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The SSD Anthology: Understanding SSDs and New Drives from OCZby Anand Lal Shimpi on March 18, 2009 12:00 AM EST
- Posted in
- Storage
Disappointed, I went back to OCZ
OCZ was worried. The last time I reviewed one of their SSDs I was truthful about it, and it hurt their sales considerably. Customers were returning drives, and to OCZ's credit, they stepped up and even accepted some returns themselves - something that most manufacturers wouldn't have done. Regardless what they had told me, there was some admission of fault there. Those JMicron drives were nothing short of crap.
As soon as OCZ started getting word that I wasn't pleased with Vertex, they went into a state of panic. These drives all do very well in synthetic HDD tests like HDTach and ATTO, that's generally all they're reviewed in, so that's all they're tested in. But now OCZ was hearing that the Vertex wasn't passing some of my tests and they had no idea what it was failing or why.
I tend to do a good job of keeping what tests I run secret until the review is published, so there isn't any unfair optimization. I purposefully introduce new tests to our performance suites to help keep manufacturers honest and optimizing for real world usage scenarios rather than specific benchmarks. OCZ had no idea what I was running, but they knew that the Vertex wasn't doing well.
Summit on the other hand was performing just fine, but that's an expensive drive. Vertex was supposed to be good, it should've been good, there's no reason for it to be performing this poorly. I ran the infamous iometer test to see what was going on:
|Iometer 4KB Random Writes, IOqueue=1, 8GB sector space
|IOs per second
|Average Latency
|Maximum Latency
|Original Pre-release OCZ Vertex
|0.08 MB/s
|48.2 ms
|484.5 ms
How on earth is this acceptable at all? Average latency of 48.2ms and a maximum latency as bad as the Apex and G.Skill Titan drives? I've heard some SSD vendors dismiss the iometer results but let me caution you against that. What these numbers are telling us is that on average, when your OS goes to write a 4KB file somewhere on your drive, it'll take nearly 50ms. That's 4.5x longer than a 5400 RPM 2.5" notebook drive and that's the average case. What part of that sounds acceptable? Anyone who tells you otherwise is delusional.
I thought for sure that the drive was broken and that we'd made no progress since last fall. But the drive hadn't launched yet, while there were glowing reviews of it, no one had wasted any money. I wrote an email to Ryan Petersen, OCZ's CEO. I described my findings and told him that while the Vertex's performance was better than any of the JMicron solutions, it was unacceptable for anything other than perhaps extremely light, single-tasking usage.
I told him it sucked. He said that wasn't fair. We argued over email but he came back and asked me what I needed to see to make the drive better.
I told him I'd need an average response time in the sub-1ms range and a max latency no worse than Intel's 94ms. I didn't think it would be possible. I was prepared for OCZ to hate me once more. He told me to give him a couple of days.
250 Comments
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Erickffd - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkAlso created an account just to post this comment.
Really impressive and well done article ! Will stay tune for further developments and reviews. Thank you so much :)
Also... very impressed by OCZ's respond and commitment upon end users needs and product quality assurance (unfortunately not so commun by large this days among other companies). Certanly will buy from them my next SSDs to reward and support their healty policy.
Be well ! ;) Reply
Gasaraki88 - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkThis truly was a GREAT article. I enjoyed reading it and was very informative. Thank you so much. That's why Anandtech is the best site out there. Reply
davidlants - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkThis is one of the best tech articles I have ever read, I created an account just to post this comment. I've been a fan of Anandtech for years and articles like this (and the RV700 article from a while back) show the truly unique perspective and access that Anand has that simply no other tech site can match. GREAT WORK!!! Reply
Zak - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkI just got the Apex. I'd probably cough up more dough for the Vertex after reading this. However, I've run it for two days as my system disk in MacPro and haven't noticed any issues, it's really fast. But I guess I'll get Vertex for my Windows 7 build.
Z. Reply
Nemokrad - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkWhat I find intriguing about this article is that these smaller manufacturers do not do real world internal testing for these things. They should not need 3rd parties like you to figure this shit out for them. Maybe now OCZ will learn what they need to do for the future. Reply
JonasR - Friday, March 20, 2009 - link
Thanks for an excellent article. I have one question does anyone know which controller is beeing used in the new Patriot 256GB V.3 SSD? Reply
tgwgordon - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkAnyone know if the Vertex Anand used had 32M or 64M cache? Reply
Dennis Travis - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkExcellent and informative article as always Anand. Thanks so much for posting the truth!! Reply
IsLNdbOi - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkCan't remember what page it was, but you showed some charts on the performance of SSDs at their lowest possible performance levels.
At their lowest possible performance levels are they still faster than the 300GB Raptor? Reply
Edgemeal - Friday, March 20, 2009 - linkIt's too bad Windows and applications don't let you select where all the data that needs to be updated and saved to is stored. If that was an option a SSD could be used to only load data (EXE files and support files) and a HDD could be used to store files that are updated frequently, like a web browser for example, their constantly caching files, from the sound of this article that would kill the performance of a SSD in no time.
Great article, I'll stick to HDDs for now. Reply


