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Casey Dreier • April 2, 2015
A new workshop suggests humans to the Mars system might be affordable after all
The Planetary Society has spent a lot of time and energy on advocating for NASA's robotic program over the past few years. Not only was it a strategic way to focus our efforts, but it was a program that truly needed a public advocate. And we've seen some real dividends from this decision in the form of the hundreds of millions of dollars that have been added to the robotic planetary program over the past three years and the addition of two major planetary science missions: Mars 2020 and the Jupiter-Europa orbiter.
But, historically, The Planetary Society is more than just robotic planetary exploration. Go back to nearly any point in our history, and you see an active role in promoting a vigorous, scientific program of human planetary exploration. And specifically, the human exploration of the planet Mars.
So I'm pleased to announce that we're starting a new initiative within our Advocacy program focused on getting humans to Mars. We will pursue a two-pronged approach to our advocacy and policy: promoting a sustainable, executable, and affordable pathway for humans to Mars, as well as maintaining our existing focus on a vigorous, balanced, exciting program of robotic solar system exploration. Both efforts share the same core vision of promoting space science and exploration, expressed in different ways.
It's very exciting.
As our starting point for our new advocacy initiative, we convened a workshop with diverse group of representatives from the aerospace industry, scientific community, policy world, and NASA itself.
We called it "Humans Orbiting Mars," which, as you might guess, explored the idea of taking an orbit-first approach to an extended program of human exploration of the red planet. This isn't orbit-only, but looking at the idea of intermediate steps within a long-term program as a way to constrain the cost. The questions we were exploring during the event: is it possible that this approach is affordable within a plausible NASA budget for the next 15 years (i.e. 2% - 3% growth to match inflation)? Would it be valuable scientifically? Would people find it engaging?
We believe we have initial answers to these (yes, yes, and yes), but it's just the start.
This workshop itself was chaired by two highly respected individuals in the space community: Dr. Scott Hubbard, former Director of NASA's Ames Research Center and the first Mars Czar at NASA who proposed the hugely successful "follow the water" strategy, and Dr. John Logsdon, the founder and first Director of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University. Of course, Bill Nye, our CEO, and Dr. Jim Bell, our President, helped lead key parts of the workshop.
Ultimately, we were able to achieve a group consensus that yes, an orbit-first approach (which includes an opportunity to land/dock with the martian moons) is viable both politically and monetarily.
More details of this are in our press statement, which includes links to the workshop program, and the key consensus points reached by the end of the workshop. I recommend reading this, particularly the consensus points.
I also recommend browsing through our workshop program (linked to at the press statement) which shows the amazing lineup of speakers and panelists we had, as well as the general topics we talked about. (The workshop itself operated under Chatham House Rules: everyone is free to discuss the content of the workshop, but without attribution to the individuals without explicit approval—a rule crucial for an environment of open, engaging, and exploratory thought).
Over the next few months, we will work to publish as much of the content presented at the workshop as we can. And later this year, we will release a report based on the discussions and feedback from this meeting formalizing our thoughts and ideas on this path forward.
But that's just the start. We're not doing this to drop off a report and then walk away—this is the beginning of a long process of engagement on the human spaceflight question. And that process will include a substantial level of outreach and feedback from the most important group: the members of The Planetary Society. Members will be hearing a lot more from me later in the year.
I feel that we are at a truly exciting time. I think you may feel this, too. There's something in the air. The vast potential presented to us by a new generation of private and public launch systems and crew vehicles, new technology, new space-faring countries and potential international partners, and a growing public consensus that NASA and others should explore deep space. There are challenges, absolutely. But we should begin to face them head on.
We, as members of The Planetary Society, should take this opportunity to guide and nurture these new opportunities to achieve the full potential we see before us. It's an exciting time.
There is much, much more to come. In the meantime, if you have questions or thoughts about Mars, email me at [email protected] or leave me a comment below.
Read more: Space Policy, Future Mission Concepts, events and announcements, human spaceflight, Planetary Society Political Advocacy, Mars
David Frankis: 2015/04/02 07:04 CDT
David Frankis: 2015/04/02 07:06 CDT
Borklund: 2015/04/02 07:08 CDT
Arbitrary: 2015/04/02 08:04 CDT
Europe Clipper: 2015/04/02 10:36 CDT
MarkNuclearman: 2015/04/02 02:24 CDT
LoboSolo: 2015/04/02 05:09 CDT
Douglass33: 2015/04/02 05:46 CDT
Jonathan Ursin: 2015/04/02 05:48 CDT
Keith Hearn: 2015/04/03 12:31 CDT
antonio: 2015/04/03 03:16 CDT
antonio: 2015/04/03 03:26 CDT
rand: 2015/04/03 02:08 CDT
lost2u: 2015/04/03 09:02 CDT
Keith Hearn: 2015/04/03 10:22 CDT
lost2u: 2015/04/04 12:04 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/04 07:13 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/04 07:41 CDT
jwebster: 2015/04/04 06:07 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/05 02:56 CDT
Torbjörn Larsson: 2015/04/05 05:48 CDT
Potawatomi13: 2015/04/06 07:52 CDT
Potawatomi13: 2015/04/06 08:08 CDT
Arbitrary: 2015/04/06 09:32 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/06 10:50 CDT
Bob: 2015/04/06 02:14 CDT
Bob: 2015/04/06 02:16 CDT
Joe: 2015/04/06 07:57 CDT
dougforworldsexplr: 2015/04/06 10:13 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/07 03:27 CDT
Arbitrary: 2015/04/07 04:41 CDT
Bob: 2015/04/07 03:18 CDT
Enzo: 2015/04/07 04:32 CDT
Paul McCarthy: 2015/04/08 01:11 CDT
Antonio: 2015/04/08 08:02 CDT
Joel: 2015/04/08 02:56 CDT
Arbitrary: 2015/04/09 02:25 CDT
Enzo: 2015/04/09 07:22 CDT
Enzo: 2015/04/09 07:23 CDT
keith: 2015/08/05 09:32 CDT
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subset: commoncrawl


