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Friday, November 28, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
I don't want much for Christmas...
The prosperity and happiness of my loved ones, world peace and maybe just maybe a Deserving Democrat nominated to succeed Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. Mostly cuz I am sick unto death of this meme that the Democrats don't have anyone who can "handle" the DoD thus making the sinecure useful for practicing an entirely unreciprocated form of bipartisanship. I understand the need in wartime to spread out accountability among all the political parties....but then again you never see a Republican President nominating a Democrat to be Secretary of Health and Human Services do you? I mean think about that. Granted FDR started this whole thing back in WW 2 nominated Henry Stinson as Secretary of War and Frank Knox Secretary of the Navy (both registered republicans) but now over seventy years later we have reached a point of diminished rate of return on a very shopworn ploy. Nominate a democrat I say....There are a couple of Senators out there who are about to lose their jobs in January who'd likely leap at the chance, just sayin'.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Ah Ferguson, Aw Hell...
Is it me, or do we somehow en masse auto suggest ourselves as a nation into these violent demeaning racial cul de sacs? Is anyone out there surprised at the outcome, the Grand Jury dropped the Wilson-Brown shooting like a hot potato and then the community erupted, we've seen it a dozen times before same mistakes, same actors, same reactions, same outcome. The sad part is, the resultant violence and looting gives the opinion industry and their constituents the excuse to essentially reduce poor Michael Brown to a nice forgettable footnote whilst everyone else gets on their high horse about pathologies within and without the black community. In these situations, we don't have a debate let alone a dialogue, we have a mumbled monologue by rote. I feel bad for the kid, what he didn't abjectly surrender quickly enough??
Monday, November 24, 2014
Apparently the plan in...
to handle Boston's Bid on the 2024 Olympics thru to actual execution entirely via private donations. This is the plan that was used in Los Angeles circa 1984...and I guess it worked the public coffers weren't raided or anything. Per Saturday's Globe though, SHOULD Boston become a "finalist" in the bidding for said Olympics Some FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS has been set aside to cover lobbying expenses within and without the IOC. FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS! Mother of Ghod....thats chump change to some people out there, but to me, that finances A LOT of scholarships to worthy impoverished kids deserving of a college education, buys a ton of inoculations for poor children and Ghod knows what else. Hell Deval Patrick has to cut three hundred million out of the budget before New Years...I'll bet you he is desperate to find an extra fifty million somewhere. But no...THIS MONEY is going to Hype Boston as a Olympic Host, nothing more. Frankly and Bluntly it's a poor use for such a lavish sum, but this is where our values are today, Hype Prestige and Buzz, you'd think they'd become Our Currency or some damn thing!
Sunday, November 23, 2014
James Webb in 2016?
Word comes to us, that Former Virginia Senator, Democrat James Webb is forming a Presidential Exploratory Committee. He has an abundance of advantages...on paper at least, having been Secretary of the Navy, NASA Administrator, US Senator and a decorated veteran of Viet Nam. I'm gonna assume he is gonna run as a centrist, if he runs....Which is fine I guess, not sure how much "Centrists-hedging-our-bets-on-Hilary" money there is out there to be raised but Barack Obama was a long shot once too so yez never knows. No Webb's chief drawback as a candidate is both intangible and sad, to date Two Combat Veterans of Viet Nam have been nominated by both party's neither man (John Kerry & John McCain) was elected. I suspect the electorate thinks valiant service in that war is no great qualification for office and here for once, I try to choose my words carefully. It is a shame and I hope I am wrong about that, is all I can say.
Friday, November 21, 2014
I'm liking the New Improved President Obama...
A few facts followed by some sensible suggestions and capped with an executive order & viola, Instant Transcontinental Wingnut Fugue! It is Inspiring to say the least and it nicely hijacks the narrative for the coming weekend and pretty much calls a halt to GOP's post midterm victory lap. Looks like a Hat Trick....the sheer sanity and modesty of the President's current proposals on immigration are demonstrated by the fact that nearly ever out-and-proud belligerent teachable in the Nation is, even as I write this, shrieking for Blood & Dynamite.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
More Good News...
The IOC is in town looking into Boston's Very Serious Bid to Host the 2024 Olympics. This is utter madness on a cosmic scale. The city is too small, public transport far too run down and unreliable and the cost utterly prohibitive. Hosting the Olympics though is just the sort of insane vanity project that appeals to egos across the political spectrum. The fact of the matter is, the people who want it NOW, are not the cadres who will be called upon to administer this mishaugas come 2024....this is what made the Big Dig such an expensive,frustrating, heartbreaking spectacle. Does anyone out there really think the State Legislature and the Executive Department will EVER spend the necessary money to upgrade the Red Line to meet the spike in demand congruent with hosting the Olympic Games? To say nothing of Commuter Rail, The Orange Line or any of the rest of it? HELL NO THEY WON'T!! They will just hope and pray to ghod their patchwork fixes will hold up til the tourists leave and THEN the Red Line can implode in peace!! Sick Demented Typical!!!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Congrats to Steve Kadish
Baker has tapped the Northeastern University COO (who is a democrat) to be his new Chief of Staff. The bad news is, the Chief of Staff's job is the most miserable thankless burden in State Government short of being AG. So of course, Charlie Potatoes pulls a dem for the job...it's no rebuke the State GOP to slot in a democrat who will have to make countless enemies IF he is doing the job right. Well....I guess the best we can hope for is that Kadish has got some horse sense and can tell who is a liar and who is a boodler, useful insights on Beacon Hill. Good Luck yer gonna need it, Deval Patrick has gone thru something like a half dozen chiefs of staff in eight years....like I said, its a damned-if-ya-do, damned-if-ya-don't sinecure.
Monday, November 17, 2014
I see in the news that Richard Taylor
(Bill Weld's DOT Secretary) has resigned from Charlie Baker's transition team amidst allegations of evictions, liens on households, unpaid taxes and a host of other embarrassments...and yet this jobber could still pony up a 5k campaign contribution to the Baker-Polito Committee. I think Charlie lost himself a sterling GOP stalwart this time, the very epitome of Republican Rectitude, truly the Grown Ups are In Charge Once Again. But to the root of the matter, we can probably look forward to more of this sort of thing as Baker selects his cabinet and sundry appointees, as a republican he has a very limited bench on which to draw, chiefly hacks and pay-triots from the Welducci Admin and whatever can be scraped up from the bottom of Mitt Romney's stave barrel of sheer talent. Look for it is all I can say...
Friday, November 14, 2014
In the past week the President has secured cooperation from the PRC on climate change (thus making the entire GOP caucus in the US Senate look like idiots...which ain't hard admittedly), banged the pots for Net Neutrality and sent the US House and the furtherest reaches of Tawk Radio into screeching shit fits promising an executive order on illegal immigration. I mean, so much for impotence and irrelevance huh? I wish the President well on all these endeavors and any others he cooking up for next week...because taken together this week's initiatives make for a good head start on a 2016 platform, if the democrats are willing to listen that is...(which IS NOT a foregone conclusion believe me). BTW, I wanna congratulate Secretary of State John Kerry for making Boston into an Unlikely Diplomatic Venue...per the Globe he was discussing climate change with a Chinese Diplomat all over town prior to the announcement last week. Nice work Mister Secretary, now if only you'd take the Israeli Foreign Minister to The Hong Kong that would be too precious for words.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Over at Methuen High yesterday
they used the holiday to good advantage testing out "active shooter" technology that will help the police track down a school shooter ever more quickly and reliably. This is grim but good news since the wave of school shooting shows no sign of abating. On the other hand if the detection technology becomes sufficiently widespread it'll only cue potential shooters to target less well protected events and locations....kid's soccer games or Little League for example. I know that is NOT a pleasant thought, but we have to start thinking this way since we've embarked on a generation long social engineering experiment to sire a peaceful crime free society thru firearm saturation.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The President has come out
banging the pots for Net Neutrality this week, which is pretty much a fairly transparent bid on the youth vote and otherwise the opening gambit in assembling a coalition for 2016. Predictably Ted Cruz called it "Obamacare for the Internet" which is likely the sort of front page "positive polarization" the White House seeks in the aftermath of the mid term election debacle. The college campuses are all for net neutrality, not the K-Street Lobbyists etc...you have to see it from that perspective...so the more rhetorical overkill from his opponents on this issue, the better for the President as we slouch towards Primary Season.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Charlie Baker wants to...
focus on drug abuse specifically the rising numbers on heroin use out there. Fair enough, smack is bidding on being cheaper than gasoline out there...but seriously if Baker wants to get ahead of the curve, he'd best start thinking on a good solid workable policy on combatting gambling addiction especially among those on fixed incomes! Lets face it, casino gambling is nothing but a defacto program to privatize social security. Union labor builds a huge casino, staffed by open shop dacoits paid a minimum wage who in turn fleece retirees of their pension and social security checks. At Bally's in Las Vegas on low volume weekday nights busload after busload of retirees roll up from Arizona to gamble away the night....some small provision ought to be made to deal with similar situations here...because believe me, we are gonna need it! And forget about any of that "innovative public-private-partnership" rubbish...not with the likes of Steve Wynn spending millions to make sure the ballot question swings his way. One doubts his commitment to good faith negotiations....
Friday, November 07, 2014
So I wonder if
The Governor Elect will be a Mensch and offer his former running mate Richard Tisei an appointment at the cabinet level? I mean now that Tisei is seemingly back on the dole having lost to Seth Moulton in the 6th Congressional this week... Secretary of Superfluous Islands? Chairman of the State Commission on Choices, Conundrums and Riddles or maybe MBTA General Manager maybe Tisei can figure out where the revenue is gonna come from to keep the Red Line from caving in now that the Gas Tax is no longer indexed to the inflation rate.
Thursday, November 06, 2014
The Boston Globe conjures with
"The Attorney General's Curse" in today's edition, ergo that ambitious AG's never seem to achieve the corner office in a fair political contest. I think the problem is much broader than that, it seems clear to me that almost all statewide office holders are at a competitive disadvantage if they aspire to the Governorship in a general election. In fact, so far as I can tell the ONLY state wide office that is a reliable path to Gubernatorial Power is...The Office of Lieutenant Governor. The Late Paul Cellucci and Jane "Jingle Money" Swift can both reliably attest to that notion. I don't have a tested hypothesis on this other to note that if you run and win statewide what you pick up in prestige, deliverables and name recognition you lose in terms of a broader public perception of being an "insider". Consider the men who have been elected Governor in my lifetime, Mike Dukakis a Brookline State Rep, Bill Weld, a Federal Prosecutor, Paul Cellucci an incumbent Lt Governor and former State Senator, Jane Swift a Cabinet Jobber, Mitt Romney a man with no substantive public experience at all and Deval Patrick a former Assistant US Attorney General. Meanwhile over that span of time, the democrats nominated two attorney's general for Governor and a State Treasurer all defeated. Moreover at least one additional state Treasurer and another attorney general sought their party's nomination for Governor and came up short. A pattern of sorts emerges, most of the above cited politicians could make a claim (however strained at times) to being outside "the Beacon Hill Culture"....in fact nigh all of them ran at one time or another as a bulwark against said Beacon Hill Culture. So as the state democrats look forward (y'know when the Gloating Stops), they might wanna consider some of the hidden costs to a candidate with an established statewide portfolio...cuz at this point it's all looking like A New Glass Ceiling in State Politics.
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Suzanne Bump was re-elected as State Auditor by a bare 57% of the vote. :) Well grudging congrats to our Governor Elect, Charlie Baker, we are about to find out how good a school of statecraft is the Swampscott Board of Selectmen. As for what happened last night, I'm honestly surprised Coakley hung in as long as she did and drove it down to under two percentage points or roughly 36,000 votes statewide. She had the Very Gods of Olympus and the Editorial Board of the Boston Globe against her....let us not forget that. Otherwise this was the Closest Gubernatorial election since 1998 when Cellucci beat Harshbarger. Moreover the polling data on this one seemed very faulty most of the polls trended towards Baker over the last two weeks and yet his final tally was a bare plurality and 1.4 % margin. The democratic primary had this same problem as well I suspect there are some polling models out there that are past their expiration date. The precise modalities will have to wait on better more reliable numbers and keener wits than mine, but if I had to hazard a hypothesis I'm gonna guess Charlie's winning formula was Ticket Splitting Independent Women + The Endorsement of the Boston Globe + Evan Falchuk (who carried off 62,000 votes that Martha desperately needed). The whole independent women thing, is pure conjecture on my part, the final polling numbers will confirm or deny it. Nonetheless clearly this was a cohort Baker was obsessed with getting at all costs up to and including popping Midol in front of the cameras. This is also a cadre famous for splitting tickets in droves. As for the Boston Globe's endorsement, clearly that has some serious utility in a close race as when applied to a GOP candidate it instantly confers "Republican Moderate" status...Said endorsement is conversely almost useless and likely a burden to any democrat occupying statewide office who aspires to the Governorship. Lastly Evan Falchuk ran up some good numbers last night, mostly in the form of disaffected independent radicals....in the past I've been known to bemoan this cohort's inability to join any broad coalition against the GOP. However over time I've come to the conclusion that this is a somewhat vengeful bunch whose sheer hatred of the the two party system makes most of them "ungettable from the git-go" for any serious democratic candidate. In short they LIKE skewing elections, it suits their vaguely Leninist notions of "chaos and or reaction all benefits me". Well be that as it may, the rest of the democratic ticket did very well indeed and the GOP's alleged surge never materialized with respect to the Great and General Court. As for Baker I have strong doubts of his alleged managerial acumen or his patience with State House milieu....to his credit he has been handed a relatively robust state economy but this is Charlie Baker we are talking about he could as always screw up a two car funeral.
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Election Day...
Consider the Lilies, and then get out and vote...remember you are the heir to a tremendous Legacy, be worthy of it. *** BTW....The Globe's endorsement of Baker pretty much validates my much derided notion that Morrissey Blvd has this weird ongoing obsession with breathing life however they must into the cold cold corpse of moderate republicanism. A good chunk of their columnists covered their eyes and closed their eyes and wished away four years pretending that Mitt Romney was a moderate....so projecting fantasies of centrism onto Charlie Baker is no great feat believe me. Personally I think Baker is unsuited for the job given his notorious temper, some of our biggest fiscal challenges are the consequence of decisions he made back when Charlie was Bill Weld's budgetary bootblack...and there is something repulsively intellectually corrupt about his stance on the gas tax...Baker ought to know better and indeed he does and yet he doesn't care. I think Bill Maher (who is a bit of a jerk IMHO) is right about one thing, the two party system is down to the democrats who are a center left coalition at best and the GOP which is gone whoring after extreme conservatism at the expense of any moderating impulse at all. The quicker everyone realizes this, the better we will all be as far as Humble Elias is concerned. So Vote for Coakley, she is honest, modest & willing to work hard we cannot ask for more.
Monday, November 03, 2014
It is 2010 until further notice!!!
Up in NH, callow mercenary Scott Brown seeks to unseat Senator Shaheen, never had the Commonwealth a worse Senator never did Wall Street have a more faithful Sock Puppet, I urge the Granite State to Give Scott a Big Miss Tomorrow. He is unteachable vain and wouldn't know Moultonborough from Molten Lava... *** Mean down in the Flatlands Charlie Baker grinds his way from town to town keeping his famous short temper in check and brandishing his endorsement by the Boston Globe like a tomahawk. In essence though its the same old Charlie a demagogue on "safe" issues like Welfare and a complete hypocrite on important matters like the gas tax. Other than his mirthful tendency to commune with phantasms that take the form of fishermen he brings nothing more to the table than he did in 2010...again I urge the electorate vote for Coakley and give Baker the Bum's Rush. We are however faced with a curious case study tomorrow, two defeated candidates in different statewide races in the same year now nominated against one another for Governor. In short we are about to find out just who learned their lesson and who did not....
Sunday, November 02, 2014
Twilight of the Ghods in Hyde Park....
Boston's longest serving Mayor, Tom Menino is Dead. The very Heavens Do Shake. He prospered for over twenty years in office because like those reptiles on the Galapagos Island observed by Darwin all those years ago, he was nigh perfectly adapted to his environment. And that was, a Mayoralty that is a strong executive (at least in comparison to the City Council) presiding over a city with an expectation of clientism which was in turn fueled by the needs of coalition building withing and without a Baronial milieu of neighborhoods and ethnic islands. The general model of governance in Boston as such is very 19th century, indeed as Menino demonstrated time and again a successful Mayor need not be an eloquent visionary of any type. If said Mayor has insight into those above cited "pillars of power" in Boston then he or she will prosper...Menino prospered for twenty years and likely would still hold the office today if Cancer hadn't laid him low. Mayors are not like Governors, or Presidents for that matter. The expectations the public has of them are different, a Governor runs thru his or her bag of tricks in eight years or less, a good Mayor with sound lungs can cruise thru an entire decade on nothing but a low opinion of pot holes and rigorous snow plowing. The job is about insight, two fold, insight into the nature of power from within city government as opposed to the demands on resources from without city government. What Menino understood was, his job was to redistribute boons and rewards, patronage if you will. But the boons & perks I'm thinking are entirely intangible in nature, prestige, access or the sheer weight of advocacy are the sorts of things Menino redistributed and like a mensch, he did it on behalf of groups and ethnicities much ignored & derided until his Apotheosis in City Hall. That is a Key Power of the office. And this is a man equally revered in the Black Community and in the Gay Enclaves of the South End, he "called in one and all" & acted as a broker of good faith...That and Tom Menino routinely hit every Wake from the Dedham Line to the Tobin Bridge. That much of his legacy is admirable...and all that coalition building & redistribution of intangible benefits allowed Tom Menino to built himself a beautiful urban political machine something that could make or break em' down to the ward & block level. In terms of political organization it was an amazing achievement, but boy howdy Menino could be vindictive with his organization, statewide democrats crossed The Mayor at their peril, just ask Scott Harshbarger if you don't believe me. But if this is a 19th century political model with some 21st century enhancements then it persists because it works...it is reasonably economic and rational in terms of what it redistributes and it is again reasonable comprehensible & perceived to be legitimate by the polity. It is not that we will never have another Mayor who governs in that hybrid 19th Century style, we just won't have one who does it quite so well. Indeed Tom Menino was so adept at being Mayor of Boston he probably could never have aspired to any other political office, the skills required just do not transplant at all. That is his epitaph Tom Menino was Boston, neighborhoods, coalitions, boons perks and all and he could never be anything else.
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Hey all! I had actually filmed a video with this update, but I think I may re-film it then post it here. My absence merits no excuse, besides that I was busy with life. I'm really sorry the posting during these last 3 months haven't been very consistent. I did try to, but I'd run out of ideas, haha. (woops)
As some of you may know, I'm in my final year of university and this semester, although I was doing less courses, the workload was still just as intense. Late hour labs, studying for tests, doing time-consuming tutorials (boy, does it take a while to get used to reading Science journals). On top of that, I had taken a position in the faculty's student committee, so I have to attend meetings sometimes. It is an interesting experience nonetheless.
Between going to school and coming back home usually more than 8 hours some days, I'd even up studying or doing assignments until late that night, not leaving time to blog or edit videos. Then I had a PC issue somewhere between there :(. It's weird but, I don't think my graphics card can handle editing with my current video maker, so I'm trying to work my way around that, until I could try to get another computer, maybe a laptop for editing. Suggestions would be appreciated! But for now, I updated a few drivers and I'm going to try editing again, maybe tonight.
Along with spending more time at school or just away from home, I've also been spending some more time with my friends. When I don't have too much work pending that is. This may be the last time we're in a setting like this, it's kind of sad, but hey life goes on.
I also picked up an activity besides the student committee. Something I've always wanted to get back into. Swimming. So almost every Saturday I've been doing that and pushing myself to get better. Some days it's really hard because the water is so cold, haha. But it's fun with the people around you to support you. Definitely not a Olympic record swimmer, but I am happy I hadn't lost the knack for it completely.
My exams just finished and if I don't get a job this vacation, you'll probably be seeing (more likely reading) a lot more posts. I have a Holiday gift guide in the making. Trying to have that all up before 24th December, so you can get in all that shopping. I also had one last year which was very extensive, so you can check that out as well.
Until next post, I hope you're all doing well and I hope you spend the Holidays safely. If you still are having final exams, I wish you the best of luck, it'll be over soon!

