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Pork Chops with Onions
This simple dish is a great one to share with friends and family. —Taste of Home
Total TimePrep: 20 min. Bake: 40 min.
Makes6 servings
- 6 bone-in pork loin chops (7 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 medium sweet onions, sliced and separated into rings
- 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- In a large nonstick skillet, brown pork chops in oil over medium heat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Transfer to an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
- In the drippings, saute onions until tender. Spoon over chops; add broth. Cover and bake at 325° for 10-15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 145°. Remove pork chops and onions; keep warm. Let meat stand for 5 minutes before serving.
- In a small saucepan, combine cornstarch and water until smooth; stir in pan juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with pork and onions.
Nutrition Facts1 each: 252 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 87mg cholesterol, 433mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 31g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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Mar 5, 2013
These were delicious. I am not a fan of pork, but with these I would eat it more often.
Feb 24, 2013
No comment left
May 22, 2012
These are delicious! I only had 32 oz of chops instead of the recommended 42 oz. Turned out so good!~ Theresa
Feb 8, 2008
No comment left


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Cancellation insurance
- 24/7 assistance before and during your trip
- Money back in the event of a delay
- Prompt claims handling procedure
Why take out cancellation insurance
Cancellation insurance covers you if you need to cancel your holiday or return home earlier than planned. This can be due to good or bad news, such as serious illness or an accident, or finding out you are pregnant after booking your trip.
Calculate your premium and take out cancellation insurance within 7 days of booking your trip.

subset: commoncrawl


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Eye For Film >> Movies >> Never Goin' Back (2018) Film Review
Never Goin' Back
Reviewed by: Owen Van Spall
Buzzed BFFs are the order of the day in writer/director Augustine Frizzell's scrappy, uneven, but ultimately winning debut feature. It is a film that is sustained by the irresistible, irrepressible duo at its heart, and by the appeal of seeing the typical stoner bro movie repurposed for the female perspective. Females who are determined to not give an inch, shamelessly thrown various narcotics down their throats or up their noses, take enemies off at the knees with volleys of profanity, and remain sweetly committed to each other throughout.
Once their alarm clock blazes one muggy morning, things start going wrong pretty quickly for BFFs Angela (Maia Mitchell) and Jessie (Cami Morrone). These two late-teen high school dropouts, so breadline they have to share a bed in Jessie's intellectually challenged jock brother's scabby suburban Dallas apartment, finally seem to have a chance to catch a break from their dead-end waitressing jobs in the same crappy diner. With childish glee, Angela drops the surprise on a sleepy and disbelieving Jessie that their dream vacation to sunny Galveston, Texas, is ON. In fact, it is only a few shifts away.
Angela has booked them a beach cabin, and got a great discount online. The catch? She used up their rent money to pay for it, trusting their bosses' word that enough shifts will be there to beforehand cover the advance payment. Right away, alarm bells are ringing in our heads. When a movie character assumes money will be there, chances are fate is going to take a different view. Angela and Jessie have a believable argument about how irresponsible this is, but actress Maia Mitchell invests Jessie with so much charm you can imagine wilting under her enthusiasm. Cami Morrone's character comes off in the first act as the slightly more responsible of the two (Jessie is really not convinced this beach idea is a good one, but gives in), but Frizzell's script never simplifies this relationship to an enabler/manipulated dynamic even as a shopping list of darkly funny, twisted disasters spin out of this one decision by Angela to cut loose.
And, boy, do things go wrong. Jessie probably should have guessed that that business venture her brother Brandon (Kyle Mooney) was babbling about was, in fact, an attempt to set up a drug deal. The deal resulted in a hold-up, which meant Brandon's own share of the rent has gone bye-bye. Then their apartment gets invaded in a hilariously chaotic scene by one of Brandon's own dimwitted 'crew' who wants his share of the fronted cash back, which results in cops searching the place, only to find Jessie and Angela's somewhat substantial supply of the good stuff strewn all over their room—and they have to serve a short stint in juvenile detention. With two days worth of shifts at work due to be missed, their beach trip is in serious jeopardy and they'll have to use every bit of guile to make the rent money back.
A 'get the cash in 24 hours' plot is now seriously underway, but what makes Jessie and Angela's mini-adventure so alternately funny and actually quite tense is the fact that their plans run parallel with them getting continuously buzzed, which doesn't result in quite the mindset you need to make some money quickly…and legally. You keep wondering which of them is going to accept that casual party invite, drop a tab of something they shouldn't, or lose their temper at just the moment things are looking up so everything goes to hell just when a path to salvation was about to open up. Jessie and Angela are their own worst enemies, but their affection for each other and their sugary/savage take on the world makes them kind of hard to dislike even as they walk towards every landmine in their path.
Frizzell's film isn't perfect by any means. You can see more than a few of the car crashes Jessie and Angela get into coming from way off, with some gags being set up way in advance and then playing out exactly as you might expect (one involving the downside of keeping your stools …upside for too long). Some of the characters, particularly those in Brandon's posse, are fairly standard doofuses who act as you'd expect. Frizzell's script and the production design show a keen eye for the realities of living one pay check away from disaster in a state and country without a great social security or minimum wage safety net. While this might seem to rub awkwardly against the increasingly zany plot developments as the film goes on, but I actually found this not to be a problem given this story is being told from the perspectives of two women who are stoned to hell by various drugs much of the time and who are sustained both by their own relationship and their DGAF attitude. I personally can't wait to see what Frizzell and co-stars Mitchell and Morrone do next.Reviewed on: 01 Jun 2018
If you like this, try:Harold And Kumar Get The Munchies


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ARNOLD, MO - Relief is coming for hundreds of flood victims in throughout the State of Missouri. FEMA crews will be going door to door beginning Monday to help people who live in 27 Missouri counties included in a federal disaster declaration.
The declaration was approved by President Trump last Friday.
If you are a flood victim you may see FEMA representatives knocking on doors for assistance and to answer questions about the process. The closest county in our area to be visited tomorrow is Jefferson and Franklin.
People in St. Louis County will be visited at a later date.
It`s important the person who shows up at your door shows proper identification.
The fastest way to register continues to be on line or by calling FEMA`s toll free number at 1-800-621-3362.
FEMA teams will be asking for things like your phone number, and social security number.


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On Monday 26th January 2015, India celebrates 66th Republic Day.
Independence Day (15th August 1947) was when India got its freedom from the British ruling.
Then, the Constitution was launched on 26th January 1950. This is the day called Republic Day.
The Constitution is a set of rules to run a country.
On a Republic Day, Indians hoist the Indian national flags in different parts of India, and they also do Parades, where the soldiers, school children and decorated trucks move on long routes and people watch.
On this day, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President Pranab Mukerji will attend the parade and give a speech.
For the first time the American President Barack Obama is attending the parade on the Republic Day.


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Don Haggerty
Don Haggerty (b. July 3, 1914, Poughkeepsie, New York – d. August 19, 1988, Cocoa Beach, Florida) was an American film actor appearing in films in the 1940s and 1950s. Before entering films in 1947, Haggerty was a Brown University athlete and served in the US military. Usually cast as tough policemen or cowboys, he appeared in a number of memorable films including Sands of Iwo Jima (1949), The Asphalt Jungle (1951), Angels in the Outfield (1951) and The Narrow Margin. The B-movie actor continued to appear in films until the early 1980s. In the 1955-1956 season, he appeared as the outlaw Sam Bass in an episode of Jim Davis's syndicated Stories of the Century. In 1956-1957, Haggerty appeared as Sheriff Elder in Rod Cameron's syndicated western-themed crime drama, State Trooper. He appeared at this time in three episodes of the syndicated western 26 Men about the Arizona Rangers. In 1959, he guest starred in Bruce Gordon's docudrama about the Cold War, Behind Closed Doors. In 1960, Haggerty guest starred on the NBC crime drama Dan Raven starring Skip Homeier. He also appeared as Joe Wine in the 1961 episode "Alien Entry" of the syndicated series The Blue Angels. About this time, he also appeared in the episode "The Green Gamblers" of the crime drama The Brothers Brannagan.
Go for Broke!They were the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a squad of loyal Japanese-Americans who had to battle prejudice as well as the Axis enemy. Van Johnson stars as their contemptuous top-kick, whose bigotry gives way to respect in the crucible of war. Supporting Johnson is a cast of veterans, all former...Watch Movie
The SundownersFrom the legendary western novelist, Alan LeMay, Robert Preston and Robert Sterling portray two brothers who find themselves on opposite sides of the legal fence. Preston's son is caught in the crossfire, menaced by Sterling. [Please excuse the poor source quality of this film. It is presented...Watch Movie
King of the Rocket MenOne-by-one, a group of atomic researchers are being decimated by remote control. The survivors suspect that the villain, calling himself "Dr. Vulcan," is one of their own members who is bent on a monopoly of their technological wonders. Jeff King is assigned to safeguard the...Watch Movie
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Recent Posts
- Arizona Supreme Court Issues Important Order for Court Transition Due to Coronavirus
- Justice is Met – Arizona Supreme Court Follows Plain Language of Arizona Medical Marijuana Act in Overturning Court of Appeals
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Tag Archives: Right to Speedy Trial
Criminal Law Myth of the Month – It took almost a year to press charges! Don't I have the Right to a Speedy Trial?
There is a large confusion regarding the right to a speedy trial. Although it is true that defendants charged with a crime have a right to a speedy trial, people often get this right confused with a separate legal concept … Continue reading
Posted in Criminal Law, Myth of the Month Tagged Right to Speedy Trial, Statute of Limitations Leave a comment


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Mmmm - anyone that hasn't tried these... go and get one... you spend all day putting more on your lips!! These are another thing that have been sitting around begging to be done. Not sure what to do with them all now??? LOL.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Passion Fruits - Lip Balm Holder
Posted by Tracy at Sunday, February 01, 2009
6 comments:
They're very cool Trace. Hope you haven't sampled each one!!!ReplyDelete
they look too scrummy to useReplyDelete
What a cool idea Trace.ReplyDelete
These little guys are so cute! I don't use much lip balm, but these would also make great notepads - the slot for lipbalm could hold a mini pen instead!ReplyDelete
These are totally adorable! Great valentine's gifts for my daughter's friends! thanks for the inspiration!! Hoosier Hugs, NicoleReplyDelete
Oh these are just so cute! What a great little gift!ReplyDelete
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Sign up to receive a special offers, plus get early access to our LIMITED Releases and New Collections. We don't do sales, and we definitely don't spam. This is just bringing you on the inside.
The famous Black Sheep Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey gets a neon face lift. Made from the luxurious MITI Thermodream, our Thermal Long Sleeve Jerseys have an incredibly comfortable and warming underside which provides excellent insulation from anything Mother Nature throws your way while also being breathable and resistant to water. The Jersey also benefits from overlocked seams while a welded hem ensures nasty winter draughts are kept well at bay.
Do you ever just get frustrated at the cold? We only have ourselves to blame when we are stuck, two hours from home watching a setting sun, freezing in a shelter because we just weren't prepared. Welcome our AW20 Elements Collection, this season in brilliant neon. Specific winter pieces to make sure you are prepared for anything. You don't need to blame Mother Nature ever again.
Elements AW20 Neon colours have been designed specifically according to research conducted by the British Medical Journal into reducing bike crash injuries by 23.1% (Thornley et al)
As cyclists, we're always pushing boundaries, whether its the weather we ride in or the time we set our alarms for. That's where the updated ELEMENTS collection comes in. Built for all conditions; the dark, the cold, the wet, and the downright annoying. Welded seams, waterproof zippers and luxurious fabrics. Now, there's no excuses.
Fluro neon inks radiate colour as the sun drops with the temperature, meaning you remain extreamely visible on the road.
Made from the luxurious MITI Thermodream, our Thermal Long Sleeve Jersey benefits from an incredibly comfortable and warming underside which provides excellent insulation from the elements while also being breathable and resistant to water.
We all have our perfect fit.
Get to know yours right here.
orStandard Size Guide


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Researchers have announced that Cecil the lion's cubs are being protected by the fallen animal's brother, even as they fear that the offspring could be threatened by a rival male.
The killing of Cecil by American dentist Walter Palmer not only sparked worldwide outrage, but also endangered the lives of as many as 12 cubs in the lion's family, researchers told NBC News earlier this week. Conservationists who had tracked the lion since 2008 openly expressed fear for Cecil's cubs, noting that the complexities of lions' social lives made it likely that another male would kill them in order to father his own offspring.
Cecil's cubs being protected by Cecil's brother! http://t.co/gkFP8cg82W pic.twitter.com/qquaP9Xyx3
— M. Lisbon (@mikedowson222) July 31, 2015
"The natural law in lion society is that when a male dies and his weakened coalition is usurped, the new incoming males kill their predecessors' cubs," project leader David Macdonald asserted. "This may not happen because Cecil's brother is still holding the fort."
It now appears that Cecil's cubs are unlikely to suffer that fate. Though the research team from Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Unit feared that the next animal in the hierarchy, Jericho, may kill the cubs, they note that he is instead safeguarding them. That assessment was echoed by Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, as the Daily Mail reports.
Cecil the Lion's 12 Cubs Most Likely Already Killed by a Rival Lion http://t.co/9TfJvY7W1D #CecilTheLion pic.twitter.com/qbyA5u4OPR — Quad Finn (@QuadSeaShepherd) July 29, 2015
"Everything is fine, Jericho has taken over the pride and all the cubs are safe," he noted.
Jericho and Cecil had formed a "coalition" in their pride prior to the lion's death, according to the Daily Beast, joining forces against other rival males. Describing Cecil as the dominant lion, they point out that Jericho filled a "sidekick" role. Experts had suggested a number of succession scenarios for Cecil's pride, including one in which Jericho killed his former allies' cubs. Others asserted that Jericho could be killed by rival lions, leaving the cubs again in danger.
Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer accused of paying $50,000 to kill #CecilTheLion in Zimbabwe: http://t.co/zbuzjQ1TKm pic.twitter.com/uaS48n69JZ
— Heavy.com (@HeavySan) July 28, 2015
Though Palmer has admitted to killing Cecil, he has not been seen in public since news of the 13-year-old lion's death broke. This week, authorities in Zimbabwe asserted that they would seek extradition in the matter, as the Inquisitr previously reported.
Rodrigues also pointed out that if the cubs were to be killed, they would have died several weeks ago when Cecil did, suggesting that the young lions may now be safe.
[Image via Wikimedia Commons]


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We have quite a few restorations going on at the moment. Check out the progress on several classic bicycles in the shop this week. We have been working on a 1948 Schwinn B6, the bike that in 1949 became the iconic American Schwinn Bicycle known as the Black Phantom. Below you can see several bicycle tanks being artfully and carefully recreated to their original factory specs. You may recognize a 24" Schwinn DX tank from 1947 painted in blue with its iconic white wings, a red tank from a Red 1952 Schwinn Stream liner and a metallic blue tank off a Columbia that was once sold in Goodyear tire dealerships.
What we recommend for more on Classic Bikes
Categories: classic bikes, classic schwinns, Restorations


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When it comes to getting a new car, the price tag seems to be always the crucial factor for everyone.
You simply don't want to buy a car you cannot afford, nor sign a deal that will impact your budget in a disastrous way.
This is the reason why many people switch to leasing, which is very popular today.
Other factors such as time and user experience also influence people on their final decision: to buy or to lease?
Save Money on Your Auto Insurance Bill, Compare Quotes Fast
In principle, vehicle leasing refers to the use of a motor vehicle for a determined period of time at an agreed price for the lease.
How frequently would you be driving your new vehicle over the long term? Do you want to stick to a single car for more than two, five or even ten years?
How much do you know about car leasing compared to the traditional form of ownership?
As facts always matter, let's explore the pros and cons of leasing a car today.
The pros of leasing a car
Leasing a car comes with benefits which in many cases has more to do with your budget above anything else.
It's really not expensive
By contrast, vehicle leasing typically comes with a lower down payment and monthly payments compared to the traditional vehicle ownership.
The lessee signs a deal in which they accept to pay for the vehicle's depreciation and not the entire cost of the vehicle.
You can pick from several types of vehicles
As you will be getting more value for your money, including more budget room for additional expenses if required, you will be able to afford an upgrade.
That applies to new cars, trucks, and SUVs that you wish to lease.
Forget about trade-in nuisances
This is probably an advantage that has gained more traction over time, mostly for Millennials, who would rather lease a car because of its convenient simplicity.
Once the vehicle lease is over, all you need to do is drop it off at the dealership along with the keys. You are free from trade-in hassles.
Your vehicle comes with up-to-date features
You won't need to be worried about getting bored with your current vehicle lease, as you will be able to switch to a new car every two or three years.
Either you go for a new car, truck, or SUV, getting a new vehicle with the latest features is simply awesome.
Yet you won't be able to enjoy this choice had you own a vehicle for 10 years or so.
Get tax breaks for your vehicle lease
Banking on the state where you reside, business owners seeking for vehicle leasing opportunities may be eligible for tax cuts on the lease.
You could always refer to your trusted tax accountant to help you obtain the most tax savings in a vehicle lease deal.
The cons of leasing a car
Leasing a vehicle comes with a set of drawbacks that are worth examining prior to making any final decision.
Mileage restrictions
When leasing a car, you would be getting a mileage limit up to approx. 15,000 miles per year.
Provided that you have a two-year lease and your odometer records display 32,000 miles when you return the vehicle, you may be subject to penalties with the dealership as specified on the agreement.
You are advised to discuss with your dealer about any penalty charges for exceeding your mileage limits.
Additional wear and tear costs
At the end of the lease, auto dealers meticulously inspect the vehicle to ensure the vehicle looks just like its original condition.
You may find this requirement almost impossible to fulfill, especially if you have kids or pets.
Expect wear and tear costs if you fail to keep the vehicle in accepted conditions.
Proving regular maintenance reports
The lease contract commonly requires lessees to demonstrate periodic check-ups and maintenance reports to ensure the vehicle was kept in optimal condition.
For that reason, you are strongly advised to keep the receipts on file and obtain a gap insurance so as to protect yourself from having your car getting damaged or totaled in an accident.
Returning the vehicle means the game is over
Every dollar you put into a vehicle which includes the down payment, the monthly payments extra fees, and penalties goes directly to the dealer, leaving you without car and money.
There's no way you could recoup those payments as that's the rule once the lease is over.
Your credit rating influences your eligibility
Dealers want to stay protected by all means. Don't be surprised if they start demanding an acceptable credit score based on their eligibility requirements.
You will have more chances to be approved for an auto purchase than getting an approval for a vehicle lease.
SEE ALSO: Smart Car Packing Ideas For A Successful Move Or Trip


