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My Concerns of Third Party Booking Agents in the Golf Industry
This article is written by Johnny LaPonzina, President of Professional Course Management, who has successfully owned, operated, or managed 19 golf courses in South Florida during his career. He is the past President of the South Florida PGA and a member of our PGA Hall of Fame.
I'd like to take this opportunity to address PGA professionals not only in the South Florida section, but every PGA section in the country of my major concerns of the current jeopardy and threat to our public golf course industry with third-party tee time booking agents.
In PCM's 30 years of owning, operating, or managing golf courses in South Florida, we have faced numerous obstacles and challenges including: hurricanes, economic slowdowns, aging demographics, an overabundance of golf courses, and a gradual decline in the growth of the game of golf. Having said that, the current dilemma and real imminent danger to our golf courses is allowing barter times that are given to third-party booking agents with no floor as to what they can charge for a round of golf at your course.
This policy is destroying the very core and integrity of golf courses in their ability to price their rounds of golf fairly and in relation to the revenue they need to generate to maintain their courses and keep them open. Numerous golf course management companies, municipalities, and public golf course owners have expressed their outrage and objections to barter times being sold for as much as 80% ‐ 90% off the regularly posted prices. In South Florida alone, two or three barter times per day can be sold at quality golf courses for rates as low as $5 per round for green fees and carts. We are training our customers to go online where they find hundreds of tee times available every day at rates which in some cases can be as much as 90% discounted.
These barter tee times are now competing with our own golf courses for customers on an uneven playing field. For example, a course may have a posted rate of $35 and the consumer can pay $5 or $6 for that same round of golf by booking it online through a third party booking agent. Our ability to price our courses fairly and equitably is being destroyed and challenged by these practices. While the barter time prices may be profitable for the third party booking agent, they are severely affecting what the perceived value for a round of golf should be.
I believe the explosion and growth in these barter tee time practices is a serious and imminent threat to every PGA golf professional's job and to every public and municipal golf courses ability to price their course fairly and equitably to ultimately survive. Trading golf inventory for marketing is creating long time problems for our industry. We are causing severe damage to our credibility to our regular customers who now expect to play golf with an 80% or 90% discount to get their loyalty. Further, it helps destroy our resort and tourist play by eroding seasonal rates and profits which we all depend on.
All public golf courses need to be aware of the severity of this problem and with cooperation, the problem can be fairly resolved. If a golf course feels that they are generating enough rounds to warrant a barter tee time, then all they have to do is put a floor to the price that the
barter time can be sold for and that price should be the same as your public rate that any golfer walking in would pay. Competing for golfers then becomes an even playing field.
I strongly feel that as an industry we must address this issue as it will be a destructive force going forward. Many golf courses in South Florida understand this issue clearly and have taken steps to resolve it. If the barter tee time prices are not controlled with a floor to their price, then courses should consider delisting with that third party booking agent. In the end, if the third party booking agents have no courses, they have no business.
I'm asking all PGA golf professionals at public courses to cooperate with a united front to help resolve this issue and make third-party tee time booking agents a potential benefit rather than a severe liability to our golf course industry.
Johnny LaPonzina, President
Professional Course Management
Big discussion occurring on Facebook right now. Comment Here: https://www.facebook.com/GolfOperatorMagazine/posts/615248545199836
Also Read: Golf Now is Golf FREE!


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Recorded: April 16, 2015
Join a discussion with Chelette Stephenson, Director of College Counseling and Alumni Programs at YesPrep Public Schools on common workflow and best practices within Naviance. Learn how counselors work with students on college search and fit, submit documents, and communicate with stakeholders throughout the college planning process. Also find out how colleges are expanding their reach to students through Naviance and Hobsons tools.

subset: commoncrawl


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How to Input a Birthday in an iPhone Calendar
Your iPhone calendar features a birthday calendar that can help ensure you will never forget another birthday. Because birthdays are associated with specific contacts, inputting that information is done in the Contacts app rather than the Calendar app. Once a birthday is added, it will be displayed on your calendar and in the notification center on the day of the contact's birthday.
Tap the "Contacts" icon on the iPhone's home screen.
Select the contact for whom you want to add a birthday. Tap the "+" icon to create a new contact if that person is not yet in your address book.
Tap the "Edit" button and input the contact's date of birth in the "Birthday" section. Tap "Done" to save the information.
Press the "Home" button on your iPhone and then tap the "Calendar" icon on the home screen.
Tap the "Calendars" button, and then tap on the Birthday calendar to display it if this calendar is not already enabled.
Photo Credits
- Chris Jackson/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images


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Amendment C040
Latrobe Planning Scheme
Amendment status
Amendment last updated
Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
Planning authority contact details
Minister for Planning
Level 16 8 Nicholson Street East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia
Tel: (03) 8683 0964
Please Note: Proposal description below describes the amendment. To verify content of the final approved amendment see the Explanatory Report.
Realign the flood controls and rationalise zonings to reflect the changes in flood boundaries for land north of Westminster Park Traralgon.


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2009. 10. 7. 00:58 Social Network Services
Google News Alert for: online social network
Twitter tweetless during social network's hacker attack
Jackson Clarion Ledger
By services, Twitter means online banks, credit card payment gateways and of course, Tweets in general. In simpler terms, Twitter was hacked into by some ...
See all stories on this topic
This as-it-happens Google Alert is brought to you by Google.
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Arun Ghosh explains creating a capable Workforce 2.0 requires more than a refresh of usual talent retention practices. Learn how to reinvent for the future.
Myriad disruptors are impacting the workforce of the future. Automation is substantially altering the shape and flavor of the skills required to compete. Older, more experienced workers are retiring. Millennials are entering the workforce, but their dramatically different needs, desires, and ways of working must be accommodated. And market dynamics are changing at light speed.
But creating a capable, adept, and satisfied Workforce 2.0, as some refer to it, requires far more than a simple refresh of traditional recruitment, development, and talent retention practices.
In this podcast, Arun Ghosh, a principal in KPMG's Advisory group, sat down to discuss:


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Oh yea...they're eight weeks old, and ready to rock the world -
puppy style!
In this case, that means a little help around the house!
We'll just tidy up these newspapers for our foster mom.
She didn't really want them in that bin did she Dodge?
Nope, don't think so. Good work getting the last of 'em Lucas.
Yumm...these are actually quite tasty Logan!
And I like that crunchy noise they make when I chew on 'em.
And if you don't want to work on the newspapers, can we interest you in a nice box?
She called it "dog earred" Abi. It doesn't look anything like our ears!
If you need help around your house, one of these puppies might be just the thing! We're now officially looking for just the right corgi-experienced home for each one of these nice puppies! If you have experience in raising, training and properly socializing a young corgi, and are interested in adopting, submit your application to ForPaws Corgi Rescue. (Experienced corgi owners only, please.)


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KYIV, February 22 /Ukrinform/. UDAR Party leader Vitali Klitschko has called on MPs to meet the demand of the Maidan and adopt a resolution on the president's impeachment. He said this from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada on Saturday, a Ukrinform correspondent reported. "The opposition initiates the adoption of a Verkhovna Rada resolution demanding that Viktor Yanukovych step down [as president], which will be a legitimate reason for setting the date for early presidential elections," Klitschko said.
He said that the elections should be held, in accordance with the Constitution, no later than May 25, 2014.
Klitschko called on all Ukrainian citizens to maintain peace and in no way yield to provocations to inappropriate actions. "The parliament will do its best to return the situation in the country to normal," he said.


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Job search engine Simply Hired has released its February 2014 Employment Outlook report revealing nationwide job openings rose by 28.7 percent over the year but ticked down 1 percent over the month. Over 25 percent of all industries experienced growth with manufacturing producing the largest gains in job openings.
"Job openings are up nearly 30% when compared to last year and holding steady as we move into the New Year," said James Beriker, CEO of Simply Hired. "Our February Employment Outlook shows ample opportunities for job seekers across a broad set of industries."
Of the 18 industries in January, five of them reported an increase in job openings with real estate growing by 5.4 percent and manufacturing expanding its workforce by 5 percent. The biggest job losers for the month were agriculture (-18.2 percent), hospitality (-6.3 percent), and automotive (-6.1 percent).
Nine out of 23 occupation categories saw growth in job openings in January 2014, especially in manufacturing roles (12.9 percent). Those occupations with the largest declines for the month included educator (-8.6 percent) and law enforcement (-5.6 percent). Over a third of the top posting companies in January were from the healthcare industry but there were also significant numbers of job postings at academic institutions and in management consulting.


