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Govt to consider merging inadequate drinking water suppliers
By Paul McBeth
Dec. 6 (BusinessDesk) - The government will consider merging council-run drinking water suppliers among the raft of recommendations to deal with New Zealand's inadequate drinking water system.
Attorney-General David Parker today released the second stage of the government's inquiry into Havelock North Drinking Water, outlining 51 recommendations including legislation rewrites and tougher regulation to deal with a failure to provide safe drinking water to all of the country's population. The inquiry panel chaired by retired appeal court judge Lyn Stevens found in their follow-up report that the contamination of Havelock North's water supply wasn't confined to that region, with water suppliers across the country sharing those problems and many not meeting minimum compliance levels.
"These findings point to a widespread systemic failure among water suppliers to meet the high standards required for the supply of safe drinking water to the public," the report said. "The industry has demonstrated that it is not capable of itself improving when the standards are not met."
The investigation was triggered by the outbreak of a gastro illness, laying low more than 2,000 people in the Hawke's Bay town in 2016 when the local supply, sourced from shallow bores extracting groundwater, was contaminated.
The panel, rounded out by NZQA chief executive Karen Poutasi and Wellington engineer Anthony Wilson, said the government should make "a decisive and definitive assessment of whether to mandate, or persuade, suppliers to establish aggregated dedicated water suppliers", which could provide greater economies of scale "to improve compliance, competence and accountability," in their report.
Other recommendations include universal treatment of water, setting up a new independent drinking water regulator, strengthening legislation, and imposing a licensing system.
Health Minister David Clark is seeking urgent advice to put to Cabinet before Christmas, while Parker, who is also Environment Minister, is seeking advice on the recommendations and regulations.
Water quality has been a vexed issue for political parties, with the previous administration attempting to find consensus through the Land and Water Forum, while the ruling Labour Party was forced to drop its planned tax for commercial water use by coalition partner NZ First, although they do plan to impose a levy on drinking water exports.
The report estimates more than 759,000 people were exposed to potentially unsafe water in 2015/16 and between 18,000 and 100,000 people probably got sick. That's thought to cost the country $12.5 million-to-$23.7 million a year, excluding extra costs of an outbreak or the intangible cost of pain, suffering and death, the report said.
Parker said the government has written to mayors and district health boards around the country to check the water they're supplying their residents is meeting current standards.


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Only about 5.5% of women and 4.6% of men that play volleyball at the high school level go on to play in college, and college coaches absolutely take into consideration grades and standardized test scores when recruiting. Therefore scoring high on the SAT or ACT can open up more doors during the recruiting process and help athletes receive more scholarship money. Here's how to plan for your test.
SAT vs. ACT: Which one? Or both?
Most colleges and universities accept both the SAT and ACT but you should check the schools on your target list to see if they have a preference. The tests are fairly similar in the types of questions, although the SAT is slightly longer and doesn't include a science section.
The SAT focuses more on vocabulary and general reasoning
The math section of the ACT is more advanced than the SAT. A good way to determine which test you should choose is to take the PSAT and PreACT, which are the respective practice tests for the SAT and ACT.
A timeline for when to take the SAT or ACT
It is preferred that student-athletes take the SAT or ACT earlier in their junior year. Student-athletes who are able to give coaches concrete test scores early on give themselves a leg up in the recruiting process, as it makes it easier for coaches to make decisions on which recruits to follow.
Additionally, many colleges have application deadlines in early November of your senior year, which doesn't leave much time to submit test scores as a senior. It is also recommended that you retake the SAT or ACT at least once if you're looking to improve your score. You can take the SAT as many times as you want and the ACT up to 12 times. However, taking it more than three times is not likely to help you.
Make sure to stay up on upcoming SAT test dates and ACT test dates for 2019–20.
What scores do you need?
A big part of taking and retaking the SAT or ACT is understanding what scores you need to be both eligible and accepted into your school of choice. The NCAA uses a combined SAT test score to determine eligibility. This is the sum of your math plus reading scores. For the ACT, your English, math, reading and science scores are added together to create the ACT sum score. This is different than the composite score that is an average of the four sections.
The NCAA uses the best scores from each section of the ACT and SAT to create your final score, so taking the tests multiple times is to your advantage. According to the College Board, which administers the SAT, more than half of students take the SAT more than once and see an increase in their score. The ACT reports similar findings.
NCAA Division I schools use a sliding scale to determine eligibility. What this means is, the higher your GPA, the lower your test scores can be, and vice versa. See the full sliding scale. For DII, you will need a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68. Eligibility in the NAIA requires an 18 on the ACT and 860 on the SAT.
But remember that eligibility requirements are much lower than the admission requirements for prestigious colleges.
Final tips for getting high scores
- Get help with studying. Many high schools offer classes and guidance on SAT or ACT testing. It's been recommended to spend at least 40 total hours studying for either test. Some student-athletes are able to hire tutors; if that is an option for you, it could be worth it. The Princeton Review also offers free SAT and ACT practice tests.
- Choose your test date wisely. Try to pick test dates that don't fall in the busy season of your sport or life. The more things you have on your plate, the less focus you'll have on testing.
- Get proper rest. Staying up too late the night before you take the SAT or ACT can affect your outcome. Take care of yourself so you can be in the mindset to excel.
For related reading on the recruiting process click HERE. For more education for volleyball athletes click HERE.
About the Author
Matt Sonnichsen is the Director of Volleyball and National Speaker for Next College Student Athlete (NCSA), the Official Recruiting Services provider of the JVA. NCSA assists JVA Club Directors and Coaches with guiding their athletes through the recruiting process. Matt has over 20 years of experience coaching volleyball at the collegiate level. Read more about NCSA.

subset: commoncrawl


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For Nell Nolle, the right person at the right timeBy Nell Nolle
Sometimes people go through life helping others without expecting recognition, and maybe never getting it either. I know such a person. Her name is Regina Thompson.
Regina came to Morehead City from Fayetteville and got a job at Carteret General Hospital. She has helped so many to get jobs at the hospital, and her suggestions for the hospital staff have made their jobs easier.
I am 86 years old. She watches over me and takes time to help me. All I have to do is call. A few years ago, I was in Jacob, Canada, at my granddaughter's house and something went wrong. I was frightened and called Regina. She called the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in that area and got me help. They took care of me for three days, even though they didn't know me, and then took me to the airport so I could come home. When I got off the plane, there was Regina with a bouquet of beautiful flowers. I was so happy to see her.
She is like a daughter to me. She is very intelligent and can fix anything. Let her look at it, and she fixes it. And she is a wiz at computers. All I have to do is ask her and she figures it out.
Regina also helps her daughter and son and his beautiful children. I really don't know what any of us would do without her. Her precious daughter has been in pain for 20 years. Her pain is so intense that sometimes medicine doesn't help. But her mother takes care of her while working and helping everyone else.
At my age, with my children out of the area, I need someone to help me. The only thing I can do for Regina is to cook and bake and give something to her and her husband, John. I hope it helps to free her to do all the things she does for others.
Hurricane Irene in 2011 left their home in shambles and wiped out their possessions. They have been paying rent ever since. When they get enough money, they want to put the house up on stilts.
Through all of this, Regina thinks about other people and not her own problems and wants to know how she can help. If there were more people like Regina Thompson, this would be a better world.
About the AuthorNell Nolle lives in Newport.
Comments (1)
It's so wonderful when people give of themselves for each other. What a lovely account.


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BMW Motorrad Concept Link Electric Scooter Unveiled
BMW Motorrad recently unveiled Concept Link Electric Scooter @ 2017 Concorso d'Eleganza. The scooter is inspired from BMW Motorrad Vision Next 100 and balance connectivity with two wheel mobility solution. The ease of handling and impressive acceleration will make it popular among the masses while low seat ensures ease of riding for all types of riders. BMW has even provided a reverse gear for easy parking in tight spaces. They have used two tone color for improved visual appeal.
The seat can be used for both single as well as double riding while using flat batteries under the floor and a compact motor on the rear wheel makes the design unique among other concept scooters. It comes with front twin LED lights, C-shaped rear lights, heads up display and many other features. The large panel in between the handlebar is touch sensitive and carries connectivity features like maps, infotainment and mobile tethering. The touch buttons on the handlebar are programmable.
Official Video of BMW Motorrad Concept Link Electric Scooter
"The BMW Motorrad Concept Link is not based on today's concepts, but rather meets the basic functionality needs, the technical architecture and the digital reality of today's users. The technical realities of electric drive – such as the flat energy packs in the underfloor and the compact drive on the rear wheel – allowed us to create a highly distinctive design which shapes a new segment. The resulting expressive power of the vehicle is absolutely new for BMW Motorrad and breaks with all conventional viewing patterns", said Alexander Buckan, Head of Vehicle Design at BMW Motorrad
Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design of BMW Motorrad, explained, "The BMW Motorrad Concept Link stands for a new understanding of urban mobility. It links the digital and analogue world and places the focus on the rider and his mobility needs. In the way it links functionality and digitalisation it performs both as a means of transport as well as a communication device. For me the BMW Motorrad Concept Link, with its timeless and reduced style, is more than a concept – it is rather a symbol for a new era."


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M.I.A. NPT: Does the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Fail to Deter Proliferation?
Posted by K.E. White on March 26, 2007
According to two academics, the NPT "has not deterred proliferation at the systems level."
"Enthusiasm for the NPT among proliferation opponents thus appears to be misplaced," write Dong-Joon Jo (University of Seoul, Korea) and Erik Gartzke (Columbia University).
The academics come to this conclusion by statistically investigating factors that lead countries to proliferate around the globe.
Now one may point out the following: the NPT is not a completely globally regime. The nations that have 'illegally' proliferated (meaning not recognized by the NPT) are Pakistan, India, Israel, and most recently North Korea. South Africa also had nuclear weapons, but latter renounced them.
None of those proliferators were members of the NPT—North Korea left the treaty.
This is not to say that Gartzke and Jo have a point: the NPT has not reversed nuclear proliferation.
They are also correct to show that membership within a treaty should not be seen, in and of itself, as a determinate in whether proliferation occurs around the globe.
But they fail to address the legitimatizing power of the NPT, and how it has been used to restrain nuclear proliferation for over three decades.
This is a long-winded way of asking: What's the right benchmark to gauge success?
For Gartzke and Jo they just look at the numbers: finding that nations have proliferation weapons, and that being a member or not did not seem to have as much weight as "major power status".
But that is because they treat NPT "membership" as a number, and emphasize the cases of proliferation–(and ignores probable cases of nuclear reversal).
No where do they discuss the NPT as a vehicle for nation-states to develop nuclear policy, instead they want to reduce it to a single anti-proliferation weight.
Ian Bellany writes in Curbing the Spread of Nuclear Weapons:
A final conclusion relates to the NPT itself. Like all good arms control treaties, it should be at constant risk of failure since, like a good nuclear-free zone, it is doing a job work. Its success as an international arrangement is not therefore to be judged by occasional failures as such (which simply demonstrate the fact that it is needed) but by how well its chief backers react and adapt to these emerging realities (3).
Bellany points out an important aspect of the NPT: it is a tool for nation-states to change viewpoints on the global security context. Simply pointing at an objective aspect of the treaty—membership—does nothing to address either 1) nuclear proliferation or 2) the role of NPT plays in the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
The treaty is a forum (as Gartzke and Jo themselves argue), and its success depends on the actions of its members—particularly its permanent five members. Looking at North Korea's isolation—caused in no small part by its withdrawal form the NPT—seems to suggest that legitimacy does matter when it comes to proliferation.
And the NPT bestows that international legitimacy.
But most troubling, Jo and Gartzke seem to pay no attention to proliferation reversals (such as South Africa and the post-Soviet Republics). They thereby only look to cases of proliferation, and not counter-proliferation, to gauge the treaty's value.
Conclusion: Dong-Joon Jo and Erik Gartzke fail to actually substantiate their dire NPT conclusions.
Are there problems within the treaty that Jo and Gartzke point out? Yes.
May the world be on the cusp on a nuclear tipping point? Yes.
Has the NPT radically changed nation-state conceptions of international security? No.
But the NPT has undoubtedly contributed to an atmosphere of trust and predictability–as only an international agreement can foster.
Will Iranian resistance break this fragile regime? Perhaps.
But the regime, even if it ended tomorrow, has played a role in limiting the spread of nuclear weapons.
No past proliferator can be used as proof for the failure of the NPT. In fact, the limited proliferation since the NPT's inception is proof of success.
Again, President Kennedy predicted a world of 15 to 25 new nuclear-weapon states.
And where are we today? Four.
Seems like a roaring success.
Now some may disagree with this baseline for NPT success. But Dong-Joon Jo and Erik Gartzke fail to justify their own bench line—or even articulate one.
Instead they do some statistical magic, offer no historical analysis, and come to 'hard' conclusions on the usefulness of the NPT.
Totally (un)impressive.
One Response to "M.I.A. NPT: Does the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Fail to Deter Proliferation?"
August 11, 2007 at 1:53 pm
The author seems not to understand how multivariate statistics function, and thus misinterprets Jo and Gartzke's finding. It is certainly reasonable to debate whether the Jo and Gartzke study is correct in concluding that the NPT has not reduced proliferation, but the critique here is pretty thoroughly misguided.
At its most basic, asking whether the NPT works requires a comparison of which countries would have proliferated without the NPT, and which did with the NPT present. Our study builds a statistical model of who proliferates based on a number of factors (military, strategic, economic, political). We find that including whether a country signed the NPT does not significantly change the predictions of the model. NPT members don't proliferate, but proliferators don't join (or stay) in the NPT.
Statistics are not "magic," just a summary of the best available information on what has happened, and how these events relate to each other. We cannot prove that the NPT has no effect on world culture (indeed, we believe it probably does). Rather, we show that those countries that proliferated, or did not proliferate, probably would not have altered their actions even in the absence of the NPT. This was, after all, the basic objective of the treaty.
Erik Gartzke


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She's Four
Happy Birthday to our bubbly, witty, strong, silly, independent FOUR year old. Watching you grow is a gift. For the … Continue reading She's Four
the ramblings of a wife, mommy, foodie, runner and follower of Christ.
Happy Birthday to our bubbly, witty, strong, silly, independent FOUR year old. Watching you grow is a gift. For the … Continue reading She's Four
Yesterday was one of the best Halloween nights I've experienced as an adult. We were worried that trick-or-treating was going … Continue reading Halloween 2018
While the weather wasn't preferable for the orchard (I believe it was around eighty degrees), we had a great time … Continue reading An Autumn Tradition.
On Thursday morning, my cousin and I ventured out to a local strawberry patch. We wanted our kiddos to experience freshly picked … Continue reading A Sweet Start to Summer
Last weekend, Marty, Charlotte and I headed out to the pumpkin patch for some much needed 'fall' themed fun. Other … Continue reading Pumpkin Pickin'
Yesterday morning the three of us headed out to Cackler Tree Farms in search of our Christmas tree. This was … Continue reading How Lovely Are Your Branches.
It seems like just yesterday we brought Charlotte home. A November afternoon. Charlotte was this perfect 8 lb bundle. It was a cold … Continue reading One Year of Charlotte Rose.
On Saturday afternoon, friends and family gathered to celebrate Charlotte's upcoming first birthday. Party planning isn't my forte so I'm … Continue reading Charlotte's Woodland One-derland.
Oh how my girl is changing! Can you believe that Charlotte is nine months old? I know I can't. At … Continue reading My Growing Girl.


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If anyone has any doubt about the impact of Cyber Crime and its threat to UK business, grab a coffee and properly read this Cisco report. By James Pink | Pink Connect It makes chilling reading, highlighting how hopelessly unprepared almost every business is to resist a business killing attack – from the Criminals or […]READ MORE
UK Businesses Under Attack!
Published 9/10/17 by Comms Magazine UK businesses were subjected to more than 600 cyber attacks a day during the third quarter of 2017, according to a new data from Beaming, the business ISP. Between July and September, the average UK firm experienced 55,314 attempts by hackers to access their data or take control of IT […]READ MORE
Mobile Malware – you need to know this…
Mobile malware is on the rise! Android and Apple make up 96.8% of the mobile market as of Q4 2016. This has by default, made them targets for cyber criminals, looking to cash in on completely unprotected smartphones and tablets. Phishing attempts, malicious apps, fake Wi-Fi hotspots and ransomware are becoming common on mobile devices […]READ MORE
TalkTalk Fined £400k by ICO for Data Breach
Published on 06/10/2016 by Comms Business In the wake of their data breach last year TalkTalk has been fined £400,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for its poor data security. The breach included the theft of personal data belonging to 157,000 customers. The ICO stated that "TalkTalk's failure to implement the most basic cyber […]READ MORE
Clear and present danger…
Clear and present danger… A phrase we would normally hear in times of war however, right now there is a clear and present danger to your business. Funded by clever and brilliantly organised criminals, Ransomware will kill your business overnight by encrypting/locking all your server, PC and Laptop files. This business is now bigger than […]READ MORE
Is your system safe from fraud? Fingers crossed…
67% of the millions of daily SME "hacking" attempts are now targeted at telephone systems. By comparison, SQL servers – which represented the second-most attacked category – accounted for only 4% of attacks. Given these hacking attacks are now running 24/7 on hundreds of powerful servers, with software specifically designed to detect telephone systems, it's […]READ MORE
Key issues that customers face and the solutions that can make their lives easier
A lack of communication in the workplace, across sites and suppliers can be solved with our wide selection of affordable and easy-to-use data connectivity options The need for converged communications such as data, voice and mobile from one reliable provider can be tied into our broadband and Ethernet solutions, with one point of contact in […]READ MORE
What would happen if your company data falls into your competitors hands?
There is a new EU Data Protection Reform coming in 2015: "The changes will have a huge bearing on businesses as far as information compliance is concerned; breached businesses must pay fines of up to 5% of gross turnover, report breaches within 72 hours (interestingly, the notice mentions "if feasible within 24 hours"), and employ […]READ MORE
You don't need a backup strategy. You need a restore strategy!
We know. You already have a system, it's working well and you're taking backups regularly. You are confident you're sitting pretty with everything under control. Recent stats show however, it takes about 88 days on average to find that your system has been compromised and an additional 114 days to resolve issues caused by malware. […]READ MORE


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FB NEWS – With House passage yesterday, the Farm Bureau-supported supplemental disaster relief bill is ready for President Trump's expected signature.
"Farms across the country endured an incredibly difficult year in 2018 and the trend continues in 2019 with challenging market prices and destructive weather conditions. Historic hurricanes Florence and Michael, with unprecedented wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters, devastated agricultural regions throughout the nation," American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said in a letter urging House members to support the farmers, ranchers and rural communities that were impacted by these catastrophic weather events by voting for the supplemental disaster relief bill.
The measure, passed by the Senate in late May, includes $3.005 billion administered through the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program for necessary expenses related to losses of crops – including on-farm stored commodities and crops that could not be planted in 2019 – trees, bushes, vines, milk and harvested adulterated wine grapes caused by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019. Losses of peach and blueberry crops in 2017 due to extreme cold and help for farmers and ranchers impacted by Tropical Storm Cindy will also fall under WHIP.
Along with funding for the Nutrition Assistance for Puerto Rico program, the bill contains assistance for non-industrial timber restoration, rural watershed recovery and the rehabilitation of farmland damaged by natural disasters. The measure also provides money for the Rural Development Community Facilities Grant Program, which funds the development of essential community facilities in rural areas.
Posted by: FB News, June 4, 2019


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Mike, Cedric and Wally were able to all visit Rebecca and Flyboy so it's a packed house this weekend and Rebecca's very happy about that. She is going to be going out and about next month. But the pregnancy meant that she really couldn't travel. She really had to take it easy (in terms of movement) so visits really do mean a great deal.
I won't lie, I was nervous. I did worry this would be another miscarriage. But this is the one. She's healthy, she's never been this far along in any pregnancy before and her doctor says that everything is smooth sailing. I understand her wanting to grab one more month of taking it slow because, if it were me, I would as well. Rebecca's not a stay a home type person. She's used to going everywhere and anywhere at the drop of a hat so this hasn't been easy for her but she's not complained. That's because this is really important and she was willing to do whatever was needed to carry this pregnancy to term.
By the way, she hasn't had any luck with the colors of "Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts 'Bully Boy & the Showboat Express'" -- we're both going to try to work on that this weekend. If we can't fix it (Isaiah has said: "It's no big deal."), I'll post it as is next week. It's a great comic, even with the yellows showing up as green.
"Truth or Consequences" (Dave Lindorff, CounterPunch):
President Bush makes a big deal out of his alleged "faith." Certainly a part of that faith ought to be speaking and behaving honestly. Just recently, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote a piece saying Vice President Dick Cheney should come clean with the American people by either answering a few questions or resigning. But if coming clean with the American people is required of the vice president, surely it is also required of the president, and Bush too, has a few questions to answer. If failure to answer honestly means Cheney should resign, Bush should be held to at least as high a standard.
Here then are a few of the questions Bush:
* Mr. Bush, what was your role in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame? And were you lying to the press and the public when you said you had no idea who did it and wanted a thorough investigation into that leak?
We know that when information was first leaked to Robert Novak disclosing that former ambassador Joseph Wilson's wife Valerie Plame was a CIA undercover agent, you promised a vigorous investigation to find out who had done this treacherous thing. You also promised that whoever did it would be fired. Now we're seeing some evidence in the trial of Scooter Libby--including a handwritten note by Mr. Cheney--which suggests that you knew all about his role and in fact were actively involved in the leak.
* Why did you say to Congress and the American people in the 2003 State of the Union address, just weeks ahead of your invasion of Iraq, that you had just learned from British intelligence that Saddam Hussein had "recently sought" to purchase uranium ore from an African nation?
We know now that the documents in question--the forged Niger letters which purported to be receipts of sale, but which actually contained the faked signatures of officials who had not been part of Niger's government for a decade--were not new at all. In fact they had been presented to you a year and a half earlier by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. We know that you were informed by CIA and State Department intelligence people back then that the documents were fakes. That, of course, is why you didn't go straight to the press and Congress with them back in October of 2001, when you were, reportedly, looking for any excuse to have the U.S. go after Iraq. So a second question in this vein would be:
* Since you clearly were alerted that the documents were bogus way back in October of 2001, why did you cite them to Congress and the American public on January 28, 2003, and pretend that they were new information?
* While we're on the matter of the war, why did you claim in your official letter to Congress on March 18, 2003, announcing your intention to attack Iraq, that you were acting because Iraq posed "a continuing threat" against the United States" when it posed no immediate threat at all? And why did you claim the attack was part of "continuing" action against "international terrorists and terrorist organizations, including those nations, organizations or persons who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001," when you knew that Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks, and that Iraq posed no threat to the US?
These two justifications for going to war were both absolute lies, weren't they, and you certainly knew it, didn't you? You knew the UN inspectors were saying there were no weapons of mass destruction, and anyhow, you knew Saddam had no air force and no navy and no long-range rockets, so he had no delivery systems anyhow, and he was no threat to anybody. And since not one of the terrorists on those planes was Iraqi, and since there was no linkage ever demonstrated between Saddam Hussein and the hijackers or Al Qaeda, the second justification was just as bogus, right?
I prefer Lindorff's questions to Nicky K's. I think they deserve answers and have no trouble joining the call for impeachment. I think impeachment needs to be done to send a message to all future presidents that if you break the laws, if you lie to Congress, if you lie to the people, if you spy illegally, you are punished. Help the country if we don't do that and another sociopath ends up in the oval office.
Mike just asked me to mention Sunny. She was in Tacoma and got left out in some of the comments. She has written a piece that will run in Maria, Miguel and Francisco's newsletter Sunday. Mike explained to her that no one was sure if it was okay to mention to her but that he'd mention her tonight. He says she demonstrated and even went to two campuses with everyone and ended up speaking. She hadn't planned that and I'll get the back story on Monday but I'm sure she saw how comfortable the exchange was, C.I. really does set a wonderful tone, and that's why she spoke.
"The Najaf Massacre: an Annotated Fable" (Conn Hallinan, CounterPunch):
The target of the attack was not the "Soldiers of Heaven," but the al-Hatami and al-Khazali tribes, both of which oppose the current government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. According to the IPS reporters, the Iraqi Army fired on Hatami pilgrims on their way to Najaf for the Ashura holiday, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Muhammad and Shi'ism's most revered saint. "We were going to conduct the usual ceremonies that we conduct every year when we were attacked by Iraqi soldiers," Jabber al-Hatami, leader of the tribe told IPS. Khazaali tribal members went to their aid. "Our two tribes have a strong belief that Iranians are provoking sectarian war in Iraq which is against the belief of all Muslims," one witness told the reporters, "and so we announced an alliance with Sunni brothers against any sectarian violence in the country. That did not make our Iranian-dominated government happy."
The tribes, according to Patrick Cockburn of the Independent, are opposed to the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIR) and the Dawa Party, both of which are close to Iran and which dominate the Maliki government. Some Iraqi tribes object to Sistani because of his Iranian background, and they feel that religious leadership should be kept in the hands of Arabs.
The governor of Najaf, Asad Abu Ghalal, is a prominent member of SCIR, and was one of the major sources on the incident in stories that appeared in The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
Tension between Arab and Iranian Shi'ites has been building in Iraq's south since death squads linked to the Maliki government began assassinating local tribal leaders. A death squad with ties to Iraq's Ministry of the Interior murdered Sheikh Faissal al-Khayoon, head of the large Beni Assad Shi'ite tribe, according to another IPS report . Beni Assad tribal members attacked the Iranian consulate in Basra in retaliation. On Jan. 1, the Mahdi Army of Moktada al Sadr assassinated Sheikh Hamid al-Suhail of the Shiia/Sunni Beni Tamim tribe. Sadr is a key ally of the Maliki government. According to Jamail and al-Fadhily, the Beni Assad and Beni Tamim tribes have worked for Shi'iteSunni unity.
The Independent claims that the "battle" began when the leader of the Hatami tribe, along with his wife and driver, were gunned down at an Iraqi Army checkpoint. The Iraqi Army is riddled with death squads, in particular the Badr Organization, the armed wing of the SCIR. When Hatami tribe members assaulted the checkpoint in revenge, the Iraqi Army called in U.S. helicopters and F-16s, and British Tornados. Tanks and humvees from the U.S. 25th Division were also summoned.
The tribe members fled into a plantation where they were pounded with 500-pound bombs that killed 263 and wounded 210. The Iraqi Army lost 25 soldiers, a casualty imbalance that Cockburn suggests points to not a battle but an "unprecedented massacre."
C.I. covered Najaf last week and it's mentioned in the snapshot today. I'll add to the above that when the victims are powerless or not part of the government, it's very easy for the press to say whatever it wants. No one calls for a correction and no correction gets offered. There are people who heard the 'cult' story and, no doubt, still believe it because the mainstream media has shown no interest in correcting it.
That's going to end it for me tonight. Usually, we end up blogging at the end of the night before we're all about to fall out on Friday night but since there are people I don't get to see that often, I'm going to cut this short and spend time talking.
"Iraq snapshot" (The Common Ills):
Friday, February 9, 2007. Chaos and violence continue in Iraq, Ehren Watada's mistrial continues to be debated, "Who cooked the intel?" becomes a popular question, a leader of one group of resistance fighters in Iraq is quite clear in what is needed to end the war, and "Woops! We thought they were 'insurgents' or al-Qaeda!"
Starting with Ehren Watada who, in June of last year, became the first commissioned officer in the US to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq because the war was illegal and immoral. On Monday, the court-martial of Ehren Watada began with jury selection for the military panel (seven officers were selected) who would, as Hal Bernton (Seattle Times) pointed out, "determine whether Watada spends up to four years in prison in one of the most high-profile cases to be tried at Fort Lewis." Watada was facing up to four years in prison and Lt. Col. John Head (aka Judge Toilet) refused to allow him to argue the reasons why he refused to deploy. This is why Norman Solomon (CounterPunch) called the proceedings "a kangaroo court-martial." . On Tuesday, the prosectution presented their case. Aaron Glantz discussed the day's events with Sandra Lupien on The KPFA Evening News noting: "The prosecution had 3 witnesses. It did not go as well as the prosecution would have liked. Lt. Col Bruce Antonia, who was the prosecution's star witness, as Lt. Watada's commander, said that nothing tangibly bad happened from Lt. Watada's refusal to go to" Iraq and
"[a]nother thing that did not go well for the prosecution today was that their own witnesses clearly showed that Lt. Watada tried other methods of expressing . . . [his opposition] to the Iraq war, internally within the military, before coming forward to speak to the public." Also noting the prosecution's poor performance on Tuesday (when they rested their case), was civil rights attorney Bill Simpich who told Geoffrey Millard (Truthout): "The prosecution asked too many questions. By the time it was over, the prosecution witness had become a defense witness because the field was open. The defense was able to ask nuanced questions, it told the story clearly to the jury." On Wednesday, Judge Toilet began talking mistrial and, due to the lousy performance by the prosecution, it was seen as an attempt at a "do over" even before he called the mistrial.
Yesterday, on KPFA's Flashpoints, Nora Barrows-Friedman spoke with Marjorie Cohn (president of the National Lawyers Guild) about the mistrial. Cohn's belief (based on expertise) is that the government's case is over -- that, military or civilian, courts must respect the laws of the land and that includes avoiding double-jeopardy (trying a person for the same alleged crimes twice). As Rebecca notes, Cohn explained that the stipulation Judge Toilet made much ado over was a stipulation (agreement between the prosecution and the defense) that both sides had agreed to, that the jury was made aware of, that Judge Toilet had looked over and, up until it was time for the defense to present their case, Judge Toilet never voiced any concerns over the stipulation, More importantly, Cohen pointed out, "When a mistrial is declared, the defense has to agree to it. The only thing that will defeat a finding of double-jeopardy . . . is if there was manifest necessity to declare the mistrial" which, in Cohn's opinion, there wasn't. At Counterpunch, Cohen also made the case "that under the Double Jeopardy Clause of the Constitution, the government cannot retry Lt. Watada on the same charges of missing movement and conduct unbecoming an officers." Leila Fujimori (The Honolulu Star-Bulletin) spoke with Earle Partington ("local attorney with decades in military justice") who also stated that "military judge Lt. Col. John Head lacked authority to set a new date, March 19, for the trial after declaring a mistrial Wednesday". Marjorie Cohn had explained to Nora Barrows-Friedman that Judge Toilet floated the idea of a mistrial and when the prosecution (taking the hint) asked for one, the defense did not consent to a mistrial. Also making this point is Eric Seitz, Watada's civilian attorney. Bob Egelko (San Francisco Chronicle) reports: "The lawyer for an officer whose court-martial for refusing deployment to Iraq was abruptly halted this week says the Army's planned retrial of his client would violate the constitutional ban on double jeopardy. Because 1st Lt. Ehren Watada neither caused nor consented to the mistrial that an Army judge declared Wednesday, the charges against him must be dismissed, attorney Eric Seitz said. Those charges were punishable by up to four years in prison. 'I don't think the judge understands, and I don't think the Army realizes that this case cannot be retried,'' Seitz said in an interview after the trial at Fort Lewis, Wash., was halted."
Yesterday, reporting for Free Speech Radio News, Aaron Glantz noted Carolyn Ho's reaction to the mistrial ("tears started streaming down her cheek"). Carolyn Ho, mother of Ehren Watada: "He was quite prepared to vacate his apartment. It's been all packed up and, you know, and we were arranging to have his furniture moved on Monday. The expectation was that he would be sentenced and, um, that there would be incarceration." Reporting for IPS (text), Glantz noted Eric Seitz's contention: "Every time the government has tried to prevent political speech, which they are attempting to punish, from infusing the trial proceedings it has created a major mess and many of those cases result in mistrials."
Watada is a part of a movement of resistance with the military that includes others such as Agustin Aguayo (whose court-martial is currently set to begin on March 6th), Kyle Snyder, Darrell Anderson, Ivan Brobeck, Ricky Clousing, Aidan Delgado, Mark Wilkerson, Joshua Key, Camilo Meija, Pablo Paredes, Carl Webb, Stephen Funk, David Sanders, Dan Felushko, Brandon Hughey, Jeremy Hinzman, Corey Glass, Patrick Hart, Clifford Cornell, Joshua Despain, Katherine Jashinski, Chris Teske, Matt Lowell and Kevin Benderman. In total, thirty-eight US war resisters in Canada have applied for asylum.Information on war resistance within the military can be found at Center on Conscience & War, The Objector, The G.I. Rights Hotline, and the War Resisters Support Campaign. Courage to Resist offers information on all public war resisters.
War resister Joshua Key self-checked out of the US army after serving in Iraq. He, Brandi Key (his wife) and their children moved to Canada. Key has written a book on his experience in Iraq and after entitled The Deserter's Tale. Brian Lynch (The Georgia Straight) notes: "And when Key arrived in the bomb-cratered streets of Iraq, his commanding officers issued constant reports that heavily armed terrorist cells or mobs of Saddam Hussein's sympathizers were poised to attack. None of these threats materialized, he says. And as he recalls in his book, he began to sense that 'the repeated warnings of danger were meant to keep us off guard, and to keep us frightened enough to do exactly what we were told.'
This, he believes, is a tactic that the highest political and military leaders in his native country have used on the public itself. Field commanders, he says on the phone, 'try to keep you scared, keep you motivated. And that's exactly what's happened to the [American] people as well. Everybody is so afraid of terrorism... And of course, from my actions in Iraq, I think the terrorism hasn't begun yet--terrorism from all the little Iraqi children that I terrorized myself. There's going to be a flip side to that. There will be consequences'."
Cause and effect.
On today's Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman noted: "In Iraq, the US military is facing allegations of killing forty-five Iraqi civililans in an airstrike near Amiriyah. Police and hospital officials say the bombings flattened four homes in the village of Zaidan, just south Abu Ghraib, killing women, childre, and the elderly. A photograph released by the Associated Press shows the body of a boy in the back of a pickup truck taken to the nearby Falluja hospital. Several other children were reportedly admitted with injuries. The US military denies the account and says thirteen insurgents were killed."
That incident was explored in yesterday's snapshot (and you can tie it with the Najaf incident which Tom Hayden recently wrote about). Today, Al Jazeera reports: "The US military had said in a statement that US forces killed five armed men in the city of Mosul early on Friday during a raid targeting an al-Qaeda cell." Had? Before we get there, please note that in Najaf, in the strike near Amiriyah, in countless 'battles,' the motive is always said to be 'suspected' this or that. And when innocents die in the attacks, it doesn't change the fact that intended targets (present or not) are still only 'suspected'. So who were US forces ordered to kill in Mosul? The BBC says: "Eight Iraqi soldiers have been killed and six wounded in a US helicopter strike". Lauren Frayer (AP) reports that "U.S. helicopters on Friday mistakenly killed at least five Kurdish troops, a group that Washington hopes to enlist as a partner to help secure Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi officials said."
Now a few things to note. 1) When you have some level of power, you can have the record corrected. That's what happened here. The US military had already issued their press release claiming suspected al Qaeda had been killed. 2) Calling it a "mistake" doesn't mitigate the effects on the families and friends of the eight dead. 3) Even when 'apologizing' the flacks for the US military still want to quibble on how many were killed (8 is the Kurdish figure and the media's figure, the US military has tried to stick 5). This is why 'suspected' or potential 'suspected' really should raise eyebrows. As evidenced by yesterday's denial, which has only continued, the US military refuses to acknowledge that children were killed in the attack. Instead the military spokespeople want to crow about how they got 'insurgents' or al-Qaeda -- 'suspected.'
Meanwhile, Robert Fisk (Independent of London) reports on Abu Salih Al-Jeelani ("one of the military leaders of the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Resistance Movement") and his group ("20th Revolution Brigades") which has issued a statement on what it will take for there to be a ceasefire:
* The release of 5,000 detainees held in Iraqi prisons as "proof of goodwill"
* Recognition "of the legitimacy of the resistance and the legitimacy of its role in representing the will of the Iraqi people".
* An internationally guaranteed timetable for all agreements.
* The negotiations to take place in public.
* The resistance "must be represented by a committee comprising the representatives of all the jihadist brigades".
* The US to be represented by its ambassador in Iraq and the most senior commander.
All starred items are direct quotes from Fisk's article. The leader says they also want the constitution of Iraq and the deals arranged (especially with regards to the oil) cancelled -- to be replaced by things deriving from the Iraqi people and not foreign occupiers.
In the United States, one of the big stories is the cooking of intel. Julian E. Barnes (Los Angeles Times) notes that "the Pentagon's inspector general examined the activities of Douglas J. Feith, an influential undersecretary to former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld during the months leading up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003. . . . Its findings lend credence to charges by White House critics that Feith, who has since left the department, was out of line when he sought to discredit analyses by CIA intelligence officials that discounted alleged ties between Al Qaeda and then-Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein." Walter Pincus and R. Jeffrey Smith (Washington Post) report US Senator Carl Levin stated, "The bottom line is that intelligence relating to the Iraq-al-Qaeda relationship was manipulated by high-ranking officials in the Department of Defense to support the administration's decision to invade Iraq. . . . The inspector general's report is a devastating condemnation of inappropriate activities in the DOD policy office that helped take this nation to war" and the reporters note: "The summary document confirmed a range of accusations that Levin had leveled against Feith's office, alleging inaccurate work."
In some reports, Feith is noted as saying he was not wrong. Of course he wasn't wrong. He cooked the intel exactly as he wanted. Was it burned? Of course, that's how he wanted it, that's how he served it.
And on clever propaganda, CBS and AP report that US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has declared that there is "pretty good" evidence of Iran's involvement in Iraq. Pretty good? Gates' word is supposed to be all anyone needs. Gates paints a story of 'weapons' found that are from Iran. What is he suggesting? That the Iranian government gave the Iraqi resistance the weapons? No, he means markings show that they were made in Iran. (That's his word -- take it for what it's not worth.) How shocking! People could get weapons from a country that borders their own! Oh my!
It proves nothing -- and the US firearms are all over the Iraqi black market -- but it's the new talking point. Expect to see a lot more of it.
Addressing the issue of Iran, Juan Cole told Steve Rendell (on this week's CounterSpin): "Of coures the entire discourse of Washington has been, for many years, to get Iran and all Iranian attempts to reach out to the United States, some of which have been quite serious and wide ranging have been rebuffed. Iran has been kept as an enemy because Washington wants it as an enemy." Probably won't catch that in the mainstream.
Reuters notes 17 dead in Mosul from a roadside bomb while 2 were killed (eight wounded) in Hilla from a roadside bomb.
Shootings?Reuters reports that three people were shot dead (and 10 wounded) in Baghdad today.Corpses?
AFP reports that eleven corpses were discovered today in Mahawil -- "floating in the Al-Malih river" -- after they and two others were kidnapped on Thursday (the other were released and are alive*) and, in Amara, Mohammed Qasim Kerkuki 's corpse was discovered ("riddled with bullets"). (*AFP reports that, other agencies don't address the two. Al Jazeera notes that the kidnappers were wearing "Iraqi army uniforms and drove military vehicles".)
Yesterday's snapshot didn't note corpses. My apologies. Reuters reported 16 corpses were discovered in Mosul and 20 in Baghdad on Thursday. Please note, it's Friday. The majority of the violence (that gets reported) will emerge slowly throughout the rest of Friday.
Meanwhile the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence announced: "It is with deep regret that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of a British soldier in Iraq today, Friday 9 February 2007. MOD Announcement We can confirm that there was a roadside bomb attack on a Multi-National Forces patrol south east of Basra City that resulted in the death of the British soldier. Three other soldiers have also been injured, one of whom is described as critical." That brought the count for UK troops who have died in Iraq since the start of the illegal war to 132.
Also today the US military announced: "Three Soldiers assigned to Multi-National Force-West were killed Thursday from wounds sustained while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar Province." AP's count for the total number of US troops who have died in Iraq since the start of the illegal war 3,117.
Finally, seven days ago, the Democratica National Committee held the Winter Meeting in DC and the mainstream's coverage was -- "Who didn't stick to the time limit! Nobody said anything!" Dennis Kucinich, US House Rep and 2008 candidate for president did speak and addressed a number of issues. Our focus is Iraq so we'll focus on the Iraq section. Kucinich: "Fellow Democrats, I can win because of all the candidates for President, I not only voted against the authorization but I have consistently voted against funding the war and I have a 12-point plan devised with the help of international peacekeepers, to bring our troops home and to end the war. Fellow Democrats, of all decisions a President must make, the one most far reaching is whether to commit the lives of our young men and women to combat. I believe that I have demonstrated the clarity and foresight people have a right to expect of a President. This war would have never occured in the first place if I had been President. We do not have to wait for 2009 and my Inauguration as President to end it because, fellow Democrats, right now the Democratic Congress has the ability and the power to end the war and bring our troops home. This past November, Democrats received a mandate from the American people to end the war. Democrats have an obligation to reclaim Congress' constitutional power to end the war. If we support the troops, if we truly support the troops, we should bring them home. Money is there now to bring our troops safely home. Supporting my 12 point plan, Congress can require the Administration to end the occupation, close the bases, bring the troops home and stabilize Iraq. Fellow Democrats, I want to stress, the Democratic Congress must deny the President the money he wants to keep the war going through the end of his term, money which he can also use to attack Iran. If we give the President the money to continue the war the Democratic Party will have bought the war."
ehren watada
joshua key
marjorie cohn
nora barrows friedman
leila fujimorigeoffrey millardbill simpich
sex and politics and screeds and attitude
aaron glantz
amy goodman
walter pincusr. jeffrey smithjulian e. barnesbob egelko
democracy now


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6 Email Marketing Tips You Should Follow [Infographic]
Email Marketing Campaigns are important elements of any marketing plan. Permission based email marketing has a higher ROI than direct mail, unsolicited mail or traditional advertising. With this powerful strategy businesses can attract, grow and retain loyal customers.
Email marketing can:
- Increase engagement
- Boost sales
- Build brand loyalty
- Generate Leads
Well crafted email marketing campaigns can help you in achieving your business objectives. Especially for eCommerce business, email provides a way to strengthen relationship.
With occasional emails you can announce new products, deals and services.
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This amazing visual representation, brought to you by Vebology, revolves around 6 powerful email marketing tips marketers should follow to boost sales.
Hi Nisha
Wonderful infographics on a topic that is mostly covered with text contents and image based contents will surely describe it more powerfully as we know pictures speak louder than words.
Point no 2 is very important that one can buy email list but sending a campaign to such huge list won't make any big conversion and end result would be the same as with the campaign send to a small but targeted list.
Thanks a lot for sharing this very useful post.
Hi Nisha,
I am sure this guide will help everyone having an work with email marketing. we as bloggers should never ignore email marketing and these tips in a fun infographics speak a ton.
Thanks for this wonderful resource. 🙂
I forgot to mention that the point on keeping it simple is really helpful. I have seen friends who complicated their emial lists with so many stuffs like the facebook page like, twitter follow, visit a second website of their's link etc etc.
Result: they reduced ther subscriber numbers drastically. So I would say better keep it focused on one thing 🙂
Hello Nisha,
Nice post and nice infographic indeed. Email marketing is always a helpful tool to engage visitors on a blog. You have mentioned some steps in the infographic which are really helpful. According to me Simplicity and Setting up a goal are most important among the mentioned steps. But the others steps are also useful. I just want to add an another step that is blog commenting. It's also very helpful to create an email list.
Thanks & Regards,
Moumita Ghosh
Hi Alan,
Cool infographic. These email marketing tips are really useful for email marketers like me.
Thanks for sharing this cool post 🙂
Hi Nisha/Alan,
Wonderful infographic, I must say. I found some useful information on email marketing. Personalization really helps you in reader engegement. It is very important to provide useful information in your email. If you aim only to sell products through emails, your subscribers are intelligent enough to take notice.
Analytics also plays a major role in email marketing. It is very useful to track CTR and conversions. Thanks for this informative post.
Great Infographic posted. Email Marketing is one best marketing source in internet Marketing once we have good email list making money would be easy its all about how we use the email list.
Hi Alan/ Nisha,
Nice inforgraphic. Email marketing is one of the best and genuine way to get loyal readers.
Since it give loyal readers, it is very necessary to design email in an effective way which you have already mention in your infographic.
I think center of this post is 6th point. If we are deciding to start email campaign then there should be a goal behind that campaign, if not, then no initiative would work.
Thanks for sharing this information.
>SK Lohar
Nice Share Alan,
Email marketing is an indispensable tool in business today. And a well build and maintained email marketing list is by far one of your most valuable assets you can create. Although, it is very tough to gain the attention of viewers but its worth to try. I am yet to harness this technique but will try out in near future.
Hi Nisha Mam,
Thanks for this great post.
I am agree with you that simplicity is the biggest tool to achieve you goal. If your message will more complicated than most people ignore to read and if it will simple and clear than everyone will be interested to read it.
The 2nd thing you mention about email list, it is 100% sure that if you collect your own email list then it will be more valuable.
Again a big thanks for this awesome inforgraph.
Have a nice ahead 🙂
Hello Nisha Madam,
First time visitor of your blog , looking for email marketing and your blog caught my eyes on infographic image.. wow its simply super and clearly explained with beautiful colors, will follow your 6 tips thanks for sharing learnt good info from this post.. keep blogging will visit again.
Thank you for your article. Some really good stuff here. I use Infusionsoft and Clickback for my email marketing and have been pretty happy. It's amazing how much a user can do on their side to increase open rates by following simple rules. I appreciate the simple tips to keep in mind when email marketing. Love Spells That Work


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As European interest in American craft beers begins to mirror the mania for them stateside, the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Belgium on Thursday announced a deal to buy the Boulevard Brewing Company, a craft brewery in Kansas City, Mo.
The acquisition of Boulevard will give Duvel, pronounced DOO-vel, ownership of a large United States craft brewer that is well known in the Midwest and produces a wide variety of beers under its own name and others. Boulevard's brands range from 80-Acre Hoppy Wheat Beer, described as citrusy with a slightly sweet flavor and light bitterness, to Dark Truth Stout, an "inky" beer with hints of chocolate, coffee and fruits.
"I see here in Europe that consumers are getting more and more interested in American craft beers," Michel Moortgat, one of three brothers who own Duvel, said in a telephone interview from Belgium. "In the future, with this partnership, we will be able to develop the taste for those beers more substantially here and in other countries like Japan and China."
As defined by the Brewers Association, a craft brewer must produce no more than six million barrels a year (a lower limit was dropped when the Boston Beer Company, maker of Samuel Adams, exceeded it). Any ownership stake by a non-craft alcoholic beverage company must be less than 25 percent. Otherwise, a brewery cannot be a voting member of the association.
Boulevard, the 12th-largest craft brewer in the United States, has distribution approaching 180,000 barrels this year. The acquisition will give it access to wider distribution in the domestic market and an avenue into international markets using Duvel's worldwide system.
John McDonald, Boulevard's founder and owner, said he had been pondering an exit strategy for the last few years. "I talked to several other breweries and different types of financial institutions that might be interested in partnering with us, and about three months ago, I decided to go talk to Duvel," said Mr. McDonald, who recently turned 60.
He said he liked the way his company could mesh with the Belgian brewery and the cultural alignment between the two businesses. "I was looking to give up control of my brewery, and to do that, I had to feel really good about the people I would be giving control to," Mr. McDonald said.
While big beer brands like Budweiser and Coors have struggled with stagnant sales, craft beers have grown increasingly popular. New breweries opened last year at the pace of one a day. There are 2,600 craft breweries in the United States, and volume sales of their beers grew 11 percent in 2011 and 14 percent in 2012, according to the market research firm Technomic, reaching almost 13 million barrels.
Technomic expects similar growth this year, with craft beer's share of the overall beer market at 6.3 percent.
Donna Hood Crecca, senior director of the adult beverage resource group at Technomics, said the craft boom today differs from an earlier movement, which fizzled except for a few successes like Boston Beer and the Brooklyn Brewery.
Timing is better for a craft beer boom today, given the country's changing demographics and the rise of millennials, those consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 who are upsetting the established order across the food and beverage world.
"The consumer palate has evolved and is more interested in the flavor nuances and complexities inherent in craft beer styles," Ms. Hood Crecca said. "In addition, there is the overall interest in local and handcrafted food and drink products, and craft beers fit those bills to a T, often with an interesting or unique back story and sense of authenticity."
Consumption of craft beers is growing fast among Hispanic consumers, whose palates favor the kinds of spice and fruit flavors that are hallmarks of craft beers.
Women, who have long preferred wine to beer, have also jumped on the bandwagon, forming groups like Crafty Ladies in Denver.
Touring Boulevard Brewery
10 Photos
View Slide Show ›
"Any time you go to a tasting room or any bar with more than 10 taps, 30 to 40 percent of the patrons are women," said Carol Dekkers, who just started the second Barley's Angels chapter in Tampa, Fla. "Drinking craft beer is like being introduced to really fine Italian food when you've only ever had pizza from Pizza Hut."
Restaurant chains are also installing taps behind their bars, and grocers are making space in their refrigerated cases for craft beers.
"No longer does a light American lager satisfy every beer lover," said Julia Herz, the craft beer program director at the Brewers Association, the trade group for the craft brewing industry. "Light beer sales are down, and the majority of the top 10 brands are losing market share."
That's not to say companies like Anheuser Busch, Molson Coors and SABMiller are absent from the fray. The Tenth and Blake Beer Company, owned by a joint venture between Molson Coors and SABMiller, produces Blue Moon and Leinenkugel's, and the Goose Island Brewery in Chicago was bought by Anheuser Busch, owned by the giant InBev, in 2011.
But ownership by the major beer companies is not disclosed on those units' Web sites or on the bottles, which has been a source of controversy in the craft beer world.
The Brewers Association, which has called on the beer giants to put their names on their craft beer bottles, defines a craft brewer as "small, independent and traditional."
"By traditional, we mean all malt-based, using adjuncts such as corn and rice only to enhance flavor, not to lighten it, which is how the mass domestic brewers use those grains," she said.
Although Duvel is Belgium's second-largest brewer after InBev, Ms. Herz said its ownership of Brewery Ommegang, in Cooperstown, N.Y., had not cost Ommegang its craft status. "There's a lot of debate about what a craft beer is," she said.
Mr. Moortgat said he was somewhat concerned that Boulevard might not be considered a craft brewery by the association's members because of its new ownership. "But first let me say that if you look at barrels sold, InBev sells 500 times the number of barrels we do," he said.
Duvel and its other European breweries, which include La Chouffe and De Koninck, will sell about 700,000 barrels of beer this year, he said, while Ommegang will sell about 45,000. Mr. Moortgat said sales were on track to reach around 200 million euros ($270 million) by the end of this year, up from about 180 million euros ($243 million) at the end of last year when the company went private, with profits increasing at roughly the same rate.
"We have made acquisitions in the past and always really, really made sure that we respect their specificity, their traditions, their authenticity," he said.
He said Duvel would continue to invest in Boulevard. "One of the things we have come to realize is that American craft brewers are more creative, more daring than we are in Europe, and we don't want to change that," he said.
In a nod to American creativity, Duvel three years ago started a fruit beer made from things like strawberries, raspberries and elderberries. The company wanted to suggest serving it over ice to make it more refreshing, Mr. Moortgat said, but was worried "that the whole industry would be shouting at us — 'You can't put ice cubes in beer.' "
Leifman's Fruit Beer over ice turned out to be a hit in Europe, but what about Coconut Banana Cream Pie Ale? "One of the things I like best about craft beer is the collaboration you get between breweries," Ms. Dekker said. "Like last year, a brewer from Angry Chair got together with his roommate, who brews for Cigar City, after they saw a recipe for coconut banana cream pie on a food show and brewed a coconut banana cream pie beer."
"I don't like dessert," she said, "but oh, my, it was so good."


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This is the current Puebla squad - click on any of the Puebla squad players to see videos, numbers, stats and pictures of that Puebla player. If you have any information or updates of changes to the latest Puebla squad list, please contact us.
Can West Ham strengthen their survival chances with a win over almost-doomed Norwich? Find out with Scott Murray
Can Watford strengthen their chances of staying up when they take on Steve Bruce�s mid-table side? Join Rob Smyth
Jack Charlton has been described as a legend after the former Republic of Ireland manager died aged 85
The celebrations were more memorable than the matches but Jack Charlton leaves an indelible mark on Irish football
Top clubs have been the most active in the market and Manchester City could land two England full-backs
Jack Charlton, a World Cup winner with England and former Republic of Ireland manager, has died
Ancelotti says transforming Everton would rank as another �fantastic success� in his illustrious managerial career
The Spaniard inherited something of a mess in December but recent evidence suggests he is on the path to restoring Arsenal�s credibility


text: Richard Porter State Week: Dems Welcome Pelosi, GOP Embraces Trump By Sean Crawford, Brian Mackey & Charles N. Wheeler III • Aug 16, 2019 Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois As Democrats and Republicans gear up for next year's election, the parties rallied in Springfield this week with events timed to the Illinois State Fair. Voices In The News 2016 By Brian Mackey • Dec 29, 2016 Trump by Michael Vadon/Flickr, Rauner and Madigan by Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois As we get ready to welcome 2017, we thought we'd take a few minutes to listen back to another tough year in Illinois government and politics. We heard Republicans struggling to reckon with Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, Democrats and Republicans engaging in another year of war over the soul of Illinois policy, and a growing list of everyday people being crushed by the budget standoff. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2016. For Illinois Republicans, A One-Man Party By Brian Mackey • Aug 17, 2016 Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois In just a few years, one man has transformed the Illinois Republican Party from a perennial also-ran into a serious contender. Bruce Rauner been an agenda-setter, a shot-caller, and a rainmaker. And his party's true believers couldn't be happier. Toss Aside Conventional Thinking. Was Booing Cruz a "Great Moment" Of Unity? By Amanda Vinicky • Jul 21, 2016 Amanda Vinicky The conventional wisdom is: Ted Cruz's speech at the Republican National Convention tore open fresh wounds of divided party. Illinois National Republican Committeeman Richard Porter says the outrage at Cruz isn't a sign of discord. "That was unity man, that was 25,000 people booing him all at once," he said. The comment prompted Jim Fisher, a farmer from near Bloomington, to walk out of the Illinois delegation's morning meeting. "No, no – that's what, that's what. No, no, I don't agree with that," he said.


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If you are looking for my TCCCB Card or my Dueling Darlings Card, please scroll up. This is a 3-peat day!
I am back with another card for this week's Melonheadz Challenge.
The theme for this challenge is Birthdays!
It runs from February 15th to the 28th
Melonheadz sure has the cutest images--I love every one of them and have a hard time choosing which one I want to use for each of our challenges! Be sure to go and check them out!
I hope you and my teammates like my card for this challenge!
Image/Sentiment: Melonheadz Birthday Blue Combo Pack Digital Stamps
Image/Sentiment: Melonheadz Birthday Blue Combo Pack Digital Stamps
Cardstock/Patterned Paper: Gina K White; Stampin' Up Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Bella Blvd Patterned Paper
Accessories: SU Marina Mist 5/8" Satin Ribbon; Brown Brads
I hope you will play along this week with the Melonheadz Challenge too! Be sure to go to the challenge blog and add your creations for the challenge this week! You can also check out the rest of the DT Creations with the links on the left sidebar.


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Christmas is fast approaching and traveling for the holiday season is just normal. A person typically becomes busy with their respective jobs, and planning to travel is just too hard to consider with the pet around. Dog boarding can actually help and solve your problem. It can alleviate the stress of trying to find a dog sitter and you can be rest assured that your dog is in good hands. Dog boarding can actually help and solve your problem, but there are just some things that must be considered before you bring the dog to the facility.
Some essential things to keep in mind
1. One of the most important thing to consider before bring your dog to a dog daycare Toronto facility is your dogâÄôs vaccinations. Make sure that your dog has taken all the vaccines required for his/her age. If your dog needs a booster vaccine, be sure to have it arranged with the veterinarian a week before the dog boarding reservation date. This is due to the fact that some of the dogs might suffer from the vaccination signs which might be similar to a kennel cough or Bordatella. It might get you into trouble, since most of the dog daycare Toronto and other dog boarding facilities will not accept dogs with any signs of ailments to protect the welfare of the other dogs on board and will also require proof of vaccinations. You also need to double check the papers of your dog and other documentation, since most of the dog boarding facilities ask for the dog documentation.
2. Make sure that a veterinarian checks the dog before checking in the dog boarding facility. Even if it is not typically mandated by the dog boarding center you must have the vet look after the dog through a checkup, especially if the dog is old and has a health condition or has had a surgery or is suffering from a chronic health condition. You wouldnâÄôt want to leave your pet in a facility without making sure that his/her health condition is ok! This will help save you from worrying too much while you are away. You wouldnâÄôt want to get a surprise phone call from the boarding staff about your dog in the middle of your trip.
3. If the dog is under medication make sure that you have oriented the staff of the boarding facility to continue giving medicine to the dog and make sure he/she will not miss a dose.
Article Source: https://www.bharatbhasha.com
Article Url: https://www.bharatbhasha.com/pets.php/490296
Article Added on Tuesday, December 29, 2015
|Pets >> Top 50 Articles on Pets
|Category - >


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Whitko Artists Make Huge Showing At State Competition
LARWILL — Electric Consumer magazine hosted its 21st annual student calendar contest for the 2019 cooperative calendar and students at Whitko made a strong showing in the competition.
The contest provides young Hoosier artists a unique opportunity to express themselves and develop their artistic talent, while possibly earning cash prizes and statewide acclaim. The contest is open to young Hoosier artists at grade levels of kindergarten through 12th grade.
More than 2,200 pieces of art from all over Indiana were entered in the contest and artists from Whitko Community School Corporation turned in noteworthy performances.
Winners of the Award of Merit advance past the first round of judging in their grade division. This award is reserved for the top 25 students in each age group.
Winning students from Whitko included Abby Arter, Celeste Logan, Hope Eberly, Reannon Hopkins, Kayce Sims, Haley Howard, Aneka Paduga, Jacqueline Werstler, Lauren Hollenbaugh, Ella Kay Danner, Devin Blaine, Abigail Martin, Summer West, Hailey Elder, Sidney Overmeyer, Logan Busz, Bryce Tucker, Johnny Couch, Julia Seifert, Kaylee Gaff, Shianna Bradley, Harley Bradley, Kaitlin Frank, Luke Rhoades, Adrienne Aughinbaugh, Myra Buckles, Umut Boran, Ritchelle Stieglitz and Lazarus Neer.
Sims, along with senior Ezra Miller were awarded honorable mentions and Frank won top honors for the 11th grade division in the state contest.
Frank was awarded a $200 cash prize each, and her artwork will be featured in the May issue of Electric Consumer and printed as the cover of her month, November, within the 13-month calendar.


text: Hallmark Homes has become the 'go to' builder for people looking for a home that offers excellent quality at a great value price. We're a debt-free, family owned business based in South East Queensland, with a proud history of stability, quality and growth. We build around 400 homes every year for all kinds of customers, from young families who need room to grow, to empty nesters wanting to downsize. We love what we do and take pride in our work, so you can be confident when you build with Hallmark Homes.


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iPad & Tablets: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2017
News & Reviews: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 2017 Malaysia price
Last Updated: Oct 24, 2017
Samsung Malaysia recently announced the Malaysia availability of their latest Samsung Galaxy Tab A tablet. Featuring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, 8-inch HD display (1280 x 800 pixel resolution), 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8MP autofocus rear camera, 5MP front camera, 4G LTE and USB Type-C port, it offers a more portable bigger display device than your average smartphone. The energy efficient Snapdragon 425 and 5000 mAh battery should ensure fairly good battery life so if you're looking for a long-lasting Samsung tablet, this could be the one.
Last Updated: Sep 11, 2017
The budget non-S Pen stylus using Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2017) got officially listed recently for 6490000 Vietnamese Dong (~RM1197). The overall tech specs and features include a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage, 8-inch HD display with 1280 x 800 pixel resolution and 5000 mAh battery. Other tech specs include an 8MP rear camera, 5MP front camera and 212.1 x 124.1 x 8.9mm | 364g measurements. It seems decidedly entry-level despite the above RM1K price tag and so far no Malaysia release dates or pricing details just yet.
Last Updated: Aug 21, 2017
It has been a long while since we have heard of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 (2017 edition), but it has finally resurfaced and this time, on the TENAA listing with an official certification. Listed on the page are also some key specs which gives us a sneak peek on what the tab will pack.


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Contact Information
Windsor/Essex county plumbing contractor, R. Gendreau Plumbing, provides professional, quality service for all your plumbing needs.With over 40 years of residential and commercial plumbing experience, our quality workmanship has earned us a reputation as one of the region's premiere contractors. We specialize in residential, commercial service and new construction as well as renovations, add-ons, and remodeling.
Location Address
- R. Gendreau Plumbing Co. Ltd.
1121 Monarch Meadows Dr.
Belle River, Ontario N0R 1A0
- Telephone:1 (519) 979-8068
- E-mail: email@example.com
Contact Us
If you require additional information or have any comments, then feel free to e-mail or call using any of the information below. You will get a response as quickly as possible.
Todd Gendreau - Owner firstname.lastname@example.com
Kristyn Gendreau - Administration email@example.com
Sales Dept - Sales firstname.lastname@example.com
Information firstname.lastname@example.com
Customer Service firstname.lastname@example.com
Call Us @ Phone: (519) 979-8068
Useful Links
Contractor Links
Ted Bachynski Builders


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Halong Bay is a 1500 km² sized area in northern Vietnam in the Gulf (Gulf of Tonkin), Vietnam. According to official 1969 limestone cliffs rising out of the water, most of which are uninhabited island or cliff, most of the several hundred meters high. The limestone salts, which is located in the Gulf, sinking. 1994 has been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.
The name Vinh Ha Long means "dragon diving the bay." According to legend, the bay of the sea dragon living nearby mountains created in cooperation. When the dragon ran to the shore, pulled his dick deep furrows in the ground, which - after the dragon is submerged in water - flooded by the sea.


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Jun 12 2019
Jun 12 2019
2014 2015 2016 Lexus GX460 Mirror withBlind Spot OEM left driver side
USED LEFT SIDE MIRROR. VERY GOOD WORKING CONDITION. CHECK PICS FOR SMALL DAMAGE AT LEFT OUTSIDE EDGE OF MIRROR. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK INC. The item "2014 2015 2016 Lexus GX460 Mirror withBlind Spot OEM left driver side" is in sale since Thursday, May 23, 2019. This item is in the category "eBay Motors\Parts & Accessories\Car & Truck Parts\Exterior\Mirrors". The seller is "tigermerri" and is located in Cordova, Tennessee. This item can be shipped to United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Estonia, Australia, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus, Slovenia, Japan, China, Sweden, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Bahamas, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Norway, Saudi arabia, Ukraine, United arab emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Croatia, Malaysia, Chile, Colombia, Costa rica, Panama, Trinidad and tobago, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Barbados, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brunei darussalam, Bolivia, French guiana, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Jordan, Cambodia, Cayman islands, Liechtenstein, Sri lanka, Luxembourg, Macao, Martinique, Maldives, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Paraguay, Reunion, Uruguay.
- Manufacturer Part Number: 87940-60P80
- Placement on Vehicle: Left
- Brand: LEXUS
- Color: Black


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DOC takes kiwi threat seriously (01:52) | Video | tvnz.co.nz
click on image for video
DOC takes kiwi threat seriously (01:52) | Video | tvnz.co.nz
click on image for video
Scientific research being carried out in the Ngāi Tūhoe forests in
the central North Island is delivering valuable knowledge about
indigenous forest ecosystems and giving Maori landowners tools to
restore and preserve their native forest resource.
Over the past four years, Landcare Research scientists have been
working with the Tuawhenua Trust, to investigate why some canopy tree
species in the mainly forest-covered 10,000 hectares of land which is
dotted through the Urewera National Park and are managed by the Trust,
are not regenerating adequately.
Eagle's Complete Trees and Shrubs of New
Zealand, a book that took author and painter, Audrey Eagle
more than 50 years to complete, is the winner of the 2007
Montana Medal for non fiction.
The two-volume work
contains more than 800 hand painted plates; images of every
single New Zealand tree and shrub, some of which are now
extinct. more
Kiwi Encounter at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua has celebrated the end of another hugely successful Kiwi season. Over the course of the 2006/07 season, 112 kiwi eggs were successfully hatched and a further 18 chicks brought in to Kiwi Encounter from the wild, leaving the operation on track to release over 120 kiwis back into their natural environment .
The last two eggs expected in from the wild were due to arrive before Easter after Tongariro DOC workers monitored a bird sitting on eggs for just over 60 days. However, they received an unusual surprise when they went in to make the collection – they discovered a wine bottle, not an egg! The male kiwi (who was hatched and raised at Kiwi Encounter) had ''incubated" the wine bottle for 63 days! more


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Tonight's reader feature was submitted by Joy, who shared her gorgeous DIY Embroidered Woman. Using the Art Nouveau Woman graphic, she transferred it to the fabric, then hand embroidered on top of it. This project turned out super stunning and I am in love with the colors Joy used!
Thank you so much for sharing, Joy! To learn how to transfer images yourself, visit the Transfer Methods Page.
Do you have a project you would like to submit? You can share your projects, HERE! We would love to feature you!
Hello! Are you new to The Graphics Fairy?
Welcome, I'm so glad you're here! Browse around to find thousands of Stock Images that you can use in your projects or designs! I post new Vintage images every day. Need more info about my site? Try my FAQ page.


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If we do not have the full amount that you ordered of this item:
Add to Cart
Say it with words. "GOLF" is a Home a la mode word panel that is all about being serious and sincere and also having fun with those skillful Golfers in your life.. like: Born to GOLF - Let's see... Golf... work... OK,, it's Tee time.. - Keep calm, and Golf on! – Eat Sleep Golf - Life is just better on the green. - I Love Golf - Happiness is...a day at the golf course. - Bogey: A score of one over par on a hole. - Hazard, Par, Handicap, Hole-in-one, Wedge, Fore, Wood, Foursome, Tees... - Caddie: A person hired to carry clubs and provide other assistance. - Birdie: A score of one under par on a hole - Chicken Wing: A swing flaw in which the lead elbow bends at an angle pointed away from the body.
Basic Instructions:1/ Press.
2/ Cut strip off, cutting vertically down right side.
3/ Cut on dotted lines to make 12 (5") blocks.
4/ Cut 5" fabric or use charm packs to complete your project.
5/ Optional: Use Pellon's Quilters Grid to make assembly of your quilt or project faster, easier and more accurate.
(Go to http://www.homealamode.com Click on "How to do Grid" YouTube instructions.) Create your own look or checkout our website for samples.


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Discover the new Wonderment collection in London
If you count yourself as a true art aficionado, one thing is certain – that no art collection would ever be complete without the stunning works of Kathryn Thomas. From violent Singapore thunderstorms to hazy horizons, her paintings showcase an eclectic range of themes and a vibrant array of colours. With her latest work, Kathryn has developed further her focus on an area that she holds close to her heart – astronomy.
Appearing at The Royal Opera Arcade Gallery from Sunday 26th November to Saturday 2nd December, you'll discover something that will make you stare in wonderment. The Wonderment paintings by Kathryn Thomas capture the realism and stark beauty of astronomical phenomena such as galaxies, planets and even the northern lights.
In many ways, her Wonderment paintings can be described as spiritual successors to the groundbreaking 'Nightlight' collection. It was this collection that first demonstrated Kathryn's passion and fascination of the unknown. Kathryn's journey of discovery has led her to a greater understanding of celestial bodies. The result is a deeply refined technique that combines elements of her previous work to create these truly unique and original oil paintings.
The Wonderment paintings will be released as they are produced rather than as a collection. But you can get an exclusive preview as the first of her paintings are unveiled at The Royal Opera Arcade Gallery.


text: I have been busy working to get my band on tour this current year . Contacting bandmates ,promoters and doing all my PR . I am working on getting my band dates to play in Michigan for the National Cherry Festival in Traverse City , The Lapeer Festival and The Air Show at Selfridge Air Force Base . I am also working hard to raise money to get my band to Columbus , Texas to play for our Veterans for an event sponsored by The Hawgs of Texas and Operation Military Embrace. I will be having a fundraiser at The Sports Channel Bar / Harbor Lanes at 25419 Jefferson Ave , St.Clair Shores , Michigan on March 14th at 6:00 pm to ? I will be singing along to my tracks off my debut album Good Day To Be Alive . Please help us if you can to get our band on the road by purchasing our cd from our website . We also have t shirts and beer cuzies available. I am working really hard to make my dreams reality and could really use all of your support :-) KBK


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Bio: After a fond stint in the Triangle, Chris Parker lives in Cleveland, Ohio, where he writes about music and politics for a variety of newspapers and magazines. He has written about music for INDY Week since 2002.
© 2020 Indy Week • 320 E. Chapel Hill St., Suite 200, Durham, NC 27701 • phone 919-286-1972 • fax 919-286-4274


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The Academic Research Division (ARD) formulates, implements and reviews academic research and research manpower policies and funding under the RIE Masterplan for the universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. ARD also reviews the progress and performance of the Research Centres of Excellence and administers research funds, including the MOE Academic Research Fund and the Research Scholarship Block. It also formulates policies pertaining to social science and humanities research, and constitutes the secretariats for the Academic Research Council and the Social Science Research Council.
Last updated: 30 Nov 2019
Copyright © 2020 Ministry of Education, Singapore. All rights reserved.


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I could've strangled Fred yesterday when he informed me that I had to pick him up from the Vovlo dealership at 10am! That's exactly the same time that the UPS guy makes his rounds in our neighborhood! Grrrrr...
I guess the upside is that when I got home from running all my morning errands I had a nice big box waiting for me on the porch! Yay! Bugaboo = Love
Ryan will LOVE that...
Just needed to pop on the front wheels!
Ready to rock & roll...
Uhm...I'd say she likes it!
Cause she threw a fit when I took her out!!!
All I wanted to do was flip the seat around...once I did that and put her back in...she was just peachy again!
Mommies new ride & Lambies new ride!
Not as compact as the Quinny Zapp, but it fits just fine with plenty of room for shopping!
Bugaboo Bee & Bugaboo Frog Quinny Zapp & Quinny Buzz
My collection is complete!
This'll probably be the last you see of the Quinny's! The Zapp is getting put in Daddy's car...on the off chance he's out alone with the kiddos [although he did try to fight me for the Bee]...and the Buzz is already packed up & back in the closet...maybe I'll pull it out during our next deployment! LOL


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This class has been postponed!
The FitSM Foundation course provides a comprehensive foundation of IT service management for all IT professionals. Whether you are new to IT service management or have been part of implementation program and are looking for ways to expedite showing value as a result of your efforts.
FitSM is an open source IT service management standard. It provides a lean approach to benefiting from IT service management best practices.
Successful candidates will receive APMG's FitSM Foundation certificate. This is an internationally recognized confirmation of your knowledge in the FitSM IT service management standard.
Course fees include exam fees and shipment costs of course materials within the Continental US. A surcharge will apply when shipping internationally.
Course Curriculum of this live online is as follows:
- Introduction to IT service management
- IT service management terms and concepts
- The FitSM standards family and the implementation aids
- General aspects of IT service management
- The 14 IT service management processes
- Benefits, risks and challenges of implementing IT service management
- Related standards and frameworks such as ISO/IEC 20000, COBIT and ITIL
INTERPROM's certification training courses include thorough exam preparations. This includes sample exam questions, individual and team assignments, and repetition of course content. Furthermore, you can expect real world examples drawn from decades-long implementation experience of your instructor for a better understanding of the course materials.