Margo Love Story and Ken Kavanaugh Jr.
Why choose the Love Story Team? Whether you are selling your Suncoast property or searching for your ideal coastal residence, Margo Love Story and Ken Kavanaugh Jr. want to personally guide you through one of the most important journeys of your lifetime. With decades of combined experience in the real estate industry, they know exactly what it takes to achieve the best results for their customers.
Margo has lived in Siesta Key and Sarasota since 1986. Her marketing savvy and keen eye for maximizing your home's appeal come from her residential sales experience, professional photography career and education at Parsons School of Design in Paris.
Ken's knowledge of the Sarasota and Anna Maria Island market began in 1981 when his family moved to the area. He has owned a vacation home and rental property on Anna Maria for nine years, eventually deciding to move from Atlanta and make the island his permanent home. His negotiating skills and real estate business expertise are derived from a diverse career developing, financing, investing and selling lodging and apartment properties.
When you choose our team you get two dedicated professionals backed by the knowledge, reputation and expertise of the Suncoast's leading real estate company – Michael Saunders & Company. Local service with global connections – that's a smart choice.
Listing Title: Margo Love Story and Ken Kavanaugh Jr.


Warm your home and soul with this fragrance free ceramic glazed candle poured into the drip glazed ceramic. The multiple wicks are sure to light up any space from the dining table to an evening on the veranda. Colors may vary from photo.


Find out how you can make sure your medical record is always about you.
(BPT) – There's only one you. But sometimes your name or some of your personal information is so similar to someone else's that doctors' offices or hospitals can have a hard time identifying your records correctly. It's a dangerous and costly problem that can lead to missed diagnoses, inappropriate treatments or unnecessary tests, as well as making it difficult for your doctor to share information with your other health care providers.
A solution? A patient identifier that makes sure your unique health records accurately represent you. That's why the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the national organization of health information management professionals, has started an online petition asking for a voluntary patient safety identifier. A voluntary patient safety identifier is something you could create and would allow medical systems to recognize you quickly and accurately when accessing your information. It will help ensure all your health information is kept together and is complete, all the while remaining under your control.
The petition will encourage our leaders in the federal government to engage with experts in the private sector who have experience in accurately identifying people, as they do in banking and other financial businesses, along with security experts. With 80 percent of doctors and 97 percent of hospitals currently using an electronic health record, having a way to accurately and safely exchange information can make health care more safe and effective.
The challenge of accurate patient identification is illustrated by a study conducted by the Harris County Hospital District in Houston, which found that, among 3.5 million patients, there were nearly 70,000 instances where two or more patients shared the same last name, first name and date of birth. Among these were 2,488 different patients named Maria Garcia and 231 of those shared the same birth date.
That's why people from across the country are supporting a petition that asks the Obama administration to join with the private sector to discuss a voluntary patient safety identifier. Please add your name to the list — it's time.


When I was a young girl I loved to read etiquette books. Really. I remember reading once that the purpose of etiquette is not to make judgements about people or make them feel uncomfortable, but rather to provide a set of guidelines so that people know how to conduct themselves in any situation so that they can feel comfortable and confident. What does this have to do with yoga? Well, remember the first time you walked into a yoga studio? I bet you had a lot of uncertainties... Am I wearing the right clothes? Why is everyone so quiet? Where do I put my stuff? What equipment do I need? What if I can't do the poses?
All this uncertainty probably made you feel uncomfortable and nervous, which is exactly the opposite of how I want people to feel when they come to The Yoga Room. So I'd like to share some thoughts about the etiquette of yoga, so that both new and experienced yogis will feel confident and completely at ease at The Yoga Room or any other studio they may visit.
Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before your class begins. This gives you enough time to put away your personal belongings, find a spot for your mat, collect any props you may want or need for class, fill out paperwork (if you're new to the studio) and pay for a class pass if you need to.
If you arrive a few minutes late due to an unforeseen circumstance, ask the desk staff if you're too late to join the class. If you're just a couple of minutes late you may still be able to join (enter quietly to minimize disruption as much as possible), but if you're more than a couple of minutes late, you may not be let in because walking in late creates a distraction for both the students and the teacher.
Stay in the room until the end of final relaxation. People come to yoga to relax, and if you get up and leave in the middle of practice it causes disruption to the flow of class and stress for the teacher and students. If you feel that you need a break, you can certainly do a relaxation pose at any time. You can sit or lay down, or rest in child's pose or on all fours.
If you must leave the room to go to the restroom, try to exit and re-enter quietly to minimize disruption.
Occasionally a situation may arise where you'll need to leave class early. Maybe you are a health professional and you're on call or maybe you have an unforeseen emergency. In any case, quietly communicate the situation to the teacher and exit with minimal disruption. Leave your props in place and the teacher will take care of them later.
When you come into our lobby, remove your shoes and place them on the shoe shelf. We don't wear shoes in the studios for a number of reasons: so that we can exercise the muscles in our feet and so that the floor stays as clean as possible. Since we sit and lay on the floor, it's especially important to keep it free of mud, dirt, and other debris that may have stuck to the soles of your shoes.
Personal belongings such as jackets, purses, wallets, glasses, etc., may be placed in the cubbies in your class's studio.
Unless you are a health professional who is on call or a new mom leaving her baby with a sitter for the first time or you have some other potential emergency situation, leave your cell phone in your car, or make sure it is turned off or switched to airplane mode. When a phone rings or vibrates during class, it is disruptive to the teacher and the students, and embarrassing to the phone's owner who has to stop their practice to silence it.
We explore the body's range of motion in every yoga class, so it's good to wear modest clothes that can move with you. Yoga or athletic pants, capris, and long or medium length shorts, paired with a t-shirt or tank top are appropriate.
A special note about yoga pants and tights: Many styles of tights are in fashion right now, and it's a good idea to know the differences between yoga pants and tights. Tights thinner and are are designed to be worn with a long top or a short dress because they become sheer when stretched. Thinner yoga pants can also become sheer when they are stretched.
Chewing Gum during yoga practice disrupts your breathing and creates distraction from your practice. It's a good idea to discard your gum in the waste bin before practice.
Many people are sensitive or allergic to perfumes, colognes, and scented lotions. Out of respect for your fellow practitioners (and your teacher) who will be breathing consciously, intentionally, and deeply, near you, for an hour, please arrive at the studio clean and free of body odor and refrain from wearing any scents. Even if you think your perfume smells mild and nice, it can still be offensive to others who have a sensitive sense of smell.
People who attend classes in a yoga studio often consider it as a place to get away from the stresses in their lives and to practice quiet relaxation. In the time before your class begins, arrange your space quietly, speak in a quiet tone, and be respectful of your fellow practitioners' space.
Yogis often regard their yoga mat as a sacred space for practice and relaxation. Do not step on another person's mat, especially if you are wearing shoes. We lay our faces and bodies on our mats, so we want to make sure to keep them clean.
Practice silence during class. Silence encourages mindfulness and awareness, which are important tools in one's yoga practice. Sometimes the teacher will pose a hypothetical question during class in an effort to help the students tune into sensations in the body. Answer these questions silently in your mind.
Sometimes the teacher will ask a direct question in order to gain feedback or encourage sharing about a particular pose or situation. In this case it is perfectly fine to respond. In some situations, excessive talking during class can be a distraction for the teacher, who is working to lead a cohesive, beneficial, safe, and serene practice for all the practitioners.
The Yoga Room provides bolsters, blankets, straps, blocks, sand bags, eye pillows, and other props for everyone to use. We also have mats available for rent.
If you borrow a rental mat, we appreciate when you take a minute after practice to sanitize the mat with the provided mat spray and towel. After you give the mat a minute to dry, please roll it up and replace it in the basket. If another class is coming in, please bring the mat to the lobby staff so that they can finish taking care of the mat.
Sometimes people ask at what age it is appropriate to bring children who are interested in yoga to a yoga class. The answer is that it depends on the child.
Given that the yoga studio is a place of calm and relaxation, it is important that all participants, children included, are able to focus and follow instructions for the hour-long class. It is important that no one cause distraction to anyone else. If children at interested in attending a yoga class, they should be able to follow all the etiquette guidelines described here.
It is not appropriate to bring children to the studio and have them wait in the lobby while you attend class. The lobby staff have many responsibilities to attend to during class times and cannot entertain or supervise children. We do not provide childcare and we cannot be held responsible for children left in the lobby.
The staff at The Yoga Room places a high priority on maintaining a space where everyone feels comfortable, welcome, nurtured, and respected in their life practice and their yoga practice. With yoga we learn to respect ourselves and others. The etiquette of yoga verbalizes the details of that respect. We thank you for helping uphold our mission of respect for ourselves and others and we thank you so much for being a part of our studio!
If you have any questions about any part of this post, or anything related to the etiquette of yoga, please feel free to post a comment on our blog or send me an email at zelinda@rryogaroom.com.


In millions, except "Basic EPS". Currency is SEK.
Electrolux AB is a Sweden-based company which offers designed and sustainable solutions for households and businesses. Its products include refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and small domestic appliances.


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The Suusamyr Botanical Reserve is located in the Suusamyr rural community, Jayyl District, Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1990 with a purpose of conservation of forests in flood-plains of the rivers Suusamyr and Batysh Karakol including willow, English elm, Prunus padus as well as Ribes janczewskii.

References

Chüy Region
Protected areas established in 1990
Botanical reserves in Kyrgyzstan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dividend stocks can generally be separated into two groups. The first group is made up of high-yield stocks. Think telecoms and utilities, which offer higher dividend yields of 4%+. Their high yields are attractive, but the trade-off is that they tend to have low dividend growth rates. Sometimes, their dividend increases barely beat inflation.
The second group is made up of stocks that have lower dividend yields, in the ~2% range, but have high dividend growth rates. These companies typically distribute a lower percentage of their earnings today, so that they can invest in the business to generate growth. The trade-off with these stocks, is that they can raise their dividends 10% each year or more, in some cases.
Investors on the hunt for high-quality dividend growth stocks should review the list of Dividend Achievers, which have raised dividends for 10+ years in a row. You can see the entire list of all 265 Dividend Achievers here.
Dividend growth stocks with lower yields may not appeal to retirees, who might want more income right now, but they are well-suited for young investors with longer time horizons. Over time, a portfolio of these stocks can build higher dividend income streams than stocks with high current yields, but low dividend growth rates.
Bonus: Listen to our interview with Nick Ward on The Sure Investing Podcast below where Nick covers the young investor's approach to dividend growth investing.
This article will discuss the top 10 dividend stocks for young investors.
Hasbro is a good fit for young investors, as it has increased its dividend by 14% each year over the past 10 years. This includes a 12% dividend increase earlier this year. The company has raised its dividend for 13 out of the last 14 years, and is on the list of Dividend Achievers.
Its high dividend growth rates are the result of strong cash flow. Hasbro generated $620 million of free cash flow in 2016, a 51% increase from the previous year.
The company enjoyed broad-based growth last year. All of its core operating segments posted growth, including 15% revenue growth in the U.S. and Canada, 11% international growth, and 8% growth in Entertainment and Licensing revenue. This drove record revenue and earnings for the company in 2016, surpassing $5 billion in sales for the first time.
Hasbro is off to a great start to 2017. Total revenue increased 7% over the first half, to $1.82 billion. Revenue increased 11% in the second quarter, led by 16% growth in the U.S. and Canada.
Hasbro should continue to grow over the long term. It is one of the top global entertainment companies, with popular brands across toys, games, and its upstart content business. Some of the company's brands include Nerf, My Little Pony, Transformers, Play-Doh, Monopoly, and Magic: The Gathering. Hasbro Studios also produces content.
Hasbro's Franchise Brands, its largest segment, grew revenue by 21% in the second quarter, thanks to strong growth from Transformers, Magic: The Gathering, Nerf, and Monopoly.
The company will also benefit from international growth. Hasbro has a great deal of opportunity in the emerging markets. Currency-neutral revenue rose 5% and 9% in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific segments over the first half, respectively.
Hasbro stock yields 2.4% right now, which is still above the S&P 500 average. With a dividend payout ratio below 50% and a long growth trajectory up ahead, Hasbro has a good chance at delivering 10%+ compound annual dividend growth for many years.
Costco's current dividend yield is just 1.3%, well below the 2% average yield in the S&P 500 Index. However, Costco is a much more appealing dividend growth stock than the current yield indicates. It delivered an 11% dividend raise earlier this year. Since it initiated a dividend in 2004, it has increased the dividend by 13% annually. And, Costco pays a special dividend on occasion, including a $7.00 per share special dividend for 2017.
You may have heard about the death of retail, but Costco has proved otherwise. It has continued to grow, even in a very competitive retail environment. Last quarter, total sales increased 8%, thanks to 5% growth in comparable-store sales. It has fought off the competitive threat of e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN) with a focus on low prices.
Costco's competitive advantage is its popular membership program, which has grown rapidly over the years.
The highly lucrative Gold Star membership program grew by 38% from 2012-2016. Membership growth drives higher membership fees, which is a significant portion of Costco's revenue base. For example, membership fees rose by 4% last quarter. Renewal rates continue to be strong, with 90.2% renewal last quarter in the U.S. and Canada.
And, Costco has invested in an e-commerce business of its own. E-commerce sales increased 15% in 2016, and rose 26% in August. Costco continues to invest in growth initiatives to keep up with the changing retail environment. Earlier this year, the company announced a partnership with grocery delivery service Shipt. Costco plans to bring the service to as many as 50 markets by the end of this year.
Overall, Costco's earnings-per-share increased 12% through the first three quarters of its current fiscal year. Double-digit earnings growth should allow for high dividend growth rates, and regular special dividends moving forward.
Visa has a very low dividend yield, of 0.7%. A dividend yield less than 1% might be an automatic disqualifier among income investors who focus on high yields. However, even a tiny dividend yield can grow to a high yield over time, especially given Visa's high dividend growth potential.
Over the past five years, Visa has increased its quarterly dividend by approximately 24% per year, on average. At this rate, Visa's dividends will double every three years. If Visa can maintain a 24% annual dividend growth rate, investors would earn a 6% yield on cost in 10 years.
Such high dividend growth is made possible by Visa's tremendous competitive advantages and strong brand. With that in mind, it is not surprising to see that Warren Buffett owns 10.5 million shares of Visa, which is one of Buffett's highest-quality holdings.
You can see the complete list of Buffett's top 20 stocks here.
The fundamental backdrop for Visa is very strong. In 2016, revenue and adjusted earnings-per-share increased 9% and 8%, respectively. The company is off to an even better start to 2017. Total operating revenue increased 25% over the first three quarters of the current fiscal year.
Visa's growth stems from the broader shift away from cash. Consumers are using mobile payments processing technology and cards, and are comfortable not carrying cash. There is good reason to go cashless, as physical currency can be lost or stolen.
Visa is benefiting from a growing customer base. Debit and credit cards increased 31% and 23%, respectively, last quarter. This drove 40% growth in transactions. It will also benefit from international growth, thanks to the $23 billion acquisition of Visa Europe in 2016.
For 2017, Visa expects approximately 20% growth in both revenue and adjusted earnings-per-share. With a very low payout ratio and high earnings growth potential, Visa could continue to increase its dividend by 20%-25% every year, on average.
UnitedHealth is a diversified healthcare company. It operates two primary segments: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health insurance coverage and benefits services, and Optum, which provides healthcare services through information and technology.
UnitedHealth is a high-growth dividend stock, that should appeal to investors with long time horizons. The 1.5% dividend yield does not seem too impressive, but the company has grown its payout rapidly over the past several years.
From 2012-2017, UnitedHealth raised its dividend at a 29% compound annual rate. The company has more than tripled its quarterly dividend rate in the past five years.
UnitedHealth is growing rapidly, thanks to an influx of new customers. Revenue increased 18% in 2016, to $185 billion. Adjusted earnings-per-share increased 25% for the year.
Growth has continued in 2017. In the 12-month period through the end of the second quarter, UnitedHealth grew to serve 2.5 million more customers through its employer and government-sponsored offerings.
This led to 8% revenue growth last quarter, while adjusted earnings-per-share increased 26%. Growth was evenly distributed across operating segments. UnitedHealthcare and Optum grew revenue by 8.6% and 9.9% last quarter, respectively. Operating margins in both segments expanded from last year.
UnitedHealth's operating results came in better-than-expected over the first half of the year, which compelled the company to hike its guidance for the remainder of the year. For 2017, UnitedHealth expects adjusted earnings-per-share in a range of $9.75-$9.90 per share. At the midpoint, UnitedHealth should grow earnings by 22% this year.
UnitedHealth should continue to pass along generous dividend increases, of at least 20% per year going forward. UnitedHealth had earnings-per-share of $8.05 in 2016. Its current annualized dividend payout of $3 represents a trailing payout ratio of just 37%. Along with earnings growth, UnitedHealth's dividend has plenty of room to grow.
Starbucks makes the list because it is a high-growth dividend stock. It benefits from a high level of customer loyalty, thanks to its strong brand. This has led to an extended period of growth for the company. In 2016, revenue increased by 11%, to $21.3 billion. Growth was due to new store openings, as well as a 5% increase in comparable sales. Adjusted earnings-per-share increased 17% for the year.
Growth has slowed a bit this year, but the company is still performing well. Over the first three quarters of fiscal 2017, comparable sales grew 3%. This led to 7% growth in total revenue. Adjusted earnings-per-share increased by 6% over the first three quarters. Again, store openings were a big contributor to growth. Starbucks has opened 299 new locations so far this year.
New store openings remain a pivotal aspect of Starbucks' growth plan. This is especially true when it comes to emerging markets, such as China, where Starbucks has only a small footprint.
Starbucks recently acquired the remaining 50% of its East China joint venture that it didn't own. In addition, the company plans to open more than 500 new stores in China each year. By 2021, Starbucks expects to operate 5,000 stores, in 200 cities in China.
The rapidly-expanding middle class in China represents a major opportunity for Starbucks. The company expects urbanization and rising standards of living to elevate 600 million people in China to the middle class, up from just 66 million in 2005. As a result, from 2017-2021, Starbucks expects to triple its revenue and operating profit in China.
Starbucks currently pays an annualized dividend of $1 per share, which amounts to a 1.9% dividend yield. This is slightly below the S&P 500 Index average, but Starbucks has a great deal of room to increase the dividend going forward.
Starbucks had a payout ratio of 54%, based on 2016 adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.85. The payout ratio is only slightly above 50%, which gives room for continued dividend growth. And, since Starbucks is likely to grow earnings-per-share at a high rate, the company could raise its dividend by 10% each year, and keep the payout ratio steady.
Like Costco, Home Depot is an Amazon-proof retailer, because it has differentiated itself. Home Depot is the largest home-improvement retailer, with more than 2,200 stores in all 50 U.S. states, as well as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Canada, and Mexico. Home improvement projects can be complex, which means consumers value the ability to ask questions and inspect products in person.
As a result, Home Depot has successfully fended off Internet-only competitors. It has also benefited from the strong performance of the U.S. housing market, and the improving economy, which have compelled consumers to invest more in their homes.
Home Depot's adjusted earnings-per-share increased 18% in 2016. The company is off to an equally impressive start so far in 2017. Comparable-store sales increased 6.3% last quarter, thanks to 6.6% U.S. sales growth. Diluted earnings-per-share increased 15% over the first half of 2017. Lumber, electrical, tools, and flooring products grew comparable sales by double-digits last quarter.
Home Depot's double-digit earnings growth has allowed it to increase its dividend at high rates, going back several years.
Home Depot has a current dividend yield of 2.3%, and has increased its dividend at double-digit rates consistently going back several years. Based on anticipated 2017 dividends of $3.56 per share, Home Depot's annual dividends have grown at an 18% compound annual rate over the past five years. The company could continue to increase its dividend by 10% or more each year, thanks to its earnings growth potential.
Home Depot is capitalizing on demand for professionals, including contractor services, and installations. This is part of a growing "do-it-for-me" customer base. Another promising catalyst for Home Depot is e-commerce. Home Depot's online sales increased 23% last quarter, and now represent 6.4% of total sales.
For 2017, Home Depot expects total sales growth of 5.3%, and comparable sales growth of 5.5%. Adjusted earnings-per-share are expected to reach $7.29 for the full year, which represents 13% growth from 2016. Earnings growth will be driven by revenue growth, in addition to $7 billion of anticipated share repurchases.
The technology sector changes quickly, but Microsoft is likely to be around for a very long time. That's because it has a proven ability to evolve to changing industry trends.
For example, Microsoft became a giant in the personal computer industry. But as growth in PCs slowed, Microsoft faced a difficult turnaround. Under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, the company has successfully transitioned into cloud computing.
Microsoft recently concluded fiscal 2017, and had another very strong year. Adjusted revenue and earnings-per-share increased 5% and 19%, respectively, for the full year. The most recent quarter was particularly strong. Revenue increased 10%, while adjusted earnings-per-share jumped 42% year over year.
Microsoft's growth is due to its cloud platforms, especially Office 365 and Azure. Revenue in the Productivity and Business Processes segment rose 23% last quarter, to $8.4 billion.
This was largely because of a 44% increase in Office 365 commercial revenue. Separately, Dynamics 365 revenue soared 75%, while Azure revenue nearly doubled for the quarter.
Other areas across the business are also growing. Last quarter, Intelligent Cloud revenue increased 12% year over year, due to growth in server products and cloud services.
In device hardware, Microsoft is still seeing growth in gaming, thanks to strong sales of the Xbox One console. Surface revenue declined 1% last quarter, but new product releases should help restore growth.
Microsoft is a cash machine. The company generated $31.3 billion of free cash flow in fiscal 2017. Such huge free cash flow allows it to pay a dividend, and raise its dividend at high rates each year.
The stock has a current dividend yield of 2.1%, and in the past five years raised its dividend by 14% each year, on average. At this rate, Microsoft's dividends would double every 5.1 years.
Nike is a very strong business. Its brand strength allows it to command pricing power, and charge hefty prices for its shoes and athletic apparel. This leads to consistent growth, and high returns on capital.
For example, in fiscal 2017, Nike grew revenue by 6%, or 8% excluding the impact of currency exchange. Earnings-per-share increased 16%, to $2.51, and the company generated a return on invested capital of nearly 35%. This is an excellent ROIC that demonstrates Nike is a very effective allocator of investor capital.
Nike's ROIC has expanded by more than 10 percentage points since 2013.
Nike is among the top stocks for dividend growth investors, because the company dominates the industry, thanks to new product development. Innovation is at the heart of Nike's growth strategy, to stay ahead of the competition, and provide shoes and apparel that allow athletes to perform their best.
In fiscal 2017, Nike advanced on several strategic growth initiatives. It released several new products. For example, VaporFly features a proprietary carbon fiber plate, which will increase the cushioning of its shoes.
In addition, Nike introduced the HyperAdapt 1.0, the company's first foray into adaptive performance. This is an emerging category with high potential, that involves products which move in synchrony with the body.
Going forward, Nike will continue to innovate new product designs, which will help fuel future growth. The company has a particularly attractive growth opportunity in the emerging markets. For example, Nike grew revenue in China by 17% in fiscal 2017. Total emerging-market revenue increased 14% for the year.
Another promising growth initiative is the recent agreement Nike struck with e-commerce giant Amazon.com (AMZN). Nike will begin selling a limited assortment of footwear, apparel, and accessories on Amazon.
This is a positive catalyst for Nike, since direct-to-consumer sales are booming. Nike's own direct-to-consumer sales increased 18% to over $9 billion last year. The Amazon agreement will help accelerate Nike's growth in this growing category.
Nike has a current dividend yield of just 1.4%, but it makes up for this with dividend growth. Nike has increased its dividend for 15 years in a row, making it a Dividend Achiever. In the past 10 years, Nike raised its dividend by approximately 15% per year.
Disney has everything a long-term investor should want—it has a strong brand, a highly profitable business, and a great deal of growth potential.
The Media Networks segment is anchored by industry-leading properties ABC, ESPN, and The Disney Channel. This has been a troubled business for Disney, which is under pressure from cord-cutting. Consumers are opting for Internet streaming services in rising numbers, and are increasingly cancelling high-priced cable packages.
As a result, operating profit in Disney's Media Networks business fell 11% over the first three quarters of 2017. Disney is also seeing declines in Studio Entertainment, where operating profit declined by 8% over the first nine months.
But the declines in studio revenue were simply due to very difficult comparisons, as Disney saw great results from several new movies last year. Movie studio revenue increased 28% in 2016, which means a modest decline should be expected.
The long-term remains very positive. Disney has extremely strong movie studios, including Lucasfilm, Marvel, and Pixar.
And, when it comes to the core Media Networks segment, investors should not be discouraged. Cord-cutting is less of a threat to media networks with strong brands. Consumers will still seek out ESPN, regardless of whether that's on cable or through Internet streaming.
The key advantage for ESPN is live sports, which still enjoy high demand in the U.S.
There is also a great deal of growth potential for Disney in China, where the company recently opened a massive new resort, Shanghai Disney.
According to Disney, more than 300 million people live within three hours of the park. The company expects the park to break even next year, with improved profitability thereafter.
Disney has a relatively low dividend yield, of 1.5%. This might be fairly unappealing for income investors, who may desire higher dividend yields.
But over the past five years, Disney's annualized dividends have increased at a 16% compound annual rate. This makes it an attractive pick for dividend growth.
Claiming the top spot is Apple. There is simply no better stock for dividend growth investors. Apple is the world's most valuable brand, and has been for seven years in a row. According to Forbes, Apple's brand alone is worth $170 billion, 67% more than the second-most valuable brand, Google (GOOGL).
Not only that, Apple is very highly profitable, and arguably possesses the strongest balance sheet of any publicly-traded stock. At the end of last quarter, Apple held $261 billion of cash, marketable securities, and long-term investments on its balance sheet.
Apple's cash pile is due to its pricing power, and enormously profitable business model.
Last quarter, Apple grew revenue and earnings-per-share by 7% and 18%, respectively. Revenue growth was the result of broad-based growth across products and services. For example, iPhone revenue rose 3%, iPad revenue increased 2%, and Mac revenue rose 7%.
But aside from the iPhone, Apple's Services business may be its most exciting. The lineup of Services includes the App Store, Apple Pay, iCloud, and iTunes. Services revenue increased by 22% last quarter.
Consumers line up to buy Apple products, and are willing to pay higher prices for them each year. This customer loyalty is the result of huge investments in research and development. Apple spent $10 billion on R&D in 2016 alone.
Going forward, investors can look forward to the upcoming release of the iPhone 8. This will be a major growth catalyst for Apple, since the iPhone itself represents more than half the company's total revenue.
Apple stock has risen significantly in recent years, and is up 39% year-to-date. The good news is, Apple is still not expensive. The stock has a price-to-earnings ratio of 18, based on trailing 12-month earnings. This is still a below-average valuation multiple, considering Apple's premium brand and growth potential.
The stock has a current yield of 1.6%. Its payout ratio was 25% over the first three quarters of the fiscal year. With such a low payout ratio and growth potential, Apple should have little trouble raising its dividend by 10%+ each year.
Stock with 1%-2% dividend yields may not be as attractive as those with high dividend yields of 5%+, but investors should not avoid them just because of their low yields. This is especially the case for stocks that raise their dividends by 10%-20% per year.
With such high dividend growth rates, the stocks on this list can eventually catch up to their high-yielding counterparts over time. With enough time, investors can actually earn higher yields from dividend growth stocks.
As a result, these 10 stocks should have appeal to young investors looking to build a dividend growth portfolio.


TELEHOUSE Nagoya Nagoya-naka - 2 is located in the area Nagoya, Japan, and the colocation data center is carrier neutral. The data center was last updated on 09-06-2015.
owned and operated by KDDI Corporation.
* For security reasons this data center does not want its exact location publicly available.
Therefore the address above is not the exact location, but it is within Nagoya-naka.
KDDI Corporation is a premium member of Data Center Map, we therefore recommend them.
Along with colocation services to take care of customers' equipment (Suite, Rack, Cage with dedicated operation and maintenance services for network and power/climate control infrastructure), TELEHOUSE provides a wide range of services such as network services "KDDI Wide Area Virtual Switch 2", managed and security services.
"Japan Internet Exchange" is located in TELEHOUSE TOKYO Otemachi that enables customers to connect diverse communication carries and ISP providers.
If you are interested in receiving a quote for KDDI Corporation, please try our free quote service.


The Ottawa Academy of Psychology is an association of registered psychologists and psychological associates in the Ottawa area. Founded in 1976, its purpose is to maintain a meeting ground for members, provide continuing education for professionals, and help members of the community access psychological information and services.
Use the searchable Ottawa psychologist directory (ENGLISH or FRANÇAIS) or the Information and Referral Service phone line (613-235-2529) to find psychologists and psychological associates in Ottawa.


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Sunmi Talks Artistry, Touring & Upcoming Music: 'It's Going to Be Interesting'
Korean pop singer Sunmi talks to Billboard about her career and musicality while on tour in the U.S.
By Tamar Herman
Tamar Herman
From Coldplay's 'Fix You' to Justin Bieber's '2U,' Here Are 8 BTS Covers You Should Hear
WJSN on Spreading Their Wings With 'Neverland' Mini Album
Kiswe Discusses Partnership With Big Hit Entertainment Ahead of BTS' 'Bang Bang Con: The Live'
Sunmi performing in Seoul. Courtesy of Makeus Entertainment
K-pop star Sunmi has spent more than a decade thriving in the spotlight, and now she's doing it on her own terms as one of the Korean music world's most prominent young divas.
Getting her start in girl group Wonder Girls in 2007, she went on to become one of the industry's most beloved young stars as the group saw hit after hit in the late '00s, leading to their becoming the first K-pop act to ever debut a song on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2009, with the English version of their 2008 hit "Nobody." Throughout the years, she's vacillated between being a soloist and a member of the group; she left the act in 2010, released her first solo song in 2013, and then rejoined the team in 2015. After Wonder Girls broke up in 2017, she found her footing again as one of K-pop's most intriguing young ingenues. With the release of her third solo single "Gashina" in 2017, she reinvented her identity as one of K-pop's most invigorating stars, blending witty lyricism with theatrical musicality and showmanship, and followed it up with several other singles, which were all compiled on last year's Warning album.
Sunmi recently returned with her single "Noir," which takes on social media, blustering in a dramatic music video as a clout-chaser trying to show off her best life to the camera even while dealing with the stresses that follows putting one's life out in the open in front of the Internet. The song fronted her Warning world tour, through which she met up with fans throughout North America and Asia.
Switching between Korean and English, Sunmi sat down with Billboard ahead of the last show of her Stateside leg of the tour at the Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C., on March 18 to discuss her career, her music and more.
How do you feel about completing your U.S. tour?
It's been really amazing as it's my first world tour. I didn't really expect that crowd. It's all sold-out so I was really surprised. Even though I'm a female solo artist, I can have my own show in the States. I really appreciate that. I was surprised that fans were different from those in Korea. In Korea, the audience is all, 'Sunmi, Sunmi!' While here in the States, they're like, "WAH!" They look really free to enjoy with enthusiasm. Compared to the boy groups… They have massive scale when they come here, but I think my fans that I see are quite incredible and I'm really proud.
You just released your new song "Noir." What made you want to releases a song like this?
I was inspired by social media. Twitter, Instagram. "Noir" is a genre of movies, and I think social media is the noir for this generation. I'm a celebrity, and entertainers– we always want to get attention from audiences. I think that, [since] I'm the one taking this on [it] is so ironic.
The music video didn't necessarily put social media in a positive light. Has your relationship with social media been largely negative?
I acted with exaggeration, but I thought it was cute. I didn't want to be too direct because noir is a genre that can be uncomfortable, but I wanted to represent it in a way that makes it my thing, that isn't necessarily negative but dramatic.
You engage a lot on social media with fans, on Twitter in particular, both in Korean and English. Do you think that's important for stars nowadays?
Definitely. Twitter is really big, but in Korea people are more focused on Instagram. But fans exist on Twitter where they can interact. I think Twitter is a place where you can express yourself more freely.
Sunmi Tackles Performative Nature Of Social Media in 'Noir' Video: Watch
You're one of South Korea's most popular soloists but you got your start in the Wonder Girls, who also spent some time in the U.S. How have things changed?
I can't believe it. At the time, there was no section of K-pop on Billboard.
It's partially because of the groundwork laid by you and Wonder Girls.
No, BTS.
We started the column in 2013.
Oh, really? Well, in general the approach towards K-pop has changed a lot, it wasn't well known. I was an opener [with Wonder Girls] for the Jonas Brothers, but now I'm having my solo concert.
What do you think has changed?
The number of people I see in the audience is different.
What sort of message did you want to share with listeners through last year's Warning album?
The message that I wanted to deliver was to give everyone an individual warning to learn about themselves, about what's coming, about who they are. I don't really know my character. I often go up and down, I'm unpredictable. When I was young, I thought that I was limited, but then when I started producing myself I realized, "Oh, I can do this this way." There were so many more ways to express myself. For example, in my "Gashina" music video, I showed my middle finger. But when I was in an idol group, I couldn't express myself this way. Now, I can express myself more freely.
You often lean into retro elements for your songs and music videos. Why does the past appeal so much to you?
J.Y. Park, my producer in the Wonder Girls, when we were young, he would give us songs to listen to that we may not have been familiar with. Personally, I like music from the '70s, '80s, and '90s, so I try to find instrumentals and sounds that evoke those periods and work them into my music.
Do you like wordplay? You have a lot in your lyrics.
Yes, I really like it. Nowadays, when a movie, show, or new music comes out, people really like to dissect it and analyze it, try to find the real meaning behind it. So I wanted to give fans a few more opportunities to find a deeper meaning of the songs, I feel like they really like that.
Is that how you come up with your dramatic music videos as well?
I prefer using symbolism instead of being direct.
Now that you've released "Noir" and are almost finished with your tour, what's next?
I am working on my album and preparing new music. When I release an album, there isn't anything I don't put my hands on. I literally go from music videos to finding sources to creating the album. For this album, I preferred being a bit distant from the audience but still show who I am. Rather than make the music easy to understand, I want to show my true colors and make people understand me. When I'm creating music, I try to balance my preference with the audience's preference, to meet in in between my needs as an artist and theirs as listeners. Through that process, I want to show more colors of myself, I want to see how people think of me. It's going to be interesting.
K-Town

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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We're Same Day Crowns Network. A national network representing the best-of-the-best when it comes to dentists and dental offices who are leaders in the industry, not just with high tech devices, but also in regards to patient care, dental procedures and overall customer satisfaction.
Your dental health is exceptionally important and it should not be taken lightly. At the same time, it shouldn't take multiple visits to get a great smile.
If you have a missing tooth or teeth, you know the humiliation and discomfort this can trigger. You have probably been investigating ways you can restore your smile and great bite. We think you will be really interested to know that at our practice, you have the ability to get same day crowns! It is a comfortable one-day treatment!
Our entire dental practice is cutting edge, except for our client care and issue which is traditional. We know the pain missing teeth can cause patients, and therefore we are very happy to be able to offer patients with same day crowns.
Dental crowns are used to reinforce a tooth, and return it to its original function. Dental crowns are made to color-match the nearby teeth, so they can not be discovered by others as being anything less than a long-term tooth. With a dental crown, you are able to eat anything you like, and your clear speech will never ever be interfered with. In fact, your dental crown is so natural feeling, you will not even know it exists in your mouth.
Same day crowns are an extremely amazing offering of our practice. We are able to provide you with a lovely brand-new smile in just one day. Our office has cutting edge devices that enables dentists to supply you with crowns in simply a small fraction of the time that was required before.
CAD/CAM innovation is exactly what makes this exciting advancement possible. The acronym stands for computer-aided design/computed-aided manufacturing. We are able to use this technology in our system. This system is used to restore teeth, start to finish, in one day. This will save you from an additional appointment to our practice, a week or two later. We're sure you have far more exciting things you would rather do with your time than to sit in our dentist's chair any longer than you have to!
Using our brand-new system, we scan the readied tooth in your mouth or from an impression, then send the information to our in-office milling station. The restoration is computer-milled to the precise specifications to fit your mouth in minutes. As soon as the crown is crated, we put it in your mouth, and color, polish and restore your new tooth to a lovely and natural-looking radiance. This technology can also be used for same-day veneers or inlays.
If you need a crown in a hurry, for an upcoming social or business event, this process may certainly be ideal for you. If you are interested in finding out more about this procedure, call us today for a consultation.
CEREC stands for CERamic REConstruction and is a tool in our office that can take accurate digital images of areas requiring restoration and produce the proper restoration on the spot.
With our CEREC cad/cam machine, you can have your crown or other restoration finished in just one visit. We will develop and custom fit your tooth precisely with our computer milling unit right in the office. You no longer need to have a temporary crown or wait weeks for the lab to produce your crown.
CEREC can be used in a wide range of indications: anterior crowns, veneers, inlays, onlays, partial crowns and posterior crowns.
A variety of dental treatments are available for our local patients. Our goal is to provide a warm and comforting environment for your dental experience, whether you are visiting us for the first time for a dental evaluation and cleaning, or you are returning to finish your cosmetic smile makeover.
Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. Due to the fact that gum disease is generally painless, you may not know you have it. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of germs that is continuously forming on our teeth.
consistent foul breath or bad taste.
There are lots of aspects that increase the risk of developing gum disease including smoking, pregnancy, and diabetes. It is important to go to your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the earlier you treat it the better.
The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums might end up being red, swollen and bleed quickly. At this phase, the disease is still fixable and can typically be removed by a professional cleaning at your dental office, followed by daily flossing and brushing.
Advanced periodontal disease is called periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis can result in the loss of bone and tissue that support the teeth and it may become more serious in time. If it does, your teeth will feel loose and start moving around in your mouth. It normally worsens slowly, but there can be periods of fast progression.
Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive kind of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Common features include rapid loss of bone and tissue and might take place in some areas of the mouth, or in the entire mouth.
Research between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases is ongoing. While a link is not conclusive, some studies indicate that severe gum disease may be related to multiple other health conditions such as stroke or diabetes.
Regular dental examinations and gum examinations are very important. The treatment methods that most dentists diagnose will depend upon the kind of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Good dental care in your home is vital to help keep periodontal disease from ending up being more serious or recurring.
To see more info on same day crowns, visit these manufacturers and suppliers: Planmeca, Dentsply Sirona, and Sirona Group.


In honor of the accomplished life of Don Jackson, Congressman Jim Costa issued an extension of remarks to the Congressional Record. Please find complete record HERE.
Dad was very lucky to have Don Jackson in his life and beyond during the past 50 years. "Big D," as Dad called him, was a dear friend, political advisor, law partner, personal attorney and legacy-minder for Ken Maddy.
Dad described Don as, "extremely well-organized," "very bright," and "a no-lose kind of guy," and credited him with conceiving our winning strategy for Dad's first election; the 1970 Primary for the 32nd Assembly District. Based upon Don's research and analysis of district voting patterns, he advised Dad to emphasize his moderate-to-liberal views during the campaign.
Don was also there to help when Dad lost his bid for Governor in 1978. He offered Dad a partnership in his law firm, which was gladly accepted. The partnership was brief, since Dad won a special election to the State Senate the following year. But, having the safety net of Don's law firm allowed Dad, both mentally and financially, to go all out during his Senate run.
In early 1999, following Dad's cancer prognosis of eight months, we called Big D to get things organized. For those of you who know Don well, there wasn't a lot of commiserating. And, for those of you who know Dad well, that's why Don was brought in. We had lots to do. We weren't sure how long we had to do it. And we needed it done right. For me personally, Don's help before and after Dad passed was a godsend.
I am also personally grateful that Don suggested to Dad that I work on the 1978 gubernatorial campaign, a job interview I will never forget. At the time I was making pretty good money bagging groceries. In typical Don fashion, he somehow convinced me I would be better off working for the campaign, even though I'd be making less money and working much harder. After we shook hands on my acceptance of $600/month, Don laughed and said, "you'll probably make about a dollar an hour." He was right, but it was it was a labor of love and the experience of a lifetime.
God Bless You, Big D!
The Maddy Family greatly appreciates the hard work of all past and present Maddy Institute Board and Staff Members, with very special recognition of Don's devotion to Dad's legacy through the Institute. I will miss hearing Don's advice, and will continue to honor the trail which he and others blazed.
Don was instrumental in the founding of the Maddy Institute–and led us as Board Chair for the first 10 years of our existence (1999-2009). Until last year, he was our CFO/Treasurer (2009-2018). I often joked with him that he was the "George Washington" of the Maddy Institute — we wouldn't exist without his leadership.
It is virtually impossible to express what Don meant to the Maddy Institute generally and me, personally. His efforts on behalf of the public policy institute that bears his friend's name is a testament to not only that friendship, but his commitment he had to make the Valley a better place. Personally, I have never learned more from someone–he was an amazing strategic thinking and a (well meaning) task master — and the most important mentor in my professional career.
We'll do our best to honor his legacy by continuing to reach for his standard of excellence.


text:
package test.nz.co.example.dev.integration.tx;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
import nz.co.example.dev.domain.logic.CircuitConfigData;
import nz.co.example.dev.domain.logic.WSipLayerTwoCircuitFactory;
import nz.co.example.dev.domain.model.WSipLayerTwoCircuit;
import nz.co.example.dev.integration.NNCService;
import nz.co.example.dev.integration.SessionBorderControllerServices;
import nz.co.example.dev.mvc.CircuitForm;

import org.junit.After;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Ignore;
import org.junit.Test;
import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Qualifier;
import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;

import com.acmepacket.ems.ws.service.fault.AcmeAdminWSFault;

@RunWith(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.class)
@ContextConfiguration(locations = { "file:src/main/webapp/WEB-INF/spring/appServlet/servlet-context-test.xml" })
public class NNCTransactionIT {
    @Autowired
    private NNCService nncService;

    @Autowired
    @Qualifier("real")
    private SessionBorderControllerServices service;

    @Autowired
    private CircuitConfigData circuitConfigData;

    @Autowired
    private WSipLayerTwoCircuitFactory circuitFactory;

    @Before
    public void setUp() throws Exception {
    }

    @After
    public void tearDown() throws Exception {
    }

    private static CircuitForm createCircuit() {
        CircuitForm circuitForm = new CircuitForm();
        circuitForm.setCircuitType("W_SIP_LAYER_TWO");
        // FIXME ?? circuitForm.setCircuitTypeOptions(circuitForm.getCircuitTypeOptions());
        circuitForm.setCarrierShortCode("TEST01");
        circuitForm.setCarrierName("Test01");
        circuitForm.setRegion("lab");
        // FIXME ?? circuitForm.setRegionOptions(circuitForm.getRegionOptions());
        circuitForm.setTrunkNumber("01");
        circuitForm.setIpAddress("192.168.1.101");
        circuitForm.setPrimaryUtilityIpAddress("192.168.1.102");
        circuitForm.setSecondaryUtilityIpAddress("192.168.1.103");
        circuitForm.setNetworkMask("255.255.255.0");
        circuitForm.setAccessVLan("3001");
        circuitForm.setDefaultGatewayIpAddress("");

        circuitForm.setValidatedReadyForSave(circuitForm.isValidatedReadyForSave());
        return circuitForm;
    }

    @Test
    public void testNothing() {
        // SUCCESS
    }

    @Ignore
    public void createNewCircuitSaveAndActivateAndCommitTransaction() {
        // create WSipLayer2Circuit
        CircuitForm circuitForm = createCircuit();
        WSipLayerTwoCircuit circuit = circuitFactory.create(circuitForm, circuitConfigData);

        // operation
        // save and activate
        // expect no exception and verify commit has been run
        try {
            service.addNewCircuit(circuit);
            // SUCCESS
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            fail();
        } finally {
            try {
                // remove circuit
                service.relinquishCircuit(circuit);
                // SUCCESS
            } catch (Exception e) {
                e.printStackTrace();
                fail();
            }
        }
    }

    @Ignore("Do not use this until logout, login, savieConfig and applyConfig need to be done at the same level")
    public void createNewCircuitSaveAndActivateAndRollbackTransactionByEndingSession() {
        // create WSipLayer2Circuit
        CircuitForm circuitForm = createCircuit();

        // save
        // activate
        // expect exception and verify rollback has been run
        // create WSipLayer2Circuit
        WSipLayerTwoCircuit circuit = circuitFactory.create(circuitForm, circuitConfigData);

        // operation
        // save and activate
        try {
            service.addNewCircuit(circuit);
            // SUCCESS
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            fail();
        }

        try {
            nncService.getAdminMgmtIF().logOut();
        } catch (AcmeAdminWSFault e) {
            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

        try {
            // remove circuit
            service.relinquishCircuit(circuit);
            // SUCCESS
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            fail();
        }
    }

    @Ignore
    public void createNewCircuitSaveAndActivateAndRollbackTransaction() {
        // create WSipLayer2Circuit
        CircuitForm circuitForm = createCircuit();

        // save
        // activate
        // expect exception and verify rollback has been run
        // create WSipLayer2Circuit
        WSipLayerTwoCircuit circuit = circuitFactory.create(circuitForm, circuitConfigData);

        // operation
        // save and activate
        try {
            service.addNewCircuit(circuit);
            // SUCCESS
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            fail();
        }

        try {
            service.addNewCircuit(circuit);
            fail();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            assertTrue(e instanceof RuntimeException);
            // SUCCESS
        }

        // remove circuit
        try {
            service.relinquishCircuit(circuit);
            // SUCCESS
        } catch (Exception e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
            fail();
        }

        // expect no exception and verify commit has been run

        // Given
        // given(circuitCache.isEmpty()).willReturn(true);

        // When
        // List<Circuit> allCircuits = sipDomainLogicImpl.getAllCircuits();

        // Then
        // assertThat(allCircuits.size()).isEqualTo(circuitList.size());

        // Verify
        // verify(service).addNewCircuit(circuit);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Hello, my hp laptop won't boot up. It blinks and goes off.
Try it with only battery? Only wall-power (take out the battery)? Different power brick? If you did all 3, need to have the hardware checked, power connection, motherboard.
Thanks for taking the time to give me your best suggestions. I have tried those and still am at a loss. The motherboard is the only thing I have not tried.
I found some information to remove battery, the memory and power cord then press down the power button for 30 seconds.
Then put everything back and boot up. It worked a couple of times then the same old problem.
If you checked the battery and power connections and the power brick, you are left with replacing the motherboard. For laptops over a few years old, or cheap ones, it's better to get a new laptop rather than put money into a motherboard replacement.
Best answer selected by red_streak.


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Following is a press release issued by the UNFCC in anticipation of the COP15 climate change conference that begins tomorrow, Monday, December 7. I am en route to the conference now and will be onsite by Tuesday, December 7th.
expressed confidence that the meeting would deliver a comprehensive, ambitious and effective international climate change deal.
Within two weeks from Monday, governments must give their adequate response to the urgent challenge of climate change," said UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer. "Negotiators now have the clearest signal ever from world leaders to craft solid proposals to implement rapid action," he added.
Referring to numerous emission reduction pledges that developing and developed countries have made in the run-up to COP 15, the UN's top climate change official said there was unprecedented political momentum to clinch an ambitious deal in Copenhagen.
Yvo de Boer spoke of three layers of action that governments must agree to in the course of the coming two weeks: fast and effective implementation of immediate action on climate change; ambitious commitments to cut and limit emissions, including start-up funding and a long-term funding commitment; and a long-term shared vision on a low-emissions future for all.
As of 2010, immediate action will need to begin on reducing emissions, adapting to the inevitable effects of climate change, delivering adequate finance, technology, reducing emission from deforestation in developing countries and capacity-building.
According to the UN's top climate change official Yvo de Boer, developed countries will need to provide fast-track funding on the order of at least 10 billion USD a year through 2012 to enable developing countries to immediately plan and launch low emission growth and adaptation strategies and to build internal capacity. At the same time, developed countries will need to indicate how they intend to raise predictable and sustainable long-term financing and what their longer-term commitments will be.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an aggregate emission reduction by industrialised countries of between minus 25% and 40% over 1990 levels would be required by 2020 in order to stave off the worst effects of climate change, with global emissions falling by at least 50% by 2050. Even under this scenario, there would be an only a 50% chance of avoiding the most catastrophic consequences.
John Ashe, Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I (industrialised) Parties under the Kyoto Protocol spoke both of the need raise the level of ambition of developed countries with regard to individual targets and the need to make rapid progress on the tools and rules that developed countries can use to reach their targets, such as carbon market mechanisms, land use and land use change and new gases.


These KJV passages are set to peaceful folk songs with beautiful male and female lead vocals using classical guitar and some piano and light orchestration. Passages include: Ps 18:3,46; Ps 27:1,3,4,7-14; Ps 27:4-7,11; Ps 46:1-5,7,8,10,11; Ps 51:10-12; Ps 55:17; Ps 59:9-10; Ps 61:1-3; Ps 89:1,2,5; Ps 131; Ps 133:1; Ps 139:23-24; Ps 150; Is 52:1-3; Jer 6:16; Jer 10:23-24; 12:1; 30:11,17; Jer 33:2-3; Dan 2:20-23/Rev 15:3-4; Hos 14:4-7,9; Joel 1:14,15; 2:1,12, 13, 15-16, Mic. 4:3-4; II Cor. 4:6-9; Gal 6:9/Ps 62:5; Eph 4:32; 5:2.


The fundamental core values of ACE Baseball are ATTITUDE, COMMITMENT and EFFORT. These three things lie within the scope of an individual's control and if applied fully, can help a player realize and maximize their God-given potential.
The ACE Method has been developed and tested over the last 20 years at the Major League level down to Little League. This ideology links the body and mind by acknowledging strengths and weaknesses, and then taking personal responsibility for both. Athletics are physical to be sure, but a solid mental foundation is absolutely essential in order to become the best.
ATTITUDE - This is and always will be the foundation of any experience. A positive attitude generates excitement, a willingness to learn and, more often than not, success. Everything in life is colored through one's outlook and therefore is dependent on the initial attitude taken towards confronting a task or achieving a goal.
COMMITMENT - Success is determined by long-term commitment to improvement. Life is not easy or fair. Those few that are willing to stay the course, give themselves the opportunity to see their true potential. Commitment is a decision that must occur daily. It requires mental fortitude and patience. The process of learning or improving a skill set is exactly that - a process. A true commitment allows the journey to become the reward.
EFFORT - This is the physical outpouring of attitude and commitment. Effort can be focused or wasted, and is entirely dependent upon the first two values for its worth. With positive, concentrated and committed effort, success can not only be achieved, it can be maintained.
This method is a way to live life, not just play baseball. It translates to every obstacle and to all arenas.


A lot of B2B sales and marketing providers examine a seller's perspective. When jumping into the sales stage, conversion metrics, sales funnel, and end decisions, it's important to keep an adaptable perspective. Mobile marketing has come a long way, and it's become critical to business success when the sales funnel is considered.
A recent Forrester survey reveals that 52 percent of B2B buyers are engaging product research via smartphone. B2B merchants need to optimize their mobile websites. As mobile purchases continue constituting larger business buying portions, more employees will secure purchasing rights. Modern business operators are purchasing on-the-go.
Why do any of us use a mobile app? Mobile apps empower the user. Likewise, enterprise mobility applications empower employees. Implement a high-security enterprise utility app, and target Millennials. Millennials are straightening out their buying habits and they already comprise a big slice of business purchasers. They expect an omnichannel experience, and they'll turn away from long sales cycles. Your business can hit its biggest fan-base by implementing a content calendar, spreadsheet, and operational utility apps.
You can utilize mobile apps for B2B content marketing, too. In fact, 83 percent of B2B marketers consider mobile app access vital to B2B content marketing. Mobile apps, soon, will be a cornerstone of mobile web marketing. App Internet access is in right now and business providers have begun monopolizing new cross-platform approaches and promotions.
Consumers aren't the only ones viewing viral Internet videos. Enterprises are following mobile video streams and they're examining Facebook video networks to locate the "who's who" of B2B marketing. Mobile video marketing, at its core, is a visibility tool. Its outreach is astounding and it's capable of generating incredible business leads. Really, any company intent upon boosting its B2B serviceability should channel leads through an intensified media strategy.
B2B marketing relies upon quick-witted, acute targeting. Unlike in B2C marketing, business vendors must handle highly structured SMS outreach promotions. A recent Nielsen Telemetrics Study reveals that 42 percent of individuals use their smartphones for pre-purchase research. Another 55 percent utilize mobile devices to make actual purchases. These aren't just consumers, either. The spread accounts for all mobile users, business-bound alike.
B2B culture is morphing to fit an SMS-centric culture. Your business's marketing efforts, first and foremost, should be structured to accommodate for ongoing SMS support. Automated SMS services aren't an option anymore. They're a must-have utility of any respectable B2B merchant. Automated SMS messaging service track down leads, manage potential buyer brackets, initiate connections, and handle ongoing contact.
The B2B realm has always been "better at texting back" when an opportunity arises. Because much of business purchasing revolves around structured decision making, automated SMS triumphs. Reduce the variables, strike up ongoing communication, and follow up each reception with continuous support, promotions, and goal-targeted deals. You'd be surprised how many companies opt for automated mobile B2B strategies. Get out there, hook into an automated platform, and take charge in the optimized smartphone world.
Have you implemented your own mobile strategy this year? Make sure to share them with us in the comments below!


text:
Stacey's Remarkable Books (Hardcover)
By Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas (Illustrator)
The Year We Learned to Fly (Hardcover)
By Jacqueline Woodson, Rafael López (Illustrator)
The Queen of Kindergarten (Hardcover)
By Derrick Barnes, Vanessa Brantley-Newton (Illustrator)
Stacey's Extraordinary Words (Hardcover)
Sulwe (Hardcover)
By Lupita Nyong'o, Vashti Harrison (Illustrator)
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball (Hardcover)
By Kadir Nelson, Kadir Nelson (Illustrator)
Clean Getaway (Paperback)
Becoming Muhammad Ali (Paperback)
By James Patterson, Kwame Alexander, Dawud Anyabwile (Illustrator)
J.D. and the Great Barber Battle (J.D. the Kid Barber #1) (Paperback)
By J. Dillard, Akeem S. Roberts (Illustrator)
Nigel and the Moon (Hardcover)
By Antwan Eady, Gracey Zhang (Illustrator)
I Have a Superpower (Hardcover)
By Stephen Curry, Geneva Bowers (Illustrator)
Yellow Dog Blues (Hardcover)
By Alice Faye Duncan, Chris Raschka (Illustrator)


ShowStoppers is always a hit with our team while at CES and it was a delight to speak with Nigel from Realmax this year at CES 2018. Although we are not strangers to Augmented Reality here at PLuGHiTz Live, we were curious to see what was different and exciting about the Realmax Qian. And they did not disappoint.
Realmax has been around since 2003 and is a company that is highly involved in educational technology. With the addition of AR, they have the ability to not only bring learning to life but to also reach a much broader audience. For example, this technology can be adapted to smaller engineering and robotics programs where the schools cannot afford full labs. With Qian, the students can still get real experience on a full set of instruments and machines in this AR realm. The technology could also assist doctors with training medical students in a much more efficient and cost effective manner. The potential applications are limitless, which opens up usage in so many more fields than education, such as banking and other corporate settings.
Realmax has also set themselves apart from their competitors in some exciting ways. Their headsets are completely mobile with an Android CPU built inside. They have also increased their AR Field of View to an outstanding 100 degrees. The goggles have much better tracking to allow users to stay anchored in the real world to walk around the digital content. They are also working to offer all of this at a more affordable price point than their competitors in the consumer market.
Although currently in the prototype stage, Realmax expects to have the technology in the hands of software developers within Q2 of 2018, and begin consumer production in Q3. This is a product that we at PLuGHiTz Live will be keeping an eye on in the coming months as it launches with possibly even a full product review, so stay tuned for more information regarding pricing and where to purchase.


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Q: Stability of nonlinear system with borderline linearization I have the following nonlinear system:
\begin{align}
x_1'=& x_1-x_2-x_1^3\\
x_2'=& x_1+x_2-x_2^3
\end{align}
I wish to classify the equilibrium points and determine their stability using the linearization. First, I found the equilibrium points as follows:
\begin{align}
\frac{\partial f_1}{\partial x_1} =& 1-3x_1^2 \\
\frac{\partial f_2}{\partial x_2} =& 1-3x_2^2 \\
\frac{\partial f_1}{\partial x_2} =& -1 \\
\frac{\partial f_2}{\partial x_1} =& 1
\end{align}
Therefore we have equilibria at $(1, \pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}})$ and $(\pm \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}, -1)$. Thus for the jacobian:
\begin{equation}
J = \begin{pmatrix}\frac{\partial f_1}{\partial x_1}&\frac{\partial f_1}{\partial x_2}\\
                    \frac{\partial f_2}{\partial x_1}&\frac{\partial f_1}{\partial x_2}\end{pmatrix}
\end{equation}
And the jacobian at all equilibria points is:
\begin{equation}
A = \begin{pmatrix}0&-1\\1&0\end{pmatrix}
\end{equation}
Thus the eigenvalues are $\pm i$ which is purely imaginary and implies that we have a center point. However, this is a borderline case and can not be approximated by a
linearization. How do I then determine the stability of these equilibrium points then?
EDIT I am having trouble solving for the equilibrium points and I also made a mistake in the equation for $x_1'$. It should be a cubic term and not a quadratic term.

A: To find the equilibrium points, we want to find the points where $x'_1$ and $x'_2$ are zero.
So, we want to solve:
$\tag 1 x_1-x_2-x_1^3 = 0$
$\tag 2 x_1+x_2-x_2^3=0$
Using $(2)$, we have $x_1 = x_2^3 - x_2$ and substituting this into equation $(1)$ yields:
$$x_2^3 - x_2 - x^2 -(x_2^3 - x_2)^3 = -x_2 (x_2^8-3 x_2^6+3 x_2^4-2 x_2^2+2) = 0$$

*

*One solution is $x_2=0$.

*The  other solutions for the eighth-order polynomial are all imaginary. I used this Wolfram Alpha solution for the roots, but you should be able to use your favorite tool for root finding.

If we substitute these back into $x_1 = x_2^3 - x_2$, we get the corresponding point as $0$. So, our critical point is $(0,0)$.
Now, you can use these two points with the Jacobian (assuming they are well behaved, do you know when you can use linearization and when you cannot) and determine how these equilibria behave.
Hint: Look at these two points in the phase portrait and your analysis should show this.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Irish unable to maintain lead in 78-73 loss at Syracuse
Syracuse forward Benny Williams, left, shields the ball from Notre Dame guard JJ Starling during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)(Adrian Kraus | AP)
By 16 News Now and The Associated Press
Published: Jan. 15, 2023 at 11:08 AM EST
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WNDU) - The Notre Dame men's basketball team blew a 12-point lead in the second half against Syracuse on Saturday night, falling to the Orange 78-73 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The Fighting Irish (9-9, 1-6 ACC) regained the lead with less than three minutes left to play thanks to a Marcus Hammond 3-pointer. However, that was the last field goal for Notre Dame until Nate Laszewski made a layup with seven seconds left in the game.
Meanwhile, Syracuse (12-6, 5-2 ACC) closed the game on a 24-10 scoring run to steal the victory from the Irish, who remain winless in road games this season.
Hammond led the Irish on offense with 18 points. Dane Goodwin added 15 with six assists and Laszewski had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Trey Wertz added 12 points.
Wertz and Hammond each hit four of the Fighting Irish's season-high 15 3-pointers. Laszewski, Goodwin, Wertz and Hammond each hit a 3-pointer in a span of about four minutes to give Notre Dame (9-9, 1-6) a 59-47 lead — matching its largest of the game — with 12 minutes to play.
Notre Dame returns home to take on Florida State on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPNU.
Short-handed Irish fall to NC State in Raleigh
Starling scores 22, Notre Dame holds on against Louisville
Suffocating defense leads No. 7 ND to 9th ACC win over No. 24 FSU
Mabrey to play key role for Irish despite injury
Irish men's hoops falls short on the road again in loss at NC State


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Eye For Film >> Movies >> Everlasting (2016) Film Review
"Perez convinces in the role and we can believe that his feelings are sincere even if they're unsophisticated."
In the US, around 137 people fall victim to serial killers each year. The extensive news coverage these cases get makes it seem like more, and a similar number are murdered by fictional serial killers in film and television. Matt (Adam Perez) doesn't want his girlfriend Jessie (Valentina de Angelis) to vanish among those numbers and be forgotten, so he uses his filmmaking class as an opportunity to tell her story.
This is one of those films that wants to play around with found footage but never quite commits to it, which adds to the atmosphere in some scenes because it creates the impression of an unseen third person observing intimate moments between the young couple. Matt shares old clips of the two of them fooling around together in their bedrooms or on a trip out into the wilderness, ostensibly trying to tell us who Jessie is, though we never get very far beneath the surface. Approximately one in every 25 films released each year follows a male protagonist whose journey is inspired by a woman's suffering or death (there are vanishingly few the other way round) and this is another of them, so we learn a lot about what Jessie looked like in skimpy clothing and how she was sad and mysterious but practically nothing about her interests, values or personality.
This is a little more forgiveable than in most such stories because Matt is a teenager only just learning to look beneath the surface of the world around him. Perez convinces in the role and we can believe that his feelings are sincere even if they're unsophisticated, though in the circumstances it would have been nice to see more of an emotional character arc - one doesn't really get the sense that he's changed by his experiences. Perhaps this is because he's a goth to begin with - Jessie likewise, which seems to be why she catches the eye of a Los Angeles fashion scout and is persuaded to model. This requires a bit of suspension of disbelief because there are thousands of young goths out there with similar looks and no shortage of photographers trying to make a living off them, and there's nothing special about the pictures that supposedly make her a success, but perhaps that's the point because the story is a familiar one, the success transitory. Los Angeles does what it does to any number of ambitious but naive young things.
Post-Weinstein it's difficult to make much impression with a story like this. Director Anthony Stabley wisely resists going all out for shock value and lets de Angelis keep her clothes on. Matt proves himself a good, modern boyfriend by standing by her and not disapproving of her modelling work, though he finds it hard to deal with her being far away whilst he's stuck in Colorado. There's a sub-plot around her masochistic and submissive inclinations, which make him deeply uncomfortable. There's a potentially interesting narrative here around her need to respect his limits but it isn't explored very deeply. Instead there's a differently uncomfortable suggestion that her sexuality is a sign of mental ill-health and somehow contributes to her becoming a murder victim.
The rest of the film focuses on Matt trying to solve the murder mystery and detours into a short essay about how many US serial killers are released from prison only to kill again - the most effectively chilling part of the film. Here Matt's naivety comes into play again because despite what he's learned (and partly because of his lack of faith in the justice system) he decides to confront the killer by himself. The way he's positioned as telling his story after the fact means there can only be so much tension here but of course there's more at stake than just his life. Will he end up just as troubled as Jessie was?
Aside from some reflections on bad parenting, that's about it. Both young leads are likeable and the soundtrack brings us further into their emotional landscape. Teenagers may well find it romantically appealing and efforts to remind viewers that murder involves the destruction of actual human beings are always commendable, but Everlasting is a deeply conventional film despite its alternative trappings and it never really succeeds in finding a distinctive voice.
Reviewed on: 23 Apr 2019
A teenager goes looking for the man who killed his girlfriend.
Director: Anthony Stabley
Writer: Anthony Stabley
Starring: Adam Perez, Valentina de Angelis, Elisabeth Röhm, Robert LaSardo, Bai Ling, Michael Massee


Contains pure artemisinin or Qinghaosu, the active constituent of the herb Artemisia annua (sweet wormwood). Good quality Artemisia annua contains 0.3-0.5% artemisinin, so pure artemisinin provides hundreds of times more of the active constituent artemisinin than the whole herb itself.
INGREDIENTS PER 2 CAPSULES: Artemisinin..200 mg.Non-medicinal ingredients: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, L-leucine.
Directions: Take 1 or 2 capsules one or two times daily with meals, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. Artemisinin is best taken as part of a program that includes appropriate liver support nutrients. Sensitive individuals may want to take with food.
all common allergens: specifically, wheat, corn, soy, gluten, yeast, dairy, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, and peanuts.


text:
Revolutionary (Un)Productivity: a review of Jenny Odell's 'How to Do Nothing'
by Nicole Froio / March 2, 2020
Image: Johann Ravera (Creative Commons)
{ Theory and Strategy | Books }
What would it take to reject capitalist temporality? In Jenny Odell's popular book, Nicole Froio finds a new way to think about productivity, connection, and relationship. 1854 words / 8 min read
It goes like this: we buy technologies that are supposed to improve our lives, but are actually designed to be addictive. Unfortunately, these technologies are so efficient that we now need them to survive in a fast-paced technology-saturated society, and they create problems that never existed before. And then we are sold products to help us manage those new problems.
On the surface, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell looks like one of these products. In reality, Odell's book is a critique of the dystopian current state of affairs, where even our attention has been capitalised upon through our use of social media. Odell's book is an anti-capitalist challenge to social media, advertising, and the hyper-accelerated news cycle that dominates our lives.
Though Odell is not anti-technology, she argues that the current state of technologies, specifically the monetisation of our attention through social media, is disrupting our ability to create physical communities and negatively affecting how we express ourselves. Counter to positive discourses about social media and the free speech it supposedly affords us, Odell posits that the addictive social media scene curbs our right to not express ourselves, depriving us of longer thought-processes, maintenance work, and community building. "[T]he villain here is not necessarily the Internet, or the idea of social media;" she writes. "It is the invasive logic of commercial social media and its financial incentive to keep us in a profitable state of anxiety, envy, and distraction" (emphasis hers).
What sets Odell's book apart, for me, is that it is not absolutist in any way. Nor does it support the capitalist reasoning for putting your phone down: productivity in itself. A quick Google search of "attention economy" can show us how the issue is being tackled: most books and articles are instructive on how to log off social media so we can produce more work to make more money. Productivity is necessarily tied to making money in this hell stage of capitalism; even our hobbies are being turned into hustles. Odell explicitly rejects this in her arguments, in the examples she draws from to back them up, and in her overall structuring of the book. She is explicit about the lack of traditional productive self-help tips, and she draws on historical examples of labour activism that led to more days off rather than more productivity to frame her arguments for doing less as resistance. Odell writes, for example, about US workers in 1886 who campaigned for an eight-hour workday with the motto "eight hours of work, eight hours of rest, eight hours for what we will"; this refusal to explicitly define what is meant by "what we will", Odell points out, is a humane act of resistance against commercial productivity. This undefined space is a challenge to a capitalist system that is, as Odell argues, "colonis[ing] the self by capitalist ideas of productivity and efficiency". In an increasingly unregulated economic system where the hustle bleeds into our personal lives (and vice-versa, via social media presences and branding), the boundaries around "what we will" have dissolved. Time and space become conflated with each other, and everything we do, all the time, becomes a potential for profit.
This is why Odell locates the main issues of capitalised attention around the idea of 'context collapse' online, where our social media accounts are seen as representing "a figure who is expected to be as monolithic and timeless as a brand". This results in a dehumanising negation of the messy contradictions, ambiguities, and processes that make us human. Profit is made out of absolutes, but our contradictory, complex humanity is the opposite of absolute, and is thus a hindrance to the making of money. This results in anxiety-inducing dystopic dynamics. We are not allowed to publicly change our minds, we are not allowed to go beyond the identity we present online; the lack of context "flattens past, present, and future into a constant amnesiac present." And this present is not located in any physical place, so we lose touch with physical location and the communities that constitute that location.
As someone who wants to be a writer and has cultivated a small social media following, I can feel capitalisation working through me and towards me; I've been feeling like I need to have an opinion on things I don't know that much about, otherwise I am not a good person (or maybe, more accurately, my followers won't perceive me as a good person). But of what use is an under-researched, reactive thread on Twitter, other than as a performance of goodness? To me, social media used to be a place where I went to learn and have conversations, but it increasingly has become a place where having an opinion or a conversation feels mandatory. And because of the speed at which conversations take place, we frequently don't have the time to process our feelings, or to choose kindness. It's quicker, easier, to make a binary value judgement, rather than take a beat and try to read posts with humanity and care.
Odell's attention to thought-processes and the undervaluation of maintenance and care work made me rethink what I see as productive. "We inhabit a culture that privileges novelty and growth over the cyclical and the regenerative," she writes. "Our very idea of productivity is premised on the idea of producing something new, whereas we do not tend to see maintenance and care as productive in the same way." This calls to mind the racialised and gendered devaluation of maintenance and care work that is the fabric of our neoliberal hyper-marketised society. As Tithi Bhattacharya has argued (alongside countless other social reproduction theorists, feminists, womanists,and labour theorists), the work of people who keep things as they are is invisible and therefore undervalued, underpaid or not paid at all. Housework, cleaning, public upkeep, maintenance of public parks and gardens, preservation work, and so many other forms of labour: because they can't be framed as 'innovative', they are frequently seen as 'unproductive'. In order to marketise these forms of labour, capital creates anxiety or precarity: panic about germs or disease can sell more cleaning products; a migrant worker might be forced to accept a poorly-paid, cash-in-hand cleaning job so as to avoid the attentions of the border forces who would view her as 'unskilled'.
This focus on productivity extends into my own life. As a writer, it's difficult not to prefer the finished product over the process: to love my published articles more than my drafts because they signify public productivity, which in turn signifies success. Maintenance work (which, for myself and my life, I interpret as housework, mental health maintenance, and thought-work that might happen in moments of leisure, amongst other invisible work) increasingly felt like a waste of my time because it did not result in a byline I could share on social media. But this is work that the women in my family have been doing for generations: cooking, cleaning, passing down traditions. This is work that has no obvious, visible, Instagrammable results, and so I have consistently undervalued it, dismissed it. This is perhaps Odell's most persuasive argument: that capitalism has infiltrated our minds and altered our judgements in ways we must consciously resist. This infiltration, and the contradictions it produces, doesn't make us bad. It makes us works-in-progress, victims of a system designed to make us devote our lives to the making of profit for our Silicon Valley overlords.
Odell offers some solutions for resisting the attention economy. They aren't perfect—and how could they be, given the oppressive structures that exist both internally and externally—but they are realistic. Complete disconnection from the digital world is discouraged. Being connected isn't the problem, Odell argues; it's the extent to which (and the ways in which) we are connected that is disrupting and monetising our lives. The book draws on Indigenous practices of embeddedness in and attentiveness to place (often culturally translated as bioregionalism). A focus on the local, Odell argues, can pull us away from the overwhelming, decontextualized nothing-space of contemporary digital capitalism. Offering our attention to, for example, the specific fauna and flora of our location can bring us back to where we are, and hopefully this can help communities flourish once again.
Last year I went to a retirement party, where a woman academic was being celebrated for her contributions to her university department. What struck me about her impact is that it was localised, and therefore it was deep: she inspired many other women to pursue academic careers and to believe in themselves, all because she stayed in one small community long enough to touch their lives and build networks of relationship and mutual support. She inspired me, personally, to live rather than climb the ladders of prestige I had always associated with success. By embodying the saying "make no harm, take no shit," this woman changed lives—quietly and profoundly. Social media, I realised, had warped my idea of success. It's not about money or hypervisibility, but about the people we nurture; and with whom we build community—online or offline. In a world rife with "30 under 30" lists that are designed to make us feel like our impact must be massive and monetary to be valued, can we abolish the idea of success, and instead measure our lives in love, friendship, and community?
Ironically, I don't think this book encouraged me to do nothing. It actually inspired me to see maintenance and care work as political resistance. It encouraged me to displace the value I used to put into my own online presence, and search for value in grounded spatial dynamics. It takes time to build societal change; to take it one conversation at a time is not to diminish its radical potential. This renewed perspective motivated me to do things like exercise, meal prep, consistent cleaning of my flat, or resting after a long day with a clean conscience. Visible productivity is not the only thing that matters; my mental health and happiness matter too. Most importantly, I can now see the struggle for equality and justice for the marginalised as a historical and continuous fight, rather than with anxiety and despair. I am trying to harness my anxiety and to balance it with hope. I still view the state of the world an urgent matter which needs to change, but I have a new awareness of what I actually can do, how much power I have, and what it's realistic to expect of myself. I cannot, for example, change minds with a single viral tweet (let's be real, if someone is retweeting without commentary, they usually agree) but I can start meaningful conversations in my community, or create safe spaces for my friends to talk about oppression in my home. I am trying to be less reactive and more thoughtful, letting "thought-work," as Odell calls it, happen with no rush. In these times where public despair and anxiety are literally monetisable, this is a crucial form of anti-capitalist praxis.
Jenny Odell's 'How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy' is published by Penguin Random House.
Nicole Froio (@NicoleFroio)


Advisor. An adult who advises and mentors us in programming, logistics, administrative work and leadership skills. Our OATY Advisor is the amazing Nancy Nelson.
B'rit Kehilah. NFTY's Code of Conduct. You signed this before coming to an event; it details the rules and regulations for a NFTY event. Basically, you promised not to do drugs, drink, engage in inappropriate sexual conduct, and to be a respectful.
Friendship Circle. The last thing MARites do at an event is gather in a massive circle. We sing, there are speeches and gifts given from co-chairs, the MAR president, the MAR advisor, as well as many tears and hugs.
Kallah. Fun weekends when NFTYites from all different TYGs in a particular region come together to meet other NFTYites, pray and learn. NFTY-MAR has six kallot: JELLO, Fall Kallah, Winter Kallah, MAJYK, The Vent, and Spring Kallah.
Kallah Chairs. Most commonly they are known as co-chairs, but can also be tri-chairs, quad-chairs, etc. For MAJYK, they are called the MAJYKians. These dedicated NFTYites spend time and effort planning NFTY events. They are loved immensely because of all the hard work they put in to making our events.
Head Cheerleaders. Two female MARites who are in charge of our region's ruach!
Head Waiters. Two male MARites who are in charge of delegating the responsibility of being a waiter at camp events. The honor of being Head Waiter is passed down when a senior graduates. This ceremony takes place at Winter Kallah.
JELLO. The Jewish Educational Leadership and Learning – Oh! event. This is a NFTY-MAR regional event, the first of the year, that is geared toward all types of leadership development. It is intended for all NFTY-MAR participants, regardless of age or leadership experience.
MAJYK. The Mid-Atlantic Junior Youth Kallah. This event is open only to middle school students, and is a super fun weekend where you get to know all about NFTY.
MARite(s). A member of NFTY-MAR.
Moishe Moose. The NFTY-MAR mascot.
mSAC. An mSAC is a "membership Subregional Assistant Committee." These are four people, one for each subregion, that are designated to help the four regional MVPs reach out to new members, build subregional pride and spirit, and win TheVent!
Programs. Informal programs (as opposed to formal education in the classroom) take place at all Kallot. Programs can be about any topic from Purim to AIDS to the Middle East Peace process. Programs can also be social like a dance or a talent show.
Regional Board. The Regional Board of MAR is made up of 9 amazing, hard-working MARites. They are elected each year at Spring Kallah and are essential in making MAR what it is. They write and run programs and services, and represent NFTY-MAR at North American meetings. The Regional Board positions are: President, Programming Vice President (PVP), Social Action Vice President (SAVP), Religious and Cultural Vice President (RCVP), Communications Vice President (CVP), Northern Membership Vice President (NMVP), Eastern Membership Vice President (EMVP), Western Membership Vice President (WMVP), and Southern Membership Vice President (SMVP).
Senior Circle. At Spring Kallah every year, senior circle allows the graduating seniors to talk about their time with NFTY, as well as pass down important items from their NFTY experience.
Song Session. We sing Jewish music (also known as Jewsic), clap, stomp, dance, and make lots and lots of noise. This is where we show our ruach most!
Subregions. NFTY-MAR is divided into four sub-regions, the North, East, West, and South (the best one). Every year at The Vent, the four sub-regions compete in color wars, led by the sub-regional membership vice presidents. Each subregion has a color; North is blue, East is red, West is green, and South is red.
TYG Board. The members of the TYG that usually plan and run youth group events for individual youth groups.
URJ. Union for Reform Judaism, the parent body of NFTY. The URJ encompasses all of NFTY plus lots of college students, adults, rabbis, cantors, temple board members and well…basically any reform Jew in America. They also manage camps like Kutz. They provide adult, rabbinical and financial support to NFTY.