text:
The Women's Voices Theater Festival has surpassed the boundaries of the nation's capital and meandered over to Baltimore. A city thriving with theatre, it's an honored opportunity to take part in the festival that has been occurring throughout the 2015 calendar season. In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview, we sit down with playwright Susan McCully to discuss her work Kerrmoor, a Co-Production with Baltimore's Strand Theatre and Interrobang Theatre Company. Susan McCully is a professor at UMBC where she teaches playwriting and dramatic literature. Her plays have been produced at colleges and universities, as well as fringe/alternative spaces throughout the US and internationally. In addition to Kerrmoor, her farce, Voracious runs November 19-22nd at UMBC
Tell us a little bit about Kerrmoor
Susan: I've been trying to write some version of this play since I got my MFA many, many years ago. It takes place in an imaginary place that is very much about where I grew up in Appalachian Pennsylvania. It's a play that's really about both what I really abhor and adore of where I come from. It's about mountain people who are really insular and don't ever really leave these very small communities of six houses on a crossroad on the side of a mountain. They're really backward about relationships other than with their own sort of family, and in a way tribe.
I never felt like I belonged there. I always felt like it was a phobic place in many, many ways, but I also love these people. They are the American mythic sacrifice warriors. They are strong, strong people who will do anything for their family and their neighbors. There's this kind of deep "of the earth"-ness about them. I grew up with that sense of pride in place and country. I tear up at Fourth of July parades. At the same time those people are mean about others, anyone who is "othered" in any way. I tried to write about that for a long time in a very realistic way but it was never very satisfying. It seemed like it was political in a didactic way that I didn't care for and felt like I was choosing a side. I couldn't really get inside the love I had and the admiration I had for those same people.
I've written a kind of Greek tragedy. It's sort of Appalachian Greek tragedy that sort of imagines this place on a mythic kind of level. I've decided on this ritual that these Scots-Irish people have lived by for the hundreds of years since they got there. There is this sense of "one girl" who needs to be chosen every twenty years or so when the new generation crops up. This has roots in Indian raids, which was true of people in my family where I grew up, back in the 1700's. So they create this ritual around cutting the Indian out. The premise of the play is that I am the "girl who was chosen" some time ago, and I was the first girl who got herself pregnant to get out. She was no longer pure. And I've left my daughter behind, letting her father and my father keep the girl there.
It takes place in this 24-hour Greek sort of thing. My daughter, who was left behind, has now become the chosen one. And we don't know what's going to happen. This is the first time I've seen my daughter since I left her there because I was shunned by that community upon leaving. If you're not of that community, you're shunned. The story does have some truth, but it's really more of this huge metaphorical, ridiculous, overblown Greek tragedy. It's not autobiographical. It's loosely inspired— no, it's an American mythos based on that Scots-Irish Appalachian way of being that is dangerous and also really in many ways the way that we look at Americans as heroic.
Where did the title Kerrmoor come from? What does it mean?
Susan: Kerrmoor is the name of the town where my father grew up. It's about 20 minutes from the big town of 10,000 people in the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. It's a crossroads on the side of a mountain with eight houses. It's really fallen into economic decline. It's a place of American rural poverty. There are no jobs. There's no industry. Mining is done, so there's the threat all around of fracking in the sense that you can get rich quick if you can frack. But there's an economic and environmental disaster just looming around that place. I'm not sure it's the catchiest title, a lot of people probably just go "what the heck is that?" But there's music and a mythology around the "Rite of Kerrmoor" that I've created for the play. Place is very important to this story, it's Appalachia.
You mentioned Eve Muson is Directing, and you're playing one of the characters, who else is a part of the production?
Susan: I'm really lucky that I brought this as a project to Interrobang and Strand together. They're coming together to produce this piece because it was really a good fit for both of their missions. I like Elena (Managing Director of Strand Theatre Elena Kostakis) very much. She's very determined and she just keeps working. I'm serving on the board of Strand Theatre now, actually. It's really great working with Interrobang, this group of former UMBC students who have really risen to a level of professionalism in the Baltimore-emerging-DIY-community. They are really coming together to augment the work. I got a grant from UMBC so we can elevate the production standards and pay everyone, and working with both of these companies has been a really good experience.
Katie Hileman is playing my daughter, "the chose." She's wonderful and fantastic. She's really talented. And so is Erin Hanratty, who is the other actor in the show. They're both UMBC graduates. Someone has to have a vision of who "the chose" should be and Erin plays the younger half-sister who sees the vision. My original script is a little bit Iphigenia, a little bit Night Mother, a little bit Saint Joan, a little bit The Crucible, and a little bit Little Abner.
Is this an all-female production?
Susan: So the actors are all female, it's three women, myself, Erin, and Katie. But there's a whole town outside which has a lot of male pressure in it, with the fathers and the grandfathers. They're all part of what's making this little crucible burn. One of the challenges but also the really great things about this piece is that it is just these three women. Sometimes I wish I could have someone come into it, but no, it's just these three people in this room in this very kind of tragic way. It exists in this very American history family drama kind of way, the mother, the daughter, and the step-sister.
It's exciting that this is a part of the Women's Voice Theater Festival. What has that been like?
Susan: That project has been so successful. To get my face on the cover of American Theatre Magazine, it's just an honor. To get the opportunity to expose my work among the 50-some other works that are being featured is incredible.
I feel almost anti-feminist saying this, but it feels like there are some really great works coming out of the festival and some not so great works, but when the great works have arisen, that's a wonderful thing to celebrate.
Susan: That doesn't have to be an anti-feminist sentiment at all. In the kick-off event where Lisa Kron spoke, she said one of the most brilliant things I've heard in regards to this issue of parity. She said that what needs to happen is that there needs to be as many bad plays being produced by women as there are by men. There becomes this thing where we're held to a different standard where we only get this tiny little morsel— here's this festival and we're going to do your work for one year, with 50-some productions and they all have to be brilliant. Otherwise it becomes this proof that "female plays aren't as good." Plays are incredibly hard to write. And it's incredibly hard to do a good production of a good play. Most plays are flawed, actually one could argue that every play is flawed, some perhaps more than others. What's so great about this festival is what it's allowing us to do.
I mean none of the bigger theatres in DC would even be reading my script outside of this festival, this is a first draft of this play. But now that it's become a part of the festival, larger theaters around the country are asking to take a look at the script and it's giving me an opportunity to make changes and to take what I learn from this production and make it better. These are the things that 30-year-old guys are now being granted –the opportunity to rewrite, have a production of something that has strengths and weaknesses and learn from them. This is an opportunity for us to make our work better. That's the most fantastic part of this process for me.
I've seen some of these pieces by "the named playwrights" and those are also deeply flawed or slightly flawed scripts. This festival has created a huge network of opportunity. They have created this awareness around all of these works that I couldn't have bought or created on my own. I'm really very grateful.
What does it mean to you to be a female playwright? Or maybe just as a playwright?
Susan: I proudly write under the banner of a female playwright. I think it's a really complicated question than people realize. They have preconceived notions, "oh it's a woman's voice so it's different" or thoughts along those lines. I think that it is true that I tell stories where women are the protagonists and the antagonists. But those stories are still universal, I don't think that they're exclusively women's stories. I think people have this idea that with "women's theatre" or with "female playwrights" there is a certain expectation of how they're written or what they're about and then people read them through a biased lens as opposed to these just humans with experiences.
In a way it becomes a bit like the "Black Lives Matter" subject, although that's always tricky. Yes all lives matter, yes all people have stories, but I don't want to erase "black lives matter" and I don't want to erase "women's stories matter and need to be told" for the sake of standing on this blanketed platform of equality for all. You have to focus on the erasure. All stories need to be told, absolutely, but if you don't purposefully make room to tell stories from all points of view then by default we see male characters and male playwrights as telling the universal stories when in reality we need a whole bunch of different men and women out there telling their stories. Otherwise we become this thing that gets marginalized, "that thing over there" women's stories. So I'm proudly a woman playwright.
I think one of the universal truths that I see with women playwrights is that we tend to emerge later in life. At least that's been true for many of my friends and of myself. It's harder to get heard. For me, it was harder to feel confident that my work deserved an audience. It took me a while to feel like I deserved an audience and I think that's gendered in a kind of way. I also had a family. Add in the thing about how all playwrights need other work to support themselves and their family. So I got an MFA in playwrights in my late 20's but I still had to make a living, so I had to get a PhD to teach to do that. It's been a long haul to where I now feel like I'm in a good productive place as a playwright, I've had three productions in the last eight months. It feels fantastic and I feel so lucky.
What have been the difficulties of this show for you?
Susan: I think I'm discovering that I'm not enjoying being on the stage as much as I used to. Fortunately, I've gotten to the point where I have a really good relationship with my director. Eve (Director Eve Muson) has been a really great dramaturg and she's really been a part of the writing and dramaturgical process. We have this connection where we can watch a play together and speak the same language about it. We feel very much the same about what makes a play work, how to tell the story theatrically and dramatically. I really miss that I can't do that with her in this production because I'm in it. That's a really, really different way of thinking about the character and I don't know why that's true, but it's been a big struggle for me. When I'm inside just this one character trying to make the right choices about that character, I really can't look back and say "Oh, I see how that dialogue or those actions are really working." I think this might be the last show that I'm in. I know I said that before when I performed Inexcusable Fantasies, but I think I mean it this time.
I think the primary thing, outside of being in the show itself, that with a new work as the playwright when you are out in the audience watching rehearsals, and you're present for the initial readings, you can say "That moment right there needs to be tweaked." You can actively see and hear what needs to happen in order to make something much clearer. You can see the completeness of it, you can look for the action of all the characters. You can see much more clearly where changes need to be made. Because I'm in the show, and I'm up on stage during these readings and rehearsals, I can't actually do the work of the playwright. It makes it really, really hard— actually impossible to know whether or not a beat is working because your focus can't be on what's happening outside of my own character. I feel frustrated because I can't quite clearly see why that beat isn't working.
I really trust Eve. We have these conversations after rehearsals but my conversations are not informed the way they usually are when I'm watching a script being rehearsed with her. I can't even hear her notes the same way as I do when I'm just listening to a show as opposed to being in the show directly.
What would you say taking on this project has taught you about yourself as an actor, as a playwright, and as a woman?
Susan: Oh my God. You don't go easy, do you? What I've learned as an actor is truly the value of being on stage with actors who are really good. Both Katie and Erin are really good. They have some quality training and they just keep digging into the script and figuring out what their characters want in those moments and why. I never trained or learned how to do that really well. I haven't practiced acting in years. I was in Inexcusable Fantasies, but that was a direct address to the audience, here I am as Susan telling a story that was true about me as a frame around these stories that were loosely based on my life in a funny, ridiculous sort of way. I have not practiced the muscle of being an actor in many, many years. Myself is an actor in this case is the least interesting thing to me. But I'm trying to rise to the level of my cast. I hope that I'm creating some moments that really work on the stage.
The thing that I've learned as a playwright is how to tell a story, or write a play where you really dare to tell some profound and scary truth about yourself. Some of this play is really about how I was raised to be a racist in a racist culture. I just really wanted to tell the truth about that and look at how my own racism was constructed and not make apologies for it, represent it as it is, even in this big tragic frame. It's really, really scary. But it also feels like I've written something that is raw and hard. From time to time I've gone up to New York and studied with Karen Hartman who is a really great playwright and a really great playwriting teacher. I've taken her word that you want to write a play where it costs you something to write it. I had to keep peeling open things about myself and being willing to expose them and risk them in this process. When you represent these things, you risk representing yourself as a racist. Part of the work that I try to do all the time is to own my white privilege and own my own racism. That's all you can really do to start. It's very difficult to look at the way you were raised, seeing how you've changed, and still admit that you love those people. Even though you abhor the xenophobia, you have it too. We all do. That's scary.
I did a playwriting workshop a while ago with Split Britches, they're a lesbian troupe based out of New York and they're a stalwart of the queer theatre community since the 80's and very well known in the academy. They said in this workshop that every piece you work on, you should do one thing that you've always wanted to do and one thing that really terrifies you. So at 52 I appear in my underwear in this piece— and that's the thing that terrifies me— I'm exposing my body at this point in my life. I strip on stage! That terrifies me. I've always wanted to do stage combat so there's stage combat. Part of the ritual of this is place is a scapegoating ritual, "the chose" becomes a bear, there's bear fighting and bear baiting.
I've learned that at this point in my life that craft allows you to explore much more deeply. This is a play that's really about craft and trying to write in the dialect and patois of Western Pennsylvania. In other plays I've written I have this mastery of language and characters, they think while they talk and they have these huge vocabularies. That's been my MO for a long time. But with this play? These characters barely speak. These are really quiet folk. When they say something they mean it. They have limited vocabulary. The diction is this really narrow range of things and there's a lot of silences and subtext. I really tried to write a tragedy in the one hour of real time that we have with this show. Craft allows you to explore, it doesn't limit you. Rules help you tell the story so you can concentrate on character.
As a woman, this play has taught me that the relationships between women are rarely told. There is a narrow range of women's relationships that get regularly represented. Those conflicts, those desires, they are just as universal and true and important as anyone else's story. I've known that as a person on the street, but as a woman in the theatre what I've really learned is that those relationships between women are universal. Mothers and daughters are just as universal as fathers and sons. The power dynamic, the desire to be seen and seen as a real person either to your child or to your parent— it's the same. All of those things that are traditionally in the father-son struggle are right there in the mother-daughter struggle as well. This has made me really much more secure in my ability to tell a story that everyone and anyone can relate to.
What is it you are hoping people will take away from seeing Kerrmoor?
Susan: I hope that they will see a story about what is really glorious about being a person committed, with a kind of warrior-like passion to doing the right thing, or the thing that they see is the right thing. I hope people will see that as the right things for those characters and see how short-sighted it is to see the world through a really narrow lens.
Why should people come and see Kerrmoor?
Susan: I can assure you that the quality of the production— the production values, the performances, the directing, the script— is as good as any you are going to see in any theatre in Baltimore. With the limitations of that space still intact, the quality of the people who are our designers is really first rate. (Eric Abele, Costume Design; Adam Mendelson, Lighting Design; Gregg Schraven, Set Design; Jeffrey Dorfman, Sound Design). I think that this show is a really provocative piece that really thinks very deeply about white America, which I think is an important story to tell in Baltimore. Plus, you need a catharsis? There's a catharsis.
Kerrmoor plays through November 15, 2015 as a part of the Women's Voices Theater Festival as a Co-Production with Strand Theatre and Interrobang Theatre Company at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church— 811 Cathedral Street in Baltimore, MD. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance online.


text:
Oregon policewoman survives shooting, suspect arrested
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A policewoman survived being shot several times at close range by a motorist who was later arrested Wednesday at a nearby apartment in a capture operation assisted by around 100 law enforcement officers.
The arrest capped a night of drama in which a working-class neighborhood of Oregon's capital city was swarmed by officers, including members of a special weapons and tactics team and from neighboring police departments. Streets were cordoned off as officers using dogs searched the area and advised residents to stay inside and lock their doors.
The policewoman had conducted a traffic stop Tuesday when the driver suddenly opened fire, Lt. Treven Upkes, spokesman for the Salem Police Department, said in an interview at the scene. Residents of the neighborhood, some wrapped in blankets and some still in pajamas, watched as police wrapped up their operation Wednesday morning and reopened streets.
It all started when the policewoman, who has been with the Salem Police Department for several years, was patrolling solo and stopped a vehicle around sunset Tuesday.
"During that traffic stop, the suspect in the vehicle decided to open fire," Upkes said. "The officer was struck multiple times."
Security camera footage shows the police officer at the driver's window of a van when flashes appear inside. She runs away, with bullets creating sparks as they hit the pavement near her.
The policewoman, who has not been identified, was able to leave the area on her own and then was taken to the hospital.
The shooter fled, abandoning the vehicle just a couple blocks away.
Police responded almost immediately.
The Oregon State Police, the Marion County Sheriff's Department and police from the nearby towns of Woodburn and Hubbard joined the search for the gunman, Upkes said.
"There were cops everywhere, at least 25 cars here, three SWAT trucks, the bomb squad and that RV thing," said Luke Slaughter, a local resident. "We didn't know what was going on."
Police with dogs and a SWAT team searched for four hours but couldn't find the gunman, Upkes said. After they stood down, detectives got leads and tracked the suspected gunman to the same apartment complex where he had abandoned the van. Around 5 a.m., the SWAT team was called back and surrounded the apartment. A nearby elementary school was ordered closed for Wednesday as a precaution.
Slaughter heard police negotiators call out to the suspect on a loudspeaker, saying they knew he was in there and using his name.
"They got him out quietly without any more casualties," Slaughter said, adding that he heard bangs as police reportedly blew the apartment door open.
Salem police said Jaime Lee Jimenez, 38, of Woodburn, is in jail on multiple charges including attempted aggravated murder with a firearm and felon in possession of a firearm.
The policewoman was treated for several gunshot wounds and released from the hospital. Upkes said her bulletproof vest may have helped save her.
Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky

subset: commoncrawl


text:
If you require the help of signage specialists in Malaysia, look for Signmaker.pw to provide you
with a first class service from the very first call. We have various years of top level experience in the
signage industry, and we have successfully completed many projects in Malaysia. There is no task too
large or too small, so contact us today for more information.
For signage specialists in Malaysia, Signmaker.pw is the team to trust. We work closely
with our clients to ensure that the service and the signage we deliver is always of the highest
standard, and leaving the client completely satisfied. When you need commercial signs, get in
touch with Signmaker.pw and find out how you could benefits from our expertise.


text:
Wofalo Lightning Adapter Review
Since updating to the iPhone 7 plus and losing the headphone jack, I really been missing the ability to charge my phone and listen to the music. Of course, I could just buy me a pair of wireless headphones and use my lightning port to charge my phone. In reality, that's just another device to charge. we all had those type of days where you forget your wireless headphones (or it's battery died) and the phone battery is at 10 percent. Then you realize it's Friday and some new music came out that you want to hear, but you not able to do both, This dual lightning adapter comes from Wofalo comes in handy! It allows you to charge both your iPhone or iPad and listen to music/talk on the phone at the same time.
The way it works, the adapter comes with two lightning ports, one for charging and the other for lightning headphones (Or lightning to headphone jack included with your iPhone). It works as advertised! It is not the flashiest way to do it but it brings back functionality to the iPhone. I think that is cool that it works for the iPhone 8/8s and iPhone X as well. I would highly recommend everybody to check this product out if you miss having that functionality! Check out our review video below.