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Have a go at Trout Fishing
Combine fishing and jet boating in the Fiordland wilderness for the ultimate kiwi adventure. Unforgettable fun for friends, couples, and families!
This trip is all about giving trout fishing a go for the first time on Fiordland's mighty Waiau River. It's the ultimate hands-on Kiwi adventure. Let our friendly local guide welcome you on board our custom-built jet boat, as we drift down the river having a go at trout fishing along the way. There are high numbers of rainbow and brown trout here, and with our stunning clear waters and patient guides providing tuition, you are bound to hook up in no time!
But it's not just the thrill of catching trout for the first time that makes this such a memorable day. The scenery is truly epic – think Lord of the Rings filming locations combined with the wilderness of the Fiordland National Park.
No experience is required for this private half day or full day experience and everything is supplied. Having your own boat and guide also means complete flexibility with how you want to enjoy your trip.
Enjoy morning or afternoon tea with home baking on half day trips or a delicious BBQ lunch on the riverside with locally-sourced produce on full day trips. It's so much fun for couples or a group of friends or family of up to 6, or ask us about groups of up to 10. Pre-booking is recommended Dec – Mar as availability is limited.
For the non-anglers in the group, sit back and watch the fishing action or enjoy the cycle trail or Kepler Track which runs along either side of the river. We can organise to meet up along the river so everyone can enjoy what they want to.
Searching Availability...


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Start Next Week
Start Business - Start up - Start Small - Invest Small
Start Entrepreneur - Starting Business - Business Franchise - Small Franchise
Listen to Coronavirus Patient Zero
Starting a Small Business Through a Car Club
If you already have a job or even a career and are looking for ways you can earn a bit of additional money you may find some relief in your car club. Many people in car clubs prefer to do business with other members and this makes the prime situation for making some additional money in a business geared towards cars. Some of the best options that are available may be looking you right in the face without you realizing it but harnessing your ability and the network connections you have from your collector's car club could turn into a very profitable venture. One of the first things you need to consider is what do you have to offer. Can you paint well? Do you have the supplies at your home to do the painting? Most car collectors at some point in time are going to want to paint at least one vehicle. The process is very expensive though, especially from businesses and most people do not have the time or space in their home to do it themselves.
If you have the equipment and a bit of free time, it could be a great way to make some extra money. Another way you can use the car club to create a small business is if you are good at working on cars. Not everyone has the time or knowledge to work on their own cars. Having the knowledge and tools at your disposal makes it quite easy for you to open up. Create an account at some auto supply stores and you should be able to get the parts for a nice discount, which can make it even more profitable.
If you really love working on cars then this could be a fabulous way to earn a bit of extra money and turn your skills and connections into a nice stream. If you are good at upholstery work, bodywork, or even detail cleaning those are other skills that you can use to your advantage in terms of making some money. Detail cleaning is especially important to most car club member's right before a car show. Everyone wants their car to look the best possible and this includes those who do not have the supplies or who are just too busy to do the cleaning. This is a great way to make some money without consuming your entire schedule. It is very important if you are interested in using your contacts to your advantage for business purposes that you be able to demonstrate your skills. This would mean that if you are interested in detail cleaning cars for others you should always ensure that your car is clean and organized. If you are interested in doing mechanical work, ensure that you know what you are doing, and also make sure you have the appropriate tools. For those who enjoy painting it is very important to have the tools and supplies that you need readily available and ensure that your vehicle always looks good. Your vehicle is your form of advertisement; you always need to ensure it shows the best image of you possible.
Never take your vehicle out if it is running poorly, or in bad shape when you are using your skills to make money. People who are willing to put forth some effort and really hone their skills are usually highly successful at making some money by working with the members of the clubs on ventures. If you are not willing to put for the a bit of effort then you are not likely to make much if anything. If you are good at talking to people, you may discover that it is a great way to supplement your income, or you may discover that the demand is so large that the business can grow even further and provide a complete source of income for you. With some work and time you are sure to find a lot of extra money can be made. PPPPP (word count 666) .
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open access to scientific and medical research
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These journals cover the whole gamut of oncology and cancer care. From cutting edge laboratory science to cancer epidemiology, from clinical trials to palliative care the coverage is complete.
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Andrey Dukhvalov
Director for Advanced Development of Kaspersky LabAndrey Doukhvalov – Head of Future Technologies Department at Kaspersky Lab. Working in the software business for almost 30 years, Andrey has been employed in various roles – from software engineer to software strategic architect – in system and application-level software development projects. For the last 18 years Andrey has been developing security software at Kaspersky Lab. Future Technologies Department led by Andrey is busy with new cyber protecting methodology researching and developing of new technologies on that base. One of Andrey's key current projects is the radically new secure operating system being developed as a platform dedicated to a wide range of specialized solutions where trust is of paramount importance. Another important Andrey's project is Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity – dedicated solution to protect industrial control systems against cyber attacks.


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Masked Blogster, Handsome J, Mandy, Darqness, and Jessie Saenz are hanging out at The Grid: Growlers and Games enjoying good drinks, video games and talking about Daredevil season 2, Batman V Superman, answering Facebook fan page questions, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more.
Click here to listen or right click and choose "Save As..." to download.
Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.
You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.


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Let's Talk about Fracking: The Tory government continue to offer subsidies to fracking companies whilst removing safeguards to protect the environment and citizens
The debate on fracking is contentious and heated. Simply put: citizens are worried that fracking raises real environmental and health related concerns. These are issues that the Labour Party and I share.
In the short/medium term gas is necessary for the UK, however, I do not share the Tories desire to advance fracking, regardless of environmental and local concerns.
My position is clear: unless fracking companies undergo strict and rigorous environmental tests, then fracking should be halted.
What do these tests include: A stringent examination of fracking wells on the environment, and the ban of fracking around areas of environmental sensitivity, including National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and all levels of water protection zones.
In Europe, Labour MEPs passed legislation for fracking to undergo strict environmental examinations, also known as Environmental Impact Assessments. Similarly, in the UK, Labour MPs secured 13 environmental conditions on fracking, ensuring that exploration did not damage individuals, communities or local habitats.
However, upon entering government, the Tories radically changed these conditions, weakening environmental legislation and reducing safeguards. Consequently, the strict fracking guidance Labour fought to secure has either been abolished or severely undermined.
I cannot endorse the development of fracking exploration and production under these circumstances. This is in line with the European Parliament, who voted to acknowledge public concerns about fracking and the negative consequences of such technology. Find a link to the report on fracking below, alongside the European Parliaments exact position.
I believe it is unsafe to proceed without fundamental safeguards, and call for a suspension on fracking in the UK and EU. Ultimately, I will continue to push for strict fracking guidelines on an EU and national level, thus ensuring the safety of citizens, workers and the environment.
While recognising that the energy mix is primarily a Member State competence, acknowledges the public concerns about hydraulic fracturing and consequences this technology might entail for the climate, environment and public health and the achievement of the EU's long term decarbonisation goal; furthermore recognises that the limited potential of unconventional fuels to help meet the EU's future energy demand, coupled with high investment and exploitation costs and the current low global oil prices, means it is questionable whether hydraulic fracturing can be a viable technology in the European Union; believes that public concerns must be properly addressed and any hydraulic fracturing activities should comply with the highest climate, environmental and public health standards; asks those Member States which intend to pursue hydraulic fracturing to respect the 2014 European Commission recommendation on minimum principles for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons (such as shale gas) using high-volume hydraulic fracturing.


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« Kline Announces Bipartisan Charter School Legislation | Main | Sen. Bennet Talks Federal Role, Delisle Talks State-Level Action at EdWeek Event »
Ryan Budget Seeks Changes to Pell Grants, Elimination of 'Duplicative' K-12 Programs
There would be big changes to the Pell Grant program, which offers college aid to low-income students, and a myriad of "duplicative" education programs would be consolidated, under a budget blueprint released Tuesday by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Ryan writes that "the current structure for K-12 programs at the Department of Education is fragmented and ineffective" and that a number of programs are "duplicative" and only serve a small number of students.
The document, which sets broad spending parameters, but generally doesn't include detailed program-by-program spending levels, recommends that Congress "terminate and reduce programs that are failing to improve student achievement."
Ryan says that Democrats have boosted the Pell Grant program too quickly, and cites the program as "a perfect example of promises that can not be kept." And his budget recommends a number of changes to the program, many of which the budget chairman has proposed before, such as tightening eligibility for the grants, putting in place a maximum income cap, and eliminating eligibility for students who aren't at least considered half-time.
If these ideas sound familiar, that's because they closely mirror the education portion of previous Ryan budget blueprints. So far, those ideas have run into trouble in the Democratically-controlled Senate ... and with the Obama administration.
It's worth noting that even though many of Ryan's ideas are firmly rooted in GOP philosophy, he worked out a short-term budget agreement late last year with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who heads up the Senate Budget Committee. The deal temporarily rolled back a big portion of the automatic cuts to education spending and other programs known as "sequestration."


