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My last blog post of this year will also be about a new (pre-release) feature of Configuration Manager, version 1710. This post will be all about the ability to create and run scripts from the Configuration Manager administration console. To be correct, the ability to create and run scripts was added in Configuration Manager, version 1706, and Configuration Manager, version 1710, added the ability to use parameters with those scripts. It completed the functionality. My Christmas day present for the community is a walkthrough through this functionality and how it runs on the client device. After reading this post you should be able to understand how your script can create the output and how you can find the correct GUIDs to follow the activity on the client device.
Starting with Configuration Manager, version 1706, it’s possible to run PowerShell scripts, via the Configuration Manager console, directly on client devices. Configuration Manager, version 1710, completed this functionality by adding the use of parameters. The ability to run PowerShell scripts on client devices is available in the Configuration Manager administration console, via the Run Scripts option. This makes it easier to automate tasks and, in general, the scripts are understood by a large population. It really simplifies building custom tools. Think about all the custom right-click actions that can now be integrated in this functionality. The biggest advantages of using the Run Script option, are the usage of the notification channel and getting good monitoring information. That means, quick results shown in the Configuration Manager administration console. In this post I’ll show the Run Script option by using a simple PowerShell script that will restart a service on the client device. That service is provided to the script via a script parameter.
Now let’s have a look at the Run Script option in the Configuration Manager administration console. I’ll start by looking at a couple of important prerequisites, followed by how to create, approve and run scripts. I’ll end this section by following the script action to the client device.
Note: Declaring variables, as shown with number 1 on the right, will enable an additional page in the wizard for configuring script parameters. The output shown with number 2, can be returned by the client device.
On the Script Parameters page, an overview is shown of the provided parameters with the script and it provides the option to set a Default Value. Select the variable and click Edit to adjust the parameter properties (see step 4b). After that, click Next.
Note: This page should provide an overview of the variables as declared in step 3.
Custom Error: Specify a custom error message.
6 On the Completion page, verify the result and click Close.
By default it’s not possible for a script author to approve and/or deny their own scripts. To enable script authors to approve and/or deny their own scripts, open the Configuration Manager administration console and navigate to Administration > Overview > Site Configuration > Site. Now open the Hierarchy Settings and remove the checkbox with Do not allow script authors to approve their own scripts.
Important: It’s strongly advised to only do this in test and/or lab environments.
Note: To verify the details of a parameter, select a parameter and click Details. That will show the script parameter properties, as configured during the creation of the script.
Note: I know this is stating the obvious, but only approve scripts once you’re certain about their behavior. The ability to run scripts on client devices is just really strong and once the script is triggered it will run almost instantly.
7 On the Completion page, verify the result and click Close.
Note: It’s also possible to start the Run Script wizard by right-clicking a device collection.
Note: The script GUID is interesting for monitoring the script execution.
On the Script Parameters page, provide a value for the available parameters and click Next.
On the Monitoring page, verify the script output and click Close.
The script output, on the Summary tab, shows the output as provided in the initial script. Within this summary it’s also possible to look at the exit codes and to look at different chart forms. The Script Details tab shows the general information about the script, like the name, version and parameters and the Run Details tab shows the details about the results, like the device name, execution status, exit code and script output.
of the Create script section.
Let’s continue by following the initiated script through the log files. At least the three log files below are related to this action and together those log files provide a lot of information. As there is some overlap with the log files of last week, I won’t provide the generic information about the log files this time.
BgbServer.log: When initiating a script to run on a client device, this log file shows the information about pushing the script action to the client device, followed by information about the generation of the BGB task status report (.BTS) in the bgb.box inbox (see below). The processing of the BGB task status report can be followed through the bgbmgr.log.
CcmNotificationAgent.log: When initiating a script to run on a client device, this log file shows the arrival of the script action on the client device (see below).
Script.log: When initiating a script to run on a client device, this log file will show the details about the script that will be executed. That includes the earlier mentioned IDs and the command line that will be used.
Let’s end this section by looking at the executed command line in more detail. Below is the highlighted version of the executed command line. That command line clearly shows that the script on the client device is signed, that it uses parameters and that it’s stored locally. The script is stored in C:\Windows\CCM\ScriptStore, which is a hidden folder on the client device. By default only the SYSTEM account has permissions on the script files in that folder.
For more information about the Run Script option, please refer to this article about creating and running PowerShell scripts from the Configuration Manager console.
Is it possible to add these scripts in to a task sequence?
Is it possible to interact with these scripts using PowerShell and the ConfigurationManager module, similar to the Get-CMPackage cmdlets? For example, I would like to be able to create, modify, and delete scripts automatically when they are updated in a git repository.
I haven’t tried that yet, but I would think that you should be able to work with PowerShell on the PowerShell scripts.
I would expect that information to be available via reports.


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HOMEOptimal PerformanceMetabolic Efficiency….Why is it Important?
Metabolic Efficiency….Why is it Important?
I did a metabolic efficiency test two weeks ago at Endurance Performance Training Center in Mill Valley, CA. It was my third time doing one and provided some very useful information. Seeing my results and understanding why knowing your metabolic efficiency is important for an athlete, I decided it would make for (what I hope to be) an interesting blog.
Without going any further though I have to give credit to Tim Fleming for this post. He’s the general manager and head of performance testing at Endurance. Tim provided the majority of content for this blog based on his education and years of experience. Endurance is the ‘home base’ of Achieve’s resistance training sessions and indoor performance testing. There aren’t many facilities in the Bay Area, let alone Marin, set up to do high level performance testing (with all the proper equipment) like Endurance. The main photo if this post illustrates this to a degree.
So without any further ado, why is it important to know your metabolic efficiency? Let’s first get a definition: metabolic efficiency refers to the degree to which fat is utilized as a fuel source at any given intensity during exercise. You may be thinking ‘ok, why do I need to know this?’. Well, if you’re an endurance athlete of any type then you probably know that excess fat doesn’t have a lot of benefits. Sure, it may add a little warmth during the winter months, but the weight of excess fat only slows you down, especially when going up hill. If only gravity didn’t exist. So most of you know that losing some fat will make you lighter (as long as you aren’t replacing it with muscle) which will decrease the effects of gravity and you will go up hill faster. This is always a good thing. Another important questions to understand is: why is it important to utilize fat as a fuel source? Before this is answered, it’s helpful to understand how the body produces energy.
The human body utilizes a combination of fuels to produce energy during exercise. This consists mainly of carbohydrate, fat and a small quantity of amino acids (protein). Carbohydrate provides a constant kindling for other sources of fuel, such as fat, so it is important for endurance athletes to be capable of “sparing” carbohydrate utilization during exercise. However, energy production for muscle contraction during exercise is more efficient when a great percentage of fat is used in the fuel mixture.
Now to answer the questions ‘why is it important to utilize fat as a fuel source?’ Mobilizing more fat to produce energy is efficient for several reason: fat burns more cleanly, thereby reducing metabolic “emissions”, fat has a greater energy density than carbohydrate and burning fat for energy spares limited stores of carbohydrate, resulting in better endurance or stamina. Furthermore, improving fat metabolism provides a great opportunity to reduce excess body fat mass. Another benefit from improved fat metabolism is less dependence on exogenous (from outside a system) sources of carbohydrate during training and competition, therefore reducing the likelihood of gastric distress.
So now that we know why it’s important to utilize fat for fuel, the next question becomes, ‘how does one train the body to utilize it as a fuel source?’ Ultimately, training your aerobic energy system provides better fat burning, and in return, better metabolic efficiency. In addition, another key component is incorporating appropriate nutrition to effectively feed the aerobic system, creating a positive feedback loop for better overall fitness and endurance performance.
All that said, the answer to the first question of ‘why is it important to know your metabolic efficiency?’ should be clear. Now that I’ve done a metabolic efficiency test, I know exactly what effort level (measured in heart rate and power) I have to train at in order to achieve optimal performance during my aerobic endurance phase. This will pay dividends throughout the season.
If you would like to schedule your own test then you can reach out to me at dwilliams[at]achieveptc.com or contact Tim Fleming directly here: http://enduranceptc.com/contact-us/.
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industry_corpus2: Sports


