text:
The Million Book Project (or the Universal Library) was a book digitization project led by Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science and University Libraries from 2007–2008. Working with government and research partners in India (Digital Library of India) and China, the project scanned books in many languages, using OCR to enable full text searching, and providing free-to-read access to the books on the web. , they have completed the scanning of 1 million books and have made the entire catalog accessible online.

Description
The Million Book Project was a 501(c)3 charity organization with various scanning centers throughout the world.

By December 2007, more than 1.5 million books had been scanned, in 20 languages: 970,000 in Chinese; 360,000 in English; 50,000 in Telugu; and 40,000 in Arabic. Most of the books are in the public domain, but permission has been acquired to include over 60,000 copyrighted books (roughly 53,000 in English and 7,000 in Indian languages). The books are mirrored in part at sites in India, China, Carnegie Mellon, the Internet Archive, Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The books that have been scanned to date are not yet all available online, and no single site has copies of all the books that are available online.

The million book project was a "proof of concept" that has largely been replaced by HathiTrust, Google Book Search and the Internet Archive book scanning projects.

The Internet Archive may have some books that Google does not (e.g.: The Poems of Robert Frost published after the end of 1922).

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Carnegie Mellon $3.63M over four years for equipment and administrative travel for the Million Book Project. India provided $25M annually to support language translation research projects. The Ministry of Education in China provided $8.46M over three years. The Internet Archive provided equipment, staff and money. The University of California, Merced Library funded the work to acquire copyright permission from U.S. publishers.

The program ended in 2008.

Partner institutions

China
The institutions in China which are participants in this project include:
 Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China
 Chinese Academy of Science
 Fudan University
 Nanjing University
 Peking University
 Tsinghua University
 Zhejiang University
 Northeast Normal University

India
The institutions in India which are participants in this project include:
 Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
 International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
 Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad
 Anna University, Chennai
 Mysore University, Mysore
 University of Pune, Pune
 Goa University, Goa
 Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupathi
 Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy, Tanjore
 Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Srivilliputhur
 Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Mumbai

United States
The institutions in the U.S. which are participants include:
 Internet Archive
 Indiana University
 Pennsylvania State University
 Stanford University
TriColleges (Swarthmore, Haverford, Bryn Mawr)
 University of California, Berkeley
 University of California, Merced
 University of Pittsburgh
 University of Washington

Europe
The institutions in the EU which are participants include:
 Copenhagen University
 Aarhus University
 Odense University
 Denmark Virtual Library

See also
 Book scanning
 Digital library (list)
 Digital preservation
 Universal library
 Project Gutenberg

References

External links
 The Universal Digital Library
 The Million Book Digital Library Project (paper from December 1, 2001)
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Universal Library, China site
 Universal Digital Library at Allahabad
 Digital Library of India
 Internet Archive:
 the archived pilot
 larger partial collection

Carnegie Mellon University
Ebook suppliers
Mass digitization
Digital library projects

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Teledyne Controls' Technology and Users Forum, previously known as Teledyne's Users Conference, started in 1989 as a small forum for customers using our data acquisition and management products. Over the years it has developed into a significant industry event that brings together airline representatives, OEMs and industry experts from all over the world.
The event provides a unique opportunity to learn about new technologies, meet with peers, discuss similar business challenges and share best-practices.
To learn more about this year's event or to receive an invitation, please contact your Teledyne representative today.


Seabirds (black-browed albatrosses and giant petrels) follow a trawler in the Falkland Islands, scavenging discards. The photo below shows albatross and other seabird bycatch from a pelagic longline fishing vessel operating in South Africa for a period of one month in 2005. Photos by Ben Sullivan (above) and Peter Ryan (below).
Huge numbers of fish, seabirds, and other marine animals are routinely killed and discarded after being inadvertently caught during fishing operations. Known as marine bycatch, this problem is an ongoing challenge to the fishing industry, regulatory agencies, and conservationists. One recent proposal would compensate for bycatch by reducing other impacts on affected species, but a new analysis suggests that this strategy could end up doing more harm than good.
Note to reporters: You may contact Finkelstein at (831) 459-3902 or myraf@ucsc.edu.


text:
SJ Zm ist die Bezeichnung einer Serie schwedischer Rangierlokomotiven.

Geschichte
In den 1920er Jahren wurden in Schweden für den Verschub von einzelnen Güterwagen, vor allem innerhalb von Industrieanschlüssen, Pferde verwendet.

Lambert Bjurström, die in der Maschinenbauindustrie arbeitete, erkannte, dass kleine benzingetriebene Lokomotiven viel effektiver wären. Basierend auf einem Ford-Motor, der die Treibachse mit Ketten antrieb, konstruierte er einen einfachen Schienentraktor. Bjurström arbeitete mit AB Slipmaterial in Västervik zusammen. Er nutzte bei Bedarf deren freie Werkstattkapazität und begann 1925 mit einer Serienfertigung in seiner Firma Bjurström AB Slipmaterial. Die kleinen Lokomotiven wurden schnell populär. Nach dem Bau von über zweihundert Rangierlokomotiven für Privatbahnen und Industriebetriebe wurde die Fertigung  1947 eingestellt.

SJ Zm
Statens Järnvägar bestellte ebenfalls derartige Lokomotiven bei Bjurström. Die ersten Exemplare wurden 1926 geliefert, aber erst 1933 mit einer Nummer sowie mit der Baureihenbezeichnung Zm versehen. Sie waren vom Typ Bjurström 8, hatten einen Fordson-Benzinmotor, ein Viergang-Getriebe, einen Radstand von zwei Metern und einen 80-Liter-Tank. Die Zugkraft der Lokomotiven betrug 200 Tonnen. 1928 kostete ein Fahrzeug 8.500 Kronen ohne Dach. Ab der Nummer 33 ging das Fahrerhaus über die volle Breite der Lokomotive und es wurden Türen eingebaut.

Durch die Übernahme zahlreicher Privatbahnen in den 1930er- und 1940er-Jahren im Rahmen der allgemeinen Eisenbahnverstaatlichung kamen viele dieser Lokomotiven von privaten Eisenbahngesellschaften zu Statens Järnvägar.

Dies waren:

NrSlJ 1
Die NrSlJ 1 der Norra Södermanlands Järnväg wurde 1929 gebaut und 1930 geliefert. Ein Jahr später wurde sie von SJ übernommen und erhielt bei der Nummernvergabe 1933 die Bezeichnung Zm 25.

UGJ Z 1–3
Die UGJ Z 1–2 der Uppsala–Gävle Järnväg wurden 1931, die UGJ Z 3 1933 gebaut. Im gleichen  Jahr wurden alle drei von SJ übernommen und erhielten bei der Nummernvergabe die Bezeichnung Zm 46–48.

OKB Z 1
Die OKB Z 1 der Ostkustbanan wurde 1931 geliefert. 1933 wurde sie von SJ übernommen und erhielt bei der Nummernvergabe die Bezeichnung Zm 49.

AGV 1
Die AGV 1 der AB Trafikförbundets Verkstäd wurde 1931 geliefert. 1933 wurde sie von SJ übernommen und erhielt bei der Nummernvergabe die Bezeichnung Zm 50.

HHJ 41
Die HHJ 41 war seit 1927 beim Kungl. Skånska Husarregementet in Helsingborg im Einsatz. Sie wurde 1938 von SJ gekauft und erhielt die Bezeichnung Zm 129.

VBHJ Z 1
Die VBHJ Z 1 war seit 1930 bei der Varberg–Borås–Herrljunga Järnväg im Einsatz. Sie wurde 1940 von SJ übernommen und erhielt die Bezeichnung Zm 130.

UWHJ Z 1
Die UWHJ Z 1 war 1935 von Berg & Company gebaut worden und bei der Uddevalla–Vänersborg–Herrljunga Järnväg im Einsatz. Die Lok war nicht mit dem Typ Bjurström 8 identisch und besaß einen Vierzylinder-Ford-Motor vom Typ MTR-24 mit 36 PS. Ihre Länge betrug 5,22 m, der Achsabstand 1,2 m, das Dienstgewicht 3,7 Tonnen und sie hatte eine Höchstgeschwindigkeit von 40 km/h. Die benzinmechanische Kraftübertragung erfolgte mit einem Kettenantrieb zur Treibachse. Sie wurde 1940 von SJ übernommen und erhielt die Bezeichnung Zm 131.

UWHJ  Z 2
Die UWHJ  Z 2 war eine Bjurström 8-Lokomotive, die seit 1938 bei der Uddevalla–Vänersborg–Herrljunga Järnväg im Dienst stand. Sie wurde 1940 von SJ übernommen und erhielt die Bezeichnung Zm 132.

GBJ Z 74
Die GBJ Z 74 war 1938 von Berg & Company gebaut worden und bei der Göteborg–Borås Järnväg im Einsatz. Sie hatte die gleiche Bauform wie die UWHJ Z 1 und erhielt die Bezeichnung Zm 133.

Verkäufe vor der Umzeichnung in den neuen Nummernplan
 Zm 7 wurde 1939 an Motala Verkstad verkauft und erhielt dort die Nr. 2. Sie wurde etwa 1976 in Motala verschrottet.
 Zm 12 wurde 1941 an den Kooperativa Förbundet för Lycksele Industri AB verkauft und etwa 1951 in Örnsköldsvik verschrottet.
 Zm 17 wurde 1942 an Uddeholms AB abgegeben und wurde dort Nr. 11 (I), ging 1949 als Werklok Nr. 13 nach Skoghall und wurde 1956 an Nejmans Exportaffär in Trollhättan verkauft. Dort wurde sie 1964 verschrottet.
 Zm 21 wurde 1937 an AB Fajans Tegelbruk in Falkenberg verkauft und 1965 verschrottet.

Weitere Entwicklung und Verbleib
Als von den SJ in den 1940er  Jahren stärkere Rangierlokomotiven beschafft wurden, wurde beschlossen, diese in Baureihen nach Leistung aufzuteilen. Alle noch vorhandenen Lokomotiven wurden 1942 in die Baureihe Z eingereiht, die im Laufe der Jahre durch weitere übernommene Exemplare erweitert wurde.

