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Open International Journal of Informatics (OIJI) is an international peer-reviewed journal (Open Access) dedicated to the latest advancement of Informatics
sponsored by Advanced Informatics School (AIS) UTM, Kuala Lumpur Campus. The goal of this journal is to provide a platform for scientists, researchers and academicians all over the world to promote, share, and discuss various new issues and developments in broad areas of Informatics.
e-ISSN: 2289-2370
Submission Guidelines
Submission Preparation Checklist
As part of the submission process, authors are required to check off their submission's compliance with all of the following items, and submissions may be returned to authors that do not adhere to these guidelines.
- The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).
- The submission file is in OpenOffice, Microsoft Word, or RTF document file format.
- Where available, URLs for the references have been provided.
- The text is single-spaced; uses a 12-point font; employs italics, rather than underlining (except with URL addresses); and all illustrations, figures, and tables are placed within the text at the appropriate points, rather than at the end.
- The text adheres to the stylistic and bibliographic requirements outlined in the Author Guidelines.
All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. The following paper categories are welcome:
Types of Manuscript
- Regular articles: These should describe new and carefully confirmed findings, and experimental procedures should be given in sufficient detail for others to verify the work. The length of a full paper should be the minimum required to describe and interpret the work clearly.
- Short Communications: A Short Communication is suitable for recording the results of complete small investigations or giving details of new models or hypotheses, innovative methods, techniques or apparatus. The style of main sections need not conform to that of full-length papers. Short communications are about 6 to 10 pages in length.
- Reviews: Submissions of reviews and perspectives covering topics of current interest are welcome and encouraged. Reviews should be concise and no longer than 12 pages. Reviews manuscripts are also peer-reviewed.
List of Topics
The journal has the following topics that cover theoretical and application of Informatics but not limited to:
- Internet of Things
- Big Data
- Bussiness Intelligence
- Informatics related discipline (e.g. Agro-based, Business, Health, Sports, Social, etc)
- Software Engineering
- Computer Systems Engineering
- Information Systems
- Information Security
- Intelligent Systems and Computing Technologies
- Machine Learning, Evolutionary Programs and Neural Networks
- Forensic and Social Engineering
- Image, Speech and Signal Computing
- Visual Engineering
- Computer Ethics and Privacy
Editorial Board
Assoc. Prof. Dr Salwani binti Mohd Daud
Advanced Informatics School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Prof Dr Teddy Mantoro
Universitas Siswa Bangsa International Jakarta, Indonesia
Dr. Mohd Nazri Kama
Advanced Informatics School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Dr. Siti Sophiayati Yuhaniz
Advanced Informatics School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Dr. Kamilia Kamardin
Advanced Informatics School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Journal Managers
Siti Sophiayati Yuhaniz
Saiful Adli
Hafiza Abas
OIJI is published twice annually i.e. in June and December.
All questions about submissions should be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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i ended up making like a fan style thing and then put metal mesh over it.. then i needed it to be shaded so i painted watered down latex on it to give it a pixelated shadow effect. it was a total long shot but it actually turned out pretty sweet, ill post a pic up.
Plastics modeling techniques? Answered
hey im and architecture student and im wanting to experient with a moldable plastic (in model building) to design a sculptural screen wall. To replicate a "nurbs" surface that is digitally modeled, so its all wavey and stuff. If anyone has any suggestions on material or modeling techniques let me know! thanks
See if you can find this air hardening polymer clay. Create a "stamp" of your wall pattern from the clay. You can then use that to replicate a section of wall by impressing it and repeating the pattern into a sheet of new clay. The stuff does dry rock hard and the only thing to be aware of is that it may crack if it dries/cures too fast if the piece is very thick or too dry.
Hmm my friend and I both built architectural pieces for our art coursework, a combination of mod roc (like plaster paris but can be smothed and hold structures well.), Foamboard or mounting board, I had a bit of vacuum forming, there was wood involved and I used wire to create parts of the structure, they were impressive in the end, he made his as unfinished modroc and I plastered mine and sanded much of the outer surfaces down to a smooth touch.

subset: commoncrawl


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40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology
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An affordable, portable anthology of classic selections and modern literature.
40 Short Stories, part of the highly successful Bedford/St. Martin's portable series of anthologies and guides, continues to offer a diverse selection of classic and contemporary short fiction for a low price. Editorial features — such as instruction on how to write about fiction and a glossary of literary terms — are located in the back of the book so you can focus on the stories. The stories themselves are arranged chronologically to help you trace the evolution of the short story genre. This book's small size, low price, and versatility make it the perfect anthology for a variety of courses, including introduction to fiction, creative writing, introduction to literature, or literature-based composition.
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Table of Contents
Lawn, 40 Shorter Stories: A Portable Anthology, 5/e
New to this edition = *
*Alternative Contents
Nathaniel Hawthorne, Young Goodman Brown
Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado
Herman Melville, Bartleby, the Scrivener
Kate Chopin, The Story of an Hour
Anton Chekhov, The Lady with the Dog
Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper
Willa Cather, Paul's Case
James Joyce, Araby
*Franz Kafka, A Hunger Artist
*Katherine Mansfield, Miss Brill
William Faulkner, A Rose for Emily
Ernest Hemingway, Hills Like White Elephants
Eudora Welty, A Worn Path
Ralph Ellison, Battle Royal
Shirley Jackson, The Lottery
James Baldwin, Sonny's Blues
Flannery O'Connor, A Good Man Is Hard to Find
*Gabriel García Márquez, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
John Updike, A & P
*Edith Pearlman, Inbound
Raymond Carver, Cathedral
Joyce Carol Oates, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Toni Cade Bambara, The Lesson
*Margaret Atwood, Happy Endings
Alice Walker, Everyday Use
Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried
*T. Coraghessan Boyle, Night of the Satellite
Leslie Marmon Silko, The Man to Send Rain Clouds
Jamaica Kincaid, Girl
Amy Tan, Two Kinds
*Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
*Mark Haddon, The Gun
Sherman Alexie, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven
Jhumpa Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies
*Junot Díaz, Fiesta, 1980
*Yiyun Li, A Man Like Him
*Joshua Ferris, The Breeze
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Birdsong
* Lauren Groff, At the Round Earth's Imagined Corners
*Karen Russell, Vampires in the Lemon Grove
Reading Short Stories Closely
Writing about Short Stories
Biographical Notes on the Authors
Glossary of Literary Terms
Index of Authors and Titles


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Four people have been arrested after a stolen van rammed cars in Ranelagh, Dublin.
The van was involved in a dramatic chase with gardai before the occupant crashed.
The van was stolen at St Stephen's Green just before 10pm and hit ten cars during the terrifying rampage.
One eye witness, Larry O'Kelly said: "It was absolutely unbelievable. I was one of those who went to help a guy who was smashed into.
"I turned off the ignition and made sure he was ok.
"He was talking so I think that he was in a good condition."
One local said the van crashed at such speed, the wheel flew off and landed in the middle of the road.
Up to 10 units of the Gardai were involved in the high speed chase to stop the out-of-control van.
It's believed the two men and two women who were arrested are all in their late teens.


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Antique Black Satin Underbust Corset
- Brands Phialli
- Product Code: DTS00081
- Availability: In Stock
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Looking for something stylish to cinch in your tummy and accentuate that divine hourglass figure? Well look no further than this vintage inspired black underbust corset. Unlike some styles, the best thing about buying something as versatile as this cincher is the fact that you can wear it under your clothes like a traditional corset or, on the outside of your clothes like a large corset belt type of accessory which can change the whole dynamic of your outfit, you may have seen some famous reality tv stars (whom we won't mention here) latching on to this trend over the past few years, and more power to them. Lacing at the back adds to the versatility of this underbust because it allows you to adjust the sizing anywhere up to 3 inches, meaning you can wear it as tight of loose as you like. Grab one today, we guarantee you will love it.
- - Pointed under bust.
- - Satin style fabric.
- - Hook and eye steel fastening clips.
- - 12 firm but flexible rods.
- - Suitable for all occasions.


