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The House today passed the first long-term transportation-funding bill in a decade. Since 2005, Congress has passed only stop-gap funding measures lasting no more than two years—but come November 20th, money for the nation's transportation program is set to run out.
On Thursday morning, the STRR Act was passed with a 363-64 vote allocating $261 billion to the nation's highways, some $55 billion to public transit and an additional $9 billion for safety programs. Approved in late October by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the bipartisan Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015—or the STRR Act—sets out the transportation agenda over the course of the next six years.
This amendment could send an additional $40 billion to the Highway Trust Fund by cashing in on funds from a Federal Reserve Surplus.
But the bill came with a catch: It needed Congress to solve a $16 billion annual shortfall from the Highway Trust Fund, financed by the gasoline tax. While the House bill originally would only have paid for the first half of the bill, the House also passed an amendment Thursday morning from Texas Republican Randy Neugebauer. This amendment could send an additional $40 billion to the Highway Trust Fund by cashing in on funds from a Federal Reserve Surplus.
Neugebauer's newly-passed amendment has pinpointed a funding solution without invoking resistance to raising the federal gas tax—a point that newly-minted Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has already made clear is a non-starter.
Last night, the House reportedly debated over 100 amendments to the bill, with Ryan adding in a press briefing today that the legislative body had debated more bills in the last few days that the past few months. The bill also revives the somewhat controversial Export-Import Bank, a measure that is also included in the Senate's transportation bill, the DRIVE Act.
The bill's passage is a promising sign for the country's beleaguered surface transportation system, but in the longer term, debates over highway funding are far from over.
The bill's passage is a promising sign for the country's beleaguered surface transportation system, but in the longer term, debates over highway funding are far from over. John Olivieri, national director of the transportation campaign for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG) notes that the Neugebauer amendment is only a stopgap solution to our funding challenges, telling The Fuse, "Obviously, the bill still has a host of other problems, but more than anything, this last minute amendment doesn't appear to be the long-term sustainable solution that the country needs, as we will be still need to address the annual funding gap when the bill expires under this approach."
However, he also doesn't see raising the gas tax as a panacea. "We need to divorce revenue decisions from their funding streams," Olivieri continued. "Rather than plugging the $16 billion gap in one way or another, we need a fundamental rethinking of the issue and some out-of-the-box ideas."
It's an issue at the heart of a recent report from the Frontier Group and the U.S. PIRG Education Fund, finding the notion that users of the roads are paying them is a myth. In particular, the report finds that the gas tax does not even approach the amount needed to uphold the quality of our nation's roads—and with yearly rises in inflation, the value of the current gas tax decreases.
"We need to divorce revenue decisions from their funding streams."
The report notes that in the 1960s and 1970s, the gas tax covered more than 70-percent of highway construction and maintenance costs. However, with inflation and increases in fuel efficiency, the report argues that roads are paying for themselves less and less every year. As a result, the report finds that the average U.S. household is paying an additional $1,100 annually in taxes and other road-related costs in addition to the individual drivers' gas taxes and personal transportation costs.
"Our transportation policy crisis is rooted, in part, in a fundamental misunderstanding: The idea that when it comes to the roads, drivers pay for what they get through gasoline taxes and other driving-related fees, and that they get what they pay for by having those taxes and fees dedicated fully to highway construction, operation and maintenance," the report states. "The 'pay for what you get, get what you pay for' framework casts highway spending as tantamount to an off-budget and self-financing government expense. It treats roads as infrastructure built by and for the benefit of motorists, marginalizing the interests of other users. And it treats gas taxes as 'user fees' that are often put off-limits for public purposes other than roads—even purposes that might deliver greater public benefits."
By contrast, the report notes that since the early 2010s so-called user fees including the gas tax paid for less than half of the nation's highway expenses. As a result, based on their research, the non-driving public is effectively subsidizing highways and roads without, in return, getting adequate funding for public transportation options.
While U.S. PIRG does not have a formal position on raising the gas tax, Olivieri notes that to do so would not be a panacea: Many states have constitutional requirements forcing them to use funding from the gas tax exclusively on highways and roads while allocating nothing to walking infrastructure, bike lanes and public transportation.
In the case of the STRR Act, Congress may have found a workaround in the form of the Neugebauer amendment. In the meantime, the House needs to bring the STRR Act and the Senate's DRIVE Act together with only a little more than two weeks to spare before the transportation program's stop-gap funding runs out.
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text: UltraSoft® Style 201 insulated coverall. Trim featuring 3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective material. 9 oz 88% cotton, 12% high tenacity nylon from westex. Engineered for flame resistance and guaranteed for the life of the garment. Lowered X striping on back to allow more room for company logo. 7 oz modacrylic insulation (flame resistant). Wind/vapour barrier. 7 oz flame resistant 100% cotton lining.

subset: commoncrawl


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The following Asian Drama It Doesn't Snow In Hong Kong (2022) Episode 22 English Subbed Video is just on Aired, Watch It Doesn't Snow In Hong Kong (2022) Episode 22 Online With Eng Subtitles, Get High Quality Video of It Doesn't Snow In Hong Kong (2022) today episode free at Dramacool. All Latest Korean, chinese, taiwan and thai series are available at Dramacool.com.co in English Language.
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It Doesn't Snow In Hong Kong (2022)Rainless in a Godless Land, It Doesn't Rain in a Godless Land, Wu Shen Zhi Di Bu Xia Yu, 无神之地不下雨
Status: Ongoing Network: iQiyi Released: Oct 17, 2021 - Jan 2, 2022 Duration: 1 hr. 15 min. Country: Taiwan Type: Anime Episodes: 13 Director: Hong Zi Peng Casts: Fu Meng Bo, Joanne Tseng, Joe Cheng, Ko Chia Yen, Samantha Ko, Yan Yu Lin
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Common problems we come across frequently are ones that have to do with cockroaches. Regardless of the type of roach, American, Oriental etc, cockroaches are resilient creatures. They often find their way into homes like any other insect does, under the front or back door jams, cracks or holes around the venting on your outside wall, even by pipes, vents and plumbing.
According to Toronto cockroach control experts, there are many chemical and non – chemical insecticides available on the market that may kill the most common cockroaches. For small infestations we advise that someone can take action by themselves. There are many over the counter treatments available out there these days, with aerosols and bait traps being the most popular.
Aerosol spray insecticide must can be found in direct contact with the roach before it can kill the roach. Even thought roaches leave sent trials for other roaches to follow along with, perhaps not all roaches will simply take exactly the same path and not all cockroaches will have to venture out to look for food. This means to be able to be effective using an aerosol spray insecticide, you need to get up close and personal and spray directly onto the roach or nest making sure that no spot is missed in and around that infested place. Some spray insecticides will last for up to 14 days on the surface the has been sprayed yet the effectiveness starts diminishing as soon as the oxygen in the air begins to interact with the insecticide liquid.
In Canada, because of government regulations and restrictions, the chemical formulas used in store bought household insecticides have gotten weaker and less effective in killing roaches. The effectiveness of store bought insecticides has decreased within the years In addition; being millions of years old, the cockroach is a genetic marvel, certainly one of the true survivor species. Over the years the common cockroach it has adapted and become more immune to most store-bought insecticides.Hiring a specialist extermination technician to get the job done may seem costly. Nevertheless, there is tremendous value in spending the money on ridding your home of vermin.
The Two or 3 hundred dollars spent on a reputable exterminator will payoff; doing the work right the first time will speed up the whole process of finding those critters out of your space for good. You'll benefit from the health stand-point as well having a peace of mind knowing that the cockroach will not run come running across the counter while your interesting guests.


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Yamamoto tei 山本亭
This house built by an industrialist after the 1923 earthquake is a rare gem of architecture in Tokyo. Essentially a large traditional Japanese house in incorporates western elements in very deliacte way. It features a large garden that can be iewed from the inside or the deck in front. Here is a an articel by Adrian Bennet from the Japan Times "A very green afternoon cuppa" http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2008/06/27/travel/a-very-green-afternoon-cuppa/#.UmPrfxZnbvYRead More


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Governor General and Tom Jenkins to Launch Their Book Ingenious
Mar 24, 2017, 13:07 ET
OTTAWA, March 24, 2017 /CNW/ - The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General is pleased to announce that His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Tom Jenkins, Chair and former CEO of OpenText and Chair of the National Research Council, are launching their book Ingenious, published simultaneously in English and French by Signal/McClelland & Stewart (division of Penguin Random House Canada) and Les Éditions La Presse. The event, presented by the Ottawa International Writers Festival, will take place at Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington Street, in Ottawa, on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m.
During an on-stage conversation hosted by Catherine Clark, the Governor General and Mr. Jenkins will discuss Ingenious, a book about hundreds of Canadian innovations that have made the world a smarter, smaller, kinder, safer, healthier, wealthier and happier place. The conversation will be followed by a question period and the evening will conclude with a book-signing.
On Wednesday, March 29, at 5:30 p.m., a second event will take place at MaRS Discovery District, 101 College Street, in Toronto. The on-stage conversation and Q & A session will be hosted by Marci Ien, broadcast journalist, Bell Media, and will be followed by a book-signing.
The co-authors have made sure this collection illustrates the range and depth of innovations that Canadians have given to the world. Ingenious categorizes these innovations by the impact they have made on the world, from the light bulb, the propeller, the electric radio and the zipper, to the life jacket, the basketball, peanut butter and Superman.
The co-authors are especially grateful to their many collaborators for their contributions to this work: the Canada Science and Technology Museum, Library and Archives Canada, National Research Council Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the National Film Board of Canada and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
All proceeds from Ingenious will be directed to the Rideau Hall Foundation to support activities and programs that inspire Canadian innovation across the country.
Media wishing to attend the book launch are asked to confirm their attendance in advance with the Ottawa International Writers Festival.
SOURCE Governor General of Canada
For further information: Annabelle Cloutier, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-993-8158, [email protected]; Shona Cook, Publicity Manager, Signal/McClelland & Stewart, 416-957-1576, [email protected]; Sean Wilson, Ottawa International Writers Festival, 613-299-3665, [email protected]


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Warren Memorial Park
Built by the Warren & District Lions this park has a themed Heritage Park with antique agricultural equipment, showcasing the farming base in the area. This park includes the Manitoba Lions Memorial area, walking paths, flower gardens, Skate park, playground and picnic site.
Location/Directions: Adjacent to the Elevator site in Warren on Railway Ave.
Call: 204-461-1896
Email: email@example.com


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Copy of CNA's Don't Fold Unisex Jersey Short Sleeve Tee
To add this product to your wish list you must Sign In or Create an Account.
This updated unisex essential fits like a well-loved favorite. Super soft cotton and excellent quality print makes one to fall in love with it over and over again.
.: Retail fit
.: 100% Soft cotton (fibre content may vary for different colors)
.: Light fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²))
.: Tear away label
.: Runs true to size
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Company Café's second location is open, in a renovated building tucked behind Texas de Brazil alongside the Katy Trail. Its modern design is coupled with vintage flare where patchwork walls made from old barn wood contrasts with contemporary pieces, like metal chairs and bar stools. The warm lighting and natural elements give it a rustic vibe. And 20 picnic tables spread out in front of the restaurant make for a great outdoor spot.
Food-wise, it's the same concept as the original Company Café on Greenville, which opened earlier this year. The menu focuses on natural, fresh comfort food with an organic twist. They source locally whenever they can. Dinner dishes include chicken and waffles served with a side of real maple syurp, grass fed half-pound burgers and braised short ribs. There are also a few new additions like rock shrimp tacos, and smoked fish and meats from the in-house wood smoker.
All of the dining tables were custom made with repurposed wood by Homestead Heritage in Elm Mott, Texas. With special attention to so many details, like the small succulent plants in old tin cans and vintage Edison light bulbs, the inside is full of character.
Here are some more photos.


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How can a Traditional IRA help me save for retirement?
Traditional IRAs offer the following benefits.
- Independence – Individuals may open and fund IRAs without any employer participation
- Immediate tax advantages – Earnings remain tax-deferred until distributed
- Possible tax deductions – Eligible individuals can make deductible contributions
- Accessibility – Individuals may distribute IRA assets at any time
- Flexibility – No annual contribution requirement


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Good News!!! The newly announced Canon EOS-1D X Mark III (Amazon/ B&H/ Adorama) is now first in stock at Canon USA Store! You can also get a free 64GB CF card and card reader.
- Canon EOS 1D Mark III with free accessory–IN STOCK — Canon USA Store
Key Features


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To understand all the info above, check out our Site Facts Glossary.
Grades have no direct impact on the overall score.
Team Busty features 100% all natural busty amateurs in exclusive photos and videos. The girls are new to modeling; they even have some of Aria Giovanni's earliest scenes. The site is part of the Porn Nerd Network, which members also get access to upon joining, for $30 a month.
Exclusive niche content.
These are all original scenes featuring hot, busty amateur models. It's mostly natural tits you'll see here, bouncing and being massaged in scenes with solo masturbation, lesbian play, and hardcore sex. Scenes include blowjobs, titty fucks, showers, sex toys, and lots of fucking. The videos are all exclusive, although I think I recognized some of the galleries.
Other Good Stuff:
No longer updating.
There are no update dates or logs posted here so it's hard to say for sure exactly what the update situation is, but according to our counts nothing new has been added in over a year. It looks like updates have stopped on Team Busty.
Not a huge collection.
Team Busty has 118 videos and 60 galleries. It's not a tiny collection but it won't take all that long to see everything here.
Average quality content.
All of the scenes here play as wmvs at around 1500k and 720 x 480 in size. They look like what you'd expect from an amateur site. They could be much larger and much sharper, so that's something to keep in mind.
Minor Negatives:
An inactive but exclusive collection of busty amateurs.
Team Busty delivers some ok exclusive amateur content, but there's not much to get excited about. The collection is no longer updating, quality is average at best, and there are really no user tools. Considering that, the price is on the high side, at $30 a month. The network access helps, at least, so I'd say if you're already a member of the network, it's worth a look but I wouldn't recommend joining just for Team Busty.
About the Content:
Downloadable exclusive videos and photos of busty amateurs in hardcore, lesbian, and solo scenes.
Download Managers:
Yes, should work.
Channel Max: 10
Able to pause/resume.
Test Software: Speed Download
Download Speed:
Download Mgr: 3.7MB/sec.
Browser: 900KB/sec.
(150MB video, 20Mbps cable internet)
Exclusive Info:
Advertised: 100% exclusive.
My Opinion: Yes, these are original scenes that you won't find anywhere else.
File Sizes (HQ):
(average size, HQ)
HD Video:
No HD quality videos.
Live Cams:
No free live cam shows.
Logging In:
Basic browser login box.
Videos don't require pw
Model Appearance:
Mix of white and ethnic models.
Mostly amateur-looking.
Body types from thin to average.
Model Info:
Ages 18-30.
Mostly U.S. based.
Other Content:
Bonus videos.
Multi-site access.
Other Details:
Little to no condoms.
No music in most videos.
Pic Details:
Amateur to semi-pro photography.
Little to no airbrushing.
Pic Dimensions (HQ):
Average = 1024 x 680
Sizes vary a little.
Streaming Player:
No in-browser playback available.
Updates in Last 7 Days:
No update log or dated content.
None so far.
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Outside Review dates and scores are submitted to us directly by the approved review site periodically. We have limited control over the scores displayed.


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Dan Keding, storyteller of international acclaim, is well known for his telling of
traditional world folktales, personal narratives of his boyhood in Chicago, ghost
stories and dark tales, and superbly crafted original pieces. As a child he learned
the traditional stories that his grandmother brought to this country from Croatia.
A well-
In the summer of 2000, in recognition of his artistic achievements and his contributions to the art of storytelling, Dan was presented the Circle of Excellence Award from the National Storytelling Network. Dan has been a featured performer at some of the most prestigious events in storytelling including The National Storytelling Festival, The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, The Texas Storytelling Festival, The Sidmouth International Folk Arts Festival (England), and Festival at the Edge (England). His love for story goes beyond the performance stage and into research, resulting in a unique masters degree from The University of Illinois at Springfield in the history and performance of traditional folktales and ballads. As an adjunct professor at the UI Springfield, Dan taught courses on the literature and art of storytelling. He is also a Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Illinois in the Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences. He currently writes a column on storytelling for the folk music magazine Sing Out. He has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, including a Halloween special on London Radio BBC.
Dan is a sought after workshop and seminar leader for teachers, librarians, and professional and amateur storytellers and has been a featured presenter at dozens of conferences. Among these are The National Storytelling Conference, The Florida Storytelling Camp, Storytelling at the Edge Workshops in Shropshire, England, The Society for Storytelling Conference in England, and the International Storytelling Institute at East Tennessee State University.
Working as a performer and as an educator for over thirty years, he has entertained
students from pre-
His first book Stories of Hope & Spirit -
Dan also produced and was one of the featured artists on the recording Tales Across
the Ocean that featured five American and five Irish tellers and that also won the
Storytelling World Winner Award in 2000. In 2000, he also released Promises Kept,
Promises Broken, traditional and original stories and ballads. Dan's stories appear
not only on his CD's but also in print. His story "The Tear" appears in the award-
Dan has also been active as an organizer and leader in the storytelling community.
He served on the Board of Directors of the National Storytelling Association from
Dan has performed at festivals, schools, libraries, colleges and concert halls. He tells the old stories from times long ago and people almost forgotten and he tells the stories of his own journey and the people whom he will never forget. Folktales and fairy tales, myths and legends, original stories and personal narratives these are the tales of storyteller Dan Keding.


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Why Watching isn't Playing
This sounds like an incredibly obvious thing to say but watching a videogame being played is absolutely nothing like playing it yourself.
One bit of feedback I get after each video release is that the slowdowns that occur seem random and jarring and should perhaps be smoother and accompanied by a visual effect.
This is probably the best example of where watching isn't playing. When watching a video of somebody playing a game you are missing a very important part – the intentions of the player. These days a lot of videogames are made so that they look good to the people who are watching them and often this can end up sacrificing the feel and fluidity of a games controls. Animations that flow nicely and blend well may look good in a gameplay trailer but you can be sure that the person playing it will be getting annoyed at just how long it takes to change direction or change weapon.
I have tried making the slow-motion in Waves look nicer and blend better. I've used tricks like smoothstep interpolation to ensure transitions are smooth not sudden and applying screen effects to indicate very obviously that you are using an intentional power.


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According to DNA, Deepika, who was in a relationship with Ranbir Kapoor years ago, was unable to move on easily after their break-up. While she has mentioned many times that she can never stop loving him, she found love again in Ranveer Singh. According to reports, Deepika hasn't really been able to make peace with her past.
Weeks ago, it was reported that Ranveer and Deepika were likely to have a winter wedding. Considering how they have been dating for a while now, ever since they met on the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram Leela in 2013, reports state that they have been considering marriage for some time.
Deepika, who is the daughter of former badminton player Prakash Padukone, and Ranveer Singh's family were likely to have begun the wedding prep already. While the two have never officially confirmed their relationship, they have never denied it either and have been known to shower attention on each other in public and on social media.
On the work front, Ranveer Singh has several projects in the pipeline including Rohit Shetty's Simmba, Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy and Kabir Khan's '89. Deepika, who was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat, hasn't signed her next project yet. Her film with Irrfan Khan (to be directed by Vishal Bhardwaj) has been put on hold till Irrfan returns after his treatment for Neuroendocrine Tumour.
If the wedding turns out to be true, Deepika will join her other contemporaries such as Anushka Sharma and Sonam Kapoor as top actresses who pursue their careers even after getting married.


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DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE: DST), a leading global strategic advisory, technology, and operations outsourcing company today announced that Maria Mann has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. She joined the company in 2016 as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer responsible for IT strategy, leadership, planning, development and operations for the DST Enterprise.
Mrs. Mann leads the Enterprise Services organization, which is responsible for automating business processes, providing information for decision making, and supporting productivity tools that increase efficiency. In addition, she provides oversight to DST's IT Services Groups worldwide.
The company stated that during her tenure at DST, Mrs. Mann has collaborated with business leaders and senior technologists from across the company to define DST's future technology roadmap, she has expanded our company's Information Security and Risk Management programs, and she is driving the IT components of DST's Transformation effort.
Steve Hooley, Chairman, CEO and President of DST said, "New technologies and innovations are changing the way we live, opening up incredible opportunities to create, to discover, and to do what we never thought possible. In her role as Executive Vice President and CIO, Maria will lead our efforts to leverage our people, process, and technology to position our company for the future."
Prior to joining DST, Mrs. Mann was Chief Technology Office for JPMorgan Chase and is a graduate of West Virginia University. She has been recognized by Information Week and CIO Magazine during her career and is currently active in numerous employee engagement networking groups for women and Hispanics. Mrs. Mann also serves as executive sponsor for the Alliance for Veterans at DST.
DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE: DST) is a leading provider of specialized technology, strategic advisory, and business operations outsourcing to the financial and healthcare industries. DST enables clients to transform complexity into strategic advantage by helping them continually stay ahead of and capitalize on ever-changing customer, business and regulatory requirements in the world's most demanding industries.


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Chocolate Cookies…
Mmmmm… Yummy, aren't they?
How often do you crave for a delightful and chocolaty cookie? Getting your hands on vegan options for cookies can be a task. However, we can simplify this for you. If you are good at baking and fond of vegan chocolate chip cookies, then do read all the below recipes.
Vegan chocolate chip cookies are something delighting to eat and get indulged in. You love it vegan and we are here to guide you bake the most yummylicious vegan chocolate chip cookies. Swap out some of the dairy products and make a few adjustments in your recipe to go on a vegan feast.
Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Let's look at super easy recipes of circles of pure joy – Cookies!
Also Read: Turn Your Home Into A Vegan Bakery || Vegan Baking Recipes
1. Mouth-Watering Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
These vegan cookies are everything your taste buds crave for – delicious, soft, and melt-in-mouth. This easy to make the recipe with basic ingredients is a perfect treat for parties and lunchboxes.
- 1 cup white oat or spelled flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup raw unrefined sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon almond milk or other non-dairy options
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the wet ingredients slowing with thorough stirring. Keep mixing until you achieve a cookie dough-like soft consistency.
- You may add 1-2 teaspoons of milk if required.
- Refrigerate the dough for around 2 hours.
- Form dough balls and place on greased baking trays. Leave them at room temperature till the spread into a cookie shape.
- Bake them for about 11 minutes in a preheated oven at 325o F or till the crust turn slightly golden brown.
- Let them cool for 15 minutes and remove off the tray.
- Store in air-tight containers.
- You can make extra cookie dough and freeze up to 3 months for later use.
2. Soft And Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Want just the perfect crunch when you bite into your cookies? Try baking some with this recipe below. You may use vegan chocolate chips or chunks to prepare these cookies. Serve them warm and feel the chocolate melt in your mouth!
- 1/2 cup vegan butter
- 1/4 cup soy milk or other non-dairy milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup vegan chocolate chips or chunks
- Use an electric mixer to blend sugar and butter. Now add soy milk and vanilla extract and mix well.
- Take a large mixing bowl and add all dry ingredients and mix together. Add this mix to the wet batter and mix it in soft and thick cookie dough.
- Add choco chips or chocolate chunks and mix properly.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Scoop out the dough into evenly sized balls on the greased baking tray.
- Bake for 15 minutes in the oven or until they are slightly browned at the top.
- Allow cooling before you take them off the tray.
- Store in cool air-tight containers.
- Measure the flour most accurately to bake the perfect cookies.
3. Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Guys ready your aprons for this small batch vegan chocolate chip cookies. They are just so chewy, crunchy, soft and lip-smacking. Studded with choco chips these healthy bites are perfectly sweet and veganized version. You heard it right they are gluten-free too. Isn't it a win-win situation?
- 1 1/4 cups almond meal (ground from raw almonds)
- 1/4 cup vegan dark chocolate, loosely chopped
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, finely shredded (desiccated)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup aquafaba (the liquid in a can of chickpeas)
- 3 tablespoon coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- In a large mixing bowl, add almond meal, shredded coconut, dark chocolate chips, salt, sugar, and baking powder and stir well.
- Take another bowl and beat in some aquafaba (using a handheld mixer) until light and fluffy. Test the consistency with the formation of loose peaks. You may opt to add a little cream of tartar to help whisking the batter.
- To the aquafaba, add the melted coconut oil and pure vanilla extract. Whisk nicely to combine these ingredients. Then add wet ingredients to the dry mixture and mix until everything is well combined.
- You should be looking at semi-firm and tacky cookie dough.
- Cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375o F. Scoop out the cookie dough into small discs. Place on a parchment-lined baking tray with about an inch gap between each cookie. This gives enough space for spreading.
- Now bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes till the cookie edges are golden brown. Be careful not to burn any of them.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool for about 10 minutes.
- The soft cookies will turn firm and crispy. Use a spatula to remove the cookies from the pan and store in air-tight containers.
- Enjoy warm or eat later with non-dairy milk.
- Store the leftovers in a sealed container for up to 4 days. They may last as long as a month is kept in the freezer.
- Serve them with vegan hot chocolate to make a mouth-watering vegan gluten-free snack for your guests.
4. Applesauce Chocolate Chip Cookies
These healthy vegan chocolate chip cookies do not disappoint you. One bite and you'll never consider going back to other desserts or calorie-rich snacks. This vegan version replaces the traditional binding agent – eggs – and swaps to a combination of baking powder and unsweetened applesauce. It turned out to be just perfect!
- 2 1/4 cups whole wheat all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup pure cane sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup vegan butter, softened
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 cup dairy-free vegan dark chocolate chips
- Take a bowl and whisk together all purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In another bowl stir applesauce, cane sugar, brown sugar, coconut oil, and vegan butter.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix and beat continuously to combine.
- Fold in chocolate chips in this cookie batter.
- Use a scooper or spoon to drop out rounded balls of dough on the parchment-lined baking tray.
- Bake at 350o F for 10 – 15 minutes or until browned.
Do try these yummy vegan chocolate chip cookies tasty recipes and do let us know how you liked them.
Yes, originally they are vegan. Do check for some brands as they add whole milk powder to the chips.
white oat or spelled flour
baking soda raw
unrefined sugar
brown sugar or coconut sugar
chocolate chips
salt, oil
almond milk or other non-dairy options
almond meal (ground from raw almonds)
pure vanilla extract
vegan butter
Swap out some of the dairy products and make a few adjustments in your recipe to go on a vegan cookie.
Purdys Chocolatier Vegan Dark Chocolate Bar.
Divine Treasures Chocolate Bar (a PETA Business Friend)
Green & Black's Organic Dark Chocolate.
Enjoy Life Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate, and
Boom CHOCO Boom Ricemilk Chocolate Bar.


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Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, North Dakota and is a public college. Bismarck State College is a two year college and offers Associate's Degrees, and a number of different programs and courses.
Bismarck State College is in a relatively urban area (in or near a city), which may be something you prefer if you like a city lifestyle as a student.
Bismarck State College does not have a rolling admission policy, and you will want to make sure that you get your application in before August 22.
Bismarck State College is relatively smaller in size with an enrollment of only 3,370 students.
Bismarck State College accepts about 100% of its applicants on average, and 71% of the students receive some sort of financial aid for college at Bismarck State College.
If you are looking for more information on financial aid at Bismarck State College, you can may want to contact Jeffrey Jacobs, who is the Financial Aid Director at Bismarck State College. You may also qualify for scholarships for college in North Dakota to attend Bismarck State College or grants for college in North Dakota to attend Bismarck State College.
You may also need to take one or more of the following tests to qualify for admission at Bismarck State College:
Bismarck State College offers military credit for military courses that have been completed successfully by students.
If you have taken some advanced placement courses with an applicable test, or obtained credit from an other college, you may be eligible to transfer that credit to Bismarck State College.
Bismarck State College offers the following co-op opportunities and programs to its students:
- Agriculture
- Business
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Health
- Humanities
- Natural Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Technologies
- Vocational Arts
Bismarck State College offers the following extracurricular activities to its students:
- Choral Groups
- Concert Band
- Dance
- Drama
- Jazz Band
- Literary Magazine
- Music Ensembles
- Music Theater
- Sports
- Student Government
You may want to brush up on your ACT preparation as well, because the average ACT score for students that are entering Bismarck State College is 20.
Do a lot of students come from out of state to attend Bismarck State College? Well, about 8% of the student body at Bismarck State College comes from outside the state of North Dakota.
Do a lot of the students at Bismarck State College live on campus? Well, about 11% live on campus, while 89% live off campus and commute to school every day.


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- When Conor McGregor last retired in June, few took him seriously, and it now appears as if they were right to do so.
- In some recent tweets, McGregor made it sound like he's been trying to schedule another UFC fight. He might have even scheduled another boxing match.
- But with everything he has going on in life, the smarter decision may be to stay retired.
Conor McGregor is one of those guys you cannot help but love. Fans love it when he fights. They love his confidence, his bravado, and his fiery disposition.
They also love to hate him. They find him vulgar, crude, and unprofessional. While they may respect his knockout power, they find him arrogant and unworthy of his fame.
But the last time he announced his retirement, it felt a little real. Yes, he had 'retired' before, but it never took long for him to come back. As it turns out, once again, he did not mean it this time, either.
Conor McGregor: I'm in!
When he announced he was retiring once again in June, it seemed like he might mean it. He had other business ventures to occupy his time. With only two fights in the last few years, he sure did not seem too serious about getting back in the ring.
But since he had pulled this trick before, many did not believe him. With rumors floating around that he was demanding a stake in the UFC, it is reasonable to assume it was another contract ploy. If he was retiring, why not let the UFC make a big deal about it?
Soaking up the praise at one last press conference would be right up his alley. But then he shared a few tweets recently that proved retirement is not on his mind:
He went on to share a few more tweets with pictures of a text conversation with Dana White. He made it look like he was trying to get another fight until the coronavirus got in the way. But then he ended his tweetstorm by talking about boxing again–and he might be serious. Watch the video:
.@TheNotoriousMMA said he's going to fight @MannyPacquiao next ?
(via @ESPNRingside) pic.twitter.com/kl0GcXZ90I
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2020
Dana White Needs to Nudge Him in the Right Direction
When he announced his retirement a few months ago, it was not hard to believe it might be true. With all of the lag time between fights, it seemed like he was not as interested or invested in fighting like before. It is not like he needed the money.
So, why not get out now? Why not stop while he is still young and healthy enough to make the most of the rest of his life?
Because his arrogance will not let him–that is why Dana White needs to step in and push him in the right direction. It might even be better for business.
McGregor's appeal is not what it was before. He is known just as much now for his legal troubles as his fighting. Many would enjoy seeing him lose, but since he has done that before, the possibility does not hold as much appeal. Since he has hardly fought in recent years, many fans have probably moved on from him.
Yes, Conor McGregor will likely be a massive draw because his fans will want to see if he still has it. If he does, then he will stick even harder to his demands for a piece of the UFC pie. Does White want to invite that headache back into his life? Then again, why encourage his cash cow to walk away? Watch the video:
Dana White on Conor McGregor:
"We're actually working on some fun stuff for Conor at the beginning of next year."
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 17, 2020
About That Manny Pacquiao Fight…
Scheduling a boxing match with Manny Pacquiao isn't going to do McGregor any favors. Pacquiao is probably still a great boxer, but he is only a shadow of his former self (and should have stayed retired). He is long past his prime. So, there will not be a ton of glory in a win.
The gimmick worked once with Mayweather and might work again. But it is still just another gimmick. Is that what McGregor wants to reduce his career to?
If he wants to box, he might as well make it interesting and take on Mike Tyson or something. Now that PPV event that would set records.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
Sam Bourgi edited this article for CCN.com. If you see a breach of our Code of Ethics or find a factual, spelling, or grammar error, please contact us.


text: GOING PRO WITH REASON 6.5 is an expert level book that addresses the needs of the professional Reason user. This book picks up where the manual leaves off, offering concise, workflow-oriented tutorials on setting up complex productions and workflows for both song creation and producing tracks. Whether you are preparing to compose or produce, and whether you will be in studio or live environments, this valuable resource holds the keys to taking your knowledge to the next level.


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General Questions
This change will impact you if you store card details for future payments. You can also refer to the Decision Tree that can be found at the location detailed in Q4.
You, or the third party you use, must:
• Obtain the cardholder's consent for the initial storage of their credentials, and|
• Use appropriate data values (Stored Credential Indicators) to identify the initial storage of the credential and the subsequent usage of that stored credential.
Details of the consent agreement requirements can be found in our Stored Credentials Guide. The data value information can be found in our Stored Credentials – Technical Implementation Guide. Both can be found at the location detailed in Q4.
Consent Agreements
Strong Customer Authentication
From 14th September 2019, a new regulatory requirement comes into effect that will impact the way payments take place. From this date, all payments will have to be validated using Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). SCA requires a cardholder to authenticate themselves for a transaction using at least two independent factors. These factors can be:
• Something the customer knows (for example a PIN number or password)
• Something the customer is (biometrics, such as a fingerprint or voice recognition)
• Something the customer is in possession of (for example a card or a mobile phone)
For ecommerce transactions, this can be achieved by using 3D Secure. For more details, please refer to the PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication Technical Implementation Guide, which is on our website at www.globalpaymentsinc.co.uk. You'll find it within our Customer Centre, under the Strong Customer Authentication tile.
An authentication request is how you verify the cardholder is the rightful owner of the card. It happens first before the authorisation request. In a face to face environment this would be by chip and PIN. In Ecommerce generally its 3D Secure, and a PSP will make that request for you. After the customer has been authenticated then you can request authorisation for the payment to be made.
An authorisation message is how you request payment for the goods or services that you sell. This is the message that you send to Global Payments that we forward on to the issuer (via the card scheme) on your behalf. The issuer approves or declines the authorisation.
There are three scenarios when you'll need to perform SCA with a Stored Credential Transaction:
• The first transaction, when you store a cardholder's credentials for the first time, must be subject to SCA, either via 3D Secure for ecommerce or chip and PIN if it's performed in a customer facing environment
• All Cardholder Initiated Transactions should be subject to SCA or explicitly exempted
• If you incorrectly flag a Merchant Initiated Transaction and the card issuer can't be sure that it's exempt from SCA, then they may respond to the authorisation request with a return code value of 65 requesting you perform SCA. Until you do so, the authorisation request will be declined.
Mail Order and Telephone Order (MOTO) transactions are out of scope for SCA. Provided that they're correctly flagged as MOTO and Stored Credential Transactions, both the first transaction, and subsequent (Customer Initiated Transactions) can be made by mail order or telephone order.
For subsequent Stored Credential Transactions that are merchant initiated (when the first transaction was performed by MOTO) then they should be flagged correctly – as Stored Credential Transactions and with a Merchant Initiated Transaction SCA Exemption Flag.
In all scenarios, it's important that the Scheme Reference Data from the initial MOTO transaction is stored and submitted with the subsequent transactions ensuring that the card issuer can trace the transactions back to the original one and know that it was an approved MOTO transaction.
Technical Changes
Any transactions processed using a stored credential, must contain the data values that are explained in the Stored Credential -Technical Implementation Guide located on our website at www.globalpaymentsinc.co.uk. You'll find it in the Customer Centre under the option for Stored Credential Transactions.
All Customer Initiated Transactions will be subject to SCA from 14th September 2019 and all Merchant Initiated Transactions will need to be flagged as SCA exempt to avoid card issuers challenging the transactions. The technical requirements for the changes needed are explained in PSD2 and Strong Customer Authentication Technical Implementation Guide, which is on our website at: www.globalpaymentsinc.co.uk. You'll find it within our Customer Centre, under the Strong Customer Authentication tile.
Under the terms of your Card Processing Agreement with us, it is your responsibility to ensure that your card processing equipment meets industry standards. You can find further details on this in your Merchant Operating Instructions in the 'Using Your Own Equipment' section (on page 19). This states that "It is your responsibility to ensure that your card processing equipment meets industry security standards. You must carry out, and bear the cost of all upgrades to your equipment which we, or your terminal supplier, may reasonably request from time to time. This includes any developments required to meet changes to Card Scheme Rules. Failure to meet these changes will result in non-compliance with some of these regulations and may incur charges or penalties and increase your chargeback exposure."
Also, in your Terms of Service under clause 12, we may vary your Card Processing Agreement to comply with Card Scheme changes to operating regulations, which you must adhere to. You can find a copy of the Terms of Service at: https://globalpaymentsinc.co.uk/CPSD. The Merchant Operating Instructions can be found on our website at www.globalpaymentsinc.co.uk. You'll find this document in the Customer Centre under the option for Card Processing.
Help with card terminals, stationery,
Ecommerce Portal, chargebacks, security metrics, pricing, invoicing.
Phone +44 (0) 345 702 3344 *
9am - 6pm, Mon - Fri exc. public holidays.
For help with payment gateway call us on:
Ireland +353 (0)1 702 2000
Regular support lines: 8:30am - 6pm, Mon - Fri.
Call us 24/7 for emergency support.


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Adem Sari Qing Ku, is using the world advanced technology - cold filling, together with Liang Cha essence & others traditional herbs.
No bitter taste of traditional herbs, relieve heatiness & detox fast and helps to enhance body resistance. The advantage of this technology is filling the production in low temperature condition, so that we can keep the natural flavor and active ingredients also makes the production with stronger efficacy.


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Recent findings suggest that pregabalin may help reduce pain and improve the quality of sleep in fibromyalgia patients. The study, "The safety and efficacy of pregabalin for treating subjects with fibromyalgia and moderate or severe baseline widespread pain," was published in the Current Medical Research and Opinion journal.
Fibromyalgia affects 2 to 8 percent of the world's population. The syndrome is identified by widespread muscle pain that intensifies upon pressure and is often accompanied by a number of symptoms, including sleep disturbances. Like a number of other medically unexplained syndromes, fibromyalgia has no cure, but can be managed in various ways, including medications. Among them, pregabalin is a drug approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia in Canada and the United States.
"Pregabalin is a therapy approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia pain in multiple countries worldwide, and its efficacy for the treatment of fibromyalgia-related pain has been demonstrated in several double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials," Andrew Clair, Ph.D., and Birol Emir, Ph.D., both with Pfizer in New York, wrote in a press release.
Researchers evaluated the efficacy of pregabalin in terms of pain and sleep changes through 12 weeks of treatment. They collected and analyzed data from five Phase 3 trials of adult fibromyalgia patients with moderate-to-severe baseline pain: 1,605 patients treated with 300 mg. to 450 mg. of pregabalin, and 929 individuals with placebo.
"These clinical trials enrolled subjects with moderate or severe fibromyalgia pain at baseline; however, determining differences in the efficacy and safety of pregabalin stratified by disease severity was not a prespecified analysis. Moreover, we are not aware of any other studies that have evaluated the efficacy or safety of pregabalin for fibromyalgia-related pain by differences in baseline pain in severity categories (eg, moderate vs. severe)," researchers wrote.
They found that all participants showed decreased pain as well as improved sleep quality noticeable from weeks 8-12. The improvements were more substantial in patients treated with pregabalin and with baseline severe pain. Furthermore, pregabalin was found to be overall well-tolerated by the patients and side effects were consistent with those reported in previous trials.
"Pregablin was found to be efficacious and generally well tolerated as a treatment for reducing pain in subjects with fibromyalgia regardless of baseline pain severity," Clair and Emir wrote.
"These reductions in pain appeared greater in subjects with severe compared with moderate baseline pain, whereas the incidence of [adverse effects] remained consistent with the known safety profile of pregabalin and was comparable between subjects, irrespective of baseline pain severity," they wrote.


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Two Chinese private equity firms have offered to buy shoe retailer Belle International in a deal valued at HK$53.1 billion (US$6.8 billion).
Hillhouse Capital Group has teamed up with CDH Investments and two Belle executives to buy out the company at HK$6.30 a share, a 20 per cent premium on its previous closing price. Belle's shares were suspended on April 18 pending release of the announcement.
If completed, the acquisition would be China's largest retail deal of the year so far.
Founded in Hong Kong, Belle started as a shop in the Yau Ma Tei district. It became an Asian shoe-retailing empire selling such brands as Joyce & Peace, Mirabell and Staccato. However, the past 13 quarters have seen same-store sales declines.
Belle said earlier it anticipated its profit for the financial year ended February 28 to tumble as much as 25 per cent, dragged down by sluggish sales.
"Belle International is at a critical moment and needs to be transformed," says CEO Sheng Baijiao. "It has become clear our traditional retail business model is in urgent need of integration with the digital economy."
Hillhouse has invested in such tech giants as AirBNB, Baidu, JD.com, Meituan and Tencent, while CDH, an investor in Belle since the 2000s, has also backed Mengniu, Midea and WH Group.
Joining the two investment companies in the consortium are Belle International Holdings executive directors Yu Wu and Sheng Fang.
Major shareholder
Upon completion of the takeover proposal, Hillhouse will hold 56.81 per cent of the company, while CDH will hold 12.06 per cent. Other participating management, including Yu and Sheng, will hold 31.13 per cent.
"We believe Hillhouse's long-term capital base combined with our digital and operating experience will be able to help Belle International implement the necessary changes needed to revive its business for the internet era," says Hillhouse founder/CEO Zhang Lei.
Belle's board of directors has established an independent board committee to advise shareholders about the proposal, with Anglo Chinese Corporate Finance as an independent financial adviser.
Belle International's business is broadly divided into two segments: footwear and sportswear, and apparel. Company-owned footwear brands include Basto, JipiJapa, Joy & Peace, Millie's, Senda, Tata and Teenmix, while distribution brands include Bata, Cat, Clarks, Hush Puppies and Mephisto.
Most of the sportswear and apparel business is in the form of retail distribution, including sportswear brands Adidas, Converse, Nike and Puma, and apparel brands Moussy, Replay and Sly.
Belle International had 20,716 company-managed retail outlets in Mainland China at the end of February, and managed more than 100 retail outlets in Hong Kong and Macau.


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A rigorous, 2-month audit turned up a number of weaknesses in the way the board currently conducts its business. The report recommends an overhaul of operations.
The audit determined that N.C.'s Board of Transportation is the largest in the nation, and recommended that it cut its 26 person membership in half.
The report also recommends that the board get itself out of the business of signing off on a large number of individual projects. That is what has been behind the recent controversy at the DOT, with accusations flying that board members pushed projects in their own districts and, in many cases, received personal gain.
KRMG Peat Marwick conducted the audit. Project Director John DiRenzo says the board needs to stay away from individual projects.
The audit also recommended the elimination of a $24 million discretionary construction fund that the board helps oversee. In its place, the audit suggests setting up another $24 million governed by tighter controls on how the money gets used.
A second audit is in the works examining how the Department of Transportation operates. That audit will come out in May


text: Below you see a small selection of my tea-ware. ChaXi (At traveling exhibition) Large tea storage jar 2-4 person side handle with small bowls Chawan 4-6 person side handle with local apple wood handle Ash glaze storage jars Chun glazed "gong fu" pot Tea storage jar with faux bronze tea figure 1-2 person side handle with ash glaze cups on apple wood runner mid size woodfired side handle woodfired vases Small side handle Nice for storing Oolon? two small side handles Tea storage jars Large storage jar subtle storage jars More and a web-shop where you can buy some will follow soon! If you want to know as soon as possible, leave your email below (will not be used for anything else) Email *CommentSubmit


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BUCKFASTLEIGH, England — Holy Communion is exclusively for Catholics in a state of grace and not something to be shared between friends like beer or cake, said a former senior adviser to two popes.
Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze said any moves to give greater access to Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics and to non-Catholic spouses of Catholics represented "serious" challenges to the teaching of the church on the Eucharist.
In a May 23 interview with Catholic News Service, he implicitly objected to interpretations of Pope Francis' 2016 apostolic exhortation "Amoris Laetitia" that would permit divorced and remarried Catholics who had not received an annulment to receive Communion in certain circumstances.
"If a person is divorced and remarried (without the first marriage being annulled) then there is a problem," said Arinze, adding that Jesus taught that their arrangements constituted adultery.
"It is not we who made that (teaching)," said the cardinal, 85, who served as prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments under St. John Paul II and now-retired Pope Benedict XVI. "It is Christ who said it."
"We cannot be more merciful than Christ," he continued. "If any of us says he has permission from Christ to change one of the major points Christ gave us in the Gospel, we would like to see that permission and also the signature."
"You can see that it is not possible," he said. "Not even if all of the bishops agree, it doesn't become so. It is rather serious, because it touches the faith on the holy Eucharist and also that marriage cannot be dissolved between Christians who have lived together and no human power can dissolve it. It is rather serious."
In his interview at Buckfast Abbey, a Benedictine monastery, Arinze also said that sharing Communion with Protestant spouses was not an issue of hospitality.
He said that while he wished other Christians well it was important understand that "the holy Eucharist is not our private possession which we can share with our friends."
"Our tea is such and also our bottle of beer. We can share those with our friends," Arinze said.
"It isn't just that we wish one another well. After Mass you can go to the refectory and have a cup of tea and even a glass of beer and a bit of cake. That's OK. But the Mass is not like that," he added.
"It is very important to look at the doctrine," he said. "The eucharistic celebration of the Mass is not an ecumenical service. It is not a gathering of those who believe in Christ and who invent a prayer for the occasion, it is a celebration of the mysteries of Christ who died for us on the cross, who made bread into his body and wine into his blood and told the apostles 'do this in memory of me.'
"The eucharistic celebration of the Mass is the celebration of the faith community — those who believe in Christ, they are communicating in the faith, and in the sacraments, and in ecclesiastical communion ... ecclesiastical unity with their pastor, their bishop and the pope. It is the community which celebrates the holy Eucharist. Anybody who is not a member of that community does not fit in at all," he said.
He said if Protestants wished to receive holy Communion in Catholic churches then they should become Catholics.
"Come, be received into the church, and then you can receive holy Communion seven times a week. Otherwise no," said Arinze.
The cardinal flew into England from Rome May 22 to attend a May 24 Mass in celebration of the millennium year of the founding of Buckfast in 1018. The abbey was dissolved by King Henry VIII during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, but it was rebuilt a century ago on the exact site.
His comments were made amid a controversy over the German bishops' pastoral handbook titled, "Walking with Christ — In the Footsteps of Unity: Mixed Marriages and Common Participation in the Eucharist."
The document has divided the German bishops and seven of them, including a cardinal, have requested the intervention of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
Pope Francis has invited leaders of the German bishops' conference and some of the bishops opposed to the guidelines to travel to the Vatican for a discussion with officials from the three offices.
The text of the guidelines has not been made public, but it is widely assumed to foresee situations in which a Lutheran married to a Catholic and attending Mass with the spouse could receive Communion regularly.
It follows ongoing confusion within the church about what scope "Amoris Laetitia" allows concerning Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics whose previous marriage was not annulled.
Some bishops' conferences, such as those of Germany and Malta, have interpreted the papal exhortation liberally, while others insist that church teaching and practice remains unchanged and unchangeable.
Pope Francis has declined to issue a clarification on the contentious points of the document and has effectively ignored a dubia, or list of questions, submitted in 2016 by four cardinals, two of whom are now deceased.


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"I don't understand," said a young boy named Anton. "How can they just not make it a planet anymore?"
Having just finished a school project on Pluto, Anton was understandably shaken up when his favorite celestial body was demoted to "dwarf" status last year. After a few strokes stroke of a pen, his favorite planet was no longer a planet.
Anton's dad, Robert Klose, writing for the Christian Science Monitor, expresses his son's disappointment and frustration at the loss of the beloved Pluto. Klose writes that his son felt "like a man without a country, or, in this case, a planet."
Klose tried to console his son saying, "In eight years we'll get our first real look at Pluto. Then who knows? Maybe they'll decide it's a planet again."
"Do you really think so?" Anton asked with hopeful expectation. We'll have to wait and see. —Cara Binder


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Seek Giacometti's "The Palace at 4 a.m." Go back two hours. See towers and curtain walls of matchsticks, marble, marbles, light, cloud at stasis. Walk in. The beggar queen is dreaming on her throne of words…You have arrived at the web home of Marly Youmans, maker of novels, poetry collections, and stories, as well as the occasional fantasy for younger readers.
- Home
- Seren of the Wildwood 2022
- Charis in the World of Wonders 2020
- The Book of the Red King 2019
- Maze of Blood 2015
- Glimmerglass 2014
- Thaliad 2012
- The Foliate Head 2012
- A Death at the White Camellia Orphanage 2012
- The Throne of Psyche 2011
- Val/Orson 2009
- Ingledove 2005
- Claire 2003
- The Curse of the Raven Mocker 2003
- The Wolf Pit 2001
- Catherwood 1996
- Little Jordan 1995
- Short stories and poems
- Honors, praise, etc.
- Events
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Thursday, January 17, 2013
Thaliad giveaway
sponsored by Elizabeth Adams of Phoenicia Publishing is now up at Goodreads here. For more information on Thaliad, click on the tab above or go to Phoenicia Publishing's Thaliad page here.
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Alas, I must once again remind large numbers of Chinese salesmen and other worldwide peddlers that if they fall into the Gulf of Spam, they will be eaten by roaming Balrogs. The rest of you, lovers of grace, poetry, and horses (nod to Yeats--you do not have to be fond of horses), feel free to leave fascinating missives and curious arguments.
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Foot speed is going to be something he'll need to work on if he wants to be considered for an NHL job.Los Angeles Clippers �?Despite no one really picking the Clippers to make the playoffs, they have an incredibly deep roster.Rozier has appeared in four contests for the Red Claws this season and is averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists and 1 steals in 34 minutes per game.The only thing we had to find out was how this little guy would react to the rough stuff.They'll be exposed to female employees from the Broncos throughout the day, but also female leaders from across different industries in Colorado.The defenseman received a beautiful pass from Artemi Panarin and elected to shoot as opposed to pass to Cam Atkinson, and he beat Rittich to short side.
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However, that didn't translate to much fantasy value, as he turned those six catches into only 46 http://www.mapleleafsofficialauthenticshops.com/Dave_Keon_Jersey_Adidas yards.To find all players born within a certain month and year, for example all players born in December of 1985, choose the month and year with the drop down boxes and then choose the 'Month and Year Search' option.Miller was at 55 percent during 15 games last season, which allowed him only one top-10 fantasy week.New Jersey shot 51% and had just 10 turnovers.
In 171 career starts, Gibson has a record, 16 shutouts, a 2 GAA, .923 SV%, and 34 goalie point shares.It's just not possible for him to be disliking the organization-and that includes the doctors and trainers-and still captain.Yes he can score and yes he is a very fast player, but his real work comes down low working on the forecheck.When the day came, we eagerly ourselves a glass, took a sip, and immediately spit it out.But I mean, the NHL is a lot different in terms of speed and strength of guys, said Stephenson.HE SAID IT "There is so much social media.
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Christopher's performing venues range from private parties to corporate sales meetings, but also include country clubs, fairs and festivals, weddings, yacht clubs, schools, church benefits and many other events at which there is no honoree to be feted or roasted. In these cases, the programs described below are what Christopher typically recommends.
Christopher & Co. LIVE and CELEBRITY SQUARESSM, in particular, have been extremely successful and popular at the country fairs throughout California & Nevada at which Christopher has performed since 1986.
You might also be interested in checking out the Game Shows Page.
What do you get when you combine the multi-faceted skills of Rich Little with the comedic speed of Robin Williams and the political satire of Mark Russell? CHRISTOPHER & CO. LIVE!
Lt. Columbo kicks-off the act, ambling in from the back of the audience, mumbling incoherent queries, observations, and asides. Once finding his way upon the stage, he apologetically cues the act's musical open, which introduces the audience to the concept that Christopher will offer rapid-fire impersonations on request.
The body of the act incorporates audience requests from the list of over 150 celebrity voices in a fast-paced exhibition of improvised repartee.
TIME: 30-45 minutes
Hosting a USO show? Celebrating a 1940s or WWII theme? Christopher offers a scripted stage exhibition of celebrity voices and routines of the1940s during the Golden Age of Radio, including: Gary Owens, Benny & Rochester, Frank Nelson, Mel Blanc, Burns & Allen, Bing & Satchmo, Bergan & McCarthy, and W.C. Fields…optional: concluded by a game of "You Bet Your Life" with Groucho Marx (Game Shows) with live contestants drawn from your audience.
TIME: 20-60 minutes
In the days of "Olde", a young man would serenade his lady fair from below her balcony in the moonlight. In vaudeville, minstrels crooned songs of love in blackface. In America today, lounge-style pop singers articulate, accentuate, and advocate supposedly socially-redemptive messages and causes within and between their love songs. They are the singers of ballads…they are BALLADEERS.
Christopher presents a concert of greatest hits, performed by the stars who made them famous. Less a tribute than a spoof, BALLADEERS includes the famous old tunes with new lyrics designed to elicit laughs, not tears. Represented are Bing, Frank, Elvis, Neil…and many others.
TIME: 30 minutes OR HOURLY
Game shows have been a staple of American broadcasting from the beginning. All sorts of formats have been devised, from the straight-forward question and answer style of Groucho Marx's "You Bet Your Life", to the athletic competition of "American Gladiators".
1970's television featured a star-studded game called "Hollywood Squares", in which a giant Tic-Tac-Toe match was played between two contestants, incorporating trivia questions, live celebrity guests, and extravagant prizes.
CELEBRITY SQUARES is the exactly the same, except for the prizes…and, of course, the celebrities are really just Christopher.
WATCH A VIDEO of this act on You Tube at: http://youtu.be/uM-gagHEyrU
TIME: 45-60 minutes
A hush falls on the crowd of excited reporters as the official hurriedly steps up to the podium and clears his throat into the microphones. The PRESS CONFERENCE has begun.
No one knows what sorts of questions will be asked. There is more left to chance, however, since the man at the microphone also has no idea about exactly who will be answering the questions. It could be any one of 150 different politicians, actors, and other miscellaneous celebrities to be found on Christopher's list.
The people shouting from the crowd are not only in control of the questions to be answered, but the individuals to be questioned, as well.
TIME: 30-45 minutes
Christopher Linnell
Christopher & Co. Celebrity Impersonations
POB 2927 Petaluma CA 94953-2927
All content, graphics, and images contained throughout are Copyright © 2002-2011 by Christopher D. Linnell and are protected by United States and International copyright laws. No text, graphic, or image may be used, in whole or in part, individually, or as part of a derivative work, without express written permission.


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Computers were used to create so many illusions in Forrest Gump, from removing actor Gary Sinise's legs to having Tom Hanks interact with JFK and John Lennon, that viewers may have not even noticed one of the film's more sneakily brilliant tricks. Specifically, there is a memorable passage in the movie during which the title character's considerable ping-pong skills make him famous during his stint in the Army. He even serves as an ambassador of sorts for his home country when he is invited to play ping-pong behind the so-called Bamboo Curtain, becoming one of "the first Americans to visit the land of China in, like, a million years." Arbitrary as this plot twist may seem, "ping-pong diplomacy" was a very real part of Richard Nixon's plan to establish detente with China. But how, exactly, did Tom Hanks manage to play table tennis so convincingly in the 1994 Robert Zemeckis smash? A behind-the-scenes DVD supplement has some answers.
Hanks had some ping pong prowess, no doubt, but his skills were not up to those of his character, so some digital deception was employed. The actor and his opponent, billed only as Valentine, are simply swatting at the air with their paddles, timing their action to the sound of clicks. The ball was added optically later. For Hanks, this kind of pantomime came naturally, but his scene partner was a genuine ping-pong wizard who had to adjust to playing his favorite sport without a ball. Though it goes unmentioned, this brief documentary also demonstrates how Zemeckis' film deftly employs digital background extras. In the finished film, Forrest seems to be playing-ping pong in a packed stadium with many spectators. In reality, the game was shot on a soundstage with relatively few actors on hand. As Zemeckis puts it: "Movie magic."


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Agility is developed on, integrates with, and complements industry-strength components. We're proud to partner with the following market-leading solutions.


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Daycare Worker Disciplines Child By Feeding Him Hot Sauce
A 4-year-old boy was reportedly fed hot sauce by a woman at his daycare facility as a form of punishment, according to the boy's mother.
Melaina Whitley said her son Tanner began vomiting when he came home from Friendship Pediatric Services, a daycare for special needs children. She spoke to KATV about the troubling experience.
"I thought maybe just like a stomach virus or something, but it only lasted about a day," she said.
Eventually Tanner, who receives speech therapy at the daycare, disclosed that he had been given hot sauce by one of his teachers.
"When he said hot sauce, I thought maybe pop tarts, and I was like, 'Hot sauce?' Because I didn't know he knew the word hot sauce, so I know she had to have told him, 'I'm giving you hot sauce,'" Whitley told the news agency.
"You just don't expect that," she added. "They're supposed to be qualified to work with special needs children and they're supposed to know not to give hot sauce."
After confronting the woman at the daycare, Whitley says she notified the police.
"I know when she was like, 'Let me give you hot sauce,' he didn't just say, 'OK, cool,' and open his mouth," she said. "It must have been forced because he wasn't just like, 'Here, give me some hot sauce.' He said he was crying and had to get water and it was nasty. I don't know if this was the first time or he was the only child [this happened to]."
Daycare director Karla Curry reportedly told police that the teacher in question confessed to giving Tanner hot sauce; she said hot sauce is a common form of discipline in her culture.
The Department of Human Services (DHS) names time-out as the only approved method of discipline, according to KATV. DHS is reportedly investigating the incident.
"They should at least fire her I think," Whitley said. "Just anything, just something at all. I know for a fact she still works there."
Curry would not confirm whether the teacher is still employed at the daycare. A statement was sent to KATV by the daycare facility.
"Any events that occur out of the expected and that could be possible violations of day center regulations are always self-reported to licensing at DHS," the statement reads in part. "Any injury to a child is self-reported to licensing at DHS. We expect to be held accountable and to learn from events to ensure the situation is never repeated."
Oddly, this isn't the first time a child was force-fed hot sauce at a daycare center. In 2012, two Oklahoma daycare workers were fired after giving hot sauce to a 13-month-old child in their care, according to The Associated Press via KOTV. Both workers were also arrested and charged with felony child abuse.


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Mayo GAA and Empire GU Rugby Websites Go Live
Proud to announce two new Websites launched this week. Mayo GAA and Empire GU Rugby. Mayo GAA Website Responsive Website for Mobile, Tablet and Desktop www.mayogaa.com Well done to Mayo GAA and and big thanks to Paul Cunnane, PRO ... Read More →


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Russian strategic nuclear bombers taking part in large-scale military exercises flew practice strike missions in the western Pacific on Monday and were intercepted by Japanese fighters, according to Japanese and Russian officials.
The bomber flights were the latest case of strategic saber rattling by Moscow and followed what U.S. defense officials said earlier this year were practice-bombing runs against U.S. and Japanese military bases in the region.
Japan's Joint Staff said Monday that three Japanese fighters were scrambled to intercept the Tu-95 Bear H bombers that were detected flying north near the Korean peninsula and Japan's northern Hokkaido Island.
A third Russian aircraft, an Il-20, flew over the disputed Kuril Islands controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan.
The bombers flew over the Sea of Japan for a total of seven hours and 15 minutes, the military said in a statement carried by Kyodo News Agency.
The bomber flight was part of one of Russia's largest military exercises, which is currently underway.
Russia's Defense Ministry said the Tu-95 involved in the exercises were carrying "strategic missiles" as part of an exercise and began patrols from their base near Belogorsk "in order to provide strategic deterrence measures over the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk."
"The total number of troops involved in the inspection of the combat readiness is about 160,000 military personnel, more than 5,000 tanks and armored fighting vehicles, 130 long-range, military transport, fighter, bomber and army aviation aircraft, as well as up to 70 Navy ships," Maj. Gen. Igor Dylevskiy, a Russian military officials was quoted by Interfax News Agency as saying.
Russian officials said three Japanese aircraft intercepted the bombers along with one South Korean jet.
Russian strategic bombers also have flown close to U.S. air defense zones on five different occasions over the past year as part of an effort by Moscow to flex its strategic nuclear forces.
The bomber flights have been largely ignored by the Obama administration as part of its conciliatory efforts to "reset" relations with Moscow.
The latest Russian bomber incursion took place in April and prompted the U.S. Air Force to scramble two F-22 interceptors near Alaska to chase the bombers.
Russian bombers also ran up against U.S. air defense zones in June and July of last year with a July 4 incident involving two Bear H bombers that flew closer to the California coast for the first time since the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, when such incursions were more common.
Two Bear H's circled Guam, a major U.S. military hub in the Pacific, in February, and in April two strategic Tu-22 Backfire bombers carried out what defense officials said were simulated missile attacks against U.S. missile defenses and bases in Japan last month.
The stepped-up bomber flights by Russia are aimed at influencing U.S. policy on missile defenses in Europe, that Russia is opposing as threatening its strategic forces.
Published under: China, Obama Administration, Russia


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Winter weather accounts for over 1,300 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries in the U.S. annually. Conditions can be so severe that they often catch drivers off-guard. While the snowy or icy roads in Colorado are contributing factors in auto accidents, drivers can also take precautions to avoid getting involved in an accident or hit by another car.
If you are in an auto accident in Longmont, Colorado, and someone else is at fault, you may receive compensation for your injuries, lost wages, or other damages. To find out more about your legal options, contact the Law Offices of Edward Smith for a free consultation to speak with an experienced auto accident attorney. Below are some safety tips he suggests for driving in the snow in Colorado.
Keep Your Distance
Accidents often occur because someone tailgates a driver in front of them. During the winter, tailgating takes on a new meaning. Ice and snow can increase braking distance by up to ten times that of distance in normal road conditions.
For instance, the average braking distance at 50 mph is 175 feet. Therefore, braking distance on ice could potentially reach 1,750 feet at the same speed. If the car in front of you suddenly brakes, you don't stand a chance of suddenly stopping. Your best bet is to keep a safe distance of several feet behind the car in front of you so that you are not involved in an accident.
Stay Focused
Snowy roads are unpredictable – so are drivers. Therefore, you should keep your eyes on the road 100 percent of the time. Distracted driving is among the leading causes of auto accidents in the U.S., contributing to over 3,000 deaths nationwide annually.
Smartphones, navigational devices, passengers, radios, and even the snowy scenery can all serve as distractions. When driving, stay focused on the road, other drivers, and the weather conditions. Keep both hands on the wheel and anticipate any sudden hazards that could arise. Doing so can save your life and the lives of those around you.
Keep Your Car in Excellent Condition
Mechanical failure can lead to an accident much easier in the winter than at any other time of year. For this reason, you should perform routine maintenance on your vehicle and, if necessary, winterize it. Some common winterization maintenance includes:
- Installing snow tires on your vehicle
- Checking or fixing all headlights, emergency lights, and brake lights
- Using antifreeze and inspecting your heater/defroster
- Repairing or replacing your brakes
- Fixing any cracks or chips in your windshield
When your vehicle is in good shape, you are more likely to stay in control on the road. Remember: if your car fails and it leads to an accident, you may still be held liable for all damages. So, make sure you perform maintenance before the first snow or frost.
What to Do If You Get in an Accident
If you are involved in a car accident in the snow, then you should first seek medical attention from a licensed medical specialist. Do not delay going to the ER or visiting your doctor. If possible, try to document the accident including the medical care you received. The more you can document, the more evidence you will have when you file a claim for your damages.
Finally, contact a car accident lawyer in Longmont, Colorado. The Law Offices of Edward Smith is here to represent you when you file a claim. A skilled attorney can establish liability, determine the value of your damages, and represent you to take on the at-fault party and their insurance company. To find out more about your legal options, call The Law Offices of Edward Smith at (303) 682-2944 or fill out our short form to schedule a free consultation.


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At the US Academy of Parachute
Rigging, we offer extensive professional parachute rigger training courses to individuals
as well as civilian and military organizations worldwide.
The USAPR is the first civilian
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and instructions.
The USAPR is co-located with
Rigging Innovations, a major harness and container manufacturing facility, and is adjacent to
Skydive Arizona, one of the world's largest skydiving centers.
USAPR has selected a staff
of Master Riggers for their expertise in areas of rigging knowledge. These instructors
have in excess for 60+ years experience in the field of parachute rigging and are
experts in the following areas:


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AutoNation's Schuchert Looking to Modernize Dealership ExperienceAshley Fletcher Frampton / Charleston Digital News
The Charleston Digital Corridor's Leadership Profile Series is focused on the individuals who are driving the Charleston tech scene forward. This series is brought to you with support from Charleston Southern University.
Bobby Schuchert is director of mobile and emerging technology at AutoNation, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based owner of more than 300 car dealerships nationwide. Schuchert, based in Charleston, joined AutoNation about a year ago and is building the company's mobile team here.
Where did you grow up? What was life like?
I was born and raised in Charleston. I was fortunate enough that my dad was in tech. He was in radio communications, not computers. I pretty much grew up with a soldering iron in my hand and doing a lot of tech and being on a computer all the time. I kind of just stuck with it.
Did you leave and come back to Charleston?
I've always been here. For my last job (with Starwood Hotels and Resorts), I was here, but our office was in New York, so I would bounce up there a lot. But I've always lived in Charleston.
Did you go to college here, too?
I went for a while to Trident Tech and then quit, and I've always worked. When I was in high school, I started doing web development and was doing that while in college, and then just stuck with it and stayed in IT. Self-taught.
What was your first job, or most memorable early job? What did you learn from it?
When I was 13, the mom of a friend of mine knew somebody who had a shaved ice stand. They asked me to run it for a day. I was in front of the Custom House, working this shaved ice stand, and the police came and shut it down because they didn't have a permit. So that's a memorable one.
But my first real job was freelance web development. I was doing that and turned that into a small company and did that for a number of years. I learned that technology is easy and people can be difficult. When you have one boss, you kind of know their boundaries and how to approach things for them or the company. But when you have multiple clients, there are a lot of personalities to deal with. That was not what I was expecting, originally.
In your own words, what does your company do?
We're a big dealership group. We have over 300 stores. We sell cars and service cars. It's a bunch of dealerships, different brands. We have a few that are considered AutoNation stores, kind of like CarMax has their store. But we primarily just own a bunch of stores that may not even have the AutoNation name in the name.
What drew you to your current business?
My last job was with Starwood Hotels. I led the mobile engineering at that company. One thing I loved about hospitality was how much emphasis we put on guest experience. We were really good at what we did. When Marriott bought us, some of the leadership went to AutoNation and asked me would I want to do that and bring that emphasis. This is an industry that's kind of behind. I saw it as a unique challenge to try to improve the guest experience when you're buying or servicing a vehicle.
AutoNation is based in Florida. Do you have a team here?
I have three developers here. I'm in the process of hiring more. The big picture would be to continue growing my team here. I haven't seen a lot of mobile work in our area. Mobile is kind of my passion. When they gave me the opportunity to come to AutoNation, I said I didn't want to move. So they said, "OK, you can build a team in Charleston."
What's the hardest or most important lesson you've learned in business?
I touched on it earlier: Tech is easy, people are hard.
Have you learned any tricks for managing that?
Give people the benefit of the doubt. The way that they word things may be not how you would word them when they're coming to you over the phone or especially via email, when it's in text. Typically, people have good intentions, so you have to approach things that way. It's easy to misunderstand and then get defensive about something. But everybody kind of has the same goal. They just maybe have a different driver for what their position is.
What lessons have you learned from good bosses? Bad bosses?
From bad bosses, don't get emotional. Stay levelheaded. Whatever is on fire, just work through the issue.
From good bosses, set clear direction. That's not to say you don't ever change your mind, but let everybody understand what it is you're going over the hill for, what you're aiming at. It lets people understand what the goal is. Because when it's a grey area, people are all over the place and don't really work together. They have a different understanding of what the goal is.
Do you have a morning routine or ritual? Or an evening one?
I wish I could say I was up every day at 4 and was running 10 miles. The thing that I have to have every morning is a cup of black coffee and a shower. No matter if I'm on vacation or whatever, I've got to be up and doing that. That's my only real routine.
At the end of the day, I say, "Hey Siri, good night," and everything turns off. That turns off all the lights, turns down the temperature, shuts the garage doors if they're open, locks the doors.
What obstacles have you faced building your business? How have you overcome them?
I guess the biggest obstacles were finding something I wanted to do in our area. There was primarily a lot of government contracting here, which I did for a while. To me, it wasn't quite creative enough. Trying to find something where you could blend technology and user experience. There might have been those in the area, I just was not aware of them. Finding the one that felt like a good fit for me was the trickiest part. Which isn't really building a business, but trying to figure out my place in tech in Charleston.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs?
Expect more hours than you were originally expecting. Expect to be a little bit uncomfortable. Be creative with your thing, whatever you're passionate about, and definitely drive to that, but be comfortable asking for assistance. You can tend to try to wear too many hats, and that can overwhelm you, and you kind of lose what you're passionate about. But depending on the stage of your business, you may have to wear a bunch of hats.
What advice would you give new graduates seeking to work in the tech industry?
Definitely stay curious. Keep learning. Don't just learn one facet of tech or one language. Tech tends to move faster and faster every year, and there are a lot of fads. To continue being valuable, continue learning and being curious about new things.
What do you see as the future of your company?
For the team here in Charleston, I'd like to continue growing and working on the innovation projects we've set out to build. The future for our company/industry would be less old school and more with the guest experience in mind. We are trying to modernize the industry. We're a big company, so it's not easy to just turn on a dime, but I would like to see my team help continue driving that shift in the industry.
What does a modern guest experience look like in the auto dealership industry?
Less coming in and sitting for four hours during a transaction or making an appointment and showing up and you have to repeat everything you said on the phone. There's so much friction. If you've ever taken your car in for service, there's just a lot of friction. Whatever we can do to remove most of that friction and make it more of an express kind of experience.
At Starwood, I led the digital key project. So you wouldn't even go to the front desk at a hotel. You would just go straight to your room and unlock your door with your phone and then your watch. That was kind of my baby there, and I would like to see the same kind of approach to our industry, buying or servicing a vehicle. Especially servicing. The bar is kind of low there, so everything that we're doing, we look like wizards, but we're just doing what we're used to doing.
Are you a Mac or a PC? iPhone or Android?
Definitely Mac. iPhone.
What's a book that you always recommend?
I've pretty consistently over the years recommended "The Total Money Makeover" from Dave Ramsey. One of the fun books I like to recommend that's fiction is "The Martian."
What is your usual Starbucks order?
Probably 50-50 either black coffee or a tall hot caramel macchiato.
Outside of work what keeps you busy?
My girls and my wife. I have two daughters, and as they are in clubs and orgs and playing instruments and all that, that usually keeps us pretty busy. Beyond that, if I ever get down time, I still enjoy video games, but I don't get to play those nearly as much as I used to. And movies. We do a lot of movies as a family.
What has it been like building your technical team in Charleston?
I was hoping to see us expand a little faster than we did this year, but it's been good. We are probably going to expand pretty rapidly this year. Thus far, we had to build a foundation for what we were doing and kind of lost sight of continually recruiting and hiring. We had to deliver some stuff rapidly.
What do you see as some of the challenges recruiting tech talent to Charleston?
One of the biggest challenges with tech in Charleston is typically the pay is not anywhere near the rest of the country. I mean, New York and California, you kind of expect. I think we have a very good beginner and mid-level set of engineers here, and then, when they're senior, they typically spill out somewhere else. Trying to retain them and be able to pay them enough has been a challenge for Charleston.
What are your thoughts on how Charleston's technical landscape has grown?
I'm glad to see, at least from way back when, there's more than just government contracting here. There were other opportunities then, but it was either going to be web development or something to do with security or government contracting, and I'm glad to see that there are more creative things here since then. It's just a little more diverse.


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As one of Israel's leading law firms in the healthcare and life sciences sector, Shibolet provides a full range of business and intellectual property law services in this area. We work closely with clients throughout their companies' lifecycle, contributing invaluable legal expertise, industry insight, and commercial and government understanding. Our work is also informed by our in-depth knowledge of other fields, allowing us to offer responsive, tailored solutions in a shifting regulatory environment.
Our clients range from start-up and high-tech companies specializing in medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, through representation of global corporations within such industries as well as investment companies and venture capital funds specializing in investments in such sectors, along with academic medical centers, research institutes and individual researchers, healthcare facilities, and other organizations in the healthcare sector. The Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice also offers expert guidance on healthcare-related matters to companies in other industries.
The team at Shibolet counsels on all aspects of clinical trial law, including compliance and preparation and review of agreements between sponsors, contract research organizations, and investigators. In addition, we advise on data transference, protection, and privacy; licensing and commercial exploitation; and the marketing and distribution of medical devices.
'The partners and associates are highly dedicated to providing the best service, protecting the interests of clients, and doing so in a professional manner.'– Legal 500 EMEA


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January 7th, 2012
Tri Challenge: I am excited to be excited
Each day from now until next Friday, CNN will introduce you to one member of the 2012 Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge team. Today meet Jeff Dauler, an Atlanta-area radio host who joined our team after struggling with a divorce and other personal challenges.
By the time you read this you'll know that I have agreed to participate in the Malibu Triathlon and document my journey there for Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN. But these were my thoughts the evening before revealing this adventure on my radio show.
Wednesday, January 4, 8 p.m.
Is this really happening?
In 12 hours, there's no turning back. In 12 hours, Dr. Gupta announces to my co-workers, family, friends and anyone else tuned into The Bert Show that in a few short months I will be swimming in the ocean, biking up and down hills and running for a finish line. All in the same day, one after the other. I'll be a triathlete.
(Technical question: If you attempt, but don't finish, a triathlon, are you still a triathlete?)
About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.


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This comprehensive consumer research study from HealthFocus International helps companies navigate the changing food and beverage landscape by providing actionable insights into the plant-based eating trend around the world. The study explores consumer attitudes and behaviors around the benefits of plant and how it fits into their current diet.
- Understanding the Shift: What is driving the plant-based eating trend? Who is driving the trend? Discover what motivates each age group. Are Millennial drivers different?
- Identifying Core Motivations: What are the benefits consumers associate with plant-based eating and drinking (e.g., healthier, safer, environmental impact, nutrition, etc.)?
- Revealing Opportunities & Barriers: Where do consumers want more plant-based options (e.g., foods, beverages, snacks, or supplements)? What is preventing more frequent plant-based eating & drinking (e.g., taste, availability, habit, nutritional concerns, etc.).
- Category Opportunities: Explores 30 specific food/beverage categories to determine where added plant-based ingredients are most important. In which categories will consumers pay a premium for added plant-based ingredients?
- Increasing Plant: How are habits changing? Where are consumers increasing plant (e.g., plant-based foods, plant-based beverages, foods with added plant-based ingredients, beverages with added plant-based ingredients)? Are they also reducing animal products?
- Benefit Drivers: Which benefits are fueling the demand for plant (e.g., daily living benefits like energy, gut health and clean eating; health-related benefits like heart health & immunity; and socially driven benefits like sustainability and environment impact, etc.)?
- Plant Protein: How interested are consumers in getting their protein from plant-based sources? Where are the opportunities for plant protein sources such as legumes, beans, peas, quinoa, coconut, soy, almonds, etc.? Where are the opportunities for plant-based milks like almond, soy, flax, etc.?
- Decreasing animal products: Are consumers limiting or strictly avoiding red meat, chicken, fish, dairy products and eggs? How long have they been avoiding?
- USA, Brazil, Mexico, UK, Russia, Sweden, China, India and Australia