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Immutable Infrastructure describes a situation where you don't change infrastructure (usually servers) when they're in-place, you just replace them with new ones. This normally goes hand-in-hand with automation of that work and provides a few benefits:
- You can build your operating system patching process into your deployment process, there's not a separate process and tooling (e.g. Chef, Ansible) for it
- If your servers have been compromised, there is a smaller window of opportunity to exploit that further, because the servers will be destroyed and recreated more frequently (traditionally, servers have a lifespan of years)
- Since your servers are usually built from code, you may be able to completely remove human access (e.g. SSH or Remote Desktop (RDP))
- Automating the creation of environments is great for disaster recovery and creating new test environments when required
- I like to use Terraform for all that, but recent versions of Cloud Formation look OK
How does it work?
Auto Scaling Groups in AWS is a feature which (as the name suggests) allows you to configure rules which set when servers are added and removed to a pool. You can set it up to have minimums, maximums, change depending on how much load is hitting a load balancer, or just set to a schedule.
The machines started up by the Auto Scaling group all get configured to run a Powershell script (User Data in AWS terminology) to get themselves ready to receive traffic when they launch. At a minimum, that means installing some software to run, usually by downloading it from an S3 bucket, configuring logging etc.
It took me a few attempts to get the Powershell scripts right, but once it was working consistently, I was able to disable RDP access at the Security Group (firewall) level to prevent access to the boxes.
Here's a sequence diagram of the process.
The Lambda which terminates old versions runs a Go program I wrote called the Terminator to do it: https://github.com/a-h/terminator
AWS Lambda doesn't support Go programs directly, so I used a wrapper node.js wrapper to execute it:
The process is pretty straightforward and starts by logging to the build server and starting a deployment.
Selecting which environment you want to push to
Choosing which version to deploy:
An AWS Lambda is then triggered by the upload of the new deployment zip files to S3. This destroys a single instance in both the Web and API tiers, which we can see on our Grafana monitoring dashboards:
The Auto Scaling Group here is set to have 3 servers, so the healthy instance count should drop from 3 to 2 as the first server is destroyed.
This behaviour can be verified in the AWS Console (EC2 Auto Scaling Group). The Auto Scaling group logs the fact that an instance was automatically terminated, and a new instance is created to replace it:
terminate_old_instances Lambda fires on a timer every 5 minutes. It collects the version number of all active instances and, if it finds old software running on an instance, it destroys the instance (to a configured minimum). Auto Scaling then kicks in again and creates a new instance running the latest version of the software.
To get this to work, I introduced a HTTP endpoint in all of the servers called "/version" which simply returns the version number of the running application.
The Lambda events are logged in CloudWatch:
2016-10-10T09:36:04.870Z f5d15cb1-8ecc-11e6-94bc-5188e6ae168c stdout: live_asg_web => lowest version 1.0.266, highest version 1.0.274, 2 instances to terminate
live_asg_web => terminating 2 of 3 instances
live_asg_web => terminating instance ids [i-01eb1b24b1e5d8a3e i-0ae0fbd754e6d71d9]
The example above shows that 2 instances are running 1.0.266 and one is running 1.0.274. The old instances can therefore be terminated and replaced with new instances running 1.0.274.
So our monitoring shows a server coming in and another one being destroyed.
As the new servers start up, they appear in the CPU graphs with higher CPU. This is expected, as starting up a .Net application results in JIT compilation and the creation of an IIS Application Pool process.
At the end of the release cycle, we're back to 3 active nodes.
What I learned
There were a few things to know if you're doing this yourself:
- A new AWS Windows image is released every month, a few days after Patch Tuesday, with all of the latest updates installed. You should switch your auto-scaling group to using this to get the latest updates.
- Windows instances are slow to start up. It takes about 15-20 minutes to start an instance, install IIS, .Net 4.6.1 etc.
- To save time launching we build a new base image with IIS and other pre-requisites installed once per month and use that as our base image. This got us down to about 5-6 minutes.
- Packaging binaries for AWS Lambda from Windows doesn't work! You can't (easily) set the executable (+x) filesystem attribute in the zip file. You'll need to create the zip packages in OSX or Linux etc.
How do I get started?
I put together an example of how to use the Terminator as a Linux-based equivalent over at https://github.com/a-h/terminator-example


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Don't leave the smartphone home if you're planning to park in The Bronx.
The city is planning to announce today that parking meters in one area of the borough will start accepting payments through a smartphone app.
People can put money on a pre-paid account that will be accessed via the application. The project will take place on and around a section of Arthur Avenue.
"It will be a pilot project," said one source. "The mayor promised to do this in 2009 and now he's doing it."
Mayor Bloomberg announced more than three years ago that the city was looking to develop an electronic funds-transfer program so drivers could pay their tabs without incurring additional fees.
The Finance Department now accepts those payments for fines. Credit cards incur a 2.5 percent fee.

subset: commoncrawl


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Supplier Excellence - Change Management
Creating a measurable and achievable series of goals is crucial to any program's success. Our change management phase of the program will establish a number of these areas specifically designed to fit your organization.
In the creation of the Tier 1 Spend Program we will work with you to create an environment of stability with high impact vendors through training, logistical support and mentoring. "Direct to customer" vendors will be identified and are long term participants in the process.
In this phase of the program we will selectively recruit, train, and develop subcontractor applicants who add value to the chain through support and participation of the program.
One of our flagship processes, our Emerging Technology Program will create an environment of success and motivation for smaller diversified companies to excel in this new technology and atmosphere.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 diversity vendors will participate in programs designed to enable them to excel in new technology environments.


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Title: Worth Living: How God's Wild Love for You Makes You Worthy
Publisher: Baker Books (May 3, 2016)
Genre: Christian Non-Fiction
208 pages
From the Back Cover: Start living the confident, joyful life you were made for
In a world of comparison and competition, it's hard to remember that our true worth lies not in our circumstances, our achievements, or our failures. It doesn't even lie in how we react to those things. Our worth lies in God's unending love for us.
With deep compassion, Mary DeMuth dares you to believe that the God who started a good work in you is faithful to bring it to glorious completion. That the God who redeems you also loves you–right now and always–with a beautiful love. That you are a daughter of the King, always welcomed in his presence.
Discover here a future of strength and security, knowing that you are wildly loved and destined to have a great impact on the world around you.
About the Author: Mary DeMuth is a former church planter in France and the author of more than thirty books, including The Day I Met Jesus. A sought-after speaker and longtime blogger, she has overcome (through Jesus's healing) a difficult past to become an authentic example of what it means to live a brand new story. She lives in Texas with her family. Learn more at www.marydemuth.com.
My Thoughts:
I found this book particularly difficult to read. Not because of the writing or even the content. The writing is beautiful and easily readable. I found it difficult to read because I see myself in so much of the shame and worthless feelings that Mary DeMuth discusses throughout the book.
I grew up in a dysfunctional family and have always struggled with my self-worth. After I asked Jesus into my heart 7 years ago, I learned about God and His all-encompassing love. I loved the thought of a Father that loves unconditionally, but because of my own experiences in life, just could not wrap my head around the idea. How could an all-Powerful God care about me? Why would He?
And then, one day during a Bible Study, the instructor said to me: "Just think how you feel about your children. You would love them no matter what. That's how God feels about everyone of us!" and it finally clicked. Now I understood how He felt about me, but still held onto the performance-based love idea that had been instilled in me.
I volunteered with the church in many different ministries and areas: Women's ministry, food pantry, worship team, Bible study group leader, Leadership in women's events, helped to start a Christian based 12-step program in the church, and on and on. All to show just how good a Christian I was. This was the Achievement-based love idea that I tried to use to win His approval.
But inside, I tiptoed around, afraid to do anything wrong because I might lose God's love for me. I tried to be perfect, and we all know how well that works out. I became anxious and soon became depressed because I could never reach that perfection that I wrongfully felt God was looking for in me.
"Our worth is based not on our intrinsic value per se but on the invaluable work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. If only we could grasp that! Simply put: it's not about you or me conjuring our worth. It's about Jesus settling it. Once and for all. No matter how you feel at this very moment, reading words plain on the page. It is not dependent on you. – Mary DeMuth from Worth Living"
I forgot about His Grace.
If you struggle with your self-worth, Mary's book Worth Living is just the book for you. She reminds us through Scripture just how much God values us. And it shows that by denying our own worth, we criticize His greatest creation: US!
This breaks His heart and stunts our spiritual and emotional growth.
In this book, Mary takes a look at 10 lies that kill our worth and refutes them with the 10 beautiful truths that come straight from scripture. The truths such as: I am wildly loved, I am more than a to-do list, I am chosen and I am a redemptive story, to counteract the lies that we tell ourselves.
This is a practical book, filled with arguments taken from the scriptures that will help us to understand our worth and to help us see ourselves as God sees us. Each chapter ends with a set of discussion questions, questions that would be particularly useful to journal about and really dig deep to pull those lies out by the roots. It would also make for a very compelling Bible study, especially for a small women's group.
If you have ever struggled with feelings of worthlessness or shame, I highly recommend this beautifully written work by Mary DeMuth, who has lived the life and experiences she writes about. She has a mission to share her struggles to help others deal with their own struggles.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own. You should assume that I am an affiliate for providers of goods and services mentioned on this blog. Thoughts on Books may be compensated when you purchase after clicking on a link. Thanks in advance for your support.


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Meet REALTOR® University Professor: Dr. Margot Weinstein
Dr. Margot Weinstein, CIPS, TRC
Founder & CEO, MW Leadership Consultants LLC
Active Broker, Metropolitan Real Estate Group
Website: www.drmargotweinstein.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 1-312-656-225
For twenty years, Dr. Margot Weinstein, EdD was vice president of a commercial real estate company based in Illinois, Kingston Group Inc., where she was responsible for overseeing all areas of the business. She received a "Good Neighbors' Award" as a co-developer of Silver Oaks by the Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR). While working in commercial real estate and raising four children, Margot completed her doctor of education degree from Northern Illinois University (specializing in teaching and counseling adults). She was initiated into Kappa Delta PI International Honor Society in Education, and her dissertation was nominated as the dissertation of the year. She has earned two masters' degrees, the Certified International Property Specialist Designation (CIPS), the Transnational Referral Certification (TRC), a broker and CE Instructor's Licenses.
Margot founded and is CEO of MW Leadership Consultants LLC to provide extraordinary programs to help real estate professionals acquire the competitive-edge in the business. She specializes in real estate issues, leadership strategies, and career techniques. Her programs provide a unique blend of insight she gains from her business experiences, her education and training, and from her interviews with hundreds of leaders worldwide including Sam Zell, Equity Group Investments, Barbara Corcoran, Corcoran Group and on Shark Tank, and David Simon, Simon Malls. Margot's latest book, "Real Estate Success: 12 Leadership Strategies to Make Money Regardless of the Global Economy" contains her award winning leadership strategies along with 28 interviews from leaders worldwide. It has been used as a textbook in real estate programs; it is available on www.Amazon.com.
Here are seven things you need to know about the REALTOR® University professor, Dr. Margot Weinstein, EdD
- Margot has a passion for real estate and a passion for teaching. Margot's teaching style utilizes the knowledge as an active broker into her courses. She is a broker and director of training for Metropolitan Real Estate Group.
- Margot has taught at a variety of universities throughout the U.S., Europe and Russia. A few of her clients include the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, University of Helsinki, Northern Illinois University, John Marshall Law School, DePaul University, Cornell University, Homburg-UWI, and Roosevelt University. She is a visiting faculty for Realtor® University's online MBA program, where she designs and teaches marketing and investment courses.
- Margot is a Signature Series Speaker for the Commercial Alliance for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). She has presented her program to organizations and associations including Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, Illinois Association of REALTORS®, American Invesco, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to name a few.
- As a lifelong learner, Margot loves doing research and writing in the field. She has authored or co-authored over 300 articles and 15 books including many peer reviewed papers (for details see CV on www.drmargotweinstein.com). Margot has received three best paper awards from the American Real Estate Society (ARES): 2014, 2008, and 2006.
- For the past ten years, Margot is a fellow and co-chair of the Career Placement Committee for the American Real Estate Society (ARES); where she co-writes two newsletters per year and helps to maintain the career placement website. She has been a Member of Global Real Estate Forum by CAR, where she was the 2014-2015 Chair and a Member of The Chicago and Midwest Council of FIABCI-USA, in which she was the 2012 President.
- Margot always seeks opportunities to improve her techniques. In 2017, she earned the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Award, the highest achievement from Toastmasters International for completion of the program on leadership development and presentation competencies.
- Margot especially enjoys teaching marketing courses to new and seasoned real estate professionals, because REALTORS® learn marketing techniques in class, especially new technologies, which they can apply directly to their business. Students learn how to do a market analysis and design a marketing plan specifically for their business.


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5B: Contemporary Life / Treaty Rights
Conner, Bobbie Tribes of Umatilla Reservation
Choosing Our Culture
[1 minutes 58 seconds]
Keyword List Search
Note:This site is currently in beta testing. Many features are not fully functional, and only a small amount of data has been loaded for testing purposes.
Please do not be alarmed if you cannot find videos or other information you expect to be on the site.


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The Pre-Fame Cameo Sides of a Detroit Rock 'N' Roll Legend
When Bob Seger broke out commercially with 1976's Live Bullet and Night Moves, he seemed to those outside the Motor City to spring fully-formed out of nowhere. But Seger had been paying his dues with a string of albums for Capitol that dated back to 1969's Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, and before that, a string of singles for the Philadelphia-based Cameo label. In the wake of his 1976 breakthrough, Capitol reissued several of Seger's earlier albums, but what remained obscure were his earlier singles. As half of the Cameo-Parkway equation, Cameo was best known for the hits of Bobby Rydell, Dee Dee Sharp and the Orlons, but by 1966, the label, briefly reinvigorated by Neil Bogart, had signed ? and the Mysterians, and a young Bob Seger.
Cameo released five Seger singles over ten months of 1966-67, but the label's failing fortunes kept all but the last from breaking nationally. The fifth single, "Heavy Music," scraped the bottom of the Billboard chart at #103, but it failed to represent the commotion that Seger was generating in his native Detroit. That local success begat a contract with Capitol, which provided a moment of fame with 1968's "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man," but it would be eight more years of slogging away before international fame came calling. Cameo-Parkway withered away in the shadow of American Bandstand's relocation from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, and the labels' catalogs went dormant for many years. Select reissues of Chubby Checker and others have been released over the past few years, and now, finally, Seger's singles.
Seger's first recording was a demo with his group the Decibels, but his first released record was Doug Brown and the Omens frat-rock R&B single "T.G.I.F. (That Goodness It's Friday)," on the Punch label. The group's second single, a Beach Boys pastiche titled "Florida Time," was released on a subsidiary of Punch (as the Beach Bums), and backed with an anti-draft dodger parody of Barry Sadler's "The Ballad of the Green Beret." Seger had begun writing and producing for the Hideout label, and in 1966 he recorded the gritty, socially trenchant "East Side Story" as the first single to be released under his own name. The success of the single's local issue caught the attention of Cameo, which reissued the title later in the year. Seger's second Cameo single, "Sock it to Me Santa," shows off James Brown's influence on the young Seger, suggesting the sort of rocking soul with which Mitch Ryder stormed the charts.
Seger's third single, "Persecution Smith," has a distinctly Dylan (or perhaps Mouse & The Traps) vibe as the lyrics lampoon half-hearted protestors. His fourth, "Vagrant Winter" has a poetic lyric and a melody that leans to psychedelia, and Seger's last single for Cameo, "Heavy Music," had a Detroit groove that helped fuel Seger's breakthrough with an eight-minute workout on 1976's Live Bullet. The B-sides include the catchy R&B of "Chain Smokin'," the soul ballad "Very Few" and a replay of the Beach Bums' "Florida Time." The variety packed into the five singles is impressive, and it's hard to imagine how Seger's rock 'n' soul grooves could take so many years to catch on. Jim Allen's liner notes, a sessionography, label reproductions and period photos round out a must-have package for Seger fans. For chronological play, program 2, 10, 8, 7, 4, 3, 5, 6, 1, 9. [©2018 Hyperbolium]