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The Green Growth Knowledge Platform recently held a conference in Venice that brought the importance of implementing properly designed green fiscal reforms to the attention of academics and policy-makers. The primary objective is environmental protection and climate change control, but also the setting of fairly uniform regulatory and taxation frameworks to avoid competitiveness concerns in those countries adopting more stringent environmental policies. Or to avoid excessive social problems in developing countries, because social impacts of green fiscal reforms are of often as important as the environmental ones.
Green tax reforms, designed to tax activities that result in environmental damage and excessive natural resource use, to redirect public and private investments from fossil fuel based activities to low carbon alternatives, to fuel green economy development, and to provide markets with the right signals for sustainable long-term investments, may indeed raise production costs in countries adopting them, thus reducing firms' international competitiveness. Or may imply revenue reductions in important sectors of society.
The 3rd Annual Green Growth Knowledge Platform Conference held in Venice, Italy on the 29-30 January 2015 (you can find all papers presented at the conference here) gathered experts and policy-makers from several countries, particularly developing countries, as well as experts from international organizations, who shared knowledge and forged pathways towards better future implementation of green fiscal instruments.
The conference provided both theoretical analyses and best practices of concrete implementations of fiscal instruments designed to control climate change, natural resource excessive exploitation and local pollution. It also provided a useful exchange of views and suggestions between two communities (scientists and economists on the one hand, policy leaders on the other) that hardly interact. Let us summarize some of the main findings.
A variety of instruments, often country specific
Often the full range of fiscal reforms remains unexplored. As suggested by Franks et. al, this is partly due to governments' preference for a taxation approach, which enables the scarcity rents to be reinvested in infrastructure. Revenue recycling of environmental taxes also facilitates a reduction in distortionary taxes and can be used to support green R&D.
However, despite the benefits of green taxes, other approaches can often facilitate green economic growth. Governments need to capitalize on the full range of fiscal policy options. For example, some governments have implemented feed-in tariffs to kickstart investments in renewable energy from sources such as solar, geothermal and wind. This is achieved by guaranteeing a tariff for a set period of time (up to 20 years in some cases) and thenphasing out this support over time as the share of renewable energy increases and becomes competitive with conventional fuels. This initial support is essential for redirecting capital flows from carbon based energy because, as Vona and Verdolini show, long-term investments have already been placed in existing fossil fuel infrastructure, which implies that changes in energy production will be slow and nearly impossible to achieve without a trigger.
In addition to feed-in tariff options, governments are also developing targeted financial programs that support the purchase of energy efficient appliances. These schemes, while important, require understanding and working with behavioral norms. For instance, Nadia Ameli shows that the application of these programs to households is more effective if the residents are landlords or are from high-income backgrounds.
These more innovative schemes are not confined to the more financially-secure developed countries. Indeed, the Tunisian government used US$24 million of public funds to promote the use of solar water heaters. In Mauritius, one of the pioneers of traditional fiscal reform through environmental taxation, we see the development of a number of green fiscal measures, including an excise duty on petroleum products and a charge on energy inefficient products. These policies have been able to elicit changes in both consumption and production behavior. As a positive side effect, the revenue generated as a result of these fiscal policies is equivalent to 2.6% of the country's 2013 GDP. This capital can be used to further support green economic growth.
The adoption of green fiscal instruments is not limited to the energy sector. Another crucial area is water. Here fiscal measures can play a critical role in ensuring sustainable water supplies through incentivizing water efficiency, stimulating investment in water supply infrastructure, ensuring affordability of water services and countering the unchecked pollution and abstraction of water sources. In fact, the use of taxing (along with tariffs and transfers) can ensure that the cost of the environmental externalities associated with water use is internalized and that water is therefore appropriately priced. On this note,encouraging news comes from Philippines where a wastewater effluent fee was introduced in Manila in 1997. This fee aimed to counter the extreme degradation of the Laguna de Bay watershed that was being used as a dumping ground by nearby industries. As a consequence of the fee, industries changed their production processes to reduce the volume of effluent that was discharged into the watershed.
Removing subsidies
There is a growing realization that the transition to a green economy will not be achieved if countries continue to hide the true cost of current consumption patternsby subsidizing fossil fuels. This withdrawal of support has freed up capital that can now be spent in more efficient and beneficial ways. Often these savings can be redirected to fund social development, such as improved health, education and living standards. In Kenya, for instance, as Alice Kaudia convincingly explained, the government improved the country's electricity network through the funds made available by removing fossil fuel subsidies.
Divesting from fossil fuel sources, particularly in cities and transport-intensive areas, not only encourages movement towards a green economy, but has direct positive impacts on health. This, in turn, means that governments will have to spend less on national health care. So even more public savings can be made. Shifting from these fossil fuel investments is especially important in developing countries. This is because, even though climate finance mechanisms are attempting to make development and climate mitigation compatible, fossil fuel subsidies are so vast that the climate finance given is almost insignificant.
As well as removing environmentally damaging subsidies, government can also encourage renewable energy subsidies in terms of technology innovation, adoption and manufacturing incentives. Though the enacting of these subsidies must be carefully designed because they are starting to be touted for their ability to distort international trade. At the conference, Carolyn Fisher analysed how the EU and US have both tabled complaints against China's subsidization of solar photovoltaic production on the grounds that this support constitutes illegal aid to the companies.
Moreover, while there is some enthusiasm around the subsidization of clean energy, this may not in fact be the solution people are seeking. This is because some subsidies, especially upstream subsidies, tend to pick technology winners. This prevents the take-up of clean energy technology in the most cost-effective and efficient manner since picking the renewable energy options you want to subsidize withholds the funding other renewable energies that could, with the technological development, deliver energy in a cost-effective way.
Barriers to redirecting investments
The fact that developing green fiscal policies not only weans us off our fossil fuel dependency, but also can ensure savings and social benefits leaves you wondering why these measures have not been enacted with greater enthusiasm. Four main barriers have been highlighted at the conference. First, policymakers feel that they are damaging their economic competitiveness if they enact environmentally related policies when other countries do not do it. Second, green fiscal instruments would perhaps be more readily accepted were they to be introduced as part of a broader fiscal reform. Third, it's often hard to effectively communicate the economic, social and environmental benefits that these reforms would bring.
A final important drawback is that, as with any reform, there will be winners and losers. One of the roles of government is to guarantee support for the affected groups. This is achievable. Indonesia, for instance, subsidized health care, rice production, village infrastructure and provided scholarships to economically-vulnerable groups to prevent against the worse impacts of inflation due to fossil fuel subsidy reform. As Renner et al. discussed in Venice, in Indonesia, and other places facing similar reforms, such protection schemes are essential since fossil fuel energy subsidies incur higher public spending than health, education and social protection combined, suggesting that the removal of subsidies will catalyze political and economic upset.
Green fiscal reforms need to be carefully designed and implemented in line with strong and sustainable governance to ensure that the reforms are effective and able to be maintained. Their design, especially of tax measures, needs to focus on activities that are inelastic in order to reduce welfare loss. Equally, this must be achieved while minimizing the aggregate deadweight loss for any given revenue or government expenditure.
The way forward
Green fiscal policy clearly has a strong role to play in the transition towards a green economy. Even the limitations it presents are not insurmountable. Governments need, however, to start thinking more creatively, moving beyond using just environmental taxation, in particular in developing countries. See, for instance, Chaturvedi et al. on how India is developing alternative fiscal strategies, including deregulating petrol prices, introducing a coal cess and subsidizing the establishing of common effluent treatment plants.
Even so, more than moving into using a range of environmental fiscal reform methods, we need to stop seeing such reforms in solely an environment sector capacity. The transport sector, for instance, has much to offer in environmental improvements without necessarily terming them as such.
Further, we can explore ways of making such reforms more appealing to the people they will affect. Other approaches need to be used in combination with fiscal reform, such as communication and engagement with the parties concerned as well as improved monitoring. Sirini Withana suggested the use of complementary policies to increase the effectiveness of such reforms. Potential complementary policies might include behavioral change approaches that can incentivize the adoption of energy-efficient and low-carbon energy options.
A session moderated by Elke Weber emphasized the importance of combining behavioral, social and technological changes to stimulate the acceptance of the policy reforms that will lead us towards a low carbon future.
Before all these developments, we must overcome the notion that these decisions will come at a political and economic cost. If anything, this conference has shown that we can no longer use economic disadvantages as a reason for inaction. Solutions are being sought to address this concern and we need to listen to them to effectively start on the path to global green growth.


