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Writing A Blog is voicing your opinion on a site of your own. These days there are many easy ways to start and maintain a blog. This will make it easier to start writing a blog right away. Read this article for more tips.
For your blog to be successful, ensure that search engine optimization is utilized within the content. Because your primary goal is increasing your readership, it is important that your blog shows up in the search results when potential readers look for a topic about which you write. Keywords should be used throughout your content.
Frequently update your blog's content. To encourage readers to return and draw in new readers, you must post fresh content on a regular basis. Without more content, visitors will stop coming to your blog. Ideally, your should post a minimum of once daily.
Enjoy your blog, but don't let it take over your life. If you don't take time to step away from your computer once in a while, you are likely to burn out. Make time for walks, visiting friends, or just a five minute break. Having some time outside of blogging will prevent burnout and allow you to return from your break ready to write great content.
Your blog should stand out from the masses of other blogs. Unique content will draw readers. Address issues that no one else has yet tackled online. Post content about a unique experience or hobby. Explain exactly how a widget works. You need to let the reader have a good reason to visit your blog.
Give your readers every possible way to follow and share your blog. Social media networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are very helpful the success of your business. Such sites give you invaluable access to a virtually infinite audience.
Choose unique and less-competitive keywords. If you put in the same words as everyone else, your site may not be seen by others. The more unique you are, the more readers will look at your blog page.
If your blog posts tend be longer, make sure you break them up and use subheadings for each section. That will make your blog more readable, which will give you bigger readership. This is a simple tactic to preserve your blog's readability and improve its overall performance.
Take your blogging seriously. Your writing a blog efforts should change over time as you learn new information and begin to view your blog as a business. Take your cues from experienced bloggers, always integrating new techniques and ideas. Always seek to improve your blog through new methods and techniques.
It is important that your keywords be italicized and in bold. This will help them stand out to your readers, and it is also something that the SE spiders like. You want your keywords to stand out so your readers will click on it faster.
Split up long blog posts into multiple sections with sub-headings. Many readers won't want to read an overly long blog. By dividing your posts into sections, your readers will be better able to absorb what you have to say.
Create a dynamic and different kind of home page. Many blog hosts use generic lists of recent posts as your homepage, but you can make it more interesting by creating a custom homepage. In addition to providing a more attractive look and feel, doing this is also likely to help you generate more traffic driven by the search engines.
Try to stick to one topic in each blog post. Writing a bout many topics, at once, will cause your blog to be difficult to navigate. This particular tip is easy to incorporate and is sure to offer a dramatic improvement to the quality of your blog.
Because many internet visitors prefer to read only select pieces of web content, it is important that your blog posts are unique and prompt. Catch their attention by creating interesting titles and visually appealing headings. Lists and bullet points will also help hold a reader's attention.
Highlight your best and most popular articles through the use of tabbed zones. One key hot spot is the area next to your sidebars. Build a zone that is specifically for the most relevant articles and categories. This also gives your readers an idea of what kind of content your blog hosts and can especially boost the visitor count for your highest-quality articles.
Search Engines
Don't overdo your keywords and phrases use. Choosing keywords selectively is crucial for your blog. However, quality is much more vital than quantity. Search engines are constantly becoming smarter and more adept at analyzing content. You can actually be penalized by the search engines for including too many keywords on a page. Look for more organic ways to incorporate the most relevant keywords.
Use a link building strategy with your blog to get more from it. This will help you gain web traffic, which will help your blog earn money.
Spice up your blog's content with statistics, charts, and opportunities for your audience to vote on issues in your niche. This makes your blog more interesting than straight expository text and makes your blog accessible to different kinds of people. You can easily improve the appeal and individuality of your blog by using these tools.
When developing a blog site, ensure that the most important information is in the area your viewers will when when a page loads. Doing this will improve the ease with which your audience can find its way around.
Include a list of your top 10 blog posts in your side bar to allow readers to know what your focus topic is. The list will not only improve your search engine rank, but it will also help readers determine if your blog features content that is relevant to their interests.
Blog Posting can become a small or large part of your life, as you can post as often as you want. Posting regularly and consistently will help draw lots of traffic to your site. Keep these tips from this article in mind, and soon you'll be on the path towards running your very own blog!


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Best Lomography Cameras for Beginners
After a long, cold winter, there's nothing better than the beauty and freshness of spring. Cool temperatures, lots of sunshine, bright and colorful flowers in full bloom and trees in the most amazing shades of green. You might want to commemorate the change of seasons by whipping out your camera and taking a bunch of pictures outside of your apartment. If you're not familiar with Lomography, it's all the rage these days. Lomography is a form of lo-fi photography that emphasizes a "Don't Think, Just Shoot" mentality. These plastic, toy-like cameras are cheap, easy to use and convenient to carry. The end result is unique-looking, experimental photographs characterized by light leaks, saturated colors and sometimes blurry motion. To get you started, here's our list of the best Lomography cameras for beginners.
Lomography LC-A+
The Lomography LC-A+ is the camera that started it all. Originally manufactured in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Lomography brand revamped it with special features and made it a more durable camera, including a fast f/2.8 lens with manual focus and a sturdy black plastic case.
Holga 120
Primarily made popular through Urban Outfitters, the Holga 120 is available in a number of different configurations and color schemes. For do-it-yourselfers who love to customize anything and everything, the Holga 120 is your perfect Lomography camera, because you can basically make it your own. With a fixed 60mm lens and fixed focus, and shooting on medium format 120 film, each shot is guaranteed to inspire.
Diana Mini
The Diana is the queen of all Lomography cameras, and the miniature version is perfect for anyone who wants an ultra-portable camera. The Diana Mini allows you to scroll between traditional square format and Half-Frame, allowing you to shoot 72 shots on one 35mm film roll.
Fisheye One
If you feel comfortable with the basics of Lomography and want to move onto a camera that allows you a bit more experimentation and creative freedom, pick up the Fisheye One. It's the world's only 33mm camera with a built-in fisheye lens.
Sprocket Rocket
For a unique panoramic view, check out the cool Sprocket Rocket, a compact, 35mm camera with a super wide angle lens and a reverse gear which allows you to rewind and reshoot your photos. This camera is unique in exposing the whole width of the film, including sprocket holes, for a more vintage look.
Hole-On Ex
The Hole-On Ex is a make-and-shoot 35mm pinhole camera that you assemble yourself. This complete do-it-yourself kit comes with all the camera parts printed on heavy, durable cardstock. To begin shooting, you only need glue, a ruler and a pencil to begin shooting.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/Kuzma

subset: commoncrawl


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If there's one point that will blow initiate your locality SEO rankings it's tally an RSS nutrient on one of your website pages.
Write a bunch of articles and create them at "Ezine Articles". Then only just go to "Ezine Articles", mechanical device their RSS playscript and add it to one of your web pages - call for the web leaf "Free Articles" or something as good as.
Like wizard all of your articles will turn up on your page.Post ads:
Highland Mint 24kt Gold Super Bowl XIV flip coin / Roger Craig Signed Mets 8x10 Photo / Mike Cuellar Signed Orioles 8x10 Photo - 1970 WS Champ / Gino Cappelletti Signed Patriots 8x10 Photo / Mel Renfro Signed Cowboys 8x10 Photo - HOF 96 / Highland Mint Los Angeles Angels 24Kt Gold And Color Team / Ed Kranepool Signed New York Mets 8x10 Photo / Ken Reitz Signed Cardinals 8x10 Photo - 75 Gold Glove, 80 / Highland Mint Kevin Durant 24KT Gold and Color Coin / Boise State Broncos NCAA Hardback Seat / Performance Work Shirt, Short Sleeve, Large / Garmin VAF450S - Madeira & Canary Islands - SD Card / Pete Pihos Signed Eagles 8x10 Photo - HOF 70 / 1949 Bowman 185 Pete Reiser - EX / Mike Merriweather Signed Steelers 8x10 Photo - Blitzburgh / Cliff Harris Signed Cowboys 8x10 Photo / Ray Boone Signed Boston Braves 8x10 Photo / Don Perkins Signed Cowboys 8x10 Photo
Once you do that the spiders will choice up the interconnect and add more than entries for your setting.
And here's different joke I discovered by accident…because the correlation showed up when I googled my encampment URL to bill of exchange my presence:
Put course to powerful Affiliate products on one of your web pages-I ring excavation Affiliate Products. The turn upside down engines will selection it up because of the SEO evaluation of the big example affiliate place and index your piece of land.Post ads:
Gino Cappelletti Signed Patriots 8x10 Photo / Larry Brown Signed Cowboys 8x10 Photo / Charles Mann Signed Redskins 8x10 Photo / Paintball Gun M4 Carbine Buttstock (Black) - paintball / Timmy Brown Signed Eagles 8x10 Photo of the Gameday / Marquette Golden Eagles "Marquette U" Soccer Ball Lapel / Port Authority Signature - Ladies Silk Blend Camp Shirt. / Ronnie Lippett Signed Patriots 8x10 Photo - 86 AFC Champs / Revival Corporation Triple 9 Saint Snow Black Chrome/ Hd / Voi Mens Forget Me Not Polo Shirt / Nokia 5100 Series Boise State NCAA / Cliff Branch Signed Raiders 8x10 Photo / 1949 Bowman 26 George Kell RC - EX / Fulton Walker Signed Dolphins 8x10 Photo / 1959 Topps 509 Norm Cash RC - EX / Johnny Grubb Signed Tigers 8x10 Photo / Craig Morton Signed Broncos 8x10 Photo / Joe Pepitone Signed Yankees 8x10 Photo
The effect for you?...you've other other link!
Another biddable contact generating plan of action is to dash off a press unchain whenever you do thing of billet approaching make different eBook or motorboat a new base camp or anything other of colour.
A dandy clutch emancipation that makes it to work is a serious bit for website publicity. Take the energy to swot how to do it properly-you'll be fine rewarded.
Here are the chief guidelines:
* Have a substance to tell: Did you meet relief a new eBook etc.
* Think suchlike a Freelance Correspondent: Why would an editor produce your story? Your heading is the key windfall bill. In the natural object answer: what happened, who was there, where, when and why?
* Format the compress free properly: there's copiousness of articles on how to do this-just furrow on Google.
* Keep it brief! Check out more than a few otherwise press releases to get an impression of physical property.
* Promote your wring discharge online: Use a purge online press liberate service.
A slap-up one is PrWeb.com.
Here's what their website says:
"PRWeb is the standard captain in online info and grip giving out statistical distribution pay for insignificant and medium-sized businesses and firm study. PRWeb pioneered Free Press Release Distribution and continues to set the ensign for online information statistical distribution."


