text:
Mountain Bikers, Has IMBA Lost its Soul? Become Too Powerful?
As a 20 year supporter of IMBA I decided not to support them in 2013 (still supported a few clubs though). Last year alone BetterRide gave IMBA and quite a few of it's local chapters over $3,000.
Honestly, it really wasn't a tough decision. I joined IMBA to help them fight the good fight, keep trails open and gain access to more trails. This seemed to be their focus for all of the 1990's and early 2000's as they are a nonprofit advocacy group. Slowly over the last 10 years they have been acting more like a for profit business by straying from trail advocacy and using their considerable clout to compete with private businesses. They started straying by marketing themselves as trail builders and competing with for profit trail builders. The sad thing about this (in my humble opinion) is that they charge more than the for profit companies and create predictable and boring trails! They have also dumbed down quite a few trails that I once greatly enjoyed. I realize some of this was done to make the trails more sustainable (which is good) but often it seemed like it was done to feed someone's ego as the great "Trail Dictator". "We know how to build great trails and what people like!", seems to be their motto, but, I and thousands of other riders were not consulted and they obviously don't know what I like! There are two things I really enjoy, flow and challenge and many IMBA created or fixed trails lack both of these (many SORBA and MORE trails do have both, props to the local chapters!).
I heard a Ranger at South Mountain Park justify trimming back a Stag-horn Cholla Cactus way off the trail by citing IMBA trail maintenance guidelines. That cactus was easily avoidable at reasonable speed and likely helped keep riders speed in check, which is a good thing on a mixed use trail.
Development of trails and parks expressly for the purpose of mountain biking is cool, but we must not fool ourselves into believing that such development is crucial to mountain biking. Mountain biking can be done across the land with no trail, it can be done on animal tracks, and can be done on hiking trails as well as jeep roads. Much of the beauty of mountain biking is that one can traverse the land under their own power. When one encounters terrain that they can't ride, a mountain bike can easily be walked.
Often what they seem to be doing is "protecting ourselves from the world" as in the video below. I realize the world is a dangerous place, I walk sections of mountain bike trails where the risk reward ratio is not in my favor, it does not detract from my ride in any way to get off and walk. I don't need a go around!
Why not have a bid system for trail projects where all the trail building companies can bid on the project? I know quite a few trail builders and some of them create phenomenal trails! Beginner trails that are fun and flowing (even for experts), intermediate trails that flow and provide moderate challenges and expert trails that challenge the rider (yet can be ridden with short hike a bikes by advanced beginners) all while being sustainable! Why not let the trail builders build and IMBA be the advocacy group. There is a huge conflict of interest here, as a friend said, "It's like the places out here in California that'll smog check your car- there's a reason they aren't allowed to perform the repair.".
Now IMBA has started a trails website with a database of mountain bike trails! There are already a few great for profit sites that do this and do it well. Also as friend pointed out many local shops get a lot of their business from selling maps or selling a tube or t-shirt when you stop in for some free trail advice.
Personally, I think IMBA should go back to being an advocacy group! Why give money to a company that competes with other businesses (in an unethical way, "well Springfield County, this trail is going to erode pretty badly. We can fix it for $200,000 now or $400,000 later.")? What do you think? Still love IMBA? Never loved IMBA? Like them but wish they would make some changes? We would love to hear your take on this!


text:
Male Mixed Breed
Approx. 6 years, 4 months old
Adopt me from the Timaru Centre
Animal ID: #139623
A little bit about me
Parker's last owners had a change in living circumstances and could no longer look after him so decided a new family might be best for him
What's special about meParker is a lovely playful boy who needs a family with lots of energy. Parker is a very strong dog so needs a new owner that is also physically strong. If you want a dog that loves adventure and will adore long walks and lots of play time Parker is the dog for you!
1. Can you care for a companion animal for their whole life?
- The average lifespan of dogs and cats is around 12 years but some dogs and cats can live even 20 years or more!
- If you want to adopt a companion animal for your children, consider that children can tire quickly of the routine of caring for the animal. Parents often quickly become the animal's primary caregiver and need to be OK with that. Therefore, adding a new animal family member must be a family decision and a family responsibility.
- If you are planning to move to another country or travel in the future, it might not be the right time to adopt an animal. However, it is possible to move country with your animal, and also to manage travel so that your animal is well cared for when you are away. Moving and travel are situations that can be managed, but this can be expensive and needs careful consideration and planning.
2. Can you afford to have the companion animal you are considering adopting?
All animals available for adoption from the SPCA have been health checked, desexed, vaccinated, and microchipped (for details see each adoption listing, as the exact details can vary by species); all of these are included in the adoption fee. However, there are also ongoing costs associated with having a companion animal.
These may include the following:
- Quality food and treats
- Worm and flea treatments
- Items such as leashes, toys, collars, housing, bedding, kennel, crates, enclosures
- Annual health check and vaccinations
- Veterinary visits and treatments due to illness or accidents, and preventative care
- Fees for boarding or home care for your animal if you need to go away
- Doggy Day care fees if you have to be away from your dog for long periods
- Training classes for puppies and dogs
- Annual registration fees for dogs (this is a legal requirement)
- Grooming expenses
- The cost of things that your animal might damage or that might suffer wear and tear, such as shoes, TV remote controls, books, couches, carpets, etc.
To help you get an idea of the cost of keeping a companion animal, the NZ Companion Animal Council has published data showing that companion animal owners spend on average the following amounts per year:
- $670 on their cat
- $1200 on their dog (larger dogs can be more expensive)
- $785 on their horse
- $310 on their rabbit
However, depending on an animal's individual needs these costs could be significantly higher.
3. Are you able to care for the companion animal you are considering adopting?
- It is your responsibility to know how to properly care for your animals; the Animal Welfare Act 1999 states that "the owner of an animal, and every person in charge of an animal, must ensure that the physical, health, and behavioural needs of the animal are met in a manner that is in accordance with both good practice and scientific knowledge."
- We can give advice on how to care for companion animals and help with any questions you might have. Your veterinarian is another source of credible and helpful information about caring for animals.
- Doing your research before you decide to adopt an animal will help you to make a good and informed choice about whether you can care for an animal and what animal would be most suitable.
- It is important that you are able to set aside adequate time to feed, exercise, groom, and interact with/play with your companion animal for their entire lifetime.
4. Is your home suitable for the companion animal you are considering adopting?
- The size of your home and garden and the location of your home are significant factors that determine how suitable your home is for a particular animal. For example, dogs need a safe fenced section, shelter, shade, and enough space outside in which to exercise, explore, and play. If you are thinking of adopting a cat and letting the cat outside, then you need to consider that cats can get injured on roads or affect local wildlife. Rabbits and guinea pigs need space inside, or a fenced area outside, in which to exercise, explore, and play.
- Some landlords do not allow their tenants to have animals. This means that having a companion animal can affect how easy it is to find a rental property and is something that you should consider if you are renting.
- If you already have companion animals, it is very important that you consider them, and how they will adapt to a new arrival, when thinking of adding another animal to your family.
5. Will a companion animal fit into your lifestyle?
- Long working hours, a busy social life, and regular trips away are all factors that will influence whether your lifestyle is suitable to share with a companion animal, and also what kind of animal might be best suited to you. It is important to consider these factors before deciding to adopt.
- All companion animals need human company and if you don't spend enough time with them this can make them unhappy and seriously affect their quality of life.
- You should not adopt a companion animal unless you are:
- home often enough to keep your animal company (or have someone else at home to keep the animal company)
- prepared to walk your dog every day (if you are thinking of adopting a dog)
- able to give your animal the basic training they need
- able to arrange suitable care for your animal when you are away
If you have carefully thought through all of the questions above and your answer to all of the questions is 'YES', then you are ready to adopt!
If you said 'no' to any of the questions above or are unsure, please consider what you would need to do to ensure you are well prepared to become a responsible companion animal owner.
Visit our Advice and Welfare section for more detailed information about caring for specific animals .
Contact your local SPCA centre if you have any queries regarding animal ownership.
How to adopt Parker
1. Come and meet me in person
Come and view our dogs any time during adoption hours. If you are interested in adopting a particular dog or puppy please call ahead to schedule a meet and greet appointment with our team. This ensures you have plenty of time to get to know the dog, especially during our busy periods, as we do prioritise appointments.
If you have questions about a dog or puppy before you come to the centre, just use the form on their profile to send us an enquiry.
2. Talk to our SPCA animal experts
Our friendly animal team will help you choose the pet that's right for you – it might not be me after all. They will discuss your lifestyle, experience level and what you're looking for. They'll check you tick all the boxes for adoption and introduce you to some of the animals that are right for you and your lifestyle. Bring everyone who lives in the house (especially any children) to come and meet the animals to ensure the best match for your family.
Please come in well before the centre closes and allow plenty of time for your visit. And don't feel down hearted if you are unable to find your 'perfect match' straight away. It may take several visits before you find the right animal for you, but don't give up – your forever companion will be well worth the wait!
3. Complete the application form
You are welcome to view the dogs in the adoption area. Before meeting any of our dogs in person, you'll need to fill in an application form and provide us with photo ID. One of our team will then introduce you to some of the dogs or puppies that could be right for you.
To save time during your visit you can download and complete the first page of the application form below before you come to the centre.
4. Introduce your family
Found your new best friend? The next step is introducing them to your existing family – everyone in the family, including your existing dog(s) must meet the new dog prior to adoption.
5. Property check
We will then arrange a time to complete a property check to ensure your home is fully fenced and has suitable space for the dog. We do not rehome dogs to be kept on chains or running wires. You will need a fully fenced property to keep your dog contained. If you are a renter, we will also need proof from either your landlord or property manager that they give permission to have a dog on the property.
6. Sign up
It's time to make it official. We'll just need you to sign up and pay the adoption fee and get ready to bring your new buddy home.
7. Register
Some of our centres include registration with the local council in their fees, but others don't so you will need to register your new dog with the council before you can take them home.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Fauna Europaea is Europe's main zoological taxonomic index. Scientific names and distributions of all living, currently known, multicellular, European land and freshwater animal species are available in one authoritative database.
Fauna Europaea offers key information on:
- Taxonomical index for European land and freshwater species
- Information on the geographical distribution of many species
- Database on taxonomic experts in Europe
- References on literature of European species taxonomy and distribution
- A browsable taxon tree
Fauna Europaea provides access to its rich and quality-checked data via this public web portal that also links to other key biodiversity services. It is installed as a taxonomic backbone in a wide range of biodiversity services and actively contributes to biodiversity informatics innovations in various initiatives and EC programs. Fauna Europaea started in 2000 as an EC funded FP5 project and provides a unique taxonomic reference for many user-groups such as scientists, governments, industries, nature conservation communities and educational programs. Fauna Europaea was formally accepted as an INSPIRE standard for Europe, as part of the European Taxonomic Backbone established in PESI. Today it is hosted by the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.
This site is powered by the EDIT Platform for Cybertaxonomy and supported by EU BON (eubon.eu). EU BON - Building the European Biodiversity Observation Network, presents an innovative approach towards the integration of biodiversity data and information systems, both from in-situ and remote sensing data sources. The EU BON project is a 7th Framework Programme funded by the European Union under Contract No. 308454.
Information about the old website
Due to significant security issues and a warning received from the German Federal Office for Information Security, the old Fauna Europaea site (faunaeur.org) urgently had to be closed and is unfortunately no longer available. All requests to this site are automatically redirected to the new portal, also directly available under fauna-eu.org.
The new Fauna Europaea portal first launched in late 2016 provides access to all taxonomic and geographic distribution information currently contained in the Fauna Europaea database by directly searching for individual taxa. Through a search request, also the full taxonomic tree is available for further navigation.
However, a number of functionalities (e.g. to obtain a list of species for any taxon above the genus level, to offer export/download functionalities for species lists/distributions) as well as some statistics available at the old site are not yet implemented at the new site, which is still under development. These functionalities will be implemented in the near future, as well as further improvements on display and functions. Also, pending updates on the taxonomic and geographic content in the database will be tackled, but may still take some time due to limited personnel and resources available.
Many thanks for your understanding and we apologize for all inconveniences. In case of urgent need of specific information currently not accessible from the site, please, do contact us.


text:
Metal vs Plastic Train Horns
Do not even CONSIDER using anything less than ABS plastic. It won't last. ABS can at least stand up to heat and abuse. ABS is cheaper than metal, particularly because metal prices are on the rise. Typically, however, if you … Continue reading
Common Questions
Do all train horns/air horns need a compressor/tank system? The only horns that do not need a compressor/tank system are direct drive models. Direct drive models come with a pump that shoots the air directly into the horn, vs pressurizing … Continue reading
Compressor Mounting & Advice
SOME TIPS FOR TRAIN HORN/AIR HORN COMPRESSOR MOUNTING AND USE Never mount an unsealed compressor outside of the vehicle. If water, dirt or debris is allowed to enter the intake, it will damage your compressor. Ensure you have a sealed … Continue reading


text:
People want transistors—lots of them. It pretty much doesn't matter what shape they're in, how small they are, or how fast they operate. Simply said, the more the merrier. Diversity is also good. The more different the transistors, the more useful and interesting the product. And without any question, the cheaper the transistors, the better. So the issue is, how best to achieve as many diverse transistors at the lowest cost possible.
One approach is more chips. Placing a lot of chips close together on a small board will produce a system with many transistors. Another way is more transistors per chip. Keep on scaling the technology to provide more transistors in one or a few chips.
The third option combines these two approaches. Let's have many chips with many transistors and end up with a huge number of transistors. However, there is a limit to this approach. It's well understood that scaling is coming to an end. And placing multiple chips on a board can have a terrible effect on a system's overall speed and power dissipation.
But there is an elegant and intellectually simple solution. Rather than connecting these chips horizontally across a board, connect them vertically, providing N times more transistors, where N is the number of chips stacked one above another. Such vertical, 3-D integration was first broached by William Shockley, co-inventor of the transistor at Bell Labs in 1947. Shockley described the 3-D integration concept in a 1958 patent, which was followed by Merlin Smith and Emanuel Stern's 1967 patent outlining how best to produce the holes between layers. We now call these inter-layer holes through silicon vias (TSVs). Technology is still catching up to these 3-D concepts.
Three-dimensional integration offers exciting advantages. For example, the vertical distance between layers is much shorter than the horizontal dimensions across a chip. Three-dimensional circuits, therefore, operate faster and dissipate less power than their 2-D equivalent. A 3-D system is shockingly small, permitting it to fit much more conveniently into a tiny space. Think small portable electronics (e.g., credit cards).
But the most exciting advantage of 3-D integration isn't the small form factor, higher speed, or lower power; it's the natural ability to support many disparate technologies and functions as one integrated, heterogeneous system. Even better, each chip layer can be optimized for a particular function and technology, since the individual chips can each be developed in isolation. No more trading off different capabilities to combine disparate technologies on the same chip. Now we can use the absolute best technology for each layer and a completely different and optimized technology for a different layer. This approach enables all kinds of novel applications that until now couldn't have been conceived or would have been cost-prohibitive.
—Advertise Here—
Imagine placing a microprocessor plane below a MEMS-accelerometer plane below an analog plane (with ADCs) below a temperature sensor, all below a video imager (which has to be at the top to "see"). All of these planes fit together into a tiny (smaller than a fingernail) silicon cube while operating at higher speeds and dissipating lower power.
There are technical issues, including: how to best make the TSVs, how to construct the system architecture to fully exploit the system's 3-D nature, how to deliver power across these multiple planes, how to synchronize this system to best move data around the cube, how to manage system design complexity, and much more.
Two issues rise to the top. The first is power dissipation (specifically, power density). When many transistors switch at a high rate within a tiny volume, the temperature rises, which can impair performance and reliability. I believe this issue, albeit difficult, is technically solvable and simply will require a lot of good engineering.
The real problem is cost. How do we mature this technology quickly enough to drive the costs down to a point where volume commercial applications are possible? Many companies are close to producing tangible 3-D-based products. Cubes of highly dense memory will likely be the first serious and cost-effective product. Early versions are already available. Three-dimensional integration will soon be here in a serious way with what will be a fascinating assortment of all kinds of exciting new products. You won't have to wait too long.


text: FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- For nearly a decade now American service members have been deployed in two wars. That can often make the family finances dicey. But the City of Fresno pitched in early with a plan to help families of its employees to maintain the same income while their loved one was overseas. We met up with one of those soldiers recently.


text:
James Baldwin, the acclaimed African-American novelist and poet, famously wrote, "Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor." Baldwin was speaking of the psychological complexity of socioeconomic disparities.
His observations were specifically of the African-American community at the height of segregation in the 1960s, but the concept that the poor are often disparately more indebted and carry a greater financial burden, for lack of the necessary resources to survive, is just as much a reality today as it was then.
The political battles currently being waged in Washington reflect age-old struggles between the haves and have-nots. President Barack Obama, elected on a wave of populist enthusiasm — otherwise known as hope — came to embody the dreams of both the slave and the immigrant, giving birth to the idea that all men are created equal, and that the American dream is truly attainable by all.
Three short years later, and we see a nation divided and a crippled economy. Those who have held power for far too long are well-equipped at constructing a paradigm in which to maintain it. The Republican establishment and its neo-Confederate Tea Party caucus are hell-bent on destroying the goodwill achieved by the election of America's first African-American president and, in light of the latest battle over the debt-ceiling increase, have proved that they are willing to go as far as threatening the nation's economic solvency in order to "take their country back."
But from whom?
It seems that the entire conservative platform, often inarticulately expressed by the Republican congressional leadership and their Tea Party spokesmen, is committed to austerity measures that, at their core, are an assault on the poor and the middle class. Cuts to entitlement spending were a carte blanche requirement before negotiations could be entered on the matter of extending the debt ceiling and avoiding what could have become the nation's first-ever default.
No higher taxes for the wealthy could be considered because of a blind allegiance to the uncompromising Grover Norquist pledge signed by so many Republicans. And last month, Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah expressed their true sentiment on the floor of the chamber when he insulted the American poor.
Hatch claimed that poor people need to take more responsibility for relieving the country's debt, because, after all, it would be unfair to tax the "daylights out of everybody around here." In this unscripted moment, Hatch unwittingly reveals that he is part of the problem, not the solution, and that he represents the very "wealthy" whom President Obama is asking to share in the burden during these tough economic times. "Everybody around here" presumably refers to Hatch and his fellow senators, who earn $174,000 a year and whose median net worth (as of 2009) was $2.4 million.
Herein lies the conundrum of American wealth in relationship to American poverty: The pride and prejudice are so wholly embraced that the shame has found no place to hide.
A Heavier Burden for Blacks
About 43.6 million Americans (14.3 percent) were living in poverty in 2009, up from 39.8 million (13.2 percent) in 2008, according to the U.S. Census. The Department of Health and Human Services correlated the poverty level to a total yearly income of $22,350 for a family of four and $10,890 for an individual. Although whites represent the largest number of those in poverty, for African Americans and Hispanics, poverty rates are much higher, with 24.7 percent of all blacks and 23.7 percent of all Hispanics in America living below the poverty line. This is compared with 8.6 percent of all whites.
Perhaps Orrin Hatch needs a lesson in statistics. His ignorant naïveté conveys two things: 1) the GOP's eagerness to throw working families under the bus to avoid placing even the slightest burden on the wealthy and corporations, and 2) our politicians' complete disconnect from the realities most Americans live with and struggle through.
A recent report published by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has gained credibility in conservative and Republican circles, explored the question of what qualifies as poverty in America. The report, entitled "Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What Is Poverty in the United States Today," appears to support all the ill-informed tenets of conservative thinking with regard to the true nature of poverty. The report concludes that the poor in America are quite well-off and lead lives relatively free of economic want.
What were the factors that informed the report's analysis? The Heritage Foundation noted the household appliances present in the homes of the American poor. The typical poor household, according to the report, has "a car, air conditioning, color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player or VCR … a refrigerator, an oven, stove, and a microwave."
The Heritage Foundation concluded that the state of American poverty is being drastically exaggerated by Democrats and liberals, and that "Over the long term, exaggeration has the potential to promote a substantial misallocation of limited resources for a government that is facing massive future deficits."
Insensitivity Parading as Austerity
This echoes the Orrin Hatch philosophy. "I hear how they [President Obama and Democrats] are so caring for the poor and so forth," Hatch said in remarks on the Senate floor last month. "The poor need jobs. And they also need to share some of the responsibility." It is baffling why so many lower-middle-class and rural, poor whites continue to vote Republican when the party's agenda is so antithetical to their interests and well-being.
By seeking to define poverty in absolute terms, the Republican political machine is engaging in an exercise that could literally form a Third World America. The latest austerity measures enforced by the debt compromise, and the looming cuts to government spending expected to occur, may well lead to a double-dip recession — but that is only the least of our worries.
American is facing systemic, long-term unemployment and underemployment. This can only serve to compound the dilemma already faced by those who are impoverished.
By suggesting that the poor should help shoulder the burden because they have televisions, conservatives flatly ignore the psychological aspects of poverty. Does simply owning a car or television now make one rich? Has the bar been reset so low?
By claiming that people are not poor because they have clothing to wear or a refrigerator in which to keep food implies that they are undeserving of basic human needs. This is inhumane and decisively un-American. And destroying social programs designed to help those in need will send the message that insensitivity, parading as austerity, is the new status quo.
As James Baldwin proclaimed in his collection of essays The Price of the Ticket, "The inequalities suffered by the many are in no way justified by the rise of a few." The American political and diplomatic process should encourage progress, not legislate lack and want.
Edward Wyckoff Williams is an author, columnist, political and economic analyst, and a former investment banker. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.
Edward Wyckoff Williams is a contributing editor at The Root. He is a columnist and political analyst, appearing on Al-Jazeera, MSNBC, ABC, CBS Washington and national syndicated radio. Follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.


text:
Bob Clary: 2012 William E. Winter Recipient
A UIS Alumnus and Successful
(The following words are taken from Dr. George Kottemann's introduction of Bob Clary on the evening of November 9. Dr. Kottemann is Chairman of the UI Foundation Presidents Council.)
Bob Clary of Bloomington, Illinois is a graduate of the UIS College of Business Administration, earning his Master's in Business Administration in 1985.
Today, Mr. Clary enjoys a successful career at State Farm Insurance, serving as the manager of the company's systems department. State Farm Insurance is ranked number 43 on the Fortune 500 list and is the largest provider of car insurance in the United States.
A True Champion and Advocate for UIS
Mr. Clary has been a true champion and advocate for UIS, particularly through his professional role at State Farm.
In 2005, Bob began reconnecting with the UIS department of computer science in his capacity within the systems division. He facilitated mutually beneficial meetings and introductions between the two organizations that are now yielding outstanding opportunities for UIS students and faculty.
UIS A Targeted Recruiting School for State Farm
This partnership has led to State Farm inviting UIS to become only the 18th university nationwide to be one of the corporation's targeted recruiting schools, a position UIS students benefit from each and every year.
$100,000 for the Department of Computer Science
Additionally, Bob has guided UIS in the grant application process at State Farm resulting in more than $100,000 in support to the Department of Computer Science, making it one of this campus' most generous and active corporate partners.
A Mentor to UIS Students
Mr. Clary's role does not just end there, though—he has spent many hours volunteering his own time and energy, from mentoring current students to offering advice and insight to UIS faculty and staff, from giving of his own financial resources to manning the State Farm booth at campus career fairs.
Mr. Clary has been a champion for UIS and his efforts, both indirectly and directly, have provided private support to UIS that truly makes a difference in the lives of countless others.


text:
BuildDirect necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 27 diseños de 19 diseñadores freelance.
Purpose of this contest
BuildDirect is the world's largest online manufacturer-wholesaler of building materials. We sell flooring, roofing, siding, decking, landscape and kitchen & bath products at manufacturer-direct prices. Since our launch in 1999, satisfied customers in every state in the U.S. plus over 60 countries around the globe have helped us become one of the fastest growing building products companies in the world.
Budget-conscious customers looking for alternative flooring to laminate and hardwood. They seek this vinyl flooring, which comes with many benefits, at a cheaper price without compromising quality.
We require a brand name for our new offering of Vinyl Tiles. Vinyl Tile is versatile flooring that can have the look of wood, laminate or stone. It is more comfortable to walk on, moisture resistant and easy to clean.
Name Requirements:
The name must be trade-mark free and also not conflict with any industry-related companies after conducting a web search. Please visit this website: http://www.uspto.gov/, click on "Trademarks" and then "Search Marks".
We currently carry a line of Vinyl Tiles that are under the "Konecto" brand name.
What we seek is a brand name that evokes quality and durability. Most vinyl tile manufacturers have been in existence for decades, for e.g. Tarkett (120 years), Mannington (95 years) and Domco (130 years). These brands can be found on a competitor's website, internetfloors.com. That being said, we want this brand name to give the consumer a sense of a long-standing reputation.
The name should be easy to pronounce and not too long. We want customers to see the brand name and be comfortable with it; we want them to feel confident knowing that they have chosen the right flooring for their home.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text: Discover where you can find the cheapest gift cards on the internet, browse through a massive selection of the best gift cards. We use product data from multiple online retailers to help you find the best gift-card deals you can find. PriceNode.com also carries gift card accessories such as gift-card holders.


text:
Tax collection may take a hit as I-T officials announce stir
Even as government has stepped up efforts to mop up tax collection before the fiscal ends, a section of Income Tax officials has decided to shun work and stop issuing assessment orders.business Updated: Feb 08, 2013 16:28 IST
Even as government has stepped up efforts to mop up tax collection before the fiscal ends, a section of Income Tax officials has decided to shun work and stop issuing assessment orders crucial for recovery of taxes to press their demands, including time-bound promotions.
The Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association (ITGOA), in its latest resolution has said that none of the members will "participate in any search and survey action including TDS survey, inspection, verification, study or whatever name called and recovery surveys from February 20, 2013."
The tax collection work ends by the finish of the current financial year on March 31. The ITGOA includes the second rung of I-T department officials, after the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) cadre which supervises the overall work of revenue collection across the country.
The association, which comprises a substantial chunk of the I-T department workforce, has also decided that they would not cooperate in tax recovery drives and will abstain from submission of statistical reports, dossier reports, demi-official letters from February 11, 2013.
The I-T department is tasked with the collection of revenue under the direct taxes category which includes income tax, corporate tax and wealth tax. The association has demanded implementation of the cadre restructuring proposal, promotions of Income Tax Officers (ITO) to Assistant Commissioners, upgrade in pay scales of a certain rank of officials among other organisation and career progression related issues.
As per latest data, net direct tax collections grew by 12.49 per cent to over Rs 3.90 lakh crore in the April-January period, less than the budgeted annual target of 15 per cent. The direct tax collection target is 5.70 lakh crore for this fiscal. The tax collection drive could further be hit as yet another association of the department.Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF)-- is also mulling to join the stir after its all-India meeting on February 11.


text:
Beach House Bar & Grill is a themed Bar & Grill celebrating Australian Beach culture & cuisine
We are a steak and seafood house offering our customers a range of great value meals – from steaks & seafood to burgers & salad, plus a wide variety of daily and weekly specials. Our customers can enjoy a wide range of beer, wine, spirits & delicious cocktails from the bar. We offer our patrons a great experience in a relaxed family friendly environment, with a different focus at each venue.
The Directors and Team at Beach House Bar & Grill invite you to visit one of our nine locations across Queensland – Brisbane CBD, Garden City, Maroochydore, Chermside, Springfield, Nambour, Browns Plains, Northlakes, Loganholme, Tweed Heads and Coomera just opened!


text:
The item is in your basket.!Close Add to basket »
The Seam is a proven classic with a focus on fit and performance. Head-hugging comfort is achieved through the turn of a dial with the durable In Form Fit System and ventilation can be tuned to match a variety of conditions with our innovative Stack Ventilation and Thermostat Control Adjustable Venting. It's clear that the tried and true Seam is a weapon for all-mountain attacks.