subset: commoncrawl


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- Play Full Demo
Dark Bass House Patches
Label: Sample Magic
Dark, dirty and bass-heavy sounds for Massive.
Inspired by the UK underground SM101 returns with a killer collection of Massive patches designed for bad-ass bass-heavy bombs in any genre that requires serious low-end response. From bass house and future garage to wobble house or twisted tech, this essential collection covers all, er, basses…
Loaded with menacing subs, dark modulations, tear-out wobbles, detuned FM destroyers, grime-tinged leads, bass hoovers, neuro-inspired sidewinders, garage stabs, metallic pads and twisted FX textures each patch has been expertly sculpted to be big, bad and heavyweight straight out of the box.
In total the pack contains 61 bad-boy basses, 9 builds and modulations, 6 grime-style leads, 10 ominous pads and 15 rave and garage inspired stabs.
As always, we've pushed Massive to the max whilst making the patches as easy to sculpt as possible with 8 intuitive and labeled macro controls for the key parameters of each patch.
Please note: this pack contains Massive patches only. The drums and vocals in the audio demo are not included in the pack.
The vocals are taken from SM101 - Vocal Shouts and the drums are taken from SM White Label - Garage House and SM White Label - Future Garage.


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"Derby is a city with business at its heart, which is why global icons such as Rolls-Royce made their home here." So said Sir Nigel Rudd, in the fifth issue of the annual Perspective magazine that promotes Derby's £2 billion regeneration programme.
The magazine and associated website and quarterly email newsletter detail the development opportunities provided by that programme, and the city's attractions which include a workforce that is highly skilled (12% employed in high technology) and relatively wealthy (average earnings of £32,495 against a British average of £26,021).
"We like Perspective magazine as it's a very high quality production and provides a great overview of the city for professionals, potential investors and senior stakeholders beyond the region. Perspective presents everything that's best about Derby's professional offer, in a serious, well designed and attractively presented way. So it makes sense for the University of Derby to be represented among the best that Derby has to offer."
Peter Allen
Marketing Director
University of Derby
"Blueprint is more than happy to support the magazine. It's great quality, with wide distribution to a large section of our target market — so it's not just good for Derby, it's good and very effective for us."
Peter Connolly
Development director
"Perspective is a high quality magazine which takes a fresh look at Derby by providing valuable information on the range of initiatives and activities that are important to the future development of the city."
Helen Bishop
Head of community relations
Rolls Royce Plc
"By sponsoring the Derby Perspective magazine we get an association for our adjacent North Midlands area with an internationally known and respected city as well as inclusion in a quality publication with a wide ranging distribution and readership."
Richard Vincent
Investment manager
Alliance North Midlands
Copyright © 2018 3Fox International Limited


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One word? DAYUM! I can't tell if this is over the top or brilliant… I'm leaning toward brilliant. How gritty and real!
Children do the darndest things! CRINGE… and delicious! Family dinners must be a killer with this clan. The bride is sleeping the the groom's father and her brother in is love with the groom' s stepmother. American daytime, you are LACKING!
Greatest Moments? You tell me EE fans!


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Hangout - Whenever, Wherever!
Whether you want to know what's going on anywhere or just want to shoot the breeze, Spidr will connect you to people in any place instantly.
In the Spidr universe, every place is a "Web" - a virtual hangout where you exchange video clips, pictures or text updates with other Spidrs.
You can "hangout" in any web and get real time notifications of all the activity there. Or "follow" the updates of any Spidr and discover what's interesting in places where they hangout.
Every time you post an update or share one, you earn experience points that will soon win you cool irewards.
Remember Spidr is most fun when you hangout with your friends. So go nuts sharing.
We'd love to hear from you at firstname.lastname@example.com or twitter.com/spidr.
Happy Web Hopping!!


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School Closures in New York City
Josh Dunn talks with Education Next about continuing efforts by New York City Chancellor Joel Klein to close chronically failing schools–despite a ruling by a state court that the closings could not proceed–using a federal School Improvement Grant.
For the article that inspired the podcast, please see "Educational Providence: State courts close one door, federal money opens another," by Joshua Dunn, which will appear in the Winter 2011 issue of Education Next and is now available online.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


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Parts Cleaning
Exploring the: Parts Cleaning Zone
64 Results for: ColumnsSort by:
The Importance of Drying Parts After Cleaning
Most cleaning processes consist of three steps, not two: wash, rinse and dry. That drying step is absolutely necessary for everything from product finishing to product performance to effective throughput to product quality.
Erasing Particles with Ultrasonics
Particles can result in visible defects in coatings, can interfere with movement of bearings or critical components, can clog nozzles, and can render critical products non-functional.
Gardner Business Index: June 2017 — 55.0
Finishing Business Index holds near its five-year high.
Top Sales Trait Might Not Be What You Think
The essential qualities for success fall short without follow-through.
Gardner Business Index: May 2017 — 55.1
Finishing Business Index records best reading in five years.
Greatness Begins with a V1 Moment
With commitment and courage, success is pinned to taking risks.
Gardner Business Index: March 2017 — 55.5
Industries across the board demonstrate strong growth.
Gardner Business Index: February 2017 — 55.7
The finishing industry expands for the second consecutive month, as the industry grew at its fastest rate since May 2012.
Gardner Business Index: January 2017
Finishing industry expands for the first time since June 2015.
Gardner Business Index: December 2016
Automotive index hits highest level since March 2015.


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Brad's Jumps By Silvia Films
Brad Stuart has a passion for shredding and a love for building that is rivaled by few and admired by many. A day shooting at his house turned out to be the wildest session of our lives. Watch Matt, Dylan and Brad sending it in the back yard!
I think the single track shredding was my favourite part of this vid – but those jumps are burly too. Pretty cool start to finish. Whaddya think?
Trending on NSMB
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Rekindle a flame in your walk with God, in your marriage and family, in your sphere of influence.
Monday, October 7, 2013
The Walking Dead and You and Me
My suitcase and backpack slump in a corner, still packed from this weekend's second women's retreat. Since yesterday afternoon, I have been enjoying family after my four-day absence and telling stories of God's goodness.
In my Bible today, I read the story of a man who lived in the tombs. Like a scene from the Walking Dead or any horror film, this desperate man with demonic strength, harmed himself and others so much that the townspeople banished him outside the city. Living in caves where the dead were buried, he screamed, moaned, and cut himself.
When Jesus arrived in the area, the evil spirits in this broken man recognized the Creator of the world instantly. "What do you want with us?" they spewed, cowering and pleading. Authoritatively and fueled by compassion, Jesus ordered the demons out of the man. They left dramatically.
When the townspeople heard what had happened, they rushed up the hill to see. Before them was the familiar ghoulish man they were used to seeing, except that now he stood there, sober, in his right mind, and cleanly dressed. The difference was dramatic and obvious.
Despite this wild miracle, though, the townspeople were afraid of Jesus and urged him to leave town. Politely, Jesus complied. As Jesus was leaving, the formerly demon-possessed man chased after him. "Take me with you," he asked.
"Go home to your family," Jesus replied, "and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
For some of us, we have family and friends who aren't interested in interacting with the God of the Universe yet. But they are watching us, watching you. You and I, we get to show the difference that Jesus has made in our lives.
Pray that God would change us daily, making us look more and more like him. Then, we are to "Go home and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you."
The townspeople had the Creator of the Universe in their town, on their farmland. They weren't interested in him or his message.
But when the broken, messed up man from the tombs walked back into town and started talking, it grabbed everyone's attention. Even people from the ten nearby cities were riveted. And the result? "All the people were amazed."
Photo Credit: Brandt Maxwell, from April 2010, of www.geographylists.com.
10 comments:
- Floyd said...
We're all like that man in smaller ways. We should be telling and showing the world what our Savior has done for us. Hope the second retreat was a success as well.
- October 8, 2013 at 9:01 AM
- Jennifer Dougan said...
Thanks, Floyd. It went wonderfully! Thanks to God.
- October 8, 2013 at 3:10 PM
- Jayne said...
There are so many "walking dead" amongst us. Oh that they could see the love and compassion of Jesus through me so they could be born again. Thanks for reminding me how important it is to walk in the way of Jesus.
- October 10, 2013 at 3:23 PM
- Alecia Simersky said...
Yes. I'm doing a Gideon study and one of the main points from this week is that people are watching us. Those in our family, neighbors, friends, all of them. It was a good reminder to continually let God shine through me.
Two retreats sound wonderful!! Hope you had a great time!
- October 10, 2013 at 4:33 PM
- Cheryl Barker said...
This reminds me, Jennifer, of Acts 4:13b - "they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Hopefully, when people see us, they too will notice that we have been with Jesus. May it be so, Lord!
- October 10, 2013 at 10:57 PM
- Wise Hearted said...
I'm Cheryl, praying those around me will take note I have been with Jesus. This thought gives me a responsibility to get into the Word, pray for wisdom, strength in hard times. Also the courage to speak for Him whenever and where ever. Good post Jennifer
- October 11, 2013 at 10:46 AM
- Jennifer Dougan said...
Yes, I see "walking dead" in people around me, but I'm so often reminded that I qualify as the walking dead actually-- saved from my own trapped brokenness, powerless to change it on my own. Now I've got to tell everyone how he has worked in me, just like the man in the story.
- October 12, 2013 at 9:14 AM
- Jennifer Dougan said...
Hi Alecia,
Who is the author of the Gideon study? Are you enjoying it and finding it well done? I always like hearing ideas for other studies.
Speaking at those retreats was a treat and an honor. I was glad to be part of it.
Have a great week.
Jennifer Dougan
- October 12, 2013 at 9:16 AM
- Jennifer Dougan said...
Mmm, Cheryl, yes! I like that verse.
May that be true of me and you as well,
Jennifer Dougan
- October 12, 2013 at 9:20 AM
- Jennifer Dougan said...
That responsibility is so true. And then praying for that courage too. Thanks, Betty.
- October 12, 2013 at 9:30 AM


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By: Schiavelli, Vincent and Faith Willinger, Joe Simone, Nick Malgieri, and Nancy Harmon Jenkins
Price: $35.00
Publisher: Seattle, West 175 Publishing: 1999
Edition: First US Edition
Seller ID: 06257
Condition: Fine
200 pages, with Index and many color illustrations. Vincent Schiavelli also contributes the Foreword. Companion volume to the PBS series of the same title as the book. View more info


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in case you haven't heard yet, apple announced on july 6th that it was recalling g3 powerbook ac adapters that shipped from may 1998 until march 2000. these are the two-prong black rectangular adapters, not the circular type. if you are like me and purchased the less expensive extra adapter to leave plugged in at home, you can still return it to get a replacement. if you have two of them, you can return both. apple no longer makes the black rectangular model, so you'll get the new circular type as the replacement. the process is simple: go to the exchange website and fill out the information. apple will send the replacement adapter(s) to you and include an envelope to return the old one(s) in. a little hint for those who don't read instructions: you have to use the packaging the adapters came in to return them, so read the instructions on the outside and don't destroy the envelope. i almost did. [grin]
user comments 1 comment(s)
|apple-hal and the year 2000 (7:52pm est wed nov 14 2001)
what happened to hal–and why?
hal is gone from al tv ad , and


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Sometimes relax is the only thing to do…
It seems the inevitable is finally happening. For many months there have been rumours amongst us operators that Gubbio our local council will be implementing a 'tassa di soggiorno' or tourist tax. I read both on the official website of the Comune di Gubbio and the Confcommercio della Provincia di Perugia that the tax will be implemented to all visitors staying from 1st September 2015. An extract from the pages of the Comune di Gubbio website;
Needless to say I like the Confcommercio am completely against this tax, but am powerless to stop it. Of course no official notification from the Comune di Gubbio has been received, either confirming or denying the tax, or explaining how much it will be or even when it is implemented it will be collected. My guess is that it will be another bureaucratic excercise and yet more endless form filling.
I am alarmed that the 'justification' for this tax is that every resident in the comune is suffering and why should the visitors not make their share, and there is the more idealistic arguement that the tax will augment the services the comune offers to tourists… Not to alarm anybody but rumour has it that we are talking of one euro per person per night to a maximum of five nights. Perhaps even in these straitened times in the global cost of a holiday fifty euro is not a huge sum, but itf it is as I am sure will be the case that the revenue ends up maintaining hugely inefficient bureaucracy and not showing real improvements in services and quality of visitor experiences it can only have a negative effect on the industry that only last year the comune heralded as 'the saviour of Gubbio'
A couple of weeks ago a guest was packing ready for departure and was unable to find one of his flip-flops. Together with his husband he was staying in our duplex Giardino Suite, the suite with the large private terrace that gives onto the lower lawn and overlooks the Chiascio valley. The guest was distraught, had searched high and low for this shoe that had been left together with its other half overnight outside on the lawn in front of the private terrace. It was nowhere to be found. Of course my dear dogs were questioned, not that Jenny or Bobby are partial to flip-flops they prefer real food, but nevertheless they had to be eliminated from the enquiry. Search and search we did, also coming to the unlikely conclusion that the shoe might just have already been packed!
We searched high and low and found nothing, all very strange a shoe nabber at Bellaugello? The remaining half pair was a very nice shoe, a very nice comfortable padded and expensive looking sandal but still I mean why take just half a pair it does not make sense? Who was responsible and where did they take the shoe? I was left with the feeling that the guys were convinced one of my dogs was Imelda Marco in disguise.
The following week another couple of guests again in the Giardino Suite. Half way through their stay they left a pair of flip-flops outside overnight, indeed they left two identical pairs, azure nice chic, and awoke to find only one pair. Again the dogs were interrogated, the team members and fellow guests and a huge search of garden, grounds and pool ensued… no shoes, a complete mystery.
This week again new guests, and being warned not to leave flip flops unattended overnight they have not been doing so. They have been sitting out late on their terrace in the cooler breeze watching the stars and taking in the utter peace and tranquillity that is the Bellaugello experience, when, the other night they saw something on the lawn, no, not a pile of flip flops, but a young fox. Master fox strode nimbly across the lawn, stopping in front of the terrace and had a good look round. It spotted said guests and still did not move, it merely raised its head as if to say 'no flip flops to play with tonight' had another look around then trotted off presumably in search of other toys.
I think we have finally solved the mystery of the disappearing footware.
Always so nice to welcome back returning guys and especially when they bring their sublime skills at table decoration to Bellaugello. Two huge flower arrangements and exquisite place settings on our warm terrace with the huge backdrop of the Chiascio valley and hills beyond.
Last night we dined off figs plucked fresh from the garden, caremised and served with a local pecorino stagionato, followed by a delicious salad prepared by Matthieu and served in a Parmesan basket. The main course of chicken with an Amalfi Lemon sauce was rounded off with our speciality 'Cloud Cok' chocolate cake served with lavender ice cream, and of course there was a Champagne and peach semifreddo Birthday cake for the Birthday boy!
Temperatures are reaching the high thirties centigrade, the infinity pool is a refreshing 29˚c and we have a splendid group of guys from various European countries staying.
Today I feel lethargic, finally this evening there is air and it is a bit cooler, I type outside on my terrace after a simple supper shared with Matthieu the guy who is here at Bellaugello so cheerily helping out and making sure that the guests have a good time. Work for me goes on, ensuring that the guys have a great holiday, that is what I and my team are here for and that is what I enjoy most. This year more than ever it has been obvious that guests come here to switch off and relax, they do not want to be organised or be bothered with making decisions, even the odd excursion to some of the beautiful medieval hilltop Umbrian towns have been curtailed, instead bronzing around the pool sipping cocktails is the order of the day.
It has been so rewarding to welcome back so many repeat guests both from Italy and abroad, last week 80% of the guests had been to Bellaugello before, many on more than one occasion, several have become good friends, it is so nice to welcome them all back, and to find out from them just how the Bellaugello network is growing, friends are being made all over the world. One half of a super couple here from the UK pointed out some of the failings and offered many suggestions for fine tuning the new website that I feel I must take him on as my honorary IT consultant, it is so helpful to have a view from the 'customer's' side, thanks 'R'.
Of course we have been barbecuing and with huge thanks to P & M from France there is another photo of the cook and this time his accomplices!
So good to welcome my friend and neighbour Ben who joined us for the BBQ and brought a huge basket of figs from his farm, most of which went into cakes we serve for breakfast here at Bellaugello Gay Country House. Yummy!!
The other evening after dinner there was a need to cool off and a midnight skinny dip for some…
It looks cold but the water was 29˚c so pleasant!
I even had the pleasure of a return visit of the first guy of the Bellaugello Backs and Butts series, not the Bellaugello Backs but the second series! Although his photo is an inspiration and he is a super nice guy alas he does not appear in this series of photos, I will have to get him next visit..
Naturally these guys in the photo showed admirable and beautiful courage and do the series proud!
News from the valley has been mixed, a sudden death of a neighbour put a huge damper on local spirits, the guy was young and leaves a widow and young son, the funeral was, I believe very well attended. On a cheerier note my dear friend Micaela has launched her range of handmade made to measure shirts both for ladies and gents. Micaela as wall as being beautiful creates beautiful things and as a stylist has recently posted on Instagram some amazing photo of some of her creations, you will find them at italiancollective on Facebook or Instagram @italiancollective Do check it out and order your very own tailor made shirt, I'm placing my order right now.
Last night I took my team for an evening out in our local town of Gubbio, we enjoyed a meal together, a good gossip and a leisurely stroll to the beautiful Piazza Grande, of course stopping on the way for a gelato, it it summer in Italy afterall!


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Two poems for my mother
That Thing Again
And it's when she'd come to know
how seeds are stripped of light,
how they grow into an earth
which must bite off its tongue
not to have to wait for sweetness anymore….
Before the years cured her of hope,
mother would warn me not to
turn into the proverbial gourd-for-seed,
until I corrected that analogy one day
to her married, middle-class horror.
Technically, it's you who are a bisor lāu,
if you come to think of it.
In our own pathetic ways, we'd learn
the stuff of seasons—
I, with three failed street-shows;
she, with the way our eyes turned to stone—
so one day, we'd stop fidgeting in our traps,
breathing whole years to seconds,
seconds to nows;
gather into a sanctuary inside us,
where dreams don't sneak in disguised,
for a sampling,
a taste,
a quick bite.
I still suffer an urge to explain to her exactly how bad it is,
as though words would help us unlearn
the simplicity of this betrayal—
organs and glands
that foresaw the end of lies
but every bone in my body tells me she knows,
of course she knows:
we are fruits,
falling heavy and weightless
with what we know
and in this we are
beautiful and never
Happy Birthday
Light unwinds to begin.
Time still trapped in your body,
is a number dancing
to a countdown on my fingers.
Have so many of those birds
flown away?
Let's see, if you live to eighty
like your mother,
I would have about thirteen songs
to sing with you,
only thirteen….
I keep asking silly
how old you'll be today,
my fears hissing under each irritating
repeat of the question:
we are names for cages,
cages within cages,
one cage giving in to another,
until you know you mustn't try
figuring out which is the bird,
which the cage…
Lalon doesn't peddle solace
in the song shrinking in your body today
with its terrible aches and weariness;
and Boida too, who thought birthdays
were like sightings of a light-house from deep-sea;
to have passed another year
is no small feat in this deadly uncertainty;
the near-blind eye most clearly sees the miracle,
the near-dead hag deserves the best,
most chaotic of parties….
Ma, I want to sing you Happy Birthday,
simply as it's meant to be sung
but the notes have morphed into wings
beating fiercely in Aita's ninety-three-year-old eyes,
the last song dying to be shed
from an old tree,
a truth I grow more afraid of each year
when many happy returns
have buried themselves alive
in irony…
So with the remaining songs
in my 36-year-old cage,
your absurd hope that I will go after you,
not follow you too soon,
I return a speck of your indulgence,
gift you your illusion.
I wish you Happy Birthday
as happily as the child I should seem to you,
though I'm swallowing hard
between hugs and kisses
and really wishing you a quiet, quick
painless exit.


text:
When you think braces, you probably think of kids and teenagers right? But nowadays more and more adults are choosing to have orthodontic treatments.
We spoke to Claire Nightingale from Queens Gate Orthodontics, an orthodontic practice in London who told us: "About 20 years ago, orthodontic work was almost exclusively focussed on children and teenagers.
"However nowadays we see a full range of ages coming into our surgery, and adult treatments are becoming one of our main areas of work for a number of reasons."
For some it's to achieve that celebrity smile, or for others it's as simple as straightening up some misaligned teeth.
We're also seeing more and more of the rich and the famous wearing braces. You may be surprised at some of the celebs that Elle found had worn braces in this article.
If you're thinking of looking into adult orthodontics for yourself, here are what we believe to be the three best reasons to do so!
Your smile says so much about you, and if you're unhappy with yours it can have a really negative impact on your confidence.
If people see you walking round with a beaming smile on your face, it has a positive impact on not just you, but everyone else in the room.
On the other hand, if you're not confident with your smile so you walk round trying to avoid smiling, people will get the wrong impression and think you're giving them the cold shoulder.
For many, the problem stems from the fact that they never had orthodontic treatment as a youngster, and now their teeth have suffered in later life.
It may not seem like a big deal, but oral health problems can have a huge impact on someone's life and can really stunt your social life and even your career.
Orthodontics can help give you your confidence back and allow you to start living life to the fullest again.
Teeth problems are usually associated with younger patients, but adults are just as likely to suffer from issues such as misalignment and crossbite.
Worse still, these problems can lead to even worse conditions such as gum disease from the plaque and food build-up between the teeth.
It's worth nothing that even if your teeth are otherwise completely healthy, they can still shift at any age.
And don't assume that because you had braces as a youngster you don't need them now!
Our mouths are constantly changing, and it's also possible that your doctor didn't tell you to wear your retainer long enough back in the day!
Braces aren't the metal train tracks that you might remember from when you were a kid anymore!
Not only are today's braces much smaller, they also don't use the super-obvious metal band that wraps around the teeth.
The most popular option nowadays are ceramic braces which are white or clear and so are far less noticeable.
There are also new technologies such as Invisalign which are removable clear plastic aligners which don't use wires.
They allow you to eat and drink whatever you want and are almost invisible, so banish any thoughts you have of being branded a 'metal mouth'!
Hopefully the above will convince you that getting braces as an adult isn't the end of the world, and can actually be a great benefit to your health and your confidence!
Ask your dentist or head to a specialist orthodontic surgery for more information if you are interested in getting a smile that you can be proud of.


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Almost 5 months since I been here!! It's so fast. Time is fly!! I can't believe that I can stay here as an exchange student only 5 months…
I had many first experience ever only this 5 months. I love American culture, language and atmosphere since I was a child. So this was my dream to go America. I just expected that I'll have good experience in America. But it is not true… of course I had good time here, although I had hard time too. I think I had hard time more than good time. One of my most difficulty is I can't tell people what I feel and what I'm thinking exactly. So it makes me stressful. But people try to understand what I want to say, So they can get it what I said. I'm really happy when I can tell people my feeling.
My favorite time is to hang out with my host family. We do shopping, watching movie, eat outside, watching sports game, just talking stuff like that. They are so nice to me. They treat me like a real family. They are so sweet, I love them. Then we have snow in winter!! So we made snowman and snowball. Also we sliding the road too. I love it. It is so much fun. Sometimes school is cancelled. Because of the snow. I'm sure we have such a experience never ever in okinawa lol
American Xmas was big deal. It really different from Japanese Xmas. It was awesome! I can't never forget one thing . It is about New york trip! I went to New york on December. It was a foreign exchange student trip. I can go many famous place. For example Times square, Manhattan, Central park, China town and so on. It was amazing!! Also I can make many friends around the world on this trip. So it was precious time for me. I have only 5 months left. So I want to have great time more than 5 months that it passed. I hope my English skill become better the end of school year.I'll do my best 5 months left!
From Haruka Aratake


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Life expectancy around the world has witnessed a dramatic increase in recent times and the credit for this, undoubtedly, goes to improved health care. However, everything has its pros and cons, and so does the rising lifespan. A longer life clearly implies that more money is needed for housing, food, taxes, health care, and other living expenses.
This is where smart financial planning comes into the picture.
According to the 25th annual Retirement Confidence Survey published by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), 15% workers are not at all confident about being able to afford basic living expenses after retirement.
You don't want to be among them, which is why, having a substantial amount of money socked away is crucial for living a comfortable and hassle-free retired life. Moreover, if you fail to take proper care of the financial planning process, chances are your management of finances will fall apart in case of an unexpected death, illness, or a stock market crash.
Achieving financial security isn't just about accumulating wealth, but also being prepared for the unforeseen. It is, therefore, vital for you to take a meticulous and balanced approach to achieve financial security.
Financial planning can be daunting, considering the sheer number of important aspects that need to be taken care of.
Here are a few tips that can aid you in gaining more control of your financial security.
1. Start Saving as Soon as Possible
If you're already close to your retirement years and think that it is too late to initiate saving strategies, you may want to reconsider that.
It's never too late to start saving as every penny saved will go a long way in covering expenses during your retirement years. For inculcating a habit of saving regularly, it is imperative that you develop a detailed list of your current assets, liabilities, and income.
Try to save as much as possible in your tax-deferred retirement account as that will prevent you from spending that amount on impulse. Kickstart your savings plan by opting for your employer's retirement plan.
Remember the rule of thumb – your financial security is riding on how much you can save today so that you can have substantial financial resources to draw from later on.
2. Stick to an Effective Budget
If you can't get a grip on your everyday spending, then budgeting is not just important but vital for you. It can be arduous, but it can help balance your current and future financial needs. Make sure that your budget reflects your values and priorities.
Creating and sticking to a budget will help you develop wise spending habits. This, in turn, will aid in managing your finances in a better way.
3. Keep Potential Expenses in Mind
When planning for retirement, several people tend to forget to factor in the unexpected long-term expenses that may come along such as medical and dental costs, income tax, and long-term care. Failure to take care of these costs can prove detrimental for you.
It is, therefore, important that you carefully ponder over and list down all potential expenses you may incur during your retirement years. This will help you be prepared, make realistic financial projections, and plan accordingly.
Consider using tools such as Mint, Yodlee MoneyCenter, and Personal Capital to keep a track of every nickel and dime that you spend.
4. Take Calculated Investment Risks
One of the most important aspects related to investment is to expose your money to just enough risk to accomplish your financial goals. Nothing more, nothing less.
The world of investment can be cold and challenging. You don't want to fall short of meeting your financial goals or run out of money after retirement, which is why, it is important to make smart and informed investment decisions earlier on.
When investing, consider using the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) route. This way, you'll be able to avail benefits from both, an up as well as a down market.
Further, for successful investments you need to understand its various aspects beforehand. Regardless of what you choose to invest in, you should be clear about how and which sector you want to invest in. For instance, if you're planning to exchange cash for gold, make sure that you are familiar with the current market prices of the yellow metal and the currency trends.
5. Proper Asset Allocation Is Essential
Are you familiar with the old adage – don't put all your eggs in one basket?
This holds true for your retirement assets. In order to manage them effectively, avoid putting all your savings in one form of investment as that may result in a complete financial loss if a market crash negatively affects that investment. Moreover, doing so may also limit your return on the investment.
Asset allocation is one of the most vital facets of financial planning. With time, your expenses and risk tolerance may change considerably. Strategic asset allocation will allow for necessary adjustments and help meet your evolving needs perfectly.
6. Choose an Experienced Financial Planner
If you think financial planning and portfolio management would be too complex for you to understand, consider working with a professional, experienced and reputed financial planner.
You should be specific about your financial goals and share your vision with your financial advisor. He/she will help you develop an effective plan in order to achieve your goals within a certain period of time. He/she will also provide you with information about the insurance policies that can protect you and your loved ones from events that can jeopardize your financial security.
Having a financial advisor by your side can be a boon. He/she can help you navigate the seemingly complicated financial landscape and stay on top of things.
Saving for the future can be downright difficult. Some of the best-laid retirement plans can go down the drain if not executed properly or in a timely manner. The earlier you get a grip over your finances, the bigger your savings will be. Careful planning can help mitigate potential post-retirement financial risks. Practicing the aforementioned tips will put you in a better position to take control of your financial security. By planning for unanticipated circumstances and contingencies well in time, you will be able to live a financially comfortable retired life.
Author: Nicola Reynor
Nicola Reynor is a passionate blogger who loves to blog about fashion, beauty, travel, health, fitness, wedding and lifestyle trends. When in leisure time, she prefers to spend time in traveling with friends and family. Connect with her on Google+ and Twitter.


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Weight Loss Marketer TV Spend in 2016 Hits $100M
According to iSpot.tv, from Jan. 1 through March 9, marketers of weight loss products and services spent an estimated $101.9 million on 65,212 national TV ad airings, yielding 9.2 billion ad impressions, of which 7.2 billion were live.
The top 5 marketers ranked by spend: Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Zeltiq Aesthetics (the medical technology company behind the CoolSculpting system) and Hydroxycut.
Broadcasting & Cable has partnered with iSpot.tv, a company that catalogs, tags and measures activity around TV commercials in real time, to bring you this weekly view of spending by industry. Learn more about the iSpot.tv platform and methodology here.


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For lustrous silky soft hair, treat your hair, scalp and hair roots with our Organic Herbal Shampoo. A natural chemical-free and deeply hydrating shampoo that cleanses gently. Nourishes and balances scalp and hair roots to encourage your hair to grow strong and healthy. This shampoo balances your scalp and hair roots and is beneficial to all hair types. Gentle enough to use daily.
Formulated with Dr. Alkaitis' Hair & Scalp Herbal Complex
Aloe Vera Gel*, Purified Activated Water, Coconut Oil/Amino Acid Cleansing Base (Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate, Coco-Hydroxysultane), Vegetable Glycerin*, Hair and Scalp Herbal Complex (Horsetail*, Oat Buds*, Coltsfoot*, Wild Chamomile*, Lacris*, Boxwood°, Greater Nettle*, Comfrey*, White Man's Foot*, Garden Sage*, Panama Bark°, Dulse°, Rosemary*, Jojoba*, Mexican Sarsaparilla*, Marigold*, Wild Andean Rose*, Vitamin B-5, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein*, Grapefruit Seed Extract*, Full Spectrum Natural Vitamin E Complex (D-alpha, beta, gamma, delta Tocopherols and Tocotrienols), Natural Vitamin C Complex (Camu Camu Extract, Acerola Extract*, Natural Vitamin F Complex (Hemp Seed Oil*, Sacha Inchi Oil*), Natural Vitamin A Complex (Carrot Extract*, Marigold Blossom Extract*) Aroma (a blend of 100% Pure Essential Oils), Benzyl Benzoate**, Benzyl Cinnamate**, Limonene**, Linalool**
*certified organically grown - °ethically wildcrafted - **naturally occurring
Having spent a small fortune on expensive hair products over the years, I can safely say this shampoo is one of the very best you'll find. I admit I was a skeptic at first. After all, how can an organic shampoo possibly outperform one of those expensive chemically laden salon brands? Well it does. Until now, I found most all-natural shampoos to be lacking. Many smell bad, don't lather or are simply ineffective. Dr Alkaitis' shampoo, on the other hand, has a nice light scent, and it lathers beautifully. This shampoo is truly a joy to use. It gently cleanses and moisturizes my dry, fine hair. The result is lustrous hair full of body and bounce. Don't let the price deter you. Frankly, the per use cost for this miracle in a bottle is quite reasonable. It's HIGHLY concentrated, and only a small amount is needed to create a rich lather. Finally, my years of searching for the perfect shampoo are over. Try it for yourself, and I think you'll agree.
"I've been using this shampoo for more than a year now and my hair is much more shinier, silkier, and healthier. I've always have a long, shiny hair but a little dry on the ends before started using this shampoo. Now my hair is balanced and healthy from roots to the ends. I know this shampoo is on the pricey side but it lasts me about four months (even with a long hair down to my waist) since I only wash my hair two to three times a week, which is recommended, and a little goes a long way.
I just wish that they offer free shipping for regular customer like me for any amounts or give special coupon for discounts. "


text:
Posts Tagged 'Event Theming'Back to video hub
PPG Painter of the Year Awards 2016
PPG Architectural Coatings – Painter of the Year Awards 2016 Johnstone's Trade hosts the spectacular 33rd annual Johnstone's Painter of the Year Awards. This was our 13th year of managing every aspect of the PPG Painter of the Year awards. "Delivering the same awards with a refreshing look and experience is a nice challenge", says […]Read more
Bespoke themed events – The Experience
We were tasked with creating a tasteful night garden party, giving everyone an experience they wouldn't forget. We designed and built a 16m x 4m super-widescreen projection backdrop which had bespoke video animations beautifully designed and produced. Gobo's were used projections on all four walls, to create a truly immersive experience, 12 beautiful crystal chandeliers […]Read more
Bespoke themed events – Bollywood
Bespoke themed events – Bollywood The starting point was a blank canvas, powered by a dream, brought to life at Royal Armouries Plc, who provided the venue, management and staffing. We transformed an exhibition hall into a Bollywood Palace fit for a King and his Queen.Read more
De Vere Launch
De Vere Orchard Hotel Nottingham Opening The VIP launch of the New De Vere Orchard Hotel, Nottingham. We were asked to provide sound, lighting and special effects. This included a sky-rose to light up the sky, exterior lighting at the front of the hotel, up lighting a beautiful feature tree at the back of the […]Read more
ASDA Store Launch
ASDA Store Launch Ferring As ASDA roll out 80 new stores around the UK, Scotland and Ireland we were involved in helping to deliver their store launches. We designed the Audio Visual solution needed for the breakfast show and directed our film crew to capture the official opening and interviews of key personnel.Read more


