text:
Exams have always scared us as kids. Even as adults, how often have we squirmed at the thought of a test? Direct question-answer assessments for many of us, in fact, are dull at their best and intimidating at their worst. The anxiety before a test even brings down performance for some of us. Is it a surprise then that this unrest for assessments extends into the e-learning world?
As a learner journeys towards the close of an already intensive e-learning experience, the stress to perform well in the assessment could get compounded with the monotony of moving through a long chain of questions. This can cause the assessment to seem like an unavoidable burden.
However, assessments cannot be done away with. They form an integral part of the learning cycle and help to reinforce learning, instill learner confidence and foster satisfaction. They are also an essential component of measuring the level of learning that is realized. How then do we make assessments more appealing?
An interesting option that is gaining popularity.
The magic of games is that they get the player hooked. We’ve all experienced this at least once in our lives. Good games are fun and engaging, and motivate players to try until they succeed.
So why not leverage these features and revamp assessments to be less like question papers and more like games? The desire for victory that a game would set off in a learner could then be used to elicit competent performance.
Gamification can be achieved in many different ways. Let’s take a look at five simple ideas for gamifying post-assessments.
The simplest touch of gamification in an assessment would be to add in the basic game elements of points, rewards, and badges. Design the assessment such that points are accumulated for every correctly answered question, rewards are granted at fixed checkpoints, and upon test completion, a badge is bestowed upon the learner based on the overall score.
Display a “points counter” on screen so the learner can see their performance quantified and, as a result, be motivated to do better as they move along.
Include rewards at periodic intervals during the assessment for further motivation. The rewards could be based on varied parameters like number of correct answers given (E.g. An ‘Expert Reward’), speed of answering correctly (E.g. An ‘Express Reward’), or displaying proficiency in particular areas within the content (E.g. A ‘Claims Expert’ reward for a Claims System course).
To increase relevance and enthusiasm, for badge names, use terms or ideas from the learner’s role in their organization or from the course content (E.g. ‘Service Management Guru’ for a service management course). Fashion the badges to look like actual artifacts the learner would receive within their organization.
Including partly correct answers that fetch partial points or wrong answers that deduct points increases the engagement and the challenge. Further, tangible rewards, badges, and certificates are a few other ways of encouraging learners.
In case of a curriculum, points the learner gains (or even rewards/badges) can carry forward from course to course and result in the learner winning a final award or trophy.
Making an assessment flexible such that the learner is allowed to switch between questions can be a way to comfort them, to allow them some degree of control over an otherwise rigid activity, and to enhance their engagement and motivation. If the learner is unable to answer even after a swap, it can suggest to them that their learning was insufficient and can hence urge them to learn again thoroughly.
If there are points for each correct answer, intensify the challenge by deducting points for a question swap.
As a corollary to the tactic above, award extra points for consistently refraining from a question swap.
Frame questions carefully so that even if swaps are offered, the learner is still tested in all the areas that the course content has covered.
Being completely self-driven as they are, e-learning courses tend to be solitary journeys. While this has its benefits, turning a few aspects of a course into shared experiences can also prove to be useful. For assessments, it brings in the excitement of a group activity and infuses a healthy competition. One effective way to achieve that is through leaderboards that announce top scorers.
Display the latest leaderboard right before a learner starts to take the assessment. This will introduce the competition factor from the beginning of the assessment and motivate the learner to make it onto the board.
After the learner completes the assessment, display the updated leaderboard.
If the learner makes it onto the board, it will instill confidence and foster satisfaction.
If not, they will be driven to retake the assessment (sometimes only after retaking the course) so they can do better.
Against the leaders’ names, display the number of points gathered, rewards earned and badges procured to add more exciting facets to the competition.
A variety of puzzles can be used as or alongside questions to stimulate the learner to solve them and keep them focused on completing the assessment successfully.
Gather assessment questions with one-word or two-word answers and create a single crossword puzzle that includes them all. Convert the questions into crisp clues and hide their answers in the crossword for the learner to unravel.
Introduce an unsolved jigsaw puzzle at the start of the assessment with most pieces missing. Offer one piece for each correctly answered question. The drive to complete the puzzle can work as a motivating factor for the learner to continue with the assessment and get questions right. To maintain relevance, keep this jigsaw related to the course content. It could be interesting good-to-know information or a useful job-aid.
Integrate a hangman game into the assessment so that the hangman stick-figure builds a piece each with each incorrect answer. The hangman completes once the count of incorrect answers crosses a fixed number. This can turn even a plain question-answer assessment into something fun.
Post-assessments can also be completely game-based, wherein the entire assessment is a single game rather than a set of individually gamified questions. In this approach, questions are woven into the game’s mechanics and the learner answers them in order to progress through the game.
Throw in a dash of luck into the assessment by converting it into a board game. The learner can virtually roll a pair of dice and progress through the places on the board, each of which will have a question for the learner to answer.
Keep the contents of the board game relevant to the course.
Design the board in such a way that the more accurate the learner’s answers are, the more likely they are to get farther ahead.
Move the learner back for wrong answers, push them bonus places forward for consistently answering correctly, and include other game elements or board strategies to make the game more exciting and engaging.
A key benefit of gamified post-assessments is that if the learner doesn’t win at the end, they are persuaded to retake the course and attempt the gamified assessment once more. Essentially, this results in focused and outcome-driven learning.
Besides intensive instructional and graphic effort, gamifying post-assessments typically requires considerable technological support. The tracking and display of gamified elements needs to be programmed into the e-learning course. Such technical dependencies and their feasibility needs to be identified at the outset of solution design.
The five ideas presented above provide a mere glimpse into the numerous approaches and methods that can be devised to gamify post-assessments. Don’t stop at a single idea. Gamification combinations can be used in assessments as well. The learner, however, must not be overwhelmed by it all. While being sufficiently complex and challenging, gamification must not cause a cognitive overload.
In diligently gamified assessments, learners don’t just pass tests, but win them. Start gamifying assessments today, and give learners a chance at celebrating their learning!

lowercased:
exams have always scared us as kids. even as adults, how often have we squirmed at the thought of a test? direct question-answer assessments for many of us, in fact, are dull at their best and intimidating at their worst. the anxiety before a test even brings down performance for some of us. is it a surprise then that this unrest for assessments extends into the e-learning world?
as a learner journeys towards the close of an already intensive e-learning experience, the stress to perform well in the assessment could get compounded with the monotony of moving through a long chain of questions. this can cause the assessment to seem like an unavoidable burden.
however, assessments cannot be done away with. they form an integral part of the learning cycle and help to reinforce learning, instill learner confidence and foster satisfaction. they are also an essential component of measuring the level of learning that is realized. how then do we make assessments more appealing?
an interesting option that is gaining popularity.
the magic of games is that they get the player hooked. we’ve all experienced this at least once in our lives. good games are fun and engaging, and motivate players to try until they succeed.
so why not leverage these features and revamp assessments to be less like question papers and more like games? the desire for victory that a game would set off in a learner could then be used to elicit competent performance.
gamification can be achieved in many different ways. let’s take a look at five simple ideas for gamifying post-assessments.
the simplest touch of gamification in an assessment would be to add in the basic game elements of points, rewards, and badges. design the assessment such that points are accumulated for every correctly answered question, rewards are granted at fixed checkpoints, and upon test completion, a badge is bestowed upon the learner based on the overall score.
display a “points counter” on screen so the learner can see their performance quantified and, as a result, be motivated to do better as they move along.
include rewards at periodic intervals during the assessment for further motivation. the rewards could be based on varied parameters like number of correct answers given (e.g. an ‘expert reward’), speed of answering correctly (e.g. an ‘express reward’), or displaying proficiency in particular areas within the content (e.g. a ‘claims expert’ reward for a claims system course).
to increase relevance and enthusiasm, for badge names, use terms or ideas from the learner’s role in their organization or from the course content (e.g. ‘service management guru’ for a service management course). fashion the badges to look like actual artifacts the learner would receive within their organization.
including partly correct answers that fetch partial points or wrong answers that deduct points increases the engagement and the challenge. further, tangible rewards, badges, and certificates are a few other ways of encouraging learners.
in case of a curriculum, points the learner gains (or even rewards/badges) can carry forward from course to course and result in the learner winning a final award or trophy.
making an assessment flexible such that the learner is allowed to switch between questions can be a way to comfort them, to allow them some degree of control over an otherwise rigid activity, and to enhance their engagement and motivation. if the learner is unable to answer even after a swap, it can suggest to them that their learning was insufficient and can hence urge them to learn again thoroughly.
if there are points for each correct answer, intensify the challenge by deducting points for a question swap.
as a corollary to the tactic above, award extra points for consistently refraining from a question swap.
frame questions carefully so that even if swaps are offered, the learner is still tested in all the areas that the course content has covered.
being completely self-driven as they are, e-learning courses tend to be solitary journeys. while this has its benefits, turning a few aspects of a course into shared experiences can also prove to be useful. for assessments, it brings in the excitement of a group activity and infuses a healthy competition. one effective way to achieve that is through leaderboards that announce top scorers.
display the latest leaderboard right before a learner starts to take the assessment. this will introduce the competition factor from the beginning of the assessment and motivate the learner to make it onto the board.
after the learner completes the assessment, display the updated leaderboard.
if the learner makes it onto the board, it will instill confidence and foster satisfaction.
if not, they will be driven to retake the assessment (sometimes only after retaking the course) so they can do better.
against the leaders’ names, display the number of points gathered, rewards earned and badges procured to add more exciting facets to the competition.
a variety of puzzles can be used as or alongside questions to stimulate the learner to solve them and keep them focused on completing the assessment successfully.
gather assessment questions with one-word or two-word answers and create a single crossword puzzle that includes them all. convert the questions into crisp clues and hide their answers in the crossword for the learner to unravel.
introduce an unsolved jigsaw puzzle at the start of the assessment with most pieces missing. offer one piece for each correctly answered question. the drive to complete the puzzle can work as a motivating factor for the learner to continue with the assessment and get questions right. to maintain relevance, keep this jigsaw related to the course content. it could be interesting good-to-know information or a useful job-aid.
integrate a hangman game into the assessment so that the hangman stick-figure builds a piece each with each incorrect answer. the hangman completes once the count of incorrect answers crosses a fixed number. this can turn even a plain question-answer assessment into something fun.
post-assessments can also be completely game-based, wherein the entire assessment is a single game rather than a set of individually gamified questions. in this approach, questions are woven into the game’s mechanics and the learner answers them in order to progress through the game.
throw in a dash of luck into the assessment by converting it into a board game. the learner can virtually roll a pair of dice and progress through the places on the board, each of which will have a question for the learner to answer.
keep the contents of the board game relevant to the course.
design the board in such a way that the more accurate the learner’s answers are, the more likely they are to get farther ahead.
move the learner back for wrong answers, push them bonus places forward for consistently answering correctly, and include other game elements or board strategies to make the game more exciting and engaging.
a key benefit of gamified post-assessments is that if the learner doesn’t win at the end, they are persuaded to retake the course and attempt the gamified assessment once more. essentially, this results in focused and outcome-driven learning.
besides intensive instructional and graphic effort, gamifying post-assessments typically requires considerable technological support. the tracking and display of gamified elements needs to be programmed into the e-learning course. such technical dependencies and their feasibility needs to be identified at the outset of solution design.
the five ideas presented above provide a mere glimpse into the numerous approaches and methods that can be devised to gamify post-assessments. don’t stop at a single idea. gamification combinations can be used in assessments as well. the learner, however, must not be overwhelmed by it all. while being sufficiently complex and challenging, gamification must not cause a cognitive overload.
in diligently gamified assessments, learners don’t just pass tests, but win them. start gamifying assessments today, and give learners a chance at celebrating their learning!


text:
AS A time when society is flooded with fake prophets as prophesied in the Holy Scriptures, it is comforting to know that God is equally raising genuine men and women of God.
Allow me to congratulate Reverend Wisdom Mulenga on his ordination recently. To some of us who have been close to this man of God and his wife, the calling to ministry has been evident through the years.
Their lifestyle is a true reflection of what Christianity is. Their home has been a place of refuge for many. Compassion, kindness and love are virtues that flow naturally from their lives.
Seeing Rev Mulenga submitting to the call of God that he has tried to ignore for many years is a sigh of relief to the body of Christ knowing that another battle axe has been ushered onto the battle front.
In this era, we certainly need more men of God who will preach the infallible word of God in its originality.
I wish Rev Mulenga God’s grace as he launches into a new era of ministry.

lowercased:
as a time when society is flooded with fake prophets as prophesied in the holy scriptures, it is comforting to know that god is equally raising genuine men and women of god.
allow me to congratulate reverend wisdom mulenga on his ordination recently. to some of us who have been close to this man of god and his wife, the calling to ministry has been evident through the years.
their lifestyle is a true reflection of what christianity is. their home has been a place of refuge for many. compassion, kindness and love are virtues that flow naturally from their lives.
seeing rev mulenga submitting to the call of god that he has tried to ignore for many years is a sigh of relief to the body of christ knowing that another battle axe has been ushered onto the battle front.
in this era, we certainly need more men of god who will preach the infallible word of god in its originality.
i wish rev mulenga god’s grace as he launches into a new era of ministry.


text:
Bringing you our famous Model Railway Exhibition, Driver Experiences on our very own narrow gauge railway, Railway Modelling Courses to brush up your techniques and even afternoon tea served in our beautifully preserved Orion Pullman Car, there is nowhere better to experience the Home of Peco than at Pecorama.
For a spot of peace and tranquility and panoramic views to behold, come and experience our truly outstanding professionally-designed gardens at Pecorama... you certainly don't have to be green-fingered to appreciate the perfect place to unwind.
A day of fun is guaranteed at Pecorama... for all of the family! For our younger guests, why not come and play in our incredible indoor soft play area, the Play Station, let your imagination run wild on the Peco Pearl, our outdoor pirate ship, or catch our all-weather Showtime entertainment in our Top Spot Garden Theatre. For those who are young at heart, test your skills on our terraced crazy golf course or challenge your friends to a game of table tennis – don't forget to toast the winner at The Whistle Stop refreshment area!
Feeling peckish after a day of trains, games and fun at Pecorama? We serve beautifully fresh food, snacks, drinks and ice creams throughout the site for when you need a moment to recharge your batteries and refresh. We also offer celebration catering to ensure your special event is one to remember.

lowercased:
bringing you our famous model railway exhibition, driver experiences on our very own narrow gauge railway, railway modelling courses to brush up your techniques and even afternoon tea served in our beautifully preserved orion pullman car, there is nowhere better to experience the home of peco than at pecorama.
for a spot of peace and tranquility and panoramic views to behold, come and experience our truly outstanding professionally-designed gardens at pecorama... you certainly don't have to be green-fingered to appreciate the perfect place to unwind.
a day of fun is guaranteed at pecorama... for all of the family! for our younger guests, why not come and play in our incredible indoor soft play area, the play station, let your imagination run wild on the peco pearl, our outdoor pirate ship, or catch our all-weather showtime entertainment in our top spot garden theatre. for those who are young at heart, test your skills on our terraced crazy golf course or challenge your friends to a game of table tennis – don't forget to toast the winner at the whistle stop refreshment area!
feeling peckish after a day of trains, games and fun at pecorama? we serve beautifully fresh food, snacks, drinks and ice creams throughout the site for when you need a moment to recharge your batteries and refresh. we also offer celebration catering to ensure your special event is one to remember.


text:
As a leader in health care and support services for individuals throughout the UK, Voyage Care supports thousands of people with learning and physical disabilities, brain injuries, autism and other needs. We operate over 400 care homes and 20 rehabilitation centres across the country and we provide specialist care and support to people at home and in the wider community…and we're growing every day!
Financially astute and exceptionally organised, you will join us with a Registered Managers Award plus your Level 5 Diploma, or equivalent qualification, or be eligible to complete the Level 5 Diploma. You will certainly be experienced in care management and will possess excellent knowledge of Care Standards, Regulations and Valuing People. Above all, you should be as approachable, as reliable and as dedicated as we are, and you'll be poised to hit the ground 'sprinting'.
We ensure that the people we support reach their full potential - and of course we'll make sure that you reach yours.
If you click this button, we will send daily emails featuring similar jobs (Rehabilitation - Hindhead).

lowercased:
as a leader in health care and support services for individuals throughout the uk, voyage care supports thousands of people with learning and physical disabilities, brain injuries, autism and other needs. we operate over 400 care homes and 20 rehabilitation centres across the country and we provide specialist care and support to people at home and in the wider community…and we're growing every day!
financially astute and exceptionally organised, you will join us with a registered managers award plus your level 5 diploma, or equivalent qualification, or be eligible to complete the level 5 diploma. you will certainly be experienced in care management and will possess excellent knowledge of care standards, regulations and valuing people. above all, you should be as approachable, as reliable and as dedicated as we are, and you'll be poised to hit the ground 'sprinting'.
we ensure that the people we support reach their full potential - and of course we'll make sure that you reach yours.
if you click this button, we will send daily emails featuring similar jobs (rehabilitation - hindhead).


text:
He was arrested at 3 am on Saturday following which his arrest was deemed illegal by a sessions court and he was released from custody a day later.
Teltumbde’s counsel Mihir Desai mentioned the anticipatory bail application before a single bench of the high court seeking an urgent hearing.
The Pune police, however, had objected to Teltumbde’s plea, saying while they were yet to arrest him as they were was “busy” probing other accused persons in the case, they had adequate incriminating evidence against him too.

lowercased:
he was arrested at 3 am on saturday following which his arrest was deemed illegal by a sessions court and he was released from custody a day later.
teltumbde’s counsel mihir desai mentioned the anticipatory bail application before a single bench of the high court seeking an urgent hearing.
the pune police, however, had objected to teltumbde’s plea, saying while they were yet to arrest him as they were was “busy” probing other accused persons in the case, they had adequate incriminating evidence against him too.


text:
Picture this: You’re building a new home—and you’ve planned it down to the last detail. You’ve picked out kitchen cabinets and counters, thought about the layout of your living area, and you’ve helped design your master bedroom and en-suite bathroom. But have you considered your walk-in closets?
If you haven’t considered your main storage spaces, you might be faced with wire shelving that doesn’t adjust and just isn’t effective come move-in day—a less-than-perfect solution for storing your clothes, shoes, accessories and everything else that needs to go into your walk-in closet.
You might think that custom closets are easier to design and build after you move in, but planning your closet as you build your house can ensure you get the perfect closet now instead of having to work around any issues the space presents later.
Here’s what you need to consider while building your house with a custom closet.
3. Where access panel, light switches and vents should go.
You already have an idea of how much “stuff” you’ll need to store in a walk-in closet. A custom closet designer can take a look at your clothes, shoes, accessories and other “stuff,” as well as the plans for your closets and determine if you’ll have enough space.
For example, if you find you’ll need more space, you might be able to take a few extra feet from the master bedroom and devote them to the walk-in closet. It will make a noticeable difference in the amount of storage you have while not affecting the overall aesthetic of the bedroom.
If you’re going all-out on a custom walk-in closet, simple ceiling lighting fixtures might not cut it. Designing your custom closet in tandem with a builder can help you and the electrician work together on lighting choices. You’ll get the fixtures you want from the start, while saving on the cost of rewiring your walk-in closet later.
Speaking of lights, a custom closet designer can also help you plan for small details like where light switches, vents and access panels should go. For example, you’ll save space on a walk-in wall by placing the light switch outside the closet. And HVAC vents and returns can be strategically placed throughout the room so they don’t interfere with the design of the closet. Finally, access panel placement can also be planned so your closet design doesn’t block vital access to plumbing or electrical infrastructure.
Depending on where your walk-in closet is located in your new house, it might be designed with a window. This will likely make your house look symmetrical from the outside, but a window in your walk-in closet can take up valuable space and even ruin your clothes. If you’d like to keep the window in your walk-in closet design, you can plan to place UV film on it when it’s installed to protect clothes from fading, or cover the window altogether. Alternatively, you can alter the plans and eliminate the window completely to maximize storage space.
You might not intend to decorate your walk-in closet with lamps, but you might build a custom drawer that includes a charging station for all your devices. And if your closet is carpeted, you might also need a place to plug in a vacuum cleaner. Working with a custom closet designer can help ensure you have outlets where you need them—and they won’t get in the way of shelving, drawers or even hanging clothes.
If you’re building your dream home now, contact us to design your walk-in closets.

lowercased:
picture this: you’re building a new home—and you’ve planned it down to the last detail. you’ve picked out kitchen cabinets and counters, thought about the layout of your living area, and you’ve helped design your master bedroom and en-suite bathroom. but have you considered your walk-in closets?
if you haven’t considered your main storage spaces, you might be faced with wire shelving that doesn’t adjust and just isn’t effective come move-in day—a less-than-perfect solution for storing your clothes, shoes, accessories and everything else that needs to go into your walk-in closet.
you might think that custom closets are easier to design and build after you move in, but planning your closet as you build your house can ensure you get the perfect closet now instead of having to work around any issues the space presents later.
here’s what you need to consider while building your house with a custom closet.
3. where access panel, light switches and vents should go.
you already have an idea of how much “stuff” you’ll need to store in a walk-in closet. a custom closet designer can take a look at your clothes, shoes, accessories and other “stuff,” as well as the plans for your closets and determine if you’ll have enough space.
for example, if you find you’ll need more space, you might be able to take a few extra feet from the master bedroom and devote them to the walk-in closet. it will make a noticeable difference in the amount of storage you have while not affecting the overall aesthetic of the bedroom.
if you’re going all-out on a custom walk-in closet, simple ceiling lighting fixtures might not cut it. designing your custom closet in tandem with a builder can help you and the electrician work together on lighting choices. you’ll get the fixtures you want from the start, while saving on the cost of rewiring your walk-in closet later.
speaking of lights, a custom closet designer can also help you plan for small details like where light switches, vents and access panels should go. for example, you’ll save space on a walk-in wall by placing the light switch outside the closet. and hvac vents and returns can be strategically placed throughout the room so they don’t interfere with the design of the closet. finally, access panel placement can also be planned so your closet design doesn’t block vital access to plumbing or electrical infrastructure.
depending on where your walk-in closet is located in your new house, it might be designed with a window. this will likely make your house look symmetrical from the outside, but a window in your walk-in closet can take up valuable space and even ruin your clothes. if you’d like to keep the window in your walk-in closet design, you can plan to place uv film on it when it’s installed to protect clothes from fading, or cover the window altogether. alternatively, you can alter the plans and eliminate the window completely to maximize storage space.
you might not intend to decorate your walk-in closet with lamps, but you might build a custom drawer that includes a charging station for all your devices. and if your closet is carpeted, you might also need a place to plug in a vacuum cleaner. working with a custom closet designer can help ensure you have outlets where you need them—and they won’t get in the way of shelving, drawers or even hanging clothes.
if you’re building your dream home now, contact us to design your walk-in closets.


text:
A big chunk of business expenses often goes to paying for electricity bills. Because of this, it makes sense that you check your energy use to see if there are changes you can make to cut your energy consumption. Simple changes in workplace habits can make a major difference so make sure that you enlist your employees’ help in your effort to cut your electricity costs. People in your organization should make it a habit to power off electronic equipment that is not in use. Monitors of computers that are on standby, for example, should be shut off and lights in areas that are not in use should be turned off. You may also want to replace your lighting with compact fluorescent lamp because CFL is more energy efficient than incandescent and halogen lights. If you are replacing old equipment in your office, you should also make sure that you go for equipment that has the energy star label. Computers, printers, fax machines and air conditioning units that have earned the energy star label are more energy efficient and therefore, more cost effective to use if you want to save on your electricity bills.
Businesses also have to spend on services so you may want to do an assessment of the services that your company avails of to see if you are spending more than necessary. If your company is spending a lot to cover your phone bills, for instance, you may want to look for options that can help you save on your phone expenses. Calls should be avoided if there are alternative means of communication. When ordering materials from your supplier, for example, you may want to send an email instead of placing your orders through phone calls. Should you need to make long distance calls, you may also want to make use of business VoIP services because placing calls online is more cost effective than making calls through landline or cell phone. For your computing needs, you may want to put a stop to paying for prohibitive licenses on premium software products and switch to using open source software instead. You can opt for GNUcash instead of paying for a premium accounting software. You do not also have to spend a lot on Microsoft Word because OpenOffice makes a good alternative for word processing software.
A bulk of business expenses often goes to paying for advertisements. Although advertising your products and services is crucial to your company’s success, you may still want to consider your options to get people to patronize your business. Instead of spending most of your marketing budget paying for ad spaces, for example, you may want to make use of referral system. In this marketing strategy, you encourage your customers to spread word about your business and you reward them if they successfully bring new customers to your business. The reward can be a special discount when they avail of your services, freebies or gift certificates. You will have no problem with word of mouth marketing if you are confident about the quality of the products and services that you provide your customers.

lowercased:
a big chunk of business expenses often goes to paying for electricity bills. because of this, it makes sense that you check your energy use to see if there are changes you can make to cut your energy consumption. simple changes in workplace habits can make a major difference so make sure that you enlist your employees’ help in your effort to cut your electricity costs. people in your organization should make it a habit to power off electronic equipment that is not in use. monitors of computers that are on standby, for example, should be shut off and lights in areas that are not in use should be turned off. you may also want to replace your lighting with compact fluorescent lamp because cfl is more energy efficient than incandescent and halogen lights. if you are replacing old equipment in your office, you should also make sure that you go for equipment that has the energy star label. computers, printers, fax machines and air conditioning units that have earned the energy star label are more energy efficient and therefore, more cost effective to use if you want to save on your electricity bills.
businesses also have to spend on services so you may want to do an assessment of the services that your company avails of to see if you are spending more than necessary. if your company is spending a lot to cover your phone bills, for instance, you may want to look for options that can help you save on your phone expenses. calls should be avoided if there are alternative means of communication. when ordering materials from your supplier, for example, you may want to send an email instead of placing your orders through phone calls. should you need to make long distance calls, you may also want to make use of business voip services because placing calls online is more cost effective than making calls through landline or cell phone. for your computing needs, you may want to put a stop to paying for prohibitive licenses on premium software products and switch to using open source software instead. you can opt for gnucash instead of paying for a premium accounting software. you do not also have to spend a lot on microsoft word because openoffice makes a good alternative for word processing software.
a bulk of business expenses often goes to paying for advertisements. although advertising your products and services is crucial to your company’s success, you may still want to consider your options to get people to patronize your business. instead of spending most of your marketing budget paying for ad spaces, for example, you may want to make use of referral system. in this marketing strategy, you encourage your customers to spread word about your business and you reward them if they successfully bring new customers to your business. the reward can be a special discount when they avail of your services, freebies or gift certificates. you will have no problem with word of mouth marketing if you are confident about the quality of the products and services that you provide your customers.


text:
Ibiza is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, covering just 225 square miles (585 square km), but in recent times it has become the best known of the archipelago and a hugely popular destination for young revellers, middle-class European package tourists, and gay travellers, whose collective character imbue the island with a chic and trendy atmosphere that is well expressed by its famously frenetic nightlife.
Ibiza has plenty to offer besides nightclubs - its jagged coastline contains dozens of dreamy white sandy beaches, hidden coves and bays, villages of white-washed houses tumbling down cliff sides, and a green, hilly interior landscape decorated with fig and olive trees.
The island's main town is the port of Ciudad de Ibiza, known as Eivissa to the locals and Ibiza Town to the Brits. Located in the south, it is the centre of the island's nightclub scene and has a lively marina and quaint old quarter with some great restaurants. It lies close to the beautiful beaches of Figueretes, Es Cavallet, and Ses Salines.
San Antonio is the main resort town of the island and is somewhat blighted by high-rise hotels and apartment blocks, though it is making efforts to clean up its slightly tarnished image and its popularity is still legendary.
The main attractions for many British holidaymakers are the two clubs of Es Paradis and Eden but there are also some beautiful coves nearby with glorious beaches. It's best to get there early in the summer months to reserve a spot. Just three miles (5km) offshore is the 'satellite' island of Formentera, a little haven reached by ferry, with less crowded stretches even in the height of the sweltering summer season.
There is good public transport between Ibiza Town and San Antonio, and to and from the main beaches and resorts. Taxis are good value and the best way to get around in the evening, although there is also a 'disco bus', travelling from San Antonio to the main clubs in Ibiza Town during the peak season. Cars and scooters can be hired by the day or week for those wanting to explore the island. Ferries run from San Antonio and Ibiza Town to nearby beaches between May and October.

lowercased:
ibiza is the third largest of the balearic islands, covering just 225 square miles (585 square km), but in recent times it has become the best known of the archipelago and a hugely popular destination for young revellers, middle-class european package tourists, and gay travellers, whose collective character imbue the island with a chic and trendy atmosphere that is well expressed by its famously frenetic nightlife.
ibiza has plenty to offer besides nightclubs - its jagged coastline contains dozens of dreamy white sandy beaches, hidden coves and bays, villages of white-washed houses tumbling down cliff sides, and a green, hilly interior landscape decorated with fig and olive trees.
the island's main town is the port of ciudad de ibiza, known as eivissa to the locals and ibiza town to the brits. located in the south, it is the centre of the island's nightclub scene and has a lively marina and quaint old quarter with some great restaurants. it lies close to the beautiful beaches of figueretes, es cavallet, and ses salines.
san antonio is the main resort town of the island and is somewhat blighted by high-rise hotels and apartment blocks, though it is making efforts to clean up its slightly tarnished image and its popularity is still legendary.
the main attractions for many british holidaymakers are the two clubs of es paradis and eden but there are also some beautiful coves nearby with glorious beaches. it's best to get there early in the summer months to reserve a spot. just three miles (5km) offshore is the 'satellite' island of formentera, a little haven reached by ferry, with less crowded stretches even in the height of the sweltering summer season.
there is good public transport between ibiza town and san antonio, and to and from the main beaches and resorts. taxis are good value and the best way to get around in the evening, although there is also a 'disco bus', travelling from san antonio to the main clubs in ibiza town during the peak season. cars and scooters can be hired by the day or week for those wanting to explore the island. ferries run from san antonio and ibiza town to nearby beaches between may and october.


text:
For example, black and Hispanic women with breast cancer were less likely than white women to select surgeons and hospitals based on reputation, researchers found.
The differences in how people select healthcare providers may help explain racial differences in use, delivery and quality of medical care, the researchers write in JAMA Oncology.
“Disparities in breast cancer and cancer care are very complex,” said Dr. Rachel Freedman, the study’s lead author from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
She and her colleagues asked 222 non-Hispanic white women, 142 non-Hispanic black women and 136 Hispanic women from Northern California to identify the reasons they chose their surgeons and hospitals. The women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2011.
Overall, most women said they chose their surgeon based on their doctors’ recommendations, and they picked their hospital because of their health plan.
On closer analysis, the researchers found 19 percent of black women and 87 percent of Spanish-speaking Hispanic women listed their doctors’ recommendations as a reason for selecting their surgeons, compared to 76 percent of white women.
Overall, they found that black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to factor in the reputation of their surgeons and hospitals when making their choices. Minority women, however, more often said they factored in their doctors’ recommendations.
While they can’t say how these differences factor into later care, Freedman said the recommendations from doctors may become very important and determine women’s remaining care.
“It possible that initial point of referral is very important for treatment and trajectory,” she said.
The next step would be to look at what kinds of care the women are getting to get a better understanding of how this all matters, Freedman said, adding that doctors may need to tailor their approaches for different women.
She said there may not be anything wrong with a more passive style of doctor and hospital selection they found among black and Hispanic women, she said.
“We just don’t know,” she said, adding that existing literature suggests people who are more active in healthcare are also more engaged.

lowercased:
for example, black and hispanic women with breast cancer were less likely than white women to select surgeons and hospitals based on reputation, researchers found.
the differences in how people select healthcare providers may help explain racial differences in use, delivery and quality of medical care, the researchers write in jama oncology.
“disparities in breast cancer and cancer care are very complex,” said dr. rachel freedman, the study’s lead author from the dana-farber cancer institute in boston.
she and her colleagues asked 222 non-hispanic white women, 142 non-hispanic black women and 136 hispanic women from northern california to identify the reasons they chose their surgeons and hospitals. the women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2011.
overall, most women said they chose their surgeon based on their doctors’ recommendations, and they picked their hospital because of their health plan.
on closer analysis, the researchers found 19 percent of black women and 87 percent of spanish-speaking hispanic women listed their doctors’ recommendations as a reason for selecting their surgeons, compared to 76 percent of white women.
overall, they found that black and hispanic women were less likely than white women to factor in the reputation of their surgeons and hospitals when making their choices. minority women, however, more often said they factored in their doctors’ recommendations.
while they can’t say how these differences factor into later care, freedman said the recommendations from doctors may become very important and determine women’s remaining care.
“it possible that initial point of referral is very important for treatment and trajectory,” she said.
the next step would be to look at what kinds of care the women are getting to get a better understanding of how this all matters, freedman said, adding that doctors may need to tailor their approaches for different women.
she said there may not be anything wrong with a more passive style of doctor and hospital selection they found among black and hispanic women, she said.
“we just don’t know,” she said, adding that existing literature suggests people who are more active in healthcare are also more engaged.


text: Automakers learned early on that one of the easiest ways to make more money was to take an existing car, and alter it into something else. That’s how we got Model T trucks, the Chevy El Camino, and the seemingly endless variants of the Chrysler K Car. So it only makes sense that Tesla Motors should follow suit with its Model S sedan, and one independent designer has penned a Model S wagon that he thinks would fit the Tesla lineup well.

lowercased: automakers learned early on that one of the easiest ways to make more money was to take an existing car, and alter it into something else. that’s how we got model t trucks, the chevy el camino, and the seemingly endless variants of the chrysler k car. so it only makes sense that tesla motors should follow suit with its model s sedan, and one independent designer has penned a model s wagon that he thinks would fit the tesla lineup well.


text:
What is 287 percent of 2,980?
How much is 287 percent of 2980? Use the calculator below to calculate a percentage, either as a percentage of a number, such as 287% of 2980 or the percentage of 2 numbers. Change the numbers to calculate different amounts. Simply type into the input boxes and the answer will update.

lowercased:
what is 287 percent of 2,980?
how much is 287 percent of 2980? use the calculator below to calculate a percentage, either as a percentage of a number, such as 287% of 2980 or the percentage of 2 numbers. change the numbers to calculate different amounts. simply type into the input boxes and the answer will update.


text:
Today is my birthday and to celebrate, I got my haircut. My local barbershop is closing its doors, and I have been going to Vincent’s for 27 years. The first time I took my son there he was 3 years old now he is a grown man of 30.
And the one today, on my 57th birthday and the last one at Vincent’s Barber shop.
Thanks to all the guys for the haircuts of a lifetime.
Now I need to find a new place because even though all my hair has turned gray it still grows like a weed.

lowercased:
today is my birthday and to celebrate, i got my haircut. my local barbershop is closing its doors, and i have been going to vincent’s for 27 years. the first time i took my son there he was 3 years old now he is a grown man of 30.
and the one today, on my 57th birthday and the last one at vincent’s barber shop.
thanks to all the guys for the haircuts of a lifetime.
now i need to find a new place because even though all my hair has turned gray it still grows like a weed.


text:
CAPITOL STANDARD columnist Michael Hardaway breaks it down.
My name is Michael Hardaway. I’ve worked for high-ranking political officials ranging from Barack Obama to Bill Nelson. I’ve advised professional athletes and foreign ambassadors. I’ve been in the New York Times and I’m on a first-name basis with your favorite politicians.
I’m telling you all this because when I tell you DC (or NYC, LA, and all the other places we flock to build our careers) is a beast– a fierce yet easily tamed beast– I want you to trust me. There are hard and fast rules to this place. If you abide by them you will pierce through the proverbial bubble, and on to an entirely new level.
Your interactions with constituents, supporters, and the media reflect directly on your boss. You don’t want to be the reason s/he doesn’t get re-elected. Execute your office duties precisely. There’s no room for ineptitude. Play to win or don’t show up.
Don’t share office secrets with your roommate. Don’t tell your girlfriend about your Senator’s interoffice tirade. Never gossip. Be smart about how you share information and with whom you share it. Your career depends on it.
Networking is superficial. It feels forced. Focus on building real relationships with people. Get to know the person. Understand who they are and what they do for living, then find a way to add value for them.
Remy Danton once said, “Power is better than money for as long as it lasts, but it never lasts.” Power vacillates in this town. People change jobs. Parties play musical chairs at each end of Pennsylvania Avenue. The only way to survive and thrive is to create an expansive web of relationships that encompasses both parties and an array of industries.
Happy hour ends careers. Don’t take drunken pictures at receptions. Avoid Twitter after you’ve had a few shots.
Find a barber. Find a tailor. Find a gym. Patronize them regularly. A stressful job is no excuse for being a slob.
Resist the temptation to put important information in texts and emails. You never know what a situation can devolve into and you don’t want your words printed on the front page of the New York Times. Go with a face-to-face meeting instead. If that isn’t feasible, jump on the phone.
Working in politics affords you priceless opportunities to attend important events. Use beltway outlets such as Capital Standard and Cloture Club to identify those opportunities. Get to know outreach staffers at each embassy and similar organizations around the city. Aim to meet at least one new person at each event — and make sure you follow up with them within 24 hours.
And while you’re at it, burn that sweatshirt from your Alma mater. You’ve graduated.
That co-worker you loathe will be your boss on a campaign 4 years from now. That guy hogging your treadmill in the Senate gym will run a lobbying firm 7 years from now. Recalibrate your perspective on relationships.
Looking to network with globally-minded, successful young professionals? Start here.
For more stories on networking, making it, and putting it all in balance join the Capitol Standard newsletter.
Michael Hardaway chats with billionaire financier David Rubenstein.

lowercased:
capitol standard columnist michael hardaway breaks it down.
my name is michael hardaway. i’ve worked for high-ranking political officials ranging from barack obama to bill nelson. i’ve advised professional athletes and foreign ambassadors. i’ve been in the new york times and i’m on a first-name basis with your favorite politicians.
i’m telling you all this because when i tell you dc (or nyc, la, and all the other places we flock to build our careers) is a beast– a fierce yet easily tamed beast– i want you to trust me. there are hard and fast rules to this place. if you abide by them you will pierce through the proverbial bubble, and on to an entirely new level.
your interactions with constituents, supporters, and the media reflect directly on your boss. you don’t want to be the reason s/he doesn’t get re-elected. execute your office duties precisely. there’s no room for ineptitude. play to win or don’t show up.
don’t share office secrets with your roommate. don’t tell your girlfriend about your senator’s interoffice tirade. never gossip. be smart about how you share information and with whom you share it. your career depends on it.
networking is superficial. it feels forced. focus on building real relationships with people. get to know the person. understand who they are and what they do for living, then find a way to add value for them.
remy danton once said, “power is better than money for as long as it lasts, but it never lasts.” power vacillates in this town. people change jobs. parties play musical chairs at each end of pennsylvania avenue. the only way to survive and thrive is to create an expansive web of relationships that encompasses both parties and an array of industries.
happy hour ends careers. don’t take drunken pictures at receptions. avoid twitter after you’ve had a few shots.
find a barber. find a tailor. find a gym. patronize them regularly. a stressful job is no excuse for being a slob.
resist the temptation to put important information in texts and emails. you never know what a situation can devolve into and you don’t want your words printed on the front page of the new york times. go with a face-to-face meeting instead. if that isn’t feasible, jump on the phone.
working in politics affords you priceless opportunities to attend important events. use beltway outlets such as capital standard and cloture club to identify those opportunities. get to know outreach staffers at each embassy and similar organizations around the city. aim to meet at least one new person at each event — and make sure you follow up with them within 24 hours.
and while you’re at it, burn that sweatshirt from your alma mater. you’ve graduated.
that co-worker you loathe will be your boss on a campaign 4 years from now. that guy hogging your treadmill in the senate gym will run a lobbying firm 7 years from now. recalibrate your perspective on relationships.
looking to network with globally-minded, successful young professionals? start here.
for more stories on networking, making it, and putting it all in balance join the capitol standard newsletter.
michael hardaway chats with billionaire financier david rubenstein.


text:
We are offering eco friendly tea cup, natural, hand made, harmless, useful.
Eco friendly disposable paper cups for daily use of drinking water, tea, coffie, milk or hot and cold drinks.
In order to keep pace with never ending demands of the customers, our company is instrumental in offering Eco Friendly Paper Cup.
The average woman uses 11, 000 tampons and pads in her lifetime. This waste and the associated packaging all end up flushed down the toilet or dumped in landfill sites. Vcup produces no waste at all. Just think about the difference women could make to the environment if they all use cup.
We are Manufacturing Eco Friendly Paper Cups, all Kinds of Sizes and Colours At a Very Low Price.

lowercased:
we are offering eco friendly tea cup, natural, hand made, harmless, useful.
eco friendly disposable paper cups for daily use of drinking water, tea, coffie, milk or hot and cold drinks.
in order to keep pace with never ending demands of the customers, our company is instrumental in offering eco friendly paper cup.
the average woman uses 11, 000 tampons and pads in her lifetime. this waste and the associated packaging all end up flushed down the toilet or dumped in landfill sites. vcup produces no waste at all. just think about the difference women could make to the environment if they all use cup.
we are manufacturing eco friendly paper cups, all kinds of sizes and colours at a very low price.


text:
"The Bright Side of Life"
The Telescopic System consists of a fixed and a modular structure. It is composed of Hipped, Circular, Lean-to (mono-pitched), Classical and Gable roof forms and these forms can be fastened on the floor with long feet or in the gaps of the floor covering with short feet. Movable modules are retracted into the fixed module manually or with the help of an engine. These systems are widely used in the following areas: swimming pools, shopping centres, balcony enclosures, wedding halls, hotels and restaurants.
• The aluminium arches of the system used as carriers are made of specially alloyed high-strength aluminium.
• The distance between the carrier arches range between 105 cm, 125 cm, 160 cm and 210 cm, depending on the load to be carried by the system.
• Since the constituent segments of the telescopic pool enclosure are modular, there is no limit to the length of the project.
Our system consists of fixed and movable modules and these segments slide into each other telescopically.
• The plates that make up the vertical sides of the barrel-roof closure systems can be pushed up to 3 metres, so that they slide up under the other plate. This brings additional mobility to the working principle of our telescopic system.
• The system moves on specially manufactured stainless, anodized aluminium rails.
• In order to avoid the adverse effect of excessive wind, the system has been attached to the rails in a way that does not restrict movement.
• The aluminium materials used in the system can be painted in any RAL colour with electrostatic powder paint.
Copy Right 2012, Kayzen Enclosure Systems Ltd.

lowercased:
"the bright side of life"
the telescopic system consists of a fixed and a modular structure. it is composed of hipped, circular, lean-to (mono-pitched), classical and gable roof forms and these forms can be fastened on the floor with long feet or in the gaps of the floor covering with short feet. movable modules are retracted into the fixed module manually or with the help of an engine. these systems are widely used in the following areas: swimming pools, shopping centres, balcony enclosures, wedding halls, hotels and restaurants.
• the aluminium arches of the system used as carriers are made of specially alloyed high-strength aluminium.
• the distance between the carrier arches range between 105 cm, 125 cm, 160 cm and 210 cm, depending on the load to be carried by the system.
• since the constituent segments of the telescopic pool enclosure are modular, there is no limit to the length of the project.
our system consists of fixed and movable modules and these segments slide into each other telescopically.
• the plates that make up the vertical sides of the barrel-roof closure systems can be pushed up to 3 metres, so that they slide up under the other plate. this brings additional mobility to the working principle of our telescopic system.
• the system moves on specially manufactured stainless, anodized aluminium rails.
• in order to avoid the adverse effect of excessive wind, the system has been attached to the rails in a way that does not restrict movement.
• the aluminium materials used in the system can be painted in any ral colour with electrostatic powder paint.
copy right 2012, kayzen enclosure systems ltd.


text:
STENCIL: This consists of a frame onto which a mesh is attached under tension. The mesh is coated or covered with a photosensitive material. The image to be printed is created photographically on the stencil leaving open areas of mesh through which ink passes. The stencil is also known as “the screen”.
SQUEEGEE: A flexible polyurethane blade (sometimes rubber) held in a rigid mount or handle.
INK: Can take the form of a wide range of solids or dyes suspended in a fluid.
SUBSTRATE: This is a general term for the surface that is to be printed, such as a polo shirt.
MACHINE BASE: The base provides a surface for the substrate to be printed against and the upper section secures the screen.
In conventional screen-printing the squeegee carries out two functions. It deflects the stencil and brings it into contact with the substrate. The squeegee is held at an angle of typically 75 degrees to the horizontal.
Applications for Screen Printing. What makes screen printing so popular is the ability to lay down a film of a wide range of materials on a vast range of substrates.
The image to be printed is created on the printing plate, normally produced by chemical etching. The plate is generally steel or a nylon photopolymer material.
Pad printing inks contain solvents. When the ink is contained within the etched image area the evaporation of solvents causes the surface of the ink to become tacky. The shape of the pad is such that when it compresses on the plate the printing surface of the pad rolls across the plate. As it does so it comes into contact with the tacky surface of the ink. The ink sticks to the pad, as the pad lifts the printing surface rolls away from the plate and lifts up ink from the etching.
Whilst the pad moves towards the object to be printed the solvent continues to evaporate from the ink on the pad and the outside surface of the ink becomes tacky.
As the pad makes contact with the object and compresses, the print surface of the pad rolls across the object and the tacky surface of the ink attaches itself to the surface of the object. The pad then lifts and the printing surface of the pad rolls away from the surface of the object and releases the ink leaving it laying on the surface. Whilst this is happening the etched portion of the plate is recharged with ink, and the pad returns to pick up another image from the plate. A whole range of variables will affect pad printing. Etch depth, ink condition, ambient conditions, pad shape, surface finish, hardness and machine speed are the key factors.
With this method the lasers are used to engrave, etch or mark an object. The technique utilises a computerised system to drive the movements of the laser head. Very precise and clean engravings can be achieved at a high rate. It is this level of detail that makes it ideal for creating a high quality, cost effective means of personalising a wide variety of materials in particular metal, glass and wood. The laser engraving technique does not involve tool bits coming into contact with the surface of the product being engraved. This means laser engraving is at a distinct advantage over alternative engraving, and less modern technologies, where bit heads have to be replaced regularly.
This is the application of embroidering a logo or design onto clothing, caps or bags using computerised embroidery machines. There are two main parts to this process. The first part is ‘Digitizing’ which is when the logo is turned into stitches by physically tracing the design and creating the various types of stitches on a computer programme which will recreate the design. The digitizer will decide the best way for the design to be sewn onto the fabric, and will make decisions according to the fabric type and design size. Once the design has been digitized a disk is made which controls the embroidery machines. Now the design is ready for part two. This is the sewing process; firstly the disk is sampled on a loose piece of fabric to ensure that the quality is good and that there are no errors in the digitizing. Once the sample has been approved production can commence.
Some designs may need to be modified before they can be embroidered successfully. Small text below 4-5mm may need enlarging slightly and designs with very fine detail may require editing in order to achieve the best overall look.
A digital transfer is a way of producing full colour designs, which are too complex to be screen printed, for application onto garments, caps or bags via a heat process.The required image is printed onto white transfer paper. This is then cut out with a plotter, which is a machine that cuts through paper following an outline drawn in Adobe Illustrator. The transfer paper is then placed onto the object. The correct amount of heat and pressure is then applied. This is a precise process which ensures there is no damage to the surface of the product. The image then adheres permanently to the object.
In this mono process, a metal blocking die or plate is produced from the artwork. It is placed in the blocking machine and is heated. The product is below, held in a jig. Between the two is a 'foil' running from one reel to another. When the hot block is put, under pressure, against the product with the foil in between, the part of the block in contact with the product is the raised part on which the image appears. The result of this process is that the foil attaches itself to the product in the form of your image. Foils can be of a selection of colours, but gold and silver are the most often used. The result is a really shiny gold or silver image. Tints cannot be used, or very fine details shown.

lowercased:
stencil: this consists of a frame onto which a mesh is attached under tension. the mesh is coated or covered with a photosensitive material. the image to be printed is created photographically on the stencil leaving open areas of mesh through which ink passes. the stencil is also known as “the screen”.
squeegee: a flexible polyurethane blade (sometimes rubber) held in a rigid mount or handle.
ink: can take the form of a wide range of solids or dyes suspended in a fluid.
substrate: this is a general term for the surface that is to be printed, such as a polo shirt.
machine base: the base provides a surface for the substrate to be printed against and the upper section secures the screen.
in conventional screen-printing the squeegee carries out two functions. it deflects the stencil and brings it into contact with the substrate. the squeegee is held at an angle of typically 75 degrees to the horizontal.
applications for screen printing. what makes screen printing so popular is the ability to lay down a film of a wide range of materials on a vast range of substrates.
the image to be printed is created on the printing plate, normally produced by chemical etching. the plate is generally steel or a nylon photopolymer material.
pad printing inks contain solvents. when the ink is contained within the etched image area the evaporation of solvents causes the surface of the ink to become tacky. the shape of the pad is such that when it compresses on the plate the printing surface of the pad rolls across the plate. as it does so it comes into contact with the tacky surface of the ink. the ink sticks to the pad, as the pad lifts the printing surface rolls away from the plate and lifts up ink from the etching.
whilst the pad moves towards the object to be printed the solvent continues to evaporate from the ink on the pad and the outside surface of the ink becomes tacky.
as the pad makes contact with the object and compresses, the print surface of the pad rolls across the object and the tacky surface of the ink attaches itself to the surface of the object. the pad then lifts and the printing surface of the pad rolls away from the surface of the object and releases the ink leaving it laying on the surface. whilst this is happening the etched portion of the plate is recharged with ink, and the pad returns to pick up another image from the plate. a whole range of variables will affect pad printing. etch depth, ink condition, ambient conditions, pad shape, surface finish, hardness and machine speed are the key factors.
with this method the lasers are used to engrave, etch or mark an object. the technique utilises a computerised system to drive the movements of the laser head. very precise and clean engravings can be achieved at a high rate. it is this level of detail that makes it ideal for creating a high quality, cost effective means of personalising a wide variety of materials in particular metal, glass and wood. the laser engraving technique does not involve tool bits coming into contact with the surface of the product being engraved. this means laser engraving is at a distinct advantage over alternative engraving, and less modern technologies, where bit heads have to be replaced regularly.
this is the application of embroidering a logo or design onto clothing, caps or bags using computerised embroidery machines. there are two main parts to this process. the first part is ‘digitizing’ which is when the logo is turned into stitches by physically tracing the design and creating the various types of stitches on a computer programme which will recreate the design. the digitizer will decide the best way for the design to be sewn onto the fabric, and will make decisions according to the fabric type and design size. once the design has been digitized a disk is made which controls the embroidery machines. now the design is ready for part two. this is the sewing process; firstly the disk is sampled on a loose piece of fabric to ensure that the quality is good and that there are no errors in the digitizing. once the sample has been approved production can commence.
some designs may need to be modified before they can be embroidered successfully. small text below 4-5mm may need enlarging slightly and designs with very fine detail may require editing in order to achieve the best overall look.
a digital transfer is a way of producing full colour designs, which are too complex to be screen printed, for application onto garments, caps or bags via a heat process.the required image is printed onto white transfer paper. this is then cut out with a plotter, which is a machine that cuts through paper following an outline drawn in adobe illustrator. the transfer paper is then placed onto the object. the correct amount of heat and pressure is then applied. this is a precise process which ensures there is no damage to the surface of the product. the image then adheres permanently to the object.
in this mono process, a metal blocking die or plate is produced from the artwork. it is placed in the blocking machine and is heated. the product is below, held in a jig. between the two is a 'foil' running from one reel to another. when the hot block is put, under pressure, against the product with the foil in between, the part of the block in contact with the product is the raised part on which the image appears. the result of this process is that the foil attaches itself to the product in the form of your image. foils can be of a selection of colours, but gold and silver are the most often used. the result is a really shiny gold or silver image. tints cannot be used, or very fine details shown.


text:
ODA /Linux What to do if your screw up /etc/passwd file.
While this is more of a Linux Post . I'm adding this to the ODA Category Since this happened to me on a Database Appliance.
Since in my organization the Database team own complete control of the Database Appliance. We have to learn Unix/Linux administration. Oracle Database Appliance while a pretty hands off experience still need some work if you need to manage and maintain password synchronization etc.
In that category I wrote a script that ssh'ed in the box moved the /etc/passwd and then scp'ed a new set of files.
As you can see the statement above is the problem itself. if you move the /etc/passwd you cannot authenticate which means you have in essence created a box that no one can login to via any means.
This is really bad situation since you now have a node with no access since no one can authenticate.
Fortunately for me i had a very good Sysadmin who rescued me from this pickle.
He download OEL ( Oracle Enterprise Linux) and was able to rescue the system.
Select Remote Control - Redirection Tab.
Select Devices Menu Item and start redirection to a CDROM or CDROM image.
Select Keyboard Menu Item and cleck Control Alt Delete … to reboot the system.
Go back to the ILOM console.
Select Remote Control – Host Control Tab.
Change Next Boot Device to CDROM..
Go back to the Remote console and watch for the system to boot.
Do NOT hit any keys once its boots off of the CDROM or you may start the interactive install.
At the booted CDROM prompt type.
The will step through the rescue boot mode.
Select the appropriate regional responses when prompted.
Select ok to find and mount root filesystems as read/write.
These will be mounted under /mnt.
Once you get a shell prompt run df –h to confirm.
From here you will be able restore/replace corrupt or missing files.
The Moral of the story is Be very careful with what you are trying to do . The intention might be right but the wrong execution can cause you a lot of grief.
I've been trying to get a blogpost in for a while now but have not had enough time to actually get that in.
This is my Summary of Oracle Openworld 2012 or #oow to some. Oracle Openworld is tremendous event . There is just a lot of activities , be it Knowledge Sharing , Peer to Peer interaction or just socializing in general.
I've been very Fortunate this year to present at 2 conferences IOUG Collaborate as well as Oracle Openworld 2012.
The presentations are embedded within this post at the end. I would like to thx IOUG for providing the outlet to people for peer to perr interaction and providing such a wonderful outlet for growth and opportunity.
There were a lot of announcements and Being a DB person my focus was the DB. Oracle Database 12c is going to be awesome . Some of the features like GDS and Farsync are going to make Disaster Recovery and Datacenter recovery very easy on the Database Tier. Flex ASM also has a lot of potiential. Oracle Enterprise manager 12c has grown to be a very good product and i urge everyone to look at all the fantastic content around em at Oracle Open world 2012 .
I cant even describe the amount of Good Content out there and i would recommend everyone download the content Slides which are available to everyone Here.
I'd Also like to Thank the Oracle Database Appliance Team for all their Hospitality and as someone who is really enjoying the Oracle Database Appliance experience. There is a lot of Hard Work put by a lot of Talented Indivduals . Thank you Sohan DeMel and all his team for all the work around the ODA. Thx Ravi Sharma for taking the Pics Below.
Below are The 2 presentations that i was part of this Oracle openworld 2012.

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oda /linux what to do if your screw up /etc/passwd file.
while this is more of a linux post . i'm adding this to the oda category since this happened to me on a database appliance.
since in my organization the database team own complete control of the database appliance. we have to learn unix/linux administration. oracle database appliance while a pretty hands off experience still need some work if you need to manage and maintain password synchronization etc.
in that category i wrote a script that ssh'ed in the box moved the /etc/passwd and then scp'ed a new set of files.
as you can see the statement above is the problem itself. if you move the /etc/passwd you cannot authenticate which means you have in essence created a box that no one can login to via any means.
this is really bad situation since you now have a node with no access since no one can authenticate.
fortunately for me i had a very good sysadmin who rescued me from this pickle.
he download oel ( oracle enterprise linux) and was able to rescue the system.
select remote control - redirection tab.
select devices menu item and start redirection to a cdrom or cdrom image.
select keyboard menu item and cleck control alt delete … to reboot the system.
go back to the ilom console.
select remote control – host control tab.
change next boot device to cdrom..
go back to the remote console and watch for the system to boot.
do not hit any keys once its boots off of the cdrom or you may start the interactive install.
at the booted cdrom prompt type.
the will step through the rescue boot mode.
select the appropriate regional responses when prompted.
select ok to find and mount root filesystems as read/write.
these will be mounted under /mnt.
once you get a shell prompt run df –h to confirm.
from here you will be able restore/replace corrupt or missing files.
the moral of the story is be very careful with what you are trying to do . the intention might be right but the wrong execution can cause you a lot of grief.
i've been trying to get a blogpost in for a while now but have not had enough time to actually get that in.
this is my summary of oracle openworld 2012 or #oow to some. oracle openworld is tremendous event . there is just a lot of activities , be it knowledge sharing , peer to peer interaction or just socializing in general.
i've been very fortunate this year to present at 2 conferences ioug collaborate as well as oracle openworld 2012.
the presentations are embedded within this post at the end. i would like to thx ioug for providing the outlet to people for peer to perr interaction and providing such a wonderful outlet for growth and opportunity.
there were a lot of announcements and being a db person my focus was the db. oracle database 12c is going to be awesome . some of the features like gds and farsync are going to make disaster recovery and datacenter recovery very easy on the database tier. flex asm also has a lot of potiential. oracle enterprise manager 12c has grown to be a very good product and i urge everyone to look at all the fantastic content around em at oracle open world 2012 .
i cant even describe the amount of good content out there and i would recommend everyone download the content slides which are available to everyone here.
i'd also like to thank the oracle database appliance team for all their hospitality and as someone who is really enjoying the oracle database appliance experience. there is a lot of hard work put by a lot of talented indivduals . thank you sohan demel and all his team for all the work around the oda. thx ravi sharma for taking the pics below.
below are the 2 presentations that i was part of this oracle openworld 2012.


text:
This entry was posted in Life, Science and Scientists and tagged conspiracy theories, conspiracy theory, ignorance, ignorant, moon, stupid, stupidity by RobertLovesPi. Bookmark the permalink.
I don’t know why there’s any confusion; the moon is obviously Swiss cheese.

lowercased:
this entry was posted in life, science and scientists and tagged conspiracy theories, conspiracy theory, ignorance, ignorant, moon, stupid, stupidity by robertlovespi. bookmark the permalink.
i don’t know why there’s any confusion; the moon is obviously swiss cheese.


text:
A man, who’s thought to have been drunk, managed to climb to the top of one of the sails of the Sydney Opera House. It’s not known how he got up there or why, although it’s thought it may have been some kind of protest.
The man was on top of the iconic building for about an hour, while people on the ground watched and took pictures before being moved away by police.
He was eventually talked down by two officers, as police helicopters circled overhead. The man was attached to a harness and escorted down the famous Australian landmark and tourists clapped as he was brought down to ground level after the dramatic rescue. Police haven’t made a statement on the incident.
Difficult words: sail (part of the building which looks like a large piece of cloth on a boat), eventually (at the end), harness (safety rope).

lowercased:
a man, who’s thought to have been drunk, managed to climb to the top of one of the sails of the sydney opera house. it’s not known how he got up there or why, although it’s thought it may have been some kind of protest.
the man was on top of the iconic building for about an hour, while people on the ground watched and took pictures before being moved away by police.
he was eventually talked down by two officers, as police helicopters circled overhead. the man was attached to a harness and escorted down the famous australian landmark and tourists clapped as he was brought down to ground level after the dramatic rescue. police haven’t made a statement on the incident.
difficult words: sail (part of the building which looks like a large piece of cloth on a boat), eventually (at the end), harness (safety rope).


text:
Like few others n the world. A cost-is-no-object restoration on a 1959 VW Bus. But what a Bus!
Incredibly detailed interior, lavishly upholstered, hit a dash switch and a flat screen TV miraculously pops up in the back. Open a cabinet door to see a VW emblemed fridge door, pull the hfull andle and open the sunroof, enjoy the modern stereo, put lots of stuff on the luggage racks, enjoy the plush rear compartment, even sleeps two when the seats are down. And if you enjoy being cozy, maybe more than two.
A 21 Window bus with two extra windows added, professionally done and look 'factory'...now, 23! Kitchenette, folding seats, lots of cabinet space, pop opening 'Safari' front windows, seat belts front and rear, even curtains and throw pillows that match the upholstery.
What do you do with this car? Well, IF you think you get a crowd when you drive your Ferrari or Maserati, or even your Gullwing Mercedes to the local burger and shake joint, just drive this beauty and watch the crowds (I did). AND you can bring lots and lots of happy guests....watch TV, lots of counter space for lunch or dinner, and when you get to the beach, remove the surfboards from the roof racks and play some 60s Beach Boy music.
Just a thought. But it is a wonderful piece of 50s kitsch and remarkably useful. And it can be yours.

lowercased:
like few others n the world. a cost-is-no-object restoration on a 1959 vw bus. but what a bus!
incredibly detailed interior, lavishly upholstered, hit a dash switch and a flat screen tv miraculously pops up in the back. open a cabinet door to see a vw emblemed fridge door, pull the hfull andle and open the sunroof, enjoy the modern stereo, put lots of stuff on the luggage racks, enjoy the plush rear compartment, even sleeps two when the seats are down. and if you enjoy being cozy, maybe more than two.
a 21 window bus with two extra windows added, professionally done and look 'factory'...now, 23! kitchenette, folding seats, lots of cabinet space, pop opening 'safari' front windows, seat belts front and rear, even curtains and throw pillows that match the upholstery.
what do you do with this car? well, if you think you get a crowd when you drive your ferrari or maserati, or even your gullwing mercedes to the local burger and shake joint, just drive this beauty and watch the crowds (i did). and you can bring lots and lots of happy guests....watch tv, lots of counter space for lunch or dinner, and when you get to the beach, remove the surfboards from the roof racks and play some 60s beach boy music.
just a thought. but it is a wonderful piece of 50s kitsch and remarkably useful. and it can be yours.


text:
You came here for a simple answer, so here it is. Expect to redesign your website every 4 years. But take this with a grain of salt. Here is a simple set of questions you can use to decide if it’s really time for a new website.
1. Is your website still working for your business?
Simple right? It is if you are tracking things correctly. Look at your traffic reports in Google Analytics. Look at your goal conversions and e-commerce reports. If the trend is downwards you may not be meeting your customers’ expectations anymore.
Do your Google Analytics reports look like this? Dog comic by KC Green.
Not tracking these metrics? You probably already have a gut feeling, but that’s harder to quantify. Get your tracking set up immediately. You are missing out on valuable business insights.
2. Is your website still working for your customers?
Run a survey. Keep it short and specific. Offer a prize as an incentive. A $50 Amazon gift card is an inexpensive way to gain actionable customer insights.
Record website sessions and generate heatmaps to see if customers are finding what they need. This will often reveal a few simple tweaks that will boost your conversion rate, avoiding a complete redesign. HotJar is a superb tool for this.
Just ask. Mention it casually when interacting with customers. These informal chats can be very revealing.
3. Does your site look “old”?
This is a gut feeling test. Compare your site to others in your industry. Web design standards change quickly. If your site was “trendy” when it was built, it may actually have a shorter shelf life (2-3 years). Conservative designs often age better and stay relevant for longer (5+ years). This is also heavily influenced by your industry. For example, restaurant and lodging websites need to reinvent themselves more often, whereas insurance websites can wait things out a little longer.
Trick question. Of course it has. But we’re talking huge changes here, like the mobile revolution of the 2010s. Don’t jump on every new trend (there’s no need for virtual reality just yet), but make sure your business is compatible with whatever formats your customers expect. In other words, if your site is not responsive, stop everything and call us now.
5. Has your business model changed?
Your website needs to represent what you offer as a business. Duh. But businesses change all the time. If you started out offering B2B services, but now you want to switch to B2C services, that is a seismic shift in your business practices. More than likely your website will need a major overhaul to keep pace.
6. Has your branding changed?
Do you think the first logo above would work with our new website design? Or vice versa?
When starting out, many small businesses never consider their branding. Instead they use that logo the “sign guy” made, or some template they selected when they ordered their business cards online. We get it, professional logo design can be expensive, and SMBs don’t always have the room in their budget. Until they do.
A logo represents your business both literally and figuratively. It also sets the tone for the rest of your marketing material. Dropping a sleek, modern logo into a traditionally set website can put your visitors ill at ease, hurting conversions. New branding often means it’s time to consider a redesign.
While we’re on the topic, let’s talk about some reasons you shouldn’t use to justify a website redesign.
Because your competitor did it. It’s easy to get blinded by your rival’s flashy new website, but don’t fall into this trap. Check your own website against the competition as a whole, but don’t obsess over them. Use your free time to create great content and get found by new customers.
Because you’re tired of your website. You probably look at your website every day. Your customers only look at it when they need certain information, and as long as they know where to find that information your website is working. Don’t change it as a vanity project. Do optimize it to help your customers.
It’s been 4 years since my last redesign. Remember we said to take our intro with a grain of salt? There is no magic number. Our 4 year estimate is based on what we most commonly see, but you should be evaluating your website every few months to make sure it works for your customers, and continues to provide a return on investment.
So, is it time for a redesign?
We hope we’ve helped you decide if you really need a redesign, or if a few subtle tweaks will fit the bill instead. The key takeaway – try to remain objective and see things from the customer’s point of view.
When you’re ready, we’re ready. Call us at (508) 694-7126 or contact us for a free consultation.

lowercased:
you came here for a simple answer, so here it is. expect to redesign your website every 4 years. but take this with a grain of salt. here is a simple set of questions you can use to decide if it’s really time for a new website.
1. is your website still working for your business?
simple right? it is if you are tracking things correctly. look at your traffic reports in google analytics. look at your goal conversions and e-commerce reports. if the trend is downwards you may not be meeting your customers’ expectations anymore.
do your google analytics reports look like this? dog comic by kc green.
not tracking these metrics? you probably already have a gut feeling, but that’s harder to quantify. get your tracking set up immediately. you are missing out on valuable business insights.
2. is your website still working for your customers?
run a survey. keep it short and specific. offer a prize as an incentive. a $50 amazon gift card is an inexpensive way to gain actionable customer insights.
record website sessions and generate heatmaps to see if customers are finding what they need. this will often reveal a few simple tweaks that will boost your conversion rate, avoiding a complete redesign. hotjar is a superb tool for this.
just ask. mention it casually when interacting with customers. these informal chats can be very revealing.
3. does your site look “old”?
this is a gut feeling test. compare your site to others in your industry. web design standards change quickly. if your site was “trendy” when it was built, it may actually have a shorter shelf life (2-3 years). conservative designs often age better and stay relevant for longer (5+ years). this is also heavily influenced by your industry. for example, restaurant and lodging websites need to reinvent themselves more often, whereas insurance websites can wait things out a little longer.
trick question. of course it has. but we’re talking huge changes here, like the mobile revolution of the 2010s. don’t jump on every new trend (there’s no need for virtual reality just yet), but make sure your business is compatible with whatever formats your customers expect. in other words, if your site is not responsive, stop everything and call us now.
5. has your business model changed?
your website needs to represent what you offer as a business. duh. but businesses change all the time. if you started out offering b2b services, but now you want to switch to b2c services, that is a seismic shift in your business practices. more than likely your website will need a major overhaul to keep pace.
6. has your branding changed?
do you think the first logo above would work with our new website design? or vice versa?
when starting out, many small businesses never consider their branding. instead they use that logo the “sign guy” made, or some template they selected when they ordered their business cards online. we get it, professional logo design can be expensive, and smbs don’t always have the room in their budget. until they do.
a logo represents your business both literally and figuratively. it also sets the tone for the rest of your marketing material. dropping a sleek, modern logo into a traditionally set website can put your visitors ill at ease, hurting conversions. new branding often means it’s time to consider a redesign.
while we’re on the topic, let’s talk about some reasons you shouldn’t use to justify a website redesign.
because your competitor did it. it’s easy to get blinded by your rival’s flashy new website, but don’t fall into this trap. check your own website against the competition as a whole, but don’t obsess over them. use your free time to create great content and get found by new customers.
because you’re tired of your website. you probably look at your website every day. your customers only look at it when they need certain information, and as long as they know where to find that information your website is working. don’t change it as a vanity project. do optimize it to help your customers.
it’s been 4 years since my last redesign. remember we said to take our intro with a grain of salt? there is no magic number. our 4 year estimate is based on what we most commonly see, but you should be evaluating your website every few months to make sure it works for your customers, and continues to provide a return on investment.
so, is it time for a redesign?
we hope we’ve helped you decide if you really need a redesign, or if a few subtle tweaks will fit the bill instead. the key takeaway – try to remain objective and see things from the customer’s point of view.
when you’re ready, we’re ready. call us at (508) 694-7126 or contact us for a free consultation.


text:
The licenses available with your subscription are released from your devices.
The new installation is assigned the first available license on your subscription.
Your other devices with Internet Security installed get reassigned the licenses available.
Note: If you have installed Internet Security on more devices than there are licenses available with your subscription, the last device to connect to the servers does not obtain a license. You can then uninstall Internet Security from this computer.

lowercased:
the licenses available with your subscription are released from your devices.
the new installation is assigned the first available license on your subscription.
your other devices with internet security installed get reassigned the licenses available.
note: if you have installed internet security on more devices than there are licenses available with your subscription, the last device to connect to the servers does not obtain a license. you can then uninstall internet security from this computer.


text: By now you've probably read everything we've written and shown you about the new 911 GT3 RS. However, nothing can ever take the place of having the car's designer, Porsche's Andreas Preuninger, explain in detail the features and specification that make the GT3 RS so special. One of the many facts we learned in this video was that the carbon fiber fenders on the GT3 RS are roughly half the weight of the aluminum fenders on the GT3. Watch the video to hear everything else Andreas has to say.

lowercased: by now you've probably read everything we've written and shown you about the new 911 gt3 rs. however, nothing can ever take the place of having the car's designer, porsche's andreas preuninger, explain in detail the features and specification that make the gt3 rs so special. one of the many facts we learned in this video was that the carbon fiber fenders on the gt3 rs are roughly half the weight of the aluminum fenders on the gt3. watch the video to hear everything else andreas has to say.


text:
Amy Harris lets Molly know what’s going on, at least superficially, in today’s comic.
I’ll need to run off for now, I’ve got a somewhat full plate. But I’ll be back Friday as usual!
Perhaps that’s what it appears to be at first.
Poor man’s had his heart burned and burned bad I’m guessing. Fear can make you do things to yourself that make no sense to those who know you.
This is very true. We’ll see what his deal is.

lowercased:
amy harris lets molly know what’s going on, at least superficially, in today’s comic.
i’ll need to run off for now, i’ve got a somewhat full plate. but i’ll be back friday as usual!
perhaps that’s what it appears to be at first.
poor man’s had his heart burned and burned bad i’m guessing. fear can make you do things to yourself that make no sense to those who know you.
this is very true. we’ll see what his deal is.


text:
Long arm cast extends from the base of the metacarpals almost to the axilla. They said it would heal properly but after a week in the cast I couldnt move my toes as much and they feel kind of numb and tingle. Another goal of gene research, of course, is to understand how, exactly, biology makes certain people vulnerable to depression.
Popular lore has it that emotions reside in the heart. Jenny, Usually it does not occur. Such a ridge commonly forms in the dorsum of the ankle, the popliteal fossa, and the cubital fossa. Be sure to look for and rule out a higher injury, probably in the back.
Klover. Age: 31. Hi! Check my vids here..
Hi..I'm looking 4 a Woman who wants 2 be only mine! Hard worker but hopeless Romantic who will open doors 4 yo.
i think i would do anything she asked!

lowercased:
long arm cast extends from the base of the metacarpals almost to the axilla. they said it would heal properly but after a week in the cast i couldnt move my toes as much and they feel kind of numb and tingle. another goal of gene research, of course, is to understand how, exactly, biology makes certain people vulnerable to depression.
popular lore has it that emotions reside in the heart. jenny, usually it does not occur. such a ridge commonly forms in the dorsum of the ankle, the popliteal fossa, and the cubital fossa. be sure to look for and rule out a higher injury, probably in the back.
klover. age: 31. hi! check my vids here..
hi..i'm looking 4 a woman who wants 2 be only mine! hard worker but hopeless romantic who will open doors 4 yo.
i think i would do anything she asked!