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Spend your work day on a computer? You’re in the right place. This is the second post in the Manage Your Work Load Series, which provides online marketers with work load organization applications to optimize browsing productivity.
Last week I talked about some of my favorite applications, including Rapportive (find contact info quickly through Gmail), Evernote (organize and store notes, Microsoft Word 2.0 in the cloud), and Lastpass (automatically save passwords and easily login to sites). You can check it out through the link below.
I have a hard time staying true to a diet. Just like I have a hard time staying focused when web browsing.
When (Ok, if) I go on a diet I need to clean out my cupboards, and plan most of my meals in advance (Willpower has never really been my strong point).
For a diet, I need reinforcement and organization to stay on task (Otherwise my diet will consist of coffee, brownies and peanut butter toast). So I keep a food diary and write down everything I eat. The same structure really helps me stay on task when web browsing.
Check out the 7 web browsing tools below which help me keep a web browsing diary.
Web Time Tracker is essentially the nagging girlfriend browsing tool. She knows where you go, and how long you spend there (the “there was traffic” excuse won’t work with Web Time Tracker).
Web Time Tracker keeps track of how much time you spend on each page you browse, in relation to your total web browsing activity for the day. The timer pauses whenever you are not actively using a page, so it accurately reflects the time spent actually web browsing, not the time a window has been open.
Web Time Tracker is a good way to force myself into productivity with irrefutable web browsing data (I do the same thing to force myself to eat healthy with my food diary).
Plan your tasks according to your browsing tendencies to boost your browsing efficiency (E.g. Schedule only 30 minutes of Facebook time in your day).
Review where you have browsed throughout your day, week, or lifetime.
Web Time Tracker holds you accountable for where and how long you browse, and reveals what your browsing habits truly are (today, yesterday and as long as you’ve been browsing).
Keep track of browsing time on sites you know decrease productivity (Somehow I watched 6 hours of Community on Netflix last weekend, yikes!).
Web Time Tracker leaves no room for excuses. You may not like what you see.
StayFocusd is Web Time Tracker for those of us with less resolve. You thought Web Time Tracker was a nag? You haven’t heard the half of it.
StayFocusd tracks the amount of time you spend browsing on specific sites and prevents you from using them after a predetermined amount of time. Identify sites with StayFocusd which you waste time on and how long you will allow yourself browse on them, and StayFocusd will block you from browsing on them once that established time is reached.
Like Web Time Tracker, StayFocusd only times you while you are browsing on the site, once you click out, the timer pauses.
Browser Optimization Tool or Personal Trainer?
I use StayFocusd as my virtual trainer browser tool, keeping me on-track and efficient while web browsing at work.
Additionally, StayFocusd helps you save you from yourself, with its “no cheat” browsing feature (self-named). Which will not allow you to remove sites as blocked once they have reached their maximum time allowance.
After you download StayFocusd, you need to identify which sites you’d like blocked, and how much time you will allow yourself to browse on them.
Prevent any lapse in self-control while browsing, with your own browsing productivity enforcing tool.
If you use Facebook for work and pleasure (link useful resource articles for other users, but also waste browser time viewing status updates). You either have to block Facebook and not post any links, or leave it unrestricted, and trust your self-control.
You can still access sites through a different web browser (don’t be tempted by Firefox).
For those of you who are interrupted a lot or switch from different browsing tasks frequently, Session Manager is the solution to all of your problems (Excluding that winning lottery ticket).
Session Manager allows you to save your current browser tabs, windows and pages and re-open them later.
Session Manager allows me to save browsing sessions so I can organize my work load. Planning out my daily browser activities and scheduling chunks of time to focus on specific tasks really helps me stay productive, and optimize my browsing.
Return to web browsing projects after having been interrupted.
Bookmarks might start giving you the stink eye.
While Session Manager allows you to save sets of tabs you use often, TabJump allows you to navigate between tabs.
Access frequently used tabs, and lock open tabs.
Restore closed browser tabs (Impress people and say “alakazam” first).
Larger interface, not very minimalist friendly.
Note: Right after installation, TabJump will not have much browsing history saved. You’re best off installing it, and checking out its web browsing functions a bit later in the day.
While Tabjump and Session Manager are browsing tools for the everyday user, Visibo’s TooManyTabs is designed for the web browsing tab junkie.
TooManyTabs is an extension designed to help you navigate within your browsing session, which gets pretty cluttered if you’re anything like me.
View all the browser tabs you have open, to get a more holistic view of your browser tabs (note the picture below).
Return to closed tabs, search tab history, and organize existing open tabs.
Organize, and access multiple open browser tabs.
Open closed tabs or browse tab history.
When open, TooManyTabs covers a large portion of your browser screen.
Speed Dial creates a Chrome homepage which acts as a central hub for all of your browsing bookmarks, and frequently visited sites.
My main motivation for using Speed Dial? I’m just too lazy to click through multiple folders in bookmarks, or goodness forbid type an entire URL into a search box to browse. What’s next? Walking up an escalator?
Organize site links according to your personal preferences.
Quickly access browser sites you use frequently.
It’s pretty! You can edit the theme and layout of Speed Dial (My color scheme is blue).
Note: Once speed dial is installed, you need to specify which sites you’d like to be stored on the Speed Dial page. After which, each new browser tab you access in Chrome will act as an access point for all of your saved sites.
Nice job reading about all the web browsing applications (gold star!). Now that you’ve downloaded 6 applications, here’s a seventh which will help you organize the rest.
AppJump lets you organize other Apps and Extensions by grouping them.
Optimize your web browsing extensions in organized groups.
Launch applications right from the AppJump menu.
AppJump only allows you to launch certain web applications from its dropdown menu.
You are well on your way to optimal efficiency in your online marketing campaign with these optimization web browsing tools, and work flow applications.
Keep looking busy, and you can use the time you’re saving to develop more Klout.


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Year 10 GCSE Food and Preparation students learnt from an expert in the fishmonger industry on Monday 4th March.
Hayley from What’s the Catch Fishmongers in Urmston, visited the Year 10 lesson to teach students key fish filleting skills.
To kick-off a series of lessons related to fish, professional fishmonger Hayley showed the students the ropes including knife skills, filleting, skinning and boning mackerel.
All students took part in a filleting lesson the next day, before pan frying their fillets for use in a mackerel pate recipe in preparation for a ‘Masterchef' style plating lesson.
“Hayley demonstrated how to fillet a fresh mackerel with flair, allowing the students to learn the techniques needed for their GCSE.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


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Here, we address the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with being a board member. We also look at best practices related to board operations, recruitment, fundraising and internal communications. This is the business side of any nonprofit, and it all leads to greater effectiveness of one of your most powerful assets: your nonprofit board.
What are the basic responsibilities of a board and the legal duties of board members?
In 2002, the U.S. government passed the American Competitiveness and Corporate Accountability Act (a.k.a. the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), which regulates the financial controls of corporate boards.
The Act itself doesn’t apply to nonprofits, but there are a number of provisions you might want to adopt voluntarily, particularly as they relate to board oversight and committees, disclosure, document retention, whistleblower policies and audits. We’re not alone in this recommendation. In its publication, Compliance Guide for 501©(3) Public Charities, the Internal Revenue Service recommends that nonprofits consider whether such governance practices are necessary to ensure sound operations and compliance with tax law.
It’s also important to note that Sarbanes-Oxley may be relevant to your nonprofit in that it inspired a number of state laws that govern nonprofits, such as the California Nonprofit Integrity Act of 2004, which addresses registration of a charity, financial reporting, auditing and other areas relevant to a nonprofit’s finances and management. And remember, state laws vary, so it’s important that you become familiar with relevant legislation in your area of operations.
How can they protect the board?
Bylaws are the written rules by which an organization is governed. They set forth the structure of the board and the organization. They determine the rights of participants and they determine the procedures by which rights can be exercised. In other words, bylaws guide the board in conducting business. Carefully crafted bylaws and adherence to them can help ensure the fairness of board decisions and provide protection against legal challenges.
It’s important to note that bylaws are in fact legal documents. This means there are legal requirements for what should be included. These requirements vary depending on the state in which you operate. For example, some state laws require membership, board selection and other issues to be stated in the articles of incorporation. To be sure your bylaws are on side with state laws, consult a lawyer before you begin.
Bylaws can help protect your directors and officers from personal liability. For example, your nonprofit can protect its directors and officers from costs arising from wrongful lawsuits by including provisions regarding indemnification in your bylaws.
In some cases, nonprofits are required to indemnify directors and officers, that is, protect and defend them from loss or harm resulting from risk. In other cases, they are prohibited from doing so. (In California, see California codes 5238 and 9246 for more details).
Here’s an example: A nonprofit is required to indemnify a director or officer for all costs the director incurred in successfully defending himself against a lawsuit. In such a case, issues could arise regarding the nonprofit’s ability to advance funds to the director to pay for defense, or its ability to reimburse the director for losses as required by law. For this reason, insurance is necessary. This topic is discussed in more detail in Legal.
Purchasing Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (D&O Insurance) will enable your nonprofit to indemnify your directors and officers. And, in the case of nonprofits that have enough assets to indemnify directors and officers out of the nonprofit’s funds, insurance will reimburse your nonprofit for funds advanced for legal defense. D&O Insurance can also pay for losses incurred against which the nonprofit is not permitted by statute to indemnify.
In fact, if your nonprofit is not able to offer this protection you may run the risk of being unable to recruit qualified directors.
It directly reimburses directors for legal costs they incur which the nonprofit cannot or will not pay.
It reimburses the nonprofit for the costs it incurs in indemnifying directors.
Before you sign on the dotted line, consider having your attorney or nonprofit insurance specialist explain your policy in detail.
Does the policy automatically cover directors and officers who come on after the policy has taken effect?
Does the policy provide for the advancement of funds to pay defense costs as they come due?
Is there coverage for claims arising from events occurring before the beginning of the policy period?
Does the policy provide coverage for employment practices liability?
What are the limits and deductibles?
Adapted in part from The Nonprofit Board’s Guide to Bylaws, by D. Benson Tesdahl (BoardSource, 2003).
How does the board ensure the organization is mission driven?
A mission-driven organization is one that is constituent-focused at every touchpoint. Your mission may be defined in terms of providing exemplary service, or developing products that meet and exceed the needs of your target audiences, or both.
A mission-driven strategy can be a framework to help your board align your programs and services with the values and priorities of your organization. But how do you ensure your board is using this framework effectively?
First, the executive director and the board should establish a guiding mission and vision that reflect the organization’s constituency. This will require careful research and strategic planning. It’s important that the executive director and staff support the board with the research they need in order to develop an informed mission that positions your organization appropriately and sets you up for success.
Once established, board commitment to driving your mission forward at every opportunity is essential. Such a commitment helps everyone in the organization create a solid operational structure, a strong organizational identity and effective communications and fundraising strategies.
Develop opportunities to keep board members communicating. Members should be engaged in moving your mission forward. Keep the line of communication open between board members and the executive director to ensure buy-in at all levels and a shared understanding of your common purpose.
Ask the board to regularly review communications and fundraising plans to ensure they tie in with mission and strategic goals. This keeps them tied into critical organizational activities and ensures the mission is top of mind for everyone. Be sure to follow up on their suggestions for improvement.
Don’t let your mission “drift.” Potential support from large donors or corporate sponsors can sometimes result in taking on programming that is not in line with your mission. If growth means a potential shift, do your research and plan your strategies before you make the leap.
What is the social benefit gained by our organization’s existence and how important is it?
Does our mission have meaning for stakeholders, or is it just boilerplate for grant applications?
Do we know our organization’s competitive advantage, and who our constituents are?
What are some best practices for board operations?
Implementing “best practices” for building and running a board effectively can help you further your cause with confidence. Here are some top issues to consider.
Federal law doesn’t dictate board size, but state laws often establish a minimum (typically one to three members).
Beyond legal requirements, the number of board members will depend largely on your organization’s needs. Before you decide on size, it’s best to think about your needs. Do you want to create a diverse board with varied skills, knowledge and experience to support your organization and match the needs of a diverse constituency? To determine the right number for your organization, think about the dynamics between members and their ability to accomplish tasks. Consider whether adding more will help or hinder in this regard.
A quorum is the minimum number of members that must be present at a meeting to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. This is typically established in an organization’s bylaws, although in some cases state law will determine the quorum. Often the quorum for a meeting of the board is one-third of its total members, or two directors (whichever is higher).
To ensure full participation and thoughtful decision making in the best interest of the organization, board meetings should always be carefully planned, facilitated and documented for implementation and follow-up.
During the meeting, stick closely to the agenda to make good use of everyone’s time. Focus on getting results and critical decision-making at every meeting.
Make attendance mandatory. Develop policies around meetings and hold members accountable. If a meeting is scheduled but agenda items have changed, don’t waste members’ time. Reschedule for another, more appropriate day.
Ask for board input on the agenda. This allows members to include topics of interest, increasing the likelihood of attendance and helping to keep them engaged while there. This can also help the executive director better understand where members stand on important issues.
Schedule time for discussion and networking among members. Give members the opportunity to get to know each other and build their own professional networks.
While an executive director is often a member of the board, involved in board discussions and information sharing, he or she is rarely granted a vote. After all, the board is technically the executive director’s employer and conflicts of interest could arise. To guard against this, both the board and the executive director should act independently from each other – the executive director as leader of the organization and the board in a governance role. Because of their passion and commitment, founders may want to directly exert their influence over the organization as a member of the board. Ultimately, the answer to this question rests in the founder’s ability to use his or her skills and experience to move the organization’s mission forward at the governance level. As a board member, a founder can be granted a vote. This means he or she should be able to effectively address the organization’s needs and provide guidance and support.
Term limits give both the board member and the organization an opportunity to determine if continued service is in the best interest of both parties. To ensure the organization’s ability to bring in fresh perspectives and expertise and foster its ability to be flexible and responsive to changing needs, many nonprofits set defined terms for their board members. These typically range from one to four years. However, some nonprofits choose not to adopt a limit – typically when an organization will benefit from the continued involvement of strong, active members. When developing policy in this area, think carefully about the needs of your organization and your funders.
Board committees help optimize individual expertise and diversity by allowing the board to use resources more effectively. By operating in smaller groups, members can often accomplish more than if the board acted as a whole, particularly where issues are complex or numerous.
Certain types of committees may be required by law. In California, for example, charities with gross revenues exceeding $2 million must establish an audit committee.
Board orientation is critical to getting organization-wide buy-in to your mission, values, organizational identity and strategic plans. It helps improve communication and participation, and it empowers new members with the tools they need to steward your nonprofit in the community. Orientation prepares your board members to provide informed guidance and support in governance issues, allowing your organization to make better use of their expertise.
Develop an orientation manual outlining what each member needs to know about service and your organization.
Give your board the tools they need to excel. Regularly update members on key organizational issues and good works.
Use mentoring and ongoing education to help members feel prepared.
Learn more! Get Getting On Board with Effective Orientation (www.boardsource.org). This BoardSource Toolkit can help you design your board orientation materials and training sessions.
Executive director evaluations are a significant component of a board’s responsibilities. They are critical to ensuring the executive director is in sync with a board, and driving the organization forward, toward its mission. Evaluations also help to clarify expectations and set goals for the future.
For more information about executive director evaluations, read Managing People.
Where do we find board members?
Finding the right candidates for your board is not an easy task. Ideally, you’ll recruit individuals with a range of complementary skills who are as passionate about your mission as you are. So, where do you start?
One-third would be individuals who have access to financial resources or soliciting donations.
One-third would be individuals with management expertise in areas of financial, marketing, legal and the like.
One-third would be individuals connected at the community level, with expertise in your service field.
Then, think about other characteristics such as age, gender, diversity, geographic representation and familiarity with your cause.
Consider current volunteers and significant donors as candidates. Ask for board and staff suggestions, and look at business leaders and high net-worth individuals in the community.
Sites like boardnetUSA (www.boardnetusa.org), VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) and BoardSource (www.boardsource.org) also help nonprofit boards and new leaders find each other. The latter also offers “Recruiting a Stronger Board: A BoardSource Toolkit,” which, among other tools, provides a sample board matrix to help you outline the desired expertise, sectors and demographics that comprise your board.
You might consider designating a board nominations committee to identify potential candidates. Ask the board to seek out candidates who can contribute in a unique way. And be sure to review each candidate in light of your mission and goals.
What role does the board chair play?
What is their relationship with the executive director?
Successful, mission-driven nonprofits have two things in common: 1. a strong executive director and 2. an engaged, collaborative board chair. Without exception, the role of board chair is paramount to ensuring an active, focused and supportive board. This in turn ensures a healthy, happy nonprofit.
The board chair’s commitment to stakeholders is to operate under the guiding principle of what is best for the organization. He or she should facilitate board leadership and good governance. In this way, the chair molds the board’s culture, work and impact.
A board chair is responsible for leading the board and setting the tone for all members. He or she oversees governance and policy setting, with a focus on mission, direction, priorities and evaluation. The chair has a significant influence on how the board uses its time (and in particular is often instrumental in helping the board address fundraising goals).
In addition to overseeing board and committee meetings, supporting recruitment, and assessing the performance of board members and the executive director, the board chair works closely with the executive director. The two should meet regularly to collaboratively drive the organization’s mission forward.
The relationship between the executive director and board chair is key. Trust, respect and a willingness to rely on each other’s strengths are critical, along with a common understanding of the organization’s goals and the strategies needed to get there. Both the executive director and the chair should also have clearly defined roles and responsibilities so that everyone understands where one individual’s authority ends and the other person’s begins. This helps to determine what issues are matters for the board, and what issues lie in the domain of the organization itself.
Partnering to make sure board resolutions are carried out.
Appointing committee chairs and recommending who will serve on committees.
Preparing strategic agendas for board meetings that are geared to decision-making.
Conducting new board member orientation.
Each acting as spokespersons when necessary.
Adapted in part from BoardSource and the Board Chair Handbook, Second Edition (www.boardsource.org).
How do we get board members engaged for our cause?
How do we get them to raise funds?
Board members play a vital role in helping an organization drive its mission forward. And in most instances, board members want to fulfill their responsibilities and contribute positively to the work of the nonprofit they serve. When a member is not actively participating, it’s often due to a lack of understanding of what is expected or not having access to the tools necessary to participate effectively.
Actively involve your board in the development of strategic plans, including fundraising plans. A board can be a significant resource in terms of making introductions. In fact, they often have the business expertise that can be useful in developing a sound plan.
The board is responsible for ensuring the financial health of your organization. Getting them involved at the planning stage helps boards understand their fundraising responsibilities, builds excitement toward implementation and increases the likelihood that members will want to engage in actionable activities.
If you sense resistance, you may want to conduct a session with the board to discuss any reluctance to being involved in fundraising. Such a session may reveal the source of hesitation so you can address it.
Providing the board with outside training in fundraising strategies and techniques will help mitigate such fears, as will setting up a structure for successful fundraising that may include partnering board members with other board members, volunteers or staff members.
Tips to get members moving.
Work with the board chair to get your board members involved in developing an annual fundraising plan. Put numbers on your program objectives, such as how many kids you’ll send to camp or how many meals you want to serve to a needy public.
Create an action plan and give each board member a job. Ensure all individuals understand their role and how it relates to results. How is each board member going to help make the plan a reality? For example, some may seek out sponsors, some may enlist volunteers and some may serve on committees to strengthen community and government relationships. Be sure to tie all responsibilities back to your cause and your fundraising goal.
Communicate regularly with your board members to keep excitement up and momentum going. Keep in touch weekly or monthly and keep them informed of your success. Board engagement is strongest when members’ interests match those of the organization.
To learn more about getting your board engaged for your mission, read Fundraising, and Marketing & Communications.
How do we keep the board communicating effectively?
The board assumes a unique responsibility in the nonprofit sector. It is obligated to hire the executive director, develop policy, assume fiduciary responsibilities and support the executive director in implementing strategies to move the organization forward. Each member offers a diverse perspective, distinct expertise and unique character, yet all work toward a common goal.
Communication between the board and the executive director is vital to the health of your organization. Regular, open meetings between the board chair and the executive director are paramount and must be guided by what’s best for the organization. Each should keep the other informed about trends, developments and the like.
Disagreements should be respectfully resolved and responsibilities should be clear. As leaders in their respective positions, the executive director and the chair act as partners to guide your nonprofit and set the tone for the board and the organization at large.
Focus meetings on strategy, not just administration.
Make it easy for routine issues to be dispensed with quickly. Then, get your board talking about deeper issues that can help you meet your goals. Provide clear, concise agendas and disseminate them in advance so board members can come prepared to engage, ask insightful questions and provide informed opinions.
Create an environment that encourages board members to freely express their opinions, even if they challenge the status quo. Consider bringing in a facilitator to discuss complex issues. This will help keep the chair, executive director or any one member from pushing a particular agenda in an attempt to sway the group.
If your board is large, consider breaking up into groups for discussion.
Smaller group discussions encourage creativity and may encourage less outspoken members to join in and offer their expertise.
Make it easy for the board to understand and act.
Use real examples and frame issues in terms of what you want the board to do. Discuss strategies you want to implement and talk about how you intend to get there.
How do you deal with an ineffective board member?
Most individuals choose to serve on a board because they want to contribute their expertise, collaborate with peers, give back to the community and affect change in a meaningful way. However, there are instances in which a board member is not effectively engaged, or is ineffective in his or her role. There may be a reasonable explanation.
The board member is not clear on what is expected of him or her.
The board member is not comfortable with an assignment given.
The board member is not in the right role. He or she really wants to be a direct service volunteer.
Whatever the case, you’ll want the board chair to resolve the problem right away. He or she should meet with the member to discuss what is causing reduced participation and seek an appropriate resolution. Clarifying expectations and providing training, orientation or coaching may help the member meet expectations. If the case is that the member is “burnt out,” allowing him or her to gracefully resign may be the appropriate solution.
To help mitigate the chance of a member becoming ineffective, develop expectations in writing. Provide them to each potential board member before they accept the position. Once on board, orient individuals to ensure your organization’s mission, goals and objectives are clearly understood. Along the way, keep your board updated on your good work and get members involved where appropriate. Consider starting formal committees to put boundaries on responsibilities and tasks. And don’t forget to conduct annual board evaluations to determine what’s working and what isn’t.
How important is board assessment?
What are the steps in board evaluation?
Performance evaluations are often a cause for apprehension, even among board members. Individuals tend to assume a performance assessment is designed to highlight bad performance, but this should not be the case. Without review and reflection, it’s impossible to determine whether your board and your organization are meeting goals and making progress.
Identify gaps and improve performance. They help the chair and the executive director understand where they may need to support board members with training, coaching or member partnering to help a member meet goals and objectives.
Hold the board accountable for its performance. They create transparency and add credibility to board decision-making.
Offer an opportunity to communicate objectively. They offer a vehicle to openly discuss strengths and weaknesses and realign board members with the organization’s identity, mission, values and goals.
For the chair, provide important feedback on leadership style and facilitation skills. They highlight the chair’s strengths and weaknesses in handling challenges, and his or her ability to keep board members engaged.
To get started, experts recommend a nonprofit board conduct a self-assessment every two years. That said, it’s also important to assess each board member’s performance before a new term is granted.
Individual board members’ performance can be tied to a full board assessment process by asking board members to rate their own performance at the same time that they rate board performance. You may also want board members to conduct peer evaluations, and assess other board members’ contributions.
Board chair performance can be evaluated by the governance committee or you may want to ask board members to provide anonymous assessments. The results should be communicated in a private meeting.
Get board buy-in. Without consensus from all members, the board won’t participate.
Research and explore before you jump in. If you’re new to board assessment, form a task force to investigate how to appropriately conduct a self-assessment. Research the self-assessment tools available and choose those that are best aligned with your needs. Get board members involved at the research and selection phase and have them refine their chosen tool for effective self-reflection. If costs are a concern, identify foundations that fund board development activities and include assessment costs in the organization’s budget.
Devote time to planning. Ensure members have enough time to complete the assessment and determine when and how you’ll discuss results.
Consider bringing in a facilitator. Members need to know how to give constructive feedback. If anyone is unclear, you may want to bring in a facilitator to aid in the evaluation process and help discussions go smoothly.
Follow up and implement recommendations to affect real board change. Expectations and duties should be clarified and each member should be provided with opportunities for self-improvement.
Adapted in part from BoardSource, Assessing your Performance (www.boardsource.org/Spotlight.asp?ID=14.530).

industry_corpus2: Others


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We live in an era which has seen the beginning and the rise of the digital technology. What was not possible to think a couple of decades back, like instant connectivity with anyone and anywhere through the internet and cell phones, is now the norm of our lifestyle. Just like the internet has brought a revolution in our lives, blockchain is poised to become a phenomenon as the internet and has already become one of the hottest and most discussed topics around the world.
There are several reasons why this distributed database technology is gaining quite some popularity in a diverse range of sectors- from financial fields to healthcare to media and even running government operations. The primary reason for the growing popularity of blockchain is its unchangeable nature of each and every record in the database. This is the reason why it can be applied in several commercial and other transactions, records as well as in financial record-keeping. The blockchain technology works in such a way that no central authority is in charge. Thus, in essence, blockchain is autonomous, decentralized, and managed databases. According to a survey conducted by Deloitte, blockchain could transform business, government, and society in profound ways.
Although the technology of blockchain is now an application in almost all walks of life, bitcoin was initially conceived for the first ever cryptocurrency in the world. It was launched in 2009 as first decentralized digital currency to break the influence of banking sector of money by an anonymous person or a group of anonymous person by the code name of Satoshi Nakamoto , bitcoin gained the attention of financial world as the permanence, security, and distributed nature of Bitcoin ensured it was a currency maintained by a growing community but cannot be controlled by anyone and no one will be able to manipulate. Since the launch of bitcoin, dozens of ambitious tech startups have vied with each other to produce the equivalent of bitcoin in blockchain-based cryptocurrency such as ether, ripple, dash etc.
There was a time when blockchain was in synonymous with the bitcoin cryptocurrency. Once its true worth is realized, it fast starts emerging as a business focus for many companies in several industries. Consumer products, manufacturing, technology, banks, media, and telecommunications are some of the industries where blockchain is either already in production or are planning to deploy blockchain. According to the IBM study, about 80 percent of the 3,000 executives surveyed indicated that they were using or considering using the blockchain technology for their industrial operations. Moreover, around 71% of business leaders who are actively using blockchain believe it plays a significant role in advancing the technology and enhancing their business.
Blockchain potential for reducing bank infrastructure costs – 30% (source: news.slashdog.org).
Annual savings potential for banks using blockchain technology – $8-12 billion(source: silicon.co.uk).
Amount the global blockchain market is expected to be worth in 2024 – $20 billion (source: prenewswire).
Average investment in blockchain projects in 2017 – $1 million (source: techinasia).
Amount of funding that blockstream has raised to date- $ 76 million (source: coindesk).
Amount that IBM is investing in blockchain-powered IOT – $200 million (source: coindesk).
Number of employees IBM is dedicating to blockchain powered IOT projects – 1,000 employees (source: coindesk).
Percentage of major North American and European banks that are exploring blockchain – 90% (source:cryptoinnews).

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


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BandMgrX – A booking app for gigging musicians… from a couple gigging musicians.
Thanks for visiting the BandMgrX site from Sugar Still, we made this site to share a few tools we made for ourselves as we booked over 300 gigs around the US and Canada over the past 2 years, and to share some of the helpful tips we picked up along the way. Maybe you’ll find these tools and tips useful too. If so, awesome.
Our first product is called BandMgrX and you can download it from the Downloads page. It’s software that runs on your Mac, iPhone, and Windows computer. It’s software that helps you book gigs and then promote those gigs to local media by sending formletter emails and using social media. Watch the video tutorials in the Help section to learn any in-depth details.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


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Way back at the end of December we took a little trip back to Lexington, Kentucky. We liked it so much when we were there last year that we decided to return.
We visited Buffalo Trace Distillery and saw their bourbon making process. It's a gorgeous operation. We had a great tour and even got to watch them hand-bottling Blanton's bourbon.
That night we went to a great bar in Lexington called Arcadium. It has a bunch of old classic video games like Ms Pac Man, Joust and Donkey Kong. They have a great craft beer and bourbon selection too. I asked the fantastic bartender to recommend a bourbon cocktail and she suggested a bourbon sour with egg white. It sounded a little strange, but I tried it and it tasted incredible!
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all the ingredients. Shake it hard for 10 seconds and strain into cocktail glasses.
This makes one large or two small cocktails. I love having smaller cocktails in coupe glasses. The egg white makes it so creamy and delicious, it's really one of my favourite drinks. Cheers!

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


text: Luchsinger, J.C. 1990. "Interactions Between Plains Pocket Gophers and Two Varieties of Dryland Alfalfa" (M.S. Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln) pp. 80.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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The middle of the wet season is a busy time for most corn farming families, but one farmer in Viqueque has found a way to dramatically reduce his workload by using velvet bean, or lehe as the native plant is known in Timor-Leste.
Weeding can be a huge burden on farmers in the wet season and usually requires the help of the whole family. Whether or not a crop is weeded can mean the difference between its success and failure.
Whether or not a crop is weeded can mean the difference between its success and failure.
However, lehe or velvet bean, a native plant that Seeds of Life is helping the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries distribute, can reduce this workload and improve plant growth by naturally smothering weeds.
Viqueque farmer, Filomeno Pinto first heard about the technology when he attended a MAF-SoL field day at the Betano research station last year.
Pinto employed the technology by planting velvet bean between his corn plants in January 2012.
Lehe is planted a few weeks after corn, this ensures any weeds will be covered by the lehe, but the corn will already be high enough to continue growing.
After smothering the weeds, the lehe decomposes, leaving the soil soft and fertile for the next season.
“Our neighbours stop and ask what variety we’re growing, we tell them it’s not the variety, but the lehe has really fertilised the ground,” he said.
Pinto and Monteiro first heard of velvet bean from MAF researcher Inacio Savio Pereira, who has been working to bring new technologies to farms in Timor-Leste.
“Normally I just bring improved seed varieties to farmers but now I bring velvet bean too because it’s a great help to farmers, reduces their workload and helps them produce more corn,” Pereira said.


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Item Size: H-2", L-19, W-5.5"
FBT-60 Ideal for flowers and bonsai plants, Producing a clean cut.
• Hardened steel blades with rust preventive coating.
Our clients can avail from us garden loppers that are appreciated for their light weight, durability and quick action. The blades are made out of special carbon steel that is hardened and tempered. Steel handle provided has a nice strong grip and thus is easy to use.
We have gained a remarkable position in the market that is involved in offering Garden Scissor.
Leveraging on our vast infrastructure, we are capable of supplying, wholesaling, trading Lopping Pruner.
We take pleasure to introduce ourselves as one of the renowned manufacturer of Garden Scissor.
Loppers are a type of scissors used for pruning twigs and small branches. They are the largest type of manual garden cutting tool. They are usually operated with two hands, and with handles. Our range has the attributes of robust construction, good efficiency and durability.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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"Valor Declan’s birth story is one woven by many answered prayers. I can’t type one sentence further without first acknowledging that God’s tender love, grace, and peace were so very present in every moment of our experience. Valor (or Declan, as we call him) is our 3rd and final baby. Knowing this would be our last birth experience, I had prayed for several things to happen according to my heart’s desires, and God honored each one of them.
The first of these answered prayers was getting connected to the wonderful Lydia Stuemke as our birth photographer. Never having had a photographed birth, I asked God to provide a good deal for one. Within days of inquiring on a Facebook group for a reasonably priced professional, Lydia contacted me with a deal that fit what I had prayed for! It felt too good to be true!
My due date was January 2nd. Dreading the thought of potentially being pregnant past 42 weeks as I had with my last baby, I was doing everything I could to get this baby to come soon…acupressure, long walks, herbal teas, consuming vast amounts of dates, pleading with God, etc. The Sunday before Declan’s birth, my husband Andrew and I went on a date to the woods and hiked for what felt like five miles (but was probably just one or two). That night I thought I was getting sick with an intestinal bug, but this felt different than any other “virus” I’d experienced before. I was fine the next day. On Monday night, as I bounced on the birthing ball while playing cards with my family, I felt frequent Braxton-Hicks contractions, as I had been for days, but with no increasing intensity. I secretly hoped this meant that labor would be coming soon, but tried not to obsess over it (which was not easy!).
At 12:30 am Tuesday January 3rd, I awoke from sleep to a contraction and noticed that my low back was aching. I got up and went to the bathroom and started timing the next few contractions. They were consistently less than three minutes apart. I was hesitant to believe this was active labor, even though I knew the sensations were valid, but decided to contact Lydia (nearly an hour away from us), who immediately set out in our direction. Between contractions I felt completely fine, but with each one, my low back and legs ached. I woke up Andrew and we began to get ready. Andrew called Amie Hernandez, our midwife at the birth center, who encouraged us to wait 30 minutes before leaving the house since I could still talk and move during the contractions. So we waited, and by a little after 1:00 am I was undoubtedly in real labor. Somewhere in that time frame, I had also notified my doula, one of my best friends, Samantha Schoenecke, who then headed out to meet us at the birth center. We woke up my mom and dad, who were staying with us to help out, and my mom got ready and hopped in the minivan. We left as soon as Lydia greeted us at our door. At 2:00 am we were on our way to the birth center, with soft piano music playing (Dollar Tree cds for the win!) to help me relax.
We arrived at the birth center around 2:20 am, and were greeted softly by Amie and the staff. They had already prepped our selected birthing room #3 and had the tub filled with hot water just waiting for me. I labored a few minutes up against the bed and tub while everyone got things ready around me. It was so quiet and peaceful; I could hardly tell there was movement going on in the background. Shortly after we arrived I decided to climb into the water, which felt wonderful on my belly and body. Contractions came swiftly now, and I was getting more focused. Another midwife named Amy did a Doppler check on Declan, which proved to be a little more difficult as he had dropped down much lower in my abdomen. Between contractions we all chatted and joked, and then I became more inwardly focused.
I changed positions in the tub several times, trying to find the most comfortable way to relax completely. Andrew climbed in with me and stroked my back, while Samantha helped me sip water and whispered encouragement. My mom acted as the second photographer, snapping away silently on her iPhone and updating family via text while Lydia swiftly and smoothly documented the unfolding events with her stealthy camera. As wave after wave of strong contractions washed over me, I internally repeated 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 from the Bible, which was so empowering: “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” I prayed silently, asking God to bring our baby quickly and relieve me of this pain soon. Between contractions I was also encouraged by the birth affirmations I had made and had posted on the walls around the room, which included artwork by our 4 year-old son Judah.
I didn’t think I was too far along in labor, so I told Andrew “once this gets really hard, I’m going to want the shower head on my back.” It wasn’t long, though, before I felt a pop and my water broke! I announced the fact, and Andrew helped me get my swim shorts off. Within seconds I was bearing down. I could hear Amie behind me then, gently coaching Andrew how to catch our baby. I don’t remember how long I pushed, but it was probably about 3 or 4 times. Since I was facing the outside of the tub and couldn’t see the birth, Andrew joyfully exclaimed, “Babe, I can see his head!” After a pause, Amie directed me to lift up my leg into an asymmetrical position, and then at 3:19 am, weighing 9 pounds & ounces and 22 inches long, out came our son. Andrew caught him and gently guided him up to my chest.
The emotions in the moments following our son’s birth were near impossible to describe in words. I felt such a mix of joy, relief, exhaustion, shock, and wondrous awe. It will never cease to amaze me what a beautiful miracle childbirth is; to experience nine months of growing a human life inside my body, being able to bring forth my child through birth, and holding that precious bundle of wet, slippery warmth against my chest. When Andrew placed Valor Declan in my arms, I was still catching my breath from the whirlwind of labor that had lasted just less than three hours, and, shaking with joy and exhaustion, I cried and thanked God for His grace in getting us to that moment so graciously.
I felt so safe and loved during our time at the birth center. Not only did having my mom there to witness the birth of her grandson, my close friend at my side gently cheering me on, and my best friend of a husband tenderly supporting me through every moment of labor and birth make it a serene experience, but the atmosphere of the birth center made us feel welcomed, confident, and at home.
Amie and the staff at the birth center were incredible, making our experience there one that I’ll never forget and will forever be retelling with a grin on my face. They comforted and praised us, encouraged us, and overall provided such a sweet and tender hospitality with warmth that felt just like home. They truly made us feel in control of our birth, honoring every request we had made and ensuring we had the experience we dreamed of. Valor Declan was the first baby to be born in Room #3. The birthing room was more beautiful and luxurious than a hotel honeymoon suite, and being served cold orange juice and granola bars in bed after the birth was a delicious perk! We were invited to stay as long as we felt we needed, and were able to rest comfortably in the privacy of our room with virtually no interruption.
Andrew had prepared to make us all breakfast, and cooked our family a delicious brunch of homemade waffles before we headed home, which we offered to the staff (all of whom felt more like good friends at that point!). Amie would have stayed and eaten with us, but she had already been up with another birth before ours and was in much need of her own bed and pillow. We ate at the big table in the luxurious kitchen of the birth center, and laughed and relived the beautiful, crazy-fast, amazing experience that had just unfolded those hours before. Not to knock on hospitals, but how many families can say they’ve enjoyed a leisurely home-cooked meal in a beautiful and comfortable kitchen at the place they’ve just given birth, with their hours-old baby snug in their arms and friendly staff stopping at the table to chat and exchange stories?
Now, with me, every birth experience from hospital to home to birth center has had its euphoric effect on me and my memory…but in conversation a week after our son’s birth, while holding my precious newborn in my arms, I commented to my family that out of all three births, our experience at the birth center ranks as my #1 favorite. A beautiful atmosphere, gorgeous home-away-from-home facilities, outstanding staff that made us feel like family, and a birth team that felt so connected to our hearts made it the best of all three birth experiences I’ve had. I am so thankful and overwhelmed by God’s goodness that covered our son’s arrival with incredible grace, and for the strength He gave me to complete the hard yet amazingly beautiful marathon that is pregnancy and natural childbirth. And I am so incredibly grateful for each person that played a vital and unforgettable role in helping us welcome our son into the world. We couldn’t have done it without them!"
I can't recommend the Birth Center of Bloomington-Normal highly enough! Their care was tender and personalized and exceeded my expectations. To learn more about working with Amie Hernandez at the birth center in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, visit their website here.
It was a Thursday night. We had just wrapped up dinner and were winding down for bed when my Facebook messenger dinged. I was in a group message with a friend, who volunteers for the organization, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. NILMDTS is a volunteer organization whose mission is to provide "remembrance photography to parents suffering the loss of a baby with a free gift of professional portraiture."
My friend Debbie had been asked to photograph the birth of baby Finn, who had been diagnosed with Mosaic Trisomy 13. Tina's doctors told her that Finn may not be compatible with life and she and Jayson prepared for the worst. Debbie was there with them at their final ultrasound (see her blog here.) Finn was due to arrive by scheduled c-section the following week, but the delivery date was unexpectedly moved up, leaving them scrambling to find a photographer who could volunteer.
Without a second thought, I said yes. It had been on my heart to volunteer and though I cried and shook at the thought of it, I needed to be there.
I spoke to Tina, and she expected her surgery to be no earlier than 7:30 am. I got a message from her just after 3:00 am on the morning of the 8th, but my phone didn't ring. I woke up on my own, 40 minutes later and felt the urge to check my phone. When I saw her message, saying her c-section had been moved up and would be done right away, I was out the door and driving in under five minutes.
I arrived about ten minutes before they took Tina back to the OR.
He was beautiful. I know none of us will ever forget the moment he was held up over the curtain.
He looked perfect and was doing perfectly. He went down to the NICU for observation, where he had lots of eyes on him. Tina patiently waited up in the Labor & Delivery unit for a bed to open downstairs. She waited... and waited... and waited. Eight hours after Finn's birth, she was able to go down to the NICU and REALLY meet her baby.
Now, they have confirmed what the prenatal tests found and know that 2.5% of Finn's cells are affected. Since he has tested to have a VERY low amount of affected cells, this could mean he continues life as a healthy, average kid, or it could mean that there are special considerations that come as he grows. It definitely means treasuring every moment and taking one day at a time.
It was SUCH an honor to meet Tina and Jayson and their beautiful son, Finn. I am so full of gratitude that our paths crossed and am so thankful she graciously has allowed me to share this part of their story.
If you or someone you know are in need of a photographer for the loss of your baby, please reach out to me or to Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep for more information and support.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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My thoughts are with the family. Sad hearts for sure.
The absence of Angelo here on earth will be felt for a very long time but his presence in heaven will be enjoyed for an eternity! My sincere condolences!!
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I was glad to know him and my thoughts and love are with you all.


text:
It can be tough finding a gift for your loved ones. Whether it’s a holiday or a special occasion, you can create them a unique, one-of-a-kind gift that shows how much you care. Simply find a product, upload your design, and order. It’s as easy that!
Searching for the perfect birthday gift? Maybe you’re seeking a wedding present or a christening gift. Instead of buying a standard present, opt for something unusual. You can gift them a personal creation by adding your own photos or designs to any of our products.
If you have friends who are looking for something very unique and unusual, consider creating them a personalised gift. Celebrate big moments like a graduation or an anniversary with a customised gift that they can’t find elsewhere!


text:
Whatever your business, TRANSITIC brings your textile products to life. As the exclusive distributor for the French market, we offer the VEIT, BRISAY and KANNEGIESSER range of products to meet the highest demands in textile finishing.
For over 50 years, VEIT has specialised in professional products for hand ironing. A leader in research and innovation, VEIT combines high quality standards with respect for the finished product.
Pressing stations have a modular composition and can be tailored to each work area. All have been designed so that work surfaces can be optimally tailored to each type of textile. Pressing stations are developed for the clothing industry as well as for sewing and clothing shops.
Veit-Kannegiesser heat sealing systems are designed for laminating and melding different types of soft materials with an adhesive film, such as leather, felt cuttings, quilted fabrics or knitwear. The temperature of the heating area can be adjusted separately or simultaneously.
The productivity ranges from 800 to 4,000 garments per hour, and this model is ideal for large volumes. We customise each installation to the specific requirements of our customers, and the tunnel finisher comes with modules for preheating, steam and air.
The steam dummy is a simple finishing appliance that meets your requirements for all garment types, such as jackets or trousers. Great attention has been paid to ensure the user friendliness and ergonomics of steam dummies. The steam dummy’s air output is adjustable and suitable for all fabric types. The appliance can steam over 100 garments per hour. All dummy busts are adjustable to fit all sizes.
The Veit steam generator iron operates at different power levels, ranging from 2.2 to 60 kW. All appliances are fitted with an adjustable steam flow so the steam can be increased for heavier materials. All VEIT steam generator irons can be adjusted to suit your requirements. VEIT strictly adheres to European safety regulations and guidelines for all its steam generators and iron models.
Discover our products designed especially for the automotive sector, providing excellent finishing quality for all fabric- or leather-covered surfaces. From hand pressing to automatic finishing, from heat sealing to laminating and steam generators, TRANSITIC offers a wide choice of VEIT and Kannegiesser solutions to help increasing productivity while ensuring the highest quality finish.
Our dividing hangers are designed to organise storage by creating areas on racks or wardrobes indicating different types of items. Our hangers are perfectly balanced and can carry any type of identification label (barcode, RFID or other). The identifications are thus always visible, especially from the storage aisles.
World leader Polypack provides innovative garment bagging machines that allow garments to be wrapped not only quickly and automatically but also individually or in small batches. It is ideal for clothing and steaming workshops as well as textile mills. Bagging capacity depends on machine size but ranges from 40 to 1400 items per hour. The bagging machine will ensure that your clothes are protected immediately after production.


text: Adaptive Wheelchair Pant Dressing at its Best. Easy to Put on Gabardine Open Back Wheelchair Clothing Pants for Men have a large back flap and adjustable domes at the back of the waistband for easy dressing. Closed waistband with zipper fly. Men's handicapped adaptive clothing pants for wheel chairs offer both convenience and discretion to those who use a wheelchair, or who are incontinent or have incontinence issues. Adaptive Clothing Wheelchair user trousers are designed for dressing from a seated position! Terrific for those that do not weight bear. 44 inch outseam.


text:
Eighth grade students primarily from the STEM and Creative Computing elective classes took a field trip to the NC State University De sign Lab. The students were given a tour of the School of Design labs for architecture, industrial design, textiles, animation, and graphic design. Following the tour, students heard a presentation on the design process that all designers follow then were given the opportunity to put the design process into practice. Small groups were given a description of a person, a problem faced by the person, and a specific product to create that would solve the problem. Utilizing the design process, students made prototypes of their products and presented them to the group. Our students showed great creativity in designing such things as multipurpose pens that had heating and cooling features, shoes that would react to a pressure plate and self-tighten with telescoping hands, and chairs that provided light for studying. All the students were engaged in the process and were proud to present their design ideas to the group.
Field Day May 3, 2019 "Multiple"


text: He did everything he could to keep her near, but she couldn't stay even though she loved him so strongly. She had to do the right thing and free herself from who she had been. They shared one soft final kiss, and she went. This title is available in 3 edits.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


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Music album reviews, Live reviews and Interviews from DSD - Alternative Rock, Indie, Metal and more.
Take a look at some of our latest music reviews from the world of music.
Nell Bryden What Does It Take?
The Scratch Whatever Happened To Friday Night?


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One of the UK’s landmark buildings has been given a 21st century facelift with the help and support of Sign Specialists. To provide the latest, most prominent display, we were tasked with producing and installing illuminated signage to four sides of the building’s tower at heights of around 40 metres.
The architectural icon that is Fort Dunlop was built in 1916 and is immediately recognisable to users of the M6 near Birmingham where it towers over the southbound carriageway.
Once the world’s largest factory, the building was originally home to global tyre manufacturer, Dunlop Rubber Company. When large scale production ceased in the 1980s the site stood largely derelict until a major redevelopment programme twenty years later.
Reborn as a thriving commercial hub, the rejuvenated Fort Dunlop provides a truly modern setting for hotel, leisure and retail concessions as well as providing over 300,000 square feet of office space.
Along with the help of Nationwide Platforms, the UK’s leading provider of powered access, Sign Specialists were able to quickly and comfortably reach the desired heights and overcome the height challenge with minimum fuss.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


text:
What a learning curve! Wow. I’m exhausted. Thank goodness for YouTube!
In just over a month I’ve accomplished so much. Things I’d never even dreamed of!
I knew nothing about design, less about manufacturing and even less still (if that’s even possible) about shipping, customs and taxes. But now? Well… let’s just say…. I can get by (just).
Now I can answer questions like “do you require OEM Terms?” and “will you accept DDU shipping terms?” without breaking into a panic sweat.
Now I can even take a drawing and turn it into a vector (and I know what a vector is!) Impressive huh?
But so what? What’s the point of all this?
Today I finished the mat designs. I sent them to my manufacturer. And I placed the first order for Purple Lotus Designs. That’s what!
A GIANT thank you to everyone who helped out along the way! Especially the lovely souls who took the time to provide feedback on the designs. I can honestly say that without you, (and all the extra work you made me do) these designs would not be as awesome as they are now!
And so now we wait….


text: Mobile Essentials began selling mobile phone covers and other accessories in 1999 at a local market in Melbourne. It then expanded quickly to provide more accessories and basic 'on the spot' repairs to customers. In 2003, ME 2003 Pty Ltd was incorporated with the aim of providing a comprehensive service in repairs and accessories to mobile phone users. The company has continued to expand and now offers a great range of products and services to our customers. The company specialist in offering electronic repairs on mobile phones, all models of iPhone and iPod Touch, iPad 1, iPad 2 and laptop LCD and game consoles to our value customers. We hope to increase the range of electronic equipments that we can service.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text:
SAN PEDRO, CA – The Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup hosted the second ICSA Big Boat National Intersectional of the intercollegiate sailing season. Ten teams earned their invitational berths from the Los Angeles Yacht Club through competitive resume.
This season the field included teams from five of the seven ICSA districts and a team from Ireland. The invitees were The US Coast Guard Bears, Navy, Maine Maritime, College of Charleston, University of South Florida, Oregon State, UC Santa Barbra, University of Southern California, Cal Maritime, and the Cork Institute of Technology.
The event was sailed aboard identically prepared Catalina 37's with crews of seven. The racing took place just outside the breakwater separating San Pedro Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The peaks of Santa Catalina Island and Rolling Hills serve as a backdrop with the sharp cliffs of Point Fermin to windward and the prominent Angels Gate Lighthouse to leeward.
The picturesque landmarks were only visible on the first day of racing as an abnormal layer of dense fog lingered on the racecourse on Saturday and socked in completely on Sunday.
The Offshore Bears showed a dramatic improvement over their previous Harbor Cup performances. Offshore Coach Kevin Dooley commented, "Our team has been building confidence in their speed and have practiced enough to know they can handle the big boats as well as anyone in college sailing. With even or better boat speed they were able to position and maintain clear lanes in order to stay in phase through the wind shifts."
Coast Guard set a new team benchmark finishing fourth overall and winning the third race wire to wire. Dooley continued, "We sailed with and beat some good teams this weekend. Everyone sent their best players. We had six different winners in each of the six races. We've improved, there isn't any one weakness anymore, from here on it's just a matter of settling out all the little details.
Heading into the last day ten points separated the Bears from moving up to second and an additional ten points separated them from moving down to ninth. Despite the extended delay and subsequent abandonment of racing on Sunday the Offshore Team stayed focused and ready for racing throughout the afternoon.
"Anything could have happened and our team was eager to race. We put on a show for the spectators during the warm-up. Unfortunately, despite the best attempts by the LAYC race committee, the fog was too thick and visibility too limited for safe racing to take place on Sunday."
Coast Guard's 2017 Harbor Cup crew included bowman Will Colomb '18, mastman Toby Ferl '20, pitperson Will Gigantelli '18, jib trimmer Zach Groce '19, spinnaker trimmer Erin Wright '19, main trimmer Andrew Goetz '18, and helmsman Eric Gimple '20.
"Everyone on the Harbor Cup team deserves special recognition. Each event requires sacrifice, but none more than the spring break event. I'm particularly impressed with the performance and maturity showed by our 4/c sailors."
The Bears will begin a seven event home stand on Tuesday, March 21st when they host Fairfield, Sacred Heart, University of Rhode Island, and Boston University. Racing begins at 1610 on the Thames River.

industry_corpus2: Sports


text:
I connected with Candace Cameron Bure in 2012 when I was invited to write for her online magazine Roo Mag! It was an incredible experience, however she has transitioned Roo into her personal blog candacecameronbure.net.
I am so impressed that Candace has been in the movie industry for 30 years and has remained strong in her faith! She and her brother Kirk Cameron are amazing influencers and proud Christians in careers that give them the opportunity to shine for Jesus in the spot light.
I believe she gave the world a very beautiful definition of submission in marriage. Unfortunately the media can capture words that people fail to interpret with God’s perspective, which can arouse some resistance. I am praying that Candace does not allow any negativity affect her, her stand for faith or her marriage.
Would you please consider joining me in encouraging Candace and praying for her by sending her a handwritten letter?
Candace is an actress, producer, speaker, and New York Times Best selling author. She began her career playing DJ Tanner on Fullhouse! She married Val Bure in June 1996 and they have 3 children together. I watched another interview on TV this week where Candace explained how her and her husband love to spend time with their family by serving others, which they did recently at a shelter Christmas morning. She enjoys sharing her experiences via social media and inspires women all around the world. I follow her on Instagram!
She just released a new book called Balancing it all. As she travels and continues to defend her perspective of being a submissive wife, let us encourage her and pray over her and her marriage!
1. Pray and ask God to anoint your letter. Ask Him to use you to encourage Candace and ask Him to inspire the words to write!
Thank you for taking the time to be a part of this! Please be in continued prayer for Candace & Val Bure. Also, be praying that God uses all of these letters to move mightily in both of their lives and that His will is done.
Thank you for the opportunity to join you in spreading the good news about God. I appreciate all that you do to encourage women! I am so inspired by your life! Thank you for remaining so strong in your faith, especially being so submerged in an industry that ridicules the very things you believe. God loves you so much and I have no doubt that He is incredibly proud of you. Your roles as a wife and a mother are so important. When you share your journey with everyone via social media it teaches us and inspires us to keep going. You give us hope! You are so beautiful and the definition you allowed the world to hear on submission in marriage was powerful. Thank you for all that you share. I am praying for you and the wives in the Unveiled Wife Community are praying for you and your marriage. May you feel empowered to fulfill the purpose God has for your life and marriage!
I lift up Candace and her husband to you right now. May you fill their hearts with your peace and may your Holy Spirit strengthen them to do your will. Thank you for Candace and the light she radiates for so many women. You have used her to do great things and those who have been impacted are grateful! I pray you would continue to help her balance faith, marriage and parenting. Equip her to stand strong in the face of adversity. Send encouragements to her daily and affirm her. I pray she continues to grow closer to you and to her husband. May you bless this marriage and bless their children, protecting them, providing for them, and preparing them to fulfill your will in Jesus name Amen!
Please consider grabbing a copy of Candace’s New Book: Balancing It All: My Story Of Juggling Priorities & Purpose.


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The History of Western Thought (HoWT) is a required course for seniors. The course explores the intellectual history of the West. It is the capstone course to a young man’s liberal arts studies at The Heights. The student will grapple with some of the key thinkers of the Western tradition — Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, Aquinas, More, Descartes, and Newman — in many fields: statesmen, poets, theologians, philosophers, mathematicians, and natural scientists. The study of these subjects comes together in HoWT and, in doing so, new clarity and depth is given to each student’s understanding of history.
The opinions of the faculty are valuable but even more insightful are the thoughts of past students who are currently in college and can weigh the course based on their continued education.
The Heights seeks a have a true impact on the lives of the young men who attend the School. This course is one of many that helps make The Heights a unique place to educate young men. The course is only as good as the person teaching it which is why everyone is so grateful for the beloved faculty members.
To learn more about the History Western Thought course and its teachers, view the full syllabus here.


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Deals involving Physician Practices/Services dominated the healthcare transactions announced or closed in November, which saw a decrease in total transactions from October. Compared with November 2016 numbers, the month and year-to-date data compiled by the Bloomberg Law Health Care Transactions Editorial Committee shows that health-care dealmaking in general, and in the physician practice arena in particular, remains robust. In addition, November saw a number of deals focused on orthopedic practices, one reflecting distressed provider survival strategies, and a number of mega-health system deal proposals that likely presage the future of acute-care hospital survival initiatives in an unpredictable and uncertain legislative and regulatory environment.
Physician practices and services is always a very active category for transactions. In fact, in November it was the category that saw the highest number of transactions. Of the 53 transactions reported in November, 15 were in this category. However, what is even more significant is that 7 of those 15 Physician Practices transactions involved dermatology practices. These acquisitions all involved private equity companies or dermatology platforms associated with private equity companies.
This demonstrates that dermatology practice acquisitions, which have been going on for a few years, are still “hot” and very much a continued target for private equity investment. Interest in dermatology acquisitions is predicated on growth factors, such as an increase in skin cancer incidence, skin health awareness, and favorable reimbursement mix dynamics. In addition, revenues can be significantly increased with the introduction of ancillary services, such as cosmetics, surgery centers, and laboratory services.


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These dumplings are a vegan version of a traditional German dumpling called Semmelknödel. They are often served with a mushroom gravy or as a replacement for potatoes with goulash. We enjoyed them with a special seitan goulash made with dark beer. It was a delicious meal for a cold day.
Tear the bread into small pieces and place in a large bowl.
Heat a splash of oil in a small frying pan and lightly fry the onion until just soft.
Add the onion to the bread and toss.
Heat the non-dairy milk in a small saucepan and add the vegetable bouillon.
Mix the soy flour or cornstarch with a bit more of the non-dairy milk and add to the heated milk.
Pour the warm non-dairy milk mixture over the bread pieces and mix well with a fork or spoon.
Allow the mixture to rest so the bread soaks up the milk mixture.
Using your hands, either wet with water, or a bit of oil, form balls about the size of golf balls.
Traditionally the dumplings are cooked in lightly salted gently boiling water, but they have often fallen apart for me. So, I steam them.
Place a piece of baking parchment on the bottom of your steamer so the dumplings don’t stick to the holes.
Steam the dumplings for 5-10 minutes until semi-solid to the touch.
Posted by Chris Walker on January 16, 2015 in Side Dishes.


text: June 21, on or near the summer solstice, was chosen for the International Day of Yoga, because it has special significance in yoga. It is believed that on the day of the summer solstice, Adiyogi [the first yogi] turned south and first set his eyes on the Saptarishis or Seven Sages, who were his first disciples to carry the science of yoga to many parts of the world. And there you have it, a reason to celebrate (incase you didn’t already have a reason).


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A great pack of 3D Shapes Flashcards is here, so let’s strengthen your knowledge about the basic 3D objects and learn a few new ones with this free pack.
Learning with three-dimensional shapes vocabulary cards is perfect for visual learners and beginners and would make a great addition to any classroom.
Let’s get to know the cool 3D shapes by printing out this set of cards.
In this printable pack there are 16 different 3-dimensional shapes.
The cards include a visual drawing of the 3D object and its name written at the bottom of the card.
Let’s take a look at the first page, where your kids will learn how a cylinder, a sphere, a cone and an ellipsoid look like.
On the next one, there is a cube, a cuboid, a tetrahedron (also known as a triangular pyramid) and a square pyramid.
Continue to page number three. Here are the cards of a hexagonal pyramid, an octahedron, a torus and a triangular prism.
The next four 3D shape cards include a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, an octagonal prism, and a hemisphere.
All of the cards have an “inside” view of each 3D shape. The dashed lines indicate the other sides of each shape, so young learners can imagine how they really look like.
We recommend laminating the cards before use, so your kids could play with them for a longer period od time.
Upgrade the fun and mix this set of 3D cards with the 2D shapes flashcards and become an expert.
Encourage your kids to describe each shape and practice out loud.
Get your own free printable 3D Shapes Flashcards here.
Hava a look at these 2D Shapes Flashcards and enjoy matching shapes with this Shapes and Colors Flashcards.


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A staple in Mexican cuisine.
Remove husks and rinse tomatillos under warm water.
Broil chilies, garlic, and fresh tomatillos 1 to 2 inches from heat, turning once, until tomatillos are softened and slightly charred, about 7 minutes.
Peel garlic and pull off tops of chilies.
Purée all ingredients in a blender.


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In theUnited States, in addition to federal taxes you will also have to pay state taxes in most states. Each state has its own taxes and rate of taxation.
You will have to pay a state income tax in most states. The income rate of state income tax will depend on the state law. The rate is generally lower than the Federal income tax. Even in states with state income tax, not all income is taxes. In some states, you have to pay taxes only on income from dividends and interests. Generally a person’s state income tax is based on his or her Federal income tax returns. State law generally uses your Federal adjusted gross income or taxable income as the starting point. To file you federal income tax return, you must file Form 1040. There are different variations of this form based on the filing status.
The State ofCaliforniaimposes state income tax. You must pay aCaliforniaincome tax over and above the federal income tax.Californiaincome tax is payable on the income earned inCalifornia. You have to payCaliforniaincome tax even if you are not a resident ofCaliforniabut you have earned an income from aCaliforniasource.Californiastate income tax returns must be filed on Form 540. Like the Federal Form 1040, there are different variations of this form based on the filing status.
As a tax payer you can claim certain deductions on your tax returns – both state and federal. The most commons tax deductions include necessary business expenses, educational expenses, medical and dental expenses, mortgage expenses, etc.
If you are conducting a business and you have employees you must pay payroll taxes. Federal payroll taxes are administered by the Internal Revenue Service and include Medicare, social security, unemployment insurance and income tax withholding. Many states have their own payroll taxes. InCalifornia, the payroll taxes are administered by the EDD or the Employment Development Department. You must payCaliforniaincome tax if you hire one or more persons inCaliforniato work for you and you pay them a salary or wage. If you are paying more than $100 in total wages to one or more of your employees in one calendar quarter, then you must register with the EDD. Even households that employ workers to do household work and pay wages will be subject to payroll taxes in California and must register with the EDD if they pay $750 in cash wages to one or more household employees in one calendar quarter. Californiapayroll tax includes unemployment insurance, employment training tax, state disability insurance andCaliforniapersonal income tax. State disability insurance and personal income tax are withheld from the wages paid to the employees.
Non-payment of federal and state taxes is a serious offense. If you default on your tax payments, you will receive a notice from the IRS (for federal taxes) and the state tax agency asking you to pay the taxes. If you still do not pay despite having received the notice, the IRS and the state tax agency will take steps to collect the taxes from you. The IRS and the state tax agency can fix a lien on your assets and garnish your wages and bank accounts. The IRS and the state tax agency can offset any tax refund that you may be entitled to against your tax debts.
When you receive a notice of a tax debt, you can challenge the notice if you believe it is not correct. If your tax returns have been chosen for auditing, you will be allowed to present your side of the case. You can appear in person or through a tax practitioner or attorney. You can explain to the tax official the basis on which you have filed your reply. If the results of the audit are against you, then you can appeal against the result.
As a tax payer you have certain rights. The IRS and the state tax agency must treat you in a professional and respectful manner. Your privacy must be protected. All your communication must treated with confidentiality. Your returns cannot be accessed by anyone else. If you are called on to provide any information, you have the right to know why the information is being sought and the information will be used. You have the right to know what steps will be taken if you do not provide requested information. You don’t have to pay more than the correct amount of tax. If you cannot pay all of your tax when it is due, you can request to be permitted to make monthly installment payments. You can request a waiver of penalties if you demonstrate that you acted in good faith and in a reasonable manner or you relied upon a wrong advice given to you by an IRS or state tax employee. You can appeal any decision on your tax liability and collection action.
If you have tax debts and action is being taken against you to collect the tax debts, you can make an offer in compromise. By making an offer in compromise, you are offering to pay less than the full amount of the taxes owed by you. There is no obligation on the part of the IRS or the state tax agency to accept your offer in compromise. Your offer in compromise will only be considered if you have exhausted all your other options such as installment agreements. The amount you offer must be equal to or exceed your reasonable collection potential as determined by the IRS or the state tax agency. Generally an offer in compromise will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances when you can prove that collection of the tax will create an economic hardship or will be unfair and inequitable.
You can also enter into an installment agreement to pay off your tax debts. In an installment agreement you can pay off the tax debts in installments. However your installment agreement must be accepted by the IRS or the state tax agency.
Bankruptcy can discharge most of your debts. However tax debts will survive bankruptcy. Tax debts cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.


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Speculative Faith | God's Mistake?
Death is not a mistake. Death is not wrong or evil. For those who are saved, death is a gift.
There are generally three Holy Grails in science fiction: the creation of artificial intelligence, faster-than-light-speed travel, and immortality. The first one might be possible one day on some level, and the other two are never going to happen. But let’s allow our imaginations to take flight for a moment and focus on immortality.
In the recent sci-fi thriller Annihilation (which I felt was an epic disappointment, by the way), Natalie Portman’s character is lying in bed with her husband discussing the nature of life. She offhandedly declares that God sometimes makes mistakes, to which her husband adamantly replies that God most certainly does not make mistakes. Portman counters with the Hayflick limit, which is essentially the cellular division life cycle. Our cells are constantly dying but before they do, they reproduce themselves, which is why we are able to stay alive despite having entirely new cellular structures every few months. However, this division is finite, which is why we eventually die. Portman’s point is that the Hayflick limit is a flaw in the system, that cells should be able to divide indefinitely, resulting in everlasting life. This is in fact what happens with cancerous tumors – they divide and reproduce but don’t die, overtaking the host organism.
Scientists have grappled with this conundrum for years. Could we harness the chaotic division of cancerous cells to maintain a controlled burn equilibrium of division and disintegration? So far, no dice, and as a Christian, I don’t believe it will ever happen. Nor would I want it to be possible.
Why not? Isn’t death awful? Isn’t it an intrusion into the natural way of things? Shouldn’t life be the default condition? Well, any naturalist will tell you that death is a natural part of life. Every life is predicated on the death of a previous form of life for sustenance. The “circle of life” is not just a song.
But let’s go deeper, into the immaterial. When God created the human race, we were not meant to die. We were meant to enjoy fellowship with our Maker forever. When sin entered the world, it broke that fellowship, bringing corruption and ruin into God’s perfect world. Everything material breaks down. However, the soul is not material, and the soul is what really matters. But how could that soul be brought into fellowship with God when it is trapped in a corrupted vessel?
The solution was death. Our bodies must die in order that our souls, if saved by God’s grace, could enter into His presence. Death is not a mistake. Death is not wrong or evil. For those who are saved, death is a gift. The suffering and torment that usually accompanies death is a horrible symptom of our fallen world, but it is a necessary passage that we must traverse. Of course, for the unbeliever, death is a curse, and it is a condition that will endure throughout eternity. It is truly a moment to be feared, for it marks the end of the soul’s opportunity to be restored to God’s favor through salvation.
The Bible tells us that long life is a blessing from God, but can you imagine the agony of immortality? Why would anyone want to live on this Earth forever? The grandest utopia mankind could hope to achieve is a pathetic slum compared to the glories of God’s kingdom. Since I know that my soul is in God’s hands, I look forward to the day when He tells me I won’t need this fallen body anymore. Let the scientists toil and the writers dream; in the end, death comes for us all. The question we all need to ask is: is it the beginning for us, or the end?
I really like this post…I, too, wouldn’t want to be on this fallen world forever. Didn’t Lewis say something along the lines about an intangible dissatisfaction because we truly aren’t made for this world?
The agony of immortality is also a commonly explored theme in speculative fiction.
Simply for the sale of argument (not because I disagree with the article at all, I completely understand where it’s coming from), if a person is a Christian, then the concept of the End Times must arise. I personally am quite skeptical that it will happen in quite the same way as depicted in Left Behind. Nevertheless, the bible is clear that, eventually, Christ will return and establish the New Heaven and the New Earth. I think it’s a fair assumption that, by that point, everyone will either have died, been raptured, or simply been glorified in some fashion. Regardless, if a person was able to attain true immortality by preventing aging, it would simply be until this world itself ran out of time and eternity began. Considering that pre-flood humans lived to be nearly one thousand years old, and even THAT much time is a mere vapor compared to eternity… I, for one, wouldn’t mind never aging a bit. Think of the books that could be written in that time… Just a thought!
I don’t like the idea of dying, and death is sad, but many times people seem to forget that it is a necessity. Even atheists sometimes, who subscribe to a belief system that partially revolves around death (evolution) sometimes look at death as an injustice that God should be blamed for.
But regardless of whether theism or atheism is true, death is necessary for our world to function, just as you said. Plants, animals, humans all have their chance to live, survive, and make something of themselves before their demise. The way things are now, life can’t come without death to sustain it. Obviously death is not something to rush toward, and it’s perfectly fair for us to try and delay it and keep other people safe. But I guess I just see death as something people shouldn’t blame God for, even regardless of what happens to people in the afterlife.
We humans brought the curse of death upon ourselves. God has gone to great lengths to save us from the full consequences of our folly.


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Our turf is purr-fect for backyards, dog runs, and kennels, due to the problems turf solves and the beautification of your yard.
Dogs can’t dig holes in synthetic turf.
It is stain resistant to animal urine.
It is soft and comfortable for dogs to run around and play on.
It remains intact, even hours after play.
It doesn’t muddy their paws in the same way as ordinary grass, keeping your indoors area clean and dirt free.
All of our synthetic grasses are manufactured right here in America and are the highest quality grasses available. Say no to irrigation systems, regular mowing and weed spraying and say yes to a low maintenance, great looking synthetic grass putting green.


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Find out more about Conviasa including the airports and routes operated by Conviasa plus the latest Conviasa sale offers, discount codes and online deals for 2019/2020. Learn about hand & checked baggage allowances, upcoming Conviasa sale dates and much more.
Browse the latest sale offers, discount codes and online deals on Conviasa flights in 2019/2020. Compare airline fares with popular flight booking engines and comparison websites. Discover how you can save money on your next Conviasa flights before you book online.
Explore which airports are served by Conviasa and the flight routes that it operates. Select a route and check flight prices before you book online. Alternatively compare flight prices using the search form below.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


text:
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text: Check the Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel system requirements. Can I Run it? Test your specs and rate your gaming PC. System requirements Lab runs millions of PC requirements tests on over 6,000 games a month.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


text: Superbells® Grape Punch Calibrachoa is draped in stunning lavender trumpet-shaped flowers with deep purple centers at the ends of the stems from late spring to early fall. Its small pointy leaves remain green in colour throughout the season. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.


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The owners of a three-year-old Great Dane in Portland, Oregon rushed their dog to an emergency animal hospital recently, because he was retching and throwing up all day.
And based on some X-rays, he had a severely distended stomach, filled with a large quantity of, quote, "foreign material."
So a vet did exploratory surgery . . . and removed 43-and-a-half SOCKS from his stomach.
It's not clear if he ate them all in one sitting, or over the course of a few days. It's also not clear if they were clean or dirty. But there's a photo of them all lined up after the surgery, and they were certainly dirty at THAT point.
According to the vet, it was probably an anxiety thing. Because when dogs are home alone for a long time, they can get nervous and start chewing on things that smell like their owner. And, quote, "He did have a history of preference for socks."
Luckily the dog was sent home the next day, and has been back for check-ups a few times since, and he's doing fine. But it's probably safe to assume the 43-and-a-half socks had to get tossed. No word on whether or not the other half-sock ever turned up.


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Gechukwu Nnaji also known as Ogelite, has released the official visual for her newest single “YAHWEH,” featuring Mike Abdul who brings his signature Fuji-infused sound on this uptempo with an Hip twist.
The Afro-Highlife thanksgiving tune produced by the prolific Okey Sokay, is so upbeat and will definitely get you dancing, so get your praise on!
Oge started singing when she was 8years old and was part of the children choir in her local church. She also served in the music department of the institution where she studied Accounting and was fully involved in the campus fellowship. She values the presence of God as she believes man is created to live in it (God’s Presence).
Nnaji has shared stages with the likes of Joe Praize, Efe nathan, Mike Abdul, Chioma Jesus, to mention a few. She has several singles and an album to her credit.


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The December 19 and 20 poll of likely mid-term voters by Pulse Opinion Research asked respondents to pick from competing priorities, not just whether they want to welcome more immigrants or to declare support for the nation’s history of immigration.
When businesses say they are having trouble finding Americans to take jobs in construction, manufacturing, hospitality and other service work, what is generally best for the country? Is it better to raise the pay until they can attract Americans without jobs even if it causes prices to rise, or is it better for the government to continue to automatically bring in new immigrants each year to keep the costs down?
The wage-raising priority got 57 percent among voters aged 18 to 39, 65 percent among blacks, 64 percent support among Latinos, 71 percent support among Republicans, 62 percent support among Democrats, but only 56 percent support among post-graduates and people who earn between $100,000 and $200,000.
NumbersUSA commissioned the poll just before Christmas … The survey results are similar to what we have found in dozens of surveys throughout 2017 and earlier years in terms of voter support for eliminating Chain Migration and the Visa Lottery, mandating E-Verify, and reducing overall legal immigration.
The President’s highly visible statements on these issues appear to be neither pushing people away from his positions nor pushing them toward his positions. Instead, Trump appears to be representing the rather stable opinions of a solid majority of likely midterm voters.
The poll also showed that Hispanics are the most hostile to any increase in wage-lowering immigration — perhaps because Hispanics are most familiar with the wage-cutting impact of new arrivals.
Current federal policy automatically adds about one million new legal immigrants each year giving all of them lifetime work visas. Which is closest to the number of lifetime immigrant work visas the government should be adding each year — none, 250,000, half a million, one million, one and a half million, two million, or more than two million?
Twenty-seven percent of all voters and 27 percent of Hispanics told the polls that immigration levels should be set at zero. In contrast, just 22 percent of whites said immigration should be set at zero.
More broadly, 77 percent of Hispanics preferred immigration be trimmed to 500,000 people per year, down from the 2016 score of 1.2 million legal immigrants. In comparison, 64 percent of blacks and 58 percent of whites want immigration reformed down to a half-million per year.
The same polls also showed that only 18 percent of Hispanics want annual immigration to be raised above 1.5 million a year, compared to 22 percent of whites and 12 percent of blacks who say they want immigration raised above the 1 million per year level.
However, the poll also shows one-in-seven Americans — and more than one-in-five blacks — said they were not sure about their answers. That caution indicates a hidden level of support for immigration cuts below the 1.2 million in 2016.
The results from the priorities poll are very different from the “Nation of Immigrants” polls pushed by business and progressive outlets. Business groups and Democrats tout the misleading, industry-funded “Nation of Immigrants” polls because they which pressure Americans to say they welcome migrants, including the roughly 700,000 ‘DACA’ illegals and the roughly 3 million ‘dreamer’ illegals.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration