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By Martin Sigrist
Takeaway: Cycling is a test of endurance — the challenges you face are not just other riders. To be successful requires overcoming personal trials. These are your real enemies even if they exist only in your imagination. They have names: pain, fatigue, monotony, discomfort, malnutrition, fear, bad luck and hopelessness. Training must therefore aim to do more than just increase fitness. It must also build the mental strengths and skillsets to know these enemies, to prepare for them and overcome them.
This article is the first in a series that introduces a new dimension to endurance training. It does so by adding a new set of training challenges, those that affect the mind. It is not intended to replace existing methods, which tend to focus on physiology, but to complement them, to act as a "force multiplier" allowing you to get more benefit from every hour spent training for something whatever that something may be.
It does this by incorporating everything that affects end goal performance rather than just a subset. While aspects of this approach have been touched on elsewhere this is typically done piecemeal or as a completely separate process, independent from actually riding a bike and performing workouts.
The challenges are introduced here as "enemies." Later pieces will deal with how training can be adapted so it prepares for them at one and the same time as it improves muscle function and wattages.
One of the most important rules in warfare is "know your enemy." Sport is the closest that most of us will get to a battle these days, thankfully, but the phrase is just as appropriate there.
Your enemies when taking part in bike events may be invisible and seen only by you.
Because road cycling is an endurance sport.
The very word endurance provides a clue as to why it is different from many, indeed most other sports which pit person against person, individually or as part of a team. Except for the minority who are born with fast twitch fibers to spare and can battle it out shoulder to shoulder for a win in a bunch sprint, a cyclist's main challenge often comes not from others taking part, but themselves. Their main priority is to overcome their limitations, not giving in to inner voices telling them to stop.
A road cyclist's enemies are frequently, literally, a figment of their imagination.
This doesn't make them any less real or any less daunting.
Pain, for example, feels real. But it's really all in your head. You can't measure it like you can power or heart rate. You can't look at others and know how their suffering compares to yours.
The point when these internal enemies beat you may come as a surprise, causing disaster just a few yards short of triumph.
But they can be vanquished. Sometimes surprisingly when, from nowhere, you can turn defeat into victory getting a surge of energy from something like a passing rider or a shout of encouragement from the road side.
The better prepared for these enemies the more likely the latter will be the case and the less likely the former.
That requires familiarity that can breed contempt. If you know your enemies and test yourself against them frequently, you will get to know them and know how to beat them. You can train intelligently, with purpose, so you win not them. Succeeding in this will, in of itself, provide the best guarantee that you will be able to fulfill a cycling ambition. Even if this is measured in terms of competition against others.
Training should not just be about increasing physiology. Time during a workout is much better spent if it aims not only to just improve VO2max, but also help deal with pain and fatigue. Or as well as something like building stamina, you also train to maintain focus for the hours required to complete an event.
To me this is obvious. However I have never come across it as a suggestion as a priority, equal with that of, say, of increasing FTP. But it is.
Here then is an introduction to eight enemies to success. Future articles will go into more detail of each and how to overcome them.
Pain here is a special type of pain. The burn you feel in your muscles when going all out, the pain that is often blamed (falsely) on lactic acid. (There are other types of pain and these will be dealt with later.) This pain is special because it is so easy to make it go away. All you have to do is stop trying, just ease back a bit. Pain will be an enemy in almost all events. It is though a fair enemy, it attacks everybody. So the goal with pain is not to beat it outright. It is to be able to look pain in the eyes for long enough to keep it in its place for just a bit longer than is needed to be successful.
While, by definition, painful this can be done. One outcome of hard training is not just to improve physiology but to become familiar with pain and so learn to handle it. Cyclists are not alone in having to deal with pain, indeed they are the lucky ones since it is easy to make it stop. They can learn from others, less fortunate, who have of necessity had to develop natural, safe means to handle pain when it strikes.
Fatigue is almost the opposite of pain. The problem is that you don't feel it. It creeps up on you gradually and the first time you may be aware of it is when you push on the gas pedal and nothing happens. The pace that seemed easy at the start now feels hard, the climb you sailed up the first time now feels like a mountain.
It too can be trained with practice. The difficulty can be that the training needed to accomplish this is itself long and hard. But still it needs to be done. If the critical moments are in the final hour of a multi-hour event or on the last very hard effort of many it is no good just hoping for the best. A training plan has to include some occasions that put you in the place where you will be when you need to be at your strongest (even if being "strong" in this case is relative, just enough to not crack and be able to push on.)
The mind is easily bored. Doing the same thing over and over again becomes harder with every repetition. Just counting from 1 to 10 over and over takes real effort, the brain complains, its built for better things.
A bike event that lasts hours demands total concentration on mundane things like pedalling, posture and paying attention to conditions that rarely change. Furthermore, the mind needs fuel and the fuel it needs, glucose, can become in short supply as the muscles burn it up. Just like your legs it will fatigue.
Succumbing to monotony might mean your ambition ends in spectacular fashion as you fail to notice some form of danger and crash. But more frequently everything essential to success will become sloppy. Power will be wasted by poor pedalling, poor position, poor bike handling or poor road tactics. You will forget to eat or drink. You will take the long way round corners not the short way. In this way monotony works hand in hand with fatigue to make longer efforts seem harder the longer the go on.
The "cures" for monotony are positive habits and intelligent awareness. Focussed practice on perishable skills will reinforce them so that they become instinctive and less likely to falter over time. The mind too can be trained to develop the habit of intelligent awareness, being constantly engaged in "systems monitoring" similar to an engine management system in a car. This will both keep it "switched on" and provide an early alert if form starts to fade.
Discomfort is the sum of all the negative sensations, including pain, that come from sources other than using muscles to produce the power needed to make a bike move. It can range from the extremes of the aftereffects of a crash (riders have been known to continue even after fracturing their legs) to an ever so slight rubbing from a piece of clothing that you cannot ignore. Whatever the cause discomfort is a distraction.
Informed Planning should remove the risk of discomfort from avoidable sources. Training should act as a test that you have succeeded in this regard. "Specificity" applies to many aspects of training but especially here. If you want to be a good time trialist you need to spend a lot of time training in a time trial position. If your challenge involves long hard days in the saddle then your saddle needs to be comfortable after 6 hours not 1. If you train at a cadence of 80 your gearing needs to allow you to turn the pedals at 80rpm up a 10% slope if it's in your way.
If you have done this and just suffer discomfort from bad luck then (if it's not too bad) it can be used as a spark to ignite your "Combativity." The pain from a hurt elbow resulting from a spill that someone else caused can used to channel anger so the pain from your muscles gets less attention. This can be practiced during training. When things don't go according to plan they can be used as an opportunity. Viewed in a positive light even an unfortunate experience may turn a run of the mill training ride into one that will give you confidence for the future.
Hard work needs fuel and for cycling that fuel is carbohydrate. Hard work makes you sweat, even when it's cold and especially when it's hot and dehydration degrades performance very quickly.
In short events this is not a big deal. But if when they take longer, if they are measured in hours not minutes, then a clock starts ticking, even before you start. The body can only absorb limited amounts of carbs and water so if there is a risk of emptying your tank then waiting until you are running on fumes to fill up is too late. Much better keep it topped up from the start. But this can be difficult in the hurly burly of an event. Even the pros, with all the support in the world, can get it wrong.
This can be a good news story. Malnutrition is the easiest enemy to overcome, it just requires a bit of foresight and practice during training. Better still the need to fuel can serve a double purpose. Getting into the habit of having a swig of drink and something sweet at regular intervals can not only make sure you are well fuelled but can also be a great way to refocus. As an example on a long climb rewarding oneself by eating a jelly sweet every half mile, at the same time doing a quick systems check to ensure other enemies are being kept at bay and a mental reset to turn a seemingly impossible task into a series of small manageable chunks.
Fear is many different things to different people. Of all the "enemies" it is the most variable. The same situation can inspire terror in some and exhilaration in others, bunch sprints and descending at speed are two examples. And fear is not always a bad thing, fear of failure is a powerful motivator to many, including me,
But fear can be debilitating. A sleepless night can mean an event is lost before it even begins. If riding in a big group at speed scares you then you will never be able to compete in many sorts of events no matter how many watts you can put out.
Fear needs to be faced fearlessly. With an honest self assessment of what frightens you in a way that degrades your performance. It then needs to be tackled and the best way to do this is in small doses. An approach used to deal with phobias works well, just expose yourself to a small amount of whatever scares you until you are confident then increase the dose. If descending fast and carving through corners scares you just pick one and get the hang of it. Then another in the opposite direction, doing nothing more than getting everything right so it becomes automatic. Then string a couple of corners together. Add a few more and it becomes easier each time.
But if you need fear to drive you to your best accept it, don't fight it. It's not true that the only thing to fear is fear itself. If fear makes you train harder or ride better then, so long as it's a slave not the master, embrace it, it's part of what you are.
Bad Luck
Stuff happens. This is true of almost all sports and cycling is particularly subject to the fickle fates of fortune. If you are not prepared to get dealt a bad hand from time to time then the only solution is to find another pursuit like chess.
The golden rule for luck is to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. If you expect bad things to happen and they don't you are a lot better off than the reverse.
The other best advice to make the best of a bad job. A positive mindset is always of value but most especially when things are not going according to plan.
I saved the worst to last. Hopelessness is a place you don't want to be and will often be the result of one of the enemies above winning out.
Hopelessness can come at many levels. From not being able to complete a workout that should have been well within capacity to believing that an ambition that has been your driving force for years is beyond you.
The best way to deal with hopelessness is not to get there in the first place which is why it's important to be aware of and do the best to conquer all the enemies above.
But sometimes you fail. But this need not the end, it might actually turn out to be for the best.
This can be achieved through a combination of a positive mindset and "Informed Planning". The latter should always have prepared a Plan B in case things go wrong. One of the many uses for a power meter, for me at least, is that there is usually always a Plan B. If stuff happens, my default objective is to use the occasion to try to either set a new power best or gather power data that will be useful for the future.
One of the best rides of my entire life happened this way. I punctured a few minutes into a road race I had travelled a couple of hours to compete in. I was unsupported and had no chance of re-joining the race but I did not pack up and make the long drive home. I channelled my anger into trying if not to catch the bunch at least keep the gap down and not let them lap me. I ended up averaging over 300W for a full 60 minutes, the first time I had ever done so. This allowed be to reset my power zones and the confidence it gave me was worth far more than the few points I may have gained if I had not had "bad luck."
At the end of the day it's just a bike race. No matter how hopeless a situation may be it will most likely seem less so tomorrow when you regroup and replan. Even if an ambition is impossible that doesn't mean all ambition is impossible. It may just require a bit of recalibration.
The enemies listed above may not apply to everyone or to every type of event. Some people are genuinely fearless, a tiny few, literally and dangerously for them, feel no pain. Cycle events vary hugely lasting just seconds in some cases to many days in others.
The enemies are those that occurred to me because I have encountered them, sometimes with success, sometimes not. There will no doubt be others, this is not intended as the final word on anything but the start of something that will hopefully grow and improve with time.
So there is no one size fits all solution for dealing with all possible enemies. But I would suggest as a starting approach to treat them as you would preparing for the physical demands of the event. List them in some sort of priority order and ask yourself if you are strong or weak right now in how you deal with them.
As a starter try considering each and ask some questions such as "How much of a threat is it to my ambition?" and "How confident am I that I can conquer it when I need to?" and "What am I doing now to improve my chances of beating it?"
Now among the world's fittest sexagenarians Martin Sigrist started riding on doctor's orders in 2005 and had to push his bike up his first hill. Next year he soloed the Tour de France. He has since experienced every form of road cycling from criterium to ultra endurance. His ongoing mission is to use the latest in science and technology to fight a, so far successful, battle against Father Time.


