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Across the NCAA, seniors were left asking "What if?" in March, after the coronavirus pandemic canceled the remaining winter and spring sporting events. Here are the stories that show the sudden, complicated, controversial and emotional endings athletes have been coming to grips with over the past few weeks.
On the morning after the NCAA announced it would allow seniors playing spring sports to return for an additional year following the cancellation of the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, Estela Perez-Somarriba woke up in her apartment in Coral Gables, Florida, and knew what she wanted to do. She was going to return home to Spain, self-isolate with her family and prepare for the start of her professional tennis career.
But by that afternoon, after a few hours to let the weight of her decision sink in, Perez-Somarriba had changed her mind. As the defending NCAA singles champion, she thought she had unfinished business to take care of. She loved her time at Miami and wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to the team or the school.
She was going to stay. Perez-Somarriba became the school's first athlete to announce her decision to return with a letter on the athletic department website. She hasn't second-guessed the decision since.
"It was a challenging decision, but I'm really attached to UM, and finishing my college career the way I always dreamt of is important to me," she said. "There's still so much I want to give to this program. I think only student-athletes could relate to this, but when you spend so much time with your coaches and your teammates and representing the university, it means so much and is just so special.
"I was also concerned about all of the uncertainty [at the professional level] right now, and there are so many questions about tournaments, traveling, sponsorships and my own family being quarantined in Madrid. I realized it was going to take quite a while to go back to normal. So I thought, I'll use this time to get better, to keep practicing and keep improving. I'm pretty sure I made the right decision and am excited about next year."
Now the 21-year-old will have one more year to expand upon her prolific collegiate career, which has already cemented her in Hurricanes lore. Perez-Somarriba became the second Miami player to win an NCAA title last spring (Audra Cohen in 2007 was the other), and with a 141-23 record in singles play, she has the most wins in school history (a record she broke in January). She's a two-time ACC Player of the Year, a four-time All-American and the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Honda Award.
While she says she tries not to get too wrapped up in accolades, she does hope to repeat as NCAA champion next season and admits that she feels some motivation when she knows a record is on the line.
Head coach Paige Yaroshuk-Tews knew Perez-Somarriba was a gifted tennis player when she first arrived on campus as a freshman, but the coach admittedly didn't think Perez-Somarriba was capable of being the best in the country. Yaroshuk-Tews had some concerns about Perez-Somarriba's fitness but was immediately impressed by her work ethic and willingness to improve.
"I remember when she first came in, we had the whole team line up at the Watsco Center to run sprints," Yaroshuk-Tews said. "And she made it back to the line and didn't look very good. She was gassed, and her face was so pale, I was just about to tell our strength coach to let her sit the next one out. But then he blew the whistle, and she just took off. She went from looking like she was about to pass out to sprinting past everyone. We still joke about it, but that's [the] thing with her. Once the whistle blows, she's ready to go, no matter what."
That drive and never-quit attitude have been the hallmarks of Perez-Somarriba's time at Miami, and she has tried to soak up everything she can from the school. She is lauded by the coaching staff for her tireless efforts, on and off the court, and for doing whatever she can to improve her game. With Perez-Somarriba one of two seniors on a team otherwise entirely made up of freshmen, Yaroshuk-Tews asked her to step up as a leader. In typical fashion, she more than responded to the request.
"For the past three years, she's understandably been focused on herself, but she was able to step out of that box and develop herself as a leader and become one of the better leaders that I've ever coached," Yaroshuk-Tews said. "The girls really respect her and listen to her, and her personality started to rub off on them in an amazing way. It will be fun to see her get another year with them."
Like most schools across the country, Miami closed its campus, including athletic facilities, and switched completely to online distance learning in March. Perez-Somarriba stayed at her apartment off campus, where she has been the past two months. She completed her bachelor's degree in economics (with a 3.928 grade point average) and will graduate at the school's delayed ceremony in December. She has been staying in shape with frequent runs and by using a stationary bike and some dumbbells she bought for her apartment.
She has been reading, cooking, Facetiming with her family in Madrid, finding new plants for her apartment and indulging her curious nature by researching anything she finds interesting online. A self-professed homebody, she hasn't minded the downtime or being on her own. Yaroshuk-Tews says it's Perez-Somarriba's maturity and focus that have allowed her to continue to thrive, despite the unprecedented circumstances.
"She is the only kid that is asking during the pandemic to get into the equipment room to get some kettlebells and is setting up a personal gym in the living room of her apartment," Yaroshuk-Tews said. "She is not the most talented of all the kids I've coached in terms of athleticism, but her work ethic and her approach to her practices is honestly like nothing I've ever seen in my life. I don't think I'll see anything like it again, either. You typically don't see players that are as successful as she is but that are as humble and grateful for every single thing that's given to them. When you mix that with her level of work ethic, the results are exceptional."
Although the tennis courts on campus remain closed, a public court nearby has opened up as Florida eases its restrictions, and Perez-Somarriba and two of her teammates have been using it several mornings a week. The team has stayed in contact with frequent Zoom meetings, and Yaroshuk-Tews knows she can count on Perez-Somarriba to keep everyone's spirits high with her positive attitude (and is appreciative that there is guaranteed to be at least one student-athlete on the call who didn't just roll out of bed.)
Although so much remains in flux, Perez-Somarriba is determined to carry on as usual and is viewing her fifth year as the perfect opportunity for transition. She will look to defend her NCAA title (and break a few ACC records on the way) and complete a master's degree in sports administration, but she also hopes to play in some professional events in the summer and fall, if and when the season resumes, to bolster her ranking and give her much-needed match experience against a higher level of competition.
As most of the players on the WTA tour skipped the collegiate level to turn professional as teenagers, Perez-Somarriba knows her résumé will be slightly different than those of many of her peers, but she has watched other college-stars-turned-pros, such as Danielle Collins, Nicole Gibbs and Kristie Ahn, succeed in recent years, and they have provided her a blueprint of what's next. Still, she has modest goals to begin her career.
"I would like to make it to the top 100," Perez-Somarriba said. "I just want to work hard every single day and just know that I gave it a shot, and I tried my best, and I did it the right way. If it works, great. If not, it doesn't work. I just want to know I did everything the best I could to make my dreams come true."
Perez-Somarriba got a taste of that dream when she played teenage phenomenon Coco Gauff at a sold-out homecoming exhibition match in February in Delray Beach, Florida. Gauff, then 15, was weeks removed from her fourth-round run at the Australian Open, in which she knocked off defending champion Naomi Osaka, and Perez-Somarriba was thrilled about the opportunity to play her.
Perez-Somarriba was coming off a win with her team at Georgia Tech, and her teammates and many of her friends were in the crowd to cheer her on against Gauff. She says she wasn't intimidated by the moment and was excited to have the chance to gauge her skills against someone such as Gauff. Perez-Somarriba lost 6-3, 6-3 in 75 minutes, but she was pleased with her performance, and it fueled her belief that she could play at the next level.
"This is going to sound crazy, but I learned from that match that I could play against anybody," she said. "Coco is such a great player, and she's so young, and she has so much potential, but the fact that I was playing against her and kept it pretty tight, and I never felt as if I didn't belong there. I actually felt comfortable and relaxed in that scenario and environment, and that has motivated me a lot. It gave me a lot of confidence, as well as exposing some of my weaknesses, so I left knowing some things to work on, and I'm still trying to improve [in those areas]."
For Yaroshuk-Tews, who watched proudly, the match was an incredible reminder of how much Perez-Somarriba has improved in her four years at the school.
"I just sat in the stands and took it all in. I just kept thinking, 'Here's a kid that came to the University of Miami, and I thought she, at best, would maybe be a No. 3 player for us, and now is out there playing Coco Gauff in front of a sellout crowd.' The environment was unbelievable, and Stela more than held her own. It was just amazing to see how far she's come."


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Join our mailing list to receive regular updates from Headlong.
Theatre is an ineherntly voyeuristic medium. Since the Snowden revelations, there have been a series of shows that have focused on the ethics and extent of contemporary surveillance. At the same time, activists challenging surveillence culture have often used forms of performance, both offline and online, to challenge Big Brother's ever widening gasp.
Robert Icke, Prof. Tim Jordan, Duncan Macmillan and Dr. Dan Mcquillan discuss the ways in which theatre and other forms of performance have been used to explore the nature of contemporary surveillance culture.
Chaired by Dr. Bthaj Ajana.

subset: commoncrawl


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Malcolm Mierelen
Western Coast » Brosengae » Bindier » Malcolm Mierelen
Male Anuirean Noble 4; CR 4
Lord of Stormwatch Isle
Lineage of Greater Nobility
Major Bloodline of Anduiras, 25
LN Medium Humanoid (Human)
Init +0
Languages Anuirean (native), Brecht, Goblin, Sidhelien
AC , touch , flatfooted
Fort + , Ref + , Will +
Speed 30 ft Melee Atk + (damage /critical, weapon)
Ranged + (damage /critical, weapon)
Base Atk + ; Grapple
Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 17, Cha 17
Special Qualities: Favoured Region (Western Coast: +2), Resources, Born to Lead, Coordinate, Inspiring Leader; Long Life (Major), Major Resistance - Charm (Minor)
Description: , lbs
In need of a brief description
Typical Dialogue:
Lord Malcolm Mierelen is the Lord of Stormwatch Isle.
Malcolm is the chief adviser to Eriene Mierelen, the Duchess of Brosengae. A middle-aged outspoken man with some controversial views, he was the one-time senator for Brosengae at the Imperial City, but who now spends weeks or months alone on Stormwatch Isle in research whenever he can.
Said to be interested in everything from astronomy and archaeology to history and zoology, Malcolm is a skilled diplomat and is revered in Brosengae for his wise counsel. It is well known that he and Lady Elaenadaere Dhoelachnal were very close and it was she who bestowed upon him the honorary title of "Lord of Stormwatch Isle", a non-hereditary title with no actual powers other than the right to safeguard the little island on which he has spent so much time.
It is said that his great knowledge and insight derive partly from the persistent rumours that he is much older than he looks, but the rumours are dismissed by the court and ignored by him.
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October's light on frights
Strolls, not spooks, are the theme for October's Games with Gold on Xbox. Halloween would be the easy and obvious route, but next month's freebies for Xbox Live Gold subscribers mostly ignore that. Well, big deserted houses can be kind of scary.
On Xbox One, Fullbright's Gone Home is the most well-known of October's Games with Gold. It originally released in 2013, but only sauntered to Xbox in early 2016. Gone Home's place in video game history is well-disputed in thinkpieces and comment sections across the internet; I expect the same will likely happen again in this very comment section.
Halfway through the month, space station puzzler The Turing Test becomes the second Xbox One Gold game. The Turing Test is the follow-up project from the creators of Pneuma: Breath of Life. I had a chance to demo it at GDC a few years ago, and I thought it showed better puzzle design than Pneuma ever did.
As for Xbox 360, Rayman 3 HD is free for the first half of October. Then, on October 16, Medal of Honor: Airborne takes over for the rest of the month. As always, the Xbox 360 Games with Gold are all backward compatible to play on Xbox One.
Fall into October's Games with Gold [Xbox Wire]
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I am a 75 year old man and had my surgery on Feb 4, 2020. My wife had her surgery on March 14, 2020. I look forward to getting help from those who have been through it already.
Welcome! It's never too late to chose best health! This is a great place for help. The search tool works well if you have questions, as well as posting.
Hello and welcome
It is especially important to stay connected with people at this strange time and this is a great place to do so.
We've all been there done that (or are in the process of doing it) so there is a wealth of information and support here.
I hope all is going to plan for you.


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Wilson Pro Staff 360 Max Distance Golf Balls Review
|TG Rating
|Owners' Rating
The new Wilson Prostaff Ball improves your game from every angle. The 360 Max Distance provides high launch for maximum flight time. The HD360 dimple design creates 360 degree of aerodynamic symmetry for longer, truer flight.The Patented convex...


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Use plastic bottles wisely in 2020!
Why are plastic bottles such a problem for the environment? Plastic bottles are not biodegradable. They cannot be recycled by
living organisms, but they can be degraded into smaller pieces known as microplastics, by the sun's energy, and rain. Why is
this dangerous? It takes around 1000 years for a plastic bottle to degrade, but it will never biodegrade and it will stay in the
environment forever. As the plastic bottle degrades, it releases toxic chemicals which affect the wildlife in the future and
enter the food chain. What can you do about it? 1. Use less plastic bottles, or reuse them instead of just throwing them away.
2. Use reusable water bottles. 3. Make sure that the leftover plastic bottle goes into the recycling bin.
Walk to work in 2020!
Do something good for your health and the environment in 2020: walk as much as you can, wherever you go. Walking instead
of taking your car around the city, you will reduce the greenhouse gas emission, and the overall pollution of urban areas. Also,
walking is very beneficial for your health as it burns calories, strengthens the heart, can help lower your blood sugar, boosts
immune function and improves your mood.
In 2020 use less plastic and more other
recyclable materials!
Plastic is polluting the environment in two ways: 1. During production, since its production requires the use of
non-renewable fossil fuels which are contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, and 2. Affecting the
wildlife and natural habitats. Only in the North Pacific it is estimated that 12,000 to 24,000 tons of plastic end up in fish each
year. Over 1 million seabirds and 100,000 mammals die from ingesting plastic yearly. What can you do? 1. If you are already
using plastic, please recycle and watch where your waste is going. 2. Buy less plastic product and replace them with the
ones made of recyclable materials.
In 2020 eat local!
The food that comes from a local farm or farmer's market generally uses less packaging than food from a grocery store. One of
the main benefits of eating locally is reducing the amount of energy it takes to ship food. Perhaps most significantly, it
reduces the use of fossil fuels involved in transporting produce all over the world. Those who grow their food without
pesticides and herbicides also save the planet from extra air and water pollution, and needless to say how much healthier food
produced this way is. Also, by supporting local producers you are encouraging the development of small businesses oriented
around environment and human friendly food production.
In 2020 support local designers!
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, being one of the largest water polluter and water consumer.
Also, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emission. Clothing has clearly become disposable. As a result, we
generate more and more textile waste. Why should you support local designers? Because you will be buying better quality
clothes that will last longer, and because small local fashion businesses have far less negative impact on the environment than
the large fashion corporations.


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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) published by the Division of Local Services (DLS) within the Department of Revenue provide general information about Massachusetts municipal tax and finance laws and DLS policies and procedures in effect when published. They do not answer all questions or address complex issues about their topics. FAQs are not public written statements of the Department. They are informational only as described in 830 CMR 62C.3.1(10)(c), and do not supersede, alter or otherwise change any Massachusetts General Law, Department public written statement or other source of law.
Click on the additional resource below, it will open an Adobe PDF document, which can be printed out. In some cases this PDF may appear at the bottom of your screen.
Municipal Modernization FAQs
Motor Vehicle Excise FAQs
Taxpayers with questions about, or who want to pay, a motor vehicle excise bill must contact the community that sent the bill.
Personal Property FAQs
Chapter Land FAQs
Local Tax Collection FAQs
Report showing communities that have opted to apply a residential exemption, small commercial personal property exemption or have adopted local options that may impact the property tax bill.
For local option taxes/excise on room occupancy, meals and recreational adult use marijuana, click here
Senior circuit breaker credit usage report, click here


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Sorry! This position is no longer accepting applications.
Job description / Role
Work Area: Presales
Expected Travel: 0 - 100%
Career Status: Professional
Employment Type: Regular Full Time
Company Description:
SAP started in 1972 as a team of five colleagues with a desire to do something new. Together, they changed enterprise software and reinvented how business was done. Today, as a market leader in enterprise application software, we remain true to our roots. That's why we engineer solutions to fuel innovation, foster equality and spread opportunity for our employees and customers across borders and cultures.
SAP values the entrepreneurial spirit, fostering creativity and building lasting relationships with our employees. We know that a diverse and inclusive workforce keeps us competitive and provides opportunities for all. We believe that together we can transform industries, grow economics, lift up societies and sustain our environment. Because it's the best-run businesses that make the world run better and improve people's lives.
Role Description:
The Presales Solution Expert identifies, understands, and defines customer needs in order to develop and maintain standard product demonstrations and materials to close business and increase revenue. Provides additional support to account executives and conducts demonstrations for strategic purposes, including tradeshows and SAPPHIRE. The Presales Expert is considered one of the most knowledgeable Presales persons on a given solution in the Business unit they support.
Deal Execution / Demonstration Lead Tasks:
- Responsible for highly complex / visible pre-sales and/or post-sales support of company products/systems.
- Provides advanced-level technical support to complex sales presentations and product demonstrations.
- Provides answers to customer / internal SAP team inquiries concerning advanced solution topics.
- Provides software development and consultation to prospective customers.
- Supports regional and offshore Demo Architect teams to build demos based upon customer requirements to demonstrate feasibility of the application, often requiring rapid prototyping.
- Will participate in demo system design, planning and spec-out configuration requirements if needed.
- Participate in new product release input, testing and training of peers.
- Deal captain role: The Presales solution expert can play a deal captain role, he is responsible of end to end deal execution from presales perspective, support the AE in the relationships with the customer, coordinate and build the strategy for the account with the AE and VAT team (when VAT team is engaged).
- Personally, get engaged in supporting the key deals in the territory through customer interactions and presentations where qualified.
- Utilize CRM and other Presales BI reports to provide feedback to sales on the effectiveness of Presales in supporting their accounts.
- Enforce consistent presales processes, including CRM-based opportunity management, dry-runs and discovery sessions, to ensure superior demos and presentations.
- This position is for a presales solution expert in Supply chain and Procurement and Finance. The ideal candidate should know End to end the procurement process, S4 Hana flows and processes, can manage the full supply chain cycle end to end cross SAP solutions (SRM, S4, Ariba ...).
- He should be the expert in S4 Hana, SRM solutions. And he should have a good knowledge on Ariba solution. He should be able to customize and build demo based on Customer requirements and develop PoC on these solutions.
- In addition, an expertise or Knowledge on IBP and PLM/ APO/ EWM/ TPM solution will be a very important advantage for this position.
- Flexible, trusted advisor and expert roles are very important soft skills for this position. To be able to work with diverse team and with diverse experts.
- To be able to present and to develop a full end to end executive presentation and meeting with C levels is mandatory.
Strategic Tasks:
- Quickly establishes oneself as the thought leader of the VAT and fine tunes account strategy.
- Guides team in creation of overall theme & competitive differentiation (value wedges)
- Executes vigorous dry runs on strategic deals and customer engagements.
- Effectively transitions engagement to implementation partner / Field Services
- Is proactive in sharing their knowledge with the greater presales community through Solution Hubs or other enterprise social media where collaboration takes place.
- Be resourceful and creative in using Design Thinking processes to expand deals and create new opportunities in dormant accounts.
- Assign the right presales team members to work each qualified sales opportunity in their territory (assign the VAT team).
- Build and Lead Executive presentation for C levels, develop storytelling presentation skills and create impacts during Customer meetings.
Work Experience:
- 12+ years of presales experience
- 10+ years of solution specialist (or equivalent customer facing) experience in areas appropriate to the job
- Demonstrates 12+ successful engagements
- Expert knowledge/expertise on end to end processes/solution matching
- Experience in sales and sales processes
- Excellent presentation and communication skills English: proficient
- Business level local language: expert Fluent English spoken and written
Education And Qualification / Skills And Competencies:
- Bachelor equivalent: minimum requirement
- Master equivalent: optional
- MBA / Ph.D.: optional
What You Get From Us
Success is what you make it. At SAP, we help you make it your own. A career at SAP can open many doors for you. If you're searching for a company that's dedicated to your ideas and individual growth, recognizes you for your unique contributions, fills you with a strong sense of purpose, and provides a fun, flexible and inclusive work environment - apply now .
Sap's Diversity Commitment
To harness the power of innovation, SAP invests in the development of its diverse employees. We aspire to leverage the qualities and appreciate the unique competencies that each person brings to the company.
SAP is committed to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity and to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities.
About the Company
Headquartered in Walldorf, Germany, SAP is the world's largest business software company with more than 51,500 employees at sales and development locations in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Our global development approach focuses on distributing development across the world in strategically important markets. A global network of SAP Labs spanning Bulgaria, Canada, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, and the United States, enables SAP to operate locally, yet organize globally.
As the global technology research unit of SAP, SAP Research significantly contributes to SAP's product portfolio and extends SAP's leading position by identifying and shaping emerging IT trends through applied research and corporate venturing. SAP Research has highly skilled teams in 11 research centers worldwide.


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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
The way it is set up the system makes it seem like the older members are more popular than the newer ones. Like I have a score of +2859 -86. I apparently accumulated a high reputation score before the system changed and afterwards I was downvoted a few times. But it makes it seem like I am ridiculously popular. New members were not given the time to accumulate such a high reputation so there scores will be more like +100 -50. I never worried about the rating system on Cathinfo though.
Reputation means something, but not necessarily high reputation. I can't think of any regular members other than roscoe I enjoy reading who don't at least break even. There are occasional trolls I enjoy reading who have a low reputation.
Seriously though, I don't know what gave you the idea that CathInfo is a democracy. Did Sean Johnson's recent impertinent topics give you the inspiration? CathInfo doesn't have a board or a team of mods, or any kind of popular representation. It's a good old fashioned dictatorship or monarchy. <--- I live in Texas though, so in lieu of a regular king's crown...
There are very distorted reputations for institutional NO dialogue members. For example, Poche. He's good at setting-up contrarian views, which allow us to debate and evangelize It's pretty much educational, with no harm done. The most brash marrano-troll I recall from long ago was "Ashmolean" on Ignis Ardens. He had moderator protection, but eventually left after he was found to have posted anti-trad Catholic sentiments in a London news rag.
Says the guy who promptly obeyed Jaynek's "request" last week. You made it seem like your monarchy was open to suggestion with that response.
He gave 3 reasons for his tantrum:
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Amulet Hotkey
Teradici PCoIP technology
24/03/20 14:22 Filed in: Remote
We've put together some guidelines and links for customers looking to set up workstations remotely using PCoIP. Read More…
Remote Workflow Solutions
12/03/20 14:54 Filed in: Remote
During this time of uncertainty and rapidly changing business requirements, CineSys-Oceana and our partners are providing solutions to keep teams connected and working, no matter where they are. We are committed to help support the health and safety of our customers and we will work through these challenges together. Here are our suggested solutions for remote editing and finishing workflows. Read More…


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With a sharp defensive effort lead by the Tournament MVP sophomore goaltender Kieran Byrne, the Marines stifled a tough Roy-Hart/Barker/Medina team to coast to a 3-1 victory to capture the State crown.
Byrne rewarded the coaching staff call by turning in a powerful effort on all but one of Roy-Hart's attempts. Late in the game, while Roy-Hart dominated in an effort to tie up the game, Byrne stayed strong and dominant with some key saves.
Declan Conway lead the scoring effort with two tallies and assisted on the Luke Judge put-away goal with 1:25 left in the game to set the stage for the victory.
This game closed out a 27 game tournament hosted by Northwell Health Ice Arena and the New York Islanders. We would like to thank everyone associated with the tournament and the 1200+ paid attendees who made this all a success.


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Choosing only one photo for the cover of the August issue of Frisco STYLE Magazine is an annual challenge for our staff! We love looking through all of the inspiring and unique images photographers and readers submit in hopes of having their work featured on our cover. From photos of traveling and outdoor adventures to local landmarks and pets, it is so fun to get an idea of what our readers love and value visually.
We would like to say a special thank you to the local leaders who selected their favorite images to share with our readers, as well. Be sure you keep your eyes peeled throughout the feature for their selections!
Stop by the lobby of 3001 Dallas Parkway, in HALL Park, throughout August to see a presentation of the following images that achieved Honorable Mention status.


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If you've used both AA Console and the beta for the new PDQ Inventory you may have noticed a couple of differences in collection filters. The biggest difference is how filter fields are structured.
In AA Console each field is searched individually, which makes the filter engine simple but does lead to some consequences in that you may not get the computers you're looking for.
If you want a collection showing computers with Adobe Reader versions other than 10 you might create the following filter:
This seem like like an obvious way to get what you're looking for, but once you realize that it's matching the applications individually, you see a problem.
You would expect your computer to not match the filter because it has version 10.1 of Adobe Reader, but it does because it has another application that doesn't have 10.1. We got around this in AA Console by adding a new field called Application Name and Version which concatenates the name and version in a single value to allow for them to be matched together. But this doesn't help with all of the other fields that you might want to work with.
PDQ Inventory resolves this problem by grouping fields underneath their respective types of inventory data. Now, to implement the logic above you would just create a single application filter:
The new architecture of the PDQ Inventory filters allows this to be done easily and logically. You can even add more Application filters to the same collection to combine the varous filters.
This issue has been one of the more confusing in AA Console and we're glad to finally be able to clear it up with our new software. If you haven't had a chance to try out PDQ Inventory, please give the beta a try. The software is free to use just like PDQ Deploy and we hope you find some good use for it.


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- Permitting and Siting;
- Complete safety and code compliance plan review of all systems and installations, according to applicable local and international codes;
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- Product Listing and Options with projections for savings;
- Complete Installation;
- Replacement and Warranty Services;
Our global presence and knowledge of local regulations, allows us to assist you in a multitude of fields no matter where your lighting project may be.
Call Chris Rea today at (913) 710.8398. The estimate is free and the savings incredible.


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In season two, episode twenty of "On Target," Pontz and Mangala discuss an art studio controversy, the proposed business major, and peace and justice week. Then, Mangala sits down with Musselman Library Scholarly Communications Assistant Sarah Appedu '18 to discuss her work to address high textbook costs at Gettysburg.
Bullet Points
- Conversation regarding controversy at Juried Student Exhibition in Schmucker Art Gallery (0:30)
- Recap of faculty's discussion of proposed business major at last week's faculty meeting (10:10)
- Preview of Student Senate Presidential & Vice Presidential Forums (17:50)
- Overview of Peace & Justice Week (21:45)
- Bullet Report: Update on Gettysburg College Athletics (see more in our sports section) (23:40)
- Interview with Sarah Appedu '18 (26:00)


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All photos were taken by me on my visit to the Harn Museum of Art
This larger than life sculpture was the first piece I saw as I entered the Intra- Action exhibit. Its large scale and intricate craftsmanship drew me towards it. It is made with polychrome and gilded plaster, these materials were used to create the juxtaposition between the highly textured skirt, hair, and wings and the perfectly smooth and shiny expanse of the torso. This beautiful juxtaposition, the striking placement, towering above even the tallest person, and the almost holographic shimmer on the statue's head piece and hair would have been missed had I not seen it in person.
Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists and I was very excited to be able to see the photos of Kahlo as well as read the testimonies from the photographers, often dear friends of Kahlo's. The exhibit opens onto a royal blue wall with this famous portrait of Kahlo and moving clock wise around the room the groupings of 3 to 5 photos tell the story of Frida's life. Also in the exhibit are some items that Kahlo loved or that show insight into her life, such as decorative metal crosses and Mexican folk art figures and sculptures, as well as a full length documentary about Kahlo. The design and scale of the exhibit allow you to be immersed in learning about Frida Kahlo while leading you to make discoveries about her that you otherwise would have never seen.
I firmly believe in equality and proudly identify as a feminist. I am very excited to see the Guerrilla Girls exhibition and to attend their talk in February. The Guerrilla Girls are a group of female artist who wear gorilla masks and draw attention to the disparity between the representation of white males, women, and people of color in galleries and museums. I really enjoyed seeing many of the works I had previously read about in person and I plan on attending their talk to learn more about their art and message.
This aerial photo reminds me that from far away people aren't so dissimilar, that we are all working toward a common goal, happiness and the good life. The somewhat dilapidated buildings remind me that we should allows strive to help others and that the key to the good life for everyone is the lifting of those that need a boost.


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Three Queens councilmen blasted the Bloomberg administration's water board for considering an 18 percent rate hike even though the board has ample funding through next year.
Queens Democrats James Gennaro, David Weprin and Leroy Comrie want the water board's financing restructured so that cash it pays to the city can be used to avert a rate hike.
If it's put in place by January, as currently proposed, the rate hike would be amount to a 39 percent increase in less than two years coming on the heels of a recent 21 percent hike, Weprin noted.
"This is an outrage," Gennaro said.
Weprin said he was calling on state officials to see if the board could legally effect a hike so soon.
"Can you imagine the chaos if the City Council were to set property tax rates every couple of months?" he asked.
Lawmakers have scheduled a hearing on the matter for later this month.
The DEP said in a statement, "The Department of Environmental Protection has worked diligently to . . . improve collections from customers who do not pay their bill."


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We have not seen whole new hardware capabilities being made accessible via software upgrades — that is going to change. Key amongst these achievements are the complete Washington Accord Accreditor status (in 2014) for 4 year engineering diploma packages, provisional Sydney Accord Accreditor status for 3 12 months engineering diploma programs (in 2017), and as sole consultant of Chartered Engineers within the Engineering Council setup under the Engineering Council, Sri Lanka Act, No. four of 2017.
This is decreasing human interactions with one another and locked folks in the confinement of their mobile devices. While a lot of our units promise well being and life-style benefits, they will also have the alternative impact. When it comes to finding a cheerful steadiness for using expertise, moderation is essential — you should learn how to regain control of your devices and your time.
If it fully probably that cell phones, cameras, mp3 gamers, etc could someday all be consolidated into one single gadget, but how quickly that will happen is questionable as reducing several individual digital gadgets to one single product would inevitably hurt earnings of major companies like Apple , Samsung, Amazon, Google and others.
Thalmic Labs, Wristband will probably be a new concept as a gesture managed armband which may learn muscle impulses and acknowledge frequent arm and hand gestures which can, through Bluetooth, join consumer devices and use gestures to work together with the computing machine. A lot of labor has been accomplished on photo voltaic water treatment programs, and there's a real chance that units containing photo voltaic filters will develop into much more widespread sooner or later. Regardless of how outlandish some theories might seem one factor is definite is that future technology will solely turn out to be increasingly more subtle. At first look, these units appear to be gun-mounted, distant controlled cars.
While predicting future technology is rarely a precise science, I went to the minds of people that might need an concept of what know-how would possibly appear to be in 10 years. Daniel Masys, among the earlier thinkers as well as conceptual designers from the healthcare informatics movement , evaluations the precise buy-ins and in addition the potential prospects for future years from the labor power relating to the precise modifications below technique.


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Here we have a 2nd Class War Merit Cross, which was given to civilians who performed meritorious service behind the lines. It is constructed out of a die struck zinc-alloy base that has been bronze washed. It depicts a pebbled Maltese style cross with a wreathed swastika / "1939" (reverse) to the center. To the top is a soldered on loop and a ring which holds approximately 9 1/2 inches of original black, white and red rayon ribbon. The award measures approximately 1 7/8 inches wide and tall (without the loop). It shows calcification wear yet retains a nice bronze finish and has a long ribbon!
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Administration website
Usage statistics
Monitor the Yellow platform status and how your employees are using it thanks to our statistics module.
Centralize reusable contents
Provide content directly accessible in Yellow through the administration website : canvas, help assets, library, etc…
Secure the access
Use our simplified console to manage users and control who can access the Yellow boards. Connect the platform to your enterprise directory and your provisioning processes.
Multiple infrastructure solutions
Yellow in the cloud
Benefit from the secured and high availability of the platform to collaborate without break, regardless of the confidentiality level (cloud Microsoft Azure, data stored in Europe).
Yellow On Premise
Deploy Yellow in your infrastructure for tighter integration with your information system or to guarantee confidentiality. Our team will help you in the installation and maintenance of the solution.
Yellow Standalone
In mobility situations, during limited events or to strictly limit data access deploy autonomous versions of Yellow : an all-in-one package with the server, the animation client and an autonomous wifi.


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Sheet webs look a bit like funnel webs because they also have a mat-like structure, but sheet webs don't have that many layers. The funnel-shaped retreat is also missing as the spider can often be found hanging upside down in the web. Just like the web of the Labyrinth spider, a sheet web has vertical threads above the sheet. These function to intercept flying insects and causes them to fall on the sheet. At that moment, the spider, hanging upside down, bites the prey through the web. On a morning with lots of dew, the sheet webs stand out in the grass. Only then can you see how many there are!
• Looks a bit like a mat
• Vertical wires
• Spider often upside down
• Sheet web spiders (Linyphiidae)


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Hairstyles For Thin Hair That Can Be Tried This Festive Season
With the upcoming festive season, your hair is sure worth a tension. Those with long, thick hair worry less, but the ones with thin hair definitely spend more time wondering what to do with their hair.
Ladies, you can browse through this list of fancy hairstyles that are ideal for women with thin hair. These hairstyles do not require much time to do or effort to spend, yet the final outcome is spectacular.
These hairstyles should be picked at par with the shape of your face. Personal preference is your first priority in deciding your hairstyle for the upcoming festive season. Go ahead and do take a look.
One Side Plait
Generations have done this hairstyle yet its aura never diminishes. This hairstyle is a quickee to do if you have a scrunchie and some bobby pins ready. A tip for one side plait is, place it on the other side of your saree pallu or dupatta. You can always decorate your one side plait with pearl balls or natural flowers.
High Ponytail
Ponytail might sound boring. But how about a high ponytail? A high ponytail changes the appearance of the face and on the back, the hair looks much longer. Fix your long ponytail at the base and do comb in well, so that it does not look clumsy or tangled.
Curl Your Hair
How about some curling this festive season? Well, those with thin hair can go for curling and this is a makeover that none can miss noticing. Undoubtedly, the curled up hair appears to be thicker and this can be tied or just kept open. To curl your hair, visit the salon or do some thin, tight plaits on wet hair.
Half A Hair Bun
Very much viral among fashionistas, in this, half of your hair is secured in a bun, while the other half is kept open. This half a bun hairstyle is simple to do and goes great with western looks. This hairstyle looks extra perfect with coloured hair.
High Hair Bouffant
Go a little retro this time with a hair bouffant on the top. Hair bouffant can be done using the backbrush technique. This makes the hair look volumnious and has been an all-time hit. You can end your hair bouffant with hair ponytails, plaits or open hair.
Pixie Hair Cut
If your hair is very, very thin, just crop it off this time opting for a pixie hair cut. Pixie hair cut goes good with both Indian and western attires. Pixie hair cut is easy to carry, yet requires frequent visits to the salon. Use hair accessories to highlight your pixie hair cut.
Side-swept Hairdo
One of the forever favourite hairstyles for fashionistas is a side-swept hairdo. Very simple to do, make a steep and clean parting on the extreme side of your face and keep the rest of the hair on the other side. Side-swept hairdo can be combined with plaits, open hair or a bun.
Fringes With Steps And Layers
Add a style quotient to your hair with fringes, steps and layers that will add volume to your existing hair. For this, you will need a good hair stylist and also, ensure you take care of your hair steps, layers and fringes later on. This style reserves option for open hair, hair ponytail, plait and so on.
Global Hair Colour
One of the smartest ways for a hair makeover is going for a global hair colour. The process requires multiple sittings at the salon and you'll need to be a little choosy in deciding your apt hair colour. Ensure you pick the right hair colour brand as well. Global hair colour transforms the facial appearance completely.


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Dirty Talk - Spun Sock
$ 32.00
This product is out of stock
This product is sold out
An insanely fun mix of gray and rainbow with some "dirty" thrown in.
Spun Sock
80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon l 2-ply fingering
400 yards / 100 grams
Click here to see our bases.
Minor bleeding may occur on first wash. Each skein is unique, purchase multi-skein projects together & alternate rows. Monitors will vary.


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UPDATE (12:40 PM): According to AFD, the call came out as a kitchen fire. The fire department arrived and it turned out to be a fire inside the oven that was contained. During the fire departments investigation, they also found the stove slightly pulled from the wall that caused a slight gas odor. The fire department extinguished the oven fire and mitigated the slight odor which eventually dissipated. No one was hurt or injured and everything is back to normal.
The 300 block of Oronoco Street is CLOSED this morning in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia for Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) activity. Have reached out to AFD for more information.
TRAFFIC: The 300 block of Oronoco St is closed for a @AlexandriaVAFD incident. APD assisting with road closures. pic.twitter.com/TKRiymulz2
— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) August 23, 2016


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I've really enjoyed having a host site this year. Initially, I thought it would serve as a disadvantage being away from Volunteer Maryland's office and all of my co-workers but honestly I am really grateful for the experience. Not only have I learned how a volunteer center operates and had a chance to assist with projects but I've had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people. Additionally, there have been a lot of perks that come with having a host site . One of the perks is that I have become familiar with the Columbia Association.
The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County is housed inside the Columbia Association building and our office is located more specifically in the Community Services department. Camps, after-school programs, teen clubs and activities, and community events all fall under this jurisdiction.
Working in this office is how I initially learned about the Lakefront Lunchtime Concert Series. Every Wednesday during the summer from 12:00-2:00 PM, anyone is welcome to come enjoy free live musical entertainment. Guests are allowed to bring their own chairs, coolers, or blankets and make an afternoon of it! I personally have the benefit of just walking out my office door and turning left and I have perfect lawn seating and a spectacular view of the show and Lake Kittamaqundi.
For the majority of my service year I haven't really taken lunch breaks with the exception of stressful days during which time I walk over to the mall ( arguably another perk 🙂 ).Usually though, I will eat when I'm on the road or I'll bunker down at my desk and eat while I work. Sometimes when I'm in the middle of something I'd just rather work straight through than stop in the middle and take a break. With that being said, sometimes I really do just need to walk away from my work and get some fresh air. I think this will become increasingly more tempting especially as the warmer weather approaches and my need for some Vitamin D gets stronger.I'm looking forward to spending my Wednesday afternoon lunch breaks out on the grass listening to good music.
If you live in the Howard County area and are looking for free things to do this summer, you may also be interested in CA's Lakefront Summer Festival. During the summer months and through September, CA will be showing movies for free on Friday evenings on the lakefront. There are some great movies in the lineup this season so be sure to check them out!


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Kimichi School
Flexi-friendly secondary school in Birmingham: Open Day 16th January
Our small, home-from-home, friendly school is enrolling now for a January/September 2016 start.
The only specialist Music school in Birmingham
Ofsted – Good in all categories (June 2015)
*Students are on target to attain high levels in almost all subjects.
*Achievement is outstanding in English, history and music because teachers have excellent ways of inspiring students to learn in these subjects.
*Behaviour is good because students and teachers have very high expectations of themselves and set the rules together.
Flexi-schooling appreciated and encouraged.
"Re-thinking education with Music at its heart"


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What is Ads By Media View?
Ads By Media View are the irritating, obnoxious and unreliable online advertisements which you might discover after a browser extension offered at media-view.net is installed onto your Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer browsers. As Anti-Spyware-101.com researchers indicate, this advertisement supported software (adware) is extremely aggressive and can flood the web pages you view with various suspicious advertisements. In fact, Media View can enable up to five different ads on one single page. Needless to say, we recommend that you remove Ads By Media View, and you should be able to do this by getting rid of the unreliable plugin itself. Our spyware researchers have analyzed the threat and have discovered a way to delete it. Continue reading to learn more.
How does Ads By Media View work?
Similarly to Ads by Media Player, Ads By Media View may show up via pop-ups, banners and new tabs. Some of these advertisements could present relatively reliable services and products; however, it is highly likely that some of the displayed offers are misleading and untrustworthy. You certainly should be cautious about any offers to update media players, install other updates or download seemingly familiar software. Note that schemers could use these misleading ads to enable security backdoors and spread malicious applications. Besides the aggressive advertisements, you could also discover hyperlinks hidden behind highlighted text and Bing search tab. We do not recommend trusting any of these elements.
You should delete Ads By Media View related adware from the system right away because it clearly might enable malicious activity. Unfortunately, in most cases Media View is installed onto the computer together with other undesirable and equally as dangerous applications. Therefore, if you have faced the suspicious ads, you should also inspect the operating system for other existing malware.
How to remove Ads By Media View?
Do you want to eliminate any security backdoors which potentially could help infiltrate malware or involve you in scams? Then you should delete Ads By Media View related adware. We advise that you install a legitimate malware scanner first. Click the download button, install the program and run it to find out what undesirable, intrusive applications you need to remove from the system. If the scanner detects various threats, we recommend employing automatic malware detection and removal software to delete them. Otherwise, you can remove Ads By Media View adware using the manual removal guides below. As our researchers have discovered, it is enough to delete the undesirable program from the PC in order to get rid of the plugin installed onto Chrome and IE browsers. If your Mozilla Firefox browser has been affected as well – use the additional removal step below.
Delete the advertisement supported program
Delete from Windows 8:
- Right-click on the Metro UI start menu and select All apps.
- Open the Control Panel menu and click Uninstall a program.
- Right-click the program you wish to remove and then select Uninstall.
Delete from Windows Vista or Windows 7:
- Navigate to the left of the Task Bar, click the Start icon and select Control Panel.
- Now select Uninstall a program and right-click the program you wish to remove.
- Click the Uninstall button to get rid of the undesirable application.
Delete from Windows XP:
- Move to the Task Bar at the bottom of the screen and click Start.
- Open the Control Panel and double-click Add or Remove Programs.
- Select the undesirable program and click Remove.
Delete from Mozilla Firefox:
- Launch Firefox and simultaneously tap keys Ctrl+Shift+A.
- Navigate to the Add-ons Manager menu on the left and click Extensions.
- Locate the undesirable plugin and select Remove/Disable.
Once the manual removal guides are completed – scan the operating system one more time. If adware remains running – use automatic malware removal software to delete it.
tested removal of Ads By Media View*100% FREE spyware scan and


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Sales Spotlights of the Week!
Sales spotlight on 2 successful transactions in Ville-Marie and NDG to top off another productive week! 1215 rue Dorion (above) – listed at 359,000$, and 4881-4883 West Hill ave (below) – listed at 549,900$.
The market is HOT and new inventory is in demand. Now is the time to take action on your real estate moves! I'm always just a phone call away if you have any questions or concerns about your home or the market in general.
Whether you're buying or selling, I'm here to help you achieve your goals
As a real estate broker, my versatility and knowledge when it comes to the market allows me to build trusting and lasting relationships with my clients. My relationship with you is more important than any transaction. Let's keep this streak going!
Want to know more?
Contact me today for more details.


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Bird Cottage by Eva Meijer
English | 2018 | General Fiction | ePUB | 578 KB
A novel based on the life story of a remarkable woman, her lifelong relationship with birds and the joy she drew from it
I want to find out how they behave when they're free.
Len Howard was forty years old when she decided to leave her London life and loves behind, retire to the English countryside and devote the rest of her days to her one true passion: birds.
Moving to a small cottage in Sussex, she wrote two bestselling books, astonishing the world with her observations on the tits, robins, sparrows and other birds that lived nearby, flew freely in and out of her windows, and would even perch on her shoulder as she typed.
This moving novel imagines the story of this remarkable woman's decision to defy society's expectations, and the joy she drew from her extraordinary relationship with the natural world.
Get From SupraFiles Get From CloudyFiles


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Mobile Payment Systems: Will your Smart Phone replace your Wallet?
We have analysed the Mobile Payment Systems market to give you an understanding of the current situation and what it means to you as an Australian credit card user.
When Bankcard put Australia's first mainstream credit card on the market in 1974, cashless payments were the apex of modern technology. At that time, mobile phone payments would have been nothing short of rocket science. Today, we're not just one of the biggest credit card users in the world—we're also at the threshold of another groundbreaking system: mobile payments. Mobile payments are simply a way of paying for your purchases using your cell phone or a similar device. There are several ways to do this: you can load your credit card information onto your phone, use a code on your phone to authorise the payment, or be billed on your cell phone statement. Search engine giant Google has recently released its own mobile payment service, Google Wallet. To many, this is a sign that mobile payment systems are finally taking off, although they've already been in use for a few years. Google Wallet itself has been in the works since 2005. Amazon, PayPal, and Apple is among the other big names to have jumped on the wagon with their Passbook product (more about this below).
Mobile Payment System Offer
How do mobile payment systems work?
The term mobile payment is open-ended; it can include anything that's not tied to a geographic location, including laptops. Juniper Research provides perhaps the most exact definition: payments made using a mobile device such as a cell phone, smartphone, or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). In a 2010 white paper, the company identifies eight different payment systems, although transactions sometimes fall under more than one.
1) Direct to Bill (D2B)
D2B mobile payments are commonly used on e-commerce sites, particularly gaming outfits. When you choose the mobile billing option on a website, you will be asked verify your identity with a PIN and password. Your provider then charges your mobile account for the transaction, and payment becomes due on your next statement. This effectively makes your phone an alternative to your credit or debit card, bypassing the banks and card issuers.
2) Premium-rate SMS (PRSMS)
In a PRSMS scheme, you send a payment request to your provider via SMS, who will then send back the product (usually a digital good such as a ringtone or video, or access to a service like interactive TV). A premium rate is usually charged for the service, meaning it costs more than sending or receiving a regular text message. This is probably why it has slowed down in recent years, especially as cheaper and faster methods came into existence. By 2008, only a few vendors in France and the US were still using PRSMS, according to Portio Research.
3) WAP billing
Mobile web purchases can be made through WAP billing. Like the other two, it lends itself to e-commerce and the sale of digital goods. The payment methods are not necessarily limited to mobile systems, including credit and debit cards. Because it's done over the web, it can accommodate richer media such as games and applications, and usually allows other features such as previews and assurance of delivery. Bango and Netsize are among the most common providers.
4) SMS payments
This works much like PRSMS, but instead of being billed directly, you transfer funds from a mobile wallet or an account linked to your phone line. It can be used with credit and debit cards, as well as stored value accounts. As the name suggests, it uses text messaging to send the request, receive verification of the payment, and exchange service information. Some of the most popular providers are PayPal/eBay, Luup, and Telecom Italia Mobile.
5) Person-to-person (P2P)
Increasingly known as "social money", P2P payments took off and are still the most prevalent in Australia and the Asia Pacific. It basically involves one person transferring funds or goods to another over a mobile network. In less-developed countries like the Philippines, it's commonly used to transfer credits, call minutes, or digital goods such as apps. In Australia, the market tilts more towards traffic-related transactions such as parking metres and toll roads, according to KPMG, an Australian professional service network.
6) Smartphone apps
The next generation of cell phone users will probably have their first taste of mobile payment through smartphone apps. This includes paying for iPhone or BlackBerry apps over a wireless connection, or using your phone to buy electronic train tickets. In Australia, you can use it to buy theatre tickets. So far the technology still requires you to submit credit card information over the network or store it in your phone, such as Visa Australia's planned digital wallet, which can pose security problems.
7) Near-field communication (NFC)
NFC uses the same technology as RFID tags used in store security and packaging. It involves two devices communicating over short distances using radio waves, much like Bluetooth but slower and less energy-consuming. Many handset makers are already planning to integrate NFC into future models, including Apple and RIM (BlackBerry), as well as most Android phones with the unveiling of Google Wallet. In Australia, the technology is in its infancy—the service was trialled by ANZ and Visa only recently.
8) In-store payments
The futuristic scenario of waving your phone at the counter to pay for physical goods probably falls under this category. Mocapay, whose services include marketing and distribution in addition to handling payments, is widely regarded as the industry leader despite being launched only in 2006. The definition of in-store mobile payments may broaden in recent years as NFC and other technologies may soon be adapted in stores as well.Back to top
The mobile wallet app showdown
Thanks to Google and Apple, the smartphone is the first point of call for managing our daily lives. We use them to contact our friends and family, manage our finances and organise our daily routines. When Google announced their mobile wallet app, many thought it and Apple Passbook would be vying for the title of king of mobile wallet apps, but the Apple Passbook isn't the same type of product The Apple Passbook allows you to store your gift cards, loyalty cards, movie tickets and retail coupons. The Google Wallet allows you to do this but also has a payment component, allowing you to buy items online, transfer money to others and even pay for items in some stores using Near Field Communication (NFC).
The Google Wallet
The Google Wallet allows you to link your credit card, debit card or prepaid card to make payments by tapping your smartphone on PayPass terminals at participating outlets. Complete the step by step setup on your phone and you're good to start waving your phone around. This function is currently only available on certain phones in the US. Check the video for a demonstration on how the Google Wallet works. Please note the first 30 seconds can be skipped as this video has an unnecessarily long introduction. Unlike the traditional leather wallet, this is a wallet you can lock. Google Wallet requires you to set up a PIN that must be entered before making any purchases, to prevent unauthorised access or payments. The Google Wallet also encrypts payment information and puts the data on a separate chip called 'Secure Element'.
The Apple Passbook
Flying the flag for Apple is their Passbook App. As mentioned, it organises your travel passes, movie tickets, retail coupons and loyalty cards in one place. You can even check in for a flight and then a hotel, get into a movie or a concert plus, redeem a coupon by simply scanning your iPhone or iPad. Passbook is also integrated to work with Siri, the sassy, virtual personal assistant who makes organising your social life easier by displaying showtime information or finding and making a reservation at the restaurant of your choice, as soon as you say 'book me in for lunch'. Passbook can even alert you to last-minute gate changes or flight delays at the airport.
A Brief History of Mobile Payment Systems
Mobile payments as we know it today were first used in Espoo, a small Finnish town just outside Helsinki, in 1997. Two soda vending machines were fitted with a payment system in which the user sends an SMS message to a number dedicated to the machine, and a confirmation of payment would be sent to the machine along with a command to release the drink. The amount would appear in the user's phone bill. About a year earlier, the Merita Bank of Finland also launched the world's first SMS-based banking service. Later, the first digital content, a ringtone, was sold through a mobile phone by Radiolinja, also in Finland. The technology would quickly spread throughout Europe. Norway is credited with rolling out the first SMS-based payment system for parking meters in 1999, and Austria sold the first train tickets using SMS in 2000, according to Austrian network operator Mobilkom. Mobile marketing consultant Tomi Ahonen, in an article for Bright Side of News, said that he's seen mobile payments being used in developing countries like Brazil and Mexico. The first national mobile payment system came about, interestingly, halfway across the world. Smart Money was a reloadable payment card linked to the user's mobile phone account, introduced in the Philippines in 1999 by telecom company Smart Communications. Around the same time, an internet mobile platform by NTT DoCoMo was also introduced in Japan. The two eventually struck a revenue-sharing deal, with the latter keeping 9% of the profits. Unlike other technologies, m-commerce first gained ground in Asia's developing economies rather than the First World. In some countries this was due to lack of infrastructure for internet and landlines, which made cell phones actually easier to obtain. In others, it was seen as an answer to financial exclusion—people who did not have access to credit or debit accounts could now pay for online purchases, at least locally, using their handsets. It could even help the same people build a credit history, as proposed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2009. Younger users drove much of the market, purchasing movies, games, music, and even clothing. The advent of 3G and 4G technology, which allowed for faster downloads and richer content, pushed m-commerce even further and strengthened its following in the more media-savvy and less price-sensitive West. The iPhone's concept of apps paved the way for the first non-SMS-based transactions and allowed m-commerce to use e-commerce interfaces (i.e. app stores). Mobile banking is also taking off, although not as fast as predicted by Celent in 2007. The IT consultancy expected mobile wallets to be commonplace by 2010, although halfway into 2011 the concept is still in its development stage. In Australia, telecoms are still working on it, promising to bring it into the market by late 2011—although the concept is at least seven years in the making.Back to top
Mobile Payment Systems: Pros and Cons
Mobile payments come with risks and benefits, both of which have been extensively covered in debate over the past few years. Overall, its strengths center on encouraging commerce by making transactions easier, and its weak points are mostly matters of security and customer trust. At the end of the day, it's the big parties—banks, merchants, and card issuers—instead of consumers who will decide whether the pros outweigh the cons. These include:
- Ease of use
The easier it is to use something, the more popular it will be. Electronics retailer Crutchfield proved this when it put up Mobile Express, a two-click PayPal payment option on its website, and promptly saw sales rise 34%.
- No need for bank accounts
In countries where bank access is limited, such as parts of Asia and Africa, mobile payments can drive commerce, according to This Is Money. In richer areas, bypassing the bank means being able to pay faster and no longer having to carry cards or cash around.
- On-the-go access
It's not surprising that transport was one of the first industries to pick up mobile payments. NFC and SMS payments, in particular, eliminate the need for a fixed internet connection, a nearby bank, or a credit card when you need services on the road.
- Timely payments
Service providers such as phone and internet companies can send SMS payment reminders to subscribers, who can then pay the bill immediately. This reduces the risk of bad debt for companies and prevents penalty charges for consumers, making it cheaper for both, according to a white paper by mobile payment firm Paythru.
- Technical limits
Few phones today, if any, have the same computing power as desktops and laptops. There are fewer content options, smaller bandwidth, and generally less of the functionality required for commerce, according to Marc Bowles, an IT professor at the Australian Maritime College.
- Intrusive marketing
Part of Google Wallet's goal is to be able to make marketing part of the buyer experience. The most straightforward way to do this is to place ads on your phone at the store, or at the checkout counter.
- Privacy
Banks, card issuers, merchants, and your mobile carrier may have access to your buying patterns. What can they do with it—and more importantly, what will they do when the information gets leaked? This will call for a reassessment of regulations, which is still being worked out.
- Fraud risk
As more money and delicate information gets transmitted through phone networks, hackers are likely to turn their attention to mobile phones rather than the Internet, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Carrier shortcodes, although relatively safe, can be cloned with existing technology.
Mobile payments in Australia: The Main Players
In Australia, mobile payments were tested as early as 2009, with a team-up between the National Australia Bank and mobile carrier Telstra. Whether Google Wallet will take over remains to be seen, but many other companies have joined in, offering various "flavours" of mobile payment. In the market review by Dynamic Business, an Australian business magazine and blog, they identified the most promising providers to include:
1) Square
Website: https://squareup.com/au One of the founders of this San Francisco start-up is Jack Dorsey, who also founded Twitter. And to no one's surprise, Square is largely modelled after social media. Dorsey's idea is for people to pay for purchases by selecting a store from an app and walking up to the counter, where their purchase information shows up on a store iPad. Subscribers use a card reader that fits into a standard phone jack, essentially turning it into a card terminal. There are no fees for the reader, the app, or the subscription—Square makes its money simply by taking a cut from every transaction made. So far it's not the most retailer-friendly option, but it's one of the most trusted.
2) GoPayment
Website: http://gopayment.com/ Developer Intuit bases its GoPayment system on a card reader that lets Merchant Account holders link the hardware to their Intuit accounts. This will allow them to accept instant credit and debit card payments. Small-scale use is free of charge, but those who process more than £1,000 (about AUD$1,500) per month are strongly advised to upgrade to a $12.95-monthly premium account. One of its strengths is the sync feature, which works with QuickBooks to help merchants keep records in order.
3) Zong
Website: http://www.zong.com/ Zong's main markets are online gaming and social networking. Because users in these fields tend to be younger, the system is designed to allow small payments without having to link to bank accounts. Instead, a user enters his phone number on the website's Zong payment page, and receives a secure PIN via SMS. He then enters the PIN on the website and is billed on his phone account. The platform is well recognised for its ease of use and security. In the year of its launch, it received the Best Practices Award for New Product Innovation for mobile payments from Frost & Sullivan, and was named one of the "Hottest Silicon Valley Companies" by business data provider Lead411.
4) PayPal Mobile
Website: https:https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/credit-card-reader It was only a matter of time before PayPal, the biggest payment processor on the Internet, made its system available on mobile platforms. A simple phone app allows users to make fund transfers and payments, shop online, and manage their accounts out of their handsets. An SMS version is also available for those with older phones. The app works with all operating systems, and on NFC-capable models, supports peer-to-peer transactions as well. All transactions are protected by a PIN or password, so lost or stolen phones shouldn't be a problem. The miniature sized Card Reader gives small business owners the ability to accept credit card payments with their smartphone. Users plug the triangle shaped reader into the headphone jack of their device and open the PayPal app to complete a purchase. Once the card has been swiped, users 'sign' their signature with their finger on the phone's screen and get sent an electronic receipt. The system is fitted with the latest encryption from PayPal and both the reader and app are free. PayPal will take a cut from each transaction but the more you use the device, the greater the concession.
5) PAYware Mobile
Website: http://www.paywaremobile.com/en PAYware Mobile is a small gadget that fits over the iPhone and turns it into a portable card reader, complete with a PIN keyboard. The technology works with credit and debit cards, as well as card-not-present transactions. End-to-end encryption is built into the machine, making it secure for both sellers and buyers. This security makes it ideal even for large-scale businesses. Its developer VeriFone, a manufacturer of POS terminals, has recently teamed up with Micros, a hospitality systems firm, to make NFC technology available in restaurants.
6) Moped
Website: http://up-next.com/ This app is designed to work with a magnetic card reader, offering a completely paperless way to transact (receipts are sent to the user's phone and/or email). This makes it ideal for busy merchants who need a quick way to record transaction information, even when receiving funds from different browsers. Besides sturdy fraud controls meeting rigid industry standards, it also boasts such features as GPS mapping, photo and signature verification, and user data encryption.
7) iPay POS
Website: http://www.ipaypos.com/ iPay is the flagship project of Rapadev, a start-up software publisher. It is designed as a complete mobile payments suite, working with POS systems, multiple gateways and a wide range of card readers. The program is built to accept multiple currencies, reduce input errors and create professional-looking documentation (including transaction logs, GPS tags, and email receipts), making it a favourite among small businesses and online start-ups.
8 ) Swipe
Website: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/swipe-credit-card-terminal/id309329440?mt=8 This app is available for $0.99 on the iTunes website and comes with a free card swiper that attaches to your iPhone or iPod touch. Once attached, it allows the phone to be used as a payment terminal, along with advanced fraud protection and signature capture to boost customer confidence. In the small businesses market, it's probably the closest competitor to iPay, as they offer much of the same features and the same level of security.Back to top
Market barriers
Experts in the early 2000s were confident that mobile phones would eventually replace credit cards, but 14 years hence, the progress is disappointing. To be sure, they've come leaps and bounds from the soda machine in Espoo—but in most countries they've hardly caught up to credit cards, much less drive them away. In Australia, NFC providers including Google Wallet are even opting out because the market isn't big enough. Matt Krautstrunk, a contributor at business leads provider Resource Nation, believes a truly mobile-dominated market is at least two years away. In an article for Mobile Marketing Watch, he identifies three main barriers to the uptake of m-commerce, particularly NFC technology: retailer cooperation, mobile carriers, and credit card companies.
1) Retailer and card issuer cooperation
Retailers may not be willing enough to join the shift to NFC payments, especially when it means working with smaller companies such as Discover. Although several partnerships have been made, companies' efforts are still all over the place. For NFC to be adopted on a large scale, Krautstrunk says, it's the bigger card issuers such as Mastercard, American Express, and Visa who should link arms with retailers. But the costs of adopting the technology, from the purchase and installation of the hardware and paying for maintenance, is simply impractical when the returns are still unclear. Krautstrunk calls retailers the "biggest wild card" in the m-commerce game; among all the players, their actions are the trickiest to predict and control.
2) Carrier competition
Much like credit cards pairing up with airlines to offer travel rewards, mobile carriers are choosing their own "partners" in the pool of credit card companies. This Bloomberg article shows just how fragmented the efforts still are. This is probably to be expected as regulations have yet to be put in place, but it's far from ideal, according to Krautstrunk. It is turning NFC into a proprietary technology, limiting access only to certain groups (e.g. only T-Mobile subscribers). This can turn off retailers even more, as partnering with credit card companies will be even less profitable.
3) Credit card companies
Perhaps the biggest barrier to the market entry of mobile payments is the clout of credit card issuers. It will take much more than a few partnerships, even among big retailers, for a new payment system to overthrow Visa and Mastercard. The barrier is "almost insurmountable," said Aaron McPherson, director at IDC Financial Insights, in an interview with Wired.com last year. Few retailers would turn away Visa and Mastercard customers to make way for the relatively small market of NFC users. Visa's recent partnership with Bank of America to build credit card functionality into SIM cards, as well as a similar trial with ANZ in Australia, might make a dent in the barrier, but even that may take some time. Another roadblock is the fight for control over NFC between banks and mobile carriers, according to business magazine publisher Banktech. Most major banks and card issuers are testing or already using the In2Pay microSD chip made by DeviceFidelity, a Texas-based developer. The chip, which works on most mobile operating systems, contains users' financial data and is distributed by the banks, much like credit and debit cards. This worked well for the banks, as they continued to play a key role in the payment system. But telecom providers want their share of the pie as well. At the outset, these companies thought they would continue to control the SIM cards—the removable chip inside the phone that contains subscriber information—and therefore call the shots in NFC as well. This monopoly later turned out to be false: an open-source version, OpenNFC, could make the technology available to third parties through "virtual cards," and thus make it independent of providers. Banktech cites another concern, probably a bigger one: security. More specifically, the problem is getting consumers to trust telecoms with their credit card information. Mobio Identity Systems of Vancouver, Canada surveyed 1,085 North American customers and found that while most of them were interested in mobile payments, almost three-quarters of them said security concerns would probably hold them back. The same is the case in Australia, where contactless systems such as Visa's PayWave and Mastercard's PayPass still face consumer confidence issues. There's no doubt that security issues will be addressed in the near future, but the more important question is whether users are willing to trust telecom companies—especially after such fiascos as the Sony PlayStation and Amazon hacks.Back to top
Legal issues
Hours after Google Wallet was announced, PayPal and eBay slapped Google with a lawsuit alleging that the latter stole trade secrets from its mobile payments arm. According to PayPal, Osama Bedier, one of its former employees, "misappropriated trade secrets" when he was hired by Google and assigned to the company's mobile payments unit earlier this year. He had also allegedly tried to "poach" other PayPal employees by getting them to switch over to Google. Fifty other parties were named in the lawsuit, including Stephanie Tilenius, also a former PayPal exec. The lawsuit, which was filed in a Santa Clara court, explained that prior to working for Google, Bedier had taken part in negotiations to make PayPal payment available to app purchases on Google's Android phones. He was allegedly in talks for a job at Google at the same time. Tilenius, who led the launch of Google Wallet and reportedly recruited Bedier, is being accused of violating contractual terms with eBay. Google isn't new to such controversies; just recently, it was ordered to pay $5 million in damages to Bedrock Computer Technologies for having used its Linux kernel in its Android operating system. This time, however, the stakes are high. Google Checkout, a similar system launched five years ago, didn't pose much of a threat in its time. With Google Wallet, the search giant would be able to roll phones, banks, and retailers into one giant sales mechanism, according to The Globe and Mail. This role is crucial to the future of commerce—and naturally, PayPal and others want in.Back to top
Potential threats
The ability to leapfrog bank transfers can make m-commerce an ideal medium for illegal smuggling and money laundering. The U.S. Department of State voiced these concerns back in 2008. Now that the technology is picking up pace, and that mobile phone use is even more widespread, the threat is even more prominent. In a typical scenario, one party transfers cash to a receiver's electronic wallet through a remittance centre, usually for a small fee. A notice of transfer is sent to the receiver's phone via SMS. The receiver can then withdraw the money at a licensed outlet, or use it to shop directly at stores and restaurants. While the use can be entirely innocent—migrant workers can send money to their families back home, for example—it also lends itself well to payments for illegal goods, or even for terrorist acts. Most developed countries have yet to set regulations on the use of mobile payments. This includes Australia, which is surprising considering the country has more mobile phones than people. We're behind normally less proactive countries like the Philippines, which is one of the first to regulate mobile payments on a national scale.Back to top
Staying safe
The level of protection you have can depend on the account you link to your phone. According to a report by Defend Your Dollars, a publication of Consumers Union,credit cards have the most protections in place. Credit card users are only liable for up to $50 in case of mobile payment fraud. Debit cards and savings accounts offer a little less protection and can hold you accountable for up to $500. Prepaid cards and phone bills have the least security, although this depends on your state laws and the issuer's own policies. Bill Gajda, head of mobile payments at Visa, says that consumer education should be part of the package when mobile payments go mainstream. Banks, merchants, and mobile carriers will need to put up their defences too, but as the technology is in its early stages, consumers should take it into their own hands. In an article for Pymnts.com, a mobile payments journal, he offers the following advice:
- Use passwords - Use whatever security features your phone can offer—set a password, choose a security question, or activate voice or signature recognition if it's supported. Keep the passwords in your head; never store them in your phone.
- Maintain privacy - Do not share personal information, such as bank details, with any party especially if they approached you first. Call your carrier or card issuer to confirm if something looks suspicious.
- Check shortcodes - Mobile carrier shortcodes create a false sense of security. Always take the time to check if incoming messages come from a trusted number.
- Download with care - Before downloading apps or software, make sure the source is trustworthy. Look up the developer's name online and read user reviews.
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An outstanding share! I've just forwarded this onto a friend who was conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast simply because I discovered it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending some time to talk about this matter here on your site.
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Isn't it a shame that when you write a blog some of your best posts slip away into obscurity. (Then, of course, there are the posts that truly should slip away into obscurity, but that's a different story.)
Anyway, this week I was feeling a little nostalgic, and maybe a little lazy as well, and decided to rerun some of my favorite posts from the last year or so. If you missed the originals, I hope you'll find something amusing or something informative in these selections.
1. 25 Strategies for Smashing Through Writer's Block. No, I'm not going to take the time to argue about whether there is any such thing as writer's block. Whatever we want to call it, most of us have had times when we're simply stuck, and these tips can help.
2. Freelance Writers: 7 Tips for Caring for Your Hands, Wrists, and Arms. We may not be professional athletes, but we still rely on our bodies to make a living. If you aren't already, start treating those hands with kid gloves.
3. Dear Debra - A Letter to My Sixteen Year Old Self. My personal favorite blog posts. I just wish someone really had been around when I was 16 to give me that advice!
4. What Being an ER Social Worker Taught Me About Writing. I spent four years working in one of the city's toughest emergency rooms from 4:00 p.m. to midnight. And believe it or not, my experiences there taught me a lot about writing.
5. Three Outrageous Ideas to Jump Start Stalled Fiction. When all else fails, it's time to get drastic!
6. What's Love Got to Do with It? Doing What You Need When It's Not What You Want. Even if you love being a writer, there are probably a lot of tasks you could do without me. (For me, that would be bookkeeping and marketing.) But, since they've got to be done, this article can help you get motivated.
7. "Hospice Tails" Wins Praise from Hospice Pioneer. I was absolutely head-over-heels thrilled when Barbara Karnes liked my non-fiction book about hospice patients and their pets. Her kindness still makes me smile.
8. What Is My %$^&# Password? Don't even try to tell me this has never happened to you.
9. Time Management for the One-Person Business. I hate time management books that spend four or five chapters telling me how to delegate. Who am I supposed to delegate to? My cats?
10. When Did You Last Update Your Profiles? I took a look at mine, and they were pretty disgraceful, plus they left out recent work that could help me land key clients. Yikes.
11. The Mysterious Muse - And Why She's Not Important as She Thinks She Is. Do you feel like you have to wait for your muse to come wafting by before you put pen to paper. Not a chance!
12. Honest But Kind. I learned this principle from my first editing client years ago, and when I start a new editing job now, I always keep it in the forefront of my mind.
I hope you've enjoyed my favorite posts from the last eighteen months or so. We'll see what the next eighteen months brings.
What are some of your favorite posts from your blog?


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A small park that I built in the Discord server RollerCoasters And Friends for the Autumn Challenge contest.
My main source of inspiration is a place named Mont-Tremblant, a town in Canada that is well know for its touristic appeal. This place is very appreciated for its ski center, the shops, the hotels, its golf course, etc.
However, I decided to remake that place as a small park, with a small village with shops and rides, a boat ride and a car ride and, most importantly, a mountain with the main feature of the park, its alpine coaster. Everything in an autumn environment.
The original file contains Wacky World/Time Twister expansion objects. This one has every of those object removed or replaced so you still can open it without the expansions. The park file is in a .zip file due to the size that exceeds the limit.
I hope you like it! :D
4 comments
Skylander Katfish
The fast that there's no custom scenery is great!! I try doing my downloads on normal rct2 standards, for other players that don't have openrct2. More of this please!!
Nice park and nice french's title 😉😉
Sky, a big part of the park like the roofs, the path, the quai and the trees are custom scenery. If you look carefully, you will notice they are custom and this is not vanilla RCT2 at all.
Not bad, supra!


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The story of our health
A month after school starts, first year students at Harvard Medical School are thrust into the very best medical classrooms: the patient wards. There we learn that before we understand medicine, we must first learn to uncover stories. These stories are just as powerful as exams and lab tests in addressing the patient's health.
Take for example Mr. S, a 52-year-old Bostonian. He talked about severe, acute hip pain, a result of an infection. The pain forced him to use crutches. His skin was yellow, his face sallow.
He immediately denied having HIV/AIDS. He mentioned drugs I did not know at the time: Harvoni, for example, which evoked innocent memories of "Haribo" gummy bears instead of hepatitis medication. A bit of social history: He hadn't held a job in years, and lived with his mom, his primary support system. I dug deeper and his story began to take shape.
Drug use: He admitted to using heroin, and had stopped only six months prior. When he started? At 19.
I asked naively, "How often did you use?"
His response: "It's heroin, so every day."
He described his constellation of ailments. "It was overwhelming."
Mr. S probed the link between his hip infection and his drug use. He wondered if he should blame himself for his pain. The clinical picture gave his questions more sense: Joint infections can result from dirty needles used to inject drugs.
Mr. S was evidently struggling, medically and otherwise. He said he "got lucky" in receiving Harvoni, suggesting socioeconomic stress: He wouldn't have been able to afford the drug if not for his insurance. His reasons for getting into heroin: His friends were doing it, he tried once, and was hooked. His unemployment and drug use were locked in a dangerous spiral.
Was his self-blame warranted? Or was his suffering the fault of his environment? How much was his poor health associated with the social forces that shaped his actions?
Mr. S's emaciation reminded me of a patient I met some months before school while shadowing at a hospital in Manila. Mrs. L could barely speak, a stroke having impaired her speech some years before. Writhing, she gestured toward her mouth, asking for food. The physician explained that she was fasting while waiting for surgery—a total foot amputation was in order. Why? Her foot was consumed by necrosis, a complication worsened by her uncontrolled diabetes. The physician unwrapped her foot: It was black like charcoal, starved of oxygen and prey to infection.
Mrs. L never made it to the operating room. Unlike Mr. S, she was not as "lucky."
But what killed Mrs. L? Was it truly her infection, or was it, again, a mélange of social forces? She probably was unaware of the medical urgency of advancing necrosis. She probably lived far from a clinic. She probably delayed seeking care to avoid dipping into family savings. I could only guess at her story, but figured this much: Like Mr. S, she, too, had been locked in a dangerous spiral.
One questions what a slew of life experiences both good and bad does to the human spirit. How does our biology respond, and how do we respond to our biology? How separate are "we" and "our biology"? How much are our actions—and their consequences—truly our own?
A growing body of scientific evidence studies the means in which life experiences are recorded biologically. Epigenetics analyzes changes in gene expression levels that are mediated by modifications in DNA structure but not in basic sequence. Changes in our brain wiring have been postulated as a link between lived experiences and behavior. These modifications are both inherited and acquired throughout the life of the organism and affect an individual's biochemistry and behavior. They are a biological retelling of our stories.
Each person gathers data through experience, processes and interprets them, and shares stories. These stories are not so different from our medical stories, even those outside the medically esoteric: scars that tell of previous conflicts, elevated blood sugar levels that narrate earlier comedies, cancers that signal our genetic tragedies. The social merges with the biological.
These patients' stories show that health is only partially in our control. We live with the consequences of both our actions and the actions the world takes on us—a unique drama that plays out on a biological stage. These social forces, tied with our inherent and individual biology, tell the story of our health.
Edward Christopher Dee, 24, a product of Xavier School and Yale University, is a first year med student at Harvard Medical School.
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Have you ever wondered where maracas come from, our how they're made? Or, why they seem to be such an integral part of Latin music? I brought my first set home from Mexico nearly 50 years ago, and they've been an integral part of our family making "joyful noises" ever since, charming the children and grand kids from youngest years because they are like giant rattles!Without even thinking about it, I've taken them for granted and subconsciously assumed they were carved from wood or made from plastic. It wasn't until we were in the tropical rain forests of Costa Rica last January
that I learned the story of maracas. Maracas are really made out of the fruit of the Crescentia tree (calabash tree), and they are common throughout southern Mexico, Central, and South America.Crescentia trees can grow in the tropical wild up to 35 feet tall
(although this one, at the Hotel Villa Lapas, is a young garden cultivar).The fruits, known as calabashes, are full of soft, pulpy material which is used for treating respiratory problems, but the hard, thin shells have several uses: as scoops, containers, and happiest of all—as musical instruments!Typically, a wooden handle is inserted into the base of the mature, dried calabash, and the seeds are left inside to rattle!I'm always inspired both by the creativity of God and the ingenuity of man.It makes me stop to ponder:
*What am I really made out of?
*Are there even more ways that I can creatively serve God and man?Thank you, Lord, for ripening us, plucking us, plugging up the holes in our lives, painting us, and allowing us to become instruments of service and joyful praise!"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
"With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord,
the King" (Psalm 98:6 . . . and don't forget the maracas!)