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CUP: NASCAR Tightens Penalty Noose
What has been a disappointing season for Richard Childress Racing got quite a bit more troublesome Wednesday.
RCR enters Saturday night's Irwin Tools Night Race with none of its three Sprint Cup drivers – Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Paul Menard – owning a victory this season.
And, as of Wednesday, Menard also owns 25 fewer points than he could claim Tuesday.
NASCAR blistered RCR's No. 27 team with one of its toughest penalties in recent years, fining crew chief Slugger Labbe $100,000 and suspending the technical heart of the team – Labbe, car chief Craig Smokstad and crew member Grant Hutchens – until Oct. 3.
Additionally, Menard and team owner Richard Childress lost 25 points in the driver and owner standings.
Frame rails on the car Menard raced Sunday at Michigan International Speedway had been modified, the sort of rules violation NASCAR takes quite seriously. In fact, there was surprise across the sport that the penalty, although harsh, was not more severe.
Menard finished ninth at Michigan, and the frame-rail modification was discovered only because his car was selected as a random entry for post-race examination at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.
The penalty significantly diminishes Menard's already slim chances of qualifying for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. The point reduction dropped him from 15th to 16th in the standings.
Team owner Childress plans to appeal the penalty and has requested that Labbe be allowed to continue to run the No. 27 team while the appeal is scheduled and heard.
Harvick, RCR's lead driver, is eighth in points and is likely to be in the Chase despite his winless run this year, but his team also is unsettled with another change at the crew chief position this week.
The severity of the Menard/Childress penalties can be interpreted as a warning shot by NASCAR as teams, including RCR, prepare for the Chase and the 10-week run to the end of the season.
Toying with the rules has been a fact of life since NASCAR's beginnings (the first race in what became the Sprint Cup Series featured a disqualified winner), but outsmarting inspectors has become much more difficult since the advent of the series' latest model racer and the smaller "box" NASCAR has created for team experimentation.
Playing in those smaller "gray" areas now can mean the difference between winning and losing or going home with championships and going home empty-handed.
Brad Keselowski has been vocal recently about the apparent rear-suspension gains Hendrick Motorsports has scored, hinting that the team is dancing along the fault line of the rules and saying that Penske Racing, his team, avoids such.
Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 30 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.


text: If you're looking for a really nice clock app, then the extremely popular Night Stand HD is one of the best, and now you can get it for free for just today only, courtesy of freeappaday.com. You can either go and check it out at the freeappaday website, or download it directly from the App Store. I just got the app myself today, and not only is it gorgeous to look at (I know, how can clocks be gorgeous, right? But they are!), it's also practical and functional. There are seven normal clocks to choose from (Binary, Analog, Classic LCD, Flip, LCD, Milk, Nixie) plus a Stopwatch and a World Clock. The World Clock view has six smaller analog clocks that can all be set to show a different city's time, simply by tapping on the name label. Then just watch as the clock hands whizz round as it resets itself to the time of the city you've entered. The Stop Watch looks like a giant version of the sort of thing a sports coach might use, yet is very easy to use, with a big Stop/Start button on the right side of the watch, plus a lap counter. There are also, alarm, sleep music and weather modes too, and unlike some clock apps, you don't have to have the app running for the alarm to work. A really polished clock app that certainly lives up to its already stellar reputation. Don't miss the opportunity to get it for free today! Source: SpoonJuice


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When Brantley Harrison and her Family rescued a tiny, injured squirrel back in 2009, then released her back into the wild, they didn't expect to ever see her again. 8 years later, however, little Bella still comes to visit them almost every day – as long as snacks are provided, of course.
After a harrowing owl attack left Bella near death as a baby, she was graciously taken in by the Greenville County, South Carolina family, and raised by them alongside three other squirrels named Larry, Curly, and Moe. Bella stayed with the Harrisons until spring 2010, at which point she had healed successfully thanks to a steady diet of fruit, nuts, and formula, and was ready to romp around in the forest. The sweet squirrel never strayed too far from her adopted home, though, and stops by to say hello whenever she can, despite how much time has passed.
"Bella sits right at the front door waiting for someone to notice she has come by for a visit. She has even resorted to jumping over to the dining room window to peer in for someone to see her," Brantley told The Dodo.
The most amazing part? A few years after Bella's original stay at the Harrison house, she found her way back to them with an injured foot – and a belly full of babies – necessitating another few months of rehab. "It was truly amazing to watch the baby I raised raise her own babies," Brantley said. Bella now even has her own Instagram page with almost 4 thousand followers! See some of this family's sweetest photos below.
Back in October 2009, this baby squirrel was found injured and alone after an apparent owl attack
Rescuers placed the poor thing with Brantley Harrison and her family in SC, who soon named her Bella
For 5 months, the Harrisons lovingly raised and nurtured Bella back to health alongside three other squirrels
Eventually, the time came to release all 4 squirrels into the wild, never to be seen again after a few days
One of their former guests, however, just kept coming back to visit every single morning
It was Bella! The little lady just wasn't ready to part with the family that saved her life
Whenever she stops by, she asks for nothing more than a handful of walnuts and plenty of cuddles
"Bella sits right at the front door waiting for someone to notice she has come by for a visit," Brantley says
"She has even resorted to jumping over to the dining room window to peer in for someone to see her"
A few years later, Bella turned up one morning with an injured foot – and a secret surprise
Just before she was re-released, Bella gave birth to three babies, and was once again in need of care
"It was truly amazing to watch the baby I raised raise her own babies," Brantley commented
Though it's been 8 years since Bella and the Harrisons first met, their bond is still just as strong
Bella even has her own Instagram account now, where her human family documents her adventures
"My husband will be running late for something and rushes out the door to be greeted by her…"
"And he HAPPILY runs back inside… and goes back out to spend some time with her"
This just might be the SWEETEST human-animal friendship we've ever seen!
Do you have a best friend from the wild? Tell us all about them below!
This post first appeared on How Movie Actors Look Without Their Makeup And Costume, please read the originial post: here


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You could say that MonsterKids: The Impact and Legacy of THINGS that Go Bump in the Night is a monster-sized project. Started back in 2010 by writer/director J. Michael Roddy, the origins of this documentary on creature culture and its impact on a multitude of artists, filmmakers and fans in fact spans much further…back to Roddy's own childhood when cinematic monstrosities haunted the UHF airwaves broadcast to his family's black and white TV set every Saturday afternoon:
I was fortunate that my local station in Tampa, Florida had Dr. Paul Bearer. I would sit glued to my television, watching as the good Doctor choked on coffin nails and introduced a world of Gods and Monsters to my young mind. Those early days sparked an obsession for me, one that has continued to grow ever since. It is a place of fantasy and imagination, a place that I can instantly return to whenever the moon is full and the wolfbane blooms, and the Autumn moon is bright.
Starring special effects artist Bob Burns, the original MonsterKid according to Roddy, the film also reportedly features a variety of interviews with "some of Hollywood's most prolific monster makers and storytellers" such as Mick Garris, Joe Dante, Tom Savini, The Chiodo Brothers, Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger and Max Landis—all of which focus on the positive of fear, scary movies the importance of imagination.
No release details have been announced as of yet, but the random snippets of footage that's appeared online thus far looks promising!
Light your lantern, grab your Garlic and Wolfsbane and hold close as we set out to explore the fascination with the Fantastical. Monster Kids, a brand-new documentary delves into the darkened abyss of the Laboratories and crypts to investigate the continued impact of Monsters on the youth and the culture of America.
Join a host of Hollywood's most prolific filmmakers, writers, actors, makers of monsters, and fans as they explore why things that go bump in the night fascinate us. Featuring all-new interviews and rare photographs unearthed for the first time, we delve into the world of Gods and Monsters where the dead rise at sunset and even the purest man at heart becomes a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms to examine the appeal of the creatures of the night.


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Drainage, facial tenderness, reduced sense of smell and taste: the symptoms of chronic sinusitis can be difficult to deal with. Sometimes, surgery is required to give patients with these issues any sort of relief. However, there is now an in-office procedure that is available to those dealing with chronic sinusitis (sinusitis which lasts more than 8 weeks). The doctors at Alexandria Otolaryngology Associates are experts at a procedure called Balloon Sinuplasty, a less-invasive procedure that is proven to be effective and provide a fast recovery from the trials of chronic sinusitis.
Unlike other sinus surgeries, Balloon Sinuplasty is a procedure that does not require any cutting or removal of bone or tissue. During the procedure, your doctor inserts a small, flexible balloon catheter into the sinus cavity. Once inserted, this balloon is inflated to expand into the sinus opening. This relieves the blocked passages typical in patients suffering from sinusitis.
When the balloon is inflated, the sinuses are restructured. This widens the sinus walls and discourages future issues, while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining. Once the catheter is removed, the sinuses remain open. Clinical data has proven the procedure's lasting results: patients have experienced no device-related issues and have reported statistically and clinically significant improvements in their symptoms.
The effects of Balloon Sinuplasty can provide lasting relief. In a study that tracked patients two years after their procedure, the overwhelming majority of patients reported meaningful improvement in both sinus symptoms and quality of life. Generally, recovery is fast: most patients return to normal activity within two days. If you're experiencing the difficulties of chronic sinusitis, why wait? Come in to Alexandria Otolaryngology Associates, and ask your doctor if Balloon Sinuplasty could be the right choice for you.


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Friday 05 October
|Platyceps (1)
The Sahara racer (Platyceps saharicus) is a long, slender snake with a narrow head and black spots below its large eyes. Little other information is available on the appearance of this species, but the colour of its scales becomes more uniform closer to the tail (2).
The Sahara racer has only been considered a separate species to the wadi racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) since 2004 (3).
Very little is known about the biology of the Sahara racer. It is possible that its diet and behaviour resemble those of the closely related wadi racer (P. rhodorachis), which is active during the day or at dawn and dusk, and is a fast, agile hunter. The wadi racer hunts fish, tadpoles and possibly other snakes, and lack venomous fangs, although its saliva may have a mildly toxic effect (4).
As part of the Colubridae family, the Sahara racer is likely to lay eggs (5).
The Sahara racer has yet to be classified by the IUCN.
The Sahara racer is not known to be facing any major threats. In the Mediterranean region, this species has been classified as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria (6), but there is a lack of information on its conservation status across its range.
There are currently no specific conservation measures known to be in place for the Sahara racer.
Find out more about the Sahara racer and other reptiles:
More information on reptile conservation:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
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Peyre Olivier
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Tel: 0033 4 90 84 17 95
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text:
Everybody loves Benedict Cumberbatch these days. That's a fact. Also a fact? R. Kelly's lyrics are gross. Jimmy Kimmel asked Benedict to read some of his lyrics from his new album and it is awkward.
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC, its affiliates, or its employees.
Continue the Discussion


text:
Michael 'Jim' Delligatti died. How many know that name? Well, what he did played a big part in my life. Jim and his family are the owner operators of various Pittsburgh-area McDonald's restaurants. However, this franchisee created the Big Mac, McDonald's 'signature' hamburger. He was 98 and came up with the idea for the Big Mac in 1965; introduced it to his own restaurants in 1967 (against McDonald's wishes) and went national in 1968 (they saw the light).
""It wasn't like discovering the lightbulb," Delligatti told John F Love, the author of McDonald's: Behind the Arches (1986). "The bulb was already there. All I did was screw it in the socket.""Not only am I a McDonald's fan, the Golden Arches being a constant in my much traveled life since the early 70s and in the UK from 1974 (yep, since it started). I have tasted their meals in over 40 countries (intentionally testing, and also referring to the Economist's Big Mac Index [Patty-purchasing parity] since its inception). I am also a McDonald's-slagger slaughterer (I mow down the pretentious twits that claim they don't know what it is or have never had one or won't let their children near the place...details on request :-) ).


text:
With six Authority® herbicides, there's one that's perfect for your situation. Answer a few simple questions to determine which one that is.
Can a preemergence help control glyphosate-resistant weeds?
Authority® Assist herbicide stops small-seeded broadleaf weeds and grasses before they start - before they steal yield at season's end. Grass Assist means you can make more timely - effective - Roundup® herbicide application in your Roundup Ready® soybean system. In addition, Authority Assist herbicide rules against glyphosate-tolerant summer weeds like lambsquarters, pigweed, nightshade, morningglory and kochia.
"Authority Assist herbicide is cleaner than the competition and we needed a product that gave us flexibility in our corn seed rotation."
Greg Nuttelman, York, NE
*Indicates suppression or partial control only.
**Will not control ALS-resistant biotypes of these weed species.


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Originally Published: November 24, 2012 12:17 a.m.
TUCSON - Marion Grice ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns, and Arizona State added another chapter to what's become a wild rivalry by scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter to beat Arizona 41-34 late Friday night.
Trailing 27-17 after Arizona scored 18 points in the third quarter, the Sun Devils (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) fought back, turning two turnovers and a blocked punt into three touchdowns.
Kevin Ayers had a blocked punt to set up Cameron Marshall for an 8-yard touchdown that gave Arizona State the lead, and Robert Nelson returned an interception 66 yards before Michael Eubank's 1-yard touchdown made it 41-27.
Matt Scott found David Richards for a 17-yard touchdown in the final 2 minutes to cut Arizona State's lead to 41-34, but the Wildcats couldn't come up with the onside kick.
Ka'Deem Carey ran for 172 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats (7-5, 4-5). Scott threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns but had four turnovers, including an interception and a fumble in the fourth quarter.
Arizona State's comeback helped coach Todd Graham land the first blow on Arizona's Rich Rodriguez in the 85-game series' first game between new coaches since Arizona's John Mackovic beat ASU's Dirk Koetter in 2001.
A heated rivalry to begin with, the Territorial Cup took on added meaning this season with new coaches trying to get a head start on each other.
After an unsuccessful stint at Michigan, Rodriguez brought gas-it-all-the-time offense to the desert, hoping to turn around a program that had fallen off hard the previous couple of seasons.
Even without much depth on his roster, Rodriguez's debut has been a success: Seven wins, two over Top 25 teams, and bowl eligibility in his first season.
Just 90 minutes up Interstate 10 in Tempe, Graham put his mark on the Sun Devils with his no-nonsense approach and high-octane offense. Arizona State got off to a great start, winning five of its first six games, then rallied from a four-game losing streak to become bowl eligible by beating Washington State last weekend.
For all they accomplished, Friday night's game was the biggest of the season. Bragging rights, an advantage in recruiting, a boost for fans and alumni - plenty was riding on this game.
It took a while to get going.
The only player on either team to get much going early, Carey passed Trung Canidate's single-season school record of 1,602 yards rushing, set in 1999, on Arizona's second drive, then launched himself over Arizona State safety Alden Darby for a 1-yard touchdown run to cap it.
Bogged down early, Arizona State got going by picking off two of Scott's passes. Grice followed the first with a nifty 52-yard touchdown run, then scored from 3 yards out to help the Sun Devils to a 14-9 halftime lead.
Outplayed most of the first half, the Wildcats dominated the third quarter.
Scott used a pump fake to free up Austin Hill for a 29-yard touchdown pass on Arizona's opening drive of the third quarter. Then, Garic Wharton made a tough catch with Keelan Johnson flying in front of him for a 40-yard touchdown. Kicker John Bonano took a direct snap on a fake PAT and raced around the right end for a two-point conversion.
A fumble by Arizona State - the snap hit the motion man - set up a 23-yard field goal by Bonano that put Arizona up 10.
The Sun Devils still wouldn't go away. Jon Mora kicked a 39-yard field goal after Rashad Ross had two potential touchdown passes go through his hands. Then Johnson came up big again, stripping Scott for a fumble. Grice followed with his third touchdown, from 4 yards out, to tie the game at 27.
More like this story
- ASU rallies to beat rival Arizona, 41-40; Wildcats fumble late, fail on final play field goal
- Sun Devil football team routs Buffaloes in Tempe
- College Football: Arizona State powers past Colorado for 600th win
- No chance for NAU football in opener at ASU
- Devils use late interceptions to beat Bears, 51-41


text:
You might not pay that much attention
to the shadows in this room
at the Vatican—it's one of the Raphael
rooms, where he painted his "School of Athens."
[To see more Sunday Shadows, go here.]
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Shadow Shot Sunday
Posted by Alexa at 01:47
Labels: Raphael, shadow shot Sunday, Vatican Museum, windows
1 comment:
Thanks, merci, grazie, danke, hvala, gracias, spasibo, shukran, dhanyavaad, salamat, arigato, and muito obrigado for your much-appreciated comments.
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text:
PRTODAY - Newswire & PRZOOM/ -
Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 06/02/2016 - The company outperformed other major companies from different industries thanks to the progress made in converting a traditional business to a more digital model with the assistance of Accenture - MeliaHotelsInternational.com.
Meliá Hotels International has been named "Best Digital Transformation Enterprise" at the Digital European Mindset Awards, which recognise the most innovative companies in customer experience, ICT management, and new digital business models.
The award was presented at the Digital Enterprise Show on May 26 in Madrid in recognition of the work done by the hotel company on digital transformation and its vocation to innovate and reinvent itself to maintain its leadership in a rapidly changing industry which creates risks for companies that do not adapt and great opportunities for companies that successfully do so, as Meliá is proving.
In 2014, Meliá Hotels International (meliahotelsinternational.com) began its Meliá Digital project, a comprehensive transformation on both a global and regional level to allow the Company to adapt to new environments and new business models in the travel industry.
According to Meliá, the key has been the profound cultural transformation that the digitalisation process is driving, affecting all of its processes, organizational structure, training systems, and relations with employees, investors and the owners of its managed hotels, affecting the entire value proposition of the company.
The most notable and immediate gains have been made in the new customer relationship model, designed as a genuine "customer journey" and ranging from the pre-trip experience through the trip itself, and ending with the post-trip experience. The key to success is the consistent personalization of the customer experience throughout the process: customer identification, product recommendation and personalisation, conversion and loyalty, all through the use of technology and advanced analytics.
After the first year of the project, the results have been very positive. The award has taken into account progress made in direct sales, which increased by 25% over the previous year, accompanied by the registration of a million new members in the Meliá Rewards loyalty programme, whose members now generate 50% of Company revenues. The project is also enhancing the presence of more and more hotels in digital channels and sophisticated digital marketing campaigns which use greater personalization based on predictive models and customer knowledge and which have helped increase conversion rates by 30% and raise Contact Centre sales in major markets by up to 45%.
Partnership with Accenture Interactive
All of this has been possible thanks to a partnership with Accenture Interactive, part of Accenture Digital, a market leader in consulting, technology and digital transformation, which has contributed its skills and experience in digital transformation in the hotel industry worldwide.
Meliá Digital has become one of the major priorities in the Company Strategic Plan up to 2018, a period in which the group aims to lay the foundations for the deepest transformation experienced by Meliá Hotels International in its 60-year history.
Introducing the project, José María Dalmau, SVP Business Development at Melia said that the unstoppable process of digitalisation in travel - one of the sectors most affected led the Company to even further enhance its focus on innovation, and it is extremely pleased with this decision. Dalmau declared that "the future is now, and it is digital. Once again, Meliá Hotels International has been able to manage the strategic organizational and technological transformation needed to meet a challenge which involves every single one of our employees, while remaining true to its values of service, excellence and customer focus, allowing us to be closer to our customers and anticipate their needs thanks to this new digital reality".
Agency / Source: Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)
Traffic Booster: [/] Quick PRTODAY - Newswire Distribution Service Visibility Checker
Distribution / Indexing: [+] [Content made possible by PRZOOM / PRTODAY indexing services]


text:
Learning Swahli Text Course
March 21, 2010 by Admin
Lesson 1 has now been uploaded of the Swahili Text Course.
Check out the first lesson on the Swahili alphabet and Swahili pronunciation
Further lessons will be updated frequently.
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]Learning Swahli Text Course,
2 Responses to "Learning Swahli Text Course"
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!


text:
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Photo: Rafa visits USA embasy in Madrid
Wednesday, September 19, 2012 photos, rafael nadal
Rafa Nadal, who is out of the tennis courts but continues to be very active on Facebook and Twitter, shared today a pic with the American ambassador and his wife at the USA Embasy in Madrid.
"Ayer estuve en la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Madrid donde fui muy amablemente recibido por el Sr. Embajador y su mujer que nos trataron de una manera muy cordial. Muchas gracias a ellos y a todos los que representan.
Yesterday I was received by the American ambassador to Spain in Madrid and his wife who treated us very warmly. I wanted to thank them and all the people they represent. Many thanks for the flag they offered me with!" Rafa wrote.


text:
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Tag Archives: DVD
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It's no secret that I'm a long time anime fan, and it seems Amazon is out for my money. They're currently running a sale on 233 anime Blu-ray and DVD titles – 49 Blu-ray titles and 184 DVD titles. On … Continue reading
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text: Barciur Report post #1 Posted November 6, 2014 So after the number of trip reports that I have done on travelling in Poland, finally my time came to get a taste in LD travel in the USA! While it wasn't a long trip, it is something that gave me a good feel of what AMTRAK LD travel is all about and wanting more. So the idea for the trip was kind of bizarre. There is a European metal band that I love and whenever they come to the US, I usually want to see them twice. Usually it is Philly and New York, but this time they only played in New York. So I checked where would be the closest place to go see them that would be that I could travel to by rail and it turned out it was… Milwaukee. At first I thought it was crazy, but then I thought I could combine this trip into a great experience of a long train trip, sightseeing Chicago and Milwaukee, and - considering I have not gone west of Pennsylvania - nice excuse to get out and see some of the country. Initially intended on booking my roomette one way and coach the way back to save money, but due to the crazy delays of CL in the summer and September, I saw that the roomette was still available for the lowest bucket and so I booked it – and never regretted it, but more on that later. So on October 31st I left work 15 minutes early and rushed to the Lancaster station to make the 1:52 westbound Pennsylvanian. However, it was running 30 minutes late from New York, so as it turned out, there was no need to hurry. After the 30 minute delay, Pennsylvanian arrived with #43 at its helm. I boarded one of the Amfleet II LD coaches and found an empty seat. I really enjoy the long distance Amfleet – I am used to Amfleet I on the Keystones with a lot less leg room and no leg rest, so having those rare amenities was great for me. In Harrisburg, I saw and ACS #611 resting attached to the Keystone, so the ACS are starting to take over the Keystone line as well. Soon after Harrisburg I could feel that we were no longer on AMTRAK tracks. I could hear the sounds typical of an older train infrastructure that I'm used to hearing in some parts of Poland. What really dawned on me, though, was the amount of freight traffic – I have never seen anything like that before in my life, and that was still just Harrisburg area. I always read on this forum people saying that they don't see much freight traffic in Europe and I thought that was weird, as I usually see some freights in Poland. But seeing over a mile long, 200 car freights – and a lot of them – made me realize what they were REALLY talking about. Here is a magnificent view of the Susquehanna River: We got a little bit more delayed because of freight traffic congestion, as the conductor stated. I did not worry about that at all, since I had a 4 hour layover to the CL anyway. The rest of my trip on the Pennsy was pretty uneventful. I got up at one point to go to the café car, bought a Vegan Burger for dinner and used Wi-Fi on its board. While walking through other cars, I realized how cold my car was. The other cars were a lot warmer, but my car was pretty chill. No problem, though, as I was prepared for freezing Chicago temperatures. At the end of the trip, maybe 30 minutes before PGH, the heating kicked in and it got a bit uncomfortable. During my 3.5 hour layover in Pittsburgh I saw an older woman hauling a lot of stuff. She asked me to watch her things while she went somewhere with her big bags. After an hour she returned and explained that she had to move some of her stuff to other bag to fit in the 50 lb baggage limit. She also told me that she was going back home, to Los Angeles, after 4 years of life in Lancaster. She said that nothing seems to have gone right for her in the past 4 years so she wanted a new start in life… Asked why she was taking the train, she said "because the bus is too crowded, and if the Lord wanted me to fly, he'd give me wings." Having wandered around the station, I met a daughter and a mother travelling further west. They had booked a roomette on the Zephyr, but had coach from PGH to Chicago. They thought they would upgrade, but the price was around $300. I thought it was kind of a shame, since nobody would pay it then, and it would better for AMTRAK to offer it 30 minutes before departure for the minimum bucket to get at least the $113, rather than have a room go empty, but they must have their reasons for the policy. The CL came in 10 minutes early, at 11:35. I proceeded up the stairs and had my ticket scanned by the conductor at the door of the platform. Went to my car, up the steps and into my room. My bed was already made up and I was a little bit shocked at how small it was, but it was the impression due to the bed being made up. When it was in day-time mode, there was a lot more room. Soon, a very nice SCA came to me, introduced himself and let me know that breakfast began at 6:30, told me of all the amenities on the train and that he would make my bed when I went to breakfast. After we left, I was in awe of being in bed on the train on AMTRAK. Not my first time in a sleeper, but it was a new experience and I've been waiting for this for so long that I was really excited. Soon after, I went to sleep. This is where the first and really the only issue in my trip occurred. I missed my breakfast! I woke up at around 6:30am when they started serving breakfast, but I was not aware of the fact that they would close at 8:30 eastern time – so a good 1 hour 15 minutes before scheduled departure, even though we were an hour late. So I fell back asleep and was woken up by a PA announcement that the dining car was now closed. Bummer. But since it was only breakfast, I thought it was not a big deal and would get something in Chicago. I really enjoyed these two views of Chicago from the train: We arrived in Chicago at 9:40am, which was 55 minutes late. Not bad, considering all the crap going on in the weeks past! Upon alighting, I went into the station to get food. The "track number x" continuous announcement made me chuckle, but I was prepared for them thanks to AU! After a quick breakfast, I went to Willis Tower to enjoy breathtaking views of Chicago. Afterwards, I went back to catch the 1:05pm Hiawatha. The Hiawatha trip was uneventful and the method in which the conductors assist passengers in getting on and off the platform made me chuckle as well: Whatever works, though, right? On my return I spent a full day in Chicago, as I took the first Sunday Hiawatha at 8:05am into town. Having taken a walk through Millenium Park and the Lake Shore drive, as well as visiting the Polish ethnic neighborhood in Avondale, I made my way to the Union station at 5pm. I went into the Met Lounge to get my first ever experience of this type of a lounge. I was greeted and shown around the lounge. I also made a dinner reservation. After that, I took a bag of chips and took a cup to the drink distributor, but I was surprised by its presence – I heard people talk of taking juice into their bags for the trip, but here it was just a distributor and cups. It was no problem, though, as I actually liked the juice on board the train. I enjoyed the peace and quiet of the lounge and at 5:55pm pre-boarding was announced. We were told what would happen and where we would go and the attendant took us outside. This time my roomette was downstairs, which I actually found to enjoy more, as it was a lot more peaceful and since the conductor was stationed in my car, I could overhear his conversations with the dispatcher on the radio. The train departed on time at 6:40pm. I was surprised that the conductor came around to the sleeper passengers – in Poland, you hand over your ticket to the sleeper car attendant. Another visitor to my door was the LSA – she came in and confirmed my dinner reservation. Our first freight congestion stop was at 7:10 just after Whiting, IN. The conductor announced to everybody that "if you travelled with us at all in the past few months you know what freight congestion means. Hopefully today will not be too bad and by the time we reach Elkhart yard everything will clear up." At 7:30, my dinner reservation was called. I liked the LSA's announcement that "seating is communal – YOU WILL MAKE A FRIEND." I enjoyed the seating and met a retired couple travelling from Oklahoma to DC to visit their son and solo traveler from Chicago to Florida. The couple told me that it was on the husband's bucket list to travel by train to their destination so that is why they were doing it – this was their first time riding the rails on a long distance trip. They were originally from Mechanicsburg and the husband's father worked for the Reading Railroad. I enjoyed the conversation as well as the meal. The salad was good, I really liked it, and the Amtrak Signature Steak I ordered was also delicious. After a 45 minute dinner seating, I made my way back to the room and discovered the time zone changed. I found it interesting that the time zone changed somewhere in Indiana as opposed to on the Indiana-Illinois stateline. We arrived at Southbend at 9:56, so a 47 minute delay. Five minutes later we departed, however, before that, two women were escorted off the train by local police force. It looked like one of them was very drunk. After 5 minutes, we departed and lost another 15 minutes to Elkhart, arriving exactly 60 minutes late – at 10:29pm. I indulged in a combination of reading a book and staring out the window. I really enjoy staring out the window at night with the lights turned off and curtains closed and I miss doing that on the Keystones. In Poland it is possible if you have a compartment by yourself, but here there is no compartments – so this was the first time I was able to do that on this side of the pond and I loved it. I called the attendant at around 11pm and he made my bed. He asked me if I wanted a 30 minute wake up before Pittsburgh and I agreed. I wasn't sure how it was going to work so I judged my own delay and just in case I set an alarm clock for 5:50. I woke up and 5 minutes later the SCA knocked on the door – and continued to knock until I showed my face to him so he knew I was awake. I was glad to see that but being a skeptic I had to make sure! At 6:30 we arrived in PGH so nearly a 1.5 hour delay. No problem, as #42 still had an hour to go. There were about 20-25 people waiting. Coach was called to board at 7:20 and it was quite packed because the first two cars were closed off. I was not sure why and I was a little bit puzzled, but then the conductor announced that there was a field trip of 140 kids getting on in Johnstown, PA and getting off at Altoona, PA and that they have been doing that every day of the week – each class having their field trip. So I was forced to sit with someone and I am really glad I did. It was an older woman who was travelling from Pittsburgh and this was her first time travelling any longer distance by rail. Originally she was from Milwaukee so when I mentioned that I am actually on my way FROM Milwaukee, she got really interested in that and she said she now thinks she will want to try the train to Milwaukee herself when she goes home. So I possibly have another convert! She mentioned that she was nervous about taking the train from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, but she really enjoyed it so she is willing to try a longer trip. Her husband had died a year before and she was now learning to be independent and discovered that she really does not like driving – up until then, her husband drove everywhere, but now since she was on her own, she wanted to look into other options. So out of a situation that I was forced into by sitting with someone came a really good situation – meeting someone else and having a really nice conversation. So overall, I was really, really happy with this trip. I was so glad I got the roomette on the way back as well - the dinner alone was so worth it, but so was the experience! I also wasn't sure if I would want to do a roomette with two people when I saw the size of the room in person at first, but I figured that it would still be just fine – especially at day time, since there is decent amount of room when seats are up, it won't be a big issue. On the way home I was already making plans for the next trip, although it will have to wait a bit – I am planning on going to California with my mom by AGR points – but I only have 13k points at the moment, so I need another 20k – and since I've been averaging 5000 points a year, it might take a while (hopefully I can get the credit card beforehand! That will help!). So all in all, I was very happy with this trip and I really cannot wait to do it again – this really is the best way to travel! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


text:
In 1974 -- the year Renata Kanclerz and Lisa Coleman's Hollywood Hills kitchen was previously remodeled -- dark plywood cabinets, butcher-block counters and red brick backsplashes were considered cutting edge.
Three decades later, however, those materials were too old to be hip and too young to be historic.
So last year, Kanclerz and Coleman tore out that kitchen and replaced it with today's version of ultramodern: light-stained birch cabinets, quartz composite counters, porcelain floor tiles and a stunning stainless steel woven backsplash.
Though the old kitchen was worn out before the remodel, that was not a problem when Coleman, a musician who scores TV shows, bought the distinctive 1927 French Normandy home in 1986. At the time, she was on the road a lot and how the kitchen looked or functioned was not an issue. "We weren't really here cooking," she said.
The kitchen had some nice qualities, especially the bank of original French windows over the sink and a cozy breakfast nook. But poor design had put a large pantry cabinet between the nook and kitchen, isolating it and blocking natural light.


text: by TImothy Rutt The Altadena Sheriff's station is currently investigating a shooting that was called in at about 10 PM. According to the watch commander, two victims were wounded and transported to nearby hospitals One witness reported to Altadenablog hearing nine shots in the vicinity of the100 block of Altadena Drive near Glenrose. Shots were […]...Oct 11, 2013 / More »


text:
NCIS New Orleans Seasons 1-3 DVD Special Features
Actors: Scott Bakula, Lucas Black, Daryl Mitchell, Rob Kerkovich
Language: English
Boxed Set: Yes
Number of discs: 9
Condition: New
Region: Region Free
Weight: 1 kg
Format: Support both NTSC & PAL
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
DVD Release Date: 2016
NCIS New Orleans Seasons 1-3 DVD Photos
NCIS New Orleans Seasons 1-3 DVD Overview
When a bus crashes into a ditch, resulting in three prisoners who were on route to the Naval Brig in Charleston escaping and the deaths of two security guards and a prisoner, the New Orleans office investigates and soon discovers that one of them is a wanted criminal who poses a threat to national security with the team later discovering a mole is truly responsible for the entire situation. NCIS Director Leon Vance and Pride's friend,NCIS New Orleans Seasons 1-3 DVD fellow NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs both assist in the search with the investigation later leading Pride to a stand-off with the mole with Brody's life at stake.After a Navy SEAL is found dead in a sorority house,NCIS New Orleans Seasons 1-3 having been shot dead, the NCIS team must determine if the motive pertained to one of his classified missions or collegiate foul play with the case changing when the team discover an illegal prostitute ring is operating in the college. Meanwhile, Pride's daughter, Laurel, pays the NCIS office a visit.


text:
2713 Athania Pkwy., Metairie, LA 70002
(504) 834-5752, Fax: (504) 834-5782
e-mail: email@example.com
Web Site: www.factoryserviceagency.com
Owner/President: Michael A. Mitternight
Design/Build capability is another aspect that sets FSA apart from it's
competitors. This ability incorporates an in-house capacity to take an owner
or developer's ideas and coordinate the necessary design of the HVAC system
for their project.
The system, which is offered and then reviewed by all parties involved
in the development, is then assured to provide the most efficient and complete
performance, to satisfy the needs and desires of the end user. This type
of project, once finalized, will insure full compliance with all applicable
codes and accepted design practices.
The plans can be stamped by a Licensed Engineer, and most important of
all, during the construction phase of the project, the actual designing
firm, is also the installing contractor. This guarantees that the installation
will satisfy the end user and that the entire system is installed and performs
as originally intended.
During the design/review, any special considerations are presented, and
if the owner would like to select specific items of equipment or maintain
unusual conditions, the coverage for those items is incorporated into the
design. This process helps eliminate the need for Change Orders during the
project, avoids delays due to equipment revisions, and prevents "Budget"
cost increases after job inception.
Sample Factory Service Agency, Inc. Design/Build Projects:
1. Lakewood Health Care Facility - Slidell, LA
2. Volunteers of America/Single Residency Occupancy Facility -
New Orleans, LA
(With Moses Engineers)
3. Gulf Coast Office Products Building - Harahan, LA
(With Walter Ashton, P.E.)
4. Union Carbide Star Plant Expansion - Taft, LA
5. Omni Crescent Hotel - New Orleans, LA
(With George Mahl & Association, Engineer)


text:
Club Info
Guest Welcome
Monthly Updates from Golf Professional Pete Micklewright
Speed of Play Policy
Golf Staff
Junior Golf
Course Tour
Interactive Course Map
Member Dining
Ballroom Pictures
Outdoor Ceremonies
Vista Lounge
Reflections Room
Fireside Room
Living Room
Cocktail Bar
Holiday Parties
The Pool
Paddle Tennis
What is Platform Tennis?
Employment Opportunities
Contact Us
Club Info > Paddle Tennis > What is Platform Tennis?
The History of Platform Tennis
Platform Tennis is an American racquet sport enjoyed by thousands of people of all ages. It is the only racquet sport that players can enjoy outdoors in cold weather. This unique appeal attracts people who desire fresh air, competition, and social engagement - all on a chilly winter's night.
The sport is played at private clubs, public facilities, and in backyards at both highly competitive and purely recreational levels. Because it is easy to learn, it is enjoyed by players as young as eight and as old as old bones allow.
The Court
The game is played on an elevated aluminum deck 1/4 the size of a court is surrounded by a 12' high superstructure with taut, 16-gauge "chicken wire" fencing which allows play off the walls, as in racquetball and squash.
The base of a platform tennis court is usually enclosed, allowing for a heating system beneath the deck (propane, natural gas or kerosene.) The heating system melts ice off the aggregate deck surface, allowing athletes to play outdoors in all weather conditions. Most courts have lighting systems for Winter, the game can be enjoyed year-round.
Platform tennis paddles are made of a composite material with aerodynamic holes drilled in the head. Paddles are approximately 18" long. The spongy, rubber ball measures 2.5" in diameter. A flocking material on its exterior keeps the ball from skidding.
The Name
Players often refer to platform tennis as "paddle," as in "Are you playing paddle tonight?" With the re-emergence of paddle tennis on the West Coast (basically, a down-sized game of tennis,) this has many people confused. To further the problem, there is paddle ball (an urban sport played against a single wall) and paddle (much like paddle tennis). At Edgewood Country Club, the technical game being played is "Platform Tennis" however it is referred to as "Paddle" by the Membership.
More Information
In March, 2008, the American Platform Tennis Association (APTA) published a newsletter about the sport of Platform Tennis, including infromation about how and where it's played, who plays, a comparison with tennis, and more.
Click This Link
to open up that newsletter in a printable pdf format. (Please be patient if it does not open imediately. It's a big file.)
This information is from the American Platform Tennis Association Website
Please visit the APTA website at
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