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Overview of VC Firms…Value to SMALL companies with BIG idea
June 2017
Dennis Taibl
Chief Development Officer
JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital
Dennis @JBFitzgerald.com
Andrew Liu & Nicholas Fainlight
Business development Associates
JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital
This White Paper is designed to provide a general overview of Venture Capital (VC) firms and the role they play in providing equity to fuel the growth of a company. VCs are different than angel investors primarily through their level of participation in the company business and their extent of ownership. Typically, VCs invest in companies that have achieved a level of traction in their market and need equity support to grow.
As a VC firm in structure, JB Fitzgerald Venture Capital actually is a "blended" equity firm whose mission is to invest AND support small companies, which may include companies in the "idea or concept phase" or those companies that need structure and resources to achieve their go-to-market strategy.
Venture Capital (VC) Firms have historically played a crucial role in facilitating business growth, streamlining research and development, and providing the financial and operational support necessary to scale a company. VC firms are typically diversified in their size, area of focus, investment stage, and degree of intervention. VC firms provide support to their entrepreneur through funding, business/industry expertise, operations, and network support. However, too much reliance on VC funding may result in a reduction of control in the business and a loss of founder equity. VCs typically look for high-growth companies with a strong team and a proven product and business model that shows evidence of traction.
The role of venture capital financing has seen a sea of change throughout the years. While venture funding initially started as a means of financing new, growing companies, it has since developed into a more holistic means of support. Modern day venture capital seeks to bridge the gap where traditional sources of funds actively cannot participate in financing new ventures. Venture Capital firms can add value in multiple areas, namely:
- Team and Skill Building: Sourcing and recruiting the right people, and building the right skills necessary for each step of growth
- Operations: Improving administrative, accounting, technological and legal capabilities
- Analysis: Through industry experience, creating a strategy and ensuring entrepreneurs measure, understand, and report the performance of their early stage companies
- Network: Providing entrepreneurs access to a network of potential investors and acquirers as well as partners to accelerate growth
- Brand name: Promoting an unfamiliar startup brand through marketing channels and VC brand recognition
In addition to providing funding, the operational support, network, and in-house expertise that VC firms provide play a crucial role in sustaining and growing the business.
Small, "niche" VC firms oftentimes can provide more value to the entrepreneur than larger ones. (And may, in fact, assume the role of "angel investor" initially to provide seed money for small companies with a big idea, but still very early on in development).
Some advantages to using a "niche" VC firm are as follows:
- Responsive, personalized support: Smaller VC firms oftentimes invest in relatively less developed companies, allowing them to provide more non-financial support and resources to their portfolio companies.
- Network in niche industry: Smaller VC companies oftentimes have an unparalleled network and experience in niche markets. For example, JB Fitzgerald provides access to pro athletes in the sports industry, a value-add uncommon in larger VC firms.
- Experience in a niche industry: Smaller VC companies oftentimes only focus on investing in high growth startups in certain industries. By capitalizing on their firm's comparative advantage by narrowing the scope of their investment thesis, they ensure that portfolio companies receive the best support and experience tailored to their specific area of focus. (Specifically, gaining traction in the desired market for quick and profitable growth).
All in all, smaller, niche VC firms provide substantial benefits to companies operating in industries aligned with the firm's thesis and need assistance in executing the Founders vision.
The most significant drawbacks to VC financing from larger VC firms specifically, and equity financing in general, include:
- Loss of control: With a large injection of cash and professional investors, VC partners may want to be involved with the companies' operations. Depending on the size of their investment, they may want to have some influence over shaping the direction of the company.
- Minority ownership status: Depending on the size of the VC firm's investment into your company, which could be more than 50%, you could lose management control and essentially give up your business
- Preferred shares vs Common shares: Some VCs (especially in the later stages) may opt for preferred stock, allowing them to receive payment on dividends and capital gains before common shareholders. If an entrepreneur's company is sold or goes public, they may be receiving the payment last, after all investors are paid off.
Differences in VC companies
Most VC companies typically provide funding and operational support to startups. (Vs. angel investors who typically just invest and don't participate) Primary differences between VC companies include:
- Brand Awareness: Larger VC firms are generally more well-known and established than smaller firms
- Size of funds: VC firms oftentimes only invest at certain stages of the deal cycle. Seed-stage investors typically invest up to $250K in the seed round, while later-stage investors may invest millions in the series rounds
- Industry of focus: Certain VC firms focus solely on investing in companies within their industry of focus.
- Location of investment: Certain VC firms operate solely in certain areas/countries
- Degree of support: Different VC partners oftentimes play varying roles in their portfolio companies. "Investor VCs" typically play a passive role in the company's day-to-day operations, while "Operator VCs" typically play a more active role. Most Operator VCs are former entrepreneurs.
- Presence of Limited Partners: Most VC firms are funded by limited partners, who provide the funding to create such funds, but whose liability is legally limited. However, some VC firms are completely funded from the General Partners.
What VCs look for
While the judgement whether to invest in a startup is ultimately at the discretion of the partner involved, VC firms typically look for these key attributes:
- Capability of founding team
- Does the team have the experience, talent, and knowledge/skills to lead such a company? Do they experience as Entrepreneurs?
- Is the team cohesive, engaged, passionate, and adaptable?
- Potential of product or service
- What is the market size/potential?
- How differentiated is the product/process/price point/super niche?
- Is there revenue/profitability potential?
- What is the breakeven time?
- VC/Startup fit:
- Does the company align with our investment thesis/area of focus?
- Does VC firm have the appropriate resources to assist growth?
- Key Metrics of the business:
- What is the customer acquisition cost (CAC) and the customer lifetime value (CLV)?
- The Annual recurring revenue (ARR), Annual run rate revenue (ARRR)? Cash flow?
- What is the churn rate?
- Deal Structure:
- What deal is the VC getting out of this?
- What is the company pre-money/post-money valuation?
- Can the VC create a win-win scenario for all?


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Houston has 19 million sf of office space under construction, 54% more than a year ago, and its highest level since the booming 1980s, according to local news reports.
Nearly 40% of this new office space is corporately owned, according to the Houston Business Journal, which points specifically to a 3-million-sf campus being built by Exxon Mobil, a 1.1-million-sf campus in Westchase suburb by Phillips 66, and a 515,000-sf building that Southwestern energy is erecting.
New building begets higher land prices. CBRE research estimates that land values throughout the Houston metroplex are increasing strongly. For example, land prices in the Uptown/Galleria area range from $125 to $315 per square foot in the second quarter, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Construction workers are also benefiting from all of this activity. The Associated General Contractors of America says that Houston added more construction jobs that any major metro in the U.S. from August 2013 to August 2014. Houston's employment in all business sectors has jumped by 10% since 2008, or twice the percentage in San Francisco, according to The Daily Beast.
The Business Journal reports that 10.8 million sf of office space are on schedule to be delivered by year's end, a sizable jump over the 3.2 million sf delivered in 2013.


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Constructed with painting wall, white color, wood and marble stone.
Read more
Designed with premium natural material, the Deluxe room combines modern comfort with traditional architecture features, with soothing views over the garden or the lily lake.
Our latest premium deluxe rooms offer a slightly more contemporary style and overlook the peaceful garden.
Overlooking the Peanut pool and garden, the family standard rooms are composed of two standard rooms connected by one door, as part of a three-story building.
Nestled in the garden and overlooking the lake, the Family Deluxe room is composed of two Deluxe rooms connected by one door, on the same floor, as part of a two-floor building.
Surrounded by the lush garden the honeymoon bungalow features a high ceiling, wooden floor, traditional design and its own terrace, combining a heightened sense of space and privacy.
Tucked away and overlooking the Slope swimming pool, the spacious honeymoon pool hut has its own private gate, lush tropical garden and intimate plunge pool.
Inspired by Hue traditional architecture, the Vietnamese Pool House is a haven of tranquility with its own private gate, swimming pool, full kitchen, dining room and view over the peaceful lake.
A: 112 Minh Mang Rd., Hue, Vietnam; T: (+84 234) 3 830 240; F: (+84 234) 3 887 057; E: firstname.lastname@example.com
© 2020 Vedanā resorts & spas. All right reserved.


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After years of fawning coverage, it appears the media is finally waking up to the reality that Elon Musk is a mere mortal, with flaws. It's been a long time coming.
For the past decade, his press cheerleaders have heralded the multi-billionaire businessman as equal parts celebrity and superhero. Going so far as to demonize his detractors, they've provided adoring coverage of Musk's business ventures, praised his decision-making skills and touted him as the world's greatest visionary. Tech genius, revolutionary, savior, no label has been too extreme in their eyes. But unfortunately for Elon, it looks like that time has finally passed.
As amassing a business empire is no easy feat, Elon Musk has certainly accomplished extraordinary things. But until recently, the media has sustained a creepy cult of personality around the tech mogul. While Musk is indeed a visionary, for the past few years, the press has argued that he is far more than just that. They've admired his seeming ambition, boldness, and ingenuity to a fault.
But now, perhaps because his antics have become increasingly egregious, the blinders are beginning to come off. A barrage of recent investigations into Musk and his businesses have forced the press to take a second look at the man they've so willingly propped up.
And perhaps this time, his ambition sounds a little more like bluster (unrealistic production estimates, etc.), his boldness looks increasingly like recklessness (lashing out at the Securities and Exchange Commission during a 60 Minutes interview, for example) and his ingenuity isn't quite as fresh as they previously thought.
The cracks in Musk's armor first began to appear earlier this year. In February, the Inspector General for the Department of Defense issued a memorandum announcing that it would be opening an investigation into SpaceX's launch certification. The objective of the audit was to determine whether the U.S. Air Force complied with the proper guidelines when it was awarded to SpaceX — Musk's rocket company — in 2015. The real mystery, however, was what prompted the investigation in the first place.
The IG report was enough for some in the media to search for an explanation and begin connecting the dots. As it turned out, the February 2019 memo wasn't SpaceX's first run-in with the Inspector General. In December 2017, the DoD released a scorching report of their investigation into the aerospace company's quality management. But in the media's bizarre, limitless adulation for Musk, they largely ignored it. Today, all of that has changed.
The report provides a potential explanation for the Inspector General's recent actions. Detailing major concerns about the quality of SpaceX's rockets, it also documented the company's lack of adherence to the government's compliance standards. Those failings have led some to conclude that the most recent IG investigation is an outgrowth of SpaceX's previous struggles with quality control and that perhaps Musk's business isn't quite as revolutionary as they thought.
Later that month, Musk's carefully-constructed façade was really beginning to crumble, and the press was finally forced to cover it. On Feb. 25, the entrepreneur found himself in hot water over social media posts he made regarding his other business venture, Tesla. After Musk tweeted information about the company that possibly constituted a breach of contract, the Securities and Exchange Commission moved to hold the Tesla CEO in contempt of court for his behavior.
Musk's decision to flirt with serious legal repercussions was strangely impulsive and entirely unnecessary. It also raised serious questions about his decision-making and leadership abilities. And once again, the media was compelled to contemplate whether their faith in Musk had been misplaced.
The media's fears were confirmed not long after. Following his now-infamous appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the Pentagon is reportedly reviewing Musk's federal security clearance. Demonstrating a profound lack of awareness and good judgment, Musk smoked marijuana with Rogan in front of millions of viewers. In doing so, he violated federal law and put his businesses at risk financially.
Given that federal contractors are generally discouraged from engaging in illicit activity and are required to acknowledge any illegal drug use when applying for security clearance, it wouldn't be surprising if Musk's clearance was revoked.
Unfortunately for Musk, his recent antics have used up any of the media's remaining goodwill, and it shows in their reporting. He's no longer the hero coming down from on high to save the day. Instead, he's impulsive and struggling to overcome his own worst enemy: himself.
Musk may not appreciate the press' newfound willingness to point out his flaws, but in reality, the media's change in reporting is a win for the American people. They deserve to know Elon Musk, the man — not the myth, nor the legend.
Brian Maloney (@SScalpings) is the co-founder of the Media Equality Project, a conservative watchdog group.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of The Daily Caller.


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Like the Predjama Castle card, this one was also one of my favorites. It was sent by Genek "Gforp" from Denmark.
What i like on this card: the snow, the street lamps and the guards. Really beautiful.
"Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard (Amalienborg Slotsplads); in the center of the square is a monumental equaestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V.
Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down on 26 February 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces.
"Kongevagt - The King's Guard – is exercised when the Queen is in residence – and will be accompanied by the Band of the Royal Danish Life Guards. The guards will departure from Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 and end at Amalienborg palace at 12:00, where changing of the guards takes place. After the parade and shift, the Guards leaves the drum and the Regents Flag on the drill ground in the daytime at Christians VII's Palace beside the colonnade." - in: http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Amalienborg.htm


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Description: Avery Elle Accessories take the guess work out of coordinating your paper crafting supplies. All papers, ink pads and designs coordinate with one another. Stamp & Dies Storage Pocket 50pc Small- Store clear stamps, wafer thin dies, stencils, embossing folders and more. Pocket will fit two standard 2 in. x 3 in. clear stamp sets, measures 5.13 in. x 5 in., and includes a flap that tucks in to keep stamps and dies secure. Archival safe and made of clear 4 mil plastic.
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Emergency Department
The Emergency Department's services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Up to 106 patients seek help through the department each day—approximately 38,000 patients each year—the majority of whom suffer medical problems requiring swift and effective treatment: cardiac arrest, respiratory problems, or abdominal injuries, for example. The scope of our services, however, has never detracted from our compassionate and individualized approach to emergency care. Each patient who comes to Mercy Medical Center for treatment finds professionals who have dedicated themselves to prompt, skillful, personalized care. These medical experts—from specially trained nurses to physicians are qualified to respond to the most critical need, and to provide state-of-the-art treatment.


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Because of the allegations, the show was suspended.
"We take these allegations very seriously," a spokesperson for the network told BuzzFeed News at the time.
"We're working with Critical Content, our third party production company, to conduct a thorough investigation and we've put a pause on shooting until the investigation is completed."
Ayissha didn't name Nev specifically, but she went on to explain how she was allegedly treated by him and others.
"I'm shook because the way you portray yourself on TV is totally different from the jackass you are in person," she said. "He was just pushing and pushing and pushing," she explained.
However, Nev has now been cleared of the allegations after the internal investigation and filming for the show has commenced.
"I'm doing much better now. It was a really difficult time for me, as much for my wife and my family," Nev told People in an interview. "It was tough."
At the time, Nev denied Ayissha's claim in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
"The behavior described in this video did not happen and I'm fortunate that there are a number of former colleagues who were present during this time period who are willing to speak up with the truth," he said. "I have always been transparent about my life and would always take responsibility for my actions — but these claims are false."
Nev continued to tell People that he felt "powerless" during the investigation.
"To be accused of something that I squarely did not do and to have the harsh judgment that followed and no way to counteract or do something in the moment to correct that was very difficult," he explained. "It was frustrating. I just felt so powerless.
"Luckily I had the amazing support of the fans of the show but also of my colleagues, the crew," he said. "Several people who had been on the show actually reached out to me and offered to speak up in my support if necessary. I'm just so thankful and grateful to everyone."
What a drama!
If you, or someone you know, has experienced sexual harassment in any way, speak confidentially to a trained counsellor 24 hours a day:
Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Lifeline on 13 11 14.


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Women who are thinking about getting breast augmentation with a lift often have questions about how the procedure might affect their nipples. What many women don't know, though, is that adding a breast lift could offer a number of benefits when it comes to the size, shape and symmetry of their nipples.
Still have questions? Read through these three facts to help you decide if a combination breast enhancement procedure could be right for you.
1. The Shape of Your Areolas Can Be Changed
The areola is the darker colored area of skin that traces a circle around your nipples. For some women, large or asymmetrical areolas are a cosmetic concern that they'd like to address during their breast enhancement procedure. During a breast lift, the size and shape of your areolas can be changed to create a more aesthetically pleasing shape and size.
2. Retracted Nipples Can Be Addressed
Correcting retracted nipples might affect nipple sensitivity or breastfeeding.
Correcting retracted nipples might affect nipple sensitivity or breastfeeding.
3. Your Nipples Can Stay Just As They Are
If you have no qualms with the size, shape or symmetry of your nipples, they don't have to be affected by breast enhancement. Take a look at some before and after breast implant photos from your plastic surgeon and notice how the nipples look in each picture. Unless you have a specific concern, your nipples can look the same as always after breast enhancement.
Related Posts
- Are Silicone Breast Implants Dangerous?
- How Can I Tell if a Saline Implant Is Leaking?
- How Can I Tell if a Silicone Implant Is Leaking?


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So you don't wear your hearing aids very often? Most of the time you leave them in the drawer unless you're, for example, going to a party or to the theater. Is it really important to use them more often than that?
Over the long term, you create trouble for yourself if you're not using your hearing aids regularly and that's a problem. You could permanently damage your hearing. Cognitive decline and social isolation could be the result. You could compromise your overall health. This content will help you discover why you should be using your hearing aids.
Why Are Your Hearing Aids Not in
You probably have a good excuse for keeping your hearing aids in a drawer somewhere. Sure, perhaps you haven't really been forthcoming about what those reasons might be. Maybe you brush off the questions from your family when they ask why you're not wearing them.
Stilted dialogue to the side, we know that's not the full story, right? If you dig a little deeper, you'll probably find that there's a specific grievance at the heart of your irregular hearing aid use. Specific issues are good because they create an opportunity to find an equally specific solution.
Here are some of the most frequent complaints;
"My Hearing Aids Feel Uncomfortable"
One of the most typically cited reasons that individuals discontinue using their hearing aids normally is discomfort. Often, the hearing aid keeps falling out of your ear. Or perhaps tenderness and pain are occurring in just the wrong spot with your over-the-ear model.
It's not supposed to be uncomfortable to use hearing aids, so if they're creating discomfort of any kind, something is definitely not right. And soreness, frustration, and pain are not things you would desire from any piece of technology.
Possible solution: If you're not comfortable with your hearing aids, think about setting up an additional or follow-up fitting session. A couple small adjustments may be all your hearing aid needs. The size and shape of your ear can even be the basis of a complete customization of some designs. The more comfortable your hearing aid fits, the more likely you are to leave the device in place for long periods of time.
My Hearing Aid Has Poor Sound Quality
Maybe you don't use your hearing aids regularly because you find the sound to be fuzzy or tinny. It's not shocking that you've decided to put away your hearing aids for a special occasion, if that's the case."
This fuzzy or tinny sound can happen because hearing aids are performing complicated auditory functions at all times, filtering out some sounds while trying to amplify others. So if your settings aren't correctly adjusted, the sound quality may seem unreliable.
Solution: This challenge has two possible answer: upkeep and calibration. It could be that your hearing aids are damaged in some form or another and have to be repaired. But your hearing specialist can perform a simple calibration which is all your hearing aids may require.
When I Use my Hearing Aid Voices Seem Muffled
You need to hear voices clearly. That's the overall reason why you purchased hearing aids in the first place! You didn't want to miss out on a single word. So it might be a little bit aggravating if all the voices you hear when your wearing you're hearing aid are muffled or hard to comprehend.
This normally occurs when you first buy your hearing aids because your ears and brain aren't necessarily used to communicating all that well anymore (it's like they had a falling out or something).
The Remedy: Keep practicing. Comprehending what people are saying is something your brain will need to become accustomed to, so putting yourself in situations where you can hear people talking regularly will be helpful. Try reading along with an audiobook or reading along with the closed captioning while watching tv. Merely having more discussions with the people around you is a perfect way to practice, as well.
Getting Answers
The point is regardless of what your reason for not using your hearing aids might, there is an answer somewhere. And you need to wear your hearing aid routinely in order to safeguard your cognitive health and the well being of your hearing.
So if your hearing aids don't seem to be working perfectly for you? After determining the problem, find a solution, so you can get active in your life again. If you think your hearing aids require adjustment, get in touch with your hearing care expert now.


