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The air conditioning compressor is a high speed rotating working part, the probability of failure is high. Common faults include noise, leakage and not working.
(1) heterophony. There are many reasons for the abnormal noise of the compressor. For example, the compressor electromagnetic clutch is damaged, or the internal wear of the compressor is serious, the lack of lubricating oil can produce different noise.
(2) leakage. Refrigerant leakage is the most common problem of air conditioning system. The leakage of the compressor is usually in the joint of the compressor and the high and low pressure pipe, which is usually difficult to check because of the installation position. The internal pressure of the air conditioning system is very high. When the refrigerant is leaking, the compressor lubricant will be lost, which will cause the air conditioning system not to work or the compressor is not well lubricated. The air conditioning compressor has the pressure relief valve, the pressure relief valve is usually disposable, and after the system pressure is too high to relieve pressure, the relief valve should be replaced in time.
(3) not working. Air conditioning compressors do not work for a number of reasons, usually because of the related circuit problems. It is possible to check whether the compressor is damaged by direct power supply to the electromagnetic clutch of the compressor.


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This beauty gave me a little more trouble than it should have but in the end I think it came out wonderful! Will be perfect to lay on and watch the fireworks on the 4th of July! Still trying to decide on a good name for it
the red and blue squares.. those are stars.. but they look like polka dots on my screen :D

subset: commoncrawl


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Before, people normally run without shoes on their feet. Throughout human history, running barefoot was the natural way to run, and cultures such as the Tarahumara people in Mexico still practice it today. You may think of it as harsh but according to some promoter of barefoot running, it actually reduce your risk to possible injuries like of chronic injuries (notably repetitive stress injuries) due to the impact of heel striking in padded running shoes. True or not, scientists still continues to study the risks and benefits that people can have by running barefoot.
There was a point in the year 1970s where running shoes were blamed to injuries among runners. As such, people suggested running barefoot is much better and has even relieved them from chronic injuries. Running shoes are made to protect your feet against pointed objects on the ground and offer cushion as you run. Though some may say that using running shoes are risky, the American Podiatric Medical Association cautions would-be barefoot runners, stating that there is still not enough research on the immediate and long-term benefits of the practice, and that individuals should consult a podiatrist with a strong background in sports medicine to make an informed decision on all aspects of their running and training programs. Also, individuals with diabetes or other conditions which affect sensation within the feet are at greater risk of injury and are advised not to run barefoot.
I've seen it in races, marathons which barefoot runners are actually acknowledge in the event. There are also some races that offer a separate category for barefoot runners. Though it is becoming a hit among marathoners, is it really safe? It really depends on how you land your foot when you run. Normally, barefoot runners have different running footage than those who wear running shoes. By landing on the middle or front of the foot, barefoot runners have almost no impact collision, much less than most runners generate when they heel-strike. With the right coordination of your foot and legs, you'll be able to reduce the impact brought by your weight every time you run.
Personally, I really care for my feet and wouldn't want it to be torn or injured by running barefoot. Although, since most people have tried it and there are scientific explanation for it, I do think that running barefoot is not really as dangerous as it is. You just have to watch your strides carefully to avoid pointed objects along the road. You can practice it until such time that your feet is already strong enough to withstand running 10 kilometers or more barefoot.
Or, you can opt to try barefoot shoes. These are shoes that are already sold in the market that can be very efficient for would-be barefoot runners. This is what people wore for thousands of years before the 1980s when the "modern running shoe" was invented. Shoes, such as moccasins or thin sandals, permit a similar gait as barefoot, but protect the feet from cuts, abrasion and soft sticky matter. Some modern shoe manufacturers have recently designed footwear to mimic the barefoot running experience, maintaining optimum flexibility and natural walking while also providing some degree of protection. The purpose of these "minimalist shoes" is to allow one's feet and legs to feel more subtly the impacts and forces involved in running, allowing finer adjustments in running style.
This would be a new experience for those marathoners to challenge themselves in to doing something new in running. Just be careful for bruises.


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One of Richmond's more overgrown treasures is Forest Hill Park, which despite years of neglect remains a gem in the rough for residents south of the James. According to our friends at Hills and Heights, the Forest Hill Neighborhood Association has some ambitious plans to kick a little juice into the park, and are seeking the public's input on the process:
To entertain suggestions regarding park improvement projects, to begin establishing the priority order of these projects, to build consensus, and to establish a clear short-term goal, at the January 14th FHNA meeting we recorded suggestions in the online survey for park improvement projects. When the survey is complete we will vet the proposals with the Department of Parks and Recreation, Friends of Forest Hill Park, the Westover Hills and Woodland Heights associations, and establish our short-term single project goal at a future FHNA meeting.
You can leap directly into the survey right here. It's not the most ambitious of list of initiatives -- where, for instance, are plans for weekly ostrich races or the oft-promised zip line from the Carillon? -- but it's great to see a citizen-led effort to grab some low-hanging fruit and run with it.


