text:
Kurt McCloud
Loan Consultant · NMLS: 422651
Our Process
What to expect
We understand that purchasing a home is one of the biggest purchases in a lifetime. We've streamlined our process to ensure that the experience of obtaining your mortgage is as smooth and stress-free as possible. Typically, once the loan documents are signed and delivered back to us, you'll receive your funding in 5 to 7 days!
Client Testimonials
Why we should work together
I've worked with Kurt and his team for 12 years, both professionally and personally. He has always exceeded my expectations in all aspects of mortgage lending. He is very much in tune with the marketplace, and understands the lending world on a high level. He's always demonstrated integrity in how he works with his clients. He goes above and beyond in making himself available to answer questions and assist in time sensitive situations, such as closing on a loan. In an ultra-competitive real estate market, he's the one you want on your side. I have the utmost confidence in his ability.
John D.
Kurt and his team were efficient, insightful and a true pleasure to work with. We closed quickly thanks to their timely professionalism and gentle guiding hand. My business partner also used Kurt and his team for his refi and was extremely happy too!
Fletcher M.
Kurt made my loan refinance experience smooth and easy. I can't say enough about his efficiency and attention to my needs throughout the entire process.
Gerald B.
It is not often that you can say that the lenders made it easy, but Kurt and Lacee have exceeded on all fronts. We were goin to go with a different leader initially because of a particular offering. But as our confidence level waned with the other lender, Kurt and Lacee picked it up and did everything they could to help us through the lending process. Kurt in particular was very knowledgeable and enraged throughout the process to ensure that we have the best product for our need. Lacee was relentless in her follow-through to ensure the process keeps moving along. Thank you both!
Adrienne L.
Kurt made this refinance a breeze. As a local business owner, it can be tough to make any progress with money matters. Kurt and his team made sure I understood the hurdles and what possibilities I had available. They made this an extremely painless process. I would recommend them to anyone!! Matter of fact, they're helping my business partner refi their home!
Neil S.
Kurt is the best mortgage consultant I've ever worked with and I will always go to him for my home finance needs first. He's honest and transparent and always keeps me aware of the process and status of my loan. He's proactive and makes the entire process easy. I've used Kurt to finance several homes and at least 5 refinance transactions over the past 10 years. All went smoothly and without hitch.
Bradt D.
I highly recommend Kurt if you are purchasing a home or looking to refinance. He makes a confusing process simple to understand and was always there to guide us from the loan application process, through closing and beyond.
Cary C.
Working with Kurt McCloud and team was extremely efficient and certainly the way to go. We experienced great communication between my spouse, me and our real estate agent through email and mail. Any/all questions were answered in a timely manner and would ABSOLUTELY use Kurt McCloud and team again!
Jacinda H.
Kurt without a doubt was the right choice. My wife and I had a very unique situation. Others would have given up and sent us on our way. Kurt was not only willing to go the extra mile to get us a great mortgage, he actually made it happen! Kurt answered all our questions and even the dumb ones. He helped us through each step of the process and when we hit a few bumps in the road, he quickly had us back on track. We are totally confident we made the right choice in lenders. Thanks Kurt!
Daniel S.
I worked with Kurt on a quick turn loan for a new townhome the week of Christmas holiday and was very impressed! He was very quick to respond to all communications and helped drive the process quickly. Definitely helped to keep my stress level down.
Laura P.
About Kurt
Calculate your payment
Crunch your own numbers with our mortgage calculators. Run as many different scenarios as you'd like to see how much home you can afford.
Use this mortgage loan calculator to generate a mortgage estimate. Press the "Calculate" button to find out.
Use this mortgage loan calculator to generate a savings estimate. Press the "Calculate" button to find out.
Contact Kurt
Kurt McCloudBellevue Branch
I'll be in touch shortly, and look forward to helping you find the right loan to fit your needs.


text:
IGF -1 is the only test that can be ran to determine your Growth Hormone level.
My Dr tests everything for me and each time my Growth Level is HIGH.
IGF is insulin growth hormone factor, the only booed test that tells your Growth Hormone levels.
If low I could get from my Dr but of course they charge more than you and I like doing business with you, for a couple of years now we have had a great relationship. So I know the Kefei is really good :)
One loyal customer from USA

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What Is Internet Of Things? This Will Be The Next World Revolution, Don't Miss It…
The Industrial Revolution
At the end of the 18th century began a process that changed the way people lived… This was the Industrial Revolution, after which humans started using machine power for almost anything they produced and used. This was a huge leap for our race, just imagine what our world would be without all the machines we use in our life. This was when people invented machines and employed them for living a better life. People who took advantage of this trend made millions and even billions of dollars. The industrial revolution also prepared humanity for the next big thing that would happen…
The Internet Revolution
At the end of the 20th century, something called the Internet was invented… Using so many machines everywhere evoked the need of automation. This is how the first computers were born. They could make complicated calculation needed for the work of more and more complicated machines. these computers developed, they processed more and more information and they were used in more and more different areas of our lives. The step to connect all of these information power was a natural event, which led to the second big revolution that changed our life forever – The Internet Revolution. It happened much faster than the first one and changed our life even more… Today, we use the Internet almost everywhere and for anything – from ordering pizza and communicating with people from all around the world, to making money and even changing the world further. All people that early noticed this trend could take advantage of it and become millionaires and billionaires. No money was required for this. The web is full of stories of multi-billion companies started in a garage like Google, Amazon, Linked In and many other. Almost everybody, who noticed this trend made money from it. The Internet changed not only our present, but also our future. It also laid the foundations of the third big revolution…
The Internet Of Things (IOT) Revolution
Computers got connected in the World Wide Web, but this only opened the door for many other possibilities. We started connecting our phones to the Internet (just because, at some point of time they became computers, too), we started connecting our cars, TVs and all other smarter devices we use. And devices become more and more smarter every single day… This makes it possible for more and more devices to be connected to the Internet every single day. And this is what has been happening for the last few years. This is what the Internet Of Things Revolution actually is – a world of interconnected devices of all types. It will transform our world into a place, where everything we use is connected to a global network and all of these things can interact between each other, can be managed through the Internet and can do some really smart and useful things for us… Imagine you fridge knows what you like eating by tracking which from its contents get consumed the most. It could be programmed to automatically order these products online, from your favorite supermarket. You will stop thinking about stupid things like what food to buy, when to buy it and how much. You wouldn't even need to go to the store, your food will be always there in the required quantities. And this is only a small example of what is going to happen in our world in the next few years. You chair for instance, could track your weight and could communicate to your fridge. It could 'tell' the fridge to start ordering more diet food for you if you start gaining pounds… You will be able to do many more cool things, if your machines get connected to the web. You can be able to send a mail to your air conditioner and 'tell' it to warm your home just before you get there, your home can know what you like and act accordingly. You car could track your health while driving and all stuff like this. And all of this is already happening now…This is the start of the Internet Of Things Revolution. Today (2015), more than 7 billion of smart devices are connected to the Internet. Just after 5 years (in 2020), there will be 30 billion devices connected, these are the estimations and the expectations. This is why this will be a huge shift on our way of living. This is a huge investment opportunity that happens one in a lifetime. This is why you shouldn't miss it.
Investing In The Internet Of Things Trend
Well, it's going to be a big trend, but how to take advantage of it? You can do a lot of things on the matter – from starting studying computer science to finding a job in a IOT company. As we are an investment site, we will give you some investment ideas. We ourselves invest in the Internet Of Things and here I will describe how exactly we do this. All investment suggestions will be exposed in the of the site.
Please, be aware that investing is risky. There is always a risk to lose money when investing. Please, don't take our articles as investment advice, decide on yourself whether and how to invest your money.


text: The forest roads we suggest here usually have more than just a rejuvenating drive through the forest. Be sure to check our "local scoop" for the inside track on what to look for and what to do. Our "local directions"come in handy when you're not familiar with the road or area but feel like exploring (which we highly recommend).


text:
Bird strikes are a chronic problem for pilots, but an incident Wednesday over the East China Sea involving a Japan Coast Guard patrol plane was particularly serious.
After hitting an albatross at around 5:10 p.m. at an altitude of 300 meters, the Bombardier DHC8-315 sustained a big hole in its nose, and the dead bird was stuck in it, coast guard officials said.
The hole was reportedly as wide as 1 meter.
But the patrol plane flew on and landed at its intended destination of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, a little after 6 p.m. after leaving Naha at 2:50 p.m., the officials said.
None of the nine crew members on the plane was hurt.
The transport ministry dispatched investigators to Ishigaki on Thursday to look into the matter.
Bird strikes pose a serious threat to passenger planes and the transport ministry plans to set up radar equipment at Tokyo's Haneda airport in April to track flocks of birds to help guide aircraft out of their way.
It will be the first such project in Japan. Bird strikes are on the rise at the nation's busiest airport despite daily efforts by ground staff to disperse birds when they are spotted near flight paths.
This article was written and published by the Japan Times OnLine.


text:
Prepositional Phrases Exercises
Option 1
Option 2
Parallel Structure Lesson
Be a Good Writer
Write short sentences and paragraphs; use active verbs; and write with authenticity, compression, clarity and immediacy (Hemingway).
Use Good Mechanics
Revise for Clarity. Look for:
Words out of order
Extra words
Incomplete sentences
Run-ons or redundant statements of
Does not make sense
Connect with FANBOYS
Connect with FANBOYS
For. And. Nor. But. Or. Yet. So
An em-dash is used like a comma or parenthesis to separate phrases. For example:
An ellipsis is a series of three "dots" that are used when there is an omission of a word or series of words that trails off. If there are four "dots," this means the sentence ends:
- I sense something--a presence I've not felt since that day—it was pulling me.
- In years 1969–1984
- Pages 31–32 of the book
- The Mavericks beat the Thunder 98–95
- Cruelty-free eggs
- Flip-flop wearing teacher
- Olivia Newton-John
An ellipsis is a series of three "dots" that are used when there is an omission of a word or series of words that trails off. If there are four "dots," this means the sentence ends:
- Ellipsis: Handbags and shoes and perfumes and clothes--you said okay, no problem...
- Ellipsis with complete sentence: In later weeks, though, you wanted to write home because you had stories to tell...it wasn't just to your parents you wanted to write.
Remember CPOP
Commas Periods & Other Punctuation
Edit for Conventions
Show, Don't Tell
Don't tell me: There was fruit in the bowl.
Show me: There was mango, papaya and a banana in the large, round, wooden bowl that was aged by twenty-plus years of use.
Don't tell me: The dog ran across the street toward the bank robber.
Show me: Snarling, growling and salivating, the large dog charged across the busy expressway toward the bank robber.
Combine Sentences
Instead of: I was hungry. I ate some cereal.
Combine: I was hungry, so I ate some cereal.
Instead of: My mother drove a convertible sports car. She did not trust me to drive.
Combine: My mother drove a convertible sports car, but she did not trust me to drive.


text:
Standardized Definitions of Trade Data and Customs Terminology
The use of internationally standardized definitions of trade and transport data elements, such as consignee and consignor, declarant or goods declaration, is a very important aspect of trade facilitation. Standardized definitions of trade data and Customs terminology are those developed and maintained by the relevant international trade facilitation organizations, such as the World Customs Organizations and the UN Center for Trade Facilitation (UN/CEFACT). The WCO Data Model and the United Nations Trade Data Element Directory (UNTDED) represent the international standards for trade data element definitions. The WCO Revised Kyoto Convention and the WCO Glossary of International Customs Terms are the international standards for Customs terminology.
Problem statement
Some international trade transactions are very straightforward as they consist of one buyer and one seller and are conducted by an integrated delivery service from origin to destination. Many other trade transactions, however, are far more complex, involving many more players in the trading and logistics chain. For the sake of trade efficiency, Customs and other regulatory agencies along the supply chain should apply the same definitions for parties, commodities, locations, measurements, etc. to allow the trading community to use the information pertaining to this trade transaction for export, import, transit and other regulatory border formalites. If, however, Customs in the importing country decides to define, for example, the "consignee" to be the "buyer", then the management of trade data and the preparation and submission of goods and cargo declaration becomes a resource-intensive exercise for international traders and transport companies.
Implementation guidance
Governments should apply the international standard for trade data, the UNTDED and the WCO Data Model, as managed and maintained by UN/CEFACT and the World Customs Organization, when defining data for declaration purposes. Definitions for Customs procedures and relevant Customs good practices are contained in the Revised Kyoto Convention as well as in the Glossary of international Customs terms. Applying such standards will increase transparency and trade efficiency and will improve compliance.
In order to apply these international standards, a national data set should be developed which combines the data requirements of all relevant border agencies. The process of collection, rationalization and harmonization of these national trade data elements with the relevant international standards is well defined in the UN/CEFACT Recommendation 34 (see the four steps below).
Data simplification and standardization steps; Source: UN/CEFACT Rec. 34
Customs administrations are often the primary agency at a border and should therefore take the lead for this harmonization work and coordinate with all other border agencies. The development of such a national trade data set is an important prerequisite for Custom automation and Single Window developments.
Additional information (references, examples, etc.)
For more information on the WCO Data Model and principles of trade data interchange, please see e-business solutions.


text:
WBIR, Knoxville's NBC affiliate, recently had a week devoted to technological advances being made in East Tennessee, with UT playing a central role in a number of stories.
The first profile was a look at how research at the so-called Body Farm could impact court cases. Officially known as the Forensic Anthropology Center, the groundbreaking lab has gained worldwide acclaim for the Department of Anthropology for the advancements it has helped make for forensic science.
WBIR had a long segment devoted to biomedical engineering the following day, including a live appearance by professor Jindong Tan to explain how his Guide Glass device is helping the blind to "see." Tan, associate head in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering, showed off some of the devices on air before the topic switched to fellow department member, associate professor Jeffrey Reinbolt.
Reinbolt has helped lead a group improving the experience for post-stroke survivors by creating a virtual world that helps simulate and understand their movements and constraints.
Driverless cars, their challenges and what the main holdups are were topics of the third UT-related day. David Clarke, Director of the Center for Transportation Research and a research associate professor of civil engineering, spoke about some of the constraints, but also what technology already exists that might help.


text:
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts have a 72-hour sale for a few select properties across the U.S. and even Panama with some hotels up to 50% off.
I found great rates for the Wyndham Orange County Costa Mesa at $69 per night next week using this 72-hour sale. The rate for a suite is $119 per night using this 72-hour rate sale, but drops to only $83 per night for a 3-night stay in a suite.
Eligible travel dates using these rates vary by property. Wyndham Orange County allows Nov 17 – January 9. Milwaukee Wisconsin is valid for travel dates through June 1, 2011.
Save 50% in Glen Allen, Virginia
Wyndham Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center From $49 / night
Save 50% in Costa Mesa, California
Wyndham Orange County From $69 / night
Save 45% in Indianapolis, Indiana
Wyndham Indianapolis West From $59 / night
Wyndham Las Colinas From $62 / night
Reunion Resort and Club Wyndham Grand Resort From $179 / night
Save 40% in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Wyndham Milwaukee Airport and Convention Center
From $78 / night
Save 35% in Panama City, Panama
Veneto – A Wyndham Grand Hotel From $98 / night
Save 30% in Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort From $62 / night
Save 25% in Nashville, Tennessee
Union Station – A Wyndham Grand Hotel From $156 / night
Save 25% in St. Louis, Missouri
The Roberts Mayfair – A Wyndham Historic Hotel
From $75 / night
Save 25% in San Francisco, California
Parc 55 Wyndham San Francisco – Union Square
From $179 / night
The $179 San Francisco rate does not impress me for the Parc 55 unless you get that rate during a regular business weekday. Weekend rates will typically be lower than that in San Francisco.
Related Link: http://loyaltytraveler.boardingarea.com/2010/11/07/wyndham-rewards-and-wyndham-byrequest-overview/


text:
My definition of faith is a strong belief in something generally with little to no proof to base said belief on. Religion is where I see glaring of baseless faith most often. I am not atheist or agnostic, I am simply undecided. I admire people with faith and with a belief structure, I was raised Christian but growing up I started to question the word of God and so I lost my religion looking back I truly do not believe that I have ever had faith in religion or in God. I admire anyone who can hear a sermon by a man interpreting a book written long before anyone in the room was born and believe every word and be moved by what is said. I have a problem with religion, my problem is that in most religions people who do not share your religious belief are said to be blasphemous and wicked and mostly are treated with intolerance instead of trying to understand the other person's religion. I do not like religion because most religious people are close minded to any way but their own. I try and learn about all the religions when I meet someone with a religion I am unfamiliar with, because I do not believe that it is what you have faith in but that it is you have faith in something. There lies another problem for me because as I stated before I do not have faith. I think this because I do not think anyone religion is more or less right than any other religion except for scientology which looking at it is simply and utterly dumb. I apologize to any scientologists who read this and I apologize for contradicting myself but there is faith and there is stupidity and if you are not a scientologist then I guess you know which one I think scientology is based on. In all fairness I even envy them because even with absolutely no basis for faith they still have it. So if you have faith good for you, just look at other people's religion and try to understand their views. If you are like me and are undecided do the same and find something you agree with.
Your cart is currently empty.


text:
This one-day event featured more than 10 sessions and 20 speakers including P&G, Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever, Syngenta, HCPA, PCPC and Accenture covering the highest priority issues facing today's senior quality, regulatory, and IT professionals.
Attendees left the summit with tested, actionable strategies and tactics for optimizing your regulatory and quality processes, people and data, as well as an expanded professional network.
7:00 am - 7:45 am
8:00 am - 8:45 am
Strategies to Optimize the Product Journey: Product Quality - Product Speed - Product Compliance
Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, Unilever
New market forces, including globalization, accelerating regulatory changes, personalization, and the digital consumer, are outpacing businesses' traditional approaches to maintaining quality and regulatory compliance. To properly manage risk and remain compliant in this new reality, forward-thinking business leaders are leveraging adaptive processes and new technologies that promote agility and harmonization. In this keynote session, Veeva General Manager Frank Defesche will talk with leaders from diverse regulated industries about why agility and harmonization across departments is critical to achieving high product quality, product speed, and product compliance.
8:45 am - 9:30 am
Leveraging the Cloud to Accelerate Strategic Objectives and M&A Activities
Procter & Gamble
Historically, one of the most painful aspects of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) was bringing together divergent processes and technologies. Cloud-based technologies have the potential to dramatically streamline all aspects of this critical process. Hear from senior IT and Business leaders from the "Acquisitions and Divestitures" unit of a Top 5 CPG company on the impact of Cloud from pre-deal to transition planning to onboarding to ongoing governance. They'll share best practices for using cloud-based solutions to drive enterprise-wide alignment and how to avoid the classic trap of maintaining disparate systems post-transaction.
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Regulatory Implications of Global Markets and Supply Chains
Personal Care Products Council, Cosmetic Alliance Canada
Regulated industries like cosmetics, consumer goods, and chemicals are highly globalized with supply chains and markets spanning all regions. As a result, our industries benefit from harmonized global regulations that enable business and ensure consumer safety. In this session you'll hear from thought leaders from the Personal Care Products Council and Cosmetic Alliance Canada on international best practices for cosmetic regulation, as well as advocacy strategies and mechanisms for achieving global regulatory harmonization that could be applicable across other regulated industries.
10:15 am - 10:30 am
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Driving Greater Transparency and Collaboration Across Stakeholders
Web Industries, Unilever
Across the product journey, key business processes are being pressured to speed up to keep pace with consumer demands, even as regulatory and supply chain complexity increases. Hear how your peer companies are leveraging modern technology to achieve the transparency and collaboration necessary to bring innovative, high quality products to market faster without compromising compliance.
11:15 am - 11:45 am
How to Build a Business Case to Move from Paper and Legacy Systems to Cloud
Getting leadership buy-in and budgetary approvals for new technology is no easy task, and remains one of the most challenging aspects of companies trying to adopt a cloud solution. This session will give you actionable best practices for building a business case. With content derived from interactions with hundreds of Veeva customers, you'll walk away with strategies and tactics for preparing a well thought out business case presentation from evaluating the current state to outlining the future state.
11:45 am - 12:15 pm
Around the Corner - What to Expect From Veeva in 2020
Veeva's vice president of product will give you a preview of our product vision, and walk you through what to expect from our quality and regulatory solutions in the next calendar year. You won't want to miss this glimpse into what we have in store for our valued customers.
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm
General Sessions Wrap Up
Veeva General Manager Frank Defesche shares key takeaways from the morning's general sessions before releasing the group to lunch and separate afternoon quality and regulatory tracks.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Best Practices to Drive Quality Across Your Supplier Network
With increased globalization and outsourcing, communicating with and controlling your supplier network has never been more important. Gain insight from Veeva customers and partners on how they are managing their suppliers and contract manufacturers. This session will explore how modern quality management solutions are being used to communicate and collaborate with external partners for the purpose of ensuring consistent and compliant processes are in place to get high quality product to market faster.
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Using Quality Data to Make Smarter Decisions
Are you collecting the right data? Are you able to use your data to make timely data-driven decisions? Everyone talks about using data to be proactive, but how? This session will examine how Veeva customers collect, view, and analyze quality data. You will gain insight into how companies are making proactive, data-driven decisions to improve quality across their business.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Quality Solutions Roadmap
Veeva's quality strategy and product experts will share our vision and plans relevant to quality professionals. You won't want to miss this glimpse into what we have in store for our valued customers.
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
How to Take a Strategic Approach to Digital Training
What makes training matter to an organization? Instructional designers are driven by the promise of behavior change, but business process owners have simpler ways of measuring the value of training. Learn how implementing the right technology, as part of a unified solution, allows companies to use training as a building block for corporate strategy. We will discuss how avoiding critical process interruption leads to delivering the right information, to the right people at the right time ensuring qualification and compliance. You'll also learn how deploying modern training content approaches -- such as microlearning and virtual environments -- from a unified platform delivers just-in-time role qualification and compliance.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Achieving Global Harmonization Amidst Regional Regulatory Ambiguity
Microchem, Syngenta
Regional regulatory fluctuations, such as Brexit, CA/NY Disclosure Laws, FDA/EPA, China, make compliantly managing innovation pipelines increasingly complex. This session will explore these challenges, and share best practices to ensure products are compliant before they hit the shelves.
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Using Regulatory Data to Make Smarter Decisions
Colgate-Palmolive, Scientific & Regulatory Consultants, Inc
Are you collecting the right data? Are you able to use your data to make timely data-driven decisions? Everyone talks about using data to be proactive, but how? This session will examine how Veeva customers collect, view, and analyze regulatory data. You will gain insight into how companies are making proactive, data-driven decisions to improve regulatory across their business.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
3:15 pm - 3:45 pm
Regulatory Solutions Roadmap
Veeva's regulatory strategy and product experts will share our vision and plans relevant to regulatory professionals. You won't want to miss this glimpse into what we have in store for our valued customers.
3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Convergence in Global Regulatory Requirements Across Industries
Diesch Law Group, APC, Household & Commercial Products Association
Marketing a product globally amidst a lack of compliance standardization can be an impossible task. Regulations may prohibit a business plan that allows one global formula or label. Regulatory experts in this session will help you navigate this treacherous terrain and provide actionable best practices for effectively managing the complexity.


text:
Black Sabbath's February 4, 2017 farewell show at the Genting Arena in Birmingham, UK was filmed for a live/documentary film dubbed The End Of The End by Dick Carruthers. The film features behind the scene footage and more. The film will be show in theaters on Sept 28 for 1 night only.
Black Sabbath to Release Final Live/Documentary Film 'The End Of The End'
Filed under: Film News, Music News — Leave a comment


text:
Congress Working to Pass Coronavirus Relief Legislation >>March 13th, 2020
Congress Working to Pass Coronavirus Relief Legislation
Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin have closed in on a deal for a coronavirus stimulus package. Pelosi has said her priorities for the package include:
- Free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test,
- Paid emergency leave,
- Enhanced Unemployment Insurance,
- Strengthened food security initiatives, and
- Increased federal funds for Medicaid
Democrats had hoped to bring the bill to the House floor yesterday, but objections by Republicans and the Administration sent everyone back to the bargaining table. The main sticking points were over provisions that Democrats wanted to make permanent, including a new permanent sick-leave mandate for U.S. employers.
The final agreement seems to include a less ambitious provision that would expand the number of workers who can take up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act while drawing down wage replacement. Employees would get two-thirds of their salary replaced (up to $4,000 a month), and the federal government would reimburse employers. Separately, employees would also be able to take 14 days of paid sick leave, with the government reimbursing employers for part of the cost.
Assuming a package passes today, the Senate will take up the measure next week. The House plans to work on another emergency response bill that will Pelosi has said will "take further effective action that protects the health, economic security, and well-being of the American people."
Comments Off on Congress Working to Pass Coronavirus Relief Legislation


text:
ViiV HEALTHCARE ANNOUNCES REGULATORY SUBMISSION IN JAPAN FOR SINGLE-PILL REGIMEN COMBINING DOLUTEGRAVIR, ABACAVIR AND LAMIVUDINE FOR THE TREATMENT OF HIV
ViiV Healthcare has today, 15 December 2014, submitted a regulatory application to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan for the single-pill regimen combining dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine for the treatment of HIV infection. This new regulatory submission follows the approval of dolutegravir as Tivicay® tablets 50mg in Japan, March 2014.
Known as Triumeq® where it is approved, the single-pill dolutegravir-based regimen is ViiV Healthcare's first fixed-dose once-daily tablet that combines dolutegravir, an integrase inhibitor, with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors abacavir and lamivudine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Triumeq in August 2014 and the European Commission (EC) granted marketing authorisation in September 2014.
Hirohisa Iriyama, President of ViiV Healthcare Japan said: "While there have been great improvements in HIV treatment options, there are still medical needs that cannot be met. ViiV Healthcare is committed to delivering new options for care and treatment for people who are living with HIV in Japan and today's application is an important step to fulfil this commitment."
About Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in Japan
According to the Report by AIDS Surveillance Committee of MHLW, in 2013 the total number of newly reported cases was 1,590 patients. The cumulative number of cases that have been reported up to 2013 (excluding cases of infections caused by coagulation factor preparations) is approximately 23,000.[1]
[1] 2013 AIDS Surveillance Committee of MHLW: http://api-net.jfap.or.jp/status/2013/13nenpo/h25gaiyo.pdf
Media contacts
For our corporate press office, email: Catherine Hartley
OR call +44 7557 290 420
For US-specific media enquiries,email:firstname.lastname@example.com
OR call +1 919 605 4521


text:
Find anything about our products, search our faqs, and more.
Type your query in the search above and press enter to see the results
Try typing "Card activation"
Choose your language
التغيير الى العربية English
Apply online
Use UAE Pass to submit your application faster.
You must be more than 18 years old and have:
An active UAE mobile number
An Emirates ID
Your passport
Proof of income
A minimum salary of AED 5,000
Emirates NBD CTA, along with IntelliLink, provides access to enhanced and enriched reports, giving instant spend overview and efficient cost allocation.
Emirates NBD CTA gives greater control over company's travel budget through globally integrated online reporting. It allows corporate to analyze travel expenses more effectively, leading to improved decision-making.
Emirates NBD CTA increases efficiency by streamlining reconciliation and payment activity. The enriched reports together with customized data fields reduce margin of errors and enable optimum resource utilization.
Emirates NBD CTA helps in reducing costs by providing data which enables Supplier negotiations.
Emirates NBD CTA offers convenience by consolidating individual invoices into one simple, clear transaction level statement, eliminating multiple invoices and cheque payments.
Emirates NBD CTA provides an option of additional control at supplier or Merchant Category level. Corporate can allow or restrict purchases with specific suppliers or within specified merchant category.
Take advantage of our expertise that has helped many business in the UAE to benefit from the Corporate Card usage.
Visa IntelliLink is a comprehensive, data rich, easy to use, global information management system. It aids in meeting the most important information management needs of companies of all sizes.
Visa IntelliLink incorporates reporting as well as expense management into a single web based platform. It provides global functionality with multiple languages and currency support at the local level, with a global view across geographies.
Visa IntelliLink Spend Management includes three core solution sets:
Useful Links
How was your website experience today?
Subscribe and stay updated!
Get exclusive deals, latest promotions and important information
All this and more in the Emirates NBD newsletter
You are leaving the Emirates NBD Website
You will now be redirected to an external website to view this content. Emirates NBD or any of its subsidiaries does not bear liability/responsibility for any other information published by the website owner or publisher.
You will be redirected in 5 Seconds


text:
Help your employees succeed in the workplace through a focus on professional etiquette and social savvy.
Participants will gain insight into establishing a professional presence. They will learn what "professionalism" is, tips on how to increase their professionalism, make a good first impression, and how to demonstrate "social savvy" with both colleagues and customers.
What will participants learn from this training?
Understand the importance of professionalism
Establish a professional presence through personal style
Use appropriate communication methods in the workplace
Review office etiquette
Who should attend Professional Etiquette training:
Everyone. Professional etiquette and social savvy are critical skills for employees at all levels.
What are the options for delivering this training?
ERC delivers Professional Etiquette training in two methods: in webinar format or at your organization. Check out the full details of our delivery methods below.


text:
LatinaLista — It's reported that Latino students receive an average amount of financial aid totaling $7,900 — less than African Americans, Asians or Caucasians. At a time when the importance of higher education is made clear every day as news of how industries are either disappearing or reinventing themselves in a struggling economy, every student deserves an equal opportunity to receive the same amount of financial help.
Yet, the problem, especially for Latino students, is that many are the first in their families to go to college. Just choosing and applying to college are huge challenges enough for families who aren't familiar with the process. Tack on applying for financial aid and some families just become too overwhelmed to know what all their child's options are for getting financial help.
The College Board recognized the problems Latino families and low-income students were having with the college application and financial aid processes and decided it was time for something new.
Last month, the College Board launched a new site to help guide Latino and low-income students and their parents through the college application and financial aid process. The result is a site called BigFuture.
"We know many Latino students are facing challenging barriers, from parents who lack the experience in the college going process to overwhelmed counselors, or simply, not understanding the opportunities out there to pursue a post-secondary education," said Jim Montoya, former admissions dean of Stanford University and current vice president of Higher Education at the College Board. "This site gives them a powerful tool they manage on their time with information and guidance they may not be able to obtain from their schools or families."
The site offers a lot of easy-to-read information covering the college application process from beginning to end: From what kind of preparations students should be doing outside of school to prepare for college, what to look for on campus visits and how to decide which college is right for them to exploring a variety of careers/fields, finding financial help and how to fill out the college application and submit the necessary essays and submission materials.
Finally, the site offers students — whether they're seniors in high school or junior high students — the opportunity to create a step-by-step plan on what they need to do to get ready to apply to college. Whether it's talking to a school counselor, reviewing grades, taking the SAT, suggesting sources to explore possible careers or recommending certain readings, the individualized plan makes it seem like each student has their own personal college guide.
"Through our advocacy work to increase college completion rates in the United States, we have identified providing better college information and planning services to all students, with a special focus on low-income students, as one of 10 key recommendations for success, " said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board.


text:
Patient First goes global
Consultants from Southern Africa have become the first doctors to benefit from a new clinical leadership scheme established by the trust to share our learning and experience with healthcare colleagues from overseas.
The Western Sussex Hospitals' Leadership Fellowship is thought to be the first of its kind in the country and is proving popular with the first visitors, from Zambia, who are spending four weeks with the trust.
Consultant anaesthetist, Dr Naomi Shamambo said the trust's hospitality is "something I will never forget", adding: "Every day has had highlights that I will take home with me, but the main one for me is the concept of Patient First."
In their first three weeks, the visiting doctors have received yellow-belt lean training, attended the staff conference on Patient Experience and have shadowed the trust's consultants to find out more about clinical leadership and how the hospitals are managed. The programme also included visits to other trusts and speciality events.
Consultant anaesthetist, Dr Collins Chakana, said: "It has been really enlightening. I have learned a lot about the structure of how hospitals are run, including Theatres and A&E, which is extremely beneficial."
For trust consultant anaesthetist, Dr Richard Venn, who regularly volunteers in Tanzania, this was the whole point of establishing the Leadership Fellowship.
He explained that newly-qualified consultants in many African countries are immediately expected to manage whole departments, teach 50 students and all their other staff, without receiving any non-clinical training.
So he and his colleagues were determined to set up a new Leadership Fellowship, to enable our clinical leaders to share their knowledge and experience more widely.
Dr Venn said: "Western Sussex is a centre of excellence – we are always having UK visitors so why don't we welcome visitors from other countries as well?
"This is the first time we have done something like this and we are the first trust to do this. What is particularly unique at Western Sussex is the trust-wide cultural commitment to continuous improvement."
Dr Shamambo said: "Here you can see that the results of continuous improvement have been tremendous and that is something I can take back with me to Zambia, and really help my colleagues."
Dr Chakana added, "What has struck me is how everyone is really pushing Patient First and how engaged and together everyone is. To me, that is something that I will take back to Zambia."
Our hierarchy, or lack of it, at Western Sussex has also been very noticeable to the doctors.
Dr Shamambo reflected on how "the management team involves everyone in what they are doing". She said: "There is no 'higher up' it seems, everyone is treated equal and they all look at what continuous improvement projects they can do together."


text:
Environmental Factor, August 2010, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
NIEHS Spotlight
Advisory Council Hears NIEHS Updates and New Concepts
The NIEHS National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council convened on February 15 in Rodbell Auditorium for a daylong session of reports on NIEHS programs and initiatives.
Technology Transfer - The Institute's Million Dollar Baby
NIEHS convened a meeting on January 26 in Rodbell Auditorium to familiarize scientists with the technology transfer process and introduce impending changes in NIH rules and procedures governing it. William Martin, M.D., director of the Office of Translational Research, opened the meeting by encouraging audience participation.
UMBC President Speaks on Minorities in Science
On February 20, a capacity audience gathered to hear Freeman Hrabowski, Ph.D., deliver the Institute's keynote Black History Month address at an event sponsored jointly by the RTP Chapter of Blacks in Government and the NIEHS Diversity Council.
Olden Urges Fourth and Fifth Graders to Dream
On February 5, NIEHS Director Emeritus Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., spoke to approximately 120 fourth- and fifth-grade students at Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet Elementary School. Olden's 90-minute talk and question-and-answer session were part of the Durham school's celebration of Black History Month.
RTP Chapter of Blacks in Government Holds Black History
On February 15, the Research Triangle Park Chapter of Blacks in Government (BIG) held its sixth annual EPA Legacy Luncheon at the Radisson Hotel Research Triangle Park.
Upcoming Spirit Lecture by Noted Virologist
On March 20 at 10:00 a.m. in Rodbell Auditorium, Alice Huang, Ph.D., will deliver the sixth lecture in the annual Spirit Lecture Series. Huang is senior councilor for External Relations and faculty associate in Biology at the California Institute of Technology.
Inside The Institute
NIEHS Challenge Team Brings "Scores of Spores" to the Small Screen
During a lunch-time presentation on February 8, Health Science Administrator Mike Humble, Ph.D., gave his colleagues a behind-the-scenes look at how an NIEHS team played its part in the 2006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC).
Tony Drake Retires from NIEHS Facilities Engineering Branch
On February 2, Pipe Fitter Tony Drake retired from NIEHS after 33 years of government service. Drake began his career with the Institute in 1973 as a plumber in the Office of Facilities Engineering. His work has taken him outdoors and between floors, installing and repairing the utilities that keep the Institute operating.
Alexandra Heinloth Leaves NIEHS to Work in the Private Sector
On January 26, friends and colleagues packed into Rall D-250 to offer their best wishes to Alexandra Heinloth, M.D., who left NIEHS after working at the Institute as a fellow for the past six years.
Calendar of Upcoming Events
Science Notebook
Cancer Research Pioneer Explores Epigenetic-Environmental Connections
Stephen B. Baylin, M.D., presented the latest talk in the 2006-2007 Distinguished Lecture Series on February 13 in Rodbell Auditorium.
LPC/ LMT Guest Lecturer on Genomics and Risk Assessment
Guest Lecturer Rusty Thomas, Ph.D., spoke to a standing-room-only audience of NIEHS scientists on January 25 in F-193.
Guest Lecturer Discusses Health Risks of Flame
On February 8, a capacity audience of NIEHS scientists gathered for a guest lecture by former NIEHS scientist Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D.
Upcoming Distinguished Lecturer
University of Southern California (USC) Distinguished Professor Peter Jones, Ph.D., will deliver the next talk in the 2006-2007 NIEHS Distinguished Lecture Series at 11:00 a.m. on March 13 in Rodbell Auditorium.
Upcoming LMG Guest Lecturer
Matthew Meselson, Ph.D., will explore the question "What Maintains Sexual Reproduction?" in a Laboratory of Molecular Genetics (LMG) Trainee Seminar Series Lecture on March 9 at 10:00 a.m. in Rodbell Auditorium.
DERT Papers of the Month
DIR Papers of the Month


text:
Van Insurance Groups and What They Mean For You
If you're looking for van insurance it's important to have a basic understanding of the groups available and which one you're likely to be placed in. There are several different van insurance groups these days and the one you're in will have a huge bearing on the premiums that you'll pay, but just how is your group decided and is there anything you can do about it?
Let's start by looking at what the groups actually are. There are 20 different insurance groups on offer that are classified according to risk, with 1 being the lowest risk and 20 being the highest. Which group you're placed in will be dependent upon your perceived insurance risk, and there are several factors that can go into deciding this.
The first will be the size of the van itself. The heavier your van is the more expensive it'll be to insure for the simple reason that larger vans are considered harder to drive and more costly to fix, thereby putting you at a higher level of insurance risk. Other factors include things like the engine size, the purchase price, how much replacement parts cost, how much your van will cost to repair and any security features that are in place.
Basically, it all comes down to the level of insurance risk your van is deemed to carry and the potential cost of repairing it after an accident. The higher the risk the higher group you'll be in and the higher your premiums will be – it's a nice little circle of causation.
So why do you need to know all this anyway? Well, while you can't contest the group that you're in, if you're about to purchase a van it can be incredibly useful. If you're looking for a van that's cheap to insure and you know what the van insurance groups are then you can choose your vehicle accordingly, by going for the smallest one that can meet your needs and investing in security devices, for example. Always have these groups in mind, and if you do you'll be much more prepared.


text:
The RAC's BuySure scheme is designed to create 'a high level of protection and reassurance for used car buyers.' BuySure is a four part package consisting of an 80-point RAC Approved Preparation Standard, a minimum of three months' RAC Warranty cover, and three months of complimentary RAC Roadside breakdown cover. Buyers are also enrolled in the firm's Accident Management Service, supporting the motorist in the event of an accident.
Car dealers benefit from being given 'RAC Recommended Dealer status' too, and feature on the RAC's website which the firm says receives around one million unique visitors per month. Dealers are also entitled to use 'extensive' RAC branding across their premises and marketing materials, and those with garage services attached will be 'invited to join' the RAC's Approved Garage Network too.
However, dealers can't simply apply and receive the status, as each business needs to be approved by the firm. What's more, 10 per cent of every dealer's stock is audited by the RAC to ensure vehicles are 'prepared to the required standard'.
Four of the top five claims made under the RAC Warranty scheme were related to electrical problems that have the potential to prevent a car starting or cause serious engine faults - highlighting the increased dependence modern motors have on electrical systems.
In 2012 the RAC Warranty scheme paid claims totalling £5 million, but of these claims 38 per cent were made in the first months after taking out the warranty and 68 per cent in the first six months.
The top 10 most common RAC Warranty claims during 2012 were:
1 Alternator: Provides electrical power to the car when the engine is running and makes sure the battery is adequately recharged after the car is started. Fault: Internal or wiring failure causing loss of vehicle electrics. Average pay-out: £342
2 Coil: Transforms the voltage in the car to create electrical sparks needed to start the ignition. Fault: Internal or wiring failure causing engine running faults. Average pay-out: £125
3 Sensor: Captures and transmits information about the engine to its control module to ensure efficient running. Fault: Internal or wiring failure causing engine faults. Average pay-out: £206
4 Starter motor: Electrical motor that turns the car's flywheel when starting the engine. Fault: Internal or wiring failure leading to failure to start. Average pay-out: £256
5 Water pump: Circulates coolant in the engine to prevent overheating. Fault: Internal failure causing overheating. Average pay-out: £258
6 Lambda Sensor: Measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gas.
Fault: Internal or wiring failure causing engine running faults. Average pay-out: £189
7 Gearbox: Transmits the engine's power to the driven wheels. Fault: Internal fault causing loss of drive. Average pay-out: £1,000
8 EGR valve: Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve diverts exhaust gas back to the cylinders for recombustion under certain conditions. This reduces nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions. Fault: Valve sticks or jams, causing engine running faults. Average pay-out: £285
9 Window motor: System of switches and motors that raises and lowers side windows. Fault: Internal fault causing the windows to stop working. Average pay-out: £243
10 Cylinder head gasket: Seals the joint faces between the cylinder head and the cylinder block. Fault: The gasket fails causing overheating and other engine faults. Average pay-out: £486
Buying a second-hand car can be a worrying experience and motorists can find themselves confused and unsure about who to trust. The RAC's BuySure used car programme includes an 80-point RAC Approved Preparation Standard on every vehicle bought through RAC Approved Dealers, and therefore it removes the uncertainty surrounding the purchase of a used car. Remember though, that RAC BuySure is only available at RAC Approved dealerships.


text:
Posted in IT
We know that BUILDING HOMES & COMMUNITIES BEGINS WITH BUILDING THE BEST TEAM!
How would you like to be a part of team that has been providing the American Dream of homeownership to families for more than 60 years? PulteGroup is a FORTUNE 500 company and one of America's top residential builders. We put the consumer at the center of everything we do and we stand above the competition in our commitment to quality.
Our Vision is to Build Consumer Inspired Homes & Communities to Make Lives Better and we believe that success starts with having the right people.
At PulteGroup, we are committed to diversity and inclusion. We value the differences of each employee and understand that being consumer inspired means that we reflect the diversity of the consumers we serve.
A position with PulteGroup offers a rich, fulfilling and rewarding career across multiple geographies and brands. If you are interested in being a part of our team, let's talk about your career with PulteGroup!
Responsible for the conversion of leads/prospects to customers, generating referrals, and building strategic customer and realtor relationships to maximize revenue for the organization. Initial training period required.
- Sell and close Pulte/Centex products. Monitor and meet CSMS goals
- Generate leads from customer referrals and core realtor group
- Conduct interviews to all prospects for current/future home sales, make presentations to model visitors, and demonstrate the models, spec homes and the amenities of the community
- Explain principle and interest payments, taxes, insurance, CC&R's (deed restrictions), homeowner associations, and club/golf membership plans
- Prepare required paperwork for each home sale and for prospective purchasers
- Assist in making prospective buyer appointments with design center, mortgage, key inspection and settlement departments when necessary
- Keep buyer updated as to construction start and completion dates and remain actively involved in the sales process through closing
- Communicate properly, to the appropriate departments, any customer requests for information or service
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES LEVEL: MENTOR / COACH / FEEDBACK None
SCOPE: (decision making, size of organization, budgetary etc.)
- Decision Impact: Division
- Department Responsibility: Single
- Budgetary Responsibility: No
- Direct Reports: No
- Indirect Reports: No
- Physical Requirements: If applicable
REQUIRED EDUCATION: (degree ,licenses, certifications, etc.)
- Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent
- Bachelor's Degree preferred
- Appropriate license or certifications as required by the state
- Completion of the Sales Associate Learning and Certification Program
- Valid Driver's License because driving is an essential function of this position.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: (work related, tools/equipment, software, etc.):
- Related Functional Experience: Minimum of 1 year
- Computer proficiency (email, work processing, operations, etc.)
Pulte Homes of Minnesota is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We will provide a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability that will enable the individual to have an equal opportunity to participate in the application process and to be considered for a job.
This Organization Participates in e-Verify
Louisville, Kentucky
Posted 29 minutes ago
Louisville, Kentucky
Posted 29 minutes ago
Atlanta, Georgia
Posted 29 minutes ago
Subscribe to job alerts and add your resume to our resume database for employers!


text:
Ariana Grande and John Legend's "Tale As Old As Time" from Beauty and the Beast Will Give You Chills
The final Beauty and the Beast trailer brought the fairy-tale magic to life. Emma Watson's reason for playing Belle instead of Cinderella was totally inspiring. And now, as if that wasn't enough to get you totally, wildly excitedly about Disney's live-action take on one of our fave stories, then take a listen to Ariana Grande and John Legend's version of the beloved "Tale As Old As Time." It's not Angela Lansbury, but it will definitely give you chills.
"Tale as old as time / True as it can be / Barely even friends / Then somebody bends / Unexpectedlyyyyyy…" 'Fess up: You're already singing along, aren't you? Of course you are! That's because "Tale As Old As Time" is one of the epic songs included in the original animated version of Beauty and the Beast that we all grew up with and can probably (unabashedly, even proudly) still remember every word to.
This time around taken on by Ariana Grande and John Legend (now that's one heck of a duo), it may take a moment to shake off your devoted loyalty to the older song, but if you really give this new version a chance… *chills*
Do you like Ariana Grande and John Legend's version of Beauty and the Beast's "Tale As Old As Time" or do you prefer the original version? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(h/t Elite Daily; photos via Axelle/Bauer-Griffin + Jason LaVeris/Getty, Disney)


text:
Look – photographic evidence that sometimes, just sometimes, the sun does shine in all its glory here.
More blue and I really mean true, royal, luscious, rich, deep, drown-in, indulgent blue crepe de chine. Thank you very much to those of you who commented out loud (or silently) that this is a good colour for me.
A bit (mind you, quite a bit) of silk crepe de chine was left over from the Donna Karan slip and of course, just absolutely and categorically, had to be put to use.
Apparently, the dress I'm wearing today is the most popular pattern from Vogue this summer and here's me, who thinks I'm above following fashion trends, but still apparently fell unconsciously into the trap….mind you, every version I've seen of this dress looks so unique that it would be difficult to say that they're all from the same pattern.
Vogue 9253 – sort of a caftan dress but better: kimono cut on sleeves, high waist with ties, pleats rather than darts at front but darts at back, very deep V neckline, centre back zip, huge in-seam side pockets, any length you desire. My pattern description, not Vogue's.
Let's start with what I didn't do: centre zip was eliminated – more on this later; only one pocket added; deep V neckline not so deep.
What I did do: trimmed the neck edge with some cotton jersey instead of a narrow hem; raised V neck with some hand stitches; shortened the waist ties made in same cotton jersey; pocket opening/closure instead of zip; length of finished dress was determined by amount of available fabric and not the pattern skirt length.
There was no way on earth that I was going to put a zip into this ethereal silk but the waistline is somewhat fitted and really did need to be opened for dressing and undressing situations. Problem……..
Problem solved: the two pocket pieces were sewn top to top, trimmed down and sewn in the side seams as usual but all the way up to underarm.
The side seam and pockets were then sewn, creating a very large 'pleat'; the pocket is the pocket and the above bit becomes a gusset.
A very useful hook and eye were then sewn to the waist seam to close the pleat, a bit of smoothing of the pocket to the inside and now I can get in and out of my dress without a zip. And if I hadn't shown you this, you'd never know it was there.
I started one of those Instagram thingies. I'm not very good at it and am always forgetting to take photos along the way and any I have taken I haven't added #. Anyway, if you'd like to follow a very erratic and learner then here's the name – ruthforrester.corecouture
If you've made this dress or are about to make it, McCalls are running a V9253 competition –mccallpatterncompany Announcing the #v9253 contest! Featuring the hot dress pattern of the season. You could win $100 worth of fabric from @stylishfabric & $100 worth of new patterns! The competition is WORLDWIDE!
I probably won't be entering the contest as most entries are made in fabulous prints or stripes but we all want new patterns and fabric, right?


text:
Thoughts from publishers around the globe on Cyber Weekend 2019
- Written by Kevin Edwards on
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday may pose margin and perception problems for advertisers, there's no doubt it's better suited for affiliates.
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday may pose margin and perception problems for advertisers, there's no doubt it's better suited for affiliates.
We spoke to some of our leading global publisher partners to get their thoughts on how they maximize activity across the Cyber Weekend period and how the event is becoming more sophisticated as the years go by.
Awareness of the event is now almost universal. Whereas a few years ago Black Friday and Cyber Monday were a reasonably nascent phenomenon in some global e-commerce markets, familiarity with it, according to Jules Scomorovschi, co-founder & CEO of French publisher Afiliza, has resulted in "the number of merchants participating in the operation increasing to 100%."
Australians, according to Finder's Global Senior Performance Manager Aston Darley, are "adopting the behaviors we see from consumers across the globe and in bigger markets. For online shopping, events like Black Friday really amplify awareness and are great for educating Aussies around how many options there are when shopping."
As French blogger Naïma Laïb simply puts it, "in the past two or three years sales have exploded in France."
While Singles' Day dominates in China and with other notable local events trumping Black Friday, there are still opportunities for brands who are looking at expanding their global footprint in the region.
Rashik Sharar is regional partnership executive at iPrice, a shopping aggregator based in Malaysia. With a presence across southeast Asia, Sharar picks out one notable example: "Black Friday mostly applies to the west, however, Vietnam usually does quite well compared to other countries."
For the US, Black Friday is a long-established offline phenomenon, falling the day after Thanksgiving. The fourth Friday in the month, Awin noted that Black Friday 2018 was the first time it exceeded Cyber Monday in tracked online sales on the network globally and in North America. This gradual shift over time has now blurred the line between the two days that bookend Cyber Weekend: Black Friday, the in-store event, and Cyber Monday, the e-commerce landgrab.
Camilla Pacelli is head of partner development, APAC, at sub-network Skimlinks. She notes that the maturity of the US market has resulted in a consistent approach, "It is a key cross-vertical e-commerce event now that starts on Thanksgiving and runs through Cyber Monday, whereas in Europe the picture is more fragmented."
However, any 'official' start to Black Friday is now a moot point given the eagerness for brands to steal a march on their competitors. Awin noted in 2018 that November 1, as well as the Monday and Tuesday preceding Black Friday, experienced bigger year-on-year hikes than the big day itself globally, with Cyber Monday posting by far the smallest daily increase across the month.
With Amazon and many other retailers running deals across the 30 days, the UK's online retail association IMRG coined the phrase 'Blackvember' to reflect the burgeoning promotional window.
Moving beyond retail
As well as extending the length of time that brands are embracing Black Friday and Cyber Monday for, a more recent phenomenon has been for brands who sit outside of the traditional gifting and retail categories to embrace Black Friday. Head of Commercial at UK telco site Decision Technology Mark Pocock has noted the demand for their content is growing, "The buzz seems to extend well beyond traditional retail and is expanding each year into more verticals. We see huge spikes in traffic as consumer demand grows."
Plebicom is a French facilitator of in-store offers. Benjamin Stutz who is customer director there noted a distinct shift between 2017 and 2018. While two years ago the primary interest came from technology advertisers, they noticed a significant expansion in France in the number of businesses who wanted to get involved across multiple sectors. He believes that 2019 will see continued growth but cautions that brands will be scrutinizing the value of the customers they attract.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday affiliate campaigns becoming more nuanced?
A reaction to how attractive those deals are, and the phenomenon of 'going earlier' with deals, is a noticeable feature for UK publishers. Client services manager at Groupon Reach Network Greg Constable points to a desire to work more creatively with a smaller selection of brands, "We've definitely streamlined things this year. We have drilled down their requirements so that our onsite and offsite coverage hits their KPIs."
Mel Smith, head of client services at Quidco, suggests a backlash by British brands may see them try and focus their attention on a shorter promotional window, "The feedback is that clients will have an increased focus on the weekend itself to try and stop the attempt to bring purchases forward to earlier in the week or month."
With December under-indexing for the past couple of years and November now the largest trading month, this could signal an attempt to right the Christmas shopping ship and tackle the logistical problems it throws up. However, as has been shown, with significant brands firmly geared up to run promotions as soon as November kicks in, that genie seems impossible to get back in the bottle.
Where retailers can be more strategic is in refining a simple, uniform discounting approach. A heightened focus on targeting specific consumers is something Skimlinks' Pacelli notes is a theme is growing in importance. She points to different consumers they have identified and how they react to the different timings of Black Friday-related promotions including "self-gifters who use Black Friday as an event for home improvements, furniture commission increased 50% during Black Friday 2018, and early birds who start shopping in early November." Skimlinks uses these insights to plan campaigns with their publishers and brands.
Affiliate partnerships have certainly become more sophisticated over the past handful of years. Lucas Gernier who is director of new business at French media publisher Groupe Cerise, lists their approach, "We have been working for several months to diversify our audiences, our sources of income and, above all, to provide a better understanding of how to offer additional service to our users. Content-to-Commerce is a new editorial trend and our staff will be reviewing products and offering their trusted opinions as they take on the role of the influencer."
The growing importance of mobile
Mobile is also an area that Skimlinks' Pacelli identifies as one that brands should note for tapping into consumers on the move, stating, "the conversion gap between mobile and desktop will narrow further this year as more people are able to buy through mobile."
At Dealmoon, the largest Chinese shopping and lifestyle site in the US, users spend on average 700 minutes per month on the deal portal's mobile app, reading the content created by their in-house editorial team. According to Frederique Bouchard, affiliate partnerships manager, the team carries out "extensive research to be up to date on the latest fashion and beauty trends, designer capsule collections, the newest products and offers and they have a wish list of the products they want to buy, and wait to see what offers the brands have."
While the classic sales lever of codes and coupons may be front of mind for brands in how they work with their publisher base, sales director at Kelkoo Cynthia Heywood-Beldon points to the importance of optimising product feeds for Google's Comparison Shopping Services (CSS), a revenue stream that has grown exponentially within the affiliate channel. "Make sure feeds and accounts are in the best possible shape" she cautions, "Both Google Shopping and market demands are always changing so if you're standing still, you're falling behind."
Overall, despite the fluctuations, uncertainties and cautionary words, there is fantastic optimism among affiliates, publishers and partners. With many Black Friday and Cyber Monday plans sewn up in the summer months, they are raring to go. Victoria Raby, commercial director at Global Savings Group, points to the $2.3m that is anticipated to be spent per minute online in the UK on the big day, "With Black Friday falling on payday this year, we predict an even bigger performance as people will be more inclined to spend with a healthier bank balance… we're ready!"
Awin will be covering Black Friday and Cyber Monday as they unfold. Hosted on our Black Friday hub, we'll be starting off in Australia with Commission Factory on Thursday, followed by European coverage on Friday and then handing over to our US team. If you'd like the chance to be featured, make sure to share your insights with the hashtag #AwinBlackFriday.
© 2022, AWIN Inc. All rights reserved. AWIN Inc. is part of Axel Springer Group. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
We blend international reach with local expertise.


text:
ULA launches final Delta II mission with NASA's ICESat; KSC gets a surprise rocket
The coast-to-coast launch system that helped build critical satellite constellations and vault spacecraft to Earth's celestial neighbors roared to life for its 155th and final flight Saturday morning, delivering a $1 billion NASA mission to orbit – but the storied turquoise-and-white Delta II's journey will continue on the Space Coast.
After the 6:02 a.m. Pacific time liftoff from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base and successful separation of the ICESat-2 spacecraft just under an hour later, United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno made a surprise announcement: One final Delta II remains, but it won't launch a mission.
"Just because we recently watched a Delta II liftoff for the last time doesn't mean we have to say goodbye," he said. "I'm excited to announce that the final Delta II rocket will take its place in the lineup of historic rockets located in the Rocket Garden at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida."
The 132-foot-tall rocket that got its start on Valentine's Day in 1989 will join others that represent NASA's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. Bruno later said it should be on display "sometime soon."
NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite 2, or ICESat-2, hitched a ride on the Delta II equipped with four solid rocket motors from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2, the West Coast home of the rocket. On the East Coast, Delta II made its final flight from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 17 in 2011, capping off 110 total flights from there, including 48 GPS missions.
Delta II's twin launch towers at Launch Complex 17 were demolished in July, paving the way for commercial operator Moon Express to use it for testing engines and small lunar landers.
ICESat-2 now sits at the core of NASA's cryosphere observations, which aim to understand more about the Earth's ice and how it changes over time. Using six lasers, the satellite will fire about 10,000 pulses a second to measure how long it takes for light to reach ice and bounce back to the spacecraft, giving scientists a precise understanding of the amount of ice at the poles and in the oceans.
The satellite, according to NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, will detect as little as a fraction of an inch of change in the surface of land ice covering Greenland and Antarctica.
"This data will help scientists investigate why and how our cryosphere is changing in a warming climate," he said.
The Northrop Grumman-built spacecraft follows the first ICESat, which was operational from 2003 to 2009 and used only a single laser beam. Since then scientists have flown aircraft over the poles to continue measurements, all of which will be compared to ICESat-2's results.
Saturday's mission marked the 54th flight NASA booked on a Delta II and the 130th successful launch since ULA was formed by Boeing and Lockheed Martin in 2006. Other notable Delta II missions include the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers; Mars and lunar orbiters; Spitzer and Kepler space telescopes; and the Mercury Messenger probe, to name a few.
"Delta II has affected all of the science portfolio, it has unlocked the heavens to our eyes," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator of the agency's Science Mission Directorate. "The Delta II is such a marquee tool that we'll never forget."
Contact Emre Kelly at email@example.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.
Support journalism: Get a special offer for subscribers at offers.floridatoday.com


text:
The Numerous Vacationer Sights Of East London
Organize order of gallery objects based in your choice. QuickPic gallery assortment for fast user interface. Photograph Gallery comes with lots of add-ons that may allow you to promote digital images correct from your web site, show your Fb albums, and import/export galleries and albums from one WordPress site to a different. Photo Gallery plugin has absolutely responsive design and format. It's designed to display all of its views nicely regardless of the gadget dimensions.
Background Coloration Theme Dialog changed based mostly on Easy Consumer Interface for Understanding. The following buttons don't work with the Embedded photographs- Crop, Resize and Reset. As well as you can't add Watermark over the Embedded imaged. Fb Integration Add-on – Present Fb pictures and movies inside Picture Gallery Skilled without extra efforts.
The plugin comes with two default Themes.
Columns: The variety of columns of thumbnails to show. This can be affected by your selection of theme, so make sure and take a look at a bit along together with your current theme. This function doesn't apply to slideshows. Generate. Clicking this button you will be able to create a special shortcode primarily based in your option selections. The created shortcode will seem in the area beneath. It might be copied/lower and pasted right into a submit/internet web page.
Afterwards open your gallery you want to add a URL and description the necessary hyperlinks in Redirect to URL discipline, which must be below the title input. Observe our new Gallery Path which highlights objects of interest throughout the constructing. You may see items from our collections and a wide range of exhibitions all through Gallery Oldham.
Press the button named Image Gallery.
We have a handful of Gallery t-shirts in the marketplace, so get yours now earlier than they are all gone! We're always seeking to enhance our documentation. If this page didn't answer your question or left you wanting further, let us know! We love hearing your options. For assist, please use the boards or contact help form Thanks!
For this case you shall go to Photograph Gallery > Selections > Thumbnail choices and set Thumbnail click on action choice to Redirect to URL. Enhanced SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING – Including associated tags and metadata to the images can enhance your WEB SITE POSITIONING and provide extra visibility in relevant search ends in Google.
stunning scorching assortment of gallery of smart telephone, its altering marshmallow gallery, lollipop gallery, gallery for Nougat, gallery for Orea and have new one below class options. Right click on safety will defend your photographs from illegal distribution. Random Order: Examine this box to randomize the order of pictures in your gallery or slideshow.


text:
Da Vinci Room
|60 min
|1 - 6 mängijat
Maksa saabumisel, või maksa internetis£
Our Da Vinci Room will see you take on the role of thief, but for the greater good.
Dr John Albright has studied the workings of Da Vinci in great detail. He has amassed a considerable collection over the years, including what many believe to be the Holy Grail.
Having gained his trust by helping him "acquire" items over the years, you have access to areas of his home and knowledge of his security that no-one else does.
You've been paid well for your services over the years, but you've always felt that an item of the importance of the Holy Grail should be on display for everyone. The professor is away and now is your chance. Get in the room, grab the grail and get out. It should be easy!
"The Da Vinci Room" is a live escape game with a twist, you need to get an item out of the room as well as you! The setting is a beautiful old study, lot's of artwork, certificates and various vintage items ranging from typewriters to pianos! Primarily focusing on code-breaking, symbolism and association problems The Da Vinci Room will offer an interesting challenge for new and returning players alike.
Mängijate hinnangudLisa arvustus
Da Vinci Room
Unit 3 The Old Unicorn, Orwell Pl, Ipswich IP4 1BB, United Kingdom
Ipswich, Ipswich, Suffolk, Inglismaa, Suurbritannia
Kättesaadavus ja hinnad
Mida peaksid veel teadma
Kes saavad tulla
Külalised alates vanusest 16 saavad osaleda. Külalised vanuses 10 - 15 saavad osaleda koos täiskasvanud saatjaga.


text:
May 5th came and went just like that. On Monday, we celebrated Gabriel's first birthday. A year ago he was born, and we held him in our arms and watched as he took breaths and listened as he let out sweet cries. And we loved all over him, and we kissed his chunky cheeks so much. And we spent hours just admiring every single thing about him. It was such joy.
He passed away 2 hours later, so the same day that we celebrate his birth, we also celebrate his arrival in Heaven. Monday was the first anniversary of his arrival in Heaven. It would have been his first birthday if he had still been alive. It marked one year since he was born — since I gave birth to our miracle baby. It's amazing how quickly this day arrived. It's so hard to believe it has been a year since we had him. This time last year I dreaded being this far out. I hated thinking about being so distanced from when I held him. I hated thinking about the memories fading. How I wouldn't be able to feel him in my arms any more.
And it's true that the memories have faded. I can't remember vividly what it felt like to hold him. So many things have faded. But I will never forget that day. And when I close my eyes I can almost still smell how amazing he smelled that day. I will always cling to what I can hold on to from our second son.
May 5th is a day worth celebrating, and we had a lot to celebrate this year. I wanted to celebrate Gabriel's birthday. I wanted to celebrate that Gabriel is in Heaven, and I wanted to celebrate how far we have come — that we are still here, that we are survivors. Sunday was more of a pensive day for me because I had Gabriel on a Sunday last year. I kept remembering how I was in labor and when we went to the hospital and what time he was born. I thought about that a lot on Sunday. But on Monday, I just wanted to celebrate! If Gabriel was alive we would have had a party for him and celebrated his life. Gabriel was alive and is now in Heaven which gives us so much reason to celebrate. So we had a really fun day!
We went to Dollywood! I hadn't been in over ten years, and Tommy and Jack had never been. So we sun screened up and made the hour drive to have a great day. And we did! We had a blast! It was just so much fun to be together as our little family — the 3 musketeers. We call ourselves that because we are such a bonded unit and we have been through so much together. The weather was gorgeous! A little hot — or a lot hot to me — and so sunny and just perfect. I was surprised at how many rides Jack could ride. He LOVED it! He wasn't afraid and had so much fun. The water ride we went on was my favorite, and he loved it, too. We spent the day at the park having such an awesome day riding rides, carousels, trams, and trains. Then we headed home.
On our way back into town we stopped by the cemetery. It was beautiful and sunny and just another day at the cemetery.
It was the perfect way to spend Gabriel's first birthday. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and more importantly, we couldn't have had a better day together as a family. We miss our precious baby — a lot — and hitting this mark feels like so much time. It feels like an accomplishment — sort of like a sense of 'we've made it'. We will still grieve and still miss our G all the time. But we have come really far, and have continued to stay bonded together through the hard times of last year.
One of the biggest parts of Monday was the love we got. We are so incredibly overwhelmed by the love and support we have. It was so amazing on Monday to be so loved. We felt completely undeserving of such love and are just so very thankful to all of you who have reached out to us and supported us. Thank you for the cards, the love, the gifts, the food, the messages, the kind words, the prayers, and for remembering us. I couldn't believe how many people remembered our sweet G's birthday, and that made my mama heart just burst with joy.
I used to be so afraid of people forgetting our sweet G, and Monday just showed me that hasn't happened. Thank you for loving our family so well. We are incredibly blessed. And we are thankful for you. God has been so gracious to us and brought us through the last year and a half. And we have seen the hands and feet of Jesus through friends and family. So thankful for the love that has been poured out on us. Thank you, sweet friends, for loving us so well. We love you!
Here are some pictures from our G Day…


text:
White House national security adviser John Bolton said on Friday that President Donald Trump is eager for a U.S. trade deal with Britain once it breaks away from the European Union.
"President Trump remains very eager to cut a bilateral trade deal with an independent Britain. It's what the people voted for in 2016, and when they get out, whether it's now, April 12 or later, we'll be standing right there waiting for them," Bolton said in an interview with Reuters Television.


text:
TigerSwan's Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) is more than just a room with wall-to-wall monitors displaying the latest news and weather reports.
The technology that powers the GSOC and the Watch Officers that monitor the constant stream of information provide TigerSwan a worldwide capacity for assessing global events as they unfold, addressing critical security challenges of key assets, and managing the safety and integrity of operations across industries and geographies.
Here are 4 essential capabilities that the GSOC brings to the modern enterprise:
Common Operating Picture
Perhaps the most critical capability of the GSOC is establishing a Common Operating Picture (COP) for decision-makers across functional areas and organizational responsibilities. As threat management assumes different emphasis from department to department — logistics will worry about scheduling impacts, security is occupied with the safety of personnel and assets, and the C-suite is focused on ROI — it is imperative that all stakeholders and decision-makers act upon a single, consolidated operational view.
Today, organizations have access to increasing amounts of data from a growing list of sources. Problems arise when one department, with a unique perspective and operational focus, works from one set of data while a another team makes decisions using a separate set of information. By aggregating data to a single point of truth, the GSOC places representatives into the same room where they can work from a common operating picture and create unified responses to threats as they evolve.
Central point of threat management
TigerSwan's GSOC was conceived and architected based on years of experience in global combat leadership, law enforcement, military intelligence and asymmetric threat mitigation. With the goal of maintaining the operational safety of personnel and integrity of key assets, our Watch Officers analyze real time data from diverse sources at the most granular level to anticipate and mitigate risk, communicate potential threats to personnel before they are in real danger, and resolve crises before they affect the mission.
In the face of rapidly changing global conditions, the GSOC serves as a filter through which live information can be received, analyzed, and turned into actionable intelligence. Decentralized threat management results in poor communication and a disjointed response plans, all of which has the potential for serious harm. Creating enhanced situational awareness can only happen when threat management is executed from a central location. Maintaining a constant awareness of all personnel and assets from the GSOC means that threats can be identified and communicated with before they impact anyone's safety.


text:
I really enjoy coming up with New Year's Resolutions. I think it's the perfect time to set new goals and do some self reflection. My birthday is in the few weeks leading up to the New Year so for me self reflection and the New Year go hand in hand. When coming up with my goals, some years I plan for a reinvention, some years I keep it simple. This year, I turned thirty. So along with my reflecting on a milestone birthday, I find it gives me the perfect amount of excitement to set a course for my next few years.
January is the month of new beginnings. After spending the last few months celebrating with friends and family, it seems fitting to keep the celebration flowing right into the January weeks. Since January marks the official days of winter, it's easy to go into hibernation mode. With this transition in mind, I find there is no better time to reinvent, transform, or challenge oneself. Here's why:
1. Mentality it feels like a fresh start. The inertia for new beginnings is all ready in full swing. January is a month of renewal. It's much easier to keep the ball going once it's already rolling.
2. You will usually have other friends or family that also have something they resolve to work on. It can be a great bonding experience. Support from loved ones helps push you toward your goals when you find yourself unmotivated.
"It'll Cost Nothing to Dream & Everything Not to"
I was shopping at Target a few years ago and I saw this painting. It was one of those moments where something inside me clicked and felt very empowered. "It'll Cost Nothing to Dream & Everything Not to." Without a dream we have no emotional connection to make progress forward. The dream is what jump starts the imagination. It gives us hope and an emotional connection to attain certain outcomes. A dream is the seed for our goals. To turn our dreams into reality we must plant the seed and then sow it. Real progress requires both.
The Difference Between a Goal & a Dream:
To quote Cinderella, "A dream is a wish your heart makes." On the other hand, a goal is written down. It has deadlines, realistic calls to action, check in's and looks really good in a bullet journal. But to find the best synergy between your dreams and goals, you must allow yourself to Challenge YOUR status quo.
If I find a goal of mine is not coming to fruition, it is usually because I am not challenging my status quo. Many times it's not because I don't want to challenge my status quo, but because I neglect to do it properly. Often our status quo makes up the very fibers of our conscious and unconscious decisions. For this purpose alone, to properly make a change towards a life changing alteration it requires a shift in paradigm. But that's not all. Not only does it require a mental break in habitual patterns, but it requires commitment. Having an epiphany will encourage you to try something differently, but ultimately commitment to the change will see navigate you towards your goals. Don't make the mistake of not challenging your status quo.
How do you challenge your Status Quo?
Seeking, Learning, & Being Open Minded.
First, we must seek what we are looking for. Sometimes we don't know what we are looking for or wanting to change. I find this by taking some quite time. For me, it will be going for a walk somewhere that inspires me, a new smell, going to a book store, and reading. The Alchemist is a wonderful and inspirational book if you don't know where to start. It's a very easy read.
Learning. This is important when it comes to our goals. A lot of times we create goals but fail because we don't have the proper knowledge or support to attain them. Here are some good ways to close that learning gap:
• Find A Mentor—Someone who is already doing what you are trying to accomplish. They can be there to support you and help you through your goals.
• Call in an Expert—Perhaps you don't have a mentor, but you can find an expert. It may be through paid classes or services, but when you really want to push yourself, sometimes you need someone who can challenge you in ways you didn't know you could be challenged.
• Utilize Online Resources & Tutorials—We are fortunate to live in a time where so much information is readily available on sites such as YouTube.
• Join a Support Network—A group of people who are doing what you are doing.
• Go to a Seminar—The energy at seminar is unreal. There is something about a group full of people coming together for a positive enlightenment that just radiates at a motivational seminar. This is also a great way to connect and find inspiration if your not sure where to start.
• Read— Books, Books, Books!
A New Year's Resolution gives us permission to look at where we are and where we want to be. With a New Year comes a New Start. It allows us to forgive our past, and move forward with our future. It allows us to challenge our status quo and work to become better people. If nothing else, the sheer goal of learning and becoming more empowered, is why everyone needs a New Year's Resolution. Good Luck with yours!
Join me over coffee with household tips, money savings and holiday fun.


text:
Roy Radke's journey from NHL draft pick to Bradley golfer
PEORIA — Bradley University has a former Chicago Blackhawks NHL Draft selection on one of its athletic teams.
And no, it's not the club hockey squad.
Roy Radke is a 23-year-old sophomore at BU and now a member of the Braves' golf team.
He has made the transition from a right wing in pro hockey to a collegiate golfer.
"I'd played golf growing up for fun," Radke said. "When my dad bought a house in Arizona and I went there to help him renovate it, I started golfing every day. I went from a -10 handicap to a -1.3 in three months. I knew I had something going. I loved the tournaments, it filled a competitive void for me that hockey had occupied."
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Geneva grew up playing hockey. He was on skates at age 1, and at 1½ could turn in a lap around the rink. By 2½ he was on a house league hockey team for kids 5-under.
"My parents would go to the rink to skate, and I'd walk around on the ice with them," Radke said. "Then the security guard said I was getting too big to do that, so I had to put on skates. It just kind of took off from there."
His hockey pedigree kept growing, playing junior hockey for Team Illinois, the Chicago Mission, Culver Military Academy and Shattuck St. Mary's as he worked his way up through age 18.
Then he played three seasons for Barrie in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the game's three foremost junior circuits.
He notched 51 goals and 42 assists in 175 games in the OHL and was drafted by Chicago in the sixth round in 2015.
"I had been talking to the Blackhawks and knew they were going to pick me," said Radke, who was there at the 2015 NHL Draft hosted in the home venue of the Florida Panthers. "When I heard my name it was so exciting, just a great experience to have that jersey handed to you, put it on, meet all those people."
He suffered a high ankle sprain in his final OHL season, and the Blackhawks did not offer him an NHL Entry level contract.
Chicago asked him to go to AHL Rockford for the final seven games of that 2016-17 season, with the premise the NHL deal would follow. But when he got to Rockford, he was discovered to have a torn labrum and had to have surgery. Rockford never signed him.
He was invited to the Blackhawks Prospect Camp later that summer, but saw the depth and the writing on the wall. The kid who grew up in a family of Blackhawks season ticket holders headed for Europe.
The next two seasons were spent playing for SaiPa in Finland's Elite League. He scored seven goals and added five assists in 46 games as a rookie there.
"Then I suffered a concussion in the first game of my second season with them," Radke said. "I couldn't get cleared to play again. I officially retired. It was really hard to accept that, left me in a difficult place and faced with changing my plans."
So he came home and started working with professional golf instructors and playing all those rounds out in Arizona.
"I got accepted to go to school at Arizona State and I tried to get on the golf team, but the coach there never responded to my attempts to reach him," said Radke, who instead joined the school's club golf team.
The pandemic shut down his school in 2019 and he headed back to Chicago, where he spent the summer working with golf coach Dave Impastato, who operates golf academies in Illinois, Florida and Texas.
Impastato knew Bradley golf coach Jeff Roche, and sent Radke's swing video and Trackman data to BU.
And now he's a 23-year-old sophomore emerging as a leader on the BU team, anxiously awaiting a chance to play college golf.
"It's a good fit for me, I'm excited to be with this team," Radke said. "Our fall season is canceled and the campus has been on COVID lockdown. We can begin practicing pretty soon. And we can enter as individual players in independent tournaments. Hopefully, we'll be able to get a season in the spring."
Asked what players he'd pick to join in a dream PGA round, Radke said: "That would have to be Tiger Woods, Zach Johnson and Brooks Koepka. What an experience that would be."
Radke is gaining experience and now has a plus-2 handicap as his development continues.
Hockey players often become excellent golfers, the swing mechanics being similar. Former Peoria Rivermen and NHL defenseman Darren Veitch went on to a pro golf career.
NHLers like Grant Fuhr, Jeremy Roenick, Dan Quinn, Mike Modano, Brett Hull, Mario Lemieux and Ray Whitney have had notable golf careers after hockey.
"It's the same work ethic I can apply from hockey to golf," said Radke, a finance major at BU. "The same focus needed, too. I always liked to give my cousins crap about playing basketball because they had to go to school to do it.
"Now here I am, back in school."
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. Reach him at 686-3206 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.