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- This event has passed.
Disturbing The Dust
July 21, 2018- 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm£8 – £9
Lost Key Theatre invites you to a world lit only by a skylight, where playtime never stops.
Antonio, Teddy and Annabella have been in the attic longer than they can remember when they are introduced to someone new. Sketch isn't like any other toy they have met and they struggle to understand this. Disturbing The Dust explores the life of four very different characters stuck in an attic and how they each deal with their confinement and escape attempts on a daily basis.
So, open the hatch, let down the ladder and come on in.
Recommended for ages 12yrs+


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Festivity should not be confined especially when you celebrate happiness with such amazing souls. Needless to say, the best of company stands for a festival everyday!
That is exactly why we at SAVERA celebrated Christmas on 15th of the festive month!
So yes! If you were curious of our whereabouts,
Continue reading "Spend moments not money. "

subset: commoncrawl


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On the morning of 12/23/2010, I received an email from a friend of mine with some beautiful messages. I have no idea which week is for international friendship. Still, the thought of friendship is always heartwarming, especially during this holiday season. Here's to all of my friends.
Live your own life, eye on yourself instead of others
Take less salt, more vinegar; play less mahjong, walk more
Keep a regular bedtime. Jog, dance and exercise
You won't run out of money as long as you can eat.
Fear not you earn little. Fear you die early.
No matter how high your position is, you won't escape an expiration
Treat yourself nice; enjoy life
Don't walk shoulder by shoulder if you can go hand-in-hand;
Don't do hand-in-hand if you can hug each other
Don't separate if you can be together
When most people watch how high you climb, only a few care about your health. And that is friendship.


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The smallest part of an element or of a covalently bonded compound that can exist independently and still retain the ordinary chemical properties of that element or compound.
Making or breaking bonds in a molecule changes it into a new molecule.
Ionic compounds are not composed of molecules, because there is no distinct collection of ions that are chemically bound in the crystal.
See also: Absorption Spectrum, Functional Group, Intermolecular Forces, Intramolecular Forces, Ion Dipole Forces, Molecular Orbital, Molecular Weight, Orbital, Polyatomic Molecule.
Subjects: Chemistry


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Redlands go down to Lions
Redlands United have gone down 3-0 to Lions FC in round 13 of the National Premier League Queensland on Saturday night. The Lions were hunting their sixth straight win of the season, which would mean the team kept its spot in the top four a and have a sixth clean sheet of the 2018 season.
The game started slowly with Lions FC having better chances of the opening minutes but they were unable to take advantage.
After so much defending, Lions were able to find their breakthrough in the 39th minute with a goal from Jason Macuace which got the team ahead at halftime.
Redlands came out in the second half with fire and were looking to score early but Lions goalkeeper Luke Borean pulled off a fantastic double save to deny Redlands the chance to level the scores.
Redlands attack continued to pile on the pressure as they forced Borean to pull off another spectacular save from a free kick as the ball came off his finger tips to keep Lions ahead.
Not long after, Lions doubled their lead with former Brisbane Roar forward Jean Carlos Solorzano having some great footwork as he manages to weave into the box and slide it home.
Lions made it 3-0 15 minutes later as Carter Glockner made a great run in behind the defence before rounding the keeper and smashing it into the bottom corner.
Redlands are away from home for the next three weeks.


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Alice Amsden's Impact on Latin America Helen Shapiro & Juan Carls Moreno Brid
This In Memoriam discusses Alice Amsden's great intellectual legacy: her impact to better understanding Latin America's development challenges, obstacles and policy options.
Alice_Amsdens_Impact (Download the full text in PDF format)
(This article was originally published in the Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, vol. 34, nº 2 (135), pp. 187-197, April-June/2014.)


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I did this ride in the month of August'2014 and in a way this ride proved to be a precursor to all my rides!!! Be it the Leh Ride or Bhutan Ride. And it was from this ride that I took up riding seriously and understood the joy of bike riding.
This ride was also first for MH700 aka Mihir Kulkarni, who badly wanted to do a ride. He wanted to open his account and add few chapters to his Highway Diaries blog. And last but not the least, my Leh Ride! Yes, I wanted to see if I could do 250+ km on a single stretch/day. I had decided that the Leh ride is a must and wanted to prepare for that. I badly wanted some amount of confidence when it came to my backbone (including the other BACK). I wanted to test if it could withstand a long bike ride.
The plan was simple – start early and reach home by nightfall, covering 300 km. The location was Talakad, which is quite famous among the Bangaloreans for a short one-day trip. The title of this blog could have been different, but thanks to my friend who at the last moment failed to lend his bike. I had no option but to take out my TVS Apache 150 cc for this ride. On the other hand, MH700 managed to get Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 cc from his brother. And here we are, 150 vs. 350! The ride between TVS Apache & RE Thunderbird, the battle between David & Goliath ….who wins? Don't even guess!
And you can also compare Me & MH700 to David & Goliath (comparatively)!
I arrived at Mihir's home around 07:00 in the morning and he was shocked to see me! Well there were two reasons for that. First, my Apache bike (he too owns an Apache). And second, my attire. I had come with track pants and a pull over with an open face helmet which wasn't really a helmet! Looking back, I myself laugh at that scene. Mihir quickly changed my helmet with a Vega open face helmet, as I prefer wind blowing over my face. From there we headed to Hannubhai's temple aka Lord Hanuman to take his blessings. Mihir is a die-hard devotee of Lord Hanuman and he never misses his weekly appointment with Him. And thanks to him, even I get to visit the temple. The one thing that is common between Mihir and Hanumanji is the physique! Any fight, we friends can always put our very own Hulk in front and be rest assured that the opponents will be scared at least for a moment.
From there it was a test for my Apache to keep pace with Thunderbird. But the old 150 cc engine cried and added to that my carb diaphragm had ruptured which ensured that there was a lag in the acceleration. Around 08:00 we pulled over at Bidadi for some mouth-watering and smooth Thatte Idli. No matter what the occasion is, if I pass through Bidadi I taste these delicious Thatte Idli. I was on my Apache till we reached the junction where you have to take a left for Talakadu. I was literally pushing my Apache, and the bike was behaving as if somebody had held its throat and asked to run a marathon!
We pulled over at the junction to have a cup of tea at the local shop. As we were sipping the tea, I could see at least 10 – 20 RE bikes passing through. The weather was good and added to that it was Sunday, which made our destination a perfect get-away. I handed my bike key to Mihir and requested him to drive. This guy is Hulk when it comes to appearance but his heart is just like the Bidadi Thatte Idli!! He happily sat on my Apache bike. On one side I was happy to get RE and on the other hand, Mihir sitting on my bike was nothing less than Lord Ganesha sitting on his vehicle (rat)!!!!
I was zipping with RE and touched 100 kmph on the speedo. But had to slow down after touching 100, not because of Mihir who was not to be seen in the mirror! But it was because of the vibrations that RE's Thunderbird makes once you reach 100 kmph. I particularly did not like the console and the way it was vibrating. As I write this, I am also scared that this might be a common sight to me in the coming days!!!
Just before you reach Talakadu, you come across picturesque locations. Sleepy villages with clouds overhead and lakes running parallel to the roads. This was perfect place to take some pictures. As I was taking pictures, I could see Mihir staring at the bike. Somehow I felt this pic will be great with Mihir staring at the bike as if a small kid staring at a toy. And once we went back home and saw the pic, it indeed was one of the best pic for Mihir. This pic now sits as cover page on his blog!
We reached Talakadu around 13:00 and parked our vehicles to take a walk across the river. As soon as we got down and started to click pictures, I get a call from my friend who badly wanted few blood donors. Next 30 minutes we lost time in arranging for donors. From there we headed to Vaidyeshvara temple.
Then we headed to Mudukuthore temple which was Mihir's suggestion. He had previously come here with his colleagues. The view of river Cauvery from top of this temple is breath-taking. One can clearly see the turn, the river takes.
And then it was Shivanasamudra, which is quite famous among many people. The majestic Bhara Chukki falls was in full glory. The pictures justify why this place is a regular get-away for most of the Bangaloreans. It started to rain as we left and pulled over for some time.
From there it was all about reaching home. But before that we needed something for our stomach which was growling and the noise was more than our engines!!! We stopped at Empire restaurant on the busy Mysore-Bangalore highway for dinner. The food at this restaurant is amazing and a must visit if you happen to come across this stretch. I was in no mood to let go RE's Thunderbird and Mihir who rarely says NO, was happy to look at my Apache. As we started our ride back to Bangalore, it started to rain and I had to pull over. Thanks to the 350 and 150 power difference, Mihir was not to be seen. Added to that my mobile battery died and I had no option of calling him. Only option was to reach home and wait for him. It was 20:00 when I reached Mihir's home and after 20 minutes Mihir also came with my bike. A difference of 200 cc and 20 minutes delay? I said, not bad! David probably couldn't defeat Goliath but did keep up my pride especially with a torn carb diaphragm.
Our faces were beaming and anybody could have fixed a bulb to tap some light from it! The joy and happiness after the ride was palpable. I was happy and confident that my back can withstand 250+ km ride. And Mihir was happy that he finally took his Harley jacket from the closet to complete his first bike ride!!!
RIDE Info:


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Outlast developer Red Barrels has launched a to create "companion diapers" for its upcoming horror game.
Called Underscares, these adult protective garments are actual physical products that fans of the studio can purchase, beginning at $55 Canadian dollars (about £33 or $41). This sounds pricey, but it will include a Steam copy of Outlast 2. Or you can buy the pattern for about £6 / $7 and make your own Underscare.
Red Barrels is adamant that "Underscares are a 100 per cent real, physical product" and that this is not actually a crowdfunding campaign for Outlast 2, which it claims was already successfully funded purely through sales of the first Outlast and its Whistleblower DLC.


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After an accord with Turkey practically shut down the Aegean route, the EU is eying a raft of deals with African nations to stem an increasing surge across the Central Mediterranean that has led to a record number of migrant deaths at sea.
Following recent visits by the Italian and German foreign ministers, the EU dispatched a delegation this week to the Nigerian capital, Abuja. The reason for the flurry of high-level meetings is no secret.
Nigerians represent the top nationality of migrants arriving by boat to Italy this year. Out of 157,000 migrants and refugees who have arrived so far in 2016, 19 percent were Nigerian, according to the UN's refugee agency, UNHCR.
Nigeria is one of five African nations the EU has prioritised as part of its Partnership Framework with third countries, launched in June – the other four being Ethiopia, Niger, Mali, and Senegal.
"I didn't want to leave, but there are so many bad guys now in Nigeria, I had no choice. I did what I had to do to survive."
The EU officials were in Abuja this week to formally kick off negotiations with the Nigerian government on an agreement that would allow Italy and other EU member states to return Nigerian migrants not found eligible for asylum.
A progress report on the Partnership Framework released on 18 October notes that "stepping up cooperation [with Nigeria] should be a particular focus of the coming weeks", with the main goal being "a swift conclusion" on a readmission agreement.
Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by boat are widely perceived to be economic migrants, and yet, in the absence of a formal agreement, EU member states have struggled to return them.
Diplomats and officials quoted in a Financial Times report said directing private European money to Nigerian infrastructure projects was one EU priority but also mentioned more controversial "return and readmission" goals of 50 percent over the next three to six months and 75 percent by 2018-2019.
Problems back home
Hosting Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out at a joint Berlin press conference on 14 October that while most Syrians in Germany came from a war zone and were granted asylum, the approval rate for Nigerians was only eight percent. "We presume that most of them came for economic reasons," she added.
The Boko Haram conflict in northern Nigeria has displaced millions internally and regionally but poverty is seen as the main driver of migration to Europe, although the violence and political turmoil often play a factor too.
This week, on board a rescue vessel operated by SOS Méditerranée in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières, IRIN found that 84 out of the 521 rescued migrants were Nigerian. They gave an array of different reasons for being there, ranging from unsubstantiated claims of religious and political persecution to fears over deteriorating security and soaring crime.
"I was doing well in Nigeria, working as a hair stylist and I earned enough money for my family," said 27-year-old Maxwell. "But after my brother and my mother were killed, it became too dangerous for me to stay."
Maxwell said his brother – a taxi driver – was killed after witnessing a crime and being pressured into giving a police statement that led to the incarceration of a criminal gang leader. "The gang threatened my brother and then one day came to the house and shot him dead in front of me," Maxwell told IRIN. "Then they came after me. Even though we moved house, they found us and killed my mother, and I couldn't stay in Nigeria after that. This gang had killed all my family and I knew they still wanted to kill me; so I took all the money I had and made the journey to Libya."
Twenty-three-year-old Esther, who left Nigeria heavily pregnant and gave birth to baby Naomi in Libya just one week ago, said that she left for economic reasons, having been promised a prosperous future in Europe by people smugglers.
"I was working as a receptionist in a hotel and I had an income, but it was small and not really enough to help my family," she said, nursing her baby in the makeshift MSF clinic on board the boat. "Then, one day, a Ghanaian man came to the hotel and said he could help me get to Europe. I told him I didn't have any money, but he told me it was no problem, he would arrange everything, which he did. It was really strange that he helped me for nothing."
Esther left in secret, without telling her family or friends, and has not contacted them since leaving Nigeria. "I really hope I can get a job in Europe, to help me and Naomi, and I hope to be able to send some money home to my family, because money is very difficult to get in Nigeria now."
Shattered dreams
Along the roads near the southern Italian coast, the cruel reality that exposes the smugglers' empty promises is visible. Young African women can be seen wearing unseasonably small clothing, working as prostitutes for passing motorists.
"Our government is not helping us in Nigeria," said 25-year-old Festus, who alleged huge corruption in the country's political sphere. "I worked hard and didn't get money, but all around me I saw people who didn't work getting money."
Festus ran a small grocery store, but said his business was ruined by desperate customers begging for credit and then being unable to pay him back. "I worked in Tripoli for three years to pay for this boat crossing. It was so hard in Libya [that] sometimes I thought about going back to Nigeria. But everything is going up in price and life is becoming impossible there," he said. "I spoke to a friend just last week who told me a bag of rice that used to cost 17,000 naira ($54) now costs 20,000 ($63). Ordinary people can no longer afford to buy even basic foodstuffs."
Related stories:
The EU's 'short-sighted' migration deal with Turkey
For economic migrants like Esther and Festus, the reality of Europe rarely lives up to their hopes and expectations.
In a small town near Naples, Joshua, a 24-year-old from Nigeria, walked slowly around the town, asking people in poor Italian if they had a few spare euro cents.
"The situation here is very difficult," he told IRIN. "There is very little work and even when I can find work, the money is very bad.
"With the fruit-picking, you have to fill a very big basket to earn €4 and how quickly you can fill it depends on your capability. But now, there are very few opportunities even with the fruit-picking. And more and more people are coming from Africa, so I think there will be even less work in the future."
Joshua was in his third year of medical school when severe financial difficulties, which left him unable even to buy medical books, forced him to drop out. He fled to Libya, then Europe, believing he could find work and better opportunities. But the hardship of life in Italy has left him disenchanted.
"I left Nigeria two years ago and it was a big risk because I nearly died on the boat, but, really, it wasn't worth it," he said. "I am even thinking about going back to Nigeria now, and from there maybe I will try to get to Canada, with the grace of God, because I hear there are a lot of jobs in Canada."
(TOP PHOTO:Â The MV Aquarius rescue boat in the Mediteranean. CREDIT:Â Tom Westcott/IRIN)


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Adrianne Jeffries is a freelance journalist based in New York. She was a founding editor at The Outline, where she edited the tech/science section. Before that, she was the managing editor for Motherboard, Vice's tech and science vertical. Prior to that, she was a tech reporter for The Verge and a reporter and editor at The New York Observer. She has written for The Virginian Pilot, The New York Times, and Businessweek.
She is currently working on an investigative series for Netflix, as well as a reported podcast with Billy, John, and Regina.


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I am proud to serve San Francisco and City College as a trustee, and I ask for your support and vote to continue serving.
San Francisco City College students represent the future of our city in terms of diversity, background, and potential. City College touches the lives of nearly all of us, and the contributions of its students affect us all. I think that everyone should have the ability to rise above any situation and have the opportunities that higher education offers. Community College represents that ability. It is up to the Community College Board to ensure that City College can provide for everyone the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to work toward success.
Higher education is the foundation of creating a developed, productive society, and it often begins in community college. My own experiences in Community College and higher education sparked my passion for education policy and civic involvement.
This passion transformed my life and ultimately led me to obtain my Ph.D., to tutor and mentor students, to teach at a university level, and to develop high-standard curricula. It also led me to conduct policy research and to serve on several Boards and Task Forces, including the San Francisco Women's Political Committee, the National Council of Jewish Women, the United Way's Women's Leadership Council, the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, and the Richmond District Neighborhood Center. I am also an Emerge graduate and an elected California Assembly District Delegate.
Since being elected in 2014, I have introduced a resolution calling for Proposition 13 reform, co-sponsored a resolution calling for gun safety and gun control, and re-established and co-chair a joint committee between CCSF and SFUSD to better coordinate between our two institutions.
I will continue to prioritize the overall stability of the institution as a whole and ensure adherence to the accrediting agency's standards. The primary objective is to keep City College open, accredited, and top quality. My goal is to harness the success of City College graduates in the community to create an alumni network to mentor current students, to provide expansive practical internship opportunities, and to help fund the future generation's educational aspirations. I will continue working to ensure that all stakeholders are held accountable to a professional standard and to make San Francisco City College one of the highest ranked community colleges in the nation. I will continue working to make San Francisco City College accessible, available, and affordable for the entire community.
- Accessibility: My experience in teaching has afforded me the opportunity to work with nontraditional students who balance work, family, and school. In making education equally accessible to all, it is my aim to create new opportunities for those students who may have been denied support and attention, and to overcome some students' barriers to progressing in higher education. This includes providing the necessary counseling and advising required for student success.
- Availability: It is my aim to ensure that necessary classes are available in a timely and convenient way and that academic freedom is balanced with good governance and oversight. Community College should be available for the entire community, including those seeking a degree, those looking for vocational and other skills, those learning English as a second language, and those seeking to enrich their lives
- Affordability: By ensuring that students have access to affordable education, the Community College Board can create an opportunity for San Francisco students to succeed in life while also improving the city and the life of its residents. I will assure affordability by supporting budget policies that prioritize appropriations to City College and by partnering with community businesses and agencies to expand funding resources
City College currently has one of the most cohesive and functional boards in recent history. I look forward to building on the momentum that we have gained over the last two years.


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DOJ Files Prove President Kennedy & Robert Kennedy fighting Zionists When Murdered
Shocking DOJ Jewish Lobby case files released under a Freedom of Information Act show: President Kennedy & AG Robert Kennedy were fighting the Zionists When President Kennedy was Murdered.
These fascinating historical documents were released on June 10, 2008 under a Freedom of Information Act filing. I have in bold critical information just prior to President Kennedy's murder; click on the date to see the original documents.
Keep in mind the dates that President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy were murdered while reading these historical documents regarding their efforts to get the nefarious Jewish Lobby in America registered as Foreign Agents as is required by law; AZC (American Zionist Counsil) / AIPAC (The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee).


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LANSING – The former J.W. Knapp's Department Store has anchored the downtown corner of Washtenaw Street and Washington Square since it was completed in 1937. But the building almost has the look of a 1930s streamliner locomotive ready to pull itself out of its foundations.
The smooth look and clean lines on its exterior made the building an instant classic when it was erected, and little has changed since this year. Now the long-empty, shelled-out building is undergoing a $36 million transformation. The project, undertaken by its owner, the Eyde Co., will leave the exterior looking as it always has – but with modern materials – while including a total transformation of the interior.
General contractor Granger is managing the project, which is employing about 35 Hardhats now, and about 100 at peak this summer. "We've done mostly demo up to this point, and now we're starting in with rough-ins and some studs and exterior enclosures," said Granger Project Supt. Tom Theis on March 6. "It's moving along well."
The Knapp's Building was completed in 1937, and the building was expanded in 1948. The department store was shuttered in 1980. In 1982, the building was purchased by Eyde and converted to office space for several tenants, including the State of Michigan. The state cleared out in 2002 and the building has been empty since.
Now, the Eyde Co. is transforming the seven-story building into a mixed-use development with retail and restaurants slated for the first floor, and with Class A office space on the upper floors. High-end residential units will be located on the top floors.
"The structural concrete is in fantastic shape; it's top-notch," Theis said. "Over the years, you can see where they compromised some areas, like when they added escalators. And as we were doing demo we found what was the original three-bay loading dock, which was buried between two floors. But structurally, the building is in very good shape."
The building's architectural prestige stems primarily from its use of way-cool pale yellow and blue exterior panels, and glass block. The original metal and porcelain panels, now removed, could not be saved in the renovation. Neither could the original glass blocks that were used as an extensive architectural feature. Modern replacement glass blocks will be used, and the new matching colored panels will be made of steel and baked-on enamel. The signature curved front and original signage will also be restored. "You'll never know the difference," Theis said.
The Knapp's Building, says the website Emporis, which catalogs skyscrapers and significant low-rise buildings, "is one of the finest examples of the streamlined Art Moderne style of architecture in the Midwest United States." It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 for its outstanding example of the Art Moderne style.
Here's part of a 2011 write-up on the building by the Knapp Building Historic District Study Committee: "Designed by prominent Lansing architectural firm Bowd-Munson, the Knapp Building is an unusually large example of Streamline Moderne, a style more often used for diners and gas stations. Constructed by another prominent local firm, the Christman Company, the 120,000 square-foot, five-story building is also significant for its use of a relatively experimental concrete and glass block wall system. The building is wrapped on the north and east elevations in bands of blue and yellow 'macotta,' a system of concrete block covered with metal panels.
"The Maul Macotta Company, which supplied the macotta used in the Knapp Building, patented several varieties of concrete and glass block wall systems in the 1930s, suggesting that the construction method was still in development during this period. It was hailed by the local newspaper as 'one of the most modern retail merchandising establishments in the country.'"
One of the few original elements of the buildings' interior that will be saved will be a portion of terrazzo flooring, and some brass stairway handrails. Actually, a significant portion of the building is being removed: a four-story atrium from the second to the fifth floors was carved out in the middle of the building.
Upon completion, slated for Nov. 1, the Eyde Co. will use part of the building as its headquarters. Retail and a restaurant will be located on the first floor. Office space will be located on floors two through four and fifth floor and the penthouse will have residential.
Mary Cooley, construction superintendent for Eyde Company, said the first floor would also include a "fashion incubator" for designers to create clothing. "There will also be space for designers to sell their clothing," she said. "It's one way of bringing the building back a little bit to its retail roots."
THE FORMER KNAPP'S Department Store in Lansing has a special place in the hearts of area shoppers – and of historic preservationists. The Art Moderne-style building is described by the Michigan Magnet Fund as "one of the best examples of Art Deco architecture in the Midwest." Now under renovation, the building's owners have pledged to return the exterior it to its original appearance, but with new materials. This photo was taken before renovations started.
|REMOVAL OF THE original blue and yellow panels and other exterior elements was proceeding on the Knapp's Building on March 6.
|CONDUIT ON THE third-floor ceiling of the Knapp's Building in Lansing is installed by Corey Morrill of IBEW Local 665. He's employed by Summit Contractors. A portion of the building's new carved-out atrium can be seen at left.
MOVING SECTIONS of 1-1/2-inch copper pipe are (l-r) Scott Steele and C.J. Zenker of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters 333. They're employed by Shaw Winkler. Original glass blocks removed from the Knapp's Building exterior can be seen stacked in the foreground.


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Save the date for National Learn to Swim Day is the 3rd Saturday of every May!
We started National Learn to Swim Day eight years ago as part of water safety month to help raise awareness about the importance of learning to swim to help prevent childhood drowning*. Learn more about how you can get involved at the National Learn to Swim Day website, and get tips on how to host your own National Learn to Swim Day event.
*Did you know that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-4? Help turn this tragedy around by teaching your kids to swim and practicing water safety with your family.


text: The subject of internet trolls is a prevalent topic in our society. With the rise of social media there has been an increase of people with access to social media, who are able to leave harsh comments without any consequences. So, are people just born mean or does the internet turn them into the trolls that they are? Everyday, people leave hateful comments on other peoples social media platforms. What causes this? Is it simply that they are mean people, or does a post trigger them? A study at Stanford stated when trolling is most likely to happen and why it happens, "Such incidents tend to increase late at night and early in the week, which is also when people are most likely to be in a bad mood." However in my opinion, its ok not to like or get along with someone but if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all. No one is forcing you to leave hate comments. I don't think people are born mean, I only suggest that people need to think about what they choose to do or say before they do anything stupid.


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Cameron has struck easy gold. But it won't last.
14 December 2011
Who knew politics was this easy? Appear to stand up to Europe and the polls surge in your direction. Unruly backbenchers snap back into line.
It worked for David Cameron. After his "veto" of the new EU treaty in Brussels, the Prime Minister was greeted in the Commons by a torrent of Tory admiration, as the party pulled ahead of Labour in the polls for the first time since the election.
No matter that Cameron's veto didn't actually stop much. No matter either that business leaders remain unconvinced that the prime minister did anything in Brussels that substantially protected the City's interests – his sole objective and supposed victory.
The upswing in political fortunes for the Tories probably reflects more about the uninspiring nature of our two main parties than it does any substantive political 'win' for Cameron. Clearly, large sections of the public are ready to be swayed by any display of "leadership", however facile – especially when it involves sticking one to the Europeans. The Mail on Sunday found 62 per cent of people supported Cameron's move, against only 19 per cent who opposed it. After trying desperately to avoid his party "banging on about Europe", might Cameron now quite fancy an election fought over the EU?
I doubt it, because the Europe question is by no means done and dusted for Cameron. As Rachel Sylvester also points out in the Times, "this is the one issue he didn't want to be defined by". In any case, when events are moving quicker than anyone can anticipate, this new polling tells us little about how people will vote come the next election.
Cameron's biggest worry will be that the eurozone debt crisis itself remains far from solved, despite countless "make or break" summits. Any eventual resolution will certainly require British input, now complicated by the fact that Britain is largely marginalised in Europe. Tory eurosceptics, meanwhile, buoyed by Cameron's newfound "bulldog spirit", will certainly ask for more – and next time they might demand some real substance.
The most immediate challenge for Cameron is whether or not to allow the institutions of the EU, which are supposed to exist for all 27 EU members, to enforce treaty changes agreed upon by only 26 (or less, as the case may be). Without the institutions, there can be no serious sanctions brought against spendthrift countries, nor any substantive fiscal union – exactly what Cameron has spent months arguing for. But if Cameron gives in – if he turns 26 back into 27 and allows the institutions to be used – the virulent grumblings of his backbenchers are certain to return.
Properly enforcing sanctions, meanwhile, remains the sticking point of the Franco-German plan. The Stability and Growth Pact, agreed in 1997, already entailed sanctions against eurozone countries running excessive deficits. And who first broke its rules, sidestepping any punitive action? Germany and France. Little heed, too, is paid to the fact that countries like Ireland and Spain were running budget surpluses in 2008, before the financial crash. Even Portugal had a deficit of 3.1 per cent – hardly catastrophic. The current debt crisis is one caused chiefly by a recession stemming from a banking crisis, not excessive spending on public services as the new proposals imply.
Of course, however eurozone countries got to this point, huge deficits and spiralling debt levels across the eurozone are now a terrible reality. A solution is required, and quick. Germany and France's idea – their "fiscal compact" – essentially makes any economic policies except for austerity illegal. But this raises several issues.
First, will it work? The real solution to high levels of debt is a return to growth. But it remains terribly unclear whether austerity is indeed the answer to growth in these tumultuous times. There's no point planning penalties for excessive deficits when deficits are already excessive, and with no real plan to reduce them first.
Second, the proposals are a political and democratic cataclysm. Democratically elected eurozone countries must submit every one of their budgets for approval by Brussels bureaucrats, and agree to fiscal punishments when they fall out of line. As Bagehot has written in the Economist, it is also "politically very dodgy" that the proposals make it "pointless" to vote for any party advocating economic stimulus or tax cuts, because "the fiscal union will stop them from doing what they promise". "The treaty has buried Keynesianism", as Owen Jones puts it.
But the most significant issue with the proposals is their practicability. Even supposing the EU institutions are used with Britain's permission, why should sanctions work now when they failed so miserably in the past? Even to be made law, they must avoid a qualified majority vote of eurozone countries against them. Will eurozone governments agree to such wholesale surrenders of sovereignty? And if, under pressure, they do, for how long will their people stand for it?
As Martin Wolf from the FT has said, the whole thing is a "constitutional monstrosity". He for one remains "unconvinced that turkeys will vote for Christmas". We'd then be back to square one. Again. It's becoming an increasingly familiar place as far as this crisis is concerned.


text: Sparkle, glitter, never whine. Stand out, shimmer, excel, shine! There is nothing like a new year to feel refreshed again. Enough of the overstuffed feeling of too many parties, too much food, too many cocktails, too much everything! The new year offers a fresh start to put away the old ways and embrace healthier choices. […]Continue Reading... 1 Comment.


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Tips on How to Handle Toxic and Flammable Chemicals at Home
It seems that every household chore requires toxic and/or flammable chemicals. Each year, chemical-based cleaning products are getting mixed with stronger and deadlier toxins purportedly to kill and destroy more germs.
These toxins can seriously harm people at home. Worse, these chemicals stored inside our homes can harm our entire family.
Three Questions to ask yourself:
- In what particular household chore do we usually encounter toxics?
- What are the alternatives for different toxics?
- How do we dispose toxics properly?
Our house is eternally invaded by those toxic and flammable chemicals. Many familiar toxins that can be brought indoors are used in gardening: soil fertilizer, insecticides, and pesticides.
For general cleaning, we use a special purpose cleaners which may contain toxins. For personal grooming like manicures and pedicures, we use nail polish and remover.
For our home improvement, we have oil paints, paint thinners, and solvents. For furniture reconditioning, varnish is usually used.
To minimize using home toxics, we should find alternatives for home use. We can actually mix our own cleaning solutions!
As non-toxic pesticides and insecticides for the plants, these ingredients become useful when combined together: boric acid, soap sprays, salt water, or hot pepper sprays.
A simple recipe for an oven cleaning solution: dissolve baking soda in water and wipe on the greasy surface with a cloth or sponge.
Mixing vinegar and baking soda creates an effective blend of homemade drain cleaner.
Storage of any other irreplaceable chemical products must always be in a cool, dry, and secured part of the house.
Do not throw empty cans of paints, bottles of solvent, and spray containers in the regular trash. Never pour leftover chemicals into drains, toilet bowls, and sinks to avoid damaging the home sewerage system.
If your home and property has suffered from chemical damages, First General is at your service 24/7.


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Ilian Alvarez
Ilian Alvarez is a Doctoral Student at Argosy University in the Doctorate of Education in Counseling Psychology program. She received her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology also from Argosy University where she was inspired to continue her education and research. Currently, she holds a position within Providence Community Services, providing services to children and adolescents predominantly within the Latino population. Furthermore, she is near completion of certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy focused on providing treatment to clients with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Protester is returned to prison
I'm loving this.
I wonder what the deal is in Islam for selling drugs. I think that if he had been caught by the Taliban, I reckon they'd probably cut his head off. Or his hands.
BBC NEWS | UK | Protester is returned to prison
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Ben Mawhinney
3:37:00 pm
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Stuart Ressler, M.D.
Welcome back to blogspot! I really like the new design!
6:04 pm, February 07, 2006
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Hi All,
Hopefully a simple one for you all!
So we have 10k+ Customer Records that have been setup over the last couple of years.
We also use the names going by the legal entity so unfortunately we end up with some records like below:
AB Limited
A B Limited
A&B Limited
A & B Limited
Is there a way that I could setup a search that could pull through all of those records and only those?
This is one of the most annoying tickets that get's raised by our users as I have never had a proper answer for them.
Hope this makes sense,


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Daisy Lupin's First [sometimes slightly cheeky] Meme
What was your first childhood pet?
We didn't have any pets, other than my Father's fish tank. We brought home all sorts of animals like snakes, turtles, mice, insects. But we were only allowed to keep the animal for a few hours, and were to let it go again where it was found. The first pet I had was a grey and white cat I brought home when I was a teen, I named her Daisy.
What was your favourite comic?
Superman and Lois Lane.
What was your favourite childhood book?
Not sure it would be a favorite, but quite memorable. "Der Struwwelpeter" The scariest book! Here's the page that frightened me the worst:
Did you ever have an imaginary friend as a child?
I had an imaginary white horse named Dusty, that raced alongside our car when my family drove somewhere. Sometimes I imagined sitting on her and she would veer away into the distance, so we could see something closer up.
Did you play an instrument as a child?
A clarinet
What was the first hit single record you bought?
The Beatles "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"
What tune sums up teenage summers?
"California Dreaming" by The Mamas and the Papas. I wanted to go to California so bad, I wanted to be with all the flower children! I finally did go when I was in my 20s.
What was first pop concert you went to?
The Doors, and a week later, Jefferson Airplane.
Fave teenage TV programme?
Really don't remember, just enjoyed watching really good cartoons, like Warner Bros. and Disney.
Were you a naughty or a good girl at school?
Good, except for my dress. I was always being called into the principle's office for wearing my skirts too short.
Miss Popularity, Artsy Pants, weirdo or geek, which of these groups classify you at secondary[high] school?
Artsy/Weirdo. I made my own clothes, and they were quite wild! Psychedelic-Hippy style. Nobody wore what I was wearing.
Girl most likely to [as in year book]?
End up in California living in a commune. I did live in a commune, and I did end up in LA.
What colour did you paint your bedroom as a teenager?
I had murals of landscapes with space rabbits and willow trees, and many flowers. Rest of the walls were pale yellow.
Very first paid job ever?
I made a sign in the 60s for the Dutch Embassy (in Wash. DC) which is still to this day standing in thier lobby.
Have you ever been really drunk?
Really drunk, no. Really sick from eating strawberries out of a punchbowl, yes.
Did you smoke dope? and if so did you do a Bill Clinton [ smoking but not inhaling]?
Yes, I was a hippy, I did all kinds of "interesting" stuff.
A stupid thing you did?
Rather not say, but nothing bad came of it in the end.
Left handed or right handed?
Should you play a board game with me?
I'm not a big fan of board games. I used to play with my hubby, and I would win. He would then take his turn back and we would continue till I won again. Then he would take his turn back.. etc etc. I got tired of playing board games.
If you came to visit me what would we do?
Take a walk around the countryside, or a cycle. Visit our local castle in Trim. Maybe have a little drive in the area. Home for a home-cooked dinner, with veggies and herbs from the garden.


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Greetings Makers!
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others and most importantly please provide feedback so that we may tailor each issue to your needs. All inquiries and feedback may be sent to
. Happy Making!
WV Maker News
A Newsletter of The Education Alliance
Maker Spotlight
by South Middle School
South Middle School in Morgantown began developing and implementing its Makerspace in 2015. Located near the art and technology education classrooms, teachers are able to take their students to present them with a hands-on challenge that often connects STEAM skills with the core curriculum. The projects give students a tactile expression to demonstrate understanding of a skill or concept.
Our Makerspace provides kits such as Makey Makey and Makeblock robots to help students understand computer circuits and programming. The Makey Makey can be used to create a piano or drum set out of play dough or vegetables. Students can also make learning components interactive and create learning stations that light up or play music. It helps teach the skills of programming and circuit interface. The Makeblock robot can be programmed using Scratch for skills such as line following and obstacle avoidance tasks. These devices give students an introduction to the skills it takes for the occupation of a programmer or robotics.
For example, Mrs. Rodeheaver's English class designed and constructed paper quilts from the novel The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi. Each of the quilt blocks had a designated purpose to show understanding and application of the novel. Quilt blocks included a summary, timeline, vocabulary, recommendation of the reading, and song lyrics that reflected themes of the book. The Makerspace gave the students materials to construct their quilts, room to spread out, and tools to create their masterworks. Other classes have incorporated the Makerspace into their studies as well.
Mrs. Gacek, HOTS teacher, has implemented the Makerspace to help challenge students. "The students in HOTS compete in a competition called Academic Games with other middle schools in the county. One way we've utilized the Makerspace is to have the students create their own board games to help them prepare for the trivia section called Mr. Presidents. Some have created their own unique games, and others have put a spin on popular board games they enjoy. All of the questions they answer are related to U.S. presidents. They have come up with their own designs and themes that relate to presidents too. Most of my students prefer math and reading over history, so the Makerspace helps to integrate multiple content areas into one task. When they are able to design and build, students have multiple ways to actively participate in class."
Library Skills teacher Mrs. Blosser has used the Makerspace for students to build stop-motion animation settings for book trailers. The trailers are "attached" to books using the Aurasma App. Students had to plan which scene from the book to use, construct a set and create a short 2 minute video with the purpose of attracting readers. Other projects in the library include designing, building, and installing paper circuits to light up a book promotion posters or greeting cards, and researching and designing paper coasters and marble runs.
The Makerspace at South Middle School has provided the students unique opportunities to show understanding with tactile skills. It also helps students to see how school subjects blend together for tasks. It has challenged the faculty to implement projects that are low cost and help repurpose disposable items. Students move from concluding that tasks are "impossible" to an attitude of "what's possible?"
Professional Vector Editing: 2D Design Software
by Leif Sayvetz, AmeriCorps VISTA
Inkscape can be used for a variety of projects and is often used by novice learners. It is open source and free which means a motivated student can install it at home if he/she wishes to continue working outside the educational institution setting. This software has exceptional codecs for importing/exporting almost every 2D file type you're likely to need. It strikes the proper balance between offering all of the power we need without huge learning curves. It may even be used to create complex curves for import into 3D design software. However, one may want to avoid dimensioned engineering drawings using this platform.
The industry standard for vector artwork is Adobe Illustrator and fundamentally, there is very little negative to speak on. Some of its tools are very unique and the tracing (converting pixelated images to vector images) is unmatched. However, it is not free for educators or students, and the educational licenses, while cheap, restrict commercial use which limits students' ability to market his/her skill or artwork. The Adobe Illustrator learning curve is very steep but if you have the access and knowledge, by all means, use it.
For those who have are unable to install software on their machines (e.g. Chromebooks) there are a number of browser based vector editors. A google search for 'online vector editor' should pull up half a dozen. Their strength, other than being free to use and browser based, is having the simplest of learning curves and as such may serve as an introduction to vector editing. The price for that ease of use is a lack of power and very limited file-type support. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Leif Sayvetz at
Innovative Ideas
Create a micro ecosystem, in a jar, to demonstrate the ecological cycles that keep us alive. This easy, fun project requires a majority of materials found outdoors, making it extremely cost effective.
Click here
to learn more!
Maker Updates
Grant Opportunities:
EcoTech Grants
The Captain Planet Foundation is offering two grant opportunities for students to engage in inquiry-based projects, in STEM fields, that use innovation to address environmental issues in their communities. Be sure to apply by the
May 30th
STEM Classroom Grant
First Energy is offering STEM education grants of up to $1,000 for educators of schools and youth groups in communities served by any of their
electric operating companies
.This grant will support creative classroom projects within STEM fields that will take place during the 2017-2018 school year. Be sure to apply by the
September 22nd
Student Opportunities & Competitions:
RCBI Coding Club
The Robert C. Byrd Institute will be launching a 10-week after-school program, open to all middle school students, beginning March 7th. Students will have the opportunity to learn Python, a popular and versatile computer language.
They will also investigate the Maker Vault and Design Works Lab while participating in many other exciting Maker activities. Enrollment is limited. Registration due by
March 5th
. For more information, please contact Becky Calwell at
Junior Duck Stamp Program
WVU Extension Service hosts artwork competition teaching students about wetland and waterfowl conservation with the winning design to serve as next Junior Duck Stamp. Entries due by
March 15th
WVU Tech Forensic Investigation Summer Camp
An academic camp for middle and high school students designed to provide a firsthand look into a professional forensics career through hands-on exercises and concept-based instruction. Registration due by
May 28th
Cacapon Institute Stream Scholars Summer Camp 2017
Explore rivers and watersheds while learning about science in a week of adventure. SSCC 2017 will take place from July 17th - 21st. Registration due by
July 1st
Educator & Professional Opportunities:
Nation of Makers Announcing of Founding Executive Director
Join this community conference call as the Nation of Makers welcomes the new Executive Director, Dorothy Jones-Davis. Hear her plans on how she will work with all of us to build the Nation of Makers organization - scheduled
March 1st
5th Annual Ideas & Innovations Virtual Conference
Join the Share My Lesson Webinar series, a free professional learning event focusing on new ideas for instructional practice - scheduled
March 14-16
TEM Speaker Series: Robot Futures
April 13th
, robotics professor and director of Community Robotics, Education and Technology Empowerment at Carnegie Mellon University, Dr. Illah Nourbakhsh, will be providing a free presentation on how robotics evolution could change society.
Click here
to register.
We value your input! Please send any updates, announcements, suggestions, or questions to


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BCAA's [Branched Chain Amino Acids] comprises of Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine; BCAA's are also part of essential amino acids, since the human body cannot produce them and therefore they must be present in your diet. BCAA's are required to maintain muscle tissue and numerous studies have shown that BCAA's can help to preserve the muscle stores of glycogen (a stored form of carbohydrate that can be converted into energy).
BCAA's also prevent muscle tissue breakdown during training and therefore can improve adaptation to training. Unlike other amino acids, BCAA's are not metabolised in the stomach. BCAA's are metabolised directly in the muscle, this unique property of BCAA's makes them anabolic (they build muscle) and also anti-catabolic (they stop muscle breakdown) amino acids. The main advantage is the capsule form of BCAA Complex, it is very easy to carry few capsules in your pill box and only 4 to 8 capsules can be sufficient to enhance your energy production. BCAA's can also be taken along with your protein shake for even better results.
Take 4 to 8 Capsules during or after your training session with water OR may combine with BIOGAIN WHEY & Gluta-EX Pure. It is suitable to take this product even during non-training days.
1 Serving = 4 capsules; Daily consumption: 4 to 12 capsules.
L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine
Hard gelatine capsule
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.It is a dietary supplement, therefore not suitable for medicinal use. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. If you are pregnant, lactating, have a medical condition, or you are taking medication, please consult your doctor before taking this product OR any other dietary supplement. Keep tightly sealed in cool dry place. Do not refrigerate. Keep out of reach of children.
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Hollow in the TV series
| Holly (books)
Hollow (TV series)
|Tawny Owl
| Female (books)
Male (TV series)
| Tawny Owl (books)
Owl (TV series)
|Various unnamed owlets
|First Book Appearance
|In the Path of the Storm
|First TV Appearance
|The Long-Tailed Visitor
|Voiced by
|Jeremy Barrett
Holly is an owl who appears in both the books and the TV series as the mate of Tawny Owl. As such, in the books the character is female and in the TV series the character is male. In the TV series he is known as Hollow to reflect the gender change. Owl finds Hollow in Farthinghurst after being mocked by some of the other animals for not having a mate.
In the Path of the StormEdit
Holly is first encountered by Tawny Owl in the Great Beech in Farthinghurst a few days after he arrives there. She tells him that she was born in Farthing Wood shortly before it was destroyed and that she is the last owl remaining since the town was built. Tawny Owl tells her the story of the journey to White Deer Park and about his friends, before giving Holly her new name as she has never been known as anything before.
Holly decides to test Tawny Owl's feelings towards her by telling him about an owl who has been watching her and competing for her affections. She eventually convinces Tawny Owl to fly off in this owl's direction and chase him off, but Owl hits some nylon netting and lands on a wet concrete driveway. When Owl returns to the beech, Holly confesses that she made up the other owl to find out whether he really wanted to keep company with her. For the rest of the summer Holly is forced to hunt for Tawny Owl, who cannot fly because of the concrete on his wings.
When the hurricane arrives Holly takes cover in a hedge until the storm is over. Then she and Tawny Owl head back to White Deer Park, stopping several times on the way to rest and hunt. Holly insists that Owl continues to let her catch food for both of them so he does not tire himself out, and when he strands himself on the ground while catching a mouse she scolds him for it. Eventually the two owls arrive in White Deer Park and Holly is introduced to Tawny Owl's old friends and shown around the park.
Battle for the ParkEdit
During the spring Holly gives birth to three chicks and spends all of her time trying to raise them. When the Farthing Wood animals ask for Tawny Owl's help with the new reserve and the rats, Holly objects to his leaving her alone with the owlets, but Owl still goes to help his friends. Holly is impressed when Tawny Owl is able to provide for the owlets by killing several rats and bringing them back to the nest, but she is not impressed when he puts on weight by eating several rats himself and she decides that their association will end when the owlets are fully-grown. When the rats launch their attack on the Farthing Wood animals, Holly is the first to spot them and alerts Tawny Owl. The two of them, also joined by their fully-grown owlets, take part in the battle by swooping down and killing several rats as they advance into the Hollow.
TV series


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Equifax Gets Hacked, IRS Awards them a Contract
Well, this seems almost too dumb to be real. Equifax, the company that announced massive data breaches last month, has received a contract to work for the government.
The IRS awarded Equifax a contract to work on verifying consumer identities. The company has proven itself unable to keep personal data safe. Last month, Equifax announced that hackers had accessed the social security numbers of 145.5 million Americans.
No Alternatives Considered
Despite the company's recent security failures, the IRS awarded it the contract without considering any other bids. The IRS claims that no other company can perform this sort of work. However, Equifax has competitors that may have better data security practices.
Tax Money to Equifax
The government has decided to send millions of our tax dollars to a company with dire security flaws. Not only that, but several Equifax executives may have profited from the scandal. Three of the company's leaders sold $1.8 million in stock before the data breach became public. The three are under investigation for potential insider trading.


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We're finalists in the Halifax Business Awards - thank you!
The Halifax Chamber of Commerce has named Bedford Eye Care a finalist for Business of the Year in the 2017 Halifax Business Awards.
Drs. Mandelman, Cox, Sheppard and McLeod are absolutely thrilled to announce that the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has named Bedford Eye Care a finalist for Business of the Year in the 2017 Halifax Business Awards.
We are so very grateful to our patients, the community and the outstanding service team in the practice for the support you all continue to show to us in our many years in business.
On January 26th, 2017, business leaders from around the Halifax area will gather at the Halifax Business Awards gala, and members of our team will be there representing our large family of eye care professionals.
We're honoured to be selected among a diverse group of outstanding and well-known finalists for this prestigious award. We believe it's a reflection of the commitment we have to delivering the highest quality care to our patients and for pushing into new areas of innovative care, including our new dry eye and traumatic brain injury clinics, as well as our commitment to patient and public education in these critical new areas of research and treatment.
Thank you all so much. We will be sure to update you after the awards gala!
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- General Health (2)
- Clinic News (2)
- Fashion / Eye Glasses (5)
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Psychometric Testing – UK and Ireland
Testing Talent are independent psychometric testing experts with 20+ years experience and operate principally in the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Today, the majority of our tests are delivered online using state of the art and easy to use computer systems. We are independent Chartered Psychologists, not tied to any one test publisher, and work in the interests of the organisation in choosing the most appropriate test, depending on their needs and requirements. All of the test publishers we use however, are internationally regarded, as industry leaders. We offer choice and value with our wide range of psychometric tests and assessment materials.
With our online tests available throughout the world we can test for an organisation in the UK or Ireland whilst simultaneously testing for them in Europe, Africa, America, South America, Asia, Australia or New Zealand.
Testing Talent also offers a proctoring service for organisations, for example, located in Australia but who require this service in the UK & Ireland.
Benefits of Psychometric Testing for Organisations
There are a very wide range of psychometric tests available in the market place today and with large numbers of applicants for jobs, testing provides a range of benefits for the organisation. These are that:
- Well-designed tests do predict good job performance
- With computerisation they are cheap to administer with large numbers of individuals being tested wither by computer remotely, or by paper and pencil in groups
- They minimise bias
- They are quick to administer, easy to score and results are 100% accurate
However, there are some disadvantages principally that they cannot measure all aspects relating to the job. In addition if using remote computer testing of aptitude or ability tests, it is important that individuals are tested under supervised conditions.
What are Psychometric Tests?
Employers are always keen to establish whether a new employee or existing employees have the abilities, potential, work style or values to perform effectively in the job role. Using Testing Talents range of psychometric tests and questionnaires provides, the type of information that employers need. Research evidence consistently shows that objective measures such as psychometric tests and questionnaires provide more accurate assessments of individuals than subjective approaches such as interviews or evaluating CVs.
While these subjective approaches can provide useful information, particularly in skilled hands, the reliability and precision of objective measures is difficult to match.
Today employers can receive hundreds of applications for a single position, online computer administration of questionnaires and tests provides a way to evaluate large numbers of people and identify the best prospects to invite to interview and further assessment. Typically employers are able to choose between aptitude, ability, situational judgement tests and personality questionnaires as a very cost effective way to gain an initial understanding of a candidate's potential.
Aptitude Tests
An aptitude test is designed to assess candidates' aptitudes to perform specific tasks. They focus on determining how a person might perform a certain task. Aptitude tests aim to provide to employers an indication of how they might perform a certain task. The score achieved relates that performance to an average (often referred to as a 'Norm') group. Aptitude tests measure the ability to acquire further knowledge or skills. Tests can take between 20 – 45 minutes for a candidate to complete although the market today provides shorter timed versions.
The most common types of aptitude tests are; numerical reasoning tests, verbal reasoning tests, and abstract reasoning. With the growth in apprenticeships, aptitude tests also measure, spatial reasoning, mechanical reasoning and diagrammatic reasoning tests.
Ability Tests
Ability Tests have also been found to be particularly useful in predicting future performance, such as mechanical reasoning tests, clerical skills or language ability. Similar to aptitude tests scores are related to an average group and again typically take between 20 – 45 minutes to complete.
Situational Judgement Tests
Most recently Situational Judgement Tests are gaining popularity and many have excellent psychometric properties. They offer employers, tests that mirror what an employee may experience 'on the job'. For most employers using 'off the shelf' products offer value for money. The cost for developing 'be-spoke' exercises can be expensive particularly when developing psychometric rigour to them. Depending on the test these can take between 20 minutes to 1 hour for candidates to complete.
Assessment Centres – Development Centres
Assessment Centres are typically organised by larger organisations for graduate recruitment or for more senior job roles. This is because they require considerable time involvement from the employer and are expensive. They are generally used at the final stages of selection as it is in an employer's interests to invite only job applicants most likely to be hired for the job. Assessment centres are geared to identify those individuals who have the competencies required to perform in the job role. They are also used for developing current staff, e.g. into more senior roles within an organisation and in this context are known as Development Centres.
Assessment centres generally last for one day with candidates completing a range of tasks, such as work alone exercises; one-to-one exercises; group exercises; interviews; psychometric tests; and other activities, such as presentations.
Personality Tests
For information on Personality tests please click here.
Is the Test User Qualified?
It is important and advisable to ensure that the test user has maintained their competence. In the UK this can be done by checking the British Psychological Society's Psychological Test Centre (PTC) Register www.psychtesting.org.uk The PTC website provides access to information about tests and testing. Dominic McCanny (Managing Director Testing Talent) is registered with the Psychological Testing Centre and also holds the European Test User Certificate (Level 2) in the area of Work & Organisational Assessment. He is also qualified to administer and interpret the following personality profiles:
- SHL' Occupational Personality Questionnaire
- Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI), Development Survey (HDS) and Motives Values Preferences Inventory (MVPI)
- Saville Assessment Wave Personality Instruments
- Talent Q
- Tests Direct
If you are thinking of undertaking Psychometric Testing, contact us, we have delivered literally thousands of tests over the years. We can accommodate both small or large numbers of candidates with our range of computer delivered tests, or by paper and pencil


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SM Energy Company announces that its Board of Directors has approved the capital expenditure budget for 2014. The Company is also providing initial 2014 production and cost guidance.
Tony Best, CEO commented, "We anticipate that our announced program will generate strong returns and will allow SM Energy to post another record year of production in 2014. We expect to grow production approximately 16% on retained properties next year, adjusted for our Anadarko Basin asset sale. Our 2014 growth will be anchored by our core development programs in the Eagle Ford and Bakken/Three Forks, with additional investments being made in our emerging oil programs in the Permian Shales and the Powder River Basin. We also have a number of key appraisal wells scheduled for 2014 across the Company, which if successful, could allow for additional investment during the year. Our balance sheet is in great shape to fund our program, having been strengthened by approximately $455 million we expect to receive in total from the Anadarko Basin asset sale and other divestitures in 2013. With our existing multi-year drilling inventory, emerging exploration potential, and strong financial position, it is an exciting time as we continue our successful execution of high return projects which are delivering strong growth for the benefit of our shareholders."
SM Energy Company
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A frequent mistake New Yorkers make is failing to properly plan for the future. One integral part of that planning is to have an estate plan that covers for various contingencies. Many might be under the impression that drafting estate planning documents is something that only wealthy people should do. This is wrong. Having an estate plan can take care of many different issues and potential issues, as well as avoid family disputes after the testator has passed on.
Elder law and the selection and financing of a nursing home
Dealing with an aging loved one in New York is never easy. So many issues will come to the forefront when it comes to protecting loved ones who are senior citizens. Deciding on whether assisted living or a nursing home is the best possible living arrangement, assessing financial ramifications and if Medicare can cover the payments, and taking estate planning steps are all part of the process. People who are dealing with this situation and all its inherent issues should be aware of the need to have legal advice.
Estate planning and the value of a living trust
One of the most difficult issues that a person can face is linked with his or her mortality. Of course, it is an inevitable part of life, but that does not make it any easier. When drafting estate planning documents, New York families must be cognizant of certain aspects and strategies to avoid family disputes and other problems after death. Trusts are useful in many different circumstances and knowing whether a trust is right for an individual's situation is important.
Important points about a health proxy
New Yorkers who are concerned about the possibility that they might become incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions will want to consider a healthy proxy. This document is part of a well-crafted estate plan and should not be ignored. It is not just for people who are older. People of any age can benefit from having a health proxy. When formulating strategies to prepare for potential eventualities and avoid family disputes, grasping certain points about a health proxy is essential.
Recognizing Fads In Estate Planning
There are basic elements to estate planning that are generally included in any comprehensive plan. But like any field, there are emerging trends, fads and misinformation that can alter a plan for better or worse. It is important to get reliable, cutting edge advice to avoid mistakes while still taking advantage of powerful new tools.
One simple step to protect your loved ones
When you buy an insurance policy, open a bank account or set up a retirement account, you are required to designate a beneficiary. In some cases, you may be asked to choose a secondary beneficiary, but that is often not mandatory. As your life changes, you preference regarding who benefits from these accounts may also change. If you have not taken a look at these account for some time, now is an excellent time to review them.


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By Lola Gayle, Science Crush
The Scarisoara Ice Cave, located in the Apuseni Mountains of Romania, is considered to be one of Romania's most iconic natural wonders. Despite its obvious appeal to tourists, this show cave — with its stunning towering ice formations — offers more than just sheer beauty for scientists. In fact, the icy cavern hidden deep in the heart of Transylvania is actually the oldest cave glacier in the world and among the most important scientific sites in Europe.
Why is that? According to a new study, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Romanian Ministry of Education, ice cores drilled from the glacier cave can provide much-need insights into how the North Atlantic region's winter weather and climate patterns may have fluctuated during the last 10,000 years — known as the Holocene period, the predecessor to the Anthropocene. NOTE: The North Atlantic region includes Europe and the United States.
Scarisoara Cave was formed during the Ice Age when the mountains in which it is nowadays situated were covered with snow and ice. But the cave is anything but dormant. Over the past 10,000 years, snow and rain steadily dripped into the depths of Scarisoara, eventually freezing into thin layers of ice.
It is those thin layers — which hold chemical evidence of past winter temperature changes — that are of particular interest to experts of ancient climate scenarios. Thankfully, all those layers have been preserved due to air currents formed by the cave's single opening (60 m in diameter and 48 m in depth), which help keep the ice solid.
The problem with modeling ancient climate
According to Candace Major, program director in NSF's Directorate for Geosciences, most of the region's paleoclimate records are plant-based and track only the warm part of the year — the growing season. In fact, most reconstructions of the climate record have relied largely on summer conditions, charting fluctuations through vegetation-based samples, such as tree ring width, pollen and organisms that thrive in the warmer growing season.
That leaves a big gap in long-term climate reconstructions — specifically winter climate conditions. By filling in that gap, scientists can gain a better understanding of the complete climate picture. Indeed, according to Major, "the spectacular ice cave at Scarisoara fills a crucial piece of the puzzle of past climate change in recording what happens during winter."
The ancient cave is estimated to be roughly 10,500 years old, based on radiocarbon dating of leaf and wood fragments preserved in the cave's ice. Therefore, ice cores should contain winter climatic information for roughly the same time period. Also making the cave an ideal location to study climate and storm shifts is the fact that the cave receives precipitation from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Warmer and wetter winters
After traveling down into the cave's depths and collecting their ice core samples, the researchers were then able to chart the details of winter conditions growing warmer and wetter over time in Eastern and Central Europe. They found that temperatures reached a maximum during the mid-Holocene some 7,000 to 5,000 years ago and decreased afterward toward the Little Ice Age, 150 years ago.
The researchers also found that a major shift in atmospheric dynamics occurred during the mid-Holocene, when winter storm tracks switched and produced wetter and colder conditions in northwestern Europe, and the expansion of a Mediterranean-type climate toward southeastern Europe.
"Our reconstruction provides one of the very few winter climate reconstructions, filling in numerous gaps in our knowledge of past climate variability," explains University of South Florida scientist Bogdan Onac.
Those warming temperatures then led to rapid environmental changes that allowed Neolithic farmers to expand northward toward mainland Europe, leading to the rapid population of the continent.
"Our data allow us to reconstruct the interplay between Atlantic and Mediterranean sources of moisture," Onac said. "We can also draw conclusions about past atmospheric circulation patterns, with implications for future climate changes. Our research offers a long-term context to better understand these changes."
The study, published this week in the journal Scientific Reports, was conducted by researchers from the University of South Florida, University of Belfast, University of Bremen and Stockholm University, Emil Racovita Institute of Speleology in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and other institutions.
The scientists are now continuing their cave study in an effort to extend the climate record back 13,000 years or more.
NOTE: The Holocene encompasses the growth and impacts of the human species worldwide, including all its written history, development of major civilizations, and overall significant transition toward urban living in the present. Human impacts on modern-era Earth and its ecosystems may be considered of global significance for future evolution of living species, including approximately synchronous lithospheric evidence, or more recently atmospheric evidence of human impacts. Given these, a new term, Anthropocene, is specifically proposed and used informally only for the very latest part of modern history involving significant human impact.


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One of my favorite people, famous Hollywood agent turned famous novelist Maggie Marr told me, when we were both unpublished and she went by Margaret, "There's published, and there's New York published. We want to be New York published." And, only a few million words and a few zillion rejections later, we are.
A fan who was doing an English paper about Orphan's Journey asked me how long it would take to "complete" the next Jason Wander book, Orphan's Alliance, which Orbit will release in November, 2008. My answer may be of interest to someone who also wants to be New-York-published. Here it is:


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Nokia Luna Bluetooth Headset Review/
Among others things, the Bluetooth headset is a symbol of the modern-day, sunglasses wearing douchebag. Some of us dislike using them even though they're a must-have accessory for the daily driver, that is unless you're driving a car with built-in creature comforts. Bluetooth headsets have become a tool to avoid tickets and accidents in the wake of country and state laws that require the use of a hands-free headset while driving. With so many different features and styles, choosing a Bluetooth headset isn't easy. Nokia's Luna is not your typical Bluetooth headset, it's a cute little dongle that features NFC technology for mindless pairing. We've got more to tell you after the jump!
Nokia's Luna headset is pretty, and shares a strong design sense with Nokia's Lumia smartphones. The beautiful cyan color can be seen across the Lumia line of phones and accessories like the Purity headphones we reviewed. It's almost safe to say that Nokia has taken this shade of blue as their flagship color. The Luna also comes in other vibrant colors like green, pink, white and of course black. We rarely use the word 'cute' to describe a gadget, but in this case the Luna is too cute to resist. With its petit form factor and in-ear style, this is one Bluetooth headset that we wouldn't mind wearing. Although I can't help but think of this cyan colored Luna of looking like a shiny Viagra pill that was cut in half.
Did you know? Despite the fact that the Luna was designed for the Lumia series, it's compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones as well as just about every modern-day Bluetooth device in need of a pretty headset.
At $80, Nokia's Luna is a moderately price Bluetooth headset. And out of the Jawbone-inspired packaging, it comes with a charging holder/base, two different sizes of silicone ear tips, a USB wall charger as well as a micro-USB to USB 3 charging cable which I've discovered charges the entire headset with its charging base blazingly fast compared to the seemingly Jabra Stone 2 headset. The good folks across the pond, at MobileFun we're awesome enough to have us test this little headset out, so that explains the European wall plug. MobileFun carries all kinds of Nokia headsets and Bluetooth gadgetry in case you were wondering.
Being so lightweight has its advantage, and the Luna's glossy plastic enclosure seems to be durable enough to last a very long time even with occasional drops. The Luna is so small and designed as a one-piece headset that unlike other Bluetooth headsets, there's nothing here to break or snap in half, and we like that about the Luna.
The Luna comes with a mediocre set of graphic instruction on how to use and fit the Luna into one's ear. Without clear instructions, it's hard to tell which is the correct way to insert the Luna into your ear because of its symmetrical shaped body and utter stupid button placement. Well, the secrete answer is to insert he Luna with the button facing flat towards the back of your head. Now you're beginning to understand why putting the sole button of a headset in hard to reach area is a stupid by design. Reaching that little button and pressing it is doable, but can drive you nuts. Every time you want to answer and end a call, you'll need to stick your finger behind and in-between your ear and the headset while it will undoubtedly slide out each time you do so.
A single button, and Nokia couldn't even get that right. It's a big shame, the Luna's smooth flat surface is an ideal place to put a multi-use, touch-sensitive button that'll be much easier to use instead of having to dig for a small button that isn't even easy to press. So much potential, tossed down the drain.
The Luna comes with no ear hooks or other forms of ear attachments to help keep it in. Instead, the Luna uses its in-ear stem just like a pair of in-ear headphones to remain snug inside your ear canal. I can say that after I found the right ear tip that fit my ear, the Luna successfully remained in my ear for well over two hours before I decided I no longer required its hands-free assistance. Of course, with these types of in-ear Bluetooth headsets, your mileage may very.
Once you've found the tip that best fits you, the Luna is one of the most comfortable headsets you can wear. With that said, not everyone is going to find the Luna to be as comfortable to use because everyone has different ears, and that's why ear hooks and other forms of support were invented.
Features? What features? The Luna is purely an unadulterated Bluetooth headset that does what it's supposed to and nothing more. While it does use Bluetooth 2.1, it doesn't support the A2DP profile for audio streaming which means you cannot use this headset for listening to music and all that follows.
Actually, the Luna does have two notable features that are actually found in its charging cradle. The obvious feature is that the base doubles as a portable charger with a built-in rechargeable battery that will charge the Luna whenever it's docked inside of it and will provide an additional 6 hours of extended talk time. Push the Luna flush into the round base and it'll begin charging instantly. Doing so will also disconnect the Bluetooth connection with your device, so it's a second way of ending a call or reverting back to handset use. When you push to click the Luna out of the base, it'll instantly pair up again with your device without a hitch.
The Luna's charging base is also NFC enabled, meaning that if you have an NFC enabled device you would then tap it against the back of the charging base to seamlessly pair the two together. As much as this is an effortless way of pairing for the first time, the Luna's standard pairing mode is really simple and quick. Bluetooth 2.1 doesn't require a PIN code to be entered leaving you with a flawless and frustration-free pairing that'll take you literally a few seconds. What's more is that you can pair the Luna with two devices simultaneously.
I haven't found any negative things to say about it as it works flawlessly and keeps you away from having to plug your headset in for charging at a stationary place. Charging the base is done using the supplied USB cable. A tiny red LED indicator will light up letting you know you're charging the base and/or both the base and the headset.
What's most important is being able to hear and be heard loud and clear using a headset. Fortunately the Luna performs above and beyond in the regard. Voice clarity is one of the best I've heard in a Bluetooth headset. That's not only true for a one way call, but both ends of a call can be heard loud and clear. You're not going to find superior audio quality though, the Luna will still have that trace of tinny audio quality, but that's a given. Incoming calls will sound your ringtone thru the headset without any fancy caller-id voiced to your ear by a sexy female voice.
The mic has no trouble picking up your voice being so far away from your mouth. In fact, it's so sensitive that the caller on the other line will hear your heavy breathing, and just about all the unwanted background noise and wind as well. The Luna has no special noise-canceling technology to help reduce background noise and that's not acceptable at this price range. Some notable headset offerings that have it all include Jawbone's Icon and Icon HD at $80 and $100, respectively. Although these options do lack the Luna's minute size and portable NFC-enabled charging base, you'd be well off choosing a different headset if you want active noise-cancellation and loads of features with a more mature design.
The headset itself will last around 2 hours of talk time or have the standby time of what seems like forever if each time you remember to plug it into its charging base. Battery life has been really great using the Luna, and with the ability to recharge it using the charging base on-the-go, you'll be set for the entire day. The Luna's in-ear style is comfortable to wear, however, be warned that you won't hear as well with that headset stuck inside your ear canal.
At $80, Nokia's Luna is a moderately priced Bluetooth headset with a very solid performing battery life and call quality experience. We like the Luna's unique candylicious looks, fit and bright audio quality and you probably would as well. If only the Luna had some more sophisticated noise-cancelling features to offer and better implementation of a multi-function button, we would have been happy to recommend it. Alas, the Luna falls short in delivering a proper hands-free experience that many other equally priced headsets are more than willing to serve you with. We expected a lot more from Nokia at the $80 price tag.


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