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ebook containing all the articles in this series - https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByVemcKfGLucNUV6UVlCQ1BrVUU/edit?usp=sharing.
sAsthram establishes that un-interrupted kainkaryam (service) to bhagavAn is the ultimate goal for a jIvAthmA. But when it comes to the means to attain that kainkarya prApthi, there are various paths defined. bhakthi and prapathi are considered as the most important means to attain the kainkarya prApthi. But even beyond bhakthi and prapathi, total dependence on AchAryan is considered as the ultimate and easiest path to get the ultimate benediction.
Simple translation: An AchArya is one who understands the sAsthram fully, establishes the principles as given in the sAsthram and he himself practices the same.
It is also explained by our pUrvAchAryas based on sAsthram that, an AchArya must be totally faithful to srIman nArAyaNa and fully accept his supremacy. An AchArya must be purely situated in gyAnam (knowledge), bhakthi (loving devotion) and vairAgyam (detachment) and must be abstaining from upAyAntharams (any other means other than srIman nArAyaNan), upEyAntharams (any other goal other than service to srIman nArAyaNan and his devotees) and dhEvathAntharams (having any attachment to other dhEvathas). All our pUrvAchAryas were shining examples for such qualities in them.
piLLai lOkAchAryar brings out the essence of sAsthram as taught by the pUrvAchAryas in srIvachana bhUshaNa dhivya sAsthram. Here, he finally establishes that "AchArya abhimAnamE uththArakam", meaning AchArya's mercy towards the sishya is the ultimate path for the sishya to achieve the ultimate benediction of kainkarya prApthi. This principle is beautifully explained with many examples by paravasthu pattarpirAn jIyar (one of the prime disciples of maNavALa mAmunigaL) in his divine grantham named "anthima upAya nishtai". anthima = ultimate/end, upAya = path and nishtai = firm faith/dependence. This means "total dependence on AchAryan (the ultimate path)". paravasthu pattarpirAn jIyar himself says that, this whole grantham is based on mAmunigaL's direct instructions and he is just like pen/palm leaf which are used to document his AchAryan's words. This is very similar to nampiLLai's eedu which was lectured by nampiLLai himself but documented by vadakku thiruvIdhi piLLai. So, these are to be considered as mAmunigaL's direct instructions according to the author.
This AchArya nishtai was specifically manifested in the likes of madhurakavi AzhwAr towards nammAzhwAr, ANdAL towards periyAzhwAr, dheivavAri ANdAn towards ALavandhAr, vaduka nambi towards emperumAnAr, etc., to name a few. This nishtai is also called as charama parva nishtai (ultimate level in faith). While total dependence on bhagavAn is called as prathama parva nishtai (initial level in faith), the same on AchAryan is called charama parva nishtai. Our AzhwArs and AchAryas have given many valuable instructions on charama parva nishtai in their many dhivya prabhandhams and srI sUkthis.
This grantham is in maNipravALa style (a mixture of tamizh and samskritha words) and as in many other pUrvAchArya granthams, has long sentences, phrases that are difficult to translate directly, etc. adiyen will attempt to present the essence of each section/paragraph as close as possible to the original text.
Very special co-incidence - By the divine will of emperumAn this translation effort went into 18 articles similar to bhagavadh gIthai's 18 chapters. In the 18th chapter emperumAn reveals the glories of surrender, here also in the last article, glories of surrender to AchArya is revealed. Even more special is that this series is concluding in time for ALavandhAr's annual thirunakshathram day. ALavandhAr was fully situated in AchArya nishtai and revealed his divine emotions towards nAthamunigaL in his sthOthra rathanam - its an apt day for us to remember and relish this divine grantham "anthimOpAya nishtai".
adiyen is very thankful to many srivaishnavas who encouraged me and continues to encourage me in writing such articles. With the blessings of such srivaishnavas, our pUrvAchAryas, AzhwArs and sri-bhUmi-nILa samEtha emperumAn, adiyen is presenting this book to the larger srivaishnava community.
adiyen is grateful to sriya:pathi, AzhwArs and AchAryas for letting adiyen do this small kainkaryam as a samarpaNai at the lotus feet of asmadhAchAryan srImath paramamhamsa ithyAdhi vAnamAmalai pattarpirAn rAmAnuja jIyar swamy (29th pattam).
Let us enjoy this divine grantham in this series of articles which beautifully explain the glories of our pUrvAchAryas in this aspect.
Part 2 - http://ponnadi.blogspot.in/2013/06/anthimopaya-nishtai-2.html - AchArya vaibhavam through the words of madhurakavi AzhwAr and piLLai lOkAchAryar.
Adiyen ,after performing prappati ,if one commits bhagwata / acharya /bhagwad apcharam and doesn’t repent ,does his prappati gets cancelled .?Or he gets punished brutally but his prappati remains intact and he attains lotus feet after experiencing punishment for bhagwata /acharya / Bhagwad apcharam? Adiyen my another question is I read in kaliyug sins done in mind are pardoned ,if apcharam has been done in mind is it pardoned by lord ?Adiyen my last question is if one has done apcharam to nitya sooris like sri ,Sesha etc mentally ,can we mentally ask these Nitya sooris for forgiveness ?Do they forgive mental apcharams done to them in kaliyug ?
* If one sincerely atones, begs for forgiveness and does not repeat the apachAram, he is generally fo4given.
* If one remains prideful and does not beg for forgiveness or keeps repeating the mistake, one should go through the result of it. Depending on the type of the apachAram, the result may be endured within this life time or extends to the next ones.
* If we commit offenses against bhagavAn, nithyasUris or mukthAthmAs - our sincere apology can be done within our heart and also by words. They will be able to understand. For others in this world, we need to go to them and explicitly ask for forgiveness.
* regarding apachArams done in mind, its better to avoid that too - since it is explained as cruel as well.
Jai Sriman Narayana Adiyen in srivachan bhushanam I read a story in which it’s said that bhagwata /acharya /bhagwad /asahay apcharams done by mind is pardoned.It was something like one sri Vaishnav falls on feet of learned sri Vaishnav and says that being born in this body it’s impossible to not to commit apacharams then the acharya replies that apcharams (all kinds ) done by mind is forgiving the instant one feels guilty about it and at the end he has asked to abstain from bhagwata /acharya /asahay/Bhagwad apcharam strictly from body and speech .Body and speech should be in strict control and mind apcharams are forgiven by repent in mind.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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This wine shows a beautiful appearance of dark maroon but allows for just enough ambient light to make it shine with ruby rays from deep inside. Then you have the bouquet that presents a solid wall of interwoven and ultimately beautifully balanced aromas. There is dark fruit, tobacco, leather, spice and polished river stone. Lastly, the mouthfeel reveals a similar level of extreme flavour equilibrium with very fine but still very young tannins. That mid-weight structure, matched to the wine’s natural acidity, is a major guarantee of longevity.
The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo (100% Sangiovese) is a wine that inspires a deep, deep breath into your glass. There’s so much to take in and admire. So where to start? First, the wine shows a beautiful appearance that is thick and dark but allows for just enough ambient light to make it shine with ruby rays from deep inside. Then you have the bouquet that presents a solid wall of interwoven and ultimately beautifully balanced aromas. There is dark fruit, tobacco, leather, spice and polished river stone. Lastly, the mouthfeel reveals a similar level of extreme flavour equilibrium with very fine but still very young tannins. That mid-weight structure, matched to the wine’s natural acidity, is a major guarantee of longevity.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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The idea of making unique architectural design a reality is Josh’s passion. He has a dual degree in Architectural Studies and Construction Management from the University of Washington and remains close to the community, having spearheaded Dowbuilt’s involvement in the University’s career fair and the sponsorship of the UW Neighborhood Design Build Studio.
As our islands and Northern-Washington projects manager, Josh enjoys his free time exploring in his hometown of Anacortes or sailing in the waters of the Salish Sea. Josh is happiest when he is doing something creative, whether its playing the guitar or adventuring outdoors and abroad.
One of his favorite projects at Dowbuilt involved finding unique ways to value-engineer and build a project on a tight schedule and budget. Whatever the situation, he will dig in and do what it takes to ensure expectations are met with a high degree of craft and attention to detail.
Josh’s enthusiasm and motivation to produce quality construction has helped him develop a strong relationship with many subcontractors and vendors. He is well-liked by our clients and architects for his commitment and respected by his fellow employees for his positive attitude and sense of humor. With his LEED certification, Josh is also committed to realizing sustainable features in projects.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


