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Photographs of Alfred Marshall, Nehemiah Bartley and Charles Henry Marshall. Map of the Turon goldfields. Supply and Demand graph.
Alfred Marshall, the renowned Professor of Political Economy at Cambridge University, was Charles Henry Marshall's nephew and he, by all accounts, was Alfred's favourite uncle. The Essays on Economics and Economists by Ronald Coase, which discuss Alfred and his family, therefore inevitably come up when one researches the Marshalls. Coase's standing as Clifton R. Musser Professor of Economics at Chicago University and a Nobel Laureate has meant that the Essays have been relied upon by others when writing about Alfred's family. The most notable of these was Prof. Peter Groenewegen for the compilation of his seminal biography of Alfred Marshall, A Soaring Eagle: Alfred Marshall (1842-1924). These two works were then relied on by the editors of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for their entry for Alfred Marshall.
Unfortunately, Coase's Essays contain a number of factual errors and misconceptions of the Marshall family and these have flowed through into the other works. The Marshall story needed to be corrected and updated and we set out to do that.
Because of the standing of Coase and Groenewegen, we felt that we needed to have a meticulously researched rebuttal and historic update published in a peer reviewed journal. It was a difficult three year project, but we achieved our objective. Our paper The Wrong Marshall: Notes on the Marshall family in response to biographies of the economist, Alfred Marshall has been published by History of Political Economy, Volume 52, Issue 2, April 2020, pages 239-273.
Professor Ronald H. Coase included his essays on Alfred Marshall in his book, Essays on Economics and Economists. Because of Coase's standing as a Nobel Laureate and Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, these essays have been relied on by scholars, authors, and historians researching Alfred Marshall and the wider Marshall family, including Professor Peter Groenewegen for his seminal biography A Soaring Eagle: Alfred Marshall 1842-1924. This research shows that the supposed meeting between Charles Henry Marshall, Alfred's uncle, and Nehemiah Bartley on the Turon goldfields, on which Coase based his claims of a deceitful and self-aggrandising family, did not take place. Alfred did know where he was born and was happy to say so. Alfred's grandfather, William, was not a forgotten business failure. Alfred's father, also William, was not disliked and ostracised by his family despite being cantankerous and possibly brutal. He and his wife Rebecca and their children, including Alfred, were embraced and supported by the wider family. Alfred was, in fact, a product of the family much as described by his wife, Mary Paley Marshall, and John Maynard Keynes. This does not diminish his accomplishments.
The article is available from the History of Political Economy website for a fee of US$15.00 and can be downloaded HERE
Thanks to Tim Benthall, Professor Kathleen Coleman (James Loeb Professor of the Classics at Harvard University), Dr. Elizabeth Feltscheer, Professor Marian Quartly, and Alice Younger MA for reading this document and for their constructive criticism at various stages of its progress.
The Wrong Marshall – Extended Article
The published paper, because of editorial requirements, omitted some of the story and a lot of fine detail that is interesting to family and family historians. We have added the details as well as pictures, maps, and copies of interesting documents. We also have additional research that was not ready for the paper. This particularly relates to Alfred's mother's family, the Olivers; Alfred's birthplace of Bermondsey; and Alfred's grandfather, William's, affairs on Mauritius.
This article is a republication of the published paper with additions. The republication is with permission of Duke University Press and the republished information remains Copyright © 2020 Duke University Press. Their requirements for licensing and subsidiary rights can be found HERE. The Copyright status of all copied documents, photographs, pictures, diagrams and maps is shown beneath them. Other material is © 2020 Megan Stevens and © 2020 Alun Stevens – see copyright conditions. If you wish to use any material from this article please contact us.
The article is extensively referenced. References are presented in the format (Name Date, Page). Endnotes are presented as 1 and are used to present extra information and explanations. Clicking on a reference or endnote will open a separate window that will show the reference with links to the underlying documents where available. Clicking the ◄ button will close the window and take you back to the article. Some browsers might block this, in which case, simply close the window yourself. Some text is 'hot linked'. These links will take you directly to reference material available on the web. For instance, many place names are hot linked and will take you to a map showing that location. Most pictures will expand in a separate window if you click on them.
2. Professors Coase and Groenewegen
3. Turon goldfields
4. The clerical connection
5. The halt, the maimed and the blind
6. Alfred's grandfather: William Marshall (1780-1828)
7. The orphans
8. Alfred's father and mother: William Marshall (1812-1901) and Rebecca Oliver (1817-1878)
9. A supportive family
10. The Olivers
11. Alfred's birthplace
©Alun Stevens 2020


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In geometry, the distance set of a collection of points is the set of distances between distinct pairs of points. Thus, it can be seen as the generalization of a difference set, the set of distances (and their negations) in collections of numbers.

Several problems and results in geometry concern distance sets, usually based on the principle that a large collection of points must have a large distance set (for varying definitions of "large"):

Falconer's conjecture is the statement that, for a collection of points in -dimensional space that has Hausdorff dimension larger than , the corresponding distance set has nonzero Lebesgue measure. Although partial results are known, the conjecture remains unproven.
The Erdős–Ulam problem asks whether it is possible to have a dense set in the Euclidean plane whose distance set consists only of rational numbers. Again, it remains unsolved.
Fermat's theorem on sums of two squares characterizes the numbers in the distance set of the two-dimensional integer lattice: they are the square roots of integers whose prime factorization does not contain an odd number of copies of any prime congruent to 3 mod 4. Analogously, Legendre's three-square theorem characterizes the distance set of the three-dimensional integer lattice, and Lagrange's four-square theorem characterizes the distance set of integer lattices in four and higher dimensions as being the square roots of integers without any additional constraints. In lattices of five or more dimensions, every subset of the lattice with nonzero upper density has a distance set containing the squares of an infinite arithmetic progression.
According to the Erdős–Anning theorem, every infinite set of points in the Euclidean plane that does not lie on one line has a non-integer in its distance set.
Square grids of points have distance sets of sublinear size, in contrast to points in general position whose distance set is quadratic in size. However, according to the 2015 solution of the Erdős distinct distances problem by Larry Guth and Nets Katz, the distance set of any finite collection of points in the Euclidean plane is only slightly sublinear, nearly as large as the given collection. In particular, only a finite collection of points can have a finite distance set.
A Golomb ruler is a finite set of points on a line such that no two pairs of points have the same distance. Sophie Piccard claimed that no two Golomb rulers have the same distance sets. The claim is incorrect, but there is only one counterexample, a pair of six-point Golomb rulers with a shared distance set.
The equilateral dimension of a metric space is the largest size of a collection of points whose distance set has only a single element. Kusner's conjecture states that the equilateral dimension of a -dimensional space with the Manhattan distance is exactly , but this remains unproven.
A 2-distance set is a set of points for which the set of distinct mutual distances has cardinality exactly 2. An example of a 2-distance set is the set of vertices of the regular octahedron. There are various results about 2-distance sets, including a classification of all 2-distance sets in dimension 4. Every 2-distance set is an isosceles set, a set in which all triangles are isosceles. As a partial converse, every isosceles set that cannot be decomposed into two perpendicular subspaces is a 2-distance set.

Distance sets have also been used as a shape descriptor in computer vision.

See also
Distance matrix

References

Metric geometry

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The long-awaited and highly anticipated sequel to Disney and Pixar's "The Incredibles" is finally here, and despite the decade-long wait, it picks up right where the original left off. Except, this time, Elastigirl is leading the fight against the bad guys, while Mr. Incredible plays the stay-at-home-dad, and he isn't too thrilled. "Incredibles 2" hits theaters June 15.
Another gender-bent film, "Ocean's 8" takes its own spin on the "Ocean's" film series. This time, though, with an all-female cast that couldn't be any more perfect: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter and Awkwafina. Yes, it's a must. "Ocean's 8" hits theaters June 8.
Ryan Reynold's comedic superhero is back and better than ever *sigh *. This time around, Deadpool will assemble his own team of avengers to save the day, and of course, do what he does best: break the fourth wall and talk to the audience. "Deadpool 2" hits theaters May 18.
The queen of comedy Melissa McCarthy is back with an upcoming film "Life of the Party." .She stars as a mother who decides to press reset and head back to school to get the college experience – but it just happens to be the same college her daughter attends. It hits theaters May 11.


A note from us: We hold the very minimum of data. For Jubilee Lakes only your name & town as on the fishery signing in sheet. From sales through the Anglers Lodge online we would hold name, address and possibly if you have provided them, telephone number or email address. We don't hold any payment details in any form. Payments through our website are processed directly through either Worldpay or PayPal and we cannot access any of those details.
We do in any case adhere to the policies below.
For administrative reasons, customer data and email subscription data may be passed to and stored securely with third party service providers located outside the EEA (European Economic Area). This is done to backup and preserve your data where it is needed to carry on offering a service to you. We wouldn't use this facility but we list it here in case Worldpay, PayPal or Barclaycard or other providers do.


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Engineer's SPK (Software ). Fire 6, Fire 5, Fire 4, Fire 3 and Dimension tools.
Keyswitch kit. Keyswitch and 2 keys to mount into DX series control panels.
Single loop base card for DX1 control panels. (pcb 124-336).
Bezel kit for DX1e-20S. Flush mounting, 300 x 435mm (H x W).
Bezel kit for DX1e-40M, DX2e-40M. Flush mounting, 435 x 435mm (H x W).


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Webcam surveillance faces backlash
Huge call centre company announces plans to closely monitor workers at home
Global call centre company Teleperformance has alerted employees in the U.K. that it will use webcams to monitor workers who work from home.
The company has told some staff that it will install specialist webcams to check if remote workers are violating rules. The cameras are connected to an artificial intelligence system (ANI) that will randomly scan for breaches of work rules during a shift, according to the Guardian.
The webcam system "monitors and tracks real-time employee behaviour and detects any violations to pre-set business rules, and sends real-time alerts to managers to take corrective actions immediately," according to the report.
A still photo of the breach will be sent to a manager and the file will be stored up to 20 days. Possible breaches include "missing from desk," "detecting an idle user," "unauthorized mobile phone usage" and another person being in the workspace area.
Union resistance
In January, Albania's information and data protection commissioner released a decision stating that Teleperformance could not use webcams to spy on Albanian workers in their homes.
The finding came after workers' union Solidariteti filed a complaint against the invasive practice of camera surveillance late in 2020, says UNI Global Union in the U.K. After Teleperformance went to a work-from-home model due to the pandemic, it installed webcams in Albania but some management and workers protested against the move.
"Working from home does not mean working without rights, and the use of technology to monitor workers should be regulated by governments and collectively bargained with unions to protect workers' privacy," said Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union.
"Unfortunately, Teleperformance continues to steamroll workers' rights and refuses to negotiate with its unions."
The use of video surveillance by employers in the workplace has been a contentious issue for decades, says one legal expert, in addressing what's allowed by employers in Canada.
Is surveillance about productivity?
Emerging surveillance technologies designed to help employers monitor the productivity of staff are largely viewed by the public as unreasonable and intrusive, according to a University of British Columbia study released in 2020.
Technologies that aim to capture the physical activity of employees, such as cameras and movement trackers, are viewed as slightly more intrusive than digital footprint technologies, such as email AI analysis, despite the latter collecting more useful information from a productivity standpoint.
Also, the surveillance is not associated with workers' work productivity and task achievements, but is more about monitoring them or their bodies in the environment, says "An Empirical Assessment of the Intrusiveness and Reasonableness of Emerging Work Surveillance Technologies in the Public Sector."
"Ultimately we hope employers — particularly in the public sector — take a proactive approach to engaging with employees in advance of introducing these technologies, and work with public sector unions or professional associations to make the argument for why a technology should be used," said Carey Doberstein, an assistant professor of political science at UBC who co-authored the study.
"If they can come to a joint understanding of what is appropriate and what is not, workplace complaints and legal proceedings over privacy invasions will be less frequent and less likely to disrupt morale."
Many (90 per cent) employees working from home are open to their employer having visibility into their daily productivity, according to a recent U.S. survey.
What are HR's top priorities for 2022?
Top employers look to mitigate 'algorithmic bias'
New York City looks to regulate AI hiring

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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The Australian Breastfeeding Association hires out electric breastpumps. This service is subject to availability. It is always worth discussing your expressing and storing needs with a counsellor on the Breastfeeding Helpline before contacting a breast pump hirer directly.
Each mother needs to purchase her own collection kit for hygiene reasons. These are available for purchase at the time of hire.


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Home List of Dinosaurs Gastonia
Quick Gastonia Facts
About as long as a train car
Weighed as much as a Black Rhinoceros
Ate mainly low lying plants and leaves
Gastonia was hunted by Utahraptor
Ran at a speed of about 8 miles per hour
Was probably a herd animal
Gastonia Pictures
About Gastonia
Gastonia is an herbivorous dinosaur which lived approximately 125-130 million years ago during the early Cretaceous Period. It was first discovered in 1989 in Grand County, Utah and later named by James Kirkland in 1998. He named this dinosaur after the discoverer of the species—paleontologists Robert Gaston. The remains of this dinosaur were found in the same quarry as that of the Utahraptor, which makes many scientists postulate that this dinosaur was hunted by it.
Gastonia was about 15 feet long and weighed approximately a ton. It had a toothless beak that was common among herbivores and is good for crushing plant material. It also had a myriad of spikes all over its back—it even had tail spikes. This would have provided this dinosaur with a pretty good defense against Utahraptor or any other carnivore. It would appear that the only way a predator could inflict damage on this dinosaur would be to flip it over and attack its soft under body. Which would have been an extremely large feat for everything except the largest of carnivores.
This dinosaur is known to have lived in North America because fossils have been found in Utah. However, it is not yet known if it had lived in other places around the world. As of yet, no other fossils have been found in any other country. An interesting fact about this dinosaur is that it was one of the first fossils to have been placed in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
It was once believed that Ankylosaurs like Gastonia were solitary animals that lived and died by themselves. However, this is being contridicted by recent fossil finds. According to these finds, these dinosaurs probably lived in herds. Which would make sense because herding behavior would give them extra defense against predators.
Gastonia by Jenn Cunningham
Gastonia by Rob
Gastonia by Fabio Pastori
Liopleurodon
Dire Wolf
Titanoboa


Choose a hotel with good transport links to the city centre attractions. You'll probably be going out at night, so don't leave yourself the prospect of a long walk home in the dark. Check the location closely. Don't rely on the hotel's description of its environs. There are a number of hotel review websites which will give you a steer on the local situation. Read between the lines as not everyone is as straightforward as they might be. Lively can mean noisy, interesting can mean peculiar, mixed can mean scary, quiet can mean downright dull. I chose the Hotel Sport www.hotel-paris-sport.com a 2* establishment just half a block from Michel Bizot metro station. It's not luxury but at €59 per night single (€63 double) for an en-suite room with TV (no air conditioning, though) and a simple breakfast it has all you need. The couple who run the place are particularly helpful and Monsieur speaks excellent English, though he has the courtesy and sensitivity to allow you to speak French if you prefer. He is also happy for you to leave your luggage in a store room if you want to spend the last day sightseeing after you've checked out.
The Paris Metro and buses are frequent and reliable. Clever visitors buy a ticket for the day or longer. I chose the five day version for five zones (includes the airports and Versailles) of the Paris Visite ticket in advance via the internet for just £32. www.allofrance.co.uk will give you all the info you need. Some people question the value of this ticket and suggest buying a carnet of 10 single tickets for the price of 9 but I appreciated the total flexibility and all-embracing versatility of the Paris Visite. Valid all day, once you've got it you just keep using it. Don't worry if you get on the wrong route or go the wrong way. Jump off and try again at no extra cost! And if you're travelling with a friend or with family, there are a number of special offers and reductions you might find of interest. Be sure to validate the ticket properly, though, and keep it safe with all the bumf that comes with it. Spot checks by ticket inspectors are frequent on the metro and undertaken with an attitude that says, 'We're going to catch you out if we possibly can'. The inspectors are not rude, exactly (in fact, throughout my stay in Paris I never met rudeness once!), but they are visibly crestfallen when they find your ticket is entirely in order.
If you've any mobility problems, the Metro is not overly friendly. Escalators lead you down to the station concourse (a few of the deeper stations have lifts) but if you have to change lines you're likely to encounter steep flights of steps. Even for the able-bodied, carting suitcases up and down can be wearisome. Plan your journey carefully and try to avoid too many transfers below ground.
Safety-wise, the Metro seems fine. If you're at all bothered, travel in the centre of the train so when you get off at your station you won't be the last off. That way you can follow the rest of the passengers to the nearest exit.
The newer trains are fine with buttons to press to operate the doors but some older trains still have a curious metal handle which has to be flicked upwards. Watch how the locals do it. Just before the train comes to a complete halt, there's something of a united 'whoosh' of compressed air as a dozen handles are flicked in unison. After a go or two you'll look like you've been doing it all your life.
One final warning. The Metro stations are washed down with a strong urine solution overnight. At least, that what it smells like first thing.
Accept one thing: Paris is one of the great cities of Europe. There's far too much to see in just one trip, so pick and choose carefully if it's your first visit. I had four nights but tried to fit in a week's sites. I ended up exhausted. Everything I saw was marvellous but if I were to visit a second time I'd pace myself better and try to allow enough spare time to allow Paris to come to me a little more.
The Eiffel Tower is perhaps the signature building of Paris and it writes its name large on the skyline. Stand right underneath it between the four 'feet' and you'll get a real sense of its mass. You can either use the steps to the first level or book the lift to the first, second or third stages. Choose your kiosk carefully. Some cater for groups and if you get caught behind a coach party it will take forever to get your ticket. Also, don't be surprised if the kiosk shuts while you're still queuing. Sometimes it will be just for a minute while a new shift takes over - but if you see the locals fleeing the line and joining another you can be sure they've realised the staff have gone on extended leave! I booked for the third level. It took 20 minutes from paying to getting in the lift and it was a further 10 minutes for the lift from stage two to stage three. At least it gives you a chance to practise your Franch (or not) with other visitors. The last leg of the lift is quite thrilling and gives a real sense of height, even danger. It wouldn't suit anyone with vertigo (but why would anyone who was afraid of heights go up the tower, anyway?). The view from the top is impressive, I have to admit, but you're so high up it's difficult to get a really decent view of any of the sights. But have a good look round anyway (binoculars will help) and then take the lift down to the second level from where a much clearer scene can be had. If you then take the lift down to level one you can complete your visit by walking down the several flights of steps back to ground level. I was very glad to have done the visit but I think once is enough. I don't intend to make a return trip.
Set in the middle of a huge roundabout, the Arc de Triomphe gives a view every bit as good (and I thought rather more interesting) as the Eiffel Tower. Under the arch itself is a memorial to French war dead around which groups of schoolchildren seem to congregate. At the top of a narrow staircase is the world's darkest museum. It claims to recount the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte but as it's too gloomy to make out most of the exhibits without a torch you'll have to take it on trust. Mind your step as it takes a while to get used to the sudden darkness. A first aid kit might come in useful to treat the likely sprain or staunch the blood if you bump into some angular artefact which jumps out at you from the blackness. Persevere, though, and make it out onto the roof. Below, the traffic dances a little ballet and the Champs Elysees and La Defense show themselves off at their best.
Ste Chapelle gets a good write-up in all the books. Certainly, the stained glass windows in both upper and lower chapels is exquisite but the attraction is small and is easily swamped by visitors. I was there in the mid afternoon and it was hard really to appreciate the beauty of the building even though most people were behaving with reasonable decorum. The Concierge next door is an impressive enough space but apart from its historical connections has little to see. It does however have decent free toilets, so if you've bought a ticket you might as well make use of the facilities. By chance, there was an exhibition of great interest to me in progress. The Daniells (an uncle and brother combination) had travelled to India towards the end of the 18th century and painted scenes of the countryside and its buildings. These images were displayed against contemporary photographs taken from the same vantage points. The comparisons were intruiging. You can see some views at www.victoriamemorial-cal.org/tripure_gal.html .
No sign of Quasimodo here, though he might have been hiding among the thousands of tourists roaming aimlessly through the cathedral. Don't even think of a quiet moment here unless you arrive first thing. Fancy 30 minutes to yourself? Then turn up at 8.30am. With hardly a soul about the place is yours. In its quietness the church delivers up its majesty and beauty. By 9am the tourist groups are shattering the peace, so take yourself outside and join (or even start) the queue for a tour of the cathedral towers. Note: there's no priority queue here for those with the Museum Pass, you have to queue with the rest. The steps to the top are steep and unrelenting. I was behind a determined and charming but very overweight American who gave every impression that this climb would be his last. I got the feeling that he would have liked to have been talkative at the top but given he could squeak only a couple of gasped words at a time I was able to make a polite escape. Take a look at the famous great bell but try to resist the temptation to strike it (you're asked not to but it seems the Italians have trouble understanding instructions in French) and be sure to snap the curious gargoyles. Enjoy the view from here. If you fancy a further climb there is a higher level but I'm not sure there's much to be gained (though some calories will be lost) by heading up. Either way you'll encounter a long spiral staircase right down to ground level - a testing time for tired calves.
Expect the Louvre to be busy, especially around the 'honey pot' exhibits. Like any large museum, there's far too much to see in a single visit so it's vital to pick up a guide (the museum shop has a good selection at various prices) and plan the day. If you've a Museum Pass, there's a separate and much quicker entrance, though it's a bit tricky to locate even with the printed instructions on the pass leaflet. Security is strict, so avoid taking rucksacks into any museum in Paris. Why would you want to load yourself down, anyway?
Three exhibits stand out. The Winged Victory of Samothrace is displayed dramatically atop a flight of stairs. Even with so much missing, it stops you in your tracks. Its attitude is striking and it has a real sense of movement. Given its obvious weight it could never fly but somehow you could imagine it taking off and floating without the slightest effort. The Mona Lisa has one end of a gallery all to itself. It's the painting with the crowds gathered round in reverence. I had thought it was simply famous for being famous but having seen it in the flesh I believe it's worth its reputation, every bit of it. I'm a convert. It has an intriguing, indefinable quality and yes, there is something of a smile there, though I could only see it by standing to the painting's right, not its left. Odd that. The Venus de Milo completes the famous trio and is the epitome of grace. You can view sketches of how it might have looked when complete but these only serve to highlight the beauty of what has survived. In fact, the reconstructions subtract rather than add anything, so long may she continue armless. If only you could be alone with her for a moment …. There's so much else to see, though you'll need some French to get the most out of the exhibit descriptions. In some of the less-visited galleries there's a great deal else of interest to see. With a Museum Pass you can come back the next day if there's a need.
A medium sized museum with some exceptional pieces. Chief among these is the Lady of the Unicorn which has deservedly a gallery all to itself.
This should have been excellent but when I visited most exhibits were on loan elsewhere. The galleries looked very sad with their many gaps. No attempt had been made to mitigate effect of the gaps: no copies, no facsimiles. A disappointing visit.
Some good quality modern art here (including Picasso – see above) and imaginatively displayed. The Tate Modern hardly compares. The building itself, of course, is a work of art with its insides on the outside. You could easily spending longer than intended here.
Cleverly incorporated in a redundant railway terminus, there are some good impressionist paintings to be seen. I especially liked the early Monet. Like Picasso, he could do 'proper' painting. The layout is a little odd but the stairs and escalators at the far end get you most places you want to go.
Over the top it might be (and on the top of Paris's highest hill) but you musn't miss it off your itinerary. Take a ride up the funicular railway (covered on your travel ticket if you bought one) and enjoy the view. The church itself is impressive in and out. Mass was celebrated by the bishop the Sunday I was there. If you want to go to the mass on Sunday, make sure you push your way to the front of the crowd and tell the attendant standing guard at the door that you're there to worship, not to gawp, and he'll let you in. Even though the tourists did the round of the church non-stop throughout the mass they weren't in the least bit distracting and behaved very properly. They didn't seem to notice us (though the congregation was large) and we hardly noticed them. Some of the prayers were in English. Just above the basilica is the artists' colony with (I thought overpriced) oils and watercolours. You can have your portrait painted, if you like. The little shops and bistros are quaint and worth a visit. It's a little bit of old Paris, if a little prettified. If you approach Sacre Coeur via Abesses metro station and Montmartre you can get a real sense of past times. There's a good deal to see and many authentic small local food shops. You can visit the Montmartre Cemetery and look up the likes of Hector Berlioz. Wander further and you'll be in the Pigalle district. It's not exactly salubrious, for sure, but you can see the Moulin Rouge (better at night, though, when it's lit up). If you're rich, you can go to a show there.
This delightful and extensive park has small ornamental gardens at one end and an impressive palace with gardens and a lake at the other. There are plenty of seats, many of which you can simply pick up and move where you want. It's clearly a popular place at lunchtime, particularly among the young.
I'd been looking forward to visiting this chateau as the write up in the guide book was quite promising. There was talk of an attractive hunting park with ornamental gardens and a zoo surrounding a moated royal residence. (Henry V of England died here in 1422 and his body was boiled to preserve it for the journey back to England). The chateau itself stands right on the main road. The entrance appeared unmanned and the courtyard was filled with building rubble. Only the shop seemed to be operating and there was little of interest to be found anywhere. Perhaps I had come at the wrong time but I didn't hang around very long.


Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church is a Reformed church in Fair Oaks California. This Evangelical Presbyterian church serves Sacramento County CA - Pastor Kirk Bottomly.
Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church is a Reformed Church located in Zip Code 95628.


Alberta is full of extraordinary moments just waiting to happen. It is dynamic, culturally diverse, an economic powerhouse and- thanks to Mother Nature- an outdoor enthusiast's dream destination.
With domestic U.S. and international flights.
Alberta is one of the most beautiful and diverse places on earth- a destination that is truly inspiring. Feel the excitement build as teams of sled dogs race across a frozen alpine lake, or envision yourself under sunny skies cruising through the famous dry powder of any of the six major mountain resorts.
Hold a green meeting at a location inside Canada's first national park and enjoy the inspiring scenery, activities, and attractions.
Known as Canada's "Festival City," Edmonton always has something to celebrate, and hosts over 30 festivals annually. Edmonton is home to the largest convention facility in Western Canada and more than 1.3 million sq ft of convention space, city wide. While visiting, make sure the stop by the West Edmonton Mall, the size of a small city and home to more than 800 stores and services, plus more than 100 dining options! From Edmonton it's just a short trip to over 70 golf courses and a National Park.
Edmonton is dedicated to being a green city and will supply you with a free environmental impact measurement and sustainability report card through their FRESH meetings program.
Offering year round once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Take an exhilarating helicopter ride over the largest icefield south of the arctic circle, or mush a team of sled dogs through an old growth forest. There are plenty of summer activities to enjoy, including exploring the terrain, hiking to remote mountain passes, moose sightings, canoeing, cycling, dinosaur fossil digs, fishing, glacier tours, horse packing, and lots more.
Cold is cool in Alberta! Embrace nature's thick snowy blanket, grab your skis and snowboards, and head for the ski hills. You can visit multiple ski resorts, each with their own abundance of powdery fresh snow. Take an ice walk through a canyon iridescent with frozen waterfalls or try snowshoeing. End your day with a private sleigh ride or a viewing of the northern lights.


What fabulous news it was to hear that Deaf Australia won the tender to provide Auslan Training for the Queensland Education Department. The Queensland Education Department allocated $30 million over five years to introduce Auslan to the schools. I don't know how much went to Deaf Australia but it would be a significant amount of money. OOOOOOOH I wish it was me!
Even better they beat the nasty Empire Builder to the tender. The Empire Builder doesn't get involved in peanuts. He only goes for things that will make him look big and important. That Deaf Australia won is the BEST news the Deaf community has had for a long time. That the Empire Builder lost is EVEN BETTER!!
BUT .. and there is always a but – No sooner than Deaf Australia won than the whingers came out of the cupboard. "Deaf Australia are an advocacy organisation, they cant provide services." .. " The courses they provide are little baby courses." – " They don't have the experience." And out they came with negatives left right and centre. Well let me remind you that Auslan is the language of the Deaf community and the Deaf community own it. Who better to teach the Queensland people than a Deaf run Deaf organisation?
It is a vote of confidence for Deaf people and we should all be proud! To the whingers I say, " Get back in the cupboard." Who would you prefer Deaf Australia or the Empire Builder? …. As Yoda would say " Be with the Force may you." And may the force be with Deaf Australia on this one. It's either that or Darth Vader.


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Give us a call. You'd be amazed at how effectively our consultants can assist you in delivering projects on time, within budget, and with results that exceed industry standards.


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In each one of his projects, Médéric Collignon renews itself with talent. With MoOvies, the timeless energy and unbridled imagination of the former member of the Orchestre National de Jazz, Andy Emler's MegaOctet or the Septik Ensemble serve this new project he considers as "an odyssey where you listen to pictures and where music is a picture". He draws his inspirations from American movies soundtracks like Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood), Bullit (Steve McQueen) or Brubaker (Robert Redford) among other thrillers, written by Quincy jones, Lalo Schifrin and David Shire… At the top of his art with his quartet Jus de Bocse enhanced with the Paris Trumpet Ensemble (Eutépé), the cornet player and singer screens in cinemascope his funky and orchestral jazz, teeming with ideas, finds and surprises! The story he tells is perfectly mastered, the silences and ballads answer the swing and groove furies, leaving us breathless after such an explosion of senses. Enjoy the MoOvies!
What if Tel-Aviv had become the new parable of beat-music, just like Bristol in the 90's? The producers, musicians and singers who form this trio have become inescapable in this city, this "bubble" where everything seems possible. They embody the whole neo-hippie generation, freed from frontiers, from bans, who gives way to both cultural and extrasensory new experiments. Those soul and pop patches, electronic sounds and jazzy rhythms that intertwine with melancholy, plainly define Buttering Trio's productions. A blend that reminds us the magnetic roaming of Morcheeba or Massive Attack's trip-hop, The three members have their own perfect alchemy when they combine heavenly atmospheres, musical explorations come from all around the world and rhythms close to broken beat to make a warm and unique sound.
Jeff Scroggins & Colorado is a high-energy five-piece bluegrass band located in the Western Frontier state of Colorado. Their distinctive sound showcases an eclectic range of influences that marry second and third generation bluegrass, delivering a unique experience that captivates audiences and keeps them guessing: It's a powerful, high mountain "bluegrass explosion" that features world-class banjo and mandolin playing, incredible vocals, a solid and energetic rhythm and an easy stage banter that has delighted listeners all over the world.
Fronted by internationally acclaimed two-time National Banjo Champion Jeff Scroggins, their distinct style is immediately recognizable due to Jeff's unique and diverse range of influences, which include Alan Munde, Don Reno, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton. His fiery style and lightning-fast licks have earned him worldwide recognition and have left many a first-time listener in stunned disbelief!
The band also features the award-winning mandolin playing of Jeff's son Tristan Scroggins. At only 21 years old, Tristan is an award-winning instrumentalist and accomplished songwriter in his own right while the instrumentals he shares with Jeff play a large role in the band's unique and energetic style. In 2016, the International Bluegrass Music Association nominated Tristan for the Instrumental Momentum Award. West Virginia native Greg Blake provides powerful bluegrass vocals steeped in country heritage, bringing a truly authentic sound developed from a lifetime of singing bluegrass, gospel, and country. Twice nominated for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America's (SPBGMA) "Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year" award, Greg's phenomenal guitar playing has earned him nine nominations and five consecutive wins as SPBGMA's Guitarist of the Year. They are joined by Oregon native, 2016 Rockygrass Fiddle Champion, 2016 Arizona State Fiddle Champion, and 2017 IBMA Momentum Award Nominee Ellie Hakanson on fiddle and vocals. In addition to their individual accomplishments, the band was featured as the California Bluegrass Association's Emerging Artist of the year, an honor given into the past to bands such as Della Mae, and Chris Henry & the Hardcore Grass.
The new album from the Arkansas/Texas native M Callahan couldn't come at a better time. As a new generation yearns for authenticity, American country music is needed more than ever to remind us of who we are. Born the son into a blue-collar military family, M Callahan grew up to respect many things such as common values and a deep work ethic. His acclaimed debut album Trailer Park Paradise (November 2013) and following release Chicken on a Chain (February 2014) touched on these values, producing two #1 charting songs on Europe's Hot Disc Country Charts and garnering him Indie Music Channels Country Artist of the Year in 2015. The new album, Working Man (TBD 2017), delves even further into the heart of this soft-spoken craftsman. His songs on the new album are driven by his rich low tenor vocals, intricate guitar work, and beautifully understated lyrics.
Recorded in just two days in Nashville, Working Man was produced by Dove award winning songwriter Michael Hunter Ochs (Eric Heatherly, Josh Groban) and Grammy winning producer Matt Rollings (Keith Urban, Willie Nelson). As a pure country album, Working Man weaves between issues like class distinction ("Johnny Cash and Jesus Christ," "Chicken Feed and Barbed Wire") and more personal narratives speaking to life, love and lessons learned ("A Smile Won't Hide The Pain," "Real Love Isn't Blind"). And while these songs are complexly crafted, this is really an album that accomplishes each message simply and beautifully. M Callahan's crooner style voice speaks levels to anyone who has lost love in "A Smile Wont Hide The Pain" while the ballad "Tell Me" introduces layers of subtle harmonies and atmospheric guitar work that cradles the lyric masterfully. The title track "Working Man" has you thumbing through a mental photo album of long lost family memories at each turn of the lyric. All of these moments point to a man who is not just an artist, but also a craftsman-imparting lesson lived and learned.
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National Recognition for Engineering and Technology Education
Written By: Westside Community Schools
Westside Community Schools has been given two International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) for Program Excellence and Teacher Excellence awards. These are the latest highlights in a string of exciting developments for District 66, which opened a state-of-the-art welding, fabrication, and manufacturing lab for students just months ago.
The Westside High School Engineering and Technology Department has been awarded a 2020 Program Excellence Award, highlighting an exemplary educational program to help students become technologically literate.
In October, Westside Community Schools and the Westside Foundation unveiled the Westside High School Welding, Fabrication, and Manufacturing Lab, a $1.2 million dollar facility devoted to trades instruction, paid for through donations to the Westside Foundation. Through community investments and strategic partnerships, students are able to access mentorships, apprenticeships, college credit, and work experience before graduating high school. The lab has since been featured in national publications including The Welder and The Fabricator, as well as corporate publications from Union Pacific and OPPD.
Matt Bova, an engineering and technology teacher at Westside Middle School, has been awarded a 2020 Teacher Excellence Award from ITEEA. This honor recognizes educators impacting and making a significant difference in the lives of their students and their development of technological literacy.
"These awards highlight our work in Westside Community Schools to prepare learners for their next steps in life," said Dr. Mark Weichel, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. "We know these industries are looking for hard-working, talented staff, and we know we have students interested in these fields. We are proud to give Westside students the tools, education, and opportunities they need to be successful."
Mr. Bova and WHS Engineering and Technology teachers will travel to Baltimore in March to accept their awards.
You can find more stories about Westside Community Schools online.
Inspiring stories and positive messages about students and schools in Nebraska.
Do you have a story to share? Contact David Jespersen at david.jespersen@nebraska.gov!
Share the Good News.


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Look Who's Talking: How Active Are CEOs On Transcripts, And Why Does It Matter?
Alap Shah Contributor
What CEOs say — or don't say — on a transcript can mean a lot. A recent study by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business revealed the following about CEO activity on calls:
[Research] indicates that the chief executives who spoke more — presumably because they were more knowledgeable — also tended to earn more relative to the rest of the executive team. What's more, firms that had mismatched compensation strategies (i.e., chief executives who talked more but got paid less) had lower firm value than those where talk time and compensation were aligned….In the study, the researchers used how much and how often the chief executive spoke in contrast to other firm employees as an indicator of how knowledge is dispersed throughout the firm. (Booth School)
Thus, investors can learn a lot from CEO activity on calls, which seems to be correlated with firm financials. Software can aid with this research by helping you search and highlight CEO language on calls.
We ran a search using Sentieo across the S&P 500, using IN:TR to narrow down our searched documents to only transcripts. From there, we filtered down our search to CEO speech only.
Search Within Transcripts
Sentieo
We took a look at the results, which include a summary of the companies that have the most instances of their CEO talking on transcripts:
Companies with Most Mentions
From the summary above, we see that General Electric has had its CEO talking the most frequently on its calls. From here, we can look into these highlighted instances to specifically look at the language used by the CEO. Management calls will typically seem optimistic, but you can look for clue words to get a better picture of the underlying meaning. For example, the Booth School article notes the following:
When a chief executive tells analysts that "lumpiness," "headwinds," or a "wait-and-see" period is on the way, it may be time for an adjustment in your portfolio. Euphemisms such as these can obscure the details of bad news, and research suggests that greater use of them is associated with lower stock prices in the quarter ahead, even after taking into account the already disclosed financial results.
We narrowed down our search to see if the GE CEO mentioned "headwinds," and if so, how many times. Here is a closer look at the most recent mention:
CEO quote
We then exported mention results to see exactly how many times the GE CEO mentioned "headwinds" (34 times since July 2016), and also within which contexts. But euphemisms aren't the only phrases that analysts should track. Other linguistic indicators to watch for include:
Executives who are uncomfortable with what they are saying and who often use "distancing language," changing pronouns from "I" and "we" to "the company."
Openness about risks (generally thought of as a sign of genuine enthusiasm)
Comments on liquidity: trends in cash flow (or lack there-of) on balance sheet
Use of credit lines (are they too dependent on these?)
New product announcements, focus on research and development, or R&D
In the same vein, Harvard's Ian D. Gow, Chicago Booth's Steve Kaplan and Anastasia A. Zakolyukina, and David F. Larcker of Stanford researched how CEO personalities (as seen through call language) were correlated with firm performance:
[The] companies of CEOs who have extroverted personalities, as observed in the words used in the transcripts, were more likely to have lower cash flows and lower returns on assets. Top executives deemed to be more conscientious tended to run slower-growth companies, while those whose dominant personality trait was openness had companies with a greater focus on R&D.
Lastly, we used a sentiment analysis engine on the GE transcript to better understand the management and analyst sentiment, and any discrepancies in between them. This report the reveals the following output from past quarters' conference calls:
The Booth School report and sentiment analysis show that the language of CEOs should not be discounted. Words allow investment professionals to quickly gain insight into firm's future performance, and make decisions based off this knowledge.
Alap Shah
I am the co-founder and CEO of Sentieo, a modern financial research platform for investment professionals. Before founding Sentieo, I worked as an analyst in Citadel Glo...


Super Susie's 4th Bucket is Only 24 days away!
So much to do there ... So little time!
MEDICAL REPORT: Mom's shortness of breath continues to baffle her doctors! Recent Stress Tests say it's not her Heart, X-rays/Scans rule OUT cancer... The good news is that (tho intrusive & annoying) her limited breathing is NOT getting any worse!
So ALL arrows are pointing to Sedona! The attached is the backdrop of the geographical area where we will be spending our Thanksgiving Weekend!
Spare time for massages, hikes, bikes & Golf!
Tom suggested hooking up w/ Pink Jeep Tours www.pinkjeep.com/jeep-tours/sedona/ considered a Do NOT Miss!Can't wait to see everyone there!
Sedona has become recognized as a sacred land; as a place of power known as an earth energy vortex. Many people are making pilgrimages to this and other places of power, being moved by an inner knowing that this encounter is what they need to help them on their path of awakening and healing. The idea of Sedona being an earth energy vortex may seem like a strange idea to some. It may be easier to consider Sedona as a sacred land the way native peoples have throughout history. From this perspective we understand that the earth is a living being, our Mother, and within her body are many places that are sacred, places that function like organs and glands. And connecting these places is the spider web grid of the earth's energetic body. This spider web grid connects these sarcred places similiar to the way the human acupuncture meridian system connects the vital centers in a humans body. It is important to realize that there are many more power spots in the red rock country around Sedona to consider than just the popularized 4 major vortices of the New Age movement. From a Native American point of view there may well be over a hundred power spots many of which are marked by ceremonial shrines, petroglyphs and ancient ruins.
Its a breathtaking place, very beautifull....... Jeep tours are fab.. A must do. Good luck, i'm thinking of you!


Physical Description: 1 booklet (36 p.) ; 22 cm.
Additional Information: Catalogue of works alphabetically by title. Includes opus number, subtitle, instrumentation, work type, length, movements. Also noted whether there is a review, a recording or holding at the CMC.


I thought the Lions, after hiccupping against the Jets and 49r's, had righted the ship with impressive wins against the Patriots and Green Bay. In between those wins, they played well in the loss against the Cowboys, a game they should have won.
After watching the first quarter of the Lions against the Bears, I realize the ship had a massive hole and the duct tape they used didn't hold.
Don't you think you want a shot at a Super Bowl?
Ok, so this proves that I'm no Eric Clapton. But don't think us Lions fans feel that every season, at some point, the Lions just lay down. And I'm sure that in every season, when the Lions absolutely had to have a win, they just laid down and let the other team do just about anything they wanted.
Ok, let's start with the Lions most promising season where they came within one came of going to the Super Bowl, 1991.
The Lions had a great season, going 12-4. They followed the formula of winning all 8 games at home and going .500 on the road. Against the NFL North teams, they had an impressive 5-1 record including a win against the Packers at Lambeau Field which snapped a 25 game losing streak.
The 12-4 record earned them home field advantage in the NFL Divisional Playoff game where they crushed the Dallas Cowboys 38-6, putting them just one game away from the Super Bowl.
That should have fired up the team, pumped them up to a frantic level going to Washington, D.C. to face the Redskins, right?
Nope, the "Lay Down Lions" showed up and Washington trounced them 41-10.
Let's fast forward to 2011, Jim Schwartz's third year. Lions started out 5-0 with impressive wins over the Kansas City Chiefs (48-3) and an OT thriller on the road against the Vikings (26-23).
Lions were at 6-2 thru the first 8 games, poised to take the NFC North. Instead, the "Lay Down Lions" showed up in the 2nd half of the season, going 4-4, blowing important games at Chicago (13-37) and losing twice to Green Bay in week 12 at home (15-27) and at Lambeau the last game of the season (41-45). Win either one of those games, they would have been 11-5 and in the playoffs.
That last game against the Pack? They were back on track, riding a 3 game winning streak and could not close it out.
This week 7 game against the Bears? Lions came in at 3-5 only 2 games behind the 5-3 Bears. They needed to win this game to close the gap in a division where no team was running away. You'd think they'd be pretty fired up, right? Not.
I turned the game off midway thru the 2nd quarter where the Bears were leading 26-7. The "Lay Down Lions" had reared their collective ugly head.
I could go on and on, but no need to relive the countless heartbreak the Detroit Lions have done to Lions fans and the City of Detroit.
The most common denominator in the success of these teams is they protect the QB. Brees has been sacked only 9 times this year, Mahomes 12 times, Brady has been sacked 13 times, and Goff 17 times.
Stafford? He was pretty well protected prior to the Vikings game getting sacked only 13 times. But then he got nailed 10 times against the Vikes for a total of 23 times. And by the time I turned off the game against the Bears, he had already gone down 3 times!
Now, no one can totally blame the offensive line for all of the sacks…Stafford admitted he needed to help out his team by getting rid of the ball quicker or if there is nothing there, throw it away.
However, for the last decade, the Lions offensive line has been far from stellar. Since Stafford came into the league in 2009, he's been sacked a total of 318 times (including the six in the Bears game) for an average of just under 3 times a game and each time he's sacked, he gives up 6 yards on average.
Talk to any coach, he'll want those 18 yards or the extra 2 first downs and a 3rd down with only 2 yards to go.
I believe the Lions have the talent at the skill positions on the offensive side of the ball. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, Jr. are above average receivers. Yes, the trade of Golden Tate to Philadelphia did hurt the Lions offensively. But they were more than likely have lost him to free agency anyway and Theo Riddick can fill that role very well. They got a 3rd round pick from the Eagles who have pretty much rented Tate for the season unless they sign him to a contract.
They have also found a diamond in the rough in Kerryon Johnson. The Lions went out and signed free agent LeGarrette Blount and he was slated as the starter. But Johnson proved to be the best running back on the roster and has been very productive. He has two 100 yard games and should run for 1,000 yards this year.
Right now, the Lions have 9 draft picks for 2019. I think GM Bob Quinn is going to deal for at least 2 more but let's go with the 9 that they have right now.
There are not really any good offensive line statistics. But the Lions O-Line, according to Pro Football Focus, is ranked 18th. Center Graham Glasgow, who had a rating of 71.1 last year, was thought that he was going to be premiere center or at least one as good as Dominic Raiola. But his ranking has dropped 8 points and he really hasn't done much to help the running game.
Now I don't recommend taking a center in the first round. Lions need to much help at linebacker and defensive line. They have picked up Damon Harrison to help stuff the run but I think they need an outside pass rusher since it appear they really can't count on Ziggy Ansah.
If they can trade up after the season, I would love to have them get Joey Bosa out of Ohio State. He did not play this season as he went out with a core injury to his abdominal tear. But his upside is too good to pass up. And if Ansah stays with the Lions, with him Bosa coming from either side along with Harrison would make that line pretty formidable.
I am hoping that center Tyler Biadasz out of Wisconsin is available. At 6'3″ and 316 lbs., he will open holes along with Frank Ragnow and TJ Lang…I would suspect both Kerryon Johnson and Matthew Stafford would feel good about that.
As for the play calling, as much of a breath of fresh air Jim Bob Cooter was when he took over from Joe Lombardi, he has fallen into predictable play calling as all Lions OC's seem to do.
Perhaps Bob Quinn can convince Matt Lafluer to leave the Tennessee Titans. Lafluer understands how to build a modern-era offense and he's done some great things with Marcus Mariota. He did wonders with Matt Ryan in 2016 making him a MVP as well has helping Sean McVay rejuvenate the 2017 Rams and working with Jarred Goff so well.
Or maybe the Lions reach into the college level and grab Texas Tech head coach Lincoln Riley. He is one of the more innovative offensively-minded coaches in college football. He had Texas Tech average 45 points a game…get him the O-Line outline above with the offensive weapons the Lions currently have, and you can see them averaging 24-28 points a game…wouldn't that be a treat?
Ah well, once again, the Lions faithful will have to suffer with the "Lay Down Lions" and wait until next year.
Sports, BBQ & Spirits…what every sports fan loves to talk about!
Should The NFL Washington Team Change Their Name?


What are the best places to eat, sleep and visit in these cities?
In Saint George, Panda Garden is a must! We always stay at the Best Western Coral Hills. It is inexpensive, has a great breakfast, and the rooms have nice decorating! Tuacahn Ampitheatre & Center for the Arts brings us to Saint George every year.


Warehouse pallet racking can be a difficult concept to grasp, and the terminology can be difficult to understand if you are not involved in the details day to day, which may lead to confusion when speaking with people. This guide may help you on your way to understanding commercial and warehouse pallet racking.
A pallet racking upright is the vertical strut into which the pallet racking beams connect. There are front and rear uprights joined together at a fixed distance apart (to suit the pallet depth) by means of bracings (horizontal and vertical) to create a stable frame assembly. Uprights come in various heights and load capacities which can vary depending on the brand or type of pallet racking you are purchasing and the beam positions in the frames.
Two uprights bolted together form a frame, load bearing capacities change as the heights increase, and these need to be supported with bracings. Which are horizontal or diagonal supports. Frames will have different depths depending on the size of the pallet racking you require.
Pallet racking beams are the bars that slot into the frames. They are used in pairs and this will form the platform where the pallet is stored. Standard pallet racking is adjustable and allows for the beams to be moved higher or lower depending on your storage and access requirements. Beams come in different widths depending on the load they need to support.
If you would like to know any more about pallet racking or any other industrial storage solutions, do not hesitate to contact us. Our helpful and friendly team are on hand to answer any questions and provide honest and impartial advice on how best to improve your premises' storage potential.


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« Sarah Palin on Hannity: Media are Dumb Arses
Mitch Daniels: The Man from Bush? »
CNN Debate In South Carolina: Newt Owned It From Outset
This entry was posted on Friday, January 20th, 2012 at 05:45 and is filed under Debate, Election 2012, GOP Candidates, Mitt Romney, News, Newt Gingrich, Politics, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul.
Making a Monkey of Media
Usually, these debates start slow and wind up to a crescendo. That's the way the media likes it, because they want to keep the audience tuned in. There were really just a few key moments in Thursday night's debate, and the biggest of these was the opening question to Newt Gingrich on the subject of his second wife's accusations on ABC News. His response knocked moderator John King for a loop, and rocked the auditorium, receiving not one, but two standing ovations in rapid succession. The other candidates really had no choice after that but to follow suit and make statements that more or less followed the former Speaker. He seized the initiative, and from that point on, it would be hard for anybody to wrest it from him without some fatal error on his part, but no such egregious error on Gingrich's part ever materialized.
Here's Gingrich answering that opening attack:
Another key moment in the debate was when Santorum pointed out the flaws of Romneycare, and the notion of a health-care mandate, and how that issue would be something used by Obama to negate Romney's or Gingrich's arguments about Obamacare in a general campaign. Romney was ineffective at deflecting this criticism, but it was naturally strongest against him because he had actually implemented the program. Gingrich, by contrast, did a much better job of countering Santorum's criticism with respect to his own record, and pointed out that he helped shepherd Medical Savings Accounts legislation through the House that Santorum was sponsoring. That had a blunting effect on Santorum's criticism, but I also must note that Santorum came off a little angry or annoyed Thursday night. I'm not sure of the cause, or if it was just a bit of the anxiety of "the man on the bubble," because while he started with a strong positive statement about the fact he had indeed won Iowa, he lost that positive note somewhere along the way, and seemed to get stuck in a bit of a tantrum.
Watch Rick Santorum take Romney to task here:
The last big moment came when it was announced to the audience that Gingrich's tax return had been released as this debate commenced. This prompted the question that led Mitt Romney into a pitfall that really made him look poorly. He was asked, as were the others, when they would release their tax returns, and Paul said he wouldn't, Newt said "about an hour ago," and Mitt hem-hawed, as Santorum said he would do so once he had been home to prepare his taxes, something he says he does on his own. The question returned to Mitt Romney, however, when CNN's John King asked him about the story I have reported to you, being that George Romney, Mitt's father, released his tax returns in November 1967, twelve years worth, in preparation for his own run for the nomination. King asked if Romney would follow his Dad's example, and he continued to vacillate and in the process, was booed by a segment of the audience. This moment was Romney's downfall, and it should be clear that this remains a huge obstacle for him in this primary season. He'd be best to dispense with it quickly, before it does him more damage. If we have a repeat of this in Florida, it may well cost him the nomination.
Here's video of John King asking Mitt about his father's precedent:
Ron Paul actually had a few good one-line retorts, particularly to Santorum, which may have accounted for Santorum being off his game a bit. At the same time, it should be noticed that there was little mention of foreign policy in this debate, and it tended to focus on economic issues, and practical issues that effect voters directly, apart from the shoddy opening attack CNN engineered for Gingrich, but from which he seemed to have come off the better from the exchange. There was one other odd moment, and I had to replay it several times to realize what had happened. Romney was answering a question, but wanted to shift back to an earlier question, and had a momentary lapse in remembering what that other question had been. He searched for it, and then looked almost pleadingly at Newt, who shrugged and made a joke, which bought Romney a moment, and then he finally remembered his place and went on to attack Newt in answering it. For a moment, and if not for Gingrich buying Romney a second or two, it threatened to be a Perry-style "ooops" moment, but Romney recovered and it probably won't hurt him.
Mitt Romney's almost "Ooops" moment:
All in all, it was a good debate, but the biggest fireworks were at the beginning. That set the stage for Newt to merely confirm his superiority in this sort of arena, and all Newt needed to do thereafter was avoid any huge pitfalls and over-confidence. He did so, and even though I think the opening question was set up to try to evoke the "angry Newt" we saw after Iowa, he maintained his composure and actually thrived in the moment.
South Carolina will be tight, but I think Newt may have clinched it with this debate performance, particularly that opening, because it permitted him to clear the air right at the beginning, to remain composed, and to return to form throughout the remainder of the evening. While it wasn't the runaway victory he had on Monday night, I think it's because he peaked early and effectively, and from there, the rest of it was fairly routine, boiler-plate content, and the rest of the participants really couldn't catch him. I think had Rick Santorum come across as a little less angry as he did at several points, he might have done substantially better. It was clear that while he would take shots at Gingrich and Paul, it was obvious to me that he was angry with Romney, undoubtedly due to Romney's negative ads in South Carolina. Romney has a good deal of money to spend, and this is taking a toll on Santorum. You can read it in his eyes: He's tired, and he's running on empty. He's usually a little better composed, but he seemed anxious or annoyed or both, and this may have been magnified by what looked like plain old fatigue. At present, he appears to be the man on the bubble, and he seems to know it.
CNN Election 2012 GOP Candidates GOP Debates Media Mitt Romney news Newt Gingrich politics Rick Santorum Ron Paul South Carolina
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16 Responses to CNN Debate In South Carolina: Newt Owned It From Outset
dnr says:
Gingrich's response was exactly what so many Americans are thinking!! So sick of the media launching these ridiculous character attacks in order to protect Obama! Obama is not the pinnacle of character himself, but you would never know it from these hacks. It is all about tearing down others so that BO smells like a rose (pun intended).
The look on John King's face was PRICELESS!!
LOL we all know what Obama smells like…S*IT
fred johnson says:
Mark I too think Newt walked away with it with that opening comeback. Now the heat will relly be on him from the dems. NO way could Obumma debate him even with his promter. Thanks for the great write up–keep them comming
Well, all I can say is,,,,yes yes yes. Great take on it Mark.
gengm7 says:
Mark, you have made a fine assessment of the Thursday debate, I was over joyed to watch John King squirm, It was delightful, an highlight, Another of Newt's fine ability to stand up like a man, The whole idea of bringing up something so petty like an ex-wife was simply disgraceful and I would not dignify watching such scum, typical liberal mentality. I did find myself irrated at Rich Santorum, it was unbecoming of the candidates to hang on Newt Gingrich, when they run out of things to say, lose their thought, or are unable to stand up to a professional like Newt, I am certain the Carolinian saw that for themselves, . Ron Paul, Well, is Ron Paul, It would be a less exciting day for me, If I had to consider a vote for Paul or Romney, I could express much excitement if Newt were the GOP nominee, being assured, we may have a chance for some type of recovery, anything else would be a let down, However, making that choice would be far better than Obama. Newt for President. Thanks for you input.
mimsborne says:
Watching Newt assail the Mainstream Media over their smear tactics was the highlight of this debate. If Newt puts clips of this into commercials, he'll win South Carolina. Let's all take a moment of silence to thank CNN and ABC for this unexpected development.
josiphine says:
Well I see his opening statement very hypocritical. Not that I agree with having an affair or open marriage. but all tea party conservitive fox network zombies blasted Clinton when he got caught and the whole time Newt was having an affair himself, asking his wife to allow him to have an open marriage, I wonder what his next step would be? Maybe polygamy?
I agree with supporting Newt. Everyone has a past, some worse than others. I have a gentlemen that I work with and he had the same personality as Newt years ago. He had an epiphany and he is the most valuable asset that I have. I don't think any of the other 3 can do better than Newt. I like all of them. I do feel that Santorum came off as he had a tantrum and tried to destroy Newt…he only made himself look bad. Paul, I like him, but his time is past and it is too late for him. But his son Rand, when he decides to run, I think, will do well. I don't have confidence in Romney. Maybe a good businessman but I feel he makes comprommised decisions and they just don't work in Politics. In politics you have to make a stand.
mytorpor says:
Santorum was still angry over Newt saying that Santorum and Perry should step down and clear the way for Newt to take Romney out. Santorum still doesn't understand that while he did well in Iowa, he just does not have the attack dog ability that Newt has…and it is going to take a strong attack dog to take down Obama. Romney doesn't have it either. We saw last night that Newt will walk into the fire and put it out with the force of his wit and intellect. Can you imagine poor Obama/Biden coming up against a Newt/Palin ticket! And Newt would not only let Sarah be Sarah, he would applaud her while she takes "the one" apart!
PolitiJim (@politiJi says:
Dick Morris and others are saying Rick Santorum WON the debate last night. What I saw was a whiny, petulant and selfish politician intentionally distorting facts against both Ron Paul (he overtly lied about Ron Paul's abortion record) and Newt Gingrich (Gingrich doesn't stand up to the GOP Establishment? Really?)
in addition to lying that Newt was kicked out of Congress (Newt resigned to not distract party from Bogus ethics charges), Santorum's biggest whopper was saying he should be President because he has proven he can get elected from a blue state. Facts are Santorum lost his election in 2006 (which allowed Democrat control of Congress and eventually Obamacare) BY 18 POINTS!! So the people that knew him for 14 years not only didn't want him – they REALLY didn't want him.
Never mind the fact Santorum has never managed more than 20 people in his life, and can't even inspire the majority of social conservatives to vote for him much less persuade Independent Americans to do so. The biggest problem in the debate was exhibited in his attack on Contract With America.
Newt explained the political reality is that you have a limited amount of political capital to spend. Every one of the 10 points in CWA ALREADY had support by 70% or more of the American people. He eventually DID pass Partial Birth Abortion ban to Clinton (twice) – but not before the votes were ensured for economic reform.
Santorum doesn't even understand political strategy! Santorum said last night he would push abortion, gay marriage and other SOCIAL issues out of the gate.
What he will learn is what Obama and Dems did after ObamaCare as well as the GOP Congress in 2004. The rest of America will not stand for a view being PUSHED DOWN THEIR THROATS and will stop EVERYTHING.
Rick Santorum could literally stop all the work we have fought for since the advent of the Tea Party.
As I just tweeted – Rick Perry (who has far more capacity to run a national campaign) saw he was going to loose and did the selfless, patriotic thing in withdrawing and supporting the one person who could stop Mitt Romney. Rick Santorum? Not so much. It is certainly his right to stay in the race, but is showing that his desire to be President is greater than his concern for allowing the liberal GOP establishment to elect their nominee. Again.
MarkAmerica says:
He also completely mischaracterized Ron Paul on abortion. Santorum looked like he was angry throughout. It really wasn't good. I don't know why anybody thinks this was a win for Santorum.
BTW, Dick Morris is a Romney guy. It's understandable why he wants anybody but Newt to be seen as winner.
Trackbacks and Pingbacks:
Debate Audience Protests CNN Attempts To Exclude Ron Paul | 2012: What's the 'real' truth? - Pingback on 2012/01/20/ 12:08
Mitt's "Ooops" Moment in Debate « Mark America - Pingback on 2012/01/20/ 13:01
What Turned South Carolina for Newt? « Mark America - Pingback on 2012/01/21/ 21:03
Would Romney Release His Tax Returns if He Had Won SC? – Video « Mark America - Pingback on 2012/01/22/ 17:06


Launch for Heads On We Shoot - by editors of Mcsweeneys, Spike Jonze, and Dave Eggers.
HEADS ON AND WE SHOOT unveils the unique collaboration behind Where the Wild Things Are -the combined work of Maurice Sendak, Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and all the cast and crew. The book design is heavily image-based, a mix of early sketches, storyboards, character designs, and extensive behind-the-scenes photographs that show both incredible live-action puppetry and computer animation. The text includes forewords by Jonze and Eggers, interviews with the cast and crew, stories from on and off the set, and early drafts of the screenplay. The resulting book will be simultaneously a beautiful object for collectors, an insider′s guide for devotees, and an intimate window into the creative process.


The Triumph TR3B sports car was introduced in 1961. As was the case with the TR3A, the designation "TR3B" was an unofficial one given to those TR3's built near the end of their production run in 1962.
The reason behind the short (just one year) production run of the TR3B was that some dealers in the US had expressed concerns that, following the successful sales performance of the TR3 series, the forthcoming launch of the TR4 might not be well received by the market.
Owing to inaccurate sales forecasting and production scheduling, there was a surplus of unsold TR3A's in the run up to the launch of the TR4 in 1961.
Consequently, US dealers were using up existing TR3A's, and adding the new TR4, all synchromesh gearbox to make them more marketable.
In fact, some of these dealers were actually calling these uprated models TR3B's to increase their appeal.
Furthermore, the TR3B's were built alongside the TR4's throughout 1961 to 1962 until it was obvious that the new model had been accepted by the US market. At this point, the TR3B's would be phased out.
In terms of appearance, it was identical to the TR3A. However, the main difference between the two was in terms of the engine.
The TR3B was to be regarded as a stop gap measure prior to the launch of the TR4. It was intended solely as an export model to the US.
Early models continued to use the 2 litre, TR3A engine. However, later versions were given the 2.1 litre, TR4 engine, and a gearbox with synchromesh on all forward gears.
Like the TR3A, it was a two door, two seater convertible, and marketed solely in the US.
The later 2.1 litre engine was an in line, 4-cylinder, three bearing crankshaft unit, and used wet liners for ease of repair.
The compression ratio was increased from 8.5 on the TR3 to 9.0. It was fitted with two SU carburettors.
The existing gear ratios meant that the TR3B was unable to exceed 110 mph.
However, a Laycock-de-Normanville overdrive, operated by a switch, was available as an optional extra. It operated on the top three gears, and was an invaluable addition.
As it turned out, the dealers' fears were unfounded since, in the end, the TR4 proved to be very successful, and continued the legend established by the TR2 and TR3.
A 1961-62 Triumph TR3B, in good condition, could fetch around £16,000/$25,000, whilst an example in excellent condition could command anything up to £25,000/$40,000.


Once in a while, big thinkers at healthcare organizations gather round to brainstorm ways to keep their company competitive, searching for quick wins and easy tactics to inch past the competition. But making business decisions based on the actions of competitors means that another crucial element in every sound business strategy takes a back seat: the customer. To thrive in a competitive market, healthcare providers must learn to lead with their "secret sauce"—the one unique thing they do better than anyone else—and cater to customers who prefer the flavor of those offerings. With this secret sauce, which should be a large part of an organization's revenue, providers can build a better strategy to be successful in the industry, reconstructing market boundaries to take their products and services from local to global. So what's holding back organizations like yours from leading with your own secret sauce? A digital-first strategy.
You can't aim big until you embrace digital, and you can't expect to stick around if you leave it behind. To differentiate your healthcare organization from direct competitors and future rivals, you'll need to employ a digital-first mindset to build a better business model. A strong digital strategy made stronger through trusted partnerships with technology providers and payers can allow even the smallest company to create an ecosystem with the influence and power of a much larger entity.
If you were launching your company today, how would you build your business differently?
How would you use digital technology to differentiate your brand in the market?
How would you leverage all the tools available to you, such as optimized websites, portals and apps, to create a cohesive customer experience?
If your business is like most healthcare organizations, your team probably expects to be disrupted by digital technology in the near future. But by following a digital transformation framework and asking the tough questions along the way, you can overcome digital disruption for long-term success.
There are three key areas you need to focus on to start building your own digital transformation framework. It's also important to recognize that this should be constructed at the leadership level; giving new shape to your business through a renewed vision falls on leadership's shoulders so that these messages can permeate the organization and last.
1. Vision: Create a compelling vision that repositions your organization as a tech-focused, data-driven startup.
Do your current mission and vision statements inspire your team and drive action? Do they take into consideration the way technology will help your company innovate and remain forward-thinking? Now's the chance to improve them by taking a tip from today's most successful startups. Revisit both statements and update them to reflect a digital-first strategy and better align with the current culture of your company and the goals of your team. Think big and aim to be great, but remember that your people are your greatest assets. A strong vision platform will guide your staff's behavior and actions, impacting their work and even affecting the way your consumers, partners and funders see your brand.
Connect all the dots with positive mission and vision statements that motivate and empower people, inspiring action and evoking emotion. If you've got it right, they will help your team make good decisions that push the brand forward. Every healthcare organization has the opportunity to create a very successful business, but it starts with a vision.
2. Tactics: Plan out the digital tactics that will help your secret sauce shine and your brand work cohesively inside and out.
Once you've identified your true secret sauce, make a list of the internal and external digital tactics that will help your organization function efficiently on the inside and appear just as "together" on the outside. Internal tactics should aim to increase everyday productivity and collaboration for staff, and external tactics are put in place with all those who engage with your brand in mind. With the context of your secret sauce and renewed vision, consider how digital technology can elevate your company to achieve your ultimate long-term goal.
3. Customer Experience: Digitize the end-to-end customer experience to make it better, faster and more cost-effective and help customers reach their desired outcomes.
Make the most of your digital external efforts by optimizing the end-to-end customer experience to give your clients or patients the three things they want from their healthcare system today. Look for ways to leverage digital tools to offer improved services that are more cost-effective and easier to use, and start making plans to address consumer pain points as your products and services evolve. Digitizing the customer journey means establishing digital touchpoints that are cohesive, painting a clear picture of your brand and the big focus you place on exceptional customer service. If you have a website and an app, design them to be united in look and feel and approach their UX from the consumer's perspective; a user's experience should be intuitive, offering all the tools they need to bring them closer to their desired outcomes.
Interested in learning about the role of EHRs in a digital transformation framework? Request a demo of our EHR solution below to get to know our platform, our organization and our team.


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Why 9 In 10 Merchants Put Subscription Product Details On A Pedestal
Posted on February 25, 2019 February 25, 2019 11:01 am
From cars to clothing and fresh produce, merchants are adopting the subscription business model for all sorts of products and services. Before these retailers onboard new customers, however, they have to convert shoppers into subscribers. To make this transition happen, merchants are adopting a multitude of features to drive conversions.
During the fourth quarter of last year, merchants stayed the course and didn't implement significant changes. The PYMNTS Subscription Commerce Conversion Index fell from 63.8 to 63.5 points in the fourth quarter. Even so, some top merchants have adopted some features across the board. All of the top performers in the index, for instance, made their offerings clear by offering details on products and recurring payments.
Merchants also adopted other features as of the fourth quarter such as product details and free shipping. These are some of the ways that merchants such as American Eagle Outfitters and technology companies such as Apple have implemented subscription features to drive conversions and provide clarity to potential subscribers:
More than nine in 10 merchants — or 92.4 percent — had implemented product details in the fourth quarter. Moreover, when it comes to mobile apps, some tech companies are requiring more information about subscriptions. Apple, for instance, has changed its rules and required in-app subscriptions to much more clearly show the price of their offerings. Also, Apple said that information about advertising or savings should be less of a focus than the actual price for the renewal period. According to reports, Apple's sample text for the fine print of subscription offerings reads, in part, as "Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period."
About three quarters of merchants — or 78.4 percent — had implemented free shipping in the fourth quarter. American Eagle Outfitters, for instance, is testing out an American Eagle Style Drop subscription offering that mails out selections to consumers at no cost. Shoppers can look through choices that get refreshed weekly with the subscriptions. Moreover, they can send an item back to the retailer with a free prepaid envelope. Also, shoppers can cancel at any point and send their clothing selections back to be cleaned. And, while The Style Drop website stipulates that customers have to pick a minimum of eight items to have a box sent to them, the site recommends selecting 20 pieces at the least. Shoppers can rank their favorite choices, and the site will aim to prioritize those selections.
More than two-thirds — or 68.4 percent — of merchants had implemented plan options in the fourth quarter. Misfits Market, for instance, offers produce in a large "madness box" or a small box called a "mischief box." And, even though shoppers have the option to buy either box on a one-time basis, Founder Abhi Ramesh said the vast majority of his consumers subscribe because of the discounts that are offered for recurring purchases. Misfit produce is still a "novel idea," Ramesh said. "Someone may not know they want to subscribe to this for weeks and weeks," he noted, which is why he gives customers the option to try out the service. The company also shares the story of each piece of produce through email and social media, explaining why a product is "misfit."
Roughly half — or 47.4 percent — of merchants had implemented plan changes in the fourth quarter. Baby food subscription startup Little Spoon, for instance, provides flexibility with its service, as its subscribers can skip or shift their deliveries. Before every delivery, the company tells consumers that they are about to be charged and asks if they would like to make any changes. That approach, in turn, has developed a nice dynamic with customers, Little Spoon Co-founder and CMO Lisa Barnett told PYMNTS in a recent interview. This structure is also convenient for families who are traveling and might not need a delivery. Little Spoon sends meals to customers across the United States — except Hawaii and Alaska — on a biweekly basis for a 14-day supply.
And 45 percent of merchants had implemented a free trial in the fourth quarter. Co-working startup Reset, which allows freelancers and remote workers to use restaurants as workspaces, offers a free pass for first visits to the spaces. After those initial visits, some consumers buy a pass on the spot before they leave, while others buy a pass online before their next visit. The company offers three co-working options, including a drop-in day pass and 10-visit pass as well as monthly unlimited membership available for purchase with a major credit card. The service was founded by entrepreneurs who missed the camaraderie of the office. "We lacked those water cooler conversations that we were having at our normal jobs," Reset Co-Founder Silva Gentchev told PYMNTS in an October interview.
While subscription services from Little Spoon to Reset are implementing different features to drive conversions and provide clarity, there is not one solution that fits all: Each merchant has to decide how to structure their offerings to suit both their individual needs and those of their customers as they seek to turn shoppers into subscribers.
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On March 17, six YES alumni visited Kufor Aqab School for Boys for the third session of the English Language Skills workshop. They started the session with a fun icebreaker to get the students warmed up and ready for the workshop.
After the icebreaker, it was time for a more complex game: Jeopardy, inspired by the famous U.S. trivia game. The students were divided into four teams of five and their answers only counted if they were given in English. Each team had a leader from the alumni group who helped them when they struggled with some words. Everyone had a blast playing Jeopardy, where they tested their knowledge in different categories including animals, geography, and science.
The fun of Jeopardy was the perfect lead up to the main event, a mock debate that revolved around the topic of "gamification" by using the Jeopardy as an example. The students participated in debates against each other. Thankfully they were already prepared, since they were given the topics at the previous session and had YES alumni supervisors to help.
Read about the previous two sessions of the English workshop here!


Whole team camping 3*** Moredena is open from March 30 to October 28, 2018. The camping offers large pitches in the Sun or shade on 2.5 hectares of land. In the heart of nature, Moredena offers 99 sites to make you spend a pleasant holiday.


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LETTER | Let's be very honest about the eNatis system - reader
Janine Van der Post
Photo Illustration by Robin Utrecht/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Robin Utrecht
• Gauteng motorists continue to battle to book online licence appointments.
• Readers have been battling for more than four months, if not longer.
• Wheels24 reader Elaine Patrick shares the frustration of what motorists go through when trying to book online.
In the plight to fight for the motorists who have been battling for months trying to get an online appointment for new driver's licences or driver licence renewals, we will be publishing letters from the public to highlight their struggles with a failing system.
With that said, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has indicated they'll send a response regarding the online booking system later this week. We can only hope and pray they've come up with a solution."
For now, I'll continue to voice the concerns of our readers as this never-ending battle continues.
Wheels24 reader Elaine Patrick writes in and explains what the general public has to go through with the failing eNatis online system; this is what she has to say: It's probably the biggest representation of the failure of hiring unqualified people in our government.
Like most people in Gauteng, a person has to swing the wheel of fortune, to get a chance place in a set number of places for renewing your driver's license "on a Monday only".
Image: Wheels24 reader Hermione Hurwitz
Do not be fooled, this information is not shown on your cell phone site, as the site is not responsive...
So kudos to the web designer on that one!
The fact that most users of this site will be using their cell phones, it didn't enter their minds at their multiple NATIS meetings they probably sat at, while designing this horrendous failure.
If you are lucky enough to sit at a desktop pc to book, you would have to be at the correct page on the NATIS website to read when you may book for, and on what day.
Wait, we are not done.
Then you have to wait for your OTP, to continue the booking if incredibly you get a slot.
Wait, we are not done still.
So should you by chance be one of the honest 99.9 per cent of people who entered both an email address and telephone number, well then you are straight out of luck.
Image: Getty Images
This is because the state of the art system gets confused (it seems) and never sends an email, or OTP.
By trial and error, we, the public, pass on the information to each other by word of mouth, that just entering your cell number and no email means you may get lucky to get an OTP on your phone.
No OTP means no booking and no confirmation that it was not successful.
You may now go wait in line for a few hours, at whatever centre you think you have a booking at because you are praying hard they got the booking...
Just to get to the front of the queue after two hours to be told you are not on the list and a heartfelt "I'm sorry, we get a lot of complaints about the system."
And note, the slot you didn't acquire doesn't get reallocated to someone else, it just disappears into cyberspace.
BUT wait, WHY you may ASK?
Well, the whole of South Africa does not seem to have a single qualified database engineer, programmer or website professional on hand. Logically, it seems it must be the case.
So how to solve this horror story?
You would think with all the billions this department makes off of us and being well-aware that their mess does not work, that perhaps they could buy an online booking system from a reputable international company? Doesn't seem to have occurred to them.
So we carry on week after week, after week, after week, hoping that we get lucky on the few minutes on a Monday morning that there are slots available, to allow us to be honest South African citizens carrying a valid driver's license.
But we have more chance of being pulled over and threatened to pay a bribe instead.
Driving with J9 | Dear RTMC, please fix the eNatis system, bring back walk-in appointments?
LETTER | Please allow licence booking walk-ins, the online system just isn't working
rtmcjanine van der postsouth africalicence renewalsvehicle licence bookingsenatis
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