text:
To increase transparency, PeerJ operates a system of 'optional signed reviews and history'. This takes two forms: (1) peer reviewers are encouraged, but not required, to provide their names (if they do so, then their profile page records the articles they have reviewed), and (2) authors are given the option of reproducing their entire peer review history alongside their published article (in which case the complete peer review process is provided, including revisions, rebuttal letters and editor decision letters).
New to public reviews? Learn more about optional signed reviews and how to write a better rebuttal letter.
All the reviewers' concerns were addressed.
The authors have addressed this reviewer's points of critique
The authors have addressed this reviewer's points of critique
The authors have addressed this reviewer's points of critique
The authors have addressed this reviewer's points of critique
All reviewers had positive comments, however, point to point responses and a major revision is required.
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
Cumulus cells have multiple functions during oocyte maturation and insemination. The authors investigated the function of the cumulus systematically by four models: In vivo oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCC), in vitro OCC, in vitro denuded oocytes (DO) + cumulus cells and in vitro DO. Their results showed that cumulus cells play key roles during oocytes maturation and insemination. Cumulus cell contribution is dependent on the connections of their gap junction with oocytes. This is a valuable topic. In general, the methods used in this study are feasible and the data are solid to support the conclusion. It could be taken into consideration for publication
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
Coordination between cumulus cells and oocytes within the ovary is crucial for follicle development and oocyte maturation. Cumulus-oocyte co-culture in vitro is a good model to study this complicated coordinative mechanism. Many related researches have been done. However, the most prominent superiority of the present study is that it not only studied oocytes maturation, but also fertilization, in different models of oocyte-cumulus co-culture. The experimental design is well-conceived,the operation & manipulation is proficient and creditable, the data collection & analysis is standard and precise, and the conclusion is pertinent. So I think the manuscript is acceptable after the following minor revision.
1. Abstract. It has to be reorganized to highlight what's new and significant. For example, "although no significance is found in xxxxxx, we found xxxxx greatly improve xxxxx. This study suggest that xxxx is important for xxxx". It's hard for reader to follow in the current organization.
2. Abbreviation. Cumulus-oocyte complex is usually simplified as COC.
3. Page 4, line 55-56, "Numerous studies have shown that cumulus cells can improve cytoplasmic maturation" , here one or several good review paper should be cited.
4. Page 14, line 312-314, The present study didn't provide any data about polyspermy, so although polyspermy is an important issue, it shouldn't be discussed here.
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
The authors aimed to investigate the functions of cumulus cells systematically by different models, employing oocytes with tight junction or dispersed, or without cumulus cells in oocyte maturation and insemination. Their results will improve the outcome in human IVF clinical procedures and research. This is a solid manuscript that should be acceptable.
Overall, it is okay but please see my comments under the section "General Comments for the Author".
Meets standards but please see my comments under the section "General Comments for the Author".
Under the Statistical Analysis section, the authors may state that experiments were repeated three times.
This study reports that cumulus cells improve both maturation and fertilization of mouse oocytes. The mechanism of oocyte maturation is not fully understood, and in vitro maturation of human oocytes is still considered to be experimental. Therefore, this study is of importance. The following needs attention:
1. The manuscript may benefit from careful editing in terms of readability. For instance, the subtitles might be more descriptive (e.g., Fertilization or Embryonic Development Based on Number of GV or MII Oocytes instead of Total GV or MII Oocytes)
2. It would be helpful to give exact supplementation of culture media used for in vitro maturation and embryo culture (e.g., any serum or albumin supplementation, etc.).
3. The specifics about co-culture are missing (e.g., how many cumulus cells per oocyte; status of cumulus cells in terms expansion and compaction or luteinization, timing of cumulus cell addition, etc.).
Please see below (general comments for the authors)
Please see below (general comments for the authors)
Please see below (general comments for the authors)
The study by Zhou et al addresses the influence of cumulus cells on oocyte maturation, fertilization and subsequent development using four different experimental groups: In vivo oocyte-cumulus complexes (OCCs), in vitro OCCs, in vitro denuded oocytes (DOs) plus cumulus cells and in vitro DOs. The authors report that tight connections between cumulus cells and oocytes in OCC improved oocyte nuclear maturation and that the presence of cumulus cells was beneficial for fertilization. They further report that disruption of cell junctions between oocytes and cumulus did not affect fertilization of OCCs matured in vitro. The authors state that cumulus cells play key roles during oocyte maturation, insemination, and early embryo development and that the connections between oocytes and cumulus cells play a positive role during maturation and insemination.
This paper builds on a number of previous reports that established important interactions between oocytes and cumulus cells through gap junctions. As written, the paper requires several improvements and clarifications including the following.
• The title is confusing and needs better wording to more clearly reflect the content of the paper. The title also should indicate that the study was performed in the mouse model.
• In the abstract, the term "connections" should be explained in more scientific and cell biological terms. The sentence "The existence of cumulus promoted matured oocyte fertilization" should include more detail on how fertilization was "promoted" by cumulus cells. Similarly, the sentence "For oocytes matured in vitro, the existence of cumulus cells during maturation or insemination did not contribute to the final blastocyst formation" needs clarification to put this finding in context for the reader to understand the rationale for possible effects on blastocyst formation.
• In the introduction, for the reader to better understand the rationale for the study, it would be important to introduce gap junctions and the interactions between oocytes and cumulus cells in more detail. The paragraph on sperm related to cumulus cells can be shortened.
• In the introduction, cytoplasmic and nuclear maturation should be addressed in better details and explained for the reader to better understand the difference and their interdependence. As written, there is little definition for neither cytoplasmic nor nuclear maturation.
• In the introduction, lines 58-59: "promotional effects" should be explained with more clarity.
• In the introduction, lines 60-61, please clarify: "…..by employ oocyte with tight junctional or dispersed, or without cumulus cells in the procedure of oocyte maturation and insemination…." The sentence is difficult to understand.
• In the introduction, lines 62-63: "This study may provide more detailed application guidelines for cumulus cell use in human IVF clinical practice". Based on the data presented on the mouse this statement is not justified and should be eliminated.
• In the results, lines 125-126: Please provide more clarity on "the quality of MII oocytes (i.e., the progression beyond the MII stage), and the progress of insemination (i.e., the progression after the MII stage)".
• In the results, lines 131-137: More detail on the disruption of gap junctions is needed.
• In the results, lines 139-144: Please provide numbers for the findings in the text.
• In the results, lines 169-176: Please provide numbers for the findings in the text.
• Generally in the results section it is not clear why the authors used the word "fraction" of total oocytes.
• The discussion is generally too long and could be shortened substantially (to about half of the text) to address the topic concisely and with clarity, particularly to state the rationale for the study, the significance of the study, the new findings compared to already known information, the importance of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation with detailed information for both, and more detailed information on the importance, structure and functions of gap junctions between oocytes and cumulus cells, and more information on the rationale for co-culturing oocytes with cumulus cells although connections are not made between the two in these experimental approaches. On the other hand, the speculations on factor secretions from cumulus cells affecting oocytes and others (lines 307-325) should be limited and replaced with information known from the literature. What specifically do the authors mean by "This may be because the gap junctions of OCCs from IVM are incomplete or defective, leading to this dysfunction during IVF"?
• As in the introduction, the sentence "The study of the detailed mechanism of cumulus cell function in oocytes and embryos will improve the outcome in human IVF clinical procedures and research" should be deleted.
All text and materials provided via this peer-review history page are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.


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You know I had to see a musical while I was home. Obviously. And what better choice than a musical about something near and dear to my heart? Nigeria. Well, a Nigerian anyhow. I had heard about it when it first opened and asked my Broadway guru and multiple-times-a-week theatre goer friend about it. She love love loved it and had already seen it several times. But, she said she'd be more than happy to go again with me. Done and done.
What musical is this, you may be asking? None other but Fela!. It's a musical about Fela Kuti, a Nigerian singer in the 1970s who invented the genre of Afrobeat, a fusion of traditional African rhythm with jazz, funk, and psychedelic rock. Through his music he spoke out pretty harshly against the corruption of the Nigerian government, and he basically was an all-around pretty controversial figure. Great material for a musical.
It was awesome. Awesome awesome awesome. The music was stellar- most all of it was just his music. The dancing. The costumes. The set. Great. Great. Great. I feel like I'd need to go back a few more times just to catch everything that was happening on stage! And I felt I understood it so much better after living my life with dozens of Nigerians. While I thought it was great, I don't know that I would recommend it to everyone. It's big and brazen and loud and exciting and involves lots of hip gyrating and some audience participation of the dancing variety. All of which I loved, but, for instance, I would never recommend it to my parents. They would hate it. Maybe your parents are different. But if and when it wins a bunch of Tonys, I can just imagine a little old white lady going and being So Not Thrilled.
That caveat aside, I thought it was a phenomenal musical and am only sad that I can't go back again anytime soon.

subset: commoncrawl


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DETROIT — Manager Terry Collins made some radical lineup changes. First baseman Darin Erstad wore his socks differently. Tony Phillips, a switch-hitter, batted from the left side against a left-handed pitcher.
No matter. The Angels' luck did not change Friday night and neither did the result in a 6-1 loss to Detroit in front of 16,016 in Tiger Stadium.
Detroit left-hander Justin Thompson, the best pitcher you've never heard of, threw a five-hitter with five strikeouts, and the Angel offense remained as stale as two-week-old bread. A team noted for its resiliency has now lost 14 of 20 games to fall four games behind the Seattle Mariners.
"Remember that 10-game win streak earlier in the year when everything was falling for us and I told you there would be a time when those balls wouldn't drop?" Collins said. "Well, guess what. It's here. Everything we hit hard is caught, and our bloops are being caught. All we can do is keep battling."


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The new email will be my main to those who wants to get in contact with me asap. Please bare in mind that this email is for business purpose only or collaboration. I do in fact don't mind to receive Q & A as long as is related to my blog content.
P.S I've made my email illustration on photoshop and I feel like it makes a great T-shirt or a pattern for phone cases. What do you think guys?


text:
Joel G. Kosman, ESQ., LCSW | Psychotherapy and Counseling
Life Stress
Alcohol and Drug Use
Early Adult
Mid Life
Career Professionals
Work Place Stress
Executive and Professional Coaching
Therapy for Lawyers
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Divorce and Separation Support
Co-Parenting Support
About NYC Therapist
Joel G. Kosman, Esq., LCSW
A little more than 30 years ago, I graduated from Swarthmore College. After a year in banking, I enrolled at the New York University School of Law. I basically enjoyed law school and things worked out well.
Law practice, though, never felt like a great "fit" -- although throughout my career as a lawyer I held challenging (and stressful!) positions. In my 20 or so years as a practicing attorney, I worked at a Big Law firm, a small "boutique" law firm and as an Assistant District Attorney for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. I clerked for a federal judge in the Southern District of New York, taught in the Lawyering Program at NYU, and taught as well at New York Law School.
There came a time, though, when I decided that I needed to change careers -- to find something that better matched my goals and aspirations and to enable me to master my life. So I took a mid-career risk, and enrolled at the New York University School of Social Work. Since then, as a mental health clinician, I have worked at a psychiatric unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, wit
h New York University Counseling and Wellness Services, and with the Psychotherapy Center for Gender and Sexuality, and have had advanced psychoanalytic training at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy as well as specialized training in the tr
eatment of eating disorders. I also have significant experience counseling law school students at Columbia Law School and working with young
lawyers and professionals more generally.
Throughout a long and varied working life, I've experienced successes and setbacks, victories and losses, stress, anxiety, change, insecurity, indecision, depression, emotional paralysis and more. You name it - I've pretty much ridden the highs and lows.
And I've found that, as my own life experiences have multiplied, my capacity to help my clients to master their lives and shape them in ways that are satisfying and meaningful has only deepened.
Open, Perceptive and a Great Listener
When we meet, you'll find me open, perceptive and easy to speak with. I'm a great listener, but I'll also ask you questions, and pay careful attention to your answers. Because I've been trained in two disciplines – law and mental health - I'm able to listen and respond from multiple perspectives to better address your particular needs.
So give me a call at
, we can set up our first appointment.
Copyright © Joel G. Kosman, Esq., LCSW. All rights reserved.
| Email
201 East 16th Street, New York, NY | 300 West 72nd Street, New York, NY
Life Stress
Alcohol and Drug Use
Early Adult
Mid Life
Career Professionals
Work Place Stress
Executive and Professional Coaching
Therapy for Lawyers
Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Divorce and Separation Support
Co-Parenting Support


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Houston Criminal Lawyer Jack Carroll's Proven Case Results
Houston criminal defense attorney Jack B. Carroll is a top Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer and offers, in this video, the case results to prove it.
If you live in Texas, or the Greater Houston area and want to hire one of the best criminal lawyers in Houston then look no further than Jack B. Carroll.
You can call Jack @ 713-228-4607 or visit his Downtown Houston office at 1419 Franklin St, Houston, TX 77002.
Houston Criminal Lawyer
Houston Cocaine Defense Lawyer
Houston Public Intoxication Attorney
Houston Murder Defense Attorney
Drunk Driving Lawyers in Houston
Houston Assault Defense Specialist
Assault – Family Violence Defense Lawyer
Meth, Marijuana, Narcotics Possession Lawyer
Probation violation attorney that handles motions to revoke community supervision.
Weed Cases
Crack & Habitual Cases
Murder of a police officer
Felonies, Misdemeanors.
About the Author: Leroy MendesI am a long time legal professional and am known to offer commentary analysis on issues of the day.
Comments (3)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed


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CURRENT performers
CHristine Bonansea
Christine is a dancer and choreographer with over 15 years of international experience in conceiving, directing, choreographing, and performing movement-based works. She creates performances, installations, and films, and is the Artistic Director of Christine Bonansea Company. Defined by expressive, virtuosic, improvisation-driven movement, her work inhabits an experimental, interdisciplinary, and collaborative environment in which other media play an important and integral part. She's worked with Catherine Galasso, Katie Duck, Sara Shelton Mann, Faustin Linyekula, Tino Sehgal, and Yoshiko Chuma. In NYC her work has been presented by Danspace Project, Dixon Place, and Movement Research at Judson Church. Her dances have also been developed in art residencies and commissioned by numerous venues and festivals in the U.S. and worldwide. christinebonansea.com
Julia Discenza
Julia Discenza is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She holds a B.A. in Dance and Biology from Barnard College, Columbia University, where she majored in dance and molecular biology, and performed in original works by Faye Driscoll, Sidra Bell, Bill Young, Larry Keigwin, and Andrea Miller. Since graduation, she has performed with Colleen Thomas Dance, MICHIYAYA Dance, FrediDance Project, Trainor Dance, and NathanTrice/RITUALS Dance Theater. A lover of nature, wine, food, and travel, Julia has spent 2 summers dancing in Europe. Julia also works as a freelance photographer and videographer and she serves as an Art-To-Tech Connector Fellow at Gibney Dance's Digital Technology Initiative.
cameron mckinney
Cameron McKinney (Performer) is the Artistic Director of Kizuna Dance. He has also worked with 10 Hairy Legs, Dante Brown | Warehouse Dance, Christal Brown/INSPIRIT, Chafin Seymour/Seymour::dancecollective, and AnA Collaborations, among others. His choreographic work has been presented by prestigious festivals and institutions nationally and internationally, including the The Japan Society, Gibney Dance, Movement Research, Dixon Place, the Wassaic Project Summer Festival, and Triskelion Arts, among many others. He has also been commissioned twice by the Joffrey Ballet School, as well as by LIU Brooklyn, The Moving Beauty Series, the Steffi Nossen School of Dance, and SpectorDance Studio. He has taught in eight states and internationally in Japan, Mexico, and the UK. He is currently on faculty at Gibney Dance Center. cameronmckinneydance.com
Emily Tellier is originally from North Vancouver, Canada, and now resides in Brooklyn as a freelance dance artist. She has performed in various festivals and shows including the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Ladies of Hip Hop Festival, and the Vancouver International Dance Festival, and has recently premiered works in both New York and Vancouver with 277 Dance Project, Heather Laura Gray, Thryn Saxon, and Joya Powell. She can also be seen in Ingrid Michaelson's newest music video, Celebrate, choreographed by Stacey Tookey. In addition to working with Stefanie Nelson Dancegroup, Emily collaborates with Movement of the People Dance Company directed by Joya Powell.
Past performers
Massimiliano Barachini, Erik Abbott-Main, Nicole von Arx, Benjamin Asriel, Julian Barnett, Aszure Barton, Nathanael Buckley, Dominique Bulgin, Alex Clair, Ben Cortes, Malinda Crump, Hallie Dalsimer, Cristiano Fabbri, Katie Federowicz, Emily Giovine, Gierre Godley, Isabel Gotzkowsky, Saar Harari, Daniel Holt, Jeff Kent Jacobs, Christophe Jeannot, Karen Johnson, Lesley Kennedy, Cara Liguori, Ofelia Loret de Mola, Sarah Matry-Guerre, Mor Mendel, Mckay Montz, Lauren Naslund, Marissa Nigro, Matty Oaks, Sarah Parker, Hunt Parr, Yarden Raz, Amanda Reichert, Rachael Rosen, Eric Russell, Valentina Savelyeva, Ali Schechter, Ariana Seigel, Jennifer Sydor, Mark Thrapp, Bergen Wheeler, Benjamin Wolk, Yin Yue, Jon Zimmerman
Greg Barrett (photographer)
Nell Breyer (choreographer, media artist)
Maria Rosaria Busia (costume designer)
Andrew Dickerson (light design)
Andrea Ferrara (composer, live electronics)
Howard Fishman Quartet
Jonah Kreitner (composer)
David Leach (photographer)
Philip Lees (composer)
Kim Lennox (costume designer)
Lische (dance company)
Lisea Lyons (costume design)
John Price (filmmaker)
Sahand Rahbar (composer)
Daniel Bernard Roumain (composer)
Eric Scott (composer)
Ian Shand (photographer)
Paul H. Taylor (photographer)
Justin Randolph Thompson (Visual Artist)
Bradly Dever Treadaway (Videographer)
Solomon Weisbard (light design)
Jeremy Weichsel (animator)
Wendy Leigh Wilf (composer)


text:
PlantCamera is the eyes and nose tarbaina internal organs - organs being achieved wheel, Jack and the protection of the reaction tube. Was pratyangake the factory machines with German doctors in ear phritja the great popularity of this theory several decades - organs of the human body.
Hundreds of years painters and scientists to work in the human body the einaya method described in different ways. This amazing success is that explains phritja the ear joteni the fate of others.
In a museum in Berlin recently pulled out of the bottomless forget his work in the field of industry biology ear '- the mechanical philosophy, it was decided to honor. The mission of the Heritage Museum in Berlin last Saturday of the exhibition is the work of the ear. 'Phritja ear - mechanical and number one will be held in April this month.
Striroga ear specialist (1968-1888), design satirao more than one (Illustration) in place. I lost a lot of thought. Has been compared to body design with smooth device. And sbasanalike the pipeline, which provides oxygen balaguloke pemche and destination. Create packets of sugar and starch in staff liver saribemdhe. Two scientists with electric control panel. Less than that of a fellow blood pressure and heart rate and breathing - breathing keeps an eye on.
Amkiye not very good ear. So he approached the design was to draw professional artists. Several decades was on the way to the massive expansion in the industrial Berlin. 19 in 1931, was published five pieces of the series 'Das Das label menasena' (human life). Best cellar recognition in a short period of time.
The priest was a Jew. With the rise of Hitler in Germany, and ended in success. And banned books in natsira khanta. They burned books. Look for this in the United States in 1941, doctors were able to escape.
At a time him kantharodha natsira in Germany was able to design his book recently published in English and German. The web site is the place to do it. source : internet


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Nimbus Mobile LLC
We create elegant, flexible mobile solutions that address everyday needs.
- Stage Prototype Ready
- Industry Mobile
- Location Starkville, MS, USA
- Currency USD
- Founded December 2011
- Employees 2
- Website NimbusMobile.com
Company Summary
We create apps that make people's lives easier. Our solutions range from social networking to cloud-based record management; using these technologies, we aim to improve day to day tasks that might daunt end users such as proper pool management.
John GazziniFounder
Senior - Mississippi State University
Computer Engineering
President - Sigma Phi Epsilon
IFC - Greek Man of the Year 2012
Cisco IT Intern - Summer 2011
Read SpraberyFounder
Senior - Mississippi State University
Computer Engineering
Study Abroad - Singapore - Spring 2011


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About NodeMCU
NodeMCU is a very popular Micro controller with wifi access. It is based on ESP8266 - an economical but powerful chip with wifi acces. It supports Arduino IDE. So if you familiar with Arduino IDE, you can program NodeMCU in no time.
In this project, we will show how control instructions are sent to an IOT device. The demo device is a Buzzer connected to NodeMCU,. We will use MQTT protocol to exchange message between NodeMCU and another IOT device.
MQTT is a Machine to Machine IOT protocol. This protocol allows one device(sender) to publish data to a MQTT broker with specified Topic, another device(receiver) which subscribes the same topic can easily get message from sending device.
Parts and Devices
NodeMCU board
jumper wires
Picture 1: Circuit Connection Graph
Programming Prerequisite:
Before running the project, we need set up the Arduino IDE as per following procedures:
Library Installation:
In Arduino IDE, we need install MQTT client library to communicate with MQTT broker, please download the library from following link:
Unzip above file, move the unzipped folder to Arduino IDE library folder (you can also import these two zip files to Arduino library from IDE).
Download sample code from following link
http://osoyoo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/NodeMCU_Buzzer-.txt , copy the code into Arduino IDE. Before running the code, please do following changes to fit your wifi and MQTT setting:
1)Line 19 and 20:
const char* ssid = "your_hotspot_ssid";
const char* password = "your_hotspot_password";
You need change these 2 lines to match your wifi SSID and password
2)Line 21
const char* mqtt_server = "broker.mqtt-dashboard.com";
You can use your own MQTT broker URL or IP address to set above mqtt_server value. You can also use some famous free MQTT server to test the project such as "broker.mqttdashboard.com", "iot.eclipse.org" etc
If you want to install your own MQTT broker in Ubuntu Linux, please read this article http://osoyoo.com/2016/09/07/how-to-install-mosquitto-mqtt-server-on-linux
3)if your MQTT server require username and password authentication, you need change line 86
Running the code
After you running the code, please open the serial terminal window in upright corner of Arduino IDE.
If wifi hotspot name and password setting is ok and MQTT broker is connected, you will see following result:
Picture 2:
After the NodeMCU connected to wifi and MQTT broker, it subscribes the topic "OsoyooCommand", if the received topic message is "1", it will turn on Piezo buzzer, if the message is "0", it will turn off Piezo buzzer. We will use a MQTT client to publish "0" or "1" to MQTT broker.
You can select any MQTT client tool to send message to MQTT broker. simply use google to search MQTT client in internet, or search MQTT in Apple store or Google Play, you can find many free MQTT client software. In my case, I use Microsoft MQTT Client for windows. You can google and download Microsoft MQTT client from internet.
After you installs Microsoft MQTT, please configure the MQTT host and topic to match Picture 2. The use MQTT publisher to send message to NodeMCU.
you will see result as following:
Picture 3
When you publish "1" , the Piezo Buzzer will beep, when you send "0", the beep will turn off.
DownLoad Url osoyoo.com
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this is our old website. Please go to: www.monksyard.co.uk
January 2015
Find a Corporate Events Venue in Yeovil
Being able to find a corporate events venue in Yeovil is an easy task if you opt to come to us here at The Monks Yard. We have a number of rooms available which are always maintained to the highest of standards and we have all our rooms available for hire throughout the year.
To-date the rooms we have available are used by businesses in the local area for events, training and conferences. We don't just supply the room either, you will also have access to WIFI, tables & chairs, presentation setup along with food and drink (if required). We want to make sure that your event or conference runs as smoothly as possible and from previous client feedback, we are confident that you won't be disappointed with coming to us.
On our website you will be able to see a layout of the various rooms we have available. You can then pick and book the room you feel best suits your requirements.
If you would like to find out more about the corporate events venue we have available, please call us on 01490 200020. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you further.
|Affordable Conference Venue in Taunton
Affordable Conference Venue in Taunton
We can help you here at Monks Yard if you are looking for an affordable conference venue in Taunton or the surrounding area. Our premises is based in Ilminster which means that we are perfectly located to Taunton and we have some fantastic conference venues available to suit your requirements.
Our team have ensured that having your conference with us is hassle free. You can rest assured that we will be able to supply everything required for your conference to run smoothly. This includes tables and chairs, Wifi, projector facilities along with food and drink if required.
On our website you will be able to see the layout of the different conference rooms we have available. Once you have found the one perfect for you, just give us a call to book. We will then take care of everything else to ensure the room is in fantastic condition on the day of your conference.
For more information about the affordable conference facilities we have available, please call us on 01460 200020. We will be more than happy to help and we look forward to hearing from you.
Select a month from the Archive to view more blogs


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Discussion in 'Android Devices' started by TheNextOne21, May 26, 2010.
Can't decide on which phone to get, can you guys give me some advice on which to choose?
Best link for side by side comparison spec wise:
Verizon Droid Incredible vs. Sprint Evo 4G vs. Google Nexus One -- Spec fight! | Android Central
Then after looking at that you should look at the cost per month. Sprint plans are less overall.
Also look at coverage
Evo has a couple of slightly higher specs, LCD versus AMOLED, the option of connecting to a Wimax network where available, and cheaper plans.
Obviously check coverage in your area on Sprint and Verizon's site. If coverage is good for both, Sprint costs less. If you get good Verizon coverage and poor Sprint coverage, no amount of savings will make up for that.
My general rule of thumb is to check coverage first, then out of the carriers that cover your area, look at plan price second (don't get fooled by base price when data, text, nav, etc. cost more to add on), and once you figure out who has good coverage and cheapest plans, choose your handset.
The EVO also has a front-facing camera, HDMI out, and a larger screen.
1gb of ROM as well, the whole 8gb internal on the incredible doesn't matter cause you can't use it for anything but music and pics. no apps... 4g as well AND the ability to turn off sense... you can't do that on the incredible
Both are going to be great choices, like Neodorian said, it really comes down to coverage
You can't technically turn off Sense on any phone. You can use an alternative home launcher by default with the EVO is what you mean.
no, you can turn off sense... in the setting you litterally force close sense and don't use it any more, it's still installed but doesn't run, it runs stock plain old vanilla android
YouTube - Sprint Evo 4G without Sense


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Who would have ever guessed that your mother's insistence on eating well, getting sleep, playing outside and focusing on homework was actually brain smart? (Thanks, Mom!)
If you listened to your mom's advice–and I certainly hope you did–your body and health benefitted, and so did your disposition and ability to think creatively, expansively and collaboratively. I'll share with you how and why, and also reveal how our moms got it wrong in a few key ways too.
Regardless of your role in the workplace, how well you care for your brain and mind matters—significantly. In this keynote presentation, participants will learn brain-busting myths that hurt and help you perform and succeed at your highest level. Kate's fun facts and stories will help you remember and implement what research is revealing today about how we can function at a high level, in a sustainable way.


text:
Six months after Superstorm Sandy, an unwelcome development is set to make the months to come miserable for allergy sufferers.
As CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez reported Monday night, one of the worst allergy seasons ever is expected this year.
All the signs are already there as the weather turns the corner to temperate conditions – nasal congestion, watery and itchy eyes, runny noses, and stuffed heads.
"This is a very severe allergy season," said allergist Dr. Clifford Bassett. "It's some of the worst pollen allergy levels in years."
Bassett said heavy rain in the fall, as well as Sandy, are to blame for the pollen surge.
"Those trees and pollenating plants – they're very happy right now," Bassett said, "and they're producing prolific amounts of pollen."
"It just seems worse this year than ever before," said Frank Cuzzi of the Lower East Side.
Bassett said the pollen spike is bringing in patients such as Alyssa Bain, who have never complained of allergies before.
Read more at CBS 2
{Matzav.com Newscenter}


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What is a Learning Community?
Essentially, learning communities (or blocks) are clusters of courses taken by the same groups of students. This structure allows students to develop peer support networks that aide in promoting social learning experience and overall academic success.
The learning community structure also allows for a multitude of components to work together to provide students with a supportive academic environment. Since faculty within each block are teaching the same group of students, this provides faculty with the opportunity to collaborate with each other to integrate their course materials and assignments, and to discuss student progress. Examples of this faculty collaboration are limitless, as each block produces a unique, thematic, and coherent interdisciplinary integration plan that enriches students' first-year learning experience. Students interested in Nursing, PreMed/PreHealth, STEM, Business Administration, Accounting, and Education, can participate in specialized blocks that focus on these fields of study.
Studies have shown that learning communities have a powerful effect on student persistence and success. When students are allowed to experience the fusion of their academic and social worlds, they benefit from a more textured and meaningful learning experience (Tinto, 1994).


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Microsoft has not had best of experiences with the launch of Kinect for Xbox One as it is hated by many gamers and developers alike.
Speaking with IGN, Fable creator Peter Molyneux shared his thoughts on it, calling Microsoft's device a trainwreck that failed to deliver on its promise.
It was a trainwreck. It started as this device which kind of could do everything itself. It didn't take up any processor power, the field of view could encompass the whole room. The audio on it, which no one really talks about, was originally supposed to be multi-sensing, it could sense where you were.
He added that it significantly fell short of its promise and "It ended up being none of those things" and highlighted that users had to sit in a very limited region for it to work.
Its promise… was so enormous. In fact, it reminds me a little bit of VR at the moment.
According to Molyneux, the promise of the device sensing you where you were was so big but its "actual delivery of that promise fell so far short."
However, Microsft has not lost hope for Kinect and is still committed to the device, but its success will be determined based on how users prefer and enjoy using it.
We made a decision on Xbox One S in terms of how we were going to support Kinect plugging in. We wanted to make sure that the hardware support for Kinect was there. We didn't have the custom Kinect controller plug-in because it allowed us to kind of double-up and have a USB connector in there as well, which I think is just a good feature for the box. For me, Kinect will succeed based on how much people enjoy using it. We're investing in things like Cortana coming to Xbox, which gives people voice control and in which obviously Kinect is a great way for voice to come into the box.
Do you think Kinect was a disaster? Let us know in the comments.


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We went over to Will's parents' house at around 6 for dinner, and opened our gifts that evening because Will had to work from 8-3:30 the next day. We both got some clothes, Will got a soldering iron and I got a necklace with scissors on it (that one made me laugh, I can't help but wonder where you would find one of those), some dishes and a few other things, but the most exciting thing we got...was Will's Wii back, and the Wii Fit!! It gets very good use around here. I'll say now that the Wii Fit is one video game (if you can call it that?) that I don't mind at all if Will plays a lot, hahah!! On Christmas morning, we all woke up at 6 and got our stockings, ate a small breakfast and then everyone else opened the rest of their presents. Will left at 7:20 and called at 8:40 - they let him go home early because no one was calling in! So that was a VERY nice surprise.
For Will, I did a "12 Days of Christmas" thing for him, starting on the 14th and ending on Christmas. I wrote 12 poems to go with each day, explaining the gifts. I had a hard time deciding whether to post this or not because it's awfully goofy, but maybe someone will enjoy it...
I tried to catch that partridge bird,
But higher and higher she flew.
Then I found this handy tool,
Hope it works to get her down for you! (Bouncy ball)
I looked up and down at every store,
I couldn't find them, such a chore.
Turtledoves are so small and rare
That I had to improvise, I hope you don't care. (Turtles and Dove chocolates)
Flying to France took quite a while,
To find those French hens, just to see you smile.
But when I got home I was starving, it's true,
I can only hope that you're hungry too. (Chicken pot pie)
The four calling birds flew to my window,
They were quick and soon had to go
But they sang to me these songs just for you
Flew away and they were gone (Christmas CD)
The cost of gold rises every day,
Not to mention so many other things we must pay.
And what would you do with those pointless things?
So instead I got you these delicious rings. (Donuts)
The geese-a-laying already flew south,
But left a gift for you - or rather, your mouth.
These are quite unique as you can see,
Chocolate eggs for you and me! (Melted white chocolate with an M&M in the middle)
The swans are swimming and having such fun,
But soon winter comes and they have to be done.
Their feet get so cold, they can't swim in a storm,
So here are some socks, to at least keep your feet warm. (Socks)
I found the eight maids-a-milking in Belgium,
But they were too busy, and couldn't come.
They gave me this as in despair I wiped my brow,
I guess they must have been milking brown cows? (Hot chocolate mix)
You'd love to go dancing and learn from 9 ladies,
And take out your wife in the new Mercedes.
But working all day, now you feel like a mess,
Here's something to wear so you look your best. (Tie)
I discovered the lords the other day,
Leaping and bouncing and hopping away.
When all of a sudden, I had a thought,
They leaped to the stars, and for you, this they brought. (Starbursts)
I called 411 to ask, really I pled,
To book the 11 pipers for piping.
They heard me wrong and sent instead,
To my dismay, 11 rolls for wiping. (11 rolls of toilet paper)
I found the drummers drumming booked 12 years in advance,
Begging and pleading didn't earn me a glance.
But as they drove off, they threw this my way,
And I filled it with things for you on this the twelfth day. (Small drum filled with kisses, hugs and 50 reasons why I love him)


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ARI# 30502314 D.O.B. 3/17/2006 (12 yrs)
Stud Fee:
These days, when adding males, not only must they be the complete package, but they must be able to multi-task. Gold Rush can cover grays and blacks with the same elite results as when he is bred to our elite full Accoyos! Superbly dense, shears a still-grade two vibrantly lustrous fleece that comes off in a single piece, Gold Rush stands proud in our fields, proof that his correct physical structure goes beyond mere conformation to an elegance of proportion. He has presence, yet his disposition is a delight! We had our first introduction to Gold Rush in 2010, when his daughter, Hidden Hill Accoyo Declaration, was born here, and we knew right away that his guy could stamp them out to perfection. We have always loved Gold Rush's sire, Accoyo Something's Up and we know his dam to have produced many exceptional offspring that have bannered.We will see 2014 crias from Accoyo Sharli, Accoyo Chambala, Accoyo Sarabande and Accoyo Cassandra. We will also be breeding our black and gray full Peruvian suri females to Gold Rush. Thus far, he has not failed to confer those colors when bred to them!
Updated 12/3/2017
Hidden Hill Farm — Carol Karsten
27 Mattheson Road, Antrim, NH 03440 |603-831-0315 | email@example.com


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We specialists in the manufacture of premium quality production tooling and molding parts,assemble service in auto area All we do, we do only Precision product, no rough stuff.
We manufacture a wide variety of molded parts. These parts range from automotive products with tight tolerances.Also we develop high quality moulds and products in medical instruments,electronic appliance products,furnitures,home appliance,sanitary etc.


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Our Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision
Mallige Medical Centre will set the standard for excellence in healthcare in India.
Our Mission
To realize our vision with commitment to superior and personalised patient care through advanced technology, proactive wellness, education and outreach.
Our Values
- Initiative
- Teamwork
- Empathy
- Courtesy
- Communication


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Let me state it clearly and plainly: I lost my doo-rag and I am absolutely devastated about it. I am talking real deal, genuine feelings of deep loss. I think about my doo-rag (her name was Betty) all of the time—our history together. Life has not been the same since Betty has been gone.
I know some may think I am being funny. Understand, this is not a satirical post. I truly miss my doo-rag. I miss Betty. Sure, to some, a doo-rag may seem like a flimsy piece of satin; but the right doo-rag can become almost like a friend (I know some sistas out there are giving me an "Amen").
I can't remember exactly when Betty and I met, but I do remember that our connection was immediate. She fit my head perfectly: didn't have arms too long so that I had to wrap them endlessly, didn't have the cone of extra material that some doo-rags have at the top, and had rounded seams designed for a smaller head. Betty understood what type of support I needed and never left my side (or rather my head). Shortly after we met, I brought her to college with me. She was still young then: had the sheen of new satin and was a bubble-gum pink.
Throughout college—my most formative years –Betty was there. I kept her on with my shower cap for extra protection from the sometimes rusty water found in the old dorms at my Historically Black University. She ensured that my hair stayed "tight" on the rare occasion that I could afford to get it done, since I was living on a college-student's budget. She weathered all of my various hairstyles during my experimental years.
Betty's presence, or lack thereof, was a symbol of the seriousness of a relationship.
Phase 1 – Feelings are growing, sex is hot – Betty was hidden in the drawer.
Phase 2 – We've been kicking it for a while now– Betty is informally introduced. Betty would come out after any relations. I would sleepily put her on when all fun was had and we were drifting off to sleep.
Phase 3 – we are in a fully-committed relationship – It's understood at this point of the relationship that to love me is to also accept Betty. She is wrapped around my dome during the nightly routine of brushing teeth and washing my face.
Betty was with me throughout my most serious relationship, my marriage. I packed her up and took her to Seattle with me so that I could look my best when I said, "I do." Actually, Betty has gone with me on every trip. She has been to at least 30 states and 6 countries; she was there when 15 of us coeds would squeeze into one hotel room so that we could attend major games like the Bayou classic; when I went hiking through Italy with my friend to celebrate her divorce; when I travelled to Jamaica for a friend's 50th birthday; and when I went on a dream trip to Greece. I tried to find a "travel Betty", a doo-rag that I could keep in my cosmetic case and carry with me when I traveled; but I couldn't find a doo-rag that fit me as well as she did. I wanted a replacement-travel doo-rag because I was scared that I would lose Betty on one of my many trips, which is exactly what ended up happening. I lost her on a trip.
Prior to losing her permanently, there were many false alarms and scares—several times I thought that she was lost, over the years. I'd frantically tear the house up, ripping back sheets, looking under pillows, searching in the night stand drawers, going through the laundry. Eventually my family would always get swept up in my frenzy and would start looking for the beloved scrap of satin. Pure relief would wash over me when she was discovered inside of a pillowcase or under the bed. But this time, I knew that alas, Betty was gone for good.
I feel a bit guilty because I treated her badly the last time we were together. I was in Vegas with some friends for a girls' weekend (J.Lo concert, shopping & cocktails). On our final morning there, there was a knock at our door with room service delivering our breakfast. I threw on the complimentary hotel robe, hastily ripped Betty off my head (the room service attendant didn't' deserve to see all THAT), a stuffed Betty in the robe pocket.
And there she stayed—left in the pocket of a random robe to be washed in the massive, industrial washing machine with sex-stained sheets and bleached towels. After over 25 years of consistent and superb service– she deserved better.
I knew I would never get her back. I briefly thought about making a "Reward if Found" poster to place in the hotel's laundry room—offering a nice sum of money and pictures of Betty. I had so many pictures of her that I could've used: snaps from Christmases past that I didn't take her off when I sleepily watched the kids open gifts, of me breast-feeding the kids in the wee hours of the morning, late night gossip sessions with me and my girls back in the day. My life with her—from bubble-gum pink to dingy gray—was aptly captured.
Betty has proven to be irreplaceable. I've tried. I've put myself "out there." I've been shopping around—even tried online dating. Not one purchased doo-rag has fit my head correctly. Some have even been made out of cotton!! (what in the hell?!?!)
So, I now amble through life each day without the one thing that has been by my side since high school—my doo-rag, Betty. I'm typically not the type to be attached to an inanimate object; but, I'm truly sad. More importantly I'm raggedy—my hair ain't been as laid since that fateful morning in Vegas.
My intention is for Black people to love themselves and each other. It sounds somewhat silly, I guess; but oftentimes my people are overwhelmed with negative images, bad news, and stereotyped characters about us. I'd like to flip that script. I'd like to remind us, as often as I can, how incredible we are. Read more


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Begun in 1999 by former executives of industry recognized firms, ProCom Consulting has a team of over 200 experienced professionals that have worked for a variety of communications service providers, electric and gas providers, state and local government organizations, consulting firms and vendors. The company's leadership team consists of executives with deep experience and long track records in the communications, utilities and state government sectors.
Executive Team
Curtis Mills – Chief Executive Officer
Curtis Mills leads ProCom Consulting's strategy, business operations, client work, service offering development, and market leadership activities. He also serves in program management and quality assurance roles on client projects. A widely respected expert in the communications and utilities industries, Curtis began his career with Accenture. There he spent several years at electric and natural gas clients before becoming one of the first executives in the firm to focus on billing and operations support systems for the telecommunications industry. For over 30 years, Curtis has helped communications service providers and utilities improve their mission-critical customer, billing and operations support processes and systems, with a focus on post-merger integration. He has worked with many large and small communications companies in the wireline, wireless, Internet services, cable and long-distance sectors. Clients have included SBC/AT&T, Frontier Communications, Qwest, CenturyLink, Windstream, Verizon, and Amdocs, among others. He has also worked with both regulated and deregulated gas, electric and renewable energy companies such as Southern Company, Direct Energy, Excel Energy, Carolina Power & Light, TXU Energy, and SouthStar Energy.
Curtis is often called upon for his deep expertise, including providing testimony for regulatory bodies; providing subject matter expertise for software vendors serving these industries; reviewing and negotiating outsourcing agreements on behalf of clients; conducting due diligence reviews for clients considering acquisitions; and conducting workflow reviews to identify productivity improvements. He earned both his BBA in finance and MBA in information systems from the University of Georgia.
Chad Terry – Chief Financial Officer
Chad Terry, a certified public accountant, leads ProCom Consulting's financial planning, accounting and risk management functions, along with some areas of business operations. Chad has over 20 years of experience in finance on both the public accounting and industry sides. Chad has held CFO positions at numerous technology companies, where he managed financial operations, led banking relationships, secured venture capital financing, and guided the companies to increased revenue and profit. These companies include Aptys Solutions, Accelarad, Pursuant Health, Jack Henry & Associates, and Goldleaf Financial Solutions. As CFO of Alogent Corporation, a provider of deposit automation and image based transaction processing solutions, Chad helped lead a financial turnaround of the company and facilitate a successful acquisition. He has also been an advisor to various other technology and real estate companies.
Prior to his roles as CFO, Chad was a senior internal auditor with BellSouth/AT&T, where he led several projects to increase operational efficiency and improve revenue assurance. He started his career in public accounting, working as an audit manager for several years with Faucett, Taylor and Associates. He performed financial statement audits and consulted for companies in a variety of industries, including real estate, technology, manufacturing and capital management. Chad received his MBA from the University of Georgia and his BBA in accounting from Kennesaw State University. He also holds an AAS in general business from Dalton College.
Martha Tuthill – Executive Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Martha Tuthill leads ProCom Consulting's client development and client service activity, with an emphasis on the state government sector. Prior to joining ProCom Consulting, Martha spent over 30 years with Accenture, where she was a senior managing partner in various leadership positions focused on the development and delivery of information systems and on process improvement for Fortune 500 companies and the government sector. One of those roles included chief operating officer for the Communications and High-Tech business unit, the second largest division at Accenture. Running the day-to-day operations of this multi-billion consulting and outsourcing practice, she was responsible for sales and pricing of client work, new product line investments, and quality, financial and human resources processes.
During her tenure at Accenture, Martha also served as a human performance partner focused on utilities. She worked with over 20 Energy clients around the globe to shorten the learning curve for employees to adopt new technology solutions. Another role included managing aspects of Accenture's outsourcing business and Health and Public Service Technology unit. At one point she managed 2,000 people in the largest outsourcing contract in Accenture's history. She has also consulted to state government agencies on streamlining their operations, motivating their people, and improving results. This has included extensive work across child welfare and human services agencies to identify and deliver dramatic people, process, and technology improvements. Martha holds a BA in Computer Science and Economics from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Mark McKeehan – Executive Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Mark McKeehan leads ProCom Consuting's activities in the communications sector. With over 30 years of experience, Mark was previously a managing director at Brand Velocity and spent seven years at Amdocs, where he was responsible for growing the company's North American communications consulting business. His group led companies through transformations of their most critical systems. This involved all aspects of complex programs, including creating and implementing business processes and organizational structures while leading change. His most recent role at Amdocs was VP, Global Operations and Planning, in a division of over 2,400 employees. At Ernst & Young, Mark established the firm's Latin American communications and financial services practices. He also served as an engagement partner, implementing customer care, billing and trouble management systems for major communications companies. Following the merger with Capgemini, Mark served as COO for Capgemini's North American communications division and VP, Director of Operations, for all of Capgemini's North American business.
Prior to Ernst & Young, Mark spent nine years at BellSouth/AT&T focusing on areas ranging from international startups to marketing within the mobile division. Mark's consulting activities have spanned functional areas such as customer management, billing, marketing, and operations, with a specialty in process improvement and change management. Mark holds a BS in quantitative management from the University of Florida and an MBA, with concentrations in finance and organizational development, from Indiana University.
Client Delivery Executives
Jeff Beck – Sr. Director, Salesforce.com Practice Lead
Jeff Beck leads ProCom Consulting's Salesforce.com Practice. Jeff joined ProCom Consulting with over 17 years of experience in Product Management, Consulting, and delivering Salesforce.com solutions, both large and small. He has worked for multiple Salesforce.com Partners on an array of projects. In 2012, Jeff was a co-founder of Velocity Motorsports, a supercar driving experience. Jeff has also held multiple leadership positions in early to mid-stage companies, including VP of Product Management for Vendormate, an INC 500 Fastest Growing company.
During his time at Vendormate, Jeff was responsible for the overall direction of their web-based credentialing software. He was also responsible for Vendormate's CRM strategy, utilizing Salesforce.com to support over 2,000 hospitals and over 100,000 vendors supplying goods and services to those facilities. In 7 years, the company grew to over 150 employees and over $250 Million in realized return to investors. Through this, Jeff experienced the power of the Salesforce.com platform and its role in driving enterprise value. His passion is working with organizations to develop and implement their CRM strategy. Jeff holds a BA in Economics from the University of Georgia.
Dipti Desai – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Dipti Desai manages complex business and technology transformation programs for ProCom Consulting clients. With over 25 years of IT consulting experience in the communications and government sectors, Dipti specializes in ensuring that complex technology initiatives will deliver expected business outcomes. Prior to joining ProCom Consulting, Dipti created and led Amdocs Consulting's Global Practice for Prime Systems Integration Services, which focused on large-scale, multi-vendor, multi-stream transformation programs at clients. During her seven years at Amdocs and previous nine years at Accenture, she specialized in complex system conversions for communications companies, particularly those involving acquisition and consolidation efforts across a variety of business functions. Her roles ranged from strategy development, overall approach planning and methodology to program management office oversight, implementation management, and testing. She was often responsible for conversion timelines, dependency management and risk management, coordinating numerous stakeholders. She also led efforts to redefine business processes, identify cost-saving opportunities and offer new product bundles. Her clients have included T-Mobile, AT&T, U.S. Cellular and Vodaphone, among others.
Prior to Accenture, Dipti led systems development activity for the Louisiana Workers Compensation Program, the state's largest workers' compensation insurance carrier. She also worked on various systems for the US Naval Reserve and the Washington Area Transit Authority Systems while at Engineering and Management Associates. At Shell Oil Company, she provided support for manufacturing systems. Dipti holds a BS in Computer Science from Nicholls State University.
David Fritz – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Dave Fritz leads service delivery activities for ProCom Consulting clients. Dave has spent over 20 years in senior operating roles in the communications and banking sectors. Before joining ProCom Consulting, he was a client industry executive with EDS (now HP). Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President, IT, at Windstream Communications, where managed all aspects of the IT organization, over 400 people and an operating budget in excess of $80 million. He also played a key role in the separation of assets from Alltel and simultaneous merger with Valor Communications, while creating an entirely new IT organization. Prior to that, he was Alltel Communications' Vice President of IT, with a staff of over 500 and a $50 million budget. He oversaw application support, application enhancement, project management, and external management functions for the IT organization. At Systematics (now Fidelity National Financial), he held a variety of positions in sales, marketing and IT before becoming the vice president responsible for its wireless service bureau.
Dave began his career in the United Banks system. He became Vice President and Cashier responsible for bank operations and IT at the lead bank in the holding company and provided guidance to operations leaders in the other banks. He was involved in consolidating multiple individual banks within the holding company into one bank, creating a branch bank structure. Dave holds a BA in business administration from Gustavus Adolphus College.
Geir Kjellevold – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Geir Kjellevold leads ProCom Consulting's State of Florida Practice and our Tallahassee Office. Prior to joining ProCom, Geir held a variety of positions at Accenture and North Highland Consulting. He has extensive experience across the full breadth of public sector domains including health and human services, professional and business regulation, economic development, unemployment insurance/compensation, workforce development, education, criminal justice and public safety, elections, revenue/tax, and public sector financials, procurement, human relations, and retirement administration functions.
In his career, Geir has worked with the majority of State of Florida Agencies as well as agencies in the States of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee, in a wide range of projects including project management for large, complex projects; full life-cycle of information systems development (planning, design, development, testing, deployment and ongoing support); customer relationship management (CRM); call center design and operation; business process design; organizational change management; project/program management office; procurement; and strategic planning. He holds a BS in business administration, with concentrations in finance, and an MBA, both from Florida State University.
Melissa Reser – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Melissa Reser leads service delivery activities for ProCom Consulting, with an emphasis on communications industry clients. With more than 25 years of communications industry experience, Melissa is a respected leader of large, mission-critical systems and is known for turning around at-risk programs and delivering on complex initiatives. She has led some of the largest and most complicated billing and CRM systems integration and conversion initiatives for communications service providers in the Americas and Europe. Her clients have included AT&T, Sprint, U.S. Cellular, CenturyLink, Cable & Wireless and Liberty Global, among others. Prior to joining ProCom, Melissa was the managing director of a boutique communications consultancy and held various positions at Amdocs, including senior consulting partner responsible for all North American client work, global lead of Prime System Integrator Services, and global practice lead for consulting methodologies. While there she led a $500 million transformation program at U.S. Cellular resulting in the modernization of billing, customer care and operations support and enabling the rollout of competitive offerings. She oversaw the AT&T Wireless billing consolidation of 26M former BellSouth subscribers and the billing consolidation of 34M subscribers for the Sprint/Nextel merger.
Melissa began her career at Ernst & Young (Cap Gemini), where she managed software selection and implementation projects for clients in a variety of sectors. Melissa holds a BBA in accounting, a BBA in business analysis, and an MS in Business Computer Science from Texas A&M University. Melissa is a certified Project Management Professional and member of the Project Management Institute.
Ardeth Smith – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
Ardeth Smith leads service delivery activities for ProCom Consulting clients. With over 20 years of communications industry experience, he runs program and project management initiatives on behalf of CFOs and CIOs responsible for complex, high-risk systems initiatives, with a particular emphasis on process and system consolidations and conversions. Having spent his career serving large and mid-sized communications companies, Ardeth is experienced in the implementation and conversion of customer care, billing, and operations support systems. He has been involved in all phases of the systems development life cycle and has managed programs in excess of 500 people. Among his many projects was Frontier Communications' acquisition and integration of 4.8 million customers from Verizon. He led the program management office for all IT aspects of the acquisition and the development and implementation of a new order entry system.
Earlier in his career, Ardeth was Director, Consulting Services, at CGI-AMS and a senior manager at BearingPoint. He has also held positions with Coopers and Lybrand's consulting division and the EDS CIS system implementation group. He earned both his BS in business administration in decision science and computers (magna cum laude) and his MBA in international business from Rider College. He has also attended executive education programs at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a master's certificate in project management from George Washington University and is a member of the Project Management Institute.
David Stich – Senior Vice President, Client Service Delivery
David Stich plays a leading role in ProCom Consulting's state government practice and works closely with state government clients to improve their processes and information systems. Prior to joining ProCom Consulting, David held a variety of positions during his 21 years with Accenture, where his emphasis was delivery center management. He served public sector clients at the federal and state level, as well with those in private industry. For example, he led the program management office (PMO), testing, and end-user training for the California Child Support Automation System, an initiative that transitioned over 50 county and regional child support agencies to a new, single statewide system. He led PMO functions for the California Statewide Automated Welfare System, which also consolidated dozens of agency support systems. While managing the Accenture Federal Delivery Center, his 1,200 team members supported many federal agencies and other organizations operating under strict federal compliance guidelines.
David was an integral part of the Accenture and Cayuse Technologies startup team, which pioneered the concept of near-shore indigenous technology delivery on a rural Native American Indian reservation. He helped grow the organization from a team of 20 to over 400. Serving as Center Director, he oversaw all projects. This included a broad range of technology and business process outsourcing services for clients such as AT&T, Microsoft, and various state and federal agencies. David holds a BS in financial management from California State University at Chico.


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We've published a lot of writing this year on our PBL Blog, from a variety of guest bloggers, our National Faculty, staff—thank you all—and me. Here are the ten from 2017 that have gotten the most views so far, plus a few more of my favorites:
1. Deeper Learning Performance Assessment Resource
2. Project Based Online Learning: Meeting the Challenge
3. Building Up STEAM at the International School Nido de Aguilas, Chile
4. 13 Projects About Immigration
5. Going Public and Going Pro: The Power of Portfolios, Publishing & Personal Branding
6. It Takes a System for High Quality PBL
7. PBL in the Mirror: 4 R's of Planning for Teacher Reflection
8. Students and Police in Conversation: Authenticity in Nashville PBL
9. 7 Tips for Coaching PBL Teachers
These honorable mentions I thought were particularly insightful/useful:
• Project- and Problem-Based Learning: Whose Problem Is It?
• Creating Adult Connections in PBL
• PBL for Equity & Inclusion of Students with Disabilities
• Promoting a PBL Mindset in Mainstream Settings: The Dimmer Switch Approach
• How My Project-Based School Prepared Me for Columbia
Interested in guest blogging for BIE in 2018? Please email [email protected]


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Size 5 promotional Rubber Rugby Balls // Product Code: JBRR52
Usage: -Ideal for Rugby clubs and premium promotion
Outer Material Available: -Top Grade or Eco quality pimpled grain rubber
Panel's Construction: -4 Panels
Size: -Official size (36-37cm Length, 58-60cm circumference)
Lining: -2 Layer cross lamination for perfect shape retention
Weight: -Approx 380-410g
Bladders Available: -Latex Bladder (High retention bladders available)
Print: -Up to 10 spot colour design
Inflation: -Recommended PSI = 04-06
Size 5 Promotional Rubber Rugby ball - jbRR52
Below are the suggested Retail Prices for this product
Prices range between £16.00 and £10.18Price includes up to two colours and set up costs but excludes carriage costs.
- UK printed stock takes 10 - 15 working days (following the approval of artwork)
- Factory printed stock takes 15 - 20 working days (following the approval of artwork) this is flown in to the UK, sorted and inflated if required (and at additional cost)then sent out to the final address
- Factory printed stock via ship takes about 12 weeks (following the approval of artwork)
- The ball is printed before being stitched together, allowing the whole surface of the ball to be your canvas.
- Printing calculated on your artworks number of colours ONLY
- Two colours already included in the price!
- Greater range of materials and panel style options
- Air freight and sea freight options
- Manufactured promotional balls ready to be printed; held here in the UK
- Fast turnaround, only 10-15 working days following approval of artwork
- Plain stock can be delivered deflated or inflated (at additional cost) the next working day
Other size 5 options: - Size 5 promotional PVC // Size 5 match ready


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Car all ready! - The online computery journal thingy of a turtle
Nov. 13th, 2008
02:31 pm - Car all ready!
There! Today I got my car serviced (changed oil, rotated tires, replaced engine air filter, replaced cabin air filter which was missing for some reason(!)), got her a state inspection, had that little electronic box, that was hanging down where my left foot could hit it, tacked back up out of the way, and put on the new registration sticker (the old one wouldn't have expired till the end of December, but why put it off and risk forgetting it?)
Julia is all ready for my trip to MFF next Tuesday! Once I get my laundry done this weekend, I'll be, too.
The cabin air filter was missing on my car, too. It may be that this filter is installed only in certain regions (my manual had "(Puerto Rico)" next to the title of this section). I went ahead and got a couple of these filters off eBay anyway.
Reminds me... 6-month service coming up. Better schedule an appointment, then!
Reminds me... 6-month service coming up. Better schedule an appointment, then!


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Four Years After The London Riots
Hackney, 8 August 2011: An older man confronts the police line at the top of Mare Street near Hackney Central Station and shouts, 'Go home!' They tell him to be quiet. 'Be quiet?' he responds, 'How dare you… Standing on my streets!'
Peckham, 8 August: A large crowd leans against the railings on the corner of Peckham Rye and Peckham High Street, drinking, smoking and laughing. Some of the more aggressive members of the crowd charge at the police and a teenage girl calls out, 'Excuse me! You dropped your hat.'
Croydon, 8 August: Locals drive in circles on the wrong side of the road, revving their engines and cheering. A black Audi slaloms down the high street, the rear wheels skidding across the tarmac.
Tottenham, 6 August: Wheelie bins are set alight and dragged into the road to use as barricades. Young men with balaclavas peacock in front of the police line, taunting them to break rank.
Salford, 9 August: Worried the riots might spread outside London, Greater Manchester Police pre-emptively deploy riot police to Salford. As people emerge from the estates to see what's going on, they realise that they have been invaded, and a riot ensues forcing the police to withdraw from the area.
Peckham, 8 August: The windows of a clothing shop are smashed. A rioter enters the building and throws out bundles of t-shirts and jumpers onto the streets. The garments are passed around the bystanders, inspected then discarded. Later that evening someone starts a fire in the shop, but an older man runs inside and stamps out the burning clothes.
Clapham Junction, 8 August: Someone films through the window of a restaurant where dinners lie abandoned on tables. Inside, a young man in a balaclava runs up to the window and grabs a slice of pizza from the table before waving to the camera, downing a beer, and running off. Round the corner on Battersea Rise a young man sits down in the middle of the road. Someone kicks the passing cars, provoking laughter from the assembled crowd.
Tottenham, 6 August: As the police withdraw from the area, people take out their anger on whatever is left behind. Chief Inspector John Dale describes the retreat: 'I only just managed to get myself and nine officers crammed into the back of a carrier and depart at speed with missiles hitting the rear of the carrier like a ferocious drum beat. I was forced to abandon the carrier I had arrived in and this was promptly set alight by the rioters.'
Clapham Junction, 8 August: TVs and high value electronic goods lie smashed on the road alongside bottles, fag ends and rubbish.
Four years ago this month, London was recovering from the worst rioting it had experienced in a hundred years. On 4 August 2011, the Metropolitan Police murdered Mark Duggan. At first, the Met claimed Duggan had fired shots at them; they later admitted he was unarmed. A protest outside Tottenham Police Station escalated into a riot that spread across London and several English cities. Over five nights 15,000 people took to the streets, hundreds of police officers were injured, and five people died. Aside from the Mayor of London's impulsive purchase of water cannon (which he is not allowed to use), there was a conspicuous absence of political reaction.
Commentators from the left and the right were fixated on the widespread looting; the events were described as 'shopping riots' or 'criminality, pure and simple'. On the left, Slavoj Žižek explained the riots as emerging out of materialism—consumer culture gone wild—and David Harvey argued that rioters were mimicking the actions of bankers and entrepreneurs by taking advantage of an asset crash to make profits. On the right, commentators focused on a collective moral decline in Britain, with single-parent households unable to teach their children the difference between right and wrong. For all their differences, the two sides agree that what the rioters were doing was creating chaos in order to steal.
But what strikes you most looking over the extensive footage of the riots is how little crime is being committed. What you see are people drinking, smoking and hanging out. Reverend Paul Perkin of the nearby St Mark's Church described the events in Clapham Junction as 'a carnival atmosphere… a party atmosphere — a very, very hyped up, intense celebration that, "We can do this and we can get away with it."' Even when shops were looted it rarely looked like calculated criminality. One interviewee described walking round the Debenhams department store in Clapham Junction filling a shopping trolley which he abandoned at the door when he realised, 'I ain't gonna wear none of this shit.' Footage shows people saying: 'What have you got? … Don't even know!' Others can be seen parading their stolen goods in front of crowds, sharing out packets of stolen cigarettes and alcohol. Only 12% of premises targeted were 'high value shops' (clothing stores, electrical stores and jewellers)—the same percentage as sold food and alcohol. This was not shop lifting or organised burglary. Looking again at those scenes—which were overshadowed by images of masked rioters making off with widescreen TVs—we see a different dynamic to 'simple criminality'. For many, the riots were a way of laying claim to the public spaces and high streets in which they lived—places in which they were normally no more than passers-by or passive consumers. They were an opportunity for people to unite and take ownership of these spaces, even if only for a few hours.
The riots were, however, different to the recent spate of protests focussed on place: the Occupy movement, protests in Tahrir Square and Gezi Park, and squatter protests in Bristol. Instead of occupying an exceptional, political or symbolic place, people took ownership of the everyday places in which they lived—the 'Reclaim Brixton' events from earlier this year are a more useful referent. Many of the events were extraordinary, but the context was quotidian. The riots were multi-centred, with different foci emerging across the city, each claiming a local area. And although most disturbances took place on high streets and shopping centres, two statistical studies (one of them mine) have shown that there is little evidence that rioters were targeting high-end, commercial areas with lucrative opportunities for looting. What emerges from statistical comparisons between areas left untouched and those not is that rioters focussed on places with which they were familiar. 50% of those arrested lived within two-and-a-half kilometres of where they rioted. For those who lived locally, these high streets were not just centres for retail but also recreational spaces where they'd meet, hang out and eat. The importance of the area around your school, or your side of the river, shows that the places where people rioted were of personal significance—as one of my interviewees put it, he went down to Clapham Junction because 'it was [his] ends innit'.
Although they were familiar, locals did not normally exercise control over these spaces. Young people might always be peacocking and showing off in public but they are rarely, if ever, in control. Police officers and private business are the controllers: their power is expressed through stop-and-search and rising prices, and their remit is broadened by the increasing privatisation of urban space. The busy high streets, which saw most of the rioting, were major thoroughfares with regular police patrols, chain stores, shoppers and traffic. In this context, the idea that people were destroying 'their own communities' is misleading. Most of the focus was on international brands like Footlocker, Nike and Curry's, and small independent retailers made up only 4% of the premises targeted. This is not to dismiss the real damage done to local retailers by the rioters (exacerbated by the fact that by 2014 only a sixth of the sum claimed in insurance had been repaid), but to suggest that the most common targets were in no way 'their own'.
The most obvious example of this is the unrest in Clapham Junction. This was some of the worst rioting in London but was contained within two short stretches of road along St. John's Hill and Lavender Hill. When I asked one of my interviewees why he thought the rioters made no effort to challenge the fragile police line at the end of the Northcote Road (a shopping street full of high-end retail stores adjoining the main site of the riots in Clapham Junction), he looked at me as if I was mad before explaining that the Northcote Road was a totally different world to Clapham Junction proper. Those up-market, boutique stores catered to a different demographic and, consequently, are experienced as a radically different space, despite being a continuation of the same street. The rioters were staking a claim to the places in which they lived, not maximising profits, or causing maximum destruction.
David Cameron refused to launch an official public inquiry into the riots, claiming that 'it was not a political protest. It was common or garden thieving, robbing and looting. And we don't need an inquiry to tell us that.' We can only speculate as to what an inquiry would have concluded. Perhaps it would have validated Cameron's analysis, concluding the events were random acts of criminality, profiteering from the absence of authority. Or perhaps an inquiry would have reached a more liberal conclusion, identifying poverty as the underlying cause. Or perhaps the bureaucrats and politicians would have shelved the moral hysteria, looked at the images, and listened to the participants. If they had, they would have seen the joy and spontaneity that came with the rioters' provisional control. They would have been terrified by the desire to assert this control on the everyday.
—Matteo Tiratelli


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