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Part two of a 2-part documentary examining Canada's national health insurance system from its conception on the Canadian Prairies in the early part of the 20th century to its present state of crisis. This second part examines national Medicare 20 years after its inception and the bitter struggle among various authorities as they jockey to attain a position of power in a new scheme of things.
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This document summarizes information gathered by a research team at Penn State. The team investigated various services and techniques related to audio description for the vision impaired.
Table of Contents
- 1 Table of Contents
- 2 Research Team
- 3 What is Audio Description?
- 4 Techniques for Audio Description
- 5 Hiring a Vendor
- 6 Creating Audio Description In-House
- 7 Using an Embedded Audio Description
- 8 Creating an Annotated Transcript
- 9 Recommendations
- 10 Resources
Research Team
- Jennifer Babb, Assistant Learning Designer, Dutton Institute, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
- Patrick Besong, Multimedia Specialist, Teaching and Learning with Technology
- Michael Brooks, Manager of Multimedia & User Experience Team, World Campus
- Teri Dreibelbis, Instructional Design Assistant, Liberal Arts Outreach
- Elizabeth J. Pyatt, Instructional Designer, Teaching and Learning with Technology
- With input from Michelle McManus, JooYoung Seo, Deniz Döke, and Donald Tusler from Teaching and Learning with Technology
What is Audio Description?
Audio description (AD) for individuals with visual disabilities refers to the insertion of audio content describing "important visual details that cannot be understood from the main
soundtrack alone" (United Access Board ICT Standards and Guidelines, §E104.4). Information in an audio description should be provided in a way that does not interfere with other audio such as dialogue or sound effects.
Audio description allows a person with impaired vision to fully understand the visual content delivered via video or live performance. In recent history, AD has been offered for a variety of commercial movies, television shows, and theatrical venues, but is less common in educational videos. This paper will focus on using AD for recorded video in the educational setting, where the understanding of content is essential to achieving learning objectives.
Watch this short (1:04 minutes) video with and without audio description as a person without vision would see it.
Note: Video has no visuals.
Video Players: DVD vs. Online
It is important to think about how the video with AD is presented to students. An issue for higher education is that a course video is often provided in an online player instead of a DVD. While it is ideal to offer one video with two tracks that students can self-select, similar to how most DVD players work, the reality is that many online video players do not provide that functionality at all or not in a way that is easily accessible to a large audience. Given that fact, it will most often be necessary to provide two different videos: one with AD and one without. The downside to this is that it creates a separate experience for users who need the audio descriptions and it duplicates the video assets, increasing the content that needs to be managed.
Techniques for Audio Description
There are various ways to provide audio description. The option you choose depends on student needs, available resources, and the stage of the project.
Hiring a Vendor
The traditional solution is to hire a vendor to create an audio description track after the video has been completed. Several vendors are listed in the resources section of this paper.
Pros and Cons
- Expertise: A vendor has the professional expertise to complete the complex process of creating audio descriptions.
- Results: You should expect to receive high quality results.
- Cost: Prices vary, but it is generally much more expensive than preparing an AD in-house.
- Turnaround time: It may take a significant amount of time to get the product back.
- Subject expertise: Historically, vendor clients have been professional studios that create commercial television and movies, but descriptions for educational video may need to be more in-depth for some aspects of the content.
Creating Audio Description In-House
The team experimented with creating and adding an audio description to a completed video. They discovered that the process can be complex.
The testing revealed two basic options. One is to add the audio description during the natural breaks in dialogue. This is appropriate when there is not a need for lengthy descriptions or if there are long pauses built into the video. The other is to freeze the video, insert the audio description, and then continue with the original video. The second method is best for highly complex videos and scientific experiments without long pauses. See Appendix B: Tips for Creating an Audio Description for additional details.
Pros and Cons
- Cost: The ability to create in-house audio descriptions can save money over hiring an external vendor.
- Writing expertise: Significant time is required to write an audio description that ensures accuracy and conciseness and avoids overlapping other important audio cues.
- Required technical expertise: The description needs to be inserted by a person with video development experience.
- Required technology: Professional video editing tools may be required.
Using an Embedded Audio Description
Creating an Embedded Described Video allows you to include all relevant visual information in the original video. This is best accomplished with the use of a well-thought-out script that includes references to all relevant visual information. The embedded description can be included either as a voice-over during natural pauses or by the presenter as part of the main dialogue.
Pros and Cons
- User experience: According to David Errington of Accessible Media, Inc. of Canada (CSUN, 2016), blind viewers actually prefer embedded descriptions because they are sharing the same experience as sighted users yet are getting the information they need. In addition, sighted users can benefit from the description that is included in the video.
- Savings: It is more cost-effective to do this process up front rather than spending the money to do remediation.
- Writing expertise: Instructors and video specialists need to learn techniques for creating a script or dialogue that contains all the necessary visual information.
- Not a universal solution: This might not work for all videos, as it could be distracting in scenes with dramatic action and dialogue or when filming a spontaneous event.
- Existing videos: This technique does not work if the video has already been produced.
Creating an Annotated Transcript
Another option is to create an annotated transcript that might include other accessible formats such as data tables to represent graphs shown in the video or math equations written in MathML. Descriptions could include time code references to the original video as necessary.
For example, if a video walks students through a math problem, the entire derivation could be replicated in MathML. Similarly, a more in-depth description of complex visual content could be provided as a supplemental description.
Pros and Cons
- Benefits everyone: These descriptions could benefit sighted students who may want to review the information without any timing issues or distractions from the original video.
- A deaf-blind benefit: An extended text transcription may be the only way a deaf-blind student could be accommodated.
- Time and ease: A text description is easier and quicker to create than an audio description track.
- Different user experience: All students are not receiving the same experience. Students may want to hear original audio (e.g., with speaker intonation) but also need the information in the text. Navigating between a video and text is not ideal.
- Maintenance: Maintaining two different products requires additional effort to ensure consistency.
The team initially thought there would be a single recommendation for the incorporation of AD but has since realized that the choice will be dependent on content, production status, student need, and financial reality. That said, the one thing we can recommend without hesitation is the importance of planning for accessibility when creating your own videos. One cost-effective method is to incorporate AD into your script before you start filming (Embedded Audio Description, Appendix A).
Basic Information/Guidelines
- American Council for the Blind ADP (Audio Description Project)
- Audio Description Coalition Standards
- Embedded Described Video
Sample Videos
- Self-Driving Car Test: Steve Mahan
- Braised and Glazed with Michael Hunter
A cooking show created by and for the visually impaired
- HTML5 video accessibility and the WebVTT file format
- Additional Samples—American Council for the Blind
- Penn State LionSearch—Simply Speaking
Note: A few options in the search interface are not described, but the titles and images are mentioned in the audio narration.
- AFB's Getting Started Using Google Docs and Drive with NVDA
Vendors on this list are those whom members of the group spoke with during this investigation.
- American Council of the Blind (ACB)
- AMAC (University System of Georgia)
- Audio Description Solutions
- DV Works
- John Hauber Productions
- WGBH Media Access Group

subset: commoncrawl


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536 F.2d 305
John Wesley CLUTCHETTE et al., Appellees,
Jerry J. ENOMOTO1 et al., Appellants.
No. 71-2357.
United States Court of Appeals,
Ninth Circuit.
June 23, 1976.
William D. Stein, Deputy Atty. Gen. (argued), San Francisco, Cal., for appellants.
William Bennett Turner (argued), San Francisco, Cal., for appellees.
Before TUTTLE,* HUFSTEDLER and KILKENNY, Circuit Judges.
Insofar as our opinions in Clutchette v. Procunier (9th Cir. 1974) 497 F.2d 809, and Clutchette v. Procunier (9th Cir. 1975) 510 F.2d 613, are inconsistent with Enomoto v. Clutchette, sub nom. Baxter v. Palmigiano (1976) --- U.S. ----, 96 S.Ct. 1551, 47 L.Ed.2d 810, we vacate our prior opinions.
The cause is remanded to the district court for further proceedings consistent with Baxter v. Palmigiano, supra.


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Group-A Streptococcus is a bacterial infection which causes over 500,000 deaths/year worldwide. Depending on location of infection, this bacteria can cause diseases including osteomyelitis, necrotizing fasciitis, strep throat, and others. In most cases antibiotics can work to control the infection however with increasing resistance there is a need for a vaccine to effectively prevent the infection in the first place. Recently, researchers utilized PLGA (PolyVivo Cat# AP041) from PolySciTech: Akina, Inc. (www.polyscitech.com) as part of intra-nasal, nanoparticle-based delivery system for a group-A streptococcus peptide vaccine. They tested the system in animal model and found that the produced antibodies were effective against GAS. This research holds promise for the development of an effective vaccine against this deadly disease. Read more: Marasini, Nirmal, Ashwini K. Giddam, Zeinab G. Khalil, Waleed M. Hussein, Robert J. Capon, Michael R. Batzloff, Michael F. Good, Istvan Toth, and Mariusz Skwarczynski. "Double adjuvanting strategy for peptide-based vaccines: trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles for lipopeptide delivery." Nanomedicine 00 (2016). http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/abs/10.2217/nnm-2016-0291
"Aim: To develop novel polymer-based nanoscale delivery system for lipopeptide-based vaccine against group A Streptococcus (GAS). Materials & methods: Four types of lipopeptide antigen-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (NP) were prepared. NP were accessed for their capacity to be taken up by dendritic cells; effect on dendritic cell maturation; ability to induce mucosal and systemic immunity; and capability to induce antibody responses that opsonize GAS bacteria. Results & discussion: The combination of adjuvanting properties of lipopeptides and dextran/trimethyl chitosan-based NP had a synergistic effect on humoral immunity, and the produced antibodies showed high opsonic activity against clinical GAS isolates. Conclusion: Biocompatible NP-bearing trimethyl chitosan and dextran are efficient as mucosal adjuvants for the intranasal delivery of lipopeptide-based vaccines."