text:
Have you ever wished you could turn your sales and marketing operation over to a team of experts, so you could focus on product development, managing your employees, or just enjoying life?
Do you wish you had the resources to hire a marketing genius as your VP of Sales and Marketing?
Do you need to grow your sales rapidly, improve client retention, increase transaction values and repeat business and dramatically grow your referrals?
If so, you've come to the right place.
Our team has the expertise, experience and insight into human behavior to bridge the reality of your present situation with the future potential of your organization. From concept to execution analysis, we can help grow your business. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.


text:
But how do you make it?
A big part of my job is to source bicycle components from all over the world. Thus, I spend considerable amounts of time browsing manufacturer websites and talking to distributors. While this helps me to keep an overview of the latest developments in the market, the information I'm most interested in is often the most difficult to find: Where do you make it? And under which conditions?
After all, focusing on performance rather than the marketing hype, a stem is a stem is a stem, no matter who made it (at least in many cases). Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the circumstances under which it was made. Rumors (and evidence) about questionable working conditions in the bicycle industry are as old as the word "offshoring", and, as for many consumer goods, customers are increasingly asking for background information on products, from working conditions to manufacturing sites.
In a world where product quality depends more on machines and materials than the location of production sites, I wanted to learn more about the actual differences between "made in the USA/Europe" and "made in Asia"? In particular, why is it okay to be proud of one but not the other? Is it all just a bad case of prejudice and a big superiority complex, or is there really anything fundamentally "better" when we manufacture products in the western world? And can I use this information to narrow down the large number of suppliers?
Getting to Work
With these questions in mind, I set out to evaluate manufacturing conditions and environmental standards for every supplier and factory in the bicycle industry. Unfortunately, after a couple of days on the internet, I realized that gathering sufficient data on even a single company is virtually impossible. Somewhat disillusioned, I decided on a more approachable strategy: firstly, create base ratings for every manufacturer based on its country of manufacturing, and then, if possible, adjust the rating based on publicly available information for each company.
In the following, I present my approach in more detail and share some of my findings. While the strategy outlined below is far from ideal, I hope this post can spark a discussion and get us closer to a responsible sourcing strategy for bicycle components.
Measuring "Better"
In order to take the first step, I needed to define what "better" actually means. While you might disagree with me here, my personal definition is that "better" manufacturing sites are those that firstly enable workers to have a "better life", and secondly strive to minimize the environmental impact of all manufacturing activities.
Whereas environmental impact is measurable, "better life" is somewhat abstract. Although there are various indexes that try to measure the quality of life in different parts of the world, the answer is not quite so easy. For example, simply because general education is poor in a country, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't support its economy. After all, insufficient funds might be the cause of poor education in the first place.
Once I started to think about it, I realized that there are no easy answers and that all attempts to define "better" boil down to personal preferences and beliefs. Therefore, I decided to measure "better" based on parameters that represent what I think is the mindset of NOPE! cycles.
With that in mind, the parameters I came up with are (1) democracy, (2) corruption, (3) gender equality, (4) workers rights, (5) human freedom, and (6) environmental protection. A more detailed explanation of each parameter and the indexes used to quantify them is provided below.
Some Parameters to Quantify "Better" *
Measured using data from The Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2016, which assesses the level of democracy for 165 independent states. The index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation, and political culture. Countries are ranked on a continuous scale from 0 to 10, which correspond to "authoritarian regime" and "full democracy" respectively.
Measured using data from Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2016, which is based on parameters such as trustworthiness and integrity of public institutions, enforcement of anti-corruption laws, bribery, extortion, misappropriation of funds, consistency of law enforcement, and the dependence of judicial systems. Countries are rated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 corresponds to "highly corrupt" and 100 to "very clean".
Gender Equality
Measured by averaging data from the 2016 Global Inequality Index (GII) and the 2016 Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), which are issued by the United Nations Development Programme and the World Economic Forum respectively. The GII measures gender inequalities regarding reproductive health, empowerment, and economic status; the GGGI is designed to measure gender gaps independent of a country's overall level of development, and it is based on four subindexes: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
The GII measures inequality on a continuous scale from 0 to 1 (where 0 indicates no inequalities) and the GGGI measures gender gaps on a continuous scale from 0 to 1 (where 1 indicates no gender gap). Since neither of the indexes produces scores for Taiwan, the country's GII is based on a re-calculated score from 2012 (as stated on the GII Wikipedia page) and its 2016 GGGI is based on the re-calculated score as reported by Taiwan's Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics.
Environmental Protection
Measured using data from Yale University's Environmental Performance Index 2016 (EPI). The EPI derives national scores (0-100) for a wide range of criteria from two broad categories: protection of human health and protection of ecosystems.
Workers Rights
Based on data from the International Trade Union Confederation's (ITUC) Global Rights Index 2017. The index is based on an evaluation of recorded violations of "internationally recognised core labour standards, specifically civil rights, the right to bargain collectively, the right to strike, the right to associate freely and access to due process rights". (Quote from report). Unlike other indexes, this index is based on a six-tier ranking system (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5+) where 1 corresponds to "Not regular violations of rights" and 5+ corresponds to "No guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law".
Human Freedom
Measured using data from the Human Freedom Index 2016 (HFI) that is issued by a collaboration of the Cato Institute, the Fraser Institute, and the Liberales Institut at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. The HFI measures personal and economic freedom, defined as the absence of coercive constraint, based on a total of 79 indicators from areas such as rule of law, security and safety, relationships, legal system and property rights, and freedom to trade internationally. The index is scored on a continuous scale from 0 to 10, where 10 represents more freedom.
* In the future, I would also like to add LGTBQ rights to the list; however, the data sources I found at the time of writing were either incomplete or not easily approachable in the context of this article.
Doing the Math
To assess a country's overall performance, I normalized all datasets on a continuous scale from 0 to 1, where 0 corresponds to "worst performance" and 1 corresponds to "best performance". In particular, this means that the discontinuous scale of the Corruption Perception Index {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5+} was converted into a scale of {1, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0} where 1 corresponds to very low levels of corruption; also, the scale of the Global Inequality Index was inverted so that 1 corresponds to "no inequalities".
Performing the above normalization, it was then possible to combine all data into a single plot as shown in Fig. 1. Here, a country with perfect scores for all six subindexes would have an overall score of 100 %.
However, once I started to calculate an overall score based on the subindexes, it became obvious that I was comparing apples and oranges: are worker's rights as important as gender equality? If no, how much better does a country need to treat its workers in order to make up for a slightly less-than-average equality rating?
I'm afraid there are no easy answers here, and the weighting factor one gives to each of the subindexes strongly depends on one's personal approach to life. Therefore, for the results presented in Fig. 1, I did not assume a fixed set of weighting factors, and you should feel free to change them in the range from 0 to 10 to account for your personal preferences.
For readability, Fig. 1 is limited to a selected set of countries that are the main manufacturing sites of the bicycle industry. If you can't find information on a specific country, you can find the complete dataset here, which should cover most countries of economic relevance.
So What Do We Learn?
The first thing to notice is that the overall score seems to be relatively robust: changing the weighting factors within reasonable limits does not lead to major changes in the ranking. Thus, I will use the equally weighted scores to outline some major findings:
- All Western European countries perform better than the United States, Taiwan, and the European average. The only two Eastern European countries in the list, Poland and Romania, both perform worse than Australia, the United States, Japan, Taiwan and the European average. This trend is confirmed in the complete dataset. Thus, there is a clear difference between "Made in Western Europe" and "Made in Eastern Europe", and no such thing as "Made in Europe" as a guarantee for good working- and living standards.
- The United States performs worse than Western Europe, Japan, Australia and — maybe most notably — Taiwan. While the difference between Taiwan and the United States is small, it requires some effort to find a combination that gives the upper hand to the USA. Thus, my reading is that "Made in the USA" and "Made in Taiwan" boils down to largely the same standard, with a slight advantage for Taiwan.
- Taiwan, the center of the world's bicycle industry, outperforms the European average by a small margin and is on eye level with large parts of Western Europe and the United States. Also, conditions in Taiwan are significantly better than those in China and Asia in general.
- China performs significantly worse than Taiwan and Malaysia, and slightly worse than Indonesia, Thailand and the Asian average. Thus, confusing "Made in China" with "Made in Asia" is not a good idea, no matter which way around.
From Countries to Companies
At this point, it's important to note that the above findings should only serve as an initial baseline for your buying decision. While country A may clearly outperform country B, this says little about a particular company that is located in any of the two. Thus, it's best to consider company-specific information whenever available.
For example, I use the above scores to generate base ratings in three categories: social accountability, environmental performance, and local manufacturing.
The "Social Accountability Base Rating" is calculated based on equally weighted averages for all of the above parameters, except for environmental protection. To calculate the base rating, I average over all performance indexes of all manufacturing countries for a given supplier and its sub-suppliers.
The "Environmental Performance Base Rating" for each supplier is based on the data from the Environmental Performance Index.
Finally, the "Local Manufacturing Base Rating" is calculated based on a dataset that is not included above. Here, companies that operate manufacturing sites close to their headquarters are scored higher than those who offshore all manufacturing. It is worth noting that this base rating is independent of the headquarter location: a European-based company that manufacturers in Europe will score equally well as an Asian-based company that manufactures in Asia. This is because I want to support business models that are based on local manufacturing.
In the next step, I modify the three base ratings using company-specific information. What internal standards and initiatives does the company have? Which certifications and audit strategies? For bigger companies, where does the company stand on the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act? Are there known violations of workers rights and environmental protection laws? And so on and so forth.
In the end, the above process leaves me with three company-specific ratings for each supplier. And that's what I base supplier decisions on.
But wait a minute, ...
...shouldn't we discuss the weighting factors in more detail? And shouldn't we account for more parameters than the ones outlined above? And should you really calculate company ratings based on country data? And why do you bother anyway?
I believe that every manufacturer and customer has the power to influence the way business works. When it comes to manufacturing conditions, the first step is to understand the status quo; only then can we engage in an open and constructive discussion with manufacturers.
What I present above is the best solution I came up with so far, and you're most welcome to disagree with everything, including the general approach, parameters, weighting factors, and datasets. In fact, this is exactly the kind of discussion I would like to have during my next club ride. To me, that's much more interesting than somebody telling me how they saved 15 gram by going tubeless. Yawn.


