text:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease which can affect people of any age. It causes hot, painful, stiff and swollen joints, typically starting in the small joints of the hands or feet. The normal role of your body’s immune system is to fight off infections to keep you healthy. In an autoimmune disease, your immune system starts attacking your own healthy tissues.
In RA, the immune system targets the lining of the joints, causing inflammation and joint damage. RA usually affects smaller joints, such as the joints in the hands and feet. However larger joints such as the hips and knees can also be affected. Rheumatoid arthritis affects nearly half a million Australians.
At present, the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not fully understood and research continues. Rheumatoid arthritis can also be triggered by other factors, including smoking and a range of infections and viruses. Whatever starts the process, the main problem in rheumatoid arthritis is that your body’s immune system begins to target your joints. While the immune system usually protects you against infections, in rheumatoid arthritis it mistakenly treats the tissue of your joints as ‘foreign’.
The resulting inflammation can lead to the painful symptoms of arthritis and permanent damage to your bones and joints if untreated. Damage to your joints can be reduced with early and ongoing treatment.
Joint pain, swelling, and tenderness to touch.
Stiffness in the joints, especially in the morning.
Joints being affected symmetrically (i.e. the same joints on both sides of the body).
How will my doctor diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?
There is no single test for rheumatoid arthritis. Because early diagnosis and correct treatment can reduce the impact of the disease, most people with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis should visit a specialist doctor (a rheumatologist) as soon as possible. Specialists look at the results from a range of tests to help them decide whether a person has rheumatoid arthritis.
Talk to you about your symptoms, including where and when you feel joint pain.
Check whether you have had fevers, lost weight or been very tired.
Examine your hands, feet and other joints for swelling, heat, tenderness or bumps, called ‘nodules’.
Take a blood sample to check whether your body’s immune system is activated and whether it is attacking your joints.
Possibly use a needle to take a small amount of fluid from one of your affected joints.
Send you to a radiologist for an x-ray or other scan, such as an MRI or ultrasound, of the affected joints.
For more information on RA, download the RA booklet from Arthritis Australia, which serves as a practical guide to treatments, services and lifestyle choices.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be challenging at times and it does affect different people in different ways. In some cases, the disease may disappear, or may come and go (‘flare’) for many years. For other people, the symptoms and disability may slowly worsen over time.
If left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis may lead to damage to joints that cannot be repaired. Other parts of the body may also be affected, such as your lungs or your eyes. Fortunately, these problems outside of your joints are uncommon and the risk is reduced dramatically with treatment.
Joint inflammation may initially cause ongoing pain and some degree of disability, which can affect your ability to work or undertake home duties. This may mean changing your role at work or asking for more support at home until treatment has become effective. However, more than half of the people who develop rheumatoid arthritis continue to work for 20 years after their diagnosis. The disease cannot be ‘cured’ at present, but for most people it can be controlled with ongoing care. Many people achieve remission, which is the goal of treatment — control of symptoms and return to normal function.
For further information on living well with rheumatoid arthritis, click here to view the Rheumatoid Arthritis booklet.
Will medicine cure my rheumatoid arthritis?
At present, there is no ‘cure’ for rheumatoid arthritis. However, early use of the right medicines, as discussed by our speakers, can slow down the damage caused by the disease, relieve pain and stiffness and reduce long-term disability. The aim of treatment is to achieve remission and return to your normal activities and for many people this is achievable.
Many arthritis medicines need to be taken regularly to work properly and should not be stopped suddenly — talk to your doctor if you have concerns about side effects, safety or cost. As you may have heard in our speaker interviews, each person responds differently to arthritis medicines, which means that you will need to work with your specialist and GP to find the best medications and doses for you. This can take time, but by finding the most effective medicines with the least side effects, you can hope to really make a difference in controlling your rheumatoid arthritis.
Disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs) are designed to reduce damage to the joints rather than just ease your symptoms. They’re slow-acting so you won’t notice an immediate impact, but they’re very effective over a period of time. Drugs such as these can be helpful for arthritis in the joints of your arms and legs, although they’re not usually effective for spinal symptoms. When taking DMARDs, you’ll need regular check-ups and blood tests to monitor their effect. Methotrexate is one of the most commonly prescribed DMARD’s. This safe and effective drug has been used as first line therapy in RA (and other forms of inflammatory arthritis) for decades. Originally developed as a chemotherapy – methotrexate is used in RA in very small doses and works to ‘dampen down’ or modulate the overactive immune system, thereby reducing systemic inflammation. Taken on its own, or in conjunction with other DMARD’s, methotrexate has been shown to slow down the progression of the disease thus preventing or minimising damage to the joints, as well as reducing symptoms such as swelling, pain, morning stiffness and fatigue. Low dose methotrexate is a very effective treatment for many people with RA, and taken as directed, it can enhance mobility and function and improve quality of life.
Biological therapies are relatively new treatments that can be very effective for rheumatoid arthritis. A number of drugs are currently available for rheumatoid arthritis. These biological therapies are currently only available to patients with more severe forms of the condition if it can’t be controlled with anti-inflammatory drugs and they may not be suitable for everyone. The effect of these drugs will be monitored, and you’ll need to complete questionnaires regularly which assess how active your disease is and how well it’s responding to treatment.
Pacing by alternating heavy or repeated tasks with lighter tasks. Taking a break reduces the stress on painful joints and conserves energy by allowing weakened muscles to rest.
Positioning joints wisely promotes proper alignment and decrease excess stress. For example, squatting and kneeling may put extra stress on your hips or knees. When lifting or carrying heavy items, keep items at waist height and avoid carrying them up and down stairs.
Talk to your doctor about seeing an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, who may prescribe splints, braces or orthotics (shoe inserts) to help align and support your joints.
Using assistive devices conserves energy and makes daily tasks easier. Raise seat levels to decrease stress on hip and knee joints. Use a reacher to pick up items from the ground. Use a cane to decrease stress on hip and knee joints. Enlarge grips on utensils, such as spoons or peelers, to decrease stress on delicate hand joints. Other devices to consider include carts for carrying objects and jar/tap openers.
For additional information on living at home with arthritis, review Arthritis Australia’s ‘At home with arthritis’ which outlines a range of simple steps for managing in the home.
If you are planning for a baby, discuss your plans with your doctor beforehand as some drugs can temporarily reduce fertility. Other drugs, such as methotrexate and leflunomide, can affect the baby’s development so it’s important to use reliable contraception while you’re taking these – this applies to men wanting to father a child as well as to women.
Most mothers with rheumatoid arthritis feel better during pregnancy, possibly because the activity of the immune system is reduced during pregnancy to ‘tolerate’ the growing baby. Symptoms are likely to return once the baby is born. However, any flare-up of symptoms after the birth can usually be dealt with quickly.
‘Arthritis, Pregnancy and the Path to Parenthood’, published by Suzie May, details Suzie’s experience as a young Australian woman with rheumatoid arthritis, along with the experiences of other men and women from around the world as they fulfil their goal of becoming parents, despite their arthritis. This practical guide can help you understand the potential challenges you may face and give you strategies to overcome these challenges. The book is available here.
In addition, for women, Arthritis Australia has collated the personal stories of a range of women living with arthritis, known as ‘Women’s Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis’.
There are many resources available to help people with rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may put you in touch with a social worker, who can help explain the financial and health services that are available to you. These can include any pensions or allowances that you might be entitled to, plus any financial assistance such as Health Care Concession Cards or low-cost treatment programs. Your local council, community health centre, community group or religious organisation may also offer programs that include practical advice, activities, social networks or just someone to talk to. Arthritis Australia is always here to help too.
There are many people who can help you deal with both the functional and emotional side of rheumatoid arthritis. Your first step is to try to talk honestly with your partner, parents or children about how you feel. Give them a chance to talk too – they might have worries or feel that they don’t know enough about your disease and how it is affecting you.
Visit your GP if you are worried about how well you are coping, as your GP may be able to suggest additional ways of coping, or may prescribe medicines if you are especially worried or depressed. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis will also visit a physiotherapist (physio). These practitioners can use various treatments, including exercise therapy and hydrotherapy (water exercise), to keep your joints as flexible, strong and pain-free as possible. They will also show you exercises and pain-relief techniques to use at home.
You might also visit an occupational therapist (OT), or they may come to your home or work. OTs can provide advice on how to do things in a way that reduces joint strain and pain and teach you strategies to protect the mobility of your joints, particularly those in your hands. They may also suggest changes to your house — such as new taps — or aids such as splints that can make life easier and protect your joints.
A podiatrist can help take care of your feet. They may find ways to reduce the pain in your toes, knees or hips, perhaps by providing shoe inserts or advice on footwear.
Thank you to Arthritis Society (Canada) and Arthritis Research UK for contribution of content and materials the above overview.

tokenized:
Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is an autoimmune disease which can affect people of any age . It causes hot , painful , stiff and swollen joints , typically starting in the small joints of the hands or feet . The normal role of your body ’s immune system is to fight off infections to keep you healthy . In an autoimmune disease , your immune system starts attacking your own healthy tissues .
 In RA , the immune system targets the lining of the joints , causing inflammation and joint damage . RA usually affects smaller joints , such as the joints in the hands and feet . However larger joints such as the hips and knees can also be affected . Rheumatoid arthritis affects nearly half a million Australians .
 At present , the causes of rheumatoid arthritis are not fully understood and research continues . Rheumatoid arthritis can also be triggered by other factors , including smoking and a range of infections and viruses . Whatever starts the process , the main problem in rheumatoid arthritis is that your body ’s immune system begins to target your joints . While the immune system usually protects you against infections , in rheumatoid arthritis it mistakenly treats the tissue of your joints as ‘ foreign ’ .
 The resulting inflammation can lead to the painful symptoms of arthritis and permanent damage to your bones and joints if untreated . Damage to your joints can be reduced with early and ongoing treatment .
 Joint pain , swelling , and tenderness to touch .
 Stiffness in the joints , especially in the morning .
 Joints being affected symmetrically ( i.e. the same joints on both sides of the body ) .
 How will my doctor diagnose rheumatoid arthritis ?
 There is no single test for rheumatoid arthritis . Because early diagnosis and correct treatment can reduce the impact of the disease , most people with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis should visit a specialist doctor ( a rheumatologist ) as soon as possible . Specialists look at the results from a range of tests to help them decide whether a person has rheumatoid arthritis .
 Talk to you about your symptoms , including where and when you feel joint pain .
 Check whether you have had fevers , lost weight or been very tired .
 Examine your hands , feet and other joints for swelling , heat , tenderness or bumps , called ‘ nodules ’ .
 Take a blood sample to check whether your body ’s immune system is activated and whether it is attacking your joints .
 Possibly use a needle to take a small amount of fluid from one of your affected joints .
 Send you to a radiologist for an x - ray or other scan , such as an MRI or ultrasound , of the affected joints .
 For more information on RA , download the RA booklet from Arthritis Australia , which serves as a practical guide to treatments , services and lifestyle choices .
 Living with rheumatoid arthritis can be challenging at times and it does affect different people in different ways . In some cases , the disease may disappear , or may come and go ( ‘ flare ’ ) for many years . For other people , the symptoms and disability may slowly worsen over time .
 If left untreated , rheumatoid arthritis may lead to damage to joints that can not be repaired . Other parts of the body may also be affected , such as your lungs or your eyes . Fortunately , these problems outside of your joints are uncommon and the risk is reduced dramatically with treatment .
 Joint inflammation may initially cause ongoing pain and some degree of disability , which can affect your ability to work or undertake home duties . This may mean changing your role at work or asking for more support at home until treatment has become effective . However , more than half of the people who develop rheumatoid arthritis continue to work for 20 years after their diagnosis . The disease can not be ‘ cured ’ at present , but for most people it can be controlled with ongoing care . Many people achieve remission , which is the goal of treatment — control of symptoms and return to normal function .
 For further information on living well with rheumatoid arthritis , click here to view the Rheumatoid Arthritis booklet .
 Will medicine cure my rheumatoid arthritis ?
 At present , there is no ‘ cure ’ for rheumatoid arthritis . However , early use of the right medicines , as discussed by our speakers , can slow down the damage caused by the disease , relieve pain and stiffness and reduce long - term disability . The aim of treatment is to achieve remission and return to your normal activities and for many people this is achievable .
 Many arthritis medicines need to be taken regularly to work properly and should not be stopped suddenly — talk to your doctor if you have concerns about side effects , safety or cost . As you may have heard in our speaker interviews , each person responds differently to arthritis medicines , which means that you will need to work with your specialist and GP to find the best medications and doses for you . This can take time , but by finding the most effective medicines with the least side effects , you can hope to really make a difference in controlling your rheumatoid arthritis .
 Disease - modifying anti - inflammatory drugs ( DMARDs ) are designed to reduce damage to the joints rather than just ease your symptoms . They ’re slow - acting so you wo n’t notice an immediate impact , but they ’re very effective over a period of time . Drugs such as these can be helpful for arthritis in the joints of your arms and legs , although they ’re not usually effective for spinal symptoms . When taking DMARDs , you ’ll need regular check - ups and blood tests to monitor their effect . Methotrexate is one of the most commonly prescribed DMARD ’s . This safe and effective drug has been used as first line therapy in RA ( and other forms of inflammatory arthritis ) for decades . Originally developed as a chemotherapy – methotrexate is used in RA in very small doses and works to ‘ dampen down ’ or modulate the overactive immune system , thereby reducing systemic inflammation . Taken on its own , or in conjunction with other DMARD ’s , methotrexate has been shown to slow down the progression of the disease thus preventing or minimising damage to the joints , as well as reducing symptoms such as swelling , pain , morning stiffness and fatigue . Low dose methotrexate is a very effective treatment for many people with RA , and taken as directed , it can enhance mobility and function and improve quality of life .
 Biological therapies are relatively new treatments that can be very effective for rheumatoid arthritis . A number of drugs are currently available for rheumatoid arthritis . These biological therapies are currently only available to patients with more severe forms of the condition if it ca n’t be controlled with anti - inflammatory drugs and they may not be suitable for everyone . The effect of these drugs will be monitored , and you ’ll need to complete questionnaires regularly which assess how active your disease is and how well it ’s responding to treatment .
 Pacing by alternating heavy or repeated tasks with lighter tasks . Taking a break reduces the stress on painful joints and conserves energy by allowing weakened muscles to rest .
 Positioning joints wisely promotes proper alignment and decrease excess stress . For example , squatting and kneeling may put extra stress on your hips or knees . When lifting or carrying heavy items , keep items at waist height and avoid carrying them up and down stairs .
 Talk to your doctor about seeing an occupational therapist or physiotherapist , who may prescribe splints , braces or orthotics ( shoe inserts ) to help align and support your joints .
 Using assistive devices conserves energy and makes daily tasks easier . Raise seat levels to decrease stress on hip and knee joints . Use a reacher to pick up items from the ground . Use a cane to decrease stress on hip and knee joints . Enlarge grips on utensils , such as spoons or peelers , to decrease stress on delicate hand joints . Other devices to consider include carts for carrying objects and jar / tap openers .
 For additional information on living at home with arthritis , review Arthritis Australia ’s ‘ At home with arthritis ’ which outlines a range of simple steps for managing in the home .
 If you are planning for a baby , discuss your plans with your doctor beforehand as some drugs can temporarily reduce fertility . Other drugs , such as methotrexate and leflunomide , can affect the baby ’s development so it ’s important to use reliable contraception while you ’re taking these – this applies to men wanting to father a child as well as to women .
 Most mothers with rheumatoid arthritis feel better during pregnancy , possibly because the activity of the immune system is reduced during pregnancy to ‘ tolerate ’ the growing baby . Symptoms are likely to return once the baby is born . However , any flare - up of symptoms after the birth can usually be dealt with quickly .
 ‘ Arthritis , Pregnancy and the Path to Parenthood ’ , published by Suzie May , details Suzie ’s experience as a young Australian woman with rheumatoid arthritis , along with the experiences of other men and women from around the world as they fulfil their goal of becoming parents , despite their arthritis . This practical guide can help you understand the potential challenges you may face and give you strategies to overcome these challenges . The book is available here .
 In addition , for women , Arthritis Australia has collated the personal stories of a range of women living with arthritis , known as ‘ Women ’s Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis ’ .
 There are many resources available to help people with rheumatoid arthritis . Your doctor may put you in touch with a social worker , who can help explain the financial and health services that are available to you . These can include any pensions or allowances that you might be entitled to , plus any financial assistance such as Health Care Concession Cards or low - cost treatment programs . Your local council , community health centre , community group or religious organisation may also offer programs that include practical advice , activities , social networks or just someone to talk to . Arthritis Australia is always here to help too .
 There are many people who can help you deal with both the functional and emotional side of rheumatoid arthritis . Your first step is to try to talk honestly with your partner , parents or children about how you feel . Give them a chance to talk too – they might have worries or feel that they do n’t know enough about your disease and how it is affecting you .
 Visit your GP if you are worried about how well you are coping , as your GP may be able to suggest additional ways of coping , or may prescribe medicines if you are especially worried or depressed . Many people with rheumatoid arthritis will also visit a physiotherapist ( physio ) . These practitioners can use various treatments , including exercise therapy and hydrotherapy ( water exercise ) , to keep your joints as flexible , strong and pain - free as possible . They will also show you exercises and pain - relief techniques to use at home .
 You might also visit an occupational therapist ( OT ) , or they may come to your home or work . OTs can provide advice on how to do things in a way that reduces joint strain and pain and teach you strategies to protect the mobility of your joints , particularly those in your hands . They may also suggest changes to your house — such as new taps — or aids such as splints that can make life easier and protect your joints .
 A podiatrist can help take care of your feet . They may find ways to reduce the pain in your toes , knees or hips , perhaps by providing shoe inserts or advice on footwear .
 Thank you to Arthritis Society ( Canada ) and Arthritis Research UK for contribution of content and materials the above overview .


text:
Technology changes on a daily basis. It seems that every week, someone comes out with the better mousetrap that will save time, save money or improve efficiency. CIOs and technology managers are challenged not only with keeping up with today’s innovations, but understanding where their network will be 5 years out, and what the requirements of their users will be.
For those responsible of building and engineering our nation’s emergency services network, they are faced with a special challenge. If they don’t plan correctly, or if they underestimate, people’s lives become at stake. One of the challenges that technologists are faced with is the enormous change in the way we communicate with each other. The days of “calling” someone are quickly sun setting; this is backed by statements made by the Federal Communications Commission as reported in the No Jitter blog by Eric Krapf.
One point, that must be considered, is the effective handling of emergency calls. It is no great secret that today’s emergency communications network is built upon an antiquated TDM architecture that is capable of carrying voice only. And in order to provide any additional capability, a new IP network will be required as noted by Bandwidth’s Steve Leonard in his post on Light Reading. But, will it?
While certainly a new Emergency Services IP Network (ESInet) will provide intelligent connectivity between public safety agencies and the public requesting service from those agencies, we may just be able to take a giant step OVER the existing network with a technology architecture aptly called “Over the Top” (OTT).
Many of us already use an over-the-top technology today, and these services have instrumental providing access to new technologies such as VoIP for telephony services. It’s called Over The Top for a simple reason. Quite simply put, you purchase or lease a data circuit, and then deploy telephony services “over the top” of that data facility, effectively circumventing the telephone company.
New technologies like WebRTC will allow additional services to ride “on top” of OTT networks. A perfect example of this is next generation 911 services. While it’s generally accepted, according to just about anyone at the recent WebRTC III conference and Expo held in Santa Clara California last week, that OTT telephony will revolutionize the way we communicate with people we do business with and their call centers, it became quite clear to me that OTT can also revolutionize, while minimizing the time to delivery, NG 911 emergency services to existing public safety networks BEFORE NG 911 is formally deployed.
If we take a look at smart devices today, there really is no reason why they can’t utilize simultaneously the legacy 911 network, as well as the existing IP networks. This will allow callers to experience the best of both worlds, allowing calls to reach 911 centers, while additional information is pushed out Over The Top to the 911 center in a separate path. Common data correlation logic can then be utilized at emergency call centers allowing them to bridge the additional multimedia data with the voice call from the legacy network.
Starting with something as simple as telephone number correlation, moving forward to a more discreet reference such as a device Mac address will be key to linking, what are today, disparate data sources.
While the legacy 911 network was designed to associate a particular caller with pre-provisioned information in a database; Next generation 911 adds the ability for the caller to provide real-time information. The use of WebRTC is a step in the right direction as it will provide the all-important ‘data channel’ that is missing in legacy communications today.
The Avaya Podcast Network landing page for the event has some informative interviews from attendees and vendors, and can be found by clicking here.
My presentation on WebRTC and Emergency Services will be available soon.

tokenized:
Technology changes on a daily basis . It seems that every week , someone comes out with the better mousetrap that will save time , save money or improve efficiency . CIOs and technology managers are challenged not only with keeping up with today ’s innovations , but understanding where their network will be 5 years out , and what the requirements of their users will be .
 For those responsible of building and engineering our nation ’s emergency services network , they are faced with a special challenge . If they do n’t plan correctly , or if they underestimate , people ’s lives become at stake . One of the challenges that technologists are faced with is the enormous change in the way we communicate with each other . The days of “ calling ” someone are quickly sun setting ; this is backed by statements made by the Federal Communications Commission as reported in the No Jitter blog by Eric Krapf .
 One point , that must be considered , is the effective handling of emergency calls . It is no great secret that today ’s emergency communications network is built upon an antiquated TDM architecture that is capable of carrying voice only . And in order to provide any additional capability , a new IP network will be required as noted by Bandwidth ’s Steve Leonard in his post on Light Reading . But , will it ?
 While certainly a new Emergency Services IP Network ( ESInet ) will provide intelligent connectivity between public safety agencies and the public requesting service from those agencies , we may just be able to take a giant step OVER the existing network with a technology architecture aptly called “ Over the Top ” ( OTT ) .
 Many of us already use an over - the - top technology today , and these services have instrumental providing access to new technologies such as VoIP for telephony services . It ’s called Over The Top for a simple reason . Quite simply put , you purchase or lease a data circuit , and then deploy telephony services “ over the top ” of that data facility , effectively circumventing the telephone company .
 New technologies like WebRTC will allow additional services to ride “ on top ” of OTT networks . A perfect example of this is next generation 911 services . While it ’s generally accepted , according to just about anyone at the recent WebRTC III conference and Expo held in Santa Clara California last week , that OTT telephony will revolutionize the way we communicate with people we do business with and their call centers , it became quite clear to me that OTT can also revolutionize , while minimizing the time to delivery , NG 911 emergency services to existing public safety networks BEFORE NG 911 is formally deployed .
 If we take a look at smart devices today , there really is no reason why they ca n’t utilize simultaneously the legacy 911 network , as well as the existing IP networks . This will allow callers to experience the best of both worlds , allowing calls to reach 911 centers , while additional information is pushed out Over The Top to the 911 center in a separate path . Common data correlation logic can then be utilized at emergency call centers allowing them to bridge the additional multimedia data with the voice call from the legacy network .
 Starting with something as simple as telephone number correlation , moving forward to a more discreet reference such as a device Mac address will be key to linking , what are today , disparate data sources .
 While the legacy 911 network was designed to associate a particular caller with pre - provisioned information in a database ; Next generation 911 adds the ability for the caller to provide real - time information . The use of WebRTC is a step in the right direction as it will provide the all - important ‘ data channel ’ that is missing in legacy communications today .
 The Avaya Podcast Network landing page for the event has some informative interviews from attendees and vendors , and can be found by clicking here .
 My presentation on WebRTC and Emergency Services will be available soon .


text:
Go to: How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Boquete, Panama?
Go to: Is the Pedasi, Azuero, Panama area safe?
Go to: How's the ecotourism in and around Boquete, Panama?
Go to: Can I see beautiful flowers, plants and trees in or around Boquete, Panama?
Go to: How are the restaurants in Boquete, Panama?

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Go to : How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Boquete , Panama ?
 Go to : Is the Pedasi , Azuero , Panama area safe ?
 Go to : How 's the ecotourism in and around Boquete , Panama ?
 Go to : Can I see beautiful flowers , plants and trees in or around Boquete , Panama ?
 Go to : How are the restaurants in Boquete , Panama ?


text:
Searching for: researcher is "investment company institute (ici)"
ICI has published its analysis of newly available tax data showing that in 2014, 63% of workers between the ages of 26 and 64 participated in an employer-sponsored pension plan or had a spouse who participated. The study also found that participation in employer plans was greater among older workers with higher incomes, as 77% of workers aged 45 to 64 with incomes of more than $30,000 participated in such a plan or had a spouse that did.
The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has published research which tracks contributions, withdrawals and other activity covering more than 30 million participant accounts in employer-based DC plans. According to the latest figures, just 2.4% of DC plan participants stopped making contributions during the first three quarters of 2017.
The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has published a study which tracks contributions, withdrawals and other activity covering more than 30 million participant accounts in employer-based DC plans. The data indicates that savers remain committed to saving and investing, as only 1.1% of DC savers stopped contributing during the first quarter of 2017.
The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has published research which uses Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data to analyse participation in employer-sponsored retirement plans. According to the research, 52% of individuals aged between 26 and 34 and 68% of those aged 55 to 64 participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan either directly or through a spouse.
The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has published its latest study tracking the contributions, withdrawals and other activity of participant accounts in employer-based DC plans. According to the latest data, the vast majority of DC plan participants continued to contribute to their plans in 2016 with only 2.7% of plan participants stopping contributions, compared with 2.6% during 2015 and 2.8% in 2014.
According to a study from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), the cost of investing in equity, hybrid, and bond mutual funds through 401(k) plans fell in 2016, continuing a long-term trend.
Analysis of tax date from 1999 to 2010 by economists at the Investment Company Institute has revealed that 89% of individuals held or drew income from employer plans, annuities, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The aim of the paper is to raise the understanding of the transition into retirement among policymakers and administrators and, in particular, to clarify the roles that Social Security benefits and distributions from employer‐sponsored retirement plans and IRAs play in providing retirement resources.
211037C3 Click here to contact the authors.
According to a report from the Investment Company Institute (ICI), 92% of respondents agree that retirees should be able to make their own decisions about how to manage retirement assets and income.
According to analysis by the Investment Company Institute (ICI), retirement income generated by private sector retirement plans has become more prevalent since the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) in 1974. The share of retirees with private sector pension income nearly doubled between 1975 and 2015, with the median amount received by retirees up by more than 50%.
The Investment Company Institute (ICI) has released two studies which reveal that among mutual fund-owning households, more households headed by millennials (45%) than baby boom households (34%) held their funds only through employer-sponsored retirement arrangements.

tokenized:
Searching for : researcher is " investment company institute ( ici ) "
 ICI has published its analysis of newly available tax data showing that in 2014 , 63 % of workers between the ages of 26 and 64 participated in an employer - sponsored pension plan or had a spouse who participated . The study also found that participation in employer plans was greater among older workers with higher incomes , as 77 % of workers aged 45 to 64 with incomes of more than $ 30,000 participated in such a plan or had a spouse that did .
 The Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) has published research which tracks contributions , withdrawals and other activity covering more than 30 million participant accounts in employer - based DC plans . According to the latest figures , just 2.4 % of DC plan participants stopped making contributions during the first three quarters of 2017 .
 The Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) has published a study which tracks contributions , withdrawals and other activity covering more than 30 million participant accounts in employer - based DC plans . The data indicates that savers remain committed to saving and investing , as only 1.1 % of DC savers stopped contributing during the first quarter of 2017 .
 The Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) has published research which uses Internal Revenue Service ( IRS ) data to analyse participation in employer - sponsored retirement plans . According to the research , 52 % of individuals aged between 26 and 34 and 68 % of those aged 55 to 64 participate in an employer - sponsored retirement plan either directly or through a spouse .
 The Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) has published its latest study tracking the contributions , withdrawals and other activity of participant accounts in employer - based DC plans . According to the latest data , the vast majority of DC plan participants continued to contribute to their plans in 2016 with only 2.7 % of plan participants stopping contributions , compared with 2.6 % during 2015 and 2.8 % in 2014 .
 According to a study from the Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) , the cost of investing in equity , hybrid , and bond mutual funds through 401(k ) plans fell in 2016 , continuing a long - term trend .
 Analysis of tax date from 1999 to 2010 by economists at the Investment Company Institute has revealed that 89 % of individuals held or drew income from employer plans , annuities , and individual retirement accounts ( IRAs ) . The aim of the paper is to raise the understanding of the transition into retirement among policymakers and administrators and , in particular , to clarify the roles that Social Security benefits and distributions from employer‐sponsored retirement plans and IRAs play in providing retirement resources .
 211037C3 Click here to contact the authors .
 According to a report from the Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) , 92 % of respondents agree that retirees should be able to make their own decisions about how to manage retirement assets and income .
 According to analysis by the Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) , retirement income generated by private sector retirement plans has become more prevalent since the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ( ERISA ) in 1974 . The share of retirees with private sector pension income nearly doubled between 1975 and 2015 , with the median amount received by retirees up by more than 50 % .
 The Investment Company Institute ( ICI ) has released two studies which reveal that among mutual fund - owning households , more households headed by millennials ( 45 % ) than baby boom households ( 34 % ) held their funds only through employer - sponsored retirement arrangements .


text:
Cordyceps is a unique black mushroom that extracts nutrients from and grows on a caterpillar found in the high altitudes of Tibet and China. Even though it is difficult to find and harvest, cordyceps is one of the most valued medicinal agents in the Chinese medical tradition.
Fortunately for consumers, a patented lab fermentation process has allowed large-scale production and availability of cordyceps. While it has served for centuries as a general tonic for promoting longevity, vitality, and endurance, it is now being researched for its potential for increasing energy, aiding respiration, treating kidney disorders, and more.
2 capsules (525mg each) (standardized extract), 2-3 times a day.
2 capsules (525mg each) (standardized extract), 2 times a day.
The most current available medical and scientific literature indicates that this dietary supplement should be standardized to 0.14% adenosine and 5% mannitol per dose.
Cordyceps’ ability to increase vitality and respiratory health is linked, studies suggest, to its role in improving the availability of oxygen to the lungs and bloodstream. (1) These functions could prove useful for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis.
Cordyceps has also affected the activity of the immune system. Numerous studies show opposite results. Depending on the part of cordyceps studied, either immune system stimulation or immune system suppression was noted. (7) , (8) , (9) , (10) , (11) Uneducated use of cordyceps in people with diseases affecting the immune system, including people using medications to either stimulate or suppress their immune system could cause serious problems with their therapy.
If you have a bleeding disorder talk to your doctor before taking this dietary supplement.
View Abstract: Lei J, et al. Pharmacological Study on Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and ze-e Cordyceps. Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih. Jun1992;17(6):364-66.
View Abstract: Zhou DH, et al. Effect of Jinshuibao Capsule on the Immunological Function of 36 Patients with Advanced Cancer. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. Aug1995;15(8):476-78.
View Abstract: Yoshida JJ, et al. Antitumor Activity of an Extract of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. against Murine Tumor Cell Lines. Jpn J Exp Med. Aug1989;59(4):157-61.
View Abstract: Liu YK, Shen W. Inhibitive effect of cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism. World J Gastroenterol. Mar2003;9(3):529-33.
View Abstract: Zhu XY, Yu HY. Immunosuppressive Effect of Cultured Cordyceps sinensis on Cellular Immune Response. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. Aug1990;10(8):485-7, 454.
View Abstract: Liu P, Zhu J, Huang Y, et al. Influence of Cordyceps sinensis (Berk.) Sacc. and Rat Serum Containing Same Medicine on IL-1, IFN and TNF Produced by Rat Kupffer Cells. Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih. Jun1996;21(6):367-9, 384.
View Abstract: Kuo YC, Tsai WJ, Shiao MS, et al. Cordyceps sinensis As An Immunomodulatory Agent. Am J Chin Med. 1996;24(2):111-25.
View Abstract: Yamaguchi N, Yoshida J, Ren LJ, et al. Augmentation of Various Immune Reactivities of Tumor-bearing Hosts With An Extract of Cordyceps sinensis. Biotherapy. 1990;2(3):199-205.
View Abstract: Zhu JS, Halpern GM, Jones K. The Scientific Rediscovery of a Precious Ancient Chinese Herbal Regimen: Cordyceps sinensis: Part II. J Altern Complement Med. 1998;4(4):429-57.
View Abstract: Bao ZD, et al. Amelioration of Aminoglycoside Nephrotoxicity by Cordyceps sinensis in Old Patients. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. May1994;14(5):271-73.
View Abstract: Zhao X, et al. Cordyceps sinensis in Protection of the Kidney from Cyclosporine A Nephrotoxicity. Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih. Jul1993;73(7):410-12.
View Abstract: Zhen F, et al. Mechanisms and Therapeutic Effect of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) on Aminoglycoside Induced Acute Renal Failure (ARF) in Rats. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. May1992;12(5):288-91.
View Abstract: Liu Y, et al. Anti-oxidation of Paecilomyces sinensis. Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih. Apr1991;16(4): 240-42.
Shao G. Treatment of Hyperlipidemia with Cultivated Cordyceps--A Double-blind, Randomized Placebo Control Trial. Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih. Nov1985;5(11):652-54.
View Abstract: Wu TN, Yang KC, Wang CM, et al. Lead Poisoning Caused by Contaminated Cordyceps, A Chinese Herbal Medicine: Two Case Reports. Sci Total Environ. Apr1996;182(1-3):193-5.

tokenized:
Cordyceps is a unique black mushroom that extracts nutrients from and grows on a caterpillar found in the high altitudes of Tibet and China . Even though it is difficult to find and harvest , cordyceps is one of the most valued medicinal agents in the Chinese medical tradition .
 Fortunately for consumers , a patented lab fermentation process has allowed large - scale production and availability of cordyceps . While it has served for centuries as a general tonic for promoting longevity , vitality , and endurance , it is now being researched for its potential for increasing energy , aiding respiration , treating kidney disorders , and more .
 2 capsules ( 525 mg each ) ( standardized extract ) , 2 - 3 times a day .
 2 capsules ( 525 mg each ) ( standardized extract ) , 2 times a day .
 The most current available medical and scientific literature indicates that this dietary supplement should be standardized to 0.14 % adenosine and 5 % mannitol per dose .
 Cordyceps ’ ability to increase vitality and respiratory health is linked , studies suggest , to its role in improving the availability of oxygen to the lungs and bloodstream . ( 1 ) These functions could prove useful for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis .
 Cordyceps has also affected the activity of the immune system . Numerous studies show opposite results . Depending on the part of cordyceps studied , either immune system stimulation or immune system suppression was noted . ( 7 ) , ( 8) , ( 9 ) , ( 10 ) , ( 11 ) Uneducated use of cordyceps in people with diseases affecting the immune system , including people using medications to either stimulate or suppress their immune system could cause serious problems with their therapy .
 If you have a bleeding disorder talk to your doctor before taking this dietary supplement .
 View Abstract : Lei J , et al . Pharmacological Study on Cordyceps sinensis ( Berk . ) Sacc . and ze - e Cordyceps . Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih . Jun1992;17(6):364 - 66 .
 View Abstract : Zhou DH , et al . Effect of Jinshuibao Capsule on the Immunological Function of 36 Patients with Advanced Cancer . Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih . Aug1995;15(8):476 - 78 .
 View Abstract : Yoshida JJ , et al . Antitumor Activity of an Extract of Cordyceps sinensis ( Berk . ) Sacc . against Murine Tumor Cell Lines . Jpn J Exp Med . Aug1989;59(4):157 - 61 .
 View Abstract : Liu YK , Shen W. Inhibitive effect of cordyceps sinensis on experimental hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanism . World J Gastroenterol . Mar2003;9(3):529 - 33 .
 View Abstract : Zhu XY , Yu HY . Immunosuppressive Effect of Cultured Cordyceps sinensis on Cellular Immune Response . Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih . Aug1990;10(8):485 - 7 , 454 .
 View Abstract : Liu P , Zhu J , Huang Y , et al . Influence of Cordyceps sinensis ( Berk . ) Sacc . and Rat Serum Containing Same Medicine on IL-1 , IFN and TNF Produced by Rat Kupffer Cells . Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih . Jun1996;21(6):367 - 9 , 384 .
 View Abstract : Kuo YC , Tsai WJ , Shiao MS , et al . Cordyceps sinensis As An Immunomodulatory Agent . Am J Chin Med . 1996;24(2):111 - 25 .
 View Abstract : Yamaguchi N , Yoshida J , Ren LJ , et al . Augmentation of Various Immune Reactivities of Tumor - bearing Hosts With An Extract of Cordyceps sinensis . Biotherapy . 1990;2(3):199 - 205 .
 View Abstract : Zhu JS , Halpern GM , Jones K. The Scientific Rediscovery of a Precious Ancient Chinese Herbal Regimen : Cordyceps sinensis : Part II . J Altern Complement Med . 1998;4(4):429 - 57 .
 View Abstract : Bao ZD , et al . Amelioration of Aminoglycoside Nephrotoxicity by Cordyceps sinensis in Old Patients . Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih . May1994;14(5):271 - 73 .
 View Abstract : Zhao X , et al . Cordyceps sinensis in Protection of the Kidney from Cyclosporine A Nephrotoxicity . Chung Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih . Jul1993;73(7):410 - 12 .
 View Abstract : Zhen F , et al . Mechanisms and Therapeutic Effect of Cordyceps sinensis ( CS ) on Aminoglycoside Induced Acute Renal Failure ( ARF ) in Rats . Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih . May1992;12(5):288 - 91 .
 View Abstract : Liu Y , et al . Anti - oxidation of Paecilomyces sinensis . Chung Kuo Chung Yao Tsa Chih . Apr1991;16(4 ): 240 - 42 .
 Shao G. Treatment of Hyperlipidemia with Cultivated Cordyceps -- A Double - blind , Randomized Placebo Control Trial . Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih . Nov1985;5(11):652 - 54 .
 View Abstract : Wu TN , Yang KC , Wang CM , et al . Lead Poisoning Caused by Contaminated Cordyceps , A Chinese Herbal Medicine : Two Case Reports . Sci Total Environ . Apr1996;182(1 - 3):193 - 5 .


text:
Taking streetwear to another level, Kings Will Dream is a must-have brand for urban lovers. Focusing on logo T-shirts, slim-fit loungewear and slick colours, this British brand knows the meaning of effortless cool.
With easy-to-wear hues and a refreshing take on all of our favourite staples, Kings Will Dream is a solid go-to when wanting to update your weekend wardrobe. Look out for T-shirts in seasonal fits emblazoned with the brand's logo to build your outfit around. The collection of jeans from Kings Will Dream has a contemporary silhouette and features tough accents and faded fabrics that bring a hint of character to your personal style. Stick to the classic denim palette for a timeless edge, and layer on urban separates, such as a padded bomber jacket, high-top trainers and a baseball cap.
Athleisure is having a moment and Kings Will Dream knows that it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The brand has reinvented the classic tracksuit, giving a catwalk-inspired twist to joggers, hoodies and jumpers. Take advantage of the slimline cuts to spice up your sporty style. Contrasting accents such as side stripes, pocket detailing and adjustable hoods feature heavily in the range. Opt for ankle-grazing bottoms in a natural shade and style with velvet pumps, a fitted roll-neck jumper and a leather duffle bag to add a luxurious feel to your look.

tokenized:
Taking streetwear to another level , Kings Will Dream is a must - have brand for urban lovers . Focusing on logo T - shirts , slim - fit loungewear and slick colours , this British brand knows the meaning of effortless cool .
 With easy - to - wear hues and a refreshing take on all of our favourite staples , Kings Will Dream is a solid go - to when wanting to update your weekend wardrobe . Look out for T - shirts in seasonal fits emblazoned with the brand 's logo to build your outfit around . The collection of jeans from Kings Will Dream has a contemporary silhouette and features tough accents and faded fabrics that bring a hint of character to your personal style . Stick to the classic denim palette for a timeless edge , and layer on urban separates , such as a padded bomber jacket , high - top trainers and a baseball cap .
 Athleisure is having a moment and Kings Will Dream knows that it is n't going anywhere anytime soon . The brand has reinvented the classic tracksuit , giving a catwalk - inspired twist to joggers , hoodies and jumpers . Take advantage of the slimline cuts to spice up your sporty style . Contrasting accents such as side stripes , pocket detailing and adjustable hoods feature heavily in the range . Opt for ankle - grazing bottoms in a natural shade and style with velvet pumps , a fitted roll - neck jumper and a leather duffle bag to add a luxurious feel to your look .


text:
Dubrovnik Card is valid for one day. The price is 190 HRK. It includes a single visit to local cultural and heritage sites including Walls of Dubrovnik and museums (see on above photo). The card also includes free 24 hrs public transport service.
I bought this particular card in May 2017 on one of the occasions when visiting Dubrovnik.

tokenized:
Dubrovnik Card is valid for one day . The price is 190 HRK . It includes a single visit to local cultural and heritage sites including Walls of Dubrovnik and museums ( see on above photo ) . The card also includes free 24 hrs public transport service .
 I bought this particular card in May 2017 on one of the occasions when visiting Dubrovnik .


text:
Vision: Do we express simply and clearly what is important and where we are going?
Question two of the Ten Hardest Questions in Local Government, according to the LGAQ.
I’m going to challenge myself by addressing the ten hardest questions in Local Government (according to the LGAQ – Local Government Association QLD), one by one. But I also want to challenge you to read these and offer any insights in order to help us to do better.
Vision: Do we express simply and clearly what is important and where we are going? Are our staff, our community and our stakeholder engaged in this vision?
When this terms Council was elected we met and sought a collective understanding of how the region would look not just in the next four years (of which we are currently responsible for) but how we wanted it to look in the next twenty to fifty years, for the next generation.
It is Councillors job to set the tone and direction of Council and then the CEO’s job to make it happen, so I then met with Mark (CEO) and we spoke about a new vision for the region. We spoke about culture and we spoke about creating change. What I thought would then happen was that everyone would have that a-ha moment, know exactly where the newly elected council was coming from and get to work. What really happened was this: for the next six months, staff and Councillors were frustrated and confused. We asked each other lots of questions and sought clarification often. We had some misunderstandings and we went up the garden path a couple of times. It wasn’t until I took a long hard look at how I was delivering the information and changed my approach, that things started to turn around.
lighting pilot project, a city/country innovation partnership to break down both social and technological barriers, an asset management project with QUT so we can improve our road maintenance delivery to and a research project with USQ to improve our data to prove our case for extra required funding and these are just a few examples of how we are carving out a name for the North Burnett.
So next to do was to share our vision with community and stakeholders and like always this is when we get stuck. Council is doing some fantastic things and are truly making great progress but we still don’t know how to let you know how we are representing you. More work to do on this one too. Any advice appreciated.

tokenized:
Vision : Do we express simply and clearly what is important and where we are going ?
 Question two of the Ten Hardest Questions in Local Government , according to the LGAQ .
 I ’m going to challenge myself by addressing the ten hardest questions in Local Government ( according to the LGAQ – Local Government Association QLD ) , one by one . But I also want to challenge you to read these and offer any insights in order to help us to do better .
 Vision : Do we express simply and clearly what is important and where we are going ? Are our staff , our community and our stakeholder engaged in this vision ?
 When this terms Council was elected we met and sought a collective understanding of how the region would look not just in the next four years ( of which we are currently responsible for ) but how we wanted it to look in the next twenty to fifty years , for the next generation .
 It is Councillors job to set the tone and direction of Council and then the CEO ’s job to make it happen , so I then met with Mark ( CEO ) and we spoke about a new vision for the region . We spoke about culture and we spoke about creating change . What I thought would then happen was that everyone would have that a - ha moment , know exactly where the newly elected council was coming from and get to work . What really happened was this : for the next six months , staff and Councillors were frustrated and confused . We asked each other lots of questions and sought clarification often . We had some misunderstandings and we went up the garden path a couple of times . It was n’t until I took a long hard look at how I was delivering the information and changed my approach , that things started to turn around .
 lighting pilot project , a city / country innovation partnership to break down both social and technological barriers , an asset management project with QUT so we can improve our road maintenance delivery to and a research project with USQ to improve our data to prove our case for extra required funding and these are just a few examples of how we are carving out a name for the North Burnett .
 So next to do was to share our vision with community and stakeholders and like always this is when we get stuck . Council is doing some fantastic things and are truly making great progress but we still do n’t know how to let you know how we are representing you . More work to do on this one too . Any advice appreciated .


text:
"It is out of the question that groups like al-Nusra and al-Qaeda can take shelter in our country," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on November 7 at a press conference during an official visit to Stockholm. "On the contrary," he said, "any such structures would be subject to the same fight we carry out against separatist terrorist groups. We have taken the necessary steps against them and we will continue to do so."
Erdogan's comments come shortly after accusations that Turkey has been supporting radical factions of the Syrian opposition and al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria, specifically Al-Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham. The two groups have gained prominence throughout the course of the Syrian conflict, emerging as part of the resistance against Syrian President Bashir al-Assad. Over the past several months, the groups have gained ground in the northern part of Syria and along the Turkish-Syrian border.
At the beginning of the Syrian conflict, Erdogan's government was one of the strongest supporters of the Syrian opposition and repeatedly called on Al-Assad to step down. The Turkish government has openly declared its support for the Free Syrian Army, which is affiliated with the Istanbul-based Syrian National Coalition.
Ankara also kept an open-door policy throughout the more than two year-long Syrian conflict, providing a lifeline to rebel-controlled areas. However, in the past two years the Turkish government has repeatedly denied supporting any Syrian groups that are radical in nature.
Still, news reports have claimed that Turkey provides support to radical Islamist groups. In an August interview with Turkish publication Taraf, Saleh Muslim, the leader of the Kurdish Syrian group known as the Democratic Union Party, said that his group had intelligence confirming transfers of ammunition between Turkish and Syrian borders.
Muslim added that the al-Nusra group picked up the weapons in preparation for an attack on Kurdish villages just over the border in northern Syria. "It is impossible to understand how Turkey lets this happen," he said. "If the al-Nusra Front is the enemy, then this should be prevented."
While Muslim's comments did not directly implicate the Turkish government in supporting the radical groups, his frustration seemed to stem from the Erdogan government's turning a blind eye towards al-Qaeda affiliated groups and allowing them to conduct operations on Turkish soil largely uninhibited.
Recently, Turkey seems to have changed its diplomatic tone towards Syria. This change comes following a series of incidents that occurred over the last few months around the Turkish-Syrian border, namely the bombing in Ryhanli, Turkey this past May.
The attack, allegedly carried out by those linked to the Syrian intelligence agency, left more than 50 people dead and drew verbal outcry from the Turkish public and opposition parties, who blamed the bombing partially on the Turkish government for its weak diplomacy with Syria.
The Turkish people also expressed frustration at what they saw as a passive attitude from the United States on the Turkish-Syrian conflict. A recent deal between the United States and Russia that will dismantle Syria's chemical weapons instead of pursuing military action against Al-Assad has left Turkey isolated in its efforts to forcefully intervene in Syrian politics and oust Al-Assad.
In a positive development, Hassan Rouhani's July election to the Iranian presidency presented Ankara with a rare opportunity to collaborate with a moderate political figure unlike his predecessor. A two-pronged approach in Turkey and Iran engaging Syria could prove effective in quelling Syria's violence.
What many consider to be Turkey's relaxed policy toward al-Qaeda affiliates – who have targeted Kurdish villages and Syrian Kurdish groups – has been threatening peaceful talks between Ankara and the outlawed Kurdish Worker's Party. These talks were designed to end the decades-long Kurdish conflict that began in 1984 and has since resulted in the death of more than 40,000 people.
By endangering these talks, the Turkish government is compromising a 10-month ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers Party, a period during which not a single Turkish soldier died. The ceasefire and the talks have been a highly welcomed development for most of the Turkish public.
Losing these negotiations could, according to both the European Union and the United States, threaten the Justice and Development Party's chances of staying in power following the country's next major elections.
It is likely that with the recent bombing and outcry against the Turkish government, Erdogan's team has been reevaluating its approach to handling the Syrian conflict. On October 15, the Turkish army reported that it had fired at strongholds of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the insurgent group's mortar attacks from hideaways in Syria's mountain ranges.
This marked one of the first retaliations by Turkish forces targeting an al-Qaeda affiliate. On October 10, the Turkish government announced that it had frozen the assets of businessmen with links to al-Qaeda and Taliban groups.
On November 7, Turkish police seized a cargo truck full of rocket heads, bazookas, missiles, bombs and guns near the southern province of Adana. The truck was believed to have been en route to al-Qaeda affiliates based in Syria.
Some argue that the revival of Turkish policies designed to quell radical groups' activities could clear Turkey from allegations that it is assisting them. Analysts warn, however, that this could also lead to Turkey becoming a target for radical groups.
"Turkey's going public with the identity of the target could introduce a new element to recently heightened accusations of Turkey helping radical groups," said writer Nihat Ali Ozcan in an October article for the website Al-Monitor. But this "could also make Turkey a target, especially for al-Qaeda and its affiliates," he added.
Just two weeks after Ozcan's statements, Today's Zaman newspaper published a report suggesting that the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was planning to target major Turkish cities, citing reports from Turkish intelligence officials. "Their vehicles are being prepared in Syria's northern city of Raqqa," stated the report. "Intelligence units discovered detailed information on Oct. 30 about ISIS's plan to carry out a terrorist attack, and got in contact with local units."
Following the Today's Zaman report, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria allegedly issued a statement from Abu Mohammed Al-Adnani, a spokesperson for the group. In the statement, he denied that the group had any plans to attack Turkey or other countries. Al-Adnani also accused the Syrian regime and its media outlets of fabricating news.
Numerous observers of the Syrian conflict also said an impending attack seemed unlikely. "There is no truth at all to supposed plans to target Turkish cities," said Aymen Jawad Al-Tamimi, a fellow at the Middle East Forum, in an emailed comment to The Atlantic Post. "The alleged statements are fabrications from pro-Assad circles," he said, "who are aiming to cajole Turkey into tightening security on the border and stop the inflow of foreign fighters into Syria."
Al-Tamimi argued that Turkey "does not do anything" to stop the flow of foreign fighters into Syria to join ISIS or al-Nusra. He said Turkey "sees these groups as useful proxies against the [Democratic Union Party] and they have not actually threatened to attack Turkey."
However, according to recent comments by Democratic Union Party leaders, Ankara is believed to have stopped the flow of al-Qaeda fighters crossing into Syria. "The [radical groups] are not attacking us after crossing to [Syria] from Turkey as before," said Saleh Muslim in November, according to Turkish publication Taraf. "This is very good news. We hope that Turkey will continue this stance [towards the extremist groups]."
Aaron Stein, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies and a Ph.D candidate at King's University told The Atlantic Post in an interview this month that "it is still too early to tell, though Saleh Muslim's recent assertion that foreign fighters have not entered from Turkey to fight the [Democratic Union Party] was noteworthy." Turkey's border areas, he said, are still flooded with Syrian and foreign fighters, adding that "it would be unrealistic to assume that Ankara can simply make them go away overnight."
Whether or not Turkey supported radical Syrian rebels or at least provided a lifeline for them in the past, as many believe, Stein agrees that Ankara is definitely rethinking its foreign policy strategy as a result of complications with radical groups in the region.
"I wouldn't say that Turkey has adopted a new Syria policy per se, but rather is taking pragmatic steps to prepare for a future filled with conflict," said Stein. "Ankara's recent moves in Iraq and Iran aren't really a foreign policy reset, but rather a pragmatic and smart step to compartmentalize Turkey's relationship with states in the region."
It is no stretch to say that the Turkish government was overly ambitious in thinking that unrest in Syria could be resolved before radical groups had the chance to cement their place in Turkish and Syrian society. Erdogan's government was also disappointed by other countries like the United States and Russia resorting to a less aggressive, more diplomatic approach with Syria.
What became a diplomatic, and in many ways, a drawn-out solution to solving the crisis in Syria left the country with a mixture of complicated ethnic and sectarian conflicts that have yet to be fully addressed. Syria's civil war also provided a basis for radical and terrorist groups to expand their activities in the country unhindered. Turkey is late in tackling the Syrian conflict, but according to Stein, correcting the problem is not impossible. "Turkey," he said, "will always be an important player in the Syrian conflict."

tokenized:
" It is out of the question that groups like al - Nusra and al - Qaeda can take shelter in our country , " Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on November 7 at a press conference during an official visit to Stockholm . " On the contrary , " he said , " any such structures would be subject to the same fight we carry out against separatist terrorist groups . We have taken the necessary steps against them and we will continue to do so . "
 Erdogan 's comments come shortly after accusations that Turkey has been supporting radical factions of the Syrian opposition and al - Qaeda affiliates in Syria , specifically Al - Nusra and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham . The two groups have gained prominence throughout the course of the Syrian conflict , emerging as part of the resistance against Syrian President Bashir al - Assad . Over the past several months , the groups have gained ground in the northern part of Syria and along the Turkish - Syrian border .
 At the beginning of the Syrian conflict , Erdogan 's government was one of the strongest supporters of the Syrian opposition and repeatedly called on Al - Assad to step down . The Turkish government has openly declared its support for the Free Syrian Army , which is affiliated with the Istanbul - based Syrian National Coalition .
 Ankara also kept an open - door policy throughout the more than two year - long Syrian conflict , providing a lifeline to rebel - controlled areas . However , in the past two years the Turkish government has repeatedly denied supporting any Syrian groups that are radical in nature .
 Still , news reports have claimed that Turkey provides support to radical Islamist groups . In an August interview with Turkish publication Taraf , Saleh Muslim , the leader of the Kurdish Syrian group known as the Democratic Union Party , said that his group had intelligence confirming transfers of ammunition between Turkish and Syrian borders .
 Muslim added that the al - Nusra group picked up the weapons in preparation for an attack on Kurdish villages just over the border in northern Syria . " It is impossible to understand how Turkey lets this happen , " he said . " If the al - Nusra Front is the enemy , then this should be prevented . "
 While Muslim 's comments did not directly implicate the Turkish government in supporting the radical groups , his frustration seemed to stem from the Erdogan government 's turning a blind eye towards al - Qaeda affiliated groups and allowing them to conduct operations on Turkish soil largely uninhibited .
 Recently , Turkey seems to have changed its diplomatic tone towards Syria . This change comes following a series of incidents that occurred over the last few months around the Turkish - Syrian border , namely the bombing in Ryhanli , Turkey this past May .
 The attack , allegedly carried out by those linked to the Syrian intelligence agency , left more than 50 people dead and drew verbal outcry from the Turkish public and opposition parties , who blamed the bombing partially on the Turkish government for its weak diplomacy with Syria .
 The Turkish people also expressed frustration at what they saw as a passive attitude from the United States on the Turkish - Syrian conflict . A recent deal between the United States and Russia that will dismantle Syria 's chemical weapons instead of pursuing military action against Al - Assad has left Turkey isolated in its efforts to forcefully intervene in Syrian politics and oust Al - Assad .
 In a positive development , Hassan Rouhani 's July election to the Iranian presidency presented Ankara with a rare opportunity to collaborate with a moderate political figure unlike his predecessor . A two - pronged approach in Turkey and Iran engaging Syria could prove effective in quelling Syria 's violence .
 What many consider to be Turkey 's relaxed policy toward al - Qaeda affiliates – who have targeted Kurdish villages and Syrian Kurdish groups – has been threatening peaceful talks between Ankara and the outlawed Kurdish Worker 's Party . These talks were designed to end the decades - long Kurdish conflict that began in 1984 and has since resulted in the death of more than 40,000 people .
 By endangering these talks , the Turkish government is compromising a 10 - month ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers Party , a period during which not a single Turkish soldier died . The ceasefire and the talks have been a highly welcomed development for most of the Turkish public .
 Losing these negotiations could , according to both the European Union and the United States , threaten the Justice and Development Party 's chances of staying in power following the country 's next major elections .
 It is likely that with the recent bombing and outcry against the Turkish government , Erdogan 's team has been reevaluating its approach to handling the Syrian conflict . On October 15 , the Turkish army reported that it had fired at strongholds of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the insurgent group 's mortar attacks from hideaways in Syria 's mountain ranges .
 This marked one of the first retaliations by Turkish forces targeting an al - Qaeda affiliate . On October 10 , the Turkish government announced that it had frozen the assets of businessmen with links to al - Qaeda and Taliban groups .
 On November 7 , Turkish police seized a cargo truck full of rocket heads , bazookas , missiles , bombs and guns near the southern province of Adana . The truck was believed to have been en route to al - Qaeda affiliates based in Syria .
 Some argue that the revival of Turkish policies designed to quell radical groups ' activities could clear Turkey from allegations that it is assisting them . Analysts warn , however , that this could also lead to Turkey becoming a target for radical groups .
 " Turkey 's going public with the identity of the target could introduce a new element to recently heightened accusations of Turkey helping radical groups , " said writer Nihat Ali Ozcan in an October article for the website Al - Monitor . But this " could also make Turkey a target , especially for al - Qaeda and its affiliates , " he added .
 Just two weeks after Ozcan 's statements , Today 's Zaman newspaper published a report suggesting that the al - Qaeda - linked Islamic State of Iraq and Syria was planning to target major Turkish cities , citing reports from Turkish intelligence officials . " Their vehicles are being prepared in Syria 's northern city of Raqqa , " stated the report . " Intelligence units discovered detailed information on Oct. 30 about ISIS 's plan to carry out a terrorist attack , and got in contact with local units . "
 Following the Today 's Zaman report , the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria allegedly issued a statement from Abu Mohammed Al - Adnani , a spokesperson for the group . In the statement , he denied that the group had any plans to attack Turkey or other countries . Al - Adnani also accused the Syrian regime and its media outlets of fabricating news .
 Numerous observers of the Syrian conflict also said an impending attack seemed unlikely . " There is no truth at all to supposed plans to target Turkish cities , " said Aymen Jawad Al - Tamimi , a fellow at the Middle East Forum , in an emailed comment to The Atlantic Post . " The alleged statements are fabrications from pro - Assad circles , " he said , " who are aiming to cajole Turkey into tightening security on the border and stop the inflow of foreign fighters into Syria . "
 Al - Tamimi argued that Turkey " does not do anything " to stop the flow of foreign fighters into Syria to join ISIS or al - Nusra . He said Turkey " sees these groups as useful proxies against the [ Democratic Union Party ] and they have not actually threatened to attack Turkey . "
 However , according to recent comments by Democratic Union Party leaders , Ankara is believed to have stopped the flow of al - Qaeda fighters crossing into Syria . " The [ radical groups ] are not attacking us after crossing to [ Syria ] from Turkey as before , " said Saleh Muslim in November , according to Turkish publication Taraf . " This is very good news . We hope that Turkey will continue this stance [ towards the extremist groups ] . "
 Aaron Stein , an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies and a Ph . D candidate at King 's University told The Atlantic Post in an interview this month that " it is still too early to tell , though Saleh Muslim 's recent assertion that foreign fighters have not entered from Turkey to fight the [ Democratic Union Party ] was noteworthy . " Turkey 's border areas , he said , are still flooded with Syrian and foreign fighters , adding that " it would be unrealistic to assume that Ankara can simply make them go away overnight . "
 Whether or not Turkey supported radical Syrian rebels or at least provided a lifeline for them in the past , as many believe , Stein agrees that Ankara is definitely rethinking its foreign policy strategy as a result of complications with radical groups in the region .
 " I would n't say that Turkey has adopted a new Syria policy per se , but rather is taking pragmatic steps to prepare for a future filled with conflict , " said Stein . " Ankara 's recent moves in Iraq and Iran are n't really a foreign policy reset , but rather a pragmatic and smart step to compartmentalize Turkey 's relationship with states in the region . "
 It is no stretch to say that the Turkish government was overly ambitious in thinking that unrest in Syria could be resolved before radical groups had the chance to cement their place in Turkish and Syrian society . Erdogan 's government was also disappointed by other countries like the United States and Russia resorting to a less aggressive , more diplomatic approach with Syria .
 What became a diplomatic , and in many ways , a drawn - out solution to solving the crisis in Syria left the country with a mixture of complicated ethnic and sectarian conflicts that have yet to be fully addressed . Syria 's civil war also provided a basis for radical and terrorist groups to expand their activities in the country unhindered . Turkey is late in tackling the Syrian conflict , but according to Stein , correcting the problem is not impossible . " Turkey , " he said , " will always be an important player in the Syrian conflict . "


text:
Up & above: Seems to be both a bar and restaurant and it is located at hotel Okura near Ploen Chit skytrain station. Located on the 24th floor.
L’Appart: French restaurant located in Sofitel hotel near Nana. The restaurant is located on 32nd floor and according to the article it is decorated as a French apartment and there is also a balcony where you can enjoy food and drinks.
Park Society & Hi So: another new place located at a Sofitel hotel. This time it is the hotel located near the Lumpini stop on the subway. Park Society is the restaurant part of this concept and it is located on 29th floor. Hi So is the bar and it is located on the roof.
Zense: this place is located on top of the CentralWorld chopping complex in the middle of Bangkok. It is “only” on the 17th floor but it can offer restaurants, bars, indoor and outdoor seat etc.
Speakeasy: this bar is located on top of the trendy hotel Muse. It seems to be located on level 24 and 25 and the hotel is on Langsuan Road. The bar also seems to have a cigar lounge called Blind pig.
Red Sky and Fifty five: Red sky is the bar part and Fifty five is the restaurant. It is located on top of Centara hotel at the Central World complex and the view is of course great from 55th floor.
Vertigo and Moon bar: I guess the original roof top bar in Bangkok. From 61st floor you get an amazing view of Bangkok. Located on the Banyan tree building on Sathorn Road.
Sirocco, Distil and Breeze: Sirocco sky bar is located on the top of Lebua hotel on Silom road. You get a very nice view of Bangkok from the bar on 63rd floor. Breeze is a restaurant on 52nd floor that offers great view of the river.
My wife Nikki and I spent a long weekend in London in January 2013 and we decided to splurge on a dining experience. After seeing many TV shows with Heston Blumenthal we decided on lunch at “Dinner by Heston Blumental”. I made the reservation online and I also got a call from the restaurant a few days before to reconfirm. We took the tube to Knightsbridge station and about 5 min later we arrived at the Mandarin Hotel at noon. After a short wait at the bar, we were assigned a table close to the window, with an idyllic view of a snow covered Hyde Park. We can’t quite recall if our waiter introduced himself but we did get a menu at once and were offered an aperitif. The menu was quite extensive and we decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered “a la carte” and not the set lunch menu that seemed to be a bit on the boring side.
There was lots of good stuff to choose from on the menu but I ended up ordering one of the signature dishes “Meat fruit” as a starter and my wife, Nikki, decided to have Salamugundy. For the main dish I decided to have Battalia Pye and Nikki went for Roast Black Foot Collar of Pork. Although we hadn’t thought about dessert yet, we were informed that the signature dessert “tipsy cake” took a while to prepare so best to order in advance. Which we did. While we were waiting for the starter to arrive we got some fresh bread and butter which hit the mark as we were getting hungry.
It didn’t take that long before the starter was served and the meat fruit was a little piece of food art. I have to admit that I knew what was coming – when I did a search online (and on Instagram) there were lots of photos out there. It was served on a wooden platter and it looked like a small tangerine with a slice of toast on the side. The tangerine was just an “illusion” – once I cut into it the core was revealed and I could go ahead and taste the chicken liver and foie gras parfait. I like my foie gras and chicken liver so I enjoyed the taste of this smooth paste combined with the large rustic piece of bread. The bread seemed to have been fried just on the pan and it was just right as it shouldn’t be too crispy.
Nikki’s Salamugundy looked like a bit of a mess on the plate but was prepared using chicken oysters, marrow bone and horseradish cream. I have to admit that I was not aware that chicken oysters could be the most tender part on the bird but apparently this is the case. Nikki especially enjoyed the horseradish cream vinaigrette. She commented that although first look may give the impression of a run of the mill green salad, the contents and combination stood out with every mouthful. Crunchy fresh leaves and marrow that made you wish you were in the comfort of your own home to properly tackle it.
Before the main dish we got the wine that we had ordered by the glass so it seemed like the waiters had full control even if there were several people involved. The wine was a Chianti Classico if I’m not mistaken and was well paired with both our meals – rounded and fullbodied but not too heavy. My Battalia pye was served as a sort of pie and it contained pigeon, devilled kidneys and lamb tongue. Once it was served the waiter poured a lovely rich lamb sauce on top of it and left the rest on the table. Once I tasted it I poured the rest over the pie as it tasted amazing! It must have been boiled for hours with a good stock. The pie was delicious and again it was a beautiful looking dish with the pie dough being wrapped around the contents in a perfect circle. The tiny bones of the pigeon were sticking up from the dish and were juicy and the other pieces of meat were also tasty. It might sound a bit weird but one of the best tastes was from the small caramelized onions.
Nikki had the Roast Black Foot Collar of Pork and she also found the portion to be a bit large. But she also enjoyed the layers of pork meat – which made it easy to differentiate and was almost like slicing through a layered cake. She also got the best ever caramelized onions and turnip.
The portions of main dish were a bit on the large side but even if we were full, there was still room for dessert. To round off the meal, we waited in anticipation for our tipsy cake – one of the signature desserts. We had to order it when we ordered the rest of the meal as it is made fresh and takes a while to prepare. The cake was served in a small pot with a slice of fried pineapple on the side. The tipsy cake was a pudding (a British staple) and served warm, sweet and oozing of a sort of custard. It almost resembled buns but once we sank our spoons into it, the texture and taste said otherwise. I was not crazy about the pineapple but the pudding was great. The tipsy cake is sharing size but I do believe Nikki would have gladly devoured the lot on her own if I had taken my eyes off it for too long. Although we were both stuffed already we managed to leave little trace of anything ever having occupied the desert pot.
With our bellies near bursting and matching grins, we also got some sort of tea infused chocolate mousse and it was weird to taste the combination of dark chocolate with the hints of tea. And together with some strong espresso it was the perfect end to the meal. On the way out we got to look into the open kitchen were the large staff of chefs were preparing all sorts of delicious dishes. We stumbled out of the Mandarin hotel full, slightly tipsy (only from the the cake of course) and very content. This was a lovely dining experience and I hope to return one day to taste more of the great dishes that Heston has on the menu. Check out the restaurant homepage on http://www.dinnerbyheston.com/ and remember to book in advance if you want to check it out.

tokenized:
Up & above : Seems to be both a bar and restaurant and it is located at hotel Okura near Ploen Chit skytrain station . Located on the 24th floor .
 L’Appart : French restaurant located in Sofitel hotel near Nana . The restaurant is located on 32nd floor and according to the article it is decorated as a French apartment and there is also a balcony where you can enjoy food and drinks .
 Park Society & Hi So : another new place located at a Sofitel hotel . This time it is the hotel located near the Lumpini stop on the subway . Park Society is the restaurant part of this concept and it is located on 29th floor . Hi So is the bar and it is located on the roof .
 Zense : this place is located on top of the CentralWorld chopping complex in the middle of Bangkok . It is “ only ” on the 17th floor but it can offer restaurants , bars , indoor and outdoor seat etc .
 Speakeasy : this bar is located on top of the trendy hotel Muse . It seems to be located on level 24 and 25 and the hotel is on Langsuan Road . The bar also seems to have a cigar lounge called Blind pig .
 Red Sky and Fifty five : Red sky is the bar part and Fifty five is the restaurant . It is located on top of Centara hotel at the Central World complex and the view is of course great from 55th floor .
 Vertigo and Moon bar : I guess the original roof top bar in Bangkok . From 61st floor you get an amazing view of Bangkok . Located on the Banyan tree building on Sathorn Road .
 Sirocco , Distil and Breeze : Sirocco sky bar is located on the top of Lebua hotel on Silom road . You get a very nice view of Bangkok from the bar on 63rd floor . Breeze is a restaurant on 52nd floor that offers great view of the river .
 My wife Nikki and I spent a long weekend in London in January 2013 and we decided to splurge on a dining experience . After seeing many TV shows with Heston Blumenthal we decided on lunch at “ Dinner by Heston Blumental ” . I made the reservation online and I also got a call from the restaurant a few days before to reconfirm . We took the tube to Knightsbridge station and about 5 min later we arrived at the Mandarin Hotel at noon . After a short wait at the bar , we were assigned a table close to the window , with an idyllic view of a snow covered Hyde Park . We ca n’t quite recall if our waiter introduced himself but we did get a menu at once and were offered an aperitif . The menu was quite extensive and we decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered “ a la carte ” and not the set lunch menu that seemed to be a bit on the boring side .
 There was lots of good stuff to choose from on the menu but I ended up ordering one of the signature dishes “ Meat fruit ” as a starter and my wife , Nikki , decided to have Salamugundy . For the main dish I decided to have Battalia Pye and Nikki went for Roast Black Foot Collar of Pork . Although we had n’t thought about dessert yet , we were informed that the signature dessert “ tipsy cake ” took a while to prepare so best to order in advance . Which we did . While we were waiting for the starter to arrive we got some fresh bread and butter which hit the mark as we were getting hungry .
 It did n’t take that long before the starter was served and the meat fruit was a little piece of food art . I have to admit that I knew what was coming – when I did a search online ( and on Instagram ) there were lots of photos out there . It was served on a wooden platter and it looked like a small tangerine with a slice of toast on the side . The tangerine was just an “ illusion ” – once I cut into it the core was revealed and I could go ahead and taste the chicken liver and foie gras parfait . I like my foie gras and chicken liver so I enjoyed the taste of this smooth paste combined with the large rustic piece of bread . The bread seemed to have been fried just on the pan and it was just right as it should n’t be too crispy .
 Nikki ’s Salamugundy looked like a bit of a mess on the plate but was prepared using chicken oysters , marrow bone and horseradish cream . I have to admit that I was not aware that chicken oysters could be the most tender part on the bird but apparently this is the case . Nikki especially enjoyed the horseradish cream vinaigrette . She commented that although first look may give the impression of a run of the mill green salad , the contents and combination stood out with every mouthful . Crunchy fresh leaves and marrow that made you wish you were in the comfort of your own home to properly tackle it .
 Before the main dish we got the wine that we had ordered by the glass so it seemed like the waiters had full control even if there were several people involved . The wine was a Chianti Classico if I ’m not mistaken and was well paired with both our meals – rounded and fullbodied but not too heavy . My Battalia pye was served as a sort of pie and it contained pigeon , devilled kidneys and lamb tongue . Once it was served the waiter poured a lovely rich lamb sauce on top of it and left the rest on the table . Once I tasted it I poured the rest over the pie as it tasted amazing ! It must have been boiled for hours with a good stock . The pie was delicious and again it was a beautiful looking dish with the pie dough being wrapped around the contents in a perfect circle . The tiny bones of the pigeon were sticking up from the dish and were juicy and the other pieces of meat were also tasty . It might sound a bit weird but one of the best tastes was from the small caramelized onions .
 Nikki had the Roast Black Foot Collar of Pork and she also found the portion to be a bit large . But she also enjoyed the layers of pork meat – which made it easy to differentiate and was almost like slicing through a layered cake . She also got the best ever caramelized onions and turnip .
 The portions of main dish were a bit on the large side but even if we were full , there was still room for dessert . To round off the meal , we waited in anticipation for our tipsy cake – one of the signature desserts . We had to order it when we ordered the rest of the meal as it is made fresh and takes a while to prepare . The cake was served in a small pot with a slice of fried pineapple on the side . The tipsy cake was a pudding ( a British staple ) and served warm , sweet and oozing of a sort of custard . It almost resembled buns but once we sank our spoons into it , the texture and taste said otherwise . I was not crazy about the pineapple but the pudding was great . The tipsy cake is sharing size but I do believe Nikki would have gladly devoured the lot on her own if I had taken my eyes off it for too long . Although we were both stuffed already we managed to leave little trace of anything ever having occupied the desert pot .
 With our bellies near bursting and matching grins , we also got some sort of tea infused chocolate mousse and it was weird to taste the combination of dark chocolate with the hints of tea . And together with some strong espresso it was the perfect end to the meal . On the way out we got to look into the open kitchen were the large staff of chefs were preparing all sorts of delicious dishes . We stumbled out of the Mandarin hotel full , slightly tipsy ( only from the the cake of course ) and very content . This was a lovely dining experience and I hope to return one day to taste more of the great dishes that Heston has on the menu . Check out the restaurant homepage on http://www.dinnerbyheston.com/ and remember to book in advance if you want to check it out .


text:
A unique glass -making experience! learn the basics of of manipulating hot glass in Harley's glass studio.
Beginners are introduced to bead making first and then learn how to shape and decorate the glass. Advanced students work on projects that fit their interest and skill level.
Founded in 1917, The Harley School is a nationally-recognized, independent school in Rochester, NY, offering an innovative and demanding college preparatory program for 525 day students in Nursery (age 3) through Grade 12.

tokenized:
A unique glass -making experience ! learn the basics of of manipulating hot glass in Harley 's glass studio .
 Beginners are introduced to bead making first and then learn how to shape and decorate the glass . Advanced students work on projects that fit their interest and skill level .
 Founded in 1917 , The Harley School is a nationally - recognized , independent school in Rochester , NY , offering an innovative and demanding college preparatory program for 525 day students in Nursery ( age 3 ) through Grade 12 .


text:
Our Echo Earrings have now been crafted in 18k white gold. They've been specially designed to accent two of our most popular pendants, the Harmony Heart and Ogee. The gently curving form also echoes the natural curves of the face.
See our full selection of earrings or all our original jewelry.

tokenized:
Our Echo Earrings have now been crafted in 18k white gold . They 've been specially designed to accent two of our most popular pendants , the Harmony Heart and Ogee . The gently curving form also echoes the natural curves of the face .
 See our full selection of earrings or all our original jewelry .


text:
Franchising is an exciting marketing method. When it is properly structured and well run it provides benefits and satisfaction for both parties. It is not an easy route to riches for franchisor or franchisee, nor is it a panacea for the ills of a 'sick' business.
The establishment of a franchise has to be undertaken with skill, patience and capital. The time scale for establishing a franchise system and preparing it for marketing can be as long as three years, and it can take another three to five years before the franchisor begins to see net profits and cash flow.
The growth of the network is achieved using the financial and manpower resources of the franchisee.
The franchisor is not concerned with the day to day operation of each outlet.
The management of each outlet is the owner, who will tend to be well motivated to be successful.
It provides wider and secured outlets for products and services.
It enables the franchisor to service national customers using their network of outlets.
It must be pilot tested with company-owned and operated outlets.
Business must be successful, distinctive and replicable.
Take proper professional advice - Solicitor, Banker, Accountant and possibly a Franchise Consultant.
The Franchise Agreement must be written by an experienced Franchise Solicitor.
Take time to write an operations manual.
Choose franchisees very carefully and slowly.
Focus on Franchisee satisfaction and profitability.
Keep developing the Franchise and maintain standards.
Ensure marketing, advertising and PR is first class.
As the most-franchised nation (per head of population) in the world, there is a very high level of awareness of franchising in Australia. As a result, the Franchise Council of Australia receives many inquiries from individuals and organisations who have existing businesses or who are developing business concepts, and would like to establish these as franchise systems.
Establishing and testing a business concept is not as easy as some would believe, and furthermore, Australia now has some of the world's most stringent franchising legislation which means there is little or no margin for error for "new" franchisors.
Experts who are skilled and experienced in franchising can give you competent advice relevant to your franchising plans. Be sure to seek out these specialists. It is critical that intending franchisors get the right advice from the very start of their franchise journey, and in particular that they have ensured all aspects of their intellectual property rights are protected prior to embarking on Franchising.
Article provided by Franchise Council of Australia.

tokenized:
Franchising is an exciting marketing method . When it is properly structured and well run it provides benefits and satisfaction for both parties . It is not an easy route to riches for franchisor or franchisee , nor is it a panacea for the ills of a ' sick ' business .
 The establishment of a franchise has to be undertaken with skill , patience and capital . The time scale for establishing a franchise system and preparing it for marketing can be as long as three years , and it can take another three to five years before the franchisor begins to see net profits and cash flow .
 The growth of the network is achieved using the financial and manpower resources of the franchisee .
 The franchisor is not concerned with the day to day operation of each outlet .
 The management of each outlet is the owner , who will tend to be well motivated to be successful .
 It provides wider and secured outlets for products and services .
 It enables the franchisor to service national customers using their network of outlets .
 It must be pilot tested with company - owned and operated outlets .
 Business must be successful , distinctive and replicable .
 Take proper professional advice - Solicitor , Banker , Accountant and possibly a Franchise Consultant .
 The Franchise Agreement must be written by an experienced Franchise Solicitor .
 Take time to write an operations manual .
 Choose franchisees very carefully and slowly .
 Focus on Franchisee satisfaction and profitability .
 Keep developing the Franchise and maintain standards .
 Ensure marketing , advertising and PR is first class .
 As the most - franchised nation ( per head of population ) in the world , there is a very high level of awareness of franchising in Australia . As a result , the Franchise Council of Australia receives many inquiries from individuals and organisations who have existing businesses or who are developing business concepts , and would like to establish these as franchise systems .
 Establishing and testing a business concept is not as easy as some would believe , and furthermore , Australia now has some of the world 's most stringent franchising legislation which means there is little or no margin for error for " new " franchisors .
 Experts who are skilled and experienced in franchising can give you competent advice relevant to your franchising plans . Be sure to seek out these specialists . It is critical that intending franchisors get the right advice from the very start of their franchise journey , and in particular that they have ensured all aspects of their intellectual property rights are protected prior to embarking on Franchising .
 Article provided by Franchise Council of Australia .