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Updated: 2017-12-01 00:04
The Raid
Bewilderedly, they looked around them.
Ahead of them, barely to be seen for the trunks of giant trees intervening, was a smoothly-rounded mountain. Majestic and aloof it soared, dwarfing all near it-the termitary which, yesterday, had been but waist-high. There was their eventual goal; but meanwhile their immediate surroundings roused their greater interest-and all their alertness!
When Dennis had said they would find a common grass plot a wild and exotic jungle, he had spoken perhaps more truly than he knew. At any rate, the jungle they now found themselves in was something to exceed man's wildest dreams.
Far over their heads towered a wilderness of trees. But such trees! Without branches, shooting up and over in graceful, tangling curves, their trunks oddly flat and ribbonlike and yellow-green. It was impossible to look on them as grass stems.
Here and there the trees had fallen, presenting a tangled wilderness of leathery, five-foot-wide strips. Webs of roots, tough and gnarled, whitish in color, curled in all directions to catch the feet and baffle the eye. It was an appalling underbrush. And it was an underbrush, moreover, in which there was plenty of wild life!
A hairy, pulpy thing, reddish in color, with gauzy wings and a myriad flashing eyes scuttled close to them as though drawn by curiosity to inspect them. As big as an eagle it appeared to them; both grasped their spears; but soon, with a wild whistle of its wings, it rose up through the tangle of underbrush and hummed off. A fruit fly.
And now a monstrous thing appeared far off, to stalk like a balloon on twenty-foot legs in their direction. With incredible quickness it loomed over them. Six feet through, its body was roughly spherical, and carried on those amazingly long, jointed legs. It stared at them with beady, cruel eyes, but finally teetered on its way again, leaving them untouched.
"I'll never again be able to see a daddy longlegs without shivering," said Jim. His voice was unconsciously sunk to little more than a whisper. This was a world of titanic dangers and fierce alarms. Instinct cautioned both of them to make no more noise than necessary. "We had better make for your termitary at once."
Dennis had been thinking that for some time. But he had been unable to locate a termite tunnel anywhere. Matt had been supposed to set them down near one. No doubt, to his own mind, he had placed them near one of the termite highways. But his ideas of distance were now so radically different from theirs that Dennis, at least, was unable to see a tunnel opening anywhere.
He spoke his thoughts to Jim. "There must be a tunnel opening somewhere very near us," he concluded. "But I-Good heavens!"
Both crouched in wary alarm, spears held for a thrust, if necessary, at the frightful thing approaching them from the near jungle.
Thirty feet long, it was, and six feet through, a blunt-ended, untapered serpent that glistened a moist crimson color in the rays of the sun. The trees quaked and rocked as it brushed against them in its deliberate advance. Dead leaves many feet across and too heavy for the combined efforts of both men to have budged, were pushed lightly this way and that as the monster moved. The very ground seemed to shake under its appalling weight.
"If that comes after us," breathed Jim, "we're through!"
But now Denny drew a long breath of relief.
"Be still," he said. "Make no sound, and no move, and it will probably pass us by. It's blind, and couldn't harm us in any way-unless it rolled on us."
The two stood motionless while the nightmare serpent crashed by. Then, with the earthworm fading into the distance, they resumed their hunt for the near tunnel entrance.
Jim, whose eyes were more accustomed to searching jungle depths, finally saw it-a black hole leading down into a small hill about two hundred yards ahead of them. He pointed.
"There we are. Come on."
Laboriously they set out toward it. Laboriously because at every step some almost insuperable hurdle barred their way. A fallen grass stalk was a problem; sometimes they had to curve back on their tracks for sixty or eighty feet in order to get around it. A dead leaf, drifted there from the trees near at hand, was almost a calamity, necessitating more circuitous maneuvering.
With every yard the realization of the stark peril that was now theirs increased.
A grasshopper, blundering to the ground within a rod of them, nearly crushed them with its several tons of weight. A bumblebee, as big as a flying elephant and twice as deadly, roared around them for several minutes as though debating whether or not to attack them, and finally roared off leaving them shaken and pale. But the most startling and narrow of their narrow escapes occurred an instant after that.
They had paused for an instant, alert but undecided, to stare at a coldly glaring spider that was barring their path. It was a small spider, barely more than waist-high. But something in its malevolent eyes made the two men hesitate about attacking it. At the same time it was squatting in the only clear path in sight, with tangles of stalks and leaves on either side. A journey around the ferocious brute might be a complicated, long-drawn-out affair.
Their problem was decided for them.
Overhead, suddenly roared out a sound such as might have been made by a tri-motored Fokker. There was a flash of yellow. The roar increased to an ear-shattering scream. Something swooped so breathlessly and at the same time so ponderously that the men were knocked flat by the hurricane of disturbed air.
A fleeting struggle ensued between some vast yellow body and the unfortunate spider. Then the spider, suddenly as immobile as a lump of stone, was drawn up into the heavens by the roaring yellow thing, and disappeared. A wasp had struck, and had obtained another meal.
"Thank God that thing had a one-track mind, and was concentrating on the spider," said Jim, with a rather humorless laugh.
Dennis was silent. He was beginning to realize that he knew too much about insects for his peace of mind. To Jim, insects had always heretofore been something to brush away or step on, as the circumstance might indicate. He had no idea, for example, of exactly what fate it was he had just missed. But Denny knew all about it.
He knew that if the wasp had chosen either of them, the chosen one would have felt a stabbing thing like a red-hot sword penetrate to his vitals. He knew that swift paralysis would have followed the thrust. He knew that then the victim would have been taken back, helpless and motionless as the spider was, to be laid side by side with other helpless but still conscious victims in the fetid depths of the wasp's nest. And he knew that finally an egg would have been laid on the victim's chest; an egg that would eventually hatch and deliver a bit of life that would calmly and leisurely devour the paralyzed food supply alive.
"Let's hurry," he suggested, glancing up to see if any more wasps were hovering about.
The lowering tunnel mouth was very near now. Barely twenty yards away. What with the crowding monsters around them, the tunnel began to look like a haven. Almost at a run, they continued toward it.
Then a commotion like that which might be made by a mighty army sounded in the underbrush behind them. Dennis looked back over his shoulder.
"Hurry!" he gasped, suddenly accelerating his pace into frank flight. "Ants...."
Jim glanced back, too-and joined Denny in his flight. Pouring toward them at express train speed, flinging aside fallen stalks, climbing over obstructions as though no obstructions were there, was coming a grim and armored horde. Far in the lead, probably the one that had seen the men first and started the deadly chase, was a single ant.
The solitary leader was a monster of its kind. As tall as Jim, clashing in its horny armor, it rushed toward the fugitives.
"It's going to reach the tunnel before we do," Jim panted. "We've got to kill the thing-and do it before the rest get to us...."
The monster was on them. Blindly, ferociously it hurled its bulk at the things that smelled like termites however little they resembled them. The termite-paste was, in this instance, the most deadly of challenges.
Jim stepped to the fore, with his spear point slanted to receive the onslaught, spear butt grounded at his feet.
Whether the six-legged horror would have had wit enough to comprehend the nature of the defense offered, and would have striven to circumvent it, had time been given it, is a question that will never be answered. For the thing wasn't given the time.
In mid-air it seemed to writhe and try to change the direction of its leap. But it was on the point and had transfixed itself before its intelligence, however keen, could have functioned.
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours."
Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them.
Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman...
fight, though, was by no means over. With five feet of steel piercing it through, it whirled with hardly abated vitality toward Dennis. Its gargoyle head came close and closer.
Dennis sprang sideways along its length, lifted the pointed bar he held, and dashed it down on what looked to him a vital spot-the unbelievably slender trunk that held its spatulate abdomen to its armored chest.
There was a crack as the bar smashed down on the weak point. The monster sank quivering to the ground. An instant later it was up, but now its movements were dazed and sluggish as it dragged its half-paralyzed abdomen after it, and fumbled and caught on the heavy bar that transfixed it.
Jim caught the bar and tugged it. "My spear!" he cried. "Denny-help!"
Together the two wrenched to jerk the spear loose from the horny armor of the dying ant. The rest of the pack were very near now.
"We'll have to let it go...." panted Denny.
But at that instant their desperate efforts tore it loose from the convulsively jerking hulk. They darted into the tunnel mouth with the racing horde scarcely twenty yards behind them.
Without hesitation the ants poured in after them. Jim and Dennis leaped forward, in pitch darkness, now and then bumping heavily against a wall as the tunnel turned, but having at least no trouble with their footing: the floor was as smooth as though man-made.
Behind them they could hear the armored horde crashing along in the blackness. The smashing noise of their progress was growing louder. The two had run perhaps fifty yards in the darkness. Another fifty, and they would be caught!
But now, just as their eyes-sharpened also by the danger they were in-began to grow accustomed to the gloom, they saw ahead of them a thing that might have stepped straight out of a horrible dream.
Six feet of vulnerable, unarmored body, amply protected by horny head and shoulders and ten feet of awful, scissor-mandibles, faced them. The creature was doing a strange sort of war dance, swaying its terrible bulk back and forth rhythmically, while its feet remained immovable. An instant it did this, then it charged at the two men. Simultaneously the crashing of the fierce horde behind sounded with appalling nearness-the noise and odor of the ants preventing the huge termite guard in front of the men from recognizing and approving the smell of the termite-paste that covered their bodies.
"Follow me!" snapped Denny, remembering that the hideous attacking thing before them was blind, and gaining from that knowledge swift inspiration.
Jim gathered his muscles to follow at command. But he almost shouted aloud as he saw Denny leap-straight toward the enormous, snapping mandibles.
In an instant, however, Denny's idea was made clear. With a slide that would have done credit to any baseball player, the entomologist catapulted on his chest past the snapping peril. Jim followed, with not a foot to spare. They were not past the soft rear-parts of the thing, but they were at least past its horrible jaws. And before the monster could turn its unwieldy bulk in the tunnel, the ants were upon it.
For a few seconds, blinded to their own danger by the fascination of the struggle going on before them, the two men witnessed the grim watcher of the tunnel as it drove back wave after wave of attacking ants.
Two at a time, the invaders charged that wall of living horn. And two at a time they were swept against the walls, or slashed in two by the enormous mandibles. One against an army; but it was a full minute or so before the one began to weaken.
"Come," whispered Dennis, at last. "If what I think is going to happen occurs, this will be no place for us."
They went ahead, with the din of battle dying behind them, till they saw a small tunnel branching off beside the main stem. Into this they squeezed. But as Jim started to go farther down its constricted length, Dennis stopped him.
"We're fairly safe here, I think. We'll stay and watch...."
Silently, motionless, they lurked in the entrance of the side-avenue, and peered out at the main avenue they had just left. And now that avenue began to buzz with traffic.
First, more of the horrors with the enormous scissor-mandibles began to stream past them. In twos and threes, then in whole squads, they lumbered by, bound for the ant army that had invaded their sanctum.
Not quite too far ahead to be out of sight, the defenders halted. Several of their number went forward to help the dying Horatius. The rest lined up in a triple row across a wide patch in the tunnel, presenting a phalanx it would appear that nothing could beat.
"How do they know enough to gather here from distant parts of this hollow mountain?" whispered Jim to Denny. "How do they know their city is besieged just at this spot, and that their help is needed?"
Dennis shrugged. His eyes were shining. This was the kind of thing he had come here for. This unhampered observation of a strange and terrible race at war and at work-it was well worth all the personal risks he might run.
"No man can answer your question, Jim. They're blind-they can't see their danger so as to know how to combat it. They couldn't hear, and be alarmed by, the vibrations of battle for a distance of more than a few yards. My only guess is that they are constantly and silently commanded by the unknown intelligence, the ruling brain, that hides deep in the earth beneath us and directs these 'soldier' termites in some marvelous way-though itself never seeing or hearing the actual dangers it guards against."
"The queen?" suggested Jim.
Again Denny shrugged. "Who knows? She might be the brains, as well as the egg layer, of the tribe. But don't talk too much. The vibration of our voices might lead them to us in spite of their blindness."
Now the main avenue before them was humming with a new kind of traffic. From side to side it was being filled with a new sort of termite. These were smaller than the soldiers, and entirely unprotected by either horn armor plate or slashing mandibles.
Each of these carried an unwieldy block of gleaming substance. And each in turn dropped its block in a growing wall behind the savage defenders against the ants, and fastened it in place with a thick and viscous brown liquid that dried almost immediately into a kind of cement.
"The workers," whispered Dennis, enthralled. "The building blocks are half-digested wood. The cement is a sort of stuff that exudes from their own bodies. In ten minutes there will be a wall across the tunnel that no ants on earth could penetrate!"
"But the home guards, the brave lads and all that sort of thing, will be shut off on the outside of the wall with the enemy. And there are hundreds of the enemy," protested Jim.
"A necessary sacrifice," said Denny. "And so perfect is their organization that no one, including the soldiers to be sacrificed, ever makes any objection."
Jim shivered a little. "It's terrible, somehow. It's-it's inhuman!"
"Naturally. It's insectian, if there is such a word. And a wise man once predicted that the termite organization, being so much more perfect a one than man's, indicated the kind of society man would at some time build up for himself. In ten or twelve more centuries we, too, might go off in millions and deliberately starve to death because the ruling power decided there were too many people on earth. We, too, might devour our dead because it was essential not to let anything go to waste. We, too, might control our births so that we produced astronomers with telescopes in their heads instead of regular eyes, carpenters with hammer and saw instead of hands, soldiers with poison gas sacs in their chests so they could breathe death and destruction at will. It would be the perfect state of society."
"Maybe-but I'm glad I'll be dead before that times comes," said Jim with another shiver.
By now the wall ahead of them was complete. On the other side of it the soldier termites stolidly fought on to their certain death. On the near side, the workers retreated to unknown depths in the great hollow mountain behind them. The main avenue was once more clear, and, save for a few workers hastening on unknown errands, deserted.
"That act's over," sighed Dennis. "But it may well be no more than a curtain raiser to the acts to come. Shall we be on our way? We're hardly on the fringe of the termitary yet-and I want to get at the heart of it, and into the depths far beneath it. Depths of hell, we'll probably find them, Jim. But a marvelous hell, and one no man has ever before seen."
They left their little haven and moved along the main tunnel toward the heart of the termitary, walking easily upright in this tunnel which was only one of many hundreds in the vast, hollowed mountain-which loomed into the outer sunshine to almost a height of a yard.
Similar Literature Ebooks to The Raid on the Termites
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. VII. (of 12)
Rafael in Italy / A Geographical Reader
The Rise of the Dutch Republic, Volume I.(of III) 1555-66
Assyria, Its Princes, Priests and People


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Prayer is a gift given to us from our great God, a privilege. It means we can connect with the Creator of the universe, and it is an important part of our walk with Him. Let's look at an incredible New Testament story that reveals the power of prayer among believers in Christ.
Source: A Couple Good Reasons to Pray: The Early Church Did . . . – Christian Crusaders


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Lecturer 講師
|BA; PhD [PolyU(H.K.)]
|: firstname.lastname@example.com
Teaching and Scholarly Interests
Dr. May Lau had worked in the private commercial sector and gained experience in international companies, related to the merchandising, marketing and sales field. After that, Dr. Lau obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Institute of Textiles and Clothing (ITC) in The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
Her teaching interests directed towards the professional preparation of students pursuing careers in the different industries. Specific coursework includes: consumer behavior, integrated marketing communication, marketing strategy and applications, strategic marketing and Management, and research methodology. Dr. Lau had also participated in graduate course instruction in areas such as brand loyalty, and consumer behavior.
Her research studies are directed towards practical and theoretical concepts operating in the retail and manufacturing settings specifically related to brand development, business development, relationship management, strategic networking, and supply chain management.


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Removing structure to be more structured
My wife and I's first children, twin boys, arrived about a month ago. As you might expect, their arrival has totally wrecked my routines and…Read
My wife and I's first children, twin boys, arrived about a month ago. As you might expect, their arrival has totally wrecked my routines and…Read
It's been a while since I wrote in here but for good reason. In the past two months or so I have: Agreed to join the engineering team at…Read
I've had the iMac Pro for about six months now so I figured I should collect some brief thoughts on it. This is not a full, detailed review…Read
For a few years now I've operating as a freelance software engineer specializing in front-end heavy full-stack work. It's been an ideal fit…Read
As an Autistic person, I have always been apprehensive about having children. Besides the general issue of ever figuring out how I "feel…Read
The new version of this website is built using Gatsby.js, which so far seems pretty awesome. It uses React which I have been averse to for some reason. I have used React before, though, on a fairly large client project and I didn't entirely hate it. I guess I just see all the extreme hype around React and having done web development for about twenty years now I tend to be skeptical of extremely hyped web frameworks.Read
I've tried several todo apps in the past couple years but have tended to bounce around three main ones: Todoist , OmniFocus , and Things…Read
I am a very varied person with lots of interests that aren't always related and I tend to cycle through them in a manor that is not entirely efficient. I've always wanted to build a cohesive identity online but it's always been an optimization problem: how should I spread out my interests in such a way that person interested in only certain ones can reliably find and enjoy my content without it getting lost in the sea of other interests I have.Read
I'm an avid reader: my book count annually is usually around forty books plus or minus ten or so depending on the lengths of books. Though this is fairly consistent for the last few years, in the past six months or so I've spent quite a bit of time investing mental energy into refining my book reading process because I was concerned that I wasn't reading with enough intention.Read
Everyone agrees that "living in your Inbox" is bad and a very reactive way to live your life. Lately I have been tinkering with ways to pull away from email without missing anything important.Read
In the Ulysses writing app, you cannot have glued sheets inside a group that is not sorted as Manual. It gets all messy if you switch the group to any other sort order because the glued sheets get re-ordered as well.Read
Today I finished reading the book Shoe Dog, which is a memoir written by Phil Knight, a co-founder of Nike. Honestly beforehand I didn't really know much about Nike other than they were a sports apparel and shoe brand and I've owned several pair of Nike shoes over the course of my life.Read
"Lifestyle creep" is a well-known condition where a person increases their standard of living in-step with their income such that luxury becomes necessity. I think we do a similar thing with our leisure time.Read
The Next Billion people coming online will be more diverse than the last billion. Their geographic location, familiarity with technology, use contexts, types of devices, and quality of connections will all be different. Additionally, nearly all of them will be using the Web from a mobile device.Read
A look into the tools and tricks I use to get work done.Read
I'm not really one to set "resolutions" for a new year, but I do however set high-level goals for what I'd like to accomplish during a year. I try to be general but yet still specific in doing this.Read
Just noticed earlier today that in Firefox version 22 and above ECMASCript 6's CoffeeScript -style arrow functions are available: It's…Read


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My girl wants to party all the time, party all the time, party all the tiiimmmee. That song kept running through my mind and of course, Dancing on the Ceiling. I'm probably dating myself here, although I was very young when those songs came out, but my my...we are smack dab in the middle of the 9 month sleep regression. Hard core.
But first let me back up, yesterday Peanut actually pulled up to standing all by herself! She is a little bit behind on this developmental stage but I'm not worried about it, She is working hard. And I recently came to the conclusion that she's just too vertically challenged (read: short like her mom) to reach most things to even try and pull up. But yesterday as I as packing up the Christmas decorations, she crawled over--still mostly on her belly but she's working on lifting it off the floor--to the plastic storage bins. These happen to be just the right height for her to reach the top from a sitting position. She then pulled herself up ALL.BY. HERSELF! No help from me. I was sooo proud. And so was she. She gets this smug look on her face when she accomplishes something and it's the cutest thing ever. Really.
So we called Daddy and told him all about it. He said she'd been working on that all day but hadn't quite been able to do it. It's very cool that I was there for a "first". Anyway, once he told me she'd been working on it all day I knew we were in for rough sleep. She has been sick for the past week with fever and tummy troubles so we've already been getting crappy sleep. Top that off with the second tooth that's STILL trying to break on through to the other side...and jeez, we don't sleep right now.
We went through our routine as usual (book, bath, nurse to sleep) and then about 30 minutes after she is peacefully sleeping, her body has other ideas. She is literally crawling all over the bed in her sleep. And sitting up...trying to stand. She did this all night long, much to her frustration and mine as well.
And while I was very frustrated, I have to say it was so funny seeing her sit up, look around all drowsy-like with head bobbing left and right, then roll back down onto her belly or back. Her body was in crawling action mode all night long while she tried --and I tried-- to sleep. The 9 month sleep regression really is no joke. Fool. (courtesy of Mr. T in your pocket)


text:
Allie interviews Missy Robertson, author of Blessed, Blessed…Blessed and co-author of The Women of Duck Commander with Miss Kay and her sisters-in-law. She is one of the stars of the hit reality TV show Duck Dynasty. In 2016, Missy launched a jewelry line, Laminin which provides jobs for women in the West Monroe area who are in need of work. Missy offers encouragement for women facing a storm and shares about the transformative effect living beyond ourselves has on our lives. Missy shares about Princess In Camo, an action-packed fiction series for preteen girls she just co-authored with her incredible daughter Mia.
Thanks for being a part of our community! To learn more about Wonderfully Made, please visit wonderfullymade.org. If you're enjoying this podcast, it would mean so much to us if you'd rate or review this via iTunes as it helps other girls and women find encouragement through our conversations. Stay in touch via Instagram, Facebook or Twitter! We also invite you to become a monthly value-builder and join us in helping young women know their worth.


text:
Marmalade puddings
Having a heart-in-mouth day as I sign off the printer's proofs on a recipe book that I am publishing for a pudding-obsessed friend. (It's called Proper Puddings and, yes, I will be telling you quite pointedly where to buy it as soon as I have a copy in my hand.) It has in fact been the reason for a prolonged silence on these pages, as it turned out to be extraordinarily time-consuming, in an interesting way. But it is done. The presses are turning, if that's what presses still do in the 21st century. And now we wait...
Of course before agreeing to take it on, I checked that contained a few marmalade recipes - one must have one's principles - and it did: it has a Steamed Marmalade Pudding and a divine-sounding Marmalade Bread & Butter Pudding, as well as marmalade as a variation in Eve's pudding and apple Charlotte, clearly an improvement on the original in both cases.
The real pleasure of marmalade as an ingredient is that it brings that essential sharpness to something otherwise intended to be as sweet as possible. I have always preferred citrusy puddings, as the last bite is always as good as the first, which you can't say about things like trifle, which tend to lose their allure halfway through the bowlful. The only exception to this arbitrary rule is perhaps chocolate mousse - though, even then, very dark chocolate is required, or it's just a melted Milky Way in a bowl, frankly. Having said that, even chocolate mousse might be improved by a dash of orange. Marmalade chocolate mousse? Hmm.
Excuse me, I am just off to the kitchen, I might be some time...
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Marmalade puddings
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text: TUCSON, Ariz., Nov. 11 -- Raytheon Co. has been awarded two contracts worth a total of $17 million for Paveway II laser-guided bomb (LGB) components by the Canadian Dept. of National Defence (Public Works and Government Services). Raytheon was awarded an $11.7 million contract on Oct. 29 to manufacture and deliver more than 1,000 Paveway II laser-guided bomb computer control groups (CCG), field test equipment and load-crew training units for the Canadian National Defence Forces. Another competitive contract was awarded to Raytheon in June for $4.9 million for the corresponding Paveway II airfoil groups. The Paveway II LGB system features an onboard guidance system, the CCG, which detects and guides the unit to a target illuminated by an external laser source. The CCG samples the reflected laser energy from the target and corrects its trajectory as it glides, terminating at the target. The airfoil group contains a rear wing assembly that provides aerodynamic stability during flight. Raytheon first delivered Paveway Laser Guided Bomb kits to Canada in the mid-1990s. Primary work on these contracts will be performed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson; Sherman, Texas; and Andover, Mass. For more information, visit: www.raytheon.com


text:
I need to breathe. I need to keep my expectations appropriate. Issue one of Cosmic Vinegar is going live tomorrow, at approximately high noon.
I want to change the world: But this first issue will not do that. I want a lot of readers: But this first issue will not find them.
Reality now. I expect maybe a few family members, a handful of friends, and a few writers (who I review in the issue) will download it. Call it 15 downloads. If I can get to 20, that's solid. Anything more is a real, big time win.
The plan now. For the next month, I will comb sci-fi message boards and post where appropriate. I will not advertise the magazine. I might advertise issue 2, most certainly issue 3. A presence must be built, not assumed.
This first issue is a foundation. Opening arguments. Do not expect much; expect 15 views.
Maybe even one or two less.


text:
The Schwanog Parts selector was developed to clearly optimize the random inspection of series parts.
The Schwanog Parts selector divides loose production batches into bins consisting of eight smaller units. In case of lights-out / unmanned production lines or production lines with limited personnel, sorting costs can be greatly reduced in case of tool break or other disruptive factors.
- Partition of loose production batches into smaller units through use of selector bins
- Bin system with indexing table which are passed through the part chute of the production unit
- Time or quantity-dependant indexing to respectively one bin
- Visual inspection of the produced parts in the last selector bin
- Oil filled double bins for jolt or scratch sensitive parts available


text:
This is the new Sony line of Mini Dome Network Color Cameras. Sony is a leader in IP Network cameras and this new series combines a small mini dome and the versatility of its network capability, this Sony IP camera is an ideal camera for remote surveillance monitoring applications.
The Sony SNC-DF series product images up to 320 x 240 in both MPEG-4 and JPEG modes, which will give you smooth video images. With the external microphone input, you can record clear audio. It also has an audio output which allows users to communicate with the remote site.
Model: D-SNC-DF40N - Sony Network Indoor Minidome Camera JPEG MPEG4 2 Way Audio
EyeSpyPro.com 101 S. Coit Rd., Suite 36-235, Richardson, TX 75080 USA
Phone: 1-949-791-7904 - FAX: 1-800-862-6120
All clients who purchase from this website agree to all terms and conditions in our Shipping, Returns/Cancellations, Payments, and Warranty links above.
With thousands of products, and dozens of suppliers, there is no guarantee your product will be in stock when you order it, so if its critical you need it right away, please call us @ 1-949-791-7904 before you make your order to confirm it is available and not out of stock or backordered.
Make sure you call us if you have any questions about selecting the correct product to fit your needs before you order, as any custom built hidden cameras, open software or fluid detection devices, boxes with the seal broken, vehicle trackers, and bug detectors are not refundable or returnable unless defective. We are here to assist you, and if you have ANY questions, please call us before you order @ 1-949-791-7904.
30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee: If for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase, you may return it for an exchange or a credit towards any other product within 30 Days,
no questions asked. In order to provide you with high quality products, we do not issue any refunds unless the product arrives defective.
Not responsible for typographical or illustrative errors. Prices, specifications, and images are subject to change without notice.
EyeSpyPro is not responsible for any shipment that is seized by any Government Customs or Border Protection Agency. We are not responsible for any duties, import fees, taxes, VAT charges, or any other fee that you are charged to ship it to you.
Any camera that is not advertised as a day/night, low light, or low lux camera will not perform well in low light, and not at all in the dark. Make sure you know what you are ordering before you order it, and feel free to call us @ the number above or send us an email using the Contact link above.
Do not buy any infrared illuminator if your camera is not an IR camera. It has to have a removable IR-Cut filter that slides out of the way at night for the camera to recognize the IR.
Shipping prices are for one small item. If you order more than one small item, including complete systems, we will adjust the order and charge the actual shipping price.
EyeSpyPro.com does not endorse any of our products for illegal activities. EyeSpyPro.com is not responsible or liable in any way for any damage, vandalism, theft, or any other action that may occur while a EyeSpyPro.com product is in use by the purchaser.


text:
If you're one of the approximately 5,500 voters who didn't show an ID at the polls in November, you've got mail.
You've likely already received a letter from Secretary of State Bill Gardner explaining that someone using your name cast a ballot on Nov. 6. Along with the letter is a small postcard, with postage already paid, that you must sign and send back confirming it was you who voted.
All of this is required by the state's new voter ID law.
And Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan says his office estimates each mailing cost roughly $3.
"Which includes the return postage paid mailer that the voter should send back to us."
The estimate also takes into account the cost of mailing the forms to the voters, printing the accompanying letters and the manpower of filling the envelopes.
So what's the cost? $16,272, based on Scanlan's estimate.
The question now is whether this new process will result in any cases of voter fraud turning up.
"We did make it easy for people to respond. They just have to take the postcard in the envelope, sign it, and get it back in the mail. It'll be interesting to see the results of the response."
Postcards must be returned within 90 days. The attorney general must investigate cases where the cards aren't returned, though there is no legal penalty for not filling it out.
Several Democrats plan on filing legislation to either scale back or remove completely the voter ID requirements put into place under Republican leadership.
The state also spent approximately $28,000 sending out letters to nearly 14,000 voters who filled out domicile affidavits in the November election.


