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Some people can do almost anything to make their cars look special. They love their car. And they can go to any extent to prove that. In fact, it seems they would not want anything else to ensure that their car stands apart in a long queue of vehicles. And for that, they decorate the car in different ways. One of the most amazing ways to do this is to add an expensive car number plate to it. In fact, some people can go for the most expensive number plates to add them to their cars.
Over the years, some of the most amazing number plates have been sold in different locations around the world. They have fetched various prices. While some were sold for reasonable rates, there were others that people bought for hefty prices.
Here's a quick look at some of the most expensive car number plates that have been sold till date.
What does this number plate signify? Probably not much other than its wonderful combination. But that's only for you and me. Not for Ferrari dealer John Collins, who bought this for a whopping Â£518,000 from an auction. Earlier, this number plate used to deck up the Â£10million worth Ferrari 250SWB, which was owned by Eric Clapton. So, it's really a worthy number plate, which goes perfectly with the highly expensive luxury cars of different types. In 2014, this 25 O became the most expensive number plate in the world that has ever been sold by the DVLA.
What does the abbreviation for Formula 1 signify? Probably the style associated with the sport of car racing. And of course, vitality and the lightning speed at which the vehicles run on the tracks during the race. So, it's quite expected that this number plate is going to fetch an extremely high price in the auction for personalized number plates. It, of course, is the erstwhile record holder in the race for the most expensive car number plates. It was bought by Afzal Kahn of the United Kingdom by as much as Â£440,000 in an auction in 2008. It is still regarded as one of the most craved for personalized number plates in the world. And the owner, Afzal Kahn, is putting it up for sale at an extremely high price-Â£10,009,995. So, it remains to be seen whether F1 is again going to break the record and become the most expensive car number plate of the world.
Some of the most outstanding and expensive car number plates have been sold locally. For example, Talal Ali Mohammed Khoury of Abu Dhabi bought in 2007 what is deemed as one of the most amazing private car number plates. It's just the number 5 that's printed on the number plate. It was bought for 25 million Dirhams or a whopping Â£3,500,000. In addition to this, though, Mr. Khoury had also bought the number plate 55 from the same auction. These number plates, with just the digit on them and no alphabet, are among the most popular personalized number plates in the world.
This number plate speaks for itself. It is one of the best ways to make yourself feel special. Put the car with this number plate in a long queue of traffic and just see it stand apart in it. This number plate was put on the Popemobile for His Holiness when He visited Ireland. This number plate is currently owned by Roman Abramovic, multibillionaire and owner of Chelsea FC. He had purchased this number plate for Â£285,000.
Just the digit 1, and nothing else - that's what this number plate has. So, the car with this number plate is sure to catch the attention of all when it plies on the road. Having this in mind, Saeed Abdul Ghaffar Khouri of Abu Dhabi bought this minimalist number plate for Â£7million, in the process breaking the record of his relative Talal Ali Mohammed Khoury for owning the most expensive number plate.
In addition to the ones mentioned, there are several other number plates, which are known to attract the attention of the car lovers at one go. And many of them are highly expensive. It is likely that some of those might set new records for the most expensive car number plates in near future.


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When it comes to paying better wages and keeping employees invested in the company, Zappos isn't waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The Amazon-owned online retail shop is already known as a game changer with a catchy management phrase it calls "holacracy."
That stands for replacing traditional job titles with the practice of employees assigning one another with roles agreed upon during meetings with their colleagues.
Now, the company is taking a new approach with work incentives. Zappos plans to ask employees to choose their hourly work schedule based on higher pay and perks offered. The retailer recently stepped into this space by testing a new compensation model for their call center employees.
The model is called Open Market and is similar to Uber's surge pay that charges more during times of greater demand. Basically, Zappos plans to pay more on shifts with a higher number of callers.
"We wanted to start testing how we could give our call center employees more flexibility and be able to incentivize people to come to work when we needed them, even if the timing wasn't always ideal," said Adam Goldstein in an interview.
Goldstein is the senior products manager at Zappos Labs, the shoe seller's R&D group that focuses on experiments concentrated on social, content and commerce.
Along with his team, Goldstein developed the Open Market project in 10 weeks using a variety of algorithms and metrics, including historical data, call volume forecasts blended with seasonality assumptions, and rolled out a pilot test of the program during the retail industry's busiest time of year: between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday.
Based in Las Vegas, Zappos' primary selling base is shoes, which accounts for about 80 percent of its business. It has since expanded its inventory to include clothing, accessories and kids' merchandise, which account for 20 percent of the company's annual revenues.
By 2015, Zappos forecasts that clothing and accessories will bring in an incremental $1 billion worth of revenue and might eventually outpace shoes.
Goldstein says the heart and soul of Zappos is the customer loyalty team who answers on average 5,000 calls a month and 1,200 emails a week. Those numbers can easily spike, especially during holiday seasons.
"Employees love it. Every week when they log in, we ask them how happy they are with their schedule," said Goldstein. "We've actually seen self-reported happiness go up 20 percent during the time we've been testing" the Open Market method, he said.
Open Market is flexible and allows employees to set their work schedules above 40 hours, with the ability to work even when shifts are overstaffed. However, in reverse to the concept of surge pay, overstaffed shifts pay less.
A perk of the compensation system is "20 percent time," an employee benefits program in which a fraction of overall hours worked can result in expendable time to work on other projects, or even take some leisure time.
While the online retailer admits to not having worked out all of the kinks, Goldstein argues that keeping employees happy is essential to the company. Open Market may be tested in other areas of the company, yet there is no date for launch in other departments, he said.
"Other teams have reached out to us because they want to be empowered to make decisions," Goldstein said, "which is why they chose to work at Zappos and why we hired them to build teams that work."

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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If you have always been fascinated by world cultures, exotic languages, worldwide travel and foreign customs, you could need to pursue an Affiliate’s Diploma in International Research. The importance of English in worldwide enterprise will rely upon the aim of the communication for which English is concerned. Cross Cultural Language Training: Language training is an area where little funding is made by firms, however the place the business advantages are great.
Some of the startup prices for worldwide enterprise after all will likely be one-time, for instance the fee for incorporating your enterprise and the expenditure of placing up a sign in your building. How the setting impacts on the fortunes of the business agency is nowhere more evident than within the collapse of many enterprise enterprises including financial establishments (e.g.banks) within the present worldwide economic downturn.
Knowledge of the nation’s history, tradition, laws, traditions, enterprise practices and social etiquettes all help to minimise the influence of culture shock and hence smooth their transition abroad. Many corporations have amenities in different nations and most companies, small and enormous, work already with a highly diverse, international workforce.
This view appears to recommend that a lot of the worldwide business principle associated to enterprises, that are internationally based and have global ambitions, does typically change relying on the particular necessities of each nation. No different network advertising and marketing company can provide so much profit to the distributors other than Max International.
If somebody local cannot be found or employed, it’s crucial to do as much research as potential into the meant country’s tradition and customs before commencing business. Cross cultural consultancies present language training to business employees, moulding their studying to the business surroundings during which they work.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text: The maximum image file size is 500 x 500 px. and automatically cropped to this size on upload. When your profile picture is shown in blog lists and in the sidebar, Yogapedia will resize it down to 36 x 36 px. When your profile picture appears in your own blog page, it will be resized to 128 x 128 px.

industry_corpus2: Others


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At iDruk Solutions we can offer you a wide range of specialist services to meet all of your business needs.
We are flexible. Incredibly flexible. We are happy to listen to the seemingly absurd and try to make sense of the strangest ideas. Our services go beyond what is expected.
Our broad experience and knowledge includes a mix of business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients. We pride ourselves on diversity and our customers are a representation of our broad expertise. Alternatively if you would rather talk in person then call Mr. Victor on (+975- 17784836) and he will be happy to discuss with you and talk you through any factors you may not understand.
We work collaboratively with clients to ensure that their business objectives are met by site designs.
It is an iterative process, with insight gathered from intelligence informing the design, on-site experience and technology. Learnings from this process are ploughed back into our insight phase.