text:
Red Circle Foundation – Helping Hand for Special Ops and Their Families
I admit it, I am a follower of SOFREP.com and I am not a veteran. HOWEVER, I was the wife of a veteran and have a Facebook page, which is called, For the Love our Our Veterans which is dedicated to helping veterans and their families. And it is through my daily search for veteran-based helpful information that I discovered, SOFREP.
SOFREP is where, according to the website, you can get – "… insider perspective(s) from the former special operations and intelligence professionals that mainstream news media can't access."
Not only that, but Brandon Webb, one of the founders of SOFREP is a former Navy Seal, and co-author of "The Red Circle: My Life in the Nave SEAL, Sniper Corps and How I Trained American's Deadliest Marksmen," and several other books as well.
All of which is rather a long way down the rabbit trail, from what I wanted tell you about, which is Brandon's terrific non-profit, The Red Circle Foundation, a Federal 501(c) Non-Profit dedicated to "helping Special Operations Families by providing with the immediate financial assistance which they need to move forward." And, 100% of all donations go directly to families in need. I can't explain their goal better than Brandon can, so click HERE and check out his video explaining what the Red Circle Foundation does and how it helps Special Ops families in need.
Why What Happened in Benghazi Matters
Four good men died on that fateful day, on September 11th, 2012, Ambassador Rick Stevens; Sean Smith, U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer; and former Navy SEALs, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone S. Woods. Former Navy Seals Brandon Web and Jack Murphy wrote a terrific Kindle book, entitled Benghazi, the Definitive Report, that tells of the events prior to, during and after the attack.(Another question to ask the powers that be is why these men's families have yet to receive any compensation from our government for their loved ones ultimate sacrifice. The answer to that might be most interesting to all of us.)
And yet, many people my wonder why what happened in Benghazi matters. today. If you too wonder, I suggest reading an excellent article written by Reporter, John Kass, of the Chicago Tribune, entitled , "Benghazi Email Coverup," explaining why we need to hold our powers that be accountable can be reached at this link: http://tinyurl.com/kg2eqg4
ones ultimate sacrifice.


text:
Jeremy Darios
Accredited Police Station Representative
Jeremy qualified as a Police Station Advisor in 2010 and prior to joining GPG in 2016 had worked for Joseph Darios Solicitors since 2006.
He is an accredited Police Station Advisor who has experience advising clients who are the subject of investigation by the police. He also has experience in Crown Court litigation and preparation of cases ranging from simple summary only matters up to the most serious and complex cases in the Crown Court.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
Postage and packaging
This item will post to United States, but the seller hasn't specified postage options. Contact the seller- opens in a new window or tab and request a postage method to your location.
Postage cost can't be calculated. Please enter a valid postcode.
Item location: shanghai, China
Postage to: Worldwide
Excludes: Alaska/Hawaii, APO/FPO, US Protectorates, Togo, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mali, Tanzania, Mozambique, Gambia, Lesotho, Gabon Republic, Mayotte, Reunion, Ghana, Namibia, Morocco, Rwanda, Madagascar, Saint Helena, Kenya, Somalia, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Central African Republic, Liberia, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Congo, Republic of the, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Guinea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Burundi, Nigeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Botswana, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Niger, Angola, Libya, Seychelles, Mauritius, Djibouti, Senegal, Cameroon, Mauritania, Cape Verde Islands, Uganda, Swaziland, Western Sahara, Comoros, Uzbekistan, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Korea, South, Armenia, Azerbaijan Republic, Georgia, Nepal, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Russian Federation, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Mongolia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Afghanistan, India, China, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba, Montserrat, El Salvador, Panama, Belize, Dominica, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, Honduras, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Jamaica, British Virgin Islands, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bahamas, Anguilla, Martinique, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Netherlands Antilles, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Guadeloupe, Greece, Austria, Macedonia, Portugal, Czech Republic, Iceland, Cyprus, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Gibraltar, Lithuania, Netherlands, Serbia, Denmark, Croatia, Republic of, Jersey, Slovakia, Poland, Italy, Albania, Norway, Bulgaria, San Marino, Spain, Luxembourg, Finland, Moldova, Estonia, Switzerland, Belgium, Vatican City State, Belarus, Montenegro, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Malta, Guernsey, Sweden, Monaco, Slovenia, Latvia, Ireland, Hungary, Turkey, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Bermuda, Greenland, Mexico, New Caledonia, Nauru, Western Samoa, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Micronesia, Cook Islands, Guam, New Zealand, Tuvalu, Niue, American Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Palau, Australia, Laos, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Macau, Ecuador, Suriname, Venezuela, Paraguay, Colombia, Brazil, French Guiana, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), PO Box
There are 166 items available. Please enter a number less than or equal to 166.
Select a valid country.
Please enter a valid postcode.
Please enter up to 7 characters for the postcode
Postage and packaging
Free P&P
United States
Economy Delivery (Economy Shipping from China/Hong Kong/Taiwan to worldwide)
Estimated between Mon. 24 Aug. and Tue. 20 Oct.Seller sends within 15 days after receiving cleared payment- opens in a new window or tab.
* You'll see an estimated delivery date based on the seller's dispatch time and delivery service. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods and will depend on when your payment clears.
Domestic dispatch time
Will usually dispatch within 15 working days of receiving cleared payment.
Returns policy
After receiving the item, cancel the purchase within
Return postage
30 days
Buyer pays return postage
Take a look at our Returning an item help page for more details. You're covered by the eBay Money Back Guarantee if you receive an item that is not as described in the listing.
The buyer is responsible for return postage costs.
Return policy details
Returns accepted
Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. Find out more about your rights as a buyer - opens in a new window or tab and exceptions - opens in a new window or tab.
Payment details
|Payment methods
Immediate payment required for this item.
Immediate payment of £9.88 is required.


text:
Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12KOs) shattered the Tony Bellew (30-3-1, 20KOs) fairytale with a thunderous left hand in the eighth round in Manchester to retain his Undisputed crown and cement his place as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the World today.
It was always going to be a mammoth task for the Merseysider who acquitted himself well in the early exchanges.
Before the stoppage two of the three judges at ringside had 'The Bomber' up on the scorecards with the other having it even but in the end it was Usyk's class that prevailed.
It was a cagey first round that was difficult to score as neither fighter really landed anything of notice.
In a much better second it was Bellew who found his range quicker, tagging the Ukrainian to the head and body with pot shots. Usyk did up his game after Bellew antagonised him with a minute left in the round.
With the fight starting to hot up the champ forced Bellew back from a distance for much of the third round although, it was the home fighter that kept catching Usyk with right handed pot shots.
Early in the fourth it was the Ukrainian maestro who was beginning to find his range and caught Bellew with a big left hand that made him dip his knees. Bellew spent most of the round with his back agaisnt the ropes but did connect with his trademark left hook that forced Usyk to retreat.
Once again it was the slick southpaw from Kiev who was on the front foot for most of the fifth but was getting countered by Bellew a little to often. Midway through the round a fast left handed warning shot from the Cruiserweight King landed on Bellews chin. The challenger did end the round strongly with a few right hands while continuing to counter the Usyk jab.
The sixth was going pretty much the same way as the fifth until Usyk landed a big left hand right on the bell that wobbled Bellew.
Usyk sensed blood in the seventh as Bellew was clearly still a bit dazed from the last round and starting to feel the pace of the fight. The 31-year-old was slowly creeping through the gears and getting better while Bellew was heading the other way.
In the eighth and final round Usyk showed his class with some beautiful footwork and shots from different angles. Bellew was trying to load up with big shots to find some space but he could not stop the Ukrainian from coming forward.
Every jab and left cross was hitting the target with Bellew in all sorts of trouble. An initial left hand buzzed Bellew before a right hand jab set-up a looping left cross which put the Liverpudlian out for the count.
Unfortunately for Bellew he was unable to prove the doubters wrong again but Oleksandr Usyk is a special talent that ended the night with a wonderful finish.
There is absolutely no shame in defeat to Usyk but Bellew needed to throw more then pot shots if he was ever going to put a real dent in Usyk's arsenal.
Tony Bellew deserves a lot of credit for not only taking the fight against a World class operator but also for causing Usyk problems in the earlier rounds. If this really is his last fight and he does retire then he can look back on a successful career were he achieved more than he ever thought possible.
Good Luck Bellew and enjoy your Birthday cake milkshake with your son in retirement!
Seconds out…