text: Outlook To use Outlook, browser settings must allow scripts to run. For information about how to allow scripts, consult the Help for your browser. If your browser doesn't support scripts, you can download Windows Internet Explorer for access to Outlook. Domain\user name: Password: Show password Use the light version The light version of Outlook on the web includes fewer features. Use it if you're on a slow connection or using a computer with unusually strict browser security settings. We also support the full Outlook experience on some browsers on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. To see all the supported browsers and operating systems, click here. sign in Texas Woman's University - Disclaimer "UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO THIS NETWORK DEVICE IS PROHIBITED. You must have explicit permission to access or configure this device. All activities performed on this device may be logged. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action and may be reported to law enforcement. There is no right to privacy on this device." "WARNING: You are about to connect to a secured information system. Access to this system is for official business only. Unauthorized access is prohibited. Any misuse of this information system or the data that it contains will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law." A. Unauthorized use is prohibited; B. Usage may be subject to security testing and monitoring; C. Misuse is subject to criminal prosecution; and D. Users have no expectation of privacy except as otherwise provided by applicable privacy laws. Outlook Please enable cookies for this Web site.Cookies are currently disabled by your browser. Outlook requires that cookies be enabled. For information about how to enable cookies, see the Help for your Web browser. retry


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Event details form
Following on from our successful introductory cloud computing seminar in February, please join us for a follow-up presentation looking at the latest legal and commercial issues concerning the cloud, featuring a local supplier and a leading UK-based technology lawyer.
Organisations around the world are turning to cloud computing because of its ability to dramatically change the economics of delivering and managing technology services. But how many organisations feel that reaching the cloud is a long and expensive journey with multiple legal pitfalls? Or that this elusive cloud doesn't really have a silver lining?
Join us for this session as we explore key concepts and issues including:
There will also be a live demonstration of Dimension Data's hosted services to give a tangible view of what a cloud service provides in reality and how it works.
Josh Gardner, Hosted Services Business Development Manager, Dimension Data; and
Dai Davis, Technology Lawyer and Partner, Percy Crow Davis & Co (UK) (see link to Dai's CV: http://www.daidavis.com/cv/information-technology-cv/)
(C) 2019 New South Wales Society for Computers & the Law. ABN 81180932448
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You never know what to expect the first time you hear two artists collaborate. It can end up a complete disaster, or it will be a banger, and in this case thank god for the latter. Tdot Illdude is back again releasing three tracks this past week, one in which he collaborates with Guordan Banks, titled You And I. Tdot and Guordan's voices mesh well together, creating a euphonious feel of this song that makes you want to chill in with your love and pour up. I recommend watching this video on a projector screen in your loft, lights off during bae-night.
TDot has been putting in a lot of work lately, even showing a studio performance where Timbaland was present. It's only a matter of time before this champ to reaches the goal line.


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The key to providing managed it services and successfully partnering with our San Francisco Bay Area-based business clients is our Strategic Approach. Over the years we have focused on providing strategic direction for our clients to help reduce the risk of downtime caused by technology issues, and to help them make more efficient use of there technology. The following is an outline of our approach to providing Strategic IT Services for our clients.
Information Technology Standardization
We work with our clients to implement proven and reliable technology Standards based on best practices, industry requirements and appropriate technical alignment with our clients business goals
Ongoing Information Technology Reviews
Once the Standards have been developed and implemented for each client, we will perform regular checks to ensure the technology, and IT processes in place are in sync with the Standards. We will then provide services through our Service Desk to remediate any issues found. In the process, we will also develop and maintain detailed technical documentation and knowledge of our clients IT environments.
Strategic Technology Roadmaps
Along with our Service Desk being alerted to issues found with our Proactive Checks, each client is assigned a vCIO (Virtual Chief Information Officer). The vCIO works with our clients to help identify business risk, provide long-term strategic guidance and implement a technology budget. The goal of our Strategic Approach is to minimize the risk of any reactive support and fires our clients may face.


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Before I get into the "meat" of this post, I should probably offer The Detox Market ("TDM") a little introduction. Have you guys heard of it? For those who haven't, they are a green beauty company focused on "offering pure, effective and elegant products". Now, I don't claim to be a green beauty expert or strictly cruelty-free. Just being real here. Lately, however, I've found myself wanting to explore that world in greater depth and decide whether I can commit to a "greener" beauty lifestyle. Also (sorry, if it's TMI), my husband and I are trying for baby number 2. Like the first time around, while trying to conceive, being pregnant and breastfeeding, I tend to go for beauty products with cleaner ingredients lists.
Going cleaner means substituting certain actives for their natural alternatives as well as ensuring that the products I'm using have decent EWG ratings. (FYI: The Environmental Working Group is a organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability.) That's when TDM came across my radar. Although, the Detox Market is a very recent discovery for me, I kind of fell I the love with the concept right away. In February, I subscribed to the Detox Box (which I'll be reviewing soon) and shortly thereafter, became hooked on the Detox Market Samples program.
What is The Detox Market?
The Detox Market started as a pop-up shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, California in 2010. In the seven years since, in addition to their online presenc (U.S. and Canada), they've grown to include two permanent locations in California as well as Toronto along with several counters at Café Gratitude locations. As part of TDM promise, they "curate the best of natural beauty and to never compromise efficiency while ensuring all [their] products are always cruelty-free". You can find a complete list of all of their "banned" ingredients here which generally includes those that negatively affect the body and the environment. This means avoiding known carcinogens and allergens as well as ingredients that may cause reproductive harm, neurotoxicity, DNA/cell damage, organ toxicity/irritation and environmental harm.
Personally, I take a very measured approach to such claims, recognizing that natural doesn't always been "good" and synthetic doesn't always mean "bad". In fact, at times the opposite is true. I also believe that many commonly used cosmetic "chemicals" have been demonized based on nothing more than someone else's effective PR campaign. If possible, one should take the time to do their own research (from reputable sources/scientific research) to determine what qualifies as a bad or good product. That being said, however, I appreciate that not everyone has the inclination to undertake such a time-consuming task. That's why companies like The Detox Market are so valuable. Essentially, they've done all the research for you. Because the products on their website follow clean ingredient guidelines (based on EWG ratings), they offer the consumer convenience as well as peace of mind.
How does The Detox Market Samples program work?
Samples from brands stocked by The Detox Market are sold as "My Little Sample Bag" at a cost of $7.99 USD for each bag of four (4) samples plus shipping. In terms of options, you can get a sample for pretty much any product on the Detox Market website. Things you need to know:
- Four (4) samples are included with each "My Little Sample Bag" order.
- On each product page, on the website, you can select a sample by clicking on the "Sample it" button.
- Samples are made-to-order.
- Due to packaging restrictions, (i.e. the fact that the samples are made from the actual full sized product), samples are not offered on certain items like perfumes, supplements, teas, food, mascaras, eyeliners, nail polishes, bath soaks, wipes, and bundles.
- Products are provided in varying types of sample containers depending on your product selection (i.e. vials, plastic pots, mini spray bottles).
- TDM says that to ensure that you receive the freshest products – sample orders will generally take about 7 business days to be fulfilled and shipped out to you. To avoid holding up the rest of your order, samples will be shipped separately.
- Samples are not valid for refunds and/or exchanges.
Finally, according to the company, "the samples are intended for one to two uses: for color matching, sensitivity testing, and consistency and scent reference." This means, depending on the type of product, you'll get to try it for at least a couple of days.
What I ordered from the Detox Market – My Little Sample Bag
Over the course of several weeks, I placed three separate sample orders. If I could have order more than one bag at a time, I probably would have. Unfortunately, you are only able to purchase one sample bag with each order. The good news is that shipping for sample bags is offered at a reasonable rate of $1.99 USD. If you order your sample bag along with a regular product on the website, then the applicable shipping rate will apply (all orders over $80+ USD ship free).
So, this is what "My Little Sample Bags" looked like. I just kind of bunched all of them together for the photograph. You'll notice that two of my samples are actually packets. I'm not sure if this is common practice or whether it is only done for certain types of products. For example, most of my mask samples were placed in the sample containers while one was a packet sample. To give you an idea of scale and size, I've place a US quarter next to the samples. Can you tell I was on a Tata Harper kick?
Review, thoughts and observations on The Detox Market samples program
When will you receive your samples?
I received most of my sample bags within a week of ordering. Shipping from California to the East Coast of the United States. As I'm back and forth from the U.S. to The Bahamas, this was really convenient for me.
How are the sample products stored?
- Moisturizers and eye-creams are placed in thin, small plastic pots that are about ¼ centimeter thick.
- Masks and some cleansers are paced in slightly larger thin, plastic pots that are about ¼ centimeter thick.
- My facial oil sample was placed in one of those small perfume vials (the dabber kind) while the cleansing oil was placed in a larger vial with a screw-off top.
- Powder-based masks were place in small plastic baggies.
How many uses did I get out of each Detox Market sample?
Most of the samples I chose for my Detox Sample bags were from the skincare brand Tata Harper. I've been curious about her products for ages, but the mixed bag of glowingly positive and depressingly negative reviews made me wary. Some people absolutely love her products for their sensorial aesthetic as well as their effectiveness. Others warn that they are nothing more than over-priced fragrant essential oils that are bad for the skin. And yes, they are definitely one of the more expensive skincare brands, green beauty or not. Tata Harper is known for products free of synthetics, dyes, artificial fragrances that feature natural ingredients with generally good EWG ratings (under 4).
I suppose while telling you guys (approximately) how many uses each sample provided, I might as well share my thoughts on how they performed as well. So, this will also be a mini review of sorts. I'll only mention the products I've managed to use. For reference, I'm in my late 30's, my skin type is combination with oily and dry areas and is prone to dehydration, mild rosacea and hormonal acne.
- Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser – 4 generous uses. One of the nicer products I sampled. Like most TH products, this oil cleanser has a natural, floral, herbal scent, but it's not as overwhelming as some of her other products. Scent aside, as a cleansing oil, it performed extremely well, gliding comfortably across the skin and removing all of my makeup, including long-wear mascara, with ease. It did not sting the eyes and rinses off clean while leaving the skin supple and hydrated.
- Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser – 2 uses from the plastic pot and 2 uses from the sample packet. As much as I was a skeptic, I now see why this product has a cult following. Sometimes skincare is just as much about results, as it is about the overall experience of using a product. And using this cleaner is such a pleasure. In addition to cleansing well, skin feels amazing once the regenerating cleanser is rinsed away. This cleanser contains small, very finely ground apricot seeds. Usually, I'm not a fan of manual exfoliating agents, as they can damage the skin. Unlike your typical St. Ives type scrub, however, this product is extremely gentle and the "exfoliating" aspect is barely noticeable. This was my favorite product.
- Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence – 1 use. Inside this packet sample, I found one small sheet saturated with the essence. Perhaps one of the more disappointing samples, if mini spray bottles are not an option, perhaps they should have included more than one packet. However, I found the floral notes in the product overwhelming and the essence itself did not feel as refreshing as I expected. Application method could have played a role.
- Tata Harper Rejuvenating Serum – 3 uses. This was O.K. It's a thick, creamy serum that absorbs surprisingly quickly considering how thick it is. The scent, though "natural" was very heavy and I can easily see how it may be too much for some.
- Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream – 10+ uses. It has a creamy texture and it's hydrating but not heavy. The scent is mild.
- Tata Harper Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil – 5 uses. The texture of this oil is cosmetically elegant – a cross between a serum and oil. Definitely not a dry oil. Apply too much and can feel somewhat heavy on the skin. On the first night, I used way too much (4 drops) and it took some time to fully absorb. While I love the healthy glow this gave me, the scent profile is too strong for my olfactory senses.
- Tata Harper Reparative Moisturizer – 3 uses. The pros of this moisturizer are that it absorbs quickly and wears nicely under makeup. Like many of TH products, the floral, herbal scent is quite strong. The first two times I used it, it made me sneeze. However, I didn't have a reaction or break out from this product. Or any of the other Tata Harper products for that matter.
From this experience, my take is that Tata Harper does cleansers really well. You probably see alot of mixed reviews due to the fact that while many of her products perform beautifully, some will be sensitive to the scent profiles.
Is The Detox Market Samples Bag worth it?
It depends. Value is one of those highly subjective concepts. What is valuable to me, may not be valuable to you and vice versa. For my needs (the ability to choose exactly what samples I want to try from the comfort of my home) and expectations (getting a basic sense of how the product functions); I found the Detox Market sample program to be a good value.
Based on my experience, therefore, I think the cost is worth it for those who:
- Are looking to try green beauty products. Green beauty, particularly smaller, niche brands, is not as easily accessible as conventional and traditional beauty. Notwithstanding the fact that brands like Tata Harper have become more mainstream (on the shelves of Nordstrom, Sephora, and Cult Beauty for example), there are green beauty brands that cannot be found in your typical Department store. Where I live, for example, Mahalo, May Lindstrom and Josh Rosebrook, just aren't available.
- Prioritize Convenience. You can get samples for free. This is true. If you appreciate the convenience of having customized samples delivered directly to you, then TDM service is for you.
- Have realistic expectations of what they are hoping for through the "trial" process. As stated, you'll probably only get 2-3 uses out of each sample, sometimes more, sometimes less. This is enough to figure out if you like the products' aesthetics (the way it smells, feels) and whether you'll have a reaction (allergies, redness, burning etc.). In terms of results, you can probably identify what a mask will do for your skin but there's not enough product to know if a serum will erase your dark spots. With products like facial oils, certain types serums, and eye-creams you may be able to stretch out more uses. However, with cleansers, masks and facial moisturizers you'll likely get closer to 2 applications.
I hope you all have enjoyed this post and found it informative. Do you shop at the Detox Market? You can read more about The Detox Market Samples program here.
All items featured in this post were purchased by the author unless otherwise noted. Any products or services provided as PR will be marked with an asterisk "*". This website uses Skimlinks and this post may contain affiliate links.


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Reactivating Dead Space in the City
Gilly Karjevsky is a Berlin-based independent artist and curator, aiming to facilitate the integration of artists into processes of urban design and urban planning.
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Looking to buy a Windows Phone 7 based phone or get your hands on an Android smartphone? Here is your chance to get it for free. T-mobile is offering the HTC HD7, Motorola DEFY, LG Optimus T and myTouch 3G for free till Valentines day.
T-mobile is offering several smartphones for free through February 14. You can choose between a range of Windows Phone 7 and Android based devices. The slashed price includes mail-in rebates, so you might have to pay some money to get the phone.
You will have to sign up for a 2-year contract with T-mobile to get the phone. So go ahead and get some Windows Phone 7 and Android love for free at http://www.t-mobile.com/.


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OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MELODY JEAN #doencollective
In 100% cotton, the DÔEN Melody Jean has a high-rise cut and flared, cropped leg complemented by shield pockets at the back and a single welt coin pocket at the waist. A zip fly closure and traditional copper shank button complete the classic look.
In true vintage style these jeans have very little stretch to them, and are cut to be very form-fitting. As a result of this these jeans may feel very tight when first tried on, though they will loosen up after a few wears and break in for the perfect fit. If you prefer a looser fit, size up one size.
- See above paragraph for fit info
- Measurements Size 27: Waist - 28.25", Hip - 38.5", Rise - 11.25", Inseam - 30"
- Measurements Size 31: Waist - 32.25", Hip - 42.5", Rise - 12.25", Inseam - 30"
- 100% cotton
- Helen is 5'9" and wears the 26, Raven is 5'9" and wears the 25
- Made in the USA with Care
- Machine Wash Cold, Lay Flat To Dry
- Styled with the Sahara Top and Mary Jane Slipper
OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MELODY JEAN #doencollective
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Exposure of Movie Predicting Shiite Messiah Causes Turmoil Within Iranian Regime
Ever since I exposed the Iranian documentary The Coming is Upon Us -- which promises the imminent coming of the twelfth Shiite imam, Imam Mahdi -- a heated argument has been taking place within the Iranian establishment. There is panic and concern over the coverage of the movie in the West.
The film reveals the regime's true ideology and plans for the world. As I stated in my release, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei -- President Ahmadinejad's top adviser and chief of staff -- was directly involved with this project, and he was the first one to be sacrificed over the movie's publicity in the West. Ahmadinejad, who had strongly supported Mashaei, had no option but to fire him from that position, which was announced on April 8.
One day later, Mashaei denied any involvement with the makers of the movie, though he did not deny all of its facts.
However, the objection to this movie came not only from those opposing Ahmadinejad but also from some hardline radicals, including Hossein Shariatmadari -- the managing editor of Kayhan, Iran's major state newspaper. He lambasted everyone, claiming that now the enemy (the West) is using this video to weaken Iran by showing the intimacies of their sacred beliefs to the world.
The Iranian regime never intended for the documentary to be made public. Reports indicate that funds for its production came directly from the Revolutionary Guards: they intended to distribute it en masse throughout the Middle East to incite further uprisings, while calling for the unification of Arabs to overthrow U.S.-backed governments and promising the destruction of Israel and the imminent coming of the Shiite messiah.
The revelations in this movie have even caused the Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq to show concern, as he has long opposed the radicalism coming out of Iran. Said Sistani:
The analysis for the timing of The Coming of the last Imam is quite concerning. These analyses could weaken the very belief of Muslims. Such activities should not take place in Iran. … This is very worrisome.