text:
The home of the Minnesota Vikings has been deflated for the final time. This is time lapse video of the roughly 35-minute process. Once home to the Twins, Vikings and Timberwolves, the Metrodome slowly lost all its major tenants but the Vikings. Now that the Vikings have a new billion-dollar facility planned, the Metrodome will be ushered off to stadium Valhalla.
The roof silently deflated under gray, snowy skies, sagging first in the middle. When the process was done, the stadium looked like a concave dish, rimmed with snow.
The grim circle of life rolls on, unabated: demolition begins Monday, followed by construction on the Vikings new facility.


text:
Saturday ⤴
02 December
03 December
04 December
05 December
06 December
07 December
08 December
Submit a Still Add your own still and we'll feature it here.
Not Coming to a Theater Near You is a film resource that assumes a bias towards older, often unpopular, and sometimes unknown films that merit a second look. Read more about us or Get in touch.


text:
Cookies on TOMRA's website
TOMRA has updated its cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This includes cookies from third party platforms that may track your use of TOMRA's website.
06 September 2007
Asker, 5 September 2007
Tomra Systems ASA


text:
After her successful Sunday debut as a freshman gymnast at UCLA, veteran British gymnast Danusia Francis said she is enjoying her transition into the newest phase of her gymnastics career.
Francis, who competed on uneven bars and balance beam during UCLA's winning effort against over Southern Utah University, enrolled at UCLA on an athletic scholarship after serving as a reserve gymnast for the British team at last summer's Olympic Games in London. While Francis has yet to declare her major at UCLA, she is considering a career as a television presenter.
Born May 13, 1994, in Coventry, Francis previously trained under coaches Vincent Walduck, Michele Walduck and 1981 world floor exercise champion Natalia Ilienko-Jarvis at Heathrow Gymnastics Club in London.
Francis represented Great Britain at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, where she placed 34th all-around in qualifications and helped her team place fifth (the country's best world finish in history) in the team final. She finished 16th all-around at the 2011 European Championships in Berlin, and was a member of the fourth-place British team at the 2012 Europeans in Brussels. Earlier in Francis's career she placed 17th all-around at the 2008 European Junior Championships.
In British Championships competition, Francis's best results include third place all-around, and first place on balance beam and floor exercise, in 2010; second place all-around and first place on balance beam in 2011; and sixth place all-around in 2012.
Francis was one of the reserve gymnasts for the British team at last summer's Olympic Games in London, where she had the opportunity to perform exhibition routines on balance beam under spotlights before each competition session.
IG spoke with Francis at UCLA following Sunday's competition, where she positively assessed her transition to academic and athletic life as a U.S. university student.
IG: What was it like competing in your first U.S. collegiate meet?
DF: It's such a different experience, competing in such a team environment. I hurt my shoulder in warm-up, so that held me back a bit, but it was a lot of fun. There was so much positive energy around.
IG: How did you manage your nerves, competing for the first time since summer and in a new place?
DF: The atmosphere helps you control your nerves a lot, since it's more like having a team right there beside you. It really helps you. Making sure you support your whole team after you perform makes you forget about your own nerves, as well.
IG: After a lengthy international career, what gives you the motivation to continue competing?
DF: Before I was offered the scholarship, I was definitely thinking I would quit after London, whether I made (the British Olympic team) or not. So being here, my motivation is definitely the team. We have so much support, not just in gymnastics but getting a great education and the whole experience so far. I'm sure the next four years are going to be so much fun.
IG: What has been the biggest adjustment for you – the academic demands, the U.S. culture or something else?
DF: I was very homesick when I came here. I was at boarding school since I was nine, but I knew I could always go home because it was only about an hour and a half away. Being so far from home (at UCLA) and knowing I couldn't go home even if I wanted to gave me a slight feeling of being trapped. But having the support I've had has helped me get through that.
IG: What's the biggest difference for you between England and the U.S.?
DF: Everything is so different from England. It's been a big adjustment. The weather, for sure, and there are some small differences, like foods that they don't have here, like baked beans (laughs). I was surprised to find that out! The people are slightly different. I'd says that, in England, people are more sarcastic and to-the-point, so at the beginning if I was a bit honest sometimes to the other freshmen, I was like, "Just let me know!" because they're not used to people being as honest as people are in England, I think (laughs).
IG: What is your course load this term?
DF: This quarter I have English, Architecture and German 59, which is like learning about German culture. I don't have a major yet. I'm undeclared, but I will possibly major in communications. I also love to write, so maybe English or sociology. I'm not sure yet.
IG: What are your thoughts about competing internationally in the future?
DF: I want to do the World University Games in Russia (this summer), and then next year we'll see how my body is, and how my mind is. I'm definitely taking it one day, one month, one year at a time.
Comments (0)
Write comment
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Monday, March 16, 2020
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Saturday, March 07, 2020
Saturday, March 07, 2020


text:
Program Goal VII: Planning Instruction
Effective planning is a crucial component of effective teaching. According to Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown (2004), there is not necessarily one "best" way to go about instructional planning. However, "Regardless of the format they choose, master teachers use planning to help them select the content and methods that will most help their students achieve predefined learning goals. Without effective planning, students are less likely to achieve these goals" (p. 118). Though it is often helpful for beginning teachers to put most of their planning in writing, research cited by Kindsvatter, Wilen, and Ishler (1996) showed that much of the instructional planning process is done mentally and that "written plans reflect only a small portion of the total plan" (p. 146). These authors also noted that the planning process typically begins with a general idea and moves through phases of modification and elaboration. Though there are various ways to describe these phases or stages of instructional planning, Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown (2004) proposed the following three: preplanning, unit and lesson planning, and post-lesson activities. The paragraphs below follow their format.
Preplanning: Before getting down to the specifics of unit or lesson planning, teachers need to consider several more general aspects of instruction such as overall content, standards, resources, instructional materials, the needs of their students, and time constraints (Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown 2004).
Deciding what content is important, relevant, and appropriate is a difficult task for beginning teachers. Sources to help with this process can be found at the school district, state, and national levels. The Minnesota Department of Education (2011) has established Academic Standards for the fine arts, English language arts, mathematics, physical education, science, and social studies. These standards specify curricular content for Minnesota schools and also specify the content in reading, writing, mathematics, and science that is assessed as part of Minnesota's compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act. At the national level, nearly every discipline has a national organization which has identified standards (see Standard I, Subject Matter), and as of August 8, 2011, 46 states had adopted the Common Core State Standards for English/language arts and mathematics (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2011).
The availability of resources and materials is also an important preplanning consideration and often limits the range of possibilities for instructional activities. Fortunately, the Internet is a great tool for locating resources of potential use for lesson planning. Students and their needs, including developmental and readiness levels as well as prior knowledge, must also be considered. Determining student needs is complicated by the fact that nearly all classrooms include a wide range of developmental and academic levels as well as students with special needs. Cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity are also factors that influence content decisions.
The school calendar and time constraints are additional variables that must be considered during preplanning. As Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown (2004) noted, there often is not enough time for all that teachers need to do. Therefore, it is important to set priorities, even (and perhaps especially) about unit content and decide which topics to include, which to emphasize, and which to omit. As noted by Tyson (1991), a characteristic of effective experienced teachers is their ability to focus their lessons around and give greater emphasis to important and more challenging aspects of subject matter.
Unit and Lesson Planning: After reviewing standards, considering student needs, and deciding how much time should be devoted to the particular unit, the nest step is to focus on developing the specific lessons that will go together to make up the unit. Though there are many appropriate formats in which lesson plans may be written, most include such essential elements as goals, objectives, instructional activities, lesson rationale, motivation, and assessment.
Goals are "general statements of desired educational outcomes" (Snowman, McCown, and Biehler, 2012, p. 441). Objectives are more specific and describe what students will be able to do in order to demonstrate the new learning that has occurred as a result of the lesson or unit. Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives (Bloom, et al 1956) is a helpful and commonly-used system for classifying the levels at which objectives are written. The taxonomy includes three domains: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor. The six levels of the cognitive domain, listed from lowest to highest, are knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. It is crucial that lesson and unit objectives be written at cognitive levels that are consistent with the proposed instruction and assessments. The affective and psychomotor taxonomies, though helpful for planning some lessons, are neither as widely used nor as generally accepted as the cognitive taxonomy. Anderson and Krathwohl (2001) offer modified versions of taxonomies for all three domains. Their taxonomy of the cognitive domain changes nouns to verbs (for instance analysis to analyzing), substitutes the terms remembering and understanding for knowledge and comprehension, places creating, their term for synthesizing, at the highest level of the taxonomy, and moves evaluating down to the second-highest level.
In addition to goals and objectives, most lesson plans include a rationale which explains why a specific lesson is necessary or appropriate. Having a rationale is important in justifying the need for teaching a topic or content, not only for the teacher's sake, but also for students, parents, and administrators (Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown 2004). Explaining the lesson's rationale to students is also an important way to help students see the relevance of a topic, one important factor in in developing student motivation. (See Program Goal V: Learning Environment for an overview of student motivation.)
Instructional activities, or teaching methods, are the heart of the lesson. Options such as constructivism, discovery learning, cooperative learning, direct instruction, discussion-based learning, reception learning, and holistic learning all may be appropriate in certain circumstances. Though content, availability of resources, and student characteristics play a part in deciding which specific instructional techniques are chosen, the teacher's personal style or philosophy is often a deciding factor in this choice. We believe it is generally best for teachers to design their own lessons and instructional activities that are specifically tailored to their students' needs. However, collections of high-quality lesson plans available on the Internet, such as those offered by The Gateway, NEA Lesson Ideas, Thinkfinity, Smithsonian Education, Discovery Education, Read/Write/Think, and EdSITEment, are excellent sources for ideas regarding instructional strategies as well as other aspects of lessons and units. Robert Branch, Dohun Kim, and Lynn Koenecke (2002) offer helpful ideas for evaluating and choosing online educational materials.
Regardless of which instructional techniques one chooses, a helpful approach in planning for individual needs is the "differentiated classroom" described by Carol Tomlinson (1999). Her proposal takes into account student needs such as interests, readiness, prior knowledge, gender, and culture so that the content, process, and products will better meet those needs. In this model, students are offered tasks based on flexible grouping. Effective differentiated instruction often involves the use of instructional scaffolding, a process in which students are given various forms of support or assistance (Larkin, 2002) in order to control for aspects of the task "that are beyond the learners' capabilities so they can focus on and master those features of the task that they can grasp quickly" (Schunk, 2012, p. 245). The amount and form of scaffolding varies depending on the students' needs.
Developing appropriate assessment strategies is yet another crucial aspect of this stage of the planning cycle. As noted by Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown (2004), assessment must occur throughout the unit, not just at its end. Assessment during instruction allows the teacher to monitor student learning and make any necessary adjustments. Though checklists and rating scales may be used for these purposes, the majority of classroom assessment during instruction is formative, and involves observation and reflection (Snowman, McCown, & Biehler, 2012).
Planning for Post-Lesson Activities: Evaluation of student learning is one of the final pieces of a well-constructed unit or lesson. As was the case when choosing instructional strategies, the teacher again has many options in regard to evaluation. Traditional objective and essay tests as well as performance assessments all may be appropriate as long as they effectively measure the extent to which students have learned the intended content and skills or mastered the lesson objectives. Regardless of which format is chosen, it is essential that the evaluation activities are linked directly to the lesson objectives and are consistent with the cognitive levels at which the objectives are written. An overview of evaluation techniques is provided in our chapter on assessment (Program Goal VIII).
Finally, lessons and units should always be thought of as works-in-progress or "emerging documents," as Orlich, Harder, Callahan, Trevisian, and Brown, (2004) have called them. In other words, they can always be refined or improved through careful reflection on accomplishment of the lesson's outcomes. As we have noted in Goal IX: Reflection and Professional Development, we agree with James Cooper (1999) that "reflection is the decision-making system's way of correcting itself" (p. 8) in that it adds to one's body of knowledge for use in future decisions, particularly those involving instructional planning.
Anderson, L W, & Krathwohl, D R (eds.) (2001). A Taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. New York: Longman
Bloom, B. et al. (1956). Taxonomy of educational objectives: Handbook I: Cognitive domain. New York: Longman.
Common Core State Standards Initiative (2011). In the States. Retrieved from http://www.corestandards.org/in-the-states.
Branch, R.,Kim, D, & Koenecke, L. (2002). Evaluating online materials for use in instruction. Retrieved from http://www.libraryinstruction.com/evaluating.html
Cooper, James M. (1999). The teacher as a decision-maker. In Classroom teaching skills ( 6th Ed.). James M. Cooper (editor) pp. 1-19. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin.
Edwards, C. and Mccartle, L. (2006). Clickers, be aware! New horizons for learning. Retrieved from Kindsvatter, R., Wilen, W., & Ishler, M. (1996). Dynamics of Effective Teaching (3rd. Ed.) White Plains, NY: Longman.
Larkin, M. (2002). Using Scaffolded Instruction to Optimize Learning. ERIC Clearinghouse. ED 474 301.
Minnesota Department of Education. (2011). Academic Standards. Retrieved from http://education.state.mn.us/mde/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Standards/index.html
Orlich, C, Harder, R., Callahan, R., Trevisian, M., & Brown, a. (2004). Teaching strategies: A guide to effective instruction. (7th Ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Schunk, D. (2012). Learning theories: An educational perspective (6th Edition). Boston: Pearson Publishing, Inc.
Snowman, J., McCown, R., & Biehler, R. (2012). Psychology applied to teaching (13th Edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Tomlinson, C. A. (1999). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of learners. Alexandria, VA: Association for Curriculum and Supervision Development.
Tyson, P. (1991). Talking about lesson planning: The use of semi-structured interviews in teacher education. Teacher Education Quarterly. 18 (3), 87-96.
Updated July 2012 by Edmund J. Sass


text:
Ionix Supreme combines Adaptogens, antioxidants and nutrients to help strengthen the body's ability to fight the effects of stress to promote better recovery, focus and overall energy.
Natural botanicals help support better mental and physical performance.
Made with quality ingredients tested for potency and purity and produced by experts using a proprietary brewing process to help preserve ingredient benefits.
A daily supplement containing Vitamin D3, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and resveratrol to help reduce the signs of ageing from the inside out.
This pack includes a combination of Kosher certified products to fuel your body with quality nutrition and help you reach your long-term health goals.
The Healthy Ageing Premium Pack is ideal for those looking to improve vitality and provide their body with optimal nutrition. Combining the latest advances in nutritional cleaning with nourishing meal replacements and scientifically advanced supplements, this Pack is designed to keep you feeling healthy and energised.
Easily meet your daily nutritional needs with convenient supplement essentials, as well as a plethora of products to help support your overall health, so gaining more time to enjoy life becomes a priority.
Ionix Supreme is a comprehensive collection of proven ingredients that are well-documented to support mental and physical performance.* It is made with quality ingredients tested for potency and purity and produced by experts using a proprietary brewing process to help preserve benefits of the included ingredients.
We found the most complete group of ingredients from around the world to create a powerful, nutrient-rich supplement containing a variety of Adaptogens that help balance the body, protect against the effects of stress and support overall health.*
Adaptogenic ingredients derived from plants help combat the effects of stress and power performance.*
Antioxidants promote immune health by helping to protect cells from free radicals. Free radicals are created when your body is exposed to environmental toxins, stress and other everyday factors. Your wellness depends largely on how healthy your immune system is.
* Isagenix products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Transparency and accuracy are a top priority at Isagenix. We constantly strive to ensure that product information is complete, accurate, and current. However, at times, products may be unavailable or have different labels or attributes than those listed here.
Images shown to illustrate flavour and are not a representation of the appearance of the product or any ingredients therein.


text:
- Helping People Who Help: Prevent Hunger & Homelessness in Orange County
Helping People Who Help: Prevent Hunger & Homelessness in Orange County
Nipomo Organizing Solutions, together with our clients, show our admiration by supporting South County Outreach (partner with United Way).
Donations from our clients go to this fantastic group of volunteers.
- Nipomo History – My Grandfather's Boat
Nipomo History – My Grandfather's Boat
In the 1920's through 1940 my Grandfather Neelands sailed a 54 foot sailboat. It was his pride and joy.
Since Nipomo was also so loved by my Dad - and he shared with me the gift and joy of photography - I named my company after the boat.
Are you ready to get organized but don't know where to start?
Follow Julie Morgenstern's S.P.A.C.E. formula to make the task manageable, methodical and rewarding.
The key to succeeding with the SPACE formula is to do every one of the steps, and most importantly, to do them in order.
S ort
P urge
A ssign a home
C ontainerize
E qualize
- Free Pamphlets
FREE Pamphlets
Our Orange County organizers are now offering pamphlets on...
- ~ Organizing
- ~ Moving
- ~ Sentimental Clutter
- ~ Women's Safety
Available to be sent to those who are interested.
- Vicki Gunvalson
Vicki Gunvalson
"I have hired Judy on several occasions and it made the move
- Jamie Gwen
Jamie Gwen
- Jennie
"Hi Judy,
I'm looking forward to eventually picking up where we left off. I felt a very positive shift since working together and I am making good progress at becoming the wife and mother I have always envisioned...
- Carol Bridges
Carol Bridges
Judy can tear apart a room or garage and a short time later she has organized it completely. It is amazing and such a relief when it is done. Judy, thank you for the peace you bring...
- Angie Weeks
Angie Weeks
I wanted to give Judy a HUGE thank you for helping me organize my bill pay order. Judy helped me set up a system for organizing my bills and I still use it today! Thank you Judy!!..
- Steve Wright
Steve Wright
"Nipomo Organizing Solutions got my home office organized and cleaned up. I feel so good about my work area that was created. It is good sense of control of your life when you are organized."..
- Lisa
Hi Judy,
I wanted to let you know how much I appreciated you helping me organize my room. It was such a great help – and I was finally able to enjoy my room for the last month of summer!..
- Michelle Beauchamp
Michelle Beauchamp
Judy, terrific professional organizer, came to my rescue a few weeks after I moved. I remember that it was 11:30 pm, I had so much work to do, my office was not at all organized and I was feeling overwhelmed. I went to my computer, emailed her and the subject line was "HELP"!..
- Rancho Santa Margarita
Rancho Santa Margarita
We spent all the time on our garage and for the first time in a long time I actually don't mind walking out there and getting things from my car – it is organized! What a great feeling it is not to drag in leaves and debris into the house anymore – it is organized!..
- testimonial
I found Judy in the Saddleback Valley Newspaper. Our home office was cluttered with personal paperwork as well as all my work supplies, as I work from home. Judy gave me the push I needed to start me on the road to organizing our home office. Now it does not look like the cluttered dumping spot it was...
- Lynne, Brea
Lynne, Brea
"……you're the best therapist in years"
- Michelle, Lake Forest
Michelle, Lake Forest
"…my husband was thrilled with the results from today. He was amazed with everything I showed him. I even got rid of more things after you left. Thank you so much for your help today. Looking forward to seeing you next week."..
- Ronald Sinclair
Ronald Sinclair
My office was such a mess that I avoided coming into the office. After 6 months I called Nipomo Organizing Solutions. Within one week my office was completely organized, My books were put in order, my desk drawers were in also in order...
- Jill, Irvine
Jill, Irvine
"Our family was in Kauai last week for vacation and Chris lost his driver's license in the ocean. We called our neighbor Lisa to enter our home, enter Chris office (!) and dig into the drawer we thought would hold his passport. Voila! In a folder well labeled by Judy was the passport...
Featured Client
"Judy has worked with a lot of home owners in moving to new locations or downsizing. She will also unpack and organize the house once a client has moved."
Orange County First Team Real Estate – Shred it and Forget it Event September 2013
[showafter on="2013-09-15″]***Sorry this event has expired.***[/showafter] Andi MacCallum from First Team Real Estate is sponsoring your local Shred it and Forget it Event September 14, 2013 between 10 and 1. This opportunity will help you reduce clutter and identity theft! …
Orange County Home Organizing Tips: Conquering the Mountain of Paperwork
Getting your paperwork in order is essential in keeping your "clutter" tamed. When developing an Orange County organizing system, this piece of the puzzle is a pivotal hinge in the equation. When you look at a pile or bag of …
Shred-A-Thon 2013 – Help Reduce Your Risk for Identity Theft!
[showafter on="2013-09-10″]Sorry this event has expired.[/showafter] The Auto Club is hosting a free Shread-a-Thon at the Angel Stadium parking lot on June 29, 2013 from 9 am to 2 pm to help you reduce your risk of identity theft! All …
Update On Record Storage: Personal Records
Personal records (KEEP FOREVER)– Income tax returns– Income tax payment checks– Investment trade confirmations– Important correspondence– Legal Records– Retirement and Pension Records– CPA audit reports– Note: consult your accountant before getting rid of any financial paperwork– Note: Please consult your …


text:
The Association manages the Lockbox and eKey program throughout the market. This program provides simple and convenient access to those authorized to show your properties. The following Frequently Asked Questions provide a framework for understanding the program and how to solve simple issues. If you don't find an answer here, please give us a call at 517.323.4090 and we will be happy to help you.
Technically, no you do not have to come into the office to get the eKey. However, if you are not comfortable with your phone, it is highly recommended to come into the Association so we can install your eKey and walk you through the process of using it.
Through your eKey you can change the access to your iBox BT to have it open at whatever time you wish or set it for 24 hour access. You currently cannot change access times on an iBox BT with a dKey but if you bring the iBox BT into the office, we can adjust the access time to your preference.
From the eKey app on your phone, you can view your iBox BT inventory by selecting the button that says "inventory."
There are two ways to log into supraweb. You can log onto supraweb directly through your eKey app on your smartphone, or you can click here to be directed to the website.
To look up your shackle code with an eKey, open your app and go to the inventory. Find the serial number matching your iBox BT and select it. From that screen, you can see information about the iBox including the shackle code. From that same screen, your shackle code is displayed and you have the ability to edit it. You can also call The Association and we will tell you your PIN/shackle code or bring in your box to have the shackle code changed.
If you found a keybox, you can call the Association or bring it to The Association and after entering the serial number into our system, we can check to see who the box was issued to.
No, members are not allowed to share keys.
You can use an eKey on any Android, iPhone or BlackBerry.
Why would I need a new authorization code and how can I do that?
If you receive an error code that says "reset auth tokens," you will need a new authorization code. There are a few ways you can generate a new authorization code for your ekey. You can log into supra net and generate a new authorization code from there, or you can call The Association or SUPRA for a new code.
The only way to have your pin code changed on your dKey is to bring it into The Association office and have the front desk program it for you to any four digit pin of your choice. At this time you may also have GLAR Staff program your dKey to have access in Battle Creek and Jackson, Michigan.
No, you have to bring your keyboxes into The Association office to have them changed to 24 hour access.
Is the battery dead? If so, then bring your dKey into The Association office and GLAR Staff will help you by switching out your defective dKey for an active dKey.
Did you put your dKey on the charger last night? It needs to update on a daily basis from the analog or USB charger that you receive with your dKey at the initial signage of the dKey Lease Agreement.
NO; if you are caught sharing your dKey you can be fined a $10,000 fine per our MLS Rules and Regulations. You have signed your dKey Lease Agreement saying that you will not loan or share your dKey with another agent or member of the public.


text:
Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 200 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--including one of 2016's most popular TED talks. She also has prepared speakers for presentations, testimony, and keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Speaking science: In the land of nods
Stop me if you've heard this one before: men and women communicate differently.
Are you nodding your head yes at this little nugget of truth? Are you nodding it vigorously and frequently? Several studies show that women engaged in conversation tend to nod more often and with more emphasis than men. What's more, men and women both seem to pick up on this rhythm, and nod more frequently when talking to a woman than they do when chatting with a man.
What's really going on here? Does a man feel like he has to act more like a woman when he speaks with one? Do women think it's all right to be a "yes" woman among their own, but hold their heads in check when speaking with a man?
The answer has less to do with social manners and more to do with simple motion, say researchers at the University of Virginia's Human Dynamics Lab: people adjust their nodding to match the head movements of their conversational partners, no matter who they are.
At the UVA lab, psychologist Steven Boker and his colleagues recorded the head movements of male and female students in the lab as they had short conversations with another student via video link. As the pair chatted about sports and spring break, the researchers used an elegant piece of technology to change the appearance of the video student's face and voice in real time. Sometimes the students sitting in the lab saw a female face on the video screen when they were actually speaking to a man, and vice versa. (Watch the video above to see how this worked.)
But the researchers didn't do anything to change the head movements of the video speakers, and they discovered that movements—not appearance--seemed to make all the difference .If a video speaker was a head-nodding woman, but her computerized image looked like a man, the lab students nodded right along with her.
"We found that people simply adapt to each other's head movements and facial expressions, regardless of the apparent sex of the person they are talking to," said Boker. "This is important because it indicates that how you appear is less important than how you move, when it comes to what other people feel when they speak with you."
The head nod and other facial expressions such as lifted eyebrows are part of what language researchers call back channel cues. As a public speaker, it's a route that can help you establish rapport with your audience. If you can get them nodding along with you, Boker said, you may be able to activate pathways in their brains that help them empathize with your feelings.
So yes, men and women do differ when it comes to communication styles. But maybe it's reassuring to know that this is one case that has less to do with the battle of the sexes, and more to do with a meeting of the minds.
(Editor's note: This article in our "Speaking Science" series on the research behind public speaking was written by contributor Becky Ham.)
Related posts:
Speaking science: Why bullets don't work
Speaking science: Gesture to speak better
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
We all need to stay at home to protect ourselves and others. However, those who are well and not at risk can provide essential support for their family, friends and neighbours who cannot leave the house.
Read more about volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic
Please note, organisations are currently experiencing a large volume of enquiries from people looking to help out. They may not always be able to meet this demand so please be patient, you may not receive a quick response or be assigned to a role.
Your message will be sent to:
A copy will be sent to the organisation that manages volunteering in Falkirk:


text:
Posts filed under 'Countries'
The Women of MCDT
By: Abhishesh Adhikari
One of the Kiva partner MFIs that I am helping in Uganda is Micro Credit for Development and Transformation (MCDT.) It is based in Kampala and provides financial services primarily to low-income women who come to Kampala from remote areas of Uganda. Even though the average loan size for a borrower at MCDT is only about $200, it is amazing how impactful the loans have been in helping these women become financially independent.
Introducing FUNDAPEC: Supporting Higher Education in the Dominican Republic
by Rose Larsen | KF20 | Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic may be a small island nation in the Caribbean, but it has a quickly growing economy based on a shift from exports of sugar, coffee and tobacco to services like telecommunications and tourism.
However, according to a study done by the OECD in 2012, this economic growth has been limited by deficits in human capital – more specifically, the education levels of workers are insufficient.
This problem stems from the low quality of primary and secondary educations – public schools are overcrowded, dangerous, and lacking supplies. Even students from lower-middle-class and poor families are attending private schools, which in the Dominican Republic can range from less than $50 a month to incredibly expensive.
By the time students manage to graduate high school, many families cannot afford to pay university fees, forcing the young people directly into whatever work they can find, often in the informal sector. If the Dominican Republic wants to continue to grow and bring a significant percentage of its population out of poverty, it needs to employ more workers in the formal sector – and to qualify for these formal sector jobs, workers need university or technical degrees.
On the more individual scale, it has been proven over and over that getting a tertiary degree increases lifetime earnings. If the Dominican Republic cannot find a way to help students from poor backgrounds obtain higher education degrees and have access to private universities, inequality (already a huge problem here in the DR) will only increase, and the economy will stagnate due to the lack of human capital.
Kiva has been supporting entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic since 2007 with Esperanza International, extending its reach in 2012 with a new partnership with ASPIRE. Up until now, all the loans Kiva has disbursed in the DR have gone towards small (often informal) businesses or personal expenses – stocking a corner store, buying supplies for a beauty salon, constructing a house.
Meanwhile, Kiva's newest partner, FUNDAPEC, has been giving out student loans for 46 years, and is the Dominican Republic's only student loan provider. In the past FUNDAPEC has maintained strict minimum salary requirements for loan guarantors – usually the parents of the students. These requirements are meant to make sure that students' families will be able to repay the loan, and are important in maintaining FUNDAPEC's long-term sustainability, but they also mean that many poor students are turned away and simply cannot continue their studies.
FUNDAPEC has long wanted to provide loans to students from poor backgrounds, and through Kiva has finally found a way.
With the help of Kiva, FUNDAPEC has developed a new loan product specially designed for students with limited resources.
The loans can be used for undergraduate studies or for a technical (2-year) degree. Instead of having a minimum salary requirement for their guarantors, these loans actually have a MAXIMUM salary requirement – the guarantors of the students can have incomes no higher than 3 minimum monthly salaries ($480 USD per month or $5,760 USD per year).
These loans have some of the lowest interest rates on Kiva – 8% per year – and the terms are very generous. Students don't have to make capital repayments on their loans until after they finish studying, and even then have up to 7 years to pay back their loans, keeping the monthly quota payments low enough that a recent graduate in his or her first job can keep up.
When I arrived at FUNDAPEC's offices to start getting the first Kiva loans going, the management team already had someone in mind to be the first borrower. They had received a letter from a girl who had no idea about Kiva's program, but in desperation had sent a letter asking for help in finishing her education.
Crisley is only 20 years old, but has already been through a lot. An excerpt from her letter reads:
"3 years ago, studying was a distant dream due to a circumstance which changed my life and that of my family. I was diagnosed in 2009 with a chronic health condition. After multiple admissions to the hospital and after spending 6 months hospitalized on-and-off, I went into surgery."
Crisley, instead of being defeated by her illness, has used it to inspire her. She is currently finishing her first year of studies in medicine, participates in a dance group, volunteers with the Red Cross, and hopes to one day be a doctor herself, so that she can help other people with similar conditions.
Unfortunately, in the Dominican Republic, years of hospitalizations and surgeries can bring even a middle-class family to the brink of poverty. Crisley's parents have invested so much in her health that they can no longer afford to pay her fees at INTEC, the school she has been enrolled at. She still has special needs due to her condition, and continues to need some medical care and supplies, so the fees are still coming. Desperate to continue her education, she wrote a letter to FUNDAPEC hoping that somehow, even though her parents are now too poor to qualify as guarantors for FUNDAPEC's normal loans, they would be able to offer her something.
Her letter came just at the right time, and we have just posted her profile on Kiva as the first Kiva borrower from FUNDAPEC, and the first borrower on Kiva to seek a higher education loan in the Dominican Republic. She is hoping to raise $9,700 which will pay for the next four years of study she has left on her medical degree.
Crisley embodies the hope and strength that Kiva looks for in its borrowers. She wrote in her letter to FUNDAPEC,
"I truly believe that everything in life happens for a reason, and maybe all of this was just the push I needed to know that my place is where I can serve, help and turn my experience into something positive in the life of someone else.
"Finishing my degree successfully is the dream I most want to fulfill, and with the help of God and while there is still life in my body I will continue fighting until I see it reached."
Though Crisley is ready to fight, I think she's already had enough struggles. With Kiva's help, Crisley will not have to worry about her university expenses, and will be able to pay back the loan slowly once she finishes her studies.
FUNDAPEC's loans are not for everyone. Lenders will not begin to see repayments for many years – in Crisley's case, for five years – and won't get the full amount of their loan back for up to 12 years. However, I can guarantee that these loans will change someone's life. Lend through FUNDAPEC and support a young person who simply wants to get an education.
After serving as a Kiva Fellow in the 19th class in Barranquilla, Colombia, Rose Larsen is continuing her tour of the Caribbean with a placement in the Dominican Republic, as part of the 20th class of Kiva Fellows. She has been working with ASPIRE and FUNDAPEC. Click here to lend to a Dominican borrower today. To find out more about the Kiva Fellows Program and to apply to be a Fellow, visit www.kiva.org/fellows.
Kiva Fellows: Mixing Business with Pleasure
Here in Mongolia, my top priority with XacBank has been to complete borrower verifications (BVs)—visits to 10 randomly selected Kiva clients to ensure that everything in the field checks out with the information reported to Kiva's San Francisco headquarters. As it happened, the borrowers in my sample were scattered across the country. Here's a summary of what my month of April looked like:
- 1 month spent
- 4,872 km covered
- 9 borrowers verified
- 5 aimags traveled to
- 7 branch offices visited
- 10 training sessions delivered
- 35 loan officers and other staff trained
- 13 top Kiva borrowers recognized
- 1 television interview completed
- 67 client waivers checked
- 2 runaway borrowers chased down
- 1 Kiva Coordinator-Extraordinaire
- 2 beautiful lakes and other sights experienced
- 4 items delivered via Mongolian messenger service
- Many kilos of cheese curds (and other nice gifts!) received
I couldn't help but feel lucky—I knew it would be an eye-opening experience to visit all these different parts of Mongolia. After all, I think most Kiva Fellows are in this as much for the professional experience as for the exposure to new countries and cultures. Why not mix business with pleasure if you can?
Runaway borrowers
I've talked before about some of the work that Kiva Fellows do when we visit branch offices during our BVs, but what I didn't explain was how, in order to successfully complete a BV, the Fellow must meet with every single borrower on the list. If for whatever reason, a borrower is unavaible or nowhere to be found (and that's happened before!), the sample must be re-drawn and 10 new borrowers must be verified—no matter how close you were to finishing the first set of 10 (and irrespective of how far and long you had to travel to see them). So it's safe to say that Kiva Fellows sweat it a little when these meetings don't line up perfectly. And people are often on the move, which can raise some serious logistical challenges sometimes.
Take Aibek, for instance. Batzul, the Kiva Coordinator at XacBank, booked us flights to go see him in Bayan-Olgiy, the western-most province of Mongolia (flying made sense given that Olgiy, the city centre, is a 3 day drive from UB). She also arranged our accommodations and made plans with the Director to deliver training sessions at the branch office. We were all set to leave on Monday morning, but late in the afternoon of the Friday before, she called me up sounding very serious: 'Aibek is not in Bayan-Olgiy. He's in UB right now. I just spoke to the loan officer.'
The trickiest part was that he was only planning to be in UB for a few days—which meant that by the time we came back from our branch visits in Bayan-Olgiy and Uvs provinces, he would have left already. We couldn't change our flights, and flying to Bayan-Olgiy a second time was pretty much out of the question. So the best thing to do was to meet in UB during the weekend. We made plans to meet him on Saturday at 10 a.m. in his neighbourhood. We made our way to the east end of the city and waited… No Aibek.
Batzul called the loan officer in Bayan-Olgiy, who then called Aibek, but he wasn't picking up his phone. We communicated through his wife, who was at home. We waited and waited. No Aibek. We gave up and agreed to try and reschedule.
Our opportunity came that afternoon. Aibek, the loan officer told us, would meet us by the Wrestling Palace at 1 p.m. When we got there we searched in vain for any passers-by who looked like the man in the borrower profile. An hour passed. No Aibek.
But the third time's a charm, right? On Sunday afternoon I got a call from Batzul—Aibek had been located! We hopped in a taxi and made our way to the west end of the city. We were driven to a desolate, industrial area surrounded by auto body shops, where random vans were parked and people seemed to be waiting around for something. We waited in the safety of the taxi, but when no Aibek appeared, we cautiously stepped out and started asking strangers if they knew of our man. Eventually, one of them pointed us to a van, and lo and behold, Aibek was there!
Our first stop in our travels was Bayan-Olgiy. Bayan-Olgiy is a special part of Mongolia: This region is home to the country's Kazakh minority, giving it a very distinct feel from the moment you arrive. The Kazakhs, who make up some 90% of the population of this province, adhere to Islam (rather than Buddhism, like much of the rest of Mongolia), and the predominant language is Kazakh, not Mongolian (though most people speak both). From my hotel window, I could hear the evening call to prayers.
The Kazakhs were first drawn to the high mountain pastures in the region in the mid-1800s, where they let their sheep graze during the summer months. Throughout most of the 20th century, they were an isolated, tight-knit community, and this region is considered even by people in Kazakhstan as the best-preserved example of Kazakh culture. One of the things it's best known for is the Eagle Festival, which takes place every year in October.
I think my Kazakh colleagues were as curious about me as I was about them. I immediately started learning some words in their language. Instead of bayarlalaa for 'thank you,' they say rahmed. Amansasbaa is the common greeting, whereas in Mongolian it's sain bain uu (or more casually, you can say salem in Kazakh). And learning to say tansganmaa huanshtaman (it's nice to meet you) came in pretty handy several times later on!
Having finished our work at the branch quickly, our colleagues took us to see the main mosque in town, followed by a hike up a nearby peak to get a beautiful view of Olgiy, the Altai Mountains, and the river that flows from them. Later, the Branch Director and driver took us on a long and bumpy drive to Tolbo Nuur, a freshwater lake about 50km south of the city centre. Though it was still frozen, it was amazing to see a body of water (there aren't many in Mongolia!).
Next stop: A visit to the Branch Director's extended family living in the countryside! True to Kazakh/Mongolian hospitality, they welcomed us warmly and prepared a massive and delicious feast for us. It's customary for people in Mongolia to welcome strangers—locals and foreigners alike—into their homes and feed them. It stems from their nomadic history, in which families would help other people who were passing through the area, or receive visitors from different parts of the country (for example, the capital) and exchange news with them. It's a beautiful aspect of the culture here.
On our way back to Olgiy, we soaked in the peaceful landscapes of the countryside…
A picnic at Uvs Nuur
By midweek, we were bidding farewell to our new friends in Bayan-Olgiy and boarding another plane, this time bound for Uvs. We were welcomed at the airport by a small crew, and no sooner did we arrive at the branch than we got down to business. Client waivers, visits to borrowers, loan officer training—check, check, check! Then the branch staff treated us to a warm welcome dinner at a nearby Korean restaurant. We were starting to feel like royalty!
The following morning, we had certificates and tokens of appreciation to hand out to 5 Kiva borrowers who had repaid their loans on time (or early). It turned out that the Branch Director had invited the local television crew to film the small ceremony! They asked me to say a few words about Kiva, so I was happy to talk about the good work Kiva and XacBank are doing. It aired on the evening news that night. I guess that makes me famous in Mongolia!
Next on the agenda was a trip to Uvs Nuur, a saltwater lake that is the largest in Mongolia. Lucky us! We followed a road for part of the trek but veered off after a while to avoid muddy areas where our SUV could get stuck. We zigzagged across an open field and eventually made it to the water's edge, where Mongolians love to come and take a dip in the summertime. It was a cool but sunny afternoon, and we took in the warm rays as we sat idly by the water's edge and enjoyed the picnic our colleagues had packed for us. We couldn't have spent a nicer time in Uvs!
Business owners, an ancient monument and a stolen dinosaur
The following week, we hit the road for two more aimags, Arkhangai and Bayanhongor.
There, we had the opportunity to meet some borrowers who told us about their businesses. It's always rewarding to make the connection between the borrower profiles on Kiva's website and the people who are actually behind them. It's also nice to see microcredit working effectively. These lovely ladies passed along their thank you's to their Kiva lenders… Allow me to introduce them.
While visiting these aimags, we also learned about some of Mongolia's rich natural history. Not far from Tsetserleg, Arkhangai's city centre, is Taikhar Chuluu, a large rock formation that juts out in the middle of a wide plain. Legend has it that a snake emerged from the earth one day, many moons ago, and a hero named Bökebilig forced it back and sealed off its cave with this rock. The rock has been revered by various civilizations since ancient times, as evidenced by the Mongolian, Tibetan, and Turkic inscriptions which can be found on it (the latter which dates back to the 6th century AD, although sadly, most of the inscriptions have been overwritten by modern-day graffiti).
And did you know that it's possible to smuggle a dinosaur out of a country? Luckily, the one that was taken from Mongolia is now on its way home. Bayanhongor, which is part of the Gobi Desert region, is home to some of the incredible dinosaur fossils that have been unearthed since the 1920s. These include many dinosaur eggs and several Velociraptors (which of course you'll remember from Jurassic Park!). One of the most famous discoveries is of a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops that were locked in battle and frozen in time 80 million years ago. You can also see exhibits such as a nest of newborn baby dinosaurs, and a mother protecting her young at the Natural History Museum in UB—that is, when they're not out touring the world!
The Mongolian Messenger
I witnessed another curiosity during these BV travels. In a country where there are effectively no street names or real addresses, I've been intrigued by how mail gets delivered around here. You may know that the Mongolian Empire had a highly developed mail system at the height of its rule. People have assured me that when they receive mail—that is, anything that cannot be taped to their doors—they are given notices to go pick it up at the nearest postal outlet. Sounds reasonable, right?
But the truth is, Mongolians today have instituted an informal delivery system that would surely do Chinggis Khan proud. My edification began as Batzul and I waited in line at the check-in counter in the UB airport to fly to Bayan-Olgiy. A man was hovering nearby, and finally he approached Batzul. They exchanged a few words in Mongolian; he passed her an envelope, and she took down a phone number. I observed the whole interaction somewhat suspiciously.
'What was that all about?' I asked after the man had gone.
'Oh, he just wants me to deliver something in Olgiy,' she replied casually. And to my confused stare, she added, 'It's the Mongolian Messenger service.'
As if that explained everything! My jaw must have dropped. I started sputtering… What? How? Who?? I was full of questions!
These questions were somewhat cleared up when we arrived in Olgiy. As we stopped for lunch with our branch colleague, Batzul got on the phone and a short while later, a lady walked into the restaurant. Just a few words were exchanged before the envelope was handed over and the lady walked back out. I watched in fascination. 'How did you know she was the right lady?' I exclaimed.
'Because I just talked to her on the phone,' Batzul answered matter-of-factly.
'But don't you need to see her ID or something?' I persisted.
'No.' We resumed eating.
This happened again and again until I finally started to believe in the system. Coming back to UB this time, we walked out of the baggage-claim area of the airport and Batzul delivered another envelope straight into the outstretched hands of a stranger. She knew him by the black shirt he was wearing, she assured me. On the way into the city, our driver stopped along the road from the airport, not once but twice, at seemingly random intersections where our little Messenger hopped out, delivered her goods to waiting recipients, and hopped back into the car. I was blown away.
The Kiva Coordinator-Extraordinaire
Speaking of this Messenger, delivering envelopes isn't Batzul's only talent. For the past four months, I've had the pleasure of working with her, and for good reason: She is a truly exemplary Kiva Coordinator. We've worked closely together, particularly during all of our branch visits for the BVs, and I must say we've made a great team. We get our work done quickly and efficiently, and even have time left to have some fun (as you now know).
But it's not just that. Batzul is an impressive young professional all on her own. She is always on the ball with her Kiva work and manages several other projects on top of that. But the best part about her is that she takes immense pride in her job as a Kiva Coordinator, and also in the fact that her work is impacting the lives of many Mongolians. Whether we are running a training session together, or visiting a borrower, she's been far more than just a translator. She elaborates by adding anecdotes and lessons from her own stock of experiences, including her interactions with branches, loan officers, and clients, thus adding colour and depth to the messages we deliver. She makes my job as a Kiva Fellow easy!
Just as I had thought, the opportunity to see so many different parts of Mongolia for my BVs was fun, rewarding, and incredibly enriching. And I have Batzul, the Kiva borrowers, XacBank, and all the incredible people at the branch offices we met to thank for that—so from the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone for a truly amazing experience!
What Green Means in Mongolia
Spring may have arrived in Mongolia, but for two Kiva staff who visited me in April, winter gave one last hurrah and dumped the largest snowfall I've seen since being here (a whopping 2 inches!).
If you've had a chance to read some of my past blog posts, you'll already know that winter in Mongolia is a big deal—even for a Canuck like me. (more…)
A Kiva Zip Entrepreneur in Chicago
By: Abhishesh Adhikari
One of the best parts about my Kiva Fellowship has been the opportunity I get to meet and interact with entrepreneurs. During the 4 months that I spent in Kyrgyzstan, I helped Bai Tushum (Kiva's partner MFI) launch a new Startup Loan Product and met a wide variety of entrepreneurs all across that country. After I got back from Kyrgyzstan in January, I have been working on a new Kiva project called Kiva Zip, trying to expand it here in Chicago.
Kiva Zip is a new initiative to make interest-free, small business loans to entrepreneurs in the United States. This new lending model is based on community relationships whereby entrepreneurs can request interest-free loans (up to $5000 for the first loan) based on endorsements from organizations or prominent individuals in their communities. Lenders can view the profiles of these entrepreneurs on Kiva Zip's website, and lend $25 or more at a time.
Of Baby Animals and Borrowers in Selenge
Spring has arrived in Mongolia! That means warmer weather (afternoons creeping closer and closer to the double digits)… and, of course, baby animals!
I had the opportunity to travel to Selenge aimag (province) last week with XacBank, one of Kiva's partners in Mongolia. (more…)


text:
Currency Displayed in
Hover over image to zoom
Brand new 27x40 inch original US One Sheet movie poster of Batman Begins featuring Christian Bale
Copyright 2020 Moviestore Inc.. All Rights Reserved. Sitemap |
Bigcommerce Premium Themes by PSDCenter
All prices are in USD.
Compare Now
Click the button below to add the BATMAN BEGINS 507029 SINGLE-SIDED REGULAR GLOSSY UV COATED JUNE 17TH VERSION POSTER to your wish list.


text:
What's eating (someone)?(redirected from what's eating her)
What's eating (someone)?
What's bothering someone? Why is someone in a bad mood? What's eating Terry today? I asked him how his weekend was and he just glared at me. I've never seen her act that way before. What's eating her?
What's eating someone?
Inf. Fig. What is bothering someone? Tom: Go away! Bob: Gee, Tom, what's eating you? Bill: Tom's so grouchy lately. What's eating him? Bob: Beats me!
what's eating you
Also, what's bugging you. What is annoying or bothering you? For example, We've conceded just about every point, so what's eating you now? or You're in a terrible mood-what's bugging you? The first slangy term, dating from the late 1800s, presumably uses eat in the sense of "consume"; the colloquial variant, from about 1940, uses bug in the sense of "annoy." Also see what's with.
what's eating someone
People ask what's eating someone, when they want to know why that person seems to be unhappy or angry. `What the hell's eating you?' he demanded.