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Thou canst hush the ocean wild.
"Fear not! I will pilot thee."


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1. Consequent upon implementation of 7th Pay Commission Orders, Maj Generals promoted after 01/01/2016 are drawing more pay than the officers in the same Corps, who were promoted as Maj Generals prior to 01/01/2016. Hence stepping up of pay of Maj Generals promoted prior to 01/01/2016 has been carried out, at par with the pay from the date of promotion of Maj General of that Corps, promoted after 01/01/2016 based on seniority list received from ADGPS . Subsequent increments have been granted thereafter and the pay also revised on promotion to the rank of Lt General, wherever applicable.
2 (a) Consequent upon implementation of 7th Pay Commission Orders, Lt Generals (HAG) promoted after 01/01/2016 are drawing more pay than the Lt Generals (HAG), in same Corps, promoted before 01/01/2016. The case are under examination for stepping up of pay of Lt Generals (HAG) promoted before 01/01/2016, at par with pay from the date of promotion of Lt Generals (HAG), in that Corps, promoted after 01/01/2016.
2 (b) (i) Pay revision in Approx 31 such cases is under progress and will be found adjusted in 09/2017 Pay Account.
2 (b) (ii) In 36 cases of Lt General drawing pay in HAG & HAG(+) scale are under examination and those cases not covered under the provisions of SRO 12 (E) dated 03.05.17 regarding stepping up of Pay, will be taken to CGDA office and IHQ of MoD (Army) / Ministry of Defence for clarification.
2(b) (iii) In 19 cases, where General officers are holding appointment of Army Commanders as on 01/01/2016 drawing maximum pay of Rs.2,25,000/- will not involve any stepping up of pay since there is no pay anomaly.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


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William Grayson School | Home of the Wolves!
WELCOME TO OUR WOLFPACK FAMILY OF LEARNERS!!
REMINDER– Good Friday is April 19th and Easter Break is April 22-26.
NO SCHOOL until Monday, April 29th @ 8:50 AM.
Travel safe and take care over the holidays….
It’s here!! May 1st and the start up of WG’s own version of the NHL— 2 games every week with the playoffs May 21st– 24th. . This year we have 2 remaining teams— Mihalicz Mix and last year’s champion the McKay’s Maxim. And we welcome in 2 new teams –Gardner’s Grit and Tschetter’s Tuff!
New players have been added via a coaches’ draft and it’s time to play!!
Students playing– the schedule is under parents/schedules above to remember your games….
Students in our grade 1 class making use of some new purchases and independently working on IPads while sitting on specially designed laptop floor stations….math games and music at the same time!


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Greetings everyone! I am Rizzy, 29yrs old, married, and blessed with a 4yo daughter. I am a Registered Midwife, and previously worked in a clinic and hospital as a midwife/attendant. I currently work as a domestic helper here in Hong Kong. I've been here for 3yrs. My duties involve petcare, newborn care and household chores. I am well- mannered, hard working and dedicated to any areas of work. A friendly individual who is eager to take responsibility for safety and growth of children. I am experienced at baby sitting especially newborn care. I love helping kids ie.. tutoring, role-playing, singing and dancing. I am also eager to take care of elderly people.
Roles vary depending on the areas assigned. At the Out-patient department, i used to assess patients of all ages whenever they seek medical assistance,. So I take their record and get their vital signs before they proceed to the doctor. At the ward, i used to assist and help admitted patients to their full recovery. At the emergency room, for emergency cases, am always attentive to giving first-aid and preparing the IV set. At the delivery room, for maternal cases, i monitor moms in labor, to their delivery and post-partum.
My main duty is to assist clients in the out-patient clinic, monitor women in labor and assisting the obstetrician during normal delivery. Performing the routine newborn care and monitoring the post-partum care of the patients.
My duties involved petcare (2 dogs), carwashing, grocery shopping and household chores. My employer got diagnosed of breast cancer so i took care of her, help her ease the pains. Every morning i make green juice for her.
My main duty is to take care the newborn child. I really loved this job coz i am so fond of babies. Both parents are working out and only grandma comes in the afternoon to play with the child. I also do simple cooking, cleaning, laundry and ironing, and grocery shopping.
Graduated with Distinction Award, Midwifery Course. Registered Midwife.
Send a direct message to Rizzy Jean Aldave with your name, requirements, and contact details.
Rizzy Jean will respond directly by email or phone.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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Arrange the cabbage wedges into the bottom of a large metal baking dish. Pour the water into the dish. Place a teaspoon of butter on each cabbage wedge. Season liberally with garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Place the dish on the preheated grill; cook until cabbage is tender, about 30 minutes.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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It is my pleasure to welcome you to Raja Lakhamagouda Science Institute (Autonomous) inaugurated by the Noble laureate Sir C.V. Raman in 1935. It is one of the premier Institution under the domain of century old KLE Society, an organization dedicated to the welfare of mankind through education, health care, technology etc. RLSI has set itself a vision “Education for Global Excellence”. Over the past eight decades, institution has evolved with a strong blend of heritage infrastructure; state-of-the-art technology and entwined human resource committed to provide updated knowledge through novelty and ingenuity. Degrees in basic sciences are gaining old glories with lucrative career opportunities. The galvanizing environment in RLSI for knowledge integration, origination and diffusion with sagacity of social concern and life values has made a forte among the best science institutes. We are accredited at ‘A’ level by NAAC for the third successive cycle.
RLSI is regularly updating its resources to impart skill based training to the students thereby improving interpersonal and communication skills, entrepreneurial skills. Problem based learning (PBL) and projects complement the innovative teaching learning environment.
There are bounteous scopes in extra-curricular and co-curricular activities. The students’talents are encouraged to exhibit at various levels. This makes our students not only well educated but a responsible citizen. We believe that the quality trait is a continuous process and it is our commitment to gain at all levels.
I wish the students a great future and successful career.
- Dr. V.D. Yalamali.M.Sc. Ph.D.


