sports Medicine This site has tips on staying safe while playing sports and exercising.
|American Sports Medicine Institute The mission of ASMI is to improve the understanding, prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries through research and education.
|Runner's Knee Runner's knee is the most common overuse injury among runners, but it can also happen to other athletes who do activities that require a lot of knee bending.
|5 Ways to Prepare for Your Sports Season How can you get ready to play your best season ever? Read these tips for teen athletes.
|How Can I Run Without Pain? Find out what the experts have to say.
|Hamstring Strain A hamstring strain happens when one or more of the muscles in the back of the leg gets stretched too far and starts to tear. Find out how to treat hamstring strains in this article for teens.
|Ankle Sprains A sprained ankle is a very common injury that happens when the ligaments that support the ankle get overly stretched or torn. Find out how to avoid ankle sprains and what to do if you get one.
|Choosing the Right Sport for You If you're having trouble choosing a sport, this article can help!
|Sports and Exercise Safety Playing hard doesn't have to mean getting hurt. The best way to ensure a long and injury-free athletic career is to play it safe from the start. Find out how.
|Achilles Tendonitis If the tendon just above your heel becomes swollen or irritated due to overuse, it can lead to a painful condition called Achilles tendonitis. Find out how to treat it - and prevent it.
|A Guide to Eating for Sports You've prepared for the game in almost every way possible: but now what should you eat? Read about performance foods, nutritional supplements, and more.
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text: since I don't like unexpected behavior happening when something not intended to happen, happens, and it's better documentation (a free assertion) -- I find myself making Haskell comments to specify whether the left-biasedness of each (//) is important, various places in my own code that uses frisby. We examine how could such an operator could behave, having similar effect to (//) but symmetric (call it (=|=); (p1 =|= p2) should be equivalent to (p2 =|= p1) )... I will use original frisby syntax (see <http://repetae.net/john/computer/frisby/>), not the Applicative/Alternative instances I added, to be clearer. "Thought 1" could make a different but valid Alternative instance, after all. Prototype implementations are given... so it's clearly still O(1). thought 1: (=|=) :: P s a -> P s a -> P s a a =|= b = ((peek a <> peek b) `onlyIf` (error "BUG in (=|=) user")) // (a // b) thought 2: (=|=) :: Eq a => P s a -> P s a -> P s a a =|= b = ((peek a <> peek b) `onlyIf` (check)) // (a // b) where check (ra,rb) = if ra /= rb then error "BUG in (=|=) user" else False --This one "unnecessarily" requires Eq just to check a programmer's --assertion of equivalence, but allows overlaps that give the same --result. On second thought... 'a' and 'b' could consume different --amounts of input and produce the same result, so this is buggy. thought 3: symmetricDifference :: P s a -> P s a -> P s a a `symmetricDifference` b = (doesNotMatch a ->> b) // (doesNotMatch b ->> a) feeding arbitrary inputs using quickcheck should hopefully catch incorrect usages of the (=|=)s that can be used in error, since it is well known that one cannot systematically determine for all PEG parsers whether the assertion will hold true (it must be at least as difficult as determining whether any two are exactly equivalent). HOWEVER it would also be interesting to see a similar system that could be restricted enough that one could show the correctness of such a non-intersection claim (I wonder how frequently such claims are fairly trivial to prove correct, anyway) Isaac


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It is a toss up.
*Insert Big Uncomfortable Laugh Here*
Well....we are here. I am here. This is it.
The final day.
I remember back in late July/early August when I mapped out the rest of the year in a glorified plan of how it was all going to go with a nice wrap-up in December all easy-peasy and matter-of-fact.
*Insert Eye Roll*
Someone shoot me next time I do that...I annoy myself.
I have skidded, free-falled, careened, rolled, and literally nose-dived into this final day. December has been a BEAST! The week of the closets was so easy it most certainly set me up for over-confidence and failure for the week of my books. BUT that isn't true, because I did closets last (i.e., the week after) thinking that those were going to SLAY me. I had a week blocked out - it took me a day (a night actually). Say what?!?!?! Good thing...I spent the rest of the week back on books. *Insert Eye Roll* I am still shipping out books that I am "gifting" to others....yup, you read that right....still. STILL. I have literally been working on my books since November 30th.
Kill. Me. Now.
So....this is where I stand at 6 a.m. the morning of my final day....
- Jeep is full of MORE packages to mail to others (i.e., gifting). UPS is my new BFF.
- There are plenty of non-book packages still to ship and they are some special, special treasures that I have prayed and prayed and prayed over waiting until the very end to send (the truth is that there are a lot of items I am gifting that I still love very much, but they are no longer really "mine" or for me - it's complicated).
- Still a few stacks of books - to keep (put up in shelves) and box up to mail/gift.
- One tub in the living room that is so horrific to deal with I have been covertly moving it from room to room throughout the purge to avoid it which is to say oh it is in this room now so I will deal with it that day/week. *Insert Eye Roll*
- Three boxes for the kids that are "special" plus another one that God put on my heart just this week (which is a good thing since I have been praying to God for FOUR months as to who should get this particular set of treasures). No God that was NOT sass that possibly you waited until the VERY last minute to answer that particular prayer. Yes sir, I will be taking a knee, yup two knees, at the altar Sunday begging for forgiveness for that one. *Deep Sigh*
- Four boxes to ship that are going to take special "handling" and that is all I am going to say about those. *Chest Tightening Here*
- A box of stuff for Sis that needs to be gone through one more time.
- Miscellaneous small piles.
Now...there is also a (small...LOL) punch list still at my office which is more like I might actually pull the trigger on that match idea and light one in the pile of four boxes sitting by my desk. *Insert Nervous Laughter (or is that diabolical) Here*
|A snapshot of the evil that is my iPhone (photo from last night).
Oh and because I know myself all too well, I scheduled professional house cleaners to come this afternoon for a three hour deep cleaning of my home because number one - I need the ADDITIONAL pressure cooker to be finished today (or at least have it all loaded in my jeep by the time they arrive) AND I have earned (paying) someone else to clean this place after all of this...*Insert Breaking Arm Patting Myself On The Back* (don't judge me...LOL)
So this little schedule and punch list of joy means that the "joy test" (how ironic *Insert Eye Roll*) will be taking place tonight beginning around 4-5 p.m. depending on the house cleaners. So...in my infinite wisdom (LOL) I have decided to purchase myself a bottle of the liquor store's best champagne, put on my favorite pajamas, and dive in....moving through my home room-by-room (drawer/cabinet/shelf) and touching every single thing I still hold in my possession and asking the question...I am doing the joy test on every item even if I am still up to ring in the new year (which by the way hasn't happened in about 4 or 5 years). Anything left to ship out or donate from it will be placed in the jeep and taken care of on Saturday (since Friday is a holiday).
I know what you are thinking....that punch list above is going to take you half a day?!?! Oh my yes...and you naïve little reader...OH. YES! I think you need to re-read how long I have been on books...a few stacks?!?! Yup that is going to take a bit. ;) Plus somewhere in the middle of that I have a couple of actual "work" to dos to complete with my business partner.
I had to go refill my coffee cup (it is now 6:30 a.m., and I have been up since shortly after 4 a.m., and this is my third or fourth cup of coffee).
The truth is that I had originally blocked out a lot of time for the joy test (which continued to get squeezed due to work demands and of course did I mention books have been a time-suck??), but I think this ending and time allotment (being forced upon me) is perfect. First, it is not going to allow me to dawdle, which the book I took the idea from frowns upon anyway, but I can see me struggling with that...AND....it allows me to end this year, this three years, this season...in JOY. Lets be honest.....the past three (or four) years have been plagued by loss, change, and the amount of stuff I have purged (I will share some statistics in a post later/after completed) borders on the obscene. Just the act of walking through my home and taking stock of what remains....well, there is some further healing and beauty in that...the fact that I will be in my pajamas with a glass of champagne in my hand...well, that isn't going to hurt either... ;)
So...enough procrastinating....it is time to get after it.
*Deep Sigh*
Thank you?
I am not sure if that is a statement or a question.
I am not the same person inside or out that I was when this started....and like all things you both love and hate....saying good-bye is/will be difficult. There is no part of my life - physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental that this purge has not touched. Everything has been fair game. Everything.
When God says, "Are you ready to do it my way now?" A word of advice....weigh your answer carefully...take a deep breath....then answer. I wouldn't change my answer, but I laughingly wonder now if I shouldn't have taken a deep breath first. ;) God has taken me on the ride of a lifetime, and I know deep in my heart that all of this is simply a precursor to the bigger plans he has for my life in the days, weeks, months, and years to come.
*I am getting ahead of myself*
If you see this post today, I would simply ask that you say a prayer for me - mind/body/soul - because this might be the longest day of my life (to date). I am committed to be faithful to finishing this race well.
Also, thank you will never be enough. In just the past 24 hours, I have received some of the sweetest handwritten notes, text messages, instant messages, e-mails from friends, family, readers....like little angels you are all lifting me up and helping me across the finish line. If I had a nickel for every single time I have weighed the idea of giving up, I could retire today on Fiji. You don't do something like this alone. Not really. You need cheerleaders....you need angels. I have the VERY best heaven could assign to me. No...thank you will never be enough.
Well....this is it. Now...they all bowed their heads in prayer. :) ;)
**If you haven't watched/listened to "The Unmaking" by Nichole Nordeman yet, click HERE. I am not just saying this because it has become the theme song for the #threeyearpurgefest - it REALLY is the very best song. BUT should you take the time and read the lyrics of this song (the video also does that), you will be reading the story of my life from that cold January day in 2012 until now...and let me be clear....on the dawn of the final day of this specific journey, I can ABSOLUTELY "see the stars" and they are GLORIOUS!**
Sunshine Dreams to You ~ Today and Every Day! :)


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Laporte woman injured in Bemidji accident
A Laporte woman was injured in a two-vehicle crash reported after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Irvine Avenue North and Bull Court.
According to a report by the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office:
Jacqueline Allanna Kristin Miller, 19, was headed north on Irvine in a 2004 Pontiac when she turned in front of a 1995 Chevrolet driven by Jeffrey Dayne Schaper, 20, of Bemidji.
The Chevrolet struck the Pontiac on the passenger side.
Miller was taken to North Country Regional Hospital and treated and released.
Schaper was not injured.


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Membership case studies
If you're looking to find out more about the benefits of becoming a bfa member company, you will find quite a lot through these web pages. Alternatively, call us anytime and we'll be happy to wax lyrical about it.
However, it is always valuable to hear from the people who really know - those companies who are already members of the bfa.
In this section we'll be adding a new feature every couple of months focusing on a different aspect of becoming, and being, a bfa member; including the Association's standards, the effects on franchisee recruitment, the events we run for members - everything you need to know about exactly what you get for your money.
Click on the links below to hear the inside stories of how and why some of our brands joined us in the first place, and the difference it has made to their business.
Credibility and Standards
- Carlton Knight, Co-founder of Plan-it Cards, was determined to achieve bfa membership. He tells his story of bfa accreditation and what this meant for his business when amendments were required. Read the full story.


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After watching his team play the role of the Washington Generals to LeBron and the Cavaliers, Mike D'Antoni got asked the only question that still matters for this Knicks season. Is the chance at employing the King worth being humiliated on a nightly basis?
"I'll tell you next year, O.K.?"
Why wait until next year? It's totally worth it. Monday night's game provided so much more than just another loss in an endless series of losses.
Remember how boring the slam dunk contest was this season? The Knicks provide an easy fix.
Just have D'Antoni devise a defensive scheme for five players and five members of the Cavs run offensive plays against them for 12 minutes. They'll finish with 30 or 35 dunks, many of them of the wide-open and spectacular variety and there's the added bonus of exasperated looks from the coach and Danilo Gallinari's bug eyes staring out from under a haircut Pauly D would reject. It would make for an interesting twist on a contest that's gotten a bit too gray over the years.
That's not the only reason it's worthwhile, though. If the Knicks had a real team this season, they wouldn't be able to add Bill Walker to the list of players who have once led the Knicks in scoring during a game. But they did and he did, which means we have cause to once again point out Walker's previous claim to fame was urinating into a handful of towels on the sideline of a college game. Chances are that will remain his chief claim to fame but leading the Knicks in scoring or a night is number two with a bullet.
Flimsy reasons, perhaps, but one should always look at the brighter side of life. The other choice is an umpteenth discussion of whether or not James is coming to New York and whether the hideous state of the Knicks will impact his choice. Been there, done that and plenty of time to do it again.
For the rest of the season, let's just look for the small graces granted by a bad basketball team and let LeBron figure out for himself it will be as fun to play with the Knicks as it is to play against them.
Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com.


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Buckshaw Village Community Association (BVCA) is holding its annual car boot and table top sale at Buckshaw Village Community Centre on Sunday, June 1.
Indoor pitches are priced £10 and outdoor £7.50.
Pitches must be pre-booked as there is no pay on the day.
Sellers are asked not arrive on site before 8am, doors open to the buying public at 9am.
For those wanting to hunt for a bargain doors will open 9am - 1pm with more than 50 stalls providing a wide range of goods.
Pitches cab be booked on www.wegottickets.com/event/ 274585.


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Today I attended a hearing at the New Hampshire State House in support of right-to-work legislation.
Right-to-work laws prohibit workers from being forced to join a union or pay union dues (or agency fees) as a condition of employment. Without them, a union can force employees to join their ranks or pay an agency fee anyway, and an employer attempting to hire or keep a non-union employee who does not pay will be subject to fines and eventually shut down. Right-to-work prevents this coercion by allowing workers the free choice on whether or not to join a union. [Read more…]


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Credit Advice
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Contact the landloard.
If i were you, I would write a letter to the landloard and offer to pay your share of the amount due. Tell him that you are willing to pay your share if he doesn't pursue you for the ballance. Provide the names and addresses for the other 3 in your letter. Ask him to agree to it in writting before sending the money, so he can't comeback at you latter.
He is right, If he reports it, it will stay on your credit report for at least 7 years. + he could add interest as well. It's better to pay up now rather than later...
Good luck
0 People Helped
I have done this and due to all my mail being re routede to my new address i did not get it until a day before the 14 day pay off allowance date. I called them and asked what you suggested as soon as i received the letter but the company said they could not work with me. Whats the worst thing they can do to you if you do not pay?
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Georgia-based, forward-thinking metal band DAATH, who spent the summer of 2007 kicking up dirt on Ozzfest's side stage, entered the studio on March 1 to record its new album, "The Concealers", with producer Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA) and Mark Lewis of Florida's AudioHammer studios manning the boards.The group has since issued the following update: "We've been very infrequent with our updates because we have been putting every possible ounce of our energy, sweat, blood, and soul into our new record. We are almost done. We hope you will love and feel this record as much as we do. The wait to play it live for you guys is almost unbearable! See you fuckers soon!" DAATH recently announced the addition of vocalist Sean Z. to the group's ranks. The band, who parted ways with Sean Faber after Ozzfest, spent the autumn season holding open auditions for the position, with the unwavering goal of finding a diverse singer with enough range and power to match the band's progressive style of metal. Fellow Atlantan Sean Z., who filled in on vocals during the band's late fall tour with DARK FUNERAL, fit the bill. DAATH (featuring Sean Z.) opening for DARK FUNERAL and NAGLFAR on October 16, 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada:
DAATH: New Album 'Almost Done'
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On Fri, Sep 17, 2004 at 02:24:56PM -0400, Camm Maguire wrote: > Greetings! I'm assuming this is now the 'right' list for this request > from the following: Well the fact of the matter is that the m68k buildd folks hang out at email@example.com, while only a few of them read this list. As far as I'm aware, that is still where we want requests to go. That said, atlas3 requeued. -- Stephen R. Marenka If life's not fun, you're not doing it right! <firstname.lastname@example.com>
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••••••••#1 2012 Fashion Week App!••••••••
Install the #1 Fashion Week application and get up to the minute news on the Fall/Winter Shows in New York City!
It's that time of year again! FASHION WEEK!
Fall/Winter 2012 shows are just kicking off in New York City, and for the next few weeks Fashion Week will be circling the globe!
Can't keep up? Let us help you! With Fashion Week – News Tracker you can get the latest info on what the upcoming shows are, what people are saying about them, and who's there!
Upcoming Fashion Week Dates:
New York: February 9 – February 16, 2012
London: February 17 – February 22, 2012
Milan: February 22 – February 28, 2012
Paris (RTW): February 28 – March 7, 2012
Los Angeles: March 8 – March 18, 2012
Tokyo: March 18 – March 24, 2012
Fashion Week is a fashion industry event, lasting approximate one week. It allows fashion designers, brands ("houses") to show their latest collections in runway shows where buys and the media take a look at the latest trends. These events let the fashion industry know what's "in" for the upcoming season. The most prominent fashion weeks are in: New York City, London, Milan, and Paris. Various cities around the world have also started having their own fashion weeks.
Fashion Week(s) are semiannual events. January – April shows showcase the upcoming fall/winter collections. September – November shows showcase the upcoming spring/summer collections. These events are held months before the upcoming season so that buyers can arrange purchases and incorporate the upcoming trends in their retail marketing.
Instead of scouring Womens Wear Daily, Vogue, or W, let Fashion Week – News Tracker make your fashion reading effortless—all your fashion week info in one place! Because being effortless, in both fashion & in life, is so chic.
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- Age / Gender:
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been out of flash for awhile, might get back to making some stuff
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I decided to do a madness day submission, don't get your hopes up, it could potentially suck, but I'm excited, I may be better at flash and maybe more devoted, but we will see. till sept 22nd, back to the lab again
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The Jedi Song Rated 4.2400 Stars It's supposed to be a Jedi recruitment video but it got a bit sidetracked... Music Video Dendyn Dynasties Rated 4.4100 Stars Hypo anthro violence from a world where RPG cliches are real! Action Animator vs. Animation Rated 4.3700 Stars It's a struggle between a stick figure and his creator, using items on the Flash toolbar! Comedy - Original Upstairs Rated 4.4900 Stars I like to stay upstairs.... Where it's quiet, where it's cold. Music Video


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Welcome to Essex County Wineries
Welcome to Essex County Wineries located in Southwestern Ontario. Our goal is to promote and educate the public about our great wine making region by sampling pairing wines or Beers and food of the Windsor Essex County area.
Once a week we will feature a wine from one of our local vineyards or breweries and pair it with a great appetizer or entree that is sure to please any palate.
We have researched and located an extensive list of local Essex County Restaurants that serve Essex County Wines and Beers.
Our things to do page lists attractions and there are Local Links of things to do in the Essex County Wine area. links to pages,
Find places to stay under Accommodations and Wine tours.
Make our events page your first stop for events at the local wineries.
All our wineries are pet friendly on the grounds. Check ahead to see if they are allowed inside.
Come see our Windsor Essex County Breweries and Wineries today.


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About Me
Travel !
20 years old student in Montreal
This summer 2014, I am going in Europe with my longtime friend Zoë from may 6 to june 6 !
I am really open-minded, sociable, curious, interested in many things !
I do a lot of sports when I am not studying. I also like to go out and meet new people :)
Why I'm on Couchsurfing
For now, I can only participate in CS as a surfer, but hopefully within a few years will I in return be able to host !
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Top 5(films/movies)1. Fleur du désert2. Les choristes3. The help4. Black Swan5. Blood diamond
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The women's rights movement grew out of the women's suffrage movement of the mid-1800s and also addressed other women's legal rights issues. The second wave of the movement, which promoted economic, political, and social equality, gained momentum in the 1960s and '70s, when such groups as the National Organization for Women fought for equal pay and laws banning employment discrimination. Clearly written, The Women's Rights Movement is an illuminating introduction to one of the most prominent reform movements of the last 40 years. The book is published by Chelsea House Publishers, a leading publisher of educational material.
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Rubi heading to Gowran
Trainer Robbie Hennessy will follow a tried-and-tested route by running Rubi Light at Gowran before heading to the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old won the Red Mills Chase in 2011 on the way to finishing third to Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase and the two-and-a-half-mile contest is again ideal as it comes just less than four weeks before his prime objective.
"We are going to give him a run in Gowran Park on the 18th of February in the Red Mills and that's something to look forward to with him first," said County Meath-based Hennessy.
"He won it last year and the weather forecast is bad for the foreseeable future, so I imagine the ground will be testing, which would play to his strengths.
"After that we'll just keep him ticking over for Cheltenham. He doesn't need long coming out of his races. He need the same last year."
Rubi Light is a strong fancy to go two places better in the Ryanair on March 15 after a profitable campaign that has seen him win the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown and finish second in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on his first try over three miles.


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I am trying to locate a thermal switch for Lennox # g8-82-m-1
I cant seem to find anything on this older model...
any help?
Sorry, this is not a DIY site. So we are not allowed to give out advise of this nature.
Since answering your question in the open Residential Forums would be posting instruction for DIYers that may read this post later.
If your in the trade, get your post count up to 15, and apply for Pro Membership.
Use this link Apply for Pro Membership
Once accepted, you have access to the pro tech forums. Where you can ask and get answers to technical questions.
Plus, you also have access to the Pro Educational Forums.
All of it is free.
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Ask your Service PRO.
If you are a service pro, then ask your wholesale supplier...
Those who dance, appear insane to those who do not hear the music.
Those who believe, appear ignorant to those who do not know God.
Originally Posted by cehs
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just don't ask Lennox, parts no longer available for that antique.
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NBC Chicago – Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle could target smokers, gamblers and gun owners in her proposed 2013 spending plan, to be unveiled Thursday.
Reports of the ideas swirled the last few weeks, and commissioners who'd been briefed on the proposal told the Chicago Sun-Times a $1-per-pack cigarette tax hike is expected along with a nickel tax for every bullet sold in Cook County and an $800 annual tax on slot and video poker machines.
Preckwinkle's spending plan comes in at about $3 million, and the Sun-Times reports there will be no new property taxes. The budget also is expected to eliminate about 400 vacant jobs.
Besides raising money to close a $115 million budget gap, the county president said a tax on bullets and guns could curb violence.
"Gun violence is a real problem for us," Preckwinkle said last week said during a brief meeting with reporters. "It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for the proposal."
Preckwinkle said acute care for the average shooting victim cost taxpayers $52,000 because nearly 70 percent of the victims don't have health insurance.


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4-Hers challenged to survive
Clay Jordan tells students how 4-H affected his life
News-Star news services
Posted on April 14, 2003
POLLOCK - Clay Jordan of Monroe was stranded on an island for 39 days as part of the CBS TV show "Survivor: Thailand."
He had no food, no water and no shelter. But he got through the ordeal with the help of lessons he learned as a 4-Her.
Jordan talked to 4-Hers gathered for Challenge Camp on March 28 at the Grant Walker Educational Center near here about what it takes to survive. Challenge Camps are part of the LSU AgCenter's 4-H youth development program and are offered primarily to middle school students. Youth from across Louisiana are challenged to solve problems, work in teams and learn a variety of other important life skills during these special camps.
"I was very active in 4-H as a youngster," said Jordan, who grew up in Texas. "The lessons I learned as a 4-Her have helped me in my adult life."
As part of his 4-H activities, Jordan raised a pig, which helped teach him responsibility, he said. He now owns his own restaurant in Monroe and said learning responsibility at an early age has helped him run his business.
"I also learned a lot more in 4-H," Jordan said. "I went to a 4-H Camp in New Mexico and learned how to find my way in the woods. I never got lost. This skill helped me on the island because we didn't have compasses or anything."
Other skills he learned in 4-H include tying a boat, knowing what is safe to eat, keeping bats away and hiking and swimming.
"When I was in 4-H, I learned that you float easier in salt water than you do in fresh water," Jordan said. "This helped when I was on the island because we were surrounded by salt water. It helped to know how to swim in salt water."
Jordan applauded the LSU AgCenter's 4-H program and its Challenge Camps.
"The kids who are here this year will go home and tell their friends to come next year," he said. "It's good to have programs like this for kids - programs that teach them lessons they will use throughout their lives."
Becky Owen, an LSU AgCenter agent in Morehouse Parish, was instrumental in getting Jordan to speak to the campers.
"I think it's important for the youth to see how being involved in 4-H can teach them lifelong skills that they can use even when they're adults," Owen said.
Although it began as a single annual camp offered to youth from across Louisiana, the Challenge Camp program is now offered five times each year for youth from various areas of the state.
Jordan spent the evening with the campers talking about 4-H and the TV show. He also took part in a camp ritual - signing T-shirts. Jordan even let the campers sign his shirt.
There were 16 participants in "Survivor: Thailand," which aired in the latter part of 2002. In the series, participants were deprived of basic comforts and exposed to the natural elements.
Their fate was at the mercy of strangers, Jordan said. They had to band together and use their collective wits to make surviving in a rugged, primitive environment a little easier.
Day by day, the harsh elements and threatening indigenous animals tested the participants. The survivors had to build shelter, gather and catch food and vie for rewards.
On the last day of each three-day cycle, the survivors attended a "tribal council." At this meeting, each person votes secretly to send one person home.
It got down to Jordan and Brian Heidik of California, but Heidik got the jury's votes and won the show.
"It was fun," Jordan said. "Most of us who were on the island still keep in touch and plan to get together again."


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Rangers have no timetable for Oswalt
Rangers have no timetable for Oswalt
The Rangers signed Oswalt on May 29 to a Minor League contract after Neftali Feliz went on the disabled list with a sprained right elbow. The Rangers also put Derek Holland on the disabled list this week.
"Obviously with the two injuries, there is a temptation to accelerate Roy's program and go get him," general manager Jon Daniels said. "We want to make sure he's ready to come in and win at the Major League level."
Oswalt went four innings Thursay night at Omaha and allowed five runs in four innings. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four while throwing 56 pitches.
"He had one rough inning," Daniels said. "Overall he got his work in. The main thing is to try to extend his pitch count and get into game shape."
Oswalt will likely throw approximately 80 pitches in his next start against Albuquerque. After that, the Rangers will re-evaluate his situation.


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Yep you're right. This is just.....nothing.
Wow! A beautiful old building!! Thanks Ank. But I think I would have given it a more spectacular doorway.
I think it's in the center and there are many shops, and else they are close. For shopping is Amsterdam the right place. Thanks Laura.
What a beautiful place to stay! I imagine that it is close to some nice shops.
So we better don't stay in an Amsterdam hotel. Too expensive. Thanks friends.
In the late 90's I stayed with a cousin as the prices were sky high. He had an apartment on the main canal. Very beautiful, I would have been happy staying in the lobby:-)
Beautiful hotel, not going there, I do not have much money, thank you Ank:-)))
Well most of the big hotels are first class and EXPENSIVE. The sevice 100%. Im not so sure where this one is actually.The Amstel is also wonderful. So many hotels. Thanks Ank have a good afternoon:-)
Beautiful thanks Sis
Yep looks good, they say they are the best hotel of Amsterdam, True? I don't know. Maybe Denise knows. Thanks girls.
Looks a nice place to stay.
WOW Ank, it's majestic!! Thanks so very much!!


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Japanese Robots: Argo's ReWalk Exoskeleton Gets a Pile of Yaskawa Robot Money
"Yes hello, this is Yaskawa again - Konnichiwa! Yeah so, our assistive robotics stuff already got coverage this month, but we also just sealed a deal to finance, further develop, and distribute life-changing robotic prosthetics from Israel, so like, you know, just sharing news and stuff." You've been busy, Yaskawa.
• • •
Yaskawa Assistive Robotics, Week #2: Investment, Tech Sharing, and Asian Distribution Deals for Argo Medical's ReWalk Exoskeleton
In a strategic agreement announced earlier this week, Japan's Yaskawa Electric and the multinational Argo Medical Technologies plan to collaborate on the further development and East Asian marketing of Argo's ReWalk exoskeletal prosthetic. Yaskawa will provide Argo with financial backing, robotics expertise, and a distribution platform in Japan, China, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Korea. In return, Yaskawa's homegrown assistive robotics tech gets a path to markets in the Middle East, Europe, and North America.
Japanese Robots: Yaskawa Electric, Traditionally Industrial, Goes Consumer Assistive
Argo Medical Technologies' ReWalk: The Wheelchair's Nemesis
Founded in Israel in 2001, and now headquartered there, in the U.S., and in Germany, Argo is basically a one-product outfit - but it's a pretty fantastic product. The ReWalk exoskeleton is designed to return bipedal mobility to individuals with severe lower limb disabilities such as injury-related paralysis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy - whatever it might be that's keeping a patient from walking - and the design is working.
Unlike the bulk of deployed or in-trial exoskeletal assistive devices, ReWalk can provide minimal force amplification, resistance, or complete force replacement; it can be both an assistive robotic device, or a proper prosthetic that replaces a fundamental function of the human body. Importantly, the ReWalk system functions much like the our natural lean-forward-put-one-foot-in-front gait, and while the tech is high, the biomechanics of it all is organically simple: essentially begin a slow "fall" forward; catch yourself with a leg; repeat. These robotic pants can either augment that process, provide therapuetic resistance, or take over the whole process for a user.
Current models do require the use of hand crutches to stabilize movement, but if the options are 1. Never walk again until there's a cure for my disease or a 3D-printed spinal cord shows up, or 2. Walk right now but with crutches that are only temporary until the technology gets awesomer - there's really not much debate to be had: the wheelchair loses. Loses hard. (At least one variation of the exoskeletal pants concept is self-powered and self-balancing, see Rex Bionics video below.)
Perhaps the best thing about the ReWalk devices is that they aren't the hurry-up-and-wait, gee-whiz someday, someday-if-we're-lucky assistive robotics products of the future we so often read about - these devices already have years of testing, are about to be approved by the American FDA, and one even carried a paraplegic through 10km of the Tel Aviv marathon earlier this year. Have a look at Mr. Radi Kaiuf here. His. Legs. Do. Not. Work... but still, this:
Of course neither Argo's ReWalk system nor offerings from competitors like Ekso Bionics, Rex Bionics (video below), NASA's X1, or the super-light and super-slim Vanderbilt/Parker Hannifin exoskeleton are going to get rid of wheelchairs right away - probably not even within the next 10 years - but the day when the whole rolling around in a chair concept seems quaint is probably not too far off (Contrary to major plot elements from Avatar. Come on now James Cameron, you can't really think that interstellar spaceflight and wheelchairs will coexist. Seriously, who are you talking to about the future?).
Suffice it to say, the Big Wheelchair industry, its super high-powered executives, the wheelchair lobbyists (who totally exist... maybe), they best pay attention - their days are numbered!
Aside from the obvious mobility benefits, as countless tech and medical news outlets have in recent years taken to reminding those of us on the internet, the human body doesn't want to be sitting all the time; it stifles blood flow, makes us chubby, etc., etc. So, in addition to ReWalk just being a better, more natural way to get around, Argo is also investigating the secondary and tertiary health effects/benefits of spending more time upright, strapped into the company's tech:
- Effects on bone density
- Decrease in % body fat
- Improvements in cardiorespiratory function
- Improved bowel/bladder function
- Improved sitting posture
- Decreased pain
- Decreased spasticity
We'd all like to see these made available, and though personal models are available in some markets, for the time being most force-replacement robotic exoskelets are confined to hospitals and rehabilitation centers. While the devices are currently quite expensive, market economics would suggest that this nascent, yet already healthily competitive industry, catalyzed by high-level, high tech, big name & big money partnerships like this of Yaswaka & Argo, will see ReWalk's current U.S. $70,000 price tag begin to drop; competitors will have to follow suit, produce better products, etc., and there you go. Some devoted and talented roboticists will get filthy rich (or at least moderately soiled rich), and a whole lot of people who previously could not, well - they get to walk again - a round of wins for everyone, and hooray for capitalism!
So Yeah, Yaskawa is Seriously Going Assistive with the Robots
This is September's second such announcement from heretofore only-famous-for-industrial-robots Yaskawa Electric, and along with last week's rehab robot news, we're definitely ready to take the J-robotics giant seriously; Yaskawa is not simply padding a public profile and making itself a seat on the bandwagon, the 98 year-old Japanese robotics giant, anticipating their 100-year anniversary, is faithfully adhering to the assistive robotics directives in its Roadmap 2015 mission statement thingy. In doing so, Yaskawa will be the first large-scale Japanese robotics manufacturer to seriously commit to developing assistive robotics alongside their legacy industrial machines.
As a whole, the Japanese assistive robotics industry is in a very good state. Japanese tech firms from relative startup Cyberdyne to no explanation required Honda are pouring money and expertise into development and deployment, the government is pouring in marked-for-robotics-development-only funding, and based on vanguard robotics usage and safety guidelines developed here, an international standardization organization is using the J-model as a globally applicable template.
Yaskawa's case in point investment is particularly shrewd for two reasons: 1. The ReWalk system cuts both ways; it's able to provide assistive/resistive force during rehabilitation, or function as a complete force replacement device. This gives ReWalk a huge advantage over Cyberdyne, Panasonic's ActiveLink, and even mighty Honda's devices - none of which function beyond feedback-activated force amplification. 2. Hitting the ground running; without having to reinvent the exoskeletal wheel, Yaskawa will have a near market-ready device among its domestic assistive robotics offerings - this is a considerable advantage over not only other Japanese industrial robot manufacturers looking to break into the sector, but also over J-exoskeleton makers who've spent years and years on their proprietary systems.
Granted, it's not pure altruism and a corporate culture of selfless dedication to improving society through robotics for the sake of improving society through robotics; the other side of the issue is that, arguably, Japan's domestic industrial robotics market is reaching stasis, so it makes sense that, in addition to taking their industrial robots to China, Yaskawa would diversify into assistives to maintain growth.
And also do its part to end the reign of the barbaric wheelchair.
"Hello, Yaskawa? Yeah, this is AkihabaraNews.com's weekly Japanese robotics feature. Was just wondering... Could you guys take a week or two off? Yes, you're one of very few massive J-tech firms that's actually thinking ahead and reacting dynamically to a rapidly evolving market (looking at you, Sony, with your baffling dedicatiion to the PSP), and well done on that, but we kinda need to talk about other companies and their robot stuff next week, so maybe, like, you know, any chance you could ease up on the being awesome a bit?"
We'll see how that goes. In the meantime, a word from the competition:
• • •
Images: Argo Medical Technologies; Yaskawa Electric; AkihabaraNews.com


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Michelle Obama skips US China summit to stay with daughters
A summit that could set the tone for future US-Chinese relations was engulfed in a row over leaders' wives last night after Michelle Obama confirmed that she would not attend.
China was left pondering whether President Xi Jinping's wife, Peng Liyuan, should fly home after the First Lady's decision not to go to California for today's "Summit in the Desert".
The White House argued that Mrs Obama had pulled out of the trip several weeks ago to be at her younger daughter Sasha's 12th birthday party.
However, many Chinese condemned her decision to remain in Washington during the showpiece two-day summit at the Sunnylands estate, near Palm Springs, as an arrogant dereliction of diplomatic form.
Diplomats in Beijing said that there was now a good…


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deserted mystery
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Author Comments
Rated 5 / 5 stars
nice =)
naughty =( ;)
Rated 5 / 5 stars
thanks :P
Rated 4.5 / 5 stars
Very nice color palette! The foreground dune which dominates the shot is shaded very efficiently, it looks really good, and there's no denying that's sand. Tops on that.
The midground dune looks really good, of what we can see. You did a great job at making it seem like it's waaaayyyy back there, and you were wise to make it a much lighter hue than the dune in front of it. My only problem is that as you follow it from right to left, it just kinda drops off and ends behind the peak of the foreground dune. If it had continued going, flat as can be, to the other side of that peak, it would've been stronger in my personal opinion.
The clouds look fantastic, almost oil painted...that sky is truly a thing of envy. My only other negative criticism is the yellowness of the sun, but take that particular critique with a grain of salt; every artist does things their own style...so your sun happens to be yellow. Happens to be spiky. Happens to bleed out a yellow aura around itself, and that's totally acceptable. If it were me, and the sun HAD to be in the shot, I'd make it a diffused white orb. But like there's no mistaking that's SAND that you've drawn there, there's also no misconceptions that the thing in the top left is absolutely the sun.
The positioning could also be improved...like, making it not cut-off into the corner would've lended some additional strength too. I want you to google or wikipedia research the "Rule of Thirds" which is a very strong and important rule of thumb when it comes to composing your art. It would really hold you over to implement the Rule of Thirds in the future. That way the frame, in it's entirety, really pops and nothings cut off.
You're doing great, man! Never stop!
thank you :D the sun was definitly the part i wasnt too sure of in then end but i had the shadows done and all so i thought shit... to i tried to make it work and i honestly think it turned of alright not grate but not bad either and the clouds :'P the clouds my fave part i spent the most time on those to give them a really satisfying look :') and im gonna go and look up the rule of thirds right away :)
Rated 5 / 5 stars
i luv it :D
it luvs you too :D
Rated 5 / 5 stars
WOW this is beautiful
thank you :")