Die inzwischen um die achtzig Jahre alten Fahrzeuge sind teilweise verschrottet oder von SJ an Industriebetriebe/Bahngesellschaften verkauft worden. Als Beispiel ist die 1931 gebaute Zm 24 zu erwähnen, die an die Inlandsbanan AB verkauft wurde und für den Verschub in Mora verwendet wird. Sie trägt inzwischen sogar eine UIC-Kennzeichnung im schwedischen Fahrzeugeinstellungsregister.

Einzelnachweise

Weblinks

Triebfahrzeug (Statens Järnvägar)
Benzinmechanische Lokomotive
Schienenfahrzeug (Bjurström)


text:
Monthly Archive for: "May, 2017"
In JC Physics
Thinking [email protected] #4
Thinking[email protected] is a series of questions that we, as tutors feel that are useful in helping students think and improve their understanding. Thinking [email protected] is curated by Aaron. [...]
In JC Mathematics, Mathematics
[email protected] is a series of questions that we, as tutors feel that are useful in helping students think and improve their understanding. Thinking [email protected] is curated by KS. More of [...]
Population problems eventually solve themselves-government meddling only makes things worse. Discuss
Government intervention solves population problems such as population decline, which will be left unresolved if left to the masses. With a preference for smaller families and a general [...]
[email protected] is a series of questions that we, as tutors feel that are useful in helping students think and improve their understanding. Thinking [email protected] is curated by Aaron. [...]
[email protected] #1
[email protected] is a series of questions that we, as tutors feel that are useful in helping students think and improve their understanding. Thinking [email protected] is curated by Aaron. More [...]
Should increased automation be embraced by our society?
In this latest May day's speech by PM Lee, a lot of focus has been given to the future of jobs and the changing economy of Singapore. For a summary of the speech, you could refer to this [...]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Boys & Girls Clubs of America And Maytag Brand Honor Nearly 100 Boys & Girls Club Employees And Volunteers With Maytag Dependable Leader Award
Dec 8, 2017 | Brand and Product, Social and Environmental Impact
Partnership Provides More Than $7 Million to Club Youth and Awards 10 Extraordinary Individuals for their Dedication to Impacting the Lives of Local Youth
Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Maytag brand announce 10 new recipients of the 2017 Maytag Dependable Leader Award. The annual awards program, now entering its eighth year, recognizes Boys & Girls Club youth development professionals, both employees and volunteers, who have shown remarkable dedication to transforming the lives of youth in their communities. Each recipient also receives a $20,000 grant to provide scholarships to members of their Boys & Girls Club.
The 2017 Maytag Dependable Leaders, along with the 89 winners from previous years, were nominated by peers at their respected Boys & Girls Club, and following a comprehensive review of the nomination forms – each include compelling background on nominee's impact – Maytag brand selects the winners.
This year's 10 winners join an impressive line-up of previous dependable leaders award-winners who have been honored for their hours of dedication to local youth. For example, one previous winner, Guy Klabunde, works throughout all of Alaska, requiring him to travel hundreds of miles to remote and native lands, to open Boys & Girls Clubs so area kids would have a safe and inviting environment and he has helped to grow the number of Clubs from three to 33. Another previous winner doubled enrollment at her Club and never stopped working for her Club kids, even though she was in the midst of battling cancer.
The 2017 Maytag Dependable Leaders are:
Carol Freeman, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
Danny Sherlock, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego
Dennis Bedford, Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha
Dione Buonto, Boys & Girls Club of the Grand Strand
Emily Taylor, Boys & Girls Club of Transylvania County
Geo Bonilla, Boys & Girls Clubs of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County
Katrina Lampman, Boys & Girls Club of Placer County
Lynda Brown, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake
Michael Jones, Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula
Peter Mejia, Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills
"These dependable leaders at Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide represent everything we stand for as an organization," said Jim Clark, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "These men and women make tremendous sacrifices to best serve and inspire every young person who walks through our doors, and with Maytag brand's generous support, we're honored recognize these individuals for all they do to make a difference in the lives of our youth and in communities across the country."
Since 2010, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Maytag brand have presented nearly 100 Boys & Girls Clubs youth development professionals with a Maytag Dependable Leader Award and $20,000 grant. Maytag brand plays an intricate part in making sure Boys & Girls Club members have opportunities to explore their passions. Throughout the partnership, Maytag brand has provided more than $7 million to help deserving youth reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
"We feel very fortunate to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, an organization that engages and retains such spectacular, caring role models for our nation's young people," said Sarah Brandonisio, Maytag Brand Manager. "The Maytag Dependable Leader Award allows Maytag brand to give back to those Boys & Girls Club professionals and volunteers who give tirelessly to their local communities each and every day."
Together Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Maytag brand are recognizing and promoting dependability – a quality that is at the core of what the Clubs do every day and is central to Maytag brand.
About Maytag Brand
For more than a century, Maytag® appliances have been synonymous with dependability and durability. For over 100 years- Maytag has an enduring tradition of quality production and powerful performance. Durable, commercial-grade components are found in many Maytag® appliances – including Maytag® front-load and top-load washers and dryers. Maytag also offers a full range of kitchen appliances – Maytag® dishwashers with the PowerBlast® cycle, Maytag® refrigerators with the PowerCold® option, as well as Maytag® ranges, cooktops and ovens with Power™ burner and Power™ element options. In January 2014, Maytag introduced America to the Maytag Man – a dependable machine and the human embodiment of the durability, reliability and power inside all Maytag® appliances. In addition to creating durable appliances, Maytag also is a dependable partner to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in their effort to support communities across America and help young people achieve great futures. For more information about Maytag, please visit Maytag.com, or find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Maytag, Twitter at @TheMaytagMan, Instagram at instagram.com/Maytag or Pinterest at pinterest.com/Maytag.
For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, 4,300 Clubs serve 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Nielsen Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at BGCA's Facebook and Twitter.


Get The Look of Will & Karlie's Master Ensuite in The Block 2016 with this bench top.
This incredible timber top has been featured as the vanity top in Holly and Steve's Bathroom in the Red Team's Yarraville home in Reno Rumble 2016.
Available in a range of sizes 100% Australian timbers to be used on bathroom vanities or as a bench/desk top.
Finished in Treatex Natural hard wax oils.
Please Note: This is for the bench top only and does not include the vanity, sinks or fixtures.
Special sizes to suit your specific requirements can be done, please email [email protected] with your dimensions for a quote.


removing some duplicate info that is also on "Source Code"
that implements the IRC protocol and wraps around the [http://silcnet.org SILC Toolkit] — the heart of the Colloquy's IRC & SILC communication layer. Chat Core is licensed under the BSD license terms.
You can browse the Colloquy and Chat Core source code [http://project.colloquy.info/browser/trunk/ here].
You can browse the Colloquy and Chat Core source code [/browser/trunk/ here].
To checkout the code anonymously you will need the Subversion client (svn) installed.
[http://www.codingmonkeys.de/mbo/ CodingMonkey Martin Ott's packages]).
To checkout the code anonymously from Subversion (svn) and to build Colloquy from source read the ["Source Code" Step-by-Step Guide] with build requirements.
Read the [wiki:"Source Code"] page for more details and requirements for building Colloquy.
the opportunity to gain commit privileges.


Powerpoint to Keynote Converter for Mac powerpoint pdf converter app wordpress powerpoint pdf converter app powerpoint pdf converter app powerpoint pdf converter app download direct download powerpoint pdf converter app open the mac app store.
So ideas if you want to get all these outstanding pictures about Powerpoint to Keynote Converter for Mac, press save icon to download the graphics to your pc. There're available for save, if you'd rather and want to get it, simply click save symbol in the web page, and it'll be instantly down loaded to your laptop computer.
powerpoint convert to pdf mac wordpress powerpoint convert to pdf mac powerpoint convert to pdf mac powerpoint convert to pdf mac download direct download powerpoint convert to pdf mac. powerpoint templates for mac enolsoft powerpoint templates for mac include powerpoint templates for business school holidays and sencery powerpoint templates for mac now.
Thanks for visiting our site, contentabove Powerpoint to Keynote Converter for Mac published by admin. Today we are excited to declare that we have discovered an incrediblyinteresting contentto be pointed out, that is Powerpoint to Keynote Converter for Mac Many individuals looking for info about and of course one of these is you, is not it?


text:
VIDEO: Trump Tells Attendees at Arizona Rally, "I Recommend You Take [The Vaccine], But I Also Believe in Your Freedoms, Hundred Percent"
HealthPoliticsScience
By Christopher Boyle	 On Jul 29, 2021
Former President Donald Trump told attendees at his first rally in Arizona since the 2020 election, that it's probably a good idea that they get vaccinated against COVID-19, but emphasized it's ultimately their choice.
PHOENIX, AZ – At his first rally in the state of Arizona since the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump encouraged his followers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in light of recent surges in infections due to the new Delta variant, but nonetheless told them that they also have the freedom to decide for themselves what to do.
Speaking in Phoenix at a Turning Point Action gathering, Trump initially told his supporters "How about the vaccine? I came up with the vaccine," which made it appear that he was taking credit for the actual development of the vaccine.
However, what Trump can indeed take credit for is the program known as Operation Warp Speed, a public–private partnership initiated by the United States government to facilitate and accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines; presumably, this is what he was referring to.
However, Trump quickly pivoted to extolling the virtues of the vaccine, and told attendees at the rally that it's probably a good idea that they get it, but emphasized it's ultimately their choice.
"They said it would take 3 to 5 years, [it's] going to save the world," he said. "I recommend you take it, but I also believe in your freedoms 100 percent, but just so you understand… but it was a great achievement."
Currently, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 163.6 million Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or 49.3 percent of the population. Currently, the country is experiencing a swell of new infections due to the new Delta variant, which is proving to be more contagious and potent than the original strain, and now accounts for 83 percent of all new COVID cases in the U.S.
The CDC on Tuesday changed its mask guidance to now recommend everyone in areas with high levels of COVID-19 transmission – vaccinated or not – wear a face covering in public, indoor settings.
Newly-Discovered Video Allegedly Features Hunter Biden Smoking Crack Cocaine On-Camera
SHERIFF: "I've Been Crystal Clear, If You Abuse An Animal In Lee County, You Will Go To Jail."


Dark Tonic Games Studio: Killer Waves is 50% off! Today only!
Killer Waves is 50% off! Today only!
Unity has selected Killer Waves as one of their featured 24 hour sale items, so go grab it!
Just $15 buys you the BEST spawn system tool on the asset store.
A bunch of smart developers have jumped on this deal already since the sale started at midnight.
There's never going to be a better time to pick up Killer Waves, and steady feature upgrades mean it will continue to be a great tool in your toolbox for years to come.
We have a lot of future features planned, and the price will keep going up as the new stuff goes in. With version 1.4 it's one step away from being a shoot 'em up creation kit. Our next versions will add kit features for tower defense, RTS, platformers, and more.


text:
The Magician's Assistant is a novel by American author Ann Patchett, published in 1997 by Harcourt. The book was shortlisted for the 1998 Women's Prize for Fiction. The narrative follows a young woman named Sabine in the aftermath of her husband's death.

Summary
A magician named Parsifal dies of AIDS. He leaves behind a young widow, Sabine, and a series of mysteries. Sabine discovers various secrets and details about her husband and meets his family members.

Reception
The New York Times praised the novel as "beguiling" but argued the protagonist "never generates enough sympathy to make her predicament truly absorbing." Writing in The Independent, Penelope Lively described The Magician's Assistant as "a lovely book by a writer to watch".

Awards
The Magician's Assistant was shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 1998.

References

Novels by Ann Patchett
1997 novels


Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, October 13th, 2008 - Four individuals were awarded full scholarships compliments of the Fortis/PPC Scholarship Program which was launched earlier this year. The scholarship program is part of PPC's strategic plan to develop its human resources, and to contribute to the human capital development in the Turks & Caicos Islands by focusing on developing local engineers and technicians.
Staff members Alvejes Desir, Daylon Joseph, and Pamela Palmer-Taylor and TeAndra Thomas, a 2008 graduate of the Maranatha High School, were selected by the scholarship committee based on specific criteria.
TeAndra Thomas is PPC's 2008 Four-Year Engineering Scholarship Recipient. A recent graduate of the Maranatha Seventh Day Adventist High School, TeAndra is scheduled to commence studies in 2009, pursuing a Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Presently TeAndra is undergoing a full training program with PPC at the Providenciales Power Plant, where she is gaining on-the-job experience that should give her an edge, over the other students in her program.
Alvejes Desir, a PPC employee since 2005, was awarded The Engineering Technologist Scholarship. Alvejes is pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Engineering /Technology at the University of West Florida.
Daylon Joseph was also awarded an Engineering Scholarship. Daylon has been employed with PPC Ltd. since 1997, and is currently completing an Associate's Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Broward Community College in Fort Lauderdale. Upon completion of his Associate's Degree, Daylon will pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) starting in January 2009.
The fourth scholarship, in the field of Accounting, was awarded to Mrs. Pamela Palmer-Taylor. Ms. Palmer-Taylor, an employee of PPC for more than ten years is pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting at Nova Southeastern University.
Each recipient is bonded to PPC and will return to work with the company during summer breaks and upon completion of their degrees.
Eddinton Powell, CEO speaking about the Scholarship Program stated "We are very proud of our 2008 scholarship recipients. They are representative of the great talent at PPC and in the Turks and Caicos Islands. PPC's strategic vision is to become the best utility company in the Caribbean within a few years. To achieve that, we must have world-class skills and competencies. Over the next five years, PPC will be investing well over a million dollars in scholarships, apprentice programs, specialized training, and general human resources development. We can only be as good as our people. Our aim is to go from good to great".
Judith Missick, Human Resources Manager congratulated the recipients and commented "PPC provides a dynamic work environment for its employees by encouraging aspirations for educational development, growth and progress. These scholarships illustrate only a small part of the company's continued commitment to the community and employee development, and we would like to see Turks and Caicos Islanders trained and gain the skills required for these positions."


How do I view any data held?
Should you wish to view data held by Beikou Hockey regarding yourself, please email us at contact@beikouhockey.com with your request.
Should you wish for any data regarding yourself to be deleted from our systems please email us at contact@beikouhockey.com with your request.
All our payments are processed through Stripe.com. It is encrypted through the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS). Your purchase transaction data is stored only as long as is necessary to complete your purchase transaction. After that is complete, your purchase transaction information is deleted.
Stripe payment gateways adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored with a AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, Stripe follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional generally accepted industry standards.


Effective January 4th 2017 In addition to teaching the NRA Basic Pistol Course we now offer an ALTERNATIVE OPTION. The State of Connecticut Special Licensing and Firearms Unit has approved a proprietary lesson plan that meets all the requirements for persons seeking Pistol Permit status in the State of Connecticut. The course will be 8 hours in person and cost $95. All of our certificates will be accompanied by a State of Connecticut DESPP approval letter.
A one day (all day) class that meets the State requirement for pistol permit application. All Instructors are NRA Certified. Course fee covers all materials. Attendees are encouraged to visit their local Police Departments and get an application form which should be brought to the class for Instructor sign-off.
We also recommend taking our Self Defense and Firearms Law class. The law does not see ignorance as a defense!
We also give discounts for children up to 17 years old.
You need to go to the police station in the town you live in and ask for a pistol permit application.
Fill out the application fully, following the instructions included in the packet. Note that parts of the application will need to be notarized.
Once you have the application all filled out and notarized then you will make an appointment at the police station for finger printing.
When going to get finger prints done make sure you bring your completed application and certificate from your safety class and once you have your finger prints you will take everything to the permits department.
For more information visit the CT Department of Public Safety - Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.


Mother of Pearl Cufflinks – Mother of pearl is first recorded in jewellery over 5000 years ago in Egypt, its desirability and appreciation has grown immeasurably since those ancient beginnings.
Being ideally suited to use in jewellery, mother of pearl displays all of the iridescent, lustrous qualities of the pearls themselves, and allows the artisan to produce eye catching, stunning items that are also extremely affordable.
Our mother of pearl cufflinks capture these qualities to provide you with a stylish selection that has something suitable for any occasion, with a choice of square, rectangular, oval or round cufflinks, and a diverse range of colours, with black and white, green, and pink being especially popular.
Whether you're looking for a gift for someone else, or for yourself, take your time to browse through our mother of pearl cufflink selection and remember that we also stock pearl cufflinks as well if you'd prefer.
Our Mother of Pearl Cufflinks are just £22 and come with a free presentation box.


The OMS Performance Mono Wing is a rugged single tank donut wing designed to be worn with a single tank backplate or IQ system. Available in choice of 27lb or 32lb lift.
The Performance Mono Wing offers the diver more comfort with a design that allows for quick and easy movement of air from one side of the air cell to the other. This enables the diver to better control buoyancy and maintain trim and position easily in the water.
Both options offer stabilizing bars built into the wings to negate the need for a single tank adapter or STA and helps to minimize tank movement. These are an ideal wing for the traveling diver as they are small, lightweight and easy to pack.
OMS offers both lift capacity options in multiple color schemes. The Mono wing will fit onto the IQ pac, Aluminum or Stainless Steel Backplate using the Comfort Harness II or Continuous Weave (DIR) Harness.
Buy OMS wings and gear online in Canada from Dan's Dive Shop the longest established and Top Stocking OMS dealer with Free Shipping.


text:
You are here: Home News Cardinal Sarah: To oppose the pope is to be outside the Church
Cardinal Sarah: To oppose the pope is to be outside the Church
Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, said the people who portray him as an opponent of Pope Francis are being used by the devil to help divide the Church.
"The truth is that the Church is represented on earth by the vicar of Christ, that is by the pope. And whoever is against the pope is, ipso facto, outside the Church," the cardinal said in an interview published in Corriere della Sera, an Italian daily.
The 74-year-old cardinal, who Pope Francis appointed in 2014 as head of the office overseeing liturgical matters, is often portrayed as a critic of Pope Francis, especially because of the cardinal's cautious attitude toward welcoming Muslim migrants to Europe, his concern about the Church acting more like a social-service agency than a missionary Church and his traditional approach to the liturgy.
The Corriere piece was published to coincide with the release of a new book-length interview with Cardinal Sarah, The Day is Now Far Spent.
The cardinal's book dedication reads: 'For Benedict XVI, peerless architect of the rebuilding of the Church. For Francis, faithful and devoted son of St Ignatius. For the priests throughout the world in thanksgiving on the occasion of my golden jubilee of priesthood', which was 20th July.
In the Corriere interview, the cardinal was asked what the "truth" was about his relationship with Pope Francis.
"The truth is that many people write not to give witness to the truth, but to place people against one another, to damage human relationships," he said. "The truth doesn't matter to them.
"Those who place me in opposition to the Holy Father cannot present a single word of mine, a single phrase or a single attitude of mine to support their absurd – and I would say, diabolical – affirmations," Cardinal Sarah said. "The devil divides, sets people against each other."
Cardinal Sarah said it is normal for the Church to experience difficulties and divisions, but every Christian is called "to seek unity in Christ".
"I would add that every pope is right for his time," the cardinal said. "Providence looks after us very well, you know."
Picture: Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, leaves a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment is pictured at the Vatican in this 5th October 2018 file photo. (CNS photo/Paul Haring).
Tags: Cardinal Robert Sarah, Cardinal Sarah, Church, oppose, Pope, Pope Francis
Nick Benson
< Previous - Next >


text:
import { isArray } from '@ember/-internals/runtime';
import { Opaque } from '@glimmer/interfaces';

