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The practice of using gated content for online lead generation isn't new; however, it is one we often see misapplied. In their rush to extract value from their content, many websites often gate content they shouldn't. Ironically, this often means a decrease in lead volume. Of course, you also don't want to give away everything for free. This extreme means you miss out on extracting value from the content you're spending time, and often budget, to create.At the heart of this issue is that businesses lose sight of the inherent need to transfer value fairly and instead require something for everything. Gating content, or requiring site visitors to complete a form in order to access the material, is built on the assumption that your content is of value to the visitor. The value of the content should determine a) if the content is gated and b) your asking price aka what data your form requires.
As a general rule, if you are asking somebody to give you their information, then you must give them something of value in return. And even if it does add value, that merely means you should consider gating your content. That's because the key factor to answering the "to gate or not to gate" question is that the item must be of relatively equal value to the visitor as their contact information is to you. If it isn't, or doesn't appear to be, then your visitors likely won't be willing to give you any information to obtain it.
This often means you can decide whether or not to gate content based on how it aligns with the buyer's journey. Awareness stage content should take be written for visitors looking to educate themselves about a topic or issue. It may take many forms, but our favorites are:
- Blog posts - particularly "how to" or "why to" guides
- Infographics - be sure they are clear to all viewers, even those unfamiliar with the topic
- Curated content - an efficient and effective way to create content
- Testimonials - the best way to win people over, so share the experiences of your already happy customers!
Awareness stage content should never be gated because this information attracts potential clients and helps you establish your thought leadership. This content should be readily available and easily accessible to potential leads, as they're likely to read it while they've either not yet developed a problem or have yet to realize they have one, so they won't feel motivated to commit to a form fill yet.
Conversely, as buyers look to identify and consider solutions to their problem, they will find greater value in related content. They've firmly identified a problem they need to solve and are willing to exchange their information for your information, which may help them address it. As buyers move into the consideration and then decision stage, they are doing heavier, more targeted research and looking for substantive insight and decision making tools. Here are examples of great middle and bottom of funnel content
that should always be gated:
- Self-assessments - A valuable way to help a visitor understand if they're ready to make a purchase decision
- Checklists - These may either help determine readiness or actually prepare the visitor for the next step
- Whitepapers - Brief guides on a specific topic or issue
- eBooks - More thorough, substantive guides
- Webinars - Provided the topic is evergreen
- Templates - Evaluation templates, organization tools, etc.
One final consideration when determining whether or not to gate content is to make sure it is adding value to the type of site visitor you want to attract. A checklist for selecting software you're trying to phase out or an eBook for executives may not be helpful when your personas are all junior staff. If the content doesn't attract the right traffic at the right time, then it probably doesn't belong on your site, and you may need to evaluate your Inbound strategy. Remember, not all traffic is created equal, and generating poor quality leads can waste time for your business development rep or sales team – ultimately becoming more costly than not generating any lead at all.


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Horror Story Showing The Courts Are So Biased As To Award Custody To Mother's Who Are Obviously Abusing Their Children
--- In firstname.lastname@example.com, "James Stagliano"
<james_stagliano@h...> wrote:
Mr. Murphy,
From the ALCFC discussion group, I understand that you are looking for DHR horror stories. There are more actors than just DHR in the story I am about to tell, but their needed for completeness.
On May 6, 1998 my three year old son was the victim of a horrific attack.
He was beaten and shaken by his mother. I cannot describe the my feelings when I rushed into the ER and saw my boy covered in bruises writhing in seizure. A set of four bruises were very disturbing, they appeared to form a handprint on my son's face. A major portion of my son's brain was removed to save his life. Still, we were told he would not survive, but he did survive.
When my son was released from the hospital, DHR authorized his release to his mother. When asked why DHR allowed my son to be placed with his mother, the response was "because she asked". So, in this state, it appears that if the abuser ASKS that the child be placed with her, it will happen.
Well, a week after refusing the mother's request to obstruct the investigation, I was hit with supervised visitations, supervised by the mother at her convenience. The mother claimed that since I was not from Enterprise, Alabama I would take the child and run.
When we went to court, the judge rolled his eyes when I stated explicitly that my son's injuries were due to abuse and the mother was THE primary suspect. Fourteen months after the final hearing, the judge ruled.
He identified the mother as the perpetrator of the abuse, yet STILL GAVE HER CUSTODY. I received "standard" visitation, for the first time unsupervised.
My son has suffered numerous injuries, broken bones, finger bruising, etc.
The mother historically has pointed the finger at the school. A hemiplegic child has a broken arm and a broken leg within 8 weeks time. Both cases, the mother states it happened at school. In both cases, DHR responds with, "if the mother says he broke it at school, there is no need for an investigation."
There have been numerous times the child has had finger bruises on arms, legs, chest, shoulders, and face. The one time DHR responded to complaint (filed through the police department), they concluded that my son's bruises were due to his sitting on blocks. How anyone can obtain bruises on the top of one's shoulder by sitting on blocks is beyond me. The county director of DHR as well as the CPS supervisor have told me repeatedly that "it is not DHR's job to protect children, it is the father's job."
I have taken the mother to court for custody because she was NOT following the physician or therapist treatment instructions, canceling many, many appointments, etc. In court she admitted to not following the treatment instructions, stated her intention that she will never follow the physician or therapist instructions. To quote, "I will only do what I think is important". The result, the judge stated that proper medical care is not important to my son's well-being, however I am ordered to make sure he gets appropriate care when he is with me (he does and he will, it is just the obvious inconsistency in the orders).
I have concluded that it is the official state policy to maximize the abuse.
In this way the cycle of violence is continued if it already existed or initiated if it did not. The cycle will grow exponentially and under the current US laws, the state will receive more money. However, the long term social problems will be devastating.
I think county directors need to be removed. There needs to be accountability. The caseworkers and their supervisors held accountable. If accountability was applied at the county level, I think THEN there would be changes.
I recommend that you read the speech by Canadian Senator Anne Cools from 1996. From the detailed history she describes, you will learn nothing has changed in more than a hundred years. I have attached her speech in text format.
To end, my son's (and daughter's) ordeal is not over. Their mother has moved 300 miles away (yes, even with the Child-Parent Relationship Protection Law, the court allowed the move). My son has gotten better over the years, not as far as he could have. He can walk with assistance, but at close to 150 pounds, that assistance is becoming more and more difficult.
Toilet use is spotty. Mentally, emotionally he is still a 3 year old.
Sadly, everyday I expect to receive that final phone call.
Dr. James J. Stagliano, Jr.
--- End forwarded message ---
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Posted from
FIRST SEEN HERE: http://elizabethtrutwin.org/nesara-law/
The Connection between NESARA Law, 911 and Full Galactic Disclosure by Elizabeth Trutwin 10.30.13
Please Share Widely
NESARA TRUTH by Elizabeth Trutwin
The REAL Reason for 9/11 is to block the enactment by Announcement of NESARA Law signed into law by then President Bill Clinton October 10, 2000
1892 Bankers Manifesto
"We [the bankers] must proceed with caution and guard every move made, for the lower order of people are already showing signs of restless commotion. Prudence will therefore show a policy of apparently yielding to the popular will until our plans are so far consummated that we can declare our designs without fear of any organized resistance. The Farmers Alliance and Knights of Labor organizations in the United States should be carefully watched by our trusted men, and we must take immediate steps to control these organizations in our interest or disrupt them….The courts must be called to our aid, debts must be collected, bonds and mortgages foreclosed as rapidly as possible. When through the process of the law, the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and easily governed through the influence of the strong arm of the government applied to a central power of imperial wealth under the control of the leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders."
Charles Lindbergh reveals 1892
Bankers Manifesto to Congress during him in Congress 1907-1917
November 22, 1910
"On the night of November 22, 1910, a small group of surrogates of the most powerful bankers of the World met … under the veil of utmost secrecy."
Over the next few weeks these men would perpetrate, under the orders of their masters, … perhaps the most colossal and devastating fraud ever inflicted upon the American People.This ultra-secret fraud is known as the
Federal Reserve Act of 1913.
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 concocted legislation, to be foisted upon the People's Congress of the United States, that empowered and commissioned this secret cabal of World- dominant bankers to
a usurpation of our Constitution's explicit edict empowering
to print and coin currency. This world banking empire used their stolen power to print, out of thin air, paper currency which, in no way represents the gold and silver reserves that authentic currency is supposed to represent.
The Federal Reserve Act of 1913
Prior to 1933, Federal Reserve Notes were backed by gold. This changed with the new law: Congressional Record, March 9, 1933 on HR 1491 p. 83. "Under the new law the money is issued to the banks in return for government obligations, bills of exchange, drafts, notes, trade acceptances, and bankers acceptances. The money will be worth 100 cents on the dollar, because it is backed by the credit of the nation. It will represent a mortgage on all the homes, and other property of all the people of the nation."The Bankers' Manifesto ties in with the U.S. Senate Document No. 43, 73rd Congress, 1st Session (1934), which states: "The ultimate ownership of all property is in the State; individual so-called 'ownership' is only by virtue of Government, i.e., law, amounting to mere 'user' and use must be in acceptance with law and subordinate to the necessities of the State."
Retired General Roy Schwasinger
William and Shirley Baskerville filed an appeal (Case No. 87- C-716) with the United States District Court in Colorado
Denver Federal Court system ruled that indeed the banks had defrauded the Baskervilles November 3, 1988
Case No. 92- C-1781The District Court ruled in their favor and ordered thebanks to return the stolen properties 1993
spent years negotiating how the reformations would occur. Eventually they settled on certain agreements, also known as Accords, with the U.S. government, the Federal Reserve Bank owners, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and with numerous other countries including the United Kingdom and countries of the Euro Zone. Because these U.S. banking reformations will impact the entire world; the IMF, World Bank, and other countries had to be involved. The reformations require that the Federal Reserve be absorbed by the U.S.Treasury Department and the banks' fraudulent activities must be stopped and payment must be made for past harm.
1993 – 1996
U.S. Supreme Court required U.S. Citizens to file "Bank Claims" to collect damages paid by the U.S. Treasury Department. This process CLOSED in 1996. During this time the U.S. Supreme Court assigned one or more Justices to monitor the progress of the rulings. They enlisted help of experts in economics,
monetary systems, banking, constitutional government and law, and many other related areas. These justices built coalitions of support and assistance with thousands of people worldwide; known as "White Knights."
Found That Certain government officials and judges were working in collusion with the banks
Created the farm claims process which would allow the legal team to set up meetings all over the country on a grass roots level to help others file claims and to educate them about the lawsuit. A claim of harm could be made on any loan issued
Janet Reno ordered the Delta Force and Navy Seals to Switzerland, England, and Israel to recapture trillions of dollars of gold stolen by the Federal Reserve System from the strategic gold reserves. These nations cooperated with the raid because they were promised their debts owed to the United States would be canceled and because the people who stole the money from the United States also stole money from their nations as well.
June 3, 1993
This bullion is to be used for the new currency backed by precious metals. It's now safely stockpiled at the Norad Complex at Colorado Springs, Colorado and four other repositories.
June 4, 1993
But the Clinton government undermined their efforts by requiring the farm claims to use a specific form designed by the government. This form imposed an Administrative Fee of $300 for each claim
Despite being protected by his military personnel the Army General who acquired the original 1933 Title of Bankruptcy of the United States; was imprisoned, killed, and replaced with a clone. This clone was then used as a decoy to prevent any further claims from being filed.
The military generals who originally participated in the farmer's claim process realized that the U.S. Supreme Court Justices had no intentions of implementing the Accords. So they decided the only way to implement the reformations was through a law passed by congress. In 1998 A 250 page document known as the National Economic Security and Reformation Act (NESARA) was authored (from 1993 – 1998)
by then Members of Congress including:
Barack Obama,Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer, Harry Reid, Charlie Rangel, Maxine Waters, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, Patrick Leahy, Barbara Lee and Paul Wellstone. It was submitted to Congress where it sat with little action for almost a year. These Sponsors and Co- Sponsors of NESARA were the only people lawfully allowed to hold office in accordance with the original 13th amendment. Remember British soldiers destroyed copies of the Titles of Nobility Amendment (TONA) in the war of 1812 because it prevented anyone who had ties to the crown of England from holding public office.
Late one evening on March 9, 2000, a written quorum call was hand-delivered by Delta Force and Navy SEALs ALL members of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House. They were immediately escorted by the Delta Force and Navy SEALs to an undisclosed location where they passed the National Economic Security and Reformation Act.
NESARA implements the following changes:
1. Zeros out all credit card, mortgage, and other bank debt due to illegal banking and government activities. This is the Federal Reserve's worst nightmare, a "jubilee" or a forgiveness of debt.
2. Abolishes the income tax.
3. Abolishes the IRS. Employees of the IRS will be transferred into the US Treasury national sales tax area.
4. Creates a 14% flat rate non-essential new items only sales tax revenue for the government. In other words, food and medicine will not be taxed; nor will used items such as old homes.
5. Increases benefits to senior citizens.
6. Returns Constitutional Law to all courts and legal matters.
7. Reinstates the original Title of Nobility amendment.
8. Establishes new Presidential and Congressional elections within 120 days after NESARA's announcement. The interim government will cancel all National Emergencies and return us back to constitutional law.
9. Monitors elections and prevents illegal election activities of special interest groups.
10. Creates a new U.S. Treasury rainbow currency backed by gold, silver, and platinum precious metals, ending the bankruptcy of the United States initiated by Franklin Roosevelt in 1933.
11. Forbids the sale of American birth certificate records as chattel property
bonds by the US Department of Transportation.
12. Initiates new U.S. Treasury Bank System in alignment with Constitutional Law
13. Eliminates the Federal Reserve System. During the transition period the Federal Reserve will be allowed to operate side by side of the U.S. treasury for one year in order to remove all Federal Reserve notes from the money supply.
14. Restores financial privacy.
15. Retrains all judges and attorneys in Constitutional Law.
16. Ceases all aggressive, U.S. government military actions worldwide.
17. Establishes peace throughout the world.
18. Releases enormous sums of money for humanitarian purposes.
19. Enables the release of over 6,000 patents of suppressed technologies that are being withheld from the public under the guise of national security, including free energy devices, antigravity, and sonic healing machines.
October 10, 2000 – President Clinton SIGNED NESARA LAW. From its very inception Bush Sr., the corporate government, major bank houses, and the Carlyle group have opposed NESARA. President Obama also signed the law, mid-May 2012.
To maintain secrecy, the case details and the registry, docket number were sealed and revised within the official congressional record to reflect a commemorative coin and then again it was revised even more recently. This is why there are no public Congressional Records and why a search for this law will not yield the correct details until after the reformations are made public. Members of congress will not reveal NESARA because they have been ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court Justices to deny its existence or face
charges of treason punishable by death. 2000
The next step is to announce NESARA to the world, but it's not an easy task. Many powerful groupshave tried to prevent the implementation of NESARA.The NESARA Law requires that at least once a year, an effort be made to announce the law to the public. Three then current U.S. Supreme Court Justices control the committee in charge of NESARA's announcement. These Justices have used their overall authority to secretly sabotage NESARA's announcement. In 2001 after much negotiation the Supreme Court Justices ordered the 107th Congress to pass resolutions approving NESARA. This took place on
September 9, 2001
George Bush, Sr. Moved into to White House to steer his son on how to block the Announcement of NESARA Law. September 10, 2001
On September 11, 2001 at 10 AM Eastern Daylight Time, Alan Greenspan was scheduled to announce the new US Treasury Bank system, debt forgiveness for all U.S. citizens, and abolishment of the IRS as the first part of the public announcements of NESARA. Just before the announcement at 9 am, Bush Sr. ordered the demolition of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers to stop the International Banking computers on Floors 1and 2 in the North Tower from initiating the new U.S. Treasury Bank system. Explosives in the World Trade Center were planted by operatives and detonated remotely in Building 7, which was demolished later that day in order to cover- up their crime. Remote pilot technology was used in a flyover event to deliver a payload of explosives into the Pentagon at the exact location of the White Knights in their new Naval Command Center who were coordinating activities supporting NESARA's implementation nationwide. With the announcement of NESARA stopped dead in its tracks, George Bush Sr. decapitated any hopes of returning the government back to the people. For the past 12 years, life in the USA, and numerous other countries, has been dictated by the staged terrorist' attack and its repercussions. Seldom does a day go by that we do not hear mention of 9/11.
Invasion of Afghanistan
October 7, 2001
When Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone was about to break the gag order, his small passenger plane crashed killing his wife, daughter, and himself. If fear isn't enough to keep Washington in line, money is.
Routine bribes are offered to governmental/military officials by the power elite/ secret government. Not surprisingly, much disinformation about NESARA can be found on the internet. Wikipedia's article is total disinformation. October 25,
General Colin Powell Address to the United Nations Security Council
"Saddam Hussein and his regime are not just trying to conceal weapons, they're alsotrying to hide people. You know the basic facts. Iraq has not complied with its obligation to allow immediate, unimpeded, unrestricted and private access to all officials and other persons as required by Resolution 1441."
Address to the United Nations Security Council
February 5, 2003
March 19, 2003
Bush Cousin Judge John M. Walker Presides over 9/11 Suit Against Cheney, Rumsfeld, Meyers
No, it's not a joke.
A 9/11 lawsuit against former high officials in the Bush White House is being presided over by a cousin of former president George W. Bush – a shocking and blatant conflict of interest that should embarrass even believers in the official story.
The Case of April Gallop vs. former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers.
George W. Bush's cousin, Judge John M. Walker of the 2nd Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals, threw the Case out. Gallop, a former U.S. Army executive Administrative Assistant (with Top Secret clearance), is suing for damages in connection with injuries she and her newborn son suffered in the supposed terrorist attack at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. Gallop and many others in the 9/11 Truth movement contend that explosives were planted inside the Pentagon and that Flight 77 never hit the building. April 10, 2011
We Forgive and We Love Them More. We Demand Accountability and Resolve to have a Planet of Peace and Prosperity.
September 11, 2001
Some research included in this writing come from: HISTORY OF NESARA The National Economic Security & Reformation Act Compiled by Nancy Detweiler, M.Ed., M.Div., Aug. 17, 2011
Please Share Widely. PEACE!


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Regular price
Add some color to your spring and summer pages with this Floral Moods clear rubber stamp set includes abstract flowers and leaf clusters. They are the perfect size for planners, and travelers notebooks.
The set includes 7 stamps which work as both flowers or leaves. The stamps are clear to allow you to align them easily on your page!
Note: these stamps require an acrylic block or other mounting surface to use. Acrylic blocks are available separately.
I recommend the small size acrylic block for this set.
Material: high quality photopolymer
Stamped image sizes:
See the image previews for the stamp sizes next to a ruler.
This set includes a total of 7 stamps on a 4x4 inch plastic sheet for storage.


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As a new homeowner, it's important to understand that your house requires care and maintenance. With time, parts of your house will wear out, break down, deteriorate, or simply stop working.
InterNACHI's home maintenance book teaches you how your house works, how to keep it maintained, and how to save energy.
InterNACHI's "Now That You've Had a Home Inspection" book is provided exclusively by InterNACHI Certified Home Inspectors. PLAN Inspections provides a copy, free of charge, with every home inspection! Contact us at PLAN Inspections for a quote or to schedule your home inspection today!


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Saudi Aramco said it will reduce the cost of producing natural gas from tight sands to make it equivalent to shale gas production costs in the U.S.
State-owned Saudi Aramco is targeting a cost of $2 to $3 per thousand cubic feet of tight gas.
Adnan Kanaan, manager of the company's Gas Reservoir Managing department, said in a report published last week by the Society of Petroleum Engineers, "We do have shale, but shale will take a little bit more time because we need to go with the low-risk, high-rewards projects to get our revenue."
Aramco is drilling in tight sands reservoirs where permeability and porosity is greater than that of shale formations but below that of conventional oil and gas bearing sands, Bloomberg reported.
Saudi Arabia wants to develop its shale and tight gas deposits to reliance on crude and crude-derived products so more can be exported.
"Saudi deserts may hold as much as 645 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable shale gas, the world's fifth-largest deposits, behind China, the U.S., Argentina and Mexico, according to estimates by Baker Hughes Inc., Bloomberg said.
But fracking shale to extract natural gas requires enormous amounts of water, which Saudi Arabia doesn't have.


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How To Pre-sell Books On Amazon
When it concerns wholesale dropshipping on Amazon – everything boils down to this: Do you invest your useful time selling on Amazon without risking your future marketing on Amazon? Or do you invest it right into an eCommerce venture that will last and continuously bring you cash every year? If you select to sell on Amazon with a company design that puts your time in the line, you are taking the chance of that design not simply today however, for the rest of your life. This is the bottom line – when you pick to sell on Amazon you are buying your future. You don't wish to be a one-hit wonder. How To Pre-sell Books On Amazon
Numerous wholesalers as well as dropshippers on Amazon pick to go with wholesale dropshipping since they do not need to manage the inconveniences of inventory, delivery and re-shipping. They simply put up an advertisement for a product, offer it on Amazon as well as keep earning money from clients. This is extremely enticing to any person who desires an easy method of starting an online company. It is likewise attracting to individuals who have tried marketing items on ebay.com or other auction sites and also to those who want to attempt to offer branded products like apparel, electronics, fashion jewelry and so forth.How To Pre-sell Books On Amazon
How To Pre-sell Books On Amazon
There are some advantages as well as drawbacks of choosing wholesale dropshipping and also one of these negative aspects is the cost. This is absolutely one of the drawbacks. It holds true that when you go with an Amazon vendor account, you will certainly pay lower costs. Actually, when you are working with a single system pricing system, the expense per unit decreases drastically. However is this adequate to make your ecommerce service job as well as make it lucrative?
If you are already selling on ebay.com, you recognize that the cost per item is constantly less costly than when you provide it on eBay and you don't have to store any type of supply. This suggests you can conserve a lot of cash in storage costs, transportation fees, as well as the cost of employing staff members as well as rent and so on. On the other hand, when you choose to sell on Amazon as a dealer and you do not have to ship any kind of items, you will only sustain a delivery cost for that particular sale. Even though this might not seem like a lot, Amazon does not charge a lot of money for their solitary devices.
This leads us to an additional drawback of dropshipping. When you dropship, you will never ever have a real item in your ownership. This suggests you will certainly be accountable for taking care of the stock. The dropshipper will care for it. You are in charge of supplying the product, product packaging and keeping it. It will certainly be up to you exactly how you pack and deliver the products sold.
In this situation, it is tough to see how Amazon as well as eBay can be thought about conspire. Dropshipping has one clear negative aspect: you have no tangible product to market. Selling on Amazon is rather different because you are selling an actual item. As soon as you become an associate, you will certainly access to thousands of items that are provided and also all set to be offered.
With dropshipping, you will certainly need to manage your inventory. Amazon.com does all the job. You will certainly still require to ensure that your consumers get the goods that they got. You can also take advantage of Amazon's program for dropshipping which will certainly guarantee positive reviews for your product. This will boost your track record on eBay and enhance your sales, which will at some point translate to more money for your company.
Dropshipping is risky. Amazon.com is an ecommerce system as well as like several companies, there are threats involved in operating this system. It is simple to get your account prohibited from selling on Amazon if the business identifies that you are offering phony merchandise. If you run a dropshipping service utilizing Amazon as your system, it is vital that you recognize the guidelines and follow them very closely. Be sure to ask your dropshipper regarding these risks as well as do not wait to call them need to you come to a conclusion that you can not wage the sale.


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Garage Door Maintenance and Home Security
Garage door maintenance is key in keeping your garage door in tiptop condition and it's fundamental to home and family security. It deters break-ins and safeguards your possessions during natural calamities, like flooding and high winds. Buying and installing a quality garage door is an essential first step, but maintenance is equally important for continued use. Here's what you should know and do for your garage door.
Observe Carefully
Maintenance is an absolute necessity to keeping your garage doors issue-free. However, no homeowner should or wants to pay for an unnecessary number of checkups.
Look and listen as you open and close the door. Does it move with minimal to no resistance? Does it make sounds while the slides are moving? Are the screws and bolts tightly in place?
You can continually pay attention to all of this, but if you're stumped and need a repair now, call us here at Reliable Garage Door Repair and get it fixed today. Garage door maintenance is one of our many services, and we'd be happy to take care of any issues you're having!
Tighten Loose Hardware
Garage doors open and close countless times per year. This sums up to a tremendous amount of motion and vibration that is sustained by the individual mechanical parts that automate it.
Loose hardware can make it seem like your door is giving up on you and is ready for a replacement when a little garage door maintenance could be all you need. Before calling a repair company to replace or repair it, get your tools and tighten those garage door rollers and bolts.
Take Precautionary Measures
Modern garage doors have mechanical parts that control its orientation. Working with mechanical parts must always be taken with additional precautionary measures as it can cause serious injury if approached carelessly.
Before performing garage door maintenance, always unplug the door opener first so that there is no way it will be activated by accident. If you must keep the door open while working, place a clamp onto the roller tracks underneath the roller to prevent the garage door rollers from sliding onto you.
Check the Garage Door Springs
Doors that are equal in weight will work the door opener harder than is necessary. As a result, the opener as well as the garage door springs and bolts wear out quickly.
To test if your garage door is properly balanced, unplug the opener by pulling the designated release handle. Then, raise the door halfway up. If the door slides down, the garage door springs are unbalanced and must be rebalanced immediately.
This process is beyond standard garage door maintenance and is best left to garage door companies like Reliable Garage Door Repair, as it can be quite intricate.
Although oftentimes an irrelevant part of the house, garage doors play an integral role in the security of both your property and family. From its garage door rollers to springs, garage door maintenance should be taken seriously to avoid costly repairs and replacements.
Reliable Garage Door Repair offers same-day 24/7 emergency garage door repair for residential and commercial properties in the North Texas area, backed by 35 years of experience.
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Experienced. Fast. Reliable.
Our experts are here to help 24/7.


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One common mistake of inexperienced writers is to rely too much on prepositional phrases. This is not to say they should be avoided entirely, only that they should be scrutinized to decide if they're needed or whether the sentence can be reworded to avoid them.
In many cases, they can be eliminated by making it possessive. For example, instead of saying "the trunk of the car" you could say "the car's trunk." Other times they're redundant. For example "He strolled through the trees in the forest, enjoying the aroma of pine needles." In this case, "in the forest" is most likely not needed if you've set up your scene already. Depending on the rest of the scene, "of pine needles" could be a candidate for deletion as well. Or, as noted earlier, make that "pine needles's aroma".
The main thing to remember is if anything is redundant, zap that sucker out of there!


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PIANC, The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure
5. Marina Protection and Coastal Aspects
Nowadays, it is recognised that marina planning and design are complex and interdisciplinary practices.
After several decades of technicians planning and designing recreational navigation infrastructures, we can now say that this discipline has gained a certain maturity status. In this sense, the 'marina designer' is getting recognised as a distinct professional figure.
Skilled professionals that treat these matters for the first time need relevant 'codes of practice'. Furthermore, these 'codes of practice' need to include recent developments, such as the evolution of super- and mega-yachts, changes of boat dimension ratios, widening of age range of users, disability access, marinas integration to urban functions, supporting infrastructure and boat yards, and sustainability criteria.
Although several guidelines of this kind have been produced by different organisations all over the world, mostly with regard to national or regional importance, an internationally generated guideline has not yet been produced.
In furthering PIANC's mission of providing expert guidance and technical advice on waterborne transport, PIANC can fill this gap by generating international guidelines for marina designers.
To produce the PIANC guidelines for marina design, this document will keep in consideration all the PIANC publications on recreational navigation produced until now, updating the relative points of view.
Additionally, the most used guidelines produced by other organisations all over the world will be collected, analysed and criticised. The compilation of these efforts will result in the production of a practical, useful and easy-to-consult document for the desk of marina planners, designers, engineers and technicians.
This report hopes to become a reference for marina designers and other practitioners involved in marina development and operations. It summarises available technical literature, including the most recent advances in the field, as well as practical lessons learnt from experience of the contributors, such as professional practitioners in the fields of marina planning, design, engineering, environmental services, construction and management activities.


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presented by October France
36 months
lent to this project, means…
paid back in total
taxes not includedCreate your account
Warning Lending money to SMEs presents a risk of capital loss and requires your savings to be immobilised.
Blagnac, France
Marketing surveys & consulting
Created in 2013, Arcesi Occitanie is active in the social sector. The company, managed by Alain Olives and Marc Defos du Rau, has 100 employees and is based in Blagnac.
The company offers consulting services through placing disabled employees.
The company's main activities are:
The company works with 40 customers large company as Airbus or CapGemini.
Arcesi Occitanie is leader in France as an Intellectual service provider for adapted jobs
The company wishes to borrow 260 000 € over 36 months to finance a business expansion and the recruitment of new employees. This project will be realised in the second semester of 2018.
As a reminder, the Lendix lending community supported Arcesi in 2017 with 315 000 € to finance the opening of new offices in Lille and Bordeaux and recruitment.
With a turnover of 4 438 000 € in 2017 and an experienced team, the company has a good track record combined with a strong operating margin.
Increase of turnover driven by the activity developpement and the client base improvement. Decrease of Ebitda margin in 2017 is driven by exceptional bonuses to employees and office renovation. The forecast is based on the performance of 2017.
The borrower has a correct repayment capacity with a forecast FCCR (Fixed Charge Cover Ratio *) at 1,08 and an excellent financial structure, with a forecast net debt / ebitda ratio of 0,83 and a net debt / shareholder equity of 55%.
The analysis of the project leads to a credit rating of B+ and a 4,45% annual interest rate.
Strong points
Point of vigilence:
*The multiple of FCCR at 1.08 means that the company has a safety margin of 8% relative to its ability to repay its credit maturities.
The expert opinion is given as an indication on the basis of the elements provided by the project holder and information from our databases (Scores & Decisions, Corporate Banking File). This opinion is only an element of reflection in the decision making of a lender to participate in the financing of a project.


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Find Out Where They Are Going!
Hidden Live GPS Tracker
- Discover What Your Spouse Is Really Doing
- Find Out How Fast Your Teen Is Driving
- Record Your Outdoor Adventures
- Bust A Problem Employee Before An Accident
Limited Time Free Waterproof Case With Magnetic Mount
Do you have that sick feeling in your stomach that a partner or spouse is unfaithful? Maybe you want to find out where a teenage driver is really going when they leave your home. If you need a nearly undetectable live GPS tracker that can easily be hidden under any car than the Mini Tec with included waterproof case is the solution for you! Simply, place the tracker under a car and use your cell phone or computer to discover if a teen driver is speeding or your spouse is cheating!
The Smallest Real Time GPS On The Market Today!
One Of The Smallest GPS Tracking Devices!
Live GPS Tracking: The Mini Tec GPS is the best personal GPS tracker designed specifically for helping parents keep track of their teenage drivers, but powerful enough to also assist with any car tracking application. What makes this GPS tracking device unique is the ultra-small design of the tracker, making it easy for anyone to carry, keep in a pocket, or tuck in a backpack. Don't spend money on cheap products such as Tracki that have limited battery life, slow updates, and sloppy software. Let the Mini Tec provide you detailed driving records, accurate locations (within 6 feet), unlimited access to historical driving activity, and so much more all backed with 24/7 free technical support! The Mini Tec GPS is perfect for parents interested in monitoring a newly licensed teen driver, or anyone who wants to secretly track a car!
Place this top-rated personal tracking device for a car in the glove box, under a seat, or hidden inside of an automobile to track everywhere it goes. Or use this personal GPS tracker for a child by placing it in their pocket, backpack or another spot to monitor where your kids go 24/7. What makes this versatile tracking device so advantageous is it can literally be used for many different live GPS tracking applications!
- Online Access To Personal GPS Data
- Ultra Small Size
- Monthly Data Plans With No Contracts
- Create Safe Zones For Kids
- Vehicle High-Speed Alerts
- Access Lifetime Travel History
- Real-Time GPS Updates
Mini Tec GPS was engineered with teen safety in mind. That is why the GPS tracker can provide real-time alerts if a teen motorist is driving too fast as well as provide all the historical data of where a teen has been. This includes addresses a teen driver arrived at and the time they departed from those locations! This GPS tracking data can be viewed in real-time or later through the historical playback feature that provides user lifetime access to their vehicle tracking data.
Designed with the most sophisticated online software to create accurate GPS tracking history while providing a user-friendly experience, Mini Tec GPS gives users the ability to access their data 24/7 from the device of their choice! Smartphones, desktop computers, tablets, and other mobile communication devices that have Internet connectivity can all be used to view real-time GPS tracking data! What's even more impressive about this GPS tracker is that multiple people in different locations can all view the tracking data at the same time! All they need are the login credentials!
GPS Tracking Monthly Data Plan Options
How Much Are The Monthly Data Plans?
All service plans are month-to-month and you can cancel anytime without any termination fees! We also provide free technical support for the life of this product to help you secretly track any vehicle!
Mini Tec GPS comes in at 2.70 inches in length, 1.50 inches in width, and 0.93 inches in height, making it one of the smallest GPS tracking devices on the market! Roughly the size of a box of tic-tacs, Mini Tec GPS can easily be concealed in a child's backpack, in a pocket, or covertly placed inside a vehicle. So whether you are a parent who wants to make sure your kids are getting home safely from school, a parent concerned about the driving activity of a teenager, or a business looking to monitor employees on the move, Mini Tec GPS is certainly the device of choice for you!
Purchase Includes:
- Mini Tec GPS 2020
- Activation Instructions + QuickStart Guide
- Free Technical Support For Life
For those seeking a real time GPS tracker with no monthly fees please check out the SpaceHawk 2.0!
Whatever your budget is our GPS tracking experts can assist in helping you find the car tracking or personal tracking device for you!


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Dividend Investing Ideas Center
Critical Facts You Need to Know About Preferred Stocks
Have you ever wished for the safety of bonds, but the return potential...
Before the opening bell on Tuesday, a number of big name, dividend paying companies announced their quarterly earnings. Below, we look at these earnings reports and break down the important points for investors.
Verizon (VZ ) reported first quarter earnings of $4.338 billion, or $1.02 per share, down from $5.986 billion, or $1.15 per share, in the year prior. Analysts expected to see EPS of 95 cents.
Revenue increased to $32 billion – below analysts' estimate of $32.27 billion.
Lockheed Martin (LMT ) reported earnings of $878 million, or $2.74 per share, down from $933 million, or $2.87 per share, last year. On average, analysts expected to see EPS of $2.50.
Sales declined to $10.11 billion from $10.65 billion. Analysts expected to see revenue of $10.23 billion.
Looking forward, the company expects to see FY2015 EPS between $10.85 and $11.15. Analysts expect to see EPS of $11.14.
United Technologies (UTX) posted first quarter earnings of $1.43 billion, or $1.58 per share, up from $1.21 billion, or $1.32 per share, last year. Excluding special items, EPS was $1.51 – above analysts' view of $1.45.
Revenue declined to $14.54 billion from $14.75 billion last year. Analysts expected to see revenue of $14.88 billion.
DuPont (DD ) posted Q1 earnings of $1.03 bilion, or $1.13 per share, down from $1.44 billion, or $1.54 per share, last year. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.34 – above analysts' estimate of $1.31.
Revenue declined to $9.172 billion from $10.128 billion. Analysts expected to see revenue of $9.41 billion.
Increased Dividend
The company also announced that it has raised its dividend 4% to 49 cents per share. The next dividend will be paid on June 12.
Kimberly-Clark (KMB ) posted first quarter net income of $486 million, or $1.27 per share, down from $490 million, or $1.26 per share, last year. On average, analysts expected to see EPS of $1.33.
Net sales declined to $4.69 billion from $4.89 billion. Analysts expected to see revenue of $4.61 billion.


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Safari LTD Toob Petting Zoo Playset
683704 | Our Item No. 148370
Safari LTD Toob Petting Zoo Playset
683704 | Our Item No. 148370
Product Details
Safari LTD Toob Petting Zoo Playset
Make sure you bring some treats to give these adorable animals! This Toob features a young boy and girl, as well as a Holstein calf, llama, fawn, pygmy kid goat, lamb, Shetland pony, bunny, piglet, and tortoise, its contents as unique and varied as they are cute.
Characteristics: Hand painted and researched for true to life accuracy, you won't have any trouble pretending your room is a full-fledged petting zoo! Whether it's the precious piglet, cute cow, or any other of the other cuddly animals, you'll be blown away by these figurines' realism and detail.
Size and Color: 1.5 inches long, 1.5 inches wide, and 12.8 inches tall, this Toob is a bit larger than the size of a standard American ruler and contains 12 colorful figurines that range from 1.25 to 3.75 inches tall and are great for educational purposes and rewarding play. Feed the perky pink piglet, relax with the sandy brown llama, or participate in any of the other fun actives at the petting zoo!
- The Petting Zoo TOOB® is part of the TOOBS® collection
- All of our products are Non-toxic and BPA free


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On Wednesday, February 16th, the House Financial Services Committee approved the "SEC Regulatory Accountability Act" introduced by Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-R). The legislation would impose additional requirements on the SEC's cost-benefit analyses of rules and orders, including mandating that the SEC Chief Economist participate in the cost-benefit analysis process and require that the SEC consider specified factors during its analysis.
The bill passed along party lines with 30 Republicans voting in favor of the legislation and 26 Democrats opposing it. Those that argue the bill is necessary point to a federal appeals court decision last year that overturned the SEC's proxy access rule because the agency failed to properly conduct a cost-benefit analysis. They also cite a report by the outgoing inspector general of the SEC that criticized how the agency analyzes the economic impact of some of its Dodd-Frank rules. Others, however, believe that the legislation will "cripple the ability of the SEC to carry out its regulatory functions, and make it difficult to protect investors even when the SEC has evidence of wrong-doing." They also state that increasing "operating costs for the agency without increasing its budget, thereby forcing it to divert funds from other actions such as enforcement."


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The trip got off to a great start, with an uneventful 5 hour drive north on Friday evening. We dropped the hunters off at Masters Shelter for their own adventure and the rest of us continued another 10 minutes up the road. On arriving at the parking place for the beginning of the short 10 minute walk to Sentry Box hut we found another vehicle. Luckily the vehicles occupants were not at the 4-bunk Sentry Box, or else someone would have had a fairly cold night outside. We arrived at Sentry Box hut around midnight. We would bump into the vehicles occupants the next day coming back down from a hunting trip on the ridge.
Our fun began around 8.30am on Saturday morning, when we began the 800m vertical climb which would take us up onto the ridge. Three and a half hours of steep, muddy, slippery walking had us at the Sentry Box/Parks Peak/Aranga junction, with a snack and view stop at the Rocky Knoll halfway. From the junction we split into two groups, planning to leapfrog each other along the trapping line. A few examples from Antonia of how to safely reset a trap and we were off, beginning at trap number 37. Our only bounty for the day was one stoat, however that could be the lives of a few little birds saved. On reaching trap number one and we turned back, retracing our steps to the junction with Rohan deciding to really give his legs a stretch along the way and jogging the short distance up to the trig point at Pohatuhaha (1368m) and back in only about 10 minutes.
We walked a further 50 minutes from the junction to get to Parks Peak – a really well kitted out little hut with a great stove and running water from a tank. In my naivety I briefly thought it had a solar panel – turns out that's for the weather station instruments. In hindsight, this makes much more sense, but a tramper can dream. Note to others – if you're there when it's dry, make sure to stock up the dry wood at the side of the hut if you can, there isn't too much about.
After a cosy night in the hut we set off at 8am the next morning. We made the decision to head straight for the van instead of stopping to reset the traps between Parks Peak hut and the junction due to time constraints. It took slightly longer to make it back to the junction from Parks Peak, but the steep muddy trail from the junction to Sentry Box was much faster, funnily enough! All of us eventually succumbed to the slip'n'slide way of life (probably shortening the lifespans of our washing machines in the process) and we were back at the van around 11.30am, ready to pick up the hunters and make tracks for the bright lights of Wellington.


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- Europe
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- Split Hotels
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Split Oasis Apartments
Bubalova 7, Split, 21000 •
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About this property
Please note: This description has not been updated for over a year and may be out of date.
Property LocationWith a stay at Split Oasis Apartments in Split, you'll be minutes from Natural History Museum and Diocletian's Palace. This 4-star apartment is within close proximity of Croatian Maritime Museum and Green Market. RoomsMake yourself at home in of the guestrooms, featuring kitchens with refrigerators and stovetops.
Flat-screen televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on a limited basis. Rec, Spa, Premium AmenitiesMake use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless Internet access and tour/ticket assistance. Business, Other AmenitiesFeatured amenities include luggage storage, laundry facilities, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle for a surcharge, and self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Hotel policies
From 14:00 hours
Until 11:00 hours
Important information
You must present a photo ID when checking in. Your credit card is charged at the time you book. Bed type and smoking preferences are not guaranteed.Your reservation is prepaid and is guaranteed for late arrival. The total charge includes all room charges and taxes, as well as fees for access and booking. Any incidental charges such as parking, phone calls, and room service will be handled directly between you and the property. Know Before You Go A resort fee is included in the total price displayed. One child 12 years old or younger stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. Fees The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out. Airport shuttle fee: EUR 30.00 per person (one way) Self parking fee: EUR 9.00 per day The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change. The price shown is based on the occupancy and dates you have searched for. Prices and availability are subject to change based on the arrival date, number of nights and occupancy searched for. All prices are inclusive of all local taxes.
Pets are not allowed
Parking (charges may apply)
Airport Shuttle
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Laundry/Valet Service
Wi-Fi Available In Public Areas
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0/6 Overall
would recommend it to a friend


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Therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of advanced modalities that enhance the body's natural restorative functioning. Light to firm touch is used to release tension, relax muscles, increase blood and lymph circulation.
Therapeutic massage can be used as a collaborative, supportive addition to conventional medical treatment of illness and injury, alleviating pain and stress, aiding soft tissue healing, and revitalizing the body. Also, regular massage can enhance health, providing relaxation, release of muscle tightness, relief from anxiety and tensions, and enhanced healing from common postural habits that lead to chronic pain.
Communication is key during your treatment. Your therapist will check in throughout the session, but you are ultimately in charge. If you are too cold, too hot, want to be covered, are not comfortable with a part of your body being touched, don't like the music, or have any other discomfort, please tell me.
Research has shown that therapeutic massage techniques may be helpful in the following conditions:


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Gypsy moth control
Last updated: Public Relations Specialist |
A portion of the Village will be sprayed this spring to to help reduce gypsy moth numbers and slow their spread. The 2009 Gypsy Moth Aerial Spray Map shows affected areas that will be treated in May. Using low flying helicopters, two sprayings will take place approximately one week apart. More information will be posted here when exact dates are available.
The first spray will occur around the middle of May, depending on weather conditions and timing of caterpillar emergence. The second application will follow a week later. Helicopters will fly just over the tops of trees and apply a fine mist of BTK sufficient to lightly cover the foliage.
BTK is not a pesticide, but a naturally occurring bacterium that is not harmful to humans, pets, or the environment. Young caterpillars feeding on treated plant leaves will be killed soon after ingestion.
About Gypsy Moths
Gypsy moth eggs hatch into caterpillars in April or early May. Their bodies are covered with black and brown hairs, and a series of five pairs of blue spots followed by six pairs of red spots. The caterpillar stage frequently strips entire trees of their leaves over wide areas. Older caterpillars do the greatest damage during the last two weeks of June. While oak trees are the most vulnerable species to gypsy moth devastation, caterpillars will feed on up to 500 other types of trees if oak leaves are in short supply.
Detection and Control
Burlap bands can help detect the presence of gypsy moth caterpillars. Using burlap and some twine, an artificial hiding place can be created on the tree trunk. The bands are placed about chest high with the upper portion folded down, leaving the burlap slightly ruffled and loose. Caterpillars congregate between the folds of the burlap and the tree trunk. Trapped caterpillars can either be crushed or swept into buckets of soapy water. Bands are put up after caterpillars hatch and are removed as caterpillars change to moths in July.
Additional Information
For more detailed information about the Gypsy Moth, visit the Trees: Insects and Diseases page or contact Village Forester Kerstin von der Heide at (630) 434-5475.


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Lombard International has been partnering with the advisors of high net worth individuals and institutions for over 30 years. Together we seek to create a secure future for our clients addressing their complex financial needs on a global basis.
Lombard International has a strong track record of providing wealth structuring solutions. With the capacity to issue policies from multiple jurisdictions around the world, we are perfectly placed to help solve the problems faced by our partners' clients.
Technical experts
Welcome to our News section, where you can access updates from our experts regarding legal and regulatory changes and find out what is going on with Lombard International and the wider industry. For any press related enquires contact our team.
For further information or any query, feel free to contact us. Our experts are available to help you.
Technical experts to help and support you
Qasim Abbas is a Senior Managing Director with Blackstone's Tactical Opportunities Group.
Before joining Blackstone in 2012, Mr. Abbas was a Portfolio Manager with Trafalgar Asset Managers (a European credit-focused hedge fund), where he invested and traded in European Asset-Backed and Mortgage-Backed Securities across a range of asset classes. Prior to that, he was responsible for establishing a Europe-focused mortgage loan portfolio trading and investment desk at UBS AG in London. Before joining UBS AG, Mr. Abbas spent eight years at Citigroup in emerging markets, securitization, and asset-backed special situations roles.
Mr. Abbas graduated from Clark University with majors in Economics and Government. He joined the Lombard International Board of Directors in July 2020.


text:
Stop the war!
Остановите войну!
for scientists:
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BibTeX records: M. Breimhorst
@article{DBLP:journals/neuroimage/FechirGBBBSSB10, author = {Marcel Fechir and Matthias Gamer and I. Blasius and Thomas Bauermann and M. Breimhorst and P. Schlindwein and Tanja Schlereth and F. Birklein}, title = {Functional imaging of sympathetic activation during mental stress}, journal = {NeuroImage}, volume = {50}, number = {2}, pages = {847--854}, year = {2010}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.12.004}, doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.12.004}, timestamp = {Mon, 06 Jul 2020 01:00:00 +0200}, biburl = {https://dblp.org/rec/journals/neuroimage/FechirGBBBSSB10.bib}, bibsource = {dblp computer science bibliography, https://dblp.org} }
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Thankful for 'saints' in life
So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us. (Hebrews 12:1, VOICE)
Today is All Saints Day in the liturgical calendar of the Christian Year. It is a time to commemorate, celebrate and offer thanks for those who have blazed a trail of faithful service for us to follow.
As I have aged, the list of saints in my life has grown and grown. Some of the saints are deceased, and some are still living. Some are widely known. Others are simply salt-of-the-earth folk. All of them have graced my life with love, joy, support, encouragement and an occasional kick in the pants. They have taught me kindness, compassion, mercy, courage and spiritual living. When I sing the hymn "For All the Saints" on All Saints Day, I will go through a mental roll call of as many of those incredible people as possible, and give thanks for them all.
Here are a few of my saints:
• Ed Lewis, my Little League baseball coach, Sunday School teacher and high school science teacher, lived an exemplary life before me and scores of others. He taught us the value of fair play and how to give one's best.
• I cut my young spiritual teeth on Billy Graham's sermons. His messages were at once firm and gentle.
• Lonn Oswalt, my first music minister, let me sing in the youth choir despite the fact that I was too young. He got me hooked on high-quality church music.
• One of my early youth ministers, Danny Harris, introduced me to insightful Bible study that engaged both my mind and my heart.
• In his little book, "Jonathan Livingston Seagull," Richard Bach gave me a deeper understanding of the power of transcendence. Neil Diamond's soundtrack to the film version led me to a profound awareness of what it means to simply be and to not let others define who I am.
• Yusuf Islam's (Cat Stevens) song "Father and Son" gave me the words to voice my struggles over the often difficult relationship I had with my father.
• Ragan Courtney and Cynthia Clawson's words and music continue to feed my soul and give me a model of how to live a life of faith, both fully and honestly through song and literature.
• James Downey, my music history professor, validated my ability to reason critically. On the back of my final senior paper, he wrote, "Weeks — you have the unique ability to think. Too bad we didn't discover that sooner."
• John Claypool got me through some serious grief by writing of his own pain in "Tracks of a Fellow Struggler."
• Roger Paynter is the compassionate pastor/friend who walked with me through many a dark hour. Barbara Oliver was a minister who was as loving and accepting as anyone on the face of God's green earth.
• By valuing my thoughts and questions in our Sunday school class, Dr. Jim Hendrick, retired pediatrician, gave me the blessing of a father I would have otherwise never had.
• Jack Kornfield's "A Path With Heart" and John Sanford's "The Kingdom Within" revolutionized my inner life.
• Mohandas Gandhi challenged me by courageously living out Jesus' teachings on nonviolence and peacemaking in a manner that overcame much human force.
• Thich Nhat Hahn's writings comfort, challenge, inspire and anchor me.
• And then there's the circle of close friends and family who were there for me in times that I did not deserve it.
Today, when I get to the last stanza of "For All the Saints," those are some of the many saints I will see holding me, supporting me, encouraging me, inspiring me. I'm sure I'll shed a few tears, but not tears of sadness. They will be tears of gratitude for how I've been blessed by these saints. As far as I'm concerned Thanksgiving has already begun.
Randy Weeks is an ordained minister and a licensed professional counselor. He and his wife, Dr. Jeannie Falkner, live in Oxford.


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Charter Real Estate promotes Amie Thomas to CFO and other career changes in the Chattanooga area
Charter Real Estate promotes Amie Thomas to CFO
Amie Thomas has been promoted to CFO of NAI Charter Real Estate.
She began her career at NAI Charter in 2003 as a corporate accountant after earning a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
In his new role, Thomas manages all financial reporting, forecasting and budgeting for the company accounts, as well as property management accounts.
Julius Dodds named Dean of Academic Achievement at Chattanooga State
Julius Dodds has been named Dean of Academic Achievement at Chattanooga State Community College.
Prior to his college work, Dodds served as Director of Retention and Counseling at UTC and held leadership positions at other colleges where he managed academic initiatives.
âJulius has been Director of Academic Retention since 2011, where he led the Achieving the Dream and Title III Strengthening Institutions grant work,â said Dr. Beth Norton, Vice President of Academic Affairs at UTC.
Robert Rhea runs food and beverage at McLemore Golf Resort
Robert Rhea has been appointed director of food and beverage at McLemore, the golf resort and residential community at the top of Lookout Mountain.
Rhea most recently served as Director of Food & Beverage at the Grand Bohemian Hotel Charleston, Autograph Collection. While at the Grand Bohemian, Rhea oversaw all aspects of the Marriott boutique dining program, including the creation of the venue's highly successful weekly brunch event, "The Mad Hatter Brunch and Day Party."
Prior to her tenure in Charleston, Rhea worked at the Madeline Hotel and Residences in Telluride, Colorado; Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas in Page, Arizona, Hilton Cabana in Miami Beach; Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri and Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida.
Rhea has developed innovative menu and bar concepts, operational strategies, advertising plans and the management of multiple revenue centers during her ten year career. In addition, Mr. Rhea has met the high brand standards of Leading Hotels of the World, Preferred Hotels, Forbes 4 Star and AAA 4 Diamond.
Charlie Rymer, executive vice president of the McLemore Club, said Rhea will help improve the experience at McLemore.
âAs McLemore continues to develop its brand as a regional destination, it is important to have strong leadership in place to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves,â said Rymer. âRob Rhea's proven skills and expertise will take our offerings to new heights. We couldn't be happier to welcome him to our team. "
Taryn Balwinski promoted to open Goodwill Job Connection Center
Over the past 15 years, Taryn Balwinski has risen through Goodwill's ranks, inspiring and training others along the way. She has held positions in Store Sales and Processing, as an Administrative Assistant, Human Resources Coordinator, and Coordinator of Volunteer and Missionary Services.
Now, as the first point of contact at Goodwill's new Job Connection Center, Balwinski is focused on helping others achieve their career goals. The center is located next to the Goodwill store at 7601 East Brainerd Road in Chattanooga.
The centre's free services include helping with the preparation of resumes that are more likely to be noticed, honing interview skills, and expanding online job searches. The center also has a quiet space that can be reserved for conducting job interviews.
âA lot of people only access technology from a cell phone, and it doesn't work so well when searching and applying for a job,â said Cyndee Sims, vice president of hand development. -work and mission services. âOur new Job Connection Center is specially designed to help out-of-the-box people, and if additional training and services are needed, we can refer people to Goodwill services as well as other organizations that can help. meet their needs. "
Trust Company of Tennessee Hires Tracy Sherman as Customer Service Associate
The Trust Company of Tennessee hired Tracy Sherman as a customer service associate in the company's Chattanooga office.
Founded in 1987 and with offices in Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, The Trust Company of Tennessee currently manages over $ 4 billion. The company helps individuals, families, business owners and nonprofits make better financial decisions through wealth management, personal investment strategy, corporate retirement plans, estate planning and personal trust services.
âTracy brings a wealth of experience in the financial services industry and is a great resource for our internal teams and clients,â said Daniel Carter, president of The Trust Company of Tennessee.
Sherman received a BA in International Relations from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Previously, she was Senior Administrative Specialist for HomeServe in Chattanooga and for 21 years served as an office manager for financial services firm Brown Brothers Harriman in Charlotte, North Carolina.
– Compiled by Brandi Dixon
Information on new hires, promotions and business rewards should be sent to [email protected]


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Soaps currently in stock:
Our soaps our made from the goats on our farm.
Mosaic Menagerie's Soaps & Such, LLC buys the goat milk we use in our soaps from only our own farm "The Mosaic Menagerie" no other farm's milk is used in our products. Even though these two entities are separate from one another our goat milk soaps would not be possible without our farm's goats.
We are very proud of our MDGA registered Miniature Nubian herd. We have brought them in from all over the country to get the lines and genetics we wanted to work with. We do show our goats and have them on monthly milk testing during their lactation. Our goats are health tested yearly via bloodwork, have had DNA testing done, and our vets are only a phone call away if they are not feeling well or have been injured.
If you would like to "meet" our herd please click on the button below:


text: Date:Nov.11-Nov.25.2017 check it :NEWS Ref:if the order total Qty less than 50pcs ,we will stop it and refund you. updated on13th : good news for that our order is sucessful , we will keep selling until 25th,if you like it ,join us ~thanks. tks.updated on 20th: as we will attend the HKDP11 ,we will stop YABI selling on 24th ,if you want to take it ,pls catch this time , thanks. updated on 24th : order is closed ,thank you for loving my dolls ,thanks.


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Operating an office, be it an offshore fulfilment centre or even a home workstation, is an uphill task which involves a lot more than what meets the eye. Being hot on heels after favourable statistics, and figures is deemed to be imperative; however, do not overlook the aspects which will help you achieve those outcomes. It's highly crucial that you create an ideal office environment so that you, along with your employees can work comfortably and proactively in conquering the unconquerable.
Here is a list of some office essentials that will help you dramatically increase the efficacy of your employees. Read on.
For Office –
- The right desk supplies can encourage creativity, happiness, and productivity. To help you perform your best at work, Moglix rounded up a list of useful and affordable office essentials.
- A desk organizer can improve your productivity in two different ways. First, it minimizes the clutter on your desk, giving you a clean, open surface on which to work. Second, it makes searching for important files, faster and easier. No more rifling through your desk drawers.
- You may not realize it, however a chair that you sit upon has a direct impact on your health and, productivity. An uncomfortable chair will induce fatigue to your body, which means you will be focused more on searching for an apt seating position, rather than the tasks in front of you.
- A drop Box for files, allows people to deliver files to you without walking in and interrupting whatever you're doing. Plus, it helps to eliminate unnecessary small talk that could cut into your productivity.
- To improve your productivity and brainstorming capabilities, consider putting a display board in your office. Having this close at hand will allow you to write out your ideas in a large, shareable format that can't be lost or misplaced.
For Home –
- If you work from home, you may wonder how important having an organized office space is. Well, to put that into perspective, here are some ideas that will help you organise, and create a productive environment.
- Office Storage Collection – You may need to store a variety of things within your office. These might include paper files, manuals, and even physical product. If you don't manage this, you could end up with a mess. This is why a decent storage and organizational system for your office is important.
- Lighting – Studies have shown that office lighting plays a major role in employee productivity. A well-lit workstation makes it easier for a person to concentrate, and saves him from constantly wrenching his eyes, owing to strain from looking at the laptop screen.
- Equipment–Speed and efficiency are critical at home. But make careful decisions. Question whether that large colour copier is a real necessity or a printer-scanner will suffice?
- Air Purifier – Scientists found that good indoor air quality is linked to improved cognitive function. Therefore, an efficient air purifier would be viable, since it is purported to remove airborne bacteria and dust that's floating around your office.


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After Christmas we often have invités for breakfast, brunch or dinner. We always prepare a lot of different spreads and I bake bread rolls and/or some sweet pastries and so we did last week as our friends from Krems came over for brunch. I wanted to try a new recipe and so I looked for one in "Brot selbst gebacken", a cookbook that Nadja offered me for Christmas (thank you!!). I found this lovely Quinoa bread roll recipe and thought that it would be good for brunch (and it was!). This Quinoa bread rolls are vegan. For all of you who speak German: http://www.thalia.at/shop/home/rubrikartikel/ID32144819.html?ProvID=10907922. In this link you can find a description! I have almost baked another bread from this book which Í will also present you this week. And as it is the last day of 2013, I wish you all a Happy New Year. Have a open mind about trying new things, keep well and fit and of course: bake a lot!
- 150g quinoa
- 42g fresh yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 3 tablespoons + 250g spelt flour (type 630)
- 6 tablespoons + 150ml warm water (attention: I only needed about 50ml but it depends on the flour you use)
- 250g whole rye flour
- 1 package dry sourdough (15g)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons oil
- Cook the quino in plenty of water for 25 minutes. Remove from water, dry and allow to cool for a while. Combine fresh yeast, sugar, 3 tablespoons spelt flour and 6 tablespoons warm water until there are no crumbs left. It should be a liquid mixture. Leave for 10 minutes.
- Combine 250g spelt flour, whole rye flour, dry sourdough and salt. Mix together oil and water (I only needed about 50ml). Add the yeast mixture, quino, and the water-oil mixture to the flour mixture. Knead for about 8 minutes. Add more water or flour if needed. Leave on a warm place for about 2 hours. It should have the double of it's old size by now.
- Form 12 bread rolls put them on a baking tray coverd with parchment paper and cut each one three times. cover and leave for 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 250°C. Place the baking tray in the middle of the iven and bake for 10 minutes. Lower to 190°C and bake for another 20 minutes.
You can eat this bread rolls either with a sweet or a salty spread! Or cheese! (:
Enjoy, Noemi


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Ingrid Dilen has been advised by some Ugandans to write to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni through State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt Col Edith Nakalema regarding her plight. HICGI News Agency will be following developments on this story.
By HICGI NEWS AGENCY
Updated at 19:55 GMT on Tuesday 23rd FEB 2021.
KAMPALA: It's exactly 2 years today since Ingrid Dilen widow of fallen Germany Philanthropist Berry Bernhard Glaser was arrested by Police in Mwena Kalangala when she jetted in Uganda to visit Berry who was under investigation. Berry was not there at the time so they decided to arrest Ingrid and held her hostage.
They let it be known that she would remain in custody until Berry turns himself to the police. Ingrid spent a couple of days in a police lockup together with some 25 to 30 women. According to Ingrid, Police took in possession a laptop, camera, external hard drives and other personal items.
Following Berry's death during trial on 07/May/2020, Moses Kazibwe Kawumu High Court Judge in Masaka on 12th June 2020 abated Criminal proceedings against Berry during criminal session no 90 of 2019, Criminal case No Masaka AA 403/2013 and Criminal Application No 071/2020 Uganda Vs Bernhard Glaser.
Ingrid Dilen from Brussels, Belgium earlier today on phone spoke to HICGI News Agency and shared her plight as she tries to recover personal belongings taken in 2019 from Uganda Government.
Intensifying possible ways, Ingrid sought assistance of the Belgium Embassy in Kampala.
Earlier she had used her lawyer Mr. Lester Kaganzi who multiple times requested Uganda's Criminal Intelligency Division – CID Headquarters in Kibuli to return the taken items during the 'illegal' house search 23 February 2019 by officer Rose Nalubega (HICGI News Agency has seen inventory list record 185307 as well as letters dated October 12th and December 4th 2020 addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions.) but without any success.
She authorised Quraish Kwesigabo a friend of the deceased as well as Lester to collect the listed items in her absence.
Ingrid is accusing DPP Ms Rachel Bikhole, "she is playing games and delaying the return of the items, making up excuses and requiring a certified copy of the court order closing the file … This was actually delivered December 4th following weeks of excuses and delays from court clerks and registrars."
She believes that Bikhole in person is being in possession of her personal Toshiba laptop, and the other items in Kibuli offices.
"The painful thought is the loss of personal memories like pictures and private conversations on my laptop and the 2 external hard disks." Ingrid breaks in tears.
She adds "My fear is that most of the items are lost, stolen, given away or sold…and that's the reason why they keep coming up with excuses. Actually I no longer have the energy or strength to keep fighting Ugandan corruption and the inhuman ways of handling or not handling matters.
But this is exactly what they are counting on, so being a matter of principal and knowing that Berry would have wanted it, I cannot just let go." She says.
"After 15 months of fighting and now 7 months of grieving 24/7… I would like to be able to find peace and closure…Me not being able to stand with my innocent husband while suffering terrible pains and conditions gives me restless nights and horrible nightmares. Not being able to be at the funeral ceremony is in my mind daily, this is most painful." Ingrid shares grief.
In an interview with HICGI News Agency, Mr. Kwesigabo agrees that they have done everything they can to assist Ingrid recover her personal belongings. He says has had endless visits at CID and DPP office. "Someone close to CID Director Grace Akullo tried to connect me with her but in vain. They wanted a letter from DPP and I met the lady there who also demanded a letter from the lawyer." narrates Kwesigabo. He adds that he brought copies of lawyer's letters to DDP and presented new ones which HICGI News Agency has seen but he says the office kept tossing him up and down and so are the games for last one and half year.
He says that Belgium Embassy wrote to Kibuli in January 2021 but no feedback; "Police says they have been busy. All sorts of intimidation and harassment, I took a dead year at campus while Berry battled with cancer at cancer institute.' His pursuit he says is not in return of anything but because Berry was a good man and had been falsely accused of misconduct against the girls he took care of.
Belgium Embassy speaks out.
Frederic an official at the Embassy of Belgium in Kampala in response says;
In early January, the Ambassador contacted the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Inspector General of Police.
"Unfortunately, we have not yet received an answer to our questions / requests."
The official promises to send a reminder and If there is a meeting with the police, we will Ingrid's predicament.
HICGI News Agency has made multiple contacts to DPP both in email and phone calls regarding the matter but with no response.
Our contact with the Inspector General of Police – IGP Martin Okoth Ochola futile, said "Am in a meeting "
The CID Headquarters also couldn't pick our calls.
Regarding the welfare of Berry's island girls, Ingrid says she is struggling to take care of them. The new term is yet to start but resources are very limited.
Ingrid Dilen has been advised by some Ugandans to write to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni through State House Anti-Corruption Unit headed by Lt Col Edith Nakalema regarding her plight. HICGI News Agency will be following developments on this story.
Also READ


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Violence, verbal abuse and an large increase in child aggression – what York council staff are facing
Violent aggression towards council staff is on the increase – and in one incident a number of employees were injured during an assault at a care facility.
A City of York Council report into health and safety reveals that reports of verbal abuse and violence towards staff are steadily rising.
And there are also a large number of reports of children being aggressive.
The report says:
Verbal and violent aggression still continues to be a major cause of incidents reported and these are steadily increasing.
This may, in part, be due to better reporting as the council have tried a number of ways to raise the profile of this issue.
However it may also due to the challenging environments in which colleagues work. In one instant at an adult care facility a number of staff were injured during an assault.
Complex causes
The number of incidents involving child aggression "is also one of the largest causes of incident reported," the report goes on
"The causes of this are complex and consequently further work is ongoing to understand these in order to implement possible solutions which are challenging."
It adds that the number of serious incidents – those that must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive by law – increased to 34 last year from 12 the previous year.
But the cause for the increase could be down to better reporting and monitoring. An improved reporting system to help prevent future accidents is set to be rolled out in October.
The council's health and safety advisor Lisa Burton said at the meeting: "We are looking at how we can reduce injuries and raise health and safety culture across the local authority."


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Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan warned against the risk of conflict in the region, following a visit to Islamabad by Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated, as reported on Reuters.
Strains have increased between Iran and the US, which is a firm backer of Tehran's regional rival Saudi Arabia, in the wake of this month's attack on oil tankers in the Gulf region that Washington has blamed on Iran.
Khan, who has been seeking to improve Pakistan's strained relations with neighbour Iran, said he was concerned about the "rising tensions in the Gulf", but did not specifically name the US or Saudi Arabia.
"He underscored that war was not a solution to any problem," Khan's office said in a statement late on Friday, citing the premier.
Washington has been seeking to increasingly tighten sanctions against Iran, as relations continue to worsen under President Donald Trump.
READ: The US will proudly go to war with Iran for Saudi oil


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Official websites use .mil
Secure .mil websites use HTTPS
On the ETID landing page, users are provided with a list of previously worked-on turn-in documents that can be in a variety of different statuses. A helpful search filter is provided to help users navigate through the various documents.
A listing of ETIDs will be generated based on the filter criteria selected. Click on the DTID you wish to view, or use the 'Select For Action" buttons to view ETIDs in detail.
ETIDs that are in Pending, Rejected, or Redirected statuses can be edited, deleted, or copied using this page.
Edit will allow you to make changes and resubmit a rejected ETID.
Copy will let you make another ETID containing much of the original information, saving time and key strokes.
A deleted ETID will no longer exist. Only ETIDs in Saved, Pending, Rejected, or redirected status can be deleted.
Customers can cancel an approved ETID that they will no longer turn in.
When a customer cancels an approved ETID, the status will be updated in ETID to "Cancelled" and the cancellation request will be sent to DSS and processed in DSS.
Intransit records will be updated. Also, customer will receive intransit control follow-ups for ETID that have been approved but not turned in
Reviewed and approved ETIDs can be printed straight from the application by the user. ETIDs can be printed (either single or multiples) by clicking on the DTID number and selecting Print in the ETID view.
After you select print, you can choose what to print. You can print labels, DD 1348-1A, Certifications, and a Shipping Manifest. Customers can also print a DLA 2500 Hard Drive Label.
Choose a manifest if needed.
Check/uncheck certifications as needed
Select Print PDF
Click on Download Document


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Movie Information
Overall Rank: 1436
Average Rating: 2.8/4
# of Ratings: 401
Theatrical Release Date: 12/05/2003
Language: English
Genre: War, Drama
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Edward Zwick
Actors: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Tony Goldwyn, John Koyama, Togo Igawa
Plot: After being captured by the same samurai who he was hired to kill, he falls in love with their culture and decides to fight with them until the end.
Quick Movie Reviews
Rating of
Logan D. McCoy - wrote on 06/24/2019
Completely uneducated regarding its history (The Japanese did NOT seek U.S. assistance during the rebellion, and it's very unlikely they ever would've.) "The Last Samurai" is a manufactured white savior redemption picture, and an example of a Hollywood exploitation epic at its worst.
Rating of
Matthew Brady - wrote on 05/02/2014
One word to say about this movie and that is "Epic".
Rating of
mitchellyoung - wrote on 05/19/2012
I could have done without the film forcing some of its more "zen" thematic elements, but the battle sequences (Zwick's strong suite) are energetic and Tom Cruise gives a focused and courageous performance. The real standout is tight-lipped Ken Watanabe who goes toe to toe, acting-wise, with Cruise in every scene.
Full Movie Reviews
Movie God
Rating of
"The Last Samurai" by Yojimbo
Yojimbo - wrote on 03/18/2012
A disillusioned cavalry officer is ordered to train an army to fight against a rebellious samurai in Japan, only to be captured and come to respect his erstwhile foe. Yes, that's right, it's Dances With Japs. Or maybe, How The East Was Won. This film is exactly what i was expecting; a typical Hollywood historical epic. Tiny Tom is troubled by clumsy flashbacks of an atrocity which now shapes his entire personality and sets off to do his duty, only to learn to admire the noble savages while they learn from his pig-headed self-destructiveness and provide him with a handily widowed village babe and surrogate family. He then switches sides leading to the wobbly lower-lip inducing heroic final battle after which an American invents modern Japan (probably shouldn't have nuked it 70 years later …
Rating of
When gun meets sword
Holas - wrote on 11/12/2009
If I had only seen the last half hours of the movie I would still call it "Incredible." I simply adore a good movie where the Protagonist and the Antagonist switch places. One minute you're routing for this team, and the next for the other. But all along, you want Cruise's character to come on top. During some scenes where Cruise is training with the Samurai and he just can't beat this one guy. The training happenes a few times with the same fate--cruise is beaten down. But the last time, it comes to a draw.....and everybody pauses. This is what I believe is the pivital point of the film where Cruise is officially one of them. I don't know much about the Japanese culture, but I know that respect is high on the list, and Cruises character has just earned theirs. The fight scene …
Related Movie Lists
Top Films of 2003 by Neobowler
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Satellite orbit programs utilizing the graphics capabilities of the microcomputer.
Download Record
Langdorf, Kim Alldredge
Swafford, G.L.
Second Reader
Heinz, Otto
MetadataShow full item record
It is important for a student of Space Science to have the opportunity to thoroughly understand the principle of an artificial satellite orbit. This thesis consists of four computer graphics programs that will enable the student to see what an orbit is and how it works. The first program demonstrates the shape of an orbit in two dimensions resulting from initial altitude, speed, and flight path angle. The second program draws an orbit in three dimensions around a sphere based on the input of the classical orbital elements. The third program traces the ground track of a satellite over a map of the earth. And the fourth plots the ground track of a geosynchronous satellite over a map of the earth. The student can learn about orbits by entering the orbital elements and viewing the resultant orbit.
RightsThis publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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Smells Like ButterfliesJanuary 3, 2010
If the movie Avatar doesn't introduce a new wave of Anorexic Blue Man chic, I'll be a monkey's uncle. "Long, skinny, and four-fingered" has my money for the fashion vogue of the new millennium. Expect trash-bins full of severed pinkies arriving at a teen fan-base near you. Want a little bang for your buck? Buy stock in laundry detergent and black lights.
All kidding aside, the movie really is a sight to behold. It's certainly worthy of praise as one of the most engrossing sci-fi pictures I've seen in a long time. Among other things, it shifts special effects expectations to a new level. The imagery is surreal. The colors are vibrant. The scope is mind-boggling. The reality is virtual.
To put it differently, this ain't your pappy's 3D. It's a whole new experience in holy shit.
Even still, I couldn't help feeling that the mythology of the movie was drawn a bit too much from yesterday's environmental movement. The story, in a nutshell — and I don't think I'm giving anything away, but if you are worried about spoilers, stop reading now…
Here, I'll even give you a standard screamer…SPOILER ALERT!!!
Better? Not that there's anything to spoil. You know the story before it even begins.
As I was saying, the story, in a nutshell, is that an exceedingly-advanced post-post-industrial space military — the "sky people," otherwise known as you and me, compadre — has discovered this fantabulous planet called somethingorother. The name is immaterial. This new planet — Pandora, yes, that's it — is replete with all sorts of wonderful things, including biological, geological, and physical anomalies, like floating mountains and shit, all torn straight out of the mind of someone's bioluminescent Robitussin fantasy.
To complicate matters, the alien life-forms on Pandora are nuisances to the militarized peeps of earth, who see on Pandora nothing but an aggravating rat's nest of moving blue objects refusing to evacuate their big-ass tree-house. Not a big deal, normally, except that their exceptionally large treehouse sits atop a mother lode of extremely valuable rocks. These rocks are so valuable, matter of fact, because they are nearly un-ob-tainable, kinda like gold, or coal, or oil, or diamonds, or hell, whatever jewels lie the mountain called monkey…except that they're even more unobtainable than that.
At any rate, these rocks are only nearly unobtainable, since they can actually be obtained with a little bit of cunning, a heap of money, and loads of weapons. The militarized folk — or earthlings, dude — will just mow these alien motherfuckers down to get what they want, which are the aforementioned immensely valuable, yet nearly unobtainable, rocks. And, just like you and me with crew-cuts, they are hell bent on blowing everything to smithereens to get their little slice of heaven. Will Pandora fulfill its promise as a box of woe for the visiting earth marauders? Or will the unobtainable rock of Obama spring eternal?
I'm sure you know the rest. It doesn't end well. Lots of crying and heartache, all wrapped up in a symphony of Apocalypse Now meets Peter Pan. Only thing missing is a ticking crocodile and the Ride of the Valkyries.
Did I mention that all of the aliens have USB connections in their pony tails?
Apart from the fact that the movie is wicked cool, it is also rich with heavy-handed cliché. The head military aggressor, Captain Kilgore — I forget his name — channels the Bush Doctrine in a way that would give Charlie Gibson a year of Palinogasms. There's nothing wrong with domestic cultural references in an interplanetary fantasy movie, mind you, but I prefer my social critique a little more subtle, thank you very much.
None of that, unfortunately, was what I came here to say. What I came here to say was that the mythology of the movie is interesting insofar as it is a wee bit out of date.
I'm cool with mythology, and I do love me my science fiction, but Avatar offers a kind of pseudo-primitivistic pantheism, not unlike that held by the creative folk who conducted the social experiment of pooping in bags for two years in order to keep our attention focused on the trees. (How the hell did she do that? Where did she go to the… ah…I see.)
Turns out that in Avatar it is precisely this conflict between the spiritual tree-hugger versus the militarized rock worshipper that has been wrecking worlds since the dawn of napalm. Only in this world, it's not crazy that the tree huggers hug their trees, because they all have Medusa-like USB cords in their hair and they actually do commune with nature. (Speaking of which, how awesome that Perseus is returning this summer?)
Seems to me that all of this discussion is a return to a discussion that we were having fifteen years ago; and one that, IMHO, was not terribly productive.
Hard to say whether this will result in another round of enchanting environmental discourse — no, we don't all speak with the trees — but I'm fairly sure I'll get an earful of it when I tune in to my environmental ethics classes next week. Question is, does this mythological narrative resonate anymore, now that the core environmental problem seems to have shifted from that of a militarized greed machine after some store of precious metals, to instead focus the potential of our collective undoing at our own hands? That's a totally different story, and I've gotta wonder how this fits with that. I'm genuinely curious about this.
Thoughts anyone? Apologies for the spoilers.