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First race of the year and it was NOT a road race! I wanted to go for the KL New Year Run on the 1st of Jan but as usual, I missed it. Haaaaaaaa!
Went for a semi long run and met up with my running friends after.
It was so good to see so many of them there on New Years' Day and up on the podium!
Compressport Combo Challenge Trail Run 2016
Thanks to Gus for the bib, Sabrina for arranging my race kit collection on race day and Teck Wai for letting me know all the race details (I'm usually clueless) and that they had changed the venue from Putrajaya to Mardi Maeps! I would have probably driven all the way to Putrajaya to run my own race.
Jeff kindly offered a ride to the race site. Of course, I had to be polite by accepting his offer. 😉 Thanks Jeff!
We left for Mardi Maeps at 5:30am sharp along with Tom and Markiko (I hope I got the spelling right!). Traffic was smooth and although we made one wrong turn, we were there by 6:15am!
Collected my race kit and was surprised to see so many road runners at this race! Likewise, they were surprised to see me too.
I actually LOVE off road running! Although I don't do much training off road, I like the technical side of it with varying terrains. It is more… interesting.
I've never been to Mardi Maeps but I've heard many horrible stories about the place. I was quite prepared for the worst!
Did a very light warm up before heading to the start line. Colleen was there too! She was sharing a bit about the route as she had been there many times before. I'm glad we spoke because she had that upbeat, hyper vibe that really calmed the tense pre-race environment.
And then I heard a familiar voice coming from behind – it was Coach Mark! As Mardi Maeps is his usual training ground, he was able to provide a detailed overall layout of the race route. He said that the first 8km would be nothing but hills and climbs after which would be downhill/flat till the end. Thanks for the tips! I was a little more mentally prepared.
Soon after, we were off! 200m in and we came face to face with our first climb…… and MANY climbs thereafter. Climb after climb after climb, and they were steep climbs! I tried to run up but for most of them, I had to slow to a walk nearing the top of the hill. We had to go up a long flight of STAIRS too! With the Forerunner 225, I could see my pace dropping at every climb. I gained back whatever time that was lost by running hard downhill (not a good idea!) and on the flat terrain.
Thankfully, it was not so much of a trail run, more like dirt/off road running. The ground was soft and the path was wide. It was not as technical as I had imagined it to be. It was a good thing because I didn't have trail shoes!
Running with the other men around me, I could see where my strengths and weaknesses were. It was a lot of fun pushing (not literally) and overtaking each other.
My legs were BURNING and I was dying for my GPS to beep at km8 because that would signify the end of the treacherous climbs, most of them at least. True enough, at km 8, we were out of the 'jungle' and onto dirt road through fields and farmland. I felt strong and decided to push the pace as soon as I hit the road.
The ending was tough when we merged with the 6km category + going through the park which had one final climb that really sucked the life out of my legs! I felt pretty much like the guy behind me!
It was a good ending with cheers and support from friends and the people that were around!Look who I found at the finish line!
Angel! Thanks for coming out to support us and for taking all the photos!
Second place for Colleen! She's so young but already killing it at every race! Look out for this one! 😀
Bumped into Isabelle again! 🙂 We seem to be seeing each other very often at races!
He says I'm crazy but he's insane! You can find him at every bootcamp/running clinic/training. Keep it up! But don't get injured ;). Thanks Fahmie for looking after my stuff! 🙂
All my road running friends! 😀
Jason Loh, fellow #garminbuddy !Jess, my physiotherapist! I was surprised to see her there. Thanks for all the pain-free runs!
Managed 1st place! Great start to the year 2016!
GoPro on the way back! Everyone in Jeff's car made it onto the podium that day! In Jeff's words: The elite car. 😉
Phew, what a day! I'll definitely miss this route when I'm gone! It was a good day, catching up with friends and running!
Till next time!


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NOTE: Samsung Digital Appliances are not available in all regions.
Do I need a Samsung account to connect my appliance with SmartThings?
Yes, you will need to create a Samsung account. To do so, download and install the SmartThings app for Android or iOS.
The appliance won't connect to WiFi, what should I do?
Make sure you are using the correct WiFi network and password.
Also, most Samsung home appliances are unable to connect to 5GHz WiFi bands. Be sure to use a 2.4GHz network.
Do the appliance and the SmartThings Hub need to be on the same network?
No. Using the SmartThings app, you can connect your home appliance to the same Location as your SmartThings Hub, but they do not need to be on the same network.
Does my phone have to be on the same network as well?
No. However, your phone must have an active internet connection in order to communicate with the Hub and the appliance through the SmartThings app and cloud.
How do I control the appliance through the SmartThings app?
Go to the Samsung Digital Appliances section of our Help Center and click on your appliance(s) to see exactly how to connect and control it with SmartThings.
What should I do if the SmartThings app can't find any available devices?
Try the following:
- Make sure the appliance is powered and connected to WiFi. For dongle-compatible appliances without built-in WiFi capabilities, make sure the WiFi dongle is installed correctly.
- Verify that the SmartThings Hub and the appliance are on the same network.
- Make sure the appliance is registered with the Samsung Smart Home app.
What should I do if the appliance stops responding to commands from SmartThings?
Remove the appliance from SmartThings, and then reconnect it.
To remove an appliance:
- From the Home screen, touch the menu (), and select Devices
- Touch more options ()
- Tap Edit
- Tap the red minus icon (-) next to the name of the device
- Confirm removal (this cannot be undone)
To reconnect the appliance, go to the Samsung Digital Appliances section of our Help Center and select your appliance for instructions.
Setting up the appliance got interrupted before it could finish, what should I do?
Remove any partially connected appliances from the SmartThings app, and then start over from the beginning.
Which Samsung appliances/models are supported by SmartThings?
Depending on your region, the following types of appliances may be supported: oven, range, clothes washer, clothes dryer, refrigerator, air purifier, room AC, floor AC, robot vacuum.
For specific model numbers available in your region, go to the Supported Devices section of the SmartThings app:
- From the Home screen, touch the menu ()
- Touch How to use
- Touch Supported Devices
I have questions about my appliance, whom should I contact?
For help purchasing, setting up, using, configuring, or troubleshooting Samsung appliances, or for any questions or comments related to Samsung appliances, contact the Samsung customer care center:

subset: commoncrawl


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From the St. Louis Post Dispatch, 1/20/09, by Kevin McDermott
One of Illinois' dirty little secrets was exposed in the inaugural parade a little while ago, and for once, it has nothing to do with Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Yes, as the world now knows — thanks to CNN's explosive and controversial parade coverage today — Illinois does, in fact, boast a team of precision lawn-mower marchers. Some of us over in Illinois have been aware of it for years, but have diligently kept it quiet.
Read the rest...
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Mowing down the competition
Posted by Donny Bahama at 2:45 PM
|Whadaya think?
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- A gray cat slinks past a wooden house. There's something a little intimidating attempting to describe.
- Error: Please check if you enter Instagram username and Access Token in Theme Setting > Social Profiles
I had a fairly traumatic experience when I was 8 years old with a dog but it never tarnished my love for animals. Instead, it has made my bond with them so much stronger.
Prior to starting Joshua Oldridge Photography in 2017, I spent 6 years as a hairstylist at a top local salon. I received best hairstylist of Springfield in 2012. That career gave me the experience to understand clients needs and how to achieve the results needed.
If you have in your head that "my pet would never be able to do that", "my pet is bad", "my pet would never sit still long enough", then I'm the photographer for you. Those are some of the best clients. Capturing your pet being themselves is what it's all about.
I photograph pets because it an amazing creative outlet for me and bonding with your pets is a very special and unique situation every time. To be able to capture your pets personality in a session is always the goal. Images last forever, and what better way to remember your beloved furry friends.
Sending an inquiry is your first step to having stunning artwork of your pet! Can't wait to meet you and your pets!
All gallery photos are available for purchase as prints via Pixieset, send me an inquiry if you would like to capture special photos of your own pet!
Session fee is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable. I will happily reschedule and apply your session fee to your future appointment.
Each photo session is customized to you and your companion's household, sport, discipline, health, character, etc. I specialize in creating portraits that capture your pet's personality and showcasing it. Your session will take place at the location of your choice: your home, your favorite park, or your pet's other favorite location. Locations include Phoenix, Arizona and a 20 mile radius.
Typical sessions last 1 to 2 hours. However, I shoot until there is a great selection of photos to choose from. It's important for you to know I get to know your pet before the session begins so we are familiar with one another and I capture your pet's personality in a photo that will tug at your heart as much as they do.
You will also receive low resolution watermarked images from your purchases to share on social media sites for your friends and family to enjoy. You will definitely want to show your furry ones off!
Other pets may be added for an additional $25/each.
At times, a mini session may be an option depending upon availability, it is roughly 30 minutes of shooting and a smaller number of finished/edited photos.
Fee does NOT include prints or digitals, but it does cover a pre-consultation by phone or in person, and a private viewing gallery for 10 days. Your Gallery will be available for viewing approximately 14 days after your shoot. Every photo is carefully edited. You can expect an array of photos/artwork to choose from that can be customized to meet any style.
Prints are sold à la carte, and most clients budget $250 and up for prints and other product options.
Session fee is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable. I will happily reschedule and apply your session fee to your future appointment.


