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Once a year, couples from all over the world gather in Sonkaj?rvi, Finland to participate in the Wife Carrying World Championships. It's a freestyle competition, but the most popular positions for completing the rugged obstacle course include traditional piggyback, over the shoulder, and the Estonian Carry (where the wife hangs upside-down over her husband's back with her legs around his shoulders, holding onto his waist). We have a more local version of the competition here in the US that's held in mid-Oct at the Sunday River Resort in Maine. There, winners of the North American Wife Carrying Championship bring home the wife's weight in beer, 5X her weight in cash and they win a chance to compete in the World Championships in Finland the following summer.
No matter what competition you enjoy in your off hours, if you've recruited loan officers in the past year or so, you've probably noticed competition for that sort of talent has heated up. As evidence, consider that 75% of the executives and board members who responded to the Bank Director's 2014 Compensation Survey said their bank promoted or hired new talent at the executive level in 2013, with lending the main thrust of this hiring.
Given that talent is in limited supply, some banks have also started to raid each other's loan officer ranks, while others are actively recruiting on local college campuses and hoping they can quickly train young eager minds. Meanwhile, pay levels for loan officers are also on the rise, which adds an unwelcome layer of stress for many small banks trying to expand their loan portfolio.
Staying competitive can be a challenge for the banks that don't have deep enough pockets to keep up with rising pay. Even if your bank can offer compensation that's a cut above the competition, dangling big bucks won't necessarily seal a deal. What's more, many a bank has been burned by agreeing to a package with attractive pay, investing the time, money and energy into training and yet still losing the new hire to a competitor shortly thereafter.
We've written before that compensation is not the only carrot a bank has in the hiring process and this continues to be true, even in the highly competitive market for loan officers. While you may lose out on certain candidates if you're not keeping up with the Jones's on pay, there's still a lot to be said for culture, company stability and ample opportunity for career advancement--all areas where many community banks have much to offer.
Of course, if you're trying to beef up your loan officer ranks, you can't afford to be completely out of the ballpark in terms of pay, so you'll have to do some homework to get a better feel for current trends. As a frame of reference, it might help to know that the median annual salary for loan officers was $61,400 in 2013, according to data from the BLS, but that is a national number and regions can vary widely. To get state-specific information, you may want to check out an online salary tool data that's derived from BLS's Occupational Employment Statistics semi-annual survey. In CA, for instance, loan officers made a median of $71,300 in 2013, while in New York the median was $82,000, the data shows. Again, adjust for experience and monitor closely what competitors are willing to pay to truly stay on top of things.
Whenever you are in hiring mode, it always makes sense to size up the competition, but your own bank's needs and structure also should be front and center. Many banks can still win the talent race by bringing in capable individuals at a fair price, ramping up training for less experienced staff, providing a clear path/opportunity for advancement and mentoring.


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Stacks of black Marshall amplifiers have dominated the stage at most rock concerts for nearly 50 years. Even Sixties rock fans who can't actually remember the Sixties will surely remember The Who's bassist John Entwistle having to make his Marshall Stack bigger and bigger so he could hear himself over Keith Moon's drums!
Now, Pure has launched a unique radio which combines the audio features of its popular EVOKE-1S series with the iconic style of Marshall Amplification. It's a revamp of Pure's earlier and very successful Marshall-branded Evoke 1xt
The portable digital and FM radio looks like a mini version of the famous amplifier – complete with black vinyl wrap, Marshall carrying handle, brass effect front and authentic Marshall badge.
It has an input for an iPod or MP3 player, an auto-dimming easy-to-read text display, and the ability to pre-set 30 digital or FM radio stations for quick access. A matching S-1 speaker for stereo sound is also available.
And for true rock fans, the volume control even goes up to '11' … a feature inspired by the famous scene from the cult movie This Is Spinal Tap!
The EVOKE-1S Marshall has a suggested retail price of £119.99 and is initially being sold exclusively through specialist music retailer HMV.
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Mayrobis Soto
Sales Associate
Cell: 772.224.5858
Email: mayrobissoto(at)gmail(dotted)com
As a sales associate, I am knowledgeable of various communities and landscapes that make up Port Saint Lucie County. Due to my 8 years of residency in the Treasure Coast, I have become well acquainted with the many facilities and educational centers that are provided. I also have a Cuban-American background; I am fully bilingual and thoroughly enjoy being able to interact with numerous people while providing the best line of work. Since obtaining this occupation in 2005, I have loved helping my clients find the home of their dreams and being able to be the one to provide them the essentials in turning these dreams into reality. I am excited to join the team at McCurdy & Co Realty and trust in their excellence within the Treasure Coast.


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The Analog Sea Summer Solstice Celebration Zurich
22nd June 2018
English book publisher, Analog Sea, is hosting a very special book launch on June 22nd in Zurich. It takes place on 22nd June and tickets cost just CHF 40.
Included in the ticket is not just an exclusive screening of American film director's award-winning film, "In Pursuit of Silence" but also a party at the Villa Tobler in Zurich – which includes food, drinks and live music. A total bargain!
The film is followed by a Q&A with the director and Analog Sea Editors which takes place directly after the film at Arthouse Movie 1+2. After that it's off to "The Analog Sea Offline Ball", at Villa Tobler, where apart from being spoilt by the lovely food and drinks you will also get the opportunity to have a go on a letterpress and various old typewriters.
It promises to be a fabulous and very unique event – so don't miss the opportunity to attend. Limited tickets available at this very exceptional price of CHF 40 which include everything!
Secure your ticket now from Arthouse Movie 1+2 (Nägelihof 4), Villa Tobler (Kunsthaus Direktion; Winkelwiese 4), EOS Buchantiquariat Benz (Kirchgasse 17), or Orell Füssli (Füsslistrasse 4, third floor) or by calling Analog Sea on +49 761 557 98 700.
The Analog Sea Summer Solstice Celebration Zurich
When: 22nd June
What: Film "In Pursuit of Silence" at Arthouse Movie 1+2, Nägelihof 48001 Zurich + Party at Villa Tobler with Food and Drinks
Tickets: CHF 40 – can be purchased at Arthouse Movie 1+2, or Villa Tobler, or Orell Füssli or at EOS Buchantiquariat Benz, Kirchgasse 17, Zurich or by calling Analog Sea (in Germany) on +49 761 557 98 700
For more information call Analog Sea (in Germany) on +49 761 557 98 700.
For more information about events and things to do in Zurich and beyond please see our Home Page or our What's On Page and for regular updates subscribe to the blog.
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Something I have often heard is that Devoting a portion of your time and percentage of your budget to learning new tools and understanding can have a huge impact on an Artist. In my personal experience, each time I have invested in instructional courses or tools to help me better understand my craft it has lead to a breakthrough moment. One of those moments where something you have heard a thousand times finally nestles into your grey matter and you realize "Oh! That's what they mean."
Those moments are so fulfilling because the concept that is absorbed begins to work it's way into your art, popping up naturally without the artists' efforts. In my experience it is when pushing my boundries and doing something outside my comfort zone that those wonderful moments tend to happen. A great way to take a guided tour outside of your comfort zone is through online instructional courses.
While I have had good experiences with other providers, I have found that Schoolism is particularly good at offering high quality instruction at varying levels of investment. The option to sign up for courses taught by top artists in the industry which include video feedback on your work is phenomenal. For someone on a budget it is hard to beat Schoolism's monthly subscription model. I recently signed up and started watching the lesson videos for Painting Creatures with Bobby Chui.
I began watching it while I worked on a sketch I had recently cleaned up in a Sketchbook Rescue operation. I just wanted to try and get a few technical tips and methodology for the workflow that bobby uses to create his images. In the very first lesson Bobby laid out the importance of story and a good way to approach it. After watching the lesson and letting it sink in I returned to focus on my image and really analyse what kind of story I was telling. It was lacking.
My image was really just a big multi armed alien gobbling up cute creatures. Kinda funny and cute but somewhat shallow. I also realized the environment I had been creating around him didn't help tell any story at all. I thought about the lesson and began redesigning my landscape to help tell a story. That re focusing lead to the addition of another character and his spaceship which added important depth to the images' story.
After one lesson I felt a dramatic impact on my work and while pursuing the improved story I was sprinting through the unfamiliar territory of environment design. Not with a hesitant uncertainty about how the landscape should look, but with a clear vision of the path to tread.
Every time I have dedicated myself to an online course I have seen growth in my understanding and abilities. I highly recommend that anyone with an interest in developing as an artist check out Schoolism and other online art education. They are worth the investment.


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Rob The nest - HTJ Challenge
Htj - Challenge 1 - water!
Well done to Harakeke who won the very first Handle the Challenge of the year! We had to complete three different water challenges; a water slide relay, a sponge and bucket challenge and a water fight. Each challenge was close but Room 8 managed to win both the water slide relay and the water fight! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!!


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Baltimore Ravens (0-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-1)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, at o.Co Coliseum, Alameda, Calif. – TV: CBS
*TV announcers: Spero Dedes, Solomon Wilcots
*Keys to the game: The Ravens traveled to California following last week's victory in Denver and practiced at San Jose St. to avoid consecutive cross-country trips. Of bigger concern than the travel is the state of the offensive line, which was bullied by the Broncos. The Raiders don't boast the same formidable front seven, but are improving and led by emerging second-year star Khalil Mack. Ravens QB Joe Flacco needs more help from his ground game because he lacks receivers who gain quick separation and he made multiple poor decisions with the ball when under pressure last week.
Raiders QB Derek Carr practiced without issue on Wednesday and is expected to play after leaving last week's game with a hand injury. Oakland would like to stretch the field more after RB Latavius Murray led the team in catches (seven) and carries (11) last week. The first task is avoiding a double-digit hole in the first half and being able to stay committed to the ground game. The second is providing Carr with strong protection against a stout front seven that could quickly flip the game with a few turnovers.
*Matchup to watch – Ravens LT James Hurst vs. Raiders RDE Justin Tuck: Hurst struggled when Eugene Monroe left with a concussion last week, and Monroe's status for this week is uncertain. Baltimore's offensive line is a question mark almost across the board. Tuck, 32, isn't the force he once was, but had two passes defensed last week and the Ravens also can't afford to give Monroe or Hurst much help while also game-planning for Mack.
*Player spotlight – OLB Za'Darius Smith, Ravens: Baltimore added veteran Jason Babin for depth following Terrell Suggs' season-ending Achilles injury, but it's the rookie Smith who is in line for a significant role in rotation with Elvis Dumervil at rush linebacker after being inactive Week 1.
*Fast facts: Flacco needs one touchdown pass to become the first Raven to reach 150 for his career. He's 3-0 lifetime vs. the Raiders with a 116 passer ratings. … Murray is averaging 90.3 scrimmage yards in four career starts.
The Raiders are an improved team despite last week's blowout loss to the Bengals, but the Ravens are hungry after largely shutting down Peyton Manning only to lose a tight game in Denver. In another game dominated by defense, Baltimore still has more difference-makers on that side of the ball.
*Our pick: Baltimore Ravens 20-16


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Posted February 15th, 2013 at 9:22 am4 Comments
(At the time of writing, two Hollywood directors, Ridley Scott and Werner Herzog, are both reportedly shooting films of Gertrude Bell's life.)
In The Sword of Moses, in Ava's office in the National Museum of Baghdad, there is a photograph of Gertrude Bell—archaeologist, explorer, diplomat, spy, architect of modern Iraq, and founder of the museum.
Gertrude was born on 14 July 1868 (the year of England's last public hanging) in the north-eastern village of Washington, County Durham—ancestral home of George Washington, first president of the United States of America.
Despite the tragic loss of her mother in childbirth when she was three, Gertrude soon began to excel. After attending the pioneering Queen's College in Harley Street, the first school in England devoted to the serious education of girls, she went up to Oxford.
Within two years, and aged only nineteen, she scored a brilliant first in history—the second woman ever to pass degree exams at Oxford. (Incredibly, she was never officially awarded the degree—women were not granted the right to graduate until 1920.)
Her sharp repartee and educated opinions proved too intimidating for most men, not helped by her skill at fencing, rowing, tennis, and hockey. When she came out as a debutante in London, she failed to find a suitor within the allotted three seasons, and was passed over by society as a failure.
Undeterred, she decided to see the world. She taught herself Persian, and visited her uncle in Tehran, where he was the British minister. She followed this adventure with two round-the-world trips in 1897–8 and 1902–3, also finding time for arduous mountaineering in the Alps, where she famously survived fifty-three hours on the end of a rope in a terrifying lightning storm and blizzard.
Her travels offered her an escape from the rigidity of English society, and gave her what was to become a lifelong passion for the Middle East. She taught herself Arabic, and became fascinated by Middle-Eastern archaeology, about which she published extensively.
Returning to the region repeatedly, she began travelling it widely, always with a collapsible canvas bath and crystal tableware. She journeyed deep into the blistering sands of the Arabian deserts where few Westerners, let alone women, had ever been, including a notable and hairy trek across the Nefud to Ha'il in central-northern Saudi Arabia, where she was held captive for eleven days.
She fell in love with the romance of the Arab world, and especially Mesopotamia, the area she was to help turn into the modern state of Iraq.
'Have I ever told you what the river is like on a hot summer night? At dusk the mist hangs in long white bands over the water; the twilight fades and the lights of the town shine out on either bank, with the river, dark and smooth and full of mysterious reflections, like a road of triumph through the midst.' (Letter to her father, 11 September 1921, Baghdad)
Her knowledge and wide friendships meant that when the First World War broke out in 1914, she was drafted into the intelligence department's 'Arab Bureau' in Cairo alongside her friend and fellow explorer T E Lawrence ("of Arabia").
When the British took Baghdad from the Ottomans in 1917, she was appointed its Oriental Secretary, responsible for relations with the people.
She fiercely believed in the Iraqi people's right to independence, and modelled British policies accordingly—almost single-handedly drawing up the country's new borders, and in 1921 engineering Prince Faisal of Makkah (who led the Arab revolt with TE Lawrence) onto the throne of the new state of Iraq.
In the new state of Iraq, she was friend and confidant to the royal court, where she was a frequent visitor and honoured with the title of khatun (or queen).
Gertrude had no desire to be anywhere else.
'… it's a shocking affair how the East has wound itself around my heart till I don't know which is me and which is it. … I'm acutely conscious always of its charm and grace which do not seem to wear thin with familiarity. I'm more a citizen of Baghdad than many a Baghdadi born, and I'll wager that no Baghdadi cares more, or half so much, for the beauty of the river or the palm gardens, or clings more closely to the rights of citizenship which I have acquired." (Letter to her father, 30 January 1922, Baghdad)
With Iraq established, the British authorities had less need of her, and she fell out of favour. Undaunted, she returned to her passion of archaeology, devoting herself to creating an archaeological museum in Iraq. She dedicated the remainder of her life to the task, becoming Honorary Director of Antiquities in Iraq, and founding the Baghdad Archaeological Museum.
She never married. Her father rejected her first love, a penniless diplomat in Persia, and her forties were spent in a doomed and unconsummated relationship with a married British army officer with whom she exchanged love letters until he was killed at Gallipoli. In her fifties in Iraq, she fell in love with a married British diplomat, but her affections were not returned.
She wrote tirelessly throughout her life. In addition to many travel books, she recorded her adventures in sixteen volumes of diaries, one-thousand-six-hundred letters, and seven-thousand photographs. (They are all online at http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk.)
"Miss Bell", as she is still affectionately known in Iraq, died in Baghdad aged 57 during the night of 11/12 July 1926. She had taken a fatal number of sleeping pills, but there was no evidence she had intended to kill herself. She was buried that evening in the dusty British Cemetery in the city's Bab al-Sharji district, where her tomb is still tended by locals.
Very informative blog post.Really thank you! Keep writing. cgaeeegdbgcg
Well, she seems to have made it to the Kyber Pass at least. http://www.gerty.ncl.ac.uk/photo_details.php?photo_id=4945
I don't think so; I know a bit about Afghan history and I've never heard of her having been there. Wish she had.
Does anyone know if Miss Bell traveled thru Afghanistan?
... not in the harbour ... 🤣 twitter.com/BritishArmy/st…


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"Masturbation is better than continued pro creation for savage Caucasus mountain descendants," Dr. Lehand Quok Jr. & Will Tom Cruise Lead Whites to Salvation Through New "Masturbate Suicide for Salvation Instruction?
"Masturbation is better than continued pro creation for white people," says newly entitled African Asian psychologist Lehand Quok Jr..
"IF SCIENTOLOGY & TOM CRUISE LEND CREDENCE TO THE MASTURBATION, SUICIDE MOVEMENT FOR WHITES, IT WILL CERTAINLY HASTEN THEM TO THE PLACE WHERE THEIR SELF GRATIFICATION ENDS IN THE JOY OF THEIR REDEEMED SALVATION" – Dr. Lehand Quok
A Chinese University of Hong Kong young legend, Quok Jr. is the son of celebrated physician Lehand Quok Sr. who is widely recognized as discovering the cure for disease.
Quok Sr., who has been condemned by the leaders of every developed nation upon the earth for his refusal to share his cure, refutes the very claim that has made him a legend.
"I have not found the cure for every disease," he is quoted as saying. "There is one disease I have not found the cure for."
Yet in studies across North America, Europe, Asia and Canada all patients introduced to Quok Sr.'s cure have been healed.
The released statement from Quok Jr. is the second in a series he is expected to announce thoughout the course of his 1st entitlement series: The One Disease My Father Could Not Cure.
More than mythology is the great challenge Quok Jr.'s father presented him with at the beginning of his journey to entitlement. Throughout the decade of the mid 1980s and early 1990s, Quok Sr.'s discoveries were heralded as the greatest known to man.
"World wide, I am recognized as the one who discovered the cure for disease. Yet I have not discovered the cure for the white man. He is the largest disease on the planet. He is a threat to the universe. The masters teach us the white man's space missions are unsuccessful because our universal neighbors who study us will not allow his chaos in the universe. While they will not alter his course on the earth, for the white man, every attempt of extended space travel by them will be unsuccessful." Dr. Lehand Quok Sr.
Quok Jr., who was granted entitlement in January, immediately began publishing his entitlement series publicly. In March, he was condemned worldwide after publishing his first instruction that advised whites to honor euthanasia.
."Unfortunately suicide is the only remedy there is for what is now being recognized as the Racist Psychosis white people suffer from. It is a disease and, to some degree or another, all white people have it," said African-Asian psychologist Dr. Lehand Quok Jr.. "Taking it one step futher," he noted, " it is the only way they can die and be forgiven by God. It is commonly known that while people of color have souls, which are energy, the white man has only an essence of a soul, a soul's shadow, so to speak. In order for him to be connected to the celestial divine, he must kill himself."
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As his first instruction received the blessing of his father, his second has too.
Likewise, his second instruction has found condemnation from world leaders. Sources close to the Quok family say that, while once they were welcomed internationally, their visas and passports are not being accepted by several major countries.
"Quok's continued statements are irresponsible publications in a sophisticated yet vulnerable world," psychologist William Hopkins reiterated. "Again, that his highly esteemed father has blessed them darkens the world of his great accomplishments."
Super star Tom Cruise may have the complete tool set necessary to lead his race to redemption to God through the mass suicide required for them to get there, says Harlem Dyse of the National Black Anarch
Dyse, who initially cast his organiztion's support behind recent skin cancer victim, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, now says Cooper, despite his ability to forewarn whites of the melanoma wrath awaiting them, may lack the mass appeal and celebrity whites need for motivation.
The motivation to find a white Messiah couragous enough to chattle his people and lead them to salvation to God through mass suicide required of them to get them there comes on the heels of African-Asian psychologist Dr. Lehand Quok Jr.'s declaration that White people's only manner to obtain universal redemption from the Devine is through suicide.
"Unfortunately suicide is the only remedy there is for what is now being recognized as the Racist Psychosis white people suffer from. It is a disease and, to some degree or another, all white people have it. Taking it one step futher," he noted, " it is the only way they can die and be forgiven by God. "
"While Anderson Cooper can now speak to the shame and embarrassement whites feel because of their superior skin burning in the sun, he may not have the religious platform many whites seek guidence from. Tom Cruise has that too. The question is whether Scientology is on-board with Dr. Quok's instruction."
"It is commonly known that while people of color have souls, which are energy, the white man has only an essence of a soul, a soul's shadow, so to speak. In order for him to be connected to the divine, he must kill himself." – Dr. Lehand Quok Jr
Dyse says the Black Anarchists have fully embraced African-Asian psychologist Lehand Quok Jr.'s declaration that the only way whites can redeem themselves to the divine is through suicide and are encouraging all white people to consider their people's recorded history and fufill this glorious act for their salvation.


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Pixel Press Floors is an app that brings imagination to life. With the Pixel Press Floors creation platform, you can literally dream up and draw your own video game without any coding. Draw your ideas out on paper, and the Floors app turns the drawing into an actual video game that can be played. Print out the special paper so that the app can recognize the shapes "glyphs" that are drawn, or use the in app drawing tools. The drawing is instantly turned into a game that can be tested, designed, played, and even published to the "Arcade" where others can play it.
- Download the Pixel Press Floors app on the iPad.
- Go to projectpixelpress.com to download and print the free sketch guide.
- Draw up the game of your dreams and then take a picture of what you drew from the Pixel Press Floors app.
- The glyphs (shapes) that you draw are magically transformed into game play objects.
- After glyphs have been created, you can apply a design to the element, test it, and play it.


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5 Ways To Get Your GF To Watch The NBA Playoffs If She's Not Into Sports
"Thou shalt not covet."
The 10th commandment is a serious one, as it teaches us not to covet or have envy. There is, however, a rare exception for one permissible case of envy.
It pertains to girlfriends who watch sports with their boyfriends. Man is indeed allowed to envy other men who are in relationships like these.
When late April rolls around, NBA fans get excited. They start getting ready for eight weeks of nonstop competition: drama, intrigue and a plethora of storylines in a physical and mental battle among players, teams, all-stars and franchises. Basically, they spend a lot of time in front of the TV.
The question that arises for many men is an ongoing one: How can we convince our girlfriends to watch the NBA games with us?
Because if we don't, we'll get in trouble for watching TV with our buddies, as it will eat into relationship time. We all know what happens when we eat into relationship time.
Now, I suppose this article would hold more weight if the following were true:
- I did indeed convince a girlfriend to enjoy watching basketball.
- I had a girlfriend.
Despite possessing neither of these qualifications, I believe my deep knowledge of the NBA, keen social awareness of Millennial culture and a passing understanding of women make me uniquely qualified to offer what I believe is the best shot a man can take, in what will hopefully be a valiant effort to convince his girlfriend to watch the NBA playoffs with him.
1. The Celebrities
Hey babe, see that guy? Number 18? That's Rasual Butler. Did you know that he dated Khloe Kardashian's assistant? Yep. But then, Rob Kardashian swooped in and slept with her.
This is a true story. Assuming your girlfriend likes to read US Weekly (which she does), she will enjoy the above anecdote. The amazing fact here is Butler is a forgotten role-player in the NBA. He was most recently (and sadly) cut by the San Antonio Spurs.
Most casual NBA fans don't really know who Rasual Butler is. But I can assure you that many, many "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" fans – both male and female (but mostly female) – know who Butler is.
Now, imagine possessing a whole cache of knowledge that's similar to this story about Butler, but with bigger players in them, such as Steph Curry or Kevin Durant.
It's no surprise that NBA players are dating a slew of celebrities. Therefore, this is very valuable intel. It's a way for many males to get their girlfriends curious about particular players, by way of their off-court proclivities.
2. The Competitive Spirit
Good-natured and friendly competition is healthy for any relationship. In order to stoke the competitive coals here, I would probably explain the background of both teams.
In doing so, however, I would include both on and off court facts in order to give my girlfriend the full picture. Then, you should let your girlfriend choose a team to root for or against.
If she chooses the team you hate, you've just converted her into a full-time fan of that team (most likely the despicable Miami Heat, or the delusional Toronto Raptors). If she chooses the team you like, that's just something else you both have in common.
3. Logic
Basketball purists know basketball is the most superior sport, especially when compared to its peers. Though that might sound like circular logic, allow me to explain:
- Football isn't relatable. It features herculean players wearing helmets. They're dressed like gladiators, and they're all jumping on each other in every play.
- Baseball is too impersonal. There is hardly any contact among the players, and the game is more drawn out than a Hillary Clinton cough.
- Hockey is electric. But perhaps too much so. The frantic nature of it, as well as the soccer-like slowness in goal-scoring from Robocop-dressed players, makes it a bizarrely unsatisfying sport to watch.
Basketball, on the other hand, is relatable. The players are physically close to one another, but they are also viewable.
They wear shorts. You can see their bodies. When a player hits the deck, you can see his entire facial expression.
Every girlfriend in the history of girlfriends wants to feel and hear more emotion from her man. By watching basketball together, a couple can experience what is probably the most emotionally naked sport out there.
Which girlfriend could argue with that logic?
4. Barter if you have to.
If the above three strategies have failed you, why not make a trade? Offer to watch anything your girlfriend likes.
Honestly, much of the women-centric shows these days seem to be decent. I may have even watched an episode (or 40) of "Desperate Housewives." That "Downton Abbey" show that every woman from Maine to Florida loves to gab about doesn't sound so bad, either.
Don't worry about winning or losing a deal. That won't happen. Make it an equal trade in terms of time commitment.
This way, everyone is satisfied. Want your girl to watch a two-and-a-half-hour basketball game? No problem. You just signed up for an episode of "The Good Wife," "Fashion Police" and "The View." Gulp.
5. The Honest Truth
Ultimately, the notion of sports seems to have a bad rep among females. This is mainly due to stereotyping. Sports is synonymous with machismo grunts and physical acts.
But avid fans know that sports goes beyond that. This is even more true for basketball.
Basketball can be inspiring. Watching athletes rise up and execute incredible physical and mental feats is exhilarating. This is exemplified during the playoffs: The stage is bigger, and there are more people tuning in.
Legacies are at stake. Watching an aging Kevin Garnett getting knocked to the ground on a foul, rolling over onto his stomach and doing eight knuckle pushups is both riveting and top-notch entertainment. Witnessing Rajon Rondo dislocate his left arm, only to return later in the game to secure his team's victory, is unbelievable to watch. I'm not a Celtics fan, but I'll give credit where credit is due.
There are endless clips available online that will inspire both girlfriends and boyfriends alike. But at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter if you've convinced your girlfriend to watch playoff basketball with you. Because you'll be watching either way.


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With the Imagine OPRF committee working to finalize details of its proposed campus renovation plan, the Oak Park and River Forest High School board is reviewing potential funding options.
At its Oct. 16 meeting, school board members reviewed ways to pay for the potential five-sequence project, though officials were quick to point out it is still early in the process and final decisions have yet to be made. The first three sequences carry an estimated price tag of more than $140 million.
Among the projects proposed in the renovation plan include new classrooms, relocating the library and tutoring center, improved athletics facilities, a new swimming pool, relocating administrative offices, a new welcome center, improved special education classrooms and new performing arts spaces.
Consultant Robert Grosi of Crystal Financials said the board would have to decide what cost and scale of campus renovations it intends to seek before settling on a particular funding option or options.
"I don't believe the intent is going to be that you're going to get a comprehensive plan, and one decision is going to be made on what you're going to do and how you're going to finance it immediately," Grossi said. "From the board of education perspective, there's going to be multiple decision points."
The school board is scheduled to host a town hall with residents to review the proposed master facilities plan at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 in the south cafeteria. From there, the Imagine OPRF group is expected to provide a final recommendation to the school board sometime in November.
"The first decision point is what's going to happen once the report is received," Grossi said. "At some point later on, there's going to be a second decision. The document doesn't mean everything needs to be addressed, or needs to be addressed immediately. It's a living document."
In September, Imagine OPRF presented a five-sequence renovation plan, which could take place between six and 10 years, if approved. The first three sequences of the plan carry an estimated price tag of about $143 million, though the final two have yet to receive cost estimates.
According to Grossi, OPRF has about $107 million in its cash reserves. Current district policy requires OPRF to have between 25 and 75 percent of its annual operating expenses in reserve. Following that policy, OPRF could commit between $42 million and $84 million toward future renovations from its reserves, Grossi said.
Should the state shift teacher pension costs from the state level to local districts, Grossi estimates OPRF would lose up to $12 million of its reserves over the next five years. If the state enacts a long-proposed property tax freeze, OPRF could lose about $2.8 million in potential real estate growth annually, Grossi said.
Those unknowns would have to be carefully studied, officials said, before OPRF decides on how much of its reserves it would commit toward Imagine projects.
"If you're saying our revenues are equal to our expenditures, then we're going to be flat," board member Fred Arkin said. "If we're deficit spending, and we have to see that over a period of time, I don't see — until we have an accurate forecast in front of us — I don't see how we can even think about talking about decision making."
According to Grossi, the district can borrow up to $40 million through non-referendum bonds. With OPRF currently debt-free, the district can seek voter approval to borrow up to $150 million, Grossi said. School board members could also seek to fund the program with a combination of reserves, non-referendum and referendum bonds, pending voter approval.
Prior to the discussion, resident Maureen Kleinman played a clip from the Doobie Brothers' song "What a Fool Believes" as she spoke against the proposed renovation plan.
"Spending such a huge chunk on rebuilding the fieldhouse, to think that will have any sort of uplifting effect on academic outcomes for students, that song is what comes to mind," Kleinman said. "Please don't be fools. Please don't take your fellow residents as fools."
Resident Bruce Kleinman said he was "bugged" that the fourth and fifth sequences had yet to receive cost estimates, and asked the school board to present any large-scale renovation plan to the voters for approval.
"I also think when you propose the largest capital project in the history of the village, the only ethical thing to do is present it to referendum, present it to the people and present it to the voters," Kleinman said.
Latest Oak Park
According to OPRF Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams, the board will be presented with updated cost estimates Oct. 25 and could be asked to accept the long-term facilities plan later in November.
"At that time, the board can accept the plan as a whole, or accept only a portion," Pruitt-Adams said. "Before we can say to you, this is what you need to do financially, we need to know what the board is willing and committed to do with regards to the sequencing. Then we can come back and say this is the best means to provide financial funding for what the board has agreed to at this time."
Board members now have to weigh the proposed project's costs and scope with its own financial forecasts prior to settling on a plan.
"I think there's a lot of flexibility in each sequence," Arkin said. "We have the ability to say what does and does not get turned into a project."


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What to do when the Records BurnedGenealogy Tips from Jeannette Holland Austin
Most of the first immigrants to Virginia came from England. Other Europeans began migrating during the middle of the 17th century. The London Company and Virginia Company were invested in the colony and shipped people and supplies into Jamestown on a continuous basis dating from 1607. Can one locate all the ship manifests? No. Although there is a list of the first voyagers to Jamestown on this website, we have been unable to discover the ship manifests. The records of Jamestown were destroyed during an armed rebellion in 1676 when the settlers, led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley, burned the town. An alternate place to research would be Williamsburg (York County).
Index to Georgia Wills-See Names of your Ancestors
Share your genealogy comments on Mastodon.Social


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Officient is a simple HR platform for HR administration of small and mid-sized organisations. People data from different sources (for example from the pay roll system) can be captured in Officient.
Look and Feel?
Modern look and feel.
Not really
Easy to implement?
Simple, but not plug-and-play.
Our view
Nice and simple HR platform, that can easily be used by smaller organisations, who want to have their people data in one place, and who want to facilitate elementary HR processes. Early days, today mainly Belgian clients. Certainly worthwhile to consider.
More information
Video: not available


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Live Puamana. This idyllic community attracts both full-time residents and repeat visitors with its secluded location at the south end of Front Street in Lahaina Town. Each townhome has a different personality. This bright and airy 1 bedroom 2 bath unit has an expanded floorplan and a large loft with 2 skylights. Its beach-themed décor welcomes guests to be in vacation mode. Located close to the ocean pool, clubhouse, and tennis court, it comes fully equipped for vacation rental and is offered turnkey along with future bookings. Peek at the ocean from the kitchen window and plan your day. Puamana is a 30 acre gated community with 3 swimming pools, tennis court, clubhouse with gym and community kitchen, parks, and ½ mile of shoreline perfect for whale watching, lounging on the beach, and catching amazing sunsets. All this is within close proximity to some of the best surfing on Maui, minutes from historic Lahaina Town, and just a short drive to world-class beaches and golf courses in West Maui.
Listing courtesy of Island Sotheby's Int'l Rlty(L). Selling Office: .
This information is believed to be accurate. It has been provided by sources other than the Realtors Assoc. of Maui and should not be relied upon without independent verification. You should conduct your own investigation and consult with appropriate professionals to determine the accuracy of the information provided and to answer any questions concerning the property and structures located thereon. Featured properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting this brochure. Copyright, 1995-2015, REALTORS® Association of Maui, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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A curated source for everything entrepreneurial in your community.
Startup Week: Celebrating entrepreneurs is communities across the globe.
Start building your future in just 54 hours. Learn, Network, Startup.
Learn More
The RVA Startup Weekend Experience
This post originally appeared on blog.up.co
As the organizing team for RVA Startup Weekend prepares for the big weekend in September, we thought we'd share some insights from a 2013 attendee (who is also currently on the organizing team this year).
If spending 56 hours over the course of a weekend working with complete strangers to build a start-up sounds crazy to you then you are not alone. It is crazy! But it's a fun experience that will teach you so much more than you can read online. It's hands on, fast paced and exciting.
Last year, Elliot had no idea what he was getting into. His initial pitch wasn't picked, and the team he joined didn't win but he sure did learn a lot. If you're thinking about registering for Startup Weekend in September, read about Elliot's experience and take notes on his advice!
Here are Elliot's posts:
Convinced and ready to register? Get tickets here.
Also, be sure to RSVP for the Startup Weekend Pre-party happening August 27th. RSVP here.


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Adobe Creative Suite 4 – Updated design tools
Word has spread that Adobe released the latest version of its flagship design software, the Creative Suite today. CS4 brings a slew of new features and enhancements to ubiquitous applications like Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver. For many agencies, DigitalDay included, these are the applications we use for building creative work.
Designers will be clamoring to get their hands on a copy, and we'll see a ton of new work highlighting the latest gadgets and features. There's nothing wrong with staying current with software, but it's easy to get caught up in the hype with any software release.
For those on the client side of agency work, examine what your marketing goals and brand standards are, and see if any of the new features or functionality really benefit you. Sure you can now have your logo in 3d, or with a cool animation…but does it really help your brand? Some of the best work has been done with outdated tools or simple shapes and techniques.
For designers, keep in mind the basics of good design, and don't jump on bandwagons. There might be fancy new filters and fun brushes, but just dropping these in to every design will give you an almost instantly outdated and clichéd look. Keep in mind the goals of your brands and your projects, and be mindful that good design is not based on effects or trendy features. Be confident in your skills and your designs, and let thoughtful beautiful design do its job for you and the client.


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Wilmington Real Estate | 5 bedroom home in Waterford
New on the market!
1214 Wood Lily Circle, Leland, NCEloquently acquainted 5 BR, 3 BA brick home in the resort-like community of Waterford. The bright & open floor plan is designed for gracious living with its high ceilings, 2 gas log fireplaces, built-in shelving & much more. The large eat-in kitchen boasts Granite counters, stainless appliances, tile backsplash, gas stove & a bright breakfast area. Charming downstairs master bedroom in a tranquil retreat with its lighted Trey ceiling, spacious sitting area, 2 walk-in closets & private bath with dual vanities, Jacuzzi tub & seperate tiled shower. Other exquisite details of this amazing home include a formal dining room, sleek hardwoods, plantation shutter, laundry room with shelving & sink, walk-in attic, 2 car side loading garage & more. Enjoy the laid back feel of this exquisite home with a large back deck overlooking the canal complete with a dock. Amenities include pool, tennis, volleyball, kayaking, clubhouse & excercise room.
MLS# 445254Click Here for more photos, additional information, & room dimensions.Call 910-395-1000 to schedule an appointment!


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Well it is amazing what you find when you are looking for something else as I found another wonderful wallpaper on deviant art web site. So once again I have changed my desktop on my laptop, shaggy, again.
I like the resulting desktop which works well with the two conky panels each side which is shown below:


text: Cedar Rapids' neighboring city, Marion, is kicking off a community brainstorming initiative this week called Imagine8 to come up with eight ideas to focus on for the city's future. This is similar to Cedar Rapids' Fifteen in 5 plan that identified fifteen projects or issues for the future and progress that could be made within five years. An Imagine8 Marion Community Visioning Kick Off Breakfast will be held Thursday, January 15, at the Longbranch from 7:30 – 8:30am.


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Want to learn more about the Windsor-Essex 50+ Guide and Directory?
Have a question or comment? We are waiting to hear from you.
Vantage Enterprises Inc.
Mailing Address:
7-5060 Tecumseh Rd. E., Suit 122
Windsor, ON N8T 1C1
Office Hours: By Appointment Only
519-735-1142 ~ Toll FREE:1-800-881-5430
Copyright 2020 © Vantage Enterprises Inc.. All rights reserved.


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2020 Term Dates
2020 term dates are May 1 – June 26, 2020.
The term is eight weeks long. Students arrive at the BISC on Friday, May 1, for an orientation weekend. Classes begin on Monday, May 4. The first five weeks of the program are spent at the BISC. The sixth week consists of a one-week field trip to the continent. The trip is followed by one more week of classes at the BISC, and an exam period ending on June 24. Students depart from the BISC by June 26.
Fall Information Session
Interested students are invited to attend a program information session on Monday, September 23, 1:00 pm, Room 001, Macdonald Hall.
Certificate of Completion
Upon the successful completion of one of the International Law Programs, students receive a "Certificate of Completion" in International Business Law or Public International Law from the Faculty of Law.
LLM Students
LLM students who enroll in one of the programs begin their LLM studies in early May at the Castle and complete the requirements for the LLM at Queen's in Kingston over the remainder of the summer and in the fall term, with the possibility of completion as early as the end of December.
LLM students can choose the Public International Law or Business International Law stream, and must take all courses in the selected program. Graduate students attending the Castle will be required to pay the International Law Programs fee for the first two months of their LLM studies. This fee includes tuition, accommodation, meals, and field trips in Europe (but not airfare). After completing the spring term at the Castle, the monthly cost of tuition and other fees at Queen's in Kingston will be the same as for other graduate students. LLM students who attend the Castle are eligible for the same scholarships as other LLM students, and in addition will be eligible to apply for Bader International Study Centre bursaries awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need to assist with the Castle fees.
Students who wish to attend one of the International Law Programs as part of their LLM studies must submit their application for admission to the LLM program by November 15, indicating clearly a wish to be considered for one of the International Law Programs. Space is limited and admission is on the basis of academic merit. LLM students apply to the International Law Programs through the Graduate Program. Please contact Dianne Flint, Graduate Studies Assistant, for more information and application procedures.


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Writing a will isn't the most pleasant job in the world. None of us like to think about our mortality or no longer being with our friends and family. But it is a job that all of us need to do, whether we want to or not. It's a vital document that needs plenty of care and thought put into to ensure our wishes are executed once we are gone and it would be better if you talk to these family lawyers first so they can help you. To make your will as concise and accurate as possible, here are the top 3 things you need to consider.
Image found on Flickr
Your children
You will understandably want to make sure that your children are looked after and cared for should anything happen to you. This is particularly important if your kids are under the age of 18 and considered minors. Talk to your partner and decide upon a suitable guardian that you can appoint in your will. This should be someone you trust like a relative or close friend. Always choose more than one just in case someone is unable to take on the responsibility. Also, decide how you wish to have your estate equally divided up between your children and how the money is to be accessed. Have this important information written down before seeing your solicitor. For more information on choosing a guardian visit.
The fiduciaries are the people who will be responsible for implementing your wishes and terms stated in your will. They will deal with your multiple aspects of your affairs and have specific duties to carry out. These are roles of utmost importance, so it's crucial that you choose wisely. Profession fiduciaries such as an accountant or family lawyer are often popular choices. But you need to ensure they are trustworthy, loyal and honest to facilitate the role you require. Family members can often disagree and argue if they do not agree with the terms you have stated. So having someone without a personal stake could make things go much smoother. It's not, however, unheard of for fiduciaries to abuse the trust of the beneficiaries.
Image found on Flickr
Storage of your will
When your will has been finalized, you need to have a pre-prepared place for it to be stored. This will ensure that it remains intact and can be easily accessed by your family or fiduciaries after your passing. Your solicitor may be able to store your will for you for a small fee, or you could keep it in a safe at home. Never place your will anywhere where it could get easily damaged or torn as this can affect its authenticity. Make sure the right people know where it is and don't move it without stating so.
Making your will doesn't have to be challenging if you've put enough thought into it. These considerations will help make the process more straightforward for you and your solicitor. So never rush it and keep it frequently updated to avoid issues for your family in the future.


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What is Nutrition?
Nutrition is the actual process of getting food into your body and utilizing it as staples for growth. Proper nutritious food acts as a fuel for your daily works. It can be said that nutrition is the science that addresses all the various components of which food is combined and the means in which real nourishment is arranged. Effective nourishment demands a acceptable diet, which is competent of sustaining the individual health who is consuming it, in a state of healthiness by offering the desired nutrients in required amounts. Science of nourishment is the field of knowledge considering the function of food in the maintenance of healthiness. Therefore nutrition is the branch of knowledge of food at work in our body. The average nutrition demands of groups of people are specified and depend upon such important features such as structure of body, age, sex, height, weight, level of activity or hardship and rate of growth. Proper nutritious food offer the body with the material from which it can develop heat or whatever form of energy. It provides sufficient material for growth, maintenance, repairing of cells or reproduction to proceed. It also supplies essential substances, which commonly regularize the output of energy or the procedure of growth, repair or reproduction. A poor and unbalanced diet may have a harmful impact on wellness, causing insufficiency and deficiency diseases such as scurvy and kwashiorkor, anemia, bone deficiency and many health-threatening conditions like obesity or over weight and metabolism syndrome and common prolonged systemic diseases as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. World Health Organization has characterized Good Health as State of complete and over all physiological, intellectual and social well- being and not simply the absence of disease and feebleness or ill- health/illness.
Category Of Nutrition
There are six categories of nutrients which include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.
Proteins are known as body building food, Carbohydrates are known as energy giving foods, vitamins and minerals keep your body healthy and functioning properly, fats provide more energy than carbohydrates. Nutrition also called aliment or nourishment is the preparation, to cells and beings, of the materials essential (in the form of food) to support life. A lot of commons unhealthiness's may be foreclosed or relieved with a healthy diet. Nutrition likewise concentrates on how diseases, circumstances and troubles can be precluded or decreased with a healthy diet.
Nowadays scientists have likewise discovered special compounds in plant foods called phytofactor or phytonutrients which are important components in plants that contribute to a healthy diet. These phytofactors and phytonutrients are capable enough of providing all macro and micro nutrients to the body.
Macronutrients are nutrients which we required in comparatively large amounts. Micronutrients are nutrients we need in comparatively small amounts. Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, essential fats and dietary fiber whereas micronutrients are vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1 , Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12 and Minerals such as Potassium, Chloride, Sodium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Copper, Iodine
Nutrition is the subject of food at work in our bodies as a means for energy. Nutrition is the building blocks of life. Nutrition represents merely one key to building up and keeping up healthiness. Good health is combination of a sound mind, body, and spirit.
Precepts of nutrition are put on end-to-end the life cycle from the time of conception to age old part of life. Spheres of nourishment accent include maternity, early childhood, childhood, adolescence, maturity and the 'aged' mature. The link between diet and wellness is strong. Diet comprises a significant agent in heart condition, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes mellitus and obesity. Hence it is very important to take proper nutrition for healthy life.


text: Air Conditioner Service in Lake Forest You continuously hear about making sure you are on top of your HVAC equipment repairs. It's one of the most universal topics when talking about air conditioners. But why? Maintaining your system plays a big role in the comfort of your home, specifically with the irregular summer weather in Lake Forest. Don't wait for your air conditioner to flake out on a hot summer day – service it before it's too late! FOR AIR CONDITIONER SERVICE CALL NOW 949-204-0859 Our specialists at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. are available for tuning and maintenance because it's crucial to us that our customers' needs are met. Whether it's an urgent situation or a routine examination, we've got your back. Annual servicing is your best bet and it presents an assortment of advantages, including: Efficiency: the more often your air conditioner is repaired, the more efficiently and longer it will run. When it's working at maximum efficiency, that also means not as much energy usage and therefore decreased energy costs. Comfortability: when an air conditioner is running at its absolute best, so are the people in your home. Being comfortable with the functionality of your air conditioner means that you keep cool and positive during the heat. Reliability: with annual maintenance, the chance of problems or malfunctions drastically decreases because our pros can check for and address problems before they happen. Your air conditioner will stay steady and trustworthy, even when it's being used more often. Dependability: contrast your air conditioner service to a car oil change – staying on top of both mean that you can depend on your car to get you to your destination, and on your home to keep you cool through the heat. With a reliable system, you can get more out of your summer. You want to utilize your air conditioner, specifically in the summer, and maintaining it with annual service will certify that you are. Here are a few other things to also reflect on with the high temperatures upon us: Close your blinds: by shielding the inside of your home from the sunlight and enduring heat that can sneak in, you can keep your home cooler. Keeping your windows open at night is another great way to exploit natural cool air to keep your home comfortable and offer your air conditioner a break. Use fans: fans can be used in rooms that you know you are going to be in for a long time. They offer fresh air movement and allow you to increase your thermostat a few degrees to save productivity. Programmable thermostats: there are many forms of programmable and smart thermostats that allow you to arrange when your air conditioner is on and off during the day and night. This choice can save you money, especially if you are gone from your home often. No matter the time or day, our NATE-certified, fully licensed and trained experts at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. are equipped to service your air conditioner. Stop dwelling on keeping up your air conditioner and give us a call at 949-204-0859 or find us online to arrange an appointment there. First Name* Required Last Name* Required Phone Invalid value Email * Required Invalid value Comments *Required fields Submit Height in meters Spoken Language My State of Residence


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Recent Posts
Charles West on Twitter
- RT @geoffmiller2984: @grahambsi @ByDonkeys @gavinesler And a more granular companion piece from Reuters, again highlighting the extent of t… 20 hours ago
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Category Archives: Covid-19
Why we need lockdown and some reasons to be optimistic
Posted on March 25, 2020 by Charles West
As the world comes to grip with the Covid-19 Pandemic I feel called to offer some personal thoughts and reflections.Like most in the medical profession I have been enormously frustrated by the lacklustre response of the UK government to this … Continue reading →
Posted in Covid-19, Health, NHS | Tagged Covid-19, Epidemic, Lockdown, Pandemic, Public Health, Social Distancing | 2 Comments


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Shop used and refurbished laptops for mobile power on a budget. Small gadgets, similar to smartphones, often don't require as a lot storage capability as full-measurement computers, so they make use of flash reminiscence chips like these utilized in digital cameras. You may swap flash cards out and in of a device for straightforward information sharing.
Perform systems evaluation and programming tasks to take care of and management the usage of computer systems software as a methods programmer. Battery life and efficiency measurements on Intel Reference Platform. Intel Reference Platform is an example new system. Merchandise out there from systems producers is not going to be identical in design, and efficiency will vary.
Is the $350 Lenovo laptop on that retail counter really all that significantly better than the $350 HP sitting subsequent to it? No. Not likely. They have been each constructed to start falling aside after about 3 to 4 years of normal expected use. They are going to both have roughly the identical processor, quantity of Ram, and amount of space for storing.
Computers have changed vastly over the last 50 years.
Eurocom has taken the wraps off the Tornado F7W, the model's newest excessive-finish cellular workstation powered by an Intel Core i9-9900K octa-core processor and Nvidia Quadro P5200 graphics. When not plugged right into a wall outlet, laptops use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for power. Laptops go into sleep mode when used intermittently, extending the time between prices. four Processor speed denotes maximum performance mode; processors will run at decrease speeds in battery optimization mode.
Laptops are essential-system for everybody as these are straightforward-to-use, transportable, vitality savers and extra. 24 HP Shopper Safety Suite Gen four requires Windows and Intel® or AMD 8th technology processors. PCGamer scored this a 90 for its impressive battery life, thin design, relative gentle weight – all things you don't affiliate with a high powered gaming laptop.
How a lot storage do you need? And tablet computers ?
Most Chromebooks come with eleven-inch, 13-inch or 14-inch screens, which is fine for working when out and about. Regardless of COMPUTER gaming's superior hardware advantage, many avid gamers have not made the swap to COMPUTER gaming on account of the truth that most imagine that getting a great gaming computer is much too costly and is something that's ultimately out of the question.
Personal Computer gaming is and at all times would be the most powerful gaming platform. We spherical out our checklist with a laptop that encapsulates a bit of what is nice about every of the previous laptops we have mentioned. This slim HP Laptop is light-weight, compact, and portable, with a 14″ display. You may profit from the display time you could have, nevertheless, with a thin micro-edge.
The restore costs of a failed motherboard or LCD panel usually exceeds the worth of a used laptop. 35 Windows 10 MM14 battery life will fluctuate relying on various components together with product mannequin, configuration, loaded purposes, options, use, wi-fi functionality, and energy management settings.


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Female Cartoon Character Voice Talent and Voice Artist of All Ages
Voice Genders and "Ages" English North American 10+ Years Experience
* Baby Character Accents: British, Southern
* Child
* Young Adult Female
* Middle Age Female
* Senior Female
Jack Radio – 3 Radio Spots (Humorous)
"I've worked with voice over talents from Voice 123 in the past but Tracey Kummrow is hands down the most creative, inventive female voice artist. Simply tell her how the character acts and sounds and she'll create a completely new, never heard before voice. She's done this 3 times for me. Every voice fits my characters and her voice timbre is A++++, hands down."
John Ray Pod-cast Radio
Improv Workshops-One on one with Pat Fraley, Matt Rosin, and Brian Cummings (The Robin Williams of Voiceover) Trained with Susan Berkley "The Voice of AT&T" at the Great Voice Company, Lou Hunt: Word of Mouth Productions, AZ. Vocalist Training: Gene Dreya School of Voice, and Helen Jenner. Milwaukee, WI. Voiceover Webinars and Various Training DVD's from top producers and voicover artists to keep up to date on what is expected. I never stop learning!
I have samples of children's audio books I have done too on this site. Take a listen.
Home Studio Equipment Rode NT1A Mic, Studio One Producer, Sound Forge Pro and More.


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It's interesting that the states that were approved for the testing of English language learners did not include Texas (but rather: Tennessee, Indiana, California, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.
This needs to be looked at closely because here are the 4 types of options that the states will be considering: (1) tests completely in languages other than English; (2) tests in English but with accommodations, such as being allowed to consult a foreign language dictionary; (3) tests using simplified English; and (4) testing systems that use the English proficiency test as the reading test.
Even if option 1 is chosen--certainly the best option among the four according to research--there still a lot that has to be considered. For example, the level of academic competence that the child himself/herself has in their native tongue and also whether the test itself has been normed against a population similar to the test-taking one. Also, since the language of the assessment should optimally be the language of instruction, consistency across these should be held.
Hopefully, this level of sensitivity will be built into this process.
Six states with approved systems were invited to share their programs:
Monday, July 31, 2006
States, feds partner on English testing
By Pauline Vu / Stateline.org Staff Writer
Twenty-four states are being invited to work with the U.S. Department of Education to develop acceptable math and reading tests for students with limited English proficiency (LEP).
Eighteen were chosen because a review last month found their testing systems, particularly those for LEP students, did not meet standards of the No Child Left Behind law. Six states with approved systems were invited to lend their expertise.
"Homework is due…on implementing various provisions, including assessment systems," Education Secretary Margaret Spellings said, unveiling the program during a conference call with reporters on July 27.
Last month the Education Department revealed that, because of inadequate testing methods, several states might lose part of their Title I administrative funds, which then would go straight to their districts. The 18 states invited to the program were chosen because problems were found with the LEP portion of their systems.
However, Spellings said, states that participate in the pilot program could regain control of the lost money.
The news was welcomed by some state education leaders. "We have sought technical assistance, plus a clear path and timelines, from the feds in this area, so I am appreciative that they are responding to this call to work as partners with us," Illinois State School Superintendent Randy Dunn said in an e-mail.
No Child Left Behind, the federal education law that passed with widespread bipartisan support in 2002, seeks to bring every child to grade level in reading and math by 2014. States must put acceptable testing systems into place to measure annual progress for all students, including English-language learners.
Other benefits from the new program include technical help coming up with a plan, access to experts, and exchanging ideas with other states, said Ray Simon, the deputy education secretary. He expects a "smorgasbord" of testing methods for states to consider and choose from in time for the next round of testing in the spring.
"It's technical assistance that the states have been begging for," Simon said. "States have done a lot of work. They just haven't gotten as far as they want to get. We just want to take them the rest of the way."
Of the states invited to participate, 14 were told last month they could lose control of some administrative funds, and seven – Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Texas – were informed the department intended to give a portion of their fiscal 2006 money directly to their school districts, unless persuaded otherwise. Texas would lose almost $1.2 million, Illinois $540,228.
But some of the fines would be "taken off the table, and left off the table as long as the state is a willing participant" in the program, Simon said.
Betty VanDeventer, a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Education, said the state has not been informed of the program, "but if it is true, we will be delighted to participate." Nebraska stands to lose $126,741 to its districts.
Minnesota could lose control of $109,437, but officials from the state's Department of Education said that wasn't why they were excited about the program.
"It isn't so much the money that's the enticement as much as sharing the knowledge that we have with others," said Dirk Mattson, acting director of research and assessment. "We'll certainly be looking to have some other folks share the wealth of their knowledge, as well."
Minnesota is eager to share its work in developing an alternate version of its math assessment test for English language learners, called the MTELL (Mathematics Test for English Language Learners). The regular math test uses word problems to place the math in real-world situations, and the MTELL will customize it for LEP students. The state will try out the test this fall, and plans to use it in the spring.
The program will look into four types of testing systems for LEP students: tests completely in languages other than English; tests in English but with accommodations, such as being allowed to consult a foreign language dictionary; tests using simplified English; and testing systems that use the English proficiency test as the reading test.
Six states with approved systems were invited to share their programs: Tennessee, Indiana, California, Florida, North Carolina and Ohio.
Other states invited to participate were Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as Puerto Rico. Eventually, any state will be permitted to join.
The Education Department is inviting states to a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28-29 to kick off the program.
The National Council of La Raza, a Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, was one of several groups urging such a partnership. The group was troubled when some states begin asking to exclude test results of their LEP students in measuring annual progress under No Child Left Behind, said Raul Gonzalez, the group's legislative director.
"We were concerned that if they could get these waivers they wouldn't develop better assessments, curriculum and instructional strategies" for English language learners, Gonzalez said. "This is kind of meeting the states in the middle."
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You are new here? For the 2nd part of this article click here.
In most of the world's most famous wine regions, it is nearly impossible to simply phone up a top estate and arrange for the winemaker to personally show you around. But Tokaj is not like most of the world's fine wine regions. It is isolated, under-appreciated, and in the Anglo-Saxon world, known only to a handful of enthusiasts. This is gradually changing, however. Its most famous vineyards, like Oremus and Disznókő, have attracted foreign ownership or investment. Royal Tokaji is partially owned and extensively promoted abroad by Hugh Johnson. And yet, a knowledgeable American or Brit can easily gain entry to the dizzying heights of Tokaj's finest estates. In the first instalment, I detailed the trials and tribulations of getting to Tokaj and in the second, I narrated the revelation of my discovery of the traditional Szamorodni wine style. In this episode, I narrate my second day in the region and my magical first encounters with Eszencia.
My first tasting of the day is at the storied estate of Oremus. To gain entry to these hallowed grounds, all I had to do was email the vineyard mentioning that I was a member of the Cambridge Blind Wine Tasting society. They had promptly arranged all the other details. On the morning of 21 August, I am picked up at my hotel in a big white van by Szabolcs Újfalussy, one of the winemakers, who then takes me off to see the vineyards where I get to eat under-ripe Hárslevelű, Muscat and Zéta berries, and discuss clonal selection. I learn of the experiments that the different parcels are being used for. We walk the terroir and discuss its logic.
We discuss how microvinification is used to perfect new techniques and how at Oremus some red grapes are grown for the workers to take home and make into wine. We discuss how white wines can have tannins when made in the orange wine (Georgian Qvevri) style. He explains how small bunches and sparsely growing fruit is essential for high quality, and then, as we are driving back to the estate, he points out how just 400 metres from his amazing terroir, other growers are deliberately cultivating huge bunches and using fertiliser. They produce bland wines that they doctor up with grape juice and only successful legal changes are forcing them to declassify their wines so as not to tarnish the Tokaj brand.
The Oremus cellars are the most impressive I have ever seen. Corridor upon corridor of huge tunnels dug 20 feet underground, lined with barrels and alcoves holding the library of the estate's wines going back to the 19th century. The set-up is monumental and the quantity of wine which is being produced is clearly as enormous as the scale of a large Bordeaux estate.
I am then taken inside the chateau which has been entirely rebuilt, as it had been parcelled into offices for communist functionaries, and has now been restored to its neo-Habsburgian splendour. We have our tasting outside on a glorious patio looking at the façade of the mansion and the clouds moving rapidly above the poplar trees.
We start with an astringent 2013 100% Dry Furmint. It is head and shoulders above those that I have tasted on the trip so far. The 2013 Mandolás has a strong white fruit nose, the very soapy, crisp, astringent taste of pure Furmint. However, this one I find more Sauvignon Blanc-esque in taste with grassiness and a slight spritz or prickle. Although not to my palate, this is clearly an excellent wine; I give it 15.5/20 on quality and 17.5/20 on unique expression of the Furmint varietal's characteristics.
We next have the 2013 Late Harvest which Szabolcs usually serves to non-Hungarians and non-Eastern Europeans. Late Harvest is not an indigenous wine style, but is being made to suit international palates which demand easy drinking, unoaked or minimally oaked styles. It is exceedingly fruity, with peach, white fruit, jasmine and petals. True to its late harvest blueprint, its medium-light body, plus mid-high sugar, makes it a pleasing summer picnic wine for some less adventurous palates. With its low acidity, it is too sweet and not Tokaji enough for me. It is slightly redeemed due to its great pureness of fruit with some creamy or oily texture to make it medium-light rather than light bodied. I give it 14.5, but it could be a good value quaffable summer party wine which might prove a crowd pleaser if served with a fresh fruit dessert.
We then are served some lovely tapas of foie gras, roasted eggplant and stuffed tomato. I am thrilled as I doubt I'll be able to have lunch before my next tasting and these nibbles are a real sobriety saver.
They also go amazingly with the next wine. I am honoured that it is the 2010 Szamorodni Édes, which Oremus usually only serves to visiting Hungarians, Poles, Czechs and Slovaks. It has a deep goldish brown colour, the nose has a lot of botrytis and smells of bricks, old books and honey. It lacks the marmalade jamminess of a standard Tokaji Aszú, but makes up for that with a savoury quality and the buttery or nutty character derived from the Szamorodni process. It is not as good as the Barta Szamorodni, but it has great balance and is a dessert wine that one could drink largely on its own as it is not cloying or syrupy. I give it 16. I am getting happy.
Next is the 2006 5 puttonyos Aszú. It has a Sauternes' nose of old books and pure honey, but is crisp on the palate with a clean apple taste, with more acidity than a Sauternes and much more body. It is a classic dessert wine which will please international palates. A great wine for pairing with blue cheese, a tarte tatin or any dessert with caramel. I give it 16.5 and considered it a really benchmark wine.
Then the 2005 6 puttonyos; this is an amazing wine that knocks the socks off the 2006 5 putt. It is truly 'big' - so much bracing acidity and so much velvety sugar. It also has an effervescence to it like a young German Riesling. It presents as a very structured wine with the acidity giving it linearity and backbone. In addition to its classic Tokaji taste with great jammy, orange marmalade, it is a touch syrupy and super sweet, but eminently drinkable, especially with the right food pairing, thanks to its great harmony and balance. 17.5 on quality, 18.5 on expression of varietal character.
Loving these wines, I chat with Szabolcs about how international investment has improved the estate and how the winemaking techniques have changed slightly to suit international palates. As he is explaining how Vega Sicilia's ownership is turning Oremus into an international luxury brand, I am served the 2005 Eszencia. During the tour of the winery, I have already seen the large glass jars in which it is slowly fermented for years. The technique of making Eszencia dates back to the 18th century and has remained as simple as it is beguiling. The free run juice of only the botrytis berries is collected in wooden containers, puttonys, during the picking process. The weight of the berries on top causes the juice of those below to escape. They are then left to ferment alone in huge glass beakers, or demijohns, with a valve that lets the carbon dioxide from the fermentation process escape while keeping the air out.
Szabolcs and I discuss why Sauternes or other regions cannot make this style. This has to do with Tokaj's continental climate and its greater percentage of botrytis berries in each cluster. However, to his mind, the production of Eszencia is most crucially connected with the thicker skins of Hárslevelű and Furmint relative to Semillon and Sauvignon blanc grapes, meaning that the shrivelled botrytis berries in the Tokaj region don't fall apart when their weight squeezes the botrytis juice out. Szabolcs speculates that if the picking technique from Tokaj were to be used in Sauternes, the grapes would fall apart and it would be impossible to make the wine.
As we are discussing this, I am having my first sips of the 3% alc 550 g/L sugar content 2005 Oremus Eszencia - a truly different experience to any other beverage I have ever had. It is simultaneously the essence of wine and yet not really like wine at all. It tastes very much of the earth and yet divine. It is sweeter than most desserts and actually tastes like a liquid dessert, but not like a cloying syrup or even an excellent, melted dark chocolate. It has a sharp enough acidic structure and sufficient complexity to provide each sip with a discrete and persistent finish. As such, it doesn't need to be cleansed by a sip of coffee or tea. Simultaneously, the intense sugar plus complex flavours gave me a kind of high, like absinthe, making my mind feel more lucid and sober. I focus on the clouds floating by and as Roger Scruton has famously described the effects of fine wine on the mind, I am re-grounded into the time, place, space, terroir and culture that is Hungary. The wine has brought me into the moment and the place, rather than away from it as many mind-altering drugs do. Although impossible to rate such an experience, especially as an Eszencia virgin, I will have to give the wine a 19 on quality and 20 on distinctiveness as a wine experience. What this means is, if you care about wine, and you can afford the time, expense and planning required to get yourself to Tokaj, then what are you waiting for? Oremus Eszencia is there for you. And it isn't dubbed 'nectar' for nothing. It is the closest thing we have on earth to the tipple of the gods. Too bad it is so incredibly precious.
You can read more about Jason's adventure within a few days in the fourth part of this article.


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Our belated Easter egg hunt was fun. Because my kids take their families to the "Other Laws" on Easter, we hold our Easter egg hunt a week later. I filled each egg with candy and a dime… which they all love. They sort out their candy and fill their pockets with the money. They look forward to the coins as much as they do the candy. It's been a fun tradition.
I set up two Easter egg hunts. The front yard hosts the younger kids and the backyard hunt is for the older ones.
Here are the younger kids… all set to go.
We did let little Abram go first… up to the count of ten… otherwise, he would get trampled by the mob. Glade is his body guard and his extra eyes.
This is Randall. He's found that these bushes and trees held many an egg. Some eggs are green… which become a bit of a challenge to find.
It's the big kid"s turn now. Run fast… the race is on.
"Hey… what's going on here. Norah… no coaching."
Gee… it's nice to have a guide. I guess that's part of the fun and excitement too.
We have a good old time. The best part of getting older is that your blessings and fun are multiplied…. a hundred fold.
Till Later,
Insightful Nana
P.S. I like Easter Egg hunts now days…. those plastic eggs sure beat having to boil and color 200 eggs. Some how… that much egg salad is not very appealing to me.


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In a globalized world, people are finding it easier to talk to each other. However, a heavy foreign accent can be just as big of a hindrance to clear communication as a language barrier. When a foreign English speaker with a heavy accent is speaking with a native English speaker, both parties know they are speaking the same language. Therefore, significant effort is put towards communicating a message. This makes things all the more frustrating when there is a miscommunication. English accent training can help make such awkward encounters a thing of the past.
Foreign business professionals use English accent training in order to Americanize their accent and supplement their knowledge of various idioms and slang terminology. No matter how extensive their vocabulary is or how perfect their grammar when writing, a heavy accent can make it difficult for foreign born speakers of English to establish credibility and trust. This is why English accent training has become overwhelming popular in the last 10-20 years.
English accent training : Making the Transition
There are countries with accents that aren't immediately obvious languages such as English, making the transition to a clearer manner of speaking somewhat easier. Examples can be seen with Spanish and Italian. The reason behind the ease by which people understand them in the US is mainly because the native English speakers are more familiar with these accents and how they sound due to these accents being prominently are always featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials
Other accents that are fairly easy for native English speakers to understand are German and Filipino. Phillpino languages are syllable timed, whereas German is stress timed like English.
English accent training: Breaking down various accents
The accents below can come across to native English speakers as making speech difficult to understand, even if the speaker is in fact talking in perfect English with the correct word usage and grammar. Each accent is accompanied by a commonly faced problem by those trying to modify their accent.
- Arabic- The "th" sound is pronounced like a hard "d" –Pronounce the "t" sound by touching your tongue and upper front teeth while you pronounce this sound.
- Mandarin-English has more vowel sounds than Mandarin, leading many native Mandarin speakers to mispronounce similar sounding words.
- Welsh- Many in the UK consider the Welsh accent to be the equivalent of a "country" accent in America. The letter "r" is often trilled and gives the accent more of a musical quality than other accents.
- Scottish- Short words are joined together in a Scottish accent, while words ending in "g" have the final syllable dropped.
- Indian- Those with an Indian accent tend to speak English quickly, blending their words together and unintentionally confusing native English speakers.
- Japanese- Japanese only has 5 vowel sounds in comparison to English.
You might have noticed that Welsh and Scottish people are often identified as English speakers. The fact of the matter is, they have their own dialects that can be difficult for outsiders to interpret. Another common reason why foreign speakers struggle to adapt an English accent is some English letters and/or vowels are not present in their native language. Thus, an accent is heard as they try to compensate.
English Accent Training: How to Learn More
This is just one of our many blog articles that help educate and inform the public on English Accent Training. If you're interested in learning more about English accent training, check out our free Accent Reduction screening. Within 48 hours you will receive results regarding your accent on a severity scale of 1 (very heavy) to 7 (very mild) accent. If you're looking to start on your English accent training, we have office and online starter program options! Within 12 English accent training sessions, all clients have demonstrated accent reduction of 50% or more.


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Holidaymakers will be disappointed to find out they'll get 12.8% less for their pound in the most popular holiday destinations.
Research from Santander bank has found that since the UK's historic referendum on EU membership on 23 June 2016, the value of the pound has plummeted some 12.8% on average.
While this is good for British exports, it is problematic for holidaymakers going to the most popular destinations, such as France, Spain, and the US.
However, there's good news if you intend to spend your summer holiday on the Turkish Riviera: the pound has risen 5.5% against the Turkish lira, bucking the otherwise downward trend against nine other currencies.
The table below shows how far your pound will go in 10 popular holiday destinations.
Of course, the best way to ensure you get the top exchange rates abroad is to use a specialist overseas card. As Matt Hall, head of banking and unsecured credit at Santander, says: "With the pound losing a significant amount of value on the most popular currencies over the past year, holidaymakers' pockets are already stretched but, by using a cost effective payment method, they can make sure they don't inadvertently throw more money away."
Read our guide on how to get the best deal on your travel money and our guide to the best cards for overseas spending.


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Hit the ground running, and cleaning
By Daniel M. Ryan
Late Tuesday night, we saw the impossible realized. Donald Trump, facing at least as much bias as Barry Goldwater in 1964, won the election. The candidate that so many said would not win, won. He won against a media so hostile, they're now scrambling. Arthur Sulzberger Jr., the publisher of the in-trouble New York Times is so rattled that he sent out an apology letter (!) to subscribers who haven't already taken a hike.
Others are scrambling to figure out why they were so wrong. From what I read, they've learned very little. The only ones who have an inkling are the Bernie Sanders supporters. The rest have only figured out that they're part of a machine that's floated up in the air and become a flying echo chamber. They're slowly beginning to figure out that they're part of The Cloud Minders. In a very real way, 2016 has been the year that the looked-down-upon Troglytes found their champion and won.
Some of the pampered pets of the Obama years took to the Trump victory by rioting. Thankfully – this is a blessing of the partisanized times – the paid rioters tore up and harassed the citizens of blue cities. If you're ensconced in a red zone, you only saw them on Youtube.
One of the weak points of the Conservative mind is complacency in victory. I have to confess that I watched my share of meltdowns. It is enjoyable to think of the freaked-out opposition as spoiled children or big babies, while not wondering if they're more like unruly teenagers who need to be grounded. Part and parcel of this complacency is the Conservative brand of magnanimity: going out of our way to reassure the defeated that their scary nightmares are only figments of their imaginations. As much as some of us like to quote Conan the Barbarian, we act quite predictably when we hear the lamentations of their women.
This tendency of ours is so ingrained, it's always led to Conservative reform being muffled.
There's another reason, which Milton and Rose Friedman wrote an entire book about back in 1983. Although it's now a period piece, the central lesson of The Tyranny of the Status Quo is still relevant:
the uniform tendency in government [is] to reverse the declared policies of leaders whether left or right. In the first six to nine months following their election, Reagan, Thatcher and Mitterand too, initiated big changes. Soon, each was frustrated by the "Iron Triangle" which preserves the status quo. In the triangle's corners are the direct beneficiaries of laws, the bureaucrats who thrive on them, the politicians who seek votesThe takeaway of the book is that the system of government returns to an equilibrium after the first six to nine months of a new Administration. (The above quote comes from the dust flap of the hardcover edition.) The Trump transition team seems to be aware of this new phenomenon. According to the Daily Caller, construction of The Wall is slated to start in March. That's well within the six-to-nine-month timeframe. Since Trump sees The Wall as his new Wollman Rink, it's a safe bet we'll see The Wall.
In addition - an advantage due to him not being a conventional small-government Republican - he's going to benefit from active support in both the FBI and border-control bureaucracies. He's the boss they're going to love. So, in the areas of deportation and border control, the Trump Administration will have finessed the Iron Triangle. (It remains to be seen if there's enough residual patriotism in the Veterans' Administration for him to prevail there too.) President Trump will show us what it's possible for a President to do with a co-operative bureaucracy. Thankfully, he's businessman enough to know that the art of management definitely includes incentivizing and rewarding good performance.
But sadly, the above exceptions will reinforce the rule. The Iron Triangle, though bent, will not be broken. He'll see this when he tries to implement his promise to repeal Obamacare. I'm sure you can guess many of the excuses: "too radical," "it'll encourage the wrong people", "businesses already count on it," and so on.
It would be wise of Trump and the GOP to press forward and repeal it outright. There's a yuge trust gap between the Pubbies and the base: a simple bill – "The Affordable Care Act is hereby repealed" – will do a lot to narrow it. It would enable the Beltway crowd to return to the Heartland and say, "You see? We did get it done when we got the Presidency." I'm sure the Trump transition team will have a ready-to-go replacement by the time Mitch McConnell has to decide whether repairing tattered trust is worth invoking the nuclear option.
There are two other crucial reforms needed, which I'm focussing on because they're the kind of low-level repair work that's easy to slough off or go easy on. The first is crucial to another Trump goal – bringing back jobs – and the second is crucial to limit the vote fraud we all know is there.
Clean Up E-Verify
Remember the botched Obamacare Website? One of the reasons why it was such a mess is that the programmers had to create an interoperability hub that harnessed a whole slew of incompatible record systems – some of which didn't work all that very well. It's true that a lot of the blame for the botching belongs to the Obama Administration. But the important reason going forward is the creakiness of the underlying systems.
There've been a lot of folks demanding that E-Verify be made mandatory. If this legislation is to be part of the Trump Plan, then it's very important to make sure that the underlying database is cleaned up.
A long time ago, John Kenneth Galbraith quipped: "One of the uses of depression is the exposure of what auditors fail to find." Remember 2008-09? One of the problems that surfaced as a result of the real-estate collapse was the fact that the mortgage-title records were a godawful mess. Think about it: those records, the very foundation of all those fancy CDOs, were a shambles. In some cases, enough of a mess that the salvage squads had no idea what they were entitled to collect on.
Americans look up to entrepreneurial and action-oriented people. This gives America a huge advantage. But it comes with downsides, like sometimes forgetting the importance of "cost centers." At least one small brokerage firm went down in the bear market of 1970s because its back-office records were a jumbled chaos. Imagine yourself as a managing partner of a firm that's gone bankrupt without you even knowing it.
Given that record-keeping is unglamourous enough to overlook, it's a good mind-the-downside bet that the E-Verify records need a thorough and meticulous clean-up. Better to find the mistakes now than to find out the hard way should E-Verify be made mandatory.
Clean Up The Voting Records
Thanks to Project Veritas Action and a lot of public-spirited citizens, we've found out that voting fraud is all over the place. As with E-Verify abuse, voting injustices thrive in a swamp of shoddy records. The fact that Donald Trump and the republicans prevailed is not an excuse to let this slide: the opposite is true. Republican victories, both at the federal and state level, mean that it's more possible than ever to do something about this festering boil boiled over. Moreover, there are encouraging signs that some Dems are worried about the same problem. For one, this New York City Commissioner of the Board of Elections.
Cleaning up the voting rolls and ensuring their integrity, despite what trash talk you've endured, is a bipartisan issue. It's well worth every Pubbie in office to push it hard. If necessary, it can be sugared by opining that one of the reasons why poor folks don't vote that much is because they're afraid that their names aren't in the registry. A thoroughgoing audit would include getting in touch with them and assuring them that they are listed as legal voters.
Sharpen The Axe
"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe." Now that the Pubbies have a chance to finally tackle all those festering growths, Abraham Lincoln's wise words are more needed than ever. Gavin McInnes recently said that even in a cool job like his, the bulk of it entails reading spreadsheets and overseeing minutiae like making sure the connector cables work. Accordingly, a great reform like cracking down on voting fraud will be a great botch unless a lot of time and care is spent on sharpening the axe. By Drs Friedmans' iron-triangle rule, the Trump Administration has six to nine months to get it started and rolling.
Happily, getting the records straight is something that bureaucracy can do without overturning it. Like better enforcement of the law and the borders, it's a policy that that's best effected by working with the bureaucracy corner of the iron triangle rather than banging on it. With this, President-Elect Trump's business talents will prove to be a real boon.
Daniel M. Ryan, as Nxtblg, is shepherding the independently-run Open Audi Initiative Prediction Market Shadowing Project. He has stubbornly assumed all the responsibility and blame for the workings and outcome of the project.


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A 90th Birthday celebration was held on honour of the Queen.
It was a beautiful sunny day… everyone was there… a good time was had by all… Activities included… Old cars Pony rides Pin the tail on the tiger A Village Photo competition was held, some example of the entrants are shown in the gallery.
Bridleways Public Enquiry
The public enquiry on the Bridleways proposal will be taking place in the Village Hall on Tuesday February 2nd. Those of you who wrote letters to KCC with views on the proposal should aim to be present.