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Gorbel Work Station Bridge Crane
Yes it's up [Work Station Crane by Gorbel]. Got it delivered Tuesday and had it fully functional by Sunday night … was impressed as to how simple the install was and how well all parts fit together. Nice package and everything nicely packed on shipment to us…. The manual hoist works great. Thanks again. Great product. – President of a Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing Company
© 2020 Engineered Lifting Systems & Equipment Inc.
275 Union St., Elmira, ON, Canada N3B 3P1
Phone: 519-669-5545
Toll Free: 1-800-263-9823
Fax: 519-669-9047
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DUNS Number: 249463431
NAICS Codes: 333923, 333922, 332999, 332312, 238290


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We help business owners and entrepreneurs understand, increase, and unlock the value of their businesses.
We can help you buy a business, sell a business, raise capital, understand the value of your business, and more.
With companies frequently changing hands in today's highly competitive business environment, company owners need reliable assistance in managing these complex mergers and acquisitions. The licensed broker / dealers at Brady Ware Care have extensive experience helping business owners evaluate these opportunities and successfully buy or sell a business.


text: Well I officially have received my money from Japan! The money I had, went from a number with five zeros behind it to a number with just three, but that's what happens when yens turn to dollars! I'm really relieved. This thing has been hanging over me for some time now. What finally happened was I went to Mount Union College (the institute of higher learning in my home town - and djstomp's alma matter) and talked to the Japanese language professor. She called my bank in Japan (I had tried earlier but my Japanese and their English were not good matches) and she got them to send me the wire transfer form. In typical Japanese service fashion someone had taken the time to translate the form marking where/what information I needed to supply. There was also a letter written in not perfect, but very understandable English. It is so typical of my experience there. Everyone really tries to be as helpful as possible. So that's that. I've got some money in my pocket again!


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This poor Chinese man went to the wrong sushi bar ending up getting a tapeworm after eating his favorite snack. He went to his doctor with stomach ache and itchy skin, scans revealed his entire body had been infected with tapeworm. Doctors say this is due to the large amount of raw fish he had eaten. We're willing to bet he won't be eating sushi anytime soon.
Friday, September 26, 2014
You'll Never Eat Sushi Again After You See
Friday, September 26, 2014 Food , Sushi , Weird Stuff 2 comments
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Please note that the website might not function correctly using an outdated browser. We recommend updating your browser or using another one.
Sampo Group publishes two Interim Statements, a Half-Year Financial Report and a Full-Year Result Release on an annual basis. Financial reports from the year 2010 on are available in the Archive.
Sampo Group's result for the third quartal of 2017 was published on 2 November 2017.
Supplementary material and tables for the Interim Statement.
A conference call was held on the publishing day of the Interim Statement. Listen to a recorded Audio Webcast.


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The Replacements--For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986 (Rhino): At long last, a great sounding Replacements live performance! I was a huge fan of the sizzling Minneapolis band in the '80s and then they fell off my radar, just as they'd drunkenly fallen off a stage just as many times. The 'Mats (someone online referred to them as the "Placemats") could be brilliant or sheer amateurs on any given night of the week, but even the brilliance was only captured on a series of poorly recorded bootlegs that were floating around. This set at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ is full of thrills, including "Bastards of Young," "Color Me Impressed" and a rowdy cover of Kiss' "Black Diamond" (where drummer Chris Mars really shines). Vocalist Paul Westerberg is on a tear, and it's one of the last shows before they fired inspired but undependable guitarist Bob Stinson. Sure, there are a few failures--a cover of Sweet's "Fox On the Run" breaks down after about a minute--but For Sale: Live at Maxwell's 1986 is uniformly out of this world, propulsive stuff that captures those short moments and years when there was no better rock'n'roll band in the universe.
Celine McLorin Salvant--Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue): I belatedly discovered Salvant just before her fourth release in September. My interest snowballed: found one of her albums in the local library system and checked Wikipedia to find out about her. Salvant was about to turn 28, so I put her in my birthday programming on my KAOS show. Then I saw that she was coming to Jazz Alley in Seattle--all this in just a few days.
Dreams and Daggers is an often astonishing set of live performances from the Village Vanguard in New York, recorded in September 2016. There's a playfulness, a sense of daring and raw talent I haven't heard from a jazz singer in years, with a flawless trio that colors the repertoire in both subtle and robust ways--pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Paul Sikivie and drummer Laurence Leathers. Through standards and original songs, Salvant makes well-worn jazz sound utterly contemporary; I especially love "Sam Jones' Blues" (from the Bessie Smith songbook), "Never Will I Marry" and "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues," where she implores the audience to find out about Ida Cox--spelling out her name--who ruled nearly a century ago. It's traditional and it's modern but above all, Dreams and Daggers is engrossing, soaring past Celine McLorin Salvant's already superb studio recordings.
My favorite single of the year is probably Rihanna's "Love On the Brain" (Roc Nation), which was released in 2016--I didn't hear it until the summer of 2017. It's quite a powerful and smooth melding of retro and modern styles from a voice that has so much character. Woo!


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Ni no Kuni : The Brain of a Game, the Heart of a Film
Olly Jones / Dec 5th, 2012 No Comments
Games are the most expensive form of mainstream entertainment; those that play games know that already. It's little wonder that the revenue amassed from game sales rivals that of mainstream cinema now. Call of Duty: Black Ops II made over $500 million worldwide in first day sales according to CEO of Activision/Blizzard; Bobby Kotick. To put that in perspective, The Avengers, recorded this year's highest grossing box opening weekend for a film, totaling approximately $392 million. Comparatively, that's where games are now. Games demand the same level of fervent hysteria, fanatical mass appeal and production quality as film or any other mass market entertainment. It happened, everyone. It happened faster than many expected.
With that in mind, it's not been too surprising then to discover that widely beloved, Academy Award winning anime house Studio Ghibli ventured into producing an original game completely detached from any cinematic work. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (NNK) for the PlayStation 3 is the meeting of Ghibli and game studio Level-5.
[adsense250itp]Level-5 is probably most famous for stamping a sizable Professor Layton shaped crater onto the 'E for Everyone' market over the past 5 years. The developer is not unfamiliar to collaborating within the anime industry either. By some creative fortune, Level-5 director Akihiro Hino successfully submitted a pitch for a Gundam series to Sunrise, the anime powerhouse responsible for the franchise. This was only after Sunrise themselves had initially approached Hino's studio to create Gundam franchise games. The result was Gundam AGE, A 49 episode animated series. As such, Level- 5 were ideal candidates to take on a Ghibli game. With such highly treasured children's properties between them, you can be forgiven for expecting a perfect storm of a kids' game is going to happen.
Games have always had a relationship with the film industry, most commonly in the form of cash-in licensed 'shovelware' based on whatever blockbuster is carrying out a nuclear marketing assault on the school holiday bazaar that year. Not every film gets a tie in as good as Goldeneye on N64.
There have been plenty of game forays into cinema. Most will remember when Square Enix was still Square (and for what felt like around a week in 1999, Square Pictures) and created the terminally fated Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within for cinematic release. All gamers had their china plate childhoods smashed to dust with a sledgehammer every time a terrible live action movie based on a video game came out, recoiling in bemused agony at Super Mario Bros., Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat and around 12 and a half or whatever Resident Evil movies (I've lost count/don't care/deny they exist/all of the above).
It's when studios involve themselves with games themselves that something artistically impressive is more likely to emerge: games on games' terms. Warner Bros. Interactive have had successes for years before nurturing the Batman: Arkham Asylum games and publishing Grasshopper Manufacture's Lollipop Chainsaw. Disney has most notably overseen successful gaming properties through the console generation. They put Mickey Mouse on a Game & Watch in 1981 and never looked back. Before Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts there was a Keiji Inafune-designed Ducktales 2 on the NES and the Mickey Mouse 'Illusion' series was winning hearts and minds over to Sega during the console wars of the early nineties.
Ghibli is what you could consider the "Disney of Japan". Ni no Kuni is the "House of Miyazaki" throwing itself headlong into the gaming landscape. What separates NNK is its inception and its scope. It isn't based on a film and doesn't feature established franchise characters. It's an original "stand alone" creation. Ni no Kuni was released on Nov 17 2011 on PS3 in Japan. Over a year later and in typical fashion, it has still yet to reach us. The actual US release won't happen until Jan 2013. The game even has a Nintendo DS version (Ni no Kuni: The Jet-Black Mage) which came out in 2010, that the US will never play. Remember the DS? That's how long ago 2010 was. That's how long fans have waited for this title.
The game plays as a world sprawling RPG. Players will battle enemies by selecting and ordering spells and magic creatures. That's the game part. There are plenty of opportunities to show off Ghibli's characteristically stunning cinematography, from colour drenched landscapes to bright and fun character designs. All the studio's trademark cel-drawn animation takes place through filmic cut-scenes, which break up the computer rendered gameplay. That's the film part. The localisation has been thoughtfully handled, down to the voice acting and regional colloquialisms. The cinematic elements are all there.
Whether Ni no Kuni is a global success or not, the public could see more collaborations between studios of different artistic disciplines. Particularly, between film and game companies. Ghibli's incentive might be to reach a new audience or purely to deliver something fun and engaging via a different approach. However, this method could bolster the brand identity of many different film companies. As Hollywood grinds down to a remake and comic book laden malaise, it's hardly surprising film studios might start sniffing around games. They cost far less to make.
Games are where films are now in terms of audience reach. Maybe this still isn't felt by older generations but the medium can't be ignored on their part alone. The world should celebrate video games as an intellectually equal form of mainstream entertainment. Simply put, if you were disappointed that there isn't a new Studio Ghibli film coming out very soon, well, there is. Only it's a game …which is just as good.
tags: JRPG , Level-5 , Ni no Kuni , opinion , ps3 , Studio Ghibli


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Beauty Is In The Eye of The…Filter Holder
Instagram has the ability to make anyone with a smartphone feel like an instant artist. Adding a filter to an ordinary picture suddenly makes it a masterpiece. It took me about 3.5 seconds to snap a picture of this flower, but it made me feel like a 21st century Georgia O'Keefe. And my photo of a yogurt parfait could easily make it into the pages of Food & Wine mag.
I can confidently say that I'm not the only person who feels so damn #artsy when on the gram. Let's just say: if we could view the world through the Valencia or Mayfair filter all the time, the world would be a much more beautiful place. And now we can say bye to the app on our smartphone and peer through an Instagram filter sans technology.
A Brazilian artist, Bruno Ribeiro, has recently made this possible, by placing cardboard cutouts of Instagram filters around London in his project Real Life Instagram. These "filters" have been placed in front of famous landmarks in London, prompting tourists and natives to capture the innovative idea on film – no app necessary.
Images source Reallifeinstagram.com
I don't know about you, but I'm going to grab my Polaroid camera, head on over to the motherland, find these filters and become an overnight pro photographer. Because pulling out my iPhone to snap a shot is just too easy.
Posted by Allie


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Collingwood Muskoka Licence Partners
Max Hahne and Tammy Abbotts are the License Partner Owners of Engel & Volkers Collingwood Muskoka International Realty. Our head office is 15A Hurontario Street in Collingwood where we service the Northern boundary of Tobermory, the Western boundary of Lake Huron, the Eastern boundary of Dorset and the Southern Boundary of Creemore/Mulmur, Ontario. Our satellite shop is now open in Muskoka and we will be opening our satellite shop in Bruce Peninsula next year. Are you interested in learning more? We would be pleased to meet with you casually and discuss your hopes and dreams for the future. Our future involves travel, travel and more travel.
Most agents consider brokerages a cash cow – they take your desk fees and they take part of your commission – but a good brokerage will give just as much as it takes.
View a video from Real Estate Professional to learn more about choosing the right brokerage for you
Engel & Völkers can only be as good and successful as its licence partners and employees are. We concentrate our efforts on hiring the best and fostering their development on an ongoing basis. We are extremely proud of the fact that our managers and employees give rise to such an open, pleasant, warm and respectful corporate culture. We live by our core values: passion, competence and exclusivity. And we are proud of being a part of the large Engel & Völkers family. Would you like to join us too?
Whether you work in a completely different sector or already have industry experience, Engel & Völkers offers you the foundations for success as a realtor. Together with our brand and our global network, you can benefit from the unique Engel & Völkers system platform and attractive sales opportunities.
The global demand for real estate as a stable investment is on the rise, with no end in sight. As a result of its strong brand presence, Engel & Völkers is continuing to increase its market share at a breathtaking pace. With over 700 locations in 37 countries, we pursue an ambitious aim – to grow together with you and to impress our customers around the globe with our first-class service and the highest-quality consultancy.
This is how you can benefit from the Engel & Völkers system, which has proven its value for over almost 40 years:
Our brand opens doors
Right from the start, you can benefit from the reputation of a global brand with unrivalled presence, thanks to our unique, global shop concept and the clear, consistent Engel & Völkers corporate identity. The brand strength and its first-rate image will give you a decisive competitive advantage when it comes to the acquisition of customers and properties.
Our global network offers you limitless sales opportunities
Our international, continuously growing network offers you access to the world's most beautiful real estate and the respective clientele – plus great earning opportunities. In addition to marketing within your own region, our referral system and countless cross-selling options enable you to generate attractive additional business.
Targeted training and support
We provide extensive support to make sure that you get off to a successful start, right from your first day with us. For example, our very own Academy offers practical seminars, individual coaching sessions and webinars for an in-depth, tailored training approach that is valuable to both experts in the field and people from completely different sectors.
Standardized and efficient tools for your business success
Maximise your business with our professional IT and marketing tools, as well as standardized service processes. From seller or search customer acquisition and the marketing of real estate to after-sales service, we offer the ideal conditions at every stage of the marketing process for you to enjoy success on the market.
The lifestyle and core values of Engel & Völkers
Engel & Völkers is not just a real estate brokerage firm – it also represents a corporate culture that combines team spirit with a pioneering attitude in a very unique way. Our vision of linking the individual wishes of people around the world has been shaped by three attributes since the start: competence, exclusivity and passion. These are the core values of our company and our entire staff lives by them, every single day.
This is where you come in!
If you have a charismatic, entrepreneurial personality and a talent for sales, as well as a passion for real estate and a fine sense of what discerning customers request, then you are just the right person for us – and Engel & Völkers is just right for you!
Choose Engel & Völkers Collingwood Muskoka and become part of the unique, global Engel & Völkers network!
For more information, please contact us.


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If you don't have a solid way through which you can clean your office, it will bother you day and night. Not having a clean office will affect the quality of the work done, the satisfaction of the employees and many other aspects of the business. Therefore, for your business to be successful, you have to make sure that you take the needed steps to keep your office clean.Cleaning an office is nothing easy because there will be different sources that needs to be cleaned in different ways and the area will be big. If you don't hire professionals to get the cleaning done for you, you will end up in a lot of trouble as not using the right techniques for the cleaning will certainly damage the surfaces. Getting the services of steam cleaning Auckland is one of the best choices that you can make, here are the reasons why:
For a proper clean up
If the right cleaning techniques and the right cleaning agents aren't used, the cleaning will not be done in the proper manner. This will most likely be the case when you haven't hired the best for your job. Therefore, it is crucial that you hire experts to do the cleaning because they will know the right techniques to use and how to gain the best from it. For instance, if you are in need of cleaning the carpet floors of the office, it is crucial that you hire services of awesome office carpet cleaning. The ideal carpet cleaning techniques will be followed and you will have nothing to complain about as well.
Your office will be clean at all times
When you hire the best professionals services, you are given the guarantee that your office will be clean at all times. Thus, you will not have worries when you are bringing in clients or business partners because your office will be clean and well taken care of it. When you are getting professional help, you can schedule when you are will be getting these services.
Creates a better working environment
If the office isn't well taken care of and if their employees aren't given working areas where they can work with zero distractions, you will have to doubt if you are giving the best to your business. When you have hired the professional services, they will certainly create the best working environment. They will also remove any of the distractions that can be present in the site as well. Therefore, be sure look into the best cleaners in the area when hire them.


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BELFAST is not the most likely location to save your Liverpool career.
But for Danny Murphy, the Northern Ireland city will go down as the place where his rise from Anfield reserve to international star really began.
Murphy is widely expected to cap one of the most remarkable rags to riches story in football by making his England debut against Sweden at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Things could have been very different for the former pupil of Chester's Kingsway High School.
When Liverpool travelled to Belfast in the summer of 1999, Murphy looked set to leave Anfield.
After arriving on Merseyside from Crewe Alexandra in 1997 for an initial fee of #1.5 million, Murphy struggled to break into the Liverpool team.
Frustrated with a lack of opportunities under Roy Evans and reserve team football, he lost his focus and became plagued with self-doubt.
Gerard Houllier's arrival at Anfield did little to change matters and when Murphy was loaned back to Crewe towards the end of the 1998/99 season, his Liverpool career was all but over.
Manchester City and Derby County both made their interest clear and at one point, Murphy was less than two weeks from leaving the club.
It took a kick up the backside from Houllier and an arm round the shoulder from Crewe boss Dario Gradi to convince him he could make it at Anfield - if he got his attitude right.
Murphy took the words of both men on board and turned up for that tour of Northern Ireland with a renewed sense of determination and the desire to work hard.
The change in attitude paid off and Murphy was given a chance to impress in the Worthington Cup.
He scored twice in a 5-1 win at Hull City - his first Liverpool goals - and netted for the first time at Anfield in a 4-2 second leg win over the Tigers.
Houllier had seen enough to believe he could now trust Murphy to perform in the Premiership and he was handed a start against Chelsea in mid-October.
Liverpool won 1-0 and Murphy played extremely well. He didn't look back and began to establish himself at Anfield, making 27 appearances in all before the end of the season.
Murphy admitted that Houllier - who once openly admitted he didn't think the midfielder would be part of his plans - was the main reason behind his revival. "During the second season I found it hard to cope," he said.
"I felt I wasn't getting any reward for my hard work, but also my attitude wasn't right.
"Gerard Houllier has always been totally honest with me. He tells me when I'm not doing things well and he kicks me up the backside when I need it.
"He won't let any of us go into a comfort zone. If you're not right or don't have the right attitude, you'll be out."
Liverpool's treble winning season saw Murphy play his best football yet.
The arrival of Nick Barmby saw the 24-year-old start just twice before November but after a welltaken goal against Chelsea, again in the Worthington Cup, he became a regular.
Then came a moment he will forever be remembered for.
Murphy's curling free-kick gave Liverpool their first win at over Manchester United at Old Trafford for a decade.
It was a moment of pure quality that emphasised Murphy is not just a hard working midfielder who
can create chances.
He contributed 10 goals in 47 appearances last season and was selected to start in both the FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals.
The only blemish was a red card against Manchester United at Anfield and missing the Worthington Cup final win over Birmingham through injury.
Murphy didn't miss out on a medal though. The club had one specially struck up for him.
Now it would seem that after another impressive couple of months in which he has struck four crucial goal,
Murphy will finally be given the
chance to prove himself at full international level.
Already capped at schoolboy and Under 21 level, he sat on the bench for England's historic 5-1 win over Germany in Munich after being called up by Sven Goran Eriksson for the first time.
Now it seems almost certain that Murphy will write another chapter in his boys' own story by facing Sweden at the site of his most famous goal on Saturday.
Danny Murphy's journey to the top started in Northern Ireland two summer's ago when he saved his Liverpool career.
Should that journey take in Japan and South Korea, it would complete the remarkable transformation of a player who seemed set to waste his talent.
Thankfully for Liverpool and England fans, he didn't.
Murphy factfile:>
Born: Chester
Birthdate: March 18, 1977
Date signed: July 15, 1997 from Crewe, #1.5m
Debut: August 9, 1997 v Wimbledon.
Liverpool appearances: 114
Goals: 20
Did you know?: Danny is the nephew of former footballer and Southport boss, Paul Futcher


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An employment assessment toolkit for professionals who work with blind and partially sighted people.
This toolkit is for employment professionals who work with blind and partially sighted people and is made up of two documents.
Full details of how to use the toolkit are given within the documents.
The Assessment tool is available to download in four different formats: PDF, Word, Word non-breaking table, and Word text only.
This toolkit is copyright RNIB 2013, and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported Licence.
You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the work, and to make commercial use of the work, providing you attribute the work in the manner specified by RNIB (but not in any way that suggests that we endorse you or your use of the work). You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work without the permission of RNIB.
To view a copy of the licence, visit the Creative Commons website.
Between 2010 and 2013, RNIB and the University of Birmingham carried out a three-year, action-based research project to help improve the employment prospects of blind and partially sighted people. Working alongside a group of employment specialists and approximately 100 blind and partially sighted people, we designed and tested:
The design of the employment assessment toolkit was based on an iterative, feedback and evaluative model, to ensure that employment advisers and blind and partially sighted job seekers were at the heart of its development.
Download our summary report, which outlines the project's key findings, main activities and impact:
The full enabler research report is available in our employment research section.


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Andhadhun is the story of a creative artist who gets involved in a crime scene. Akash is a blind piano player based in Pune. While crossing the road, he one d..
Baazaar is a 2018 film starring Saif Ali Khan, Chitrangada Singh and Radhika Apte. With a plot revolving around stock-trading, the film, according to director..
Based on Arabic folklore, GHOUL is set in a covert detention center and follows an interrogator who arrives at the facility to discover that some of the terro..
Lust Stories
An anthology of four stories that sheds light on modern relationships from the viewpoint of the Indian woman.
The Ashram
After receiving a cryptic message, American skeptic Jamie travels to the Indian Himalayas to pick up on the trail of his missing girlfriend. There, he discove..


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Two Seattle men were stopped at the Canadian border and detained for more than two hours after U.S. border agents found they were smuggling illegal contraband into the country… that just happened to be chocolate Kinder eggs.
The agent discovered a stash of Kinder Eggs, a chocolate egg with a toy inside, that the men said were treats for family and friends. The men, Brandon Loo and Christopher Sweeney, told KOMO News that they picked up the Kinder eggs during a recent visit to Vancouver, British Columbia.
Not aware of their illegal status, the men packed up the chocolate eggs and left for home.
"We packed it in the back of the car because we weren't going to eat them," Loo told KOMO News.
When they got to the border, the guards searched the car and discovered found the illegal chocolate eggs.
"He said, 'Are you aware kinder eggs are illegal in the United States and carry a $2,500 fine per egg?' And I actually laughed," Sweeney said.
The eggs, which are coated in chocolate and have a small toy inside, are illegal in the United States because young children can choke on the small parts inside, MyFoxNY.com reported. Importing them can lead to some pretty big fines–$2,500 per egg, one border guard told Sweeney.
Together the men could have faced up to $15,000 in fines, but the border agents let them off with a warning instead. Sweeney told MyFoxNY.com that the whole incident was a big waste of time.
The chocolate eggs are apparently a big deal at the border, U.S. Customers and Border Protection Agency Mike Milne told MyFoxNY.com. Though travelers usually get off without a fine, border agents confiscated close to 60,000 Kinder eggs last year.
"Kinder eggs are prohibited just like narcotics are prohibited," Milne said. "Our officers, if they encounter prohibited stuff, they're subject to seizure."


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Published on 09/09/16
So where have all the teachers gone? The existential crisis of our times in education is in teacher recruitment and retention. Just as we have lost the familiar conveyor belt of teacher recruits with university education faculties across the country face the challenge of funding PGCE places and Teach First grappling with high drop out rates, there also is the growing disaffection of serving teachers. A report from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) has found that 23% of teachers are considering quitting teaching compared with just 17% last year with workload identified as a key reason for the increase. It is fair to say that Headteachers across the country are despairing about maintaining staffing levels in their schools.
So what is the first education initiative of the new Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening, to address this crisis? Bring back grammar schools. It seems to me that in our post Brexit world there is a simplicity about our politics, with politicians offering simple solutions to complex problems unfettered by any evidence to support their view – just a feeling that they are right. And probably an anecdote or two just to add some substance whilst blithely ignoring the ample data on the relatively poor attainment of low income disadvantaged young people in selective areas as opposed to non selective areas. Surely education is too important for the future of our country to be managed in this way. Our young people deserve better than glib sound bites that serve to distract from the true challenges facing the education sector.
What is hugely frustrating is that the teacher recruitment and retention crisis is not unknown to the Department of Education. Only recently Estelle Morris, a former Education Secretary, wrote an impassioned piece in the Guardian ( https://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/sep/06/teacher-recruitment-greening ) exhorting the Education Department to take responsibility for addressing this crisis. Surely the keystone of any educational system is ensuring we have the right number of qualified and appropriately trained teachers serving in our schools. You can offer a lavish smorgasbord of different schools, including more grammars, but if the teachers are not there to teach our young people in the classroom the whole exercise is somewhat futile.
This headline grabbing announcement can only serve to damage further morale in all our schools across the country. Even the Chief Inspector of Schools, Michael Wilshaw, not himself averse to criticising teachers, has been quick to condemn the initiative pointing to the sustained improvement overall in the maintained sector in recent decades for all pupils. So who would want to be a teacher when politicians see education as useful tool to further their own personal agenda? And at a time when the teaching profession is not really valued as it should be by the government for the vital work they are engaged in?
So instead of pandering to the urban myths around educational success, Justine Greening, and the Prime Minister, Theresa May, must focus on the what really needs to be addressed in education. There should be unequivocal support for teachers and a commitment to making the profession a desirable option once again for graduates. A comment from a Mathematics don in Cambridge summed up the situation rather pithily. Whilst in the past, there were always graduates considering entering teaching, his recent experience was that there was little if any interest in the profession. Why be a teacher? Until the government can answer that question we face a very uncertain future with a ticking time bomb about to explode in our schools.


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VERUS Crystal Bumper case for Apple iPhone 6 Plus / 6s Plus
VERUS Crystal Bumper case for Apple iPhone 6 Plus / 6s Plus
- An iPhone 6/6S Plus case designed for you: Refined, functional, and practical, the Crystal Bumper series case fully complements the iPhone 6 Plus and iPhone 6S Plus and lets the phone's natural beauty shine unhindered.
- Full Degree of protection: Covers all four corners and includes raised edges and a TPU lip to keep the screen from scratching or touching the ground.
- Snug fit: Engineered to emphasize thinness without compromising phone security. Precise cutouts give you full access to ports, and sensitive button covers allow responsive presses.
- Impact-resistant dual layers: Constructed from high-grade TPU and polycarbonate, a soft, rubbery inside layer cushions the iPhone 6 and 6S from drops, while the hard, tough, outer bumper encases it to shield from more serious falls.
- Clear back: A transparent TPU layer allows you to show off the design of your phone without compromising protection.
About Us
Verus provides excellent quality cases that are manufactured with premium materials. Verus prides itself in producing unique cases that provide functions not seen by ordinary cases.
Crystal Bumper for iPhone 6 / 6S Plus
Clear Protection
The Crystal Bumper is perfect for those who want to show off the beautiful iPhone 6/6S Plus but still want protection.
- Transparent TPU
- Tactile Button Feedback
- Lay-on-the-Table Design
- Slim Fit
Clean and Simple Design
Add a hint of color with the colored frame.


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DHS Issues Supplemental Final Rule on Responding to No-Match Letters
Topics: New Laws & Legislation
Last week, the Department of Homeland Security issued a Supplemental Final Rule regarding the procedures employers should follow in responding to "no-match" letters from the Social Security Administration. Employers may recall that last year a federal judge in the Northern District of California enjoined implementation of the DHS' no-match rule. This Supplemental Final Rule was crafted in response to the injunction in an effort to address the court's concerns. The Supplemental Final Rule provides explanation and background for the DHS' no-match rule, but does not substantively change the procedures previously proposed by the DHS for responding to no-match letters. The DHS has stated that "in the coming days" it will be appearing before the Northern District of California to request that the injunction be lifted so that implementation of the rule may proceed. To read the DHS press release regarding the Supplemental Final Rule, click here. To read our past blog entry explaining the no-match rule, see our August 15, 2007 entry under New Laws and Legislation.


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The Herman Miller Goetz Sofa with its plywood rear covering carries an immediate association with classic Herman Miller designs, and designer Mark Goetz skilfully and creatively incorporates this material in his sofa design. Traditional internal construction consists of a wooden frame with padding and upholstery applied over it, the Goetz sofa turns tradition inside out, since its plywood shell is clearly visible as both an aesthetic element & a structural frame.
The sofa's practicality extends to one of its most important features, comfort. Goetz conducted his own research & consulted with other experts to arrive at a seat depth that gives ergonomic support as well as room to lie down!
A masterpiece of comfort & design the Goetz sofa offers a brilliant combination that looks fabulous in any environment.
|787 mm
|2134 mm
|Seat Height:
|444 mm
|Total Height:
|813 mm
Mark Goetz has been designing loved and wanted objects since 1986, after his graduation from the Pratt Institute in New York City.
In 1988, he founded TZ Design in New York and has created children's products for Marimekko, backpacks and totebags for Le Sportsac, table top items for Crate & Barrel, and crystal for Steuben.
5 years warranty
Wellworking are always happy to provide quotes for those customers buying Herman Miller products for companies or projects. For a no obligation quote please contact our Commercial Projects Team with your requirements.


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Product Description
Gorgeous with a rustic appeal, this Boston bookcase offers a natural look with a lovely oak finish. Two large shelves offer plenty of space for your books, favourite photos or pottery pieces. Constructed from high-quality engineered wood, this shelving unit is sturdy and durable. With its classic style, this bookcase is a truly versatile addition to your home.
Width: 24.5" (62.2 cm)Height: 35.25" (89.5 cm)Depth: 11.5" (29.2 cm)
Shipping Dimensions
Width: 37.75" (95.9 cm)Height: 4.25" (10.8 cm)Depth: 12.06" (30.6 cm)
28.00 lbs (12.7 kg)
Key Features:
- Display photos, books and more on the two shelves.
- Engineered wood provides a sturdy foundation for your collections.
- A lovely oak finish completes the classic style.
Wood: Engineered Wood
Engineered wood products are manufactured to maximize the natural strength and stamina of wood. Such wood products can be beautifully finished with paints, stains, veneers or varnishes.
Finish Type: Paper Laminate
Sustainable and resistant to wear, the paper laminate finish provides a beautiful, stylish touch.
Finish Colour: Highland Oak
A lovely oak finish brings the beauty of the outdoors to your interior living space.


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Featuring 15 Games from RCP ranging from classic EM's to modern Sterns this has become one of the hottest spots in Portland to play pinball. C Bar is a casual neighborhood cocktail lounge on Portland's lower eastside since 2002. They offer a relaxing atmosphere, honest comfort food with a culinary twist crafted by Chef Ben. Great Handcrafted cocktails using locally distilled spirits and 20 rotating taps. Now featuring an expanded and remodeled corner location, outdoor seating and extended happy hours. Did I mention Its open to kids accompanied by a parent or guardian, very cool for the family!
Current Line-up
So Come on out and Play! The beer is cold the food is great and pinball is amazing!
C Bar is open Mon-Fri from 12:00pm to 12:30am
C Bar is open Sat-Sun from 10:00am to 12:30am
-Brunch is served from 10am-3:00pm Sat & Sun-
-Minors are welcome until 10pm daily (with an adult)-
2880 SE Gladstone St
Portland, OR 97202
(503) 230-8808
for more info www.cbarportland.com


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HVAC Service Crystal City, MO
HVAC Service for Crystal City, MO Residents
Quality Service Since 1927
Crystal City HVAC Service. HVAC maintenance and service are included in the repair cost. Weis' {trained and factory-certified HVAC technicians are ready and willing to improve your HVAC system's performance. At Weis Comfort Systems, we believe in providing top-notch HVAC services to Crystal City, MO, customers.
In addition, we also offer free HVAC maintenance quotes. We've proudly served Crystal City, MO, customers for more than 8 decades. Visit our service request page for additional information or to contact a Crystal City HVAC service professional now. Weis offers Crystal City air conditioning maintenance, air filtration, furnace repair, boilers repair, and other HVAC services.
Crystal City, MO HVAC Service
AC and Heating Service in Crystal City, MO. If you're in need of HVAC maintenance in Crystal City or the Greater St. Louis area, get in touch with Weis now for fast service. Weis provides free heating and cooling maintenance quotes. If your boiler, AC unit, or heater isn't performing or breaks, Weis will make it a priority to fix it. No-hassle heating and cooling service! It's our goal to optimize the efficiency and reliability of your HVAC system.
We are well aware of how costly and time-consuming it can be to buy, install, or repair air filtration systems and HVAC equipment. Our competant Crystal City HVAC service specialists save property owners thousands of dollars each year. Get a free quote now. We provide top-notch HVAC service to Crystal City, MO customers regardless of the season. Summer, winter, spring, or fall, the HVAC service pros at Weis are here to serve.
AC and Heating Service in Crystal City, MO
At Weis Heating and Cooling, we're dedicated to offering the best in terms of brands. Some of the high-quality products and brands we carry include: Daikin®, Lennox®, WaterFurnace®, Aprilaire®, Healthy Climate®, and more. When it comes to Crystal City HVAC services, we have your back!
Investing in HVAC maintenance is very important for property owners. A functioning and maintained HVAC system increases a home's efficiency, which in turn reduces power bills and carbon footprint. Call today to get a free HVAC repair quote. Weis offers coupons and rebates for various Crystal City HVAC services.
Crystal City, MO HVAC Service and Repair Capabilities
The technicians at Weis Comfort Systems have years of Crystal City HVAC service experience. At Weis, we an array give you a better understanding of our capabilities, read through the list below:
- Furnace Maintenance: It can be cold in Crystal City during the winter season. Our technicians provide quick and hassle-free furnace and heating repair and maintenance.
- Boiler Installation: Weis can install and maintain boilers. Keep your boiler working properly by scheduling a maintenance checkup.
- AC: AC maintenance and installation is another service we offer. AC can be expensive during the summer, and our maintenance can lower your power bills.
- Air Filters: An additional way to improve and HVAC system in Crystal City is to replace air filters. Call a Weis technician today for air filtration and HVAC service in Crystal City.
- Maintenance Plans: Heating, cooling, air filtration, thermostats? Weis Comfort Systems provides Crystal City customers with regular HVAC maintenance. Keep your heating and cooling units fully operational and efficient.
As you're aware, maintaining your heating and cooling system is essential for several reasons like saving money through utility bills and maintaining a more consistent temperature in your home. For pricing and financing options, give us a call now for more information about HVAC service in Crystal City, MO.
Why Contact Weis Heating and Cooling for Crystal City HVAC Service?
For Crystal City property owners, it's important to only hire the best HVAC service contractor. At Weis Heating and Cooling, we are open about our years of success and you will find a list of our primary HVAC services in Crystal City.
Dedicated Service
Serving Crystal City property owners, Weis Comfort Systems provides top-notch HVAC service in Crystal City. We use proven and efficient practices based upon industry-leading processes.
Easy Payments
Weis Comfort System accepts a variety payment methods, including checks, cash, Visa, Mastercard, and other options. Visit Weis' prices and financing page for additional information about payments.
Committed to Safety
We are completely confident in the brands and the products we use. Weis' HVAC service technicians in Crystal City are vetted and trained for safety and employing best-in-industry practices. Homeowners owners in Crystal City, MO, don't need to worry that our heating and AC maintenance service pros know safety is a priority.
Customer Satisfaction
Weis' team of trained and certified Crystal City HVAC service professionals guarantee grade-A service. If your building or property needs air filtration, boiler, or air conditioning work, call Weis Comfort Systems now for a free Crystal City HVAC service quote.
HVAC Service in Crystal City, MO
Need Crystal City, MO, HVAC service? Get a free quote today from the HVAC experts at Weis Comfort Systems now. Below, you can find our various service areas. Remember: Crystal City HVAC service may just save you thousands of dollars in power bills and repairs.


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From the ever awesome Fayettenam Records website:
"Some exciting news: early in 2010 Fayettenam will be releasing FANGIO, a new album by Peter Peter Hughes. You may know Peter Peter (minus one "Peter") as bass player for the Mountain Goats and Nothing Painted Blue, or as the frontman of the late, great DiskothiQ. FANGIO is pretty different from anything by those bands. It's an LP-length electro-pop paean to deceased Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. Yes it is. It's also smart, catchy, novelistic in its detail and really great.
FANGIO will be out on LP and digital download, and will be preceded by a 7" single. More details soon..."
I can remember playing the lo-fi masterpiece 'the one hundred thousand songs of peter peter hughes' (which, fyi you can download for free from PPH's website, so go do so now) on repeat as I took the bus back and forth from uni when I first moved out of home. To this day the sound of those songs brings instantly to mind the memory of traffic lights blurred by rain splattered bus windows, and the heavy weight of homesickness in my belly. I am so excited for this new album, its not even funny.


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Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired US distribution rights for the thriller Paranoia, and they've slated the film for a September 27th, 2013 release date. Robert Luketic (21) is onboard to direct, with Liam Hemsworth starring as a blue collar guy whose costly and legal mistake at his entry-level job at Wyatt Telecom leads to a deal between him and ruthless CEO Nicholas Wyatt. The CEO promises not to turn Hemsworth's character in as long as he agrees to infiltrate the competition as a corporate spy. Things escalate and the young man soon discovers that his boss will stop at nothing to demolish the competition.
The impressive cast includes Gary Oldman, Harrison Ford, and Lucas Till. Though it's not specified in the press release, I'm assuming Oldman plays the ruthless CEO since he's listed second among the cast. Production is set to begin this summer, and currently the only other film slated for release during the month of September in 2013 is the 3D re-release of The Little Mermaid. Hit the jump to read the press release, which also includes a full synopsis.
Here's the press release, with the synopsis in bold:
(Beverly Hills, Calif.) May 17, 2012 – Relativity Media announced today that it has acquired U.S. rights to market and distribute IM Global's currently-titled Paranoia, directed by Robert Luketic (21) and starring Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Oscar®-nominee Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight), Oscar®-nominee Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) and Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class). Production is targeted to begin this summer and the film will release in theatres on September 27, 2013. IM Global will handle international distribution.
In this high-stakes thriller, Adam Cassidy (Liam Hemsworth) is a charming, blue collar guy trying to get ahead in his entry-level job at Wyatt Telecom. But after one costly and illegal mistake, Adam is confronted by ruthless CEO Nicholas Wyatt. He won't turn Adam in under one condition: Adam must agree to infiltrate the competition as a corporate spy. Adam soon finds himself packaged for success, surrounded by glamorous boardrooms, expensive cars, and a life he only dreamed of. But behind the scenes, Wyatt is pulling the strings – stopping at nothing, even murder, to win a multi-billion dollar advantage. Realizing he's nothing more than a pawn in his boss's ruthless game, Adam's only way out – is to go in deeper.
The screenplay was written by Jason Dean Hall (Spread) from a previous draft by Barry Levy (Vantage Point), based on the novel Paranoia by Joseph Finder.
Paranoia will be produced by Alexandra Milchan of Emjag Productions, Scott Lambert of Film 360, a division of Management 360, and Deepak Nayar. IM Global CEO Stuart Ford, Douglas Urbanski and Gaumont's Christophe Riandee will executive produce.
"Paranoia is a gripping story and we're excited to add the project to our growing slate bolstered by this stellar cast. We look forward to working with our partners IM Global on bringing this film to audiences everywhere," said Relativity's President, Tucker Tooley.
IM Global is currently selling international rights to the film in Cannes with successful deals closing for France (Gaumont), the U.K. (Momentum), Spain (Aurum), Canada (Alliance) and Latin America (Sun).
Looking ahead, the studio will release the edge-of-your seat thriller House at the End of the Street (in theatres September 21, 2012) and the hilarious comedy 21 and Over (in theatres November 2, 2012). Relativity is currently in production on Scott Cooper's gritty dramatic thriller currently-titled Out of the Furnace and is in pre-production on the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' best-selling Safe Haven (in theatres February 8, 2013).


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The Lady of the Rivers
The Lady of the Rivers
From a young age, Jacquetta of Luxembourg has known things that other people don't. The ability to foresee future events is a gift she doesn't understand, even though it's an integral part of her family history. The women who came before her, descended from the river goddess Melusina, have been the keepers of the secret of their second sight for generations. Unfortunately, psychic awareness is a dangerous possession at a time when accusations of witchcraft, punished by painful, fiery deaths, abound.
"THE LADY OF THE RIVERS is a fascinating novel that reflects King Henry VI's reign as though Philippa Gregory were there herself to experience it firsthand."
When the book begins in France in 1430, Jacquetta is in the company of the captured girl leader, Joan of Arc. While Jacquetta develops a fondness for Joan, their friendship doesn't last long. In spite of Jacquetta's hopes for Joan's freedom, Joan is burned at the stake, an event that she is forced to witness.
As a notoriously beautiful young woman, it isn't long until Jacquetta captures the eye of the Duke of Bedford, one of the most powerful men in England. At 17, she becomes his bride and leaves France to begin a new life in England as part of the royal court of King Henry VI, where intrigue and treachery run rampant. While most men would have chosen Jacquetta to satisfy their baser desires, the Duke has loftier intentions. He encourages her occult skills and urges her to reveal his future military fate. Unfortunately, Jacquetta has not come into her own yet and is unable to help the Duke in the way that he desires, no matter how much he insists.
While remaining faithful to the Duke, Jacquetta cannot deny the feelings in her heart that tell her that Richard Woodville, her husband's squire and trusted companion, is the man for her. When her husband dies only two years into their marriage, Jacquetta is heartbroken at the thought of losing Richard when he plans to accept another post.
Not one to deny her feelings, Jacquetta finds a way to stay with Richard, and the two are surreptitiously married without the approval of King Henry VI. Ordered to pay a staggeringly substantial fine as a result of their disobedience, the two eventually regain the good graces of the King and return to a life at court. Unfortunately, their very closeness to royalty will ultimately lead to their downfall.
Set during the reign of the House of Lancaster and the times of the Wars of the Roses, THE LADY OF THE RIVERS is a fascinating novel that reflects King Henry VI's reign as though author Philippa Gregory were there herself to experience it firsthand. As you turn the pages of this lengthy book, I defy you to see that your heart remains untouched by the true love match of Richard, eventually to become the first Earl Rivers, and Jacquetta. In spite of your best efforts, it can't be done.
Reviewed by Amie Taylor on October 20, 2011
The Lady of the Rivers
- Publication Date: October 18, 2011
- Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Hardcover: 464 pages
- Publisher: Touchstone


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The first large military airlifter developed by China made its maiden flight on January 26. The Y-20 prototype, seen previously upon rollout, was airborne for about one hour before returning to the Yanliang air base in Xian, amid the cheers of a flag-waving crowd. The test flight was called a key step toward building China's strategic force. Judging from the prototype's serial number–20001–at least 100 Y-20s could be produced.
Despite overwhelming praise in China for the "historic" occasion, problems loom as China endeavors to mass produce Y-20s by 2017. Four Russian-made D30KP2 engines power the prototype. But the production model is set to adopt a Chinese engine such as the CJ1000A or its military variant WS18. Meanwhile, Ukraine is reported to be considering a sale to China of a patent for the D18T engine, which powers the Antonov An-124 heavy airlifter. The D18T might be a little too powerful for the Y-20. However, there is speculation that that the Y-20 might serve as a test platform for an even larger airlifter yet to come, which has already been dubbed China's "Y-124."
The Y-20's payload is also an issue. Official data gives this as a maximum 66 metric tons. But the D30KP2 engine-powered prototype is said to have a payload of less than 55 metric tons, equivalent to the current large airlifter in Chinese military service, the Russian-made Ilyushin Il-76 transport. This raises doubts about whether the Y-20 can carry China's main battle tank, the Type 99, the variants of which weigh between 54 and 58 metric tons. The Type 99 is 3.5 meters (11 feet 6 inches) wide. The cross section of the Y-20 is not yet confirmed, although some reports quote four meters (13 feet). The new airlifter's fuselage is 47 meters (154 feet) long and the tail stands at 15 meters (49 feet), The wingspan is 45 meters (148 feet).
The Chinese media is expressing great optimism about the Y-20 program. They praise the aircraft's adoption of composite material in the airframe, fly-by-wire flight control system, advanced avionics and radar. Yet the Y-20's design is still considered to be inferior to that of the C-17 airlifter of the U.S., such as in the application of externally blown flaps.
Some reports suggest that China will restructure its force of airborne troops to match the arrival of the Y-20. The Y-20 could also be modified as an air tanker. China is in great need of air refuelers to extend the range of new fighter jets such as the J-11B and Su-30MMK2.


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Haze Over Nile River Valley and Delta, Egypt30.0N 31.2E
Haze, possibly caused by fires, hangs over the Nile River Valley, Faiyum Oasis and the southern part of the Nile Delta. The city of Cairo, normally visible at the base of the delta, is completely obscured by the haze. Visible, however, are the Suez Canal, east of the delta, and Lake Moeris, on the northwestern edge of the Faiyum Oasis.


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I love young adult literature and read 2-3 titles a week This blog was formerly found at ashbyreads.blogspot.com
Monday, June 20, 2011
Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
Sunny lives in Nigeria but was born in America. She is a great soccer player but can't play because she's albino and can't be in the sun for long periods of time. While staring into a candle one night Sunny has a vision of the end of the world and she learns soon afterwards that she is a Leopard person - someone who has some magical abilities. While most Leopard people come from families with magical powers, Sunny is a "free agent" so she has no background training in her abilities. With the help of three friends she begins to learn what powers she naturally possesses and what things she will be able to learn with time. Being a Leopard is not all fun however. An older, powerful magician is killing children in their community in order to summon a being even more evil than himself and Sunny and her friends are tasked with finding and stopping him. This fantasy is very different from anything else I've ever read which is saying something. I got a little confused at times with the different characters because there is a lot of dialogue but the world in which Sunny lives is unique and intriguing. A good read for people who like fantasy and magic but are getting a little weary of Harry Potter and Twilight knock offs.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 11:29 AM No comments:
Labels: African-American fiction, fantasy, magic
Friday, June 17, 2011
The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal
After her 16th birthday princess Nalia receives a shock. Due to a prophecy predicting the death of the princess before age 16, the king and queen had their daughter switched with a commoner at birth and had both girls put under a spell to make everyone believe in the imposter. Now that the 16th birthday has passed the read princess is coming to assume her place in the palace and the false princess - who is actually named Sinda - has to leave immediately to live with an aunt who didn't even know she existed. Sinda is reeling from her change and especially because she had to leave her best friend Kiernan behind without even saying goodbye to him but she tries to adapt to her "real" life. But after a betrayal by someone she trusted she discovers that she has huge magical abilities which will be dangerous if she doesn't receive training. Sinda ends up back in the city where she finds that there is even more deception at the palace and that she might not be the only false princess. Sinda starts off a little meek but as she has to deal with more and more events she emerges as a strong woman, especially when she has the help of equally strong Kiernan. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next and how Sinda was going to save the royal family from the lie they have been told. You also learn who the bad guy is somewhat early on and I wondered if that would lessen the excitement but that was not a problem at all. A really exciting story but also well-crafted.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 10:14 AM No comments:
Labels: fairy tale, mystery
Thursday, June 16, 2011
I'll be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Sam and his younger brother Riddle have been on the move since they were stolen by their mentally unstable and criminal father. Sam hasn't been to school since the second grade but he has educated himself through lots of reading. Sam knows that Clarence is a criminal but since his father has largely left him and Riddle alone, Sam has gone along whenever it is time to leave town. His life changes when he wanders into a church and hears Emily Bell sing. The two teens are drawn to each other even though Sam tells her nothing of his background and life. Emily's parents are suspicious at first but they are won over - her father the music teacher when he hears Sam's amazing talent at playing the guitar, and her mother the nurse when she meets Riddle and realizes that he needs nurturing. But when Clarence realizes that his sons are spending time with the family he decides it's time to move again. This mystery kept me riveted wondering if and when the boys would escape their father and even if they would survive all the things that happen to them. The story is written in a sparse (despite the length of the novel) way broken up into many small chunks that nearly all end with a cliffhanger or twist of fate. I either loved this style or was annoyed by the preciousness of it, I'm not sure which.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 8:47 AM No comments:
Labels: realistic fiction, romance
Monday, June 13, 2011
Rosebush by Michele Jaffe
Jane awakens in the hospital unsure of how she got there. Her family tells her she was the victim of a hit and run accident - or was it a suicide attempt? Jane remembers going to a party with her two best friends the night before but not much else after they arrived. Her room is filled with flowers including several gifts from a secret admirer all of which include a sinister promise that they will meet soon and finish what they started. Jane is sure she wasn't trying to kill herself and begins to believe that someone was purposefully trying to kill her, especially after she receives a threatening phone call. The problem is, no one else believes her since no one else heard the phone ring. Is Jane going crazy or is someone actually stalking her? And if she's not losing her mind, which of her trusted friends is the killer? This is a book that made me wake up early because I couldn't wait to read to the end to find out what was going on. A really enjoyable read!
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 9:06 AM No comments:
Labels: friendship, murder, mystery
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Z by Michael Ford
Josh lives in a post-zombie world. 15 years before many people suddenly began turning into zombies due to a mutated flu strain. While not actually "living dead", these zombies were not able to think or feel as people anymore and they spread the virus through bites and blood. The only way to stop the infection was to burn the zombies, a task that was taken on by Torchers. Josh has never seen any real zombies but he does enjoy playing a videogame where he plays a Torcher. Because of his talent in the videogame he is recruited to play a real life version of the game where he works with his team to hunt and destroy animatronic versions of zombies. Charlie, the cute girl who recruited him, also introduces him to the drug Z which allows you to think more like a zombie while reducing your inhibitions. Josh is having a great time but the more he plays the game the more he realizes that there are some secrets that are being kept from him. This is a good action book with a few twists I didn't see coming. The ending is wide open so either the author intends to write a sequel or it's just meant to keep you thinking.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 11:32 AM No comments:
Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian
Henrietta - "Henry" - and Eva have been best friends since elementary school. Henry is a champion tennis player and Eva is a ballerina who has just been accepted to a prestigious summer program in New York. Both girls have overbearing parents and they compare stories to see which girl has it worse at any particular point. For the first time they are going to be apart as Henry heads to Florida for a competitive tennis camp. Life changes for both girls in different ways. Henry finds herself flourishing away from her father's trash talk. With advice from David, a player who is on the brink of playing professionally, she learns new tricks to improve her game and for the first time in her life finds herself falling in love with someone. Eva, meanwhile, is struggling. Her dancing is better than ever and she quickly gains the attention of the damanding ballet instructor. But her health is failing as she refuses to eat in order to maintain the body size she believes she needs to succeed. This book tells each girl's story in alternating chapters. The voices are realistic and you really care about both Henry and Eva and the choices they make.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 11:04 AM No comments:
Labels: friendship, girl interest, sports, weight issues
Eggs Over Evie by Alison Jackson
Evie lives with her mother while her father lives across the lake with his new, young wife. Evie's father is a celebrity chef and Evie is trying to follow in his footsteps by taking a cooking class at the rec center. Her teacher seems to be a grown up hippie and her cooking partner seems to take an instant dislike to her. Evie's home life is hard too with her mom beginning to date and her beloved dog living with her father. To top everything off, her new stepmom announces she's pregnant and expecting twins. It's up to Evie to find a way to make all the parts of her life work for her again. This is not a deep book but it is realistic and enjoyable. Each chapter also includes cooking tips and one of Evie's recipes which makes it more fun!
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 10:47 AM No comments:
Monday, June 6, 2011
Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Cheyenne is sleeping in the back of a car while her stepmother goes into a pharmacy to get Cheyenne's medicine. When Griffin sees the Escalade with the keys in the ignition he steals the car without even realizing that Cheyenne is there. Although he intended just to steal the car and give it to his father - who makes his living out of selling stolen vehicles and parts - now Griffin faces serious charges. Cheyenne's situation is even more serious because she has been blind for three years so she has virtually no chance of escape. On the positive side, she can't identify her kidnappers so she hopes they will eventually let her go. Griffin is working hard on his father, Roy, to do just that and things look hopeful for Cheyenne until Roy learns that Cheyenne's father is the founder of Nike. Now Roy wants to ask for a ransom for Cheyenne in exchange for her freedom...
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 12:59 PM No comments:
Labels: suspense
Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
This is a story about Sherlock Holmes as a teen. Sherlock is looking forward to his summer break so he is surprised when he learns he will be spending the break with an aunt and uncle he barely knows in the country. He is even less excited when his brother arranges for a tutor for Sherlock over the summer. His time in exile becomes more interesting when he meets Matty, a homeless boy with lots of street smarts. And then Sherlock's life takes a dangerous turn when he stumbles across a dead body covered in red sores while out with his tutor. He observes a cloud hovering over the body and Matty reveals that he saw a similar body and cloud just a few days earlier. With the help of Sherlock's tutor and his daughter, the two boys begin investigating the mystery and what they find is the surprising work of a demented genius. This book is full of action and you don't have to know about Sherlock Holmes to enjoy the story.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 12:53 PM No comments:
Labels: historical fiction, mystery
You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
Kayla's 16th birthday stinks. Her mom throws her a huge, pink party when all she wants is a quiet night at home. Her best friend shows up three hours late because she's out on a date with the boy Kayla has a serious crush on. When Kayla blows out the candles on her four tier pink cake, she wishes that her birthday wishes will finally come true because they never do. The next morning she is surprised to find a pink pony with a picture of an ice cream cone on its flank in her backyard. The day after that she wakes up to a room full of gumballs. Each day a new birthday wish from her past comes true with funny results. Kayla doesn't remember many of her wishes from her childhood but she does remember what she wished for last year - a kiss from Ben, her crush. She knows that she has to end this curse before that wish comes true and ruins her friendship with Nicole forever. This is a funny, light book that still contains a few important realizations for Kayla.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 12:11 PM No comments:
Deadly by Julie Chibbaro
Prudence is bored at her charm school classes. She is much more fascinated by scientific books and would especially like to figure out how to stop illness. When she gets an opportunity to work for Mr. Soper at the city health department she jumps at the chance to be his assistant. With Mr. Soper she begins to investigate an epidemic of typhoid fever. Thanks to Prudence's careful notes they discover that all the cases of typhoid can be traced back to a cook named Mary, even though she herself is completely healthy. Mary violently resists coming in for any testing so Prudence and Mr. Soper have to work together with a female doctor to find some way to stop Mary from spreading the illness to anyone else. All while Prudence realizes that she is falling in love with her boss, learning the truth about her father who has been missing for many years, and figuring out what she wants to do with her life. This book is based on the real mystery of "Typhoid Mary", a woman who carried the typhoid germ without being sick herself.
Posted by Mrs. Ashby at 12:03 PM No comments:
Labels: disease, historical fiction
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Don Bendell
Without breaking, a bald eagle egg rolled down a cliff out into the prairie and landed right in the nest of a prairie chicken. It was soon hatched and the adoptive eagle was raised with its new family of little prairie chickens as one of their own, with none of the birds the wiser. One day, his adoptive father stopped the line of chicks as the biological father of the eaglet sailed high overhead. The prairie chicken dad warned them not to move lest they might be eaten.
Afterwards the eaglet said, "Dad, Dad, did you see the power, the majesty, the symmetry of that great bird? What was it? I wish I could be one of those birds!"
The adoptive dad said, "That was an eagle, and you simply can forget it! You are just a prairie chicken!"
Kerry's gaggle, which includes most of the press and cackling hens of Hollywood, keep insisting that President Bush is a "chicken-hawk." Hardly. George W. Bush has conducted himself like an eagle amidst a flock of eye-gouging, flesh-picking, back-biting buzzards. You see, when a storm rages, an eagle will fly right into the eye of the storm and allow the swirling winds to carry them higher and higher, until they emerge above the doom-filled clouds below where all the other birds are getting drenched, huddling together in frightened masses. Eagles do not fly in flocks. They only come one or two at a time and are a great and majestic bird, Biblically-chosen by God as the greatest of all the creatures of the air.
Admittedly, George W. Bush is no parrot, macaw, or cockatiel, but after-all, those birds simply mimic the words of others anyway. So would we rather follow one who memorizes favorite words and phrases, or the mighty-winged eagle, better able to calmly and firmly lead us through the oncoming storms ahead? And, if we must fight against other birds of prey, should we not fly there and face them at their own carrion-riddled nests afar, instead of being attacked again at our own hallowed and peaceful aerie?
John F. Kerry can wear the plumage of a peacock, but that does not make him an eagle. He struts around with the personality of a penguin, with nary a feather ruffled or out of place, but that does not make him an eagle. Like a sparrow with no definitive course of action, John Kerry is tossed about by winds that blow one direction, until a stronger current sends him helplessly off on a different flight. He surprisingly was once an albatross for a brief period of time and actually swooped down and grabbed a deadly sea snake, but he soon returned to the safety of his flock and squawked loudly at all the birds of prey claiming, that he was actually a dove in eagle's plumage.
The bald eagle is the symbol of America's great freedom, strength, and independence. And in that image, George W. Bush has chosen to spread his mighty wings and carry us all to safety, while the pretender squawks.
You see, there is one big difference between that want-to-be eagle John F. Kerry and a buzzard: One has long spindly legs, a wrinkled ugly face, large beak, and tears away at the flesh and bones of defenseless corpses ... and the other one can fly.


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If you are acquainted and have this fondness for George RR Martin's famous show Game Of Thrones, you'll be surprised to see that Stephen King is not far behind. This man definitely knows how to put twists and turns and dark stuff in the story to grip the audience's mind and play with their fears. The Dark Tower is a 7 book series by Stephen King and has been made into a movie starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey in the lead roles.
While the trailer promises lots of Matrix-style action and floating bullets and superpowered fighting scenes, it also seemed to be entirely different from much of its source material from King's book. It appears to be largely set in modern New York and told from the perspective of Elba's young co-star played by Tom Taylor. The 95 minute movie version of The Dark Tower series isn't a straight adaptation of the original first book, The Gunslinger, but rather a sequel to the novels which adds up more excitement to the movie and its plot.
This much hyped Hollywood movie tells the story of Roland Deschain played by Idris Elba, Mid-World's last gunslinger, who is traveling across Mid-World's post-apocalyptic landscape, searching for The Dark Tower. Located in the fey region of End-World, the Dark Tower is the nexus point of the time-space continuum and the heart of all worlds, but it is also under threat. The Man in Black, Matthew McConaughey's character is using the evil technology of the Great Old Ones to destroy it. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.
Without spoiling the end of the seventh and final book in King's original series, this new film appears to be set in an alternative timeline that reimagines specific aspects of Roland's original quest to find the Dark Tower. So if you still think that resurrection and dragons and white walkers are the things to get scared by, do check out this English film's trailer here.
The movie is slated to release on August 04 and we just can't wait to watch Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey sharing the screen.


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Drupal now the "Cool Thing to Do"?
It's nice to see Drupal mentioned in the context of "cool thing to do" but I don't think Cindi Trainor in her piece on Sacred Cows in Library IT gets exactly what you can do with it:
Experimenting with low-cost or no-cost tools like Twitter will only cost staff time, but implementing expensive (think federated search) or complex-but-free technologies (think Drupal) because it's the cool thing to do can be a very costly lesson for a library to learn, in terms of budget, staff time, morale and user satisfaction.
First, there's no impediment to 'experimenting' with Drupal any more than there is to experimenting with Twitter. The first implementation I ever dealt with was on my own laptop. I didn't even need a network connection!
Also, as far as complexity goes, what are we comparing it to? I mean, you can't run a website on Twitter so that's not an option.
It just so happens that an institution's website is a fairly complex organism. It's going to involve a considerable investment no matter how you choose to go about it.
The fact that Drupal can potentially make it less costly in terms of budget, staff time, etc. -- while being far more effective as a tool -- that's what makes it "cool" and why people choose it. Not the other way around.
P.S. It's kind of ironic that the above quote fell under the Sacred Cow, "Cutting-edge is better; bleeding-edge is best" -- considering that the piece grew out of a discussion on the oh-so-bleeding-edge "Google Wave".
2 comments
Good comments, Leo. I think I *do* get what Drupal can do (read this for more); I don't think I was clear in what I meant by experimenting.
Creating an experimental service for users with Twitter is easier and requires fewer resources than creating a service with Drupal. (Obvious..) Experimenting with Drupal behind the scenes (with no impact on users) is simple, as you point out, but creating a resource or service to put in front of users requires an understanding of the operating system and services upon which Drupal is built, a better-than-working knowledge of CSS and PHP, and hardware for testing as well as production systems. It's important for library staff and administration to understand the commitment required to do Drupal right. The software itself may not cost anything, but there are costs involved.
Hope this helps.


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This story was originally published on May 19, 2017.
The days are getting longer, the temperature is starting to climb, a three-day weekend approaches. It can only mean one thing — summer is really almost here. And what better way to celebrate the return of hot weather than with a really cold drink?
Today, Dunkin' Donuts officially launched its brand-new frozen coffee, literally called Frozen Dunkin' Coffee. The much-anticipated replacement to the Coolatta, on first glance, the drink seems rather simple: a mix of coffee concentrate, ice, and milk, with additional flavors and sweeteners up to each person's discretion.
But, as we learned when we sampled the drink earlier this week, the key to making a perfect blended drink that would stack up to the rest of the Dunkin' family wasn't just as simple as blending regular coffee with ice. What the brand eventually landed on was a concentrate that is stronger than even iced coffee concentrate, allowing the resulting blended drink to be more like a classic coffee, versus the Coffee Coolatta, which was more of a milkshake.
The resulting beverage has all the caffeine of a typical iced coffee and can be customized with the milk of the consumer's choice (including almond milk) and any flavor shots or swirls of their choosing. For a limited time, those flavors could include Coconut Crème Pie and Butter Pecan, also available today.
Ahead of the launch, R29 staffers got to do a taste test, and it even swayed Coffee Coolatta fans, including one who said it was "200% better" than it's predecessor. While it can be adapted countless ways, the concentrate allows the coffee taste to stay strong, no matter what you toss in it. And even if you've never had a Coolatta, the new Frozen Coffee is the perfect antidote to a hot summer's day: cooling, refreshing, and rich. It's definitely a coffee drink, and not a sweet frozen drink with some coffee added, making it great for a bracing pick-me-up during the long, hot summer days.


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Ambient Movies was started in october 2013 as part of the blog but have since become more than that. It is a new art form for me in the beginning throes of creation/discovery process. Like any new art form, it is unclear where it will go or if it will prove worthwhile. There is much more to say about Ambient Movies as a concept but for now here is the work so far — it will have to speak for itself. These short videos should be thought of as a visual sketchbook as ideas and concepts as they are explored.
All videos are created in Apple Final Cut Pro on a Power Mac using stock transitions and styles, as well as third-party plug-ins. Apple Motion allows for custom-built transitions and styles to be created but I have yet to do so.
- Inhaler — February 2014
- Flying Shadows — December 2013
- Sunlight Siren — November 2013
- Ferocious Ride — November 2013
- Dark & Easy — October 2013
- An Eerie Trip — October 2013


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SiN wrote:Tell me about it. It's kind of refreshing when seeing how peaceful the boards is.
Jeopardy wrote:Wow!!! so much peaceful now in boards. i like this
Vorhees wrote:Cmon ppl. How could Balt be a role model ? I mean, are you all joking or am I missing something?
"All you can do is 'SEE' a bit into the future. But that doesn't matter, cause everyone has the SAME power to change it."
~Capone Bege~
~Capone Bege~


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RIPON – Kick off is a few weeks away at Stouffer Field.
By then, Ripon High football fans attending the season opener against visiting Linden can expect to see the first-phase completion of the newly remodeled stadium.
Included will be the 30-foot high, state-of-the-arts scoreboard compliments of the Ripon Community Athletic Foundation via a donation by Pacific, Gas & Electric.
The double-sided digital scoreboard arrived last Monday and will stand on the north side of Stouffer Field to better serve the community's only football / track and field venue.
"It looks good," said RCAF president Stephanie Hobbs.
RHS will host Linden in a non-league affair on Aug. 31.
The Ripon Unified school board agreed to have Engeo Inc. handle the installation, with the sign being supported by cast-in-place concrete drilled piers to support the structural steel elements.
Besides the scoreboard, RCAF still has some finishing touches before that first game.
Hobbs indicated that the outer track curb needs fencing. Cost for material is $16,000 as labor will be donated.
An estimated 300 tons of asphalt is needed. Cost is about $30,000.
Installation of concrete for sidewalks from the ticket booths and both sets of bleachers have an estimated price tag of $22,000.
Donations are needed.
A local family who wished to remain anonymous has stepped up with a $50,000 matching grant, according to Hobbs.
"Whatever anyone gives will be doubled," she explained.
The matching grant will allow RCAF to complete the first phase. Needed is a donation of money or the necessary supplies (asphalt, concrete or even labor) for the wish list by Aug. 20.
Furthermore, community organizations, businesses, families and individuals contributing to the cause will be permanently recognized in the stadium.
Donations are tax deductible and payable to: RCAF, P.O. Box 863, Ripon CA, 95366.
Contact Hobbs at 209-923-3894 to obtain more information or stay informed by clicking on to Ripon Community Athletic Foundation on Facebook or logging on to www.rcafsite.com.
RIPON – Kick off is a few weeks away at Stouffer Field.


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The Crown Chakra is the seventh chakra and it is situated just at the top of the head (hence called crown) This chakra connects us with the universe and the divine source of creation. Unlike the other chakras below, this one is linked between the chakras within the body and many above that you may not know of! Did you know there are actually 114 Chakras in total? The Chakras from 1 to 7 are known as 3rd dimensional too and what that means is related to the human or physical experience of being.
The energy of the crown chakra allows us to experience spiritual oneness with everyone and everything in nature and the link between the physical body to the spiritual realms.
The crown chakra is about – beyond the limits of your own ego. It is the way of exceeding the ego and knowing that all of creation is interconnected at a fundamental level. It is the meeting point between the body and the ego & the universe and soul.
When we realize that everything is interconnected and that we are part of the larger meaning of life, we begin to live with gratitude, faith and trust, rather than filled with fear and anxiety.
When this chakra is in balance, we feel connected to our higher selves. We are aware that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. We recognise that the divine intelligence has some control over our lives, and the hand we are dealt at birth. We're able to surrender to circumstances which are out of our control, while simultaneously making the best of them.
We recognise that what happens to us in life is not meant as a punishment or random coincidence, but a way for the soul to grow and evolve. We have the courage to make choices that align with the spirit, even when those choices might seem inconvenient, unconventional, or ill-advised, from the outside looking in
The colour of the crown chakra is often associated with violet but also can be known as white too.
When the Crown Chakra isn't balanced, it can be showing as;
- Being disconnected to spirit, constant cynicism
- Disconnection with the body
- Living in your head
- Closed-mindedness
- Isolation and loneliness; inability to connect with others
- Lack of direction
- Inability to set or maintain goals
- Feeling disconnected spiritually
Activities that can help balance the crown chakra are;
- Surrender a situation and trust that good will come of it
- Counselling
- Practice gratitude daily
- Meditate regularly – meditate to a visualization – standing under a stream of violet water. Find a practice that works for you
- Wear Violet
- Go on a retreat, get away on a break or even just switching off all technology for a weekend and having a "staycation" if you can't get away. I find switching off from the external world helps
- Eating wholesome foods, more vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.
- Crystals that help the crown chakra be balanced and healthy are (not necessarily the colour purple too); amethyst, selenite, clear quartz, howlite, lepidolite, sugilite, white calcite – just to name a few. We do carry a few of these crystals in our store too and may be able to order in some of the others. Just ask!
So that is the first 7 chakras that are fairly well known. The next blog will be on the 8th Chakra as we work with that energy a lot, the crystals related and power of this sacred chakra. This chakra also known as the Soul Star.


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As a deputy head, you're expected to draw on a wide range of skills, knowledge and experience. A fact that is recognised by our experienced course leaders who will endeavour to support you with the ideas, information and practical strategies you need to become ever more effective in your role.
If you're aspiring or new to deputy headship then you'll find our preparing for deputy headship course a great time investment which will quickly get you up to speed and give you a chance to get expert answers to all those niggling questions you have. As you settle into your role, you can help to secure success with our course which aims to help you overcome the challenges of leadership.
Depending on the exact nature of your role and your school's specific needs, we have a wide range of further courses you may find useful, including boosting attendance, making effective use of RAISEonline and working with parents to tackle problem behaviour.