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During the weekend of May 4, 2019, the APS National Executive Committee proceeded to one of the two yearly mandatory face-to-face meetings it has to hold in opposition to the usual teleconference meetings used by the group. The By-laws of the Association provide for this format with the other face-to-face meeting is invariably held during the APS National Council in autumn. The National Executive has determined that this year's Council will be held in Montreal during the weekend of November 2, 2019.
With a fully loaded agenda, the Executive dealt mainly with activity reports from the various committees operating in the APS universe as well as personnel replacements.
At the head of the latter topic came the departure of Marcel Arsenault, the long-standing Director of the Eastern Region for APS. As with his predecessor, Donald Leblanc, Marcel was the victim of a job suppression in Moncton after almost 30 years of service with the CBC. APS is thus losing a powerful and respected voice always representing with passion the interests of our members in the Maritimes as well as those of the membership at large. In that capacity, Marcel was at the head of the National Health and Safety Committee for APS.
Marcel's mandate for representation was terminating this year, hence the need to appoint an interim replacement. To this end, the Executive appointed Pascal Baczyk from Moncton to complete the mandate as Regional Director for the East until its conclusion on November 3, 2019, before the commencement of a new two-year mandate. Pascal is a Financial Analyst who attended the Montreal meeting to meet the requirements of the replacement. This is how the members of the Committee came to discover a new recruit qualified to fulfill a difficult mandate as well as bringing a new breath of youth to the organization.
This autumn will also mark the start of the two-year mandates for the Regional Directors; the Ottawa Regional Director, filled in the interim by Anne-Marie Roy who replaced Daniel Lavigne as well as David MacFarlane, West Region Director.
To replace Marcel on the National Health and Safety Committee, the Executive appointed David MacFarlane, the Director representing the West who will be adding a new charge to his workload as he is already heading the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) as the APS representative. However, David sees the two roles as complementary as they are both related. In the two cases, prevention is at the heart of the mandates and both concern the health and the wellbeing of employees. Nathan Farr, the Toronto President, will continue to occupy the other APS seat at that National Health and Security Committee.
The Executive also welcomed the arrival of Sébastien Fleurant at the National level. Sebastien came in as the second appointment from the Montreal Local following the election of Isabelle Benoit as the National Treasurer. Sébastien who also sits at the Montreal Workforce Adjustment Committee entered the assembly in full force by contributing to many discussions during the weekend.
Finally, as far as first events were concerned, the meeting was hearing for the first time the investment progress report instituted by the adoption of our new Investment Policy in November 2017. This new procedure covers the return on investments made by the Association. Isabelle Benoit as National Treasurer reports to the National Executive Committee to show individual returns for each investment fund. Isabelle confirmed the coming of age of the new investment strategy with higher returns on investments while preserving capital certified under guarantees.
At the level of future courses of actions for APS, the committee looked at the necessity to intervene with members to underline the failures of the corporation's compensation policies. Since last year many interventions were made with management to attempt to correct inequities without any success. Pending last-minute interventions to bring changes to this year's upcoming salary reviews, APS will launch an information campaign for all of its members.
The expiration of our existing collective agreement was also a topic of heated discussions. The date of expiration for the agreement is on March 31, 2020. There is a provision for automatic renewal that the parties have accepted to include in the duration clause of the agreement. To escape that possibility APS has to file a written notice to that effect six months before expiry, which places us in autumn 2019. Without adopting a formal resolution, the Executive Committee has debated possibilities very well aware of the consequences. Discussions with the employer will, therefore, be undertaken in the very near future.
The next face-to-face meeting of the Executive will, therefore, be held on Sunday, November 3, 2019.
This year's National Council was held on the weekend of November 3, 2018, at the Toronto CBC Broadcast Centre.
This annual meeting serves as a forum for the Association's orientation and is also as a reference point for an update on the activities which took place during the year coming to a close. As a matter of fact, the APS timeline chart brings to understand why this major event leads to the beginning of November as the end of our annual cycle.
Why in November?
The Association's fiscal year ends on June 30 of each year. As of that date, our By-Laws provides a schedule to plan out all the series of events closing with the National Council meeting in November. The call for applications are submitted in August, the publication of the financial statements at the end of September and the Members' Annual General Assembly in November. These events are structured around the end of our fiscal year.
As first obligation ensuing from the end of the fiscal year is the production of the Association's financial statements. This process consists in transmitting the Association's financial data to the external auditors who are given a deadline of 60 business days to submit the statement of income results. However, it is in August or after the end of the fiscal year that the nominations are launched for the positions to be filled in the organization. The duration of this period extends to 10 business days. All the APS positions entail two-year terms. Alternating every two years, we have a Notice of Election for the National President, the National Secretary and the National Treasurer and the other year the regional directors' positions. The local elections in Toronto and Montreal are covered in the same year as the regional officers.
The elections are supervised by way of the Office of the APS National Secretariat, via an electronic procedure by using the services of an external firm specialized in the organization of ballots. This year we asked to withdraw the obligation to proceed by electronic vote for the selection of the firm of external auditors since the positions are filled by acclamation most frequently. In these circumstances, the appeal to the national vote to confirm the appointment of the external auditors turns out in a costly expenditure only to confirm a decision already adopted by the National Executive Committee. In regard to the local votes, the elections to fill the positions of Montreal and Toronto Officers are held before September 7, at the annual meetings of each local organization.
Although there is no target date for the voting process with the participating members, the consultations are done in October so that the results are unveiled during the Members' Annual General Assembly at the beginning of November. The sequence of the activities stems from provisions in Article 10.05 of the By-Laws which sets a term of 15 business days after the audited financial statements approved by the National Officers, to communicate to the members the date and the information relative to the National Council meeting and the Members' Annual General Assembly.
The Content of the National Council
Along the years, the National Council agendas steadied around the reports delivered by the main actors of the organization. There was a time when these meetings revolved around joint discussions or in the presence of guest speakers. But with the increase of various committees and complexity of the workloads, the councils of today serve especially to shed light on the union's actions carried out through the course of the year coming to an end.
This year, the beginning of the session starred the officers responsible for the several regions of the country who reported the activities and locally real-life concerns. Marcel Arsenault's absence on a work mission in Iqaluit prevented us from receiving news from Eastern Canada, but all the other regional officials provided their activity reports.
For Montreal – Stéphane Désautels, President
For Toronto – Nathan Farr, President
For Ottawa – Daniel Lavigne, Director
For Western Region – David MacFarlane, Director
The meeting followed with the activity reports from the National Treasurer and the National Secretary.
Yves Ledoux drafted a final broad outline of his mandate as National Treasurer during the last two years by presenting an overview of the new investment policy he implemented, the reduction in telecom, licenses and maintenance fees. He also pointed that he centralized the billing system.
Dominique Barrette also presented her last membership presentation outlining the fluctuations to the end of the year.
The officers responsible for their specialized committee also gave an overview of their activities:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from David MacFarlane
National Health and Safety from Nathan Farr
Website status from Jennifer Barrett
At the core of the various activities' reports are the ones from the National President, Mario Poudrier and the General Manager, Claude Beausoleil.
The first one announced we had a very busy year including the renewal of a ten-year agreement on the 0.1% contributions per employee for the increases in expenses of the social benefits and mentioned the numerous litigation before the courts. The General Manager provided a general profile of the many grievances settled throughout the year as well as those which are still active. He also announced a new plaint for the claims of a large majority of the APS membership from the SCRC (FNC-CSN) and from the Guild (Canadian Media Guild) before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).
During the Council's deliberations, the delegates intervene as they please as much for the questions as for the suggestions. For example, changes were brought to the website structure resulting in important savings. It is also there that originated the consultation with the members to poll the perception of the individuals towards their union through a perception survey.
As usual, President Mario Poudrier led the proceedings so that the day would end as scheduled at 17:00 sharp. It is definitely a great improvement on past meetings that dwelled into the evening or worse until the next morning.
Daniel Lavigne
Calum McLeod
The APS By-Laws provide the obligation to hold two face-to-face National Executive Committee meetings each year. This is the reason that the Sunday following the National Council is always used to fulfill half of that obligation. The other Executive meetings are held through telephone conferences.
It was on Sunday, November 4, that President Mario Poudrier declared the opening of the meeting regrouping some ten members of the Executive. As he has done now for many years, Mario enlarged the attendance by inviting all participating members of the National Council held the day before to join in as observers.
Two major decisions were on the agenda; the replacements Dominique Barrette and Isabelle Benoit. The first one was due to Dominique's departure from CBC and the second due to the election for the position of National Treasurer. Dominique had been elected to the position of National Secretary by acclamation in mid-August causing the National Executive to appoint a successor to replace her. Daniel Lavigne, the Ottawa Regional Director, got the nod from the executive to replace Dominique. On a practical side, the nomination made sense because of the physical proximity involved. One of the major responsibilities of the National Secretary is representation duties on the CCSB (Consultative Committee on Social Benefits). That Committee is established in Ottawa where it holds all of its meetings, therefore eliminating travelling expenses for Daniel's attendance. But there is much more to Daniel's appointment. That nomination promotes him to the second-highest level of authority in APS. Among others, the National Secretary has the responsibility to replace the President in case of absence.
For Isabelle, the situation was more complex. She was sitting on the Executive as the second representative of the Montreal local Branch. In such capacity, she was representing members from outside Montreal, in the rest of Quebec. Each of the two largest branches, Montreal and Toronto are allowed two representatives on the National Executive. Those nominations originate from the local executive levels. The replacement, therefore, will be coming out of a decision made by the Montreal Local Executive according to the By-Laws. But Isabelle was also sitting as a member of the Investment Committee which is the responsibility of the National Executive Committee. For that strategic nomination, the Executive Committee chose Calum McLeod from Toronto. Calum comes to us with a solid background in finance having held similar positions with another union of the CBC. He is also the one representing us on the Pension Fund Board as one of the only two union representatives sitting that committee. Calum will then become part of our team for CCSB dealings along with Mario and Daniel for the APS team.
