Imagine that all your problems are simply dreams from which you have to awaken. Imagine that you could wake up tomorrow morning, and before you even open your eyes, you think to yourself,"Oh wow!!! I remember I am an amazing creator! I had a dream that I forgot! How awful. How unpleasant. Thank Goodness, I remember now!"
You are creators.The more deliberately you decide upon, feel, and focus on what you wish for on a daily basis, the more your lives will begin to conform to your will, rather than you conforming to the whims and wiles of the world.
There are exceptions of course. You may not get the exact form of your dream. Instead you'll get"that or better."You can't create for someone else but you can support what he or she is creating. You can even"invite"him or her into a better reality by imagining them healthy, happy, abundant, expressed or whatever it is you wish for them.
Start your days, dear ones, consciously. Rather than rolling out of bed groaning about your days, wake up and say,"Oh yes! I am a creator! This is what I wish to create today! This is what I want help with! Thank you God! Thank you Angels! I can imagine how wonderful I will feel at the end of this day!"Keep practicing this and soon you will see your day to day reality transform into a much happier and more miracle filled existence.


Guests love and trust their mobile phones and their smart devices. They have become their personal window on the world, their gateway to the now and most importantly their gateway to you and the services you provide.
Creating the right amenities, the right touch, and the right feel and vision is fundamental to creating a uniquely personalised and memorable experience that your guests won't forget. Understanding them, gathering insights, learning and responding to their needs is also a vital part of creating the experience and delivering on a vision.
Vision on its own is not enough, realising it and exceeding customers expectations requires the right blend of technology, operational expertise, constant attention to detail, and focus on delivering the right guest experience.
As we designed and built our system with guest and hospitality at its heart we called it Guestology®. A feature rich, future ready set of cloud based services that can be layered onto any wired or wireless network as a fully managed service.
BrightMobile, with a simple and easy to use set of templates, lets you create compelling and branded portals and to present the right message at the right time and place with no need to install apps.
Easily create and deliver new location aware and personal services for conferences, events and engage and interact with guests during their stay with no need for native apps and the ability to recognise a guest, and to present tailored language and location specific content.
Using custom web apps to deliver rich dynamic multi-media content including, video TV, and many more services to truly engaging delight guests and provide new insights. Turn Wi-Fi into a network of intelligent, engaging hotspots, that leverage guests mobile devices.
Provide guest interactive services to any web capable device, and communicate directly with them during their stay, through integrated voice, TV and media plugins. This allows them to easily access your staff, and your hotel services and to make reservations for hotel facilities, restaurants, spa or golf, to view their bill, order room service and view live TV and much more.
Guest Smart is already integrated with many third party hotel systems such as social media platforms, POS, PMS, Conference Management and In Room controls etc. to ensure seamless communication between guests and hotel staff. And enable guests to connect and interact with your guest facing infrastructure through screen sharing.


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Chris Janson's Hannibal concert attended by 3,400
By Bev Darr, Hannibal Courier-Post Reporter
Shortly before arriving in Hannibal for his May 11 concert as part of Hannibal's bicentennial celebration, country music star Chris Janson won an Academy of Country Music Video of the Year award for "Drunk Girl."
This was perhaps the most popular of his songs performed at the Hannibal Jaycees' Tanyard Gardens, said Gail Bryant, co-chairperson (with Angel Zerbonia-Chaplin) of the bicentennial committee.
"We lucked out," she said about scheduling his concert among the top events of Hannibal's year-long celebration. His "Drunk Girl" video is currently nominated for a CMT award. The concert also included his new single, "Good Vibes."
Declaring the concert "a huge success," Bryant said about 3,400 people attended, along with the opening concert by country musician Jason Critchett, whose songs are in the top 40.
"We had people from Iowa, Illinois, St. Louis and probably quite a few from Perryville, his home town," Bryant said. "I think the community benefited greatly from all of the advertising and social media," she said.
Although this concert "was one of our largest events," more concerts are scheduled during National Tom Sawyer Days, Bryant said. "We have lots of concerts lined up for the summer."
The Hannibal Bicentennial Hot Air Balloon Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23, at Hannibal-LaGrange University. Bryant expects about 20 balloons.
On June 22 the balloons will be launched at 6 p.m. After they land, they will be returned to the university. When they are on the ground, there will be a "glow."
On Sunday, June 23, the balloons will again be launched at 6:30 a.m.
bev.darr@courierpost.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Contentful provides an organization with the API usage insights (number of API requests) on a daily basis, split over a specified usage period.
These insights help organizations to view the API usage and thereby understand the invoices for exceeding the usage limits. Historical usage details can further enable an organization to compare and analyze the usage with their own traffic tracking reports, understand the overages and what caused the spike.
Note: The usage insights are not real time and lag by 48 hours. For example, the usage details on 20th October are the reflection of usage till 18th October.
It is possible to view the usage insights on the Web App or with an API call.
This feature is currently in alpha and is under active development. It may undergo some major changes, hence not recommended to use for production.
Share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback using the feedback button, or connect with us on our #alpha-usage-insights Slack community channel.
Administrative access right to the space.
Navigate to the Organization settings located on the left pane.
Click the Usage tab on the top menu. A dashboard explaining the API usage for the current usage period is displayed.
On this dashboard it is possible to view the total number of API requests and the API requests for CMA, CDA, and CPA for their top 3 spaces.
To view the usage insights for a particular usage period, select the desired usage period from the Usage period drop down on the top right.
A valid Content Management API token.
The endpoint on CMA returns usage periods along with start and end date for each usage period.
Note: In the alpha version, the insights are provided for an usage period and not for custom dates. The reason being, usage metrics are reset at the end of every usage period. However, in future there can be a possibility to get insights for custom dates.
The endpoint on a CMA returns daily resource usage of an organization or spaces within the organization.
orderBy[metricUsage]: asc or desc, defaults to asc which will order the items array of the response according to the number of API requests made for each space. This has no effect when usage type is organization.
The numbers in the usage array in the response represent the number of api requests made from 00:00:00 UTC until 23:59:59 UTC for each day starting with the startDate of the usage period. For this example, on 2018-06-15 there were 6,442 requests for space yadj1kx9rmg0 and 1,163 requests for space 862z8hanwnlk and on 2018-06-16 there were 5,952 requests for space yadj1kx9rmg0 and 4,921 requests for 862z8hanwnlk and so on.


text:
WritingWrite for Us
Game: ?
Console RPG
Super Console (2nd Edition)
An RPG That Pokes Fun At Final Fantasy (and Other Console Games)
Super Console!
Faster than a speeding airship! More powerful than the final boss! Able to cross from the eastern part of the map to the western part in a single bound! It's Super Console!
The follow-up to Console (a runner-up for Best Indie Game of 2003), Super Console is a role-playing game that pokes fun at such games as Final Fantasy™, Arc the Lad™, and Shining Force™. If you've ever wondered what the characters do after the game is over (or just want to know what the heck people who aren't in the active party do to pass their time), this is your game. Super Console is a more or less generic fantasy game, tunable for anything from silly armor-stealing hilarity to deep, thick, gooey plots to Diablo™-like monster smashing.
Super Console completely overhauls the game engine for greater scalability. It also includes two new classes (the Adventurer and Dark Knight), more detail for Tasked characters (including Living Items!), more GM advice, optional combat rules, new character sheets, pregenerated stores and monsters, and plenty of new artwork.
Super Console is $10 of your hard-earned but well-spent money. It's 141 pages long, and about 7 megabytes.
Collapse Publisher Description
We do not currently have a recommendation for this ... would you like to write one?
Get started with Console RPG, Super Console (2nd Edition)!
Return to our Final Fantasy RPGs Page


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About- Contact
Ceylon Dust
Rani Moorthi
Actress/Writer Rani Moorthy comes up with dazzling short-stories that explore and capture the intricate lives of a closely-knit community of Jaffna Tamils in the desolate, border-town of Johor Baru in the 1960s. In 'Veena Teacher', a young girl comes to terms with caste and tradition when she seeks to learn a new art. The Westernized young man, in the center of 'Pritchard' tries hard to escape the clutches of his community. A story spread across generations, 'Lifelines' etches perilious little tensions as a family comes apart. In 'Sanyasini', an aging spinster finds love, only to lose it as tongues begin to wag. Lyrical and profound, infused with secrets and the melancholy of slow hours, Ceylon Dust is a powerful testimony to the author's storytelling powers.
SEASON OF DEATH
Pushparani
Translated for the first time into English, Season of Death, is the searing testimony of Pushparani, a Tamil woman who joined the armed struggle in Sri Lanka in the 1970s. Poignant and hard-hitting, she chronicles a political landscape defined by the absence of women, a state of ethnic oppression that pushed Tamil youth to voluntarily take up weapons, and the unspeakable horrors of police torture and prison life. Originally published in Tamil as Akalam, her memoir was widely read and critically acclaimed.
Londonkarar
Londonkarar (in Tamil) is a gripping short novel set in the backdrop of the London riots of 2011.
Malaysian-born RANI MOORTHY came to Britain in 1996 after many years as an actress, writer and director in South East Asia. The unique alchemy of being a migrant and an outsider at every stage in her life deeply informs her writing and performance. She is artistic director of Rasa, founded in 1988 to celebrate the enduring migrant experience through powerful, critically acclaimed theatre journeys. She has appeared in Coronoation Street, A&E, Cold Feet, Moving On, Prisoner's Wives and played Mrs.Bilal in the BBC-1 sitcom Citizen Khan. Her latest play Whose Sari Now, traces how the garment impacts the lives of women across boundaries and generations.Ceylon Dust is her debut collection of short-stories.
Pushparani, a Tamil woman who joined the armed struggle in Sri Lanka in the 1970s.
Pre order your book now.
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Washington-based companies like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Chateau St. Michelle, and Eddie Bauer consider supply chain management a key factor in their success. Supply chain management enables them to build and deliver products more competitively…better, faster, and cheaper.
According to a report by the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, the Logistics of Education and Education of Logistics, the U.S. is projected to have approximately 270,200 supply chain management and logistics job openings that will need to be filled every year through 2018 in order to keep up with projected industry growth. Visit the Center of Excellence for Global Trade & Supply Chain Management website to get connected.