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Sole UK Distributor for Parker Hydraulic truck pumps, F11 & F12 pumps and motors, Parker Chelsea PTOs, Parker Denison Truck pumps, Hydro Leduc pumps & motors and all Bezares truck products.
Welcome to the BSP Hydraulics web site, designed to give you an overview of our products and services. BSP was established in 1992 and has grown with its products over the years.
We are the sole UK distributor for Parker Hydraulics Gresen, Apitech products, Hydro Leduc and Kazel. Please use the buttons and menus to see how we can be of service to you.
BSP Hydraulics carry large stock holdings across our entire product catalogue. Our other product ranges include:
- Full range of accessories
- Hydraulics cylinders
- PTO units
- Pneumatics full range
- Hydraulic cooler packs
- AC/DC power packs
- Hand pumps
- Hydraulic hoses and fittings
BSP Hydraulics Limited is also your distributor for the Parker (Chelsea) line of Power Take-Off units and parts. BSP also offer a repair service for all types of hydraulic equipment. For more details please use our contact form.
Hydro Leduc is a specialist in the design and manufacture of piston pumps, hydraulic motors, hydropneumatic accumulators, and customized hydraulic components satisfying customer needs with reliable products from a reliable source. During the many years of experience in the field of hydraulics, Hydro Leduc has pioneered numerous solutions for demanding applications all over the world. These innovations have resulted in over 150 patents. This technical know-how is now available to you through BSP Hydraulics.
Please Contact Us for more information or visit our Hydro Leduc product range page.Disclaimer
Licensing for images came with permission from the Parker Hannifin Media Manager collection.


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Fruit Bowl 3
Fruit Bowl 3
Frances Ward
Regular price $54.00
Fruit Bowl 3
Ceramic- High Fired
12" d x 2"
Frances Ward is a mixed and multi-media artist who has created works with paint, collage, assemblage, printmaking, photography and, most recently, clay. Having grown up with an artist for a mother, she was exposed to various methods of artistic expression from an early age. She started working with clay in 2012, taking courses at the Dundas Valley School of Art and the Art Gallery of Burlington. Ward currently creates hand-built functional and decorative objects such as bowls, vessels, platters, and jewelry in her home studio. She is currently a member of the Burlington and Hamilton Potters Guilds and the Burlington Fine Arts Association.


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What Is Hyundai Wireless Charging?
The available Hyundai Wireless Charging pad can charge your mobile device, with no wires or plugs needed! This system requires no switches or plugs to activate, and works with most modern cell phones with Qi-Charging Certification.
For those needing a quick and convenient way to charge their cell phone, there is no better method than the Hyundai Wireless Charging system. This high-tech system uses inductive charging to safely and wirelessly transmit energy to your cell phone. Best of all, it even works with most cell phone cases! No more fumbling with wires and charging cables, simply set your phone on the pad, it's that simple. Not only is this charging method incredibly easy, it reduces wear on your cell phone and charging cable, too. And just in case you need to charge your other devices, or connect them to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, there are still plenty of extra USB ports to do so.
How to Use Hyundai Wireless Charging
- Step inside your Hyundai and turn on the ignition.
- At the center console, near the USB ports, locate the wireless charging pad.
- Place your cell phone face up, and wait for the Qi symbol to light up orange.
- When you are finished charging, simply pick up your cell phone from the charger.
New Hyundai Vehicles With Wireless Charging
The available Hyundai Wireless Charging system is one of the best ways to safely charge your Qi-Certified cell phone or mobile device. For 2020, Hyundai Wireless Charging is available on all new Hyundai cars and SUVs. For more information about Hyundai wireless charging, or any other Hyundai features and technologies, give us a call at 847-346-0144 to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable teammates. While you're here, be sure to view our new inventory to find your very own Hyundai with Wireless Charging technology today!


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A community town in the heart of Leicestershire
KBB Ashby and Swadlincote are committed to delivering customers the kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms they have always dreamed of. No matter what your budget, we can create a design that you will love for years to come.
© 2020 - clerk: jack fargher, legion house, south street, ashby de la zouch, le65 1bq
telephone: 01530 416961, email: email@example.com


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To make a long story short, I ended up returning the Dash after one week, as I found it to be severely limiting in certain key areas, despite some of the great features of Windows Mobile. Some of the highlights/lowlights were:
- The unit itself was very, very nice, and its form factor (from a phone perspective) was far better than any Blackberry I've ever used that had a full keyboard. Nice rubberized back and sides, and rounded edges at all the right places. Although I never dropped the device, it felt very sturdy and could probably survive a fair amount of abuse.
- The screen was crisp and very bright, and was even viewable under direct sunlight. However, it's still not quite as bright as the 8700's screen.
- The plethora of available Windows Mobile software is staggering, especially when compared to the Blackberry Lots of great utilities and programs written by individuals as well as ISV's. I installed the Skype beta for WM Smartphone and it worked quite well while connected to a T-Mobile Hotspot. And the Slingplayer for WM is perhaps the single coolest application I've seen for a WM device. Practically speaking, though, I wonder how much I'd really use it on a day-to-day basis versus just as a way to show off to my friends :-)
- The built-in wi-fi generally worked well, both when connected to my home network as well as when I used T-Mobile HotSpot. I did encounter a strange problem, though, in that every once in awhle the wi-fi just stopped working as I was browsing around sites. I played around with some of the wi-fi power mode settings, and found out that if I switched the power mode from "auto" to "best performance" that the problem went away. Looks like this might be some type of WM bug
- The built-in IE browser does a much better job of rendering standard web pages than the Blackberry, and over wi-fi does this fairly quickly as well.
- Setting up email access via POP (I'm not able to setup direct push) was fairly straightforward, although T-Mobile makes this a bit confusing too. You can setup POP accounts through WM one by one, but T-Mobile also makes available something they call "My Email" which is a way to centrally manage all your POP accounts through its web-based portal. They say nothing about why you would do this vs. settting up individual POP accounts, and so it left me scratching my head a bit. One advantage of using the My Email service is that when new messages arrive at your POP account that this will automatically trigger a background SMS message to your WM device, and then your device will use this trigger to download the actual message. In theory I suppose this makes My Email a quasi-push type technology, but having setup email both ways I couldn't really tell if this method utlimately delivered messages to me any faster than setting up the POP account to automatically retrieve messages every 15 mins (the shortest frequency allowed by WM).
- I ran into a strange problem midway through the week. WM has a "messaging" screen which lists all of your messaging accounts - SMS, MMS, POP, etc. For some inexplicable reason WM deleted all but one of my accounts from this screen, making email and messaging totally unusable. The messaging accounts were still active, though. I could see myself receiving new SMS messages, but I has absolutely no way to view any of them because of this problem. When I contacted T-Mobile technical support the only thing they could suggest was to wipe my device clean and start fresh again with the factory defaults. Later, when I returned the device, the salesperson who sold it to me said that he's heard of other users also experiencing this problem. This is a major bug that needs to be fixed!
- I found no way to selectively filter messages based on subject, sender, etc. With my 8700 I could logon to the T-Mobile site and apply filtering rules for each POP email account, but no similar function seems to exist when using WM and the Dash.
- I fully expected the Dash to provide much better handling and UI for basic PIM stuff - messaging, calendar, contacts, etc. However, I did not find this to be true at all. Calendar views were extremely limited and inferior to what BB provides (which I also consider to be mediocre), contact management was also a disappointment, and messaging lacked some very basic functions such as the ability to select multiple messages for a delete operation.
- Profile management in WM just plain sucks. Though they allow you to modify any of the existing profiles, they do not allow you to create your own. I use the "phone only" profile on my 8700 quite a bit, but no such equivalent exists on the Dash. The other thing that annoys me is that the alarm sound for the built-in alarm clock is not independent but is tied to the currently active profile. So, if you happen to be using the "silent" profile you'll never hear the alarm go off.
- Bluetooth seems to work fairly well, and I was succefully able to pair the Dash with a couple of different BT headsets as well as with my car. For the latter, however, it would not send signal strenght information to the car, which my 8700 could do and which I found to be quite handy since I could quickly view the car's on-screen display to check signal strength vs. having to look at the device.
- The Dash seemed to lose EDGE connectivity periodically, and the only way I seemed to be able to get it back was to power off/power on the unit. This behavior is similar to problems I had a couple of years back with my old BB 7100T.
Overall, I was a bit disappointed with the Dash and decided to return it. Unless you really need to use a lot of 3rd-party apps or some of its other features (e.g. built-in camera with the worst UI known to mankind) you're better off sticking with your Blackberry.