text: "Nikita V. Youshchenko" <email@example.com> writes: > I'm one of those people beaten by recent removal of gcc > documentation. Both myself and people to whom I recommend Debian, > *need* gcc documentation to be available in the system. The FSF agree with your position. <URL:http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-doc.html> > So I had four options: > - start a new flamewar on the issue, > - stop to use Debian (and to recomment it), > - install documentation in non-package form, > - create appropriate documentation debs (for non-free). Your situation is the same as any DD who finds the software they want to package is licensed incompatibly with the DFSG. You can ask politely but firmly for the software to be licensed so that Debian can include it. > Since I'm a DD, the only real option for me was the last one. Fortunately, packaging the documentation for non-free isn't incompatible with continuing to ask the copyright holder for a free license. > I've created gcc-4.1-doc-non-dfsg package, intended for non-free. Thank you for your work! -- \ "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers." -- | `\ Pablo Picasso | _o__) | Ben Finney


text:
Company Name : Softlogic Systems
Qualification : Any Graduate,Diploma
Experience : 0 - 1 Years
Job Location : Chennai
Job Role : Bpo
Job Description:
* Good Communication (English) and Convincing skills
* Flexible for Night shifts -6.30PM to 4.30AM(No Rotational shifts)
* Candidate within 1 hour traveling time and Candidate with 3-6 months experience in BPO can apply
* Salary:8K-9K+ Incentives
Note: Interested Candidates Drop immediately to our office with Your Updated CV from Monday to Wednesday from 10 AM On wards.
Walk In Details:
Walk In Date: 4th to 6th November 2013
Walk In Time: 10 AM
0, P.T. Rajan Salai,
K. K. Nagar, Chennai.


text:
Scrambled Eggs With Smoked Salmon & Avocado.
From Williams-Sonoma Breakfast.
There really isn't much to say, is there? Gorgeous, and according to Matt, delicious. Served with crunchy latkes & orange juice, it made for a good, albeit late, dinner.
We're kicking off our fourth year of Blog Party by taking a look back at some of our favorite first-year themes. This month, we're revisiting a BP favorite, Retro Party!
We're doing a bit of time-travel, and bringing back some of the weird and wonderful dishes & drinks from the 20's through the late sixties. You won't want to miss it! R.S.V.P. no later than Thursday, 21 August. Hope to see you there!
Tagged with: Food and Drink + Breakfast + Smoked Salmon + Eggs + Avocado + Cookbooks + Williams-Sonoma


text:
Product Overview
Main Features
- Rack door
- black
NetShelter Enclosures include key lockable front doors to prevent unwanted access. Adequate ventilation is required for proper operation of today's servers. NetShelter Enclosures include fully perforated front and rear doors to provide ample ventilation for servers and networking equipment. The perforation pattern provides 844 square inches of open area on the front door, exceeding requirements set forth by major server manufacturers.


text:
Taking a gap year out can be a boost for your CV
Saturday 3rd October 2009
If you're just finishing your last exams and have been put off applying for university or college by the introduction of high fees, consider taking a gap year out to reconcile your future plans. As a fantastic alternative to college life, a gap year volunteering or backpacking around the world can be a life-changing and enhancing experience. It can give you first hand knowledge of countries you may never have the time to visit again once you've settled into your first proper job, or started a three year degree course. The diverse cultures, languages and travel experiences can help to boost your confidence as well as add worthwhile real-world skills to your CV too, always a useful extra addition to impress a prospective employer when you're job hunting later on.
There are plenty of companies who specialise in organising gap year travel for young people. Whether you want a round the world ticket, or a specific volunteering job related to your planned degree subject, or simply a chance to improve your work skills with a gap year Australia itinerary, gap year specialists can point you in the right direction. Travel experts can arrange a volunteering gap year in South Africa for you, or why not volunteer in Cambodia, you can even opt for a winter gap year working holiday in Canada or a summer job in Costa Rica. The possibilities are endless. Trainee teachers may find a travel and teach in China or Cambodia course the perfect addition to their CV, especially as part of local community development programmes. Or you can sign up to one of hundreds of work abroad programmes in Australia and New Zealand which will take you to the farthest reaches of the earth and offer you the chance to live, work, travel or volunteer abroad for up to a year. Experience exciting activities, the many natural wonders of the world, alternative cultures and languages and take advantage of many amazing opportunities to enhance your life skills before you go to college by taking a gap year out.
Take a look at the companies advertising on Gapwork.com, they each offer a wide range of specific gap year travel options as well as being experts in volunteering jobs, teaching abroad, internships or just simply adventure travel and backpacking trips. You're bound to find a trip to suit your needs.


text: Share: Comments Print October 5, 2013 at 6:17 PM Bomb scare closes ferry run for hours on Saturday Posted by Sanjay Bhatt UPDATE: This post has been updated to correct information on when a ferry route was out of service. A man believed to be mentally ill and rambling about explosives led authorities to shut down ferry service between Point Defiance and the Tahlequah terminal on Vashon Island for a couple hours on Saturday. A witness overheard a 48-year old Vashon Island man talking about wanting to detonate an explosive after a car disembarked from the boat, according to the King County Sheriff's Office. The state Department of Transportation said an email alert was sent out shortly after 1 p.m. letting customers know the route was out of service. The service resumed at 3:10 p.m., departing from Tahlequah. As a result of the disruption, nine one-way trips were missed, the state said. The State Patrol swept the boat and found no bomb; the man was booked into the King County Jail. Comments | Topics: Washington State Ferry, Washington State Patrol


text:
Community Articles
Go to Site Index
See "Community Articles" main page
General News · 27th July 2015
Mansons's Hall Kitchen Update
Julian for the SCCA Board
Stage one of the kitchen renovation has begun, here is the AGM report for those who missed it, outlining our plans.
Kitchen Committee:
Julian Ayers, Diane Daly and Mags Johnston
We are pleased to report to the community that so far, $63,000 has been raised through generous donations from the community, and grants. Our budget goal is $131,000 to renovate and fully equip a modern, to code, health-approved kitchen. We are still writing grants and asking for donations for the remaining $68,000.
Costs include basic renovation, expansion of the footprint, new electrical wiring, flooring, stove, dishwasher, convection oven, cold table, small appliances, refrigeration, stainless steel canopy and exhaust system. Included in the budget are also dishes, small wares, pots and pans, cash register etc.
The Board has given approval to commence Phase 1 in mid July, consisting primarily of opening up the area, levelling the floor and new subflooring, installation of a 200amp panel and power supply and new skylight (that doesnt leak!).
Over the summer months the final plan will be developed, go for approval by the Health Dept., and we will begin equipment purchasing. We plan to start installing equipment and fixtures in fall, depending on the success of fundraising efforts over the summer.
Our grants are primarily "matching funds" so every dollar donated privately is matched by the granting agency. The SCCA is a Registered Charity and a tax-deductible receipt will be provided for all donations on request.
In the past, the kitchen was leased to private operators. Our new "Community Kitchen" is intended to provide food services that benefit Islanders and support SCCA programs:
The cafe will be open for morning coffee and baked treats.
Monday: Seniors Day.
Weekly lunches specials on a cost-recovery/break even basis, offering a fixed-price low-cost lunch menu for our Seniors. Later we hope to offer "heat 'n serve" pre-packaged dinners, and eventually a program similar to Meals-on-wheels for housebound Elders.
Younger folks are welcome to eat too, with a regular-priced menu.
Wednesday: Family Day.
Featuring a childrens menu. All revenues will go to support the Playschool and childrens programs.
Friday: Market Day
Full-service menu, bringing back the legendary burritos, grilled sandwiches and great desserts. Proceeds to support SCCA operations.
In addition to cafe-style food service, the Board intends to integrate the kitchen into community life, as follows:
-Community Organization Fundraising: facility rental to local groups for fundraising lunches and dinners.
-Special Event catering facility: including fundraisers, Community meals (ie Xmas dinner), and rental for weddings, celebrations etc.
-Youth-Provide job experience, education credits and skills training.
-Education: through local learning institutions, food preparation, canning and cooking classes.
-Market Vendors and local food producers: rental of certified kitchen for preparation of food for retail sale and private label food products.
This exciting addition to the Hall services is dependent on community support, please help us to realize the vision and make a donation today!
With thanks from the Kitchen Committee, and the SCCA Board.
email Julian for the SCCA Board


text:
How it works
BILT is intuitive and easy to use. Watch how simple your product assembly can be.
All-in-one app
No need to hold onto paperwork. BILT is a convenient archive for all your warranties, registration and product information.
Download BILT for more than simple assembly.
The features on BILT
Quickly find your product with a simple search.
Get an overview of your assembly project.
Follow simple 3D interactive instructions.
Rotate 360 degrees, zoom in & out with your fingers.
See the hardware you need for each step.
Track your product warranty & registration.


text:
EI/NRCCE street address: 1272 Evansdale Dr, Morgantown, WV 26506
GPS coordinates: Latitude = 39.647271, Longitude = -79.967828
From the East: Take I-68 to I-79, then go North to Exit 155 (West Virginia University exit).
From the North: (Pittsburgh) or South (Charleston) follow I-79 to Exit 155 (West Virginia University exit).
Parking at EI/NRCCE
Please park in Area 40 and retrieve a permit in Suite 113.


text:
SERVPRO of North Central Austin, Social Marketing Internship, Application Deadline, BTT Gateway Job ID 8347
Fri, May 30, 2014
Learn from a Winning Marketing Team!
We are seeking interns to expand our social media marketing.
Since 1967 SERVPRO has led the market in the business of industrial and residential restoration. Our success is based on having high quality people who are passionate about the satisfaction of our customers and contributing to the success of our organization.
We are looking for multiple hard-working, motivated individuals to learn from our growing team Marketing team in Austin.
You will be helping accelerate accelerating sales volume by using social media to create new customer relationships while further developing existing accounts.
Working alongside our highly competent sales & service team, you will learn and use our Social Media marketing platform. SERVPRO has engaged a industry leading Social Media marketing firm to provide us with this marketing platform, which engages people on Facebook, Twitter, Linked, Google+, Yelp, and Google+Local.
Our ideal candidate will have:
• Experience using social media (personal experience is just fine!)
• Engaging and fun personality
• Strong verbal and written skills
• Solid organization and planning capabilities
• A passion for "creating a buzz"
• A high personal drive, a strong sense of urgency, connect to people easily, and create confidence through the knowledge of our services
• College experience
If our opportunity sounds exciting and you meet our requirements, we are interested in speaking to you further about the Social Marketing Internship.
See BTT Gateway Job ID 8347. Application Deadline 5/30


text:
1. Who is the idiot? On 4 Nov 2010, after giving a speech at the inaugural forum, "A Free Press for a Global Society" at the Columbia University, Minister for Law, Mr K Shangumam, said the following during the Q and A session:
"The point is this, if you actually sit down and look at what is it that is needed for a healthy, robust debate in public life. You want to talk about issues, you want to talk about what the government is doing right or wrong. How people can offer a different perspective, what are the different viewpoints there are, ALL OF THAT IS FAIR GAME. The point about the classic common law defamation theory is that when you descend into a personal attack against someone and it's not comment. YOU CAN CALL SOMEONE AN IDIOT, HE CAN'T SUE YOU FOR THAT. YOU CAN MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT A PERSON, YOU CAN CALL HIM INCOMPETENT, HE CAN'T SUE YOU FOR THAT, but if you make a personal factual allegation, "he stole", or "he is corrupt" then the real issue is, should the press be given any greater privilege to make those allegations compared with an individual? [Capitalization emphasis is by The Pariah.]
After you read this blog posting about corporate disclosures, I wonder who will you call "an idiot" ... could it be me? It's OK - I won't sue. I can't sue anyway - so my Law Minister tells me.
2. Who increased net profit by 666% in FY2009/10? Yes - 666% increase in NET profit! I'm not kidding (and let me assure you that I am not even into biblical revelations of any genre). Before reading on, you may want to slip on your sunshades (and whatever else that can be slipped on) and lug along your binoculars because the figures are bedazzling eye-poppers in this financial striptease:
Awwwww ..... Shock and Awe:
Who makes this kind of profits in this little red dot?
(a) "profit before taxation for 3Q 2009 improved significantly by 126%"
Allgreen, 2 Nov 2009
(b) "profit after tax and minority interests (PATMI) increased by 76.7% ... in Q4 2009"
City Developments Ltd, 25 Feb 2010, who also described it a week later as: "... the year was also a record one of sorts, as it achieved its highest-ever full-year revenue ... and the second-highest-ever net profit".
(c) "144% surge in net profit ... for the financial year ended 31 December 2009"
Heeton Holdings, 24 Feb 2010
(d) "net profit after tax and minority interests ... for nine months ended 30 Sep 2009, up 259%" and "net profit after tax and minority interest ...for the full year ended Dec 31 2009, up 262%"
Ho Bee Group, 12 Nov 2009 and 12 Feb 2010, respectively
417.9% y-o-y surge in net profit for 2Q"
SC Global, 23 Aug 2010
(f) "net profit for 2Q2010 ended Dec 31, 2009 surged 220% y-o-y" and "posted a 173% y-o-y jump in net profit ... for FY2010"
Sim Lian Group, 15 Feb 2010 and 30 Aug 2010, respectively
(g) "net profit attributable for the six months ended Nov 30, 2009 (HY2010), rose 129.2%"
Tee International, 8 Jan 2010
(h) "188% rise in net attributable profit ... for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 with revenue crossing $1 billion for the first time"
UOL, 23 Feb 2010
(i) "for the half year ended Dec 31, 2009 ... group's operating profit ... an increase of 123%",
"in the nine months ended 31 March 2009 ... operating profit ... an increase of 81%" and
"net profit for the full year ended June 30 (FY2010) rose to $160.75 million from $20.98 million a year ago"
Wing Tai Group, 5 Feb 2010, 13 May 2010 and 23 Aug 2010, respectively
Do read The Edge articles in full and you may immediately recognize the en bloc redevelopments cited therein:
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who is the fairest of them all?
Answer: Whoever made 666% increase in net profit for the full year. Tsk, tsk ... if you were reading carefully, you would have found the answer above. [Hint: Please re-read item (i).]
3. Casino Singapore. With property prices racheting up at such rates to yield net profit of triple-digit percentage gains for developers, ... when Owners sell at so-called "en bloc premium" to earn so-called "en bloc windfall" at $xxx psf only to see Developer-buyers soft-launch the redevelopment at three times (!!!) $xxx psf a few months after collecting en bloc sale proceeds, ... when the super Majority Consenters realise that the pre-en bloc promise of Utopia has landed them in Ethiopia post-en bloc, ... when the law has MAJOR structural flaws, viz, (i) locks-in Reserve Price for up to 12+12=24 months in a likely upward-moving volatile market, (ii) opens side gate when public tender fails to allow NON-expert Sale Committee volunteers to sign private treaty with expert Developer-buyer in the back-room and tell Owners only AFTER the deal has been signed, sealed and delivered and (iii) prohibits the super Majority from filing any objection to Strata Titles Boards/the courts, ... when the super Majority therefore have no choice but to keep mum and lump the "en bloc shortfall" as they are already cooked, ... when such "en bloc shortfall" will continue to haunt the super Majority Consenters 15-20 years later into their twilight years because of too-early monetization of their only crown jewel, ... and when my pet camel mutated into a 3.5-hump monster within a mere 1.5 decade (from 1995-2010), another question arises:
Do we just have two casinos? Or have we willy-nilly morphed into "The Biggest Casino in the World" at 710.3 sq km (Singapore's area size as of 2009 - Department of Statistics)?
It was reported in the Straits Times (12 Nov 2010) that for 3Q2010:
- Resorts World Sentosa: S$732mn revenue; S$346.5mn pre-tax profit; 47% profit margin
- Marina Bay Sands: S$631mn revenue; S$315mn pre-tax profit; 49.7% profit margin
Yawn ... the figures in casinos are just not as sexy and seductive compared to developers!
4. Contextualized against a time-scale. 666% increase in net profit, or 417.9% surge, or up 262%, or 188% rise ... are they obscene or what? Especially when you CONTEXTUALIZE these developers' net profits of such epic proportions to the timescale below. Now, now ... please bear in mind this question as we put things into context: "What were the two factors that likely contributed towards such obscene profits by the developers?" ... and let's see if your answer matches mine.
- Published articles span a near-year of 2009/10 to give a more representative perspective
- Second bout of en bloc frenzy started in earnest in 2006 and peaked in 2Q2007
- Typical two-three year lag time for construction/redevelopment
- Accounting conventions for developers with inherent lag time in income/profit recognition
- Private Residential Property Index first surpassed the last peak only in 2Q2010
- 2008/09 Great Recession triggered by Wall Street meltdown
- 2009/10 Resilence Package of S$20.5bn for FY 1 Apr 2009-31 Mar 2010 with advance roll-out from 22 Jan 2009 and step-down Job Credit Scheme until 30 Jun 2010 where the Gahmen dipped into past reserves for the first time in history for S$4.9bn to fund the Job Credit Scheme and Special Risk-Sharing Initiative
- Corollary to 2009 Resilence Package were (a) corporate income tax rate cut from 18% to 17% for YA2010, (b) tax exemption on foreign-sourced income earned before 21 Jan 2009 and remitted between 22 Jan 2009-21 Jan 2010 and (c) special accommodations for developers, viz:
(i) deferred property tax starting from the later of 22 Jan 2009 or Provisional/Written Permission date,
(ii) one-year extension of Project Completion Period for private residential projects,
(iii) another two-year extension for developers' disposal of residential units, aggregating to a four-year leeway, etc,
all of such special accommodations for developers (together with other mind-boggling and backbending accommodations by MND/URA/BCA in DELAYING THE POLICY IMPACT of withdrawn Deferred Payment/Interest Absorption Schemes (DPS/IAS), withdrawal of Gross Floor Area bonuses, etc) and the "voluntary caveat" loopholes of Singapore Land Authority (SLA) likely contributed to the 3 Nov 2010 STARK EXPOSÉ when URA were caught with their pants down because the figures for expected supply of housing units even within the near future were seriously out-of-whack.
Instead of reaping policy results upon announcement, these super business-friendly civil servants allow developers to piggy-back on building plans long approved by BCA for, say, 100 fancy duplexes even when they revamp the entire project into, say, 700 shoe-box units, but retaining the old GFA bonus for planters/bay windows with consequent startling incongruence. Likewise, developers can significantly delay sales/phased releases under URA extensions and yet hang on to the DPS/IAS competitive advantage under old BCA building plan approval. Flippers and property agents join developers in merrily exploiting SLA's "laxity" by not filing caveats, delaying/timing the filing or even aggregating/misfiling in order to paint a distorted picture about last-done prices, speculative profitability, flipping dominance, etc. Well, the "joke" has backfired on the Gahmen as these super business-friendly civil servants have crossed sides either to sit on the boards of corporate developers or to be on their payroll whilst the rest of us are still scratching our heads as to how deeply and how widely the GIGO-based systems (Garbage In, Garbage Out) of URA/SLA/BCA have skewed statistics and indices. Your guess is as good as mine!
No doubt, there are other multi-factorial justifications for profit hikes of 666%, 417.9%, 262%, 188%, etc (eg, accounting treatment of fair value gains by different companies, contributions from non-en bloc redevelopment, hot money inflows, pre-dominance of Mickey Mouse (shoebox) units sold at astronomical psf price, etc).
That was why I have been advocating since late 2009 that MinLaw should invoke the amended Statistics Act and extract from MAS the data on developer project financing to affirm/debunk allegations and facilitate MinLaw's on-target policy/legislative refinement of LTSA. Alas, it remains a classic Rumsfeldian case of Unknown Unknowns except that the unknowing (whoever that idiot is) doesn't want to know.
5. En bloc gang robbery-cum-rape and looting of public coffers. As for the question posed in Point 4:
"What were the two factors that likely contributed towards such obscene profits by the developers?"
My answer: Developers made obscene profit at the expense of (i) CITIZENS (especially from their en bloc purchases) and (ii) GAHMEN (milking the 2009 Resilience Package). And what's your answer?
the 75% (or lower?) syndrome inflicts even our very best, eh?
Bottomline: In the sparring practice round in Feb 2010, REDAS (Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore) were slightly outfoxed by the Gahmen when REDAS' pressure tactics to get the Gahmen to disclose Reserve Price for Government Land Sales backfired. But for this major championship fight, it appears that the PAP Gahmen lost Big Time - they have been summarily outclassed by the corporate developers who achieved such sparkling results within the above contextualized time-scale! Developers, being inherently astute, likely merrily milked the maximum out from 2009 Resilience Package even whilst they "cry-father-cry-mother" (literally translated from the visceral "kow bei, kow boo" Hokkien-dialectic expression for "plaintive whining and whinging") about the Great Recession!
Sigh ... that's what happens when the fine line is crossed ... when Gahmen not only got incestuous with Big Biz but also when increasing one-upmanship and internal competition further calcified the already entrenched silo mentality within each ministry, statutory board and government agency. DOUBLE JEOPARDY, DOUBLE WHAMMY!
6. Preview summary of Parts 2 and 3. In "Casino Singapore 2: Who's the idiot?? No to gang robbery-cum-rape", I will set out:
– How and why the en bloc gang robbery-cum-rape was allowed to happen.
– How to counter the gang robber-cum-rapist.
In a way, it's calling their bluff when the Gahmen used national needs for urban rejuvenation and higher land-use intensity to justify passing a law that is calibrated towards such gang robbery-cum-rape. It will give an insight as to why private condos were targetted instead of HDB public housing when land area used for private condos is miniscule relative to that used for HDB public housing and the lessons that Singapore could draw from South Korea, Taiwan and Hongkong in en bloc redevelopment.
In "Casino Singapore 3: Who's the idiot??? Smoking gun with spent bullets", I will attempt to gather the incriminating evidence of such gang robbery-cum-rape although the gang rapist is still virulent and not quite "spent" and is on the prowl again! It will remind us of the hollow parliamentary promise made by MinLaw in 1999 during en bloc law inception that the primary objective of this law was to create "many more housing units in PRIME 999-year leasehold or freehold AREAS FOR SINGAPOREANS".
There are also observations and reflections of "too little, too late, too diffident" approach in formulating and effecting laws, regulations and policies without sufficient checks-and-balances within a holistic framework (eg, tax man consulting tax-payers on a proposed clarification and then withdrawing such proposal). Then you evaluate and decide for yourself whether the former Minister for Law, Prof S Jayakumar, had any basis for his ministerial allegations and fear-mongering attempts, especially when the facts in this 3-part Casino Singapore blog posting affirmed how en bloc law effectively unlocked land value for Developer-buyers, NOT extant Owners who instead face the Hobson's Choice of being Squatters, Refugees, Downgraders and Downsizers:


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Ah the question of the hamburger. Does one order cheese or onions or bacon or even a fried egg? Can I (or should I) put ketchup on it? Why do people say Catsup versus Ketchup? Certainly too many questions to answer before selecting the right meal, that's for sure. Well, I have certainly tasted my fare share of burgers over the years and each one has a special place in my heart, each for a different reason.
In 'N Out ~ Classic California and always fresh. Perfect order: cheeseburger protein style with extra tomato (possibly fried onions), fries well-done, and a chocolate shake. Of course you must rock the In 'N Out shirt as well.
Bare Burger ~ A recent find and obsession with their organic and all-natural menu items. I have yet to sample the shakes but I hear they are just delicious. Perfect order: (again changes every time…) but for now Grindhouse (elk, manchego, bacon, relish, green leaf, paprika mayo, brioche bun) Also, onion rings/sweet fries are a must.
Shake Shack (East Coast) ~ Perfect order: SmokeShack (cheeseburger w/ applewood bacon, chopped cherry pepper and ShakeSauce) paired with a custard (chocolate or flavor of the day)
(P.S. every Tuesday of the month/spring/summer they have a run club in Central Park/Philly where you get a free beverage post run!)
P.J. Clarkes ~ Here, it's all about the egg. Perfect order: B.L.T.E. Burger – Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Lemonaise, Fried Egg. Go big or go home my friends. Although, their "Cadillac" is almost a picture perfect twin of my order below (Smoked Country Bacon, American Cheese)
The Counter ~ Mostly love this place because of all the darn options. Salad, burger, pretzel bun, pineapple, bacon, Gouda cheese, brie, and the list goes on and on and on. No favorite order here because it changes so often.
More delicious burger joints: Umami, Tommy's, Father's Office (ketchup is a no-no here), The Habit, Bob's Big Boy, or just check out LA's Top 10
Anyways, let's get back to New York City shall we?
J.G. Melon is an Upper East Side staple. I would know because my friends that are New Yorkites and have lived in the city their entire lives told me so. What can I say, I believe what I'm told. 🙂
The dining establishment has been around since 1972 but the building since the 1920's when it was created as a tavern during Prohibition. Located on east 74th street, it has become known by the locals a the perfect spot for a burger. When you walk in, there is an adorable older host who knows most of the guests by name. Don't expect to be seated if your entire party hasn't arrived. Instead, hang out by the bar and make some new friends.
The one and only menu. No really, one-sided with some pretty familiar items. One thing to note is that it's cash only!
My friend Alyssa went with her favorite – a grilled chicken salad, while I asked the waitress for the absolute best – a bacon cheeseburger, cooked medium rare. We also ordered a side of the "Cottage Fried Potatoes", which Alyssa claims are the best but honestly weren't too out of the ordinary (not much of a fries person though I did eat a majority of the bowl…go figure). At the beginning of the night, I had my eye on a piece of dessert but by the time we had finished chatting and cleaned our plates, I was full beyond belief.
Yes, a lovely night in the upper east side and you don't have to worry about me going vegetarian any time soon.
J.G. Melon
1291 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10021
We all need to make time for a burger once in a while." – Erica Durance


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On Saturday, September 28, 2013, Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Mass will be celebrating the works of J.R.R. Tolkien with activities for all ages, such as:
• Live presentations comparing Medieval weapons to those found in The Lord of the Rings
• Introductory lessons in sword and staff combat
• Demonstration of prosthetic mask making
• Round-table discussions of topics related to the world of Lord of the Rings
• Games, storytelling, and sing-a-long for the young (and young at heart)
• Costumes encouraged!
Further information can be found here: http://www.higgins.org/middle-earth-day-1 (watch this page for updates).
We would like to extend an invitation for you to visit us on September 28, either as museum visitors (our hours are 10:00-4:00) or as volunteers. We're looking for enthusiastic, outgoing people willing to dress as Lord of the Rings characters, join in our activities, and interact with our guests for the day.
If you have any questions, would like a copy of our flier to help spread the word, or want to volunteer, please contact Nancy Huntington (email@example.com).


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Garage Door Repair is a serious issue when considering all the elements that make up your garage door system from the weight of the door to the electrical components and moving parts that may be needing attention.
If you are seeking a Garage Door repair in Centennial, Aurora, Denver, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock or Lone Tree, in Colorado then Advantage Garage Door will be happy to provide an inspection and estimate for your project.
This is a good project to let the professionals at Advantage Garage Door handle because you have more important things to be concerned with, in your life.
We will be glad to help you in the Denver metro area including Parker, Highlands Ranch, Aurora and Centennial.
Leave your Garage Door Repair to the technicians of Advantage Garage Door, to get it done quickly, easy and at an economical cost to keep it working correctly for years to come.
If your garage door seems to be uneven or making unusual noises then it is wise to get it checked out sooner rather than later because it is most likely to turn into a bigger problem down the road.
By having your garage door repair done at the 1st sign of somethings not quite right, you also avoid potential safety issues which are important to fix fast especially with children around.
Squeals, squeeks and screetches are also good indicators that your door is a good candidate for a garage door tune-up.
Your garage door is a huge convenience to have so make sure that it is working properly with an annual tune-up that will insure all the bolts and screws are secure and that the door is correctly aligned and in over-all good working order for coming year.
For exceptional customer service and a timely Garage Door Repair in Aurora, Denver, Centennial, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Parker or Castle Rock then give us a call at 303-400-5056 TODAY!
Imagine the hassle of coming out to the garage to go somewhere only to find that you can't get your car out because for some reason the door will simply not open. Now what? Call Advantage Garage Door for immediate service at a friendly price!
We take pride in ourselves for exceptional customer service backed with a quality garage door repair in a timely fashion.
We repair and replace all makes and modles of garage doors and garage door openers or garage door operators.
Garage Door Repair and Services:
• We service and repair all major brands of garage doors and garage door operators.
• We replace broken torsion springs, extension springs, cables, rollers, and other associated hardware only if necessary.
• We replace damaged sections — all brands.
We will also help you with your decision of whether to fix or replace your garage door or garage door opener if that is an issue because we want to provide our customers with all available options. You have a true Advantage when you call us to help you with you garage door problems.
Advantage Garage Door always emphasizes quality professional service and installation.
We sell and service all major brands of garage doors and garage door operators.
We will haul away your existing door and recycle the steel and aluminum products. We will professionally install your new door and operator or reconnect your existing operator.
We cover the Denver metro area including Aurora, Englewood, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Littleton, Greenwood Village, Castle Rock, Parker as well as other metro area locations.


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TRESemme Tres Mega Firm Control Gel
TRESemme TRES TWO Hair Gel Mega Firm Control styling gel provides resistance to humidity all day long, and continuously keeps your style going strong without crunchy stiffness. Built for control and ready to be styled, TRESemme TRES TWO Hair Gel Mega Firm Control is an anti frizz gel giving you all day hold with built-in 24 hour humidity protection. Use as a curly hair gel for beautiful definition for your curls in any weather. This strong, mega firm control hair gel is perfect for hair that is difficult to hold, or for slicking, shaping, or sculpting for perfect look. Our unique, alcohol-free gel formula is great for all hair types and designed specifically to keep your hairstyle on lock without leaving hair looking wet or feeling sticky. TRESemme TRES TWO Mega Firm Control Gel delivers maximum hold all day long-and continuously holds your style strong.


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India is the largest democracy of the world and every person above 18 years of age is entitled to the right of voting. However there is a black spot on the functioning of this biggest democracy.
This spot surface at the time when people use their voting power and go to vote. For a person to be able to vote, it is essential for his/her name to be listed in the "Voter's List." If one's name doesn't flash in the voter list, the person cannot vote and this impacts the structure of Democracy largely.
There have been many instances even with celebrities in past which suggests that this loophole can dishearten any person whether elite or a middle class. One of such instance happened in this year's 2017 elections when for Brihan Mumbai Municipal corporation election where Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan couldn't vote.
He was asked to check his name in the list and when he did that, he found out that his name isn't present in the list thus he cannot vote. This raises many questions on the present system of voting and elections happening all around the country in terms of management for elections.
The most worrying fact that is rising from this incident is that, if a celebrity cannot vote due to absence of name in the voter's list, what might be the situation in rural areas! Isn't it alarming that the basic right of the citizen of a country isn't granted due to some mismanagement? Every citizen of this country is equal and hence the people who aren't able to cast their votes due to this discrepancy deserve an answer.
The right of vote is one of those unique powers which adjudicates the future of the nation, if that will also be pulverised by certain acts like name missing and other excuses, the future of India is really heading in a dark way.


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"There has never been anything quite so big, bold and crookedly brilliant as The Greatest Train Robbery" Daily Mirror
"History's Greatest Robbery – There'll always be an England" New York Herald Tribune
"Balaclava and the 40 Thieves" Daily Sketch
"Great Train Robbery? How's that going?" John Lennon
This is it! For the first time in 50 years the full and complete story of what actually went on at the Great Train Robbery, in the planning of the robbery, and in the years that have passed since 8 August 1963.
The robbery is explained first hand over 132 pages by Bruce Reynolds, the mastermind of the crime, and by Ronnie Biggs, the most famous of the robbers and the man who admits that he was the most privileged spectator to the entire robbery. Both men give their exclusive views on the anniversary, and on the crime. There are also over 200 photos and illustrations, and all for just £4.99 from the publisher.
What you will read in The Great Train Robbery 50th Anniversary: 1963-2013 is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, because it comes from the people who know what happened. They were there, and they were involved. And from both sides of the law.
You will read shocking new revelations about the crime, of foul play, and about those implicated in it. Facts that will make you question what you thought you knew about the robbery, and the people caught up in it.
The book looks at the secrets and lies that surround Britain's most famous and culturally iconic robbery. The myths and legends that range from the strange, to the downright bizarre.
The Great Train Robbery is the story that refuses to die, and one that fifty years on still fascinates and entertains a nation.
It is now possible to buy The Great Train Robbery 50th Anniversary: 1963-2013 in a number of countries through Amazon and other stockists listed on the Amazon web sites.
Here are the links to the book in a few key countries:
and of course in the UK