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Q: BimlExpress and VS2019 issues Anyone successfully using BimlExpress and Visual Studio 2019 ?
The latest version of BimlExpress currently available is version 5.0.64108.0 aka 2019 R1, but it is in any way incompatible with Vs2019 version 16.9+
I'm writing this in hope that someone have found a workaround, or have a version where iit still working.
Update:
Trying to open a biml file freezes up Visual Studio entirely.

A: The extension BimlExpress only works with SQL Server Integration Services Projects 3.x. Newer Versions are not compatible. Did you check this? If necessary downgrade.

A: "Downgrade" Version of Integration Services can be downloded directly from marketplace
Use Version 3.16 (latest GA Version).
worked for me :-)

A: You haven't described any symptoms but I had a couple of bumps getting BIMLexpress to show up in VS2019.
First I had to go to extensions on the menu and check that it showed up. it did but right clicking on the SSIS Packages node didn't show anything. I clicked Toggle BIDS helper menus.
I restarted VS2019 and there is a yellow bar under the menu warning about extensions using deprecated API's. I enabled deprecated API usage and restarted then BIMLexpress displayed more entries in the extensions menu. Still no right click. Haven't road tested it yet other than adding a new BIML file.
The yellow bar may have been there all along and I just didn't notice it so the toggle BIDS helper step might be unnecessary.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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China to fulfill financial duties to UN as developing country: FM spokesperson
BEIJING: A foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday said that China will fulfill its financial duties to the United Nations as a developing country, as it will become the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget.
"China, as a firm defender of multilateralism, will fulfill its financial duties to the UN as a developing country, making contributions to world peace and development while firmly safeguarding its own legitimate rights," spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing.
Hua said China welcomed and supported a UN resolution on member states' contribution to its budgets in the next three years.
"We hope that all sides would earnestly implement the resolution to ensure a stable, predictable financial foundation of the United Nations," Hua said.
According to the resolution, China's contribution to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping budget will rise significantly for the next three years, accounting for about 12 percent and 15.22 percent respectively, making it the second largest contributor, surpassing Japan.
"This is a result of the growth of the economy and per capita gross national income of China, as the second largest economy in the world, which also reflected on the rise of China's international influence," Hua said.
"Meanwhile, we also urge all countries to pay their due share of the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets in a timely manner, so as to support the UN in playing a bigger role in world peace and common development," she said.
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A Genealogist Finds a WWI Memorial and Remembers Our Veterans
With Veterans Day here , our genealogist looks at who and how people memorialized our servicemen. War memorials are important ways for citizens and a country to come to terms with the many sacrifices of war. The genealogist will always find interesting information both on the memorial and in the research done on those who gave their lives for their country.
This RecordClick genealogist is issuing an event reminder that every family history researcher should know about: On the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month of 1918, the Great War – The War to End All Wars – World War I was over.
World War I touched almost every family in some way. On the home front, women gathered to make bandages and other supplies for the boys who went off to fight in Europe. Families purchased bonds. Everyone tried to do his or her part to support the war effort.
World War I was a war that was pivotal in many ways. Every genealogist should keep this in mind because it adds color to the family history research. First, the genealogist may note that while horses and the cavalry still played a role in war during this time, so did airplanes which were the newest form of transportation. Also in this war, fighting took on another dimension as mustard gas was introduced. Add to this mix the global influenza epidemic and World War I became even that much more tragic on many levels.
Our RecordClick genealogist looked into the names on this important monument to our Veterans.
After World War I was over, citizens in many towns and cities felt the need to remember those who had gone off to the Great War and died. Across the country, they began erecting monuments that listed the sons who gave their lives. For the genealogist, these memorials provide important documentation.
On a recent trip to New England, this genealogist noticed right away an important World War I memorial where I was visiting. There, on the green in Concord, Massachusetts, was a substantially-sized rock that provided the backing for a metal plaque on which was stated:
"In Memory of these Concord Men who gave their lives in the World War."
This genealogist also noted the list of these brave men:
Capt. Howard B. Jackson, Med. Corps
1st Lt. James J. Mansfield, 26th Div.
1st Lt. James D. Beane, 22nd Aero Squadron
1st Lt. Percy A. Rideout, 1st Gas Regt.
1st Lt. Charles S. Spencer, Med. Corps
2nd Lt. Orville P. Johnson 26th Div.
2nd Lt. Whipple H. Parker, 79th Div.
Ensign Henry J. Lund, U.S.N.
Sergt. James J. Lane, Q.M.C.
Sergt. J. Alvord Rose, Gas. Defence Service
Corp. Gordon M. Channell, Light Inf. C.E.F.
Corp. Philip H. Toomey, 79th Div.
Farrier Edward F. Donovan, V.C.
Cook Sylvester F. Gaudet, 37th Inf.
Pvt. 1st Cl. Angelo Leberace, 26th Div.
Pvt. 1st Cl. Gordon K. McKenzie, U.S. Amb. Service
Fireman 1st Cl. Adolph C. Nelson, U.S.N.
Pvt. Henry J. Bergeron, 26th Div.
Pvt. Frank Bernier
Pvt. Hiram G. Garfield, Depot Brig.
Pvt. Clemente Napolitano, Italian Army
Pvt. Herbert J. Nealy, Depot Brig.
Pvt. Carl Nolan, Co. I, 6th Mass. N.G.
Pvt. William N. White, Aviation Corps.
Pvt. Frank E. Wight, 12th Div.
As an experienced genealogist, I know that the family history researcher must always be asking questions. Here are the ones that came to me:
Who were these men?
What ties did some have to places beyond Concord, Massachusetts?
Where can information be found about World War I veterans?
As to where the information can be found, most newspapers printed casualty lists on a regular basis. If a soldier died and was buried overseas, the American Battle Monuments Commission is an excellent source for finding cemeteries and burials. The local library, historical or genealogical society may also have data for the genealogist on those who served from the area. There are a number of web sites which include draft information.
As for these brave Concord, Massachusetts men, here is a partial list:
Capt. Howard Bigelow Jackson, of Melrose, died Oct. 13, 1918 at Fort Oglethorpe, GA, of pneumonia following an attack of influenza. (Boston Herald, Oct. 14, 1918)
James D. Beane, died Oct. 30, 1918 and is buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France. He received the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. (ABMC)
Percy A. Rideout, died Oct. 9, 1918 and is buried at Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Romagne, France. He received the Distinguished Service Cross. (ABMC)
James J. Lane, entered the service from South Carolina. He died June 18, 1919 and is buried at Oise-Aisne American Cemetery, Fere-en-Tardenois, France. (ABMC)
John A. Rose, entered the service from Massachusetts and was in the Chemical Warfare Service. He died Oct. 10, 1918 and is buried at Brookwood American Cemetery, Brookwood, England. (ABMC)
Orville P. Johnson, of Albany, NY, died July 18, 1918. He was killed by a shell while looking for machine gun sites. A few hours later his orders arrived to return to America as an instructor. He attended Harvard. (Boston Herald, Aug. 25, 1918)
Whipple Parker, of Springfield, MA, d. Oct. 20, 1918 of wounds and pneumonia. His wife, Louise, died Nov. 6, 1918 of double pneumonia and influenza. (Springfield, MA, Republican, Nov. 26, 1918)
Henry J. Lund, d. Oct. 14, 1917 on the U.S.S. Nebraska. He was accidentally shot with an automatic pistol. (Boston Herald, Dec. 2, 1917)
Philip H. Toomey, of Concord, d. Dec. 1918 of disease. (Boston Herald, Dec. 17, 1918)
Pvt. Henry J. Bergeron, was wounded April 13, 1918 and died the following day. He was the first Concord soldier to die in action in France. (Boston Herald, April 23, 1918)
Angelo Leberace, d. July 18, 1918. He was a PFC in the U.S. Army, 104th Inf. Reg., 26th Div. He is buried at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery, Belleau, France. (ABMC)
Each soldier who served in World War I has a story. Sometimes the information is easy to find. Often, a little extra digging by the genealogy researcher is needed. An expert genealogist from RecordClick will find that special record to give your family history that personal touch. We have ancestry researchers in Europe who are able to delve into overseas sources.
Family History hire a genealogist veterans War Memorials World War I
Our Genealogist Takes You Overseas to Military Cemeteries and Monuments
The Genealogy Researcher and Moving Picture Families: Olivia de Havilland at 99