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Unstructured Data and LOBs
In part 1 of this series we took a look at database and DBA trends; part 2 examined the changing world of DB2 table spaces. Today, in part 3, we take a look at the burgeoning role of unstructured data and the impact of using LOBs to store that data in our DB2 databases.
The Growth of Unstructured Data
Although structured data remains the bedrock of the information infrastructure in most organizations, unstructured data is growing in importance. And there is much more unstructured data "out there" than there is structured. Indeed, analysts at IDC estimate that unstructured data accounts for as much as 90 percent of all digital information.
The rise of unstructured data is often attributed to the growing amount of multimedia data being adopted by organizations as they store more audio, video, and images. But that is only part of the story. Text documents, in the form of business forms, letters, and documents, and most importantly, e-mail, greatly contribute to the growing importance of unstructured data.
As organizations expand their digital information footprint, more types of unstructured data are being captured, stored, and made available for analysis. And not just internally generated data, but from more external data sources, too.
DB2 and Unstructured Data
DB2 for z/OS can be used to store unstructured data using BLOB, CLOB, and DBCLOB data types – collectively known as LOBs. Historically, LOBs were added to relational products like DB2 to compete more capably against the Object-Oriented databases of the time – this was back in the late 1990s. The idea was to enable relational tables to house unstructured data like images and audio and video data.
But DB2 for z/OS users were slow to adopt LOBs in their mainframe databases. This was due to several different reasons, not the least of which is that it took several versions of DB2 for LOBs to mature into capable, useful things for enterprise applications. Early implementations of LOBs in DB2 were somewhat kludgy and difficult to administer and use. But IBM has corrected many of those deficiencies over time and there are now tools that can help organizations to exploit and effectively manage DB2 LOBs, too.
The other new force driving LOB usage is the whole Big Data movement. Big Data is driving organizations to accumulate and analyze more data, and more varied types of data, to gain business insight. A specific example of Big Data driving the usage of LOBs in DB2 is the JSON support that has been added to DB2. JSON objects are stored in DB2 as BLOBs.
So, more and more organizations are adopting LOB data in their DB2 databases – to support unstructured data, for their big data projects, and to store documents and multimedia data. Nevertheless, sometimes I hear DBAs say things like "Oh, well, I don't use LOBs so I don't really need to worry about them." That can cause you some trouble, because you have been using LOBs for some time now, whether you know it or not. LOB data has been part of the DB2 Catalog since Version 7 and the number of LOB columns used in the DB2 Catalog has been increasing over the past couple of DB2 releases. As you can see in table below, the DB2 Catalog now has 42 LOB columns. So even if you have not created any user DB2 tables with LOBs, you have system DB2 tables with LOBs. For example, SYSIBM.SYSVIEWS contains a CLOB containing the source text used to create the VIEW.
LOBs are also used in the DB2 Directory, in the DBD01 "table" a BLOB column is used to store the DBD data (2GB). And in the SPT01 "table" there are two BLOB columns for storing data and explain information.
Using LOBs in DB2
I will not attempt to train you on the usage of LOBs in DB2 in this blog post. Suffice it to say that LOBs require different management and administration tactics to ensure their accuracy and usability. But I do want to bring up some of the administration concerns that using LOBs can create.
The first thing to keep in mind is that most LOBs are larger than your typical column data. I mean, it's right there in the name LOB = Large OBject. As the size of data increases, so do the management concerns, such as lengthy elapsed times to run utilities on the data, performance of accessing the data, and so on. And you'll also need to keep in mind whether or not to log changes to your LOB data. If you do log LOB changes, then you can stress your logs because of the size of the LOB data. If you do not log LOB changes, then you will need to make sure that you have sufficient methods to recover the LOB data because the changes between image copies won't be there in the log. Generally speaking, you usually will want to avoid the logging of LOBs. You can turn off LOB logging by specifying NOT LOGGED in the LOB table space DDL.
There are also many restrictions on how LOB data can be used with SQL. LOB data is not like traditional, structured database data, so DB2 imposes some limitations, for example:
- Cannot use a LOB in a GROUP BY or ORDER BY clause
- Cannot specify SELECT DISTINCT on a LOB
- LOBs cannot be used in the context of an INCLUDE(column-name) clause in a MERGE statement
- Cannot define check constraints, primary key, unique, or foreign keys on LOBs
- LOBs cannot be used in any predicate except EXISTS, LIKE and NULL
These are for illustrative purposes only. There are other restrictions, all of which can be found in the IBM SQL Reference manual.
Unless it is an inline LOB where the entire LOB is stored in the base table, a LOB will require a LOB table space, auxiliary table, and LOB index. When building auxiliary tables and indexes, you do not specify columns the same way that you do for normal tables and indexes. For the Auxiliary Table you specify the LOB column and base table and DB2 automatically generates the columns needed. For the Auxiliary Index you just specify the auxiliary table and DB2 implicitly generates the needed index keys.
Each table can have 0, 1, or many LOB columns and each LOB instance can be up to 2GB in size. Each table with at least 1 LOB must have a ROWID; the ROWID is a varying-length 17 byte field. One page of a LOB table space will never contain more than one LOB, but one LOB can span multiple LOB table space pages. An auxiliary table, which resides in the LOB table space, can store only one LOB column of a base table; there must be one and only one index on this column. All of these things can alter the way in which you manage and administer your DB2 tables and table spaces.
Let's backtrack and review the size of LOBs in a little more depth. Each LOB instance can be up to 2G – and that is per row! Each LOB table space can have as many as 254 different data sets with a DSSIZE from 2G to 64G each for a total of about 16 terabytes (TB). This is per partition, so if there are 4096 partitions (which is the maximum), then the total size for a single LOB is over 66,000 TB. Think about that for a moment. I don't care who you are, that is big!
Unless all of your LOB data is static – meaning it never changes – the size of your LOB data sets will continue to grow. Are you prepared for running utilities on such large table spaces?
When you drop a LOB column from a base table, DB2 will not automatically clean up LOB table spaces. After removing the LOB column you can either drop the LOB table space yourself explicitly, or perhaps reuse it for another LOB.
And finally, LOB columns are not really updated. The old version of the LOB is de-allocated, and a new is allocated. So LOBs are a bit different than the traditional data we are used to managing.
What can go wrong with LOBs?
Errors with LOBS occur when there are inconsistencies between the components of the LOB. We all know that "normal" DB2 indexes can be inconsistent with their associated table, but the issues are multiplied for LOB indexes
- The ROWID-Version number in the base table row may not be found in the LOB index.
- There may be entries in the LOB index that are not referenced by any row in the base table.
- The LOB data itself may not be where the LOB index points to.
- There may be LOBs in the LOB table space that are not referenced by the LOB index.
CHECK DATA can be used to find errors 1 and 2 (from the list above); CHECK LOB can be used to find errors 3 and 4. But it is possible that CHECK LOB will convert a type 4 error into a type 2 error, so proceed with caution.
Then there is the issue of LOB index consistency. If the LOB index is inconsistent with the base table data, the LOB data cannot be accessed. There is no direct access to the LOB table space except through the LOB index. If the LOB index is inconsistent with the LOB table space, DB2 will get errors trying to access the LOB data for that row.
Maintaining LOBs
DB2 maintains LOB data in the LOB table space using a hierarchical structure.
LOB data in the LOB table space can be distributed over many different pages of the LOB table space. Remember, this LOB data is very large. DB2 uses a structure of map pages to point to data pages. At the top is the first map page and it is this page number that is stored in the LOB index. This first map page contains a list of pages, which can be other map pages and data pages. It also contains the total size of the LOB data. If all the data pages are not referenced by map pages or if the map pages are not properly referenced by a higher level map page, LOB data will be lost.
With all of these pointers and structures to maintain, there are a variety of things that can go wrong. To verify that your LOBs are structurally sound you must run a series of DB2 utilities, in the following order:
- Run CHECK DATA to verify that the ID fields specified in the base table are also found in the LOB index.
- Run CHECK INDEX to verify that the LOB index is valid.
- Run CHECK LOB to verify that the internal structure of the LOB table space is sound.
Of course, there are easier ways. It can make a lot of sense to consider using a modern tool that understands the nuances of LOBs so you can manage them accordingly and appropriately.
The Bottom Line
Business and industry trends dictate that unstructured data, in the form of LOBs, is increasingly being stored in our DB2 databases. This type of data is different than traditional, structured data and must be managed with these differences in mind. To do so requires in-depth knowledge and planning to avoid inconsistencies and errors.


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What to Expect
We will design a wellness plan specific to your treatment for you to incorporate in your daily life
Once you've registered as a patient we will schedule an appointment for a consultation. We'll need you to fill out a few patient forms, so please arrive early. These forms will provide us with useful information about your health history and current injury or condition.
Your consultation appointment plays a crucial role in developing your treatment plan. During this time we will discuss every aspect of your injury – how your movement is limited, whether your injury prevents you from doing daily activities and how, what your goals are as a patient, and any other complaints or concerns you may have. Knowing this information will help us create the best treatment plan for your injury.
After your consultation we will do a full evaluation to assess your physical limitations, movement patterns, and pain levels. This will include testing your reflexes and flexibility, as well as other standard physical and postural tests.
When your examination is complete we will review our observations with you. During this time we will also discuss the treatment options best suited for your injuries. Once we have agreed on a treatment plan we will work with you to set expectations and goals.
Our first priority is pain relief. There are many different ways to treat your pain, including electrical stimulation, BioFreeze, and manual techniques. We will go over every option in full detail and discuss what might be the most successful method prior to treatment.
Corrective Exercises
Once the pain has either subsided or lessened considerably we will add corrective exercises to your treatment plan. During this phase the pain should stop completely. Our ultimate goal is to help you prevent future pain and injuries by correcting any movements that may be contributing to the root cause of your pain.
Wellness Plan
Before we discharge you, we will outline a wellness plan specific to your treatment for you to incorporate in your daily life outside of our offices. Your wellness plan will include stretches and exercises that will help you prevent future injuries from happening.


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Robbins Geller's Corporate Governance Bulletin
The second quarter 2014 Corporate Governance Bulletin highlights Robbins Geller's recent trial victory in RBC Capital Markets. Settlements obtained for shareholders in the VeriFone and Hospira cases are summarized along with the class certification win in the Sprint/Nextel case. There are also articles of interest to investors on shareholder activism, executive compensation and pay for performance. Information on the latest Supreme Court Halliburton case is provided as well as an update on the Omnicare and IndyMac decisions. The issue also notes the Firm's top ranking in the 2014 Plaintiffs' Hot List. Lastly, there is an article commending Robbins Geller partner Randall J. Baron on his recent successes and a calendar of upcoming events for April, May and June.
Read the Second Quarter 2014 issue of Robbins Geller's Corporate Governance Bulletin here.
Practice Areas
Read More Firm News
- September 29, 2020
- September 28, 2020
- Robbins Geller Tags Facebook in Record-Breaking $650 Million Settlement of Privacy Biometric LawsuitAugust 20, 2020
- August 17, 2020
- July 31, 2020


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If you want to devote your career to caring for others, then a career in nursing could be a fulfilling choice.
We've rounded up the best online courses in nursing to get you on your way.
Why should I study nursing?
Most of us during the course of our lives have, for better or worse, come across the difference that a good nurse can make. Whether it is making a stay in hospital more comfortable, or easing your fears in a brief doctors visit, it is a vital profession that always welcomes new members.
If you're at the beginning of your career and are considering nursing, or perhaps want a mid-career switch to something more meaningful, then we're here to help. We've found the best online nursing courses available in Australia to help you get your career where you want it to be.
See our latest October 2020 deals for nursing online courses below:
What are the courses for nursing?
Gaining qualifications online is a long haul, but in return it will get you well on your way to a career in nursing. You'll lay down a comprehensive foundation of knowledge which you will build on throughout your career, you will also spend time in healthcare facilities and get vital on the job experience.
Undergraduate courses
There are plenty of options available for studying nursing online at all levels. If you're looking to get your bachelors then you'll find plenty of courses and institutions to choose from, including:
- Bachelor of nursing at University of New England.
- Bachelor of nursing at University of Southern Queensland.
- Bachelor of nursing at Charles Sturt University.
Postgraduate courses
Nursing is a field that rewards qualifications, and if you're interested in climbing to more senior positions, then why not have a look at the following postgraduate degrees:
- Master of nursing practice at Deakin University
- Master of clinical nursing at Edith Cowan University.
- Master of healthcare leadership at Southern Cross University.
Short courses and professional development
If you're already working as a nurse and want to progress, or move into a different field, then a short course might help you get there.
- Graduate certificate in nursing at Queensland University of Technology.
- Graduate certificate in chronic health conditions at Queensland University of Technology.
What are the tuition fees and other expenses to study Nursing?
The tuition for nursing will vary greatly depending on your course of study. To give you a guideline, for undergraduate degrees the bachelor of nursing at Charles Sturt University is expected to cost $6,800 per year, and will take 3-4 years depending on the intensity of your study.While in the postgraduate level, the master of healthcare leadership at Southern Cross University will cost $1,830 per unit, and the course contains 12 units (total: $21,960).
You should also keep in mind that at some point during your training to be a nurse you will have to spend time in healthcare facilities and learn and be assessed on your application of the knowledge you've attained. This may be through short residential programs, on-campus courses or in a healthcare facility near you. The nature of the course dictates that the learning cannot all be done remotely, so you should check out your course handbook, see what this will be on the program you choose, and prepare for it financially.
What are the best institutes in Australia to study nursing?
All of the providers that we have listed offer accredited degrees, so any qualification you gain should stand you in good stead with potential employers. If you're looking to increase your prospects for employment, then as much experience as you can cram on to your CV would be considered an asset.
Whether that is voluntary experience or part time, or full time, employment within a healthcare facility, it helps to show that you know what to expect on a job. If you want more advice or information on careers in nursing then be sure to check out the government bodies in your area or state, or at the federal level check out the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).
What are the career opportunities for nursing
As a profession, nursing has high employment rates and is often well salaried. There is plenty of room to progress your career and plenty of areas in which you can specialise. You will have to prepare to be flexible, as the hours are not always what you might like and the role can, at times, be physically and emotionally demanding.
Average SalaryA registered nurse (RN) earns an average rate of $29.50 p/h.
Source: Payscale.com
Still, you probably already know this if you're looking at studying nursing. Qualifications will help get your career started, and will help you advance or progress in your field.Back to top


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YouTube Video of the Day: Can an Internet Troll Pick Up a Girl IRL?
Internet trolls have a rep for being semi-misogynistic basement dwellers whose girlfriends require an air pump to get ready for a date.
The above video (NSFW: language), showing "Internet Trolls" using memes to hit on chicks, does little to dispel that stereotype.
Share your favorite amorous zingers in the comments below.
[via The Daily What]


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England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland
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Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.
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Get a test to check if you have coronavirus, understand your test result and find out what to do if you're contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms
Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.
People at high risk
Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.
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Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services.
COVID-19 support recovery service
'Your COVID Recovery' helps you to understand what has happened and what you might expect as part of your recovery.
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Government information and advice.
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Local outbreak advice.
Northgate Village Surgery, Fountains Health, Delamere Street, Chester, CH1 4DSTel: 01244 564 319
Practice Training Dates - Click HERE to view the dates the Practice will be closed for training.
Fed up of the long wait time? So are we! Please help us to help you - if you are unable to attend your appointment or no longer need it, please contact the surgery immediately so that your appointment is available for your neighbour.
If every person who did not need their appointment any more cancelled it, then there would be at least 58 extra GP appointments and 54 nurse appointments available per month!
Proxy online access - You can now allow somebody else to have proxy access to your online access account - to find out more click HERE
Wasted Medicine - Every year millions of pounds worth of prescription medication is wasted across West Cheshire alone. Over the entire country, this is a huge amount of money.
If you are taking medication, please consider the following:
Are your contact details correct? Please inform us of any changes to your contact details as soon as possible. If we do not hold your correct contact information (address, telephone number and email address) we will not be able to contact you regarding results, referrals and review appointments. We can even send you text reminders for your existing appointments if we have your mobile number.
Update your contact details / Update your clinical records
The following types of appointments are offered by clinical staff. For further information please scroll down to the relevant section.
The majority of our surgeries are run on an appointment system. Please ring 01244 564319 or book online via Patient Online Access to arrange a routine appointment.
To find out more about Patient Online Access click on 'Online Services' in the bar above.
If you require an interpreter for your consultation please let the surgery know in advance and we will be able to book one for you.
Due to the nature of General Practice, our GP and Nurse surgeries do not always run on time.
The surgery has a late policy of 10 minutes. This means that if you arrive 10 or more minutes late for your appointment, we ask that you reschedule.This is at the request of our clinicians, as a routine appointment is 10 minutes long. Patients arriving late cause clinicians to run late, which has a knock-on effect of increasing the waiting time for other patients.
If you are seeing a nurse, you will be asked to provide a brief reason or outline of the problem so that you can be booked in for the necessary amount of time with the most appropriate nurse.
This is at the request of our nursing staff, because not all of the nursing team are able to to do the same things. For example, the Healthcare Assistant would not be able to perform an asthma review or change your dressing.
If you are booking a telephone call (whether with the triage doctor or for a routine call) you will be asked to provide a reason or brief outline of the problem to advise the doctor who will be calling you.
This is at the request of our doctors, because it allows them to correctly triage the telephone calls. For example, a person with chest pain would need to speak to a doctor more urgently than a person with a sore toe.
If you still do not wish to tell the receptionist the reason for your appointment or telephone call, then there is no obligation to do so. Please simply inform the receptionist that you do not wish to say, and they will respect your decision.
In order to arrange a blood test, this must be requested first by a doctor. You will then either be contacted via telephone or letter to make a routine appointment.All tests must be referred by a clinician and you must have an appointment to see our Phlebotomist (we do not provide drop-in services)
The Countess of Chester provide a drop-in blood test service available Monday to Friday from 7:30am to 6:00pm (last test at 5.55pm). The Blood Test Room is located at Outpatients 3 at the hospital. On arrival you will be asked to take a numbered ticket and then you will be called in for your blood test in order of ticket number.The Countess of Chester also now provide a bookable service. Click here for more information on this service.To use either service you need to have a blood test request form issued from the surgery, and take this form with you to the hospital. If you do not bring a blood test request form with you, you will not be able to use this service. If you have lost your blood form, please contact reception and a form can be re-printed for you.Patients for fasting blood tests have priority between 7:30am and 10:00am. Patients on Warfarin are asked to attend between 7:30am and 1:00pm.
A Duty Doctor is the doctor who deals with urgent matter for that day only. If you feel your medical issue can not wait, that you must speak or be seen the same day, the Duty Doctor may be able to help you over the telephone. Our reception staff will take your name and phone number and ask for an outline of the problem to help the doctor assess its priority. You will be added to the Duty Doctor telephone triage list and will be contacted by the Duty Doctor who will ring you back to discuss your problem. They will advise you or make an appointment for you to be seen when they feel appropriate.
If you have been placed onto the Duty Doctor Telephone Triage list and have not heard from the the Doctor within 3 hours, please call us back.
Patients will only be added to the Duty Doctor's telephone triage list if it is an urgent problem that needs to be dealt with that day. If this is not the case, Patient's will be asked to call back to book an appointment the following day or offered the next available routine appointment.
There are routine telephone consultations available with our doctors. Please ring reception to arrange these appointments.
There are routine telephone advice slots available with our Practice Nurse for health advice or travel advice. Please leave a contact telephone number with reception to receive a call back.Please be aware that depending on the nature of your problem, you may be offered telephone advice from the Duty Doctor rather than the Practice Nurse.
We encourage all patients to attend the surgery, but if you feel you cannot and may need a home visit, please call reception before 10.30am. Requests received after midday will normally be seen the following day unless medically urgent. You will be asked by the receptionist for an outline of the problem to help the doctor assess its priority. The Duty Doctor will phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.
Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.
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An awesome distraction from IFR training!
The Coast Guard series is linked below – I am proud do have done this and consider this production some of my best work:
Rescue Survivor Qualification – U.S. Coast Guard – MH65 Helicopter – Training VLOG – part 1
I was Hoist Rescued by the Coast Guard! MH65 Helicopter – Training VLOG – part 2
To learn more about how you can fly the L-39, please visit 45 North Aviation.
Huge thanks to all the Supporters on Patreon!
Productions like this wouldn't be possible without your help!For those that haven't seen it, please check the Flight Chops Patreon page to find out how you can be a part of it.
– The raw L-39 flight, on top of several dozen other exclusive uncut flights for supporters to view!
Learn all about Our Sponsors who help keep Flight Chops in the air!
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 15 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience – I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve…. Having the GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.