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subset: commoncrawl


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It is Players Weekend in Major League Baseball, which means that the players are wearing fun uniforms with nicknames across their backs and creatively decorated cleats and bats. The personalities that shine through on their decorations and nickname choices are just a glimpse into the real people who play this great game. I'm still brainstorming what my Players Weekend jersey nickname would be.
Last night, Hailey Dawson threw out the first pitch at the Royals game with her 3D-printed robotic hand. It was her 29th first pitch in a quest to throw one at each stadium and a perfect celebration of Players Weekend. The Royals followed Hailey's lead and secured the series win over division leading Cleveland.
After church and after the parking lot was mostly vacated, Debra joined me for a game of catch.
"It's been years since I've played," she said with a smile.
Debra played softball in high school on a team called the Smooth Operators, which means I'll be singing that song for the rest of the day. She left her glove at home and asked to borrow one. Out of instinct I handed her the new Wilson and then pulled the 1940s Wilson out of my backpack for myself. When I handed her the glove, I spotted the beautiful music-clef heart tattoo on her wrist and commented on it.
"It's in honor and memory of my brother."
I didn't know her brother's story. Because there isn't a lot of time and space during the worship service to share stories, sometimes stories that need to be told don't get a chance to be aired. Over and over again, thanks to this ridiculous-yet-inspired Catch 365 project, I'm discovering the sacredness of playing catch, where a holy space is created and important and fun and powerful stories are shared naturally.
I also learned that Debra played flute in the marching band in high school. Out of necessity, she created what we now call texting gloves to continue playing in cold weather. Even though I never played a band instrument, I am a big fan of marching bands and the devotion and discipline those musicians have to bring the joy of music into the world.
After a few tosses, Debra commented on my glove and we switched. I don't let many people use the old glove because I'm worried about them getting hurt. The fingers aren't laced. The pocket sits directly on the palm. And the ball can squeeze through what precious little webbing there is between the thumb and index finger. Debra had no problems using the glove whatsoever.
Even in the heat and humidity, with feet cooking on the parking lot asphalt, playing together after praying together is truly a fantastic way to start the week, to be sent out into the community to make new friends and discover their stories, too. With all of my heart, I am thankful for all of the friends who are helping me along the way on this catch-playing quest.


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- Homepage
- Monaco Worldwide
- Public Aid for Development and International Cooperation
- News
- Civil Protection: Two Malian Fire and Emergency Services in Training in the Principality
Civil Protection: Two Malian Fire and Emergency Services in Training in the Principality
From 9 to 13 September, Staff Sergeants Gourdo Maïga and Massa Traoré from the Malian Fire and Emergency Service were present in the Principality to perfect their water rescue training and techniques with their Monegasque counterparts. This training ended on Friday 13 September with an exercise involving a jump into the sea from a helicopter.
Mali is faced with drownings in the rivers that cross it. This exchange is in line with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding for the period of 2019-2020, signed last March by the Government of the Principality of Monaco and the Government of the Republic of Mali, following a mission undertaken in 2018 in Bamako by Colonel Tony Varo, Supreme Commander of the Military Force.
As a reminder, in April 2019, two members of the Monaco Fire and Emergency Service – Warrant Officer Luc Trapinaud and Corporal Gildas Brunel – carried out a mission in the Malian capital, Bamako, in connection with the Memorandum of Understanding, with the aim of training 15 drivers of fire-fighting vehicles.
In addition to training courses, the Agreement provides for the financing of a training centre for the Malian National School of Civil Protection, which hosts 500 or so new recruits each year, as well as the sending of equipment and machinery and the purchasing of equipment.
Cooperation with Mali's General Directorate of Civil Protection was initiated in 2014, with support to the Baco Djicoroni emergency centre. Since early 2019, Mali has taken part, alongside Burkina Faso and Mauritania, in the flagship "civil protection" programme organised by the development cooperation of the Prince's Government, in close partnership with the Monaco Fire and Emergency Service.


