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Somewhere deep within the vaults of Hydeland lies the fabled Dragon's Crown, an artefact of such preciousness and power that the ruling elite have joined forces to unearth it. And you've been hired to help them.
Playing as any of six strapping warriors, you set out to explore the darkest and most dangerous of Hydeland's labyrinths. You'll need sharp wits and a stout heart - as well as a knack for splitting goblin skulls - to pursue your quest to its end and win fame and fortune as an adventurer.
From the action-packed outset, Dragon's Crown is a riotous ride through a world of fantastical characters and events. The story progresses through a series of beautifully animated cut-scenes accompanied by brilliantly voiced narration. It's like watching a crisply drawn fantasy comic book come to life in front of you, and pretty soon all you can think about is discovering what's around the next corner or in the next chamber - and how you're going to destroy it.
Dragon's Crown is as jaw-droppingly sumptuous as the most ardent fantasy fan could hope, with stunning environments and crisp, colourful characters that seem to have stepped straight out of a top-notch anime movie.
Everything is vividly realised, from the gloomiest underground cavern to the ugliest, grey-skinned orc, and it's a joy to roam into a dank cave and be confronted by a swooping, screeching harpy or a black-furred tarantula the size of your head.
Combining pounding battle sound effects with a spellbinding orchestral score - that's twinkling and pretty one moment and darkly frantic the next - it all adds up to a hugely cinematic experience, and one that you won't want to end. With its ingenious menu system of item upgrades and weapon customisation options, Dragon's Crown adds an inspired role-playing angle to its core of hack and slash action. Simply put, this is a game of expert production polish and finesse, which lets you focus on having fun while ensuring the experience is layered and deep enough to keep you coming back for more.
Dragon's Crown boasts a tantalising array of playable characters, each with his or her own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Fancy wading into battle in a full suit of armour and raining thunderous sword-strokes upon enemy heads? Then choose the knight, whose boyish face belies his massive strength. Prefer to keep a safe distance and send a volley of arrows thudding into a goblin's chest? Then plump for the elf, a spritely soul with the speed and agility of an athlete.
Next up are the hugely bearded dwarf, who makes up for what he lacks in height in frenzied fearlessness, and the towering Amazon, a female warrior of fearsome stature who wields an equally fearsome long-handled axe. Those of a more mystical bent might choose the Wizard or the Sorceress - masters of the magical arts whose knowledge of ancient lore allows them to unleash amazing assaults on opponents in some of the most visually spectacular attacks in the game.
The range of distinct characters and their differing attributes ensures that Dragon's Crown is as much about skill and strategy as it is all-out combat. Once you've conquered the game with one warrior, you'll be gagging to get back out and explore Hydeland's dungeons with another - which means learning a whole new range of tactics and special attacks. After all, there are more than enough monsters to keep all six adventurers on their toes...
At the heart of the game is combat - and lots of it - but while hacking and slashing will get you so far, after a while you'll need to ensure your skills match your courage.
Fighting evil beasts and collecting treasure earns you XP that can be used to upgrade your abilities and fashion your fighter into a specialised killing machine able to seize the Dragon's Crown.
During your quest, you'll get help from a colourful supporting cast of thieves, fairies and other weird and wondrous characters, as well as uncover new ways to enhance your arsenal of awe-inspiring weapons. By the end of the adventure, you'll have a huge array of powerful attacks at your disposal - and will be adept at using resources such as money and experience to tailor your warrior to the tasks ahead. Which is just as well, because when you've proven yourself the scourge of evil with one warrior, it's time to start mastering the next...
The action in Dragon's Crown reaches new heights in the game's cooperative multiplayer mode, which allows you to roam the dungeons of Hydeland with up to three friends on one PS3 system (or an Ad Hoc Mode connection on PlayStation Vita) or up to three fellow fantasy fans online.
Brawling your way through lairs and labyrinths as a team brings a whole new excitement to the experience, amping up the combat and making for some seriously stupendous melee fighting. It's great fun to keep watch over your mates, and never less than thrilling when a dastardly goblin ambush is foiled by the quick thinking and brutal swordplay of an ally.
There's even the option to interact with fans on other formats thanks to Cross-Play functionality, which lets PS3 and PS Vita owners play alongside each other and even swap save data. This nice touch makes it easier than ever to continue the quest whenever and wherever you like.
1 Players
Front Touchscreen
2-4 Network Players
Network Play
See it in action


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A newly released roster editor for All-Pro Football 2K8 refreshes that pro football alternative for the NFL 2K5 diehards and conscientious objectors to the NFL's seven-year exclusive license of the Madden franchise.
Released today, the editor is by Operation Sports' FlyingFinn, who also built a roster editor for the venerated 2K5. This application, however, only works with the Xbox 360 version of APF2K8. But it allows for the wholesale rewriting and re-speccing of player traits such as their ratings, abilities, physical appearances and the like.
What does this mean for casual fans? Unfortunately, as APF2K8 featured 24 teams only, and there are 32 in the NFL, this isn't some kind of total-conversion mod porting the NFL into this team. The game's notorious lack of a multi-season franchise mode also clamps down on that aspect. But it's reasonable to think that, with the app, 2K football enthusiasts will be developing and sharing files based on current teams.
The download and a full set of features and instructions is at the link below.
FlyingFinn Releases All-Pro 2K8 Editor [Operation Sports]

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm trying to understand how to refer to "a row" of something in French. Also, what preposition goes with this, and what verb? For instance, in English we might say:
The ducks were sitting in a row.
The ducks were all in a row.
There was a row of ducks.
How is such a sentiment expressed in French?


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Beer Pairings: What to Eat with Oktoberfest Beers
Beer and food are better together.
With the release of seasonal beers being pushed ever earlier on the calendar, mid-August usually marks the appearance of Oktoberfest on the shelves. I even saw one in mid-July this year. While some will grouse about this seasonal-creep, I don't mind so much. I would gladly drink Oktoberfest beers all year long.
The style as we know it was invented around 1840 as an adaptation of the then-popular Vienna Lager style. Also called Märzen—German for March—it was traditionally brewed in the spring to mark the end of what was at the time Germany's legal brewing season. Stored in cold caves, Märzenbier was consumed through the summer. Come fall, the remaining stock was drunk to celebrate the harvest and the start of new brewing season.
This German-style amber lager has a malt-forward profile that showcases the toasty, caramel-like flavors of melanoidin, an aromatic compound resulting from the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between sugar, amino acids, and heat that occurs when malt is kilned. This same reaction is responsible for the flavors in many foods—consider crispy toast and well-seared meat. Sharing these flavors in common helps make Oktoberfest beers extraordinarily compatible with many different foods.
Grilled, Roasted, Dry-Rubbed, and Baked
Oktoberfest is a great accompaniment to grilled, roasted, dry-rubbed, and baked meats, especially pork. These cooking methods all bring out those toasty flavors that create resonance with the Oktoberfest beers.
Grilled pork chops are the perfect partner for Märzen beers—here's a recipe to try. Pork chops are actually fairly lightweight, so the sweet flavor of pork is a one to one match with the lager in terms of intensity. The golden brown crust that appears around the edges and in the grill-marks of a well-prepared pork chop gives a great tie-in to the toasty/caramel malt flavor in the beer. Rub the chop with herbs to pull out a subtle German hop character from the beer.
You should also try Märzenbiers with a roasted pork roast or loin. Again, the browning that occurs during roasting will tie into the toasty melanoidin flavors in the beer and the beer's sweetness pulls out some sweetness from the meat. Cook it with onions, carrots, and parsnips for an even better match.
You can also pair Oktoberfest beers with dry-rubbed ribs—either beef or pork. The beer's malty sweetness counters a spicy rub and builds harmony with a sweeter one. Herbs and spices in the rub sit well with spicy hops. When finished on a grill, ribs pick up a toasty crust that melds nicely with the toasty taste of the beer. There's that Maillard reaction again.
The sweet and salty pairing of baked ham with Märzenbiers amps up the beer's refreshing bitterness and complements its natural sweetness. Try this recipe from The Food Lab.
Try Tomato Sauce
The malty-sweet profile of Oktoberfest provides a tasty counterpoint to the acidity of tomato-based Italian dishes, and the toasty malt and spicy hops can tie into the savory elements of the dish.
Oktoberfest beers are awesome with any tomato-sauce topped pizza. The yeasty crust latches onto the malty core, and the beer's slight sweetness cuts the acidity of the sauce. Top it off with mushrooms, onions, and grilled peppers, plus sweet or spicy Italian sausage. (I recently had a bratwurst pizza at a brewpub in Green Bay, Wisconsin; topped with bratwurst, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, and mozzarella cheese. While not tomato-based, it was a surprisingly delicious treat and would be a perfect soulmate to a Märzen.)
Pasta Bolognese works in the same way, balancing sugar and acid, plus herbs and spices that complement to the beer's subtly spicy hops.
South of the Border
For a brief time in the 19th-century, Mexico was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. There were a lot of Germans and Austrians living there, and they brought their beers with them. In fact, Oktoberfest's cousin, Vienna Lager, survived as a style in Mexico long after it had died out in Austria.
I especially like Oktoberfest with lighter Mexican fare like tacos and tostadas. Carefully warmed tortillas are a toasty tie-in to the beer. Oktoberfest and pork are natural companions, so try some carnitas tacos with your favorite Märzen. (You can make an awesome version at home with Kenji's recipe.) Sweet pork complements the malt while the flowery flavor of cilantro plays with the hops. Add a dash of pico de gallo for a bit of acidic contrast.
Oktoberfest Beers You Should Try
At this time of year store shelves are flooded with Oktoberfest beers both imported and domestic. Great examples aren't hard to find. These are a few of my favorites.
Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen: This extraordinary example from the Heller-Trum brewery in Aying, Germany near Munich is my hands-down favorite. It's delectably malty with caramel and toasty flavors, but perfectly balanced.
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest-Märzen: Caramel and toast are at the forefront, but floral hops and moderate bitterness provide a subtle counterpoint. Light body and a crisp, lager finish keep it superbly drinkable.
Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen: Bready malt up front is supported by a background of caramel. A touch of herbal hops and gentle bitterness provide some balance. It finishes beautifully clean and crisp.
Schell's Oktoberfest: A two-time GABF silver medal winner, this is a great example of the style. A slight tilt in favor of caramel-like melanoidins gives it rich flavor and full body.
Left Hand Oktoberfest: At a comparatively high 6.6% ABV this is a true "fest" style Oktoberfest beer. Biscuity-caramel malt leads the way to a refreshingly dry finish. Light herbal hops ride over the top.
Samuel Adams Octoberfest: Light, well-balanced, and extremely drinkable are good descriptors for this beer. It boasts a delicate interplay of malt and hops in which malt just comes out the winner. The finish is dry with a touch of lingering toffee. It's a good example of the style that is available everywhere.
These are some of my favorite pairings with Oktoberfest beers. What do you like to eat with this seasonal treat?
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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|Surfs up at Sugar Marina Resort–SURF–Kata Beach! Grab your board shorts and bikinis
and head to this brand new theme resort just ten minutes walk from the white sands of Kata Beach.
Kata is a popular destination for couples and families offering plenty to see and do from shopping for local handicrafts to riding elephants. Promthep Cape, Big Buddha temple and a stunning three beach viewpoint are all popular attractions nearby. Enjoy water sports at Kata and Karon beaches or relax in peace and tranquillity at nearby Kata Noi.
Kata village is a great place to stroll at night and enjoy the friendly atmosphere and tourist amenities but for late night discos and bars hop in a tuk-tuk and head to Patong only fifteen minutes drive away.
The fun surf theme and beautifully designed guestrooms make each visit one to remember and the facilities and services ensure you have an extra comfortable stay. The seventy five guest rooms are available in three room categories including a choice of pool views and direct pool access.
The resort has a well-equipped fitness gym and a separate boxing gym for working out, but if all you want to do is relax, there are plenty of loungers by the swimming pool. The Wave Restaurant serves a delicious international breakfast buffet and guests can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and mini-bar in all rooms.
|The comfortable guest rooms at Sugar Marina Resort–SURF–Kata Beach
are beautifully finished in three unique design themes which are available in each room category.
The classic look has understated elegance, the loft design is extra cosy while the retro style has timeless charm.
All rooms have a spacious private balcony, sofa bed, coffee table and unique sliding panel revealing the bathtub.
Deluxe Room (36 Rooms)The Deluxe is designed for relaxation and features a furnished balcony, super comfortable king size or twin beds, large sofa and an en-suite bathroom with tub and shower. The thoughtful design allows guests to take a soothing bath, slide back the partition and tilt the TV for uninterrupted viewing! Get comfy in the soft bathrobe and slippers and enjoy complimentary snacks and drinks replenished daily.
Deluxe Pool View (30 Rooms)Check out the action in the pool from your private balcony and enjoy the attractive fibre optic pool lights after dark. All rooms can be adapted to have twin single beds or an extra wide king-size and the sofa bed is handy for extra guests or just lounging. The room has attractive lighting that sets the perfect mood and the sliding partition to the bathroom allows guests to watch a movie while in the bathtub!
Deluxe Pool Access (9 Rooms)Step from your private balcony to the refreshing pool, life couldn't get any easier! The design details make all the difference such as the sliding panel that reveals the bathtub and allows guests to watch TV and even enjoy pool views from the tub. Wrap yourself up in a soft bathrobe, use the handy remote to adjust the air-con while in bed and help yourself to the free mini-bar.
|THE WAVE Restaurant
The surf style Wave café is where the generous international breakfast buffet is served. Choose from delicious Asian and Western cooked breakfasts, seasonal tropical fruits, cereals, salads and fresh bakery goods to name a few. The cool industrial theme restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and a patio area with outdoor seating in view of the huge waterfall and surfboard at the hotel entrance. An a la carte room service menu is available throughout the day for convenient in-room dining, or snacking by the pool.
In-Room Dining
Whether you are weary from travelling or simply want to dine in privacy the room service will deliver a selection of snacks, meals and drinks to your private accommodation from 10.00 to 22.00 hrs.
Internet Corner
The handy Internet area next to the lobby comprises of personal computers accessible 24 hours a day, free of charge, keeping you in touch with the rest of the world.
Swimming Pool
The centrepiece of the resort is the U-shaped swimming pool featuring a distinctive compass design that lights up at night. The pool has a massage seat with water jets to soothe away any aches and there are poolside loungers for relaxing under the sun.
Keeping fit is double the fun with two zones designed for fitness and exercise. The well-equipped gym room next to the lobby comprises of machines and weights while the work-out gym near the pool has a Muay Thai kick bag and space for classes such as yoga and aerobics.
Car Parking
Guests arriving with their own vehicle can use the resort parking spaces free of charge and area monitored by security guards 24 hours a day for added peace of mind.
Whether you need a reliable transfer to the airport or a taxi ride to the shopping centre, we have friendly drivers on standby that will deliver you to your destination safely. Ask at reception for more details.
Car/Bike Rentals
Enjoy the freedom of travel during your stay with a private hire car or motorbike. The resort can arrange a rental vehicle from a reputable company giving you independence to explore the gorgeous beaches, shopping malls and other attractions.
Free Wi-Fi
We understand the importance of the Internet in today's connected world and provide this service free of charge in all areas of the resort for easy access on all mobile devices and personal computers.
Free Mini-bar
All Sugar Marina Resorts provide a complimentary mini-bar in all guestrooms that includes chilled beer, fruit juice, soft drinks, water and snacks replenished daily.
|Situated in a quiet street at the centre of Kata village within ten minutes walk of Kata Beach and just a little further to Karon Beach, surrounded by excellent tourist amenities, activities and attractions. And only a short stroll from local shops and markets.


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04 March, 2014 | (01 hr)
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Enthusiastic employees have proven to outproduce and outperform the average workforce. Yet, often managers can hurt employee positivity and drive. Join David Sirota and Douglas Klein as they discuss their new book, The Enthusiastic Employee, which examines what managers and business leaders need to do in order to maintain a more passionate, performance-driven workforce.
By providing research-grounded answers to crucial questions, the authors will teach viewers what employee satisfaction really means, which management practices have the greatest positive performance impact, and what's the relationship between employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, and profit. For additional information please visit the Sirota Website.
Who Should Attend: Human capital professionals with responsibilities or interests in Employee Engagement and Talent Management
David Sirota, Ph.D.
David Sirota has been engaged in behavioral research and its applications in organizations for over 50 years. Since founding Sirota Consulting in 1972, he has established a national reputation for improving the performance of individual executives and managers, major groups within an organization...Full Bio
Douglas Klein
Douglas Klein is the Chief Leadership Advisor at Sirota Leadership Advisory. Doug has over 22 years of experience and currently is focusing on helping senior leaders overcome the intangible obstacles to organizational performance with a special emphasis on values, culture, conflict, engagement, a...Full Bio
Brian Gareau
Brian Gareau is a Senior Fellow, Human Capital at The Conference Board. In this role, Brian supports the Human Capital Practice which includes The Conference Board Human Capital Exchange™, research, conferences, webcasts and programs in a broad spectrum o...Full Bio


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Analyst, Washington, DC
At BCG, Visionaries navigate complexity with ease. They use their insight and intuition to identify the solutions that will create lasting impact. Alyssa goes deep to understand challenges.
The best part of working at BCG is that I am empowered and encouraged to create my own destiny. I'm not forced into a preconceived track. Rather, I'm expected to discover my interests, set my own goals, and ask for support if needed.
I began my career in national security as an intelligence analyst with the US government. After working in defense for a few years, I realized I had a deep interest in the business side of the industry. My experience at BCG has helped me to learn about the many segments that make up the larger aerospace and defense industry. Before joining, I was very siloed and only knew about the intelligence community. Nowadays, I can spend my mornings discussing commercial aircraft component pricing and my afternoons researching the manufacturing process of military ships. The work is constantly evolving, which keeps each day interesting.
In addition to the interesting work, I appreciate that my voice is heard. I am still a young analyst, but I am consistently impressed that partners ask for my opinion and perspective. This has helped me break out of my introvert shell and mature professionally.
Alyssa holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University, with majors in political science and history.
I learned that I need to speak up. If I'm in the room, it means I have something to contribute and I shouldn't be afraid to offer my thoughts. I'm used to a hierarchy in the workplace, but it's very different at BCG. Just because I'm young doesn't mean my opinion is thought less of. I know I feel comfortable speaking up in meetings, which has helped to deepen my relationships with mentors and colleagues.
I knew there were very few other companies that share BCG's level of intellectual curiosity and empowering environment. Every day, I'm surrounded by the best and brightest. My colleagues have interesting backgrounds and experiences, so it's a great place to make friends and learn from your peers. I'm still defining what I want my career to be, and I don't think there is another company that would offer such support in helping me build my vision.
I had always heard that consulting is an incredibly demanding and life-engulfing career, and while it's definitely not easy, I was surprised to see how manageable BCG makes the lifestyle. From day one, I've been taught ways to manage my workload and encouraged to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It has helped alleviate my fear of burning out.


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Girl Meets World, the Disney Channel's long-awaited Boy Meets World spin-off, premiers tonight. Except it's not Disney's typical audience of pre-teens who are awaiting this premiere—it's people in their 20s who have been clamoring the loudest for this show about an eleven-year-old girl. And why? Because we millennials fucking love Boy Meets World.
For those unfamiliar, Boy Meets World aired on ABC from 1993 to 2000, as part of the network's "TGIF" lineup of family-friendly programming. The titular boy was Cory Matthews (played by Ben Savage). He was in sixth grade when the series began. His parents were happily married. He had an older brother (Eric, played by Will Friedle) and a younger sister (Morgan, played brilliantly by Lily Nicksay, then forgettably by Lindsay Ridgeway). His best friend was Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) and the object of his affections was Topanga Lawrence (Danielle Fishel). Most important, though, was his next-door neighbor and perpetual teacher, Mr. Feeny (William Daniels), who was the show's voice of reason and guiding light.
But all that sounds pretty cookie-cutter. It doesn't really capture the enduring appeal of Boy Meets World. So what does? What accounts for the enthusiasm for Cory and Topanga's return? Continue reading


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In case you missed it, last night, citizens of Wisconsin voted to keep their asshat of a governor in office in a recall election that garnered national media attention. It was a contentious, divisive race — Wisconsinites on both sides were pretty fired up about it, with voter turnout shattering expectations — and one that stands to seriously impact public sector employees across the state. Things were so heated that one woman, furious with challenger Tom Barrett's failure to defeat Scott Walker, slapped the Democrat across the face after he conceded the election.
The woman was reportedly upset with the Milwaukee mayor for rolling over and conceding the race — like a submissive male wolf encountering an alpha male — while voters in the building were still waiting in line to cast their ballots.
But the slap didn't come from nowhere; according to Politico, the woman asked Barrett if it was okay if she slapped him. He responded that he preferred hugs and leaned forward expecting some friendliness. Team Slap won.


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In this optical microscope image, light can be seen passing though a silica nanowire on a silica aerogel surface. New technologies have made it possible to draw glass in long, ultra-smooth wires with uniform diameters in the nanometer range. Because of their extraordinary uniformity, these nanowires have unique properties important in optics and photonics, both of which require precise control of light. • SIZE: This nanowire is 530 nm long and the radius of the bent wire is 8 µm. • IMAGING TOOL: Optical Microscope
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Scientific Image - Glass Nanowire 33.29 KB
Nano Content Map
Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.
Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.
Year created
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Eric Mazur, Harvard University - Attribution is required.
The creator listed here has made this image available to NISE Network partners for non-profit educational use only. Uses may include but are not limited to reproduction and distribution of copies, creation of derivative works, and combination with other assets to create exhibitions, programs, publications, research, and websites.


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Dealing with customer complaints is inevitable in any kind of business. They are especially critical for medical device companies because complaints may indicate serious safety issues.
The Quality System Regulation ( 21 CFR Part 820 ) requires medical device companies to establish and maintain procedures for receiving, reviewing, and dealing with customer complaints by a formally designated unit, as well as to maintain complaint files. There are similar requirements for ISO-certified medical device companies. ISO 9000 requires management to review feedback from customers, especially complaints. ISO 13485 requires the establishment of a procedure to gather feedback from customers as a way of monitoring quality.
Select all the resources you're interested in downloading
The MasterControl™ integrated quality management suite is a configurable and easy-to-use software solution that helps ensure regulatory compliance. Recognizing the significance of dealing with customer complaints with software, and that validating a software solution ( as required by 21 CFR Part 11 ) is a necessary component in CGMP compliance, MasterControl offers full-cycle validation services, including IQ, OQ, and PQ validation tests. MasterControl continuously develops new methods to cut the time involved in validating a system and to make it easier to validate software upgrades, both of which are essential in lowering overall validation cost.
MasterControl Customer Complaints™ software is a complete and easy-to-use solution for dealing with customer complaints that helps FDA-regulated contract organizations to automate complaint handling, integrate it with the quality system, and manage complaint resolution more effectively. Here's how it can answer key challenges in the customer complaint process:
FDA Contractors Customer Complaints Handling Challenges
MasterControl Customer Complaints Software Solution
Different Sources
In a manual system, dealining with customer complaints may prove to be more complex than it is profitable. Complaints for example may come from different sources (e-mail, phone, fax, letters, corporate Web site, sales reps, etc.). These complaints may languish in someone's "in" box, especially if there is no formal and standard procedure for processing them. Without a cohesive structure that captures complete information in a timely manner, it is almost impossible to formulate a strategy for complaint resolution.
Centralized Source
MasterControl Customer Complaints software provides a secure and centralized platform for receiving customer complaints and storing all subsequent documentation pertaining to investigation and correction of the problem. A single, cohesive system for dealing with customer complaints makes search and retrieval of complaints and related data easy. The solution offers the capability to formalize and standardize complaint handling through a simple three-step process. MasterControl is web-based, so customers can log complaints from virtually anywhere.
Disconnected Processes
When a company uses different tools that are not connected, tracking complaints and follow-up work can be a major obstacle. If there is no standardized response to complaints, the required documentation may fall through the cracks and correction of the problem, delayed.
Connected Software System
MasterControl connects the customer complaint process to the rest of the quality system, providing links to corrective actions and adverse event handling for better dealing with customer complaints. Via an external link, customers can integrate MasterControl Customer Complaints with other computer systems. For example, a link can be provided on a company Web site, within a CRM application (or any application that supports URL links), so employees, customers, or partners can easily initiate a customer complaint. Connectivity will help managers track a complaint from initiation to completion and give them the ability to proactively improve the complaint-handling process.
Unwarranted Legal Exposure
In a manual system for dealing with customer complaints, record keeping may be inadequate for the purpose of answering a product liability lawsuit. Managers don't have the ability to track complaints and see the compliance program as a whole, both of which are essential in developing a strategy for preventing unwarranted legal exposure.
Controlled Legal Exposure
MasterControl provides advanced reporting capabilities for real-time view of the state of a company's compliance. It allows continuous monitoring and promotes improvement, both of which can help increase a company's readiness to answer any possible lawsuit. A controlled record keeping environment that shows how complaints are investigated and addressed may help reduce legal exposure.
Dealing with Customer Complaints: Inefficient Complaint Processes
A manual system is plagued by bottlenecks: misplaced or overlooked complaints coming from disparate sources, incomplete information, lack of follow up, and inadequate response. All of these can result in delayed complaint resolution.
Dealing with Customer Complaints with an Efficient Complaint Process
MasterControl's complaint software will reduce the life cycle of the complaint process by streamlining different steps and consolidating different sources of complaints under a single platform. It provides a customizable form that captures all necessary information required for dealing with customer complaints, provides automatic follow-up via e-mail notification, and incorporates escalation to ensure timely response.
MasterControl Customer Complaints is a robust software solution that manages dealing with customer complaints more efficiently and effectively with the help of the following features:
Simple Three-Step Process - This best-practice process for dealing with customer complaints, is incorporated in a pre-configured, multi-page form that starts with the processing of a customer complaint by the coordinator/manager, automatically moving to the internal investigation step (conducted either by an expert or a team of experts), and culminating with a resolution of the issue as approved by the appropriate manager. Additional forms can be customized according to a company's special needs.
Compliant System - 21 CFR Part 11 requires an audit trail as a key control in making electronic records reliable. MasterControl maintains a secure, time-stamped audit trail that documents the identity of anyone who creates, modifies, or deletes an electronic record (such as a customer complaint file), when the action occurred, and the changes made to the record. MasterControl meets FDA requirements for electronic signature and software validation which makes dealing with customer complaints very effective. It facilitates compliance with regulatory standards such as ISO 9000, ISO 14000, and ISO 13485.
Analytics and Reporting Tool - MasterControl's advanced reporting capabilities increase management oversight and demonstrate appropriate controls to regulatory agencies. The solution includes the following customizable reports:
MedWatch Form - For an FDA-regulated company, a customer complaint may turn out to be the reporting of an adverse event, which comes with its own set of regulatory requirements. MasterControl Customer Complaints includes the FDA's MedWatch 3500A form for mandatory reporting of adverse events, allowing a seamless handover to an adverse events specialist for dealing with customer complaints, while ensuring that all required data is immediately collected.
CAPA Integration - MasterControl gives you the option to integrate customer complaint handling with the corrective and preventive action CAPA process to automatically escalate any serious quality problem. Theses combined features make dealing with customer complaints and with CAPA far easier.
Sustained Compliance - Regulated companies cannot ignore customer complaints. They are the ultimate indicators of product/service quality. Every complaint has to be properly evaluated, investigated, and the situation, corrected. MasterControl Customer Complaints is designed to streamline and simplify the process for dealing with customer complaints, foster efficiency throughout the enterprise, and keep compliance costs down. MasterControl will not only help you attain FDA and ISO compliance but sustain it year after year. With MasterControl, you can count on a partner that will support your compliance efforts over the long haul.
If you would like more information about the MasterControl software for dealing with customer complaints, feel free to contact a MasterControl representative.


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A life in flux.
An American Dane and a Danish American.
Young mom ironman woman.
Tired and manic.
Desperate but happy.
Two homes rather than none.
We have been back in Denmark almost two weeks now. And everyone is actually doing well. Strange how we all seemed to dread coming back to Denmark, but love it now that we are here. I keep telling myself- it is ok to have two homes and two nationalities, despite it not being legal. No governing body can tell me where my heart is. It is good to have a husband who knows exactly how I feel. Christian, Natti and Mattias will always have a home both places, though.
I competed in Challenge Copenhagen ironman distance triathlon on Sunday and God, I adore this country. The swim, bike and run were all gorgeous. I wish everyone who loved triathlon could experience this event. And in perfect weather. Skønt as the Danes say. But more on that in a moment.
Today, in my new training mindset: no running if it is not killer, I ran intervals. Better to rest than stay the same. Better to go swimming in the murk of the Suså river with friends (instead of showering) than to waste my running legs on a blah slow run.
Today, 4 days post ironman, was intervals because I felt like it. 6 x 1 mile on the dirt track. (I'm still hesitant about getting a running coach because there is not enough room for the "I felt like it",)
Mile 1: 6:29 (uh oh - run to the woods with stomach...- body not happy with me - wake up! I say to body!)
Mile 2: 6:26 (run to woods - again!)
Mile 3: 6:31 (run to woods #3)
Mile 4: 6:34 50 second rest
- uh oh high school kids from Herlufshom boarding school are coming to the track for gym class. Rather than leaving, I decide to compete with the boys)
Mile 5: 6:18 -ok now we're talking. (Thanks for the inspiration 14 year old boys!) At this point one boy asks me to take off my clothes and put on his uniform. "Ellers tak" was my best Danish response "Otherwise thanks" :). 1:30 break
Mile 6: (started behind one boy who looked to be in decent shape) raced the boy for the whole 4 laps -- time 5:52!!! Woohoo. Fastest mile interval ever. Thank you young boy! Nothing like a spontaneous race. I then walked very carefully to the woods with stomach problems, without getting to thank him.
Challenge Copenhagen
In some ways my frustrations, fears and concerns about raising kids into such a chaotic life could be sublimated, if you will, by turning into an ironman athlete. Especially since I feel like I will never succeed as an iron mom. And that's exactly the type of mom they need at this moment.
The boring race details...
Swim 3.8km - as planned 1:37
Bike 180 km - far from as planned. The biggest problem was the bike clip falling off of my shoe after 20 miles!! I got it repaired 25 miles later but by that time my left leg was really hurting from biking so strangely. Time was something over 6 hours. 6:13 I think.
Run 42.2 km - just enjoyed it and hoped to get under 4 hours, which I did: 3:52
I finished in 12:13, which was almost an hour slower than I had predicted in January! But I was so grateful to be able to complete it after the shoe affair.
|Christian and I spent the day at Amager Strand the day before the triathlon. Tapering days are fun when you have kids.
|This is where the Challenge Copenhagen swim would be held the next day. Christian was contemplating sand castles.
Since I am so fortunate to have a great photographer husband, Rasmus, and friend, Martin Paldan, who took pictures of the entire triathlon, I will simply narrate their photos.
|When the morning of the race arrives, 99% of the work is done both for the participants and the families. Photo: Martin Paldan.
|My transitions were not fast. Okay, in all honesty, this was before the swim.. Photo: Martin Paldan
|My bike mount was brontosaurusoid. I was about to ride 70km further than I'd ever ridden on a bike I had finally gotten to fit me 3 days earlier (tri stems are magic!).
|The beginning of the bike ride was awesome. 31 km/hour average. This is the speed I had planned on for the entire distance... Photo: Martin Paldan
|My shoe clip had already fallen off here, but I was still having fun. Photo: Martin Paldan
|Twice during the bike we rode over wicked cobblestone streets. I'm sure they were really nice in the days of Søren Kirkegaard- but during a tri??? Photo: Martin Paldan
|Here is my spinning instructor, Anders Ploug. Grab or toss? Photo: Martin Paldan
|Finally, a discomfort I am comfortable with. Photo: Martin Paldan
|The best moments of the race were giving Christian hugs and high fives during the run. He was so excited that we went out to buy new (real) running shoes for him the next morning. Photo: Rasmus
I wish I could write a blog post that would do this experience justice. But more importantly I wish I could convey to my family how much I appreciate their help, tolerance and love which allowed me to train and compete in Challenge Copenhagen. I just hope I can support them in whatever kind of "ironman" they choose to be passionate about.
|Christian eating a vegan, organic, gluten free atomic slime slushee with cousins, Kristine and Kristoffer.


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Family, attorney question DWI arrest of 71-year-old woman
Ernestine Jenkins arrested on suspicion of DWI
Ernestine Jenkins, 71, was pulled over for allegedly speeding, but was arrested on suspicion of DWI – a charge she strongly denies.
The incident was made even worse, she said, because of social media.
"I was crying. I was nervous. I was scared. I couldn't do anything," she said.
Jenkins was stopped on Lee Road last Saturday night.
She had just left her family after they all had driven back from Tampa, Fla., after Thanksgiving.
Authorities said she was traveling at 77 mph in a 55 mph zone and crossed the center line of the roadway.
She was given a field sobriety test, handcuffed and detained on suspicion of DWI -- but not because of alcohol.
A deputy, a certified drug recognition expert, concluded she was under the influence of "central nervous system depressants and narcotic analgesics."
She flatly denies that, telling deputies at the sheriff's substation the same.
"I said, 'Sir, I'm not on anything. I've never taken a drug in my life that wasn't prescription,'" she said.
Regardless, she was booked and jailed.
"When I got in the holding cell, she told me to get on the floor. I got on the floor. There were six other girls in there and they took their blankets and gave them to me to be warm," she said.
Jenkins' attorney, Rachel Yazbeck, said the deputies' actions were "extremely aggressive."
"This should, in my opinion, this should not have happened," Yazbeck said.
Once released, Jenkins went to a local hospital and was voluntarily drug-tested. The results came back negative.
As last weekend progressed, the incident played out on Facebook with friends, family and strangers questioning the actions of the Sheriff's Office.
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain defended his deputies' actions via Facebook.
"The deputy who initiated the traffic stop took the unusual measure of speaking with Mrs. Jenkins' family member twice during her processing to assure him she was not in danger and was being well cared for," he said.
Jenkins said the deputy even tried to help her during one of the sobriety tests.
"He said, 'I'm going to help you.' He was afraid I was going to fall. He says, 'I'm going to stand right here by you, because I feel that you're going to fall,'" Jenkins said.
"Especially being elderly, taking that into consideration. I mean, like she said, she couldn't walk the straight line. She can't do it today," Yazbeck said.
Yazbeck said Jenkins never should have been arrested in the first place.
With the incident playing out on social media, her attorney said Jenkins faces the stigma of DWI.
"It's out there, and it's out there potentially forever," Yazbeck said.
"It's everywhere. 'Ernestine Jenkins has a DWI.' That's an awful blow for a woman my age," she said.
Now, Jenkins said she is determined to prove her innocence.
Strain said a drug test sample was obtained from Jenkins and it will be analyzed in certified lab.
Strain maintains that she was treated fairly and with compassion during her arrest.
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Get all 29 Phil Johnson and Roadside Attraction releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Not Gonna Happen, Binary Love, I Wanna Rock (Socially Responsibly), Until We Both Drop Dead, The Legend of Ms Garcia, Kissing In The Rain, Pretty From The Back (Album and Film), Super Dan, and 21 more. , and , .
Phil Johnson and Roadside Attraction Milpitas
Phil Johnson is a man who gets mistaken for a woman, but only by those not paying attention. That revelation kicks off a battle for self-awareness where comedy and music are the weapons of choice. It's a battle that has taken Phil to such esteemed festivals as the Edinburgh Fringe and Sundance Film Festivals and the Top 8 Finals of the World Series of Comedy. ... more
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We now interrupt all this HITECH act EHR stimulus money talk for our regularly scheduled program.
If you are looking at implementing EHR, then you better become familiar with a nice high quality scanner. Don't believe anyone who tells you that they are paperless. Sure, many don't store paper, but even the very best EMR or EHR implementation has loads of paper that needs to be scanned.
Still don't believe me, then how do you plan on handling a new patient who brings in a stack of paper records from their old doctor. I'll leave the rest of the list of possible paper for another day. Suffice it to say that you'll NEED a high quality scanner that can handle high volume.
When we first implemented we used a nice little all in one scanner. Worked well, except we literally burnt it out after less than a month of scanning.
After that we finally ponied up the money and bought some high quality, high volume fujitsu scanners. 4 years later we're still scanning with no end in sight. We do have to do regular cleaning (about 5 minutes max) to clean off all the ink that gets on the feeder. Otherwise, these babies are the best I've seen. Here's links to the 2 models fujitsu currently offers.
Fujitsu fi-6130 Duplex Scanner
Update: The Fujitsu Fi-6130 is no longer available, but here's the Fujitsu Fi-7160
Fujitsu FI-6230 Clr Duplex 40PPM/30PPM USB
Flat bed and ADF feeder:
Update: The Fujitsu Fi-6230 is no longer available, but here's the Fujitsu Fi-7260
One has a flat bed for those hard to feed scan items (ie. prescriptions) and the other is just the feeder for the high volume scanning. Some may think it's a little expensive for a scanner, but it's worth it.
I'll be updating my list of EMR and EHR technology with items like the scanners above. Many people have asked me which scanners are best, which computers are best, what about tablets, fax servers, etc, etc. Now you can just check out my list of software, tablets, computers, fax servers, scanners, printers, etc and see some recommended items to help your office.


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Twitter Tool Aims to Put Americans Back to Work
It's no secret Americans are on the hunt for jobs. Social recruitment site TweetMyJobs would like to help — by connecting potential employees and jobs through social media referrals.
TweetMyJobs leverages Twitter and Facebook's social graphs to connect job seekers with available positions. The site looks for social connections who can introduce and refer job seekers to employers.
Two U.S. cities, Atlanta and Newark, N.J., have launched local affiliate sites, Atlanta Jobs Connect and Newark Jobs Connect. Robin Richards, CEO of TweetMyJobs, told Mashable several additional cities, states and one foreign country are in the process of starting similar sites.
"Jobs are a local issues," Richards says, noting that there are currently 35,000 open positions in Newark and 82,000 open positions in Atlanta. "We know these open positions exist. We're creating a platform for mayors to shed light that they exist."
When TweetMyJobs locates a match, it identifies potential employees via text message, Twitter or email, depending on an individual's preference. Employers and job seekers pay nothing to use the platform.
"Employers actually have a real challenge finding a steady stream of job applicants," Newark Mayor Cory Booker told Mashable. "This platform creates a really great connection between the supply and demand of jobs, it connects of the dots."
While LinkedIn is considered to be the go-to professional social network, TweetMyJobs is more of a hub for lower-level or mid-career jobs, with positions for anyone from a pizza maker to a mail carrier.
"The government can't create jobs, but it can provide a platform to facilitate the job search," Richards says.
Do you think TweetMyJobs' use of social media is making use of an untapped medium? Would you use your Facebook and Twitter connections to connect with an employer? Let us know in the comments.


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COLUMBUS, Ohio – It is possible to have two favorite countries to root for in the World Cup, several international players on the Crew said.
Naturally, Duncan Oughton will be following New Zealand's "All Whites," even though he is still bitterly disappointed at not making its World Cup roster.
"I hope they do well," he said. "We've got enough good players now that we could shock a team or two. Obviously, the goal is to get out of the group. I have faith in the boys. There's some good players there."
When asked who he favors in Saturday's U.S.-England match, he said he has to support the Americans, especially because Crew teammates Frankie Hejduk, Chad Marshall and Robbie Rogers have donned the stars and stripes uniform, although though none of them made it South Africa.
"I'll go with the U.S.," Oughton said. "We've got guys on the [U.S.] team here. I want to support them. Growing up I would have said England, but now that I've been here a while, I've got to support my boys."
The same sentiment was expressed by French midfielder Leandre Griffit. He arrived in the U.S. in February for a tryout with the Houston Dynamo. After being released, he came to Columbus and was signed on May 13.
While he considers Spain a favorite, "I'm going to be behind France and the U.S. because I am here. The World Cup has one or two surprise teams. Why not America? They won against Spain in the Confederations Cup [in 2009]."
Forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Argentina) and midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo (Nigeria) will also be following their countries and hope the U.S. succeeds, but no foreigner on the Crew has more of a rooting interest than defender Andy Iro.
The Liverpool native walked a delicate line when recently asked by MLSSoccer.com to predict a score of Saturday's match. His official answer was "England, 3-1" but he initially gave a bigger margin before asking that it be retracted and not mentioned.
Nonetheless, he is firmly in the Three Lions' corner.
"It could get ugly," he said.
"I would obviously like it to be a closer game now that I've been in the U.S. a little while," Iro added. "I do want them to do well. It would be good if they do well."
Even with a loss to England, Iro feels the Yanks can get by Slovenia and Algeria to advance beyond the group stage but that it won't be easy.
"I think they'll get out," he said. "Those Eastern Bloc teams are so organized. They've always got one player who lights it up. The African teams, I would expect them to be organized, too. It's on their continent, they know the climate."
As for his home country, well, it better go deep in the tournament.
"There's more pressure on England than anyone. They haven't won the World Cup since '66," Iro said. "I remember being back in England in 2002 when Beckham hurt his metatarsal just before the World Cup. Every day for a couple of weeks leading up the World Cup they'd post David Beckham's foot on the front page in the biggest newspapers in England."
He praises coach Fabio Capello but said it's now or never for the core of England's team.
"[Frank] Lampard's getting old. [Steve] Gerrard is getting on. A lot of these guys four years from now are going to be done," he said. "I know there's a new breed but these guys have been together, for the most part, eight to 10 years."
While Iro has not known a World Cup title for England in his lifetime Griffit experienced the host Frenchmen beating Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final.
"It was one of the best games I have seen in my life," he said. "The World Cup is so big in France. When France plays you don't hear anything in the streets. Some people don't work. They take one month off to watch the World Cup. It's true."


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District News
Pillager E-Learning Days Plan (Click Here)
-On Monday, 10/19/2020 at the regular scheduled board meeting, the
school board approved a plan to hold E-Learning days when schools have
weather related cancellations. Click the link to learn more
High School & Middle School switch to Hybrid Learning Model (Click Here)
Meet the School Board Candidates (Click Here)
Pillager School YouTube Channel (Click Here)
Pillager School is a place that balances high academic standards and behavior expectations with the small town feeling of "Where everyone knows your name, and they're always glad you came." Our beautiful facilities serve the four distinct schools of Early Childhood through High School in one building allowing us to serve families throughout the educational life of their family. Supporting individual student learning by offering relatively smaller class sizes is important to us, along with delivering relevant and rigorous classroom experiences at all levels. Technology, Talented/Gifted, and Intervention programs are available in each of the four school systems. This brings our students near the top in MCA test scores in Region 5.
After school opportunities are varied from championship football to music and drama. A beautifully maintained sports facility, gyms, and music rooms allow students to prepare and perform with pride. Youth sports down to 3rd grade are managed by varsity level coaches giving a unified approach to learning each sport. Community Education is also active with a variety of other experiences for students and the community.
Community connection is important to Pillager School and we believe that parent involvement is one thing that makes us strong. A dozen or more major events or activities are available through the year to intentionally connect the community with students including VIP Days, Holiday events, PTO and Booster Club activities and more. Parents are always welcome to stop in to visit with teachers or administration.
Guiding Pillager School is a forward-thinking, unified School Board that is proactive in planning for the future. The growth of nearly 45% in enrollment in the last 10 years was not accidental, neither has it caught Pillager School unprepared. Exciting things are happening here, including adding a few new classrooms and brand new auditorium ready for use spring of 2021.
We invite families to check out this great school in our small community.
Pillager Schools


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Rosie O'Donnell Sings 'Hallelujah' After Her Show Receives Positive Review [VIDEO]
Ever since Rosie O'Donnell's new talk show debuted on OWN earlier this week, it's been struggling in the ratings and earned itself only mixed reviews.
So, when O'Donnell received a positive review in Time Magazine for 'The Rosie Show,' she sang an ode to its author, James Poniewozik, to the tune of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and was accompanied by nothing less than a full chorus. This marks the only time the name "Poniewozik" will ever be used in song.
Check it out below:


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The Last Book I Loved: White Noise
In the mid-1980s, I fled Ronald Reagan's America for the jungles of Costa Rica. Before leaving–forever, I thought–I shipped two boxes of paperbacks to the tropics. I would soon read every book from those boxes plus anything else I could grab in hopes of explaining a world gone mad....more


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P.O. Box 12068, State Capitol
Austin, Texas 78711
Tel. (512) 463-0112
August 7, 2002
AUSTIN -- Taking aim at the exploding costs of medical malpractice insurance that are driving some Texas health care providers out of business, the Special Senate Committee on Prompt Payment of Health Care Providers is expanding its interim study to address the situation.
The committee will hold its first hearings on the issue during a special meeting at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, August 15, 2002, at the University of Texas-San Antonio Business Building Room 2.01.02, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio.
"Texans who have built lifelong relationships with their health care providers are suddenly finding themselves abandoned because lawsuit abuse and the rising cost of malpractice insurance forced their providers to cut back or shut down their practices," Senator Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville, who chairs the Committee, said. "The specialties are being hit especially hard, including OBGYNs who have had to scale back or shut down their practices. I am very concerned about the effect this will have on women's health and the health of newborn babies. We must rein in these costs in order to ensure that Texans have access to the care they need."
The committee expanded its interim study at the request of Lieutenant Governor Bill Ratliff, who has asked that recommendations on how to rein in the cost of malpractice insurance be included in the committee report, which is due Nov. 15.
"Reducing frivolous litigation is key to solving this crisis," Senator Nelson said. "The practice of medicine should occur in hospitals and doctor's offices, not in the courtroom."