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This is your brain on Meagan
There is a girl here in Las Vegas… her name is Meagan Taechon. She's a model. We've talked for quite a while about shooting and were finally able to get together on Saturday. I am very happy she came to the studio. I am also really pleased that Conny Wissenback was able to play makeup/hair for me as well. She is one of the most talented makeup artists I have had the pleasure of working with. You don't need to look any further than the last group of images below. She turned that out like a 70's pimp turned out yo' Mama.
Anyway… I will be seeing Meagan again and we will make some very cool images next time. It's always good to get a feel fro what people can produce when you work with them the first time. I have some ideas brewing now.
Enjoy the gallery!
Click here to see Meagan's work.
Click here to seeConny's work.
CommentsOne Response to "This is your brain on Meagan"
I like my brain on Meagan. Another exceptional piece, my friend.


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Never Wear Black with Blue
Black and blue often get a bad rap because they can be so close in shade that it's sometimes difficult to tell them apart, not to mention that wearing a black shirt with navy pants can come off looking a little drab. Here are a few tips for the right way to pair these two colors:
Accessorize: Say you're wearing skinny denim jeans and a black sweater. Adding red heels and red lipstick is an easy way to make the black-and-blue look a chic one.
Contrast: When you're wearing navy with black, you should try to play up the differences in tone. Wearing a white shirt under a navy blazer with a black skirt will help delineate the hues, making your outfit look intentional instead of accidental.
Brighten Up: Opt for brighter and bolder blues like cobalt or sky blue if you plan to pair them with black. The brighter hue will keep your outfit from looking washed out.


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A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer was left without heating for six weeks because of repairs to her council house.
Marjorie Bryar, 59, of Council Terrace, off New Mill Road, Honley, has been having her house improved under Kirklees Council's Decent Homes scheme.
The scheme involves replacing ageing bathrooms, kitchens, windows and heating systems.
Miss Bryar has had improvements made to her kitchen and had central heating installed.
Contractors Enterprise were set on to do the work, but Miss Bryar says it has been a catalogue of chaos.
"Workmen just do a bit then leave," she said. "They don't come when they are supposed to, but do when you are not expecting them."
She had no heating for six weeks after Enterprise workmen removed her gas fire and her central heating was out of action.
She signed a form, accepting that it could take up to 20 days to install a new fire.
She said: "I've got multiple sclerosis and a heart condition and need to stay warm.
Despite many calls to Enterprise, no-one came to fix the problem.
Miss Bryar said: "You ring and speak to someone and you can't get them again. They think its just a house - but its my home."
Eventually, she persuaded the council to send a workman to repair the heating.
The engineer bypassed the thermostat so Miss Bryar could switch the boiler on and off to get heat.
But she could not set the temperature or timer.
Miss Bryar contacted Holme Valley North Clr Terry Lyons about the problems and he took up the case.
She said: "Since he has been in touch, they have told me that my gas fire will be fitted soon.
"He has been absolutely excellent. He even rang regularly to see if I was OK. I feel sorry for older people with no-one to speak up for them."
A Kirklees spokeswoman said Miss Bryar did not report any problems while work was carried out.
She added: "Unfortunately, a choice of new fire was not obtained from Miss Bryar at the time, which delayed fitting a new one.
"There have also been complications as scaffolding is required for the chimney stack to remove and replace the flue liner.
"Miss Bryar has now chosen a new fire which will be installed and fully working by today."
The spokeswoman confirmed that tenants are told work will be complete within 20 days, but added: "This is not 20 consecutive days, as there will be times when workmen are not needed there - for example, when waiting for plaster to dry."


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Who We Work With
To provide you with the widest range of services, Cumbria County Council works along side and in partnership with a range of organisations including District Councils, Parish and Town Councils and the Voluntary Sector. New Strategic Partnerships are constantly being developed to drive the economic development of both rural and urban communities in Cumbria. (Cumbria Strategic Partnership).


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Stroke is a leading cause of death and a
leading cause of serious, long-term disability, according to the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). The ASA reports that strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. Find out more about stroke by taking this quiz, based on information from the AHA and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a leading provider of quality health insurance for residents of Massachusetts. Our main goal is to make health care cost-effective by offering health insurance solutions for individuals, families, and large and small businesses at affordable rates.
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To learn more about our Massachusetts health plans, please visit our Plans & Products page, where you can compare Massachusetts health insurance plans, buy health plans online, and get Mass health insurance quotes.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts also offers insurance, pharmacy coverage, and Medicare Plans for seniors; life and disability insurance through Indigo Insurance Services (a wholly owned subsidiary); and insurance for individuals aged 18-26 years. Learn more about our other insurance plans and Medicare plans, or contact a sales representative today.


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In 1996 while studying mood disorders, pediatrician Ronald E. Dahl decided to dive into the history of sleep and how it affected children. He discovered that there was very little scientific information about how human sleep evolved over time. From sleeping arrangements to the evolution of bedding and linens, Dahl uncovered literature that detailed the history of sleep and how humans sleep.
Sleep in the Neolithic Era
Let's start our journey of the history of sleep by traveling back in time to the Neolithic era, when humans were hunter-gatherers and roamed in tribes, sleeping wherever large, scary predators weren't. We didn't really have a reason to stay in one place until we learned how to farm domesticated animals and grow crops. One of the first beds was discovered in Texas caves, dating back to 8000 BCE. and made of a pit in the ground near cave walls. Several of us would huddle together and stuff soft grass into the pits for comfort.
Sleep Like an Egyptian
Ancient Egyptians really had a thing for sleep, as they believed it was a state close to death. Dreams were revered as messages from the gods, and many hours were spent deciphering and analyzing symbols for deeper meanings. Bedding had pictures of gods known for protection from demons. Wealthy Egyptians had bed frames dipped in the middle, elevating the feet.
Roman Sleep Habits
Fast forward to ancient Roman times where sleep wasn't always an option, especially for those in power. When they did have time, they slept in rooms called cubiculum that also served as meeting rooms during the day. Beds during that time looked more like modern sofas, and Romans — known for their overindulging and opulence — kept their cubiculum sparsely furnished.
The Middle Ages
Unfortunately, the Middle Ages weren't the best years when it came to sleep. With the lack of sanitation, rampant illness, and overwhelming filth, these conditions made insomnia seem like a walk in the park. Families often slept in large beds together near fires, and put coals under their mattress to add warmth. Servants for rich families slept on straw mats at the feet of their masters.
The Renaissance and Beyond
It wasn't until the Renaissance period (surprise, surprise) that people figured out how to make sleeping comfortable and restful. People learned that stringing ropes across bed frames helped to better support their mattress, but these strings needed to be tightened nightly. Some even believed this is where the term "sleep tight" came from. In China, similar things were happening as beds became a more ornate centerpiece of any bedroom. The bed, bedding, and linens were the most expensive of a couple's belongings. These possessions were among the most valuable items left in any inheritance.
Then the Industrial Revolution hit, and sleep as we know it changed for good. Before the advent of artificial light, humans used to have biphasic sleep patterns in two 4-hour blocks. People would awaken at night to get chores done before heading back for an extended nap. As access to electricity became widespread and factory workers pulled 16 hour shifts, our sleep morphed into one block overnight.
One thing is for sure: as our sleeping habits changed over the years, so have our mattresses! It's a good thing we have more options aside from cave pits. Stop in to find the right mattress for your cubiculum!


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In last couple of years, the term, 'Bollywood 100 crore Club' has taken over the industry. It has become an unofficial milestone for success for Bollywood films. Once a film manages to earn Rs 100 crore, minus the tax, it becomes the member of this elite club. In media and trade circuits, if a film has made it to the 100 crore club, it can claim to be super hit. However the term is criticized by many and many in the film industry feels that by judging a film by the amount of business it does would undermine the creative aspects of film. However as of now, it looks like the term is meant to stay until something else comes up. So far a total of 34 films have made to the club so far but some of them have done it in much less time than the others. Here are the films that have earned 100 crore in really short time.
- 'Happy New Year'- the most recent addition to the 100 crore club is also the fastest entry in the club. The film released on Friday, 24th October and as per reports the SRK starrer has managed to gross Rs 108.86 crore over the weekend. The Hindi version has grossed 104.10 crore and the rest has been grossed by Tamil and Telugu version. The Farah Khan film features an ensemble cast with Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah.
- 'Bang Bang' –one of the biggest hits of recent times, the Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif starrer was able to create huge hype before its release. Its box office performance also reflected the hype. The film was able to earn 100 crore within five days. The film is also expected to reach 200 crore in India.
- 'Singham Returns'- While this Ajay Devgn action blockbuster was expected to do good business, it exceeded the expectations of many buy earning 100 crore within five days of its release. It also featured Kareena Kapoor.
- 'Kick'- when 'Jai Ho' failed to do as good as expected Salman Khan was in a bit of pressure to deliver. Add to that his film 'Kick' was delayed. But when the trailer was released, it created huge hype almost instantly. When finally the film got to the theaters, it earned almost 130 crore in five days. In terms of box office performance, 'Kick' is one of the biggest hits of recent times.
- 'Dhoom 3'- when Aamir Khan joined the successful 'Dhoom' franchise everyone had big expectations from it. Mr. Perfectionist did not disappoint when he teamed up with Abhishek Bachchan, Uday Chopra and Katrina Kaif. The film at that time was the fastest film to make 100 crore. It is also the highest grossing Bollywood film of all time.
- 'Chennai Express'- SRK's previous release 'Chennai Express' was also a true blockbuster. It managed to cross the 100 crore mark within four days. It grossed more than 200 crore at the box office. The film marked the first collaboration between SRK and director Rohit Shetty.
- 'Krrish 3'- Hrithik Roshan has managed to enter the 100 crore club twice with his back to back releases after delivering few box office duds. His superhero flick 'Krrish 3' crossed 100 crore within 4 days. It managed to grossed almost 250 crore at the box office.
- 'Ek Tha Tiger'- Salman Khan has the most films in the 100 crore club with 5 hits. In 2012, his action thriller 'Ek Tha Tiger' entered the elite club. The film grossed almost 200 crore at the box office.


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Discover How to Stop Bullying & Cyber Bullying in Schools, at Work & at Home
Laguna Niguel, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/13/2013 -- William Huff, Jr., founder of http://UltimateBullyingSolution.com released his controversial new book, "Bullies Suck: How to Stop Bullying & Cyber Bullying in Schools, at Work & at Home" today on Amazon Kindle.
The book is currently available on Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Bullies-Suck-Bullying-School-ebook/dp/B00B95YR0Y
The book is also available on the website, http://ultimatebullyingsolution.com.
Huff exposes "The Two Big Lies" when it comes to bullying, how bullying is getting worse in America and how following the "conventional wisdom" that is being taught about how to deal with bullying is a poison that can lead to anxiety, depression and more.
In conjunction with the release of the book, UltimateBullyingSolution.com also produced an informative and easy to follow video, "The 9 Warning Signs of Bullying". You can watch the video FREE at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o6H0ZB9KVk.
For More Information
For more questions or to schedule an interview about this press release, please contact William Huff, Jr., founder, UltimateBullyingSolution.com at 949.584.2455 or e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com.
About UltimateBullyingSolution.com
UltimateBullyingSolution.com is the #1 online source of uncensored information on how to stop bullying in schools, at work & at home.
Created by William Huff, Jr., a former U.S. Marine, martial arts master, victim of bullying and coach to thousands and thousands in the martial arts and in business, ultimatebullyingsolution.com combines real-world experience, cutting-edge mental and physical training tools and common-sense philosophies to build stronger, more resilient men, women and children that are prepared to stand up to the bullies in their lives and take back their power.
Our philosophy is that all the awareness and education in the world will NOT make bullying stop or go away. It is never going away; it is hard-wired in our DNA. Instead of wishing bullying would stop, we focus on making sure we are strong enough mentally, emotionally and physically to deal with it when it happens.
To get your free video and free newsletter, visit http://ultimatebullyingsolution.com .
William Huff, Jr.
Bald Guy Enterprises, Inc.
Ultimate Bullying Solution
Main – 949.916.9170
Fax – 949.916.7564
Cell – 949.584.2455


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Every 4 days Make-A-Wish® New Hampshire grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in New Hampshire. We believe that a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides us in everything we do. It inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve.
Make-A-Wish is the legacy of Chris Greicius, a 7-year-old boy from Phoenix. Find out how his wish to be a police officer set in motion a phenomenon that would create an unprecedented kind of charity.
Make-A-Wish® New Hampshire fosters a vibrant, diverse and entrepreneurial workplace.
We are grateful for support from volunteers from around the state who serve on our Board of Directors and act as ambassadors
It takes a committed, skilled team to bring life to one of the world's most-beloved children's charities.
There are four steps to granting a wish. Each step builds on the next and creates amazing experiences that delight wish kids and their families.
Every supporter expects us to use their generosity wisely. Find out how we make the most of every dollar.
Make-A-Wish serves a unique, and vital, role in helping strengthen and empower children battling critical illnesses.
December 05, 2020
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Nikon Offers First DSLR With Wifi, GPS
Sharing your DSLR-quality images on Instagram — and letting everyone know where you are at the same time — just got one step easier.
Nikon announced the newest addition to its DSLR family Thursday.The D5300 is the company's first to offer such built-in wireless connectivity.
See also: Which DSLR Camera Is Right for You?
Nikon emphasizes that the WiFi technology will allow photographers to share images more easily. The camera can send images to a smartphone or tablet, letting users upload their DSLR shots directly to social media or send them to family and friends via email.
The camera's WiFi will also allow for remote-controlled shooting. It comes with built-in GPS — another first for Nikon DSLRs — which allows users to geotag their photos.
Other features on the new model include 1920 x 1080 60p full-HD video recording and nine special effects, such as night vision and silhouette, that users can apply to both still photographs and video.
The D5300 is an update to the company's D5200. Like the D5200, the D5300 boasts the ability to shoot 5 frames per second.
The newer model features a wider ISO range for shooting in low lighting conditions: 100 to 12,800 compared to the D5200's 100 to 6,400. It also boasts a larger screen and lighter weight. The D5300 comes with a 3.2-inch LCD monitor and weighs 16.9 ounces (just over a pound), slight upgrades from the D5200's 3-inch display and 17.8 ounce body.
The D5300, which will begin shipping this month, is $800 for the body only, or $1400 with a lens kit.
Image: Nikon


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PerfectSmile™ clear aligners are an alternative to Invisalign® but manufactured in Canada.
Unlike metal braces, PerfectSmile™ clear aligners can be easily removed for cleaning, when you eat, or when you brush your teeth. You receive new aligners every two to four weeks, gently applying pressure to your teeth over the course of the treatment.
Benefits of PerfectSmile™ Aligners
Like Invisalign®, PerfectSmile™ clear aligners do not interfere with speech, work, or other social activities. A clear alternative to metal braces, they:
- Are almost invisible
- Effectively treat a variety of orthodontic cases
- Are removable
- Clean easily to help control plaque
- Require fewer appointments
- Fit comfortably over teeth
Smile Corp selected PerfectSmile™ teeth aligners due to their high quality and performance, and unlike Invisalign® and other competitors, they are the Canadian made option in clear aligners.


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Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council for Disabled Children, reacts to the announcement of a review of exclusions.
Dame Christine Lenehan, Director of the Council for Disabled Children, said:
'We were very pleased to read the interview with Damien Hinds in the Sunday Times and his statement that pupils should only be expelled as a last resort. We welcome the proposed exclusions review and its leadership by Edward Timpson and look forward to seeing the full terms of reference. The article points out that children with special educational needs are four times more likely to be permanently excluded than other children. Children with SEN are entitled to a full education and for their progress and achievements to be recognised and celebrated. We want the review to get to the bottom of the disproportionate representation of those with SEND in exclusions data and to propose practical actions to address it. We look forward to working with the review as it progresses.'


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From transportation to digital equity, connected communities like Albuquerque, Columbus and Las Vegas keep citizen needs at the forefront.
Technology is no longer confined to PCs or even smartphones. It's everywhere, in everything, and it aims to make life as easy as possible. Running into unexpected traffic on the way to work is fast becoming a thing of the past — your traffic app already warned you and rerouted you. Juggling numerous apps or credit cards to pay for rides on a bus, train, ferry or even bike could soon be as nostalgic a part of city life as fare boxes and subway tokens.
City leaders across the country have taken a number of steps — in some cases leaps — to steer their communities toward a course of improved efficiencies and smoother connections. They've done this by introducing an array of new equipment and software as part of a wholesale rollout of connected devices — think of the Internet-connected parking meter that lets you pay with an app on your smartphone.
It's a path many, but not all, leading jurisdictions are considering. The drive toward smart is gaining so much momentum that some leaders see less of a need for the term "smart" itself. "As 'smart cities' goes away and it just becomes 'cities,' much of that technology will just be applied," said Kansas City Chief Innovation Officer Bob Bennett. But we're not there yet. While some jurisdictions were early adopters of connected tech, several more represent the next wave of cities working to become smarter, more efficient and more accessible. GT looked at Albuquerque, N.M.; Columbus, Ohio; and Las Vegas to learn about their journeys to becoming smarter communities.
An over-riding vision for smart technologies in Columbus revolves around the concept of "equity" — where technology serves to better the lives of not only the young professional class, but also those residents pushed further to the margins: the elderly, poor or minorities.
"Our mayor considers equitable access to mobility to be the great equalizer of the 21st century," said Brandi Braun, deputy innovation officer of Columbus.
"Open access to transportation can put people onto ladders of opportunity, where they then have the ability to empower and improve their own lives," she explained.
So what does a more equitable transportation system look like?
In one case it means upgrading the bus system to create "smart mobility hubs" where riders can access features that make trip-planning easier. When the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) launches its first bus-rapid-transit line early next year, it will include smart mobility hubs, essentially Wi-Fi-enabled stops with kiosks that can help point users (with or without smartphones) to the transit options that get them all the way to their destination. "There would be a rack of bike-sharing," Braun said. "And then there would be reserved parking for the car-sharing system.
In Columbus, smart mobility hubs will help connect bus riders with another mode of transportation to finish their trip.
"The thinking is that when you get off the bus at the bus stop, you have easy access to other forms of transportation," she added.
This brings up another avenue to increase equitability — closing in on what transit officials deride as the "first-mile, last-mile" problem: that gap between a rider's home and a transit station; as well as the gap between the transit station and the final destination.
"Part of being a smart city is embracing multi-modal transportation, especially as a way to help solve for that first-mile, last-mile challenge," said Braun, explaining an approach that views public transit as more than just one system, but one that seamlessly overlaps and connects with a car-sharing service like Uber or even a public bike-share.
"If we can create an application that lets people seamlessly plan a route from point A to point B, allowing easy access to multiple forms of transportation — whether it's our bike-sharing system, car-sharing system, Uber, Lyft, a couple of transit systems, and then whatever the next new innovative transportation system is — we believe that will be a system for that first-mile, last-mile challenge," said Braun.
Columbus is also working toward developing a common payment system where one transaction could cover the fare for a bus, train, bike-share or even car-share service. Currently, someone riding the bus, using bike-share and hailing a Lyft would pay for three separate transactions.
"We're working on a system where you could use three, four or more forms of transportation, but pay for them with one account," she added. A similar concept is cropping up in other major cities, like with Portland's Hop Fastpass.
Many of the ideas around transit options being pursued in Columbus stem from a $40 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant the city won for Smart Columbus, a partnership between local private-sector leaders and city government. The initiative went on to attract additional private funding for smart city experiments ranging from public transit to faster adoption of electric vehicles.
Technology innovation projects in Las Vegas have to consider more than just visitors — tourism is the city's No. 1 economic driver — but also residents and business operators, said Michael Sherwood, CIO of Las Vegas.
"We want to ensure that all the technology we put in place works for everyone," he said.
In November, the first autonomous shuttle in the U.S. hit the streets of Las Vegas, carrying passengers in a 0.6-mile loop around the Fremont Street Entertainment District.
Las Vegas has at least 85 active technology projects in the pipeline throughout its Innovation District, an area dedicated to serving as a test site for dozens of pilot programs to study potential impacts of smart technologies. Those projects are focused on several key pillars: economic growth, education, social issues such as homelessness, mobility and public safety.
Data serves as the building block for these projects, and Sherwood is always looking for new and creative approaches to gather, analyze and distribute this data.
Here's one example of how Las Vegas is putting data to work, making the city smarter in the process.
New business operators want to know precisely how much foot traffic happens on a street, and they could soon have that question answered with the click of a mouse.
"We can show businesses or prospective businesses, 'If you relocated, this is a great street for you to be on. It's got lots of vehicle traffic. It's got lots of pedestrian traffic. It's got a lot of cyclists,'" said Sherwood, explaining a pilot that tracks street activity — and distinguishes among users. It's a particularly useful tool for economic development because it offers a comprehensive set of empirical data.
To get this data, most cities "hire a person, or they have people on staff that sit in a lawn chair and count the vehicles that go by in a day," said Sherwood. "And they might do that once a year. The sensors I have are counting this every day. … So I'm able to get a lot more robust information that we feel is very valuable as part of our economic growth strategy."
The data can also help inform decisions related to managing the flow of traffic by conveying when it is busiest.
"It's been extremely positive," Sherwood remarked on the feedback he's received. "They've never had this data before."
Smart cities technologies should be about engaging residents, getting them to more fully participate in the city and making their lives easier, said Peter Ambs, CIO of Albuquerque.
"How are we increasing citizen engagement with the city, whether that's the provisioning of city services or making our city more livable through increasing the quality of life?" he offered.
Central Avenue, the fabled Route 66 in Albuquerque, N.M., and perhaps a one-time backdrop for gas-guzzling car culture, will soon be ground-zero for smart mass transit. The city is set to launch a new bus rapid-transit system along Central Avenue using battery-powered electric buses. The $130 million project will use dedicated lanes so the buses will avoid traffic snarls.
"With that, we are implementing technology along that corridor with video cameras for public safety," said Ambs, as he explained how this commercial spine — home to major businesses and large employers like the University of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health Care — is getting numerous smart city upgrades.
"Essentially we're putting in broadband — a digital backbone — down Central Avenue. And that's an eight-mile stretch. That's going to be used for open-access, so it's not going to have the restrictions and the things that would go along with a private-sector offering," said Ambs.
Albuquerque Rapid Transit is also set to launch a mobile-ticketing platform, allowing riders to use their smartphones to purchase rides anytime and anywhere.
Peter Ambs, CIO of Albuqurque, N.M.
In this way, Central Avenue is becoming Albuquerque's "Innovation District," an initiative led by the city, University of New Mexico, the New Mexico Technology Council and others, to grow the downtown as a hub for technology-based business development. It has resulted in new building development and has breathed a new brand and identity into the now diverse, mixed-use area.
In addition to broadband and transit, downtown is connecting with the public on all fronts. The basis of smart cities, said Ambs, is about creating data — sometimes through crowdsourcing methods or with connected devices. "Taking that data and then synthesizing it into knowledgeable information is where we really start to see the benefit of systems and data and so on, so that we can become that smarter city," he added.
Ambs pointed to the city's Real Time Crime Center, where video from public safety cameras will go for analysis.
"These cameras are really a very key tool to have for the crime-fighting efforts in the city," he said. "We see the public safety component along with the public transit along Central as being really important."
Downtown is also getting "smart parking," and the city will begin replacing some 30,000 streetlights and upgrading them to LED lights with the ability to also house sensors, Wi-Fi and cameras. This project is currently in progress and will take about 18 months to complete.
Much of the philosophy behind Albuquerque's smart city thinking is simply how to make life easier for residents and for them to engage with the city. That's why more and more services can be accessed online or through an app, such as business licenses and permitting, and non-emergency police reports.
"The information you enter into that app goes right into the police report, into the record," Ambs said.
Features like these reduce calls into the police department and cut the time police officers have to devote to filling out paperwork.
"We want to be citizen-centric," Ambs explained. "As opposed to the past, we had 19 different departments doing 19 different things. And guess what? We interacted with a citizen 19 different ways."


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SJ Cool Loading
Do you want to make your website be more interesting and cooler? SJ Cool Loading plugin will do it for you. This plugin comes with a clear-structured back-end and a detailed instruction. Therefore, it is really easy to use for all users.
SJ Cool Loading provides a huge number of effects. You can optionally set different effect for each item or you can set one effect for all items to create an attractive succession of content loading.
Highlight Features
★ Compatibility:
- Responsive design
- Multi-browsers compatible
- Multi-Module on the same page
★ Functionality:
- Allow to set effect for all classes
- Allow to repeat effect of plugin when scroll to certainly position on screen
- Allow to set effect for each item
- Allow to set effect for all items
- Allow to include jQuery OR not.
- Support nearly 40 effects for loading
Related Tags:
joomla module, joomla extension, loading, loading module, scroll. item scrolling, scrolling
SJ Cool Loading
- Version:
- 1.0.1
- Developer:
- SmartAddons
- Last updated:
Apr 13 2019
1 year ago
- Date added:
- Feb 25 2015
- License:
- GPLv2 or later
- Type:
- Paid download
- Includes:
- p
- Compatibility: