text:
To protect your data, please observe these general recommendations for protecting personal information.
If you have any questions or problems, please contact support.
Improving the quality of search.
information cards for news, weather, public transport, etc.
The sending of this data can be disabled in the device's system settings.
Manual or automatic region detection can be configured in the Search app by going to Settings → City.
If no region is specified, then it is determined automatically by IP address.
Used to create search suggestions that factor in the user's interests.
Go to the option Save search history and turn it Off.
Improves the quality of the app.
Activation and operation of the Alice voice assistant.
Permission is required to use the microphone. The sending of this data can be disabled in the device's system settings.
Sending a photo or an image is explicitly done by the user.
Permission is required to access the camera. The sending of this data can be disabled in the device's system settings.
Adapting the app to work with low data transfer speeds.
Gives the option to connect external devices.
Used to localize and customize the app interface.
This is set by the user in the device's system settings.
You can only opt out of data collection, which cannot be disabled by the app settings or by your device's system settings, by deleting the Search app.
If you cannot find the answer to your question or wish to report a problem, please contact support using the feedback form below. We will try to help you.


text: kgear3 – Page 2 – Tri. Tech. Travel.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information. It provides us with the critical skills necessary to become independent, discerning lifelong learners.
As the American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy (January 10, 1989, Washington, D.C.) says "Ultimately, information literate people are those who have learned how to learn. They know how to learn because they know how knowledge is organized, how to find information, and how to use information in such a way that others can learn from them. They are people prepared for lifelong learning, because they can always find the information needed for any task or decision at hand."
Society today needs information literacy skills but there is a special focus on our 21st century classrooms. These skills will allow students to succeed in their future chosen paths. Included within information literacy is information technology skills. Information Technology (IT) skills enable the use of computers, software applications, databases, and other forms of technology. Today’s students are not confined to learning only from a brick and mortar building or a set of books found on the shelf of a library but are entrenched in an all-encompassing, technology-rich environment. Because of this environment, Information Literacy is not only critical but is central to the mission of education today.
Information literacy and Information Technology skill lessons begin with our youngest learners. Students are taught the use of keywords; what they are, how to select them, and the most efficient way to find information by plugging in those identified keywords. Key to this literacy is knowing how to judge the reliability of a source. Using a website and evaluating its features follows. As students’ progress through grade levels the scope and sequence of lessons progresses as well. Eventually, technological retrieval and analytical skills not only directly impact our speed and level of learning but also provide the knowledge to help make sound decisions both online and in the real world.
Test Your Information Literacy - Real or Not Real?


