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Kilinochchi has fallen: The consequences
by Kumar Rupesinghe
(January 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The victory over Kilinochchi by the Sri Lankan armed forces is a decisive victory. There is no question about this. The President proudly announced the fall of Kilinochchi and General Fonseka went into great detail to exemplify the battlefield strategies of the armed forces and crowds in several cities lit crackers to celebrate the victory. We have now been assured that 2009 will be the year when the battles will be over and we can all regain our lost Paradise. Will the war be over, that is the question? There have been numerous battle field victories in the past but winning a battle is not winning the war.
The fall of Jaffna
The fall of Kilinochchi is reminiscent of the fall of Jaffna, during President Chandrika Kumaratunga's time in 1995. Victories against the LTTE were celebrated with much fanfare and General Anuruddha Ratwatte was seen hoisting the Sri Lankan flag in the Jaffna Kachcheri. On 6th December, the state controlled Daily News reported triumphantly " Deputy Defence Minister Col. Anuruddha Ratwatte, deputizing for President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, on the invitation of Northern Commander Rohan Daluwatte, hoisted the Lion flag in the re-taken Jaffna town at a simple, but impressive formal ceremony at the auspicious time of 11.52 am on Tuesday (5 December)... Deputy Defence Minister Ratwatte inspected a guard of honour at the former Jaffna Fort before hoisting the national flag. Martial music preceded the hoisting of flag. Some historians have already looked upon the liberation of Jaffna, Yapa Patuna of ancient fame, as a historical parallel to its re-taking by Prince Sapumal in the 15th century by vanquishing the forces of rebel chief Arya Chakravarti. Prince Sapumal later ascended the throne as King Buvenekabahu IV.."
The Time magazine commenting on the victory ceremony held on 6th December in Colombo said thus : "... In a function room in the Presidential Secretariat, (broadcast live on national television), Sri Lanka's leader (President Chandrika Kumaratunga) stood gravely before a line of tough-looking military officers. Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte, fresh from hoisting the flag in Jaffna town, presented her with a scroll rolled up inside a red velvet container. The scroll was dated "full moon day of the month of Unduwap in the year 2539 in the Buddhist Era." It read, "Your Excellency's rule and authority has been firmly re-established" in the historic city. The territory was not referred to as Jaffna, its official name, but "Yapa Patuna" the term used by conquerors in medieval times. The victory of Jaffna was celebrated in a ghost town where over half a million people had left in a mass exodus and moved to the Wanni. The houses were empty and only stray dogs greeted the invading Sri Lankan army. Similarly Kilinochchi was a ghost town when the armed forces took over an abandoned and derelict town. Kilinochchi which was the capital of the LTTE had been razed to the ground with many thousand tons of bombs from the countless sorties of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Fortunately, the President did not resort to the pseudo-nationalist rhetoric and was careful not to evoke the metaphors of Sinhala Buddhism. He tried to portray the victory as a victory of all the peoples. But these words will ring hollow if the historic grievances of the Tamils which surely were the root causes of terrorism are not addressed.
The battle for Mulaithivu
The rhetoric of the LTTE in the course of the battle for Kilinochchi was strident and Prabhakaran who usually does not give statements or interviews made the statement that Kilinochchi would never be captured and that President Mahinda Rajapakse was day dreaming. His Police Chief Nadesen was later to revise his leader's proclamation by admitting that Kilinochchi would be conceded but that the LTTE would live to fight another day. Now the battle field will be restricted to 40 square miles of jungle heavily fortified and where the displaced people of the Wanni, over 200,000, live in terrible conditions. The LTTE will seek refuge and cover amongst them and resist the multi pronged thrust of the armed forces.
Mulaithivu is certainly not Thoppigala and it will take many battles to conquer this well fortified jungle area. Although Kilinochchi has been taken and retaken many times over, Mulaithivu remains a formidable bastion of the LTTE. Whether the LTTE can resist this assault is yet to be seen. The LTTE has been seriously wounded but it still enjoys the support of the Tamil people, particularly in the Diaspora and its leader is still accepted by the organisation. It still has unlimited quantities of weapons, its suicide squads and commandos who can continue to destabilize the country. The LTTE surely has to learn its lessons within the jungles of Mulaithivu. There is no point in dreaming about a foreign power coming to its rescue and whatever happens in South India, the Indian State will not encourage a separate state near its own border. Neither is Sri Lanka a Kosovo; it would be foolish to imagine that NATO or the "international community" will come to its rescue. It will also have to learn the lessons of the use of terror and how it has not only alienated the South, but also its own people who have now experienced continuous displacement and mass exodus. The LTTE will have to learn that politics must be in command and that it has to find ways and means of genuinely fighting for the the freedom of its own people.
The politics of humiliation
The triumphalism which is now portrayed by the mass media is mostly election rhetoric but it does leave a sour feeling amongst the Tamil people. Whilst the LTTE is reprehensible to many Tamils, they do not see any light in the dark tunnel that they have been kept during the last sixty years. The question that arises is whether we as a nation and a people should demonstrate a mood of triumphalism in conquest, when in fact the conquered are our own people or a part of our people. I remember well when Chandrika Kumaratunga's Deputy Defence Minister hoisted the Sri Lankan flag in the Jaffna town. In an interview I gave to the BBC at that time, I said that it was a day of shame for the Sinhalese people, for we are hoisting our flag in our country amongst our own people. No sooner did the takeover of Kilinochchi take place, many Tamil shops closed in fear and reports indicate that people in the hill country also closed their doors amidst provocations by mobs. Now the bloodletting has started with the gutting of the Sirasa T.V. station where armed men laid siege on the building. Not a day had passed with the take over of Kilinochchi, the inimitable Wimal Weerawansa made a press statement that the APRC has to be scrapped and there should be no concessions to any form of devolution of power. I said at that time that the fate of the Sinhalese and the Tamil people are like two sides of the same coin and that our destinies are intricately linked to each other and that we have to co-exist with dignity. The majority peoples will be measured by the treatment they mete out to the other, to paraphrase a point made by President elect Barack Obama.
The Sinhalese people have to go into deep reflection and at least now ask some profound questions as to the roots of terrorism which found ready soil in Sri Lanka. These questions cannot be wished away. Nor can they be swept under the carpet by the triumphalism and war hysteria which are constant refrains of our mass media. Such triumphalism is but a continuation of the politics of humiliation which has beset this island for the last sixty years. If we are to rid the country of "terrorism" and ensure that it does not raise its ugly head again, the Sinhalese people have to deeply reflect on their contribution to the politics of humiliation. As I have repeatedly argued, ad - infinitum, it is not the battle for territory that will win the war, but winning the hearts of a people. This means that the minorities must feel that they have a stake in the country, that they can live in dignity, that they can share power without carrots being thrown at them at the whim and fancy of our leaders. We have to have statesman similar to Nelson Mandela or the leaders who formed the European Union, who with a single voice cried out loud "Never Again" to war and mayhem in the continent of Europe. They did not practice politics of revenge, but in a spirit of reconciliation which guided these leaders, created legislation and frameworks for reconciliation and equal participation. Today, these nations have risen from the carnage of war to powerful multi ethnic societies.
In the same way our leaders, by this I mean the President, the Leader of the Opposition, and other leaders of our political class must move towards introducing reforms and legislation which rectify this historical harm and damage done to all our peoples. This means first of all, immediate implementation of the 13th Amendment as a first step in implementing the proposals put forward by the APRC, measures to accelerate the implementation of the two languages policy in all public institutions and legislation to be introduced to ensure that no ethnic profiling and discrimination are practised by public institutions. The President has indicated that he would be willing to implement the 13th Amendment as a first step and the APRC report has now been finalized. I hope that the elections in the coming months will be a referendum for the sharing of power and that people will be asked to vote for a Sri Lanka where all peoples will live in dignity. - Sri Lanka Guardian


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|5ft or less
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|43-45 in
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|46-47 in
|28 in
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subset: commoncrawl


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Reuters names chief technology officer
Thursday 18 July 2019
Reuters named Michael Young (photo) chief technology officer to "oversee overarching technology strategy, including technology development, architecture, platforms, testing and operational resiliency".
He starts on 6 August and will be based in New York, reporting to Michael Friedenberg, president of Reuters.
"The impact of technology within Reuters is of critical importance in how we serve our customers and Michael's exceptional technology expertise will help us make even greater strides in driving our future success," said Friedenberg. "His wealth of experience will be a significant asset as we further modernize our organization and deliver coverage of the real world in real time."
Young is currently head of digital experience platform for Thomson Reuters, where he is responsible for all technology and development, including digital properties, e-commerce sites and self-service technologies. He joined Thomson Reuters in 2017. ■
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text: Terry Haines 90 Report post Posted May 8, 2013 Performance Gaskets & Surface Finishes A performance engine is only as reliable as the gaskets and surface finish used to seal it By Larry Carley The most critical engine gaskets are the head gaskets since they have to withstand the heat and pressure of combustion. And unless the engine is a drag motor with a solid billet or filled block, the head gaskets also have to keep coolant out of the cylinders. Many performance engines are capable of making several times as much horsepower as a stock engine of comparable displacement, so the head gaskets must be durable enough to withstand the higher pressures. Head lift is probably the most common cause of head gasket failure in a performance engine, and some engines are worse than others (such as Ford small blocks). The amount of head lift an engine experiences depends on combustion pressures as well as the number and pattern of the head bolts, the size of the head bolts, and the rigidity of the block and heads…… Full article here…… http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article/112949/performance_gaskets__surface_finishes.aspx The Engine Builder mag site has a lot of info on many aspects ...Dig around,always worth a read.. http://www.enginebuildermag.com/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Braxton Miller Switching from QB to WR
Ohio State fifth-year senior Braxton Miller told Sports Illustrated on Thursday that he will switch positions for his final season of eligibility with the Buckeyes.
Miller had been part of a three-way QB competition with redshirt sophomore J.T. Barrett and fourth-year junior Cardale Jones. Miller was the 2013 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year as a junior, but missed the 2014 season because of a shoulder injury.
Barrett replaced Miller at QB and was first team All-Big Ten, but got hurt vs. Michigan in the last game of the regular season. Jones then replaced Barrett and led the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title against Wisconsin, and then the national championship with wins over Alabama and Oregon in the College Football Playoff.
Full Story Here: http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/07/23/braxton-miller-ohio-state-move-wide-receiver


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Zbigniew Bart Wojewnik
One of the things I like best about representing Allstate is the variety of products and services I can offer customers. More than insurance, I can offer a variety of options to address their financial needs – such as saving for a child's education or your retirement.
I'm committed to helping you protect what you have today and prepare for tomorrow. I understand the importance of thinking about the "big picture" when it comes to your financial future. From life insurance to retirement, I'm committed to helping you reach your financial goals.


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SAME DAY Free Delivery Within City Limit!
Get same day FREE delivery within city limit with purchase over $100!!! Offer valid for online and telephone order.
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text:
Free Rides Available on New Year's Eve
Valley County Search & Rescue and local wrecker businesses will be providing free rides home on New Year's Eve. The annual community service is supported by the Glasgow DUI Task Force.
Drivers from Search & Rescue, Glenn's Automotive, and Thompson & Sons will be available after 5 p.m., Dec. 31. If individuals would like a ride to the bars, they are encouraged to call ahead to make arrangements. In the past, volunteer drivers have given rides home as late as 4 a.m. on New Year's Day.
Contact any of the following to arrange safe transportation:
Josh Thompson (Thompson & Sons), 263-8726.
Chris Moore (Thompson & Sons), 263-2689.
Rob Brunelle (VCSAR), 263-7621.
Jeron Wesen (VCSAR), 263-0265.
Sandy Carpenter (VCSAR), 939-4657.
Shyanne Isakson (VCSAR), 263-2505.
Doug Cook (Glenn's Automotive), covering Fort Peck, Park Grove, & Nashua 263-1249.
The Glasgow Police Department and the Valley County Sheriff's Department highly encourage everyone to take advantage of this service. Everyone involved wishes the community and safe and happy new year.


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The basic idea of this service is that it is that you "Do-It-Yourself". We supply the packing materials and you pack the goods yourself. Depending on your requirement, we will send you enough boxes to fill that space. If you have cartons / boxes / suitcases that you have already packed we will also ship them, you do not have to use our materials. The only advantage of using our boxes, is that they are all equal in size and we would know in advance of sending the boxes to you what the final shipping costs would be if you used only our cartons.
When packing or storing furniture, wrap it with blankets, towels, or old linens. This prevents it from being scratched or otherwise damaged. Most packing tips don't tell you that furniture legs should also be wrapped.
If you disassemble an item yourself pack, label, number, or otherwise mark each piece for easy reassembly.
Chairs should be stacked seat-to-seat with paper in between.
Fit what you can inside any like item. For example, you can store sponges in pots. This packing tip will save valuable space and makes unpacking easier.
Don't wait until the last minute to choose which goods to bring with you. This doesn't have to be an overwhelming process. Just work on one room or with one group of items at a time.
When packing moving boxes, it helps to be aware of a few tips that will make your packing chores easier and protect your belongings. Compiled through many years of moving experience, the following tips for packing your moving boxes are bound to come in handy.
Many people who are moving want to save money wherever they can. Doing your own packing can save you money if done properly. However, keep in mind that the moving valuation protection offered by moving companies doesn't cover damage to items PBO (Packed By Owner) unless there is obvious damage to the container caused by the mover's negligence.
It's very important that you use quality, sturdy moving boxes. Very thin, low quality boxes can break very easily. A formula to remember is:
low-quality thin boxes + inexperienced packer = breakage and damage to goods.
Here are some tips for moving boxes you end up packing yourself:
Have all supplies, such as quality packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper and markers, lined up next to your boxes when packing.
Avoid printed newspaper for wrapping items. Use blank paper instead. The ink from the printed newspaper rubs off easily and can be very difficult to remove from certain items, such as china. Crumpled printed newspapers can be used for filling voids in boxes, as long as the print doesn't come in direct contact with anything you don't want to have to clean later.
Purchase strong tape. Use the plastic and strapping tape that movers use. A good quality packing tape dispenser makes the job of taping up your moving boxes much simpler and faster.
When setting up your moving boxes, reinforce the bottom of all boxes with 2″ packing tape. Start by taping the seam where the two flaps meet, leaving 4″ of overlap on each side. Add two more strips in the same direction, on each side of your first strip, approximately half way between your first strip and the edge of the box. For additional reinforcement, add two perpendicular strips equidistant from each other and the edge of the box.
Make sure tops and sides of boxes do not bulge or sag. Under-packed boxes may collapse and over-packed boxes may rupture.
Bubble wrap your fragile items. Small bubble is recommended for smaller, lighter weight items. Large bubble (more air in bubbles) is recommended for larger, heavier weight items. For added protection, line your box with bubble before packing.
Pack one room at a time, marking each moving box you pack with a description of its contents and destination room(i.e. kitchen, master bath). Mark each box with the name of the room in which it will be placed and write the box's important contents on the outside.
Designate a room or space to store packed boxes. Keep all boxes for the same room together. If possible, keep all packed boxes close to the door. This packing tip will save time both in loading and unloading the boxes.
Put heavy items in small boxes and light items in large boxes. Wrap heaviest items first with bubble wrap or packing paper and place in the bottom of the box. Wrap lighter items with same and place on top of heavier items, separated by bubble wrap.
Separate your packing boxes by size, and place appropriately-sized boxes in each room. Quality moving boxes indicate the ideal product or weight for which that box is best suited. Follow the box manufacturer's recommendations.
Double box fragile items and fill voids between boxes with packing paper or bubble cushioning to avoid shifting.
Mirror packing boxes are not only good for packing mirrors – they can be assembled to a custom size for protecting your large framed art or photographs.
Consider using your computer to create labels for your boxes. Avery Office Products provides a variety of labels you can use, including blank labels and pre-printed specialty labels, such as Fragile. Free templates are available that will make setting up the labels for printing a snap. Be sure to use a large enough font in bold (consider all capital letters, too) so the labels can be read easily from a distance. You can make up a set of labels just for your last name and then a separate set of labels for each room name. This saves you from having to hand mark each box and typed labels are much easier to read than most handwriting or printing. This tip is especially handy if you move frequently, because your labels will already be set up for your next move.
Write "Open First" on boxes containing things that you need immediately, like bedding or a few dishes you can use until the rest of your dishes are unpacked.
If you plan to inventory items within the boxes you pack, number your boxes so your master inventory can list each box number with its corresponding contents.
Pack your clothes hanging in your closet in wardrobe boxes. This not only saves time, but also prevents clothes from wrinkling. Place shoes at the bottom of the wardrobe box.
Pack T-Shirts and jeans in suitcases and regular boxes. Ask your movers which clothes may stay in your dresser drawers.
Don't let your boxes get too heavy or the movers won't to be able to lift them. Heavier boxes are more likely to break in transit, causing damage to your items. If you have a few especially heavy boxes, mark them so your movers will know before they attempt to lift the box.
Wrap breakable items individually. For example, for ceramic jars with lids, wrap the jar and the lid separately and place in the same box. Fill in empty spaces within the box to prevent movement during transit.
Pack plates and glass objects upright. Mover's dish pack boxes are ideal for these items.
Take boxes with you (if you possibly can) that contain items you'll want to have right away, like cleaning supplies, hammer, screwdriver, flashlight, toilet paper, soap, a shower curtain, coffee, coffee filters and your coffee pot. That way you'll have access to these items even before the movers arrive.
Whether you need tips for packing moving boxes, storage information or moving tips, you'll find everything you need from Upack.ie for a successful move. You can even obtain multiple free moving estimates to help you estimate your total moving costs.


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Nature Research
Sunday, December 11, 2016
Nature Research, a flagship portfolio of journals, products and services including Nature and the Nature-branded journals, dedicated to serving the entire scientific community looking for highly talented individual to join the prestigious Nature Plants editorial team and help shape its social science publishing agenda.
This editor will also spend up to half their time involved with Social Science publication on an additional Nature research journal (for example Nature Geoscience, Nature Ecology and Evolution, Nature Nanotechnology, etc.) to be determined based on interests and expertise of the successful candidate. We therefore seek broadly trained individuals with knowledge of the wider research community and an enthusiasm for learning about and engaging with topics beyond their immediate research background. This is an extremely stimulating role, which calls for a keen interest in the practice and communication of the social sciences. The successful candidate will be dynamic, motivated and outgoing with excellent presentation and interpersonal skills, and a strong academic record.
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Lower Dauphin School District
Curriculum Guide
Course Title: AP European History Subject: Social Studies Grade Level(s): 10-12Synopsis of Curriculum
AP European History is a challenging course that is meant to be the equivalent of a freshmen college course and can earn students college credit if they take and pass the AP Exam given each May. The course explores European History from Renaissance to the present. Areas of concentration include political, cultural, social, economic and intellectual history. These areas are studied from a variety of perspectives to ensure a balanced view. Since this is a college level class solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to devote considerable time to reading and studying, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and evaluative thinking skills, and essay writing. In addition, students will have to interpret primary sources, statistics, works of art, and maps.
Units of Study Titles
Unit II- Reformation and Wars of Religion
Unit III- Scientific Revolution
Unit IV- Constitutionalism v. Absolutism
Unit V- Struggle for Wealth and Empire
Unit VII- French Revolution and Napoleon
Unit VIII- Industrialization and Advent of the Ism's
Unit X- Building a European Supremacy and Modern Thought - Imperialism
Unit XI- WWI and Russian Revolution


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Einstein once defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." I don't think I'm insane – I often do the same thing over and over because I want the same results. But in China this logical, cause-and-effect, linear thinking is actually completely insane. I don't know how to get consistent results in China, but the surest way to get different results is to attempt to duplicate exactly a previous chain of events.
I have so many examples of this in China, many of them involving public transportation. I remember trying to catch the bus out at the farm to go into town – some days it would pick us up before turning around, while other days it turned around and picked us up on the other side of the street. We never figured out the pattern (assuming there was one), so we would just pick a side and stand ready to run across the road if we were wrong. Same bus + same bus stop + same time = different bus stop.
I had another experience today. I've been to Gulangyu (the small island off my island) at least 5 times now. It's pretty easy to take the ferry there and, after the first time, I've even been able to find my way to my church without too much difficulty.
But recently I've been going to church on the big island and so it had been a while since I'd been to Gulangyu. I got off the ferry and didn't recognize a darned thing, but when you're as directionally challenged as me it's really not a foreign experience. I wandered for a while, convinced that it was "around here somewhere", and even asked for directions. I actually do mean "asked" for directions as opposed to "got" directions, because the people I approached tended to look at me like I was wearing a hockey mask and carrying a chain saw before averting their gaze and quickening their pace.
Anyway, after about 20 minutes of walking without seeing a single thing that looked familiar, I spotted the ferry quay and "known territory". That's when I realized – the reason I felt like I'd never seen any of this before was because I'd never seen any of it before! For some reason, the ferry docked at the OTHER ferry quay this morning. First of all, I didn't know there was a second ferry quay, but even if I had, I would not have expected to end up there after boarding the same ferry as always, leaving from the same quay on Xiamen. Man, China always gets me right when I least expect it.
I was feeling sick of China and the ever-present 麻烦 (hassle) of living here when I got to Mass. Then I realized I'd also gotten the time wrong and was a half hour early (missing a half hour of sleep). And then I didn't understand any of the readings, which felt like a big step back. BUT my mood was totally lifted at the end of Mass during the announcements (which I even mostly understood).
First of all, next week is Christ the King, which is the feast day of the Gulangyu church. Secondly, something I didn't catch (and hope wasn't important). Thirdly, Deacon Joseph is getting ordained next month!!! I'm really really excited about this. I love the idea of people finding and pursuing their vocations – hence I'm pretty enthusiastic about weddings, babies, joining religious orders, and things like that. Also, I very selfishly hope that he starts to say more of the Masses (in both English and Chinese) because he is much easier to understand in both languages than the current priest. Father Dominic is older, doesn't speak clearly, and has an annoying tendency to cough and clear his throat directly into the microphone (which is, of course, the only sound the microphone actually amplifies). I'm also strongly considering trying to go to Shanghai for his ordination (if they'll allow foreigners, that is). If I can't make it to that, though, I'm hoping to be at his First Mass, which is going to be at his hometown church, supposedly close to Xiamen.
I had a very awkward exchange after Mass. Awkward moments are best when shared with others, accompanied by laughter, so I hope you enjoy:
A Chinese guy comes up to me and asks "Excuse me, do you have time?" Thinking myself very clever, I translate this back to Chinese in my mind: 你有空吗, or "Do you have free time?" I laugh awkwardly and say "Maybe . . .". He stands there looking at me awkwardly for a few seconds before asking again, "What time is it?" Oh . . . I answer "9:20" and awkwardly walk away.
I was hungry after Mass, so I took a bus back to the West Gate area to look for food. It was too early for most restaurants to be open, so I ended up at a KFC. The perfect description of this situation is NQR, or 'Not Quite Right'. It's a term coined by some of the people I lived with in China last summer, used to describe things that are clearly based on American or Western things, but are just a little bit (or sometimes, a lot) 'off'. Let me detail these differences:
- While KFC does share the name and Colonel Sanders mascot of an American restaurant, the similarities don't go much further. In America, KFC stands for Kentucky Fried Chicken. In China, KFC's menu mainly consists of shrimp products. It's okay, though, because the Chinese name – 肯德基 – doesn't contain anything that would give a false impression of chicken being sold. It's just foreigners with expectations who get confused.
- In America, KFC is exclusively a lunch-and-dinner restaurant, and is usually open from 11 to 9 or so. In China, KFC is similar to McDonald's and is usually open 6-11 or even 24/7. I could tell I was assimilating this knowledge because my first thought upon seeing that most restaurants were closed was "well, there's always KFC".
- As opposed to KFC's long hours, the donut shop next door hadn't opened yet; I think they start selling donuts around 11.
- When I went to buy a drink at Coco, my favorite milktea place, I saw an advertisement for a new flavor. Brandy milk tea? 'Well,' I though to myself, 'I'm sure it's not real brandy." I ordered some and am now pretty sure that it was, indeed, real brandy.
Thus, at 10 o'clock in the morning, I found myself eating KFC, drinking brandy milktea, and wishing the donut shop would open already so I could buy one. Totally NQR.
I went to dance class but bailed out early because of ominous rumblings in my stomach – I blame KFC. While sitting at home drinking yogurt and eating crackers, I had an interesting experience on QQ (Chinese IM). Somebody posted a video making fun of the 2004 election in a student group that I'm a member of. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do about it, but I ended up replying that I was an American and I thought it was rude. I think it bothered me especially because this student group has made extra effort to recruit foreigners, but I don't find that behavior very welcoming. Anyway, it's very easy to post things like that on the internet, and I decided to take advantage of the fact that it was equally easy for me to reply and do something about it.
He apologized, so it's okay. I'm fine with people having opinions about other countries, including mine – even negative. But when talking about it, I would like two things: 1) the ability to respond, and 2) an understanding that citizens are not synonymous with their countries.


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For nearly eight years, I have had the distinct privilege and honor of working for the residents of the city of Atlanta and all of our vibrant and diverse communities. As a member of Mayor Kasim Reed's senior team and deputy director of communications, and now as the director of policy and communications for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, I have been on the front lines of serving our citizens.
And in that time working for city government, we have had balanced budgets every year; historically low crime rates; improved public transit options with increased funding for MARTA, the expansion of the Atlanta BeltLine, and new bike lane networks; low unemployment; and sweeping pension reform that helped the city's reserves grow from just $7.4 million to more than $175 million today.
Yet, there is still much work to do in the city and across Fulton County. We have one of the worst instances of income inequality in the nation. Property taxes have spiked uncontrollably and affordable housing is nearly non-existent. Our jail system is overcrowded and there are no meaningful re-entry programs for offenders. Fulton County has one of the highest rates of new HIV infections in the country and has a well-established pattern of public health mismanagement putting the lives and well-being of our residents in danger.
I believe we can do better.
I'm running for Fulton County Commission because I want to continue working for you, improve county services for all of our communities and ensure that your government is accountable, responsive and fair.
Please join me.
The special election will be held on Tuesday, November 7.


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Univisor LED Visor Sign
Product Code: UNV-101-04
The LED Univisor provides visible identification for retained, voluntary and main line emergency services personnel.
The sign simply slips over the passenger windscreen visor ready to flip down as required and discretely store away when flipped up out of sight.
The unit is supplied complete with a cigar plug power adapter, 2 metre extension cable and operates at 12 volts.
This unit only has the facility to be ON or OFF, however you are able to flash, dim and remotely control the unit or connect to other devices with the additional controllers/adaptors.
We have a standard range of Univisor signs available to order (see below), however it is possible to personalise the text, background colour and orientation of the livery, contact our sales team on 01543 438800 for more information.
Please note that 'flash mode' is intended for off road use only and not for use on a public highway unless you have the necessary authority!


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Meet The Team
Our dentists are committed to improving your oral health. We tailor our dental services to suit all needs.
Our team will stop at nothing to ensure that you come away with more than a satisfied smile. We are dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve.


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Paul BeachamJune 22, 2017 4:13 pm
Paul brings a range of experience within different sectors, from chemical to logistics. He is responsible for the projects within the company, including any spares orders required by our customers. He is a member of the Association of Project Management and works to coordinate project workflows through the company.
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At Linaro Connect Hong Kong 2018, Linaro CEO George Grey announced the strategic initiative Machine Intelligence. The aim of the initiative is to provide best in class deep learning performance by leveraging neural network acceleration in IP and SoCs from the Arm Ecosystem. This will be achieved through collaboration on the most widely available AI/ML Software frameworks and libraries.
To kickstart these efforts, we will be hosting an AI & Neural Networks on Arm Summit on Wednesday 19 September at Linaro Connect YVR18 (Hyatt, Vancouver). For just $45, you can attend the full summit - watch keynotes by thought leaders within this space and discuss issues and opportunities.
There will be sessions on the latest AI technologies available in edge and consumer devices from the Arm ecosystem and how these accelerate deep learning applications, leveraging the most widely adopted AI frameworks:
- Inference on NPU, GPU, DSP and CPU
- AI/ML frameworks and NN formats
- NN HAL plug-in frameworks
If you are not already attending Linaro Connect and want to attend the summit, you will need to register. To find out more or register, click here.
We hope to see you there!


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Access to HE course fees
Fees for 2016-2017
|Age 19+
|Access to Forensic Science, Health Professions and Science
|All other Access programmes
Important information for Access students
Are you aged between 19 and 23?
If you're aged 19-23 and do not have a full Level 3 qualification (such as A Levels) you could be eligible for support to reduce your fees. Contact the Student Finance team on 01202 205488 for more information.
Advanced Learner Loan
If you're aged 19 and over, you will be able to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to fund your course. Visit the dedicated webapges for more information.
Are you an International student?
Find out more information about our International fees.


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- Selection Required: Select product options above before making new offer.
- Error: There was an error sending your offer, please try again. If this problem persists, please contact us.
Opaline Tipped Pendant -Czech
Our Vintage Lighting items have been sourced from Europe, restored and refitted to comply with New Zealand standards.
Bulbs sold separately here.
Includes all hanging gear:
1.5m Braided Electrical Cable
1x Ceiling Rose
NZ Compliant ES Lampholder
Product Specifications
115mmD Top
250mmD Bottom


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Entry for March 14, 2009 Day Trip! Myrtle Beach…
Well we got a chance to go on a day trip to Myrtle Beach to take a friend of my youngest two leg critter back to his home after he was here to see all of our critters. Once we dropped him off…. we went to find a nice quiet place to see if we could look up some of my critter's relatives and see what they were up to in this nice coastal habitat. We didn't have to look far….. we found a wonderful grove of live oak trees! Just the right place to find wild critters. We were in good company and shared our lunch with the critters while we checked in on the relatives of my critters and some of their friends. Miss Lefty and our other Northern Cardinals, along with the Blue Jay families were in luck we found tons of their relatives they were every where and were glad to come and sit with us and share our lunch and catch up on who was where and who had how many sons and daughters? The ever curious Brown Headed Nuthatch and Yellow Rump (Myrtle)Warblers wanted to know how their friends were doing that had come to my place for a short vacation before it comes time to migrate…. I let them in on who was now paired up with who and it might last through courtship if all continues as it was when we left for this day trip! They all rolled with laughter at my prediction…… we'll see … I've been doing this for awhile. We also got to meet some new critters and made lasting friendships too and will be stopping by when they can too. Let's see there were the handsome Redheaded Woodpeckers, the lovely Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flickers and can't forget the Cedar Waxwings, also the European Starlings… all very beautiful critters indeed! Now I'm sure the thought has crossed every one's mind by now…..why hasn't she said anything about the squirrels, surely there were squirrels….. YES, the squirrels ….oh they were there and I know they are related to mine 'cause they have the same attitudes…..but they were friendly and even silly at times…. the younger ones showing off just 'cause "company" was there….. seems like all young critters every where do the same thing! Sad to say we had to clean up our lunch mess and get back on the road home…..there were no good bye to say….. I don't like to say that myself…. so it was until our paths cross again….. and I know it will. It will soon be migration time and they know they can stop off at my place and have fresh food and water…… keep a look out in your yard…. see any of those critters on their way…. put out some fresh water and some wild bird seed, that has a little something for everything, and help them until they make it to the end of their trip….. so be at peace until our paths cross again and feel free to rest here as long as you like…. look around, put your feet up and enjoy the views……. Lila
Anonymous permalinkMarch 27, 2009 12:44 pm
HI NEW TO LILA'S ROOM WITH "VIEWS"…DON'T KNOW WHAT CRITTERS I'M TALKING ABOUT? THAT'S OK FIX THAT FAST JUST GO TO JAN. 10, 2009 ENTRY "LET'S GET STARTED". FEEL FREE TO READ ALL THE ENTRYS AND THE RED ONES TOO! STAY AS LONG AS YOU LIKE AND ENJOY….. AND MAY PEACE BE WITH YOU UNTIL OUR PATHS CROSS AGAIN…… Lila


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Nashville Shade and Shutter understands and appreciates the value of your home or business. That's why we have made it our mission to provide you with reliable, quality shades and shutters since 2010.
Despite our continued company growth, our belief in the value of an honest, one-on-one relationship with each of our customers will always remain the same.
We stand by all the great products that we offer and are proud of the quality of service we provide. In addition, we guarantee that by the time our work for you is complete, you will be nothing less than completely satisfied with the results. Contact us today for an appointment!
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Do you know the ins and outs of your health insurance?
Understanding your health insurance benefits can make a real difference in how much you spend on medical care and how you access your treatments. We know that health insurance can be complicated and frustrating. And that's why we're here to assist.
From lowering your medication costs to getting health insurance, NPF patient navigators can help.
No matter your health insurance questions, we'll help you talk you through your unique needs and make the most of your health coverage.
This program is supported by a charitable contribution from Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.


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This Rotalite Transfer Platform allows safe and secure patient transfers.
It has a rotating footplate with brake that the user can stand on and be freely swiveled into position.
The steel and aluminium frame has a number of handles that can be used for lateral support, reducing the incidences of sideways falls.
The frame is strong yet lightweight which means the platform is easy to wheel into position.
A range of optional accessories, for example a kneeblock and forearm supports can be added to increase the versatility.
The maximum safe user weight of the Rotalite Transfer Platform is 190kg (30 stone).
Footplate diameter: 390mm (15 1/2 inches).
Handle height: 740mm (29 inches).
Rear handle height: 970mm (38 inches).
Base footprint: 660 x 635mm (26 x 25 inches).
Weight: 13kg (2 stone).


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'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star CAMILLE GRAMMER's home was lost by during the horrible California wildfires!
Firefighters fought to save the multi-million dollar home but the fire was too intense and burned the home to the ground.
177 houses have since been lost since the wildfires started and things look like it could get a lot worse. Malibu has been evacuated entirely! Take a look at Camille's post about the situation on Instagram below and let us know what you think: DO YOU THINK MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO SAVE CAMILLE'S HOME? DO YOU THINK SPECIAL CELEBRITY FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO SAVE THE EXPENSIVE HOUSE?
View this post on Instagram
Sadly my house couldn't be saved. The courageous firefighters were able to save my cars and personal items recovered from my home. I thanked the fire chief and his team of firemen for all of their hard work. He took the time to explain what happened and I'm grateful for all of their hard work trying to save my home. Sad we lost our home but grateful that my family is safe. Luckily we quickly evacuated our house yesterday after a patrol car drove up the street announcing mandatory evacuations. I'm grateful for my lovely neighbors and friends who kept me informed and for their help this evening. ? Thank you all for caring ? #woolseyfire #malibu. Special thanks to Fire Chief Rash and his brave team of firefighters. ?


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The Fire Systems Division is focused to cater mainly for the Domestic, Retail, Commercial and Industrial sector in Qatar. We offer a wide range of products covering Fire & Safety Systems.
We are also the suppliers of Fire Resistance Cables, Fire Alarm Systems, Hose Reels Cabinets, Gate Values, Fire Pumps, Sprinklers etc. from USA, Europe and Asia manufactured by leading companies and certified by various standard accepted worldwide.
P.O. Box 92, Doha, Qatar.
Tel : +974 4436 4209
Fax : +974 4469 7836
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com


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Adidas Women's Golf White Sweatshirt
This women's golf sweatshirt celebrates adidas history with gold, silver and bronze 3-Stripes down the front. It sports a signature Superstar collar for classic sporty style.
- Front zip pockets
- Full zip with Superstar collar
- Zip cuffs
- Gold, silver and bronze 3-Stripes on front
- Regular fit
- 90% polyester / 10% elastane spacer
- Machine wash at 30°, tumble dry low, iron on low and avoid the logo, don't dry clean!


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Geographical description
Territory : Martinique
Town: Sainte-Anne. The pond of "Les Salines" is located in the southernmost point of Martinique.
Surface area: 512 acres, 240 of which are protected.
Connection to the hydrographic network, hydrology and seasonality:
The pond of "Les Salines" is a rather shallow coastal pond, permanently linked to the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Two channels communicate with the sea. As it is both shorter and wider, most exchanges with the sea go through the south-eastern channel, also known as the Canal Carrere. Every time the tide comes in, with the water rising up just over three feet, the sea water enters the pond and is then washed out into the Atlantic.
The pond also gets a supply of freshwater through its catchment area, whose surface area is over 150 square miles. Most of the site's freshwater supply is made up of rain and runoff water, while a small fraction of incoming freshwater originates from small seasonal creeks and the "Ravine Maudite" (Cursed Gully).
The combination of daily seawater input and the occasional arrival of freshwater originating from the catchment area makes for varying concentrations of salt. Therefore, during the dry season, the water deficiency caused by evaporation can generate salt levels higher than 1.41 oz/L. During the rainy season, the green meadows and neighboring woodlands on the western shoreline, that are usually exposed, are temporarily submerged due to the overflow of freshwater (combination of rain water and catchment area water).
Flora and fauna
The landscape along the pond's shoreline is mostly made up of trees or bushes of the four mangrove species found in the West Indies: red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and gray mangrove (Conocarpus erectus). In the lower sections along the pond, a savanna landscape is also apparent, which gets completely submerged during the rainy season. These zones are filled with herbaceous vegetation, mainly Sporobolus indicus and Chloris inflata, which are typical to coastline environments with varying salt levels. Underwater, the pond's benthic macro-flora is mostly made up of two species of macro-algae and three species of marine phanerogams: Dictyosphaeria cavernosa, Acanthophora spicifera, Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii and Rupia maritima.
Back on dry land, on the sandy stretch of ground separating the lagoon from the sea, a forest has grown on the sand. It mainly includes manchineel trees (Hippomane mancinella), white trumpet trees (Tabebuia pallida), seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera), as well as catalpas (Thespesia populnea), a few copperwood trees (Bursera simaruba) and mimosas (Acacia farnesiana). A notable fact is that a few Hypomeapes capre plates still exist, which help affix the sand.
The fauna is extremely rich and varied: 38 species of fish, 15 species of shellfish and a number of bird species have been observed.
The mangroves growing alongside the pond provide a suitable habitat for a number of marine species: crabs (10 recorded species), shrimps (5 recorded species) and fry find permanent refuge and food there. Going up the food chain, it is therefore not surprising to see wading birds such as green herons or great herons fishing in the shallow waters.
The mud flats adjacent to the pond are crucial to a number of migratory bird species. Indeed, this site is the last stop before crossing the Saint Lucia Channel for many shorebirds coming from North America, and for others heading towards the Guiana Shield. After having flown several thousand miles, sandpipers and plovers rest, feed and sometimes hibernate on-site.
Finally, along the beach, sea turtles return to lay their eggs between April and June, depending on the species.
Protection and recognition
Since 1998, the Étang des Salines pond has been protected by the Conservatoire du littoral. It is managed by the city hall of Sainte-Anne, and was recognized as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on September 15, 2008.
Issues, usage, production, pressure and management
Located at the foot of a 150 square mile catchment area, the Étang des Salines pond is the natural container for any runoff water. The pollution originating from the catchment area is essentially made up of pesticides used in industrial farming. The other major source of pollution and site deterioration is caused by the many visits to the site and its surroundings. Indeed, this zone welcomes huge numbers of tourists, as it also has one of Martinique's most popular beaches, that attracts close to one million visitors per year.
Located on the southernmost point of Martinique, the salt marshes were farmed traditionally as soon as the first French settlers arrived. From World War II onwards, some of these stretches of water were turned into larger-scale salt ponds. To compensate for the lack of salt produced by mainland France during the war, the Central Marine Factory built and farmed 42 acres of salt pans in Fond Moustiques and its surroundings. Salt farming in the area was ceased for good in 1965. The Étang des Salines ("Salt Pond" in French) draws its name from the region's history.
Discover the site
A bird observatory, information on the area's fauna and flora, and hiking paths on stilts – set up by the Conservatoire du littoral and the Sainte-Anne city hall – allow curious visitors to discover the pond and watch its exceptional fauna.


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Last week, California Gov. Jerry Brown set a new goal to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030. It is the biggest emissions reductions goal in North America, making the Golden State even greener.
Californians are responding to their state's environmental record as the results of DDB's Life Style Study show. The study compared California adults and found that, on every topic in the survey, Californians are much more likely to engage in behaviors indicating they care about the environment.
California residents not only believe in climate change, the survey found, but 59 percent of them are very concerned about the issue, compared to 48 percent of Americans overall. Perhaps one of the reasons Californians believe in climate change is because they see its effects in their state. Human induced GHG emissions have increased the probability that low rainfall years are also warm, according to a study published in March in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. In other words, climate change is increasing the probability of the warm-dry conditions that created the current drought the state is experiencing.
California is a place "where you can really enjoy the outdoors, pretty much year-round in a way that is not possible in many other parts of the country," Denise Delahorne, senior vice president of group strategy at DDB Worldwide, told TriplePundit. Spending so much time outdoors allows Californians to be "more conscious of the immediate environment," she added.
Californians practice simple behaviors that benefit the environment: Almost half (49 percent) say they always carry reusable bags into the grocery store, compared to 30 percent of other Americans. The majority (78 percent) of Californians say they make a strong effort to recycle everything they possibly can, compared to a 65 percent national average.
Californians' green behavior extends to the businesses they choose to patronize:
Image credit: Flickr/B Garret
Gina-Marie is a freelance writer and journalist armed with a degree in journalism, and a passion for social justice, including the environment and sustainability. She writes for various websites, and has made the 75+ Environmentalists to Follow list by Mashable.com.


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Finger Food & Fizz Hen Party in York
Put Finger food & fizz on your hen party menu for a guaranteed fantastic time with the girls. Food is the way to a woman's heart, so what better way to kick off your hen party weekend than with a platter covered with your nibble food favourites? We're all foodies in our own right, so everyone will be satisfied with this tasty slice of excellence of a hen party activity. The Finger food & fizz hen party in York adds style to the already classy city by being held in one of York's most stylish city centre venues. So, when you're not scoffing the delicious food, take some time to appreciate the chic surroundings to really have yourselves an immersive and relaxing start to the weekend.
What's Included
- Glass of Prosecco
- Mixture of hot & cold finger food for your group
- Reserved seating for up to 90mins
- Ideal as a meet & greet at the start of your weekend or an afternoon/ lunch
- Held in city centre bars
With reserved seating for 2 whole hours, you can eat in comfort and have a good catch up with the girls and discover some tasty gossip amongst yourselves. On top of the tasty food and the comfy reserved seating just for you, we've thrown in a glass of prosecco for each and every one of you girls for good measure! Whether you fancy some delicious hot and cold food before a crazy night ahead or want a perfect activity to kick off your hen party weekend, the Finger food & fizz hen party is the way to go!
Held in only the finest city centre bars, you're guaranteed a fab time. If you want a tasty beginning to your main event then this activity is a no-brainer, all your hens are going to be happy ones with bellies full of delightful food. All you need to do is invite your nearest and dearest ladies, sit down at your reserved space and let the good times roll with delicious sharer platters to compliment the laughs and cheeky goss! You're guaranteed no hassle, just leave it to the professionals, sit back and have a good time. After all, that's what a hen party should be about! Finger food and fizz is the perfect light food option to soak up the drinks.
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SAINT LAURENT has just unveiled its Spring and Summer 2019 campaign, #YSL20 BY ANTHONY VACCARELLO
Velvet's conversation with Noonoouri the cute virtual model who's become everybody's sweetheart in the fashion world.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film that was released in 1967 Saint Laurent invited its friends to a screening of "Belle de Jour"
If you are getting prepared for your end of year vacation and wondering what would be the hottest trends for this winter 2018 season, you are in the right place!
Sport your best boho look, and you're all set for Pre-Fall 2014 fashion. Mixing your carnival-ready prints with gladiator slippers,
The latest buzzword in bagaholics land has hit the shelves of the Middle East. Known to be the new 'it'
The mystique of winter calls for a wardrobe hue that lends its wearer a sense of secretive sensuality and dark


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Before you begin comparing water purifier price lists in India, there are some things you should keep in mind. Read this article to know what they are!
When you install the best water purifier at home, you take a step towards protecting your family from drinking contaminated water. We all know drinking contaminated water is the cause of many deadly diseases, and to get rid of waterborne diseases it is important that we filter the water before consumption. When you talk about filtering water, it is not just installing any water purifier. It is important to research and then buy a water purifier.
There are seven things you need to do before you finalise one.
1. Knowing the Level of Contamination in the Water– Water can be contaminated by minerals, metals, and chemicals. Knowing the level of contamination and the types of contaminants can greatly help in deciding the right water purifier. Get a free test done to know the contamination levels of your drinking water.
2. Checking the Quality of Water You Get– The quality is determined by the number of minerals in the water. Some of the minerals may be the essential ones, while others may not. So, when you plan to purchase a water purifier, make sure that the model comes with a TDS controller that can help retain all the essential minerals in water.
3. Identify the Place to Mount or Keep It– You can opt for wall mounted, counter top or under the counter purifiers. First identify the space where you will mount it, and then look for that option. From basic filtration units to RO+UV, all can be mounted as per space limitations.
4. The Amount of Water You Need to Store– The size of every family is different, and when you are looking for a water purifier keep in mind the number of members that you have in your family. . A bigger storage is required for a larger family and vice versa. Similarly, if you live in an area with frequent power cuts, it would be better to opt for a purifier with a bigger storage unit. This ensures you have clean drinking water even during power cuts.
5. Ensuring the Price of the Purifier– Though there is no price for the health of your family, you do need to check out the water purifier price list. Companies offer several options in line with budgetary restrictions, thereby, allowing everyone to invest in clean drinking water.
6. Study the Brands Available– You may be tempted to buy a non-branded water purifier offering the same mechanism at a lower cost. The thing to remember – brands ensure high-quality materials and mechanisms have been used to manufacture the water purifier filter. A good brand will offer warranties and AMCs along with a quick and efficient after-sales service.. , while a non-branded one will be difficult to reach once the sale is complete.
7. Get a Free Demo– Most companies are willing to come to your home and office to offer a free demo. If you are not comfortable for them coming to your home, go online and chat with the customer care. The representatives have in-depth knowledge about the products and can act as guides – helping you choose a water purifier that fits perfectly with your needs.
In conclusion, the only criterion should not be water purifier prices in India. You need to keep the above seven considerations in mind to provide your family clean drinking water.


text: All Brick Custom Home On Large Wooded Lot. Built by Aaron Konrardy Construction. Beautiful hardwood flooring and 10' trey ceilings. Big bright kitchen with Viking range and solid service counters. Sound system throughout home. Formal living and dining rooms, four seasons room and family rooms up and down. Elegant Master Suite with spa bath and large walk-in closet. Two staircases, beautiful Den. Sauna and hot tub. Zoned Geo-thermal heat. Awesome woodwork and beautiful custom lighting.


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Tuesday 11am to 4pm
Wednesday 11am to 4pm
Thursday 11am to 4pm
Friday 11am to 4pm
Saturday 11am to 4pm
Closed New Year's Day, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving & Christmas.
For EMERGENCY Veterinary Assistance (Nights, Sundays or Holidays), call 360-642-2232.
Located at 330 Second Street NE in Long Beach, Washington
Adoptions require approval of an adoption application. You can email it to firstname.lastname@example.com. You can also fill out an application at the shelter when you come by to meet our cats and dogs.


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State of Arkansas (multiple locations) - State
Wal-Mart - Retail
Saline Memorial Hospital - Healthcare
Birch Tree Communities, Inc. - Healthcare
Rineco Chemical Industries - Industrial
Landers Automotive - Automotive Industry
Rivendell Behavioral Health - Healthcare
Almatis, Inc. (formerly ALCOA) - Industrial
Timber Ridge Ranch Neurorehab - Healthcare
Lowe's Home Centers, Inc. - Home Improvement / Construction
The Home Depot - Home Improvement / Construction
Saline County offers a wide range of places for employment. The healthcare industry, automotive industry, and education industry are just a few of the major industries in Saline County. Here is a short list of major employers in Saline County, Arkansas:


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Finding the perfect wedding dress is probably something of what lies at most at future brides list. It just means so much that you find the wedding dress that emphasizes your personality best, makes you feel as beautiful as possible, which is also comfortable to wear. But when one starts when you have never looked at wedding dresses before?
Here's our guide to how to best tackle to find the perfect wedding dress.
Start with research
A good place to find wedding dresses are on Pinterest and Instagram. On Pinterest you get inspiration from all over the world, which can be really fat, but also a little frustrating because you quickly discover that it is not possible to find many of the dresses in South Africa. Instagram contrast, is more grateful, because you can search hashtags. For example, there are 12,879 entries in #weddingdress time of writing.
If you start to dig a little, you can quickly find various wedding dress shops that are present on Instagram. Of our favorites include @mariafekih , @celinachristensen and @brudesalonenkennedys. Unfortunately, there are so many wedding dress shops in South Africa, which has a delicious visual appearance on the social media, but if you can ignore it, you can easily get a feel for their dresses by following them on social media.
Once you have found some fragments dress shops that you like, check out their collections. Often, the images of the models they hold. However, it is not always the picture quality is very good, make a Google search on the designer and the collection, if you want a better look.
Prepare for wedding test
Once you have made your research, and outlined what stores you would like to try wedding gowns in, call and book an appointment. Often the stores right booked some weeks ahead, so it is to book as soon as you can get to. So we can not just walk into a wedding dress store and try the dresses. But it does mean that you get a personal sales assistant, which can help one to find the right dresses to try.
For the most part will be put 1.5 hours of a test. At the time, one can average time to try some 6-8 dresses, depending on how well it goes. If you get in a dress that you like, you stand in it for much longer, and it's clear that you can not reach to try quite as many dresses.
Often dress tests begin with a talk about what kind of wedding you shall keep, and what kind of wedding dress you imagine to end up in. This talk is really important because it helps sales assistant track into your style and coherence between your look and the wedding festivities. Therefore, be prepared to put into words what you like and your day – it may indeed be quite difficult. For what does it really mean when you say that you are for a simple wedding dress? Does it mean, for example, that no lace or beads should be on it, or does it mean rather that it must have a soft fall rather than crinoline?
During wedding dress test
There are many different ways to try wedding dresses. But many have probably an idea that they want some of. Most wedding dress shops recommend that you have one or two people with him, but not a whole bunch. The reason is that it can be overwhelming with too many positions, and in the end it is you who must feel after the wedding dress to be your.
Once you have decided who is going with you, so pay attention if they can come up with for most tests. It's nice that there are other than yourself, who have seen all the dresses you have tried and may help to assess and compare. Additionally, it is a good idea to get one to take pictures of you in the dresses you try. It is really nice to be able to go home and see through and remember how different dresses sat on one.
Try not to book too many wedding dress tests the same day. If there are two wedding dress shops, located near each other, it seems obvious to try to get into both places on the same day. But if you are inside three places on the same day, it quickly becomes too much, and it's a pity if you miss a good dress, because it was too overwhelming.
It can be an advantage to have done a little legwork before, and know little about the designers they hold and which models you would like to try. But it is also a good idea to be open to trying other styles. Sales assistants are often very good at finding dresses that you maybe had not even taken off the shelf, but to surprise positively.
You do not feel it right away
It is not everyone who experiences a "It is this!" Moment when they stand in the dress. For many it is only something that happens behind when they come home and browsing through the pictures, and when you've been around and explore the topic. And it is quite okay. Just be aware that you most need to order your wedding dress at least four months before you're getting married, as most dresses are made to order.
Some places give the 10% discount if you buy the dress the same day that you try it, but it can be a really tough decision, and the purchase may very rarely canceled. If however you have done good research, and know that you will not find anything better, so it is an ideal way to save some money.
If you are in doubt, talk to wedding dress shop it is possible to come and try the dress again. If not, it underlines how important it is to have pictures taken when trying dresses.
Do you have other advice for future brides wedding dress hunting, share it in a comment below.
Good luck!


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Photo © Martin Crampin
about 1936
Two-light window. Standing figure of Joseph with carpentry tools in the left-hand light, facing Mary with a spinning wheel and standing figure of the young Christ below. Portraits of WIlliam and Emma Williams at either side of the dedication.
size: 53 cm (width of each light)
firm/studio: John Hall & Sons
Mount Pleasant Congregational Church, Pontypool, Torfaen
(liturgical) south wall
Given in memory of William and Emma Williams by their children and grandchildren.
This work is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.
John Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire (London/Cardiff: 2000), p. 478.
Photo © Martin Crampin
In order to continue to improve the Stained Glass in Wales Catalogue in the future, we would value your comments and suggestions. Please complete our brief questionnaire


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Busting the Myth of Storage Block Size
A few months ago before we had to take the nimblestorage.com website down, we looked at published blog articles and found a bunch of really good ones. Our plan is to republish them here on ATSB because a lot of great blog posts went away with the website. This is one of those. The title I think makes the subject obvious. What makes this interesting to me is it is by one of our HPE Nimble Storage Data Scientist, David Adamson, PhD. Here's his post that was published in May 2016.
Busting the Myth of Storage Block Size
Determining the needs of a business application can be a daunting process. Different applications (and even different deployments of the same application) can vary significantly in terms of the demands they place on their underlying hardware. How can you reconcile real-world storage performance with conflicting guidelines and marketing claims?
The HPE InfoSight platform provides a unique vantage point into the storage demands of real-world applications. Other data storage companies may claim to have copied its capabilities, but cannot match either the scope or the volume of data we have collected. With InfoSight, we have analyzed hundreds of trillions of anonymized customer data points from thousands of customer applications in just the past year alone. Our sensors not only monitor the operational health of our array but also characterize real-world application needs at very fine granularity.
In 2015, we used InfoSight to analyze an ensemble the IO requests of the applications running across our installed base and presented our results. (EDITOR'S NOTE: We don't have this article of the results posted but once we do, I'll add it to this article). This has become one of our most well-read and referenced blogs. We have now updated and extended that analysis so that we not only show how common applications differ from one another in aggregate but also how the IO requests from the same application vary from deployment-to-deployment.
We will be publishing comprehensive results of this analysis in an upcoming white paper, which includes deep dives into the needs of several common business applications, (e.g. VDI, SQL Server, Oracle, Exchange, Sharepoint and others). Here we have excerpted some key highlights.
Don't be Fooled by an Average
Part of the motivation for our original analysis was to disprove the inaccurate claim by some vendors in the storage industry that small transactional IO block sizes (e.g. 4 KB or 8 KB) are not representative of real-world applications. In other words, don't be fooled by an average – 4 KB is still the most prevalent IO block size in real-world workloads.
The flaw in their analysis involves a misleading aggregation: it stems from the fact that although it is rare to find production arrays where the overall average IO block size is in the 4 KB to 8 KB range (a true statement; Fig 1 right), concluding that applications do not perform a large amount of IO in the 4 KB to 8 KB range is quite wrong (Fig 1 left).
Figure 1: Left: Cumulative Distribution of IO Block Sizes from Real-World Applications. Right: A Misleading Histogram of Averages. Left: A month's worth of user IOs from >7500 HPE Nimble Storage customers is sorted and counted by block size. We can see that the majority of the IO performed fell into the less-than-16 KB range (52% of all read operations, 74% of all write operations). A second smaller population of IO fell into the 64k+ range (31% of read operations, 14% of write operations), but it should be noted that those large-block operations carried the vast majority of the data (84% of all data read and 72% of all data written). Right: When the same month's user IO is averaged for each array – the detailed behavior of each array is lost and consolidated into a single number per system. With every array doing some mixture of small and large IO, this average smears together the small with the large and gives a value somewhere in between. A distribution of these per-array averages is easy to misinterpret. On its own, it might be taken to suggest that there isn't much activity in the [4-8) KB range but we know from the left panel that this just isn't true; 23% of reads and 43% of writes are performed in that interval. Note that brackets [] indicate inclusive interval boundaries while parentheses () indicate exclusive interval boundaries; as an example: the interval [4-8) KB includes all IO sized greater than or equal to 4 KB and strictly less than 8 KB.
So what happened? The problem here is one that anyone working with data encounters all the time: the average of a distribution does not necessarily look anything like the values in the distribution itself. This disparity is greatest when:
- the distribution contains a small set of values that are very large, and/or
- the distribution is bimodal (i.e. contains one concentration of small values and a second concentration of larger values that are well separated from one another).
As we see in Fig 1 left, the distribution of real-world IO block sizes exhibits both of these properties.
As an analogy, one can imagine a city block with 10 single-story buildings and a single 100-story skyscraper. The average height of a building on the block is 10 stories tall – even though the closest building to that average size is 10-fold away. Rather than give the average, it would be more informative to say that >90% of buildings are one story tall but >90% of the floors are in buildings with at least 100 stories.
Situations like this one are why we frequently hear about median home prices rather than average home prices. Because the average is not particularly representative of the distribution, a few very expensive houses will skew the average. That skewed average will be significantly greater than what the typical homebuyer would pay.
Why a Bimodal Block Size Distribution Makes Sense
Our analysis shows that user IO contains separate small block and large block groups – confirming that benchmark testing at small block sizes and very large ones are an important part of performance testing. To many this is likely unsurprising because, from first principles, there are really two fundamental ways of characterizing performance:
- When transaction efficiency is the priority – we measure performance by the number of transactions that can be completed in a period of time (e.g. in IO/sec) and the latency of those individual transactions (e.g. in milliseconds).
- In contrast, when data transfer efficiency is the priority – we measure performance in throughput (e.g. in MB/sec).
Increasing transaction efficiency requires a trade-off with transfer efficiency and vice versa (Fig 2). As an example, more transactions are possible when the transaction payload is smaller (i.e. IO/sec is higher when IO size is smaller) while, in contrast, aggregating data into fewer transactions improves data throughput (i.e. MB/sec is higher when IO size is larger).
Figure 2: Two limiting cases for performance. Left: Transaction efficiency (IO/sec) improves as IO size decreases. Right: Transfer efficiency (MB/sec) improves as IO size increases.
"Split the Difference" vs. "Divide and Conquer"
Because of this tradeoff, it is easy to understand why IO block sizes might generally divide into two camps. Applications can be thought of as following the "divide and conquer" principle: splitting their interactions with the storage into two categories that are separately optimized for either transaction performance or for data transfer performance. In contrast, looking at a distribution of average IO size would paint a very different picture: if interpreted as the distribution of actual IO block sizes, it would tell a story of a scenario where application developers "split the difference" between transaction-centric and data-transfer-centric performance, performing few operations optimized specifically for either.
The big picture: block size distributions from individual deployments
While it is clear that overall, the "divide and conquer" principle seems to have won out – we don't want to assume that just because the overall block size distribution divides strongly into two categories that the block size distribution of each deployed application does as well. To determine whether that is the case, we need to look at the block size distribution from distinct customer deployments individually.
Density Maps 101 (To Explain the Charts Below)
In order to informatively summarize information about the block size distribution from individual customer deployments, we visually represent each deployment as a point on the planes below (Fig 3). Because many points tend to cluster – and we don't want to give excessive weighting to outliers, we create a density map of the deployments to visually show where they congregate with respect to the chosen axes.
Figure 3: Interpreting Density Maps: A Summary of Deployment-to-Deployment Variability. Left: An individual point indicates the aggregate x-axis and y-axis values from a single application deployment. In this view, points can cluster on top of one another and make it difficult to determine where deployments concentrate most. Center: By converting the leftmost plot to a density map, the ambiguity resulting from overlaying points is removed and darker regions show where deployments are concentrated. Histograms on the top and right side of the panel show how deployments are distributed relative to the x- and y-axis dimensions respectively. Right: to allow the density map to be interpreted quantitatively, we add three contour lines to each density map; the innermost contour contains 25% of the observed deployments, the middle contour contains 50%, and the outermost contains 75%. We note that for some applications, one or more contours may be split across multiple regions of the density map; because the contours are drawn at locations of equal density – this splitting occurs when the deployments for that application cluster into distinct regions.
Don't Benchmark in the Wrong Part of the Map
Having established this framework for visualizing individual deployments – we still need to meaningfully summarize the IO distribution for each deployment. We have established that we can quantify how optimized a workload is for transactional efficiency based on the fraction of operations performed at small block sizes (e.g. <= 8 KB); additionally, we can quantify the how optimized a workload is for data transfer efficiency based on the proportion of data throughput performed at large block sizes (e.g. >= 64 KB). As such – we have chosen these two metrics as the coordinates used to map the location of each deployment we observe. With this mapping, workloads focused on data transfer are close to the upper left corner while workloads that focus on transactions reside near the lower right (Fig 4 left). Similarly, workloads that divide their IO and throughput activities into small and large block IO respectively reside in the upper right corner quadrant while workloads that concentrate both their IO and throughput activity towards intermediate block sizes appear closer to the lower left. We have created two separate maps of our customer deployments: one each for both reads and writes. The intensity of the green color in Fig 4 indicates where observed deployments are most concentrated.
Figure 4: Real-World Application Deployments – Mapped. X-axes: the proportion of all operations (i.e. IOs) performed at block sizes less than 8 KB. Y-axes: the proportion of all data transferred (i.e. throughput) at block sizes larger than 64 KB. Left: indication of the significance of each quadrant. Center & Right: read & write data respectively. Green (real-world case) density & contours indicate the proportion of deployments observed with the corresponding X- and Y- axis values as described in Fig 3. Orange (non-real world case) circles indicate where a deployment would appear if it were to exhibit an IO distribution corresponding to the histogram shown in Fig 1 right.
Given the bimodality of the cumulative block size distribution (Fig 1 left) it isn't too surprising that most systems fall into the "transfer specialized", "transaction specialized" or "divide & conquer" quadrants (Fig 4 center, right). The orange circles (Fig 4 center, right) show a hypothetical deployment with the incorrect block size distribution claimed by other vendors (Fig 1 right). As can be seen, these hypothetical deployments fall on the map at a location far away from where real-world deployments (green contours) congregate. In other words, not only does the average block size provide a distorted picture of how real-world deployments behave in general – there are also virtually no individual deployments that behave in the way that global average block size would describe.
The Importance of Thorough Data Collection
It only takes four distinct measurements (read count, write count, MB read, MB written) from each array to compose the average and ultimately incorrect picture of IO block sizes (Fig 1 right). In contrast, to construct an accurate distribution (Fig 1 left) it takes at least 24 distinct measurements (one for each histogram bin, separately for reads and writes). On top of that – our array software includes additional sensors to quantify the proportion of operations that align precisely with the histogram bin edge (information necessary to produce Fig 2). To properly assess how real-world workloads behave, it takes a platform designed to collect a very thorough ensemble of well-selected sensor types. As this analysis has shown, a world view composed improperly from incomplete data may not just be incomplete – it can be completely incorrect and misleading.
So What Should I Do?
In conclusion, real-world deployments do not "split the difference" – that is, they do not focus their transactional and data-transmission activity into intermediate block size operations. Instead, real-world applications perform transactional work using small block operations and transfer data using much larger-block chunks. As such, performance benchmarks should be performed in the way the work is done.
Since ~59% of operations have block sizes less than or equal to 8 KB, transactional performance should be quantified at those block sizes. Similarly, since 81% of data is transferred using block sizes 64 KB or more: throughput performance should be measured using 64k+ operations. Since real-world applications are mixtures of both of these activities, it is important to take into account both small block (<=8 KB) and large block (>=64 KB) performance when comparing storage arrays.
Related Reading: Nimble Labs Research Report – Mapping the Demands of Real-World Apps-One IO at a time »
Meet Around the Storage Block blogger David Adamson PhD, HPE Storage Data Scientist.
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The Ar Magazine is a publication available in four languages – Portuguese, English, French and Mandarin – which highlights cultural diversity in Arroios and promotes tolerance, mutual respect, interaction, citizenship and knowledge. A free publication distributed in the mailbox of the parish's residents and can also be found at the headquarters and office branches of the Parish Council. In addition, all numbers can be viewed online in this website.
Do you have any suggestions for us to include in the Ar Magazine? Send an email to the address firstname.lastname@example.com.


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To prepare for our expanded FinovateFall conference on September 11 through 14, we're taking a look at each of the six summit discussions that will take place on days three and four of the conference. Today, we're previewing trends in regtech and insurtech.
Summit #4: Regtech and Insurtech
Regtech and insurtech have benefitted from the same technology innovations that have turned fintech into a booming industry for consumers, businesses, and investors. According to CB Insights, regtech startups have raised more than $3 billion in funding between 2012 and 2016 (102 in 2016 alone). And what compliance-enabling technologies are attracting the most regtech investment? Capital Confirmation, which provides secure document transfer and transmission for auditing purposes raked in $60 million. Vendor risk management innovator, Prevalent, also raised $60 million in funding last year.
Regtech is a broad category, with solutions that are applicable to almost every aspect of financial technology. Consider, for example, the RegTech Top 100 Power list compiled by Planet Compliance this spring. Looking at Finovate alums alone, we see a surprising diversity in the types of companies aggregated under the "regtech" rubric. ID verification and anti-fraud companies like Trulioo and NetGuardians shared the spotlight with data analytics specialists like Ayasdi, document processing innovators like Mitek, and even banking systems providers like Temenos and nCino.
The application of technology to the field of insurance is another area of fintech that seems like a no-brainer now that so many entrepreneurs and startups have embraced it. And while there is some debate as to whether or not insurtech is a part of fintech or an industry all to its own, there is no denying that many of the concerns that have propelled technological innovation in fintech are also at work driving disruption in insurtech. Big Data analysis and risk modeling, document transmission and storage, customer experience improvements that leverage mobile and other technologies to make it easier to shop for insurance products, are all components of the insurtech revolution. And this adds to companies like Finovate alum Insuritas that have simply leveraged technology to make it easier for community banks and similar FIs to offer insurance products to their customers.
CB Insights reports $1.7 billion raised by insurtech firms in 2016 for a total of 173 deals. Among some of the companies picking up funding in 2016 were Clover ($160 million, with another $130 million in May 2017), Bright Health ($80 million, with another $160 million in June 2017), and Cyence ($40 million). The unique health care system in the United States certainly creates ample opportunity for innovation in this space, as analysts have pointed out. But the rise in the number of insurtech startups in places like the U.K. and Europe is a reminder that there are plenty of insurance services beyond healthcare financing that technology can help provide.
Startups and Sandboxes, Challengers and Incumbents
What is in store for regtech in 2017 and beyond? One interesting prediction from Michael Meyer, Vice Chair International RegTech Association, is the rise of sandboxes as a way to incubate "dedicated testing spaces" for companies working on specific regtech challenges. "In this environment we will see companies with solutions around risk data aggregation; modeling, scenario analysis, and forecasting as required for stress testing; and, alternative approaches to AML/KYC/BSA to name a few," Meyer wrote. "As with other domains in the fintech space, regulatory buy-in for regTech solutions will be imperative. Sandboxes can provide a means to that end." Meyer also is optimistic on partnerships playing as much or more of a role than disruption when it comes to the relationship between startups and incumbents in the space. The role of sandboxes in the development of regtech startups will be one of the key focuses of the Regtech & Insurtech track at FinovateFall in September.
If greater cooperation between industry participants is likely to characterize regtech innovation, will insurtech be a better place to look for true disruption? In their look at top insurtech trends for 2017, Roger Peverelli and Reggy de Feniks argue that here too, incumbents and challengers will find value in working together. "Relationships between insurers and insurtechs will become much more intense," the two wrote, pointing out that incumbents are benefitting both the specific capabilities of startups as well as "the culture at insurtechs and the way of working." This was echoed by KPMG Insurance Partner, Murray Raisbeck, whose review of the insurtech/insurer relationship at the beginning of the year noted a "cross-pollination of leadership talent between insurtech and the traditional insurance sector during 2017." Raisbeck suggested that the 2016 trend that saw a number of insurers creating Chief Data Officer, Chief Digital Officer, and CTO positions for the first time was likely to "accelerate" into this year. Additionally, Raisbeck sees insurers competing with each other to partner with or incubate the best insurtech startups. The winners among the insurers will be those best able to work with startups on their own terms, ensure connectivity between legacy systems and API technology, continued investment in quality data, and, not unlike in the regtech space "an acceleration of 'proof of concept' and pilot programmes" to speed development and eventual integration. Conversations on this relationship between insurtech startups and incumbents, as well as the prospects for disruption, will be a topic during the regtech & insurtech track at FinovateFall.
Just after the demo sessions at FinovateFall, our discussion days on the 13th and 14th present a great opportunity for deep dives and expanded discussions on critical issues in fintech. Join our live panel discussions with industry thought leaders, bank executives, and fintech professionals. Register today and save your spot.
Here's a peek at a few of the planning conversations for the Regtech & Insurtech track at the Digital Banking Summit.
- RegTech USA: Innovating Regulatory Compliance
- Sandboxes and Start-ups: Supporting the development of an ecosystem
- InsurTech Conversations: Meeting the challenge of digital disruption
- Key trends in insurtech
This is the fourth of our six-part FinovateFall Summit Series. Stayed tuned for more on Thursday when we look at the different Digital Markets fintech is serving in 2017 and beyond.


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We are working hard to bring you a new and improved website for the fall/winter of 2019!
Our retail store is still open and offering our services and products during normal business hours. Please visit at your convenience and thanks for your patience.
Levy's Source for Sports
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Retirement is undergoing a revolution: as New Zealanders reach 65, we're healthier, more energetic and more engaged than we've ever been.
With potentially another 30-plus years of life ahead of us, more Kiwis are continuing to work into our 70s, 80s and even beyond.
Between 2000 and 2017, the number of Kiwis aged 65-plus who are working for a wage or salary increased by 278%, while those taking an income from self-employment increased by 108%, according to Statistics NZ. It's estimated that by 2034 there will be 1.2 million workers aged 65-plus.
"Retirement is no longer the destination it used to be; longevity requires us to abandon out-dated notions of ageing and retiring," says Troy Churton, CFFC's national manager – retirement villages and ageing workplace.
"It seems unsustainable to think you get to 65 if you are well enough and then live out potentially another three decades of life without a plan of how you are going to finance yourself, remain happy and healthy."
Working into your senior years, if your health will allow, has a surprisingly wide range of benefits. Older workers boost the economy as a whole, provide billions of dollars' worth of voluntary labour in the community, increase their personal incomes and may experience health benefits.
Continuing to work may even decrease your risk of mortality, although job stress and boredom can be detrimental to your wellbeing – the most beneficial work will be something meaningful and engaging.
Whether you're working by choice or necessity, you may need to consider a career change; switching careers or re-entering the workforce at 65 is becoming increasingly common, says Churton, and many Kiwis successfully navigate into new work.
Sometimes older workers are looking for less physically demanding work, while others want more meaningful encore careers or volunteering.
It's daunting to think about switching careers at 65, but a shortage of skilled workers means employers are increasingly enthusiastic about taking on older employees.
There are plenty of benefits for business: improved age diversity boosts productivity and performance, while one study found older workers took fewer sick days, had better problem-solving skills and higher levels of job satisfaction than their younger co-workers.
As the retirement revolution gathers momentum, our regulations are beginning to reflect the changing workforce.
Upcoming changes to KiwiSaver mean that from July 1 this year those aged 65 and over can join, which can be advantageous since these funds often have lower fees than comparable non-KiwiSaver funds.
A large number of local employers also continue to pay KiwiSaver contributions to older workers – Churton says you should pursue this when you're negotiating for a new job so you can get the maximum reward for your efforts.
With extra money coming in to supplement your superannuation, plus the social benefits of continued work, you could find yourself enjoying the most rewarding part of your career.
"Last year I meet a 99-year-old man who was living in a retirement village in Wellington, who had been an accountant and was still doing accounts for his friends and some of his old clients.
He was just incredible," says Churton. "This whole shift in values to working in retirement has a direct correlation to being healthier and happier."


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Hand knitted banana blanket in Paris
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The vegetable garden knit
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