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Welcome to the July 18, 2009 edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. The topic for this edition is: How I spent my summer vacation... a favorite summer memory from your youth. You will be well traveled indeed when you read this collection of articles! Lake Louise to Montreal, the cool Atlantic waters in Virginia to Florida, California, and a beautiful mountain lake in northern Idaho... small towns, big cities, and lots of tourist sites in between. These are the memories of the summers of our youth.
Come along and take a vacation with us. You'll feel the heat, the cool lake waters, and sand between your toes. We'll ride our bikes as the wind blows our hair and maybe we'll even steal a kiss in the dark... Pour yourself a rum and Coke and pretend you're at the neighborhood soda fountain (we won't tell about the rum ;-) or maybe the local drive-in theater... prepare for a good time! The Carnival's in town!
Evelyn Yvonne Theriault presents St-Helen?s Island (L?Ile Ste-Helene) Montreal, Quebec posted at A Canadian Family.
M. Diane Rogers presents Carnival of Genealogy - Summer Vacation Lake Louise 1963 posted at CanadaGenealogy, or, 'Jane's Your Aunt', saying, "A little look at a vacation at Lake Louise in Canada, in 1963. All dressed up!"
Randy Seaver presents Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer ... Our 1950's Vacations posted at Genea-Musings, saying, "Car ides, sightseeing, swimming pools and the beach were the staples of my 1950's era summer vacation trips. Many good memories, and some sunburn too!"
in the city of Boston. I'm surprised at how much I still can recall of them some forty years later!"
Sharon Klein presents Catching the Travel Bug posted at Genealogy, saying, "Simple summers at home to family road trips...wouldn't it be nice to have 2 months vacation every year again."
Terri O'Connell presents Launching vacations and birthday blasts! posted at Finding Our Ancestors, saying, "June 1983, our travels through Florida from Walt Disney World to the Kennedy Space Center."
Frances Ellsworth presents Summer Visits and Poignant Memories posted at Branching Out Through The Years, saying, "When Summer visits are more than amusements."
Greta Koehl presents How I (Mis)Spent My Summer Vacation posted at Greta's Genealogy Bog, saying, "Summer vacation is a subject kids have to write about as every new school year starts, so it should be easy to come up with a "most memorable" one, right? It wasn't for me. I could recall memorable trips, but none seemed to match up with summer. It was only when I remembered a vacation during which nothing important happened that this subject really struck a chord with me."
Ruth Stephens presents The memories of a twelve-year-old posted at Bluebonnet Country Genealogy.
Janet Iles presents Janet the researcher: Summer Vacations - Carnival of Genealogy posted at Janet the researcher, saying, "Janet shares memories of summers at Sauble Beach."
Linda Hughes Hiser presents 76th Carnival of Genealogy--How I Spent My Summer Vacation posted at Flipside, saying, "Hands down...Stone Harbor, New Jersey. We cut our body surfing chops in that ocean."
Cyndi Beane Henry presents Carnival of Genealogy - 76th Edition posted at Mountain Genealogists, saying, "My memories of summer back in "the good old days"."
Becky Wiseman presents 'Twas the Summer of '59 posted at kinexxions, saying, "Counselors, hoppers, and a little homesickness. Throw in a cabin mate crying for her dog and a bit of rope burn and you have a recipe for a "fun" time at summer camp."
Tami Osmer Glatz presents Nothing says summer vacation like a 6 year old with a rifle posted at relatively curious about genealogy.
Tracy presents Summertime in good ol' South Dakota posted at The Pieces of My Past, saying, "Fond memories through the eyes of a six year old of a summer vacation in South Dakota that 28 years later holds poignant memories and great genealogical significance."
Charles Hansen presents How I spend my Summer Vacation posted at Mikkel's Hus.
Donna Pointkouski presents The Innocents Abroad posted at What's Past is Prologue, saying, "It was the worst of times, it was the best of times - it was my first real vacation!"
Apple presents Carefree Summers posted at Apple's Tree, saying, "I loved the beach but my parents preferred the woods when we vacationed with a little pop-up camper."
Jasia presents Oh What a Summer It Was! posted at Creative Gene saying, "1972 was a summer of many firsts for me. I traveled far and wide, learned a lot about my Polish heritage, this vast and beautiful country of ours, and boys... lots about boys!"
Tonia Kendrick presents Those Lazy Hazy Days of Summer posted at Tonia's Roots, saying, ""When I think of my favorite summer memories, I don’t think of the “big” events - vacations, trips, camp, etc. It’s the soft, fuzzy memories that come to mind - the ones about family and traditions and the lazy summer days that only seem to happen when you are a kid.""
Amanda presents Pies posted at A Tale of Two Ancestors.
Lisa Alzo presents Carnival of Genealogy: Summer Vacation: Canada 1970? posted at The Accidental Genealogist, saying, "Carnival of Genealogy: Summer Vacation: Canada 1970?"
footnoteMaven presents Summer fling, don't mean a thing, but uh-oh those summer nights! posted at footnoteMaven, saying, "As a teenager, I was a serial dater. Or so my sister likes to say of me. Hey, it was a small town. There weren't that many boys. There is, however, always one."
That concludes this edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. I hope you enjoyed traveling down memory lane with us!
As human beings, our very existence is proof of the survival skills, faith, or just plain luck our ancestors possessed in order to persevere through millenia of disasters: epidemics, wars, pestilences, famines, accidents, and acts of nature.
For the next Carnival of Genealogy, tell about a disaster that one or more of your ancestors lived through: Did they survive a hurricane, flood, tornado, train wreck, sinking ship, plague, genocide, explosion, mine collapse, or some other terrible event? How did they survive? Research the details of the disaster and explain how it affected your ancestor (guilt, fear, faith, gratitude, etc.), your family's history, and even yourself! Tip: Check out GenDisasters and historical newspapers to get more details about the event. The deadline for submissions for the next edition is August 1 and it will be hosted by Miriam at AnceStories. Thanks Miriam!
Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using the carnival submission form. Please use a descriptive phrase in the title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction to your articles in the "comment" box of the blogcarnival submission form. This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest them in clicking on your link.
And thanks for the poster, fM!


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FARMINGDALE, NY (Nov. 20, 2015) – Travel Impressions (http://www.TravelImpressions.com) has added the once-forbidden destination of Cuba to its portfolio. This initiative positions the tour operator as a go-to provider for retailers looking to book travel packages for clients with the award-winning service levels agents have come to expect from the leading wholesaler.
Effective Monday, Nov. 23, 2015, Travel Impressions will be accepting bookings for its Rhythms of Cuba and Expressions of Cuba tours, operating under the People to People program, one of the 12 pre-approved travel categories licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The tours will depart from Miami International Airport and New York's JFK International Airport. Agents can arrange connections from all major U.S. gateways.
"Our Cuba programs are uniquely crafted to exemplify the true meaning of cultural immersion in a destination with a diverse and fascinating character, from its infectious rhythms to a time-capsule version of early 1960s Americana," said Jeff Clarke, president of Travel Impressions.
Travel Impressions is working with US-based Cuba Travel Services, a Cuba-licensed operator that charters flights from Miami to Cuba with Sun Country Airlines and American Airlines. Connections to Miami can be arranged from all major U.S. gateways.
The 11-day/10-night Rhythms of Cuba tour, with up to two departures per month from Miami International Airport (MIA) between February and October 2016, offers travelers an in-depth journey of the once-forbidden destination. After a pre-night stay in Miami (included), travelers arrive in Havana where they are introduced to the city's history, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Havana, the University of Havana and a sugar-factory-turned-museum, as well as the vivid cultural scene of danzón (the official music genre of Cuba), baseball and paladar (family-run) dining.
The Travel Impressions Rhythms of Cuba itinerary is designed to give vacationers the opportunity to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, and to interact and engage with its people and heritage through meetings with farmers, community performances and a tour of a crocodile breeding facility, among other highlights. This journey transports travelers from its bustling capital to the beautiful coast of Villa Clara. Local guides, from expert architects to bohemian artists, share their authentic vision of Cuba.
Travel Impressions is also launching an eight-day/seven-night Expressions of Cuba tour. Two direct departures from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) per month from February through October 2016 feature four astounding days in Havana contrasted with the panoramic views of Pinar del Rio, the artisanal culture of Matanzas City and agriculturally significant Varadero, where travelers will learn the difference between salsa and danzón, get an up-close look at rural life, and enjoy classic rum and cigar tastings.
Travel Impressions tours to Cuba include accommodations, meals and activities (per the itinerary), services of a tour guide throughout the trip, Cuban health insurance, charter flights departing from New York or Miami (connecting flights from other U.S. cities are available), Cuban tourist visa processing, U.S. taxes and fees. A Cuban departure tax of US$25 per passenger will be collected upon check-in at Miami International Airport.
Travel to Cuba must be booked a minimum of 62 days in advance of departure date to allow ample time for the processing of required documentation. Tours require a minimum of six passengers to operate.
Travelers will receive an orientation in Miami to ensure familiarity with Cuban laws, policies and traditions before arrival in Cuba. Travelers departing from New York JFK are asked to arrive at the airport four hours before departure for their orientation, which will take place at the airport.
For more information about Travel Impressions, call 1-800-284-0044 / 631-845-8000, or visit the website: http://www.travelimpressions.com.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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It’s been a somewhat surreal year! Both for me and the planet, more broadly. Whether it was my getting involved with the IDRC or the global reawakening concerning exclusion/ inequality and the subsequent Occupation Movements. 2011 was a rager! Exciting, indeed. But for the sake of this post and it’s home on this blog I’ll concentrate on the former.
I was recently involved in a conversation with a colleague about my computer accessibility. The conversation didn’t start that way, focused on me I mean, but it ended on me. I don’t recall exactly how the conversation started, or more specifically how I was able to shift the focus on to me, but immediately following said discussion I found myself writing that colleague an email clarifying what I’d said. That email serves as the basis for this post.
In our conversation I classified my interest in accessibility, and my approach toward efforts to help with it, stem from “selfishness.” Those who have interacted with me or have seen me use a computer, I assume, would understand that statement. And who it was coming from.
When using the term “selfish” — I typically tend not to dilly-dally with the words I choose to speak with, as my voice can be difficult to understand, especially if you’re unfamiliar with my “vernacular”/ vocal style, and I do better getting right at the point — I was simply referring to the way I’ve come to approach learning about the accessibility field. Meaning I’ve started to look for better ways to access my computer. Being more “selfish” about matters, relating to this anyway, and not relying on my ability to “finesse” the technology I use, has given me quite the opportunity to learn about myself, obviously, but about what is possible. And more importantly that which isn’t. I’ve realized just how much more work and learning we and I need to do on computers to let keyboard users specifically, but people off all sorts, do what they need to get done on and offline.
Or in other words in searching for alternative methods of access — which essentially means ways I input my intentions into a computer, and I’ve also begun to experiment with a trackpad, too — I discovered the keyboard is my ideal method of access. I had to change a few OS specific key commands, for usability’s sake, but using the keyboard to control a computer cut way down on the time I used to fumble with the mouse.
So with said modifications from Apple’s implementation (speaking entirely as a one handed typer, shhhhhh don’t tell my Physiotherapist) of “hot keys” I’ve managed to nail down a pretty consistent and ridiculously usable keyboard regiment for myself. (And there’s still quite a bit more experimentation to do yet. I’ll be sure to share when I’m more “comfortable” with what I’ve learned.) But in doing what now seems to me to be such an obvious progression I finally took the time to find the “sweet spot” where my sloppy keyboard ability — which oddly enough resembles the manner in which I used to play the guitar, what may seem painfully sloppy to other people was ridiculously efficient for me — has, for years, led to my typing lots of inadvertent double characters. Now I don’t. And the only reason I went to the effort of finding that “sweet spot” was my newfound accessibility through the keyboard! I’ve come to realize how frustrating and counter productive my mouse actually is for me to use.
Point being it wasn’t until I went looking for a solution to accommodate myself, and not relying on my ability to adapt, when I really started to grasp this accessibility thing. Strange I found an answer to inclusivity by being more selfish in my approach. Huh.
Here’s to stranger things in 2012!