Outstanding issues remain to be settled: the replacement of Isabelle Benoit as the second Montreal member of the National Executive Committee to be decided by the Montreal Branch. Also, the replacement of Daniel Lavigne as Director for the Ottawa Region, by an interim mandate will be decided by the National Executive. APS Regional Directors are elected on two-year mandates; besides Ottawa, the other Regional Directors represent the Eastern and Western parts of the country. When a vacancy occurs, the interim nomination stands until the end of the mandate which will be in 2019 in this case.
In closing then, the National Executive is pleased to announce the arrival of those two new players in their respective new roles; Daniel Lavigne from Ottawa and Calum McLeod from Toronto.
This year's National Council held in Toronto on the weekend of November 3 marked an important changing of the guard at the top of the APS pyramid of power.
On one side there was the opening left for the position of National Treasurer as a result of Yves Ledoux's retirement from CBC after a long and productive career while the other was the opening for the position of National Secretary as the result of a career change on the part of Dominique Barrette.
For the National Treasurer's position, the replacement was organized through the voting process which resulted in the election of Isabelle Benoit as our new Treasurer. For the National Secretary's position, we had to rely on the Association's By-Laws due to Dominique's resignation date. Dominique was selected for her new job outside the Corporation in September, after her election to the National Secretary's position. In such a situation, our rules provide for the nomination of an interim replacement by the National Executive to complete the mandate. Daniel Lavigne, also from Ottawa was designated as Dominique's interim successor at the National Executive Committee Meeting at the Broadcast Centre in Toronto, on November 4, 2018.
In both cases, the APS family was losing officers that had left their mark in their respective functions.
In the case of Yves, the commitment was a long-standing affair dating from the very beginning of APS. He had been recruited by the very first APS National Secretary, Marc Lapierre while both of them were working at the ex-Engineering CBC Headquarters in Côte-Saint Luc. Yves' union career evolved at all the levels of the organization. Starting as a participating member, he reached the local executive level as a Director for the Montreal Branch followed by National level responsibilities as National Secretary and then as National Treasurer.
He is retiring by leaving us with the legacy of our new Investment Policy which will give us access to higher returns on interests while preserving as always the integrity of our capital assets
As for Dominique, she is leaving with much shorter seniority standing but still with a sound legacy. She reorganized our membership monitoring system to provide stronger fluctuation control and mainly, a user-friendly monthly report system opening up easy access to all.
Dominique was the one who also launched our very first feedback survey system to measure the members' perceptions toward their union (Perception Survey). Her involvement with APS was the spark leading her to a career switch in favour of union work.
Thus two departures saluted warmly by all those who attended this year's National Council. The weekend also marked the ultimate attendance of Jeff Gardiner at an APS National Council. On top of his unfailing presence through the years, Jeff is also leaving us with a record which will prove hard to beat for distance travelled as our delegate from Yellowknife.
The best for your retirement Jeff !
This year the Annual General Assembly of Members was held at the Toronto Broadcast Centre in the heart of Ontario's capital. More precisely, it started promptly at nine AM on Sunday, November 4, 2018, because of the procedure tied to the electronic voting arrangements. The two Election Officers responsible for the disclosure of the results represented respectively the English and the French Networks. They were the ones connecting to access the results and afterward unveiling them to the General Assembly. David MacFarlane from Edmonton was representing the English Network while Sébastien Fleurant was officiating for the French Network. Sébastien was replacing Marcel Arsenault, the original nominee who could not attend. Marcel had to be excused because of a work assignment in Iqaluit.
Three different votes were submitted to the 407 voting members of APS. The participation rate for the election was recorded at 45.45%, a percentage slightly higher than the ones recorded in previous years.
For the position of National Treasurer of the Association the winner is Isabelle Benoit from Montreal, a clear choice with an impressive 55.68% of the votes (103 votes). In order, the two other candidates Jerry Ding and Gary Gornik respectively received 29.19% and 15.14% of the votes. Members attending the event were enthusiastic in congratulating the winner. The President Mario Poudrier also congratulated the other candidates while saluting the presence of Jerry Ding and extended his invitation to continue participating in the association as a valued member of the Investment Committee.
The Other Votes
Two other votes were submitted to members: the nomination of external auditors and the abrogation of the compulsory national consultation for the nomination of those auditors.
The proposal from the National Executive Committee to appoint the accounting firm Désormeaux Patenaude Inc. to produce the financial statements for the fiscal year 2018-2019 was accepted with a 77.84% approval rate (144 votes).
However the vote to abandon a national election for the selection of the auditors did not reach the standard affixed in our national By-Laws. To authorize a change in the By-Laws a minimum of 66% of the votes recorded at the election has to be reached. In this consultation only 57.30% of voters (106 votes) opted to support the proposal to eliminate the national vote for the nomination of external auditors; in other words, less than 10% of the requirement. However strict opposition to the proposal was not that strong with only 32 members (17.30%) actually voting against the measure. The failure to reach the mark was caused by the large number of 47 abstentions (25.41%). Grounds for reflection as this result means we will again hold a national vote next year for the nomination of external auditors.
In order to provide members the opportunity to know the candidates seeking election for the positions to be filled on the October 22 vote, APS offered each one the opportunity to use our Website to deliver a message of their choice.
Guidelines were sent to each candidate to ensure a fair and equal process. Also the individual messages are to be made available to the voters by the company responsible for the electronic consultation.
The following presentations are made by each of the candidates running for an election to be conducted from Monday, October 22 to Sunday, October 28, 2018, inclusive, with the voting members of APS. Three candidates are seeking election for the position of National Treasurer: Isabelle Benoit from Montreal, Jerry Ding, from Edmonton and Gary Gornik from Toronto.
My name is Gary Gornik and I am running for the position of National Treasurer for APS. I decided to volunteer my services to APS and its members in the best way I thought possible.
I have been with the CBC for 28 years and 20 of those years have been dedicated to the Engineering Department (MTIS). My present position is as Senior Systems Designer / Senior Project Lead, which involves the management and tracking of millions of dollars amongst a variety of projects and responsibilities.
I have also been a member of the Kinsmen and Kinette Clubs of Canada as a volunteer for 25 years. During that time, I held the position of District Treasurer for two years and Club Treasurer for 12 years. With this experience, I have acquired the knowledge and skills to account for every dollar and, given the chance, I would be honored to share this with you.
While usually known as a background role, the position as Treasurer, for me, is of the utmost importance for an effective operation of any establishment or organization. I understand that detail and accuracy are critical in this role and I demand nothing less. I have the ability and the means to perform the duties as National Treasurer and I am eager to do so, given the opportunity.
While this simple introduction may make it difficult for you to choose between myself and the other candidates, it is still important that you make the right choice.
So, when you take the time to vote, I am requesting that you vote for me. I will not disappoint you.
Many thanks,
Gary Gornik
Fellow APS members,
My name is Jerry Ding and I am offering my service to APS as the National Treasurer.
I was trained as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with specializations in Corporate Finance and Internal Audit in 2013, and later obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Alberta specializing in business strategies, financial management and investments.
I joined APS and CBC/Radio-Canada in 2015 and, since then, have been managing accounting, reporting and budgets for CBC Edmonton in a financial controller's capacity. I provide professional advice to members of APS, CMG and Management to ensure policy adherence, budget compliance, and financial accountability.
I am a member of the APS Investment Committee. In the past year, I worked with the incumbent National Treasurer and other committee members in evaluating and recommending investment opportunities for APS assets, aiming at maximizing overall rates of returns while protecting investment principals. I also participated in the 2017 APS National Council and General Assembly in Montreal as an observer and advisor.
According to the APS By-laws, the National Treasurer is an important and specialized position that is tasked with a host of professional accounting duties including:
- Ensure preparation and submission of audited financial statements
- Coordinate and respond to external auditors' requests
- Safeguard and invest union assets
- Review travel and expense claims
- Ensure policy and by-law adherence
These tasks require specialized knowledge and training, and call for a candidate with thorough knowledge of accounting, auditing, investment and financial management, and a candidate with honesty, integrity and unbiased judgment in order to protect the interest of the members.
If elected, I will commit myself to improving the union's operation and promoting financial transparency through:
- Quarterly easy-to-understand financial updates to members through website postings
- Timely publication and interpretation of annual financial statements and auditor's report
- Disclosure to members of all significant union travel and expense claims
I would make myself available to members, and respond to your questions, concerns, or suggestions whenever needed.
Thank you for your kind consideration.
Jerry Ding
Hello to you!
My name is Isabelle Benoit, thank you for taking the time to read my story!
I have been working at CBC/Radio-Canada for 24 years. I am a TV Technical Producer for variety shows, but I have also worked on news and drama programs in the past.
I have been involved in the APS Executive Committee for over 11 years, first as a local director in Montreal, then as regional director for Quebec. I am proud to represent you at the highest level of decision-making in our association, the National Executive Committee. I was also part of the Bargaining Committee and I helped in the creation of our new investment policy by serving as a full member of the Committee responsible for the conception of this policy.
I am now seeking the position of National Treasurer that I have come to know well by working closely with our current treasurer, Yves Ledoux, in setting up an investment strategy that brings a higher growth rate for our savings while preserving the capital. An initiative that is likely to bring us more wealth in the future.
By participating in the recent negotiations between APS and CBC/Radio-Canada management, I have the necessary experience to know from within the structuring of collective agreements and relations with senior management.
I speak French and English and those who know me will acknowledge how rigorous and honest I am. I want to continue serving our members and I would like to get more involved in the core of APS by becoming the National Treasurer.
Thank you for your support!
Isabelle Benoit
National Council
This year, Toronto will host the APS National Council. During the week-end of November 3, at the CBC Broadcast Centre. Delegates from the different regions of the country will meet to decide on the orientations of the association as well as learning about the various work activities in the life of the union. The President, the National Secretary, the Treasurer as well as the General Manager will provide accounts of the outputs from their respective areas of concern while delegates will inform the assembly of their preoccupations and realities in the regional Round table event.
Members in good standing wishing to attend may contact their local APS officers to obtain the status of delegate. Our By-Laws provide the possibility to nominate one delegate per share of 50 members. Members in good standing residing in the location of the National Council can also attend as observers. Maria Gaglione, APS Coordinator, is responsible for overseeing the operation.
Members' Annual General Assembly
The day after the National Council, Sunday, November 4, 2018, the Members' Annual General Meeting takes place at 9 am at the same location (CBC Broadcast Centre). The purpose of the meeting is to disclose election results following the vote held electronically during the week of October 22, 2018. This year three topics will be submitted to voting members. 1- the proposal to renew the mandate of the APS external auditors (Désormeaux, Patenaude Inc.) as submitted by our National Executive Committee (50%+), 2- the proposal for a modification to APS By-Laws - the removal of section d) Article 10.05: a draft resolution to appoint the external auditor for the next fiscal year (66%); 3- Notice of the election for the position of National Treasurer: (candidates - Isabelle Benoit, Jerry Ding or Gary Gornik).
The National President Mario Poudrier and the National Secretary Dominique Barrette have both been elected by acclamation.
Two election officers representing each network, have been appointed to oversee proceedings; David MacFarlane Regional Director in the West and Marcel Arsenault Regional Director in the East. They will be responsible for announcing the results by connecting to the company conducting the consultation, Big Pulse.
The beginning and duration period during which members in good standing will be able to cast their vote will be held from Monday, October 22, 2018, to Sunday, October 28, 2018, at midnight.
National Executive Committee Meeting
Immediately following the Annual General Assembly, the National Executive Committee will meet for one of its yearly two face-to-face compulsory meetings.
This marks the start of the new mandates for officers facing elections while the rest of the members engage in the second year of their two-year mandates. All APS positions are submitted to two-year rotating mandates.
Financial Statements year ended 30 June 2018
Members in good standing who require access to the Association's financial statements are invited to submit their request to the Coordinator at email@example.com.
Nomination Deadlines for the Positions of National President, National Secretary and National Treasurer
At the end of the period to file applications for the three national positions that were up for election this year, only one will be the object of a call for an election with the APS participating members to select the National Treasurer of the Association. The positions of National President and National Secretary have been awarded by acclamation. Mario Poudrier from Montreal has been reappointed for a ninth consecutive mandate at the helm of the Association while Dominique Barrette from Ottawa will serve her second mandate after her election to the position two years ago. Congratulations to the newly elected National Officers!
There will be three candidates bidding for the position of National Treasurer: Isabelle Benoit from Montreal, Gary Gornik from Toronto and Jerry Ding from Edmonton. All three applicants met with success the eligibility requirements specified in our By-Laws to qualify for the purpose of becoming candidates in a national vote to be held next October 2018.
As in the past, APS will make available its Web site to give the opportunity for the candidates to make personal representations to promote their candidacies with the voting members of the Association. Equal conditions will prevail for all candidates should they wish to use the platform on a voluntary basis.
The official start of the mandates will begin at the APS National General Council to be held on the week-end of November 3rd , 2018 in Toronto. Until then, the position of National Treasurer will continue to be filled by Yves Ledoux who is also taking the opportunity to join the ranks of CBC Pensioners. Yves will have been one of the true pioneers of the Association, having been there since the very outset in 1995. First as a participating member, then as a member of the Montreal Executive as National Secretary and finally as National Treasurer. It's notably under his tenure as Treasurer that APS adopted the first Investment Policy to ensure the optimization of the union's assets while preserving its capital.
Two Different Elections
On top of the choice of their future National Treasurer, voting members will be asked to vote on a change to the By-Laws in the next national election. The National Executive Committee will be submitting a proposal to require an acceptance rate of 66% approval for ratification. The proposal will be to do away with the obligation to hold a national vote for the selection of the firm of external auditors selected for the production of the yearly Financial Statements for the Association. This procedure has been there since the outset with voting members being asked to accept the Executive Committee's choice for an external auditing firm. And year after year the result is always the same with almost unanimous acceptance of the Executive Committee's choice. The procedure is costly as it entails the hiring of a specialized firm to conduct the voting consultation to confirm a choice already made by the Executive. The financial responsibilities of the Executive Committee would be in no way changed or modified if the proposal was adopted. The purpose is to cut down on spending as well as to simplify procedures. But in the end, as always, the choice will be in the hands of the voters.
Any member in good standing wishing to solicit a two-year mandate for the positions of National President, National Secretary or National Treasurer needs to file an application at the Union's head office by mail at 1212 Panet Street, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 2Y7, by fax at (450) 575-0572 or E-mail at email@example.com before August 27, 2018.
The call for applications will run from August 10 to August 27, 2018 at midnight, as provided for in our By-Laws.
The attached nomination form to be filed by the applicant also requires the endorsement of five (5) members in good standing currently registered with APS.
Nomination Form 2018 - National Executive Elections- August 2018
Membership Application Form to become member in good standing:
APS Membership Application Form.pdf
CBC / Radio-Canada published the 2018 salary review guidelines and is available on MySource, under My Compensation/Total Compensation Statement/Program details. Your manager should communicate your salary revision shortly. Similar to last year, after your manager has finalized and approved the content of your annual review, you are asked to go to MySource, to finalize your own notes, acknowledge the final content by checking the box « I agree with the Content and Rating » and complete a short survey. However, do not check the box if you do not agree with your evaluation. Rather, explain why you do not agree in the note section of the performance form.
New Wage Schedules and Salary Review
For a second year in a row, salary ranges are showing significant increases, particularly for the PB-6 and PB-7 levels. These upward adjustments are intended to reflect the current market and are irrelevant to your annual increase related to your performance. This increase in grids does not replace your annual performance increase.
If your performance assessments have always shown a rating that « meets expectations » or « exceeds expectations » and you have not received any performance-related increases, contact your union representative.
Midpoint Reference Zone
As agreed in the collective agreement, an employee who, after 7 years of continuous service in the same Pay Band (e.g. PB-6) and whose performance evaluations meet or exceed expectations should be at the Midpoint Reference Zone.
That means that, in 2018-2019, an employee who meets these requirements should receive at least a salary of:
If you meet the criteria listed above and your salary review is under the Midpoint Reference Zone, contact your union representative.
Please do not hesitate to contact your union representative or the National Secretary if you have any questions.
Dominique Barrette, National Secretary
Association of Professionals and Supervisors
(613) 288-6225
For more information :
2018 Salary Review Guidelines: Salary review
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQ
A few weeks ago, CBC / Radio-Canada informed us that a theft had taken place in one of its establishments and that the stolen equipment could contain confidential financial data. Each potentially affected person should have received a letter at their home containing more specific information, a proposal of surveillance at Equifax and the number of a helpline to answer additional questions.
APS takes the situation very seriously and as part of a joint action by all the unions of CBC / Radio-Canada, we sent a letter to Monique Marcotte, Vice-President, People and Culture, in order to obtain more information on the situation and to answer the requests from our members. Therefore, do not hesitate to communicate with your union representative or manager if you have additional questions.
Perception Survey
At APS bi-annual National Executive Committee meeting, the poll results on the perception survey of the members towards their Union were unveiled. It took place at one of the two face-to-face compulsory meetings where APS Officers of the National Executive Committee have to meet in person to fulfill their responsibilities. The other meetings are usually held by teleconference. It is Dominique Barrette, APS National Secretary and responsible for this project since the beginning, who presented to the attendees the results of this consultation conducted between February 27 and March 16, 2018. It was a new initiative endorsed by the executive as a result of a proposal formulated by Dominique whose professional specialty correlates with the same area of expertise. Therefore, with full knowledge of the facts, she reported the polling results by highlighting the most significant aspects of this consultation in which participated 42% of the members.
Active Participation of the Members
The survey was directed to all APS members and called for the participation on a voluntary basis. Both voting and non-voting members were solicited which amounts to approximately 800 participants. The external firm Ad Hoc was delegated to invite the members in participating in the electronic voting process over a period of two weeks. In terms of response rate, 42% of the total solicited members completed the survey which ensures a sufficient participation rate to guarantee the accuracy of the results. The content of the survey focused on measuring the individual member's point of view vis-à-vis their union by polling their level of satisfaction as much as their evaluation of the actions taken to serve their needs efficiently. The survey also covered the knowledge of the members with respect to the various components of their union structure and its contribution to their working conditions. Overall, there were about fifty questions including the participants' demographic data.
A Positive Image
Generally, the survey presents a rather positive view from the members towards the union. Three questions referred to the global perception of the union.
The crucial question which addressed it directly « Overall, I am satisfied with the union, » resulted in a high satisfaction level as high of 68% in favoring a positive view from the members towards their union. Furthermore, on the question which dealt with the importance for members to be represented by a union in their professional life also resulted in a positive score, in this case, 67%. Finally, in regards to the relevance of the actions taken by their union to defend all its members' interests, a percentage of 78% of the respondents certifies that the union indeed defends their interests with the employer.
Areas of Improvements
Now for the less flattering aspects of the survey results, they can be summed up by weaknesses in communication. This will guide the executive committee in concentrating on an action path for improvement. Only 41% knew the identity of the union representative closest to their work environment. This leads to bringing about a remedial action the Executive Committee will not hesitate to undertake. Likewise, 74% of the members would appreciate that the union communicates with the members more often. Again, the executive committee understands the message clearly and improvements are imminent, but it is necessary to make the proper improvements. As an example, a few years ago an awareness campaign on this issue was launched with a weekly column on our website entitled « The question of the week ». Communications pertaining to topics related to working conditions were forwarded to the members' personal mail every week. The project had to be abandoned as the result of negative reactions. Finally, feedback which surprised more than a few; 70% of the members wish to see APS getting more involved in public campaigns involving the Corporation. It is a significant change of orientation since APS always maintained a discretion policy towards this type of communication. Despite the new costs, the switch in orientation will be taken into consideration since APS has always invested only in the direct defense of the interests of its members.
So, this first incursion in the scientific measures of the members' perception towards the union representing them, uncovered revealing results. The members are widely favorable with the group of their peers representing them at the executive level, but they wish for changes especially regarding communication. The executive officers took due note and in the next months, they will implement the required changes. It is imperative to thank the one who initiated this course of action, Dominique Barrette, APS National Secretary who launches a new approach within the union. It is an unprecedented measure, along with the same lines as building the union demands for the negotiation of the collective agreement to start with scientific polls with the voting members. APS adheres to its values based on the individual will of the members. The use of the scientific polls ensures the best consultation source for the decision makers of the union. APS hopes to continue in the interest of the democratization of its union activities.


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Daily Archives: September 24, 2014
What are the symptoms and how to avoid developing the disease?
Start cleaning with tears in his eyes? It's not laziness, and dust. Allergy to house dust is a common problem. According to the world Health Organization suffers from dust almost 40% of the world population. It causes allergies, asthma and various respiratory diseases.
What is house dust?
Strictly speaking, substances such as dust, does not exist. What we call dust – a mixture of a variety of microscopic particles. It may contain tiny flakes of human epithelium, pet dander, food particles, pollen, textile fibers from linen and clothing, droppings of rodents and insects, the spores of mold and yeast fungi, bacteria and even living beings – microscopic dust mites saprophytes. Continue reading

subset: commoncrawl


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Rodriguez is the northernmost town of Rizal. It is a land full of history, culture and wonders of nature. The name "Rodriguez" is only derived from the Rodriguez clan, who dominated the land. The first name of this land comes from the Spaniards who named this land Monte Alba, which means "White Mountain". The Spaniards have given this name to this town because of what they saw on the Wawa River, a river between the mountains, are white rocks. These white rocks are limestone which gives the idea that this place was once before under the ocean. So, from the Spanish term, Monte Alba comes the name "Montalban", a name which is used by the most of the residents of the town.
Today, Rodriguez is one of the developing towns in Rizal. The urbanization of the town is not far from now. Different establishments from certain companies like Mercury Drug, Goldilocks and etc. are putting up their franchises in the town. Also, the Philippines' biggest zoo, the Avilon Zoo, is becoming more known for its diverse collection of animals which helps in the growth of tourism. Different projects to bloom Rodriguez have been previewed in last December 2004 which is the Montalban Day.
Modern cities are centers of employment, education, and culture. But they are also centers of poverty, delinquency, crime, prostitution, alcoholism and drug abuse. As a rule, cities offer less space, less daylight, less fresh air, less greenery, and more noise.
--Georg Borgstrom


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Junior League of Wichita believes in building a better community. In 2011, we identified child abuse as a significant issue in our community that needed addressed and voted to work with the community to combat child abuse through awareness, prevention, and intervention. We carry this out through a variety of different ways including advocating, educating, funding and volunteering.
For the last six years, our traveling puppet show has performed at elementary schools to teach students about child abuse and who to tell if abuse is occurring. Each year, we connect with thousands of students throughout Sedgwick County.
In 2013, Junior League of Wichita launched childabusewichita.org, a website targeting awareness, and providing information on community resources, and what to do if you suspects child abuse.
We sparked a crucial conversation in our community when Junior League members traded our purses in for blue trashbags. During the month of April, Trashbag Handbag draws awareness for children placed in police protective custody who may have their belongings put in trash sacks while relocating. The campaign strives to be a tangible way we can uplift and empower children in crisis.
Partnering with the community is key to combating child abuse. Junior League of Wichita is a proud supporter and member of Wichita Coalition on Child Abuse Prevention. This year, we are excited to partner with the Wichita Children's Home to help young moms to reach their full potential and break the cycle of systemic abuse related stress factors.


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"Sakurada Reset" Gets 2-Part Live-Action Film in 2017
TV anime adaptation also announced for light novel series written by Yutaka Kōno and illustrated by You Shiina
Sakurada Reset, a light novel series written by Yutaka Kōno and illustrated by You Shiina that follows a pair of teenagers with super human abilities, is being adapted into a 2-part live-action film and a TV anime, both of which are scheduled to be released in 2017.
The live-action film will be directed by Yoshihiro Fukugawa and will feature the following cast (from left to right and top to bottom):
- Yuina Kuroshima as Misora Haruki.
- Shuhei Nomura as Kei Asai.
- Yûna Taira as Sumire Soma.
- Kentarô Sakaguchi as Tomoki Nakano.
- Tina Tamashiro as Yoka Murase.
- And Yuri Tsunematsu as Eri Okay.
The original Sakurada Reset light novels were serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's The Sneaker magazine and published in collected form under Kadokawa Shoten's Sneaker Bunko imprint. The series is set in Sakurada, a town where many people possess superhuman abilities. Ken Asai has perfect memory, while Misora Haruki can reset time by 3 days. Together, they can travel back in time without losing their memories of the future.
The Sakurada Reset 2-part live-action film will be released in Japanese theaters in the Spring season of 2017.
Paul Chapman is the host of The Greatest Movie EVER! Podcast and GME! Anime Fun Time.


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A MAN unwittingly handed himself in to police for a sex offence he committed 23 years before.
Peter Hodgson, 38, became concerned last year when gossip about him raping a girl years ago spread in the East Durham village in which he was living.
Durham Crown Court was told Hodgson went to police saying he was feeling harassed by the talk and told officers the incident involved consensual sex with a girl when he was a teenager.
Police traced the girl and calculated she would have been a schoolgirl.
Hodgson pleaded not guilty to rape, but admitted sexual intercourse with a child under 13 years. A jury acquitted him of rape after a trial earlier this year.
The court was told Hodgson was playing truant from school in Peterlee when he met the girl by chance and they had sex.
Judge Christopher Prince sentenced Hodgson to eight months in prison, suspended for two years.
The judge told him: "You went to the police about this, not out of any sense of remorse, but more out of self-preservation.
"It was clear at the time you first spoke to the officers you didn't believe you had committed any offence.
"You were acquitted of rape, so must be sentenced on your account that this was consensual. I have to have regard to the seriousness of the offence, but also to the passage of time.
"Even if you had been dealt with at the time, I think it unlikely a youth court would have sentenced you to immediate detention."
Hodgson, of Park Road North, Middlesbrough, must register as a sex offender for 10 years.


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Find active bundles
Lazy Guys Bundle - Blurred Shapes Bundle...
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This indie game collection contains the titles Dark Shadows, Metal Planet, Memories of a Vagabond, GEARCRACK Arena, Power-Up, Don't Move, IDRQ, Yrminsul, Koya Rift, SickBrick, Data Hacker: Corruption, Let There Be Life Glow Ball and TheTankers (+ 1 hidden bonus Game).
Get the complete bundle for just $2.49!
You´ll get 1 Steam-Game and 13 Desura-Games.
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You'll find details for each game below. Hint: Don't miss to visit our EPIC game DEAL & FREEBIE page. Have fun.
Memories of a VagabondSTEAM %81You play as a young mercenary and travel from soul to soul to avenge your fiance and her family. While finding a way to change the flow of past events, you will encounter many obstacles and meet new allies. Will you be brave enough? A game by DarkElite
Let There Be LifeSTEAM %78Let There Be Life is an award-winning relaxing and creative experience that allows you to build trees and play with wildlife...just don't put too much shadow on the plants below! A game by Backward pieS
SickBrickSTEAM %63SickBrick is an action-packed Sci-Fi FPS with vivid graphics and fast, frantic gameplay. Destroy hundreds of hostile robots with a wide variety of weapons on a strange alien planet. Jump in a hover-tank and wreak havoc on giant boss enemies. A game by Mladen Bošnjak and Ron McDowell
YrminsulSTEAM %63YRMINSUL is a strategy game in a persistent universe where each combat is held in the form of a Tower Defence. Crush the forces of good! A game by Black Flag Studios
Power-UpSTEAM %58With a monster soundtrack, challenging gameplay and an impressive arsenal of weapons - Power-Up is the modern-retro styled Shoot-Em-Up from one-man game studio, Psychotic Psoftware. A game by Psychotic Psoftware
Data Hacker: CorruptionSTEAM %42What if there were virtual realms that exist just beyond our reach? What if an online game became the bridge? The worlds are changing rapidly, with each side vying for a position that will secure their realm's future. In the coming war, on which side do A game by New Reality Games
Metal PlanetSTEAM %29The game is set on a distant planet called Metal Planet. Two corporations are fighting for control of a valuable resource capable of transforming matter. You take on the role of a soldier with equipped power armor and powerful weapon. A game by Pavel Bulatov
Glow Ball - The billiard puzzle gameSTEAM %10Physics based puzzle game type of billiards. If you like billiard games or love pool then this game is for you! A game by WTFOMGames
Don't MoveA game about ninjas. The game starts simply: move left or right. But as you try, you´ll fail! A game by stvr
GEARCRACK ArenaSTEAM %-A game designed to put you under heavy fire on 2 clicks. With no fillers you will put your strategy and reflexes to the test. Create your gameplay style and upgrade your favorite class. A game by WalterMachado
IDRQYou are a retired Space Mechanic who has too much time on his hands. This game is a dodge the blocks em' up with arcade elements with an arcade graphics style. A game by TehRainbowGuy
Koya RiftSTEAM %-An action-packed platform shooter that focuses around streamlined gameplay, intelligent difficulty adjustment and nearly endless replay value. A game by SunnyKatt
Dark Shadows - Army of EvilSTEAM %-The player fights his way through 19 levels in this classic first person - hack and slash game. A game by Burian Media Enterprises
TheTankersYour mission in this arcade game is to destroy thousands of hostile units using mines, TNTs or homing missiles. See you soon on the battlefield! A game by OurGames
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The First Saturday Budapest tournament series from the beginning has provided many players from all over the world an alternative, and often the only opportunities to achieving GM, IM, WGM, WIM norms as well as getting or improving FIDE-ratings.
The brainchild of the tireless and now almost legendary FIDE International Chess Organiser Nagy Laszlo, these events with a GM an IM and two FIDE-master's groups are usually started every month except for January and usually attract about 40-60-80 players from 10-15 federations.
For more details, go to www.firstsaturday.hu or email
You may also download the First Saturday 2008 program


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POCA TV is a project of POCA's Publications Circle.
We make videos to meet the needs of our members for support, training, and sometimes just general hilarity.
If you are a POCA punk who is new to community acupuncture, you'll find videos from your more experienced comrades showing you how to do what they do. If you're a POCA clinic staff member, you'll find videos from other POCA clinic staff members with great tips and inspiration. If you're a prospective POCA Tech student, you should watch everything! It's never too early to start learning about all the skills that go into running a successful clinic. If you're a POCA patient member, we're working on videos especially for you -- stay tuned. And if you are a prospective apprentice or preceptor, we want to make your job easier by sharing the knowledge of other POCA members. Tell us what you want to see, comrades!
Auricular Acu-Tech (AAT)-Training Info
POCAFest Toronto: Board work-Clarity & Conflict Prevention
POCAFest Toronto: Punk Skills: Intensity and Deep Connections
POCAFest Toronto: Anxiety, Depression, and How to Treat and Communicate Effectively
POCAFest Toronto: understanding and dismantling systematic oppression
Keynote: POCAFest Toronto 2018
Part VII: White Supremacy Culture in our spaces
Part VI: Barriers to movement building
POCA Tv Channel Guide
Often times POCA Tv videos are designed as a part of a series or variations on a theme. Check out these different groups of video.
Clinic Tour
A Tour of MAS Nashua: Now with Furniture!
A tour of the Original Manchester Acupuncture Studio
Acupuncture Together - Clinic Tour / Commercial
Ashland Community Acupuncture Tour
Clinic Tour and Podcast: Edgewater Acupuncture
Clinic Tour: Acupuncture Together in Austin
Clinic Tour: Jersey Community Acupuncture
Little Bird: Real Talk Podcast and Clinic Tour
OurSpace - Clinic Tour and Real Talk Podcast
PCA @ Thundermist Health Center
Real Talk Podcast
Clinic Tour and Podcast: Edgewater Acupuncture
Little Bird: Real Talk Podcast and Clinic Tour
OurSpace - Clinic Tour and Real Talk Podcast
POCA Fest
Cait On Being a CA Employee and a POCA Volunteer
Case Study In Clinic Sustainability: A Successful Partnership
Community Acupuncture and Parenting - Justine
Dealing with Difficult Patients - Michelle Rivers and Cait Cain - POCA Fest Tucson
Employee Panel - POCA Fest RI 2015
Employer Vs. Employee: Cage Match!
Fast Paced Diagnosis, Decision Making, and Treament in an Overbooked Clinic - Kevin Campopiano
How To Fill Your Schedule and Your Clinic: Boosting the Numbers
How to Get Patients Involved with POCA - Jenna and Dave
How to run a BDC in 500 sq. ft. or less
Individual closing remarks from POCA Fest RI 2015
Keynote Speech - POCA Fest Tucson 2014 - Lisa & Lisa
Moving to a bigger space - Nicole Murray
My Clinic Just Became A 501(c)(3) non-profit. Let me tell you the details.
Neocolonialism/Postcolonial Criticism in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine - Tyler Phan
POCA Fest Keynote - Marin 2016
POCA Fest Keynote Speech - Twin Cities Fall 2014
POCa Fest Marin Keynote: Dangerous Potential - Lias Rohleder
POCA Fest Marin Recap - Jade Fang
Resilience - POCA Fest Tucson Opening Speech - Andy Wegman
The best and hardest part of punking - POCAFest Marin 2016
The Expanded Pie List - POCA Fest RI 2015
The State of POCA - Circle Reports at POCA Fest Tucson
Trauma Informed Acupuncture Breakout at POCA Fest RI 2015
Understanding Struggles of Parent Punks - Korben Perry - POCA Fest RI 2015
Websites and Web Applications in the Community Acupuncture Clinic - POCA Fest Breakout 2016
Receptionist Love
Nancy on Reception and Listening (2)
Nancy on Reception, Seeing, and Being the First Contact
Nancy on Reception, Social Justice, and Bias (1)
On Being a Patient and Then a Receptionist
Wade Demonstrates the Invisible Receptionist
The BDC Channel
Case Study In Clinic Sustainability: A Successful Partnership
Cris Interviews Andy about Starting Clinic #2
A Tour of MAS Nashua: Now with Furniture!
Ashland Community Acupuncture Tour
Bookkeeping and Accounting. Carmen's Breakout Session (with handouts)
Class and Classism in Community Acupuncture
Clinic Tour: Acupuncture Together in Austin
Clinic Tour: Jersey Community Acupuncture
Community Acupuncture at WCA Lents
Community Acupuncture: The Calmest Revolution Ever Staged
Fast Paced Diagnosis, Decision Making, and Treament in an Overbooked Clinic - Kevin Campopiano
Suicide Prevention Training with Lisa Achilles
The best and hardest part of punking - POCAFest Marin 2016
Acupunk Skills
3 Intakes in Less than 5 Minutes
About Painless Needling, by Whitsitt
Anatomy of an Intake: Intakes Part 1
Another Intake and Commentary by Skip
Dealing with Difficult Patients - Michelle Rivers and Cait Cain - POCA Fest Tucson
Distal Point Combinations - Justine Myers
How a Superpunk Uses the 80-20 Principle, by Moses Cooper
Intakes for Complex and Chronic Conditions
Punk Job Description Part 2: Diagnosing & Orienting
Skip and Lisa on the Punk Job Description
Spanish for POCA Clinics: Lesson 2 - Treatment Room, Time, & Money
Speed Skills for your Community Acupuncture Clinic
Suicide Prevention Training with Lisa Achilles
Superpunk 2, Intensity and Obsession
Superpunks on Weight Loss and Stop Smoking
The best and hardest part of punking - POCAFest Marin 2016
Two Halves of Carmen: about Needling
Weight Loss, Stop Smoking, & Lifestyle Advice


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Unistara has been one the principal characters in the Refactory Sector in Italy for more than 25 years..
Unistara was born in 1984 by an initiative taken by a group of managers, thanks to an agile technical and commercial structure and the acquisition of company operating in the same market, it asserted rapidly itself as the refractory supplier par excellence.
Meeting the request of a market that working for resources, technologies and expertise as support of industrial processes, its activity, at the beginning primarily commercial, evolved and assumed, during the years, the characteristics of a global proposal that embraces all the technical problems connected to the realization of linings.
Unistara gives solutions that carry out themselves in the designing of the lining, the production of the most complex special shapes, the installation, the supervision of the correct laying of the lining and in the after sales assistance.
Unistara addresses itself to the market of the industrial furnaces market as a talent: from great incinerators to aluminium furnaces, from cement factories to kiln furnaces, glassworks and foundries. More recent history is bonded to the realization of steel heat treatment furnaces, hearth furnaces and iron and steel furnaces, plants for waste disposal and waste energy plant.
Yet, Unistara's proposal includes a range of specific products for stove sector - specific lining for stoves, chimneys and bakery ovens.
Selecting, , producing , proposing and selling only high quality products, guaranteing the technical assistance needed to enable the client to realize the best refractory lining for its plant. Contributing to save world resources, by improving efficiency of the the thermic plants and evaluating day by day the consequences that the use of a products or fuel can have on people and environment.
Unistara wants to be in Italy the reference point of refractory culture and technology and of the high temperature insulation. A new wave firm that builds value in time throughout assertibility, transparency and valorisation of people.


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Ben Cross ("Chariots of Fire," "First Knight") has been cast as Sarek, the Vulcan father of Spock in the upcoming "Star Trek" feature film says The Hollywood Reporter.
Cross will be paired with Winona Ryder, portraying Spock's human mother Amanda Grayson. The young Spock will be played by Zachary Quinto.
The film, currently in production under the direction of J.J. Abrams, is scheduled for release on Christmas Day 2008.


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Rifts / Unconsolidated Ice to Side of Petermann GlacierMonday, July 27th, 2009
Friday, 24 July 2009
The three images below show rifts and unconsolidated ice to the side of the Petermann Glacier. The images were taken from 3600 feet northwest cliff.
Jason E. Box
guest scientist aboard
Greenpeace Arctic Sunrise


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Watch Flying Lotus, Shlohmo, TNGHT, and More Talk "Beats"
Red Bull Music Academy continues with its H?SHTAG$ web series today, dropping a video which finds beatmakers like Flying Lotus, Shlohmo, TNGHT, and The Gaslamp Killer talking about their craft and the "beat scene" at large. What's more: XLR8R editor Shawn Reynaldo makes an appearance in the clip, and dishes out knowledge on the way the LA-centric sound has evolved over the years. Benji B, Dorian Concept, and FLyLo collaborator Thundercat also appear, talking about the rise and near ubiquity of instrumental hip-hop. This piece follows previous episodes which focused on the genres of "post-dubstep" and "alt-R&B." You can watch H?SHTAG$ - Don't Call It #Beats below.


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Limited edition King Apparel backpack, crafted and constructed around high-end technical performance fabrics and detailing. Representing the launch of our luggage collection, the Commute Tech backpack is all about optimal functionality and premium style.
- Navy bonded waterproof PU construction with black trim
- Black bonded taped zips throughout
- Black engraved KING staple zip pull attached to zips
- Unique front double zip with clip fastening
- Zip pocket and black silicon rubber KING badge on right side
- Rear padded laptop zip pocket (can fit up to 15in Macbook Pro)
- Interior zip pocket
- Interior mesh lined open top pocket
- Triple section padded back panel
- Adjustable padded shoulder straps
- Black King woven label on right shoulder strap
- Top handle
- 18 litre capacity
- Limited run of 50 pieces with no repeats once sold out
- Exclusive to King Apparel website
Additional Info
Additional Info
|One Size
|Care Instructions
|Hand wash in cold water
All orders placed before 1pm Monday-Friday will be despatched on the same day via the method of your choice. All orders placed after 1pm Monday-Thursday will be despatched on the next working day. All orders placed after 1pm on the Friday and through the weekend will be despatched on the following Monday. All orders placed during bank holidays will be despatched on the next working day.
Delivery Costs
- Standard UK delivery on orders over £50.00: FREE (3-5 working days)
- Standard UK delivery on orders of £50.00 or less: £4.95 (3-5 working days)
- Next Day Tracked UK Delivery: £5.95 (1 working day)
- Norsk Tracked to Europe: £12.95 (2-6 working days)
- Norsk Tracked to Rest of the World: £17.95 (7-14 working days)
- DHL Tracked to Rest of the World: £39.95 (3-7 working days)
You may return your items to us for an exchange or a refund within 14 days, unless otherwise noted. You may return your items using the method of your choice. We recommend using an insured, trackable service, such as Parcelforce or Royal Mail Signed For. All costs associated with returning or exchanging an item will be at the charge of the customer.
Download a copy of our returns form
We also offer a returns service with automatically-generated postage labels through Collect+. This costs from 3.99 GBP with the added convenience of being able to drop this off at your local Collect+ drop-off point.


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A New York lawyer's adventures with animal-free eating
I'm constantly on the lookout for vegan frozen lunches, just because they're so much more convenient (and usually cheaper) than other options. I recently tried Tabatchnick Barley & Mushroom Soup and was a big fan.
The package has 2 frozen pouches in it, but I found that I needed to eat both to get a decent meal. When combined with some bread, it was great! Good flavor, pretty hearty… what's not to like?
Verdict: I'll definitely get this again.
I ran across Aunt Trudy's Vegan Mushroom & Leek Fillo Pocket a couple of weeks ago at my local Hannaford. It's always exciting to me when I find something vegan for lunches, so I picked up several of them.
I must admit, I was excited to try this sandwich for dinner – I love leeks and mushrooms, and the picture on the package made it look fabulous. Unfortunately, that was not at all how it turned out… It pretty much looked like a big sloppy mess. The fillo dough practically disintegrated, and the inside was dark green/brown mush.
It was unappetizing enough that I almost didn't eat it after all. But I decided to at least try it. Which was a mistake. It was not good. It wasn't horrible, but it was barely acceptable. And I have really low standards for food. I eat everything! Needless to say, I had a few bites, then stopped.
All was not lost, however. I had some fabulous Haagen Daaz mango sorbet in the freezer, so I had that for dinner. 🙂
Verdict: Meh. I wouldn't try this variety again.


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This new front was selected as the trunk line was quite sweet and feminine. This also set the first branch at a good angle so style the rest of the tree
The tree was styled over a couple of short sessions. Chris cleaning the weeds before the second and last placement
I gave Chris time to think about removing the bottom branch as I thought it too low. Off it came.
The bottom branch gone and a much cleaner line.
The back. Some growing to do now.
A much more feminine and compact solution. No spiralled branches either and a much brighter future


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First Freedom OhioFor life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The Grassroots Action Partner of Citizens for Community Values, Ohio's Family Policy Council Join UsDonate Today
Our Mission
First Freedom Ohio advocates for the constitutional freedoms of all Ohioans to live, work, and worship.
Blog: The Pursuit
Pursuing a brighter, more free, future for Ohio.
Press Release: 200+ Ohio Leaders Support Jordan for Speaker
More than 200 Ohio Leaders Urge Ohio's Congressional Delegation to Support Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House Business, political, religious, and community leaders launch BuckeyesForJordan.com calling on Ohio's Congressional Delegation to support Congressman Jordan...read more
Support Brett Kavanaugh's Confirmation to the Supreme Court!
Last month, President Trump announced the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has an impeccable record of protecting First Amendment freedoms and upholding the original intent of the U.S. Constitution. With Senator Sherrod Brown and other senators...read more
Press Release: Ohio Conservatives Back Troy Balderson for Congress
Ohio Conservatives Back Troy Balderson for Congress Ohio leaders rally together to call on conservatives to get out to vote for Troy Balderson on August 7 COLUMBUS - Conservatives from across Ohio are urging voters in Ohio's 12th Congressional District to get out and...read more
Become A Freedom Fighter
Tomorrow's freedoms are lost today when we're silent. First Freedom Ohio wants to empower you to be a voice for freedom in our state. If you share our commitment to these key issues for a thriving Ohio, and want to join us in this movement, then become a Freedom Fighter.


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The Bachelorette's Apollo Has Revealed His Devastating Past
The magician that everyone loved on the Bachelorette last night has revealed he has lost half his body weight after he suffered a heart attacked at age 22.
Apollo Jackson, 24, who is also known as Jake Spence, has told New Weekly of his dramatic transformation after he hit the scales at 150 kilograms.
"I went through a period where I was crazy stressed, so I ended up overweight. I put on 40 kilos, weighing 150kg, was mega-stressed, not happy and went through a bit of depression. Then I had a heart attack," he told the publication.
"I was at a friend's place. I had just finished a 14-hour shift and then boom.
"I ended up in critical care for two weeks and I just reassessed my life. I just went, 'OK, what do I really want in my life?' And at the end of the day it was making people smile and making people feel good and my heart has always been doing that."
Well, he looks AWESOME now!
The Bachelorette airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm on Channel 10.


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Latest News
Ultimate Naruto
Ultimate Naruto is based on the highly popular Naruto manga series. The upcoming RPG features plots rooted in the Naruto world, alongside an original drawing style and unique gameplay features that utilize the latest web-based gaming technologies for maximum accessibility. Ultimate Naruto promises to bring players a visual feast and an electrifying gaming experience. Combining pure anime-based plot and exhilarating combat, Ultimate Naruto players will go hands-on with their favourite characters from the Naruto anime series as they form their own path as an ultimate and powerful ninja. The game features are as follows: 1. All Naruto heroes here, you can recruit and upgrade them as your partner. 2. Original Anime Story, lots of vivid Naruto characters and lively dialogues. 3. Same Skills as in Manga Naruto. 4. Rich PvP mode and exciting battle events.


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Elie Saab Fall 2017 Bridal Collection Is a Dream Come True!
When Elie Saab launched his bridal line earlier this year, his fans couldn't help expressing their happiness. Now that the fashion designer just lift up the lid on his second bridal line, namely the Elie Saab fall 2017 bridal collection, we also entered a sort of a magical ecstatic state we find it hard to get out of.
With only ten styles available, Lebanese designer Elie Saab managed to keep his fall 2017 bridal collection updated and traditional at the same time, of course, without forgetting to immerse everything in his signature dramatic style. Saab is, in fact, never afraid of grandeur, and we couldn't therefore expect anything but princess-like, grandiose proposals from him, crystal-encrusted gowns that could make anyone instantly start daydreaming about their wedding.
As usual, as seen in Saab's ready-to-wear and haute couture seasonal collections too, this specific Elie Saab fall 2017 bridal lineup is overall extremely feminine, which in this case is not in any way to be intended as synonyms with discomfort.
Like many other designers, Saab also interpreted the dance-floor-ready trend in his own, imposing way, meaning that most of the 10 proposals will keep you astounding from the altar to the actual wedding party. Sporting a theatrical, oversized dress that instantly becomes cozy and easy-to-move-in is, in fact, the next fall 2017 bridal trend, and Elie Saab just egregiously proved to be a master of the trend.
This Elie Saab fall 2017 bridal collection also greatly varies in styles, treating the brides-to-be to a line-up that might be purely traditional, but is not banally repetitive for sure. Although flared, ruffled and oversized gowns are the collection's most recurring motifs, Saab opted for more sinuous, curve-hugging silhouettes too.
The latter got mainly translated to two different, yet equally glamorous themes. While on the one hand we have the party-ready, sensual mermaid dresses with plunging slits on either the side or front, on the other we have sophisticated Thirties and boho-chic inspired figures, which delicately enhance the waists and the necklines.
Interestingly, compared to other fall 2017 bridal collections, Saab focused on more conventionally autumnal and winter inspired materials, introducing cascades of feathers on gowns, warm bolero jackets and even furry embellishment that will just make anyone look like the ultimate Winter Princess.
Beaded accents, intricately embroidered floral motifs and, of course, lace and tulle fabrics complete each one of the proposals with a timeless appeal that is very dear to Elie Saab, and which just makes us hope for many more astounding Elie Saab bridal collections to be unveiled.
Photos courtesy of Elie Saab


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After keeping it for quite some time, I've decided to release my latest WordPress theme; Uncrufty.
The name is a play on the functionalities and design of the theme itself. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a graphics design genius. I also don't like clutter in my themes (and life in general). So the term Uncrufty is a play of words between the two concepts.
Uncrufty should be compatible with any recent version (2.x; 2.3.x would be better) of WordPress.
You can download it straightaway.


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A month or so ago my husband decided to apply for Global Entry, which would make reentering after his business trips abroad easier, faster and less stressful. Global Entry is a U.S. government program that allows for expedited service for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States, and it is $100 for 5 years (although some credit cards, like Amex Platinum, and Delta platinum and diamond medallion members can choose it as a benefit).
So, I thought about it, and decided it was worth the $300 to apply for global entry for myself and F and L. Often when we return from traveling overseas it is late and they are tired, and waiting in line at passport control, even when relatively short, can test even the best of tempers. And if a parent has global entry they can not take their child through without their own global entry as well, so we couldn't let my husband get through more quickly than we could!
The program is open to U.S. citizens and lawful residents, Dutch citizens, South Korean citizens and Mexican nationals. Canadian citizens and residents can obtain Global Entry benefits through membership in the NEXUS program. It is also open to children under 18 with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. While you need both parents permission to obtain a passport for a minor you only need one parent/legal guardian to attend the GOES interview. The process was infinitely easier than applying for a child's passport.
The first step is applying online, creating an online id for each member of the family, and each member of the family must apply separately, so when you apply for your children it is best to apply for yourself first, followed up with each child. I found that I had to log off after each person, and reload the site, which may have been a quirk that day or a quirk in the site all the time.
The online application is simple, and will ask for basic information, including your name, email, address; prior addresses for the last 10 years; names used in the past; height and eye color; date and place of birth; passport number and date of issue and expiration; current employment status and employment history; and a list of the foreign countries you have visited in the last 5 years. It was not a problem that I used my email address for all 3 applications. You will also have to pay the $100 application fee to submit the application.
Once the applications are done you will receive an email with a conditional approval, at which time you can log back in to your account and schedule your appointment at a global entry enrollment center. We have two near us, and chose the one at the airport, and I looked at the calendar to find a date that had 3 times in a row, and quickly booked all 3 of us in succession. You will have to log in as each person to book the individual times, so don't book any of them until you get all 3 of your conditional approval emails. Ours came within a day or two, and came within a few hours of each other.
They require you to bring a few things to your interview – your passport, your approval letter (which is printed off their secure site), and proof of current address, which can be a drivers license, mortgage statement, etc.
When we arrived I signed in, handed all 3 of our passports over, and we were called back very quickly. I was told to sit down, and had F and L sit on the floor next to me, although a different agent came over and took L with her to the next cubicle to take her photo and fingerprints. I could hear their conversation and she was very good with her, which was good because I was unsure how my feisty 3 year old would do!
I was asked exactly one question – my job, had my photo taken, then had to do my fingerprints, which took longer than I expected since my fingerprints are apparently not very good. I had to sign a form stating that I had never been convicted of a crime, but they never asked anything about either child. They did F next, and told me they have a hard time with children's fingerprints sometimes, but had no issue with either of my kids. I asked if they needed to see my license or the printed out letter and was told no to both (but I would bring them to be on the safe side). He explained how to use the kiosks and that was it!
Within 10 minutes all 3 of us were done, we walked out of there, and by the end of the day we had received our approvals. Next step is receiving our cards, which then have to be activated on their GOES site as well. We will be using the kiosks in January upon our return from Prague and the UK, so we will see if it was worth the time and money!


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Comment on Let's End Terrorism, One Step At A Time by defythemajority.
I never could understand how people could be so cruel to one another 🙁
Recent Comments by defythemajority
Congrats on 2000 followers! That is awesome! 🙂
A Thank You Letter To God
Beautiful letter! You really put your heart into it and it was so sweet to read. 🙂
Invention Which Helped Her Write Again
Aww that was so sweet!
Enough With The Double Standards
Beautiful post! I think your last line says it best: "Love everyone." Plain and simple! <3
It's Been A Week!
Congratulations! Those are some impressive stats! Keep up the great work 🙂 And thanks for sharing your family photos!


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NEW Holiday VIXEN Hotwife Anklet, Silver Plated Blue Topaz Crystal Vixen on a Sterling Silver Filled Rolo Chain
My Holiday line features these absolutely beautiful crystal Vixens.
I have combined them with genuine Swarovski Crystals, a lovely high quality silver filled Rolo chain and Sterling Silver connectors.
See all of my Hotwife Lifestyle Jewelry and MORE Here =)
The "Hotwife" anklet makes the hot, sexy statement you want to make!
SEXY and EROTIC jewelry that shows your swinger lifestyle preferences.
**How to measure for the perfect Anklet for you.**
Normally an anklet sits just below the ankle bone so this is where you will want to measure.
Wrap a flexible measuring tape around your ankle or a piece of string around your ankle if you don't have a flexible measuring tape.
Tighten the tape or string so it fits snugly, but not too tight around your ankle.
Record the measurement from the measuring tape or cut the string and measure the string on a ruler or yardstick.
Add ½ inch to the measurement. For instance, if your measurement is 9 inches, add ½ inch. So the size anklet you will want is 9½ inches or 9.5
All my HOTWIFE Jewelry is handcrafted with high quality materials that are Lead, Nickle and Cadmium Free.
**Fast and Always Discrete Shipping**
Customer Reviews
Wife absolutely loved her latest anklet...The birthstone and HW initials look great together...
Highly recommended item
It's beautiful. I work in customer service and I can't compliment Wendy enough. It's hard to impress me but she was fast and very helpful.
My wife loves her new necklace. Great quality and super nice seller! Couldn't be happier.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL I truly am in love with these and CANNOT say that strongly enough!! Wendy is also the sweetest, easiest person to deal with! Return customer for life!!! Cant wait to see what new products pop up in her shop!!! Good for her bad for the hubby but I can feel the money leaving my wallet now 😁😁
Absolutely beautiful! Item was on time and good quality!! My husband ABSOLUTELY loves this on me! The items are so beautiful that it made me order some matching earings :) Wendy is an absolute delight to deal with! And very quick responses as well! I couldnt find what exactly what I was looking for and within minutes of messaging her about customizing something she had not only responded but had ordered the parts to make it for me :) will DEFINITELY continue to do business with her!!


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We created an infographic outlining how the WSI Lifecycle™ helps your business. The 'WSI Lifecycle™' is the process we use to deliver the best possible results to our clients. The benefits of a system-driven process are that it's proven and repeatable, which means we'll deliver digital marketing solutions that work (because we've done it before and we'll do it again!). The WSI Lifecycle™ also allows us to educate the companies and brands that we work with so everybody involved knows what's expected and required throughout the duration of a project.
As we embark on the journey of another year, we wanted to re-visit the principles of the WSI Lifecycle™ as they relate to defining a digital agency's role in boosting your marketing efforts. With so many marketing tactics available, and even more digital agencies to deliver them, it's no wonder companies – both large and small – are overwhelmed and don't know where to start. The funny thing about choice is the more variety you have, the harder it is to make a decision. Let's try to clear some of the fog, shall we?
Collaboration Is Vital For Achieving Success With A Digital Marketing Partner
Before we jump into anything else, it's necessary to discuss the importance of collaboration in any relationship between a company and its digital marketing agency. Collaboration is defined by Google as "the action of working with someone to produce or create something." Unfortunately, the expectation and even the meaning of collaboration are often left unaddressed or assumed at the beginning of a digital marketing project, and this results in a breakdown somewhere along the way. Suffice to say that no matter which side is at fault for a lack of collaboration, it results in a bad experience for both client and agency.
But seriously, who doesn't love (and expect) to collaborate on digital marketing projects? The client has the industry expertise and the information to define their target market, and the agency has the digital marketing know-how, the strategical vision and the resources to deliver. It's a perfect match, and a relationship that should never go awry if both parties understand and are willing to collaborate.
Despite the positives of embracing collaboration, the reality is that it's understandable when collaborative relationships buckle. We are talking about two businesses after all, and these days, workloads and stress levels are sky high in most workplaces. This is why at the end of the day, it's absolutely key for an agency to get buy-in on collaboration before any project gets off the ground. We strongly believe in collaboration, which is why when you come full-circle back to our WSI Lifecycle™, you'll see that the first three phases of our approach require heavy participation from the client. Fully transparent, just like we promise!
A Good Agency Leads By Example
Think about the quickest purchase decisions you've ever made; wait, scratch that, we don't mean impulse decisions (because we know how those often turn out)! Instead, think about the purchases you're most satisfied with, and then consider the reasons you made those purchases. Some of us here at WSI found that we were most satisfied by purchases that were a) recommended or b) that we had used, tested, or watched a demonstration for. It makes sense that the best buys are those where you get exactly what you expect, which is a concept that applies to our point about collaboration (set expectations first!) and the notion of an agency leading by example.


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To contribute to this site, see above menu item "About".
These transcriptions may contain human errors.
As always, confirm these, as you would any other source material.
Will of Patrick Brien
In re
In the name of God Amen. I Patrick Brien of Saint John's Shopkeeper being of sound and disposing mind do make publish and ordain the following as and for my last will and testament. After the payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses I will and bequeath all my monies now in deposit in the Union and Commercial Banks of this town to my executors to be held by them in trust for the following purposes that is to say to take and apply the interest arising and to arise therefrom to and towards the maintenance support and use of my beloved wife Margaret and on her demise to pay and deliver to my son James the sum of Seven hundred pounds and to my daughter the sum of three hundred pounds from and out of said monies for their sole use and benefit. In the event of my son James dying before my said wife the amount bequeathed to him shall after the death of my said wife go and be paid to the Roman Catholic Bishop for the time being of the Diocese of Saint John's for the use and benefit of the Roman Catholic Church therein. In the event of my daughter Mary dying before my said wife the amount bequeathed to her shall after the death of my wife go and be paid to her children. In the event of my said children dying and leaving no issue the amount bequeathed to them shall go and be paid to the Roman Catholic Bishop for the time being of the Diocese of Saint John's for the use and benefit of the Roman Catholic Church therein. I will and bequeath the sum of two pounds for the celebration of Masses for the repose of my soul. All the residue and remainder of my monies chattels and effects I bequeath to my said wife and after her death to my son James. I nominate and appoint Thomas S. Dwyer and Thomas Howley M.D. of St. John's my executors and hereby cancel revoke and annul all other wills made by me.
Patk Brien. Signed and delivered by the said Patrick Brien as and for his last will and testament in our presence and attested by us in his presence and in the presence of each other this 9th day of April A.D. 1873. T.S. Dwyer, John Fitzpatrick.
Certified correct,
Note: The wills in those will books are NOT actual wills. They are either hand-written copies or in later years typed copies of a, "last will and testament," written or typed by the court clerk, after the death of the testator, when the executor presented them to the court for probate. The court clerk didn't list the signatures at the bottom, he (or she) just put them in the book in whatever order they were in, on the original document, no spacing most of the time, no punctuation. The originals were kept by the executor.
We who have typed these wills, have made every effort to include all the errors that were on the microfilm, in order to avoid destroying the integrity of the originals, where ever they may be.
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Page Revised by Ivy F. Benoit (Wednesday February 20, 2013)
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IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements in paragraph 87 states that an entity shall not present any items of income or expense as extraordinary items, in the statement of comprehensive income or the separate income statement (if presented), or in the notes.
Further, in the Basis for Conclusions (BC) on IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, BC 60 states that IAS 8 Net Profit or Loss for the Period, Fundamental Errors and Changes in Accounting Policies (issued in 1993) required extraordinary items to be disclosed in the income statement separately from the profit or loss from ordinary activities. That standard defined 'extraordinary items' as 'income or expenses that arise from events or transactions that are clearly distinct from the ordinary activities of the enterprise and therefore are not expected to recur frequently or regularly'.
In 2002, the IASB decided to eliminate the concept of extraordinary items from IAS 8 and to prohibit the presentation of items of income and expense as 'extraordinary items' in the income statement and the notes. Therefore, in accordance with IAS 1, no items of income and expense are to be presented as arising from outside the entity's ordinary activities.
Some respondents to the exposure draft of 2002 argued that extraordinary items should be presented in a separate component of the income statement because they are clearly distinct from all of the other items of income and expense, and because such presentation highlights to users of financial statements the items of income and expense to which the least attention should be given when predicting an entity's future performance.
The Board (IASB) decided that items treated as extraordinary result from the normal business risks faced by an entity and do not warrant presentation in a separate component of the income statement. The nature or function of a transaction or other event, rather than its frequency, should determine its presentation within the income statement. Items currently classified as 'extraordinary' are only a subset of the items of income and expense that may warrant disclosure to assist users in predicting an entity's future performance.
Eliminating the category of extraordinary items eliminates the need for arbitrary segregation of the effects of related external events-some recurring and others not-on the profit or loss of an entity for a period. For example, arbitrary allocations would have been necessary to estimate the financial effect of an earthquake on an entity's profit or loss it it occurs during a major cyclical downturn in economic activity. In addition, paragraph 97 of IAS 1 requires disclosure of the nature and amount of material items of income and expense.
Read also for further references :
- Extraordinary Items : Time to Eliminate the Classification (the CPA Journal)
- Extraordinary Items Share Exclusive Company (Journal of Accountancy)
- Accounting and Auditing Issues surrounding the September 11 Disasters (the CPA Journal)
- Firms can't account for attacks as extraordinary items (CNN Money)
Source : IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (IFRS Bound Volume 2009)


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Marciniak, R. and Budnarowska, C., 2009. Marketing Approaches to Pop Up Stores: An Exploration of Social Networking. In: 15th Conference of the European Association of Education and Research in Commercial Distribution (EAERCD), 15-17 July 2009, University of Surrey, England. (Unpublished)
Full text available as:
PDF (Word to PDF conversion (via antiword) conversion from application/msword to application/pdf)
Official URL: http://www.som.surrey.ac.uk/conferences/EAERCDConf...
Internet and mobile technologies are redefining how retailers promote themselves to consumers. For instance, over recent years, the high street has witnessed the phenomenon of 'pop up stores', which rely on social network sites (SNS) and text messaging to inform consumers of their presence. In essence, they are retail stores that open up at empty retail locations for a temporary period of time and then disappear. The purpose of this paper is to describe this trend in terms of which retailers are doing it, why, where and how are they doing it? In addition, the paper is theoretically underpinned by an examination of literature drawn from entrepreneurial marketing in order to explore how retailers have exploited internet and mobile technologies in order to create marketing and branding opportunities. Finally, the paper offers directions for future research.
|Item Type:
|Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
|Faculty of Management
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Ms Corinna Budnarowska
|Deposited On:
|14 Jul 2010 14:38
|Last Modified:
|02 Aug 2016 11:51
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White coat outfit is perfect for this spring. I have to say that this white coat is pretty & I want it so badly. A nice boyfriend jeans with a nice colour tee it's like perfect. This outfit is perfect for school, dinner with friends, lunch with friends, shopping, at work ( all depends of your job) & more. It's a practical outfit. I put some gold jewellery with one silver midi ring. I add some colour with the top & the nail polish.
What do you think about this outfit? Do you like it? Do you like this coat? Leave me a comment below! :)
White Coat Outfit by whatwearwith featuring black white shoes


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Who doesn't love sushi, right? Well until several years ago, I didn't. I didn't hate it but I was not really a fan of it. All that changed when a friend initiated "The Sushi Night." The idea was simple, get together with several friends and make sushi together at home. I joined them for the company and the memories but the sushi turned out incredible and I have been hooked ever since. We have continued the sushi night tradition, although it happens less and less frequently now. With with work, school, church and family commitments it can be hard to find a free evening that works for everyone.
But recently we were able to get together with about 15 friends to have our coveted sushi night. We spent about an hour and a half prepping the ingredients – cutting vegetables, cleaning and cutting fish, cooking the rice, finding everything we need, and making about 3 spontaneous grocery store trips – and another hour and a half to two hours actually making the rolls. After all that hard work we were finally ready to dig in and enjoy the fruits of our labor! And was it ever worth it. As good as our local Japanese restaurants are and as wonderful as their sushi is, nothing beats homemade. The sushi was incredible but the memories made that night are priceless.
Here are just some pictures of some of our rolls.
The insides!
They were so delicious!
What are some of your favorite traditions or ways to spend time with friends?


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Online worldwide cook shop selling of Silicone Bakeware Moulds, for making cakes & bakes, jellies, soap, and many other uses. This Blog aims to show all our latest ideas, recipes, photos, competitions and news of upcoming products
Sunday, 24 October 2010
Oliver turns 2 ! Happy Birthday Baby !
10 comments:
Oh Sarah! I almost teared up! this is so lovely and sweet. Little (grown) Oliver must have been sooooo happy and pleased with his cake. It's absolutely beautiful. The colour is adorable and teh dinosaurs make it even more so!ReplyDelete
You did a fabulous job with icing the cake. just perfect! WORD cakes are the best. You're BRILLIANT for thinking them up! I think these moulds are going to be a big hit the way I see it. I like the 'cuppa tea'! it must have attracted a lot of attention. Good job Sarah!
and happy birthday hugssssssss to Oliver!
xoxo zurin
Happy Happy B'day Oliver and Sarah you made such a beautiful cake for you little man, very impressive, perfectly done and its just adorable can read the excitement from your words. glad that you all had a great time Hugs to little birth boy :D !ReplyDelete
Happy Birthday Oliver! So sweet that he was really looking forward to getting older and getting his cake :D He and I have something in common there, hahaa. Great looking cakes Sarah-Jane.ReplyDelete
thank you all. I'm having some fun with the new CAKE WORDS. There are so many things to do with them.ReplyDelete
I'm intending making a halloween cake if I can find the time...
Oliver has been a little poorly the last couple of days. Hopefully he'll be better soon as we're going up to Scotland this weekend on the plane
Hi Sarah - thank you for visiting my blog! I've been looking around yours - your son is adorable, and I absolutely love his reaction to the fabulous cake you make him. I hope he had a wonderful birthday!ReplyDelete
Are your molds 100% silicone? I haven't seen the individual letters available here in the US, but I can think of so many
Hello BYReplyDelete
yes- found a link to your blog earlier and decided to put you on my follow list - some interesting stuff there :-)
I'm a bit biased about Oliver - but then who isn't about their own kids. I love him to bits and he loves being in the kitchen !
Yes - these moulds / molds are just silicone. You won't find them ANYWHERE yet to my knowledge as these are my own design and something I've been working on for a couple of years. It's cost many thousands to produce the tooling to make all the letters and numbers. I'll be ready to launch them for worldwide sales from the beginning of December.
Basically, I'm passionate about cooking and my blog is my hobby. However - my hobby became rather extreme.... and I got obsessed about making / creating things and the easiest way to do it.
I'm actually a solid fuel engineer foremost. For work we originally just sold cast iron (wood burning and multi fuel) stoves. I also design and can fit flue pipe systems. Have a look at www.naturalheating.co.uk if you want a nosey.
I became "addicted" to using silicone in my kitchen a few years ago and found that in order to get some things I wanted, the only way was to make it. That involved a lot of money and a lot of volume of the same items (hundreds upon hundreds !) and it ended up that I had to form another branch of the company to be able to achieve my dreams.
I suppose I'm an innovative designer of bakeware too now :-P
What a cutie Oliver is and such a fun cake. Love the letters - and will keep an eye out for them.ReplyDelete
Thanks for stopping by my blog..
Sarah, he's a doll and Happy Birthday to you, Oliver! That's an adorable treat for him and I hope all is well there!ReplyDelete
What a touching post, and beautiful too. Love how creative you've got with the letters. They are fab!!ReplyDelete
Thank you for visiting and your comments :-)ReplyDelete
I hope you have enjoyed my blog and found it useful. Please do leave any comments you may have - your feedback is much appreciated. Thanks for visiting !