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There's No Such Thing As Porn Addiction, Says New Research
Written by David Heitz — Updated on September 2, 2014
Authors claim that the pornography industry and the sex rehab industry are behind flawed research.
The dirty truth about pornography and sex addiction is that they probably aren't real.
So say the authors of an analysis of previous research on the subject. Their work, published this month in the journal Current Sexual Health Reports, points to poorly conducted experiments, conclusions based on anecdotes, and limited samples.
David Ley, the study's lead author, told Healthline that the limited research that exists on visual sexual stimuli (pornography) is usually written by people working in what he calls a "lucrative" industry.
"Many of these clinicians are themselves self-identified porn addicts, who are treating others who self-identify as addicts," Ley said. "They base their writings upon their own clinical experience and anecdotes."
Ley, a clinical psychologist in Albuquerque, N.M., said the studies that justify the addiction are usually "cross-sectional." This means they may describe how certain groups of people act, but they don't show any real cause and effect. The result is research that is subject to "many forms of bias" and not applicable to larger populations, he said.
Get the Facts: 12 Ways Sex Helps You Live Longer »
'Reflecting Cultural Values, Not Clinical Ones'
In much of the existing research, subjects who self-report a pornography problem tend to be gay or bisexual men with religious conflict, Levy said. Such a model of addiction is "pathologizing and stigmatizing the normal, even healthy sexual behaviors and desires of some groups, because of cultural biases," he added.
The high numbers of gay and bisexual men in the "porn addict" groups indicate a "strong likelihood that the label is reflecting cultural values, not clinical ones," Ley said. He likened the porn addiction recovery movement to gay conversion therapy.
Related News: Professionals Say Gay Conversion Therapy Should Be Banned »
'Porn Addiction Therapy' Can Be Dangerous Without Qualifications
Nicole Prause, a co-author of the study, told Healthline that offering treatment without knowledge is dangerous.
"If you are trained as an M.D. and a practicing physician and deviate from best practices and a patient gets hurt, you're accountable. The same is not true in psychology," she said. "You can walk in and see a therapist, and they can do whatever they want with you, not even monitor whether you're getting better, and charge for it."
Prause is a researcher in the department of psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. She said the industry that is treating pornography and sex addiction does so without a strong model.
"Models matter in this," she said. "The model you go with, or whatever has been supported, determines what treatment you pursue and what's going to be effective. This is not just academic masturbation."
Find Out: Do Sexual 'Norms' Even Exist? »
Putting Sex into the Addiction Model
Because no clear model of what pornography addiction actually is exists in previous studies, Ley and his colleagues assessed whether pornography is addictive based on a substance addiction model. When a person becomes addicted to a substance, they use it even after it stops being pleasurable. They need it to just to maintain normalcy
"We chose to examine the applicability of the substance addiction model, because the porn/sex addiction crowd overwhelmingly endorses this, with constant statements that 'sex is just like drugs,'" Ley said. "They constantly say, for instance, that 'porn is the crack cocaine of sex addiction.'"
Ley said that while there are anecdotal claims of people "needing" porn, or experiencing "some very vague withdrawal symptoms," there is no empirical evidence whatsoever.
Sex Addiction: A Complex Issue
Prause is no stranger to the sex addiction debate. She made headlines last summer when she co-authored a study claiming that the response someone has to pornography has nothing to do with addiction. By studying subjects who viewed sexual images during an EEG, she showed that simply having a high libido, absent of a problem, creates a strong brain response.
Rory Reid, a practicing provider of treatment for sexual disorders and gambling and substance abuse problems at UCLA, critiqued Prause's earlier work, saying he doubts whether brain markers of any kind can predict the absence or presence of a disorder.
In a 2013 issue of Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention, Reid argued that hypersexual activity should not be classified as an addiction despite having similarities with substance disorders.
But he maintains that the existence of sexual problems cannot be denied. Regarding Prause's research last summer, he wrote, "We have no way of knowing how it might have differed if more explicit, more intense, or stimuli that better mapped to personal preferences were used instead. This issue is discussed at length among sex researchers and is actually very complex."
Learn More About Male Sexual Health »
Profiting from 'Sex Addiction Therapy'
Treating sex addiction is big business.
In the report, Ley and his colleagues conclude that the pornography and sex addiction industry makes many claims for treatment and success with little if any data to back up those claims. The treatment can be costly, as much as $677 per day for inpatient care, according to the study.
"The use of medications 'off-label' to treat 'pornography addiction' also appears common," the authors wrote. "Drugs originally designed to treat alcoholism, depression, and ED have all been suggested. This therapeutic opportunism is well characterized. Some have advocated for transparency, requiring therapists to inform patients that such therapies are experimental, and have not been tested for sex addiction."
The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) is a global, non-profit organization. Its Web site says it is dedicated to promoting research and educating its members, which include treatment providers for people deemed sexually out of control. SASH did not respond to telephone and email requests for a comment on Ley's research.
Another example is FightTheNewDrug.org.
On their Web site they identify themselves as a non-profit organization. It offers testimonials from recovering "addicts" as well as a video warning of the hazards of pornography.
The video talks about how the pornography industry made big bucks after pioneering sex researcher Alfred Kinsey published research encouraging sex in the 1940s. Now, titillating images can be accessed anytime, anywhere via the Internet.
FightTheNewDrug.org did not respond to an e-mail seeking an interview. A telephone number is not listed on the site.
Why It's Unlikely Harvey Weinstein Is a Sex Addict
Weinstein entered rehab for his self-proclaimed sex addiction, but therapists disagree on if that's really what's driving the Hollywood producer's…
Everything You Need to Know About Pornography 'Addiction'
"Pornography addiction" isn't an official diagnosis. But experiencing an uncontrollable compulsion to view porn can be as problematic as other…
Recognizing an Addiction Problem
Being able to recognize the signs of addiction is the first step to getting help. Learn to identify the physical, mental, and emotional signs of…
2022 Nurx Review: Is It Right for You?
Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
Nurx is a telemedicine company that offers birth control, emergency contraceptives, PrEP, and STI home test kits.
Best At-Home Gonorrhea Tests and Test Kits
Medically reviewed by Fernando Mariz, MD
Knowing your current STI status, including your gonorrhea status, is imperative. At-home gonorrhea tests make this easier. Here's how to get started.
Everything You Need to Know About Giving a Great Hand Job
Hand jobs aren't just teenage fodder. They're a pleasurable activity for all sexually active penis owners and their partners. Here's how to give a…
Everything You Need to Know About Natural Lube
You probably consider what you're putting into your body when it comes to food, so why not extend that consideration to the lubricant you're using…
What's the Difference Between a Kink and a Fetish?
Read on for an explanation on what qualifies as a kink vs. what qualifies as a fetish — plus insights on exactly how to explore potential kinks and…


Many thanks for visiting the Creative Expressions' website, if you would like more information or have a query, please email us on sales@creative-expressions.uk.com or call us on +44 (0) 1536 481778.
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We also have regular workshops and events at our Factory Shop – look out for details on our Events calendar on our Home page.


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← Nancy Campbell on "America's First Prison for Drug Addicts"
Critical Autism Studies Workshop →
FeaturesIn the Journals
Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma
By Eugene Raikhel
The latest issue of The Lancet features a large section on asthma which includes a wonderful short essay by medical anthropologist Ian Whitmarsh, titled "Asthma and the value of contradictions." Whitmarsh, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, History and Social Medicine at UCSF, recently published a monograph based on his fieldwork following a genetics-of-asthma study carried out in Barbados, Biomedical ambiguity: race, asthma, and the contested meaning of genetic research in the Caribbean (Cornell UP, 2008).
In the Lancet piece, Whitmarsh reflects more broadly on the etiological and diagnostic ambiguities of asthma, giving a brief history of the varied accounts and interventions that have surrounded asthma over the past century or so:
"[D]iscordance has historically been foundational to the category of asthma in British and American medical research. Since the end of the 19th century, asthma has been viewed as neurosis or physiological predisposition; caused by dust, pollution, heredity, parental emotions, the unclean modern home (carpets harbouring dust mites), or the continually cleaned modern home (underexposure to infections); and treated with stimulants and depressants, dieting, steroids, and various tonics. Yet despite this diversity, what is striking about modern medicine's approach to asthma is not the plurality of definitions, causes, and diagnostic techniques, but rather the attempt to reduce this plurality," (Whitmarsh 2010).
Whitmarsh notes that issues of categorization carry over into clinical settings in a deeply significant way:
"The process of consuming asthma treatments from the doctor is a translation of medical meanings and practices. In this context, taking (or not taking) the inhaled steroid may reflect a patient's suspicion about what their doctor is hiding in his or her concern about the patient's possibly fearful attitude towards the pharmaceutical. With the prescription, parents and patients are accepting some part of the medical system of categorisation, giving some authority to it, while at the same time, by determining when and how they consume the prescription, are placing a part of it under their jurisdiction," (Whitmarsh 2010).
Somewhat strikingly (at least in the context of a mainstream medical journal), he also makes an argument for the value of ambivalence and contradiction in regard to biomedicine:
"Ambiguity denotes spaces of irresolution—unfinished, still to be understood and interpreted. Our modern approach to disease often disavows such ambiguity: one rereads cultural interpretations to find hidden or further meanings; why reread a diagnosis? The extreme consistency of the modern medical designation can be precisely what gives patients pause—a claim to certainty amid evident uncertainty that may lead some people to seek out other interpretations. The cultural contradictions of asthma go beyond a view of the condition as a spectrum, a concept of ambiguity that relies on a single criterion of differentiation. In the ambivalence of culture, contradictory meanings can not only be maintained but can also reinforce each other. To the question "Asthmatic as an identity or as a temporary condition?" culture will answer: yes. In the ambivalence of culture, contradictory meanings keep each other in doubt," (Whitmarsh 2010).
For those interested in reading more about Whitmarsh's research in Barbados, in addition to the book he has published a number of articles, including this excellent 2008 piece from American Ethnologist:
"Biomedical ambivalence: Asthma diagnosis, the pharmaceutical, and other contradictions in Barbados." American Ethnologist, 35(1): 49-63, February 2008.
In recent years in Barbados, the interaction of multinational pharmaceutical companies, the Ministry of Health (MOH), and international biomedical research has resulted in a focus on pharmaceuticals in public health intervention and the production of an expansive category of asthma. This article explores the views and uses of this process based on fieldwork conducted with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, MOH officials, and patient families involved in asthma care. Following ambiguities and contradictions in the significance of biomedical objects, I argue that this integration of pharmaceutical markets occurs with a foundational instability. Such ambiguity and contradiction are central to both the efficacy and undermining of global economic processes, including "pharmaceuticalization."
If you have a subscription, you can read Ian Whitmarsh's article in The Lancet in its entirety here: "Asthma and the Value of Contradictions," The Lancet 376(9743): 764-5, September 4, 2010.
Image from Images from the History of Medicine, National Library of Medicine
Towards an era of bureaucratically controlled medical compliance?
Culture and mental health in Haiti
Somatosphere reviewed in American Anthropologist
The Rise of Multispecies Ethnography
A medical anthropology canon?
Raikhel E. Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma. Somatosphere. 2010. Available at: http://somatosphere.net/2010/ian-whitmarsh-on-ambiguities-of-asthma.html/. Accessed January 17, 2022.
Raikhel, Eugene. (2010). Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from Somatosphere Web site: http://somatosphere.net/2010/ian-whitmarsh-on-ambiguities-of-asthma.html/
Raikhel, Eugene. 2010. Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma. Somatosphere. http://somatosphere.net/2010/ian-whitmarsh-on-ambiguities-of-asthma.html/ (accessed January 17, 2022).
Raikhel, E 2010, Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma, Somatosphere. Retrieved January 17, 2022, from <http://somatosphere.net/2010/ian-whitmarsh-on-ambiguities-of-asthma.html/>
Raikhel, Eugene. "Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma." 8 Sep. 2010. Somatosphere. Accessed 17 Jan. 2022. <http://somatosphere.net/2010/ian-whitmarsh-on-ambiguities-of-asthma.html/>
1 Comment Asthma, Compliance, History, Latin America
One Response to Ian Whitmarsh on the ambiguities of asthma
Robert Thornton says:
I found this work exceptionally useful since I am writing about traditional healing in the context of high levels of medical pluralism in South Africa. In a paper that will appear as "The market for healing and the elasticity of belief: Medical pluralism in Mpumalanga, South Africa" for a volume entitled Health and Healing in Africa; new arenas and emerging markets (African Studies Centre, E J Brill African Dynamics Series, edited by M. Dekker & R. van Dijk, 2010), for instance, I try to make the argument that what is called 'healing' is not a single-criterion category, but is like what Wittgenstein famously called 'family resemblance'. In other words, 'ambiguous'. There is nothing that connects all forms of healing except this 'family resemblance' that consists of overlapping similarities and the fact that clients recognise it as 'healing'. Could this also be the case in asthma? It is a 'familyh resemblance' category? I found especially enlightening the description of mutually exclusive aetiologies. In my work, I am finding that this depends in part on the fact that people that I work with do not always think in terms of a 'body' as the 'thing' that is being healed. I argue "Whether of not healing has occurred and what has actually been healed—body, mind, social relations, spirit, or blood—[healing] often remains ambiguous, but … ambiguity is a necessary and unavoidable property of healing. Healing here takes many pathways but not all of them lead to health." One source of ambiguity, in other words, is cultural notions about what is being healed, and that this may be variable.
I was therefore particularly interested to read a similar argument about the value of ambiguity. In the case I am describing, ambiguity in results of medical/healing interventions (including biomedical treatment) that cause deep ambivalence in people's attitudes toward healing since no therapy/treatment is clearly better than the others. Biomedically-trained practitioners often do little better than traditional healers, partly because the primary diseases–HIV infection, AIDS, TB, diabetes, common viral infections–manifest in many ways, and over long periods. Most people (i.g South Africans of all colours) know a little bit about a vast range of healing options and use many at one time; thus it is not always clear which one might work or which don't. Ambiguity is a signal characteristic of the whole medically pluralistic context.


In this new edition to the Little Kunoichi series, author and illustrator Sanae Ishida introduces us to Ba-chan, Little Kunoichi's wise, creative, and eccentric grandmother. Anything is possible with Ba-chan!
It's summer and Little Kunoichi's friends are away on vacation. After exploring every nook and cranny of her super, super secret island home with her pet, Bunny, she is bored, bored, BORED! Little Kunoichi shares her ideas to spice things up–a new bike, another pet–with her parents. But they have a better idea: a visit to her wise, quirky, and creative grandma, Ba-chan!


Photograph isn't a perfect shot but it's interesting and takes you back in time.
Rafiq (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a struggling street photographer at Mumbai's Gateway of India, convinces a reclusive youngster Miloni (Sanya Malhotra) to pose for a picture. Their chance encounter leads to self-discovery and a fascinating tale of slow-burn romance.
The pacing is frustrating and needs a lot of patience but Batra's unique take on love, with shades of Basu Chatterjee's Chhoti Si Baat..
What does stand out is the brilliance of Nawazuddin Siddiqui. He is the master of his craft and conveys unsaid emotions effortlessly. Sanya underplays a bit too much but gradually holds her own in front of an actor like Nawaz.
If you seek purpose or motivation behind someone's certain behaviour, you won't find it here so Photograph eventually struggles to keep you engaged,,However, if you appreciate ambiguity, the film leaves a lot to imagination and interpretation, which has its own charm. The open-ended climax in particular is cleverly done. It makes you ponder and crave for more.
Photograph isn't a perfect shot but it's intriguing and takes you back in time. Like love and life, it's uncertain and hopeful.


text:
package com.nesterenya.controllers.rhouse;

import java.io.IOException;

import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.PropertySource;
import org.springframework.http.HttpStatus;
import org.springframework.http.MediaType;
import org.springframework.http.ResponseEntity;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.PathVariable;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestMapping;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestMethod;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RequestParam;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.ResponseBody;
import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController;
import org.springframework.web.multipart.MultipartFile;

import com.nesterenya.services.ImageService;

/**
 * Изображения хранятся в БД
 * из-за этого мы явно теряем по скорости, но выигрываем по гибкости,
 * при переносе не нужно думать о файлах
 *
 * Рассмотреть 2 возможные ситуации:
 * если скорости не будет хватать, хранение изображений узкое место, и нужно либо кешировать
 * либо хранить изображения по другому
 */
@RestController
@PropertySource("classpath:application.properties")
@RequestMapping("/images/")
public class ImagesController {

	@Autowired
	ImageService service;

	@ResponseBody
	@RequestMapping(value="/test/{id}", method = RequestMethod.GET, produces = MediaType.IMAGE_JPEG_VALUE)
	public byte[] testphoto(@PathVariable(value="id") String id) throws IOException {
		return service.generateImage(id);
	}

	@ResponseBody
	@RequestMapping(value="/get/{id}", method = RequestMethod.GET, produces = MediaType.IMAGE_JPEG_VALUE)
	public byte[] get(@PathVariable(value="id") String id) throws IOException {
		byte[] image = service.getImage(id);
		return (image==null)?service.generateImage(id):image;
	}

	@RequestMapping(value="/upload", method=RequestMethod.GET)
    public @ResponseBody String provideUploadInfo() {
        return "You can upload a file by posting to this same URL.";
    }

    @RequestMapping(value="/upload", method=RequestMethod.POST, produces = "application/json")
    public @ResponseBody
	ResponseEntity<String> handleFileUpload(@RequestParam("file") MultipartFile file){

		String answerPattern = "{\"status\":\"%s\", \"result\":\"%s\"}";
		String json;
		try {
			String id = service.save(file);
			json = String.format(answerPattern, "OK", id);
		} catch (Exception ex) {
			json = String.format(answerPattern, "ERROR", ex.getMessage());
			ex.printStackTrace();
		}

		return new ResponseEntity<String>(json, HttpStatus.OK);

    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Brett Graham
Mātāpuna / Home
Mahi Toi / Work
Tuhinga / Essays
Haurongo / Bio
Whakapā mai / Contact
Tūmatauenga / Humanity
When I first visited the Prairies I became fascinated with descriptions of the Plains as Ocean, as I hail from a Pacific Island. Settler wagons were described as ships, such as the Prairie Schooner, and the inevitability of settlement like a pre-destined flood, manifest destiny. "I hear the Tread of Pioneers, of Nations yet to be; the first low wash of waves, where soon shall roll a human sea." (John Greenlear Whittier, 1849) When I began to study the history of schooners in Saskatchewan I learned that grain wagons were commonly used until the 30s and 40s. Though this type of wagon had its origins in the Prairie Schooner many people still had memories of them. I then came across Jame Daschuk's book 'Clearing the Plains'. He describes how the First Nations people were forced to make the transition from Buffalo hunters to farmers and were susceptible at this time to famine. The Macdonald Government used grain as a means of control, agents waited till the people were on the brink of starvation before issuing grain, if at all. Pioneer is a kind of hybrid block house fortress and grain wagon that speaks of this history. Plains Indians would go to the forts and beg for grain. Macdonald however, had promised (parliament) that emergency rations would be refused "until the Indians were on the verge of starvation, to reduce the expense" (134). "Available food rotted in government storehouses as malnutrition, sickness, and death ravaged the reserve population." (Kevin Plummer, An Unsettling Prairie History: A Review of James Daschuk's Clearing the Plains). (Brett Graham)
Spruce, wagon wheels
MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Canada
(Tūmatauenga / Humanity)
2015, spruce, wagon wheels, 1720 x 3330 x 810 mm


Top Fitness Expert and Top Fitness Personality Obi Obadike graces the cover of Ultra-Fit magazine with Canadian Fitness model Simone Sinclaire and the cover is in the stands all over the UK currently and it will be in most of the Barnes and Nobles the stands in the U.S. a month from now.
The photo credit to the image is Arsenik Photography. When you get a chance if you are in the UK please pick up the fitness magazine cover.
Questions or comments? Let me know and I will do my best to followup.


