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"City sidewalks, Busy sidewalks, Dressed in holiday style, in the air there's a feeling of Christmas"
Since Bing Crosby crooned this classic holiday anthem, the consumer shopping experience has seen some dramatic changes. Online shopping has grown as the preferred method of those who wish to avoid the hustle, bustle and frustration of the holiday crowds while still taking advantage of great holiday deals.
Responsive Design: Improve Your Website User Experience Anywhere
Driving these online purchases is responsive design, which means a website proactively adjusts or "responds" to the device that is accessing it. A responsive site is one site, not a separate mobile and desktop version, meaning you make changes one time and in one place and your site is automatically updated for any device.
Responsive design is becoming more and more important to your website's overall success, with mobile usage set to overtake desktop usage by 2014. In fact, a recent Adobe study shows mobile shopping is up 40% year-over-year, with Thanksgiving Day set to outpace Cyber Monday as the biggest mobile shopping day of the season.
It seems as though consumers would rather work off their turkey-induced coma by letting their fingers do the walking on their couch, instead of standing in long-lines in the wee hours of the morning.
Projected Buying Habits for 2013 Holiday Season
- 51.% of consumers plan to shop online
- 39.5 % will complete their shopping on retail or other company websites
- 56.3% of holiday shoppers own a smart phone
- 34% own a tablet
- 53.8 % will use their device to complete some for of holiday purchases
While these statistics are significant for the holiday shopping season, a responsive site is critical to ensuring a highly effective user experience year round.
This past fall, Aztek Web presented a State of the Web to some of its clients explaining how websites with responsive functionality are leading the charge into the new age of web marketing.
In today's marketplace, consumers will continue to dictate how they interact with your company. You have to be ready to respond effectively to those demands in order to provide the best user experience that contributes to the achievement of your business goals. Even if you are a business-to-business company that sells industrial product, your target buying audience is made up of consumers, who are all human.
Consumers of today demand instant access to the products and services which interest them-whether it's professionally or personally. Companies which anticipate and proactively plan for a more personalized, user-focused experience will be rewarded with engagement and investment of consumer dollars. Make sure you add responsive technology to your holiday wish list and kickoff the New Year several steps ahead of the rest.
How do you think your target audience interacts with you the most? Share with us here!
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons


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How Polaris innovates 80% faster on Spigit
When Siemens sought fresh ideas from startups, they turned to Spigit
Campbell Soup Company uses Spigit to capture innovation anytime, anywhere, and from anyone.
Spigit hosts a variety of in-person events as well as live webinars each month. Find out what's coming up soon, and check out our previous recordings.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – Feb 25, 2013) – Spigit, the global leader in Social Innovation software, announced today that it will be a featured sponsor for Yammer on Tour in London and Amsterdam. Yammer on Tour is an event series that travels to cities across the globe to bring together customers, partners and industry thought leaders. At these events, Spigit will share customer examples, best practices in innovation and insights on driving ROI through collaboration and connected communities.
As the featured integration in the Yammer App Directory, Spigit combines social innovation, crowdsourcing and game mechanics with the enterprise social network to drive measurable business growth for the joint customer base. Since the launch of the Yammer App Directory in October 2012, more than 3,000 Spigit customers have accessed Spigit via the YammerConnect feature.
At the event, Spigit will showcase both Yammer and Microsoft SharePoint integration for its Premium and Free offerings.
Dates and locations:
WHAT: Yammer on Tour London
WHERE: Old Billingsgate
WHEN: February 26, 2013 at 14:30
WHAT: Yammer on Tour Amsterdam
WHERE: Westergasfabriek
WHEN: February 28, 2013 at 14:30
Spigit is a leader in Social Innovation, helping organizations unleash the creativity of employees, customers and partners to find transformative ideas that drive growth. Leveraging crowdsourcing, game mechanics and big data analytics, Spigit's platform is helping the world's leading brands invent disruptive products, generate new revenue streams, build an innovation culture, reduce costs and significantly improve employee and customer engagement. Highly respected companies in the Retail, Healthcare, Financial, Technology, Government, Insurance, Utilities and Pharmaceutical industries use Spigit. Headquartered in San Francisco's Bay Area, Spigit is the innovation engine that drives growth and a key player in the social enterprise market. In 2012, Spigit earned recognition as the #1 fastest growing private software company in California by the Inc. 500/5000. For more information, visit www.Spigit.com or follow us on Twitter @Spigit.

subset: commoncrawl


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This gorgeous one of a kind knitted polyester fabric has a mesmerizing aztec design and a stunning scalloped edge! Has a good stretch across the width. Sold by the metre
Fabric composition: 100% Polyester
Width: 139 cm (54 inches) approx GSM: 190 approx
Fabric use: Excellent for knitwear, dresses, tops, cardigans, accessories, arts & crafts, and interior designs!
Need large quantities? Contact us for wholesale prices and we'll be happy to help!
Like what you see
Simply click the "add to bag"button. Continue shopping if you need some more fabric/ trims, if not simply checkout.
Need more?
We sell all fabric/ trims by the metre, so by default you will have 1 metre in your basket. If you need more, simply go to the checkout page and update the quantity box to the amount of metres you require and click the circular arrow symbol to refresh to update.
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Once your happy with your basket, all you need to do is enter your delivery and payment details and you're ready to go! Register an account with us to save the hassle of entering your delivery details next time. We will never store your card details.


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Regarding a recent WSJ article, Friends Don't Let Friends Bring Up Health Care by Elizabeth Bernstein, the author highlights numerous situations where disagreements on Health Care reform have gotten ugly. Evidence is not lacking. Some situations resulted in fights and name-callings among friends and family. People in other situations have taken the "prudent" approach of avoiding the discussion all together. On that point, isn't there an unwritten rule not to discuss religion and politics?
Now, the unfortunate thing is that citizens absolutely need to be discussing religion and politics. Successful and effective democracy is dependent upon healthy conversations. In order to survive them, citizens need to be okay with being wrong. By having engaging dialogs, citizens can empower themselves and the country. Learning something new and seeing things from a different perspective are what we need most. Essentially, ignoring the discussion is as bad as yelling through it (and arguably worse).
September 22, 2009
Friends Don't Let Friends Be Responsible?
Posted by Anonymous at 9:54 AM
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text: Home Bathroom Suites Bathroom Suite Ranges Windsor Bathroom Suite Range Our Windsor Bathroom Suite Range is the ultimate addition to any vintage inspired bathroom design. This stunning range features a classic style that would look fantastic when combined with any of our traditional baths or could stand alone in a second bathroom or cloakroom. Our Windsor range includes an excellent selection of options to help you create your dream bathroom at home. Made from high quality ceramic for a durable and long lasting finish that won't be affected by steam or condensation.


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14006 Riverside Dr
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
SHERMAN OAKS FASH SQGapKids14006 Riverside DrSherman Oaks, CA 91423Special Store Hours0.0 mi
PLANT (THE)Gap Factory Store,Gap Outlet7872 N. Van Nuys BlvdVan Nuys, CA 91401Special Store Hours3.9 mi
CENTURY CITYGap,babyGap,GapKids,GapBody10250 Santa Monica Blvd B14Los Angeles, CA 90067-6501Special Store Hours6.9 mi
Mens Womens & Kids Clothing at 14006 RIVERSIDE DR | Gap Stores Near You
Gap stores in Sherman Oaks delivers hundreds of styles in apparel and accessories with a clean, confident, modern, and essential aesthetic. Located at 14006 RIVERSIDE DR, shop the latest collection from Gap of women's and men's clothing with a modern interpretation of our denim roots. Browse clothing staples for women, men and kids designed to fit your wardrobe. Gap SHERMAN OAKS FASH SQ embraces individuals and lets you be you.
At your local SHERMAN OAKS FASH SQ you can find the shelves stocked with a large variety of Gap wardrobe essentials from women's clothing to men's clothing and activewear. Shop the latest new arrivals and check SHERMAN OAKS FASH SQ for availability in maternity clothes plus kids and baby clothes for everything from baby's first year to back-to-school (and preschool) favorites—we are a one-stop shop for casual American style.
With the first store opening in 1969, Gap continues to revolutionize the specialty retail industry at SHERMAN OAKS FASH SQ with the latest offering in women's, men's, kids and baby clothes that embrace individuality.


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Looking back, there were warning signs of a bicycle ride around the world. They're jammed under a bed in my mum's house: shreds of cardboard memorialising hitch hikes of my teenage-years. There are marker-penned petitions for 'M1 north' and 'Milton Keynes' (pleading to go there was an irony that didn't strike me at the time). There's even an 'Anywhere' to hold up on dead stretches of road, and which reads now as an exciting opportunity for roving sociopaths with a taste for kids.
It was a potent wanderlust. I exploited the long school holidays, thumbing rides to each quarter of the compass; clambering into trucks bound for Scotland or streaking south to Cornwall. Often, I had no target; smitten with the simple sense of movement, a nascent fetish to pick up and go.
In 2009 I was a doctor at Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust in central London. I worked in Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care and on medical wards. But in January 2010 I waved goodbye to colleagues, friends and family from outside the hospital, and for the next six years I pedalled across 75 different countries, clocking up a distance of 86,209 km (53,568 miles) by bicycle. That's a distance equivalent to more than twice around the planet, or 61 times the length of Great Britain, or 23,808 laps of the Coventry ring road, or almost a quarter of the way to the moon, or 9743 Mount Everests if somehow you'd cloned the mountain and laid it end to end in space. Whichever sounds most impressive.
From the baked deserts of Syria and Afghanistan to an outstandingly untoasty Mongolia mid-winter, I dodged landslides and leaping camel spiders, towed a rollerblader across Uzbekistan, contracted dengue fever (and the urge to tell everyone about it), pedalled through blizzards, tropical storms and volcanic eruptions, marvelled at my own spiralling dishevelment, began a relationship with Ol' Patchy – a personable inner tube, and survived both a run-in with a gunman and the marauding hoards of school children armed to the milk-teeth with snowballs in Kent.
I'm back in the UK now, working part-time at the same hospital so that I can devote the rest of my time to writing a book. I haven't yet enrolled in spinning classes but I'm now a bit of a running addict.
I'm also a freelance journalist with work published in a variety of magazines and newspapers – from political opinion and health pieces in the Guardian, to travel in the Telegraph, the BBC, CNN, Geographical, Adventure Travel, Wild, Action Asia, Outer Edge and Cycle.
My thirst for adventure has also taken me to the 5610 metre summit of the active volcano Damavand in Iran, to Wales to summit every mountain over 3000 feet in 24 hours, to New Caledonia to hike across the island with a bivy bag and tarp and, as a 19-year-old, to South America to cycle the length of Chile with my 17-year-old brother.
I'm an ardent though very amateur photographer and a progressively less bashful public speaker (and sometimes, I moonlight as a DJ.).


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Travel Checklist For Asthmatics
Precautions and safety measures to take whilst travelling to ensure your asthma stays under control.Precautions and safety measures to take whilst travelling to ensure your asthma stays under control.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Lifestyle Choices That Impact Asthma
5 lifestyle changes that can help keep your asthma under controlകൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Health Effects Of Smoking With Asthma
Smoking is a major risk factor for asthma and can affect the lives of those around you.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Cipla's Participation In The Tata Mumbai Marathon
The Tata Marathon, also known as the Tata Mumbai Marathon, is known for being one of the biggest marathons in the world. With the second leg of #BerokZindagi in full swing, we thought it important to bust as many myths as possible. The best way to bust the anti-exercise myth was by participating in the Mumbai marathon.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Cipla's New Television Commercial
With the second leg of #BerokZindagi having officially kicked off, the new TVC that Cipla recently launched on the 14th of December 2019 perfectly encapsulated the theme for this phase of the campaign.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
3 Myths About Inhalers That Just Aren't True
Did you know that inhalers aren't addictive? Yes, you heard that right! Asthma is a condition that all of us are familiar with.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Here's Why You Should Always Pick Inhalers Over Oral Medication
While the condition is chronic and cannot be cured, with regular treatment, the condition can be managed and an asthmatic can lead a normal life. A few of the benefits of inhalers and inhalation therapy are as followsകൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Asthma for Non-Asthmatics
Asthma is one word that is known to people all over the world but the details of the condition usually remain hidden from the general public. Did you know that asthma is a condition that affects more than 3.5 crore individuals in India alone? With the second leg of #BerokZindagi being kicked off, we realized that it was time to bring non-asthmatics into the fold and educate them about the nitty-gritties of the condition.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
The Ideal Daily Routine for Someone Suffering from COPD
Living with COPD can be difficult as the condition does compromise your day to day routine. However, by taking some minor but necessary steps, it is possible to go about your day hassle-free.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Try These Exercises If You Suffer From COPD
People who tend to neglect physical activity due to their COPD usually suffer from a drop in muscle mass and cardiovascular function. Due to this, they find it difficult to breathe when completing even the simplest activity. The exercises mentioned are great for people who suffer from COPD. These exercises help strengthen the heart which benefits COPD patients in the long run.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Steps to prevent COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD is an incurable respiratory disease caused due to exposure to noxious particles and leads to airflow obstruction and irreversible damage to airways. By going through the right treatment, it can definitely be managed.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
FB Live Interview with Dr. Jagdish Chinnappa, Dr. Raja Dhar, Priyadarshini Chatterjee and Hetal Kamdar
After achieving our goal of creating awareness about asthma with the first phase of our campaign, we at Cipla recently launched the second phase of our #BerokZindagi campaign with the core message being "Asthma ke liye, #InhalerHainSahi".കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Can Kids Outgrow Asthma?
The prevalence, prognosis and treatment of childhood asthmaകൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid While Using Inhalers
An improper use of inhalers can lead to dangerous consequences. Read on to know the 10 common mistakes to avoid while using inhalers.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Difference Between Asthma And COPD
Both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) share similar characteristics, but they're not the same conditions. Read on to know the difference between Asthma And COPD in detail.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Your Asthma Checklist When You Leave Home
Read on to know the best precautionary measures for asthma when leaving homeകൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Why Inhalers Are The Best Treatment For Asthma
Inhalers are the best treatment for asthma because it reaches the lung directly and causes minimal side effects. Read the below article to know more about it.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Hay fever: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to environmental allergens. Read on to know more about the common triggers that can worsen this condition and the treatment required to manage hay fever.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Best exercises for asthma
Having Asthma shouldn't prevent you from staying active. There are beneficial exercises that people with asthma can participate in. Read on to know more.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
How to Take Care of Asthma During Diwali
Diwali causes lots of pollution which could be hazardous for those suffering from asthma. Here's a list of few things which you can do to ensure you keep your asthma in control.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
FB Live Interview with Dr. Jaideep Gogtay
The interview hosted by Rajdeep Sardesai with Dr. Jaideep Gogtay, Senior Vice President at Cipla Ltd on the 26th of October, 2018, answers all your asthma related queries.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Tips To Control Asthma During Winter
The winter season comes with its own set of problems for asthmatics. Learn how you could prevent a winter asthma attack and live a normal life.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Causes and Risk Factors of COPD
COPD is caused by a number of reasons - smoking, pollution, exposure to chemical fumes and toxic substances being the most common. Read on to know more about the risk factors of COPD.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
How Air Pollution Leads To Asthma
It's time to put on your anti-pollution masks if you reside in Delhi, Patna, Gwalior or Raipur.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക
Causes Of Asthma You Must Be Aware Of
Asthma is a condition in which your airways swell and produce extra mucus. While the causes can vary from person to person, here are some common causes of asthma you must be aware of.കൂടുതല് വായിക്കുക


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"Midasminus is great"
"With or without the glasses?"
Hello. If you, dear Internet user, have come to this page, it means you have clicked the wrong link. Please go back and click the right one before the end of this phrase you're reading.
Unfortunattely, you have finished the last sentence. I told you not to. In this same instant, millions of tiny Midasminuses are climbing into your eyes, into your brain, which will be eaten in 5 seconds.
Have a nice day.
Midasminus himself[edit]
Age: Teenager
Country: Portugal
Philosohy of Life: Sort off and let me draw.
- José Sócrates
- Gato Fedorento (written from the heart)-(the bastards deleted it!)
- Arkan Sonney
- Gremlins (the bastards deleted it!)
- Spider Pig (my Lord)
- Vanessa Anne Hudgens (someone deleted my precious Vanessa!)
- Ataegina
- Chimera - (the bastards deleted it!)
- Oranos (the bastards deleted it!)
- Nada (the bastards deleted it!)
- D'oh! - (those foockin' bastards deleted it! Why, why, I ask you?!)
- Wrong link
What is a Midasminus?[edit]
A Midasminus (from Greek Mytharcrappa) is a slimy unholy creature that can be found in Portugal or in the countries around it. Please sign this page and leave an offensive (or gentle) comment about Midasminus.
|This user believes in the Noodly Appendage of Flying Spaghetti Monsterism.


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What does your IVR greeting say about your brand?
by guest blogger Tom VanderWell of the QAQNA blog
A few years ago my wife worked for a local business that moved their corporate office to a remote location. If I needed to call her at work, I had always called her cell phone, but the new office had incredibly sketchy cell coverage. So, for the first time, I called her company's land line and was greeted by a bland, monotone male voice that read the front-end IVR announcement like it was Ol' Yeller's obituary. As soon as my wife answered the phone I shouted, "Oh, my gosh! You must get that recorded greeting changed!" She then informed me that she had been getting complaints from customers and, to her employer's credit, they were already working on an update.
I've had readers comment that, after reading my post about World-class Greetings, they decided it was time to change the recorded greetings on their phones. Good for them. Those recorded IVR greetings or even your voice-mail message may be the first impression a customer or potential customer has of you and your business. And, as mom always said, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression" (You go, Mom).
Digging back into the archives, I must tell you that my favorite IVR greeting of all time was back in Gateway's hey-day when they were selling their own computers direct to the consumer. You could almost hear the cows and prairie grass in the background along with a guitar on the back porch as a pleasant, chipper, mid-west female welcomed you to South Dakota. I laughed out loud when she added, "if you've got a rotary phone – we love your sense of nostalgia – hang on the line…." It was funny, pleasant and on brand. Years ago, the suits at Gateway got their neckties too tight and lost their sense of humor. Last time I checked their IVR greeting was boring like most companies.
What impression does your customer get from your voice mail announcement? How about your front-end IVR greeting? Is it time to put a little energy into making a good first impression? Got any examples we should listen to as positive or negative examples (post a comment with the number)?
Tom VanderWell is a call center quality assessment (QA) and training specialist with the c wenger group. He blogs regularly at QAQNA.