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Apps for Small Businesses: A Guide | SMB Compass
Ezra Cabrera | November 1, 2020
Running a business demands that one juggles many obligations at once. Overseeing daily operations, managing payroll, and addressing employee-related issues are just a few of the things that fall under an entrepreneur's purview. With so many varying responsibilities, it's understandable that a small business owner may get bogged down with day-to-day business needs, and overlook bigger picture needs like growing the company. Time management is key to boosting productivity and efficiency, and apps for small businesses can play a big role in supplementing that.
There is an overwhelming number of business-related apps available out there, and the sheer volume can make it difficult for entrepreneurs to choose which ones will best aid their operations. We want to help make the selection process more seamless. We've gone ahead and rounded up our picks for the ten best apps available for small businesses.
Finance and Accounting Apps
Finance and accounting tasks are usually the most time-consuming as they require their own level of skill and expertise. Luckily, these apps can streamline all your bookkeeping processes.
1. QuickBooks
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, QuickBooks is the top app for finance and accounting. This app is great for pretty much all small business owners as it offers four basic plans to appease a range of entrepreneurs: Self-employed ($15/month), Simple Start ($25/month), Essential ($40/month), and Advanced ($150/month).
Top QuickBooks Features:
- Automate payments to suppliers
- Automate payroll of employees
- Accept online payment from clients
- Automate, send and track customer invoices
- Produce unlimited and customizable contracts
2. Wave
Wave is a great app for sole proprietors and individual contractors with nine or fewer employees. At just $20 per month, it's also the go-to for business owners who are looking for a cheaper accounting alternative. The Wave app is compatible with both Mac and PCs. You can also use its invoicing and receipt scanner feature on an iOs or Android phone.
Top Wave Features:
- Manage finances of multiple businesses in one account
- Unlimited use of invoicing as well as sales and expense tracking
- Payroll management
- Payment automation
- Scan and store receipts
3. FreshBooks
The FreshBooks app helps businesses save money while earning profits through its accurate tracking feature. It also has over 200 integrations, including Basecamp, PayPal, and Google Apps, and it works on all devices. The monthly subscription for the app starts at $15 for five billable clients. If you have more than five customers, you can opt for the $25 per month subscription for 50 billable clients per month.
Top FreshBooks Features:
- Set up reoccurring invoices for each client
- Invoice management, tracking, and customization
- Efficient expense organization
- Insightful, accurate, and unlimited time tracking
- Accept online payments
- Collect customer payments faster
Time Management
We've already touched on how important time management is to the success of a business. These time-tracking productivity apps can be particularly helpful for prioritizing tasks and staying on top of deadlines.
4. Toggl
If your employees work on a per hour basis, you need to track the number of billable hours they each work. The Toggl app tracks every second of yours and your employees' time and also identifies what projects you've each spent the most time on. Furthermore, the app congregates all this information into a monthly report that you can export at the end of each month. Toggle offers a free subscription for up to five users. Beyond that, it ranges from $7.20 to $14.40 per user, per month and can offer time-tracking for unlimited projects, users, clients, and more.
Top Toggl Features:
- Time-tracking for unlimited clients and projects (Pro version)
- One-click timers to start time tracking
- Calendar integration
- Auto-tracker
- Set-up recurring reminders to track time
5. RescueTime
As opposed to Toggle which tracks your time, RescueTime tracks your activity throughout the day. Once downloaded onto your phone or computer, the app tracks all the websites and applications you visit on the given device and for how long you visited them. RescueTime then congregates this data into a daily report so you can see where and how your time is being spent.
With RescueTime, you can set-up an alert to notify you if you've spent too much time on a specific activity. If you're gleaning that certain sites or platforms are distracting you, for instance maybe you're spending too much time on social media during the day, the app also allows you to block those sites for however long you want.
RescueTime is available for Mac, Linux, and PCs. Currently, the mobile app is only available for Android. Users have the option to download the basic version of the app for free or opt for the premium version, which costs $9 per month.
Top RescueTime Features:
- Automatic activity and time tracking
- Rank specific apps as productive or distracting
- Block access to certain websites
Good communication apps for small businesses are vital to managing a small business. These communication apps are particularly useful for companies with remote employees, as well as for conducting client calls and meetings.
6. Zoom
As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to keep many companies working from home, Zoom has become one of the most commonly used communication apps for small businesses to set up virtual meetings, conferences, and events. Among its many benefits, Zoom operates at lower bandwidth and consumes less data than other types of video conferencing applications, which is particularly useful for remote workers who don't have a high-speed internet connection in their homes.
The Zoom platform offers both free and premium subscriptions for its users. If you opt to use the free version of the app, you can enjoy up to 40 minutes of video time. For a price of $14.99 to $19.99 per month, you can enjoy unlimited minutes of video calls with your team.
Top Zoom Features:
- Seamlessly schedule meetings
- Calendar integration (Google calendars, Microsoft Office 365)
- The virtual waiting room for participants
- Virtual backgrounds during meetings
- Participants can share their screens simultaneously
- Can accommodate hundreds of participants in one meeting
7. Skype for Business
Skype is another popular video conferencing app that has been around since 2003. With Skype, you can only call people in your address book so all parties will need to have an account through the app. Microsoft created Skype for Business to accommodate up to 250 people on a single conference call or meeting, as opposed to Skype for consumers which only accommodates up to 50 people.
Top Skype for Business Features:
- Instant Messaging
- Meeting Scheduling from Outlook
- Polling features
- Meetings can accommodate up to 250 people
8. Slack
Slack is an instant messaging platform designed for connecting with employees in real-time. Often times sending a quick message to a co-worker or manager is much easier and time-efficient than getting on the phone, and Slack provides that capability. Users can create different channels for different teams, projects, or assignments to streamline communications even further. In fact, Slack claims to increase productivity by 32%. Slack offers four different plan options: Free, Standard ($6.67/month), Plus ($12.50/month), and Enterprise Grid for extra-large businesses or those in regulated industries.
Top Slack Features:
- Easy sharing by dragging and dropping files
- Creation of channels for different teams and projects
- Face-to-face communication through group voice and video calls of up to 15 people
- Integrations with 10 apps including Dropbox, Zoom, and Salesforce
- Unlimited message search (Standard)
- 24/7 support (Plus)
Project Management Apps for Small Businesses
These project management apps for small businesses will allow small business owners to track, manage, and hopefully increase their company's productivity, and make projects more accessible to remote employees.
9. Trello
The goal of the Trello app is to help teams work more collaboratively and keep projects organized. Through the app, projects are broken down into "task boards," which list out all the various tasks required to complete the given project. Tasks can then be assigned to specific team members with coinciding due dates. Tasks are moved into one of three columns, "to-do," "in-progress," and "done," so all team members can stay aligned in real-time. The app also integrates other software and applications like Evernote, Slack, and Google Drive.
Trello does offer a free version which includes basic features like task assignments and tracking. The app also offers a "Business Class" option which costs $9.99 per user, per month (if paid annually) and offers additional features.
Trello Features:
- Unlimited boards, cards, and lists for better collaboration
- Assign tasks to team members
- Set-up deadlines for tasks
- Automate repeatable task processes
- Attach files up to 10 MB
10. Basecamp
Like Trello, Basecamp allows you to create a separate board for each of your projects, or if you own multiple businesses, for each business. Every project board on Basecamp is divided into six tools: a chatbox, to-do's, message board, schedule, documents, and files, and automatic check-ins. This makes it easy for team members to navigate the platform and stay on top of the various tasks assigned to them.
While basecamp is free, "Basecamp Business" which offers several added features and additional storage space, costs $99 per month.
Basecamp Features:
- Split work into project boards
- Private chats
- File storage
- Automatic recurring check-ins
- To-do lists
- Schedule of activities
- Activity tracking
11. Instasize
Every small business must have an editing app like Instasize to create stunning images to post on their online profiles. Here are some of Instasize's creative features that go beyond usual granular editing:
Top Instasize Features:
- Create collages using up to 6 different photos
- Add solid colors, gradients, patterns, or images as photo borders
- Add text to your photos using trendy fonts
- Overlay vintage effects like film, texture, and light leaks
- Access Unsplash's free library of professional images
Download Instasize for free on iOS or Android or subscribe to Premium for $4.99/month to access all of the app's amazing creative tools.
To Wrap Up…
Running a business can become a bit easier when you use apps to help you manage your day-to-day operations. Whether you need a better way to handle your payroll, invoices, or track your employee's productivity, there is a tool for every business need. With the right combination of apps for small businesses, you can streamline business processes, increase productivity, lessen the chances of mistakes, and save both money and time.
Most of the apps mentioned above have free subscriptions, so you can try them out and see if they address your business' needs before spending money on the premium versions. With adequate research, you'll eventually narrow down your app choices and choose the best ones for your company.