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How to Identify Quality Roofing Contractors in Tulsa, Oklahoma
It is always scary when you have to hire an outside contractor to help you maintain your home. One of the areas that can be most scary to find contract labor for is your roof. You may not understand how a roof works, so it is important to find a professional who will have your best interests at heart and have the knowledge to fix your problems correctly the first time. If you have never hired Roofing Contractors Tulsa Oklahoma, make sure you use the following three tips to help you find someone you can trust. It can be the difference between wasted money, and an experience that will leave your home more secure and you having a sense of peace.
Make sure the roofing contractor you hire has verifiable experience in the industry. You can ask to look at their portfolios and contact past clients in order to confirm their experience level. Don't let someone without proper experience work on your roofing problems, as they can make it worse and leave you without the help you need. They should also have past experience working with the type of roof that your home currently has.
Product Quality
The Roofing Contractors Tulsa Oklahoma you hire should use quality products. Ask them about the brands they use and what warranties they come with prior to hiring them. If they use only cheap off-brand products, their work could cause you to waste your money and need to have more completed in the future.
Completion Time
While there may be speed bumps as you try to repair your roof, the contractor you hire should be able to provide you with an estimate of the time frame your roof work will take. If they aren't able to, it may be best to find another contractor who is confident in their abilities and can give you an accurate estimate. Don't get stuck living in a construction zone for longer than you have to by verifying this information before letting them begin any work.
If you are looking for a roofing contractor you can trust, make sure you contact McPride Roofing. They have been providing roof repair and replacement for years, and they can put that experience to work for you. Call them today, so you can get your free estimate and take the first step in gaining control over you roof maintenance issues.


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Are you using the best locks on your doors?
There are many kinds of locks for many kinds of doors – but how do you know which door locks are right for your needs? To help make your decision easier, we've provided explanations on two types of door locks that we provide to customers that can help you determine what best suits your needs.
Cypher Lock: Used extensively in government offices around the world, Cypher Locks are vandal resistant. These door locks use keypads that are connected to a controller whose codes can only be changed by physically plugging different conductors into the controller in a specific order. Without having physical access to the controller (which is mounted on the secure side of the door), it is impossible to hack into these locks, as the controllers are not connected to a network, nor does a computer program them. If safety matters most to you, look no further than Cypher Locks for your business or your most precious belongings.
Push button Lock: If you are looking for keyless entry that's very secure, but not quite as Fort Knox as a Cypher Lock, push button door locks are a solid choice. You, as the owner, set up the combination on the touch keypad and can only gain access into the lock with the correct code. Like Cypher Locks they also have no wiring and use extremely long-life batteries. Codes can be any combination of letters or numbers and can have more than one code to grant access if desired.
Here at Eastway Lock & Key, Inc., we care deeply about your security and want to make sure that you get the right door locks for your needs. Our Charlotte, North Carolina family business carries a North Carolina Locksmith License and has been a leader in the security industry since 1976. Trust in us, and we'll minimize all your security worries.
At Eastway Lock & Key, Inc., we install door locks in Charlotte, Concord, Indian Trail, Huntersville, Mount Holly, Marvin, Rock Hill, and Waxhaw, North Carolina, as well as Myrtle Beach, Fort Mill, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Little River, Conway, Murrell's Inlet, and Pawleys Island, South Carolina.


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NASA Predicts Europa Contains Alien Life Forms Beneath Icy Surface
In the search for extraterrestrial life, Europa isn't necessarily at the forefront of the public consciousness, with Mars often cited as the most likely candidate for hosting alien life forms. But NASA has another avenue in mind, as they have requested public funding for a trip to Jupiter's frozen moon Europa, and have released a video explaining the evidence in favor of Europa as a host for extraterrestrial life.
Jupiter's Ocean World: Europa
NASA astrobiologist Kevin Hand explains in the above video that, although Europa is covered in ice, it is likely the best bet for finding alien life forms, because underneath that "icy shell" there is believed to be a liquid ocean. Based on several different data sets from satellites measuring everything from magnetic fields to the interior structure of the moon, NASA scientists are "confident" that this liquid ocean exists.
Europa hosting liquid water would be something of a "game-changer," as Hand puts it, because it lies outside the Goldilocks zone. The Goldilocks zone, named for the children's story, is a planet that's not too far from the sun and not too close; it's "just right." In other words, it's within the range of distances from the closest star that the temperature wouldn't be so cold that all liquid would freeze or so hot that all liquid would evaporate. Since Europa lies outside the Goldilocks zone, it shouldn't have liquid water, but, as Hand explains, the "tidal pull from Jupiter causes Europa to flex up and down, and all that tidal energy turns into mechanical energy, which turns into friction and heat, which helps maintain this liquid water ocean."
And if it does exist, then life is not only possible on Europa, but likely. When searching for life on other planets, astrobiologists take their cues from the origin of life on Earth. The prevailing attitude is that life on other planets will likely come into existence in a similar manner as it did on Earth, and many theories of abiogenesis assert that the first life forms existed in the ocean. "The story of life on Earth may have begun in our oceans. And if there's anything we've learned from life on Earth, it's that where you find liquid water, you generally find life."
NASA is not only searching for funding to travel to Europa, but they also put out a call for scientific instruments that could accompany them to the icy moon, including those that could detect life forms. "For the first time in the history of humanity we have the tools and technology and capability to potentially answer this question (of the existence of life beyond Earth), and we know where to go to find it," Hand said. "Jupiter's ocean world, Europa."


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Rising up from the Dust, originally uploaded by MeckiM@c.
What an amazing picture!
by Kevin Gilbert | Jan 3, 2010 | Ramblings | 0 comments
What an amazing picture!
Sharing is caring!
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Son of two great parents. Husband to a wonderful wife. Father to three energetic boys. Friend of and friend to many. That's me. I'm an Apple, WordPress, Juice Plus+, and Tower Garden "Fanboy" and proud of it.


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Hello dear friends!
Today I would love to share with you my favorite tips and tricks that I use day by day to grow my blog traffic, without spending a penny.
These tips are not specific for a certain niche, they can be used by anyone.
#1. List your website in blog directories, here is a list;
#2. Share your new posts on Tumblr – use tags;
#3. Swap sidebar blog buttons;
#4. Always reply to all your comments;
#5. Use Digg;
#6. Guest post;
#7. Write often;
#8. Write long posts;
#9. Run a blog giveaway;
#10. Write an e-book;
#11. Submit your blog to Kindlepublishing;
#12. Include your blog URL in your email signature;
#13. Use StumbleUpon;
#14. Use Reddit;
#15. Use good quality, eye-catching photos;
#16. Make sure you have social sharing buttons on all posts;
#17. Create an app for iPhone or Android;
#18. Submit your articles to Ezine Articles, GoArticles, Article Base, Self Growth, Hubpages, Street Articles, Technorati, Fuel my Blog, Blog Top Sites;
#19. Join collaborative Pinterest, why not join my collaborative board here ?;
#20. Use Twitter – 300 million active users;
#21. Remember the importance of SEO;
#22. Reference your posts – just make sure you do it in a nonmanipulative way;
#23. Make sure you have a Facebook page where you can share your posts;
#24. Build an email list;
#25. Use a scheduling software like Buffer;
#26. Pin your blog post images regularly;
#27. Reach out to other bloggers- build relationships;
#28. Share your old posts through social media;
#29. Pay for advertising on Facebook;
#30. Write awesome content;
#31. Join social groups;
#32. Get in touch with others – comment on other people's blogs;
#33. Always use photos in your posts, sometimes a great photo makes you read an article;
#34. Make a radio Ad – creative idea and it's a great way to promote your website especially if you are selling something;
#35. Share other blog posts, not just yours! – if you post an interesting article a potential new reader will keep reading articles you are posting;
#36. Make sure you submit your blog posts to all search engines, find the list here;
#37. Use eye-catching post titles;
#38. Join Viralcontentbuzz – I just joined recently and I already love it! Viral Content buzz is a web-based platform that utilizes a crowd-sourcing model to facilitate the generation of REAL "social buzz" on quality content;
#39. Use Twitter between 1 and 3 pm on weekdays!;
#40. Host images on Flickr – link them back to your blog;
#41. List your top articles – in your sidebar or use a word tag cloud, etc.;
#42. Try to link back to older posts;
#43. Translate your content- this might multiply your blog traffic! I am planning to do this shortly;
#44. Link your blog in your forum signature;
#45. Join LinkedIn groups and participate;
#46. Make sure your images are pinnable;
#47. Include Alt tags for your images!;
#48. Use Keywords!;
#49. Make sure your site is accessible on mobiles and tablets;
#50. Have fun and don't give up!
Hope you enjoyed reading my tips and tricks to boost your blog traffic and I also hope you found something useful through it!
Your turn! How else can you grow your blog traffic?


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Welcome to Power2Max Australia
NEWS ! Power2Max Australia is under new Management and has a new Distributor. We are very proud to announce this news. Stock is now in Australia. If you are after your new P2M Power Meter or you are a shop and want to stock Power2Max please contact us on the details at bottom of the page.


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Christmas Lights Addiction, 2009
Five years ago, I covered something called Christmas lighting addiction in our then-fledgling newsletter. It was a bit tongue-in-cheek, because I'm not a big believer of most addictive behaviors. Christmas lights? I mean, c'mon…
But as I guess with anything in life, you can go overboard with decorating your house in Christmas lights.
Adorning one's tree (and eventually one's house) as a holiday tradition dates back to the early 20th century, when Christmas lights were invented as a safer alternative to the use of candles (which, when knocked over or bumped, had the unintended effect of turning one's Christmas tree into a blazing demonstration of how quickly fire can engulf a house). Over the years, Christmas lights migrated from our trees to our houses (since, after all, you can't see the lights from outside very well). It was a reasonable extension of the holiday spirit. When done in moderation.
But leave it to humans to find a way to turn a simple celebration of a holiday with some simple, colored lights into some sort of competition or grand statement:
Americans, though, like to take things to the extreme. They like extreme snow boarding, extreme makeovers, and extreme programming. It's no wonder that some have found an outlet of expression with Christmas lights. It is an extreme behavior of an otherwise normal expression of a celebration of the holidays.
I think the core of why many people over-adorn their homes in Christmas lights is a desire to show off, attention-seeking behavior meant to demonstrate how into the holidays one is. At the same time, people who go overboard with Christmas lights are playing a ridiculous (but mostly harmless) game of one-upmanship with one's neighbor.
This is made possible by the relative inexpensiveness of these lights in the U.S. (due largely to cheap Chinese labor). That makes a few strings of thousands of lights very affordable, at every income level. What people don't take into consideration — at least not at first — is the cost of electricity. The old style, inexpensive Christmas lights most people still use become expensive once you start adding up hundreds (or even thousands) of watts of electricity. New LED Christmas lights are available and can help with this component, but most people have not purchased or replaced their existing lights (due in part because they are more expensive).
I stand by what I said five years ago, though:
If you're one of these folks who can't live without their million-light holiday display, seek help. Imagine how much better your gift to the world would be if you donated your electricity costs to a local charity or homeless shelter. Leave the holiday lighting spectaculars to Radio City Music Hall or professional displays found in most communities done in formal gardens or the like. Let's try and get back to celebrating Christmas in a way that honors the heart of the tradition without turning it into some sort of glitzy and tacky sideshow of lighting horror.
A few lights on your tree, on your house, even on some shrubbery is perfectly fine. But resist the temptation to just keep adding to your Christmas lights inventory year after year, just because you can. Donate a little more to charity or spend it on a gift for your child, a child in need in your community, or your significant other. Because, after all, giving something away can make us happier. And what better way to celebrate this time of the year with none other than a little selfless giving?
Read the original article: Christmas Lighting Addiction.
Grohol, J. (2018). Christmas Lights Addiction, 2009. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 30, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/christmas-lights-addiction-2009/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Jul 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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The Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth Ahmad Alhendawi today met with the Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Masood Khan.
In the meeting, the Envoy and the Ambassador exchanged views about ongoing and forward-looking initiatives pertaining to youth, as well as discussed the Envoy's upcoming visit to Pakistan. Major themes of the visit are likely to include education, skills development, employment, climate change, and the post-2015 development agenda.


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Contact Feng Shui Consultant Sue Holmes on 07786 291967. Professional, caring and effective Feng Shui Consultations for homes & businesses throughout the Uk & abroad.
So-called 'primitive' dwellings tend to be round – mud huts, tipis, yurts etc. When these get replaced with square and rectangular shaped homes, there tends to be a sense of disconnection from the natural way. Feng Shui must suely be cncerned with making an environment feel as natural and flowing as possible. Yet in towns and cities, lines of buildings are predominantly straight and angular. The more we can soften these lines, the more pleasure we feel – how delightful and popular is for example, the work of Gaudi in Barcelona, who dared to make irregular imaginative shapes in his architecture.


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Volunteers helping lifesavers The ML Run at 20 years and counting
This Sunday, close to 500 people will show up at the Chamber's Strafford Avenue parking lot to participate in the 20th Annual Giant Main Line Run/Walk through the streets of Wayne. We will raise close to $30,000 for scholarships for The Main Line Emergency Responders Scholarship Program, which donated $53,000 in scholarships to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians this year.
Starting early this past Wednesday morning, two groups totaling about 25 volunteers – The Main Line Chamber Foundation Board of Directors and The Main Line Run Committee – met in back-to-back meetings. Over the years, we have had volunteers come and go but I'm so proud of the successful transitions we have made. The event is the major annual fundraiser for the Foundation, which is the Chamber's 501(c)(3) affiliate.
It's dangerous to name names because there isn't enough room and I'm sure to leave someone out, so I hope our dozens of volunteers who help with the Foundation and put on the race will forgive me if I go with just two. Eric Hildenbrand is the volunteer race director for his fifth year this year, having replaced Kevin Nolan, who helped create the run and was in charge for more than half of its existence.
Kevin is still around on race day, but he is largely hands-off when it comes to making this big event come off as planned. As I've told Kevin with great appreciation, taking on a major role as a volunteer should not be for life and it has been great to see how Eric and his committee have stepped up.
As President of the Foundation, I am so grateful to them both and I hope you will join us on Sunday to help make this event a success. There will be a business expo featuring many of our sponsors and lots of great giveaways. The 5K walk or 1.5 mile walk is a fun and healthy activity. Special thanks to Giant for returning for a sixth year as presenting sponsor, and for all our sponsors who have made this event survive and thrive over two decades. Our sponsors are listed on page 10 of this newsletter. You can still register at www.mainlinerun.org. Onsite registration is available, starting at 7:30 a.m. on race day, and at the St. David's Giant from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday.
This is a small part of what your Chamber of Commerce team helps make happen every year, but the work is magnified by volunteers who create a big impact as a result.
To read the entire September issue of the Main Line Business Monthly please click here


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Usually, buildings have concrete walls. They are durable having stood the test of time. Exposed to the vagaries of Nature, they require some protection as well. The aluminum composite panel can form an effective protective layer outside the building walls.
The basics
The question would now arise as to what are these aluminum composite panels. Theoretically speaking, the aluminum composite panels consist of two thin sheets of aluminum on either side of a non-aluminum core. These panels can form the outer layer of building facades and protect the same from the vagaries of the sun, the wind, and the rain.
The aluminum composite panel manufacturers take care to ensure that the use the best non-aluminum core material so that these panels last long. The advantage of these panels is that they come in a range of attractive colors. You can have these panels in patterns that can imitate other materials such as wood or marble.
The uses
The aluminum composite panels have utility as external cladding to buildings, false ceilings, container construction, etc. They have great use as signage boards as well. The advantages of using these panels are many.
Their features and advantages
The panels have a low weight but exhibit extreme rigidity and durability. These panels are water resistant by nature. They have UV resistant properties as well. Hence, they can form the protective layers over the buildings. These panels are easy to form and process as well. These panels are easy to cut, saw, bend, and bolted as well. Drilling holes through these panels would also be easy. They are very attractive to look at from the outside. They can enhance the looks of the building largely. Being water resistant, there would be no chance of any water seepage as well. At the same time, the UV resistant features of these panels can keep the interiors cool. In case you have a centrally air-conditioned building, these panels can enhance the cooling quality by not allowing the chillness to escape through the walls. These panels are renowned for being soundproof and fireproof.
The aluminum panels are easy to install and replace as well when damaged. Costs wise, they are quite inexpensive. As these panels protect the buildings from the exteriors, you would save a lot on the external maintenance of the buildings. In case you use the panels for external decoration, you have to use the PVDF coating. In case you use them for interior decoration, the polyester coating would be fine.


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At only 14 years old, many of Charity's friends are already married. "They are suffering," she said. "Myself, I was afraid to be married too young."
There are many places around the world where it's incredibly difficult to be a girl. One of those areas is found deep in the bush in Zambia, where young girls are sold into marriage as soon as they reach puberty.
Once married, the girl may be the third or fourth wife…she may be taken to an area far from anything familiar…she may suffer from horrible abuse…and she will certainly never receive an education. Read the full story


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Fuel economy down last year
January 9, 2016
Fuel economy of vehicles sold in calendar year 2015 fell slightly compared to 2014. The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the U.S. last year dropped to 25.3, down 0.1 from the value for the vehicles sold in 2014. During December, fuel economy was 24.9 mpg—down 0.2 mpg from the revised value for November.
"This decline likely reflects the continuing drop in the price of gasoline in December, and the consequent increased sales of pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers," said UMTRI's Michael Sivak.
Overall, fuel economy is down 0.9 mpg from the peak reached in August 2014, but still up 4.8 mpg from October 2007—the first full month of monitoring by Sivak and colleague Brandon Schoettle.
In addition to average fuel economy, Sivak and Schoettle issued a monthly update of their national Eco-Driving Index, which estimates the average monthly emissions generated by an individual U.S. driver. The EDI takes into account both the fuel used per distance driven and the amount of driving—the latter relying on data that are published with a two-month lag.
During October, the EDI rose to 0.84 (the lower the value, the better) from 0.83 in September. The index currently shows emissions of greenhouse gases per driver of newly purchased vehicles are down 16 percent, overall, since October 2007—but 6 percent higher than the record low reached in August 2014.
Fuel economy (with graph and table of current/recent mpg)
Eco-Driving Index (with graph and table of current/recent values)


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Organisational unit: Research Group
The VUB Astronomy and Astrophysics department is involved in research at the forefront of the field. We study the origins of cosmic rays, which tell us about the most energetic events in the universe (thousands of times more energy than man-made experiments can produce). We observe and model radio galaxies with supermassive black holes at their centers. We look for elusive dark matter by studying the movement of the gaseous components of galaxies. Ground and space based telescopes are used to study matter ejected from dying stars, and we model the movements of young starts that have densities high enough to form black holes.


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Product Description & Details
These simple but very elegant earrings are perfect for your morning strolls or afternoon coffee outings.
Material: metal
Button diameter 15 mm
Handmade in Cyprus
Material: metal
Button diameter 15 mm
Handmade in Cyprus
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International Deliveries: Worldwide deliveries are shipped via Cyprus Postal Services (standard shipping method) to your nearest post office. You can track the shipping progress directly from the page of the order (under "My orders"). Both the shipping cost and the estimated period of the delivery vary depending on your region and the weight of the package.
Estimated shipping time from dispatch: Europe 6-13 days, Worldwide 7-20 days.
Deliveries within Cyprus: Shipped with GAP Akis Express to your nearest collection point or to your address (available in urban areas only). You can track the shipping progress directly from the page of the order (under "My orders"). Shipping cost starts from 1.95 Eur, you have the option to pay cash for orders up to 100 Eur, and delivery to your nearest collection point typically takes 1-2 days from dispatch, while home delivery may sometimes take longer.
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|LG/F, 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong
|Opening Hours
Tue - Sun: 12pm to 2am
Introducing a sensory and social experience, where guests are invited to re-evaluate their perception of taste and smell. Total darkness removes the attention from the superficial and focuses the mind entirely on the array of tastes and textures with which we're presented.
In an 850sq. ft. room with no light, this intimate setting has only 24 seats. Each guest is personally greeted and guided to their table by our team of 'guides' – visually impaired waiting staff – and will experience a new style of dining – relying entirely on touch, smell, taste and hearing; each sense heightened by the completely dark environment.
Completely immersive, the focus is on putting guests at ease, allowing them to enjoy the experience that is immersive and sensory in all ways but one.
The menu will change regularly with a focus on highly distinct textures and flavours, and dishes will retain the structure and organization on the plate as in a traditional restaurant.
The theme of alchemy extends also to people – with no mobile phones and no light pollution, guests are invited to engage in a social experience alchemy between them without distractions; a richly human experience that is both mysterious and intriguing.
On arrival, an orientation is offered at which our team can answer guests' questions before leading them into the dining room. At this point diners are invited to share details of any allergies and dislikes. Rather than selection from a menu, the chef will craft a three-course menu with the construction and arrangement of each dish explained in detail.
The menu remains secret until the end of the meal, so naturally guests have fun guessing what is being served. And at the end, our team explain the dishes savoured, complete with photography of each shared via an iPad.


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Consumers Knowledge
Increase product consumers knowledge of Bio-Strath within specific environments.
Influencer Circles
Grow the brand to a frequently consumed product within influencers circles.
Product Benefits
Encourage consumers to see the benefits together with uses of Bio-Strath.
Target Market
Target current and new social, active mothers who need an extra boost for their on the go lifestyles.
• Interactive day training where Bio-Strath met their influencers.
• Influencers learn the history and beginning of Bio-Strath.
• Education on the various USP's as well as health pillars of Bio-Strath to convey to communities via influencers.
• Influencers received Goodie Bags and samples to distribute in daily environments.
• Bio-Strath wanted a bold and eye-catching branding element to create big interest as well as awareness.
• Here, the distinctive blue and yellow played a vital part in brand recognition, as well as tied into creative across platforms.
• Influencers engaged within their micro-communities with these elements.
• Themed tasks assisted influencers in creating unique content to share with their online communities.
• Social media posts address the benefits of the product and how it helps in their daily routines.
• Recipes, instructions as well as various elements Bio-Strath assists the body with is also shared.
• The influencers received a variety of samples as well as education pamphlets to hand out to relevant consumers.
• In-depth, educational and personal stories are shared along with providing the sample.
"What stands out for me is people commenting how they use it already and it works well, others who are new to it will feel a difference"
"There is so much that people don't know about the brand and they are pleasantly surprised after chatting with me"
"At the mall parking in Newcastle, a lady parked next to got out of her car and greeted. She had just come back from visiting her daughter who is at a boarding school (Grade10) in Vryheid. The lady told me how specific her daughter is on the list of things she had to purchase for her. She said her daughter is very articulate in class and flies on her grades."
"Mom, I am stressed, I need my Bio-Strath please otherwise not having it will mess up my exams." We laughed on how our kids are aware of what benefits them mentally and otherwise and I told her she must make sure that she tells her she saw a Bio-Strath ambassador) as well as we wish her all the best in her exams."


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Dynkin dates this as being recorded circa 1984, though Halkin guesses earlier.
Note from Halkin: "My good friend Lucien Neustadt, who I mention as "passed away" on the tape, died in October 1972. My best guess is that the interview took place between 1973 and 1981 when I began as chair of the department."


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Mother's Day is right around the corner! Still thinking of a gift to get mom, or that special mother figure in your life? I have the perfect idea! A 2 photo locket from PicturesOnGold.com ! I recently ordered mine and I am absolutely in love with it! Ordering was extremely easy, plus it's super easy to design! You can do it on your computer or phone! Check out my … [Read more...]
#OOTD Mellow Yellow #OldNavyStyle
Umm..Can I just say, I love Old Navy?! I always find great deals there! My outfit, minus the shoes, was less than $10. These are the same jeans from my last post that cost me $6, and my yellow peplum top was around $3.95! My shoes are from Dolce Vita via StitchFix! You don't have to spend a lot of money to look stylish! Another tip? Invest in accessories! They make all the … [Read more...]
Sunday funday! I'll be honest, I had a rough week ya'll! This weekend hasn't been much better....Here's to hoping that this new week will kick ass! Since I've been feeling kind of down, I decided to try and dress up just a little today, even if the highlight of my day was going to Walmart with my friend to get groceries! Looking on the bright side, I've been losing some weight … [Read more...]
Five Quick Tips to Help Prevent Clothes from Fading
Today I wanted to share with you all 5 quick tips to help prevent clothes from fading. I absolutely love fashion and will do anything to help my clothes stay in great condition! Feel free to leave your own tips in the comments section! Tip 1: Follow Directions The care label will let you know the best way to wash each garment: water temperature, cycle speed … [Read more...]
Sunday Stripes #OOTD
One thing I love about fashion is that you really don't have to spend a lot of money to look fabulous! I like to mix high end and affordable pieces together. I also love to accessorize! Accessories make such a huge difference! My top was probaly under $5 and my skirt was under $10 from H&M. My bag and booties are both from Stitchfix and my necklace is from Jewelmint. Like … [Read more...]


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A wind turbine technician who suffered cardiac arrest twice is alive today because a paramedic working alongside him spotted he was seriously ill.
The technician's life was saved by new SSI Energy technician medic Peter Lane when the man felt unwell after completing a rope access training session in Ireland.
"If he had been working 80 metres or higher up an offshore or isolated onshore turbine without the immediate help of a qualified paramedic, he would not have survived" Peter said.
The incident was living proof that paramedics on offshore and remote onshore wind farms make the difference between life and death because that first 'golden hour' after a serious incident is critical.
"Being there, on the spot, saved the man's life and has proved exactly what SSI Energy believes in – that the investment in technician medics – paramedics with technician skills – really is the difference between life and death," said Peter.
He joined SSI Energy – which specialises in providing technician medics and Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT) for onshore and offshore wind farm operators – from the front-line emergency ambulance service in July.
He was undergoing rope access training for client GE at the ARCH Training site in Fermanagh, Ireland, when he spotted that a man was rubbing his chest and looking grey and clammy after twice completing a 25-metre tower climb and an evacuation pulley drop.
Peter immediately spotted he was suffering from something far more dangerous than the indigestion he believed he had.
As the man, who does not want to be named, became more grey and clammy, rubbing the pit of his chest, Peter performed a rapid assessment, noting an irregular heart rate and the man becoming short of breath.
He persuaded him to go to hospital in his car, arranging to meet an ambulance at a filling station on route about seven miles away.
Two minutes after they arrived, the man went into cardiac arrest in the front seat of Peter's car.
"I had grabbed an AED (automated external defibrillator) from the centre before we left so I got him out of the car and started CPR straight away, just after a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service response Jeep had arrived. We applied the defibrillator, analysed the rhythm, delivered a shock and continued CPR until we saw a rhythm change on the screen. On checking, the man's pulse had returned. We continued to assist with his ventilations. He then went back into cardiac arrest and I again performed CPR while the other paramedic was trying to get access to his veins. After we delivered a further shock, he woke up, and though still in a great deal of pain, started talking to us, and through other observations we knew there was no major neurological damage."
A comprehensive 12-lead ECG (electrocardiogram) showed he had suffered a type of heart attack called a STEMI.
"When you recognise the patient is having a STEMI, you contact an on-call cardiologist and once accepted by them, bypass the local Emergency Department and go directly to a more specialised hospital with a Cath Lab for specific heart tests and interventions. When we got him into the ambulance he was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where four stents were inserted into his heart. A first-aider may not have recognised the signs of his condition nor have the skills to deal with his cardiac arrest had he been working up a turbine or offshore" he said.
Duncan Higham, Managing Director at Hampshire-based SSI Energy, said the incident was the perfect illustration of the difference between life and death that technician medics made to both offshore and onshore wind farms.
"Companies might think it is expensive to have technician medics on turbine sites but that one man would not be here today if it had happened on a wind farm without a medic. What price can you put on life?" he said.
"A first aider has three days' training. A paramedic has a minimum of two years along with immense exposure to regular medical & trauma emergencies. Qualified care is essential, as medical emergencies like strokes, heart attacks, anaphylactic shock and asthma attacks account for as many emergencies as trauma does."
All SSIE medics undergo the Rescue Trauma and Critical Care (RTACC) course as well as having at least two years' front-line emergency medical experience.
"Medical Emergency Response Teams (MERT) carry a satellite phone so were never out of communication and aimed to have a specialist doctor talking to the medic on the ground within four minutes. A consultant doctor talking to a medic at the point of injury, who is capable of carrying out specialist treatments, has been proven to improve the outcome of the patient significantly."
Peter, 28, who joined the ambulance service in 2010, has visited the man in the coronary care unit at Cavan and he is recovering well.
He decided to train as a technician medic to fulfil a taste for adversity. He had his first day at the Bindoo windfarm in Cavan, run by GE, on July 18.
"I wanted a new challenge where I could work in a more demanding environment, carry out rope access work and get hands on, which really appealed, as well as using my paramedic skills when needed," he said.
Jason Welch, director of GE, SSI Energy's client at Bindoo, said: "This was an excellent outcome for the patient and proves exactly why we make the investment in SSI Energy's services. This type of serious incident could happen at any time and to have specialist help on site really saves lives"
Paramedics are equipped with the latest kit; from advanced airway devices and a full range of medications, to trauma traction splints and chest seals.
Darren Sherry, of Optinergy, the patient's employer, said: "I am delighted this incident had such a positive outcome for the patient and that Peter could use his expertise to save another life."
Photo caption: Paramedic Peter Lane, who is retraining as a technician medic to work on offshore and onshore windfarms for SSI Energy's clients.
Article Source: http://bit.ly/2aiSmh3


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Cover, 2016
Cristina Ghinassi
30 Minutes
Space Debris Art, 2016
The performance aims to explore the possible meanings of the protectiveness and the reflection given by the space blankets covering the bodies of migrants. Through the heat-reflective blankets, artist uses her presence and body as a mirror to create a possible connection between her, the migrants and the audience.
Cristina Ghinassi Bio:
Cristina Ghinassi is an Italian video and performance artist, currently based in Istanbul.
Her multidisciplinary approach focuses on interactivity with the audience and a combined use of video and performance.
Since 2012, she has focused her research on The Mediterranean region and The Middle East.
A constant dualism between real and unreal, private and public, conscious and unconscious crosses her works.
In an attempt to dismantle barriers and political and cultural boundaries, her work constantly questions a variety of social issues through visual representations, installations and interactive performances.
Her works were exhibited in Italy, Denmark, London, Lebanon and Malta.
Video: Mithkal Alzghair and Cristina Ghinassi
Sound design: Cristina Ghinassi
© Cristina Ghinassi


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Undivided: Vicky Beeching Book Review
When I saw this book and understood Vicky was going to make a case against Christians and the common
When I saw this book and understood Vicky was going to make a case against Christians and the common
Your pastor is telling you that the law of the Old Testament is done away with. We have something
A few months ago I picked up a really glossy and attractive booklet in my grocers checkout. The fancy
So what happens when a supposed Jewish Torah Observant business turns a blind eye to celebration of PRIDE week
A simple call about what a Kosher animal eats turns into a bashing session of Paul and the New
It's amazing when you look at the Torah as a protection instead of a limitation. The Father's original design
Sometimes I encounter believers who are ignorant of the fact there really are people today who bow and worship
I will sometimes make predictions. I tend to be right. Well, usually. I did make the prediction that the
We read early on in the New Testament that Joseph and Mary took Yeshua south into Egypt to escape
I get lots of questions about Galatians and how to interpret Paul's words that even Peter found to be


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Bookended between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it's safe to say that Small Business Saturday runs an extreme risk of being completely overshadowed. Is this shopping holiday truly effective for our country's valued small businesses?
With Small Business Saturday (SMB Saturday) being just over a week away, we're here to get to the bottom of this question and present your business with some tips to make the most out of this shopping holiday that was designed with you in mind!
Small Business Saturday Statistics
In order to determine whether or not your small business should be putting in a significant amount of effort on Saturday, November 30th, let's take a look at some statistics from last year.
According to American Express, the mastermind behind the creation of SMB Saturday, the year, 2016, saw a record high of consumers who were in support of this holiday. To be exact, we're talking 72% of all consumers. To take it a few steps further, the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey* released even more encouraging information from 2016:
- Total reported spending reached an estimated $15.4 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on the day
- An estimated 112 million consumers reported shopping at small businesses on SMB Saturday, a 13% increase from 2015
- More than 480 organizations joined the Small Business Saturday Coalition, a 13% increase from 2015
- 32% of shoppers reported also attending a local community event on SMB Saturday
- 81% of shoppers reported encouraging friends or family to shop or dine at small, independently-owned retailers and restaurants on SMB Saturday
- There were 135 million social media engagements in support of SMB Saturday, up 59% from 2015
Our Top Ten Small Business Saturday Tips
Each of the following tips has proven to be effective for small businesses who are looking to make an impact on one of the most opportune days of the year. It's important not to underestimate the simplicity of some of these tips: Remember, as modest as they may seem, consumers cannot get anywhere near as personalized of an experience at most big box stores.
- Bundle Your Discounts. Offer a free tire rotation with an oil change; Give away a $25 gift card with a $150 purchase
- Lower Your Prices. Reward SMB Saturday shoppers with exclusive, lowered prices on your entire inventory or restrict these discounted prices to only certain products/services
- Give Free Estimates. Offer a free HVAC inspection to identify unknown consumer needs, peaking interest and gaining new customers
- Offer Complimentary Refreshments. Transform your business into an inviting space that feels like home by offering free drinks or appetizers to any SMB Saturday shoppers
- Host An Event. Invite a local band or another prominent, local figure to come to your store to attract attention; Become a "ticket stop" for a local event (People must come to your location to retrieve their tickets)
- Send Out Anticipatory Emails. Send your database several emails leading up to SMB Saturday, reminding them of the upcoming offers they just. can't. miss.
- Join Forces With Other Businesses. Tell customers to show their receipt from the business next door to receive 10% off any item in your store. Remember, the right partnership can make your small business feel much bigger
- Consider Switching Up The Date. If you're leery of Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday stealing your business' thunder, don't be afraid to celebrate SMB Saturday the weekend before (or after) in order to better stand out
- Boost Your Online Presence. Implement a social media strategy that will attract attention leading up to SMB Saturday; Consider offering exclusive, additional discounts or perks for your social audience
- Convert! Most importantly, have a plan in place to convert any and all consumers interacting with your business on SMB Saturday. How will you follow up with the people who take you up on a free estimate? How will you incorporate this same, feel-good spirit into your customer service habits the rest of the year?
Make the most out of SMB Saturday by determining to implement some of the above tips. But don't delay! This day full of opportunity only comes once a year!


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Carl "Sherlock" Holmes - Investigation No.1 - out on Tramp Records
Posted on Tuesday 10 April 2012, 15:05 - updated on 20/01/13 - Music News - Permalink
Carl "Sherlock" Holmes - Investigation No.1
(CD/Digital) Tramp Records TR-9016, 2012-04-02
The Sherlock Holmes Investigation, led by funky guitarist Carl "Sherlock" Holmes only released one album, Investigation #1, in 1974, recorded for Curtis R. Staten's C.R.S. label, and it's one of the rarest funk LP out there. An original copy, if by any chance you stumble upon it, may be worth up to 300$… Thankfully, German label Tramp Records has just reissued this gem on CD, along with two 45s collecting the best tracks from the record. The band included Chico Green on bass, John Hammond on keys, John Daves on flute, Jimmy Towns on bass, Chubby Brown on guitar, Art Grant on sax and vibes, congas and organ by guys called Dickie, Peachie and Sly. Their Burth Bacharach cover (Close To You) is more of novelty funk track in our book, the real treat to be found here lies in the anthem Investigaton, where breaks galore and the chorus is a singalong ('Everything I Do's Gonna Funky, From Now On'). A real stormer. The hard funk of Black Bag is also quite heavy, with a psychedelic rock edge, and the latin funk of Modesa sounds like classic War. Add to that the fast groove of Get down Philly Town, the soulful It Ain't Right and the closing and fuzzy bonus track The Pot's Hot (originally available as a 45 b-side), and you got another great funk/soul reissue to check for less than couple of tenners.
Carl "Sherlock" Holmes - Investigation No.1
(CD/Digital) Tramp Records TR-9016, 2012-04-02
Tracklisting :
01. Come On 03:24
02. Give Me Your Love 03:22
03. Cop It Proper 04:00
04. Emcee Marie 03:38
05. Crush It 03:09
06. Tonic Stride 05:01
07. Roughneck 03:11
08. Gold Brick 02:23
09. Spicy Brown 04:08
10. On The Reel 03:21
11. Case Quarter 03:25
12. Summalove 04:27
Connect with the Tramp Records on tramprecords.com
Press Release :
Carl "Sherlock" Holmes started gigging in the early sixties forming Carl Holmes & the Commanders with whom he recorded a full length album for Atlantic in 1962 entitled Twist Party At The Roundtable. Later on he recorded a couple of 45's for the Parkway and Verve labels. In May of 1966 a pre-Experience Jimi Hendrix gigged with the group but never recorded with them. After a final 45 for the local Philly label Black Jack, the group disbanded and Carl formed the Sherlock Holmes Investigation a solid outfit backed by a strong rhythm section packed with congas, vibes, flute, organ and sax. Philly's Sigma Sound Studio was the place they recorded their sole album and Curtis R. Staten's CRS Records was the label that released it.
This album has it all! Smokin funk breaks in Black Bag, Investigation, Get Down Philly Town, It Ain't Right and some syncopated latin-inspired jams in Modesa. All these coupled nicely by some fine mellow numbers in Close To You, Think It Over and Your Game . And all but one (Bacharach/David's Close To You) written by a guy named Len Woods, a remarkable songwriter, no doubt!
After Tramp Records has released four songs of this album on two 45RPM singles recently, the entire Investigation No.1 album is now available on CD. It even comes with a bonus track which has been originally released on 45RPM single only.


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I'm having flashbacks while I read stories about the charging of 9 teenagers after the suicide of Phoebe Prince. She was a 15-year-old girl from Ireland, trying to adjust to a new life in America. To her bullies, we are told, she was a derogatory term for a loose woman, a target for hateful text messages, and the subject of physical torment. Phoebe hanged herself in January after a particularly bad day of intimidation. It all started when she started dating a popular senior.
I endured bullying in middle school. I was the nerd when nerds weren't cool. I lacked a girlfriend, I didn't dress cool or use foul language or play team sports. I earned good grades. Teachers liked me. I liked programming computers. The other kids liked rock 'n' roll. I didn't know what I liked.
Nobody beat me up, but my aggressors found a way to torment me psychologically: by intimating I was gay. They used to blow kisses to me, and some would mock me by rubbing softly on my arm during gym class. Of course, teachers didn't see this. Bullies know how not to get caught. This was the 1980's, long before people would start calling this sexual harassment.
I didn't tell any faculty; I was tougher than that. My parents knew about some of it. "You know you're not gay, don't you?" my mother asked. Of course I knew, but that wasn't the problem.
Several antagonists let their taunts extend all the way into the autographs they wrote in my 7th grade yearbook:
"I love you, Chris" -- GregI wonder what these people would say if they saw the recent pictures of me dancing in white stockings, knee breeches, long coat and tricorn hat. It's a good thing I didn't develop a taste for colonial dance until my later years. I'm also glad Facebook and texting hadn't been invented yet.
"To my lover. I love you." -- [name scratched out]
"To a real gay guy." -- [unknown]
"fag" -- [unknown]
"To a real cute guy. I love you always." -- Mike
"Have a nice summer fag." -- [unknown]
"To a nice little boy!" -- Jason
I have long remembered those disparaging words. However, when I dug out the yearbook to survey them again, I found I had forgotten other words scratched on the same pages:
"To a neat kid." -- ChrisI guess they didn't, Michele. Looking at my other middle school yearbooks, I see the words "smart," "sweet," and "nice" repeatedly. One kid wrote: "You need to talk out more." I forgot about the blue skies above with all the baggage I was hauling around below.
"To a real rad guy. Stay that way. See you next year." -- Norman
"To a cool guy, Chris." -- Bill
"To Chris, a nice friend." -- Socheat
"To Chris, a real smart and neat guy. Hope to see you next year and maybe sometime this summer." -- David
"Have a nice summer and take care of your bike." -- Jesse
"To a real sweetie. See ya next year." -- Amber
"To a smart, but weird dude. See ya next year." -- Marquetta
"To a smart, sexy, cute and weird guy. You're also rad and cool. Stay that way!" -- Patricia
"You are real. Nice people don't realize it." -- Michele
Phoebe had many friends. They attended a vigil for her. They were there for her in death, but I wonder where they were in life. I hope they were reminding her of the promise she held and defending her name. The district attorney handling Phoebe's case say some school staffers knew about the bullying but didn't stop it.
Edmund Burke once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Long ago, when a man insulted a lady's honor, honorable men settled the score with swords or pistols at ten paces. It's easy to point fingers in such a shocking case of misconduct, but I'm not sure absolutely nothing was done. More likely, I believe people didn't realize how much Phoebe was hurting. She may have held her head high until the breaking point. I am sure we'll learn more as this story unfolds.
All the same, I wish somebody would've had the guts to take up the sword or pistol -- in a figurative sense, of course -- for Phoebe. A friend of mine tells me young ladies lament the lack of young gentlemen in this world. Chivalry isn't dead, but it's clearly on life support.


text: Knoxville, TN, heavy metal band Straight Line Stitch were first organized at the turn of the century and self-released a demo EP and an album in the early 2000s. But the band prefers to think of its real birth as having occurred with the addition of singer Alexis Brown in 2003. Brown made her recording debut on Straight Line Stitch's second self-released album, To Be Godlike, in 2006, after which the lineup behind her solidified in the form of guitarists Pat Pattison and Seth Thacker, bassist Jason White, and drummer Patrick Haynes. In 2007 the band shot a video for the track "Remission" from the album, using director Dale "Rage" Restighini of Raging Nation Films, and when Restighini founded Raging Nation Records as an imprint of KOCH, Straight Line Stitch were the first act he signed. While playing upwards of 200 shows a year, the band recorded When Skies Wash Ashore, which became its first album to be given a national release on August 19, 2008. ~ William Ruhlmann~ Rovi


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PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Along Route 4, where strip malls abound and NJ Transit bus stops are peppered along the way, a 19-year-old woman was attacked on a stairway.
"It was an aggressive attack. It was unwarranted," said Captain Ken Ehrenberg of Paramus Police.
The victim had just walked across the Spring Valley Road Overpass at 10:45 p.m. Thursday.
"She was actually walking across the highway from the other side, and she was a resident who lived on that side of the highway," said Ehrenberg told CBS 2's John Slattery. "She was going home at that time."
Police say it was a passerby who noticed the woman on the stairway and she'd been stabbed in the abdomen.
"While he's going up the staircase, he observed the 19-year-old female laying on a landing. He notified 911," said Ehrenberg.
Police today were combing the area for a possible weapon and any other forensic evidence. The teenage victim was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center for surgery.
"The 19-year-old has one stab wound to her. We believe in the short time we were able to talk to her she was the victim of a robbery," Ehrenberg said.
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"It's been pretty…weird," says 20 year-old Norwegian actress Josefine Frida Pettersen of her newfound fame. Her high-pitched, girlish English is timid and deliberate.
We are in a gilded suite at the historic Grand Hotel in Oslo, having double espressos and kale salads, about to shoot her wearing a portfolio of designers who are about to show at the upcoming Oslo Fashion Week. She says that this is the first fashion shoot she has ever done, and that despite starring as Noora Sætre in Norway's record-breaking hit series Skam, she has hardly done any interviews, either.
"Things have changed so much since the show, since I've become…known," she says. You can tell she is hesitant to say the word "famous."
After all, fame is a strange thing in Norway. It's not understood the way it is in America. Consider how many American celebrities there are, and how much American entertainment is exported globally. Then try to name one Norwegian celebrity. The country's population is just over 5 million (a bit smaller than the state of Minnesota), and the majority of people live in remote towns and villages up and down the country's coast, which is roughly the size of the United States' eastern seaboard. So when an average of 1.2 million people tune in every to watch your show--that's proportionally the same as Americans who watched the Friends series finale in 2004, except this is every week--it can feel any semblance of private life you once enjoyed has dissipated like wind through the fjords.
"It's weird sometimes," says Pettersen of how she navigates her newfound notoriety. "Like when people take pictures of me while I'm sleeping at the airport, or while I'm eating." When you have 800,000 Instagram followers, you're bound to attract a few weirdos. She smiles at me, laughs, and says, "But if that's the kind of picture you want, I guess, here you go!"
Skam has been all-consuming in Scandinavia, and is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. It's a teenage web and television drama tackling issues like sex, coming out, drinking and mental health, placing it firmly in the pantheon of such shows as Skins, Degrassi, and Gossip Girl.
But in addition to weekly episodes, Skam keeps its audience hooked by tapping into this generation's all-consuming obsession with social media. Multi-platform media are shared in real-time: Noora's texts to her boyfriend on a Tuesday night are shared as screenshots on the show's website on a Tuesday night; a scene at school on a Thursday morning is posted on a Thursday morning; and characters post to their "real" social media accounts throughout the week. Because of the show's unique format, Pettersen's portrayal of Noora--known for her outspoken nature and unwillingess to compromise her feminist values--goes way beyond just forming a highly likable character. She feels like your best friend.
Part of being friends with someone, as Pettersen has come to find out, is taking cues from their style. Women across Norway have started copycatting Noora's signature look: a platinum bob and crimson lip. Back to the Friends analogy, it's not unlike "The Rachel" haircut phenomenon. "It's weird. Now when I walk around Oslo, and I see people from behind, I find myself thinking, 'Am I crazy?' Everyone started copying Noora's style."
The irony is that Pettersen is not a big fan of the look herself. "They first cut my hair when I was cast, and I was saying, 'I hate this! It is so ugly!' … And now when I get my hair cut I always try to say, 'Oh, they're making Noora grow it out,' so they leave it long. But there's no lying when I come to set…I hate to crush the fans but it's the truth."
But beyond the covetable style, Pettersen's character allows the actress to delve into heavy topics that make Skam just as important when it comes to addressing social issue. In Season Two, Noora's arc includes an alleged sexual assault and the difficult decision to eventually report it to the police. "After that episode," says Pettersen, "I got so many messages on Instagram from fans that said, 'I was raped three years ago and today I told my parents, because of your character.' That touches me. It makes me very happy to know that people don't see it as just a show. It actually touches people and helps girls feel stronger."
Off-screen Pettersen's ease and sense of reality sets her apart from so many others her age who achieve such a level of fame. "I have such good friends and family, and spend time with the same people as I did before, so not much has changed in that regard," she says. "I don't want people to think I know any better than them. I'm only twenty, like everyone else who watches the show. I have insecurities and flaws, too… And I'm much goofier than my character."
In many ways, Pettersen still acts like a regular twenty-year-old, with habits and hobbies just like the rest of us. We catch her singing Lady Gaga songs to herself in between takes on set. She keeps a list on her phone of her favorite places to find a good margarita. And she also admits to writing down, at least once every day, a conversation she overhears in public. "Sometimes you're in a dressing room and you hear girlfriends in the next stalls and they are having a lovely conversation. You think about it for two minutes, it makes an impression, but then you forget it forever. I think it's beautiful to write it down — then you can look at it a year later and you remember that whole day."
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