text: Did You Know April 13, 2014 6:08 pm Published by steven Dental Implants were discovered quite by chance. Professor Branemark was not a dentist. He was a Swedish scientist doing research on the way blood vessels behaved inside bone. He inserted tiny little microscopes into living tissue in animals and made his observations. When he finished his study, it was time to remove the microscopes, but when he tried to remove them he was unable to. They were stuck to the bone. This is how he discovered osseointegration, and that titanium is accepted by the body's immune system as though it had been its own biologic substance. And the rest, as they say, was history. << Back to Blog


text:
Pentraxin 3 is better than conventional inflammatory markers for disease activity assessment in takayasu arteritis
Phani Kumar Devarasetti, Rajendra Varaprasad Irlapati, Liza Rajasekhar
Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Correspondence Address:Dr. Liza RajasekharDepartment of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana IndiaSource of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: NoneCheckDOI: 10.4103/injr.injr_95_18
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/injr.injr_95_18
Objective: The objective of this study is to measure plasma pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients and to compare the accuracy of PTX3, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in distinguishing active disease from the inactive disease.Methods: In a prospective, cross-sectional study, TA patients fulfilling 1990 American College of Rheumatology criteria and healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score (ITAS 2010) and ITAS ESR were recorded. Patients were divided into active, grumbling and inactive disease using physician global assessment. Plasma PTX3, hsCRP, and ESR were measured. Receiver operating curves for PTX3 (pg/ml), hsCRP (mg/L), and ESR (mm at 1 h) were constructed to differentiate active from the inactive disease. Inter-group comparisons were made using Mann–Whitney test.Results: Forty patients and 20 controls with median age of 26 and 24 years, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Median disease duration was 2 years. Fourteen patients had active, 8 grumbling, and 18 inactive disease. ITAS 2010 and ITAS ESR in active disease (5 [3–8.5], 7.5 [5–11.5]) were significantly higher than grumbling (0.6 (0–1.5], 2.5 [1–4.5]) or inactive disease (0.5 [0–1.3], 2 [1.7–3]) (P = 0.001). PTX3 (pg/mL) was higher in cases (505 [261–1358]) as compared to that of controls (317 [135–450]) (P < 0.026), in active disease (1335 [464–2128]) was higher than grumbling (689 [246–2114]), but significantly higher than inactive TA (369 [145–512]) (P < 0.001). ESR (mm/h) and hsCRP (mg/L) of 49 (33–61.2), 12.9 (4–21), respectively, in active disease was similar to grumbling (44 [31–63], 10.7 [3–14.7]), but significantly higher than inactive disease (38 [24–45], 1.8 [1.4–2.2]) (P = 0.03). Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for ESR (>46 mm), hsCRP (17.1 mg/L), PTX3 (>745 pg/ml) was (55, 89, and 0.72), (46, 89, and 0.75), and (64, 95, and 0.82), respectively.Conclusion: Elevated PTX3 in TA demonstrates more accuracy than hsCRP and ESR in differentiating active from the inactive disease. These biomarkers may differentiate grumbling from inactive disease better than ITAS2010 or ITAS-ESR.
Keywords: Biomarkers, Indian Takayasu activity score 2010, inflammation, pentraxin 3, Takayasu arteritis, vasculitis


text:
Sandy Beach Villas are in an exclusive development on the outskirts of the pretty Cypriot town of Polis, and occupies a stunning seafront position. This unique location provides direct access to the beach from your private garden, while superb sea views can be enjoyed from your spacious pool and sun terrace. Choose to relax at the beach, within the garden or by the stunning infinity pool.
Sauna is also available upon request and extra charge


text:
Removing the existing rock waterfall, adding in new modern materials and clean lines. Following up with a unique outdoor kitchen and modern shade area.
Paver pads, custom waterfeatures, cactus gardens and lush green walls make a huge difference in this Gilbert back yard. You can see this yard with intention and purpose.
This project allowed us to create some amazing spaces along with the pool, entry and outdoor entertaining areas. Modern material along with natural plant life to bring this project to life.
This project allowed us to have so amazing features from the oceanside glass tile, to the bobe water features, wetedge interior, sunken in trampoline and Modern grotto that also servers as the diving platform.
We have a resort style backyard with hand painted tiles and a wetedge primera stone interior. 2 pools combine with a lazy river to provide the ultimate backyard oasis.
Here you can see not your everyday pool tile. We were able to design a unique water feature along with Stainless steel Bobe water sheer's. We have an amazing interior with Wet-edge technologies Primera Stone and a white marble to show off the decking.
Artic white marble and Wet Edge Primera stone highlight this back yard with a herringbone pattern and Bobe custom scupper.
On this project you will find many details for this lush layout. Sunken in swim up bar with Firepit. Custom Grotto with Slide. Original outdoor kitchen. A new view deck along with a 130' pool with large sun shelf to enjoy.
Using the existing diving pool we were able to remove the existing rock water-features and modernize the yard with new and innovative materials.
The ability to entertain and enjoy allows us to maximize our Arizona winters. Here we have a dual isalnd with 2 Fridges, Kegerator, Ice maker and much more. Along with modern tiles and landscape materials followed up with a 9 hole putting green in partnership with puttek.
Complete backyard transformation for this Arcadia area home. One of kind Bobe Water and Fire features with full automation. And one of kind teakwood stone.
This remodel took a 15 year old tired year completely to guts and brought this mountain resort back to life. You will see amazing water features and great outdoor area for watching TV and views that will blow you away.
This project features Bobe fire pots and scuppers to blend into the natural environment. The natural stone decking along with stone water features really allow you to see the views of Pinnacle Peak.
This pool along with the negative edge includes an infinity edge along the pool to give the glass water look. Natural landscaping and a hidden spa allows you to feel escaped in the natural surroundings.
This project allows for the views of that golf course that this property sits on. The custom walkway against the home allows up to show off both side of the yard for entertaining. Natural stone in the look of wood really allows the spa to pop.
From the fire features to multiple Bobe water and fire scuppers you can see lots of detail in this design and build. The custom natural stone really sets off the travertine decking along with a very unique water color to have the blue "pop" Reclaimed wood along patio to help tie this design into the home.
We were able to turn this backyard around from a basic playpool into a modern oasis.
This modern project allowed us to incorporate 2 pools into 1 with both a diving and play pool. Floating steps with fiber optics along with glass tiles and a one of a kind fire feature allow for great nights on Camelback mountain.
Glass tile from Italy along with a natural limestone allow us to develop this very modern yard. A clean and simple fire pit along with outdoor kitchen allow for perfect entertaining.


text:
Samsung Galaxy S5 VS iPhone 5s
Now a days Samsung Galaxy and iPhone both are the competitor of the market. Samsung Galaxy is Android based smart phone while iPhone 5s have Apple iOS. Both of them are offering different features which have their own specifications. Both platforms represent a different approach to the mobile phone, and each suits a different kind of person. Samsung Galaxy S5 and iPhone 5s are the best smart phones in the world right now. We've comparison of the Galaxy S5 and iPhone 5S to find out.
Size And Weight
If we talk about the size of both smart phones then we can see that iPhone is the smallest high-profile phone while Samsung Galaxy is fifteen percent longer, seven percent thicker and twenty four percent wider than the 5s. Samsung Galaxy S5 contains 145 g while iPhone 5s contains 112 g. As smaller phone tends to the lesser weight. So iphone 5s is twenty three percent lighter than the Samsung Glaxy S5.
Material And Colors
Samsung Galaxy is made up of plastic with dimple coating on it while iPhone 5s is made up of aluminium metal. There are four colors available in Galaxy which are blue, white, black and copper. And iPhone 5s have three colors available which are silver, gold and black.
The Samsung Galaxy has much bigger screen than the iPhone 5s. It gives you one eighty five percent more pixels than the iPhone, but still looks pretty damn sharp.
Fingerprint Scanner
Samsung is aiming straight at the iPhone 5s striking feature, the Touch ID fingerprint sensor, with a fingerprint scanner of its own. The difference is that, on the iPhone, you can unlock your phone by simply resting your finger on the home button for a moment which requires usually less than a second. And on the Galaxy S5 you have to swipe your finger from the bottom of the screen down to the home button. It's also having partnership with PayPal. With the help of this feature you can easily authorize your payments which are associated with the popular services while iPhone fingerprint payment options are very limited.
Heart Rate Monitor
Samsung Galaxy is launching first time fitness tracker.
Processor And RAM
iPhone 5s contais 64-bit and 1.3GHz processor with dual core micro-processor. On the other hand Samsung Galaxy 32-bit and 2.5GHz with quad core processor. The Galaxy S5 doubles the iPhone's 1 GB of RAM.
Storage And Battery
Samsung Galaxy S5 supports micro SD cards upto 128 GB. While iPhone has an extra storage. Samsung Galaxy has more battery time than iPhone 5s. Samsung Galaxy S5 also includes "Ultra Power Saving Mode".
Samsung Galaxy S5 can easily win the camera feature than iPhone 5s because GS5 contains 16 mp camera with 2 mp front camera. While iPhone 5s has 8 mp camera with 1.2 mp front camera.
Samsung Galaxy S5 launches with the Android 4.4 KitKat. While iPhone 5s contains iOS 7.0.6.


text:
A Fellow Traveller by A.G. Gardiner
In A Fellow Traveller by A.G. Gardiner we have the theme of uncertainty, freedom, control, generosity, appearance, equality and modesty. Taken from his Leaves in the Wind collection the reader realises from the beginning of the essay that Gardiner may be exploring the theme of uncertainty. Gardiner is unsure of when the mosquito came into the train carriage. He does not know if the mosquito arrived before him or after him. Though he does become aware of his presence and at first is irritated that the mosquito is flying around the carriage. What is also interesting is that Gardiner speaks of the freedom one feels when in a train carriage yet he does not at first afford the mosquito the same freedom. It is only after Gardiner realises that he cannot control the mosquito that modesty and generosity occurs. Shown by way of Gardiner refusing to kill the mosquito. This may be important as there is a sense that Gardiner has admitted defeat when it comes to killing the mosquito. It is only then that Gardiner shows the mosquito any magnanimity or generosity. What is also interesting about the story is the fact that prior to noticing the mosquito, Gardiner does not take advantage of the freedom he has and which he mentions is available to him. It is possible that Gardiner is suggesting that man himself gets too busy in life to take advantage of freedom or to reflect on the simple things in life. Like availing of the opportunity to explore the benefits of having a train carriage to oneself.
Rather Gardiner allows for himself to be disturbed sufficiently by the mosquito that he tries his very best to kill the mosquito. It is as though the mosquito has infringed on Gardiner's personal space and Gardiner does not like it nor will he permit it till he admits defeat. The fact that one of the articles in the newspaper that Gardiner is reading is called 'Peace Traps' may also have some symbolic significance as Gardiner has declared peace with the mosquito yet he knows that he has the perfect opportunity to kill it. The other article in the paper 'The Modesty of Mr. Hughes' is also symbolic as Gardiner himself is being modest when he admits defeat with the mosquito. Rather than embarrassing himself Gardiner gives the mosquito a type of equality. The two passengers are equals and as such Gardiner will not kill the mosquito. Though some critics might suggest that Gardiner has in some way humanized the mosquito it may simply be a case that Gardiner is not only modest enough to admit defeat but that he is also displaying the ability to be compassionate towards another living creature.
It is also interesting that Gardiner after he admits defeat shifts from a position of viewing the mosquito as an adversary to a fellow companion or traveller. There is a complete one eighty in Gardiner's appraisal of the mosquito and no longer is the mosquito viewed as being something that is troublesome. This may be important as Gardiner could be suggesting that first appearances may not necessarily always be correct. Just as one may judge an individual based upon their appearance and be wrong so too has Gardiner misjudged the mosquito. If anything Gardiner could be using the mosquito as symbolism for another human passenger and how when in a confined space (the train carriage) an individual might strike up a conversation with one person but perhaps due to appearance refrain from doing so with another.
Not only has Gardiner admitted defeat when it comes to the mosquito's presence but he has also allowed for the carriage to remain under the control of the mosquito. If anything the mosquito, unlike Gardiner, is allowed to take advantage of their environment and act to their own will. In reality the mosquito is able to express the freedom that Gardiner himself chose not to when he thought he was alone in the carriage. Which may be one of the morals of the essay. An individual should, when the opportunity arises, take full advantage of the freedom that they see in front of themselves. Perhaps to act as the mosquito does and remain free from obstruction or societal views. The result of doing so will be that an individual will be able to express themselves to their own liking without being hindered by the constraints that society may impose on the individual. It may be better to live free while one can for the opportunity may not present itself with regular frequency. Such are the chains that man allows himself to be hindered by when it comes to what society may think.


text:
Divatrim Be•YOU•tiful
Nourish Your Inner Radiant Beauty
Your own unique beauty comes from within … and DivaTrim's Be-YOU-Tiful trio is the ideal nutritional foundation that will help it shine forth and captivate. To achieve your natural healthful glow, it is essential to derive maximum benefit from every aspect of your dietary and exercise regimen.
The path to your goal begins with the vegan superfood proteins and nutrients found in our powerful DivaTrim SuperWoman Blend, and is further augmented with the comprehensive spectrum of key multi-vitamins and minerals found in DivaTrim's Core Essentials. Muscle endurance and tone are crucial as well, and that's why we've added a hydration complex and the muscle-supporting, recovery-enhancing power of the free-form BCAAs found in DivaTrim's Intra/Post Hydration. Be your best, most beautiful self with DivaTrim's Be-YOU-Tiful nutritional trio!
- A precise matrix of premium vegan-based proteins
- Wide spectrum of omegas, multi-vitamins and minerals
- Powerful antioxidants and enzymes for optimized digestion
- Collagen and hydration support for beautiful skin, nails and hair
- Free-form essential aminos for muscle recovery and growth
As Seen IN
stay in touch
Good things to come to you.


text:
After nearly a year in release candidate status, Syndicate Press has been released into the WordPress Plugin repository. Users may now download the latest Syndicate Press version directly through their WordPress admin page. For details see: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/syndicate-press/. The Syndicate Press homepage with documentation and FAQs can be found here: http://henryranch.net/software/syndicate-press/. If you are not already using Syndicate Press to add RSS feeds to your blog, you should! Syndicate Press is already powering more than 600 feed aggregation sites across the world!
A new series exploring automated web testing with Selenium
Join us for a multi-part series in which we explore the powerful Selenium tool-chain. If you have been looking for an alternative to the expensive automation tools from the big vendors or you are just starting to research automated web application testing, this serialized tutorial is for you! http://henryranch.net/software/automated-web-testing-with-selenium-part-1/
Various quotes about war and the military
Wow, this is some good stuff, enjoy: http://www.kernairsoft.org/forum/random-quotes/view-random-quotes.asp
Major RC Airplane sale going on
I recently bought my first RC airplane and I am learning how to fly it. What an adventure! Back in the day, an RC airplane cost hundreds of dollars, but NitroPlanes.com is changing all of that. With an excellent mix of high-quality and low-prices, NitroPlanes.com is making it very easy to get into RC flying. There is a major sale going on right now, so get your new plane or servos before the sale ends! Here is the link: HUGE SALE on R/C Planes! Electric and Gas! 50- 70% OFF!


text:
Lane County Non-Eugene Recent Results in Terms of Partisan Swing
In 2014, all three county (non-Eugene) county commissioner districts will be up for election. All three have pro-business incumbents. This graphic shows how well pro-business candidates have done in recent major contests.
Three were winners and one, Anna Morrison, lost. It's very clear that Anna Morrison greatly underperformed the other pro-business candidates.
METHOD: The partisan swing is a way to measure the relative performance of campaigns. The partisan swing in all these cases assumes that Republicans are generally favorable to these candidates and that Democrats are generally unfavorable. The equation is: Partisan swing = (Winning candidate pct. – Losing/2nd place candidate pct. + Democratic pct. – Republican pct.)


text:
Category: Water
Ocean Cat
Peace And Noise
The Answer
Last Living Girl
The Writer
The Water
Life At Sea
Simply Water
Higginbotham Publications
Lesfic Author
Typically Alternative
I write stories that are just like us: a mixture of the normal and the weird.
Official Website of Jessie Allyn
Jessie Allyn creates fantasy worlds for your pleasure.
Kymberlee Faye
Blogging about my life, passions, experiences with mental illness (Body Dysmorphia Disorder) and more
Writing While Braving Life
S.L. Kerns
A place to get lost in my writing and my world.
simple Ula
I want to be rich. Rich in love, rich in health, rich in laughter, rich in adventure and rich in knowledge. You?
Life Photographic
Words...Photography...Life CC//
Tale of a Bookworm
📝 Reflections of A mom and A bookworm who loves to travel 🌍
The Herstun Writer
A Storytelling Publication
Off Her Mocha
The Daily Grind


text:
Last week my husband and I celebrated five years of marriage. It feels like a milestone, and honestly it kind of is. The average marriage in the U.S. lasts less than a decade, like years short. So I feel like making it though the first five years – we each deserve a big pat on the back. I also feel like because of what our marriage has endured/survived – it makes me all the more sure we're going to make it "'til death do us part."
I'm not going to lie, being married was nothing like I thought it would be, and I feel like I have a pretty down-to-earth un-romanticized idea of marriage, which led me to think about how I feel about marriage, and what it is.
- Marriage is never how or what you think it will be. Even the most level head, it's like having kids, you think you can be prepared but the picture you have in your head is never what you actually get. This isn't a good or bad thing, because it's a little bit of both. Marriage isn't what you expect in ways of reality, commitment and difficulties along the way. Marriage also isn't what you expect in the most wonderful ways. You can be head over heels in love and think, "Wow, I get to spend the rest of my life with this person," but you still can't actually grasp the joy and wonder and awesomeness in finding your other half and making the choice each day to be committed to each other.
- Marriage isn't for the faint of heart. It's hard, it's work, it's every day but the point is it is worth all of that and the good outweighs the bad without question.
- Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint. I'm always talking about "long-game" because the big picture matters but how you get there can change. It's about be adaptive, flexible and understanding you married another person, not an extension of you. They are going to have their own ways of doing things, traits, quirks and priorities so nothing is your way anymore, and it shouldn't be theirs either. It's all about compromise. Your goals, values and vision of your relationship should be in sync, but that doesn't mean two people will be in their execution.
- Marriage is about compromise – see above.
- Marriage is not about changing each other, otherwise why did you get married? In my vows I told my husband that he isn't perfect but that he was perfect for me. He does things that drive me crazy, I do things that frustrate him, but we knew who we were before we got married, and who the other person was. Changing him would mean I would be married to a stranger. I didn't marry him as a project, and he didn't marry hoping to make me more like him. Obviously things like mental illness, compulsive behavior, addiction, or other harmful behaviors may come up in a person's marriage, but that isn't about who the person is, it's about them changing a harmful behavior. Everything else should only change if it is a part of that person's personal journey and evolution. Not because someone else is trying to turn them into something they're not.
- Marriage is a choice. Every day that you are married, you're choosing that person, and choosing to be committed to them all over again. Marriage is a choice you keep making until you're not married or that whole "death" thing happens.
- Marriage is built upon pillars that are necessary, but doesn't abide by any rules or prescribed plan otherwise. A marriage needs love, trust, communication, respect and support. Without these pillars, the relationship will ultimately crumble. It doesn't mean that those things will always be present in bad times, but they should be nurtured and tended to. Beyond that, in terms of "how" you tend to them, what else is important, what exercises or habits one should do – there is no right way. I know a couple that actually consist of three people, so a throuple. It's not something I understand or could ever do or want, but they've been married and faithful and happy for over twenty years. I know people in open relationships, people who, like my husband and I, are old-school monogamous. Some couples swear one date every other week is enough, others say twice a week, others, particularly with kids in the mix say they're lucky to go out once a month. I feel that there is no right way. What works for me may not work for someone else. As long as the pillars are in place and healthy, then do whatever works for you, and of course you find that out through trial and error. Some people act like they have the secret to a successful marriage, but there is only one secret – stay married. The thing that every single successful marriage has in common is the choice to stay married. That's it. You stay married. You choose your spouse and commit yourself to them again and again and again. Because your love and commitment is the sun, and everything else is just a bunch of noise. Roy is my sun and no amount of noise will make me forget that, and while I don't usually speak for him, I know he feels the same.
I'm grateful for the five years I've been married to my husband, and the years before that and all of the years to come. Our five years have been marked by incredible highs with special romantic getaways, anniversaries, birthdays, fun dates, just being content at home as well as the hard stuff: sudden unemployment, mental illness, life and death health stuff, family drama on both sides, and each breaking habits/corrected behaviors that hurt the other. Now, it's not like I think from here on out it's easy, but I'm saying we got through all of that still intact. Some marriages encounter a slump, others have bad times spread out, but we have survived and come out stronger from an awful lot of crap that I don't feel most marriages face in their first five years – and here we are. Still standing.
It's been a wonderful anniversary, which I'll write about later. My husband has celebrated me and today I am taking him on a surprise adventure to celebrate him. Five years – what a ride it's been and I'm excited to see where the next five years take us.


text:
I've spent yesterday puttering in the studio. I bought this old dictionary some time ago with the idea of gutting it and rebinding it into a journal. Yesterday seemed like the perfect day to do this.
I love vintage Canadiana, which can be hard to come by here on the west coast. Every now and again, I come across something like this dictionary and I snap it up. The only thing that would have made me happier was if the cover was red, instead of green, but it'll do.
After I carefully removed the original signatures inside, I recovered the entire interior of the cover with a heavy weight scrapbooking paper that matched nicely. This helped reinforce the spine and honestly, it just looks nicer.
The book measures 6 1/4 inches tall x 4 1/4 inches wide, so I cut a wide variety of papers this size or smaller. Some of the papers I wanted to use were smaller to start with and I didn't want them all the same size anyway-it's more interesting when there's a variety.
Some of the pages were made with pages torn from old art magazines. When you pay $18 CDN per issue, you don't just toss the old ones in the recycler! I use the ones I'm not interested in keeping in this way or make envelopes to send art mail in until the whole issue is all used up. Waste not, want not!
I took an initial pass through the journal, gluing bits and pieces that amused me onto some of the pages. This was done quick and dirty-I'll be writing and gluing things in till it's all filled up, so there's no rush. I added some colour copies of some of my favourite photographs to a few of the pages.
More bits from magazines combined with scrapbooking papers. I am a bit of a paper junkie, truth be told.
I also discovered that travel guides and brochures have interesting images of where I live, so some pages were made with bits and pieces from those. Most travel bureaus have websites where you can order free info by mail from just about anywhere you'd like to visit. Free journal fodder is a good thing!
I added a library pocket in the back as a place to stash paper bits for later, if need be. My plan is to use this journal as a catch all. I'm going to keep it in my bag and the idea is to not have it be too precious to use. I'll jot and glue things into it when the spirits move me and not worry to much that anyone's going to see it. (And what I mean about not worrying about anyone else seeing it is that I don't tend to handwrite much anymore. Having lost all the feeling in my hands because of the damage MS has done to my spinal cord, writing is difficult and it just takes too much energy.)
Anyway, that was yesterday's project. Today I am working on completing some digital artwork for The Week As Art project being hosted by Tonia Davenport of Northlight Books on the Create Mixed Media website. The week I was assigned just happens to be March 18-24, which is my birthday week!
Just before I sign off, I wanted to take a moment to say a very heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who commented, emailed and called to offer congratulations, encouragement and kind words about my name being put forward for the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. I deeply appreciate all the love and support. xox


text:
Postgraduate MAQ-GEOX809-2018
Globalisation and Sustainable Development
Measure the impact globalisation has on economies, politics and the environment.Find out how local communities are responding to the issues raised by globalisation. Academically research theories, stakeholders and ongoing debates.
Enrolments for this year have closed. Keep exploring subjects.
Study method
100% online
Available loans
100% online
Prior study
Not required
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 30,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Times Higher Education Ranking 2020
Subject details
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- discuss and appraise the concepts of globalisation and sustainable development
- critically assess competing perspectives on how questions of globalisation and sustainability affect real life commsubjecties around the world
- demonstrate experience-based knowledge of how issues of globalisation and sustainability play out in your own local contexts
- integrate broad intellectual debates with everyday situations and examples
- demonstrate the ability to undertake desk based research and communicate clearly, in written and oral formats, on issues related to globalisation and sustainable development.
- MODULE 1: Critical perspectives on globalisation and sustainable development
- Introduction
- Critical perspectives: globalisation
- Critical perspectives: sustainable development
- Critical perspectives: actors
- MODULE 2: Rethinking globalisation and sustainable development
- Rethinking: economy
- Rethinking: environment
- Rethinking: ourselves
- MODULE 3: Action on globalisation and sustainable development
- Economic action
- - Environmental action
- Activism and resistance
- Summary and reflections
Study resources
Instructional methods
- Discussion forum/Discussion Board
- Embedded Multimedia
- Interactive Games
- Online Quizzes/Tests
- Online assignment submission
- Podcasting/Lecture capture
- Standard Media
- Streaming Multimedia
- Web links
In order to enrol in this subject, you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Special requirements
No special requirements
Debates around globalisation and sustainable development tend to focus on the need for humanity – both individuals and societies – to make choices between economic growth on the one hand and the wellbeing of the planet on the other. This subject critically explores this problematic. It examines tensions and synergies between discourses of globalisation and sustainable development alongside opportunities to achieve economic prosperity alongside care for the environment in practice. The subject first considers conceptual debates that situate globalisation and sustainable development as 'problems' that society must deal with. Next it explores how scholars and activists are rethinking globalisation and sustainable development and opening up new possibilities for action. Finally, it examines how individuals, communities, non-governmental organisations and governments are responding to the challenges of globalisation and are engaged in efforts to create social and environmental sustainability at the local scale. The emphasis throughout the subject is on case studies from around the world which enable conceptual debates to be grounded in real life examples.
- Research essay (40%)
- Online participation (20%)
- Literature review (15%)
- Critical reading (25%)


text:
Bowel cancer
Breast cancer
Liver cancer
Lung cancer
View all cancers >
Cancer symptoms
What causes cancer?
Stages of cancer
Patient information
Four T.I.P.S. to improve your experience
Support for health professionals
Learn about cancer costs
Lifestyle cancer risks
Skin cancer prevention
Stopping smoking
Breast cancer screening
Cervical screening NSW
Bowel screening
Working with primary care
Patient-reported measures (PRMs)
Reporting for Better Cancer Outcomes (RBCO)
Specialist Cancer Centres Program
Grant opportunities
Research Grant schemes and resources
Previous grants funded
Taking part in a clinical trial
How do clinical trials progress?
Our clinical trials program
Cancer statistics NSW
NSW Prostate Clinical Cancer Registry
Publications using our data
TCRC program achievements
Funded TCRCs
Reducing tobacco use
Preventing skin cancer
Healthy lifestyles
Increasing early detection
Improving outcomes
Building cancer research capacity
Fostering research translation
Enhancing the experience of people with cancer
Primary liver cancer
Aboriginal communities
Multicultural communities
Patient-centred quality cancer health care
Primary health care
Community and Consumer Advisory Panel
Aboriginal Governance and Engagement
Media enquiries
Media releases
Writing about cancer guidelines
Upcoming events
NSW Premier's Research Awards
Innovations Conference
View more >
Department of Health UK
The Anthony campaign was developed in 2004 by the Department of Health United Kingdom. At the time of production, Anthony had been diagnosed with throat and lung cancer.
He was in hospital following a laryngectomy operation to remove his voicebox. Anthony communicates his current situation and future plans, including seeing his eldest daughter.
Anthony passed away 10 days after filming the advertisement. He never got to see his daughter.
Quit smoking support is available through the iCanQuit.com.au and the NSW Quitline (13 7848).


text:
Tying the hands of cities and counties won't make the needs of Texans disappear The Texas Senate and the Texas House are scheduled to vote as soon as this evening on Senate Bill 2, a misguided proposal that would limit the
This post was updated on July 31, 2017. The Senate last week passed Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, a dangerous bill that would limit the ability of local governments to raise the revenue needed to pay police officers, firefighters and
Increase state support to public schools. The Texas Legislature is again threatening to interfere with local communities by limiting the ability of local governments to raise the revenue they need to deliver public safety, health care, parks, libraries and other services
Harmful proposals would further limit state and local elected officials' ability to plan for a growing and changing Texas. For Texans of all backgrounds to reach their full potential, our state and local governments need to be able to provide services


text:
Mundipharma ServiceNow Go Live
Congratulations to Mundipharma on a successful ServiceNow IT Service Management go live including Call, Incident, Problem, Request, CMDB, Knowledge and Change.
The Mundipharma global network of privately-owned independent associated companies was founded in 1956 by doctors, has a presence in over 120 countries worldwide. It is focused on developing business partnerships to identify and accelerate patient access to medicines across specialist driven primary (respiratory, diabetes) and secondary care (biosimilars, pain and oncology) platforms.


text:
Customer Login
Free Delivery on orders over £125 ex VAT Except to highlands and abroad.
J Tape Perforated Trim Windscreen / Window Masking Tape 50mm x 10m. An ideal way to protect rubber trims and bodyside mouldings during spraying. Pre-perforated for easy tear off and flexible to follow contours and tight curves. Waterproof universal masking tape designed for masking window trims.Temperature resistant up to 120°C/250°F.
Want to be kept up to day with the latest offers and products, sign up for the newsletter


text:
helpful news, info and articles from the Coacha team
We've recently been chatting to a lovely lady who has been telling us all about music lisencing in performance sport. She's been telling us that it's never as easy as picking your ideal track and playing it during performance.
This got us thinking; we have endless Cheer, Gymnastics and other performance-based sports using Coacha. We thought this was super useful information to share with them.
Below, the team over at ClicknClear tell us everything you need to know about music lisencing and what the easiest way to go about getting a licence is.
Music forms an integral part of performance sports but how would you feel if the music was muted? Imagine watching Torvil and Dean's legendary Olympic figure skating routine without 'Bolero' playing. Or Katelyn Ohashi's 2019 Michael Jackson inspired gymnastics routine, without the music! It would be like playing football without a ball; it just doesn't work.
But are you aware that when using music in performance sports, you need permission from the owner/s of the track to use it? Music copyright can be complicated. There are often many owners of a song and it isn't very clear where you can obtain the information you need.
Most football stadiums or ice hockey arenas or other sport venues will have a performing rights license in place with the local collecting society. This covers the venue for playing ('performing') music, in its original form, unedited, as background music. But what happens when you need to make a mix of music to accompany a routine? Well, there are additional licenses required. These are called adaptation rights, you might also need choreography rights and sync rights (putting music to video). But, it's not like you can phone up Ariana Grande and ask her permission to use 'Thank U, Next' in your next dance routine, is it? So how does it work and why do you need permission in the first place? Let's take a look.
When you purchase a song online, stream it, download it or buy a hard copy on CD, what you are actually doing is buying a private license to enjoy the song for you own private use - just to listen to it. You aren't the owner of the track and you don't have the right to use the track in public environments or to edit, cut or rearrange it in any way. This is because international copyright law states that a person who creates something owns it, and can decide what happens to it. They also have the right to give permission (and get paid) if someone uses their work. Copyright law has been around for many years (over 300 years in fact) and exists to protect creators of work. So if you want to use someone else's work then you require a license.
When it comes to licensing music for adaptation, choreography or sync, you typically require direct approval from the rightsholders which can be a time consuming and expensive process. A single track on average has 9 rightsholders who all need to sign off on a license for it to be used. And it can get even more complicated than that - we recently came across a song that had 30 rightsholders!
There are 2 main music rights that must be cleared before a track is used; one being the the Master Rights (the recording) and the other being Publishing Rights (the musical composition). You must obtain approval from ALL rightsholders involved in the work, before use. This video explains it further:
In addition to this, when using music in performance sports, there are specific rights that are required - the right to edit music, make copies of it, perform a routine to the track at an event, and show / upload videos of the performance to YouTube and social media.
Getting to grips with music licensing and which tracks are available to legally have in your mixes can be enough to send you into a spin, which is why ClicknClear was formed - to take away the complexity and provide access to completely legal music for sports mixes, ready to download and use immediately. ClicknClear is the world's first and only music licensing platform that work directly with the music industry to bring you the biggest hits from Warner, BMG, Universal Music Publishing and more.
All our licenses come with the rights to choreograph routines to remixed and edited music at live events, and also to legally share videos online, of your performance, with music. Our easy-to-use website and simple pricing structure of either $15 or $25 per track, enables users to easily search and download popular music, mix tracks themselves or share music with their producer - confident that the music is pre-cleared with all the rights needed and is 100% legal.
Looking for music for your sports mix? Begin your search here.
Looking to license music for other usages? Please feel free to get in touch here.
Software for sports & pastime club management
@ 2020 by
MA Design Solutions ltd


text:
The annual Supreme Court Briefing of the AEI Legal Center for the Public Interest will take place 9 am Friday at AEI; registration is free. Speakers include frequent Supreme Court advocates Maureen Mahoney and Andrew Pincus, as well as AEI's Michael Greve and myself. Michael Greve's most recent Federalism Outlook looks at the most recent term, as does a recent Liability Outlook I wrote.
Annual Supreme Court Briefing
|Rafael Mangual
Project Manager,
Legal Policy
Manhattan Institute


text:
Electronic contract manufacturing relies on expert, leading-edge PCB assembly and electronic manufacturing services, and Hexagon24 boasts a full resource of experienced manufacturing engineers and technologists to fill that need. Along with services such as our Total Acquisition ManagementTM (T.A.M) system that allows our customers to leave every required material component sourcing and outsourcing production to Hexagon24, giving the confidence that you are provided with the most competitive pricing available. We cover all steps of the procedure, from the control conceptualization and design to surface mount (SMT) or through-hole PCB, manufacturing, also all mechanical operations for enclosures and fixtures.
Our comprehensive PCB build capabilities include all component sourcing, assembly, and installation. Everything from standard electronic and IP&E components, to odd-form components such as relays, bulb, and connectors. No part is too complicated or out-of-reach for us to secure and integrate into your systems. Our high-speed SMT services feature state-of-the-art pick and place modules with capabilities up to 60,000 CPH, and quality check after quality check: automated optical inspection (AOI), component verification, and barcode-based work order matching.
Our global customer base is evidence of our high-quality competencies in electronic equipment and outsourcing production, from the original product design to the warehousing and shipping of your products. Ensure to contact Hexagon24 with any further questions on our capabilities.


text:
ManTripping Features JumpSmart
"There are a LOT of car gadgets out there, but few have earned themselves a spot in my "go bag" to take with me for road trips. This JumpSmart all-in-one Jump Starter, Power Bank, and Flashlight from Limitless Innovations is one of them. It not only combines three essential things to have in your car's emergency kit … but it also comes in a great package to keep everything safe and ready for when you need it."
To view full article click here.
Recent Posts


text:
So I thought I'd be a clever bugger and pair up three different species in the same night (after midnight)
I was especially keen to get the Davus pentaloris project started to get a time under my belt – me and Martin from "The Tarantula Cave" have a competition going to see who's male Davus is the bigger stud muffin. Rules are simple, time starts when the male enters the enclosure and touches the substrate and quickest time to get at the female and connect.
Totally underestimated how long this would take. I heard from Martin that his was long…… BUT after 3 hours I gave up. Looks like I'll have to try again soon for a better time.