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Meemee Straw Cup With Swinging Handle MM-3907
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Meemee Straw Cup With Swinging Handle MM-3907
Product Description
Your child's drinking bottle is now fun...with mee mee straw cup with swinging handle.This is unique bottle can be used by your little one for sipping water, juices and all favourite liquids.The Straw makes it easy to sip and intake the right amount of liquids every time.The best part is-the swinging handle! Your child can use it to easily carry the bottle anywhere independently,swing it for movement & fun and feel happy while playing with it!
Care & Safty Tips:
- Clean all parts properly before and after every use.
- Sterilise all parts in boiling water to remove all germs or bacteria.
- Use mee mee liquid cleanser for best results.
- Check the temperature of liquids before feeding.
- Avoid boiling and do not heat in microwave.
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David Stern, The Former NBA Commissioner Says People Are Taking Trump's Bait With National Anthem Protest Issues!
Former NBA commissioner David Stern says The debate over players taking a knee or standing during the national anthem is distracting from "what's really happening." Stern believes it is distracting from the fact that Puerto Rico is ravaged and the horrible situation with fire in California. "Everyone takes the bait of the president throwing this junk out to distract them from what's really happening in this country,". Posted By Persist
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Day five of bright line eating. Below are my three meals. No snacks...just coffee.
Im feeling very good. I went for a four mile walk/hike in Black Forest this morning. I was not sure how that was going to go because I do not have the strength and energy as I did when I was eating tortillas and crackers and other four and sugar based foods. Something interesting is that my hunger is not as strong between meals and also I am starting to not feel as beaten down. I think my body is doing a great job of detoxing. In the bright line book Susan Pierce says to take each day with "bunny slippers." This really hits home for me. I have given myself a LOT more grace and love the past five days. I know what I am doing is not easy. Who can give up flour and sugar? The American diet is primarily based on flour and sugar. This applies even if you are a vegan or vegetarian.
This is just day five though. I literally have to take this journey one day at a time.
What keeps me motivated? Well, honestly...for me to reach my goal weight is a goal I have had since 2010 when I originally started this. If I make it I might have a mental break down for a few minutes.....a MUCH deserved mental breakdown. (wink)


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Nathan Justice, MD
General Pediatrics
Nathan Justice, MD
Assistant Professor
Medical Education: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 2007
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 2010
Graduate Education: MBA Finance and Human Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 2003
Office: 423-431-3100
General Faculty Research Faculty
Grant Funding
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Community Access to Child Health Resident Funds Grant. Principle investigator, "Community-Centered Approach to Reduce SIDS." Jun 2009 - Dec 2009. $3,000
Leadership role serving on committees, governing boards in national medical organizations or as a review or editorial board member for a peer reviewed journal.
Chief, Department of Pediatrics, New Castle Pediatrics
At-large representative, Medical Executive Committee, New Castle Pediatrics
Chair, Electronic Health Records Committee, New Castle Pediatrics


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Yoga & Rose at the Williamsburg Winery
- Per person: $15
The Yoga & Rosé experience will be inspired by the refreshing elegance found in the Dry Rosé. The class will center around our heart, due to the gorgeous rose color of the wine. We will cultivate a sense of joy, love, compassion, and connection from our heart throughout our yoga practice. Our yoga class will be accessible for all levels, come join us as we connect to our heart, cultivate compassion, and indulge in the bright elegance of the newly released 2017 Wessex Hundred Dry Rosé.
Admission: $15 per person which includes a 1 hour guided yoga experience by Mary Robinson of Body Balance Studio and a glass of the 2017 Wessex Hundred Dry Rosé.
Classes begin at 10:00 AM (Registration 9:30 AM)
If the weather is warm and nice, we'll host the class outdoors in the vineyard. If the weather is not ideal, the class will be held inside Westbury Hall.


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Warmest months (with the highest average high temperature) are July and August (29°C).
Months with the lowest average high temperature are January, February and December (16°C).
Months with the highest average low temperature are July and August (20°C).
Coldest months (with the lowest average low temperature) are January, February and December (9°C).
The wettest month (with the highest rainfall) is November (114mm).
The driest month (with the lowest rainfall) is July (1mm).
Months with the highest number of rainy days are January and December (14 days).
The month with the lowest number of rainy days is July (1 days).
Best months for swimming (with the highest average sea temperature) are August and September (22°C).
Coldest months (with the lowest average sea temperature) are January, February, March and April (16°C).
The month with the longest days is June (Average daylight: 14.6h).
The month with shortest days is December (Average daylight: 9.7h).
Months with most sunshine are June, July and August (Average sunshine: 11h).
The month with least sunshine is December (Average sunshine: 5h).
The month with the highest UV index is July (UV index 10).
Months with the lowest UV index are January and December (UV index 2).


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Genetics can guide the first phase of drug development (identifying drug targets, see here ) as well as late phase clinical trials (e.g., patient segmentation for response/non-responder status, see here ). But is there a convergence between the two areas, or pharmaco-convergence (a term I just made up!)? And are there advantages to a program anchored at both ends in human genetics?
Consider the following two hypothetical examples.
(1) Human genetics identifies loss-of-function (LOF) mutations that protect from disease. The same LOF mutation is associated with an intermediate biomarker, but is not associated with other phenotypes that might be considered adverse drug events. A drug is developed that mimics the effect of the mutation; that is, a drug is developed that inhibits the protein product of the gene. In early mechanistic studies, the drug is shown to influence the intermediate biomarker in a way that is consistent to that predicted by the LOF-protective mutations. Further, because functional studies of the LOF-protective mutations provide insight into relevant biological pathways in humans (e.g., a gene expression signature that correlates with mutation carrier status), additional information is known about genomic signatures of those who carry the LOF-protective mutations (which mimics drug exposure) compared to those who do not carry the LOF-protective mutations (which mimics those who are not exposed to drug). Now, a large-scale phase II clinical trial is ready to be launched.
The CEO of a company asks: How should the clinical trial be designed?
(2) A drug is approved for use in a disease. At the time of initial approval, there is no genomic or clinical biomarkers of efficacy or toxicity. Subsequent pharmacogenomic studies demonstrate that there are inherited DNA variants that influence the drug therapeutic window, such that patients who carry a specific genotype are much less likely to respond to the drug, regardless of the drug dose.
Now, the CEO of the company that developed drug asks a basic question: If such information were known at the time a large-scale phase II clinical trial was being designed, would the information have influenced the design of the clinical trial?
Potential answers to the CEO for question #1 – (a) The genomic signature that is associated with LOF mutation carrier status should be measured as a biomarker to predict efficacy/toxicity; if predictive, the biomarker should be used in subsequent trials to stratify enrollment. (b) The LOF-protective mutations themselves should be tested for association with efficacy/toxicity; if predictive, the mutations should be used in subsequent trials to stratify enrollment.
A potential answer to question #2 – The DNA variants should have been used to stratify enrollment – those who are more likely to respond should be preferentially enrolled in the trial.
In other words, both scenarios converge on a central theme: a genomic signature — whether expression-based or genotype-based — should be used to stratify enrollment into the clinical trial in order to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity.
Now consider a third, overlapping scenario:
(3) Drug X is already approved for a disease indication; a biomarker is developed that predicts either non-response to that drug, or predicts an adverse event to that drug. At the same time, a different drug, Drug Y, is developed based on human genetics (e.g., LOF mutations that protect from disease), and a phase II clinical trial is being designed.
The CEO now asks: How should this information be used in designing the phase II clinical trial for Drug Y?
The response is similar, except for one important twist: the biomarker that predicts non-response to the approved Drug X should be used to enroll patients for the new Drug Y.
These three scenarios highlight what I think is an important principle: an effective drug discovery program should converge from both ends of the pipeline onto the early clinical trials that ultimately determine whether a drug is safe and effective in humans. I argue that a drug discovery program that is anchored in human genetics has the key advantage of being able to link fundamental biological discoveries made at the time of target validation with fundamental discoveries made for approved drugs used for the same indication. This is quite powerful, as it merges technologies and insights from the entire drug discovery program to both develop new drugs and optimize use of drugs that are already approved.
In the Plenge Lab, we are striving to converge both areas. We search for LOF mutations that protect from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with the goal of launching a biochemical screen of small molecule compounds that mimic the effect of the human mutations. We also study the consequences of human genetic mutations, as we have done with the CD40 risk variant. In addition, we study genomic predictors of response to anti-TNF therapy in RA. Over time, we anticipate that the two areas will converge to improve drug development in RA.
Pharmacogenetics in the evaluation of new drugs: a multiregional regulatory perspective
In a February 2013 perspective published in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, a diverse group published a an opinion piece about the use of pharmacogenomics (PGx) during the development of novel drugs (download PDF here). A primary aim of the manuscript is: "to describe the guidelines from the EMA, the FDA and the PMDA, focusing on critical issues for the use of pharmacogenetics during drug development related to drug PK parameters". [abbreviations: European Medicines Agency (EMA); US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA)]
The article places PGx genes into three categories (see Table 2 of the paper): (1) genes relevant to the drug's absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) – or PK genes; (2), genes that encode drug targets – or PD genes; and (3) genes that influence disease susceptibility or progression. They focus on the first category of genes (PK genes), but with an interesting twist: they provide insight into how regulatory agencies globally have been developing guidance for drug developers, with the goal of ensuring satisfactory efficacy and lowering the incidence of adverse drug events (ADE's) associated with novel drugs.
They provide recommendations on the conduct of PGx studies at different phases of drug development to optimize drug PK parameters. The issues discussed include: (1) situations in which PGx studies are required or recommended; (2) the banking of DNA from trial participants, which can help ensure that unknown genetic variants or important metabolic pathways can be retrospectively identified and their clinical effects tested with sufficient power; and (3) the translation of knowledge into drug labelling (for example, in recommendations for dosing adjustments).
This manuscript provides a practical way in which PGx fields can converge – with regulatory agencies paying attention to developments in the field.