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Closed back headphones have been dominating the market for quite some time now. Many music lovers prefer open back headphones but getting a hold of them gets quite tricky at times.
The earphones not only make it easier for one to listen to the music but thoroughly change the experience of it.
Therefore, a lot of care must be taken while deciding between an open back and a closed back headphone.
Whether you listen to your music in a quiet area, in public, or while working on a project makes a lot of difference.
If you’ve decided the answers of the most critical question including the what, why, and how of the headphones, you’d be able to pick an open back or a closed back one for yourself.
Open back headphones are the ones where the wiring inside is visible through their ear cups. The full open headphones usually don’t have a cover over the ear cups.
The semi-open-back headphones have a cover over the ear cups which are partially open.
Most of sound generating drivers of the best open-back headphones for gaming reviewed by ironhorsetrading are basically (open) by which means sounds coming from the environment is hearable or you can hear the sounds outside of your headphone or surroundings. But this does not stop from being the best consumer-friendly for a music device!
For example, a closed back headphone alienates you from the outside world for your listening experience.
The open back headphones, on the other hand, involve the surrounding environment as well.
If you’re a music lover through and through and need a great listening experience, open back headphones should be your go-to pairs.
Here are five reasons you must choose open headphones.
Closed back headphones can’t be kept on for a very long time as a lot of heat gets build up. The moisture to doesn’t give you a fulfilling experience.
On the other hand, headphones allow your ears a room to breathe.
The open nature of the ear cups doesn’t trap the moisture and has enough gushes of air to not the let the heat buildup. Therefore, they can be kept on for longer durations without any issues.
Open back headphones make a sound more significant as compared to closed back headphones. It enhances your listening experience by providing you more in-depth and more explicit notes on your music.
This type of hearing sensation is known as soundstage and is one of the most significant advantages of having headphones.
The listening experience of the headphones also changes as per the environment you’re in and therefore, gives you a more authentic experience of your music.
If you’re an audio technician or a musician, headphones are a must for you.
The headphones can go on for long hours without breaking a sweat and produce a bright sound. The natural sound of the headphones will help you understand your music better.
You get a clearer idea of your sounds and learn what notes would work with which instrument. Thus, if you’re a musician, headphones are a must-have for your studios.
The open back headphones encourage a natural sound as they involve the surrounding environment into their experience.
When you’re using a closed back headphone, a lot of the music that you listen to stays in your head. The headphones give the music life by changing as per the room you’re in.
Therefore, instead of an isolated experience, you feel like you’re in a place where the music is playing. The more natural sound is also beneficial as you don’t feel completely disconnected from the outside world.
Since the ear cups of the headphones don’t have a cover, you can listen to your surroundings while listening to your music.
Apart from that, the people in the room can also hear your music.
However, this is the case only when the music is too loud, or the headphones don’t have the advantage to stop the noise leaking. This makes the sound more realistic and gives you a better idea of the music, especially if you’re a musician.
Open back headphones will allow free air and notice to pass through our ears. Because of the openness on the shell of the headphones, there is a way for a free flow of opinion which will keep us connected to the world around us.
These headphones will ensure that the outside noise is mixed along with the music we are listening through headphones.
This is the main significant benefit of having headphones is we will not be isolated from this world. This will make us live and feel the environment around us without distraction from the music.
Another fact about headphones is there will feeling of leaking of audio which might sound weird but this makes sense and will give the experience of increased space.
Instead of music in the head, this design Will make us feel the music is around us. The model itself is structured in a way that there are more grilles on the outer shell so that the person wearing headphones will feel that there is much more space and more comfortable.
Some people might not like this, but people will start appreciating once they get to know the feel of wearing the earphones.
One interesting fact about open headphones is this. Instead of listening music in the head, it will make us experience the live music.
This makes us feel that the musicians are sitting around you around and playing music. People start enjoying the music with headphones.
The people around will also be able to listen what was playing on open headphones. It will change the environment in and around it. People around will even start appreciating.
Previous articleBeats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones Review – Is it the best headphone?

