text:
We all get mad and lash out sometimes; maybe we said something we didn't mean in anger or threw a punch when we should have talked. It could even be lodging frivolous, baseless lawsuits like some kind of corporate temper tantrum – we've all been there. If there's one thing that I've learned in my years on this Earth, however, it's that we tend to transpose our own feelings of insecurity, inferiority, or inadequacy toward others as anger. More often than not, what angers us about others is what we're most angry about in ourselves. So, let's take a moment for some self-reflection and see if we can get to the heart of PUBG Corp's issues with Epic Games and Fortnite.
They Stole Our Idea (And Content.)
Epic is no more guilty of theft than anyone that's made a tennis game since 1972. Battle Royale is ostensibly a sub-genre of FPS', and Fortnite capitalised on the popularity generated by PUBG to launch their own game in the same sub-genre, it happens all the time. I would have qualified that with "in this industry," but it happens everywhere, in every industry. The basis of the lawsuit is that Epic copied PUBG's items and interface, a hilariously false claim that I'll get to in a minute, but copying their game outright is the public line that's being towed. For comparison, this would be like John Carmack and John Romero bringing a case against every studio and publisher that's put out an FPS game since DOOM because "they copied us!"
Pictured: The grandfathers of the modern FPS and staunch non-suers of those who followed.
To address the actual accusation of IP theft regarding the weapons and interface… What? No, seriously, what? For those not aware, damn-near everything in PUBG is cobbled out of pre-bought Unreal assets. They've been modified over time, and it's all definitely well put together, but they're still pre-bought assets at their core. By definition, they are not an original work; at best, you could call them a "remix" of whatever it is they were initially. Moreover, the weapons and items all have a basis in reality, with real-world weapon types and medical items featuring in gameplay. (Even if, like all games, they don't operate 100% accurately compared to their real-life counterparts.) They're made to look realistic, and give that sense of realism in gaming.
Now, Fortnite has "real" sounding weapons, as well, but the difference here is that everything in Fortnite is an original creation. Which is to say, someone modelled the gun, created the textures, and did it all according to the game's own art style and creative vision, which was conceived of in-studio. The difference is clear to see and, for the sake of comparison, here are some side-by-side screenshots of similar weapons from both games:
A Tactical Shotgun from Fortnite (left) vs an S12K from PUBG (right).
The Hand Cannon and Pistol from Fortnite (left) vs The six different pistol types in PUBG (right)
The Port-A-Fort from Fortnite (left) vs… Oh.
Oh, hey, that last one doesn't have an equivalent in PUBG. Neither does the Blueprint and Pencil, or the Guided Missile, or the Mini Gun, or any number of interesting, original ideas that Fortnite has implemented in such a short amount of time. That's because, again, everything in Fortnite was created by Epic, expressly for the purpose of Fortnite, under a single artistic and creative direction. I won't even get into the interface/HUD thing because, unless it's literally being copied and pasted from one game to another, all FPS interfaces will look similar in format. The inclusion of some standard weaponry in one's game is not enough to say "You're stealing our IP!", or Activision would have sued everyone into the ground by now.
"We are concerned that Fortnite may be replicating the experience for which PUBG is known."
I can absolutely guarantee you that it isn't, because I've played Fortnite and, despite still being in Early Access, Fortnite actually functions reliably. Granted, I've not put anywhere near as much time into Fortnite as I have PUBG, so maybe there's some stuff I'm not seeing. That being said, every time I've played Fortnite it has run smoothly, been devoid of major bugs or glitches, and has generally been a joy to play from a technical standpoint. I want to emphasise again that this is all while in Early Access, whereas PUBG has been officially released since December last year and my parachute still gets regularly caught on thin air.
Look to your left. Look to your right. Statistically, both of these buildings will catch your chute, and have no weapons.
Not to mention, Fortnite's building mechanic legitimately adds a level of strategy to the game that just isn't present in PUBG. Firefights out in the open quickly turn into firefights in hell mazes, constructed out of wood and panic, with only the most twitchy among us surviving. It's ludicrous, it's difficult to master (for me at least), and it's absolutely core to Fortnite's gameplay. It's such a significant difference in gameplay that it could probably stand the game apart from PUBG on its own, let alone literally everything else it has going for itself. This is how the games industry works, and how it needs to be able to work for us to see new, unique games – an idea is put forward, and others will create their own spin on it.
Fortnite also didn't take features of the game out to support its loot box economy, like PUBG Corp did with cosmetic items found in-game. No longer can I pick up a sweet looking Duster coat alongside my AKM and backpack because they would instead I buy keys for locked loot boxes to get clothing instead. In fact, so desperate are they for more of players' money that they changed the reward system from loot boxes to the occasional locked loot box, to the current state of exclusively receiving locked loot boxes. At least, the last five that I've received have all been locked and, with a drop-rate like that, there's virtually no difference as far as player experience is concerned. So, since they haven't actually "copied" PUBG's assets or ideas, and the experience is functionally different, I guess all I can say is…
Get Your Shit Together, PUBG Corp
No, seriously, this is all on you, PUBG Corp Before Fortnite came along, you had a sweet period where you were getting ridiculous dollars with virtually no competition. Even now, with the rivalry between the two of you, you're still at #2 and aren't hurting for money – clearly, since a separate studio was established just for your game. Where are all those funds going? It can't be into the actual development of your game because it's only just now, six months after your official release, that you've promised to fix the glaring technical problems. With precious little content being introduced, no work being done to refine the art direction and appearance of the game, and little-to-no optimisation, what in God's name have you been doing up until now?
Very cute, also not useful in the slightest.
Perhaps you were too busy denying that the cheating was such a problem, instead opting to call your player base racists for wanting Chinese players to have a Chinese server. (China being, by a significant margin, the biggest source of cheaters in your game.) You've probably just been too busy banning those literally millions of players for cheating to actually listen to your fanbase, or implement some decent anti-cheating measures. I get it though, it's tough. Work backs up, you have problem players majoritively coming from this one region that's easily relegated to its own server, some even have to be arrested because they committed serious offences through their cheating. What can you do though – racists, amirite?
You also probably lost a lot of time to create original content when you first accused Fortnite of stealing your ideas late last year, while they were busy making their own original content. Remember that time you said that your game wouldn't have microtransactions? Then later, when microtransactions were introduced, you said it would be a one-time only thing? Later again, that changed to microtransactions being here to stay, and now their function has become so egregious that it led to you actually removing features? Maybe it was that. And it likely doesn't help that while PUBG Corp as a company thinks they can own an entire genre, and its creator thinks Fortnite's a good thing. You know what? I'm sure you'll work it out.
Oh yeah, I'm sure this will go just fine.
I say all of this out of love for the game, I truly do. I've sunk nearly 130 hours into your game, if only because it's the game of choice for my friends with terrible taste in games, and I really want to see it improve. Contrary to my FPS proclivity, I actually prefer PUBG's realism over Fortnite's cartoonish fare. It resonates with me in the same way that the Battle Royale movie did, the way I feel this genre should. But sweet fancy Moses, if this is how they're acting now over Fortnite, what are they going to do when Red Dead Redemption 2 comes out? Or CoD:BlOps4? Or Battlefield V, or Dying Light, or any of other inevitable FPS Battle Royale games bound for release in the next two years? Right now, PUBG Corp is basically at the top of an emerging, popular sub-genre, and they can stay there if they put the effort in… Or they can continue melting down, trying to sue the competition, neglect their own game, and eventually disappear into obscurity. I'm sure Red Dead will be fun – I mean, I like horsies.
Author's note: No, seriously. They need to cut that shit out with the parachutes getting caught on nothing while everyone else gets to land. It isn't funny anymore.


text:
Captivate your baby with this multi-sensory Piano Baby Mat 2-1 activity play gym.
Use this Piano Baby Mat 2-1 from newborn to toddler years. Capture their playtime by staring as well as grasping the adorable activity toys hanging from the bar, entertain you with a piano concert or crawling through the tunnel while on a big adventure!
Their basic skills will continue to grow stronger. By kicking the keys, your baby will do stretching exercises and as a result will enhance her flexibility as well as motor skills. In addition to developing sense of hearing and visual abilities with the sounds of music, bright lights and colors.
Product Features:
- Multi-functional and sensory games
- Develops gross motor skills, hand-eye co-ordination, visual and auditory processing as well as early cognition
- Requires batteries: 3x AA (not included)
- Approx. Packing size(cm) – 58 x 11 x 44
- Approx. product size(cm) – 105 x 45 x 40
- Also available in a single bar
Packaging includes:
- Attachable material rattle toys x4
- Piano bar
- Bone-shape projector
- Padded mat x2
- Shape hangers x5
- Arch rod x2
- Base stand x2
- Base stand accessories x2
- Gane control panel

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Kids Decorator
Looking for items to decorate your kids bedroom, or some colourful and interesting gifts? Here at Spotlight, you can find a number of different ways to add colour and interest to bedrooms of boys and girls of different ages. Choose from fun decorative wall art, interesting picture or photo frames, table lamps, colourful and re-positionable wall stickers in a variety of designs, or even fun decor shapes that can be further decorated at home, with craft glues, paints, paper and glitter from our kids play range.
37 items found.
Can I buy Kid's Decorative Items from Spotlight?
Yes, you can. If you are decorating a child's bedroom, then there are so many cool and colourful items within this collection that would look perfect. They are guaranteed to love these funky accessories in their space. With such a huge choice available, plus bargains galore and our guaranteed low prices across the entire range, you are certain to find just about everything that you could possibly need to transform your little one's bedroom.
What is included in this range?
This range features tons of decorative items and accessories that would be ideal for a child's bedroom. Whatever the size of the room or budget, there are so many fabulous and practical options to choose from at Spotlight. If you are not quite sure which of our children's decor would be right for your child's room, check out our handy guide below for everything that is included in this range.
Wall Art: We have a wide variety of bright and colourful wall art available that would be ideal. Pick one with an empowering message that reminds your little one just how amazing they are or choose one of our colourful character designs.
Lights and Lamps: this selection includes a range of LED lights that would make an ideal night light for a child that is fearful of the dark or as a soft reading lamp.
Blankets: With soft blankets, luxurious throws, and even a fabulous sequinned mermaid tail, these incredible blankets are great for keeping their toes nice and toasty.
Clocks: Your child will always know what time it is with one of these awesome clocks in their bedroom. If you are shopping for a younger child's room, then we recommend choosing one that has numbers on it while they are learning to tell the time.
Photo Frames: There are so many super cute photo frames to choose from. Pop in a photo of the whole family or their group of friends for a cute personalised touch.
These are just examples of the fantastic options in this selection, with a collection of other decorative items available that will add a unique and unusual style to your child's room, including mirrors, animal heads, storage solutions and more.
Do you have any tips for decorating a child's room?
If you are looking to transform your child's bedroom, then we have just about everything that you could need at Spotlight. The most important thing is to let your child choose, their room should reflect their fun personalities, and if they love it they are more likely to want to spend time in it. Be creative with your choices and provide a place that will encourage them to be creative too. Think about space! Your child should have room to play, and too much furniture or decorative items may restrict this. Keep it simple and provide plenty of storage so that they are able to keep all of their toys and belongings organised.
Children often change their minds about what they like as they grow up, and painting your child's bedroom in white or in primary colours means that you will be able to change their rooms easily by just replacing the soft furnishings and decorative items as they grow.
Is there anything else I need to remember?
Always check to see if the product you have chosen is suitable for the age of your child. Always ensure that you choose items that do not have small parts for younger children. We would also like to remind customers that while we try to ensure that photographs are as accurate as possible, the reproduction of colours may differ due to monitor calibration. We try to match our colours and patterns as close to the image shown on your screen as possible, but we cannot always guarantee a 100% match.


text:
With Agent Screen Capture you're able to not only listen to a recording of a call, but you can also now see what your agent was doing during the call on their desktop. This really enhances coaching and training for agents.
How to enable
Navigate to your Admin Settings > Call Center > Advanced settings
Under each of your Call recording settings, there is now a checkbox to "Also record Agent's screen"
Viewing Screen Recordings
Using Google Chrome, go to dialpad.com/analytics, and filter for a Call Center, then click on Calls List.
Look for calls with a video icon next to them. Click on that to open the Screen Recording.
System Requirements
Only calls made through the Dialpad desktop app for Mac or Windows will have their screen recorded.
Calls made on other devices including CTI will only have audio recordings.
macOS Catalina: Agents will also need to grant access the first time they make a call with Screen Capture turned on. You can also confirm this in "Security & Privacy" settings and grant Dialpad access to Screen Recording.
The screen capture is streamed from the agent's desktop to the cloud in real-time during a call. For the best experience make sure your agent has a good internet connection with at least 1.5Mbps bandwidth spare per screen. If you see a broken up image when reviewing a screen recording, this will indicate a period of poor connectivity.
Screen Capture recordings can only be viewed when using the Google Chrome browser.
What is the retention period for screen recordings?
Screen Recordings will be retained by default for one year and then deleted.
Will I still see audio recordings too?
Yes, while the screen capture recording does contain audio you will still get separate audio files.
Will multiple screens be recorded?
Yes, if your agent is using more than one screen they will each be recorded and visible during playback.
Will agents be aware their screen is being recorded?
Yes, the agent will see a banner at the top of their Dialpad app:


text:
The lifetime value of a customer is important to any business because it directly affects your bottom line.
Once you recognize how valuable it is to keep your customers happy and engaged with your product or service—and how much it costs your company to replace a lost client—you realize the importance of reducing churn.
Of course, satisfied customers contribute more value to your business than dissatisfied ones, but you may be surprised just how much you gain by keeping your customers happy.
The Customer Lifetime Value Formula
You can find a variety of methods for determining customer lifetime value (CLV) online—like this CLV calculator from HubSpot—but it is important to understand what this metric means and how it varies depending on your business model.
Essentially, CLV is the amount of revenue a given customer will contribute to your business over the life of your relationship with the customer.
Say, for example, that you sign a customer to a one-year $10,000 renewable contract. In that first year, your company realizes the revenue of the contract, but incurs the cost of acquiring and onboarding. For each subsequent year that you can keep the same customer happy and they renew their contract, your company will likely realize much more revenue (since you won't incur those same acquisition and onboarding costs).
Consider the Cost of Customer Acquisition
Knowing that your customers are valuable is important, but until you also determine how much it costs you to acquire a new customer, you cannot truly appreciate the value of this metric and the powerful impact it has on your business.
Do you know what it costs you to land a new customer, and how long it takes you to recoup this investment?
The cost of customer acquisition (CCA) includes all the sales and marketing activities you need to identify prospects and close sales—converting them to customers. This includes your website and online marketing, traditional marketing and advertising. It also includes the salaries, benefits and overhead of your sales and marketing teams.
To calculate CCA, add up all your acquisition costs for a period—a quarter, for example—and divide that total by the number of new customers you booked during that period.
When you compare your cost of customer acquisition to that customer's lifetime value, what do you discover? In our example from above, how would you feel if acquisition costs you $8,500 or more? How many customers must you acquire to keep your doors open, let alone grow your company, if that customer doesn't renew their contract after the first year?
Finding Ways to Retain Customers & Keep Them Happy
Finding ways to delight your customers is energizing to both your workforce, your customer base and your bottom line. The onboarding process is often the first true test of your relationship with a client and ensuring that it goes right makes all the difference. For most companies, that means exceeding their customer service expectations and expediting the onboarding process as much as possible.
The sooner you can get your customers up and running, the sooner they can realize the full benefits of the products and services that you have to offer. The more satisfied they are during that process, the longer they will stick around.
GuideCX is built for this. A B2B project management software that makes implementations and any other project transparent and engaging—no matter how many parties are involved.
To learn more, let us know when we can show you what we have built for you and your customers.
- Improve Client Onboarding Success by Managing Expectations During Onboarding - September 10, 2020
- Your Customer's Perspectives with Tobias Kederer (Podcast) - July 13, 2020
- Ongoing Onboarding with Donna Weber (Podcast) - July 8, 2020


text:
Use the scheduling tool below to browse all the available conference sessions, show floor education, event activities, and speakers at this year's event. Find the content and networking opportunities to fit all of your educational and professional needs to ensure you get the most out of your time at the show.
Title: CEO
Company: Apollo Medical Devices
Title: President & CTO
Company: Rapid Prototype and Manufacturing LLC., (rp+m)
Title: Strategic Account Manager
Company: Fetch Robotics
Title: Technical Program Manager for ISO 13485
Company: Smithers Quality Assessments
Title: Director of Engineering
Company: Intellirod Spine, Inc.
Title: Program Manager for Early College, Early Career Program
Company: MAGNET
Title: Partner, Creative Director
Company: Photonic Studio
Title: Senior Director, Product Development
Company: Cleveland Clinic Innovations
Title: Founder
Company: Fab Lab Hub
Title: Director of New Business Development
Company: PTI Engineered Plastics
Title: Founder
Company: Ian Burkhart Foundation
Title: Principal Engineer, Cleveland Clinic Department of Biomedical Engineering
Company: Cleveland Clinic
Title: Director of Engineering and Regulatory Specialist
Title: Artificial Intelligence Architect
Company: Foxy Machine
Title: Sales Executive – Energy Storage Business Leader
Company: Halocarbon Products
Title: Quality & Regulatory Manager
Company: Sparton
Title: VP of Product Strategy
Company: RRAMAC Connected Systems
Title: Applications Engineer
Company: Proto Labs
Title: Staff Engineer-Intelligent Robotics/Machine Vision
Company: FANUC America Corp.
Title: Regional Sales Manager
Company: Manufactured Assemblies Corporation
Title: Assistant Chair of BioMedical Engineering Department
Company: Case Western University
Title: Senior Director of Industry and Innovation - Team Northeast Ohio
Company: TeamNEO
Title: Principal Research Scientist
Company: Battelle
Title: Program Director, Engineering Team
Company: Nottingham Spirk
Title: Senior Operations / R&D Executive
Company: Blue Spark
Title: Engineer
Company: Pile Dynamics
Title: President
Company: NasoNeb
Title: Senior Vice President, Industry and Innovation
Company: Team NEO
Title: Global Business Manager, Training Services
Company: Rockwell Automation
Title: Business Manager, Global Energy Storage
Company: CSA Group
Title: Systems and Operations Engineer
Company: NASA Glenn Research Center
Title: Owner & Consultant
Company: Laura Green & Associates, LLC
Title: Project Staff
Company: Cleveland Clinic
Title: MS, Chief Executive Officer
Company: Matrix Medical Device
Title: Program Manager
Company: Sparton
Title: President/VP Business Development
Company: 3D Tech Talks/Lazarus3D
Title: President
Company: Thogus Products Company
Title: VP Business Development
Company: The Technology House
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Company: FibreTuff Medical Biopolymers, LLC
Title: Vice President of Business Development
Company: BioEnterprise
Title: Director of Software Solutions
Company: Fortech LLC
Title: Production Development Engineer
Company: Carbon
Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
Company: Kablooe Design
Title: Director, Electronics Core Facility, Medical Device Solutions
Company: Cleveland Clinic
Title: Director, Design Engineering
Company: Sparton
Title: Chief Marketing Officer
Company: Locus Robotics
Title: Vice President, Content & Strategy, Advanced Manufacturing Group
Company: UBM Americas
Title: CEO & Co-Founder
Company: Thingswise LLC
Title: Nord Professor of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Company: Case Western Reserve University
Title: CEO and Founder
Company: SmartShape
Title: Quality Systems/Regulatory Affairs Engineer
Company: Jalex Medical
Title: President & CEO
Company: Intwine Connect LLC
Title: CEO
Company: FS Studio
Title: Regional General Manager
Company: Penn Stainless Products
Title: Commercial Development Manager, Geon Performance Materials
Company: PolyOne Corporation
Title: VP of Marketing
Company: Aethon
Title: Vice President of Engineering
Company: ScottCare
Title: R&D Engineer
Company: US Endoscopy
Title: Technical Support Manager
Company: Universal Robots
Title: Senior Embedded Systems Engineer
Company: FS Studio
Title: Assistant Professor
Company: The University of Toledo
Title: Director of Design & Development
Company: Kablooe Design
Title: Senior Technical Editor
Company: Design News (UBM)
Title: Principal Director, Space Materials Lab
Company: The Aerospace Corporation
Title: Executive Director
Company: Cleveland Clinic Innovations
Title: Director of Robotics Practice
Company: Direct Recruiters
Title: Vice President
Company: Cooper-Standard Automotive
Title: Founder and President
Company: 2940 Associates
Title: Senior Design Engineer
Company: MAGNET
Title: Actor, Entrepreneur, Industry Advocate
Title: Sr. Project Manager
Company: Cleveland Clinic Innovations
Title: Senior Advisor
Company: Avicenne Energy
Title: President
Company: Additive Engineering Solutions LLC
Title: Assistant Director of the Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology Group and Co-Director of the CAR Management Briefing Seminars
Company: Center for Automotive Research
Title: Senior Editor
Company: Design News (UBM)
Title: Vice President of Medical Devices
Company: BioEnterprise
Title: Global VP of Material Sales & Procurement
Company: TerraCycle
Title: Sector Director, Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace
Company: JobsOhio
Title: Chief Strategy Officer
Company: Nubo Health
Title: Executive Director
Company: Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC)
Title: Vice President of QA/RA
Company: Enable Injections
Title: Global Technology Director, Materials and Laboratory Services
Company: Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies
Title: Director for Research & Proposal Development
Company: Cleveland State University
Title: Chairman
Company: Locus Robotics
Title: Director of Medical Device Solutions
Company: Cleveland Clinic
Title: General Manager
Company: Sparton
Title: Senior Editor
Company: UBM
Title: Engineering Manager
Company: Rapid, a Proto Labs company
Title: Virtual/Augmented Reality Experience Strategist & Founder
Company: RazorEdge
Title: Principal/3D Artist
Company: Photonic Studio


text: Online Shop +3 18 KT gold plated link necklace - very heavy (27g) stamped 18KT PL SKU 00222 £65.00 In stock Quantity: 1 Add to Bag Product Details This is alovely piece of costume jewellery and looks the part - it is stamped 18KT Gold plated (18KT PL) and has lovely weight and shape to it. made in 'link' chain style. This will definitely let you dress to impress ! It measures approx. 22cm long when worn and 44cm opened out. - Just over 0.5cm wide. Lovely piece of costume jewellery. For our online customers Shipping will be by Royal Mail 2nd class tracked and signed for - cost £3.00 Overseas customers welcome - please contact us before purchasing for accurate shipping costs. Local customers can collect this item from our store in Kilcreggan Village, Argyll & Bute Save this product for later Favorite Shopping Bag You can purchase these items online – or come and see them at our shop in Kilcreggan. Check back regularly for new stock – or subscribe to our newsletter to get regular updates on new items. Feel Free to ShareTwitterFacebookLinkedin


text:
Black Friday Deals Are Here! 40% Off The Holistic Home Ebook and Chicken Tractor Build Plans
In the hubbub of holiday shopping from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, I like to keep it simple here at Green Willow Homestead and do 40% off sitewide. Grab both The Holistic Home Ebook and the Chicken Tractor Build Plans discounted at 40% off and start 2020 with your most sustainable foot forward. Scroll on to learn more about both deals!
I know how overwhelming holiday shopping can be. As someone who loves finding the perfect gift, I know how daunting it can be when there are so many people you hold dear that you want to make feel special. I will admit that sometimes it feels like I am buying "just to buy" and get it crossed off my list. Pair that with being someone who cares deeply about being sustainable, ethical, and low to no waste with my shopping - it can take hours of online searching to find companies and products I trust.
So I know firsthand when the holidays come around, the call to spend money on gifts is at a fever pitch. It can be hard to navigate everyone's wants and needs, while also keeping in line with your own values.
That's why I created The Green Gifting Guide.
With over 60 gift ideas (categorized by age group and interests!), you can easily shop for everyone from toddlers to besties using the guide and give the earth a big hug while doing so. I want to save other earthy-friendly shoppers the time spent searching so you can breeze through your gifting with a clear conscious.
All of the gift ideas shared in this guide can be purchased online, they benefit great companies or artisan makers, are non-toxic, and good for the environment.
Holistic Healing: What Are EMFs And Why You Need To Reduce Your Exposure To Decrease Anxiety And Boost Sleep
What are EMFs?
EMF stands for electromagnetic field, which is a physical field that is generated by an object that is electrically charged. They are present nearly everywhere on our planet. Even our own bodies emit EMFs. The issue is that artificial EMFs, the ones generated by things like power lines, cell phones, WIFI routers, TVs, are much more intense and not what our bodies evolved with over time.
We are exposed to low frequency EMFs on a much larger scale now than natural evolution ever anticipated. Low level EMFs, like the radio frequency radiation your cell phone emits, directly affects your body. California has even gone so far as to warn consumers now that cell phone use close to your noggin has shown to have long-term effects on the body like increasing your risk of cancer.
Meet Kelsey,
Thanks for stopping by Green Willow Homestead! From chicken rearing to composting, we've got our hands full and we love sharing what we've learned along the way. Follow along as we strive to live sustainably and turn these five acres from just property to a fully functioning regenerative farm.
Grab the Ebook
Listen in!
FREE Guide!
Favorite Books of 2020
1. Erosion
2. Braiding Sweetgrass
3. As Long As Grass Grows
4. The Small Scale Poultry Flock
5. The Zero Waste Solution
September 2020


text:
Words by Nina Buitrago
Photos by Colin Mackay
Video by Robin Pearson & Scott Connor
Music by Grieving
I had contacted Vans about the idea of having a women's BMX session back in 2015, and in 2016 we did a demo at Huntington Beach before the men's final – the crowd filled the stands and we earned our own class for 2017. When I found out the series was going global and that we could still have a presence at the international stops, I volunteered to help organize the women and get them excited to earn a spot to compete at the Huntington Beach finals.
It was such an honor to spend the weekend in Malaga with so many women riders who traveled from all over Spain, the USA, UK, Germany, Chile and Argentina. Our turn out was amazing and it was so awesome to finally put a face with a name or Instagram handle, haha.
All different levels and styles of riding were represented, the support from everyone at the event was truly unmatched. Thanks for having us Vans, and also Ride UK for capturing some of the action! Next stop is Guadalajara, Mexico, hope to see you there!
Another highlight of the weekend for me was our adventure to the infamous 'hook' spot. It was hot out, we forgot to bring water, took a round about way to get there, got lost a few times but finally found the spot. The girls blew me away, Dani bombed the hill, Beecam and Frances were carving higher on the wall every run. Hannah tagged along feeling pretty tired wasn't even planning on riding (hence the no helmet, sorry dad!), and blew us all away taking a few runs and throwing a barspin and then a tailwhip air at this legendary spot. (video below)


text:
$25,000 Homebuilder Scheme*
The recently announced Federal Government HomeBuilder scheme is making it even easier for those looking to build a new home to get onto the property ladder. A $25,000* grant could directly help families, first home buyers, upgraders and downsizers realise their goal of home ownership sooner.
$20,000 WA Building Bonus Scheme*
In addition to the Federal grant, the WA government has announced a Building Bonus grant of $20,000* available to those building a new home.
$10,000 WA First Home Owner Grant*
The existing WA First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) provides $10,000* towards the cost to build a new home for Western Australian residents who have never owned residential property in Australia. Buyers must be owner occupiers with the new home being their principal place of residence for a period of 12 months. Eligible buyers can receive the FHOG in addition to the State and Federal Grants.
*Government Grants are not a Stockland promotion. Eligibility and other restrictions apply.
Visit these links for further information $25,000 Homebuilder Scheme* , $20,000 WA Building Bonus Scheme* and $10,000 WA First Home Owner Grant*
Use our interactive map to discovery the Vale community.
Free fitness sessions and weekly parkrun
21 kilometres to Perth Airport
Aviary Creek, Adventure Park and Enclosed Dog Park
Four schools and one childcare centre


text:
Wheatfeed, Soya hulls (GM), Molasses, Sunflower extract, Lightly rolled oats, Flaked barley, Flaked maize, Flaked peas, Rice bran, Soya bean meal (GM), Rapeseed oil, Calcium carbonate, Salt, Vitamin & mineral premix, Vitamin C, Live yeast.
FREE DELIVERY on orders over £75
Our Standard UK Mainland delivery service is FREE on orders over £75, with a maximum parcel weight of 3kg.
For orders under £75 our Standard Delivery Charge is from £4.99.
Bulky/Oversized and all other UK Deliveries
For orders over 3kg, deliveries to remote/offshore postcodes, or any order under £75, choose from our great value delivery options:
• UK Mainland Economy – from £5.99
• UK Mainland Express – from £7.99
• UK Remote & Offshore - from £15.99
For full delivery information click here ›


text:
Puchheim, Germany – March 30, 2016 – Boinx Software has just announced a new version of its premier slideshow creation tool, FotoMagico 5. This updated software program brings a combination of brand new editing tools and advancements to pre-existing features. Among many enhancements, FotoMagico 5 now features a slideshow interface with pre-built stories called "Snippets," Audio Envelopes and Fades to control audio levels, an Audio Marker Assistant to provide more precise sound editing capabilities, improved text editing and placeholders, and much more.
"FotoMagico is made by photographers for photographers," states Oliver Breidenbach, CEO, Boinx Software. "This is why it puts the needs of photographers front and center. It's easy to learn, as photographers want to spend their time taking photos – not learning a slide show app. The Snippets feature gets you magical results more quickly than ever. FotoMagico 5 slideshows look brilliant on 4K TVs as well as on YouTube. That's why thousands of photographers rely on FotoMagico to tell their stories."
FotoMagico 5 Updates Include:
- New "Snippets" feature allow users to insert their own photo and video content into these pre-built stories to create beautiful slideshows; FotoMagico pros can create their own Snippets to streamline the production of slideshows, perfect for those working with clients
- New Dark User Interface, designed for users of all skill levels, to make photos and videos stand out even more against a more modern backdrop
- Music Snippets come with free CC licensed music by Josh Woodward and Kevin MacLeod to set the mood; pre-loaded with perfectly timed audio markers means your story is synchronized with the matching music, while an attribution slide keeps users out of copyright troubles
- Animation Assistant designed to automatically make your slideshow move, while accounting for a variety of photo aspect ratios like portrait and panorama, movie and text properties
- New Audio Marker Assistant (Pro only) offers more precise control over timing than ever before, with perfectly synchronized music and slides creating the right dramatic effect
- New Audio Volume Envelopes and Fades (Pro only), the most requested feature, provides audio level controls that enable users to make the music softer when one intends to speak if presenting the slideshow, or to let the video audio take center stage
- Improved Text Editing and Text Placeholders (Pro only) for the most intuitive way to edit and format titles yet
Additional new features available only in FotoMagico 5 Pro include the timeline view; record narration; access to Lightroom and Aperture libraries; teleprompter support; chapter support; masks, borders and color correction; and additional sharing options, such as the Standalone Player, ProRes video, and custom video.
* System Requirements: OS X 10.10 Yosemite or newer. 8 GB of RAM and a dedicated graphics card is recommended.
Watch the FotoMagico 5 demo to get a first impression of the latest version's creative power.
FotoMagico 5 Pricing and Availability
FotoMagico 5 is available now for 49.99 USD, FotoMagico 5 Pro is available for 99.99 USD.
Existing customers can upgrade to FotoMagico 5 Pro for 49.99 USD from FotoMagico 4, and 74.99 USD from FotoMagico 3.
Existing customers who previously purchased FotoMagico 4 in the Mac App Store will be able to upgrade to FotoMagico 5 Pro free of charge once they purchase the basic version of FotoMagico 5 for 49.99 USD.
Request a Media Review Kit
Members of the media are invited to review FotoMagico 5. For more information, please contact Anya Nelson at firstname.lastname@example.com. For press images, please visit https://boinx.com/press/media/.
About FotoMagico
FotoMagico, winner of two coveted Apple Design Awards, is the gold standard in slideshow apps, made exclusively for the Mac. FotoMagico, used by thousands of professional and amateur photographers around the world, allows users to create customized slideshows, mixing photos with movies and audio, for a storytelling effect like none other. FotoMagico brings photos to life and keeps any audience at the edge of their seats.
About Boinx Software
Located in Puchheim, near Munich, Germany, Boinx Software Ltd. develops award-winning animation, video production and photography software for the Mac® platform and iOS devices including the iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® and Apple TV®. Honored with numerous Apple Design Awards and coveted spots on the Mac App Store's Best Apps of the Year list, the extensive family of Boinx apps includes iStopMotion for Mac, iStopMotion for iPad, FotoMagico, mimoLive (formerly BoinxTV), Mouseposé, You Gotta See This!, PhotoPresenter for iOS, and PhotoWall+ for tvOS Boinx's newest social photo wall for sharing and saving crowd-sourced photos. Boinx Software has also been instrumental in the developmental processes of popular apps including Heads Up!, Ellen DeGeneres's charades party game, and the Leica T iPhone and iPad app, the elegant remote companion to the Leica T digital camera.
Follow @boinxsoftware on Twitter and Facebook. For more information, please visit the Boinx Software website.
Press Contact
Zazil Media Group
Anya Nelson
(p) +1 617.817.6559


text:
Loading a U-Box container is a lot like a game of Tetris. You'll want to back everything in tightly using blankets, towels and/or furniture pads to fill the gaps - doing this will prevent things from shifting and knocking into each other.
To make sure you pack and load you container correctly follow through with these instructions and tips.
Before loading your U-Box container you'll want to do a few things:
- Drain water connections from appliances
- Drain gas and other fluids from lawnmowers and weed eaters.
- Label all your boxes with room names for easier unpacking/unloading
- Use furniture pads to wrap pieces of furniture you don't want getting scratched
- Use mover's wrap or tape to secure the furniture pads
- Rent an appliance dolly and/or a utility dolly
- Purchase tie-down rope to secure the loads
U-Box Packing Tips
- Your U-Box will come with 24 furniture pads. If you would rather not use blankets and towels as added protection, rent additional furniture pads at a U-Haul store or buy them online.
- Rent an appliance dolly and/or a utility dolly.
- Purchase tie-down rope to secure the loads.
- Use a specialty box or furniture pads to pack fragile items, like frames, mirrors or TVs.
Loading a U-Box Container
- Begin at the back of the container and work your way forward.
- You'll want to place heavy items on the floor of the box and evenly distribute their weight, so plan accordingly as you're loading.
- Use furniture pads between the floor and wall of the container to protect non boxed items.
- Create wall-like layers as you load. When you complete one, tie off the section using tie-down rope.
- When loading TVs place the screen side of the TV box against a furniture pad or other cushioned surface.
- Remove the legs of chairs and tables to maximize space.
- As you're loading remember to fill the gaps with furniture pads, blankets or cushions.
- Stabilize moving parts of furniture or equipments.
- Use the space in drawers to fill with other belongings.
- Continue to evenly distribute the heaviest items. Make sure these aren't all placed on the same end or side.
- Extremely heavy items like safes or tool boxes should be loaded in the center of the box.
- Finally, if you have furniture with wheels be sure to lock these prior to loading.
Learn more about what items you can and cannot load into your container.
As you're loading, keep in mind you'll need to be flexible at times and move things around to get the best fit - doing this will guarantee your load in packed even and tight.
If you feel this task is too daunting, know that you can always hire Moving Help® loading service to assist you.


text:
What is your creative mission?
What do you love about what you do?
I've always been a wordsmith, I love the expression of fiction writing.
What have you learned from your successes/ failures?
Stick with it and don't get discouraged by small disappointments.
How do you keep pushing ahead after a difficult challenge?
Allow time away from the project. It's okay to have 'down days', then get back to it when you're inspired.
Have you ever encountered resistance from family, friends, or the world in general? How did you overcome those kinds of blocks?
I've been lucky to have had a lot of support.
How has your art and creativity healed you?
The act of doing it takes me away from the drudge of my 'real work' which pays the bills.
What are your NFA Bullet points? What steps would you recommend for anyone who wants to kick some ass and get their creative dreams off the ground?
Start it, talk about it, make it real.
Ideas are just that. Make them into something tangible that you can show someone.
Find a support network, and pay attention to them.
Find Ken
Hey you. Wanna share your wisdom? Answer the 7questions of Creativity here.


text:
As your trusted local roofing contractor, Storm Master Construction & Roofing has been serving home and business owners and improving their quality of life with our roofing services. Our expertise also extends to remodeling, and with 35 years of experience under our belt, you can count on us to ensure the success of your next remodeling project.
In this post, we discuss how we can help you with your upcoming remodeling project.
Full-Service Roofing
The roof is one of the trickiest parts of the home to remodel. The fact that this structure is made up of several parts means you have to account for more than just the shingles; the underlayment and flashings should also be on your plan.
As your local full-service roofing contractor, your upcoming roof replacement will be as smooth sailing as possible. The best way to go about your roof remodel is by upgrading your existing roof. You can choose from our range of top-of-the-line roofing systems, which includes slate and metal, among others.
Long-Term Roof Maintenance Plan
Remodeling isn't always a one-off thing. In some cases, you actually need to develop a long-term maintenance plan to ensure the health of certain parts of your property. The roof is one of these critical components, which means you should have a continuing maintenance plan for it to maximize its longevity.
As part of our complete roof repair services, we'll also help you develop a maintenance scheme that fits with your schedule. This is a valuable thing to have, especially for commercial property owners, as you want to keep your business and investment secure.
Exterior Services
Apart from our general roofing services, we also offer full-service exterior remodeling ranging from siding, gutter installation, and carpentry. You can count on our team to build you an attractive deck or patio, pick out the right siding, or install top-quality windows for your home remodeling project. Give us a call at Storm Master Construction & Roofing to learn more about our services.


text:
uploaded: Sat, Jun 13, 2009 @ 9:27 AM last modified: Sat, Jun 13, 2009 @ 9:34 AM (add)
The wav in the zip, mono and dry.
sample, media, acoustic, bluesy, funky, guitar, loops, non_commercial, audio, mp3, 44k, mono, CBR, archive, zip
Play Strumky
Contents of ZIP Archive: Wav file
Recommended by: teru, Calling Sister Midnight (romancito), Fireproof_Babies, Loveshadow, ditsychick6, BoomShaak (_BoomShaak_), Carosone, Zapac, MC Jack in the Box (mcjackinthebox), error404 (presse), Abstract Audio (Citizen_X0), Apoxode
Found in 3 playlists
by Pitx
2009 - Licensed under
Creative Commons
Attribution Noncommercial (3.0)
Click here for how to give credit and other conditions.
Samples are used in:


text:
Kisharon provides the Jewish community with vital support for hundreds of people with learning difficulties and their families. The services, located over seven sites, cater for the needs of the learning disabled at every stage of their lives – from a nursery and school, right through to residential services and work opportunities. Kisharon provides support for each individual to develop their potential and live a fulfilling life within the community. This friendly new confidential support service can be used by adults or children with learning difficulties, their families and carers. The service covers complex needs as well as mild learning disabilities and will also be useful to professionals, whether teachers or care staff.
DirectMe » Young People » Support and advice » Disabilities and additional needs
DirectMe » Practitioners » Support and advice » Money and benefits
DirectMe » Practitioners » Safeguarding » Disabilities and additional needs
DirectMe » Parents » Support and advice » Disabilities and additional needs
DirectMe » Children » Staying safe and getting help


text:
Academic journal article Journal of Accountancy
IRS Oks Rolling Average
Article excerpt
The IRS now considers a rolling-average method of inventory costing used for financial statements to be acceptable as well for income tax reporting, assuming the taxpayer satisfies one of two safe harbors. Additionally, the IRS furnishes automatic consent to change to a rolling-average method.
Companies in various industries view the rolling-average method to be a reliable approach to estimation of inventory and cost of goods sold and therefore use it for financial reporting. Revenue Procedure 2008-43, issued in June, states that the IRS may accept this method for income tax reporting, assuming it is reliable for the taxpayer in question. The method might not accurately reflect the taxpayer's income, however, where inventory is held for several years or its costs are unstable. Additionally, if the taxpayer is not using the rolling average for accounting, this method may not be suitable for reflecting taxable income.
Accordingly, the rolling-average method will be deemed to accurately reflect income where (1) the taxpayer recalculates the rolling average every time it purchases or produces an additional unit of an item, or on a regular basis of at least once a month, and (2) the taxpayer meets either of two tests: (a) the ending inventory cost under the rolling-average method does not vary by more than 1% from its cost under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or other specific identification method used, or (b) the entire inventory of the taxpayer turns over at least four times a year. …


text:
For those who've been put accountable for your office's next get together, likelihood is you're hoping for the very best and expecting the worst. These organizing equipment will assist you control the litter in your workplace and preserve you so organized you'll never pay payments late or become annoyed because you can't find an vital paper. One other helpful utility for cellular users is net conferencing providers corresponding to Microsoft Workplace Reside Assembly. Originally this was a client led revolution, with gadgets such as MP3 Gamers and mobile phones being geared in the direction of the individual slightly than companies.
Whereas going to obtain your nice home workplace devices, it will be smart for you to determine beforehand the units absolutely necessary to run your enterprise. In this age of technological innovation, the home office homeowners need increasingly surprise tools; what they name nice dwelling workplace gadgets. Many people are buying bulk workplace stationery objects at lowered or discounted rates from online vendors to avail of the worth benefits.
An Web connection, in right now's era, is certainly one of many great home workplace devices and a must have. The safety digicam techniques definitely provide extra safety to the office premises than some other internet based camera monitoring system. This text will cover a full range of geek office supplies – all the things the cool nerds are shopping for.
The range of gadgets for her is significantly smaller than it is for males, but both women and girls enjoy utilizing the same sorts of devices that males and boys do. Many devices for females centre on household devices such as the assorted kitchen gadgets which are available. For Office 2013 help, be at liberty to call any third-celebration tech assist suppliers.
Technologies such as Bluetooth let you talk with other gadgets in an workplace or resort room with out the need for cables. Sure, we all wanted to see it chopped off, and now you possibly can take pleasure in tossing Madoff's head around the workplace or just squeezing it everytime you really feel burdened. In truth some gadgets can be utilized for particular occasions corresponding to the various Christmas gadgets or celebration devices enjoyed at varied times of the 12 months.


text:
Size:35.2 Ounce (Pack of 1) Raise the awesomeness, deliciousness, and nutritional value of ordinary milk with Choco Listo Instant Chocolate Powder Drink! The traditional, rich flavor of Chocolisto is fortified with Vitamins A, D, Calcium, Complex B, Iron, and minerals to feed the future of your children. They work together to support Growth Development, Mental Processes, Physical Health/Strength, and Defense System. Chocolisto is a delicious chocolate drink that gives your children the best nutrition in an easy-to-prepare format.
Welcome to
Become a member
With more ways to unlock exciting perks, this is your all access pass to exclusive rewards.
Already have an account?Sign in


text:
Disney pencils in a return to hand-drawn film
NEW ORLEANS - After what will be a five-year hiatus from the medium, Walt Disney Co. on Thursday unveiled a plan to jump back into traditional hand-drawn animation.
At its annual meeting, held in Hurricane Katrina-ravaged New Orleans, Disney announced that its film "The Frog Princess" would be set in the stricken city and is scheduled for release in 2009.
It will be Walt Disney's first foray into traditional, two-dimensional animation - the medium that propelled the company to prominence under its founder and namesake - since the 2004 effort "Home on the Range," which fizzled at the box office.
Of late, the recently acquired Pixar has provided most of Disney's box-office momentum in the field of animation, with such hits as "Cars" and "The Incredibles."
"This movie is going to be classic Disney, but you've never seen this before," said John Lasseter, the creative chief of Pixar, who now oversees all of Disney's animation operations.
It's unclear, however, whether the company intends to follow "Frog Princess" with another hand-drawn effort. Studio spokeswoman Heidi Trotta said there Disney had no announcement on other hand-drawn films.
The move is a gamble because Disney's other recent hand-drawn efforts have joined "Home on the Range" as box-office disappointments. 2002's "Treasure Planet" was a huge failure, and the company was forced almost immediately to take a write-down on the $140 million-budget film.
To boot, "Treasure Planet" directors John Musker and Ron Clements are again at the helm for "Frog Princess." While the 2002 movie took a bath, the duo also was responsible for Disney hits "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid," the latter of which launched the company into its most recent era of animated hits, in 1989.
Laura Martin, an analyst for Soleil Securities, said "Frog Princess" has a chance at success if its creators manage to come up with compelling material.
"It doesn't matter what the technology is. It matters what the story is," she said. "It's clear that Disney is trying to integrate the best of the past with its animation franchise."
Asked whether audiences are becoming inundated with animated features, Chuck Oberleitner, who publishes the Disney fan site O-meon.com, said the lines are blurring between live-action and animated films as some movies now simply place actors in front of screens and use computers to create the backgrounds.
"There were over 200 live-action features last year, and no one said anything about too much saturation," Oberleitner said.
Disney's Lasseter said "Frog Princess" will be a musical in the same vein as "Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast." And it will feature, for the first time, an African-American lead character.
Oscar-winning songwriter and New Orleans native Randy Newman is writing the songs for the film and was on hand at Disney's shareholder gathering to perform one with a brass band.
It was as emotional a gathering as a shareholder meeting could get, as roughly 300 shareholders showed up, many of them from the New Orleans region. Several of those had had flooding in their homes.
Betty Edler, a Disney shareholder and resident of suburban Metairie, was at the meeting with her husband, Edward. The couple's home was deluged with 6 inches of water - a modest amount in comparison with most of the region's afflicted homes - but enough to force the Edlers to tear out sheetrock and completely revamp their first floor.
A shareholder for 10 years, Edler was grateful to be able to attend her first Disney meeting, which she said had come at an opportune time. "This city can use any kind of boost it can get," she said.


text:
My Da Fiore
October 2nd, 2004 | Posted by Shannon
So, I am back from my research trip to Venice. I ate, drank and walked for ten days. It was a fantastic trip, and one of the highlights was the discovery of one of my new favorite places on the entire planet. That place is Il Refolo.
I am a pizza junkie. I really am. The first three nights I ate pizza and probably, all in all, I ate something like eight pizzas in ten days. I can't even imagine the number of pizzas I've eaten in my lifetime. Probably over a thousand pizzas. Maybe even more.
I had sincere intentions to eat at some of the more well-known, expensive restaurants of Venice on this last trip, like Alle Testiere and Al Paradiso. But I didn't, until the last night when I went to Cantinone Storico in Dorsoduro. Since Ruth goes to all these places I think I will leave those to her, because seriously, I am a cheapskate. Or maybe, I am just value oriented. Plus I am relatively poor since I spend all my money going places all the time. If I am going to blow 18 Euro on a plate of pasta, it had better be pretty orgasmic pasta. But usually it is just pasta, like you would get for 10 Euro somewhere else. Anything over 18 Euro had better have gold flakes sprinkled on the top.
Anyway, back to Il Refolo. Before I left for Venice I entertained thoughts of taking myself to Da Fiore, Venice's "best" restaurant. After all, I can write it off, now. So I looked at their website and noticed they have another place, Il Refolo, run by the son, Damiano Martin. Well of course I never made a reservation at Da Fiore (I'll save that should I ever get me a sugar daddy) but on my second night, I found myself walking to Il Refolo.
Il Refolo is behind the church of San Giacomo dell' Orio, with a bunch of outdoor tables next to a canal. I walked up and asked for a table, and one of the servers went and fetched Damiano Martin who told me he'd seat me in a minute. Damiano Martin, who owns the place. He sat me and asked me if I wanted an aperitif, so I ordered a Spritz. It came out and it was a fairly large Spritz, one that would take me at least twenty minutes to drink. I didn't want to order food and have it come out while I was having my Spritz. One server came to take my order, I told her, uno momento, then Damiano Martin came and tried to take my order. I told him I really wanted to finish my Spritz first.
"I tell you what," he says. "I'll let no one bother you until you are finished with your Spritz."
OK – this guy doesn't know me, but he KNOWS me. I am already in love with him, and his place. This is what great service is all about.
I study the menu. It's a pizzeria, but there are some other interesting things on the menu. A couple of pastas, some kind of Irish beef thing, and even a chicken curry. Nothing is over 15 or 16 Euro. The only thing that seems high to me is the wine – 8.50 for a half liter of house – gulp.
There was really no doubt, from the beginning, as to what I would order. They had a pizza, with FIGS. Fresh figs and Prosciutto. How could I not go for it?
There was a large table of Venetians next to me, with a little girl who was kind of a brat. Funny how Italian brats seem less obnoxious than American brats. Nearby, a table with two Italian guys and what appeared to be two Polish hookers (or mail order brides? They were pretty hot.) Candlelight flickered and gondolas glided by and I sipped on red wine and breathed Venice.
Then the pizza came. I still can't get over how good that pizza was. How totally sensuous and absorbing it was. The first few bites were surprising, because it seemed the figs had lost some of their sweetness by being cooked. But as I ate (and became more and more enraptured) the figs started to vary in sweetness and texture so that each bite was different. Squishy, sweet; salt and crunch. I even broke my rule of always eating the crust – I wasn't about to waste valuable stomach space on crust when figs were involved.
An Irish couple was eating at the next table. Eventually, we would become friends, but before we did, I watched, and listened, as the Irish girl ate her chicken curry. After each bite she would make a little noise of pleasure. Damiano and his staff were all running around, making sure everyone was happy, replacing candles, pouring wine. Four star service in a pizzeria. I didn't want to go, so I ordered a Sgroppino.
I was very curious about Damiano Martin. With his pedigree, why open a pizzeria? In one of the least touristy areas of Venice? Because he wanted to do something for the Venetians? Because he loves pizza? Eventually I called him over because I wanted to ask him, Why?
He told me. He wanted a traditional pizzeria, but also to have some interesting things on the menu. He just wanted to have a good restaurant. He spoke with no pretense and he was so young and sweet that I wanted to stand up and kiss him right there. He grows the figs, for the pizza, in his backyard. That pizza, a pizza I, THE pizza freak, will never forget.
A few nights later I went back – Il Refolo is definitely going in the 2nd edition of Chow! Venice, so I have to investigate further. Alle Testiere can wait for Ruth to come back in December. It was a Saturday night, and the place was full. I asked for a table, and Damiano, again there overseeing everything, told me to wait a minute. Then he and a waiter rolled a table out of the inside dining room and set it up.
This time I tried a lasagna special with blueberries on top, and a salad. It was a good, basic lasagna – the blueberries added an interesting twist. While it was a tasty meal, it was nothing like that fig pizza. The service was again exceptional, with Damiano Martin running around doing just about everything, backed by a smiling staff.
I went one more time. Two nights before I left, I brought my friends Cheryl and Sue with me. We started with a bowl of a smooth pumpkin soup with pieces of fresh porcini mushroom in it. Three women and a bowl of soup – we managed to share equally, but it was tough. I got whatever was in the bottom of the bowl onto a piece of bread. Sue ordered the chicken curry and Cheryl and I ordered the fig and prosciutto pizza. The chicken curry was something like half a chicken with a good, spicy green curry sauce and basmati rice on the side. Accompanying it was an intensely hot yogurt sauce. As in, mangiafuoco hot. The kind of dish someone who lives in Venice and is sick of pizza would die for. And the pizza? Cheryl kept saying, "this is the BEST pizza I have ever had." I wanted Sgroppino again, and Sue and Cheryl both got Panna Cotta. At Il Refolo, you can have your Panna Cotta with strawberries, chocolate sauce, vanilla sauce, Zabaglione, Frutto di Bosco – Sue got the Zabaglione, Cheryl the Frutta di Bosco – all kinds of berries, including the hugest blackberry I have ever seen. Cheryl kept saying, "this is the BEST Panna Cotta I have ever had."
On average, each meal was somewhere around 25 Euro a person – this with everything you could possibly want. The night after this, I ate with Sue at Cantinone Storico where we had one antipasto to split, two plates of risotto, and a crap bottle of wine for 50 Euro per person. And the service? LAME. (Homie tried to tell me bresaola was the same as prosciutto. Dickhead.)
So, I guess I am a convert. Not to the four-star Da Fiore, but to Il Refolo, where the service is four-star, where the fig pizza is a slice of heaven, and where Damiano Martin will fix that, if it slips.


text:
Mortgage Broker Wildwood Alabama Man admits attempted murder of Witness, Mortgage Fraud Conspiracy, and Money Laundering – They then caused the sales prices for the properties-located in Wildwood Crest. caused fraudulent mortgage loan applications in the name of the straw buyers, including the supporting documents, to.Mortgage Broker Pembroke Pines PEOPLE ON THE MOVE – Sherry Rini and Diane Valentini recently joined Miller Legg, as business development specialists in the firm's business development department in Pembroke Pines. Finance Mark. and production.
Future Speaker of Fla. House Chris Dorworth Has Money Woes – Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island, said he has no qualms about Dorworth. "I understand that business, timing is everything," said Crisafulli, himself a real estate broker. to settle a $20,000.
NEW BUSINESSES – Sundance Properties LLC, real estate, 316 Harbour Island Road, Edgewood. Jam Zone Entertainment, recording studio, P.O. Box 681317, Orlando, 32868. Executive Mortgage Co., mortgage services, P.O..
PREMIERE TRADE HAS PLANS IN LAKE MARY – Michael Heidrich of NAI Realvest and Brian Smith of Smith McIntosh Properties were the brokers. . . . Family Dollar Stores has signed for 30,000 square feet of retail space in several areas, including.
FLORIDA LOOKING TO SERVICES FOR NEW, RELIABLE TAX SOURCE – "You're just taxing everything," said Senate President John Vogt, D- Merritt Island, who hasn't decided whether to support. membership in most clubs and organizations, securities' brokers.
ORLANDO'S HOT OFFICE MARKET EASILY ABSORBS NEW CONSTRUCTION – Cushman & Wakefield's industrial brokers like the looks of the market. Sold The Banana River Shopping Plaza on Merritt Island in Brevard County has been sold after having been owned by the Realino.
Volunteering Works Program Announces 2019 Mentoring and Grant Recipients – The 2019 Volunteering Works program was made possible thanks to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. "Wells Fargo is delighted. from 2017 Good Neighbor Louise McLean of RE/MAX Solutions in Merritt Island,
Taking the post as broker-in-charge, Calabrese brings "a varied. Carolina One, treasurer; Faye Merritt, Carolina One, secretary; and Sally Castengera, Daniel Island Real Estate, chaplain. The club.
Mortgage Broker Oakland Hotfrog helps you find the most popular businesses related to Mortgage Rates near Oakland CA! Find the best Mortgage Rates in Oakland. Ob Specialties Inc. Oakland, CA (510) 339-9834.. Loan Programs Mortgage Broker Loan Mortgage. Greater Bay Mortgage. Oakland, CA (510) 339-6060.
Md. may lose $3.2 million on sale of 3 city buildings – A plan to sell three apartment buildings to a Rhode Island-based developer for $7 million could result. the $28.6 million financial package contemplates a $7 million first mortgage from a private.
High-tech inventor hopes to launch first commercial product – In my wireless world, this is going to be everywhere," says Joe Hartwig, president of MobileMatics, a wireless device broker in Merritt Island, Fla. working on his military contracts to "pay the.
Fifth Third branches out – The buyer was the highlander corp. skip stamper and Dorian Burt of Adams, Cameron & Co. were the brokers. clf property buys 160 acres. Lily Wang of CINO International Inc. handled the deal..
Mortgage Broker Palm Bay Mortgage Broker, Mortgage refinance, Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo – Compare mortgage interest rates from lenders in FL. Refinancing your current mortgage can be challenging in this market of declined values. That's why we always get an appraisers opinion prior to actually ordering an appraisal.
REAL ESTATE Q & A QUESTION: My husband and I are trying to sell our merritt island house for $250,000. commit to using them when you purchase your next house. Talk to agency brokers. They are more.
Mortgage Broker North Miami Beach Mortgage Broker Trinity Mortgage Broker Pine Island Ridge New Construction listings| corolla| duck| southern Shores. – Search all new contruction homes and houses for sale in the towns of Corolla, Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, kill devil hills, Nags Head, Manteo, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras. Find all new construction real estate listings on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. For more information contact matt huband-broker/owner of obx realty group.Is now the last chance to get a cheap mortgage? – Aaron Strutt, of mortgage brokers Trinity Financial, believed it was unlikely that rates would fall further. "We have been at this point before, but rates are unlikely to get much cheaper unless an.North Miami Beach Florida Homes for Rent. 225 total properties. Save Search. Real estate listings held by firms other than Weichert Realtors, include the Listing Broker's Firm Name. The information being provided is for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose.
WIND REGULATIONS RATTLE BUILDERS – Wallace and Associates were the brokers involved. . . . Presley Consultants. in Orlando and Atlanta. . . . Sunbelt National Mortgage, Dallas, has opened an office at 275 Crockett Blvd. on Merritt.
Mortgage Broker Sorrento Using a Mortgage Broker When You Buy Your Home – Using a Mortgage Broker When You Buy Your Home. What will a mortgage broker or agent do for you? Getting a mortgage is often the largest financial commitment Ontarians make and many homebuyers find that there are several benefits to using a mortgage broker or mortgage agent.


text:
Dive with SharksCheck Availability
Book Online
1km from Park Rynie
-30.3354, 30.7325
Blue Wilderness is a marine logistics and ecotourism company, specialising in developing and guiding shark and marine expeditions. Blue Wilderness was founded by Mark Addison in 1993. In 2013, the business was acquired by shark biologists Ryan Johnson and Enrico Gennari, and entered the 'Oceans' Company Group.
Renowned for having pioneered many of southern Africa's most exciting and challenging shark and marine predator adventure encounters, including the Sardine Run and the baited tiger shark dive, Blue Wilderness relishes any chance it gets to share the ocean's treasures with the world. Their hope is that by introducing people to these amazing creatures without the confines of a cage, their perspective about sharks might be changed forever. They believe that the only way to convince people that sharks are worth protecting, is by facilitating face to face encounters that show the diver what exactly it is that needs to be conserved for future generations.
Expeditions are no longer limited to qualified Scuba divers. Anyone eight years or older can do it. Their 2.5 hour Swim with Sharks expedition launches daily from Rocky Bay, after a safety briefing by an experienced marine biologist guide. Once at the breathtaking Aliwal Shoal, everyone gets in the water with the sharks for one hour. The gentle Blacktip shark is encountered on every expedition, but there is always the possibility of seeing Tiger sharks, dusky sharks, ragged tooth sharks, dolphins, whales and many other marine species. The expedition is concluded with lunch at the Blue Wilderness Dive Centre.
The Expidition
The expedition launches from Rocky Bay, Park Rynie. It is a surf launch followed by a 15-20 minute boat ride to the Aliwal Shoal. When you arrive, a small bait stem is placed into the water to attract the sharks. Within a few minutes, a number of black tip sharks will arrive and circle the chum drum. The guide then helps you don your snorkelling gear and enter the water, where you will enjoy up to one hour of cageless snorkelling with the sharks and your guide. You then return to Rocky Bay and the Blue Wilderness Shark Centre, where you can enjoy a hot shower and coffee, followed by a hot lunch from a local restaurant.
The guides
Blue Wilderness pride itself on shark education and conservation in addition to offering an awesome adventure experience. The guides are all fully qualified marine biologists, ready to passionately impart their extensive knowledge of sharks to guests. The skippers are some of the coastline's most experienced and professional, ensuring the safety of all guests.
Very important
Because the Aliwal Shoal is a Marine Protected Area, scuba divers need to obtain a permit from the Department of Environmental Affairs to dive here. You are welcome to obtain this for yourself, or Blue Wilderness can do it on your behalf.
6.30 & 9.00: Arrival at Blue Wilderness Shark Centre, fitted with scuba or snorkel gear.
6.50 & 9.20: Expedition briefing from marine biologist guide.
7.00 & 9.30: Launch & boat ride to the Aliwal Shoal.
7.30 & 10.00: Swim with sharks for up to one hour.
9.00 & 11.30: Return to Blue Wilderness and enjoy a hot shower.
9.30 & 12.00: Brunch or Lunch prepared and served by a local restaurant.
2.5 hours.
All snorkel or scuba kit, marine biologist guide, hot shower & towel, lunch & refreshments.
Extras include transfers from your accommodation venue, a personal expedition DVD and an MPA SCUBA diving permit for scuba divers.
Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
SCUBA Card (for sucba divers only).
If prone to seasickness, we strongly advise you to take a sea-sickness pill one hour before launch.
Scuba divers are required to have an open-water certification.
Departure Point
Rocky Bay Resorts, 1 Old Main Road, Park Rynie or a pick up from south coast, central Durban & north coast.
Tour Operator
Blue Wilderness.
Decades ago, beach holidays were simple. They were holidays of buckets and spades, sunburn, ice-creams melting on your fingers, brollies and swimming. Somehow, the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast has managed to retain this relaxed, old-school charm and escaped the ruthless modernisation of other parts of the world.
The South Coast stretches from the outskirts of Durban to the Eastern Cape border just south of Port Edward, with countless small towns dotted in between.
Some are prime holiday destinations that attract crowds by offering busy nightlife and organised activities. Others are gentler and more relaxed, relying on the natural charm of the ocean and the beach to attract a less frenetic class of people.
Whatever your preference, you will be sure to find some place that fits the bill on the South Coast.
Running down almost the length of the South Coast is the N2 highway, passing through grasslands, hills, sugar cane and over bridges that span a multitude of wide rivers bringing water from the inland mountains. It is an area of great natural beauty and the sandy beaches are numerous and beautiful, perfect for long walks in the afternoon.
Obviously the Indian Ocean is the prime reason for most tourism and it is easy to understand why. Even in winter, the water is warm and swimmable, but in spring, summer and even autumn the water hovers around 25 degrees Celsius, making it perfect for long days in the water.
Six beaches on the South Coast have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag status, which means they satisfy 32 criteria, including service, safety, water quality and even environmental management. While these six beaches obviously have something to crow about, there are dozens of other beaches that are as beautiful, safe and worth visiting. In fact, in summer, when the crowds are out, many of these beaches might prove more enjoyable than those with the coveted Blue Flag status.
Beneath the warm waters of the Indian Ocean are further attractions, and the scuba-diving spots of Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks are some of the best in the country, with Aliwal often rated as one of the top-10 dive sites in the world.
The South Coast offers far more than just its top-class beaches, though, with a number of small game reserves, excellent golf courses and more.
Oribi Gorge is piece of rugged wilderness just a short drive from Port Shepstone beach. Nature is the attraction here, and all sorts of birds and animals thrive in the gorges and forests along the river banks. It has also become something of an adventure destination, so prepare yourself for adrenalin highs.
Wherever you choose to stay, and whatever you choose to do, make a point not to drift too far away from the simplicity and relaxation of a holiday on a beautiful beach.
Look out for
The Sardine Run is one of the world's great migrations and sights of the natural world. Unfortunately, the timing is a bit hard to pinpoint, much like the Namaqualand daisies, but it generally occurs in the middle of winter. Tens of millions of sardines make their way up the coast, followed by thousands of sharks, dolphins, game fish and whales, as well as flocks of predating birds. Scuba-divers can dive alongside this natural phenomenon.
Oribi Gorge, a short drive inland from Port Shepstone, is a spectacular natural attraction formed by the Mzimkhulu and Mzimkulwana rivers. A nature reserve offers birding, game-viewing and walks, while operators in the area offer white-water rafting, mountain-biking, a gorge swing, abseiling, horse-riding, fishing and more. It is also a wonderful spot for landscape photography, or relaxing at one of the lodges or spas.
Scuba-diving is a major attraction on the South Coast, which is lucky enough to boast two world-class dive destinations in Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks.
If scuba-diving is too tame for you, or if you want to up the stakes a little, try shark-diving on for size. Specialist dive operators give you the opportunity to swim with all sorts of shark species, including the fearsome bull shark, tiger shark, hammerhead shark and ragged-tooth shark.
The coast's Blue Flag beaches (Trafalgar beach and Marina beach near San Lameer, Ramsgate beach, Margate beach, Lucien beach near Margate and Umzumbe beach) rank amongst the best in the world and spending the day on them is a privilege that should be savoured.
The South Coast boasts some wonderful golf courses, including San Lameer, Selbourne and the Wild Coast Sun (just across the provincial border in the Eastern Cape), while almost every small town also offers a very good local course.
For something a little different, pop into the Beaver Creek Coffee Farm outside Port Edward. Here you can watch the entire process that the coffee bean makes on its way to becoming that hot cup of brew on your breakfast table. There is also a restaurant and a shop selling Beaver Creek's excellent coffee.
The South Coast offers very good birding along most of its length, and birders can enjoy sightings of interesting birds without leaving the towns they are staying in. That said, there are a few spots that are particularly good, such as the Mtamvuna Nature Reserve and Oribi Gorge.


text:
Some colleges are good at football, while others are good at academics.
And some are good at both.
U.S. News & World Report recently released its annual rankings of the best universities in the nation, Nearly 1,800 schools were ranked, and the best were not too surprising — Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Stanford made up the top five, in order from best to fifth.
But only one of those schools is competing for a national title in college football this season.
Naturally, the Stanford Cardinal are the class of college football when it comes to academics and on-the-field performance (and I'd like to beat my chest for a second and note that we got one of their own: FSU quarterback phenom Jameis Winston was accepted to Stanford, but decided to attend Florida State anyway), ranked in the top 5 of the Associated Press football poll heading into Saturday.
Below is a chart that shows where each nationally-ranked university sits in the big picture of academic rankings, according to RyanKantor.com (the closer to the top and right of the chart, the better). Are you surprised by how your alma mater sizes up, good or bad?


text:
This sticker-like window cling is suitable for any true Washingtonian! It shows a solid white heart in the center of Washington State. It attaches by static cling and is removable.
Orders are usually shipped within 2 days.
Orders are sent via the US Postal Service, UPS, or FedEx.
Once we receive your order, we'll determine the actual shipping cost and inform you if a balance payment is necessary.
We rely on PayPal to carry out transactions over the Pacific Northwest Shop website. PayPal is a leader in providing a secure and flexible means to pay over the Internet.
Please feel free to use your credit card, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, even if you don't have a PayPal account.


text:
The Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College offers multiple ways for you to help support the wonderful programs offered by the school.
First Chair Society
First Chair Society offers a premier package for donors who wish to enjoy outstanding musical performances and a privileged relationship with guest artists and members of the orchestra.
Your support of Overture helps us continue to provide premiere concerts, educational outreach and community enrichment opportunities to TCC and the greater Northeastern Oklahoma area.
Make a Gift
Your donation will give the gift of music to the community and help us grow our newest programs.


text:
Revelations were made this week… Revelations that were perhaps best left buried in the 90's. The childhood trauma of the Transformers movie was relived, and we did an in-depth analysis of the Ted Cruz sex scandal. Hope you enjoooy it!
Tag Archives: jack burkman
Ep. 260 Moon's Blood
I'm not gonna lie, this is my favorite episode we've done in awhile. We laughed our little guts out talking about a bull semen explosion, Elizabeth Warren's tawdry BDSM love affair, and the things that get a Conservative man hard as diamond. Enjoy it!!!!


text:
ZZ is native to Africa and closely related to elephant ears. ZZ has rhizomatous (bulbous) roots which store water, allowing it to tolerate drought-like conditions.
WATER: Allow the soil to dry between watering. Plants are at more risk of overwatering than underwatering.
LIGHT: Medium to low light, avoiding direct sunlight.
TEMPERATURE: Maintain between 60-90F.
FERTILIZER: Apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer at 1/2 strength only if leaves begin to look pale green or yellow.


text:
Fairfax Family Law Firm Wexell Milman understands the impact divorce can have on a person's life. You decided to marry or start building a life with another person.
Along the way, children may have been born, assets and debts accumulated, and lives intertwined. But when the marriage or relationship does not last, as happens almost 40 percent of the time – what then? If you are considering, or are already going through, a separation or divorce, or if you are facing post-divorce issues, it is important to have an attorney you trust to achieve your goals and minimize the damage caused by separation and divorce.
Since 1981, in Fairfax County and the surrounding areas of Northern Virginia, the family law firm to call for this kind of help is Wexell Milman.
The attorneys at Wexell Milman provide family law services on behalf of clients throughout Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County, Arlington County, Loudoun County, Prince William County, the City of Alexandria, Fauquier County, Stafford County, and areas such as Vienna, Oakton, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, Annandale, Springfield, Oakton, McLean, Great Falls, Centreville, Reston, Burke, Chantilly, Woodbridge, Manassas, and Leesburg.
Sensitive to the difficult nature of separation and/or divorce, and its related issues, we pride ourselves on being thoroughly prepared, on aggressively advocating for our clients, and on being responsive to the needs of each individual client. While we attempt whenever possible to achieve reasonable, cost-effective solutions outside of divorce court, we are just as comfortable in the courtroom as we are at the negotiating table.
At Wexell Milman, high level of integrity and professionalism have earned our divorce lawyers the trust and respect of their colleagues in the legal community. We welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and respect as well.
If you are considering or going through a separation or divorce, or if you are facing post-divorce issues, it is important to have an attorney you trust to help and guide you in a way that preserves your dignity while minimizing the damage caused by separation and divorce. Since 1981, in Fairfax County and the surrounding areas of Northern Virginia, the law firm to call for this kind of help has been and continues to be Wexell Milman.
Our firm offers decades of experience with Virginia family and domestic relations law and the Courts handling these types of cases. In fact, our practice is dedicated primarily to these and collateral matters.
To schedule an initial consultation, call our law offices in Fairfax, Virginia, at 703-385-3858 or complete and submit the form on this page.
Daytime, early evening, and Saturday morning consultations are available by appointment.
Major credit cards are accepted.
Thank you for accessing our site. During these challenging times, the family law firm of Wexell Milman remains committed to providing effective legal solutions to those in need. We will continue working out of our Fairfax City office, but will also be available by e-mail and can confer with you and assist you remotely by phone and videoconference.
If you have a pending case, we are available to discuss your options with respect to the many adjustments to Court schedules and filing deadlines, in order to help you with a path forward.
Be safe, and please feel free to contact us.


text:
I'm sure next year, Disney's "Dumbo" will be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2019. I'm also sure that It's probably going to be one of those films that I can't help but to fall asleep on. The special FX in the trailer look pretty cool, but the plot….not so much. You bring the popcorn to the theater and I'll bring my pillow. Check out the trailer here:
Follow @TheAmirDiamond & @RadioNowHouston On Social Media


text:
Bariatric surgery (weight-loss surgery) includes a variety of procedures performed on people who are obese. Weight loss is achieved by reducing the size of the stomach with a gastric band or through removal of a portion of the stomach (sleeve gastrectomy or biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch) or by resecting and re-routing the small intestines to a small stomach pouch (gastric bypass surgery).
Long-term studies show the procedures cause significant long-term loss of weight, recovery from diabetes, improvement in cardiovascular risk factors, and a reduction in mortality of 23% from 40%. However, a study in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients has found no survival benefit associated with bariatric surgery among older, severely obese people when compared with usual care, at least out to seven years.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health recommends bariatric surgery for obese people with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 40, and for people with BMI 35 and serious coexisting medical conditions such as diabetes. However, research is emerging that suggests bariatric surgery could be appropriate for those with a BMI of 35 to 40 with no comorbidities or a BMI of 30 to 35 with significant comorbidities.
Read more about Bariatric Surgery: Indications, Classification of Surgical Procedures, Eating After Bariatric Surgery, Adverse Effects
Other articles related to "surgery, bariatric surgery":
... Cardiothoracic surgeons on staff perform open and minimally invasive surgery ... were enhanced in 2005 with the introduction of the Da Vinci robotic surgery system ... applications performed at McLaren include prostatectomies, cardiac procedures, gynecological surgery, bariatric surgery, hysterectomies, and some general surgical ...
... Sarwer is also actively involved in the Bariatric Surgery Program at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania ... conducts behavioral and psychological evaluations of patients prior to surgery ... Sarwer was honored by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) with the 2012 Circle of Excellence Award ...
... Complications from weight loss surgery are frequent ... A study of insurance claims of 2522 who had undergone bariatric surgery showed 21.9% complications during the initial hospital stay and a total of 40 ... when the procedure is performed by an experienced surgeon, guidelines recommend that surgery be performed in dedicated or experienced units ...
Famous quotes containing the word surgery:
"It is difficult for me to imagine the same dedication to womens rights on the part of the kind of man who lives in partnership with someone he likes and respects, and the kind of man who considers breast-augmentation surgery self-improvement."
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)


text:
Professor Allan Hodgson
Researcher biography
Allan Hodgson has over 40 years experience as an active teacher, researcher and administrator in the finance industry. He is currently Professor of Accounting and Finance at the UQ Business School, University of Queensland. Previously, he was Dean of the University of Amsterdam Business School, Director of Graduate Studies and Professor of Accounting (2004-2010), Dean of Commerce and Management and Professor of Banking, Finance and Risk Management and Head of Department at Griffith University (1996-2004), and Senior Lecturer/Lecturer at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra. He currently holds Visiting Professorships at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (since 2001) and Kasetsart University, Thailand (since 2009) and held visiting professorships at the Universities of Leeds, Manchester, Santa Clara, Clarkson and ESSEC (Paris) where he taught MBA and postgraduate finance.
His professional experience includes CEO of Universities Credit Society, analyst positions in the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs, company Directorships and consulting experience that includes banking (Amsterdam) and Tata (India). He holds a Senior Associate at FINSIA where he currently sits on the Retail and Business Banking Industry Council Board. In academe his has undertaken several international reviews of Business Schools and MBA programmes in Europe, Hong Kong, India and Australia as a member of the international EQUIS panel.
Allan's research publications list exceeds 50 articles in a broad range of refereed international journals including three best paper awards (Journal of Financial Research; Journal of Futures Markets; Accounting and Finance; Abacus; Journal of Business Finance and Accounting; Journal of International Accounting Research, Accounting in Europe; Journal of Business Ethics; Australian Journal of Management; Journal of Multinational Financial Management; and International Review of Financial Analysis). He is ranked at the highest level of international accounting researchers in the top 25 journals (Heck, 2009) and in the top 15% of Accounting and Finance authors over the last 20 Years (Chan et al, 2012). He is the author of the text "Accounting Theory" now in its 7th Edition.
He has been chief investigator on several successful ARC discovery grants and has attracted aggregate business research funding of $800,000. In addition, he sits on six international Editorial Boards, was the former Editor of Accountability, Accountability and Performance (2000-2004), is a regular conference presenter and is appointed by IAAER and ICAEW to co-monitor, mentor and award research seed funding to promising early career academics in developing countries. Allan has supervised ten successful PhD students who have published in the highest ranked accounting and finance journals― USA (Accounting Review), Canada (CAR), UK (JBFA) and Australia (A&F).
Allan teaches Financial Management in the MBA programme and Empirical Finance in the Honours programme.


text:
Joan Mitchell
Cheim & Read May 10 – June 16, 2007
The comprehensive survey exhibition of Joan Mitchell's works on paper at Cheim and Read spans from the late 1950s to the year before she succumbed to cancer in 1992. These 41 works in oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil, gouache, and ink are daring and unmediated orchestrations of structured intention, energy and emotion from an artist who remained a key figure of the New York School despite having lived in France for over 30 years.
Born on February 12, 1925, Mitchell was a pioneering female abstract artist who, along with Lee Krasner, Grace Hartigan and Helen Frankenthaler, achieved critical and public acclaim in a field dominated by men. Before settling in New York in 1950, Mitchell attended Smith College in Massachusetts and later transferred to The Art Institute of Chicago in her hometown. She continued her studies at Hans Hofmann's school, and in the earliest drawing of the show, dated 1956-58, this influence is evident in a few trademark impasto hovering squares that circumnavigate the perimeter of the page. Later in her work, these gestures evolved into a concise vocabulary, unique to her hand.
Beautiful in the extreme, the delicately nuanced lines and pure colors of Mitchell's work can also be terribly, precisely blunt and in some cases, frightening in their emotional efficacy. Her slashes, clusters and snarls of line suggest worlds within worlds and contradictory states of being. Few artists have been able to convey simultaneous states of aloofness and intimacy, thrill and rage, with such economical means—compressed pigments pushed, pressed and pulled over a clean white page. In many of the pastels, and especially those from 1991 and 1992, Mitchell incorporates formal oppositions such as light and density, as well as empty space and calligraphic forms. These same traits are evident in the five works on view from the '50s, thus underscoring her long commitment to and unwavering belief in her subject and process. While some of the works can be viewed as exploratory or provisional in light of Mitchell's paintings, I see them simply as fully realized, unformulaic and profound smaller works.
Mitchell's tenacity in life, her insistence on being regarded as an artist first, female second, her alcoholic rages, and her long battle with cancer lend a biographical poignancy to the interpretation of her work. I think she said it best in her own words, "Art is not about art, art is about life." She drew upon memories of emotions and sensations, and her pastels in particular conjure specific qualities of landscape and atmosphere. Yet, her work is never limited to the (exterior) natural world; it concurrently reflects the emotional intensity of an inner panorama.
In a 1992 pastel (no.18), expansive smears of gray, white and green obliterate the layers of colors below, modifying the mood of the piece, as the structure teeters, about to collapse. In another (no.20), aggressive red and blue vertical strokes threaten to consume an awkward lacy mass. Much of this work reads as records of prolonged attacks followed by attempts at reconciliation and harmonization, with neither side able to claim victory. Nothing was safe. The attacks were against space, structure, the figure and the ground; against beauty, elegance and purity. Yet, once set in motion, she attempted to undo all that she'd done.
And in a pastel that Mitchell made towards the end of her days, cobalt violet and blue inscribe searching trails around a forceful, smudgy collision of cinnabar, yellow ochre, raw umber and cadmium red lines. This crowd of colors brings to mind a moist spring heat, a sense of contained energy about to explode with new life, her pockets of densely layered colors releasing individual strokes that track off into a powdery oblivion.
ContributorJennifer Riley
Joan Mitchell: All by HerselfBy Jeremy Sigler
JUNE 2019 | ArtSeen
The art world seems to be waking up to the idea that the greatest Abstract Expressionist of both generations may not have been a man, let alone one of the boys, but was Joan Mitchell.
Jasper Johns: Recent Paintings & Works on PaperBy Alfred Mac Adam
APR 2019 | ArtSeen
This old dog can teach you more tricks than you can ever learn. Jasper Johns (b. May 15, 1930) fills Matthew Marks's gallery with 37 works and a 24-piece suite of drawings in ink on paper or plastic.
Moira Dryer: Paintings & Works on PaperBy David Rhodes
MAY 2019 | ArtSeen
Moira Dryers third exhibition with this gallerytwo previous exhibitions organized by gallery partner Augusto Arbizo took place in 2014 and 2016comprises twelve paintings and nine works on paper.
A Gift from One Artist to Many: The Joan Mitchell FoundationBy Christa Blatchford
DEC 18-JAN 19 | Critics Page
When painter Joan Mitchell died in 1992, she left instructions in her will that a Foundation be established in her name. The Foundation was to have two distinct yet equally important functions: to "aid and assist" working artists and to serve as the chief steward of her legacy. These two intertwining components have remained at the core of the Joan Mitchell Foundation's mission, providing the driving vision for all of its work.


text:
All Eyes On Amazon Quarterly Earnings
The business and tech world is definitely paying close attention to the earnings reports for the Amazon cloud computing division. These earnings reports will be released Thursday for their AWS division, which offers scalable, inexpensive cloud computer services for businesses.
"This should be an exciting quarter because they've never broken that out in any detail before, it's always been estimates," said Sucharita Mulpuru, an Amazon analyst with Forrester Research.
Part of Amazon's biggest obstacle is to keep people excited about it as a tech company, "not just a money-losing retailer," she said.
Cloud services are growing at insane rates and Amazon has seen demand for AWS surge. In January the company announced it had over 1 million AWS users.
Amazon stock hit a 52-week high this week, at $394.60.
Sales for the first three months of the year are expected to rise 14% to $22.4 billion. Amazon's main profit sources come from its Amazon Prime subscriptions, its marketplace and its cloud computing services.
Overall they have seen high sales demand, especially for their electronics. But it's also been investing large amounts of cash in infrastructure.
Good numbers from cloud services would be helpful, as Amazon continues to face pressure to show profits. The company has historically plowed its money back into infrastructure while working in a low-margin field.
"There are certain signs that some people are getting a bit restless about allowing that to go on forever," said David Smith, an Amazon analyst with the Gartner Group in Stamford, Conn.
Since cloud computing tends to run at a higher level of profit than retail, the numbers could both calm investors and help give Amazon some breathing room with investors.
Amazon's IT suppliers competition such as IBM, Microsoft and Google, aren't seeing high profits from cloud computing.
Other areas of interest for Amazon this quarter are the ongoing discussion of possible drone handled deliveries, a greater physical retail presence and possibly the next generation of "Firephone".


text:
08 Jul Ocean Divers – Stormforce 9.1 Launch
Along with launching two new Redbay Stormforce 7.4s, Redbay Boats have also launched a new Stormforce 9.1 on the same day (click here for the 7.4s). The 9.1 has been built for Ocean Divers in Dublin, as a dive boat for carrying up to 12 divers.
The RIB is based on the "Fastfisher" model, with a forward cabin giving good protection for the crew, and also a massive open deck to provide an excellent diving platform. There is additional seating and storage just aft of the cabin, along with a canopy to help provide shelter for all on board.
Power comes from a single Yamaha Sterndrive ME421STI, and on trials was reaching a top speed of 31.5 knots.
Electrics include a Raymarine C80 Chart Plotter, Raymarine DS500x Fishfinder, Raymarine Ray54 DSC VHF Radio, Navman Diesel Fuel Monitor, along with a steering compass, engine instruments, navigation lights, deck lights and wiper!
The RIB is built to be coded and compliant with operation in Eire waters to a P3 license. The boat has been fitted with an extensive amount of safety gear.