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DJSHO-T Description
Nightclub Dj & Mobile Dj Service Music For All Occasions! Bio Dj Sho-T, born Vince Aguilar, grew up in Salinas California listening to a wide genre of music. Family played a huge role, in the music that Dj Sho-T grew up with. He listened to anything from traditional Mexican music, due to his parents and older relatives, to hard core Rap, through various younger relatives and friends. As a result of his musical up brining, at the age of 10, Dj Sho-T got his first set of turntables. He fell in love with the capability to manipulate the music he already loved, and turn it into his own. Soon discovering that he was a natural, Dj Sho-T began dj-ing house parties and school dances. His unique style has been influenced by many great Disc Jockeys and producers throughout the years. Artists like; Dj QBert, Z Trip, Dj AM, Dj Greg Lopez, Mix Master Mike, Amplive, The Executioners, Dj Shadow, Tiesto and many others. Although Dj Sho-T has learned from many different djs, his style is what sets him apart. You can find various mixtapes that have been distributed throughout California. Dj Sho-T can be found at many private and public parties and clubs, earning his reputation as one of the best and hardest working disc jockey in the Central Coast.
Cities Served by DJSHO-T
- Salinas, Ca Metropolitan


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Are you a Catholic looking for help with personal or family problems?
Do you want someone who understands your world view as a Catholic?
Are you in need of healing from an abortion?
Are you worried about a past divorce? Or are you trying to avoid divorce right now?
I can help....
I am a registered Marriage & Family Therapist who understands your situation. I support marriage and helping couples resolve their problems.
I know what it is like to raise children in today's culture and try to keep their faith intact.
I can help you draw on the strength you already have during times of pain, loss, and suffering.
I have experience working with families, couples and individuals in all kinds of situations.
I am also available on weekends.


text: Time magazine book critic and New York Times Bestselling author Lev Grossman joins Jen to talk about his Magicians trilogy. The final installment of the series, The Magician's Land, hit number one on the New York Times Bestseller list this month, and Lev chats with Jen about wrapping up the trilogy, where the idea for the series first came from, bringing realism to the depiction of fantastical worlds and the use of magic, the forthcoming TV adaptation, and much more. Be warned there are some mild spoilers if you haven't finished the trilogy!Read More »


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On September 7, 2016, Susan delivered a lecture as part of Colorado College's State of the Rockies Speaker Series. She spoke on the science and urgency of climate change, and the challenge of communicating climate risk to the public at large. She detailed the latest information on what Americans think about climate change, and laid out tips and tools for addressing the communication challenge.
What's New
- News
- Common Climate Questions
- Summer of Extremes
- Heat Waves and Climate Change
- Current Extreme Weather & Climate Change
- Archive


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Contact Geology Superstore
Please feel free to contact us using any of the methods below, whether it is a product enquiry, shop opening times or for cancelling an order or returning an item, we are happy to hear from you.
Store Address:
66 Gas Street
Contact Details:
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 0800 112 3115
Opening Times:
Weekends & UK public holidays closed.
Free parking available on site.
Contact Us


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DT830B Digital Multimeter DMM DVM
Sale price Regular price
(inc VAT)
Only 7 left!
The DT830B Digital Multimeter is a very affordable and handy piece of test equipment. It features an easy to read 3.5 digit LCD display. It is equipped with 5 functions and 19 ranges, each test position is quickly and easily selected with a simple turn of the single selector switch.
Measure DC voltage in these ranges: 200 mV 2000mV, 20V, 200V and 1000V.
Measure DC current in these ranges: 200A, 2000A, 20ma, 200ma and 10A.
Measure AC voltage in these ranges: 200 V and 750 V.
Measure resistance in these ranges: 200, 2000 ohms, 20, 200 and 2000 Kohms.
It also has a built-in diode test and transistor test feature.
Dimensions: 70x126x24mm
Weight: 170g
Test leads and Battery are Included


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申し訳ありません。サーバーとの通信に問題があるため、アプリはデバイスに送信されませんでした。 しばらくしてからやり直してください。
このアプリを使用するには、{0}の更新が必要です。 Garmin Expressを使用して、{0}を更新してください。
Countdown timer app for measuring sections of workouts. Useful for measuring rest periods between lifting, holding poses in body line work, and many more activities.

Usage:

- Menu soft key or up button to select default countdown time (can choose from 0:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, or Custom)

- Tap screen or press enter button (start/stop) to start and pause timer

- Hold screen or press down button to reset timer to selected default

Exactly what I wanted. Has preset times, where I'll use 30 seconds, and can repeat it.
Marcio Oliveira
Can't go to gym without this app any longer. Perfect for measuring my rest periods and focus on training. It helps me make a better use of my time at gym.
AMIENS Paul
This app is almost perfect. I use for every gym sessions. If you can add a series counter it will be awesome ! Thanks again.
Masatomo Ueda
This is the kind of easy, straightforward apps that I like, but it lacks two very important features and a minor features: - Important feature 1: it should count the times a counter has been fired: depending on the workout, sometimes there is a great amount of sets (e.g. a weightlifting jump set in the gym, running or cycling intervals, etc) that are being repeated.. it would be useful to have a little number somewhere that tells you, for example, that you have used the timer 5 times, therefore that you've done 5 sets. Right now I have to use a piece of paper and write down the sets. - important feature 2: vibration when the timer reaches 0 should stop after a while: rest time in a workout is just as important and work time and almost all of the times you're grabbing something with your hands and sometimes this grabbing requires a few seconds (e.g. bringing up from the floor heavy dumbbells when chest pressing, setting up for a deadlift). The timer at the moment just keeps vibrating so either you interrupt the timer beforehands and mentally count the remaining seconds or you just end up performing the set with the clock constantly vibrating. - minor feature: a vibration that indicates that the timer has started: I use the watch on my right arm (also because I'm wearing a wrist band on the left) and sometimes, when doing exercises where your wrist is bend (e.g. when you're front squatting), the button gets pressed, meaning that I have to setup the timer each time. Sometimes, I think I pressed the button the correct number of times (one for selecting the time and one for starting it) but then I realise that the timer hasn't started. Consider in certain periods weightlifting can be relatively heavy and one needs as much mental energy as possible, so actions other than the lifting itself should be as easy as possible. That's all, thanks! p.s. I see that the last time the app has been updated is 2016, so I don't think this will never get updated.
David Tabachnick
Good timer. Would be better if it had the option to buzz or give some sort of alert when starting the timer.
Excellent app. To improve the app, enable the audio in the app settings without or with vibration.
Please add a feature to save your custom timers. Makes it a little easier and faster when doing longer rest time or interval workouts.
Simple to setup. Please add option to vibrate at end of time interval not just a light flash.
Irfan Ali
Since my Forerunner 735XT did not have a timer facility unlike my Vivoactive HR, this app provides that functionality in an easy to use simple application A true Ronseal app, 'does exactly what is says on the tin'
I was using this app on my 735 - it is the best timer app I found so far! Unfortunanately it is not available for my new 935 - please add support for that device.
I use this app on a daily basis.. but i just got fenix 5 .. and unfortunately it is not compatible with this app .. i hope you would upgrade it ASAP for Fenix 5
Max Remele
I think the Stretch app is better. Gives more vibration feedback and has an interval setting. However, it only allows for one time without going through some settings to change. This Timers app is a step forward in that you get multiple times, but if you don't like the default times (and the one customizable field) then you are out of luck. Ideally I would like more customizable fields. I also think it could use an interval field like the Stretch app.
Great design, clear and simple. Works how it should work. Countdown for more than 59 min. would be a great feature for the next update.
Help! Want to do 1 min cardio....rest for :30, then another 1 min weights....rest :30 repeat for 59 minutes. I am 65 and want help, is this possible? Could you give directions on how I can set this up on Vivoactive? Your reviews are good,maybe someone could answer?
I'm looking for timer for 12-16hrs or more, this only only goes to 59 min. No go for me. When I tied to delete the app from my vívoactive hr, I get error code. Not happy.
Molto semplice, ottima per fare delle pause tra gli esercizi. Thanks for your work
Would be awesome, if it could count up (not only down) too. And no hours, so only 59minutes top. Not enough for the 1000burpees workout for example.
Alessandro Navarria
Good app, but it would be perfect if it would be possible to set up the reps n°, and have an intermediary break after a series block (in order to change the exercices or do a bigger rest) Thanks for your work!
Ian Kovatch
Spent hours and hours searching for a good workout timing app for my vívoactive.. This one is DEFINITELY by far the best one out there. Love the Custom version... Use it all of the time ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tony Gould
Excellent. Simple and effective. What i like is that is incredibly easy to use and sure what it needs to do, no more, no less.