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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Strawberry Hill Farm / Newsletter / Add Ons to your order for customers picking up from our bus.
Add Ons to your order for customers picking up from our bus.
It has taken us a while, but we are now set so that you can order meat and other vegetables to come with your box on the bus; a service we are only offering to people picking up at our bus. If you log onto your account on our website, you will see what other things you can order. We ask that you order by Monday for Tuesday pick up and by Tuesday for Thursday pick up.
We also ask that you wait to pay until we send you a confirmation invoice. You can then pay in all the usual ways - cheque or cash at pick up, bank transfer, or via Paypal.
We have chicken, hamburger, sausages, and more plus we have several specials on vegetables that we have plenty of so we encourage you to check it out.
Hope you are enjoying your boxes.


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And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

industry_corpus2: Others


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Should You Move Your Site into a Cloud Server Hosting Setup?
In the past, organizations depend on sales people to sell their products to a prospect. Everything was on a face to face basis. If you remember the door to door Elexctrolux salesman who knocks on doors selling an appliance or two, that’s the foundation of selling.
But today, there are varying channels of opportunities to sell products to. Selling was limited to geographical capabilities, but that changed because of the Internet. Fast forward to a more recent past, the website came alive with a simple objective-branding.
However, technology can’t be put off, and so do people’s demands.
The website, being Marketing and IT’s joint responsibility used to be one of the cost centers. It was simply a channel that consumers go to for information on a specific company or product. Over the years, the website became everyone’s project and businesses began selling their wares online. Things became a digital business and selling is a global capability. The website continues to become an evolving facet of the business.
Now, the web isn’t just a Marketing or IT project, it’s become a center of operations for businesses. When it was still a way to make a brand statement, business made it mandatory to have one to cover all the bases. After which, it became a point-of-sale experience, where people go to for shopping without having to leave the comforts of their home. Before long, it became a galaxy of interconnected functions such as marketing, sales, branding, programming, software, applications, and a whole lot more!
The potential of a website as a channel for profitability is too much an opportunity to pass up.
Just when you’re getting comfortable with your thin clients, here comes the cloud strutting its stuff. Every Apple owner has a cloud account, it comes with the gadget! Personal or for business, cloud computing is here to be the norm of the new century.
Organizations can opt to have their websites and their gamut of applications running on cloud, whether public, private or hybrid. Applications on websites that are on WordPress as an example, are being migrated to the cloud, but should your site be on it as well? How should you approach decision making when it comes to your website in the cloud? Let’s find out.
An OpEx model has no long-term commitment. A cloud platform is dependent on the usage. In a non-cloud environment, equipment such as servers, storage and software continue to pile up costs which are categorized as capital expenses. But the costs do not stop there, it also has an impact on operations. In a cloud platform, there is an option to choose what you want to pay, thus the pay-for-use system.
One of the staple features in the cloud is the inherent ability to scale your cloud server hosting package, without having to go through the pains of new equipment and management. Ease-of-use was one of the obstacles to cloud adoption, and as a result cloud server hosting providers bank on marketing solutions that go with stress-free management. Now, scaling to grow will no longer be a problem for both IT and Finance.
If you’re running your CMS on WordPress, a plugin should be able to track your traffic, making it predictable. Using this data, cloud servers can be customized accordingly through the hosting provider. Websites and applications can now be replicated as though in a physical server.
When talking about finances, cloud would have been an immediate choice. But IT has to consider its adoption into current systems, workloads and policies. In addition, some cloud hosting setup are difficult to manage, hence the hesitation. Of course, subscribing to a cloud hosting setup takes research, considering data centers and ISP partnerships.
Downtime is the worst that can happen to any company, especially those that have no business continuity policies. But the most important cloud capability is its business continuity and redundancy capability, having multiple servers spread across for applications not just to manage workload but also fail-over instances. It’s even more of a need when you are in an area beset by natural calamities.
The success of IT is not measured in terms of equipment management. It is in the applications that can be rolled out and used according to the functions they were meant to do. However, this is only possible if all systems and human participation are working well together to meet each other’s demands to serve customers. Once this is successful, organizations can make an impact on employees and customers eventually resulting to revenue, profit, and growth.


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The decorative element on these Passover name cards is a custom illustration of 4 cups of wine. During the Passover seder we drink 4 cups of wine or grape juice to symbolize the redemption of the Israelites from slavery.
These Passover name cards are available for immediate download and come in a high quality (300 dpi) PDF file for ease of printing. When you download the file you will receive one PDF that contains 8 Passover name cards. You can either print out the file and write your guests name by hand or you can use your computer and type your guests name in your favorite font and then print.
Here is an example of the name cards with the name Yaël.
Here is an example of the name card with the name David.
This Passover name cards are simple to make.
You can complete these Passover name cards and/or also enlist your family to help you write or type the name of your guests.
Your turn: Tell us what you think of these Passover name cards! Feedback welcome.
Previous What’s In Your Pantry, Amy Zitelman Hersch?


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The item A study of the history of the WPA nursery school of Boston, by Annette Moser Hodess represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in Boston University Libraries.
Thesis (Ed. D.)--Boston University, 1982.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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David R. Hoffman, Legal Editor of Russia's Pravda, rips the US Supreme Court justices who formed the majority on the court in McCutcheon v. FEC.
Hoffman pretty much says the plutocrats are completely in charge now due to the Supreme Court. Is there any doubt?
It's official! Thanks to five reprobates-Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito, and Kennedy-who comprise a majority on the United States Supreme Court, America is now the most corrupt democracy money can buy.
What these so-called "justices" did in their 2010 Citizens United decision, and recently in McCutcheon v. FEC, is confirm what many in the legal profession eventually come to realize: The law is nothing but a farcical facade.
Sure, Pravda is Russian propaganda, but propaganda doesn't have to be based upon falsehoods. It can state the facts and let them speak for themselves, and it can render a reasonable opinion regarding those facts. Hoffman has mostly done the latter.
To be fair, the Constitution of the United States doesn't prevent a plutocracy because it is deliberately left to wide ranging interpretation regarding what does and doesn't constitute equal protection and free speech. Obviously, the plutocrats have more than equal protection regarding their political speech. In the US, money buys listeners and listeners gain more money. It's not a virtuous circle.
We also have those (absolute "free-market" capitalist) who believe that the dollar should be the only ballot or vote (even limited democracy be damned), which would only compound the plutocracy.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


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If you're a veteran who's going back to school, or still active duty looking to get your degree, there are a lot of considerations in your choice of schools. Maybe you want to save time and money by receiving credit for your military experience, or to avoid out-of-pocket costs as much as possible. That’s why we’ve compiled the colleges with the best veteran and military programs to help you succeed.
Colleges are often ranked, most famously by US News & World Report. However, we’ve taken the top ranked schools from that list to see what programs these schools have to support and assist veteran and military students.
But this ranking system doesn't take in to account veteran or military programs for students who previously served, are currently serving or their dependents.
Before we look at the Top Ranked Colleges, here are the key veteran and military programs that schools can offer to help support you.
BAH - The Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) payments you receive for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill are based on the military's Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for an E-5 with dependents. The Department of Defense adjusts the BAH every calendar year (or January 1) based on changes to housing costs across the country. BAH rates for online colleges, schools, or distance learning programs is $754.50. BAH is not paid during summer or winter breaks, but Spring Break counts. Dropping courses can negatively affect BAH payments.
Campus SVA Chapter - SVA chapters are student-veteran groups that have formed on college and university campuses to provide peer-to-peer networks for veterans who are attending those schools. The chapters are designed to be advocates for student veterans, and to help bridge the campus-to-career transition.
Full-Time Veteran Counselor On Campus - A full-time veteran counselor is on campus to offer support and assistance for any array of student-veteran issues. These counselors will assist veterans in a number of ways, including helping them determine which services they need to succeed, and then directing how to engage them.
Signed VA Principles Of Excellence - Educational institutions participating in the Principles of Excellence program agree to follow a set of guidelines pertaining to student-veteran issues. Examples of these guidelines include: Providing students with a personalized form covering the total cost of an education program and designating a point-of-contact for academic and financial advising.
Club/Association For Veterans - These institutions offer student-veteran clubs and associations on their campuses.
Veteran Upward Bound Program - The Veteran Upward Bound Program is designed to motivate and assist veterans in the development of academic and other requisite skills necessary for acceptance and success in a program of post-secondary education. The program provides assessment and enhancement of basic skills through counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and academic instruction in the core subject areas.
8 Keys To Veterans' Success - The "8 Keys to Veterans' Success" are steps that postsecondary institutions can take to assist veterans and service members in transitioning to higher education, completing their college programs, and obtaining career-ready skills. These postsecondary institutions have voluntarily affirmed their support for the 8 Keys.
Offers ROTC Program -The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is one of the best opportunities for you to get an invaluable experience while you earn a college degree. When enrolled in ROTC you learn and develop leadership skills and prepare for a career as an officer in the U.S. military. You will learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups, and how to conduct missions as a military officer.
ACE Credit For Military Experience - The ACE Military Evaluations Program evaluates formal military training in terms of academic credit, allowing thousands of military personnel to earn credit for college-level learning acquired in the military. Your Joint Service Transcript (JST) may be sent as an official document to colleges and universities, at the student's request, for use in the credential evaluation process.
Follow ACE Standards For Credit - ACE's Military Guide presents credit recommendations for formal courses and occupations offered by all branches of the military. All recommendations for credit approval are based on ACE reviews conducted by college and university faculty members who are actively teaching in the areas they review.
Awards Credit For CLEP Exam - The CLEP exams allow Veterans to receive college credit by earning qualifying scores on any one or more of 34 assessments, allowing them to move directly into higher-level courses, saving time and money.
Awards Credit For DSST Exam - DSST (formerly DANTES) are also credit-by-examination tests. Whereas CLEP tests are almost exclusively used for lower-level credit at regionally accredited institutions, DSST's are available for both upper and lower level credit.
In State Tuition Extended For Active Duty - These institutions charge active duty Veterans, regardless of their actual state of residence, no more than the in-state tuition rate for a resident of the state.
Approved For TA Funding - Military Tuition Assistance (TA) is a benefit paid to eligible members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Congress has given each service the ability to pay up to 100% of the tuition expenses for its members. Each service has its own criteria for eligibility, obligated service, application process and restrictions. This money is usually paid directly to the institution by the individual services.
Yellow Ribbon Program - Tuition & fees may exceed the amount the Post 9/11 GI Bill will pay if you are attending a private school, or are attending a public school as a nonresident student. Institutions participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program make additional funds available for your education program without an additional charge to your GI Bill entitlement.
Scholarships For Military - Apply for a military specific scholarship at these institutions to help drive down the cost of your education.
Reduced Tuition For Military - These institutions offer tuition discounts for members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Not all institutions are going to adhere to all of these categories or participate in every student-veteran benefits program. However, one area that can really save you time and money is receiving credit for military experience. This is definitely something to take in to account when considering which college or university to attend.
If veterans or military personnel are able to acquire credit for military training, they are already helping to drive down another important factor, the price of an education. More credits acquired equals less courses to take for that degree.
In this ranking, earning credit is an extremely important factor when searching for a college or university as a veteran or military personnel.
Awards Credit For CLEP Exam.
Let's dive into these rankings to see how US News & World Report's top ranking institutions hold up in terms of student-veteran programs and assistance on campus.
While Princeton University is #1 in the National Colleges Rankings from US News & World Report, Princeton only awards credit for the CLEP exam.
Ranking #1 in the National Liberal Arts Colleges on US News & World Report, Williams College doesn't participate in any of my top four most important categories. However, they do have BAH, Signed VA Principles of Excellence and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Villanova is #1 in the Regional Universities Rankings (North) via US News & World Report, but ‘Nova only awards credit for the CLEP exam.
Trinity is #1 in the Regional Universities Rankings (West) via US News & World Report, but doesn't participate in any of our top 4 most important categories. However, Trinity does participate in the Veteran Upward Bound Program, ROTC, and the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Since this college is a military academy, we’ll take a look at #2 instead.
The United States Coast Guard Academy ranks #1 in the Regional Colleges Rankings (North) on US News & World Report, but we can skip that one and look at number two – Cooper Union.
Cooper comes in at #2 in the Regional Colleges Rankings (North) via US News & World Report, but this school doesn't participate in any of our top 4 most important categories.
Taylor ranks #1 in the Regional Colleges Rankings (Midwest) on US News & World Report. I also found that Taylor awards for ACE Credit For military experience, follows ACE standards for credit, & awards credit or CLEP Exam. Definitely a veteran-friendly school!
Coming in at #1 in the Regional Colleges Rankings (West) via US News & World Report, this school awards for ACE Credit For Military Experience, follows ACE standards for credit, and awards credit for CLEP exam. Another veteran-friendly school!
As demonstrated, not many of the top institutions (according to US News & World Report's ranking) are providing veterans and military personnel the opportunity to acquire credit for their service experience and knowledge.
Although this isn't the only way that institutions can support veterans and military personnel, it is one of the most beneficial. Acquiring credit leads to saving both money and time, and no one can deny that starting off with credit under your belt gets you going on the right foot.
Probably not, but getting the full picture of the institution's veteran and military benefit programs before you decide is a good idea. Going through the university's full profile to review all 17 different categories is the best way to do this.
Each university has a "Military Offerings" section on its CollegeRecon profile page where you can find all of the categories listed with a very simple 'yes' or 'no' as to whether they participate or not. If you have more questions about a specific university or their offerings you can begin messaging with the school’s veteran/military support admissions personnel directly within the tool. This keeps your info private so that you don’t receive unsolicited calls or email.
Another way to search for institutions with veteran and military programs is to go directly to the search tab and click on all of the programs an institution must have in order for it to come up on your search. This way, the only schools you will be sorting through will only have those programs that you deem necessary for your success.
The better picture you have of schools' offerings, the better decision you will be able to make on whether it fits your specific needs.
These eight schools are the only not-for-profit institutions that participate in or provide all 17 of the veterans benefits categories.
HOW CAN THIS LIST BETTER SERVE YOU?
Getting your degree is one of the best decisions you can make no matter your age or expertise. It can also be the hardest decision. There are thousands of higher education institutions in the U.S., and you have to choose just one.
This list is a good place to start. Finding the right school that fits your needs is a daunting task. Having somewhere to start, or even just a list to begin from, can help you begin the process.
It's important to note that you can find schools based on numerous factors. If you look only at veteran support programs on campus, you'll have a very different list than US News and the other ranking websites. Balance out your needs, criteria, and Veteran preferences. And don't be afraid to chuck it all and pick the school that just feels right, regardless of veteran friendliness.
CollegeRecon is a FREE educational resource built exclusively for the military. The online research tool helps veterans, service members and their families find military and veteran-friendly schools while maintaining their privacy.
We offer direct communication with military and veteran support counselors at all of the nearly 3,000 schools. Your email and phone number are never shared by us and all messaging can be done privately through the tool.


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The work of Dr. John Martin, professor of astronomy-physics at UIS, was the focus of a press event at the American Astronomical Society (AAS) winter meeting in Washington D.C. on January 4. Martin, along with an international team of researchers, obtained new data about the Eta Carinae star system using a Near-Infrared Coronagraphic Imager (NICI) at the Gemini Observatory's Gemini South telescope in Chile.
In April 1843, the Eta Carinae system underwent a huge 20-year outburst that, throughout some of that period, made it the sky’s second brightest stellar object. During the “Great Eruption,” astronomers estimate that about 20 times the mass of the Sun was ejected into interstellar space. Today, astronomers study this relatively nearby stellar oddity to help understand the late evolution of massive stars – a messy process involving outflows, eruptions, strong magnetic fields and powerful jets.
The result of this activity is reflected in a new image captured by Martin and his team of researchers. Gemini Observatory released the image showing previously hidden forensic secrets at the ballistic core of the Homunculus Nebula, part of the Eta Carinae system. Adaptive optics were used to remove atmospheric blurring in the image.
Martin’s team used NICI to study gas and dust features surrounding the central star where the complex structure includes an intricate network of wispy clouds, inspiring the “Butterfly Nebula” moniker. The data also uncover a feature never directly imaged before called the Little Homunculus Nebula.
"The Homunculus is an evolving corpse of a dying star, and most of what we see is the visible outer layer, like a skin, from the Great Eruption. The Little Homunuclus is under that skin," Martin said. "The Gemini images have allowed us to perform something akin to an autopsy by peeling away the obscuring, outer dusty skin and giving us a glimpse of what’s inside. In the process, we're finding things we have never imaged before and didn't expect."
Eta Carinae, located only about 7,500-8,000 light years away, consists of at least two stars at its core, the largest of which is among the most luminous and massive stars in our galaxy having a mass of at least 100 times that of the Sun. The system is visible to the naked eye from the southern hemisphere and very low northern latitudes.
Martin and his team hope that their new observations will soon trace the uncertain history of a minor eruption in the Eta Carinae system in the late 1890s.
The research team also includes Etienne Artigau (University of Montréal, Canada, lead author on subsequent paper and previously at Gemini South), Kris Davidson (University of Minnesota), Roberta Humphreys (University of Minnesota), Olivier Chesneau (FIZEAU, France), and Nathan Smith (University of California).

industry_corpus2: Technology & Research


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In this section Online-Poker.com covers the basics of a number of different styles of the game. These poker games are ones you are more likely to find online, either at play for free sites or in the software packages of online casinos. In addition to the overview provided, we have found some of the better resources on the Internet relating to each game.
While difficult to find online as an actual game, the Internet is often turned to for information by people who wish to play at home. Here we give an overview of the game and links to great online resources.
Pai-Gow Poker is a variation on the Chinese domino game simply called Pai-Gow. Instead of Dominoes this adaptation uses a standard pack of 52 playing cars plus one joker. Pai-Gow poker can be played by up to seven people.
Red-Dog Poker goes by many other names around the globe, including yablon, in-between, ace-deuce and between the sheets.
Caribbean Stud Poker may remind you of those late night games with the boys, where you turn to five card stud at the end of the night to tidy up the evening. In this case though it's everyone against the dealer, not each other.
Video Poker has raced to a prime position in the world of gambling since it was introduced thirty years ago. The perfect alternative for the person who wanted anonymous gaming, without the boredom of slots!

industry_corpus2: Gaming


text: Invest in the best walking shoes for men from Saucony. Our collection of men’s walking shoes are built with full-grain leather and equipped with Saucony’s POWERGRID™ cushioning system which maximizes support and comfort, while the lightweight rubber outsole provides durability and enhances other cushioning elements. Our walking shoes for men provide protection and pronation support allowing you to walk for miles with comfort.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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Donald Trump has appointed his political advisor Steve Bannon, a white supremacist extremist, to be a principal member of the powerful National Security Council (NSC). A group of the nation's most senior military, diplomatic, and intelligence advisors.
This move is unheard of. No president has ever put a political advisor on the Council because politics should never impact national security decisions. And Bannon's twisted white supremacist politics are already affecting them – the Muslim and refugee ban is proof.
We cannot let Bannon's white nationalist vision be the beating heart of our nation's national security policy. Congress has the power to stop this. Legislation has been introduced in both the House and Senate to protect the independence of our national security from Steve Bannon's political and racist meddling. Tell Congress to keep Steve Bannon off the NSC.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


text: A glass base table lamp that looks beautiful wherever you place it. It’s base has been curated from recycled glass- pair it with an energy saving bulb and get eco friendly interiors ticked off the to do list! Save the planet whilst making your home look effortlessly cool whilst doing it.


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Jean Paré (pronounced “jeen PAIR-ee”) grew up understanding that the combination of family, friends and home cooking is the best recipe for a good life. When Jean left home, she took with her a love of cooking, many family recipes and an intriguing desire to read cookbooks as if they were novels!
When her four children had all reached school age, Jean volunteered to cater the 50th anniversary celebration of the Vermilion School of Agriculture, now Lakeland College, in Alberta, Canada. Working out of her home, Jean prepared a dinner for more than 1,000 people, launching a flourishing catering operation that continued for over 18 years.
As requests for her recipes increased, Jean was often asked the question, “Why don’t you write a cookbook?” The publication of 150 Delicious Squares on April 14, 1981, marked the debut of what would soon become one of the world’s most popular cookbook series.
Familiar and trusted in home kitchens around the world, Company’s Coming cookbooks are offered in a variety of formats. Highly regarded as kitchen workbooks, the softcover Original Series, with its lay-flat plastic comb binding, is still a favourite among readers.
Jean Paré’s approach to cooking has always called for quick and easy recipes using everyday ingredients. That view has served her well.
Jean continues to share what she calls The Golden Rule of Cooking: Never share a recipe you wouldn’t use yourself. It’s an approach that has worked—millions of times over!

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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Director of PR for the digital decorating company, AtmosFX. Created and launched campaigns championing holiday home decorating with technology. Earned hundreds of stories including features on The View, in Forbes, Good Housekeeping, and more.
Responsible for 5 month awareness campaign directing PR for Jackery, a company focused on powering people's mobile devices while on-the-go. Pickups include 208 million impressions, including Scientific American, MacWorld, PCWorld, The Wire Cutter and more.
Directed PR for Worldreader; a global nonprofit dedicated to providing free digital libraries with quality content to people in the developing world. Created promotional campaigns around new operating system launch, as well as our work with The Clinton Global Initiative, Chelsea Clinton's new book for children, and novelist Paulo Coelho. Key stories include AdWeek, PBS Frontline, Voice of America, and more.