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Gonorrhoea cases on the rise across Europe
Following a decline in notification rates in 2016, the number of gonorrhoea cases has gone up by 17% across the reporting EU/EEA countries with more than 89 000 confirmed diagnoses in 2017 – more than 240 cases a day.
Extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea: risk of further dissemination within and across Europe
ECDC comment on the study 'Detection in the United Kingdom of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae FC428 clone, with ceftriaxone resistance and intermediate resistance to azithromycin, October to December 2018' by Eyre et al. in the Eurosurveillance edition of 7 March 2019.
Gonorrhoea: drug resistance compromises recommended treatment in Europe
Gonorrhoea is the second most commonly notified sexually transmitted infection across the EU/EEA countries with almost 500 000 reported cases between 2007 and 2016. The infection is treatable but Neisseria gonorrhoeae keep showing high levels of azithromycin resistance according to latest results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme.
Health risks during the Carnival season in Brazil
The Carnival season will last from 1 to 9 March 2019. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1 million participants are expected, including many travellers from Europe
Call for scientific collaboration to support genomic-based surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-antimicrobial resistance at EU-level
ECDC is looking to establish a scientific collaboration with an organisation which can perform whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, carry out related data analyses, share results of the analyses with ECDC and the participants of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme as well as visualise the results.
Drug-resistance of gonorrhoea in the EU: persistent but stable
Neisseria gonorrhoea continues to show high levels of resistance to azithromycin across the European Union and European Economic Area, according to the 2016 results of the European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP).
Understanding drug-resistant gonorrhoea: an ECDC whole genome sequencing study
Can whole genome sequencing illustrate changes in drug susceptibility of gonorrhoea to antimicrobials used for treatment and so help to define more effective treatment regimens? The first study of this kind within an international surveillance programme for sexually transmitted infections shows distribution of drug-resistant gonorrhoea strains across Europe.
ECDC: first detected cases of extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea threaten future treatment
Within a matter of weeks, three cases of gonorrhoea that are resistant to the recommended first line antibiotic treatment have been detected in Europe and Australia. These are the first global reports of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with high-level resistance to azithromycin and ceftriaxone resistance that also show resistance to several other vital antibiotics. At a time with limited alternatives to the current dual therapy, lack of a vaccine and insufficient surveillance capacity in some regions, these cases highlight the growing threat of drug-resistance – which could lead to untreatable gonorrhoea.
Gonorrhoea strains across Europe becoming more susceptible to main treatment options
According to test results from the annual European Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (Euro-GASP), resistance levels to the main antimicrobials used for treatment of gonorrhoea infection have seen an encouraging decrease since 2010.
Five infectious diseases accounted for 75% of reported cases in EU - summary report
Chlamydia infection, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, gonorrhoea and tuberculosis were the most commonly reported notifiable infectious diseases in the EU and EEA in 2014.


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Read this release from the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) regarding the CCW Meeting of Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS) which will take place from 13 to 17 April 2015 at the United Nations in Geneva.
Humankind is facing the very real prospect of extinction from the effects of Anthropogenic Climate Change and what are we doing? — developing weapons systems which can make their own decisions about who to kill and when. Although the potential will exist for these systems to solve the climate change issue (everyone working at fossil fuel company headquarters, politicians around the globe who continue to support fossil fuel use, anyone driving a Hummer and so on) this is not what they are being developed for . . . at least not until someone hacks into the control software.
To great fanfare about "intelligence" and "lithium from Russia" they will be sent off to unfriendly nations (accompanied by a couple of CF18's to show that Canadian politicos have big balls too) to bomb electronic factories and stop those countries' WMD-by-LAWS programs; which don't exist of course.
Picture these drones gleefully raining down death upon hapless Bangladeshi factory workers who are waving banners declaring that they are just developing a more efficient way of delivering pizza.
My question would be: How long can these things continue to Autonomously fuel themselves and continue operations after the last humans have apparently expired? Do they ultimately win or will there be some "Preppers" hiding in culvert pipes buried 40 feet down in the USA (eating KD that is years past its best before date and drinking their own, or possibly each others' urine) who will emerge after one of the LAWS has imbibed the last gulp of Jet A.
Either way, I wouldn't wanna survive this one.


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Victor B, 2014 Imported Friesian Gelding
Extra fancy & extra kind Unicorn, Shown at Training Level, scores in 70s
15.1 / Black / KFPS & FHANA registered
Victor is one in a million - he is so sweet, patient, forgiving, people oriented, laid back - but also super fancy under saddle, very supple, 3 gorgeous top quality gaits. He can go far in the dressage ring or be the best family all around horse! He can jump, is an angel on the trails, alone or in a group. He can be ridden and enjoyed by professionals (i wish i could keep him forever), but can also be ridden by the whole family, husband, little kid - he just loves attention and being with people.
At only 5 year old, he went to 3 shows this summer and won all his classes with super comments and many 8s and some 9s, scoring in the 70s. Victor will only go to a 5 stars home. We will require a contract with right of first refusal, even though we are sure that anyone who will buy him will want to spoil him rotten forever ;) Special consideration to someone keeping him at the farm in training with us.
Another cute video of him here - https://vimeo.com/358213875


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To help serve you better, we have collected information about the various OmniSTAR-compatible GPS receivers in one convenient location for you, including the following:
Information available for a given receiver varies. In addition, the receiver-specific information pages will also provide you with links to the manufacturer's website where you can access the latest information direct from the source.
For additional updated frequency settings and receiver instructions please visit: www.trimble.com/Positioning-Services/frequency-change


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CMP is the Center for Medical Progress, a front company created by David Daleiden et al. before going undercover to expose the illegal buying and selling of baby parts.
In the CMP exposé, StemExpress was outed as being neck deep in bartering and buying baby parts from Planned Parenthood abortuaries.
StemExpress, which had sued CMP, just dropped its suit and is walking away with nothing.
"StemExpress was the first of Planned Parenthood's accomplices to file a retaliatory lawsuit against citizen journalists and the first to seek an unconstitutional prior restraint on our First Amendment rights to speak and publish," notes CMP Project Lead David Daleiden. "Now, the video is out for all the world to see, StemExpress faces criminal referral in multiple jurisdictions, and they are walking away from their own lawsuit empty-handed."
"This victory for free speech and citizen journalism was made possible by our masterful and indefatigable legal representation in this case by Chuck LiMandri at the Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, and Katie Short at Life Legal Defense Foundation. StemExpress' surrender sends an unmistakable message to Planned Parenthood, the National Abortion Federation, and all their political cronies who would dare to attack the First Amendment to cover up their crimes."
NOTE: Disturbing Content
Planned Parenthood Baby Parts Buyer StemExpress Wants "Another 50 Livers/Week" [9:42]


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Get Cozy at 13|U This Winter
January 17, 2019
Find the perfect respite from the Washington, DC winter weather in our luxury amenity spaces and premium two-bedroom apartments.
13|U's fully-appointed resident lounge is ideal for entertaining friends or diving into the latest page-turner next to the stately fireplace on cold winter evenings. If warming up with a workout is more your speed, the onsite fitness studio overlooking U Street is equipped with a personal trainer, cardio and weight machines, dumbbell free weights, and flat screen TVs, which means never having to step outside the building to get your heart rate up. Residents also stay warm and dry thanks to our underground parking, which is only accessible by use of state-of-the-art electronic keys.
Meanwhile, the top-of-the-line details in our premium two-bedroom units provide the ultimate escape from the chilly winter weather. Get comfortable with bright, welcoming, and flawlessly functional features within every space of our spacious residences.
In our fully equipped kitchens, it's easy to entertain guests in the midst of a snowstorm or make the perfect comfort meal using the sleek, stainless steel appliances — including a Thermador® refrigerator, a separate cooktop and oven, an integrated microwave, and a paneled Bosch dishwasher built into the white quartz waterfall countertop island. The floor-to-ceiling windows that offer breathtaking views of DC provide an unmatched opportunity to stay cozy all winter long from the comfort of a walnut-paneled master bedroom or the living room couch. Whether residents enjoy a luxurious bubble bath or a hydrating facial routine to combat the dry weather, our bathrooms provide unparalleled tranquility and restoration.
Take the opportunity to get cozy at 13|U this winter season. Visit our website for more details on our unmatched amenity spaces and view our available floorplans and leasing options of our premium two-bedroom units.


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These buttons are a great way for you to show off your american patriotism. Show off your pride and support for our country with these cute but meaningful accessories.
These buttons are covered with scratch and UV-resistant Mylar with a standard button-back. Proudly handcrafted and printed in the USA.
They measure 1 inch or 25 mm, 1.25 inches or 32 mm, or 2.25 or 58 mm in diameter depending on the size you choose.
1 inch is the size of a quarter.
1.25 inches is the size of a half dollar silver coin.
2.25 inches is the size of the top of a soda can.


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Most Popular
Messi And Ronaldo 3D Art Made Of Food And Restaurant Equipment Goes Viral
During the UEFA Champions League draw in Monaco on 29 August, Cristiano Ronaldo admitted that he and his arch-rival Lionel Messi "have a good relationship" but the pair of Ballon d'Or winners "have not had dinner together yet."
Sitting next to Messi while being interviewed for BT Sport, Ronaldo finished his speech by expressing his hope of sitting down with the man he has shared the stage with for 15 years.
"We have not had dinner together yet, but I hope so in the future."- Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) August 29, 2019
"It's great to be a part of the history of football. I am there, and of course, he is as well."
Cristiano Ronaldo speaks on his relationship with Lionel Messi :pray: pic.twitter.com/HbicSaS6NW
With the two titans of world football incredibly busy breaking records and scoring a hatful of goals, we might have to wait a fair while before Messi and Ronaldo do share dinner together.
But in response to the invitation, Lithuanian artist Jolita Vaitkutė spent a staggering 27 hours putting together a piece of how Ronaldo and Messi having dinner together might look.
In total, the artwork is eight meters long and three meters wide, made of 658 objects that include oysters, shrimps, grapes and various desserts and drinks. Every object was picked individually from 17 different stores around Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.
More Like ThisMore Like This
Paul Scholes Ends The Lionel Messi Vs Cristiano Ronaldo Debate Once And For All With Brilliant Verdict
Lionel Messi Names His Top Five Best Players In World Football Not Including Himself Or Cristiano Ronaldo
Explaining what prompted her to create the mindblowing design, Jolita told SPORTbible: "In response to Ronaldo's comments, the city of Vilnius decided to act as a mediator between the two living football legends and offer them dinner at one of the city's top restaurants.
"Ten of the top-rated restaurants jumped on board by inviting the distinguished guests to try the best their chefs have to offer.
"To make sure the two footballers would have a wide enough range of eating places to choose from, a table for "Ronaldo and Messi" was reserved in each of the restaurants. This is why we chose to make portraits from meals, glasses and tables as a invitation visual."
The artwork has been receiving great exposure on social media and Jolita hopes that Messi and Ronaldo will see the invitation and accept the offer to come for dinner in Vilnius.
Asked who she thinks the GOAT really is out of the two, Jolita added: "Both of them are cool. I just like the friendship between two opponents."
Topics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Messi, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga


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Why did Gen. Mike Flynn lie to the FBI about his December 2016 conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak?
Why did he not tell the FBI the truth?
As national security adviser to the president-elect, Flynn had called the ambassador. Message: Tell President Putin not to overreact to President Obama's expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats. Trump will be president in three weeks, and we are committed to a new relationship.
Not only was this initiative defensible, it proved successful.
Putin accepted the loss of his diplomats and country houses on Long lsland and the Eastern Shore. Rather than expel U.S. diplomats in retaliation, he invited them and their families to the Kremlin's New Year's parties.
"Great move…(by V. Putin)," tweeted Trump, "I always knew he was very smart." This columnist concurred:
"Among our Russophobes, one can hear the gnashing of teeth.
"Clearly, Putin believes the Trump presidency offers Russia the prospect of a better relationship with the United States. He appears to want this, and most Americans seem to want the same. After all, Hillary Clinton, who accused Trump of being 'Putin's puppet,' lost."
Flynn, it now appears, was not freelancing, but following instructions. His deputy, K. T. McFarland, sent an email to six Trump advisers saying that Obama, by expelling the Russians, was trying to "box Trump in diplomatically."
"If there is a tit-for-tat escalation," warned McFarland, "Trump will have difficulty improving relations with Russia." Exactly.
Flynn was trying to prevent Russian retaliation. Yet, as the ex-director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, he had to know his call to Kislyak was being monitored and recorded.
So, again, why would he lie to the FBI about a conversation, the contents of which were surely known to the people who sent the FBI to question him?
The other charge of lying about a call with Kislyak was Flynn's request for Russian help in getting postponed or canceled a Security Council vote on a resolution denouncing Israeli settlements on the West Bank.
Obama's White House was backing the anti-Israel resolution. And Bibi Netanyahu had asked Trump to weigh in to block the vote.
Bottom line: Flynn, acting on instructions, tried to prevent a U.N. condemnation of Israel, and to dissuade Russia from a mass expulsion of U.S. diplomats, lest this poison the well against a rapprochement for which the American people had voted.
In the court of public opinion, Flynn's actions would find broad support. Rather than deny knowledge of them, Trump should have taken credit for them.
Why the general would lie to the FBI about conversations he had to know U.S. intelligence had recorded is a puzzling question, but now also an irrelevant one, water over the dam.
For Trump's general is now the newly conscripted collaborator of the media-Mueller-Democrat-deep state conspiracy to overturn the election of 2016 and bring down the Trump presidency.
After 18 months, we have no evidence Trump colluded with Russia in hacking the emails of the DNC or John Podesta, which is what the FBI investigation was supposedly about.
There is no conclusive evidence Flynn committed a crime when, as national security adviser-designate, he tried to prevent Obama from sabotaging the policies Trump had run on — and won on.
Yet there is evidence Russian intelligence agents colluded with a British spy in the pay of the oppo research arm of the DNC and Hillary Clinton campaign — to find dirt on Donald Trump.
And there is evidence James Comey's FBI wanted to hire the British spy who appeared to have access to the Russian agents who appeared to possess all that wonderful dirt on the Donald.
It is hard to see how this ends well.
This weekend, after Flynn's admission he lied to the FBI, Beltway media were slavering like Pavlov's dogs at anticipated indictments and plea bargains by present and former White House aides, Trump family members, and perhaps Trump himself.
The joy on the TV talk shows was transparent.
Yet the media have already been badly damaged; first, by the relentless Trump attacks and the cheering for those attacks by a huge slice of the country; second, by their reflexive reaction. The media have behaved exactly like the "enemy" Trump said they were.
In this us-versus-them country, the media now seem to relish the role of "them." The old proud journalistic boast to be objective and neutral reporters, observers and commentators is gone.
We are all partisans now.
As last Friday's sudden 300-point drop in the Dow reveals, if Trump's enemies bring him down, they will almost surely crash the markets and abort the recovery that took hold in Trump's first year.
And if the establishment, repudiated by Trump's victory, thinks it will be restored to the nation's good graces if they destroy Trump, they are whistling past the graveyard.
When Caesar falls, the cheering for Brutus and Cassius tends to die down rather quickly. Then their turn comes.
Patrick J. Buchanan
December 6, 2017
SOURCE: http://buchanan.org/blog.
- Image source: Army Lieutenant General (Retired) Michael Flynn. Photo: Mark Reinstein/Shutterstock.com. / Selected by wg.pco
Visit Pat Buchanan's Official Website at Buchanan.org
Here's Pat's Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatrickBuchanan
and FaceBook for posting your comments:https://www.facebook.com/PatrickJosephBuchanan
– Sign up for Pat's email updates, follow on Twitter, FaceBook and Pat's YouTube Channel…. Plus all of his syndicated columns and more!
Patrick J. Buchanan is the author of the new book:
The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose From Defeat to Create the New Majority .
Get Pats Books… Signed by Pat Buchanan!
http://buchanan.org/blog/keep-us-online .
We encourage you to forward this email to friends, family and colleagues… For the Cause!
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Troubleshoot Browser and Miiverse
Hi guys!
I have a New 3DS XL with the update 10.7.0, lately the web browser and miiverse are giving me problems. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, when they don't what happens is you press open and a white screen with the name Web Browser/Miiverse appears right? But it stays there, like the WiFi led is still blinking but the screen is frozen, so I have to hard reset.
When they work (getting past that loading screen) sometimes they work normally, but sometimes the app kicks me with an error message saying "An error has occurred, close everything and restart" with no error code, but it just leaves me on the home menu.
So I have seen guys on other threads (same problem but update 9.3.0 waaay before now) with the 3DS that has a button to turn off wifi and apparently that unfreezes the screen, but because the new one has that button on the software i cant reach it.
Is this a software problem that will probably be fixed on the next update? (not probably if i am the only one) Or is this a hardware issue? (i hope not because i've run out of warranty)
PS i normally wouldn't care as miiverse and browser are not something i would die to use, but i'm afraid if this will expand to affect my games somehow.
Last edited by mikeben; 04-18-2016 at 05:10 PM.


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Hello, everyone! I, Mikaylah, was the leader of "Fun Day", and it lived up to all the expectations that you would have when thinking of a fun day. Part of the morning routine for each leader of the day is to wake up students. This morning, I only had to wake up the girls in my room because everyone else was awake. That was the start of the most easy-going day we have had here.
Today's activities consisted of three things: going on a tour of a chocolate factory, swimming in a lagoon park, and our English tutoring classes.
We had a 15-minute bus ride to a local cocao factory called Castilo del Cacao. When we arrived, the scenery was beautiful. There were trees and plants everywhere (which is very typical here in Nicaragua) and also paintings of cacao trees, butterflies, and humming birds. The man who was showing us around had a lot to say about his candy bars. Every ingredient is natural. They make their chocolate with only two ingredients- cacao and sugar. Then they add a few other small ingredients such as cashew nuts, roasted cacao nuts, rum, etc. We also learned that white chocolate is actually just candy, sugar and animal fats (sorry if I might have ruined it for white chocolate lovers).
After we learned a few facts about chocolate, we started the tour. We had to put these ridiculous looking caps and face masks on. Then we saw the machines they use to liquefy the chocolate. We then got to taste test some of the hard and liquid chocolate. We also tried the tea and coffee, which was bitter without adding the sugar and liquid chocolate, but it was still delicious. As a result of our new-found love for "clean" chocolate, we almost bought them out of chocolate bars.
Our second trip today was to a water resort called laguna de San Marin. Our first thought was, "Wow this is a lot different from what we experienced yesterday." (experiencing living in poverty) When you first walk up to the resort, there were these bird -like seats made out of tires. The resort was amazing. There was a huge lagoon, with floaty sculptures that we could all climb on. There was also trampolines, paddle boards, boats, and many other fun activities. It was hard not to think of how much fun the kids from yesterday would have if they got the same opportunity as we have today. Overall, I think everyone had a really nice time and got to relax quite a bit. Also, the water felt super refreshing.
Our last activity of the day was tutoring our students. My class is the advanced English class, so we have really strong conversations with them. Today we went over singular words that turn plural with s, es, ies, whole word change, and no change. One thing that really made me smile was one of the boys in my class drew a really unique picture of a girl who looked very similar to me, but patterned. They are a really easy group to get along with and they just soak up the information we give them. Once we ran out of things on our schedule, we played hangman and I think they really got into it. It makes me happy to think we are making a difference in their world. Little do they know they are impacting our lives just as much as we are impacting their lives.
I have had such an outstanding experience here so far and am excited for what has yet to come. Even throughout some challenges, our group of amazing young adults has learned to come together and appreciate all of the little things in life. This trip is really helping me grow as a person, a community member, a friend, and a traveler. Even though I am excited to hug my family again, I do not want this to end, I don't want to leave my new friends, and I don't want to miss the amazing views of the beautiful Nicaragua. Thank you so much to all of the leaders here, they are making the trip perfect and we all love you very much.


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RAINBOW SERPENT FESTIVAL 2018 limited edition !
Inspired by the visual identity of the Rainbow Serpent Festival, a four days long adventure full of art, music and environmental awareness, PlazmaLab shares with us a new collection which result from their collaboration !
Discover PlazmaLab designs; high quality clothes with original and great fitted cut !
These graffiti artists, drawers and designers come from the world of Street Art. Inspired by their own experiences and imagination, they offer us handmade and handprinted personal creations.
Explore the own universe of each PlazmaLab's graphic designer through all their creations !
"Serpent" tank top :
Size advice : Take your usual size ! ;)


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Assignment A – Planning the development of a software
solution in Engineering
In this assignment I am going to be examining the different
project job roles and methodologies involved in typical software development
projects. In addition to this, I am going to writing a detailed report
summarising all of these findings and giving real life examples.
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The first methodology that I am going to be talking about is
Rapid application development which is associated within the code of Netflix.
This Is used as an alternative to the waterfall model of software development,
where it places a great deal of emphasis on the client during the software
development process. It is a software development methodology that uses minimal
planning and less of a thought process in favour of rapid prototyping. The idea
of this methodology is to start developing as early as possible so that the
client can give improvements and make changes to suit their needs. With RAD,
the client is involved in a lot of the process, which is an important feature
of the methodology. Some people argue over the quality of the final product
when it comes to rapid application development as it prioritises the client's
demands over the effectiveness of it. As a result of this, it gains high usage
because of the extent of user involvement in the development. RAD replaces
hand-design and coding processes, which are dependent upon the skills of certain
individuals, with automated design and coding, which is an inherently more stable
and arguably faster process.
(BBC, RAD, n.d.)
The first stage of rapid application development is
requirement planning. In this stage, it staff, managers and users agree on
business needs, project scope (the part of project planning that involves
determining and documenting a list of specific project goals, deliverables,
tasks, costs and deadlines) and systems requirements that are best suited. This
is important for the final product
The second stage of rapid application development is user
design tasks. This is where the user interacts with the systems and develops
models and prototypes. In this stage a user can do JAD type sessions. This is a
Joint application design where the user collects business requirements while
developing new information systems for a company.
In the next stage of rapid application development, the user
conducts construction tasks such as coding. The user is involved with the
program and application development. This is similar to the systems development
life cycle however RAD involves the user more, as they can still suggest
changes and improvements that can be made.
Finally, the last stage of RAD is the cutover phase. This
stage resembles the final tasks in the SDLC implementation phase, including:
• Data conversion
• Full-scale testing
• system changeover
• user training
" Flexible
and adaptable to changes
can't be used for smaller projects
is useful when you must reduce the overall project risk
all application is compatible with RAD
is adaptable and flexible to changes
technical risk is high, it is not suitable
is easier to transfer deliverables as scripts, high-level abstractions
and intermediate codes are used
developers are not committed to delivering software on time, RAD
projects can fail
to code generators and code reuse, there is a reduction of manual coding
features due to time boxing, where features are pushed to later version
to finish a release in short period
to prototyping in nature, there is a possibility of lesser defects
scalability occurs because an RAD developed application begins as a
prototype and evolves into a finished application
phase in RAD delivers highest priority functionality to client
and problems accustomed are hard to track as such there is no
documentation to demonstrate what has been done
less people, productivity can be increased in short time
highly skilled designers or developers "
The second methodology that I am going to be talking about
is the waterfall methodology. This methodology places a great deal of
importance on the process of developing software. It is one of the less
iterative and flexible approaches, as progress flows in one direction, like a
waterfall, through the phase of
• Analysis
Unlike the rapid application development methodology,
waterfall prioritises the process that should be followed rather than the final
solution and the client's needs. Waterfall follows the traditional step by step
order, as follows:
Analysis, Design, implementation, testing, documentation,
evaluation, maintenance.
The waterfall methodology is typically used in game
development. The developers who develop a game such as 'FIFA' create a rigid
structured process however because it puts the process over the clients needs,
it might not be exactly what the developer wants from the game, therefore it won't
be the best final product.
The first step of waterfall game development is analysis. This
is where a development team plan out the structure of the game and they focus on
planning the game to get the best result. The next stage of the waterfall
methodology is the design phase. Similarly, this is where they plan the structure
of the game, however they focus more on the graphical/visual aspects. In
addition to this, the software developers might plan out how the game is going
to flow. After design, it moves onto implementation. This is where the ideas
and planning get implemented into code that makes up the game. Next, voluntary every-day
gamers as well as high level game developers will test the game in a 'beta'
phase. The purpose of this is to highlight any errors in the code, resulting in
bugs or glitches. Feedback will be presented to the developers so that they can
debug the problem and make the game the best that it can be. After testing, documentation
occurs. After this, the team will do an evaluation on the game. This is where
they rate the game for specific age groups, the complexity of the game,
interaction, playing time etc. At this point, developers will usually refer to
the analysis and design phases to check that they have met the requirements and
objectives. Additionally, they will check that they have fixed any errors in the
testing phase. Finally, the next step is maintenance. This occurs after the
launch of the game and the purpose of it is to keep the game running smoothly
with minimal glitches/errors. If there are any errors they will debug them, then
an update file will be available for the user to download the latest version of
the game.
In game development, the purpose of analysis is to set goals
and objectives for what you want the game to be like. This is significant because
by setting goals you are giving yourself something to work towards rather than
just writing code and hoping for the best. A job role in this phase would be an
analyst. The purpose of this job is to conducts analysis and give ideas. The
purpose of the design phase is to give the program a start, without the design
phase you could not begin the write the code. A job role in this phase is a designer.
The role of a designer is to design the graphical user interface of the game. In
addition to this a designer can design how the code will flow, which is important
to the outcome of the game. This is a key part to the development of a game,
fusing the visual and hidden aspects of the game. The purpose of implementation
is to put together parts are the code to make a full game. Without this step,
the game will not run because there is no code therefore it is a crucial step
to a successful game. A job role in this part is a programmer. programmers
write code to create software programs. They turn the program designs created
by software developers and engineers into instructions that a computer can
follow. Programmers must debug the programs—that is, test them to ensure that
they produce the expected results. Next, the purpose of the testing phase is to
run the game, and check for any bugs or glitches. This is important because the
best games are the ones that have no bugs or glitches, which will make he game
sell better. A job role in this phase is a game tester; someone who tests the
games and different versions of them for bugs. Linking onto this, the
evaluation team will debug these glitches to improve how the game runs. Usually,
a job role in this part is a programmer, as it can involve changing snippets of
code. Finally, maintenance is the main factor of keeping a game relevant on the
market and keeping it at a high level of skill. Constantly gamers are finding new
glitches or exploits, therefore it is crucial for developers to patch this and bring
updates out regularly. Regular updates can improve the stability of the game
and improve the performance. This can be done by improving the graphics for example.
Advantages of using the waterfall methodology include:
• It is simples and easy to follow (step by step)
• It is easy to manage due to the rigidity of the model
• In this model phases are processed and completed one at a time.
Phases do not overlap
• the waterfall model works well for smaller projects as it is
simple to follow, however it can be used for larger projects too such as games.
Disadvantages of using the waterfall methodology include:
• it can only be used when they requirements are very clear and
well known
• Once an application is in the testing stage, it is very
difficult to go back and change something that was not well-thought out in the
concept stage.
• it is not suitable for projects that have a risk of requirements
• the project will not work until near completion
• does not allow scope changes