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MEMBERS of a gang of illegal immigrants in Coventry who plundered hundreds of thousands of pounds from bank accounts with a card cloning scam have been ordered to pay back their ill-gotten gains.
Four men and two women, originally from Eastern Europe, pleaded guilty to targeting cash machines nationwide, including in Coventry and Warwick last year.
The gang members, who were jailed for more than 25 years in December, fitted skimming devices with hidden cameras on cash machines throughout the region. The cameras were used to film customers punching in pin numbers.
This information was then used to clone 3,000 cards and steal more than £500,000 from people's accounts.
Laptops were seized by police which contained extensive research of the locations of cash machines and video footage of customers entering pins.
At Birmingham Crown Court this week, five of the gang were ordered to re-pay a total of £122,874.29 after financial investigators concluded the scam artists had benefitted to the tune of £1,120,390.
During their sentencing, the court heard the stolen money was used to finance an expensive lifestyle for the main gang members, which included property and cars, and some was sent back to Moldova and Latvia.
Moldovan nationals Anatol Cotorobai, aged 25, of Middleborough Road, Coundon, and Nicolae Sas, aged 23, of Tanners Grove, Ash Green, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud and were deemed organisers.
They were sentenced to seven years in prison. This week they were ordered to pay back £55,000 and £2,622 respectively.
Anzelika Kravecenko, aged 22, Tanners Grove, Ash Green, from Latvia and in a relationship with Sas, gave birth to a daughter while awaiting sentencing.
Described as the banker, moving money to and from accounts, she pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property and two charges of transferring criminal property.
She was sentenced to four years. At the confiscation hearing she was told she must repay £55,000.
Ghenadii Rusu, aged 25, of no fixed abode and Vadim Ciornea, aged 22, of Burley Road, Northampton, were sentenced to four years. The men, both Moldovan, were technicians and tasked with fitting and removing the devices from cash machines. Cionrnea was told to repay £3,950.
Diana Stefanco, aged 26, of no fixed abode, is the girlfriend of Cotorobai and like Kravecenko had a child while in custody.
She pleaded guilty to using a false instrument with intent, deception, possession of false identity documents and three counts of fraud and was sentenced to three years and eight months. She must now repay £6,301.37.
The cloning devices were found at a Nationwide building society in Tyneside.
At the same time staff at the Coventry Building Society in Coventry spotted their cash machines had also been targeted.
CCTV cameras covering the cash machines were examined by police, which led to the arrest of Sas and Kravecenko in Coventry on June 10.
The remaining gang members were arrested at Stansted Airport about to board a flight to Moldova on July 8.
Speaking after the proceeds of crime hearing, Detective Inspector Andy Bannister, of West Midlands Police, said: "The court has sent a clear message to those who seek to hide their ill-gotten gains abroad.
They will now have to repatriate these hidden assets or face a further sentence.


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Shredder 13
Shredder 13 is the latest and best version of the Shredder family that exists since 1993 and includes the latest version of the Shredder user interface. The Shredder chess programs have already won eightteen titles as World Computer Chess Champion and are accepted as one of the best chess programs of the world. Shredder 13 is available for various operating systems.

subset: commoncrawl


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China court locked down for trial of prominent rights lawyer
TIANJIN, China - Chinese pοlice locked down a cοurthouse οn Wednesday fοr the trial of a prοminent rights lawyer who is accused of subversiοn of state pοwer and whose case has attracted widespread cοncern in Western cοuntries.
Wang Quanzhang, who took οn sensitive cases such as cοmplaints of pοlice tοrture and defended fοllowers of the banned Falun Gοng spiritual mοvement, went missing in August 2015 during a sweeping crackdown οn rights activists.
Most cases frοm that summer, knοwn as the 709 cases fοr the first day of detentiοns οn July 9, 2015, have cοncluded. Wang, however, was incοmmunicado fοr mοre than 1,000 days.
An investigatiοn said he had "fοr a lοng time been influenced by infiltrating anti-China fοrces" and had been trained by overseas grοups and accepted their funding, accοrding to a cοpy of the indictment seen by Reuters.
Police outside the cοurt in the nοrthern city of Tianjin told repοrters they cοuld nοt get near the building because it was a closed trial.
Yang Chunlin, an activist who has previously been jailed fοr subversiοn, stood oppοsite the cοurthouse shouting "Wang Quanzhang is a gοod persοn" and "I suppοrt Wang Quanzhang" befοre plainclothes agents wrestled him into a car and sped away.
There were also several Western diplomats outside the cοurthouse, who were nοt allowed inside.
The indictment says Wang wοrked with Peter Dahlin, a Swedish rights wοrker who was detained in China fοr three weeks befοre being depοrted in 2016, and others to "train hostile fοrces", as well as prοvide investigative repοrts οn China to outsiders.
It also says Wang had distοrted the facts in his οnline statements abοut the case of a pοliceman who killed a man in Heilοngjiang in 2014, and of "cults" that he had defended.
Dahlin, nοw in Madrid, said οn Twitter they had kept all documentatiοn dating back to 2009 "and will release anything needed to dispel that it cοnstitutes subverting state pοwer".
Calls to the cοurt seeking cοmment went unanswered. The trial cοuld last a single day, although a verdict may nοt cοme immediately."SHAM TRIAL"
Rights grοup Amnesty Internatiοnal said Wang's trial was a "cruel charade".
"This is a sham trial in which Wang Quanzhang is being persecuted οnly fοr peacefully defending human rights," said Dοriane Lau, China researcher at Amnesty Internatiοnal.
Wang's wife, Li Wenzu, says she has been unable to visit her husband since he went missing. She said seven lawyers she appοinted to try to represent Wang had also been unable to visit him.
In a statement sent to Reuters, Li said state security agents had fοllowed her when she left her Beijing home and blocked off the six entrances to her cοmpοund.
She decided she would be unable to gο to Tianjin after mοre than an hour spent trying to leave, she said.
It was nοt pοssible to reach the State Security Ministry fοr cοmment because it has nο website οr publicly available telephοne number.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has strengthened effοrts to quash dissent since cοming to pοwer six years agο, with hundreds of rights lawyers and activists detained and dozens jailed.
China rοutinely rejects fοreign criticism of its human rights recοrd, saying all Chinese are treated equally in accοrdance with the law and that fοreign cοuntries have nο right to interfere.
China often holds high-prοfile human rights trials over the Christmas holidays, which activists and diplomats say is an attempt to minimize internatiοnal attentiοn.


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This is a service to build custom adapters from one power supply outlet (female) to another power supply plug (male). The male and female ends will be connected by an appropriate gauge of cable 1 foot long.
This service normally takes one to two weeks.
- Item #: A-50A
Service: Build a custom 50A adapter
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No Reviews. Write a Review


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Chaz Bono has filed a petition to change his name and gender, according to The Associated Press.
Born as Chastity to Sonny Bono and Cher, Bono, 41, changed his name to Chaz after undergoing gender-change surgery last year. He is currently a LGBT rights advocate and writer.
VIDEO: Chaz Bono's gender journey
A hearing regarding the name and gender change is scheduled for May 6.


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See More Pictures... FBI Rayong have a total of 22 pictures from this Rental House.
This fully furnished house is situated in a quiet and peaceful area inside city, close to Nong Sim Park, Complex, hospitals, shops and restaurants.
The house is fully air-conditioned and has also been fully insulated. Everything is built to a very high standard.
The house contains 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large living room and a magnificent open European style kitchen.
The property is probably one of the best properties in Udon.
There is a fully air-conditioned bungalow in front of the house, which you can rent for only 5,000 THB. extra per month.


text: My Blog__ Hearty Soup | By KV → Check out this cute soup I got the other night at Kajitsu. Not only did the beat colored hearts floating in front of me make me "aw" out loud, but the fresh flavors in this Leek soup made for a perfect mid-course in the middle of the 7 course all vegetable tasting menu. __Share this post


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CREDIT: This story was first seen in The Guardian
Plymouth studio school is 19th of its kind to close since policy introduced in 2010, The Guardian reports.
The government's controversial free schools policy has come under renewed fire after it emerged that yet another of its studio schools, set up using millions of pounds of taxpayers' money, is to close this summer after a brief, troubled existence.
Plymouth studio school will be the 19th of its kind to shut its doors to pupils since the policy was introduced in 2010, at an estimated collective cost of £48.3m, according to the National Education Union (NEU).
This week it also emerged that the Isle of Wight studio school, which opened four years ago, will close in summer 2019 due to lack of demand.
The NEU says the latest closures bring the total to 66 new schools launched under the government's flagship free schools policy that have either closed, partially closed or failed to open at all, at an estimated cost of almost £150m in start-up costs and capital funding.
Free schools, which include studio schools and university technical colleges (UTCs), are funded by the government; they are free of local authority control and have greater control over how they operate.
"The government should hang its head in shame at this monumental waste of taxpayers' money at a time when schools are severely underfunded," NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said.
"Although it trumpets the market as a model for education, no business would continue to throw good money after bad at what is clearly a failed school experiment."
The shadow education secretary, the Labour MP Angela Rayner, said: "The Tories' education vanity projects simply aren't working, and every time one of these schools collapse there are hundreds of pupils and staff left facing enormous uncertainty.
"Instead of continuing to waste what little extra money they are prepared to invest in schools, the government should end their obsession with free schools and re-think their approach to new school places entirely."
While the closure of Plymouth studio school – just three years after opening – creates huge uncertainty for the pupils immediately affected, many of whom are in the middle of GCSE courses, nationally it will add to mounting doubts about the viability of the studio school model.
UTCs and studio schools were set up as a more technical or vocational alternative for 14-19-year-olds, but both have struggled to recruit enough pupils and many of the startups have been beset by problems.
"Parents do not want to remove their children from secondary school at age 14 to attend a studio school," said Bousted, "yet the government continues to promote a new school model that is clearly not working."
She went on: "Since 2010 the government has spent at least £149.6m on the set up costs and capital funding for 66 free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools in England that have either closed, partially closed or failed to open at all. Had this money been invested across the school system, we might not be seeing so many schools sending home begging letters to parents."
Plymouth studio school was set up with a specific sports focus to train the sports stars of the future. As well as the usual classrooms and laboratories, the new £4.2m building, opened by the school standards minister, Nick Gibb, contains a gym containing the latest fitness equipment including a virtual reality "brain training" NeuroTracker device intended to boost concentration.
There are currently 155 pupils, which is half the number the school is meant to accommodate. The schools watchdog Ofsted is expected to classify the school as inadequate following a recent inspection.
Malcolm Trobe, deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said the idea behind studio schools was good, offering a mix of work-place learning, academic and vocational courses. "However, they need to be part of a coordinated local plan for school places and curriculum provision which is based upon local needs and ensures that any new school is sustainable.
"A number of studio schools have closed and this is a serious concern. It is very disruptive to students and staff and they deserve better. The Department for Education (DfE) must ensure that there is a clear local need for any new school and that it is sustainable. This is always important, but even more so when education funding is in such short supply."
The head teacher, Mark Cahill, said: "We are extremely sorry to be announcing this news, which we recognise will come as a disappointment to parents and pupils. Our primary concern now is the future wellbeing and best outcomes for our pupils.
"Our focus for the rest of the year will continue to be on providing the very best teaching, learning and assessment we can for our pupils."
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or connect with us on LinkedIn!


text: Movies Saving Face. Pakistan's first Oscar Share this article by Beena Sarwar Boston, Massachusetts - Pakistan's online community erupted in virtual cheers as Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy received an Academy Award (or Oscar) recently in Hollywood for co-directing the Best Documentary (Short Subject). A Tweet by Pakistani blogger Anthony Permal summed up the feelings of many of his compatriots: "A woman from Pakistan, who made a film about women, won an Oscar. In your face, world." Special Offer!Enjoy Unlimited Access to Tolerance.ca for less than 10 cents/day.To see the complete text of this article, you need to buy a subscription. If you already have one, please open a session.I want to subscribe | Open a session


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You can set up your email account in a client on your computer or a mobile device. Examples of clients are Outlook or Mac Mail. Before you can set it up, you first need to create an email account in the control panel.
What settings should I use?
Depending on the client you are using, the setup will be different, but normally you need the following settings.
Username: your complete email address
Password: the one you chose when you created your account
Incoming server: imap.one.com
Incoming server port: 993 + SSL
Outgoing server: send.one.com
Outgoing port: 587 + TLS/SSL/STARTTLS (or 465 + SSL/TLS)
Outgoing server authentication: username and password, same as the incoming server
We recommend using IMAP to set up your email account because it syncs your emails across all your devices and Webmail. Unlike POP, which downloads your emails and removes them from the server and Webmail.
If you really want to use POP, you need these settings for the incoming server: pop.one.com - port 995 - SSL. Read our guide for more information about POP and IMAP.
Use Mobile Sync on your phone
If you want to set up your account on a mobile device, we recommend using Mobile Sync. The advantage of Mobile Sync is that it also syncs your calendar and contacts. Mobile Sync is one of the features included in Premium Mail. You can activate a free trial from Webmail or Mail Administration.
Setup guides
We have created step-by-step setup guides for some of the most popular applications.
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2016
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2013
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2010
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2007
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2003
- Setting up Microsoft Outlook 2011 for Mac
- Setting up Gmail on Android
- Setting up Thunderbird
- Setting up Mail OS X - Sierra
- Setting up Mail OS X - Yosemite
- Setting up Mail OS X (Lion)
- Setting up Windows 10 Mail
- Setting up Windows Mail
- Setting up Windows Live Mail
- Setting up Windows Live Mail 2011
- Setting up Windows Phone
- Setting up Opera Mail
- Setting up Nokia/Symbian Mobile Phones
- Setting up mail on iPhone (iOS 10)
- Setting up mail on iPhone (iOS 7)
- Setting up Android Email
- Setting up a Mobile Phone
Related articles:


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Old Quarter Street Food Cafe: 6$
With 2nd, 3rd floors with nice view of old street in Hanoi city, you will enjoy some popular street food and drinks. It is served by locals in Hanoi. We will give you an experience to taste local food and drink, we ensue that the food is handled hygienically and provide a comfortable venue for the tastings. The benefit that you can come back.
** Hanoi Street Food Tasting**
"Opening from 11.00- 21.00"
You have no time for street food walking tour in 3 hours or not suitable time to start, sometimes you worry about kids, senior people, hygiene, sanitation. So we would like to customize and introuduce street food combo to you, it will save your time and worth for money.
We warmly welcome you at Street Food Cafe (64 Nguyen Huu Huan, old quarter Hanoi) where you taste 6- 8 famous dishes and drink below. Top things to taste in Hanoi old quarter,
Please advise what kind of combo you want to choose? What time to start a meal?,and book in advance!
Famous 8 dishes
|Choice for combo
+1: Grilled pork with fresh noodble "Bun Cha"
+2: Noodle soup with beef or chicken "Pho Bo/ Ga"
+3: Steamed rice paper- rolled pancake "Banh Cuon"
+4: Sticky Rice with pork sausage or chicken"Xoi Xeo"
+5: Crispy Pancake "Banh Xeo"
+6: Baguette with pork or chicken"Banh Mi"
+7: Grilled Fish with fresh noodle "Cha Ca"
+8: Fried spring rolls with pork or seafood "Nem Ran"
+ Hanoi beer & egg coffee, rice wine.......
*Combo- Obama: 6USD per person
- Include: 1 grilled pork with fresh noodle+ 1 seafood spring roll+ 1 Hanoi beer
*Combo- Bill gates: 12USD per person
- Include: 6- 8 dishes & drinks
*Combo- Einstein: 15USD per person
- Include: 6- 8 dishes & drinks
- Pick up hotels in old quarter by cyclo (rickshaw), and riding in 30 minutes, then drop off Street Food Cafe
+ Note & extra service:
- Available upon request with vegetarian food
- Seafood is surcharged 15$ per person
- Pick up hotel in old quarter with booking Combo- Einstein
- Street Food Cafe, 64 Nguyen Huu Huan (click at Map), nearby Hoan Kiem lake, old quarter.
*Street Food Tasting in Street Food Cafe, 64 Nguyen Huu Huan*
Booking information
for Old Quarter Street Food Cafe: 6$
Other post


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Komodo Critters Mantas and More
Komodo Critters Mantas and More
Our Komodo Liveaboard trip was off to a great start… with all the passengers and luggage actually arriving into Bima at the same time Not only that the weather was looking good for some smooth sailing ahead! Our first full day diving took place on the volcanic island of Sangeang with the magic of The Estuary and Hot Rocks, before heading over for a taste of Swiss Dream on Gili Banta and then finishing the day with our night dive on Small World with the star gazers!…. Bargibanti pygmy seahorse, frog fish, xeno crabs, ribbon eel, hairy squat lobster, White 'V' Octopus, Bobtail squid and soooooo much more! A great start to the trip!
The next day we started with a beautiful dive at Coral Garden before motoring on to Gili Lawa Laut for superb dives at Castle & Crystal Rock. We had the big and the small – sharks, trevally, turtles and even a 2mm lady bug! Who says you can't see it all in Komodo…. For the night dive we changed it up a bit and headed over to Sebayur Kecil to see what it had to offer! Our first dive on Tatawa Besar the following morning, was a ride and a half! But we were lucky enough to get our first sighting of some manta rays at the end of the dive. We timed Batu Bolong just right – not too many divers and hardly any current for this stunning reef. Back to Tatawa Besar for another drift dive but this time on a rising tide so not quite so fast and for the night dive we calmed things down a notch and went to the very special Wainilu to find the frog fish, bobtail squid, pygmy squid, baby cuttlefish, and we were very lucky to also see a baby carpet shark as well as a halemida ghost pipefish!
Conditions were looking good the next day so we decided to head south to colder climes and worse viz! Secret Garden and Tiga Dara in Padar were first up before heading down to the famous Cannibal rock and Torpedo Alley! We clocked 22C and had a viz of 5-10m!!! but the macro life here is simply fantastic and well worth it. Mushroom coral pipefish, leaf scorpion fish, coleman shrimp, frog fish…… the list goes on….. And yes we had the bobbit worm at Torpedo Alley but he was camera shy unfortunately! Richard celebrated his birthday today and I think was the only one that didn't get cold during the dives.
The cold waters were getting to everyone so we opted for just 3 more special dives in Nusa Kode before heading back over to Komodo Island for a night dive on the Phinisi wreck. That night everyone was dreaming of manta rays for the following day! Manta Alley… and it would appear that Mik's dreams had too many mantas in them and he wore them all out! The first dive was another cold water one with only 20C and the mantas stayed away so we decided we'd had enough of the cold water and to head north to Pantai Merah for some warmer waters and to spy on some mandarin fish! Our muck dive at Pantai Merah did not disappoint! Flamboyant cuttlefish Bobtail squid, White 'V' octopus, Coconut octopus, Frog fish and an, as yet, unidentified special pipe fish!!!
Day 8 started with our dragon walk and we were lucky to see two baby dragons in the trees and more than 15 deer grazing at the watering hole! But our main thoughts were still on the elusive mantas. Makassar Reef was calling and yes….finally we saw them at last, a superb dive all round!!! At Tatawa Kecil and the currents were looking nice so we quickly geared up and jumped in! Within 5 mins the currents had picked up making us zig zag along the reef as best as possible! A fabulous dive- voted one of the top 5 favourite dives of the trip! Then it was back to Wainilu to give others the chance to check out the critters we saw on the night dive.
Our last full day of diving was spent at Gili Lawa Laut and Darat! Where we revisited Crystal Rock and Castle Rock and also enjoyed some manta action on the Shotgun! The current was fairly strong but many, including Mik & Kerry held on to watch the show and get some great video! Time flies when you are having fun and the end of the trip was upon us. We cruised back to the island of Gili Banta for a taste of Rollercoster without the crazy currents which was great; 40m+ viz and beautiful walls, leaf scorpion fish, hairy squat lobsters by the dozen, peacock mantis shrimp…. And then our final dive on K2 which did not disappoint – in fact Yvonne didn't want to come up from the dive – but mother nature was calling! With pygmy seahorse and an eagle ray it was a great way to end a lovely trip!
But stop the excitement was not over yet! In the evening Michael perfromed a very impressive scuba pole dance for the whole group!!! I am not too sure I can say any more…. Let's just say, what goes on on the liveaboard, stays on the liveaboard…. for now at least! Thank you all for a great trip and also for bringing the nice calm waters with you! It has been a pleasure. Lisa & the Indo Siren Crew.
Photo by Derek Emmett,Manferd,Michael Splitter


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Similar to the capability that Grapeshot provides on MediaMath to perform audience targeting based on people interested in certain keywords, Adwords now lets you setup "Display Keywords" ad groups to target not only content on webpages, but also people likely to be interested in these keywords.
This is an optional setting and can be found on the Adwords interface below the Keyword entry field.
Certainly looks like Google is holding back no punches in releasing an offering to match everything their competitors can possibly dream up.


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Looking for the perfect holiday in our neck of the woods? Look no further. Terravana in Cotignac has a great selection of the best and their attention is on quality service and customer satisfaction. The company is run by two local Frech women who are experts on what Provence has to offer visitors. Combine that with Provence Living's knowledge of our village and how it all works here for expats and anglophone tourists and you get the complete happy picture of a satisfied holidaymaker or future resident!
Take a look here at Terravana's villa selection. If you have any questions feel free to ask them directly or here on Provence Living where I (Susana) will do my best to get back to you. When you are ready to book direct (this way you avoid Airbnb and Tripadvisor fees), be sure to mention the code "TVPL19" on the booking site for best service!


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Mt. St. Helens, Washington 2005-02-21
A panoramic photo of Mount Saint Helens as seen while driving up highway 502 (from Castle Rock on I-5) towards the Johnston Ridge Observatory. This image was made by stitching together three images shot in landscape mode, but stitched vertically.
Add your comment. No HTML allowed.


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iPhone 6s and 6s Plus RAM Revealed
Apple received guffaws and wow's at their launch event last week but they very smartly didn't reveal the battery life or RAM of their most anticipated devices; the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. Naturally then, when the battery life was announced, the tech mogul received a lot of flak for its 1715 mAh battery fail, with the likes of Sony using it as an opportunity to ridicule it.
However, Apple is set to have the last laugh with iOS developer, Hamza Sood, announcing that this time, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will have 2GB of RAM. While this might not be at par with the Galaxy S6 (3GB RAM) or the Galaxy Note 5 (4GB RAM), it is still pretty big news, since Apple has always come out with RAM space that was 1 GB or lesser.
The rumoured spec was first spotted on Xcode and later confirmed by Sood, via Twitter. If you haven't looked at the specs already here's a quick look:
|iPhone 6s
|iPhone 6s Plus
|Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 4.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit widescreen
|Retina HD display with 3D Touch, 5.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen
|1334 X 750-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
|1920-by-1080-pixel resolution at 401 ppi
|Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
|Embedded M9 motion coprocessor
|A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
|A9 chip with 64-bit architecture
|iOS 9
|iOS 9
|Internal Storage
|Rear camera
|12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture
|12-megapixel iSight camera with 1.22µ pixels, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Optical image stabilization
|Rear Camera Video
|4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
|Optical image stabilization for video, 4K video recording (3840 by 2160) at 30 fps
|Front Camera
|5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
|5-megapixel photos, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flash
|Front Camera Video
|720p HD video recording
|720p HD video recording
|Body Dimensions
|143 grams
|192 grams
|Special Features
|Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
|Fingerprint sensor, 3D force touch, live photo
|23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
|23 LTE and faster Wi-Fi
Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
Silver, Gold, Space Gray, Rose Gold
|$199, $299 and $399 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$649, $749, $849 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked
|$299, $399 and $499 respectively for 16GB/64GB/128GB on contract.$749, $849, $949 for 16GB/64GB/128GB respectively unlocked


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Medic Heroes | photo card - vertical | nurse - style B | F-0815
Regular price $2.00
Shipping calculated at checkout.
In honour of the tireless efforts of our medical workers now and always, we are bringing you this special release - Medic Heroes.
When you buy this item, we will donate 20% of the sales to the Museum of Nursing History at the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.
These photo cards are designed and handmade right here in our studio.
Select our design or add your own custom text to personalise a message.
Size: 10x15cm (4x6").
Other items available in Medic Heroes range included framed photo cards and photo/sticker albums.


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A typical chow mein includes meat, noodles, water chestnuts, and bean sprouts. We've taken some liberties with the ingredients but have preserved the spirit of the dish's textural contrasts. For example, instead of bean sprouts, we've used shredded napa cabbage; and we've replaced the water chestnuts with crunchy jícama.
- ¼ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce or red currant jelly
- 1 tablespoon dry sherry
- ½ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
- 8 ounces linguine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into ¼-inch-wide strips
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sliced scallions
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
- 3 cups shredded napa cabbage
- ½ cup jícama matchsticks
1. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sherry, and hot pepper sauce, and stir to blend. Set aside.
2. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the fettuccine according to package directions. Drain.
3. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate.
4. Add the bell pepper, garlic, scallions, and ginger, and cook, stirring frequently, until the bell pepper is crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.
5. Add the cabbage and jícama, cover, and cook until the cabbage has wilted, about 4 minutes. Add the soy sauce mixture to the pan. Add the chicken and cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken is cooked through, about 1 minute.
6.Transfer the chicken mixture to a large bowl. Add the hot pasta, and toss to combine.
Makes 4 servings.
Nutrition per serving: 400 calories, 9g total fat (1g saturated), 33mg cholesterol, 4g dietary fiber, 55g carbohydrate, 23g protein, 730mg sodium.
A good source of: niacin, selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, zinc.


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There was a huge turnout at SAMPE 2013 with over 400 companies from all over the world attending and exhibiting. Exhibitors showcased the latest in materials and processes and everyone got a great chance to network and share ideas.
Check out some pictures of the live action:
This prototype car was made out of Precision Board Plus PBLT-10 HDU by a student.


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True Blood Season 4 Preview Scene With Alexander Skarsgard and Stephen Moyer as Eric and Bill
True Blood Gets a Season 4 Premiere Date, Plus Three New Scenes!
We just learned that True Blood's fourth season will return to us on June 26, which means the countdown is officially on! After getting a quick but mysterious preview clip of Eric stumbling around earlier this month, we have even more footage — three new clips, to be exact! In one, Eric and Bill discuss the threat of a new coven of witches in Bon Temps (led by Harry Potter's Fiona Shaw), one showing Jason in peril at Crystal's hands, and one with Sam and a new love interest. Watch them all when you read more.
Bill and Eric:
Jason and Crystal:


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It's no secret that the times move quickly in the tech industry, and three years between mobile phones is a seriously a long time. The last time you looked at smartphones they were all very expensive and difficult to use – but now, things have changed.
For starters let's quash the big question mark of cost. We can happily report that the Microsoft Lumia 435 costs about the same as the 201 did, while packing much more tech to bring you into the modern day.
The Lumia 435's homescreen is bright and simple to use. You can set it up so everything is reached with large buttons, and is clearly labelled so it's easy to find your way around. As there are no physical buttons other than the power and volume rocker, the controls for things like the phonebook, camera or dialler will all now be on the screen.
You can add as much or as little as you want to the homescreen – it's yours to personalise. Having one screen where you can find everything is just one advantage of having a smartphone as oppose to a feature phone like the Nokia Asha 201.
We guess the biggest thing to get over is the absent keyboard. Well, just like the 201, the 435 has a QWERTY keyboard, but this one is on the screen. It's very accurate and is small enough so you won't have to stretch too much with your thumbs. Again the size of the keys can be changed to make them easier to hit, but that's totally up to your preference.
But, the good news doesn't stop there. There's also your very own personal assistant built into the phone called Cortana. She will help you with all sorts, from texting friends, keeping track of things online, prompting reminders, or setting an alarm – Cortana makes life a whole lot easier.
If you think you might want to take the plunge into the smartphone pool, head down to your local Carphone Warehouse, or click this link to order your very own Microsoft Lumia 435 today.


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Dr. A's Formula for Weight Loss
Obesity has emerged as one of the biggest problems in modern day lifestyle. In our daily stressful lives, finding time for physical activity is becoming more and more difficult. Coupled with high stress work environment, eating disorders, more and more world population is coming under obese category. Obesity is a life style disease, and it is responsible for a lot of other health complications in the body. So it becomes important to treat it, in order to live a healthy life.
Dr. A's Homeopathic formula for weight loss, is a combination of various homeopathic medicines, which works on multi-dimensions to aide in weight loss. This homeopathic medicine is a combination of various homeopathic medicines in appropriate potency and doses to increases body's metabolism to help burning more calories, suppresses body's appetite to prevent overeating and balances hormones to treat obesity.
- Calcium carbonate is the base material of homeopathic medicine Calcarea Carbonica. Calcarea Carb is very effective in burning of abdomen fat by increasing the metabolism of body. It is also useful in cases where weight gain is a result of thyroid problems.
- Berries of Phytolacca Americana commonly known as pokeweed are used to make homeopathic medicine Phytolacca, popular for reduction of weight and treatment of obesity. It regulates metabolism, improves digestive system and balances hormones in the body.
- Homeopathic medicine Capsicum is made from the fruit and seed of herbaceous plant Capsicum annum (red pepper). This medicine treats obesity by improving digestive system. It also makes the patient's body more active and improves body heat to burn more calories. Normally mentally and physically sluggish and indolent patients benefit a great deal from this medicine.
Packing: The medicine is available in 3X1 month packing.
Dose: Take 4 globules each, before breakfast and dinner.
Note: Dr. A's homeopathic formulas are free of any steroid or unnatural substances and have no side effects on the body. Dieting and exercising are equally important, along with the medicine for best results.
Buy Dr. A's Formula for Weight Loss online.
'A diet plan for Obesity'
Nowadays, children, women and men, all three categories of human beings are suffering from obesity. It was started in the reverse order, at first men were trapped in it as they had adopted western style of living, after that women and children started accepting the western culture respectively and permitted it to enter in to their life. In a nut shell people are facing obesity as a big challenge. So people of developing countries are suffering equally from this problem as that of developed countries. India has also become the part of this dreaded crisis.
The weight of every person should be according to ones height. The body frame is also considered to work out the height and weight chart. For male and female, separate charts are used. Those who have more than the required weight are called obese. The obesity can be classified in to three categories, viz. mild, moderate and severe. It is decided according to BMI, body mass index, of the person concerned. It is calculated from height and weight; weight of the body in kilogram is divided by square of height in meters. The result of it is called BMI. If the BMI ranges between 18 and 24, it is called normal; when it varies between 25 and 30, it is considered that a man is overweight; if anybody BMI ranges between 30 and 35, he is called obese; severely obese person has BMI between 35 and 40 and if a person has BMI more than 40 may certainly invite to many diseases ranging from joints pain to pain in heart. The weight up to teenage is calculated with different method. Their weight chart is different from the adult weight chart.
A century ago even say fifty years ago, those who eat a lot were considered healthy but that time people used to do a lot of physical work. Now the condition is just opposite, because physical work in urban area has been reduced tremendously so people don't require a high calorie diet. In villages the situation is not as bad as in cities.
To come over the problem of obesity, people must be aware of it and its consequences. Awareness is the first step to control it. Dietary habit and living style come at second number. Daily morning walk, exercise, yoga and change in diet can easily control obesity. There are so many other methods also used to reduce weight. There are some homeopathic, allopathic and ayurvedic medicines available that may also help in reducing fat contents in the body. There is seven days diet plan, given in a health magazine called 'Yog Manjari', may be helpful to reduce weight. It is claimed that it can reduce weight from 5 to 7 Kg. in a week. In this program, the following method is used.
1)First day: take only fruits except banana. Water-melon is especially recommended.
2)Second day: Take only boiled or uncooked vegetables. The quantity can be taken as per your own need. Take boiled potato in the breakfast.
3)This day, take fruits and vegetables both as per your requirement except potato and banana.
4)Fourth day: Take eight bananas and three glasses full of milk only in the whole day. A bowl of soup can also be taken.
5)Fifth day: Take a cup full of boiled rice and six tomatoes in the whole day. Thirteen glasses of water is also to be taken.
6)Sixth day: The day of vegetables; take boiled or raw vegetables, as much as you want to take. Rice measured a cup is also to be taken.
7)Seventh day: One cup rice, fruit juices and vegetables are to be taken.
Take care of the followings:-
- Don't take any fruit juice before seventh day.
- Take plenty of water every day. Lemon juice can be added in water for taste.
- Don't take oil in any form in these seven days.
Keep at least three days interval between two courses of the above program. Better if you do it under the supervision of any Yoga teacher or a doctor.


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Cyber criminal activity in Canada skyrocketing
As if being on "piracy watch" wasn't enough, it turns out that Canada is fertile ground for cyber crime, according to findings in a report the Financial Post has obtained.
The findings in the report, set to be released Tuesday from San Diego-based cyber-security firm Websense Inc., include the following statistics that illustrate the sharp increase in cyber criminal activities in Canada:
- 319% increase over the past year in servers found to be hosting phishing sites
- 53% increase in bot networks
- Ranked 6th globally in overall cyber crime, up from 13th in 2010
Furthermore, Canada was the only country that showed an increase in botnets over the past eight months and the year-to-year increase in servers hosting phishing sites ranked second overall in the world, behind Egypt.
"And Egypt obviously came from pretty much nowhere, so it is easy [for it] to have a higher percentage increase,"said Patrik Runald, senior security research manager at Websense. "In all the other [western] countries like the U.S., France, the U.K. and Germany the number of servers are going down, whereas in Canada, for some reason, it is going up."
The huge increase in phishing sites may shine an even brighter spotlight on last week's findings by Canada's privacy watchdog. As reported at The Next Web, Canada's privacy commissioner Jennifer Stoddart called for her office to have increased powers given to it so that fines can be levied against companies that allow data security breaches. Hosting a phishing site could be considered such an offense, whether a company is initially aware of the breach or not.
Canada now sits second in the world of countries that have the highest number of servers hosting phishing sites, with the United States having the dubious distinction of sitting atop the rankings.
Read next: Mentionmap is a cool interactive map of Twitter connections


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Category: Washroom & Janitorial
Washroom & Janitorial Services
Maintaining clean, well stocked washrooms is important for staff morale as well as peoples perception of your business. We are able to meet all of your washroom requirements and supply everything you need to ensure your washrooms are clean and hygienic for your employees and visitors.
Washroom & Janitorial Supplies
Maintaining a safe, hygienic environment Maintaining clean washrooms that are well-stocked with...Read More
Contact Us
One call does it all… 08450 555 444Call centre operates 24/7-365 days a year
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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We are pleased to offer the opportunity for guests, who wish to undertake their own self led private retreat, to stay in St Bruno's. Availability is limited, to enable us to fit this around our Retreat Programme and external group bookings. Therefore, individual retreats (two or three nights, fully inclusive) are accommodated on regular dates within the programme.
|Cost: £65 per person, per night
2 nights
|Dates to be confirmed
3 nights
|Dates to be confirmed
We are not able to offer any spiritual direction during your stay, however, you are encouraged to join the Monastic Community in the daily office of prayer and liturgy, spend some quiet time in the Abbey Church, visit our Quiet Garden or walk on our extensive and beautiful grounds.
For further information or to book your retreat, please contact us using the online contact form or Tel: 01342 710318
The Open Cloister Booking Form
Contact and booking information


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PCT2U Information and Guidance
The first step is to contact us and discuss your requirements these can be varied due to your previous experiences and we need to discuss your past experiences and qualifications to ensure that you get on the right course for you. Please call us in the first instance so we can offer you advice on the suitability of our courses for you and general guidance on what is required.
The next aspect is to complete our application form and send this back to us this can be done via email and a digital signature will suffice. This form includes an initial assessment and helps to further consolidate your requirements and suitability for the course. Once this has been approved you can transfer the course funds to our company bank account to commence the course.
Once we have received the funds and your application is approved we can register you with our awarding body one of the largest in the UK the NCFE and you will then be signed up to our online learning system Moodle. A demo of this on-line learning system is also available on our website. There are no start dates and no attendance is required, again saving you lots of time and money. You will then be sent your login details to get started and you can commence your studies and research from that point.
We do run a course deposit scheme this helps our students in two ways if you cannot afford the whole course fee amount but want to make a start then the deposit gets you registered and started on the course. We then require a monthly payment via standing order to show some further commitment from you. We also advise that if you are not sure about the course and want to test the water then again this is a very good way to start by paying us a small deposit and then see how you feel about our way of learning. To participate in our courses you have to be a self starter and autonomous and be able to carry out independent adult research and reading on various topics for your course units. You also need some degree of technical abilities using the internet a personal computer and you need to interact with our on-line system Moodle that is very similar to software such as Facebook that you have to upload and download information from. Again if you need to be spoon fed information by a tutor on a face to face basis in a classroom then this course is definitely not for you. Our courses are designed to fit around you and your work and your responsibilities at home they allow you to think outside of the box and work outside of the normal hours for studying. Our Moodle LMS is available 24/7 and worldwide and fully supported by your own personal tutor who is actually at the end of the telephone line or email system unlike some other distance learning courses that are more fire and forget.
If you need any further information on our course then don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you on your learning journey and with some honest help and advice on the qualifications you need for your chosen career. Most of our courses can be started on a deposit basis with monthly payments thereafter see our offers page. .
Call us on 020-33974548 to discuss or 'tweet' us direct @pct2u


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Sony finally unveiled their long rumoured VR headset, codenamed Project Morpheus, at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.
The headset will utilise the PlayStation Camera and inbuilt sensors to let you look around virtual worlds, and will also use the Move motion controllers to simulate your hand motions, and use of typical gaming weapons like guns or swords.
Sony have said that the headset they unveiled is still a prototype, and that some of the specs and features are subject to change. They didn't mention a price or release date, although they did say that it will release 'as soon as possible'. With Oculus Rift getting a lot of positive press, and Microsoft rumoured to be developing their own headset, Virtual Reality is making its biggest comeback since the Lawnmower Man.


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Manufacturer's Description
Fast Needs No Friends
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will transform online entertainment for this generation. Criterion Games is redefining the meaning of cops versus racers by providing players with the opportunity to play a full career as either a cop or a racer, advancing through the ranks by accruing bounty.
Players will experience stunning speeds, takedowns and getaways as they chase, battle, escape or bust their buddies.
The innovative Need for Speed Autolog is poised to re-think head-to-head social competition by changing how people connect, how they communicate and how they play games with each other. Through Autolog, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit dynamically tracks and shares performance and stats so your friends actually drive your gameplay experience. So, whether you're online or offline, the connected experience is at the heart of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit.
Australian Compatible Imported Version
- Career â€" For the first time in Need for Speed history, players will experience the gripping and heart-racing action of both cops and racers. Hot Pursuit seamlessly links a tremendously deep and fully-defined single player career with a groundbreaking multiplayer experience across all race modes. In the end, whether playing online with friends, taking on friends challenges or the single player career, players will earn bounty that levels them up and unlocks new cars, weapons and equipment.Â
- Need For Speed Autolog – InNeed for Speed Hot Pursuit, your friends drive your gameplay experience. Need for Speed Autolog is a revolutionary system thatconnects friends directly to each other's games, enabling them to compare and share all their experiences, pictures and challenges. Need for Speed Autolog instinctively delivers challenges based on what your friends have been doing, creating a hugely dynamic, socially competitive experience.
- Weapons and Equipment – Enhance the intensity of the pursuit using multiple weapons as the heat level increases during a pursuit. Whether taking down suspects with a variety of cop weapons or using evasion equipment as a racer to outsmart the cops, players will always have a method for gaining an edge over their opponent.
- Cars – In Hot Pursuit, the cars go from hot to hotter. Experience the thrill of driving the world's most desirable high performance cars at incredible speeds. Feel the power of busting suspects in supercharged cop interceptors like the Lamborghini Reventon or outsmarting the law as a racer in high performance supercars like the Pagani Zonda Cinque.
- Seacrest County – Explore a world as diverse as the California coastline with desert, forest, seaside and mountainous regions. The open world of Seacrest County is designed to create the most intense pursuit experiences ever found in a racing game.
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows XP SP 3 (32-64 bits)/ Vista (32-64 bits) / 7 (32-64 bits)
Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHZ or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHZ Processor
1.5GB RAM (XP)/ 2GB RAM (Vista/ 7)
256 MB DirectX 9.0 compliant video card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (ATI RADEON X1950, HD 2400/ NVIDIA GeForce 7)
DirectX 9.0c
6.5GB free HD space
DirectX 9.0 compliant sound card
8x DVD-ROM drive
512 Kbps or faster network connection
Internet connection required to install and play
Compatible Video Cards:
ATI Radeon X1950, HD 2000/3000/4000/5000 series
NVIDIA GeForce 7/8/9/100/200 series
|Item Code
|Packaged Weight
|0.1 Kg
|Release Date
|Thursday, 18th November 2010
|Product Type
|Video Game


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Passionate Veterinarian needed for small animal hospital twenty miles east of Raleigh, NC. The best professionals dedicate themselves to a lifetime of learning. If (for one year) you can commit four hours weekly to the independent study of subjects such as surgical procedures, focused ultrasound, basic echocardiography, flexible endoscopy and dentistry, we will commit up to $20,000 to onsite and offsite weekend specialist training during the first year. Practice offers superior equipment, tech/assistant support, and benefits.
SVP rewards its team members with a competitive salary, growth bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Job Requirements:
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(C) 2013 Western University of Health Sciences. All Rights Reserved


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My goal is to be an innovative Software Engineer, specializing in the field of AI, and bring to life cutting edge platforms that will change our society for the better. I love collaborating with other engineers to make things happen, and I will utilize this to achieve my goal. I am committed to continuous learning and advancing current software engineering practices.
Software Engineer/Data Analyst/Data Scientist
Taipei Special Municipality,TW
[email protected]
Programming Language
C, C++, C#, Python, Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, SQL, MATLAB
Machine Learning, ROBOTICS and Computer Vision for MATLAB, Django, Sklearn, Tensorflow and Pytest for Python
Software Development Process
Agile Software Development, Test-Driven Development


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For five to six hours a day, six days a week, for 50 years, Al Bernstein would put down on paper his innermost thoughts. He philosophized about past and present events. In those pages, Bernstein tried to find himself by discovering what's important in life.
When Bernstein stopped writing in 1997 because his wife, Rhoda, had terminal cancer, he had accumulated 70 pounds of 4,000 handwritten pages of notes. He was about to throw it all away when his son, Harley, intervened.
Harley Bernstein took all those notes and over the next several years worked with his father, his brothers and his friends to create a book on his dad's guide to living.
"The information here is subtle, but there's a ton of it. It's loaded up with 50 years of thought," said Harley Bernstein of his book, an ode to his father.
"Happiness on 7 Dollars a Week: A Formula for Living" takes the themes throughout Al Bernstein's writings and shows the reader how to apply those themes to one's life.
The book, released in September 2003, made Borders Bookstores' holiday recommendations list in October.
"I always felt the need to complete my dad's work," said Harley Bernstein, a Vienna resident for 17 years. "It's just a thrill for a son to complete his dad's life mission."
The title comes from the allowance Al Bernstein's wife Rhoda had given him when they were married. Because the elder Bernstein made a mistake when balancing their checkbook when they were first married, Rhoda Bernstein took over managing the household's expenses. She put her husband on a $7 weekly allowance, which he would use to buy paper and pens.
When Rhoda Bernstein became sick, Al Bernstein joked that he gave himself a raise to $10 a week.
Although the book has only been out since September, the father/son pair has traveled throughout the United States to promote the book. From Chicago to Milwaukee to St. Louis to Tysons Corner, they've read passages and hoped people would glean the advice in the book's 167 pages.
"The first thing I noticed was how honest and true he is in the book," said Richard Behnke of Vienna. Behnke, a friend of Harley Bernstein, was one of several friends who listened to or read drafts of earlier versions. "I would enjoy it immensely when he came over and read to us."
AL BERNSTEIN BEGAN writing because when he was growing up in Bangor, Maine, during the Depression, he felt miserable. His father disappeared, leaving his mother with six children. Relatives helped, but the home environment was "love-less," described the elder Bernstein. As a result, he developed low self-esteem.
"I didn't even want to be seen on Main Street," Al Bernstein recalled.
Al Bernstein joined the Army toward the end of World War II to find himself. As he was working as a clerk in the library, he stumbled on some books by Dale Carnegie, including the book "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living." The discovery changed his life.
"He makes it his life mission to have a positive experience with everyone he meets," said Harley Bernstein of his father.
When Al Bernstein married and had three sons, he made sure he spent time with them.
"Our children can learn more from our mistakes than their mistakes," Al Bernstein said.
With his son Harley, he'd go on long walks through Bangor. He would ask Harley about what was going on in Harley's life, while Harley would ask his father for advice.
"I realized that he allowed us to reach him. ... He always allowed us that permission [to be human]," said Harley Bernstein.
It was those walks that Harley Bernstein wanted to re-enact in his book to his father.
"I wanted people to take a walk with this guy," Harley Bernstein said.
When Rhoda Bernstein became sick, Harley wondered if there was anything within those 4,000 pages that would help him and his father cope. He circled 80 recurring themes throughout the notes.
Harley Bernstein then became more determined to publish his father's work. Like his father, he spent days and evenings whittling through the raw material, until he came up with his father's core themes. Harley Bernstein then narrated those themes, using the walks he and his father took as the setting.
IN AN EARLY CHAPTER, as Harley Bernstein describes seeing his old childhood haunts, his father tells him about how he found hope. Al Bernstein said he realized that by changing his perspective in life, he could impact for the better his relationships with others.
"I always felt that dad had a lot on his mind, and I wanted to share it with a lot of people," said Harley Bernstein.
Those who have read Harley Bernstein's book said they enjoyed the advice, as well as the approachable tone, of the book.
"He put in so much writing time, from 12 to 3 a.m. for years," said Jonathon Perrelli of Ashburn, Harley Bernstein's friend. "It has some really great messages for people who are going through grieving."
Behnke said the regular meetings when Harley Bernstein would read a draft to him and several other friends influenced Behnke to read to his son.
"Harley's a smart guy. It's good advice, and anybody could use it."
Meanwhile, Al Bernstein has started writing again, every day, six days a week for four to five hours a day.
"If it'll do some good for people, it's worth it," said Al Bernstein of the book.


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Microsoft Disaster Response's chief technology officer discusses the use of tech in emergency response.
Technology is beginning to dominate many aspects of the emergency management profession. This is particularly evident during disaster response. Today we have a number of large technology companies that offer their software or services for larger scale disasters. Chief technology officer for Microsoft Disaster Response, Tony Surma, answered questions about technology's use in emergency management.
Surma is responsible for the worldwide team and program at Microsoft focused on delivering technologies and technical assistance to communities, responders and customers both in response to natural disasters and in support of proactive resiliency efforts. He has been a part of the Microsoft Disaster Response team from the start — first as a volunteer global coordinator for solutions builds and deployments in time of disaster response and, more recently, as the lead for the program. Between response efforts, his focus is on building proactive partnerships and cross-organization initiatives, such as Humanitarian Toolbox, to operationalize innovations for use during response and leverage trends in technology and solution development to the benefit of response organizations and community readiness.
Surma answered the following questions in writing.
Where do you see technology being used today to advance the different missions of the emergency management community?
How is the cloud impacting emergency management?
The cloud has been transformational for preparation and management of disaster responses. Disasters can knock out or overload local infrastructure, making access to data and communication systems nearly impossible. The cloud works around this challenge because data is stored and kept accessible far from the disaster zone. The cloud can also be quickly scaled depending on traffic and volume, so local agencies' online presence after a disaster is secure from outages. For example, we help nonprofits and local agencies use the Microsoft cloud, Azure, with our ReadyReach portal solution, which allows sharing logistics quickly and broadcasting information to citizens, as well as informing those outside the disaster zone about ways they can help.
How is Microsoft trying to be proactive versus reactive when it comes to disasters?
The way we respond after a natural disaster is crucial, whether within the first few minutes or the months of rebuilding that follow. However, Microsoft Disaster Response emphasizes that the best disaster response begins before a disaster happens. As part of disaster preparedness, we are always learning from past experiences, building on solutions that worked and growing our network of partnerships so that all of these give responders what they need when disasters happen.
There is the concept of What's In My Back Yard (WIMBY)? Explain that concept and how it works with disasters and emergency management.
Rather than viewing disaster response as everyone trying to individually have 100 percent of what they need ready to go for themselves, we should think of WIMBY as preparation built from neighbors helping neighbors, sharing resources and being empowered to be first responders for each other. Emphasizing community is a key way to scale disaster response and preparedness to a backyard level, and communities should work together with emergency managers to jointly build resiliency before disaster strikes.
What solutions are out there today to obtain information faster and distribute it to the correct people and organizations at the right point in time?
This reminds me of a really powerful statement made by the Red Cross in its World Disasters Report: When disaster strikes, access to information is "just as important as food and water" and is an increasing critical need.
The best examples of Microsoft getting solutions out there to fulfill critical needs are the times we have partnered with others to bring a solution that directly addresses the challenge. Let me give you a few examples: Microsoft was one of the partnering entities with the government of Luxembourg to develop emergency.lu, a satellite that can be rapidly deployed to a disaster zone within hours in order to bring high-quality Internet connectivity and low-bandwidth versions of Skype and Lync to areas where regular Internet connections have been downed. This satellite has been used successfully during Typhoon Haiyan, as well as by the World Food Programme in humanitarian situations such as the food crises in Sudan and Mali.
We were also involved with the deployment of another innovative connectivity solution during Typhoon Haiyan: TV White Space. We partnered with the Philippines government to leverage unused television channels, known as TV White Space, to enable connectivity in areas that lost Internet. Using TV White Space, Microsoft was able to provide Skype capabilities to the government and nongovernment agencies coordinating relief efforts, and citizens impacted by the Typhoon were able to use TV White Space Skype access to reunite with loved ones.
What role do you see big data playing in the future in regard to emergencies and disasters?
As greater volumes of data are generated and gathered during disaster response efforts, there is greater opportunity for research, analysis and visionary ways to build upon key lessons learned. As we are increasingly able to collect and extract more detailed assessments, we can proactively act before the next disaster. Working with our industry partners to build effective and collaborative ways to mine data, including social media, both during disasters and afterward is an important focus for us.
There are silos of data that are not being shared across the disaster enterprise today, because the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing in trying to help. What solutions do you see out there now that can help?
To us, it's about asking, "What role can technology play in improving logistics?" not asking "What role can Microsoft play?" When it comes to logistics, there needs to be a free flow of data during disaster response so that all people can access the information and play a part. We are talking about reconnecting loved ones, getting clean water where it needs to be, directing people to safety, and other tasks that transcend ownership. This is not an area to be competitive or closed to other organizations and businesses, which is why all of Microsoft's efforts involve building partnerships and sharing data, infrastructure and resources.
What is the future for information management during disaster response?
With the progressive, real-time open sharing of data during disasters, we expect to see a shift and rewiring of how disaster response is managed. Today we have phone calls, situation reports that come a day later, and a variety of data sources we rely upon to make critical decisions. An analogy I often use is the stock market. Think about an old-world model where you found out a stock's price a day later in the newspaper compared to today's integrated, immediate access that delivers the data needed to make important decisions nearly simultaneously to all involved. I see the future of disaster response similarly, that there will be a transformation in the way agencies exchange critical data in an open and real-time manner and make it available to people whose livelihood — and lives — rely upon it.


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Welcome to our website!!
Our apartment "Villa Karima" stands for lots of privacy and tranquility wherefore you can enjoy a well-deserved holiday on our beautiful island of Curaçao.
Beautiful pearly white beaches, azure sea, abundance of cosy restaurants, a fantastic nature, magnificent coral reefs, and an underwater paradise with tropical fish.
Whether you want to relax on the beach, explore the island with the mountain bike, by a snorkel or dive trip to view the nature under water, on Curaçao you will find this versatility.
Click "activities" and discover how you can make your holiday on Curaçao, through Villa Karima, still completer !
If you want, after reading, to have some more questions answered or to receive further information, we invite you to contact us by our contact form.
Have fun on our web site!


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The Butterfly's Project's Massage Party06:51:00
Hello people! Here is another upcoming Massage Party organized by The Butterfly Project!
I know I will be heading on for a spa party for this coming Saturday and I am totally excited about it, The Butterfly Project just had to give me another heart attack - A Massage Party!
What comes into your mind when you heard about massage? Thai Massage? Hot Stone Massage? Or even the famous Aromatherapy Massage?
Well for me, Massage means ticklish LOL. I feel ticklish whenever my mom help me to massage my back leh. Or maybe her technique isn't right? Hmm... Well, as the banner says, blog and win an invitation to the massage party. I will blog about it and pray in my heart I am the lucky winner.
Ahem, just a little recap of The Butterfly Project:
The Butterfly Project is a community that welcomes beauty & lifestyle bloggers around Malaysia that blogs with passion. The Butterfly Project team designs wonderful projects for the bloggers that would benefit, motivate and encourage them to voice out their dreams, goals and opinions. (Source)
Moving on, I will tell you in details for the reason to attend the ticklish Massage Party.
#1 De-Stress
To be frank, ever since I left my job, I have never really rest well because I kept rushing myself to find a new job. In fact, I never rest well ever since I started my working life after my graduation. It is tiring and to think of I am going to work for the rest of my life until I reach the age for retirement, my brain goes haywire. I need a massage to calm myself and think of the new direction for my future. There is a saying, a clear mind can make a better solution. Come on babeh, massage me till I get my inspiration of life in my future~
#2 Have The Best Ticklish Experience Ever
I dislike people to tickle me. Even though massage is not part of tickling but then, I always feel ticklish when they are massaging on certain part of my body, for example my back. But.. Butt... Buttt..... Massaging can help me to relax~ So I would not mind about the ticklish part but please massage me? Ok, sounded a bit wrong here. I shall rephrase a little, I would love to have the best ticklish experience ever through this Massage Party. Sounds better?
#3 Mingle Around
& Silently Snap Friend's Photos
I have an evil plan for the Massage Party. Snap all the ugly pictures of the friends while they are having massage. How does that sound to you? Cool? Ok, I will try to not let them know I am going to take their photos so do promise me, let's keep a secret. Teehee, gathering and chatting is fun. We talk and play nonsense LOL.
This is a Spa Party right? Since this is a party, there must be some partners as well. The Butterfly Project has collaborated with the partners below for the pampering session:
1. Amante Nail Spa & Body Care | Facebook
Amante has been known popular to dedicate a spa housing for the women, from beauty to wellness needs with moderate price. Erm, minions nail polish is too mainstream. Hi Amante, can I get my fingers to be painted beautfully with these?
2. Photobooth Malaysia | Facebook
Pictures! How can one forget about taking memorable pictures? Mommy taught me from young, though your brain can remember everything but sometimes, a picture can help to reminisce your wonderful moments. So, time to have a photo album huh?
3. Ask Joey - The Sweetest Party | Facebook
Ask Joey has been actively preparing customized themed party for the clients. For every party Ask Joey organized, the aim would be wanting the attendants to memorize and remember the precious moments of all. Take this for example, reminiscing school days, isn't it?
On last chance people, (in a very Cinapek slang) fast fast go check out on this giveaway HERE lor. Why you need to wait leh? Don't wait liao loh. You wait you waste time liao. Go go go!


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I've seen to above image going around again – calling for us to support our local artisans this Xmas. So I thought I'd put together a list of some awesome Aussie online stores to buy handmade wares from for your friends, family and for that Secret Santa giftee!
Soaps and lip balms, from Veronica Foale Essentials
If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll have seen some of my purchases from Veronica's online store. Veronica lives in rural Tasmania, and has launched a range of handmade soaps, lipbalms and, now, bath salts!
Veronica uses a range of natural oils in her products, which leave your skin and lips oh so happy! I love the lip balms (who wouldn't!!) and you will too. It's all balm oil free, and some products use Tasmanian beeswax. She's adding new products all the time, so follow the store's Facebook page to be tempted!
Being me, I LOVE anything citrussy, but she has a huge range of scents including coffee, There are also some lovely unscented soaps on offer for those with sensitive skin or noses, and vegan soaps. To me, they would be lovely, practical and thoughtful gifts for anyone, but in particular I think teachers would LOVE these over the usual mug and chocolates!
Candles and melts from Lily and Ginger Candles
Lily and Ginger Candles is a Hunter based family company run by Tiff and the other Treganzas. Have a delicious scent all through your house with these hand poured soy candles and melts. There's delicious scents like Vanilla Cheesecake, Ginger Kisses and Lolly Shoppe, and they come in various sized tins and jars. Or, fill your house with the scents of Christmas?
Follow on facebook, or, if you're in Newcastle, check out some of their range at Floral and Spot's pop up stall at the Emporium on the old David Jones Building in the Hunter Street Mall.
Sweary and Ranty Tea Towels and Wall Hangings from PrettyFknEmbroidery
With such wisdom as "Don't be a Dick" and Fuck the Dishes, Cate Bolt's wall hangings and tea towels are perfect for your not so domestic housewives ;) Because, who doesn't just think "I hate you the least" some days about their loved ones?
Cate is traipsing around the NT at the moment, and also has some more gentle embroidered products at Cabo Pickles, with those sales supporting her Foundation 18 charity, which supports families in Indonesia to stay together as well as running an orphanage for those whose families couldn't make it. I know, warm fuzzies when buying gifts? Perfect!
Hand mixed Glitter nail polish from Fox & Owl Polish
Fox and Owl mix their gorgeous polishes in Victoria, and has a gorgeous range of space and star polishes, and pretty pastels. Or, if you fancy yourself a bit of a mermaid, there's some gorgeous colours for you! (Stalk the FB page here.)
On top of these, I'd suggest braving your local crafty and artisan markets, buying some local jams and honeys, browsing the shelves of
Have you got any favourite Aussie stores I should add to this list?
Check out my other Xmas gift guides:
Awesome "Virtual" Charity Gifts
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While Central Singapore isn't an area many would associate with family dining, the area around Rochor MRT has a few options, including MacKenzie Rex, which has become a bit of a household name for chicken rice. Have that on its own or if you're in a group, accompany it with dishes like chap chye, sweet sour garoupa and hotplate beancurd.
Photo: MacKenzie Rex's Facebook page


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Product Description |
Product Review |
Product Description
USB-C to HDMI Video Converter USB 3.1 Type-C to HDMI 4K HDTV Adapter Cable
USB 3.1 Type C to HDMI Converter Cable
Features: Standard USB3.1 Type-C Supports USB 3.1 input and HDMI output Flexible USB Type-C Switching Support for USB 5G and DisplayPort 1.2 Alt mode Supports per lane data rates of 5.4 Gbps (HBR2), 2.7 Gbps (HBR) and 1.62 Gbps (RBR) Supports multiple color formats: RGB 6/8/10/12-bit per component (bpc) and YCbCr4:4:4, YCbCr4:2:2,8/10/12bpc Supports HDMI 1.4 and former versions Supports resolution up to 3840x2600 @60Hz (mirror mode) in DP1.1 (or 1.2) in SST mode. Supports HDMI audio Supports bus-powered and self-powered operation Compatible With: 12" Apple MacBook, Chromebook Pixel 2015, MSI Gaming Notebooks and devices has USB-C connection
Specifications: Anti-interference, high-definition, high-fidelity, low loss Signal Inputs/Output Input port: USB3.1 Type-C Male x1 Output port: HDMI Female x1 (HDMI 1.4) Operating Temperature: 0 ℃ to +45℃ Operating Humidity: 10% to 85 % RH (no condensation) Storage Temperature: -10℃ to +80℃ Storage Humidity: 5% to 90 % RH (no condensation) External Power Supply: NO
Package Included: 1 x USB 3.1 Type C to HDMI Adapter Cable
Part Number: USBC-HDMI
Disclaimer: Product information is compiled from various sources. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content and price on this web site, GreenNet.ca assumes no responsibility for and gives no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information provided on the website. We do not accept any liability arising from any errors or omissions. For complete descriptions, capabilities, and specifications, please check the manufacturer's web site for actual specifications.
If you wish to purchase this product, please ensure that you have verified compatibility with your system by visiting the manufacturer's web site. GreenNet.ca and it's staff shall not be liable to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by what is contained in or left out of this web site information.
GreenNet.ca is not liable for pricing errors. If you place an order for a product that was incorrectly priced, we will cancel your order and credit you for any charges. In the event that we inadvertently ship an order based on a pricing error, we will issue a revised invoice to you for the correct price and contact you to obtain your authorization for the additional charge, or assist you with return of the product. If the pricing error results in an overcharge to you, GreenNet.ca will credit your account for the amount overcharged.
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Press release, February 6, 2018
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and power utility Skellefteå Kraft are about to establish a test centre where the global wind industry can test their equipment in cold and icy conditions. The site is Uljabuouda in the municipality of Arjeplog in the northern part of Sweden.
By now the test tracks in Arjeplog attract automotive industry from all over the world. Now it's time for another industry to take advantage of the cold climate.
The biggest potential to expand wind power is in the world's cool areas, as they are less populated. However, ice formation and low temperatures require a robust and well tested technology. In order to develop optimal components, the wind industry is in need of a cold climate test centre.
After many years of searching for a suitable location, it is decided: RISE and Skellefteå Kraft are investigating a transformation of the wind farm at Uljabuouda to become a centre for full-scale testing of wind turbines.
Lots of snow, ice and cold
Uljabuouda has what it takes to test turbines and other components in tough conditions. The site is situated 780 meters above sea level in open terrain, has an average wind of 8.4 meters per second and is often affected by icing – an average of 500 hours every winter.
– Uljabuouda is the perfect place to test wind turbines in cold climate conditions. In addition to the climate, which is definitely the most important reason, there are already wind turbines installed at site. That should ease the establishment of the test centre and it provides us with instant and very valuable operational and climate data for the testing activities, says project manager Stefan Ivarsson at RISE.
Tests and energy production in the same location
The wind farm in Uljabuouda is today run by Skellefteå Kraft.
– We are pleased that the test centre finally becomes reality and look forward to working with RISE to create better conditions for more wind power and thus more renewable energy. We have identified advantages in co-locating the test centre at our wind farm as both parts will benefit from coordination and synergy effects, says Jörgen Svensson from Skellefteå Kraft.
The location in Arjeplog is another advantage, says Stefan Ivarsson.
– It is a municipality with both expertise and experience in advanced testing within the automotive industry.
Britta Flinkfeldt, chair of the executive committee in Arjeplog, agrees and continues:
– Arjeplog has a long tradition of innovation, research and growth, especially in high-tech winter testing. Widening it to more industries is a natural step in the development of our industry, we already have the infrastructure and hospitality needed to ensure that even more visitors can enjoy Arjeplog.
International cooperation
The cooperation's ambition at Uljabuouda is to offer the world's wind industry full-scale testing, investigation, verification and certification of new generations of wind turbines and subsystems in order to be able to perform reliably in cold climate.
ECN, Energy Research Centre of The Netherlands, is also participating in the development and planned operation of the test centre.
More information:
Stefan Ivarsson, RISE, phone +46 10-516 57 43, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
Jörgen Svensson, Skellefteå Kraft, phone +46 910-77 26 15, e-mail firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: coldclimatetest.com
- Infographic: Specifications of the planned test centre.
- Photo: RISE and Skellefteå Kraft are now collaborating to create a cold climate test centre in the existing wind farm Uljabuouda in the northern part of Sweden.
- Photo: Ice and chill demand a great deal on wind turbines and components.


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Youngest Players
Tennis has no age restriction and anyone can play the game. It is easy to learn and get into. Most people play the sport just for fun or exercise. There are some people who are gifted tennis players and it is normally picked up from a young age. These people are normally groomed their entire lives to play the sport professionally.
Professional players are getting younger by the day. Some players who are not yet 18 are Francis Tiafoe who was born in 1998 in the USA. He is recognized as the USA's next rising star. At the age of 15 Tiafoe is named as the singles champion in Orange Bowl by being the youngest person to do so. He ranked enough points to get a wild card to play in the French open the following year.
Duck Hee Lee also born in 1998 is a junior tennis player from South Korea. Lee has remarkable achievements even for a player with a disability of being born deaf and can only feel the vibrations of the ball yet has achieved high combined ranking of 3 achieved on 24 March 2014. Lee's biggest titles on the Junior Circuit include Grade 2 tournaments in Sarawak and Nanjing. At the young age of just twelve, he won the prestigious International Junior Eddie Herr tournament that was held in Bradenton, and only two years later qualified for the Open Junior Championships in Australia.
The American tennis player Stefan Kozlov whose ethnicity is Russian, reached quarterfinals at Wimbledon juniors but made it to the Top 20 in ITF World Junior Rankings, number 17. He made his debut on the ATP World Tour as a wild card at the Newport tournament in 2013.
Borna Coric has substantially noted wins over Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal as well as reaching 3 tour level semis. The Croatian professional tennis player in 2015, reached his best singles ranking of number 33 in the world numbers. He is currently the youngest player in the top 50 of the world rankings.
Nick Kyrgios has under his belt two Grand Slam entrances in the quarterfinal, substantially noted victories over Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Kyrgios is an Australian professional tennis player and defeated the singles event for boys at the Australian Open in 2013 pluysa the doubles event at the Wimbledon Championships in 2013. Kyrgios's has also achieved reaching the quarterfinals of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships.
Hyeon Chung who is from South Korea is a 19-year-old tennis player and has received the title of being the 2nd man from his country to get into the ATP's Top 100. He has the proof under his belt of being consistent and having five challenger finals as well as 3 titles in 2015. Chung has played in numerous tennis tournaments since 2014 such as Bangkok Open, the US Open, Davis Cup, Australia Open, French Open and Wimbledon.
Andrey Rublev is a professional Russian tennis player. Rublev at the young age of 17 has made a name for himself in the big leagues. Rublev went down in history as the 1st teenager to be victorious at 5 ATP events.


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Emma Watson Brushes Off Prince Harry Dating Rumors
Emma Watson has brushed off rumors suggesting she is dating British royal Prince Harry, urging fans not to believe everything they read.
Watson, 24, recently set the showbiz world abuzz amid speculation she had embarked on a low-key romance with Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, following her split from boyfriend Matthew Janney in December.
However, Watson has since shut down the claims, taking to Twitter.com on Sunday (22Feb15) to address the reports.
She simply wrote, "WORLD Remember that little talk we had about not believing everything written in the media?!"
WORLD ♥ Remember that little talk we had about not believing everything written in the media?!
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) February 22, 2015
also….. marrying a Prince not a prerequisite for being a Princess. https://t.co/vjodTAgEcC – Courtesy of Alfonso Cuaron.
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) February 22, 2015
Prince Harry, 30, has been single since parting ways from his girlfriend of two years, Cressida Bonas, last April.
Photo Credit: Lia Toby/WENN.comRecommend0 recommendationsPublished in Celebrity, Celebrity News, Featured


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Venture 220-240V Impulse Ignitors
Detailed below is the Venture Lighting range of Impulse Ignitors for use with High Pressure Sodium Lamps rated between 50 watt and 2000 Watts rated at 220-240V. Within this section are standard and Timed Impulse Ignitors; the former featuring over-voltage protection and the latter automatic reset and minimum downtime. The pulse magnitude for this gear is up 3.0 – 4.5kV. This all means elimination of end of life flickering and faster restart for hot lamps.


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The man who gives the command, who shoots the arrow, feels a slight recoil from it. Here the analogy with an arrow ends, for the real recoil is psychological, and the marksman only feels it when he sees that he has hit his target. It is all the more important to find out exactly what happens.
The satisfaction which follows a successful command is deceptive and covers a great deal else. There is always some sensation of a recoil behind it, for a command marks not only its victim, but also its giver. An accumulation of such recoils engenders a special kind of anxiety, which I call anxiety of command. It is slight in the man who only passes on commands, increasing with nearness to the real source of authority.
It is not difficult to understand how this anxiety of command accumulates. A shot which kills an isolated creature leaves no danger behind it: a creature which is dead can do no harm to anyone. A command which threatens death and then does not kill leaves the memory of the threat. Some threats miss their target, but others find it and it is these which are never forgotten; Anyone who has fled from a threat, or given in to it, will invariably revenge himself when the moment comes. The man who threatens is always conscious of this and will do everything he can to make such a reversal impossible.
He feels that all those to whom he has given commands, all those he has threatened with death, are still alive and still remember. He is always conscious of the danger he would be in if they all united against him and this fear, which is both fully justified and yet vague and inherently unlimited — for he never knows when memory will be translated into action, nor by how many — this endless torturing awareness of danger is what I call the anxiety of command.
It is strongest in the mightiest. The concentration of anxiety is greatest in one who is a source of commands, who creates orders and receives them from no one above him. A ruler can keep it hidden, or under control, for a long time, but, in the course of a life, it can increase until, as with certain of the Roman emporers, it suddenly manifests itself as madness.
—Elias Canetti, Crowds and Power [The Recoil: The Anxiety of Command]


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I am all for the chunky statement jewelry, but sometimes a nice dainty piece completes the outfit just as well – if not better!
In this post I want to show you my top three favorite dainty pieces that I own, and give you a little info on how I wear them.
(Now I'm a twin!?)
Enjoy the photos! I absolutely love how they all turned out! Props to Eric, who is now the second photographer for Makeup By Claire! Yay! 🙂
This first piece is a new addition to my collection, and it is this cross necklace from a local boutique.
If you are in the Southern Chicago area, a wonderful new boutique called "Room 363" has just opened in Naperville, and it has some amazingly stunning and unique pieces!
I have been looking for a necklace much like this for awhile now, and was glad to have found it in a store.
You can push this to the side a bit so that the cross is more angular, or you can wear it straight so that the cross lays in the middle of your chest.
It also comes with an extender chain so you can wear it as high or as low as you wish.
I love to wear these dainty pieces with my "softer" toned and feeling tops. For example, this is the perfect piece for a chunky sweater, as I'm wearing in these photos. This would also look beautiful with a sheer, loose fitting top. The necklace just adds a perfect amount of sparkle to the outfit that is eye catching and unique.
Up next is this gorgeous bracelet that I purchased on Haute Look awhile back.
Unfortunately I'm not sure as to where you could purchase this now, but evil eye bracelets are literally dominating the market lately, so a similar one should be easy to find.
I love this bracelet for a couple of reasons: first of all, it is small and dainty so that it doesn't dominate my wrist if I am wearing other dainty pieces of clothing or jewelry. I also like pairing this with chunkier pieces, like a big watch or a chain link bracelet, because it's small enough to add something to the combination but not take it over. Second of all, I love that it has a little pop of color that is intriguing and brings more to the look than just seeing gold!
This bracelet also comes with an extender, however, it's loose on me even at the tightest loop. I love that it sort of hands loose, giving it a more "free feel". I don't mind the extender hanging down, I think it adds to it!
This is another recent find, that I see has now been duped by Target as well!
However, this baby was only $2.00 at Maurices.
Unfortunately this did come a little loose around the "love" logo, and I had to get Eric to take some pliers to it, but it's safe now!
This is just a gorgeous, light piece with a little extra edge to it. The chain is less traditional with the golden beading, and the "love" logo has crystals encrusted throughout the letters, bringing it a little bit of sparkle.
Again, with it's extender you can wear this as high or as low as you like. I love wearing this with ANY top because it's just so versatile. Having somewhat plain, dainty pieces in your collection is a must. It allows you to really get use out of it. One of my most favorite pieces of jewelry is a diamond pendant on a small, delicate silver chain. It is the most quiet piece of jewelry but it looks stunning with everything, and it catches the light effortlessly.
Having statement pieces in your wardrobe is wonderful, but try to integrate smaller, quieter pieces that bring something to your outfit without dominating it. They are also more comfortable to wear, especially in the heat! 🙂
What are your favorite dainty pieces?


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Earlier this month, Maui County Planning Department Director Will Spence and Deputy Director Michele McLean signed an op-ed in The Maui News saying the county would soon seek changes to the law governing community plans. This came a few weeks after The Maui News reported on a memo it had obtained from Mayor Alan Arakawa saying that the whole planning process was "broken."
On Nov. 12,
former county planner Connie Tucker, who worked in the county Planning Department's Long Range Division, sent a letter to The Maui News disputing the Arakawa-Spence-McLean line. Since the paper has not published her letter, Tucker gave us permission to do so. Here it is, as she sent it:
In their Nov 6th editorial letter Will Spence and Michele McLean offered their reasons for changing the Community Plan process. They cited the extended time frame for producing the Lanai Community Plan and suggested that planning staff is inadequate to meeting the requirements of the Charter, section 2.80B.
I am retired from the Long Range Division, was employed under this and the previous administration, and I worked on both the Maui Island Plan and the Lanai Community Plan.
What Will and Michele failed to include in their opinion piece is that in 2013, while the Lanai Plan was underway, the Long Range Division had vacant, budgeted Planner and GIS positions that the administration opted not to fill. Instead it was decided to implement Division relocations and a complete Department reorganization. Over the objections of planning staff, they moved the Zoning and Enforcement Division and the Planning Administration's own offices from County owned property to rental offices at One Main Plaza. Long Range was moved to a space about 1/3rd smaller. Since offices had to be built out there were months of work interruptions and hardships for staff. Then, in the reorganization of the Planning Department, the vacant Long Range positions were shifted to other divisions, again over the vehement objections of staff.
The work force of Long Range, the division tasked with meeting the Charter requirements, was severely diminished. By these and other actions the process was disrupted. It took a toll on both the work to be done and on the workers themselves. The plane crash on Lanai was a tragic finale for staff already struggling to meet their obligations to the public. But the crash was not the singular event that disrupted the Lanai Plan. And the Lanai Plan should not be used as a pawn to manipulate the public's perception.
It is not the process that is broken. There is a problem with lack of administration willingness to appropriately administer the process.
The guarantees and protections that inhibit unencumbered growth on Maui continue to be under threat. Changes to the process could seriously weaken the protections we have managed, despite the odds, to have in place.
Because changes require Council approval and because we have a different Council next year, watch for a rapid attempt to alter or amend 2.80B in the coming weeks.
Photo of Lanai: Forest & Kim Starr


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When it comes to two equal apps, the app with a better rating will receive a better ranking. When your app does not have any ratings yet, it will internally get a composite score representing the quality of the apps you published before. This means: Ratings are important. But how to get lots of positive ratings? Well, there are several methods, one of them is to buy them via certain dubious websites (I 've never tried that), another way is to simply ask your users for ratings. This step is actually pretty simple but it can and most likely will improve your ratings a lot, provided that you are making it right:
- Ask your users using an AlertDialog. While a beautiful little button in your main menu may be nice, users have the tendency to ignore things that want something from them (like they do with banner ads) and keep them from doing what they actually want to do (explore your app). This is why a one- or n-time alert dialog will catch much more attention than a button that is just always there. Personally I prefer the one-time to the n-time version.
- Don't ask them the first time they use your app. That's pretty obvious. How should a user know how to rate your app when he didn't even use it? Instead, wait until he used it five or six times or played through the third level or so. When a user uses an app a couple of times, this is a good indicator that he actually will give you a better ranking.
- Give them a chance to opt out. You shouldn't force your users to rate your product but give them a chance to say 'later' or 'don't ask me again'. When a user decides not to rate a product but gets annoyed by repeated dialogs, there will come a time when he ranks it with very little stars.
Installs are important. They are important for you, because many users equals many dollars. But they also are important for the Android Market Search Algorithm. To be more precise: The ratio of active installs to total installs, respectively the refund rate. This will have special weight when your app is published the first time and there are not enough comments to give your app a ranking and no other apps to give your app a composite score.
Since gaining installs and keeping active installs is very important, it's important to have a well designed and tested app. Boosting user numbers by force can be a very expensive task, that's why it's even more important not to lose existing users. To increase the number of downloads of an app, the well known classic methods like writing blogs, creating viral content, paying for ad space or ASO can be applied.
The the Google Play Store Search Algorithm
The search algorithm of Google's website is known to be a black box of which nobody except Google knows how it works exactly. Guess what: With the Play Store search algorithm, it's exactly the same. Still, by try and error and a lot of observation, patterns can be recognized. Here's what the Play Store search algorithm roughly looks like:
temporary relevance * t + keyword frequency in the title * u + keyword frequency in the description * v + ratings * w + composite score * x + active installs in per cent * y + black magic * z
Temporary relevance here means the acceptance of the users over a small time period, or in other words the download rates in the last days and weeks. As you can see there is a little 'black magic' involved, this is a synonym for uncertain influences like the +1-button, the percentage of solved known bugs with every new update, the relevance of keywords used in the recent changes-description and all the other small and uncertain things.
After various observations, the following rough order can be assumed:
w >= t >= y > u > v > x
z, representing the weight of various factors, is ignored.
Now, when optimizing your app for the Play Store, you can try to improve your app's environment based on this order, meaning for example: "Let's put our main effort into a solid UX, a non-annoying dialog with a high conversion rate asking users to rate us high and a good description."
You maybe noticed that the Play Store search algorithm changed a lot in the last 18 months. ASO is very dynamic. New changes need to be observed and classified as soon as possible, so it always stays exciting.


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If you are looking for an authentic Greek experience, immerse yourself in the lush natural surroundings of the famous region of Olympia. Sample olive oils, wines, local recipes and entertain yourself with locals performing syrtaki and other folk dancing.
- Guided tours are available in the following languages English, German, French, Italian, Russian.
- During the visit animals are kept in designated areas for health and safety reasons.
- For individual bookings please contact us before your visit.
- Laboratory workshops and extra activities are available on request