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My Mother! there is something infinitely dear and tender in that name, and though all mothers may not be equally dear and tender, still it is the declared intention of Nature that they should be so.
I gratefully acknowledge the memory of my mother's worth, and early as I lost her, if there has ever come out in my poor nature a show of discretion and a scantling of that most uncommon quality, common sense, I owe it to her,—it is my inheritance from my excellent English mother.
A degree of common sense tempered down in me that exuberance of imagination which was the bane of my father's prosperity.
My mother came from her native land, an enemy of all slovenliness in habits, conduct, or mind.
She was disgusted with the dirty Dublin houses of that day, though in ostentatious finery they far surpassed anything she had ever seen in the old picturesque houses of Shrewsbury, with their black and white facades, and their pent-house roofs.
The society tried her as much as the houses; she was overwhelmed, offended and distressed at the style of conversation which then prevailed in company; the broad allusions to subjects which are now not mentionable to ears polite, but which were common enough in the days of the Swifts and Stellas, and were the delight of the Lady Berkleys and the Lady Betty Germains of the vice-regal court. She was utterly disgusted at the double entente freely introduced; she could not find either excuse or compensation in the wit they often brought along with them. The colloquial habit of what was then called "selling bargains," had not yet died out, the jest of which consisted in involving a person unconsciously into the utterance or the implication of some word or meaning, which placed the party in anything but a delicate dilemma.
Neither Catholic priest nor Protestant parson was spared; indeed, both parties bore the brunt of such jokes with an unblushing laugh, for the jokes usually alluded to their supposed success in gallantry,—an imputation which no Irishman of any profession can ever heartily resent.
The tendency to wit, or to its substitute—fun, had been a fashion in Ireland from the time of Charles the Second. Ladies of fashion played their game of equivoque, and
"Lips that not by words pleased only" |
She had received as much education as women of her class ever received in England—and no more. She had no accomplishments, no artistic tendencies, but she was a good English scholar, and was thoroughly well acquainted with the popular English literature of her time. She was familiar with the works of Pope, Addison (she had his Spectator by heart), all Shenstone's innocent pastorals, which she discordantly hummed and taught us to the music of Jackson of Exeter.
I can even now quote largely, and do so, no doubt, to the occasional ennui of my modern friends; but it is entirely owing to her instructions.
"With Delia ever could I stray," |
"My banks they are furnished with bees," |
"I'm in love with two nymphs that are To the flowers in a garden those nymphs I compare." |
This song my sister and myself used to drawl out with the solemnity of a requiem; my mother always substituting "Sydney" and "Olivia" for the original heroines of the Rose and the Myrtle.
She also taught us to chaunt that noble Psalm—
"O come, loud anthems let us sing." |
Much of my mother's life was of necessity passed in seclusion, for she avoided all society except that of a very few ultimate friends; nevertheless, she had one great resource, in which she found both edification and amusement.
The habits of Irish cousinhood came forth very strongly under the influence of my father's supposed prosperity. Poor kinsmen from Connaught were numerous, and my father had not the heart to shut his door against them, nor my mother either. Sometimes they came to ask for a "shake down" at our house for a "few days," (the days were seldom less than weeks), whilst they were in search "of a place under Government," through the influence of some under-secretary's under-secretary at the Castle. They used to spend their days in pacing the "half acre,"* watching like detectives the exits and the entrances of their ideal patrons; but they always came home to Fish Shamble Street mare hungry than they went out. I will call over the roll of our visitors during the
* The Upper Castle yard, the residence of the officials. |
"I'll give you no more," said the "Reverend Sir," while we paused, with our hands behind our backs and our eyes raised to "the Parson."
"I'll give you no more," said his Reverence.
"Then I'll have ye before the Court of Conscience," was the reply, when his Reverence accidentally crushing the bag under his arm, a sound was emitted from a pair of bagpipes. Fearing the pipes were injured, he drew them from the bag and played a few notes of "Maloney's Pig," which struck the "noddy" man and the children as with magic music
"Will ye give us a little more sir, of that, if you please?"
His Reverence complied; the children danced; the noddy man fell in, the servants rushed out, and began to dance too.
When the music stopped, the ecstatic charioteer held out the tester and said, "Here, plaize yer riverence, take it! By the piper that played before Moses I would not touch a farthing! sure, I would drive ye back again to Stoney Batter for nothing at all, saving a tune on yer beautiful pipes!"
The music which had so charmed the noddy man, attracted several passers-by from the streets. My mother threw up the window to see what was the matter; she dispersed the mob by calling out in a distressed tone, "Oh, Mr. Macklin, is that you? pray come in, and let the gates be shut."
Mr. Macklin, removing his clerical hat, displayed his bolt upright red hair, and gladly accepted the invitation.
On entering, he presented my mother with an Oliver Cromwell Bible, which he told her "was worth all the books in St. Patrick's Library;" shewing her, to prove its value, that the title-page of King James had been torn out in proof of the Low Churchism of its original proprietor.
My mother accepted the gift (or bribe) with reverential gratitude, and Mr. Macklin then informed her that he had come by special invitation from my father who had not led her to expect such a distinction.
"I suppose, ma'am, you know that Mr. Owenson is going to get up the grand mythological drama of Midas? and he wishes to take some lessons on the
My mother inquired whether he had lost his late curacy, which had, with some difficulty, been obtained for him?
"Indeed, then, Mrs. Owenson, ma'am, I have—along of the villany of the honorable and reverend the rector, who dismissed me on hearsay on account of my playing my congregation out on my pipes one Sunday—tho' himself lives in Paris, and never comes near the church; and as to the congregation, Mrs. Owenson, it was just my own clerk, and Mrs. Mulligan, and her daughter, relapsed Protestants, and one or two others, all as one, as Dean Swift and his 'dearly beloved Roger.' The congregation was very much obliged to me; but somebody dirtily told the story, and I was turned out by return of post."
The story was scarcely told, when my father returned home. Mr. Macklin repeated it with such graphic humour as it would be impossible to throw upon paper; but its impression was indelible on all who heard it.
To Mr. Macklin, accident soon added another locataire of a very different description—a concealed Jesuit priest—whose order it was then proscription in Ireland to receive.
Molly, on her mission to the only restaurateur then living in Dublin, M. La Farrell, saw a tall, dark figure of very sinister appearance, pass through the
"He is a poor Catholic clergyman," said, in a whisper, a little gargotier who was weighing some Bologna sausages behind the counter, "I think a Jesuit; he lodges in our four-pair of stairs, but master says he will give him notice to quit before long. I think he is starving, but he never buys nothing from us."
Molly, who was my charitable mother's almoner on all occasions, told her this piteous tale with many exaggerations. My mother sent him, by Molly, a small donation with a courteous note—a donation in money to a man who, perhaps, if the truth were known, could have bought the fee simple of the whole estate in which she lived!
He returned her an elegant note of thanks, with his name and address, and begged permission to call on her some evening when alone. She deemed him too unfortunate to be refused, and Father Farer became a frequent guest at her tea-table, to the entire satisfaction of my father, who was much pleased to set him at the Rev. Mr. Macklin, particularly as my mother greatly enjoyed their controversial synod.
To complete the group, Mr. Langley, of Irevecca, came on one of Lady Huntingdon's missions to Dublin, and spent much of his time at the Music Hall, bent on conversion and good dinners. My mother being the Protestant Pope among them all!
These "synods," which were held two or three times a week, interested her much; points of faith
There was one, however, who seemed to derive a very particular amusement from these assemblies—it was my little self! My sister was duly sent to bed; but there was no getting rid of me. Not that I understood a sentence that was pronounced, but I was greatly interested in the expressions of triumph and defeat on the faces of each party. I saw everything from a pictorial point of view, as most children do; but the impressions that were made by these scenes, became, in after life, suggestive of inquiry and reflection. The group thus assembled in my mother's sober parlour, comprised within itself the disunion of religious creeds which still engages the minds of the religious world in Great Britain.
The violence of Protestant-Calvinism against the Irish Catholics, John Wesley at the head of the "Protestant Association," which he had founded, needed the genius, the wit, and the acrimony of Dean Swift to oppose and cope with them. The Catholics found their champion in Arthur O'Leary, whose caustic wit and brilliant Irish eloquence won the day.
These dissensions left a long train of religious disputation behind them, and my mother found her account in discussions which had become to her as her daily bread.
My mother was a little Lady Huntingdon in her way, and exercised a despotic influence to the full stretch of her very limited power. Before the season
My father took no notice at the time, but when he was gone he said to my mother, with an emphatic phrase now proscribed, and which Lady Townley used with difficulty "to gulp down" when she lost at cards—
"Jenny, my dear, I'll be —— if that canting cousin of yours ever puts his feet under my mahogany again!"
And he never did.
For the rest of the connexion—the Spanish friar resolved himself back into the mystery whence he had come, and was never visible, at least in that form, again.
The Rev. Charles Macklin was preferred to a curacy through my father's influence with the celebrated Dr. Younge, Bishop of Clonfurt, on the understanding that he was not to play on his bagpipes in church.
But the dispersion of these quarrelsome saints was followed by the advent of some lay visitors of a very different description.
Two of my father's old London friends, joint lessees of Covent-Garden, arrived in Dublin through the ac-
Giordani had come over to superintend his own work, and was so bewitched with the musical sympathies of the Dublin people, that he remained and established an Italian Opera in a small theatre in Capel-street, which had its rage for two or three seasons and then was heard of no more, but the impressario remained, with more pupils on his hands than he was able to attend to. My father's house was his house of refuge; it had many advantages for him—a table where he was always welcome, and a piano-forte, an instrument which had only recently, in Dublin, succeeded to harpsichords and spinnets.
Musical rehearsals in the morning or the evening, or whenever they could be performed, and a regular rehearsal every Sunday evening, led to the foundation of the Philharmonic Society in Dublin. By an odd coincidence, another lessee of Covent Garden, Dr. Fisher, the divorced husband of Madame Storaci, and the first violinist of the age, was tempted over to Dublin immediately on his return from his tour in France, Italy and Germany, and a long visit to that royal fanatico per la musica, Frederic the Great. He
A foreign valet in showy livery, bearing a magnificent violin case, in crimson and gold, which he deposited in the middle of the room, was followed by the entrance of the great professor, who stepped in on tip-toe, dressed in a brown silk camlet coat lined with scarlet silk, illustrated with brilliant buttons, and a powdered and perfumed toupée, so elevated as to divide his little person almost in two. His nether dress was fastened at the knees with diamond buttons, and the atmosphere of the room was filled with perfume from his person. He kissed my father on either cheek, and my mother's hand with such fervour, that she was left in doubt whether the gallantry were profane or indecent.
With the tact of a man of the world, he opened his violin case and presented my mother with a tour de gorge of Brussels' lace, which some German princess had given him for his jabot. My sister and myself received each an embroidered aurora-coloured pincushion stuffed with bergamot. From this time, the two eminent maestri continued the favoured guests of my father, to the infinite disgust of my mother, who, knowing no foreign language, and hearing no other spoken at her table, took an earlier flight than usual to her house at Drumcondra.
Upon the occasion of these musical meetings, my sister and I usually crept in and hid under a table, in ecstasy at all we heard. Signor Giordani was so struck with our musical sensibilities, that he expressed his surprise to my father that he did not have us taught, young as we were. My father's answer I have never forgotten, and I am sure it had no inconsiderable influence on my future life.
"If," said he, "I were to cultivate their talent for music, it might induce them some day to go on the stage, and I would prefer to buy them a sieve of black cockles from Ring's End,* to cry about the streets of Dublin, to seeing them the first prima donnas in Europe." This sentence I understood later—and respected.
On looking back to this period, it seems to me, that our female visitors were few.
I only remember one theatrical family who belonged to our circle, that of Mr. Robert Hitchcock, an English gentleman, acting-manager of the Theatre Royal, and author of a history of the Irish stage, of great dramatic and historical interest. His accomplished and beautiful wife and daughter were received in the most respectable society of Dublin, particularly of the legal class. The young lady, in very early life, became the wife of an eminent barrister, Sir Joshua Green, who, as Recorder of Dublin in 1820, received George the Fourth on his first entrance into the second city of his empire.
Another of our lady visitors is at least memorable
* As famous for its cockles as Malahide for its oysters. |
She delighted to talk of the Doctor to my father, of which my mother sometimes complained, for though she adored The Vicar of Wakefield, she always called the author a "rake."
Amongst other incidents which I recollect, was the mysterious visit of a lady, who was one day jolted up our court in a sedan-chair with close-drawn curtains; she was received by my father alone, for my mother withdrew and locked herself up in her bedroom until she went away.
This lady was no other than the celebrated Mrs. Billington, the daughter of Madame Weichsel—
That light that led astray" |
A curious incident happened in connexion with Mrs. Billington's name. Soon after her departure from Dublin, it so happened that the officers of the Royal Barracks had got up The Beggars' Opera travestie, and they had prevailed on my father, who was a favourite guest at their mess, to act the part of Polly Peachum to the Captain Macheath of Mrs. Brown, one of the prettiest fairy-like little actresses in the world; my father stood six feet high in his petticoats, but so strong was his resemblance to Mrs. Billington, who had recently played the same part, that he was hailed with "three cheers for Mrs. Billington." If there was any foundation for the supposition which assigned to her a filial relationship, it would be curious to trace her fine voice in musical descent from "Clasagh na Valla."
Mrs. Billington married in very early girlhood and most unhappily. She died, however, full of years and wealth; her house in Brompton was the resort of musical amateurs, and her concerts were fashionable. The concert-room she built is still in good preservation.
Curran's lines "On Returning a Ring to a Lady," were addressed to Mrs. Billington—they are very beautiful and passionate; but, perhaps, the following "On Mrs. Billington's Birthday," are more appropriate to the present pages:—
"The wreath of love and friendship twine,
And deck it round with flowerets gay;
Touch the lip with rosy wine,
'Tis Eliza's
natal day!
Time restrains his ruthless hand,
And learns one fav'rite form to spare;
Light o'er her tread by his command
The hours, nor print one footstep there.
In amorous sport the purple Spring
Salutes her lips in roses drest;
And Winter laughs, and loves to fling
A flake of snow upon her breast.
So may thy days in happiest pace,
Divine Eliza, glide along;
Unclouded as thy angel face,
And sweet as thy celestial song."