text:
The latest and most interesting news, reviews and guides found on Tech|Inferno and elsewhere.
So back when I got my P150EM, one of the deciding factors on getting it was that due to optimus/enduro, the battery life was respectable. I wanted the top hardware while still having some mobility. Over time though, the battery became more and more worn out, to the point where I hardly got over an hour of life out of it. New batteries are stupidly expensive, and Clevo used cheap cells for it in the first place. I wasn't paying $100 for a mediocre replacement battery. I decided to pay $50 for top end cells to boost capacity by 30% and get over 6h of battery life. I figured that this could get messy, and luckily a friend let me have his nearly dead P150HM battery for me to have some spare parts.
So I swapped the cells, while destroying the plastic battery shell in the process, and got a battery that worked just like it still had the old cells. Figuring I needed to reprogram the EEPROM on the battery pack, I started removing the glue all over the EEPROM chip to get it in my programmer. I stupidly forgot that I was working on a BATTERY, which meant that it was ALWAYS ON, and poured MEK over it, blowing a fuse.
After getting pissed off and giving up for a few months, today I gave it another go. I got the EEPROM chip out and started taking guesses at how to reprogram it. If I guessed wrong, good thing the fuse was blown so I don't melt anything. I figured out that battery EEPROM contains the capacity info in terms of mAh for a pair of battery cells. I searched for the default 5200 mAh (1450 in hex) and found it. I then raised this to 6800 mAh (1A90 in hex). It was a success! Nominal battery capacity was now 100640 mAh total.
So now I knew I could probably program things right after enough tries. It was now time to get the battery operational again. I bridged the fuse, and the battery came back to life. Sort of. It would charge when off, but not on. It would run, but windows reported no battery drain (infinite energy!?!?!?!?). In short, the battery EEPROM was not being updated at all as the battery state changed. I was under the impression that if Ilet it charge, it would not stop until overvoltage protection kicked in, and if I let it discharge, it would not turn off until the system BIOS detected an undervoltage scenario, which is far below the safe discharge voltage of the battery. I figured for the time I'd just let it be and try to get the EEPROM right.
Next was looking for the wear capacity. This is the capacity left in the battery as it ages. Using hwinfo64, I got the wear level, converted it to hex, and found it in the EEPROM. I then changed it to only 5% wear instead of 74%. I left some wear because I did let the cells sit for a few months, and I was directly soldering to the cells, which isn't really good for them due to the heat from the iron. This was a success. Current charge % correctly dropped as well.
So now I needed to get the battery charging right. My only option was to rip apart my old, but fully functional P150EM battery. I found that the fuse was actually really weird with 3 prongs, and only 2 prongs were supposed to have 0 resistance. I had soldered all 3 together on the P150HM battery. I switched the EEPROM chips and boards, then hoped it would work and not require me to run and get the fire extinguisher.
It worked! The battery is now charging properly as I type this. It also discharges right too. It looks like the laptop will try to overcharge it a bit since the current charge % was a little low vs reality, but that should just give it a little extra wear, with the charge % being calibrated properly at 100%.
Microsoft is planning to acquire the London-based AI powered predictive keyboard manufacturer for around $250M. The UK start-up company founded in 2008 by Jon Reynolds and Ben Medlock, is installed on hundreds of millions of smartphones across the globe and has more than 150 employees in London, San Francisco and Seoul.
Swiftkey, which is considered by its founders as a language technology company, is offering the app free for download in both Android and iOS devices since 2014. It supports more than 100 languages and uses artificial intelligence in order to learn the writing style of its user and be able to predict the next word to be typed.
This is not the only company Microsoft is trying to acquire in an effort to regain a foothold in mobile but neither it is for Google with DeepMind or for Apple with VocalIQ whose AI software helps computer and people converse more naturally.
Despite being installed on more than 300M devices and being on top of app chart as one of the most popular app, SwiftKey's selling price was lower than what investors might have hoped for a couple of years ago.
If you're subscribed to receive NVIDIA's newsletter and are a fan of Ubisoft's upcoming game The Division, then you'll be pleased to find an e-mail in your inbox from NVIDIA handing out closed beta access keys to the game. The closed beta starts on January 28th for Xbox One players and January 29th for PC and PS4 owners and the only way to get guaranteed access to this closed beta is by pre-ordering the game or receiving a code from NVIDIA. According to the game's FAQ, the purpose of this beta is to test out the servers and to make sure the game is balanced.
The Division is an upcoming RPG game with a military theme that takes place in New York City after a pandemic has swept across the US creating chaos throughout society. In the game, you play as a Division agent that roams through an open world persistent New York where you will explore, take part in combat against other players and AI and have character progression. Amazon has a 30 minute video called Tom Clancy's The Division: Agent Origins which gives a nice background on the story.
According to KitGuru, AMD is preparing to cut the price of the air-cooled AMD R9 Radeon Fury in the coming weeks much like it did with the R9 Nano earlier this month. There's no word on how much the price cut will be but KitGuru claims that it should be more price competitive with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 980. If you're wondering about the Fury X, it doesn't seem like there is any information on that but it is possible.
If you're in the market for a top end 28nm graphics card, it would probably be worth holding off to see how much of a price drop the Fury gets as it is already faster than a stock 980 in most cases and a price cut will make it an even more attractive option. With AMD's next generation Polaris GPUs due out in the middle of 2016, there is still plenty of life left in 28nm GPUs.
It seems NVIDIA is getting to ready to release two new mobile Maxwell GPUs in Q2 2016, the GTX 970MX and GTX 980MX. With the company already dominating the high end notebook market and 14nm/16nm next generation GPUs on their way like Polaris, the timing of this release seems a little odd.
Both GPUs will be positioned as slightly more powerful than their existing GTX 970M and GTX 980M counterparts with increased CUDA cores, texture units, and clock speed while retaining the same TDP. In addition to the aforementioned, the 970MX has 56 ROPs vs 48 in the 970M while the 980M and 980MX have the same 64 ROPs.
There's no word on what the price will be for these new cards or what notebooks will feature them but if I had to guess, I'd say the usual suspects like Alienware, Clevo, MSI and Asus will be among the first to have these ready.
AMD: Is SYSmark a Reliable Benchmark?
We all love drama between technology companies and the latest deliciousness comes courtesy of AMD. They have a 4 minute video on YouTube that questions whether or not SYSmark is a reliable, objective benchmark to use when evaluating performance between different systems.
AMD's video opens with John Hampton, Director Computer Client Products, talking about how it is very important in choosing the right benchmark when evaluating a purchase because if you choose the wrong one , you can end up overpaying for technology or getting a lesser performing PC. To emphasize his point, he indirectly mentions Volkswagen's diesel debacle and uses the latter case as an example of how even established organizations can be misleading.
We are then introduced to Tony Salinas, an AMD Engineering Manager, who runs through a couple tests in SYSmark using two notebooks, one that has an Intel i5 CPU and the other with an AMD FX CPU. SYSmark returns a score of 987 for the Intel system and 659 for the AMD one which is a delta of 50%. AMD notes that this is misleading and not reflective of real life performance. To prove this, they run a different benchmark called PCMark 8 on both systems and the results show the Intel i5 system scoring 4199 and the AMD equipped one 3908 which is a delta of 7%. AMD says this is a far more realistic indicator of true performance as PCMark 8 tests the CPU, GPU and video subcomponents rather than emphasizing the CPU like SYSmark does.
And just to drive the point home some more, AMD created their own in-house test using Microsoft Office Suite where they run a custom script on both notebooks and then measure the start and end of a task with a time stamp to gauge performance. Their in-house test shows the Intel system completing the task in approximately 61 seconds while the AMD based one finished it in roughly 64 seconds which is a delta of 6-7%.
As AMD's results line up with those found with PCMark 8, they contend that PCMark 8 is a more fair and balanced indicator of overall performance while SYSmark is not and therefore should be discarded by any potential customers as a tool for evaluating a purchase.
Intel system using AMD in-house test: Test completed in ~61 seconds.
AMD system using AMD in-house test: Test completed in ~64 seconds.
They also take the time to remind us that the FTC has required SYSmark published benchmarks to contain fine print that notes their benchmark may only be optimized for Intel. Of course, this may have something to do with the fact that AMD resigned from BAPco consortium. Finally, AMD notes that a transparent benchmark should meet very specific criteria which includes being realistic, unbiased, objective and transparent, all of which SYSmark is not apparently.
While it's fun to see these types of videos from AMD, they also highlight the fact that the company is facing an uphill battle on all fronts, whether it's CPU or GPU, and 2016 may be the year that makes or breaks them.
Digital Foundry re-tested Ark: Survival Evolved on an Xbox One after the developer made some performance improvements and unfortunately the results are still less than spectacular. This isn't really much of a surprise as the game has always performed pretty poorly even on powerful PCs such as my own Titan X setup. If you've never heard of Ark: Survival Evolved before, it is an open world sandbox game that takes place on an island full of dinosaurs where you are free to gather resources, build bases, tame dinosaurs and attack other player built bases. In concept it is similar to other open world games like Rust but this game just runs a lot worse.
A few days back the VLC team announced the first port of VLC on the Apple TV.
VLC has every feature and format support you are used to in VLC, and a few Apple TV specific features while being fully free and open source, and available right now on the App Store.
VLC on the Apple TV allows normal playback of all file formats, including chapters navigation, multiple audio and subtitles tracks.
It is also able to play files from UPnP, Windows shares (SMB), FTP and Plex servers; and is able to download automatically subtitles and artwork!
Finally, VLC on the Apple TV allows you a kind of 'casting', where you can send directly your video files for any browser or app to the Apple TV.
In addition to normal playback features, VLC for the Apple TV allows navigation by chapters and multiple audio and subtitles tracks selection.
Unlike any other player on Apple TV so far, VLC supports custom playback speed.
VLC on the Apple TV displays any kind of text (srt, SSA, WebVTT, ...) or bitmap subtitles including full support for Right-to-Left languages like Arabic and Hebrew, complex text layout for Malayalam or other Asian languages.
For web radio and music playback, the community service hatchet.is was integrated to show artist imagery and biographies in addition to album artwork.
For the first time, VLC directly integrates with OpenSubtitles.org, so missing subtitles can be downloaded by the user during playback.
VLC for Apple TV integrates discovery of services on the local network, for Windows Shares (SMB), DLNA/UPnP media servers, FTP and PLEX servers.
Login credentials for devices and services can be securely stored on the Apple TV and will be synchronized to the user's iPad or iPhone (and the other way around) to ease access.
Finally, VLC for Apple TV includes an innovative feature called Remote Playback a custom way of casting media stored on other computers to the TV using a web browser.
A user can drop one or multiple files on the browser to play those instantly, and the copies will remain available in the device cache locally.
Additionally, this works for pasting directly streams from compatible URLs and multiple actions can be sent to create the current playlist.
And of course, this web interface can be used to control playback.
Netflix recently became available in 130 more countries, but unfortunately not every area is able to access all of its content. While Netflix works on licensing agreements, it will begin preventing customers from using proxies and unblockers to access more content. This move may not be a popular one from the company, as people obviously will want access to as much content as possible, but it is something Netflix says is necessary for its business.
While it's unfortunate that not all of Netflix's content can be accessed everywhere, we hope for Netflix to be able to offer all of its content to all of its customers, regardless of location.
In the not so distant future, we will be tackling many diseases and cancers using the newest revolution in biotechnology that involves targeting very specific parts of DNA and then snipping it.
One such technique that has taken the biotechnology world by storm is CRISPR which involves the use of a cas9 endonuclease and guide RNA. This complex is recruited to a target sequence and cas9 cuts the desired region that results in a double strand break. With this double stranded DNA break, it can be ligated back together with a method called Non-Homologous End-Joining (NHEJ) to introduce random mutations via insertions/deletions to knock out a specific gene.
Another method of repair called Homology Directed Repair (HDR) involves using a repair template that has homology to the flanking region of the double stranded break which results in controlled gene editing allowing researchers to use it for gene knock-out, knock-in, tagging etc.
There are other competing methods such as TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases) which a French biotechnology company called Cellectis is using to experiment for possible cancer treatment. As mentioned above, CRISPR uses guide RNA to direct DNA breaks where as TALENs employs the use of 18 repeats of 34 amino acids that vary at amino acids 12 and 13 which is the "Repeat Variable Diresidue" or RVD; RVD mediates the DNA binding specificity.
A pair of TALEN are targeted to opposite sides of a desired break site. Each TALEN is a chimeric protein with Fok I nuclease domain that results in a specific double stranded break.
The use of this technology is detailed in article by Business Insider where an infant in the UK named Layla was born with leukemia that had failed to be treated using common cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant. Doctors there knew about Cellectis's work with TALENs and reached out as a last ditch effort to save her.
Cellectis accepted their request and began her therapy by targeting her T-cells using TALENs to stimulate her immune system to attack the cancer and the result was complete remission.
While many people will be weary of the possible abuse of such technologies, they should set those fears aside because it is this type of technology that will one day lead to the precise targeting and elimination of many diseases including cancer.
Eurogamer has an article looking at the upcoming VR tidal wave that is going to land sometime later this year that promises to change the way we game forever. With VR requiring up to 7x increase in performance needed compared to a traditional gaming PC, will anyone besides the top 1% even be able to enjoy it?
ARMA 3 is one of those rare jewels in gaming where the game was designed and built with PC gamers in mind. Unlike EA's Battlefield series which started out on the PC as a somewhat open platform only to become a victim of its success by evolving into a closed off series where people cannot mod the game any longer, Bohemia Interactive has taken the opposite approach by working more closely with the community that has helped it spawn some memorable and game changing mods such as Day Z, Epoch, Arma 3 Life, Breaking Point, Battle Royale and many more.
1. Release of Eden Editor - A 3D Scenario Editor.
2. Launcher based server browser - already live on the dev branch. It will help facilitate the detection and automatic download of mods.
3. Audio - improvements to audio fidelity and more features to be added.
4. Visual - update targeting ARMA Apex (originally for Eden update): An overhaul of game lighting configuration and introduce C shader and Screen Space Reflection technology.
5. Usability improvements - A variety of improvements such as switching weapons, interacting with objects, game difficulty and fixing long standing UX needs.
6. ARMA 3 Units - Introduce event organization, integrate parts of the service in game and make jumping into multiplayer quicker and easier.
7. Script improvements - Bohemia will continue to work closely with the community to bring additions, improvements and optimizations to scripting.
8. Scripted multiplayer - complete revive and dynamic groups by extending and finalizing their functionality.
9. Vehicle classes - ARMA 3 will see the introduction of new vehicle classes such as light strike vehicles and vtol aircraft.
10. Tanoa - The crown jewel of 2016 will be the release of ARMA 3's new and long awaited map. Tanoa is 100 square kilometers and takes place in the South Pacific Archipelago.
I personally have spent more than 2000 hours in the world of ARMA 3 and years later I'm still not done with it. This is a testament to the game's extensibility thanks to the continued support of the developer and more importantly, the community continuing to mod it everyday with exciting new additions.
Tesla's owner, Elon Musk, said during an exclusive interview with the BBC at his design studio near Los Angeles that it is an "open secret" Apple is making a rival electric car.
He also predicted vehicles that could not drive themselves would become a "strange anachronism" before too long.
An added challenge is that over recent months several of its engineers have been hired by rivals, including China-backed Faraday Future and Apple.
Apple has not formally announced it is working on a vehicle, although it did recently register several automobile-related internet domains, including apple.car and apple.auto.
Mr Musk outlined a vision of a future where all cars would be electric and autonomous, and driving yourself would become a hobby rather than a necessity.
Last weekend, it gained a new "beta" feature that allows owners to summon their car with their smartphone.
At both last week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and this week's Detroit Motor Show, a number of other car makers have shown off innovations in electric vehicles and automated driving.
Intel's Gregory Bryant, vice president and general manager of Intel’s desktop clients platform, has gone on record during a speech at the J.P. Morgan forum saying that the company's IGP (integrated graphics processor) called Iris and Iris Pro are fast enough for casual and mainstream gamers and that they would no longer need a discrete graphics solution. That statement in itself does not sound unreasonable or outlandish as Intel IGP performance has steadily increased over the years and eaten into AMD and NVIDIA's low end share.
However, Mr. Bryant also stated that Iris and Iris Pro can outperform 80% of discrete graphics chips , “We have improved graphics 30 times what they were five years ago,” but admits that Intel has done a poor job communicating the benefits of integrated graphics. According to Steam's hardware survey, as of December 2015, Intel currently holds 18.66% of the overall share with 54.61% going to NVIDIA and 26.23% to AMD. This market share is virtually unchanged from December 2014 where Intel had a share of 18.88% so it seems they do have some work to do if they want to increase their appeal to gamers.
Unlike NVIDIA, AMD manufactures APUs that compete with Intel's IPG solutions but with the release of Iris 6200 pro, Intel has taken a significant lead over AMD and has even approached NVIDIA's discrete GeForce GTX 750 performance at the entry level. With AMD Zen APUs possibly being released in 2017, it may give the firm the opportunity to finally take back the low end APU performance from Intel.
NVIDIA released the GeForce 361.60 hotfix driver which addresses crashes in photoshop and illustrator as well as installing and clocking related issues. You can grab the driver from below.
TP-Link enters the Android Phone market with its newly established brand called Neffos. The Neffos trio features high running speed, large storage space, smart multithreaded background program and powerful camera to offer a balanced and joyful experience for users.
The Neffos C5 is powered by a quad-core 64-bit processor as well as 16 GB ROM and 2 GB RAM. It is equipped with a Super Camera that has intelligent mode and 30 artistic filters.
With 5.5-inch FHD IPS display, C5 Max provides crystal clear picture quality that is reflected in the finest details and accurate colors from any angle. It’s equipped with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The large F2.0 aperture of the rear camera allows users to take stunning photos at any time.
The C5L packs with 1 GB RAM, 8 GB ROM and supports up to 32 GB of expandable SD memory. It has an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera.
The Neffos series also shows the beauty of simplicity with its industrial design. It emphasizes the material’s original color and texture by incorporating polycarbonate composites. It provides good grip by with optimized side curve, chamfer and CD texture on the side button.
Well today seems to be an AMD filled news day as we also have information courtesy of HardOCP that AMD has lowered the price of it's small form factor Radeon R9 Nano from $649 to a more reasonable $499. A lot of initial apprehension about this card was because of its asking price and now with the new price drop, it has become a very compelling upgrade compared to the competition. AMD's next generation Polaris is still months away so if you're in the market for a new SFF build, the Nano is the perfect fit.
A poster named 'iLeakStuff' on overclock forum found shipping information for the new AMD Polaris GPU based on information he obtained from Zauba. Supposedly there are 2 new GPU families with a total of 4 new GPUs based on the part numbers. The destination seems to be Hyderabad, India where AMD has an R&D facility. Polaris is AMD's next generation high performance GPU architecture that promises to bring 2x perf/watt improvements thanks to architectural improvements and the use of 14nm FinFET technology.
AMD has just released Radeon Software Crimson Edition 16.1 Hotfix Driver that includes a lot of resolved issues for games like Fallout 4, Elite Dangerous, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Star Wars: Battlefront, Just Cause 3, Assassins Creed Syndicate and DiRT Rally.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text:
Dog owners at large have been shocked and affronted this week by the death of ten German shepherd dogs at the hands of the RSPCA.
In last weeks OUR DOGS, columnist Robert Killick told of 10 GSDs that had apparently been left homeless after the death of their owner in Pontardawe, South Wales. Subsequently we received a massive amount of information and background from Jayne Shenstone of German Shepherd Rescue and the Kennel Club also became involved, with letters and press releases being issued and a huge campaign against the RSPCA on its own Facebook website.
Issuing a full press release last weekend exposing the RSPCA’s behaviour, the action group SHG (The Self Help Group for Farmers, Pet Owners and Others Experiencing Difficulties with the RSPCA) is clearly furious with the RSPCA and see this most recent action as highly hypocritical, bearing in mind the furore that was created over the shooting of greyhounds in July last year, when by David Smith, the builder's merchant from Seaham, Co. Durham, was exposed by the Sunday Times for killing and burying greyhounds on his land. It was alleged that he had killed as many as 10,000 dogs over a period of 15 years and that his father before had provided a similar service. Smith was allegedly paid £10 for each dog he killed, he used a bolt gun to dispose of the dogs.
Despite the fact that Smith had carried out these actions against the dogs he was not considered to have broken any animal welfare laws and it was only on the grounds that Smith had buried the dogs on his land without a permit that the Environment Agency decided to privately prosecute him.
At the time, the Greyhound Action group reported that the RSPCA felt that a bolt gun, if used properly, was a humane way of killing dogs and said there was no evidence to show that Smith had killed the dogs inhumanely, therefore it was concluded that no animal cruelty laws had been broken.
Greyhound Action said at the time that they could not understand how the RSPCA could come to this conclusion.
The full SHG press release is as follows: ‘The RSPCA's Facebook page has been inundated with posts from angry animal lovers protesting about the RSPCA slaughter of ten German Shepherd dogs using a bolt pistol.
‘According to RSPCA e-mail responses relatives contacted the RSPCA after the dog's owner died and the dogs were left living on their own. An RSPCA inspector decided that the dogs were unsocialised, had a skin condition and therefore were unfit for re homing and should be put down.bThe RSPCA said that if the relatives could not find a rescue to take the dogs the RSPCA would take and euthanase them.
A furious Jayne Shenstone of German Shepherd Rescue told us: ‘There is a large network of GSD rescues in the UK, yet not one of us was contacted by either the owners or by the RSPCA. The fact that the RSPCA would not attempt to contact any other rescue suggests that they couldn't be bothered and that it was easier and cheaper to shoot the dogs.
‘The GSD is naturally very protective and territorial so will guard home and owner. With regard to the ten, their owner had died so one would assume that they would be confused and frightened. To an inexperienced person they would have appeared aggressive.
The SHG has accused the RSPCA of utter hypocrisy.
Anne Kasica of the SHG continued: ‘The RSPCA used the case of David Smith who shot unwanted greyhounds with a bolt pistol to promote a massive publicity campaign aimed at obtaining increased regulation of greyhound breeding, training and racing, despite the claims that the RSPCA made use of Mr. Smith's services. Either it is acceptable to shoot excess unwanted dogs or it is not.
‘This is not the first time the RSPCA has been criticised for shooting dogs with a bolt pistol. They were fully aware after their shooting of two basset hounds in Ipswich in 2004 that the public do not find this acceptable practice.
Ernest Vine, also of the SHG asked: ‘What qualifications does an inspector have to assess dogs in this situation? Is he a vet? The RSPCA uses the yardstick of 'failure to seek veterinary advice' in their prosecutions. How was it possible to assess the mental state of each dog in these circumstances?
‘We are told that a dog's mental capacity is that of the average two year old toddler. Imagine the reaction of a toddler who had been left alone like this and then faced with strangers. Would he be upset? Perhaps be aggressive and try to escape? Or maybe even bite? Could it be that too much is expected of dogs in difficult circumstances and that these dogs were far better behaved than they were given credit for?"
‘We are calling for some check on what happens to animals that pass through large organisations like the RSPCA. Animals are killed before their owners have a chance to claim them. Owners are told their animals are not in RSPCA shelters when they are there and in the process of being re homed.
‘For these reasons the SHG wants a cooling off period for animal sign overs to the RSPCA similar to the protections provided when buying double glazing. Perhaps 28 days would give time for people to reflect on their actions. After all, if the dogs were in need of rehabilitation that would not be an excessive time period and nothing would stop prospective adopters from registering their interests."
The Kennel Club were swift to react to the story and immediately wrote to the RSPCA with copies going to key politicians. Kennel Club spokesperson Caroline Kisko told OUR DOGS: ‘We were shocked that the RSPCA took the decision to shoot ten German Shepherd Dogs with a bolt gun and question whether this can possibly be in the best interests of the animals.
‘We have written to the RSPCA, not only questioning the manner in which the dogs in this case were euthanised but also asking them to take steps to try and ensure that no dog is ever euthanised, which might still have a chance of being re-homed.
‘Local breed rescue organisations in this case have indicated their willingness to help, were they to have been approached by the RSPCA, which makes it all the more tragic.
‘Putting a dog down should only ever be a last resort and we urge the RSPCA to work much more closely with breed rescues in the future, who are often able to find the dogs within their breed new homes, with owners who will love and care for them.
‘The Kennel Club supports breed rescue organisations in the good work that they do and a full list of breed rescue clubs can be found on the Kennel Club website at www.findarescuedog.org.uk"
The full Kennel Club letter written by Caroline Kisko to John Rolls, Director of Animal Welfare Services of the RSPCA read as follows: ‘The Kennel Club has been deeply concerned to learn that the RSPCA had ‘humanely’ euthanised ten German Shepherd Dogs, by captive bolt, in Wales after their owner had passed away.
‘This case has been highlighted to us by concerned rescue organisations that specifically look after the welfare interests of German Shepherd Dogs. They have informed us that the RSPCA took this decision on the basis that it was ‘the most humane form of euthanasia’ which would ‘minimise distress to the dogs, while also being the safest method for those people responsible for dealing with the animals. Restraining the dogs and then shaving a limb to prepare for a lethal injection would have caused these animals unnecessary suffering, due to the animals suffering from a severe skin condition.’ - RSPCA HQ Advice Team.
‘Firstly, the Kennel Club would question whether this was indeed the most humane form of euthanasia because the dogs would still have to be restrained in order to be shot - this has understandably angered and upset many people. Secondly, whilst the Kennel Club recognises that the RSPCA often has to deal with large numbers of dogs that need to be rehomed, we would urge you to seek the help of breed rescue organisations.
‘As an organisation which works to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and to alleviate the suffering of all animals, we fail to see how destruction can be in the best interest of the animal when specialist rescue organsations might quickly find the dog a suitable home. We would question why the RSPCA cannot work in conjunction with these organisations in the interest of animal welfare – since the likelihood of successful rehoming would be significantly higher and would reduce the number of dogs being gratuitously euthanised.
Ironically this story has broken at a time when the Kennel Club is highlighting the work and importance of breed rescue as our story inside this week’s issue shows.
In fact clubs can be even more helpful by completing a simple survey to give the Kennel Club more information on the valuable work down at ground level by breed rescue. Many people involved in this story have asked why the RSPCA did not get the next of kin to contact a recognised breed rescue or in fact, the Kennel Club itself as suggested by Mrs Kisko.
In the meantime Jayne Shenstone of German Shepherd Rescue feels like big brother is watching her as her web site is apparently being constantly monitored by the RSPCA.
OUR DOGS contacted the RSPCA on Tuesday as the only statement we had seen appeared on line and had been widely circulated amongst interest groups. RSPCA Press Officer Andy Robbins re-confirmed the original statement issued on July 16th 2009: ‘We received a call on 23 June this year from a member of the public relating to 10 German Shepherd dogs at an address in Pontardawe, in South Wales. The caller said the dogs’ owner, a relative, had died and the dogs had been living on their own.
‘An RSPCA inspector visited the premises that day and assessed the animals. The inspector took the decision that none of the dogs were at all suitable for rehoming due to concerns about their aggressive behaviour and lack of socialisation with people. The dogs were also suffering from a severe skin condition.
‘We explained the next-of-kin that they should contact other rescue groups for help. The next-of-kin were made fully aware that if the RSPCA became involved, the dogs would be euthanased.
‘The owner’s next-of-kin later contacted the RSPCA again and said they had been turned down by other charities, including the Dogs Trust, who were unwilling to take on the animals and they signed over the dogs, fully aware of what would happen.
‘A decision was made following a discussion between eight RSPCA officers that the most humane form of euthanasia would be to use a captive bolt. This would minimise distress to the dogs, while also being the safest method for those people responsible for dealing with the animals. Restraining the dogs and then shaving a limb to prepare for a lethal injection would have caused these animals unnecessary suffering, due to the animals suffering from a severe skin condition.
‘The inspector euthanased the dogs using a captive bolt. After a discussion between eight officers, this was decided to be the most humane method. It was also the most suitable as the dogs were too dangerous to approach for a vet to administer a sedative, to allow for a lethal injection.
‘The dogs were taken outside into the garden of the house on a grasper, given a few moments of exercise (it is unlikely they had been outside in weeks, if not months) and then the inspector used a captive bolt.
‘The house was in a remote and isolated situation, away from any other properties. Each dog was euthanased away from the rest of the dogs which were kept in the house. They would have been unable to hear the captive bolt being used as it is a very quiet method.
‘The dogs were only handled for a very short amount of time, on the grasper, and stress was kept to an absolute minimum. Nobody was injured and the dogs appeared to be oblivious to the fact that this was anything other than being taken into the garden.
Many will find the handling of this tragic case by the RSPCA hard to bear as the destruction of these ten dogs surely could have been avoided if the right organisations had been contacted. It seems incredible that little or no effort seems to have been put in to contacting any GSD rescue and rather than put the onus on the next of kin, surely the RSPCA has a duty to protect, not destroy dogs like this.
At the same time such activities hardly lend support to the RSPCA’s high moral stance in backing out of Crufts and accusing dog breeders of cruel practices. The phrase the pot calling the kettle black comes to mind!
OUR DOGS welcomes reader’s comments on this story in writing or by e-mail or below.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text: We carry virtually all Sanyo Notebook Batteries. Please feel free to Contact Us, if you do not see your Sanyo Laptop Battery model listed here. Chances are that we have it or can get it for you at best price.


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For most women, planning your wedding can be a serious undertaking! Getting married is not something that happens everyday. The easy part is getting that engagement ring on your finger! You may find yourself asking, "now what!?" When the pressure starts to build, where will you turn? Here are three simple tips that will help you plan for the most memorable wedding ever!
Chose a time of day when you are feeling the most creative. I am most creative after I have my morning cup of coffee. That dose of caffeine can help you get your "thinking cap on." Write down everything that comes to your mind. Have fun thinking things through with your fiance. You will learn a lot about your soon to be husband through the wedding planning process.
Knowledge is power. The more you know about weddings, wedding cakes, wedding flowers, and invitations, the more you will find out what you like and what you don't like. If your fiance claims that he just doesn't care about what you chose for the details of your wedding, don't back off of him so easily. The last thing you want is to have your husband have regrets about not speaking up during the wedding planning process. He may "not care" now, but in a few years he might care then! Be sure to include him in on the research phase of the wedding planning process.
Remember, you have to start somewhere. Just chip away at the wedding planning process day by day, and before you know it, you will be walking down the aisle to marry the man of your dreams!

industry_corpus2: Others


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The outer ear is the funnel-like pan of the ear you can see on the side of the head, plus the ear canal (the hole which leads down to the eardrum). The ear canal is shaped somewhat like an hourglass narrowing part way down. The skin of the outer part of the canal has special glands that produce earwax. This wax is supposed to trap dust and sand particles to keep them from reaching the ear-drum. Usually the wax accumulates a bit, and then dries up and comes tumbling out of the ear, carrying sand and dust with it. Or it may slowly migrate to the outside where it is wiped off.
Wax is not formed in the deep part of the ear canal near the eardrum, but only in the outer part of the canal. So when a patient has wax blocked up against the eardrum, it is often because he has been probing their ear with such things as cotton tipped applicators, bobby pins or twisted napkin corners. Such objects only serve as ram rods to push the wax in deeper. Also, the skin of the ear canal and the eardrum is very thin and fragile and is easily injured. Earwax is healthy in normal amounts and serves to coat the skin of the ear canal where it acts as a temporary water repellent. The absence of earwax may result in dry, itchy ears.
Most of the time the ear canals are self cleaning, that is, there is a slow and orderly migration of ear canal skin from the ear drum to the ear opening. Old earwax is constantly being transported from the ear canal to the ear opening where it usually dries, flakes, and falls out. Under ideal circumstances, you should never have to clean your ear canals. However, we all know that this isn't always so.
When wax has accumulated so much that it blocks the ear canal (and hearing), your physician may have to wash it out, vacuum it, or remove it with special instruments. Or he may prescribe ear drops which are designed to soften the wax. If so, you may first wish to try over the counter products such as Waxsol, Ear Clear drops, Deborox ear drops. These are not as strong as the prescription wax softeners but are effective for many patients. In the event that the non-prescription product is not satisfactory, a surgeon should be consulted.
You must know that you do not have a hole (perforation or puncture) in your ear drum. Puffing the above ear drop products in your ear in the presence of an eardrum perforation may cause an infection. Certainly, washing water through such a hole would surely start up an infection. If you are uncertain whether you have a hole in your eardrum, consult your surgeon.
You may soften the wax for a few days by instilling several drops of an earwax softener into the ear canal twice a day. This can be purchased in your pharmacy without a prescription. If your ear still feels blocked after using the ear drops, you should consult your surgeon, who may elect to wash it out.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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The Single Story Phenomenon explains that if a single-sided story about a culture is over told to the general public, then they will only see that culture in one-dimension.
Set in Aux Cayes, Haiti, A Tree Is More Than One Branch is a compilation of short documentary films, with each film following a different Haitian family or activity.
These ethnographic videos will allow the viewer to know more about Haiti, aside from the 2010 earthquake. Similar to a tree that has many branches, a person is more than one story, and a culture is more than a historic tragedy.
This series has screened in multiple cities around the US. "Manman yo ki fe biznis" has screened in Nambi International Film Festival (Atlanta, GA) and Ethnografilm Festival (Paris, France).

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Casa Apartamento Minimal in Vedado, Havana is located in 23 Street, close to many tourist sites attractions such as the Plaza of the Revolution, La Rampa and Malecon and also Hotels like Cohiba, Riviera, Havana Libre and Nacional. We have 4 separate apartments in the same building, optimally, modern, safe, comfortable and with identical distribution (living room, kitchen, (1) room, bathroom and garage use collective). Located in the center of Vedado, Havana. Are moderns, safe and comfortable property, with lots of natural lighting and ventilation, windows in every rooms, in perfect conditions and a safe places. The apartments are also equipped with new and modern furniture, plasma TV, refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker, among other household items. In the restaurant Havana Retro, located in the low of building, offer a service gastronomic of excellence to our guests, in a environment vintage that recreates the havana of the years 50´.
Av. 23 Building # 908 Apt. 20, / Av. Paseo & Street 2, Vedado, Havana.
Advice: Deposit Guarantee required (Cancellation policy available). All info about this from host with confirmation.
We were welcomed by a very nice host who welcomed us and explained us everything in the apartment. We had a great stay!! How was the food?
You eat in the bar/restaurant next door. The food is great, the people who work there are very open and nice - be sure to have a talk with them! How was the room?
The location is nice, but a bit far from the center. You can grab a cab for 3 CUC though. Even though our hosts didn't speak English fluently, they did their very best. I would recommend, I loved staying here.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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1) Prep for modern (not the old stuff; they laid it on thick in the old days) silverplate is more laborious--any imperfection in the prep will show right through. The horn must be absolutely clean before being plated.
2) Silver plating uses chemicals on the hazmat list--the active ingredient in a silver plating bath is silver cyanide. That means that the disposal and storage of the solutions and chemicals is regulated, not to mention darned dangerous.
3) Some manufacturers plate a "strik� coat" of copper under the brass. This is yet another step that must be done correctly.
4) If you fluff a lacquer job, you just strip the horn, buff and clean and start all over again. Fixing a bad plating job is a LOT more difficult.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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Worms have always been the gardener’s friends, and they have another useful job to do. Set up a wormery introduce all your usual compost waste, and some special worms, and they’ll work away producing some of the best compost you’ve ever seen. Next year, that compost will be ready to go on your vegetable garden to help you produce some of your best crops ever! Wormeries usually look like compost bins, but we’ve also tracked down a very attractive wooden beehive-shaped models. And dog owners – this one’s for you. We’ve found a wormery that uses your dog’s poo to create compost – yes really!
Did you know that a tonne of Earth Worms can eat a Tonne of green waste in just 1 – 4 days! Or that worms will eat human hair, denim and even dog poo!
That are just a few of the amazing facts you can discover when talking to the team at Earth Essentials. This new and very innovative independent company has recently established itself in Romsey with an extremely green and environmental ethos.
So why are they so interested in worms? And more to the point why should you be interested? What can the lowly earth worm do for you?
Well these amazing little creatures were described by Charles Darwin as the earth’s natural recyclers and that is just what they can do for you. The earthworm may be small, spineless, and blind, but its role in the ecosystem is profound. It tills the soil, destroys microscopic organisms that cause plant disease, breaks down toxins, and turns the ground into rich compost, creating the most fertile areas on earth.
Now many of us are not so keen on bugs, spider’s worms and other creepy crawlies, they may have a place in the world and are essential to the food chain and have a great number of other benefits but we usually prefer to leave them where they are.
But when it comes to worms, well that’s a different matter all together. More and more people are warming to the idea of owning a wormery, not only because they know they are doing a huge amount for the environment by disposing of green and kitchen waste in the most efficient, clean and eco-friendly way possible but also they get a huge benefit from the bi-product of the worm castings. Earth Essentials can supply worms and wormeries, they are definitely experts when it comes to understanding how worms can make a huge difference to the difficult problems of disposing of green and kitchen waste.
Having and using a wormery will reduce waste from going to land fill and will give you a wonderful organic and 100% natural fertiliser for your garden and plants totally free! The benefits to the garden and indoor plants are tremendous. Studies in Australia have shown that the use of vermicast (worm castings or worm poo as some call it) can increase the yield in grapes and tomatoes by up to 50%. All plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables, lawns and shrubs can benefit for vermicast. A recent trial with radishes showed remarkable additional growth where vermicast was used when planting out the seedlings.
The Dendrobaena worms, normal garden worms are just not suitable; happen too really like our food and green waste, in fact they find this a true delight, like a good slap up meal on a Saturday night. Just open the lid and place your waste straight in and gradually they will devour it all.
These worms will eat almost all green garden and kitchen waste; they are not partial to onions or foods high in citric acid such as tomatoes and oranges but the do like almost everything else, including as mentioned earlier stranger things such as natural fibres, denim, cotton etc and even hair.
We are told constantly being told to reduce the amount of waste we normally throw into the general rubbish bin, to reduce our carbon foot print and generally do our bit for the environment, it may grate a bit as it can appear to be yet another means of raising taxes and a way for politicians to boss us around, but this time we get the benefit directly, not the tax man or a snooty MP telling us what we are doing wrong and how we must all do better. No, you can now control your own waste environment, you get to keep all the benefit all for yourself and without mess, smells or much effort at all.
Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Canada and the Unites States are far ahead of the U.K. when it comes to using worms for recycling. In New South Wales, Australia, the governments own Environmental Protection Authority is actively promoting Vermiculture (the use and management of worms) with education programmes and paid advertising to reduce the amount of waste going to land fill. We in the UK have to reduce the amount going to landfill and using methods with vermiculture which are already established elsewhere in the world is definitely the way to go. In La Joya near San Diego, USA a city of only 150,000 people, some 400 tonnes of municipal green waste per day is received and converted via Vermiculture! How good are these little creatures!
• Improving root growth and structure.
What! They eat Dog Poo!
Worms really are amazing creatures; not only will they eat our green and kitchen waste but they are also partial to dog poo! Though it is strongly advised not to use the general domestic wormery for disposal of dog waste, the same principals apply. The worms are rather partial to dog waste and what better way to get rid of it than to use a special Dog Poo Wormery. All dog owners know the problems of disposing of dog waste; the councils do not like it in the normal rubbish bins so they are left with having to dig holes in the garden to bury it, a dog poo wormery is an ideal alternative.
The materials needed to start a vermicomposting system are simple and inexpensive. All you will need are a worm bin, the beehive wormery is ideal, bedding, water, worms, and your food scraps. Place your wormery in a convenient location, near the back door is best, leave for a few days to allow the worms to settle then start feeding as instructed in the manual which accompanies the wormery, it really is that simple.
Fisherman like worms as well!
If you are keen on fishing, you can now have FREE BAIT with your very own Eternal Bait Box, based on similar principals of the wormery the Eternal Bait Box allows the worms to breed and survive for many years giving the angler a constant supply of free bait every time you need it!


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Best-selling author, Suzanne D. Williams, is a native Floridian, wife, mother, and photographer. She is the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic design for self-publishing authors. She is co-founder of THE EDGE.
To learn more about what she's doing and check out her extensive catalog of stories, visit http://www.feelgoodromance.com/ or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SDWAuthor.
Winner of a paperback copy of the book "A Heart's Home" by Laura J. Marshall is: Jan Hall.
Thank you for entering and following along with me in 2018, and congratulations to all three winners. Check your email for instructions on receiving your prize.
The winners' mailing address must be within the continental United States.
MAIRE'S SONG (The Florida Irish) Book 4 is now on sale at Amazon for 99 cents (regularly $3.99). At all other sales outlets (ibooks, Barnes & Noble, KOBO, Scribd, etcetera) it is FREE.
That's F-R-E-E. This is a two week, limited time sale (ending 11-17), so download your copy!
Now available as a single download.
Gideon Boone, country megastar, was an industry, not a man, and in the eyes of his brother and his mom, not the son, the sibling, they remembered. An interracial romance.
*Note* If the book is not available at your preferred sales website, give it a day or two. Some websites take longer than others to accept new ebooks.
"A Halloween type story with a biblical perspective."
The Underground (Superhuman) Book 1 isFREE at most retailers.
THE UNDERGROUND: SUPERHUMAN Book 1 is FREE at all epub retailers and 99 cents at Amazon. That means if you shop at ibooks, KOBO, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, and a number of other retailers you can download for FREE.
This is fun edge-of-your-seat altered genetics science fiction with a strong Christian theme. This price is only for a limited time!
First, I have put Books 1 & 2 of the WINGS series into a collection, under new covers, for one low price. Only $1.49, limited time! That's a savings of over $3.
11 of my clean, young adult romances are now exclusive to their own collection. This means you cannot get them anywhere else. One price, one download, and hours of reading!
Rejoice with the wife of thy youth. (Proverbs 5:18)When did you go astray, her husband? When did your job, your car, your hobbies become more important? That fishing trip, that game night, your “working vacation.” When did your life together become, her life and your life on parallel paths and not your steps together?
FLIGHT RISK (The Italian Series) Book 1 is FREE at non-Amazon websites.
Story Saturdays - How to get in on my latest FREE BOOKS.
Don't forget the SUMMER BOOK BAG giveaway!
You must be a subscriber to get in on these FREE BOOKS. Visit the blog for all the details. Deadline to join 7 a.m. 7/31/2018.
He had everything money could buy, except her.
My next GIVEAWAY will be 7 a.m. on July 31st.
All email subscribers will receive the download links.
That's 6 FREE BOOKS simply for following along with me! Something for the entire family to enjoy! Both mobi (Kindle) and epub copies will be included. You don't want to miss out.
I'd like to extend a generous welcome to all my new subscribers. Story Saturdays is a bi-weekly look at my current sales prices, new release books, and what's upcoming. It's also where you'll hear about my next book giveaway. So, stay tuned for more info in the upcoming weeks!
My next giveaway will be May 31, 2018 at 7 a.m. In preparation for my next book release, Book 3 of the Grace & Cowboys series, I will give away both Book 1 & Book 2! This will be the ONLY place to get epub copies of these books.
This is an EMAIL SUBSCRIBER ONLY giveaway. To join, visit the blog and look in the right-hand column or find me on Facebook. All emails are powered by FeedBlitz and guaranteed spam free.
If you missed April's FREE BOOK, there will be another at the end of May, and I think it's a biggie. You'll want to stay a part! If you aren't an email subscriber yet, join in. Visit the blog and look in the right-hand column or find me on Facebook.
*All emails are powered by FeedBlitz and guaranteed spam free.
My next FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY will be on April 30, 2018. You must be an EMAIL SUBSCRIBER to receive the download link. This is often the ONLY way to get epub copies of my stories.
To join, visit the blog and look in the right-hand column or find me on Facebook. All emails are powered by Feedblitz and guaranteed spam free.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Php 4:13)We expect everything in our lives of faith to be dramatic. We’re on a constant uphill struggle, an endless battle, slashing at the enemy on every side. We must cross rivers and climb mountains, our lives in constant peril.
Now available in ebook at Amazon!
The two stories sold exclusively (as ebooks) in the set THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR are now in paperback as well.
I just want to read a book. Reading makes better writers, they say. But writing has made me a horrible reader.
I remember reading for the fun of it, losing my day amidst the pages of some novel . . . 200,000 words or more. Now, I can’t manage 1,000 without dissecting every sentence. I’m bothered by grammar and structure, by character names and plot lines. I’m changing the story to fit what I think is best.
Story Saturdays - Don't Forget To Sign Up For This Month's Free Book!
Don't forget to sign up for this month's FREE BOOK, "Suit (Best Dressed Series) Book 1". You must be a subscriber by 7 a.m. 3/31/2018 to receive the download link. I will include both Kindle & epub versions.
*Emails powered by Feedblitz and guaranteed spam free.
Aw, God, Do I Have To?
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Mt 18:21-22)I had a bad day. You know, one of those where even the dog doesn’t cooperate? Well, ‘round about 10 a.m., I exploded. I screamed at everyone within a two-mile vicinity. And regretted it afterward.
This Month's FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY.
*Email subscribers only. You must be on my mailing list by 7 a.m., March 31, 2018, to receive the download link. Book will be provided as epub and Kindle versions. Emails powered by Feedblitz and guaranteed spam-free.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant said there's no chance he returns to the franchise to play alongside LeBron James despite the team's disappointing 2018-19 season.
"No. That's an easy one … because I don't want to play no more. I'm done," he said Tuesday during a Q&A session hosted by Frank Isola of The Athletic at the NBA Store in New York City.
It was late in the game, the Raptors had just run another fruitless isolation possession through Kawhi Leonard, Tony Brothers had kept a silent whistle through some rough play, and Russell Westbrookhad tied the game at 110 with a running layup with 4.8 seconds left.
Breaking into the NBA Sneaker King Power Rankings at this point in the season is extremely difficult, but a number of big-name players accomplished just that here in Vol. 8. How did they do it? Some took us back to our childhood by rocking classic retro kicks, others continued to show off new colorways of their signature shoes. One player made his way in by lacing up some of the most location-specific custom sneakers we've seen this season.
Warriors go 3-1 on road trip.
The beauty about the NBA is the fact that there is no time to dwell on disappointments, missed opportunities and slumps.
With time running out on the Lakers’ final possession, the greatest player of his generation drove to the basket like he has thousands of times before.
But the sequence went off script from there. Rather than add another game-winner to his already robust collection, LeBron James’ fadeaway was stopped by the right hand of Mario Hezonja, whose block sealed a stunning 124-123 New York victory.
Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska returns to Benguet State University for this year’s second Jr. NBA Philippines Regional Selection Camp on March 23 and 24. Jr. NBA coaches, led by Carlos Barroca of the NBA and PBA Legend Jeffrey Cariaso, will bring the league’s youth basketball participation program to teach basketball fundamentals and impart core values of the game to boys and girls ages 10-14.
Dirk Nowitzki reached another milestone in his incredible career on Monday night. With a fadeaway jumper early in the first quarter, the big German moved into sixth place on the NBA's all-time scoring list, passing NBA icon Wilt Chamberlain.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder losing to the Miami Heat, the San Antonio Spurs had a golden opportunity to move to 5th in the Western Conference by defeating the Golden State Warriors. On the flip side, a loss would have dropped them to 7th. The West is that volatile this season. The Spurs were up to the challenge; defeating the Warriors 111-105.
The Houston Rockets score 43 points in the third quarter to avoid a regular season sweep from the Minnesota Timberwolves.

industry_corpus2: Sports


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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) is poised once again to limit moose hunting opportunities in the province of Ontario in a manner the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) calls overly restrictive and unnecessary.
“While we are encouraged by the Ministry’s commitment to addressing Ontario’s declining moose populations and its reassurance that non-hunting factors affecting moose will be examined, we don’t agree with the specific changes being proposed,” said Mark Ryckman, OFAH senior wildlife biologist.
As part of the Moose Project, the MNRF has proposed two significant changes to moose hunting across much of northern Ontario. The first, to take effect in 2015, is a reduction in calf hunting opportunities. Currently, moose hunters can harvest a calf under the authority of their provincial moose licence. Under the new proposal, calf harvest in northern Ontario would be prohibited outside of a two-week period in October.
While the OFAH acknowledges that some Wildlife Management Units would benefit from a reduction in calf harvest, we argue a two-week calf season is overly restrictive and could result in crowding and poor hunt quality while making it difficult for hunters to accommodate fluctuations in weather, work schedules and hunting preferences. The OFAH calls for a phased-in approach to ensure hunting opportunities are not prematurely and unnecessarily restricted. This would also provide the MNRF with an opportunity to assess the effectiveness of any management changes.
The second proposal involves delaying the start of the gun hunt by one week. This change would not take effect until 2016, but the OFAH has major concerns with this proposal. The existing adult tag allocation system already allows biologists to tightly control the harvest of adult moose, which makes the season delay redundant and therefore unnecessary.
“The anticipated benefits do not outweigh the costs – it is a significant negative impact to licensed hunting, and the potential benefits are not supported by data,” Ryckman said.
The OFAH will continue to insist on good moose management that ensures sustainable moose populations while minimizing impacts on licensed moose hunters. We are calling on our 100,000 members and the hunting public to speak out on the proposed changes that could affect you this fall and into the future.
The OFAH wants moose hunters to have their voices heard by commenting on the EBR and helping us spread the message that Ontario has to stop focusing its management efforts solely on licensed moose hunters and start managing moose populations. Go to the Environmental Registry (EBR) website www.ebr.gov.on.ca and search for EBR posting [#012-3413] Amendment to regulations under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act for moose hunting in northern Ontario and submit a formal comment to express your opinion.
Hunters can also help the OFAH spread the message on Twitter (@ofah) using the hashtag #ONMoose and encourage others on social media to respond to the EBR. For all the latest on this issue, visit www.ofah.org/moose.


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A while back we announced that Mr & Mrs Unique supplier Woodland Weddings are holding their very first wedding fayre… and this will be a wedding fayre like no other!
With a huge rise in couples looking for unique, outdoor wedding spaces, Woodland Weddings are able to fulfil these requirements as they have a number of venues available to use in conjunction with the Forestry Commission.
To find out what it would be like to stay overnight, you can ‘Glamp’ it up in one of their super cool bell tents; enjoy a few beers and listen to some live music whilst under the stars… a perfect opportunity to see the Woodland Weddings festival magic!
Not long now so book this in your diary now.. it sounds awesome!!! Enjoy!

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Pregnant women tend to be more at risk of gum disease. In addition, emerging science has demonstrated that oral health and the overall health of an unborn child are linked. Studies show that premature birth as well as low birth weight may be directly connected to gum disease. In addition, studies suggest that labor-triggering chemicals may be directly activated by gum infections, resulting in premature births.
Between 60% and 70% of all pregnant women experience a condition called pregnancy gingivitis. It is caused by an increase in hormone levels, which can exaggerate a woman’s response to dental plaque in the mouth. This extra plaque may cause swelling, bleeding, redness or tenderness in the gums and my lead to tooth decay while also contributing to bad breath. Changes in the gums are most noticeable from the second to the eighth month of pregnancy.
While not a cure for pregnancy gingivitis, Dentiva may help to maintain healthy teeth and gums during pregnancy. Dentiva has been shown to help control bacteria growth, balance the oral pH at a neutral level and give a fresh breath.
To avoid pregnancy gingivitis, be extra vigilant about your oral care.
Visit your dentist and dental hygienists for regular check-ups and professional cleanings and ask them about additional step you can take to keep your teeth and gums healthy.


text: Our bodies are... littered with sub-optimized relics of the past. The tortuous path of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which exits the skull and loops around the aorta before innervating the voice box, makes absolutely no sense apart from the developmental pathway we inherited from fish. The "wisdom" teeth that don't seem to fit our stubby faces are also difficult explain if anatomically modern humans appeared on earth with no evolutionary precursors. In fact, nothing about human physiology and anatomy makes much sense apart from the evolutionary history we share with the rest of God's creatures. Deniers of this apparent history are not only forced to offer convoluted explanations of these vestiges, but they unwittingly undermine the life and earth sciences by destroying one of their most important organizing principles: history.


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RENSON® terrace coverings are the only windproof sun protection systems with fully integrated screens which are completely closable. Importantly the fabric covering is 100% watertight but still allows light to penetrate. This innovative product allows you to enjoy the outside all year round, whether you are in your garden or relaxing on the terrace of your favourite restaurant.
You are able to enjoy your Lagune® all year round from morning to dusk by integrating a range of complementary features. These include LED lighting, heating and sound (see below). This extra space can be utilised during the first of the spring sunshine, through the sweltering summer months and even on chilly autumn and winter days.
Lighting, heating & loudspeakers can be integrated easily into the Lagune® patio roof - even as a retrofit! The Lagune® BEAM can be obtained separately.
io-homecontrol® provides advanced and secure radio technology that is easy to install. io-homecontrol® labelled products communicate with each other, improving comfort, security and energy savings.


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Advisers ranging from as far as Arizona and California all the way to New York converged on Kansas City Tuesday morning for the opening of Walsworth’s third annual Adviser Academy summer workshop at the downtown Hyatt Regency.
To illustrate his point, Walsworth pointed to five different varieties of media-playing technology that have accumulated in his home over the years, three of which are now obsolete. But the yearbooks remain constant.
“It’s important for you sitting in this room to be the champion of yearbooks in your school,” said Walsworth.
Walsworth then introduced Betsy Lazo, the first-year adviser from the John D. O’Bryant School in Roxbury, Mass., who told the story of the one-year turn-around she and her staff were able to perform at O’Bryant.
Lazo shared her love of yearbooks from a young age, growing up near and then attending Boone High School in Orlando, Fla. According to Lazo, social media such as Facebook fits a different niche than yearbooks and shouldn’t serve as a replacement.
“Facebook will never be able to capture the magic, wonder and zeitgeist of a school year in the way a great yearbook staff can,” said Lazo.


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While an African safari proposes an adventure of a lifetime, the African continent has so much more to offer travelers. We've scanned the whole of Africa, from its northern to southern tips, and eastern to western shores, to turn up an overwhelming variety of travel experiences, highlighting everything from culture to wildlife, city souks to beach idylls, or heritage and history to modern metropolises. Here are our 9 picks for the most unforgettable African vacations, beyond safaris.
Anisha Shah is a luxury and emerging destinations travel journalist. Her background as a BBC TV and radio news reporter, combined with a longstanding love affair with travel, sees her first on the scene of new and exciting travel hot spots. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, Fodor’s, and Yahoo Travel. Follow Anisha on Twitter: @anishahbbc.
You don’t have to be a seasoned wine connoisseur to enjoy the Cape Winelands, with its gourmet eateries and spectacular scenery. Award-winning wineries and smaller wine estates are generously strewn across the Winelands, where you can enjoy long and lazy lunches, stroll lush vineyards drenched in sunshine, and sign up for cellar tours and tastings.
Insider Tip: You can self-drive, or book an organized tour like those on offer from Wow Cape Town Tours.
Labyrinthine narrow alleyways dripping with shimmering gemstone jewelry, chandeliers, and spices: Yes, Marrakesh souks propose an irresistible and unforgettable setting. Bullish bartering, the billowing calls of stall-sellers, and the jangle of coins make the experience frenetic and fast-paced, as the smells of soaps, spices, and saucy tagines waft through the air. Head to Djemaa-El-Fnaa, on the city's central square, where henna artists, palm readers, and snake charmers vie for your monetary attention.
Insider Tip: Confidently say, “No, thank you,” and enjoy getting lost. Engage in laughter and conversation with the locals, as a souk visit is an immersive experience. After a hard day of haggling, sip fresh mint tea at a rooftop café overlooking the square.
Africa’s highest peak soars to a height of 19,336 feet and spans five climatic zones. It's a challenging mountain journey that demands training, but for those who have properly prepared, reaching the summit in time for a stunning sunrise is an indescribable experience. Routes vary in duration, but allow six to seven days to ensure proper acclimatization.
Insider Tip: The only way to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is on an organized trek along preestablished routes, and in the company of guides. Just be warned that you get what you pay for here, as tour operators range from excellent to terrible, so do your homework beforehand. Medical travel insurance is essential. Oh, and pack light!
Set along the snaking Zambezi River, the Devil’s Rock is a natural rock pool that opens into the mighty Victoria Falls. (Interesting note: This is where Scottish explorer David Livingstone caught his first glimpse of the thunderous cascade.) In dry season, the waters of Devil’s Rock are shallow, and sheltered from the force of the falls by an underwater wall, allowing you to swim to within 330 feet of where the falls drop. Looking out over the roaring misty scene, emblazoned in permanent rainbows, is downright magical.
Insider Tip: Nearby oasis Togabezi Lodge features private pools overlooking the river.
At 1,066 feet high, “Big Daddy” is the tallest of the dunes of Sossusvlei, in the Namib Desert. It’s a striking contrast to the backdrop of piercing blue sky and bleached white basins. Ascents start early in the morning and can take up to two hours. At sunrise, one side of the dune glistens in red hues, while the other remains dark in the shadows. Sit atop to rest and admire the epic desert landscapes. The descent takes just five minutes, via an adrenaline-inducing run or by sandboard.
Insider Tip: Climb “Big Mama” as an easier alternative, taking up to 30 minutes. Even going a quarter of the way up is enough to gain incredible views.
In Zanzibar, the billowing white sails of dhow boats project a mighty fine image, as they float amidst the molten emerald seas of the Indian Ocean. Sailing on these traditional boats from UNESCO-protected Stone Town evokes images of pirates, the former spice trade, and exotic influences that once dominated Zanzibar, which touts a cultural blend of Omani Arabic, Portuguese, and African heritage.
Insider Tip: Take the dhow or motorboat to Changuu, known as “Prison Island.” This tiny white-sand islet, once an 1860s prison for rebellious slaves, is now a sanctuary for endangered giant tortoises, as well as travelers in search of a castaway island.
Upon notice of you, gorillas in the wild will turn, stop, and stare at you with their deeply inquisitive and mysterious eyes—that moment is piercing and stand-alone in comparison. Weighing up to 440 pounds each (or, three times the average man), some 350 gorillas live in the misty mountains of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Trekking to find them is fast becoming a highlight of African travels, and is especially popular with families.
Insider Tip: Treks can be arduous and set in vastly varying terrain. Choose a good lodge with reputable guides and trekking options, like Sabyinyo Lodge.
The history of Ghana is rich and varied, where very early settlements can trace migrant ancestry from neighboring West Africa back to the 12th century, around the fall of the prosperous Ghana Empire. In the quest for gold, slaves became a massive commodity for Dutch, Danish, British, and Portuguese invaders here, who built the forts and castles that still stand along the Gold Coast today, where Accra became the British Gold Coast's capital in 1957.
Insider Tip: Sign up for a guided walking tour of the historical forts and castles that lie in ruin along the coast; guides will explain, in detail, personal stories, cultural impacts, and lasting legacies of the slave trade.
Sabar drumming is intoxicating—one hand strikes a drum in a catchy beat that speaks to the soul and encourages every limb to let loose. The drums are an integral part of indigenous music and dance in Senegal and are altogether mesmerizing in their tribal rhythm. Surrounded by locals clapping and dancing, experience the infectious beat and the exhilarating fun of dance that forms social life in Senegal.
Insider Tip: You’re likely to hear the balafon, which is a xylophone-type instrument made from gourds that sounds beautifully melodic when played well.


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Celebrate her birthday with a Shabby Garden Girl Milk Chocolate Lollipop.
Our Shabby Garden Girl Personalized Milk Chocolate Lollipops display a an adorable pattern of brown, purple and white stripes on a pink background. Each individually wrapped Shabby Garden Girl Milk Chocolate Lollipop is one-sided and features your custom wording in your choice of colors and fonts. Give any party or event a unique flair with these joyful personalized milk chocolate lollipops. Assembly required.


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This report represents the search results for the name CLINTON SPRADLEY, which is not unique. It's not the fact that the results belong the same person. It's your responsibility to verify a person you search before making your decision.
Please note: the companies above may be associated with different people named similarly CLINTON SPRADLEY.


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El Segundo, Calif. – The tablet PC’s popularity is showing no sign of waning.
IHS iSuppli is forecasting a 56 percent increase in worldwide tablet shipments, to 126.6 million units this year.
Apple, with its 9-inch iPad, will continue to dominate the market, but IHS noted that the 7-inch tablets — dominated by Samsung, Amazon and Barnes & Noble — are now the fastest-growing tablet segment.
In 2012 the 9-inch segment will comprise 59 percent of the market, with 74.3 million units shipping. This is up 35 percent from 2011.
However, the 7-inch category will see shipments almost double from last year, to 41.1 million for about 32 percent of the market. This increase was fueled by the introduction of lower-priced products in this area this year.
The rest of the market is shared between tablets falling into the 8- and 5-inch categories.
IHS reported that LG and Samsung were the primary suppliers of tablet displays during the first quarter of 2012, with 42 percent and 38 percent of the market, respectively. LG is supplying displays to Apple, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and Samsung is supplying its own tablet division.
The booming tablet market is also beginning to attract new display manufacturers, with Sharp, Japan Display and Panasonic dedicating capacity at their Gen 6 and 8 display plants to tablet production. These companies are expected to increase display output by 164 percent from 2011 to meet demand.


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Insurance carriers are either "admitted" or "non-admitted" by each states insurance department. Admitted carriers are subject to the rules, regulations, and overviews of the states where they do business. Non-admitted carriers are usually referred to as "surplus" or "excess lines insurers". Without non-admitted carriers, high loss-potential risks, those with loss issues or specialty risks would be uninsurable. Specialty Risks, earthquake and professional liability coverages are among those that are often not written by admitted carriers.
To insure the needs of all of our clients, Grey Lady Insurance uses admitted and non-admitted carriers. If you would like to research any of our carriers, please check out AM Best's website at the following link http://www.ambest.com AM Best is the largest and longest-established insurance rating company devoted to issuing in-depth reports and financial strength ratings about insurance organizations.

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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Home > Marketing Tools > What is branding?
This video was conceived, written and narrated by award-winning designer, branding specialist and Fast Company blogger David Brier to distill branding down to its basics answering that basic question "What is branding?" Animation, motion graphics and SFX by the incredibly talented Saar Oz.
Perfect for entrepreneurs, CEOs, innovators, rebels and disruptors of any kind.
It’s because we tapped into our ability to see. Not as ourselves, but as others. To see the minute details and trends others don’t see. Not just on the computer screen. Or in books. Or in galleries. But in — and through — the eyes, hearts and minds of people. That is the magic. That is the spark.
That is the genius... that gets each of us interested. And keeps us going. For something greater. For something previously impossible. For something nobody ever thought of before.