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Maya Cosmovision and the Modern World
Maya guide, educator and researcher Lina Barrios describes the continued relevance of the Maya Cosmovision in today's modern world. The Cosmovision has withstood untold challenges, yet remains essential in the lives and flourishing of Maya identity and holds keys for potentially improving all our lives and even transforming modern civilization.
Lina Barrios
Lina Barrios is an anthropologist and Maya Ajq'ij (Spiritual Guide) who, according to this ancient tradition has reached the age of wisdom, becoming an elder. For nearly 25 years she has worked tirelessly for the preservation of traditional Maya languages, women's rights, dress, culture and spirituality. She is a published author, awarded with the "Premio Iberoamericano de Investigación Municipal Villa de Madrid" and "Premio Iberoamericano de Igualdad Cortez de Cadiz".Lina also works as a university professor.
Latest posts by Lina Barrios (see all)
- Maya Cosmovision and the Modern World - January 11, 2018
- Interview w/ Lina Barrios - August 25, 2016
- Cholab' (Ab') New Year - February 21, 2014


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What does your denim say about you? To us, wearing denim is much more than a fashion statement, but a way to create social change. For our fourth year in a row, the GUESS Foundation is partnering with Peace Over Violence for Denim Day to raise awareness and to stand up against sexual assault.
Keep scrolling to learn more about #DenimDay, and how you can participate!
For the past 18 years, Peace Over Violence has run its Denim Day campaign in honor of April's Sexual Violence Awareness Month. The campaign was originally triggered by a ruling by the Italian Supreme Court where a rape conviction was overturned because the justices felt that since the victim was wearing tight jeans she must have helped her rapist remove her jeans, thereby implying consent. The following day, women in the Italian Parliament came to work wearing jeans in solidarity with the victim.
Since then, wearing jeans on #DenimDay has became a symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault. As our co-founder and chief creative officer, Paul Marciano said, "The GUESS woman is sexy and confident but sexy is NEVER an invitation to rape, and we are here to spread that message."
Wear your denim on 4/26 to protest violence. Pledge to support survivors and educate yourself & others about sexual assault. Spread awareness by using our Snapchat Filter at over 2,000 college campuses and at GUESS, GUESS Factory and G by GUESS retail locations nationwide.
Learn more at www.denimday.org | Gear up with a pair of GUESS Jeans
Follow @GUESS and @PeaceOvrViolnce for more.


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On March 15th 1960, the first Convair B-58 Hustler became operational with Strategic Air Command (SAC). One of the most impressive aircraft ever built, the Hustler was also expensive to operate, equipped with complicated systems that frequently required attention, tricky to fly, limited in its payload capacity, and in the end was rendered obsolete by the surface-to-air (SAM) missile. But to anyone who ever saw one in flight, the Hustler was absolutely unforgettable.
The B-58 prototype first flew on November 11th 1956. The design premise and intended mission of the B-58 was high-altitude supersonic penetration of Soviet airspace and release of multiple atomic bombs on targets for SAC. Design highlights were its 60 degree raked delta wing, four underwing pod-mounted afterburning General Electric J79 engines, separate tandem compartments for the flight crew of three, distinctive area-ruled fuselage shape, and the large centerline fuel tank / weapon pod.
When the Soviets began to deploy accurate surface-to-air missiles in the early 1960s, SAC was quickly convinced that the B-58 would not survive against the new generation SAMs at high altitude. The mission profile of the B-58 went from what it was specifically designed to do to what it quite simply could not do.
Whatever the limitations of the B-58 were, it was certainly revolutionary. Capable of sustained flight at Mach 2 speeds, the Hustler was so advanced that nearly all of the B-58's systems had to be re-thought and engineered from a new sheet of paper. Coming as it did so soon after sustained supersonic flight had been achieved for the first time, B-58s were nearly otherworldly to the public.
B-58 ejection seats were equipped with a protective shield or clamshell capsule that would shield the crew members- a completely new technology brought about by the prospect of ejection at Mach 2 speeds and 70,000 foot altitudes. The capsule would float in water and provide independent oxygen to its occupant. Similar systems have been incorporated into new designs ever since.
Many of today's military pilots ruefully refer to the audio warning systems in their aircraft as "Bitchin' Betty." Audio warning systems were pioneered in the Hustler, so in large part they have the B-58 to thank for "Bitchin' Betty", but Hustler crews called her "Sexy Sally." How times have changed!
Supposedly ten times more accurate than any previous bombing / navigation system, the B-58's collection of AN/ASQ-42 "black boxes" enabled the aircraft to be, at least potentially, the most accurate atomic bomber in the Air Force arsenal. The B-58, thankfully, never did have to perform the mission for which it was intended.
The Hustler mounted a single remotely aimed and controlled 20 millimeter Gatling gun in the tail for self-defense. The large centerline pod housed both additional fuel and a nuclear weapon that could be jettisoned in separate parts. At various times the B-58 carried up to four additional B43 or B61 atomic weapons on dedicated pylons mounted under its wing roots.
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors were used to familiarize pilots with delta-wing handling characteristics before flying the TB-58A trainer. Never easy to fly, the B-58 was notorious for keeping its pilots and crews task-saturated in flight. There was never a dull in-flight moment on a Hustler, but the crews came around to the massive machine and it became dangerous to cast aspersions on their Mach 2 birds.
Intended to replace the Boeing B-47 Stratojet bomber, the Hustler cost about four times as much to operate as the B-47 and three times as much as the B-52 on an hourly basis. Even during the hottest of Cold War days, the cost of the B-58 program was prohibitive and the accident rate (22.4% of the total number of B-58s produced) was unacceptably high.
SAC General Curtis LeMay was once quoted as having said, "The B-58 is a great airplane, if you're going to war with Canada." Nonetheless, SAC's 43rd Bombardment Wing operated the B-58 from 1960 to 1970. In addition to operating the Hustler between 1961 and 1970, the SAC 305th Bombardment Wing also conducted Hustler combat crew training.
Convair built a total of 116 Hustlers. 30 of these were early pre-production trials aircraft that were eventually reworked to make them operational B-58A bombers. Eight TB-58A dual-control trainers were built as well. B-58s were used for a variety of test duties, including flying as chase aircraft for the XB-70 Valkyrie bomber program, radar testing for the Lockheed YF-12, and participating in Operation Bongo Mark 2– the study of repeated sonic booms on the citizenry of Oklahoma City.
Right about the time that B-58 crews had resolved, or at least learned to live with, most of the Hustler's idiosyncrasies, the aircraft were withdrawn from service. It was simply too risky to penetrate Soviet airspace at high altitude with the thin air suddenly thick with improved Soviet SAMs.
Low altitude penetration became the name of the game- a game the B-58 was just not able to play. Withdrawn from service beginning in 1965 and completely by January of 1970, the B-58 was replaced by the new General Dynamics FB-111A, a less expensive, simpler to maintain, and superior low-level penetrator. The FB would experience its own issues, but that's a story for another day.
The stock B-58A "Greased Lightning" still owns the record for the longest supersonic flight in history. This operational Hustler, after no special preparation other than a wash and wax job, flew from Tokyo to London in only 8 hours 35 minutes and 20 seconds. The B-58 also won every prestigious aviation award of its day, including the Bendix, Harmon, Thompson, Bleriot, and Mackay trophies.
The B-58 was operational with SAC for only ten years. Its specialized design and world events conspired to render it obsolete even before the last aircraft was delivered in 1961. But it was undeniably one impressive machine. Now enjoy as Brigadier General Jimmy Stewart puts the scare into the Reds as he describes the awesome B-58. The video was uploaded to YouTube by AV History Buff.


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The Adams National Historical Park offers tours of the Presidential Birthplaces and Peace Field daily from April 19 - November 10. During open season, the Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All Guided Tours begin at the Visitor Center. The first tour starts at 9:15 a.m. and the final tour starts at 3:15 p.m. and leave every hour. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Weekends in particular can be very busy, so the earlier you can be there the better!
The Adams Academy, built of Quincy granite, is an early and important example of Gothic revival architecture in America. Endowed by John Adams as a preparatory school for boys, it was built on the site where the legendary patriot John Hancock was born. Now home to the Quincy Historical Society whose museum showcases the city's history from Native American times up through the early 21st century and archives are a major resource for information on local and area history.
Home to the Weymouth Historical Society,the homestead houses a genealogical library with Weymouth records from the 1600's, a shoe shop which is original to the homestead, a military room with memorabilia from the Revolutionary War through World War I, and a carriage house with antique sleighs, farming and ice harvesting tools. Open Wednesdays 9am - 1pm , excluding holidays or by appointment.
The Church of the Presidents is the only building in the United States to house the final resting place of two Presidents. President John Adams, First Lady Abigail Adams, their son President John Quincy Adams and Louisa Catherine Adams are interred in the family crypt underneath the front entrance to the building.
Come join the Quincy Young Professionals for an evening of structured networking! You will have the opportunity to meet in small groups with like-minded business people to share experiences and discuss challenged in a way to foster bonds.


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Listed below are generic examples of how an oil condition report can be an indicator of what is going on inside of your fluid filled components.
Diesel Engine Oil
Iron, chrome, aluminum, lead, sodium, potassium, copper, silicon, and soot are some of the key elements used to determine the condition of your engine. Different combinations of these elements indicate what's wearing.
Iron & chrome indicate cylinder line and piston ring wear, add aluminum and you have evidence of piston wear also.
Lead, aluminum, and iron are the result of rod and main bearings and crankshaft wear.
If sodium, potassium, and copper are found in the same sample, it indicates coolant contamination.
Silicone, greater than aluminum, with iron and lead tells us that dirt is entering the engine and causing the wear on liners, rings, pistons, and bearings.
Soot, iron, lead, and chrome can indicate wear from soot on liners, rings, and bearings.
Powershift Transmission
Silicone and iron in combination indicate wet clutch friction material and separator plate wear
Aluminum, copper, and iron come from the torque converter
Copper, greater than lead or tin indicate bronze bearing or thrust washer wear.
Iron and chrome together indicate cylinder and rod wear.
Silicone, greater than aluminum, with iron and chrome tell a story of dirt entry, pump wear, and cylinder and rod wear.
Axles and Final Drives
Silicone, greater than aluminum, with iron, chrome, and nickel, indicate dirt entry, gear, and bearing wear.
Copper, greater than lead or tin, indicates bronze bushing or thrust washer wear.


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An extensive look at 80's greats Hagler, Hearns, Leonard & Duran.
Roberto Duran
Thomas Hearns vs Roberto Duran
Thomas Hearns vs Roberto Duran. Date: 6/15/84, 1984. Results: Hearns wins via 2nd rd KO. Place: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
Marvin Hagler vs Roberto Duran
Hagler vs Duran. Date: 10/11/83. Results: Hagler wins via 15 round UD. Titles: WBC, WBA World & IBF Middleweight.


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By using this site you agree that we are able to place cookies on your device. See our Privateness Policy and Cookie Policy for details. Richard Reeves '60 Hon. '87 is an creator, presidential biographer, historian, teacher, political commentator and award-winning telejournalist. Main international legislation agency Dentons, in collaboration with the Affiliation of Company Counsel (ACC) Center East, assembled practitioners from across various industries in Doha final week for an summary of key issues and up to date developments in data protection law in Qatar.
Solely CA has the depth of technology, experience and scale to help you ship the easiest customer experiences and drive competitive benefit. The Technology Association of Georgia's Product Management Awards 2017 will celebrate the most effective and the brightest in the trade during the 2017 calendar 12 months! This is among the key areas being improved on by technological advances in digital devices. While it's yet to develop totally, ambient user expertise presently combines bodily, electronic and virtual environments while using real-time info and feedback as people transfer from one place to a different.
Whereas the idea of a gun that may't be turned on its owner looks like an apparent win for everyone concerned, there are a variety of issues with the idea. Chief among these worries: the security mechanism will fail when it's needed most. Should you're relying on a weapon for defense, the last thing you need is one other level of failure. Electronics aren't excellent. Sometimes cameras cannot autofocus. Cable boxes freeze up when looking the channel guide. The equal, seemingly small glitch in a smart gun could possibly be the difference between life and death.
Automated technology has gained fairly a bit of momentum in the manufacturing trade. Corporations are leveraging it to automate tough duties and take away workers from unsafe environments. While technology has generally helped within the decrease of employee accidents, it isn't without its faults. As of now, the present solutions technology gives aren't remedy-alls for work related problems—accidents still happen. Accidents typically enhance when an employee enters an automation's working atmosphere , which in most cases may be unavoidable. That is especially true for computers which are unable to operate without the maintenance or programming of a human hand.
A Stevens education yields results. Our college students make connections, find careers and alter the world, typically earlier than they've stepped off campus. As such, machine learning seeks to automate a few of these duties thus addressing key challenges to data processing. The Right here One buds, which launched last yr, have all those features however add the power to stream your individual music, broadcasts and different audio. That means that you may hearken to music on a bike journey whereas nonetheless hearing cars and comply with a game broadcast without missing the ambient crowd sounds or crack of a bat.
This adult gorilla uses a department as a strolling persist with gauge the water's depth, an instance of technology usage by non-human primates. Circulite: Representing this cardiovascular device firm in connection with a US$30 million Collection D financing by Forbion Capital and MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings. Build better APIs and create strategy that generates real enterprise worth with education and coaching from business consultants. With the adjustments in technology requirements, businesses require a whole new approach to security procedures. Managers now have to account for the dangers technologies pose. Their biggest preemptive measures will be communicating technology hazards. More than ever earlier than, companies will have to convey to workers that safety is of the utmost precedence. Correct signage will likely be a vital part of that.


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Why Your Veterinary Hospital Needs SEO
Why Does Your Veterinary Practice Need To Be Concerned With SEO?
Blogging connects you to your clients and the community in a way that regular veterinary visits cannot. When people bring their pets in for exams, the focus, of course (!) is on the pet. But when you blog, in an informal, relaxed, yet highly relevant way, clients feel a new connection.
A well-written, carefully executed, succinct and regular blog, will bring traffic to your website, secure connections with clients, build new connections with the community, and ultimately raise revenue.
Ken Makovsky of Forbes Magazine confirms that business blogging adds elements of humanization, visibility, and credibility; additionally, it establishes industry expertise, addresses important issues, promotes policies and products, and generates leads and business.
Overly Aggressive SEO Tactics Can Land You in Google Jail
How do you know when you are in Google jail?
When your veterinary hospital's website rankings plummet, traffic to your site all but ceases, and your competitors' rankings grow stronger than ever.
In the land of SEO and keyword stuffing, you need to know what you are doing in order to achieve the strongest results and avoid possible Google penalties. Google penalties have long-term negative ramifications for your hospital's rankings and online marketing. Think about it: You don't fill your hospital with temporary employees, old-fashioned equipment or print thousands of flyers claiming you are the best veterinary clinic in town. You provide pet owners with professional, state of the art care; and your reputation is part of what makes you successful. So, filling your hospital's website or blog with purchased or stolen filler articles and relying on bad SEO (or guesswork) is not only unprofessional but can land you in Google Jail. Bad news!
Stay out of Google Jail! It's easy to do:
- Hire a legitimate, proven SEO professional
- Mix up your site's anchor text
- Focus on your clients, not search engines
VetNetwork Is Your Veterinary SEO Professional
Take the time to hire a true SEO professional – Vetnetwork understands the value of veterinary search engine marketing and can derive top rankings without lowering your hospital's standards. A company or individual well-versed with an excellent track record will bring you a long-term friendship with Google. Don't hire the quick techno teen who wants to make a few extra dollars over vacation. Hiring a real professional will help you avoid Google jail and in turn, large expenses in damage... and most important of all – it will ensure that pet owners stay updated on your services, philosophies, and realize that YOU are the veterinary hospital to connect with.
Since your veterinary website needs to be seen, why wait any longer? Call VetNetwork now to discuss a veterinary Search Engine Optimization Plan that is right for your hospital's website - 800-564-4215. Or you can email us here.


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Garden Flat
- Sleeps 2
- bedrooms
- bathrooms
This charming bolthole, a favourite with honeymooners, was originally a ground floor wing of the elegant Manor house. Access is either through the main Manor hallway or by an independent door from the gardens, next to the swimming pool.
The open plan studio-style bedroom, with sitting room at one end, is tastefully furnished with antiques. For modern living there's a comfortable 6ft double bed (can be made-up into twin beds).
The adjoining wet-room has a shower, WC, bidet and 'his and hers' basins. (A disabled shower chair and loo seat/surround are available).
French windows open directly from the kitchen to the pool and garden, with table and chairs for lazing away sunny afternoons and easy living.Availability & Book
Check Availability & Book


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Belimed provides innovative, high-quality cleaning, disinfection and sterilization solutions for healthcare facilities.
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Explore reliable and robust washers, sterilizers and more for your pharmaceutical, biotechnology and research applications.
Biopharma and pharma
Research and Laboratory
For project success, you need to be armed with all of the information: CAD drawings, spec sheets, seismic calculations and more.
When you purchase new aseptic and sterile processing equipment, you need much more than just a product.
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Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 43, September 1999
By C W Malcolm
A contrast is presented by the picture of the 1938 Salvation Army Band and that of the Municipal Band on page 10b facing the article by Bruce Roberts in Journal 30. But they do not tell the full story: the Municipal Band was not always so large, nor the Salvation Army Band so small nor of necessity augmented by female players, a generally unusual feature.
Indeed there were times when neither Band existed and at other times there were fluctuations when one Band existed and the other did not. There were notable occasions when, in the absence of a municipal band, the Salvation Army Band was called to officiate.
When the large crowd of Paeroa citizens gathered at the railway station to farewell the first troops for the 1914 War, the Salvation Army Band was on the platform providing the music in its attempt to add cheer to the sadness of the occasion.
On 25 April 1916, at the first Anzac Day Commemoration in the Wharf Street theatre, Captain Gill Inglis of the Salvation Army gave the address and his Band not only accompanied the singing of the hymns but also demonstrated its skill by rendering the solemn Dead March in Saul with spine-tingling effect.
The Band fluctuated in size from time to time when Salvation Army families moved to or from the district. But it was possibly at its peak of performance in 1925 when the country's Salvationist Bands gathered in Auckland for one of its Band Festivals. It was by no means the largest Band there but it received the greatest ovation for its playing in the Town Hall.
Salvation Army Bands are not isolated local Bodies of the town in which they exist, but world-wide they are subject to the Rules and regulations of the International Headquarters in London with its own Musical Department, where its music is printed, with its own notable composers and its own establishment where its Band instruments are manufactured.
In 1967 its top ranking International Staff Band visited New Zealand including a spectacular march down Auckland's Queen Street. The four-hour long Funeral Procession of General Bramwell Booth in 1929 was interspersed at intervals by fifteen of London's top Salvationist Bands. London had witnessed few if any such scenes.
I was in London in 1978 and heard some incomparable bands during the Army's International Congress. As a tribute to the work of the Salvation Army a great service was held in historic Westminster Abbey. Surely it was rare indeed that those high and ancient stone vaults re-echoed to the music of the New York Staff Band which had crossed the Atlantic for the great Occasion.
But I am sure that the most moving band music I have ever heard was in St. Paul's Cathedral at a similar tribute to the Salvation Army when the Melbourne Staff Band from Australia ended the celebration with Bach's "Jesu' joy of man's desiring" the last note seeming to whisper round the vast dome above as if to prolong the lingering grandeur of its incomparable harmony.
By international regulation every Salvation Army Band obeys its London Headquarters: never to march away from their place of worship but always, as a guide, towards it; when marching through the streets to cease playing within a specified distance of any other church or place of worship to avoid possible disturbance; never to enter any band competition; and always to open and close their regular Band practices with prayer for their main purpose, to attract and draw men and women to the Christian Gospel.
A detailed history of the Salvation Army and its bands in Paeroa appears in Journal 17, June 1973, pages 7 to 13 by our contributor, C W Malcolm. [see Journal 17: Salvation Army in Paeroa - R]


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DALLAS (Nov. 11, 2015) – On Nov. 11 as the country celebrates Veterans Day, Cell Phones For Soldiers and AT&T continued its mission of connecting America's bravest to the people they love and to the opportunities they deserve.
Cell Phones For Soldiers, a national nonprofit focused on the communication needs of troops and veterans, and long-time supporter AT&T donated 200 calling cards and cellphones with one year of AT&T service to veterans staying at the Union Gospel Mission in Dallas.
In addition to the needed communication tools, more than 40 volunteers prepared and served meals for the veteran residents and assisted with facility tasks, such as cleaning, painting and gardening.
Since 1949, the Union Gospel Mission has provided housing services to homeless veterans, supporting up to 54 at a time.
"We had the honor of working with Union Gospel Mission in 2014 and saw firsthand the tremendous work they do with veterans," said Robbie Bergquist, co-founder of Cell Phones For Soldiers. "These communication tools are truly a lifeline to reconnect with family and provide a veteran with a personal phone number for potential employers to call."
"Our Veterans have our deepest gratitude for the service they have given on behalf of all Americans and those around the world that love freedom," said William Thompson, Executive Director of the Union Gospel Mission of Dallas. "We must be sure to make available to them the best we have to offer. The ability to connect by phone to loved ones, jobs, well-deserved benefits and future opportunity is one small expression of our appreciation. God bless our Vets!"
AT&T is committed to serving the communities where it operates, and in 2014 alone, employees and retirees volunteered more than 5.6 million hours of time in their communities. Since 2007, AT&T, the AT&T Foundation and AT&T's customers have donated more than $4.6 million to support Cell Phones For Soldiers.
For 11 years, Cell Phones For Soldiers has served as a lifeline for America's bravest. Its Helping Heroes Home program provides one-time emergency needs to help veterans transition to post-combat life. From cellphones to use for job searches, to computers for communication with family, these tools assist in the fight to improve the lives of veterans.
For more information, please visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com.
Media Contacts:
Erin McCloskey Adriana Bernal
Cell Phones For Soldiers AT&T Public Affairs
[email protected] [email protected]
(336) 207-5222 (512) 457-2380
Cell Phones For Soldiers is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing cost-free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones For Soldiers has provided more than 216 million "Minutes That Matter" to servicemen and women. Since 2012, "Helping Heroes Home" has provided emergency funds for more than 2,800 veterans to alleviate communication challenges as well as physical, emotional and assimilation hardships. For more information, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com, Facebook, TwitterGoogle+Pinterest
About Community Engagement at AT&T
At AT&T, Community Engagement means engaging our employees to build healthy, connected and thriving communities where we live and do business. Employees are focused on three key issues: improving educational outcomes, building sustainable communities and promoting the responsible use of technology. Last year, AT&T employees and retirees volunteered more than 5.6 million hours of time in community outreach activities worth more than $126 million and pledged more than $36 million for charities of their choice through employee giving. Employees also committed to more than 47,000 sustainable choices through Do One Thing (DOT), which invites employees to make small, everyday choices that add up to a big positive impact for themselves, the community and/or the company.


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Hospital fined for failing to send discharge summaries on time
A CCG has withdrawn £60,000 of funding from its local trust because of its poor record in sending discharge summaries to GP practices.
North East Essex CCG imposed the penalty when Colchester General Hospital failed to hit its target of sending 98% of discharge summaries to a GP practice within 24 hours of a discharge, managing only 80.4% in September, 83% in June and 92.5% in April.
This follows the hospital being placed under 'special measures' earlier this month by NHS watchdog Monitor, after the CQC said staff were 'bullied' into altering cancer statistics to hit national performance targets.
Dr Brian Balmer, chief executive of North and South Essex LMC, backed the move.
He said: 'The CCG is quite right to withdraw the funding. As a GP that is what would happen to me if I stopped providing certain services. Now that there is more GP influence on commissioning the providers are being told that integration with hospitals must happen and the services must improve.'
Dr Balmer warned that there can be dangers for patients if GPs do not receive discharge summaries, because these documents can describe important changes in medication that need to be implemented.
He added: 'Delays can damage the relationship between a patient and a GP. The patient is told by the hospital that the summary has been sent and then goes to the GP to find out it hasn't been received. They can think that the GP is an idiot for not knowing anything about it. Delays can also mean that the GP has to chase round to find out what's happened to the discharge summaries.'
A North East Essex CCG spokesperson said: 'We understand some of the reasons why the hospital has failed to meet the need for timely summaries to go out to GPs. Nonetheless we are obliged to enforce the penalty as a matter of patient safety.'
Colchester Hospital said it had an 'action plan' in place to improve its record on discharge summaries. Part of the problem is that an electronic system for sending summaries has not been fully operational, the spokesperson said.
Readers' comments (8)
You can try but you might find that difficult.
You see, there is this thing called contract which defines your responsibilities for the money you are getting (called tariff, just in case you're not heard about it). And one of the nationally (that means all across the country) set agreement is sending discharge within 24 hours. You see, in grown up world, failing to meet an agreement can result in punishment.
Hope I didn't make the explanation too complicated for you. Run along now, you have a nice day.
"I sometimes get really crap referral letter from GPs with either no useful information or inaccurate information. Please may I levy a fine?"
If it's specified in the contract then then yes, you can levy a fine.
Alternatively, if you don't like the referrals and they are not acceptable to you (or your hospital's management), you could always choose not to enter into a contract at all and let someone else do the work.
OK - grown up discussion time. I assume the "really crap referrals" referred to are comments by hospital doctors. Perhaps a polite phone call to the relevant GPs asking for a little more information may be helpful? There are also mechanisms for supporting poorly performing GPs and helping them improve - but not by throwing insults around.
In Swindon area, our shadow CCG dealt with the delayed letter problem by helping the PCT to enforce the contracted service standards - we now get very timely and helpful information and are able to work together with our hospital colleagues to the benefit of patients rather than going to war or slinging insults around.
OK, I'm a hospital doctor, but I agree that it is unprofessional and even dangerous not to inform GPs promptly about the hospital care of their patients. But £60,000? Really? What difference is that going to amke in a £200m annual budget? If the hospital is f'd up that it is in special measures that kind of fine has to be in the "Yeah, whatever" category for hospital management.
I suspect the CCG concerned, if it too is bailing out secondary care like the CCG in my area, they are simply trying to make a point, Millions is being transferred from primary care budget to bail out the hospital in my neck of the woods - so if happening elsewehere, this might be the reason. This is what the politicians want - fighting between primary and secondary care. Don't give it to them - let's all be adult about it and work for the good of the patient. An odd idea, I know.


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PCSing is stressful. Getting orders, making decisions about how you will move and who will do it, packing, organizing- the list goes on and on. Then you arrive at a new duty station to turn around and unpack, make decisions, put a home together, and get back to "normal".
It is nothing short of overwhelming, and a big reason I think military spouses and kids are essentially superheroes.
If you know that PCSing is in your future, do yourself a favor. Think about cutting some weight in the possessions department. This can be done at anytime, doesn't cost anything, and can make your next PCS move just slightly less stressful.
Humans love stuff. We decorate, collect, and hold on to all sorts of meaningful (and sometimes silly) things. I am in no way…


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We came across this short film recently through a friend. It's perfect! Simple set, simple story, moving performance.
Not to oversell it or anything, but go ahead and see if you can keep your eyes dry.
Many of our fans and friends tell us that they think this story is about them. The one take-away they all report in common is, "keep creating, keep performing, keep sharing your art, because someday that magic moment will come together and you want to be there!"
Maybe that magic moment for you is to have your next short movie shown in front of a full-house audience. It's why they have the San Francisco 48 Hour Film Project.
Learn more about it and sign up now if you have your own story to tell. You'll never forget it, we promise!


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There are a lot of colleges across Canada that might have some programs you are interested in applying to.
Please follow this link (and image below) to go to their website. http://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/
To go to a list of all the colleges and institutes in Canada that are members, please click on this link. http://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/our-members/list-of-members/
This is the list that you will see (you can click on the image below)


text: The openness to innovation, the research to support new innovation, the resources to gain 'first mover advantage' for such innovation, or the response time to existing innovation. Whatever the context, innovation is a buzzword that dominates the industry agenda. However, sports betting and gaming solutions provider OPTIMA has taken a slightly different approach to arming its operators with the right …Read More »


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Races are held Tuesday & Thursday at 6 pm from May to August. In April, September and October the races are held are Sunday at 1 pm.
Annual events also exist such as the Heinz Gebauer Spring War Regatta in June, catamaran regattas, 4 summer BBQs, fall and spring clean up days, and the Holiday season party.


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MM00033550xThursday, February 11th, 2016
Verify out these Moon Tattoos pictures:
Image by Florida Keys–Public Libraries
Jose Martinez passport application photo dated December 3, 1942. five feet 8 inches tall, black hair, brown eyes, tattoo of rooster left forearm and tattoo of woman and half moon on correct forearm. Father, Gillermo Martinez. Mother, Virginia Martinez. Wright Langley Collection.


text: The 3 ladies of Cover 3 NFL Female gathered last night to talk some football with special guest Greg from Intense Football. We discussed last week's game and whether Russell Wilson can be considered an elite quarterback. You won't want to miss this week's Playa Please and Play on Playa where I picked Indianapolis Colts linebacker Erik Walden as my Playa Please and Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker as my Play on Playa. Good times!


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Lolly Vape Co - Twist it ICE 50ml
This one needs no introduction. Lime ice swirled with creamy vanilla ice cream with that unforgettable raspberry core now with a glacier-like icy taste! Just perfect.
0mg Short fill, Nic shot compatible filled 50ml to make room for one 18mg shot to make 3mg available HERE


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I've always wanted to travel to Myanmar but felt uncomfortable visiting a country renowned for its cruel military dictatorship. However, with the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and several hundred political prisoners, coupled with the reforms introduced by the new government, I decided the time was right. My wife, who travelled to Myanmar previously in 1987, accompanied me on this Asian adventure, and we expected to see a country that had changed like the rest of south-east Asia. How wrong we were; it was like stepping back in time.
Travelling by road is pretty tough and our backpacking days are behind us, so we opted to fly between destinations. The itinerary included the capital Yangon, formerly called Rangoon, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan.
Yangon is considered to be the safest capital in southeast Asia and, given that most of the population is Buddhist, we found this to be true. Mass tourism has yet to arrive in Myanmar (in fact there are not enough hotels to satisfy the demand), so the local people are happy to see tourists and, better still, very willing to have their photograph taken. This made a refreshing change. Yangon is home to the Shwedagon pagoda, the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. At sunset the gold-plated Stupa shines out like a beacon and is surrounded by hundreds of smaller, highly decorated temples. Walking clockwise around the Stupa, people leave offerings at the many shrines. It is a colourful, utterly compelling sight with extraordinary images to be had in every direction.
On to Inle Lake, with its floating villages, leg-rowing fishermen and dazzling temples reflected in the calm water. Set at 900 metres, the quality of light is excellent. The fishermen make wonderful subjects as they maneuver their dugout canoes skilfully through the narrow waterways and fish using long, wicker fishing baskets. Our boat tour took us to forgotten temples, floating gardens, villages with stilt houses and a beautiful teak monastery, famous for its leaping cats; yes I did say leaping cats. Monks have trained cats to jump through hoops, which they do willingly for a snack. I guess monks must have a lot of time on their hands.
Mandalay, like Timbuktu or Casablanca, conjures up romantic images of a peaceful, serene setting, but sadly it is none of those things. However, nearby lay photographic gems which made up for it easily. U Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, is, in my opinion, one of the best photographic locations in the world. Sitting on a boat at sunset, capturing villagers on bicycles and monks holding umbrellas whilst they cross the bridge, is an experience that should be treasured for a lifetime.
Nearby is Sagaing, a complex of hundreds of pagodas that sit on hilltops overlooking the Ayeyarwady River. This is a place for monks and nuns to relax and to get away from the day-to-day strain of their lives. They are very happy to have their photographs taken and the colorful temples make perfect backgrounds. At 11 o'clock every day, over a thousand monks queue for their lunch (the last meal of the day) and parade into the monastery. Tourists are allowed to witness this event and photograph the monks at will. At first, I felt invasive, like the paparazzi, as if witnessing something private. However, I was informed that monasteries rely on donations for upkeep, so they welcome tourists with open arms and the monks encourage people positively to interact with them.
We saved the best until last: Bagan, with its thousands of red-brick temples and golden pagodas, has to rank as one of the world's great treasures. You can lose yourself for hours among the endless temples, either on bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. I became friendly with a monk who was happy to pose for me, in return for a small donation, of course. At sunrise I photographed him praying high up on the side of a pagoda, and during the day, when the sun was high in the sky, we spent time inside one of the temples, home to a huge reclining Buddha. The red gowns are very photogenic, especially in front of the whitewashed pagodas. If you are feeling affluent, you can take a balloon ride over the temples at sunrise or, in my case, set up a tripod on top of a suitably high viewpoint and photograph the landscape, backlit in the morning mist: fantastic!
At the time of writing, there are no cash machines in Myanmar due to the US embargo, so it is essential to carry US dollars or euros. The notes must be in perfect condition to receive the best exchange rate. Crisp new $100 dollar bills are the order of the day, so our shabby, secondhand $10 & $20 bills didn't go down too well. You can obtain money with a credit card but only in a couple of high-end hotels at a jaw dropping 15% commission. For those of you who are tired of seeing everyone on their mobile phones constantly, Myanmar will provide a refreshing break; there is no mobile 'phone service. So far, the government has restricted the speed and availability of the internet, which means it is not possible always to check e-mails. This may be unthinkable for some people but I found it very relaxing to have a few days away from cyberspace. It made me wonder how they managed to communicate, but somehow they do: all our travel arrangements were spot on.
I recommend visiting Myanmar sooner rather than later. Despite the country's turbulent past, there is still purity among its people and a genuine welcome that is becoming harder to find in the world today. The Chinese have been investing heavily in Myanmar in return for oil, gas, teak, jade and heroin and the best roads lead to China. To date, this has had little effect on tourism but I fear that it is just a matter of time before we see an impact. Groups of Chinese are starting to travel around the country, which is taking its toll on the already overloaded infrastructure. For the moment, Inle Lake is a peaceful haven but, with more and more hotels under construction, the lake soon will be very busy and polluted no doubt.
I went to Myanmar with no expectations but quickly fell in love with the country. I have travelled extensively in Asia and, with the exception of Bali, have never felt so at ease. Photography is the driving force behind my wanderlust but sometimes it becomes a lot more than capturing beautiful images. I left Myanmar with a genuine affection for the people and was overcome by the beauty of the stunning architecture. I'm a bit of a food lover, so I cannot finish this article without mentioning the cuisine, which is a mixture of Thai, Chinese and Indian: it is delicious. I'm returning to Myanmar in December and already am excited by the proposition of getting another chance to photograph this incredible country.
Read this article, and many more, in High Definition, inside Issue 17 of Landscape Photography Magazine.


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Cool Breeze BBQ Shirt - Matching Sizes for Dogs + Humans
Feel the ease and be the breeze in this chambray floral print shirt.
- Available for: dogs | men | women | kids
- Each item sold separately.
- Fibers: 100% cotton
- Care: machine wash cold, hang to dry.
- Every purchase helps a dog find their forever home. Learn more.
- Ethically made in the USA.
- Supervision is recommended while your pet is wearing this garment.
- Questions about fit? Email email@example.com
- Learn how to measure your dog for fit here.
- Photo by @reggie_the_boston_terrier, @honeyidressedthepug, @archerthefrenchie.to and @hugodelmondo.
- Button down shirt with real coconut buttons and perfected fit — cut to avoid doggie mess.
- Slim fit, collar buttons, chest pocket with button detail.
- Model: 185 lbs 6'1" wears size Large.
- Slim fit, feminine tie front detail, no pocket.
- Model: 130 lbs 5'6" wears size Small.
- Easy fit, chest pocket, button closure.


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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | RSS
Press the play button above to listen to the episode. If you're reading this via email or RSS click the image below to listen to the episode.
Today's podcast is based on one of our Gemba Live! episodes, featuring fascinating lean company Menlo Innovations. CEO Richard Sheridan explains how Menlo came to be and how their unique approach to software development has made them successful.
An MP3 version of this episode is available for download here.
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In this episode you'll learn:
- An introduction to Menlo Innovations (2:35)
- All about the typical nature of the software industry (4:03)
- Why you won't hear a phone ring at Menlo (9:45)
- Why the Menlo approach can work for large organizations too (10:42)
- The origins of the babies and dogs policy at Menlo (13:29)
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text:
Quiet day at school today just Entomology, an experiment in Biology where we worked on a new designer bacteria to eat and breakdown thermoplastics while producing large quantities of propane gas so that the chemistry teacher can win a Nobel Prize for his work on the environment. And we played algebraic Hop-Scotch in Maths because the maths teacher likes jumping about in the sun.
So we all jumped about shouting AB squared equals C plus D, although the game got a bit confused when Frank stood on his own fingers and ruined the maths teachers equation, so that in the end B equalled six and two and two made five (again)
When I got home after school mum and dad were sorting the recycling out, dad says in the old days we had a big steel bin and everything got thrown in that it was great and as long as the bin lid fitted back on; the dustbin men would throw it on the wagon. Not now we have different coloured boxes and bags to take tin cans, aluminium cans, plastic types 1 and 2, plastic types 7 and 9, other plastics, milk bottle tops only, cardboard and magazines, white paper, coloured paper, glass separated by colour, and various other things like food waste but not garden waste as we have to take that to the local recycling point ourselves. Then anything left over we can throw in the waste bin and you are not allowed to cheat because the council have bin police who every now and again come and check your bin to ensure you don't throw the wrong things out and fine you if you do.
Dad says it would be OK except that you have to wash all the bottles and tins out and he says we are using more resources making the recycling clean that we the energy we save by recycling it all. I told dad about our experiments in Biology to create a bacteria to eat all the recycling although it is not very effective yet as the teacher recons it will take twenty eight years for the bacteria to eat a milk bottle. Dad and Pirate Pete plus the dog and Rusty the dog have decided to make a steam powered giant bacteria that will eat everything in five minutes so the dog is doing all the calculations and dad has fired up the welding equipment. Pirate Pete has decided to it carve it a huge monstrous face in oak with titanium teeth and glowing eyes. And Rusty the dog is making it a tee shirt that says Bacteria have feelings too.
I have asked mum if she thinks their plan is likely to work but she said they were IDIOTS; luckily I am off drumming with my friends tonight I might even take a guitar so I can be noisy.


text:
Author and roving cultural ambassador, Malcolm Gladwell, has been praised for his ability to synthesize huge slabs of material, translate arcane research into everyday language and repackage research into tidy and attractive formulas.
In his latest book Outliers, he shares many anecdotes, one of which is this one, summarized by a reviewer:
"He begins with a puzzle: Why did so many Korean Air planes crash between 1988 and 1998? We eliminate various red herrings: bad morale, procedural violations, flight crews smoking on the tarmac. At last comes the pleasantly shivery moment when Gladwell pulls open the curtain to reveal the solution. Korea's exceptionally deferential culture prevented first officers from challenging captains' decisions in the cockpit. The whole story has been so ingeniously constructed that, as soon as you're done, you want to call someone and tell him what you just learned."
Source: Louis Bayard, Malcolm Gladwell's Secrets of Success, Salon Books, 17 November 2008.
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: Author and roving cultural ambassador, Malcolm Gladwell.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Malcolm Gladwell on Why Leaders Need Colleagues Who Challenge Their Decisions
Posted by Geoff Pound at 7:38 AM


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It's frustrating to see people comment on a profession with no real understanding of how demanding the job can be. Nurses are a special brand of people, and in my opinion are the unsung heroes of healthcare!
I was browsing FB when I saw a repost of a teacher from my High School Alma Mater. It was about Cynthia Villar and her view about closing the nursing schools and the owners. So here's the transcript of the video.
Winnie Monsod:
Nung kayo po ay nasa Kongreso, Kayo ay naging chaiman ng Committee on education, at noong panahon na iyon, 2005-2006, nagkaroon ng malaking kontrobersya, kasi yung Comission on highed education gustong isara ang 23 nursing schools sapagkat ang dami dami nilang walang kalidad, at tsaka nasasayang lang yung pera ng mga nursing students tapos hindi sila makapasa ng professional regulatory exam or yung tinatawag na NCLEX. Nung ginawa ito ng CHED, mukhang nag-intervene po ang kongreso, sa iyo, yung committee on education at humihingi kayo ng dialogue. Ang bottom line, is that walang nasara na eskwela. And as a result,nag-resign po si Chairman Fr. Rolando Dela Rosa, nag-resign ang buong technical committee on nursing education. Ngayon, ang question ko, it seems nag-side po kayo sa side ng business, sa mga owners ng school. At tsaka hindi niyo pinakinggan yung mga kailangan magawa para sa mga nursing students na nawalan na ng pera, hindi naman sila pwedeng pumasa. Now how, Cong.Villar, can you reconcile itong parang seeming disconnect between yung desire ninyo to help the poor at tsaka yung pagpanig niyo sa mga owners ng mga educational institutions na gustong isara ng technical nursing committee at tsaka yung CHED?
Cynthia Villar:
Maraming salamat mareng winnie i want to explain that situation to you, hindi naman ganoon ang istorya noon. Ang nangyari noon, binigyan nila ng permit yung mga schools to open, ng CHED. Tapos gusto nila ipasara, nakapag-invest na yung mga may-ari ng schools sa mga kanilang facilities. And then, sinasabi nila na kaya daw nila gustong ipasara dahil walang tertiary hospital, kasi sa mga nursing school to, na where they can train. Ang sinasabi namin noon, hindi naman po kami kumokontra sa CHED, ang sinasabi namain, kasi tinignan namin yung syllabus, yung mga courses na kunin nila, and then nakita namin na after lang, sa third year kailangan nila yung tertiary hospital so ni-request namin na hindi nalang ipasara yung pre-nursing, yung first two years. (end of timer)
Winnie Monsod:
Follow-up question nalang po ano, ha? Ay kung ganoon pala ang istorya, bakit bumaba pa ang mga nurses na-employ sa abroad, kasi hindi sila qualified? In other words, if it's only a matter of investment, bakit po hindi sila ma-employ employ? At bakit po nag-resign ang technichal nursing education committee, at tsaka nag-resign after only 7 months in office? Do you think they just did not understand?
Cynthia Villar:
No, yung pag-reresign po ni father is a personal quarrel with the owner of a school. Medyo personal po yun. Pero yung amin po, ay sinasabi po namin sa kanila na actually, HINDI NAMAN KAILANGAN ANG NURSE AY MATAPOS NG BSN, kasi itong ating mga nurses, GUSTO LANG NILA MAGING "ROOM NURSE." Sa America or sa other countries, ano lang sila, YUNG PARANG MANG-AALAGA. HINDI NAMAN SILA KAILANGAN GANOON KAGALING. kasi sa ibang country (end of timer)
"Pagsubok ng mga Kandidato-Part 2"
Airing Date: February 23, 2013
GMA News TV-11
(Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=568990759777759)
I actually did not understand if she has the proper view about Nursing education. First of all, to be a nurse, you need to be a BSN graduate. Kaya nga ginawa ang BSN curriculum diba, para makapag-produce ng Nursing graduates. The BSN curriculum must be finished so that a person can be formed and be well-educated about how Nursing works. Nursing is not just giving medication or gawin lang na maid ng mga patients, they are there to take care of the patient. To give a HOLISTIC CARE to the patient.
When she said that Nurses need not graduate Nursing, I FLIPPED OUT! Doesn't she know the hardships that Nurses have undergone just for them to get to their current status? Doesn't she know that four years is needed just for a nurse to give a holistic care? Hindi kailangang grumadweyt? Example, I'm currently in my second year of Nursing education and suppose that I would just drop out of school and just try to 'work as a nurse', will that make sense? All I know are the concepts on Maternal and Child and basic things that ALL NURSES should know. I don't even know how to cope up with ER yet or how to take care of a client in the surgical ward. Those things would be tackled on THIRD and FOURTH YEAR! Do you expect me to learn that all by myself?
"GUSTO LANG NILANG MAGING ROOM NURSE". Double flip the table. Does she means PRIVATE NURSE? FYI, there are lots of things that Student Nurses and Nurses wants to attain and not just be a Private Nurse, or in Mrs. Villar's words, ROOM NURSE! Many wants to be a NURSE ANESTHETIST, some wants to be a forensic nurse, some wants to be a nurse volunteer and yet some wants to be a NURSE RESEARCHER. Some take up Nursing as their premed course. There are lots of things that many SNs and Nurses wants and not just be a private nurse. Yes, you can gain lots of money from it because the pay is usually pretty good, but not all works that way. Some just want to serve, be paid, and be happy.
And to take care of a patient, I can really say that the four years is necessary. You can never take care of a patient effectively is you don't even know how to. Kung ganyan lang pala eh, Nurse na tayong lahat. We can all give tepid sponge bath, we can all just clean wounds, but not all of us knows the science behind it and how to PROPERLY do it.
It's an insult to the nursing community when she said "Sa America or sa other countries, ano lang sila, YUNG PARANG MANG-AALAGA. HINDI NAMAN SILA KAILANGAN GANOON KAGALING. kasi sa ibang country…". Anyone who have taken up nursing, a nursing graduate or a current SN can see my point why her words have hit a nerve. We take care of people. Hindi basta-basta mag-take care ng tao. If you don't see my point, take up Nursing.


text:
You gotta love the ABC for its arts/cultural programs. This weekend I was mesmerized by a spot about Canberra stencil/graffiti artist E.L.K who uses spray-cans to conduct his work. He is an autodidact, but the art form he began messing around with because 'he needed something to do' has started to gain him international attention and a swag of awards.
When you see an E.L.K stencil, it is difficult to figure out how something so photo-realistic could be created with a spray-can. And amazingly enough, his "Wake up to the Stink" stencil {above} that features Jesus in a gas mask was on a recent cover of Australia's Art Monthly magazine. For more, check out elkstensils.


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The New Royal Playhouse
Copenhagen has a new urban icon. One that not only adds drama to the city's skyline but also sets the stage for a long-awaited revival of contemporary theatre in Denmark.
By Theresa Valbæk
An enduring wish came true when, in February of this year, the Royal Danish Theatre inaugurated its new playhouse. Finally, audiences in Denmark can enjoy contemporary drama in a state-of-the-art purpose-built venue. The Royal Danish Playhouse is designed by two of the nation's most celebrated architects and the building itself has already been lauded by design critics.
The stages
The playhouse is not only home to the dramatic arts, but its grand foyer and wooden jetty promenade also open the city to the harbour, offering spectacular views of the new opera house.
With 650 and 200 seats respectively in the two main auditoriums and 100 seats in the Studio Stage, the new playhouse offers customised venues for every kind of dramatic performance, from the spectacular to the intimate. State-of-the-art onstage, offstage and backstage, the entire complex offers 20,000 m2 of enjoyment and entertainment.
The playhouse will be home to the Royal Danish Theatre as well as occasional performances by the Royal Danish Ballet. In addition, the playhouse will host talks and debates, children's activities and art house concerts.
The design
The monumental design was created by Danish architects Boje Lundgaard and Lene Tranberg, who in May 2003 were granted the commission by the Danish Ministry of Culture following an open international competition. Unfortunately, Boje Lundgaard (1943-2004), who died at the age of 60, did not live to see the completion of his playhouse design.
The building is composed by three striking architectural features: the promenade, the main auditorium corpus and the stage tower. Access to the foyer takes theatregoers along an oak promenade, which juts into the harbour on raised slanted piles. The copper-clad stage tower will gradually oxidize to join the city's historic skyline of copper-clad wonders. In the evening, architectural ambiance lighting renders the top floor in splendid glowing hues.
A monolith of black glazed tiles, the playhouse offers itself as a veritable matrix of high drama that orientates the city towards the sea and wider horizon; a home of grand emotion, subtle embrace, and wild comedy.
The prelude
In the 1880s, as intimate naturalism replaced the tradition of declamatory drama, it became increasingly apparent that the grand Old Stage of the Royal Danish Theatre, located on Kongens Nytorv, could no longer be the home of contemporary drama. In the decades to follow, a number of imaginative plans were unveiled for an annexed stage suitable for modern chamber plays and dramatic realism.
Following prolonged political wrangling, the New Stage was finally constructed next to the Old Stage and inaugurated in 1931. It was designed as a combined concert hall and theatrical stage for the Royal Danish Theatre and the then newly-established national broadcasting corporation, which soon outgrew its limited share of the premises. In 1940, a new custom-designed broadcasting house was inaugurated elsewhere in the city, in Frederiksberg.
The New Stage was from its inception more a concert hall than a theatrical stage and lacked basic stage facilities. Over the years, the Royal Danish Theatre therefore established a number of auxiliary venues located throughout the city. In 1998, a disused power station in Adelgade was remodelled and served as a three-stage venue until the 2007 season. Finally, in May 2001, a broad political majority in the Danish parliament backed an initiative to establish a new Royal Danish Playhouse by the Copenhagen harbourfront, close to major sights such as the Royal Palace and Nyhavn – and within a 10-minute walking distance from the Royal Danish Theatre's Old Stage.
The Copenhagen Improvement Society has joined the ranks of design critics and offered its recognition of the architectural merit of the playhouse in the form of a diploma. In their citation they state: "The playhouse offers a resolved location by the city's harbourside, featuring a large promenade platform soon to become a very popular downtown attraction, which will help bring new life to a formerly somewhat sedate part of town."
The diploma was awarded to the Royal Danish Theatre and architects Lundgaard & Tranberg jointly.


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6 December 1917
Trotsky, iii, 2, p. 192
The negotiations being conducted between the delegates of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, and Bulgaria on the one hand, and the delegates of Russia on the other, have been suspended at the request of our delegation for one week in order to provide an opportunity of informing the peoples and Governments of the Allied countries of the fact of the negotiations and of the course they have taken.
On the Russian side it is proposed:
1.To proclaim that the proposed armistice has for its aim a peace on a democratic basis on the lines formulated in the manifesto of the All-Russian Congress of Soviets of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies;
2.That as a condition of the armistice no troops are to be transferred from one front to another;
3. That the Moon Islands be evacuated.
With regard to war aims, the delegates of the opposing side declined to give a definite reply, stating that they had been instructed to deal only with the military side of the armistice. On the question of a general armistice also, the delegates of the opposing side claimed that they had no authority to consider the question of an armistice with countries whose delegates were not taking part in the negotiations.
On their part the delegates of the opposing side put forward terms for an armistice on the front from the Baltic to the Black Sea, to last for twenty-eight days. They also undertook to transmit to their Governments the Russian delegation's proposal for an immediate address to all belligerent countries, that is to all Allied countries besides Russia, inviting them to take part in the negotiations.
Since our delegation refused to sign a formal armistice in the present stage of negotiations, it was once more agreed to cease hostilities for a week and to suspend negotiations for the same period.
Thus, between the Soviet Government's first decree on peace (26 October) [8 November] and the time when the peace negotiations will be resumed (29 November) [12 December], more than a month will have passed. This time limit, even with the present disorganized means of international communication, is considered quite sufficient to give the Governments of the Allied countries an opportunity to define their attitude to the peace negotiations-that is, to express their readiness or their refusal to take part in the negotiations for an armistice and peace, and in the case of a refusal to state openly before all mankind, clearly, exactly, and definitely, in the name of what aims must the peoples of Europe shed their blood in the fourth year of war.
Documents on Soviet Foreign Policy
[Subject] [Author] [Date]


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I've been reading Tobold and Potshot lately. They're talking about loot and game design as it relates to endgame guilds, specifically guild hopping and progression problems due to it. I haven't seen a decent explanation of the problem, but as a guild officer/leader I've seen it in action twice now, once with the original WoW endgame and now with the TBC endgame. I don't have a solution, but I can frame the problem.
For me, the most fun time in WoW is right after an expansion hits, when there's limited collective endgame exploration. All the content is new and fresh, then I find myself grouping with not just my long-term guild friends, but also my friends who left to get on the progression roller coaster. It's glorious! This is what the first two months of TBC was like.
Then, endgame progress starts to happen, and a tiered system begins to form.
Some guilds progress quickly while others progress slowly. Before long, you have some small percentage of guilds at the top level, a larger percentage slightly below them, and ultimately many at the bottom. Now let's follow a person, Mike, through his ascent to the endgame.
First, Mike belongs to a leveling guild. He groups with and rides that guild up to the maximum level, but the guild doesn't have the wherewithal to group up for the endgame content, for whatever reason. Ultimately, Mike decides that he wants to see some of this content, so he joins pick-up groups, and he finds that it's fun. He does a little research and applies to an entry-level endgame guild. Mike is accepted! Wait, why is this endgame guild recruiting?
Entropy is constant in all guilds. A personal dispute can't be resolved, or someone can't afford to fix their computer, or they get divorced, or die, or become parents, or get sent to jail, or change jobs, or any number of other real-life reasons. Or they simply get bored with the game and never log in again. Regardless, even good people with no other issues leave the game. Every guild's membership is never constant, and therefore every guild must constantly recruit.
At Mike's first endgame guild, he learns to group, and the guild is sweeping through EndgameA content and is trying to get through EndgameB content. Mike is getting loot upgrades at a decent rate in EndgameA, because the guild has that under control. The goals of Mike and the guild are in perfect alignment for this time. Let's define these goals. Endgame guilds are easy:
- The goal of an endgame guild is to raise the total level of gear of its members so that they can explore the next level of content. The ability to run endgame content is dependent on both the size of the group and the collective loot level of that group. This means that taking a slightly-underequipped person is acceptable, because it's better than the empty spot you have that threatens to kill your guild's basic ability to raid.
Players are harder. Each endgame player is a combination of the following three goals:
- A loot-driven player wants loot upgrades. Zomgepics.
- A socially-driven player wants to play with their friends.
- An exploration-driven player wants to see all the content available.
(There are obviously more goals, but bear with me for the purposes of this article.)
Mike participates and gets all the gear available at EndgameA content. After some variable amount of time (due to the randomness of loot drops), Mike has nothing left to gain from EndgameA. He finds that his guild's progression on EndgameB–where progression is not easy and where the guild is currently stuck–is simply painful and too slow. Unfortunately for Mike's guild, Mike would rather see new content or get loot sooner without the struggle of doing it the hard way. His goal ranking is: loot/exploration first and social last. The people in his guild don't matter as much.
Luckily for Mike, there is another guild on the server which is exactly one step up in progression; they have EndgameB conquered and are working on EndgameC. The minimum requirement for gear to be successful in EndgameB content is EndgameA gear. Thanks to the random loot system, most of this new guild is still gearing up in EndgameB, so it's fine for a new applicant to simply be in EndgameA gear. Thanks to the effort of his current guild, Mike has EndgameA gear! The door to his second endgame guild is open.
After some amount of sweating, Mike leaves EndgameA guild to join the more-progressed one. The new guild gladly looks the other way at how the player came to them. Who can be certain what happened? The new guild is hoping for the best, so they welcome Mike with open arms and a big cheer. After all, this new guild is trying to get through EndgameC and needs active participants, because they keep getting poached by EndgameD guilds, who are getting poached to EndgameE guilds. And so on.
The problem is that the best situation for people who are loot driven is to be in a guild where the average level of gear of its members is higher than his own. This grants access to higher level content without the difficult part of sweating through it the hard way. Loot-driven people like coasting easily through content. They like getting rewards for minimal effort.
As you can see, this leads directly to guild-hopping. And endgame guilds, in their state of constant recruitment, make the problem worse with their constant poaching of each other. If they don't recruit this player, then some other guild will, and increase their chances of progression, which is just another guild to poach from them.
Thus, soon after endgame is explored by some, a guild stratification system sets in. A clear path through guilds emerges. Start in guild 1, jump to guild 2, then guild 3, and so on. This continues until the ladder is reset at the next expansion.
Blizzard has taken steps to combat this: reputation levels with instances; attunements; badges of justice; tier set tokens; exchanges for pve to pvp gear. Each has helped, but the problem is still there. The individual gets all the rewards, regardless of the relative efforts involved.
So while people say that Tobold's "loot belongs to the guild" idea is crap, that's not the point. There has to be a better way. Any suggestion is better than no suggestion.
In the meantime, the system churns on and the socially driven players who are close friends in an endgame guild–like mine–end up bitter that they've helped so many people up and along their own personal ladder, while the guild progresses very slowly because they hang on to a fraction of the people who pass through. Remember, we socially-driven people aren't purely social, we want to get upgrades for our characters and see the next endgame, and the one after that. But we won't give up friends just for loot or to visit another part of the game. Our only options are: 1) continue to hope that we can find enough like-minded people to get momentum to clear our current hurdle and experience the joy as a group; 2) give up on the endgame altogether. Giving up isn't a good solution because raiding is fun. Seeing new content is fun. Clearing obstacles with your friends is fun.
So we loyal ones stick together and keep recruiting, hoping to find the rare person who values camaraderie over loot, while we quietly look forward to the next reset (the next expansion). The ladder won't exist for a little while, and we can play in ideal environment, briefly.
I'm cheering all of you on, Tobold and Potshot and the rest.
(edited on May 2 for some grammar flubs)
More Words!
- Small Group Raiding in WotLK
- There are Many Ways to Win
- Definition: Main vs Alt
- casual/raiding
- The lure of large-group raiding


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With the recent change of retired ballplayer Sammy Sosa's appearance I've been bombarded with racialist slurs similar to the hoo-haa over Michael Jackson. Much comedic material is throwing around and reactions from people include "Sosa, get down with your brown". Funnee.
In Asian and Arab cultures, skin lightening and lightening products have been around for decades, it's a norm (but uneccessary). In the UK skin lightening is apparently on the up which is strange considering sun beds are the rage for that 'sun kissed ethnic look', but eh. I found this video explaining some of the Skin-drama and the lengths people go to for that pasty look.
Watch the video on World Star Hip Hop here.
Watch the video on World Star Hip Hop here.
What do you think? Where is all this 'deracialisation' heading?