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CHRISTOPHER GRILLO | May 13, 2019 | 169 views
Spare Parts 3D supports manufacturers and industrial spare parts users to increase their spares availability by producing them on-demand using Additive Manufacturing. We digitize spare parts inventory and enable to produce them anywhere, anytime, in the shortest delay, leveraging our worldwide network of 3D printers.
Article | August 24, 2021
UWE Bristol will play a central role in a new £10 million digital engineering centre for the region. The Centre for Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation is a research, innovation and skills initiative created to develop and accelerate digital engineering across multiple industry sectors, to ultimately benefit future generations of engineers and engineering products, and to help tackle global challenges.
Article | July 14, 2022
The recent AHR Expo 2020 was a showcase of the very latest - and coolest - technologies for service contractors. From cutting-edge air and water purification systems to virtual reality headsets to advanced sensors and alert systems to enhance safety, one thing is clear: service contractors today have a lot more tools at their disposal than they have in years past.
Article | August 25, 2021
Since the early days of the personal computer the construction industry has been slow to adopt digital technology. As a result, increases in construction productivity have lagged virtually every other major industry, such as automotive and aircraft manufacturing. It's true that every construction project is different, unlike automobiles and planes, but we can do more to improve the future of construction.
Article | February 10, 2020
SAP is tweaking and twisting everything it can to make everybody happy. The efforts of Mucic, Morgan and Klein are remarkable. The three musketeers strike again: SAP co-CEOs Jennifer Morgan and Christian Klein as well as CFO Luka Mucic want to make everyone in the SAP community happy, and they want to make everyone happy all at once. To make that happen, they are moving large sums of money around – only through legal, albeit a little questionable, methods, primarily financial engineering.
Prnewswire | March 28, 2023
ACL Digital today announced it has signed an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with SAP. ACL Digital's Workforce Scheduler, a cloud-based app, was built on SAP Business Technology Platform to deliver efficiency and workforce optimization benefits to customers.
A constraint-based planning engine, ACL Digital's Workforce Scheduler delivers an optimized employee experience. The user-friendly reporting tool helps planners achieve a balance between customer needs and employee preferences while considering constraints such as skills required and the number of people. The people's roster is applicable to IT services and the healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and aviation sectors.
"Our strategic partnership with SAP is long-term," said Ramandeep Singh, CEO of ACL Digital. "Our customers will benefit from our deep expertise of IT services with that of SAP technology."
Kumar Vaibhav Srivastava, Business head of ACL Digital, said, "The Workforce Scheduler uses complex AI algorithms to deliver a balanced roster."
About ACL Digital
ACL Digital, an ALTEN Group Company, is a digital product innovation and engineering leader. We help our clients design and build innovative products (AI, Cloud, and Mobile ready), content and commerce-driven platforms, and connected, converged digital experiences for the modern world through a design-led Digital Transformation framework.
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, ACL Digital is a leader in design-led digital experience, innovation, enterprise modernization, and product engineering services converging to Technology, Media & Telecom. The company has a workforce of 54,100+ spread across more than 30+ countries.
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Business Wire | March 27, 2023
In its first acquisition of 2023, Atwell has acquired Blueline, a 75-person civil engineering, land planning, and landscape architecture firm based in Kirkland, Washington. Blueline has four offices throughout Washington and serves clients in commercial development, residential development, and public works. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Combined with Atwell's existing office in Portland, Oregon, this acquisition significantly expands Atwell's capabilities in the Pacific Northwest region and will strengthen Atwell's ability to support its national residential, commercial, industrial, and energy clients in the region.
"Atwell and Blueline share a similar client-focused culture of providing outstanding services to our numerous clients," said Brian Wenzel, Atwell's Chief Executive Officer. "The acquisition of Blueline is our fourth transaction in the past four months. We're excited to continue our geographic expansion throughout the United States, taking another major step in our long-term strategic growth plan."
"Blueline is thrilled to join the Atwell family," said Brian Darrow, Blueline's Chief Executive Officer. "Atwell's proven history of an employee-centered culture, similar emphasis on strong relationships with clients, and their exceptional growth will provide amazing opportunities for our employees and more services to better meet the needs of our clients. We are so excited to start this next chapter of Blueline's story!"
Founded in 2003, Blueline is an innovative, energetic, and responsive group of professionals who are passionate about making their communities great places to live. The company's mission is to build people, to build relationships, and to build communities.
AEC Advisors initiated this transaction and acted as a financial advisor to Blueline.
About Atwell, LLC
Atwell, LLCis a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm with technical professionals located across the country now totaling more than 1,400 team members. Creating innovative solutions for clients in industries such as real estate and land development, power and energy, oil and gas, and infrastructure, Atwell provides comprehensive turnkey services including land and right-of-way support, planning, landscape architecture, engineering, land surveying, environmental compliance and permitting, and project and program management.
GlobeNewswire | March 24, 2023
Leading design and consulting firm RJC Engineers (RJC) strengthens their capabilities in the United States by acquiring Kordt Engineering Group (KEG).
This acquisition allows RJC to serve the entire North American market better and for KEG to provide clients with the added capacity, depth, and experience of RJC. The firms will continue to provide structural engineering, façade engineering, structural glass engineering, and more. RJC has fourteen locations across Canada and is now in Las Vegas and Reno.
"RJC is excited to further establish ourselves in the United States through acquiring KEG. Our firms and people have worked together for over a decade and share a history of successfully delivering projects throughout the United States," said Mike Moffatt, Executive Principal of RJC Engineers. "Our strategic expansion into the US allows RJC to bring its expertise in many building sectors and service offerings to a broader client base."
KEG is a structural engineering firm with offices in Las Vegas and Reno. The firm provides timely, efficient structural designs for many building types, from commercial retail to landmark buildings. KEG has a strong signature client base across North America and into Europe, with a reputation for client service and people-focused culture akin to RJC's.
Stephan Kordt founded KEG and is now President of US Operations with RJC. A respected engineer and trusted leader, Stephan's reputation for delivering quality projects within tight deadlines is well-earned. His deep technical knowledge, industry relationships, and ability to develop elegant and appropriate structural solutions make him highly sought after throughout the United States. His projects include The Watermark, Project 63, Crystals at CityCenter, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino Expansion, Venetian Casino Resort and Venezia Hotel Tower, and the World Market Center.
Theodore Droessler (Ted) is Vice President of US Operations with RJC. Ted has a strong background in quality assurance and management. He has helped manage design professionals and technical staff for the delivery of projects ranging from single-storey luxury residential projects to commercial structures. His projects include 5G upgrades to existing communication buildings, load testing of deep foundations and redevelopment of older masonry structures to include change of occupancy.
"We are thrilled to join forces with RJC and look forward to working with an even wider group of clients across the United States," shares Stephan Kordt, President of US Operations. "We will continue to deliver the high-quality client service and innovative structural engineering solutions we are known for while bringing the expanded depth of expertise, resources, and services offerings now available to us as part of RJC."
"We are delighted to welcome this talented, passionate team to RJC Engineers," Moffatt said. "Their depth of knowledge and experience in building structures, combined with their dedication to client success, is a natural fit with us. Together, we're well-positioned to help our clients thrive."
About RJC Engineers:
RJC Engineers (RJC) is an employee owned engineering firm that celebrates creative thinking, prompt service, and technical excellence in the design and maintenance of structures. Bringing the best of RJC to every project for over seven decades, the firm integrates ingenuity and practicality to create success for their clients and their projects. RJC provides structural engineering, structural restoration, building science, parking facility design, structural glass engineering, and building energy modeling services.
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Brief Updates from MBHQ
You've no doubt by now noticed that the sites got a bit of a re-design and some things got changed around last week. We wanted to highlight two changes to make sure everyone knows what changed.
The first and biggest is COMMENTS! Registration is no longer required to post a comment on any post. Of course if you already have an account you can still login to ensure your comments are attributed to you, but those who don't can now post a comment without any long term commitment. Also, on the right you can see some of the recent comments so you'll always know what the active discussions are. This was the most requested thing we've heard from people since our last redesign and we're excited to see where it leads.
The next change is also something that was heavily requested, and that is a change to the ADS on the sites. You'll immediately notice fewer of them, but what might not be as obvious is those smaller square ones to the right are specific to this city only and are being sold for a flat rate for a period of time rather than a confusing CPM/traffic/network model. Depending on the city, these range from $7-$175 for a full week. If you purchase one, during that time your ad will be the only one in that spot and will show on every page. We set these up both to make it easier for smaller local businesses to get their ads on our site, and also to help us bring in ads that relate better to our local audiences. Also, keeping these sites online is expensive and every little bit helps.
There are a bunch of other things we changed but we'll leave those to you to investigate and take advantage of. Hope you like it, and we look forward to seeing you in the comments!!
The folks at MBHQ

subset: commoncrawl


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Stoney Creek Collection, Inc. has been the Stitcher's Choice for exquisite cross stitch designs since 1984. Count on Stoney Creek for easy-to-read charts and beautiful finished stitched pieces and designs on hundreds of different themes. Use the search box to find special themes such as wedding, baby or Christmas. Or browse through this complete listing of Stoney Creek books (listed from most recent to oldest). If a book is missing from these lists, it is out of print or no longer available. Fabric, floss and embellishments sold separately.
*Please note that all Stoney Creek charts and publications (even discontinued or out of print books) are protected by copyright. It is a violation of copyright law to reproduce, upload to any website, store in any retrieval system or share electronically, mechanically, or otherwise, in any way without the written consent of the publisher.
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Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida could meet in the co-headliner of November's big UFC 167 event, but there's a twist.
Rather than light heavyweight, where Machida (19-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC) has fought and previously held the UFC title, UFC President Dana White would want him to fight fellow Brazilian Belfort (23-10 MMA, 12-6 UFC) at middleweight.
That's the word from Tuesday's edition of "UFC Tonight" and reporter Ariel Helwani.
UFC 167 takes place place Nov. 16 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The pay-per-view event, which serves as the UFC's 20th anniversary show, features a headliner between welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and challenger Johny Hendricks. Belfort vs. Machida could take the second spot on the card.
The booking, though, faces some issues. Machida hasn't fought at middleweight, and Belfort said he doesn't want to compete in the division unless he's granted a title shot.
For Machida, who recently dropped a controversial decision to Phil Davis at UFC 163, it could be a possibility. He didn't consider a move to middleweight because the division previously was ruled by friend and training partner Anderson Silva. However, with Silva recently surrendering his belt to Chris Weidman, the former titleholder may now be more eager.
Prior to the Davis fight (which every major media outlet scored for the Machida), he was on a 3-1 run and inching closer to a title shot.
Belfort, meanwhile, recently turned down a planned bout with Tim Kennedy because of his title demands. Additionally, his attempt to call out Chael Sonnen for a non-middleweight bout didn't really go anywhere (largely because Sonnen is scheduled to fight Mauricio Rua at Saturday's UFC Fight Night 26 event). However, the recent middleweight and light-heavyweight title challenger has won two straight and four of his past five. Most recently, he blasted final Strikeforce champ Luke Rockhold with a spinning heel kick and follow-up punches at UFC on FX 8 in May.
For more on the UFC 167, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
(Pictured: Lyoto Machida)


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6 seater car rental in Bourgas Airport [BOJ]
Compare 6 seater car rental in Bourgas BOJ Airport prices from the best rental companies. With our service, you will easily find the best 6 seater rental car rate and deal for you.
Below are the lists of 6 seater cars, available for rental in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria, as well as nearby locations. These lists contain the models and basic characteristics of cars, as well as their approximate prices. To learn about the precise prices and availability of the cars for the required dates, please, fill in the dates of the beginning and the end of the rental in the search form above and press the "Search" button, or just press the "Rent a car" button below the image of the car you prefer.
6 seater rental cars in Bourgas Airport [BOJ] and other relevant cars
Renault Trafic
9 seat carrier
$32.27 /day
Ford Custom
9 seat carrier
- Unlimited mileage
- Airport fee
$36.05 /day
Ford Galaxy
7 seat carrier
- Unlimited mileage
- Free additional driver
- Airport fee
$113.06 /day
Volkswagen Caddy
5 seat carrier
$53.30 /day
Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- Unlimited mileage
$103.59 /day
Dacia Duster
$8.92 /day
Toyota Land Cruiser
- Unlimited mileage
$124.99 /day
- Unlimited mileage
- Airport fee
$182.44 /day
Ford Fiesta
$6.13 /day
Dacia Sandero
$6.41 /day
Renault Clio
- Unlimited mileage
- Airport fee
$92.05 /day
Dacia Sandero Stepway
- Unlimited mileage
- Airport fee
$94.91 /day
The presented lists contain the data obtained by our system from the previous car rental requests in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria, and the nearby locations. Since the prices depend on the season of rental, the actual 6 seater car rental prices on the requested date may be different from the presented ones.
What are the 6-seaters?
A 6-seater is a spacious car aimed for transportation of big families or groups of people with large amounts of luggage.
There are usually 5 doors or sliding doors in 6-seaters, they have seats for 6 people, and the back seats can be transformed into the luggage compartment. The driving performance of the 6-seaters is quite similar to the Estate cars. Due to the transformation mechanism in the cars of this group sometimes the same model of the car may be assigned to 6, as well as 7 or 8-seaters at a time.
Besides some models of SUVs for rental in Bourgas - Airport (like Nissan Qashqai) are often 6 and 7-seaters. Note that some cheap 7 seater car rental in Bourgas may not be suitable for distant journeys for 6 people because the back transformable seats are usually smaller than regular passenger seats. However such a car will perfectly suit for 5 persons with a lot of luggage.
Best car rental companies at Bourgas Airport [BOJ]
Book your 6 seater rental car from one of the best car rental providers in Bourgas - Airport. After checking our list of car rental companies that provide 6 seater cars in Bourgas sorted by their customers' ratings, you will easily select the best-value offer.
Map of locations near Bourgas - Airport
FAQ - 6 seater rental cars in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria
How to find a cheap 6 seater car rental in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria?
The mixture of affordable prices and good service is probably what you are searching for each time you rent a car. Rental24h.com is created to save you money on 6 seater vehicle class rentals in Bourgas - Airport.
However, you will be surprised that even despite our low rates of a rental 6 seater car, there are plenty of opportunities to reduce it as much as possible. This means that you will gain even more benefits without loss of quality.
So, what are the ways to get a cost-effective 6 seater deal at Bourgas?
- Book a car in advance, i.e. at least 7-10 days prior to the expected trip.
- Reserve on weekdays to get more low-priced offers.
- Consider a long-term deal. Very often a weekly rental will be more profitable than reserving for 4-5 days.
- Don't forget to look at surrounding pickup points, because the prices for the same 6 seater cars can vary seriously.
- Compare offers from several vendors at once so that your choice is the most profitable from a financial point of view.
- Pick up a car with a pickup full return full fuel option to pay only for the gasoline you consumed.
- Think about the insurance in advance - perhaps you already have it with your bank card.
- Keep away from one-way deals and border crossings.
- Don't be lazy to check discounted rates, as sometimes they allow you to receive the desired car 10-20% cheaper.
What 6 seater cars I can rent in Bourgas BOJ Airport?
Each driver has his own preferences regarding a rental car. Someone is used to driving Ford vehicles, while others like Asian manufacturers like Toyota or Kia.
Anyway, it's always better when you select a car not only for the price but also for your personal desires.
Rental24h.com will 100% find your favorite provider and model because it cooperates with all companies available in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria. This means a complete list of cars to choose from will be always before your eyes.
Don't forget that when booking in advance, you will get access to a much larger range of cars, and their prices will please you.
What is the cheapest 6 seater rental car in Bourgas - Airport?
Is vehicle with the lowest price a decisive argument for your trip? Good news for you, as the comfortable and fuel-efficient 6 seater rental car is available for just $32.274 per day in Bourgas.
What's more, the total price may be reduced with a long-term deal.
What car rental company has the lowest 6 seater car rental price in Bourgas BOJ Airport?
Very often, an affordable car rental agency is associated with poor service and bad-quality vehicles. However, this can't be relevant to top rent a car.
The company features the lowest price for 6 seater cars in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria, plus has excellent performance. Its best offer is Renault Trafic at a rate of $32.274 per day.
How old do you have to be to rent 6 seater car in Bourgas - Airport?
What is the best car rental company that provides 6 seater car rental in Bourgas?
Each company tries to do its best to make the customer satisfied and get a pleasant experience during a road trip. The total price, quality of service, cleanliness of the vehicle, impressions of the pick-up and drop-off processes - all this forms the rating of the vendor.
Due to thousands of travelers' reviews, GOLDCAR, TOP, HERTZ and are considered to be the best agencies to pick up 6 seater car at Bourgas BOJ Airport.
Their most cost-effective 6 seater rental car offers are:
- GOLDCAR - Kia Ceed Estate or similar available from $10 per day;
- TOP - Renault Trafic or similar available from $32 per day;
- HERTZ - BMW X5 or similar available from $182 per day;
Can I pay for my 6 seater rental car reservation with a debit card at BOJ Airport, Bulgaria?
Some novice travelers consider the type of bank card is not an important aspect when you rent a car. However, using a debit card is declined by most providers, and you need a credit card in order to make a successful reservation of 6 seater car.
The fact is that the credit limit is used for a safety deposit. It allows companies to rely on compensation for damage caused to the car, fines for violation of traffic rules and other potential losses.
Remember that with a debit card you can only pay for the vehicle on our website, but you have to provide a credit card at the rental desk in Bourgas - Airport.
Can someone else drive my 6 seater rental car in Bourgas?
On a road trip, it is always very good to have someone who can replace you behind the steering wheel. Therefore, when booking your 6 seater car, don't forget to include the 'Additional driver' in the list of optional services.
An extra driver is fully authorized to drive a vehicle that is issued in the name of the main driver. The price of the option depends on the provider, and very often you can even enjoy our free additional driver options in Bourgas BOJ Airport.
Should I buy an additional insurance for my 6 seater car rental in BOJ Airport, Bulgaria?
You know that traveling by car is always associated with additional financial risks, and of course, you don't want to think too much about it, because a vacation is a time to relax completely from everything.
For this reason, you should think about your insurance in advance. It will protect you from many unexpected situations on the road, while your provider will have no reason to refuse rental.
The fact is that the company has the right to cancel your reservation if you don't have the needed coverage.
The insurance protection covers your liability in excess of the deposit amount, so even in the event of a serious incident, you can rely on only minor expenses on your part.
It is always better to have additional insurance when picking up 6 seater vehicle in Bourgas - Airport.


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Factors To Consider Before Ordering Food Online
Most people order food online nowadays. The reason behind the ears is the development over the years to be an easy experience since one can easily order from home. In an average city there are over twenty online food delivery services indicating that this is a growing market. It is clear that a lot of people use these services. Even though these services are readily available, it is important to know how to choose one that will offer the best and quality services. In the article below we shall discuss the factors that one should consider in order to make an informed decision on where they would like to order the online food.
An important factor to consider is the location of the service provider. In case an online food delivery services far from home it will take a longer time to arrive than one that is close. In order to determine the location one can consider what they want and the nearest delivery service that offers exactly that. Taking into account the amount of time it will take for the food to arrive is paramount. In an emergency, it is not advisable for one to order food from a service provider that is quite a distance from their location. A person should consider making another choice of food is what they want is not as close as they would have liked it.
It is important for a person to consider the mode of payment that is offered. Modes of payment differ from one online food delivery service to another. Most online delivery services offer most or all modes of payment available in the city or country. However, others offer very limited options for payments. Before even ordering it is important to know what options are available for payment so that they can know whether they can pay for the services. Most developed online food delivery services have a variety of payment methods to choose from.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the store schedule. Some stores open from ten in the morning. and others open earlier or later. A person can order food from an online delivery service by calling or ordering in advance from their website. If it is an emergency they are advised to order from the store's website as this is an advanced order and the staff will work on it as soon as they arrive. Having the store schedule will also help the person estimate how long the food will take to be delivered.
What Almost No One Knows About
The Art of Mastering


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Dave Ramsey: Government unlikely to take away investments
Dear Dave,
I have a 5-year-old daughter, and I want to start a 529 for her. However, I'm concerned that the government might seize the 529 assets in order to pay off debt and give people treasury bonds instead. Do you think this might happen?
— Barry
Dear Barry,
I think there's less than a 1 percent chance they'd seize the actual assets. Really, I don't believe they're any more likely to come take investments away than they are to come take your home. I mean, we're really talking about private property here. If you have $100,000 in a retirement fund, and they say they're going to take that away from you, it's like taking a person's home. I just don't see that happening.
The big question, I think, is this: Are they likely to take away some of the tax benefits — like the 529 plan's ability to grow tax-free? As in, they just come in and say they're making it all taxable to pay the bills they've accumulated up in Washington, D.C., from all their stupid behavior. That kind of thing actually could happen.
— Dave
Dear Dave,
I'm retired, and my husband plans to work for several more years. We have $130,000 in savings accounts, plus a rental property. The rental property has a $150,000 mortgage, but we have no other debt. Should we sell the rental and reinvest in the stock market?
— Barbara
Dear Barbara,
If I were in your shoes, I'd be investing in mutual funds and paying off the rental property as fast as possible. That would be my game plan.
When it comes to mutual funds, you shouldn't be jumping in and out. The key is to find good ones with long track records of success and stability. Then, leave the money alone for several years and let it do its thing.
— Dave
Dear Dave,
Is it possible to settle the debt on a student loan?
— James
Dear James,
Sallie Mae student loans, or federally insured student loans, are insured by the government. Translation: The bank is going to still get paid 100 percent by the taxpayers because the government is guaranteeing the loan. They have no reason to settle with you.
They're not going to settle with you on the principal amount or the interest, James. You might be able to talk them down on the collection fees. They jack those way up. But the original amount you borrow, plus the actual interest that hasn't been paid, is guaranteed by the government. They'll get it from one of you.
— Dave


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This free event is being held for Vernon Township residents only. Please bring proof of residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill for verification.
Bulky items that will be accepted include the following:
- tires (no tires accepted on rims)
- furniture
- mattresses
- carpets
Residents are allowed four tires per household which must be removed from rims. No truck tires, construction debris or hazardous waste type items will be accepted.
Brush will also be accepted at this time free of charge, however, it must be separated from bulky waste items. Leaves will not be accepted. DPW employees will be available to assist residents.
For any questions or further information, please contact the Vernon Township Department of Public Works at 973.764.3021.


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Lifestyle and pop culture drive dog breed popularity
Peterson. Labrador retrievers (22 years), cocker spaniels (23) and poodles (22) have been the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States for a total of 67 of the 128 years the AKC has been counting.
LOS ANGELES - Help wanted: One trained, easygoing, low-maintenance dog that will work for next to nothing. It was the classified ad that Matthew VanFossan wrote in his head after going blind.
His Labrador retriever, Achilles, "will guide me across busy streets for nothing more than a pat on the head or 'Good boy,'" said the 31-year-old writer-counselor from Los Angeles. "He loves every bit of attention, but he can also go without it. He'll let out a low groan if he's getting too bored."
The breed's friendliness, intelligence and love of physical activity helped make it the most popular dog in America for the last two decades, according to American Kennel Club data released last week. Labrador retrievers are widely used as search and rescue, guide, therapy and service dogs, and they're also perfect for active, outdoors-loving families with children, said club spokeswoman Lisa Peterson.
Labrador retrievers (22 years), cocker spaniels (23) and poodles (22) have been the most popular purebred dog breeds in the United States for a total of 67 of the 128 years the AKC has been counting. The data from the AKC, the country's only nonprofit dog registry, comes from paid registrations by breeders and owners of purebred dogs, and makes the dog eligible for AKC events such as dog shows. More than 40 million purebred dogs have been registered since 1884, Peterson said.
Some critics, like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society of the United States, argue that owners mistake club registration as a sign of responsible breeding. "Registry with the AKC simply indicates that a dog had two parents of the same breed," said Cori Menkin, senior director of ASPCA's Puppy Mills Campaign. The AKC acknowledged that registration does not guarantee the quality or health of a dog.
However, Peterson condemned those who increase breeding to meet public demand, saying "responsible breeders do not produce more dogs just to meet popular demand."
Factors, including Hollywood, pop culture and the economy, help drive changes in breed popularity. For instance, the yellow Lab featured in the bestselling memoir and the subsequent movie "Marley & Me," help the breed's popularity skyrocket, Peterson said.
Likewise, the popularity of other breeds has soared thanks to the beagle Snoopy in Charles Schulz's Peanuts comics, "Lassie" for collies, and cocker spaniels from "Lady and the Tramp." Snoopy has been one of the biggest influences, Peterson said, and is the only non-dog to be issued an AKC registration certificate.
But "the No. 1 thing that drives changes in dog popularity is people's lifestyles," Peterson said. In New York City last year, larger breeds such as the Labrador retriever and German shepherd jumped over the smaller Yorkshire terrier. Peterson attributed to the economic recovery, saying "people are going back to larger dogs."
Of the breeds that made most gains in popularity, the most noticeable has been the bulldog, said Peterson. It has inched up the last five years, most recently to No. 5 nationally in 2012, she said.
She attributed some of that to "great visibility. It's the mascot for the U.S. Marines. Think of all the colleges that have bulldog mascots. The Mack truck has a bulldog on the hood. And Tillman and Beefy are real bulldogs who skateboard."
Bulldogs "have such great temperaments, they are adorable puppies, they are sturdy and compact, and they have the wrinkles and the eyes. They don't require a lot of grooming or exercise and they love to stay in the house and be with you or if you like the outdoors, they love that too," Peterson said.
The small, sturdy breed also is compatible with owners of all ages, she added, making it ideal for multi-generational families. That comes in handy as the economy forces more adult children to return home.
When it comes to America's top dog for the past 20 years, practicality beat being fashionable. The Labrador retriever's intelligence earned high marks among owners who sought out the breed.
VanFossan, who lost sight in both eyes by age 22, has owned two Labs. He tried using a cane for six awkward months, then got a guide dog - a Lab named Gilly. Their time together became a book in January - "Through Gilly's Eyes: Memoirs of a Guide Dog" - and his second dog is Achilles.
"Achilles is a little more sensitive but is better at remembering. It's incredible. I can go to a new place just once or twice, and he'll have the route memorized. Sensitivity has its advantages," VanFossan said.


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This is probably the strangest post that I have ever made but please bear with me. I have fallen in love with a llama. Yes, I said a llama. I have never been an 'animal person.' In my 28 years, I have never had a pet of any kind (not even a goldfish). But, an encounter I had two weeks ago has shifted my perceptions dramatically. I now want a pet…but not just any pet will do. I want a llama.
Back in March, I got word that a llama named Nigel was coming to town. He was supposed to be standing in front of the R.E.I. store in Portland's Pearl District for a presentation about packing gear. I'd never seen a llama up close, so I was unsure of what to expect. The second I laid eyes on Nigel though, I was sold. Statuesque and all black, he seemed to be constantly smiling. In the middle of a bustling city on a downtown sidewalk, he was totally calm. His black fur was freshly brushed and very soft. I swear that he even winked at me. This llama was a total charmer.
Normally I am intimidated by animals that are larger than me, but I happened to be wearing my trusty Dries Van Noten wedges that night so we were at eye level. I was intrigued by this animal; there was something special about him.
I took a brochure for Wallowa Llamas which is where Nigel lives but over the next six months, life became hectic as I began taking on more freelance, bought a house and traveled often. The dream of meeting back up with Nigel got pushed to the back burner.
Then, a few weeks ago I was surprised with a late birthday present; a meeting with his royal blackness, Mr. Nigel himself. The drive from Portland was very long, clocking in at close to seven hours. Once we reached Halfway, Oregon (near the Idaho border) the scenery became quite idyllic. A bustling small town with farms and horses and greenery and quaint storefronts, Halfway has a storybook quality. Finding Wallowa Llamas proved slightly difficult; it was quite far from the highway, down a series of gravel side roads.
As we pulled up, one of the owners of Wallowa, Raz came out to greet us. Normally, they are accustomed to doing hiking trips that are multiple days in length and bringing the llamas along for the purpose of packing gear but made special arrangements for a shorter day trip instead. Raz took us over to a side plot of land where Nigel was hanging out. I spotted him from 50 feet away; even among other llamas, he stands out. As Raz was prepping the gear, he let us take Nigel into the orchard and spend some quality time together. Nigel ripped into one of the fruit trees and loaded up on leaves. Llamas chew funny, in a circle–8 motion just like camels.
Once the supplies were ready, Nigel was loaded into the back of a pickup truck with tall, enclosed sides and we drove a few miles to a secluded trail. As we hopped out of the truck, Nigel seemed confused; he is used to packing quite a bit of equipment but was free of the usual load that day. I spent most of the time pulling Nigel up along the path and we made a stunning pair, both in all black. He trotted right along, never stalling or tripping (unlike me)!
We took a few short breaks and Nigel chowed down on plants while we sat down, enjoyed the view and drank water. During one break, we heard some rustling and turned around to see Nigel rolling around, taking a dust bath! His fur became coated in dirt and full of debris but he seemed quite proud of himself.
On the way down, the trail was pretty steep and Nigel was going faster than me. He kept getting a little too close, breathing over my shoulder and making high pitched noises. I thought something was wrong, but I was told that it's really just a sound he makes when he knows he's getting 'close to home' (the truck). Pretty cute if you ask me!
Nigel was on absolutely perfect behavior the entire journey but when he was being loaded back into the truck, he did get a little grumpy, ducking his head down. It was pretty funny to watch!
When we returned back to Wallowa, we were taken on a brief tour to meet the girl llamas and then the boys (they are kept separate to keep inbreeding from taking place). The girls really do look like girls! My favorite female llama was Mary Priscilla (I'm pretty sure that was her name. A fancy name for a fancy llama)! Her fur looked dip-dyed. She subtly faded into a beautiful spectrum of colors. The girls seemed inquisitive and simply stared at us, quietly taking in the situation.
In contrast, the boy llamas were much more rowdy and aggressive. They enjoy chasing each other around and occasionally fighting. Obviously, Nigel is much too evolved and refined to participate in this type of behavior and chooses to spend much his time away from the pack.
After the tour, we said a sad goodbye to Nigel and vowed to return next year.
I know this sounds crazy, but I'd like to skip the whole dog and cat phase altogether and move on straight to a llama. They are very quiet, go to the bathroom in relatively neat piles and don't eat an absurd amount of food. Michael Jackson used to talk about taking his Llama named Louie on walks near his parent's mansion and how he would stop traffic; I want to do the same!
Find out more about llamas and guided trips at Wallowa Llamas.
Oh, I almost forgot. My favorite part of Nigel, besides that adorable face? These handsome little feet.
Readers: What was your first ever pet?
If you had an unlimited budget and space, what would your dream pet be?


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Material: Organic
Spline: 24.3 x 21T
Type: Plate Clutch Sprung
( Eng XU8T )
This type of drive plate is suitable for road use and light competition work. The design features damper springs arranged radially around the hub centre whichtogether with facing segments provides progressive engagement and greater degree of clutch control. The organic facing material used is the best high performance material available with facings over 200mm diameter being metalbacked to give much higher burst strength.
Helix Clutches
Helix was created in the late 1980's with the express intention of providing a top quality clutch range for the competition market.
Production started at the beginning of the early 1990s and the company quickly obtained a reputation for the manufacture and supply of a first class quality clutch.
In 1992 Helix provided two prototype clutch systems including flywheels for BMW to use in their 3.8 Ltr M5 saloons that were entered in the IMSA series USA for the Sebring 12 hr race. The cars finished 1st and 2nd in class, the clutches performing without fault.
Over the past eight years Helix has provided clutches for many motorsport successes, including the winner of the FIA group N & National Saloons up to 2000cc championship every year since 1992, culminating in providing the clutches that enabled Alister McRae to win the 1997 British Rally Championship in a Golf.
Such is the reputation and quality of the Helix product that several automotive manufactures have requested supply of our product including BMW, Honda, Nissan, Proton, Renault, Seat, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.
The technical dept of Helix has over 42 years experience in the manufacture and design of clutch system, including 17 years at AP.
Helix produces an extensive range of hand built competition clutches in either single or Multiplate format from 140mm to 275mm diameter, encompassing not only organic but also sintered and cerametallic drive plates.
This is the clutch PLATE ONLY
Please note: All Helix clutches are special motorsport parts and are specially made, please allow approx 20 working days for dispatch


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that serves the area was damaged and cut in half during one of the storms.
No cellphones.
No internet.
Very few landlines that worked.
It was kind of insane but with no internet and blogging for a bit
I had some extra time to delve into some magazines and books for inspirations
for upcoming projects as well as work on getting some organizing done.
(apologies for the dark rainy day photos!)
I have been in organizing and de-clutter mode lately
Sorting through closets & making separate piles for
donations, for selling and for keeping.
One of the areas that needed some organization is the office.
Bolts of fabric, sewing supplies, paints, hardware for around the house, various treasures,etc.
I have a thing for galvanized bins and buckets.
so I was super excited to find a section of galvanized buckets and bins in various sizes.
(and all the stuff you need for your project)
and they fit perfectly on the shelves.
or so I thought 😉
This huge tub is perfect for stacking and storing the fabric in
and makes it easy to find what I am looking for.
Remember those cork squares that I used with my Thanksgiving table?
Lowes Creative Ideas Network of Creators and Influencers but the designs and opinions are my own.


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Ex-Stanford executives get 20 years over roles in $7 billion fraud
The final two defendants convicted for helping the former Texas billionaire financier Allen Stanford swindle investors were each sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison over their roles in his $7.2 billion Ponzi scheme.
Gilbert Lopez, the former chief accounting officer of Stanford Financial Group, and former controller Mark Kuhrt were sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Hittner in Houston.
Jurors in November had convicted both defendants on nine counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy after a five-week trial. Each was also found not guilty on one wire fraud count.
Lopez, 70, and Kuhrt, 40, were jailed in downtown Houston following the sentencing.
Stanford, 62, is appealing his March 2012 conviction and 110-year prison sentence over what prosecutors called a massive fraud centered on the sale of bogus certificates of deposit by his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank.
Prosecutors said evidence at Lopez's and Kuhrt's trial showed that the men knew Stanford was misusing the bank's assets, helped him conceal this misuse, and helped him deceive customers into believing he had infused hundreds of millions of dollars into the bank during the 2008 financial crisis.
In September, Stanford's former chief investment officer Laura Pendergest-Holt was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to an obstruction charge.
Last month, former chief financial officer James Davis was sentenced to five years in prison, after he had pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges and was the top government witness in Stanford's trial.
Davis had made about $13 million over 21 years working for Stanford, a former college roommate.
Jack Zimmermann, a lawyer for Lopez, said he had asked for a three-year prison sentence for his client, who plans an appeal.
"We're very disappointed," Zimmermann said in a phone interview. "Gil Lopez was sentenced to four times longer in prison than Davis, yet he earned nothing from the fraud, only his mid-level wages and bonuses for working as an accountant."
Richard Kuniansky, a lawyer for Kuhrt, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The case is U.S. v. Stanford et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, No. 09-cr-00342.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski)


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Oscar Producers: Seth MacFarlane Did an "Extraordinary Job"
Oscar host Seth MacFarlane may have come under fire for some of the raunchy humor he employed during the show, but he has at least two defenders - producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan.
"We were really, really proud of Seth MacFarlane," Meron told The Hollywood Reporter. "He did the job at we wanted him to do. Seth is irreverent, he comments on things that happen in our culture, and that's what he did and we thought he did an extraordinary job."
Check out our complete Oscars coverage
MacFarlane's jokes, which included a musical number aimed at the Best Actress nominees called "We Saw Your Boobs," and a joke about Chris Brown and Rihanna, didn't sit well with many viewers and MacFarlane has already said that he won't be back to host the show again.
Addressing the "Boobs" song in particular, Meron said that people who were offended about the bit missed the point. "It was not about the women that were mentioned," Meron said. "The song was about him being a bad host and him being a juvenile, which was why he was a bad host. Everyone who complained missed the joke. It was satire.
Awards Season: Red carpet hits and misses
"People have complained for years and years that the Oscars were becoming irrelevant," Meron continued. "And I think what we did this year is to really make them part of the cultural conversation, and I think that's the important part that people will take away."
What did you think of MacFarlane as a host?
View original Oscar Producers: Seth MacFarlane Did an "Extraordinary Job" at TVGuide.com


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In case you missed this last week, this extended interview was a classic take-down by Stewart as he just demolished McCaughey's insane talking points about healthcare reform. The clip here is just a brief excerpt edited for the Rachel Maddow Show but you really should check out the complete interview (much of which didn't air on the TV show) at either Comedy Central or the Comedy Network for the full effect.
If you're unfamiliar with McCaughey, James Fallows at The Atlantic sums her up this way:
Elizabeth "Betsy" McCaughey also needs no introduction to Atlantic readers. She has brought more misinformation, more often, more destructively into America's consideration of health-policy issues than any other individual. She has no concept of "truth" or "accuracy" in the normal senses of those terms, as demonstrated last week when she went on The Daily Show. Virtually every statement she has made about health-reform proposals, from the Clinton era until now, has been proven to be false. It doesn't slow her down.
Which rather begs the question as to why she receives so much attention from the media…
Coincidentally, in the wake of the TDS interview, which resulted in widespread ridicule of McCaughey's claims, she immediately resigned from her position on the Cantel Medical board of directors.


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Ray & Tom are big into Facebook, so they've set up a fancy new page there. Â If you use facebook, please check it out and you can become a fan.
And of course, don't forget that we also have a RSS feed if you use Google Reader, Bloglines or something like that.
We love to hear from our devoted legions, so please feel free to register on the site and comment.


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For expectant mothers, swine flu is another worry
Heeding a federal advisory, Kerisa Fitzgerald plans to ask her doctor about swine flu shots during her next prenatal visit, seeking assurances that the pending vaccine is both safe and necessary.
"I would need to hear that to say, 'Yes,"' said the Framingham, Mass., mother of two. "I need more information on the actual vaccine."
Now three months pregnant, Fitzgerald said swine flu, or H1N1, had been "out of sight, out of mind" for her in recent months as media attention had waned.
Health officials, however, continue to warn that infections could mushroom and possibly intensify when seasonal flu returns later this year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccine is in development, and a committee has recommended inoculation priority for pregnant women, adults caring for infants, health and emergency workers, children 6 months to 4 years old, and older children with medical conditions.
When enough supply becomes available, the committee recommends vaccinations for people 4 to 24, as well as for those between the ages of 25 and 64 who have chronic health problems or compromised immune systems.
Dr. Thomas Treadwell, an infectious disease expert at Massachusetts' MetroWest Medical Center, said pregnancy does somewhat increase the risk of developing certain infections. His hospital has treated two pregnant women with H1N1, both of whom fully recovered.
"It doesn't make pregnancy unsafe," he said. "It's just a rare, bad outcome that's preventable."
With pregnant women already encouraged to get seasonal flu shots, Dr. Brenda Coutinho of Milford, Mass., said she would take her usual approach with patients when adding H1N1 to the discussion.
"I always say to them it's your choice, but obviously I tell them that they're at particular risk now that they're pregnant," said Coutinho, the head of obstetrics and gynecology at Milford Regional Medical Center.
Given that health experts are predicting that H1N1 vaccine will come in two doses, Coutinho said patients might balk at three total shots, much as they often do for the inoculation protecting against human papillomavirus, or HPV, and cervical cancer.
"You'd be surprised," she said. "People say, 'Three shots? No."'
Not prone to illness, Hudson, Mass., resident Christine Hannan has never gotten a seasonal flu shot, though she said she's likely do so now that she's pregnant with twins. While she plans to listen to her doctor about H1N1, she said she needs information about its safety and importance.
"I don't like to put things into my body unless it's an imminent danger," she said. "I'd have to read up to see how widely it's been tested and what the side effects might be."
For now, she is taking a measured approach.
"I wouldn't say panicked about it," she said. "I'm definitely keeping an eye on it."
MetroWest Daily News writer Michael Morton can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 508-626-4338.


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Today I put together a rather fast tutorial on bringing in a DAZ Studio Model into ZBrush and then texturing the model. This is by no stretch a comprehensive tutorial but, gives you a starting point for the procedure. There may be other ways of accomplishing this task but, this worked for me.
All comments and suggestions are welcome. Please be aware this is a first down and dirty release. So, I'm sure there will be small errors or glaring mistakes. Again, please provide feedback.
You may download the tutorial by following this link:
The tutorial is under the eLEARNING link and is named DAZtoZB.pdf.
Have fun and thank you.


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Technology: currently 4282 jobs.The latest job was posted on 30 Mar 23.
Information Technology
Technology is what keeps everything running smoothly in the finance sector, and is used in pretty well every aspect. Many IT jobs do not require an in depth knowledge of the current market, or of standard financial products, but many employers will value a proven interest in the financial sector, or an ability to demonstrate some degree of financial knowledge relating to the sector in which the job lies.
Although information technology jobs can be within any sector of the finance industry, there is one area in particular which has recently introduced more and more automated systems - equities. The equities market is taking steps to move away from manual operations in a bid to improve efficiency and reduce human error. There are many equities-related IT jobs in finance due to the way the internal process are currently evolving.
IT in Equities
One way that IT is being utilized within equities is to harness the flow of financial information to enable trading decisions to be made more quickly, often automatically. Once the trading decision is made, the trade is entered into an order management system with straight through processing, so that there is no need for manual intervention at all. An important part of this is the creation and maintenance of execution management systems (EMS) which connects traders with the most cost effective broker to get the deal done as economically as possible. Support developers for EMS systems are often needed, as these systems are used by millions of traders every single day - downtime is not a possibility. It can be a busy, on-the-go, around-the-clock job at times, but the rewards are high.
Employers are looking for individuals with experience of C and C++, SQL, multi language proficiency, Ruby on Rails, and an ability to work effortlessly through UNIX or LINUX.
Popular searches: Trader jobs, Software engineer jobs, Analyst jobs, Goldman Sachs jobs, JP Morgan jobs, Intern jobs, Java developer jobs, Python developer jobs, Java jobs, Quant jobs, Quantitative jobs
Top locations: New york city jobs, Chicago jobs, San Francisco jobs, Boston jobs, Charlotte jobs, Jersey City jobs


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Meet The Seller
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Talking with My Mouth Full
By: Gail Simmons
1 Copy Available
Format - Hardcover
Condition - New
Listed - A year ago
Views - 17
Wishes - 1
Publication Date - Feb 2012
Seller Description
Publisher Description
When Top Chef judge Gail Simmons first graduated from college, she felt hopelessly lost. All her friends were going to graduate school, business school, law school . . . but what was she going to do? Fortunately, a family friend gave her some invaluable advice—make a list of what you love to do, and let that be your guide. Gail wrote down four words: Eat. Write. Travel. Cook. Little did she know, those four words would become the basis for a career as a professional eater, cook, food critic, magazine editor, and television star. Today, she's the host of Top Chef: Just Desserts, permanent judge on Top Chef, and Special Projects Director at Food & Wine magazine. She travels all over the world, eats extraordinary food, and meets fascinating people. She's living the dream that so many of us who love to cook and eat can only imagine. But how did she get there? Talking with My Mouth Full follows her unusual and inspiring path to success, step-by-step and bite-by-bite. It takes the reader from her early years, growing up in a household where her mother ran a small cooking school, her father made his own wine, and family vacation destinations included Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East; through her adventures at culinary school in New York City and training as an apprentice in two of New York's most acclaimed kitchens; and on to her time spent assisting Vogue's legendary food critic Jeffrey Steingarten, working for renowned chef Daniel Boulud, and ultimately landing her current jobs at Food & Wine and on Top Chef. The book is a tribute to the incredible meals and mentors she's had along the way, examining the somewhat unconventional but always satisfying journey she has taken in order to create a career that didn't even exist when she first started working toward it. With memorable stories about the greatest (and worst) dishes she's eaten, childhood and behind-the-scenes photos, and recipes from Gail's family and her own kitchen, Talking with My Mouth Full is a true treat. Praise for Talking with My Mouth Full "Gail Simmons is fearless, passionate, and driven, yet she is humble, generous, and stays true to the good values that she embraces. This book is inspiring for anyone who dreams about living their passion and finding fulfillment in their work. Talking with My Mouth Full is a joyful, account of Gail's journey from her start as a line cook to her work at Food & Wine magazine and of course her role on Top Chef."—Eric Ripert, Executive Chef/Co-Owner, Le Bernardin "Reading Gail Simmons's memoir was like having a cappuccino and biscotti with one of my close girlfriends. What a treat!"—Giada De Laurentiis, author of Giada at Home "In Talking with My Mouth Full, Gail Simmons takes us through her culinary voyage from her gentle upbringing in a food-obsessed family in Toronto to her present culinary star status. In a clear, firm, and concise style, she leads us through her journey from an apprentice and trainee at culinary school to Le Cirque to Vogue and Food & Wine magazine and, ultimately, to her leading role on food television. Her remembrances are a tasty, delightful treat to savor."—Jacques PÉpin, author of Essential PÉpin "Gail's book impressively mixes memoir with recent culinary history, and has great recipes, too. Above all, she makes it abundantly clear that passion for food—and hard work—always wins out."—David Chang, Chef/Owner, Momofuku "The joy of Ms. Simmons' book is in its passionate love of food, a love that transcended everything that got in its way, like a pole-vaulter leaping over the bar. . . . The other great joy in Talking with My Mouth Full lies in the writing itself. For those who know Ms. Simmons only from her television appearances, the skill that she shows for placing words on the page will come as a pleasant surprise."—New York Journal of Books "Throughout her delicious narrative, Simmons ladles out piquant details about the chemistry of food, how restaurants really work and why food-based reality TV has garnered such a following. This one's definitely worth adding to your culinary bookshelf."—Star Tribune "Heartwarming . . . From the first chapter, I felt as if Simmons was welcoming me to her dinner table . . . the most captivating portions of her memoir are those that reveal her endearing qualities as a daughter, sister and wife, something that is not seen on her TV shows. She cleverly links her experiences with food with important moments in life." —The Dartmouth


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The United States and Mexico: The Path Forward
The United States and Mexico: The Path Forward
There are many opportunities and challenges for the U.S.-Mexican relationship as Mexican President-Elect Peña Nieto takes office this weekend.
Media Contact
Government Affairs
Mexico inaugurates a new president on Saturday—Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. Given the early lead he enjoyed during the campaign and the public fatigue with the ruling National Action Party, Peña Nieto, the former governor of the state of Mexico, ran on generalities and never clearly defined his political philosophy or presidential agenda. Much of what he campaigned on could be boiled down to two statements: "I'm not the National Action Party, and I'm not the old Institutional Revolutionary Party."
Good enough, as far as the election result goes: Peña Nieto was elected with close to 40 percent of the vote, a plurality but not a majority—in part because many voters retain a strong distrust of the Institutional Revolutionary Party and its autocratic past. It is now up to the president-elect to fill in the blanks as to what kind of president he will be. If all goes well, he could be transformational. But obstacles loom and initial expectations must be held in check.
The country has solid standing. Economic growth is strong and projections show continued expansion, surpassing even Latin American darling Brazil. The middle class is growing, with greater access to goods and services and the ability to purchase them. Manufacturing is moving back to Mexico from China, with Mexico becoming a platform both for production in North America and also in Latin America. The country has also become a leading voice in global trade, as well as economic and environmental initiatives. Mexico is becoming economically what it has always been geographically: the crucial link between North and South America.
The outgoing government has effectively used its final days in office to promote a reform agenda consistent with Peña Nieto's stated views. Mexico has one of the longest transition periods of any democracy—five months. While outgoing governments have traditionally done little during this period, this particular transition period has proven different, particularly with regard to the charged issue of strong protections for labor that have been loosened through new legislation in recent weeks.
Working together, the National Action Party executive and the Institutional Revolutionary Party-controlled legislature have joined to give the incoming Peña Nieto government a strong tailwind toward economic opening and greater competition, without having to pay the political cost that labor reform might otherwise have entailed. At the same time, north of the border, President Barack Obama has spoken clearly of his desire for meaningful immigration reform this year, which would provide another significant political and economic boost to the new Mexican president.
With labor reform out of the way, attention turns to the three policy fields that Peña Nieto has promised to address, perhaps all at once: energy reform, tax reform, and Social Security reform. Should he succeed in addressing these issues effectively, he will have restructured a significant part of Mexico's economy, preparing Mexico for an economic takeoff that could rival Asian economies.
This effort brings risk as well as promise, since failing with these fundamental reforms could throw Peña Nieto's presidency into turmoil at its inception. Each of these reforms individually would be enough to occupy the Presidential Palace Los Pinos for months and to soak up the political capital of any president. Doing all of them together would be a political project more involved than any other since the Institutional Revolutionary Party first restructured Mexico's economy in the 1930s. Clearly, the political stakes are huge.
A major obstacle to reform could be the Institutional Revolutionary Party itself. Party discipline will largely ensure a supportive if not compliant congressional delegation, but party bosses, governors, and individual congressional representatives, among others, will likely seek to ensure that their political equities are protected in any reform process. Peña Nieto's challenge will be to keep them in line, using traditional tools of political coalition building without stepping over the line into corruption. A number of younger, newly elected members of the Mexican Congress in the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution have indicated that the deepening of democratic reform is their main priority and that there might be room for cooperation with President-Elect Peña Nieto should he push this agenda.
The fate of the reform agenda will arguably be the new president's greatest and most immediate test. He faces a Mexican public that no longer tolerates the old ways of doing politics in Mexico and is skeptical that the Institutional Revolutionary Party has truly changed. But equally importantly, the party has been out of power for 12 years and its leaders now want and expect to receive the rewards that national power bestows. It will be a delicate balancing act for Peña Nieto. But his inauguration also has implications for U.S.-Mexico relations, which will play out on both sides of the border.
The path forward
Given this backdrop, the new Mexican president needs major political and policy successes in 2013 to consolidate power within his own party and secure congressional majorities for an ongoing economic reform process. Here, the United States has an important role to play: The two countries are intertwined in a unique way and thus the political success of Enrique Peña Nieto will, at least in part, be impacted by what happens north of the border. And the to-do list for the United States is extensive, but it is largely focused on economic policy and immigration reform.
Immigration reform is increasingly likely to dominate the domestic debate once the fiscal cliff is resolved. President-Elect Peña Nieto made a strong endorsement of immigration reform at his Washington press conference with President Obama this week, stating that he fully supports President Obama's proposal. Even though a strong majority of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country, it will remain a difficult legislative battle. And while aligning with a popular U.S. president who will be viewed as fighting to legalize Mexican nationals makes obvious sense, there is some risk that a failed legislative effort will trigger collateral damage to Peña Nieto's image in Mexico.
On the economic front, the success of the new Mexican administration's economic reform and growth agenda is a core interest of the United States. A number of policy fields will be crucial to create a successful North American growth model and will elevate the transactional partnership with Mexico to a strategic relationship much like the United States enjoys with Canada. To achieve this goal, both countries must address a number of issues simultaneously.
- The creation of jobs will play a central role in domestic politics in both countries. U.S-Mexican trade needs to be encouraged in the border region and beyond. To achieve this, the U.S.-Mexican border needs to be more permeable and allow more crossings at lower cost.
- To secure energy independence, both countries need to prioritize research and development investments to ensure that technologies that facilitate access to shale gas—such as horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracking—do not adversely affect the environment. This is a necessary step to move forward with the development of massive North American shale gas resources—a potential strategic game-changer.
- Mexican states along the U.S. border are official observers in the Western Climate Initiative, joining California and four Canadian provinces. The federal governments in both the United States and Mexico should take aggressive steps to make it more feasible for these Mexican states to become full partners in the initiative to achieve meaningful reductions in carbon pollution and move toward greater U.S.-Mexican cooperation on future North American pollution cuts.
- Both countries need to expand their economic relations with Asia and Europe. President-Elect Peña Nieto sees China as an important future partner for economic growth. Both Mexico and Canada were invited in June to join the negotiations toward the Trans-Pacific Partnership—an important if belated step. Both should also be included at the very beginning of discussions with Europe—should they occur as has been rumored—toward the creation of a free trade zone in the Atlantic. Such trade negotiations would provide an added means for the three North American economies to build cooperation.
- The war against cartels and gangs involved in the illegal drugs trade continues to rage on both sides of the border, although indications of progress include a reduction in violence, cleaned-up cities, and increasing professionalization of the Mexican security forces. Achieving a reduction of violence will be a key challenge for President-Elect Peña Nieto, with street protests demanding as much. Judicial reform is moving forward, albeit slowly, but Mexican authorities still rely too greatly on confession by apprehended suspects and have deficits in the acquisition and use of intelligence. This fight needs to be framed as a joint challenge, emphasizing the co-responsibility of the United States, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed several times.
- The re-launch of a U.S.-Mexican bilateral commission would be an important vehicle to institutionalize cabinet-level discussions across the broad range of issues that affect our countries and maybe trilateralize along with Canada from time to time. Tone and perception count a lot in the bilateral relationship. In addition, both sides should establish permanent working groups to help change the image and perception of Mexico in the United States and vice versa. Such an engagement in public diplomacy could include messaging and outreach to counter the often-distorted perception of Mexican society in the United States.
The election of Enrique Peña Nieto and the re-election of President Obama mean that the U.S.-Mexican relationship has a unique opportunity to grow closer and bring numerous benefits to both sides of the border. To fully appreciate this unique opportunity, both sides must invest political capital and be prepared to engage domestic public opinion when it comes to explaining why our countries are united by much more than a fence.
Eric Farnsworth is vice president of the Council of the Americas and Americas Society, heading their Washington, D.C., office since 2003. His areas of expertise include the role of Asia in the Americas, trade, energy, U.S. policy in the region, and national security affairs. Michael Werz is a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where his work as a member of the National Security team focuses on the nexus of climate change, migration, and security, as well as on emerging democratic powers in Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, and India.
The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.
Michael Werz
Senior Fellow


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Rhode Island Probate Records
This entry was originally written by Alice Eichholz, Ph.D., CG for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Unlike any other state in New England, from colonial times probate functions have been organized by town, not county or separate probate district. The town council, in addition to its normal function, handled probate matters in Rhode Island. Wills were accepted and challenged, executors authorized, administrators appointed, inventories ordered, and estates distributed, although the town council book, probate book, or will book differed from town to town. It was not until much later that a certain uniformity began to take hold in the recording procedures, dividing town functions into separate books instead of locating them on whatever blank parchment space was available in the office or home of a council member.


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Where convenience meets safety
The ultimate in elevators.
As a company, we have been designing and manufacturing lift installations at the cutting edge of design and technology for more than 90 years. We have recourse to our own designs as well as a broad spectrum of standardised components that we combine according to the individual needs of our customers. There are virtually no limits to our innovative capacities and design skills.
Our customers' individual expectations and wishes take centre stage in any of the elevator projects we embark upon. We offer solutions in terms of design and technology that are built to last. For generations.
Technology that is state of the art
With more than 90 years of experience, the company LUTZ Elevators has earned a reputation as an expert in the field of lift construction. We design and manufacture elevator systems at the cutting edge of design and technology. LUTZ Elevators has recourse to its own constructions as well as a broad spectrum of standardised components that we combine according to the individual requirements of our customers. We always pay close attention to the costs, allowing us to provide our customers with personalised solutions. There are virtually no limits to our innovative capacities and design skills. As one of only few companies in Germany, we combine engineering expertise and our own manufacturing facilities with tried and trusted components from the elevator market. As a result, LUTZ Elevators is able to address and fulfil each and every customer's needs and requirements and offer the optimal solution from a cost perspective: from cost-effective and yet individually adaptable standard installations from our cooperation partner Orona to custom-made, one-of-a-kind elevators with special features and a unique design. Our customer's individual requirements are always at the heart of every elevator project. We offer premium design solutions featuring state-of-the-art technology – lifts that are built to last and that set new benchmarks.


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Do you like to help people in need? Or maybe just help things grow? North Kent Community Services needs your manpower in their Community Garden! Last year the agency received over 3,570 pounds of fresh vegetables to distribute to families in need. That huge amount of food was planted and harvested by a handful of volunteers, who worked an acre of land to create a Community Garden. The NKCS is the largest food pantry in Kent County and services over 12,000 families. The fresh vegetables were a welcome sight for families who normally received canned or frozen when they pick up groceries.
Merrill Post, of Post Berry Farms, donates the land, on Myers Lake Avenue and 12 Mile Road, where the volunteers plant and harvest. For the third year in a row, Mr. Post has set aside an acre of land that he tills, fertilizes, and waters to make sure that the plants will grow. He even allows the group a space in his own private garden, where a high fence keeps the deer away from the tender bean plants. Post also donates to the NKCS corn, pumpkins, berries and other food that the volunteers do not grow in the Community Garden.
All of the seeds needed for planting are donated by The Cedar Mill in Cedar Springs. Also, several of the group members start seeds in peat pots or flats at home.
This year, there are two specific planting dates already set. Many more volunteers are needed because the goal is to harvest two tons of food this year. If you would like to help, volunteers will meet on Wednesday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m., at Post Farms, 9849 Myers Lake Road, to plant seeds in the greenhouse.
Once the seeds are ready to be transplanted outside, other dates and times will be determined for planting and a schedule will be set for weeding and harvesting. If you love to garden, want to learn more about gardening, need to put in hours for community service at your school, or have a desire to feed people in need, then call Deb McIntyre, volunteer coordinator at the NKCS, at 616-866-3478 ext. 103 Monday–Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No gardening experience is necessary.


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Watch The Kookiest Moments From The 2014 Golden Globes
Man, the 2014 Golden Globes were nutty, eh? Awards season's drunkest cousin on the block had its night in the spotlight on Sunday evening and — as is to be expected — it did not disappoint. From minute one the show was off on a rocketing and riotous pace (something other award shows would be smart to try and emulate), with hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler absolutely nailing their opening monologue and things only continued off the rails from there. In a good way, of course! But still: there was plenty to see and a lot of people with an intrinsic need to be seen, willing to go for the goofy gold any and every chance they got.
Of course not everyone can stand to tune into these things (What? Did you not tune into our live-blog? How rude!) and would rather wait for the Monday morning quarterback highlights. So we've done you the favor of compiling the biggest water cooler moments in one handy-dandy post — because we're nothing if not afraid to be servicey. Don't say we never did anything nice for you.
Tina and Amy Nailed the Monologue
Perhaps the easiest way to mess up an awards show is to start the ceremony off on the wrong foot. Luckily, such feats are impossible with Poehler and Fey at the helm of the ship. The duo, all too aware of the slippery slope they're on, given that they've already hosted once and will host the show again in 2015, were quick to point out the originality of the plot. "Because this is Hollywood, and if something kinda works they'll just keep doing it until everybody hates it!" Fey quipped. The ladies stripped away any pretenses about the show's A-listy guest list, with Poehler remarking that "by European rules, it's everyone in this room, and then Jean Claude Van Dame," and calling Matt Damon "basically a garbage person."
Though the winning joke of the evening was obviously that George Clooney/Gravity zinger, which is better experienced than it is heard repeated (but we'll do both anyway because why not): "Gravity, the story of how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die then spend one more minute with a woman his own age." Forget Beyoncé, it's these bitches that are the true definition of flawless.
Diane Keaton Sang
While accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Tiny Men with Big Glasses — just kidding it's a lifetime achievement situation. In any case, Keaton's performance really deserves to be presented without comment.
Andy Samberg and Brooklyn Nine-Nine Shocked
Andy Samberg and his freshman FOX comedy series, Brooklyn Nine-Nine surprised everyone taking home the awards for Best Male and Best Comedy on the TV side, ensuring a billion thinkpieces on how Saturday Night Live had the best night ever, and how Lorne Michaels is the overlord of any laugh had on television.
Emma Thompson was Barefoot, Maybe Also Drunk, Definitely Crazy
Does anyone else want to be Emma Thompson when they grow up? The Queen of Giving None of The Fucks was in fine form — at least once she took her shoes off and ran with it.
Jacqueline Bisset…Did A Thing
I suppose no one can be really sure what was running through Jacqueline Bisset's mind when she picked up her award for work on Starz's Dancing on The Edge. Perhaps nothing. Perhaps everything. Or perhaps she was running herself, stirred to life but actually sleep-walking her way through an elaborate fever dream from her youth. Nothing that a quick hug from Jon Voight, a jaunt halfway backstage, and a couple un-bleeped expletives couldn't fix.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News


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Welcome to another Art With Heart Team Colour Creations weekly Blog Hop. Today we are featuring Lemon Lime Twist!!!
I am giving you a sneak peek of a new stamp set that will be available in the 2019 Occasions catalogue. I won this as my Prize Patrol set at the OnStage event for demonstrators last Saturday! It is called Wonderful Romance.
My card base is Old Olive with a layer of Lemon Lime Twist and then I have stamped the image in Sahara Sand on Whisper White card. The sentiment is also stamped in Lemon Lime Twist.
I don't think the photo does it justice, but the larger leaves are coloured with Lemon Lime Twist Stampin' Write Marker and then a layer of the Fine Tip Glue added for the shiny look. The other leaves are coloured with Soft Sea Foam & Old Olive and the flowers are Lovely Lipstick! Each flower has an enamel dot in the centre (these are new too!) and the bow is Linen Thread.
Head on over to Catherine's blog where you'll find the links to other participants.
2018-2019 Annual Catalogue ends 3 June 2019
2018 Holiday Catalogue ends 2 January 2019
Be sure to download a PDF copy from my SU Catalogue Library page today.
Don't forget to Follow My Blog to receive blog updates and join my Newsletter Subscription for all the latest news and specials!


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by matttbastard
"He just drove the whole bus," said Senator Tommy Banks, a jazz pianist who once played a duet version of "Satin Doll" with Peterson on a live TV broadcast.
"He was the kindest, gentlest, most forgiving person on the face of the earth, but when you sit down to paint next to Picasso it's fairly daunting. It was frightening.
"He generated enormous swing."
Tracy Biddle, whose late father Charles was a close friend of Peterson's and a pillar of the Montreal jazz community, was floored when she heard the news.
"He really put Montreal on the map of jazz," Biddle said in an interview in Montreal. "I believe that on a grander scale, the impact he had on the black community and on the whole musical community was huge."
"He broke out of Canada. He's one of the first people. We talk of Celine Dion and Shania Twain and Alanis Morissette and Bryan Adams. Oscar Peterson did what they did years ago as a black person. So what he's done is incredible."
"Enormous swing", an unparalleled impact on his field, his community and his nation, and no little respect. A legend and icon has passed. May the memory of his many, many accomplishments, musical and otherwise, never fade.
h/t sparqui @ Bread and Roses and skdadl @ pogge.
Update: More from Richard Harrington, Richard Severo (who notes the "critical ambivalence" Peterson faced from some within the jazz establishment) and the Associated Press, which quotes French President
Nicolai Nicolas Sarkozy: "[O]ne of the bright lights of jazz has gone out."
Update 2: CBC and BBC obituaries.
Update 3 12.25: former Ontario Premier and current federal Liberal candidate Bob Rae on Peterson's expansive legacy, noting that Peterson "broke tradition by insisting on playing to mixed audiences in the American South in the 1950's. His song "[Hymn] to Freedom" became a mainstay of the civil rights movement."
This one goes out to you, Bob, and to my brothers and sisters of colour: an interpretation of Peterson's classic civil rights anthem, as performed by Jim Hession.


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From Public Interest lawyers via Disabled people Against Cuts
A disabled man who was wrongly found fit for work under the government's disability benefit assessment scheme is launching legal action to try and stop more disabled people being wrongly kicked off the social safety net.
Patrick Lynch, a former social care worker who was forced to quit work because of his impairments, is seeking a judicial review of the controversial disability benefit assessment scheme run by Atos.
The Work Capability Assessment (WCA), which determines eligibility for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for people whose health or impairment stops them from working, is at present hugely unreliable, with many people wrongly found fit for work despite severely debilitating and in some cases life-threatening conditions.
The legal action is seeking a ruling that would require Atos, the private firm that runs the WCA process on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), to grant all ESA claimants the unequivocal right to have their assessment recorded and to receive their WCA report before a decision on their eligibility is made – both key safeguards against people's health conditions being misreported or ignored altogether.
DWP research and a survey conducted by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) both show widespread demand from claimants to have their WCA assessments recorded, to ensure their medical conditions are not misrepresented in order to wrongly strip them of benefits. But while the DWP granted the right to request a recording earlier this year, there are considerable bureaucratic obstacles to both securing a recording and then using it in an appeal, with Atos recently introducing a restrictive 'consent form' for those wanting a recording of their assessment.
The case is being brought by Public Interest Lawyers, and draws on research by Disabled People Against Cuts and the TUC-backed campaign group False Economy.
Mr Lynch wants the DWP and Atos to adopt the following safeguards:
a) Universal recording to ensure that all claimants undergoing a WCA or an assessment under the new PIP benefit system will have the right to have their assessment recorded;
b) Claimants will get a copy of the WCA report before a decision is made on their eligibility for ESA, and will have the chance to raise any concerns with the DWP decision maker;
c) The DWP/Atos will be responsible for obtaining medical evidence from the medical professional named by the claimant;
d) The DWP ensures that all assessment centres are fully accessible.
Taken together, these measures would address some of the inaccuracy inherent in the disability benefits system. Disability campaigners have raised repeated concerns over how the WCA process causes huge stress for ESA recipients, with many disabled people's lives ruined after wrongly having their benefits removed.
Mr Lynch, now a campaigner with DPAC, was found fit for work following a flawed WCA report in 2010, before the DWP reconsidered and reversed the decision. His most recent WCA this year upheld his benefit entitlement, but even then Atos' report of his assessment contained inaccuracies.
In bringing the action Mr Lynch notes
"Disabled people and the poor in this Country have always struggled to get what they are duly entitled to. The fight must go on to address the injustice caused by this out of touch Government."
A DPAC spokesperson said:
"The evidence is clear – more than 98 percent of those responding to our survey said they wanted their assessment recorded and that they believed it would provide a better account. However, many reported a whole host of barriers in getting a recording in place."
Blogging will be lighter than usual probably until the New Year.


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Eric Pratt Law Firm, P.C.
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Bankruptcy is a very personal matter even though it may be a very positive first step toward financial freedom. The attorneys at Pratt & Maegli Law Firm understand the emotional issues that you are facing. We want to build a personal relationship. We are more than just your attorneys. We are consistently told, by our clients, that they feel very secure being represented by us. Pratt & Maegli Law Firm is responsive, accessible, and efficient. Our primary concern is for you, our client. When things seem unclear, we offer guidance and understanding.
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About Rockford
Rockford is a city in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. Located in the far northern part of the state on the banks of the Rock River, Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County (a small portion of the city is located in Ogle County). The largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, Rockford is the fifth-largest city in the state and the 171st most populous in the United States. At the 2020 census, Rockford had a population of 148,655 with an outlying metropolitan area population of 348,360. Settled in the mid-1830s, the position of the city on the Rock River made its location strategic for industrial development.
Neighborhoods in Rockford, Illinois
BeawulfHandymen, Belvidere Township, Byron Township, Caledonia Township, Central Terrace Co-Op, Cherry Valley, Cherry Valley Township, Coventry Creek, Edgewater, Eken Park, Gambino Park, Haight Village Historic District, Halsted & Ridge, HomeStart, Midtown District
Things to do in Rockford, Illinois
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