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I made these for my boys (and my daughter, too - can't leave anyone out!) and they within 20 minutes of me putting them on the table. Super easy to make, super delicious, and super cute when you cut one in half!
- 1 package cake mix, chocolate
- 1 package strawberries, cleaned and hulled
- 1 package pudding, chocolate
- Fresh mint sprigs,optional but awesome
- Prepare cupcakes according to package and let cool. Using a paring knife, core out a well down into each cupcake, for your strawberry to fit into. Prepare your pudding according to the package. Let set until nice and pudding-y (solid - wet gloopy pudding will ruin the cupcakes, so don't be in a rush, let the pudding firm up!)
- Stick the strawberry pointy side down into your cupcakes. Take the piece of the cupcake that you cut out, and place it on top of the strawberry, after you push it down into the cupcake.
- Top liberally with pudding in leu of frosting.
- Add a sprig of mint if you like. I think it adds a certain something, and my neighbor had some growing in her kitchen and shared…but don't go out and buy some.
- I cut each cutcake in half and set it on a plate, because presentation is everything with these suckers. They are DELICIOUS and super easy.


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How Your Eating Habits Could Affect Your Sleep
Just like poor sleeping patterns can take a toll on your eating habits, the kind of foods you eat and the timing of your meals could also influence how well you rest at night.
Starting with an obvious one, most of us are aware caffeine can be rather disruptive. The closer your coffee break is to your bedtime, the more potential it has to disrupt your sleep. One study suggested the beverage could reduce sleep quality even when consumed up to six hours prior, encouraging a 2 p.m. cut off time.
Your dinner, on the other hand, should be sized in a way to leave you satiated without going overboard. Additionally, aim for 2 or 3 hours between your last meal and your bedtime to stave off symptoms of insomnia and nighttime heartburn.
"It's best to avoid eating heavy meals at night," said Dr. Aris Iatridis, a sleep medicine specialist at Piedmont Healthcare. "If you're going to have a big meal, have it in the middle of the day. You're less likely to store the extra calories as fat because your body will have time to burn them off and you'll be less likely to have heartburn."
In a 2016 study from Columbia University, researchers also found an association between poor sleep and higher intake of saturated fat and sugar. According to lead author Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, eating more refined carbohydrates could delay the release of a hormone known as melatonin, which plays an important role in your sleep-wake cycle.
While all of the above are associated with disruptions to our slumber, the question arises as to what could actually improve our sleep quality. The same study did take note of it, revealing how participants who ate a high-fiber diet also spent more time in slow-wave sleep. This refers to the deep stage of sleep which is usually dreamless.
And the advice you often hear about drinking a glass of warm milk to sleep better? The possible basis here is that calcium (also found in foods such as leafy greens) could help you produce more melatonin. Though this may not have a significant impact on sleep, experts mentioned some individuals can see a benefit thanks to the psychological aspect.
"Our brains and physiology like routine and predictability," said Naomi Rogers, a sleep expert and professor at the University of Sydney in Australia. "[So] if someone has a routine each night of, say, watching the late news, having a warm glass of milk, brushing their teeth and getting in to bed for sleep, then the brain and our physiology recognize this behavior as part of the preparatory process for sleep and respond accordingly, making it easier to fall asleep once we are in bed."


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3 steps to a Compliance Strategy – As valid now, as ever!
Some of my old FileNet friends reading this article will smile… I realised today to my surprise, that it's over 11 years ago that this simple concept was first articulated, and went on to form the basis of our compliance messaging, transitioned into IBM after the acquisition, and was presented in many conferences and briefings. The result of a quick brainstorm before a breakfast briefing for Bearingpoint, at an off-site annual kick-off session, the picture on the left is a scan from my original notebook where it first appeared, in January 2004. I have evidence of this still being included in presentations as late as 2011. In the world of PowerPoint slides, does that make it a classic?
Now, it may be an old message, but it is as valid today as it ever was. And since I've never written about it in this blog I thought it was worth re-introducing it to a whole new audience.
What does a company need to do, to be compliant?
There are three very fundamental and very explicit stages for an organisation to achieve a "compliant" status. These apply equally to every vertical industry, be it Banking, Insurance, Telco, Retail, Pharmaceutical, etc. And they also apply equally, if "compliance" refers to regulatory compliance in a Nuclear plant, financial compliance, or Health & Safety at a local school.
Step 1 – The Present: Become compliant
What do you need to do today, to comply with the rules and meet the regulations? What changes in procedure, what risk controls, what equipment checks, what training? This stage includes designing and implementing everything that a company needs to put in place, to be able to certify that today, it is compliant with each regulation the law currently subjects it to. Implementing this stage requires the company to (a) identify and understand which regulations are relevant and what they are expecting (b) identify possible areas and processes where the company is at a risk of not compliant with the regulations, and (c) implementing any changes necessary to remove those compliance risks.
Step 2 – The Future: Remain compliant
This is the part that is often forgotten, and ends up costing organisations millions in fines: Looking at the future. Becoming compliant is not enough, it's just the first step. As an organisation, you need to ensure that compliance is sustained consistently in the future. That every system, every procedure and every employee remains within the controls and guidelines specified by the legal regulations or the company policies. At a manual level, this involves regular training for employees and regular testing of all the various controls and devices implemented in Step 2. The best way to implement Step 2 however, is automation. Putting in place systems and processes that not only monitor the company's compliance, but that enforce it. The less a company relies on individual employees to maintain compliance the less likely it is to fall foul of compliance breaches through human error. Automation reduces training requirements, reduces management overheads, and it reduces wasting operational cycles for testing and reporting.
Step 3 – The Past: Demonstrate compliance
The final part of the process is looking at compliance retrospectively: Are you able to go back to a specific point in time, and demonstrate to a regulator, and auditor, or even a customer, that you operated compliantly. Are you able to shoe what decisions were made, what policies were in force, who made the decisions and what information they had available to them to support that decision? This is all about Records Management and audit trails. It's about maintaining evidence of your compliance that is complete, accurate and irrefutable. Preparing for that retrospective compliance review in the future, should be a core part of the design of any compliance system implemented today.
So the meme Become – Remain – Demonstrate (or even "Achieve – Sustain – Prove", as the alternative version that our U.S. marketing folk seemed to favour) summarises the three key steps that you need to remember about structuring a compliance programme. If you are faced with a new regulation, new management, or even a new mandate to create or replace IT systems for compliance, use these three steps to validate if your compliance strategy is complete or not.


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E-40 Does It Again! These new rappers need to take notes from E-40 on how to not be a one hit wonder. He has been giving us heat since the 80s, and has no plans of stopping anytime soon. Besides, if he keeps pushing content like his newest release, "Straight Out The Dirt", he
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B.C.Industries supply all steel fabrication needs including stainless steel, mild steel and aluminium.
Also providing labour hire supply for mine sites and factories around NSW, covering fitting, welding, pump rebuilds and project management.
From shift cover to shut down works we can cater to your requirements and our workshop team is always on hand for manufacturing jobs.
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Pet Eye Infections At Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group
Pet eye infections can lead to more serious health issues if left untreated. A veterinarian at the Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group in Katy, TX can help cure your pet's eye infection. Below are pet eye infection frequently asked questions for you to consider.
What Is The Diagnosis For Pet Eye Infections?
Your veterinarian will want to do a comprehensive exam to see how serious the eye infection is. You also want to be ready to mention the symptoms and signs you have seen from your pet and any changes in behavior that can help your veterinarian correctly diagnose the infection.
What Are The Signs Of Eye Infections?
Eye infection signs differ based on what caused the eye infection in the first place. You know your pet has an eye infection when one of the following occurs: rubbing or pawing the eyes, redness around the eyes, swelling, an iris that is cloudy, and thick or runny yellow or green discharge. If you see any of these symptoms, get your pet to a veterinarian right away.
What Is The Importance Of Treating Eye Infections?
Treat your pet's eye infections or the infection could develop into a more serious condition. Surgery may be needed for serious eye infections. It's best to see your veterinarian if symptoms do not go away after two days.
How Do Eye Infections Happen?
Eye infections can happen for a number of reasons. Reasons dog get eye infections include blocked tear ducts, allergies, and corneal issues such as ulcers. Cats get eye infections through infectious organisms such as chlamydia, calicivirus (FCV), and herpes, as well as allergies.
How Can The Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group Help?
The veterinarians in the Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group can help treat your pets eye infection. They can discuss several options, based on how severe the eye infection is. Your veterinarian may prescribe eye drops such as Prednisolone Acetate or Baytril. Your veterinarian may want to place your pet with a cone collar to prevent them from scratching their eyes. If the infection was caused by a tear duct sticking out or deformed eyelid, surgery may be recommended. Our veterinarians will do our best to provide the quickest and safest methods to help your pet become completely healthy again.
Make An Appointment Contact Our Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group in Katy, TX!
Make an appointment today to get your pet relief from their eye infection. You can visit us at any of our Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group locations in Katy, TX. You can also make an appointment over the phone by calling (281) 398-1551.


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Bitcoin Network Under Pressure: BTCManager's Week in Review May 22
The Bitcoin Network came under pressure, with fees increasing to levels never seen previously, while Etheruem's digital asset, ether, soared to new highs simultaneously, breaking above the $100 psychological level.
Never before has the Bitcoin Blockchain seen such a large traffic jam. In the past week, the number of unconfirmed transactions reached a level, at which it hurts. The Bitcoin economy is not amused; BitPay's Stephen Pair speaks out with exceptional clarity, while Barry Silbert of the Digital Currency Group tries to establish a broad alliance for a new compromise.
At least there is something the Bitcoin community can agree about; the MemPool reached a new all-time high. At the time of writing, more than 200,000 transactions were waiting for space in the blocks. Around 160MB of data is tacked in the blockchain traffic jam. As the network is only capable of confirming 144 blocks with each 1MB in 24 hours, it will need at least one day to clear the MemPool, even if everybody stops using Bitcoin.
The past days are full of examples that the industry is not prepared for this fee event. For example, Trezor, the hardware wallet, charged fees of astronomical $500 for a single transaction, because the provider, to which Trezor has outsourced the fee estimation, could not deal with the full blocks. Meanwhile, users of the wallet Multibit complained that they are unable to spend their balances, and the wallet Electrum reached the limit of "sanity fees" of 300 Satoshi each byte.
Despite the substantial scaling challenges, the price of bitcoin rallied to a new all-time high, breaching the psychologically important $2000 mark. But it has Ethereum's ether that stole the show this week, rallying from $92.00 to surpass $150.00.
Ether may be displaying such strong gains because of the Consensus event, which will kick off on May 22, where companies will showcase their Ethereum applications, which may attract more attention and provide a boost for the price of ether. The Ethereum Enterprise Alliance will be one of the main speakers in this event, and may see some interesting revelations that will have repercussions for cryptocurrency markets.
NEM (XEM) and Ripple (XRP) continued their rallies to cement themselves in the top five cryptocurrencies by market share while Bytecoin (BCN) entered the top ten after rallying from $0.000455 to $0.004 in the last seven days, despite a warning from Monero's fluffypony that the inflation bug had not been fixed by their development team.
This week's review is compiled from contributions by Alex Lielacher, Christoph Bergmann, Jamie Holmes, Joseph Young, Michael Scott, and Nuno Menezes.
Indian Bank Kotak Mahindra Launches Blockchain-Based Trade Finance Solution
India's third largest private bank Kotak Mahindra announced on May 17 that it had enabled trade financing for one of its clients by applying blockchain technology to reduce the time it takes for the letter of credit (LC) to be completed from 20 to 30 days down to a few hours.
The Mumbai-headquartered lender has collaborated with global consultancy firm Deloitte to conduct this first-of-a-kind letter of credit transaction in the Indian market with JP Morgan's Singapore branch.
Major VC-Backed South Korean Exchange Launches Ripple Support
Korbit, one of the three leading South Korean bitcoin exchanges alongside Bithumb and Coinone, has officially integrated support for Ripple trading. In an email to its customers and traders, the Korbit team wrote: "Korbit is pleased to announce fuller support for trading Ripple (XRP). Ripple is one of the leading cryptocurrencies and recently experienced a surge in price. You can now buy and sell Ripple on Korbit by placing limit or market orders."
Chile's Santiago Stock Exchange Leads Blockchain Implementation in Latin America
On May 17, technology giant IBM and Chile's largest stock exchange, the Santiago Exchange, announced a partnership to implement blockchain technology into the nation's financial services sector. The collaboration makes the Santiago Stock Exchange the first exchange in South America to utilize blockchain technology for securities lending on its short selling platform.
The new solution built by IBM and the Santiago Stock Exchange has been designed to reduce errors, alleviate potential fraud and increase processing speed for transactions while also improving the transaction management process and lowering costs for the exchange.
The Disney Ransom Saga: Is Bitcoin Really The Cause?
The Disney film studio's announcement of hackers threatening to release one of their movies unless a bitcoin ransom is paid has once again unleashed a flurry of media attention targeting cryptocurrency as a tool for nefarious acts.
Disney CEO Bob Iger in a statement on May 15 asserted that the film company has no intent of complying with the ransom demand and is working with federal authorities as a part of an in-depth investigation. He confirmed that the hackers had demanded that the ransom be paid in bitcoin and that the film would be released online in a series of 20-minute increments if the demands are not met. Iger did not name the film, but a number of media outlets are reporting that it is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Payza Becomes the First Payment Platform to Offer Bitcoin Services
Payza, one of the leading global payment platforms, announced May 15 that it would include bitcoin to its payment options and treat it like any other fiat currency. Members of the platform can now hold their bitcoins directly in their eWallets, and use it to perform payments. Additionally, Payza members can instantly send and receive bitcoin to and from other members.
Elliptics' Plan to Track WannaCry Perpetrators
A day after news of the global "WannaCry" ransomware attack broke, bitcoin intelligence startup Elliptic released its 'Rapid Response to Ransomware: a four-Step Plan for Readiness, Resolution, and Identifying the Attacker' to promote awareness about how to deal with ransomware attacks when faced with one. Microsoft also criticized the NSA for 'stockpiling' exploits, as the attacks seems to have spawned from the NSA's cyberwarfare tools, leaked by the Shadow Brokers in August 2016.
Elliptics' four-step plan on how to deal with ransomware attacks outlines easy-to-follow steps for its clients and anyone else who may be affected by this form of cybercrime. "Through our extensive Bitcoin ransomware work in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, we have put together a comprehensive plan for ransomware readiness," says Elliptics' co-founder and CEO Dr. James Smith.