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by Dr. Chris Kacher
The market made lows in late December during one of the only Christmas crashes of all time, with major averages dipping for a couple of days into bear market territory with the major averages off more than -20%. But then a bounce, highly questionable at first due to the still hawkishness of the U.S. Federal Reserve, began. Fed Chair Powell then told the market what it wanted to hear, and other central banks have echoed similar sentiments, essentially that QE will come to the rescue should economies falter. As a consequence, the uptrend has been firmly in place with the markets banking on central banks including the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Bank of England, the ECB, and the Bank of Japan to continue to print should things go economically pear shaped. This calmed fears spurred by the latest GDP reports out of major countries such as Germany which is nearing recession, and Italy which is already in recession. It is therefore unlikely the U.S. Federal Reserve will be able to unwind its balance sheet by any measure but instead may have to go the other direction once again. This will only serve to increase debt interest payments that will grow with increasing national debt. This could potentially wind up as a viciously perpetual money printing spiral with little end in sight. So while the uptrend remains intact, various headwinds and digestion of sharp gains since the end of December can create shorting opportunities as nothing goes up in a straight line.
How Did We Get Here?
QE exists because of the structure of political systems. Voting across various jurisdictions in most free countries occurs typically every 2 to 6 years, so those in power want the voters to be happy in the short run out to a few years to secure reelection, but this often makes things worse for all in the long run. Thus QE is a temporary bandage that stems the bleeding, provides an infusion, and makes the patient feel better for the time being.
A number of legendary investors have chimed in their dissent with what central banks around the world have been doing since the financial collapse of 2008.
Bill Gross: "…unprecedented bond-buying programmes pursued by central banks after the global financial crisis had created a 'supernova that will explode one day'."
Jim Rogers has forewarned of a crash that will be "the biggest in my lifetime" (he is 76): https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/style/2019-financial-crisis.html
Paul Tudor Jones has warned that "some really scary moments" in the swelling corporate debt market [due to years of QE] could precipitate another financial crisis: https://www.ft.com/content/d48d3b10-e8f7-11e8-885c-e64da4c0f981
Stanley Druckenmiller: https://www.sovereignman.com/trends/billionaire-druckenmiller-can-we-try-capitalism-real-capitalism-give-it-a-chance-23982/
While some may think these guys are wrong about their views on QE, and that QE was actually necessary, this is only a partially correct assessment. I'm in agreement that a number of bubbles have been created as a consequence of QE, but certain few key factors that will be discussed in the next section that can provide a major counterbalance to all this money printing/bond buying/QE/call it what you will are being overlooked.
But regardless of any counterbalances at hand, if countries such as Sweden in the early 1990s are any example, QE and central banks have gone the wrong direction since QE was launched in late 2008. Economic austerity works but it doesn't win votes. Sweden went through a period of austerity or roughly 2 years of hard living to correct their fiscal imbalances. They did not rescue their zombie banks or businesses on the basis of being "too big to fail" as such is a mirage. Here is an excellent piece on austerity vs. the Keynesian stimulative approach: https://mises.org/library/real-austerity
Not All Is Lost
But despite the wrongheaded approach of printing fiat which has only kicked the can down the road a bit longer, making everything seem "alright", exponential growth technologies carry a massively positive impact. They start small and insignificant, but the exponential effect eventually takes over. Just as with duckweed in pond ecosystems that doubles each day, the first 10 days go unnoticed. But by day 30, the amount of duckweed is pronounced. Ed Seykota in Govopoly has equated this to overreaching government regulation which is strangling businesses across the globe.
But exponential growth technologies are on the other side of the spectrum as they can help push productivity to new heights thus act as a counterbalance against government bureaucracy. One could therefore argue that such gives the Fed and other central banks headroom to print since such technologies help the bottom line.
The internet in all its permutations, blockchain/crypto, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other S-curve technologies are and will continue to make a bigger difference going forward as we move up the steeper part of the parabolic curve.
Further, while the current debt to GDP seems insurmountable and ever-growing, the debt-to-GDP post World War II was even greater than it is today. But the U.S. was able to grow out of such heavy debt burdens through advancements in technology. That said, global interest rate levels were higher overall back then than they are today, so there was more fuel in the interest rate tank at that time.
Of course, should tech save the day once again, historians, mainstream media, and others can simply say, "See? QE saved the day." The more complex a circumstance, the easier it is to misinterpret events. Furthermore, complexities to a situation enable bad actors to create false flag events to support their own narratives as we have seen recently with Jussie Smollett being charged with faking an attack on himself. But the Smollett event is just the ice cube on the iceberg.
We send out a spreadsheet of all the names added since the bounce. Some comments:
EXEL- it had an undercut & rally back up through its 50-dma. Those who bought and held or bought then sold could have either added to or renewed their position.
DXCM- gapped higher then had a hard reversal on volume after a weak earnings report. Those who bought when we first mentioned the stock on January 7 were sitting on a nice profit. But on earnings day, expect volatility, so using the 620 5-minute bar chart can be helpful in helping one lock in profits should things turn sour.
The situation between the U.S. and China may be coming to a positive resolution. Chinese stocks are well up off their lows. HUYA has shot about 20% higher from when we sent out a report on February 19 observing its pocket pivot. MOMO was included in the same report and has also moved higher. Partial profit taking can be wise due to potential volatility in the offing as the situation is still in flux to some extent thus heavily news driven.


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Marshfield, Wisconsin: Dragon of Liberty
A unique version of America's most famous torch-bearer, with Lady Liberty replaced by a dragon. 18 feet tall, made of welded iron by Clyde Wynia in 2009.
- Address:
- E. 1st St., Marshfield, WI
- Directions:
- Downtown. On the north side of E. 1st St. at its intersection with S. Cherry Ave. The dragon faces north, toward the south side of Hwy 13/E. Veterans Pkwy.
- Admission:
- Free
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Visitor Tips and News About Dragon of Liberty
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Dragon of Marshfield
While traversing to the Hodag, we traveled down West Veteran's Parkway in Marshfield. There to the left we saw a bronze dragon. To see it better, go to the next light, turn left, then turn left at the next street. Go down two blocks and turn left a gain. You'll see him, and you can park on the dirt. We believe he was donated by the Rotary Club.
[Mike and Debbi Buike, 05/29/2009]The "Dragon of Liberty" was created by Clyde Wynia, owner of nearby Jurustic Park, in 2009.
Nearby Offbeat Places
Latest Tips Across Roadside America
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Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.


text:
MT108-3201 Hot selling women's fashion hot diamond nightclub skirt dress
MT108-3201 Hot selling women's fashion hot diamond nightclub skirt dress
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A: Different products has different price, although the same product which use different fabric and workmanship will have different price, as suppliers, we promise to provide the best pre-sales and after-sales service for the customers!
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A: We mainly do wholesale service, our policy is that bigger quantity,cheaper price, so we will quoto you the best price based on your order quantity.
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text:
houses, so by 8:30am on a Sunday morning the newspaper was
laid out and the paints were ready. They painted them with
Grandpa, and then we all watched Daddy hang them in the
tree. Afterwards all of the kids sat quietly inside
anxiously awaiting the birds.
Note to self: These would be awesome crafts for a future
birthday party!
To view all of our photos, look on the right side under "Our Photos" and click on the most recent date.
Thanks for visiting! Have a great day!


text:
The Week After…
"The Dow is on pace for its best post-election day rally in 120 years," said the Wednesday (11/4/20) lead story on Marketwatch.com. The subsequent days certainly reinforced this headline. The market appears to have fully priced in a Biden victory along with Republicans maintaining control of the Senate. Putting it in more practical terms, the tax cuts passed in 2017 are likely to stay in effect for at least another two years. As we have said on many occasions, the market prefers divided government, and apparently this even applies during an accelerating pandemic. And of course, the extremely accommodative monetary policy of the Federal Reserve will continue for as long as it's needed.
Speaking of the pandemic, another major story driving the upswing is the announcement by Pfizer and BioNTech (a German biotechnology company) that their jointly developed vaccine has proved to be over 90% effective after being tested on nearly 44,000 participants in its phase III study. The duo plans to manufacture 50 million doses before the end of the year and 1.3 billion doses in 2021. At a 90%+ effectiveness rate, herd immunity becomes possible, assuming a high enough percentage of the population agrees to be vaccinated.
Yesterday's stock price movements afforded a crystal-clear view of which companies are pandemic plays and which are the opposite. In the former category, we have Amazon (down 5.1%), Costco (down 5.4%), and Netflix (down 8.6%). In the latter category, there's Southwest Airlines (up 9.7%), Marriott (up 13.9%), and the granddaddy of them all, Royal Caribbean (up a whopping 28.8%). For those who are curious, Pfizer was up 7.7% and BioNTech was up 13.9%. In comparing these two increases, it is important to note that Pfizer is about nine times larger than BioNTech.
In more general terms, an index fund tracking large growth stocks (VUG) was down 1.5% while a small value index fund (VBR) was up 5.7%. As of today's close, VUG is down another 1.5% while VBR is up 1.8%. This divergence represents a marked change from what we have become used to seeing, especially these past few years.
Finally, with Veterans Day tomorrow, we wanted to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to our clients and retirement plan participants who have served. Thank you for your service.


text:
Girl Meets Gown follows the emotional roller coaster search for the perfect wedding dress. Shot in and around the bridal emporium Stardust Celebrations, based right here in North Texas, and featuring dozens of the most unique and compelling brides-to-be who depict the devoted and often delirious quest for the perfect dress.
Produced for WEtv
May 17, 2020


text:
This paper aims to explore the strategies for sustaining Learning Study in Hong Kong Schools. In the past eight year, there have been more than 270 Learning Study cases conducted in over 260 Hong Kong primary and secondary schools. Over thousand of teachers were involved in the Learning Study and their teaching professional developments were enhanced by practicing the variation theory and the procedures package in their classroom teaching. In order to sustain Learning Study in Hong Kong Schools, we are strived to disseminate the pedagogical content knowledge of these cases to teachers in Hong Kong through different channels. These include publications (books and articles in journals), talks and column on mass media, presentation in public seminars, conferences and meetings, public lessons and an online-forum of Learning Study. Through these channels, it is expected that, a professional learning community was created for improving the teaching and learning of school education in Hong Kong. The presentation will introduce these dissemination channels and explore the possibility of scaling up Learning Study in Hong Kong schools. It finally provides suggestions for and future development of Learning Study and follow-up studies.
Original language | English |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Cheng, C. K., & Zhang, Y. F. E. (2009, June). Sustaining learning study in Hong Kong schools through creating a professional learning community. In C. K. Cheng (Chair), The development of learning study and its impact on Hong Kong school system. Symposium conducted at the Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference: Designing New Learning Contexts for a Globalising World, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.Keywords
- Professional community
- Teacher education/development


text:
Photographic greetings card, selected from my own unique images and professionally printed by a UK company.
This Photograph of a Rudbeckia was taken in my garden in Hertfordshire.
The card is blank inside for you to add your own message. Ideal as a birthday card, a mother's day card or for any other occasion.
Card size is 105mm x 150mm
Supplied with a white envelope
Sealed in a recyclable cellophane wrapper.


text:
About the Definitive Technology Descend DN12
The Definitive next step
The Descend DN12 rocks clean, powerful bass with its big 12" woofer and twin passive radiators.
The Definitive next step
Definitive Technology is known for their high-performance audio equipment and a culture of constant innovation. Their newest Descend Series subwoofers pack plenty of deep, high-output bass into relatively compact designs.
The Descend DN12 has a 12" long-throw woofer driven by a super-clean, efficient 500-watt RMS Class H amplifier. A pair of side-firing 12" passive radiators extend the sub's low-frequency output. This proprietary 3XR™ architecture triples the radiating surface area compared to a single 12" cone, helping it get as loud and low as a ported sub — but without introducing pesky port turbulence. Definitive Technology explains that this design produces bass similar to a 15" sub, but with a smaller cabinet. That means you can enjoy accurate, hard-hitting bass without using up as much space in your room.
Simple and clean
The DN12 looks elegant and is easy to integrate into an existing system. A helpful set of rear-panel connections keep things straightforward. You can connect with the line-level stereo RCA input or a dedicated LFE input that hooks up to the subwoofer output of your home theater receiver. You can also use a pair of speaker-level five-way binding post inputs. Using the built-in variable low-pass crossover, you have control over what frequencies the sub plays when using the stereo RCA or speaker-level inputs.
Customizable bass
Powerful DSP (Digital Signal Processing) ensures clean, distortion-free bass at all volume levels. Make fast and easy adjustments with back-panel buttons or the remote included in the box. The front of the sub has an LED display that registers the sub's status as you make changes for quick reference. Three built-in EQ presets keep things simple, letting you prioritize home theater rumble with Loud mode, rich musical bass with Deep mode, or balanced output with Flat mode.
Intelligent Phase Control™ gives you phase adjustment from -135 to 180 degrees, taking some of the guesswork out of placement and helping the sub blend in with the rest of your system.
Product highlights:
- bass-reflex (passive radiator) enclosure
- built-in 500-watt RMS Class H amplifier (1500-watt peak)
- 12" long-throw woofer
- dual 12" 3XR passive radiators
- 56-bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for clean, extended bass response at high volumes
- three built-in EQ modes:
- Flat: balances low-end extension and high output across the sub's frequency range
- Deep: emphasizes low-end extension — great for music
- Loud: emphasizes high output for all frequencies — great for movies and TV
- LFE input (line-level mono-RCA) for use with a home theater receiver's sub output
- line-level stereo RCA input
- speaker-level inputs (five-way binding posts)
- 3.5mm IR and 12-volt trigger inputs for custom integration
- frequency response: 25-150 Hz
- low-pass crossover: 40-120 Hz
- Intelligent Phase Control™ for customizable phase adjustment
- -135 to 180 degrees in 45 degree increments
- back-panel toggle buttons for phase, display, and EQ
- includes remote control with volume, phase, and EQ controls
- LED on sub displays status for easy reference
- 18-1/16"W x 19-3/16"H x 20-1/8"D
- weight: 73.1 lbs.
- warranty: 5 years (woofers); 3 years (amp)
What's in the box:
Definitive Technology Descend DN12 owner's manual
- Powered subwoofer
- 6' AC power cord
- Remote control
- CR2032 3V battery (pre-installed in remote)
- Owner's Manual
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More details on the Definitive Technology Descend DN12
Features & specs
Enclosure | Passive Radiator | |
Woofer Size (inches) | 12 | |
Woofer Composition | Polypropylene | |
Firing Direction | Front | |
Amplifier Output (watts) | 500 | |
Frequency Response | 25-150 Hz | |
Connections | ||
Preamp-Level Inputs | LFE, Stereo RCA | |
Speaker-Level Inputs | Binding posts | |
Speaker-Level Outputs | No | |
Wireless | No | |
Controls | ||
Low-Pass Crossover Freq | 40-150Hz | |
High-Pass Crossover Freq | N/A | |
Phase Switch | Yes | |
App Control | No | |
Remote | Yes | |
Other Info | ||
Height (inches) | 19-3/16 | |
Width (inches) | 18-1/16 | |
Depth (inches) | 20-1/8 | |
Weight | 73.1 lbs | |
Speaker Parts Warranty | 5 Years | |
Speaker Labor Warranty | 5 Years | |
Amplifier Parts Warranty | 3 Years | |
Amplifier Labor Warranty | 3 Years |
Product Research
3XR Architecture: The Definitive Technology DN12 powered subwoofer's unique 3XR Architecture means it delivers all the bass you need and then some, performing significantly louder and clearer than most other 12" powered subwoofers. The unique 3XR Architecture provides triple the bass-producing radiating surface area of a traditional ported subwoofer. This extra surface area moves more air, resulting in massive low-end bass performance. Because the DN12 has 3x the bass-radiating surface area as similar-sized ported powered subwoofers, it produces more bass from the same sized enclosure. Since the 3X Architecture design doesn't use ports, it also provides crystal-clear sound with no port noise distortion.
- Dual Passive Bass Radiators: As the core technology behind the Descend Series' 3XR Architecture, dual opposing side-firing 12" passive bass radiators enable the DN12 powered subwoofer to play as loud and low as a ported sub without unwanted port noise distortion. The Definitive Technology DN12 delivers a smooth frequency response like a sealed sub, but with the "port-like" ability to play louder and lower in a smaller enclosure.
- 12" Long-Throw Woofer: In addition to the dual opposing side-firing 12" passive bass radiators, the Definitive Technology DN12 powered sub employs a front-firing 12" long-throw active woofer powered by a built-in, custom Class D amplifier rated at 200 watt (RMS) / 500 watt (Peak) for consistently deep, impactful, dynamic bass for home theater and music systems.
Class H Digital Amplification: Powered by Class H digital amplification with an advanced 56-bit DSP that includes three custom EQ modes, the Definitive Technology DN12 delivers exceptionally impactful bass down to 25Hz.
- 500W (RMS) / 1500W (Peak): The DN12's advanced 500W (RMS / 1500W (Peak) Class H digital amplifier delivers continuous power to cleanly reproduce sustained bass down to 25Hz. With real-time monitoring and adjustments to the sliding rail voltage, the DN12 delivers considerably higher power during short, transient peaks such as bass drum kicks and on-screen artillery blasts.
- 56-Bit DSP (Digital Signal Processor): The advanced 56-bit Digital Signal Processor (DSP) extends and improves the DN12's bass response. The DSP tightly monitors and controls the woofer system to prevent distortion and woofer damage at ultra-high volumes with a minimum of audible artifacts.
Note: To prevent accidental damage to the subwoofer from overdriving the system, the DN12 features an internal overload protection circuit, which will turn the powered sub off or down when overdriven or overheated and will then resume normal operation after a few minutes.
Built-In EQ Modes: With three built-in performance EQs modes, the DN12 can be optimized to your room and listening preferences, and adjusted to match whatever you're listening to - movies, music, or games. Choose from Flat, Deep, or Loud. The EQ modes can be accessed from the included remote control or on the rear-panel of the powered sub.
- Flat: The DN12's default setting out of the box, Flat Mode provides the most balanced performance, as determined by Definitive Technology acoustic experts, providing the perfect harmony between low end extension and full spectrum maximum output.
- Deep: Deep Mode provides additional low-end output but sacrifices some maximum SPL to do so. This makes Deep Mode excellent for music, where frequency range is so critical, so instruments like a pipe organ or an upright bass are fully and evenly reproduced.
- Loud: The opposite of Deep Mode, Loud Mode sacrifices some low-end output while gaining output in all other frequencies. Loud Mode is excellent for home theater, to best accentuate explosions and other special audio effects.
Subwoofer Controls: The Descend Series DN12 features controls to help you fine-tune the phasing, volume, and low-pass crossover of the powered sub to ensure it blends perfectly with your system. As a result, you'll always have a fully balanced, smooth bottom-end regardless of your system or room. These subwoofer controls can be found on the included remote and on the rear-panel of the powered sub.
- Volume Level: You can adjust the volume level of the power subwoofer to ensure perfectly proportioned bass for your audio system and your room.
- Low Pass Crossover: The Low Pass Crossover ensures that only the frequencies intended to be reproduced by the DN12 get through to the powered subwoofer. The Low Pass Crossover can be set between 40Hz and 150Hz.
- Intelligent Phase Control: Intelligent Phase Control provides a full 360 degrees of customizable phase adjustment, always centered around the settings of the low-pass filter. This provides the ability to tune the subwoofer for minimal group delay between speakers and a flawless blending experience between your speakers and the subwoofer. The Intelligent Phase Control can be set between -135 degrees and 180 degrees in 45 degree increments.
LFE and Speaker-Level Inputs: The Definitive Technology DN12 powered subwoofer is outfitted with LFE, stereo line-level, and speaker-level inputs for flexible connectivity.
- LFE Input: The LFE (Low Frequency Effect) input consists of a mono-RCA jack which is not affected by the powered subwoofer's low pass crossover. It is designed to connect the DN12 to an AV receiver or preamp/processor which features a LFE output and bass management. Your AV receiver or preamp/processor's bass management setup will be utilized to apply a low pass crossover to the powered subwoofer.
- Stereo Line-Level Input: The stereo line-level input consists of left and right RCA jacks that can be plugged into a stereo preamp output on your integrated amplifier or stereo receiver. The setting of the low pass crossover is applied to the signal received through line-level inputs.
- Speaker-Level Input: The speaker-level input consists of 5-way binding post terminals that accept bare wire (up to 12AWG), pin-connectors, spade-lugs, and banana plugs (single or dual). The speaker-level inputs allow the powered subwoofer to be connected to your AV receiver's main speaker outputs. The setting of the low pass crossover is applied to the signal received through speaker-level inputs.
Remote Control & Display: The Definitive Technology DN12 offers rear-panel controls and comes with an IR remote control to make EQ, Volume, Crossover, and Phase adjustments. The front-panel display indicates the EQ, Volume, Crossover, and Phase settings. The display's brightness can be set to Max, Dim-1, Dim-2, or Off. If the IR remote's line of site to the IR receiver of the powered remote is obstructed, the DN12 features an IR Input (3.5mm) that allows you to connect an IR remote repeater (sold separately - see Accessories Tab) to extend control.
Placement Options: There are some general guidelines that you should keep in mind when positioning the Definitive Technology DN12 powered subwoofer in your room.
- For best results, place the powered subwoofer on the same side of the room as your front speakers. Placement near walls and in a corner will increase the powered subwoofer's output, but the sound may be "muddy" or "boomy". Moving the subwoofer even a foot or two can dramatically change the bass output and quality. Experiment with subwoofer placement to achieve the highest performance.
- An acoustic effect called "standing waves" or "room modes" may cause uneven bass at various locations throughout the room. This phenomenon is a function of the dimensions of the room and not due to the design of the subwoofer. If there is less bass at the main listening position than at other areas of the room, move the powered sub until you hear full bass at the main listening position.
- The subwoofer may be placed inside a cabinet, provided there is a clearance of at least 2" around the front, back, sides and top of the powered sub. The front of the cabinet should be completely open or covered with an open mesh grille, screen, or cloth.
3-Position Power Switch: The Definitive Technology DN12 powered subwoofer has a 3-position power switch that can be set to "Always on", "Auto on via signal", or "12V Trigger".
- Auto On Via Signal: In this mode, the DN12 powered subwoofer will turn on when it receives an audio signal at its LFE, line-level, or speaker level inputs. If no signal is sensed for a period of time (up to an hour), the powered subwoofer will automatically turn off. The blue LED on the back panel of the powered sub will light up when a signal is detected and the amplifier turns on. The LED is red when in standby and no signal is detected.
- 12V Trigger: The 12V Trigger input (3.5mm) of the DN12 allows the powered subwoofer to be remotely powered on and off from a 12V Trigger output of your AV receiver, integrated amplifier, or processor/preamplifier.
- Always On: In this mode, the DN12 powered subwoofer has to be manually turned on and off; it is not affected by signal sensing or the 12V Trigger.
Detachable AC Power Cord: The Definitive Technology DN12 comes with a detachable 6' AC power cord that will need to be plugged into the back of the powered sub and into an AC wall outlet or surge protector/line conditioner (sold separately - see Accessories Tab).
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Carie Hall and Sally Culley Address Medical Marijuana: What Retailers Need to Know About Law and Liability
Carie Hall and Sally Culley Address Medical Marijuana: What Retailers Need to Know About Law and Liability
During the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association's (FRLA) 2019 Marketing + Operations Summit, Carie Hall moderated while Sally Culley participated in a panel focused on laws and policies regarding marijuana usage in Florida.
The panel discussion included a review of the potential liability of those in the restaurant and lodging industry for not only employee usage of marijuana but also customer usage, how workers' compensation carriers are addressing the increasing use of medical marijuana, and the impact of medical marijuana on Drug Free Workplace programs.
Some key points addressed:
- With the number of qualified patients with licensed prescriptions for medical marijuana increasing daily in Florida, it is important to consider the impact on developing hiring and operating policies for the restaurant and lodging industry.
- Businesses should know if they are required to accommodate medical marijuana usage in the workplace and how to handle this issue in post-accident drug testing.
About FRLA:
FRLA's Marketing + Operations Summit was held August 13 – 14, 2019 at the Tampa Marriott Water Street. FRLA is Florida's premier non-profit hospitality industry trade association. Founded in 1946 as the Florida Restaurant Association, FRLA merged with the Florida Hotel and Motel Association in 2006. FRLA's more than 10,000 members include independent hoteliers and restaurateurs, household name franchises, theme parks and suppliers. The association's mission is to protect, educate and promote Florida's $111.7 billion hospitality industry which represents 1.4 million employees. Dedicated to safeguarding the needs of the membership, FRLA provides legislative advocacy to ensure the voices of its members are heard and their interests are protected. For more information about FRLA, visit https://frla.org.


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The year 2020 will not be easily forgotten. For VTT, it showed that we are capable of adapting quickly to changing circumstances and continuing our work without disruption for the benefit of customers. Despite the exceptional circumstances, the impact of research for the benefit of society and industry developed well. Customer sales kept exceeding its targets until October, even though towards the end of the year the pandemic slowed down the soliciting of new customers. New initiatives were launched: VTT received from the Finnish government an investment grant of EUR 20.7 million for 2020–2024 for building Finland's first quantum computer.
The coronavirus crisis has shown the importance of cooperation between the scientific world and the rest of society, making the significance of applied science increasingly visible to society. In 2020, VTT made a strong contribution to overcoming the crisis in Finland.
"The global challenges we are facing are grand, but we are also equipped with all the better tools for solving them," says Antti Vasara, President & CEO of VTT. "Seeking solutions to challenges also means new business opportunities for companies and need for VTT research. The year 2020 demonstrated the importance of a domestic research and technology base."
VTT Group's result of the financial year was EUR 9.6 million, comparable operating result turned profitable
In 2020, the Group accrued a net turnover of EUR 149 million (EUR 147 million in 2019). Other operating income totalled at EUR 95 million (EUR 98 million in 2019), and it largely consisted of government grants. The Group's net turnover increased due to Business Finland funding. Of the turnover, EUR 85 million was accrued from strategic research and EUR 64 million from research based on commercial grounds.
The Group's operating result increased from EUR 3.1 million in 2019 to EUR 11.4 million. The improvement in the result was due, among other things, to the increase in revenue, savings made in the operating expenses, especially in travel, and one-off coronavirus measures, such as lower employment pension contributions. The Group's comparable operating result before special items improved substantially: In 2019 it showed a loss of EUR 5.6 million, and in 2020 it showed a profit of EUR 8.6 million. The result of the financial year improved by EUR 6 million from EUR 3.6 million to EUR 9.6 million. The equity ratio also improved from 66.0% to 69.5%.
The particular mission of the parent company VTT as an independent and impartial non-profit research centre is to promote the wide-ranging utilisation and commercialisation of research and technology in industry, commerce, and society. In accordance with the Act on the limited liability company called VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, the company uses its profit in its entirety for its own research operations, competence development and dissemination of research results.
In 2020, the parent company had a total of 1,410 customers, of which 880 were Finnish private-sector customers, 350 were foreign private-sector customers and 180 domestic and international public-sector customers. The domestic revenue accounted for 56% of the parent company's turnover and foreign revenue for 44% (at Group level the figures were 55% and 45%). The parent company's result of the financial year was EUR 11.5 million (EUR 3.0 million in 2019).
Towards sustainable growth on the path of exponential hope
In 2020, we updated our strategy for the next period 2021–2025.
"Our operations are still guided by global challenges to which we develop solutions with science and technology. In our updated strategy, increased emphasis is placed on the customer's benefit and our impact, which serve as indicators of our success." says Antti Vasara.
Another indicator of impact is customer satisfaction, which has remained high: 93% of customers feel that cooperation with VTT has strengthened their knowledge base and expertise.
Although the pandemic challenged the whole world, VTT managed well. "When the pandemic struck, we followed three key principles: The most important thing is to guarantee the health and safety of our staff and customers, to ensure undisrupted customer work and to emerge from the pandemic stronger positioned than we were when we entered it. We have succeeded excellently in the pursuit of this goal," Antti Vasara continues.
In March 2020, most of the personnel moved quickly to remote work. Using exceptional arrangements, experimental activities have continued all the time in facilities such as our laboratories, and the employees doing experimental work have adapted well to the changes. VTTers in different localities remained healthy and customer work continued without disruption.
The results of the exceptional year have been compiled in an annual report published on the VTT website. It also includes a sustainability report in the form of a GRI index table. In 2020, VTT defined its sustainability priorities: sustainable foundation, thriving professionals, empowered customers and resilient society.
CEO Antti Vasara reminds that the core of VTT's corporate social responsibility lies in the sustainability and handprint of its research and solutions: "Already at this point, the ongoing year appears much more hopeful. It is great that we can continue our work for a better world in a situation which has further clarified the significance of science and technology."
VTT's annual report 2020 has been published on our website. A report on the tax footprint, management, salaries and remuneration as well as the financial statements (in Finnish) have been published as annexes to the annual report.


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Federal agents on Wednesday served a search warrant to Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., at his Washington-area home as part of the government's investigation into his stock sales that were made early during the coronavirus outbreak.
A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to Fox News that FBI agents served the warrant and confiscated the senator's cellphone.
The Los Angeles Times first reported these details. One official reportedly said agents served an earlier warrant to obtain information from the senator's iCloud account. A law enforcement source told the paper that the Justice Department was reviewing communication between Burr and his broker.
Fox News reached out to Burr's office for comment and emailed his lawyer. Neither Burr nor the FBI has commented.
Burr has denied any wrongdoing and requested an ethics review of the sales.
Suspicions arose last month after it was revealed that several senators dumped stocks prior to the coronavirus pandemic taking hold of the global economy. The FBI reportedly reached out to Burr, the Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, to discuss the sale of as much as $1.7 million in stocks.
Senate records indicate that Burr and his wife sold between roughly $600,000 and $1.7 million in more than 30 transactions in late January and mid-February, just before the market began to nosedive and government health officials began to sound alarms about the virus. Several of the stocks were in companies that own hotels.
Burr -- who sat in on early briefings on the virus -- has acknowledged selling the stocks because of the coronavirus but said he relied "solely on public news reports," specifically CNBC's daily health and science reporting out of Asia.
The phone seizure was significant because it means the judge who signed off on the warrant was persuaded by federal agents and prosecutors that there was probable cause that a crime was committed, the L.A. Times reported.
The same day that Burr dumped the stocks, his brother-in-law also sold a significant amount of shares, according to a recent report from ProPublica.
That report, citing a public financial disclosure form from Burr's brother-in-law Gerald Fauth -- who serves on the National Mediation Board (NMB) -- revealed that he sold between $97,000 and $280,000 worth of stocks in a total of six transactions on Feb. 13, 2020. Burr's sales that day reportedly led to the Securities and Exchange Commission investigating whether non-public information played a role, which his attorney denies.
"Sen. Burr participated in the stock market based on public information and he did not coordinate his decision to trade on Feb. 13 with Mr. Fauth," attorney Alice Fisher said in a statement to ProPublica.
Besides Burr, the Daily Beast reported that Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., and her husband sold stock on Jan. 24, the same day she sat in on a closed-door coronavirus briefing as a member of the Senate Health Committee with the Trump administration and with Dr. Anthony Fauci in attendance.
Loeffler has defended the sales, claiming they were nothing out of the ordinary and were made without her involvement or knowledge.
"If you actually look at the personal transaction reports that were filed, it notices at the bottom that I'm only informed of my transactions after they occur — several weeks," Loeffler said at the time. "So, certainly, those transactions — at least on my behalf — were a mix of buys and sells. Very routine for my portfolio."
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., who is facing off against Loeffler for the Senate seat, seized on the Times' report and tweeted for the senator to "call her office."
Fox News' David Spunt and Ronn Blitzer and the Associated Press contributed to this report.


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This information sheet provides detailed information on the data processing practices performed by NAACCR on address data provided by Participating Member Registries for the purpose of geocoding using the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Geocoder hosted on the NAACCR servers. These details are provided for informational purposes only so that Participating Member Registries may understand and accept the risks of using the TAMU Geocoding services provided by NAACCR. NAACCR reserves the right to update or change these practices at any time without prior written notification to Participating Member Registries.
A Participating Member Registry may send address data to NAACCR to be processed using the TAMU Geocoder. This process associates geographic coordinates as output for each record within the input data using various software algorithms that analyze each input address supplied and identify the most appropriate corresponding geographic location from a set of geographic reference files to associate as output. When all records have been processed in batch, the Participating Member Registry is notified to download the results and delete the input and temporary files from the NAACCR servers.
Input address data files are transmitted by the Participating Member Registry for processing using the TAMU Geocoder hosted on the NAACCR servers via the secure hypertext transfer protocol (https) to NAACCR's secure web portal. The log-in username and password for the NAACCR secure web portal and password for encrypted files will be the same as the Participating Member Registry's MyNAACCR account.
Once uploaded, the Participating Member Registry must go through a series of steps to identify the data fields of the Participating Member Registry file. Upon doing so, these data are loaded into NAACCR database servers for temporary storage while being processed by the TAMU Geocoding system. After processing has completed, the Participating Member Registry must delete the file from their account. This action removes the uploaded and processed Participating Member Registry files on the NAACCR servers and deletes the temporary database files used during processing.
The input address associated with each record in the Participating Member Registry file will have a geographic location computed for it using the TAMU Geocoding Platform hosted on the NAACCR servers. These servers will be secured according to the guidelines in place in the separate Geocoding Data Confidentiality and Security Agreement.
Geographic output data will be associated with the input record to create the resulting geographic location data file that will be returned to the Participating Member Registry. To compute the output geographic coordinates for each Input address record, the TAMU Geocoder will query the NAACCR database containing the temporary data loaded by the Participating Member Registry using the transactional-structured query language (T-SQL). These queries will return the input address (street address, city, state, ZIP) and unique non-identifiable record identified associated with all input address data records. As each record is obtained from the database server, the TAMU Geocoder will perform the geocoding task. This process will involve querying one or more databases that contain all of the geographic reference files usable by the geocoding system. The geographic reference features resulting from these queries are used to compute the geographic output. Once the output is generated, the TAMU Geocoder will write the geographic location data for each input record as additional fields within the input address data in temporary database storage. The final result of processing a complete input address data file will be that all records in the input address data file have geocoded information appended.


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PALM DESERT, Calif. (Aug. 12, 2016) — AskPatty.com Inc., a website that provides advice and information on auto purchases and maintenance with a focus on women consumers, is partnering with CAARMO, a vehicle telematics company, to develop a tool that would connect drivers, cars and service providers in real-time.
The CAARMO service uses a telematics-enabled on-board diagnostics (OBD) device that plugs into the customer's car and monitors the vehicle for trouble codes and other messages.
The device links to a smartphone app and, if the vehicle generates a trouble code, a message is sent to the customer's phone, and to the service center, describing the error and what the code means, the companies said.
This communication provides the customer with an instant notification of what is causing the trouble and enables the service center to reach out to that customer to offer help.
Additional features include instant "vehicle health reports" for both consumer and service center, a running history of maintenance and repair visits, and the ability to send maintenance alerts, specials and other communications directly to customers via the smartphone app, according to the companies.


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Plex is really doing too much for Shark Week with titles like Sharks of the Corn and Raiders of the Lost Shark and, my favorite, Shark Exorcist, streaming for free. (Plex)
Ask and you shall receive. Behold, the Kraft Mac-n-Cheese Ice Cream. (Eater)
A new dark comedy based on a super creepy true story stars Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell. Get all the therapy you can now because you won't trust your therapist after this. (Deadline)
I'm going to get pregnant just to take these maternity photos like DaniLeigh.
As you grow so does my love, discipline, and focus 🤍 pic.twitter.com/hJcOBro2UK
— Danileigh (@DaniLeigh) July 16, 2021
Finally someone is speaking up about things that really matter: the hot dog-to-bun ratio. (Pajiba)
I wish I had the same passion this 33-year-old "speedrunner" playing Super Mario Bros. 3 has. (Macleans)
Is this Lego remake of Black Widow trailer supposed to be adorable? I'm sold. (Nerdist)
The rich people who didn't go up into space (yet) are instead going on a 132-night world cruise for $73,499 to $199,999 per person. I have so many questions. (NPR)
Ashanti is the best and I will die on this hill. (Plex)
As a very short person, I am looking forward to this trend of giant platform heels taking off thanks to the legend Olivia Rodrigo. (In Style)
Apparently the U.S. Army has a warehouse full of Nazi art. (The New Yorker)
The berry leather with sumac sugar looks so good I'm tempted to actually make it. (The Guardian)
Black Widow Lego trailer, cute. Actual Lego gun, not cute. (Washington Post)
How many movies need to come out before people learn not to buy a Chucky doll at a garage sale? Obvs he's possessed. The cute little demon has his own series by SYFY and USA Network coming October 12.
#chucky is the name, slashing is my game. watch your backs starting october 12. pic.twitter.com/exhzdXfm2R
— Chucky (@ChuckyIsReal) July 16, 2021
How has French toast waffles not occurred to me before? Mind blown. (TikTok)
We don't deserve Italians. First they give us pizza and now this, a stack of drawers that turn into a spiral staircase. (Core 77)
Tennis pro Naomi Osaka is now in Barbie form. (My Modern Met)
Lombard Street in San Francisco is really beautiful and fun in theory
What's the name of this famous street and where is it located? pic.twitter.com/978JGLzSe6
— Abraxsys (@Abraxsys) July 16, 2021
I hope using AI is not going to become a trend to make dead people say things they didn't. We already had enough good, real material from Anthony Bourdain. (Variety)
I'm listening to the How to Save a Planet podcast because I live in California and I'm really done with these wildfires. (Plex)
"You're making me feel like I ain't shit right now." This is exactly how I feel watching these kitchen organizing TikToks.
As a Leo, I feel personally attacked by this.
LmAo!! annnnnnnnnd! pic.twitter.com/RBnteuJDbk
— Leslie Jones 🦋 (@Lesdoggg) July 16, 2021
I can't believe we're still having "firsts" for women but an MLB game will be called entirely by women. (New York Times)
The humongous woman from the new Resident Evil is a major – what do the kids these days say – thirst trap. (Slate)
More on Plex:
Raiders of the Lost Shark