export default function toBool(predicate: Opaque): boolean {
  if (isArray(predicate)) {
    return (predicate as { length: number }).length !== 0;
  } else {
    return !!predicate;
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
iBible Translator
Divine Narrative
Join the iBible Revolution!
Elihu
Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at the research and artwork that goes into making each scene of iBIBLE. Let's take a look at Elihu.
Over the past few weeks, we have presented a behind-the-scenes look at the creation and animation of Job in iBIBLE. This week we will look at Elihu.
We do not know very much about Elihu, but we do know that he is younger than the others, and that he is the son of Barachel the Buzite of the family of Ram. We do not know when he arrived to speak to Job, or when he departed, and interestingly, there is no record of him being rebuked by God as Job's other three friends were.
Naturally, this brings about many questions: was Elihu a fourth friend of Job? Was he a type of Christ? Was he God's messenger? Or, was he someone else altogether? The best part of producing the Biblical narrative is that we don't necessarily have to answer these questions. We reserve these difficult questions and answers for pastors, teachers, and theologians. Our job in producing iBIBLE is to present the narrative: the events that happened as revealed in Scripture.
Finding Job to be relentless in his defense of himself, his three friends ceased to refute him. It is in their silence that Elihu finally speaks up. Elihu, frustrated at Job for his self-righteousness, and frustrated with the three friends for their inability to prove their case against Job, finally makes his case, claiming to speak with wisdom. Ascribing glory to God, and identifying himself as a creature unable to understand the mind of the God of the Universe, Elihu shows all of those in his hearing that sinful man cannot be proven righteous in relation to God.
He chastises Job like the other three, but while the three contended that Job had sinned before his suffering, and that his suffering was a consequence for his sin, Elihu finds Job in error after his suffering because he justified himself rather than God.
Look at the similarities of Elihu's words and those words that God would speak in following chapters.
Burning with anger:
ELIHU: "[Elihu] burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong." -Job 32:3 [ESV]
GOD: "The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has.'" -Job 42:7b
Speaking without knowledge:
ELIHU: 'Job speaks without knowledge; his words are without insight.' -Job 34:35
GOD: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" -Job 38:2
Putting God in the wrong:
ELIHU: Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way, or can say, 'You have done wrong'? For Job has said, 'I am in the right.' -Job 36:22-23, 34:5a
GOD: Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? -Job 40:8
Visions and stories within iBIBLE are set apart with a unique animation style. The images above are from when Elihu is speaking through a narrative to Job and his friends.
The four speeches of Elihu read like poetry. He exalts God and rebukes Job for justifying himself and believing God is in the wrong. Job had begged his three friends for even a shred of evidence against him to support their claims. Elihu effectively uses Job's own words to support his charges. And, while Job answers his three friends each time they bring charges against him, he never answers the words of Elihu:
"Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom." -Job 33:31-33
The Bible is filled with wisdom and salvation to all who heed its words. It tells an amazing story of the majesty of God, and the desperate need of man for a Savior. iBIBLE will bring forth each and every event in a dramatic audio and video presentation, from Genesis to the final Revelation, using Scripture to reveal God's Divine Narrative.
Thank you for your prayers and your support. A special thanks to all those who have signed on as an "iBIBLE Producer." Together we will bring iBIBLE to life!
As we continue to work on iBIBLE, we seek the Holy Spirit's guidance to help us bring all the truths in the Scriptures to their proper portrayal. Thank you for helping RevelationMedia bring iBIBLE to the world! This is a God-sized project, and it is only possible with the support of individuals and families like you.
A Closer Look At Hejazi Arabic
As members of the RevelationMedia family, you are instrumental in helping to bring the one story of Scripture to all tribes, tongues, and nations. You have seen iBIBLE spreading among the English-speaking community, and you have likely seen your kids or grandkids engaging with the Bible as Genesis episodes of iBIBLE have started being released.
Watch the Newest Chapter! Job (Part 1): Tribulation
Today, we want to thank you for all of your prayers, and your financial gifts that have made iBIBLE possible. Because of the faithful support of friends like you, we are able to continue our work in researching, scripting, drafting, designing, and producing new chapters of the first ever visual narrative presentation of the entire Bible: iBIBLE.
Abram Looks Out Over the Promised Land: Winner of the iBIBLE Colored Art Contest
Last week, we invited you to participate in a vote for the best iBIBLE colored image that our art and animation team created this past month. The winner of this vote will receive a prize. It is a fun way to celebrate the stunning artwork that our Costa Rica team has been creating, and to thank them for their hard work. It is our pleasure to announce the winner of last week's vote and to introduce you to the artists who created it. The winner, with 38% of the vote, is this beautiful image of Abram looking out over the Promised Land.
Become part of history with a monthly donation of $35 a month or more and receive free rewards and an insider first-look at the most significant Bible distribution project of our generation.
Become an iBIBLE PRODUCER at
$35 a month or more
Become an iBIBLE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER at
$100 a month or more
Become an iBIBLE FOUNDER with a contribution of
$1,000 a month or more
Monthly Donation Amount
YOUR REWARDS FOR JOINING TODAY:
Please select an option for each of the below:
The Pilgrim's Progress DVD 2 Standard DVDs 1 Standard DVD + 1 Blu-ray 2 Blu-rays
iBIBLE Producer T-shirt X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large
Note: Shirts run slightly small
Along with your Pilgrim's Progress DVDs and iBIBLE T-shirt, you will receive a Pilgrim's Progress hard cover illustrated storybook and two gift cards for our interactive, online version of the storybook.
Sign up for email updates and prayer requests.
iBible RevelationMedia
RevelationMedia
Make a one-time contribution
© 2022 RevelationMedia
Refund Policy • Cancellation Policy • Terms & Conditions • Privacy Policy • Powered by NCOL Internet


text:
Inside the conservative brain: Tea Partyers are afraid
To understand their worldview you have to know how they see themselves
By Lynn Stuart Parramore
Jim DeMint (AP/Alex Brandon)
This article originally appeared on Alternet.
As America is torn apart by extremists, maybe a deep dive into our individual and collective psychology is a good way to start figuring out what's happening to us.
The problem, as it turns out, may be the difference in the way people view individuals and collectives; whether you've got a "me" or a "we" focus; and how big those categories happen to be.
john a. powell (his name is spelled without capitals) leads the UC Berkeley Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society and is considered a leading thinker on race and ethnicity. He spoke Wednesday evening in Manhattan at the Union Theological Seminary as part of a joint series on Economics & Theology put on by UTS and the Institute of New Economic Thinking. INET's executive director Rob Johnson, along with UTS president Serene Jones and Rachel Godsil of the American Values Institute, joined powell in a lively panel focused on how issues of race and belonging inform what's happening in America today.
powell thinks a lot about meaning and being — what philosophers call ontology. He pays attention to the multiple levels at which humans exist and our struggle to make meaning of our lives, both as individuals and as groups. Along with Godsil, he studies how biases operate in our unconscious, with profound consequences for how we react to the world and each other.
The Tea Party is a fascinating case study for how these questions and ideas play out. Its members are bonded in anxiety and terror — a very powerful glue — over what America is becoming: something other than the "real America" they wish to belong to. Their America is white, Protestant and Anglo-Saxon (it's no accident that the right's leading think tank is called the Heritage Foundation).
powell notes that while Tea Party members will tolerate a bit of diversity — the occasional Catholic or Jew — they primarily wish to protect the distinctiveness of their chosen group in the past, present and future. For them, someone like Obama represents the ultimate threat to maintaining this distinctiveness, the thing that makes them feel special. With his black/Muslim/immigrant associations he becomes the "trifecta of Otherness" — an unholy trinity that must be resisted at all costs. The Tea Partyer perceives the president as the incarnation of a malevolent force that will take from them and give to Others. He is both the incarnation and the welcoming committee for the Stranger who doesn't belong in America.
As an illustration, powell looks at how Tea Partyers feel about Social Security, which is coming under vigorous attack just as default has been avoided. When asked individually, powell finds that the Tea Partyer likes the program a lot. But she only likes it for her own group — for people who have, in her view, "worked for it." She doesn't want the Others to have it because she doesn't want to be connected to "Them." "They" don't work the way she does. "They" don't care about America as she does. "They" don't belong in America. This divide between the small group and the larger community can be leveraged by politicians who wish to sway them.
Because the government wants to extend Social Security to the Other, the government itself becomes the Big Other — an alien entity. If only "They" could be excluded from this otherwise excellent deal — as blacks and many women were excluded from Roosevelt's original New Deal — then Social Security would have stronger support from the right.
powell is quick to point out that thinking this way doesn't make Tea Partyers evil. Tea Party men, in particular, are upset about white male wages that have stagnated since 1973, which is reason enough for complaint. But powell notes that from a material point of view, most Tea Partyers are doing just fine, so it must be something other than just economics that bothers them. They are reflecting a deep anxiety about a changing world that they fear will soon be dominated by a non-white, non-Christian country. They are probably right about that. They fear America will soon be dominated by brown people with unfamiliar religious views. They are probably right about that, too.
Anxieties and biases, of course, exist on both sides, and while a Tea Partyer might characterize a progressive as a godless, latte-swilling effete, a progressive might, in turn, dismiss the Tea Partyer as an ignorant, gun-toting religious fanatic. Both sides tend to "Other" each other. powell tries to find the grounds for collective experience, noting that while Tea Partyers get frustrated with their children for not being independent and disciplined enough, he, as a parent, often feels the same way. He is more interested in figuring out what progressives and Tea Partyers may share as experience than vilification.
So where does this all bring us? I'm not sure, and neither is powell, though he is surely onto something with this paradoxical what's-good-for-me-is-not-good-for-Them mentality that stands in the way of fair and equitable policies. Making those fearful of the Other more comfortable around those seen as a threat is a daunting task, but there have been some successes, such as the younger generation's increasing embrace of gays.
I would differ from Powell somewhat in his lack of emphasis on class issues as an increasingly significant dividing line between Americans. Powell states that class does not help us understand ontology, but given the growth of income inequality, I would counter that class distinctions are becoming more acute.
Overt categorization, or sorting, based on color or gender is in retreat in that we do not, for example, have laws any longer forcing blacks and whites to be segregated in schools. We still have plenty of implicit sorting going on in our education and legal systems: Stop-and-frisk would be an example where the law does not explicitly target blacks, but does so implicitly in practice. However, explicit categorization based on economic status is going full steam ahead. Step into an airport, think about applying for school, or try to obtain a credit card, and it will become immediately clear what your economic status is, no matter what other identity group you belong to. You're going to the end of the queue if you're not rich.
When I questioned powell on his dismissal of class as an ontological category, he did acknowledge that race and class are intertwined, which is surely true. But I think that some who have focused on identity politics need to reckon more fully with America's deep, and often unstated, class anxieties. Class as a category is complex: it's about money, but also its effects, like inclination, taste and locale. If progressives have a hard time talking about race, we are only just beginning to peer into the dark closet of class.
Whether we're talking about race, ethnicity, class or some other way humans have found to separate from each other, one thing is clear: Understanding unconscious biases — including our own — is critical if we want to change people's deepest beliefs.
MORE FROM Lynn Stuart Parramore
Alternet Conservatism Gop Psychology Republicans Tea Party


You need to ship car oversea but you don't know how? Your friends were talking about shipping their cars over seas and you had nothing to add about this? Here is a simple guide concerning overseas shipment.
Even if shipping cars over seas may seem to be very complicated, the process, in general, is very simple. The information is the power as they say, right? These are the main things you have to keep in mind f you need to ship a car from the USA to another country or continent.
Licenses can be different depending on which type of a company you will use. Do not hesitate to ask all participants of the shipping process. Often firms engage third parties which mean extra risks.
It won't be superfluous to make sure that a company as well as its third party (if it uses any) is totally insured and licensed.
Tip: Sometimes friends' previous experience can help you to avoid serious difficulties and save your times so use it. Contact people who ship car oversea before and ask for advice.
Now, when you pick us several good companies, is time to ask for quotes. If you have never done this before, you may have no idea how much it will cost so check rates first. Some websites list prices for the most popular routes. Please remember, that most websites will show you just an estimate – price for a small sedan, perfect route, no weather conditions and season are taken into the account. Remember that cost can change if prices for fuel raise dramatically or any other conditions which mean that you may not use online rates as a guaranteed price.
If you have time, check special forums to find out how much people pay for overseas shipment.
Once you have offers from selected firms look at them carefully, read between the lines, check their contracts and most importantly T&C.
– Shipping method. Will you use RoRo, sole 20 Ft container or shared 40 Ft container?
– Type of service. Whether you need a port to port delivery or you plan to use a full service.
– Fees at the destination. Every port has its fees no matter where you ship.
International transporters will offer you insurance. To use it or not is up to you, usually, it is between 1,5 to 2,5 % of the transportation value. There can be some unexpected moments during shipping cars over seas but to be fully informed will help you to avoid them!


Observe plein air painting at Pioneer Museum, 325 West Main Street, or bring your own easel and join in. Free with regular museum admission. Call (830) 997-2835 for more information.
Congressman Mike Conaway will discuss the ongoing health care debate with citizens in the area at a town hall meeting at Fredericksburg High School Auditorium on Highway 16 South, September 3 from 8 am to 9 am. Participants will be able to ask questions and participate in the discussion. "I want to encourage everyone in the Fredericksburg area who is interested in discussing the current health care legislation to come out to the town hall meeting," said Congressman Mike Conaway (TX-11). "It is essential that Congress take the time to get this right to ensure that the doctor/patient relationship is protected, quality is ensured, and our system becomes more cost efficient. I vehemently oppose any plan that puts Washington bureaucrats between patients and the health care that they need and deserve. I stand with the majority of the American people and demand that we propose real solutions to get our economy back on track and reform this wonderful nation's health care system." Fredericksburg police will be directing traffic and parking.
Photography 414 Gallery, 414 E. Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas, will host a juried photography exhibit. The gallery will be open for the exhibit Fridays and Saturdays from 1:00 - 5:00pm & Sundays 1:00 - 4:00pm. There will also be an artists' reception on Friday, August 7th from 4:00 - 8:00pm.
It is time for dancers to two-step over to the Pioneer Museum, 312 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg TX 78624, for the next Roots Music concert, featuring Classic Country and pure Western Swing on Saturday, August 29, in Fredericksburg TX.
Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys bring back the authentic sounds of traditional western swing. Nix's father was Hoyle Nix, who, with Bob Wills, created and defined western swing in the 1940s and 50s. Nix carries on that mix of pure, traditional western swing and true country music that keeps crowds on the dance floor. Nix surrounds himself with a topnotch band that puts on a high-energy stage show suitable for the entire family. Jody has recorded seven albums and has been inducted into the Western Swing Hall of Fame.
Amber Digby is becoming known for reinvigorating the sounds of classic country. Raised in Nashville, Digby sings music in the style of Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, and Lorrie Morgan. Her two albums have won fans worldwide, and in 2008 Digby was named "Pure Country Female Vocalist" by the Academy of Western Artists.
Guests at the Roots concert will enjoy another ample meal from the Longhorn Street Cafe starting at 5 p.m. Just $8 buys two entrees from sausage, brisket, chicken, pork ribs, or pulled pork, accompanied by two sides of pinto beans, potato salad, cole slaw, or green pea salad, topped with a dessert of peach cobbler. Beer, wine, and soft drinks are available. Guests can also take advantage of extended shopping hours in the new museum store.
The music begins at 6 p.m., with gates open at 5 p.m.
The Pioneer Museum is located at 325 West Main Street in Fredericksburg, with concert entrance on Milam Street. Admission is $12 ($10 with printout from web site - pioneermuseum.net). Students high school age and younger are free. Parking is free. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Roots Music is a series of live, open-air eclectic concerts on the grounds of the Pioneer Museum on Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas. Concerts feature both emerging and established artists in an informal, family setting. The 2009 series finishes on September 26 with Cajun/Zydeco music.
Net proceeds support the mission of the Gillespie County Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. For information call 830-997-2835.
Staff members from the Longhorn Street Cafe serve up hearty plates to hungry fans at the next Roots Music concert at the Pioneer Museum on August 29. Amber Digby and Jody Nix will perform country and western swing.
The LBJ State Park in Stonewall and the LBJ National Historical Park in Johnson City will commemorate President Johnson's 101st birthday. There will be a wreath laying ceremony, and an old fashioned birthday party at the Sauer Beckman Farm. There will be an official ribbon cutting for the public opening of the living room, dining room and kitchen in the Texas White House. $1 for tour of the Texas White House. Visitors can also take a tour of the Ranch. This event is free and open to the public. Please call 830/868-7128 x231 more information.
The City of Luckenbach wants area guitar players to help break the current Guinness World Record for the largest guitar ensemble--currently held by the Germans with 1803players. On August 23 at 2:00 p.m., with proceeds going to the Voices of a Grateful Nation Project which supports our military veterans, you can join other guitar players in Luckenbach for this Pickin' for the Record challenge to help break that record by participating in one music jam session: Go Texans! This event is sponsored by Voices of a Grateful Nation, Kerrville Folk Festival, Luckenbach and Cheatham Street Warehouse. Register the day of the event. There is a registration fee of $10 per player (6 or 12 string guitars only). The $10 will help cover the cost of the commemorative dog tags and special event t-shirts with your player number. You can also register at www.voicesofagratefulnation.org.
That ringing in your ears after the fair parade is the dinner bell for the 1st Annual 4-H Pork BBQ Lunch on Marktplatz from 11 am to 1 pm. Sit down or take it with you, either way, the money raised goes toward scholarships and activities for 4-H clubs in Gillespie County. Cost is $8.
Seed art, scherenschnitte and cookie decorating will be offered. Enjoy a lecture and book signing by Mae Durden Nelson from 1:00 - 4:00pm. These events are free with regular admission of $5 per person, and children 12 and under free. Pioneer Museum is at 325 E. Main Street.
The wine world will have its eyes turned to Becker Vineyards when San Antonio's New World Wine & Food Festival (NWWFF) heads to Stonewall for the annual Rambling Rosé, with blind wine tastings at noon, 2:00pm and 4:00 of five rosé wines. Light hors d'oeuvres will be served. Cost to attend this event is $20 for advance tickets or $25 at the door. It promises to be a very sophisticated event for wine connoisseurs.
Texas Tech Alumni Hill Country Chapter and North Park Lexus will sponsor the Sixth Annual Red Black Golf Classic at Lady Bird Johnson Park & Golf Course, on Highway 16 South. The event includes the tournament, lunch, and after play social. Scramble format is four person teams - all teams and individuals are welcome. Opening ceremonies and shotgun tee/off start begin at 12:30pm and check-in and lunch are at 11:30am. Although this tournament is fun for the players, the real winners are the deserving Hill Country students who receive scholarships from the Hill Country Alumni Association. Also appearing will be the Texas Tech Mask Rider and horse. Please call Sam & Patti Sagebiel at 830/669-2237 or Lynn Hecht at 830/896-1547 for more information on registration.
Enjoy works from Fredericksburg Art Guild members. Artists' demonstrations will take place on Saturday afternoons. Please call 830/990-6914 or 830/997-4949 for more information.
Texas Tech University's legendary Masked Rider and horse will be visiting the new construction site of Hill Country University Center on Highway 290 East for campus tours and photo ops Saturday at 9 am. Bring your cameras and get your picture taken with this Tech icon. Guns Up, Go Tech!
Join the Fredericksburg Archery Club for their final monthly shoot of the year. Registration is from 8 am, with a California start from 8 - 10 am. Screw in fill points only. No Open classes. All other classes and rules remain the same. BBQ and Raffle to follow. Adults and Youth $20, Cubs $10, Mini-Cubs $7. Guests welcome! $7 per plate. Call 830-997-2835 for information and directions.
Fredericksburg Culinary Arts Presents "The Art of French Cooking"
A salute to Julia Child and the art of French cooking presented by Fbg Culinary Arts at Fischer & Weiser's Das Peach Haus, 1406 Highway 87 South, Saturday August 15, from 3-5 pm. Cost is $49 per person. Please call 512/905-7737 to make a reservation.
The eight-time Grammy award winning band Asleep at the Wheel will play in the world famous Luckenbach Dancehall Saturday August 8 at 8 p.m. Cost is $22 per person in advance or $25 at the door.
Artisans at Rocky Hill, 234 West Main Street, celebrates First Friday Art Walk Fredericksburg with a trunk show featuring Austin jewelry designer, Cynthia Bloom. Cynthia's creations include hand-blown glass buttons from the Czech Republic along with vintage pieces made in the 1910s and 1920s. The trunk show will open at 12:00 with Cynthia available until 8:00pm to visit with gallery guests about her stunningly beautiful original designs. Wines from Becker Vineyards and cheeses from the Amish Market will be served.
Charles Beckendorf Gallery, 105 North Adams, has announced for the first time in 14 years the release of a few small originals, by Charles, for sale. Call (830) 997-5955 for more information.


text:
Q: How do I detect a modification before the user closes the window I am currently developing a C# Windows Form Application.
I have a window with a table where you can edit some data and I would like to check if the user did something before to close the window. If he modified the data, we prompt a messagebox to ask him if he wants to save before closing the window. If he modified nothing or if he clicked on save button before we just close the window without any message.
As I start on C# I do not know if there is something to realize this. Maybe a kind of listener which detect any modifications and return a bool.
My save function returns a list with the data which have been modified, so I thought about call it and check if the list is empty or not. But It's maybe "heavy" to call the save function several times just to check is something changed.

A: Depends on what controls you have on the UI and how much flexible/dirty solution you need. One way is to capture change events (Text change, Cell Value change etc.) of different controls and keep a boolean flag to say something changed.

A: You may use Form.Closing event and to check in this event if you have any changes in your table. If so you can inform the user accordingly and proceed as per your application logic.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


spirit, worldliness, etc. She also discovers good things in most of them, and soon gives her heart to God. Will Mayah ever be able to wade through her confusion of not finding a 'perfect' church and find a church that she can call her home church? Which will she choose?
Ebook: available at: Amazon.com (Kindle); BarnesandNoble.com (Nook); Sony Reader , Kobo, Baker & Taylor, ibookstore and others.
Know the personality type you are encountering, dating, or married to according to some of the characteristics of atypical Biblical women. The personality traits of 12 women are outlined in this book in accordance to the Word of God. Many will be amazed as they find their personality type in those listed. This book outlines both the positive and negative attributes of these women. As you read, you will uncover and/or affirm some things about not only those whom you associate with, but rather, things also about yourself.
Ebook available at: Amazon.com (Kindle); BarnesandNoble.com (Nook); Sony Reader, Kobo, Baker & Taylor, Ibookstore and others.
Know the personality type you are attracted to, dating, married to, or ncountering according to some of the characteristics of atypical Biblical men. Traits are non-gender specific; however, when you know the personality types and their common traits, as outlined in the Word, you will know how to relate to the individual. You will know exactly who you are dealing with and how to deal with them.
Throughout the Old Testament, God advised the Israelites how they had repeatedly played the harlot (whore). This booklet gives us all insight as to how we also have played the whore at different stages of our Christian walk.
God has summoned you. What is the purpose of the summoning? Do you know the location or the specific time that He wants to meet with you? Why does it have to be that place? Why can't it be somewhere else? What are the consequences if you choose not to meet with Him at that particular time or place? Is this a daily meeting or a one-time event? Does He have to manifest His presence in a manner that makes you uncomfortable? Why can't He manifest His presence some other way? Perhaps, while reading this booklet, you will discover the answers to many of the above questions.
Are you that "true" worshipper, the one whom the Father seeks? Or are you the one who gets frustrated and/or easily bored; the one who regards worship as a waste of energy and time? Explore some of the major differences between worshippers and non-worshippers. You might be surprised by which category you fall into.
deliverances, healings, and other miracles; so why do you need to be filled again? What you're working with seems to be working just fine. So why do you need to be filled again? Filled with what? These questions and many more are addressed in this writing. Did God really intend for this to be only a one-time filling?
Weed through some of the erroneous teaching and comments that have been spoken in your ears, as well as over your life, by the devil and others as it pertains to YOUR ASSIGNMENT. Learn how the only limitation you have is the self-imposed one; that is – the one in which YOU view YOUR ASSIGNMENT as something that YOU can't attain.
There are primarily four types of people in our lives: Dream Builders, Dream Killers, Dream Stealers, and Haters. Understand and learn their functionality, their purpose, and the roles they play in your life as you read this booklet.
Addressing our assignments and the excuses or reasons we use as to why we can't complete our God-given tasks. There are 7 power women ministering in this CD tape series.
"trick-or-treaters" –let's educate them (as well as their parents) to what Halloween is really about. Instead of turning them away, let's give them the truth! You receive 25 cards as well as 25 miniature Ziploc bags to place the card and candy in. This is a very clever means of getting this truth out to the nation.
On the rear side of each card, there is a website where they can obtain details of the "un-hollowed" night that they are celebrating, along with a sealable bag where you can place the card along with a piece of candy in you so desire. Let's give them something to think about.
Share an Expression of Love. This card is not seasonal, it promotes Love all year long. It may be shared with anyone and at anytime. A personal classic card speaks volume and character.


We recently got an opportunity to design the new billboard for Vivaldi Salon Suites Parkwest location in Peoria, Arizona at the Parkwest shopping plaza.
Our founder @RyanMcKayDesign designed a bright and colorful advertisement that sits on the side of the 101 freeway on Parkwest's building, advertising to shoppers and commuters in the area.
Thanks to the Vivaldi Family for the opportunity as always, we've been working with their luxury salon suites for 12 years running!


At long last, we have closure.
Kylie Jenner finally put the world out of their misery last night after announcing that not only had she been pregnant, but she has already given birth to a baby girl.
Taking to Instagram to announce the news, Kylie wrote "I understand you're used to me bringing you along on all my journeys. My pregnancy was one I chose not to do in front of the world.... I knew my baby would feel every stress and every emotion so I chose to do it this way for my little life and our happiness."
She then announced the birth of her little girl, saying "I've never felt love and happiness like this I could burst!"
She also shared an emotional video with fans, taking them through her entire pregnancy journey.
From the moment she found out she was expecting, to scans and baby showers, we get to hear about it all.


text:
What young leaders are taking away from the High-Level Political Forum
Photo: Young leaders Liteboho, Roslinda and Nomurandi meet with the UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General Najat Maalla Mjid on violence against children during their time in New York
Governments are still allowing violence against children
By Tamara Tutnjevic Gorman, Policy Manager - Ending Violence Against Children Governments are still allowing violence against children. But here are 7 ways they can prevent it. The world has never been safer than today, yet 1.7 billion children, 89% of those alive today, experience some form of violence. Clearly, we are failing our children.
5 ways effective partnering can boost campaigns
If I could be reborn, I would choose again to be a woman
Death of the Guatemalan girl Jackeline Caal - World Vision Statement
The life of a child is the most precious treasure of every nation. World Vision deeply regrets and expresses its sympathy to the family of Jakeline Caal, a 7-year-old child from Guatemala, who died in New Mexico. As a humanitarian and Christian organization, World Vision requests the authorities to investigate the circumstances in which this death occurred, and advocates for the joint search for solutions to prevent more children from facing the dangerous conditions and risks of migration from countries that suffer violence and poverty.
Declaración de Visión Mundial - Muerte de la guatemalteca Jackeline Caal
Ending Violence Against Children: The importance of getting involved
Violence Against Children: We still have work to do, but every small step counts
By Suelv, aged 14, Young Leader from Albania Hello, my name is Suelv, I am 14 years old from Albania. I live in the coastal city called Vlora. I want to talk about ending violence against children especially physical, psychological and verbal violence. I would like to emphasize the importance of child participation in making a change in children's lives and especially in empowering girls. Ending violence against children
Together we can end bullying
World Vision responds to emergency in Mocoa, Colombia
Philippines more resilient 3 years after Typhoon Haiyan
Tacloban City, Philippines -- World Vision joins the people of Leyte and the rest of the country in commemorating the third year after typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) hit the central Philippines on November 8, 2013. After 1,095 days, rehabilitation work in Haiyan-affected areas remains community-centered recognizing the people's local capacities and the strong partnerships among NGO's, community partners, government and donors.
World Vision distributes relief items to Haima-stricken communities
I suggest that authorities help us to live in harmony and in safer environments
Tania is painting the image of what a "City of Dreams" would look like
By Julia Carrión, World Vision EcuadorOn a large canvas, Tania Hidalgo is painting the image of what a "City of Dreams" would look like. Together with other youth representatives who are now her friends and who come from all the distinct countries in Latin America, she expresses her proposals to the Habitat III Conference in Ecuador.Tania lives in Baja California right on the US border. While she continues painting, she states some of his ideas...
Emily is building the "City of Her Dreams"
Disaster Risk Reduction - Planning ahead to save lives
New-found confidence
Born with malformation in her legs and arms and bypassed by other villagers, Tham was recluse in her community. She chose to live a quiet life with her adopted child Thuong, who is now eight-years-old. Without capital, land and literacy, her full-time job was peeling lotus seeds, which only earned her roughly 6,000 dong ( about 3 cents) a day. Today, the single mother is expecting her cow and pig to bear some offspring. "It all started with the cow," says Tham.
Literacy is a foundation of learning and builds sustainable development
Aranayake, three months on – World Vision support continues
The healthiest meal in South Malaita
Meet Rose Mary Hou, the winner of World Vision's cooking competition at the 2016 South Malaita Yam Festival. Rose walked away with a single-burner stove after she bested 12 other competitors. The challenge was to cook a balanced meal, using locally found ingredients, without the use of any processed items. World Vision's Maternal Child Health and Nutrition project organized the competition to raise awareness around healthy meals for children and families.
Getting in the game – Meet 6 girls excelling in sports
August 9th 2016
The power of breastfeeding supporters – Exchange in policy implementation in China and Hong Kong
Reaching the 'hardest-to-reach' children
Six months after her parents were murdered by sadistic rebels, 16-year-old Gloria tells the story as unemotionally as she can – but still ends in tears. She had been sent to fetch water while her family worked on their palm oil plantation in verdant, tropical Erengeti, in the "Grand Nord" of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). On her way back, she saw "men raiding". Creeping up, she had a clear view of the confrontation between a crowd of armed men and her mother and father.
August 3rd 2016
Op-Ed: Balancing work and family life - Mothers need to have more flexibility
A beautiful dream, a bitter past
Storms, floods, and drought - El Niño rattles Asia
Since early 2015, an uptick in dry spells and prolonged droughts, as well as increased frequency and intensity of floods/cyclone have hit parts of the Asia-Pacific. The UN estimates almost 350 million people in Mongolia, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea live in areas that are, or will be, affected by El Niño.


Furniture is the soul of any place, be it home, office, workshop, hotel, shopping mall, beauty spa, and so on. The size, type, design, and colors of the furniture items say a lot about the owner.
Being rational, people compare various available options on several basis, and select the one which suits their needs the most. The material is one of those elements regarding furniture which require serious pondering. Compared to plastic and glass, wood is preferred widely for home and office décor due to its aesthetic appeal.
But, here again comes the question of choice, between plywood and solid wood. So, how are they different? Knowing about the process by which they are made would clear half the doubts.
Solid wood is obtained from various kinds of trees and used in its natural form. Following the process of felling, the timber logs are sawed into blocks of different sizes at the saw mill. These blocks are then used to make furniture. Teak wood, Oak wood, Maple, Mahogany, Cherry, and Indian Rosewood (Sheesham) are the known varieties of solid woods in India.
On the other hand, plywood is an engineered wood, i.e. not used in its raw natural form. The logs are rotated and peeled into thin layers known as veneers. These thin plies or veneers are then glued together by placing one sheet over another. Gurjan wood is widely used for manufacturing plywood.
Strength: Being homogenous, solid wood is stronger than plywood. But, again, it depends on the variety of wood, for example, hardwoods such as teak wood and sheesham are denser and heavier than softwoods such as mango wood or pine wood.
Plywood's strength is dependent on the quality of the original wood and the type and strength of the glue or adhesive used. It is categorized into different grades, which denote its strength. Boiling water resistant plywood i.e. BWR grade is better than Moisture resistant i.e. MR grade, whereas, Marine grade plywood is better than both of these.
Durability: It is closely related with strength and hence depends on the same aspect, i.e. variety and quality of original wood used. Talking about solid wood, teak wood and sheesham are bound to last longer than softwoods. And talking about plywood, Marine grade would certainly have a longer life than MR and BWR grades.
While solid wood naturally prevents growth of termites, plywood is made termite-resistant with the help of chemicals.
Needless to mention, the way you use and maintain your furniture items, largely impacts their durability.
Look: No one can deny that the trunks of dense trees are indeed beautiful, and therefore, solid wood gets the brownie points here. One fine example is teak wood which charms everyone with its straight grain pattern and golden brown colour.
Plywood on the other hand has a plain look, and is therefore decorated by staining and painting. Sometimes, solid wood veneer (Ex. Teak wood) or laminate sheet (Ex. Sunmica, Formica, etc.) is glued on the top layer of plywood to enhance its visual appeal.
Maintenance: It is advisable to keep water away from both solid wood and plywood, and hence only dry cloth, should be used for cleaning purposes. However, for removing stains, damp cloth can be used.
Furniture made with solid wood should be sanded and re-polished once every 2-3 years to revive the lost colour and shine. Plywood is free from such hassles and can be easily maintained. Laminated plywood is scratch and moisture resistant and looks like new even after several years of use.
While going for laminated plywood, choose the laminate which is adequately thick as thin laminates can get damaged. Replacing the damaged surface can be a difficult and costly issue.
Use: Solid wood is ideal for making bookshelves, wardrobes, doors, windows, storage containers, etc. as plywood cannot serve the purpose here due to its tendency to bend in the middle, which can compromise the strength and durability of the furniture items. It is also used for flooring, decking and roofing solutions in residential, commercial and industrial applications.
For making single and double beds, divans, settees, etc., plywood works best. Flexible plywood is a variety of plywood, which stands perfect for items with curved surfaces, for example, skateboard ramps.
When it comes to dining and study tables, chairs, cabinets, etc., any one of the two can be used. But, in case of cabinets, solid wood veneered or laminated plywood needs to be used.
In various instances, a combination of the two seems perfect to get the desired outcome in terms of stability and appearance. For example, desks and shelves made with plywood have edges made of solid wood.
Price: On account of ecological reasons, there has been a sharp decline in the supply of wood from the forests. To worsen the situation, the number of trees has also been decreasing on a daily basis due to urbanization.
Thus, solid wood is definitely more expensive than plywood; low supply and high prices of the former has led to increase in the popularity of the latter.
Along with these points, effects of heavy use and environment need also to be borne in mind while taking the decision. Plywood veneers can get separated due to rough use and humid atmosphere. Solid wood can also shrink, crack, or even split due to the same reasons, if there have been mistakes in the carving process.
Solid wood furniture is available readymade and can also be built at the site of the consumer (for ex. construction projects) to achieve economies of scale. Due to the inherent characteristics of the solid wood, intricate pieces of furniture can be made from it. Plywood is preferred by many as it is available in standard sizes and thickness. People buy plywood and get the furniture custom-designed with the help of craftsmen.
Apart from furniture, both the wood types are used in other industries as well. For example, marine grade plywood is specially manufactured for building boats, ships and other marine applications.
In various eras of the past, the royal families have got the astonishing furniture items and show pieces built for their palaces using solid wood. We can witness this in palaces, museums and old buildings. But, the manufactured wood products such as plywood, MDF and particle boards have created a distinct place for themselves in the market today.
Nishant Gupta is founder of Simply Interiors with more than 5 years of experience in FMCG (CPG and Retail domain). He is adept at operations along with marketing and finance. We at Simply Interiors are Leading interior designers in Hyderabad and one of our areas of Specialization is Room Painting Ideas for your Home. Come meet the experts for your next project.
Best Custom Hoodies To Purchase With Attractive Designs And Quality.


Thank you for your overwhelming support for the summer cruise event planned for July 23rd. The event is now ALMOST SOLD OUT. The registrations received are now at almost maximum bus capacity.
Due to the imminent postal strike payment from registrants may not reach us, therefore we cannot confirm their attendance. For this reason we are initiating a WAITING LIST We encourage you to add your name to this waiting list . You can reach us at ecct2@rogers.com.


text:
The Grip of the Yukon is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Ernst Laemmle, the nephew of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle. The film starred Francis X. Bushman and Neil Hamilton, and is based on a story by William MacLeod Raine, "The Yukon Trail, A Tale of the North".

Plot
An old-time Alaskan miner dies and leaves his fortune and holdings to his daughter in the states. She comes north and is befriended by two old friends of her father. And she needs all the befriending they can provide as a true-blue villain has designs on her holdings and attributes.

Cast
 Francis X. Bushman - Colby MacDonald
 Neil Hamilton - Jack Elliott
 June Marlowe - Sheila O'Neil
 Otis Harlan - Farrell O'Neil
 Burr McIntosh - Chardon, hotelkeeper
 James Farley - Sheriff

Preservation status
The Grip of the Yukon is now presumed lost. However, a 16mm print of the film may exist.

References

External links

1928 films
1928 Western (genre) films
1920s adventure drama films
American adventure drama films
American black-and-white films
Films based on short fiction
Films set in Yukon
Lost Western (genre) films
Universal Pictures films
Films directed by Ernst Laemmle
Lost American films
1928 lost films
1928 drama films
Silent American Western (genre) films
1920s American films
Silent adventure drama films
Silent American drama films
1920s English-language films


text:
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School Choir
Music For Youth Proms 2015: Monday
79. St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School Choir
St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School Choir perform at the Royal Albert Hall. Photo: Joe Okpako
See the full gallery: Music For Youth Proms 2015: Monday


text:
/**
 * The implementation for processing pending acks in transactions.
 */
package org.apache.pulsar.broker.transaction.pendingack.impl;


text:
Transparency Versus Hypocrisy
News / By Michel Fortin
I've talked a lot about it on this blog of late, being breast cancer awareness month and all, and given my wife's current battle. But this time, the kind of cancer I'm referring to is different. And it's shaking up the blogosphere at its foundations.
I'm all for the small guy making it big. But when the competition, a "big guy" (owned by a Fortune 500 company) starts calling you a cancer on his personal blog, you know that something has certainly gone amok.
It's pretty controversial, too. Large players in the blogosphere have their knickers in a twist about this — and I couldn't resist talking about it, and sharing my views.
Let's enter the playground, kiddies. Shall we?
Jason Calacanis, the creator and now former owner of Weblogs, Inc., who was once touted as earning over a million dollars in Google AdSense in a year with his blogs, and who has recently sold his mega-successful blog network to Netscape (AOL/Time Warner), has created quite a stir lately by calling a small-time competitor…
… A cancer.
Suffice it to say that Calacanis won his record AdSense earnings with the help of over 100 bloggers on his payroll, paid to maintain blogs and post content. (This is important, and you'll soon realize why.)
And also keep in mind that this whole kerfuffle started when the news broke that this "smalltime" competitor had just received $3 million in vencap funding.
OK, the story is this.
PayPerPost.com, run by geeks Ted Murphy and Peter Wright, is in my estimation a fabulous service.
Like eLance.com for example, you create an account, place a requisition to their "network" for people to review your blog and post about it on their own, with a link back to your site in exchange for a small fee.
We're talking a few bucks here.
$2. $3. Maybe $5.
All in all, nothing to sneeze at.
But these are real bloggers running real, legitimate blogs. Not junk sites or link farms or splogs (i.e., spam blogs). And most of them are not even sites monetized with pay-per-click ads.
We've tested this, and the results were fantastic.
We asked people to review our blog (or the blog's topic like, say, breast cancer), post about it on theirs, and link back to our blog. That's about it.
Some posts were positive. Others were not. A few were neutral. But the posts and linkbacks we received — links from posts by very talented writers whose blogs are filled with great, original content — created some pretty impressive traffic. Nothing earth-shattering, but great results for just a few bucks, nonetheless.
Not only that, but some of the content blew us away. It was fresh, it was incisive and a lot of it was in-depth; going beyond the requisition's mandate where their posts pointed out things that indicated they've taken the time to read our blog.
These are real bloggers writing real content. Look at it this way: it's no different than hiring ghostwriters. The benefit, from the pay-per-poster's perspective, is that they get paid to do something they love to do. And it gives them something to blog about, too.
From the advertiser's perspective, you get linkbacks to your site. Legitimate links — not from splogging or ad-filled junk sites with low PR ratings, but from genuine, content-rich sites. We were astounded at how innovative, fresh and incredibly informative some of these sites were, too.
Bottom line? PayPerPost generated traffic for us and link popularity. The sites that are linking to us also have respectable rankings themselves. Not only are many of them bloggers who blog in addition to the occasional paid post, but they also have subscribers and followers.
And they have written posts for us with commentary of all colors — not hype-filled fluff only meant to advertise. Some were opinion-based reviews that were both good and bad, and others were simple notifications that our blog exists and may be of interest to their readers.
OK, now here comes the rub.
Like any other network out there (like eLance.com, PayPal.com or eBay.com), there is a potential for abuse. Posters are not required to disclose that they are being paid for their "posts" (i.e., their links). And some advertisers will only accept positive ones, which may be misleading to a degree.
But it's up to them. And it's up to the poster to accept the job. And it's also clearly disclosed on PayPerPost.com, too.
In my mind, this is no different than ghostwriting, hiring someone to write articles for you, or hiring a service or buying a software to submit your articles to directories and article sites.
In other words, it's no different than, say, paying a prospective client's lunch in an attempt to woo their patronage.
Calacanis was a respectable dude. And the keyword here is "was." I used to love his blog. But now I'm questioning his motives and tactics.
I used to love his sometimes harsh opinions and controversial stances. It's Jason, after all, the millionaire network owner himself who paid over 100 bloggers to provide AdSense-donned content on his blogs.
But to resort to name-calling and bullying tactics in what seems to be a disingenuous way to drum up traffic to his sites — who needless to say sport affiliate ads and links, too — and hiding it under the smoke-and-mirrors' guise of "ethics" and "deceptive advertising" is highly hypocritical, if you ask me.
The moral issue, according to Calacanis, is that PayPerPost lacks transparency. Such as those dogged laws that force newspapers to place "this is an advertisement" near an paid-for advertorial in their publication, or "Ads by Google" links next to AdWords' ads, he wants PayPerPost to force posters to disclose they are being paid for their content.
I agree that the lack of transparency, which in itself is not immoral, can open the door to allow some people who are up to no good, and who can find ways around it to mislead, to abuse the system.
And I agree that some websites out there are blackhat bitbuckets, which thrive on junk content and give the blogosphere a bad name. So "transparency," as Calacanis points out, is indeed an important issue that cannot be ignored.
Fine, again.
But to stir up controversy by lambasting a competitor and hiding it behind a thinly veiled side-issue of attempting to "protect the legitimacy of the blogosphere" is no different than both:
The anti-spamming, anti-marketing, socialistic Nazis who think that a mere link to a business site in an email is considered spam;
As well as, on the other end of the spectrum, the fraudulent scamsters and spammers who hide behind the anonimity of the web to push their wares.
(Er, something smells rotten in Blogoland.)
Let's also not forget that this is the same Jason Calacanis who, in a recent interview on JenSense, said the following about his million-dollar AdSense paycheck:
"JenSense: What single change do you think made the biggest leap in your AdSense income? Calacanis: 1. Taking off the borders around the advertisement, and 2. making the links the same color as the links on the blog.
(That's pretty transparent, doncha think?)
And then, to take potshots and call a competitor like PayPerPost a "cancer?" A legitimate, successful service who's business model is solid enough to command significant attention and funding?
Gimme a break.
Talk about the issue at hand. Sure.
Bring substance to the table. No problem.
Voice an opinion and back it up with concrete, logical and commonsensical points that, while arguable, are significant enough to bring to the blogosphere's attention (and let them make a decision thereafter). Fine.
But don't resort to bullying, smallguy-bashing, name-calling and fear-mongering only to prop yourself up, or your traffic, or your own revenue, that only demonstrate the mere hypocrisy behind your childish attempts.
If you want in on what's going on, you can read the latest post (one of a dreadful many, I fear) on Calcanis' own blog.
You will find that most of the comments on Jason's blog were in favor of his "righteous" stance. Pity. But some of them were on PayPerPost's side. In fact, one of the most insightful comments came from Dave Taylor, who said (edited for brevity):
"(…) PayPerPost is no different to many other online traffic monetizing venues, and it's hard for me to understand how it's different from, say, the thousands of bloggers who have their writing influenced by the desire to attract valuable contextual advertising (think Google AdSense).
"The big difference with PPP is that Peter and his team are being *honest* and *straightforward* about their structure, rather than hiding it behind some sort of curtain or parading it about as some sort of moral or ethical issue.
"(…) All PPP's doing is creating a marketplace, just as eBay creates a marketplace but shouldn't logically be held accountable for auctions that are really just advertisements for online stores, say."
Couldn't have said it better myself. But this whole situation got me irked enough that I felt compelled to say something, too.
On PayPerPost's Peter Wright's blog, where a back-and-forth tirade was going on in the comments section with Calacanis himself, Jason responds with this gem:
"I just looked at the sad, sad advertisers using PayPerPost. We don't sell ads to losers like this. We sell ads to the top 100 advertisers on the Internet."
So Calacanis is saying that PayPerPost's sole purpose is to allow bloggers to "whore" themselves for a buck. (Yes, he did say that in another post.) But hey, only accepting "large advertisers who have the big bucks to advertise and brand clout behind them" doesn't make you a whore, right?
By Calacanis' standards, it doesn't make you a whore. It makes you a high-class escort.
Or a pimp.
Anyway, this is where I felt an itch and the need to add this tidbit:
"Jason, since you are promoting products on the sidebar via affiliate links, meaning you do get kickbacks from people to buy the stuff, are you transparent enough to tell people you are getting paid if they buy? Maybe you should put, like Google Ads, a link that says "Affiliate Links" near your ads. If you want everyone else to be transparent, then you shouldn't cast the first stone.
"Since large advertisers will only advertise on sites large enough and with enough traffic to justify the investment, many of them still do it covertly. And sometimes, they are not paid in actual dollars."
Ultimately, is it really about transparency? No. It smells more like snobbery, bullyragging, and hypocrisy to me.
PayPerPost is a fabulous service that can help put any unknown blog on the Internet's map. Even if the posts are bad or neutral, they are still linking to your site. And link popularity is what drives search engine rankings, doesn't it?
That said, sure there are opportunities for misuse and abuse. But the onus is on the blogger accepting the fee to make the post, not the service itself. Just like it is on a spammer trying to phish for your PayPal account, and not on PayPal itself.
Speaking of illegal or immoral, this is not like Napster and the whole file-sharing debacle, which is a service that, while it has some legitimate uses, is mostly used for contemptible ends. PayPerPost.com is a legitimate service that has the potential of being misused.
(And in this case, "misused" is defined as used for "misleading" or "deceptive" purposes. Not outright illegal or criminal ones, like spam or scams.)
Speaking of spam, email purists might contend that spam has tainted emaildom. But has it stopped? No. It in fact created more opportunity and legitimacy for email, and even forced "good emailers" to find newer, more effective ways to get their message accross. Such as writing better copy.
(D'uh, who would have thunk?)
Like email, blogging is just another publishing platform anyway. Legitimate services like PayPerPost doesn't give it a bad name. It's people like Calacanis who try to bully its smaller-sized competitors, and drag them out from the pubs and into the streets for some good ol' fashion fisticuffs, just to attract attention to itself.
Beer and popcorn, anyone?
Michel Fortin is a certified digital marketing expert and renowned copywriter who specializes in a unique combination of SEO, CRO, and UX to improve traffic, leads, and revenue for his clients. For the better part of 30 years, he's produced countless wins, generating in excess of $300 million in sales and results that have broken many industry records. He has worked with thousands of businesses ranging from individual entrepreneurs to enterprise-level multinational companies. He's the author of two top-selling books and often speaks at industry events. To connect with him, visit his LinkedIn profile where he is most active.
michelfortin.com
"Do What You Love" Explained
How to Target Your Perfect Customer
Take Your Reader For a Drive
The Power of Positive Pressure
How I Write Copy in Seven Steps
Archives Select Month June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 December 2013 November 2013 June 2013 March 2013 November 2012 May 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2010 May 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 January 2008 December 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 October 2005 September 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 January 2005 December 2004 October 2004 September 2004
With over 30 years of experience in digital marketing, copywriting, and SEO consulting, I help businesses grow their exposure and revenue through marketing strategies and lead generation. Some services include:
✓ SEO, technical SEO, CRO, and UX
✓ Site architecture and journey mapping
✓ Web auditing, planning, and strategy
✓ Content marketing and copywriting
✓ Online tools, analytics, and insights
Let's connect and see if there's a fit.
342 Jasper Crescent
Canada K4K 0C9
Copyright © 2020 Michel Fortin
Michel Fortin | SEO Specialist | Marketing Consultant | CRO Expert