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Free gate plans
Free woodworking plans - wooden gate plans and projectsGo directly under the category heading columns below to see a list of gate free-plans and projects
-OR- click on another heading in one of the columns to change the category.
Free wooden gate plans and projects
On this page (when populated) you will find links to free woodworking plans related to wooden gates.
All the plans and projects listed are BuildEazy free plans (unless otherwise stated) and are housed in this (BuildEazy) website. As new gate plans become available, they will be listed below.
How to make and fit double lumber gates This Plan shows how to make and fit double lumber gates and how to offset and align the hinges, thus enabling the gates to open over raised ground.
How to build a timber gate A side gate or garden gate is usually placed to protect certain areas and/or to keep kids or pets in, intruders or animals out, or even just for privacy. Generally, a side gate or garden gate is about 1800mm (6ft) high. Includes drawings, plans and instructions and is in both Metric (mm) and Standard ( ft & in) dimensions
How to Build a Fence Gate I chose to make my gate a double swing gate because of the added width provided by two doors. It took me one day to build and install the gates. Here are my notes on how the frame was built.
Basic single Fence Gate How to make A Basic 6ft high Fence Gate. Constructed out of 1x6 boards this gate is not hard to make.


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September 16, 2009
I saved $200 with one phone call
When we received our home insurance bill this year, I put it aside because it seemed high to me at $984 for the year. When I looked up what we had paid last year, it was $864, or $120 less. So I called the agent and left a message. He called me back almost immediately and I asked him why our bill was so much higher this year. (Yes, all these numbers are high. We live in Southern California!)
He told me he'd look over our paperwork and get right back to me, probably later that afternoon. I said that would be great, and that my husband and I had spent a lot of time researching insurance companies and that we couldn't afford random rate hikes (that was the gist of it).
The agent called me back a few hours later and told me that they were cancelling our old policy, and issuing a new policy that would be virtually the same with a few added benefits, and that it would cost $783 for the year. That's $81 less than we paid last year, and $201 less than they originally billed us this year.
Imagine if I hadn't noticed and had just paid that bill. Remember, you can always review all your accounts and ask if you've got the best price. That's particularly true for phone and cable bills. A lot of people have essentially more service than they need, and they're paying for it.
Lesson learned: it doesn't hurt to ask. Please tell us about the deals you've gotten just by asking in the Comments section. We all love to hear a good story about saving money.
6 comments:
- Krista said...
What a great deal! I our cable/phone bill down by about $30 a month when I called and told them I couldn't afford the current bill. It wasn't a ton, but adds up to $360 a year!
- September 16, 2009
I couldn't agree with you more. It's amazing what you can get, just by noticing and then asking politely.
- September 16, 2009
- YearofBooks said...
Our church secretary called the phone company and saved the church $20 a month, with virtually no change in our service. It is amazing that simply asking can make such a difference.
- September 17, 2009
- Betsy Talbot said...
Good for you, Angela!
When we canceled our cable earlier this summer the company told us that we would lose the bundle rate for our internet service and it would go from $45 to $60/mo.
I followed the exact script that Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You to be Rich uses to negotiate things like this and it worked! Not only did they not raise my rate, they gave me a discount for six months to $30/month to keep me as a customer!
It really does pay to negotiate and ask. We've done this with all kinds of fees and terms with everything from banking to utilities. It doesn't work 100% of the time, but it works often enough.
Check out Ramit's blog at http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/ to see some of his sample scripts. Lots of good info for free, and most of his tips give you savings in the hundreds or thousands of dollars per year (no nickel and dime savings here!).
- September 17, 2009
- Rebecca said...
It's so true that if we just get motivated and make a call, great things can happen!
Here are a few of my experiences in this arena:
- September 17, 2009
- Angela said...
Krista- Good job, it all adds up! And $30 a month can mean a lot: 2 or 3 lunches with friends, just for starters...
William B- Yes, I've always found that being polite works best. Then people actually want to help you.
Year of Books- Yay for the church secretary! Thanks for sharing.
Betsy- Thanks for the tip- I'll check it out.
Rebecca- Thanks for commenting and I'm going to visit your site now!
- September 18, 2009


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Imran Khan has reportedly reduced his fee for appearing in adverts, to keep up with Ranbir Kapoor.
The Delhi Belly actor was seen last in the village drama Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola.
A source told the Mumbai Mirror: "In the initial years of his career, there was a certain 'price tag' that came attached with Imran. But with Ranbir bagging major brands, the actor is leaving no stone unturned to get competitor brands. From reportedly charging between Rs 2.5 crore and Rs 4 crore, he is now charging only Rs 1.5 crore for endorsing a brand."
Kapoor's upcoming film Besharam will see him playing an actor called Pepsi.
The two 30-year-olds will appear on screen together for the first time in a star-studded sequence in the upcoming Bombay Talkies.
Watch the trailer for Bombay Talkies below:


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Alabama Shakes to embark upon November tour
Date Posted: 29/06/12
Alabama Shakes, an American rock band proud of their southern roots, are to embark upon a six date UK tour this autumn.
The tour kicks off at Oxford's O2 Academy on Tuesday, September 4th, before heading to Brighton, Manchester and Glasgow.
Fans visiting the capital should book London hotels for either Sunday, September 16th or Monday, September 17th to catch the band play one of two dates. The first of which is at the Coronet, while the second is at the HMV Forum.
Alabama Shakes released their debut album, Boys and Girls, to critical acclaim at the beginning of the year, with many individuals citing Brittany Howard's explosive vocals as a highlight.
While in the UK, the band will also be making appearances at Latitude, Bestival, End of the Road Festival, T in the Park and Secret Garden Party.
They are best known for their hard-hitting single Hold On.
Posted by Danielle Masterson
Article Categories:
Events & Festivals News
The O2 Arena
For the best in music, sports and comedy, check out our fab events at London's greatest venue - The O2 Arena!
Cultural Events
For must-see cultural exhibitions and tours, there's no better starting point than our Cultural Events page!
Sports Event Breaks
Treat yourself and watch some world-class sports on our always-thrilling, ever-exciting Sports Breaks!
Themed Breaks
From mini-cruises to Murder Mystery nights, our popular Themed Events are great for a break with a difference!
Music Events
For a host of great music events and festivals up and down the country, check out our music events page!


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Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Guinea Wednesday became the 17th country to join the United Nations project to care for 8 in 10 children with AIDS, malaria or tuberculosis, PANA learnt from official sources.
UN's Deputy Secretary General Philippe Douste Blazzy, who met with Guinean Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana here, said the country "fully agreed" to join the list of countries taking part in the project.
The former French Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs said 2 billion euros have been raised since 2006, through a levy of 1 euro for each plane ticket sold throughout the world. for the project.
The HIV/AIDS prevalence in Guinea is 1.8 percent and hundreds of infected and orphaned children lack support.
-0- PANA AC/JSG/JEN/SEG 10Feb2011


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Last Sept. 6, after 21 days adrift in the Indian Ocean with two Indonesian boatmen, Judy Schwartz and Rickey Berkowitz, both of Palos Verdes, washed ashore in a remote fishing village in southern Sumatra. Although weak and malnourished, the two 27-year-old women recovered so quickly that, before returning home, they held a press conference at the American Embassy in Jakarta. "We thought it was kind of fun," Schwartz would say later. "We had no idea what it would lead to."
It led to a "madhouse." When their plane landed at Los Angeles International, "we were just attacked by the cameras," Schwartz says. It was one media flash after another: "CBS Morning News," "Today," "Nightline" and 12 minutes with Johnny Carson.
But soon, Reuters was quoting Indonesian newspaper stories that cast a different light on what had been played as a heartwarming story of Yankee ingenuity and grit. Although Schwartz and Berkowitz had bounced back after a decent meal and a good night's sleep, the two Indonesian boatmen had been hospitalized for dehydration and shock. The reason, they said, was that the women had hoarded their food. Rather than die of starvation, one of the men confessed, "we snatched food from their bag."


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This compact is triangle of 2 1/4 inches. The top is navy enamel with an elaborate insignia that I am sure has to do with it's maker but I am not familiar. It opens to a metal mirror and a nice powder puff, then you pull open the metal mirror and there a small rouge pot with a small puff. The back is shining gold tone metal. There is engraved detail all around the triangle. A beautiful enameled compact from Kansas
16 other shoppers are interested in this item
We carry the valuable and whimsical at affordable prices
Treasures' From Kansas to Your Home!


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Oregon Takes Custody of Faith Healers' Baby
(CBS/AP) The Oregon Department of Human Services won custody Tuesday of a 10-month-old Oregon City child facing blindness in one eye.
The girl's parents, Timothy and Rebecca Wyland, believe in faith healing and are facing trial in January on charges of failing to provide adequate care.
The Oregonian reports the state has had temporary custody of the girl, Alayna Wyland, since July. She was initially placed in foster care but allowed back in the Wyland home last month under a court order requiring close medical supervision.
The ruling Tuesday in Clackamas County Circuit Court assures a treatment plan and gives the state power to act on the girl's behalf.
The couple is charged with first-degree criminal mistreatment and goes to trial in January.
The Oregonian quoted John Neidig, an attorney representing Rebecca Wyland, who accused Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) of persecuting the Wylands and "trampling" on their religious rights.
He said, "If these people had been Jewish, Catholic ... even Muslim, DHS would have treated them in a different fashion."
But Clackamas County Circuit Judge Douglas Van Dyk said there was no evidence that DHS discriminated against the Wylands .
"It is unhelpful to this case to point fingers," Van Dyk is quoted in the paper as saying. "It is not a church that is before this court. It is the Wylands."
What do you think about this case? What issues of religion versus law are at play here? We welcome your thoughts.


text: RIPA.ME,Techniques To Get Enhanced Results In Internet Promoting,www.ripa.me/blog/453/techniques-to-get-enhanced-results-in-internet-prd October 7, 2012 by Una Zimmerman.,Techniques To Get Enhanced Results In Internet Promoting. Only recommend products you truly trust and like. Remember that the products you recommend will affect the way potential clients see you. Therefore, it's important to choose quality products. Your audience can trust you depending on what you promote.


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Testimony begins in Milligan murder case, SCCC president pleads guilty to DWAI, Silver gets two month reprieve, Sunday morning mimosas?
Milligan trial
Opening arguments and the first day of testimony were heard on Wednesday in the trial of Gabriel Vega, who is charged with the murder of Vanessa Milligan. Vegas' lawyers claim he was the victim of a vicious rumor mill. A key witness in the trial testified that she nearly ran Vega down with her car near the site of Milligan's murder shortly after the time it would have occurred, but admitted that she had been an acquaintance of Milligan's father for several years prior to that night. [WNYT][TU][Record]
Victims charged in Schenectady shooting
Four people are facing charges in connection with a Schenectady shooting on Monday -- including all three of the victims in the case. [Gazette][TU]
SCCC president pleads guilty to DWAI
SCCC's new president, Steady Moono, pleaded guilty to DWAI on Wednesday. The charge was reduced from DWI and stems from an incident in early May when Moono, and an aide, who was driving behind him, were both stopped on the way home from a fundraiser. [Gazette][TU]
A judge has ordered that Sheldon Silver will remain free until August 31 -- two months later than the original date -- to allow time to consider a pending Supreme Court ruling on another case that could affect his circumstances. [TWCN][TU]
Teacher shortage
SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia have launched a campaign to recruit new teachers in New York. [TU]
Murder Charge
A 23-year-old Schenectady man is facing murder charges in connection with the death of a Brooklyn man earlier this month. [Gazette]
Drug bust
Troy police and U.S Marshals arrested a Troy man and seized 60 bags of heroin, crack, marijuana and $1,000 in cash in a drug raid on Tuesday.[TWCN]
Troy finances
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden will hold a public forum next week on the city's precarious financial situation. [Record]
New York delegates to the GOP convention include Senate and Assembly Republican leaders John Flanagan and Brian Kolb and Schumer challenger Wendy Long -- but will not include George Pataki, who says he won't endorse Donald Trump until he reverses his position on deporting undocumented immigrants. [TU]
Child Victims Act
Chris Churchill on the need to pass the Child Victims Act and lift the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse. [TU+]
Hep C settlement
Eric Schneiderman's office and CDPHP have reached an agreement whereby the health insurance company will no longer restrict Hep C coverage to patients in the advanced stages of the disease. [TU]
Troy Library
Efforts to save the Troy Library -- which could cost as much as $2.5 million.[WNYT]
Railroad sues NY
The owners of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad are suing New York State over the recent decisions to tear up miles of track between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid to create a hiking, biking and snowmobile trail. [TU]
Sunday morning mimosas?
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that he plans to propose legislation to relax some state liquor laws, including one that forbids the sale of alcohol before noon on Sundays. [News 10]
Happening today
Workforce Challenge
The CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge takes place this afternoon in Downtown Albany. Here's a look at the road closures and restrictions in the area surrounding the race.
Fresh pasta
Gio Culinary Studio has a hands-on class about making fresh pasta from scratch. "Students will learn all about making a no-fail perfect past dough, and create various pasta shapes, some by hand, and some with the assistance of a pasta machine attachment. Each pasta will be paired with its own unique sauce. We will be using all scratch ingredients, professional and traditional techniques, that can be easily duplicated at home." Thursday 6:15 pm -- $60
Rickey Smiley
Comedian Ricky Smiley will be at The Palace for a stand-up show. Thursday 8 pm -- $35
The Milk Carton Kids at Troy Music Hall
Folk. With: Margaret Glaspy. 7:30 pm -- $29 and up
Roger McGuinn at The Egg
From The Byrds. 7:30 pm -- $35
Dreamers at The Upper Room
Rock. (The Upper Room is the new venue in the old Jillian's building.) 7 pm -- $10.27 ahead / $15 day of
Normal Instruments at The Hollow
Jam. With: Solaris. 10 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 day of
A lot of wine is served at fundraising events. Three 5oz glasses of wine in an hour will put a 160lb man at .08.
Too bad our cabs are typically unreliable and dodgy and people balk at the bus. Drinking and driving is stupid and selfish.
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.


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(COLUMBIA, Tenn. – August 16, 2017) - - - Columbia State Community College was recently awarded a $200,000 grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to increase student retention and on-time graduation rates.
The Institutional Outcome Improvement Fund grant is intended to allow institutions to focus on student outcomes in areas such as credit hour progression and degree completion.
Through this grant, Columbia State will implement the Educational Advisory Board's Navigate platform to enhance student onboarding and advising. In addition, Columbia State will create a new Charger Center that will link students to academic advising and provide career guidance and intrusive academic coaching to students.
"I am excited about improving communications with our students," said Tammy Borren, Columbia State associate vice president of strategic planning, effectiveness and retention. "The goal is to increase student progression through the 36 semester credit hour benchmark by 15 percent by the close of the 2017-2018 academic year, with an additional 5 percent projected increase by the 2018-2019 academic year."
The Navigate platform will offer custom enrollment steps for each student, smart academic planning to match students with careers and courses, a 360 dashboard for advisors to help ensure students stay on the right path and an actionable administrator view to provide data to better serve students and measure reportable outcomes.
"This grant presents a great opportunity to reach students through technologies that have a proven track record of success," said Dr. Emily Siciensky, Columbia State associate vice president of information technology. "Course and program information and college success guidance will be easier to access than ever before."
The Navigate technology, paired with the one-on-one advising for students with their assigned faculty advisor and added academic coaching in the new Charger Center, will improve and streamline the advising process. Advisors will be able to assist and communicate with students easier, which will lead to higher retention rates and improved student progress through their courses. Students will be connected with the tools and resources they need to succeed beginning at enrollment.
The Tennessee Higher Education Commission was created in 1967 by the Tennessee General Assembly. The Commission develops, implements and evaluates postsecondary education policies and programs in Tennessee while coordinating the state's systems of higher education, and is relentlessly focused on increasing the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary credential. To learn more about THEC, visit www.tn.gov/thec
To learn more about the EAB or the Navigate program, visit www.eab.com.
# # #
1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia TN 38401 | 931-540-2722
Content © 1996-2013 Columbia State - All Rights Reserved. Columbia State Community
College, a Tennessee Board of Regents institution,
is an equal opportunity, affirmative action


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Art History Graduate Studies at the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida is located in the Tampa Bay area on the state's west coast. USF is a large, metropolitan research university and a member of the state University System of Florida. USF's libraries contain more than 2.3 million volumes, more than 32,000 periodicals, and electronic access to state-wide collections and online databases. The Special Collections of the USF Library, in addition to housing valuable primary materials for the study of art and book history, regularly sponsors graduate symposia and exhibits. The Visual Resources Center in our School maintains more than 16,000 digital images and 500 films.


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Divine Intervention Powering Burkart Jr. At Firebird?
By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
YORKVILLE, N.Y. – Phil Burkart Jr. is well-aware his 2013 NHRA Funny Car schedule could end this weekend at Firebird International Raceway, throttled by a lack of sponsorship. Even if that's the case, Burkart will savor a two-race stint made possible by car-owner/chassis builder Steve Plueger…and perhaps Phil Sr.
Cold-turkey, Burkart qualified 16th for the season-opening 53rd annual O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Pomona (Calif.) Raceway last weekend. Burkart was eliminated in a Round 1 pairing against No. 1 qualifier Courtney Force, who went on to record her first Winternationals victory and the second of a career destined for stardom.
Phil Jr., meanwhile, returned to snowy Central New York and his daily routine at Burkart Automotive, 114 Oriskany Boulevard, before heading out west again for this weekend's 29th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals in Chandler.
"The eerie part of it is I got the call to do this (two-race deal) a day after my father's wake," said Burkart, referring to Phillip E. Burkart Sr. "My father died on Jan. 24 and the day after is when Steve called me to drive the car. Some Divine Intervention there; it's a little bit eerie. I don't know what I believe in, but if anybody in their afterlife can have the power to make things happen for us…I mean, if I didn't believe in Divine Intervention before I certainly do now."
Phil Sr. was a lifelong NHRA member who campaigned Altereds and front-engine dragsters in the Northeast during the 1960s and 1970s. Drag racing was a logical way to promote Burkart Automotive Inc., the business Phil Sr. founded in 1967 and sold to his son last year. "Pops" Burkart was only beginning to enjoy his retirement at age 69.
"He went in for 'routine' heart surgery, to repair an aneurysm they had been monitoring for a couple of years," Phil Jr. said. "He was released after that operation and four days later was rushed back in for a related condition of the heart, and lost consciousness and never woke up." Phil Sr. died at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica surrounded by family and friends.
"Never thought he'd go down that way," Phil Jr. said. "In fact, the day before the surgery he was at my house cross-country skiing. That's the kind of shape he was in."
Plueger's phone call to come out to Pomona for the 2013 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series opener certainly qualified as a godsend for Phil Jr. A four-time NHRA Funny Car national event winner, his most recent appearance on tour was with car-owner Paul Smith in 2010 at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pa.
Generally regarded as drag racing's most respected Funny Car chassis builder, Plueger offered Phil Jr. the use of Plueger Racing Inc.'s Chevy Impala-bodied hot rod – albeit without the benefit of testing. Phil Jr.'s first run on Thursday, Feb. 14, produced a 1,000-foot pass in 4.280-seconds at 286.50 mph – good for 11th on what would become the 16-car qualifying ladder.
"The biggest surprise was how much I was comfortable behind the wheel," said Phil Jr., who made the finals lineup at 4.640-seconds and 287.96 mph after four qualifying runs. "There wasn't any nervousness or butterflies or anything even after that lapse of not being in the car. It was good to be back in a race car, and it's a pretty tough deal these days just to qualify. There's a pretty good class of cars out there right now, so I would say it was a successful weekend for the small, limited-budget team they are."
Based in Southern California, Plueger is considered the dean of Funny Car chassis-builders as well as the innovator of numerous high-performance components. Plueger's traditionally underfinanced, underdog role dates to 1976, when he agreed to crew chief for a fledgling John "Brut" Force, who reportedly begged Plueger to turn "his junk" into a respectable Funny Car.
Ironically, Phil Jr. replaced Force – now a 15-time world champion – after he suffered extensive foot and leg injuries in a fiery crash during the Texas FallNationals at Texas Motorplex in Ennis in September 2007. A hospitalized Force recruited Burkart to drive his Castrol-sponsored Ford Mustang at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Auto Club Raceway at Pomona to close-out the season.
Phil Jr. has scored national event victories at Las Vegas; Morrison, Colo., near Denver; Columbus, Ohio and Maple Grove. Burkart spent parts of the 2012 season driving a Nostalgia nitro Funny Car in match races in the Northeast for longtime family friend Nick Boninfante. In the summer of 2011, Phil Jr. spent his Sunday nights _ and did a little creative marketing for the family business _ as a rookie Modified stock car driver at the Utica-Rome Speedway dirt track.
Phil Sr. easily was his son's biggest fan. "I think he always wanted me to (continue drag racing)," said Phil Jr., 44. "But in this day and age of the way things happen, they need to happen with sponsorship. I got to the point where I wasn't chasing sponsors. I was concentrating on my business and my family life (fiancée and two daughters) and not chasing sponsors, and that's why it's so ironic that the call (from Plueger) comes in this time (of mourning)."
Burkart Automotive forged its reputation during the heyday of the Mohawk Valley's "Muscle Car Era" in the late 1960s to mid-1970s. Today, Burkart Automotive is a complete repair and hot rod shop employing four people. "Business is good and we're pursuing more," Phil Jr. said. "We also do a lot of car and truck accessories, so it's always busy in one fashion or another."
Burkart stood 11th in the provisional order after the opening two rounds of qualifying Friday at Firebird International with a pass of 4.358-seconds at 278.75 mph. Johnny Gray _ who is honoring his late father, John R. Gray, this season _ is the Funny Car leader at 4.034-seconds/313.80 mph. Reigning world champion Antron Brown is No. 1 in Top Fuel (3.765-seconds/314.83 mph) while former world champion Mike Edwards (6.498-seconds/213.13 mph) leads Pro Stock.
Two rounds of qualifying Saturday will determine the fields for Sunday's final eliminations. ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will televise 90 minutes of qualifying coverage at 1 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, and three hours and 30 minutes of eliminations coverage at 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday.
Given the budget-strapped histories of himself and Plueger, Burkart is realistic about extending their deal beyond this weekend. "That's it for the time being. But you never know," Phil Jr. said. "It's all dictated by budget, on what Steve comes up with and what I can come up with. I'd like to do some more racing but we'll have to see how it plays out."
– John Sturbin can be reached at email@example.com Comment


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Pot Bellied - Miss Piggy - Medium - Adult - Female - Pig
Shy girl seeking a nice place in the country; loves sunbathing and mud bathes. If interested, apply now!
Breed: Pot Bellied
Size: Medium
Petfinder ID: 21718452
Alaqua Animal Refuge | Freeport, FL |
For additional information, reply to this ad or see: /petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=21718452
Brought to you by Petfinder.com


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Burglars Leave Oatmeal, McDonald's At Day Care
Burglars Leave Oatmeal, McDonald's At Day Care
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Police are investigating a burglary at a metro day care on Sunday.
The break-in was reported at New Beginnings Childcare at 1504 York Ave.
Owner Kesia Wells told police her day care had been broken into sometime Sunday between 11:30 am and 7:45 p.m.
Wells said a plasma TV and two DVD players were taken. Rooms were ransacked and drawers left open, she said.
The police report shows a half-eaten bowl of oatmeal and McDonald's container were left on the table.
Wells estimated the loss at $2,000.


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Larne Area Plan 2010
Regional Policy Context
The Department's regional development control policies for the countryside and coast which apply in the Larne Borough are currently set out in the various Planning Policy Statements published to date and in the Rural Strategy. Policies which address nature conservation, access considerations, shops, rural enterprises and other industrial projects in the countryside are set out in the Planning Policy Statements. The Rural Strategy contains a range of policies for a number of development types including agriculture, minerals, recreation, tourism development and houses in the countryside. In addition there are specific policies for Green Belts, Countryside Policy Areas and the coast. The Rural Strategy also provides the framework for considering development proposals within the countryside and establishes rural design principles.
Supplementary design guidance for building in the countryside is contained in "A Design Guide for Rural Northern Ireland" published in May 1994.


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Current Newswire:
OpenOffice - A House of SandMay 29, 2012, 02:00 (5 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by M Zinoune)
When the Apache OpenOffice team inside Oracle was disbanded, primarily because of the success of LibreOffice, it became logical to me that the trademark should be handed over to LibreOffice, and all interested parties should join up there. It didn't make sense to incubate another new team when LibreOffice had just built everything they needed and recruited most of the interested third-parties. Furthermore, the Apache proposal would be unable to take code from LibreOffice because their policies forbid copyleft. Given such a proposal, it would have been appropriate to look at the work LibreOffice was doing. If Apache found they wanted 99% of LibreOffice changes, that is useful data to let them know if their plans would hurt their efforts. Unfortunately, they didn't learn very many facts about LibreOffice. They think about it like tomato sauce.
Related Stories:
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Posted on February 13, 2017 in Our Opinion, Perspectives
By USM Free Press
By the Free Press Editorial Board – Our Opinion, Editorial
A controversial speaker who is coming to USM, Larry Lockman, has caused some debate around the limits of free speech in the United States. Some wonder if it's appropriate to allow hate speech in public forums, citing risks to public safety that radical rhetoric could potentially generate. Lockman, a loud-mouth and bigot, has long been spouting anti-LGBTQ comments, defending rapists and refusing to pay taxes. It is difficult to say how such a person holds public office, but his election in 2012 may be attributed to the apparent recent resurgence of fascism in the United States.
Though many people may not want to hear what Lockman has to say, it is still not appropriate to silence him and people like him through means of authority. To do so would undermine the rights that we all enjoy as American citizens. Regardless of a person's moral standing, views, or associations, it is important to afford all Americans the right to express themselves. If someone has the power to suppress their political opponent and exercises it, then they may find themselves later silenced as their opposition gains ground. If a game is to be fair, the players must not change the rules.
Larry Lockman once said, "If a woman has the right to abortion, why shouldn't a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman?" To even consider the validity of this question, one must necessarily be an extremist. Under no circumstances is it alright for a man to force himself on a woman. Lockman also said, "Clearly the practice of sodomy is learned behavior, and those addicted to this form of biologically-insane sex are at high risk for all manner of serious medical problems." Maine, and Portland in particular, prides itself on gender diversity and this sentiment does not ring true to most Mainers.
Those who attend the speech should be prepared to listen to what he has to say. Since he has made these offensive comments, Lockman has expressed regrets. Obviously, as a public official, he can't express these absurd views openly. Still, they will likely be presented, veiled beneath his rhetoric. Lockman cannot be silenced, in the interest of protecting the American right to free speech. Rather, the best course of action is for attendees to exercise their own freedom of speech. People need to ask questions, respond to Lockman's views and make themselves heard. This is not only an opportunity for the fascist politician to speak, but also a chance for the people to respond and rebuke.


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Head of Finance Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT)
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) is a conservation charity that protects wetlands for wildlife and people. We conserve, restore and create wetlands, are pioneers in saving wetlands and inspire everyone to value what healthy wetlands can do for people and nature.
WWT have ten beautifully located sites across the UK all providing exceptional access to nature and the organisation also has ambitious international plans for the future.
We are currently looking to recruit an experienced, professional and highly motivated Head of Finance. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Support Services and working closely with other board directors and senior managers across the organisation, you will play a pivotal role in the leadership of the finance function, the review of ad hoc projects and influence commercial plans and decisions for the £24 million turnover charity.
Specific duties include:
- Lead on and review the five-year financial plan which supports the strategic aims of the charity
- Review and monitor all consolidated monthly and annual accounts ensuring all statutory obligations are met
- Manage a small finance team ensuring all financial controls and obligations are attended to and key financial messages are communicated to the wider business
- Work closely with the Director of Finance and Support Services contributing fully to any ad hoc projects and strategic business as well as business as usual
Qualifications/experience required
To join WWT as the Head of Finance you will need:
- To be a qualified accountant with significant experience in a financial leadership role and have proven business / commercial awareness ideally from within a charity
- To be continually looking for improvements in all areas of finance developing innovate ways to improve service delivery and working under pressure to achieve tight deadlines
- Proven people management skills, be an excellent team player and will understand the importance of good relationships with financial and non-financial managers alike
What's on offer?
In return for your hard work and dedication you will enjoy a wide range of benefits including:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service)
- Contributory pension scheme (conditions apply)
- Life assurance
- Cycle to work scheme
- Child care voucher scheme


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Check out the original blog post here.
Check out Crunchyroll's official video (130k views OMG I AM FAMOUS) here.
Check out my original video version below 🙂
Thanksgiving! That magical time of year when families and friends come together to put on fancy clothes for about 1.5 hours in order to stuff their faces full of food, and then retreat back into pajamas soon after as they lie in wait for Black Friday shopping to start so that they can stop giving thanks for what they have, and start shelling out cash for what they don't. It's truly a special time of year.


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Central Australian Aboriginal Congress is an Aboriginal community controlled comprehensive primary health care service located in Alice Springs and was founded in 1973. It provides an extensive range of targeted service and programs including men's health, women's health, children's health, frail and aged care, social and emotional wellbeing, public health and acute and chronic disease management. Since its establishment, Congress has continued to advocate for measures that improve health and life expectancy outcomes for Aboriginal people through strategies that help to address social determinants.
Congress has a long association with the Lowitja Institute and was one of six partners in the original Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health (1997–2002). During this time, Congress has been involved in a number of research projects with the partnering organisations.
Projects in partnership with Central Australian Aboriginal Congress
- Aremella Arratyenye-ileme – Doing It Right: Research knowledge generation and translation in Central Australia
- Developing a health information system to support continuous improvement in antenatal care for Aboriginal women in the Central Australian region [Alukura]
- Learning from Central Australian Aboriginal women's experiences: Reflections on participation in the CAAC Family Partnership Program in Alice Springs


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You might not realise that this caricature of the Mormons is not far from the truth.
Related posts can be found here.
Scientific, Skeptical and Secular (and even anti-theistic)! These are the adventures of an ex-scientist, working as an engineer in energy research, and living in a world that is not secular enough.
When it's said like that, it makes American politics look stupid. Say it isn't so, buddy,


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Chris Brown dodged a bullet on Tuesday (February 5) when Los Angeles Sheriff's officials closed the case on a misdemeanor assault investigation into his parking lot altercation with Frank Ocean last week. But Brown is not out of the woods just yet.
Just as he was getting off the hook in that case, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a scathing report about the status of Brown's court-ordered community service requirements in connection with his felony plea on the 2009 assault on Rihanna.
As part of his plea deal in that case, Brown was placed on five years probation and ordered to complete 180 days of community labor, which the court allowed him to serve in his home state of Virginia. But, according to Tuesday's 19-page report from the D.A.'s office, Brown failed to provide, "credible, competent or verifiable evidence" that he completed that labor, which led to a request that the court order him to re-do that work in Los Angeles.
As a result, Deputy District Attorney Mary Murray filed a motion asking the court to reject the labor Brown reportedly completed in Virginia due to "significant discrepancies indicating at best sloppy documentation and at worst fraudulent reporting." In September, an audit of the work first raised questions about the community service.
The chief of police of Richmond, Virginia, wrote a letter to the judge in Brown's assault case in September claiming that the singer had completed 22 days above and beyond his required 180 of community labor requirement in the case. Among the duties he was reported to have participated in: trash and debris removal, public park clean up, washing city owned vehicles, painting, stripping and waxing floors and cleaning up horse stables.
But, the D.A. reported, neither the Virginia Probation Office nor the Richmond Police Department appeared to have supervised Brown's community labor duties.
Among the places Brown reportedly did much of his painting, washing windows and floor waxing was at the Tappahannock Children's Center, whose previous director was Brown's mother. The D.A.'s report reveals that Richmond Police Department said they only supervised Brown doing his service on nine or 10 occasions and that he was unsupervised on all the others.
In fact, the deputy who was supposed to monitor Brown's work at the children's center was told they didn't have to keep an eye on him there and the reports on the amount of time and types of duty Brown completed at Tappahannock were provided by the singer's mother.
The D.A.'s report noted a frustration at repeated requests for detailed documentation on Brown's community labor hours. "No circumstance exists to justify the Court's acceptance of Defendant's purported completion of community labor when said labor has been self-scheduled, unsupervised and essentially self-reported," the D.A.'s motion read.
The report claimed that Brown's attorney told the singer's Virginia probation officer that Brown's labor was to be supervised, scheduled and overseen by Richmond Chief of Police Bryan Norwood, who reportedly failed to do so. That arrangement came about because of the "previously existing relationship" between Brown and the Richmond police department.
Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, could not be reached for comment at press time.
At one point in October 2010, the D.A.'s report said that Brown could not have been performing the community labor he claimed because he was in Washington, D.C. at a charity basketball game. On another date in March 2012, he reportedly picked up trash for eight hours, but a private airline's records show he was on his way to a vacation in Cancun, Mexico.
In December 2011, he was again reported to be picking up trash for eight hours, but was actually at the Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., returning from a trip to Dubai.
For those reasons, as well as the possibility that Brown abused the privileges granted him or engaged in deception, the D.A.'s office requested that Brown's probation be amended.
In addition, it cited other potential probation violations ranging from the January 27 fight with Frank Ocean at a Los Angeles studio, to a progress report from the Virginia Department of Corrections claiming a positive test for marijuana and failure use of marijuana and failure to obtain a travel permit, a scuffle with a fan in February 2012 in which Brown took her phone and the infamous March 2011 incident in which Brown trashed a dressing room at the "Good Morning America" show.
Because of those potential violations, the D.A. requested that Brown be ordered to fulfill his 180 days of community labor in Los Angeles under "appropriate" supervision.


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When is the left pleased with a character who's known for fighting for "Truth, Justice & The American Way"? When that character has forsaken that fight.
There is now a trend of American comic book icons being de-Americanized in order to make them more palatable to a foreign — even anti-American — audience. In some foreign markets, Marvel studios is leaving the name "Captain America" off of the title of the upcoming film starring the patriotic superhero, and even the director of the film has made comments designed to placate non-American audiences.
The left was also pleased when Batman recruited a Muslim as his French counterpart, in a storyline that ignores the very reason we even began talking about Islam on a large scale, 9/11.
Superman was created and published by Americans. He crash-landed in America, was raised by Americans, lives in America, works in America, is married to an American. But D.C. Comics has just made him renounce his U.S. Citizenship. I keep reading about how Superman belongs to all of us. Well, my Superman would Never quit America. He might be critical of a particular policy of the American government, but he would never stop fighting for Truth, Justice & The American Way.


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Despite only being released on the 31st of May, this is already an extremely rare whisky, since the very limited number of bottles sold out within a few hours of release, with people queuing from 5am at Bowmore's open day during the Islay festival. I don't have an official figure for the number of bottles released, but considering there were apparently only 2000 bottles of the 11-year old Feis Ile bottling, which was a mix of casks, I'd assume it's going to be well under 500-600 or so for this 19 year old hand-filled single Puncheon cask. I'm sure there'll be many of these on auction sites right now, being flipped for double the initial asking price (which was 130 pounds by the way) or more, much to the frustration of those who missed out at the festival. This seems to be the unfortunate fate of most limited releases these days. Although apparently there was a van spotted near the distilleries during the festival that belonged to a European whisky auction site, offering an immediate profit to take people's recent purchases off their hands, which is a new low as far as I'm aware.
Anyway, that's enough of that. Bowmore had three different whiskies specially bottled for the Feis Ile this year: an 11-year old that was matured in both sherry & red wine casks, this 19-year old that was matured in a sherry puncheon, and a 27-year old that was matured in a single port cask. All were bottled at cask strength, and were naturally coloured and non-chill filtered (and stated this on the labels, which is excellent!). All three were distillery exclusives, and all three are sold out completely. So I'm very lucky to get the chance to taste any of them, especially this 19-year old!
Bowmore is more of a medium-peated Islay whisky compared to it's neighbours, being peated to around 25 ppm on the malt, and the distillery still floor-malts a portion of it's barley requirements on-site, using powdered local peat. The floor-maltings can't support the distillery's 2,000,000 litre annual capacity though, so the majority of barley is sourced from elsewhere, most often from the Scottish mainland. Something I'd personally like to see is a Bowmore take on the 2015 Laphroaig Cairdeas, which only used that distillery's floor-malted barley. No doubt I couldn't afford a bottle anyway, but it'd be very cool to see something like that from Bowmore!
This Feis Ile exclusive was distilled in January 1998, and bottled in May 2017 at a cask strength of 54.3%. It was matured in a first-fill Oloroso sherry puncheon (a 500-litre cask, squatter in shape than a sherry butt), and as mentioned above it's naturally coloured and non-chill filtered. On paper it sounds like an older and obviously far more limited version of the Devil's Cask series; well the first two Devil's releases anyway, which were fully Oloroso sherry cask-matured. Which is very exciting for me, since this second release of the Devil's Cask series is still my favourite Bowmore so far, by quite a margin. But that just might be about to change...
(image borrowed from Google)
Bowmore Feis Ile 2017 19 Year Old, 54.3%. Islay, Scotland.
Distillery & Feis Ile exclusive, cask strength, matured in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt. Hand-filled, natural colour and non-chill filtered.
Colour: Extremely dark brown, almost cola coloured, and it's natural remember! Makes Glendronach 18 look pale!
Nose: A little shy at first, thick & condensed. Fizzy cola and nutty, dry sherry. Some fresh ginger and butter caramel. Musty red grapes and blackcurrant cordial, a little salted semi-dark chocolate. Coffee grounds with more time.
Texture: Lovely! Medium-heavy weight, thick, juicy & chewy. Slight touch of heat.
Taste: Dark & spicy, but very fruity as well. Black cherry syrup, some blackcurrant again, and more salted chocolate but it's definitely dark now. Spicy fresh ginger, more fizzy cola and musty grape. A little spicy wood smoke, and some grapefruit! Didn't expect that in a whisky like this!
Finish: Medium length. The smoke shows itself a little more, dry & ashy wood smoke, with the spice, dark chocolate and ginger still present. Coffee grounds again, some mild grape tannins, and a little spicy oak.
Score: 4 out of 5.
Notes: Seriously delicious stuff! Very much like a darker, broodier Devil's Cask with a quick dose of steroids! Very, very enjoyable with plenty of complexity and balance, and a little of Bowmore's tropical fruit still coming through. Definitely my new favourite Bowmore! The peat is basically undetectable, and the smoke is very subdued, but after 19 years in a first-fill cask that should be expected, and I'm sure they're adding depth to the notes that do come through more strongly. It's still a gorgeous dram, dark & fruity, and the perfect whisky for a cold winter evening. Once again, I just wish I had more of it!
I'm not sure that I'd pay the current secondary market prices for it (even if I did have the financial means), but if you were lucky enough to grab one of these at the original retail price, or reasonably close to it, you got a seriously good deal! Now I need to find some more hand-filled Bowmores to try. Oh, that's right, there's another one coming next week...
A massive thanks once again to the very generous Mr. Dan Woolley, Australia's national brand ambassador for Beam Suntory, without whom I most likely would never have seen this whisky in the flesh, let alone have had the pleasure of tasting & reviewing it. Very much appreciated mate!


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Where should I apply?
9 RepliesJump to last post
Hello all,
to start i'm 24, I don't have a college degree, I've worked for a bank and worked for an insurance company, plus have a total of 5 yrs experience in sales. I'm looking to become a financial advisor, I want to get out of the insurance business and really focus on financial planning. My question is which firms do you think will take a chance on me since I don't have a college degree? what would be my best options?
I think it will be challenging but not impossible to find a job as a financial advisory without a degree. It might help if you have a very wide reaching network. You should consider pursuing a degree. This will look good on your resume and might get your some interviews.
Thanks Mike,
Which firms would you recommend me apply to? Which firm will give me the best training?
You will never get on with one of the recognizable wall street firms without a bachelors. I would hazard a guess that the same is true for Edward Jones.
One idea would be to get a job as an assistant with a firm/office that will sponsor you for your 7 and 66. While you are doing that job finish your degree in anything. Choose something interesting to you or something that is easy. It really doesn't matter.
Without experience, you probably won't be hired on by any of the major firms.
I'm in the process of interviewing with ML, but I have had licenses (now expired) and a current ChFC financial planning designation. No college degree. When I spoke with the recruiter, I told her that I didn't have the degree, and she said "shouldn't be a problem. We've hired other advisors without a degree." Whether that's true or not, we'll find out soon enough.
A college degree has become a very expensive way for HR departments to determine if "you're smart enough" for what the business does. Instead of giving you an IQ test, they have to make sure they are "objective" in their hiring decisions… so they use "resume qualifications" to justify their hiring.
Just apply and see what happens!
I applied to Morgan, Merrill and Edward jones, I'm in the second step of the hiring process with Morgan now, they had me take an assessment so I'm waiting on their response now. Is Morgan a good company to work for or should I not even worry because I need the experience??
MSSB is as good as any other wirehouse. The assessment is to see if you can pass the Series 7/66. It isn't difficult and it isn't the hardest part about getting the job. The meetings that you present your business and marketing plan are "harder". It's a good firm to get started at.
I like working for a major wirehouse. My payouts may be lower but I get access to a large toolbox to help my clients. Just be prepared toa tough haul.
Not saying that I have the position but I was called by Raymond James. Is that a good company to work for? If offered a position should I take a position there or MSSB?
As others have said, the probability of getting hired by a major firm is very unlikely. I like ZwingDings idea of getting a job as an assistant at a firm that will sponsor you to take tests. If you don't wan't to take that route, maybe you would have a better shot at a firm like Axa or David Lerner.


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If it becomes law, it would allow for volunteers to serve as "agents" to pursue the large predators with dogs to implement the state`s cougar and bear management plans. The bill moves to the Senate side, where the first stop would be the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Read Original at: Salem Statesman-Journal


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Recognise that line?
Of course you do, it's from Mike Skinner's debut album, Original Pirate Material, specifically the single Let's Push things Forward.
Now we like Mike. Not only does he make great records (A Grand Don't Come for Free being our favourite album of 2004 by a long chalk), he also lives in a converted pub in Stockwell and has just become the first UK musician to be asked to star in Reebok's I Am What I Am campaign.
As well as namechecking them on his album Skinner is apparently a 'long time wearer' of Reebok and so they've asked him to promote the brand over the next year starting with an ad in which he states "I never quite fitted into any scene. So I made my own. It's better to be yourself than a poor version of someone else".
Musicians who do adverts? Wherever you stand on it, we think it's pretty hard to dislike Mike.


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The girls and women of the recent and modern era can easily look at and search Winter dresses 2013, 20 for women. As we know that the winter season has come so the peoples, girls and women has started to find and look for winter dresses 2014 for women. Zayn Rashid is one of the most eminent and demanding fashion designer who has been working in the pasture of fashion since year 2010.In a very short time era of their career they have gained a good espouse. In this collection, you will find dramatic yet stylish dresses, which can be wear as carelessly.
This collection has consists of dresses have sewed in simple stitching styles such as long shirts with tights and trousers. The colors used for them are of course bright such as red, green, blue, black and etc etc.They all are looking awesome in their designs and looks. The ornamentation used in them are needlework and shoelaces. Just wait a bit here and have a look at them here below. Zayn Rashid is a fashion label who offers relaxed wear, party wear and formal wear dresses with full of elegant looks and styles.
Zayn Rashid has launched so many compilations and always gained a good reaction. I wish you will like my page Pakistyles.com


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Study: Kids Well Being Related to Their Work Environment
(COLLEGE PARK, Md.) -- A new study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior finds that children in classrooms with inadequate material resources such as stationery, heat and child-friendly furniture exhibit more mental health problems than students in classrooms without these issues.
The authors, from the University of Maryland, interviewed teachers and parents of 11,000 first graders and analyzed the effect of classroom environments on the child's attentiveness, their likelihood of getting into fights, forming friendships and feelings of sadness. The results: children in classrooms with inadequate resources experienced worse mental health across all four measures.
The authors conclude that many aspects of the learning environment are related to a child's mental health.
However, this study was entirely based on the teacher's perspective of the child. Furthermore, the home environment may also affect whether a child gets into fights and forms friendships.
Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio


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If you have been by here in the last few day or so, you may have noticed a lot of test posts and garbledygook. In titles and the body for posts, All of my words, well, letters to be precise turned to squares as I typed ... yes squares ... and all by themselves.
I also was unable to load pictures for some reason -- I tried on my own for 2 days, and finally sent Artie behind the curtain today to work his magic (that seems to cover every possible thing in the world) on my poor possessed blog.
... and wouldn't you know it -- he fixed it.
That little genius.
Thanks, Twin!
Next stop -- Museville Update!


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The healthcare industry tends to trail behind other industries when it comes to digital marketing. In some areas–such as content or social media–this is unhealthy, but it won't kill your healthcare marketing. When it comes to healthcare paid search, though, antiquated digital habits can be fatal.
First of all, paid search is complex and always evolving, so you need to keep up to realize any kind of success. Secondly, it costs money–a lot of money, sometimes–and if you're not pairing that money with sound healthcare paid search strategy, you might as well be throwing it away.
The result of implementing poorly optimized campaigns is that paid search will be both expensive and low impact.
An outdated approach to digital marketing is just one problem, though. There's also a disconnect between healthcare marketing efforts and overall health system organizational goals. And when you add complications such as HIPAA compliance regulations and FDA restrictions, staying on top of paid search trends and best practices can feel formidable. It also can lead to costly mistakes.
Luckily, we've pulled together the top healthcare paid search mistakes from the December 8th OhioHealth, Google, and Fathom webinar How OhioHealth Navigates Google's Paid Search Ecosystem. Keep reading to discover what pitfalls you need to keep an eye out for as well as easy fixes and long-term strategies for addressing them.
Common Healthcare Paid Search Mistakes & Effortless Ways to Fix Them
Common healthcare paid search mistake: Lacking alignment with organizational priorities
Operating in a silo is never ideal when it comes to marketing. The extreme reliance on collaborative approaches in healthcare marketing, though, makes organizational alignment even more important, especially when it comes to paid search. Without it, you're going to have a hard time getting buy-in across the organization and proving marketing's importance to your overall success.
One way this issue manifests itself in paid search is spreading budget across multiple channels, such as search, display, and video. While channels such as video can be valuable for brand awareness, if they're not aligned with your health system's number one goal, they're not an ideal use of time.
Solve this by focusing on appropriate channel investments and increasing impression share while also by bringing business goals into keyword targeting and location targeting decisions.
Common healthcare paid search mistake: Conversion tracking implementation
Once your healthcare paid search efforts are aligned with organizational goals, conversion tracking is absolutely the next top priority. It will allow your marketing team to prove beyond speculation that your hard work is contributing to the bottom line. Too often, though, healthcare marketers don't track any conversions–or they track too many conversions.
Either way, if you're doing one of these you're going to have a difficult time proving the value of your work.
Solve this by first setting up conversion tracking if you don't already have it set up. If you're in the 'tracking too many conversions' camp, know that it's okay to want a lot of data and the resulting insights into your performance. Still, you'll at least need to prioritize what types of conversions you're tracking and keep tabs on how many conversions you're tracking. That way, you'll be able to sift through the data to show which efforts are making the most impact.
Common healthcare paid search mistake: Match type and search queries
Broad match can be an effective tool in healthcare paid search. It increases reach and brand awareness. Sometimes it increases the scope too much, though. Broad match without the sufficient use of negative keywords will result in your ads being served to those outside your target audience and, ultimately, wasting your money.
Solve this by reviewing your search queries and ensuring that:
- Messaging and landing pages are relevant
- Audience queries relate to something you offer
- Audience queries are relevant to what you are promoting
Common healthcare paid search mistake: Targeting too large of an area
It's no mystery that people typically visit health systems that are proximal to them. There are sometimes exceptions for quality and price of care as well as services offered. Still, location is king when it comes to selecting healthcare services. It follows that healthcare paid search strategies should use location targeting wisely. Unfortunately, many healthcare marketers set their location targeting far too wide, wasting money and effort on individuals that are simply too far away.
Solve this by prioritizing location targeting according to where the majority of your patients come from and/or where you are hoping to acquire more patients. Pair this with optimizing campaigns based on performance by location, and you'll strike a balance of capitalizing on what works while expanding reach in new, strategic locations.
Common healthcare paid search mistake: Campaigns lack ad extensions
Ad extensions are a simple way to increase your real estate on Search Engine Results Pages, catch the attention of your audience, and help you stand out against competitors. They also offer the ability to express your health system's value propositions before your audience even clicks through to an ad. On the other hand, lacking ad extensions can lead to a much lower click-through rate and lower average position.
Still, many healthcare marketers don't include the use of these effortless but valuable ad extensions in their paid search strategy.
Solve this by testing different types of campaign extensions: call extensions, site links, call out extensions, mobile app extensions, and review extensions.
Continuing Your Healthcare Paid Search Success
If you took the time to read through this article and start implementing our solutions, you're already ahead of most healthcare marketers. Plus, these fixes will boost your performance, keep stakeholders across the organization happy, and contribute to hitting vital organizational goals.
Still, healthcare paid search simply isn't a 'set it and forget it' channel. You'll have to check in on performance regularly and continue to optimize over time. Not sure how to do this? Watch our webinar now.
Want more details? Learn from experts who understand the unique challenges of running healthcare paid search campaigns by watching the webinar today.


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Career and Technical Education:
States Have Broad Flexibility in Implementing Perkins IV
GAO-09-683: Published: Jul 29, 2009. Publicly Released: Jul 29, 2009.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
- Additional Data:
(202) 512-5932
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (Perkins IV) supports career and technical education (CTE) in high schools and postsecondary institutions, such as community colleges. Perkins IV established student performance measures at the secondary and postsecondary levels for state agencies, such as state educational agencies, and local recipients, such as school districts, eligible to receive funds. GAO examined (1) how states have implemented the Perkins IV performance measures and what, if any, challenges they have faced in implementing the measures; (2) to what extent the Department of Education (Education) has ensured that states are implementing the new performance measures and supported states in their efforts; and (3) what Education knows about the effectiveness of CTE programs. To collect national-level data, GAO surveyed state CTE directors in the 50 states and District of Columbia between January and April 2009, and received responses from all states and the District of Columbia. To view survey results, click on http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/gao-09-737sp/index.html. We provided a draft copy of this report to Education for comment. We received technical comments, which we incorporated into the draft where appropriate.
States are implementing some of the Perkins IV performance measures using different approaches and report that the greatest challenge is collecting data on technical skill attainment and student placement. Flexibility in Perkins IV and Education's guidance permits differences in how states implement the measures. According to our surveys, 34 states at the secondary level and 29 at the postsecondary level intend to adopt Education's recommended use of assessments--such as those for industry certifications--to measure technical skills. States reported that they face the most challenge collecting data on the technical skill attainment and student placement measures because of cost and concerns with their ability to access complete and accurate data. Education ensures states are implementing the Perkins IV accountability requirements through on-site monitoring and off-site document reviews, and supports states through technical assistance and guidance. Monitoring findings were most often related to states failing to submit complete or reliable data, and Education uses its findings to guide the technical assistance it provides to states. States reported that Education's assistance has helped them implement the performance measures, but that more assistance with technical skill attainment would be helpful. Education is aware of states' need for additional assistance and has taken actions to address this, including facilitating a state-led committee looking at technical assessment approaches. State performance measures are the primary source of data available to Education for determining the effectiveness of CTE programs, and Education relies on student outcomes reported through these measures to gauge the success of states' programs. Because only 2 of 11 measures (secondary and postsecondary have 3 measures in common) have been implemented and reported on thus far, Education has little information to date on program outcomes. In addition, Perkins IV does not require states to report to Education the findings of their program evaluations. In our surveys of state CTE directors, nearly half of states responded that they have conducted or sponsored a study to examine the effectiveness of their CTE programs. We reviewed 7 of these studies and found that only 4 were outcome evaluations.
Oct 26, 2018
K-12 Education:Public High Schools with More Students in Poverty and Smaller Schools Provide Fewer Academic Offerings to Prepare for CollegeGAO-19-8: Published: Oct 11, 2018. Publicly Released: Oct 26, 2018.
Sep 27, 2018
Public Service Loan Forgiveness:Education Needs to Provide Better Information for the Loan Servicer and BorrowersGAO-18-547: Published: Sep 5, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 27, 2018.
Sep 6, 2018
District of Columbia:Improved Reporting Could Enhance Management of the Tuition Assistance Grant ProgramGAO-18-527: Published: Sep 6, 2018. Publicly Released: Sep 6, 2018.
Aug 27, 2018
Federal Student Loans:Further Actions Needed to Implement Recommendations on Oversight of Loan ServicersGAO-18-587R: Published: Jul 27, 2018. Publicly Released: Aug 27, 2018.
Jul 26, 2018
Historically Black Colleges and Universities:Action Needed to Improve Participation in Education's HBCU Capital Financing ProgramGAO-18-455: Published: Jun 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 26, 2018.
Jul 17, 2018
Federal Student Aid:Education's Postsecondary School Certification ProcessGAO-18-481: Published: Jul 17, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 17, 2018.
Jul 16, 2018
Job Corps:DOL Could Enhance Safety and Security at Centers with Consistent Monitoring and Comprehensive PlanningGAO-18-482: Published: Jun 15, 2018. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2018.
May 15, 2018
Collegiate Aviation Schools:Stakeholders' Views on Challenges for Initial Pilot Training ProgramsGAO-18-403: Published: May 15, 2018. Publicly Released: May 15, 2018.
Apr 26, 2018
Federal Student Loans:Actions Needed to Improve Oversight of Schools' Default RatesGAO-18-163: Published: Apr 26, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 26, 2018.
Apr 17, 2018
Higher Education:Characteristics of Graduate PLUS BorrowersGAO-18-392R: Published: Apr 17, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 17, 2018.
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SharePoint Saturday is coming to San Antonio for the second time this Saturday, April 2nd. We've already gotten 150 RSVPs and why not? We've had a tremendous response from sponsors and speakers. I've put some highlights in the slides below and a map to the event below that. Personally, I don't know what I'm more excited about: The keynote and breakout session from MSDN Regional Director Vishwas Lele covering the future of SharePoint integration with the cloud services from Microsoft.Read more →
Archive for the Community Category
To date, more than 2700 questions about SharePoint have been answered on SharePointOverflow.com. But the site may not last. The host, StackExchange has given an get up or get out order. In order to keep SharePointOverflow alive, the site must convert to StackExchange 2.0. In order to convert, the community needs around 70 more volunteers to register at Area51.StackExchange.com and commit to the SharePoint Overflow proposal Update 3/10/2011: Don't forget to build up your reputation on StackOverflow.com, ServerFault.com, SuperUser.com orRead more →


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Loughmacrory firm fined £400 for planning breach
Published on Wed, 30 Jan 2008
Glen Builders Limited, of Drumman Glen, Loughmacrory, Co Tyrone, was convicted at Omagh Magistrates' Court yesterday for failing to comply with a Planning Notice.
The notice required the improvement of a public road to be completed in accordance with the approved plans.
The Planning Service brought the action under Article 67A of the Planning (NI) Order 1991 (as amended).
The Magistrate fined the firm £400 with costs of £85.
Notes to Editors:
Media enquiries - please contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014 or out-of-hours call EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.


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This series of posts shares field notes from the study abroad
course "Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic." The course begins
at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, and then students
from the University of Illinois and KTH travel north to conduct research
in the Arctic. This blog was originally posted on KTH's Environment and Society in a Changing Arctic webpage.
by Jessica Malmberg and James Buckland
Reindeer are free-roaming - they are herded, loosely, by region, but they are not fenced in - and these were free-roaming down the road. Our tour guide at the Laponia Naturum yesterday mentioned that they are sometimes hit by cars and then not reported. Instead, we sit and wait for them to cross the road. Then we drive on, a little slower and a little more aware.
Close to Jokkmokk, we drove over a bridge, crossing Lule river, and suddenly we see colorful paintings. There is a small dam sitting across the river, but the roar of the waters is nothing compared to the brilliant paintings done across their floodgates. In the 1970s, when the dam was constructed, local Sami artists designed their facades - bold red and yellow swathes with symbols and glyphs strewn across them. It is beautiful and very, very strange. The control building above the dam has is colored, as are the concrete buttresses holding up the wall. It doesn't look like art, but it doesn't look like a dam either. I think it's quite beautiful. There is a bitter story behind the dam and the artwork, though. When the plan of the dam was presented, the people of Jokkmokk and especially the Sami people started protesting, since the dam would have a big impact on the Sami village and the surrounding Jokkmokk area.
At the reception we see that the two Sami girls that we had as guides at Naturrum the day before also guides at Porjus hydropower plant. We would think that Sami people that is reindeer herders wouldn't want to work part time at a place that have affected their environment tremendously. But this shows the complicated relation between the Sami people and the industrialisation of the Norrbotten area.
The course came to an end at the 4th of July. We have seen so much, visited various places and driven to many places in rain, walked up the mountains surrounding Tarfala in the midnights sun. But it was time to go south. In the morning we packed our things and had a final discussion regarding the course. Thereafter we headed back towards Kiruna, to fly back to Stockholm. We have learned so much, had so many interesting discussions thanks to everyone who was a part of this course!


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Authorities have determined Michael Jackson's mother Katherine is safe after being reported missing over the weekend, but even the assurance that she's alive has done little to answer questions surrounding her supposed disappearance. The eighty-two-year-old, who is the legal guardian of her deceased son's three children Paris, Prince and Blanket, left the kids on July 15 to attend a Jackson Brothers concert in New Mexico. The journey was planned months in advance, but after she never arrived and family members continually told Paris Katherine couldn't come to the phone, the authorities were alerted.
It reportedly took investigators more than a few tries to get in touch with Katherine, but after finally doing so last night, they're supposedly confident she's resting in Arizona with several family members. Why she would go more than a week without talking to her grandchildren and why her children were being so evasive with Paris are still questions without good answers, but both of those head scratchers pale in comparison to the mystery of the doctor.
According to The Huffington Post, Katherine was visited the night before she was supposed to leave on the trip by Dr. Allan Metzger. The one-time physician of Michael Jackson's hasn't regularly cared for Katherine and reportedly did not inform her regular doctor he was coming to see her. On his advice, the matriarch reportedly flew instead of drove, setting her strange disappearance or non-disappearance in motion.
Rumors of problems within the Jackson family were compounded last week when a letter from some of MJ's siblings went public, demanding the executors of the estate resign and the will be investigated. It's all very shady, and we'll keep you updated.


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Blood And Jade Beta To Launch On October The 29th
Gabriel Roşu / 5 years ago
Although browser-based Blood and Jade just barely kicked off alpha testing two weeks ago, the free-to-play game is already powering ahead into open beta. It seems that International publisher R² Games has announced that starting tomorrow, their massively multiplayer online role-playing game which is set in ancient China will be entering a new and vastly improved beta testing phase.
Thanks to the dedication and tenacity of Alpha users, the opening of the Xianyang server heralds a new beginning for Blood and Jade. Discovering the drama of the Warring States has never been easier. Players will rise from humble beginnings to become a master of martial arts, contending with the forces of evil in battles that will determine the fate of ancient China. Accompanied by the legendary Goddesses and armed with the relics of a lost dynasty, skillful players will become unstoppable!
Starting today, players can get access to the Xianyang server and discover the drama of the Warring States for themselves. You can jump to game's official site at the source link to both get information on the game, like game guides and artwork, and sign up for the beta testing. The game is free-to-play in web browsers and on Facebook.
Thank you NextPowerUp and Massively by Joystiq for providing us with this information.
Image courtesy of Massively by Joystiq.


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In the 1997/98 Budget the Federal Government announced its "whole of government information technology infrastructure consolidation and outsourcing initiative". The initiative proposed that all government IT services and infrastructure be outsourced to the private sector. In a massive undertaking, the Government called for 11 tenders, and predicted that the outsourcing process would save approximately one billion dollars over seven years.
Three years down the track and an Auditor General's report into the Federal Government IT outsourcing has revealed some disturbing spending practices.
The Federal Finance Minister John Fahey has come under fire for significantly exaggerating the potential savings of outsourcing. Doubts have also been raised about the government's ability to justify huge payouts to US-based advisers.
Government IT outsourcing has released literally billions of taxpayer's dollars into the private sector, and with the process already over budget and behind schedule the process begs some fairly urgent questions. Who is the money being paid to and are the taxpayers getting their money's worth.
More importantly, how is the Australian channel being included in the outsourcing process, and what are the new business models to which IT outsourcing has given rise.
The Government has come under fire for making the tenders too big, placing them beyond the capabilities of most Australian companies.
The Cluster 3 agreement, for example pertained to the provision of IT services to eight government services and departments including the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Australian Electoral Commission, and IP Australia.
Kieran O'Connor, account manager at enterprise-level network integrator NetStar, told ARN the size of the tenders was preventing many Australian companies from taking part in outsourcing opportunities. "It's horrendously expensive - like a sale that takes 12 months to complete," O'Connor said.
Like many Australian integrators NetStar has been forced to pursue partnerships with larger off shore integrators in order to take part in the tender process. However, according to O'Connor, even this can be an expensive and time-consuming process.
Nick Cuthbertson, managing director of IT outsourcer Protech Australasia, agrees the tendering process excludes most Australian companies from winning a primary service provision role.
"It is true there are very few, if any, Australian companies that can be principal in these outsourcing arrangements," Cuthbertson said.
Jonathan Sheiman, general manager corporate and Government of IT, outsourcing company Ipex, goes to pains to point out that the Government's outsourcing policies are not offering anyone a "free lunch".
"You have to put in a lot of effort, when you are working with these large international players - you have to run to keep up. Small companies have to become aware of how to work with big companies," Sheiman said.
Nonetheless, Sheiman is an advocate of the Federal Government's outsourcing policies, pointing out that working with multinational companies was forcing Australian integrators to make significant improvements to their service standards.
He believes that Federal IT outsourcing will also improve the IT skills base as Australian companies partner with larger international players.
Cuthbertson agrees, adding that Protech Australasia has had very positive experiences with multinational companies.
"We have tailored our organisation so that we can work very effectively with the big players. We make sure that our processes are very flexible so they can match our partners, requirements," Cuthbertson said. "Our partners have been happy to share knowledge and work effectively with us - it is a great way for us to continue to develop our skills."
However, there is some concern the Government's insistence on grouping departmental IT requirements in clusters which are simply too big to be covered by a single Australian company, will ultimately deplete rather than augment the local skills base.
IT companies are often reticent about commenting on the ramifications of the Federal Government's outsourcing policy, as they are committed to a partnership agreement, or hope to win one in the near future.
However, the experience of hardware reseller Micro-Tech Tasmania is fairly typical of the changing market facing smaller channel companies.
A change to the Government's outsourcing policies has seen much of the market which used to be fulfilled through local channel companies taken up by large multinationals like mega-sized systems integrator MITS.
Although Micro-Tech has managed to strike up a supply deal with IT vendor NEC, company representative Matthew Sly sounds a common concern for the small players in the industry.
"We have traditionally been in the SOHO market, but we are now looking for larger companies to partner with. We are trying to strike up supply relationships but they are hard to win and risky," Sly said. "We have the right to supply certain agencies, but we are not guaranteed sales by it. We are not even guaranteed a minimum amount of business."
Protech's Cuthbertson expressed similar concerns about the stability of the partnerships generated by the Government's outsourcing push, although he believes it is an unavoidable aspect of doing business.
"As a company, you are always under scrutiny to maintain service levels, the primary partner is also under pressure to perform and deliver, and they expect the same from their partners," Cuthbertson said.
The principal concern is that small Australian channel companies have little bargaining power with the multinationals.
In a case cited in Federal Parliament, ACT-based IT training company Wizard Computer Training was unceremoniously dumped by a major multinational working on a Government outsourcing project after apparently closing the deal.
Federal Labor senator for the ACT and opposition IT spokesperson Kate Lundy is concerned about the ramifications of the Government's outsourcing policies.
"The main concern is that Australian IT businesses are missing out. The outsourcing tenders have been structured to favour large companies," Lundy said.
Lundy added that smaller Australian IT companies were feeling the margin pinch as their prices were forced down by unequal partnerships.
"There is also the issue of local innovation being squeezed out, as the multinationals make their money through economies of scale and provide mass-produced, shrink-wrapped style solutions," Lundy said.
Lundy is concerned that while the company employs local staff, the profit and therefore development resources end up on foreign shores.
"The measure should not just be in terms of jobs, because these are vulnerable to the success or otherwise of an off-shore company. We need to develop the capacity to innovate and supply our own IT needs," Lundy said.
According to the Auditor General's report, of the $70 million the Government is supposed to have saved from the outsourcing arrangements, $40 million will go to Michael Murphy and his associates at US-based law firm Shaw Pittman Potts and Trowbridge.
The firm is one of a growing number of "outsourcing consultants" which offer advice regarding the nature and extent of outsourcing in the private sector.
Another such group is Business Catalyst International, a Sydney-based research and management consultancy with US affiliations that was selling the benefits of outsourcing at a recent conference in Sydney.
While Business Catalyst International consulting director Ian Ritchie believes the conference was a resounding success, a quick glimpse at the guest speakers reveals a who's who of Australia's outsourcing cheer squad. John Fahey, ACT Chief Minister Kate Carnell and representatives of outsourcing company IBM GSA all spoke at the conference.
Ritchie told ARN the most important element of outsourcing was "developing a corporate culture to create sustainable business practice".
"Our current view on outsourcing is that there may be some cost savings available, but the most important improvements will be made in terms of flexibility, time to market and so fourth," Ritchie said.
Dr Graeme Hodge of the Mount Eliza Business School in Melbourne has been keeping an eye on the outsourcing debate for some time.
"Three or four years ago everyone involved in outsourcing was talking about cost savings, but now they talk about skills and core business functions," Hodge said. "Money is a long way down the list."
According to Hodge's studies, outsourcing offers potential monetary savings in labour-intensive areas such as cleaning, however his verdict on IT outsourcing is that there is little in the way of monetary gains.
"The problem is that the Government has approached the issue from an ideological standpoint. A business will only outsource services which will save money or improve its efficiency. People like John Howard would say that all IT expenditure belongs in the private sector, so it all gets outsourced."
To a large extent, the Australian channel has been caught in the middle of this ideological debate over outsourcing. On the one hand, outsourcing is good for the industry because it places more money in the private sector. On the other hand, the size of the tenders has excluded many Australian players from taking part.
Midrange outsourcer and systems integrator KAZ Computer Services is confronting the "do or die" dilemma of how to approach the Government IT outsourcing tendering process.
David Knox, KAZ Computer director of business development, spoke about how the company intends to attract some of the Government business.
"Our mid-range solutions work very well in government, but we didn't enter into the tendering process because of the cost of participation," Knox said. "The only way for us to participate is to subcontract to some of the larger players."
Knox believes, given the size of the tenders, the key to ensuring outsourcing does not favour foreign companies is to build an element of Australian content into the tenders themselves.
"There will always be room for Australian companies to take part in the process. Businesses today have to co-operate - rarely can one company offer all the core components of a deal. There is a lot of room for local companies, but the tenders need to specify local content."