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These delicious spinach, pine nut and ricotta filo pinwheels are simple to make with crisp filo pastry and a rich spinach, cheese and pine nut filling. Perfect for vegetarians, this recipe makes 4 pastry wheels. Serve them as a filling dinner or a hearty lunch alongside some new potatoes and other fresh greens. Ideal as party food or snacks to take on a picnic.
Preheat the oven to 200˚C/Fan oven 180˚C/Gas Mark 6. Wash the spinach and place in a pan with just the water clinging to the leaves, season, cover the pan and cook for 3–4 minutes until tender. Drain thoroughly and squeeze out any excess water. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add the pine nuts and cook for a minute or two until golden, then stir in the spinach. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Cut the sheets of filo in half and brush with melted butter. Spread the spinach mixture over the bottom third of each rectangle. Scatter with ricotta then roll up from the short side tucking in the sides as you go, to form a long cigar shape. Brush the outside of the cigar-shaped roll with butter, then coil it into a pinwheel and tuck it into a buttered 20cm (8in) loose-bottomed cake tin. Repeat with the remaining spinach mixture, ricotta and filo pastry, arranging them round the edge of the tin, with one in the middle.
Brush the top of the filo wheels with melted butter and scatter with sesame seeds. Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden and crisp.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


text: There is no better way to show your love than with our deluxe hand-crafted Belgian chocolate-dipped OREO® Cookies Gift. An assortment of 12 OREO® Cookies are covered in rich Milk, Dark, and White Belgian Chocolates and then rolled and embellished with Baseball Candies. Arrives in an elegant gift box perfect for giving with your personalized Gift Card.


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This film documents the birth of a new theater out of the Civil Rights activism of the 1950s, '60s and '70s. It is a veritable video encyclopedia of the leading figures, institutions and events of a movement that transformed the American stage.
Amiri Baraka, Ossie Davis, James Earl Jones and Ntozake Shange describe their aspirations for a theatre serving the Black community. Excerpts of A Raisin in the Sun, Black Girl, Dutchman and For Colored Girls... reveal how these actors and playwrights laid the basis for the Black theater of the present.
Anyone know what piece of writing Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee are reading from at the beginning of the film?

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Manu Kohli is a certified project management professional with more than 16 years of SAP implementation experience with chemical, oil and gas, metal and minerals, retail, engineering and construction, marine, and utilities clients. He has worked extensively in Europe (Germany, France, and Switzerland), India, and the USA (Houston and San Francisco).
Manu holds a master degree in marine engineering and has an MBA. He has completed a certificate course in data science at Indiana University Bloomington. He is currently pursuing his PHD in the application of machine learning algorithms and network sciences on enterprise applications from IIT Delhi. Manu has authored numerous publications for IEEE conferences.

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


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Home / Knowing Research / Why Market/Business Research?
Marketers know how important it is to do market research and what is its significance to their business. In today’s world, variety and change are the two words that describe market better than any other and the marketer needs to keep an eye on the competitors policies and consumers change perceptions and demands. The marketer needs to be proactive then reactive and has to bring something in market that the consumer will ask for or would love to have. This makes it impossible for a business to run without having ongoing research that informs them about not only the consumers but the competitors. There are many benefits of market research few of them are described below.
Market research helps the businesses understand what should be there focus point. Without an ongoing market research companies loose the sight and vision that is needed and is compulsory for their growth. A focal point helps companies determine their primary and secondary policies. To understand their focal point they need to know consumers focal point and for that the best way is to conduct surveys.
The consumer is the king of every business and without consumers there is no business. Every company needs to understand consumers point of view to carry on its business to new heights. The consumer might have needs, demands or expectations that companies need to met in order to be successful. Consumer research especially consumer surveys are a very important part of marketing research. Market researchers ask questions form their target customers and from their feedback they evaluate how they can improve their brand, service or ideas.
In modern world every business need to think proactively, gone are the days when companies had a reactive approach to needs and problems. Today there is a product in the market before the need arises this has both pros and cons as well. For example, many medicine companies think about the future needs of the consumers and keep developing medicines, devices, aids and tools that can help their consumers in the future. This has given rise to new treatments for even those ailments that were thought to be incurable. On the other hand, some businesses are bringing new products in the market that people do not need but it only develop and increase wants that should not be there.
The market research is the only way to understand what competitor is thinking about and how to keep yourself abreast with the modern tools, technologies and means that he is utilizing. Market research also helps companies understand why some competing business failed to fulfill consumers requirement and failed.
Market research also limit or reduce the risk involved in using new technologies, bringing new product in the market, changing companies strategies and/or changing the way they market a product. Market research helps companies understand where and when and how to target a product. It also tells why a product failed so not to go on a similar venture again or if you want to try a similar product again what changes you should make before marketing a similar product. This limits the risk in trying out anything new in your product.
Market research may help you develop or improve company’s strategy and avoid failed attempts. Market research will help the companies where to look for ideas and when to bring changes in your strategy.
In short, the aim of market research is to understand why, when, how, what, and where the consumer will buy your product. It studies human behavior and from there evaluates human psychological needs that defines consumers buying pattern. To conduct a market research the researcher aims to know who is their customer, why they will buy their product, when they will buy it and where and how they make their choices and last that what will be their needs in future that they can target.


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At Oxford Carriers we offer complete transport solutions and can fulfil your logistics needs throughout the UK, through full load services, part loads, pallet network services, or groupage and consolidated loads.
Our fleet of fully tracked vehicles ranges from 3.5-tonne, for small and hard-to-access deliveries, right through to 44-tonne artics with double-deck trailers. Rigid vehicles come with tail lift as standard and all your deliveries can be tracked and traced through our web portal.
For general haulage enquiries please contact our customer services team at ops@oxfordcarriers.co.uk or call 01865 880029.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


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Paul Laurin concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, creditor’s rights and remedies, and bankruptcy law. He is experienced in representing Fortune 500 companies, leading media and entertainment companies, and individuals in the assertion and defense of their rights in state, federal and bankruptcy courts.
Administrator of the firm’s California Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring department, Paul advises on workouts, restructurings, assignments for the benefit of creditors as well as bankruptcy, state and federal court lawsuits, including receiverships, injunctions and pre-judgment remedies. He also prosecutes and defends complex federal and state court litigation and appeals pertaining to loan enforcement, commercial law, fraudulent business actions and transfers.
Over the course of his career, Paul has resolved matters with high stakes through litigation and settlement, including matters involving millions and even $1 billion at stake. He is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal counsel pertaining to the often thorny problems inherent in bankruptcy, creditor’s rights and complex litigation disputes. He represents creditors from the initial stages of evaluating pre-bankruptcy planning, handling bankruptcy proceedings and adversary litigation, through the Chapter 11 plan process. Paul’s decades of advocacy skill and understanding of the Bankruptcy Code help him to resolve complex insolvency disputes both in and out of court.
Practical by nature, Paul seeks to provide efficient analysis quickly, accurately and attentive to the pressures of the often fast-moving circumstances. His focus remains on working with each client in order to address and overcome the problems created by well-represented debtors and other adversaries.
Passionate about the law, Paul is appreciated for his thoughtful and reflective style as an attorney, and his advocacy and ability as a business adviser. He strives to serve as an effective communicator, and seeks to be fair and balanced while analyzing risk and navigating difficult, stressful financial situations — all while remaining calm and with the objective of reinforcing his client’s commercial goals.
Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Paul had his own practice and worked with an international entertainment law firm in the 1990s.
University of California Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D.
Lead counsel for an international direct response advertising agency in the successful prosecution of claims arising pursuant to personal guaranties of multi-million dollar media purchase obligations.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for an entertainment programming streaming company in the bankruptcy of a cross-promotional partner in which it served as chairman of the Creditor’s Committee.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for a film development and production investor in a successful breach of fiduciary duty and fraud action in bankruptcy court, including a non-dischargeabilty action against the control persons.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for a media company and celebrity rights holder as executory contract counter-parties in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of an ecommerce platform provider.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for multiple affiliated cable and broadcast channels in the bankruptcy of three affiliated advertising planning and brokering companies action in which they served as a member of the Creditors Committee and subsequent avoidance.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for cable and broadcast channels in multiple chapter 11 proceedings in which cable affiliate operators filed for bankruptcy.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for a broadcast company in the chapter 11 bankruptcy of a brand licensee for a multisite restaurant business.*Lead bankruptcy counsel for a manufacturer of consumer products in post-judgment reorganization plan disputes and a contested confirmation with the judgment debtor found liable for bad faith trademark infringement.
Lead bankruptcy counsel for a personnel leasing company in disputes arising from theft of trade secrets and unfair business practices alleged against a former officer and employee who filed bankruptcy.
Lead counsel for a secured lender and controlling shareholder in the successful sale of collateral assets of a medical services company through assignment for the benefit of creditors under California law.
General receivership counsel for a court-appointed receiver of a 23-unit luxury condominium in Beverly Hills, California.
*These matters occurred prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg.
Attorney Presentaion - "Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine for the Corporate Counsel: How to Use It; How to Lose It; Who's Got It; and How to Protect It"

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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The story of a Samira Sanusi resilient young woman who against all odds, fought and survived the sickle cell disease.
We recently sent out a message through social media asking all our Sisters who feel like they have a story to tell to email us at Hayati. I was not sure what to expect to be honest but I was excited nonetheless to receive stories from Sisters around the world. As I personally went through some of these stories, there was one in particular that struck a major cord, the story of Samira Sanusi. Her story was so moving that I decided to meet her in person. So we set a date and time and met up for drinks.
I had already looked her up and gone through her blog, so I knew a little bit about her or at least what she looked like. When she arrived, I found her a lot more beautiful in person. She walked in about 5’5″ in height and small frame just like me so I loved her right away. She wore a fashionable abaya, carried a matching bag and had a smile on her face to seal it all.
Once we got through our introductions, she began telling me the story of how she fought and survived one of the deadliest diseases, the sickle cell disease. She took me around the world as she detailed her search for a cure. Her journey ended up being more than a search for a cure but also a search for God and herself. Along the way she discovered an unrelenting strength within her that helped her keep a smile on her face even through hard times. Seeing her walk in with just one crutch as an aid, I was amazed and inspired by how far Samira had gone. After twenty-five surgeries (minor and major), emotional trials, tests in faith and years away from her family, Samira is completely healed from sickle cell and is able to walk.
Her childhood, unlike many, was filled with hospital visits, constant health crises and surgeries. She did not have the chance to go out and play with her friends or even attend school frequently because she was too weak to do so. Instead, she spent a lot of her time reading and looking forward to those few days of school she could manage to attend. After years of being in Abuja, Nigeria, with doctors who were unable to help her any further, her father decided to fly her to Saudi Arabia where Samira spent months going through surgeries to re-do the ones that had been improperly done in Nigeria.
Being in Saudi was very tough for Samira as she was without her family and friends and was out of school. Once her surgeries had been properly redone, the doctors in Saudi concluded that they would have to amputate both of Samira’s legs in order for her to combat the disease. Her father, who has always been by her side, refused to accept their diagnosis and sought a second opinion world-wide till he found a hospital in Austria that informed them that there was indeed a cure, although risky, that would not involve amputating her legs. So they flew to Austria and that was the beginning of her 7 year stay there.
In Austria, Samira and her father learned more about the procedure that could cure her Sickle Cell Disease: a bone marrow transplant. A bone marrow transplant involves taking healthy stem cells from the bone marrow of one person and transferring them to the bone marrow of another. Bone marrow transplants are often needed to treat conditions that damage bone marrow (it is no longer able to produce normal blood cells) such as sickle cell disease, leukaemia, and some immune deficiency diseases. Once the transplant is done, the new stem cells take over the blood cell production and should begin producing normal blood cells. Bone marrow transplantation is not 100% guaranteed to cure sickle cell disease, however it was a risk Samira and her father were willing to take.
At this point, Samira was being home schooled by tutors who would come to the hospital to work with her, and since the procedure was one that could not be performed right away, she had of some time on her hands. There were a series of surgeries and extensive physical therapy she needed to complete in order to prepare her body for the transplant. So Samira spent the months leading to her surgery in a medical institution in Graz, Austria, where she says was a period of utter darkness in her life. She was unable to go outside for months, she was separated from her friends, family and the outside world and she felt like all her memories of were being replaced by long days and nights within hospital walls. She managed to stay connected to the world through letters her father would send her, the television, through which she learned to speak German and creative therapy sessions where she could engage in activities like writing and jewellery making.
During an interview with Genevieve Magazine in August 2011, Samira explained how, “She spent so many months in bed that some of her muscles began growing short and also suffered infections”. Consequently, she had to do physiotherapy which was close to a nightmare. She explained in her interview that “it was mentally frustrating for her to try to re-learn functions that had come naturally to her as a child such as sitting and standing and there are no words to describe the physical pain she endured during her therapy sessions”. She screamed and cried during these sessions she told them in the interview and “whenever the time for her physiotherapy sessions approached, she dreaded the tick of the clock or footsteps of her physiotherapist like the proverbial plague”.
Many times she would question God and her life and wonder why everything had to happen to her of all people. She comes from a religious family, where she was thaught to always perform her prayers and also attended Islamic school, so for her to question her faith, she had really hit rock bottom. In our interview she recalled visits from local churches while she was in the hospital where they would pray for her and try and convince her that if she believed she would walk again, she would, and all she had to do was just stand up. Once, she accompanied them to a church service where she witnessed some form of a miracle. Someone who was blind began to see, and as he did, they called on people in the audience to simply accept Christ and be healed. This was a very trying time for her, because she was frustrated by not being able to walk and drawn to the possibility of being healed like the blind man before her; but she held on to her religion and put all her faith in Allah swt.
Samira’s brother was a match for the bone marrow transplant, so he sacrificed some months of school and underwent a few surgeries and treatments in preparation for the transplant. The transplant itself is non-invasive. It does not require any cuts; instead it’s fairly easy and closer to a blood transfusion. After the surgery, Samira and her brother had to wait for a period of one hundred days to make sure her body did not reject the transplant. Those one hundred days were the final stretch for Samira and her family because once they were over, they received good news that Samira had been completely healed from Sickle Cell.
Now Samira is finishing her degree in Business Administration online which allows her to be at home. She spent so many years away from her family, that being home with them while she finishes her degree is a form a therapy and healing process for her. Being home she is now able to participate in all the family events she missed out on during her time away such as weddings, Eid festivities, birthdays and more; and essentially recreate new memories. I asked Samira what she sees herself doing once she finishes her degree and she told me about her dreams to be a fashion designer and most importantly work with NGOs to help people affected by sickle cell disease.
This gift we call life often times seems very complicated. It can be hard to understand why certain things happen to you and on certain occasions you may feel like life could not get any worse. However I have found that when you do what you are meant to do, which is, pray, trust Allah swt with your life, pursue an education and knowledge, respect your parents, lead an exemplary life and believe that Allah swt will not give you a battle he knows you cannot win, life becomes so much easier. Samira went through so much overcoming sickle cell disease and she survived it with a stronger faith in Islam, greater appreciation for her family and an understanding that life is to be taken one day at a time and with this, to everything she says “Alhamdulillah”.


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Jeannie Lin grew up fascinated with stories of Western epic fantasy and Eastern martial arts adventures. When her best friend introduced her to romance novels in middle school, the stage was set. Jeannie started writing her first romance while working as a high school science teacher in South Central Los Angeles. Her first two books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and The Dragon and the Pearl was listed among Library Journal's Best Romances of 2011.
Lady Ling Suyin waited in the parlour at the edge of the Snake hour, her house rendered silent except for the buzz of dragonflies outside. The tea before her had long gone cold. The last servant had brought it that morning before fleeing.
The boldest of them had begged her to join them, but the warlord who was coming for her would burn every village along the river to find her. She wouldn't add to her growing collection of debt. Another stone on the scale.
She straightened at the crunch of boots over leaves at the front of the house. They were steady and deliberate. Her heart pounded harder with each impending step. He'd come alone. Her breath caught as the imposing figure appeared in the doorway, every bit the demon they spoke of in the imperial court. Black robe, dark hair cut short, an impassive expression that revealed nothing to her. That meant she had nothing over him.
'Ling Guifei.' His voice rang deep as he greeted her by title.
Suyin remained seated and let the military governor approach. If she stood, her legs might fail her. The prominence of his features added to her fear. This was a face that could never be overlooked. All sun-darkened skin and sharp angles. A scar cut below his left eye, ruining his stark symmetry. That was new.
The first and only time she had seen Li Tao, he'd stood before the imperial court as a young man being commended for his valour. The restless energy that once had radiated from him was constrained behind a wall of discipline. Time had honed him to razor sharpness. Time had not left her untouched either.
All the civility in the world could not take the edge off him.
Her stomach fluttered in warning, but she breathed through it. She propped an elbow on to the table and made her tone as light as possible. All the while, her heart pounded so hard she could barely hear her words.
As if she could be safe with him. There was nowhere safe for her any longer, no allies left to protect her. Would the late Emperor's enforcer come for her after so many years? She had thought her secrets long buried.
Suyin dug her nails into the edge of the table as he stepped closer. She had been left alone to fend for herself before, but she had been young and defenceless. An accomplished courtesan should be able to command her fear. She should be able to command the man in front of her.
Li Tao halted two strides from her and she spied the silhouette of a weapon inside the drape of his sleeve. An assassin's blade. She lifted the cup and took a sip to cover her shock. Cold, bitter tea slid over her tongue. Experience allowed her to keep from trembling, but she had no control over the way her heart raced or how her palms grew damp as he loomed over her.
The warlord addressed her as if she were his superior. It wasn't much, but there had to be some way to use it. She caught the trailing edge of her shawl and draped it over her shoulders. She stood straight and paused before gliding past him.
He made no move toward her, but he was watching. All men did.
She stepped through the empty house, listening to his purposeful stride on the floorboards behind her. He was too close. By the time she emerged outside, her fingers were numb from being clenched so tight.
A palanquin awaited her by the side of the single dusty road leading from her manor. A regiment of soldiers outfitted in black and red assembled around the litter. The military governors, the jiedushi, commanded their own regional forces independent of the Emperor's army. No one challenged them within their own domains, but this stretch of the forest was clearly under imperial jurisdiction. This was an affront the Emperor would not overlook.
Li Tao followed her like a gathering storm to the sedan and the urge to flee nearly overwhelmed her. If she ran, it would only remind him that he was a hunter, a warrior, a killer. As it was, some part of him thought he was a gentleman.
That was all he'd grant her. With a heaviness in her chest, she looked back. The August Emperor had built this home for her before his death. The manor itself meant nothing to her. Her gaze drifted to the river beyond, a rolling canvas on which the sunlight danced. She breathed deep to take in the scent of the river, of the surrounding moss and earth. This was what she would miss.
It had been too much to wish that she could be hidden away and forgotten. Perhaps she had always known someone would come for her. Debts had to be repaid in this life or the next.
She stopped before the palanquin and turned to find herself face to face with the most ruthless of the jiedushi. He was a tower of lean strength and corded muscle up close. And he was still assessing her with that penetrating gaze.
She wouldn't cower before him. The rulers of the empire devoured the weak. She waited until he came forwards to pull the curtain aside with a sweep of his arm. The tiniest of concessions.
His eyes narrowed. 'A woman,' he said after a pause.
His hand tightened on the curtain, the material clenched between his fingers. At once his pupils darkened, his breathing grew deep. The signs were there and she could read them like lines of poetry. How else was a woman to protect herself in the world of men? Li Tao, for all of his supposed cunning, was just another man.
'You do not disappoint,' he said in a low voice.
He dropped into the familiar form of address. The spark in his eyes showed the first hint of any heat beneath the cold exterior.
For a dark moment, she was caught in the call of his gaze. They were close, nearly touching. She had provoked him on purpose, but regretted it as an alarming awareness unfurled itself within her, prickling just beneath her skin. The regiment of soldiers surrounding them faded. There was only one man here she had any fear of.
'And here I had thought the game was over for me,' she murmured.
He didn't respond. Her shoulder brushed against his sleeve as she slipped inside the wooden transport. His black eyes remained on her as the curtain fell back across the opening.
The journey came to Suyin in fragments snatched through the window. She caught glimpses of thick vines growing over the trees, the reflection of sunlight off distant water. Li Tao rode at the front and his soldiers kept her surrounded at every moment. This must be Li Tao's infamous first battalion. They called themselves the Rising Guard and held the reputation of being the fiercest warriors in the empire.
The dense shade and the babble of her river gave way to a dirt road grooved with wheel tracks. They were going south, further away from the seat of imperial power. She no longer had a place in the new Emperor's court, but she clung to the illusion that the centre of the empire was a safe and civilised place. What lay beyond was lawless and unpredictable. That was why they had needed the jiedushi.
On the fourth day, they passed an armed barricade. Grim-faced soldiers patrolled the line and she ducked away from the window.
It was true. The regional armies were assembling. She had isolated herself from the capital city of Changan to escape from the unrest, but news had still drifted to her over the last year through her servants. They made weekly trips to the city markets while she remained shut away in her manor.
There was only one reason for a barricade in the interior of the empire. There was infighting among the military governors. They had been gaining in power for years and continued to seize control in the uncertainty of Emperor Shen's rule. Perhaps she should have gone into hiding with the servants after all.
With a shudder, she pulled her shawl tight around her shoulders. She was dressed in the same clothes she had worn when they had come for her, the only possessions Li Tao had allowed her to bring.
She hated this part. The going away. The earth element in her longed to remain grounded in one place. Travel never held good tidings. Abrupt change brought back memories of being uprooted and taken some place far and unknown. It always seemed to come to that, and she knew from experience there was never a way to return.
The survival instinct returned to her, encasing her like a second skin. She sharpened her senses and became aware of everything around her. Li Tao prepared for war with swords and soldiers. She had her own weapons.
Over the next days, the open road faded beneath the shadow of a mountain and the soil became dark and rich. They travelled into a verdant forest of bamboo. The stalks rose high overhead. They called it the bamboo sea, not for any vast stretch of water, but for the rhythmic sway of the bamboo and the rustle of the spear-tipped leaves in the breeze. The green canopy engulfed them on all sides. When she blinked away from the window, a red haze remained over her eyes, veiling the world in an unnatural glow.
Suyin peered out of the window of the sedan to search for Li Tao. He rode tall in the saddle with his back straight. His dark robe stood out against the forest green. Naturally, he became her main focal point. He had all the power and she had none.
He'd barely spoken to her except for the scant conversation they'd exchanged by the river. Why would he go beyond his barricades to take her captive? Her influence had died with the August Emperor. She was merely a relic now, faded and wrung free of any usefulness.
The caravan came to an abrupt stop and the curtain was swept aside. Once again, Li Tao stood before her. He extended his hand and she had no choice but to take it, pressing her fingers briefly over his before letting go. The fleeting warmth of the touch lingered on her skin and a disturbing awareness curled around her as she stood beside him. She knew how to identify influence and power, but had never been so recklessly drawn to it.
She redirected her attention to the mansion nestled among the towering bamboo. It was twice the size of her home and built in the same opulent style of imperial architecture. The silhouette invoked the elaborate pagodas of the palace with wooden beams and tiled rooftops. Its grand structure intruded upon the tranquil forest.
His only reply was a wry twist of his lips before he gestured toward the front of the mansion. The man hoarded his words like gold coins. Every action was so controlled, she wondered if he ever lost himself in anger or passion. The last thought sent a shiver down her spine.
Li Tao remained behind her as they moved past the twin-lion statues that guarded the entrance. With every step, she became more aware of his dominance. His stride was confident and his authority complete. The illusion of deference he presented by allowing her to lead the way was laughable. How long would it be before he made his true demands known?
Household servants filed into the entrance hall one after another. Only seven of them, a small number for such a spacious compound. A grey-haired, round-faced woman headed the assembly. She gasped when Li Tao made the introduction.
'Ling GuifeiV The old woman bowed and bowed. The narrow bones of her shoulders protruded through the brown servant's robe.
'Jinmei, show Lady Ling to her apartments.' Li Tao cast a dismissive glance in Suyin's direction before turning to leave.
Insufferable. She flushed hot with anger as he disappeared down a corridor. He had treated her with the same indifference throughout the journey. She had been taken from her home under force of arms, yet he cast her aside as if she was of no importance at all. It wasit was worse than being interrogated and threatened. At least then she'd know what his plans were.
The guards marched behind them as she led Suyin through the spacious hall.
A pleasant visit indeed. Escorted by fifty armed men.
The Dragon and the Pearl (Harlequin Historical #1062) 4 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 7 reviews.
Throw your expectations out the window, because this is a different kind of romance novel. Having read and loved Butterfly Swords, I expected a plucky heroine adventuring in an exotic time and place with a hero who has a heart of gold. I got something much better. Our heroine, Suyin, was the emperor's concubine. Her weapons are beauty, poise, secrets and intrigue. Our hero is a ruthless warlord who has turned against his master more than once. These are sophisticated characters who are cynical about life and love. The result is a mature romance that tugged at my heartstrings because it wasn't the story of two people coming together for high-minded reasons, but two battered souls, two grim survivors, given a chance at redemption. The ending of the novel seemed to change abruptly in tone, from a darker story to something lighter, trickier, and slippery. Almost dreamlike. As if it was how the characters wished it might end, instead of how it might have really happened. I'm told there are cultural reasons for this, and in truth, this novel does seem more exotic than its predecessor. This is a beautiful book. There's a cinematic quality to the novel; I was able to visualize Dynastic China in beautiful little glimpses. If I close my eyes, I can imagine our heroine wearing her blue silk, standing between the stone guardians of her lover's fortress, hoping he will come home alive. I can vividly imagine the heroine submitting herself to her lover's ink, letting him leave his mark on her. The love story built slowly, so that when our heroine declares that she will die without her lover, I believed her. And I was so glad she got her happy ending.
Ling Suyin is the late Emperor's consort. A woman of stunning beauty and considered the supreme seductress across the Empire. After years fighting for survival within the Imperial Court, all Suyin really wants is a quiet place away from the intrigue and treachery of the palace. And that is what her former master granted her upon his death, a nice home near the river, far away from the Imperial Court. Li Tao is a ruthless warlord, raised on the streets of Luoyong. He exemplifies the motto: he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. Secure within the province he rules, Li Tao has the foresight and skill to understand the changing winds within the Empire. The Empire has fractured, war has breached the horizon, and Tao knows he will be forced to stand against Imperial forces. But for an anonymous note sent to Li Tao, Suyin would have been granted her wish. Li Tao kidnaps Suyin pulling her back into palace machinations. Tao is aware that rival Governors want the late Emperor's courtesan out of the way. Are the secrets she carries enough to warrant her execution? Tao must uncover who sent him the note about the famed courtesan, before it's too late. As the outside world begins to unravel, and Imperial forces march towards his province, Tao makes Suyin an offer. Her freedom for a night in his bed, only Tao and Suyin soon discover a night is not enough for either of them. What begins as a single night becomes a love with the power to bring down an Empire. The Dragon and The Pearl is Jeannie Lin's spectacular follow up to Butterfly Swords. The story captivated me from the moment I began reading. A titillating, refreshing read, Ms. Lin's hero had previously assumed the role of villain in Butterfly Swords. A very unique twist, changing a villain into a hero and Ms. Lin does not disappoint. Jeannie Lin's heart gripping tale set during the Tang Dynasty is one of this year's not to be missed novels. I'm already at the edge of my seat eagerly anticipating the next entry in this engaging saga.
This past weekend, I was looking for a little bit of a lighter read (my husband and I took a road trip to the beach to celebrate our first anniversary) and this book certainly fit the bill!!! This is the second book about Li Tao (the first was called The Butterfly Swords). I didn't read The Butterfly Swords but I don't think you have to read it in order to enjoy The Dragon and the Pearl. This book is definitely a great stand alone book. Suyin is alone in the world. After she falls out of favor with the monarchy, she lives on her own. Tao is a ruthless war lord looking to stake a claim in any way that he can. He takes Suyin away from her home because he thinks that she will make a good bargaining chip for him to get what he wants. Suyin is a former courtesan who is rumored to be able to make men fall in love with her with just a single look. Li Tao hardly believes that and is sure that he will be above her charm. Eh, it's a little predictable but I still loved the book and as I said, it fit the bill for a good light read. I really liked this book. The setting is off the beaten path (China during the Tang Dynasty) and I thought that Lin did a really great job with creating the world for the reader. Bottom line: If you're looking for a love story in an awesome locale, this is the book for you.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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The group will release a repackaged version of their debut album New Eyes.
Clean Bandit have premiered their brand new single.
The group have teamed up with Jess Glynne for new cut 'Real Love', which will be released on November 16 through Atlantic Records.
It will lead the repackaged version of their debut album New Eyes, which will follow on November 24.
Clean Bandit and Glynne previously teamed up for their number one hit 'Rather Be', which has topped iTunes charts in over 25 countries worldwide.
The single has also sold over 4.5 million copies across the globe since its release back in January.
New Eyes: Special Edition will also feature new track 'Stronger', their cover of 'Show Me Love', 'Up Again (Drum & Baseline Smith remix)' and the band's BBC Radio 1 Philharmonic Orchestra audio.
Clean Bandit will embark on their headline tour of the UK later this month, starting at Newcastle's O2 Academy on October 12.


text: Hillsdale Furniture's Cameron 5 Piece Round Dining Set with Parson Chairs beautifully combines a warm chestnut brown finish with dark gray metal. This collection features a dining table with 48" diameter wood table top and flared legs with a metal ring accent. Four parson chairs that are richly padded and upholstered in dark brown faux leather lend comfort while dining. Sit down and enjoy time with family and friends gathered around this stylish set.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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The place Eaton, N. Y. represents a specific geographic location related to resources found in Mid-York Library System.
The Resource Eaton, N. Y.
1 Items published in the Place Eaton, N. Y.
Context of Eaton, N. Y.
Data Citation of the Place Eaton, N. Y.


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I chose Henry ford because I am a big fan of cars industry, and I was impressed from his influence on the industry. Also I'd like to enrich my knowledge at the subject. At my project you will learn about Henry ford early life and why he is known as an innovator at the industry.
Biography of Henry Ford .
Henry ford was the founder of the Ford motor company and is credited with contributing to the creation of a middle class in America society. He was one of the first to apply ASSEMBLY LINE manufacturing to the mass production of affordable automobiles. This achievement not only revolutionized industrial production in the United States and the rest of the world but also had such tremendous influence over modern culture that many social theorist identify this phase of economic and social history as "Fordism". Early life: Ford was born on a farm in a rural township west of Detroit to William Ford and Mary Litogot. During the summer of 1873, Henry saw his first self-propelled road machine, a stationary steam engine that could be Used for threshing or to power a saw mill. The operator, Fred Reden, had mounted it on wheels connected with a drive chain. Henry was fascinated with the machine, and over the next year Reden taught Henry how to fire and operate the engine.
Ford later said, it was this experience "that showed me that I was by instinct an engineer.
Henry took this passion about mechanics into his home. His father had given him a pocket watch in his early teens. At fifteen, he had a reputation as a watch repairman, Having dismantled and reassembled timepieces of friends and neighbors. In 1876 his mother died and Henry was devastated by it. His father expected him to eventually take over the family farm, but Henry hated farm work. He later said : "I never had any particular love for the farm. It was the mother on the farm I loved". In 1879, he left home for the nearby city of Detroit to work as an apprentice machinist but than in 1882, he returned to Dearborn to work on the family farm and became adept at operating the Westinghouse portable steam engine and that lead him to be hired by Westinghouse company to service their steam engines. at 1888 Ford got married to Clara Bryant and supported himself and his family by running a sawmill Henry and Clara had one child, Edsel Bryant Ford. In 1891, Ford became an engineer and soon in 1893 he got promoted to Chief Engineer. he had enough time and money to devote attention to his personal experiments on gasoline engines. And than further along everything started. Ford suffered an initial stroke in 1938, after which he turned over the running of his company to Edsel. Edsel's 1943 death brought Henry Ford out of retirement. He died in 1947 of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 83 in Fair Lane, his Dearborn estate, and is buried in the Ford Cemetery in Detroit. Henry Ford took that last ride to Ford Cemetery in a Packard.
On the night of his death the River Rouge had flooded the local power station and had left Ford's house without electricity.
Before going to sleep Henry and his wife lit candles and oil lamps to light the house.
Later that evening, just before dawn, Henry Ford, father of mass production and creator of the modern era, died in the same atmosphere as he had been born 83 years earlier, surrounded by candlelight.
Henry Ford was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and father of modern assembly lines used in mass production. In 1913 Ford introduced the moving assembly belts into his plants, which enabled an enormous increase in production. Sales passed 250,000 in 1914. Although Henry Ford is often credited with the idea, contemporary sources indicate that the concept and its development came from employees Clarence Avery, Peter E. Martin, Charles E. Sorensen, and C.H. Wills By 1916, as the price dropped to $360 for the basic touring car, sales reached 472,000. Until the development of the assembly line which mandated black because of its quicker drying time, Model Ts were available in other colors including red. Because of the enormous development that he contribute to the industry He believed that international trade and cooperation will lead to international peace, And used the assembly line process and production of the Model T to demonstrate it . He opened Ford assembly plants in Britain and Canada in 1911, and soon became the biggest automotive producer in those countries. Henry Ford is sometimes credited with the invention of the automobile, generally attributed to Karl Benz, And the assembly line, invented by Ransom E. Olds. Ford's employees did develop the first moving assembly line based on conveyor belts.
What actually is an assembly line?
Henry Ford set out to build a construction method called the 'assembly line' , that would allow a faster and more cost effective method of producing vehicles.
An assembly line is a manufacturing process in which interchangeable parts are added to a product in a sequential manner to create a finished product.
It was a line where parts of a product were pieced together by individual workers.
The assembly line was improved largely by Henry Ford and his engineers; Ford was also the first to build factories around that concept.
It usually consists of 4 workers in control of one specific job and their work related movements are reduced to a minimum.
Until the fifteenth century, a single craftsman or team of craftsmen would create each part of a product individually and assemble them together into a single item. Making changes in the parts so that they would fit together - the so-called English System of manufacture.
What did the assembly line contributed to the industry and in general?
Henry Ford's engineers perfected the assembly line concept by 1913, and Ford was the first to build entire factories around the concept, which was also referred to as the armory system. The assembly line was an evolution by trial and error and not any single event.
The increased efficiency allowed Ford to cut prices in half and in half again, selling the car for $850 in 1909, and $290 by 1924. Ford had made 15 million model T's by 1927.
He integrated the assembly line concept with many ideas from the Efficiency Movement, including the famous $5 day that attracted the best workers.
Complex safety procedures --especially assigning each worker to a specific location instead of allowing them to roam about--dramatically reduced the rate of injury.
The efficiency gains from the assembly line also coincided with the take off of the United States.
How did the assembly line damaged the industry and the workers?
but Ford installed his own medical department with industrial nurses, and they reduced the accident and injury rate.
However, work on the assembly line sometimes still proved to be dangerous, as is the case with the operation of most heavy machinery.
I asked three people about Henry Ford: 1)Do you know Henry Ford? Faye: Yes sort of, I heared his name once. Tomer: Never heared about him, Is he famous? Hen: yes I know Henry Ford. 2)Do you know what does Henry ford innvented? Faye: He innvented a cars company. Tomer: I have no idea. Hen: Henry Ford innvented the assembly line. 3)Does Henry Ford was pro - nazi? Faye: I think he was pro - nazi. Tomer: Maybe I dont know. Hen: Yes he was.
We have learned that Henry ford is known as a revolutionary of the industry thanks to his introduce of the assembly line to society. The development of the assembly line influenced for good and for worse for example it enlarged the unemployed class But at the same time it decreased the cost of producing the cars and there for he could low the price of his car.
Now that my project came to an end id like to say that enjoyed it very much because just like I wanted to I have enriched my knowledge at the subject. I'm happy that I chose this subject because I learned new and interesting subject and I expanded my knowledge. The hardest part was to summarize all of the material.
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
My school trip was very interesting,exciting and fun because in the school trip i had birthday.All my friends celebrate me. They sing me birthday song's and raise me up. We were at the Cotel, Evreyone put Tfylyn and pray it was very exciting. We did everything together, We slept in a tent and shower together. We had a lot of fun in the trip but it was our last trip in school so evreyone disappointed.
This page was last modified on 22 March 2009, at 23:04.

industry_corpus2: Automobiles


text: Our firm recently relocated to the first floor level of the historic Goshen Music Hall Building at 223 Main Street in the Village of Goshen. After extensive demolition, we retained the richly variegated hues of the original strip maple flooring and combined it with a bright contemporary palette of new partitions. We returned the space to the original lofty 14’ ceiling height to take full advantage of the original 8’ high double hung windows, and used uplighting extensively to dramatize the height. We love our new home. Come visit us!

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


text:
In 1929 Martin was born. Martin got married in 1953 to Coretta Scott King. In 1953 Martin made the I HADE A DREAM SPEECH. He had children in 1955 hehad four children: Yolanda King, Martin Luther King III, Dexter Scott King, and Bernice King. Martin Luther King got the the Nobel Peace Prize Award. M.L.K, I also think it was The King where his nicknames. In 1965 he protested at Selma. In 1968 was when Marten Luther King died.
Martin Luther King Jr acomplished non violince. He left this world by showing no vilionce. He accomplished to be the youngest man to accept an award.He also accomplished the I HAVE A DREAM SPeech.
Martin Luther King changed the world by having the African Americans have civil rights.