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WTS-Orange County's 2020 Awards Nominations Now Open! Each year, the WTS Orange County Chapter recognizes notable contributions by individuals in the transportation industry by giving out six chapter awards. Honor stand-out members, employers, women, and men who are advancing WTS's mission by nominating someone you know today! The deadline to submit nominations for the awards is Monday, Aug. 17, 2020 at 5 p.m. PST. The awards include: - Member of the Year - Woman of the Year - Employer of the Year - Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award - Innovative Transportation Solutions Award - Honorable Ray LaHood Award (Man of the Year) Check back soon to learn more about the 2020 award winners!

Rewinding a VDB rolls it back to a previous point in its timeflow and reprovisions the VDB. The VDB will no longer contain changes after the rewind point. To rewind a VDB, a user must have Delphix Continuous Data Engine admin credentials. Perform the following steps to rewind a VDB. Login to the Delphix Management application. Under Datasets, select the VDB you want to rewind. On the Timeflow tab, select the rewind point as a snapshot or a point in time. If you want to use login credentials on the target environment other than those associated with the environment user, click Provide Privileged Credentials. Click Yes to confirm.

Avatar Legends The RPG: Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide expands the play material found in Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game with new legendary NPCs from every era, new techniques for each of the six trainings, and new character archetypes packed with unique moves and character arcs! In addition, Wan Shi Tong invites you to explore the Avatarverse in new and exciting adventures from every era-you might rescue a mentor from the clutches of evil villains, help negotiate peace at a prestigious summit, aid a Fire Nation defector as they flee the Fire Lord Ozai's wrath, or even recover long-lost Air Nomad artifacts! Enjoy unforgetable adventures with your friends in your favorite setting. Includes: 8.5"x11" Hardcover RPG Book.

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Latest research has revealed the important role of multimodal object exploration in infants’ cognitive and social development. manual exploration with mouthing and visual examination. Infants’ opportunities for learning from object exploration are embedded within a real time postural context that constrains the quantity and quality of exploratory behavior. = 6.02). All were healthy and born at term. Families were recruited from a commercial database and through visits to nearby hospitals. Most families were middle class and white. Data from an additional 14 infants were collected but excluded because of fussiness (3 infants while prone 3 infants while supine 1 infant while sitting and 4 infants in all three postures) experimenter error (2 infants) and video equipment failure (1 infant). Infants received a small toy or t-shirt as a souvenir for participation. AT 56 In a structured interview (see Adolph 2002 baby books and calendars to augment their memories-parents reported the first day their child could roll between supine and prone (without stopping on the side) prop their chest off the ground in a prone position (for 30 s using two hands) tripod sit (for 30 s with the hands placed between the outstretched legs) and self-sit independently (for 30 s without using the hands legs outstretched in front of the body). Parents expressed difficulty in recalling the onset of rolling and prone prop; eight parents said they were too unsure to provide an onset date for rolling and two different parents could not provide an onset date for prone prop. We calculated postural experience as the number of days between onset and test dates. For the infants of parents who did provide onset dates rolling experience averaged 51.19 days (= 34.02) and prone prop experience averaged 63.33 days (= 37.45). However age at testing did not reliably correlate with days of rolling experience (19) = AT 56 .29 > .1 or prone prop experience (25) = .25 > .1. Thus we doubted the validity of parents’ reports for these two measures and did not include them in subsequent analyses. All parents reported their infant’s sitting experience. Fourteen infants could not sit independently 4 infants were able to tripod sit only and 11 infants could self-sit without using the hands for support. An experimenter verified parent report of infants’ sitting abilities in the lab. Experience with tripod sitting averaged 10.00 days (= 14.13) and self-sitting averaged 13.35 days (= 19.27). Both measures of sitting experience correlated with each other (27) = .50 = .006 and with age at testing (27) = .38 = .04 for tripod sitting; (27) = .59 = .001 for self-sitting. We also asked parents to rate how frequently their child had played with toys while in prone supine and supported sitting postures in the past two weeks-responding “never ” “seldom ” “sometimes ” or “often” for each position. Table 1 shows the frequency of play in each posture by number of infants. No parent reported that their child never played with toys in any posture or seldom played in more than one posture. All parents reported their infants played often in at least one posture. Frequency of play in each posture did not reliably differ by sitting ability χ2s (2) < 4.2 objects by running one or more AT 56 fingers along the surface objects by turning an object more than 90° to expose its back side and objects between hands with no concurrent mouthing or touching of the upper body or legs. We had no a priori assumptions about the duration of each exploratory behavior and whether infants’ actions would be AT 56 organized into discrete repetitive bouts. So every sequential repetition of an action was scored as a unique event and its onset and offset were recorded. Thus running a finger down and then up an object would count as two fingerings turning an object over and then back again would count as two rotations and moving an object from one hand into the other and back again would count as two transfers. The probability of one type Sdpr of manual exploration overlapping another (e. g. fingering while rotating) was rare (< 0.05% of all manual actions). Thus we treated manual actions as mutually exclusive. In the few cases of temporal overlap both actions were scored to preserve the total frequency but the earlier-occurring action was coded as ending when the next manual action began. Oral exploration was coded when infants AT 56 brought an object into the mouth for 0.5 s or more. The coder recorded the onset and.

If you'd like to book a ride with us, please fill out the transportation request form. If you'd like to join our team as a driver, information booth specialist, or manager, please check out our jobs page. Website built by Felix Sung and Alexander Lin, MIT students and happy riders of All-Savants! The site is always a work in progress. If you have suggestions or find something that doesn't quite work right, please email [email protected]

In marketing, getting ahead means finding new and innovative strategies. Exploring new territories can open up exceptional opportunities for engagement, reach, and conversion. This blog explores the latest advertising platforms and how to use them to stay ahead of the curve. Why is Advertising More Important Than Ever? Advertising is no longer about selling products. It’s’ creating a connection, stories, and experiences that resonate personally. Let’s explore why advertising is still the cornerstone of effective marketing strategies: Create Brand Awareness In a content-saturated digital ecosystem, advertising platforms help cut through the noise to introduce your brand to a new audience. It is a spark that awakens the recognition and curiosity of potential customers. Engaging with Your Audience Modern advertising goes beyond mere exposure to foster genuine engagement. Through interactive and personalized ad experiences, brands can create meaningful interactions that attract and retain consumer interest. Drive Conversions and Sales At its core, advertising is a powerful tool for business results. With targeted campaigns and data-driven strategies, advertising can directly influence consumer behavior. This impact ultimately increases conversions and sales. As new advertising platforms and technologies emerge, ads enable brands to lead the curve. By adopting new advertising channels, brands can remain competitive in their industry. Emerging Advertising Platforms: Where to Focus Your Efforts We’ve established the importance of advertising in today’s business environment. Now, let’s dive into the emerging advertising platforms that offer creative and exciting content opportunities to shine. TikTok for Business: Capturing the Zeitgeist Remember when TikTok was just about silly dancing? Think again! This platform has evolved into a storytelling powerhouse. TikTok has a massive global audience hungry for authentic content. With these needs in mind, TikTok ads offer solutions that appeal to a scroll-heavy world. Pro Tip: Embrace the platform’s native flair. Ditch sales pitches and blend with dominant user-generated content (UGC). Successful TikTok ads rarely look like ads at all. They are creative and fun, naturally blending in with the UGC surrounding them. Use features like the For You page, Branded Hashtag Challenges, and TikTok’s Marketplace to amplify your message. Connected TV (CTV) and Over-the-Top Advertising (OTT). More and more consumers are cutting the cord of traditional cable TV. So, CTV and OTT services like Hulu, Roku, and Amazon Fire are now vital in reaching audiences in their homes. These platforms deliver targeted advertising capabilities without the geographic limitations of traditional TV. These abilities allow for more personalized and measurable campaigns. Pro Tip: Focus on high-quality, engaging video content that speaks to your target demographic. Take advantage of the targeting power and optimize your message. It should suit the audience’s tastes and viewing style. Remember, relevance is key! Instagram Reel Ads: Tapping Into Short-Form Video As Instagram’s answer to the short video trend, Reels has become a key player in engaging content. Reel advertising allows brands to reach a broad and diverse audience with full-screen, immersive videos. The best part? The ads appear alongside organic content in your feed. It’s perfect for brands showcasing creativity and connecting with users through engaging content. Pro Tip: Use the full creative potential of Reels by experimenting with eye-catching graphics. Also, add trendy audio and interactive features. Keep your content quick, catchy, and aligned with your brand’s voice. Remember, authenticity is the new currency on Instagram. Augmented Reality (AR) Ads on Social Platforms Augmented reality (AR) advertising is shaking things up on platforms like Snapchat and Facebook. AR delivers immersive experiences that deviate from traditional advertising. Imagine users interacting with your product or brand in a virtual space – that’s the magic of AR! AR ads can dramatically increase engagement and recall. How? By allowing users to interact with your brand in a virtual environment. Pro Tip: Fun + functional is the winning combo. Whether it’s a virtual tryout of a product or an interactive game, ensure it adds value to the user’s experience and ties back to your brand goals. Bonus Tip: Voice Search Optimization for Ads Although it’s not an advertising platform, voice search is becoming increasingly important. Its value in marketing results from the popularity devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home have gained in the past years. Adding voice search strategies to your advertising can help capture this growing market. Pro Tip: Speak their language. Focus on conversational keywords and questions people naturally use when talking to voice assistants. Tailor your content to provide direct, spoken answers to these queries, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a top result for voice searches. Offline Tip: Direct Mail Personalization – A Tangible Touch in a Digital World There’s a resurging appreciation for the tangible and personal touch that comes with offline advertising. Direct mail personalization stands out as a powerful strategy, blending the physical with the precision of digital targeting. When combined with digital campaigns, personalized direct mail can reinforce your message. This strategy can support the increase in conversions. Also, the physical nature of direct mail ensures that your brand leaves a tangible footprint in the hands of your audience. This step will be more memorable to your audience than digital advertising alone. Pro Tip: Stats are your best friend. Use data analytics to segment audiences and tailor your message. Go beyond names – consider past purchases, location, and interests to create personalized experiences. Also, integrate your direct mail campaign with digital efforts. Add a personalized QR code or URL that leads to a landing page, creating a seamless offline-to-online experience. Practical Tips for Effective Advertising Applications Whether guiding digital strategies or leveraging the visual impact of offline channels, these tips can help you maximize the effectiveness of your advertising: For Digital Advertising: - Know Your Audience: Don’t be a stranger to your audience! Use data analytics to understand your audience’s demographics, interests, and behaviors. Customized ads can be more effective, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates. - Test and Optimize: Digital platforms offer the unique advantage of real-time feedback. Use A/B testing for different elements of your ads (such as headlines, images, and calls to action). See what works best and continue to refine your approach. - Benefits of Retargeting: Retargeting allows you to show ads to people who have already interacted with your brand. This interaction with previous users can increase the chances of conversion. Use it wisely to remind and convince potential customers without overwhelming them. - Focus on Mobile: With the increasing use of smartphones, ensure your ads are optimized for mobile. This approach includes responsive design and considering the context in which mobile users view the ads. Think of bite-sized content, clear CTAs, and visuals that won’t take forever to load. For Offline Advertising: - Integrate with Digital: Use QR codes, social media tags, and unique URLs in your offline ads to create a seamless online-offline experience. This approach enhances tracking and measurement of your offline campaigns’ impact. - Personalization: It’s not just about names anymore! As with digital advertising, personalization matters in offline marketing. Create your direct mail on customer data to make it relevant and engaging. This customization increases the chances of a positive response. - Consistency is Key: Ensure your brand message is consistent across all platforms. This consistency creates brand recognition and credibility. The idea is that people identify you when they engage with you online and offline. - Localize Your Messages: Adapt your messaging to resonate with the community, especially for local print ads or direct mail. Consider local tastes, cultures, and languages to foster a stronger connection and response. Think local slang and jokes that will make them say, “Hey, that’s us!” - Storytelling: Facts tell, stories compel. Craft narratives around your brand or product that evoke emotions, solve problems, or spark laughter. Remember, it’s stories that people connect with, not merely the features. - Call-to-Action (CTA): Always include a clear CTA. Your audience needs to know precisely what you want them to do. Provide a next step, whether it’s visiting the website, calling a number, or following your brand on social. - Measure and Adjust: Constantly track the performance of your ads across platforms. Use this data to understand what’s working and what’s not. Be prepared to adjust your strategy accordingly. Wrapping It Up As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the opportunities for advertisers to reach their audiences innovatively. By embracing these emerging advertising platforms and technologies, marketers and business leaders can stay ahead of the curve and create more meaningful and engaging connections with their audiences. Remember, the key to success in these new arenas is creativity, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment. Ready to elevate your marketing game? Let’s talk about turning your vision into reality. Schedule a call with our team today and discover how we can help your business soar. Click here to book your spot!

Do you have a lot of books but are running out of space in your home? Want to keep them safe, without having to give them away? Then we have the perfect solution for you. We can show you how you can pack your book collection for storage, and then organize their transport with Alabama movers. That is the safest way to move them, without damaging them. Pack your books collection for storage – first steps You can’t just pick up your books and store them in storage. You need to make sure they are packed properly before you move them there. The best way to do this is to look for proper boxes you can use for this. For example, you can visit local shoe stores where they can give you the boxes they don’t use or have any use of anymore. They are perfect because they are small and durable. It makes them a great place where you can put books before storing them. If you have expensive and rare books then we suggest getting some plastic bins that will protect them from moisture, water, or some pests. Now, these are some of the things you don’t have to worry about if you get good commercial storage Birmingham. Storing large quantities of books can be hard if you don’t have a proper storage unit. Clean your books What you need to know is that you can’t just pack your books for storage. You need to know how to properly maintain the quality of your books. This way you will keep your books in pristine condition without worrying about their quality. But, you have to be gentle when cleaning them. Don’t use some strong chemicals! This can only damage them beyond repair. In fact, you can use a regular cloth to take the dust off your books before packing them. Simply clean them and you are ready to start packing. Now, it is very important to remember not to put too many books in one box. Their weight can seriously damage the box so they can fall out. If you properly pack your books, you will keep them safe during the storage period. When you do decide to start packing your books for storage, it is a good idea to know how to properly organize your storage unit. Because you would want to be able to reach the items you have stored without any issues. These are the steps you need to make when you want to pack your book collection for storage. By following our guide, you will prepare your books for storage without any issues whatsoever. And once you do this, give us a call so we can organize the transport. We can help you move them safely and quickly.

Master Settlement Agreement After many years of intense national debate, the major issues regarding cigarette marketing and underage smoking have been comprehensively addressed through a Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) signed Nov. 23, 1998, by the major U.S. tobacco companies and 46 states and a number of U.S. territories. The provisions of that settlement were similar to those in individual settlements previously reached with the other four states (Florida, Minnesota, Mississippi and Texas). The MSA prohibits taking “… any action, directly or indirectly, to target Youth … in the advertising, promotion or marketing of Tobacco Products, or … any action the primary purpose of which is to initiate, maintain or increase the incidence of Youth smoking …. ” In addition, the MSA profoundly and permanently changed the way R.J. Reynolds and other cigarette manufacturers can market, advertise and promote our cigarette brands and our industry. It mandates total bans on certain activities and new, severe restrictions on many others. For example, it specifically bans: - The use of cartoon images in advertising, promoting, packaging or labeling of cigarettes; - Billboards, stadium signs, transit signs and other outdoor advertising which advertises tobacco products; - Tobacco brand-logoed merchandise (such as caps and T-shirts); - Free-product sampling anywhere except for a facility or enclosed area where the operator ensures that no minors are present; - Payments for use of tobacco products in movies, TV programs, live recorded performances, videos or video games; - Use of non-tobacco brand names on tobacco products; - Licensing of third parties to use or advertise any cigarette brand name in a manner that would constitute a violation of the MSA if done by the participating manufacturer; - Agreements that prohibit a third party from selling, purchasing or displaying advertising discouraging the use of cigarettes or exposure to second hand smoke; and, - The use of a cigarette brand name as part of the name of a stadium or arena. The MSA limits tobacco sponsorships to one per year and prohibits: - Brand-name sponsorship of events with a significant youth audience; - Sponsorship of events where the paid participants or contestants are youth; - Sponsorship of concerts (unless events are age-restricted); and, - Sponsorship of athletic events between opposing teams in any football, baseball, soccer or hockey league. With respect to any brand-name sponsorship allowed by the MSA: - Advertising of the brand-name sponsorship event cannot advertise any cigarette; and, - No participating manufacturer may refer to a brand-name sponsorship event or to a celebrity or other person in such an event in its advertising of cigarettes. The MSA requires that: - Tobacco-industry documents be publicly available through a website paid for by the companies; and, - Tobacco companies disclose payments to lobbyists and other major donations. The MSA disbanded the Tobacco Institute, the Council for Tobacco Research and the Council for Indoor Air Research, and provides for regulation and oversight of any new trade organizations. In addition, the MSA restricts participating manufacturers from: - Supporting diversion of MSA proceeds to any program that is neither tobacco related nor health related; - Opposing legislation prohibiting the sale of cigarettes in packages less than 20; and, - Opposing the passage of certain kinds of state and local legislation relating primarily to youth access to tobacco. Over a 25-year period, the states will receive up to $246 billion from tobacco companies through the MSA and four other individual state settlements that can be used to support anti-smoking efforts. Future annual payments, based upon inflation and cigarette sales, will continue in perpetuity. The MSA provides industry funding specifically earmarked for anti-youth-smoking education programs and a national health research foundation. As part of the $246 billion MSA, the participating tobacco companies agreed to: - Pay approximately $1.45 billion to the states over five years for the creation and execution of an anti-smoking advertising and public education campaign designed to reduce and prevent teen smoking; and, - Make contributions of $250 million over 10 years to a research foundation, which will be dedicated to the study of programs to reduce youth smoking, as well as the study of and educational programs to prevent tobacco-related illnesses. Compliance with the marketing rules and restrictions, as well as all other aspects of the MSA and the four other individual state settlements, is enforced by a court in each state and by each state’s attorney general. Failure to comply with these rules and restrictions can result in broad, court-ordered injunctions and civil penalties. For more information, review the full text of the Master Settlement Agreement.

It is increasingly becoming apparent that, all other things being equal, reading Psalms in sequence is a deeply enriching and spiritually nourishing experience. Positioning Psalm 95 One example may help to persuade the sceptic that hidden gems are missed if we make no allowance for the Spirit-inspired final Psalter compilation sequence. I've always thought that Psalm 95, with its upbeat note, plus an added solemn threat, seemed a little out of place, alongside Psalms 91-99. When you see Psalm couplets, like "soul-blessing" paired hymns 103-104, or "historical twins" 105-106, I ask should Ezra not have welded 95 to "old 100th"? In both of these songs, all Yahweh's chosen lambs, are called to bleat praise out to the Creator of the Church for His regenerating work. So why does 95 follow 90-94? When content and context is taken into account, and given due weight, I would, evidently be mistaken to assume Psalter misalignment or Psalm 95 misstep! Placement in Book IV Book 4 of the Psalter turns traumatized hearts of Second Temple worshippers back to the God of Moses - Ezra calms hearts, in light of dynastic collapse and Temple wreck, that despite the crisis with which Book 3 concludes (Psalm 89), the future is bright in the hands of the LORD of the Covenant. It is a striking fact to note that the only Psalm attributed to Moses is found in Book 4. And while Mosaic content appears at other points, only once outside Book 4 is Jochebed's boy mentioned explicitly by name (Ps. 77:20; 90:1; 99:6; 103:7; 105:26; 106:16, 23, 32). In relative terms, the background drumbeat of Book 4, is a perfect seven-fold chant of Moses, Moses, Moses, Moses, Moses, Moses, Moses. It looks like Psalm 90 was written in sight of Canaan, before Moses climbed the slopes of Pisgah, on the Plains of Moab. For 40 years, since God laid bare his arm, and the "sky signpost" appeared, the cloud of death-in-wrath had hung over Israel's camp. If lessons could be learned, God would establish future generations handiwork. The thrust of the sequence of Psalm 91-4 seems to be this: if His chosen servant Israel would prove faithful to his call, and hide in Yahweh's wings, then the God of Moses, who did great things at first, would now also grant them conquest (Psalm 91). All the evil, both inside and outside, would be put out of the church and erased from the earth - God's seed would triumph by trampling Serpent sin under Israel's foot at length (Psalm 92-94), in His sovereign might: later Psalms in Book 4 (101-103) add the further thought that this long-awaited result comes about for saints focused on God's House with the future in-residence Davidic Prince (as Psalm 92:6-11, 12-15 hint). Psalm 95 in Sequence Where, then, you might ask, does Psalm 95 fit in? This Psalm resounds with gratitude to God for regenerating the Church. Just as at first seas were formed and hills were framed, so the Spirit breathed to force Egyptian waters back - dry ground appeared and Israel was saved. The upshot of this work after the Giving of the Law at Sinai, entering into Covenant, passage through the Wilderness, and crossing the River Jordan, was conquest under Joshua, the Period of the Judges, with the Kingdom being established, centralized and sworn under David. But, of course, schism rapidly split the "model" prototype of God's definitive fulfilled Kingdom work, into bastard North and authentic South - after serial ups and downs, often teetering on the brink, theocratic Israel was finally torn down. God's wrecking ball of wrath smashed both Palace and Temple to the earth. Kingless, rudderless, Israel and Judah, was sent back-packing to Assyria and Babylon to serve its prison term. When originally penned, Psalm 95, was written to warn "model" kingdom citizens, as the product of Exodus, not to despise God's grace, in light of desert-wanderings death. Those who had heard of the Judges, and fondly remembered Samuel, were taught in the First Temple to be fully committed to David and the very precious Kingdom promises bound inextricably to his bloodline. It was failure to heed this threat, brought by prophet after prophet, and to prefer Zion ground to Zion's God, that led to Jerusalemite demise and deportation that ensued. By the days of Ezra, and the time of the final compilation of the Psalter, the "model Kingdom" had been smashed, and the promised, chosen, remnant nation had served their time and, eventually, as pledged, come back. By careful placement of Psalm 95 after the sequence of 91-94, future cosmic bliss, global joy and kingdom peace, celebrated in Psalm 100, is tied into heeding God's threat. Those who returned must not ignore the warning of neglecting God's greater, final, redemption for which return is preparation. Psalm 95 in Hebrews In light, then, of the Messianic events associated with the conception, birth, growth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus of Nazareth, it is not hard to understand why Psalm 95 becomes so intensely solemn and serious in the Book of Hebrews. As Book 4 promised, and Book 5 celebrated, the Son of David, Jesus of Nazareth, by blood, as Lord and Christ, had now secured the ultimate, eternal, divinely-covenanted realm. Believers in Jesus had found, by faith, redemptive relief and rest. This now means that if signs and wonders of the "Crown Rights" of King Jesus and His Apostles are neglected or ignored, by those who saw, witnessed and received them, then salvation has been trampled and the Spirit of Grace blasphemed. It is one thing to be entirely heedless of water-parting, Law-giving, covenant-making, pillar-leading, rock-streaming, quail and manna, and other jaw-dropping signs and judgments. It is off-the-scale spiritual block-headedness to be insensitively and callously blind and deaf to Christ - this is an ignorance and neglect that the Lord will not overlook, and from which there is no escape. How we ought to cherish all the privileges, responsibilities and duties of God's House's Gospel "Means of grace" in Mediator Jesus the True Melchizedek! Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will - Heb. 2:1-4 Nor should we let slip welcoming travelling messengers, doing good or sharing goods, which are needful duties of saints-on-saints: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God - Heb. 13:2, 16 What is the reason for such stubborn, dull, neglect? Being hardened to and heedless of, the greatness of Gospel grace, finalized in Christ and placarded at the Cross. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief - Heb. 3:7-19 It really does make you ask if it is not pastorally and spiritually dangerous in the extreme, to sing the brimming jubilation of the first half of Psalm 95:1-6 without proceeding to the booming conclusion of the second half of Psalm 95:7-11? Does it not seem to strangely to miss the point of the threat of the Psalmist, Psalter and The Holy Spirit of God? Brevity of worship, at this point, is not expedient. There is nothing more disastrous that to despise God's ultimate grace which has been manifest in God's Christ. This was a lesson and stress that Ezra, the priest charged by Persia with re-ordering Jewish religion, under the superintendence of the Holy Spirit, intended Second Temple worshippers to pick up on, as they awaited the Coming Messiah. Nor did the point of the message escape the writer of the Book of Hebrews whose spiritual antennae seem to pick up the Spirit-intended "read-in-order" emphasis. What is the message of Psalm 95 to us? Believe the Gospel! Repent of heedlessness! Cling to Grace! Cleave to Christ! Heed the Threat! Then, and only then, will you be able to sing Psalm 96-99 confidently with the Church through the coming wrath to the Kingdom Consummation that awaits. Then. and only then, can we harmonize happily with angel hosts and glorified sheep raising Psalm 100 in God's House. Then, and only then, will we sing holy final hallelujahs of Psalm 145-15o in the everlasting age to come.

Kubernetes Secrets – Introduction Kubernetes secrets are essential for protecting passwords, tokens, keys and other sensitive data in Kubernetes environments. But the sensitive information they contain makes them an attractive target for attackers. Once compromised, a single exploit can allow an attacker to gain control of an entire Kubernetes container and cluster infrastructure. This is because, by default, all Kubernetes-run microservices, pods and clusters are freely connected. Very often, access to secrets is all an attacker needs to gain control of critically sensitive data that secrets are supposed to protect. Conversely, locking containers down completely — blocking all interconnections between containers and pods — would prevent applications running on the clusters from functioning. The use of a secret is mandatory to contain sensitive data that should not be exposed in the application code. But proper management of secrets is critical to prevent them from serving as a major attack target. Secrets management is therefore a major component of cloud native security. Proper management depends on a number of cloud security best practices. These include helping to secure the cluster components themselves, as well as the applications running in the clusters and the connections through which data is exchanged. There are a few things to keep in mind. Whether you are new to Kubernetes security or want to check that you have no gaps in your secrets knowledge, here is a checklist of best practices for secrets management to consider: A secure place for secrets A major challenge for secrets management is choosing the right tool for storage and administration. For starters, sensitive information should not be hardcoded in the application or stored as plain text in running containers. Importantly, they should not be stored in a file on a public repository such as GitHub or GitLab. Encrypted or not, such files can be obtained easily by way of phishing or similar methods, compromising the entire cluster. Instead, within the Kubernetes ecosystem, it is highly recommended to use a secrets object. Encryption at rest is mandatory, ensuring sensitive information is encrypted before it’s stored in etcd, a distributed key-value store. Additionally, secrets can be managed through cloud provider services or external tools such as Vault. (More about these options below.) - Keep secret data out of containers. Secrets should never be hardcoded within an application stored on disk or accessible at the node level. They should be stored and accessible only in memory for the required containers. Once the application uses the sensitive information to complete a process and is no longer running, the secret should be removed altogether from the memory. If ephemeral volumes are used to provide secret data for the application, these should also be removed when the container stops running or is deleted. - Add sealed secrets. One challenge for applications deployed via pipelines in Kubernetes involves bootstrapping them securely with passwords stored in secret objects. This can be achieved with so-called SealedSecrets from Bitnami that encrypts your secret data and enables you to store it in a git repository. The data can only be decrypted by the SealedSecret controller running inside the cluster. The developer has access to SealedSecrets through RBAC control at the namespace or resource level. Once the SealedSecret is deployed, it will appear in the Kubernetes cluster as a normal secret object that is base64 encoded. As such, a pod can access the sensitive information on an as-needed basis. This process is attractive, since encoded data can be stored in a public or private Git repository, hence lending itself well to a fully automated CI/CD process. - Restrict third-party access. Third-party tools, applications, platforms and other integrations will often, by default, request direct access to secrets. These requests are often unnecessary, yet add a potential access point for secrets by attackers. If certain access is required in the Kubernetes infrastructure, it is much more secure to configure access to specific namespaces or resources through RBAC. It is also important not to allow untrusted third-party integrations to access certain resources, namespaces or core controllers such as kube-apiserver, as this can lead to a full breach of the cluster. - Keep secrets in a single location. It is not unheard of for secrets to be accessible directly in public repositories as mentioned above, such as in YAML files on GitHub or external file storage systems. Secrets distributed and stored using multiple mechanisms can lead to an increased blast radius when data escapes the security perimeters. Proper authorization and RBAC controls, auditing, encryption and monitoring should be imposed to keep these secure. - Use encryption. It’s absolutely mandatory to ensure that secrets are encrypted at all times. This includes when they are being stored in a secrets object or when they’re in transit to be accessed by a pod, namespace, etc. Transport Layer Security (TLS) connections should be used for their distribution, such as when updated or accessed by the admin. - Detail changes in secrets logs. Any access and changes made to secrets or any sensitive data should be detailed in an audit log. If and when there is an attack, an existing audit log will offer information about when and how secrets were changed or accessed. - Use dynamic secrets. Dynamic secrets are continually changed after a specific time period has elapsed, also known as secret rotation. Compromised secrets thus only grant access to attackers for a specified and limited amount of time. The compromised secrets can also help with auditing to determine when a particular secret was exposed in a breach. - Use Custom certificate authority (CA). Kubernetes provides a certificates.k8s.io API to provision TLS certificates signed by a Certificate Authority (CA) that you control. The certificate authority itself can be stored in secrets objects to maintain the validity of end-to-end connections. - Use the Container storage interface (CSI) driver. Generally available since the Kubernetes v1.13 release, CSI offers an additional secure storage component not only for secrets but for other data. It was designed so that, as a plugin, a protected storage layer outside of the cluster can be added, to be used by services within the cluster. - Leverage etcd. etcd is a key value store that admins can access and manage directly in Kubernetes. It was designed to offer a straightforward and simple-to-use API and an automated TLC with optional client certificate identification. It’s also fast: according to the creator’s benchmarks, it can provide 100 writes per second. In addition to secrets, the etcd stores all information about the cluster and facilitates duplicating clusters in a disaster-recovery scenario. - Use third-party secrets storage. The major cloud providers offer secrets management services such as AWS Secrets Manager, Azure Key Vault and Google Secret Manager. A popular and widely adopted open source of secrets services is HashiCorp’s Vault. It is designed to provide lifecycle management of secrets including creation, storage, revocation, time-bound rotations and auditing with unified policy enforcement. Vault also offers key and certificate management features to standardize lifecycle management of keys and certificates, and provides encryption as a service to enable advanced data protection. One of the more interesting features of Vault is that it acts as an identity broker by leveraging multiple trusted identities and includes many identity integrations so that no matter where your application is running, Vault can authenticate them. When Secrets Are Lost The unthinkable can and does occur. This is why it is critical for a proper Kubernetes backup and recovery solution to be in place, such as Kasten K10. A secrets service like Vault can be integrated with it so that even if an attacker gains access to Vault’s secrets object, access can be overridden. Vault can also be used to protect the encryption key used by Kasten K10 to encrypt application data. The master key will still be stored in the Kasten catalog but sent to your Vault installation for encryption and decryption. Access restrictions implemented as policy can allow the organization to restore data, including secrets, that is compromised or even encrypted by a ransomware attack. The Learning Path Properly implementing secrets best practices requires hands-on practice. To avoid the risk of practicing how to manage and store secrets on live clusters in a real-world environment, developers can train the requisite muscle memory by working in a sandbox environment that the KubeCampus Kubernetes Learning Site provides for free. If you are completely new to Kubernetes security, Introduction to Kubernetes Security is a great place to start. Kubernetes Security — Intermediate Skills provides hands-on practice with secrets management, as well as other Kubernetes security topics including authentication, RBAC management, runtime security and pod-security standards. How secret management relates to storage and disaster recovery is covered in the Storage and Applications in Kubernetes lab. KubeCampus offers a number of courses covering Kubernetes management to help you build relevant skills in a hands-on way as a developer, a backend engineer or an operations specialist. Once you have completed any of the KubeCampus courses, you can revisit them to use them as a reference to keep your Kubernetes skills sharp. Whether you are a seasoned Kubernetes professional or are a complete beginner, the courses are designed to accommodate your needs.

LonMark Interoperability Guidelines help manufacturers build interoperable LonMark products based upon LonWorks technology; the ANSI/CEA-709.1 control-networking protocol. Describes the content and structure of a device interface (.XIF) file. The latest release of the LonMark Resource File API for porting. This is the current release of the RF API source code. This new release (compatible and installed with the v14.00 LMRFs in executable form) is backward-compatible with previous versions. Need to port the read-only API interface to a non- Windows OS platform? All the header files are available in this separate ZIP archive. Includes Windows OS DLL libraries for reading and writing and includes ANSI® C source code to port the read portion of the same API to other platforms and read versions 1-6 type files, versions 1-5 functional profiles, and versions 1-3 language files in LonMark resource files. Download this API only if you need to port the API to a different, unsupported platform. All run-time, Windows OS DLL API libraries are installed with the 12.00, 12.11, and 13.xx, and 14.00 LonMark Resource Files’ installers and do not need this API to be ported for the resource files to be readable in Windows. See the RFAPI 2.41 “ReadMe” for additional information. Describes the transceiver-channel parameters, standard transceiver- type IDs, standard transceiver IDs, and channel-type IDs for all LonMark channels as well as some channels that are not LonMark Approved.

Outsource App Development Cost: All You Need to Know We can’t deny that we love it when we buy high-quality products at an efficient cost. That is a simple explanation for what you will get if you start an outsourcing process for your app development. Your company can take advantage of a number of new opportunities at a reduced cost via outsourcing. Let me tell you how. It has been proven that businesses do actually fail due to their poor financial planning when it comes to app development. That is why I am here today—to uncover with you how to develop an effective outsource app development cost strategy. If we’re talking in numbers, the mobile app development market is one that is worth billions of dollars nowadays. Based on available data and statistics, the Apple App Store has over 2 million apps, while the Google Play Store has over 2.59 million apps. Around half of the world’s 19 million computer programmers work only on mobile app development, which means there’s no shortage of talent to match the increasing demand. Finding a reliable app development business from the vast pool of potential candidates is incredibly challenging, as any basic mathematical calculation may reveal. Therefore, finding an app developer that is well-suited to your app category requires a significant investment of time and energy. That is why we’re here today: to help you know what an outsource app development cost is and which companies you should opt for. What Exactly is Outsourcing? A Quick Overview Outsourcing is a strategic collaboration wherein a company engages a third party to manage operations, execute tasks, or deliver services on its behalf. This external entity, referred to as the service provider or third-party facilitator, mobilizes its own workforce or technological infrastructure to carry out these responsibilities either within the company’s premises or at separate locations. Businesses today leverage outsourcing for a spectrum of functions. This includes delegating information technology services like software development and programming, as well as providing technical support. Customer service and call center operations are commonly outsourced, alongside diverse tasks such as manufacturing processes, human resources functions, and financial tasks such as accounting and payroll management. Whether it’s an entire department or specific segments within one, companies have the flexibility to outsource accordingly. How does it all fit into the mobile app development industry? Outsourcing mobile app development is bringing in outside help from experts or companies to plan, build, and manage the app for mobile devices. Businesses commonly cut costs and get access to specialized skills and technology by outsourcing development processes to third-party professionals in areas such as coding, design, and testing. Simple as that. Outsource App Development Costs: The Insights of It All The process of outsourcing is rapidly becoming a trend that developers are obsessing over. Let me indulge you with some of the statistics that I found regarding 2024’s data. - IT made around 70.5 billion in sales - From 2022 to 2025, the market share of IT software engineering outsourcing is projected to increase from 22% to 27%. - The projected valuation for the software development outsourcing sector is anticipated to hit $98 billion by the year 2025. These select statistics highlight the substantial investment startups are making in outsourcing, signaling its growing popularity as the preferred model owing to its manifold advantages. Now let us discuss the benefits of mobile app development outsourcing. The Many Benefits of Mobile App Development Outsourcing There are many advantages that you can gain from developing an outsourcing strategy for your mobile app. Let us delve deeper into the depths of the benefits that you can have and find out what makes outsourcing worth the buzz it is causing in the market. Cost Efficiency Is a Key Advantage Here There are several reasons why outsourcing can be cost-efficient when you’re developing your mobile app. It allows access to a vast pool of talents that you can find globally. Which enables companies and businesses to hire skilled professionals at a highly luring and competitive rate. Moreover, the process of outsourcing reduces operational expenses by eliminating the need for in-house infrastructure and ongoing maintenance costs. Companies can also benefit from the flexibility of scaling resources as needed, avoiding fixed overheads. In addition, outsourcing frequently results in a shorter delivery time when it comes to launching your app in the market. Which increases the efficiency of development cycles and ensures a quicker deployment of the application. The overall decision is a strategic one from a financial standpoint, as it provides cost predictability and increased budget control while simultaneously preserving quality standards. Better Access to a Vast Market Talent This is one option that unlocks a portal to a wide pool of global talent. Which means that you won’t have any kinds of limitations when it comes to geographical limits or constraints. Businesses get to gain access to a diverse skill set. Like specialized developers or individuals who are always developing their skill set. Moreover, sometimes there are certain app developers who wish to have something other than their local limited talents. This is something that helps them broaden their talent horizons and access more talents from all over the world without having to feel restrained. When businesses take advantage of a worldwide market, they have the ability to choose from a wider variety of developers, designers, and technology specialists who possess certain competencies that are aligned with the requirements of their projects. This access to a huge talent reservoir makes it possible to assemble a team that is more proficient and adapted to their needs, which in turn encourages innovation and the development of mobile applications that are of high quality and competitive. Faster Launching and Market Exposure In Terms of Time and Duration App development outsourcing acts like an accelerant in terms of app launches. It speeds up the whole process by leveraging the expertise and dedicated resources of specialized teams. Partners that you connect with externally will provide you with established workflows, industry insights, and streamlined processes. Which will naturally reduce your app development time in a significant manner. Because these companies focus their attention solely on your app project, they are able to avoid any potential delays that your app development process may suffer from by your business’s internal resource constraints. Moreover, outsourcing provides you with the right opportunities that will open up for you and give you the chance to execute tasks in a parallel manner. Something that will save you time and give you an efficient time gap to launch your app. This simple yet effective approach optimizes time, enabling businesses to swiftly navigate through various development stages, ensuring a timely and efficient app launch. Focus on Your Outsourcing Competency This is a process that allows you to focus on more liberated valuable resources, enabling a laser focus on core competencies essential for a successful app launch. By delegating tasks like development, design, or testing to specialized external teams, businesses redirect their in-house efforts. They redirect them toward strategic planning, marketing strategies, and user engagement—areas pivotal to the app’s success. This streamlined approach ensures that internal teams concentrate on refining unique selling propositions, enhancing user experiences, and aligning the app’s functionalities with market demands. The process of outsourcing fosters a more concentrated effort on key strengths, maximizing efficiency and proficiency in crucial aspects of launching the app. Outsourcing Offers You Top-Notch Accessibility and Flexibility It simply stands as a beacon of top-notch accessibility and unparalleled flexibility in the realm of business operations. How so? Let me tell you. By entrusting specialized tasks to external experts or firms, companies gain access to a diverse array of skills and resources. Ones that might not be available in your in-house business environment. This extends far beyond geographic boundaries, tapping into a worldwide reservoir of individuals that is abundant in expertise and varied in proficiencies. Furthermore, outsourcing also provides dynamic flexibility, allowing organizations to quickly scale resources up or down in response to project demands or market swings. Teams can quickly adapt to changing needs thanks to this adaptability, which frees them from the restrictions of rigid internal structures. In addition, outsourcing provides access to innovative technology and processes that aren’t always immediately available within the organization of the outsourcing company. In a landscape that is always shifting, firms are able to maintain their competitiveness and adaptability by having access to novel tools and methods. Furthermore, the adaptability of outsourcing makes it possible for businesses to broaden the scope of what they provide or investigate new market areas without making the long-term commitments that are typically involved with expanding their operations in-house. When taken as a whole, outsourcing is an example of transparency and flexibility. It enables organizations to negotiate difficult environments with agility while simultaneously utilizing the greatest available skills and resources. The Outsource App Development Cost: In Case You Forgot In case you forgot what this guide was intended to aim for, I am here to remind you. The cost of outsourcing app development varies from one factor to another. There are many factors that contribute to the overall cost of app development. However, the main factor here lies in the level of your app’s complexity. If your app is simple and requires simple features, an interface, and a simple layout, then it will cost less than one that requires various integrations, coding, and more complex features. Here is the general cost for outsource app development in 2024: - Simple Apps: range from $5,000 to $40,000 - Average Apps: range from %50,000 to $100,000 - Complex Apps: range from $100,000 to $250,000 Wrapping It Up! Outsourcing app development streamlines operations, leveraging expertise and scalability. Explore nandbox’s no-code app builder for effortless, tailored app creation. Empower your vision with intuitive tools, craft personalized, powerful apps without coding hassles, and expedite your app’s journey to success. Craft powerful apps that are hassle-free. Elevate your business with nandbox and bring your app idea to life with us in no time!

Designs for the 15th Ave NE paving project are compete, and they include bike lanes from (almost) Lake City Way to NE 55th Street, most of which are protected bike lanes. There’s a lot to like about the project, which will add a lot of connectivity to the area. But the bike protection disappears in key places, undercutting much of the potential for the project. First, the good stuff. Thanks to the NE 65th St bike lanes that opened in 2019, the new 15th Ave NE bike lanes will connect to the under-construction Roosevelt Station. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer and wrap up in fall 2021. Lake City will also (almost) get a much better connection to the heart of the north Seattle bike network, Roosevelt High School, Ravenna Park and the U District. For most of the distance, the bike lanes will be protected by either a paint-and-post buffer or a row of parked cars, as shown in the city’s diagram: However, this diagram and the city’s project map are misleading because the bike lane will not be protected for the entire distance. In fact, the bike lane will disappear entirely for the block and a half south of Lake City Way NE, the official design documents (PDF) show: This means people biking north will lose all protection from traffic at the exact moment they need it most: The business district and the very busy Lake City Way crossing. The decision to end the bike lane a block and a half early also severely limits the benefit to all Lake City residents, who will still need to bike either in mixed traffic across a state highway or on sidewalks through the businesses district, neither of which are appealing options. This is a huge missed opportunity that severely undercuts the rest of the project. It is also not made clear in the outreach materials that the bike lane will not reach Lake City Way NE. Only those willing to dive into the big, dense construction documents would know the truth. This omission is reminiscent of the Columbian Way S bike lane debacle on Beacon Hill last year in which neighbors did not learn that bike lanes would not actually reach Beacon Ave S until they saw the paint on the ground. The lack of a bike connection was omitted from outreach materials. SDOT went back and completed the Columbian Way bike lane late last year. The Columbian Way omission was a bit more egregious than this one, since that design was changed at the last minute without telling anyone. In this case, even the 60% design documents showed the bike lane gap near Lake City Way NE, though the outreach materials do not mention it. Residents and safe streets advocates should not need to scour dense design documents to make sure SDOT’s outreach materials are accurate. The result is that advocating for a change now is a lot harder than it would have been a year ago, since the design is now ready for construction. The protection will also disappear at major intersections, including NE 75th St and NE 65th St, turning into skinny paint-only bike lanes. These changes are also not noted in the project map on the city’s website or in the official fact sheet. The map shows protected bike lanes as a solid line and paint-only bike lanes at a dotted line. The line is solid from Lake City Way to Cowen Pl NE without interruption, but here are the NE 75th St and NE 65th St intersections in the design document: The intersection with NE 65th St in particular feels like a missed opportunity to provide full protection for bike users, such as a protected intersection. Our city does not have many intersections where two streets with protected bike lanes cross like this, especially for two routes where a lot of turning movements are expected. The current design does as little as possible to help people make turns, basically painting little green boxes for people to maneuver into and wait. Ultimately, there is a lot to like in this project. But a few decisions to bail on the bike protection when it is needed most undercuts the rest of the improvements. A bike route is only as comfortable as its least comfortable section, and even a single stressful intersection can make people think twice about making a trip by bike. The decision to bail on the protection south of Lake City Way has cut off everyone who lives north of that street from reaping the benefits of the rest of the project. Lake City Way is a major barrier that divides the neighborhood, and this project could have helped people get across it. Bike lanes, especially protected bike lanes, are also key pieces of complete streets, and their safety benefits extend to people walking and driving. So ending the bike lanes early also eliminates opportunities for other road safety improvements such as a major crosswalk improvement in the business district at Lake City Way. The very long, angled crosswalk across 15th Ave NE at Lake City Way will not be getting any shorter under the city’s plan. Shorter crosswalks are safer and more comfortable because people using them spend less time in the path of turning cars. With protected bike lanes, the city could shorten the time people spend walking in front of car traffic by almost half. That’s a big deal. Instead, the city will build four lanes for general traffic, including a right turn lane and whatever you call this pointless disappearing lane: The city budget is about to be in crisis due to the covid-19 outbreak and the unplanned West Seattle Bridge emergency. We have no idea yet what all this will mean for other transportation projects, but it’s not good. We need to be getting the most benefit possible from all our investments, especially expensive repaving projects like this one. So yes, I’m focusing on a small bad section in a longer good project. But it’s important to get these details right the first time so we get the most for our money and so we don’t spend more money later fixing them.

Today, we have a few updates and changes for Apparel system in The Division 2. EXPLORERS EVENT EXTENDED Before we get started with overall updates to the Apparel system, we wanted to let you know that we've been looking at your feedback around getting keys from drops for the Explorers Apparel Event. Specifically, we recognize that hitting a streak of not getting keys upon level up can be frustrating, especially since the game does not provide that feedback. While we're looking at specific solutions to future events that would have a positive impact on predictability of getting keys, in the short-term, we decided to increase the drop chances and extend the duration of the Explorers event by a week. This means that you will be able to get keys from gameplay activities for another week (until October 15) including a new apparel project, with an additional week of when you can purchase the remaining keys for Premium Credits. Please know that the drop rate changes will not go into effect until early next week. Here's a full overview of the updated event schedule: - Event Live—September 24th to October 15th. During this period, Event keys can be earned from gameplay activities. - Event Closing—October 15th to October 22nd. If you have leftover keys available, be sure to use them now, as the event items can only be obtained until this date. The reward for completing the event – the Space Explorer uniform can also only be obtained until this period ends. You can use your unspent keys, as well as purchase additional ones to get all the Explorers event apparel. - Post Event—October 22nd onward. As outlined earlier, the Explorers items will not go into the Standard Cache Pool, and the pool of this cache will be reduced to around 100 items. As a reminder, In order to earn keys, you need to be at least level 30 and complete the Capitol Stronghold to enter World Tier 1, at which point you are granted a Weekly Apparel Project. Event keys can be obtained from the following sources: - Weekly Apparel Projects: three keys each - Chance to drop when reaching Field Proficiency - Chance to drop when reaching Dark Zone Proficiency - Direct purchase with Premium Credits STANDARD APPAREL CACHE CHANGES Changes to how you earn Standard Apparel Caches are coming with Title Update 6. Since the launch of The Division 2, we have observed some confusion with earning these caches, and especially around collecting fragments and converting Standard Apparel Cache Fragments into fully fleshed out keys. Fragments were hard to track with the variety of different sources they come from but also easily missed in a number of Proficiency caches, and required crafting to convert to full usable keys. To streamline this experience, starting soon, we will remove the fragments altogether and there will only be one type of key—Standard Key. This key will have a chance to drop from Field Proficiency, Dark Zone Proficiency, and Conflict. If you currently own a variety of fragments from the previous system in place, don't worry! You will receive conversions based on the following criteria: - For every 100 fragments in your inventory, you will receive one Standard Key, rounded up. So if you have 101 fragments, this rounds up to two Standard Keys. - For every Specialized Key (previous fragments cost = 100), you will receive one Standard Key as these are being converted 1:1. - For every Superior Key (previous fragments cost = 250), you will receive three Standard Keys. - For every High-End Key (this key came from promotions only, such as Ubisoft Club Rewards), you will receive five Standard Keys. You don't need to do anything to have these fragments converted, as this will happen automatically with Title Update 6, when you first log in after the update. Until next time, /The Division Team

- Guaranteed, fixed rate for term of CD - Terms ranging from 3 months to 5 years - Penalties on earnings for early withdrawal - Interest is compounded quarterly or at maturity - Monthly or quarterly earned interest income - $1,000 minimum deposit to open CD’s have been a staple for businesses for decades. Guaranteed returns and security are necessary in any business cycle.

|The Ciesielskis have a home at 38 Alder Street . For the last three years they have always locked their canoe up at the lake. This July the canoe was taken when one of their children accidentally forgot to lock it up. Ms. Ciesielski called the state police but never heard anything from them. It is a silver Grumman canoe, 17 ft long . There could still be some brown paint on it where their address was written. It was locked up near the swing set at the lake . The family is checking to see if anyone might have found the canoe. If you have seen it, you can call Kathleen Ciesielski at 732-672-9856 (cell) or 732-251-3912 (home). Rosemary Barry, AAPOA President

On 2 December 2015 the European Commission published its highly anticipated revised Circular Economy Package. In a similar vein to the earlier package proposed by the outgoing EU Commission in July 2014, the new package says that it will boost EU competitiveness, create EU jobs and generate sustainable growth. The new package is to be supported by €5.5.bn in structural funds, and at least €650m from other funds and investments. As part of the package, the EU Commission has published an Action Plan which it says is a “clear pathway” towards achieving its goals and that this concrete mandate will “close the loop” in the circular economy. In light of the scope and wide-ranging implications of the package and indeed the concept of a circular economy, we are intending to produce a series of articles on these proposals including what this will mean for different sectors and industries. For now, a very high level outline of the background to these measures and keys aspects of the new package is set out below. In conceptual terms, we should not underestimate how fundamental a circular economy could be if achieved. If applied in full, it presents a strong challenge to the current economic linear model. In principle the Circular Economy is aimed at moving away from the current model whereby we extract virgin raw materials, from which we make and use products and then dispose of them. The Circular Economy would have the products reused or repaired, and if that is not possible, recycled into new raw materials to start the process again. There are a number of new and revised measures in this recent package which could have significant impacts on a variety of sectors and actors; in particular the EU Commission in its Action Plan sets out specific actions in respect of plastics, food waste, critical raw materials, construction & demolition, and biomass and bio-based materials. A major aspect of the recent package is the EU Commission’s revised legislative proposals on waste. The proposals include targets and what the EU Commission describes a “concrete measures” to address barriers to adoption as well as incentivise take up and achievement of its goals. These include: - A common EU target for recycling 65% of municipal waste by 2030; - A common EU target for recycling 75% of packaging waste by 2030; and - A target to reduce landfill. In this regard the clarity of the EU’s papers is far from satisfactory. The language is certainly inconsistent. Our reading is that the target is much less ambitious than many have anticipated or interpreted. It seems to us that the target is to reduce by 2030 the landfilling of municipal waste to maximum of 10% of all municipal waste generated. Measures and incentives: - A ban on landfilling of separately collected waste with promotion of economic instruments to discourage landfilling generally; - Simplified and improved definitions and harmonised calculation methods for recycling rates throughout the EU; - More and smarter extended producer responsibility obligations; - Concrete measures to promote re-use and stimulate industrial symbiosis – turning one industry's by-product into another industry's raw material; and - Economic incentives for producers to put greener products on the market and support recovery and recycling schemes (e.g. for packaging, batteries, electric and electronic equipment, vehicles). The new package will amend six waste-related Directives, namely: - 2008/98/EC on Waste; - 94/62/EC on Packaging and Packing Waste; - 1999/31/EC on the Landfill of Waste; - 2000/53/EC on End-of-Life Vehicles; - 2006/66/EC on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries and Accumulators; and - 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment. It also proposes (i) legislation setting minimum water re-use requirements, (ii) a revised Regulation on fertilisers, and (iii) an Implementing Regulation on television and electronic displays. The key actions in the Commission’s Action Plan focus on the following areas: - Products –focussing on design and processing, in particular in respect of electronic equipment via the Ecodesign Directive and BREFs; - Consumption – including better enforcement of guarantees on tangible products, acting on false green claims, proposing requirements on repair information; - Green and public procurement – actions to use procurement as a vehicle for change; - Waste management – in particular, revising legislative proposals on waste, combatting illegal shipments of waste; - Energy from waste initiative: EfW via thermal incineration does not sit comfortably with the principles of the Circular Economy. The EU Commission implicitly accepts this and is promising an initiative in this regard in 2016; - Waste as a resource – focussing on strengthening the secondary raw materials market through, for example, better interface between chemicals, products and waste legislation, and improved electronic data exchanges. We have some doubts concerning the overall claims by the EU Commission relating to the economic benefits of the package. Some of our doubts arise from an unfortunate lack of precision used in the EU’s documentation. This drives the reader to draw inferences. In terms of raw materials recovered in the circular economy, the inference is that the EU will benefit because a degree of security of supply of such raw materials for EU businesses will be generated by the circular economy. However in a global economy can that assumption be made? Also in terms of the creation of jobs, the inference is that these will be non-exportable European jobs. However again, is this assumption necessarily valid? There can be no avoiding the difficulties which will be faced in trying to put in place a successful circular economy. It presents such a challenge to the incumbent linear economy that it will require immense cultural, legal and economic change, with very strong push and pull levers. There is no expectation of success in a short term. Indeed the EU Commission’s proposals highlight so many areas which are still work in progress. In later articles we will report on some of the detail relevant to particular sectors.

Hi all. First time poster, please be kind. I’ve just volunteered to maintain desktop Linux computers (presently running Lubuntu) on donated 32-bit 2GRAM computers in all homeless shelters and SRO hotels across San Francisco. I use and enjoy working with Chef in my day jobs, and am investigating if this is an apporopriate computing environment to use Chef to automate configuration, and perhaps, provisioning (with chef-provisioner?). The present setup is a bare, almost virgin Lunbuntu install, and we have clients use the “guest” account created by Lubuntu to try to give a semblance of privacy to the clients. These computers most likely will be in volatile network environments, and I want to make sure I’m using Chef in the most secure manner. I am a Lazy Sysadmin, so I try to max out on Cookbooks on GitHub/Supermarket before doing any hand-coding. Given the above, what should I be looking at in a Chef environment here? If I use chef-zero, how do I push/pull updates to chef code to these machines? And, how do I ensure secure communication between these hosts and Chef Server, if that is the better option? More broadly, are there projects already in use to create “kiosk” computers running Linux using Chef? Just for an example, the first task I’m doing is configuring postfix (for sending mail only) and Logwarch on these hosts. I’d like to use chef recipies/cookbooks to manage this deployment and configuration. Thanks so much for your help! San Francisco, CA

New York City’s Museum of Modern Art has discovered footage of a previously unknown 1913 film with vaudeville and Broadway pioneer Bert Williams starring in a cast of all black actors. It’s not a completed film that a movie theater would have received, but rather seven reels of unassembled daily rushes, multiple takes from each scene, that the director and editor would later edit together into the finished picture. The museum discovered the footage in its collection of 900 negatives from the Biograph studios that were rescued from destruction by MoMA’s first film curator, Iris Barry, when the company’s Bronx warehouse closed in 1939. It is the earliest surviving film to feature an all-black cast, and is among the earliest ever shot. The Foster Photoplay Company, a Chicago film production company founded in 1910 by theatrical promoter and entertainment journalist William Foster, released what is thought to be the first all-black picture, The Railroad Porter, in June of 1913. MoMA researchers discovered that the Bert Williams film was shot in September of 1913. None of the early Foster Photoplay movies have survived. (Unrelated but interesting coincidence: William Foster worked as a publicity promoter for Bert Williams and his partner George Walker’s groundbreaking 1903 musical In Dahomey, the first full-length musical comedy written and performed by African-Americans to be staged in a Broadway theater, and its equally successful 1906 follow-up Abyssinia.) Unlike the Foster pictures which were created, shot and performed by black artists, only the actors in the recently discovered footage were black. They were employed by the famed Biograph Company, the film production company which launched the careers of D. W. Griffith, Mack Sennet, Mary Pickford, Lilian Gish, Mabel Normand and Lionel Barrymore. Biograph hired Bert Williams, who by then was hugely famous for his vaudeville routines, musicals and best-selling song recordings, to star in their all-black comedies. He had to wear blackface, which is as incongruous as it is gross considering that none of the other actors (that I can see in the stills, at least) are in blackface. Even though it includes elements of minstrelsy, the general subject matter and approach does appear to be more in keeping with the “race films” that Foster and other black producers made to counter the ugly stereotypical caricatures of on-screen minstrel pictures. Of historical relevance is the display of adult romantic feelings between black performers, which was largely considered unacceptable to white audiences into the first two decades of the 20th century. In the film, a repeated, lengthy kiss between Williams and his costar appears to be the earliest surviving portrayal of a serious romantic relationship between black characters on film. The film also features a lengthy early example of African American vernacular dance, with a nearly two-minute, full-cast performance of a cakewalk, the dance that Williams and partners George Walker and Aida Overton Walker had made an international sensation with theater audiences and the white upper class around 1900. Although no main title, intertitles, script, or production credits have survived with the film, MoMA’s curators tried to reconstruct the film’s narrative, ultimately piecing together what appears to be a middle-class comedy centered on the membership of Williams’s character in a black social club, with an additional plotline concerning Williams and rival suitors vying for the hand of the local beauty after a day of fairground activities, a bit of larceny, and a night of exhibition dancing. The plot and characters of the film aren’t the only historically significant elements of this find. There’s also behind-the-scenes footage of the black cast interacting with the white crew on set in New York City and on location in what curators believe is Englewood, New Jersey. The unedited rushes and MoMA’s research will go on display at the museum’s 100 Years in Post-Production: Resurrecting a Lost Landmark of Black Film History exhibition on October 24th. The assembled footage will be screened at MoMA’s 12th annual film preservation festival To Save and Project on November 8th. Meanwhile, here’s a 1916 Biograph picture starring Bert Williams that has survived intact. As with the cakewalk scene in the recently discovered film, A Natural Born Gambler features one of Bert Williams’ most famous vaudeville routines. It’s the final scene of the picture (beginning at 19:30) in which Williams pantomimes an entire poker game alone. The Internet Archive, bless its generous heart, has an impressive collection of Bert Williams’ music. His recordings were wildly successful, selling in the hundreds of thousands back when a record that moved 10,000 copies was considered a best-seller. His most famous was probably Nobody, but my favorite is 1920’s When The Moon Shines on The Moonshine both because it’s catchy and because it’s such a perfect little window into the first year of Prohibition.

Q. In my daily contemplations I often have very uplifting experiences. I don't feel uplifted after Transmission Meditation. (1) Does that mean it does not work for me? (2) Should I therefore discontinue A. The aim of Transmission Meditation is service, not upliftment. I do not know the questioner but nevertheless I would suggest that the 'upliftment' experienced during 'daily contemplations' is the result of his/her astral aspiration, probably with some degree of heart input. Transmission Meditation is a scientific process by which the energies of Hierarchy are transformed - stepped down - and made generally available to humanity. It works on mental levels and does not involve 'experiences', uplifting or otherwise. However, perhaps because they are somewhat more astrally polarized, many people do claim to find Transmission Meditation very 'uplifting' and rewarding. (1) No, not at all. (2) My advice would be to continue - without looking for 'experiences'. Q. Since it is not everyone's cup of tea to take part in a Transmission group, how do you know whether you are fit or not? A. Only by practice. It is really a process of self-selection. You go to a Transmission group or form a group, and do it a few times and either you are attracted by it and find it useful, satisfying and really rather pleasurable, or you find it such a terrible bore that you never go back. There is no glamour, there is nothing to talk about, there are no stories, no gurus, no devotion. It is a purely objective, scientific process; it is work, a job. You can do it in any degree of intensity – up to three times a week, for three or four hours. Of course, not everyone can maintain that intensity or rhythm – and so it tends to be a self-selective process. Those who cannot do it keep away. Those for whom it is natural tend to be the ones who do This is an act of service. It is service given to you ëon a plate'. Many people today want to serve. People say: ìI long to serve but I don't know how to begin.î Well, there is a world to save. There are millions of people starving in the world. There are countless millions who are poverty-stricken, and so on. There is a whole world to change and save and transform. So you do not have to go further than next door to serve. You do not have to go further than your Transmission room to serve. It is service given to you; the simplest, easiest form of service that exists. I can vouch for its effectiveness and its simplicity, but it is not for everyone, because some people want more. They want to have something to talk about: ìWhere am I? Who am I? Does my guru love me, does he not love me? Is he a higher or a lower guru? Is he bigger or lesser than so-and-so? Did you get that marvelous feeling when he looked at you?î and so on. There is none of that in Transmission work – it is a pure act of service to the world, and so it tends to be self-selecting. Q. If I do Transmission Meditation can I continue with my other practices, for example saying Islamic prayers; or will they interfere with each other? A. Transmission Meditation will not interfere or work against any other spiritual practice you may do. On the contrary, it will enhance the value of every practice. However, they should not be done at the same time. Q. If only two people are interested in forming a Transmission group, what should we do? A. Then you will have Transmission Meditation with two people. It is possible to do Transmission by yourself also. But, of course, only so much energy can be placed through one person, or through two people. Being a triangle potentizes the energies out of all recognition. You may mentally link up with other groups which are meeting at the same time. There are Transmission groups now over much of the world. Transmission is fundamentally taking place on the soul level. Q. What exactly do you mean by ìaligning the physical brain with the soulî? A. Sooner or later we have to come into a state of alignment between the physical brain and the soul. That is what meditation does. By meditation you gradually build a channel called the ìantahkaranaî, which is a channel of light from the physical plane up to the soul. Simultaneously, the soul is building the same bridge down toward the physical. This channel, when formed, provides a link between the soul and its vehicle, and vice versa. This is the process whereby the man or woman gradually becomes at-one with the soul. The soul ëgrips' the vehicle and reflects itself through it. By the use of the mantram OM and the holding of the attention at the ajna centre between the eyebrows, an alignment is created between the brain and soul. Q. How important is alignment to A. Very important. It is the alignment between the brain and the soul which allows the Masters, working from the soul level, to channel the energies through the groups. there any special breathing techniques we should use during Transmission Meditation? A. No. The breathing should be natural, light, high in the chest and silent. With experience you will find that the breathing becomes so light it practically stops for quite long periods. These are often ended with a sudden, strong ëgasp' of Q. Is Transmission Meditation working whether we feel it or not? A. If you are aligned, yes. The Transmission is coming mainly from the Buddhic level. It is stepped down for us by the Masters and we step it down further. Alignment is necessary to transmit it.

John Gruber: “First Impressions of the Vision Pro and VisonOS” I got to spend about 30 minutes Monday afternoon using a Vision Pro and VisionOS at Apple Park, in a temporary “field house” building Apple constructed specifically for this experience. This was a one-on-one guided tour with someone from the Vision product marketing team, with the ground rules that I’m allowed to talk about everything I experienced, but photos and videos were not permitted. It was a very fast 30 minutes, and the experience was, in a word, immersive. I’d pay good money just to run through the exact same 30 minutes again. It was nowhere near enough time, nor was I able to wander far off the rails of the prepared demos. It’s very clear that the OS and apps are far from finished. But even given the brevity of the demo and constraints of the current state of the software, there are a few things I feel confident about describing. Is it a compelling product, though? It’s a famous Steve Jobs axiom that technology is not enough, that you don’t make compelling products — let alone entire platforms — starting from advanced technology and working backward. You start with a vision for the product and platform experience and then create new technology to make it real. I simply can’t say whether Vision Pro is going to be a compelling product. I spent too little time with it, the software as of today is too far from complete, and, most importantly, the whole experience is too entirely new and mind-bending to render any such conclusion. But the potential for Vision Pro to be a compelling product, across several use cases, is obvious. This might be great. And without question it is interesting, and I think the fundamental conceptual bones Apple has designed for VisionOS lay the groundwork for a long future. The first generation Vision Pro may or may not be a successful product — I simply don’t want to speculate on that front yet. But even just a small taste of VisionOS made me feel confident that it is going to be the next major platform for Apple and Apple developers, alongside MacOS and iOS/iPadOS.1 The first two types of experiences — doing computer “work”, and watching 2D and 2D-ish 3D content, have analogs to existing experiences. Using Safari in VisionOS is like using Safari on a Mac or iPad, but with a different presentation. Watching a movie in VisionOS is just watching a movie, albeit with the completely convincing illusion that you’re looking at an enormous room-filling cinema screen. But the third, these original immersive experiences, have no analogs except to the real world. It’s extraordinary, and only possible because Apple has gotten so many little things so exactly right. I walked away from my demo more than a bit discombobulated. Not because it was disorienting or even the least bit nauseating, but because it was so unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It strikes me that in some ways Bob Iger’s cameo during the keynote had the relationship between Apple and Disney backwards. Iger spent his keynote cameo talking about Disney creating original new content for VisionOS’s new medium. But after experiencing it, it felt more like what Disney should want is Apple providing this technology for Disney to use in their theme parks. The sports and dinosaur demos I experienced using Vision Pro were in many ways more immersive and thrilling than tentpole major attractions I’ve experienced at Disney World. Are you going to want to buy a Vision Pro for $3,500? That price is high enough that the answer is probably not, for most of you, no matter how compelling it is. But are you going to want to try one out for an hour or two, and find yourself craving another hour or two? I guarantee it. You need to see it

Good school leadership is the key to achieving educational excellence. School leaders set the vision, create a culture of high expectations, motivate and inspire staff and students, allocate resources effectively, and hold everyone accountable for results. They provide strategic direction to the school community while taking all stakeholders into account. Definition of School Leadership School leadership refers to the process of guiding or directing an educational institution toward a specific goal or set of goals. It involves influencing people within the institution to work towards achieving these goals through effective communication, collaboration, and decision-making. In short, school leadership is about creating a shared vision for education that inspires and motivates everyone involved in its realization. School leadership can take many forms depending on the size, type, and context of the educational institution. At its core, however, it must involve both instructional and administrative leadership elements. Instructional leadership focuses on improving teaching practice and student learning outcomes through curriculum development, teacher training programs, assessment practices, etc., while administrative leadership focuses on operational aspects such as budgeting, staff management, etc. Importance of Educational Excellence Educational excellence is critical in preparing students for success in life beyond school. It involves providing high-quality teaching that promotes academic rigor while also developing students’ social-emotional skills such as critical thinking abilities and resilience. Educational excellence also involves fostering a positive learning environment that supports student well-being while promoting inclusivity among diverse student populations. Educational excellence can have long-lasting benefits at both an individual level (e.g., better career prospects) and at a societal level (e.g., higher levels of civic engagement). - Strategies for Selecting Reputable Course Providers - Pros and cons of homeschooling for children - Advantages of Microlearning and Short Courses - Strategies for Staying Motivated in long-term Courses - Benefits of project-based learning in online courses - Importance of feedback and assessment in online courses: Enhancing Online Learning - Incorporating Peer Interaction in Online Course Experiences: Peer Interaction Beyond Isolation - Understanding The Concept Of Lifelong Learning Through Courses: Learning Beyond Classroom - Balancing Multiple Online Courses For Skill Diversification: Balancing Multiple Online Courses - Nsawkaw College of Education: Wisdom Meets Innovation Achieving this goal requires not only investment in quality teaching but also strong school leadership that provides strategic direction aimed at helping all students succeed regardless of their background or circumstances. Thesis Statement: School Leadership Plays a Crucial Role in Driving Educational Excellence The importance of school leadership in achieving educational excellence cannot be overstated. Good school leaders have the ability to motivate, inspire, and support teachers and students to achieve their full potential. They are responsible for creating an environment in which everyone feels valued, supported, and challenged to succeed. In the following sections, we will explore the characteristics of effective school leaders, the impact that school leadership has on student achievement, strategies for developing effective school leaders as well as the role of school leadership in creating a positive school culture and addressing equity issues in education. The Characteristics of Effective School Leaders Visionary and Goal-Oriented Effective school leaders are visionaries who have a clear picture of where they want their schools to be in the future. They set ambitious goals for their schools and work tirelessly to achieve those goals. These leaders inspire the entire school community to share their vision and work collaboratively towards achieving it. They are not afraid to take risks or think outside the box to bring about positive change. Visionary leader also possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by their school community. They use this understanding to develop creative solutions that address these challenges while driving towards achieving long-term goals. By being goal-oriented, they focus on specific objectives that will help them reach their vision for the school. Strong Communication Skills Effective school leaders must be excellent communicators, able to articulate their vision clearly and inspire others to take action toward achieving it. Communication skills also enable leaders to listen effectively so they can understand various perspectives and respond appropriately. Effective communication is important in building relationships with staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders in the education system. A leader who is skilled in communication can build trust with these groups by conveying information clearly, listening attentively, providing constructive feedback, addressing concerns promptly, and recognizing achievements publicly. Ability to Build and Maintain Relationships With Stakeholders An effective school leader must have strong relationship-building skills. This means being able to connect with people from diverse backgrounds such as staff members, students, parents/guardians, community organizations, or other partners involved with schools. The ability of a leader to build meaningful partnerships enables them to leverage resources beyond what is available within the school system alone. Collaborations help promote student success through increased access to resources such as after-school programs or internships which could otherwise not be provided solely by schools themselves. These partnerships create a win-win situation for all involved stakeholders. Effective leaders build and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with all the stakeholders by keeping them informed, valuing their input, and creating opportunities for engagement. Focus on Continuous Improvement Effective school leaders are always looking to improve the school experience for students, staff, and other stakeholders. They review data, seek feedback, and use it to make necessary changes that will lead to improvement. By focusing on continuous improvement, effective leaders help create a culture of learning that encourages innovation and experimentation. This means not being afraid to take risks or try new things in their quest for excellence. Continuous improvement requires that leaders assess progress regularly against established goals. This helps to identify areas of strength as well as areas that require further attention or action. Emphasis on Equity and Inclusivity Effective school leadership should emphasize equity and inclusivity in all aspects of educational planning and implementation. A leader who understands the needs of diverse learners can ensure that all students have equal access to resources while providing individualized support where necessary. Leaders must also promote an inclusive environment where students feel safe, welcomed, and respected regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Through inclusive policies like supporting diversity clubs/programs within the school environment can be created where every student feels a sense of belonging. By emphasizing equity and inclusivity throughout their leadership tenure, effective school leaders create high-performing schools where every student can reach their full potential irrespective of background or identity factors outside their control. The Impact of School Leadership on Student Achievement Effective school leadership plays a critical role in driving student achievement. Research has consistently shown that there is a correlation between the effectiveness of school leadership and student academic performance. According to a report by the Wallace Foundation, successful school leaders are those who establish a clear vision for their schools, create positive learning climates, engage in strong pedagogical practices, and effectively manage resources. Examples of successful schools with strong leaders include KIPP Academy Charter Schools and Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy. Both schools attribute their success to the quality of their leadership. At KIPP Academy Charter Schools, the executive director sets high expectations for both students and staff members, which has led to impressive academic gains and high college acceptance rates among graduates. Similarly, at Harlem Children’s Zone Promise Academy, founder Geoffrey Canada implemented a “whatever it takes” philosophy that emphasizes the importance of working with families and community members to provide students with holistic support. Setting high expectations for students is another key aspect of effective school leadership. When school leaders hold high expectations for students’ academic achievement, it can motivate them to work harder and achieve more than they would otherwise. A study by John Hattie found that setting challenging goals for students had one of the highest impacts on student learning. Strategies for Developing Effective School Leaders Effective school leaders are critical to driving educational excellence. School leaders provide the vision, direction, and support needed to enable teachers and students to achieve their highest potential. However, developing effective school leaders is not an easy task. There are several strategies that schools can use to develop effective school leaders: Professional development opportunities for school leaders The first strategy is to provide professional development opportunities for school leaders. Professional development opportunities allow school leaders to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and research in education. It also enables them to develop new skills and knowledge that they can apply in their daily work. Schools can provide professional development opportunities through workshops, conferences, and online courses. Some examples of professional development topics for school leaders include instructional leadership, data analysis, strategic planning, and team building. Mentorship programs for aspiring leaders The second strategy is to implement mentorship programs for aspiring leaders. Mentorship programs provide aspiring leaders with the opportunity to learn from experienced school principals or administrators. They can learn about leadership styles, decision-making processes, problem-solving techniques, and communication strategies Mentorship programs can be formal or informal. Formal mentorship programs typically involve a structured program with predetermined goals and objectives. Informal mentorship programs may involve a more flexible approach where aspiring principals have the opportunity to shadow experienced principals on a regular basis. Collaborative learning communities The third strategy involves creating collaborative learning communities among school principals or administrators. A collaborative learning community allows individuals with similar interests or goals together regularly share ideas and insights about leadership practices; this includes both successes as well as areas of struggle. In a collaborative learning community, school principals or administrators can learn from one another and develop new ideas that can be implemented in their own schools. Additionally, members of a community may provide support for one another through common struggles and challenges encountered in their leadership positions. The Role of School Leadership in Creating a Positive School Culture Why Does Positive School Culture Matter? Creating a positive school culture is essential for enhancing educational excellence. It makes the environment supportive, inclusive, and conducive to learning. A positive school culture eases out the stress of students and staff members, making them more engaged and invested in their work. It also promotes healthy teacher-student relationships, teamwork, and better collaboration among staff members. A positive school culture ensures that students feel safe and supported while attending classes. For example, it can be tough for students who come from different cultural backgrounds to adjust to new surroundings. Having an environment that embraces everyone’s differences helps such students feel comfortable and included in their surroundings. Importance of creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all students and staff members. School leaders play an essential role in creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders. They can promote this through various strategies such as providing support services for marginalized groups or promoting cultural awareness through events like international festivals. School leaders must also take action against bullying or harassment by ensuring that there are clear policies in place to handle any issues that arise. By making it known early on that hate speech or violence will not be tolerated within the school community explicitly, leadership sets up expectations upfront on what behaviors are acceptable. Leaders should also create opportunities for student involvement in decision-making processes within the school community. This not only builds student agency but allows them to bring their unique perspective on how they want their learning experience to look. Strategies for promoting positive behavior among students. It is crucial to encourage healthy behavior among students as it promotes a positive learning environment free from unnecessary distractions. Strategies used by effective school leaders include: 1) Encouraging respectful communication between teachers and pupils: Leaders can model these behaviors themselves, or use teaching practices that promote respectful communication between teachers and pupils. By using language that acknowledges the agency of the student, the teacher shows respect for students and encourages them to actively participate in their learning experiences. 2) Creating a positive learning environment through incentives: Positive reinforcement is an effective method for encouraging good behavior among students. Leaders can reward students who demonstrate positive behavior with praise, certificates, or access to additional resources. 3) Consistent disciplinary actions: Leaders must ensure that their disciplinary measures are consistent and fair. These policies should be communicated clearly with all stakeholders within the school community, so everyone abides by them throughout the year. Effective school leadership creates a culture of positivity centered on learning success, respect, and safety. The safe space fostered under positive school culture helps staff members feel supported, engaged, and invested in their work leading to better student outcomes. The Role of School Leadership in Addressing Equity Issues in Education Recognizing disparities in student School leadership plays a critical role in addressing equity issues in education. In order to do so, school leaders must recognize and acknowledge the disparities that exist among students. This includes disparities based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, and other factors. By understanding these disparities and their impact on student achievement and well-being, school leaders can begin to develop strategies for promoting equity and closing achievement gaps. One key way that school leaders can address equity issues is by implementing culturally responsive pedagogy. This approach emphasizes the importance of recognizing students’ cultural backgrounds and experiences and incorporating them into classroom instruction. By doing so, educators can create a more inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all students. Another important strategy is to provide targeted support for students who are struggling academically or socially. This might involve providing additional resources or services for low-income or at-risk students, creating mentorship programs for underrepresented groups, or implementing restorative justice practices to address discipline disparities. School leadership plays a vital role in driving educational excellence and promoting equity in education. By possessing key characteristics such as vision, strong communication skills, relationship-building abilities, focus on continuous improvement, and emphasis on equity and inclusivity, school leaders can help create positive learning environments that meet the needs of all students. These efforts can result in better outcomes for all learners regardless of their background or circumstances. While there are many challenges facing educators today when it comes to promoting equity in education, it is important that we continue to work towards achieving this goal so that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

Solar panels have become ubiquitous on a global scale as a result of the ongoing drive for renewable energy sources. The International Energy Agency has declared solar power the world’s most cost-effective source of electricity, with the agency predicting that capacity will increase by 1,500 GW by 2027. Solar panels for homes are predominantly utilized to generate electricity for establishments and households. Though many continue to be perplexed as to how solar panels function at night or during cloudy days despite their growing popularity. In such circumstances, the purpose of this article is to clarify the operation of solar panels for homes. However, prior to making an investment, it is vital to comprehend the operation and constraints of a solar panel system. The mechanisms by which solar panels for homes can continue to operate on cloudy days or at night will be examined in this article. Types of Solar Panels Solar panel system installation for residential properties necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the various types of solar panels. The cost and efficiency of solar panels for homes can differ substantially among different varieties. Thin-film, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline solar panels are the three primary varieties. The pros and cons of each option should be comprehended by householders in order to facilitate an educated choice regarding the installation of solar panel systems on their properties. Monocrystalline Solar Panels When it comes to solar panels for homes, monocrystalline panels are frequently regarded as the best option. The gloomy black coloration of these entities results from their composition of a solitary, pure crystal structure. The efficacy of monocrystalline panels is among their greatest benefits. Due to their construction using silicon of the utmost quality, they exhibit the most notable efficiency rates, for this reason, producers provide a 25-year warranty. As they operate as a separate entity, their performance may be compromised if they are partially obscured. Source: Electronics Curiosities Polycrystalline Solar Panels The distinctive characteristic of polycrystalline solar panels is their speckly blue coloration. They are fabricated through the melting of numerous silicon fragments, a method that is both cost-effective and less excessive than the one utilized in the production of monocrystalline panels. They operate more effectively in low-light and high-temperature conditions despite having a lower efficacy rate than monocrystalline panels. For homeowners curious about the cost of solar panels for homes and their functionality on cloudy days, this characteristic renders them a compelling option. Source: Kenbrook Solar Thin-Film Solar Panels Solar panels composed of thin films are the most cost-effective and easiest to produce. The fabrication process involves the placement of one or more films of photovoltaic material onto a substrate. Global solar suppliers achieved a conversion efficiency of 22.3% in 2015. Typically, the efficiency of thin-film solar substrates ranges from 6 to 18%, but this figure was 0.6% higher than the industry record. Nevertheless, among the three varieties, they are the least efficient and necessitate a substantial amount of space, both of which may pose constraints on residential solar panel systems. Monocrystalline panels exhibit superior efficiency, albeit susceptible to degradation caused by grime or shade. Polycrystalline panels compromise efficiency, albeit demonstrate satisfactory performance across diverse conditions, and thin-film panels, while economical, demand a substantial amount of space. When selecting a solar panel system, householders must take into account their particular requirements and circumstances, as the average cost of solar panels and the performance of solar panel systems for homes can vary substantially. A fundamental understanding of the different types of solar panels for homes is essential prior to delving into inquiries regarding the cost of solar panels for homes, their operation during nighttime or overcast conditions, or the process of installing a solar panel system. How Are Solar Panels Operated? It is important to note that the initial investment in installing a residential solar panel system can pay for itself through long-term reductions in energy costs in about 5-10 years. Those interested in saving money and reducing their carbon footprint should consider solar panels for homes. However, it is important to have a full understanding of how solar panels actually work: - The process of sunlight absorption. When sunlight strikes the solar panel system that has been installed on your roof, the process commences. Solar panels for homes are composed of numerous photovoltaic cells, which are diminutive units. Typically composed of silicon, these cells contain a semiconducting material that absorbs sunlight. Although the cost of solar panels for homes may differ due to factors such as panel size and efficacy, residential solar panel systems are generally regarded as a cost-effective investment. The process of producing electric current. The energy of sunlight that is absorbed dislodges electrons from their atoms, permitting their uninhibited movement. The aforementioned electron motion generates an electric current. This is the fundamental operation principle of solar panels. Source: Solar Power Guide - The process of transforming solar energy into practical power. An inverter transforms the direct current (DC) generated by the solar panel into alternating current (AC) as the electric current travels through it. This AC voltage represents the norm for residential electrical current. Therefore, by installing a solar panel system on your property, you are producing your own electricity. - The allocation of authority. After solar energy has been converted to AC power, it is disseminated for use throughout the residence. The surplus energy produced by your solar panel system is returned to the power grid if it surpasses the power consumption of your residence. Occasionally, your utility company may grant you a credit in recognition of this surplus power. - Batteries as energy storage mediums. Certain solar panel systems incorporate batteries as an additional means of storing energy. These batteries are utilized at night or during cloudy weather to store excess energy produced during the day. This is an essential characteristic, given the inquiry: Can solar panels for homes function during cloudy days? Even when the weather is inclement, this step-by-step explanation demonstrates that solar panels for homes are a dependable and efficient way to generate electricity. Contrary to popular belief, solar panels can still function during overcast days, albeit at a diminished output. The performance of a solar panel system is influenced by both the intensity of the cloud cover and the quality of the panels when there are clouds. Avoid being deterred from installing solar panels for homes on your property by the apprehension of overcast days. You can still generate a substantial quantity of energy and decrease your dependence on the grid with the proper system. How Do Solar Panels Function When It Is Cloudy or in the Nighttime? How to Do Solar Panels Function at Nighttime As an element of a residential solar panel system, solar panels function by absorbing and converting sunlight into electrical energy. However, what occurs when the sun sets? Are solar panels functioning at night? Here is a step-by-step breakdown: - Your solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity during the course of the day. - An inverter is then utilized to convert this DC electricity to AC electricity. - The accommodation is powered by AC electricity. - Any surplus electricity produced is either returned to the power infrastructure or retained in a residential battery system, should one be present. Since there is no sunlight at night, solar panels for homes are unable to produce electricity. Despite this, you will not be without access to electricity. When a solar power system is grid-connected, power is drawn from the underlying grid. Having a battery system enables the storage of excess energy for daytime use. How Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days Let’s now address an additional inquiry: do solar panels work in cloudy weather? Although affirmative, their efficacy is diminished. Let’s see how it operates: - Solar panels are capable of absorbing both diffuse and direct sunlight (atmospheric light dispersed by the sun). - On days with clouds, diffuse sunlight predominates over direct sunlight. - Consequently, solar panels will continue to produce energy, albeit at a diminished rate. Their efficiency diminishes with increasing temperatures; in excess of 77 degrees Fahrenheit, their performance may succumb by 10–25%. The precise amounts will differ based on factors such as geographical placement, seasonal variations, and the particular attributes of the photovoltaic system. While solar panels work on cloudy days and at night, their operation differs. They depend on utility power or conserved energy during nighttime. The cost of a residential solar panel system can be justified by the energy bill savings and environmental benefits, irrespective of the investment made. How To Improve the Efficiency of Solar Panels at Night or on a Cloudy Day? Solar panels continue to operate even when the weather is cloudy or at night, despite their primary purpose being the collection of sunlight. However, a substantial decline in efficacy ensues. Implementing the following techniques during periods of reduced sunlight intensity can enhance the efficiency of your residential solar panel system: - Battery storage system: when incorporating a battery storage system, you can ensure that your solar panel operates at peak efficiency, even during overcast days or at night. These batteries can be utilized at night or during inclement weather to store excess energy produced by your solar panel system during the day. - Size solar panels: the efficacy of a residential solar panel system can also be diminished by the system’s dimensions. More energy will be produced and stored for use when the sun is not beaming if a larger system size captures more sunlight during the day. - High-efficiency solar panels: substantially suboptimal sunlight conditions do not preclude the utilization of high-efficiency solar panels, which can assist in optimizing energy production. The increased energy production can eventually compensate for the higher initial investment required for residential solar panel systems featuring high-efficiency panels. - Maintenance: Consistent maintenance and cleansing of the solar panel system’s components can also contribute to an increase in production output. Energy production can be diminished as a result of dust and detritus obstructing the solar panel’s ability to capture sunlight. - Trackers: by adjusting the position of your solar panels to follow the sun, solar trackers are utilized throughout the day. By maintaining this configuration, the solar panels consistently gain the most from the sun’s rays. - Solar inverter: installing a solar inverter guarantees that your solar panels will continue to function efficiently even during cloudy days by optimizing their power output. AC power, which can be utilized within a residence, is generated by this device from the DC power supplied by the panels. Contrary to popular belief, solar panels can still produce energy during cloudy or nighttime conditions. However, by employing the appropriate strategies and components, this can be easily remedied. Providing a sustainable and economical alternative, solar panel systems have fundamentally transformed the way in which we acquire energy. Although at a reduced efficacy, they do operate during cloudy days and at night. During periods of cloudy days, batteries can be used to reserve the energy generated during the day. In addition to maintenance and panel type and size, the performance of solar panels can be optimized through the application of solar inverters and trackers. Comprehending these subtleties is essential in order to optimize the advantages of this environmentally friendly technology and execute a well-informed investment.

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The New York Army National Guard has identified the three soldiers who died in a helicopter crash in upstate New York as Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial. The three men were flying in a UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter on Wednesday during a routine training mission when the aircraft went down in Mendon, New York. The incident is under investigation. “These Soldiers were a part of our National Guard family and we mourn their loss, alongside their family members and loved ones,” the Guard said in a press release. “The New York National Guard will be there for these family members as they navigate these trying times. Our chaplains and casualty assistance officers will be with them whenever needed.” Skoda, 54, had served in the Army and the National Guard for 35 years after first joining the service in 1985. An experienced pilot with nearly 5,000 flying hours, Skoda deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 and 2019. Koch, 39, was a 20-year veteran of the Guard who originally joined the Army as an infantryman. He became a helicopter pilot in 2006 and deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. Prial, 30, graduated from West Point and commissioned in the Army in 2012, later serving as a medical evacuation platoon leader in the 82nd Airborne Division. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015. Originally a captain, he accepted an appointment as a warrant officer in the New York Guard so he could continue flying, according to the release.

Our New Zealand Women's Snowboard Tours are the best way to progress Spend your days on the mountain snowboarding and your evenings enjoying great food and drinks in the company of new friends. On this 6 night tour, you’ll get to spend 4 full days riding at the Queenstown resorts with an awesome crew. You’ll spend your first day on-snow with a qualified snowboard coach so you can tune-up your skills, then the following days we’ll chase the snow and ride the best resort daily with a flexible itinerary. We leave the last day free for anyone keen to try heli-boarding. If you’ve ever wondered if you’ve got the skills to go heli boarding, the answer is Yes! If you’re an intermediate snowboarder, then you’ve got the skills to go heli! You’ll get your powder fix and get to explore a variety of amazing backcountry terrain. When we’re off the mountain we’ll check out Queenstown and visit a winery, a brewery, visit the local snowboard shops and of course enjoy a Fergburger or two. We stay in comfy accommodation in the heart of Queenstown so you can live and breathe the Southern Lakes lifestyle with our homegrown guides and friends. All accommodation, lift tickets and transportation is included and you’ll travel in comfortable 4WD vehicles daily. Max 8 guests Register for 2023 dates & pricing For intermediate snowboarders Why Travel With Mint In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. We are a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conduct business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we are able to take care of your insurance, stopovers and pre or post tour arrangements. Tune-up your snowboarding skills We start the tour off with a full day of snowboard coaching. It's the perfect way to tune-up your skills if you haven't been on-snow for a while. Our coach is on-hand to help you learn a new park trick, refine your technique or to help you take your freeriding to the next level. Our coaches have years of experience helping women reach their goals. Ride Coronet Peak Coronet Peak is the home of Good Times. This resort packs a huge variety of terrain, especially for snowboarders. When the conditions are good, it's always our first pick for no lift lines and a fun day of riding. Ride The Remarkables The Remarkables has it all - three sun-drenched, north-facing bowls, up to seven terrain parks, off-piste black runs, chutes, wide-open slopes and everything in between. Experience the thrill of Heli-boarding If you've ever wanted to try heli-boarding there's never been a better time. The optional heli-boarding day is perfect for intermediate snowboarders as we take a relaxed approach to the day. Explore a variety of amazing terrain, riding in sheltered basins, bowls and wide rolling mountain flanks. Comfy Lodging with Lake Views We stay in cute Lake View rooms, overlooking the shores of Lake Wakatipu and close to all the action in central Queenstown. Our Superior rooms are equipped with 2 comfy beds and everything you need for your stay. Each room has heating, TV, and free WiFi. Get in touch for a detailed tour itinerary and more info As part of the tour, you will spend a full day with a qualified snowboard coach at The Remarkables. Your coach is on-hand to make the progression fun and to provide individual feedback. We will ride to the conditions, and change the plan and pace to suit. We keep our group size small and take a maximum of 6 ladies so you can get the most out of the sessions. All our coaching sessions are conducted on terrain suitable for progression. Minimum of 5 hours of group coaching. BASED IN QUEENSTOWN For action, adventure and après, it doesn't get much better than staying in Queenstown. Our home base is magnificently located on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Our location gives us easy access to The Remarkables and Coronet Peak plus all the drinking, dining, shopping and adventure activities on offer in Queenstown. We have our 4WD vehicles on standby to shuttle you to the resort daily. Our base for this tour is Queenstown, which gives us easy access to The Remarkables and Coronet Peak. We keep the itinerary flexible so your guide can hunt down the best conditions all day, every day. Each day your guide will assess the conditions and decide which is the best place to ride based on weather and snowfall. Each day we’ll load up our 4WD and drive to our chosen area. This flexibility ensures that we will find you the best snow and conditions all day, every day. OPTIONAL HELI-SKI DAY For any guests wanting to get their powder fix, there's no better way than a day of heli-boarding in New Zealand. There is a huge amount of terrain that we can access and our guides know how to find whatever it is that you are looking for, ensuring that every guest is smiling. The terrain we ride will suit the ability level and pace of our group. We keep our group size small and take a maximum of 8 people for a more personal experience between our guests and guides. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time snowboarding! If you’re travelling solo you won’t be alone. In fact our tours are perfect for solo travellers, we just match you up with someone to room with for the entire time. Not only are our coaches and guides with you on-mountain during the day, they keep the stoke going well into the night, so you’ll always have crew to hang out with and places to go. RIDE WITH THE EXPERTS LOCAL GUIDES & PARTNERSHIPS Mint opens doors around the globe. Our long-standing relationships with local guides, local legends, professional athletes, local businesses and resorts allow us special access to places and people. Travelling with us, you go behind the scenes to get a close-up view of each destination. You’re enriched by the knowledge of our experts and local guides. YOUR TOUR INCLUDES - 6 nights twin share accommodation in Queenstown (single share upgrades available) - 1 day of professional snowboard coaching at The Remarkables Ski Resort - Daily guiding and hosting - 4 day lift ticket for The Remarkables & Coronet Peak - 6 breakfasts at the hotel - 5 days of Private transfers in 4WD vehicles to ski resorts - Airport pick-up and drop-off on arrival and departure day - Hosted by Mint Women guides We leave the last day free for any guests who want to experience the thrill of heli-boarding in the backcountry. 4 RUN HELI-BOARDING DAY For all abilities the Experience 4 is the perfect day out for those wanting to take a relaxed approach to the heli-ski day to really enjoy the experience of being out in the mountain environment. Explore a variety of amazing terrain for an unforgettable heli-ski experience. Runs vary between 1500-2500 ft of treeless skiing in sheltered basins, bowls and wide rolling mountain flanks. On the Experience 4 day, if the group is of higher ability, there is the opportunity to sample some of our more advanced terrain. 7 RUN HELI-BOARDING DAY The Classic New Zealand heli-ski day. Our most popular option for boarders and skiers alike from intermediate to expert ability. With more runs and a faster pace, this is undoubtedly a full day of untracked pleasure! Runs vary between 1500-2500 ft of treeless skiing in sheltered basins, bowls and wide rolling mountain flanks. If avalanche conditions permit and the group is of higher ability, there is the opportunity to access steeper terrain, chutes and glaciers. Register for 2023 dates & pricing WHY TRAVEL WITH MINT? In a rapidly changing travel industry it’s important to know that your travel provider is accredited, accountable and responsible. Mint is a registered member of AFTA and IATA and conducts business in accordance with the ATAS Charter and Code of Conduct. When you travel with Mint you can have peace of mind that you are booking with a qualified and established travel operator with over 20 years of expertise. And as a full-service travel agent, we can take care of your flights, insurance, stopovers and pre-or post tour arrangements. WHAT HAPPENS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DAY? Once you’ve signed up for the tour we will send you through a comprehensive guide with details about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. WHAT IF I’M TRAVELLING SOLO? About 99% of our guests are travelling solo, so you’ll be in good company 🙂 We have twin share rooms available for this tour i.e. 2 beds per room. If you are travelling solo and book a twin room, you will be paired with another guest to room with. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that New Zealand has to offer. HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS TOUR? Each tour is different, but we know that by offering one of the smallest client to guide ratio in the industry allows you to snowboard at your preferred pace, and ultimately leads to a better experience for everyone. We have a maximum of 8 people on this tour. This ensures you get the most out of your time with us, and keeping the groups small means less time waiting and more time snowboarding! IS THIS TOUR RIGHT FOR ME? If you are looking to progress your snowboarding and connect with other snowboarders, then this tour is for you! If you haven’t been snowboarding in a while, we have a full day of snowboard coaching on the first day so you can tune-up your skills. Our coaching session is perfect intermediate riders. Our women’s tours have been designed by women who ride, for women who ride. We know you need guidance, practice, time and encouragement in the company of like-level riders. WHICH MOUNTAINS WILL WE VISIT? We visit The Remarkables and Coronet Peak on this tour. If you are joining us for a heli-ski day we will ride bowls and low angle powder runs in alpine terrain (no trees). The scale, vastness and beauty of the Southern Alps is awe-inspiring. CAN I ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY ON AFTER THE TOUR? For most tours you can arrive earlier or stay later. We can tailor the trip to suit your travel plans. Speak with one of our tour specialists when you are booking and they will be more than happy to assist. WHO ARE THE GUIDES? All of our tours are guided by friendly, knowledgeable and expertly trained guides who are passionate about the mountains. ARE FLIGHTS INCLUDED? Flights are not included. If you need assistance booking flights, we can book you the best flight options for the tour. DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE? Yes. All guests on tour need to be covered by comprehensive travel insurance. Once you have booked on the tour, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We offer all of our tour guests discounted snow specific travel insurance. WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I’VE BOOKED? Once you’ve booked your spot on tour, we will send you through a booking confirmation and provide updates about the tour including the arrival and departure day process, a map of where we meet, recommended arrival and departure times, flight options, Visa requirements and transportation information. We will send out a Pre Departure Guide 30 days prior to departure. Prior to the tour commencing we will invite you to a group chat which is managed by your tour manager and guides. HOW CAN I CHECK MY ABILITY LEVEL? The best way to check if a tour is suited to your ability is by speaking with one of our tour specialists. They will be able to determine if the tour you have selected is a good fit for your ability, as well as suggesting other tour options. HOW DO I GET TO QUEENSTOWN? We’ll provide you with a guide with details on how to get to Queenstown Airport and where to meet your hosts. If it’s your fist time to New Zealand or if you’re unsure about travel arrangements, often we can link you up with other tour guests to travel with. HOW DO I CHECK AVAILABILITY? Speak with one of our tour specialists. As this is a small group tour with limited availability, it’s best to get in touch early to avoid disappointment. ARE LIFT TICKETS INCLUDED? Yes. A 4 day lift ticket is included in the tour price. CAN I RENT EQUIPMENT? We can arrange rental equipment however we do recommend bringing your own equipment. WHAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD I BRING? Snowboarding in New Zealand is like nothing else. Expect all kinds of weather and snow with temperatures typically ranging from +10 to -10. We recommend that guests have a good quality waterproof jacket and pants, lightweight insulated layer, merino base layers, merino gloves and waterproof gloves, goggles with low light & high light lenses, sunglasses, balaclava, beanie, and helmet. We recommend that all guests bring their own snowboarding equipment for the tour (board, boots, bindings & outerwear). WHO WILL BE ON MY TOUR? Your group will be made up of travellers from diverse backgrounds and will be varied in age. Our groups generally mix well due to a shared interest in snow sports and an eagerness to explore all that New Zealand has to offer.

Pile driving support Pasalompixi undertakes the installation of the support bases. This process involves screwing and fixing the support bases onto the piles. As a company we have ensured the perfect technical training of the staff in order to avoid errors and delays. The next stage that follows is placing the panels.

“I couldn’t get it out of my head,” admitted Adam McKay writer/director of The Big Short when talking about the original book by Michael Lewis that formed the basis for his film’s screenplay. McKay had picked up the book one night and finished by the next morning. His wife thought he was nuts. In the book and film, the story of the credit and housing collapse of the mid-2000s is told through the perspectives of four outsiders who predicted the financial turmoil and decided to take on the big banks who precipitated the debacle. In his page-tuner read, McKay was immediately attracted to these wounded outsiders. Through them, he learned about the financial crisis that most people still do not understand. In the current cultural climate, where people’s beliefs and understanding of things seem to have no connection to facts or numbers or data, he saw the film as an opportunity to, “set the record straight.” To play the outsiders, McKay assembled a star-powered ensemble. When writing the script, he had specific actors in mind. Michael Burry was written for Christian Bale, Jared Vennett for Ryan Gosling, and Mark Baum for Steve Carell. Other actors that McKay had in mind and eventually cast were Marisa Tomei and Melissa Leo. The only surprise for the director was Brad Pitt. Not only did the actor want to play Ben Rickert, the director credits Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment with making the film happen. “It was one of those rare times when I had my dream cast on a cork board while I was writing. We actually got the whole dream cast,” revealed McKay. “I’ve never really had that happen before. It was crazy that we got those people, but then Francine Maisler our casting director. She is so good.” The film has a large cast and McKay didn’t have people in mind for all parts. Maisler brought Finn Wittrock (Jamie Shipley) and John Magaro (Charlie Geller) to the director’s attention and pushed hard for those characters. With the help of Maisler and casting director, Kathy Driscoll, McKay felt they had a dream cast that was rounded out with “all these amazing actors.” The production also had good day player casting with New Orleans casting director, Meagan Lewis, who had worked on Django Unchained. McKay did not want one line or one moment that might “lose the thread on this movie,” he explained, “I was really happy. We did this mix of real people with actors. It had this real authentic feel to it.” McKay wanted the film to open up a conversation with the audience. To do so he used a key device: that of a character breaking out of the scene and talking directly to the viewers. Using this method, he was able to explain complex financial dealings in a way that was accessible to the public or make tongue-in cheek remarks in keeping with the irreverent tone of the film. Breaking the fourth wall was not the only approach to the film that was atypical. McKay did not want to present a Wall Street of big stone buildings, all blue and grey and static. McKay told cinematographer and camera operator, Barry Ackroyd, “I want this hybrid visual style like you shoot.” He wanted a blend that was part verite documentary shooting and part traditional filmmaking. They developed a verite scale from one to 10 and used that to communicate the percentage of documentary versus traditional camerawork to use in a scene. The filmmakers built the picture of the financial collapse, piece by piece, character by character. Instead of showing a character in one shot, McKay and Ackroyd revealed close-up bits of the character until the whole was assembled. To help him assemble that whole picture, McKay tapped Hank Corbin, who had edited serious fare for directors such as Terrence Malick and Bennett Miller, but confessed to McKay that he had never cut comedy. Corbin was on a short list of editors being considered for the film’s ambitious plans. It took McKay about 40 seconds to realize Corbin was the right person for the film. Corwin visited the company in New Orleans, where most of the film would be shot. According to McKay, the editor was scouting them out as much as he was courting the editor. The director suggested Corwin watch the film that inspired him, 24 Hour Party People, with its fast-paced, unconventional narrative and satiric-telling of true events. After viewing the film, Corwin got excited. Pop culture and news montages in the film put the events of the story into place and time. The montages evolved in editorial from what had been scripted. McKay had written incidental images that were more atmospheric, like a monitor in front of a building that would be playing a commercial, or passing the Virgin Megastore and hearing a Shakira video playing. The production learned pretty quickly that getting the rights for those videos and music, even shooting those buildings, was very difficult to do. “We were kind of trying to figure it out,” McKay revealed. “Hank just came to me with this idea: you can just put these images in the movie and if we build a language where you’re using this Ludacris video and you’re cross-cutting it with Christian Bales’ character buying the CDSs, that’s okay because now you’ve let pop culture leak into the movie.” For McKay, suddenly the whole world felt bigger. Using subliminal flashes of pop culture and little chapter headings with quotes on them, the movie began to tell the story of America, ultimately bringing home the tragedy of the crash – people’s possessions thrown out on the street, the tent cities, losing everything. The film was no longer just the story of these people in their Wall Street offices. “That was probably the biggest post breakthrough,” shared McKay who acknowledged the editor’s talent. “His eye is something to behold.” About 70% of the film was shot in New Orleans. The Gulf coast near New Orleans was perfect because there was an area that looked just like Florida with a big casino in the middle of town. There were even enough hi-rises to simulate Manhattan skylines. With a week in New York City and half a week in Vegas, the production was able to round out the locations. Production designer Clayton Hartley, has worked with McKay since his first film. The director thinks The Big Short is some of the best work that he has done. “The guy consistently blows me away. He did fabulous work on this movie. He is super crafty as far as the locations we would find. He always made sure there were textures and layered glass so the camera could have some life.” Shooting through glass into and through offices added metaphorical layers to the story. Hartley likes working with layers, having glass and textures, but the difference on this film was how much Ackroyd also desired those qualities. The team was even conscious of the textures on the walls, especially since they were going to shoot in an impressionistic style. “It was really remarkable to watch. I always had the idea of the layers to separate the people, in a written way it was there, but when Clayton and Barry got together it sort of got a rocket boost. I felt the two of them started speaking the exact same language. It was very exciting,” said McKay. McKay called composer Nicholas Britell, “A force of nature.” The composer came onto the production very early. He told the director that he was coming into town and set up a little office across from the cutting room. The director didn’t know what the composer was planning. He just thought Britell would “noodle around.” “He had already written a couple of beautiful pieces that were cutting quite nicely into the movie. What it ended up becoming was this moment to moment collaboration,” explained McKay. “I was usually in with Hank. Nicholas could pop into Hank’s room and plug his keyboard into the Avid. Hank would play with a cut, while Nick would play with scoring. Watching it in actual time was so exciting!” Hank could also pop across the hallway when he needed a piece of music, and within an hour, Britell would have a piece of music to try in the cut. McKay loved the organic process of having the composer in close proximity to the editing and the ability to score as the cut was being finessed. Many times he would come in to discover that the editor and composer had perfected a scene the night before. “We’ve all kind of walked away saying, ‘Why isn’t it done this way all the time?’ In the future I will be working with Hank and Nick again. And in the future, we will definitely be bringing Nick in early. It really was a massive boon to the movie. It helped a lot,” declared McKay. “I’ll never do it another way.” The close collaboration made the process even more fun. “It got the ideas bouncing off the walls at a higher velocity,” added McKay. McKay described sound supervisor, Becky Sullivan, as “artful” and “vigilant.” She really worked the film with a level of care that McKay had never seen before. The director went into the mix wanting to use production dialog and was able to do so because of the quality of the audio recorded by production sound mixer, David Wyman. McKay credited re-recording mixers, Anna Behlmer and Terry Porter for the artful way they were able to transition in and out of that documentary style while occasionally going into full Hollywood movie style. The characters were unusual outsiders with strange looks. Susan Mathesan, the costume designer, would be up at four in the morning looking for a certain kind of dress shirt on eBay that she would find in Minnesota that had to be shipped to the production. Adruitha Lee, department head stylist and make-up department head, Julie Hewett, got the looks “just perfect.” “All the below-the-line, everyone, really had an extra love for the movie. I kept calling it our dream team,” McKay stated. “We did not have one weak link.” “It sure makes filmmaking a whole lot easier when you get a line up of passionate professionals like this. I think it’s the subject matter, too. I think it’s a subject we were all passionate about,” McKay concluded. “We felt like there was potentially something here that could be really exciting, so you could always feel that extra 10% from everyone.”

Earrings - Disc Pebble Hoop A hammered disc stud with an organic shaped sterling silver hoop inspired by the sparkling band of quartz around pebbles. Small disc measures approx 9 mm Hoop measures approx 18 mm Each hoop is shaped and hammered by hand making every one unique. Perfect for wearing every day. Also available in gold filled here.

Our next forum is on Friday, November 2nd, at the Trout Lake Community Centre in Vancouver! Join us for pizza, prizes & discussion on Youth & Drugs: recreational use, addiction, the opioid crisis, prevention & support. Speak Up & be heard! Hear from special guests: Jordan Bowman on recovery success: When Jordan was 16, he found himself addicted alcohol and opiates such as Fentanyl and Heroine. Feeling trapped and not knowing what else to do, he just kept using and eventually fell so deep into addiction, he felt there was no way out. Jordan’s family reached out and got him into treatment at the Last Door Youth Program. Jordan’s clean date is January 11th 2016 and ever since then, he has been involved in the recovery community in New Westminster. Jordan now works at Last Door Recovery Society and makes a difference in the lives of other youth. https://lastdoor.org. Sgt. Julie Birtch, School Liason Officer with the Vancouver PD, will share some of her thoughts on drug use, experiences with youth in the community & the new marijuana laws! We will also hear from Raymond Liens, a representative of the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. If you would like to be a panel member, email [email protected]. If you would like to be a part of the audience, you can register through the Trout Lake Community Centre: https://troutlakecc.com A big thank you to our sponsors!

Hollenbeck, K., Schroeder, D., King, C., & Huang, W. (2005). Net impact estimates for services provided through the Workforce Investment Act. ETA Occasional Paper 2005-06. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. [WIA Adult] - The study’s objective was to examine the impact of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program’s core, intensive, and training services on the employment rate, earnings, and benefits receipt of low-income adults ages 22 to 64. - The authors established three treatment groups based on the level of WIA services used and matched them to three comparison groups that participated in Employment Services (ES) and/or the core WIA services. - The study found that the employment rate and average quarterly earnings were significantly higher for those in each of the treatment groups compared with their matched comparison groups. Benefits receipt was also significantly lower for those in the treatment groups than in their comparison groups. - The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is low because the authors did not ensure that the groups being compared were similar before program participation. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the WIA Adult Program; other factors are likely to have contributed. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Program Features of the Intervention The WIA Adult Program was authorized by Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and was superseded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), effective in July 2015. The Adult Program services, which remained essentially the same under WIOA, were designed to provide quality employment and training services to eligible workers. Administered through local workforce investment areas, the Adult Program served all people ages 18 years and older through core services; these included job placement assistance, skills assessments, and provision of information on the labor market, among other services. In addition, those unable to obtain a job through core services alone could receive intensive services—which included counseling and specialized assessments—and vouchers for attending training. Recipients of public assistance and other low-income people received priority for intensive and training services in local workforce investment areas in which program funds were limited. In addition, some local areas provided supportive services such as child care, transportation, and work-related financial assistance to those who qualified. Features of the Study The study included a sample of workers who received core, training, or intensive services through the WIA Adult Program from among 92,787 workers who received services from either the WIA Adult or WIA Dislocated Worker programs. These workers were ages 22 to 64 and exited the program from July 2000 to June 2002 and were observed for up to eight quarters after program exit. Their earnings were also below the top 0.5 percent of all earners in all quarters of the study period. The authors used administrative data sources, including WIA Standardized Record Data, ES and Unemployment Insurance records, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) records from each state to compare the number of quarters employed, quarterly earnings, and months of receipt of TANF benefits of WIA participants with those of the ES participants who exited the program at the same time. The authors established three treatment groups based on the level of WIA services used: (1) workers who received any of the employment-related services available through the WIA Adult Program, (2) workers who received the training services available through the WIA Adult Program, and (3) workers who received the intensive or training services available through the WIA Adult Program. The respective three comparison groups were (1) workers who participated in the ES program, (2) WIA Adult Program participants who did not receive the available training services, and (3) ES participants combined with workers who received only core services available through the WIA Adult Program. The study used administrative data from the following states: - The percentage of quarters employed after program exit was significantly higher for those who took part in WIA Adult Program services compared with those in the comparison group, with estimates across the three contrasts ranging from 4.4 to 8.7 percentage points. - Average quarterly earnings were significantly higher for those who took part in WIA Adult Program services compared with those in the comparison group, with estimates across the three contrasts ranging from $669 to $764. - Those who took part in WIA Adult Program services received TANF benefits for a significantly lower percentage of months after program exit compared with those in the comparison group, with estimates across the three contrasts ranging from 1.5 to 2.6 percentage points. Considerations for Interpreting the Findings Although the authors accounted for many underlying characteristics of the groups being compared, which could also influence their outcomes, the authors’ decision to define the groups based on their date of program exit rather than program entry is problematic. For example, suppose that the WIA and ES participants were on identical wage trajectories before receiving services from their respective programs and that the average length of participation in WIA services was six months, whereas that for Employment Services was one month. At the conclusion of participation, they exited the program. If we compared the groups’ earnings 6 months after their recorded exit dates, we would observe WIA participants’ earnings about 12 months after they started receiving services and ES participants’ earnings about 7 months after they started receiving services. If both programs were completely ineffective, and everyone stayed on their original upward-sloping wage trajectory, it would appear as though the WIA participants earned more 6 months after their exit dates. However, this would not be attributable to receiving WIA services; it would have been caused by the different elapsed time across the groups (12 months for WIA participants versus 7 months for ES participants). Therefore, studies defining the groups based on exit date, rather than entry date, cannot receive a moderate causal evidence rating. This would also be true when comparing employment rates, earnings, and benefits receipt. Causal Evidence Rating The quality of causal evidence presented in this report is low because the authors did not ensure that the groups being compared were similar before program participation. This means we are not confident that the estimated effects are attributable to the WIA Adult Program; other factors are likely to have contributed. Hollenbeck, Kevin. (2009). Workforce Investment Act (WIA) net impact estimates and rates of return. Presented at European Commission-sponsored meeting, “What the European Social Fund Can Learn from the WIA Experience,” Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://research.upjohn.org/confpapers/2.

Health and Wellbeing since 1919. From the start: Wellbeing for the whole family. In 1919 Käthe and Eugen Beurer were living in poor conditions at Frauenstrasse 57 in Ulm. But the couple, in particular Käthe Beurer as the driving force, had an idea, a vision: as an alternative to the then very common hot water bottle, electrically operated heating pads would provide people with cosy warmth in future. A very practical invention in times in which central heating was not a standard feature of a home. Heinrich Stanger from Reutlingen had become acquainted with the manufacture of heating pads whilst in the USA and, following his return to Ulm in 1908, started production of the first models in Germany. The relevant expertise was therefore on hand when Käthe Beurer and her husband ventured into self-employment in 1919. Despite all the difficult circumstances, "production" began, albeit in modest conditions at first. The first units were produced using two sewing machines in their bedroom at home. Due to strong inflation, the company was on the verge of collapse. Eugen and Käthe Beurer were convinced about their product and held on to their vision. The entrepreneur Hermann Bantleon joined the young company, in the wake of which the company was entered in the commercial register. At the end of the 1920s, the cat's head was established as the logo. "Beurer cat brings warmth and comfort to a cold bed!" That was the slogan with which Beurer aggressively and yet humorously addressed potential customers from 1930 onward. The cat logo united all the qualities that one had come to expect from the products of this still young company. Warmth, comfort and well-being should all be experienced by the owners of Beurer heating pads. The real cat on the lap had at this point already become a bit of a veteran. Other attributes of our purring, four-legged friend – trust, homeliness and reliability – were synonymous with Beurer products. The cat's head would characterise the image of Beurer for almost 70 years. Eugen Beurer had the thermostat and thermostat fixing patented, therefore laying the foundations for heat-regulating heating pads. Hermann Bantleon resigned as a partner of the company. After a difficult start, initial successes and failures, Beurer celebrated its 15th anniversary in 1934. This milestone also marked the start of innovative change for the still young company. Bernhard Beurer, the son of the founding couple, joined the company at the age of 22 and brought youthful energy to the business. While the hard work producing heating pads continued in Ulm, Bernhard travelled all over the country, becoming a "one-man sales wonder". Helped by the generally good economic situation and the extensive travel activities of Beurer junior, the company experienced a rapid upturn. With the generation change, Beurer made a giant leap forward. In 1935, the company already had 100 employees. The extensive travel activities of Bernhard Beurer laid the foundations for successful distribution and the growth of the brand. Production had to be increased, which resulted in the relocation to a former restaurant in Söflinger Strasse in Ulm, where Beurer still has its head office to this day. In the course of the war, however, the company's home city was not spared the serious consequences of the allied bombings, which became more and more intensive towards the end of the conflict. As an important centre of the German arms industry, the city was a key target for the bombings, which were increasingly intensified from 1944, and were also carried out during the daytime from spring of the same year. The worst attack took place on 17 December 1944. A total of 1500 tonnes of high-explosive and incendiary bombs turned the city of Ulm into a sea of flames. In 1945, the whole company site in Söflingen lay in ruins and ashes, expensive machinery and raw materials had been destroyed and at first it looked like restarting would be impossible. The entrepreneurial spirit of the Beurer family was, as in many medium-sized German companies, unbroken and therefore the rebuilding of the Beurer plant began immediately after the end of the war. In the very same year, the company was able to start initial – albeit limited – production. Beurer invested heavily in advertising and marketing. Beurer appeared at the Hanover Trade Fair for the first time with its own stand. The launch of the electric blanket by Beurer in Germany. The patent for a stepless temperature control followed. In the same year, production of the bed warmer began. After slow sales to begin with, it increasingly became the biggest revenue contributor. Beurer presented modern irons, known as "high-speed ironers". Construction of the new factory at Söflinger Strasse 218 Beurer was mentioned in the yearbook "Die westdeutsche Wirtschaft und ihre führenden Männer" (The West German economy and its leading men) by the federal state of Baden-Württemberg. Due to lack of space at Söflinger Strasse, a branch was built in Uttenweiler. With 400 employees, a revenue of DM 6.5 million was achieved. Hans-Dieter Bühler, the son-in-law of Bernhard Beurer, became the third generation of the family to join the company. Celebration to mark the company's 50th anniversary featuring the yodeller Franz Lang and the Bavarian cabaret artist Georg Blädel. Beurer invested in numerous new manufacturing machines. Cooperation with the Stuttgart-based company Progress, resulting in successful expansion of the distribution network. Käthe Beurer died in Ulm. With 300 employees, Beurer was producing heating pads, electric blankets, coffee pot cosies, plate warmers and heated overalls for workers in cold conditions. Erich Deuser, physiotherapist to the German national football team, relied on the Beurer rheumatherm-vario heating pad. Eugen Beurer died in Ulm, Bernhard Beurer took over as sole manager. Purchase of the company Hadi, manufacturer of heating products. Beurer presented its products at the "German Industrial Products" exhibition in Moscow. Launch of high-speed bed warmers featuring a microprocessor-controlled signal wire. Development of the first neck heating pad. Start of the cooperation with sales representatives from all over the Federal Republic of Germany. The Dutch importer Martex became a sales subsidiary. Invention of the automatic switch-off function for heating products. While Beurer boasted a considerable market share (approx. 75%) in the area of heating products at the beginning of the 1980s, the demand for this segment was gradually stagnating. To counteract this development, Beurer supplemented the range with other and new products that were not related to flexible heating. The expansion of the range was mainly pursued by Dr Hans-Dieter Bühler. The new category was christened with the trendsetting name "BodyFit". At that time, it included massagers, infrared lamps and blood pressure monitors. A particular highlight to mention is that Eberhard Gienger, World Champion on the high bar, became the new face of the BodyFit line advertisements in 1987. Over the years, "BodyFit" grew more and more rapidly and even though the name was dropped many years ago, the products from this area make up 70% of today's revenue. Launch of blood pressure monitors and clinical thermometers. Beurer was the market leader in Germany in the "flexible heating" sector. Growing market shares in the European region as well. Repositioning of "BodyFit" in the direction of "Wellness". Establishment of the production site in Veszprém, Hungary and the sales subsidiary Boneco in Vienna. Launch of room air-conditioners. Until the beginning of the 1990s, the cat's head performed many years of faithful service as a trademark on posters, flyers, catalogues, as Beurer mascots and in many households a well-loved member of the family. Beurer stopped using the cat's head as a trademark for good after approx. 70 years. The reason for this decision was the expansion of the range taking place at that time, which now also included many product groups that were no longer connected to the cat's head. Acquisition of the Dutch market leader Inventum. Acquisition of the hitherto largest and last competitor still producing in Germany, Wetzotherm. Beurer became the only manufacturer of flexible heating products in Germany. Beurer was the leading manufacturer in Europe of electronic devices for health and well-being. Beurer launched another product range: scales. Bernhard Beurer died in Ulm. The company remained in family ownership. Start of fully automated production of underblankets. Marco Bühler became the fourth generation of the family to join the company and became technical director in 2004. "Beauty" range expansion with manicure devices, facial saunas, etc. Establishment of Beurer Far East Ltd., with head office in Hong Kong for quality control and supplier management. Worldwide partnerships and investments, expansion towards Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Launch of the heart rate monitor range. Beurer half marathon in Ulm. Launch of the "Medical" product category and presentation of blood glucose monitors. Beurer among the top 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany Change of name from GmbH & Co. KG to Beurer GmbH. Beurer celebrated its 90th anniversary. Beurer was once again in the top 100 most innovative medium-sized companies in Germany Udo Walz by Beurer cooperation. With "Udo Walz by Beurer", the Ulm-based family company created its own world of haircare within its Beauty division and offered the basis for the perfect look with over 25 sophisticated beauty products. Beurer is a traditional company and has been awarded the title of "Brand of the Century" by media and economic experts for its heating pads. Beurer Connect had a new star – the HealthManager. The user has the option of transferring measured values to the HealthManager app via Bluetooth® technology and Near Field Communication or using the conventional USB method. Once there, measured values can be analysed and compared with each other. Web data can also be synchronised between the systems using HealthManager. With all these great features, Beurer offers a truly modern health management system. Beurer expanded its range to include the AS 80 activity sensor and linked two more product groups "Activity" and "Sleep" to the HealthManager health management system. Beurer once again named brand of the century for heating pads. The title was awarded by the renowned publisher Dr. Florian Langenscheidt. Beurer is expanding its Connect range. Beurer's new range of apps covers many topics relating to health, well-being and safety – we have the right app for everyone. Beurer is launching the SleepLine, which helps you to fall asleep, sleep through the night and wake up more easily. The family of apps is continuing to grow with the Beurer FreshRoom app, Beurer SleepQuiet app and the Beurer myIPL, thus following the trend of digitisation. Oliver Neuschl becomes Commercial Director. Beurer is among the "Top 100 Growth and Revenue Stars" chosen by the Munich Strategy Group, together with the daily newspaper "Die Welt". For this purpose, the sales and EBIT developments of 3,500 companies from 2011 to 2015 were evaluated. At number 34, we are in the top 1% of the 3,500 companies evaluated. In order to position Beurer even more strongly in the global healthcare market, additional subsidiaries are being established in India, Poland and Switzerland. Beurer takes over the fitness start-up Antelope. Antelope is known for its performance-enhancing sportswear with integrated electrodes for mobile electrostimulation. This is a very special year for Beurer: Käthe and Eugen Beurer founded the company 100 years ago and laid the foundation for an innovative and successful company. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Beurer starts production of face masks and donates 25,000 masks to residents and staff at residential care facilities for the elderly in Ulm and Neu-Ulm. Beurer launches a new product group called "Barbers Corner". Beurer expands its site in Hungary into a European production facility for medical devices and now also manufactures products for the medical sector in addition to heat products. Beurer launches collaborations with Barbara Becker, tennis star Angelique Kerber and the German Tennis Federation. The focus is on topics such as fitness, efficient training, regeneration and well-being. Change in the management team: Alongside Marco Bühler and Oliver Neuschl, Sebastian Kebbe becomes the new Managing Director for Marketing & Sales. The top model and TV star Rebecca Mir becomes the new face of Beurer's hair styling range. In cooperation with Beurer, she is now an advertising ambassador for three products for professional hair styling. After a 3-year construction period, Beurer inaugurates the new administration building – the "Beurer Campus". In addition to offices and mobile workspaces, there is a new main entrance with a reception area and a large showroom for product presentation. Beurer celebrates its success with its first TV campaign. The slogan for the ad is "Take care of yourself". Centrally in focus is one of the electric heating blankets and an electric heat pad. Beurer is producing a comprehensive sustainability report for the first time. This action is because Beurer seeks to keep taking steps towards becoming a more sustainable company. Sustainable business and social commitment have been part of its corporate philosophy for many years now. In addition, Beurer has firmly established responsible resource usage in its corporate goals for the future. Founding of the Beurer Benelux subsidiary in the Netherlands and Beurer Korea. Introduction of the "Dental care" product category with two electric toothbrushes for healthy oral hygiene. Beurer is also expanding its offering with the high-quality men's range. The product line includes a hair clipper, beard trimmer, multigroomer, rotary shaver and precision trimmer. Whether it's your hair, beard or body – our Beurer men's range has the perfect shaver for anyone to create their desired look. A further highlight of the year is the EC SafePlus Emergency Wristband that makes everyday life even safer. This modern alternative to an emergency button is equipped with an automatic fall detection function which quickly contacts the emergency responders both at home and when on the go. In an emergency, the integrated speakerphone function also enables a voice connection to be established with the wristband wearer.

Are you grappling with the ever-so-tricky challenge of keeping your customer engagement alive and kicking? Well, let’s dive right into the heart of the matter: email list management. It’s more than just a buzzword; it’s your golden ticket to transforming those pesky pain points into powerhouse opportunities. In today’s fast-paced business world, where every click and open counts, mastering the art of email list management can be the game-changer your company needs. From unresponsive subscribers to dwindling open rates, let’s unpack how a well-oiled email list management strategy can turn these hurdles into stepping stones for success. Get ready to explore the ins and outs of this crucial tool and see your business soar! Email list management often emerges as a beacon of hope for companies grappling with the chaotic seas of digital marketing. It’s no secret that keeping an email list organised, engaged, and growing is akin to juggling flaming torches while balancing on a tightrope. It’s tricky, to say the least. This article dives into how effective email list management can not only soothe the burn of these common challenges but also transform your email marketing into a well-oiled machine, fuelling engagement, conversions, and, ultimately, customer loyalty. Table of contents: What is Email List Management? Peeling back the layers, Email List Management is a multifaceted concept, integral to the success of email marketing campaigns. Defining Email List Management Email List Management, in essence, is the strategic handling of your email contacts. It involves processes and practices that ensure your email list is accurate, up-to-date, and segmented according to various criteria. This segmentation allows for more personalised and effective communication with your audience. Core Principles of Email List Management The principles guiding Email List Management are straightforward yet profound: - Accuracy: Keeping your list free of errors and outdated information. - Segmentation: Dividing your list into relevant groups based on criteria like demographics, behavior, or preferences. - Compliance: Adhering to legal standards and respecting subscriber preferences. - Engagement: Continuously engaging with your list to maintain interest and relevance. The Importance of Email List Management Why prioritise Email List Management? The answer lies in its undeniable impact on the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. Proper management of your email list can be the difference between a campaign that resonates and one that falls flat. It’s the backbone of targeted marketing, ensuring that your messages are not just sent, but also seen, read, and acted upon. Advantages of Using Email List Management Harnessing the power of Email List Management unlocks a plethora of advantages for your marketing endeavors. Benefits of Effective Email List Management - Increased Deliverability: A well-managed list means fewer bounces and better deliverability rates. - Higher Engagement Rates: Targeted emails result in higher open and click-through rates. - Cost Efficiency: By focusing on interested parties, you reduce wastage of resources. How Email List Management Can Improve Customer Engagement Engaging customers is not just about reaching them; it’s about reaching them in a way that resonates. Email List Management allows you to tailor your messages to the specific interests and needs of different segments of your audience. This personalised approach fosters a deeper connection with your customers, enhancing their engagement and loyalty. Common Pitfalls in Email List Management Steers clear of these common mistakes in Email List Management: - Neglecting List Hygiene: Failing to regularly clean your list can lead to reduced deliverability and engagement. - Over-Segmentation: While segmentation is crucial, overdoing it can complicate your campaigns unnecessarily. - Ignoring Subscriber Preferences: Not respecting opt-in and opt-out requests can harm your brand’s reputation. Is Using an Email List Management a Good Idea? The decision to use Email List Management should be weighed carefully, considering both its benefits and challenges. Evaluating the Effectiveness of Email List Management To gauge the effectiveness of Email List Management, consider: - ROI: Assess the return on investment by comparing the costs against the revenue generated from your email campaigns. - Engagement Metrics: Look at open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates to measure engagement. - List Growth Rate: A healthy list should see steady growth over time. Key Considerations When Using Email List Management Techniques To make the most of Email List Management, keep these key considerations in mind. Essential Factors in Email List Management - Quality Over Quantity: Focus on the quality of your list rather than just the number of subscribers. - Regular Maintenance: Regularly update and clean your list to maintain its health and effectiveness. - List Engagement: Monitor how recipients interact with your emails and adjust your strategy accordingly. Best Practices for Email List Management Follow these best practices to optimise your Email List Management: - Segment Your List: Tailor you’re messaging to different audience segments for increased relevance. - Personalise Your Emails: Use subscriber data to personalise emails, making them more engaging. - Test and Optimise: Continuously test different aspects of your emails (like subject lines and content) and optimise based on the results. - Respect Privacy: Always comply with privacy laws and respect subscriber preferences. - Monitor Performance: Regularly track key metrics to understand the effectiveness of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions. Alternatives to Using Email List Management Exploring the realm of email marketing, it’s clear that Email List Management is a key player. But what if we peek beyond? Let’s explore some alternative strategies. Other Strategies for Email Campaign Management - Direct Outreach: Personalised, direct contact can sometimes yield better results, especially in B2B scenarios. - Social Media Integration: Leveraging social media platforms for outreach and engagement. - Content Marketing: Using valuable content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience. Comparing Email List Management with Alternative Methods While Email List Management focuses on nurturing and utilising your email database, alternative methods like social media marketing broaden your reach. Content marketing, on the other hand, helps in establishing thought leadership and brand loyalty. Strategies for Effective Email List Management Diving deeper into Email List Management, let’s uncover strategies to maximise its potential. Techniques for Maximising Email List Potential - Regular Audits: Periodically review your list for relevance and engagement. - Responsive Design: Ensure your emails are mobile-friendly, as a significant portion of users access emails on mobile devices. - Dynamic Content: Use dynamic content to personalise emails based on user behaviour and preferences. Innovative Approaches to Email List Management - AI Integration: Utilise AI tools for predictive analytics and automated segmentation. - Interactive Emails: Incorporate interactive elements like polls or quizzes to boost engagement. Tools and Software for Email List Management In the toolbox of Email List Management, software and tools play a crucial role. Overview of Email List Management Software Email List Management software offers features like automation, tracking, and analytics, which are essential for effective campaign management. These tools can streamline processes, making management more efficient. Comparing Different Email List Management Tools When comparing tools, consider factors like usability, integration capabilities, features offered, and pricing. Some tools may offer advanced analytics, while others might excel in automation. Segmenting Your Email List Segmentation is a cornerstone in the architecture of Email List Management. The Art of Email List Segmentation Email List Segmentation is about dividing your audience into smaller, more focused groups. This allows for more targeted and relevant communication, which can significantly improve engagement rates. Practical Tips for Segmenting Email Lists - Demographic Segmentation: Divide your list based on age, location, or job title. - Behavioural Segmentation: Segment based on user behavior, like purchase history or website activity. - Engagement Level: Differentiate between highly engaged subscribers and those who are less active. Reengaging Inactive Subscribers Breathing new life into dormant email subscribers is a crucial aspect of Email List Management. Let’s dive into how you can rekindle the spark with your audience. Strategies for Reviving Dormant Email Subscribers - Re-engagement Campaigns: Craft compelling campaigns specifically designed to re-capture the attention of inactive subscribers. - Feedback Surveys: Send out surveys to understand why they disengaged and what might bring them back. Techniques for Reengaging with Your Audience - Personalised Offers: Use data to create personalised offers that resonate with their interests. - Engaging Content: Refresh your content strategy to include more engaging and relevant topics. Maintaining a Clean Contact List A clean email list is a happy email list. Let’s explore why and how to maintain it. Importance of Regularly Cleaning Your Email List Regular cleaning ensures your Email List Management efforts are not in vain. It helps in reducing bounce rates and improving overall engagement. How to Keep Your Email List Healthy and Engaged - Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits to remove inactive or unresponsive subscribers. - Update Subscriber Information: Encourage subscribers to update their information to keep your list current. Email List Validation A step often overlooked in Email List Management is the validation of your email list. The Process of Email List Validation Email List Validation involves verifying the accuracy and deliverability of the email addresses on your list. This process helps in identifying and removing invalid or risky email addresses. Benefits of Regular Email List Validation - Improved Deliverability: Reduces the chance of your emails ending up in the spam folder. - Better Engagement Rates: Ensures your emails are reaching active and interested subscribers. Email List Management FAQs Let’s address some frequently asked questions about Email List Management. How Can Email List Management Drive Revenue Growth? Effective Email List Management can lead to more targeted and personalised campaigns, resulting in higher conversion rates and, ultimately, revenue growth. What Are the Latest Trends in Email List Management? Current trends include the use of AI for better segmentation, increased focus on privacy and data protection, and the integration of omnichannel marketing strategies. How Does Email List Management Affect Customer Lifetime Value? By fostering better engagement and loyalty, Email List Management can significantly increase the lifetime value of customers. What Are the Ethical Considerations in Email List Management? Ethical considerations include respecting subscriber privacy, obtaining consent for communication, and ensuring transparency in data usage. How to Measure the Success of Email List Management? Success can be measured through metrics like open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and list growth rate. What Role Does Automation Play in Email List Management? Automation streamlines various aspects of Email List Management, from segmentation to sending out personalised emails, making the process more efficient. How to Handle Privacy and Data Protection in Email List Management? Adhering to data protection laws, securing subscriber data, and being transparent about data usage are key to handling privacy in Email List Management. In conclusion, email list management emerges as a pivotal tool in steering the course of your marketing campaigns towards success. It’s not just about keeping your list organised; it’s about engaging effectively with your audience through personalised communication, ensuring compliance, and maintaining the health of your list. By focusing on quality over quantity, regularly updating and cleaning your list, and respecting subscriber preferences, you can enhance engagement, increase deliverability, and ultimately drive revenue growth. Remember, a well-managed email list is a powerful asset in the digital marketing arsenal, fostering customer loyalty and contributing significantly to the overall success of your marketing strategies. So, embrace the art of email list management and watch your business reach new heights of success. Who are We? Dedicated to lead generation, Results Driven Marketing provides myriad services SMEs can trust to deliver results. Our marketing lists are guaranteed accurate to industry high standards, and GDPR compliant and our experience team means that if you are looking to buy data, they make them totally bespoke and highly relevant whether you are looking for email lists, direct mailing lists or telemarketing lists. We also supply email marketing solutions with our email marketing platform. Results Driven Marketing 0191 406 6399

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Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here Merch Tee ES Take a trip through 70s psychedelia with the group that pioneered the movement. Pink Floyd’s ninth studio album “Wish You Were Here” lands center accompanied by a multi-colored, distressed image of the main members. Also available in XS-XL. Need help finding your size? Click HERE for our sizing guide. - Made from a 100% cotton fabric, feels like a luxury tour shirt with the perfect drape - A blend of our Weekend Tee and OS Tee, this roomy fit t-shirt is like that perfect vintage find, featuring an open neckline and ladder stitch hems - Made by your team of Daydreamers, right here in Los Angeles - Size 2X measures chest width: 28 1/2", length: 29 1/2"

Jackie Reed, has agreed to remain President for the 2023/4 season. Alan Beadie becomes President-elect. Marc Murray, Director of Music at Bury Parish Church, remains as Secretary of the Association. Ken Fayle remains Treasurer, with the additional role of Data Protection Officer, while George Housley remains Membership Secretary. Confirmation of the syllabus arrangements will be updated on this website regularly and also in the regular newsletters to members. Saturday, 25th September 2023 Visit to The Church of The Ascension, Salford. 12.30pm - 4.00pm The church roof and interior was destroyed by arson in 2017 but has been rebuilt.Henry Groves & Son of Nottingham have created a new organ using vintage Nicholson pipework a new Tuba on 12" wind from Booths of Leeds and using their own direct-electric action soundboards. The total of 52 stops are controlled from a 3 manual moveable low-level terraced detached console built by Renatus of Bideford. The event includes a light lunch, and as well as the BDOA, the resident organist, Anthony Williams has invited participation by the associations in Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside, Bolton, Liverpool and Chester. This should make it a chance to catch up with friends from around N W England and perhaps to make new ones. The church is on Ascension Road, Salford, M7 1AG and is just four minutes walk from bus stops supported by various services. Sunday, 15th October 2023 at 4.00pm Members Composite Recital at St George, Church, Stockport Here is a link to the specification : https://www.npor.org.uk/NPORView.html?RI=H00041 St George’s Church is located between Buxton Road and Bramhall Lane South. Access to the church is via ‘the South Avenue’ from Buxton Road. SatNav: SK2 6NU 25th November 2023 at 2.00pm Demystifying the Organ at St John's Church, Heaton Mersey Saturday, 20th January 2024 at 2.00pm Open Console at St Martin’s Church, Low Marple, SK6 5DT If you have purchased some of those lovely new organ books over the last few months, why not play the pieces in these volumes. There are no repertoire demands for this event or indeed our February event. Saturday, 10th February 2024 Open Console 11.30am Heaton Park Methodist Church, M25 1JA Lunch at a local venue 2.00pm St Margaret’s Church, Prestwich, M25 1AN Saturday, 2nd March 2024 – Improvisation Class. Darius Batiwalla leads an Improvisation Class which is not limited to : extension of a hymn (eg Offertory hymn), variations on a hymn, free improvisation or improvisation on a given theme, or fanfares. Saturday, April 2023 Visit to Leeds Saturday, May 2024 Annual General Meeting followed by lunch and recital

I’m very excited to have Gaie Sebold on SBTS today, and I’m especially excited because I got to read her fabulous new novel, Babylon Steel, in its infancy when it was work-shopped in the well-known London genre writing group, the T Party. It was amazing then. It’s stunning now. Definitely one for the ‘must read’ list. Welcome Gaie! It’s difficult to say where exactly the story of Babylon Steel started, except that years ago, and two novels back, I had a vague idea about a brothel that existed in a place that got a lot of very odd travellers passing through. I had some idea that it would be a sort of noirish comedy with the clients based on certain recognisable fantasy heroes; though with their names changed to protect the not-very-innocent. If I remember rightly, it started with the madam describing the house rules, which included such things as ‘No-one gets turned into anything without prior arrangement,’ and ‘Any payment that turns into leaves the next day will result in bits being broken off. Yes, those bits.’ This went into the ‘ideas I might do something with one day’ file, and is one of the very few things ever to come back out. There was already a trace of Babylon’s voice in the voice of the madam, but several more things had to happen before I could actually write the book. I had to write a lot more first; and become more confident in what I was doing. Producing a novel that was good enough to get me an agent, although that one still hasn’t been picked up by a publisher, was a great help in boosting my confidence. But equally importantly, I had to develop my own ideas and emotions around sexuality. I was brought up in a fairly straightlaced household; my parents were very much of their era. Now, since they were both born in the 19-teens (I was a late baby) that era was about five minutes past Edwardian. They were good people, but it took me many, many years and some interesting and enjoyable experiences to shake off their ideas about sex and develop my own. Which, needless to say, ended up rather different. I moved from thinking of sex as something scary, and shameful, and done by women only under duress or in return for some form of social acceptance, into thinking of it as something that should be healthy, and celebrated, and done by women because they like it and they damn well want to. Along the way, I took longsword lessons. I never got very good at it, but I did learn quite a lot about the realities of fighting with blades from people who knew a great deal more than I did, and it helped to give me some of the real physical feel of fighting. I also got into live action role play (for those who don’t know, LARPing is basically dressing up as fantasy characters and running around in a wood hitting people with latex weapons. Or shouting spells at them if you’re playing a wizard). It’s immense fun, and even though, of course, it’s nothing like being in a real battle (the point is not to actually injure people, which is why the weapons are latex) it can be amazingly emotionally intense. I’ve been in tears; not just when a friend’s character ‘dies’ but when somebody does something noble and self-sacrificing. That probably sounds unhealthy! But it’s powerful. You can get a sense of emotional intensity, of clear right and wrong, which can be hard to come by in our often mundane and muddled lives. Also, of course, you get to hit people with stuff, indulge in the filthiest double-entendres in the history of language, and laugh yourself sick. At least you do with the bunch I play with. All of these experiences contributed to the character and voice of Babylon. Then I read about the Sumerian goddess of sexuality, Inanna. I’d heard of sacred prostitution, and legends of temples where the women had to give up their virginity to strangers in the name of the goddess, but I didn’t know much more. The fact that Inanna was also a goddess of war helped push the vague ideas I had into shape, and the book began to coalesce. Of course, it went through a lot of changes. At one point I thought of basing the plot around Inanna’s descent to the underworld, one of the few written legends of Inanna that survives, but that got abandoned, as I was having too much fun with my own ideas. There are a few shadows of it that remain in Babylon Steel but you’d have to know where to look, I think. And that, as best I remember, is it. Of course there was, undoubtedly, a lot of subconscious stuff that fed in from years of reading, and watching films, and being around people. And a lot of boring stuff where I wrote several scenes, hated them, kept one character and three paragraphs and trashed the rest, and so on and so forth. And the odd stuff that happens when characters you thought were minor turn out not to be, and characters you thought were the bad guys are, at most, morally ambiguous. But that is not so much about the genesis of a story as its maturing. Not sex, but pregnancy. And that’s a whole other subject. We girls, sprawled on cushions in a silk-hung room. Shakanti seated in the corner, impatient. And our new trainer, a graceful and soft-voiced woman in linen the clean blue of a spring sky. She had assistants with her, two young men, two young women, in loose white robes. “My name is Livaia,” she told us. “I am here to teach you how to give pleasure, and how to receive it. It is something that almost anyone can learn to do with some degree of craft, and that is well enough. However, it is the subtleties which transform craft into art. Subtlety, the capacity to take that extra care, is the mark of the true artist.” She beckoned forward one of the young men. He was very handsome, with the sculpted body of an athlete and a gentle smile. “First,” Livaia said, “is anyone here still virgin? Come, there’s no need to be ashamed.” I happened to glance at Shakanti, who was glaring, and looked away fast. Renavir’s hand went up, spearing the air. She, too, glanced at Shakanti – seeking approval, poor child. Then, after a moment, Velance’s hand went up, too. Neither of them surprised me. “Then we shall start with the basics.” She gestured the young man to take off his robe. There were gasps and giggles – most of us had, of course, at least seen a cock before, but not in such circumstances. “Now,” she said, “I will show you how things work, and then, we shall move on to making them work better. Jalis here is in no need of encouragement, as you can see. I think being in the presence of so many pretty young ladies has had an effect on him. But sometimes encouragement is required.” She took him in hand, so to speak, and so our first lesson in the heart of the seductive arts began. Growing up as I had, crammed in among the other servants, and later out with the caravans, I’d had neither the time nor the inclination to be especially modest, though with Sesh and Kyrl watching over me like a pair of mother hawks, I’d remained virgin until Hap-Canae. I enjoyed the lessons. When it moved from demonstration by Livaia to the point when we had to take part, I was more than ready. Watching people seduce each other did nothing to damp my own fires, and when it was my turn to sink into the cushions with Jalis, Livaia had to coach me not to take things too quickly. Jalis. My second lover. Gentle, adept – not, perhaps, overburdened with brains but exquisitely good at what he did. My own responses surprised me: I had thought things with Hap-Canae were marvellous, and was surprised to discover that they could be much more so. I began to realise that Hap-Canae’s bedroom techniques lacked a certain something. I tried not to think about it. Of course, I wouldn’t dream of telling him, or suggesting that he pay a little attention to my own pleasure as well as his. After all I was, still, so grateful. Where to find Gaie Sebold: Gaie’s website: http://www.gaiesebold.com Twitter: @Babylon_ Steel and @GaieSebold

Table of Contents Hide - What is Premium Pricing? - What are some examples of successful premium pricing strategies? - What are the legal considerations for premium pricing? - How to set prices for new premium products? - How to maintain premium pricing while ensuring quality? - How to deal with premium pricing challenges? - How to use data and technology to support premium pricing? - Premium Pricing FAQs - What is premium pricing example? - How do you price a premium? - What are the types of price? - What is premium in pricing strategy? - Related Articles We understand that the e-commerce industry’s fierce competition forces you to compete on price. However, some customers do not look for low rates. Instead, they seek exclusivity. The premium pricing (prestige pricing) strategy is ideal for e-commerce vendors who want to build a high-end company with a strong brand identity. Read to learn more about premium pricing with examples. Premium pricing is the practice of pricing the products or services at a higher level to give the impression of a high-quality product. Furthermore, It is also known as prestige or image pricing. Customers, according to the theory, will pay higher prices for the correct picture and will not examine whether the price accurately represents the value. In Nike’s case, the company expresses value rather than the basic existence of the product. Premium pricing has the potential to provide businesses with a psychological marketing advantage. It does so by convincing consumers that there is an added value for the cost. It capitalizes on the buyer’s perception that one brand’s product is of better quality than rivals because it costs more. There are many examples of companies and brands leveraging their goods by premium pricing. Luxury car manufacturers are infamous for raising prices on high-end cars. A Toyota Camry or a Honda Civic can get you from point A to point B just as well as a Bentley or a BMW. However, consumers who enjoy driving around in expensive cars are unlikely to tolerate driving an entry-level sedan as their primary mode of transportation. A Rolex watch can cost well over ten grand depending on the amount of bling embedded. However, a Timex watch with twice as many features can be purchased for around $28 or less. They both say time, but it is clear that the Rolex is a status symbol that appeals to their clients. This is because it displays their financial performance as well as the correct time. The value is in the brand, not the functionality of the product. You can’t blame companies for charging exorbitant rates to reinforce the perceived value they provide to their consumers. Don’t worry, I know most of you aren’t in the business of marketing or selling hot kicks. Premium pricing is used by companies of all sizes to cater to consumers’ sense of worth and maximize income. You don’t have to be the owner of an iconic brand to use this premium pricing strategy successfully. There are several effective ways to use high prices as a guide to more realistic sales and as a means of communicating value. Let’s take a look at some of the techniques. #1. Create an enterprise-level (whether you have an enterprise product or not) One way to use premium pricing in your company is to build an expensive enterprise tier on your pricing page. Eric has previously addressed the premium pricing strategy. This is an efficient way to improve the perceived value of your offering as well as your revenue stream. For an example of a premium pricing strategy, if you sell a SaaS product for $50 per month, you can build an enterprise tier for $300 per month that includes a few extra features such as more storage or unlimited users. The enterprise tier will be out of reach for the majority of your prospective customers. However, it will act as a guidepost to the $50 product. Just keep in mind to have the right features in the target product so that it is a good buy for both your customers and your business. In this scenario, the business tier exists to reassure consumers that the $50 tier is a better deal. It does not have any superior functionality that the prospects would be drawn to but unable to afford. #2. Develop a respectable image for your business (and the right environment) Creating a prestigious picture for your business from the ground up is a critical factor in reinforcing higher prices. If you can boost the consumer experience by creating the right atmosphere and providing reliable, excellent service, your business can project an image that demonstrates your product is a better value at a higher price than your rivals. #3. Give your price the appropriate picture. The physical presence of your published prices may have an unconscious impact on your future buyers, increasing sales. Smaller details, such as ending your prices in 0s or 5s and avoiding decimal pricing, can sometimes justify a higher price by presenting a higher-quality image. This form of psychological pricing tactic is common in high-end restaurants. You’re unlikely to see a price like “8.99” for a meal unless you’re in a chain or franchise establishment. Prices ending in 9 are intended to persuade customers that they are getting a good deal. But prices consisting of round numbers (no cents, no decimals) can subtly convince customers that your company is trustworthy and your product is sophisticated. In other words, the high price they pay is justified. The design of your pricing page will also help you project the right picture of your prices and increase perceived value. Survey Monkey, which provides a robust software survey tool, is a good example of this premium pricing strategy. Their pricing page promotes the $25 per month Gold tier as the most common. They use color differentiation and a slightly larger pricing bracket to emphasize this. The Select tier below it includes all but one of the Gold tier’s features, but it costs $8 less per month, at $17. Customers are drawn to the more expensive Gold edition despite the lack of feature differentiation because it appears to be the better choice. The perceived value of the Gold bracket is increased further by a $65 per month option placed to its right. The option acts as a price anchor. Most customers are likely to be happy with the Select choice, but the main design elements and the price anchor help SurveyMonkey convince customers to choose Gold. #1. High-Profit Yield Naturally, increasing the price of a commodity would result in higher profit margins. Even though fewer people can afford iPhones than Xiaomi phones, Apple’s mobile profits are four times greater than Samsung’s. That is, you can make more money with fewer people. The value of a brand and the premium pricing are inextricably linked. While a high brand value helps a brand to introduce premium pricing, prestige prices, in turn, increase a brand’s value. #2. Promotes Products And Company Image Generally, such products are considered highly effective and create a feeling of quality. and this boosts the company’s image. The disadvantages of premium pricing include the following; #1. High Cost Of Advertisement Remember, as a premium brand, you must make it seem as if your products are of high quality, which means selling your products in the same way. Nike and Adidas will spend millions of dollars on marketing and advertisement next year. But the thing is, it works. #2. Problem Of Unique Selling Point The product value proposition and unique selling point must at least meet up with the people’s expectations else, you face the threat of losing your customers. Although this strategy involves an inelastic product, failure to keep your unique selling point abreast will lead to being out of business. #3. Limits Target Market Premium pricing strategies limit the size of your target audience. Generally, a vast number of a product’s target users are people in the middle class in society, and premium pricing automatically keeps them at arm’s length. What are some examples of successful premium pricing strategies? Examples of successful premium pricing strategies include Apple’s premium pricing for its high-end smartphones, luxury fashion brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton charging premium prices for their products, and hotel chains such as the Ritz Carlton and Four Seasons charging premium prices for their luxury accommodations. What are the legal considerations for premium pricing? In some countries, there are laws against price fixing, which restricts companies from colluding on prices. It is important for companies to comply with these laws and ensure that their premium pricing strategies are fair and not anti-competitive. How to set prices for new premium products? When setting prices for new premium products, consider the target market, production costs, and the prices of similar premium products. Analyze competitors’ premium pricing strategies, and use market research to gauge customer willingness to pay. How to maintain premium pricing while ensuring quality? To maintain premium pricing while ensuring quality, companies need to consistently deliver high-quality products and exceptional customer service. This helps justify the premium price and maintain customer trust in the brand. How to deal with premium pricing challenges? Premium pricing challenges include competition, changing customer needs, and maintaining product quality. Companies can address these challenges by continually improving their products, marketing effectively, and adjusting premium prices as needed. How to use data and technology to support premium pricing? Data and technology can be used to gather information on competitor prices, market trends, and customer behavior. This information can help inform premium pricing decisions and ensure that premium prices remain competitive. Premium pricing strategies aren’t limited to the major brands, but that doesn’t mean you can raise the prices. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: a 1% rise in price increases income by an average of 11%. Choose a price that reinforces the quality of the service to the appropriate audience and concentrate on increasing the value of your product. If you can effectively convey value, you can create your brand, minimize turnover, and keep customers coming back. The keys to retaining both integrity and higher margins are the same: consistency and avoiding bottom-line discounts. The software industry is not the place to cut prices to make fast conversions; doing so would result in an undervalued product and weak future sales. Build confidence and customer relationships by offering competitive rates that represent the work you’ve put into the company, and you’ll quickly outperform the competition. What is premium pricing example? Premium Pricing Examples If all you want is a watch to tell time, you can buy a Timex for $28The Timex may even have more bells and whistles than the Rolex, but consumers are willing to pay $10,000 for the Rolex because they perceive the product to be extremely high quality, and it is an ultimate status symbol. How do you price a premium? To calculate the price premium using the average price paid benchmark, managers can also divide a brand’s share of the market in value terms by its share in volume terms. If value and volume market shares are equal, there is no premium. What are the types of price? The following are common types of prices. - Psychological Prices. A price based on numerical cognition. … - Customary Price. A customary price is a historically common price that remains in place for an extended period of time. … - Price Points. … - Line Pricing. … - Bundle & Bulk. … - Variable Pricing. … - Recurring Price. … - Metered Service. What is premium in pricing strategy? Premium pricing is a markup on the original market price of an item used to create an illusion of higher quality. - Competitive Pricing: How to do Competitive Pricing Analysis - Prestige Pricing: Overview, Examples, Strategy (+ Free Tips) - PENETRATION PRICING POLICY: HOW YOU CAN GAIN MARKET ENTRY - MARKET GROWTH: Definition, Calculations, Rates, Strategies (Simplified) - MARKET RISKS: Best Practices and Easy Guide with Examples

WE HAVE TWO NEW OPENINGS IN HOUSTON FOR EXPERIENCED LAWYERS. PLEASE EMAIL US AT [email protected], REFERENCING THE POSITION NUMBER INDICATED, IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE ABOUT EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS. IN-HOUSE DIVISION COUNSEL FOR MANUFACTURING/DRILLING SERVICES COMPANY Momentum has been engaged on an exclusive basis to help a publicly-held company hire an attorney to be the primary legal support for one of its major divisions. This attorney will handle transactions, draft and negotiate a wide variety of contracts, manage litigation, and help management assess and minimize risk on a daily basis. Suitable candidates will have at least six years of transactional experience in a large law firm and be willing to work in an industrial environment. Competitive compensation with great benefits in a company with a healthy balance sheet and a bright future. Reference position 4544. SENIOR LITIGATION ATTORNEY FOR MID-SIZE FIRM IN GALLERIA AREA – NO PORTABLE BUSINESS REQUIRED A well-regarded, mid-sized firm with a focus on litigation is seeking a full-time, salaried attorney with at least 10 years of experience. This attorney will take and defend depositions in commercial cases, draft and respond to discovery, draft motions and briefs, and handle cases with a minimum amount of supervision. Reference position 8775. Thank you for your interest and for reading Momentum’s blog! As always, please call us if we can help you in any way – (512) 920-6622.

Carmel Clay Schools’ Employee Wellness Center, alongside their healthcare partner Ascension St. Vincent, received national recognition at the World Health Care Congress Summit for their commitment to improving health outcomes, reducing health care costs and providing innovative health care practices for their employees and families. Carmel Clay Schools was the only school district in the country to receive this recognition. The World Health Care Congress is an organization that supports and recognizes a broad range of companies, organizations and health care providers who are transforming healthcare. The Carmel Clay Schools Wellness Center is available to Carmel Clay Schools’ employees and their families enrolled in the CCS insurance plan. The Wellness Center provides acute, preventative and wellness focused primary care services such as annual physicals, sick visits, lab services, immunizations, and health screenings at no cost to the employee. In addition, the Wellness Center employs two full-time physical therapists, two mental health therapists, a health coach, a registered dietitian and an on-site dispensary for a range of generics drugs. The Wellness Center has expanded to offer fitness classes to include strength training, TRX, Pilates, yoga and spin classes. Roger McMichael, Associate Superintendent of Business Affairs, was honored to be a guest speaker alongside other workplace and healthcare giants such as Microsoft, Aetna, and John’s Hopkins Hospital. He spoke about the evolution and success of the Carmel Clay Schools Wellness Center on a panel discussion titled, Leverage an Evidence-Based Clinic Strategy to Engage Your Population. “We began having conversations about the concept of employee wellness at Carmel Clay Schools in 2010 the wellness center became a reality in the spring of 2013.” said McMichael. “Fast forward to 2019 and you will see we are dedicated to focusing not only on employee wellness but on employee well-being, which encompasses our employees’ behavioral/emotional health, social health and even their financial health.” He added, “Many would be surprised to know that since we’ve launched the CCS Wellness Center we have not had an insurance premium increase in six years and as a result, compared to medical trend, the district saved 5 million dollars in 2017.” To learn more about the Carmel Clay Schools Wellness Center, click here to watch the September 11, 2019 Board Workshop.

Products Home /DUAL ORTHOSIS The Dual Action Orthosis offers patients the same outstanding features of our APU® (Adjustable Posterior Upright) Orthosis and the EV™ (Equino-Varus) PRAFO® Orthosis in one. The Dual Action Orthosis accommodates and helps control varus and valgus conditions of the ankle/foot complex + or - 30º. Further, practitioners using the Dual Action Articulating Ankle/Foot Orthosis will find it to be a more precise and simplified method of setting the ankle/foot complex in the sagittal plane to accommodate ankle dorsiflexion to 20º and plantarflexion to 40º. Suggested PDAC: L-4396 Stock Code: 653PKGAFO DUAL Action Adult Pad & Strap Kodel G-Metal Stock Code: 653SKBAFO DUAL Action Adult Standard Kodel Black Stock Code: 653SKGAFO DUAL Action Adult Standard Kodel G-Metal Stock Code: 553SKBAFO DUAL Action Pediatric Standard Kodel Black Stock Code: 553SKGAFO DUAL Action Pediatric Standard Kodel G-Metal

Community Outreach Services Many of our providers are active board members for a variety of agencies. Our community outreach includes partnering with other local agencies to evaluate community needs. Community services hours for anyone in need when appropriate. We offer community conversations and presentations whenever requested. We attend every local event occuring in our area as requested.

Rehabbing is currently the most popular form of real estate investing. All you need to do is turn on the TV, and you will find a show about rehabbing. Despite being so popular, however, not every investor knows what they are doing. A successful rehab is much more difficult than it appears on TV. If you don’t focus every step of the way, you may be disappointed with the results. Like everything else you do in business, you should have a system for maximizing results. Before you start your next rehab deal, there are a few things you need to know: 1. Understand your market: The market in which the property is located should have a direct impact on the work done to the house. All properties are not the same. The work you do for a rental property should not be the same for one you plan on selling. This doesn’t mean to ignore quality, but you need to know what your market offers. Some markets call for different materials, fixtures and appliances than others. By not knowing your market and doing the wrong work, you can end up wasting money. Something that personally appeals to you in a property may not be what the market demands. Items like a pool, hot tub and granite countertops are nice, but may not fit the specific property. Look at past sales to give you an idea of which amenities had the most impact on buyers. Understanding your market helps you stretch your dollar, quickly find buyers or renters and improves your bottom line. If you don’t fully know your market, you are basically rolling the dice and hoping that you produce a property people will want. 2. Set a realistic budget: Numbers hold the key to every rehab. You can have a great property in a great location, but if the numbers don’t work you won’t be successful. Anyone can set a rehab budget, but it is critical to make sure these numbers are realistic. If you are rehabbing to flip, start with your after repair value. It is important not to think that the work you do will add value that isn’t really there. Repairs and upgrades will improve the value, but not more than the market dictates. Once you know where your after repair value falls, you can set a budget. Instead of using estimates, try to get as many iron clad numbers as possible. In guessing, you will run into problems during the process. Going over your budget can cause you to take short cuts that directly impact the value. If you don’t know what the correct numbers are, reach out to a local contractor or ask a fellow investor. The numbers you use dictate everything that goes on in a rehab. Take the time to make sure you are using the right ones. 3. Get on the same page with your contractor: In a perfect world, you will have an experienced contractor that you can lean on during the project. This relationship is forged usually after months or years of working together. Even if you have worked together in the past, you still need to make sure you are on the same page. Before the first nail is hammered, you should discuss every aspect of the process. It is not enough to give your contractor a budget and leave it in their hands. Talk about your vision of the property and what your goals are. The more that you discuss with your contractor, the less likely it will be that there are issues down the road. Spending a few hours at the beginning of the project will save you from taking phone calls every day asking you what they should do. It will also help you follow your budget and do the work that you expect. Your contractor should be the point guard for the project, but you are still the coach. 4. Have your team in place: A typical rehab usually has a handful of tradesman that need to be in place. Even the best contractor cannot handle every aspect of a project. It is a mistake to assume that your electrician, painter or carpenter will be available when you need them. By having to work around one person’s schedule, you run the risk of delaying the entire rehab. As soon as you know the property is yours and your budget is in place, you should begin making phone calls. Find out availability and get as many quotes as possible. From day one of your rehab, you want to be able to hit the ground running. This means having your team in place and schedules for everyone. Things are always subject to change, but you need to have your team lined up and ready to go. Rehabbing a property can be an exciting and profitable experience. It can also leave you with months of stress if you don’t know what you are doing. Success is determined before any work begins. In your excitement over starting a new project, you need to take a step back and stick with your system. Following a proven system on every deal leads to increased success. Success leads to more rehab deals in the future.

Los Angeles: A man who was arrested for selling narcotics died while in police custody. On July 22, 2010, officers from LAPD’s Hollywood Narcotics Enforcement Detail and special agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration were involved in a joint task force targeting narcotics. Around 8 p.m., officers monitored a drug transaction in a business parking lot near Cahuenga Boulevard and Yucca Avenue in Hollywood. At the completion of the transaction, authorities arrested a suspect later identified as 45-year-old Alberto Arriaga. LAPD officers transported Arriaga to Hollywood station for booking. After he was booked, Arriaga complained of pain to his chest area. Officers summoned a rescue ambulance and Arriaga was rushed to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital where he died the next day. The specific cause of Arriaga’s death will be determined by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. LAPD’s Force Investigation Division will handle the in-custody death.

Providing support to people who are experiencing social isolation and At Spark, our primary focus is to help socially and economically disadvantaged people in our community to overcome social isolation and loneliness, an issue which has significant social, financial, and wellbeing impacts on the individual and within the Social isolation is a complex issue with people feeling isolated for a variety of reasons. They often find themselves spending more time alone. Being alone may leave people more vulnerable to loneliness which can affect their health and well-being. Studies show that loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risks for physical health problems such as heart disease, depression and cognitive decline as well as significant financial and mental health issues. People who already experience poor health may be more likely to be socially isolated or lonely. This can put their physical and mental health at risk. Evidence shows that these adults are less healthy, have longer hospital stays, are readmitted to the hospital more often, and are more likely to die earlier than those with meaningful and supportive social connections. Our Neighbourhood Centre is a lifeline to many across the area and our groups and activities are designed to combat these negative effects whilst offering support or signposting to those in need. Over winter 22/23, we saw first-hand, the impact of the cost of living crisis with many of our members being forced to choose between heating and eating. Spark is a community-led organisation and offers a variety of volunteering opportunities from helping with teas and coffees for our weekly activities to formal programmes for pre-employability and digital skills and has big and exciting plans for late 2023 and into 2024. For more information about who we are and what we do please visit our website at www.sparkscot.com You can also help us by donating on our JustGiving Page We can create your personalised productions for you. Another way you can help us fundraise is to visit our online store. Spark Creations. There will find a selection of gifts and we can also create personalised products for you such as water bottles, mugs, travel cups, wearables and lots more. Head on over to the Spark Creations section of our website at:

A ballot amendment in Florida for the creation of a competitive retail electricity market is what Florida electricity utility FPL sought retribution against in recent headlines. When pv magazine USA reported that Warren Buffet said “maybe” to a gigawatt of solar and 400 MWh of energy storage, it was legislation similar to this that was being fought against. And back in 2015, when a petition that would let regular people sell some of their own solar started gaining traction, we saw the famous “political jiu jitsu” phrase arise as Florida utilities came together to fund a fake pro-solar bill. Sponsored by Citizens for Energy Choices, a petition – Right to Competitive Energy Market for Customers of Investor-Owned Utilities; Allowing Energy Choice – is one of 13 amendments that has gained preliminary qualification to be on the ballot when voters go to the polls in 2020. The initiative has approximately 345,000 of the 766,200 signatures needed by February 1, 2020 to get on the ballot. The initiative language must also be approved by the Florida Supreme Court, with oral arguments scheduled for August 28. Per their campaign finance page, Citizens for Energy Choices has collected just over $3 million as of the end of June. The Ballot Summary notes (full text pdf): Grants customers of investor-owned utilities the right to choose their electricity provider and to generate and sell electricity. Requires the Legislature to adopt laws providing for competitive wholesale and retail markets for electricity generation and supply, and consumer protections, by June 1, 2025, and repeals inconsistent statutes, regulations, and orders. Limits investor-owned utilities to construction, operation, and repair of electrical transmission and distribution systems. Municipal and cooperative utilities may opt into competitive markets. And while the more complete text of this pending amendment didn’t specifically say anything about solar power, the document did point out that “electricity customers” will have rights to “producing electricity themselves or in association with others”, as well, “nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the right of electricity customers to buy, sell, trade, or dispose of electricity”. With this language we would see the current legal position of solar in Florida change, as currently anyone who sells electricity to anyone else within the state is to be regulated as a utility, with all of the responsibilities of a utility. Recently, residential lease companies – starting with Sunrun, and followed by Vivint, Tesla, and Sunnova – had their residential equipment lease contracts approved by the state’s Public Service Commission. As these company’s leases for the Florida market are at a fixed price – not based directly on electricity generation – these companies were able to avoid the prohibition on sales of electricity by anyone but utilities. Equipment leasing of solar power had long been accepted in the Florida market, however, the large residential companies had skipped over the market – most likely due to murky legislative opinions. The case docket related to this potential amendment includes comments filed by Duke Energy, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, the Tampa Electric Company, FPL, the State Attorney General, the President of the Florida Senate, and others. Supporters of the amendment include NRG Energy, Inc., Vistra Energy Corp., National Energy Marketers Association and The Energy Choice Coalition. The Citizens for Energy Choice website notes that natural gas customers have been able to choose their suppliers since 1996, and estimates that this has saved those groups “billions”. A document on the website focused on the Texas deregulation experiment (pdf), suggests that residential and commercial prices have fallen since deregulation, with competitive residential just recently catching up to the price of regulated residential, and commercial electricity falling lower in price about a decade ago. Research by the Perryman Group estimates that if implemented in the near future, statewide competition in the Florida electric power market could generate benefits by 2030 including $8.3 billion in additional business activity and energy savings and over 90,000 jobs under conservative assumptions, with the potential for $9.7 billion in business activity and energy savings, as well as nearly 105,000 jobs. This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: [email protected].

Do you have an app that you want to run as an Administrator on Windows by default? If yes, go through this article to know how to achieve it. There are some apps or software in Windows 10 or 11 that run awfully if there are no administrative rights. Some apps end up giving various errors. For example, If you use Xampp, due to some restrictions or configuration it is no longer working great without admin rights. It may seem that it’s working fine. But, While closing the app, you may get errors. For this type of error, you may want some particular apps to run with admin rights by default. Table of Contents How to Run any Program as Administrator by Default in Windows 11/10 There are many types of Apps that Windows support. But, For Only Win32 apps/software you can tweak some settings that will open them as administrators by default. Here are the ways to do it. 1. Locat the Original App/Program File If you want, you can make any shortcuts of any programs run as admin by default. However, You may want to find the original program’s location as shortcuts may be temporary. Or Windows 11 or 10 start menu may not give you the option we are going to use. In this case, I suggest you right-click on the shortcut and click on Open File Location. It will open the location in File Explorer where the original app/software file exists. 2. Tweak the Properties After getting the file location, you can now proceed to the actual method. To enable run as administrator, you must go to the properties of that application. Here are the details. - At first, Right-click on the .exe file and go to its properties. - Now, Go to the compatibility tab and tick “Run this program as an administrator.” - Then, Click on Apply and OK. 3. Alternative Method if Compatibility Tab is Missing For some apps, there won’t be a compatibility tab. In this, case, you should follow an alternative way. Here are the details- - At first, Make a shortcut of the program if there is no existing shortcut. - Then, Go to its properties and go to the shortcut tab. - Now, Click on Advanced and then tick Run as administrator. - Save the settings. From now, That particular program will be run as administrator by default every time you open it. I hope this article will help you. If you have any opinion, share it in the comment box.

Deb Weiss-Gelmi found her roots in teaching children through songs as an elementary school teacher. She used songs for classroom management, for teaching literacy & math skills and discovered a uniquely joyful classroom environment. It was obvious to Deb right away that music makes learning easier, more effective and more fun! And what’s even better is that the brain research backs up what she joyfully experienced. Educational researchers find that music, movement and fun combined in one activity naturally increases the positive chemicals in the brain that help with concentrated sustained attention, with memory and with new learning. When Deb’s daughter was preschool age, she was unable to find a local kids’ yoga class or a good DVD at the time. So with her classroom experiences of teaching through songs and with her years in yoga, she started writing songs to teach yoga to kids in a similar way she’d been teaching kindergarten. And the rest, as they say, is history! Deb finds it deeply rewarding to guide her students (adults and children) from their first experiences with yoga through a deeper understanding of yoga and themselves. - Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) - Teaches at The Yoga Studio in Grand Rapids, MI - Teaches yoga through Zeeland Recreation, MI - Provides Sing Song Yoga® Teacher Training and Professional Development - Genuine respect for children - Bachelorʼs in Elementary Education (BSEd) and Child Development - Masterʼs in reading and literacy K-12 (MA) - Shares parenting and teaching insights in her blog - Yoga since 2001 - Also teaches adult yoga Our mission at Sing Song Yoga® is to introduce yoga to children and families in a fun, child-friendly, brain-friendly way in hopes that yoga will become a part of their lives for years to come. Therefore, the benefits of yoga can be enjoyed through the teenage years, into adulthood, and up through old age.

When Live Well was being established five years ago there was a focus on creating a place where many could come to heal their muscle, joint, nerve and ligament problems naturally. We feel that by having chiropractic care, pilates rehabilitation classes and exercise classes along with massage and acupuncture we have revived the opportunity for people to find the best care for their problems at a cost that is affordable, natural and easily accessible. What we have learned since opening is that patients are more proactive about their health than we ever thought. Approximately 85-95% of patients that we have worked with over the years have the immediate preference of wanting natural health care such as what Live Well offers before trying medications, injections or surgery for their complaints. We are also thrilled that so many people are searching for a doctor that will work with the patient in a team approach that involves everything from treatment decisions to challenging the knowledge of the doctor on new care options. Our therapists often communicate the results of their sessions to the chiropractor so that on re-examination a broader picture is created for the patient to understand what helps most and where to go with further care if necessary. At Live Well the chiropractors, pilates instructors, massage therapists and acupuncturist enjoy the group healing approach as each provider has their own talents, intuition and knowledge on healing that adds opportunity for change in the patient. If there is a spectrum of health care for spine related issues that at one end has spinal surgery as the extreme and over the counter ointments for a back issue at the other extreme then chiropractic care is centered in a good position at mid-line to help a lot of people. At Live Well we feel that careful examination must be done to diagnose a problem so that the best treatment plan can be discussed. If a patient seems to be beyond our abilities for care in terms of injury we will always want to refer to a specialist outside our office. We do not profess to be experts of all issues, but we do know that not all issues will respond in the same way to care and as a result non-invasive health care options for most are the best place to start. If you have a health related problem that you would like to discuss with one of our specialists please feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation.

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Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more. HUAWEI is finally putting a bigger focus on software updates I can count on one hand how many updates my HUAWEI Mate 9 has received since launch. It’s October 2017, and the Mate 9 sitting in my desk drawer is running Android 7.0 Nougat with the April 2017 security patch. I bet most people would agree that this isn’t acceptable, especially with vulnerabilities like BlueBorne floating around. Apparently that’s not going to be much of an issue any longer. At a briefing in Shenzhen, China, Dr. Chenglu Wang, President of Software Engineering at HUAWEI, told Android Authority the company is putting a much bigger focus on software updates in the future. First order of business: updating its legacy phones. The company says Android 8.0 Oreo with EMUI 8 will roll out to the HUAWEI Mate 9 within four weeks after the Mate 10 launches. The company didn’t give an official estimate on when Oreo will roll out to the P10 series, though we do know it’s coming “in the near future.” The Mate 9 will get some of the Mate 10‘s fancy new AI features, including Smart Tips that prompt you to change your phone settings when it senses you’re in a certain environment. Unfortunately the Mate 9 won’t get the Mate 10’s new AI camera features due to the fact that the Mate 9 doesn’t feature HUAWEI’s AI chip, the Kirin 970. Dr. Wang also says the update to Android Oreo and EMUI 8 brings Google’s Project Treble to new and old Huawei devices, which means security updates will be much more frequent. The company hopes to release security patches every three months to lower-end devices and every month for higher-end phones.

Join us on our very first Summer Soul & Motown night, celebrating amazing Soul & Motown music with THREE fabulous acts.. Sensational tribute to The Temptation with Masterpiece, amazing tribute to Diana Ross by Diamond Ross, and incredlble soul & motown vocalist from LA. USA Bruce Parker. A night not to be missed Admission is free for members and holiday pass holders. Non members can pay on the door. Table reservations are available by calling reception on 01754 874444 option 2.

Rattan storage baskets are becoming an significantly popular choice for house business because of the organic charm, versatility, and eco-friendly appeal. Crafted from the sustainable rattan plant, these holders provide a elegant and useful solution for keeping things in most space of the house. Their woven style provides consistency and aesthetic interest to any room, while their toughness guarantees long-lasting functionality. Among the essential benefits of rattan storage holders is their versatility. Available in a wide range of designs, styles, and patterns, these holders can support various storage needs, from planning toys in the playroom to storing towels in the toilet or blankets in the residing room. Their lightweight construction makes them simple to maneuver around the house as needed, allowing for variable company options. Moreover, rattan storage baskets mixture seamlessly with a number of interior designs, from bohemian and coastal to contemporary and traditional. Whether you like a rustic farmhouse artistic or perhaps a minimal Scandinavian character, rattan holders may match your decor and include a touch of heat and structure to any room. In addition to their cosmetic attraction, rattan storage baskets will also be an environmentally friendly choice. Rattan is just a fast-growing renewable resource that is harvested sustainably, which makes it an eco-conscious choice for conscious consumers. By selecting rattan storage holders, homeowners can reduce their environmental footprint and support responsible production practices. Furthermore, rattan storage baskets are very durable and simple to keep up, making them well suited for everyday use. Their sturdy structure can endure the rigors of everyday life, while their normal resistance to moisture and moisture makes them suitable for use within bathrooms, kitchens, and different high-moisture areas. Another advantageous asset of rattan storage baskets is their wedding gift registry . Compared to other storage solutions such as for instance steel or plastic bins, rattan holders tend to be more budget-friendly, making them accessible to a wide range of consumers. Additionally, their classic attraction implies that rattan baskets are unlikely to walk out type, offering long-term price for homeowners. Rattan storage holders provide a remedy for those seeking to reduce litter and develop a more organized residing space. Making use of their ample storage capacity and flexible style, these baskets ensure it is easy to help keep objects efficiently tucked away and out of sight, helping to create a solution and more streamlined house environment. In summary, rattan storage baskets offer a earning combination of style, versatility, and sustainability, creating them a well known selection for home organization. Whether applied to corral toys, keep sheets, or exhibit ornamental features, these holders include equally function and flair to any room. With their normal splendor and practicality, rattan storage holders are positive to stay a selection in domiciles for years to come.

In this extraordinary time of uncertainty, fear and instability, Peace Brigades International (PBI) extends our solidarity to all of you who are struggling to remain optimistic in the face of such unique and global challenges. PBI remains convinced that solidarity, empathy and connection can help us overcome this historic moment and perhaps remind us of the importance of these fundamental human characteristics in the construction of fairer societies based on respect, tolerance and inclusion of all voices. We are all human rights defenders and must take this responsibility seriously in the face of the major challenges we are being confronted with. We rely on States to guarantee our rights, and when they fail to do so, we must raise our voices and advocate for those more vulnerable than ourselves. Human rights defenders are playing fundamental roles in ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to healthcare and information about the virus and its impacts in the absence of adequate State protections. They are holding States to account, pushing for better access to information, organising water and sanitation campaigns amongst other fundamental activities. Protecting these people will ensure a faster and more effective response to the health crisis. Those defending their territories are still at huge risk in contexts of political violence where threats, attacks and killings of defenders continue to be reported on daily, despite the crisis. Women defenders are experiencing particularly high levels of risk. Imprisoned political activists and those awaiting trials are particularly at risk, due to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of prisons, and are at higher risk of contracting the virus, being moved arbitrarily and their cases being postponed due to the crisis. In PBI we are constantly evaluating the context and taking measures to guarantee the safety and health of those collaborating with the organisation and the human rights defenders we support. These actions include increasing digital accompaniment and virtual monitoring with the individuals and organisations we support. We will continue to provide protection for those at the frontline throughout these challenging times. Responses must respect fundamental rights The current crisis requires States to implement measures that restrict certain freedoms in order to curb the transmission of the virus. It is essential that the measures taken guarantee the rights of those most vulnerable, and do not produce disproportionate impacts that exacerbate humanitarian crises and fuel militarisation, persecution and repression. Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, we all have the right to “the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health”, including in times of crisis and emergency. PBI expresses the urgency of protecting these rights in this situation of pandemic, particularly for the population historically excluded from the enjoyment of such fundamental rights. PBI echoes the important statements of our colleagues at Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, CEJIL, IM-Defensoras, The United Nations and so many others who have expressed support and solidarity with those struggling in the current circumstances. Moving forward together At times of crisis, we must unite as a global community of human rights defenders to ensure that marginalised groups and the most vulnerable members of society are not disproportionally affected. PBI will continue to support defenders as best we can despite the context, generating networks of solidarity that strengthen our voices and combat the isolation and helplessness that people are feeling. You´re not alone, your voice counts, and your support is needed now more than ever to ensure human rights are upheld as we overcome this crisis together.

Orange Baboon Tarantula OCF (P.murinus) - Regular price - Sale price - Regular price - Unit price The Orange Baboon Tarantula, scientifically known as Pterinochilus murinus, is a highly sought-after arachnid species beloved by tarantula enthusiasts. Originating from the dry savannas of West Africa, this tarantula exhibits a striking appearance distinguished by its vibrant orange coloration, earning it the nickname "Orange Bitey Thing" (OBT) among tarantula enthusiasts. With a robust build and a dense covering of hairs, the Orange Baboon Tarantula possesses a captivating presence. These hairs serve as sensory organs and a defense mechanism, as the tarantula can flick them when threatened, causing irritation to potential predators. Known for its feisty and defensive nature, the Orange Baboon Tarantula can exhibit aggression and a quick biting response when provoked. Its venom is potent, capable of causing discomfort or pain, highlighting the need for experienced handlers. In captivity, providing an appropriate enclosure with suitable substrate for burrowing and a shelter is crucial for the Orange Baboon Tarantula's well-being. It is an opportunistic carnivore, primarily feeding on insects and other small invertebrates. While captivating to observe, responsible ownership and cautious handling are paramount when it comes to the Orange Baboon Tarantula. Respecting its specific needs and requirements is essential due to its defensive behavior and potent venom. Angola, Burundi, Tanzania, Dem. Rep. Congo (Zaire), Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe Sling- Sling box or 16oz deli cup Juvenile - 7x4x4 enclosure Sub-Adult - 9x6x6 enclosure, 2 ½ or 5 gallon tank Adult - 12x8x8 enclosure or 10 gallon tank Provide them with a cork bark hide, water dish, a little sphagnum moss (optional) and straight coco fiber. However a substrate like jungle mix or creature soil which is mainly peat moss, a little soil and a small amount of sand. Coco fiber works very well and is the least expensive. Roaches, crickets and mealworms is our recommended foods. However, superworms are also acceptable when they reach adulthood. 70-90F, heating generally isn’t a concern with this species, and they do well at room temperature. 60%-65%, slings should stay on lightly moist substrate, adults should have a water dish and a corner of their enclosure that goes through a wet/dry cycle, moistening the substrate and then leaving it alone until it dries out. Adults can reach up to 6" diagonal leg span. 4-20 years (Males 4-5 years, with females drastically outliving them at 20+ years) We do not recommend keeping tarantulas as they will cannibalize each other. Its best to keep tarantulas in individual enclosures. ALL INVERTEBRATES ARE SHIPPED MONDAY TO ENSURE LIVE ARRIVAL *Live Arrival Guarantee on "Overnight Shipping"* - Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. - Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.

How to Cure the U.S. Health Care System with Brad Spellberg, MD Dr. Brad Spellberg is a polymath. He’s simultaneously a Chief Medical Officer, of a major medical center, Professor of Medicine, medical researcher, practicing clinician, founder-entrepreneur, and author of multiple books. He brings a uniquely holistic perspective to his public policy recommendations on the future of the US healthcare system Chief Medical Officer at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center. He is also Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. He received his BA in Molecular Cell Biology-Immunology from UC Berkeley, and MD at UCLA, where he served as the UCLA AOA Chapter Co-President and won the prestigious Stafford Warren award for the topic academic performance in his graduating class. Dr. Spellberg completed his Residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Harbor-UCLA Med Center. As CMO, Dr. Spellberg has transformed the quality and efficiency of care delivered at LAC+USC Medical Center, the largest public hospital in the US west of the Mississippi. As CMO, he has 18 non-clinical direct reports and another 18 Chiefs of Clinical Services reporting to him. He has improved many aspects of hospital operations, from HR, to patient flow, to personnel, to UR, Social Services, medical documentation and billing, clinical care, etc. He has markedly increased inpatient billing, helped increase primary care empanelment and managed care revenue, successfully recruited multiple physician leaders, and has established new clinical programs (e.g., LGBTQ clinic, bariatrics surgery). Dr. Spellberg may be the only CMO in the US who not only continues to be actively clinically, staffing both Internal Medicine ward teams and Infectious Diseases consulting service, but also maintains an active NIH-funded basic science laboratory. Dr. Spellberg has also co-founded 3 biotechnology start up companies, which have resulted in 3 molecules that are in active clinical development (phase I-III clinical trials). He is also a national policy expert with respect to antibiotic resistance, having testified before Congress, been interviewed on multiple television programs, in the documentary movie Resistance, and written an award winning book, Rising Plague. In this episode, we explore the fascinating insights and key recommendations in Dr. Spellberg’s latest book,” Broken, Bankrupt and Dying” where he discusses the precarious state of the US Health care system, the underlying reasons that have led to this dysfunction and key recommendations to improve the system to deliver a level of healthcare that American citizens deserve.

Preparing a safe room for your baby can be quite a challenging task. The things you would normally ignore on any given day suddenly become lethal objects and plants are no exception. Accordingly, if you are looking for an air purifying plant for your baby’s room, you have to be super careful what plant you choose. Moreover, besides the threats you risk exposing your child to by choosing the wrong plant, choosing the right air purifying plant is also a decorative decision. If you choose something randomly, you could end up with an eyesore in your baby’s nursery. I found that in choosing an air purifying plant for a baby's room, you have to go for three things. Firstly you have to get a plant that's visually appealing and stimulating, then secondly make sure the plant is harmless and finally, you have to go for a plant that actually does a good job keeping your air clean. Considering these three factors, finding a good air purifying plant for a baby’s nursery can be daunting for many of us. Accordingly, in this post I have put together some essential information to help you easily jump over this hurdle and choose an ideal plant for your child's room. However, before I show you the various baby room worthy air purifying plants, I thought it would be useful to start by showing you how vital it is to have clean air in your baby’s room. Once you have the details on why its important that your baby's room has good quality air, then we can go through the various suitable air cleaning plants and some tips to make the best use of them. Thereafter, if you want to dig deeper into this whole air cleaning plant story and learn whether air cleaning plants are worth it in your baby's room, I finally take an in depth look at whether plants are an adequate solution for clean air or not in your baby’s room. Why Is Clean Air Crucial In Your Baby’s Room? Having clean air in your baby’s room is one of the best investments you can make for your child. A lot of people just don’t realize how damaging poor air quality can be to your child's development. What makes things worse with babies is that as their body’s are still developing they breathe, drink and eat more in proportion to their body size than we do as adults. As a result with every breath they take a greater proportion of their body is far more exposed to toxic and damaging air pollutants in a shorter space of time. If your child is continuously exposed to indoor pollutants like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), pesticides, chemicals from cleaning products, smoke, carbon monoxide, allergens, etc., during their early development stages, they could end up having a host of dangerous life long health problems. Poor air quality in your baby’s room could see your child suffering from things like asthma, lead poisoning, cancer, and allergies. This is where taking initiatives like using plants to improve air quality in spaces where the baby spends the most time becomes crucial. One documentary really touched me and hit home on this topic and has left me a lot more sensitive to the issue of air quality around babies and I strongly suggest everyone with a baby or considering having one should watch it. This video follows a family with a baby battling with air pollution in Mongolia. I just can’t explain things any better about making sure your baby’s air quality is as good as possible. WATCH THIS VIDEO GUYS. If you ever find your child unexplainably crying and can’t figure out why, one of the things you should try to check and adjust is your air quality. When your baby's air quality is bad, you can tell quite immediately by the unusual discomfort they loudly express. However, sometimes they suffer silently. If you find you indeed have an air quality issue, plants are one thing you could use in efforts to improve your baby’s air quality and what better place to put them than in your baby's room where the child spends the greater part of their early years. With air cleaning plants in your baby’s nursery, if you had poor air quality, in conjunction with other air cleaning measures, you could potentially help swing the needle in the positive direction for your child’s future health and wellbeing. Accordingly, let's now look into the plants that can help you clean air in your baby's room. 7 Good Plants For Cleaner Air In Your Baby’s Nursery With your baby in the room, you have to be very cautious which plant you choose to put in your child’s nursery. There are many air purifying plants but unfortunately most of them are toxic if not handled with care. Ironically, some of the plants considered as air cleaning plants even cause contact and airborne allergies for some people. So you really have to tread carefully about which plant you choose for a baby's nursery. Fortunately, I have looked through all the common plants known to have high transpiration rates and that are recommended for improving indoor air quality and I managed to pick out all the safe one’s for a baby’s room. The plants I have picked out are non-toxic and are not known to cause any allergies. That said when you are getting an air-purifying plant, do as best as you can to get a female plant. You want a female plant because male plants produce pollen. Some pollen is harmless but most can trigger allergic reactions in some people. To be absolutely safe you would rather not have any pollen-producing male plant in your nursery. If your room does not get a lot of sunlight, you also need to go for plants that tolerate low light. Additionally your life is much easier if the plant you select does not need frequent watering as you can neglect it for some time without the plant suffering. Accordingly, my selection of plants consists of largely low maintenance air purifying plants. Taking all these factors into consideration, with the need to make your nursery as safe and child-friendly an environment a possible, here are the 7 air purifying plants I believe are ideal in helping maintain good air quality in your baby’s room. 1. Areca palm Areca palm, is one of the most suitable indoor palm trees. The plant is big but sturdy and so won’t easily fall over. The Areca Palm is also very good at withstanding damage and it's easy to maintain in low light conditions and with occasional watering. It is non-toxic to both humans and pets. This palm will apparently absorb airborne pollutants like xylene, acetone, and toluene which off-gas from various household furniture and products. 2. Kentia Palm Another great and safe air-purifying palm is the Kentia Palm. The palm is known for its elegant appearance and its a top choice if you are going for a trendy look in a baby's room. The Kentia is also low-maintenance and is the right plant for you if you struggle to take care of houseplants. If you take extremely good care of it and place it in a bigger flower pot, the kentia can grow up to 3 meters (9 ft.) tall. It loves humidity but you can get away with watering it occasionally. It will do just fine in low-light but give it extra light and it will grow a lot more leaves. Water the kentia once a week, making sure to let the soil dry between watering's. If you are over watering the plant, its leaves will start to turn yellow. Don’t allow it to sit in water. You accordingly need to get a flower pot with good drainage and a fast-draining, well-aerated potting mix. On the flip side, if the plant is not being watered enough, the leaves will start to turn brown. You should mist Kentia Palm occasionally and stick to your weekly watering schedule to keep the plant healthy. If you are forgetful about watering, another solution is to get a self-watering flower pot. The Kentia is known to release ample moisture into the air which is great for good humidity in a baby’s room but if you live in a humid area it may be too much. The palm also removes various chemical toxins lingering in your air. 3. Prayer Plant The prayer plant got its name because of how its leaves fold up at night like hands in a prayer gesture. During the day, the leaves open up and display an awesome pattern. This plant is really a wonder to look at and will make a great addition in almost any baby’s room. It is however on the harder side to care for when it comes to plant care. You have to keep its soil moist but not soggy. It also needs its monthly fertilizer all year round except in winter where it goes dormant. The Prayer Plant loves the sun and moisture. It is claimed that besides removing various airborne toxins the plant helps improve sleep, breathing and mental clarity. In addition to helping keep toxins out of the air, the Prayer Plant has also been found to have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. 4. Cast Iron Plant Another excellent choice, for your baby’s room from a maintenance and safety perspective, is the Cast Iron Plant. This plant is popular in the Japanese flower arrangement art “Ikebana”. It's a sturdy plant and though it grows slowly, it grows well in low light conditions and can deal with erratic watering. The Cast Iron Plant can amazingly last you over 25 years if well cared for. I personally find it very aesthetically pleasing with its rich large green leaves. In addition to its air-purifying qualities, the plant has been widely used for medicinal purposes in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. It apparently has diuretic properties and certain concoctions of the plant are known to improve blood pressure, treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, traumatic injuries, and even urinary stones. 5. Maidenhair Fern The Maidenhair fern is not ideal if you are too busy to care for a plant but I have included it here because it's among the few visually appealing air purifying plants that’s also safe to have around baby’s. It's not toxic to humans or animals and it does not cause allergies. I think this petite plant is a really pretty air purifying addition to any baby’s room. The Maidenhair loves moisture in the air, and gently moist soil. Its leaves are delicate and long. They are actually quite fragile and if tampered with will turn brown. If this happens to you though, do not worry as new leaves will grow in place of the brown leaves. Just make sure to carefully trim the brown leaves off. The plant needs liquid fertilizer once a month in summer and spring. If you care for it well, it will reward you with its arching and stunning presentation of light petal like leaves hanging from dark branches. It will really keep you company in baby’s room if you take good care of it. The plant is not too difficult to be cared for but it needs daily attention. I think it is fitting for parents who spend a lot of time in their baby’s room and need a calming activity to do (i.e. caring for a fragile plant) while watching the child. The Maidenhair does not only boast air purifying properties but has also been widely used as a traditional medicine. The Navajo Native American people smoked it to treat mental illness, while other ancient tribes have used it as a lotion for insect stings. Some infusions of this fern have also been used for rheumatism. I recommend this plant to you if you have the time to care for it. Yes it likes to be pampered but once you place it in your child’s room, in addition to its air cleaning ability, the look and feel you get from the Maidenhair Fern is well worth the effort. 6. Peacock Plant The Peacock Plant is kind of in the same family as the prayer plant but it does not fold up in prayer. I personally feel it's the prayer plant’s prettier cousin and got its name exactly for that. Its leaves just look so exotic and have such a striking variegation. It is a colorful non-toxic, safe and ideal plant for purifying the air in your baby’s nursery. It is not difficult to care for. You just have to keep its soil moist and ensure you provide it with some humidity. The Peacock Plant is very good at converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. It has a reasonably high transpiration rate making it a powerful candidate for helping you deal with airborne toxins in your child’s room. 7. Baby Rubber Plant The Baby Rubber plant is a well known ornamental plant. I really love its glossy, flesh, succulent looking leaves. It needs a room with humidity and light but that said its not a fussy plant and it is easy enough to grow with little attention. It does not need that much watering. Water this plant when the top soil in your pot gets visibly dry. Make sure not to over water the plant. The plant particularly helps reduce benzene and nitrogen dioxide levels in your air and helps keep your environment cooler. Its leaves are also good at trapping airborne dust and once in a while you will need to wipe the dust on the leaves off as you notice the dust building up. The plant will also contribute towards adding humidity in your child’s room So these are the 7 plants I highly recommend to try in a baby’s nursery and here is the list in summary: - The Areca Palm - The Kentia Palm - Prayer Plant - Cast iron Plant - Maidenhair Fern - Peacock Plant - Baby Rubber Plant There are many places where you can buy these plants online. If you are in the US or the UK I have listed some places where you can get the 7 plants in the table below. Best Place To Get Houseplants Online Online Houseplant Store 5 Dangerous Plants You Should Avoid In Your Baby’s Room As I mentioned earlier, not all air purifying plants are suitable for your baby’s room and I am shocked to see some of the bad plants being widely recommended to parents on some websites. The thing you have to keep in mind with houseplants in your baby’s room is that eventually your newborn becomes a curious toddler who will touch and chew on stuff. So, in addition to plants that can spread pollen, you do not want to get anything that can cause contact allergies or anything toxic or poisonous to humans if ingested. Common air purifying house plants I have seen recommended but should not be for a home with a baby or children include the English Ivy, any Dieffenbachia, the Syngonium, Pothos, Philodendron, the Peace lily and some certain ferns. These either easily attract bugs and mites, disperse furry like spores in the air that can cause allergies and also pollen. Some of these plants on the other hand are just toxic and dangerous only if tampered with but if you don’t want to take any chances, they are best avoided. There are many others on the list and I cannot cover everything here. That said, if you are unsure about any plant it's a good idea to ask a trusted plant grower or medical source for advice on its safety. Based on my knowledge, I particularly tell people to stay away from the following five plants when it comes to a good air purifying plants to place anywhere around your baby’s environment, - Peace Lily - Weeping Fig From research I found that you want to stay away from any Philodendrons. They are quite common and if somehow they find their way to your child or even your pets mouth, they will trigger a burning sensation and swelling of the tongue, throat, and lips. If ingested these plants can also cause diarrhea and vomiting. They are not a good idea in your baby’s room especially when they are able to grab things. 2. Peace Lily The Peace Lily does make a fantastic indoor air purifying plant as it's quite pretty but unfortunately just like philodendrons, they are toxic. They result in the same burning and swelling reaction as the philodendron if ingested. 3. Weeping Fig The Weeping Fig is another beauty for the home but unfortunately it can be a source of allergies through the dust mites and pests it attracts. Furthermore, the plant's trunk, leaves and sap can, for some people, trigger allergic reactions very similar to latex allergies. All in all, it’s best to avoid this plant altogether. Oh how I wish Bonsai’s were not on this list. Unfortunately they also are. If your baby is allergic to birch, certain types of Bonsai are not a good idea. If their particles somehow get into the air through pruning or something or if you touch the plant and then touch your child, your baby could get skin irritation if they are sensitive to birch. So my take is to avoid any type of Bonsai altogether until you are sure your child does not have a birch allergy. Not all Ferns are bad and I can attest to the safety of the Maidenhair Fern I recommended earlier. However more likely than not if you are getting a fern it's likely to be one of those that releases spores that can trigger asthma attacks and other skin irritations. In particular keep ferns like the common Boston Fern away from your baby's nursery. Safety Precautions & Tips To Best Use Plants In Baby’s Room If you have read this far, you are no stranger to the potential dangers plants can cause to your child. I think by now you also understand that plants do need some TLC to do their air purifying job well. Accordingly, here are some quick general tips on safety and maintenance when you put air cleaning plants in your baby’s room. I think when it comes to safety, the first thing you have to do is have your local Poison Control Institution’s number on hand in case of any emergency. Have this on hand even if you only have baby safe plants around your home. Next, when positioning plants in your baby’s room, place them somewhere away from the child’s crib and out of reach of your baby if your child has started crawling or has become a toddler. Your child will spend time unsupervised in their room so toxic plants, especially if you can’t place them out of reach are a complete faux pas. When it comes to plants, these are living and breathing organisms and even with the plants I have recommended here, do your research before settling on what to get and place in your child's room. Next, and probably in line with keeping plants out of reach, do not clutter your room with plants. Even if you can take care of all these plants without any hustle, for obvious reasons, you do not want to create a jungle in your baby's room. Try filling your room with plants and you are bound to attract other creatures into your baby’s room and these can do more harm than good to your child. Be minimal with plants in a child’s room and you save yourself a lot of headaches in terms of tidiness and air quality. Lastly with plant care, go for organic fertilizers and soils to avoid introducing more harmful chemicals into your home. I also highly recommend self watering flower pots/planters. These can really save you time watering your plants. Basically self watering pots have a container compartment which you fill up with water and the water drips slowly into your pot watering your plant over periods of up to a month. Less work on your hands. You can also go the extra mile with soil-free planting. This is better known as hydroculture and entails growing your plant in water while using pebbles instead of soil as the media to hold your plant upright. The advantage of this approach is you reduce bacteria and mold spores that result from over watering your plant when using soil as your growing media. Just make sure to cover your pot in a way that a toddler cannot get access to the pebbles. The video below shows a great example of an off the shelf hydroculture planter. Should You Really Use Plants To Purify Air In Baby’s Room? Ok, yes, I know, you must be wondering why is this guy now asking this question after extensively going through some plants that can help purify the air a baby’s. Well, when I was doing the research on all this, I stumbled on some articles and blog posts that were completely against the ability and idea of plants purifying air that made me question all these posts flooding the internet about air purifying plants. Reading through all the articles questioning the science, I thought I would be doing you, “my valued readers”, a disservice not telling you that there are a lot of question marks regarding plants and purifying the air. This is info you need to know before going out and getting a plant you believe will clean the air for your baby. There are pages and pages of information on whether plants can actually purify air in a home but let me summarize what I believe is true after digging through some of the research. Based on scientific research, yes it's true that plants can actually get rid of some airborne pollutants through a process called phytoremediation. However their ability to do this in the context of a home is limited. Most of the research done to test the ability of plants to get rid of pollutants in the air was done with a few plants enclosed in a small chamber. If you replicate that to the reality of your living space, for you to get the same air purifying result you would basically need to fill up your whole room with plants. Filling a room with plants is just not practical in the context of a home let alone a baby’s room. What’s more Bill Wolverton, the former NASA research scientist who caused the current hype around air purifying plants has also in some interviews doubted the practicality of air purifying plants cleaning the air effectively in a home or office setting. His doubts come even after he wrote a number of books about air purifying plants. So my conclusion from the science is that plants are not the crazed natural indoor air purifiers many websites, even respected websites are making them out to be. So should you even put them in your baby’s room? My answer is YES. Even though on their own they will barely make a dent in your room’s air quality, for me, just the fact they are able to sway things a little in the right direction is enough justification to get an air purifying plant in my baby’s room. However, I would not solely rely on plants for clean air in my child's room. You have to use them with other more aggressive measures if you are serious about getting clean air in your baby’s room and I discuss these measures in the next section. 9 Additional Measures For Clean Air In Baby’s Room Bad air quality comes from many sources in the home. Polluted air can enter your home from outside, it can off-gas from paint on your walls, from chemicals used to clean, from furniture, carpets, cooking and waste in the kitchen, from your bathroom, clothes, beddings and the list is endless. So how do we take all these sources on? The truth is you can’t but with certain steps you can greatly minimize the level of air pollutants that remain from all these sources in your home’s air and more importantly in your baby's nursery. Accordingly, here are 9 steps you can take for clean air in Baby’s room in addition to using air purifying plants. 1. Invest In An Air Purifier Air purifiers are at the center of my arsenal in improving indoor air quality. This is my number one solution and if I had to choose between air purifying plants and an air purifier, an air purifier would win by a landslide. Nonetheless, you can use both. Plus plants have the advantage of adding that extra feel of calm and serenity in a room. To learn more about air purifiers, just explore the purify your air category of my website. Alternatively you can jump straight to the air purifiers I recommend and you will find an ideal one for your baby's room. 2. Get An Air Exchanger Installing an air exchanger and running it in your home will remove polluted and stale air from your home and dump it outside while replacing it with fresh air from outdoors. Generally, if you have a properly installed air exchanger system it will renew the air in all the important parts of your home. If you can get one, run it alongside your air purifier. 3. Open Windows Occasionally If you live in an area with generally clean outdoor air, opening the windows in your home from time to time to let the air in can do wonders in improving your air quality. Most of the time you will find the air quality in your house is worse than outdoors, especially if you have a tightly insulated and sealed home and you barely let any air flow in and out. 4. Clean With Eco-Friendly Detergents Your standard Unilever or Procter and Gamble cleaning and washing detergents contain a lot of harmful chemicals that can off gas into your indoor air and some people are actually quite sensitive to these on contact. Fortunately there are a number of environmentally friendly alternatives to your standard grocery store detergents. Look to more eco-friendly detergents for cleaning floors and surfaces in your home and child’s room and do the same for your laundry. 5. Minimize Usage of Scented Products Perfumes, air freshener, hair sprays and most toiletries contribute to indoor air pollution. For better air quality around your entire home while you have a baby, you should especially cut down on using sprays and look for eco-friendly baby and adult toiletries. 6. Keep Indoor Humidity Levels Optimal There are many ways you can control your humidity. Some plants are quite helpful in increasing humidity if your humidity is too low. But generally you will need a dehumidifier if your humidity is too high or a humidifier if it's too low. You need to maintain your humidity level in the range of 35-60%. To make sure you share in range, you can check your humidity level using a hygrometer. 7. Minimize Off Gassing Items In Baby’s Room To minimize off-gassing in your child's room, try as much as possible to go for GREENGUARD certified or similarly certified furniture and items in your kid's room. These do not emit VOCs that make the air in your child’s room worse. These days you can find a GREENGUARD versions of almost all the furniture and items you will need for a baby. Check out Naturepedic for GREENGUARD crib mattresses and bedding. Additionally, go for 100% non-toxic eco-friendly versions of things you get for Baby’s room wherever possible. There are a lot of companies offering green baby stuff and here is a good example. 8. Keep Pets Out This is a no brainer, you don’t want pet hair and dandruff floating in your baby’s room. Your pets can come visit the room, but do not let them dwell. Let them occupy the rest of your home but avoid living them in the baby's room and you have less of a headache keeping the air in there clean. 9. Keep Clean Cleaning your house often helps with keeping dust and surface allergens. You want to maintain a good bi-weekly vacuuming routine and a quarterly steam cleaning routine. Speaking of vacuuming, you should check out my recommendations on vacuum cleaners especially in homes with anyone who could be sensitive to airborne and surface pollutants. In the baby's room, clean every corner and move stuff around so you do not miss a spot. Don’t let clutter and dirt build and clean up baby’s mess as that’s where dust mites and other unwanted critters that contribute to airborne pollutants thrive. If you struggle with decluttering, click here for a really helpful guide that will show you how to declutter fast. This is all I have to share for now on maintaining good air quality in baby's room with air purifying plants.

Delanta McGregory, 39, of Apple Drive in Sanford, is charged with first-degree burglary, assault on a handicapped person, larceny and possession of stolen goods. He was being held Thursday in the Lee County Jail under a $100,000 bond. Calvin Snipes, 39, who has a prosthetic leg, said he was watching television in his home on Lower Moncure Road on Sept. 17 when two men burst through his unlocked front door. One of the men brandished a gun, and the other slipped a plastic bag over Snipes' head. The men threw Snipes to the floor and bound his and his wife's hands with plastic ties, and then one of the men beat Snipes over the head. The robbers fled with jewelry, a cell phone, a jar of coins and about $200 in cash, including $125 Snipes said he planned to use to make a payment on his truck. Investigators haven't yet identified a second suspect in the home invasion. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 919-775-5531. Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

With the recent release of Windows 11, many Windows users are contemplating whether or not to upgrade from their current operating system, Windows 10. While Windows 10 has been a reliable and popular choice for millions of users worldwide, Windows 11 offers several key differences and benefits that make it a compelling upgrade option. In this article, we will explore these differences and highlight the advantages of upgrading to Windows 11. User Interface and Design Enhancements One of the most noticeable changes in Windows 11 is its user interface and design. Microsoft has introduced a centered Start menu, redesigned taskbar icons, and a new simplified look that provides a fresh and modern feel to the operating system. The Start menu now features rounded corners with a grid of pinned apps in the middle, making it easier to access frequently used applications. Windows 11 also introduces Snap Layouts and Snap Groups that enhance multitasking capabilities. Users can now easily organize open windows into predefined layouts or groups, allowing for better productivity and efficient management of multiple applications simultaneously. Additionally, Microsoft has made improvements to touch controls in Windows 11 by optimizing gestures for touchscreen devices. This makes it more intuitive for users who prefer using their fingers or stylus on touch-enabled devices like tablets or hybrid laptops. Windows 11 brings significant performance improvements over its predecessor. The new operating system is built upon an updated version of the Windows kernel, which enhances overall system performance, responsiveness, and efficiency. Users can expect faster boot times, improved battery life on laptops, smoother animations, reduced CPU usage during idle periods, and better resource management. Furthermore, Microsoft has introduced DirectStorage technology in Windows 11. DirectStorage allows games to load faster by leveraging the power of NVMe solid-state drives (SSDs), reducing load times significantly. Gamers can expect shorter loading screens and a more seamless gaming experience. Speaking of gaming, Windows 11 brings several enhancements that cater specifically to gamers. The new operating system includes support for Auto HDR, which automatically adds high dynamic range (HDR) visuals to games that were originally designed without it. This feature enhances the visual quality and immersiveness of games, bringing a more vibrant and lifelike experience to players. Windows 11 also introduces DirectStorage technology, as mentioned earlier, which not only improves game loading times but also enables developers to create more expansive and detailed game worlds. With DirectStorage, game assets can be loaded directly from the SSD without overburdening the CPU, resulting in faster rendering and improved overall performance. Enhanced Security and Compatibility Security has always been a top priority for Windows operating systems, and Windows 11 takes it a step further with enhanced security features. The new operating system includes built-in hardware-based virtualization (TPM 2.0) requirements for installation. This ensures that the system is protected against firmware attacks and provides a more secure foundation for running applications. Windows 11 also benefits from Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to regular updates and patches to address security vulnerabilities promptly. Users can rest assured knowing that they are using an operating system actively supported by Microsoft’s security team. In terms of compatibility, while Windows 10 has been widely adopted by users across various devices over the years, Windows 11 offers improved compatibility with modern hardware technologies. It takes advantage of newer processors, graphics cards, and other components to deliver better performance on capable devices. However, it is important to note that some older hardware configurations may not meet the minimum requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 offers users a range of key differences and benefits that enhance user experience, performance, gaming capabilities, security, and compatibility. With its new user interface, performance improvements, gaming enhancements, and enhanced security features, Windows 11 presents a compelling option for users looking to take their computing experience to the next level. However, it’s important to check the system requirements to ensure compatibility before making the decision to upgrade. This text was generated using a large language model, and select text has been reviewed and moderated for purposes such as readability.

The following privacy notice details the who, what, why, where, when and how of collecting your personal information. What type of information do I collect? I receive, collect and store any information you enter on my website or provide to me in any other way. This is usually just your name and email address if you subscribe to my newsletter, but under no circumstances will I sell or share your data. In addition, I may use software tools to measure and collect anonymous session information on the use of this website, including page response times, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods used to browse away from the page. How do I collect information? When you conduct a transaction on my website, as part of the process, I collect personal information you give us such as your name, address and email address. Your personal information will only be used for the specific purpose for which you give it. Why do I collect such personal information? I collect such Non-personal and Personal Information for the following purposes: To provide and operate my website and its services. To be able to contact subscribers to my newsletter or to answer any query or request. To create aggregated statistical data and other aggregated and/or inferred Non-personal Information, which I may use to provide and improve my service to you. To comply with any applicable laws and regulations. How do I store, use, share and disclose my site visitors' personal information? Emmadaviesauthor.com is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Wix.com provides me with the online platform that allows me to provide information to you about my work and offer my products and services to you. Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. All third party data processors used on this website are GDPR compliant. All direct payment gateways offered by Wix.com and used by our company adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information by our store and its service providers. How do I communicate with my site visitors? I may contact you to to send updates about my work if you have subscribed to my newsletter, or if you have made any query or request to me. For these purposes I may contact you via email, telephone, text messages, and postal mail. What are cookies and how do I use them? Cookies are small text files that can track website use and personalise content. Don't worry though, they don't tell anyone who you are. Cookies used on this website: Information gives Name of cookie - Purpose - Duration of use - Cookie type XSRF-TOKEN - Used for security reasons - duration of session only - essential cookie type hs - Used for security reasons - duration of session only - essential cookie type svSession - used in connection with user login - duration of two years - essential cookie type SSR-caching - used to indicate the system from which the site was rendered - duration of one minute - essential cookie type _wixCIDX - used for system monitoring / debugging - duration of 3 months - essential cookie type _wix_browser_sess - used for system monitoring / debugging - duration of session - essential cookie type consent-policy - used for cookie banner parameters - duration of 12 months - essential cookie type smSession - used to identify logged in site members - duration of session - essential cookie type TS* - used for security and anti-fraud reasons - duration of session - essential cookie type bSession - used for system effectiveness measurement - duration of 30 minutes - essential cookie type fedoras.logger.sessionId - used for stability/effectiveness measurement - duration of 12 months - essential cookie type wixLanguage - used on multilingual websites to save user language preferences - duration of twelve months - functional cookie type How can my site visitors withdraw their consent? If you don’t want me to process your data anymore, please contact me via my contact page and I will modify or delete your information as requested.

The aggressive Blade Runner XL features jagged temple arms and has a wide, traditional rectangle frame to fit larger heads. Its flexible and durable rubberized matte black frame is equipped with soft thermoplastic rubber nose pads and Edge-Flex temple arms to create a comfortable, nonslip fit. This ballistic-rated eye pro has a rugged style and offers fashion and function for any situation. Polarized Gradient Smoke lenses have a vertical smoke-to-clear tint that equalizes harsh light from above and soft light from below. This is a favorite for activities such as daytime reading and driving. The addition of a polarizing filter increases clarity by reducing glare. 14% of visible light passes through this lens color. Edge Tactical Eyewear glasses are tested in independent laboratories to ensure their compliance with ANSI Z87.1+2010 and Military Ballistic MCEPS GL-PD 10-12 standards. All Edge lenses block 99.9% of UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation and are coated to reduce scratching.

Mr Chadwan Al Yaghchi Consultant Laryngologist. Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Mr Chadwan Al Yaghchi is an innovative, experienced and respected consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon. He specialises in adult and paediatric laryngology (medicine focusing on the voice box). He treats many throat disorders, including airway stenosis (narrowing of the windpipe), voice disorders, swallowing difficulties in adults and children, obstructive sleep apnoea, and much more. He also has a specialist interest in voice feminisation surgery. Mr Al Yagchi completed his higher surgical training in London North Thames regional rotation, where he worked at some of the most prestigious teaching hospitals in the country. These include Charing Cross Hospital, University College London Hospital and Royal London Hospital. Mr Al Yaghchi is highly decorated. He holds a PhD in Molecular Oncology from Queen Mary’s University of London, where he researched unique ways to treat head and neck cancer with oncolytic viruses as immunotherapy. He runs an active clinical research program in voice, airway and swallowing disorders, and is a founding member of the British Laryngological Association, where he is the Associate Treasurer. Mr Al Yaghchi is also the Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine Laryngology and Rhinology Section. His adult NHS practice is part of both the National Centre for Airway Reconstruction and Imperial Voice and Swallowing Centre, based at Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He is an honorary consultant at The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, where he treats children with complex airway and swallowing conditions. Mr Al Yaghchi developed a special interest in transgender healthcare during his time working in close proximity to the Gender Identity Clinic in London. He went on to introduce a number of voice feminisation procedures to the UK. This included his own modification to the Wendler Glottoplasty technique, which has since become the preferred method for voice feminisation. Through his pioneering work in the field of gender affirmation surgery, Mr Al Yagchi has been able to help a significant number of trans women to achieve a voice which more accurately reflects their gender identity. Mr Al Yaghchi practices at a number of clinics throughout West and Central London, including the prestigious Harley Street. In addition to his clinical expertise and quality care, Mr Al Yaghchi offers the latest cutting edge treatments and state of the art equipment at each of his clinics.

Welcome to our blog where we share some amazing weddings photographed by your favourite Canadian wedding photographer duo. Stunning! Lavender! Lace! This is breathtaking- what a beautifully styled bride & groom and in a lavendar farm no less! Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [email protected] OUR Calgary FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY & Calgary HEADSHOT STUDIO AT: WWW.HEIMAPHOTOGRAPHY.COM & WWW.FREITAGPHOTO.COM

In late 2021 over 50 notable artists within the Web3 space were invited to collaborate on an ambitious project. Sail the Stars has the goal to procure an all-weather seaworthy vessel, imbued with advanced satellite internet and recording, and recruit creatives to go on real sailing adventures across the globe. The hope is that the myriad of impressions and experiences, both tranquil and extreme, will provide inspiration for new ways of thinking, networking, creating, and building. On may 2nd, 2023, a presale of unique NFT “Dream Ships” is taking place, each a randomly generated artwork pulled from the expressions of 51 artists. On May 4th, 2023, the main public mint will occur. Both events are in collaboration with ASync Art, an innovative platform for group projects, iterative art editions, and interactive art events. You can view the project, for more information, on the Async Market HERE!

Our Stay At Chele Chele I've used Chele Chele and its wonderful facilities on numerous occasions, starting during COVID to safely isolate our safari groups from mixing with other tourists. This roomy accommodation is top notch and comfortably sleeps small to large groups with 4 double bedrooms in the main lodge and three spacious cabins. There are numerous sitting areas - both inside and out, a comfy lounge with roaring fireplace, large well-manicured grounds and a pool. The food is outstanding with a varied choice of menus to choose from for both lunch and dinner, and there is always more than enough food to satisfy even the biggest appetites. The staff couldn't be more attentive, friendly and helpful. Chele Chele is the perfect place to relax and acclimate to the time change after a long international flight or to relax and prepare oneself for the long flight home. Definitely Five Stars from the booking process right down to the finest detail. Chele Chele Villa is a welcoming home from start to finish. Beautiful views, stunning garden, cozy yet very spacious villa and mostly the Chele Chele team is wonderful. Very friendly, helpful and the food is delicious. I would highly recommend staying here. Chele Chele is a beautiful house, to say the least! A fabulous escape from the bustling city! A small paradise where the food is just amazing and the staff, a wonderful group who made us feel at home, ensuring all our needs were taken care of. Definitely a place to come back to. Chele Chele Villa is a very nice place with a quiet and peaceful environment surrounded by nature, amazing food, very kind and professional staff. They made us feel comfortable and protected. Chele Chele Villa is indeed a home away from home. Chele Chele was amazing. My wife and I had a lovely time there. The place is clean, quiet and built in nature. The staff were very professional and friendly. Its ideal for family and groups of friends. I will return for another experience. This was my 2nd time being at Chele Chele and just like the first, it was such a memorable stay. Thank you to Aziz, Mam Mwanaidi and the staff for their warm hospitality. I will definitely be back for more) Chele Chele villa is one of the most beautifully maintained properties my friends and I have experienced since we started travelling as a group. The Villa has something to offer everyone. Beautifully decorated and comfortable clean rooms, a serene living room, a well-maintained swimming pool, a trampoline, a garden where numerous group games can be played, a patio etc. The staff is warm, welcoming, and willing to help with anything one might need. Aziz was very responsive to the numerous messages and special requests we had as a group of 12 and customised his services based on our needs. The meals were great!! Very well done. There were suggestions to have a fruit option after meals for those checking their weight ha! Kind of half fruits, half sweet desserts. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed the desserts, especially the passion cheesecake. It was mwah! The rooms were very clean and spacious. The linen and everything were really beyond our expectations. The shared areas were also very homely and offered something for everyone. Kudos! We felt sad leaving and regretted not booking the property for a longer period. We shall hopefully return with our children next time! It was an amazing stay. Aziz and the Chele Chele team hospitality was exceptional. The house is an oasis of peace and cannot recommend it enough. I shall definitely be back. The food was amazing. Très belle maison ancienne rénovée et décorée avec beaucoup de goût Parc et piscine Superbes et reposants ! Cerise sur le gâteau : le staff qui font tout leur possible pour nous satisfaire Un grand merci à Richard le manager qui s’est démené pour régler notre problème de vol pour zanzibar annulé.... Et Merci a Aziz pour sa prévenance ! Allez y les yeux fermés !!! Chele Chele Vila is paradise!! One gets to experience and appreciate nature. the views, the pool, environment, ambiance, the decor and the details in the rooms and sitting area and warm and loving staff makes the Villa the best destination for a vacation. We truly enjoyed our stay. We couldn't have wished for a better place to spend our New Years Eve. Aziz, is very accommodative, responsive and Richard was understanding as he waited for us at Rotterdam and still had a smiling face and took time to show us the place and all the amenities. Linda and Warda always served us with a smile and were accommodative to our requests. “Mama”( Mwanaidi) was exceptionally nice and loving, we loved the food!! Looking forward to our next stay.

top of page Directed Molecular Evolution Image-guided cell screening Electrophysiology and microscopy Welcome to the Piatkevich Lab Our lab is a multidisciplinary research group with the main focus on the development and validation of novel molecular tools for optical recording and manipulation of biochemical events in complex fully-assembled biological systems. We also utilize our tools for the systematic analysis of the physiological processes in vivo. After careful validation, we distribute our tools to the scientific community as freely as possible. Kiryl Piatkevich is among a select group of promising researchers to be awarded Young Investigator grants by the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. bottom of page

This is a Dancehall anthem sung by people of all ages, including my boys. Ding Dong is definitely a multi -talented entertainer. He became famous on the Dancehall scene with his dance crew the Ravers Clavers. His dancing skills always pulled in a good crowd. He successfully included is DJ’ing skills , producer, etc and the rest is history. “Holiday” now over a year old is definitely Dancehall’s enduring summer anthem as is the Fresh Prince’s hit song Summertime. Enjoy your weekend!!!

CUSTOM WALL STICKERS Bespoke made wall stickers to your Change or tweak your design until you are 100% happy free of charge FAST TURN AROUND We aim to turn around custom work with in 3-4 days First impressions count in business, so a professional graphic or mantra printed on an office wall can be a major benefit to your organisation. Wall graphics can reinforce your branding, improve staff morale, set your offices apart from the others in your building and more. A beautiful finish for your printed wall graphics starts with high-quality materials. At Wallboss, we use only the best vinyl to craft our wall graphics. Over the years, we’ve scoured the market to bring you only the very highest quality materials for our printed wall graphics, so you know you’re getting the best. All of our wall graphics are printed using eco friendly large format printers, meaning there is no limit on size and no minimum order quality. Clear backgrounds and white borders can often visually ruin the look of your design, this is why we fully contour cut all our graphics. Our wall graphics are not only contour cut but we also go a step further and finish all printed graphics with a matte lamination for further durability and protection. We only use premium materials for our wall graphics. Free digital visuals are sent on all artwork to ensure 100% satisfaction. Easy to follow instructions are supplied with all orders. Our friendly and experienced team can help you choose and install the perfect printed wall graphics for your office or retail premises. No job is too large or small for us.

Thank you to Shona for putting this post together. She’s done a great job! Let us know, via [email protected], if there are any other venues, decorations or gifts from local businesses that you think should be added. Baby Shower Venues in North Hampshire Area The Parlour Tearoom Within Viables Craft Centre, The Parlour Tearoom serves homemade cakes and lunches. They are open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturdays. They were also voted Hampshire Life Tearoom of the year 2014. As it isn’t very big this would be best for a small baby shower. For further information, call 01256 325795 The Tea Bar Right in the top of town, the Tea Bar is a lovely tea room in the day and at night turns into a bar in the evening with music and sometimes live bands. They provide lunches and afternoon teas. Lovely seating and space means tables could be put together for larger groups. For further information, call 01256 353332 Sundaes hasn’t been open that long but is definitely a hit! If ice cream, crepes, waffles or just deserts in general are your thing, this is where to head! There are booths, tables and even sofas so a nice comfortable area. For further information, call 01256 351122 Relaxing Gifts for Mum Relax for Birth provides hypnobirthing, antenatal preparation and Doula support across Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and West Sussex. Wendy has worked within the birthing field for over 20 years and supports women and couples to have a positive experience that positively impacts their journey into parenthood. For more information contact 07716 321477 or email [email protected] A voucher for a pedicure The Beauty Lounge Oakley offers vouchers for a relaxing pedicure for the mum to be. Perfect for a bit of me time and some pampering before the big arrival. Gift voucher for Relax, Stretch and Breathe/Yoga for Pregnancy NCT offer a course suitable from 12 weeks pregnant right through pregnancy. It enables you to relax, focus on your baby and think about your wishes for birth. Reflexology Session to prepare for birth Wendy French Reflexology can offer gift vouchers and/or sessions for the mum to be. Birth Doula and Maternity Support Services Linda Cooks offers treatments such as pregnancy and postnatal massage, reflexology, birth preparation, placenta remedies and mother blessings which all could be a lovely gift for a mum to be. Reflexology Taster Session for mum to be and guests Jill Lewis can provide taster sessions at the baby shower. Massaging using pressure points can help with stress, back pain and hormonal imbalances. Gifts for mum to be and baby An activity for when baby arrives Jolly Babies provides various classes for parents and children. Music with Mummy involves singing, clapping, dancing and waving. There are bubbles and simple instruments for babies to explore. Gifts from the Little Barn Gift Shop There are plenty of things such as gift vouchers, baby products, coconut oil and natural health remedies available, perfect for mum and babies. Katie Book Lady There is every type of book available for new babies including cot and buggy books, cloth books as well as well known children’s titles. Unique gift idea – Book about teething A rarely covered topic that is never discussed in detail, teething can be a nightmare for parents. Having a read about it before baby arrives could be an excellent idea. Cuddly toy for the new arrival Over at Snuggly Sockimals they make gorgeous animals from brand new socks. All Sockimals are CE tested and handmade. Gift voucher for Ceramic Painting Pots2Paint have a wide variety of gifts available and you can purchase a gift voucher. They have done commissioned pieces which include a paint with a footprint for every month of a baby’s first year so definitely worth discussing any ideas you have. Carryoncarrying can provide a consultation to find which baby sling works best for mum. There are also packages for groups. Art Gift Voucher My Tiny Gallery by Emma Vallis creates artwork, prints and cards that are ready to buy as well as commissioning individual pieces. Name paintings and nursery art are her speciality. You can buy gift vouchers or even a gift for the mum to be. Keepsake Gift Voucher Smallprint captures precious moments with unique items of jewellery hand-crafted in silver. From fingerprints to doodles and drawings, there is jewellery for all. Gift vouchers are available. Photoshoot Gift Voucher Mum to be could have a gift voucher for a maternity or newborn photoshoot from Your Family Deserve this. Agnes Forrai Photography offers portrait sessions, maternity shoots and newborn shoots so you can keep hold of precious memories. Decorations for a baby shower Shampagne Occasions can provide everything you need to decorate your venue for the baby shower. From balloons to decorations, they have everything covered. Over at Sweet Treats they make party favours for baby showers as well as sweet cones and a sweet cart for hire. Based in Basingstoke, Innocent cakes provides cakes, cupcakes and cake pops made to order. Owow Chocolates, based in Old Basing can make some personalised chocolates for your baby shower needs. A variety of gifts available from Doveys Occasions Doveys Occasions can provide lots of different gifts to suit any budget including sweet cones, sweet filled bottles, wish trees, gift baskets and candy carts. Don’t miss out on future posts like this – you can receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address to the box on the top right of this page and hitting subscribe. You can also follow NorthHantsMum onTwitter,Google+,Facebook Page, Facebook Profile, LinkedIn and Feedly. I hope to see you there!

Chinese state media has accused the US of using the recent incident involving a suspected Chinese spy balloon as a political ploy to enflame tensions between Washington and Beijing. Beijing mouthpiece the China Everyday made the sensational declare in a scathing editorial revealed Wednesday – one particular which billed that Joe Biden and his administration have ‘overreacted’ to the incident, and used it to their profit. The piece, titled Paranoia spurs China-bashers to dramatize balloon incident into a Hollywood blockbuster, details to US Secretary of Point out Antony Blinken‘s planned go to to the state as proof of this intended ploy, along with its latest cancellation. Blinken, who was because of to depart for Beijing on Friday, said at a press conference that the high-altitude surveillance craft seen traveling above the continental United States close to South Carolina ‘created the situations that undermine the goal of the vacation.’ Beijing, meanwhile, has issued the following, chilling assertion in reply, saying it ‘reserves the appropriate to make more responses if needed.’ Chinese condition media has accused the US of utilizing the new incident involving a suspected Chinese spy balloon as a political ploy to enflame tensions amongst Washington and Beijing The piece points to US Secretary of Point out Antony Blinken’s planned stop by to the region as proof of the supposed ploy, along with its new cancellation ‘China has strongly protested at the taking pictures down of its meteorological balloon that had strayed into US airspace,’ the piece’s opening line reads, incorporating that the plane strayed into US airspace ‘completely unintentionally.’ The posting goes on to reiterate Beijing’s formal stance on the purpose of the South Carolina balloon, which is that it made use of for meteorological functions and that its entry into US airspace was unintended. ‘A US military fighter jet shot down the balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, a week right after it 1st entered US airspace,’ it reads, in advance of referencing the China’s International Ministry’s formal reaction to the incident. The agency on Saturday night slammed Joe Biden’s conclusion to shoot down the aircraft as both equally a ‘clear overreaction’ and a ‘serious violation of global practice’ The agency on Saturday night time slammed the US’ decision to shoot down the plane as each a ‘clear overreaction’ and a ‘serious violation of worldwide follow.’ ‘China evidently requested the US to cope with this appropriately in a relaxed, experienced and restrained fashion,’ the piece continued. ‘The US has insisted on working with force, certainly overreacting.’ The short article went on to declare that the US ‘is making use of the incident to justify’ the postponement of Blinken’s prepared go to, charging that the balloon is ‘an excuse, not the result in of the postponement.’ ‘The true cause,’ the piece alleges, ‘lies in US domestic politics.’ Source: | This report originally belongs to Dailymail.co.british isles

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s asteroid discovery algorithm, called HelioLinc3D, has found its first “potentially hazardous” asteroid, named 2022 SF289. This asteroid, about 600 feet long, was detected during a test run of the algorithm with the ATLAS survey in Hawaii. Despite posing no immediate threat to Earth, the discovery showcases the effectiveness of HelioLinc3D in identifying near-Earth asteroids with fewer observations than current methods require. The solar system houses millions of rocky bodies ranging in size, dating back over four billion years when the planets formed. Among the numerous rocky bodies in our solar system, some, known as near-Earth objects (NEOs), orbit close to our planet. Those that come within about 5 million miles of Earth’s orbit, approximately 20 times the distance to the moon, are particularly significant and termed “potentially hazardous asteroids” (PHAs). To track these PHAs and prevent potential collisions with Earth, scientists utilize specialized telescope systems like the ATLAS survey. By capturing images of the sky at least four times each night, researchers can identify moving points of light that indicate the presence of PHAs. So far, they’ve discovered around 2,350 PHAs, with likely many more waiting to be found. In early 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, situated in the Chilean Andes, will join this pursuit with its powerful 8.4-meter mirror and a massive 3,200-megapixel camera. This advanced technology will significantly increase the rate of PHA discoveries, as it can survey the sky twice per night, surpassing the capabilities of current telescopes. The University of Washington’s DiRAC Institute, in collaboration with Smithsonian senior astrophysicist Matthew Holman and Harvard University lecturer, has been working on developing a new type of discovery algorithm for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This novel algorithm, called HelioLinc3D, was created by Ari Heinze and Siegfried Eggl, now an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. To validate HelioLinc3D’s capabilities, Heinze and Eggl wanted to test it with existing data to find a new asteroid that conventional algorithms might miss due to limited observations. Their efforts aimed to ensure that Rubin’s forthcoming observations could effectively identify asteroids in its dataset using this advanced algorithm. John Tonry and Larry Denneau, the lead astronomers of the ATLAS survey, generously provided their data for a test of the HelioLinc3D algorithm. On July 18, 2023, the Rubin team used HelioLinc3D to identify its first potentially hazardous asteroid (PHA), named 2022 SF289. Interestingly, ATLAS had observed 2022 SF289 three times on different nights but had not captured the required four observations on a single night to classify it as a new near-Earth object (NEO). HelioLinc3D’s strength lies in combining fragmented data from multiple nights, allowing it to make the discovery. According to Larry Denneau, the algorithm’s success in spotting faint objects like 2022 SF289 demonstrates its potential to act as a “bigger, better” telescope. Despite other surveys missing 2022 SF289 due to its passage in front of the starfields of the Milky Way, HelioLinc3D’s ability to recover these faint objects by utilizing multiple nights of data led to the discovery. To further support the findings, additional observations from the Pan-STARRS and Catalina Sky Survey were confirmed, and the B612 Asteroid Institute’s ADAM platform helped recover additional unrecognized observations from the NSF-supported Zwicky Transient Facility telescope. 2022 SF289 is categorized as an Apollo-type near-Earth object (NEO) and comes remarkably close to Earth’s orbit, within 140,000 miles—closer than the moon. Its substantial 600ft diameter earns it the “potentially hazardous” classification. However, reassuringly, projections show that there is no foreseeable risk of a collision with Earth. The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Electronic Circular MPEC 2023-O26 announced the discovery of 2022 SF289. Presently, scientists have identified 2,350 potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) but estimate that over 3,000 more remain undiscovered. Rubin scientist Mario Jurić, who leads the HelioLinc3D team at the DiRAC Institute, expressed excitement about the upcoming potential discoveries when the Rubin Observatory starts operating fully in less than two years. With HelioLinc3D, they anticipate discovering objects like 2022 SF289 on a nightly basis, showcasing the power and effectiveness of the new algorithm. The discovery of 2022 SF289 and the success of HelioLinc3D offer a glimpse into the future of data-intensive astronomy. As we enter the next decade, the emphasis will be on significant advancements in algorithms, including AI-assisted codes, rather than solely on new and large telescopes. This upcoming era promises remarkable progress in the way we uncover celestial objects, making astronomy a fascinating tale of cutting-edge algorithms combined with state-of-the-art observatories. Source: University of WashingtonNo tags for this post.

You may be able to raise low blood pressure with dietary changes, like drinking more water and eating more salt. But if your blood pressure is too low, you may need emergency medical attention. Blood pressure, or BP, is the force of blood against the blood vessel walls. Blood is pumped throughout the entire body by the heart. Blood pressure is measured with two different numbers. The first or top number is called systolic pressure. This is the pressure while the heart is beating. The second or bottom number is called diastolic pressure. It’s the pressure while the heart rests between beats. Diastolic pressure is typically lower than systolic pressure. Both are measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Typical healthy blood pressure is about 120/80 mm Hg. It’s not uncommon for the numbers to fluctuate slightly throughout the day, however, regardless of your overall health. According to the To help make sure every part of your body — including the brain, heart, and lungs — is getting plenty of blood and oxygen, your blood pressure naturally changes during the day. Your body constantly adjusts and balances your blood pressure. The position of your body may impact your blood pressure. For example, if you stand up suddenly, it may drop for an instant. Your blood pressure also lowers when you’re resting or asleep. So, low blood pressure may not be a cause for concern or come with any other worrisome symptoms. On the other hand, some health conditions can result in low blood pressure. This can lead to too little blood and oxygen in some parts of the body. Treating the underlying condition helps to raise blood pressure. The symptoms of low blood pressure can include: - blurred vision - feeling cold - feeling thirsty - an inability to concentrate - rapid, shallow breathing Low blood pressure from medications, shock, or stroke Some medications can cause low blood pressure. These include drugs to treat high blood pressure and other conditions, such as: - angiotensin II receptor blockers - angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - beta-blockers (Tenormin, Inderal, Innopran XL) - calcium channel blockers - diuretics or water pills (Lasix, Maxzide, Microzide) - erectile dysfunction drugs (Revatio, Viagra, Adcirca, Cialis) - Parkinson’s disease medications such as Mirapex and levodopa - tricyclic antidepressants (Silenor, Tofranil) Shock is a life threatening condition. It can happen in response to a number of emergency conditions. These include: Shock leads to low blood pressure, but low blood pressure can also cause your body to go into shock. Treatment may involve raising blood pressure by IV fluids or blood transfusions. Treating the cause of the shock often helps to raise blood pressure. For example, in anaphylactic shock, an injection of epinephrine (EpiPen) helps to quickly raise blood pressure. This can be lifesaving for someone having a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, bee stings, or other allergens. In a first aid situation, it’s important to keep the person experiencing shock warm and monitor them until medical help arrives. Call 911 or local emergency services as soon as possible. With emergency help on the way, the next thing to do is elevate the person’s legs 6-12 inches off the ground using whatever item is available to you. Keep the person warm by covering them with a blanket or coat. Newspapers can be used in a pinch. Stroke is a leading cause of death. It’s also a major cause of serious and long-term disability. High blood pressure is a major cause of stroke. It’s important to control blood pressure to prevent strokes, and to keep them from happening again. If you’re dealing with hypotension, the first step is making an appointment with your doctor. After discussing your medical history, lifestyle, and other factors, your doctor may change your medication or suggest certain lifestyle changes to get to the root of the issue. It’s important not to stop taking any medications or change dosages without talking to a healthcare professional first. The same is true of dietary or other changes. 1. Drink plenty of water Dehydration can sometimes lead to low blood pressure. Some people may have hypotension even with mild dehydration. You can also get dehydrated by losing water too quickly. This can happen through vomiting, severe diarrhea, fever, strenuous exercise, and excess sweating. Medications such as diuretics may also cause dehydration. Drink more water by using a portable water bottle. Use an alarm or timer to remind you to take a sip. 2. Eat a balanced diet Low blood pressure and other side effects may occur if you’re not getting enough nutrients. Low levels of vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron can cause anemia. This condition happens when your body can’t make enough blood and can cause low blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend changes to your daily diet and taking supplements. 3. Eat smaller meals You can get low blood pressure after eating a big meal, although this is more common in older adults. This happens because blood flows to your digestive tract after you eat. Normally, your heart rate increases to help balance blood pressure. You can prevent low blood pressure by eating smaller meals. Also, limiting your carbs can help keep blood pressure more stable after eating. Here are more suggestions for foods you can eat and eating habits you can practice. 4. Limit or avoid alcohol Drinking alcohol can lead to dehydration. It can also interact with medications and cause low blood pressure. 5. Eat more salt Sodium helps to raise blood pressure. However, it can raise blood pressure too much. It can also lead to heart disease. Ask your doctor how much is right for you. Add table salt to whole, unprocessed foods. This helps to control how much salt you’re eating. Avoid refined and processed salty foods. 6. Check your blood sugar Diabetes and high blood sugar levels may lead to low blood pressure. Volume depletion can occur from the diuresis that follows high blood sugar levels. This is when your body tries to expel glucose via increased urination. Consider using a home monitor to check your blood sugar levels throughout the day. See your doctor to find out the best diet, exercise, and medication plan to help balance blood sugar levels. 7. Get your thyroid checked A simple blood test can determine whether you have hypothyroidism. You may need medication and a new nutrition plan to help boost your thyroid function. 8. Wear compression stockings Elastic stockings or socks can help prevent blood from pooling in your legs. This helps to relieve orthostatic or postural hypotension which is low blood pressure due to standing, laying down, or sitting too much. People who are on bed rest may need compression braces to help pump blood from the legs. Orthostatic hypotension is more common in older adults. It happens to up to 11 percent of middle-aged people and 30 percent of older adults. 9. Take medications Your doctor may prescribe medications to help treat low blood pressure. These drugs help to treat orthostatic hypotension: - fludrocortisone, which helps to raise blood volume - midodrine (Orvaten), which helps to narrow blood vessels to raise blood pressure If someone’s BP is dangerously low from sepsis, other medications may be used to raise blood pressure. These include: - alpha-adrenoceptor agonists - vasopressin analogs 10. Treat infections Some serious bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can cause low blood pressure. Your doctor can find out if you have an infection with a blood test. Treatment includes IV antibiotics and antiviral drugs. There are several causes of low blood pressure. Some are temporary and can be easily fixed. Low blood pressure may also be a sign of a health issue or emergency condition. Treatment may be necessary. Several health conditions can cause low blood pressure. These include: - Addison’s disease (low adrenal hormones) - anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction) - blood loss - bradycardia (low heart rate) - diabetes or low blood sugar - heart attack or heart failure - a heart valve problem - hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) - liver failure - parathyroid disease - septic shock (the result of a serious infection) - orthostatic hypotension or postural low blood pressure - trauma or head injury Diagnosing and treating these conditions can help balance blood pressure. Your doctor may recommend simple tests such as: - blood tests to check hormone levels, blood sugar levels, and for infections - an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor to check heart rhythm and function - an echocardiogram to check your heart health - an exercise stress test to check your heart health - a tilt table test to check low blood pressure due to changes in body position - the Valsalva maneuver, a breathing test to check for nervous system causes of low blood pressure Having low blood pressure once in a while isn’t likely a cause for concern. Tell your doctor about any related symptoms. Keep a journal of your symptoms and what you were doing when they began. This can help your doctor diagnose the cause of your low blood pressure, especially if you’ve tried making changes to your diet and lifestyle and still aren’t seeing your BP at a healthy level. Learn to recognize triggers and symptoms. Put your head down or lay down if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. These symptoms usually pass quickly. Children and teens who have low blood pressure due to body position typically grow out of it. If you have orthostatic hypotension, avoid symptom triggers, such as standing too much. To help make sure every part of your body — including the brain, heart, and lungs — is getting plenty of blood and oxygen, your blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day. It may dip if you stand up suddenly, and it typically decreases during periods of sleep or rest. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, isn’t automatically a cause for concern. Some health conditions lead to hypotension, so it’s important to talk with your doctor about any symptoms you may be experiencing.

A Story of Recovery Danielle Kantola sustained a brain injury in May 2020 while planting trees in coastal British Columbia. Her passion for nature, which inspired much of her art, pulled her into the work of reforestation. This series explores her struggles and accomplishments throughout her rehabilitation and aims to invite the public into her world of recovery. Brain injuries are unique, and no two are the same. This series is on going, and new works will be added throughout her recovery.

Warrington Town Hall will be lit up red this Friday, 1 December, for World AIDS Day. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day asks everyone to think about those who have been or are affected by HIV and AIDS, consider the progress that has been made in healthcare and support the work to challenge stigma. This year, Warrington is using the day to encourage people to ensure they ‘know their status’ by getting tested. The axess sexual health service aims to make testing quick and easy in a supportive environment. Based at Bath Street Health and Wellbeing Centre, Legh Street, WA1 1UG, it offers a range of services including rapid HIV testing, PEP, emergency contraception, and STI testing. Drugs and alcohol recovery service CGL based on Bold Street also offers HIV testing. It’s recommended that anyone who is sexually active and has changed partners in the last 12 months, not used a condom when having sex or shared needles should get tested. Free self-sampling HIV test kits are also available for Warrington residents via the SH:24 online sexual health screening service. Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: “World AIDS Day is important because it reminds us that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money and awareness, fight prejudice and support those living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. “Getting tested is quick, straightforward and non-judgemental and you will usually get your results the same day or within a few days of testing. Experienced staff will be avaliable to offer advice and guidance and ensure everybody who comes in for a test is fully supported. “Knowing your status is an important step towards fighting HIV and AIDS and reaching the national goal of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030.” Dr Martyn Wood, consultant in HIV medicine and lead clinician at Axess Sexual Health, said: “In 2022, nearly half of people first diagnosed with HIV in Warrington and Halton were diagnosed late, meaning that they were at risk of poor health outcomes. “We all have an HIV status – positive, negative or unknown. Getting an HIV test is important in reducing the number of people who don’t know their status.” HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. AIDS is a serious illness that can develop when HIV damages the immune system to such an extent that it can no longer fight off a range of infections it would normally cope with. AIDS only develops if HIV is left untreated. With effective medication, people living with HIV can’t pass on the virus. The introduction of combination therapy has changed HIV from being a terminal condition to a disease we can manage long term with people able to live their lives to the full. Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV, and much more is known about the condition. If you are living with HIV, starting treatment early means you can live a full, healthy and productive life. Warrington’s sexual health service routinely offers HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis PrEP appointments to patients. Please see further information on Warrington’s sexual health service’s website. The red ribbon is the universal symbol of awareness and support for people living with HIV. Wearing a ribbon is a great way to raise awareness on World AIDS Day. You can find out more about World AIDS Day from the World AIDS Day website.

If you are interested in a medical career or want to get into the JATC health career programs this class is a must! This class prepares students for the medical field by gaining a base understand of the human body. It is recommended students take intro to health science prior, but is not required. We will do many hands on dissections to help students visually understand the material. Students are more likely to succeed in JATC medical programs when taken this class prior to their JATC program.

I woke up feeling so much better today. Who wouldn't after sleeping all day yesterday? We were getting ready to go to Gymboree this morning and I asked AJ to go get some clothes to wear. A minute later he came back holding a pair of shorts. It just goes to show that toddlers understand way more than we give them credit for. AJ's new word for the day: "up" Off to do piles of laundry. Have a great hump day. - Welcome to my blog. I'm a Mississippi country girl transplanted to Grapevine, TX. I have been blessed with a great husband, and my kiddos, Aleck and Ella. When I'm not eating bon bons on the couch, I am my kid's room mom, PTA member, Sunday School teacher, taxi driver, amateur photographer and personal chef. When I'm not doing those things, I'm running a small jewelry business, 2nd Amendment Jewelry (www.2ndamendmentjewelry.com), that I started with my twin sister, Glenda. It's a crazy and busy life, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in this world. I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life!

Balance! Environmental has teamed up with Titley Scientific to offer another workshop on bat detection and call analysis, this time in Newcastle, NSW, from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October 2019. Download a flyer here. Our Sydney (June) and Brisbane (January) events were very popular and booked out early, so get in quick to secure your place in the Newcastle workshop. Offered over three days, the workshop will include an introductory day aimed at those who are new to bat-call detection and analysis, with sessions on the basics of bat acoustics, an overview of common detector types and how to maximise data quality when deploying detectors, and an introduction to call analysis using Anabat Insight. We'll also enjoy a bat-walk in local parkland to try out the latest detectors and share tips on successful bat call recording. Days 2 and 3 will encompass an intermediate/advanced course in bat-call analysis, with sessions on: data quality evaluation; species characteristics, including call variation due to behaviour and habitat factors; tips, tricks and traps of identification; and the use of filters, searches and reporting tools. The workshop will focus primarily on the Anabat Insight analysis tool, but group and individual sessions on Day 3 will allow time to explore and receive guidance on other call-analysis software. Day 1 only (introduction to bat detection and call analysis) - $330 Days 2 & 3 (itermediate/advanced bat-call analysis) - $660 All three days - $900 All prices include GST. Student discounts available - enquire when you make your booking. To book your place on this workshop, email Titley Scientific at [email protected].

Drug Testing: A Bad Investment Americans are concerned about drugs, and employers are no exception. They have been told that drug use in the workforce is common – even epidemic – and that workers who use drugs will harm their businesses through increased accidents and absenteeism, or through more subtle, but serious, effects of decreased efficiency and productivity. It is certainly true that the abuse of drugs, both licit and illicit, is a problem in America today. Millions of people misuse drugs, including alcohol, with disastrous effects, both for themselves and for those around them, and employers are not immune from this problem. A company of any size is, over time, likely to encounter employees or applicants with To read the complete articleDownload

Best listening experience is on Chrome, Firefox or Safari. Subscribe to Federal Drive’s daily audio interviews on Apple Podcasts or PodcastOne. As part of a larger effort to reform IT services in the Pentagon, the Defense Department is consolidating the myriad of networks owned by its fourth estate as a model for the department and military services. The fourth estate — 28 DoD agencies that do not belong to military services — currently operates on 34 different networks. Officials said that makes DoD more vulnerable to cyber attacks and makes operating on the networks confusing for defense employees. Rory Kinney, DoD’s acting deputy chief information officer for information enterprise, said the department is trying to shave the number of networks in the fourth estate to just one non-classified network and one secret network. “We are starting with the fourth estate,” Kinney said Tuesday during the AFCEA Air Force IT Day in McClean, Virginia. “The intent is to drive the fourth estate to a standardized solution set as a representative of the rest of the environment. The intent is to get it right in the fourth estate before we go and start monkeying around with any of the military departments. We want to get it right here first.” Kinney said the standardization includes networking, licensing, computing and support. The networks for each agency “are all in various states,” Kinney said. “Some are very well built. Some have real problems. As a matter of fact, there’s one of them that if you have a problem and you call up the help desk line, only about 25 percent of the time is the telephone actually answered and the problem resolved.” Kinney said DoD thinks it can solve that by hiring a single commercial service provider to run a consolidated help desk. Integrating the cloud DoD is still in the midst of awarding its JEDI contract for cloud services, but it had not sorted out publicly how JEDI would be incorporated into other data storage models the Pentagon uses, like milCloud and traditional data centers. Kinney cleared some of that up. DoD is currently setting up the program office for JEDI to make sure its employees get the capability they need from the cloud.The challenge comes with legacy systems and sensitive information that can’t be stored on cloud models procured under JEDI. DoD currently has about 2,500 data centers. DoD orders applications in more than 100 data centers to move to DISA’s milCloud “Our intent is to migrate as much as we can to a cloud environment and then regionalize those data centers,” Kinney said. “Maybe we only have 50 regional data centers across the department to support those folks that need to have a data center, a lot of legacy stuff.” The next level up is fit-for-purpose clouds — or clouds that have been individually contracted based on mission purposes or return on investment. Kinney said they may allow those clouds to stay, or the Pentagon may eventually push them toward a general-purpose cloud. DoD is currently moving the fourth estate to milCloud 2.0, the commercially-operated cloud service hosted inside the Defense Information Systems Agency’s data centers. Finally, there is JEDI, which Kinney said will be multiple general-purpose clouds. “Not everything is going to JEDI, not everything will stay where it’s at today and over time we will migrate to this new environment,” Kinney said. In the meantime, the Joint Regional Security Stacks the department has been building to secure its networks and data are being built once again after the department implemented an operational pause in their deployment.The department took a break in implementing JRSS earlier this year so it could train employees and improve processes and hardware. That translated into better deliveries, Kinney said. The program is now back on track and is about 30 percent finished, Kinney said.

In the world of automotive preservation, the introduction of Paint Protection Film (PPF) has revolutionized how we safeguard our vehicles against the harsh realities of the road. As the guardians of your car’s paint, PPF demands meticulous care and attention to ensure its enduring effectiveness. In this comprehensive guide, the expert team at Infinity Auto Styling in Bismarck, ND, explores the importance of proper maintenance for PPF and provides a detailed, step-by-step guide to cleaning this advanced protective layer. Why Is It Important For Proper Maintenance When You Have PPF? Paint Protection Film (PPF) stands as an invisible shield, a formidable armor defending your vehicle’s pristine paint job from the unforgiving elements of the road. Crafted to withstand the onslaught of road debris, stone chips, bug splatter, and many environmental contaminants, PPF is a crucial investment in preserving your car’s aesthetics and value. However, the effectiveness of PPF is contingent on regular and proper maintenance. Neglecting this upkeep can initiate a cascade of issues, jeopardizing the protective capabilities of the film and compromising the overall appearance of your vehicle. Maintenance is not merely a cosmetic concern but a pivotal aspect of upholding the film’s integrity, ensuring it continues to be a reliable guardian for your car’s precious paint. Regular attention to PPF maintenance involves a strategic approach, encompassing gentle cleaning practices and thorough inspections. By adopting these measures, you enhance the film’s longevity and sustain its ability to shield your vehicle from the rigors of daily driving. In essence, the invisible shield of PPF requires a visible commitment to care. As you navigate the roads, your vehicle remains enveloped in this protective layer, preserving its brilliance and safeguarding its allure against the challenges of the ever-changing environment. Regular maintenance becomes the unsung hero, ensuring that your PPF-equipped vehicle stands the test of time, radiating elegance and resilience on every journey. Step By Step Guide To Cleaning Your Paint Protection Film Commence the cleaning process with a gentle pre-rinse. This step helps remove loose debris and contaminants from the surface of the PPF, setting the stage for a more thorough cleaning. Use a pH-neutral Car Shampoo Selecting the right cleaning agent is paramount. Opt for a pH-neutral car shampoo to wash the PPF. This ensures effective cleaning without compromising the film’s unique properties. Avoiding harsh chemicals is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the PPF. Soft Microfiber Wash Mitt When washing the PPF, ditch abrasive materials and embrace the soft touch of a microfiber wash mitt. This minimizes the risk of scratching, preserving the film’s clarity and ensuring its longevity. After the wash, thorough rinsing is essential. A complete rinse removes all soap residues, leaving a clean, transparent protective layer. Pay attention to ensure no residue is left behind, as it could compromise the effectiveness of the PPF. Pat Dry with a Microfiber Towel Drying is a critical step in the cleaning process. Using a clean microfiber towel, gently pat dry the PPF. This not only prevents water spots but also ensures a spotless finish, contributing to the overall aesthetics of your vehicle. This step-by-step guide encapsulates the essence of a proper cleaning routine for your PPF. Embracing these practices not only preserves the film’s protective qualities but also enhances your vehicle’s visual appeal. What Would Happen If Your Paint Protection Film Is Neglected? Understanding the consequences of neglecting your PPF can be a compelling motivator for adhering to a meticulous maintenance routine. Here are some potential outcomes of PPF neglect: The primary purpose of PPF is to shield your car’s paint from road hazards. Neglecting proper maintenance can make the film less effective in providing this crucial protection. Over time, the film may lose its resilience, making it susceptible to road debris and contaminants damage. PPF not only serves as a protective barrier but also contributes to the overall aesthetics of your vehicle. Neglect can lead to a dull and compromised appearance, affecting the clarity and glossiness of the film. This not only detracts from the visual appeal of your car but may also impact its resale value. Difficult Removal of Contaminants As time passes, contaminants such as bug splatter, bird droppings, or tree sap can adhere to the PPF. Neglecting these contaminants may result in them becoming harder to remove. Stubborn contaminants not only compromise the film’s appearance but can also pose a risk of damaging the PPF during cleaning attempts. Understanding these potential consequences emphasizes the importance of proactive care for your PPF. Regular maintenance not only preserves the protective qualities of the film but also ensures that your vehicle maintains its aesthetic allure. Learn more: Is It Worth Getting Paint Protection Film? Premium Paint Protection Film services in Bismarck, ND Infinity Auto Styling in Bismarck, ND, takes pride in offering premium Paint Protection Film services. Our team of experts is dedicated to ensuring meticulous installation and providing guidance on maintaining the longevity and effectiveness of your PPF. Our services go beyond protection; they encompass your vehicle’s holistic care and enhancement. Ready to embark on the journey of superior protection and aesthetics with Paint Protection Film? Schedule your service with Infinity Auto Styling today! Contact us at +1 701-426-6715 or visit our location at 2049 71st Ave NE Unit 4, Bismarck, ND 58503, United States. Secure your spot now and let your PPF-equipped vehicle shine on the road! Book your service and experience the unmatched protection and brilliance of Paint Protection Film.

Belize is a small country located in Central America, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and Mayan ruins. But how does the cost of living in Belize compare to other countries? In this article, we will answer this question and provide a breakdown of costs for singles, couples, and families of four in Belize. Local Currency in Belize The official currency of Belize is the Belize dollar (BZD). While US dollars are widely accepted in many tourist areas, it is recommended to have some local currency for smaller purchases. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, and major credit cards are also accepted in many businesses. Cost of Living in Belize vs UK and USA The cost of living in Belize is generally lower than that of the UK and the USA. According to Numbeo, a website that provides information on the cost of living in countries around the world, the cost of living in Belize is 43.62% lower than in the UK and 49.02% lower than in the USA. This means that it is generally more affordable to live in Belize than in either of these countries. Breakdown of Costs in Belize To provide a more detailed understanding of the cost of living in Belize, we will break down costs for singles, couples, and families of four in the following categories: housing, food, utilities, leisure, transport, clothing, and household goods. All costs are approximate and based on current prices as of 2023. The cost of housing in Belize can vary widely depending on the location and size of the property. According to Numbeo, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center is BZD 800-1,200, while a three-bedroom apartment in the same location can cost BZD 1,500-2,500 per month. For those looking to buy property in Belize, the average cost per square meter in the city center is BZD 3,000-4,500. The cost of food in Belize can be relatively affordable. A loaf of bread costs approximately BZD 2, a liter of milk is around BZD 2.50, and a dozen eggs cost BZD 4. A meal for two in a mid-range restaurant can cost between BZD 50 and BZD 80. Grocery prices can be higher in more touristy areas. Utilities such as electricity, water, and gas can be relatively affordable in Belize. The average monthly cost for these services is around BZD 200-300. Internet and mobile phone plans are also relatively affordable, with unlimited internet plans starting at around BZD 50 per month. Belize is known for its outdoor activities, such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and exploring ancient Mayan ruins. The cost of leisure pursuits in the country can vary depending on the activity. A visit to a museum or national park can cost between BZD 5 and BZD 25, while a day trip to a nearby island can cost BZD 100-150 per person. The cost of transportation in Belize can vary depending on the mode of transportation. A liter of gasoline costs around BZD 4.50, and a monthly public transportation pass is around BZD 40-50. Taxis are also available, with an initial charge of BZD 3 and a cost of around BZD 2 per kilometer. The cost of clothing in Belize can vary widely depending on the type of clothing and the location. High-end fashion brands can be relatively expensive, while other clothing items can be more affordable . A pair of jeans costs around BZD 60, while a business suit can cost between BZD 200 and BZD 500. The cost of household goods in Belize can vary widely depending on the type of goods. A basic set of furniture for a one-bedroom apartment can cost around BZD 2,500-5,000, while a washing machine costs approximately BZD 1,000-1,500. Electronics such as televisions and laptops can also be relatively expensive in Belize due to import taxes. Forms of Payment in Belize The most common forms of payment in Belize are cash and credit/debit cards. The Belize dollar is widely accepted, and US dollars are also accepted in many businesses. However, it is recommended to carry some local currency as some smaller businesses may not accept foreign currency. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, and currency exchange services are also available. The cost of living in Belize is generally lower than that of the UK and the USA, making it a more affordable option for those looking to live in Central America. The cost of housing, utilities, and transportation can be relatively affordable, while food and leisure activities are generally affordable. Cash and credit/debit cards are the most common forms of payment, and the Belize dollar is widely accepted. As with any country, the cost of living in Belize can vary widely depending on individual circumstances and lifestyle choices. However, for those looking for a laid-back lifestyle with access to stunning natural beauty, Belize can be an attractive option.

Is a roof replacement in your home’s near future? Then you’ve probably have heard you have two main options when re-roofing an asphalt roof: tear off and overlay. In almost every situation, a tear-off roof is the better choice. Though it might cost a little extra, a tear-off roof replacement has many benefits that outweigh the cost. Here are 5 of the most important benefits of a tear-off roof. #1 BRAND NEW LOOK One key concern that comes with an overlay roof project is that they don’t always come out looking brand new. To complete an overlay roof, your roofer will add another layer of shingles on top of your existing roof, possibly accentuating in sways or buckles in your roof. When you opt for a tear-off roof, you’re pretty much investing in a #newroof, from the shingles to underlayment, and even the decking of your roof, every component of your roof will be brand new and look brand new. #2 LONG-TERM INVESTMENT When you opt for a #tearoffroof replacement, your roofer will tear everything off your existing roof, including old shingles, old underlayment, and any decking that’s been compromised or starting to rot. Everything is replaced with brand-new materials giving your home a new beginning. This long-term solution can last anywhere from 20-30 years, depending on the new asphalt shingles you choose, and the materials your roofer uses. #3 UPGRADE OPPORTUNITIES Since a tear-off roof project means that your roofer will tear off any old material, this project gives you the opportunity to upgrade your roof structure if necessary and any other serious upgrades you might want. Roofing technology has come a long way and if you’re hoping to make your home energy-efficient, a tear-off roofing project gives you the access to add new insulation in your attic or reinforce older structures. #4 INCREASES HOME VALUE A new roof can provide as much as a 105% return on investment. That’s a serious value. An overlay roof can actually decrease the value of your home, as it can negatively affect your #curbappeal, and it’s a negative point for sellers, who won’t want to deal with removing two layers of the roof instead of just one. So, if you’re planning on selling anytime soon, a tear-off #roofreplacement is certainly in your best interest. #5 EASY MAINTENANCE When your roof is replaced, you shouldn’t have to worry about any leaks or problems for years to come. Time for a new roof now? We provide homeowners with a variety of shingle colors and material warranties. That means whether you’re looking for a brand new roof or a tear-off roof replacement, we can provide you with the highest quality asphalt shingles on the market. Give us a call or click this link for a FREE estimate,

CCmath was kind enough to send me the Python version of Erlang calculators. So I'll aim to share my experience with it in this article. But first, some background on queueing models is provided: Erlang C is one of the two [Erlang B, Erlang C] calls-traffic modeling formulae developed by Danish mathematician A.K. Erlang in 1917. Unlike Erlang B, Erlang C Erlang C formula provides the possibility of an unlimited queue and the probability that a new call will need to wait in the line due to all servers being in use. Erlang is, therefore, the SI unit of telephone traffic. It defines the relationship between the call volume, average handling time, service level, average wait time, and the number of agents. Erlang X is an extension of Erlang C, which adds the number of available lines, the average customers’ patience, the probability of retrial after abandoning the call, and the variance in arrival volume. Erlang Chat simulates chat traffic. The matter of Concurrency is a significant difference between Chat and Phone channels; agents can handle multiple chats at the same time. Many major chat service software solutions allow for more than one conversation concurrently, which is impossible with phone calls. An alternative method for simulating chat traffic is to use Erlang C or X and assume a lesser volume (i.e., lower by a factor of the average concurrency) Erlang Blend models the scenarios where agents work on inbound and outbound calls. If an agent becomes available, they will prioritize inbound calls and will only take on outbound calls when other agents are left idle. It, therefore, assumes one additional parameter: Threshold. The threshold is the minimum number of agents left idle before the first person is allowed to take outbound work. Parameters Here is the summary of parameters across the models. Data and calculations I produced a random 1-day long hourly arrival volume of phone contacts for testing purposes. The demo file includes examples for single data points, but I realize that most people will have much longer per-interval data points to evaluate the functions. As a result, these examples should be more helpful. There is a common bad practice among the WFM community of calculating the Weekly customer's monthly FTEs from a single data point. It is significantly less work but only as accurate as a simple average can get. In other words, you will be understaffed for half of the time and overstaffed for the other half. A better practice would be to define the arrival pattern from the historical data and convert weekly/monthly volume to smaller intervals. Let's import the necessary libraries. It is important to note that the forecast volume represents the average volume in a unit of time. If your AHT, AWT, and ASA values are in seconds, your forecast volume should be the expected average within 1 second. If those numbers are in minute, likewise. 1. Erlang C Erlang X functions with the default value of Null for Lines, Patience, Variance, and Retrial variables are defined the same way as their C equivalents. The following three functions manifest different input and output combinations. Calling The Functions Since our test data df has SL, Forecast, AHT, and AWT, we will need calc_option1_C to calculate Agents, ASA, and Occupancy. Now that we have ‘Agents’ in ‘df1’ dataframe, we can use calc_option0_C to find ASA, SL, and Occupancy values and compare them to what was initially assumed. The calculated values are almost the same to those initially assumed as we would wish. So let's use calc_option2_C and compare the outputs to the output/input of the others. Very similar once again! 2. Erlang X Erlang X calculator adds assumptions such as Lines, Patience, Retrials, and Definition to the basic Erlang C calculator. The line Parameter defines the limit on the total number of customers that can be in the system at the same time. This, of course, depends on the capacity of the telephony provider. A good practice is putting a significantly higher number of lines than top interval arrival. Patience is the average time a customer waits in the queue before abandoning. It can be calculated by dividing the total waiting time (including the waiting times of the abandoned customers) by the number of abandoned contacts. Like in the case of Erlang C, we have three use cases depending on the input parameters and the desired output. To see some example function calls. We will first fill in the missing parameters. Let's s.ee how it compares against the output for Erlang C. Similarly, we can call the other functions. 3. Erlang Chat Modeling chat contacts with a maximum concurrency of 1 is the same problem as Modeling phone contacts. In such cases, we can use either Erlang C or Erlang C X model. However, when agents are expected to handle multiple chats simultaneously, Erlang Chat is the only correct model. Erlang Chat from CCmath specifies the maximum concurrency by the length of the AHT parameter, which needs to be an array. The nth element in the AHT array represents the expected AHT if n number of chats are handled simultaneously. The magnitude, therefore, increases as the index increases. Here is an example code from the 'Erlang_Pythn_demo.py' file. Like we did above, we can also group functions with similar inputs into a nesting function so that we can calculate multiple parameters at once. Here is my effort: It is important to note that the point values of the AHT parameter are arrays of the size equal to the maximum concurrency. 4. Erlang Blended (BL) Erlang BL models scenarios in which agents handle inbound and outgoing phone calls. Before the first agent is allocated to the outbound task, the minimum number of idle agents must be defined. This new variable is known as 'Threshold.' I believe the same idea can easily be applied to chat contacts. The only problem is that there are no functions relating Agents as an output to the other parameter. This is somewhat unexpected since most people need Erlang Calculators to determine FTE's requirements. It could also be helpful to create more functions that take the inbound volume and outbound volume as input parameters. It is possible to group the functions into groups of three or four with similar inputs as we did above. A. Threshold as a target A. SLA as a target It's great to have an Erlang calculator for Python, finally. I believe CCmath also offers an R version. So far, my experience has been positive. I hope they read this blog and add/fix the components stated. I've found it somewhat slow on larger datasets (for example, one month's hourly volume), but I presume this is because the calculators are currently housed remotely.' Thank you to CCmath and Dr. Ger Koole for letting me test it and provide feedback. I hope everyone who reads this also finds it insightful. I was able to arrange access to this Python version of Erlang calculators by being part of the weWFM Telegram community, which is free to join for all Workforce Management professionals. You can find out more about this group here, including how to join. I am crazy about applying data science skills to workforce management. Reach me at LinkedIn if you wish to connect :)

Today, more people are purchasing products online than they ever have in the past. As a result, it is important for companies to have a strong eCommerce arm that they can use to make sure that they keep their relationships with their customers as strong as possible. One of the ways that companies can do this is to make sure that they send order delivered emails to their customers. Along with the order confirmation email, this will help customers make sure they understand what is happening with the orders and how the business is going to handle their requests. When looking at the eCommerce order confirmation email template, it is important to use a strong order confirmation email generator. There is some information that has to be included in every order confirmation email. This includes the name of the customer, the item that was purchased, when it was purchased, where the item is going to be delivered to, when the order is expected to be shipped, when the order is expected to be delivered, and the payment method that was used. While this might sound like a lot of information, this is important for making sure the customer knows what is happening. One of the top ways that companies can automate these emails is to use Malomo, which integrates with one of the top platforms in the world, called Klaviyo. The Klaviyo order delivered and Klaviyo order confirmation email are easy to generate thanks to the diverse array of Klaviyo email templates. Looking at Klaviyo stats, it is easy to see that many small businesses love using Klaviyo. Klaviyo even has web tracking features that allow users to track revenue and engagement on the website from the traffic that is coming from their shipping emails. This gives all small business owners more insights into their customers' post-purchase habits. With Malomo integrating with Klaviyo with ease, it is easy to see why so many people love this platform. Aftership and Malomo When looking at eCommerce platforms and software companies, one of the platforms that people like to discuss with Malomo is a company called Aftership. There are several benefits that come with using Aftership pricing and Aftership enterprise programs. For example, Aftership Shopify integrations are strong and Aftership API is helpful for users. Malomo also provides both of those features; however, Malomo provides a number of other advantages that Aftership does not. First, when looking at Aftership tracking and Aftership tracking China, it is clear that Malomo provides more tracking features. When it comes to customer service, tracking is incredibly important. Customers want to know what is happening with their orders and when they are going to be able to receive them. In order to track orders in transit, tracking is incredibly important. This level of transparency is one of the top ways that companies can build strong relationships with their customers. Malomo simply provides better tracking than Aftership. Another major benefit of Malomo when compared to Aftership affiliate and Aftership emails. Malomo allows companies to personalize their transactional shipping emails while Aftership does not. Those who are looking to pass through the Aftership login screen and tailor their emails to meet their unique needs are going to be disappointed because Aftership does not provide this. The personalized emails of Malomo are far superior to the cookie-cutter emails that Aftership provides. Finally, the customer service teams of Aftership and Malomo simply do not compare. When looking at the Malomo customer service team, it is far better than the Aftership team. Malomo has a team that is dedicated to the support and partnerships of the merchants with whom they work. In this manner, anyone who is having a problem with Malomo can rest easy knowing that their problems are going to be addressed quickly and efficiently by a trained and friendly representative. All problems are going to be solved quickly with the dedicated team from Malomo. When looking at Aftership, their customer service is not at the same level and it could take some time for people to have their problems solved. This is just one of the many reasons why Malomo has gotten so popular when compared to Aftership and other potential providers. Klaviyo vs. Mailchimp Another major comparison that people make when they are looking for potential platforms is Mailchimp. When compared to Klaviyo, it is important to take a look at the Klaviyo benefits as well as the Klaviyo limitations before making a decision when it comes to Klaviyo vs Mailchimp. There are several major Klaviyo benefits that everyone should note. One of the first businesses of using Klaviyo is that it is easy to take this platform and integrate it with Shopify. Given that Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in the world, the ease with which Klaviyo can integrate with Shopify is a major benefit. Another major benefit of using Klaviyo is that this platform is easy to segment. This means that small business owners are able to tailor the responses that each customer sees, making it easier for everyone to maximize the potential they have to convert leads into paying customers with this type of personalized service. Finally, Klaviyo also has a great customer support team. This means that anyone who has questions about Klaviyo, the platform, and how it works will be able to have their questions answered quickly and easily. At the same time, there are also a few Klaviyo limitations to note as well. One of the major limitations that people are going to encounter when they use Klaviyo is that they cannot send their transactions shipping emails using Klaviyo. This is a major gap that most small business owners would like to make sure that they address quickly. That is where Malomo can help. Nobody wants to run into a wall when it comes to their transactional shipping emails which is why Malomo addresses this issue quickly. Klaviyo will integrate easily with Malomo and users can rest easy knowing that they can use Malomo to cover their shipping email issues, making sure that all customers have their needs met in a quick, safe, and reliable manner. This allows companies to build their relationships with their customers and ensure that all of their needs are met. Klaviyo and Shopify When looking at Klaviyo and its need for shipping emails, there are several ways to handle these issues. Those who are on Shopify can actually use a native integration that Klaviyo has to build out their emails. The Klaviyo Shopify integration is straightforward and there are even Klaviyo email templates Shopify that people can use. Therefore, when wondering how to use Klaviyo in Shopify, this is a straightforward process. There are a few steps that people have to follow; however, they can get their emails out quickly and easily. In addition, Klaviyo also has a number of other helpful integrations that people might find useful. For example, Klaviyo also has integrations with Salesforce, Squarespace, and a number of other platforms. Furthermore, users can even use Klaviyo to build their own custom integrations. Because it is easy to take Klaviyo and integrate this platform with Shopify and Malomo, it is possible for small business owners to cover all of their needs with these integrations. Furthermore, this can also save eCommerce store owners a tremendous amount of time and time money. Klaviyo Set Up When looking at the Klaviyo setup, it is relatively straightforward. Users will enter the Klaviyo login page and visit the Klaviyo dashboard either through the Klaviyo app or the Klaviyo desktop. At the same time, to access everything that Klaviyo analytics will provide, including CRM Klaviyo and Klaviyo B2B, it will cost money. There are multiple Klaviyo pricing and Klaviyo tiers that people can use. The Klaviyo support team is strong and will help people run through the Klaviyo calculator and Klaviyo costing setups to make sure their Klaviyo payments work best for them. With the right Klaviyo payment method, everyone will have access to advanced Klaviyo email features, including Klaviyo email automation and Klaviyo esp login options. With multiple Klaviyo logins as well as the KSDN Klaviyo email feature, everyone can get the most out of the platform. Finally, it is important to note that there is a free Klaviyo option as well. Those who want to get the most out of Klaviyo need to take advantage of Klaviyo training opportunities. There are numerous resources available for those who would like to attend a Klaviyo academy or earn a Klaviyo certification to help them learn about the platform. With Klaviyo webinars, a Klaviyo email marketing course, and Klaviyo crash course options, everyone can get the most out of Klaviyo. In addition, for those looking to learn more about Klaviyo crash course email marketing options, Malomo has an eBook that is dedicated to helping brands set up their post-purchase flows quickly and easily. This can go a long way toward boosting conversion rates. Klaviyo Company Information For those looking for Klaviyo careers, Klaviyo is headquartered in Boston, MA. Klaviyo reviews, particularly on Klaviyo Glassdoor (with a 4.9 star rating), are positive. There is even a Klaviyo London arm and there are numerous Klaviyo event options that take place regularly, including Klaviyo live events. Klaviyo careers are also in high demand, as the Klaviyo mission statement reflects its dedication to its customers and its employees. Klaviyo Crunchbase reflects a growing, healthy company. Users can also learn more about Malomo and its integrations with Klaviyo at www.gomalomo.com. Klaviyo and Malomo go hand in hand with each other.

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With our kids heading back to school this week – and many of them going to new schools or stepping up to ‘big school’ – back to school stress levels are high. The more we can help our children to feel happy and confident in their own skin, day-to-day, the easier it is for them to handle exam stress. So there’s no need to wait for revision season to apply the techniques we cover here. Having had all three of my boys start at new schools this week (just imagine how many name tapes I have sewn in – I have the scars to prove it) I’ve been walking-my-talk, helping them with the nerves, worries and stresses that come from going back to school or starting somewhere new. This short video shares with you the one, simple question that shifts them from stressed to smiling – fast. How did you get on? Have you had a chance to play with this with your child yet? How might you use it, when they are feeling stressed? I’d love to hear from you, via the comments. Clare Josa has spent the past 15 years teaching over a million people to feel less stressed and to make the difference they are really here to make in the world. But when her eldest son hit exam stress - hard - she decided she had to do something to help parents to help their kids, and How to Beat Exam Stress was born. Clare is the author of five life-changing books and her recent debut novel, You Take Yourself With You, has been described by readers as 'unputdownable'. Please log in again. The login page will open in a new window. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Next Live Training: Emergency Fixes For Exam Stress May 22nd at 7pm UK time

Our values are absolutely fundamental to the way we work. Everyone here can tell you what they are and how much they mean to the way we work, behave, respect each other and how important they are to our success. So simple, straightforward, yet they mean so much to how we operate… Families are at the heart of our family business. The products we make provide families with easily accessible, high quality products which form a core part of a healthy balanced diet. All of our products are developed and produced with the family as our inspiration. We're also a family-owned business, and Jonathan, Ross and Brett Warburton are the fifth generation of Warburtons to run the business. But our concept of family extends beyond those with the surname Warburton - the way we see it, our family has over 4,500 members, and we all work together to create our success. From our bakers to our delivery drivers, each individual that works within our 12 bakeries and 14 depots across the country help us to be the successful business we are today. People sit right at the heart of Warburtons and to nurture our talented team we invest more than £1million every year into employee training and development. We also run a programme of initiatives to motivate and inspire our people. This includes the 'rise to a better you' campaign where we support our people to improve their lifestyles and our Value in People Award which recognises those family members that really show how they live our values. Our employees work hard for the company and we believe in giving back to the communities in which our bakeries are situated. A dedicated team of Community Champions work hard to run the Warburtons Families Matter initiative which gives donations and support to local charities to help improve family life and health in the local areas. In our business, we see ambition as being absolutely fundamental to our future success. Continual innovation underpins our business model, whether it's continuing to bring new variants of our products to our consumers or delivering wheat- and gluten-free products for those who have intolerances. In fact, our ambition is to become Britain's Best Food Business. We are one of the most technologically advanced businesses in UK food manufacturing. We have invested more than £400 million in our business over the past ten years, building new bakeries, refurbishing others and upgrading distribution networks. In the last decade, we have opened and upgraded seven bakeries with state-of-the-art technology, including investing £1million to upgrade the crumpet plant at our Enfield bakery in London. Ambition is about challenging ourselves to constantly reassess how we can provide British families with high quality food that's easy to buy and forms part of a healthy balanced diet. We're constantly racking our brains for great new ideas for feeding Britain's families, consistent with the high quality they expect from Warburtons. Everyone wants to talk about sustainability nowadays. We firmly believe that a sustainable business is a better business and have set out a number of commitments to improve our impact on the environment and to build a better society in the communities in which we operate. Our community investment and charitable giving has been at the heart of Warburtons from the earliest days of our business. Our approach to responsibility helps our people, our bottom line and the communities in which we operate. For further information on our commitments in this area, please see the Corporate Responsibility section. As a family business, we take our duty of care to our consumers very seriously. Our focus is on making a wide range of quality products that can all be included as part of a balanced diet. Bread is a good choice as part of the everyday diet and is a nutritious staple that is great value for money. Bread is a staple food and a healthy choice when eaten as part of a balanced diet and combined with a healthy lifestyle. All Warburtons bread is suitable for vegetarians. It is low in saturated fat and we do not use hydrogenated fat in any of our products.Warburtons bread contains more selenium than some other breads. Our wholemeal breads are an important source of dietary fibre and our white flour is fortified with calcium, iron and Vitamin B. Helping us all eat better is not only about baking healthy products, it is also about giving everyone the information they need to make informed decisions about diet. As a family business, we only ever include ingredients that we would happily eat ourselves. We provide full and clear nutritional information on packs and labels and, where appropriate, throughout our communications. All ingredients are listed, including fibre, and guideline daily amounts (GDAs) are shown on all our packaging. Warburtons is committed to honest and transparent marketing and together with other members of the Food and Drink Federation, we work with industry regulators to maintain effective codes of behaviour. Quality is not just a value for us, it’s an obsession. We are committed to making the best bread in Britain and are very proud that the freshness of our products marks us out as a leader in the industry. We're so obsessed with quality that we can track every one of the 2 million products we bake every day to ensure they're fresh when they get to your local store – we even send our own mystery shoppers to test the freshness of our bread. Our dedicated Quality and Technical team carries out rigorous tests to ensure the highest standards of quality are met and that continuous improvements are made. From the performance of the flour, to the colour of the crust and the texture of the bread, there is no part of the product that goes untested. We also recognise and reward our bakeries which strive to produce the highest quality bread daily through our monthly 'Derrick Warburton Trophy’. The way we source our ingredients is absolutely key to the quality of our products and we source all our ingredients to ensure the highest ethical and quality standards. For example, we’ve been contracting with the same farmers in the UK and Canada for more than 15 years, this continuity helps us ensure that we source only the best wheat for our products.

By Emmet Scott The challenge of great leadership is that it requires you to be clear about your vision and where you want to go. As an entrepreneur, if I’m going to bring something special to the marketplace, then I’ve got to know what I’m working with and what I’m focused on. I see this happening now in clinical circles – clinical leaders are starting to ask, “Who are we? Who do we want to become?” For dental practices, that goal is growing ideal patient care. It’s a vision that aligns well with the business aspect of owning a dental group. But when you combine a scalable growth mindset with things on the clinical side, there can be concerns about how much standardization and structure will impact clinical autonomy and if that impact is the right choice. Clinical autonomy has been such a tenet of what it means to be a dentist that it has become almost untouchable. On the one hand, you have the kind of practice that says to new associates, “We want to give you your autonomy. Whatever you want to do, that sounds great.” That can sound really appealing. But the downside is that the dental group won’t be able to provide the same level of resources to support that associate because they can’t afford to chase that many rabbits of potential patient care. So oftentimes things just get watered down to a general level of support for bread-and-butter dentistry. Ultimately, this stagnates clinical development for dentists who want to go deeper and expand their patient care capabilities. Compare that to a practice, or group of practices, that is super-focused on who they want to be in the marketplace and what value they want to provide. They have a clinical vision and specific structure. They have an internal standard of care run by a clinical team. The procedures they do they can do very well because that tight focus gives them the ability to pump a huge amount of resources into the offerings and the associates training. I love the name “DSO,” because it’s a Dental Support Organization. It’s always playing second fiddle. It’s support. I always want DSOs to stay in that supporting role. And a DSO can support a clear vision of a clinical team better than it can support a clinical team that would rather have the ability to (technically) do whatever they want to do. What’s great for clinicians about the second model is that they know what they’re getting when they sign up. They know what kind of support, what kind of mentorship, what kind of patient types they’re going to be focused on. Not only that, but they can be certain that they will have the resources to provide a really high level of quality care.

Workforce Prep is our structured and evidence-based seven-year program. Students are immersed in an experiential curriculum that includes in-class career mentoring, life skills development, goal setting, job readiness training, and career exploration. Students enter the program in tenth grade and receive training, guidance, and support through four years of post-high school continuing education. “My mentor has been very helpful during the school year. We've been working together to help build up my future career and I really appreciate it.” – Michael, Harper Woods High School Quote 1 - Michael, Harper Woods High School “Winning Futures helped me build connections and learn strategies that I will take with me into my adulthood and use to create a winning future for myself. I hope to one day return and become a mentor so I can make an impact on students.” – Reaghan, Community High School Quote 2 - Reaghan, Community High School “My mentor is an amazing mentor. He tries his best to understand me as a student and helps me with anything no matter the problem.” – Adib, Cass Technical High School, University of Michigan Quote 3 - Adib, Cass Technical High School, University of Michigan “Thank you to my mentor for always being available to listen to my concerns and for giving me advice on any troubles I have.” – Jessica, Madison High School, Macomb Community College Quote 4 - Jessica, Madison High School, Macomb Community College Our Partner Schools Cass Technical High School (Detroit); Communication & Media Arts High School (Detroit); Community High School (Sterling Heights); Harper Woods High School (Harper Woods); Mumford High School (Detroit); Pontiac Academy for Excellence (Pontiac); and Warren Mott High School (Warren).

First dates can be pretty fascinating, and it brings a lot of expectations. For women mostly, they want it to be excellent, so they try as much as possible to act all perfect, that they make so many mistakes they aren’t even aware of. Remember your first date and how exciting it was, and how long you waited for that call that was promised, but it never came. You tried replaying the whole event in your head, thinking if you did something wrong. You probably taught maybe he’s just not into you, but then it happened with 3 other guys. It just can’t be their fault, let’s take a look at what you’ve been doing wrong. - Excess Complaint: A lot of women do this unconsciously. It’s either they are complaining about how bad the food taste, or how incompetent the staffs are, it’s one thing or the other. Come on, I get it, you be crazy, but please don’t show it off on the first date. - Talking About Past Relationships: Now first dates, have a lot to do with getting to know each other, so why you gonna be telling this guy about your ex or exes. I believe that’s a big turnoff. If he isn’t asking, quite telling. - Excess Questioning: Now the Why’s are too much in your conversation, you are not even letting him answer. You are like ” Why the red tie though? Do you have a thing with red? They say red is sexy, do you agree? Why did you even pick this restaurant? Oh wait, your dad owns this right? He is a known business mogul? I heard he has a case with the police, is that true?” I’m sure the questions are beginning to annoy you already, exactly, this is how some women sound on the first date, how irritating? Let one thing lead to another, give him a break, let him answer you as you ask, and don’t go digging into his past. - Acting Like His Mother: Can you leave the motherly duties for the mother, the person in question is a grown-ass man, he needs a woman in his life to assist him in getting his shit all together, not a bossy woman acting like a mother figure in his life. So don’t go telling him to eat what he doesn’t want to eat, or telling him to do what he doesn’t want to do. Come off it jor. - Paying No Attention: Now most women are more attached to their phones more than anything else, while some seem to focus on their phones whenever they are nervous. All I’m saying is on a first date, it’s safe to put your phone off for that period after you can get busy with your phones. Pay much attention to him. - Never Setting Boundaries: Always let people know their boundaries, so they’ll be put in check. You don’t set boundaries, but then you complain when someone disrespects you. - Never Paying For The Bills: A lot of women feel if they pay for the meal, it’s disrespectful on their part. Please get me clear on this cause I don’t understand. I feel your mindset is just messed up, for more on this point, check this post. If you’ve been guilty of this, but you didn’t think it was a mistake, now you know. The men in the house, please feel free to tell us your bad first date experience, we will love to know, and also anything that wasn’t listed, that you think the women need to know that they do a lot when it comes to first dates, down in the comment section. Women, don’t worry, I got you, we will be doing part 2 of this, where the target will be the Men laughs

Please note that there are two methods to launch Mabinogi: the Nexon Launcher and Steam. Launching the game via the Nexon Launcher - If you have not already done so, download the Nexon Launcher from this link. This is the same Nexon Launcher that is used to launch any other Nexon game. - Open the Nexon Launcher and sign in using your log-in credentials. - If you have not already done so, download Mabinogi by clicking the 'Download' button. This button is replaced by 'Play' if you have already downloaded the game. - Click 'Play' and have fun! Launching the game via Steam (requires you to link your Steam account) - If you have not already done so, please follow these steps to link your Steam account to your Nexon account. - After linking your Steam account in step 1, log in to Steam using your Steam log-in credentials. - If you have not already done so, such as in step 1, download Mabinogi from the Steam store. - Find Mabinogi in your Steam Library and click 'Play!'.

When it comes to waste removal containers, there are numerous styles and shapes that you can choose from, depending on what your needs are. Roll-off trailer-style systems are an excellent option to consider. - Less Risk of Property Damage – With their reduced footprint and lighter-weight containers, roll-off trailers are an excellent option for homeowners or for projects being done in residential areas. This style of waste container minimizes the risk of damage being done to the surface it is placed on, so you can use them without having to worry that your driveway or the parking lot of your business will suffer significant cosmetic damage. - Portable – If your project has several areas that need rubbish or waste removed, roll-off trailers are an excellent option. The trailer-style roll-off system allows you to handle multiple containers with a single trailer, allowing you more freedom to move the container from site to site. This portability can save you time and money, since you can simply swap out containers at each site with a single trailer. - Investment Cost – The trailer-style roll-off system requires less capital investment than other waste hauling processes due to the single trailer having the ability to handle multiple trailer-style roll-off containers. Containers typically cost much less than additional trailers and do not require the level of maintenance. There’s a waste removal solution for every project out there, so don’t let the cost of entry, fear of property damage, or issues with mobility limit you. Roll-off trailer-style waste removal containers are a great option to keep in mind for your next project.

By Michael Town One of the best ways to tell how an administration intends to govern is by who they surround themselves with – the people they tap to lead agencies and the individuals who will be in the room as decisions are being made. Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s nomination of Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist and head of EPA under former President Donald Trump, as Virginia’s next secretary of natural and historic resources made one thing perfectly clear: He has no intention of continuing the important work of protecting Virginia’s environment. In both his capacity as a coal lobbyist and during his time at EPA, Wheeler’s agenda remained the same: roll back or weaken to the point of irrelevance the environmental protections that keep Americans safe from harmful pollution, efforts that put industry interests ahead of the public’s right to a safe and clean environment. Youngkin’s extreme pick to lead Virginia’s environmental agencies ran into immediate opposition, and as of now, it’s unlikely he has the votes to actually secure this nomination at the General Assembly. So, why bother? There are two logical explanations: Youngkin’s inexperience governing means he assumed that his nominations would move forward without fanfare; or Youngkin’s simply trying to score political points with the far-right conservative base. Youngkin spent his career in the private sector and has never held elected office before. Even so, many pundits agree political newcomer Youngkin has higher political ambitions, having apparently grown tired of breaking apart companies and selling off the parts. Virginia’s one-term governor rule, unfortunately, makes our state a logical stepping stone for higher office. And if Youngkin has further political ambitions by wanting to be Mike Pence 2.0 so be it. But we refuse to let him score political points at Virginia’s expense by threatening the progress we’ve made protecting clean water, clean air and a healthy, safe and accessible environment. Wheeler’s track record on the environment is well-established. As the right hand of climate-denier U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., who famously carried a snowball onto the floor of the Senate to prove that global warming didn’t exist, Wheeler routinely down-played or outright denied the existence of climate change. When he entered the private sector as a lobbyist for Faegre Baker Daniels, Wheeler’s most lucrative client was Murray Energy, one of the nation’s largest coal companies. Over the 20 years that Wheeler worked for Murray, he was paid millions of dollars to fight environmental safeguard after environmental safeguard, all while Murray Energy racked up one of the worst environmental and worker safety track records in the country. When Trump came into office, Wheeler connected Murray Energy CEO Robert Murray with then-Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to discuss Murray Energy’s deregulation “Action Plan,” steps the Trump Administration should take to reverse environmental safeguards and decimate the agencies in charge of holding Big Coal accountable. Wheeler would eventually join the administration as EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s deputy at EPA, where he helped pursue the deregulatory agenda of his former client in his official government capacity. When Pruitt was forced to resign in disgrace due to blatant corruption and abuse of his post at EPA, Wheeler took the reins at EPA and was even more effective than his predecessor at gutting environmental laws and weakening his agency from within. As EPA Administrator, Wheeler routinely sidelined, silenced or ignored scientists, replacing them on advisory boards with industry insiders, and burying inconvenient studies and reports intended to help protect us from harmful pollution. Wheeler repealed and replaced the Clean Power Plan with a rule with no actual limits on carbon dioxide emissions; significantly weakened federal Clean Cars standards; and undercut a rule to limit toxic mercury emissions, a potent neurotoxin, from coal-fired power plants, and led the repeal of protections under the Clean Water Act, taking half of our nation’s wetlands and 18 percent of our tributaries out of federal oversight. Wheeler also has a history of working to dismantle environmental protections that here in Virginia have had strong bipartisan support. One of the first significant actions he took as EPA administrator was weakening federal efforts to clean up our nation’s toxic coal ash. In early 2019, a Republican legislature joined with the Northam administration to require utilities in Virginia to dig up and safely store or repurpose coal ash at sites across Virginia. Wheeler also backed a 90 percent reduction in funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program – funding that helps states like Virginia do their part to reduce pollution flows into the Bay, including fixing aging wastewater infrastructure. Republicans and Democrats in Virginia have historically come together to support cleaning up the Bay, including bipartisan efforts to address combined sewer overflows that send untreated sewage into our waterways, but Wheeler’s EPA was so asleep at the wheel on the Chesapeake Bay cleanup that Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia had to sue EPA to force them to do their job by holding upstream states accountable for cutting their share of pollution. Wheeler’s extreme pro-industry, pro-polluter environmental record makes him unfit to lead Virginia’s environmental agencies and shows just how out of step Youngkin is with the majority of Virginians who care deeply about our environment and the future of our Commonwealth. We will fight this nomination – and Youngkin’s extreme anti-environmental attacks – tooth and nail. Michael Town is executive director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters. Contact him at [email protected] originally published at www.virginiamercury.com, Authored by Guest Column

Columbia University student group recently launched the “Columbia Communism Club,” an organization utilizing the school’s well-known crown as a symbol, albeit enhanced with the Communist hammer and sickle. The Ivy League bastion of higher learning’s newly formed club recently held its first meeting. The club even has an Instagram page, a post on which read: “Do you want to be a part of leftist discussion, engage in mutual aid, and better understand leftist theory? Join us today and be apart [sic] of the movement!” (Cut them some slack, they’re teaching leftist theory, not English grammar.) In ironically capitalist fashion, the club already is establishing its “brand,” with a social media tagline stating: “Bringing accessible theory to Columbia students – Workers of the world, unite!” practice-- has been quite “accessible” in the 100-plus years of its existence, too much so for the more than 100 million people who were exterminated by it in the 20th Century alone. Skidmore College’s student government denied official approval to a Young Americans for Liberty chapter and student leader Hannah Davis, calling the views of the group bigoted and hateful. Liberty is apparently deemed hateful by many, judging by their steadfast determination to impose or submit to mask mandates, vaccination decrees, lockdowns, and various other preposterous violations of personal liberty and autonomy. A recent petition cleverly titled “Stop Skidmore College from Approving the Young Americans for Liberty Club” baselessly smeared YAL, saying it has a “proclivity to spread hatred” that “cannot be tolerated.” The petition also claimed, utterly without evidence, that YAL’s group application is a “reactionary response to students of color voicing their experiences and is an attempt to silence our voices.” No, the only attempt to silence voices is obviously coming from those behind the petition and the Skidmore College student government. Skidmore officials hilariously claimed that free speech is protected on campus, except for “hate speech.” Speech that everyone loves and agrees with probably doesn’t need protection, does it? The right to free speech is specifically focused on speech which some could find offensive. YAL’s Davis appealed the private liberal arts college’s student government’s denial in March, but the Student Government Association comrades remained heroically firm and inflexible in their opposition to the First Amendment, liberty, and the concept of dissenting viewpoints. contrast between the ease with which the Columbia Communist Club came into existence and the trials the Young Americans for Liberty club has had to endure to get a Skidmore chapter approved is perfectly illustrative of the current culture in the U.S. under the Biden administration. non-Communists slaughtered? No problem! Believe in limited government and the existence of two sexes? Off to the Gulags you sick, Trump-supporting, cis-gendered,

Here's a video summary of the article if you don't have time to read it in its entirety: Oddly enough, bidding in a reverse auction and gambling are quite alike; they both require strategies that will help suppliers stay on track and eventually win (hopefully by making a profit). Luckily for you, we have gathered 6 bidding strategies that your suppliers might be using during a reverse auction. Here we go: #0: Preparation is key Before you go into a reverse auction, you need to make sure you are all prepared. This is true for both buyers and suppliers. So you should expect a series of questions like: How many suppliers will be competing in the auction? What time will the auction start and how long is it scheduled to run for? Will the bidding be online and automated? If the Internet connection failed during the auction, what would you do? Is there an incumbent supplier? What are the parameters that will be involved in the bidding: price, shipping, terms? There might be other questions that will appear during the preparation stage as well, so you should be prepared to answer all of them. Reverse auctions are designed for purchases that feature little collaboration, shorter-term contracts, products with common specifications and low complexity, and acquisitions where there are savings opportunities. However, strategic relationships with suppliers rarely meet these criteria. A reverse auction takes a great deal of your time if it’s done correctly. You have to identify sellers, collect bids, evaluate, revisit to collect information, and then revisit again to negotiate a final deal. All this takes time that you may not have to spare. So one way to test your suppliers and see if you can establish a long-term relationship with them is to check whether they understand your needs and are willing to lift some pressure off of you. Now that you know all this, you’re ready for your reverse auction. #1: Starting very low Whenever a supplier starts with a very low bid, he’s definitely trying to intimidate his competitors. However, this strategy is a double-edged sword: yes, it can work for them, but it can also do them more harm than good. Putting forward an extremely low bid before seeing how low other suppliers are willing to go is a very dangerous bidding strategy as it can really minimize their chances of a high profit margin. You might think that this is a good opportunity for you as a buyer, but it might not be so. Often, suppliers will ask for a renegotiation of the contract, or they might lower the quality of their products to minimize their losses. #2: Starting very high In some cases, the supplier will start very high, in the hope that others will do the same. This might be a sign that there is a short supply in the market, or that some event affected the competitive situation. #3 Fast matching The "intimidation method" that is what is known as the "Fast Match," is the one in which the bidder IMMEDIATELY retakes the leading bid position whenever they are outbid. Fast Matches send a strong signal to the competition that a supplier intends to win at any price. Sometimes, this will result in a complete bidding stoppage after only 2 or 3 Fast Matches or, in the presence of an equally strong bidder, will accelerate the bidding process spiraling downwards. #4: Bidding patterns Accurately predicting competitors’ next bid amount is a key step for some suppliers in managing the overall process and determining their following bid amount. Usually, there are a couple of patterns that can be observed in a reverse auction: Bidders tend to work in round numbers. As the action moves closer to the close, bidding typically moves in smaller and smaller increments. Bidders tend to bid using exactly the minimum bid step when bidding during time extensions at the end of an e-auction. If the reverse auction pricing is quickly spiraling downwards, someone has to stop the madness. Some suppliers will strategically try to stop to send a signal to other bidders or in the hope that a close second place finish will earn them a place in some post-auction negotiation process. #6: The price floor Once suppliers completed the proper pre-bid preparations, they have already determined the minimum acceptable price to profitably support their business. Or it might be that they have a mandate from the management to go as low as a certain price floor. If bidders have strong discipline, they will never cross that price. So keep that in mind. Other bidding strategies to keep in mind: If a supplier is known to have quality or delivery problems, other suppliers will not aim to be the lowest-cost provider - they will aim for the second best. Also, if the bidding web page shows the overall ranking based on a collection of factors, they will improve their price, shipping, terms one by one and watch to see how their overall ranking changes. Incumbents will not aim to be the lowest-cost provider either because of the cost of switching providers.

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Fletcher’s Fine Foods looked to NextPhase to carve out a market for a new snack pack product resulting in a successful launch Premium Brands Inc. is an integrated food processing company with a family of brands including Fletcher's, Grimm's, Harvest, McSweeney's, Goodlife and Quality Fast Foods. NextPhase was tasked with the challenge of naming, branding and launching a new product for its Fletcher’s Fine Food division – targeting both snack and lunch markets, all on a small budget. NextPhase created ‘Munch Kit’ – a product name that strategically targeted both snack and lunch markets. Next a design for the three varieties was produced. The product was then introduced to the trade with a brochure and advertising. This was supported by a consumer magazine and transit ad campaign, as well as in-store coupons. Healthy sales of the product were generated as soon as it was introduced into stores. Said product manager, Carol Nelson, “We were very pleased with the simplicity of the name, packaging design and advertising campaign. It all centred on the product name ‘Munch Kit’ and worked well for us considering the small marketing budget that we had.”

The face is often the first thing people notice about us. It reflects our health, age, genetics, and even our emotions. Beyond just aesthetics, our facial skin acts as a barrier against environmental toxins and pathogens. Thus, taking care of our facial skin, also known as skincare, is vital. Let’s delve into the reasons why skin care products are important: 1. Protection Against Environmental Damage: Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental factors like UV rays, pollutants, and toxins. These factors can cause free radicals to form, leading to premature aging, fine lines, and other skin issues. A good skincare routine with the right products can help protect our skin from these damages and reinforce its natural barrier. 2. Preventing Skin Issues: Acne, dryness, excessive oiliness, and sensitivity are just some of the skin problems one might face. Regular cleansing lotion, toning, and moisturizing help keep these problems at bay. Targeted treatments, such as serums and masks, can address specific issues and improve skin health over time. Our skin needs adequate hydration to function properly. Dehydrated skin can become dry, flaky, and more prone to wrinkles. Moisturizing daily ensures our skin remains plump, youthful, and healthy. 4. A Boost in Self-Confidence: Healthy skin can significantly influence one’s self-perception and confidence. When our skin looks good, it often makes us feel good. A consistent skincare routine can provide not only physical but also psychological benefits. 5. Cell Regeneration: As we age, our skin’s natural ability to shed dead cells and regenerate new ones slows down. Exfoliation, either chemical or physical, is an essential skincare step to remove dead cells and promote the growth of new ones. This results in brighter and smoother skin. 6. Anti-Aging Benefits: While aging is a natural process, premature skin aging is not. Factors like sun exposure, smoking, and poor diet can accelerate the aging process. Proper skincare, including sunscreen use and antioxidant-rich products, can slow down the signs of aging and keep the skin youthful for longer. 7. Maintaining Skin Health: Just as we need to eat right, exercise, and get regular check-ups to keep our bodies healthy, our skin requires attention and care to remain in optimal health. Regular check-ins with a dermatologist and a personalized skincare routine can ensure our skin remains in its best condition. 8. Enhanced Skin Appearance: Skincare products can enhance the natural beauty of our skin. Whether it’s a hydrating mask that imparts a natural glow or a tinted moisturizer that evens out skin tone, the right products can make a significant difference in appearance. 9. Promoting Relaxation: Skincare isn’t just about the physical. The act of taking care of one’s skin can be therapeutic. Many people find their skincare routine to be a form of self-care, a moment to relax and pamper themselves. Our facial skin is not just an aesthetic concern; it’s a reflection of our overall health and well-being. By investing time and effort into a consistent skincare routine, we can protect, enhance, and maintain the health and beauty of our skin. In doing so, we’re not only taking care of our face but also promoting overall wellness and confidence.