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Representing the worldwide tolling industry
More on Our Platinum Sponsors
IBTTA's Leadership Academy was founded in 2008 by the IBTTA Foundation Board of Directors. The Leadership Academy is an executive development program tailored specifically for senior-level managers in public and private sector organizations that serve the toll industry.
This intense week-long course is taught by internationally recognized toll industry leaders, business partners, educators and public officials. The curriculum varies every year and spans all facets of toll agency operations, administration, finance, marketing, business development, board relations, public affairs and related topics. The Executive Development Program is directed by Barbara K. Gannon, Psy.D., who has designed and delivered education and training programs in the transportation sector for over 20 years. Dr. Gannon is joined by Maggie Wilkins of Wilkins Strategies and numerous distinguished instructors from the public and private sectors. The Leadership Academy is funded by student tuition along with contributions to the IBTTA Foundation. View Alumni.
The 2023 program will take place on February 12-17, 2023 at the Westin City Center in Washington, DC. Tuition is $3,500 and is non-refundable after December 31, 2022.
Apply Today!
General Program: Wanda Klayman
Hotel and Logistics: Anna Ouellette
1400 M St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: +1 202-429-1700
Fax: +1 202-785-0786
Check-in: 4:00pm; Check-out: Noon
The IBTTA conference room rate is available from February 11-17, 2023. Rates may also be available 3 days prior and 3 days after this, subject to availability of guest rooms a the time of reservation.
Room Rate: $189.00, for single or double occupancy, exclusive of state and local taxes, currently 14.95%.
Cut-off date: January 23, 2023. The hotel will hold the IBTTA Room Block until January 23, 2023, 5:00pm EDT, after which the room rate can only be offered on a space-available basis.
Cancellation Policy: Reservations can be canceled up to 24-hours prior to arrival without penalty.
A reservation link will be sent by IBTTA to students accepted into the program.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), located in Arlington, VA, is approximately 5 miles from the hotel. Metro stations closest to hotel is McPherson Square, served by the Orange/Blue/Silver Lines. Check Trip Planner.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), located in Dulles, VA, is approximately 25 miles from the hotel. Cab-fare is approximately $45.00 USD.
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), located in Baltimore, MD, is 33 miles away from the hotel. Cab-fare is approximately $75.00 USD.


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Ken and I wish you all a glorious holiday and thought we'd share what has become one of our favorite Christmas Eve traditions, a hot chocolate and morning stop at Chrison and Bellina of Oyster Bay.
Like Oleson's Mercantile from the Little House on the Praire series, this one-of-a-kind local boutique is an absolute Long Island gem. Its distinctive character encompasses the spirit of America's fiber offering a personal touch by owners who are established members of the local community.
I am always inspired when I walk in the door and browse their unique finds. From wine-glass chandeliers to clothing, housewares, gourmet foods, home decor, jewelry and the kids corner, Chrison and Bellina whose namesake represents a combination of the owners' children's names, is one of the most charming one-stop shopping experiences. There is truly something for everyone!
Perhaps most impressive are the items they hand pick and set aside for my family or the gift-wrapped packages they deliver to my door. There is something so special about this level of service, one that Kitchen Designs strives daily to achieve. Wherever this holiday finds you, be sure to appreciate your local shop owners! They are the fiber of your community. Below are more images of the lovely Chrison and Bellina, 24 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay (516) 802-3824.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All.
Posted by GKelly in Seasonal | Kitchen Designs by Ken Kelly, Inc. © 2012, Showroom locations: 26 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 516-746-3435 | View our main website at KitchenDesigns.com | Kitchen Designs on Facebook | Kitchen Designs on Twitter

subset: commoncrawl


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Find that moneymaking business idea
Deciding to start your own business or coming up with an idea to earn more money is actually not that difficult, you just need to do your homework and source out the competition. But, with so many people setting up businesses or becoming self-employed it can be extremely hard to think of something that has not been done before, or is not very common and there is room in the market for one more…yours!
To give you some unique ideas here is a list below to get you started. Perhaps you can even add an extra take to some of the ideas just to make it your own and really deliver something unusual.
Turn your hobby into a business
There are a lot of successful businesses out there that literally started with someone who decided to make money from doing something they enjoyed most. Do you have a hobby that could be turned into a business venture? Some examples of unique companies that started from a hobby are sculpture companies that produce hand carved sculptures from iron, steel, wood and even plastic and then sell them to hotels, restaurants, casinos, libraries, theme parks and so forth. The more unusual your hobby, the better. For example, one woman from the USA was obsessed with dolls and so she set up a doll hospital to repair and renovate damaged and old dolls. She even makes unique doll costumes. Other hobbies that can be turned into a business include jewellery making, painting, sewing, writing and even gardening.
Theme your business idea
If you have always wanted to run a café, or a gift shop for example, why not put a unique twist to it and theme the entire establishment? Some of the most profitable businesses have done this. One good example is a café that themed the entire place on pigs. Everything is served on china that is either shaped like a pig or has pig images on them. The food options contain dishes such as 'the daily trough' which is a big portion of an all-day breakfast. The café even has chairs that are shaped at the top like pig ears. It's a great idea and customers love the ambience and décor which makes it very popular. You can apply a theme to almost any establishment as long as you are consistent throughout. A world-wide famous restaurant with a theme has to be planet Hollywood where everything is based on famous stars, the burgers, the décor and the music. There are many shops that have used themes such as the moon, Greek mythology, animals, famous people and even simply themed on the colour where everything sold is blue for example.
Specialize using the career you have now
Another good idea is to think about what you do now, or what skills you have and see if there is a way to specialize in a certain area that could make you a bit unique. For example, a vet decided he wanted to set up his own practise but didn't want to be simply an ordinary animal surgery so he decided to specialize in exotic animal care and not only treat the animals but also give advice on caring, handling and breeding exotic animals. He now has people traveling from all over Europe to come and see him as his services are rare to find. Another example of this is payroll services that offer a tailor-made service to companies that need help sorting out salaries for staff. There are manyways you can take your skills and apply them in such a way that you can provide a specialized service that not many other people are doing, so get your thinking caps on and come up with that great new entrepreneurial idea!


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Are you feeling lost without the familiar, dulcet tones of Anthony LaPanta on your TV, Mike Greenlay's color commentary (RIP "The Faceoff" with Gorg vs. Greenlay, in our hearts forever), or Bob Kurtz's radio calls? Then this guide is for you. In season, postseason, or postseason, here are the best spots to keep up with what's going on with the Minnesota Wild.
The Minnesota Wild's Official Site
The Wild have a pretty great social media and writing team that keep the site up to date. You can catch general news or read Mike Doyle's View From the Lighthouse blog via Wild.com.
You can also get game highlights and inside the locker room with Wild TV or follow players around their day-to-day routine in their TV series Becoming Wild. Here's the breakdown of everything else the team has going on social media.
- Wild Twitter
- Wild Instagram
- Wild Facebook
- Wild PR Twitter
- The PondCast, official Wild podcast, on Twitter
- download the PondCast here
- MN Wild Live on Twitter
- All Wild-related Star Tribune articles
- The Russo Rants blog
- Russo on Twitter
Another grueling summer weekday for me pic.twitter.com/VyXLq5XQLc
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) July 21, 2014
The Pioneer Press
The Pioneer Press is the other daily newspaper in the Twin Cities with a beat writer dedicated to the Wild. Chad Graff is your man over here. Great articles, good insight, and, like Russo, he's on top of the news.
- All Wild-related articles from the Pioneer Press
- Chad Graff on Twitter
- The Iowa Wild on Twitter
- Iowa Wild writer Tom Witosky on Twitter
- Iowa Wild coach Kurt Kleinendorst
- Iowa Wild on Facebook
- Iowa Wild YouTube Channel
- Iowa Wild on Instagram
- Iowa Wild on Pinterest
- Alaska Aces of the ECHL on Twitter
- Quad City Mallards of the ECHL (nee CHL) on Twitter
- Keith Ballard
- Jonathon Blum
- Charlie Coyle
- Justin Falk
- Christian Folin
- Justin Fontaine
- Erik Haula
- Darcy Kuemper
- Nino Niederreiter
- Jordan Schroeder
- Ryan Suter
- Thomas Vanek
- Jason Zucker
- FSN play-by-play announcer Anthony LaPanta
- FSN color analyst Mike Greenlay
- Wild Hockey radio host Kevin Falness
- FSN analyst Kevin Gorg
- Joe O'Donnell, Iowa Wild play-by-play
- Brett Bulmer
- Raphael Bussieres
- Kurtis Gabriel
- Guillaume Gélinas
- Tyler Graovac
- Alex Gudbranson
- Johan Gustaffson
- Carson McMillan
- Zack Phillips
- Joel Rechlicz
- Brett Sutter
- Alex Tuch
- Hunter Warner
- Ryan Walters
- Hockey Wilderness on Twitter | Website
- Gone Puck Wild on Twitter | Website
- The Hockey Writers Minnesota Wild account on Twitter | Minnesota Wild category page at The Hockey Writers
- Hashtag Hockey website (great spot for advanced stats on the Wild)
- Joe Bouley from Hockey Wilderness
- Dakota Case from Hockey Wilderness and Roto Rob
- Giles Ferrell at Team of 18,001
- Dustin Nelson (me, self-plugging), contributor here, Gone Puck Wild, and Rotowire
- Ger Devine from Hockey Wilderness
- Bob Spencer from Hashtag Hockey
- Tony Abbott from Hockey Wilderness
- The Noogie from Hockey Wilderness
- Alex Trembley from Gone Puck Wild
- Christopher Boyd from Hockey Wilderness
- Derek Felska from State of Hockey News and Gone Puck Wild
- Tony Dean, Wild writer for Hockey Buzz
- First Round Bust on Twitter
- A Twitter list featuring these writers, Wild players, and Wild broadcasters
- Minnesota Golden Gophers' men's hockey twitter account
- Minnesota Golden Gophers' women's hockey twitter account
- Let's Play Hockey on Twitter
- Minnesota Hockey Magazine
- MN State of Hockey on Twitter
- MN Hockey Hub Scores
- Let's Play Hockey on Twitter
- Follow the Puck (MN high school hockey)
#TBT! @J_Fontaine37 became the 1st #mnwild rookie to score a hat trick on 1/9. Re-live it: http://t.co/6HYqhksfs8 pic.twitter.com/SfoXaZqoXN
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) August 7, 2014
The Star Tribune
The Star Tribune is probably your #1 source for all Wild news. The Strib's Michael Russo is the team's veteran beat writer and is pretty consistently the man who breaks all Wild-related stories.
I'm having trouble finding the press box here at the Colosseum. pic.twitter.com/GHZWQVpc1X
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) July 28, 2014
The Iowa Wild
Last season was the inaugural year for AHL hockey in Iowa, but the social media team there are doing a ton of work to keep everyone up to date on the team and the Wild's top prospects. Also below are accounts for Wild affiliates in the ECHL and the CHL, the Orlando Solar Bears and the Quad City Mallards, respectively.
Found in West Des Moines today! The #StateofHockey has no borders. Lots of @mnwild fans in #Iowa! #IAWild #mnwild pic.twitter.com/HoKgqSSplL
— Iowa Wild (@IAWild) August 1, 2014
Players and Broadcasters
The personalities that make up your season from the players and prospects, to radio hosts and play-by-play announcers.
@EHaula thank goodness! The suspense was killing me! #imgettingawhiteone
— Keith Ballard (@Keith_Ballard2) June 27, 2014
Looking to build a garage. Any suggestions?
— Kevin Falness (@RadioFalness) August 8, 2014
I was looking for recommendations on who could BUILD a garage not size and shape ideas
— Kevin Falness (@RadioFalness) August 8, 2014
Other Blogs and Sources
There are a lot of great Minnesota Wild hockey sites out there, here are a few of them worth keeping tabs on.
More Minnesota-Related Hockey News
Because Minnesotans can't seem to get enough hockey.
This guide is a living document and will continue to change. If we missed something you think should be included, drop a note in the comments.
Dustin Nelson writes about news and the Minnesota Wild for The Hockey Writers.


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As we approach the close of 2018, we're recounting a few of our favorite memories from this year!
1. Friends of Robert Lake Park Fund
In May of 2018, Montreat saw record rainfall and consequently some destructive flooding. One of the most beloved features of the conference center, Robert Lake Park, was hit the hardest. What was inspiring, however, was the support we received to rebuild Robert Lake Park and reopen it for the enjoyment of families and friends!
2. Logo & Website Update
In 2018, our logo and website were updated! Check out this post to see the logos through the years, and when you're done reading this list, make sure to explore the new website!
3. Montreat Young Adult Experience
This year we launched an initiative for young adults called the Montreat Young Adult Experience. During their time, participants will spend ten months living and working in Montreat. Meet the participants and learn more about the experience.
4. A Fantastic Summer
Summer always holds exciting moments and creates wonderful memories for those who visit Montreat. Youth Conference, Middle School Conference, Clubs, Summer Worship Series, and Summer Staff are just some of the ways we celebrate the busiest time of the year!
5. Women's Connection with Kate Bowler
Women's Connection 2018 was an amazingly well-attended gathering where women spent time studying Kate Bowler's Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved and engaging with Kate Bowler herself! Registration for Women's Connection 2019 opens February 1 here.
6. Fall Craft Week
Fall Craft Week 2018 was a week full of crafting. Check out the photos of participants' creations. 2019 registration is open now, it's the perfect gift for that loved one who loves to create!
7. Better Angels & Crossroads
Better Angels and Crossroads were conferences responding to institutional imbalances of power and race in our church and society. You can find resources from both conferences here.
Want to support Montreat Conference Center before 2018 ends? You can learn more about a tax-deductible gift here.


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Total Reviews:
My experience :-
I am a regular for last 10 years at aspi . As it happened an hour before I asked for a bottle of mirchina .on asking for a cold bottle the owner of the shop insulted me publicly saying they are not fools to sell soda and then ice..blah blah .my language was very soft however his tone kept increasing . Respecting the age of the person I walked out of the shop calmly but now I realise that instead of purchasing a glass of soda i paid him for insulting me publicly .
Well its nice to have a good product but you can not insult a decade old customer simply because he asked if they keep cold bottle.....god knows how such a rude owner can manage an almost century old brand and legacy....


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Advanced Online Marketing Techniques
A marketing plan is just as valuable for online business as it is for traditional offline business. An effective and successful marketing plan should contain a list of tactics that will be used to increase traffic to a website, increase conversion rates, and help grow sales. There are beginner and advanced marketing tactics and it is vital to integrate all of them into a successful marketing plan.Read the rest of this entry »
Internet Business Opportunities: How to recognize a Scam
A good many individuals are looking for ways to earn additional income over the Internet, but have yet to make a move in order to do so.
So what gives? You may ask. If opportunity is so abundant over the Internet why aren't these would be entrepreneurs willing to dive right in? Well instead of taking the plunge and achieving success, many people are fearful they may be just taking a nose dive into financial ruin. This is due to the fact that along with opportunity comes the appearance of financial advantage through the form of a scam.
So how do you tell if it's too good to be true?
The following points should be looked upon as cause for concern:
1. The company you are reviewing requires you to sign up or join them, yet appears to have no product. In other words, you are merely paying to join the company.
2. The company promises you some form of compensation if you sign up with them.
3. Be wary of companies who have websites that looks as though they were put together quickly; or appear unpolished or unprofessional.
4. You only receive recorded information and are never able to speak to a live human being. If you leave countless messages on their answering systems and never receive a follow up call, how likely will it be that they are going to offer you support should you sign up?
The next question that is generally posed is: What characteristics should I look for in a business opportunity when investigating various companies? The following factors should be considerations when reviewing any income opportunity:
1. When selling products online, the products should be specific to the market. In other words, within the online arena for example digital information products are significantly preferred. Digital products can be made available to customers immediately upon receipt of payment.
2. The next consideration and regardless of cost,the company website you are reviewing should look as though the organization put some time and thought into it. You will want to mark companies off your list that appear to have put their sites up in a hurry with no thought given to format or content.
3. Should you have additional questions about products, services or the way you are paid, a live person should be available to you in order to address these questions;
4. The compensation plan should allow you the opportunity to create substantial wealth when you apply yourself to predetermined wealth building strategies. The company's business model has been proven to be successful for those individuals who commit to work within its framework.
5. Training as to products/services and always to produce income is made readily available to individuals who decide to work within the organization. Additionally, on-going support will be instrumental as to your level of success.
In finding the right Internet opportunity, you are doing yourself and your family a favor. In locating the best online opportunity or home business you can do many things with the flexibility you are afforded. You may choose the location where you will conduct your work activities, you can decide upon your own schedule of work; working only when it is most convenient or productive (for you);
1. You are able to effectively distribute your resources with regard to time, investment, and work activity. This in and of itself is a huge advantage because the more proficient you become in leveraging all three of these essential resources, the greater your advantage in establishing the foundation of wealth.
2. Additionally the commitment to time, when working with a proven system is not as great as when you are working for someone else within the "brick and mortar" world. Once you become proficient and knowledgeable in what you are doing, a minimal number of hours per day with regard to your home business may be sufficient.
Probably the biggest inherent problem that exists with on-line marketing, outside of running into on-line scams is the fact individuals will not commit to the few prescribed hours per day to make their income opportunity work.
Therefore, once you have determined that the company you are researching is not a scam, put your best foot forward and give one-hundred percent effort. You will reap the rewards if you do.
The Motivation Theory for Success
Looking for guaranteed success in life? You must trust the motivational theory. Learn this theory, trust it and apply it. You will definitely see a difference. There will be a positive energy development in you that would ultimately drive you to your destination. You will be more optimistic and happy to undertake your task. An enhancement of self esteem and confidence in you is also a result of following the motivational theory.
Read the rest of this entry »
Email Marketing Programs – Is Your Email Marketing Working?
Email marketing programs - is your email marketing working? This is a question which is on the mind of all business owners who participate in an email marketing campaign for the purposes of promoting their business. Evaluating your email marketing strategy on a regular basis is very important because failure to do so may result in your efforts being essentially a waste of time.
In fact questions regarding the effectiveness of any type of marketing endeavor should be asked regularly to ensure the marketing efforts are producing the desired results. Asking these questions on a regular basis and continually evaluating the effectiveness of the email marketing campaign will help to ensure the email marketing campaign is working well and remains effective whenever changes are made to the marketing strategy. This article will highlight why it is so important to evaluate your email marketing strategy often and will also provide a few tips for evaluating your email marketing strategy.Read the rest of this entry »


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- Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Genres Regional music
- Algeria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Rep.
- Comoros
- Congo (ROC)
- Congo (DRC)
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Madagascar
- Mali
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Togo
- Tunisia
Describing the music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is difficult, due to vagaries surrounding the meanings of various terms. The country itself was formerly called Zaire and is now sometimes referred to as Congo-Kinshasa to distinguish it from the Republic of the Congo (or Congo-Brazzaville). In this article, Congo will refer specifically to the Democratic Republic of the Congo unless otherwise noted. Outside of Africa, most any music from the Congo is called soukous, which most accurately refers instead to a dance popular in the late 1960s. The term rumba or rock-rumba is also used generically to refer to Congolese music, though both words have their own difficulties and neither is very precise nor accurately descriptive. People from the Congo have no term for their own music per se, although they have used muziki na biso (our music)until the late 1970s and now the most common name is "ndule" which simply means music in the lingala dialect. Most songs from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are sung in the "lingala" dialect, mainly because it is the dialect which is the most spoken in the country.
Music of Central Africa Angola
Central African Republic
Congo - Kinshasa
Congo - Brazzaville
Equatorial Guinea
São Tomé and Príncipe
Colonial times
Since the colonial era, Kinshasa, Congo's capital, has been one of the great centers of musical innovation, ranking alongside Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg and Abidjan in influence. The country, however, was carved out from territories controlled by many different ethnic groups, many of which had little in common with each other. Each maintained (and continue to do so) their own folk music traditions, and there was little in the way of a pan-Congolese musical identity until the 1940s.
Like much of Africa, Congo was dominated during the World War 2 era by rumba, a fusion of Latin and African musical styles that came from the island of Cuba. Congolese musicians appropriated rumba and adapted its characteristics for their own instruments and tastes. Following World War 2, record labels began appearing, including CEFA, Ngoma, Loningisa and Opika, each issuing many 78 rpm records; Radio Congo Belge also began broadcasting during this period. Bill Alexandre, a Belgian working for CEFA, brought electric guitars to the Congo.
Popular early musicians include Feruzi, who is said to have popularized rumba during the 1930s and guitarists like Zachery Elenga, Antoine Wendo Kolosoy and, most influentially, Jean Bosco Mwenda. Alongside rumba, other imported genres like American swing, French cabaret and Ghanaian highlife were also popular.
In 1953, the Congolese music scene began to differentiate itself with the formation of African Jazz (led by Joseph "Grand Kalle" Kabasele), the first full-time orchestra to record and perform, and the debut of fifteen-year-old guitarist Francois Luambo Makiadi (aka Franco). Both would go on to be some of the earliest Congolese music stars. African Jazz, which included Kabasele, sometimes called the father of modern Congolese music, as well as legendary Cameroonian saxophonist and keyboardist Manu Dibango, has become one of the most well-known groups in Africa, largely due to 1960's "Independence Cha-Cha-Cha", which celebrated Congo's independence and became an anthem for Africans across the continent.
Big bands (1930s–1970s)
Into the 1950s, Kinshasa and Brazzaville became culturally linked, and many musicians moved back and forth between them, most importantly including Nino Malapet and the founder of OK Jazz, Jean Serge Essous. Recording technology had evolved to allow for longer playing times, and the musicians focused on the seben, an instrumental percussion break with a swift tempo that was common in rumba. Both OK Jazz and African Jazz continued performing throughout the decade until African Jazz broke up in the mid-1960s. Tabu Ley Rochereau and Dr. Nico then formed African Fiesta, which incorporated new innovations from throughout Africa as well as American and British soul, rock and country. African Fiesta, however, lasted only two years before disintegrating, and Tabu Ley formed Orchestre Afrisa International instead, but this new group was not able to rival OK Jazz in influence for very long.
Many of the most influential musicians of Congo's history emerged from one or more of these big bands, including Sam Mangwana, Ndombe Opetum, Vicky Longomba, Dizzy Madjeku and Kiamanguana Verckys. Mangwana was the most popular of these solo performers, keeping a loyal fanbase even while switching from Vox Africa and Festival des Marquisards to Afrisa, followed by OK Jazz and a return to Afrisa before setting up a West African group called the African All Stars. Mose Fan Fan of OK Jazz also proved influential, bringing Congolese rumba to East Africa, especially Kenya, after moving there in 1974 with Somo Somo. Rumba also spread through the rest of Africa, with Brazzaville's Pamelo Mounk'a and Tchico Thicaya moving to Abidjan and Ryco Jazz taking the Congolese sound to the French Antilles. In Congo, students at Gombe High School became entranced with American rock and funk, especially after James Brown visited the country in 1969. Los Nickelos and Thu Zahina emerged from Gombe High, with the former moving to Brussels and the latter, though existing only briefly, becoming legendary for their energetic stage shows that included frenetic, funky drums during the seben and an often psychedelic sound. This period in the late 60s is the soukous era, though the term soukous now has a much broader meaning, and refers to all of the subsequent developments in Congolese music as well.
Zaiko and post Zaiko (1970s–1990s)
Stukas and Zaiko Langa Langa were the two most influential bands to emerge from this era, with Zaiko Langa Langa being an important starting ground for musicians like Pepe Feli, Bozi Boziana, Evoloko Jocker and Papa Wemba. A smoother, mellower pop sound developed in the early 1970s, led by Bella Bella, Shama Shama and Lipua Lipua, while Kiamanguana Verckys promoted a rougher garage-like sound that launched the careers of Pepe Kalle and Kanda Bongo Man, among others.
By the beginning of the 1990s, the Congolese popular music scene had declined terribly. Many of the most popular musicians of the classic era had lost their edge or died, and President Mobutu's regime continued to repress indigenous music, reinforcing Paris' status as a center for Congolese music. Pepe Kalle, Kanda Bongo Man and Rigo Starr were all Paris-based and were the most popular Congolese musicians. New genres like madiaba and Tshala Mwana's mutuashi achieved some popularity. Kinshasha still had popular musicians, however, including Bimi Ombale and Dindo Yogo. In 1993, many of the biggest individuals and bands in Congo's history were brought together for an event that helped to revitalize Congolese music, and also jumpstarted the careers of popular bands like Swede Swede. Another notable feature in Congo culture is its sui generis music. The DRC has blended its ethnic musical sources with Cuban rumba and meringue to give birth to Soukous. Influential figures of Soukous and its offshoots (N'dombolo, Rumba Rock) are Franco Luambo, Tabu Ley, Simaro Lutumba, Papa Wemba, Koffi Olomide, Kanda Bongo, Ray Lema, Mpongo Love, Abeti Masikini, Reddy Amisi, Pepe Kalle, and Nyoka Longo. One of the most talented and respected pioneers of African rhumba - Tabu Ley Pascal Rochereau.Congolese modern music is also influenced in part by its politics. Zaire, then in 1965, Mobutu Sese Seko took over, and despite massive corruption, desperate economic failure, and the attempted military uprising of 1991, he held on until the eve of his death in 1997, when the president, Laurent Kabila. Kabila inherited a nearly ungovernable shell of a nation. He renamed it the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but he could not erase the ruinous effects of the Belgian and Mobutu legacies, and the country is now in a state of chronic civil war. Mobutu instilled a deep fear of dissent and sadly failed to develop his country's vast resources. But the walls he built around his people and his attempts to boost cultural and national pride certainly contributed to the environment that bred Africa's most influential pop music. Call it soukous, rumba, Zairois, Congo music, or kwassa-kwassa, the pop sound emanating from Congo's capital, Kinshasa has shaped modern African culture more profoundly than any other.
Africa produces music genres that are direct derivatives of Congolese Soukous. Some of the African bands sing in Lingala, the main language in the DRC. The same Congolese Soukous, under the guidance of "le sapeur" Papa Wemba, has set the tone for a generation of young guys who dress in expensive designer clothing.The numerous singers and instrumentalists who passed through Zaiko Langa Langa went on to rule Kinshasa's bustling music scene in the '80s with such bands as Choc Stars and Papa Wemba's Viva la Musica. One erstwhile member of Viva la Musica, Koffi Olomidé, has been indisputably the biggest Zairean/Congolese star since the early '90s. His chief rivals are two veterans of the band Wenge Musica, J.B. Mpiana and Werrason. Mpiana and Werrason each claims to be the originator of ndombolo, a style that intersperses shouts with bursts of vocal melody and harmony over a frenetic din of electric guitars, synthesizers and drums. So pervasive is this style today that even Koffi Olomidé's current repertory is mostly ndombolo. Currently The Democratic Republic of Congo's music is domoninated by the "ndombolo" dance and well represented by the newest congolese superstar:Fally Ipupa is a strong performer from the Democratic Republic of Congo who worked with the legendary Koffi Olomide in his group, Quatier Latin, before branching out on his own. His performances are energetic, his delivery unsurpassable. Female fans love to watch as he whips his songs to new heights in time to his swiveling hips (part of the reason he made the top ten sexiest men list). The mix of rhumba, reggae, soul and ndombolo have proven to be his magical elixir. He has performed to sold out audiences in Paris and New York and continues to gain recognition internationally for his music.
His awards include the Césaire de la Musique award for best male artist of the year (October 2007); he received a gold disc for his album, Droit Chemin, and has been nominated for best music clip, and best artist in the Black Music Awards to be held in Coutonou, Benin on January 12, 2008. Droit Chemin, produced by Maïka Munan (who has worked with famous Congolese musicians such as Tabu Ley Rochereau, M'Bilia Bel, Papa Wemba, Afia Mala), has been received with accolades and is extremely popular with his fans. The video is well done and features several ndombolo moves. One wonders how long it will be before his moves show up on a hiphop video as the next big move.
- Ewens, Graeme. "Heart of Danceness". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.), World Music, Vol. 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East, pp 458-471. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0
- Stewart, Gary. (2000) Rumba on the River: A history of the popular music of the two Congos Verso. ISBN 1-85984-744-7. Tells the story of Congolese music, history, and popular culture.
External links
- Audio clips - traditional music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. French National Library. Accessed November 25, 2010.
- (French) Audio clips: Traditional music of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Musée d'Ethnographie de Genève. Accessed November 25, 2010.
Music of Africa Sovereign
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Republic of the Congo
- Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
States with limited
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
- Somaliland
Dependencies and
other territories
- Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla / Plazas de soberanía (Spain)
- Madeira (Portugal)
- Mayotte / Réunion (France)
- Saint Helena / Ascension Island / Tristan da Cunha (United Kingdom)
- Western Sahara
Democratic Republic of the Congo topics Politics and law HistoryEarly history · Colonisation (1867–85) · Congo Free State (1885–1908) · Belgian Congo (1908–60) · Congo-Léopoldville (1960–65) · Congo Crisis (1960–65) · Zaire (1965–97) · First Congo War (1996–98) · Second Congo War (1998–2003) · 2000s Geography Economy and infrastructureAgriculture · Airports · Central Bank · Communications · Energy · Franc · Health · Mining · Resource extraction · Transport Culture and societyCategories:
- Democratic Republic of the Congo music
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.


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Stainless Steel 231 Series - 300 PSIG
A rugged construction and easy access are design features which provide minimum installation and maintenance cost while maintaining superior performance and operator safety. This valve replaces higher cost bellows-seated valves in many applications. The proprietary Goddard GRAFOIL® stem packing system provides excellent performance when the valve operates in liquid hydrogen service.
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Haryana Police Recruitment 2022 | 7110 GD Constable, SI [male – female] Vacancy exam notification, Eligibility, and process details are now available, here to download. As you know, according to the HR State Police requirements just like GD Constable and Sub – Inspector, many candidates have should eligible to join the state police Service. If every candidate is satisfied and is eligible to apply for this recruitment at present and they can fill online Haryana Police Application Form 2022 from our official web page for every post.
Haryana Police Recruitment 2022
In this article, we provide official notification after the declaration of Haryana Police Recruitment 2022 of GD Constable, SI post wise by the Govt Police Recruitment Board. So that every candidate will now consider applying for these posts through our official website. Soon, but before applying to police jobs according to all posts wise, all eligible applicants will have to get complete details about this HR Police Vacancy Exam 2022 from our portal.
|Important links
|★ Latest Police Recruitment
★ 10th Pass Govt Jobs
★ 12th Passed Govt Jobs
★ Govt Jobs in Haryana
हरियाणा पुलिस भर्ती 2022
In this way, all those candidates who are currently waiting for this post to check and download the examination notification 2022 for GD Constable and SI Police Service? And now we have announced the Haryana Police Recruitment 2022 | 7110 GD Constable, SI post for the male & female that the government's requirements will have appeared for police Exam. Since, every skilled and intelligent candidate will qualify for the GD Constable and Sub – Inspector examination.
Haryana Police Official Notification 2022
Now in this article that the Haryana Police recruitment 2022 SI notification and the examination date are published for both candidates (male-female who are waiting at currently which has been announced by the HR State Police Recruitment Board on our online web page directly. Again, a large number of interested candidates are gathered at this time, which can download the Haryana Police Sub Inspector and GD Constable Notification Details on our online official website.
Important Dates:
- Fill in the online Application form – Apr to May 2020
- Exam Date– Coming soon
- Admit card Availability – 2 week before the exam
- Result date – 1 Month after the exam
Therefore, now all application forms will be confirmed on the notification details such as date of examination, recruitment written examination process, eligibility, age limit, selection process, the process of filling the application form, examination Syllabus, and paper pattern, Admit card, recruitment results, cut off Marks list, etc. Please note about this GD Constable, SI posts because we had been online released it.
Haryana Police Vacancy 2022
Vacancy Details
|Male Constable (General Duty)
|5000 posts
|Female Constable (General Duty)
|1147 posts
|IRB Male Constable (General Duty)
|500 posts
|Sub-Inspector (Male)
|400 posts
|Sub-Inspector (Female)
|63 posts
Haryana Police Eligibility Criteria 2022
Educational qualification: –
- Eligibility for GD Constable Posts: have to passed 10th pass
- Eligibility for SI posts: have to passed Graduation Degree
Age limit: –
- Age limit for GD Constable posts: Should Age limit is between 18 to 25 years
- Age limit for SI posts: Should Age limit is between 20 to 37 years
Haryana Police Physical Standard 2022
Selection process: –
- Written Test
- Physical Efficiency Test
- Endurance Test
- Physical Measurement Test
- Document Verification
Application fee:
Constable GD Posts:
- For general male Candidates: Rs. 100 / –
- For general female Candidates: Rs. 50 /
- For SC/ BC male Candidates: Rs. 25 / –
- For SC/ BC Female Candidates: Rs. 13 / –
Sub – Inspector Posts:
- For general male Candidates: Rs. 150 / –
- For general female Candidates: Rs. 75 /
- For SC/ BC male Candidates: Rs. 35 / –
- For SC/ BC Female Candidates: Rs. 18 / –
How to Apply for Haryana Police Vacancy form 2022?
With this information, Haryana Police Recruitment 2022 vacancy forms are related to this process details which are updated. And as well as you can know more about State Government's GD Constable and SI Recruitment Examination 2022.
- At first, steps, Visit the official website
- Find Link "Recruitment" Now
- Fill in the application form with the necessary details
- Open and click the link on this page
- Now you have to Pay of Application Fee
- Save and download Haryana Police Recruitment Exam 2022
- Regular check HR Police examination and application form take a copy used for future
In this way, all eligible and interested candidates can use this official examination notification through our website to apply. Because of this article, we announced the simple and easy steps to be made while all post-wise written exam process details to our online website. And thank you for reading this article because we promise to give you more other information about this post soon on our official website.
Official Notification || Apply Online


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Over the last few months ChainLink has engaged in a detailed analysis of the return on investment of RFID in the apparel retail store environment. The simple, hand-held-based, inventory management use case is at the core of most successful retail RFID deployments to date. For retailers that meet some minimum requirements, this killer application is sufficiently beneficial to justify adoption. Our research suggests that retailers meeting these criteria can expect revenue uplift of between 5% and 15% and a corresponding increase in gross margin dollars that should have a measurable impact on corporate value.
To be fair, it's not true for all retailers – the benefits require a minimum level of mix complexity,1 inventory turns, AUR2 and gross margin. And RFID delivers more value when there is more room for improvement. However most apparel retailers meet this last requirement: our research includes examples of pre-RFID inventory accuracy from 40% to 80%, which comports with academic studies that cite average accuracy between 50%3 and 70%.4
Mix complexity at www.Target.com
This is one of 400 denim jeans styles, representing, perhaps, 4000 SKUs
Not all retailers are rushing to implement RFID. Retailers who do skew towards those with greater control over their source of supply. RFID favors private labels over national brands, vertical integration over horizontal, and big retail over small. Why? Because it's less efficient for the manufacturer when a small subset of its output is tagged, and the manufacturer will not absorb that cost alone if they don't have to.
For a national brand owner making basics, such as denim jeans or underwear, if only 20% of the volume requires tags, the tagged product is an exception case requiring special treatment.5 The added cost of that special handling will ultimately be shared by the retailer according to the relative negotiating leverage of the retailer and its suppliers.
This challenge confronts retail brand owner #46 (BO 4), depicted in the diagram below:
Retail marketplace showing how control of supply makes RFID easier
Retailer 7, a large department store chain that offers many national brands has the market power to require tagging. BO 4, with only one of its four customers requiring RFID, must treat Retailer 7's RFID-tagged order differently, with necessarily higher handling costs. In the end, the incidence of the cost will be shared as if it were a tax, with a disproportionate part falling on the weaker partner.7 But of course, under this scenario, most of the benefits accrue to the retailer.
Retailer 4, on the other hand, a small chain with relatively less market power, has to wait for its few suppliers to implement RFID, unless it is willing to share more of the cost than Retailer 7 does. These costs may come in the form of less favorable contract terms with the Brand Owner, or more costly tagging downstream at the DC or even at the store itself.
Pictured below, the vertically integrated business that manufactures its own apparel under BO 1 and sells it through Retailer 1 has the shortest path to RFID benefits. BO 1 can implement efficient, across-the-board systems for RFID in manufacturing and logistics. Retailer 1 receives most, if not all, of its product with tags and can implement similar, holistic systems for RFID at the endpoint.
Vertically integrated apparel retail businesses find RFID more attractive
For vertically integrated businesses, not only is RFID implementation more efficient at the endpoints, but also in the supply chain. With items tagged at source and associated in transit with case, pallet and even container, the business can more efficiently manage export, import, financing, title transfer and customs duties.
It's for these reasons that a disproportionate number of retailers implementing RFID are those that exert significant control over their source of supply, if not complete vertical integration. Notable examples include: Zara, American Apparel, C&A and Charles Voegele.
No RFID conference passes without someone yearning for the future "tipping point," the point at which manufacturers are tagging enough of their output to "just tag everything." Rather than waiting for this moment, the industry should look for mechanisms to accelerate this event by distributing the cost, benefits and control of RFID more equitably across the industry, especially by looking for ways to facilitate realization of value by apparel brand owners and manufacturers. Developing an ROI for the supplier is key. A good target for such a program might be suppliers who have a high frequency of chargebacks from mis-packed items (wrong size, colors, SKU, quantity), as they stand to gain the most through the improvements RFID could make to their logistics operations. One can imagine an RFID-as-a-Service program aimed at them, with a monthly fee rather than upfront capital cost, financed by the savings from chargeback reduction.
The recent announcement of Tagged Item Grading at NRF, mediated by the good offices of GS1 is another example. This new standard shifts the choice of tag from the retailer to the manufacturer, enabling the manufacturer to consolidate tag demand and realize lower pricing.
GS1 and the yearling RAIN coalition should make identifying additional opportunities a top priority.
To view other articles from this issue of the brief, click here.
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Mobile Software Development
Mobile software is significantly becoming a necessity for businesses. The countless benefits received from using the apps makes it worth investing. As a result, both Apple and Google Stores publish different apps every day. The skillfully created platforms allow users to access games, social, and e-commerce sites. The similar thing about them is the mobile app development process. The article highlights the development procedures often followed.
Put Down the Idea
You need to outline the exact thing you wish to achieve. The opening of the app development process is never complicated but has become simple. The best solution is to understand the purpose of the development. Without clear set ideas, you would not be able to offer potential results. So you need to know where there is a lack and identify the way to make an app. You can share the idea with other people, then think of a suitable solution.
Outline a Strategy
With the idea in mind, you ought to design and plan the upcoming app. Understand the competition in the industry by looking at what other developers had done. You can compare total installs, reviews and company details of the similar apps. In this way, you get to learn for free and prevent errors which usually are annoying and costly. Even though, it is good to learn from mistakes, protect your resources.
Additionally, learn that gaining a competitive advantage is hard in the industry. Indeed, people are starving for solutions in every niche. The available options are as well not satisfying, so you have an opportunity to fill the gap. With such information, you can tailor the way out and run into the needs. For the fresh ideas, look for other first time apps then learn the thoughts of clients.
Mobile App Development process is never intended for fun. Of course, at some point, you expect to earn from the app. The good news is, many monetization options will work for you. You can include in-app buying, subscriptions, exceptional features, ad-on, sell user info, and old paid apps. You can look at the expectations of the consumers and decide what will suit your app. You can as well plan on the best time to start monetizing the app.
When the mobile app development process completes, you will face challenges. Usually, the marketing of new apps is hard, so you need to identify in advance the best methods. Even with some strong app development team, the adoption will turn out to be the high hurdle. Remember multitudes of amazing apps are available in the stores but remain unused. So, determine and set a marketing financial plan and approach.
RoadMap (MVP)
Defining a roadmap for the developed app is vital. The process gives the capacity to know how the app will be in future and the necessity to succeed. The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) helps you note down what you desire the app to perform.
You can rank the items with the main functionality, ways to add users, and the improvements. The recommendations from users also matter for you to advance existing features. With such ideas, you need to prepare for future versions. When the users increase, get the views and especially on the preferred extra features.
App Development Process & Reiteration
Complete mobile app development process is methodological. Some of the phases to create the app include:
One of the critical stages comprises of having a list of duties to get applied. You need to outline the necessities and estimate the time to required to finish. The developers need to plan on the best methods to solve the problems. The professional designers get ways to reuse codes through an app.
The creators will apply designs and functionality to the app. Once the goals of the entire features are understood, it needs to get in-tuned. The Hockey App platform helps to secretly and safely allot the version to clients, testers, and developers. Hockey by design alerts users about innovative builds gives crash reports and ensures the permitted examiners accesses the app. The app also keeps all to pace the progress.
App Stores
Once the app is ready, there is a need for release to the stores. The configuration, form filling for every store, screenshots and promotion materials like descriptions are necessary. The good things are, Apple automatically reviews every app submitted to the store. So, be ready to make changes once requested to conform to the regulations. You are free to discuss the modifications and make them agree to take your app the way it is.
The mobile app development process never ends since many updates come along. Some modifications consist of repairs, functionality increases, changes, and different features. In-Depth checking is vital to know the kinds of necessary upgrades.
In conclusion, the mobile app development process looks vast and challenging. Yes, many steps and demanding judgment is vital as you continue. But, the process is gratifying and worthwhile. You could be tempted to avoid some levels, and it will be frustrating. For you to create a fantastic mobile app, this process will help you.


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Thanks to its white-hot buying spree, Berkshire Hathaway's real estate brokerage reported $1.3 billion in second-quarter revenues, up 33.2 percent year over year. Revenue from the first half of 2018 topped $2 billion, "primarily due to recent business acquisitions," the company reported Saturday.
But like other brokerage companies, the Omaha, Neb.-based conglomerate — which operates the HomeServices of America brokerage franchise — said profits slid 5.3 percent to $107 million. That's compared to $113 million in profits during 2017's second quarter. For the first half of 2018, meanwhile, profits were down 16 percent to $97 million.
As of 2017, HomeServices was the second-largest real estate brokerage in the country, having sold $125.4 billion worth of real estate. Only NRT — the division of Realogy that includes the Corcoran Group, Sotheby's International Realty and Coldwell Banker — had a higher sales volume, with $178.2 billion in sales.
Berkshire Hathaway purchased HomeServices of America in 2000, but it's only in the past two years that the company has been on an acquisition tear.
Last year, it scooped up Long & Foster Cos., a 230-office firm with $31.1 billion in sales in 2017. Earlier in 2017, Berkshire Hathaway purchased Westchester-based Houlihan Lawrence, a firm with 30 offices and $6.7 billion in sales in 2016, the most recent year for which sales figures are available.
And Buffett's hungry for more.
"Despite its recent acquisitions, HomeServices is on track to do only about 3 percent of the country's home-brokerage business in 2018," he wrote in his annual shareholders' letter last year. "That leaves 97 percent to go."
Its biggest competitor has taken notice. Last week, Realogy said it was going to ramp up recruitment and launch at least one more franchise brand in 2019.
"We are not satisfied with NRT's recent direct financial results," CEO Ryan Schneider said on an Aug. 3 earnings call. Realogy's revenue in the second quarter rose 2 percent year over year to $1.82 billion. Its net income rose 13 percent to $123 million.


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Gladiator Olympic Barbell
- Regular price
- $349.99
- Sale price
- 349.99
- Regular price
- $
- Unit price
- per
Gladiator Olympic Barbell
- Regular price
- $349.99
- Sale price
- 349.99
- Regular price
- $
- Unit price
- per
With needle-bearing sleeves, IWF knurl markings, and ribbed sleeves, the Gladiator barbell is ideal for Olympic weightlifting-style training. However, the medium-depth knurl also makes it suitable for higher-rep cross-training and HIIT workouts. Five needle bearings per sleeve allow for a smooth spin and turnover during lifts. The Gladiator is available in both 15kg (33lbs) and 20kg (44.1lbs). The standard bar comes with a rust-resistant, low-maintenance hard chrome coating, or upgrade the 20kg bar in full, stainless-steel, which provides the highest level of corrosion-resistance.
With a 28mm diameter for an easy grip, the Gladiator is a true Olympic bar with great whip. The Gladiator features medium-depth knurling to help with grip on lifts, but not so much that it rips up your hands during higher-rep workouts. The 15kg barbell has no center knurl, great for those high reps, whereas both versions of the 20kg bar have a center knurl, which helps hold the bar in place during back squats. International Weightlifting Federation standard knurl markings provide visuals for even hand placement on the barbell. Ribbing on the sleeves helps keep plates in place. The barbell is rated for 1,500lbs.
Bar UseOlympic Weightlifting; Mixed-Use
Weight15kg (33lbs) or 20kg (44.1lbs)
Length79.1" (15kg); 86.6" (20kg)
Loadable Sleeve Length12.6" (15kg); 16.3" (20kg)
Diameter25mm (15kg); 28mm (20kg)
Bushing/BearingNeedle Bearings
Sleeves RibbedYes
Center KnurlNo (15kg); Yes (20kg)
Knurl MarkingsIWF
Shaft CoatingHard Chrome (15kg); Hard Chrome or None (Stainless Steel Bar) (20kg)
Static Rating1,500lbs
Tensile Strength200 KSI (15kg and 20kg); 205 KSI (Stainless Steel 20kg)
NEEDLE BEARING SLEEVESThe five needle bearings per sleeve design allows for excellent spin and turnover during the Olympic style lifts.
MEDIUM DEPTH KNURLThe medium depth knurl provides a solid grip during lifts, but not so much that it will tear up your hands during high-volume training.
IWF KNURL MARKINGSInternational Weightlifting Federation (IWF) standard knurl markings help you determine even hand placement on the barbell.
Get the most out of your REP barbells! We provide a step by step process for keeping your barbells functioning well and lasting a lifetime!
Straight Barbell Comparison Guide
Here's a quick comparison of REP's eight straight barbells and how to pick the best one.read full story
11 Rules of Barbell Etiquette
Even if you're a seasoned lifter, you may not know all the ways to treat the barbell properly.read full story
How to Care For Your Barbell
Barbells need love, too. Here's how to care for your barbell so it doesn't rust and bust.read full story
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Knurling
You've probably noticed different barbells feel different in your hands. So, what's the deal?read full story
Are your barbells compatible with other branded plates?
REP's barbells are designed to work with any standard plates featuring 2" diameter center holes.
What is the difference between chrome or zinc finish and a full stainless steel barbell?
Stainless steel is a higher grade of metal. It is more resistant to rust than chrome or zinc finish barbells and more aesthetically pleasing.
What is the purpose of knurl markings on a barbell?
There are two major standards for where to put knurl markings on a barbell: designed by the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) and the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). The knurl markings themselves allow for athletes to set up properly for the lift they are attempting and provide a visual for even hand placement on the barbell.
What is the difference between bushing and bearing sleeves?
Both bushing and bearing sleeves produce sufficient sleeve rotation, but ball or needle bearings allow for a faster, smoother, quieter spin and have a more reliable turnover for maximum loads, which is a better fit for Olympic-style lifts. By comparison, a bushing sleeve is more efficient for powerlifting movements, which are slower and more strength focused. The Gladiator's needle bearing sleeve design is optimal for Olympic lifts, such as the snatch and clean and jerk.
Which barbell is best suited for me?
This will depend on the type of training you do and your training goals. The Gladiator Olympic Barbell was designed for Olympic weightlifting and mixed-use. If you are not sure how to decide on a barbell, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and one of our customer service representatives will help match you and your training style with a barbell.
How do I take care of my barbell?
You'll want to remove dirt or chalk from the knurling with a brush and oil on a microfiber cloth. You also should occasionally remove the external sleeve to oil and fully clean it. Check out the REP Barbell Maintenance Video in the Video Gallery section above for more information.
Does the Gladiator Olympic Barbell have a warranty?
Yes, it comes with a 5-year warranty for standard 15kg and 20kg Gladiator Barbells, and a limited lifetime warranty for the 20kg Stainless Steel Gladiator Barbell.


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Most large vendors still talk in terms of selling entire application suites, growing their "wallet share" of customer IT spend, and the joy of their "all you can eat" buffets. It all sounds so retro, 90s talk because so many customers, especially those in middle of significant digital transformations are more into buying small components, building their own applications and integrating.
Many reasons for the disconnect between vendor and customer talk:
a) The last generation of vendor suites disappointed. For all the talk of "wall to wall" functionality, customers ended up buying number of "ring fence" applications and customizing the packages as vendors did not adequately keep up with changes in their industries and regulatory requirements . In SAP Nation, I pointed out "According to Panaya, a tool vendor, "More than 50% of SAP shops have 40+ satellite applications. Of these less than 10 are SAP applications." CAST Research Labs has analyzed customizations at several major SAP customers and found most of the customizations were sizable, with many of them high-risk according to its benchmarks."
b) The concentration of dollars with a handful of suppliers led to "lock-in" and bad vendor behavior. It is rare to find a CIO who will not share a story of an unjustified vendor audit or other aggressive behavior. The promise of economies from vendor reduction and concentration has mostly stayed just a promise. It's hardly an endorsement to sign up again for procurement of large suites.
c) As they rethink business processes and especially business models as part of their digital transformations, enterprises are finding a wide array of cloud applications, easily developed mobile and analytical applications and a growing array of automation technologies (with AI, robotics, wearables etc) that they can themselves weave together. In contrast they find enterprise vendors are mostly taking old processes and "moving them to the cloud". As one CIO told me "Our industry has gone through so many changes in last decade that you are almost better off starting from scratch." Said another "there is not much original thinking. Enterprise UX continues to trail consumer tech UX. Still a keyboard and mouse paradigm when we should have much more voice driven and automated processes"
One of the biggest constraints to moving aggressively to a build versus buy paradigm is most CIOs have very lean staffing models – few architects, few developers or integration specialists. As they committed to the last generation of suites they also moved to a different staffing model, often heavily outsourced. That will not change overnight – but that hardly makes them welcome a new generation of suites.


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MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Two years ago, Jeff Daudert was fed up with politics. He wanted to shake up the status quo. He didn't mind sending a message to the establishment — and, frankly, he liked the idea of a disruptive president.
"What the [expletive] were we thinking?" he asked the other night inside a Walmart here, in an area of blue-collar suburban Detroit that helped deliver the presidency to Trump.
While Trump's relationship with much of his base remains strong, two years after his inauguration his ties are fraying with voters like Daudert, the kind who voted in droves for Trump in key pockets throughout the industrial Midwest, flipping previously Democratic states to him in 2016. The shutdown fight, as it has played out over the past month, is further eroding the president's support among voters who like the idea of beefing up border security — but not enough to close the government.
Many here, even those who still support Trump, say they hold him most responsible. They recite his comment from the Oval Office that he would be "proud to shut down the government." When he said it, they listened.
"It's silly. It's destructive," Daudert said, adding that all he knows about 2020 is that he won't be supporting Trump. "I was certainly for the anti-status quo . . . I'll be more status quo next time."
Here, far from the nation's capital and in an area not dominated by federal workers, the government shutdown is resonating in an unusual way. A trampoline park is giving government employees and their families an hour of free jumping. A local credit union is offering low-interest loans for furloughed employees who need to replace lost salaries.
Some local governments in the area are beginning to allow federal workers to defer payments on property taxes, utility bills and parking tickets. Food drives are being discussed to help Transportation Security Administration workers at Detroit's airport, and a yoga studio is offering free classes for federal employees.
"As a community it affects us because other people are being affected," said Jasmin Cromwell, who runs Bodhi Seed Yoga & Wellness Studio, "whether we know them or not. Maybe I'm getting too yoga-like, but we are all connected. It affects everyone. It affects us as a nation."
Recent polling indicates that the government shutdown has caused skittishness among parts of Trump's base, which has been one of the most enduring strengths of his presidency. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist survey, conducted Jan. 10 to Jan. 13, found that his net approval rating had dropped seven points since December.
One of the biggest declines came among suburban men, whose approval rating of Trump fell a net 18 percentage points, while support from evangelicals and Republicans dipped by smaller margins. Among men without a college degree, the downward change was seven points.
As Jeremiah Wilburn, a 45-year-old operating engineer, browsed the aisles at Walmart for a new pair of coveralls, he reflected on some of those shifts. Like many voters here, after siding with Barack Obama in two elections, he decided to gamble with Trump in 2016. And for most of the past two years, he was pleased. The economy was humming, jobs were flowing, and wages seemed stable.
Until now.
"I was doing fine with him up until this government shutdown," he said. "It's ridiculous. You're not getting the wall built for $5 billion. And Mexico is not paying for it, we all know that, too. Meanwhile, it's starting to turn people like me away."
He worries about the shutdown's effect on the economy. He's concerned about the impact on his brother, who works for the TSA in Florida.
To him, the shutdown standoff has also poked holes in Trump's ability to say he cares for the working class, given that 800,000 federal employees and an additional number of contractors are going without paychecks.
"You can't expect people to come to work without getting paid," Wilburn said. "If I were them, I certainly wouldn't come to work."
Macomb County, in the suburbs north of Detroit, has been a perennial political battleground and a place where the broad sweeps of American politics can be seen. It was the most Democratic suburb in the country when John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960, and then it helped usher in the phrase "Reagan Democrats" when Ronald Reagan won the White House two decades later.
Obama won the county twice, and then Trump defeated Hillary Clinton here by 12 points. The county is filled with the kind of white working-class voters whose flip to Trump has been the most heralded part of his coalition. Trump came here during his campaign and again in the final days before the 2016 election. He returned last year for a rally meant to pointedly spurn the White House Correspondents' Association dinner that same night. It's an area he has continued to nurture.
But in the midterm elections, some of those voters started to peel away. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) carried the county by two points, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) won by four points. Whitmer ran a campaign that barely mentioned Trump and instead promoted basic bipartisan governance, with the slogan: "Fix the Damn Roads."
The 2020 Democratic presidential primary contest is expected to include a heavy dose of debate over how to balance attempts to win back white working-class voters — those who live here as well as in states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, which Trump also won — with the energy around ascendant women and minorities.
Those attempts will also draw into question whether Democrats can find a way to articulate an immigration plan in areas like this, where the issue resonates. Trump's insistence on building a border wall has hardened Democrats, whose most prominent policy now is to stop the wall. They rarely tout their own views on border security, but that issue remains important to many voters in industrial states.
In focus groups after Clinton's loss, Democrats discovered that immigration played a bigger role here than they thought it would.
"People do want immigration managed," said Stan Greenberg, a Democratic pollster who has been studying Macomb County voters since the 1980s. "Trump makes it hard because he's so outrageous. You don't want to give him an inch. But immigration is still an important issue, and Democrats will have to speak to it."
Trump faces a countering demand of his own, placating former supporters who saw the border wall as a stand-in for more security and those who want his promise delivered.
Ken Janicki, a 66-year-old retired technology worker who voted for Trump, sipped his coffee the other day and put it in blunt terms.
"I am all for border security, a full wall around this country," he said. "You come in legally, I'll welcome you to be my neighbor. But you come in illegally, and I'll introduce you to my friend Smith and my other friend Wesson."
Even with the shutdown, most in this land of strip malls and six-lane boulevards, automotive plants and single-family homes seem to feel better about the economy.
"We're booming right now. How can I not like a guy that gives me more money and lowers my taxes?" said Jeff Cordel, a 57-year-old construction worker. "I haven't heard the word 'layoff' since he's been in, and that's saying something around here."
But there is also a nagging concern that a downturn could be coming, in part because of forces Trump has unleashed. Some overtime shifts have gone away. Several large buildings that once housed a Kmart or a bowling alley or a restaurant are now empty.
"Times have been good. But things are slowing down a bit," said Matt DeVuyst, a 62-year-old electrician who had just polished off a large breakfast at Coney Island, a staple of the Michigan diner scene. "If they don't find common ground with China, who knows? We're stable but nervous. It's the fear of the unknown."
Mike Keys, who in 2016 won a seat as a Democrat on the board of trustees in Macomb County's Clinton Township, said the anxiety in the area can make Trump's economic optimism seem slightly off-key.
"Yeah, the economy is getting better, there's more jobs. But pay raises? We're not seeing that," he said. "If you haven't gotten a substantial raise in the last five or 10 years, you see [Trump] talking about the greatest economy — there's a disconnect."
At a Kroger in St. Clair Shores, across a lake from Canada, residents were deeply divided.
In the cereal aisle, Henry Black, a 69-year-old who spent his career at General Motors, voted for Trump, likes what the president has done and had a dire warning for him if he shifts course on the border wall.
"Trump needs to stand firm on this," he said. "If he gives in to the Democrats on this, he's finished."
Near the pharmacy, Erica McQueen, a 38-year-old from St. Clair Shores, voted for Trump and also has liked a lot of what he's done. "But it gets overshadowed by the stunts he pulls," she said.
The shutdown, she said, is one of them.
"The wall is getting out of hand," she said. "It's too much. It's ridiculous. I'm sick of seeing it, I'm sick of hearing about it."
Like other onetime Trump supporters, she's now openly wondering if she can back him again.
"Something miraculous has to happen," she said, "for me to vote for him again."


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"Should I request to see only one doctor during my pregnancy? Is it okay to see multiple healthcare providers? Help!" These are common questions women have when they are deciding where they will go to receive their prenatal care. Most OB/GYN clinics suggest their patients see multiple providers during their prenatal and postpartum checkups. Most clinics also use an on-call delivery schedule. This can be due to the difficult demand of providers having to be "on-call" at all times among other things. So many questions can arise as to how this works as women explore their options for prenatal care. Valley Women's Health is a local clinic that follows a group practice model. As a labor and delivery RN, I got to work side-by-side with many of their providers and actually am a patient myself within their Certified Nurse Midwife group. Based in Utah, they have 10 different provider groups, 49 providers, 12 locations, and 10 hospitals where they deliver. They staff OB/GYN physicians, Certified Nurse Midwives, as well as Women's Health Nurse Practitioners.
Here's how it works with Valley Women's Health, as well as many other OB/GYN practices:
- Call as a new patient to schedule your first appt (If you're local to UT, you can call 801.374.1801 to make an appointment with Valley).
- Choose whether you'd like to be seen by a physician group or certified nurse midwife group
- Attend your prenatal appts with different providers within the practice, hopefully meeting all of them during your pregnancy (there's usually 4-6 providers within the same group)
- When you get admitted to the hospital for delivery, your baby is delivered by the "on-call" provider within your group.
Whether you're pregnant with your first or your fifth, whether your growing baby is the size of an apple or a swiss chard, I know what you're thinking. How can I be sure that my baby and I receive the very best care possible? Can I still receive specialized care if I'm seen by an OB group of healthcare providers instead of a single provider?
What do you think? Do you see it as a positive or negative to be seen by several providers? Do you think you can still get specialized care this way? Think about it this way – what if you saw one provider your whole pregnancy, you go into labor and then that provider isn't available for your delivery? Would that stress you out? Would you be okay with seeing multiple health care providers during your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery so you had confidence in whoever did the delivery? Let's explore why it might be a good idea to see several (if not all) of the healthcare providers within your OB practice.
You'll have multiple healthcare providers checking your health history and updating your care plan
Sometimes women can get worried they won't get personalized care when they see multiple doctors. Keep in mind that in the provider handoff from appointment to appointment, staff may communicate about your health history, any changes or complications that arise, and even collaborate on personalized care plans. One could argue that the providers may be even more "on their toes" about reviewing history, vital signs, and doing thorough assessments when they don't see you for every appointment.
It can cut-down on wait times during your prenatal or postpartum checkups
If you only see one provider, you may have to wait an extra long time or even be asked to reschedule if they are called to deliver a baby. Seeing multiple providers allows another provider to step-in and perform your routine checkup.
You'll feel less pressure to deliver on a specific day
If you are set on one particular physician delivering your baby, you may feel the urgency to deliver on a specific day they are on-call or available. When you are less concerned about the physician on-call schedule, you can relax a bit and feel more comfortable letting your baby come on its own, when it's ready.
You can feel confident and comfortable with whoever is "on call" when the big day arrives
If you request the same physician for every prenatal appointment but then they are out of town or not on call the day you go into labor, you may feel some anxiety about who will be there to guide your delivery.
"Who is on call?"
"What's their name?"
"Will they be nice?"
"What can I expect?"
"Will they know what my birth plan is?"
These are the last thoughts you need running through your mind in-between contractions! When you meet and interact with several different providers in the provider group throughout your pregnancy, you can rest assured that you'll be familiar with whoever is on-call for your delivery. One less thing to worry about!
All that being said, here are a few things you should ask about or ask yourself as your looking for the right practice for your prenatal care.
Is the staff all board-certified in their specialties?
How comfortable do you feel with the providers?
Do you find it easy to ask questions of the providers?
Do the providers explain things clearly and completely?
Do the providers seem like someone who will respect your wishes?
I hope this was helpful as you navigate and create confidence in your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. I want you to feel like an active participant throughout the process – asking questions, putting together a birth and postpartum plan, and setting some goals. Thanks to Valley Women's Health for partnering with me on this post, all opinions expressed are my own and from my own experience. I'd love to hear your questions or experiences in the comments!
Thanks for stopping by,
Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC


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While the official first day of winter is December 21, it certainly feels like winter already in Iowa. If you live in the Midwest, you know that fall, while it is actually an entire season, lasts approximately 2 days. It seems like winter came early this year. Basically I blinked and suddenly there was snow on the ground and ice on my windshield. You see, I have what I like to call "winter amnesia". The second it turns to spring I forget about winter completely and it doesn't enter my mind again until I'm assaulted with that first blast of cruel, frigid air. Winter has a few saving graces, though; tights, turtlenecks, over-sized sweaters, tunics and leggings. As luck would have it, my winter bod also came early this year so I'm all set for that winter wardrobe life. Lucky me.
One of my favorite winter combos as of late has got to be the tunic/legging combo. Because like I said, winter bod. Listen, we all have struggles with clothes no matter what our body type but, as a taller girl, I struggle with clothes generally being too short. Pant hems are too high and sleeves are never long enough. [Where my tall girls at?!?] I don't know about you, but I seem to be having a particularly rough go-about with the tunic this year. Many retailers right now are slapping the word 'tunic' on just about any sweater they can get their hands on. "Let's write the word tunic on the website and hope they don't notice it's not actually tunic length." While retailers have gotten increasingly tricky with their marketing tactics, I know a NON-tunic when I see one.
Which leads me to this beauty!
Tunic length? Check. Elbow patches? Check. Pockets? Check. Festive AF? Check. Wearing here in large. If you're a tall girl, you will definitely want to snag this one before it's gone! And just look how much fun I'm having. Don't you want to be having this much fun too?
All of my favorite things from Betsy Boo's go fast – so don't miss your chance on this. Code chicish15 gets you 15% off your purchase.
Speaking of combos. My favorite earring combo? Lightweight and affordable. These little babies are just that. Accessories are the easiest way to spice up any wardrobe on the cheap.
Happy shopping, my friends! Be sure to send this one to your husband if he still seems stumped on what to get you this Christmas.
See ya next time!
-The Chic(ish) Chick
*This post was sponsored by Betsy Boo's Boutique.


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Full Replay not available on load, the replay is currently drip fed to the client every second in order to make sure it loads every chunk/keyframe for the perfect playback.
Record Spectate times out when attempting to get some of the earlier keyframes/chunks - This will be experimented with and hopefully fixed in the future.
To playback a replay you need to set the Game Path in Settings by locating "lol.launcher.exe".
The program needs .NET Framework 4.0 to run correctly.
If the game is ran with Admin then the tool needs to be ran as Admin.
Support Regions (Not Tested):
Tested Regions:
Supported Regions (Tested by other people):
Last Updated: 22th Feb - 15:32GMT
Important Note:
Run on startup is partially broken right now, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. Looking into a solution for it.
The program doesn't work at all for some people, trying to isolate the issue. Might be related to usernames with special characters. (Potential fix in Experimental V3)
Program is undergoing a full recode will hopefully fix majority of issues and also have better error handling
22nd Feb:
Removed some unoptimized code and replaced it with a message instead.
22nd Feb:
Fixed a critical issue where encryption keys were being grabbed wrong when played with certain champions.
Note: if program is ran while in game, it will not record the game you're currently in
V3 isn't forced to be ran as admin and is left to the user to run it as admin if they need to. Has warning outputs if it does need admin.
21st Feb - Experimental V3:
Test Fix in attempt to fix a critical issue with special characters.
21st Feb:
Added a refresh button.
Added naming scheme to replays.
Replays are now in creation date order.
19th Feb:
Added some "information output" to Experimental V2
19th Feb:
EXPERIMENTAL VERSIONV2: Contains Previous Experimental Build Features
Complete Overhaul of backend, more reliable in gathering keyframes/chunks
Fixed an issue which may of caused a crash
Fixed an issue which may of caused the replay to not start recording.
19th Feb:
EXPERIMENTAL VERSION: No longer dependent on the WMI to get the command line of the running game...... since apparently the WMI Sucks.
15th Feb:
Added error handling to previously added features.
13th Feb:
Now requires admin to run, sorry if you're a user who doesn't need to run it as admin but the amount of spam for issues is unreal when they only had to run it as admin to get it working.
Added a Delete Button.
Double clicking the replay name in the list will bring up a box which allows you to edit the replay name
11th feb:
When Record Spectate is toggled on it will record OP.GG/Lolking Replays when you spectate them - Note this heavily relies on OP.GG/Lolking, so if their replay is broken then it won't work. - Can end up with a thread in an endless loop if the replay is broken on the websites side.
10th feb:
Fixed a bug (Only occurs Patch 5.4 PBE, live servers just hit 5.3)
7th feb:
Fixed a crash when you try play a replay while its still recording.
Added an option to Settings where you can change the port for Replay Playback (Only use this if some other program is using the default port of 8088, this setting doesn't save at present).
Added error handling on broken replays - replays break if the program is closed before they're finished saving or potentially due to a rare bug which I don't know what the issue could be (Issue with the Spectator API Server is the only thing I can think of)
26th/27th Jan:
Fixed for 5.2
Suppressed some issues with recording, Record Games which you spectate is now just marked as WIP and isn't as broken as previous (At least from my tests its been running well)
8th Jan Fix:
Fixed a bug where replays wouldn't play unless they were in the same folder as the replay exe. (My bad sorry!)
6th Jan Fix:
Changed how it finds League of Legends.exe.
"League of Legends\RADS\solutions\lol_game_client_sln\releases" should only have 1 version folder however sometimes there are more. The tool was getting the Oldest rather then the newest.
5th Jan:
POTENTIALLY FIXED - Game Length is sometimes not right and if you go past the end game chunk it makes the game speed up super quick and can't rewind etc.
POTENTIALLY FIXED - Socket Error when ending replay server
POTENTIALLY FIXED - Sometimes it finds 2 Encryption Keys in the Air Client and Stores the wrong one.Information:
The tool automatically searches for "League of Legends.exe", when found it will extract the data needed in order to begin to start recording the replay. It also extracts information from the Air Client in order to get the Encryption Key for the Replay.
"Record Spectate" Option will record games you spectate, this option is seriously broken at times.
When you minimize the program it will minimize to tray.
Known Bugs:
PVP.Net Turning Black. No real fix for it at the moment, only occurs when you play back a replay with the AirClient Open/In the background.
Replays Don't start at 00:00 but can be rewinded back to the beginning.
Planned Features:
(Note: This is HALF Implemented - When its fully implemented Replays from 5.2 onwards will be compatible with the suppression which means you could play 5.2 replays on 5.3/5.4 etc whenever it gets implemented)
New patch bugsplat suppression. - Depending on the patch contents normally replays can work over anywhere from 0 to over 15 patches, it just depends what files are added to the game client.
Camera Adjustment software can be found here:
This software is still classed as "In Development" - When its finished, polished etc it will be hosted on skinspotlights.com. Since its still a development version it may have bugs/missing error handling.
How is this software different versus other replay software? How we gather the data to get the replay, although the method can potentially not be as reliable (eg getting the encryption key use to sometimes grab the wrong one, no more unreliable bugs have been found yet other then an issue in the actual saving of the replay) as others we don't make any API calls to the Air Client, with zero API calls to the air client this makes Riot happier. Half of the important information is extracted from League of Legends.exe which is stored in memory, the other half is extracted from the air client which again is stored in memory, other software normally make an API call to get information which is already in memory which is pretty unnecessary.
Replay Software:Download (Note: Some users have to run it as admin otherwise it won't record, so if its not recording try running as admin):
Experimental V3:
Experimental V2:
WMI Dependent Version (Some users have issues with the WMI) - Some users will have issues with recording etc, its minor, suggest using the latest Experimental V2 version:
Playing Patch 5.2 Replays on Patch 5.3 (APPLIES TO ALL FUTURE PATCHES):
Download links will be added as the patches roll out so hopefully this will be universal until automated support is built into the program.
Subpages (1): ToolTip


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I admit it. When I was a kid, I loved boy bands. Not in an "oh they're so dreamy" type way but in a "man, these guys are cool" kind of way. All the girls at my school loved these guys so I'd be crazy not to show some sort of an interest in them, right?
Of course, there were the New Kids on the Block who I listened to despite being made fun of by my brother. I had their videos, their tapes, and even a respectable stack of New Kids trading cards.
Then, as I discovered a few weeks ago, I was apparently the only person in the country to watch the New Monkees and get into their music. So, with that in mind, let's move on to Round 2...
The Guys Next Door?
Anyone? Anyone?
Riding the coat tails of the New Kids were a group of five guys put together for an NBC Saturday morning show called the Guys Next Door. They sang, they danced, and they did goofy sketch comedy -- and I loved it.
The Guys Next Door featured Chris Wolf, Eddie Garcia, Damon Sharpe, Patrick Dancy, and Bobby Leslie. You may recognize a few of these guys -- Patrick was Brian on the date auction episode of Saved By the Bell and Eddie was Johnny Dakota from SBTB's "no hope with dope" episode. And while you may not know his name, Damon Sharpe has gone on to an award-winning career as a music producer and songwriter.
Last week, I couldn't help myself. I was digging through some old tapes and got the bug. It was time to upgrade my 22+ year old Guys Next Door cassette to a CD copy. It's times like this that make me say, "Internet, I love you." A quick buy on eBay, a few days wait, and my Guys Next Door CD had arrived.
Rather than give my review of the album and the show two decades late, let me just tell you about two things related to the Guys.
1. If you're looking for Guys Next Door stuff online, be careful. When you search for "guys next door" your results will include a lot of videos featuring buff naked dudes.
2. Among the tons and tons of stuff I've held onto from my youth, I've still got this...
Yes, ladies and gentlemen...I actually wrote a letter to Damon Sharpe in the Fall of 1990 to tell him how much I liked the Guys Next Door. Because that's what guys who have just started high school do, right?
Don't judge me.
The response to my letter included a fan club form letter on NBC/GND letter head which explains that there's a tour coming up and so on and so on...
Still, both the picture and the letter appear to be legitimately signed...by someone.
The letter suggests calling 1-800-NBC-GUYS for a "free personal message" from the Guys Next Door so I decided that I'd give them a call...22 years later.
Not a good idea.
Remember those buff naked dudes I mentioned? I think they have a phone line, too.


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Legislation would help avoid wrongful convictions
New York ranks third in the nation for wrongful convictions overturned with DNA evidence. While the state has taken on wrongful conviction reform, more needs to be done to avoid the miscarriage of justice in the first place.
Misidentifications and false confessions are two of the leading causes of wrongful convictions. The state Legislature needs to consider protections against wrongful convictions, including legislation that would encourage:
• Taping of the entire custodial interrogation process, including confessions, especially for serious felonies.
• Changes to the way police perform lineups, so no one in the room knows the identity of the actual suspect, or with photo arrays, so the administrator doesn't know which suspect is being viewed by the witness.
Since 2004, the New York State Bar Association has supported mandatory videotaping of interrogations; the NYPD initiated such a policy for major crime cases in 2012; the Innocence Project and New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman also support such a policy.
The suspect identification process also needs protection. The state bar association, Innocence Project and New York's chief judge have advocated for a "double-blind" lineup method, so no one involved in the identification process could intentionally or unintentionally tip off a witness. This includes allowing the use of such "blind" photo array identifications as admissible evidence during a trial.
The 1989 Central Park Jogger attack shows the need to videotape interrogations and confessions. After a young woman was raped and beaten within an inch of her life, police rushed to make an arrest. Five teens were interrogated for hours, secluded from their families until they signed a confession. In 2002, the real perpetrator, a serial rapist and killer, confessed to the notorious crime while in prison.
So much was lost. Police were thrown off the track of the real perpetrator, who committed a murder and other assaults in the months between the Central Park attack and his arrest during an attempted rape. Five young men spent years of their young lives serving time for a crime they didn't commit and then were marked as sexual predators.
Such cases can, and have, happened here. Jeffrey Deskovic spent 16 years in prison for the 1989 killing of his Peekskill High School classmate, a crime he didn't commit. At 16, Deskovic was interrogated for 7½ hours and coerced into a confession. Such documentation is a powerful thing: Jurors knew DNA evidence didn't point to Deskovic, but were apparently swayed by that confession. Deskovic finally won a chance to appeal, and in 2006, he was exonerated after DNA linked the slaying to another man who was serving time for a subsequent homicide. Another chance at justice, and community protection, lost.
Such problematic prosecutions continue to be uncovered. In Brooklyn, a seventh defendant this year was cleared last week, as the district attorney continues to review decades worth of homicide cases handled by retired detective Louis Scarcella. The probe of Scarcella's cases began last year when evidence surfaced that he had coached a witness to pick out a suspect in a lineup during another case. Scarcella has also been accused of fabricating confessions.
In March 2012, state legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo took a huge step toward justice and wrongful conviction reform by expanding the state's DNA database. More must be done to stop such wrongful convictions. Twenty-one states have laws requiring that interrogations be videotaped; many states, including New Jersey and Connecticut, have various requirements to ensure double-blind witness identification.
"When an innocent person is convicted of a crime, the individual's liberty is irretrievably and unjustly taken, while the real perpetrator remains free to continue to prey on the public," Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of the State of New York, wrote in his 2012 State of the Judiciary report. "Even one wrongfully convicted person is one too many."
Anyone who cares about justice should support legislation that mandates the recording of interrogations and confessions, and helps neutralize any influence during identifications in lineups.
After a 2009 New York State Justice Task Force report on wrongful convictions, New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman requested legislative reforms, including the video recording of interrogations for suspects accused of violent felonies, and allowing the results of photo ID lineups to be used at trial.
Several bills now in the Assembly and Senate address such issues. An Assembly bill includes the recommendations of the chief judge and the justice task force. To read the bill, go to the Assembly website, assembly.state.ny.us and type in the bill number – A6800 – in the Quick Bill Search window.


text:
Do you, as an entrepreneur, face a life's work and want to hand it over in good hands or do you want to take over a company?
We support the process – from the preparation phase to the follow-up process and whether the company is passed on to the family, to internal or external executives (Management Buy-Out & Management Buy-In) or to their employees (Employee Buy-Out) upcoming reworking.
Through a comprehensive succession concept, we ensure that in addition to the legal and tax issues, appropriate business issues are clarified in cooperation with our partners.
Furthermore, we accompany the client in the execution of a due diligence, support him in the preparation of the necessary letters of intent (Head of Agreement) and prepare for the upcoming negotiations – from a business point of view necessary contracts – ready for delivery to the Lawyer.