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Are For-Profit Prison Stocks a Wise Investment or Ethical Hazard?Joe Goldman Follow |
With 730 Americans incarcerated per 100,000 citizens, the US has the world's highest incarceration rate by far. According to Bloomberg, more than 2.2 million Americans are currently in prison. The U.S. also leads the world in total number of prisons with 4,575, almost four times more than runner-up Russia.
The War on Drugs enables the legal system to fill prisons to capacity, despite a massive overabundance of correctional facilities. Most drugs, even marijuana, carry minimum sentences for possession. According to an FBI report, one American is arrested every 42 seconds on marijuana charges, and it is often in the best interest of the accused to plead guilty or settle in court. Consequently, more than half of federal prisoners are incarcerated on drug charges, most of whom are minorities and some of whom are innocent.
There are a handful of companies that profit from America's incarceration system. Privately owned prisons are legal, even encouraged through government subsidies because privately owned prisons tend to save local, state, and federal governments massive amounts of money. Government-owned prisons are frequently in the red because they do not have the resources or the business expertise to efficiently own and operate correctional facilities.
As for-profit corporations, prison companies have a vested interest to take shortcuts, cut costs, and keep people in prison longer. This can result in poor care, malnutrition, overcrowding, and understaffing within correctional facilities. There is a clear conflict of interest between the capitalist structure and public service, yet for-profit prisons remain perfectly legal and incredibly profitable.
Enter GEO Group (GEO) and Corrections Corp of America (CXW). The two companies are publically traded real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the business of owning, operating, and leasing correctional facilities. In essence, they profit from mass incarceration and return a large portion of these profits to investors.
It may cross the ethical boundaries for some, but investing in these correctional facility REITs is an effective method to profit from America's broken prison system. They trade in close correlation with one another, boast near-30% profit margins, and have provided tremendous returns over the past few years.
GEO Group (GEO)
The GEO Group is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, leases, and manages correctional, detention, and re-entry facilities in the United States, Australia, South Africa, the UK, and Canada. In other words, the GEO Group is in the business of prisons – a business model that is controversial, paradoxical, and quite profitable.
GEO Group is a traditional REIT in the sense that it yields a hefty dividend, returning 6.5% per annum to investors. GEO's share price has doubled since the beginning of 2012, returning a massive 265% adjusted for dividends. GEO distributed a giant $5.68 one-time dividend at the end of 2012, yielding almost 20% at the time. GEO most recently raised its dividend from $0.55 cents to $0.57 per quarter at the beginning of 2014.
GEO operates 98 facilities and provides 77,500 beds to inmates. With a market cap of $2.56B, this values each correctional facility at $26 million and each bed at $33,000.
Corrections Corporation of America (CXW)
Corrections Corporation of America is a REIT in the business of owning and operating privatized correctional facilities in the United States. CCA is the largest owner of partnership correction and detention facilitates. It is also the largest prison operator besides the federal government and three states. CCA owns or controls 53 correctional facilities.
CCA is a high-yielder, paying a $0.51 quarterly dividend or 6.2% annually. The REIT initiated its first dividend in 2012 and paid a $6.63 one-time dividend of at the beginning of 2013, which amassed almost 20% of the share price. The special dividend was paid in near unison with the GEO Group, a clear sign that these privatized prisons became especially profitable over the previous several years.
CCA shares have faltered over the past 12-months due to the overall underperformance of the entire REIT sector. Yet, with a 211% dividend-adjusted gain since the beginning of 2012, CCA has significantly outperformed the stock market and the entire REIT sector.
A Dirty Investment?
Talk show host John Oliver half-jokingly poked fun at the American prison system on his July 20 edition of Last Week Tonight. Oliver firmly believes that the American prison system is broken, and many lawmakers and influential authors are beginning to agree. Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow has been extremely influential in exposing the War on Drugs as the cause behind mass incarceration in America.
The prison and legal system may be ripe for huge changes, doesn't necessarily deem prison stocks an unworthy investment. As long as the War on Drugs continues and privately owned prisons remain intertwined in a twisted conflict between profits and public service, they will surely remain extremely profitable. Some investors may find the high-yield and consistency of prison stocks highly attractive, while others will stay away for ethical purpose.
Investors should keep a close eye on marijuana legalization and the 2016 presidential race, when a new candidate could potentially overhaul the entire incarceration system or opt to keep it in place. The latter will enable GEO Corp and CCA to reap positive returns for investors.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer.
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Aereo Celebrates a Court Victory With Clever Marketing: Free Web TV for an Hour, or a Dollar for a Day
Fresh off the heels of a court victory, Barry Diller's Aereo* is ramping up its marketing push with a clever new pricing scheme: The TV-on-the-Web service is rolling out new plans that will let users sample the service for free, buy it for a single day, or lock in for a year.
You can see the new grid at the bottom of the post. By far the most important things here are the free hour-a-day option, and the one-dollar, one-day pass. Both are obviously great ways to get consumers to sample the new service, and the free option doesn't require a credit card account to sign up, which removes a big hurdle.
But the dollar option could also end up being the way that lots of people use the service, especially while its programming choices remain constrained to the broadcast TV channels. It may not be worth $8 or $12 a month to you to be able to watch CBS on your laptop or iPad. But there could be lots of one-off events that make it well worth a buck to get those channels on the go: Think Oscars, or election coverage, or football Sundays this fall.
The bigger picture is that Aereo has the ability to do any kind of pricing scheme it wants, because it's not constrained by any licensing agreements, and doesn't share any revenue with anyone. Spotify or Hulu or anyone else would love to do this kind of thing, but they can't without arduous/impossible negotiations with copyright owners/investors.
At some point, some of that footloose feeling will go away — if Aereo builds out its bundle by adding, say, the likes of Netflix, it will have to figure out a different version of the pricing grid. But, for now, it's a big advantage, as the company looks to expand outside of a few thousand early adopters in New York City.
[Click image to enlarge]
*To be clear: Diller doesn't own Aereo; his IAC is an investor.


text: On July 4th, KNX Association organised in cooperation with KNX Japan the "2nd Japanese Forum of KNX Technology and Application for home and building control". 70 participants from major Japanese companies were keen to learn more about KNX through presentations from major Japanese and international KNX members and partners. After only one year after the introduction of KNX in Japan, KNX became the most focused technology, not only for the Japanese export, but also for the domestic market. More activities, such as a further forum in Osaka and the participation at Japanese fairs, have been planned and will support the success of KNX in Japan.


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Federal Regulations
Unilateral regulatory action by executive branch agencies should not hinder economic growth and place undue burden on businesses. Any new regulations should have the public interest in mind and feedback from interested parties. I strongly support legislation that reduces or consolidates the number of existing regulations, and I believe all rules that will seriously impact the economy should have a cost estimate attached and go before Congress for approval.
One of my top priorities in Congress is stopping this so-called "backdoor legislating" in which government agencies like the EPA decide to single-handedly impose new, aggressive regulations. Our Constitution separates the powers of government among the three branches and sets up a system of checks and balances to ensure the people – not the government – are ultimately in charge.
Our laws have legitimacy because they are passed by representatives elected by and accountable to the people. That system is undermined when career bureaucrats in federal agencies are allowed to impose unilateral, binding regulations.
More on Federal Regulations
Throughout the eight long years of the Obama Administration, Alabamians suffered under an overly-empowered regulatory state that burdened hardworking men and women and their businesses with countless harmful federal regulations. This type of overreach was seen across the many federal agencies, but perhaps none more blatantly than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I am very pleased that over the last year and a half, our unified Republican government has worked to dismantle this Obama-era regulatory regime.


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Creative Work
Christians Are . . .
Christians are . . .
hymns of praise to God,
though their lives may seem ordinary.
the crown of creation,
though they may be despised, humble, and weak.
citizens of the kingdom of God,
though they may not have a house of their own.
mirrors of God's beauty,
though other people may find them ugly.
rich in love,
though they may be poor.
a sacrifice for other people,
though they may not be anyone's hero.
the strongest people on earth,
though their strength is in prayer.
the song of love God sang to creation,
the poem the Father crafted for the Son through the Holy Spirit.
—from devozine (January/February 2014). Copyright © 2013 by The Upper Room®. All rights reserved.