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July 26, 2015 marked the official 25th anniversary of the signing of the landmark legislation, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The nation has worked hard over the past 25 years to end discrimination against people with disabilities. To celebrate the sense of pride over the changes that have been achieved as well as to keep the public aware of the remaining challenges, organizers were busy preparing for this silver anniversary. Many took the time to remember and celebrate by hosting parades and celebrations. Cities including New York, Philadelphia and Chicago held disability pride parades, and all of the celebrating and excitement is excellent news for a community which has often been historically overlooked and underrepresented.
In New York City, the first of what will be an annual parade was held on Sunday, July 12, 2015 where thousands of participants proudly marched. This parade had people walking, rolling, and scooting down Broadway from Madison Square to Union Square after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio opened the event. Mayor de Blasio spoke about his pride in NYC for being a national leader in supporting the rights of persons with disabilities. The parade was named "Inclusion, Awareness, Visibility" and although it was a joyous celebration marking a historic event in the lives of our peers, there were certain barriers remaining that needed to be addressed. Former Senator Tom Harkin, who was an author of the ADA and has been a longtime champion in the disability rights community, spoke on some vital matters. He served as grand marshal of the parade and talked about the important progress made towards accessibility, yet also pointed out the alarmingly high unemployment rate for people with disabilities and the need to continue advocacy.
One difficulty facing some New Yorker's who wanted to march that day was that the nearest subway station did not have an accessible elevator. However, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) had arranged for special pickup and drop-off spots for Access-A-Ride and advocates noted that the current accessibility issue is being addressed. Kevin Ortiz, agency spokesman of the MTA, said that they are set to have 100 accessible subway stations by 2020. Also, Edith Prentiss (a former NYSILC council member) and transit and disability advocate, suggested that it would be wise to remain patient with slow advances in accessible travel in NYC.
The parade was as an excellent opportunity for advocates to be vocal and open about the changes they hoped for. Some held signs with slogans stating the need for law enforcement officials to stop using violence against disabled people, others had signs of unity that declared "we are better together," and others held ones that asked for more access to public housing and transportation. One disability activist named Aron Kay summed up the hope, strength and empowerment that comprised this day. He commented in the New York Daily News, stating that "this parade is a springboard to a goldmine of political action…we must take the good fight into our hands so we achieve our goals of pride, interdependence, and the realization our rights don't get shoved under the bus! I feel the rights of the disabled should be an issue with the coming presidential election…." His words spoke of the changes we still hope to see in our community. In accordance, some excellent political changes coincided to honor the 25th birthday of the ADA! These were two vital pieces of legislation that Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed for the State's support of people with disabilities, and they were finally signed after two decades of effort by advocates including Frank Pennisi. One was a law (S.1405) that was sponsored by Senator Carl Marcellino that clarified that it is discriminatory for an operator (public or private) to refuse to remove certain architectural or communication barriers in their areas. It also eliminated the exception for the barrier removal requirement for public libraries. The second major piece of legislation signed on this day was A.7766.A which was sponsored by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther. This law directs the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to examine state laws and regulations pertaining to military family members and offer vital improvements so those laws will better serve these families of people with developmental disabilities.
Finally, there was a celebration in West Capital Park in Albany on July 24 to commemorate and this event featured red, white and blue balloons and "Happy 25th Anniversary ADA" banners displayed around the park, along with cupcakes and the musical ensemble Flame. This group features 10 talented musicians from upstate New York who also have various disabilities. Flame has played for a wide variety of audiences from all four corners of the continental United States and has released 4 CDs. They performed many wonderful songs for the event, which was opened by Roger Bearden, General Counsel for the OPWDD. The program featured prominent people who spoke of the advances they had seen in the lives of people since the ADA was signed into law back in 1990. NYS Assemblymember Patricia Fahy commented on how the law has notably affected mainstreaming in schools for all students, and how integration and assimilation is now commonplace. Jim Weisman, President of United Spinal Association, spoke about accessible transportation and the changes made over the years as paratransit became part of the ADA. Some of the other speakers included Kerry A. Delaney, OPWDD Acting Commissioner and disability advocates Shameka Andrews, Letisha Comstock and Tony Phillips. Their words symbolized just how vital the ADA has been in bringing about many necessary changes in our lives that we did not have before. They spoke about its impact and how life has changed for the better since it was enacted. One advocate has a fully accessible apartment and also noted how mainstreaming in schools had been important to her own success in life as an advocate and speaker for others. Another pointed out how we have changes we take for granted such as sidewalk curb cuts and accessible vehicles, as well as disability centers at colleges that have allowed her to attend and find success and will pave the way for future students with disabilities.
It was clear from listening to the speakers that we while we may have more changes and barriers to overcome, we have surely come a long way from where we were 25 years ago since the ADA was signed into existence!


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Stream Westside, the newest drop from TeeCee4800. The cut was released on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012. Things are looking better for TeeCee4800 with each new release, which Westside has proven yet again. It's worthy addition to the impressive body of work TeeCee4800 has been developing over the years. We're looking forward to hearing what's next.
Have you heard TeeCee4800's Intro? If you dig this, visit TeeCee4800's profile for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Follow TeeCee4800 on Twitter, if you aren't already.
Are y'all feeling this one?


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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks in Amman with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, AFP reported.
The talks dealt with Abbas's plans to seek upgraded status at the United Nations later this month.
The two also discussed the peace process with Israel, with Lavrov hailing Abbas's commitment to return to direct negotiations with Israel, which have been on hold for more than two years.
"I found it very important that president Abbas firmly reiterated that he is in favour of resuming direct negotiations with Israel to discuss all final status issues," Lavrov told reporters after talks in the Jordanian capital.
"We fully support such approach; we fully support the resumption of direct negotiations," he said, speaking in English.
Abbas formally announced in September that the PA would ask the General Assembly to grant it "super-observer" status that could give it access to UN institutions and agencies. PLO officials confirmed that the PA plans to submit its request after on either November 15 or 29.
He later told EU diplomats he would be willing to return to peace talks with Israel after he secured upgraded membership at the UN.
"When we have obtained the status of non-member state at the General Assembly, we will be ready to return to the negotiating table with the Israeli side to discuss all final status issues outstanding," Abbas said, according to the PA-based WAFA news agency.
PLO chief negotiator Saeb Erekat, who also attended the meeting, welcomed Moscow's support for the upcoming UN bid, which is strongly opposed by Israel and Washington.
"President Abbas discussed with Mr. Lavrov our endeavor to seek the upgrading of Palestine's status at the UN... to (that of) a non-member state," he was quoted by AFP as having told reporters, saying Russia's top diplomat had expressed backing for the move.
"We appreciate very much the Russian position in fully supporting the Palestinians in our endeavor at the UN," Erekat added, also speaking in English.
"Russia has always stood behind Palestine's statehood and they will vote for the resolution," he said, standing next to Lavrov.
Although Lavrov did not directly refer to the UN bid, he said Moscow fully backed the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"For us the statehood of Palestine is not questionable; we recognized the State of Palestine when it was pronounced in 1988," he said, referring to the unilateral declaration of independence issued by former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat on November 15, 1988.
"We have a full embassy of Palestine in Moscow and this is our policy," he said.
On Monday, Erekat emphasized that the PA will push the UN bid despite pressure to back down.
"No matter what pressure we are facing... we will not go back on our decision," Erakat said.
"We tell the countries that are trying to undermine our action that we are not seeking a confrontation with America or to isolate Israel, but to isolate Israeli occupation and settlements, and to affirm the principle of the two states," he told reporters.
Channel 10 News reported on Monday that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has threatened that if the PA goes ahead with its unilateral statehood bid he "will work to ensure the PA will collapse."
Lieberman reportedly stressed that a unilateral statehood bid by the PA will "put an end to the chances to resume peace negotiations."
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he remains ready to sit down for final status talks with the PA leader.
"Only in direct negotiations will it be possible to clarify what the true positions are. Generally, I can say that if Abu Mazen is really serious and intends to advance peace, as far as I am concerned, we can sit together immediately. Jerusalem and Ramallah are only seven minutes apart; I am ready to start negotiations today," Netanyahu said bluntly.
"I will take this opportunity to again call on President Abbas to return to the negotiating table without preconditions, because peace may be advanced only around the negotiating table and not via unilateral decisions in the United Nations General Assembly, which will only push peace further away and will only lead to instability."


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Last week, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization that effectively governs Internet infrastructure, announced an official date for a new policy regarding domain name transfers for all gTLDs (non-country code domains). The change will go into effect for all users on December 1, 2016. While six months may seem like a while from now, the policy will require some adjustments, so we wanted to give all of our customers, partners, and developers as much time to prepare as possible.
The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy
ICANN is revising its Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) in an effort to reduce the risk of fraud and "domain hijacking." It will now require domain name registrants to complete additional steps in order to confirm a transfer to another party. At the same time, it will also affect any domain name registrant making routine changes to their contact information. Here is a summary of the policy changes:
If either the current or new registrant rejects the change, or if they fail to confirm the change within a certain time period (which Enom will set), then the transfer/change will be canceled, though the domain itself will not be suspended.
What this means for end users


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Matthew Dennison - The Fixer
At twelve, Matt started to make Wensleydale cheese in the old Evansdale factory. This cheese was excellent, and his dad could not understand how Matt did it! This lasted for only a few months, when at twelve years old, Matthew found better things to do.
Matt worked on and off in the factory over the next few years, and was always willing to help. In 1998, when Annabel came to the Evansdale Cheese factory, we started to make sheep milk cheese. The milk was sourced from Jock Allison's flock of East Frisians at Milton. Every day for two seasons, Matt collected the milk from the farm and brought it back to be processed by Annabel. At the time the factory was running two day shifts.
From 2000 onward, Matt became involved in the building of the factory on the old Cherry Farm site. One memorable day Matt and Colin mixed and poured the floor for the new factory to build the staff kitchen. The concrete make for that day was 10.5 cubic metres of hand mixed concrete.Matthew is the 'go to' person at Evansdale Cheese and does everything from cheese making to making sure our fleet of vehicles are doing what they're supposed to do – work. Matt enjoys working with his family and in his spare time enjoys trail bike riding. Outside of work, Matt enjoys spending time in Warrington with his family.
Matthew's Evansdale Cheese Recommendation: For Matt, the Farmhouse Brie is his favourite cheese and nothing beats a gigantic burger or sandwich with an equally gigantic slab of Farmhouse Brie in it! Mmmm….


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What do one of the oldest beer companies in the world and an Oxford professor of psychology have in common? They both think men need more time together. Drinking beer. And playing sports.
That's right, gents. Put down your phones, shut your laptops and grab a pint with your buddies at the local pub, because science says your health may depend on it.
Men need a minimum of two guys' nights a week to maintain good health - and it's a scientific fact, at least according to new research from a U.K. psychologist. Robin Dunbar (infamous for the Dunbar Number - a theoretical limit on the amount of close social contacts a person can have - and his work on friendships), director of Oxford University's social and evolutionary neuroscience research group, is very specific with his prescription: Men must physically meet with four friends twice a week to reap the benefits of male friendship.
Those benefits, in addition to general health, include faster recovery times when faced with illnesses and higher levels of generosity.
Dunbar goes so far as to recommend guys "do stuff" while they socialize. In addition to drinking beer and laughing together, men should try to play a number of team sports.
"Bonds can be formed through a range of activities from team sports to male banter - or simply having a pint with your pals on a Friday night," he said in the report.
Too busy with their day-to-day lives, one in three men in the U.K. can't find the time to meet once a week, and 40 per cent of men are able to make a "guys' night" only a weekly affair.
Despite spending 20 per cent of their day interacting through other means (all of which can be done on a smartphone), men need to meet face to face to keep their broships strong, Dunbar suggests.
Led by the same researcher that suggested individuals max out at 150 real relationships (despite social media friend counts that often reach much higher than that), this study shows men to have an inner circle of only a handful of guys.
If the group gets too big, laughter is less likely, as are the endorphins released by happy interactions, which are said to be responsible for the health benefits of this male bonding time.
Guinness, the makers of the famous Irish stout and stewards of dozens of other worldwide beer brands, commissioned the research, which in turn (not surprisingly) recommends the benefits of drinking a pint or two with the lads.
"When guys get together physically and more frequently with their mates," Stephen O'Kelly, a spokesperson for Guinness told Daily Mail in the U.K., "their friendships become stronger, better, and a richer life results."


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What do we need to do and where?
Our efforts must be firmly grounded in the fundamental principles of universal human rights, but a global approach to LGBT issues that does not take local contexts into account may not be the answer.
Understanding local cultures, economies and politics is essential to initiate and safeguard lasting change and achieve recognition of the same rights for all people.
Embedding human rights principles in social, political, medical or economic contexts can contribute to a better understanding and greater impact over time.
Global campaigns need a unifying message with broad appeal and clear, realistic objectives.
However, their phrasing and presentation should be designed with input from both local and global stakeholders.
Although such campaigns can raise the visibility of LGBT struggles and expose violence against LGBT people, public exposure can also worsen dangerous situations. Sensitivity and caution are essential.


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Posture Shift Spotlight is an interactive webinar offering collaborative ideas and insights to guide church and ministry leaders on LGBT+ inclusion and care.
Each month, we offer a 1-hour Posture Shift Spotlight event covering a specific topic. This session's topic is Caring for LGBT+ Family, Friends & Teens During the Holidays.
For all Posture Shift Spotlight events, the final 30 minutes will be devoted to your questions and real-time situations you are navigating. We will collaborate to arrive at a range of ideas that you can take back into ministry application.
Yes, you are more than welcome to join Posture Shift Spotlight as an observer!
How do I preach and teach the Bible and simultaneously reach LGBT+ people? • How do we construct an Inclusion Model that faithfully honors God and radically loves LGBT+ people in all life stages? • How do I enhance my language to create relational trust with LGBT+ people? • How do I advise the parent of a queer teen? • How can our school or camp provide housing for a trans student?
You need not have attended our 2-day Posture Shift Intensive Course to join Posture Shift Spotlight. If you wish to get a glimpse of our missiological teaching, we invite you to attend Posture Shift for Congregations Live.
Invite pastors, colleagues & ministry leaders! Yes, youth ministry directors & lay leaders are welcome!
No refunds are available. Please email firstname.lastname@example.com to reschedule to another webinar event.
For further assistance, email email@example.com or call (978) 212-9630.
If you are a parent of an LGBT+ loved one, consider attending Posture Shift for Congregations Live or Guiding Families: An Evening With The Author. Or you can obtain private support at Guiding Families Direct Care.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Zoom information will be emailed to paid registrants after registration.
"Posture Shift changed the entire trajectory of our church network from being immobilized for over a decade to establishing buy-in and mobilizing commitment to implement 'radical love' for LGBT+ people while honoring God. Our sense of hope has been renewed!"
– Denominational Executive
"Posture Shift is a game-changer. It is theologically sound, more sound than any prior approaches we have seen. It will move our seminary training forward and this will allow us to properly equip pastors during their education."
– Retired Seminarian
"We were stuck for so long and afraid that any move would represent a theological conflict. We are now set in motion with authority granted from our leaders! The Gospel will have power in our schools because of Posture Shift."
– Christian Educator
"Usually I follow up on [consulting] like this and say, 'Despite what you heard, this is not feasible for our church.' In this instance, I can't say that. Posture Shift is transformative without undermining legal concerns."
– Denominational Attorney
All attendees will receive an exclusive 24-hour coupon code for 40% off any purchase of print or digital resources, including privately scheduled Posture Shift Consulting for your team or Guiding Families Direct Care.
Bill Henson
Creator | Posture Shift
Author | Guiding Families
Bill has trained and consulted with over 60,000 pastors and ministry leaders across North America. His Posture Shift curriculum pioneers a missiological and biblically-sound pathway to better inclusion and care of LGBT+ people. Bill is author of Guiding Families, now available in multiple languages. Bill has provided direct care to over 5,000 LGBT+ people and their families in the last 15 years.
Josh Proctor
Spanish Translator,
Social Media Director
Lesli Hudson-Reynolds
Gender Identity Ministry Director
Chadyn Case
Director of Operations &
Donor Relations
Meg Baatz
Director of Communications & Design
Posture Shift is North America's leading training and consulting resource for church and ministry leaders on LGBT+ inclusion and care.
Our vision is loving LGBT+ people in the Church via our mission: to enhance church inclusion, increase family acceptance, protect against victimization, and nourish faith identity in LGBT+ lives.
We look forward to seeing you at our next live web event! Check your email for a confirmation and receipt.
You will receive further details about this event (including Zoom information) within the coming week.
Here are a few things you can do leading up to the event:
1. Mark your calendar:


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Networks are the backbone of your office communications.
Without them, everything comes to a grinding halt. Office productivity slows right down, and not a whole lot gets done. Just as bad as having a down network, having a network that is sporadic or slow can be just as detrimental to your overall productivity.
At TSG Computer Services, our mandate is to provide you with the best solution that will ultimately result in increased productivity. Whether it's by designing and implementing a custom network, or fixing/upgrading an existing one, we ensure that the backbone of your office communications remains intact.
With more than 25 years' experience in IT support and computer service, TSG Computer Services has the expertise to provide you with a reliable and efficient IT environment, so you can focus on your customers.
Our network services include:
• Internet Cabling
• Network Design & Implementation
• Router Setup and Configuration
• Network Security
• Wireless Setup
• VPN Integration and Setup
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Nature vs. Nurture
There is an issue that has been conferred upon by philosophers in the past and still so by scientists today. This issue is whether heredity or environment plays a greater role in the determining or shaping of an individual's behavior. It is known as the nature versus nurture debate.
Numerous generations before us have deliberated on the reasons behind the development of human behavior. There have been many theories formulated to explain why humans behave the way they do. The surviving theories for behavior derive from physiological and sociological explanations. However, the two explanations have not always been compatible with each other. The famous nature vs. nurture debate over human behavior resulted from conflicting views between proponents of the physiological (nature) and sociological (nurture) explanations. Throughout history, research has swayed popularity back and forth between the theories. Yet, theorists have broken down the line separating nature and nurture.
As of today, people utilize both explanations to explore human behavior.
Way before our time, early philosophers endeavored to understand the human behavior. As early as 350 BC, such philosophers as Plato and Aristotle tried to understand behavior. The question of nature or nurture as the primary drive can be traced to these times. Plato believed behavior and knowledge was due to innate factors. Author Fiona Cowie states, "The claim that the character of our mental furniture is to a large extent internally rather than environmentally determined found its first substantive defense in the works of Plato..." (Cowie, 1999). Plato theorized that all knowledge is present at birth. Plato also believed that the environment played a part in human processes, but he thought it had an unique role. He believed the environment did not teach people anything new, but its purpose was to remind people of information they already...


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I went out of town for a week. When I departed, it was still unseasonably hot and dry here. By the way, I think unseasonable is an adjective that I probably need to stop using, because unseasonable is the new climate change norm, right? Anyway, I returned to full-on gloom. We're in the middle of an entire week of cold drizzle. I'm trying to embrace the change – we certainly need the rain, and the fall roots and greens are drinking it up and growing like mad.
However, no matter how many cold-hardy greens I plant, I get anxious when I contemplate the long cold season ahead. I figure we're about two or so weeks from the first frost, and then it will be mid-May until I can set out the 2018 batch of summer annuals. Seven months. Eeek. I also become nervous when I think about the effect of the long winter on the honeybees. There's not much in bloom right now, and they'll need to rely on their stored honey for food, and for hive thermal mass, until March. I'm thinking each colony needs to occupy 18-20 bars going into Winter. My youngest colony was only half that size a month ago, so I gave them two bars of honey from another hive, and I started feeding them sugar water. Additionally, I participated in the Mite-a-thon a few weeks ago and conducted the sugar shake test on my two oldest hives. My mite count came in at 6 and 9 mites/100 bees. Very concerning, but I have not yet decided if I will treat. Most of the treatments seem to succeed primarily in creating treatment-resistant mites. Ideally, I'd really like to work on creating a mite-resistant apiary, which may mean rebuilding with hygienic honeybee genetics through re-queening or capturing new feral survivor swarms. My current colonies seem to contain some Russian honeybee genetics due to their dark coloring, tendency to build up quickly and love of swarming. I'm hoping at least a couple of colonies will successfully overwinter, despite the mites, due to the winter-efficiency of Russian honeybees, and that the long break in the brood cycle (all the colonies but the youngest have already dramatically decreased the amount of brood they are raising) will help lower the mite load. I guess that's one benefit of the long winter nectar dearth. I'm also considering adding some screened bottoms to the hives to give the bees a hand at eliminating the mites if they already have some grooming instincts. If I do treat, it will be within the next two weeks while it's still warm enough to open the hives. With very little capped brood in the comb, most of the mites will at least be vulnerable to treatment if I decide to go that route. Decisions, decisions.
Meanwhile, I'm scrambling to catch up on post-vacation garden chores, and to keep up with preserving giant harvest coming in from the garden right now. I came home to plants laden with ripe tomatoes, tomatillos, chiles and squash.
Also, another reminder that soon I will be clearing out my summer vegetable beds: my planting garlic order arrived yesterday. Since I left all my garlic in the ground in Albuquerque, I'm starting from scratch with new varieties this year. I selected a mix of hardneck and softneck varieties that seemed likely to put up with both wet/cold and hot/dry. It will be fun to see which do well here.


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German car manufacturers Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW allegedly funded an experiment which involved asking people to inhale a gas found in exhaust fumes, according to reports.
Research organisation European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector, commissioned the study at the Aachen University involving 25 people inhaling nitrogen dioxide sometime between 2012 and 2015.
The study by EUGT, which received its funding from the German carmakers before it was dissolved last year, involved "short-term nitrogen dioxide inhalation by healthy people" in various amounts over the course of several hours.
German newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung reports that the purpose and the outcome of the study was not clear nor could the impact of the gas be determined when the study was published in 2016.
The revelations surface after Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW condemned another experiment conducted by EUGT which saw monkeys exposed to toxic diesel fumes.
The New York Times reported that the study was initiated to defend the use of diesel following revelations that the fuel's exhaust fumes were carcinogenic.
Condemning the reports, a spokesperson for Daimler said: "We are appalled by the extent of the studies and their implementation. We condemn the experiments in the strongest terms. Even though Daimler did not have influence on the study's design, we have launched a comprehensive investigation into the matter."
BMW said the group "in no way influenced the design or methodology of studies carried out on behalf of the EUGT". A statement from Volkswagen said the company "explicitly distances itself from all forms of animal cruelty. Animal testing contradicts our own ethical standards".
In 2016, Volkswagen's US operations revealed the car company was found to have manipulated data to make it appear that some of its diesel engineered vehicles were more environmentally friendly than they actually were. The German car manufacturer reported a loss of nearly €3.48bn as a result of the emission scandal as it was discovered around 11 million cars had been affected worldwide.


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The lightweight, Pains Wessex Compact Distress Signal pack contains 3 red aerial flare cartridges and a penjector firing mechanism, all enclosed in a tough, water-resistant case. The penjector is fitted with a stainless-steel spring and striker pin. It features a slot for easy loading and unloading of the flare cartridges. These are stored inside the casing on an elastic lanyard to avoid them being lost when the base cap is unscrewed.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: November 2016
Order Codes:
Pains Wessex Compact Distress Signal are designed primarily for use on yachts, dinghies, Personal Water Craft, canoes and sailboards, but have many applications as a general-purpose distress signal for aviation, hill-walking, climbing, skiing and other outdoor pursuits. Each cartridge projects its payload to a height of over 45 metres, burns for up to 5 seconds at a minimum of 10,000 candela and is visible for at least 5 miles in daylight increasing to 10 miles at night, depending on weather conditions. Operating instructions are on the case.
Hazardous item! Dispose of responsibly through approved channels in accordance with local regulations.


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The Science Media Centre blog has a Q&A session with earthquake engineering specialists.
The topics covered are:
- What is an earthquake-prone building?
- How do they vary in terms of factors causing their "prone-ness"?
- In the wake of the quakes and the current commission, can we expect to see the building code or enforcement changed?
- What possible areas of the code might be focused on in future review of the legislation?
- Why does it take so long to analyse a building? What does it involve?
- What are some of the ways a building which is earthquake prone can be brought up to a higher standard?
- To what extent will the strong ground motions recorded in the Christchurch earthquakes lead to changes in New Zealand's building code?
- Has enough been learned in engineering terms to reduce the damage that liquefaction and lateral spreading does to foundations of structures?
- And if sea levels rise 2m over the current century, will the higher water table increase the risks of liquefaction in Christchurch or Wellington?
- Should households pay insurance premiums based on the perceived seismic risk of their site, the anticipated performance of their house design, and the risk that the suburb around them may be abandoned even if their specific house survives?
- Should homeowners be rebuilding to a standard which will enable their homes to perform much better in the next big quake – such as a major shake on the Alpine Fault – rather than simply suffering exactly the same damage all over again?
The blog is here


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WaterHog Eco Elite 6ft x 16ft (71in x 193in)
WaterHog floor mat construction and performance merge with recycled materials to make the WaterHog Eco Elite: The most environmentally friendly WaterHog mat weve ever made. With an attractive herringbone pattern in 8 colors and your choice of a durable rubber edge or fashion carpet edge, theres an Eco Elite to suit your indoor or outdoor needs.
With 100% post-consumer, recycled P.E.T polyester fibers claimed from drink bottles and a 100% rubber backing made with 15-20% recycled automobile tires, the Eco Elite performs like a WaterHog while helping protect the environment.
Our unique construction uses fade-resistant, solution-dyed fibers to wick in moisture and trap dirt inside a proprietary water dam that can hold up to 1.5 gallons of water per square yard. Rubber nubs on the mat face prevent foot traffic from crushing fibers and tracking soil off the mat.
The TriGrip rubber backing resists slipping and is available in smooth rubber for hard floors and a cleated surface for skid resistance on carpets.
Each mat has the universal recycle symbol molded into the face, which promotes recycling. The recycle contents of the mat are listed on the back side.
- Indoor or outdoor wiper/scraper mat.
- 30 oz. sq/yd 100% post-consumer recycled PET fabric from plastic bottles
- SBR rubber backing contains 20% recycled rubber from car tires
- 3/8" thick bi-level surface effectively removes and stores dirt and moisture beneath shoe level between cleanings
- Rubber reinforced face nubs prevent pile from crushing extending performance life of the product
- Unique "Water Dam" allows the Waterhog mat to hold up to 1 1/2 gallons of water per sq yard
- Anti-Static
- Cleated backing for placement on carpet or Smooth backing for hard floor surfaces
- Recommended for commercial buildings, hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, office buildings and more


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DAMAS PULCO aspirators work by suction of air through the material, separating out any light impurities. Self-cleaning and compact, the DAMAS PULCO emits no vibrations due to 100 % balanced moving parts.
Ideal for all grain sizes and types
DAMAS PULCO separators are designed to effectively take light material out of all types of crop.