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Ridesharing Apps and Protecting Your Privacy
Increasingly, people are choosing ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft over traditional cab services. This is partly because the rates are cheaper, but also because passengers can lower their fare further by carpooling with people traveling in the same area.
Anyone who has used an app like Uber knows that it uses GPS technology to show where drivers and passengers are, in real-time. This in itself raises some questions about privacy. But recently, ridesharing apps have given travelers even more to worry about.
Privacy Policy Precedents
Uber has granted its employees access to data on thousands of customers, including when and where each client travels. This data even includes how long a customer stayed at a particular location. The implications of this are far-reaching. Data breaches of this kind could leak the personal travel details of thousands of customers. Additionally, this information could be used to spy on politicians and other high-profile figures.
Uber currently has 40 million users, claiming that these info distribution practices are in compliance with their legal responsibilities and offer sufficient protection for their users. However, in 2014, Uber revealed a "God View" tool that displayed an aerial view for tracking customers in real time. These examples raise suspicions about how much ridesharing apps care about customer privacy.
What Kind of Data Is at Stake?
The privacy policies of ridesharing apps bring to light how these companies store, employ and keep our personal data safe. Most of these apps require that users connect their social media profiles to their account. Sites like Facebook are giant databases of personally identifiable information (PII). If these details are leaked, customers' personal, professional, and social lives may be at stake.
Using-link Facebook accounts can be an easy method for new users to sign up and log in, but linking to social media accounts means that apps are also collecting information unrelated to getting a ride. Birthdays, friend lists, which college or university you attend, and interests are also gathered.
Credit Card Account Information
In addition to these concerns, how ridesharing apps handle our payment credentials has also come into question. These apps are usually cashless and require their users to link credit card accounts to pay for rides. While this seems like a more convenient payment method, our account numbers are only as safe as these companies' privacy policies.
How Your Personal Information Can Be Leaked
What does this mean for ridesharing passengers at large? Generally, a bulk of the information is collected for marketing, general usage statistics, and app functionality purposes (service improvements). This information can also be sold to advertisers or third parties.
There are three ways in which a data breach could occur: the information could be leaked during the transmission of it to third parties, the ridesharing company itself may mishandle the information, or the data might be mismanaged by advertisers or third parties.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Privacy?
Ridesharing apps are obviously an innovative idea; in an increasingly interconnected world, the concept of using technology to facilitate carpooling is incredibly useful. Ridesharing is both a green way to go about your daily commute and an inexpensive way to reach destinations inaccessible via public transit.
But because extremely sensitive personal data is at stake here, choosing a ridesharing app is not a trivial matter. These companies' privacy policies are available on their websites and should specify what individual user data is being collected. All apps collect usage statistics and other general facts, but privacy policies tell you which companies send out user specific details (credit card numbers, birthdays, emails, etc.) to third parties.
You can also read other users' reviews to see what they have to say about their experience. Reviews are very telling of how a company handles their business, how much they value their customers, and how their policies affect the end-users.
The Future of Ridesharing Apps
Conventional car services like taxicabs and black cars/limos are regulated by law. With the emergence of apps like Uber taking over the car service scene, questions have been raised concerning legality and classification. Institutions of political power, like the U.S. Senate, have come to ask companies like Uber about their privacy policies. This industry is still fairly new, and comprehensive security standards have yet to be put in place.
Until then, it's always a good idea to keep yourself updated on the privacy policies of the services you are using. Today, data breaches carry the weight of bank robberies in decades past. Because all of our information can be accessed in one place, it must be properly safeguarded.
While app developers should be obligated to make sure their software protects the data being collected, it is still the responsibility of the user to educate themselves on how their data is being handled.
Google's Trusted Contact App Wants to Make Users Safe
Google has recently released the Trusted Contact app. For quite some time, expediting communication between users has been a goal of Google's. But while most of their efforts in this field have been on with social platforms, the Trusted Contact app is specifically intended for emergency situations. User safety is the primary goal here.
This is an app intended to give users peace of mind and help them in those hard-to-prepare-for situations. The questions regarding this app are functionality, effectiveness, and whether or not this app can be as helpful as Google intends it to be. We will assess those questions now and let you know if this is an app necessary in any emergency.
How the Trusted Contact App Works
Users are able to designate their closest friends and family members as trusted contacts. If they feel comfortable doing so, they can share their location with these contacts. This works no matter the circumstances. Even if there's no service, or if the user's battery happens to die. The user's location will be updated for whichever contact is chosen.
Pros and Cons of the Trusted Contact App
Having an app that allows the user to contact someone in the direst of situations is essential. On that alone, Google's Trusted Contact app does what it sets out to do. It's a good safety net to have. And at 5 MB, there's very little to worry about in terms of storage.
The only negative there is to this app derives from the overlap with other apps and phone software. Facebook has had the safety check for a few years, Apple has the iCloud Family Sharing feature, and apps such as Familio and GeoZilla all provide similar services. In fact, people who use other Google apps have also pointed out that Google+ and Hangouts also do this in some form.
Redundancy issues aside, compared to the other apps of its ilk currently out there, Google's is the most thorough. Consider downloading it as a precautionary measure.
What's Being Done to Protect You on Your Favorite Photo Apps?
Photo apps are the social media platform most vulnerable to attack. By nature, they tend to have the most sensitive material. Worry grows among Snapchat and Instagram users because of this. As shown over the years, when a hacker is able to gain access to such sensitive material, it proves to be very damaging.
Users of photo apps would be wise to take as many preventative measures as possible. Storage location, the rise of location-specific information, and changes in an app's terms of service do not help security. Developers need to do more. As it stands, too many users are vulnerable.
Security Flaws Made by Developers of Photo Apps
Neither Instagram nor Snapchat has end-to-end encryption. Both apps communicate primarily through pictures. Making sure the sender and recipient are the only ones able to see the messages should be a priority. Not having end-to-end is a problem.
Snapchat has also changed its terms of service recently. These changes now allow them to store and share information with third parties and their affiliates. Considering how the initial appeal of Snapchat was that all messages and photos vanished after a brief period of time, this upset users.
Security Measures for All Users
It's highly suggested to take advantage of the phone software and security apps protecting a user's photo access. With iOS 8, Apple made it possible to hide pictures on iOS devices. This is achieved by simply putting them in a designated folder. Additionally, apps such as HiFolder allow users to store private images locally in its password-protected vault.
Those measures only work for a phone's internal storage of photos, however. For photo apps, users must take matters into their own hands. Linking an account to another social media platform like Facebook or Twitter is a big risk. As is using anything in the app that requests location. Being aware of which followers can be trusted is also necessary.
Most social media apps could stand to beef up their security as it stands. Because of its history of getting hacked, security for photo apps is especially important. More preventative measures by both developers and users must be in place.
How Smartphones Affect Privacy in Public
The term "dynamic visibility" is gaining momentum as studies are observing the effects of technology on the privacy of individuals. It is important to remember that digital surveillance is not 100% to blame. We also have to consider the sheer amount of free information that people divulge through technology. Consider some of the ways we willingly give up some of our privacy when it comes to our devices.
How Our Privacy Is Shared
Apps like Waze allow us to share our location at all times. Facebook and other social apps result in the sharing of tons of personal data. Even dating app profiles record information that should be considered a huge invasion of privacy—and yet people willingly give up that information in an attempt to be digitally matched up with the right person.
Research was performed using an Android app. The study focused on one particular part of Israel where smartphone use is the highest. The app included surveys taken on the phone that gathered info that was willingly shared, but it also tracked the location and phone usage of those who downloaded the app. This simulated the amount of information that people give up both voluntarily and through app allowances.
The study revealed that an astonishing 73% of responders were willing to give up their actual location while filling out a survey. It was also made clear that people were much more willing to give up both their location as well as other personal information when they were taking a survey in a public place rather than at home.
The fact that people seem more willing to give up personal info when asked questions in public is an intriguing phenomenon that encourages further study.
At the same time, this study serves as a warning to all those who are genuinely concerned about privacy. Be sure to consider what information each app on your phone gathers. Many track location and some do so even when the app is not in use. At the same time, consider what information you give away freely via social media, dating accounts, and online surveys. You never know who may be watching.
Don't Fall for That Video App Offer – It Isn't Free
The promise is a free video, but all you get is Free Phishing.
Video is the most popular form of content on the Internet. Just look at the stats on how many people search on YouTube (it's second only to Google) and the millions of videos being watched every minute of every day. It's no wonder why Facebook wanted in on the video action. With over a billion users, Facebook wants to give their audience more reason to use the service—and to share content. Unfortunately, it also introduces an opportunity.
Scammers Love to Work with What is Popular – Like Facebook Video
This is why a new scam has popped up encouraging users to avail themselves of a free app for viewing Facebook videos. The scam tries to convince you that all you have to do is log in to your Facebook account to get the free download. Once you do, guess, who has your login info? Unfortunately, it's the scammer.
To go after those who are interested in mature content, another part of the scam suggests you are about to watch a Facebook video requiring age verification. Entering your username and password confirms you are over 18. This is also a scam to steal your info.
Unfortunately, the scam looks very authentic and uses the Facebook logo and everything. The moral of the story: Never enter your credentials unless you were specifically trying to download something. Pop-ups asking for your login info are usually not legit.
What is Phishing?
You probably noticed the term phishing used above. What does it mean? Like a fisherman baits a fish, a scammer uses a lure to catch data. In this case, the lure is a free video app—or access to adult content. Your login info is now caught, and the scammer has access to tons of your personal information.
What if It's Too Late?
If you've already filled out something like this, you should:
- Immediately change your password, even if your account hasn't been hacked yet.
- Report any phishing attempts to Facebook so they can try to prevent others from falling victim to the same scams.
- Also keep an eye on your financial account to make sure your personal info hasn't been used to steal your identity.
Meet Facebook's Digital Assistant: M
Apple and Microsoft will soon no longer be the only games in town when it comes to digital assistants. If you like Siri or Cortana, but don't want to be tied to a particular OS, then M may be the solution and future of personal digital assistant apps. Facebook has decided to include the AI service as a part of the Facebook Messenger app. But don't just expect another digital assistant who provides reminder notices and makes quips when you ask what is zero divided by zero. Facebook may not get there first, but they know how to improve on an existing product (just ask Myspace).
M will actually be able to accomplish more than other AI predecessors. For example, you will be able to ask M to make reservations at a restaurant, set up your travel arrangements, make appointments, and even purchase items. M isn't just here to answer questions with a search query. This digital assistant is intended to take care of many of the things you would expect a human personal assistant to do for you.
When can you expect to start using M? Based on what we have seen so far, there could be a long wait ahead. David Marcus, the VP of messaging products at Facebook, says that they are still early in the project. It won't be ready to release until all the bugs are worked out. Don't forget that Facebook has over a billion users. That means that this project needs to be ready for release on an incredible scale before it can go live.
In the meantime, Facebook is bigger than ever. The CEO recently announced that a new milestone was reached for the company – one billion same-day users. That means that on Monday, August 24th, about one out of every seven people on the planet logged into their Facebook account at some point. That's a true testament to how important staying connected is to the human race albeit one with the help of a personal digital assistant app.
Hangouts Web App
Hangouts Web App: Communicating from Your Desktop or Laptop
Whether you use the Google operating system, Chrome OS, or are using Microsoft Windows, Google has a new web app you might be interested in. It lets you use the Hangouts web app as a desktop app, instead of in your email or as a pop out browser window. Sorry Mac users. You haven't been included yet. What does the app do?
You can check your contact list, receive alerts when you get a message from someone, and view older chat conversations right from your desktop. This can all be done without having a browser open. You will have access to the voice and video calling features. It also syncs with your mobile hangouts app, so conversations will stay up to date on all of your devices. Google Voice members can even use the app to handle calls, texts, and voicemails—right from your desktop.
Honestly, the app isn't a surprise. Hangouts has been a part of the Chrome browser as an extension from early on. In fact, the Android app was so popular that Apple got on board and allowed a Hangouts app for their mobile products. While there's no news yet on a Hangouts app for Apple desktops, it seems to be inevitable. In the meantime, Chromebook owners and Windows users can rejoice in the ability to use Hangouts with a desktop or laptop, all without having to open a browser and log into their Gmail account.
The best news is that the hangouts web app is free, so there's really no reason to wait. Go ahead and hit up the Chrome Web Store, unless you are on a Mac. You can then start handling your calls, video chats, and texts for free from your desktop. Thanks Google! We're glad you make so much money on search that you give us all this other cool stuff for free.
Best Android Apps: 2013 Edition
Top Android™ Apps of 2013
What awesome apps did you discover in 2013? You know, the kind you have no idea how you survived without? We have a couple of those ourselves. Read on for our curated Android™ list of last year's desert-island picks.
First, let's begin by tipping our hats to Google™. We love chatting using our Gmail™ account and the Talk app served us well for a while, but Hangouts™ has redefined the service. Now you can take care of all of your Google contacts in one place. Whether you are having a conversation in Gmail chat, Google+™ or want to make a video call, you only need one app.
While we're at it, let's consider another great addition to the Google line: Keep. This is the only real competitor for the popular Evernote® app. Linking it to your Google Drive™ account makes it even more effective.
Now, let's talk about Swype™. Obviously, the app isn't the first introduction of this proficient way of using an onscreen keyboard. It is, however, the first version that isn't considered Beta. That's why it's the first app to make our list that isn't free (Don't worry, it's only $2).
Camera Awesome® makes the list as well. Are you tired of your friends with Apple™ products always posting better photos on Facebook® and Instagram®? Now for the low price of $3, you can have the same camera app that's been providing your iPhone®-wielding buddies with advanced camera functions.
Photoshop® Touch has finally made its way to smartphones, too. That's the good news; the bad news is that even if you already have it on your Android tablet, you'll have to pay for it again on your phone. More good news: It's only $5.
Let's end with a grocery app. Yup—we always need one to make our lives easier, and Buy Me a Pie!® is a great way to keep in sync with the rest of the fam. No more having two household members come home with a gallon of milk but no one remembering the eggs, as this one helps you share your grocery lists and removes redundancies.
Send Texts from Literally Anywhere
It's nice to get away from it all on vacation or extreme sports adventures, but it's also great to have a link to the outside world for emergencies. Well, now there is a better way to survive a bad situation than having to saw off your own arm or drink your own urine. Text Anywhere lives up to its name via satellite link.
With Text Anywhere, you don't even need cell phone service. It simply increases your phone's range to virtually anywhere. Any device that can use Wi-Fi can be linked up. So you can message using your phone, tablet, or laptop. It's also web-based instead of operating system-based, so it works well with nearly any device. If you don't have a clear sky view, you may not get reception. Plus, certain countries like North Korea and Cuba block the signal. Otherwise, you should be okay from virtually anywhere.
You don't get enough bandwidth to anything beyond text. And you won't get a media message like an image through, so keep your text to fewer than 160 characters. Emails that only use text will also work. Text Anywhere is a two-way street, so you can receive as well as send. You connect to it just like you would any other wireless signal, and then you are all set to send and receive text messages.
Don't confuse this device with inReach, which was specifically designed to be able to get rescued in an emergency situation. While you can use the device to contact someone in an emergency, it doesn't send off the same kind of homing signal for would-be rescuers. It's really more for keeping in touch when you are out of civilization and not in an emergency.
Don't forget the batteries. You'll need four AA batteries for this device. Without the batteries, it weighs less than half of a pound. Also, if you are traveling by car, you have the option to plug it in and use your car's power instead of battery life.
All the fees are pretty straightforward. You pay a one-time fee to get the device and 100 messages. Then you pay per message after that. Rates are a little steep, but you get what you pay for.
Waiting Patiently for Google Glass
What is Google Glass? It's the first wearable mobile device. Resembling a pair of glasses, Google Glass can answer your questions, perform searches, give directions, check the weather and more. It's meant to be an experience that blends into the real world, instead of replacing it like a pair of virtual-reality glasses would. Most responses are audio and visual and happen on a small screen in the peripheral vision of your right eye. Videos from beta testers have everyone really excited about this product. So when will we see it?
If you've been waiting patiently for a shot at purchasing Google Glass, I have some bad news. You're going to have to wait a little longer. According to the FAQ on the official Google site, it will be 2014 before the device becomes available for retail purchase. In the meantime, some more prototypes will be going out in 2013 to boost excitement over the product even more.
You must keep in mind that the beta testers that you see walking around with these beauties paid a heavy price for their advance product. Google didn't just hand these out. When Google sold pre-orders in 2012, $1,500 was the asking price to wear Google Glass two years early. If more go out this year, how much would you be willing to pay for one in advance? Don't answer before you've watched a few videos. These aren't your grandma's reading glasses.
Again, Google says that more people will be getting Glass this year. How much it will cost both Google and the general public in 2014 remains a mystery for now. We'll just have to keep watching the videos and be patient for a little bit longer until there is a definite release date and price.


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As with dog sitting, cat sitting services can be tailored to meet the needs of individual pets and their owners. Many cats, especially older or more timid creatures, often prefer the comfort of their own familiar surrounds as opposed to being placed in a cattery whilst you go away. Similarly, being fed the same food, and not being exposed to unfamiliar smells and sounds will all help keep kitty happy.
Relying on family, friends and neighbours can sometimes be awkward ... especially you are away from home on a frequent basis. This is where Blossoms Pet Care can help.
As with any other pet care company in Gloucestershire, our visits can include any of the following:
Blossoms Pet Care cat sitting prices start from as little as just £10 per visit and the length of the visit and what we do when we are there is determined by you. You may wish to have us visit just once a day or even combine our services with visits by neighbours or friends if you are away for a long period of time. Whatever your preference, Blossoms Pet Care's cat sitting services is very flexible and its reassuring to know we are both police checked and fully insured.
To find out more about how our cat sitting skills can help you, please drop us a quick email firstname.lastname@example.com), or call or text Lisa on 07968 237 690.
Blossoms Pet Care
Professional Pet Care Services throughout Gloucestershire, UK, including Gloucester and Cheltenham.
( Dog Grooming Franchise)

subset: commoncrawl


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I picked on Yasiel Puig and Bryce Harper on my post about the All-Star Game. While the content of this post is meant to talk about sports media and the casual fan, it will entail breaking down Puig, Harper, and other like players in the process. If you read my last entry, I mentioned that guys like Puig and Harper had a lot of buzz because of sources like ESPN shoving their candidacy down everyone's throats. While Puig did not make the team (despite ESPN's best efforts), Harper did. Not only did Harper make the team, he was elected to the starting lineup with some pretty darn average statistics batting .267 with 13 home runs and 29 RBIs with a .895 OPS. He got the start over many others who were better qualified just because he is who he is. He was also held out of 37 games due to an injury, which entails about a third of the season.
Baseball is not the only sport that has an obsession with these young superstars. Football has become dominated by the Luck/Kaepernick/Wilson/Griffin sensation and basketball is always looking for the next LeBron/MJ/Kobe. The youngsters that have an impact are the most intriguing aspect of sports it would seem. Especially in the day and age we live in where sports have become less of a pastime to follow and have entered the echelon of tabloid news at times, the main sports outlets are always looking for the "brand new thing" to report about.
America is an interesting place to live and grow up in. It is a unique country where everyone has the opportunity to succeed if they are dedicated enough. This may be the "American Dream" people have been talking about for over a century. When it comes to sports, everyone covets the young gem because it typically dictates a successful future for the franchise. However, fans want to see the youngster succeed so badly that they portray greatness on them before they earn it. Imagine if Bryce Harper turns into a player who ends up a .270 career hitter and doesn't eclipse the 30 home run mark but a few times in his career. Will he be considered the legend he is projected to be?
The story of Billy Beane as a player is a famous one for those who are deeply involved in sports, particularly baseball nerds like myself. He was a five-tool prospect (hitting for contact, hitting for power, speed, fielding and on-base prowess) that failed to matriculate into the big leagues. He ended up retiring to become a scout and is now known as the man who ushered in the sabrmetrics era in baseball. However, he could have easily ended up just another player who did not amount to anything in the baseball spectrum. The amount of pressure put on these young men can break them and they end up burning out. Ryan Leaf is another one of these players who ended up not living up to the hype surrounding him. Is it fair to put the success of a franchise on these men? Perhaps not, but it is something that comes with the trade. Succeed, and they become heroes to those who follow them. Fail, and they draw the ire of those very same people.


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İstanbul, October 11th, 2018 – The 4th International Day of the Girl Child Conference, co-organized by Aydın Doğan foundation, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women was held on October 11th at the Hilton Convention Center. The conference focused on revealing the full potential of girls to shape the future of societies, eliminate obstacles they face and create social awareness on gender equality. During the sessions panelists who had national and international achievements in science, arts and sports and who are role models to girls shared their own success stories and views. All panelists gather on a common idea that is combining education with science, arts and sports will contribute to development of girls and the society.
Gender Equality Program Coordinator from United Nations Population Fund, Meltem Ağduk who attended the conference with her speech indicated that "A wall rises like a universal resistance wall in front of us in the form of discrimination and social gender inequality for girls and women in the world wherever we are despite all developed laws, issued policies and universal goals. Unfortunately this wall makes our girls invisible. We don't hear them, we don't listen to them and even if we hear them and we don't see them".
In her speech Ağduk pointed out that "However, if we hear and listen to them, they will tell us the discriminative attitude and behavior they face as a result of sex role stereotypes in social life, family, school and everywhere. They are aware of both what they are exposed to and what can be the solution. They are aware how much the resistance wall that is in front of them has been raised by means of financial impossibilities, inability to benefit education opportunities, sex role stereotypes in social life because this problem and the barriers they face are a part of their daily lives.
Gender Equality Program Coordinator from United Nations Population Fund, Meltem Ağduk completed her speech indicating that "A strong society can only be formed when the power of girls is unleashed. This is only possible when laws and national and international goals are in harmony; and societies, governments, national and international institutions, and individuals work together".
UNFPA Turkey Spokesperosn, Successful Artist Songül Öden, attended the panel titled "Role Models for Children and Young People" at International Day of the Girl Child Conference 4th of which organized this year.
Öden who called out to girls attending the conference shared her memories and advised that they should not get conditioned to be "perfect".
In her speech the Spokesperson Öden indicated that "Being unsuccessful is normal as much as being successful. If we don't fall, we can't stand up''.
Successful artist pointed out their narrowing elbow room as long as the girls grow up and highlighted that women are being compared to each other starting from their childhood. She expressed the poverty of the understanding where everyone is dedifferentiated with disregarding the differences.
Öden who stated that "We should see any misfortune like a gift; each barrier is an opportunity to develop and change ourselves" continued as follows; The conditionings like "You cannot do it", "that's way out of your league", "This is not appropriate for us" where the phrase "I believe in you but not the environment" is given as an excuse, are actually a type of unaware violence on children imposed by the society; this can only make our girls fall in dastard".
UNFPA Turkey Spokesperson Songül Öden expressed that people may sometimes hesitate about his/her own skills on the road to success and about the concept of what is success but all of these challenges can be overcome by the trust and belief in themselves and she talked about her experiences.
Öden who was listened to with interest by the attending girls in the conference, completed her speech as follows; "The different one is beautiful, don't be afraid of being different, don't feel yourself bad when you are different. Actually, I advise you to think twice if you try to be the same with others."
Another speechmaker attended the International Day of the Girl Child Conference was the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Spokesperson Azra Akin. In the panel titled "Role Models for Children and Young People", the UNFPA Spokesperson gave a message particularly to the girls attending the conference and stated that "There is no one like you. Don't forget it. Don't try to be like others. Don't let the effort of perfectionism to stop you. Human mostly hinders itself ".
UNFPA Spokesperson Akın shared the background of her knowledge on life with the girls attending the conference based on her experiences. Akın who stated that she has undertaken very hard responsibilities in her early ages indicated that "Representing a country when you were very young is a great responsibility. After sometime, you start to pressurize yourself and start to think twice or triple times about each of your step. At that time, you prefer to stop instead of moving so as to not to make a mistake. Do not hinder yourselves, don't be afraid to develop and making mistakes.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Spokesperson Azra Akın gave video message to girls that was serviced at the end of the conference "Be aware of your power, all of you are unique, there is no one like you in the World. So be brave. I still try to learn a lot of things about being brave in my life. Don't try to be perfect. I know this. This paralyses people. So don't stop. Be unsuccessful but don't stop, continue and be brave".
You can access the press bulletin serviced at the end of the Conference at: https://goo.gl/PijP79


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AIMS Materials Science, 2018, 5(1): 54-74. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2018.1.54.
Research article Topical Section
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Modulation of the mechanical properties of ventricular extracellular matrix hydrogels with a carbodiimide crosslinker and investigation of their cellular compatibility
1 Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Japan
2 Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
3 Institute of Development, Aging, and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
4 Integrative Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
Received: , Accepted: , Published:
Topical Section: Biomedical materials
Keywords: ventricular extracellular matrix; decellularization; hydrogel; nonlinearity; viscoelasticity; cellular biocompatibility
Citation: Kyohei Fujita, Zhonggang Feng, Daisuke Sato, Tadashi Kosawada, Takao Nakamura, Yasuyuki Shiraishi, Mitsuo Umezu. Modulation of the mechanical properties of ventricular extracellular matrix hydrogels with a carbodiimide crosslinker and investigation of their cellular compatibility. AIMS Materials Science, 2018, 5(1): 54-74. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2018.1.54
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- 18. Everaerts F, Torrianni M, Hendriks M, et al. (2008) Biomechanical properties of carbodiimide crosslinked collagen: Influence of the formation of ester crosslinks. J Biomed Mater Res A 85: 547–555.
- 19. Fujita K, Tuchida Y, Seki H, et al. (2015) Characterizing and modulating the mechanical properties of hydrogels from ventricular extracellular matrix. 2015 10th Asian Control Conference (ASCC) 1–5.
- 20. Kikuchi M, Feng Z, Kosawada T, et al. (2016) Stress relaxation and stress-strain characteristics of porcine amniotic membrane. Bio-med Mater Eng 27: 603–611.
- 21. Johnson TD, DeQuach JA, Gaetani R, et al. (2014) Human versus porcine tissue sourcing for an injectable myocardial matrix hydrogel. Biomater Sci 2: 735–744.
- 22. Ishihama Y, Oda Y, Tabata T, et al. (2005) Exponentially Modified Protein Abundance Index (emPAI) for Estimation of Absolute Protein Amount in Proteomics by the Number of Sequenced Peptides per Protein. Mol Cell Proteomics 4: 1265–1272.
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This article has been cited by:
- 1. Robert A Pouliot, Bethany M Young, Patrick A Link, Heon E Park, Alison R Kahn, Keerthana Shankar, Matthew B Schneck, Daniel J Weiss, Rebecca L Heise, Porcine Lung-Derived Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Properties are Dependent on Pepsin Digestion Time, Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2020, 10.1089/ten.TEC.2020.0042
- 2. Ross Bretherton, Darrian Bugg, Emily Olszewski, Jennifer Davis, Regulators of cardiac fibroblast cell state, Matrix Biology, 2020, 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.04.002
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Asking Price: $748,000
Real Estate: Leased
Gross Revenues: $1,500,000
Cash Flow: $350,000
Made in the USA. This company has been fulfilling a niche in US manufacturing for the last 20 years making unique customer-specified metal products. Mostly low volume, high mix product line serving multiple industries.
Facilities: Manufacturing facility in Michigan is only 20 years old in good condition. Property is leased. Operations could be consolidated into a larger company or continued operations in the current location.
Growth & Expansion: Company is currently operating in 2018 at a high level of productivity for the current facilities and labor utilization, putting the gross revenue at about $2 million and net income at $400K. Additional operations could be expanded with a 2nd shift or additional facilities. There are market opportunities to grow by executing either of these two growth strategies.
Support & Training: Seller will provide adequate services to assure a successful and smooth transition.
Reason Selling: Retirement
Contact: Scott Lands
Phone: 317-333-6655 x 104


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Scrap Car Ashwell, LE15, Scrap your car for free
Local, reliable car collection service in Ashwell (LE15), Rutland. Scrap cars can be a real problem and can cause you untold misery, if you have a scrap vehicle and it is on the road it will still need to be taxed. Don't pay to have your car towed away. We can take away your scrap car for free!
Ashwell (LE15), Rutland - Recent News
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The car scrappage scheme
The scrappage scheme may seem like a superb idea. However, you cannot purchase any vehicle on this scheme. You can't just go out and buy any car you want. This can be a very frustrating process as you have to buy a car that is currently in the scrappage scheme.
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Financial Aid Central
The Office of Financial Aid assists students in the application process for financial aid. The office processes Free Applications for Federal Student Aid (FAFSAs), awards financial aid to students, provides financial aid loan counseling and prepares and submits financial aid reports and information to the state and federal government.
The Office of Financial Aid administers financial aid programs in accordance with policies and guidelines established by Reynolds Community College, the State of Virginia and the United States government to ensure that there is reasonable and equitable distribution of the limited funds available to students. The Office of Financial Aid also ensures that priority is given to those students with legitimate and demonstrated need.
New Financial Aid Eligibility Notification
Federal regulations indicate that students can only receive financial aid for courses that apply toward their declared degree or certificate program.
While this is not a new rule, Reynolds has adopted the Financial Aid Course Audit (FACA), a new system that allows us to inform you within 24-48 hours after you register whether any of your course selections are ineligible for financial aid.
It is our hope that providing you with this information will help you to better plan your academic career, select courses that apply to your program, and complete your degree or certificate program in a timely manner.
Beginning with Spring 2017 registration, you will now have information about the financial aid eligibility for each class you are enrolled.
iGrad Personal Finance Tools
iGrad is an industry leader and award winning platform for personal finance education and is made available to students, staff and alumni through Reynolds Community College's partnership with ECMC Solutions. iGrad can be your single destination for all personal finance questions and so much more.
iGrad has a wealth of videos, articles and other resources to help you apply for financial aid, borrow wisely and select the right repayment program for your budget.


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Image Collections / New Home Trends – New Zealand
Modern Barn House
Want to know more?Contact us
This 1930s house remodel for a Studio Executive was designed by Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Architect statement:
A studio executive hired us to remodel this 1930s Cliff May ranch house, retaining its knockout canyon views, while simplifying its hodgepodge of architectural styles. We loved the orientation and sense of tallness about the original, but saw the need to improve its meandering circulation and awkward allocation of space.
Our plan streamlined the exterior facades, creating a monochromatic contrast to the surrounding bright green lawns. Enlarging windows and adding glass doors encouraged both light and people to flow through the house. An innovative brise soleil provides privacy, as well as constant interplay between shadow and light.
Stone and wood floors unite the indoor and outdoor spaces. They begin in the porte cochere, cross over a reflecting pool, enter the house through the dramatic double-height main
entry, and wrap around the back patios and decks overlooking the pool and the nearby golf course. Skylights notched out of the steeply pitched roof add to the feeling of unbounded space. A long central corridor runs the length of the building, bringing light from one end of the residence to another. The aluminum rails of the sculptural staircase continue into the second floor office. This lofty aerie boasts exceptional views of the interior public spaces on the first floor as well as the exterior entryway, the motor court, and the Santa Monica Mountains.
We relocated the once-cramped master suite so that it overlooks the pool, leaving space for his-and-her dressing rooms and a luxurious master bathroom. We also turned a former garage into a state-of-the-art screening room, complete with a full-service bar. You can read more about the house in the February, 2015 issue of Architectural Digest.
Other Collections You Might Like


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Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions and we have some answers. In this section are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) on everything asked from using books on a mobile device to how to search and download books on the online catalog. The intention of this section is to have answers readily available to the more common questions asked by patrons.
- Digital Talking Books
- NLS Digital Talking Book Player
- Third Party Digital Talking Book Players
- Library's Online Catalog
- How to Describe Images


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World's first driverless Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit system launches in China
A first test run of the world's first driverless Autonomous Rail Rapit Transit (ART) system has started in China. The ART is an urban transport system and with its 32 meters long a cross between a bus, train and tram. Citizens can take the smart bus in Zhuzhou, central China as of late October. The bus is equipped with sensors that can read the dimensions of roads and plan its own route. It can reach a speed up to 70 km/h and can carry up to 300 passengers. It currently travels autonomously for 3.1km between four stations.


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Huang, a senior, scored 605.90 points and earned one of four automatic berths into the NCAAs. She finished behind event winner Blythe Hartley of USC (670.10).
UH's Rui Wang took fifth and teammate Megan Farrow earned sixth.
On the men's side, Hawaii's Mats Wiktorsson placed fourth in the 3-meter dive.
Yesterday's games were moved to today, and today's originally scheduled games were moved to tomorrow.
Also, bracket play was eliminated from the format.
Hawaii plays against UC Santa Barbara at 6 p.m. today and against Detroit-Mercy at 8 p.m.
Tomorrow, UH takes on UNLV at 5 p.m. and Penn State at 7 p.m.
Burrow went on to lose to seven-time world champion Kelly Slater in the final today.
Hawaii's Pancho Sullivan was a fourth-round loser yesterday.
» Hawaii's Rochelle Ballard placed equal third in the Roxy Pro surf contest on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Ballard lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Melanie Redman-Carr of Australia yesterday.
Redman-Carr beat fellow Australian Layne Beachley in the final.
Harris was a defensive end at Arizona State, where he was a unanimous first-team All-American and an Outland Trophy finalist in 1978. He set an ASU school record for sacks with 19 as a senior.
Among those on the ballot for the first time are Air Force's Chad Hennings, Oregon's Ahmad Rashad and Florida's Emmitt Smith. The Hall of Fame class will be announced May 16.
Former UH volleyball star Victoria Prince is the guest instructor. The clinic for ages 7-12 is from 8:30 to 10 a.m., and the session for ages 13 and up is from 10:20 to noon. Registration is 30 minutes before the starting times.
The fee is $10. For more information, call 739-5444.


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by Lisa Cadigan
Friends – I am thrilled to be volunteering as the co-curator of the Adams County Arts Council's blog with my friend and colleague, Karen Hendricks of Hendricks Communications. We are launching the new blog with an online event to raise money for scholarships for kids who may not otherwise have access to art classes and camps. I will be publishing the posts for this event here as well, and asking you to help share on all of your social media so that we can meet our goal. The following was originally published on the ACAC blog on May 7, 2014.
Once upon a time, there was a middle-aged woman. Every Monday, she woke up, made coffee, woke her children, made breakfast, nagged at them to brush their teeth and put on their shoes, and then drove them to school to start their day. She continued on to her workplace, where she usually spent the first ten to fifteen minutes of her day checking email and perusing Facebook; a comforting routine to ease herself from the role of mother to the role of employee, ready to tackle the tasks on her to-do list.
One day, as she sat at her computer, a beautiful, brightly colored-image danced across her Facebook newsfeed. "Arts Benefit Children!" it said. "Well, of course the arts benefit children," she thought to herself, and so she clicked. Here is what she read:
On May 20-22, you will have an opportunity to help the Adams County Arts Council raise $4,800 in 48 hours! We are harnessing the power of the internet to reach out to thousands of people, who can change the lives of children and make the world a better place with just the click of a button!"
"Hmmm…I'm a little skeptical," she thought to herself. But she read on. It turned out that an old friend of hers was involved in the fundraiser, and had posted the colorful image. She clicked the "donate" button, sent in ten dollars, and then shared the link on her Facebook page, in an attempt to reconnect with her friend. Her donation surprisingly brought on the sense that she had already accomplished something helpful and important that day, and it was only 8:45 a.m. "Huh," she thought. "Simple mouse-clicks do have the capability of affecting people. But why would anyone want to donate to an organization with which they may not have a personal connection?"
The answer came to her surprisingly quickly. She suddenly remembered a painting class she took as a third grader. She had just moved to a new city and school where she hadn't yet made friends. She was lonely and worried she would never adjust. At the beginning of the class, she couldn't think of anything to paint, so she decided she would just choose colors to paint "lonely." The result was a beautiful painting in blues and greens, and her teacher shared it with the rest of the class. At the end of class, another student approached her and told her how much she liked the painting. The girl was still her friend thirty years later. Art had changed her life in that moment.
A man in another state, who knew the woman in college, saw the brightly colored image pop up in his newsfeed. Seeing her name attached to the post unexpectedly flooded him with college memories. He recalled a meeting with his freshman advisor, who told him he was required to take an art class. "I don't want to take an art class," he had thought at the time. "I'm a mathematician, not an artist." But his advisor explained that the art class was a requirement for graduation. So he decided on an acting class. He realized he had been using principles from the class every day in his classroom as a math teacher. Thanks to that acting class, he was comfortable in front of a crowd and better able to read the faces of his students. Not to mention, he met his wife in that acting class.
He called his wife, and nostalgically recounted the memory of their meeting place, telling her about the post on Facebook. "I am sharing it with you right now," he said. "You should share it with your artsy-friends and donate a dollar or two." She laughed, because she and her husband often playfully debated the differences in their educations; his was much more math and science-based, while she had been a music major with a minor in English. They were both highly intelligent people, and both were teachers now, touching the lives of future generations with skills polished at least partially, if not entirely, by their experiences with art.
She shared the Facebook post, too, and donated five dollars. As she read the stories across shared posts, she was deeply touched. She had been the recipient of a music scholarship in the fourth grade that allowed her to take violin lessons. Her family could not afford the instrument rental without that scholarship, and if she had not taken those lessons, she would never have tapped into the musical part of herself that filled her heart and life so significantly. She realized the scholarship was the reason she taught elementary orchestra now. She tweeted and emailed the fundraiser information to all of her colleagues.
This is how it works.
Every day, we connect with people, and the common source of our human connection is creativity. Whether it is telling a joke, watching a movie, writing a business memo, or writing a novel, the source of human connection requires a creative thought and a medium through which it can be expressed.
In the coming weeks, we will share real stories of kids who have benefitted from scholarships. You can be part of giving them the tools to creatively contribute to their relationships, careers and to the quality of life in our communities.
Do you have an art story? Will you share it, along with this invitation to help others write theirs?
If just 480 people donate $10 each, we can offer scholarships to more than thirty disadvantaged young people. We can unleash the creative potential in children who may not otherwise be able to tap into such a venue.
Don't have $10 to spare? Donate just $5. Or $1. Every dollar counts – a click and a dollar or two makes a difference with unlimited potential connections
How can you get involved? It's as easy as A-B-C:
- A. Visit our donation page between May 20 and 22nd
Donate a dollar. Or $5. Or $10. Or more, if you feel so inspired. But know that every dollar counts.
- B. Share this story with your friends, and encourage them to play along and donate, too.
- C. Come back to the blog to hear stories about past scholarship recipients who have enjoyed classes and camps here, and track our progress.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Lisa Cadigan is a director on the Adams County Arts Council's board and the chair of ACAC's Marketing & Development Committee. She is also the sole proprietor of Cadigan Creative, where she offers graphic design and marketing services. You can find out more about Lisa on the Cadigan Creative website, and see samples of her writing on her blog, Daily Presents.
Karen Hendricks is a volunteer on the Adams County Arts Council's marketing and development committee and the owner/president of Hendricks Communications, LLC. Karen demonstrates a love of writing and communicating in all she does; it's the common thread linking all of her current and past experiences. Her communications firm provides compelling public relations and marketing services to a select but varied group of clients. You can find out more about Karen on the Hendricks Communications website and see additional samples of her writing on her blog, Off the Merry-Go-Round.


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Bomb planted in bus kills 8 passengers in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A bomb planted in a bus killed at least eight passengers and wounded seven others in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, police said.
The explosion happened when the bus was passing through a crowded bazaar on its way from Peshawar to a nearby town, police official Fazal Wahid Khan said.
He said the dead and injured included women and children, and authorities had transported them to a government hospital.
Bus driver Jehanghir Khan, who was not hurt, told reporters that the device had been planted under a seat.
"I didn't see any suspicious person. I don't know who planted this bomb. I was passing through the bazar of Matni when I suddenly heard the blast," he said. He said the blast damaged some shops nearby, as well as the bus.
No one immediately claimed responsibility.
Peshawar is the capital of troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Security forces have carried out several offensives against Pakistani Taliban and other militant groups there.


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Paris Couture Spring 2014 cropped up with its usual front row controversy, Kim Kardashian's pap flash and Cara's craziness amongst others. But if you were lost in the tittle tattle then you missed some amazing bridal worthy dresses.
The most exciting event for me was the return of the much revered Schiaparelli label. Marco Zanini is at the helm (he also heads up Rochas) and although I was a little disappointed not to see Schiaparelli's signature bias cut 30's gowns, these modern billowing evening dresses are a knock out.
Alien mermaids as I've dubbed them, were spotted at Chanel and Armani Prive, where there were futuristic styles cut from glistening fabrics.
Sci-fi influences also gripped other designers perhaps hopefully looking to the future as the world moves out of recession. Giant ruffles ahoy.
Predictably I had to end with an Elie Saab number, the wedding world's favourite.


text: Why Choose BrightLine® LED-based Light Engine Filter Sets? Spectral Optimization! LED-based light engines are gaining in popularity for fluorescence imaging. However, the full potential of LED light engines remains to be realized in most imaging configurations because they are still being used with conventional filter sets designed for mercury or xenon arc lamps. These legacy broadband light sources have a significantly different spectral signature and energy distribution compared to the newer LED sources. Therefore conventional filter sets may not provide optimal performance with the new LED sources. Semrock's LED-based light engine filter sets are aligned to the unique spectral peaks of the most popular LED-based light engines on the market today. These filter sets simultaneously deliver the brightest signal and the highest signal-to-noise ratio (contrast) available for imaging a range of fluorophores. Semrock's LED-based light engine filter sets are also designed to use common excitation filters between single-band and corresponding multiband configurations, simplifying interchangeability when installing the excitation filters into the light engine. This not only provides seamless transition between single-band and multiband filter sets, but also provides significant cost savings. LED Quad Pinkel Filter Set for DAPI, FITC, TRITC & Cy5: LED-DA/FI/TR/Cy5-4X-A As the spectral plot above illustrates, Semrock's LED-based light engine filter sets are aligned to the unique spectral peaks of the most popular LED-based light engines on the market today. As a result of the highly optimized spectral selection of Semrock's LED-based light engine filter sets, researchers can expect 10s to 100s of percent more signal per channel compared to filter sets designed for conventional light sources. As evidenced in the signal performance chart below, the LED-DA/FI/TR/Cy5-4X-B filter set delivers 10s of percent improved signal perfomance in the DAPI and TRITC channels and 100s of percent improved signal perfomance in the Cy5 channel compared to a traditional DA/FI/TR/Cy5-4X-B filter set. The optimization of the excitation and emission filters also allows Semrock to deliver nearly 50% improved signal in the FITC and TRITC channels when configured in Lumencor's SPECTRA X light engine® as compared to using the standard excitation filters included in the SPECTRA X with the multiband emitter and dichroic from Semrock's LED-DA/FI/TR/Cy5-4X-A filter set. Semrock is now offering fourteen sets in single-band, full, Pinkel & Sedat multiband configurations designed to be spectrally aligned with the excitation output of the most popular LED light engines on the market today. The full line-up of filter sets can be found on our product sheet.


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It has long been known in the business world that it is cheaper and easier to retain a customer than attract a new one – this proves the point.
It is estimated that, in their first year, businesses will see 50% of their revenue come from repeat custom – but how do they do it? While the trend at the moment seems to be for heavy discounts to your best customers, this is not a way that will prove effective in the long-term.
Why shouldn't you give heavy discounts?
On the face of it, this seems a logical step. If repeat custom is the driver for continued business growth, courting your best customers with discounts makes sense. Except it doesn't.
In fact, giving all your best customers heavy discounts will have the opposite effect. The key point here is not all the customers who return are worth targeting in this way. You need to first set a strategy for any discounts that you may offer and segment your customer base to make sure you're only offering discounts to the right people.
The issue with giving all your repeat customers the heaviest discount is that it will attract too many that spend small amounts and in a lower frequency range. This group of customers will actually see your margins slashed and revenue fall over the long term.
What should you do then?
There is no doubt that very specific, targeted discounting can be an effective strategy. The key is to identify your ideal customer to aim it at and only allow them to access it. Even then, you need to remember not to make the discount too big, as this could affect your bottom line. Segment your audience from analytical data you have to see who spends the most on average and buys the most. These are the people who you want to reward with a small discount and court for future repeat business.
Discounts are not the answer to everything
By now it should be obvious that heavy discounting is not the answer to boosting sales or sustaining long-term growth. The only way to do this is with new merchandise that people want to buy! This will keep them coming back for more and see your revenue continue on an upward trend.


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Discounts are available for multiple users (10 or more). For more information please contact 0300 123 2329 or email here
This course provides businesses with an understanding of social media as well as providing straightforward advice and guidance on implementing a successful social media campaign.
Customers are the bread and butter of your business so treating them right is essential. This course will help you develop the skills you need to keep them coming back for more.
This course has been produced in partnership with Liquid Voice and is designed for those involved in improving customer service and implementing best practice across the business.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, as amended by the Health and Safety Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 2002 places significant responsibilities upon employers for the health and safety of their staff. This course has been developed to enable organisations to comply with the law by providing learners with an increased understanding of health and safety relating to display screen equipment and workstations.
Training in equality and the law can help to ensure equality takes place in the workplace and reduce the company's liability. As a result, this e-learning course has been developed to provide learners with a heightened awareness of equal opportunities within the workplace.
This Virtual College course is targeted primarily at businesses needing to train their staff in Fire Safety Procedures in the workplace. However, the information is also applicable to anyone who wishes to learn how to prevent fire in the workplace and deal with it effectively should it occur.
This First Aid training course has been created by the Virtual College, to give learners the underpinning knowledge of how to act in the event of an incident requiring first aid assistance.
This module is targeted primarily at businesses or individuals who are self-employed; however, it will also be of use to anyone who would like to increase their awareness of health and safety in the workplace.
Back injury is a major cause of employee absenteeism so it's important that all staff are aware of the safest way to handle objects in the workplace. This course will raise awareness of how to avoid injury.
This online training course will emphasise how important it is for you to develop your plain English skills and how good communication will help in every aspect of your life.


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On any given day, I wake up to an inbox overflowing with emails that come my way as a result of having subscriptions to 100+ blogs.
Am I crazy? Have I lost my marbles?
The reason is simple. I am a content creator, and a blogger – and I am forever looking for quality writing on the internet.
Writing that inspires me, or makes me laugh. Something that makes me stop reading for a minute, something that actually gets me up and walking around so that I can savour my Aha moment.
This, to me, makes great content.
Something that makes me wanna read every single word – although I prefer scanning. Remember the 89 remaining emails that need attending to?
Most people know instantly if something is indeed worthy of being called great content, yet they are hard pressed to define it.
Ask them if they are producing quality writing and they'd start scratching their heads.
Ask them to define quality content and you'd lose them so fast you'd never know if they were even there in the first place.
Ask me and I will launch into a lengthy explanation…
You Had Me at Hello
'You can't ignore me', shouts the first line of a well written piece. It's something that will drag you in, even if you had about 30 seconds on you, before you log off and feed your kids.
It starts with something that entices you, it makes you curious. It pulls you in.
Sometimes a post could be slow to start and builds up, but on the ever changing world of the internet where everything has a shelf life of 12 hours or less, it's never okay to take this chance.
Sure you can get a little lazy in the middle, or your ending might not put Harry Potters' to shame but still you have managed to have the reader hang on enough to find out more. That is a job well done.
Don't make it too long or risk losing your readers. Their attention spans can be worse than that of your two year old.
Once Upon a Time, in a Land Far Far Away ….
You will notice talented bloggers always start their pieces with a personal story, a question or anecdote of some sort. This serves two purposes.
- It gets the readers' attention.
- It makes them relate and stay long to find out more.
Creating a sense of connection with your readers is crucial to writing a brilliant post.
It might be that your readers have been there, or they know of somebody who has. It could be that they are sitting there nodding their head or that their faces are scrunched up in thought, wondering if the scenario could indeed come true.
Either way, your readers connect with you. They want to know more. They want to find out what happened and how your story will end. They want to keep reading.
You need to open up and share the back story to your post. You need to show everybody shades of your personality. If your reader catches glimpses of you – the writer – they are more likely to remember your post.
Make your posts lively, interesting and memorable and your reader won't ever have enough of you.
Did It Take You All of 10 Minutes to Write That Post?
The great post is not all about the colour and the charm. Most of all, it must offer highly useful, well researched, well organized content.
But refrain from writing list posts that look like they have been churned out and spit out by a machine.
- 7 tricks to writing fantastic posts
- 6 ways you can get readers to open every single email
- Are you working in these 8 steps to write killer content?
Sure these titles are good enough to pique anyone's curiosity. Heck, I have been guilty of looking myself – couldn't resist. However, I never seem to remember a single word after 20 minutes of scrolling them, especially IF the post was written by putting together some information that is easily available everywhere, and has been shared for a gazillion times already.
Do a fresh take on the information please. Make it your own.
I am bound to read and remember if you have shared a story, explained why the list is important, and given me information with a unique perspective.
Otherwise, I can see that it has probably taken you less than twenty minutes to finish the job.
And That Brings Us to The End
Don't leave your readers in a lurch.
Ask them their thoughts on your piece, invite questions, tell them to praise or belittle … in short, you need a call to action.
But most of all go back to your story and finish it.
Like, is this one of the posts in your inbox that is gonna be read today?
Would this make you think … heyy, what do you know, this girl might be right?
Or do you think ..what a piece of rubbish.. I can't believe I spent 4 minutes reading all of that.
Either way, if you are up to here, then I have accomplished what I set out to do – have my readers finish from A to Z.
Maybe you could add to this question? What does, indeed, make content great?
(This post originally appeared on For Bloggers By Bloggers.)
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WHAT IS "THE AFRICA WALL OF UNIFIED AND CONTINUOUS PRAYER (The AFRICA Wall)"?
1. It is a WALL OF CONTINUOUS (24/7) PRAYER built around the Continent of AFRICA.
2. It consists of no less than 168, KINGDOM MINDED and GOD FEARING LEADERS from every NATION of AFRICA referred to as WATCHMEN on THE WALL – especially those who are standing as GOD'S GATEKEEPERS over their NATIONS, STATES (PROVINCES), REGIONS and CITIES.
"THE AFRICA WALL OF PRAYER" also consists of Groups of PRAYER, such as Weekly Church Prayer Meetings and All Night Prayer Gatherings – also referred to as Corporate Prayer. These are from many of the NATIONS of AFRICA.
3. It is a UNIFIED WALL OF CONTINUOUS PRAYER in that every week a PURPOSE DIRECTED Prayer Guide will be circulated to guide the UNITY of PRAYER on THE WALL.
4. It is a CONTINUOUS WALL OF PRAYER – no less than 168 KINGDOM MINDED and GOD FEARING LEADERS from every NATION of AFRICA, WATCHMEN on THE WALL, have committed to ONE SCHEDULED HOUR of PURPOSE DIRECTED Prayer, as per the circulated Prayer Guide, EVERY WEEK for the Next SIX MONTHS. Thus every HOUR of every DAY (24/7) of every WEEK there will be at least ONE WATCHMAN standing WATCH on "THE AFRICA WALL OF PRAYER".
5. It is a CONTINUOUS WALL OF PRAYER – we are keeping a register of the Prayer commitments of the KINGDOM MINDED and GOD FEARING LEADERS; as well as the CORPORATE PRAYER GATHERINGS from every NATION of AFRICA.
Every week we will be sending a reminder of their Prayer commitment accompanied with the weekly PURPOSE DIRECTED Prayer Guide.
The "AFRICA Wall" was established at 00:00 AM on Sunday, 30 June 2013.
Length of Commitment: 365 Days


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Even though Apple has let Google answer life's navigational questions for us thus far, it doesn't mean that Apple wants one of its biggest competitors cashing in on the iPhone and iPad forever.
Speculation surrounding Google Maps getting replaced in iOS has been around for years. In 2009, Apple bought a couple mapping companies. In mid-2010, the iPhone maker scrapped Google and Skyhook's location databases in favor of its own, and a couple months later started hiring iOS engineers with mapping experience. That's more than enough to keep the rumor mill spinning, but things got a bit juicier today. The legal disclaimer section of the iOS 5 included references to a number of different mapping companies that aren't Google, most notably TomTom.
Of course, Apple just recently extended its mapping agreement with the search beast so if a big change is headed our way, it won't get here for quite a while.
Here's a list of companies included in the iOS 5 map data section:
- CoreLogic
- Getchee
- Increment P Corp
- Localeze
- MapData Sciences Pty Ltd. Inc
- TomTom
- Urban Mapping
- Waze
[via TUAW]


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Marie's Night Care
Beautiful feet while sleeping.
My work day is so stressful and I don't have much time to look after my feet. That's why I prefer to take care of them in the evening or overnight.
Marie, 38, Project manager
"I work long hours so don't usually have much time to think about the state of my feet. But now I've discovered the perfect solution – a product that looks after my feet while I sleep."


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There is a lot of excitement behind the Apple's special event on Sep 12th, 2017 starting at 10 AM PDT, and why not it's a big launch of iOS11, a much awaited operating system.
According to some insiders reveal that the big day may also include the launch of a new iPhone 8.
"It's going to be an exciting day, and our team at LeewayHertz have decided to make it even more interesting for companies looking to build apps," says Akash Takyar, CEO and Chief Architect.
"An internal team of senior technical architect, UX experts, and subject-matter-experts will do a live blogging. The focus is to provide updates to the companies who already have apps or looking to build apps," he added.
Follow the link for iOS11 Launch Live Updates on September 12 at 10 am PDT: https://goo.gl/F379Bb
Subscribe on the link given above to get a notification on the day of event and news feeds in your email.
About LeewayHertz:
LeewayHertz holds experience of building 450+ growth hacking apps and technology solutions for enterprises and startups. The company is dedicated to solving business problems with designs, apps, and technology.
LeewayHertz provides services in building mobile apps, Microservices, Chatbots, IoT apps and Cloud solutions. Founded in 2007, the company has developed apps and technology for leading Fortune 500 companies, biggest sports networks, and largest electronic manufacturers.
LeewayHertz office is located in San Francisco; the company also has a presence in Irvine, Chicago, and Gurgaon, India.
Media Contact
Company Name: LeewayHertz
Contact Person: Mansi Takyar
Email: email@example.com
Phone: (847) 457-1587
Address:388 Market Street Suite 1300
City: San Francisco
State: California 94111
Country: United States
Website: https://www.leewayhertz.com


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Md7, LLC Expands to Austin, Texas and Simultaneously Opens an Engineering and Design Services Division
SAN DIEGO, CA – February 18, 2016 – Md7, LLC announces that it is opening a regional office in Austin, Texas and also launching a new division directly providing architecture, engineering and design services (A&E) to enhance its rapidly growing site acquisition and development services for macro, small cell and DAS deployments.
The addition of the Austin office continues the expansion Md7's execution model leveraging central efficiency with local 'know-how.' Md7 now has offices in San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Sacramento, Atlanta, Dublin, and Maastricht in The Netherlands, as well as field offices throughout the US and Europe. The simultaneous move to offer engineering and design services in-house enhances Md7's strategy to grow its turnkey, site development services. Through the addition of A&E, Md7 will substantially strengthen its delivery capabilities to offer a variety of à la carte and turnkey services to operators, tower companies and other infrastructure providers.
The new engineering and design division will operate out of Austin, Texas and be managed by the Vice President of Engineering, Mario A. Martinez, who joined Md7 on February 1, 2016.
"Through our unique execution model leveraging centralized expertise and local knowledge to deliver high volume, high quality and improved cycle time and economics, Md7 has significantly expanded our site development services over the last few years " said Michael Gianni, Md7 Chairman and CEO." We continually seek opportunities to improve and optimize our operations and delivery capabilities to meet the challenges of our customers. The addition of our Austin office and in-house A&E capabilities will strengthen our ability to consistently deliver for our customers in that region, nationally as well as across the globe."
"And the addition of Mario Martinez to our team brings critical expertise to increase our ability to directly provide design and engineering work across macro, small-cell and DAS projects," added Gianni.
Mario Martinez has over 24 years of experience in the Telecommunication industry having held both regional and national roles with several of the major US carriers. He has substantial experience in Business and Network operations including responsibility for large-scale network deployments, technology conversions, DAS, Small Cell, and Fiber system implementation. Martinez is a licensed Architect and holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Texas in Austin and a Master's in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, in Malibu, California.
About Md7
Md7, LLC, based in San Diego, California and Dublin, Ireland is a full service cell site development and real estate services company for the wireless telecommunications industry. Its experience and proprietary systems create greater efficiencies and significant cost savings for the largest wireless operators in the world. Md7 has provided a variety of site acquisition and wireless real estate related services in ten different languages, in 13 different countries in North America, Europe, Africa and Oceana.
To learn more about Md7 please visit www.md7.com.
MD7 Bio


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John Stamos's bumpy road to romantic redemption
Newly engaged John Stamos is "on cloud nine" after his Disneyland proposal to Caitlin McHugh.
"I've been waiting for the perfect girl for over a decade and she walked into my life," the Fuller House star, who was married to Rebecca Romijn from 1998 to 2005, told People. "I mean everybody knows that I've always loved family, and I wanted to have a family some day and get married again, and everyone's like, 'Why don't you just do it!? Why don't you just do it!?'"
Stamos, 54, continued, "Everybody thinks it's so easy. The hard part was me. … Like I wasn't the best me. I was ready, but no one as perfect as Caitlin — a true, pure, beautiful person inside — would've never gone for the old me, a few years ago."
In order to be ready for love with McHugh, 31, the actor explained that he had to "get back to the person [he] was" and "hit reset."
When his marriage with Romijn ended in 2004, the actor later admitted to feeling "like a failure." Rumors circulated at the time that his partying contributed to the split, which he somewhat refuted. "I don't think it contributed to it," he reflected to People, adding, "I was lost there for a while. I think I needed to be on my own to be me again."
Stamos seemed to transition to the bachelor lifestyle with ease. During that same interview with the magazine in 2009, the actor maintained his partying didn't cross the line, but confessed there were "warning signs." One of those signs came two years prior, during a tipsy appearance on an Australian morning talk show.
"The press beat me up so hard. I felt awful. It's like 25 years of good behavior and one slip-up," he exclaimed, adding, "I have to keep myself in check. … That's part of growing up. I pride myself on having a lot of discipline."
The actor, who was 46 at the time, also said the bachelor lifestyle was wearing thin. "Running around town, dating a lot of people — it's a sign of holding onto your youth," he told People. "I'm getting to the age when there are girls that are too young. There was a girl [I went out with] recently who told a friend, 'Eh, he's kind of too old for me.' And it's true!"
In 2010, the actor was in the press again with other unflattering headlines.
A Michigan couple attempted to extort Stamos for $680,000, claiming they had photos of him with cocaine and strippers that they would sell to the tabloids. The woman also alleged she had an intimate relationship with Stamos when she was 17 (he would have been 40) in 2004. Stamos admitted to meeting her, but didn't elaborate on the status of their relationship. However, he unequivocally denied such photos existed and the man and woman were later sentenced to four years in prison for convictions of conspiracy and interstate communications to extort money. They admitted that no such photos existed.
Still, behind closed doors, the actor was battling demons that were eventually made public following the 2014 death of his mother. "My father passed away [in 1998] and I got divorced. … It sent me sort of down a wrong path," Stamos reflected to Howard Stern in 2016, adding his mother's passing "knocked [him] off" and was "very hard."
"I could stop [drinking] on a dime. I could stop. In the times that I went back, it just sort of deteriorated my life, and who I was, and my morals and my values," he explained. "I lost myself, I lost my sense of discipline, which my dad taught me so well, and I just became someone — more and more, I was just dipping into that dark place. It happened more and more and it just got darker and darker," Stamos said. "It stunted my growth. Emotionally — maybe I would be married with kids right now."
In 2015, the actor was arrested and eventually charged with one count of DUI. "I had a horrific DUI, which I am so embarrassed by," he told Stern. "I could have hurt somebody, it was really stupid and ignorant of me. And I hated myself for that. It was a bad, bad thing. So I said to myself, I have to stop this up and down, up and down, I have to."
The actor — who told Stern last year he doesn't drink or get high (which he said he didn't miss "at all") — eventually entered a 30-day substance abuse program. He also admitted to struggling with Ambien, a prescription sleep medication.
"I walked in those doors, I said, 'Tell me what to do,'" he recalled. "I'll do anything I can — and if it doesn't work after the time, then it didn't work, but I'm going to apply myself a hundred percent to it. Which I haven't over the years."
Stamos said he was "hurt from losing my mom." He continued, "I derailed over the years. I never really got back on track. … A piece of me just was gone. … It was a big part of my purpose for many, many years to be there for her and be a good son."
Now Stamos wants to be a good husband for Caitlin McHugh. The couple began dating around that Stern interview in early 2016, and it's clear that working on his sobriety — and himself — has made a big difference in his life.
"We're a perfect balance," Stamos told People on Tuesday. "I'm like hyper and tense and she's like, 'It's cool, man. Everything's fine.' She's so calm and so graceful, which, I'm not either of those things. So it's a great balance. … And she's just a pure, authentic beauty. Like she's not trying to be something she isn't. She doesn't care about money or showbiz."
The actor's road to romance redemption may have been bumpy, but it looks like he will get his happy ending.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
• Who is Heather Lind, the woman accusing President George H.W. Bush of sexual assault?
• Zendaya's latest hairstyle inspired by vintage photo of her aunts
• Sisters Jenna and Barbara Bush explain why they've never been competitive
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.


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French Chic: Couture Headpieces, Veils & Headbands |Rhapsodie Paris
Evening lovelies! I really do hope your blue Monday hasn't been so bad after-all, it's such a difficult time of year isn't it?! I know I particularly struggle to get back into the daily routine after all the Christmas excess and lounging around…
Well my dear, if you are in need of a pretty pick me up, I have the perfect post to share, and if you haven't chosen your bridal accessories yet, I do believe your head is about to be turned by the quintessentially French, and très, très chic Rhapsodie Paris…
Their couture headpieces, veils & headbands are to die for.
Our accessories are entirely designed and made in our French workshop.
Each creation is handmade to order with high attention to detail.
We use haute couture know-how and fabrics to ensure the best definition of our headpieces and veils.
We combine tradition and vanguard, retaining the best of our traditions whilst also refreshing them according to our current lifestyle.
I bet you're feeling much lighter already huh? Definitely more pink now than blue…
La vie est belle and Ma vie en rose are such a dreamy collection to choose from and if you're wanting something 100% you Rhapsodie Paris will custom design a masterpiece that is completely unique and only for you!
And… they ship worldwide. Triple yay!