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Custom-designed specifically for their course assignments.
Focus on general information literacy skills.
Highlight relevant databases, search strategies, and other library resources that provide support for course assignments.
Can be presented in your classroom or in the Library.
Request a session now by using our online request form, calling the Library Service Desk at 936-294-1599, or contacting the Instruction Librarian at instructionlibrarian@shsu.edu.
The Library also offers tours and workshops which are open to all.
To request an embedded librarian for your online course, please fill out our online request form.
This program provides free, personalized research assistance for students working on a thesis or dissertation.
Faculty members are encouraged to place materials on reserve for their students. Materials placed on print reserves may include personally owned books, photocopies (with copyright restrictions), and books owned by the Library.
An electronic reserve system is available 24 x 7 from home or campus. The Library adheres to copyright guidelines. We will contact copyright owners, when needed, and request permission to place material on reserve. That can take some time, so faculty members who wish to place material on electronic reserve should allow 2 – 3 weeks for processing. In the event a copyright owner denies permission, the material cannot be placed on reserve, or, if already on reserve will be removed. The Library's reserves personnel need a clean copy of print material to be scanned into the system. Faculty teaching off-campus courses or online courses will find Electronic Reserves an especially useful way of providing access to readings. Call 294-1628 for more information regarding suitability of material, copyright restrictions, and required lead time.
Faculty may encourage Distance Learning students to make use of the Library's Distance Learning Services. Eligibility is limited to students who are both enrolled in SHSU off-campus courses only and who live outside Walker County; these services are not available to students who take one or more courses on the SHSU campus or persons not affiliated with SHSU. See a complete description of services and policies.
Contact the Library Service Desk for information about using the Library or for help in navigating the Library's electronic resources. Need assistance in your office? A librarian will show you how to use electronic databases; find full text journal articles; stay current with the latest electronic resource acquired by the library; and search the web effectively.
Subject librarians also work with faculty to develop a collection of materials that supports the curriculum and research activities.
To obtain material not held by the Newton Gresham Library, you can place requests online using the ILLiad website.
See answers to the most frequently asked questions about Interlibrary Loan.
Faculty>Direct offers delivery to SHSU faculty members of articles and books that the Library holds.
Faculty members are encouraged to recommend materials to be added to the library collection. Materials recommended to support the instructional program of the university will be given first priority.
Recommend books, ebooks, and other materials such as DVDs or CDs.
For detailed help using these forms, consult the Faculty Recommendation Instructions. For further assistance in ordering, contact Teri Oparanozie or your subject librarian.
Turnitin and SafeAssign are an intellectual property verification tool that checks a submitted paper against a comprehensive database of source materials to determine how much of the paper is original, and flag text identified as closely matching other internet, article, or other information sources. SHSU Online provides more information about these resources.
They are available through Blackboard. Please go to Blackboard > select the desired course > Course Management menu: Course Tools > select either SafeAssign or Turnitin Assignments for more information and setup instructions. For help, please contact SHSU Online Support Desk.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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UPDATE: Effective Summer 2014, we are now SoCal Rechrome | Chrome Wheel Depot.
Same Professional Team delivering great customer service !!
PS: We have now our domain “socalwheel.com” available for purchase by qualified OEM & Aftermarket wheel companies. If interested, please call 562-883-0310.
One piece alloy wheels—price for your wheel may be higher, depending on style & condition.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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Book News: Wis. Governor Takes Heat Over His Choice Of Ghostwriter : The Two-Way Also: Barnes & Noble giving away free e-readers this week; Marjane Satrapi on Persepolis; and a teenage Hemingway's dimples.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker speaks during the Republican National Convention on Aug. 28, 2012.
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is being criticized for hiring Marc Thiessen, a journalist and vocal supporter of "enhanced interrogation techniques," to ghostwrite his book. The National Review, citing anonymous sources, broke the news of the collaboration Monday afternoon. Thiessen was a speechwriter for President George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, and an adviser and spokesman for Jesse Helms, the late North Carolina senator who opposed civil rights for blacks and gays.
In The New York Review of Books, Emily Eakin quotes feedback on an exam taken by French philosopher Jacques Derrida when he was 20: "An exercise in virtuosity, with undeniable intelligence, but with no particular relation to the history of philosophy....Can come back when he is prepared to accept the rules and not invent where he needs to be better informed."
Barnes & Noble is giving away Nook Simple Touch e-readers for free this week. Anyone who buys a Nook HD+ tablet will receive an e-reader. As Reuters noted, this seems like "a sign [Barnes & Noble] may still be grappling with excess inventory of the unpopular e-reader."
Marjane Satrapi speaks to WBEZ's Afternoon Shift about the controversy over her graphic novel Persepolis being pulled from some Chicago classrooms: "It seems like something completely surreal to me."
Flavorwire collects pictures of famous authors as teenagers. Hemingway's dimples are pretty darn cute.
Self-publishing is officially cool: Actor Jim Carrey said of his new children's book, "I'm going to self-publish, because that's just the world right now and I think it's cool."

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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Alabaster is found in caves in the form of mineral deposits.
Calcite alabaster was originally imported from Egypt.
Alabaster is found in caves in the form of stalagmites.
Alabaster is a term which is used to refer to two forms of calcium. Both are characterized by being creamy to snow white in color, and they have been used in carving, ornaments, and ornamental statuary for centuries. The color is so memorable that the word is also used to refer to other white objects, which is why romance novels refer to “alabaster bosoms.” Numerous examples of carved alabaster can be found in museums and venerable buildings all over the world.
The ancients favored calcite alabaster, a very hard form of calcium carbonate. This stone was originally imported from Egypt, a country which also produced a number of works of art using this mineral. It is often found in caverns as a deposited mineral in the form of stalagmites. Modern alabaster is usually gypsum alabaster, or calcium sulfate. Gypsum is much softer than calcite, and it is found extensively in England, where deposits of seawater slowly evaporated over the course of centuries. However, the ancients knew and used both forms.
While white is the classic color associated with alabaster, the mineral can also occur in other colors, such as pale brown or reddish, and it may be veined with color. It is often slightly translucent, and some carvers work the stone to bring out this natural translucence, which gives it a sort of glow. Thinly sliced alabaster has also been used to make windows and transparent artifacts. Examples of work dating back thousands of years have been found in cultures all over the world, suggesting a widespread popularity for the mineral.
Stonecarvers and masons continue to work in alabaster. Some carvers like to make mock-ups in gypsum, since the mineral is soft and easy to work. Others may use it to produce pieces for sale. The stone is readily available from a wide range of suppliers who mine it in several locations around the world. Various sizes can be purchased, depending on need, and it is an excellent idea to inspect stone, if possible, before purchasing it, to ensure that it is in good condition.
Translucent alabaster objects should be kept cool so that they do not cloud. Water and a soft cloth can be used to clean this mineral, with only very mild soaps if soap is needed. In some cases, objects may be waxed to make them less porous, in which case people may want to periodically strip the wax off and re-wax the piece. People may want to consult an artist or mason about wax removers that are suitable for alabaster, and if they have a very old artifact, it is better to entrust it to someone who is experienced with conservation of such objects.
What Are the Industrial Uses of Calcium Sulfate?
What is a Gypsum Ceiling?
What are Translucent Wall Panels?