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'letter'.
Found 4 results
Letters to Wisconsin
Ozzy posted a topic in Eyewitness AccountsThe following two letters were written by 17 year old Private M. E. Wescott to his mother in Farmington, Wisconsin. Ebenezer and his school friend, Samuel McClements, decided one day to wag school, run away and join a Wisconsin regiment (and must have lied about their ages to enlist without parental permission.) Briefly at Camp Randall, the two lads were soon underway with their regiment, bound for St. Louis. But, while the rest of the regiment went into camp at Benton Barracks, Company E boarded the steamer Imperial, departed St. Louis end of March, and arrived at Pittsburg Landing about four days later. References: https://archive.org/details/civilwarletters100wesc/page/n2 Civil War Letters by M. Ebenezer Wescott https://archive.org/details/rosterofwisconsi02wisco/page/64 Roster of Wisconsin Regiments https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/dmr/id/15002/rec/3165 Daily Missouri Republican of 29 MAR 1862 reporting departure of steamer Imperial
Bragg at Corinth
Ozzy posted a topic in Retreat from Kentucky[Sketch of Corinth Mississippi by Adolph Metzner, on file with Library of Congress.] The following Letter of 20 March 1862 from Braxton Bragg to wife Eliza is of interest due the following: Bragg reveals the lack of discipline discovered upon his arrival in Corinth; "draconian measures" put in place by Major General Bragg to instill discipline at Corinth; discusses feeble health of General Beauregard (who is still at Jackson Tennessee, attempting recuperation) reveals pre-planning stage, before General Johnston arrives (and before decision taken on "what is to come in April.") Corinth, Miss. 20th March My dear Wife, By a hasty note from Bethel Station I announced my sudden departure for this place. Since that time I have had no time to write. Everything was in disorder and confusion here, troops arriving in large numbers without supplies, and greatly disorganized by hasty and badly conducted arrangements. Weather bad, and no accommodation, even for the sick. The [Tishomingo] Hotel a perfect pandemonium, thousands of hungry men standing against the barred door, ready to rush in and sweep the tables, regardless of sentinels or officers. Even the kitchen was not safe, meals were seized from off the fires, and the life of the hotel keeper threatened for expostulating. Poor Mr. Lea -- you remember him as the Steward at the Sweet Springs -- said he was over-matched for once. No promise of a fashionable (3 o'clock) dinner would appease the hungry multitude -- but all is now changed. With Gladden in command, and the La. regiments to charge bayonets, the swine are driven back, and the town is quiet and peaceable. It is most difficult to see what is to be our future. The enemy is threatening both flanks. At Island No.10, which is now our highest point up the river, we hold with heavy guns. But the pressure is very great against it, and the evacuation of New Madrid exposes us to be cut off from below. We have another strong position still lower, near Randolph Tenn, but not yet in good condition. My heavy guns from Pensacola are going there, and some of my old troops are there, but they need good commanders. The name of the place is unfortunate -- Fort Pillow. If we can keep them back on the Mississippi, I shall not despair at all of our losses elsewhere. We are to a great extent, however, reduced to the Fabian Policy. Our troops and our supplies are so limited and so disorganized that effective operations are out of the question unless we can have a little time to restore tone and confidence. My forces united to Genl Ruggles are here, about 22.000. Polk's and Johnston's are coming in hourly and taking position on my right and left. Your advice in your letter of the 12th is fully adopted in my own of today, organizing my command. All Tennesseans are scattered among better men in small squads, so that we can hold them in observation. I never realized the full correctness of your appreciation of them, until now. A general order, of which I enclose a copy, was predicated on their infamous proceedings, and I am glad to say had its effect. No plundering has taken place since. It is my fixed purpose to execute the first one caught in such acts. But the order, itself, and the arrest of a Colonel, have produced a very wholesome reform. Genl Beauregard has re-published the order to the whole Army, and ordered its observance. Towson was several days with the fair ladies at Jackson, and had every opportunity of seeing their merits and deficiencies, though ladies ought not to have the latter. Suffice it to say neither will please him. He has not said a word, but I will answer for him -- it is unnecessary to set forth objections. Robert and Mr. [Fader] are still with me. Bob will never do much with the Army, as he cannot stand the hardships -- exposure of any kind, or the inequality of camp life soon disables him. And we are far from being comfortable here. But still, for several days it was very hard to live at all. Genl Beauregard is still in Jackson, but proposes coming here in a few days. His health is still very feeble, and as long as he is distressed and worried, as he has been, he cannot improve. Every interview with Genl Polk [shunts] him back a week. But for my arrival here to aid him, I do not believe he would soon be living. His appeal for plantation bells was somewhat on the order of the "Under the enemy's guns at Castroville [Texas]" -- sensational. We have more guns now than instructed men to serve them. And metal in New Orleans for many more. May God protect and preserve you, Your Husband Braxton Bragg [Handwritten original http://repository.duke.edu/dc/braggbraxtonpapers-000846347/secst0300 at Duke University Library, Braxton Bragg Papers, items 52 - 55.] Thanks to Duke University for making this letter available online. Ozzy References: http://www.loc.gov/item/2017646911/ Tishomingo Hotel sketch by Adolph Metzner (1862) at Library of Congress. http://archive.org/stream/earlysettlersind00sowe#page/n593/mode/2up/search/Castroville resource provided for explanation of Castorville Texas. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Fabian+policy definition of Fabian Policy.
Bragg's MemoirsAlong with George H. Thomas and Henry Halleck, Braxton Bragg is one of the Civil War leaders whose memoirs -- and raisons d'Etat -- I would most like to read. Many are the reasons given why General Bragg never got around to those musings; and this post suggests one more possibility, and it involves a man named Kinloch Falconer. An 1860 graduate of the University of Mississippi, Kinloch Falconer joined the 9th Mississippi as a Private and accompanied his regiment to Pensacola, Florida in March 1861, and became part of Braxton Bragg's force there, occupying the former U.S. Navy Yard and all the pre-war fortifications... except Fort Pickens. The key to control of access to Pensacola Bay, Fort Pickens was a thorn in the side of General Bragg (who ordered Colonel Chalmers to attempt a night raid against that facility 8/9 October 1861.) A month later, on November 22nd a gunnery duel erupted, pitting Confederate batteries at Fort Barrancas and Fort McRee against Union-held Fort Pickens and a squadron of Federal warships in the Gulf of Mexico. Because the guns at Pickens and Barrancas were not designed to fire all the way across at each other -- about three miles -- neither of these forts suffered much damage. Fort McRee (sometimes spelled Fort McRae) was another matter: only one mile from fort Pickens, on the opposite spit of land controlling the entrance to Pensacola Bay, Fort McRee was the most exposed of the Confederate positions. And it was just outside that wing-shaped fort that the 9th Mississippi was dug in, assigned to guns designed to prevent a landing by Federal troops. (The 10th Mississippi, under command of Colonel J.B. Villepigue, operated the big guns inside Fort McRee.) Over the course of 36 hours, the entire vicinity of Fort McRee was blasted by guns from Fort Pickens and warships USS Richmond and USS Niagara. Fort McRee was reduced to a smoldering ruin; but Colonel Villepigue's spirited defense of the position won acclaim from Braxton Bragg, and he was promoted to Brigadier General. Kinloch Falconer -- who had spent time clerking for General Bragg -- came to the notice of newly-minted General Villepigue, and was assigned as his Assistant Adjutant General. The 9th Mississippi left Florida in early 1862, and went on to fight alongside the 10th Mississippi at Shiloh. But Kinloch Falconer did not accompany his regiment; instead, he was promoted to Captain and followed General Villepigue to his new assignment: defense of Fort Pillow, on the Mississippi River. That position was evacuated just before the fall of Memphis (in June 1862) and John B. Villepigue (alumnus of The Citadel and 1854 graduate of West Point) next found himself assigned as Brigade commander (in Lovell's Division) Earl Van Dorn's Army of West Tennessee. Wounded during the October 3-5 Battle of Second Corinth, Villepigue succumbed to his wounds in November. And Captain Falconer found himself re-assigned to General Braxton Bragg, for whom he worked as AAG until early 1865... when he was again re-assigned, this time to the Staff of General Joseph E. Johnston. (When Johnston accepted terms offered by William Tecumseh Sherman on April 26th 1865 it was Major Falconer's signature that appeared on the Surrender Document.) Kinloch Falconer's war was over, but his usefulness was not. It was known that the AAG to several general officers had kept meticulous records -- and a diary -- during his years of service to the Confederacy. (One element of his diary, for the year 1865, is on file at Vanderbilt University at Nashville.) In the years after the war, General J.E. Johnston frequently contacted Falconer for precise details IRT Operations conducted during the War of the Rebellion. Braxton Bragg, too, contacted Falconer in 1870 with many questions IRT Bragg's military operations (which may indicate that Bragg was contemplating writing his memoirs, before his untimely death in 1876.) Kinloch Falconer, himself, met an untimely death in 1878. Then serving as Secretary of State for Mississippi, while on a visit to seriously ill relatives at Holly Springs he succumbed to the Yellow Fever epidemic then raging. His papers are now on file with the University of Mississippi. Ozzy References: http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/civil_war/id/2108/rec/8 Bragg's 1870 query to Falconer http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/00/08/56/93/00002/00067jc.pdf Falconer's involvement with Johnston's surrender 1865 http://clio.lib.olemiss.edu/cdm/search/searchterm/Kinloch Falconer Collection/mode/exact/page/1 Kinloch Falconer Collection http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bordenave_Villepigue General J. B. Villepigue at wikipedia N.B. Thanks to David (Ole Miss) for providing access to the Kinloch Falconer Collection.
Urgent offer to BraggJust below is transcript of a communication (likely sent by special courier) from Confederate Secretary of War, Judah Benjamin to Major General Braxton Bragg (then commander of the Army of Pensacola, based at Fort Barrancas). Why is this 27 DEC 1861 letter important to the study of Shiloh? reveals "the intended mission of General A.S. Johnston, when he was sent West" confirms "a dispute" of some nature, between Generals Price and McCulloch; stresses intention for Missouri to be the primary scene of Confederate operations in the West; compares the skills of commander: Fremont vs. Halleck; provides a proposal to Major General Bragg (and recognizes his achievements in Florida). < Private and Confidential > Confederate States of America, War Department -- Richmond, 27 DEC 1861 My Dear Sir When we sent Genl A. S. Johnston to take command of the Western Department, it was believed that he would proceed at once to the west of the Mississippi and conduct the Campaign in Arkansas and Missouri. The obtaining possession of the latter State is of such supreme importance that I need not say to you a word on the subject. Before however Genl Johnston reached the Mississippi, the threatened invasion of Tennessee, and the advance of the Federal forces into Kentucky rendered it necessary to detain him in this latter State equally important as Missouri to the Confederacy, and threatening more immediate danger, especially when considered in connection with the menaced attack on our lines of communication by rail road through East Tennessee. At that time too, the Department of Missouri was committed by the enemy to Genl Fremont, whose incompetency is well known to us, was a guarantee against immediate peril. All this is now changed: Missouri is under command of an able and well instructed military commander. [Dispersions] exist between General Price and General McCulloch which prevent their cordial cooperation. We are threatened with grievous disaster: McCulloch has put his army (of about 9000 excellent troops) into Winter quarters in north western Arkansas, while Price has advanced alone, and we fear with fatal rashness, into a district of country where he is likely to be surrounded and cut off by overwhelming forces. And the Army of Missouri is represented to be a mere gathering of brave but undisciplined partisan troops, coming and going at pleasure, and needing a master mind to control and reduce it into order and to convert it into a real army. After long and anxious consultation with the President, we can find no one but yourself in whom we feel we could rely with confidence as Commander in Chief of the trans-Mississippi Department. Yet we do not know how to fill your place at Pensacola. Missouri must not be lost to us, even at some risk of misfortune at Pensacola. You have so thoroughly and satisfactorily prepared the defences at the latter point that we scarcely believe another attempt will be made on your defences, and we hope that by sending Kirby Smith to take your place, if you should leave, that important point will be successfully defended. You see already that my purpose is to ask you if you would consent to go to the West: in that event Genl Johnston's command would be divided by the Mississippi River, giving him as much even then as he can efficiently attend to; and your command would embrace everything west of the Mississippi, except the coast defences. Your Campaign would comprehend the States of Arkansas and Missouri, (together with northern Texas and the Indian Territory. Genl Price will probably be continued in the command of the Missouri troops when mustered with our service, and their number, of course, I cannot approximate. But we could scarcely have less than twenty or twenty-five thousand men from that state. For Arkansas and the Indian Territory, our forces amount to about 12,000 -- a number of other regiments are now nearly organized in Texas and Arkansas, and we would find means of assigning two or three of the new regiments to Pensacola, and these disengaging for your command the two best Mississippi regiments. With all these resources, aided of course by our hearty and cordial cooperation, it seems to me that we may confidently look for brilliant results. If the tide of battle should turn towards the Mississippi River, your operations would be conducted in cooperation with Genl Johnston's, and of course in that event he would rank you, but unless in case of joint operations on the river, your command would be entirely independent, and such joint operations would only be undertaken by special order of the President, and by your own concert with Genl Johnston. Will you undertake this work? I tell you frankly I believe you owe it to your Country, in this her hour of peril, but it will not be urged on you against your will. If we cannot now make available your name and reputation as a soldier, I confess I know not where else to look at this time. The President and myself have anxiously scanned every name on our Army List, and under all the circumstances (many of which it is not possible to communicate in this letter) we invariably fell back on yours as the name. The circumstances are pressing -- I could not say all that was important for your consideration by telegraph, but I must beg you as soon as it is possible to answer me by telegraph, "I accept," if that be your conclusion. If you say in reply, "I refuse," I must see what next best can be done. I am Yours very truly J. P. Benjamin [to Major Genl Braxton Bragg, at Pensacola.] Made available online by Missouri History Museum -- St. Louis Civil War Project http://cdm.sos.mo.gov/cdm/compoundobject/collection/CivilWar/id/1302/rec/2 Ozzy

subset: commoncrawl


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https://www.facebook.com/Abefineart/pho ... =1&theater
Recently a good friend purchased some land that provided access to one of these amazing and rarely visited valleys. Doing some online scouting I could not find any images from this place, and it appeared that their was a large hanging valley at the end of the 9 mile long canyon. So I packed a bag for a few days of backpacking and set out to see what I could find. Never have I hiked through such a diverse and beautiful valley. Junipers, Aspen, creeks, waterfalls, wildflowers, all along this hike. Better yet not a single person or sign of man. Reaching the end of the canyon and the hanging meadow, I was rewarded with maybe the most awe inspiring view I have every scene. I camped for 2 nights in this place and photographed to my hearts content. All the while this massive granite peak towered over me.
Clues are:
1. Private land at the foot of the drainage.
2. ~9 mile long drainage.
3. Hanging meadow at the head of the drainage.
4. Granite peak.
5. Rarely visited?
All that being said, I wouldn't put a ton of stock in the description, because, that doesn't look very granitic to me.


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Skinny-Dipping Girls Go Crazy on Cop
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) Huntington Beach police are looking for a group of skinny-dipping teenagers who pushed a security guard who couldn't swim into an apartment building pool.
Police said Tuesday that the 21-year-old security guard was pulled out of the pool by a bystander and taken to a hospital. He was treated and released.
The rescuer, Brandon Quick, says he saw a group of young men running away and three teenage girls putting their clothes on as he arrived home early Sunday morning.
He said he saw one of the girls push a security guard into the pool and laugh while the man flapped his arms up and down and called for help. The girls then ran away.
Police say the girls could be arrested on suspicion of assault.


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Susan Forest is a Three-time Prix Aurora Award finalist and a writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Susan Forest grew up in a family of mountaineers, canoeists, and skiers, and she loves adventure. She also loves the big ideas found in science fiction and fantasy, and finds fast-paced adventure stories a great place to explore how individuals grapple with complex moral decisions. Bursts of Fire, the first book in her Addicted to Heaven series (August, 2019, to be followed by Flights of Marigolds), confronts the issue of addictions in an epic fantasy world of intrigue and betrayal. In addition, Susan is an award-winning fiction editor, has published over 25 short stories (Analog, Asimov's, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and more), and has appeared at many international writing conventions. Susan loves travel and has been known to dictate novels from the back of her husband's motorcycle. http://speculative-fiction.ca/
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text:
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Vines (11/21/05)
TITLE: Too Weak To Reach The Peak | Previous Challenge Entry
By Daniel Owino Ogweno
One mid-day, the Deceiver came and pointed the couple up a tree.
"Have you people considered the fruit high on the tree?" He greeted them.
"But that fruit is too high and out of reach for us", the lady of the Garden responded.
"If you can't reach it, how then will you be rich in knowledge"? He challenged them and offered, "I will help you reach it".
The Lady of the Garden who had just assumed the Public Relations portfolio tried to put up a defence. Her parlance, however, was not pensive enough to show their resolve not to indulge. The Deceiver noticed this and pressed on,
"Things higher up will get you high".
They succumbed. Since then, mankind has had his focus on "high things". They forgot that even some of us who are tender and at the base have something to offer.
"How will they see my fruit if it is not lifted off the surface? I cried to the One who made me the way I am.
Left on my own, I can only creep. I have so much to offer but who will see them at the base? The fruit I was designed to produce was meant to be utilised. It is frustrating giving when no one is taking.
Men are proud. They have their eyes set on things that are already highly placed. They will never know what they are trampling on.
I am weak. I can't reach the peak. If only I could reach the limelight, I could bring to light the fruit that I was assigned to produce.
I can't stand on my own. I don't need a rummaging elephant to cause me untold damage. The carnage of a small fox is rough enough to ruin me.
When the floods come, I can't survive because I am vulnerable. At one time, I was overwhelmed by floods. But when I thought I was drowning, it turned out to be my moment of crowning. How did it happen?
The One who came down did so in order that I don't drown. He accepted to provide a support. I climbed on and twined my arms around Him. Because of this, I have been able to hang my fruit in the eyes of the world to see. They have picked and enjoyed the succulent sap in my fruit. The mistake they make though is that they think I am at the top "by factory settings". Attempts to point to them that there are better things at the base where I have my root is as difficult as trying to cut a huge tree using a razor blade.
And now, if you didn't know who has been speaking, let me introduce myself.
My name is Vine and my fruit is called grape. The Dictionary.com defines me as "A weak-stemmed plant that derives its support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface"
More often my name is pluralized as "Vines". The reason is that I rarely exist alone. I thrive in a congregation.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.


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In her TEDMED 2015 performance, cardiologist and singer-songwriter Suzie Brown and her husband, Scot Sax, give a vulnerable, evocative performance that tugs at our heartstrings. We caught up with Suzie to learn more about the delicate balance between pursuing her musical passions and practicing cardiology.
TEDMED: Can you tell us more about the fine line between exposing your outside life to your patients, being vulnerable with them, and maintaining the level of expertise, stoicism, competence, and objectivity that is expected when playing the role of a doctor?
SUZIE: It IS a fine line. When I am at the hospital, I am 100% dedicated to my patients and I would never want there to be any question about that. For that reason, I generally do not volunteer that I'm a musician, or even that I work part time. Once I have established a more long term relationship, and my commitment to them and competence as their physician has come across, I find it easier to talk about (but I still don't bring it up). I hope that they feel it on some level though, in that I am more vulnerable and empathetic than I would be otherwise.
TEDMED: How do you balance the medical professional side and musical sides of your life?
SUZIE: It's not easy. And it's become even more complicated now that I have kids. My schedule currently alternates between 2 weeks working as a doctor and two weeks "off" from medicine, which is my time for music. After my two doctor weeks, I'm usually exhausted, and I'm always missing my family like crazy. I need to physically and mentally recharge before I'm able to be creative, which takes time. I can't wait to spend time with my husband and daughters after being away so much at work. In between family and recharging time, I squeeze in my creative time. These days that mostly consists of songwriting with other artists in Nashville, though I still play shows and make albums. Inevitably, the two weeks "off" goes by in a flash. I often wish I had more music time, though I'm SO grateful for the time that I do have.
TEDMED: Do you think the fact that you're a musician makes you a better doctor?
SUZIE: Definitely. Having time for music allows me to recharge, to replete my emotional reserve, so I have more to give to my patients. It also allows me to access my feelings and maintain a healthy amount of vulnerability – without time away, it's easy to shut down emotionally, just to get by.
Download the song from Suzie's TEDMED 2015 performance, "Sometimes Your Dreams Find You," for free here!


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Signs of spring...
In this video you can see Cherokee, our miniature horse and Garret, our donkey enjoyed getting outside for their first fun of the year earlier in April.
(Yes, that was still snow showing!)
Emily was found trying on her new spring look with a hay wig.
We have a number of cats at the farm and recently Arwa found these three adorable kittens while getting hay for the cows.
At the time of the picture Arwa estimated they were about two weeks old and just opening their eyes.
If you enjoyed these updates you might also like to follow us on Facebook where we aim to post frequent photos and updates from the farm!Email this Page


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Immense interest in the festival productions
The festival launched the tickets sale today at 9 am and… an incredible amount of tickets has disappeared from the reservation system in matter of minutes, in some cases even in a few seconds!
We are of course really happy to see such immense interest (which a lot of festival fans share with appreciation), but… we also have a few reactions from disappointed voices that claim Flora is a "closed-off event." – This is not true. For example for the Dejvické divadlo production which was sold out the fastest, we had 490 tickets (!) available for the sale which is much more than one complete capacity of the Moravské divadlo venue, for Klata's Faust or Mikulášek's Personas (staged in limited space of the S-Klub venue) also almost 250 for each… We encourage those who did not manage to get tickets for their favoured productions to keep an eye on the booking situation regularly (since quite a lot of them expire before being collected are put back in the sale). We look forward to seeing you in the middle of May – there is a big amount of tickets available also to other exclusive festival productions!
Petr Nerušil, festival director


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The Suite R0.8 are the surround speakers from the Suite range of speakers. They are actually pretty incredible sounding speakers. They were so accurate and "lively" in reproduction we couldn't help but try them as front monitor speakers too. In which they perform admirably. Frequency response of the speakers are 57Hz – 25KHz. Sensitivity is 88dB with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Dimensions of each speaker are 16″ tall, 12″ wide and 7″ deep. They are angled to focus the rear surround soundtrack right behind your listening position. For under $400, you can add a new "dimensional"sound (if you currently don't have surround speakers or a lesser quality pair) to your movie watching experience.
Cosmetically, the speakers are in good shape. Just very minor scuff marks here and there. Nothing major. They were formerly used at a dealer's showroom. We don't have the original box but will securely pack them for safe shipping.


text: Belo Essentials Nourishing Whitening Body Bar 135g Introducing scientifically formulated products from skin care experts at Belo Medical Group. A body bar that lightens skin safely and naturally in as little as 7 days with its DermaWhite PLUS - a dual action whitening technology that has a combination of alpine plant extracts, California prune fruit pulp, and skin vitamins. * Inhibits tyrosinase, which causes melanin build-up, for faster, more visible whitening. * Cleanses gently and prevents dryness for silky soft skin. * Soothes and shield skin from irritation with Chamomile extract. Dermatologist-tested and approved. This product has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


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Linda 101
From the WorldNomads.com network
October 2011
Answers (5)
Im planning a 4 day trip to Kiev. Would appriciate some good advice on must go places, restaurants, nightlife. Thanks!
Admittedly I haven't been to Kyiv in years but I STILL remember the Chernobyl museum. It's a great way to understand what happened, how the soviet govt misled it's people and the world AND what lessons we should take away from their tragedy (and now the tragedy of the people of Japan). Don't worry - it's in town so no need to travel to Pripyat. about 9 years ago
What is the best night club in Houston Texas?
There's a bunch of clubs downtown on Main Street. almost 9 years ago
Any suggestions for a Texas road trip with a week duration leaving and going back from Austin? Tks, nomads!
You could do a loop btwn San Antonio, Houston and Fort worth but that's a LOT of driving. Personally I'd spend the week in Hill Country enjoying food, wine and antique shopping with a few days in SA for yummy local flavor. about 9 years ago
Questions (3)
2 answers384 views
In between Houston and Dallasabout 9 years ago about Houston, Texas, United States
1 answer295 views
Isla Mujeres, Mexico recommendationsabout 9 years ago about Isla Mujeres, Mexico
0 answers4k views
Yoga in Bonaireover 8 years ago about Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles


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History of the World Teacher Guide - Scratch and Dent
The Transforming Influence of Jesus Christ
Download a sample of History of the World Teacher Guide
This unique world history course is for the Christian student and the Christian family. If Jesus Christ is Lord of all and must be preeminent over all things (Col. 1:18), this must profoundly effect the way Christians will look at world history. This course places the Lord Jesus Christ squarely at the center of human history from AD 33 to the present. We tell the story of the history of the great empires and the primitive tribes, but we do not leave it there.
We follow the tracks of the Carpenter from Nazareth and His disciples into every major nation, empire, and tribe around the world. We focus on original eyewitness accounts from a wide spectrum of Christian denominations wherever true Holy Spirit conversions and transformations occurred. This one-year course will cover every century from AD 33 to the present. Recommended for 7th-9th grade level, or family, church group, and Sunday Schools.
This is the Teacher Guide for the History of the World set. This Teacher Guide covers Taking the World for Jesus and Adventures of Missionary Heroism


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October, the month of Halloween, is synonymous with frosty mornings, dead leaves, and deepening shadows. Before we begin the long bone-cold and grey darkness of winter, we contemplate the dead and whethermore
October, the month of Halloween, is synonymous with frosty mornings, dead leaves, and deepening shadows. Before we begin the long bone-cold and grey darkness of winter, we contemplate the dead and whether or not we will join them before the snows finally give way to spring. The following eight games explore the zone in between life and afterlife, where we fear to tread. They may not inspire terror in broad daylight, but when played in the dark with a tablet and a pair of headphones, you may view the dancing silhouette of tree branches outside your bedroom window in a new light. Don't worry, though...it's probably just the wind.
When you're done, be sure to check out our sister site, Chowhound's guide to throwing a creepy yet classy Halloween party.
It's arguably Netflix's hottest new show, deeply influenced by vintage Spielberg, Bradbury, and Stephen King, and and now there's an official mobile game for it, timed to coincide with the release of season 2 on October 27. The game is like an old-school Zelda: 2D, top-down exploration, and a simple combat style. It also retains a lot of the eeriness of the show. Over the course of the game, you'll unlock several different characters from the show, who each have a unique ability that allows you to access different areas of the town's map. Despite being completely free to play, there's a lot of game here, and it's very polished.
This is a 20th-anniversary remake of a seminal '90s point-and-click adventure game. The story -- a spooky murder mystery set in New Orleans and involving voodoo -- is the same, but you get new and lushly detailed artwork, a remastered soundtrack, and re-recorded dialog, in a portable package. On Android and iOS, you get part 1 of 10 for free, and it's $12 to get the rest. Not cheap for a mobile game, but this genuinely premium title earns its price tag, and old-school adventure game fans wouldn't want to miss it.
"Distraint" means seizing someone's property in lieu of payment. It's not the kind of term that will strike fear into most people's hearts. But when you're the one doing the seizing and the property is packed with spookies and strangeness, it's another matter. This indie side-scrolling adventure game might have you shutting your closet door at night. You can play the game for free with ads, or pay $1.50 to make them go away forever.
Although mobile gaming is heavily populated with 99-cent titles, Forgotten Memories makes a compelling argument for opening your wallet a little bit wider. And the franchises that influence it -- Resident Evil and Silent Hill -- have only sparingly been ported to mobile devices, making Forgotten Memories one of the most prominent survival horror games on iOS (Sorry, Android gamers.).
The over-the-shoulder camera and control can take some getting used to, but you'll soon be wandering the rooms of a haunted mansion populated by mannequins and illuminated mostly by your flashlight, and that's just the beginning of your attempt to figure out how you got here, and how to get back to safety. Forgotten Memories costs $6, which may be a tough sell for mobile gamers. But if you want to feel like you're actually in a horror movie, this may be the closest you can get with a portable device.
Scary stories don't always involve haunted houses or graveyards. Derelict space stations and murderbots are all the rage these days, and Dead Ringer is a great example. If you've ever played Dead Space, System Shock, or Prey, you'll be right at home in this first-person 3D creeper. The game is supported by ads, but you can pay 99 cents to remove them.
Limbo is one of those games where the less you know about it beforehand, the more mystery you'll get to uncover for yourself. But we can tell you that this deeply atmospheric side-scrolling puzzler has you playing a boy who's entered a shadowy land in search of his sister, and you must navigate some deadly traps along the way. $5 gets you the whole game.
In case you've somehow never heard of The Walking Dead, it's a show about a group of people trying to survive in a world that's fallen to a zombie apocalypse. The game tells a separate story with separate characters, but Telltale Games rises to the challenge with engaging situations and characters, tough choices, and heart. This adventure game is on the traditional side, favoring dialog and location exploration over action, so you don't need twitchy reflexes or attack combos to enjoy it. You can also play the first part for free. Getting the whole game will run you $15, which is fairly pricey for mobile, admittedly. But it's an impressively well-designed experience, and the story quality actually holds its own against the TV show.
If you enjoy the Stranger Things vibe, Oxenfree also taps into it, with some influence from The Goonies. Described as "an overnight island party gone horribly wrong," this eerie and surprisingly layered retro side-scrolling adventure will have you exploring a seemingly deserted island in search of a way to close a portal to the netherworld. The conversation system is dynamic, so the story will evolve according to how you talk to people, and the voice acting is really good, as is the soundtrack. You can get it for $5, a fraction of the cost of the desktop version.


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Entrepreneurial Mindset Key
Adjust To Mindset Of Entrepreneur In Three Steps
We humans are extremely sophisticated structures of Energy. Whether we realize it or not everything we do depends on the level of Energy we currently have in the system. Even our level of understanding or creativity totally depends on available energy so if we do not have enough we could "freeze" or do "stupid" things in the same way that a computer "freezes" when there is not enough RAM to handle all the tasks.
Step One
Take our test and get a snapshot of your current entrepreneurial mindset level. Then watch your email for structured information about any problematic areas. The result of the test is presented in the form of a Key (see example on the left) where each tooth stands for a certain aspect of this level.
After you get your personal key the description of each tooth can be seen by clicking on the corresponding tooth's body.
Step Two
Step Three
Now let's start working together! You will work two months with a professional coach/trainer in a small group environment, which is the most powerful way to move forward towards your goal.


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Few business decisions stand to have a greater impact on success than hiring the right people for the right roles. Predictive analytics is bringing data-driven intelligence to the hiring process. Continue reading Unlock the secrets to employee retention with predictive analytics
World of Watson ends today - be sure to catch these sessions before you leave! Continue reading Predictive analytics agenda at IBM World of Watson: Thursday, October 27
World of Watson attendees: Here is today's schedule of predictive analytics activities to help you plan your day. Continue reading Predictive analytics agenda at IBM World of Watson: Wednesday, October 26
World of Watson attendees: See what's on the schedule for day two of the premier data and analytics event. Continue reading Predictive analytics agenda at IBM World of Watson: Tuesday, October 25
Calling all World of Watson attendees: Check out this schedule of predictive analytics activities for October 24 and plan your agenda. Continue reading Predictive analytics agenda at IBM World of Watson: Monday, October 24
Today we more and more hear about and tend to use Open Source software. In many cases this might be a viable and good choice. Apparently, mathematical optimization (aka math programming, aka decision optimization) usually is not one of those cases. Here is a real client story. The client is a major car manufacturer in Germany.... Continue reading Why Open Source is not the answer to everything
Learn how weather-driven insights help insurers make better decisions before disaster strikes. Continue reading How weather is transforming the insurance industry
Check out these helpful tips to help you navigate World of Watson and get the most out of the experience. Continue reading Your IBM World of Watson survival guide
by Nicole Alioto, Ph.D., IBM SPSS Technical Sales Specialist, Education Industry While IBM SPSS AMOS and IBM SPSS Modeler both have easy to use graphical user interfaces that generate similar looking diagrams, they serve very different research purposes and business uses in education. AMOS is designed to evaluate models that have latent (e.g., student engagement) or... Continue reading AMOS and Modeler: Choosing the Right Path


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I haven't participated the past few weeks because I was still reading the last book I told you about, The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic, by Emily Croy Barker, which I loved! But at 563 pages, it took me a few weeks to get through it! So, I've finally moved on to another book, and I decided that I'd better start reading the series that everyone has read except for me: Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins!
I don't think I need to give you a description since everyone knows what the series is about. So far, I'm really liking the first book. I like how the author writes very succinctly, with no extra words. She gets right to the point, which makes for easy and quick reading, with plenty of action.
Disclosure: This post contains my Amazon affiliate link.


text: strace is a linux utility to profile system calls. Using strace you can see the system calls that a process executes, in order to investigate the inner working or performance. In my presentation about multiblock reads I put the text 'strace lies'. This is NOT correct. My current understanding is that strace does show every system call made by an executable. So…why did I make that statement? (editorial note: this article dives into the inner working of Linux AIO)


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The 99.9-hp PT-100G Forestry compact track loader with an HD7460B mulcher provides optimal traction for working in dense undergrowth or difficult terrain.
- Purpose-built HD7460B drum-style mulcher has a 60-in. cutting width, spiral configuration to the cutting drum and 45 cutting teeth
- More compact cutter housing enables better weight distribution and balance
- 110cc two-speed drive system with poly-chain cog belt
- Protected by a premium forestry guarding
Request More Information
Fill out the form below to request more information about PT-100G Forestry


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Residents of Some States Get Larger Health Insurance Subsidies
The Affordable Care Act offers subsidies to many Americans to help them buy private insurance coverage. But some states are getting far more of those subsidies than others.
In all, 85% of the Americans buying coverage through new online insurance exchanges got financial assistance to offset the cost of their premiums, according to enrollment data released by the Obama administration. The administration's figures also suggest that the percentage is far from uniform across the states, for reasons that are likely linked to the way the law is structured.


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In order to fulfill the ever changing demands of our esteemed clients, we are engaged in offering superior-grade Dolphin statues. The offered range of dolphin fountain statues is designed & developed by our professionals using excellent quality raw material, which is procured from the reliable vendors of the market. Offered statues are easy to install and corrosion resistance.
Quality attributes:
*Your information is safe with us.
*Your information is safe with us.
Our organization is engaged in offering excellent quality Welcome Elephant Statue, which is manufactured using superior quality raw material. These statues are designed & developed by our professionals in adherence with the international quality standards. Clients can avail these welcome elephant statues from us in various sizes and colors.
Following are the quality attributes of welcome elephant statues:


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A Healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of heart disease.
1.A work out plan
Exercises like walking, swimming and cycling maintain the health of blood vessels and strengthen the heart muscles.
2.A health diet
Include foods mentioned above.
3.Quit smoking
4.Control weight
5.Control high blood pressure.
High blood pressure increases the risk of getting heart disease.
6.Control the cholesterol level
High cholesterol leads to heart disease.Bad cholesterol in blood is not healthy.
7.Control the diabetes
It is very difficult for the body to control blood sugar levels, if you have diabetes which in turn can damage blood vessels.
8.Family history
If your family members is having heart disease,then you have the chance of getting heart disease. If you follow these tips in your life style,you can avoid Heart disease.
Foods that are good for heart include
1.Eat fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring and trout.
2. Healthy nuts such as almonds or walnuts.
3.Have blueberries, strawberries, cranberries or raspberries in cereal or yogurt.
5.Black beans that are high in fiber,vitamins, minerals .
6.A 4-ounce glass of red wine improve good cholesterol levels.
7.Vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers .
8.Use Spinach in Sandwiches and salads.
9.Fruits such as oranges, papaya are rich in beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium and fiber.
10.Tender, sweet asparagus .
12.Dark chocolate.
13.Broccoli .
Tips for Healthy heart
This forum combines the former Food & Drink and Health & Fitness forums. Post your ideas here!
Moderator: EC
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Re: Tips for Healthy heart
This is good to know. Real food for thought Thanks for sharing.
"Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." - Quotes On Moving On
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Re: Tips for Healthy heart
Thanks for sharing this helpful information. A healthy lifestyle will make the heart healthier. We know that exercise and a good diet can keep our heart healthy.
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Re: Tips for Healthy heart
Very informative thanks alot
Daud Iqbal
(kpk teaching jobs,student jobs specialist)
(kpk teaching jobs,student jobs specialist)
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Re: Tips for Healthy heart
you said right!
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Re: Tips for Healthy heart
Great thread, everything explained in short sentences.
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If an Old World décor appeals to your aesthetic, Custom Rough Sawn beams are the ideal design element - whether you're looking to remodel or complement an existing design.
These photos of Custom Rough Sawn Beams that customers shared with us were used in real homes and businesses -- installed easily thanks to their light weight and versatility -- and illustrate how amazing they look installed, indoors and outside. Straight-cut, with a heavily distressed texture full of yesteryear charm, the beams add a cozy touch you'll love.


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Brittany Crochet Hooks will have you hooked in no time! These crochet hooks are made out of Birch wood making them sturdier and stronger for all of your crochet projects. The soft wood will glide across your yarn making quick projects that much easier. The Birch Victorian Crochet Hook also has a lovely design at the end of each hook to give it an elegant touch!
Clover Amour Crochet Hooks- Aluminum Needles and Jimmy Beans Wool Jimmy's SmartStix Crochet Hooks Needles are both similar needles: crochet and crochet d - US 3 (3.25mm) US size.
You may enjoy taking a look at the Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage Maid Marian Hat, and Rowan Big Wool Cardigan Bay Jacket kits all using Brittany Birch Victorian Crochet Hook Needles.


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From the ABC News Article…
A new video sheds an eye-opening light on teens' use of e-cigarettes, or what they call "juuling."
The term derives from Juul, a popular vaping device.
"You couldn't be caught dead with a cigarette right now if you're a teenager, but with juuling, it's cool to Juul," said Jack Waxman, 17, who produced the video.
Read the ABC News article here


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To make your apps available on Firefox Marketplace, each one needs to be submitted to Marketplace and reviewed before it's published. This page provides an overview to the processes involved in submitting an app to Firefox Marketplace. Subsequent pages provide additional detail on each step.
For more details on each step of the process, please follow the links on the step heading or start the process from step 1. A diagrammatic representation of the steps is offered at the bottom of this page.
You can also follow the submission process in this video: http://vid.ly/8k2n4w
The process
So you want to submit your app to Firefox Marketplace, let's get started:
- Step 1 - Sign in to your Developer account
- Go to the Firefox Marketplace Developer Hub.
- Click Submit your app to the Marketplace
- Sign in to your developer account:
- If you aren't registered you'll be asked to register.
- If you haven't done so already, you'll be asked to agree to the Firefox Marketplace Developer Agreement.
- Step 2 - Load your app
- On the Submit an app page:
- Select whether the app is free or paid.
- Select the platforms the app will be available on.
- Select whether the app is hosted or packaged then:
- For a hosted app, provide the link to its manifest file.
- For a packaged app, upload the
package.zipfile, and once it has been validated, identify the minimum API requirements.
- Click Continue.
- Step 3 - Enter your app's details
On the Edit App Details page:
- Modify the app URL if you wish.
- Modify the description (provided in the manifest) if you wish.
- Select one or two categories.
- Provide a Privacy Policy.
- Defined a home page and support website if you have them.
- Provide a support email address.
- Indicate whether the app requires Flash support.
- Add at least one screenshot or video.
- Provide additional comments for the app reviewer (such as sign in details if the app requires them) - note you'll only be able to modify these notes by submitting a new version of the app.
- Select whether the app will be published as soon as approved - note you'll only be able to modify this setting by submitting a new version of the app.
- Click Continue.
- Step 4 - See details of the next steps
- On the Next Steps page click Continue.
- Step 5 - Obtain a content rating
- On the Content Ratings page:
- to obtain a new rating click Create an IARC Ratings Certificate and on the IARC Web site, complete the ratings questionnaire.
- to enter a rating you've already obtained provide its Submission ID and Security Code.
- Step 6 - Update availability and payment details
- Step 6a - If the app is free (and doesn't include in-app purchases):
- On the left hand menu, click Compatibility. Change the countries the app will be available in if you wish.
- Step 6b - If the app is paid (or free, but includes in app payments):
- On the left hand menu, click Compatibility & Payments
- Setup your payment provider accounts, such as Bango and Boku.
- Set the price, identify whether the app includes in-app products and select the countries the app will be available in.
- If the app is being offered as a premium upgrade to a free app, identify the free app.
- Step 6c - If the app includes in-app products:
- On the left hand menu click In-App Payments and obtain your API key and secret. (Note that you'll have to submit an update to your app once the API key and secret have been added to it, for more details see In-app payments.)
- If you're using fxPay, on the left hand menu click In-App Products and define each of your in-app products.
- Step 7 - Setup team member (optional)
- On the left hand menu, click Team Members and add any additional team member if you wish.
- Step 8 - View the listing (optional)
- On the left hand menu, click View Listing and view your app's Marketplace listing if you wish.
- Step 9 - Edit other localization listings (optional)
- On the left hand menu click Edit Listing and modify the app URL, description, and categories for any of the app's localizations or add details for any other locale supported by Firefox Marketplace.
Your app is now in the review queue. You can monitor its progress through the review process by clicking Status and Version on the left hand menu. Remember that if your app makes use of in-app payments you will need to code in the API Key and submit an update before the app can be published.
Flow chart
What next?
Having completed your app submission your might want to:


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Irishman Niall Murray suffered a disastrous weekend at Thruxton in Round Five and Six of the 2011 Ginetta Junior Championship. The reigning Ginetta Junior Ireland champion suffered two retirements, including a huge accident in the first race, which put him down to thirteenth in the standings.
As with all the circuits on the calendar, Niall headed to Thruxton with no prior knowledge of the circuit, meaning Friday practice was spent trying to quickly learn the high-speed Hampshire circuit. The 15 year old, running with Beacon Racing, then went on qualifying on Saturday and set some competitive times, putting him ninth and seventh on the grid for the two races.
Murray said: "I'd never driven Thruxton before and I don't really like it too much, I prefer the more technical tracks rather than just flat out. Still I had to do it, so I tried to be as quick as I could. Practice on Friday I did twenty laps in the first session and my quickest lap was on lap nine. That was only two tenths off my quickest lap all weekend, so I think I learnt the track pretty quick.
"The other guys must have tested here or must really like the track or something, because I found myself off the pace, more than I'd like to be. The track is a lot about getting toe, getting slipstream and I have no team-mate, so it's very hard and I had to try and join up with other drivers, but it just didn't really work out.
"I qualified down in ninth place for the first race and seventh for the second. I think I was just over driving the car, as I was three or four tenths off my time in free practice, so I wasn't too happy about that. Looking at the data, I was just going into the corners too deep, like the complex, which then ruins your whole lap as you're flat out for the rest."
Murray headed into the races hoping to work his through the grid and pick up some strong results, following on from his maiden podium in the series in Round Three at Donington Park. However race one saw contact from a rival on lap one send his Murray Motorsport-backed Ginetta G40 into the barriers, instantly ending his race.
Murray, from Firhouse, Dublin, reflected: "I got a good-ish start, was right on top of William Foster coming into the first corner and stayed all the way to the inside. Will slowed down a little bit, don't know why, so I had to let off a little, because I didn't want to make any contact.
"I started turning left towards the middle of the track and then looked in the mirror and saw Tom Howard behind me. I thought nothing of it because he was on the outside, then I felt an almighty smack at the rear right.
"I tried to correct and turn left, but I was just travelling too quickly and couldn't react to a smack that hard really. I spun once or twice, was on the grass so I couldn't stop anything and hit the barrier at about 60mph, so it wasn't a nice impact. Was a bit winded after that, but fortunately didn't get too much damage as I hit the barrier exactly side on. That was a bit of a disaster."
With the car repaired, Murray hoped to recover some good points from race two on Sunday, which was televised live on ITV4. However once again the teenager was out of luck, with the car suffering mechanical problems, expected to have been caused from the accident the day before.
Murray explains: "On the warm up lap I went around and had a few losses of power. It came back almost immediately, so I thought nothing of it. I got a very good start to the race, but going round the first corner, the car just died. I was unbelievably annoyed.
"I came into the pits and told my engineer what happened, but there was nothing really we could do. I went back out and tried to nurse the car round, get three or four points for finishing last, but I only completed five out of nine laps and to get classified you have to complete eight. So I thought I'd got points, but then came in, looked at the results and seen I was not classified, so that was another thing that annoyed me."
"Two DNF's for the weekend, just not what we were expecting and it just isn't what we need for our championship hopes. I was hoping for top five in the championship and I was tenth in the championship before today, so I'm guessing I'll be further down now.
Next up for Murray is Oulton Park in Cheshire, another track he doesn't feel will be his best, concluding: "Oulton is a fast, flowing track as well, so I don't think it will be my strongest, but it won't be as bad as this weekend. I'm going to be on the computer every day to try and learn the track. It is very tough, but I'm going to try and make the best of it."


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Customer Needs Research
Customer Needs Research, sometimes synonymous with Habits & Practice (H&P) research, helps researchers and product developers understand the needs, wants, and expectations of customers.
Customer Needs research should help researchers accomplish the following:
- Identify important unmet needs of the customer
- Disprove false assumptions and correct mistaken internal beliefs
- Refine segmentation
- Prioritize future product development initiatives
- Drive growth via customer adoption, loyalty, and advocacy
- Improve ROI
This type of research also identifies unsatisfied needs that customers view as highly important. The resulting "need gaps" highlight opportunities for future product development initiatives and inform the design and development of new product and service features. Through customer needs research, organizations can satisfy the most important unmet needs of their target audience by enabling them to accomplish their desired outcomes more effectively, with less effort, and with greater enjoyment.
Customer needs research vs. consumer needs research
While the customer and consumer are often the same individual, it's important to differentiate between the person who actually uses the product and the person who purchases the product. For example, when a parent purchases a toy for a child, the parent is the customer, but the child will be the consumer. Understanding the difference between customers and consumers will allow you perform more accurate and targeted research.
Researcher-Produced Content to Help You Run Exemplary StudiesView Content
How customer needs research works
Customer needs research typically employs qualitative and/or quantitative research to classify and rank the needs, wants, and expectations of target customers and/or consumers during key interactions (touchpoints) along the customer journey. These touch points can be ranked based on levels of importance, frequency, market reach, ability to deliver, or other metrics relevant to the business.
Typically, research begins with qualitative focus groups, ethnography, or field observations to understand user needs while trying to accomplish certain tasks or jobs. This phase takes into account the environment and context surrounding customer behaviors during each task. The next phase typically moves towards quantitative research to validate and prioritize those needs. Surveys ask respondents to evaluate various job/task statements, and often these surveys include a series of socio-economic and demographic profiling questions to enable deeper classification and segmentation analysis.
Well-designed and executed qualitative and quantitative research work together to allow organizations to improve the effectiveness, ease, and enjoyment of their offerings while delighting customers where and when they appreciate it most.
In this manner, customer needs research allows product managers, planners and customer experience leaders to better understand key gaps in their offering and prioritize development opportunities that are more likely to win in the marketplace.


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Brand new for 2019, the Angell K25 Junior has been specifically designed for younger players that are serious about their game. Constructed from a unique Aramid and Carbon fibre matrix, the K25 Junior performs like an adult frame whilst being proportionally correct for younger players. As the material of choice for most bullet proof protection products, Aramid fibres provide all the dampening and shock absorption needed, whilst the high modulus carbon delivers the abundance of power that all Angell frames are renowned for.
Both the LIME and RED models are available in grip size 0 and come pre strung.
Frame Features
ACF – High Modulus Carbon and Aramid Fibre
Full Protection Grommets
Unstrung Specifications
Headsize – 95″
String Pattern – 16×19
Weight -240g unstrung
Balance – 310mm unstrung
Stiffness – 60RA
Length – 25" / 635mm
Grip Size – 0
Grip type – High Tack PU Black


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Cannot believe we are in 2019, how has it got to this year so quickly?!
As always, I'm kicking off the new year blog posts with my resolutions for the coming year. I don't take these too seriously, but it's nice to have some goals to focus on and work towards, and then look back on them at the end of the year and see how many have been ticked off!
You never know what's round the corner and the year could pan out completely differently to what I imagine, but that's the fun of life I guess! So, without rambling on too much, here are the things I'm hoping to achieve in 2019!
1) Change jobs - get better hours/work-life balance.
As I've said before, I'm a nurse full time. I currently work shift work which includes long days, night shift and weekends. As much as I love my job, I feel as though because each week is different, it's hard to plan ahead or have any sort of routine. This suits some people really well, but I'm finding it's not working too well for me. I also find night shift really difficult to adjust to, and so hoping to change jobs (within the same area) to possibly a day-unit which would be more 'normal' working hours.
2) Start a hobby.
If I manage to switch my job to better hours and start to have more of a routine, it means I will be able to start a hobby as I will be able to commit my time to it during the evenings. I'd like to re-start ballet or boxing - something fun which includes fitness as well.
3) Go on a 'big' holiday.
Last year I went to five different places abroad which I feel really lucky to have done. However this year, instead of doing more 'smaller' trips, I would like to save up to go on a bigger holiday - somewhere like Bali (currently being planned) which is further away and more adventurous!
4) Move flats.
This will be inevitable as my contract on my current flat ends in October - so I will definitely be moving flats. Although this time I am going to be moving in with my boyfriend which is a super exciting new chapter for the both of us, and will hopefully mean I can start focusing more on interiors we like and make it more homely rather than a flat share.
5) Read at least 10 books.
This was on my resolution list last year and I managed to achieve it! I got a Kindle for Christmas this year which means it'll be even easier to read on my commute/when travelling, and I want to read as many books as I can.
6) Go home more often to see family.
Living in London means you can get carried away with the busy life, but I want to make more effort to go home and spend time with family this year as sometimes it is months between each visit.
7) Work on my own confidence.
Something I struggle with every single day. At times I can feel quite awkward around people and my social anxiety takes over which means I often feel really uncomfortable in big groups of people and turn into an introvert a bit. Each year I feel as though my confidence is getting better and this is something that I will be continuing to work on.
8) Eat more fruit and veg
Something that is pretty self-explanatory. My diet definitely needs more colour in it.
9) Visit more places in the UK.
There are still so many cities and areas that I haven't yet visited in the UK which would be so good for short weekends away! Some of the main ones on my list are Manchester, Lake District and Edinburgh.
10) Get out of my overdraft and start saving money.
Again, something that is on my list every year. But I've started already by cutting down my phone bill, closing down my credit card account, and cancelling my expensive gym membership...so hopefully things are looking up!
What are your hopes and dreams for the coming year?
Lets do this 2019!
Outfit details:
Coat: Boohoo
Jumper: Zara
Trousers: Pretty Little Thing
Trainers: Nike (old)
Bag: Topshop


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I had the great fortune to attend the EdMedia 2016 conference in Vancouver June 28-30 at the Sheraton Wall Centre. I had never attended an international conference, and was very excited to hear how other educators used technology in their classrooms. The following is my summary of the speakers I attended.
Tuesday June 28
The keynote speaker for the day, Dirk Ifenthaler, described the challenges (and benefits) to using learning analytics to enhance student learning and make program choices. The key to analytics success is to use learner generated data, but this can be difficult to collect, as students may have valid privacy concerns.
There were several presentations related to building collaborative learning communities online. I have some great tips for creating successful online groups (questions for pre-group surveys). A main focus for many of the presentations was universal design and the importance of using a variety of media (including closed captioning) when designing online (or face to face) lessons. Some presenters focused on older adults and how their learning process may differ from younger adults. These presentations were very helpful considering ABE students in one class can range from 18 to 60 years old.
Wednesday June 29
The keynote speaker for the day, Laura Czerniewicz, presented a very interesting perspective on open education. In particular, she asked the question 'what is open', as this seems to be different around the world. She spoke from a South African perspective, and had very interesting views on the impact of the proposed pan-Pacific trade treaty on copyright and sharing of materials.
One of the issues with working in groups online is 'social loafing', or the 'I'll just let everyone else do it' approach. Several of the presentations addressed this issue, with strategies to help minimize loafing. Digital storytelling was a large piece of Wednesday's presentations, and I learned some new activities that could transfer into my ABE classes.
Thursday June 30
Saul Carliner, Thursday's keynote speaker, argued that technology often presented as 'new' and 'innovative' is just a reiteration of something that came before. Any technology will have early adopters, but can often have a slow start to broad acceptance.
One of my favourite presentations of the conference was Jon Dron's 'how to demotivate students'. He identified several things instructors often do that can actually hinder student learning even though we think it should be helping. I also enjoyed a presentation on "Labvideotory" – a series of instructional lab videos created by a lab instructor and his graduate students. These videos helped their students feel more confident and comfortable in the lab, as students were to watch the videos prior to attending the lab. I took away some ideas on how to improve my students performance in chemistry and biology labs in ABE.


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Welcome to Ms NAIDOC 2014! So very very excited and I want to thank those that have sent me through these amazing stories of our women and girls. I look forward to receiving more - self-written (because it is vital we celebrate ourselves as well as others!) and friend/family submitted. More information available here.
Sarah Henderson has been fantastic enough to send me through a number of wonderful entrants which will be run throughout the week. Because of this, I have decided to run one that someone else has submitted on her first. This profile was submitted by the equally wonderful Rudi Bremer, so thank you to Rudi for this piece. I have left it written in Rudi's own words because I felt they captured the spirit the best.
Sarah is a Wiradjuri woman from Corakai, but I first met her three years ago while we were both enrolled in Bachelor of Communication at UTS. She was in her third year (I had just started my first year), and was beginning to think about taking on Honours.
Since getting to know Sarah I've realised she is a woman of many talents and achievements. She has been a young carer for 20 years, including 17 years non-stop and the last 6 as a primary carer. She's completed her Honours in Writing, focusing on representations of fair-skinning Indigenous Australians in film. She's written for The Guardian, been a guest tweeter for @IndigenousX, and done verbal and mental battle with hundreds in the name of equal rights. She's also been actively involved in social justice on a grass roots level.
So much of what I admire about Sarah can't be distilled into a single moment. Everyday she teaches me about being strong, being powerful, being proud. She has been my sounding board when I've needed perspective, and my friend when I've needed support. She also laughs at my jokes which can never be undervalued. Ever.
I used to tell Sarah she should marry my brother, because sometimes she needs a calming influence in life, and he needed someone to challenge him. And while I still believe they would be perfect for each other I know it doesn't really matter because whether they ever bow to my will or not I know - Sarah will always be my sister.


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This is a business story. There are lessons to be learned here, more than about what is and is not the scope of any business.
I had a friend who had quite a good understanding of business, even though he had never gone beyond a high school education. I guess, he was a natural to some extent. I was thinking of him the other day, and something that happened in a little out of way tavern in the middle of nowhere several years ago.
It was about this time of year. The two of us had been traveling for a number of hours for a business purchase. We completed our business and were on the return trip. We were both tired and hungry. As we drove along some back road, a well kept tavern appeared on the side of the road.
We decided it was time to stop and rest. While there we would have some food and coffee, getting rested for the remainder of the trip. The building was very nice for being so far from anywhere.
The walls were paneled wood, and well oiled. The lighting was soft, but no overly so. The only employee present, the bartender, turned out to be the owner. He had owned the place for some years, and he prided himself on everything about his business from the building that housed it, to the paper napkins we would use during our meal.
The food was of course excellent. Nothing fancy, way better than the standard out of the way back country bar usually provides. I remember I had a cheeseburger. It was fresh and cooked to perfection with grilled onions, and cheddar cheese. I can still taste the burger when I think about it. The home made steak fries and coleslaw that came with my burger were also fresh, and very good.
When we finished eating, we asked if there was coffee. The bartender said there was, and it would take a few minutes to make if we would wait. Of course we would wait, the thought of coffee promised to be every bit as good as the meal we finished.
Coffee arrived a few minutes later, and it was very good. Not too strong, not overly hot, not bitter. As with the rest of the meal and surroundings, it was more than we expected.
Unusual however were the cups the coffee was served in. Not elegant, but certainly not run of the mill. They were very tasteful and unique glass coffee mugs. I had never seen anything like them before, and neither had my friend. He wasn't sure what was better the coffee or the mugs the coffee was served in.
As we sipped our coffee and discussed the trip, my friend told me how much he would like to have four of these coffee mugs we were holding in our hands. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted four of them.
The bartender/owner came to the table asking if we would like a refill on the coffee. My friend told the man how much he liked the mugs, and could he buy four of them? He was willing to pay a reasonable price.
The bartender/owner remained quiet, and thought for a few seconds. He then told my friend, the mugs were unique to the business, and he purchased them through one of his suppliers. He continued he didn't have any extra mugs he would sell.
I don't know if was from being tired, or my friend wanted four mugs so dearly, but after listening he said, "Would you rather sell me four mugs or would you prefer I stole them?"
I don't know who was more shocked the bartender/owner or myself. My friend was was as honest as the day was long. I couldn't believe what I just heard!
The bartender/owner was also quite taken aback, and I could tell from his expression he was on the brink of asking us to pay our bill and leave right now. Before he could continue that thought, my friend broke the silence.
He said, the building was exceptional, the food just as good, and the glass coffee mugs were indeed unique. However was it possible, more mugs could be purchased to replace the four mugs he wanted to buy?
I thought in this moment was to be had a brilliant business lesson. Here is a business owner, who is in business to make a living. Up until this moment he was doing this by operating a tavern and feeding his customers in a pleasant atmosphere. He took pride in everything about his business.
The bartender/owner walked away without saying anything more. I thought in the moment we had overstayed our welcome, and we were going to be asked to leave. He went into a back room for a minute or so, came out and beckoned my friend to the bar.
My friend went to the bar, and they conversed for a minute or so. Some money exchanged hands, and my friend walked back to the table with his four coffee mugs well wrapped and packaged.
The point to all this is what is the business of business? Up to that moment, the tavern owner never dreamed he would be selling his coffee mugs. My friend was obviously not driving across country in search of the lost mug. Yet business had been conducted, a surprise to both parties involved in the transaction with myself more surprised than both of them.
Business does not come naturally to me as it did for my friend. To the detriment of my bottom line, I may have asked us to leave, before I thought through all my options. If you own and operate a business, are you open to all avenues of income your business can generate? If you were the owner of the tavern, what would you have done?


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From the designers via bookofjoe,
The moon has been a guide and object of admiration and mysticism during thousands of years. Agriculture, fertility, tidal patterns, human behaviour and many other activities have been linked to the different moon phases.
Moonwatch has been designed to establish a relationship between the moon cycle and a person's emotional states. It's a new concept of time based on nature which invites people to reflect upon and gain a closer understanding of their mood and daily life on earth.


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Blumenthal Praises Companies For Waiving Fees For Donations To Victims Of Sandy Hook Tragedy In Newtown
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) praised MasterCard, Visa, Discover, American Express, and PayPal/eBay for waiving processing and transaction fees – as he asked them to do last week – for donations made to organizations providing relief to Newtown, Conn. in the wake of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school. The credit card companies decided to waive fees for donations made to the United Way Sandy Hook Fund, and PayPal/eBay decided to waive fees for any donation made in relation to the tragedy.
Blumenthal said, "I hope others follow these companies in waiving fees for donations made to worthwhile charities that will benefit the families and Newtown community that were victims of this horrific tragedy. The people of Newtown deserve every dollar of every donation of these charitable contributions. Charging up to 13 percent of every contribution, some companies are reaping sizable profits at the expense of contributors and the important cause they're laudably seeking to support. There's clear, recent, precedent for waiving the fees during Superstorm Sandy, and the companies should do it again.
"Contributors can do worthy causes and themselves a favor by donating through organizations that charge no fee."
On Thursday, Blumenthal sent three letters – one letter to five fundraising websites, one letter to four credit card companies, and one letter to four wireless companies – calling on them to waive processing and transaction fees for donations made to organizations providing relief to Newtown. Five of the 13 companies heeded Blumenthal's call. The charges range from six to 13 percent of each contribution.
Copies of the letters can be found here: