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Home Views Uncategorised My new consultation model: silence
My new consultation model: silence
3am. I could feel my eyelids closing, my mind clearing, and a delicious, golden moment of respite finally emerging on the horizon, within my grasp at last.
Then it went again. The shrill of the bleep I had come to loathe, having taken uninvited residence at the edge of my consciousness in the day now too. I rubbed my aching eyes irritably, and trudged to the 136 suite. Night six of six. I was so close.
Silence really is one of the most powerful tools we have
A young, bedraggled Asian man was slumped on the sofa, flanked by two police officers. I sat down, trying to shrug off the heavy haze and subtle nausea that were permanent accompaniments on my night shifts.
He had jumped into the Thames that afternoon. I tried to muster the emotional energy I would need to get through the interview, burying the self-resentment that I had to do so in the first place.
I asked him what had happened. In short, stilted sentences, he told me much of what I already knew. He'd felt bad, and so he'd jumped. Someone had saved him. He didn't know what he wanted to do now. And no, he wasn't hungry or tired, thank you Doctor. And I couldn't get anything else out of him.
I tried to fight the peripheral fog of jet lag encroaching on my thoughts, giving myself a mental slap to jolt me into what to do next. I was a GP trainee, shifting shape to pass as the psychiatry SHO for just a few months, and I didn't feel confident to let him out of sight.
The silence stretched on. And on. I sent the police officers away.
Words took shape in my aching brain and drifted to my mouth, but seemed to falter along the way. What could I say to him? I was starting to feel uncomfortable. We just sat there opposite each other, doctor and patient, victim and rescuer, although I knew I was desperately failing to play my role. The clock ticked loudly.
After what seemed like an eternity of us both staring at the floor, he spoke. I looked up in surprise.
His face was etched with pain as he recounted his story, stammering and softly spoken. He told me how he had come to the UK from India as a child to study, how his parents had pinned all their hopes on him graduating from a prestigious law school in London. How his world had turned upside down in the last year. A rocky relationship, an unplanned pregnancy, all too soon turning into a real newborn that he couldn't even think of as his own son. The mother of his baby had forced everyone he knew to shun him. Alienated and riddled with guilt, he had dropped out of his course to work on a market stall to support her. Shut off from his family, he sank into a world of debt and despair that seemed determined to swallow him whole.
The inescapable weight of failure became heavier and heavier. And then today, it had hit him. He wanted that weight to sink him under water forever. Lunchtime came at work, and he'd walked out. He dragged his feet around Trafalgar Square, until the melancholy music of a busker had drawn him to sit down, tears streaming down his face. All of a sudden, he had thrown his phone and wallet into the busker's hat, got up, and taken a running jump over the bridge, the busker's yelling echoing in his ears as though from miles away.
I said nothing. His eyes filled with tears. And after another long stretch of silence, he continued, his fingers trembling as he gripped the armrests.
The more he spoke, the more I sensed it was the first time he had really done so. The lines on his face relaxed ever so slightly, the tears dried, and the shaking eased.
It struck me then, that silence really is one of the most powerful tools we have. Somehow, in trying to slide down the open-closed question cone, sprinkle over some ICE [Ideas, Concerns and Expectations] and wind up by unfurling the omnipotent net of safety, it had been relegated in my consultations. After weaving in the devolving, the involving, the exploring, the imploring, the handing over, the climbing over the desk to get the patient out in ten minutes – where was the space for silence in those consultation models?
Somehow it had been overtaken by the need to let the patient leave waving a consultation souvenir – a plan, a prescription, or a pathology request. Staying silent felt like a cop out.
I thought back to some of the patients I had seen in my GP rotation. The journalist who had come in to sort out a routine referral, and left confessing a ten-year cocaine addiction. A long silence that followed me asking about his job whilst mentally trying to figure out how to sort his initial request, had perhaps been the key to unlocking that story. Then there was the retired dinner lady asking for her repeat prescription. She had suddenly burst into tears in the silence that followed my stand-off with the stubborn printer, as I casually asked about her husband. She blurted out that she was struggling with the loneliness that had come with becoming his fulltime carer. And the 14-year-old girl, who divulged her sickening fear that she could be pregnant, in the silence that sat between us as I concentrated fiercely on my battle with the labels for her routine bloods.
At the RCGP annual conference, David Haslam (Chair of NICE), proposed an alternative consultation model:
Know something
'Haslam's model of hushing up', I dubbed it. So the name may need some work. But it's one I hope to remember in my consultations going forward.
Although a part of me will always wonder: how many of my patients' stories have I already missed from underestimating the power of silence?
Dr Nishma Manek is a GP trainee in London. You can follow her on Twitter @nishmanek


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"But five years later, when my son started school, I was already seeing growth," she said.
Now, though her family has outgrown their home in Old New Castle and is looking to move closer to Middletown, she said she doesn't want to switch school districts.
"I don't want to move into (Appoquinimink) School District," she said. "I want to stay in Colonial. I will choice them. I will drive them if I have to."
She said she will vote "yes" to the referendum, and she's not the only one. At a public meeting Wednesday at George Read Middle School, several parents, staff and alumni made the commitment, attaching small pins that read "The Power of We" to their shirts and jackets.
"I'm ready to vote now," one woman said.
STORY: DOC officer assaulted, but details scarce
The only notes of discord came from the edge of the room, where two older residents talked loudly with district staff.
Bill Mohr, from Minquadale, said he previously had a granddaughter who attended school the Colonial district, but her family pulled her out because of fighting on the school bus, he said.
The 62-year-old, while for children, said he was against the referendum because he feels the school district hasn't done a good job letting residents know about the upcoming vote.
Specifically, he complained that while copies of the school district newspaper, the Colonial Reporter, had detailed information about the referendum, they were not delivered to several of his neighbors and friends. He himself received one, and the district said about 46,000 copies of the newspaper were mailed out.
On Thursday, the district said in an email that "mailings are still being delivered to some due to some technical issues at the post offices."
"Oh, I'm hot over this," Mohr said. "I can tell you right now there are some mad people out there because they were not notified on this."
Anthony DeLia, about the same age as Mohr, corroborated his story and said he had heard from several people who did not receive the mailer.
He was against the referendum because of its potential impact on seniors on Social Security and low-income renters, whose landlords could pass along the costs to them.
"The area we are living in, people can't afford an increase," he said. "My pension's so small, my main income is my Social Security and the few investments I've made."
Mohr chimed in and said he was on disability and could not afford much of an increase either.
Both men were against the referendum in 2013, as well, and claimed a lack of notification resulted in its ultimate passage.
Breaking the referendum down
The upcoming referendum proposes an increase of 39.4 cents per $100 of assessed home value. Most of that will go for operating expenses, but 1.4 cents, or $4.7 million, will go toward constructing secure entrances at several of the district's schools, Blakey said.
The increase will be phased in over a two-year period. Only 28.4 cents will be levied the first year, while an additional 11 cents will be levied starting in year two.
For a house with an assessed value of $75,000 (and an estimated market value of $265,000), that equates to an increase of $213 the first year, and an additional $82.50 come year two.
The referendum includes:
Expanded preschool: More seats would be available for 3- and 4-year-olds. The district currently has a waiting list of about 160-180 children for those programs.
Technology: More devices would be purchased for kids to use in class, the system that handles those devices would be upgraded and support staff would be added.
Middle school redesign: New middle school courses would include health care technician, culinary and broadcast and media technology. The referendum would also help fund new student-led initiatives, including an emergency medical responder program at McCullough, a farmers market at George Read and a theater and art program at Gunning Bedford.
Elementary wellness: The district would beef up its health care services for young students, both physical — immunizations and physicals — and social/emotional services, like counseling.
Story continues below PDF:
The strongest group behind the referendum is the district's staff, parents and alumni. Neil Webster, girls basketball at William Penn, said his children and wife went to the high school, and now he has a daughter that teaches at William Penn and a granddaughter that teaches at McCollough.
"I was excited she wanted to go back and teach where she started school," he said of his daughter.
For him, the referendum is all about "the classroom" and making sure the district has enough resources to provide a world-class education.
"I live in the district, and because I live there, it affords me the opportunity to see the products of the public school district," he said. "I recognize how important it is that we fund the schools. They need to be able to offer programs like William Penn does."
Gary Phillips, who graduated from William Penn High School and is president of Friends of Colonial, said his entire family has attended Colonial Schools: his children, his grandchildren, his wife, his brother.
While he has fond memories of his time as a student, he has embraced the need for change.
"When you look at education and how it's supposed to be preparing our children, our students, for the 21st century, you have to keep up with it," he said. "We need to be looking ahead, not at present times or in the past."
He's excited about the new programs at Colonial and has been pushing for the referendum to pass, sharing information about the measure on the Friends of Colonial Facebook page and other social media. Phillips said there's value in funding Colonial schools not only for local parents, but the community as a whole.
"The fact is that better schools create better values within the community," he said. "They increase property values. We're looking into kids that are probably getting into less trouble and probably being more focused on an education that they're excited about and more successful at."
More on the referendum:
www.colonialschooldistrict.org/vote
Tax calculator:
www.colonialschooldistrict.org/calculator-2/
Polling places — Open 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Feb. 28
District residents can vote at ANY of the following locations:
Carrie Downie Elementary School
Carvel State Building
Castle Hills Elementary School
Delaware City Library
Eisenberg Elementary School
Howard Weston Senior Center
Kingswood Community Center
McCullough Middle School
New Castle Senior Center
Pleasantville Elementary School
Wilbur Elementary School
William Penn High School
Wilmington Manor Elementary
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Welcome to my life...: The hardest longest 14 days of my LIFE!
On June 29th I headed to the airport to drop off my brother and his wife, along with my 7 year old baby girl to head back to Louisisana. They have been asking me, along with my parents, for the last year if they could take her for some time during the summer. Finally my sister asked if they could have her for a month. Of course my reply was NO. That is too long! So we agreed on 2 weeks. I then, talked to her dad and we talked about if we were okay with this for sure before they booked the tickets. WE agreed and then they booked the tickets.
On the day I took her to the airport I was super strong and I decided I was not going to cry. I was very proud of myself for not crying up to this point. I would have waited until I drove home to cry, but it didn't last that long. After hugging my baby girl and I pulled her away from me, she had HUGE alligator tears in her eyes. None fell down her cheek, but after seeing that I lost it. I grabbed her tightly and didn't want to let her know. I made it short and sweet and then talked about all the fun that they were going to have and then watched them walk inside... I left once I couldn't see them anymore or once I noticed she wasn't turning around anymore.
I cried the whole way home. Her being at her dad's house I have gotten use to, but this was totally different. She was in a different state and that was what was putting knots in my stomach. I totally trusted my parents and my brother and sister with her... it was just the fact that she was so far away from me if anything happened.
It got easier as the days went by. I walked around feeling lost. My little mini me wasn't here to talk my ears off and she wasn't here asking me questions. It was the longest 2 weeks of my life! My parents and her have their boarding passes printed for tomorrow's flights and today is pack day down there. I am super excited, words can not explain it all!
She had such a great time down in Louisiana. I can not thank my family enough for showing her a great time. She was able to spend time with her grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, great aunts, great grandfather and extended cousins. She went to the water park down there and she swan many many days. She had a few melt downs with missing her dad and I, but she did such a great job and I am so super proud of my baby girl. She has made me extremely proud of her. I can not wait until tomorrow evening when I can hug my baby girl and not let her go!
My princess on the 4th of July at MawMaw's house!
It's hard to let go. I am proud of you.
so glad your mini me is back with you.i feel your pain. i just went to visit my sister and her family, also my brother and his family. plus a few other family members. it was hard for me to tell my siblings by. my sister and i cried so much.


Eurosport's acquisition of Champions League rights in Singapore is a message to rights-holders and platforms about the broadcaster's growing ambitions, according to chief executive Peter Hutton.
The French second-tier rugby union league, the Pro D2, took advantage of strong competition for its rights to secure a massive fee increase in new deals agreed last week.
Canal Plus and Eurosport are battling it out over the pay-television rights to French rugby union's Pro D2, with the existing rights fee set to treble.
The Vuelta a España cycle race earned a strong increase in media-rights fee from the European Broadcasting Union in a five-year deal finalised late last month.
The German Bundesliga is set to more than double its international rights value from 2015-16 onwards following a host of deals agreed in recent weeks.
Pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport last week renewed a host of top skiing rights, with expanded exclusivity and at slight fee increases, in a deal with the Infront Sports & Media agency.
Pan-regional broadcaster Eurosport has lost its automatic right to share content acquired by the European Broadcasting Union, the consortium of public-service broadcasters.
The Union Cycliste Internationale's long-standing goal of centralising the media rights to the UCI World Tour looks set to be put on the back burner under new president Brian Cookson in favour of more achievable objectives: creating a coherent calendar and improving cycling as a television product.
Interview with Laurent Prud'homme, director of sports-rights acquisitions, and Géraldine Filiol, deputy managing director for international communications, marketing and external relations, Eurosport, on the UCI World Tour.
Dorna Sports, the commercial rights-holder of the MotoGP racing championship, secured a decent increase in its rights fee from the German market in a deal with Eurosport late last month.
Pay-television broadcaster Setanta Asia doubled the value of European club rugby in Asia this month, adding the new Champions Cup competition to a strong rugby portfolio.
Eurosport France, the French arm of the pan-regional broadcaster, has renewed its non-exclusive domestic rights to cycling's Tour de France.


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Q: Can I execute "Pathfinder > Crop" from the Pathfinder panel and NOT the "Effects > Pathfinder" menu? TLDR: I need to run Pathfinder > Crop on all art in a file that has a clipping mask applied but can't seem to get Crop to fire correctly.
UPDATE: After HOURS of chipping away at this I came to realize that the Crop option in the main menu ("Effect > Pathfinder > Crop") does something entirely different than the Crop button in the Pathfinder panel. I'm using app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Crop'); to crop the image, but this apparently fires the menu action. I need to access the crop action from the Pathfinder panel.

I have several layers of art that have clipping masks applied. The masks cause several issues in the end product, so I need to:

*

*Loop through each layer;

*Copy the contents to a new layer (optional maybe, but working with the original layers seemed very problematic);

*Loop through all groups in the layer to find any with pathItem[0].clipping === true;

*Remove the clipping mask;

*Select and group everything that's left on the layer;

*Create a rectangle on top of the art that has the same dimensions and coordinates that the clipping mask had;

*Select both the group and the rectangle; and

*Run Outline Stroke, Pathfinder > Crop, and Expand on the selected items.

Here is my script as it stands.
#target illustrator

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var tempName = '-temp';

function cropGroups() {
    var layers = doc.layers;
    var layerCount = layers.length;

    // Lock all layers
    for (var i = 0; i < layerCount; i++) {
        layers[i].locked = true;
    }

    for (var i = 0; i < layerCount; i++) {
        var layer = layers[i];

        // Create new empty layer
        var layerCopy = layers.add();
        layerCopy.name = layer.name + tempName;

        // Copy all objects from original layer to new layer
        var pageItems = layer.pageItems;
        var pageItemCount = pageItems.length;
        for (var a = pageItemCount - 1; a >= 0; a--) {
            pageItems[a].duplicate(layerCopy, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);
        }

        // Loop through the new layer's groups
        var groups = layerCopy.groupItems;
        var totalGroups = groups.length;
        for (var g = totalGroups - 1; g >= 0; g--) {
            var group = groups[g];

            // Ensure group isn't empty and has a clipping mask
            if (group.pathItems.length && group.pathItems[0].clipping) {
                var clippingMask = group.pathItems[0];
                var clippingRect = { left: clippingMask.left, top: clippingMask.top, height: clippingMask.height, width: clippingMask.width };
                clippingMask.remove();

                // Time to start the selection dance…
                layerCopy.hasSelectedArtwork = true;

                // Add selected items to a new group
                var selectedItems = doc.selection;
                var cropGroup = layerCopy.groupItems.add(); // Create empty group
                for (var s = 0; s < selectedItems.length; s++) {
                    selectedItems[s].move( cropGroup, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND ); // Add all selected items to the new group
                }

                doc.selection = null;

                // Create a new rectangle that matches the size of the clipping mask
                var tile = layerCopy.pathItems.rectangle(clippingRect.top, clippingRect.left, clippingRect.width, clippingRect.height);
                var tileColor = new RGBColor;
                tile.fillColor = tileColor;
                tile.move(layerCopy, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);

                // Select all layer art again
                // layerCopy.hasSelectedArtwork = true;
                tile.selected = true;
                cropGroup.selected = true;

                // Live Pathfinder Crop
                app.executeMenuCommand('OffsetPath v22');
                app.executeMenuCommand('Live Pathfinder Crop');
                app.executeMenuCommand('expandStyle');

                doc.selection = null;
            }
        }

        // Return the layer name back to it's original
        layerCopy.name = layerCopy.name.replace(tempName, '');

        // Remove the original layer
        layer.locked = false;
        layer.remove();
    }
}

cropGroups();

It technically works well, but the cropping action isn't at all what I expect. When I run the script without executeMenuCommand lines, then run those commands manually in Illustrator everything gets cropped perfectly.
What am I missing here?
SOLUTION:
It seems that the "Crop" function from the actual Pathfinder panel isn't available via ExtendScript, so I ended up making an action that handles only that task and saving it as a file. Then I call it for each Clipping Mask in the document:
function cropTiles(cb) {
    // Load the action file relative to the location of this script
    var thisFile = new File($.fileName);
    var basePath = thisFile.path;
    app.unloadAction('action','');
    app.loadAction(new File(basePath + '/actions/action.aia'));

    doc.selection = null;
    app.executeMenuCommand("Clipping Masks menu item");
    var thisClipItem;
    var esc = 50;
    while (doc.selection.length != 0 && esc > 0) {
        esc--;
        thisClipItem = doc.selection[0];
        doc.selection = null;
        thisClipItem.parent.selected = true;

        app.executeMenuCommand('Live Outline Stroke');
        app.doScript('Crop Gallery Tile', 'action');
        app.executeMenuCommand('expandStyle');

        doc.selection = null;
        app.executeMenuCommand("Clipping Masks menu item");
    }
    cb && typeof cb === 'function' && cb();
}

A: Yes, you can execute Pathfinder > Crop via creating Action and running it from code.

*

*open Action panel and create new Action Set, for example PathfinderSet

*create new empty Action, for example act-crop

*start recording and record one step - applying pathfinder crop to some objects

*open Action context menu and save PathfinderSet to file, for example 'pathfinder-actions.aia'

Run this action from script:
  var fAction = new File('pathfinder-actions.aia');
  app.loadAction(fAction);
  app.doScript("act-crop", "PathfinderSet", false);
  app.unloadAction("PathfinderSet","");

A: As far as I can tell the only difference between 'Crop' in Pathfinder' panel and 'Crop' in menu 'Effect > Pathfinder' is the later works with grouped or masked objects only. While the former handles ungrouped objects as well.
So, this variant of the script works fine for me:
var groups = app.activeDocument.groupItems;

for (var i=0; i<groups.length; i++) {
    try {
        if (groups[i].pathItems[0].clipping) {
            groups[i].selected = true;
            app.executeMenuCommand('OffsetPath v22');
            app.executeMenuCommand("Live Pathfinder Crop");
            app.executeMenuCommand("expandStyle");
            app.selection = null;
        }
    } catch(e) {}
}

It just iterates through all groups, tries to pick first path and, if the path is a clip mask, executes the commands. I see no difference on my test files. Am I missing something?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Q: How do I crawl all the pages on my internal website? I want to hit every page on my internal website to see if any throw an error just from looking at them. The website does its own error logging, so I just need something to follow links.
I am running Windows XP and IIS.

A: wget --spider <URL>

edit- just noticed you said windows:
http://gnuwin32.sourceforge.net/packages/wget.htm

A: Try the IIS SEO toolkit.  Inspects your site for SEO related issues which includes broken links.
IIS SEO Toolkit


According to a new insider report, Netflix is internally very happy with how The Witcher is shaping up, and is already thinking about greenlighting multiple seasons before the first season even airs.
The report comes way of KC Walsh, EIC of Geeks WorldWide and a known DCEU insider with a history of reliable information.
According to Walsh, Netflix is "very happy" with The Witcher, which presumably means how season one is coming together. Further, it is apparently ready to the pull trigger and order more seasons either before season one airs or shortly after.
As Walsh suggests, if this is indeed the case, Cavill's schedule is about to be pretty busy, which could just mean his Superman days are done, at least for awhile.
Of course, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt like any other report or rumor. The only thing worth going to the bookies on is official confirmation or sometimes leaks, but it's best to never get too attached to any unconfirmed information.
That said, Walsh is known for this type of reporting, unlike many others who purport to have insider information. Still, even if Walsh is on the money, things change. Maybe Netflix waits until the first season airs and then it bombs. It's unlikely, but it could happen.
The Witcher's first season is set to release sometime in 2019. Unfortunately, Netflix has yet to divulge a specific date, but we do know it will follow the standard Netflix formula of eight episodes.
As always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Are you looking forward to watching The Witcher?


Most salespeople develop a love-hate relationship with team-building activities. On one hand, they can seem cheesy and easily elicit an eye roll or two from the ranks. On the other hand, they forge important connections between reps and give them a chance to play out team values.
Research, old and new, shows that company culture and employee retention are closely linked, and what might pass as a simple game will often establish rapport, comfort, and communication that lasts. And frankly, the best sales team building activities are just plain fun.
These activities are meant to help your sales team let their guards down so they can form authentic connections.
It's also a good idea to choose a mix of the activity styles above, and get feedback on what worked best.
You might pick a few with a work focus, while others stay free of office talk; or toss a few competitive exercises along with ones that require the team to collaborate.
Let's take a look at some team building activities that center around learning. It's possible to develop your reps in a way that brings the whole team closer.
Engaging in professional development activities as a team can focus on personal development (learning what makes each salesperson on a team tick) or it can focus on learning about your industry.
One of the best ways to understand your team's collective strength is for each member to take personality tests and discuss the results.
Tests introduce a shared vocabulary to illuminate communication preferences, weaknesses, and areas of comfort. And overall, they increase empathy for one another. Sales and HR leaders also receive the added benefits of comparing and contrasting the psychometric profiles of their top performers to find commonalities that can inform future hiring initiatives.
Two common tests include DiSC and True Colors, both of which offer options for groups to take the test at once. For a do-it-yourself approach, have sales reps take the test at home, then schedule a dedicated meeting or offsite to review commonalities and differences in the results. Or, leverage a licensed facilitator to administer the tests and guide the conversation and sharing experience. These sessions can be powerful and only take a couple hours to conduct.
If DiSC or True Colors doesn't resonate with you, there are plenty of options. Here's an excellent breakdown of the most popular team personality tests and why they're effective.
Learning new skills together tends to even the playing field: regardless of work performance, everyone on the team can focus around a fresh objective and walk out more informed.
Watch a TED talk or webinar related to your industry, or about sales strategies and tactics. Follow it up with a roundtable discussion or idea generation session to apply it to your team's day-to-day work.
Attend an industry conference together. Here's a list of sales conferences you can draw from.
Bring in a facilitator to teach a presentation skills workshop. Then, have each team member present on something they're working on.
Take a class completely unrelated to work, such as archery, woodworking, or whiskey tasting.
Teams will draw closer together through this shared experience, and individuals will appreciate their employer investing in their development.
Most professionals we spoke to said that getting out of the office, even for a couple hours, is the quickest way to get reps to drop their egos and connect as people. Here's what they recommend.
Send the team on a wild goose chase around your city — preferably one that requires them to solve puzzles together and use complementary talents.
"The best team-building activity that we've done is a 1-day custom scavenger hunt, complete with funny clues, hard puzzles, and active challenges. We built teams of people who don't necessarily work together day-to-day, so that we'd grow new relationships and strengthen old ones.
"Last year, we took our team out to participate in an "Escape Room," where each team was locked in a room with various scattered clues and had to work together to solve a way out of it. The clues were hidden in objects throughout the room and were provided in riddles, word puzzles, and mathematical equations. The Escape Room was designed so that individuals with different skills could collectively benefit the team as a whole—the key to success being the group's diversity rather than the similarities among its members.
Keep in mind the needs and abilities of teammates. If this activity excludes individuals, it might not be a fit for your company.
"A small group of employees decided to try something to improve collegiality: they investigated a whitewater rafting trip to West Virginia, even though few participants had been rafting before…. A rule governed all interaction: no work-related shop talk allowed!
"There is something incredibly disarming about co-workers getting out of the office and engaging in a positive, laugh-filled shared experience. It's a chance for everybody to let their hair down, set aside the politics, and get to know each other in a fun new way – particularly if the content has been customized for them.
These were some of the more out-of-the-box team building activities we uncovered. And there are always the good old classics.
Tip: Occasionally plan an activity that lets salespeople bring their families or pets — like a barbecue.
Tip: Managers and office managers should assume responsibility for planning the logistics of team outings, but from time to time, it's a good idea to lightly involve reps in planning. For example, let reps organize some events themselves if they request to do so. You can even identify "instigators" and give them a budget. Or, throughout the month, let team members put their activity ideas in a hat, then draw a winner at the end of the month.
Studies show that people who find meaning in their work show higher levels of dedication and motivation. The same spirit can apply to team-building activities. Put your shared values into practice and direct your team's energy toward a big cause.
Use B1G1 to tie sales wins to corporate giving. Create a contest among subgroups of your sales team for who can sell (and therefore donate) the most.
Participate in a team charity walk in your city.
Host a beach or park cleanup day (a classic).
Sign up for Habitat for Humanity group activities to help build affordable homes and shelters.
Check out these in-depth reviews of more activities from BizBash, such as preparing school breakfast, volunteering at hospitals, lending a hand at homeless shelters, decorating libraries, building wheelchairs for veterans, helping animal shelters with construction projects, and assembling disaster relief kits.
You can also work with a local charitable team-building vendor, such as TeamBonding, to curate and plan an activity that is ideal for your group's size (typically ranging from two to five hours).
Once you've tried an organization or activity that resonated with the team, make it a quarterly or annual ritual to repeat it, so that the team experiences continuity and a deeper connection to the cause.
The best sales teams embrace competitions. Research shows that 80% of global sales executives do goal-oriented competitions. But for team-building purposes, can you harness their power in a way that brings the team together? Yes.
"The most effective team building activity I had was a quarterly reward/recognition program called the PRISM Award. It was an acronym that stood for "personal recognition of individual sales management." To earn the award you had to sell above quote in 4 of 5 product categories. I made a big deal about how the best salespeople "manage" all of the product lines, and find a way to hit numbers across the spectrum of products.
I never dreamed it would create such a competition among my salespeople at the time. Eventually, I had a couple of reps hit 5 of 5 categories, so I had to make a Silver Prism (for 4/5) and a Gold Prism (for 5/5). These were very nice crystal pyramids (like a prism) on a solid base.
Get creative with prizes you offer. People reported many different types of incentives, from simple $25 gift cards for lunch near the office, to physical artifacts (such as Riggs' Prism pyramids), to wildly unique experiences, such as turning people into James Bond for the day — complete with skydiving, fast cars, and martinis. Now that's something the team will talk about for a long time.
"The most exciting example of a team building exercise that we have attempted is the gifting of a FitBit activity tracker to each of my employees, with the understanding that they were encouraged to really use them. A nice feature of the activity trackers is that you can compare your step counts with other activity tracker owners, so everyone in the office has the ability to compete for most steps over a given time period.
A healthy (figuratively and literally) competition has sprouted, with individuals (or small groups) getting up to take short walk breaks throughout the day to increase their step counts (which I encourage (short breaks actually increase productivity because they improve employee morale, and help them from burning out)).
Unique activities and celebrations outside of the office are a great way to punctuate the typical sales quarter with some fun. But what about the in-between times? You can introduce daily or weekly rituals into your recurring meetings. These might only take a few minutes, but accrued, they can make a big difference over several months or a year.
Take, for example the daily morning catch-up.
If you're unsure about implementing a daily activity, try it for a one-week sprint before making a permanent commitment.
Again, it only takes a few minutes, but added up over time it makes a difference.
These meeting rituals have the added benefit of repeatedly opening the door for participation from all salespeople on the team, introverted and extroverted alike.
Many teams we spoke to referenced simple games and icebreakers as a great way for reps to learn about one another and try solving problems in a non-work context.
Two Truths and a Lie: Guess which facts about a rep are true or false.
Games like Mafia and Concentration were favorites, but here are 32 other great classic games to choose from.
[Remote team friendly] Play Charades over videoconferencing software.
[Remote team friendly] Play "Where In The World": Have each remote sales rep take a picture of the view from their office window, anonymize the photos, and have people guess which team member submitted it.
Structured, facilitated play sessions are great activities for an offsite, while other games can be used spontaneously in the office (for example, to kick off the weekend on Fridays, or before an all-hands meeting).
Multi-day team offsites are a powerful way to disconnect from the noise of the everyday work week and connect with individual salespeople on a deeper level. It also supports high-level planning and objective-setting in an environment away from inbox distractions. Conducting team-building offsites is especially important for remote teams.
"In 11 years we have tried absolutely all kinds of activities. There are some that were positive, some without greater results, and others negative.
"There are 3 parts: first we present the progress from the last meeting, then evaluate new problems and opportunities, and finally, define the path or strategy to follow for the next 6 months. At the end, each member of the team is responsible from one to three goals.
For more tips, see Zapier's excellent guide to planning company retreats (especially for remote teams).
"We acknowledge that most corporate outings fall into a few big categories: extremely cheesy, insanely expensive, or both. Yet we fully celebrate that fact as long as we do it together as an office. One time we rented out an entire Russian nightclub, and that's only one example from a long list that includes adult laser tag as a highlight.
It's cheesy and even corny, but coming into it we're all in on the joke and this effectively lowers everyone's guard enough to genuinely hang out. Most of our client-facing teams see each other as potential rivals, so the simple participation in a shared activity allows everyone to drop their egos for a while to bond.
While sales team building activities come in all shapes and sizes, they all need one key ingredient to work: embracing the activity with an open mind, together.
As Marketing Manager, Keith leads all marketing activities and has successfully grown revenue and lead volume every quarter. He is an expert on B2B sales and recruiting matters having his insights featured on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, HR.com, Sales and Marketing Magazine, HubSpot Sales, Recruiter.com, ActionCo Magazine, and Manta. He is also a frequent contributor to the Peak Sales Blog.


text:
Raisio to reach an interim decision in cooperation negotiations
Raisio Group's employee co-operation negotiations launched at the end of January 2018 have been largely completed. At this point, it was decided that a total of 20 employments will be terminated. The terminations will be carried out through retirements, voluntary arrangements and redundancies, and partly through the termination of fixed-term employment contracts.
Raisio's initial estimate of the reduction need was 30 jobs and it is expected to take place gradually. Once Raisio has completed the negotiations related to the possible divestment of its feed businesses announced at the end of 2018, it will also be possible to close the cooperation negotiations in terms of employments closely related to Raisioagro.
Raisio will direct all resources to support the strategic growth targets of its new Healthy Food Division. The cooperation negotiations were launched to ensure Raisio's competitiveness and profitability. The negotiations concerned Raisio's Group Services as well as the new Healthy Food Division's marketing, product development and support functions. A total of 115 were within the negotiations.
Source: Raisio
DSM forges F&B business group integrating taste, texture and health know-how
Health and nutrition giant DSM is showcasing a new integrated F&B operating structure that unifies food specialties, hydrocolloids and nutritional products. Positioned as a business group, it will harness the gamut of taste, texture and health solutions to manufacturers in the F&B sector.
Keeping food transparent: F&B suppliers talk eliminating bias and the pitfalls of eco-labeling
FoodIngredientsFirst speaks to key suppliers Corbion, Agrana Fruit and Kerry to discuss what core strategies are helping keep food businesses up-to-speed with their environmental reporting while remaining bias-free.
Titanium dioxide EU ban comes into force, companies have six months to adjust
France banned the use of the additive in 2020, leading companies such as Lonza to launch Vcaps Plus White Opal, its first commercially-available titanium dioxide-free semi-opaque capsule for food supplements. The move followed several lobby groups urging the European Commission to prohibit TiO2.


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Home / Features / World Exclusive: GM Defense Stryker
World Exclusive: GM Defense Stryker
Out on patrol in 8x8 Light Armored Vehicle
General Motors SUV/Crossover Features
by writers: Mark Williams photographers: David Freers March 27, 2003
If there's anything out there that drives like an LAV, we haven't tested it. In fact, when we first got the call from our contacts at GM Defense, we thought someone was playing a cruel joke on us: "How would you like to drive one of our eight-wheel-drive 31,000-pound turret-equipped $2 million infantry carriers? It'll go 60 mph." Long pause. "Sure," we said, about ready to jump out of our skin. "We'll see what we can do about showing you the big guns," came the reply.
With an overall length about 3 feet shorter than a 1-ton long-bed crew cab, the LAV III has a 55-ft turning diameter, a top speed of 62 mph, and a range over 300 miles. Designed as a rapid-deployment troop carrier, the LAV holds 10 people: one driver, one vehicle commander, one gunner, and seven fully geared troops in the rear-seating (dual-bench) quarters--but all we cared about was the seat with our name on it.
Peruse the following pages to find out more about our road test of this unusual vehicle. Afterwards, if you'd like more information on military-equipped civilian-made vehicles, check out our associated photo gallery: "They're All Getting in the Game."
The Vehicle From the outside, the LAV looks like a small tank with wheels; however, once you see it in action, similarities quickly disappear. Significant tactical mobility was its first design priority--it had to move at a steady 100 kph for extended periods and be easy to drive. All eight wheels are independently suspended with hydropneumatic struts, capable of raising or lowering ride height almost 6 in. A central tire-inflation system, similar to that used on military and civilian Hummers, is also an option. Each wheel is independently driven, so if one gets blown up by a land mine, the other seven will still receive power from the engine. In addition, both sets of front axles are steerable, and the rear three use six-channel ABS. The rear two sets of axles provide traction during normal driving operation, with a selectable 8WD option for serious cross-country recon missions.
The transfer case is the ultimate, heavy-duty hunk of metal, weighing several hundred pounds and capable of handling more than 800 lb-ft of torque. Gearing is unique, with 0.86:1 high range and 1.31:1 low range. This, in effect, allows for the better highway cruising and more controlled low-range crawling. Other impressive details include almost 24-in. ground clearance and built-to-climb-walls 40-degree approach and departure angles.
The engine, not surprisingly, is a monster Caterpillar I-6, capable of generating 400 hp and almost twice that in torque. Our Canadian LAV III test unit featured the slightly detuned version, reportedly putting out 350 horses, although it didn't have a chassis dyno. The equally heavy-duty Allison six-speed transmission uses all the high-tech electronics found in a 1-ton pickup transmission, but it's built specifically for ultimate survival.
The Drive After several hours of debriefing by GM Defense personnel at the GM proving grounds in Milford, Michigan, it was time to take our test vehicle for a spin. Upon watching the LAV effortlessly climb a 60-percent grade, cross 18-in.-deep potholes as if they weren't there, navigate a slalom course at 70 kph, and sludge through swamps as if they were paved, we were ready to get behind the wheel.
Once lowered into the driver's compartment, the seat can be adjusted--hatch wide open, partially open, or closed--and raise or lower the line of sight by 12 in. With the hatch closed, peering through the limited-visibility periscopes is like being in a submarine, with an engine right next to your head. And with so many electronic panels to look at--flashing lights, warning buttons, ammo switches, etc.--in the cockpit, there isn't enough time to get claustrophobic, although we thought about it for a second or two.
Right and left walls are filled with lights to mark switches, toggles, and buttons: bright blues, yellows, oranges, and greens. And if you screw up (not saying that we did), a few loud, red flashing lights will make you stop whatever you're doing in a hurry.
The least visually exciting aspects of the LAV cockpit are the speedometer and dash gauges: classic GM parts bin. In fact, the steering wheel and gauge layout are similar to a traditional Hummer's. Once moving, however, the LAV is all medium-duty big rig--but with a twist. Something this large, powerful, and unique is bound to have handling quirks. Not surprisingly, there's a significant amount of understeer through decreasing radius turns, even with four-wheel steer.
The plowing was unnerving at first (not unlike the old Range Rovers that had a considerable amount of body roll), then took a hard set into just about any turn you threw at it. The hydraulic suspension is fairly quick to respond when the 18-ton mass loads to one side in the turns. Although not unpleasant, the system does seem to do better when given a few seconds to recover after taking a difficult right or left. Cornering ability and performance handling are undoubtedly not key requirements for this machine, but it still impressed, given the tremendous mass involved. Think of it as a 38,000-lb motorhome, with the feel of a mid-'80s small-block Suburban.
The Gun Oh, did we forget to mention our test vehicle came equipped with a 25mm armor-piercing gun, capable of shooting 200 rounds per minute at targets as far as 2500 meters? "We can ruin your day from a long ways away," says the jovial 24-year vet who handles marketing. The whole arrangement is wired into a complex thermal-imaging system that allows the gunman to lock onto any target. A stabilizing system keeps the gun steady, regardless of speed or terrain. In addition, our turret had a quick-mount 7.62mm machine gun and two four-cluster grenade and smokepot launchers. The two manholes in the turret hold the gunner and vehicle commander. They can stand upright or drop to their seats, close the hatch, and view surroundings via periscopes or thermal (night-vision) imagers. In all, the turret system is amazing and costs almost as much as the rest of the base platform (a nice option perhaps for more urban full-size SUVs when you need a parking space).
As our day was ending, we became slightly more frenzied to test this vehicle. We headed to a nearby water-soaked field, looking for traction-robbing ooze. It wasn't long before we came to a stretch of deep puddling surrounding a small, murky swamp. We were assured the LAV would float if the terrain disappeared--so long as we stayed on the throttle, the churning of the mud-claw tires would keep the beast moving forward. We closed the hatches, locked the seals, and attempted to creep our way across the mire, playing the engine revs against the suspension stretching and compressing each wheel as the terrain rolled underneath us.
Body creaks echoed inside as hydraulic lines hissed and repressurized. Water splashed onto the rig's front nose and periscope lens, as the left side of the LAV dipped into a hole. Staying on the throttle helped the right side push us along as each wheel climbed out and pulled the rest with it--slow and plodding, yet powerful and confident. We climbed out of the mess, dripping ancient debris and goop. Naturally, we tried a few more laps, with a little more speed, each time cutting through the trail easier than the last.
As the sun touched the horizon, we performed one last test when we rolled up to a wall of dirt, positioned to be some sort of flood-control basin. Up the wall the LAV climbed, pushing, pulling one, then two axles over the hump, then it teetered forward until level. As the machine dug down, its Achilles' heel showed itself: a high center. The sheer weight of the vehicle had tires digging dirt until there was no more. The LAV then quietly rested on its underbelly, treads floating in air. How does one get an LAV unstuck? Obviously, with another LAV. So we waited, at the end of an amazing day of driving an amazing vehicle, finally halted by a careless driver doing something he probably shouldn't have. Our advice: If you ever have the chance to get an LAV stuck, take it.
Specifications, Where, and How Much? Although the LAV has a long and heroic history, the latest version is a joint venture between General Motors and General Dynamics and Systems, with most of the technology research and design coming out of the manufacturing facility in London, Ontario, Canada. Over the next seven years, the overall contract could be worth as much as $4 billion and will need to equip six brigade combat teams (up to 2131 vehicles). The basic platform costs about $1 million without the turret, $1.75 million with the turret, and about $4 million with the full electronics and weapons package. The LAV III is currently being built in London, Ontario, Canada; Lima, Ohio; Aniston, Mississippi; and in Switzerland.
Location of final assembly London, Ontario, Canada
Body style 4-door, 11-pass
EPA-size class N/A
Drivetrain layout Front engine, 8WD
Airbags None
Engine type Caterpillar 3126 I-6, cast-iron block, head
Displacement 7.2L
Fuel induction Direct injection
SAE horsepower, hp @ rpm 350 @ 2800
SAE torque, lb-ft @ rpm 580 @ 1400
Transmission type 6-speed Allison MD3560 P
Rpm @ 60 mph 3200
Axle ratio 2.42:1
Transfer-case model GM Corp.
High-range ratio 0.86:1
Low-range ratio 1.31:1
Recommended fuel Diesel
Wheelbase, in 185.0
Length, in 283.0
Width, in 103.2
Height, in 103.0
Total volume, cu ft 250.0
Ground clearance, in 18.0
Approach & departure angle, deg 40/36
Base curb weight, lb 31,000
Payload capacity, lb 6500
GVWR, lb 38,000
GCWR, lb 50,000
Towing capacity, lb 10,000
Fuel capacity, gal 65
Suspension, f/r 8-wheel independent, hydropneumatic, w/height management
Steering type Power w/ground-driven pump
Turns, lock to lock 3.7
Turning circle, ft 55.8
Brakes, f/r ABS rear 3 axles
Tires 1200 R20 CTIS
Sound level @ 55 mph Loud
Base price $1 million (est)
Options Too many to list
Price as tested $3 million (est)
August CUV Sales: Toyota RAV4 Beats CR-V, Escape for Top Spot
GM 1.0-Liter Turbo I-3 Rated 114 HP, 122 Lb-Ft of Torque
2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban Basic Specs Against Competition


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Reviews by Contributor: Oh, Temi (1)
Raise the Sails
Do You Dream of Terra-Two?
By Temi Oh
Doing What the WFC Cannot Do
Temi Oh's Do You Dream of Terra-Two? is a standalone science fiction novel.
By 2012, breakneck technological development may not have solved problems like global warming, but it has given humans access to the Solar System and beyond. The United Kingdom's Space Agency has the means to reach the nearest habitable exoplanet, Terra-Two. However, the trip will take more than twenty years.
The solution? Send kids.


Contact Erin Mordecai for information about conducting research in the lab as an undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoc.
Prospective graduate students: Please send a CV and a brief statement describing your background and research interests to Erin Mordecai: emordeca@stanford.edu. I accept PhD students through the Biology Department (Eco-Evo track), the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources (E-IPER), and the PhD program in Epidemiology.
Prospective postdocs: Please send a CV and brief statement of interests and background to Erin Mordecai: emordeca@stanford.edu.
Stanford undergrads: We have positions available to work in the lab, greenhouse, and field (Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve) as well as on mathematical modeling projects. You can work as a volunteer or for work study, class credit, or hourly pay. Please send a CV including contact information for at least one reference, an unofficial transcript, and a one-paragraph statement about your research interests to Erin Mordecai: emordeca@stanford.edu.
High school summer interns: As of summer 2018 we are no longer accepting unpaid summer interns. We accept interns through Stanford's RISE program.


text:
Got Something Green to Say? Speak Out Now!
Green Film Fest
If you're a regular at the San Francisco Green Film Festival, you're probably familiar with the Video Story Booth. I've womaned the booth for the past four Festivals, inviting attendees to share their reactions to the films they've seen as they come out of the Green Film Fest theater.
As times have changed, so has the booth. This year we're updating our name from Video Story Booth to Green Speak Out, reflecting something that has always been part of this endeavor - getting people to share their views.
What is Green Speak Out?
Green Speak Out is an opportunity to share your experiences at Green Film Fest, your opinions on specific films, and your fears, hopes, and dreams for a better -- greener -- future.
We think it's important to give our Festival attendees an opportunity to make their voices heard and to, well, speak out. Appearing in a video is one way you can make a difference. It takes less than five minutes, but has a big impact.
Why Have a Green Speak Out?
Our Instagram and YouTube videos are a fantastic way to help tell the Festival's story. We video many of our attendees, including audience members, filmmakers, funders, and sponsors. Everyone has a chance to say how they think Green Film Fest makes a difference, and why they have set aside time to watch films about the environment, attend panels, and discuss these issues with friends, family, and even colleagues.
We use our Instagram videos in real time during the festival to build buzz, get people to come experience the festival, and encourage people to keep talking about green issues. We share our videos across all our social channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Filmmakers share why they make the films they do, partners and sponsors say why they support the festival, and audience members express the sorrow, joy, despair, triumph, and inspiration to take action that they feel as a result of the incredible films they view.
Off season, we use the videos to keep telling our story. Everyone likes to hear how audiences are loving the films, learning about green issues, and finding new ways to make a difference. The videos are a way to grow our audience and partner with people and organizations who value the environment and are working hard to make a difference.
You know how the saying goes: a picture is worth a 1,000 words -- so you can just imagine the difference even one video can make. Typically, we produce at least thirty per Festival. And we couldn't do it without you, the Festival audience.
How Do I Get Involved with Green Speak Out?
At this year's Festival, you'll find digital marketer Anna Colibri (that's me!) at the following films and events:
Thursday, April 14 (Castro Theatre)
6:00pm: Opening Night Reception & Premiere: How To Let Go Of The World (and love all the things climate can't change)
Friday, April 15 (Roxie Theater)
6:30pm: Jumbo Wild
Saturday, April 16 (Roxie Theater)
3:30pm: An Acquired Taste
5:45pm: FREIGHTENED - The Real Price of Shipping
8:30pm: Catching The Sun
Sunday, April 17 (Roxie Theater)
3:30pm: Of The Sea
5:30pm: Dear President Obama
8:30pm: An American Ascent
Tuesday, April 19 (Roxie Theater)
6:30pm: The Anthropologist
Wednesday: April 20 (Castro Theatre)
5:30pm: 50th Anniversary Screening Born Free
9:00pm: Not Without Us
You can reach out ahead of time to let me know (anna [at] colibridigitalmarketing.com) you'd like to be in a video or find me on site at the venue. Don't be shy -- I would love to have an opportunity to hear and share what you have to say!
Explore more of the films and events at 2016 Green Film Fest, April 14 - 20.
Donate Volunteer Sign-up for our newsletter
Festival FAQ
Fest Archive
Submit Films
Green Film Network
Youth Filmmaking
Films in Schools
Green Pledge
Green Speak Out
Mission & Story
info@greenfilmfest.org | +1 415.767.1977 | Ninth Street Independent Film Center, 145 9th Street, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
San Francisco Green Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN 47-1454754.
© San Francisco Green Film Festival 2019. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions


text:
<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace MarcusJaschen\Collmex\Tests\Unit\Type\Validator;

use MarcusJaschen\Collmex\Type\Validator\DateOrEmpty as DateOrEmptyValidator;
use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;

class DateOrEmptyTest extends TestCase
{
    /**
     * @var DateOrEmptyValidator
     */
    protected $validator;

    protected function setUp(): void
    {
        $this->validator = new DateOrEmptyValidator();
    }

    /**
     * @test
     */
    public function validDate(): void
    {
        self::assertTrue($this->validator->validate('20130916'));
    }

    /**
     * @test
     */
    public function emptyValue(): void
    {
        self::assertTrue($this->validator->validate(''));
    }

    /**
     * @test
     */
    public function invalidDateTooShort(): void
    {
        self::assertFalse($this->validator->validate('2013'));
    }

    /**
     * @test
     */
    public function invalidDateTooLong(): void
    {
        self::assertFalse($this->validator->validate('20130916100000'));
    }

    /**
     * @test
     */
    public function invalidYear(): void
    {
        self::assertFalse($this->validator->validate('18230901'));
        self::assertFalse($this->validator->validate('21250901'));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Do you have an HTC device which doesn't boot? Stuck in fastboot mode with the newest firmware installed and don't want to unlock it? Maybe you want to turn your device completely stock. This service is for YOU! We are offering an exclusive service — available nowhere else — that brings your device completely stock using the latest official HTC RUUs! All you need is a device, an Internet connection and some free time!
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The poet and the artist battle it out in Rome before a crowd that includes Galileo, a Mary Magdalene, and a generation of popes who would throw the world into flames. In England, Thomas Cromwell and Henry VIII execute Anne Boleyn, and her crafty executioner transforms her legendary locks into those most-sought-after tennis balls. Across the ocean in Mexico, the last Aztec emperors play their own games, as the conquistador Hernn Corts and his Mayan translator and lover, La Malinche, scheme and conquer, fight and f**k, not knowing that their domestic comedy will change the course of history. In a remote Mexican colony a bishop reads Thomas Mores Utopia and thinks that its a manual instead of a parody. And in todays New York City, a man searches for answers to impossible questions, for a book that is both an archive and an oracle.
lvaro Enrigues mind-bending story features assassinations and executions, hallucinogenic mushrooms, bawdy criminals, carnal liaisons and papal schemes, artistic and religious revolutions, love and war. A blazingly original voice and a postmodern visionary, Enrigue tells the grand adventure of the dawn of the modern era, breaking down traditions and upending expectations, in this bold, powerful gut-punch of a novel.
Sudden Deathis the best kind of puzzle, its elements so esoteric and wildly funny that readers will race through the book, wondering how lvaro Enrigue will be able to pull a novel out of such an astonishing ball of string. But Enrigue absolutely does; and with brilliance and clarity and emotional warmth all the more powerful for its surreptitiousness.


It's an Anglo-American hard-bop double bill in Dean street tonight; two acts from opposite sides of the pond, both signed to Michael Janisch's Whirlwind label. With with the man himself in pivotal position playing bass for both, it's to be seen how they measure up.
First on is Alex Garnett, moonlighting from his regular slot at 'the other club next door', with his Bunch Of Fives band's latest incarnation. He's sharing the frontline with tenorist Tim Armacost, himself moonlighting from headliners The New York Standards Quartet. First tune 'Charlie's World" was inspired by Garnett's infant son; the intro features suitable quotes from 'Postman Pat' before plunging into a loping 3/4 minor key modal-ish groove that evokes the post-Blue Note 70s jazz you'd have found on labels like Milestone and Muse. The two tenor players are so evenly matched that it's sometimes uncertain where one leaves off and the other starts, until Garnett's darker tone and quirkier phrasing emerges to set him apart. His playing is masterly, and his original compositions give the band plenty to get their teeth into - 'Andromeda' is a pithy straight-time number with an intriguing harmonic base, 'Dracula's Lullaby' is a stark ballad with nods to 60s style free playing, and 'Homes' gives pianist Ross Stanley a chance to shine on a swaggering excursion through proper bluesy hard-bop territory. Closing number 'Delusions Of Grandma' is introduced as being inspired by Ornette, but Garnett's innate sense of symmetry prevails and it's more reminiscent of a twisting Mingus tune. Andrew Bain on drums keeps the energy levels high, and Garnett sets a relaxed, self-deprecatingly humorous tone, though some of his jokes must be of a similar vintage to his musical references.
After half-time Armacost returns to the stage with the New York Standards Quartet. It's a band name that invites a certain level of expectation, that's immediately fulfilled with their pacey, Brecker-ish reworking of 'How Deep Is The Ocean'. It's as slick, authoritative and powerful as you could wish for; Janisch keeps the pace up with a virtuosic solo which builds up to some truly explosive trades with drummer Gene Jackson, prompting the drummer to remove his jacket before continuing to the next selection. "It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing' is reharmonised and played, teasingly, in straight time. Jackson is the star of this one, laying down an ever-rising tide of tumultuous polyrhythms, driving the band to climax before the long-awaited shift to swing time arrives for pianist David Berkman's solo. The latter's playing throughout is exemplary; his solos flawlessly executed amalgams of modern masters from Herbie to McCoy, delivered with a perfectly judged sense of space and pacing.
Bud Powell's ballad "I'll Be Loving You" is a highlight, with the slower tempo showing off Arnacost's melodic sensibilities to better advantage. Janisch introduces with an awesomely free-ranging solo with plenty of extended techniques and pin-point accuracy, but his busy accompaniment tends to crowd the frontliners. A reworking of "Green Dolphin Street" shows off the bands' A-list chops, though the cumulative effect is a little hard to assess. No such ambiguity affects their dazzling reading of 'Giant Steps' - Jackson is simply phenomenal, handling the tricky meter swaps with no lessening of intent, as the band fly effortlessly through the notoriously challenging changes.
Garnett is summoned back onstage for the encore, a rendition of 'Old Folks' reworked as an Eddie-Harris style boogaloo groover. The Bunch Of Five's relaxed sincerity and the visitor's steely precision make a fascinating contrast, showing how much room for artistic self-expression, and how many rewards for the audience, remain in this venerable format when it's handled by such masters.


My client are an expanding law firm opening new offices in Preston. They looking for Fee Earners/Solicitors to join their growing Cavity Wall Insulation Claims department. This person will dedicate their self to providing a high level of customer service while working in a fast paced, target driven environment.
Are you an experienced Litigator within Cavity Wall or experienced in Civil Litigation and looking for a new role in a different area of law looking for a new challenge?
·Progress a caseload of Cavity Wall Insulation claims in an efficient and effective manner.
·Being the first point of call to advise your clients and keep them up to date.
·Review chartered surveyor/engineering reports to assess quantum/liability.
·Investigative work to identify the correct Defendant.
·Negotiation with third parties, their insurers or solicitors to achieve the best outcomes for our clients. ·Drafting schedules of loss and Court Proceedings where appropriate.
·Liaising with Counsel and other experts.
·To adhere to and contribute to internal processes.
·Contribute to business objectives and profitability.
·Strong communications skills and excellent time management.
·Commitment to deliver excellent client and operational outcomes.
·Proactive team player. ·Experience of managing a caseload is desirable.


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Sex offender's discharge
A convicted sex offender awaits a provisional discharge from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program in St. Peter; however, the move did not trigger a community notification. The apparent loophole in the law was enough to have the House declare an urgency Feb. 20, so members could pass a bill to require community notification of sex offenders released from the program.
Under current law, law enforcement is only required to provide community notification if a sex offender is released from a halfway house into a community.
The House voted 127-1 to pass HF2394*/ SF1994, sponsored by Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo) and Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove). The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee amended the bill on Feb. 21, and it passed the Senate 61-0 Feb. 23.
Clarence Opheim, 64, must be discharged from MSOP within 15 days of the Feb. 10 court order, according to MSOP Executive Director Dennis Benson.
He is the first person in Minnesota to receive a provisional discharge and one of
635 clients in the treatment program, which has locations in Moose Lake and St. Peter. He was civilly committed to the program after serving his prison term for sexually abusing multiple children.
"As such, Mr. Opheim's release, and the lack of public notification, creates a potentially dangerous situation for the public and children who will be unaware of his presence," House Speaker Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) and Majority Leader Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) wrote in a Feb. 17 letter to Gov. Mark Dayton.
Keeping the courts adequately funded
Public safety finance law doesn't gut Human Rights Department
Governor vetoes public safety bill
At about $1.8 billion in spending, no cuts to courts were proposed
DNA - It's all in the family
Familial DNA could help solve criminal cases, but at what cost?
Creating a 'Safe Harbor'
Wide-ranging support for bill to decriminalize juveniles exploited by prostitution
Two omnibus bills merged into one
DFL legislators oppose cuts to Department of Human Rights, Civil Legal Services
Safety versus savings
Home fire sprinklers would be costly, but can save lives
Minnesota Index: State corrections
Figures and statistics on Minnesota's correctional system
How young is too young?
Committee debates age for youth being charged as an adult in certain cases


my lately; a stroll with family and loved ones through prospect park over the holiday. Even though the rain clouds came just after we entered the park (as they always, always seem to when I go to prospect!) ... it was perfect.
the first and the last of these make me completely swoon.
you do know that i think you are the best, yes?
What a grand place for a stroll. Lovely photos.
you ladies are tops. thank you for your notes, as always.


From business gifting to colleagues and associates, to more personal for family, Pernod Ricard is offering beautiful holiday gifts in the form of premium spirits from their portfolio of prestigious brands.
From Tequila Avión, Perrier-Jouët, The Glenlivet, Absolut Elyx, and G.H. Mumm – to – Chivas Regal and Chivas Regal Ultis, Martell, Midleton Very Rare, Royal Salute – this holiday season Pernod Ricard has got you covered!
This year's holiday offerings appeal to all holiday budgets (with gift items starting under $50 and to $500 and above).
Gone are the days of bringing a simple bottle of wine or fruit-cake. This year's personalization feature allows you to engrave a bottle of your favorite spirit to really impress with your holiday host/hostess gift!


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WWE Armageddon
WWE pay-per-view
WWE Armageddon was a Pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment from 1999 to 2008. In 2009, this event was replaced by WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs.
Promotion(s)
World Wrestling Federation
Brand(s)
Raw (2002–2003; 2007–2008)
SmackDown (2002; 2004–2008)
ECW (2007–2008)
First event
Armageddon (1999)
EventsEdit
Dates and venuesEdit
Raw-branded event SmackDown-branded event
1 Armageddon (1999) December 12, 1999 Sunrise, Florida National Car Rental Center[1] Triple H vs. Vince McMahon in a No Holds Barred match[2]
2 Armageddon (2000) December 10, 2000 Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center[3] Kurt Angle (c) vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Triple H vs. The Undertaker vs. The Rock vs. Rikishi in a Hell in a Cell match for the WWF Championship[4]
3 Armageddon (2002) December 15, 2002 Sunrise, Florida Office Depot Center[5] Shawn Michaels (c) vs. Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match for the World Heavyweight Championship[6]
4 Armageddon (2003) December 14, 2003 Orlando, Florida TD Waterhouse Centre[7] Goldberg (c) vs. Triple H vs. Kane in a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship[8]
5 Armageddon (2004) December 12, 2004 Duluth, Georgia Gwinnett Center[9] John "Bradshaw" Layfield (c) vs. Eddie Guerrero vs. The Undertaker vs. Booker T in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship[10]
6 Armageddon (2005) December 18, 2005 Providence, Rhode Island Dunkin' Donuts Center[11] The Undertaker vs. Randy Orton in a Hell in a Cell match[12]
7 Armageddon (2006) December 17, 2006 Richmond, Virginia Richmond Coliseum Batista and John Cena vs. King Booker's Court (Finlay and King Booker)[13]
8 Armageddon (2007) December 16, 2007 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mellon Arena Batista (c) vs. Edge vs. The Undertaker in a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship[14]
9 Armageddon (2008) December 14, 2008 Buffalo, New York HSBC Arena Edge (c) vs. Triple H vs. Jeff Hardy in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship[15]
(c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match
↑ "Armageddon (1999) Venue". WWE. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
↑ "Armageddon (1999) Main Event Synopsis". WWE. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WWE_Armageddon&oldid=6365089"


text:
CTV Throwback | The Spin-Offs
Top of the Heap
A divoriced father tries to help his son marry money.
Four teens pursue a career with a New York modelling agency.
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker runs a neighbourhood bar in Queens.
What's Happening Now!!
Raj, Dwayne, Rerun, and Shirley are now adults in this sequel to "What's Happening."
Tabitha Stephens is the daughter of Samantha and Darrin Stephens. Like her mother, she's got natural witchly powers.
704 Hauser Street
A black family lives in Archie Bunker's old home in Queens.
A butler deals with life at the governor's mansion.
Time of Your Life
Friends help each other cope with life's difficulties.
"All In The Family" spin-off centred around Edith's cousin, Maude Findlay, a liberal, independent woman living in Tuckahoe, NY.
Single mother Gloria Stivic starts a new life with her son.
Vinnie & Bobby
A construction worker attends night school and deals with a lazy roommate.
My Big Fat Greek Life
A newly married couple learn to deal with life and their extended family.
A man runs a junk yard with his two partners.
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NAME: Hurkacz H. - Federer R.
Hurkacz H. Federer R. live score (and video online live stream*) starts on 15.3.2019. at 18:00 UTC time at Stadium 1 stadium, Indian Wells, USA in ... See More Indian Wells, USA - ATP. Here on SofaScore livescore you can find all Hubert Hurkacz vs Roger Federer previous results sorted by their H2H matches. Links to Hurkacz H. vs. Federer R. video highlights are collected in the Media tab for the most popular matches as soon as video appear on video hosting sites like Youtube or Dailymotion. We're not responsible for any video content, please contact video file owners or hosters for any legal complaints.
You can watch Hurkacz H. vs. Federer R. live stream online if you are registered member of bet365, the leading online betting company that has streaming coverage for more than 140.000 live sports events with live betting during the year. If this match is covered by bet365 live streaming you can watch tennis match Hurkacz H. Federer R. on your iPhone, iPad, Android or Windows phone. It's also easy to find video highlights and news from the most popular sports leagues in the world. Live bet365 odds are viewable in SofaScore's tennis livescore section. We don't offer a TV schedule here, if you would like to watch this match on TV you'll probably find it it on some more popular channels like iTV, BBC, Al Jazeera Sports, Sky Sports, Gol TV, Canal+, SportTV, FOX Soccer, Setanta, ESPN, etc.


text:
Empty shop pop-up pilot project launched will support local writers
Brighton & Hove City Council have launched a pilot project in partnership with Brilliant Brighton BID utilising previously vacant premises in the city centre to support local artists and arts organisations with short-term opportunities.
This pop-up opportunity involves The Book Makers, a volunteer-run community project supporting local writers, having a cost-only tenancy for a six month period in a formerly vacant property in Cranbourne Street.
The Book Makers, a new bookshop and learning space where established authors support writers from diverse backgrounds creating an environment to allow local writers to flourish, opened its doors on Wednesday 14 July.
A creation of local author William Shaw in collaboration with Brighton-based arts charity Creative Future, it is a welcoming environment for anyone who loves books, for those who want to learn more about writing, and where commercially successful writers mentor emerging, underrepresented authors.
The Book Makers were successful after an extensive search for potential locations for this project and a rigorous exploration of local arts organisations that would have the best chance to succeed.
Applications have now closed for this project and the pilot will run for six months, allowing Brighton & Hove City Council to monitor progress and assess the feasibility of similar projects in the future.
As part of this project Brighton & Hove City Council have also recently showcased local artists through a small series of window dressing commissions in formerly vacant shopfronts in the city centre, shining a light on some of the unique creative talent we have in Brighton & Hove.
William Shaw, author and co-creator of The Book Makers, said: "Bookshops have always been about more than just selling books. With The Book Makers, we're building a space where established authors commit to welcoming new voices into the community of writers. It's a place where people can learn about the craft – and business – of writing.
"The Book Makers is supported by local Brighton bookshop Goldsboro Books who are managing the shop's retail content.
"A percentage of revenue from all sales goes to support the pop-up shop. Goldsboro's Managing Director David Headley also runs the DHH Literary Agency and will be involved throughout the pop-up's lifetime."
Brighton-based arts charity Creative Future are running an engaging mentorship programme which lies at the heart of The Book Makers project. An arts organisation and charity, Creative Future specialise in supporting underrepresented writers, especially those facing barriers to opportunity.
In September, Creative Future New Writing South and Writers Mosaic will be starting a full programme of workshops in the space to further inspire creativity.
Councillor Martin Osborne, co-chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee, said: "I am delighted to see The Book Makers project open alongside the art installations we have commissioned recently in previously vacant properties.
"One of the many things that make Brighton & Hove unique is the abundance of talented people and organisations in our arts and culture sector.
"It's fantastic to hear all the exciting plans The Book Makers have for utilising the former vacant premises, for the next six months, on a cost-only basis where they otherwise may not have been able to do so.
"I'd also like to personally thank our partners Brilliant Brighton for all their work towards this project, it has been a mammoth job and I'm grateful for all their help in making this happen.
"I'd encourage all keen readers and aspiring authors alike to pop into The Book Makers as there truly is something for everyone."
Find The Book Makers at 15-16 Cranbourne Street, Brighton, BN1 2RD.
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Heyland & Whittle, Please contact us by telephone, post or use the feedback form on the right.
Valerie''s is an online gift shop. We are a new venture and are very happy with our products and hope you will love them too!
We are a family run Greeting Card and Gift Store, we specialise in gifts for all occasions from birthdays, weddings, christenings etc.
Personalised Mugs and Custom Printed Mugs UK. Personalised Custom Photo Coffee Mugs and Design Your Own Novelty Mug for Birthday, Christmas, Wedding and Fathers Day Gifts.
Linen Hearts Company currently sells handmade scented fabric hearts filled with lavender and personalised embroidered gift hearts for special occasions. Individual requirements can also be requested via email.
JBC Signatures offers Luxury Gifts for men and women and children at affordable prices, including Jewellery, Handbags, Home Accessories, Chocolates, Beauty products and Bodycare products. Our dedicated team at JBC Signatures handpick every one of the gifts to ensure that we provide a stunning collection of products that are perfect for all Special Occasions, Christmas Presents and Birthday Presents. You can shop online or visit the JBC Signatures beautiful shop in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne.


Since wrapping up our second My Brother's Keeper hackathon, the first for our home city, Oakland (CA), Team Qeyno has been activating the rest of our first quarter hackathon season taking place in Atlanta (GA), St. Louis (MO), and powering <Div> Hack at SXSW in Austin (TX) sponsored by MVMT50 and organized by our local community partner, Hack The Future, and lead by Qeyno Fellow Shawn Scott.
MBKHACK is an independent project run by nonprofit Qeyno Labs aimed at transforming and empowering youth through social innovation, education, technology, and proactive mentoring. Working over 3 days alongside adult professionals, students identify problems, develop design concepts, pitch solutions, compete and work in teams toward execution. The hackathons bring together community partners and national sponsors, city leaders, volunteers, designers, developers, innovators, entrepreneurs, industry professionals, community organizers, concerned citizens, parents, and most importantly, youth. Participants collaborate to solve some of the most intractable problems facing their communities, including: education, restorative justice, environmental sustainability, health, food & wellness, financial inclusion & literacy.
Also in the progress report, they described our collaboration with our partners The City of Philadelphia Mayor's Office, BMe, Yes We Code, Google, Salesforce, String Theory Schools, and Urban Tech Alliance to put on our unique event.
Qeyno Labs was recently featured on the cover of USA Today in an article penned by Jessica Guynn focused on Qeyno's innovative work in the My Brother's Keeper space, but to receive acknowledgement from the President of the United States and the White House team is an incredible honor, one that we do not take light as we continue our work to transform children's lives through mindfully inclusive hackathons, by the people and for the people.


We cut our Takenga Gold into pieces, then cold smoke over Manuka before vacuuming packing to seal in the smokiness.
Use Takenga Smoked in the following ways: on a platter; in sandwiches – both toasted and untoasted; on top of and in baked dishes such as macaroni cheese, lasagne, quiche and soufflès; fondues; grated in or over salads and pasta dishes.
Try Takenga Gold with the following beverages: full-bodied reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon; fruit forward reds such as Merlot.
Ingredients: Hawke's Bay cows' milk, cultures, coagulant, salt. Smoked over Manuka.


text:
https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/news/article/Unattended-cooking-believed-to-cause-Conroe-9473654.php
Unattended cooking believed to cause Conroe apartment fire
Anthresia McWashington
Published 1:14 pm CDT, Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Montgomery County firefighters climb into a second story of a complex at Bellshire Apartments in Conroe on Tuesday evening. A fire destroyed eight units and left three injured.
Photo: Jason Fochtman
While fire officials are still investigating the cause of a blaze at the Bellshire Apartments that displaced eight families Tuesday night, initial findings indicate the fire may have been caused by a pot of cooking oil left unattended on a stove.
The two-alarm fire caused substantial damage to one of the apartment buildings at 800 Bellshire Drive.
"It looks like it was caused by unattended cooking," said Conroe Fire Marshal Michael Legoudes Jr.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Legoudes reported that the fire was immediately attacked from the outside of the building in an attempt to contain it to the original building.
The fire was contained and declared under control at about 8:20 p.m.
The American Red Cross assisted in finding shelter for all affected residents.
The Conroe Fire Department was assisted by fire departments from Needham, The Woodlands and North Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Hospital District EMS.
Four adult occupants were transported by MCHD EMS to Conroe Regional Medical Center with what appeared to be minor injuries; their conditions are unknown.
It is also unknown whether or not any of the residents had renter's insurance.
Legoudes said unattended cooking is extremely dangerous and that it is important people are attentive to their stoves while cooking.
"It's the leading cause of unintentional fires in Conroe and nationwide consistently every year," Legoudes said. "We see this a lot."
Fire Chief Ken Kreger said eight fire engines, two ladder trucks, four EMS units and an EMS supervisor responded to the scene.


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Rolling Stones: Paint it Mac
- Apr. 23rd 2008 5:08 am PT
Mick Jagger may push his music through any digital music system going, but he's an iPod user when it comes down to personal choice. And the Rolling Stones used Macs and GarageBand to help create their most recent album.
Variety has an interview with the band's tech guru, Richard Kerris – yes, that Richard Kerris, the man who bought Maya to Macs, who led Apple's video application teams and now works at Lucasarts. Kerris spills the beans on the Rolling Stones' Mac and iPod usage. Each live performance during the band's 40 Licks tour was filmed and pumped into a Mac, with stage crew then transferring the footage to the band's personal iPods. When the band left the stage, the iPods containing their performance were popped into their pockets as they walked to their cars, and the band would then watch the footage back at their hotel. Soon after the iPod came out, "Mick was right on it. He was like, 'I want to get every night's show so I can listen to it that night and know what was good and what didn't work, etc.' So they established this whole thing working with the background crew, I showed them where you could daisy-chain the iPods and synchronize them at once. So it was really fun," Kerris explains. Kerris also reveals the 'Stones used GarageBand for their last album as they did all their demos.
Breaking news for iPhone, iPad, and iPod. Be the first to know about product launches, iOS updates, product carriers reports, and competitor analysis.


Spiritual Readiness – Part 4 (20:29) "The Solar Core" Our sun is the source of life in our solar system. Without the heat, light, sustainable and perpetual radiation of our sun, life would cease to be. In the forecasted galactic alignment with the center of our galaxy, the sun is the intermediary body. The earth, the sun and the galactic core will align for a period of time heralding the beginning of an evolution and expansion in consciousness. As the bridge between the two extremities, the sun is stepping up, stepping down energies or doing both. What role is the sun playing in this transmission and upgrade of new and transmuting energies? What is the nature of the relationship of the sun to the earth, other planetary bodies and the galactic core? What are the reasons for the intense solar activities and flares reaching the earth for the solar cycle 24? In what way can we be in readiness and help support the changes and transformation that are about to take us into a new world?


ooh interesting.. maybe they are collecting everyones latest 2018 tax returns to determine eligibility thats why its taking a little longer, I had already submitted mine during the interview.
Good that you submitted already. Still a waiting game.
I have been through this process successfully in another lottery, also with BG and also the process crossed from one tax year to the next. I had to give all updated documents -- latest tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements etc. and eligibility is based on the updated documents and time period.
@Kayye44 -- in my case they asked for updated documents before my file went to HPD, when it was going to Compliance, which is the final review and approval by BG before the file goes to HPD. The review at HPD was very quick, like two weeks, but BG never called or emailed to let me know my file had been approved by HPD. I had to call BG to ask at which time they told me that my file had been approved by HPD weeks prior and that next I would hear from the landlord. I think the landlord contacted me like a week or so after that to come sign the lease. If your file was already approved HPD, I'm pretty sure they won't be asking you to submit updated documents.
That's a great property with a great location. Good luck.
Hey everyone! So happy to hear things are finally moving along with everyone's paperwork! When I had my interview back in January, I had both 2017 and 2018 taxes. Yes, I had already filed super early for 2018. Anyway at the time they just took 2017 which I though was weird. Then later they asked for 2018. It seemed right before it was sent to compliance. I didn't have to update any docs.
And yes, I agree with @Reclamation Design. BG never confirmed that my file was approved my HPD. I called HPD and found out it had been approved for almost a week. I ended up contacting my specialist at BG and then I get this call to view the unit. Lol. That whole time I'm thinking what would've happened if I hadn't been so proactive in this process. Smh. Clearly it paid off but, it made me wonder.
Hey everyone! Thanks for all the info thus far. From reading all of your posts it looks like they're still going thru CB and then Municipal if I read correctly. I'm neither but have a double digit log number. It's the first time I've ever had something lower than 10,000. Any idea if that should increase my chances of getting an interview, or how long it usually takes to go through all of the CB's and MCP? Thanks a bunch and good luck!
wow congrats on that really low number, you will be one of the first to be contacted after the prefs are done. Right now according to HPD there are still a good number of CB apartments that need to be filled! it seems like it might be a little while and I'm still waiting in line for one of the CB spots! You will definitely be contacted maybe in a few months..


Developer Johnny Ronan's dream of building what would be Dublin's tallest building has been dashed.
The bearded boomtime builder's bid to put a 22-storey tower on Georges Quay has been turned down by An Bord Pleanala.
The appeals board refused planning permission for the tower at Tara Street despite of its own senior inspector, Gillian Kane, recommending that planning permission be granted what she has described as a 'beautiful' building.
In its formal order, the board ruled that the 88 metre high tower would seriously detract from the setting and character of the Custom House, one of the city's most important architectural set pieces, and would also adversely affect the River Liffey Conservation Area and the O'Connell Street and Environs Architectural Conservation Area.
The board went on to state: "Furthermore, the proposal would, by reason of visual intrusion, have a significant and detrimental visual impact on a number of important views and vistas in the city including from College Green and the Trinity College Campus, as well as Lord Edward Street, the Five Lamps, GranbyRow, Frederick Street North, Parnell Street North, Henrietta Street, Kildare Street and Harcourt Street.
As a result, the board stated that "the proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the urban character and visual amenities of the historic city core and would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The board has made its ruling in spite of Ms Kane concluding that the proposed development should proceed after giving the development a comprehensive endorsement at the end of an 82 page report.
Ms Kane oversaw a two day oral hearing into the proposal last October.
However, the board stated that it did not agree with Ms Kane's recommendation and its decision upholds Dublin City Council's decision to refuse planning permission last year.
In her report, Ms Kane concluded that the tower "would integrate satisfactorily with the surrounding existing development and with the established character of the sensitive historic city centre, including the Custom House and including views and prospects towards the site along the River Liffey Conservation Area, College Green, the grounds of Trinity College and the North Dublin Georgian Quarter".
On the design of the tower, Ms Kane stated that it will "be beautiful".
She added: "It will however rely on its height to provoke a reaction, rather than a brave new design. The proposed building will not announce Dublin in the same way its international counterparts bring recognition to their cities.
Ms Kane stated that the proposed design "with its attention to detail and the palette of materials chosen are such that the building will be aesthetically very pleasing".
On the tower's visual impact, Ms Kane stated that she was satisfied "that the proposed development, with its strong vertical emphasis and architectural treatment, protects the setting and the context of the Custom House".
She said: "The site sits at a strategic location, adjoining a busy public transport node, at a key entrance point to the docklands, at a key visual marker on the River Liffey and directly opposite Liberty Hall.
Mr Ronan has been contacted for comment on the ruling.


This was supposed to be a column about how totally cool it was to be in Denver in the days leading up to the Broncos' big Super Bowl victory.
I would tell about how I ordered a Broncos jersey (MANNING #18, of course) on the very afternoon they beat the Patriots and how I wore it around Cookeville every chance I got. Almost everyone smiled and gave me the thumbs-up and said "Go, Peyton!" A greeter at Walmart stopped me as I entered the store and said "We sure are proud of him, aren't we?" and I nodded and said we sure were. There was, of course, the occasional gruff remark that he should have chosen the Titans when the Colts cut him loose. But that was as close as anyone came to saying a negative word about Peyton.
I smiled and shrugged. "I'm just trying to get my shampoo and toothpaste onto the plane." And he laughed. That's right. A TSA employee actually laughed.
Nothing was going to kill the ebullient mood that had settled over frigid but sunny Colorado.
Our plane took off right on time. But it stayed low and began circling. Around and around and around the airport we went. Something was clearly amiss. Finally, about the time we should have crossed into Kansas, the pilot came over the loudspeaker to announce that the landing gear was stuck in the down position. He would have to set the plane down and figure out what to do next. Which, as it turns out, meant moving all the luggage, passengers and crew to another plane.
Would we make it home in time for kick-off?
Not quite. By the time George and I nabbed our checked bag, caught the shuttle to the economy parking lot and made our way to Cookeville, we'd missed not only "The Star Spangled Banner" but also the safety that gave the Seahawks the first two points of the game.