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The Springhaus staff combines many years of building and design experience, including custom cabinets. We use a multi-step method that provides an end-to-end solution that provides you with a kitchen, bathroom or workshop that perfectly blends with your home and lifestyle.
Stop by!
Stop by our 30,000 sq showroom and feel free to bring in measurements of your room, blueprints or sketch if you have one. Our designers will interview you about your needs and gather the information we need to understand your project needs and lifestyle. At this meeting, we'll discuss your available options, including potential space-saving features, budget, and designs that best suit your lifestyle. We prepare an initial estimate for you based on the measurements you provided and the choices you indicated from our available: door styles, finishes, wood species, and customizations. Our designers then get to work building out a 3D render to showcase your potential new space.
Approve Your Order
After approval of your 3D renders and plans, we'll do a full project review. The designer will confirm your: finishes, materials, measurements and other design options. If approved, you will complete, sign and return our order form along with the project deposit. This includes a full project review.
Will it Fit!?
A Springhaus representative schedules an appointment to measure the project area in your home to ensure proper installation.
Springhaus offers trained personnel to professionally install your cabinetry. If you choose to have us install them for you, we'll unpack and install your cabinetry to the project's exact specifications.
After the Sale
We're here for you after installation, too. If you experience any problems, contact our service department. They're trained to handle any issues. We'll assign a project manager to rectify any construction or installation issues in a reasonable period of time.


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Centenary Fields to be created in Sheffield parks
In creating Centenary Fields around the new war memorial, the council will create a lasting legacy to mark the centenary of the end of WW1, by commemorating the sacrifice of those who lost their lives in conflict and ensuring that communities benefit from protected green spaces now and in the future.
Sheffield already has two designated Fields in Trust at Weston Park and Ochre Dike Recreation Ground. The council now hopes to extend this protection further by protecting areas of the parks where war memorial trees have been planted.
Councillor Mary Lea, Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Leisure at Sheffield City Council said:
People in Sheffield are passionate in honouring the memory of all those who have died in conflict and they're also very passionate about our treasured green spaces. By designating the sites of our newly planted memorial trees as Fields in Trust, we are making sure Sheffielders can pay their respects in protected parks for many generations to come.
We have made a commitment to plant 200 more memorial trees.
This work further demonstrates and brings together our commitments in the newly agreed Building Better Parks strategy, where we have pledged to make our parks the very best they can be, and our Trees & Woodlands strategy which sets out how we will make sure the city's trees and woodlands thrive and flourish.
If we're able to designate all of our memorial tree sites as Fields in Trust we will have the highest number of Centenary Fields of any of the English core cities outside of London and wherever you live in the city you'll be able to remember lost loved ones in a local park.
Centenary Fields is a national initiative being led by Fields in Trust and the Royal British Legion. The Centenary Fields programme 2014-18 aims to protect at least one green space in every local authority area across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.
This plan recognises the Council's significant commitment to not only the commemoration and remembrance of the city's sacrifice in World War 1 and subsequent conflicts, but also the importance of maintaining and retaining good quality green space for the people of Sheffield.
The Council will work collaboratively with local groups and Fields in Trust in terms of the detailed deeds of covenants for each site and each designation will be designed to best fit with the needs of the site. This will ensure the Council retains appropriate flexibility to provide a wide range of leisure and ancillary facilities for each site, now and in future, whilst making sure the quality and quantity of the green space is not compromised.
The parks where memorials have been planted are Bingham Park, Bolehill Recreation Ground, Chapeltown Park, Charnock Recreation Ground, Cholera Monument, Concord Park, Crookes Valley Park, Ecclesall Woods, Ecclesfield Park, Endcliffe Park, Firth Park, Graves Park, Grenoside Recreation Ground, Herdings Park, High Hazels Park, Hollinsend Park, Longley Park, Manor Fields Park, Meersbrook Park, Middlewood Park, Millhouses Park, Mortomley Park, Mosborough (Hillside), Mount Pleasant Park, Norfolk Heritage Park, Oxley Park, Parkwood Springs, Parson Cross Park, Richmond Park, Rivelin Valley Park, Stannington Park, Tinsley Green Recreation Ground Weston Park and Whirlow Brook Park.
On confirmation of each site's designation, details will be shared of any official ceremonies taking place.
The decision is expected to be approved at the council's Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 12 December. The report is available to read in full on the Council's website.
More about Fields in Trust.
To keep up with events and latest news about Sheffield's parks and green spaces follow @ParksSheffield on Twitter and Sheffield Parks and Countryside on Facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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Some other views
OB Sign magnet
This is a photo transfer magnet with my photograph on it of Ocean Beach sign.
The magnet size is 2″x3″. This magnet is with ivory glass. The photograph is a duotone.
This magnet may not be the exact one you receive…although it will be very close there may be slight differences. If you would like a photo of the exact one you will receive just send me an email and I would be happy to send a picture to you..thanks!!
Price includes tax


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Egger Wins Slalom in Lienz
Lienz, Austria Dec. 29--Defending World Cup SL champion Sabine Eggerof Austria climbed out of 11th place on the second run Wednesday to wina slalom when first-run leader Anja Paerson of Sweden straddled a gate.Kristina Koznick (Burnsville, MN), the only U.S. skier to make thetop-30 cut in the first run, finished 21st in what Coach Georg Capaulcalled "the most bizarre World Cup I've seen."
Egger finished with a two-run time of 1:31.84 to edge Slovenian NatasaBokal by .12. In third place was Austrian Karin Koellerer, who was 30thin the first run; her total time was 1:32.06. In a bit of a fluke,Frenchwoman Christel Saioni and Spela Pretnar of Slovenia - who tied forthe win in the season's first SL a month ago during the Chevy TruckWomen's World Challenge at Copper Mountain, Colo. - tied for fourthplace.
Egger told reporters she hadn't tried the new sidecut racing skis - or"carvers" - during the summer but it became apparent, starting with theChevy Truck Women's World Challenge at Copper Mountain, Colo., the skiswere the coming (and coming rapidly) wave of racing, so she began totrain on them. "We had to make the change and adapt quickly," she said.
Koznick's time was 1:33.04. Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO) was 32nd in thefirst run while Tasha Nelson (Mound, MN), returning after a month on thesidelines with a bad sprain of her left knee, was 45th.
Paerson, who dinged a heel Tuesday and was limping after the GS, tookthe first run lead by .27 over Norway's Trine Bakke. On her second run,she was slow at the top "but then put the hammer down and was flying,"Capaul said, until - carrying too much speed - she straddled a gate andskied out, giving Egger the second win of her career and delighting theAustrian spectators.
"We didn't take advantage of an opportunity today. We're unhappy andangry, so we've got some heavy training for the next few days here. It'snot a holiday mood," the U.S. coach said.
"The conditions were fine - it was a nice day - but this was the mostbizarre World Cup I've seen, I think. It was crazy," said Capaul, whohas coached U.S. teams for two decades. "Look at Kristina's time - she's1.2 seconds out and she's 21st! Twenty girls within a second of thewinner! That shows how competitive this has become. I don't rememberseeing such a packed field."
Koznick, who switched equipment during the preseason, is still gettingused to new skis and sidecuts, Capaul said, "and that just takes time.We're staying here over New Year's and training because she needs timeon her skis, and the girls need time. Kristina didn't ski well at all;we're still trying to figure out these short sidecut skis. Sarahstarted 30th but she just didn't get it going and Tasha just needs tospend time on her skis, too. She'll be skiing Europa Cups and FIS racesto get back some of her form."
Capaul said the sidecut revolution, which was so evident in U.S. WorldCup gate races in November, continues "almost daily. You have to standin the finish area and watch everyone as they come down. We had somegirls Tuesday racing GS with men's slalom skis. It's incredible what'sgoing on...every day there's a new thing. It just does not stop. Nobodyknows what's next; believe me, everyone's scrambling."
The next women's races on the Cafe de Colombia World Cup calendar areJan. 5-6 in Maribor, Slovenia, where another SL/GS package is scheduled.


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MLB Trade Rumors: Royals acquire Johnny Cueto from Reds
It looks like the Kansas City Royals have found a new ace pitcher on the trade market, acquiring Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds according to reports.
As of now, neither team has confirmed the trade. Cueto himself has also not been informed that he has been traded yet.
Other reporters have been unable to confirm it as well.
That doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't happened, but it does mean that Royals fans should hold off on poping the champagne.
[UPDATE:] ESPN is confirming the report.
—- end of update —-
Cueto is 7-6 with a 2.62 ERA in 19 starts this season. The catch with this trade is that Cueto will be a free agent following the season, so he is a short term rental. There are no reports as to what the Royals gave up for Cueto yet and that will be an integral part of determining whether this was a good or bad trade.
If an extension was part of the trade deal, surely Cueto would've been told.
More from FanSided:
Baseball Hall of Fame 2015: Start time, live stream, TV info and inductees
Cole Hamels Rumors: Teams increasing offers after no-hitter
Chicago Cubs Twitter account got passive aggressive about Cole Hamels no-hitter (Photo)
Twins Trade Rumors: Minnesota eyeing Joaquin Benoit deal
Johnny Cueto Rumors: Reds, Royals almost agreed to deal


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This was one of the Singapore ones, but it is in better quality/aspect ratio here:
Random intro clip:
Also, this won't embed but Australia's Event Cinema's 'Chicks at the Flicks' has a special intro trailer here.
Also I keep spacing, but I promised to mention that tammyberrington left this comment and I know has been twittering about it:
Hey I am meeting Zac on the 23rd April and I am making him a scrapbook. If anyone of you want to send a message to include in it, please send it to email@example.com
So feel free to email or twitter her for more info :)


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Humorous presentation on The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Housewife
It's no secret that colonial women didn't have it easy. Without the help of modern conveniences, daily life in the early years of this country was filled with challenges. We all know about the struggles and dangers of cooking and farming, but what about all the other day-to-day issues?
On Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. the Trumbull Historical Society, 1856 Huntington Tpke., will host a presentation by Velya Jancz-Urban, author of The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Housewife.
In her funny and frank presentation, Jancz-Urban reveals what life was really like for New England's colonial women as they dealt with menstruation, sex, birth control, childbirth, sickness and medicine.
The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife not only makes audience members laugh and grimace, but it also honors our foremothers. It's not about quilting bees and spinning wheels — it's an interactive presentation about the little-known issues faced by New England's colonial women.
In 2011, Jancz-Urban and her family bought a foreclosed farmhouse in Woodbury, unaware of what the house would reveal. Behind the walls, surprises and secrets waited to be exposed. This became the spark for the novel, Acquiescence. Moving into this 1770 farmhouse ignited Velya's interest in the colonial era. While researching her novel, she became obsessed with colonial women. In this entertainingly-informative presentation, The Not-So-Good Life of the Colonial Goodwife, even history buffs will learn a thing or two.
Requested donation $3 members, $5 non-members. Space is limited, so reserve a spot by calling 203-377-6620 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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The date would be Tuesday, July 17th. The ride has been postponed and altered because of two factors. My sister having a much needed surgery and the Pikes Peak Hill Climb being postponed because of the wildfires that ravaged the Colorado Springs area. I am … Read More →
Tag Archives: story
Date set for DXRide to hit the road. Yeeeeehaw.
Elegia. Meet one of my favorite stretches of asphalt, Hwy 55.
Since I was on the Menominee Indian Reservation to get a physical from my primary doctor. For the purpose of him signing a medical release form for the Reel Recovery Fly Fishing Retreat I will be participating in, I figured I'd introduce Elegia(the Ducati Multistrada … Read More →
Madison. Stat. (repost)
I am reposting this mainly as a reminder to myself of what can happen to me. Also, to kick me in the arse to schedule overdue procedures and exams. Sunday night, Easter Sunday night to be exact, a gift came to me in the form … Read More →
Hello Madison. It's been awhile.
Yet another road trip down to Wisconsin's state capitol, Madison. And not to hang out with Sarah Palin and all of her fellow tea partiers. Rather, for a much more important cause, for me anyway. A much needed appointment with my urologist. This appointment had … Read More →
DX Ride:
This site is very much moving at an accelerated pace to full performance and functionality. In large part to the efforts of my web doctor and friend, John. Thank you man. Stay tuned and enjoy the ride.
New Shirt Design Added to DX Ride Gear Collection.
I created this symbol design for a story I asked my mom to write. A story chronicling the effects that a hereditary disease called Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) has had on a family. Her family. The story begins when my dad was first diagnosed with FAP … Read More →
The Story.
Chapters The Idea. Now, for a little history. Anyway, back to me. The spiel. The Idea. Hello, my name is Todd. And, I have an idea. To do a solo yearlong ride across North America spreading awareness for causes I feel strongly about. Which includes … Read More →


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In collaboration with @atc_translation we have released a report that gives an insight into the relationship between #languageprofessionals and #language service companies, and how it can be improved. Find out what we discovered by downloading our report: https://t.co/Jv46FK4Vcv https://t.co/laFpDHVQR35:36 AM - 17 Sep 20
Most Recent Tweets
Join @CIOLBusiness in their first #onlineevent, where they aim to show how #languages can be used in so many ways in the world of #business. To find out more and to see the exciting list of speakers w
RT @FiveStarBham: Excellent presentation on "Light, standard and full post -editing of machine translations hosted by @CIOLinguists Critical point, we still require 'Human Translators!' Share your
RT @xl8_KLo: Online CPD this morning with @CIOLinguists - it's helpful to learn more about #MTPE #PEMT particularly when it has evolved (IMO) without much in the way of training & it has been up t
There's still time to #apply for this role. CIOL Qualifications is looking for an Assessment Manager to spearhead the roll-out of a suite of online assessments using our new digital platforms. If you
"After online retailer Amazon launched in Sweden on Wednesday, shoppers quickly noticed several awkward mistakes in translation." Click here to find out what they are: https://t.co/ZcoHvyjxGc #transla
RT @TranslatorsWB: Our #COVID19DigitalClassroom animations have been translated into Hindi and Swahili, and more, to provide information for community-based health workers and local communities. https
Join Isabelle Jones' #freewebinar where she introduces a range of methods to help bring languages to life when teaching. In this webinar, she'll discuss various strategies to develop pupils' #linguist
How will #AI change the #interpreting profession? In this series of #webinars by AIIC, experts in the field will explain how advanced current speech-to-speech translation solutions are, the challenges
Next week, our CEO John Worne will join many other exciting speakers at SDL's online conference. His talk takes place on 4 November at 9:15am London time, repeated at 6:30pm and scheduled to reach att
This event by @CIOL_GLS is taking place tonight at 7:30pm (UK time)! Who will be joining them? #German #languages #onlineevent #onlinediscussion #onlinemeeting https://t.co/0JD3B47hZS
This #onlineevent by @CIOLMidlands is now fully booked! Thank you to all those who registered, we look forward to welcoming you on 19 November to discuss Romania and its #history, #language and more.
Join @CIOLTranslating in their #onlineevent about useful #technology and #terminology tools available to #translators. This two-hour event includes an introduction to corpora and a look at speech reco
Rayna Damyanova's #freewebinar is taking place this Friday! Join her on 30 October as she discusses the rapid shift to #AI and #MachineTranslation and how it's changing the role of #language professio
Who's already registered for Café Lingo with @CIOL_Gloucester? If you haven't, there's still time; click here to find out how to join this free #onlineevent for a fun, informal chat in a variety of #l
Today's the day – our first online workshop with Trinidad Clares Flores is taking place today at 9am UK time. Who will be attending? https://t.co/4PSQZbfHLB
Our #onlineworkshop is taking place tomorrow! There are still some extra tickets available, so if you'd like to attend but didn't get a chance to register, book your place today – you have until midni
CIOL Qualifications has a vacancy for a dynamic and systems-literate Assessment Manager! It's an exciting time to join the team, so if you feel you're the right person for the role, visit our website
Our CEO John Worne, along with many other speakers, is speaking at SDL's online conference. His talk takes place on 4 November at 9:15am London time, repeated at 6:30pm, and scheduled to reach attende
Who will be joining @CIOLScotland in their free #onlinetalk? There's still time to register, so if you'd like to join the discussion on the recently published sociolinguistic survey of the vernacular
We've had an amazing number of registrations for Michelle Deeter's #webinar on 9 November! If you haven't registered yet, there's still time. Join Michelle as she describes the features of #book #tran


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Sunnybrook researchers are leading the way to improve care and survival for stomach cancer patients, and have published the largest compilation of best care practices, in a special edition of Gastric Cancer.
"When you look at the survival outcomes in North America compared to the outcomes achieved in Europe and Asia, there is much room for improvement and little published evidence to help guide clinicians in the care of patients with stomach cancer, which is a very complex disease to successfully treat," says Dr. Natalie Coburn, surgical oncologist, Gastrointestinal Cancer Care Team, Sunnybrook's Odette Cancer Centre, who led this systematic literature review.
"We need to better understand what is different about our patients, and the biology behind their illness," says Dr. Coburn, who is also the Head of the Division of General Surgery at Sunnybrook.
Stomach cancer affects close to 3,000 Canadians a year, and is often unfortunately diagnosed at very advanced stages. Early vague symptoms include heartburn and gastric reflux, with bleeding or blood in the stool at advanced stages. Diagnosis and treatment usually occurs after detection of a large tumour in the stomach or metastases (cancer spread) to areas such as the liver and lung.
The select compilation features 16 peer-review published studies of best practices in procedures and approaches including:
- sentinel lymph node biopsy
- endoscopic ultrasound and pre-operative staging of stomach cancer
- genetic testing and prophylactic (preventive) gastrectomy procedures for individuals with familial risk
- surgical considerations, and palliative treatments for patients with advanced disease.
Dr. Coburn also led the Gastric Cancer Processes of Care Expert Panel, comprised of Canadian and international stomach cancer experts who are committed to developing better care guidelines for this patient population.
The study was generously funded by the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute.


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Job Announcements
Available Positions
SiCM is seeking an Executive Director.
Download the Executive Director job description and hiring packet below.
SiCM is seeking a Food Pantry Warehouse/Driver.
Download the job description below.
Siena College AmeriCorps VISTA Fellowship Position at Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) Annually, the Center for Academic and Community Engagement at Siena College (ACE), selects 30 people from around the country to serve with local Community-Based Organizations who are working to address socio-economic challenges in the region including: gaps in education, health care, housing, criminal justice, and economic development. VISTA Fellows fight poverty by working alongside community members to build capacity and create sustainable, local solutions. In addition, they build professional networks, leadership skills, and lifelong connections within their VISTA cohort.
The SiCM VISTA Fellow will be responsible for volunteer recruitment & scheduling, administrative work on the Summer Meals Program, social media promotions & special events for the Summer Meals Program and database management of the volunteers in the SiCM programs and will report directly to Jo-Anne Rafalik, Summer Meals Director and Volunteer Coordinator. This fellowship will allow SiCM to expand our Volunteer Base and Summer Meals Program. Must be willing to work as part of a team and independently and take initiative. Ability to work on database management is a plus. Hours are Monday to Friday, usually 8am to 4:30pm.
-Relocation Allowance
-Free Public Transportation
-Access to several Siena College services including dining, gym, and library privileges
-Deferment or Forbearance of qualified student loans during service
-On-going professional development, mentorship, and support from the VISTA Leadership Team, the ACE Office, and our community partners
-Choice between the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award (currently $6,095) or the End of Service Stipend
-Non-Competitive Eligibility status to apply for federal government jobs


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If you or someone you know will be undergoing chemotherapy and experiencing hair loss, we may be able to help by providing one of our wigs to wear throughout treatment. While we have some brand new wigs in our inventory, we are especially proud to offer high quality wigs donated by survivors who want to pay it forward by helping newly diagnosed women. All gently used wigs are professionally cleaned and reconditioned, so they are completely hygienic and look brand new.
The Wig Exchange provides high-quality wigs and practical tips for managing the issues surrounding cancer-related hair loss. In addition, The Wig Exchange provides a meaningful way for women to recycle their gently used wigs while helping others facing cancer. Our volunteer Client Coordinators, cancer survivors themselves, meet with each client to find the right wig, explain how to wear and care for the wig, and can help arrange a pre-chemo haircut and/or wig styling if necessary. Our coordinators also provide practical advice and information about a variety of local support services.
For many women, hair loss is the most troublesome side effect of chemotherapy. A nice wig can ease that concern, but well-made wigs are expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Meanwhile, women who have finished their cancer treatments are often unsure of what to do with their gently used wigs. That is why we created The Wig Exchange which is based in Westchester County, NY, and was co-founded by Kate & Paul Conn and Sandy Samberg. It launched in January 2012 and was replicated in the San Francisco Bay Area in the fall of 2014.
Unsure if you need a wig? Learn more about our program and view our Wig Salon.
Your generous donation of 9+ inches of hair makes a Chemo Diva Wig. This type of wig, hat with hair attached, is a comfortable alternative to wearing a full wig and one that many prefer.
We accept brand new or very gently used wigs. We prefer wigs made from human hair.
Our Program and Client Coordinators are trained volunteers and survivors who will help you navigate through the process of choosing and learning how to wear a wig.
"Just a note to personally thank you for the wonderful service The Wig Exchange provides. The story is one you have heard many times I'm certain. But this cancer patient is my mother. She received a quote for a new wig from a local wig salon and was devastated. She cannot work due to the progression of the disease and has to use her limited resources to pay for 24 hour help. My mother is still well enough to feel pride, and also some shame given her disfiguring surgery and now hair loss. Thank you for this wonderful service that offers humanity and compassion during an otherwise horrible time. Thank you for the work you have done and the many miles you have walked to make this happen!"
"Thank you for all you did to help me find a wig and for getting me set up so quickly. It was a pleasure meeting my Client Coordinator. Her warmth and personality help melt away any anxiety as I power through this difficult but common journey."
"Yesterday was my best friend's first day really out and about in a large crowd wearing her wig, and she felt beautiful despite being nervous. I told her how radiant she looked and I could see the tears in her eyes. She is just one of the many women you are helping, and I can't even begin to thank you for all that you are doing. Keep up the inspiring, supporting and encouraging work you are all doing ~ it is life changing!"


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Research Repository
A dynamic system framework for the decomposition method solving Support Vector Machines
Lai, Daniel ORCID: 0000-0003-3459-7709, Mani, N and Palaniswami, M (2004) A dynamic system framework for the decomposition method solving Support Vector Machines. In: Proceedings of the 2004 Intelligent Sensors, Sensor Networks & Information Processing Conference : 14-17 December 2004, Melbourne, Australia. IEEE, Adelaide, South Australia, pp. 283-288.Full text for this resource is not available from the Research Repository.
The decomposition method is generally used to solve the quadratic program of Support Vector Machines. The rate of convergence of this method is largely dependant on the sequence of sub-problems solved. In order to study ways of increasing the convergence, we propose a dynamic system perspective to model the dynamics of the decomposition method. In particular, the minimization of a sub-problem can be viewed as an autonomous dissipative system in terms of second order differential equations. The gradients of the sub-problems and the inequality constraints are explicitly modelled as system variables. Using these models, we then define a general decomposition method as a non-autonomous system composed of sub-systems that operate for discrete time intervals. The dependance of this system on time is depicted by a time dependant permutation matrix which functions as an indicator for operating subsystem components.
|Item Type:
|Book Section
|Additional Information:
IEEE cat. no. 04EX994C
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|ResPubID19078, support vector machines, SVM, nonlinear function, decomposition method, computing memory, optimization, chunking, algorithm, working set, search direction, a linear convergence rate, convergence
|Current > FOR Classification > 0102 Applied Mathematics
Current > FOR Classification > 0802 Computation Theory and Mathematics
Current > FOR Classification > 0902 Automotive Engineering
Historical > Faculty/School/Research Centre/Department > Centre for Ageing, Rehabilitation, Exercise & Sport Science (CARES)
|Depositing User:
|Date Deposited:
|26 Apr 2013 02:09
|Last Modified:
|02 Aug 2019 06:02
|ePrint Statistics:
|View download statistics for this item
|Citations in Scopus:
|0 - View on Scopus
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|View Item


text: Sky Stock Drops as Analysts Lament Rising Cost of English Soccer Rights 1:49 AM PST 2/11/2015 by Georg Szalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME AP Photo/Jon Super "We doubt that Sky can recover the extra costs," says one analyst about the Euro pay TV giant, in which Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox owns a 39 percent stake. The stock of pan-European pay TV giant Sky, in which Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox owns a 39 percent stake, trended lower on Wednesday as analysts highlighted the high cost of a new English Premier League (EPL) soccer rights deal unveiled late Tuesday. As of 9:40 a.m. London time, Sky's stock was down 4 percent at $14.00 (£9.16) after earlier falling as much as 5 percent. Read more Sky Movies to Screen Soccer Film 'Believe' in First Day-and-Date Offer for Subs In the latest EPL auction, longtime rights holder Sky won five of seven TV rights packages for soccer games in a three-year deal, with BT, formerly known as British Telecom, also continuing as a holder of rights with the two other packages. Sky got rights to 126 matches per season for $6.37 billion over three years starting with the 2016/2017 season, up 83 percent from $3.55 billion in the previous deal. Discovery Communications and its Eurosport network were also believed to have been in the running for the rights, but didn't end up with any packages. The value of the three-season rights deal agreed with Sky and BT is $7.84 billion (£5.136 billion), up 70 percent. Read more China's Wanda to Buy Stake in Spanish Soccer Club Atletico Madrid UBS analyst Polo Tang in a report on Wednesday said that the soccer rights auction yielded a "good outcome." But he also highlighted that "consensus was expecting the status quo in terms of the split of rights, but with a 45 percent increase in costs." Liberum Capital analyst Ian Whittaker cut his price target on Sky from $12.99 (£8.50) to $8.10 (£5.30), citing the big price increase. "Sky has won the majority of the Premier League rights for 2016/2017 to 2018/2019, but at a very high cost," he wrote in cutting his fiscal year 2017 and 2018 earnings estimates. "We doubt that Sky can recover the extra costs both on the revenue and cost side. Perhaps more worrying is the question that the outcome of the auction raises about Sky's future valuation, as the stock's terminal value has suddenly become harder to predict given such price inflation." And Sanford C. Bernstein analyst Claudio Aspesi, who had started off the year with a bullish report on Sky, said the outcome of the soccer rights auction "surprised us negatively." He wrote: "Sky will argue that it has secured the rights it wants and that it can meet its financial objectives through savings in other areas. Indeed, this may be correct, but misses the key point. This was the time for Sky to challenge the [league] and exit an unsustainable trajectory. If Sky cannot control inflation with the stars aligned, one wonders about the outcome of future auctions." Sky said after the soccer rights deal: "The price paid per annum is around £330 million ($504 million) more than analysts' forecasts. Sky has a clear set of plans in place to fund the bid and deliver its financial plans in line with expectations. The company will work hard to minimize the impact of higher rights costs on customers, with the majority of the funding coming through substantial additional savings to be delivered by efficiency plans." Added Sky CEO Jeremy Darroch: "Our strong performance across the board gives us financial strength and flexibility. We have a clear plan to absorb the cost of the new Premier League deal while delivering our financial plans." Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @georgszalai FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Georg Szalai firstname.lastname@example.com @thr


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Goonyella line back in action
A DERAILED train blocking the Goonyella coal line was removed on Tuesday.
The empty, driverless coal train derailed near Coppabella, blocking inbound and outbound tracks.
The remotely-run train had no crew on board and the empty wagons and the engine ended up on their sides across the tracks.
An Aurizon representative said the crash occurred about 2pm on Friday.
"A remote locomotive (driverless) and a number of wagons derailed," the representative said. "Track crews have since cleared all rollingstock and restored the track. The line was reopened to all traffic (Tuesday) morning.
"An investigation into the cause of the derailment has commenced."
Rail Bus and Tram Union central branch organiser Bruce Mackie said he understood heat had buckled the tracks.
"There was extreme heat on Friday and our members are reporting it appears the track buckled from it," Mr Mackie said.
The Aurizon representative said the company had worked to minimise coal transport disruptions following the crash.
"Aurizon worked closely with other rail operators, customers and supply chain partners to minimise service disruptions," they said.
Aurizon would not comment on how much the crash cost to coal production or in repairs.


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Prophesy of Doom
Isaiah 1:1 to 66:1
1:1 The hallucinations of Isaiah, the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem back in the days of Uzziah and a bunch of other kings.
1:2 Ok listen up. God says he has taken good care of you up until now but you are all a bunch of ingrates and worthless trouble makers. Basically your ass is grass and God is a lawn mower.
1: 3 Even an ox knows who his owner is, as do donkeys and other animals kept and used for heavy labor. You people should know by now that God is your master and you are like his dumb beasts of burden. Why do you doubt it? Why do you doubt his very existence? You are only making him more angry than usual. Bad move.
1:14 God said "I'm tired of you routinely killing animals for me on a regular schedule and then going off to sin and ignore me the rest of the time. I hate that. I'm going to quit listening to your prayers. That will teach you. I won't even look at you anymore."
1:18 God continued to ramble but briefly softened his tone. "Let's make a deal. Come on now, let's both be reasonable. You are the guilty ones, with guilt as red as blood. But I'll make you as white as snow if you bow down and worship me and glorify me and do everything I tell you to do. Maybe not quite as white as snow, more like wool, some really white wool."
21:1 And then God added "Jerusalem is a filthy little slutty whore bitch."
28:1 Woe to the alcoholic priests of Ephraim. Woe to the city of Jerusalem. Woe to all those rebellious youngsters who won't even listen to me. They should have listened. They will be sorry. The Lord will visit them and that always means bad news. Woe to those who fled to Egypt seeking a better life.
32:1 Someday a king will come and rule us fairly and justly. At that time vile people will no longer be called liberals. The vile will still be called vile but the liberals will be called liberals. Before that wonderful utopian time comes there will be lots of miserable times.
33:22 The Lord is our judge, and our law maker, and our king. He will save us.
34:1 Listen up everybody for God is angry with all the nations of the world. Oh boy is he ever angry. The mountains are going to be melted by the stinking blood of the nations. All of the heavens will be closed up like a book. The sword of the Lord is filled with blood. It will be the Lord's special day and the land will turn into burning pitch. The barren waste will burn and be all smoky forever. Thorns will overgrow the palaces and scary dragons and a bunch of hooty owls will live there. The place will be the home of vultures and strange monsters of the night. The desert on the other hand will be a rather nice place with beautiful roses and no lions. There the blind will see and the deaf will hear. The lame will leap and the dumb will sing.
36:1 Ok so as you all know, the Assyrians came and conquered Judah. They kicked our asses and I mean solid. That great big Assyrian army came all the way to Jerusalem and surrounded the city with men and horses and siege equipment. The Assyrian army spokesperson offered a settlement to the king of the Judeans but he refused it. The Assyrians said "We haven't come all this way and surrounded you just to watch you eat their own shit and drink their own piss. People of Jerusalem, don't listen to your idiot king. Other people's gods have not saved them from us and your god will not save you either. Surrender and be saved."
Under the king's orders the Jews didn't answer. But that's not to say that the king wasn't thoroughly freaked out by the situation. He tore his clothes and eventually sought council from Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah said "Don't worry king, they will leave soon." Isaiah prayed and the Lord promised to protect Jerusalem. The Lord sent one of his more militant angels to the Assyrian camp to arbitrarily select and kill 185,000 of the troops. When they woke up they were dead. The Assyrian king called off the siege of the city. Yaay Isaiah. That was awesome.
38:1 King Hezekiah of Jerusalem was deathly sick and about to die. Isaiah came to him and said "You are deathly sick and about to die." But the king prayed and the Lord decided to let him live another 15 years. As proof of the awarded life extension the Lord performed the extreme and unnecessary trick of making a sundial's shadow moved backwards ten degrees. The king was very grateful and praised the Lord saying things like "The dead cannot praise God. Those in The Pit cannot hope for truth" and junk like that.
39:1 The king of Babylon sent men to Hezekiah with get-well letters and flowers and gifts and such. The Jewish king welcomed them and bragged by showing off his treasure room to them. When Isaiah heard about this he said "What the hell? Now the Babylonians will come and take all the treasure! Damn it! Just for this Hezekiah's sons will be castrated and made to serve the king in Babylon."
40:1 God says "Everybody can just chill." He means we can relax and be assured that his existence will soon be made evident. The nations of Earth are but a drop in the bucket to God. They are stupid and they mean nothing to him. God sits by the Earth and looks down on the people like they are mere bugs. They are like little grasshoppers to him. God never gets tired and there is no understanding him so don't even ever bother trying. I mean it. Stop trying. That's my job.
God is good for the Jews. He likes the Jews the best and will fix everything specifically for them. God has been making lots of comforting promises to the Jews. God assures the Jews that he is the only real god. Don't be fooled by cheap imitations. God is the only god of the Earth. Don't listen to those people to the east. Their cultural and religious ideas are invalid and in time they will be punished for not being Jews.
50:1 In frustration the Lord asked several strange rhetorical questions such as "Where are your mother's divorce papers? And to which of my creditors have I sold you? Has my hand grown shorter so that I cannot help you?"
The Lord has made me a genius. Meanwhile all those people who disagree with me will be eaten up like the way old cloth is eaten by moths. Woot.
52:1 Wake up Jerusalem. God has good plans for your future. Who believes this report I've been hearing about God's helper? This helper guy is ugly and despised but he suffers for our sake. You see, we are kind of like a bunch of dumb ass sheep. So when God's helper guy shows up he will experience a lot of suffering on account of our stupidity. In fact, God actually enjoys bruising him and giving him grief. Someday however, he will get a big promotion and a bigger share when all the stuff of the world is divided up. That's only fair because he will have suffered thanks to our mistakes. Yaay helper guy.
54:5 God is sort of like Israel's husband and Israel is like God's wife. He was mad at her because she is such a bitch sometimes. But just as God promised Noah no more floods, he now promises his wife there will be less hatred and abuse from him. God will give his wife lots of nice presents and also protect her from enemy weaponry and strategic invasions.
55:1 Everyone who is poor come quick, there is plenty of free wine and milk. Be on the lookout for the Lord while he is nearby. The Lord says to keep to the old rules. Good things will happen to the good people and bad things will happen to the bad people. "No rest for the wicked" that's what God always says anyway.
65:2 All day I reach out to these people that anger me by being different than the Jews. They have their own religion and they do disgusting things like eating barbequed pork and other foods that I hate. They are like smoke in my nose. God will kill them all. God will create a brand new heaven and a brand new Earth. No one will even remember the old Earth. The Jews are going to have a good time on the new Earth. The wolf and the lamb will be best friends and lions will eat straw and snakes will eat dirt. At last there will be no pain on God's mountain.
66:1 The Lord says that heaven is his throne and the Earth is just a footstool for resting his big feet. God made every freaking thing. Someday the Lord will come to Earth and he will be like fire. With fire and his big sword God will kill many people. Like it or not, all living things will be forced to bow down to God on his mountain. The corpses of the bad guys that God killed will be eaten by magical worms that never die. The corpses will also be burned and be hated. I'm so looking forward to that.
Next: Cry Baby Cry
The Bible According to Brad
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did we just go from sex to violence?....This bible has been rated R by the Bible Writer's Association.


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will.i.am Sends One Out to Corporate America
Black Eyed Pea promotes new Beetle, cheers jobmakers
When Volkswagen and MTV booked the Black Eyed Peas to headline their joint World Stage event Monday night at Manhattan's Terminal 5, they probably thought the band would tout the new third-generation Beetle. Little did they know that in addition to the car, will.i.am would end up endorsing . . . well, commerce.
Introducing the group's 2003 hit "Where Is the Love," the always advertising-friendly frontman dedicated it to "every single American corporation" for creating jobs—an odd but not inappropriate comment at a show sponsored by a German carmaker with a recently opened American assembly plant in Tennessee. The concert is set to appear on MTV's main channel on April 22nd, after being netcast live on the network's "World Stage" website, which was also heavily branded by Volkswagen as part of its ongoing new Beetle campaign.
Volkswagen has shown a penchant for teaming up with TV networks to promote new products. There were similar unveilings of the Beetle on Monday in Berlin and Shanghai, which with the Terminal 5 extravaganza served as teasers for a formal rollout of the model when it's ready to hit dealerships in the fall. Volkswagen's global marketing director Luca de Meo gave a short speech at the Manhattan afterparty in which he described the show as "one of the most successful media events ever" for the car manufacturer in the U.S.


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Memorable reads of the week 2
Last Updated on October 6, 2018 by Mr. FightToFIRE
Another week has gone by in a flash. Luckily I have this series to help me get a swell summary of the more memorable articles that passed my view the last 7 days.
Let's jump right into this week's memorable reads.
My memorable reads
Fed raises interest rates, flags end of 'accommodative' policy
Original source: Reuters, 2018. REFILE-WRAPUP 3-Fed raises interest rates, flags end of 'accommodative' policy. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-fed/refile-wrapup-3-fed-raises-interest-rates-flags-end-of-accommodative-policy-idUSW1N1UT023.
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This Wednesday, The Federal Reserve, abbreviated to The Fed, has increased the interest rates once more. With this latest increase the American base rate is now between 2 and 2.25%.
What another U.S. interest rate rise means for you
Original source: Pinsker B. (2018, September 25). Your Money: What another U.S. interest rate rise means for you. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-money-debt-interestrates/your-money-what-another-u-s-interest-rate-rise-means-for-you-idUSKCN1M52DX
We stay with the latest Fed rate hike. This article talks about how this latest rate increase impacts the daily life of Americans.
This focuses on the American market of course, but it helps me as a European to understand how a future rate increase from the ECB will impact me.
Three things are mentioned in the article:
- Credit card debt: which almost all households hold.
Up to a trillion dollars(!) in credit card debt, according to Nerdwallet.com's 2017 survey.
- Home equity loans:
If you are in debt and own a home, now is not necessarily the best time to be tempted with a home equity loan to pay off debt" – Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist, LendingTree.com
- Increased interest rates on savings accounts: Unfortunately, banks first raise rates on what they sell before they raise what they buy.
As you can read, these rate adjustments are very important for the average (US) citizen. We can expect similar effects in Europe once the ECB decides to increase rates as well.
Not enough money? Arrested and locked up in a closed institute
Original source: De redecatie, Belga (2018, September 27). Te weinig geld op zak? naar gesloten centrum. De Standaard, p. 12.
A prime example of how strange immigration law can be. A Servian woman and her child get arrested and locked up for not having enough money while traveling.
Interesting about this is that it's well documented and easily found that you can't have more than 10,000 EUR in cash when traveling into or outside of the EU. What isn't so easily found, is that you apparently must have a fixed amount at hand (either cash or through a credit card that you can prove has enough credit on it). Belgium set the minimum amount necessary at 45 EUR/person/day.
In a follow-up article by A.-S. De Keyeser in De Standaard of 28/09/2018 it was clarified that this applies to everyone that wishes to travel to Belgium. A spokesperson of immigration stated that it also happens to Americans and other people from "rich" countries. Last year, 2193 people got send back (after a short stay at the closed institute).
The whole TSLA fraud by Elon Musk case
Original sources:
Ahmed, S. I. (2018, August 07). Tesla call options soar on Musk tweet, short-sellers hit. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-stock-options/tesla-call-options-soar-on-musk-tweet-short-sellers-hit-idUSKBN1KS23A
J. Stempel, A. Sage (2018, September 27). U.S. regulator sues Musk for fraud, seeks to remove him from Tesla. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-sec/us-regulator-sues-musk-for-fraud-seeks-to-remove-him-from-tesla-idUSKCN1M72OI
M. Price, A. Sage (2018, September 29). Musk to resign as Tesla chairman, remain as CEO in SEC settlement. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tesla-musk-sec/musk-to-resign-as-tesla-chairman-remain-as-ceo-in-sec-settlement-idUSKCN1M90SY.
This isn't so much one article as it is more the entire story starting with Elon Musk tweeting about taking Tesla private at 420 USD to retracting it and getting prosecuted for fraud by the SEC.
Hate or love Musk for what he does and how he does it, you can't deny that his last action was more than questionable. Tweeting, which in essence is a public announcement, that it's only a matter of details before you take Tesla private while in fact, that is far from the case is a more than a grounded reason to prosecute.
He's very lucky to get away with what is nothing but a slap on the wrist. Both Tesla and Elon Musk are fined with $20 million dollars and Musk must step down as chairman.
This settlement puts a close on a tumultuous two months for both Tesla as a company and Elon Musk personally.
I'm curious how the TSLA stock will react come Monday morning EDT. It made a steep drop Friday on the news that the SEC was suing Musk.
These were my memorable articles of the past week.
Do you have anything that you want to share? Leave a comment with a link or a summary and why you find it interesting.


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Evaluation of cardiac function in patients with liver cirrhosis using tissue Doppler study
Mohammed M Ashmawy1, Hosny A Younis2, Mahmoud A Abd Elbaset3, Haitham A Abdel Rahman2, Ahmed M Ashmawy1, Muhammad A Shawky4, Mohammed M Abd Elnasser2
1 Department of Internal Medicine, Assuit University, Assuit, Egypt2 Department of Internal Medicine, AL-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt3 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, AL-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt4 Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, AL-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
Correspondence Address:Dr. Muhammad A ShawkyDepartment of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524 EgyptSource of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: NoneCheckDOI: 10.4103/ejim.ejim_28_18
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
DOI: 10.4103/ejim.ejim_28_18
Background and aim Cardiac dysfunction is a prevalent finding in patients with liver cirrhosis. We aimed to evaluate left ventricular function by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with liver cirrhosis.Patients and methods This is a cross-sectional case–control study that involved 90 patients with liver cirrhosis: 30 patients with Child A, 30 patients with Child B, and 30 patients with Child C cirrhosis. Moreover, 45 healthy volunteers were included in the study as a control group. All patients and controls were examined by conventional Doppler and tissue Doppler echocardiography.Results Patients with liver cirrhosis showed significantly lower ejection fraction (EF) levels than control group (P=0.001), but only nine patients showed EF levels less than 55. Moreover, there is significantly decrease in EF in patients with decompensated cirrhosis than those with compensated cirrhosis (P=0.005). A total of 60 patients showed diastolic dysfunction: 10 patients with Child A, 20 patients with Child B, and 30 patients with Child C cirrhosis. There were significantly differences between patients with liver cirrhosis and control group in the other parameters of systolic (S wave and myocardia performance index) and diastolic (early and late velocity and deceleration and isovolumetric relaxation time) functions.Conclusion Patients with liver cirrhosis showed significantly decreased left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions than control group, which is more pronounced in decompensated than compensated patients.
Keywords: cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, diastolic dysfunction, echocardiography, left ventricular function, liver cirrhosis, tissue Doppler imaging


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February 12th - Day 2: We arrive in Almaty...
Happy Birthday, Robin! We "celebrated"
Robin's birthday before landing by giving him some cards and a t-shirt we had
bought in the Washington airport (see photo below). We arrived in
Frankfurt around 7:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. EST) and immediately bought four large
bottles of water to quench our thirst. Unfortunately, we forgot to request
that they be without "gas" (uncarbonated). Oops! We found
a corner near the gate to our next flight where we could hang out for a few
hours and Dave tried in earnest to find a way to log on to the internet so we
could let you all know we were doing well. While we weren't successful,
our frustration was soon replaced with more excitement and anticipation when we
ran into our travel partners at the gate. They are John and Eileen Andrews
from Illinois and they are also traveling to Uralsk to adopt a baby boy! I
can't tell you how comforting it is to have another couple to share the journey
with, plus the fact that they just happen to be really cool people who are sooo
easy to get along with and fun to be with!
Every step of this journey so far (since we were given
our travel dates) has been so surreal. Even while physically experiencing
each step of the journey, it's still hard to believe it's really
happening. For example, as we prepared for takeoff in Frankfurt, we
listened to the flight attendant give instructions in German, Russian, and,
finally, English. We are feeling farther and farther from home and closer
and closer to our baby! The flight to Almaty was only about half full, if
that. Half way into the flight, several smart people (not us,
unfortunately) filled the empty rows by using them as a place to sleep.
The movie was much better (Shall We Dance? - or something like that -
with Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Lopez) and we had a
delicious meal (salmon .... ymmm!). Because the flight was so empty,
Sierra got a lot of attention. One of the flight attendants had her help
collect the passengers' empty glasses. It was so cute to see Sierra
walking down the aisle with a tray, helping out ... she was just beaming with
pride and the feeling of importance! They also gave her some coloring
activities and games and a rattle for the baby. Dave and I reread the
directions we were given about what to do when we arrived - baggage, customs,
etc. - and Robin tried to fall asleep. Sierra finally fell asleep for the
last few hours; she is such a resilient traveler! The screens on the plane
had a map that showed how far along we were on our flight to Almaty. It
was so exciting to watch the picture of the plane on the screen get closer and
closer to our destination. We kept pinching each other and exclaiming,
"It's really happening! We're almost there!" The whole
concept of traveling half way around the world to adopt a baby probably sounds
weird or at least foreign to most people. It can even feel unreal for
those who are in the midst of preparing for it. What's amazing is that
we're actually doing it ... we're almost there ... and it still feels unreal!
Because it was a clear night, we could look down from
the plane and see the mountains of southern Kazakhstan. They are so
beautiful! We landed in Almaty around 11:40 p.m. (12:40 p.m. EST) and saw
that there was snow everywhere ... not unlike Syracuse! The difference was
that they don't seem to be as concerned about getting it off the runways!
The airport in Almaty is new and so the planes can now go right up to the
terminal and you don't have to go outside when you get off the plane. The
first thing that struck us when we entered the terminal is that everything is in
Russian or Kazakh (not that I can tell the difference); no English. We've
been told that Kazakhs are not real keen on people taking pictures of them but I
really, really wanted to. They are such beautiful people with dark
complexions, dark hair, and distinctly Central Asian features. Also, they
wear the most beautiful long coats, some woolen, some leather, some suede, some
fur, and many are a combination of the above. They also wear large fur
hats, some that stick out, some that stick up, but all very elegant. (It
probably doesn't sound that way from my description; hopefully I'll be able to
get some pictures at some point so you can see!)
World Partners had prepared us well so we knew to go
right up to the passport checkpoint where they stamped our passports and a
camera took our pictures. We then went on to the baggage area and were
pleased to find that every piece had arrived! That in itself was cause for
celebration! In customs, they asked us why we were visiting Kazakhstan and
how much cash we were carrying. They said they would have to count the
cash and, at first, we got nervous and our hearts sank. Then they said
that we needed to buy them a beer and we realized that they were just teasing
us! Phew! We proceeded through the throng of people asking if they
could give us a ride until we found someone holding a sign saying, "Sander
David Amelia!" It was our driver, Vitalii, the Andrews' driver, and
our interpreter, Dilnosa. We loaded our baggage into the two vehicles they
had for us and headed for our apartments.
We noticed that they apparently don't plow the roads
either. Most of the snow is just packed down and doesn't seem to interfere
with the flow of traffic for the most part. We took the Andrews to their
apartment first. We drove down an alley behind a building and were a
little surprised and definitely taken aback when we saw the entrance. We
said goodnight and were taken to our apartment just a few blocks away and found
that our entrance was no better (see photo below). Nevertheless, we
climbed the four flights to the apartment and were really pleased with the
inside. It is warm, clean and spacious ... enough space for Robin as well
as Dave and I to have our own rooms, and a bed in the living room perfect for
Sierra. It has a decent kitchen and two bathrooms. One bathroom had
a toilet and a sink and the other bathroom had a sink, a tub with a shower wand,
and a washing machine. The kitchen had a stove and oven, microwave, and
fridge with three horizontal sections - the top for frozen food, middle for
beverages (we think), and the bottom for everything else. We got undressed
as quickly as we could and crashed for a good night's sleep ... finally!
Sierra the junior Flight
Tracking our progress
Robin's true identity still
Where did Amy go?
Almaty airport
Passport checkpoint
Arriving in our Almaty apartment -
home for two
Robin's room
Living room / Sierra's
Entrance to apartment
Our apartment building's electrical


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Stage 1
Prenatal Aqua classes designed and run by a qualified instructor tailored to the needs of soon to be mothers. This program focuses on preparation and strengthening needed to give birth and assists in faster recovery after birth.
Wednesday nights at 6:30pm – 7:15pm
Price $16.00
Booking required – 8352-1912
Stage 3
Waterbabies class – 6 m
Waterbabies 6mths – 8:1 Ratio
Learning confidence in water and basic swimming movements, the waterbabies class is a fun class with songs and basic activities to make your child happy and confident going in and under the water.
Waterbabies class – Advance 18 mths
Advance Waterbabies 18mth – 8:1 ratio
Continuing confidence in water, starting to wear googles, initiating going under the water/looking into the water by themselves. A few more advanced activities than the basic waterbabies class.


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Thank You, Houston has turned into How Can We Help You, Houston?
The original Thank You, Houston event put together by the Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston documentation project was canceled because of, woops, Hurricane Ike. The festival has been rescheduled and restructured a bit, too.
"The original Thank You, Houston project indicated what a big part of surviving Katrina and Rita Houston had been," says Pat Jasper, co-founder of the Surviving Katrina and Rita in Houston project. "The generosity of Houston was undeniable and acknowledging that, giving the survivors of Rita and Katrina the opportunity to share their words was our first plan. But Ike really showed in an up-close-and-personal manner the way the city comes together for each other. After Ike, it's very clear that everyone has a hurricane story."
"One of the roles of our project is to introduce neighbors to neighbors. With Ike, what we saw in media reports and in personal experiences was that neighbors who didn't even know each other were now barbecuing together and helping to chain-saw limbs off of each other's roofs. I think it's still about generosity given without condition, and often, stranger to stranger because Houston is that kind of a city," Jasper says.
Music for Thank You, Houston will still include performances by Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, and there's still going to be plenty of New Orleans food. And, as previously planned, a video version of the photo/audio exhibition "Who We Are" will be playing in the park's Houston Public Library Express, and visitors can listen to podcasts of Katrina and Rita survivors' stories of thanks.
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"But it is a somewhat reconstituted event," says Jasper. "We've also invited service and relief organizations and organizations seeking volunteers to help with hurricane clean-up to come out to the event. KPFT will be coming out to record people's Ike stories."
And Jasper expects lots and lots of heroic Ike stories. "Helping Katrina and Rita survivors or helping Ike survivors, Houston has had the same open-arms, 'What can we do? What do you need?' attitude that is unique to the city," says Jasper. (Yeah, you right!) "No one has given up the ghost. Everyone just hunkered down and now they've just powered out to rebuild the city."
Thank You, Houston is scheduled for 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, September 26, at Discovery Green (across the street from the George R. Brown Convention Center where thousands of Katrina survivors were sheltered in September 2005 and where hundreds of first responders organized for Ike last week). 1500 McKinney. For information, call 713-400-7336 or visit www.discoverygreen.com.
-- Olivia Flores Alvarez


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After I tweeted my least favorite games I was asked what my favorite games are, but since I can't go into great detail on Twitter due to the character limit I decided to make a post with my top 10 games of all time.
I dropped a few games on Twitter on 5 of my favorite gaming series, but I was disappointed with what I came up with because I know those aren't my top 5 favorite ones. I left out so many that I wanted to add, but after thinking it over I've decided to make a official top 10 games of all time list.
This list is subject to change as I continue to play more games, but I doubt it'll change drastically since a good number of these games are pretty old now.
10. Street Fighter II
Street Fighter II is the best fighting game of all time. I love everything about it and every time a "best of" list comes up I always drop this game as one of my favorites of all time.
9. Fire Emblem: Awakening
One of the best games on the 3DS is also one of the best games of all time. This game saved the Fire Emblem series and also took it in a new direction. This game told one hell of a story, has great gameplay, and a memorable cast of characters.
8. Dragon Age Origins
The first game in the Dragon Age series is the best one. No game came close to topping Origins, but that doesn't mean the two sequels are bad games. Dragon Age Origins is a masterpiece that I've played through more then 30 times.
7. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
When I started thinking my top 10 games of all time I knew this game would be in there somewhere. Symphony of the Night is in a league of it's own when it comes to Metroidvania games and is still a really great game to play today.
6. Civilization V
Every time I recommend a game on PC to people looking to get into strategy games it's always this one. It's easy to get into and hard to put down. The "one more turn" saying started with this series and I can't tell you how many "one more turn" I gave my wife when she asked me to do something around the house. It's that good.
5. The Witcher 3
I didn't always consider The Witcher 3 one of the greatest games of all time. It slowly became on of the greatest games ever made because CD Projekt Red slowly improved it with patches, and DLC. This game has everything I look for in a modern open world game and it's still the current standard for open world games.
4. Pokemon Sun/Moon
Pokemon Sun/Moon topped Ruby/Sapphire as my favorite Pokemon game of all time. I could easily put just about any Pokemon game here. Gold/Silver, Red/Blue, etc. This one took Pokemon in a new direction and that played a big part on why I placed on it on my list.
3. Super Mario World
This game did two things for me. It has my favorite Nintendo character ever (Mario) riding my second favorite Nintendo character ever. Yoshi was introduced to the world in this game and I love it for that. This game was also the most unique Mario game of it's time. I love navigating the beautiful world map, collecting power ups, and playing with Mario/Yoshi.
These next two games could easily be number 1. I switch regularly between which one is my favorite.
2. Mass Effect 2
I've called this the best game I've ever played almost everyday and it is, but for the sake of this list I had to place it at number 2 because when I think of Mass Effect I think of the entire trilogy as one cohesive experience. I'll probably come back later and swap this with the number one spot :).
1. Skyrim
Skyrim is my most played game of all time. It's also the reason why I started blogging. I wouldn't be here writing this list right now if it wasn't for this game. I've played well over 1000 hours of Skyrim, spent late nights modding it, writing short stories about my characters, and writing about it here. It's the GOAT of open world games and nothing comes close to it's amazing community and world that Bethesda has built for me to get lost in. I love this game and it's a easy number 1 for me.
What are your favorite games of all time?
Here's some honorable mentions.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Dark Souls
Soul Caliber
Phantasy Star II
Bioshock Infinite
Total War Shogun 2
Xcom Enemy Unknown
If I ever make a top 20 all of these games would make the list.


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Hello my girls,
I finally received my package from CNDIRECT, ie. my jacket. I was so much surprised, jacket is so soft, so comfortable ideal for the upcoming cold days. It is ideal for every day, for all outfits, great standing with black and gray boots, sneakers wedges … Material is excellent for maintenance, is soft.
In addition to the jacket I got the dark blue wallet. This wallet is so beautiful, with plenty of room for credit cards, in the document, as well as money.
I am so happy with this package.
CNDIRECT thank you so much!
CNDIRECT is a great shop where you can find everything you need, clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry, household items …and all at an affordable price.
Explore this wonderful online store and find something for yourself or your loved ones.


text: The old Forth Road Bridge leading to Edinburgh is all set to receive a £112 million ($181.6 million) investment for a programme of improvements spanned over the next 15 years, where the it crosses the expected annual running costs of £5 million ($8.1million). The new crossing will be open to traffic in 2016 and will cost each vehicle about £114 ($184), making it the world's most expensive bus lane. All the funding for the existing bridge comes from the Scottish government for improvements like cable dehumidification and tower strengthening. Many are opposed to the building of the new bridge owning to the high running costs and the pressure and traffic jams in the new bridge.


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Halloween fun that won't frighten your budget!
Halloween is nearly here! This year, think past the traditional spooky and ghoulish costumes. Here's 5 on-trend DIY Halloween costume ideas that you can whip up in a flash, without busting your budget.
The craze that's driven us all wild this year – catching Pokémon – is sure to be a hit on the Halloween costume circuit.
2016 was the year the chicks reinvented this 80s movie classic.
The Presidential hopeful is an easy target when it comes to getting a few laughs for your costume this Halloween.
This is a fun and easy one!
With another Despicable Me movie on the way, everyone's favourite little madmen will be running all over the place this Halloween.
For some more inspiration and fast, easy costume ideas, check out our spooky DIY Halloween costumes post.
So go get dressed in your Halloween best, and get out and about for some spooky fun this Halloween!


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You may have noticed us talking more about "Flow Technology" over on www.imgtec.com over the past year – but what is it?
Flow is an end to end infrastructure for connecting devices to cloud-based services: the idea is that while providing on-chip Wi-Fi (and ultimately other connectivity standards) enables a device to connect to the cloud – what do you actually connect to? Flow is initially targeting the myriad devices that need to get connected, but where the companies making them simply don't have the resources to figure that out. What URL do they connect to? How do you set up a user account? How do I update software? How do I control the device from a browser or app in the Cloud? How do I stream content, and where do I get content from? Each of these is a big and complex issue – so we've solved it all with Flow.
Flow enables devices to easily talk to cloud services: as part of Flow technology we've developed what is known as the 'Flow APIs'. These enable anyone writing an app on a connected device to do all the functions I mentioned above, and many more. And they can access services too, not just from IMG but from a growing ecosystem of 3rd parties. We've got plans advancing fast for partners providing payment systems, streamed content, healthcare, security, and more.
Flow is a key tool to get the best out of our Meta and Ensigma IPs – the MetaFlow 'connected processor': Flow technology is initially only available on MetaFlow processors, which combine a Meta HTP or MTP processor running Linux (and ultimately MeOS, Android and other 3rd party OS's too) with a highly optimised Ensigma communications IP core running at least 802.11 Wi-Fi. This enables us to create a new class of connected processors to power the 'M2M revolution' – machine to machine communications that is expected to drive the next 10 billion connected products! And we already have our first MetaFlow devices in production: Toumaz' Xenif TZ1090. So it's more than a great idea – it is here now!
Flow takes the technology developed within PURE in conjunction with Ensigma to a much bigger market. The initial Flow range of radios, and the Lounge portal, have enabled PURE to enter new markets and geographies. We're now moving those services to become part of the Flow technologies portfolio, together with the 3rd parties such as 7DM (content) and MiPay (payment) that help us provide those services. We've also taken the substantial investment we've made in The Lounge and made that a new portal that is a key pillar of Flow Technologies: FlowWorld.
Flow technology is a major new longer term initiative that we intend to broaden our reach into new markets and customers.


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To be fairly honest, the Predator series has never really been my thing. I don't hate the movies, nor really dislike them at all. I just don't have the overwhelming admiration that some people have for these films. I guess as action movies they are alright. I've even found myself quoting the original 1987 film out of context many times, including the usuals like, "Get to the Choppa!!" or "Ain't got time to bleed." But if you were to ask me now to complete a retrospective of all the movies in this series, it would be a short one, because this is a franchise that has largely flown under my radar. And strangely, unlike most other franchises born out of it's era, this has been a largely dormant series for long periods of time. There was a sequel starring Danny Glover that premiered in 1990, shortly after the original, but after that it wasn't until 2010 that we saw another entry into this franchise; the Adrian Brody-headlined Predators. Sure there were the cross-over Alien vs. Predator series that launched in the early to mid 2000's, but that's a whole different franchise to itself. Predator, 30 years after it's beginning, only had 3 films total as a part of it's own canon, which is pretty small compared to all the Star Wars, Die Hards, and Jurassic Parks that we've seen in the same time frame. Hell, we are up to our 9th Fast and the Furious, and that series has only been around half the time that Predator has. One the one hand, it's helped keep the mystique of the character fresh, because he hasn't been diluted by dumbed down sequels for many years. But, on the other hand, his long absences from the big screen may be due to the limitations of the character. There's only so much that you can get out of an alien hunter with no name or backstory. But, like most other things with nostalgia value, the Predator has caught the eye of Hollywood once again, and the call for a reboot has brought him back to the big screen.
First thought about doing another Predator movie now is that this is just a studio grabbing after some easy cash. And when a studio makes that choice, it usually leads to a sub-par effort that doesn't rightly value the thing that it's trying to exploit. This was the worry that a lot of fans of the series were worried about going into this new reboot. And then it was announced that the duties of bringing Predator back to the big screen would be going to writer/director Shane Black, and that suddenly made people interested once again. The choice of hiring Black is an interesting one. He of course is a rock star among screenwriters, having penned some of the most highly regarded action films of the last 30 years, from Lethal Weapon (1987), to The Last Boy Scout (1991), to The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), and in more recent years he has distinguished himself as a director with equally beloved films like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2004) and The Nice Guys (2016). But, the other interesting aspect is that Shane Black already has an established history with the franchise, as he was a part of the original 1987 film's supporting cast. During his fledgling early days in Hollywood as a wannabe actor, Shane managed to land the role of Hawkins in the now classic film, working opposite heavy hitters like Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, and Carl Weathers. But once his screenplay for Lethal Weapon sold and went into production at the same time, Shane said goodbye to acting and never looked back. So, it's interesting that he would make a return to a franchise that represented a very different chapter of his career. Clearly, he doesn't need The Predator; his career is already on solid ground. I think he took this opportunity mostly because he saw something that he could add to it, and possibly make it his own. Regardless, it got a lot of people excited to know that this franchise was in the hands of someone with a unique voice like Shane Black. But, does that promise result in a worthwhile entry into this famed franchise.
The movie begins with a Predator ship crash landing in the jungles of Southern Mexico. There, a black ops unit of American soldiers are about to eliminate a drug kingpin, and have their mission disrupted by the crash. One of the soldiers, Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) finds the Predator's gear, including a helmet and armband, and uses them to survive the creature's deadly attacks. After subduing the alien, he sends the contraband back home by mail, so that he can have evidence of his encounter that will prevent the army from declaring him insane as a way of silencing him in order to keep the incident under wraps. The package makes it's way to McKenna's home, where his Autistic son Rory (Jacob Tremblay) begins to play around with it, unknowingly unlocking and decoding it's computer systems. Once captured and interrogated, Quinn is taken to a transport which will take him to another place for further examination (meaning the loony bin). On the bus, he meets fellow soldiers who themselves are dealing with a variety of mental disorders; self-destructive Nebraska Williams (Trevante Rhodes), joke-telling Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key), pyromaniac Lynch (Alfie Allen), Tourettes plagued Baxley (Thomas Jane), and Christ complexed Nettles (Augusto Aguilera). Meanwhile, on the same base that this crew is being held, the same Predator specimen is being examined by a team of scientists, including the chief commander of the investigation, Treager (Sterling K. Brown) and biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn), who has found the shocking discovery that the Predator species is using different DNA from multiple species to evolve into more deadly beings. This becomes evident once a much larger and scarier Predator arrives and kills the smaller one found earlier. Discovering all this, Bracket enlists the help of McKenna and his outcast soldiers as they try to reach the Predator before he finds the source that brought him to their home; Quinn's son Rory who's been using the Predator gear as a Halloween costume.
There's a strange dynamic to this movie that might make or break one's viewing experience. For one thing, it feels like both a Predator movie and a Shane Black movie. Neither deters from the other, and in some cases it actually helps the other out and makes it work better than it otherwise would have. But, at the same time, this movie does feel like two movies mashed into one, and that is why it suffers from some rather drastic tonal shifts. You do have some neat looking action sequences that feel right at home in the Predator franchise, including some rather grisly and often hilariously over the top slaughters. And the movie also maintains the Shane Black trademarks that we've all come to love over the years; the quippy dialogue, the ridiculed masculinity, the strangely empowered young child, and of course the holiday setting (only this time he has swapped out Christmas for Halloween). Black's affinity for comedic situations stemming from testosterone fueled showboating also feels strangely in character with the Predator series, and the movie is definitely at it's best when it exploits this aspect. But, when Shane Black does indulge his own tastes, it does undermine any attempt on the movie's part to build any tension. There isn't a whole lot of plot here, and what there is of it comes across as fairly convoluted. In many ways, I liked this movie better when it was working as a Black comedy (excuse the pun), and less so as another entry in this franchise. In many ways, it seems that Shane is just piggy-backing on an already established franchise to deliver some of his ideas for situations that he otherwise couldn't fit into any other film. At the same time, he still isn't undermining the lore of this series; why would he since he was there right at it's inception. A more hack job could have been done with this movie and Shane Black is a better filmmaker than that, but even still it's a movie that feels more disjointed than his usual efforts.
I almost wonder if he is much better at delivering his own original ideas to fruition than being handed over already established material. That seems to be the case, because his only other disappointment as a filmmaker was the lackluster Iron Man 3 (2013), which neither showcased his trademark style very well and disrupted the very solid foundation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a bunch of unnecessary plot twists. The Predator is a better movie than Iron Man 3, but it does share many of the same issues. One is the lack of a cohesive tone, and two is because Shane Black's ideas tend to run contrary to what the movies actually need. One area where I found this to be problematic is in how the movie deals with some of it's more serious issues. In particular, it's with how the movie deals with mental health problems. Each of the soldiers that make up the supporting cast have a condition that should be discussed with seriously, and for the most part are, but there are points where Shane Black does play their conditions off for laughs. This could prove problematic for the movie in the long run, because there are many veterans out there whose mental problems are no laughing matter, and though this movie doesn't ridicule them, it nevertheless makes light of something that is very serious. The movie does treat the Autism of Jacob Tremblay's Rory with a bit more seriousness, and it's to the still very young actor's credit that he portrays his character's affliction in a realistic way. But seeing how his character's issues are worked into the plot of the story also creates some head-scratching after a while. Also, Shane Black is a master of great many things, but none of them are excellence in world-building. If you're looking for a movie that builds upon the lore of the Predator universe, you'll probably be disappointed, as this movie is kept pretty earthbound for the most part. Not a huge problem for this movie in particular, but it's pretty clear that Shane Black is just making his own kind of movie where the Predator just happens to be a part of it.
The movie's greatest asset in the long run are the characters. This has always been Shane Black's greatest strength as a writer and director, because he specializes in quirky, memorable characterizations that often transcend the stories of the movies themselves. I particularly like the interactions between the collection of misfits that help out our hero. Despite the problematic uses of each soldiers ailments, the actors still manage to make them endearing throughout the movie; something you wouldn't expect in a Predator movie. I think it's because Black likes to find the humanity in even the biggest of outsiders, and he quickly finds ways to break through the rough exterior of each to find the decent person underneath. I especially liked the performance of Trevante Rhodes, who we last saw in a breakout performance in the Oscar-winning Moonlight (2016). He takes what could have turned into a shallow, stereotypical character and makes him deeply layered, with a great deal of quiet subtlety. Boyd Holbrook also does decently in a role that typically comes off as wooden in most other action films; the straight man protagonist. His interactions with the aforementioned Jacob Tremblay are extremely effecting, and you see a genuine bond between the two actors that makes the father/son relationship feel real. Olivia Munn also does the best she can with probably the trickiest role in the film. Credit to Shane Black for not pushing the female presence to the side in this otherwise testosterone filled movie. Also, I really enjoyed Sterling K. Brown's more antagonistic role, as his often lackadaisical attitude to the situation runs contrary to what you'd expect from this type of character. All in all, the one character that gets the short end here is the Predator itself, which has been typical of the series thus far anyway. At least with every other character being rich in personality, it makes up for there being little interest in the Predator.
The film is also a mixed bag when it comes to the action scenes. The thing with Shane Black as a director is that his strengths have always been in the dialogue and characters. When a movie emphasizes those things, like The Nice Guys, you don't need the action set pieces to be spectacular. But, when working with a bigger budget like Iron Man or The Predator, Shane's limited vision becomes more apparent. The visual effects are not particularly ground-breaking, especially when it comes to the Predator himself. No new territory is explored, particularly when it comes to the Predator himself. The CGI in fact robs the movie of some of the effectiveness of the character, as we've moved away from a man in a suit to a digitally rendered model that is larger and has an biotechnological exo-skeleton. The effect just isn't the same because we as an audience can tell that he's a special effect. There is still a traditional Predator present early on, but he's dealt with early and the last, weaker half of the movie contains the digital character through the remainder of the film. Like everything else, the titular Predator is the weakest part of the movie. Shane Black does make up for it with some of the over-the-top violence however. There are some hilariously unexpected kills committed in this movie. One character, who I won't spoil, even manages to blow up a drunk frat boy on the balcony of his house through a freak accident, which got quite the laugh from the audience I saw. And that's mainly where the movie's action works best; when it's intended to get a laugh. This can be a very funny movie at times, and I liked how creative it would be at times with the violence. Even still, for a Predator movie, this may not exactly be what you were hoping for.
The movie as a whole isn't an insult to what has come before, but it's not exactly the series in it's prime either. Shane Black was dealt with the unenviable task of bringing new life into this long dormant franchise, and while it may not be among his best work, he still managed to make it entertaining. In many ways, this works much better as a Shane Black movie than as a Predator movie. It's got all the filmmaker's trademarks, and it's interesting to see them utilized in a film like this. I really liked the way he wrote the human characters in this movie, but it might have worked better if they were in a story that wasn't already tied to a pre-existing franchise. Still, it's interesting that Fox gave this franchise over to him, given how it represents a part of his own early career. I think that Shane wanted more than anything to see what he himself could do with this franchise, and it's clear that he does have an affection for the original movie and the series as a whole. It's just sad that none of what he brought to the table made the Predator himself any more interesting. The Predator is just the same old monster, which was quite a breakthrough creation back in the 80's, but now seems quaint compared to all the monsters we've seen on the big screen since in things like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and all the MCU films to date. Perhaps that was the purpose of bringing in Shane Black to breathe some personality into a series that has long outlived the originality of it's fairly flimsy premise. Whether or not this leads to a future of more Predator films is hard to say, but Shane gave it his best shot. The Predator is neither a great action thriller, nor is it a waste of time. You may end up enjoying yourself watching this movie, but more because of the comedy rather than the action set pieces. As a character, I think the Predator is played out and should probably be put to rest. But, it is good to see Shane Black still delivering something worthwhile with his characters and comedy in what is otherwise a very underwhelming reboot.
Rating: 7/10


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How to Uninstall the Canon Printer Drivers
A printer is one of the most vital pieces of equipment in a business office, so when it stops working, productivity may come to a standstill. One of the first steps of troubleshooting printer errors is to uninstall the printer drivers and either roll them back to a previous version or install updated drivers. The process to uninstall drivers for a Canon printer takes just a few minutes.
Click the Windows "Start" button and select "Control Panel."
Select "Hardware and Sound" and choose "Device Manager" from the Devices and Printers section.
Expand the "Other Devices" or "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" sections. One of them will contain an entry for your Canon printer.
Right-click on the printer and select "Uninstall" from the context menu. Click "OK" to confirm the removal.
Restart your computer, if prompted.
Photo Credits
- Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images


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J. Richard Abbott – Botanist
Personal and professional website for American Botanist J. Richard Abbott, PhD
Sambucus canadensis, Adoxaceae (radial symmetry, style short, stigma capitate)
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