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Archive for March 2013
Sage 300 ERP – Only Activate What You Need
As we continue to move Sage 300 ERP to the Azure Cloud, one question that gets asked is whether someone just running G/L, A/P and A/R (the Glapar which rhymes with clapper) is going to be negatively affected by the presence of say I/C, O/E and P/O? Fortunately, Sage 300 ERP activates each module independently and unless an accounting module is activated in the database, you don't see it at all, it's just as if you hadn't installed it.
With per user pricing we've tended to bundle quite large number of modules under our various pricing schemes. However if you get such a bundle and then activate everything you have, you could enable quite a few fields and icons that clutter things up, which is a nuisance if you never use them. Generally business flows better if you only see icons and fields that you actually use. Why keep seeing currency rate fields when you never select a different currency? Why see selections for things like lots and serial numbers when you don't use these? Why see project and job costing icons when you don't use this module?
Using security and the built in form customization abilities can be used to hide complexity as well. However if the feature is enabled, it usually implies that someone in your organization is going to have to deal with it. So consider these in addition to setting up security and setting up customizations for your users.
In this article, I'm going to go through the process of activating applications and provide some behind the scenes info on the various processes around these issues. A slightly related article is my posting on Sage 300's multi-version support.
To access a module, it first has to be installed. Generally from the installation DVD image, you can select (or de-select) most modules. There are some dependencies, so if you install Purchase Orders then that implies you need a number of other accounting modules to be installed as well. Each accounting module gets its own folder under the Sage 300 installation folders. These are formed by a two character prefix like GL or PO followed by a three letter version like 61A (not the year based display version). Generally all accounting applications are created equally and the Sage 300 System Manager becomes aware of them by the presence of these folders and then gathers information on the application by looking for standard files stored in these folders (like the roto and group files).
When you create a new company in Sage 300, the only applications that are there by default are Administrative Services and Common Services. Below is the data activation screen:
This program lets you choose which applications to activate into the database from the list of all installed accounting modules. When you select a given module, you may need to specify a few extra parameters in the next screen. The program will also tell you about any dependencies that are required and select these for you. Then when it goes to activate the programs it call the activation object in each selected application to let the application do whatever is required to add it to the system. This usually involves creating all the database tables for the application along with seeding any data that is setup automatically (like perhaps a default options record). If you are upgrading to a new version it will do whatever is required to convert the data from the old version to the new.
You can run this program as many times as you like, so if you don't activate something, you can always come back later and activate it then. Just keep in mind that after you activate something, you can't de-activate it. We do put up a fairly strong message to ensure you back up your database before running data activation. Not all database conversions can be transactioned, so if data activation does fail, you may need to start over from a backup, though often you can fix the problem and run activation again to finish.
For our hosted versions, you don't need to install anything and you don't actually see the data activation screen, you select what you want from a web site and then the database is provisioned for you. For the on-premise version, installation and activation is usually performed by the business partner.
If you just activate General Ledger, then you will only see General Ledger on the desktop and won't see icons from anything else that is installed.
Also notice that "Create Revaluation Batch" isn't shown because I haven't enabled multi-currency for this database.
Other Separate Features
Some modules like multi-currency, serialized inventory, lot tracking and optional fields aren't installed via data activation. The database support for these modules is always present. To be able to use these you need to install the license for the module and then you can enable the functionality within the other applications. For instance to turn on multicurrency you need to enable this in the Company Profile screen in Common Services.
Until you do this, all the fields, functions and icons for these will be hidden and won't clutter up your desktop or entry forms. So if you don't really need these, then don't turn them on. Also keep in mind that once you enable these features, you can't turn them off again, they are turned on permanently.
Sample Data
In one regard Sample Data is a bad example, since it has everything possible activated and enabled. Since it comes this way, applications will be activated even if they aren't installed. This sometimes causes funny problems because some functions that communicate between modules won't work in this case.
Sample data is a great way to show any feature in Sage 300 ERP, but in one regard it's rather misleading. It tends to always be run as the ADMIN user and hence always shows all possible icons, fields, and functions. This tends to make the product look much more complicated that it really is in real world usage. In the real world, you wouldn't activate things you don't need and in the real world the user wouldn't have security access to everything so again many things would be hidden and their workspace simplified.
We don't normally allow deactivating an application or turning off a feature like multi-currency. The reason is that data integrity problems could theoretically occur if you do, since for instance if you have processed payroll checks, then bank would need payroll present to reconcile those checks and if you deactivate payroll while there are un-cleared checks in bank, then you will never be able to reconcile these checks. There are many cases like this so as a general good practice protection we prevent de-activation.
But the developers in the audience will know there is a back door. In the Sage 300 ERP SDK there is a "Deactivate" program that will deactivate an activated application. It does this by dropping all the tables for the application from the database and removing its entry from CSAPP. It does not do any cleanup of data that might be in any other accounting application's tables. This is a great tool while developing a vertical accounting module for Sage 300, but if you use this on an production system, really be confident that the offending application hasn't been used and you aren't going to leave corrupted data in all the other modules as a result of removing this one. Again backup before proceeding. Similarly turning off things like multi-currency by editing the CSCOM table in SQL Enterprise Manager has the same caveats.
Generally you want to keep your accounting system as simple as possible. Modular ERP systems like Sage 300 ERP have a great breadth of functionality, but most companies only need a subset of that, which is relevant for their industry. So be careful to only select what you need and keep your system a little simpler and easier to use.
My First Experience Writing an iPad App
To get a feel for iOS programming I thought I would create a simple iOS application to display a Koch snowflake. There would be a simple edit box where you enter the fractal level and then it will draw the snowflake. I thought this would be a good example to get a feel for the XCode development environment, simple user interaction with controls and a flavor for some graphics programming.
Two jobs before I started with Computer Associates to work on CA-Accpac/2000, I worked for a company that created stock market software. They were working on a new workstation version for the NeXT computer. So with that company (over 20 years ago), I gathered good experience in this environment. We programmed in Objective-C and used the innovative NeXTStep development environment which had many neat features like using DisplayPostScript for rending on-screen graphics.
Now so many years later, here I am programming iOS and relearning Objective C. Although Apple has had many battles with Adobe over the years resulting in display postscript never being mentioned, I still see it there in how you do things. Since I'm newly relearning all this stuff and there have been many changes in the past 25 years, don't take everything I say as the best way to do things, they are the way I first figured out how to do things for this simple project. Especially if you can do something visually in XCode versus writing code, I probably wrote code because that's what I'm most comfortable with.
XCode is Apple's IDE for doing both native Mac OS and IOs development. XCode is a very rich development environment with many built in tools for things like unit testing, debugging, screen designing and such. It has built in support for the Git source code control system, which is used by default for all projects. There is much built in documentation and help, as well as emulators to test and debug your iPad and iPhone applications. The main requirement of XCode is that it runs on MacOS. Hence I have to run it on my trusty MacBook Air.
XCode has a great many productivity helpers like auto-complete and many way to graphically create your programs rather than coding them. The thing that gave me the most trouble was the graphical part, I'm fine with writing code, but graphically connecting things wasn't as intuitive to me as I would have expected.
Koch Snowflakes
Koch snowflakes are simple fractals that are a good way to give an idea of how fractals can build complexity out of simplicity. Basically you start with a base shape, in this case a triangle, then you replace each line segment with a new shape, in this case the two lines with a "v" in the middle. Then you do this recursively to get more and more complicated shapes. Below is the progression from level 0, the base shape to level 1, with the base shape lines replaced by the fractal generator and then so on as the level increases.
This is a fractal because in the limit as the level goes to infinity, the shape has a fractal dimension, in that it is somewhere between 1 dimensional and 2 dimensional in a defined mathematical sense.
Turtle Graphics
To me the easiest way to draw fractals is with a turtle graphics library. This is a simple drawing library where you tell a turtle to either turn or move forwards. As he moves he leaves a trail. Hence the base shape for the Koch snowflake is forward 1, turn 60, forward 1, turn -120, forward 1, turn 60 forward 1. This is then really easy to apply recursively to draw fractals.
Objective C
Objective-C was one of the first object oriented extensions to C. It was implemented as a pre-processor that generated C code which was then compiled using regular C development tools. This greatly simplified implementation, but the syntax reflects that it was designed to be easily processed by a preprocessor. It's certainly evolved since its early days, but is perhaps considered a bit clunky as a result. Objective-C has all the object oriented features like inheritance and classes, but lacks a lot of the complexity of C++. The object oriented features are more similar to Java, but unlike Java, Objective-C still has all of C under it, meaning all the pointers and pointer related features that Java removed; hence you can easily crash your iOS app if you make pointer mistakes like in a C program.
Both Java and C++ overloaded the pointer syntax to call methods and such making them behave like function pointers in a structure. Objective C tried for a syntax to reflect message passing using their square bracket syntax of [object method] to send a message to an object. See the source code listings below for some examples. Recently Objective C has adopted the pointer type syntax as an option but considers it good coding practice to only use this for accessing class properties.
My iPad App
When you create a new project in XCode you get a complete working program and then only have to fill in your own code for your functionality. I edited the iPad storyboard to have a single page consisting of a label and text field for the fractal level and then a view to draw the image on. I created a couple of classes, one for turtle graphics, another to draw the fractal and then one to act as the interface to the UI form. All in all, not a lot of code and it seems to run fairly well. I placed the source code listings at the end so as not to clutter up this article. Beware that WordPress often changes characters for typographic reason, things like regular double quotes to 66 or 99 type quotes, this tends to introduce syntax errors if you cut and paste the code, so beware.
Storyboards are a relatively new feature to XCode, they allow you to define many screens within a single file and to connect them all together, so a button on one screen can trigger a transition to another screen, all setup graphically with no code. This is a great tool for quickly prototyping applications, but since for this app, I only have one screen it isn't really used.
To connect the controls in the storyboard to the code, you create matching variables in the generated interface file and then drag an arrow from a small o in the margin to the matching control in the storyboard file (a process I find a bit cumbersome). Then you can ask for notifications and set properties for the various controls. You can see a couple of examples in the interface file below.
With any object oriented framework like Cocoa Touch there is quite a steep learning curve. Not only do you need to find the properties and methods to call to do things for you, but you also need to learn when you have to extend one of the system base classes. In the case of drawing the fractal, it's a matter of putting a view control on the page, but then you need to extend the default class to override its drawRect method that is called whenever the view need redrawing. This is similar to handling a WM_PAINT message in Windows. Again you can have a look at the code down below.
Below are a couple of screen grabs of running this iPad app in the iPad emulator on my MacBook Air:
Sadly you can't just post and distribute iPad apps, but have to go through the Apple iTunes store. I'm not going to bother posting this app, so you can't play with it. I do like being able to post source and app to let people just run it, but Apple doesn't allow this.
Creating this app was fun. XCode is quite a good development environment and they make it easy to write code quickly. iOS is a very full featured operating system with many built in services and a great deal of power. This are tons of books and internet articles on iOS development along with all the Apple documentations. Now to dig in a bit deeper to what you can do.
Source Code Listings
// // csFractal.m // Fractal1 // // Created by Stephen Smith on 2013-03-05. // Copyright (c) 2013 Stephen Smith. All rights reserved. // #import "csFractal.h" #import "csTurtleGraphics.h" @implementation csFractal { csTurtleGraphics *tg; CGContextRef context; } - (id)initWithContext: (CGContextRef) inContext { self = [super init]; if (self) { context = inContext; tg = [[csTurtleGraphics alloc] initWithContext:context]; } return self; } - (void) KockSnowflake:(int)level { [tg turn: 60]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level size: 500]; [tg turn: -120]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level size: 500]; [tg turn: -120]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level size: 500]; } - (void) KockSnowflakeSide: (int)level size:(double) size { if (level == 0) { [tg move: size]; } else { [self KockSnowflakeSide: level-1 size: size/3]; [tg turn: 60]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level-1 size: size/3]; [tg turn: -120]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level-1 size: size/3]; [tg turn:60]; [self KockSnowflakeSide: level-1 size: size/3]; } } @end // // csTurtleGraphics.m // Fractal1 // // Created by Stephen Smith on 2013-02-23. // Copyright (c) 2013 Stephen Smith. All rights reserved. // #import "csTurtleGraphics.h" const double pi = 3.14159; @implementation csTurtleGraphics { double x, y; double angle; CGContextRef context; } - (id)initWithContext: (CGContextRef) inContext { self = [super init]; if (self) { context = inContext; x = 50.0; y = 150.0; CGContextMoveToPoint(context, x, y); angle = 0.0; } return self; } - (void)move:(int) dist { x = x + dist * cos( angle * pi/ 180.0); y = y + dist * sin( angle * pi/ 180.0); CGContextAddLineToPoint(context, x, y); } - (void) turn: (int) angleIncrement { angle = angle +angleIncrement; } @end // // csViewController.m // Fractal1 // // Created by Stephen Smith on 2013-02-10. // Copyright (c) 2013 Stephen Smith. All rights reserved. // #import "csViewController.h" @implementation csViewController @synthesize textField; @synthesize fracView; - (void)viewDidLoad { [super viewDidLoad]; // Do any additional setup after loading the view, typically from a nib. textField.text = @"2"; [fracView setLevel: 2]; [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(textChangeNot:) name:UITextFieldTextDidChangeNotification object:textField]; } - (void) textChangeNot: (id) object { [fracView setLevel: textField.text.intValue]; [fracView setNeedsDisplay]; } - (void)didReceiveMemoryWarning { [super didReceiveMemoryWarning]; // Dispose of any resources that can be recreated. } @end // // csFractalView.m // Fractal1 // // Created by Stephen Smith on 2013-02-17. // Copyright (c) 2013 Stephen Smith. All rights reserved. // #import "csFractalView.h" #import "csFractal.h" @implementation csFractalView { csFractal *frac; int level; } - (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame { self = [super initWithFrame:frame]; if (self) { // Initialization code level = 1; } return self; } - (void) setLevel: (int)lev { level = lev; } // Only override drawRect: if you perform custom drawing. // An empty implementation adversely affects performance during animation. - (void)drawRect:(CGRect)rect { // Drawing code UIColor* currentColor = [UIColor blackColor]; CGContextRef context = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext(); //Set the width of the "pen" that will be used for drawing CGContextSetLineWidth(context,1); //Set the color of the pen to be used CGContextSetStrokeColorWithColor(context, currentColor.CGColor); frac = [[csFractal alloc] initWithContext: context]; [frac KockSnowflake: level]; //Apply our stroke settings to the line. CGContextStrokePath(context); } @end
The Singularity
In last week's blog post, one of the topics covered was an exercise in predicting what things will be like in ten years. We didn't discuss any negative impacts of technology like environmental collapse due to gross consumerism. The other thing that wasn't discussed was the prospect of the so call technological singularity occurring in the next ten years. The singularity is defined as the point at which computers (or networks of computers) become self-aware and exceed human intelligence.
This has been a popular topic in Science Fiction for some time. Interestingly the term is often attributed to John von Neumann who spoke of "ever accelerating progress of technology and changes in the mode of human life, which gives the appearance of approaching some essential singularity in the history of the race beyond which human affairs, as we know them, could not continue."
We've all felt how change has been accelerating. As change gets faster and faster, predicting the future becomes harder and harder. The idea behind the singularity is that you cannot predict what will happen on the other side of it. Basically as computers/networks become self-aware and more intelligent than us, then things will start to change so quickly that all our predictions will be out the door.
I think this could happen in the next ten years, there are many projections like the following chart that give good evidence that we should reach the prerequisite level of complexity between 2020 and 2040.
Robert J. Sawyer, the popular Canadian Science Fiction writer has an excellent trilogy of books, his WWW series consisting of Wake, Watch and Wonder which follow a scenario where the Internet becomes alive. This series is certainly a very positive view of this happening and I highly recommend reading this series (disclaimer: I haven't read the third one yet).
I really like how Sawyer used cellular automata like the Game of Life as the model for how intelligence could emerge from the current internet. I tend to think this is thinking along the right track.
Verner Vinge
Mathematician and Science Fiction writer Verner Vinge wrote a very influential essay on the singularity here. A lot of ideas from the essay are woven into his Science Fiction novels like "A Fire Upon the Deep" or "Rainbow's End". I greatly enjoy Verner's novels and highly recommend them.
In fact companies like Google are actively working to make the singularity happen. Both Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are driving projects within Google to achieve self-awareness and intelligence in the Google data centers. In fact both put in a lot of personal money to found the Singularity University.
You have to think that the company bringing self-driving cars to market, having personal concierge software like Google Now and with their giant data centers and huge resources are well positioned to bring the Singularity to life (or have they already done it?).
The Negative
Of course there are many Science Fiction works which portray a very negative vision of this happening. In particular the emergence of Skynet in the Terminator series, the enslavement of people as power generators in the Matrix series, as well as Hal in 2001. Generally these set up quite good action movies, but I'm not really sure the types of wars envisioned here are too likely. I tend to think that most negative outcomes for the future would be caused by our own doing, whether war or environmental collapse.
Accuracy of Predictions
Predicting the future has always been very inaccurate. We always predict things will happen much faster than they do. Putting years in novels like 1984 or 2001 quickly shows how slow things can develop. Interestingly back in the 60s for the original Star Trek, people thought we would have warp drive in a few years, but a talking computer that knows everything would be impossible and was quite implausible. Interesting how things do change.
I find news shows that make New Year's predictions and look at the accuracy of last year's predictions quite entertaining. Usually all the predictions from last year are wrong. Similarly if you study statistics and the accuracy of predicting trends by projecting graphs and such, you see that the mathematical inaccuracy grows extremely fast. So the graph of computer power above looks quite compelling, but believing the projection it makes is strictly an act of faith and intuition with no mathematical backing.
Is it Possible?
There is a lot of controversy about whether true human type self-aware intelligence is possible with just a Turing machine type computer. There is a lot of skepticism that some other secret sauce is required. Roger Penrose believes that our neurons actually aren't just like computer logic gates, but that there are quantum effects going on that are necessary to go beyond a Turing machine.
I studied the transitions from stable simple systems to complex chaotic systems as part of my Master's Degree. As dynamic systems make the transitions from stable simple predictable systems to chaotic systems, they don't necessarily become completely random. It's very common to get new stable emergent states that were completely unpredictable from the initial analysis.
I believe that self-aware intelligence is possible with just a Turing machine. That as our computing power and networks get more and more powerful and complex, that Chaos Theory will start to apply and that intelligence is in fact some sort of strange attractor that will eventually emerge.
Like we get amazing graphic images of Fractals from iterations of very simple equations, we get amazing unpredictable but stable complexity emerging. To me this will be the foundation for intelligence.
Making predictions is fun, but usually not accurate. I find it fascinating to think about how intelligence might emerge on the Internet. It's not just being left to emerge or evolve on its own, that in fact there are some very rich and powerful people putting quite large amounts of resources into making this happen.
I do think that once this happens (if it happens), that it will be a singularity and that we have no idea how things will progress past that point.
Our Sage R&D Leadership Conference at Newport Beach
This past week I had the privilege of attending a Sage Leadership conference that was put on for about 40 of the key Sage North American R&D Leaders. It was held over two days at the Newport Beach Hyatt Hotel. Newport Beach is a beautiful spot with Balboa Island and Back Bay in easy walking distance along with a number of good restaurants. The intent of the conference was to give people a chance to get away from the daily grind of problem solving and routine management to really concentrate on leadership. This is very important at Sage right now as the company is going through a large number of changes to adapt to the fast changing technology/societal landscape that we are now living in.
We had an artist drawing visually what we were doing, so in this blog posting I've added a few of her drawings on the relevant topics. They are really quite good and much better than getting an e-mail of PowerPoint presentations.
Sage Vision
The conference got off to a rocky start when the group was asked to stand if you could recite the Sage Vision statement and only a couple of people on the executive committee stood. This then led into a discussion about the Sage brand and the Sage Vision.
Just to be clear, the Sage brand isn't just the Sage logo and the Sage Vision isn't just some feel good marketing text that we put under the logo on our brochures. These aren't about marketing at all, they are about defining the company that we want to become. The Sage Vision statement is:
To be recognized as the most valuable supporter of small and medium sized companies by creating greater freedom for them to succeed.
We then spent time breaking apart and analyzing this statement and then ensuring that what we are working on today aligns with this vision. Some of the key parts of this statement are that we will be recognized, that we do provide value in everything we do, it defines our market segment and defines our goal. We want to give our customers freedom from dealing with accounting matters so that they can concentrate on their real business whatever that may be.
After fully drinking the vision cool-aide, we then went about discussing and talking about leadership. A lot of this revolved around being a confident leader. In our ability to inspire our co-workers and to get all the cats moving in the same direction.
We discussed leadership attributes that we at Sage do well, but more importantly we spent more time discussing the leadership attributes that we are lacking and how to develop these.
The diagram then gives a good representation of what was discussed:
Customer Connectedness
Rather than doing a Clint Eastwood and having the customer represented by an empty chair, we actually invited a couple of customers to kick off the second day. We started with a question and answer session to learn about their businesses, to learn about the problems that they are having, about what is working well. Not just for their ERP system but for their whole business in all its aspects.
We were asked to take notes and then when the Q&A was over, the second part was to have our own Shark Tank show. Each table became a team (about five people each) and had 45 minutes to come up with a product idea to pitch to the sharks which in this case were our two visiting customers. They then judged the ideas and awarded a bottle of monopoly money to the team that they wanted to invest in.
This exercise was a lot of fun and was a good exercise of the creative juices. The winning ideas are then going to be fed into our innovation process to see if other customers also think they are good ideas.
It was interesting to watch, since this was entirely developers, that they fell into the same traps that we usually blame Product Management for, namely answering "yes it can" to every question and under pressure on pricing to keep lowing it until it's a free service.
A primary goal of the conference was to foster more innovation in everything we do. One fun exercise was to have all the tables go off into their own groups and put together a play or skit on a day in the life of someone using technology ten years into the future. I blogged on my vision of ERP in 2020 a couple of years ago here. Certainly my vision of ten years into the future was way more conservative than anything envisioned here. Center stage went to voice interaction and general direct input into the brain. In a way projected where technologies like Siri and Google Now along with Google Glasses will be in ten years.
The key theme is that no one will be keying in ERP transactions anymore. You will just do business by chatting and gesturing, sign contracts by shaking hands and all the debits and credits will happen magically (via technology) in the background.
The conference was a great deal of fun and highly successful. It was good to meet a number of people I've only dealt with via e-mail in person finally, as well as a number of people I didn't know at all. It was good to ensure we are all aligned and working to the same vision and that we are all innovating together toward a common goal of really providing that freedom for our customers to succeed. But more importantly there are a number of things for me to start doing immediately on returning to the office.


text:
From Mailutils
This wiki is for documentation of GNU Mailutils. Some of the material found here may be periodically collected, revised, recompiled and, if found suitable, incorporated into the Mailutils Manual, shipped with the project tarball.
All textual content of Mailutils.org is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL), version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation, Inc. See Mailutils:Copyrights for full details.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Dorothy Burnett was just eight years old back in 1930 -- yes, she's 88 now, with a memory clear as clean glass -- and she tells the story of the day her mom Dora and her dad James Robertson took her and her brothers for a drive in east Vancouver. They had moved here from Edmonton only two years previously, so were still exploring the place, and when dad loaded the whole gang into the car, she thought they were going to a park.
Read more from The Vancouver Sun.
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text:
you're the only person i know to use "jizz" and "cute" in the same sentence.
You must be Logged in to post a comment
The cute girl made him jizz. Not the only one any more, are you?
Here's another: you look so cute with jizz on your face.
i think we need the previous text
id like to know the sentence, ha
This is a text my friend sent me lmao I can't believe she submitted it.
I jizzed on her cute face?
The he'll was the sentence?
Haha epic
You just did it to
Now that makes two of you.
You're the only person I know to think that this text is actually funny.
Never thought jizz was cute personally...
mine is
I love how you love my jizz on your cute little pussy
Aww that jizz looks so cute on you almost reminds me of that movie Something about Mary.


text:
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On the last day and the last session of the NGO Forum of the 56th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights [AcMHPR], CAL, with support from the Association for Progressive Communications [APC], hosted a side event.
It was a daring time to choose to host this conversation, but posters were put up and people were invited to take part in a conversation that had never take part at the AcMHPR, Internet Governance in Africa and how we imagine and African Internet. Titled, 'Imagining an African Internet: what do we know about Internet governance in Africa?'.
The side event, which takes place outside ongoing plenary reporting sessions at the NGO Forum, aimed to collect diverse voices from women and men working on or interested in Internet governance issues, as well as to gauge where activists are in our knowledge and interactions with the Internet directly, and it's governance indirectly.
To our surprise, the room slowly filled up as nearly 20 mostly women and some men showed up to participate and contribute to this conversation. Present were activists and human rights defenders from Senegal, Cameroun, South Africa, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, Gambia, Tanzania, Algeria and Mauritania. This was great because despite the seemingly small number of attendees, it was representative of the geographical diversity of Africa, with North, West, East, South and Central Africa represented in this space.
Despite the challenge that language offers in spaces with such geographical representation, some of the people attending offered to translate between French and English for the Francophone speakers in the room. The discussion started on a general note-with the CAL facilitator finding out from the participants what and how we use the internet. it emerged that the internet is a central part in all our work, and is a space for connection of people across socio-economic and cultural backgrounds and contexts.
It emerged that for many human rights defenders and activists the internet was considered a relatively safe space for engaging with each other, but also for accessing information that isn't always readily accessible. At the same time, the internet is a space that many other people use to act out violence against women, as well as queer and gender non-conforming people. Participants from all the countries had stories as first hand experiences or encounters they had come across to share about this kind of violence.
This conversation then led us to unpacking briefly, the Feminist Principles of the Internet, a working document produced by APC and allies, which aims to give feminists and non-feminists a reference document for identifying, confronting and addressing violence against women online. The participants felt that it was a document that they could work with and looked forward to engaging more with it in the future.
We also managed to engage with the African Declaration on Internet Rights and Freedoms. By unpacking and discussing the African Declaration, the participants managed to confront censorship, access and interference of State when it came to their interactions ad experiences with the Internet. Access came up as an issue, and regulation of access by states, whether by pricing the Internet out for rich for a majority rural and/or working class Africans. There were also a few conversations happening that spoke to 'spy bills' and 'surveillance bills' being passed in countries like Kenya, without the involvement of civil society, and which impacted the accessibility of certain content online.
All in all, it was nearly two and a half hours of surveying the context and space with regard to the Internet, and where we ourselves as activists who work not only with, but for the freeing of the Internet. The atmosphere was one of hope, and activists said that they felt the time was ripe for activism around and involving the use, representation, access and governance of the Internet to also be more present at the AcHMPR.
-Sheena Gimase Magenya


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Before he's willing to start training camp, Houston Rockets rookie Royce White wants the team's permission to travel to some games by private bus, the former Iowa State star told ESPN.com on Wednesday night.
White's fear of flying, he said, magnifies his anxiety disorder. So he's asked the Rockets to let him use a bus for some of the team's extensive road trips. White said he's willing to purchase the bus and assume liability.
Busing to games, he said, is a vital component in the treatment of his anxiety.
White, who missed the team's media day on Monday and the start of training camp in McAllen, Texas, on Tuesday, said he hopes to reach an agreement with the team soon. He said he expects to join his teammates within "a week," if talks with the Rockets continue to progress.
"What it's going to look like is every game that's drivable, I'm going to get a bus for myself," White said. "And I'm going to make that bus feel like home so that there's a level of consistency in a job where inconsistency is very apparent because of the schedule. I'm going to try and level that out and make sure that my stress levels stay low and that my rest is regular and that my meals are regular and that as much as I can, draw consistency from a very inconsistent schedule. ...
"People with mental illness, one of the most important things is that they have that consistency and routine. The girth of (my request) was, 'Can I travel by bus to close enough games?' "
Earlier Wednesday, White released a statement that detailed his refusal to join the team until a plan to address his "long-term health" was in place.
"There are often negative consequences to mental illness when not given the proper support," said White, according to a statement released through his publicist, California-based China Myers. "Often, those consequences are more severe for the surrounding people than the sufferer him/herself. I am not willing to allow those consequences to befall on myself or others close to me.
"It causes me anxiety to know that serious consequences could happen if I do not express what I deal with, or if I am not truthful enough to ask for what I need to be healthy. For me, hiding is no longer a healthy option in treating my anxiety or OCD, so I have asked for some help from the organization to ensure long-term health for myself.
"It has been determined that without a specific plan in place, the current workplace is not healthy for me. I feel that it is essential to formulate the right plan for a better chance of execution, despite other timelines or agendas. The most important agenda to me is a plan that is healthy. Therefore, a plan has been requested that will support a healthy work environment. In addition to this, it has been requested that the standard requirements for players in regards to this plan be voided because it is not a standard situation.
"It is regrettable that I cannot be currently present, but long-term health obviously should be the most important thing. I will continue to champion the cause for mental illness being met with understanding; if not, the ramifications are dangerous.
"Mental illness is a very individual-based disorder -- very unique for each person. So for those who come forward and ask for help, a very unique support plan should be the solution, given the nature of mental illness.
"No blame is being placed on the Rockets organization."
White said he's unsure if he'll start training camp sans a written agreement with the team.
When White, the 16th pick in the 2012 draft, failed to appear at the squad's media day on Monday and the start of training camp on Tuesday due to what the franchise termed a "personnel matter," many assumed the former Iowa State forward's anxiety disorder was the culprit.
White confirmed as much when he told a local TV station in Houston that he was working with the team to prepare the proper plan for the treatment of his anxiety disorder.
The team backed White on Tuesday.
"We are committed to Royce's long-term success and we will continue to support him now and going forward," said Daryl Morey, Rockets general manager, through an official statement released by the team.
The absence of any NBA first-round draft pick from the start of training camp and media day would create a buzz. The absence of an NBA first-rounder with a history of anxiety and prior legal issues, which affected his collegiate career, magnified the response when White was deemed a no-show earlier this week.
White, a Minneapolis native, started his career at the University of Minnesota. But he was suspended before he ever played a game for his involvement in a shoplifting incident. An investigation of a theft in a campus dorm and a trespassing charge kept him off the floor for his entire freshman season. But White found success at Iowa State, where he led the Cyclones to the NCAA tournament and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last year.
That rebirth, however, included an admission of his anxiety disorder, a condition he discussed at length with ESPN.com in January. Some viewed White's challenge with anxiety as a red flag. The Rockets grabbed him midway through the first round but some projections predicted he'd drop and possibly miss the first round because of his anxiety disorder.
White said he recognizes his request might be viewed as a demand for preferential treatment. But the people who've experienced some form of mental illness will understand, he said.
"I don't really worry about that because the perception, I think, is just not valid, all around," he said. "If somebody has a broken leg, you give them crutches. And even though mental illness is different in the way it looks than a broken leg, it's not really different in theory. Conceptually, it's the same thing. And I don't think getting a bus is actually any more convenient for me. ... It's actually more inconvenient for me to take a longer trip, but for me, specifically, it works well."


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Our Passion
Since I was a child, my life's dream was to follow in my Dad's footsteps in being a businessman. I would wake up every morning and say I'm going to own my own business. And at age 34 it all came true.
My ideals come from my father: respect the customer, do what you can and go the extra mile, be fair with pricing, and deliver on time. In my eyes putting the customer ahead of my own needs has led to a successful business; standing in their shoes allows me to hear their needs and concerns.
I have worked to make my business feel like family, from my customers to my employees. My employees have been key in the strength of Auto Stylers. My technician, Jeff, has been with me over 20 years, and Gerri has been with me for about 15. Customers know their names and can count on their services. They both believe as I do in the care for our customers.
We also only carry high quality products that have proven names, as well as good warranties to protect the customer.
I think that, unlike most businesses, I run Auto Stylers with care, a smile, and a true commitment to the customer. Come on by to see for yourself.


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Life on a Chip – Tullio – 2015
(click image for larger view)
Life on a Chip
Filed under ARTology Now
10 responses to "Life on a Chip"
This Particular pieces seems to close your attention to the black and white , rather than the color, which is what makes this piece very interesting. Also the different colors are different every time they are separated by the black and white border, but I would have rather see a different shape of the black and white because it is just a still piece of art. I would like to see images, stuff or ideas that are shown with shapes. A circle and a square are very vague images.
This picture is very organized. The name "Life on a Chip" makes me think how America wants us to live. All the little lines in the picture makes me wonder how we must follow what someone else tells us to do. Instead of doing what we want to do.
This image reminds me of a microcomputer chip. The center can represent the information that is stored, and the lines towards the outside can resemble the pins that connect to a PCB. I see the colors as being the life, which can be the information stored on the chip. If I was to view this piece without knowing the name I feel that I would view the image as a target, such as a dartboard. I see a target because of the circle layers towards the center and the square layers towards the sides.
I don't know why, but this piece kind of reminds me of a tapestry or something. I think it is because the piece looks very symmetrical and has a border around it.
I'm not sure what the title is a reference to- maybe a computer chip? But the piece as a whole looks like a very dark and very saturated wall hanging. Like a rug or a quilted blanket. This is something that would be amazing massive. It just feels like it belongs on a wall. It is kind of spacey also. Because the colors are so bright and vivid it looks like it could be a fairy light arrangement seen from above. It is very organized.
The outermost blue border I'm particularly enamored with. Some of the shapes inside the boarder make it look like there is a coded message all along the border.
Besides all those things it also looks like a circuit board and it's really just neat how many totally different things this looks like it could be.
I looked at this piece before looking at the name and the first thing that came to my mind was a chip, a computer chip. A very complicated and detailed piece of machinery, every dot, every color, and every detail give the piece that feeling of electricity, the feeling i get when i see a computer chip.
Immediately I thought of "glyph" and depending on how you look at it, I do not think I was too far off. Glyphs are used to represent letters for ideas and concepts and expressions. The blue square outline looks like a set of runes. Since it is titled "Life on a Chip" perhaps that is where all the technical knowledge is stored.
At first glance, this piece seemed like another fusion of two particularly different aspects of the world, which it is. This time, it is a fusion of technology and life, more specifically, how life with technology can be very rigid and structured. Much like the computer chip after which the image is named, it has a very definite structure. This is something that technology does to our lives, and represents what may happen in the future, as well. That is a further fusion of technology and life, which is already starting to occur.
I like this piece for several reasons. First, I really like the contrast between the colors of the design itself and the background. Secondly, I see a perfect balance of order and disorder in the artwork, as the larger geometrical shapes have well defined borders, but the smaller objects that make them up are non-homogeneous and asymmetrical.


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New rumors are bringing back some of the old names in what has become one of the most dramatic deal sagas to grip the tech industry in recent memory.
The latest round of leaks surrounding Yahoo (NASDAQ: YHOO) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), appearing in The Wall Street Journal, suggests that the two companies are continuing their mating dance amid talks of a potential tie-up with a major third-party media company, likely either Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) or News Corp (NYSE: NWS).
The upshot: Microsoft is still interested in Yahoo's search business as a way to take on Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), but sources familiar with the discussions told the paper that a deal is unlikely to transpire.
The five months that have passed since Microsoft first announced its bid to buy Yahoo have left both companies wrangling with considerable strategic uncertainties.
Microsoft, a distant third in search and advertising, is passionate about becoming a dominant Internet force and presented the Yahoo acquisition as its best route to that end. But since Microsoft announced its offer, its stock has slid nearly 18 percent.
It's been much worse for Yahoo. Amid a whirlwind of bad press and a stock price that has been sliding steadily after initially spiking on news of the initial buyout bid, Yahoo's leadership is now fighting for control of the company. Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is trying to replace Yahoo's board of directors with his own slate in the hopes of engineering a transaction with Microsoft.
On the rumors that Yahoo and Microsoft might be talking again, Yahoo shares have rallied slightly in midday trading to $21.45. But that is well off the mark of $29.88, where the stock crested in February on the immediate excitement that followed Microsoft's offer.
Yahoo declined to comment for this report, but a person familiar with the company's thinking has told InternetNews.com that talks with Microsoft regarding a search tie-up continue at some level, but that "nothing is imminent."
Time Warner and News Corp. did not respond to requests for comment. A Microsoft spokesman declined to "comment on rumors or speculation."
The Journal report laid out a detailed timeline of the talks between Microsoft and Yahoo, including one meeting on May 17 when Yahoo actually offered to sell itself to Microsoft at $33 or $34 per share, two weeks after Microsoft pulled its bid off the table.
The kicker: In those early-May negotiations, Microsoft had raised its initial offer from $31 to $33 per share, but Yahoo held out for $37. Microsoft then walked away.
Following that breakdown, Microsoft became more interested in a partial acquisition, in which it would take control of Yahoo's search business. Last month, Yahoo rejected one such proposal that would have involved Microsoft buying an equity stake in Yahoo and boxing it into a 10-year exclusive deal.
Yahoo has since said that official talks over any form of acquisition deal with Microsoft have ended and has inked an ad deal with Google that it expects will infuse the company with up to $800 million in annual revenue.
Whether the two companies will ever strike a deal remains highly uncertain. If the Journal's timeline is to be believed, the search rivals have come close but repeatedly fallen short, in part due to a mutual suspicion about each other's intentions.
Yahoo has questioned Microsoft's commitment to a full acquisition, and Microsoft has charged Yahoo with taking steps to scotch a deal, such as a severance plan that could bring considerable expense to any acquirer.
[cob:Special_Report]The most recent near-miss was a meeting scheduled for June 30. Microsoft canceled that meeting, leaving Yahoo with the impression that it had been unable to find a third party to take a stake in what would be left of the company after Microsoft bought Yahoo's search business.
Previous ideas have involved Time Warner's AOL or News Corp.'s MySpace getting folded into Yahoo.
In the meantime, Yahoo has been lobbying for shareholder support as it girds for the proxy war with Icahn.
Yahoo will hold its annual meeting Aug. 1.


text: It's been a long wait, but the second novel in Julie Klassen's delightfully charming "Tales From Ivy Hill" series has finally been released from Bethany House! "The Ladies of Ivy Cottage" begins right where "The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill" left off, and will be followed later this year with the conclusion to the trilogy, entitled "The Bride of Ivy Green". Continue reading


text: Trumpcare is dead…or is it? It is for now, but there's still millions of reasons to be diligent in fighting the Republicans efforts to kill our healthcare. Then GottaLaff joins in as she does every Tuesday to chat about the news and the best of Twitter in her "Tweet Spot".


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Best of Class Award Winner 2016
The Canadian Spa Company is a global brand, we manufacture our Hot Tubs and other products in North America, Asia and Europe and distribute around the world. One of the larger companies in the world marketplace; the Canadian Spa Company has been recognized as an industry leader since our first spa was sold around thirty years ago. Three decades on, the Canadian Spa Company is still supplying an ever expanding range of quality products, with the very best backup and after-sales service available. Awarded Best of Class 2016 by poolandspa.com.
Their Vision
Our vision is to continue to be a caring viable community driven company. Improving our customers quality of life, delivering unique products and outstanding customer care. Our pride of reputation ensures peace of mind and continuous commitment to our customers.


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How to Study the Bible
Always remember to pray before you read the Bible. Ask God to show you what He wants you to know.
Anyone who has ever gone to church knows it is important to read and study the Bible. If so, then why do so few Christians actually take the time to understand the Bible and apply it to their lives?
A young man was helping out to restore an old building. He was putting up drywall and had to screw it to the beams to form a ceiling. He was given drywall, a ladder, screws, and a powerful battery operated screwdriver, the best money could buy. After an hours worth of work he didn't have one single screw put in the wall. Was he lazy? Did he not have the right tools? No! No one taught him how to use the screwdriver.
The Bible is a tool for us to experience God. It is the best book mankind has ever had. But just like the powerful screwdriver, if no one ever shows you how to use it, you will not grow much in your life as a Christian. Not understanding the Bible doesn't mean you are lazy, stupid, or that it is not God's Word. It just means that you need to take the time to learn what the Bible is and what studying the Bible is all about.
Definition: The Bible is the collection of sixty-six books God has provided for you to hear him speaking to you day by day. The Bible came out of the experiences God's people had with God as he started his mission of saving the world.
The Bible records:
~ God's history of creation.
~ God's making of the covenants with Abraham, Moses, and David.
~ God's promise of a new covenant.
~ The fulfillment of God's promises in Jesus Christ.
~ God's work with his church to establish His mission work throughout the world.
~ God's promises of a final victory for His people and judgment for the world.
- Log in to post comments


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Fish & Koi Pond & Water Garden General Maintenance
Serving Titusville, & The Space Coast Areas Around Brevard County, Florida (FL)
General Pond Maintenance
If you're looking for help with your Space Coast area pond, water feature maintenance or repair, you're in the right spot. Pondfather Water Features is a Qualified Aquascape Contractor and has the experience needed to help you with whatever maintenance or services needed to keep your water feature running, and looking it's best all season.
Pondfather Water Features can help you realize that potential, offering premium maintenance services ranging from cleaning and repairing ecosystem ponds and waterfalls, to fountain pump replacements. We know the importance of adding more time to your life for your inviting yard for entertaining, playtime and relaxation. We hope you'll give us the opportunity to work with you to develop your water features maintenance programs so it further reflects how beautiful your water feature really is.
Good Routine Maintenance For Your Pond Or Water Garden
Do you want a completely maintenance free pond? Do you worry about your fish? Would you find peace of mind knowing that your pond maintenance was taken care of by a team of trained professional technicians for your Brevard County Florida (FL area backyard fish pond?
Pondfather offers years of koi and fish pond maintenance and other water feature maintenance. Our professional technicians are trained to do all the work, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy! You can rest assured our trained technicians are skilled in caring for your pond so you can enjoy its fullest potential.
Located In Titusville Florida (FL) Serving The Space Coast Areas Around Brevard County, (FL)
Contact us if you don't see your town listed.
Bithlo, Brevard County, Cape Canaveral, Christmas, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Maitland, Melbourne, Mims, Oviedo, Port Canaveral, Port St. John, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Sharpes, Union Park, Viera, Winter Park, Winter Springs and more!


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MAGNIFICENT MURAL – A photographic mural depicting the past, present and future was erected on the west wall of the community centre in Riverside Meadows recently. The $3,600 project was comprised of archival photos, as well as new ones taken by a local photographer Mirjam Rand.
Jenna Swan/Red Deer Express


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1/2 cup All purpose flour
1/3 cup Cocoa powder
1 cup Nutella
3/4 Sugar
5 Tbsp Butter(room temperature)
2 Eggs
2 Bananas
1tsp Vanilla essence
3/4 cup Walnuts
1/2 tsp Baking powder
Pinch of salt
Pre-heat the Oven to 350 Degrees. Line 8" square pan a butter paper with an overhang from all sides.
In a bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt until thoroughly combined. Mash bananas with a fork and keep aside. Using an electric mixer cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (it takes 3-4 minutes). Add eggs, blending fully, one at a time. Add in vanilla essence, nutella and mix with a wooden spatula. Add dry flours and gradually to the butter mixture and combine well.
Mix in the dusted walnuts, scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the surface. Bake for 20-25 minutes (depending upon you Oven temperature). you can insert a toothpick in the center to check, if it comes out with few crumbs(not completely clean) and moist then it is ready. When the brownies are cool, unmold slice them into squares. I frosted them with melted chocolate for extra shine on top. Serve warm and keep the rest in an air tight container.
- Store properly the brownies as they tend to dry out easily. Keep a small pieces of bread in the air tight container to keep the brownies soft. Read and followed the same.
- Make sure everything is room temperature before you start ahead.
Linking this Nutella Walnut Brownies to Priya's (Easy & Tasty Recipes) ongoing event "Valentine's Day Recipe Contest"


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Following the suspension of Personnel Director Cassandra Ethington in November first's special meeting of the county board, there was a motion brought forth by Middleburgh Supervisor Jim Buzon to also suspend Public Health Director Asante Shipp-Hilts, which after a prolonged discussion, was tabled.
Fast-forwarding to yesterday's county board meeting, Board of Health President Betsy Bernocco briefly read a resolution that was recently passed and signed by a majority of their organization in support of Ms. Shipp-Hilts. The resolution "expressed our total confidence... in the abilities of our Public Health Director."
Mrs. Bernocco, who previously served on the county board as the Supervisor of Richmondville, drew a proverbial line in the sand by stating the "power rests on the Board of Health" to determine Ms. Shipp-Hilts' future, and not the Board of Supervisors.
Dr. Joseph Luz, also a member of the Board of Health, stated that "We feel Asante has done an excellent job," and that it "strongly support[s] her to continue in that position." Dr. Luz concluded his remarks by adding that removing her would be an "error."
Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone followed up Mrs. Bernocco's and Dr. Luz's statements by asking if "either of you read the Fitzmaurice Report," of which both responded that they had, and Mr. Milone replied simply that "was all he wanted to ask." No further discussion was had on the matter.


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For Women, Biological Clock Is an Aphrodisiac
According to conventional wisdom, men have sex on the brain from puberty until, roughly, death. The Kinsey Institute, which uses somewhat more refined measurements, reports 54 percent of men think about sex every day or several times a day. It adds this is true of only 19 percent of women, making for quite a gender gap.
However, new research suggests that for females, the answer to that question may vary considerably depending upon one's age.
According to a new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, women's interest in sex peaks between age 27 and 45. A research team led by psychologist Judith Easton of the University of Texas at Austin concludes this is an unconscious reaction to declining fertility.
A total of 827 women, recruited from the UT community and from Craigslist.com, completed a detailed online survey that included questions about their sexual desires and behaviors. They were grouped into three age categories: 18-26 (high fertility); 27-45 (reduced fertility); and 45 plus (menopausal and post-menopausal).
Those in the middle group were dubbed "RE women," which stands for "reproduction expediting." (One can only hope that shorthand term seeps into the culture. "See those two over there?" one man drinking at a bar asks another. "They're RE. I know it.")
The study reveals these 27- to 45-year-old females "think more about sex, have more frequent and intense sexual fantasies, are more willing to engage in sexual intercourse, and report actually engaging in sexual intercourse more frequently than women of other age groups," the researchers report.
Compared to older or younger women, RE women are more willing to engage in sex after knowing a partner for either one month, one week or one evening. Controlling for the number of children the women had, or whether they consciously desired to have a child, did not change the results.
And where does this urge to, er, expedite arise from? "We hypothesized women evolved a psychological mechanism — a reproduction expedition adaptation — that motivated them to capitalize on their remaining fertility before likelihood of conception between less probable," the researchers write.
"Modern women's sexual psychology is a consequence of such evolved mechanisms," they add. "One key design feature of this adaptation is an increased desire and willingness to engage in sexual activity during the period of declining fertility."
The researchers concede their findings may simply reflect the fact older women tend to have more sexual experience, and this leads to their "increasing comfort with sexuality." But they add that "this alternative explanation cannot account for why, in the present study, menopausal women consistently displayed decreased sexual motivations and behaviors."
So according to Easton and her colleagues, the ticking of the biological clock is loud and clear even in women who have no desire for children (or additional children). They conclude that, while it may never penetrate the conscious mind, women feel an urge to "facilitate conception before the window of opportunity closes." Men: You have been notified.


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Some great reading I found today.
Temptation is not fatal! "[We ought] to point out of what service temptations are in the training of the faithful, and what relief there is in the example of the patience of God, who has resolved to permit them even to the end." —Augustine
"Our extremity is God's opportunity." —George Whitefield
Apparently the definition of "tolerance" today just means telling everyone what they want to hear. If you speak a truth that someone doesn't like, then you are intolerant, as in the case of this guy in the U.K.
David Wilkerson says: Do Not Give satan An Inch Of Ground.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned racist Donald Sterling for life. Check out A Statement Stronger Than Silver.
I love what Make-A-Wish does for kids! Here's a great story from Detroit.
Google is on the wrong side of this one: they have decided that women searching for "abortion" shouldn't see listings for pro-life crisis pregnancy centers!


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From the realm of women, it's impossible to get a person that does not take advantage of the face toner or has never utilized it in her own life. Nevertheless, the fact needs to be considered in many ways there are various sorts of face toners all which are increasingly being maintained by their various brands are the best face toners. If you want to get more information about the face toners for oily skin, then search the browser.
However, you have to decide one which could be the most acceptable for the oily skin. As a way to produce the best decision about what this item goes to be probably the best option and also the best facial toner to the oily skin, we've mentioned a couple of hints below.
The first step in line would be to pay a visit to your nearest local shop and observe what different sorts of face toners can be found on the market which you may pick from. It must be taken into account that it is not sufficient to take a good look at these. You also must browse the descriptions as well as the ingredients that will allow you to have an improved understanding which of this item will be acceptable for the skin kind.
Now's the time to establish what level of cash will you be ready to devote to the best face toner to the oily skin. By this time, you have to attend with a handful of options you can select from, each one of these are assumed to get the job done fine along with skin. Therefore, it comes down to the quantity of cash you are ready to devote to this kind of item.
Last but not least, it's crucial to say that it's always a good concept to be sure you keep in touch with the staff at the store and request expert opinion. Inform them the type of skin which you have and they'd have the ability to assist you in a suitable manner in picking the best face toner to the oily skin.


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Tesla was a star on Wall Street, Wednesday, as investors threw their weight behind the electric carmarker and drove its share price to a record high, and close above $1,000 for the first time in the company's history.
Tesla shares surged almost 9%, to an all-time high close of $1,025.05. Enthusiasm for Tesla was stoked by a report from Reuters which cited a memo to company employees from Chief Executive Elon Musk in which Musk said the company was ready to begin "volume production" of its electric semi truck.
Tesla debuted its electric semi in 2017, but has only produced a limited number of the trucks. In his memo, Musk said Tesla had been working on improving the semi's design and now it was "time to go all out and bring the Tesla Semi to volume production." Musk also said the semi truck's batteries and powertrain would be built at the company's gigafactory in Nevada, with other vehicle parts being built in other states.
Last month, Tesla said on its quarterly conference call that it was halting production of its semi truck, and wouldn't go into full-scale production until 2021.
"Hitting the $1,000 threshold speaks to the confidence the Street has in Musk and company over the next year to further penetrate the massive electric vehicle opportunity despite COVID-19 headwinds," said Dan Ives, managing director of Wedbush Securities. "The semi production news is another shot in the arm."
Tesla shares have more than doubled this year, after finishing 2019 at $420.08 a piece. The stock was down to $350.51 a share on March 18, when shelter-in-place orders meant to slow the spread of coronavirus around the region went into effect.
With its gains, Tesla joined a rare club of companies with share prices of $1,000 or more. Among those are Google parent company Alphabet, which traded Wednesday at $1,459.72 a share, and Amazon, which was at $2,653.41 a share.
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This is the first of what I hope will be a series in sharing techniques on this blog.
Yay? Nay? Interesting ? Boring? I value your feedback, so please comment! thanks - Susan
My Subject: Lupinus argenteus, Silvery Lupine. This Colorado native grows in abundance, though for a brief season, near my cabin in the Rockies at about 9200' above sea level
My Challenge: To create a drawing in which the fresh flower appears to be laid directly atop the herbarium sheet.
My Strategy: First draw the flower from a live specimen, then under-draw the herbarium sheet, and finally unite/separate the two with cast shadow.
My Materials: This piece is executed with colored pencil on Mylar film. I favor Faber Castell Polychromos, but I used a variety of brands on this piece. Pointy pencils. That's it.
Apologies for the inconsistent image tones captured by my iPhone camera over a few weeks' time.
New Site, New Season
Thank you for visiting my new and refreshed website. I'd like to bring a few colored pencil tutorials to this space. I am working on a progression now for my latest work. Stay tuned!
Susan Rubin Studio
Susan Rubin is a botanical artist and a teacher of botanical art and colored pencil techniques. She is always seeking and sharing new inspiration and techniques.
May 2018


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2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles For Chic Bride
2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles For Chic Bride
Enough with the something old! These fresh, 2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles looks breathe new life into traditional big-day style.
Have you anytime abounding through a conjugal annual or scoured thought, hmm, all this adornment just isn't me?
Not alone is a 2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles and uncomplicated,
But also 2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles like simple buns and candied half-updos admonish us of a admired era we can't assume to rhapsodize abundant over (cough, the '90s).
recreate yourself. Chic, economical,
2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles Looks for the Modern Bride
Cardinal aphorism of aloof brides everywhere: Never accent about asymmetry. So-called administration mistakes.
such as rogue wisps, uneven hair partings, even the casual flyaway can't and shouldn't dampen the mood—in fact,
they giveth, and not taketh away, from your look's all-embracing charm,
Diffused Part
Softly beggared with a fine-toothed comb, this askance low bun hugs abaft the aerial for a romantic touch.
Twisted Half-Updo
About as romantic as it gets for the city-limits bride, this shiny half-up twist is the absolute attenuate antithesis for a delicate neckline
Rich Girl Hair
We adulation the uptown-meets-downtown vibe of a archetypal white admiration of a dress paired with a modern, hardly staticky down-do.
We love the extra control we get from TRESemmé TRES Two Extra Hold Hairspray, which keeps things budge-free without the stiffness.
Bumper Bun
Finer, thinner hair types can accomplish added adequateness with the advice of a hair donut, or a cream bonanza slid beneath a top pony before coiling.
Classic Top Knot
No secrets to this look, except use a fine-toothed adjust to actualize a bland abject and apply pins instead of a hair tie.
Spiky Top Knot
For a bit of an edge, leave some ends out to abate the look.
These looks affection added natural-looking bends and waves -effects that are larboard a tad askew—a far cry from the artfully sculpted spirals and braid curls apparent in abounding a conjugal affair today.
Twisted Lob
If you're bent in that awkward stage, go with the breeze with some braiding twists and an air-dried tousle.
Upgrade your accustomed beefy bob for the big day by creating a a side part and tighter curls,
which are again to be continued while still warm.
Finger Waves
Recreate a vintage-inspired 1920s beachcomber by demography a collapsed adamant to your bob and acute down the acme with some gel.
Vintage Wedding Hairstyles to Inspire
This appearance is not for the aside of heart. A strategically placed busy arch section will accumulate your roots volumized all night long.
Upgrade Your Curls
Upgrade simple curls with a cool deep-side part. Gathering all your hair to one ancillary will appearance off the top of your dress and your absolute makeup.
–If you want to watch more styles about 2018 Unique Wedding Hairstyles, Read More.


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As a follow up to the distribution of ratings for physicians on ZocDoc a commenter had an excellent question on how that compares to the rest of the doctor/physician review sites out there such as the usual suspects – healthgrades, vitals, ucomparehealthcare and all the rest in the latest Top 10.
We ran some numbers and here is how the distribution looks like.
Interestingly, we dont see a lot of 2/5 ratings (hardly any), but a lot of 4/5 ratings but not an overwhelming number of 5/5 as is the case in ZocDoc land.
What is your interpretation of these results? Type your comments below.


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Jo Ann Schmidt, 65, formerly Charles City, died Sunday, April 23, 2017 at her residence in Smyrna, Tennessee.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m.to noon on Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Fullerton Hage Funeral Home, 401, Blunt Street, Charles City. Following visitation per her wishes she will be cremated. Burial will be at a later date.
Jo Ann was born on July 30, 1951 in Charles City, IA to Ransom and Jenny (Janssen) Bouillon. She attended schools and grew up in Nashua/Ionia, IA. On May 4, 1968, she was united in marriage to Darrell Schmidt at The Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple lived together in the Charles City area and also a few years in Waseca, MN. To their union three daughters were born: Dawne, Jacqueline and Ann.
Throughout her life she bartended for Bill and Darlene Linn and also owned their own bar called, "Schmidty's." Jo Ann worked several years for All States Quality Food and lastly, did in home daycare.
In her free time she enjoyed crocheting, knitting and jewelry making. Jo Ann loved traveling with her husband, especially to Tennessee; where they just spent 5 months together. Jo Ann was an excellent baker/cake decorator; more recently she began "experimenting" with her cooking to see what she could come up with. Most important to Jo Ann was her family and friends; whom she loved spending time with.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, Darrell Schmidt; daughters: Dawne (Kendal) Kramer of Franklin, TN, Jacqueline (Michael) Miller of Charles City and Ann (Michael) Bogue of Charles City; sisters: Joyce (Cal) Wood, Kandi Eddy and Mary Mooberry; brothers, Jerry (Marilyn) Bouillon and Louie (Barb) Bouillon; sisters-in-law, Connie Bouillon and Carol (James) Burkhardt; brothers-in-law, Ronald (Donna) Schmidt and Roger (Nancy) Schmidt and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ransom and Jenny Bouillon; parents-in-law, Clarence and Dorothy Schmidt; granddaughter, Sydney Miller; brother, Denny Bouillon; brother-in-law, Bill Mooberry and nephews, Kurt Wood and Brian Burkhardt.
Fullerton Hage Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt Street, Charles City, IA. (641) 228-4211. www.Fullertonfh.com Facebook: Fullerton Funeral Home
Categories: Obituaries


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The Centre for Educational Policy Development of the Greek General Confederation of Labour, (KANEP-GSEE) together with the Faculty of Social and Education Policy, University of Peloponnese and the Consulting Management Training Company C.M.T. Prooptiki, invite you to the first informational meeting on the Program "ESTEEM- Enhancing Social sciences graduates Transversal Entrepreneurial and Employment skills (ERASMUS+)" which will be held on Tuesday 20/02/2018 at 14:30 at KANEP/GSEE premises, 36, 3rd Septemvriou St., Athens).
For more information on the event and the program, please see the attached document.