Solar Smart Gold Coast Solar Power System installers Qld are experts in residential solar power system installation & commercial solar systems. For the best price solar power systems talk to our local Gold Coast office about what size solar system your home needs or get a obligation free Solar Quote.
Quality Solar Power Installations at affordable prices for every Gold Coast residential home or business. Talk with our solar power professionals today regarding the best Solar Power System Price for your Gold Coast home or business.
We choose the most reliable solar brands for our customers so quality is a guarantee. Trusted solar panel brands like Canadian Panels, Jinko Solar, Qcell Panels and Trina Solar Panels are just some of the solar panels we source. However if you've been quoted a solar system with other panels or inverters contact Solar Smart Gold Coast for a similar system quote and save $$$.


text:
Q: Sort numbers with 0 as the last priority, PL/SQL keyword for priority I have:
PROCEDURE A
(
    inId    IN NUMBER,
    RC1           OUT SYS_REFCURSOR
) IS
tMessage VARCHAR2(128);

BEGIN
    OPEN RC1 FOR
           SELECT * FROM
           (
                  SELECT
                         a.company,
                  SUM(a.holding_balance) balance
                  FROM  TableNameEntries A

                   WHERE
                        A.BATCH_ID = inId
                   GROUP BY a.company
           )
                   ORDER BY balance DESC  ;

    EXCEPTION
        WHEN OTHERS THEN
             tMessage :='Exception ' || SQLCODE || ': ' || SQLERRM;
    OPEN RC1 FOR
    SELECT tMessage FROM DUAL;

END A;

For the balance column, I have values like -1, 0,1. Currently it's sorted like 1 0 -1, but I don't care about the zeros, so I want it to be like -1,1,0 or 1,-1,0
How do I do it in PL/SQL? I tried:
 SELECT
                         a.company,
                  SUM(a.holding_balance) balance
                  FROM  REC.CAG_GL_ENTRIES A

                   WHERE
                        A.BATCH_ID = 201311
                   order by case priority when 0 then 2 else 1 END   priority

But it's saying PRIORITY is invalid identifier.
How can I get this to work?

A: Try:
ORDER BY CASE balance
            WHEN 0 THEN null
            ELSE balance
         END
      DESC NULLS LAST

A: there are two ways in your case (second is more common, first is more clear):
SELECT a.company,
       SUM(a.holding_balance) balance
FROM  REC.CAG_GL_ENTRIES A
WHERE A.BATCH_ID = 201311
order by abs(balance) desc;

SELECT a.company,
       SUM(a.holding_balance) balance
FROM  REC.CAG_GL_ENTRIES A
WHERE A.BATCH_ID = 201311
order by decode(balance,1,1,-1,1,2);

A: ORDER BY SIGN(ABS(balance)) DESC, balance

ABS() turns all the negatives to positives. SIGN() turns 0 to 0, >0 to 1 (and <0 to -1). Combined with DESC this puts all the zeros at the end and all the non-zeros above them in no particular order.
Then I sorted by the balance again to order the non-zeros.

A: You can also use
order by balance * balance desc


Bryce Bowman, Vice President of Sales, Cetis, Inc. (right), welcomes Jorge L. Garcia (left) of Hotel Equipment, Katy, Texas to Cetis headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Jorge stopped by for a visit recently on his way home from a Colorado ski trip. Hope that you enjoyed your ski trip, Jorge, and thanks for your continued support!


There are currently 1 Res-Single Familys for sale in Abst A0836 J Renfro. The average price for Abst A0836 J Renfro properties is $450,000which is 89% higher than all Res-Single Familys within a 20 mile radius. The highest priced property in Abst A0836 J Renfro is $450,000 while the lowest priced Res-Single Family is listed at $450,000. Most of the properties available in Abst A0836 J Renfro are Res-Single Familys while there are other property types as well. Compared to last month, the average price of real estate in the area has gone up 100%.


Previous: SimpleXMLRPCServer – Implements an XML-RPC server.
Includes classes for implementing SMTP servers.
The smtpd module includes classes for building simple mail transport protocol servers. It is the server-side of the protocol used by smtplib.
The base class for all of the provided example servers is SMTPServer. It handles communicating with the client, receiving the data, and provides a convenient hook to override to handle the message once it is fully available.
The client's address, a tuple containing IP and incoming port.
The "from" information out of the message envelope, given to the server by the client when the message is delivered. This does not necessarily match the From header in all cases.
The list of recipients from the message envelope. Again, this does not always match the To header, especially if someone is blind carbon copied.
The full RFC 2822 message body.
Since the default implementation of process_message() raises NotImplementedError, to demonstrate using SMTPServer we need to create a subclass and provide a useful implementation. This first example defines a server that prints information about the messages it receives.
SMTPServer uses asyncore, so to run the server we call asyncore.loop().
Now, we need a client to send data. By adapting one of the examples from the smtplib page, we can set up a client to send data to our test server running locally on port 1025.
The port number for the incoming message will vary each time. Notice that the rcpttos argument is a list of values and mailfrom is a single string.
The example above shows the arguments to process_message(), but smtpd also includes a server specifically designed for more complete debugging, called DebuggingServer. It prints the entire incoming message to stdout and then stops processing (it does not proxy the message to a real mail server).
The PureProxy class implements a straightforward proxy server. Incoming messages are forwarded upstream to the server given as argument to the constructor.
It prints no output, though, so to verify that it is working we need to look at the mail server logs.
smtpd also includes a special proxy that acts as a front-end for Mailman. If the local Mailman configuration recognizes the address, it is handled directly. Otherwise the message is delivered to the proxy.
Base module for writing asynchronous servers.
Defines the email message format.
An excellent example of Python software that works with email messages.


text:
Trail-building project connects popular sites along the Alaska Railroad
by Melissa DeVaughn • October 25, 2017 • Feature, Highlights • Comments (0) • 982
By Melissa DeVaughn
A U.S. Forest Service and Alaska Railroad dream long in the making is one step closer to fruition this summer as Forest Service trail crew members work to connect two Whistle Stops via a hiking trial. The Spencer Glacier and Grandview whistle stops will be connected by an 8- to 10-mile trail, making it a doable day trip or overnight destination. Taking the train from the depot just outside of Girdwood is a convenient way to access this unique destination, and can add another level of fun to a Girdwood getaway.
Spencer Glacier has been developed with hiking, tent and cabin camping and sightseeing options for nearly 10 years, but just south of there, the Grandview Whistle Stop has remained more quiet, said Graham Predeger with the U.S. Forest Service's Glacier Ranger District. While Grandview has an outhouse, covered pavilion and short hiking path to a viewing platform, it tends to remain the Whistle Stop used by more experienced backpackers extending their treks into trail-less wilderness.
Spencer Glacier, as seen from the Whistle Stop.
GRAHAM PREDEGER/ U.S. FOREST SERVICE
"Grandview offers an incredible jumping-off point for seasoned backcountry travelers who want to hike deeper into the wilds of Alaska and away from the road system," he said. "Savvy backcountry travelers could put together a multiday trip from Grandview involving trails, bush whacking and pack rafting the Trail River into the community of Moose Pass."
As work continues this summer to help connect the trails, Predeger said the Forest Service – and other participating organizations such as the Alaska Wilderness Huts Association and the Alaska Railroad – are keeping their eye on the ultimate goal: "In the future the Whistle Stops will be connected by 30 miles of trails," he said.
For now, thru-access to the trails is not possible because two bridges still need to be constructed to make the path complete, Predeger said.
The Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop includes cabin camping, above, and pack rafting, below. An 8- to 10-mile trail connecting the Spencer and Grandview whistle stops will increase hiking options there, too.
PHOTOS COURTESY GRAHAM PREDEGER/ U.S. FOREST SERVICE
"Once the trail between Spencer Glacier and Grandview Whistle Stops is complete, an overnight (or multi-night) backpacking trip on the trail will be an option," he said. "Probably the most popular egress option out of either Whistle Stop is via pack raft. From Spencer, it's a mellow Class I-II float to the Seward Highway via the Placer River. From Grandview, the trail is a couple mile hike (bushwhack) to the Trail River and an overnight float out on the Trail River (class II-III) to Moose Pass."
The Alaska Railroad's Whistle Stop service has been popular for as long as the corporation has been offering it. The unique "ride a train to the wilderness and hop off" aspect of the Whistle Stop makes it a conversation starter for visitors and a once-in-a-lifetime activity. Three concessionaires with special-use permits through the Forest Service are set up at Spencer Glacier to offer activities such as rafting, ice climbing and guided hiking, and they stay booked during the tourist season.
For seasoned outdoorsy Alaskans, though, the added cost of accessing the backcountry via train can seem prohibitive. Predeger said don't let the price tag (in the neighborhood of $125) deter you. Not only does the area offer some unparalleled views, but the train ride also takes away the long hike from a road system to reach some truly untouched land. The price also beats air or water taxis, which are the other modes of reaching backcountry easily.
"The Spencer Trail leads to the rugged Kenai Mountains and a spectacular view of the Spencer Glacier with an option to continue to the edge of the glacier," he said. "This area is home to abundant birds, wildflowers, and wildlife including moose, and black and grizzly bears.
"The Spencer Glacier stop in particular is an easy first step folks can take to get a true remote backcountry experience without an air taxi or water taxi," he said, adding that the flat, relatively easy trail, at just over 3 miles, is a great experience for families with kids. "Once the train leaves for the day it can feel quite remote."
Alicia King, U.S. Forest Service Glacier ranger District spokeswoman, said the Spencer-Grandview connection is being funded through its long-term partnership with the Alaska Railroad, and trail work is being done by youth crews and volunteers. It's a long-term project that is making progress, one mile at a time.
"As the trail crew actively builds trail north from the Grandview stop, several dispersed camping sites are being identified that will be developed between the two Whistle Stops," she said. "These will be on a first- come, first-serve basis. Alaska Huts also has proposed building one to three cabins along this route."
Even though trail work is not complete, Predeger said there is no reason to wait. Most visitors come for just a day trip, but his favorite way to enjoy the area is to spend two or three nights at the Spencer Glacier site to see everything there is to see.
"Once the train leaves for the day, campers are left in this vast valley virtually alone until the next train arrives the following day," he said. "My personal favorite thing to do out there is to camp in the valley, do a day hike up to the Spencer Bench Cabin on day two for berries, mushrooms, wildflowers and spectacular views. Then return to the valley and for a mellow three- to four-hour float back to the Seward Highway. That would be a two- to three- day trip depending if you overnight halfway through your float down the Placer River."
Zoo series kicks off Next Post:
Girdwood on my mind


text:
Boys & Bows: And Some Other Bits
I think most people I know found it a bit unusual when I told them I was starting a business called 'Bits & Bows' with my sister, Sarah. Throughout this entrepreneurial journey, we have found that the word 'bows' itself seems to immediately conjure a youthful, girly idea in people's minds. So, considering I am, what is so commonly labeled, a 'boy mom', the notion that I would start a company oriented toward young girls didn't seem to make sense. But what many people don't know is, long before Palmer (3 years old) and Milo (17 months old) came into this world, Bits & Bows was up and running.
Let me clarify – by up and running, I mean we had an LLC registered under the name and a patent on our detachable bow-baseball hat concept. That's as far as we got in 2014 when Sarah and I developed the vision for what we now call our Bow Baseball Hats with interchangeable snap bows. I was beginning my MBA program at Carnegie Mellon University after just moving back to Pittsburgh from New York City where I had started my career in corporate retail at Macy's, Inc. I absolutely LOVED living in Manhattan and the career I had embarked on, but my husband (fiancé at the time) and I were ready to trade in the extravagant rent payment for our 1-bedroom apartment in midtown for keys to our first house in Aspinwall, PA.
One of the main reasons I sought an MBA degree was because I knew I wanted to someday create my own company, so an MBA program seemed like the perfect opportunity to broaden the scope of my business knowledge. That being said, fashion retail has ALWAYS been at the forefront of my career ambitions. Dating back to my decision to go behind-the-scenes at Saks Fifth Avenue for my 8th Grade Career Day, product-based retail has fascinated and inspired me. There is something so intriguing about a consumer's decision-making process that captivates me to this day. I remember taking a Brand Marketing course taught by MBA students my freshman year of college at Northwestern University that gave me that 'A-HA' moment. I finally knew at least the general career path on which I wanted to embark.
Okay, sorry for the side note on the evolution of my passion for branding and retail. Back to Bits & Bows. Despite our early legal work accomplished as I completed my 2-year program, Sarah and I ended up both going in different directions career-wise. I eventually had my two little boys, Palmer and Milo, and found myself in the role of stay-at-home mom as my priorities shifted to my children. Life seemed to move at lightning speed until lockdown occurred, during which I found myself at home with a nearly two-year-old and a newborn. I was so fulfilled with the joys of motherhood but could not shake the feeling that something was missing in my life, even after life started to return to some level of normalcy.
I felt so guilty about wanting anything more when I had my two boys, a loving and hardworking husband, and the luxury of the option to be a stay-at-home mom. But I'll save my everchanging feelings on all of that for another day. I was at a golf clinic last summer, newly recovered from my second C-section and finally out of the 'fourth trimester', when I spontaneously text messaged Sarah saying something similar to, I think it's time we start Bits & Bows. I was actually surprised when she responded in full support that we do just that. After years of what seemed like bad timing to start a business, we finally put our heads together and committed ourselves completely to this dream we shared. Fast forward almost a year later, and here we are. Some days, we question why we ever got on this rollercoaster ride, but most days we are extremely excited about and grateful for the opportunities we are uncovering. And I assure you that every day, you can find this 'boy mom' sporting her Bow Baseball Hat in a new color combination.


text:
Music and Comedy Night - Live Webcast Wednesday, July 23 6-9pm
7/22/2014 7:00:00 PM - Ziibiwing Cultural Center
Spirits Rising
COMEDY SHOW:
Amateur Comedy Slam
Prizes to participants!
Kid's Bouncers
$5 Caricatures
Music & Comedy
Night Co-Sponsors:
USI Insurance Services and Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel
View the event flyer
Featuring Musical Guests:
Joe Reilly, Allison Radell
Joe Reilly is a singer, songwriter, and educator from Ann Arbor who writes songs from his heart. Joe's
songs are playful, clever, engaging, joyful, and always have something meaningful to say. The core of his
message is an invitation to heal our relationships with our selves, with each other, and with the earth. Joe uses
his music to bring people together and build community across lines of race, class, gender, ethnicity, religion,
age, and nationality.
Joe is Italian, Irish, and Native American (Cherokee) and was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan in a creative
household by musical parents who encouraged him to find his own voice. Joe loves to inspire others to do the
same and to water seeds of compassion, joy, wisdom, and peace in our collective consciousness through the
sharing of his music.
Joe has recorded seven albums of his music, including two children's albums of environmental songs, Children
of the Earth (2007) and Let's Go Outside (2011). In 2012 Joe recorded an album of traditional and
contemporary Native American songs with youth from the Dream Seekers youth program at American Indian
Health and Family Services in Detroit. Joe's most recent album is Greyhound Bus Tour, released in May 2013
on the Earthwork Music label.
Find photos, music, and more at www.joereilly.org
Allison Radell is an inspiring and creative pianist, singer, and songwriter. She has studied classical and
jazz piano and enjoys playing a variety of genres. She performs with a jazz trio, a rock band, as a solo artist, and
as a duo with Joe Reilly. In addition to performing, Allison also teaches piano and hopes to one day open her
own music school. Allison (Powhatan) is also a fancy shawl pow wow dancer, and enjoys dancing for her
ancestors and elders in the sacred circle, remembering the contributions they have made to her life. She is
currently recording her first album of original songs.
More Ziibiwing Cultural Center Articles
Honoring Grandparents - 9/9/2021 4:42:00 PM
Anishinabe Performance Circle - 8/31/2021 3:10:00 PM
Honoring Grandparents - 8/31/2021 8:24:00 AM
Film Screening TODAY! - 8/9/2021 10:10:00 AM
Ribbon Skirt Workshop - 8/3/2021 8:08:00 AM


Katherine Ann Moss (born 16 January 1974) is an English model and businesswoman. Born in Croydon, Greater London, she was discovered in 1988 at age 14 by Sarah Doukas, founder of Storm Model Management, at JFK Airport in New York City.. Arriving at the end of the "supermodel era", Moss rose to fame in the mid 1990s as part of the heroin chic fashion trend.
What to Watch: Here are the TV shows your favorite celebrities are binge-watching See what Sterling K. Brown, Olivia Munn, George R.R. Martin, and more couldn't stop watching.


TAVARES, FL – September 17, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — The deadline of Sept. 30 is fast approaching for Lake County homeowners and small business owners to submit applications for the County's energy efficiency retrofit pilot program.
As part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, Lake County is conducting a pilot program by selecting one home and one small commercial building to receive free energy efficiency retrofits (up to a $3,000 value) to show how small investments in energy efficiency reduce energy costs. To date, 36 homeowners and four small business owners have submitted applications.
2. Click on the provided link (http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer/) to complete an online audit. All pages of the audit must be completed. Save the session number on the upper left, as it is required for the entry form.
Lake County will select one homeowner and one small commercial building owner as the pilot program participants on Oct. 15, 2010. The County anticipates completing the retrofit pilot program by March 30, 2011. For more information, call (352) 343-9503.


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FMI Quarterly/December 2017/December 6, 2017
Health and Wellness: The Next Disruption in Sustainable Building Design
By Greg Powell, Elizabeth Bowen and Marvin Roeder on December 6, 2017
How companies can effectively transform environmental- and health-related disruption into true opportunities now and in the future.
Memorable Quotes From The Video:
Prevailing thinking in current sustainability and design is going beyond the carbon footprint of a building or its energy efficiency to include the health of the occupants inside the building, or the wellness factor.
Design firms need to keep pace with changes and evolution in sustainable design. They need to extend their capabilities beyond simple #LEED standards to include emerging wellness standards and technological innovation.
In today's global economy, building owners and employers are looking for ways to compete for talent, reduce operating costs and benefit the environment. While Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification continues to be the leader in U.S. commercial real estate sustainability certification market share, trends in the market are causing building owners and employers to consider new aspects of sustainability, new certification systems and new technologies.
Millennials have now surpassed Generation X to become the largest generation in the American workforce.1 This group's preferences for sustainability, wellness and business transparency are expected to be major influences on building design. This trend creates significant opportunities for architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) firms well-positioned to meet this generation's demand for all things green, healthy and innovative.
LEED Reigns in A/E/C
The most prevalent green building rating system in the world, LEED is used in over 165 countries and territories.2 Expanded to serve practically all building, community and home project types, this certification addresses both human and environmental health, primarily by rating various components of a building's design and construction. However, there are varying tradeoffs with LEED's holistic human and environmental strategy. Among them is the inherent challenge that comes with engineering a building to bring in more outside air for improved human health without compromising energy efficiency goals.
LEED continues to dominate the green building certification market and appears to have as many as 65,000 projects in the pipeline for the next few years. As shown in Exhibit 1, LEED adoption rates have grown consistently over the last 15 years; as of July 2017, there were 90,900 total commercial LEED certifications. The larger number of LEED registrations serves as a proxy for anticipated future growth in LEED certification and sustainable design.
Exhibit 1. LEED Adoption Rates3
While the U.S. is by far the most active country in the world for LEED certifications, it's by no means the only supporter of green building. Many global markets are pursuing widespread measures to reduce carbon footprints and maximize energy efficiency. China, Canada and India, for example, are all increasing adoption of green building standards (Exhibit 2).
Exhibit 2. LEED Certifications by Country4
Growing Diversification in Sustainability Measurements
LEED has responded to the trends in transparency, wellness and technology with the addition of a new Performance Path to LEED certification using Arc, which allows building owners or consultants to collect energy, water, waste, air quality, occupant satisfaction and transportation data to benchmark themselves against other projects. This level of benchmarking helps to improve overall building performance.5 Arc can be used both to recertify LEED certified buildings and to certify non-LEED buildings. The program uses data from occupant satisfaction and other key performance indicators to influence a daily or monthly dynamic LEED score.
Over the past two decades, many new green building certification programs have emerged with and without LEED alignment. Some are geographically focused, such as BREEAM, which dominates the U.K. market. Others are focused on a sector or issue that LEED does not specifically address, such as Living Building/Zero Energy Certification, Passive House and Green Globes, all of which have shown rapid adoption rates, but still with far fewer certifications in place compared to LEED.
The Next Phase in the Evolution of Sustainable Design
We're now witnessing the increased convergence of green and wellness. While green certifications such as LEED focus more on the environmental impact of a building, wellness rating systems emphasize the health and well-being of the building's occupants. According to Leigh Stringer, EYP, workplace strategist and author of "The Healthy Workplace," "Many of the strategies for creating a healthy and productive physical work environment stem from the efforts to make buildings greener or more environmentally friendly."
This progression is driven by, in part, a growing focus among employers on health costs as U.S. health care expenses spiral out of control. Studies have shown that the building environments affect human physiological systems. Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors, on average, yet indoor air is generally two to five times more toxic than outside air due to poor ventilation and off-gassing of toxic chemicals from a host of products, from carpeting to furniture.6 The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health identified these nine foundations of a healthy building: air quality, thermal health, moisture, dust and pests, safety and security, water quality, noise, lighting and views, and ventilation.7
The benefits of "healthy buildings" have been documented in numerous studies and include reduced illness and absenteeism among workers, higher worker productivity, higher test scores among students and greater workplace satisfaction.8 One such study directly quantified the impact of indoor environmental quality on cognitive functions. By changing levels of air ventilation, carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds, the study measured how the indoor environment in which we work and live affects our health and productivity. The results show a clear correlation between improved indoor air quality and cognitive performance (Exhibit 3).
Exhibit 3. Study on Cognitive Impact of Indoor Air Quality9
These cognitive benefits translate into documented monetary cost savings for building owners and employers. In turn, building certification standards are evolving to hold designers and contractors accountable to deliver these cost-reducing and revenue-boosting benefits. However, a survey conducted by Virgin HealthMiles Inc. illustrates some of the challenges with wellness initiatives: 89% of employees reported a company's health benefits as significant to their choice of employer, but only 36% of employers reported having the information needed to be able to make actionable decisions about an employee health strategy.
Partly in response to the financial potential in addressing occupant health in the built environment, industry stakeholders developed the WELL Building Standard, which integrates health, design and management.10 According to the International WELL Building Institute, 90% of the costs associated with the life cycle of a commercial building come from the people inside (salaries and benefits), while only 10% come from operating the building itself. Wellness certifications have emerged to improve returns on the 90% invested in human assets. As Rachel Gutter, senior vice president of the WELL Building Institute, explained to FMI, "Our indoor environments have a profound effect on our health and wellness, impacting everything from our stress levels to alertness to productivity. The WELL Building Standard was developed with this relationship in mind. Designed to be as interactive as possible and to work in harmony with other building certifications like LEED, WELL encompasses over 100 features addressing seven core concepts of building performance that have been scientifically proven to impact the occupant experience."
It's important to note that WELL certification is not the only certification gaining a significant amount of attention in the market. "A new wellness program, the Facility Innovations Toward Wellness Environment Leadership (Fitwel) certification program, was developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and was piloted on General Services Administration buildings, an organization also known for its early adoption of LEED certification," Stringer explains. "Many of my clients are adopting Fitwel as a certification tool because the strategies have been vetted by CDC's research team and are intentionally low-cost and fairly easy to implement, even in existing buildings."
Wellness Implications
Wellness standards have yet to achieve broad market adoption, with 28 WELL certified buildings and 159 Fitwel buildings currently operating in the U.S. However, it's clear that human health and wellness in the workplace are both high priorities for millennials, and more certifications are on the way. In the U.S. alone, there are currently 224 registered projects. Worldwide, 522 projects are registered for WELL certification. Studies show that millennials are increasingly emphasizing a healthy work environment when making employment decisions.11 Rising demand for human wellness-focused work environments among this most influential component of our workforce is leading more companies to respond by considering wellness certifications in both new and existing buildings. Architects are beginning to witness this uptick in building owner and employer interest in wellness. Maria Papiez, sustainability leader at design firm EwingCole, notes "There is now a critical mass for wellness in the marketplace as big brands compete for talent."
One such brand is technology leader Lenovo. "To attract today's top talent, Lenovo committed to both LEED Platinum and WELL certification for its new building at the North American Lenovo headquarters," explained Erin Bolduc, Lenovo technical project manager. "We pursued WELL late in the design process as we recognized a significant amount of overlap between the two rating systems while pursuing LEED v3. Where LEED and WELL did not overlap, Lenovo corporate policies made it obvious that, with our benefits and the site characteristics, we would be able to achieve WELL certification."
In addition, the demand for wellness and "healthy buildings" has driven—and continues to drive—advancement in building innovation and technologies that monitor and enhance health benefits for building occupants, as illustrated in Exhibit 4. Technological innovation has a rapidly growing influence on the broader design and construction industry, and its role in fostering healthy building environments is growing in equal measure.
Exhibit 4. Building Technologies Targeting Wellness
In time, buildings that achieve wellness certifications may earn health insurance incentives, as insurance providers continue to explore ways to reduce risk. Companies pursuing less formal employee health and wellness initiatives—such as lifestyle and disease management programs—have accrued similar benefits.
Impact on the Design Industry Moving Forward
When sustainability became the new normal, designers adapted to the demand for LEED and similar capabilities. Building stakeholders are now broadening this environmental focus toward the human experience, and the industry must once again adapt.
As the convergence of green and wellness continues to gain momentum, the design industry will be facing new demands. To deal with these shifts, firms will need to address the various wellness programs gaining in prominence; navigate new and emerging building technologies; and cater to shifting priorities among building owners, employers and employees. As these demands grow, design firms will also need the right balance of talent and capabilities to compete and thrive in this evolving environment.
1 Feeney, N., "Millennials Now Largest Generation in the U.S. Workforce", Time, May 11, 2015.
2 LEED, https://new.usgbc.org/leed, November 2017.
3 LEED, "Country Market Brief", https://www.usgbc.org/advocacy/country-market-brief, November 2017.
5 ARC, http://arcskoru.com, November 2017.
6 National Geographic, "5 Surprising Ways Buildings Can Improve Our Health", http://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/urban-expeditions/green-buildings/surprising-ways-green-buildings-improve-health-sustainability, February 2017.
7 Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, "The 9 Foundations of a Healthy Building 2017", http://www.forhealth.org, November 2017.
8 Allen., J, MacNaughton, P., Satish, U., Santanam, S., Vallarino, J., & Spengler, J., "Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments", https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/15-10037, Volume 124, 2016.
10 International Well Building Institute, https://www.wellcertified.com, November 2017.
11 Rigoni, B., and Nelson, B., "Millennials Want Jobs That Promote Their Well-Being", http://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/196985/millennials-jobs-promote.aspx, November 2016.
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Kraus F (2005). The genus Nactus (Lacertilia: Gekkonidae): a phylogenetic analysis and description of two new species from the Papuan Region. Plazi.org taxonomic treatments database. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.170178 accessed via GBIF.org on 2019-04-20.


Ah yes, there's virtual reality that is beginning to transition into virtual gambling. This is among the most new trend since all items have almost become virtual. For many people, virtual gambling has switched right into a favorite activity that is true regardless of the nature of earnings you've or of his gender and social status.
The reality is, gambling remains existing for several centuries already. It has been for nearly 2,000 years. Gambling may also be its not all about money before. You'll be able to bet personal possessions and all things between. It isn't however not used to new and modern enhancements. Today, there is lots improvement it's switched virtual, meaning, to manage your feelings with almost the identical aspect as gambling but it is online or via internet.
The term virtual here can not be construed as mere illusory. It truly means gambling by utilizing technologies like streaming and internet. Meaning as opposed to entering the casino to bet personally, you are able to participate in betting on the web and winning very much the same when you are personally there. It truely does work when you're inside the comfort of your house though the pleasure and excitement as if you are actually there.
There are many preference if you play game virtually. Like the amenities and equipment you normally see in casinos, you will observe exactly the standard choices in virtual gaming. You can even start to see the traditional games in gambling that exist in virtual gambling. If you see casino games like pokers, slots, blackjack, roulette in the casino, they are also the identical types of games available on the internet. Choices really diverse that you will certainly fight to choose sometimes.
But aside from the traditional games the factor is around the regular casino, you will observe numerous gaming innovations in virtual gambling. It provides world cups, Saturday matches, reality Tv shows and virtually everything that could request betting money. What's good from it is always that there's virtually anything you will find and could bet from.
In the event you inquire if it's ever safe then you are assured it's. It is a safe and fun atmosphere as it is very difficult to cheat online. As well as, since nobody sees you, it adds spice for the word "fun". That one factor makes people get allured, tempted making most to acquire addicted. You can start with online with free streaming gaming so they can start dipping his feet inside it. It's a powerful way to attempt to uncover the intricacies. After becoming familiar with it, you can start customizing a couple of from the features and approach to betting.
Today, people forget about stay late in casinos. The then wrong impression you will get when entering an e-casino is becoming avoided then one can bet almost anytime before their computers. Virtual gambling has truly grew to become part of the virtual revolution as well as for individuals really fan from this, it is become a powerful way to get yourself a very convenient approach to betting and winning its stakes.


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Alpine Gaze
Once gazed upon with awe as indestructible and pristine, mountains and the habitats they curate are increasingly threatened. Magnum has documented this evolution over the course of the eight decades since the storied photo agency's beginnings with Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson and a small group of friends. The prints of vistas from around the world reflect man's fascination with the peaks that dot the Earth and the drive to conquer them in quixotic attempts to reach the skies.
Some of the images bear witness to difficult journeys along steep, narrow paths, whilst others capture various encounters and interactions. There's also a grim side when nature becomes a curated commodity rendered increasingly fragile by tourism and industrial encroachment. In Martin Parr's The Matterhorn (1990), grey-haired tourists fill the foreground, obstructing our view of the snow-capped peak that straddles the Swiss-Italian border. Alex Webb shows Japanese tourists going trigger-happy with their cameras at Bolivia's Valle de la Luna. Capa's view of the Matterhorn is more glamorous, featuring a skier sunbathing at its foot. Chris Steele-Perkins gives a hallucinogenic view of Mount Fuji thanks to a long-exposure where the flashing red lights of road work combine with the fluorescent green of Fujinomiya city reflected in the clouds above.
Even when majestic ranges are on full display, man is never far away. Thus Alex Majoli's 2004 image of Mount Kenya stresses how what we see are only the "remnants of fast disappearing snowfields." The exhibition is one of four revolving around alpine themes at the Museum of Fine Arts in Le Locle, Switzerland, an apt location for the show, perched at around 1,000 metres. They are also part of the upcoming Alt.+1000 photography festival in September.
Olivia Hampton
Magnum Photos: Montagnes. Musée des beaux-arts Le Locle, Switzerland. Until 13 October. Also at Forte di Bard, Italy. Through 7 January 2020. Find out more here.
1. Zermatt. SWITZERLAND. 1950. Skier sunbathing in front of the Matterhorn. © Robert Capa © International Center of Photography/Magnum Photos.
Photographic Resurgence
LE BAL, Paris, displays a range of Magnum Photos' treasures from books and publications dating from the creation of the co-operation in 1947.
Intimate Visions
Magnum's Closer square print sale ends today, an initiative that considers the notion of proximity and social immersion through pioneering photographers.
The legendary agency, Magnum Photos, is breaking the boundaries of genre, taking fashion out of the studio and into the real world.


What do your holiday packages include?
Our holiday packages include Return Flights tickets, Hotel stay with breakfast, Airport transfers, Holiday Factory representative & Travel insurance * (included in packages from UAE only). All taxes and baggage allowance per person is also included.
What is a Holiday Factory representative / tour guide?
We strive to provide our customers with a complete holiday experience and having a local Holiday Factory representative at the destination included Free of charge in the holiday package ensures just that. Our representatives welcome you at the airport and aside from offering you the best tours in the city, they will guide you on all the must-do's, where to eat, what to avoid and anything else that you need information about. They are also available on call during your entire stay for any problems that may arise. Our Holiday Factory representatives will provide you with all tour options available at the destination, which can be purchased either from our Customer Care support in Dubai 04 701 4000 or at the destination from them directly.
Are local sightseeing tours included in the package?
The tours are not included in the package, unless mentioned in the inclusions. You can purchase the local sightseeing tours at the destination from our Holiday Factory representatives or contact our Customer Care support in Dubai 04 701 4000 to add it to your package. Our local sightseeing tours are discounted and have the best price for all our customers.
Which Travel insurance is offered in the package and what does it cover?
All Holiday Factory customers receive complementary Travel insurance included in the holiday package. In partnership with largest Insurance Company in G.C.C. OMAN Insurance, our Travel Insurance provides emergency medical coverage with Emergency Medical Expense, both Accident & Sickness, with value of USD 50,000. It meets standard of Schengen visa countries, as well, so it is admissible during the time of Schengen visa processing.
Important Information: Travel Insurance is mandatory by most of the countries including those with "visa on arrival" or "Visa free "policy. It's usually required during check in process before departure or during Immigration procedures after arrival at destination.
Do you provide VISA with the holiday package?
Many of our holiday destinations are VISA FREE or VISA Easy. However, we don't provide Visa with our holiday packages, unless stated in the package inclusions.
We support your visa application by providing the necessary travel documents. Holiday Factory travel documents are admissible for Visa purposes.
What is price for children if I book the Crazy deals?
For our Crazy deals, Infant fee is only AED 300. For children above the age of 2 years at the time of travel, an individual full priced voucher needs to be purchased.
How can I buy these unbelievable holiday packages?
Buying our holiday packages is extremely simple! All you need is to choose your favorite Holiday deal, have a debit/Credit card and Voila! All our holiday packages are bookable online and for a step-by-step booking process, please visit https://holiday-factory.com/common/how-to-book. You can also contact our Customer care support on 04 701 4000 for a dedicated agent booking assistance.
Can I change the Return Flight or Extend my stay after completing my booking?
Yes, once the booking is confirmed, amendments to the return flight and duration of stay can be made. The amendments must be advised and confirmed at least 4 days before departure date and are subject to availability. For fees, please check https://www.holiday-factory.com/common/terms-conditions. Ammending the flight duration / timings / dates without the relevant hotel booking changes is available at extra fees. For fee infomration, please contact our customer care team on 04 701 4000 and a dedicated agent will assist you.
Can I confirm / check availability of the travel dates before purchasing the voucher?
With our crazy deals, you have the advantage of 6 months travel validity to choose any preferred travel date. We guarantee your travel dates and in the unlikely event of seats being sold out / flight not operational, we guarantee +/- 1 Day from preferred date. However, checking the availability before purchasing the holiday voucher is not possible.
How can I get a package with a confirmed travel dates?
For packages with confirmed travel dates you can use our online booking engine IGO on our website www.holiday-factory.com or contact our Customer Care support on 04 701 4000 and a dedicated agent will book the travel dates you desire.
Are the Public Holidays / EID holidays included in the crazy deal vouchers?
We announce separate special holiday deals for Public holidays and EID holidays. These are not included in the crazy deal vouchers.
How can i book for a Public Holiday/EID holiday package?
You can book on the website at the Public Holiday/EID Holiday section or contact our Customer Care support on 04 701 4000 and a dedicated agent will book the travel dates you desire.
Can I refund my holiday voucher if I change my mind?
Yes, unused vouchers can be refunded for a fee of only AED 50/voucher, as long as the cancellation request is submitted within the validity of the voucher.
Can i exchange my Gift voucher for cash?
Holiday Factory gift vouchers can be only used for redemption against holiday packages on Holiday Factory.
Can i refund my Gift voucher?