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Impact Insurance through Change Management
To enhance the impact of the insurance industry, and successfully meet the risk management needs of low-income households and SMEs, insurers need to innovate and develop client-centric products and processes that are cost-effective and viable in the long-term. This is rarely possible without substantial changes to business models, operating procedures or internal structures. Having supported innovations at over sixty organizations, we have seen that organizations often need to go through a systematic change management process to get ready to effectively serve the low-income market.
The ILO's Impact Insurance Facility and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA) are launching a new partnership to support insurers to provide valuable and scalable insurance solutions to low-income households and SMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Through this partnership, the ILO's Impact Insurance Facility will work with five insurers and distributors to implement organisational change management and product innovation.
A preliminary list of interventions includes:
- Spur innovation, build capacity and identify and implement the necessary organizational changes
- Work with providers to scale the innovations quickly to achieve sustainability, while gradually improving customer and shareholder value.
- Develop change management tools and demonstration cases that can be shared with the broader industry to facilitate the generation of innovative insurance solutions for the low-income market.
Innovation partners
As part of the partnership with Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA), we have launched four new innovation and change management projects with the following organizations: Britam (Kenya), Nyala Insurance Company (Ethiopia), AXA Mansard (Nigeria) and SUNU Assurances Vie (Côte d'Ivoire). In addition, Kifiya and Equity Insurance Agency, our exisitng innovation partners will receive support on implementing a systematic change management process to more effectively provide insurance to the low-income market.
Partner - Country/Region
|Project details
Digital ; Bundling
Britam wants to leverage existing strengths and refocus their microinsurance business to be more client-centric, have lower administrative cost and risk, be simple-to-administer and focus on working with strategically aligned aggregators.
Bundling ; Agriculture
Change management to innovate and scale microinsurance
Nyala recently established a microinsurance department within the company. The Facility will provide support for this new department to strengthen its strategy, business case, partnership management and understanding the low-income market. In particular, the project will support Nyala to broaden its microinsurance strategy beyond agriculture, and to work with a range of aggregators in Ethiopia.
AXA Mansard
Health; Bundling
The project will support the setup up a new unit that will operate fully independent from the rest of the business. New capacities are needed to build a team that would work in different elements of the value chain, from research and product design, to operations and marketing. The project will support AXA to develop a broad product portfolio and distribution strategy.
SUNU Assurances Vie
Côte d'Ivoire
Bundling ; Digital
Life insurance at small prices for everyone
SUNU plans to refine its new strategy on alternative distribution. A new unit will be set up to be in charge of handling alternative distribution enabling the SUNU to take up activities that have traditionally been performed by intermediaries. The project will support SUNU to provide life insurance to the low-income segment beyond mobile customers. The project will support the creation of an IT SUNU that is independent from the existing mobile-network operator's platform.
Agriculture ; Bundling ; Digital
Using a technology platform and public-private partnerships to offer insurance at scale
The project will support Kifiya's current agricultural insurance offering as well as its strategy to broaden its insurance offering into other product types.
Equity Insurance Agency
SME; Bundling
Equity Bank and Equity Insurance Agency plan to expand their insurance portfolio in East and Central Africa. The project aims to provide strong and inclusive Equity Insurance Agency products and services that boosts the productivity of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises- MSMEs of all sizes by enabling East and Central Africa entrepreneurs to pursue higher risk opportunities.


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Testimonial: I can now walk the dog again and garden for which I am eternally grateful
I can now walk the dog again, and garden again for which I am eternally grateful.
"After almost two months of suffering this horrendous pain in my left leg, (which had been diagnosed as Sciatica) my step-daughter urged me to come to Root Cause Medical Clinic, because in her words 'I know they can help you'. I was unable to walk without limping. I couldn't put on a pair of socks or pick up anything from the floor. My son gave me a pair of long tongs so that I could take the laundry out of the dryer. I felt like I was 84 years old instead of 64.
Now after just 14 treatments I am almost back to normal, thanks to the Doctors, Therapists, and Staff at Root Cause Medical Clinic. I can now walk the dog again, and garden again for which I am eternally grateful. I would highly recommend anyone suffering the way I was, to consider talking to the Doctors at Root Cause Medical Clinic."

subset: commoncrawl


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These Christmas Joke printables are absolutely adorable! I plan on adding them to my son's lunchbox this week so that he can share them with his friends. Visit Artsy-Fartsy Mama to grab these free printables. They'd make great additions to your Elf on the Shelf antics, as well!
Category: Elf on the Shelf
Elf on the Shelf Printable Doughnut Seeds
I know, it's still November, but I've already got the Christmas music playing and the kids are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our Elf on the Shelf! Lately, our April Fool's Day Doughnut Seeds have been a pretty popular post. Which is crazy, because April is MONTH's from now! But, it got me thinking - Why not use these with...
Top Secret Elf on the Shelf Printable Cards and Envelopes
I love these Top Secret Elf on the Shelf Printable Envelopes! These printables come with Mission cards too. My favorite is the 'Mission' to find a lonely classmate and invite them to play! Visit Over the Big Moon for these clever printables. Don't forget to check out the rest of our free Christmas printables and free Elf on the...
Elf on the Shelf Taco Stand
Planning a taco night soon? How fun would it be for your Elf on the Shelf to set up his own Taco Stand to celebrate taco night?! Visit Sweet Paper Trail to grab this awesome Elf on the Shelf Printable. Don't forget to check out the rest of our free Christmas printables and free Elf on the Shelf Printables!
Elf on Strike! Printable Cards
Kids being Naughty? Elf on the Shelf goes on Strike! Print out these Elf on Strike cards to have on hand, just in case!
Elf on the Shelf Rocket Ship Free Printable
Still looking for great Elf on the Shelf ideas? Check out this awesome Rocket Ship printable! A big thanks to Sweet Paper Trail for creating and sharing this free printable that I know my kids will love! Don't forget to check out the rest of our free Christmas printables and free Elf on the Shelf Printables!
Olaf Elf on the Shelf Idea and Printable
"Do you wanna build a Snowman?" My kids found our Elf on the Shelf, hanging out in the bathroom with Olaf! I used Disney's Frozen Olaf printable to create the snowman out of toilet paper rolls and wrote "Do you wanna build a Snowman?" on the mirror behind them. I also printed out a few extra sheets for the kids,...
Elf on the Shelf Free Donation Letter Printable
One of our readers requested an Elf on the Shelf Donation Letter, so I whipped this one up for you all! Encourage your kids to donate toys to those less fortunate, while also cleaning out some of their unused toys! You can choose to simply print out the PDF file and sign your Elf's name or open the JPG file...
Elf on the Shelf Customizable Welcome Letter
Will your Elf on the Shelf be visiting soon? Check out this Elf on the Shelf Customizable Welcome Letter straight from the desk of Santa Claus, himself. This Welcome Letter is completely customizable - Change the date, change your Elf's name, add in or take out any paragraph you want or completely rewrite it to fit your needs! Our old...
Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth
Hello Elf on the Shelf fans! How is it that all of those cute Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth printables just keep disappearing?! No worries! This one is here to stay! Simply print out a copy here - Elf on the Shelf Kissing Booth Free Printable To make your kissing booth sturdier, use a heavy weighted paper. After you've...


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Hells Doorway
Out of stock
Hells Doorway is a 25 shot SIB one of our quiet fireworks for sale which is great for small children and very pretty to watch also watch our firework videos.
Hells Doorway
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Hells Doorway
Hells Doorway, quiet fireworks even though it has 25 shots and 29mm tubes to give you them massive bursts in the sky. It measures in at 172mm x 172mm x 225mm. The effects are fantastic with silver tail's, red fish, silver tail's, green fish, silver tail's, silverfish all this from one firework. we must recommend a 25m firework safety distance. This is one of our QUIET fireworks so ideal for small children.
Now watch our firework videos and see for yourself what great products we have to offer. Check out all of our fireworks for sale all year round.
You can also follow us on our social media channels, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram Google+, Flickr or Twitter.
We love single ignition fireworks.


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Lancaster ISD will host POWER-UP! – the annual Lancaster Mayor & Superintendent's Back-to-School Fair and Community Festival on August 15, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lancaster High School Coliseum located at 200 East Wintergreen Road, Lancaster, Texas 75134. This annual event is designed to help our families to jumpstart the 2015-2016 academic school year.
As in the past, The Honorable Mayor Marcus E. Knight of the City of Lancaster and Superintendent Dr. Michael D. McFarland of the Lancaster Independent School District are partnering with the Lancaster Education Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce to host this a family-fun day of celebration, information, contests and games.
"This fair creates a single-stop opportunity to provide students and families with basic back to school needs in a festive atmosphere," said Jacquinette Murphy, event coordinator. "Last year, the event served about 800 families and this year, we need your help tremendously as we attempt to serve more families. Our enrollment is increasing and so is the need to support our families."
Specifically, attendees will have access to back to school resources such as uniforms, dental and vision screenings and other health services along with haircuts in a festive environment. There are groups performing, food, music, games and giveaways. Parents can also meet the campus and district staff, sign up for various clubs and district programs offered next year. College recruiters and career readiness team members will be on site as well as library, fire and child safety education services provided by the City of Lancaster staff.
New this year, Lancaster ISD parents requesting school supply assistance will need to show proof of residency and proof of income to complete the pre-event sign up in late July. Parents who have not completed the online enrollment process for the 2015-2016 should plan additional time to update their student's registration information prior to submitting an application for school supplies.
If you would like to be a vendor at this community event, please complete the online vendor application at www.lancasterisd.org<http://www.lancasterisd.org>.
If you would like to donate to the purchase of school supplies and uniforms, please contact the Lancaster Education Foundation at 972-227-7010


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Can Apple make radio cool again?
The iPhone maker is betting it can with Beats 1, the brand new radio station it hopes millions of people around the world will want to listen to every day. It's free to listen to, even if you don't pay the $10 per month for Apple's streaming music service.
The company hired three famous DJs to helm its live, 24-hour broadcast: Zane Lowe, Ebro Darden, and Julie Adenuga.
The three personalities are going to curate the songs that get played, score exclusive interviews with artists like Eminem, and if Apple gets its way, hopefully capture a massive, global audience.


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Lavender Blue House Bunbury
House, Bunbury
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10 reviews
Confirmation within 24hr
From $143 per night {{quote.pricing.message}} Total {{quote.pricing.price | format:'currency':'short'}} for
Min 2 - 3 nights stay
NO Groov in the Moo enquiries please others welcome
This self contained fully furnished house offers an affordable and comfortable option for couples or small families. It is perfect for a get away or work base in the region. The house sleeps up to 6.
Main Bedroom - Queen Bed with beautiful ensuite and digital flatscreen TV
Second Bedroom - Queen Bed
Third Bedroom - 2 x Single beds
plus a pull out trundle bed available
Laundry with washing machine ,iron and ironing board.
Lounge with Digital Flat screen TV and DVD
Kitchen is fully equipped and includes microwave and dishwasher.
2 Car parking bays and an enclosed backyard with alfresco area and BBQ.
Heating and Cooling by reverse cycle air conditioner in main bedroom and lounge.
Located in sought after EAST BUNBURY the house is close to a small shopping complex with small super market open until 8pm each day, hair dresser, bakery, lunch restaurant, cafe,Fish and Chip shop and the Parade Hotel.
The Forum shopping centre is a 15 min walk or 5 min drive
The CBD is 15-20 minute walk or 5-10 minute Drive.
Australind is a 10 minute drive. The Hospital, TAFE and University are 10 minutes away by car.
The house is located in a quiet neighbourhood setting and backs onto a park
Bunbury is a regional city so has all the modern conveniences of shopping every day, cinemas, restaurants, pubs, clubs as well as the Beaches and the Dolphins.
Ferguson Valley is a gorgeous easy drive with country charm, wineries and pasture.
Bunbury is a 50 minute drive from Busselton and an Hour from Nannup and the Blackwood Valley where youcanreally get away from the crowds and enjoy a relaxing country stay. Margaret River is also only 1 hour away
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p/n = per night, p/s = per stay, p/p = per person, p/np = per night and person. Ask the owner to arrange optional extras
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Prices listed based on 2 adults. Property has 4 beds and can sleep a maximum 6 people.
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SEATTLE -- Slugger Richie Sexson was finally released Thursday by the Mariners after a slump that lasted for most of two seasons and made him a target of constant booing from frustrated Seattle fans.
The Mariners would have loved to have been able to trade Sexson, but his $14 million salary this season made that nearly impossible. So now Seattle is eating the rest of that money -- $6,120,219 Sexson is owed from Friday through the end of the season -- in what may be the first of multiple moves to rid the last-place team of underperforming veteran players.
That amount would be reduced by a prorated share of the $390,000 minimum salary if Sexson signs with another team.
"I think we gave Richie a lot of rope ... and there just wasn't enough improvement," said Mariners interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas.
Mariners manager Jim Riggleman told the media on Thursday that if he believed Sexson could handle having less playing time, he would not have been in favor of the trade. But with the team having faced leadership issues this season, Riggleman could not let Sexson's "down in the dumps" attitude go on.
"Look, I've been managing here for 19 days," Riggleman said, according to the Seattle Times. "I've sat him twice and seen the same reaction both times. It wasn't going to work.
"Richie is an everyday player. He's been an everyday player for a long time and he's earned the right to come to the ballpark and not to have to wonder whether he's going to be in the lineup. He needs to play, or go somewhere else where he's going to play every day."
The Mariners, with a payroll of $117 million, expected to reach their first postseason since 2001. Instead they entered Thursday's game at Oakland at 36-55, 18 games out in the AL West. Seattle has already fired general manager Bill Bavasi plus manager John McLaren and remains on track to become the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games.
The Mariners also placed Opening Day starter Erik Bedard on the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his left shoulder. The move, retroactive to July 5, means Bedard will be eligible to return on July 20 -- and will miss some chances to be showcased for teams interested in possibly trading for him before the July 31 deadline for deals without waivers. Bedard has just six wins in 15 starts and has not pitched since going five innings on July 4, extending his trend of not being able to pitch deep into games.
To fill the roster spots of Bedard and Sexson, Seattle recalled right-hander Jared Wells and selected the contract of infielder Tug Hulett from Triple-A Tacoma.
The Mariners aren't done making moves, either. With right-hander Felix Hernandez scheduled to come off the disabled list and pitch in Kansas City on Friday, the team has to create an opening on the roster. Most likely it will be a pitcher who is moved, as Riggleman noted after Thursday's 3-2 loss to the A's.
"We've got to break down the pitching and see what we have, who's available," Riggleman said.
Sexson, a 33-year-old native of Brush Prairie, Wash., was batting .218 with just 30 RBIs in 74 games and has often been benched in favor of light-hitting and seldom-used Miguel Cairo. McLaren, on his way out last month, said Sexson was trying too hard and that a change of teams would probably be best for his sagging career.
Willie Bloomquist, Seattle's utility player and a close friend of Sexson's, agreed.
"He had to go through a lot of stuff that a lot of other people don't have to," Bloomquist said. "He showed up to play every day and played hard. It seemed more often than not the ball didn't bounce his way ... but my hat's off to him the way he kept his composure and played hard. Someone's going to snag him up and I hope he takes off and does real well."
Even during his 39- and 34-home run seasons for the Mariners in 2005 and '06, Sexson wasn't embraced by Seattle fans since arriving from Arizona with a four-year, $50 million contract on Dec. 15, 2004. Two days later, Adrian Beltre signed to overshadow Sexson.
Then came last season.
He hit a career-worst .205 with 21 homers and 100 strikeouts in '07, which ended with the Mariners mercifully shutting him down for the final weeks of September with a relatively minor leg injury.
He had the lowest on-base percentage (.295) of his career. His batting average was the lowest in the major leagues among those with at least 312 at bats. That would be fine with Seattle -- he has always been a slugger, not a hitter for average -- except Sexson's run production was also a career low for a full season not cut short by major injury.
This season brought more of the same. As of late last month, he had the lowest batting average of all regulars in the AL since the beginning of the '07 season.
Bloomquist hopes the rest of his teammates don't start looking over their shoulders waiting for management to make another move.
"In this business you can't worry about what's going to happen tomorrow or yesterday," Bloomquist said. "If you get caught up in who's going to be next or what's going to happen next, you're not going to play your best baseball. What's going to happen is going to happen. That's out of our control. The only thing we can control is to prepare and play."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.


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Weve waited long enough for Larry Scott to amuse us again with one of his clever circumnavigations of the flat states. The football season hasnt really hit its stride yet, and we demand entertainment.
In short, its time for another call to David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma.
Hey Dave? Its me. Larry.
Unless youre calling because you forgot your watch at the last meeting, I dont have the time for this.
No, no, listen. Youll like this. My biggest game this weekend isnt until 9:30 your time, and your boys are playing Ball State. Lets have some fun.
Your kind of fun made me look like an idiot.
Thats just those nitwit sportswriters. They still dont know what happened. And I think its time to give them another tweak.
You fly to Denver. I meet you there. If were caught, I say I came to watch Washington State-Colorado. You say youre scouting out Colorado State for the Big 12.
Yeah, and why do we meet in Denver?
To get them to write that youre still pissed at Texas and were still willing to have you.
But you dont want us without Texas. You told me that.
And I meant it. But are you still pissed at Texas?
Of course. Everyones pissed at Texas all the time. Its their sheer Texasness.
So lets give em a little more back. We let ourselves be seen, and let everyone draw their own wild-assed conclusions.
To what end?
For snicks and giggles, you mirthless . . . sorry, my apologies. Lets do it because we can. Because you have a free weekend and so do I. because watching DeLoss Dodds eat his own liver is so damned much fun.
But what about the five-year deal we just agreed to? What about our word? What about our integrity?
Please. And stop. And those three things put together are less valuable than one good plate of barbecue.
Well, yeah.
Okay. So lets do this. We dont have to shake hands or anything, unless there are cameras staking us out. No agreements, no side deals. Just fun.
Just fun?
Just fun. For at least a year.
Okay, Im up for that. I got a couple of people at the Daily Oklahoman who look like theyre about to snap anyway. It would be a hoot to watch them fly around the air like a deflating balloon.
Thats the spirit. And if you actually do want to talk about . . .
Sorry. But you cant blame a girl for trying.
I know. I know. But in all frankness, Larry, you make a damned poor girl.
Ray Ratto is a columnist for CSNBayArea.com


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Strictly Come Dancing has conquered Europe, the Americas, Australasia and Asia, but now the BBC has agreed a deal to bring the show's sequins and salsa steps to the Arab world.
In October 2012, Lebanon will gets its own version of Dancing with the Stars - the international format of Strictly Come Dancing.
The dance show, which will be locally produced for Lebanon's Murr Television (MTV) as part of a two-year deal, will mark the first time that a tailored version of the format has been shown in the Arab world.
Dancing with the Stars was named in the Guinness Book of World Records 2010 as the most successful reality TV format. The BBC has licensed the show to 42 countries around the world, including America, Australia, China and India.
But the deal with Lebanon's MTV is the result of nearly two years' hard work by BBC Worldwide to bring the show to Arab viewers, said Worldwide senior sales executive Cynthia Kennedy in a blog post.
"Ever since Strictly Come Dancing took to the air on BBC One in 2004, audiences around the world have been captivated by the heady combination of celebrity, dance, glamour and competition," she said.
"The local versions are licensed to international broadcasters by BBC Worldwide's Format Licensing team. As a member of this team, one of my responsibilities is to look after our formats business in the Middle East region.
"Dancing with the Stars is a format that needs no introduction; in the Arab world, however, there are unique cultural sensitivities that made it difficult to persuade broadcasters to produce a local version with local stars."
Kennedy said that she had held "numerous discussions" with broadcast partners and production companies in the Middle East since joining Worldwide in 2010, but it has taken until now to reach the first deal.
> Doctor Who, Sherlock help BBC Worldwide post bumper profits
> BBC to sell Television Cenrte for £200m to property developer
She found that the best way forward was to find Lebanese production company Iprod, as it had the "expertise, skills and experience" required to produce a "quality show on this scale".
"I then looked for a broadcaster who was willing to invest the time and resources to make Dancing with the Stars a television event for their audience and MTV Lebanon came forward as the company to do this. MTV has negotiated a two-season commitment to Dancing with the Stars, starting this Autumn," she said.
"The Lebanese version of Dancing with the Stars will go to air nearly two years after I started the conversation. It's taken a long time, but I know it will be worth the wait. I look forward to seeing it on air on MTV and throughout the rest of the region in the coming years."


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Find out which tool you are from Batman's Utility Belt!
How do you feel about politics?
- I am definitely a Republican!
- I honestly don't care.
- No comment...
- I am definitely a Democrat!
- I HATE politics.
Which member of the Bat family are you?
- Nightwing
- Robin
- Batman
- Red Hood
- Batgirl
You are surrounded, what do you do?
- Run away scared!
- Join their side, who doesn't love a little change?
- Beat them all up!
- Call Superman!
- Retreat, then surprise attack!
Where do you want to live?
- The city
- Underwater.
- Anywhere, as long as I am alone.
- In a log cabin somewhere on a mountain.
- Out in the country.
Who is your favorite Avenger?
- Iron Man
- Hawkeye
- Hulk
- Black Widow
- Captain America
Favorite ice cream flavor?
- Cookie Dough
- I don't eat ice cream.
- Chocolate
- Vanilla
- Rocky Road
What is you favorite color?
- Green
- Other
- Red
- Black
- Blue
Finally, if you had powers, would you be a hero or a villain
- A little bit of both.
- Who needs powers?
- I am too lazy!
- I am definitely a hero!
- Probably a villain!
Your result:


text: We usually stay at the AKL concierge but our next trip it isn't available. We are trying to decide between the Poly concierge and Beach Club concierge. There will be three of us -- DH, myself and DS(8). We spend equal time at all the parks. The theme really isn't a big deal either way for us, at either resort. We are curious as to the overall condition/size of rooms as well as the lounge, its offerings, staff, kids programs, etc. What experiences, both bad and good, have you had at both. Price is similar for both -- so that isn't an issue. This will be our 17th trip so we are very familiar with Disney. We will be there the first part of December. Any thoughts, either way?


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Another soldier of the Nigerian Army simply identified as Lt. Muktar, has been confirmed dead following injuries he sustained during a Boko Haram ambush.
Major General Lucky Irabor, the commander of the Nigerian Army in the north-east, in a press statement released on Wednesday, November 23, confirmed the death of BU Umar, a senior Nigerian soldier who was killed on Tuesday, November 15 by the insurgents in addition to that of another lieutenant identified as Muktar.
The statement read in part:
"On 15 Nov 16 at about 0930hrs own troops while on patrol to MUBI encountered an IED explosion along Bitta – Pirang road and thereafter were ambushed by BHT.
See Also: 37 Boko Haram Suspects Arrested In Lagos, Ogun States
"Troops successfully cleared the ambush after a fight and unfortunately the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col BU Umar lost his life on the spot. Subsequently, Lt. Muktar also died in the hospital where 8 other soldiers who are wounded in action were receiving treatment. The wounded soldiers have been responding to treatment.
"In all the operations, a total of 5,235 people were rescued from the BHT."
Explaining the reason for the recent successes recorded by the insurgents, the Army commander said:
"The impact of recent bombings in Maiduguri, though sad and unfortunate, was minimal due to the alertness of troops and other security agencies.
"Apart from the one wherein 2 CJTF personnel were killed and some others wounded, only the terrorists died, while one was captured alive. The captured suicide bomber is assisting in the investigation into cases of suicide bombings.
"The incidents are only indicative of a weakened and defeated BHT. Their ignoble adventure is destined to fail totally."
Read More: Fani-Kayode Makes Friends With Nnamdi Kanu, Boko Haram At Kuje Prisons
Recall that on the evening of November 4, Nigerians were thrown into mourning as a result of the death of Lieutenant Colonel Muhammed Abu-Ali, commanding officer of 272 Tank Battalion and his troops who were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram.
Barely two weeks after that, we reported the death of Col. Umar's, a lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of 114 TF battalion of the Nigerian Army who was ambushed alongside his troops on Tuesday morning between Bita and Piridang.
According to the report:
"His vehicle stepped on an improvised explosive device, but he was not hurt. He came out to assess the damage on the vehicle and Boko Haram opened fire and killed him in the process."


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Jon Russell
We are dedicated to delivering lean solutions to our customers and providing a dynamic and challenging environment for our employees. Through our logistics and distribution competencies, we are committed to meeting our customers' supply chain needs in a responsive, consultative, and passionate manner.
Celadon is more than a trucking company. Celadon Logistics is a full service 3PL, providing customized solutions in supply chain management, warehousing and distribution. The team at Celadon Logistics helps optimize material flow through our consolidation network in moving freight within the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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We have the ability to audit all transportation invoices including parcel, ocean, LTL and TL as well as ensure carriers are invoicing you correctly. In addition, we can allocate costs based on complex requirements and assist with monthly accruals.
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Freight Consolidation
We manage a consolidation network with cross docks strategically located throughout North America. Our network enables us to improve trailer utilization, while reducing handling and improving the transit process.
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We offer capacity solutions, including spot capacity, seasonal surges or a single-source provider. We offer and support all modes of service including LTL, FTL, TOFC & COFC, Temperature Controlled, Flatbed and Expedited.
We have the capability to arrange expedites of all sizes, using our network of ground and air partners.
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Our partner carrier network includes more than 7,000 trusted carriers.
We can create flexible programs that incorporate contractual pricing or spot pricing.
Warehousing and Distribution
Celadon Logistics has more than two million square feet in dedicated (one client) and shared (multi-client) state-of-the art facilities across the country.
Value-Added Logistics Services
In addition to storing your inventory, we help improve the performance of your supply chain including sub-assembly, kitting/sequencing, re-packing and quality screening.
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Celadon goes beyond core warehousing and distribution services to provide you with engineering services that focus on applying lean principles to drive efficiency.
Celadon Logistics
9503 East 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46235-4207


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I have been to many Caribbean islands and many, many tropical resorts, but this was my first experience at a location like Nirvana on the Beach. What struck me first was the simplicity of the property. There is no pool. No tennis courts. No meeting rooms, food service, bars. What there is an abundance of is an extremely attentive staff. From the moment we stepped out of the van from the airport, we were greeted by staffers that wanted to know our names and wanted to do anything in their power to provide a wonderful experience.
The rooms were large, very clean and comfortable. Having a small kitchen allowed us to bring food in and prepare our own breakfast and lunch, as well as keep beverages well stocked and cold. Ample electrical outlets let us charge our gadgets and wifi kept us connected to the outside world when we wanted.
The grounds themselves were immaculate. Beautiful, local flora and fauna grow throughout the resort. The beachfront is nearly perfect- white sand leading to crystal-blue water. The staff tends to the grounds daily, and their effort shows. The security personnel do a good job of keeping the passing vendors to a minimum, while remaining unimposing to the guests.
A professional masseuse is on site twice a week, and for a very reasonable rate you can get a massage on the beach.
There are several dining choices in walking distance from Nirvana, but truth be told- the best meal we had was at a jerk shack a short drive away in a taxi.
As a parent, I don't think I would recommend Nirvana for a family with small children. There is a tremendous limit to activities for the young ones. Nirvana is much more suited to adults that are seeking a total-relaxation experience.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Centrally located directly on Negril Beach,JAMAICA... Nirvana is not just another hotel, it is a special place where guests have space in an intimate & unique beachfront property with that famous old-style Negril ambiance, privacy & security making it the perfect choice for couples, singles, families or groups who have been searching for a special NEGRIL laid back un-commercial JAMAICAN beachfront vacation. We are a terrific value, you can rent one unit, several units or the whole property. ... more less
- Also Known As:
- Nirvana On The Beach Hotel Negril
- Nirvana On The Beach Negril


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Our team in Canada has got it going on. @marieclaude_biron shows how she likes to rock the #sensisara and #sensikali


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Hi All,
I'm just kind of wondering if I showed some sort of breach of forum etiquette when I posted my sketchbook or if people just ignore noobs? Maybe the art wasn't sketchy enough?
Clearly I did something wrong because nobody left a single comment. I'm not complaining I'm really just wondering why all the other sketchbooks got dozens of comments and mine dropped off into the abyss with nary a peep.


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Whoa. Look at me checking back in on the blog for the second time today! I don't know why, but for whatever reason, it feels weird to come back here twice in one day to blog, whereas on my Instagram I post multiple times. Anyway, I'm giving this two-timing thing a shot, and we will see how it goes. I'm officially locked in to my residence hall until Sunday. Yikes. I'm gonna make the most of it though! Plus, I get to be in pajamas all day. Not a bad deal. 😉
I'm only popping in quick to share a really exciting deal with you all. I know I have talked before on how much I love blogging, and the immense impact it has had on my recovery (stay tuned for a post on that tomorrow, because I have so much love for you all). This blog, at times, truly has been such a source of inspiration for me to continue fighting my eating disorder. In addition to that, it has allowed me a creative outlet for me to process any and all feelings I have had. Not only that, I have created such fond relationships with all of you lovely readers!
Blogging has been irreplaceable to me, and I want to encourage any of you who have that inkling in your head to do it. Start your blog now. Bluehost, the service I use and LOVE, is currently having an early bird Black Friday sale, and it is cheap. Cheaper than what I paid, so that's why I am throwing a huge caution sign at you all! You're saving money, and it really is so much fun to blog. [Read more…]


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Northern Newfoundland has a great deal of unique culture for tourists to experience. Learn about Newfoundland traditions, music, dialect & food. Enjoy a traditional Sunday 'Jiggs Dinner'. For dessert, sample specialties made with Partridge Berries, Bakeapples, Crowberries, or Squashberries.
By all means, get yourself 'screeched-in'. This is a fun-filled ceremony, where 'come-from-aways' are inducted as official Newfoundlanders - usually in front of a large, cheering crowd of local residents. Warning - this ceremony involves Screech Rum & kissing a codfish on the lips.
Come and see why Newfoundland is known as the Seafood Capital of the Atlantic. Visitors quickly become addicted to our incredible Pan-Fried Cod. Try our local shrimp & scallops. There is also a variety of fresh lake fish served at many Newfoundland restaurants. If you are adventurous, sample a dish of 'Cod Tongues' (a Newfoundland delicacy). Try 'Fish & Brewis', made with fresh cod, bread-stuffing (Brewis) and pork 'scrunchions'. Atlantic Salmon is also served fresh throughout the region.
Our people live in small rural communities and many still make their livelihoods from the fishery. But our tourism industry is becoming more important to our communities than ever before. We truly have a unique culture, we have unique people and we have a unique tourism product to offer our visitors.
Come visit us - and experience it for yourself.


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The Most Influential Jewelry Event in China
The Shenzhen International Jewelry Fair is the largest and most successful trade fair ever held in Mainland China. It is the most glamorous showcase of the best jewelry design in China. It also unveils the prevailing jewelry consumption trends in the years to come. Spanning 60,000 m2 of exhibition area and more than 3,000 booths, the Fair gathers over 1,000 exhibitors from China and 30 other countries and areas. It is also the annual showcase of famous Chinese and over 300 international brands. The fair attracts 40,000 trade buyers from over 70 countries and regions. Moreover, it takes only 45mins travel from Hong Kong to Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Riding on past success, the 2016 Shenzhen International Jewelry Fair will be even more extensive and fruitful than ever. It is the ideal place to meet your suppliers face to face and to source new products from coming season at competitive prices. Whether you are planning to sell your products and services, expanding into the China market, launching new products or increasing brand recognition, the Shenzhen International Jewelry Fair is the place to be!
Shenzhen - China Jewelry Manufacturing & Trade City
Jewelry industry is one of the top six traditional industries with comparative advantages in Shenzhen. There are over 2,300 jewelry companies and over 2,400 registered brands. The total value of jewelry in processing and manufacturing amounts to RMB 80 billion (about 12.5 billion US Dollar) annually, and about 200,000 employers within the industry. It also accounts for 90% of the total annual sales volume of gold and diamonds for jewelry products for Shanghai Gold Exchange and Shanghai Diamond Exchange. Shenzhen gathers 26 enterprises winning "China Top Brand", 21 enterprises winning "China Famous Brand", 23 enterprises winning "Guangdong Top Brand", and 14 winning "Guangdong Famous Jewelry Brand". It is the half of the total amount in china Jewelry industry. Shenzhen is indeed the "China Jewelry manufacturing & trade city".
Date: September 14 - 18, 2016 (Wednesday - Sunday)
Venue: Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Centre
(Fuhua 3rd Road, Futian Central District, Shenzhen, China)
Exhibition Type: Trade Fair
Exhibition Area: 60,000m2
Hall: Exhibition Hall 1, 2 and 9
Number of Standard Booths: Over 3,000
Expected Number of Trade Visitors: Over 40,000
Entrance Fee: Free of charge


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first MLive.com user to add photos or videos of Kev's Custom Cabinets
We began working with Kevin from Kev's Custom Cabinets in late November of 2008. After a few meetings and design reviews we made a decision to proceed with full maple cabinets from Kev's Custom Cabinets of Millington Michigan. We had searched multiple cabinet show rooms in the Saginaw and Flint area but could not find any cabinet company which was even the least bit comparable. We cut Kevin a...
Kev's Custom Cabinets is located at 3576 Arivaca Dr, Millington, MI. This business specializes in Carpenters and Kitchen Cabinets & Counters and has 1 review(s) with a star rating of 5.0.
Kevs Custom Cabinets can be found at Arivaca Dr 3576. The following is offered: Lumber & Wood Products. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Millington there are 2 other Lumber & Wood Products. An overview can be found here.


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An online business is not much various than an offline business, other than the fact that it is less expensive to function due to reduced overhead. An additional big furthermore is you can run it from your home in your underwear if you like.
The game is developed to have fun and adventure. Consequently, there are no difficult and fast rules. You will discover the guidelines are truly only recommendations. Right here are some of the basics.
If you know where the sources are and how to tap into them, chances are you will encounter an earnings explosion more rapidly. I have come throughout a number of people who made big bucks from some of the methods explain above. In the Wow Power Leveling, cash does not make you rich. It is the right type of info that will make you succeed, and the right kind of info that will shorten the route.
Once you've found somebody that is prepared to help and educate – not just attempt to promote you their item. Be certain to get on their mailing list, and see what they have to offer. You will certainly be sent some free information that will get you began. Any online mentor that is worth following will be a "giver". Also, try to find someone that is willing to assist with the stage-by-step procedure, be honest about the amount of work you will have to put in, and be there for constant support.
In the occasion you desire a CityVille hint to receive extra bucks. One particular acquire of visiting pals is usually that you're capable of gather bucks and status from them. Even though there is really a restrict, but that would nevertheless be an extraordinary support economically for your metropolis.
An example of an internet game that develops impulsive decision making is the Leprechaun Toss under St. Patrick's Day at American Greetings. At this game, two leprechauns begin out running, carrying a Santa Claus, Easter bunny, or New Many years baby. They are confronted with an impediment in their way: a raised strip of dirt that they will journey on if they continue operating. Your objective is to quit them before they get to the obstacle, then get them to toss the Santa, Easter bunny or New Years infant. You gain points for distance that the characters are tossed. Your reward is a blessing from the leprechauns of the luck of the Irish. It is great clean fun.
We all loved Barbies growing up, so why stop now? Barbie grew up with us and moved online so that now it's easier than ever to enjoy her again. If you love Barbie video games, merely head online and find a gown up game designed around Barbie. To play the games, you'll start with a Barbie foundation and a massive quantity of clothing and accent choices. Include clothes and accessories to the foundation till you have a full outfit and appear you really like. The finished impact is 1 even much better than the Barbie dolls you dressed up as a kid simply because you're now able to make modifications and selections in a heartbeat. It's much more about fashion than maintaining up with those small small footwear.
Do Rummy websites really pay out your earnings? Yes, you can withdraw your winnings. You just have leading follow the procedures laid down by the Rummy Games Site which, are fairly easy to accessibility your earnings.


text: A while back, a friend of mine asked me what exactly my blog was about and what my goal was in writing it. I've been asked that a few times and I've always struggled to give a satisfying and simple answer. Those who have read some of my articles (by the way, thank you!), will […]Read more You don't have to be rich to live a rich life


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Teachers today must meet the needs of ALL young children within the primary inclusive classroom. This new book for the fields of early childhood education, early childhood special education, and the "blended" field of both prepares educational professionals to achieve that goal in two ways: it provides a strong foundation of Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education as preparation for reaching a wide variety of young learners, and it presents proven methods for adapting and modifying content area curricula.
What your colleagues are saying about Blended Curriculum in the Inclusive K-3 Classroom: Teaching ALL Young Children…
"The discussion of integrating reading/writing, mathematical concepts, science, etc. is a wonderful concept. Pre-service and new teachers will be able to use the resources and recommendations to provide effective instruction for all students."
–Megan Purcell, Eastern Kentucky University
"This book does an outstanding job of describing how science can be integrated into each area of the curriculum as well as outlining the benefits of doing so."
–Dr. Angie Crano, University of North Carolina Greensboro
"While the field of early childhood special education includes children from birth to age eight, the materials available for children K-3 have been limited…the obvious strength of this text is in its focus on children in the K-3 age group."
–Ann Bingham, University of Nevada Reno


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Thursday, March 01, 2012
Your Book
I love my job at Discovery Academy.
I work with teenage boys who are finding their way in this world.
Many of them are really really lost,
and some aren't,
but they all share one thing in common:
they are at the beginning of their journeys.
Tonight I will witness my first graduation. One of my favorite kids will be venturing out on his own. He's graduating and I am very proud of him. I feel the full gamut of emotions, but most of all, I wanted to give him the secret to happiness. It may be the last time I ever see him or talk to him and I want him to have a long and full life. I want him to live up to his potential.
What did I come up with? A gifted journal with the following poem.
(I cringe to think about where I would be without the power of my own words on a page)
There are secrets inside of you
that only you will know.
The discovery and understanding
of your secrets
is your most important mission.
Don't be afraid,
don't feel alone.
You are stronger than you realize.
Don't turn away.
Look inside yourself
as your soul is pure perfection
in its complexities and flaws.
Someday in the future
when you are paralyzed
and on the verge of self-destruction,
find yourself a quiet place
and on the pages of your book
unlock your secrets
as they will truly set you free.
If you really want to know,
I promise
your secrets will flow freely,
as you sit down and write.
The words and you
will get acquainted
And when they reconcile,
you will know
who you really are.
Your soul, when revealed at last,
will bare its breathtaking uniqueness.
Your written words will create
your book of life.
If you let it, your book of life
will become your best friend.
It will disclose
your journey to happiness:
the things that were inside you all along.
Your strengths, weaknesses,
experiences, vulnerabilities, thoughts, feelings,
hurts, hangups, loves, and opinions.
Some will be right,
some will be wrong,
but all the words when placed together
will be who you really are.
because of your book
you will understand
that the only real secret
that needed to be found
was you.
Who you really are.
The real secret to your happiness:
You should be loved
by all
but especially
by your book's best friend.
because your book
like all the others
is the most remarkable.
6 comments:
- ShEiLa said...
This is an Alice original... right?
You should enter it here:
this weeks challenge is book/words
and your poetry fits perfectly. Make sure you mention I sent you.
Love your gift... perfect!
- Rita said...
This is an amazing and beautiful gift. How lucky these kids are to have you helping them along their way.
- Klin said...
I love that! I gave my clients Lighthouses and a little note on guidance when I worked in a residential treatment center.
Side note- I was blessed in that building in it's former life as an LDS chapel.
- Susan said...
Sheila was right. Great addition to the challenge. Welcome.
- BWCDesigns by KC said...
This is beautiful! What a lovely addition to the challenge. Thank you for sharing it with us.
- Eeyore said...
Welcome to the challenge! ShEiLa is right, diversity in interpretation is wonderful, and thanks for participating in our challenge.


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7" "Free Love Is A Sales Technique"/"The First World War"
2x7" "I Like Some Of The Things You Do"/"TWA Flight 553"/"Gimme Some Numbers"/"Faux Wealthy"
There are two things to note about Edmonton, Alberta: the first is that it is the murder capital of Canada, the second is that it produced The Famines. I'm pretty sure those things are unrelated, although The Famines are pretty killer, as I discovered at their concert last night. Okay, maybe "concert" is taking things a bit far; Monday-night-show-at-the-local-scuzz-bar-with-seven-people-in-attendance is closer to the truth, but Raymond (on vocals and guitar) and Garrett (on drums) played like it was a packed house, all blood and sweat and spit. (As an aside, I brought the blood-it's that time of the month.) The Famines are classic high-energy low-fidelity DIY garage rock (they even had cassettes for sale), and they sound bigger than the two-man band that they are. I promise that "Free Love Is A Sales Technique" and "I Like Some Of The Things You Do" will have you hauling the lawn mower out of the garage to make room for your old drum kit. Fucking great.


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Director Dito Montiel's new film, Fighting, starring Channing Tatum, comes out today, and we've got a few exclusive clips for you to take a gander at. For fans of MMA this should be a fun movie, if only for the long, elaborate fight sequences. Nothing like a bunch of bare-knuckle fights to get your blood flowing. Fighting looks like it'll be a kind of raw, New York version of Bloodsport. Check out the exclusive clips after the jump.
© 2017 Spike Cable Networks. All Rights Reserved.


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Animal Stories - See More
This message is for those who think the black belt is king. Its not there will soon be only 1 king and its the (RED PHOENIX KING CICHLID).😁 Wolfman
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The cast of National Lampoon's Vacation is also looking good. Community fans see plenty of Chevy Chase thanks to the NBC series, but it's great to see him back in the company of his on-screen wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angeleo) and the original Audrey and Rusty, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall.
Wally World, here they come!
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Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant
The Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant is an inactive United States Army ammunition plant located in Ramsey County, Minnesota in the suburbs of Arden Hills and New Brighton, bounded by County Road I to the north, I-35W to the west, U.S. Route 10 to the southwest, County Highway 96 to the south, and Lexington Avenue to the east. The site has 255 buildings across 2,382 acres (9.64 km2).[1] The site was added to the National Priorities List as a Superfund site on September 8, 1983.[2] The soil, sediments, groundwater, and surface water surrounding the plant were contaminated with base neutral acids, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, volatile organic compounds, pesticides, cyanide, and explosives.[3]
Initially, the plant was known as the Twin Cities Ordnance Plant but it was renamed the Twin Cities Arsenal in 1946 and finally, in 1963, the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant.[4]
The TCAAP was a product of the government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) war materials production program established by the War Department during World War II. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area emerged as a potential GOCO candidate primarily on the basis of labor supply. TCAAP was one of six GOCO plants built to produce small arms ammunition during World War II, and was operated by the Federal Cartridge Corporation under contract to the War Department.[5]
Construction of the plant began in August 1941 and was completed with three main munitions facilities. Each main facility had five lines of production and the entire plant had a total of 35 lines.
The mission of TCAAP was to produce .30, .50 and .45 caliber ammunition. Production of small arms ammunition began on March 9, 1942, and the plant remained in production for 42 months. Between 1942 and 1945, TCAAP produced all five main small arms types: ball, armor piercing, tracer, incendiary, and blanks. In 1944 the plant opened an important small arms ammunition reclamation center. The design of the .30 and .50 caliber cartridge-disassembly machines by TCAAP personnel in the late 1940s represented a significant technological advance in small arms salvage technology. Development in ammunition salvage begun during World War II continued at the facility during the Cold War period. The work force reached its peak in July 1943, when employment totaled about 26,000 people, more than half of whom were women.
After Victory over Japan Day, Twin Cities Ordnance Plant was placed in reserve status and "mothballed". Renamed the Twin Cities Arsenal, it was operated by the US Army from 1946 to 1950, when the installation was brought back into production to manufacture small arms and artillery ammunition for the Korean War. The Arsenal remained in service until 1957 when it was again closed down. In 1965, during the Vietnam War, the plant was re-opened for the manufacture of new types of small arms ammunition. It was on standby status from 1976 through 2002. In 2002 over 600 acres (2.4 km2) were declared "in excess" by the United States Army, though Alliant Techsystems continued to manufacture munitions there as recently as 2005.
Future of Site[edit]
After a bid to make TCAAP the new home for the Minnesota Vikings failed, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase of the surplus acreage that remains on the original 2,700 acre TCAAP site. This 427-acre parcel will be redeveloped in conjunction with the City of Arden Hills. Under terms of the deal, the county will pay the federal government $4.9 million for the property and agree to spend $22.6 million to clean up remaining pollution. In April 2013, the County executed a competitively bid contract with Carl Bolander & Sons of St. Paul for the demolition of all structures on site, and the full remediation of the site to residential soil values [6] As of October 2013, Bolander and Sons had removed all of the above grade buildings but one, and had begun soil remediation activities. The county will finance the deal with $21.4 million in bonding, a $6 million transfer from its solid waste fund and $2 million in contingency funds. These dollars will be replenished through the sale of land for redevelopment.
Joint Development Authority[edit]
Through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA), the City of Arden Hills and Ramsey County have created a Joint Development Authority (JDA). This entity will be responsible for implementing the City and County approved Master Plan for the site, issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and negotiating development agreements with private developers. The JDA meets monthly, on the first Monday of the month, at Arden Hills City Hall at 5:30 p.m.[7]
Source of drinking water contamination[edit]
In 1987 the TCAAP was positively identified as the source of Volatile organic compound (VOCs) contamination in New Brighton's water supply, first identified in July of 1981. The contamination consisted of Trichloroethylene (TCE) at levels ranging from a few parts per billion to over two hundred parts per billion.[8]
See also[edit]
- ^ "Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant". United States Army Plants. GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
- ^ "Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Superfund site progress profile". EPA. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ^ "Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant site description". EPA. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ^ http://www.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00684.xml
- ^ http://www.presspubs.com/shoreview/news/article_977d6f20-a66c-50b9-b7f7-db4825b5a95c.html
- ^ http://www.epa.gov/superfund/health/conmedia/soil/index.htm
- ^ http://mn-ardenhills.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=172
- ^ "History of Water System and Ground Contamination". City of New Brighton. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
External links[edit]
- TCAAP-Restoration Advisory Board
- Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant Files.
- TCAAP Redevelopment Project Website


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Many reports have been published identifying how social responsibility is at the top of the agenda for consumers. I am not doubting this as most people will want to make a positive contribution through their purchasing, however I would dispute the extent to which social responsibility influences purchasing behaviour.
If you were presented with two businesses, both offering the same product, at the same price and the same quality, you would be likely to opt for the business that is most socially responsible. This is where social responsibility (in terms of business) can differentiate a business giving them a competitive advantage. However, if you were presented with two businesses, one offering high quality products and the other offering poor quality products, social responsibility may have less influence on your purchasing decision. You may want to be socially responsible but you also want to purchase a good quality product.
Businesses need to find a balance between meeting the personal needs of the customer while simultaneously operating in a socially responsible way. Just being socially responsible isn't always enough.
People want to help others through social responsibility programmes but they also want to make sure they are getting good value for money. Customers have their own needs which need to be addressed first. Some will limit their own enjoyment and satisfaction to help others but many will not. Some simply don't have the option: for example, if they are on limited income they may need to buy the cheapest out of necessity and social responsibility will hardly even be a consideration.
The Issue with Most Consumer Social Responsibility Research
My main issue is really with the research that is reported around the topic of consumer behaviour and social responsibility. Put yourself in the position of a customer completing a social responsibility questionnaire.
If you were asked, "Would you like to see businesses being more socially responsible?" you are highly likely to answer "yes" – who wouldn't? Similarly, if you were asked, "Would you prefer to buy from socially responsible businesses?" again you would be likely to answer "yes."
Now let's try this again with a different set of questions. If you were asked, "Would you buy from a socially responsible business if it means you will lose out?" you may be less likely to say "yes". And if you were asked, "Do you currently buy from socially responsible businesses?" you may again be less likely to say "yes."
I would now like to explore a recent consumer study and pick apart the data to emphasise my point. Cone Communications and Echo Research conducted a comprehensive study into consumer opinions around the topic of social responsibility. The study comprised of surveys from more than 10,000 shoppers across ten different countries. A few of the key outcomes have been highlighted below for discussion.
90% of the consumers are more likely to trust and be loyal to socially responsible businesses
This is a promising statistic but the key term here is 'more likely'. This only indicates a perceived behavioural change and not an actual or existing change in behaviour.
20% of shoppers actively seek products and services they feel are socially responsible
20%, what happened to the 90% that indicated they were 'likely' to do so. Only 20% of consumers are actually putting their beliefs into practice. This is a big difference.
90% of consumers would boycott businesses if they found them engaged in irresponsible business practices
As with the first statistic, this is an assumed behavioural change: consumers 'would' boycott. This is slightly stronger than 'likely to' but it is still an assumed change.
55% of the consumers have already boycotted irresponsible businesses
What happened to the other 35% of consumers who said they 'would' boycott? Converting beliefs into actions is once again lacking.
80% of consumers consider social and environmental issues when deciding where to work, what to buy and where to shop
Another massive statistic about consumers 'considering' social responsibility. But what if an irresponsible business offers this person a job with a huge salary or the cheapest prices on the latest products. I'm sure many people will begin to 'consider' social responsibility slightly less.
50% of consumers make a purchase with individual motives in mind, e.g. making themselves feel good or helping them to enjoy their own lives more
I feel this final statistic sums up the issue with consumer purchasing and social responsibility perfectly. 50% of people buy for personal gain and 50% of people buy to support others. It is not that people fall into one category or the other but instead everyone has both a desire to address their own personal needs as well as a desire to support the needs of others. Some of us may be more inclined to drift towards one end of the continuum than the other but most people will sit somewhere in the middle.
Therefore, businesses need to understand that being socially responsible is not good enough on its own. Just because you are trying to run your business in a socially responsible way you still need to meet the personal needs of your customers. Just because 90% of people would like to buy from socially responsible businesses only about 20-55% actually do. This is likely due to them not being competitive enough in other areas of their business.
Businesses need to make sure they are offering good products and services, at affordable prices and maintaining quality throughout. Most people will want to make socially responsible purchases but they also want to spend their money on something that will benefit them as well. The fundamental consideration here is to find a balance between providing good quality products and services for your customers to address their personal needs while simultaneously incorporating socially responsible practices into your business model.
Final Thoughts…
Although the type of research typically produced provides a good insight into the beliefs of consumers it does not always summarise their actions. More research in this area needs to be focused on the outcomes of consumer behaviour rather than their intentions. We don't want to know what consumers 'might' do, we want to know what they 'actually' do. We need less reporting on 'I might', 'I'm likely' and 'I may consider' and more reporting on 'I did', 'I have' and 'I changed'.
Social responsibility can give businesses a competitive advantage but they have to remember that it is only one aspect of business. If you cannot match your competitors in price, quality, choice and service you will often lose out. When a business goes all out to address social responsibility objectives they can run the risk of losing sight of the customer need. A balance has to be made between addressing the personal needs of the consumer while simultaneously addressing relevant social responsibility issues.
I do not want to be negative about social responsibility (after all I have set up this blog to champion it) but rather I want to highlight how consumer needs around social responsibility are not always reported accurately and businesses need to be aware of this in order to be successful. This is closely linked to one of my previous articles: Common Pitfalls of Social Enterprise
I hope this article has provided a slightly different perspective on consumer opinions in relation to social responsibility. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject so please post a comment if you have something interesting to share.


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Details From Sarah Palin Speaking Engagement Contract
Picture It: "I Said Bendy, This Is Straight!"
Former Alaska governor, and current multimillionaire, Sarah Palin spoke at a Boston Tea Party rally today. After California college students found Sarah Palin's speaking-engagement contract in the trash, we now know that Palin requires bendable straws, Lear jets, three deluxe hotel suites, and pre-screened questions.
Image Source: Getty


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First Tutors enables you to find Inverclyde history of art teachers in your local area. First Tutors showcases Inverclyde history of art tutors offering popular subjects such as English, Maths and Physics, but also less common subjects such as Psychology. Entrance exams, SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels local history of art tuition are all catered for across Inverclyde. Please search for Inverclyde private history of art tutors near you and select which best suits your needs.
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If you are a Inverclyde history of art tutor wishing to offer your local history of art tutoring services in Inverclyde or anywhere else across the UK, please register with First Tutors or find out more about us here.
Towns: Gourock, Port Glasgow


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Ringing the changes: mobile financial services are at home on the frontier
by AJ Hanna
Over the course of the past ten years, the financial services industry has experienced a series of profound shocks that have impacted how the industry is regulated and managed. With the rise of the mobile phone, the opportunity to develop alternatives to the traditional banking model has never been greater.
As VimpelCom transforms itself from being a traditional telecoms company to a digital services provider, the opportunity to develop pioneering Mobile Financial Services (MFS) adapted to the needs of our customers in frontier markets will be an important part of our future. New and innovative products and services designed for our customers have the potential to drive productivity gains and economic growth. A report by Advisor Perspectives argues that 80% of the unbanked mobile phone owners in Kenya, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Pakistan are "bankable," and these services could more than double the number of banking customers in those four nations.
Last year, Jazz Cash (the MFS division of Mobilink, VimpelCom's operating company in Pakistan) handled over 52 million transactions for a total value of USD $1.4bn. It's an exciting development that leads to a broader question about what's possible: can the rise of mobile and digital services disrupt the financial services industry and unlock banking services for all?
Increasingly consumers are questioning the purpose, credibility and stability of banks and their role in modern society. A recent report from McKinsey & Company shows banks are feeling the weight of an infrastructure that is to a large extent antiquated. In one case, manual workarounds and a burgeoning volume of custom applications saw a European private bank run up an additional €100 million in IT spending. Their operations are expensive to run, and hard to maintain or justify in an increasingly digital world.
Legacy systems, expensive underused branch networks, and an almost monopolistic hold on customer uptake in many developed markets has led people to question whether the current retail banking model is something frontier markets should aspire to, or take steps to avoid. Even if it was desirable to replicate such systems in developed markets, we might question whether it would be feasible to recreate them in countries that are different geographically and economically from the West.
As VimpelCom transforms to meet the changing needs of our customers, mobile financial services (MFS) will become an increasingly important component of our business.
Already in Pakistan, Jazz Cash, Mobilink's MFS division, has tailored a number of products aimed at mobile phone users. Customers can securely transfer money in a matter of seconds to relatives anywhere in the country, avoiding the need to visit bank branches or wait several working days for transactions to process. The recipient can directly receive the funds into their mobile wallet or at one of the 60,000 convenient Jazz Cash agents across the country. Transactions are secured and regulated through an extensive process that includes real-time due diligence tools such as Know Your Customer, fraud detection and compliance, providing peace of mind to customers who in many cases will be conducting mobile financial transactions for the first time in their lives.
As internet access becomes more mainstream, customers in frontier markets will become both more receptive and more empowered to use their mobile phones in their daily lives, including financial transactions. On average, just under 40% of the population in VimpelCom's frontier markets has access to a financial institution, due in large part to the limited availability of bank branches in remote rural areas. A report from GSMA stated that doubling mobile data use leads to an increase in GDP per capital growth of 0.5 percentage points. This creates a huge opportunity to unleash economic development and productivity gains that took decades to achieve in western markets.
Cash transactions are already on the decline in western markets as card transfers, online and mobile payments from digital wallets become the normal means of buying and selling. Cryptocurrencies and the supporting digital ledger infrastructure of blockchain technology will only hasten the demise of cash transfers and the reform of financial services transactions.
The last ten years have been tumultuous for the financial services industry in western markets, and MFS remains at a nascent stage in its development, subject to regulatory regimes and market maturity as it is to the technology that supports it.
Even so, the role and purpose of banks in our daily lives is called into question as technology offers a viable alternative to the traditional means of carrying out transactions. Frontier markets have a unique opportunity to adopt these new technologies and be pioneers of faster, more effective financial services that serve the needs of rapidly changing societies. As VimpelCom moves from being a telecoms business to a digital technology and communications company, we are in a unique position to open up mobile financial services and smartphone technology to hundreds of millions of people, spearheading economic growth and contributing to a stronger economic system – starting with the frontier.


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Although you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, you can definitely appreciate its presentation. Along with keeping all of your favorite texts organized (and at arm's length), a well-styled home library can often become an artful centerpiece inside your home; so it pays to come up with thoughtful ideas for book storage. To prove the point, I gathered some cool, contemporary book displays to share for inspiration. From end-of-bed bookcases to wall-mounted picture ledges, here are some stylish ways to show off your personal book collection and make a decorative statement.
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Invisible Cities - Research
Posted by Becky Patterson at 15:25 No comments:
Crit Presentation -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 13:36 No comments:
Changes - Establishing shot -
seriously struggling with this one, can't seem to get perspective or depth or anything right...
i darkened some areas up and added more "fog" in hope it would push the middle ground back again.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 13:10 No comments:
Interior Establishing Shot?
Posted by Becky Patterson at 12:20 2 comments:
Colours yes, City, Possibly not...
Im very unsure about this, mainly the huts, i might keep trying to adjust it, get some charm back but still looks like a village more than a city.
One to come back to i think -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 16:30 5 comments:
Trying things out -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 12:10 1 comment:
Exterior Low Angle Shot OR Exterior Establishing Shot -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 09:12 1 comment:
Break - Details and progress -
While I'm taking a 5 minute break i shall just update you guys on my progress ... Random mountains.... yay?
And While i'm on the break i will just do some... slightly less stressful work... light draw flags...
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:01 2 comments:
Concept Artist "Who's Who?"
Posted by Becky Patterson at 16:21 No comments:
perspective exercises -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 12:07 No comments:
Disc Artwork -
Posted by Becky Patterson at 11:20 1 comment:
Colour Contemplation -
Become a bit unsure about how to go about using colour, tried referring to my first colour thumbnail sheet and didn't seem to have the same effect so i also tried using more subtle colours, don't know where to go from here?
Posted by Becky Patterson at 03:57 5 comments:
Film Review - 2001: A Space Odyssey
|(Fig. 1)
2001: A Space Odyssey.
Release Date - 1968
Director - Stanley Kubrick
Genre - Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-Fi.
A supposed classic, despite initial mixed reviews the film went on to gross 5x it's 10 million dollar budget, paving the way for almost every sci-fi film in the 20th century. Produced during the space hype of the 1960's, this film shows a decent realistic and fascinating at the time distant future.
The special effects from the life like model space ships to the techniques used to replicate a zero gravity environment are absolutely outstanding and convincing, see (Fig.1) and (Fig.2) for examples, this is perhaps doubly outstanding considering this film was made a full year before man actually landed on the moon, nearly a decade before Star Wars come out, Roger Ebert mention the special effects in more detail by saying "Nearly 30 years after it was made, it has not dated in any important detail, and although special effects have become more versatile in the computer age, Trumbull's work remains completely convincing -- more convincing, perhaps, than more sophisticated effects in later films, because it looks more plausible, more like documentary footage than like elements in a story." (Ebert, 1997)
Clear Example of model ship.
Beautifully shot moment of zero gravity in effect.
Another brilliantly captured moment.
2001: A Space Odyssey was the last film made about men on the moon before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked there in real life and years later the conspiracy theories still flew around that this is not a coincidence claiming that all the footage of Armstrong's voyage was a hoax directed by Kubric using left over scenes and props from the film.
In terms of technology Kubrick was jumping ahead of time, its remarkable how a director could have such a vision seeing as Dr. Heywood Floyd talks to his his daughter on the video payphone (Fig.5) which we now know commonly as Skype or face time, But at the time this was a whole new concept infact the whole film is purely Kubrick's concept.
Outstanding technology for the time.
It also has become clear that whomever watches this film is then filled with questions and slight confusion, the film can very much be interpreted in anyway but this doesn't help while you're watching, reading into the film after it seems that even on release day there was much confusion and even people walked out before the end, again i refer to Roger Ebert in his review saying "But not everyone remained. Rock Hudson stalked down the aisle, complaining, "Will someone tell me what the hell this is about?'' There were many other walkouts, and some restlessness at the film's slow pace." (Ebert, 1997). For a film like this it was to be expected, something with no clear narrative and no easy entertainment and random scenes where astronauts end up in rooms with there older self, it was no wonder Kubrick didn't become an over night success, even though it seems he focused so heavily on the set and effects he forgot to maybe make it understandable or even watchable like any other film of its kind.
For a film that might as well be a silent film it's worth viewing at least once to say you've actually seen it.
Bibliography -
Ebert, Roger. (1997) '2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)'
In: http://www.rogerebert.com 27.03.97 [Online]
At: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-2001-a-space-odyssey-1968 (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Illustration List -
Figure 1. Poster | Sort | Simen Meyer (2013) From: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by: Stanley Kubrick [Film Poster] England / America: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
At: http://simenmeyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/2001-A-Space-Odyssey-ny.jpg (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Figure 2. 2001: A Space odyssey Wallpaper (1968) From: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by: Stanley Kubrick [Film Still] England / America: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
At: http://www.turkishdenial.com/2001-a-space-odyssey-wallpaper/ (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Figure 3. 2001: A Space odyssey Wallpaper (1968) From: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by: Stanley Kubrick [Film Still] England / America: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
At:http://www.google.co.uk/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0CAUQjBw4Ig&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwfiles.brothersoft.com%2F2%2F2001_a_space_odyssey_598571920x1080.jpg&ei=JWBEVNH5JcGd7gbit4Bw&psig=AFQjCNGtB7PVHbgSZ45sJmwSGiD9KwFz3Q&ust=1413853605715823 (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Figure 4. 25 2001: A Space odyssey Wallpaper (1968) From: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by: Stanley Kubrick [Film Still] England / America: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
At:http://www.google.co.uk/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0CAUQjBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.alphacoders.com%2F270%2F2701.jpg&ei=LWBEVO2iAcaS7Aa4nYHQCw&psig=AFQjCNHMjbAHBbE7Y38We9jKk_bRueH69g&ust=1413853613098848 (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Figure 5. VideoPhone Booth in 2001 - Critical commons (1968) From: 2001: A Space Odyssey. Directed by: Stanley Kubrick [Film Still] England / America: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
At:http://www.google.co.uk/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=0CAUQjBw4Dg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.criticalcommons.org%2FMembers%2FccManager%2Fclips%2F2001videophonebooth.mp4%2FthumbnailImage&ei=LGJEVKWPGK3d7QbWtYCYAg&psig=AFQjCNF63s49l35uALjhUK8t6SepZt1skQ&ust=1413854124487135 (Accessed on the 20.10.14)
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:44 1 comment:
Influence maps -
Influence maps to help me plan out how to make my city look.... more like an actual functioning city... also make it more connected, keeping in mind how the people of the city get around, where they get food, water and energy from.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:00 No comments:
Film Review - King Kong
King Kong
Release date - 1933
Director - Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper.
Genre - Disaster film, Fantasy, Animation, Stop motion, thriller.
Footage projected onto live set to animate around.
Full size parts for when Kong grabs Ann.
Bibliography -
Boeder, Laurie. (2012) 'King Kong - The Original'
In: http://www.about.com/entertainment 23.05.12 [online]
At: http://classicfilm.about.com/od/earlysciencefiction/fr/King_Kong.htm (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Chalon Smith, Mark. (1991) 'Everything's monkey-dory in kong'
In: http://www.latimes.com 28.10.91 [online]
At: http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-24/news/ol-253_1_king-kong (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Dirks, Tim. (2010) 'King Kong (1933)'
In: http://www.filmsite.org 12.02.10 [online]
At: http://www.filmsite.org/kingk.html (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Illustration List -
Figure 1. King Kong Lives / Dokumentation (1933) From: King Kong. Directed By Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper. [Film Still]
USA: RKO Pictures. At: http://nilowanner.ch/kingkongdoku/material/king_kong_1.jpg (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Figure 2. Miniture rear projection in 1933's King Kong (1933) From: King Kong. Directed By Directed By Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper. [Film Still]
USA: RKO Pictures. At: http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/pcote/clips/king-kong-miniature-rear-projection.mov/thumbnailImage. (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Figure 3. The mechanical hand (1933) From: King Kong. Directed By Directed By Ernest B. Schoedsack, Merian C. Cooper. [Film Still]
USA: RKO Pictures. At: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=iuV0EleUW17zPM&tbnid=4wczofBCNG0ViM:&ved=0CAUQjBw4OA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulpanddagger.com%2Fcanuck%2Farm4.jpg&ei=_CI7VNXuDoqd7ga9_4C4DA&psig=AFQjCNEnH91i0D9rv1cFUF-RooSOtViumA&ust=1413248124321155 (Accessed on the 12.10.14)
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:04 2 comments:
Maya tutorials 1/2
Posted by Becky Patterson at 12:35 3 comments:
Sculpture drawings..?
.....As you can tell this isn't my best area...always struggled with drawing this kind of thing, i think when it comes to life drawing i may do a bit better, but for now i shall continue to struggle!
Posted by Becky Patterson at 07:27 2 comments:
Influence maps - Exterior ideas / Interior.
Wanted to give a brief idea of what I'm aiming for, but i will be going into more detail with all the little things especially with the interior.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 06:46 No comments:
Invisible Cities - OGR
Posted by Becky Patterson at 11:25 2 comments:
Thumbnails 97 - 101 (dead end)
Explored Moriana, really couldn't get into it or come up with any new ideas, i seem to be drawing the same things over and over, might have to take a break from the thumbnails for a little while.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 14:27 2 comments:
Thumbnails 91 - 96
Trying out Ersilia, at the moment it's between this city and Baucis... might end up seeing elements of both in my more finalised paintings.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 12:06 No comments:
Thumbnails 77 - 90
Exploring Diomira - Found the city a bit difficult to get ideas from, also only subtle colour today.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 09:08 1 comment:
Colour Tests - Thumbnails 65 - 76 (Again)
Previous thumbnails but used to try out colour, practice is certainly the key word here.
Felt thumbnails 65 - 69 were better for colour tryouts and generally went a lot smoother than my second thumbnail sheet where i only chose to colour 70, 74 and 75 because every time i tried to colour into the others i started to dislike what i was doing.
back to practicing ...
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:33 7 comments:
Group Animation -
Group animation from week one that i finally got my hands on -
Even though i have previous experience with dragon the lesson helped refresh my memory.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 18:22 No comments:
Thumbnails 65-76 (Commitment issues)
65 - 69 Armilla. "Unfinished or demolished"
70 - 76 Baucis. "The slender stilts that rise from the ground at great distance from one another and are lost above the clouds support the city" " Nothing of the city touches the earth except those long flamingo legs."
Having a few issues committing to one city so for the moment i want to just try out a few based on a few lines from each city description.
Posted by Becky Patterson at 02:43 2 comments:
Film Review - Metropolis
Release date - 1927
Director - Fritz Lang.
Genre - Science fiction, Silent film, Drama.
A film of which storytelling is mostly all visual and inter titles seem to be avoided, apart from cut away scenes that explain what else is happening due to key footage of the film being lost and this is only manageable due to referring to the novelisation of the story. A film full of overdramatic scenes and images that make no logical sense, an example being early on in the film "Freder has a vision in which the machinery turns into an obscene, devouring monster." (Roger Ebert, 2010) After which the machine is only a machine again and you are watching fellow workers pick up the injured and carry on with work once again.
A film of it's age is filled with brilliant camera angles, special effects and not to mention the huge set (Fig.2) and large amount of extras, which is said that they weren't treated like people more like props during the film being made. The special effects were the work of Eugen Schüfftan, he created a special effects technique that used mirrors to put actors into miniature sets, he done this first in metropolis, the technique proved popular through the first half of the 20th century until it was replaced by bluescreen "According to Magill's Survey of Cinema, his photographic system allowed people and miniature sets to be combined in a single shot, through the use of mirrors, rather than laboratory work." (Roger Ebert, 2010). One of the best examples is John's office, all of it was a brilliant interpretations of the future, with some form of Art Deco overlay with even computer displays and two way video conferencing which when you think about is outstanding for 1927.
The Laboratory of the films evil genius, Rotwang, has probably been the inspiration for all new mad scientists to this day, filled with random pipes and boiling jars, a now typical scene for a classic laboratory. In the film Rotwang makes another Maria and this is done in a strange sense by first placing here in a glass cylinder ( fig.3) surrounded by lights, obviously to add to the mad scientist look the jars of liquid are randomly boiling and lights are flashing, in the scene it starts to look like she is being scanned by these beams of light and almost like the image of her is being uploaded to the robot. This being said the fake Maria had a completely different personality which also affected her appearance, she could walk and talk to same but the look she gave was much more menacing "The artificial Maria, the "woman" who could walk and talk but possessed no soul, had queer drooping underlids to her eyes." (Mordaunt Hall, 2003)
Even though the film is almost two hours long the original release ran almost three hours, the studio at the time demanded that it was cut and cut again, the result of this lead to original scenes being lost this is now why we have inter titles to explain the lost scenes.
This film in an unforgettable piece of history and pure genius when it comes to camera angles and effects, films wouldn't be the same now if it wasn't for this.
Even though the film is almost two hours long the original release ran almost three hours, the studio at the time demanded that it was cut and cut again, the result of this lead to original scenes being lost this is now why we have inter titles to explain the lost scenes.
This film in an unforgettable piece of history and pure genius when it comes to camera angles and effects, films wouldn't be the same now if it wasn't for this.
Bibliography -
Ebert, Roger. (2010) 'Metropolis (1927)'
In: http://www.rogerebert.com 28.03.1998 [Online]
At: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-metropolis-1927 (Accessed on the 1.10.14)
Hall, Mordaunt. (2003) 'metropolis (1927) A technical marvel'
In: http://www.nytimes.com 21.05.2003 [Online]
At: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A05E2D8143BE13ABC4F53DFB566838C639EDE
Illustration list -
Figure 1. Archive 98 (1927) From: Metropolis. Directed By: Fritz Lang. [Film Still]
Germany: Paramount Pictures. At: http://www.comicbookbrain.com/_imagery/2012-05-01/metropolis-1926-poster-620.jpg. (Accessed on the 1.10.14)
Figure 2. Metropolis (1927) (1927) From: Metropolis. Directed By: Fritz Lang. [Film Still]
Germany: Paramount Pictures. At http://flickminute.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Metropolis-_1927-Fritz-Lang-Masterpiece-_Flick-Minute.jpg. (Accessed 1.10.14)
Figure 3. Metropolis (1927) (1927) From: Metropolis. Directed By: Fritz Land. [Film Still]
Germany: Paramount Pictures. At:http://unaffiliatedcritic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Rotwangs-Laboratory.png. (Accessed on the 1.10.14)
Posted by Becky Patterson at 17:26 1 comment:
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LinkedIn, MySpace, Yahoo: Why does it take such a long time for companies to disclose that they have been hacked?
read more
Online account security breaches are seemingly commonplace these days -- just ask LinkedIn or Sony -- and now we can add Yahoo's name to the list of hacking victims. The company's confirmed that it had the usernames and passwords of...
The massive theft of Yahoo user data disclosed last week came from "professional" hackers seeking to profit from the breach, according to an analysis by security researchers.
Investors started worrying that a massive security breach disclosed by Yahoo Inc. could impact the internet company's $4.8 billion deal to sell its core business to Verizon Communications Inc.
Yahoo disclosed a massive security breach affecting at least 500 million users as the beaten-down internet company works through the sale of its core business.
Professional social network LinkedIn wants you to know that its taking the recent password security breach to heart — despite lacking greater measures to prevent such hacks and a chief information security officer charged with keepi...


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Navy SEAL killed in doctor rescue was from Pennsylvania
By JONATHAN D. SILVER | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Published: December 10, 2012
The Pentagon has identified a U.S. Navy SEAL who was killed in Afghanistan as a 10-year veteran from the Pittsburgh-area.
"Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa., died of combat related injuries suffered Dec. 8, while supporting operations near Kabul, Afghanistan," the Pentagon said in a release. "Checque was assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit."
Petty Officer Checque had been awarded the Bronze Star, among many other commendations, the release said.
He was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head, according to Lt. Cmdr. David McKinney of Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs in San Diego.
A man who answered the phone at a family member's house in Washington County declined comment.
"The family has asked that everybody respect their privacy at this time of grief and they do not wish to be contacted," said the man, who would not identify himself.
Petty Officer Checque was a 2002 graduate of Norwin High School, where he was on the wrestling team.
The Pentagon did not immediately confirm that Petty Officer Checque was involved in an operation launched to rescue Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was reported to be in imminent danger.
Dr. Joseph, who worked with the non-profit Morning Star Development of Colorado Springs, was kidnapped Wednesday along with two Afghan staff members -- one is part of the medical team, the other part of the support team. Dr. Joseph has been the non-profit's medical adviser for three years.
Dr. Joseph was rescued by SEAL Team Six, the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden last year, reported The Associated Press. It was not immediately clear if Checque was present for the raid on bin Laden.
This undated handout photo digitally altered at source to remove the background and provided by the family and the Navy shows Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque. The Department of Defense says Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa., was killed near Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, Dec. 8, while rescuing Dr. Dilip Joseph, an adviser for Morning Star Development who was abducted last week.