industry_corpus2: Mining


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Hi Guys!!!! Matt here. I’m sure you’ve all checked out this week’s all-new installment of The Impact and you may have noticed the new format…and that I was nowhere to be found. Well it’s because my time with Comic Impact has come to a close. Why??? Well, I’ve wanted to get back and focus on more of my creative writing for quite some time now. For those of you who don’t know, last year I self-published a comic book, Mysteryman: All About Eve. It was the happiest I’ve been in a long time, if not ever. I hope to put my newly expanded free time towards a new project. What will that project be??? I’m not sure yet, but stay tuned.
First things first. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I am so grateful to you all for taking the time to read my column every week, and to geek out with me. I tried to do something a little different with my weekly news recap and turn into a conversation. A one-sided conversation, sure, but a conversation nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed reading The Impact as much I did writing it. I also want to take the time to thank Simon and Sheldon for giving me the opportunity write for Comic Impact and letting me have my weekly conversation with you guys.
Now fear not, you may see me stop by Comic Impact every now and then to see how you’re all doing. Until then, I want to thank you one last time from the bottom of my heart.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Some hospitals may look as if they are held together with sticking plaster, but the NHS is actually a hive of new technology. Our reporters assess some of the more innovative work going on across the UK.
Later this year, doctors in London hope to start the first human trial of a radical new treatment for children with drug-resistant leukaemia. One- or two-year-old infants will have gone through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, to no avail. The best hospitals can do is make them comfortable.
The therapy is one of the most sophisticated medicine has ever seen. White blood cells – part of the immune system’s frontline defences – are collected from a healthy donor and effectively turned into a drug through genetic engineering. First, they are modified to hunt down their target: a protein that appears on leukaemia blood cells. Next, they are tweaked to make them invisible to drugs that suppress the child’s immune system during the treatment. Finally, the cells are modified again to ensure that when they are infused they do not attack the child.
If the trial is approved and goes as planned, about 50 million modified cells will course into the arteries and veins of each sick child and destroy the leukaemia cells . The hope is to drive the cancer into deep remission within four to six weeks. The children can then have bone marrow transplants to reboot their immune systems. When bone marrow transplants are done without clearing leukaemia first, the disease has a tendency to come back. A similar procedure has already shown promise in adults.
A medical team at Great Ormond Street hospital will run the trial for a French pharmaceutical company called Servier. But they have already had a glimpse of what the cells can do for children. Last June, a one-year-old girl, Layla Richards, became the first infant with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia to have the therapy. Her cancer did not respond to several rounds of chemotherapy and she had only a few months to live.
Layla’s medical team had some modified immune cells on ice – prepared for the trial by researcher Hong Zhan. It had taken her 18 days to modify and purify the cells in a small clean room on the hospital’s lower ground floor. The team thawed the cells out and gave them to Layla in June under a special licence granted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Layla’s leukaemia abated and she had a bone marrow transplant three months later. So far, she is doing well.
“This could really only have happened on the NHS, where there is a wealth of expertise and people across many disciplines willing to give their time and energy,” said Prof Waseem Qasim, leader of the clinical trial.
At the cutting edge of keyhole surgery on the NHS is something that looks like a tiny pen lid-sized parasol.
For years, doctors have operated through tiny incisions to remove appendices and gallbladders, diagnose and treat cancers, even mend or replace valves and arteries around the heart. Now, at Bristol Heart Institute, there is a trial for an even more ambitious procedure: to perform keyhole surgery in the middle of the heart.
Every year, nearly 3,000 people in the UK have open-heart surgery to repair or replace their mitral valve, a small oval measuring about 3-5cm across, with an elliptical opening to allow blood to flow towards the aorta and out of the heart. If the valve becomes weak, blood can leak back into the heart, triggering problems ranging from palpitations to heart failure.
Hard to reach and an unhelpful shape, opening up a patient’s chest has been the only way to solve the problem, putting it beyond the reach of hundreds of people considered too high-risk because they are frail (usually elderly) or have complicating problems such as lung disease. The Bristol unit, and two others in the UK, can now help those at-risk patients, using the parasol-shaped MitraClip, developed in the US.
It is inserted through the groin, into a vein going up into the “wrong” side of the heart (to avoid blocking and damaging the aortic valve). A pin punctures the heart wall, the clip is pushed through into the valve and then drawn back until it clamps the opening together in the middle. One surgeon guides the tube by hand while another watches on a screen and gives directions: “left a bit, right a bit”, as BHI consultant Mandie Townsend describes it.
The keyhole operation requires about double the staff in theatre for the four hours it takes, and the equipment is expensive. But patients usually recuperate on the cardiology ward and go home after two days, compared to two weeks in intensive care for those having a more common operation.
If the trials are successful, and the cost savings justify it, the system is likely to be offered more widely in the UK.
“Those patients come in and out of hospital with heart failure before they are treated: we send them home on day two, in a better clinical state and hopefully with a good quality of life, which is going to stop them re-presenting,” says Townsend.
From tracking a newborn’s nappy changes to fixing your car or investing in a business in Bangladesh, in most areas of life it is possible to say “there’s an app for that”.
Soon there might be one for people living with chronic pain, which means they have had it for more than three months and medicines, physio, surgery and every other attempt by specialists have failed to solve the problem.
Depending on the exact definition, 8-60% of people in the UK have chronic pain syndrome. For the time being, they have to learn to live with it.
Now a new app, PainSense, is being trialled on the NHS. It was developed by Yorkshire-based company ADI, which got the idea from a specialist psychologist and a local GP.
Patients click on the app on their phone and are offered an index of 12 areas. Two outlines of a human body – front and back – allow them to mark where the pain is, and how intense. Questionnaires ask them what impact the pain is having on their life: how well they can work, quality of sleep and their mood, for example.
A patient using the PainSense app on their smartphone.
Based on their score, it prompts people to use other links in the app to get advice about relaxation, pacing exercise, managing their medication and other strategies to cope with the pain.
As soon as the patient clicks save, the information is automatically attached to their patient record for the GP, specialist or physiotherapist to refer to at the next appointment.
All elements of the app have been available only on paper so far: it is the convenience of the app that is key to its success, said John Eaglesham, ADI’s chief executive. “Patients have found it’s something with them 24/7 so they can dip in and use the resources at their convenience,” he said.
The first trial last year was carried out by West Leeds clinical commissioning group, where, in another innovation, two patients were included in the steering group to refine the app as part of an overhaul of how it helped patients with chronic pain.
In those nine months, more than 1,600 people were given free access to the app. Early figures for the whole package of changes, including the app, show referrals to community pain services increased as more patients were identified, but those to specialists reduced sharply, and average costs per patient fell.
The CCG has now signed a contract to supply the app to at least 300 patients a month, paying the company £15 for each. Other NHS bodies in England are also now showing strong interest in the idea, said Eaglesham.
The London Project to Cure Blindness was set up to find a cure for one of the leading causes of sight loss in the UK.
It wanted to help patients with a form of age-related mascular degeneration (AMD) where damage to the part of the eye responsible for central vision – the macula – causes them to lose that area of vision. AMD is expected to seriously affect 700,000 people in the UK by the end of this decade – a scale comparable to dementia.
Last autumn, a decade of work culminated in the first ever operation to use eye cells, grown from stem cells in a lab, to build a patch over the damaged part of the eye. Since then a second operation was carried out at Moorfields eye hospital in London, and doctors hope a third will be possible this spring. If it goes ahead, news of whether the three patients have had any of their sight restored will be made public.
The trial of 10 operations over 18 months is focused on “wet” AMD, where the damage is from abnormal growth of veins in the eyes and happens over a short period of time, sometimes weeks.
If it is successful, there are hopes that it could be used to help the much more common “dry” form of the condition, University College London’s Prof Pete Coffey, a founder of the project, told the Guardian after the first operation.
Stem cells occur naturally in embryos and adult tissues, but can also be grown in laboratories. The most common use in medicine is harvesting the cells from bone marrow of healthy adults to transplant into patients with leukaemia and lymphoma.
Other conditions for which stem cell therapy is being developed include deafness, diabetes, infertility, HIV/Aids and baldness. A significant problem, however, is the body’s immune system attacking the foreign cells, forcing patients to take drugs suppressing their immune system for the rest of their life.
Eyes have long been considered a particularly promising area of the science because treatments there do not trigger the body’s immune defences.
This article was amended on 1 February 2016 to correct the spelling of the name of researcher Hong Zhan.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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As a property owner it is essential to protect yourself from the potential legal claims that could be made by tenants, contractors and members of the public who are injured whilst living in or visiting your property.
All landlords are at risk of being sued if found to be negligent or in breach of their duty of care. For example if a tenant were to trip and fall on a broken step, they would be able to sue the landlord for damages and in the age of 'no-win no-fee' legal cases, this type of action is becoming increasingly popular.
The best way to avoid legal action is to try and minimise the risk. Essentially it is up to the landlord to ensure that the property is as safe as possible. This includes fixing broken steps, shelves and cupboards, testing electrics and reducing fire hazards.
However, this does not eliminate risk completely and the last line of defence should be liability insurance.
Liability insurance enables the landlord to meet any costs or damages awarded to a member of the public if they suffer an injury following an accident on or from the owner's property.
Often specialist landlord's insurance providers will provide liability insurance as part of the main package, but it is a good idea to check your policy to ensure that you are covered.
If you are not covered, you may want to consider taking out liability cover or changing to a new policy that includes this cover.
Find out more about property insurance and get an online quote.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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On Tuesday, July 31, 2007, Northrop Grumman President and Chief Operating Officer Wes Bush spoke at the West Virginia High Tech Consortium Foundation in Fairmont, West Virginia. Below are his delivered remarks.
Thank you, Ray (Oliverio). And my thanks to the West Virginia High-Tech Consortium Foundation. I really appreciate you hosting me today. It’s great to have this opportunity to share some thoughts with West Virginia’s high-technology professionals and community leaders.
Also, it’s great to be back in West Virginia. As Ray mentioned, I grew up in West Virginia and went to high school here, so my fondness for this state is based on a deep appreciation of its many virtues. I’m also delighted that my wonderful wife Natalie, who grew up in Morgantown and is a graduate of WVU, is able to be here with me today. Natalie comes from a family with a lot of WVU connections – her father taught at the University, her mother worked there, and both of her brothers are also WVU grads.
While Northrop Grumman is a name that is well known in high technology circles such as the aerospace, defense, and information technology industries, it is not a highly publicized company, so I thought I would give you a brief idea of who we are and what we do.
We build satellites that are designed to monitor the earth to protect our country and to assess our environment.
As well as telescopes that fly in outer space and that can detect light from a distance so great that they are actually looking back in time at very early formative stages of the universe.
We also build airplanes such as the B-2 stealth bomber. And we build the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, which can fly by itself, without a pilot, for more than a day at altitudes of 60,000 feet.
We are the only builder in the United States of nuclear aircraft carriers.
We also build nuclear submarines, as well as Destroyers and large amphibious expeditionary ships for our Marines.
We have a very strong capability in electronics and complex sensors ranging from radar systems for airplanes and ships to systems that process mail and check it for bio hazards.
We are the systems engineers for the nation’s land-based fleet of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and we are building the next generation of interceptors for national missile defense.
We are implementing a broad-band wireless network in the city of New York to enable all the emergency services providers to instantly share information, including video, to enhance large scale emergency response.
We manage the entire IT infrastructure for the state of Virginia.
We develop, deploy and maintain the Military’s records system that contains over 9 million electronic health records of DoD personnel.
And some of the most innovative work we perform is in the field of biometrics and identity management. That work is based in our Civilian Agencies business group, and the president of that business unit, Linda Mills, is here with us today.
You can see that our work is at the very pinnacle of technological capability – and the things we do are of critical importance, as they impact the very security of our nation. We take a lot of pride in doing these things well, and being entrusted by our nation with such critical work. We know we have to continuously earn that trust over and over again on every one of our more than 20,000 programs we are performing for our customers.
I mentioned earlier that we have over 120,000 employees – about 40,000 of them work in the technical disciplines such as engineering, math, and science. Our company, and our ability to perform our critical job for our country – is critically dependent on our ability to find qualified technical talent to keep the U.S. ahead of the rest of the world.
A key reason for our interest in forging a deeper connection with the state of West Virginia – and the topic I would like to discuss with you today – is that very issue – the challenges the nation is facing with respect to engineering and scientific talent.
In the view of many economists, America's major competitive advantage in the globalized marketplace of the 21st century must continue to be its capability for high-tech innovation.
As a recent National Academy of Sciences study put it, the most effective way for the United States to maintain leadership as global competition increases will be to draw on its traditional strength in human capital. We must rely on our educated, innovative workforce as our most precious resource for dealing with the changing environment.
However, serious questions are now being raised about whether this resource can continue to keep us in this same leadership role in the future. The uncertainty arises from two daunting challenges that we face. First, our high-tech work force is facing a demographic downturn.
And second, our education system is not producing an adequate number of graduates to re-supply this work force. As a nation, we are not placing a premium on a science and technology education and we are replenishing our current workforce at a lower rate than other nations, such as China, Japan and India.
The U.S. science and engineering workforce is aging and retiring while the supply of new scientists and engineers who are U.S. citizens capable of supporting our national security work is decreasing.
This hits very close to home for our company. At Northrop Grumman, if we look at the 40,000 people we employ in the technical fields, there are many critical disciplines where 50 percent of our employees will have the opportunity to retire within five years. That’s a statistic to keep you awake at night.
Only 6 percent of our undergraduates study engineering -- the second lowest percentage among developed nations.
What are businesses doing to address these serious shortcomings?
Across the country, Northrop Grumman is working with universities and schools to help the education pipeline serve businesses better. We are providing university engineering and business schools with counsel about curricula and opportunities for cooperative working assignments.
We also have programs to improve K-12 education in math and science, and to help teachers introduce students to the excitement of science and engineering. We know that students are shaped in their views of careers early on – usually as early as middle school.
Here in West Virginia, for example, we contribute to activities like Camp STEM – a great educational experience aimed at stimulating interest among high school students about high-technology careers.
These are some of the things we are doing to strengthen education. But we are also taking other steps to address the issue of our shrinking talent base. A key part of our effort is to reach out beyond our company to other enterprises and locations where substantial talent and capability exists and is being created.
This is the basis of Northrop Grumman’s strong commitment to hiring skilled people and partnering with outstanding companies and universities in states like West Virginia that have leading high-tech sectors.
One skill set we’re interested in is biometrics, and West Virginia plays a key role in this area. It’s clear that the north central region of the state is the Silicon Valley of America’s biometrics activity. Having spent a lot of time in Silicon Valley, I can assure you this is a poor analogy, because Silicon Valley cannot hold a candle to the beauty of this state!
Here in this area, we see a proliferation of companies in this specialty, as well as institutions like West Virginia University’s Center for Identification Technology, DoD’s Biometrics Fusion Center in Bridgeport, and the FBI’s world-leading ID repository in Clarksburg.
We’re drawing on such local expertise to support two new contracts based in West Virginia. We recently won an Army award to provide a biometrics system that will link the intelligence community with civilian agencies, in a focused effort to address the war on terror.
In addition, under a DoD contract, we’re developing IT components for biometrics systems that protect the military and civilian employees at installations in combat areas worldwide. We have employees in Fairmont supporting the two contracts, and are hiring more employees as these efforts grow.
Another main biometrics emphasis is our pursuit of the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) competition. This ten-year development, operations and maintenance program will provide additional biometric services to support the expanded FBI mission. It has a component that will be located in West Virginia to support the FBI facility in Clarksburg.
Our biometrics projects are drawing on this state’s strong IT and systems engineering capabilities, but these skills are needed for other IT projects as well. In a large NASA program we have West Virginia-based personnel verifying and validating mission critical software. We will need similar expertise for a follow-on contract recently awarded involving work on the Orion and Ares vehicles of NASA’s manned space program.
Northrop Grumman also provides IT support for the U.S. Postal Service out of Charleston and for the Internal Revenue Service out of Martinsburg. In Kearneysville, we have employees providing systems engineering and technical support for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Overall, we have about 75 employees working in the four West Virginia locations I just mentioned – and this total will increase to more than 100 under existing contracts. If we are successful in capturing the FBI’s NGI contract I mentioned earlier, our West Virginia team will grow to several hundred employees over the next few years.
In an effort to accelerate progress in these various high-technology projects we’re also building relationships with West Virginia University, Fairmont State, Wheeling Jesuit University and other universities in the state.
These multiple activities demonstrate our serious commitment to economic development in West Virginia – commitment to the long-term success of local people and organizations.
A key part of this, of course, is our collaboration with local companies who serve as subcontractors on our programs.
We’re proud of our successful partnerships with innovative small businesses around the country. Last year nearly 40 percent of our company’s subcontracting dollars went to small businesses. We consistently exceed our government-assigned targets for small business subcontracting.
In 2006, our purchases from West Virginia supplier firms totaled almost 27 million dollars. A lot of that went to high tech companies. Our biggest supplier in dollar terms was Aurora Flight Sciences, in Bridgeport, which is manufacturing composite components for our Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned surveillance vehicle.
We have two partners who are working with us in West Virginia on the DoD biometrics contract – NEW BOLD Enterprises and Ideal Innovations.
The NASA work mentioned earlier will be performed in Fairmont with West Virginia small business partners including AFM, Key Logic Systems, MPL, MSIS and the West Virginia High-Tech Consortium Foundation. West Virginia companies on our team for the FBI’s NGI program include Azimuth, DSD Labs, Galaxy Global and, again, Key Logic Systems and the High-Tech Consortium Foundation.
In addition, in a partnership with the West Virginia High-Tech Consortium Foundation, Northrop Grumman is pursuing a grant to develop a Technology Center of Excellence for the National Institute of Justice. The center will facilitate the transfer of new technology from the laboratory into practice by first adopters.
In forming partnerships with small companies, we consider a wide range of qualifications relating to engineering and technical capabilities, experience, performance records, capacity, location, infrastructure strengths, and so forth.
I’m frequently asked what impresses us the most when we are assessing a prospective subcontractor – I would have to say it is alignment with our values as a company, which really comes down to the trust that is earned by meeting commitments – meaning the delivery of quality products, on-time, and within the established cost objectives.
One way we form relations with subcontractors is through the government programs that fund Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. We have had quite a bit of success with these programs.
We also serve as mentor to small companies under mentor-protégé programs set up by DoD, NASA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration. These programs fall under government regulations covering minority or disadvantaged small businesses.
Since 1992, we have mentored over 90 small businesses. We currently have a total of 22 active agreements with small company protégés all around the nation.
A great example of a successful mentor-protégé arrangement in West Virginia is our relationship with the Morgantown IT company, Key Logic Systems. We’ve been supporting Key Logic with transfer of IT services technology – and, as I mentioned earlier, they are now a member of our team pursuing the important NGI program. If we win NGI, Key Logic will be performing program management work.
I’ve been talking about our company’s need for high-technology talent to deal with the competitive conditions of a globalized economy. But our current search for engineers and other technology workers has another key feature I haven’t yet discussed.
It’s not just a matter of finding people who meet our performance standards in the right technical areas, but also a matter of being able to hire them and operate in areas with a cost structure that keeps us competitive with other global companies.
While this requirement applies both to hiring and subcontracting, let me simplify by focusing just on the former – and also by concentrating just on our IT business.
As you know, many companies in the United States are now responding to globalization by “off-shoring” – that is, by making use of engineering services in other countries that can deliver what is needed for about one-fifth the price charged by U.S. counterparts.
Given this differential, the practice of off-shoring is expanding rapidly.
As an American company performing national security work, Northrop Grumman is very uncomfortable with the idea of off-shoring American jobs.
At the same time, as a company with more than $10 billion in annual IT revenues, we’ve had to give priority attention to developing an alternative to the off-shoring business model.
Our solution is a new work force model that we believe is the first of its kind in industry. As we explained in this morning’s press conference, Northrop Grumman is establishing what we call National Work Force Centers in multiple areas across the United States.
We’re selecting lower-population areas that are often away from the major metropolitan locations where our work has traditionally been performed. These areas often offer a high-tech talent pool and comparatively low operating costs, combined with an attractive place for employees to live and raise their families. Staffed with this talent and operating in accordance with Northrop Grumman standard processes, the new work force centers will deliver the high-quality products and services expected by our customers.
To ensure a continuing supply of talent, Northrop Grumman is partnering with colleges and universities in these locations to help develop curricula and skill requirements in the IT field.
By locating in these less populated regions, Northrop Grumman will be able to take advantage of lower operating costs and compete against companies that rely on overseas technology workers, while bringing substantive work and technology jobs to these areas.
With this approach, we will soon have multiple new National Work Force Centers across the U.S. that we can draw on to support our customers on existing and new programs – helping us focus our efforts and improve efficiency.
Furthermore, the benefits to employees and local economies will be substantial.
Employees in the National Work Force Centers will enjoy the opportunities and satisfaction that come with working for a Fortune 100 company. They’ll be able to build careers with very attractive compensation while staying in the areas they want to live in. Other benefits include the lower cost of living compared to metropolitan markets, reduced traffic and shorter commutes, improving the quality of life.
The National Work Force Centers program will also have a positive economic impact by keeping people from leaving low-population areas for career opportunities elsewhere. In addition, the excellent salaries at the Northrop Grumman sites will inject dollars into local economies.
We are already operating sites in Montana, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. We are evaluating a number of others, expecting to select up to 10 by year end and potentially 10 or more in 2008.
In West Virginia, we have recently initiated assessments in the I-79 High-Tech Corridor. We announced today our plan to identify the best site and open a National Workforce Center here in West Virginia.
We have an extensive process for choosing locations for the centers. We consider such factors as current population, infrastructure and operating costs, and educational institutions in the area that will help us build the pipeline for a future work force.
One very important factor is the community incentives available. In connection with our effort to establish the work force centers, as well as our more general economic development initiatives, we are seeking support from your government leaders both locally and in Charleston.
We hope to be persuasive in making our case about the benefits we can bring to West Virginia. As you can see from the fast-growing list of states mentioned earlier, we’ve received some very competitive proposals that have rapidly led to productive arrangements in multiple locations. According to the National Academy of Sciences, in coming years the importance of leadership in science and technology will increase – until the ability to innovate becomes the crucial factor in the success or failure of any organization or nation.
Our company shares this perspective – which is why we are visiting high-technology hubs throughout the country to explore economic development possibilities with community and government leaders.
In West Virginia, as elsewhere, we’re seeking partnerships that generate mutual benefits: we need superior talent, quality companies with whom to partner, and globally competitive work centers – and we’re offering an opportunity for high-tech jobs, business growth and stronger local economies.
By working together we can help America retain the science and technology leadership that we depend upon for national security, healthy citizens, and a rising standard of living. By working together, we can help maintain our leadership in technological innovation, which keeps our economy growing and our nation strong. And this great state can play an important role in making this happen.
Thank you again for joining me here today – it is a real pleasure to have the opportunity to spend time with all of you. If you have questions, I’ll be happy to try to answer them.

industry_corpus2: Aerospace


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A refreshing cocktail created by the Tredwells team, perfectly balanced to enjoy on a hot summers evening. Try for yourself at home using the recipe below or join us on our new Willem Barentsz gin terrace where the team will create one for you.
Shake all ingredients together and strain into a beer glass with ice. Garnish with ginger and an edible flower (optional).

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Odynophagia sounds like name of complex medical condition, but no worries, it’s just the medical term for painful swallowing. It is often confused with the condition called dysphagia, which is difficult swallowing. So be careful while determining whether it’s painful swallowing or difficulty in swallowing. For most people who have odynophagia it takes the form of an extremely uncomfortable burning sensation while trying to swallow.
When a person experiences pain every time they swallow and the passing of the food through the esophagus to the stomach is delayed, is referred as Odynophagia. A piercing chest pain can also be an indication of this medical condition. Important to remember that a person suffering from odynophagia does not have problems with the swallowing process itself like in dysphagia. But there may be a condition when a person has odynophagia as well as dysphagia. Pain that a person might experience while suffering from this medical condition can come from their mouth, esophagus, or throat. Cause of this disease could be more than one. It is also not limited to any particular age, gender, or race. Anyone can be a prey of it.
As said, there may be multiple reasons behind it. The most common cause is some type of infection in the mouth, tonsils, throat, epiglottis, or esophagus, including upper respiratory infections (like the cold or the flu), candidiasis, HIV, Epstein-Barr, the herpes simplex virus. It includes any pain associated with swallowing that’s found in the mouth, throat, or esophagus . A foreign object stuck somewhere in the throat can also cause this condition, especially small objects that are sharp, since it cause difficulty swallowing along pain. Sores and ulcers also lead towards such condition. Other possibilities like tumors, esophageal disorders, acid reflux, injuries or trauma, arthritis, drug use, muscular disorders, and congenital abnormalities can also cause odynophagia.
Read to know about the relevant information about Odynophagia including Causes, Symptoms, Treatment.
a sense of squeezing around throat especially when one attempt to swallow. It becomes more severe while eating or drinking but can also happen when you are just clearing your throat.
stabbing pain that the patient feel occasionally and it can radiates to back.
In order to diagnosis odynophagia, only your symptoms are used, since there are no specific tests or exams that can be used. Your physician analyze your symptoms and based on them, he can identify the problem. If your physician doubts that it could be cancer, he can recommend biopsy to make sure.
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions along with painful swallowing, as it’s also important to diagnose correctly, like if you have any muscular conditions or disorders because it can negatively affect how the muscles in your throat function.
If you have acute odynophagia that is from having cancer then the treating for odynophagia and cancer would most likely be extended. In order to treat odynophagia that is caused by cancer, generally involve chemotherapy and radiation. Such kind of treatment is helpful to make tumor smaller along with helping to stop the cancer cells from spreading.
Surgery may also have to be performed to remove the tumor.
In case of ulcers, surgery may recommended as a treatment.
Prescribe oral forms of nasal decongestants and antibiotics are used if it is from upper respiratory infection.
What is Cotton Fever, its Symptoms and Cure?
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Located in Pattaya (Pattaya Bay), ibis Pattaya is within a 5-minute walk of Art in Paradise and Tiffany's Show. This hotel is 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from Pattaya Beach Road and 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from Hard Rock Cafe.
Make yourself at home in one of the 254 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks.
At ibis Pattaya, enjoy a satisfying meal at the restaurant. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 6 AM to 10 AM for a fee.
Its not good for family. No response from room services. Ac not working.
Internet connection is very bad. Breakfast is nice but same repetition. No room service. Housekeeping is good. Rooms and bathrooms are very small but neat and clean. Front desk is average. Location is good.
We stayed in the hotel. The hotel reception was good as well as the accommodation other facilities. Recommend for families, couples etc.
Poor WiFi in hotel premises. No housekeeping services from 7 pm to 9 am. Front desk reception are bad with guests, not willing to help small issues of guests. Breakfast and food not good for Indians. Had booked 2 rooms, wanted to shift to another hotel. Overall a nightmare.
Staff are very rude they not give respect to Indian, sorry to say this.
Nice stay overall, would prefer for next visit as well.
No housekeeping in the hotel, reception was very rude. The cleaning guy removed the spoons from the room while we were away but during the checkout the receptionist didn't listen us and she was very arrogant and rude. Finally, we couldn't prove anything and had to pay for a tiny teaspoon. The breakfast didn't have variety for vegetarian and when my colleague asked for omelette he was asked to pay extra. The room service was not there, for getting water also we had to come down. The water was limited to 1 litre per day after that half litre bottle. Overall, it was very poor experience. I will never stay in any Ibis hotel again.
Food service is excellent and very good.
Ibis good for both friends and family. Near by to Beach and more shops location was perfect. Friendly hard working staffs. I never seen they sit in chair always, busy in check in and check out and more kind with everyone.
When booking a standard double bedroom. I would prefer to get a standard double bed room. Rather than one with an extra single bed which completely ruins the room decor according to me. Also the room was on the 2nd floor or the. Mezannine floor kind of and the last few steps before getting to the rooms level made it a little annoying. The breakfast was good. Have had better spread in other ibis, but altogether it was fine. The house keeping service was really good. Kept the room clean, they even used a spare key to keep the ac running in my room when I forget and it was really appreciated when we came in from the hot sun. The location of the ibis Pattaya was nice, it would be nicer if there were some kind of a shuttle service till mid of the beach road or something. Since this is right at the end of the beach. The thing that annoyed me the most was that when I was going for a dip in the beach and didn't want to carry my ibis Pattaya key to the beach the receptionist informed me that there is no key drop facility. I mean how hard is it to just collect the key and keep it at the desk till I come back to collect it.
Every time I go to the room every day it seems to be a new room. Well maintained, very clean. Reception staff also very cool. Check-in and check-out are very fast. Although I suggested to go at 2 pm to check-in, I got a room by 10 am. Very nice of it. Check out also at 2 pm. It is very facilitative. Neat bathrooms and fresh towels and clean bed sheets, locker facility is good. Good location very near to Alcazar show, Tiffany show, Art of paradise, Big eye. And very near to beach. Well connected to all areas. Transportation available throughout day and night. Breakfast area is neat and clean and taste is also good. Parking area is fine. Once again I want to tell you about front office staff are awesome. Thanks to all.
Hotel was centrally located, near the beach, markets, Art in Paradise, tiffeny's show, Alcazar show, walking street and local bus station. All the fruits, meals, entertainment resources are easily approachable. One should book this ibis Pattaya to avoid local conveyance expense as Walking street was the far most area which was 3-4 kms at max. We enjoyed our trip. Hotel is clean, breakfast is of good quality not lavish but have sufficient options. Pool is good, massage parlors are nearby and Indian food restaurants are also nearby. Staff was humble and cooperative. Hotel is guest friendly. Value for money? Yes, for sure.
The ibis Pattaya is located behind Holiday Inn ibis Pattaya on Pattaya Beach Road. The ibis Pattaya has free parking available if you travel by car to Pattaya. They don't have bell boy services and you would require to carry the luggage by yourself to your room, which was little inconvenient. The rooms are narrow but with all amenities wooden flooring, study table, wardrobe, a sofa bench, TV with cable channels. The toilet was very small but functional. The air can was working well. They had a widespread menu for breakfast, and quality was good and delicious. My overall experience at the ibis Pattaya was good.
Overall a good experience and comfortable stay.
The room service was very rude. I first checked in to room 401. Air conditioner was not working and technician Mr. Tom was unable to help the temperature near bed was very hot even after 3 hours he was saying all OK. I told him to check temperature near bed he was not agreeing after much request changed the room on fifth floor. I could not see any fifteen minutes help policy as claimed by ibis.
Nice place & location. Good budget ibis Pattaya with all facilities & nice breakfast buffet. Also Guest friendly. Zero Hassle Check-ins, east check out, taxis available just outside the ibis Pattaya. Walking distance to nearby beach & all markets. Also an Indian restaurant available just at the corner of this ibis Pattaya along with other Fast food joints like Mc Donalds & Burger King.
Located on North end of Pattaya, the ibis Pattaya room was extremely comfortable with a nice view to the main street. The ibis Pattaya is a inner road connecting directly to walking street, Pattaya. I visited with my wife and 1 yr old baby and the experience of staying at Ibis has been amazing. The morning breakfast has great variety. Highly recommended for family.
The staff is very good and the facilities are good. A little far from walking street but connectivity is good. Pool and bar beside the reception is very good. Jacky at reception was too good at customer service. The price at which the ibis Pattaya is available is very good. The ibis Pattaya is guest friendly and the staff maintain proper entry at reception.
Complimentary breakfast was good but repetitive if you are staying for more than 3 days you will get fed up with breakfast. Food price was overpriced. Location was near to Pattaya beach just walk-able from behind the ibis Pattaya. Rooms facing towards the swimming pool was always preferred. Hotel is cleaned and overall we had a good experience to cherish.
Hotel is situated at a good location close to the beach. Room was small but clean and tidy. Unlimited and variety of breakfast. Room service was prompt. Reception and dinning area was good enough, well decorated and spacious. Drinking water, tea, milk, sugar, coffee was not supplied as per the triple sharing. Overall very happy stay in this ibis Pattaya.
Breakfast not good for Indians. There are some Indian items but nowhere near Indian taste, nice swimming pool. Very courteous staff. Whole Thailand is courteous. Ideally located and well appointed rooms. A very scenic walkway leads from the ibis Pattaya to the beach. Hotel is very nice at prime location. Also sea view.. I enjoyed a lot. Very nice.
Ibis always great but room size very small.
The place is good and located nicely. Beach is at a walking distance. The worst thing I faced about the ibis is the room service. They could not cater to any of our service requirements.
Always like IBIS Pattaya, staff was very good with smiley faces.
Nice place to stay. Nice location, friendly staff and quick response. Its been 8th trip to Pattaya and every time stay in same ibis Pattaya. This ibis Pattaya is highly recommended and in future as well we are going to stay in same ibis Pattaya. Nice infra with nice facilities.
Location of the ibis Pattaya is slightly far from street shopping, but there is a mall nearby.
Location is very good. Breakfast was delicious, staff was courteous. However rooms do not have balcony or view.
Good ibis Pattaya in Pattaya main place good.
Wonderful stay with nice cozy rooms. Perfect location right in the middle of the City.
Perfect location with cozy and tastefully built rooms. Very helpful staff. Overall a wonderful stay.
Good ibis Pattaya and staff. Very good swimming pool.
Very nice place to stay for both family and friends. Nice service and clean. Good breakfast with variety of food. Close to happening place in Pattaya. Close to beach. Helped in early check-in and late check-out.
Nice and clean rooms, all rooms and ibis Pattaya area is no smoking zone. Pet friendly ibis Pattaya. They don't have the room service, self service is there.
Please label food with vegetarian or non vegetarian.
Everything is okay. But one minus point. Only 2 sachet of tea or dry milk available for 1 day. Good swimming pool. An average WiFi in ibis Pattaya. Food had not good a variety for Indian. Have good location next to Big C Mall.
Very close to Beach Road and art in paradise. Deposit was kept which was refunded at check-out. Mumbai great Punjab is nearest Indian restaurant. Very clean room. Small fridge. TV. AC. Balcony. Swimming pool. White towels. Do book room with breakfast as international buffet is served.
More plug points to be provided.
Great ibis Pattaya and service it was 6th time we have stayed in same ibis Pattaya, friendly staff with helping nature, good value for money, fully recommend family and friends to stay at Ibis Pattaya. Look forward to visit the ibis Pattaya soon in a month or two again.
Best location with polite and humble staffs they greet you every time, food was fresh and yummy. Breakfast is my wife's favorite. Next time it's obviously in Ibis.
Everything was fine, staffs and room.


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This is Accelerator Suit Duke, and he's been deemed the "most advanced action figure of all time." Watch him run, watch him shoot, watch him ruin your childhood's conception of everything that is good.
Jack pretty much nailed it after the trailer premiere during the Super Bowl: "it doesn't really feel like G.I. Joe, you know?" Accelerator Suit Duke is about as extreme in that direction as you can imagine, but I must admit, that running-man action is pretty sweet. He's $70.
G.I. Joe Super Bowl Trailer Doesn't Really Feel Like G.I. Joe, You Know?
Thankfully, there are of course some classic 3 3/4-inch Joes accompanying the movie's release. And they have a new, $100 Pit playset to play in that's pretty fantastic-complete with 70-some foot anchors for Joes to stand on (the old ones are compatible), an elevator, and even Ping-Pong table that folds out from the packaging!
And If you've always wanted to see Dennis Quaid in G.I. Joe form as General Hawk, your wait is over. That's him on the left, and you can only get him packaged with the Pit playset.


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In the beautiful martial art Aikido, a bokken (wooden sword) kata features movement that steps forward and to the side. In our own lives, we can make a metaphorical "sword cut" to take a stand and powerfully step into a situation. This sword cut is a strong, deliberate move – such as making a bold statement – to get our own or another’s attention.
It quickly cuts to the chase.
In challenging situations, many struggle with an automatic reaction of acquiescing, moving away, disappearing, or pushing against. When I acquiesce, I give my effectiveness away – which does not support me or others in possible growth. Instead of these habitual responses, we can use the sword cut to move toward and speak words that are clear, strong, authentic, dignified, and compassionate.
Ground and center yourself – and turn toward the energy. Take a stand for who you are and what you want to become. Don’t allow someone or something to bowl you over.
It’s not from a place of aggression, but from dignity, compassion and strength. It comes from a grounded, connected place to enter into conversation rather than confrontation.
Though the sword cut is not always the best first move to make, depending on the circumstances, it is often the necessary move to make.
Is there someone doing or not doing something that is causing you damage or pain? Perhaps you’ve asked a team member at work to keep you informed about a project, but they don’t – and you have had the "nice" conversation already, maybe more than once. The sword in this case may be a swift, clear explanation of how their behavior affects you and the team – and that there are consequences if the behavior continues.
Are there people in your life who speak or act inappropriately to you? Instead of laughing, cringing or ignoring, step in with dignity to cut off the bad behavior.
Is there a particular situation that is keeping you small? Use the sword cut to quickly detach from it.
Have you given in to your commitment to be healthy by eating a pint of ice cream? Instead of turning away in defeat, get centered, turn toward the ice cream and say firmly, My commitment is to be healthy.
Have you given away your power to someone because you were afraid of conflict? Ground, center, and move into that much-needed discussion.
The first time I heard about this metaphorical sword cut, my body did not have the ability to raise the sword, let alone move it through the air and point it in the direction of the cut. But by practicing, I gained wisdom and strength.
Continued practice is key to keeping our metaphorical swords clean and sharp to maintain dignity and compassion when using such a powerful tool. If we let our sword get dull, the result isn’t effective – and we’ll find ourselves going back again and again to the situation.
I will be in the St. Paul, Minnesota area January 21-25. If you’re in the area and interested in working with me, please contact me via email.
Madeline Wade is a certified Master Somatic Coach with a private practice in Petaluma, California. As a master coach, she helps people increase their effectiveness and unlock their potential by integrating intellectual, emotional and physical components into embodied practices. In her work as a deeply-experienced Somatic bodyworker, she supports clients in overcoming historical patterns to build a self that can gracefully face change.


text: Hi to anyone that knows me. I moved away quite a few years but come dwn now and again to visit family. Is there anyone out there who I know.

industry_corpus2: Others


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The company said Thursday that it will no longer breed the orcas in captivity and will phase out its theatrical shows.
SeaWorld will end its controversial orca breeding program effective immediately, the company announced on Thursday.
The decision follows the California Coastal Commission’s decision in October last year to ban the U.S. animal park from breeding any captive whales, a decision the company had previously called “overreaching” and promised to fight in the courts.
In addition to shutting down its breeding facilities for good, SeaWorld also confirmed it would phase out its theatrical killer whale shows in San Diego from 2017, followed by the shows in San Antonio and then Orlando by 2019.
“As society’s understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it,” Joel Manby, president and chief executive officer of SeaWorld Entertainment, wrote in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times.
But the company also said it would not release any of the orcas back into the wild.
"Most of our orcas were born at SeaWorld, and those that were born in the wild have been in our parks for the majority of their lives," Manby wrote. "If we release them into the ocean, they will likely die."
SeaWorld has struggled with attendance and profitability since the release of the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which focused on the parks’ treatment of orcas after one of its whales killed a veteran trainer in 2010.
A SeaWorld trainer performs with a killer whale in 2010.
The share price of SeaWorld, valued at $33.52 when the company went public in April 2013, was $17.12 on Thursday.
The move was applauded by California assemblyman Richard Bloom, who attempted to pass a state law banning orca breeding two years ago after watching Blackfish.
"I believe we have resolved a fundamental marine mammal issue," he said.
Bloom added he will reintroduce legislation formally banning orca breeding to ensure SeaWorld sticks to its new policy in the future.
Animal rights groups, which have long campaigned against the captivity of Orca whales, welcomed the company's decision.
But Mimi Bekhechi, PETA UK director, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News: "SeaWorld must open its tanks to the oceans to allow the orcas it now holds captive to have some semblance of a life outside these prison tanks."
The Humane Society of the United States, which worked with SeaWorld on these new policies, praised its reforms as a major step forward.
“Today’s announcement signals that the era of captive display of orcas will end and that SeaWorld will redouble its work around rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals in crisis and partner with us to tackle global threats to marine creatures," said Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president and CEO.
SeaWorld in San Diego, California.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text:
Chapter 73.2 – Protagonist: Are you comforting me?
Xiu’s voice was expressionless but even though it did not show any emotion, it made Du Ze felt very uncomfortable.
That first time they couldn’t answer the sphinx’s question, Xiu didn’t know the answer because he left school. The people there could not accept Xiu when he became undead. Even though Xiu’s nature did not change much, everyone there could only see Xiu as an evil undead and opted to expel him.
Du Ze felt a pain in his chest as if a needle had stabbed his heart. Du Ze enthusiastically grabbed Xiu’s hand. The skin of Xiu’s palm didn’t have even a hint of body heat which made Du Ze’s distress even more severe. He could not help but squeeze that hand, wanting to warm it up.
If you haven’t finished learning, go to school and learn it. Going back to finish what you haven’t finished – even if you can never go back to the past, we can still make up for some regrets, right?
Xiu lowered his eyes and stared at their clasped hands. The soul flames in his dark eyes flared up.
Hearing Xiu’s hoarse voice, some silly, cute person’s social barrier started acting up – is he going to blow it?
The Lich’s expression was very gloomy. Du Ze eyes widened as Xiu placed his pale fingers on Du Ze’s face and lifted Du Ze’s chin.
“Then comfort me a little more,” said Xiu softly; the sound was almost a whisper. Xiu bent his head and pressed his bloodless lips on Du Ze’s.
Du Ze felt as if snow had fallen on his mouth softly. It was ice cold at the entrance of his mouth, about to melt. Du Ze could not help but stick out the tip of his tongue to lick the other’s lips. Xiu took the tongue into his mouth and gently sucked on it as though it was a bit of honey he has reluctant to swallow.
The kiss went on for a long time so even though it was not intense, Du Ze finally felt out of breath. Xiu, holding Du Ze whose mouth was open wide as he gasped, slid his hand into Du Ze’s clothes. Du Ze felt as though a piece of ice was suddenly attached to his navel. He shuddered.
Xiu felt the delicate quivering. His eyes were very black, the kind of black that had sucked out all the light around him.
Du Ze embraced Xiu tightly and shook his head.
Xiu closed his eyes. How can he describe this person?
He thought of a ray of sunlight that he had seen in the orphanage. It melted the ice on the window little by little, until it shone on him and it was if it warmed him to the center of his heart.
This presence is more dazzling than the brightest light.
From the first time they met until now, only this person has ever been able to redeem him.
Donation is totally optional but I would appreciate it. Thank you! If you donate I will give you a special reward: early access to chapters. Click here for the details.
Is this counted as necrophilia cause he is an undead lich?
I couldn’t wait and decided to MTL the entire thing…but now I am regretting it. I’m still reading the translated versions and thank you very much for your hard work!


text:
The Pacific Northwest is very much a wild, thriving place. There’s the coastline, where mysterious and beautiful sea creatures dwell, showing us only a glimpse of what’s really going on down there. There are the wet forests, thick with massive moss-covered trees, where everything’s bursting with life, including you when you’re there. There are the mountains, harboring some of the most remote wilderness in the lower 48, bustling with wildlife and outdoorsy folk alike. And there are the volcanoes. The PNW volcanoes seem to have a whole different life-force than all the rest. Literally where the earth is bursting at the seams, they stand prominently above the other mountains, spattered with glaciers and gnarly peaks, creating their own weather patterns and pushing up into the atmosphere where oxygen becomes sparse. They’re epic. So naturally, we want to climb them.
We camped above the Palmer chairlift beneath an amazingly clear sky. The moon hadn’t come out yet, so the stars were super bright.
We stopped near Hood River for a beautiful hike on Mosier Plateau. Felt like spring!
Starting up the route Saturday. The weather was perfect!
Sunrise was even better than sunset! Here’s a climbing crew who stopped to take in the view.
From Hell’s Kitchen, Hogsback Ridge leading up to the Pearly Gates. The Bergschrund hadn’t opened up yet. It was a pretty busy summit day for this early in the season.
Heading up through the pearly gates.
Summit party! The wind-scoured snow looked really cool. Apparently this is called rime ice.
Ryan skiing down from the summit into the crater. Those massive ice structures still blow my mind.
Jake stopping to take in the view on the descent. There’s Illumination Rock below.
To the south, you could see the Olallie Butte, Mount Jefferson, and the Three Sisters. We love the PNW volcanoes!

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography