A learning management system (LMS) can help with onboarding, training, continuing education and more. To find the LMS that fits their needs, companies must consider several different factors – and that's where our buyer's guide comes in.
Our buyer's guide will explain what a learning management system is, its benefits, challenges and features, and what to look for when making a purchase.
Saving time and money – Training employees takes a lot of time, from having to prepare course materials to assessing their training performance. Many learning management systems take care of all that, so the training cycle is shortened. Employers who don't want to build their own content can take advantage of an LMS course catalog, saving the expense of hiring an instructor. And finally, since LMS solutions are mostly online, they eliminate the time and expense of traveling to a classroom.
Improving employee onboarding and retention – The purpose of an onboarding process is to help new hires get acclimated to the company culture and the responsibilities of their role. With an LMS, employers can provide educational materials on company policies and procedures. LMS solutions can also help improve employee retention by providing training that enhances employees' current roles or gives them new skills if they want to move up higher in the company.
Better-organized courses and content – Prior to learning management systems, administrators kept course materials either as hard copies or on a local drive. With a learning management system, materials are more accessible from one location, especially if the solution is in the cloud.
Ensuring employees stay updated with legal compliance – Industries that require certifications or continuing education credits or have regulatory compliance standards can benefit from an LMS. Most systems have reporting and tracking features to guide administrators on which employees need additional credits or to renew their certifications.
Learning management systems include three main features: training administration, course development and performance tracking.
Training administration – Training administration allows administrators to put together training schedules, distribute training content and communicate with enrolled employees. Using this function, administrators can set prerequisites for specific training and allow employees to self-enroll into specific courses.
Course development – With an LMS, administrators can design specific training programs, either using the course content included with the software or creating their own from scratch. Course materials can be created with an authoring tool such as Lectora, Captivate or Articulate. Administrators are able to upload different types of content, including videos, PDFs, infographics, animations and PowerPoint presentations.
Performance tracking – Most learning management systems include reporting and performance-tracking functionality. This helps employers determine if the training program is a success, and if employees are doing well or need further help. One main feature within the performance-tracking function is certification or continuing education credits – which are especially important for industries that are regulated or require continuing education (e.g., safety, social work, health care).
Asynchronous learning – Asynchronous learning is a method of having students access learning materials at different times and locations, such as with online learning. The main benefit of asynchronous learning is employees can access the material at their own convenience. However, there's a risk of employees not being proactive with their learning.
Synchronous learning – Opposite of asynchronous learning, synchronous learning requires students to access the learning materials together at set times. Synchronous learning could either take place online or in a classroom setting. A benefit of synchronous learning is fostering collaboration when employees get together to discuss course content. However, synchronous learning could be inconvenient for employees, as it takes time away from their work.
SCORM compliance – Shareable Content Object Reference Model, or SCORM, is an industry standard that allows learning management systems to incorporate third-party content without any duplication or recoding.
AICC compliance – AICC stands for Aviation Industry CBT Committee, which is a technology-based professionals association. An AICC-compliant course meets at least one of nine AICC Guidelines and Recommendations. Although AICC is for the aviation industry, companies don't have to be in this industry to develop AICC-compliant content.
Mobile learning – Mobile learning allows students to access materials straight from their smartphones or other mobile devices. The materials can be accessed either through a mobile app or a web browser, and can be synchronized with the desktop version.
Testing/assessments – Tests/assessments/quizzes are common features to see whether students have retained what they learned. They can be given after each topic/lesson or at the end of the course. Analytical tools can guide the instructor in identifying proficiency and learning gaps.
LMS solutions tend to vary in costs. Some vendors offer an on-premise solution, where the clients only need to worry about purchasing upfront equipment and software. However, most other vendors offer Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) plans, or cloud-based deployment, which allows clients to purchase hosting services under a subscription plan.
There are also open-source LMS solutions, which can be attractive for a company since they're free and customizable. However, they can be complicated for companies that haven't used an LMS before, and there's no support should something go wrong.
Pay per Learner – This structure is standard with SaaS plans. The client pays for the solution based on the number of users (learners) actively enrolled in training per month. Note that there may be a set-up or installation fee.
Pay per Use – This option allows clients to pay only for the features or modules they really need. It's typically arranged by the vendor and client, and it can be negotiated in the pre-implementation phase.
Pay per Course – This plan is intended more for industries with employees who need to renew their certifications or adhere to regulatory compliance (e.g., medical). The price can be based on access to a vendor's internal library of training content.
Pay for Licensing – The pay-for-licensing plan is intended for clients that prefer to have their IT staff host and maintain data. The vendor typically charges an annual licensing fee.
Note that there may also be additional fees for services, such as implementation or consulting.
All types of industries can benefit from learning management software, including education, professional services, healthcare, retail/hospitality and more.
Businesses, whether small or large, can use an LMS as a training tool for developing their employees' skills. For example, companies in the service industry can benefit from an LMS (such as PeopleMatter LEARN) to help their employees develop better customer service skills. Companies could also use an LMS to onboard new hires – they can create content materials, such as company policy and procedures, to give to new employees.
In the education sector, LMS solutions are popular in colleges and universities because students can access course materials and communicate with the professor and each other outside of class. In the last few years, however, LMS vendors have targeted their solutions to elementary and secondary schools. Similar to higher education, K-12 teachers typically use LMS solutions in addition to their teaching resources. For instance, they can provide online learning materials for students or communicate with parents via an LMS.
Getting buy-in from IT, top executives and stakeholders – Top leaders need to be on board with any development programs – they may not see a need for e-learning software unless the business case is presented to them. They may also have concerns about return on investments (ROI). If training typically falls to HR, they may have concerns about e-learning solutions. If training falls to department managers, they may have concerns about using existing content or having to build courses from scratch. And IT would need to buy in, especially regarding whether the solution is on-premise or cloud-based.
Unsure of requirements of LMS solutions – The important thing for a company is to figure out what it needs from an LMS. For instance, is it planning to train all employees or just specific departments? Is it delivering self-paced courses, interactive training or both? It's critical companies have a list of functions they need in an LMS and discuss it with potential vendors. As Looop LMS' David James mentions, vendors and potential clients need to work together to figure out the client's needs and deliver accordingly.
Implementation issues – Similar to other software, issues can come up during the implementation process for learning management systems. For example, the implementation process may take longer than anticipated. In 2015, Better Buys talked with implementation experts who said that communication issues can derail the process. It's important to maintain communication between the company and software vendor (along with the decision makers and end users) throughout all stages.
Mobile learning – As employees are increasingly doing business via their tablets and smartphones both during and outside of business hours, they'll want to access their training lessons from those same devices. Mobile learning is a growing trend in LMS. In fact, the market is expected to reach $12.2 billion by 2017, according to eLearning Industry. More LMS vendors have included mobile learning as a feature – for instance, they're including mobile apps to make training more user-friendly.
Social learning – Most employees and businesses participate in some form of social media, be it Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Vendors are noticing it and have increasingly begun to offer social collaboration tools in learning management systems. For example, Cornerstone Learning's social collaboration feature works like a social networking site. Users can create their own profiles, post updates on training-related topics and comment on other posts.
Gamification – Gamification is becoming more common in LMS as a way to keep employees engaged in their training by providing points or reward incentives. For instance, employees who complete a training course may receive gift cards to particular retailers.
Cloud-based deployment – For years, LMS was only available as an on-premise system (meaning the company is responsible for installing and maintaining the software on its servers). Now, more vendors are offering SaaS deployment. This is a benefit for a company and its IT staff, as the vendor hosts the data, which frees up resources for the company.
Before purchasing a LMS solution, companies need to first figure out what their requirements are – such as whether they want to buy or build their own content. One good recommendation is to have a checklist of the necessary features ready before looking at vendors.
Cost – As indicated in the Pricing section above, LMS solutions vary in cost, and you'll need to factor in the number of users and subscription packages (if you plan to purchase it as a Software-as-a-Service). For on-premise systems, there is the cost of purchasing the software up front (as well as cost of implementation or software upgrades, if applicable). You'll want to do a pricing comparison among different vendors.
Scalability – If you plan to train more employees in the future, make sure the system is scalable. You'll want to make sure it can hold a large amount of content and that the content can be used again in the future.
Ability to work with existing systems – Make sure the LMS is compatible with other systems the company uses, such as a HRMS or an employee database. Having LMS integrate with a HRMS eliminates the need to manually enter employee data – such data is transferred from the HRMS to LMS, or the administrator can sign into both systems at once (single-sign-on).
Input from users – The company will need to get buy-in for the software, not just from top executives, but from HR, IT and the managers who will be responsible for training their employees. One way to do that is to get those users involved in choosing the system – for example, have them participate in software demonstrations.
Training and support during and after software implementation – You'll want to ensure the vendor offers implementation assistance, including any training. Does the vendor offer training remotely or onsite? You'll want to choose a vendor that can provide training at your company's convenience, if feasible – for example, having a rep conduct training sessions to multiple users on-site. Also, make sure the vendor provides support after the software is deployed, such as 24/7 tech or customer service support via phone or online.
Length of implementation process – The implementation process can vary. You'll want to speak with the vendor and request details on implementation timelines. You'll also want to plan for any issues that could arise during the implementation phase.
Request to speak with vendor's current or past customers – It's important to seek references from a vendor's existing or previous clients. The vendor will give you the name of most positive clients, but ask for companies that have similar needs to yours (e.g., small office or a specific industry). When contacting the reference, ask if there have been any issues with the vendor or the software. You'll want to get input on not just the positive experience, but issues as well. Also, if the vendor has been in business for less than five years, it's especially important to get references from its clients.
To help narrow down your search of LMS vendors, head over to our LMS reviews page, where we've profiled some of the most popular learning management system solutions.


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Three Cents /
Type 1 (1851-1853)
Although the notion of a three-cent piece strikes us as strange today, in 1851 the denomination actually seemed like a good idea to members of Congress and even to members of the public. It did serve a purpose for a time. The impetus for this coin—the smallest ever issued by Uncle Sam in terms of weight and thickness—was twofold. It was "fathered," so to speak, by the California Gold Rush and "mothered" by the nation's postal system.
Following the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, thousands of fortune-seekers swarmed to California. The "Forty-Niners" and others who followed them mined enormous quantities of gold. That, in turn, had a direct impact on U.S. coinage: The massive new supplies of gold depressed that metal's value in relation to silver, leading to.... (Expand Text)
Following the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, thousands of fortune-seekers swarmed to California. The "Forty-Niners" and others who followed them mined enormous quantities of gold. That, in turn, had a direct impact on U.S. coinage: The massive new supplies of gold depressed that metal's value in relation to silver, leading to widespread hoarding of silver coins. Put another way, a rapid rise occurred in the price of silver, as figured in gold dollars. It became profitable to hoard and melt silver coins, since they were worth more as metal than as money. Conversely, hardly anyone was bringing newly mined silver to the Mint for conversion into coinage, as had been the practice up to then. That helped limit production, further restricting supplies of silver coins.
By 1851, hardly any silver coins remained in circulation, creating a real problem for merchants and their customers. The only coins available for making change in amounts less than a dollar were copper large cents and half cents, which most people found extremely inconvenient; there wasn't even a "nickel" as we know it today, since the five-cent coin in use at the time was the silver half dime and was among the hoarded pieces.
As luck would have it, federal officials were then in the midst of reducing the basic prepaid postal rate from five cents to three cents. Senator Daniel Stevens Dickinson of New York concluded, logically enough, that a three-cent coin would be a useful way to purchase stamps.
At that time, most Americans were uncomfortable with the notion of fiat money (money worth substantially less intrinsically than its face value), so they surely would have rejected a base-metal three-cent piece with only, say, a cent's worth of copper. On the other hand, a precious-metal coin made from the alloy then being used in existing silver coins (90% silver and 10% copper) might have been subject to the same kind of hoarding and melting.
Dickinson and his allies hit upon a compromise: a three-cent coin with enough precious metal to avoid being thought of as fiat money but not enough to draw the interest of hoarders. The alloy they selected was 75% silver and 25% copper. This proposal became law as the Act of March 3, 1851, taking effect June 30 of that year.
The job of designing the coin fell to James Barton Longacre, who had become the Mint's chief engraver seven years earlier. Its small size made his job extremely difficult. Even allowing for that, few have ever found this coin artistically compelling. Its obverse depicts a nationalistic shield superimposed upon a six-pointed star. This is encircled by the inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date. The reverse bears the statement of value in the form of the Roman numeral III within a stylized, beaded "C." Thirteen stars along the reverse border complete the design.
At first, the three-cent pieces served their intended purpose: They circulated widely and facilitated the purchase of postage stamps. But their shortcomings soon became apparent The coin was so small that it often got lost in people's pocket change or, worse yet, lost altogether. Losing three cents was no small matter at a time when workingmen's wages averaged substantially less than 10 cents an hour. In addition, the tiny coins had a disturbing tendency to grow discolored and even downright filthy due to their debased alloy. It wasn't long before these so-called "trimes" acquired the derogatory nickname of "fish scales."
Judged by the standards of its day, silver three-cent pieces of this first type were made in large numbers. In all, the Mint produced 36,230,900 examples during the coin's three-year lifespan. More than half of these were struck at the Philadelphia Mint in 1852, when the mother mint's output topped 18.6 million. The only branch-mint issue is 1851-O, and it's also the scarcest Type 1 coin, with a mintage of 720,000 pieces. The "O" mintmark of the New Orleans Mint appears on the reverse at the open end of the "C."
In 1853, Congress passed legislation reducing the weight (and thus the silver content) of the half dollar, quarter, dime and half dime. This had the desired effect of discouraging further hoarding and re-establishing all these silver coins in circulation. That same year, it authorized an increase in the fineness of the three-cent piece up to 90%, bringing it in line with the other silver coins. A simultaneous one-twentieth-of-a-gram cutback in its weight kept it below the point where melting would be profitable.
These "Type 2" three-cent pieces didn't appear until 1854, after Longacre modified the original design, making it easier to detect the new issues. Among other things, they have two extra outer rims around the star for a total of three. In 1859, further tinkering occurred to correct striking problems, and from then through the end of the series in 1873 the "Type 3" issue had only two rims around the star.
Because the Type 1 "trime" comes in only four date-and-mint varieties, it could easily be collected in that fashion. Many prefer to set aside just one high-grade example, however, as part of a type set also including one example apiece of the other two types in this series.
Although their initial popularity quickly waned, most of the early trimes saw extensive use in circulation. As a result, high-grade mint state specimens are extremely scarce, especially in levels of MS-66 and above. Places to check for wear include the points of the star and the high parts of the Roman numeral III. Weak striking is common with this issue and should not be mistaken for wear.
According to the late Walter Breen, a renowned numismatic scholar and researcher, four proof specimens of the 1851 silver three-cent piece were made, evidently struck to celebrate the coin's inception. Reportedly, a single proof example of 1852 exists in the collection of the American Numismatic Society in New York City.
As it would throughout history, once again gold ruled events. It was gold that brought men west in 1849, gold that created havoc with circulating coinage and ultimately gold that was responsible for one of the Mint's most unusual products, the tiny silver three-cent piece.
The late 1850s was an era when Spanish one-half, one-, two-, four- and eight-reales circulated right alongside United States issues. By the end of the decade, however, discoveries of gold fields in California and Australia drove down the world market price of the metal to a point where gold became cheaper in terms of silver, eventually causing the bullion value of many silver coins to exceed their face value.
With the increase in silver's price, vast quantities of coins were melted for export to Europe. By 1850, silver coins were disappearing everywhere. Stores, hotels and railroads began to pay premiums for coins. Commercial life was chaotic.
The U.S. public and commercial establishments tried to adapt to the rising silver price. Since the degree of wear determined the weight of silver in a coin, the public evaluated their coins, spending the worn ones and hoarding high grade ones. Banks and post offices discounted the Spanish coins by allowing only 23 cents for a two-reales piece (nominally 25 cents), 10c for one real (12 ½ cents) and 5 cents for a half real or medio (6 ¼ cents). The U.S. Government, however, ignored the fact that the coins were worn and paid the full value to keep commerce as stable as possible.
On January 9, 1849 the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, Samuel F. Vinton, wrote a letter to Mint Director Robert M. Patterson requesting proposals for a new cent of reduced size and a three-cent piece "to be made of copper and some other precious metal." A year later, Senator Daniel Dickinson, the head of a committee preparing a bill to reduce postal rates, introduced a bill proposing these two coins as a way of buying the new postage stamps and making change. The proposed coins consisted of a cent composed of .100 fine silver and three-cent coin of .750 silver.
Congress did nothing with this proposal until 1851. In that year, it passed the postal rate bill reducing the cost of mailing a letter from five cents to three cents. Since the copper coins in circulation were not legal tender and "shinplasters" (private bank notes and merchants' scrip) weren't acceptable as payment for postage, how would the public pay for the stamps? Though the reduced size cent wasn't approved, the Dickinson three-cent coin was reconsidered and finally authorized by the act of March 3, 1851. It was to weigh 12-3/8 grains and be .750 silver and .250 copper. Since the face value exceeded the bullion value, the coin was sure to stay in circulation.
This first three-cent piece, known as Type 1, was designed by Chief Engraver James B. Longacre. The design consists of a six-pointed star at the center, upon which is the Union shield. The inscription UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the date are around the border. The reverse depicts thirteen stars surrounding a C-shaped device within which is a Roman numeral III.
Congress hoped that this coin would help sell postage stamps and alleviate the coin shortage. Although critics called the coin "debased," the public initially loved it. The government loved it also, since a dollar's worth of three-cent pieces was worth only 86 cents in gold. The need for small change was so great that people were impatient for the coin's release. To avoid a panic, more than 100,000 pieces were manufactured before the mint began to release them. In less than two years, there were 20 million more in circulation.
Though inconvenient, change was now available. If you offered a gold dollar for a 5 cent or 10 cent article you were likely to get some very worn one and half reales and a handful of three-cent coins. These thin, little, insignificant looking coins, called "fish scales" by the public and joked about in the press, became the savior of American commerce. As time passed, however, the public became disenchanted with the little coins, as they were easily lost.
In 1853, the silver problem was resolved by officially lowering the weight of silver coins to compensate for the rise in that metal's price. The "Deficiency Act" of March 3, 1853 authorized the second version of the three-cent piece making it a .900 fine silver coin like the other subsidiary coinage.
Longacre modified the star on the obverse with the addition of three outlines, and the reverse was changed to show a bunch of arrows below and an olive branch above the Roman numeral III. These changes were supposed to correct the striking problems that plagued the original design and to identify the change in weight and fineness. These first Type 2 pieces, dated 1854, were released on May 22.
Changes in the design created additional problems, and the coin was even more difficult to produce than the earlier version. As a result, it is hard to find well-struck examples. The weakest area is usually toward the borders of the coin. This makes grading more difficult since the surface condition must be carefully considered to detect the difference between strike and wear. Due to improper die preparation, it is also common to see fine, parallel field striations on high grade specimens. Though not difficult to find in circulated grades, gem business strikes of this type are very rare, much rarer than gem Type 1 or 3 coins.
Less than 5 million Type 2 three-cent pieces were made, and all were manufactured in Philadelphia. The rarest of the five dates is the low mintage 1855. Although some collectors assemble complete sets of the series, most of the demand for Type 2s, as with the earlier and later versions, comes from type collectors. The three different types are truly history lessons in miniature. Proof mintages are unknown, but probably less than 300 proofs survive today of the Type 2.
In 1859, seeking a solution to the striking problems, Longacre again modified the design. He removed one of the outlines to the star, and the resulting Type 3 coin was issued from 1859 through the end of the series in 1873.
In 1859, little more than a decade after the start of the California Gold Rush, new gold and silver bonanzas again captured the attention of the nation. Vast deposits of the precious metals were discovered outside Denver, Colorado and in the famous Comstock Lode in Nevada. Much of this material wealth found its way to the mints in Philadelphia and San Francisco, where it was turned into coinage. Unfortunately, the growing distrust and divisiveness between the North and South would culminate two years later in the Civil War, leading to the demise of precious metal coins in commerce, and ultimately to the end of the silver three-cent piece as a circulating coin.
Silver three-cent pieces (Type 1) were first introduced in 1851 to facilitate the purchase of three-cent stamps. The initial composition of 75% silver and 25% copper was designed to deter hoarding and melting of the coin as was occurring with the other 90% silver coins then in circulation. In 1853, Congress lowered the weights of all the silver coins, simultaneously raising the silver content of the three-cent piece to 90%, although at a reduced weight. Since the value of the silver in all the new coins was low enough to discourage hoarding, they circulated freely along with the new three-cent pieces, which appeared in 1854. These "Type 2" silver three-cent pieces featured the addition of three outlines to the star on the obverse and arrows and an olive branch on the reverse.
The modifications made to the Type 2 coins exacerbated problems with striking up the design completely, and five years later more changes were made in hopes of bringing up all the design elements. In 1859, Chief Engraver James Longacre made minor adjustments to the coin. Assisted by Anthony C. Paquet, Longacre retained the basic design of the large six-pointed star on the obverse and the Roman numeral III in the center of the reverse surrounded by the letter C, but he reduced the number of outlines around the central star from three to two. In addition, he used narrower letters and spaced them farther apart than on the Type 2 coins, and he also reduced the size of the numerals in the date.
These alterations were apparently enough to make the tiny silver pieces (derisively called "fish scales") strike up better than their Type 1 or 2 counterparts. Unfortunately, after these changes were made and the Mint produced a better quality product, the coins only circulated for four years. The outbreak of the Civil War would again cause all silver coins to disappear.
In the mid-1850s the Mint paid a price for bullion slightly above the current market price, a practice that effectively divided the seignorage (the profit the Mint derives from producing coinage) between the government and the bullion owner. This meant that the amount of silver coinage was not determined by the public's need for change but by the amount of silver bullion sold to the Mint. As a result, there was a tremendous surplus of small copper, copper-nickel and silver coinage in the nation in the late 1850s—so much that small coinage was looked upon as a public nuisance.
When the war broke out, this situation was radically altered. The federal government suspended specie (coin) payments for paper currency in 1862, and the glut of small change was quickly reduced to a trickle, as every coin with intrinsic value was either hoarded domestically or exported to Canada, the West Indies or Central America. The production of silver three-cent pieces during this period graphically illustrates the boom and bust cycle of U.S. coinage. From 1859 through 1862, the mintage of these small silver coins averaged 373,000 coins annually. For the eleven years afterward, annual mintages plummeted to an average of only 8,171 coins.
All Type 3 silver three-cent pieces were struck at the Philadelphia Mint. Over the fifteen years represented by the design, 1,581,490 business strikes were produced. This is a misleading figure, however, as most of these coins were produced from 1859 through 1862. After 1862, virtually no silver three-cent pieces found their way into the channels of commerce, and both the business strikes and proofs remaining on hand at the Mint in 1873 were melted in the summer of that year. As a result, business strikes from 1863 to 1873 are great rarities. Consequently, few collectors are willing to attempt completion of a set of business strikes of the Type 3 design, and today silver three-cent pieces are almost exclusively used as type coins.
Oddly enough, some high grade business strikes known from this period actually came from proof sets. Apparently, in the 1860s and `70s, the Mint was not careful about the distinction between the two methods of manufacture, and if a proof was not available for sets a business strike was substituted. Proofs were made in each year of the Type 3 series and the scarcest date is the proof-only issue of 1873, of which only 600 pieces were struck. At least two business strike overdates exist: the relatively common 1862/1 and the very rare 1869/8. An overdated proof is known—the 1863/2—a rarely encountered coin that is technically a restrike and apparently produced in 1864, along with some restrike proofs bearing that date.
When grading silver three-cent pieces, it is often necessary to use a magnifier because of the small size of the coin. Wear first shows on the top ridges of the star on the obverse and on the Roman numeral on the reverse.
Counterfeits were made in large numbers during the Civil War, but the date and lettering differ from authentic pieces, and these pieces were not struck in silver but in some form of so-called German silver (a nickel alloy). Dangerous forgeries surfaced in 1984 of the 1864-dated restrike. These pieces allegedly originated in England and differ from genuine coins, as the digits of the date are thinner and placed higher in the field and all show a dent on the lower left corner of the obverse star.
When silver three-cent pieces were abolished by the Mint Act of 1873 few people noticed. The coins had not been seen in circulation since the early days of the Civil War, and they had become redundant to the nation's coinage needs when the nickel three-cent coin was successfully introduced in 1865. Today, only numismatists remember these tiny coins and the important part they played in the nation's coinage system in the 1850s and the early days of the Civil War.
1855 SILVER 3CS MS66
TYPE 2. GEM SATIN LUSTROUS SURFACES WITH LIGHT PINKISH BLUE TONING. JUST A SINGLE MS67 COIN GRADED HIGHER.
1857 SILVER 3CS PR65
GEM PROOF. ONLY 75 STRUCK.
GEM PROOF. ONLY 300 STRUCK. JUST 5 GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS.
GEM PROOF. ONLY 300 STRUCK. ONLY 1 COIN GRADED HIGHER.
1860 SILVER 3CS PR65 Cameo
GEM CAMEO. ONLY 1,000 STRUCK. JUST A SINGLE PR65+CAM GRADED HIGHER AT PCGS.
GEM LUSTROUS SURFACES WITH LIGHT IRIDESCENT PATINA. ONLY 3,500 STRUCK.
1872 SILVER 3CS MS67+
GEM LUSTROUS SURFACES ENHANCED WITH SEA GREEN AND LIGHT AMBER PATINA. ONLY 1,000 STRUCK. TIED WITH ONE OTHER COIN FOR SECOND HIGHEST GRADED. CAC.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Malawi Trip Logistics
by Resurrection Staff | Jul 15, 2016 | Logistics
Transportation: bus/van
Lodging: Madisi Parsonage
Food: Typical dish- lots of rice and possibly a meat like chicken or fish
Worship: Madisi Worship
Cultural Day: Market Trips/ Safari
Economic Empowerment:
Economic Empowerment Business Woman
ZOE: A ZOE working group provides orphans and vulnerable children a community where they experience understanding, compassion, and acceptance. Poverty often means a life lived in isolation, unconnected even from those who share the same struggles and challenges, but through ZOE, they can begin their journey towards a better life together.
ZOE program facilitators first contact community leaders and local officials to educate them about the empowerment approach and to ask for their help in identifying children. During the first meeting, the children and their young caregivers learn how they will change and improve their lives within three years. The ZOE takes a step back.
Working group members elect their own leadership, make rules to guide their meetings, choose a group name and decide where to hold weekly gatherings.
The group selects a project, such as a group farm, or decide on a mutual help activity, like building dish drying racks for each other. This fosters companionship and teaches the children that they can depend on each other as they journey together towards a new life of self-sufficiency.
The eldest child from each family attends weekly meetings to discuss their activities, both achievements and challenges, and to share in prayer and reflection with each other. Additionally, ZOE's staff and selected community members hold regular training sessions covering the topics of food security, health and disease prevention, business management, and child rights.
**There are 147 households and a total of 328 members thus far.
Chiyembekezo "Hope" Working Group: 25 Heads of Household (Ages 14-21), Total Number of Children is 59
Dalitso "Blessing" Work Group: 37 Heads of Household (Ages 14-21), Total Number of Children is 85
Limbikani "Work Hard" Working Group: 29 Heads of Household (Ages 13-20), Total Number of Children is 74
Tadala "Blessed" Working Group: 24 Heads of Household (Ages 13-20), Total Number of Children is 46
Umodzi "Unity" Working Group: 32 Heads of Household (Ages 13-22), Total Number of Children is 64
Small Business Training:
A training workshop in business management and financial prudent was conducted for five days from 4th to 8th April at Madisi Secondary School. The training targeted youths who are different levels of intervention from first to third years. This training was designed through a number of training methodologies such as lecturing, question and answer, focused group discussions and presentations among others. The participants were also equipped with technical skill on how they can manage business finances. The training aimed at boosting capacity of the youths in coming up with sustainable businesses.
We have supported children with additional funds to boost their businesses.
We have paid school fees for 27 students in secondary school and supported 79 pupils in primary school with uniforms.
Education: ZOE- The preschoolers showing us some of the songs and lessons they have learned. Paid school fees for 27 students in secondary school and supported 79 pupils in primary school with uniforms.
Health: Only a portion of the medical supplies we brought with us for clinic.
We conducted training on HIV/AIDS for five days from 22nd to 26th April, 2015. The topics included: introduction of HIV/AIDS, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention, relationship between HIV/AIDS and STIs, meaning of Anti AIDS Clubs, roles and responsibility of Anti AIDS Clubs, HIV testing and counseling and communication. We formed three Anti AIDS Clubs.


"The Story of the Ere-Dwellers (Eyrbyggja Saga)"
This story I have found in the Eyrbyggja Saga.
It all starts with a rain of blood followed by the death of Thorgunna. One of her deathbed wishes - burning her bed-curtains -is not complied with, which is the start of all kinds of weird incidents during the transport of her corpse to Skalaholt. Back in Frodiswater, strange things start happening.
A shepherd dies and returns from the grave. He has a fight with Thorir Woodenleg, who soon dies as well. More people at the farm die and also become undead. Some fishermen who drowned at sea also join the undead army and things are beginning to look like a zombie film.
Snorri the Priest is asked for advice. Thorgunna's bed-curtains are burnt at long last. The restless dead are summoned to appear before a court and are banished. Then Snorri the Priest marches throughout the house with holy water, a mass is celebrated, and after that there comes an end to the hauntings at Frodiswater.
The Eyrbyggja Saga has come to us in manuscripts that go back to the 13th and 14th Century. So let us file it as "before 1200".
Frodiswater is called Froda in the Icelandic version of the story. I found a Froda on the West coast of Iceland, NorthWest of Reykjavik. Skalaholt is now called Skalholt. It is quite a long way from Froda and can be found East of Reykjavik.
Find yourself a good version of the Eyrbyggja Saga. There are various PDF versions you can find online in a number of different languages.


REALTORS® believe that fair housing for all should remain a core part of HUD's mission.
A proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Labor could make it easier for small businesses and self-employed individuals to purchase health insurance through association health plans.
REALTORS® are pleased with the IRS announcement clarifying and confirming that under the new tax law owners can continue to deduct the interest on a home equity loan, line of credit or second mortgage when the proceeds are used to substantially improve their residence.
An uptick in existing-home sales in the final three months of 2017 pulled down housing inventory to an all-time low and kept home-price growth at its recent robust pace.
Despite weakening optimism from non-homeowners at the end of last year that now is a good time to buy, an overwhelming majority said they do want to own a home in the future and believe homeownership is part of their American Dream.
The Realtors Property Resource®, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Realtors®, has suspended its Advanced Multi-List Platform, or AMP, project to reduce costs by several million dollars in 2018 and allow greater focus on its core initiatives.
NAR is currently accepting applications for REALTOR® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards from REALTORS® who have made an impact on the world through community service. Entries must be received by Friday, May 4, 2018.
NAR announced a new internal organizational structure and changes to its senior management team to more effectively and efficiently serve its members.


Throughout our own childhoods, my husband and I both attended public schools, but when we started having children almost three decades ago, we both agreed that we wanted to homeschool them.
My husband's idea of homeschooling looked different than mine. He thought we would imitate the public school at home. I had something else in mind.
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I'm honestly not sure exactly when I decided that I wanted a more unhurried approach for our kids. There weren't many books out there on homeschooling, but I had read one or two that impacted me significantly.
The emphasis was on letting our kids be kids while slowly shouldering them with more responsibilities as they were ready. This approach involved a bit of bookwork, but primarily included exposure to hands-on activities that seem to come naturally for children: playing outside, building blanket forts, baking together, working alongside each other.
I explained my thoughts to my husband and, although hesitant; he agreed to let me experiment.
Though it did make me a little nervous, it all seemed to make so much sense, and as we watched our children thrive in this natural, more gentle environment we noticed something: they were learning all.the.time. My husband was convinced, and so was I.
One of my favorite things to do, especially in the younger years, is to be a student of our children. We can learn SO much from just watching and listening to them, and it helps guide us in what and how we teach them along the way.
We do this through conversations, on walks, trips to the grocery store and simply living life together.
Kids are curious by nature and come with a natural desire to learn. So much of the time they watch us as we model to them how to communicate, work, and live life. I've always said if we just taught our kids everything we DO know (instead of focusing on what we DON'T know) our kids would know A LOT!
But if I've learned one thing over the years, it's that education is about so much more than knowledge. Education is discipleship.
It's rooted in relationships because we were created FOR relationships, so when we, as parents nurture our children by inviting them into what we are doing and show interest in their curiosities, teaching and learning happen naturally. But this takes TIME.
In our fast-paced world, we can often be tempted to fill our schedules with all kinds of busyness when what our kids need is time and space to explore and experiment on their own and alongside us.
This flies in the face of the current school system. I think we all agree that the system isn't working, so let's give our kids what they REALLY need…a childhood.
We all want to give our children an unhurried childhood because a healthy childhood IS THE solid foundation for higher learning.


A World Apart: Caught between ..
2008 Year of "Extreme Ironing"..
I've been watching a lot of TCM lately. Hence the title of this entry actually is a reference to an obscure 60's movie about a con-man who effortlessly plans and executes a bank heist. Not exactly an original plot and not exactly a movie with rave reviews, but it was entertaining. And the title was very apropos not only to the movie but to I think what a lot of people are feeling right now. It seems that many people have either been undergoing a crisis that keeps going up and down and around in circles or others are experiencing a kind of "dead heat" in regards to this Summer. A kind of sweltering hot weather that settles into ones bones and almost kind of paralyzes one to any productive work even if, with all the Virgo planets in get up and go mode, one desperately want to do . . . something . . . but one isn't sure what.
What with the price of oil and gas skyrocketing, more and more people are seemingly taking "staycations" and going around a local circle rather than widening it. The political candidates seem to also be in a "dead heat" with it not being apparent who will turn out to be the winner in the upcoming election this Fall, and everyone seems to be up in the air yet going around in circles.
I myself have reorganized my closets, been to the container store, and stocked up on vintage clothing and cedar and lavender spray for the Fall and Winter, all Virgoan pursuits, yet it feels like I'm going in circles. Although better than before my closets didn't need that much reorganization to begin with. It's too hot to do much else productive. It all seems to add up that something big is coming. Like this time now from the full moon on Friday the 18th to the new moon Solar Eclipse on August the 1st is a kind of waiting period. Like the calm before the storm we are in a dead heat before something arrives. I am personally not sure what it will be, for myself, the country and others but it does feel like something big is on the horizon with these eclipses coming up in August. Like something has to break the heat in order to get relief from the stillness.
Speaking of the political arena, it's fascinating that the two eclipses will be in Leo while there is so much Virgo and conjuctions of Saturn with Mars and Venus in July and August. It's like there's a battle between Virgo and Leo going on, and in fact there is. Some of you may already know that Barack Obama is a Leo born on August the 4th and that John McCain is a Virgo born on August 29th. Right now Saturn is in Virgo, giving quite a boost to McCain's reputation as an authority figure capable of being the next president. While for Obama it's fascinating that the Solar eclipse, on August the 1st while not an exact conjunction, is close enough that it will affect him surely in some way. What way is yet to be seen. Will it mean a new beginning as our next president or something else?
We'll all find out once the Dead Heat of this Summer breaks and Fall arrives.


I am sharing my dumpster diving rescued Glass Top Tables. Yes, I pulled these babies out from a dumpster.
One would never know that these tables were pulled from a dumpster. I received a curb alert from my friends Betty and Eugene(thanks guys) that their neighbor had a dumpster out front of their house and they could see some type of wood tables legs. I quickly got in my car and drove over to their house to discover some table legs sticking out of the dumpster. Thankfully there was a nice gentleman that was already standing in the dumpster diving for goodies. He did not want the tables, so he handed them to me. Just for the record, I would have crawled in there to get them out.
The large coffee table was missing one of the wood insets that held the glass. The other is missing because I took it out to use it as a template. I figured it would be easy enough to make one of these insets. Mr. DD said it will be much easier if you just took the template to Kevin and let him make it. Kevin is our friend that custom built our kitchen cabinets. You can see them here if you want to see the fabulous job he did.
I have to admit, it was much easier letting Kevin do the inset. I placed the insets in place and went to work on painting these tables.
Once the tables were painted and waxed, Mr. DD came down into my workspace and was looking at the finished product. He looked closely at all the insets and made a guess as to which one was the replica. He guessed wrong, so I would say, no one will know that if was ever missing a bracket.
I did have to order new glass inserts as I only recovered one and it was badly chipped. 1 new wood inset, 5 new glass panels, chalk like paint and wax, and thee tables are new again.
I love a good dumpster dive! How about you, would you crawl in a dumpster to get out some furniture?
« Barbecue Ribs with Dry Rub and Homemade Sauce!
I know this is a post from last September, I don't know if you will get it or not. This is the exact color and finish I have been searching for to do a desk in my den. Do you remember the brands and shade names of the products you used? Thank you very much.
Very cute! Good thing you have Kevin in your back pocket. What a great resource. I like the color.
Love the color DeDe! Your paint finish looks professionally done. I need to get a few tips from you Haven girls. I want to paint my large TV Armoire and need to know the best type of paint for non chipping best finish etc.
Susan, Ask away! We will help!
They look so good now that they are painted!! Fabulous makeover!!
Who would ever put these in the trash?! SO glad you saved them, they look great!
Its amazing what people throw away. I don't understand why they don't just donate things instead of throwing away!
Wow, what a great find and you did an amazing jobs. The tables were definitely worth the dive!
Beautiful!! You did a great job on them!
What a great rescue! Love the color!
These are great! I love a good dumpster dive project!!
Of course I would get in a dumpster to pull out tables! Yours turned out beautifully! Perfect color choice.
I know you would go diving, I am right beside you!
WOW they look Ahhh Mazing!!! I can't believe your found them in a dumpster!!! LOVE the red!!! They look Designer, great job!!!
Thanks Lisa! I love the Designer compliment!
These turned out so prettyDeDe! I love the red that you chose! I would have dove in there for those too!
Shanna, no dumpster is beyond us!


Business Office Closed - Happy Easter!
The Holy Spirit lives in Christians to lead us to become more and more like Jesus. The Spirit is seeking to transform us to think, act and be like Jesus, and therefore be different (holy) from the world around us, so that loving God, loving our neighbors and becoming disciples increasingly become our focus in life. Today, in this concluding message of the series, Acts 8 shows the Spirit leading Philip to live this way.


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World|life|June 18, 2019 / 09:25 AM
China is harvesting organs from detainees, tribunal concludes
AKIPRESS.COM - An independent tribunal sitting in London has concluded that the killing of detainees in China for organ transplants is continuing, and victims include imprisoned followers of the Falun Gong movement, The Guardian reports.
The China Tribunal, chaired by Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, who was a prosecutor at the international criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, said in a unanimous determination at the end of its hearings it was "certain that Falun Gong as a source - probably the principal source - of organs for forced organ harvesting".
"The conclusion shows that very many people have died indescribably hideous deaths for no reason, that more may suffer in similar ways and that all of us live on a planet where extreme wickedness may be found in the power of those, for the time being, running a country with one of the oldest civilisations known to modern man."
He added: "There is no evidence of the practice having been stopped and the tribunal is satisfied that it is continuing."
The tribunal has been taking evidence from medical experts, human rights investigators and others.
Among those killed, it has been alleged, are members of religious minorities such as Falun Gong. Persecution of the group began in 1999 after it had attracted tens of millions of followers and came to be seen as a threat to the communist party.
There is less evidence about the treatment of Tibetans, Uighur Muslims and some Christian sects.
China announced in 2014 that it would stop removing organs for transplantation from executed prisoners and has dismissed the claims as politically-motivated and untrue.


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CASE MANAGER in Monroe, LA at The Geo Group
Facility: Monroe Medical Park
Compensation Base: $15.00 Per Hour
Under close supervision, this position provides support and structure to participants in developing program plans by managing a caseload of participants and administering the policies and procedures of the program as directed by the contracting agency and the Program Manager. Learns, uses and models the principles of the "What Works" system through evidence-based practices in all interactions with participants and other staff members.
This is a full time, 40 hour per week position.
The schedule is Monday - Friday, day shift.
Prepares written personalized programs for each participant to establish measurable criteria of expected behavior and accomplishments and a time frame for achieving specified goals.  Reviews plan with participants on a regular basis and document progress or revisions so that they are gaining the life skills necessary to make a successful reentry into the community.
Assists participants to establish personal budget, locate suitable housing, enroll in educational and vocational programs and participate in family and community activities, as appropriate, to ensure that they are working towards financial independence.
May orient participants upon arrival at facility to provide smooth assimilation into program including having them complete paperwork, take facility tours, or introduce to other participants.
Make entries into confidential participant files to provide the structure for case analysis and program planning and to provide documentation of program participation. Ensure files are secure to protect participant confidentiality.
Prepares terminal reports within established time parameters upon participant release to summarize program performance and to satisfy contract requirements.
Participates in staff meetings by sharing observations and recommendations regarding the facility, participants and staff relations to identify and solve problems and function as a unified team.
Maintains confidentiality obtained through job duties regarding employees, vendors, participants, and outside agencies so that sensitive information is only given on a "need to know" basis.  Monitors participant's compliance with alcohol and drug counseling when required.
Reports all program violations to the appropriate agency or official via the established reporting parameters.
Conducts orientation meetings with new participants to explain program rules and regulations. Verbally explains the participant's contract in detail to ensure that the participant understands his/her responsibilities.
Sets participants schedules and specifies all approved activities based on sentencing information. Approves temporary schedule changes for approved activities.
Communicate effectively with all levels of staff in a manner that promotes a team spirit and a sense of cooperation.
Complies with work rules and policies as explained in the company Employee Handbook, and the Facility Policies and Procedures Manual; and responds positively to directives from managers and supervisors in a cooperative spirit to ensure conformance to standards.
Adheres to attendance policy; work overtime as required, to ensure adequate coverage of the program and to ensure the safety and security of the participants.
Complies with safety rules; take appropriate corrective action to ensure work is performed in a safe manner and without injury to self or others.
Communicates effectively with all levels of staff in a manner that promotes a team spirit and a sense of cooperation.
Bachelor's degree in Human Services discipline or equivalent
Familiar with community corrections systems and current community corrections practices.
Valid state drivers license
Familiar with community work force needs, public and private agencies and employment services.
Ability to type over 45 WPM preferred
Ability to write clear concise reports in English using correct grammar.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate percentages.
Must be able to react quickly and appropriately in an emergency situation.
Bilingual in English/Spanish preferred, but not mandatory.


You're not a true ninja until you're using the right weapons. Otherwise, you're just some weirdo in black who lurks in the shadows. There's someone like that in every city alleyway. If you want to really stand out, well, this weapons kit isn't for you, since ninjas aren't supposed to stand out. Duh. That's the opposite of what ninjas do. That's like Ninja 101. Go back and review.
But if you want to be a really awesome ninja, then this Toy Ninja Weapons kit is perfect for you! It comes with a 31-inch gray sword with gold molded handle and sheath, a black and gray sais knife, two gray ninja stars and a black 12-inch set of nunchuks. You'll be prepared for any battle with this Toy Ninja Weapons kit!
Had to have it for the costume!
Having a great time with it!


Salaxy is a salary payment operator. What does it mean for 3rd party developers and services? How can you integrate it into your service?
Salary payment is a complicated process if you start implementing it yourself from the scratch. You need to have, among many things, payments, digital identification, reporting interfaces to various authorities and archive for documents.
We have been developing our platform since 2013. First, we designed and implemented consumer service for household salary payment in Finland. Palkkaus.fi service was opened 2014 and it currently has more than 10 000 users. Since 2015 we have been developing Salaxy platform. All the new functionality of salary payment is available for 3rd party services via open APIs. Palkkaus.fi is nowadays just one of the services utilising the platform.
Salaxy as a brand is B2B brand. When you integrate salary payment into your service Salaxy is shown only as salary payment operator, it could be shown as "powered by Salaxy" depending on your preference. Typically user interface makes clear distinction when responsibility is moved to Salaxy from the host service.
Legal responsibility of salary payment process will be on Salaxy. End-users are digitally identified and they must give power of attorney to Salaxy to handle their salary payment related processes. Net salary payment can also be transferred by the host service itself if preferred.
Salaxy platform provides an easy way to add the whole process of salary payment and employment framework into service, mobile application or server-side process.
The APIs provide methods for salary calculation, salary payment, taxation (withholding tax), pension payments (TyEL, YEL), unemployment insurance (TVR), accident insurance, and compulsory health care services. Salaxy has most common collective labour agreements (TES ), as well. Our TES model makes it easy to add new agreements when needed. Platform also provides accounting reports and more related services.
Currently, Salaxy offers Finnish salary payment service out-of-the-box. Our intend is to support other countries, starting with Scandinavian countries.
Salaxy is based on tested and widely used technologies. We want to keep it open and easily extendable. It is modular and offers different possibilities for integration. You can use directly low-level APIs or Angular components and other higher level functionalities, depending on your own architecture and needs.
Our customers are online banks, internet service and app developers, private employment agencies, media houses, and job portals. Please let us know what is your case and we will help you!
Salaxy helps platform customers to offer efficient and real-time salary payment as part of their own user experience. For more information about publicly available customers references go to our Customers site.
Typically, there is no need for a long integration project. You can start integrating functionalities to your service module by module. We recommend to first implement a working UI demo and then integrate APIs into your live service.
Check the Developer Site for APIs and documentation.
If you want to hear more, do not hesitate to contact us!
Briox-taloushallinto Salaxyn käyttäjäksiNew Innovations in Financial Services?


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Our Members Danilo Türk and Yves Leterme discuss in Brussels about the future of democracy and the new global challenges.
Democracy cannot be taken for granted. It has to be protected and supported by all means, at the domestic and international level, harnessing its capacity for self-correction and innovation. The world is facing complex global challenges that require agile and effective responses from their governments and institutions. The capacity to respond to issues such as the rise of authoritarianism, tragically illustrated by the war in Ukraine, or pandemics such as COVID, will determine citizens trust in democracy all over the world and have a direct impact on its long-term survival.
This session will be devoted to identifying mechanisms to improve democracy's ability to address these crises more efficiently while preserving its most basic values including rule of law and human rights by exploring three basic pillars of action: responsible leadership, resilient institutions and digital democracy. In this exchange panellists will draw from the recommendations of Club de Madrid's Annual Policy Dialogue 2021 "Rethinking Democracy" as well as it's "Global Commission on Democracy and Emergencies".
Welcoming Words: María Elena Agüero, Secretary-General of Club de Madrid; and Sam van der Staak, Head of International IDEA's Europe Programme.
Speakers: Danilo Türk, President of Slovenia (2007-2012) and President of Club de Madrid; Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium (2008,2009-2011) and Member of Club de Madrid, and Antonella Valmorbida, President of European Partnership for Democracy and Secretary General of ALDA.
Closing words: Ambassador Manuel Alabart, Secretary General of INCIPE.
Facilitator: Marilyn Neven, Programme Manager of International IDEA.
« Two Club de Madrid Members are part of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism
Club de Madrid stands with the people of Ukraine »


For those unfamiliar with the visionary British 'Logical Fantasy' author John Wyndham, triffids are genetically-engineered mobile, carnivorous plants. Standing at least seven foot (over two metres) tall, and clumsily propelled by three leg-like roots, triffids share with more prosaic vegetables the ability to grow through exposure to sunlight and rainwater, and collecting nutrients from soil. However, triffids also have the ability to lash out at animals (including humans) with a long whorl, lacerating the victim, whilst delivering a poisonous dose strong enough to kill a grown man. These biological wonders then slowly digest parts of the rotting carcass.
In The Day of the Triffids, the Soviet created flesh-eating hybrids, are received in the West like a Trojan Horse. Despite the lethal nature of triffids, their cultivation is encouraged on an industrial scale, since triffid-oil has health-giving properties, as well as many profitable applications. When almost everybody on Earth is rendered sightless after viewing mysterious, and hypnotic green 'comets', blind panic ensues, and the triffids seize their day.
The Day of the Triffids is thoughtful, compelling, and written in a style that compliments Wyndham's rich imagination. Only the contemporary dialogue gives an indication that the story was penned six decades ago. Zombie aficionados may perceive parallels between triffids and the undead. Zombies and triffids share in common a graceless style of movement, a taste for human flesh, and a tendency to gather in large numbers. Both creatures show little regard for their individual safety, and killing one will not deter others. As with zombies, triffids can sustain a great deal of physical damage. One must also consider the differences; triffids display collective intelligence, are a communicative species, and though extremely attuned to sound, can not see.
Another aspect of Wyndham's classic, that will resonate with zombiephiles is the presence of countless hungry souls completely unaccustomed to blindness. They make easy targets for hunting triffids, but also themselves resemble cumbersome zombies. When the lead characters are trapped in a motionless car, the pawing mob of blinded people descend on the vehicle with zombie-like menace.
As for the oft-debated question 'Zombies versus Triffids?' I would come down on the triffid side of the fence. In many respects zombies are a triffid's natural prey, since Zombies are beasts rarely given to stealth. Furthermore, triffids feed on decomposing meat, which is essentially what zombies are. The poison is designed to kill humans, which are roughly the same size as zombies. They also possess greater powers of reasoning than their partially-alive opponents. Nevertheless, triffids do have an Achilles heel, namely their dread of fire. One flaming zombie would force a hundred triffids into febrile retreat.


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St. Anna
This large and beautiful church is near the Lions gate, and adjacent to the site of the pools of Bethesda. It is one of the few surviving large structures from the Crusaders period.
Home > Sites > Jerusalem > St. Anna
* General view
* Entrance
* Interior
* Crypt
This large and beautiful church is near the Lions gate, close to the north side of the temple mount, and adjacent to the site of the pools of Bethesda. It is one of the few surviving large structures from the 12th century Crusaders period. It was built over the ruins of a 5th century AD Byzantine church.
The church is dedicated to Anna and Joachim, who according to tradition lived here, and the site where their daughter, Virgin Mary, was born in a cave which is located under the basilica.
An aerial view is seen below showing the location of the church.
The water systems in early times
The Church of St. Anna was constructed in the area of the Bethesda water reservoirs, which supplied water to the temple mount. The first pool was constructed during the first temple, based on a dam that collected water from the valley and directed it to the temple. During the 3rd century BC a second pool was constructed, which later was expanded and turned into a popular healing center.
Herod the Great constructed a new water system, making the two pools obsolete. In 44AD Herod Agrippa constructed a new wall, which blocked the water entirely, and so the pools were converted for other use. Until the 5th century the area was converted to a baths center, and a Roman temple was erected.
Byzantine period – the first church
When Juvenal was Patriarch of Jerusalem (422-458), a large basilica (45M x 18M) was constructed in the area of the pools. It was supported by seven arches, and was built over the dike and pools. It was dedicated to "St. Mary of the Probatic".
Persian and Arab period – destruction
In 614 the Persians partially damaged and burned the structure. It was later repaired, but then totally destroyed by the Arab rulers in 1010.
Crusaders period – reconstruction
The Crusaders rebuilt the ruined Byzantine church after conquering the city in 1099, and added a chapel above it. It became a monastery.
Crusaders period – St Anna
In 1140 a large Church was built in a new site south of the pools, where the present Church stands today, and above the caves which were according to Crusaders tradition the birthplace of Mary. It was dedicated to St. Anna, Mary's mother.
Mamelukes
In 1192 Saladin captured the city and converted St. Anna to a school. Later, during the Mamelukes period, the school was a famous institute.
The Ottomans let the structure decay, and only in 1878 the church was returned to Christian ownership, under French management.
(a) General View:
The church of St. Anna is located near the excavations of Bethesda, which date to a period starting from the 2nd century BC (Hasmonean Kings) through the 12-13th century AD (Crusaders period). The photo below shows a section of the excavations of the baths and the Byzantine basilica, and the large church of St. Anna behind it.
Click on the photos to view in higher resolution…
A western view of the Church is seen below, with the main and side entrances. This is a 900 year old Crusaders structure, one of the largest standing Crusaders structures in Israel.
(b) Entrance:
The door at the center is seen in detail below. A 5-line Arabic inscription, dated to 1192, tells about how Saladin, the conqueror of Jerusalem, converted the church to a school. During the following Mamlukes period, the school was one of the most famous institutes.
The side door is seen here behind the well. A net covers the entrance, and a small stuffed crow is located on the left lower corner in order to scare away the birds.
(c) Interior:
The structure is based on three halls of the same size, separated from each other by two rows of columns, each with a base shaped as a cross. The base of the north and south walls and its columns are part of the Byzantine church, while the rest of the structure is dated to the Crusaders period (12th century).
The raised main altar is located in the center round apse, and there are two smaller round apses on each side. Above the altar in the center apse is an eastern window. Higher, in the third floor, another small window is slightly off-center – to symbolize the fallen head of Jesus on the cross.
(d) The crypt:
On the south side of the hall is a staircase that leads to the crypt. It was originally a cave, which according to an eastern Crusader tradition it was the birth place of Mary. In the photo below the natural surface of the cave is seen on the right side, while on the left is an altar dedicated to Mary.
Inside the cave is a mural, with a scene of Anna and Joachim and their newborn child – Mary. The Greek initials on the top-left side is "ΜΡ ΘΥ" – Where MP is Mary in Greek, referring to Virgin Mary, and "ΘΥ" is "God-bearer".
A statue of Mary is located on the north side, as part of the altar dedicated to her birth place.
Another view of the charming chamber.
In another corner of the crypt is another altar, as seen below.
Turkish inscriptions in Jerusalem (pdf)
Greek Initials and Monograms
"Anna" inscription in Suq Lahamin street
Etymology (behind the name):
Anna – from Hebrew: Hannah (Khannah), which is derived from the root word "Khen" (charm) and the suffix "Ah" (God). It means "Charm of God" or "Grace of God".Anna was the mother of Virgin Mary, wife of Joachim, who according to a Crusaders tradition lived in Jerusalem at this site. Another tradition positioned their earlier dwellings in Sepphoris.
Joachim – from Hebrew: Jeho (God) + Yakim (will establish). Joachim was the father of Virgin Mary.
BibleWalks.com – walk with us through the sites of the Holy Land
Sebils <<<—previous Jerusalem site–<<< All Sites >>>—>>> Bethesda
This page was last updated on Aug 20, 2008


Lucrative small companies can quickly fail if they lack money. Likewise, struggling unprof small businesses can be kept afloat for a very long time if they have a good money balance. In other words, money is the life blood of American small companies.
Naturally, when times are tough, failure to obtain capital to pay day-to-day business expenses typically becomes a source of concern, anxiety and diversion for small company owners.
Regrettably, the majority of huge city and village conventional lenders have stiff and strict criteria that their clients should meet.
Companies have a different credit score from the business owner. Even if business owner has a high credit rating, the business may not have a recognized credit report (specifically if recently established). Therefore, potential lending institutions have to provide services with that take business owner's personal credit into factor to consider and that accepts candidates with less than perfect credit.
Often, physical lenders only service businesses doing 20k or more in regular monthly revenue. This disqualifies smaller sized businesses doing 10k-15k in month-to-month income.
Because of the stringent previously mentioned qualification criteria imposed by traditional lending institutions, a growing number of entrepreneur are relying on the myriad of online financing options now offered to small business owners in Fort Smith, Arkansas.


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Quick, Let's Get Out of Here
Imprint: Puffin
Series: Puffin Poetry
The yucky things your brother does, the annoying things your parents say, the funny things you feel.
Michael Rosen knows all about YOU!
A much-loved classic of family life from the brilliant Michael Rosen & Quentin Blake.
Michael Rosen is a poet with a superb ear for the rhythms of language
One of our most popular writers - the champion for every bored, overdrilled, tested-to-tears pupil in the land
I think poetry for children needs to be saved from the cold dissection of right and wrong answers and put back into rooms and halls full of wonder, compassion, haunting, laughter, music and rhythm. We need to hear its many cultures, many voices, many sounds. This is about wide and diverse participation. Diverse verse for all!
Michael Rosen, Children's Laureate 2007-2009
Silly Verse for Kids
Eleanor Farjeon
Herbert Farjeon
I Like This Poem
Kaye Webb
Antony Maitland
Talking Turkeys
Benjamin Zephaniah
Poetry Pie
The Puffin Book of Utterly Brilliant Poetry
Brian Patten
You Wait Till I'm Older Than You!
Gargling with Jelly
Michael Rosen is one of the best known figures, not only in the children's book world but also the British arts scene. His first book of children's poems was published in 1974, and he has gone on to write numerous and award-winning children's books such as Quick, Let's get Out of Here, We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Chocolate Cake. Alongside this he performs, teaches, lectures, presents Word of Mouth on BBC Radio 4 and reviews books for the Guardian. He was Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and founded the Roald Dahl Funny Prize in 2008 as part of his laureateship to honour books that make children laugh!
Michael Rosen's top tips for performing poems and stories
Bestselling author and master storyteller Michael Rosen shares his top tips on how to bring a story to life, from making silly noises to adding amazing sound effects.


Four personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) have died on Wednesday in another ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers on the International border in Chambliyal sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district. One among the four is BSF assistant commandant.
The deceased have been identified as Assistant Commandant Jatinder Singh, Sub Inspector Rajesh Kumar, ASI Ram Niwas and Constable Hans Raj.
All the soldiers were of 62 Battalion of the BSF. Sub Inspector Zantal Sil, Constable Sujan Dass and Constable Vikas Kumar were injured in the firing and are under treatment at Military Hospital in Jammu.
The ceasefire violation by Pakistan comes after Indian Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Anil Chauhan and his Pakistani counterpart Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza held a special talk and agreed to implement the ceasefire pact of 2003 in "letter and spirit".


Whether you agree with Myers-Briggs personality profiling or not, like fellow BBC'er Ian Forrester I have found them a useful frame of reference from which to discuss my personality, because I see similarities between my perception of me, and the classification.
I – Introversion preferred to extraversion: INTPs tend to be quiet and reserved. They generally prefer interacting with a few close friends rather than a wide circle of acquaintances, and they expend energy in social situations (whereas extraverts gain energy).
Is this bad news for me? Introversion can be seen as a negative in today's hyper-communicative world, especially for a team-based work environment. However I don't think it need be a problem in an organisation that prioritises abstract thinking and creativity, because introverts are often very strong in both. The technology and R&D side of the BBC, I would argue, is such an organisation.
I know a few people from Imperial College London, one of the top universities in the world for Computer Science (and Science Technology Engineering and Medicine in general) and have found it full of technically gifted introverts. Now, I didn't go to Imperial myself, but it does seem that there is a correlation between introversion and high amounts of technical ability. I have found this also with a lot of software engineers that I have worked with.
I am not saying necessarily that all good software engineers are extreme introverts, in fact I would say that this is untrue in a number of cases. This is because Agile software engineering often uses techniques such as pair programming from Extreme Programming, and it helps to have extroversion when dealing with hyper-social practices such as programming as a pair every day all day (which I have done, and found it very draining).
In fact, I have noticed that technical ability is less important than your ability to work in a team at the BBC. I generally have fairly good social skills and tend to like introverts so I personally have not had a problem with dealing with people who were very introverted but were technically quite brilliant. However it was clear that these types of people just didn't seem to fit in quite as well in BBC teams with high collaboration aspects. I think this may be down to cultural fit rather than something we can extrapolate over all software engineering organisations.
We found that programmers deviated from a reference group in that they are lower on Extraversion, lower on Emotional Stability, and higher on Openness to Experience [Hannay et al. 2010]. See also [Moore 1991], [Smith 1989], [Woodruff 1979], [Capretz 2003], and [Turley and Bieman 1995] for related results. Programmers are also more homogeneous than the population as a whole; that is, programmers vary less in personality than do people in general.
We investigated .. in the context of 198 professional programmers pair programming over one day [Hannay et al. 2010]. We found that personality was a weak predictor of pair programming performance. Even crude measures of expertise, task complexity, and even the country in which the programmers where employed had greater predictive power than personality. The study also included an analysis of personality on individual programming and whether the effect on performance of pairing up had anything to do with personality. Again, expertise and task complexity are stronger predictors than personality.
In ethnographic studies focusing on personality issues and disruption in software engineering team collaboration, it was found that disruption is bad, but lack of debate (which is a mild form of disruption) is worse [Karn and Cowling 2006], [Karn and Cowling 2005]. It is argued that pairs or teams with personalities that are too alike will lead to lack of debate. This finds empirical confirmation in [Williams et al. 2006] and [Walle and Hannay 2009]. In particular, differences in Extraversion has the largest effect: pairs whose peers have different levels of Extraversion collaborate more intensely (that is, engage in more discussion) than those with more similar levels.
She is saying that a pair of extroverted and introverted personalities collaborate more strongly than a homogenous pair. To me, this is good evidence that introversion and extroversion have their place in modern software development teams across the industry, and both types of personality should be culturally valued for collaboration, not just extroverts, even at hyper-collaborative organisations such as the BBC.


Over the past couple of weeks, following the events in Charlottesville, Virginia, there has been significant discussion in social and traditional media about various technology companies removing websites from their servers, or otherwise making them unavailable.
As the operators of Canada's Internet domain, we at CIRA are getting numerous inquiries about our stance and policies on this issue. I'd like to use this opportunity to make a couple of clarifications about how CIRA works and what CIRA actually does.
First, and perhaps most importantly, CIRA has no involvement on the content of .CA websites. Our role is to manage the registration of the domain name and to ensure that Registrants (those that register .CA domain names) and Registrars (the organizations that sell the .CA domain to Canadians) meet CIRA's legal and policy requirements, such as Canadian Presence Requirements. We are also responsible for the safe, secure and stable operation of the underlying domain name system (DNS). We are one part of Canada's Internet ecosystem, working with registrars and web hosting companies who interact directly with Canadian organizations and individuals who purchase a .CA domain and host relevant content. Policing content is not what we do.
I've written before about an open and free Internet, and I stand firm in this belief. I must take this stance even when it supports content that differs from my personal beliefs. Open means open for all.
This doesn't mean that I don't struggle with it. I find many of the websites in question repugnant — websites that express derogatory views of people based on their religious beliefs, race, gender or sexual orientation. They go against everything I believe in and the values I teach my children.
But I stand firm that the Internet must remain free and open, and taking actions to remove websites, regardless of how repellent the content, would go directly against this approach. A free and open Internet precludes my personal beliefs related to its content, and I couldn't continue to lead CIRA, an organization committed to managing Canada's domain, if I didn't support this viewpoint for all Canadians, even those I disagree with. One individual should not have the power to make these decisions based on personal beliefs or as an emotional reaction. CIRA has policies in place to ensure this can't happen.
There is, however, a clear line to this open and free Internet: when laws are broken.
CIRA will assist authorities to remove sites that are breaking the law, be that through hate speech, fraud and others, when presented with a Canadian court order or other judicial instrument. For example, a .CA domain was recently seized by the Edmonton Police Service. This fraudulent site was stealing financial information and money from people, and through a court order, CIRA assisted the Edmonton Police. This is a prime example of a line that was crossed. The proper authorities were involved, a judicial order was sent, and CIRA took appropriate action. We support the ideals of an open Internet but not at the expense of the laws of the land.
To those who reached out to us concerned that we may be participating in what they feel is censorship, you can rest assured we are not. And to those who would like to see us engage in this more heavily by taking down hateful sites, we would ask you to examine these sites and if you feel they are promoting hate speech or breaking the law, contact your local authorities and work with them first. The processes exist for CIRA, as well as our channel partners and Canadian hosting companies, to work with the legal system to prevent criminal activities in our digital space.
An open and free Internet includes the zealots that spout outlandish ideas, and on the other end of the spectrum, cat videos. More importantly, it includes helpful information, art, science and transformative, democratizing thinking. And that is worth protecting, even it if means protecting the others as well.
While I don't agree with the content of all websites that hold a .CA, I support their right to exist as long as they remain within the bounds of Canadian law. Sites that are racist, sexist or homophobic make sense to many of us to take down. But just because that makes sense to you or me it doesn't make it right.
Take the Miller test (read up on it here), which is the United States Supreme Court's three prong obscenity test. One of those prongs relates to the community within which the content exists. The Internet muddies the water here. While content may be published in one community, it can be consumed in another. So how do you define "community" in the Internet age? What is offensive to some, is not to others.
The Internet connects us all, across Canada and beyond. It includes divergent opinions and perspectives on many different issues. It is not for me or CIRA as a whole to decide which opinions are right or wrong, but rather, it is our responsibility to stand by the continuation of an open and free Internet — while also working to protect the .CA space by working within — and helping enforce — Canadian law.
>There is, however, a clear line to this open and free Internet: when laws are broken.
Sounds good, but what about administrative law? Such as a local city council and its ordinances.
"Between the Mutual Film and the Joseph Burstyn decisions local, state, and city censorship boards had the power to edit or ban films. City and state censorship ordinances are nearly as old as the movies themselves, and such ordinances banning the public exhibition of "immoral" films proliferated."
"Administrative law expanded greatly during the twentieth century, as legislative bodies worldwide created more government agencies to regulate the SOCIAL, economic and political spheres of HUMAN INTERACTION."
So when the 5 members of my city council decide they do not like a website, that means you will allow them to create and ordinance to have it dezoned?
This threat is a very real one. I sat in a city council meeting in which great deception was taking place in regards to a phantom tax increase, the city moving a cost directly to residents and off its books during a tax increase. Since the two were happening at the same time the city avoided acknowledging the cost shift as a tax increase. Some of us caught the scam. One went before the council and was very articulate as to his concern and that he'd be running against the council chair in the next election. The council chairs response was to call (scream) this individual a "terrorist" in front of everybody ... To which a number of people went to the podium and demanded the chair apologize which he eventually did.
In another meeting the city council past an ordinance to prevent its judge from being sued, that is to keep him from being held accountable for his actions.
I feel the term "law" is not as clear as you suggest, or would like it to be.
Fact is websites do not create the desire for their content.
The desire for their content creates the website, and the traffic which then causes it to grow.
Cause and effect are being flipped around. Unless root causes are addressed, dezoning a website will never eliminate the root cause (desire for its content), what it does is hide the problem so people feel good and live under the illusion that there is no problem since that can't easily see it. But the toxin remains.
Local Time: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 09:03 PM PDT – Page Load: 0.4287 Sec.


It is rather hard to fight such infections like Freefoam Ransomware because it might be problematic to reverse the infection's consequences. Normally, when we battle potential security issues and certain infections, we can restore whatever they have ruined and help users protect their systems. However, that is not the same with Freefoam Ransomware. We can remove the infection, but it might not possible to decrypt the encrypted files because we need a public decryption tool that might not be released in the end. This is when we realize the importance of system backup, and we seriously hope that you have one.
A system backup can be an external hard drive where you keep most of your important files. You may also have a cloud storage server somewhere. Also, quite often users save a lot of their files on their mobile devices and their mail inboxes and outboxes. What we mean to say is that you probably your files (or at least part of them) saved somewhere, so you should not scramble to pay the ransom fee to retrieve them because paying might not even work in the first place. While there are ransomware programs that are known to have issued the necessary decryption keys, quite often they "die out" before you manage to transfer the payment.
Not to mention that paying these criminals would only encourage them to create more similar infections, so you should not give them what they want. Instead, please focus on removing Freefoam Ransomware from your computer. For that, you will have to remove the ransom note, and then delete all the files you have recently downloaded on your PC. There is a very good chance that one of these files was the program's installer, and you launch the infection when you opened the file.
It is rather disturbing to know that users download and install such programs themselves. They are not aware of that, but if you find out more about ransomware distribution methods, you should be able to avoid similar intruders in the future. In fact, most of the ransomware applications are distributed in spam email attachments. It means that whenever you download and open an attachment you received from unknown senders, there is a risk of getting infected with malware.
If you think that an email looks suspicious, you can always choose to delete it. Not to mention, if you receive a financial report from a bank where you do not have an account, it is clearly a scam you cannot fall for. Finally, if you feel that you open an attachment, but you cannot be sure of its reliability, simply scan it with a security tool. If the file is malicious, your antispyware application will notify you immediately.
But what happens if Freefoam Ransomware actually does manage to enter your system? Well, you need to ignore the ransom note and look for ways to get rid of the infection. It will be easy to ignore the note if you do not speak Russian. The message is displayed entirely in the Russian language, and this allows us to assume that the infection is intended for the Russian market. Yet, perhaps a rogue spam mail reaches you and other users outside of the Russian-speaking countries circle. If that happens, you will definitely recognize the ransomware pattern, especially if you have heard of it before. And you must have heard of it because of the WannaCry Ransomware that made global headlines recently.
So when you get down to removing Freefoam Ransomware, please remember that you should transfer the healthy files from your backup back to your PC only when you have deleted all the ransomware-related files. If you think that you may miss something accidentally, please do not hesitate to use a powerful security program to scan your computer. It will help you locate all the malicious files and you will be able to terminate them immediately.
For more questions, please do not hesitate to leave us a comment. Our team is always ready to answer your queries because we also believe that your computer's security should be one of your top priorities. It might be challenging to ensure it all on your own, so if you need any help, please let us know.
Remove the most recent files.
Delete the MESSAGE.txt ransom note.
* Or any other location where you store downloaded files.
Quick & tested solution for Freefoam Ransomware removal.