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Redding Cooperative Preschool
A place where parents and children learn, play, and make new friends together using hands-on developmentally appropriate activities in a safe environment. Come join us!
Families and children of the Redding Cooperative Preschool participate in several fundraisers during the school year. We graciously appreciate community donations.
What's My Role at the Co-op?
At the Redding Co-op, we strongly believe the more involvement parents (or grandparents, or other designated caregivers) share in their child's development, the more rewarding the experience is for all. This means a child's parent has the special experience of participating in the classrooms, assisting the teacher and playing an important supporting role in the children's learning and discovery. Parents are given the guidance
Learn More


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Getting your Buyers to BUY!
ActiveRain University is hosting another great FREE webinar!
Wednesday November 30th, 2011. 10-11am PST
Hosted by Chris Alston
Sign up by clicking here --> http://bit.ly/sAYX1d
Why should you attend this awesome webinar?
Are your buyers waiting for something before they buy? And you don't know what that is?
Is NOW the best time to buy?
Are you good at unlocking the motivations of your clients?
Do you want to be better with your buyers?
Are you using the right tool box to have success in this market?
It's a BUYERS market, so that means it's a great time to BUY!
Sign up NOW --> http://bit.ly/sAYX1d
Past recorded webinars can be found under the ActiveRain University Tab.
Or by clicking here --> http://www.activerainuniversity.com/video
Chris Alston
Do you follow me on twitter yet? www.twitter.com/chris_alston
Are you a fan on facebook? www.facebook.com/realestatetrainer
Chris Alston
Home sales and purchasing specialist
Keller Williams Realty, Cupertino
19400 Stevens Creek Blvd, Suite #200
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-850-6956 fax
Find me on:


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I've been reading in Sleep Review the comparison of 15 HST devices but it seems Type II is few and far between. Can anyone tell me how much they paid for any one device or how much rental is?
I have the following:
Ares: $2995 buy/ $339 Rental includes consumables (which comes to $4068/year)
Alice PDx: $2028/ $169 rental
Embletta MRP-G: $3889/ No rental $10/month consumables
I'm specifically looking for info on
Natus Trex HD
Grass Aura PSG Lite
Thank you!!!!


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The news of the day is that recently Hispaniola Cigars announced they are releasing Turei Cigars. Below is the press release on the cigars, as well as some additional information on the company. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to give these a try in the near future...
Hispaniola Cigars Announces the Release of Turei Cigars
Heaven on Earth
January 21st, 2013—The Taino aborigines of the Dominican Republic attributed spiritual qualities to smoking tobacco during their ancient rituals. It was believed that smoking the tobacco leaf would elevate them to "Turei," translated literally as "Heaven." Hispaniola Cigars is proud to announce that in January 2013, the spiritual experience of the Tainos will be resurrected by Turei Cigars.
After a series of complex trials and broad acceptance at IPCPR 2012, Hugo F. Melo, a fourth generation master blender and President of Hispaniola Cigars, decided the time was right to release Turei.
The Turei line includes three Dominican puro blends, each offered in a single vitola. The blends feature four-year aged tobaccos to deliver maximum complexity and flavor.
About the blends:
Turei Puro Sol #1: Belicoso (54 x 4.75)
Turei Puro Sol #2: Robusto (54 x 5.25)
Turei Puro Sol #3: Toro (52 x 6)
Turei blends deliver a broad spectrum of flavor experiences, from medium bodied floral and roasted coffee notes to full bodied profiles with light pepper, dark cocoa, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
Melo described naming the new line saying, "The cigars needed a name intrinsically connected to the sensation produced during the experience. In that regard, we believe 'Turei' to be fitting."
The release of the Turei line follows on the heels of the immensely popular offerings from Hispaniola Cigars, which Melo launched in 2002. "We created Hispaniola cigars specifically to honor our friends in the brick and mortar market and to serve as our flagship product," Melo said. "We hope that Turei will be accepted with similar enthusiasm by smokers in the online and catalog market."
The new Turei line will be available through major distributors starting January 21st. Retail price for the new Turei line will range between $7 and $8.
About Hispaniola Cigars
For over four generations the Melo and Matos families have been one of the largest producers of the finest organic coffee and aged tobacco in the Dominican Republic, focusing in exportation of coffee as well as supplying some of the largest fine cigar distributors and importers in the Dominican Republic with aged cured tobacco.
In 2002, H. F. Melo, a fourth generation tobacco and coffee master blender, launched the Hispaniola brand to a selective market segment. The launch served as a springboard for other cigars within the distinctive Hispaniola portfolio.
website: www.hispaniolacigars.com
email: email@example.com
twitter: @hispaniolacigar


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The former wife of a Hells Angel has lost her security clearance to work at the Vancouver airport simply because she was once married to the longtime biker.
Janette Yuen Shan Wu is fighting the Transport Canada decision to revoke her "Restricted Area Identity Card" because of her long-ended relationship with Damiano Dipopolo, a Vancouver longshoreman and a member of the Kelowna Hells Angels chapter.
Wu says in documents filed in the Federal Court of Canada that she obtained her security clearance in 2008 when she began working at Airport Terminal Services Inc., assisting passengers checking in for flights.
There have been no issues at her job and she renewed her security clearance in 2013 without a problem, Wu said.
But last January, she got a letter from Transport Canada that "identified concerns about the lifestyle of Ms. Wu's ex-husband, Mr. Dipopolo, and indicated that a review of Ms. Wu's security clearance would occur," her court filings noted. "The letter also outlined two incidents in which Ms. Wu had reported to the police being threatened by Mr. Dipopolo."
Wu responded to the government, pointing out that she had separated from Dipopolo "in 2006 due to his lifestyle choice" and was not close to him at all.
"She further explained that she only continued to have contact with him through text message, emails or through counsel for purposes related to their children," her application to the Federal Court says.
Wu also said she has remarried, to a deputy sheriff in Whatcom county, Washington state.
Despite the documentation she provided, Transport Canada's director general of aviation security, Brenda Hensler-Hobbs, cancelled Wu's clearance on Aug. 14. Wu is seeking a judicial review of Hensler-Hobbs' decision.
Her lawyer Scott Wright said in the documents that the decision is unreasonable.
"Ms. Hensler-Hobbs based her decision entirely on the fact that Ms. Wu's ex-husband, from whom she has taken steps to minimize contact and sought the assistance of police, is a member of the Hells Angels," Wright said.
"The decision reasoned that there were concerns about Ms. Wu's judgment as it was reasonable to believe that she was aware of Mr. Dipopolo's involvement in a criminal lifestyle before their separation and that given his lifestyle, she may be subjected to intimidation, violence and manipulation by him."
Wu's application said Transport Canada failed to take into her "performance during her years of employment" and her efforts to distance herself from Dipopolo, Wright said.
"There was no evidence, beyond stereotypical speculation, that Ms. Wu would be subject to any actions by Mr. Dipopolo that would put airport security at risk."
Ironically, while Wu no longer has the clearance needed for her airport job, Dipopolo continues his work as a longshoreman at Port Metro Vancouver along with several other known Hells Angels and associates of the biker gang.
No response to Wu's application has been filed yet by the government.
Wu is not the only person working at Vancouver airport who has lost their security clearance recently because of links to the Hells Angels.
Dallas Leonard Rudd was notified in a July 17 letter, also signed by Hensler-Hobbs, that his security clearance had been revoked. He is also seeking a review in Federal Court.
Hensler-Hobbs wrote that Rudd had associations to two biker gangs.
"The information regarding your recent associations with the Hells Angels and the Jester's Motorcycle Club raised concerns regarding your judgment, trustworthiness and reliability," the letter said, "I note that you were seen on six occasions participating in poker runs organized by the Hells Angels or Jesters Motorcycle Club while in possession of a transportation security clearance."
She said Rudd was seen at the home of a Jester, who he admits is a friend.
Rudd, a 63-year-old elevator mechanic, was warned in October 2014 that his security clearance was under review.
In a March letter to Transport Canada, he said he was never a member of either motorcycle club, but had enjoyed going on the poker rides. He said he realized his job might be in jeopardy due to the association after talking to an RCMP gang cop and cut all his ties in 2013.
"I currently do not go to the clubhouse nor do I socialize with them and have not for some time," Rudd said. "I am not a violent person nor do I involve myself with crime. I value my job, my union and most importantly, my livelihood."
firstname.lastname@example.com: vancouversun.com/therealscoopfollow me: twitter.com/kbolan


text:
Delivery & Returns
Unless noted otherwise in the ordering pipeline, Technology Spare Parts dispatches all items within two days of receiving an order. You will receive notification of any delay or cancellation of your order.
Royal Mail Standard Delivery 2 Working Days
Items in stock are normally despatched to UK mainland
addresses within 2-3 (working days). In case of goods being out of stock we
will update you about the approximate availability and shipping time. Any time
and date for the delivery of goods is approximate and we shall not be liable
for any loss, cost, damage, charges or expenses caused by any delay in the
delivery of goods.
Express Delivery
We offer an express service (same day despatch with next working day (Mon-Thurs) for £8.99 for small domestic items for delivery within the Mainland UK
Saturday Delivery
We can offer Saturday delivery at an additional cost. Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for a fast-track quotation.
Heavy Goods & Pallets
Some of the items we ship go under the heavy pallets or use a specialised courier service. This prices vary depending on location and the goods itself. Please get in touch with our sales rep for a quick quotation firstname.lastname@example.com
We request all customers to retain the original box and packaging
for a minimum of 28 days in case of returns.
We always use very reputable and reliable courier service
Like Royal Mail, Parcel Force, DPD & Pallet Force.
Goods are delivered to your doorstep and must be signed for
by someone receiving the goods. Our couriers are not insured to deliver any
items inside your home, please ensure you are able to handle the goods safely
prior to order.
Please note, we only deliver the goods to the address on
original order and to the confirmed address. Once an order is placed the
delivery address cannot be changed. Request for delivery to a neighbour must be
made in writing. Once the goods have been delivered to your door, please ensure
their safety. Any requests to leave goods in a "safe" place are entirely
at your own risk. We will not be liable for any item claimed as undelivered if
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we can arrange delivery of goods to Northern Ireland (BT), Channel Islands,
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Welcome to the Looking Glass: Get a Glimpse into Your Child's World.
The purpose of this blog is to help you feel more connected to your child's fourth grade classroom. Most of us work full-time and can't volunteer in our child's classroom. I know I would have loved to see pictures, video clips, writing and reflections, and important information on a regular basis from my children's classrooms! That is exactly what I try to provide for you and your family . . . a regular connection to our learning.
Teaching Philosophy and Experience:
My name is Aimee Boucher and I teach 4th grade. I have taught at MBS for 13 years. Prior to that I taught special education at Johnson Elementary. Due to my special education background, I strive as a classroom teacher to meet the needs of ALL students. How do I do this? Differentiation. Differentiation is an approach to teaching that relies on a teacher's in-depth assessment of each student and establishment of classroom rules, roles, routines. Teachers differentiate the content, process or product according to a students learning style, interest or readiness. I use technology to help me differentiate more effectively and efficiently.
Technology is also a passion of mine! Students in my class use technology on a regular basis. We collaborate with each other and the world, individualize our learning, pursue interests and much, much more through a variety of web 2.0 tools. We use technology to learn new things and to demonstrate our new learning. I regularly use email to communicate with both students and parents. My major mode of communication, however, is this blog.
I spend most of my summer training teachers in how to differentiate with technology. Last summer (and this coming summer), I presented a workshop at the International Society of Technology in Education's National Conference. I also teach a graduate course at the University of Vermont and present a 2-day workshop at Vermont Read's Summer Institute. You might see my name in the Colchester Parks and Recreation Summer Brochure teaching an art or technology camp, too!
Who Am I?
I live in Colchester, Vermont with my two children, Tim and Meghan, and my husband, Mike. We have 2 dogs . . . Moe and Bella. Family is very important to us! We spend lots of time together. Each Sunday we have a family dinner . . . each week someone get's to choose their favorite meal! In my family we like to cook together. Tim likes to make dinners and Meghan likes to bake. She makes great concoctions for friends and family. As a family we like to spend time on Lake Champlain boating or fishing. We also like to spend time at our camp in Calais, Vermont . . . and use our 4-wheeler. Meghan and I enjoy shopping!!!!
Summer Fun:
In my free time I like to garden and hang out with my pooches. I love to read on my swing and watch the dogs play or bark at people walking by. My dogs are noisy 🙂 If you look closely, though, you'll see they are wagging their tails while they bark! I think they just want to play . . .


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Cathleen Coté
Vice President
Cathleen has more than 25 years of management and marketing experience with leading business services companies. She held a senior management role at Lee Hecht Harrison, focused on bringing talent development, career management and organizational change consulting to major corporations. In the financial printing services industry, Cathleen directed sales and service for market leaders RR Donnelley and Bowne in New York and other east coast business centers. Earlier in her career, Cathleen worked in the publishing arena for McGraw-Hill, CBS and Prentice-Hall. At Business Week, she developed strategic planning roundtable conferences for CEOs in Fortune 100 companies on economic, regulatory and international business issues.
Community service activities have included work with the Alzheimer's Association, Advisory Board for Nursing Home Best Practices and other older adult programs. Cathleen holds a BA from Pomona College and an MSW from Portland State University.
Recently from Cathleen:
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Emmanuel Macron has admitted, Dalrymple notes, that if a referendum had been held in France, there would have been a larger majority than in Britain for leaving the European Union,
though this has not dampened in the slightest his ardour for 'deeper' union.
Perhaps, says Dalrymple, we should wait for the EU
to blow itself apart.
On the other hand, he says,
the political determination to keep it together, whatever populations think, is considerable and should not be underestimated. Macron's unified European army is not to defend Europe from outside invasion, but to repress the population should it ever revolt against the EU élite.


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Welcome to the
Online Stress Summit
Tom Meyers
Osteopath D.O., Speaker, Founder 'Reaset Approach'
Author of "Futurize Yourself - Design your life on Purpose"
Tom (BE) is an osteopath (BSc, D.O. OSD), expert in the field of Body-centred Stress Coaching (M.ISMA) and founder of the Reaset Approach.
As a speaker Tom's talks center around the topic of stress, viewed from a perspective of the future. A future in which technology has changed the world with a speed never seen before and has seen more changes in 20 years than over the last 300 years.
In his first book "Futurize Yourself - Design your life on purpose" Tom recounts his personal how three questions saved his life, gave him a sense of purpose and why having a sense of purpose matters in a digital transformed and more automated future.
Danielle Sax
Physiotherapist, Speaker, Self-Care Coach
Author of "Shifting out of Chronic Stress"
Danielle (BE) is an internationally recognized author, speaker and Conscious Self-Care expert, and a mentor to professionals and entrepreneurs who lead powerfully and care deeply, but who have given so much of themselves in their professional and personal lives, that they have sacrificed themselves, their relationships and their well-being in the process.
In her book "Shifting Out of Chronic Stress," Danielle shares how Conscious Self-Care offers a powerful, long-lasting solution. By sharing her authentic story and expertise, she shows you how you, too, like hundreds of others, can move through any challenge or stress masterfully by practicing Conscious Self-Care in your daily life.
Meet Our Experts
Carole Spiers
Chair of ISMA, Stress Consultant, Speaker and Author
Carole Spiers (UK) is an International Motivational Speaker and C-Suite Executive Consultant. Her credibility is rooted in twenty five years' success as CEO of a leading UK Stress Management Consultancy, working with equal success both in the UK and the Gulf.
She is a well-respected authority on building resilience and improving communication skills. Carole is also a sought-after BBC Guest-Broadcaster and the best-selling author of 'Show Stress Who's Boss!' who is regularly called upon by the media for comment. Being Chair of the International Stress Management Association [UK] and Founder of Stress Awareness Day, Carole is also Past President of the London Chapter of the Professional Speaking Association.
Dr Lynda Shaw
Business Psychologist, Leadership Consultant, Neuroscientist, Speaker and Author
Dr Lynda Shaw is an experienced entrepreneur having owned 3 businesses including a health club with 2000 members and 20 staff. She holds a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience, specialising in unconscious processing of emotion and communication.
She is a registered chartered psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Fellow of the Professional Speakers Association, a Forbes contributor as well as an author of adult and children's books. Her latest is a business book called Your Brain Is Boss, a guide to becoming wealthier, healthier and happier.
Dr. Heidi Hanna
Executive Director of the American Institute of Stress, Speaker and Author
Dr. Hanna is the Executive Director of the American Institute of Stress (AIS) and is a Founding Partner of The Academy for Brain Health and Performance, where she serves as the Director of Training and Development. She is currently pursuing a second PhD at Pepperdine University in Global Leadership and Change, researching integrative neuroscience applications for organizational resilience.
Dr. Hanna's publications include the NY Times bestseller The SHARP Solution: A Brain-Based Approach for Optimal Performance (Wiley, Feb 2013), Stressaholic: 5 Steps to Transform Your Relationship With Stress (Wiley, Jan 2014) and Recharge: 5 Shifts to Energize Your Life (Synergy, 2015).
Susan Greenfield has held research fellowships in the Department of Physiology Oxford, the College de France Paris, and NYU Medical Center New York. She has since been awarded 32 Honorary Degrees from British and foreign universities.
In 2000 she was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians. Further international recognition of her work has included the 'Golden Plate Award' (2003) from the Academy of Achievement, Washington, the L'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur (2003), from the French Government, and the 2010 Australian Medical Research Society Medal. She has held a Visiting Professorship at the Medical School, University of Melbourne, Australia and is currently CEO of a biotech company (www.neuro-bio.com) that she founded in 2013.
Graeme Codrington
Co-founder and international director TomorrowToday, Author and Speaker
Graeme Codrington (SA) is an internationally recognised futurist. He specialises in the future of work and has helped companies across the world to understand the forces that will shape our lives in the next ten years.
He's worth listening to because he has five degrees, five best selling books and lectures at five international universities including London Business School and Duke. But don't worry, he's not a boring academic; he's steeped in business knowledge having worked at KPMG, for an IT start up and in the charity sector.
He is also one of the founders of strategy consulting firm TomorrowToday Global.


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The 5-0 drubbing in the hands of Liverpool at home was the final straw in for the young Portuguese coach Andre Villas Boas' tenure as the head coach of Tottenham, 18 months after his appointment. The Portuguese who had never managed previous clubs for more than a year which famously includes an ill fated 8 month stint as manager of Chelsea guided Tottenham to 5th place in the Premier League table last season but struggled to get a good run of results on the field this season.
With over 100 million invested in the summer, many would have expected Tottenham to mount a serious challenge for the top four spot but with poor run of results the team is languishing 7th in the premier league table, 5 points off the top four. Here are the reasons that led to the sacking of the Portuguese coach:
1. Poor tactics that didn't suit the Premier League
While many managers prefer to play 4-4-2, the Portuguese preferred the 4-2-3-1 formation with an extra man in the midfield. Roberto Soldado often played as the lone man up front with little or no service from the ineffective midfield. Apart from Andros Townsend there weren't any eye catching performers on the field this season with all the new signings failing to have any impact on the results.
AVB's plan to pass the ball through the mid filed never worked in the premier league with the opposition always successful in breaking up play in the mid field that disrupted the rhythm of the game. Further with the lone striker up front tactic there wasn't a second striker who can hold the ball upfront and bring others into play.
2. New signings never shined
The seven new signings never gelled and played with to their fullest potential. While Soldado found it hard to keep up with the premier league's pace and demand, injury to the young Danish playmaker Christian Erikksen didn't help either. Winger Nacer Chadli wasn't delivering quality final ball into the box and the much hyped Erik Lamela was unused for no reason and was given a run only in the Europa League in which the Argentinean shined.
The only consistent performer was the Brazilian midfielder Paulinho who along with Andros Townsend has been Tottenham's best performers of the season so far. With 2 goals and 2 assists from 16 appearances so far this season, the Brazilian has justified his 17 million Euro price tag and has been a reliable box to box midfielder.
3. Lack of goals
With a defensive minded line up it wasn't a surprise that Tottenham have struggled to find the back of the net this season. They have managed to score only 14 times in the premier league which places them along side the relegation favourites in this category. Roberto Soldado has been the highest scorer with 4 goals in which 3 have been penalties. Lack of goals from open play has severely affected Tottenham's challenge to rise up the premier league table.
4. There's no Gareth Bale to save the day
There was the Welsh wizard to help Tottenham and score goals at will last season. Tottenham failed to win just once whenever Gareth Bale managed to find the back of the net. His 26 strikes and his free role behind the striker were the main reason behind Tottenham's top four challenge last season. With the Welshman signing for Real Madrid and the new signings added more to quantity and not the quality, Tottenham and AVB have found it hard to flourish in Premier League this season that ultimately led to the sacking.


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wow.. amazing bro :D I like that
Beautiful, beautiful work!
Cool "Creature"...very well drawn
Fantastic! The ink-run root shapes remind me of the Stephen Gammel illustrations for Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.This is just gorgeous stuff. Love the one where the monster is peering into the window.
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Kukla's Korner Hockey
Jamie Benn Fined $10K
by Paul on 03/02/13 at 03:43 PM ET
Comments (0)
NEW YORK (March 2, 2013) – Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn has been fined $10,000, the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for cross-checking Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Jones in NHL Game No. 295 in Dallas on Thursday, February 28, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at 16:00 of the third period. Benn was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for cross-checking.
As a first-time offender, the maximum Benn could be fined was the lesser of $10,000 or one-half of his daily salary.
If you missed the cross-check, you can watch it here.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Dallas Stars, | KK Hockey | Permalink
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Paul Kukla founded Kukla's Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the 'net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
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Woodturning Wood Goblets
Building a staved goblet
Full instructions for building staved wooden goblets.
Here I'm going to show how I build staved goblets similar to this pair. These are a lot of fun to make and are not nearly as difficult as they appear. They aren't any different to turn than a normal one piece goblet once their glued up but you will be doing a bit of woodworking ahead of time.
If you build one send me a picture.
- Turning a straw stem goblet
Directions for turning a straw stem goblet
Staved Goblet
This is the actual goblet I will be building here. This goblet is a little bit simpler than the pair above only because it is made with fewer pieces. The goblets above have veneer in between the staves.
This first picture shows the wood needed to start the goblet. It consists of 9 pieces of wood which are 1/2" x 1/2" x 9". Five of one color and four of the other. They must all be straight, flat, and have parallel edges. Now they need to be glued together to make three pieces.
The next picture below shows how they need to be glued together. Notice how they are not all the same. The bloodwood is in the middle on the center block while it's on the outside on the other two blocks. This is because the bloodwood in the center block will be the goblets stem.
Once the glue dries you can glue these three pieces together. Be sure they are flat. If you need to correct them take off the least amount you possibly can. If you reduce one, reduce the others so they are all the same. If you don't the finished pattern will move over. If you can't get them alike don't worry about it as I sometimes make them a bit different just to move the pattern over but the changes have to be minimal. The picture below shows them glued together. The pattern on the end pretty much tells the whole story.
Next we will add four pieces around the outside. These pieces will also be 9" long (Or as long as you made your first pieces). Normally they will be 3/4" thick. The width will be the width of your finished block plus 3/4". So if you made yours the same as these directions they will be 3/4"x 2-1/4" x 9". The photo below shows the 4 pieces already glued on.
Notice the orientation of the Peruvian walnut blocks in the photo above. They should be glued in this orientation or the goblet won't look correct. If they lap like this the finished goblet will lap also making a curve at each corner rather than a straight line. Even 45 degree corners WON'T work because they will also produce straight lines.
Note: Mine above looks incorrect because they are hanging over. Normally at this point you would have a square. Mine are only hanging over because they are too thick. I didn't bother planning them down. The turning process will take care that so it's not an issue.
Next were ready to turn the goblet. It would be nice If we could just mount it into a chuck just the way it is but we can't do that. If it was a one piece goblet that's exactly what you would do but in this case it probably won't work. Reason being if your glueup is off the pattern won't be centered. And it doesn't have to be off much. So, The best way is between centers. Draw an x across the corners of the small 1/2" x 1/2" bloodwood block in the center on each end. The more accurate you do this the better it will turn out. I use a utility knife for these lines rather than a pencil. A pencil usually marks off to the side no matter how sharp you get it. Then use an awl at the intersection. Much easier to line up your centers this way. Now mount it between centers.
This picture shows the blank mounted between centers. A tennon has been turned ready to mount in the chuck. Note: For new turners. This piece is not mounted in this chuck. If you look closely you will see a drive spur mounted in the chuck. I only do it this way because I have a vacuum adaptor in the spindle. The adaptor stays in the spindle all the time so I can't use a normal drive center with a morse taper.
After mounting it in the chuck I turned and finished the piece as normal. Be sure to hollow the cup section before the stem gets too thin. We came this far so it would be frustrating if you lost it now. The only thing to watch out for comes right at the end. When you begin to see the stem color you must stop the lathe often to see where your at. If you turn too far you could lose part of the pattern.
Good luck!
If you found my article of any value please take the time to rate it. Bob
Staved bud vase - I made this bud vase using the above staved goblet technique.
By using the same technique described above for making staved goblets you can make this bud vase. Woodturners call this a weed pot. It is not fully hollowed but has a hole drilled in it. People use these to hold dried flowers but if you size the hole correctly you can add a plastic test tube allowing you to put water in it and use it as a bud vase.
Ebonized oak strawstem goblet
Food safe finish for goblets?
- Finish for wood goblets
A lot of people have asked me about food safe finishes for goblets. Here's an article I wrote on the subject.
Staved Goblets - More goblets I have done with the same method
One piece wood goblets
My sites
- Out of Control Woodturning
Woodturning,segmented woodturning and wood goblets turned by Bob Pritchard using domestic and exotic wood
- segmented woodturning
Segmented woodturnings done with domestic and exotic hardwoods. Segmented woodturning examples and instructions.
- Wood bowls
BIG Wood Bowl gallery from out of control woodturning.
- Turning a straw stem goblet
Directions for turning a straw stem goblet
Building wood goblets guestbook
I have a lathe at of my own will have a good time giving go at home.. I'm unemployed at moment can't afford to personally.. Can I show you end product when I finished can glew the timber it will need time to settle 3 hours before turning on lathe
Thanks Bob, nice article which has imterested me in starting it today
Nice work and provide information. Thanks
OMG that is AWESOME, great work and love the information provided
No words to say how beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful,made my day,will have a go soon as I'm able
Love your staved bud vase, Could you please give an indication of the size of the different coloured squares and the thickness of the black veneer please. email@example.com
These are quite beautiful. I've often wondered how these are made. Now I know. Thanks!
goblets turning is a whole new experience for me and i like it
this is a whole new experience with goblets
i like this
What a great technique. Made my first goblet and can't wait to start another. Thanks so much!
Nice lens!
Great article about the staved goblets. I followed your instruction sheet and good a pretty good result using Padauk, Pau Amarello and Black Walnut. How do I download my pic to show you?
nice lens
They are beautiful! *~blessed~*
Excellent info. I waste large amounts of beautiful wood trying to emulate your designs but so far I'm not satisfied with my efforts so I will keep turning. I find the gluing is my weakest point.
This is a very interesting lens for woodworkers. Thank you for useful information. If you want to turn the woodworking from hobby into a real home based business, you might be interested in this article: http://impartialreviews.org/wood-profits-review/
Superb lens!
Beautiful craftsmanship! And great step-by-step instructions.
Hi there, just become aware of your blog via Google, and found that itâs truly informative. Iâm going to watch out for brussels. Iâll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of other folks can be benefited out of your writing. Cheers! My blog: Anti Scam Reviews
I have glued up several blocks to try the segmented turnings but I am not happy with my glue up process. I will turn the blocks next month when I get off the road for the winter and will let you know how they turn out.
Instructions for building and turning segmented staved and one piece wood goblets. Turning a straw stem wood goblet. really great information........
Dumpster Rentals
I think this looks good can't wait to try it thanks
lovely art. ~blessed~
Very Interesting! Beautiful items, what a skill to have.
wow these are beautifil, I am so impressed. I doubt I would have the patience to make one.
I always wondered how they got different woods in there. Nice lens. Great work.
Love working with wood but have never tried wood-turning. Great lens!
Great lens! Beautiful work!!!
Wow!! You're amazing! Blessed by an angel :)
Absolutely beautiful. I would love to be able to make things like these. By the way, thanks for your visit.
Wonderful! I've never seen the like of these staved goblets before - they're exquisite! Blessed by a SquidAngel.
Wow - such talent. These are beautiful pieces. Thumbs up!
I love these! I keep hoping my husband will take it up as a hobby as he seems attracted to wood pieces.
Lensrolled into Unique Wine Glasses!
Oh wow! These look amazing - and I would never have figured out how it was done by myself in a million years!
My husband has not graduated from the pens. Very nice.
Fantastic work and a fascinating process. Love the photos.
All of your creations are amazing!


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Healthcare in Singapore for Expats
Expats can expect the healthcare standard in Singapore to be world-class. Singapore is consistently ranked among the best performing countries in the world for its top-notch quality healthcare system, advanced technology and service.
Singapore's healthcare system is designed to ensure that everyone has access to different levels of healthcare in a timely, cost-effective and seamless manner. No Singaporean is denied access into the healthcare system or turned away by public hospitals because of lack of money. Singapore healthcare services are accessible through a wide network of primary, acute and step-down care providers.
Both public and private sector services are available. It is appropriate to say that both function professionally and efficiently. Most of the time, foreigners will use private entities for primary care, but public hospitals for emergency services and more complex care.
Private care is more costly than public care but many are happy to pay a higher price in exchange for reduced waiting time and more relaxing comfy environment and facilities. However, through our conversations with expats, there is a percentage who will argue that the waiting time with public and private care differs very little.
Primary Healthcare Services
Primary healthcare services are provided by professionals—usually general practitioners —in polyclinics and private medical clinics within the community. These healthcare professionals are often the first point of contact with patients who can then be referred to medical specialists and hospitals for further checks and receive more specialized treatment and be warded if necessary. In Singapore, primary health care is provided through an island network of 18 outpatient polyclinics and about 2,400 private medical clinics.
Common primary healthcare services include:
• Outpatient medical treatment
• Medical follow-ups after discharge from hospital
• Immunization
• Health screening and education
• Diagnostic and pharmaceutical services
• Dental treatment
Hospital Admission
All hospitals will need a guarantee of payment and your identification (passport) before you will be admitted.
Bring a doctor's referral letter and a deposit or insurance form. Inquire at the hospital in advance.
In some cases a letter of guarantee will be accepted. Check with your insurance company.
In case of emergencies it is advisable to rush to the Accident and Emergency's Departments of the National University Hospital, the Singapore General Hospital or the KK Women's and Children's Hospital as they are better prepared for these cases.
Outpatient Clinics and Practices
For medical treatment you may contact one of the many private clinics close to your home or visit the outpatient clinics at the hospitals. If you are unsure where to go, contact other expatriates. You are not restricted to any particular clinic and may see either a GP of your choice or a company-appointed doctor. There are some highly qualified specialists to be found in government specialist clinics but you need to be referred.
At most clinics you need not call to make an appointment and waiting time is reasonable. Generally we advise you to research for a general practitioner on arrival and contact a clinic for its operating schedule. Many doctors open their clinics after office hours, on Saturdays and even on Sunday morning for a couple of hours. Clinics often have joint practice of several doctors. Make sure you see the doctor who was recommended to you.
Government outpatient clinics (also called 'polyclinics') generally take care of the locals and standard rates apply. Operating hours are from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm with a break for lunch. As polyclinics provide affordable outpatient healthcare for the public, do expect a longer wait than private clinics. Consultation fees of private practitioners vary significantly in Singapore. Doctors expect you to come to their clinics and house calls are unusual and expensive.


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Earlier this week, Ricky Gervais announced that Netflix had snapped up his Office spin-off movie, David Brent: Life On The Road, in which his boorish buffoon of a character finds new life as a failing singer. The first trailer for Life On The Road has arrived, and Gervais is as self-referential and self-congratulatory as ever. The mockumentary follows Brent's musical act, Foregone Conclusion, in their life on the road. Of course, Brent's no better performer than he was a manager—he writes terrible lyrics, offends his audience even when he's trying to demonstrate how considerate he is, and caps things off by hitting a woman in the face with his T-shirt cannon.
David Brent: Life On The Road premieres in the U.K. and Ireland on August 19; its Netflix date is still pending.


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How Epic is Megabots? Answer: Pretty Epic. Meet Gui, Matt, and Andrew. They joined us this year…
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Epic Journey to the SpaceX Hyperloop Competition
When Elon Musk first released plans for the Hyperloop in 2013, imaginations ran wild with the possibilities for the future of transportation. And when SpaceX announced its Hyperloop Pod Competition, teams around the world put their imaginations to work on pod prototypes to be tested on SpaceX's mile-long track in Hawthorne, California.
The initial round of competition in January 2017 was so successful that SpaceX is holding follow-up competitions for further testing on these proofs of concept. The Hyperloop Pod Competition II is set for August 25–27, 2017—and others are yet to be announced. Here, get to know two teams as they discuss the planning, collaboration, and engineering to compete in the competition.


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|5 bani 1900
19 mm diameter, 3 g, copper 75%, nickel 25%, flat edge, outer pearl circle
denomination "5 BANI", · ROMANIA ·
|the steel crown of Romania and year 1900 inside a wreath formed by a laurel branch (left) and an oak branch (right), outer pearl circle
Mintage 20.000.000 coins.
Struck at Brussels. Two variants of this coin exist, one of them featuring the cross bearing globe above with an inclination to the left.
The coin pictures above are present on this page through the kind permission of Mr. Radu Lissner.
The coin pictures below are present on Romanian coins through the kind permission of an anonymous donor.
Back to selection page!


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This post is part of Hubstaff's freelancing month 2017, where we feature insights by experienced freelancers about how they get clients, manage their workload, and more. Be sure to check out the rest of our freelancing month posts when you're done with this one!
Freelance writing can feel like an impossible field to break into. You don't have writing samples or bylines, but everyone expects you to. You don't have client testimonials to back up your skills. Clients want to see proof of your ability to craft high-quality copy, but you just don't have it yet. No one seems to be posting freelance writing jobs for beginners.
What are you supposed to do?
Grim as it may seem, it is possible to find freelance writing jobs for beginners, build your portfolio, and grow those early jobs into a full-time career.
I know because I've done it—twice.
Back in 2005, I was in college studying English, and I wanted to do something related to my major. I did some research and found that there was a decent market for people to write content for websites. It took a while to get started; I had no idea what I needed to do. I just started sending applications off, and eventually I got some replies.
Within six months, I was making a decent living as a freelance writer.
I worked as a freelance writer for five years, and in that time, I learned a lot about digital marketing. Eventually, I ended up using that knowledge to work my way into several full-time jobs. For seven years, I worked as an SEO specialist, digital project manager, marketing manager, and agile product owner.
But I missed freelancing. As a freelance writer, you learn something new every day. The work is hard, but it's also creative and rewarding.
So in the middle of last year, I left my full-time job to start freelance writing once again. This time around, it was much easier to get started. I had the benefit of having done it before—I had already learned the hard lessons. So I was able to pick up where I left off very quickly.
Launching a career as a freelance writer requires dedication—there will be times when it feels like you're chasing a pipe dream. But if you stick with it and follow a few best practices, that dream may become your reality.
Table of contents
- Before you start freelance writing
- Step 1: Decide on a freelance writing niche
- Step 2: Create some writing samples
- Step 3: Determine what you'll charge for your services
- Step 4: Find freelance writing jobs for beginners
- Step 5: Apply for jobs you're interested in
- Step 6: Respond to interested clients
- Kick off your freelance writing career
Before you start freelance writing
There's the dream of freelance writing—work from beaches in exotic locations, do what you love, become an authority, and make money doing it—and then there's the reality of freelance writing.
While all of these luxuries are certainly possible as a freelance writer, there's a lot more to it.
As a freelance writer, you're also a business owner. And as the sole employee of your business, you're responsible for much more than just writing: you're responsible for everything.
Before taking the plunge into freelance writing, seriously consider the following questions:
- Do you love writing? As a freelance writer, you'll write every day—even when you don't feel like writing. While you'll have some other tasks, like marketing, invoicing, and looking for clients, you will spend 90% of your time writing. That commitment demands loving what you do.
- Are you a talented researcher? No matter how much subject-matter expertise you have, there will be times when you have to conduct research, and it often takes more time than writing. To make the most money for your time, you need to know how to navigate Google like a pro.
- Can you handle rejection? There will be times when you don't get a job you were really excited about. In fact, you'll probably get more rejections than jobs. If you allow rejections to discourage you, you'll never succeed. You have to take rejections like a pro, understanding that if you didn't get the job, it probably wasn't a good fit anyway.
- Do you have self-discipline? When freelance writing from home, it can be tempting to just spend the day watching TV. But if you miss deadlines, you'll lose clients. If you don't write, you don't make any money. Dedicating yourself to freelancing as a full-time job requires serious self-discipline.
- Are you organized and detail-oriented? As a freelance writer, you're also an accountant. You have to keep detailed records of the work you complete for clients, send accurate invoices, and track business expenses for tax deductions. Otherwise, your income will suffer.
- Can you take constructive criticism? In most roles, you will work with an editor. The editor will request revisions and provide advice. If you can take the advice, you can use it to become a better writer. If you despise anyone who thinks your writing isn't perfect, you won't make it far.
If anything on this list sounds like something you're unprepared to handle, freelance writing may not be right for you. But if you can answer all the questions with a resounding "Yes," you're ready to move forward.
And here's what you need to do.
Step 1: Decide on a freelance writing niche
There are online writing jobs for every topic you can dream of. If you're an effective researcher, you can likely write about anything you're assigned.
But you probably don't want to.
When I first started out, I took any paying job I could get. I wrote about mortgages, spas, mesothelioma, health insurance, hormones, online degrees, and my hometown. When I finally started writing about my hometown, I came to an important realization: it's much easier to write about things I know.
Researching a topic you know nothing about is incredibly time-consuming. You have to take the time to understand it thoroughly in order to present concepts accurately and form unique insights.
Writing about things you already understand requires less research. As a result, you complete assignments faster, and you make more money.
As a bonus, the more you write on a single topic, the more you'll learn. Over time, you build knowledge, gather a list of reputable sources, and form original topic ideas that you can pitch to potential clients.
By specializing in a specific topic, you can ultimately make more money, produce more content, and become a subject-matter expert. There are some very lucrative freelance writing niches out there, too—you just have to find them and develop your expertise.
If you don't have a current area of expertise, choose things you're interested in. The more you write about those things, the more knowledge you'll gather.
Specializing in topics you're interested in is crucial. Remember that you'll spend 90% of your time writing about those topics. If you choose to specialize in writing about mortgages, but you hate writing about mortgages, you'll burn out quickly.
Step 2: Create some writing samples
All potential clients will want to see writing samples. Because you're looking for freelance writing jobs for beginners, you probably don't have samples to share. The easiest solution is to create your own writing samples.
Start a blog, and write some posts about the topic(s) you chose. You can share your blog posts as writing samples until you get professional samples that you can share with potential clients.
(You can start a blog just about anywhere, but I recommend WordPress. This step-by-step guide will walk you through getting started.)
It's important to understand that not all clients will accept writing samples from your personal blog for paid writing jobs. If the job description says something like "bonus if you've been published on sites like Forbes, Entrepreneur, or Huffington Post," that client is probably looking for someone with more experience. Some will even specify that they don't want personal blog samples.
However, many clients only look at writing samples as an example of your ability as a writer, and a way to determine if your writing style is a good fit. These clients won't care where your samples are published.
In my experience, the clients that cared more about my style and ability than my publishing credentials have almost always become my best clients. And those are the clients that are more willing to hire beginning freelance writers.
Step 3: Determine what you'll charge for your services
Setting rates is one of the most difficult tasks you'll do as a beginning freelance writer. If you set rates too low, you'll struggle to pay your bills. If you set them too high, you'll struggle to find clients.
While there are a number of sites that publish average rates for freelance writers, there really is no across-the-board standard or average. What freelancers make depends on many different factors:
- freelancer's location
- client's location
- type of writing
- publication
- freelancer's experience
- byline vs. ghostwriting
- how specialized the topic is
- writing speed
I can't tell you what you should charge, but I can offer one piece of advice: charge an amount that allows you to make a comfortable living. If you can get by charging $0.05 per word—and if you're happy with your clients paying that rate—don't be discouraged by the sites that say you should be charging $0.50 per word.
When you're just starting out, you may need to charge lower amounts, but you can increase your rates as you gain additional samples and experience.
(Hubstaff's 2017 Global Freelancing Trends study showed that marketers and developers start earning higher rates once they've accrued about five years of experience. You can expect a similar trend as a freelance writer.)
Before setting rates, it's important to understand the different payment models that freelancers use:
- Hourly: clients pay you a flat rate for each hour you work (in which case you'll probably need a good freelance time tracking app).
- Per word: clients pay you a specific amount for each word you write.
- Per piece: clients pay a flat rate for each piece of writing you produce.
- Per project: clients request an overall quote for a large amount of work.
- Retainer: clients pay a flat rate per month to reserve an agreed-upon amount of your time.
Personally, I base my rates for different payment models on an hourly rate. If you're not sure what your hourly rate should be, you can use HubSpot's freelance hourly rate calculator as a starting point. Figure out what you want your freelance writing salary to be, and go from there.
With an hourly rate in mind, you can calculate your rate in different payment models. For example, if your hourly rate is $30.00—but the client wants a per-word rate—estimate how many hours it will take to complete the work. Then, set the per-word rate accordingly:
1,500 words = ~4 hours of work
4 hours X $30.00 = $120.00
$120.00 / 1,500 words = $0.08 per word
Initially, your estimates for how long projects will take may be way off. But the more experience you gain, the better you'll get at estimating.
For that reason, short-term and one-off projects are often good for new freelance writers—they give you a chance to estimate duration and learn from bad estimations without having to live with them over a long-term client relationship.
However, if you find a great client and learn too late that your rates are too low, you can always ask for a rate increase.
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Step 4: Find freelance writing jobs for beginners
After you've decided on what topics you want to write about, created some writing samples, and determined what you need to charge, it's time for the good stuff: finding freelance writing jobs for beginners.
There are an incredible number of freelance marketplaces and other sites where you can find freelance writing jobs, and it would be impossible to list them all. Instead, I'll recommend the places where I've had success finding jobs:
- Craigslist. There are definitely scams on Craigslist, but there are also plenty of legitimate freelance writing jobs. Most jobs are on the Craigslist sites for major cities like San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City. Head to the Craigslist page for your own city—or any other major city—and choose the "writing / editing" category under "jobs."
- ProBlogger. ProBlogger's job board gets new postings every day. The jobs are usually high-quality and from companies that are willing to pay reasonable rates. Occasionally you'll run into a posting from a content mill, but most of the time the opportunities are excellent.
- BloggingPro. While BloggingPro has fewer new postings per day than ProBlogger, it's still a decent source for finding freelance writing jobs across different industries.
- Freelance Writing Gigs. Five days a week, Noemi Tasarra-Twigg posts a compilation of remote writing jobs from many different sites across the internet. If you don't have time to scour multiple sites each day, this is a good source for a quick view of some of the best recent job postings for freelance writers.
- LinkedIn ProFinder. The majority of jobs posted to LinkedIn's main site are full-time roles, but ProFinder is a service offered specifically to connect employers with freelancers. Sign up using your existing LinkedIn profile, and the system will email you relevant job postings as they're published. Note that it only sends posting for clients in the same geographic region as you.
- Hubstaff Talent freelance writing jobs. Hubstaff Talent is a job directory for all types of freelancers, including writers. There are jobs from many different clients at a variety of pay rates, and writers aren't charged any fees for using the service—unlike some similar services that charge fees as high as 20%.
My approach to looking for new freelance writing jobs is to bookmark all of the job posting boards I'm interested in and review new postings on each site once a day for opportunities.
So, as a beginner, which jobs should you apply for? The best jobs for beginning freelance writers are often small projects that don't require the client to commit to a long-term relationship. Some clients will say that writers need to submit a certain number of samples published in high-profile publications; these generally aren't freelance writing jobs for beginners.
My best advice is to find a few paid online writing jobs that you're qualified for (don't waste your time on unpaid posts) and just apply! It's not easy to start freelance writing with no experience. But by judiciously choosing the jobs you apply for, it can certainly be done.
One other piece of advice: it's important to apply early. Sometimes clients receive hundreds of responses from freelance writers. If you reply five days after the job is posted and come in as application number 439, you're probably not going to be considered.
Try to stay on top of the job boards and freelance writing sites and get your application in as soon as possible for the best chance of having your application reviewed.
Step 5: Apply for jobs you're interested in
In general, you'll apply for jobs you're interested in by email. The email you send is critical. Potential clients may receive hundreds of responses to their job postings. To stand out, you need to send the perfect pitch.
Before you craft your pitch, there are a few things you need to do:
- Read the job description thoroughly. Make note of any instructions the client has provided—many will request that you use a specific subject line, include a certain number of writing samples, or answer a series of questions. If you fail to follow the instructions, your response will likely be sent straight to the trash.
- Visit the client's website. If the job post includes the name of the employer or publisher, take time to review the website you're applying to write for. This can be an early indicator of whether or not your style matches the client's preferences, and it also provides opportunities to personalize your pitch.
- Try to find the name of the person who will receive your response. Do a little digging and see if you can determine the poster's first name. Sometimes, the name is in the email address, and sometimes you can find it by pairing that email address with a name on the company website. If you're not 100% confident in the name, don't include it.
With this information, you'll be prepared to craft your pitch. There are some best practices to follow when writing a response to a job posting:
- Keep it brief. Briefly list your major qualifications and credentials, and link to your website or LinkedIn profile where prospects can learn more if they want. No one has time to read a manifesto. If the client is interested, they can reach out to learn more about you.
- Capture attention with an enticing subject line. If the job posting lists a specific subject line to use, use that subject line. Otherwise, use the subject line to capture attention. A subject line that says "Data-driven marketing writer with 10+ years of experience" is much more powerful than "Freelance Writer Application."
- Talk about how you can benefit the client. Frame your experience in a way that it highlights how that experience benefits the client. You could say "I have 10 years of experience in digital marketing." But it's more appealing if you say, "I'll utilize the insights from my 10 years of experience in marketing to create in-depth, actionable blog content for your site."
- Include writing samples. If the number of writing samples to include is noted, provide links to that number of writing samples. Otherwise, include your three most relevant samples. If possible, review the client's blog first, and send samples that reflect the style, length, tone, and formatting of what the client has already published.
- Offer to complete a trial. At the end of your email, express a willingness to complete a trial assignment. A trial is important for both you and the client. It gives you both an opportunity to determine if the working relationship will be pleasant.
- Include your email address. This is especially important when applying via Craigslist, because the system often masks your email address. It may seem redundant, but it ensures that the client has the information needed to get in touch with you.
- Personalize the email. Don't copy and paste—send a personalized email every time. You're applying to become a writer, so you should treat your application email as your first writing sample. Form letters are easily recognized and come across as lazy.
- Format your email so it's easy to read. Instead of writing several long paragraphs, utilize bullet points and headers so clients can easily find the information they're most interested in.
Finally, make sure to proofread your email before you send it. I usually like to write the email, save it as a draft, and return to it an hour later for a fresh perspective.
After I've applied for a job, I copy and paste the posting into OneNote. With OneNote, I can paste each posting into its own page and search for keywords (company name, subject line, job title, and so on) when a client replies. This is critical when applying for multiple jobs, because you won't remember every single one.
Also, sometimes clients will take their time replying, so it's good to have a way to refresh your memory. I've had people respond six months after I originally applied asking if I'm still interested. You never want to tell a potential client that you have no idea what job they're talking about, so keep detailed records of everything you apply for.
Step 6: Respond to interested clients
It's easy to get excited when a potential client replies to your application, but it's important to remember that your initial conversations set the stage for all the work you'll do for that client.
Make sure to agree on the work you'll be doing up front. One of the first things clients want to know is how much you charge, but how much you charge should consider what the job entails: writing, promotion, search optimization, image sourcing, posting to a CMS, revisions, or anything else.
Ask questions to determine exactly what the client expects, and provide detailed rates that list out exactly what is included. This can be used later if a client consistently asks for more than what was originally agreed upon.
If you're asked to complete a trial, this conversation can wait until the client has decided to hire you. But it's very important to align on what each party expects so that the client is happy with what is provided and you aren't surprised later with time-consuming additional requests.
Kick off your freelance writing career
As an aspiring freelance writer, there are a lot of upfront tasks to complete before you start accepting jobs and earning an income. If you're currently working full-time, it can be to your advantage to either
- have several months of savings to cover your bills while you get started, or
- start freelancing part-time until you're making a consistent income.
When I decided to return to freelancing last year, I used to get up at 5:00 a.m. every morning to get a few hours of writing done before I went to my full-time job. Then I would come home in the evening and work on my website for a few hours after work.
It was hard working two jobs, but when I finally left my full-time role, I had enough freelance clients to feel confident that my decision wasn't going to send me spiraling into bankruptcy.
Freelance writing should be considered with as much care as starting a new business. It's a lot of work to get started. But if you're willing to do the upfront work, you'll be more likely to enjoy a long career writing about what you love, working from wherever you want in the world, and using your skills to educate and help others.
What other questions do you have about launching your career as a freelance writer? Ask your questions in the comments below, and I'll do my best to answer them.


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Make the best compost heap in six stages
Compost 1st step
After you decide upon the location of your compost heap you should ready the soil. To do this, simply remove the grass sods of the footprint you need for the compost pile. The compostible materials will now be able to be in direct contact with the soil microorganisms necessary for making good compost. As this is a heap, you will not require a frame or bin of any kind.
Compost 2nd step
To the, now exposed, bare soil toss on some twigs, chopped brush or similar coarse materials until you have a layer of about 4" created. The purpose of this layer is to allow air circulation at the bottom of the heap and helps to prevent compression of the heap when material is piled onto it.
Compost 3rd step
This next layer should be twice as high as the fist layer at 8" of finer material. Typically this will be leaves, mixed scraps and some grass cuttings. Make sure that this stuff is damp but not wet. It should not be too dry either.
Compost 4th step
The next thing to add is the inoculant which is vital to start the compost pile working. In this case the inoculant is a 1" covering of ordinary earth or soil.
Compost 5th step
Adding manure will provide nitrogen for the heap. Typically a 2-3" layer of manure is added but this step can be skipped, especially if one lives in a city because it can cause some problems with flies. An alternative is commercially composted poultry manure or urea fertilizer. The urea fertilizer is best as a small amount is all that is needed (I pound weight is adequate) for compost making. These materials should be wet.
Compost 6th step
Repeat steps 2-5 until the heap is of the desired size. Create a dip in the top of the pile to catch rainwater, especially during the summer months to prevent the heap from getting too dry. In wintertime the heap can be covered to retain its heat.
When will the compost be ready?
This homemade compost pile will usually take four months to break down and be ready for use. If you don't go near it at all then it might take as long as six months. You may well decide that you will make the compost heap and leave it for a full year before employing it on your vegetable patch. Many gardeners prefer this approach and it works quite well too. To speed up the process you will need to fork the materials around into a new pile every three or four weeks. If it is too dry add some water and if it is too wet add sawdust or other similar material.
How do you know if the compost is ready?
You will know by the color, texture and richness of the compost. It should be brown, smelling earthy and crumble when touched. The compost is ready for use and if you are going to use it for seedling germination you might want to sieve it to get very fine compost. It is best to have 2 heaps for modern gardening. Start one in the springtime to be ready for autumn planting and have another heap working over the winter months for early springtime use. These simple steps will help you to get the best out of your compost heap.
Rot Away
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5 Internet of Things Products Marketers Should Keep an Eye on This Year
From smart mirrors to wearable emotion trackers
LAS VEGAS—If you took a tour of the show floor at CES 2017, you know that among a few other trends including virtual reality, the Internet of Things had its moment in 2017. With more companies debuting their IoT products this year, Adweek caught up with OMD's chief investment officer Ben Winkler to take a tour of the show floor.
There's everything from beauty products like the HiMirror, a smart mirror that analyzes the user's skin to determine any imperfections from wrinkles to dark spots and helps fix those problem areas, to a wearable device, Feel, that tracks your emotional state rather than your steps.
And while each product is eye-catching in its own way and something a consumer might want to purchase, they also open up opportunities for marketers to get involved, especially in something like an Alexa-enabled device for kids, the Memoo by C-way.
"We have dozens of clients and dozens of advertisers who have created skills for Alexa, whether it's ordering an Uber or using something from Lowe's, when you ask Alexa for a suggestion of where to buy something, we want to make sure that our clients and our advertisers are an answer that Alexa gives," Winkler explained.
Check out the five products Winkler thinks will be the most interesting for marketers in 2017.