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Hiring Your First Employee
There comes a time when every entrepreneur can't do it alone anymore. Is it time to find your first employee?
Geoff Williams
November 23, 2004 12 min read
"Good luck," your boss said, clapping his hand on your shoulder. Then the big cheese was gone, and you looked down at your desk. And there it was. Your employee handbook.
If you've ever worked for another company, you probably remember it. You barely glanced at it, but if you had a question, there was your manual, ready to solve all your problems-from what to do with your 401(k) to where to park your car.
But now you're the big cheese, and you're likely the one with all the questions about the hiring process. So where's your employee handbook? Exactly. There isn't one. Luckily, in the following pages, we've put together most everything you'll need to consider when expanding your business beyond yourself. It's the closest thing to a handbook you're likely to get.
What to Pay
It should be obvious, but here goes: Pay what you can afford.
Jeff Medley, 35, offered his first employee $10 an hour, with no benefits and no cubicle-just a chair and a table in the den of his house. Today, Medley's Indianapolis business, Netfor Inc., has 21 employees and 100-plus contractors nationwide-all with the goal of offering franchised businesses computer technology support. His company's sales, which have grown steadily every year, will clear $2 million this year, and his roster of clients includes such big names as Mail Boxes Etc.
And what did this new employee think of Medley's job offer, seeing that it had no benefits? "He was OK with that, because when I hired him, I made the promise that benefits were forthcoming, and they were," says Medley, who launched his business in 1995. "In 1999, we got benefits, and now we have one of the best benefits packages in the city."
Paying his employees a modest salary was also the approach 47-year-old Paul Storfer took in 1995, when he launched his Purchase, New York, human resources firm, HR Technologies: "In some cases, people would self-select themselves and say 'I'm not sure I'm a good fit for you,' but in most cases, we were able to establish a salary that everybody felt was fair."
"Salary is always where most [job applicants] fib," observes Barbara Bruno, who runs HR Search Inc., a Chicago employment agency. "They always quote a higher price than what they'll actually take."
But the bottom-line rule of hiring somebody is that your company has to have enough money coming in. Cash flow-more than cash-is crucial to hiring your first employee, says Mary Wong, a principal and managing partner of HRizen Solutions LLC, a Houston human resources and consulting firm that specializes in helping emerging entrepreneurs. "I dealt with a start-up venture that had a lot of initial venture capital-several million dollars," recalls Wong. "And they thought 'Let's go out and buy computers and phones and 10 sets of desks, and let's hire 10 people to fill them,' but there was no cash flow. As you know, that's probably the number-one killer of a business, and they immediately had to lay off three-fourths of their staff."
Finding Candidates
Medley put an ad in The Indianapolis Star and found three job candidates. He recalls the interview he had over lunch with his first hire, Mike Bankert, who, five years later, is still with the company and now on salary. "I played up the company like I knew it was going to grow," says Medley. "I gave him my vision, and I think he believed it."
If you're going with an ad, be logical in deciding where to place it-whether you decide to post it on Monster.com or in your local newspaper. "Pretend that you're looking for this job, and then select [your placement] that way," suggests Arlene Vernon, owner of HRx, a human resources consulting firm in Eden Prairie, a suburb of Minneapolis. She's been helping small businesses with their human resources needs for more than 25 years, and she's often found good employees for her clients through the newspaper classifieds.
But if you don't have to hire somebody this minute, she recommends trying to find an employee through word-of-mouth. "Go to industry meetings," she suggests. "Hopefully, you're already doing that anyway, and as you're talking to people one-on-one, mention that you're looking for somebody to hire. Ask 'Who do you know that would be interested in a startup?'"
Mentioning that you're a startup is important, says Vernon, because certain personalities work well with the unpredictable nature of a new business, while others don't.
Interviewing & Paperwork
Questions, ask many questions. Ask them of yourself, and ask them of your potential hires.
You need to know exactly who you want to help you grow your business. What you don't need is to hire somebody just like you, says Bruno, whose agency assists in recruiting secretarial, administrative and human resource professionals. "You want their strengths to complement your weaknesses," she says.
But that's the easy part, according to Bruno, who insists that you investigate prospects' references. "Reference-checking is an art," she says. "And it has to be, because in this day and age, sometimes a person's entire resume is a fantasy." There is one crucial question you must ask every reference, and if you phrase it in just the right way, it's difficult for that person to give a vague answer. It's simply "Is this person eligible for rehire?" "If the answer is yes," says Bruno, "you've got a good person. If it's no, then no."
There are three basic guidelines you should stick to in a job interview, says Vernon:
Keep it legal. Because of federal guidelines and laws that vary from state to state, you can get sued if you ask questions that have nothing to do with the job, says Vernon. Stay away from topics such as your potential employee's religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, whether he or she is married and whether he or she wants children. "Just keep it focused on the job," says Vernon, "and you'll be fine."
Be honest. For obvious reasons. "Even be blatantly honest," says Vernon. "If there are difficult parts of the job, let them know upfront."
Ask tough questions. "Ask them to show you how they would do something," says Vernon. "If you need an administrative assistant, tell them to turn on the computer and get into Word and write you a letter." Or give them real-life examples of challenges they may face working for you and listen to how they think they'd handle the situation, suggests Vernon.
And how do you explain to your first employee that you're hiring him or her to do the tasks that you'd rather not do? "It's all how you frame it," observes Beth Ellenby, owner of Rest of Your Life Productions, a Norwalk, Connecticut, coaching firm for individuals and corporations. Ellenby's business has been running entrepreneurship coaching groups for women in New York City for the past two years. "For some people, the grunt work is doing the accounting. But for [other] people, there's nothing more fun than getting a big box of papers and sorting through them. For some people, they dread making cold calls. Others say 'Let me at it.'"
And Ellenby adds that it's impossible to get rid of all the grunt. "When you're only two people, you're both going to have to do things you don't love doing."
Dealing With Paperwork
W-2s. Payroll taxes. Social Security. 401(k)s. Health insurance benefits.Even if the latter two aren't part of your initial program, the paperwork that goes into hiring an employee can be mind-numbing. That's why the general consensus is: Have someone else do it for you. Do not go it alone.So where do you go for help? If you're going to offer a health plan, you need to find a reputable health insurance agency to work with. But if you want to get payroll off your hands as well, Bruno suggests hiring a service such as Paychex or Automatic Data Processing (ADP) Inc., two services that can also help you with a 401(k), health benefits and just about anything else you'd need. There are plenty of other good payroll companies out there-just make sure you do your homework. You should be comfortable and confident that it's a reputable business.What you will spend to have your checks printed and taxes taken out and everything else that goes along with payroll depends on what kind of deal you offer your employee. At first, Medley paid his payroll service about $40 per month-and that's exactly how often he paid Bankert: once a month. It made sense, because Netfor was being paid once per month. But it also saved money. The more often you pay your employees, the more benefits you offer and the more employees you have, the more expensive your payroll services will be. But it's well worth it, says Medley, explaining that somebody he knows well got into trouble with payroll taxes. "And upon learning how badly that can go, you realize very quickly that you want someone else doing your payroll," says Medley, who adds that if your business shuts down and you still owe payroll taxes, the government will come after you-not your defunct corporation. With a payroll service-again, a reputable one-"then your liability doesn't exist," says Medley. "The risk is all theirs."
Creating a Happy Workplace
To offer benefits or not? That is the million-dollar question, especially when you're not a millionaire. Barbara Bruno of HR Search Inc. has been in the hiring business for 26 years. She says you don't have to offer that first batch of employees a health plan or a 401(k), but if you want to be one of the good guys and find good people to work for you, you should find other, cost-effective perks to offer those working at your company.
Two weeks of paid vacation is just a given. There is no national law requiring it (though some states do have such laws in place), but regardless, "You have to do that," says Bruno.
You can also offer flex hours, says Bruno, where employees can come and go as they please as long as they're working a set amount of hours per day or week. "You can also offer a casual dress code," she says. "People love to dress down and be relaxed." If you offer to pay $50 to $100 per month of an employee's day-care costs, that's a big perk because he or she will get it in pre-tax form, and you can write it off as a business expense.
And what's the biggest benefit that benefits offer your business? A happy, presumably productive, employee.
You're hiring more than your first employee; you're bringing aboard somebody who will help your company grow, who will help create your business culture and who will have to understand that in the seven-course meal of the corporate world, you're still small potatoes. Which is why it's better to think of your employee as a partner, rather than yourself as the captain of the ship.
Medley had little choice but to remain humble. As he recalls of that first year working with Bankert, "I have two kids, and my 3-year-old would come busting down the stairs and run through the hall naked and pop through the [office] doors and yell, 'Look, Daddy, I'm naykee!'"
Fortunately, Bankert "thought it was hilarious," says Medley. The clients on the other end of the phone, however, were not as amused. So Medley had to bungee-cord the doors shut. (Later, his third and fourth employees worked out of his basement.) But even now, with the Netfor staff working out of real office space, Medley says he continues to maintain a partnership atmosphere with his employees: "I've never been a real power-trip person."
Creating a Handbook
So when should you write an employee handbook? You should probably wait until the third or fourth employee, suggests Storfer, who had one of his first hires write his handbook. Medley did the same thing, giving the task of writing it to his first employee. "When it's not coming from the employer's perspective, I think it turns into a more applicable tool. It's not a hierarchical dictatorship tool."
But what about writing it yourself? What about throwing caution to the wind and taking it upon yourself to explain your company's mission and rules without seeming like a dictator? Medley laughs. "If there's an entrepreneur out there who starts a business and has the time to write an employee handbook for [his] very first person, I tip my hat to [him]," he says. "That was always my Catch-22. I didn't have time to write an employee handbook, because I didn't have an employee."
If you're still craving more information, reach for that mouse or visit the nearest library and check out these resources:
To read up on interviewing techniques, Impact Hiring: The Secrets of Hiring a Superstar, offers approximately 300 pages of solid and sage advice from authors Frederick and Barbara Ball.
For help with producing an employee handbook, purchase a software program. A quick Web search will list various options, including www.youremployeehandbook.com, which offers personnel policy and procedure manuals for small businesses.
HR.com is a free Web site for those interested in human resources. Here, you'll get advice, free human resource forms and free articles about human resource issues. Get out your credit card and you'll be able to purchase various products and services, such as a human resource agent to do some of the work for you.
To strengthen your knowledge and understanding of the numerous legal elements and government regulations that apply to hiring, click over to the U.S. Department of Labor, where you can get answers to all your questions.
Freelance writer Geoff Williams is hiring: "If you know anybody willing to work for 1914 wages, give me a call."


http://www.drbenyehuda.com/?p=popular-thesis-proposal-zypo-748 The OM-1 can be used as a real time indicator of how close to clipping your amplifier is being driven and / or as a light show to add a visual sense to your music.
The OM-1 can be used as a real time indicator of how close to clipping your amplifier is being driven (when calibrated with the SMD / D'Amore Engineering DD-1 Distortion Detector) and / or as a light show to add a visual sense to your music. Adding a visual sense to your music is great, as long as it is perfectly in sync. With the use of high speed circuitry in the OM-1, the response is instantaneous.
Really an awesome meter. You can match it too your amplifiers gain using a DD-1 Distortion detector or O scope.
Free delivery is available to UK mainland addresses term paper ghostwriter website source ONLY and excludes addresses in the Scottish Highlands & Islands and Northern Ireland. Free delivery is applicable to orders over £50.00 (inc vat) esl thesis proposal ghostwriting website for phd go site ONLY. custom term paper writing for hire This offer doesn't necessarily mean your goods will be sent on a courier next day service. However assuming the weight exceeds 2kg your goods are usually sent via courier (Interlink Express).
The VM-1 provides a real-time display of the input voltage unlike a digital display meter that suffers from the slow response of a seven segment digital display and our ability to read such a display quickly.
The VM-1HV provides a real-time display of the input voltage unlike a digital display meter that suffers from the slow response of a seven segment digital display and our ability to read such a display quickly.
The SMD TM-1C is a Celsius temperature meter with a programmable fan output. This is a great device for ensuring your electronic equipment stays cool for optimum performance.


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COVID-19, Games, Technology, Tips
Zumba-ing the calories away!
April 24, 2020 April 24, 2020 by Inez
COVID-19 has driven almost everyone indoors – but other than work, and probably binge-watching Netflix, how can one keep active during this period? Just before our country went into circuit-breaker mode, my family and I purchased a Nintendo Switch (review on a later date), and the first game we bought was Zumba Burn it Up!
Out of the four members of our family, only one person had ever gone for a Zumba class – maybe it's because of the excessive movements, or the idea of semi-dancing outdoors, Zumba wasn't an activity we'd easily consider doing while out in public – however, it's a totally different story when you're in the comfort of your own home!
This game comes with 30 songs, and each song comes with various intensity levels – low, medium and high. The low-intensity ones have fewer jumping movements and are less aggressive. The high intensity ones really get your heart pumping with the fast movements and jumps. One can choose to do a single song at a time or take part in the classes available.
Class selection – Full class
There are three kinds of classes – short, medium and long. A short class, consisting of four songs, lasts around 15 minutes. A medium class has eight songs and lasts around 30 min. The long class has 16 songs and last almost an hour. Let's put it this way – a short class can already give one a good sweat!
While playing, each player will hold a controller in his/her right hand. The controller vibrates a little with each beat of the song (this helps you get a quick grasp of the beat of the song). Other than being able to move along to the beat, a fun part of this game is that it tracks your accuracy level as well – this is tracked by the movement of the right hand that is holding the controller. Your accuracy and movement streak also help determine your overall score.
Each class can be tracked with up to four players holding a controller each. While my family only owns two controllers, our other two members will just move along, without their movements tracked.
The songs in this game are fun, allows a lot of different actions and movement, and are good in getting us to burn some calories. You can purchase the game from the Nintendo E-store here.
Games Nintendo Switch
Travel without Travelling
A game of association – Codenames!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home » Beef & Boards Theatre Celebrates 40th Anniversary with 9 to 5: The Musical
Beef & Boards Theatre Celebrates 40th Anniversary with 9 to 5: The Musical
February 18, 2013 by amasters
Egotistical bosses beware: The ladies are fed up! The Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre kicks off its 40thAnniversary Season with 9 to 5: The Musical. Based on the famous 1980 film, the play offers a hilarious story of sexism and revenge as three ladies plot to get even with their bigoted boss.
When things don't go as planned, the situation becomes hilarious, as these ladies begin to realize they can control their own destinies, even in a man's world.
The book for 9 to 5: The Musical was written by Patricia Resnick. Choreography was done by Andy Blankenbuehler, while Joe Mantello directs the show. Annie Edgerton, who has performed on Broadway and debuted at Beef & Boards as Paulette Bonafonté in last season's production of Legally Blonde, plays the leading role of head secretary Violet Newstead. Actress Sara Hund plays the role of new girl, Judy Bernly. Hund has stared in other Beef & Boards productions, including the Smoke on the Mountain series, Singin' In The Rain, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Crystal Mosser of Lafayette debuts as Doralee Rhodes, the character played by Dolly Parton in the original film.
The musical originally premiered in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre on September 2008, and later on Broadway in 2009. Its 15 Drama Desk Awards nominations are the most received by a production in a single year. It has also been nominated for 4 Tony Awards.
There will be 49 performances of 9 to 5: The Musical at the Beef & Boards Theatre. The ticket price includes a dinner buffet by Chef Odell Ward, and select beverages.
Feb. 27 through March 24
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre
9301 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Filed Under: News, Theatre, Things to Do


An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that something is already so. It is a way of "making firm" that which you are imagining. So I ask you this, when you think about your goals and desires for yourself, is it a negative or positive experience for you? If you visualize your goals in a positive way, you affirm the presence of positivity in that area of your life. For you, that change is already in motion because you are attracting that abundant energy into your life. The same can be said for negative thoughts. According to personal development author, Shakti Gawain, "When we create something, we always create it first in thought form. A thought or idea always precedes manifestation". Think about what greatness we can bring to our goals and desires if we affirmed them in success. In this post, Money Affirmations to Attract Financial Abundance I shared some techniques that will help you release your negative mindset with money so you can approach your finances from a mental state of confidence, pride, and positivity. Today I am here to share some new financial affirmations that can help you take back control over your financial goals.
When we form positive associations with money we give ourselves permission to prepare ourselves to receive it. We no longer fear it or fear what it would be like to not have it. I invite you to start in inspiration pinboard and pin the below affirmations them there. Then print them, share them, and/or place them in various places so that you can have reminders of the desires you are affirming for yourself. Add them to your vision board, your bathroom mirror, your refrigerator, your Instagram account (seriously, think about how often you check your IG account in a day), or your desk. Speak them aloud and add your own name to give it more power. Instead of saying, "I attract wealth and abundance" try saying "[Insert your name] attracts wealth and abundance". Why, you ask? Well studies show that the adult brain activates, when one hears, their own name. Below are some of the newer affirmations I have added to my practice and I hope you add them to yours to attract a more positive experience with money.


As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the selected Agency's Ethics, Cooperation, Leadership, and Legal Decisions and then provide recommendations for improvement. Therefore, you will conduct interviews with agency representatives and research-related academic sources and government Websites. The analysis will be read by the VP of Accounts and Client Support as well as by the leaders of the agency for whom you are working.
• Analyze leadership models, theories, characteristics, and skills.
• Examine ethical issues and legal statues related to the various elements of public administration.
Analyze past and present political and legal issues, strategies, trends, and models that influence public policy and public administration.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in public administration.


– Clyde Kluckhohn, anthropologist and social theorist.
One thing that was instilled in me from an early point in my undergraduate studies was the centrality of empathy, patience, and openness towards difference that is so endemic to the cross-cultural minister's task. I am grateful for having been taught that people groups are both inherently diverse and irreducibly connected; that cultures can be compared but must also be appreciated as the unique, one-of-a-kind tapestries that they are. I stumbled upon this quote in the January 2012 edition of Missiology: An International Review and thought it worth sharing.


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Man arrested after attack on Green Party co-leader James Shaw
A 47-year-old man has been arrested over an attack on Green Party-co-leader James Shaw.
Shaw, 45, was attacked in Wellington on his way to Parliament on Thursday. A spokesperson said he was grabbed and hit in the face by one person.
Two members of the public helped him, and the spokesperson said Shaw is "very thankful for their assistance".
Wellington Police Snr Sgt Matthew Morris said on Thursday the assault took place at around 7:50am outside the entrance to the Botanical Gardens in Wellington.
"We understand members of the public have assisted the victim and we believe there may also be other witnesses to the incident," he said.
The Climate Change Minister went to hospital for a precautionary check-up, despite turning up to work "chipper", his spokesperson told Newshub.
Wellington Police have asked anyone with information to call 04 381 2000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Would you like to give yourself or a friend the gift of health this Christmas? We have pooled all of our expertise together to offer the ultimate health package for anyone wishing to improve their weight, health, fitness and wellness.
We start with a full health screen including a simple blood test (finger prick) to determine your cholesterol and glucose levels. This is combined with the results of your weight, body measurements and cardiovascular fitness to provide a very detailed picture of your current metabolic and cardiovascular health. Your 5 week nutrition and exercise plan will be created based on these tests, your interests, your goals, the time you have available etc., and you will be monitored every step of the way by our team.
We specialise in health education so we will take the time to teach you what all of these results mean, what you need to do and why. We are giving a €45 euro discount on this package when purchased in the month of December. This really is the complete package. Our team of nutritionists, clinical exercise physiologists, fitness experts and health researchers have been transforming lives for a combined 35 years and would be delighted to welcome you to our clinic.
Happy Christmas everyone and wishing you a very healthy and happy new year.


This section contains one WW1 era studio portrait photo of Percival Anderson with his siblings.
This is a wonderful studio portrait photo of Percival Anderson with his brother and sister. Percival, the eldest sibling, is standing on the right. Standing on the left is James Archibald (Archie) Anderson who also served in the 85th Battalion. Seated is Minerva Blanche Anderson who served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
The photo is believed to have been taken in England in the early fall of 1917. Percival had been convalescing from trench fever at the port city of Dieppe, France. Upon his discharge from the convalescent home, he was granted a ten day leave of absence starting on September 25, 1917. It was at that time he probably went to England where he managed to meet up with his siblings and they arranged for a portrait photo. At the time, Archie was taking courses in Englnad to receive his commission as an officer, and Blanche was stationed in England. It was the last time all three would be together. Percival was killed approximately a month after the photo was taken.
In the photo, the horizontal stripes and crown on Percival's sleeve indicate that he holds the rank of major. The vertcal stripe on his sleeve indicates that he had been wounded. Note that James is wearing an officer's uniform but is missing his 85th Battalion officer's cap and collar badges. He has not yet been commissioned as an officer.


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cloudkeeda
Azure Certification Path 2022
Azure Fundamental Certification
AZ-900
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TOP 60+ Azure Interview Questions and Answers
September 21, 2022 May 24, 2022 by manish
Do you know that Azure Microsoft is mentioned as the second-highest profession in demand today after Garner? Microsoft Azure is the most popular service provider, with a market share of 20.3 percent, making it an ideal place to work. We've compiled 60+ most often asked Microsoft Azure interview questions and answers in the job for various job profiles for freshers and professionals.
The topics covered in this blog are:
Azure Interview Questions for Beginners
Azure Interview Questions for Intermediates
Azure Interview Questions for Experienced
You may be asked certain basic to experienced questions, regardless of your experience level in your interview. So, to cope with the competition, learn more about the different types and patterns of interview questions and how to progress along the Azure learning path.
These Azure interview questions can help you advance in your profession, whether you want to be an Azure Developer, Azure Architect, or Azure Administrator. Be ready to stand out from the crowd by preparing for that interview. And to help you ace your interview in one go we have compiled some of the most asked 60+ Microsoft Azure interview questions.
We have divided the Microsoft Azure Interview questions and answers into the following for your ease: Beginner, Intermediate, and experienced
Microsoft Azure Interview Questions for Beginners
1. What are the various Cloud Deployment Models?
The three cloud deployment models are as follows:
Public Cloud: Cloud provider owns the infrastructure, and the server someone's utilizing could be a multi-tenant system.
Private Cloud: You control the infrastructure, or your cloud provider provides you with that service solely. For instance, one might host their website on their own servers or with a cloud provider on a dedicated server.
Hybrid Cloud: It refers to the usage of both public and private clouds at the same time. For instance, use your in-house servers for secret data and the public cloud to host your company's public-facing website. It is a hybrid cloud configuration.
2. What do you mean by Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets?
These are Azure computation resources for deploying and managing sets of identical Virtual Machines (VMs).
These scale sets are set up in the same way and are intended to facilitate application autoscaling without the requirement for VM pre-provisioning.
They make it easy to build large-scale apps that target big data and containerized workloads.
3. What is Azure Data Factory?
Azure Data Factory is a cloud-based, serverless data integration solution and platform for building ETL and ELT pipelines. It aids in the creation of data-driven workflows for the planning and execution of large-scale data movement and transformation. You can easily encounter a question on the data factory in Microsoft Azure interview questions and answers.
4. Define Azure Scheduler.
Azure Scheduler allows us to gather background trigger events or operations such as calling HTTP/S endpoints or presenting a message on the queue.
The jobs in the cloud using this Azure Scheduler to call services both inside and outside of Azure to execute jobs on-demand that are normally run on a regular schedule or start jobs at a future stated date.
5. What do you understand about Azure Traffic Manager?
Azure Traffic Manager is a traffic load balancer that allows users to achieve high availability and responsiveness by distributing traffic across worldwide Azure regions in the most efficient way possible.
It has a number of automated failover options.
It facilitates the reduction of application downtime.
It allows users' traffic to be distributed over different locations.
It allows users to see from where their consumers are connecting.
6. What are the Azure Cloud Service's primary functions?
The Azure Cloud Service has the following primary functions:
Its purpose is to host a running application while also managing a background running program.
Web processing is referred to as "web role," whereas background processing is referred to as "worker role."
7. What are Azure Resources?
An Azure resource is any entity handled by Azure. Some Azure resources are as follows: Virtual networks, virtual machines, storage accounts, and so on.
8. What are the benefits of Scalability in Azure?
Autoscaling is a feature that allows Azure to scale. Autoscaling lets Cloud Services, Mobile Services, Virtual Machines, and Websites cope with fluctuating demand. These are some of the benefits of the same.
Enhances the application's performance.
Scale up or down in response to the need.
Scaling to certain time periods should be planned.
Exceptionally cost-effective
9. What exactly do you mean when you say "Roles"?
Roles are known as nothing servers, which are responsible for maintaining and balancing the platform as a service machine that collaborates to achieve the aim of cloud management.
10. What is Azure Resource Manager?
Azure Resource Manager is a service that allows users to manage and deploy applications in Azure.
It is a management layer that permits developers to create, change, and delete resources in an Azure subscription account. When we have requirements like managing access restrictions and locks, guaranteeing the security of resources post-deployment, and organizing such resources, this capability comes in handy.
11. What are the distinctions between these three, IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?
It provides infrastructure-level features such as operating systems and network connectivity. It works on a pay-per-use basis. Applications are hosted on it. This type of architecture includes Azure VMs and VNETs.
It mainly consists of underlying infrastructure abstraction, which enables faster application development without the headache of hosting administration. PaaS includes Azure web apps, cloud services, storage services, and much more.
These apps are delivered via a service delivery model, in which an organization just uses the applications. SaaS is dependent on subscriptions or advertisements. Gmail, Office 365, SharePoint Online, and other SaaS applications are examples.
It is one of the most asked Microsoft Azure interview questions and answers. Recruiters can put up separately.
12. What is Federation in Azure SQL?
SQL Azure Federation is a set of tools that allow developers to access and share databases in SQL Azure.
It allows users to take advantage of cloud-based resources.
Users can create their own databases or exchange databases with one another.
It lowers the chances of a single point of failure.
It saves money by only using cloud resources when they're needed.
13. What are Azure Network Security Groups (NSG)?
Network Security Group (Azure NSG) is a set of ACL (Access Control List) rules that allow or deny network communication to subnets, NICs (Network Interface Cards) linked to a subnet or both. When NSG is attached to a subnet, all Virtual Machines in that subnet are subject to the ACL rules.
Individual NIC traffic restrictions can achieve by directly associating NSG with that NIC. Recruiters are known to ask these Microsoft Azure interview questions and answers while evaluating candidates.
14. What is CSPACK in Azure?
CSPack is a command-line utility that creates a service package file and prepares an application for Azure or Compute Emulator deployment. The cloud service configuration file,.cscfg, is included in every cloud service type project created using CSPack. It keeps:
The number of role instances for every role deployment
The certificate thumbprints
User-defined configurations
Microsoft Azure Interview Questions for Intermediates
15. What do you mean by Fault Domains?
A fault domain is like a rack in an on-premise data center. It is a logical group of the underlying hardware that shares a common power source and network switch. The Microsoft Azure platform spreads your VMs among various fault domains as you create them inside an availability set. This technique reduces the effect of physical hardware failures, network outages, and power outages.
16. What is Redis Cache in Azure?
Azure delivers and maintains an open-source in-memory Redis cache technology. It aids the efficiency of web applications by getting data from the backend database and saving it in the Redis cache during the first request and then collecting all the data from the Redis cache for all following requests. Azure Redis Cache delivers strong and secure caching technologies using the Azure cloud.
17. What exactly is a break-fix problem?
Break-fix issues relate to "effort associated in supporting a technology when it fails in the normal course of its function, requiring intervention by a support organization to be restored to functioning order."
18. What are the various storage options provided by Azure?
During Microsoft Azure Interview questions and answers, recruiters can put up queries about storage. Azure offers four alternative storage options. They are:
Blob Storage in Azure
Blob Storage allows users to store unstructured material such as photos, audio, and video files, as well as their metadata.
When an object is modified, it is checked to see if it is the latest version.
It offers the best flexibility to meet the user's storage requirements.
Customers can access unstructured data using REST-based object storage.
Table Storage in Azure
Users can utilize Table Storage to deliver semi-structured datasets using a NoSQL key-value store.
It's utilized in creating applications that require a flexible data format.
It adheres to a strict consistency model, focused on businesses.
File Storage in Azure
File Storage allows users to share files via the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol.
SMB 3.0 and HTTPS provide data security.
Azure handles the deployment of hardware and operating systems.
It boosts on-premises performance and functionality.
Storage for Azure Queues
Queue storage provides Message queueing for high workloads.
It allows users to create flexible applications with distinct functions.
It ensures that the application is scalable, and those individual components are less likely to fail.
It permits queue monitoring. It ensures that consumer expectations are met.
19. What is the Windows Azure Portal?
You can see a query on the window portal.
A designer logs in with a Windows Live ID to the Windows Azure Portal through their web program to run an application. At this point, the user must decide whether to create a host account for running programs, a storage account for storing data, or both.
Once the designer has a host account, they can submit applications to Windows Azure using the Windows Azure Portal.
20. What exactly is Azure Active Directory?
Microsoft's Azure AD is a cloud-based IAM solution and directory. Application access management, core directory services, and identity protection are all combined into a single solution. It assists employees in logging in and accessing resources such as:
Microsoft 365, the Azure portal, and a large variety of SaaS applications are examples of external resources.
Internal resources, such as corporate network and intranet apps, as well as any cloud-based apps developed by that company
It is intended for usage by Azure, Office 365, Microsoft 365, or Dynamics CRM Online subscribers IT admins, and App developers.
21. What does the DeadLetter Queue Imply?
In the following scenario, messages are transferred to the DeadLetter queue:
When the delivery count for a queued message exceeds
When a message's expiration date has passed, the complete queue of expired messages is kept.
When the subscription is enabled with the dead letter filter, an evaluation exception is set by default.
22. Define Azure Databricks.
It is a Data Analytics platform with two development environments for data-intensive applications:
Databricks in Azure SQL Analytical Services
Workspace for Azure Databricks
The integration of Azure Databricks with cloud providers' native security, compute, analytics, storage, and AI services make it easier to unify data and AI workloads.
23. What is Conditional Access in Azure?
Azure AD employs Conditional Access as a tool for making judgments, combining signals, and enforcing corporate norms.
Conditional Access policies allow you to install the appropriate access controls whenever they are needed to keep the organization secure while staying out of the way of the users.
24. When should you use a Static IP address in Azure?
Recruiters can also put up questions based on scenarios in Microsoft Azure Interview questions and answers. When the address connected to the device is not to be updated, a static IP address is used in Azure.
25. What is Windows Azure Traffic Manager?
It allows customers to manage how user traffic is distributed across installed Azure cloud services. Azure offers three different load-balancing algorithms. The traffic manager uses a routing strategy for the Domain Name Service (DNS) queries on your domain names. It maps the DNS routes to the correct instances of your applications.
26. What do you mean by Azure Data Lake?
Azure Data Lake is a cloud platform that facilitates Big Data Analytics by providing unlimited storage for all types and volumes of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
27. What is the difference between a library and a list?
A library is a graphical user interface for managing and storing documents written in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
On the other hand, a list is the tabular representation of an item (with columns and rows). It is possible to attach it to documents.
28. How many Azure Services are there?
Azure features more than 6,000 flexible offerings and makes use of Microsoft's data capacity for Software, Platform, and Infrastructure as a Service (SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS).
29. What is the process of Azure Site Recovery?
Site Recovery orchestrates and automates the replication of Azure virtual machines across several sites, including on-premises computers to a backup data center and on-premises VMs and physical servers to Azure.
It helps with business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) by allowing users to access apps from a backup location in the event of a primary site outage.
30. In Azure, how many different backup types are there?
There are three replications included in Azure Backup to keep both storage and data highly accessible.
GRS (geo-redundant storage) is the default and recommended method for replicating data to a secondary location that is far away from the main.
LRS (locally redundant storage) creates three copies of data in a data center's storage scale unit.
Zone-redundant storage (ZRS) has no downtime and replicates data in availability zones with data residency and resiliency in the same region.
When you are preparing for Microsoft Azure Interview questions and answers, make sure to learn about the full forms of abbreviations.
31. Define Azure DevOps.
It is a software-as-a-service platform that permits you to make work plans, collaborate on code, develop apps, and deploy them. It provides a complete DevOps toolchain for software development and deployment. It can integrate with a variety of popular technologies on the market and is an excellent method to get started with a DevOps toolchain.
Microsoft Azure Interview Questions for Experienced
32. What is the difference between a Repository and a Powerhouse Server?
The repository server is in charge of the database repository's integrity, consistency, and uniformity, whereas the powerhouse server is in charge of the database repository's integration.
33. What does Enterprise Warehousing Imply?
It is a phenomenon in which data is created by an organization with access to it from a single location globally. By using periodic handling, warehousing allows the server to link to a single location.
34. What exactly do you mean when you say "Lookup Transformation"?
The source qualifier can be determined using lookup transformation. Lookup transformation might be active or passive. The process is yielding in terms of gaining access to user data or information.
35. What do the Connected Lookups Imply?
The input for an unconnected lookup is taken directly from the transformation that occurs along with the data flow. The linked data lookup is implemented as a static and dynamic cache. It can be orientated using several ports to provide output. A user-defined entity defines it.
36. What do the Unconnected Lookups Imply?
The LKP procedure takes the input in unconnected lookups, as the solution to this Microsoft Azure interview question should be. With only one output port, nature is dynamic. In unconnected lookups, user-defined values are ignored.
37. What does the Command Task Imply?
While the system is still functioning, a command task is an operational window that starts the flow of one or more command shells.
38. What do you understand about SQL Azure Database?
SQL Azure database is merely a method of connecting to cloud services and storing your database in the cloud. Microsoft Azure is the best option for PaaS because it allows you to have several databases on the same account.
In the core, Microsoft SQL Azure is similar to SQL Server in terms of accessibility, versatility, and security.
The Microsoft Azure SQL database offers a feature that automatically backs up each current database. To enable the 1-hour recovery point objective (RPO) for Geo-Restore, a backup is taken consistently and geo-repeated.
39. What is Azure Service Fabric?
Service Fabric is a next-generation middleware technology that provides a more scalable result. It provides a more managed and trustworthy business.
40. What is Azure Profiling?
Profiling is only a process for assessing an application's performance. It is usually done to ensure that the application is stable and capable of handling high traffic.
Visual Studio provides us with many tools to accomplish this by capturing performance data from the program, which also aids in debugging.
When you run the profiling wizard, it starts the execution session and collects the sample data.
The profiling reports are useful for:
Choosing the application's longest-running strategy
Measuring the time it takes for each strategy in the call stack to execute
Memory allocation evaluation
41. What is the name of the Data Retrieval Class?
The SPSite Data Query class can be used to acquire data from many lists. It can query data from multiple lists across multiple web collections. It has the ability to combine data without the use of external links and just via SharePoint.
42. What are the main differences between the STS and the SPS?
SPS stands for SharePoint Portal Service, which maintains documents and provides a more efficient search engine for navigating different sources of content.
SharePoint team management is referred to as STS. These are ideal for document management for large organizations and have a moderate search engine, as the name denotes.
43. What is MOSS?
MOSS is an acronym for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, which is a full-featured portal platform that allows users to manage, share, and even create documents.
44. Explain what you'll do if your Hard Drive Fails.
You should tackle these Microsoft Azure Interview questions and answers by saying this.
In the event that the drive fails, one can follow this procedure.
The first is that the disk should not be mounted, allowing object storage to operate without interruption.
The second alternative is to replace the drive, in which case you need to remount and format the drive.
45. What should one do in the event of a Service Failure?
One can take the following measures in the event of a service failure:
Ascertain that the object's services have terminated, allowing the object services to survive the failure.
Allowing the system object storage to stay functioning while completing the last lap of work pending can be accomplished by bringing the machine back online. The online replication will automatically activate with the missing updated files once they are started.
If you are unable to replace the drive, in this case, remove it and leave the system unmounted.
46. What is cmdlet in Azure?
A cmdlet is a small command that runs in the Microsoft PowerShell environment. The cmdlets are called by Windows PowerShell to automate scripts that are run from the command line. Additionally, the Windows PowerShell runtime calls them using Windows PowerShell APIs.
47. How does a Character Analytics API work?
The character analytics of API does not take into account the classification of words like positive or negative. It takes advantage of an advanced feature that facilitates natural language processing.
48. What is Azure Service Level Agreement (SLA)?
When you submit two or more role instances for each role, the SLA assures that access to your cloud service is maintained at least 99.95 percent of the time. When a role instance's procedure isn't operating, identification and re-correction activities will be started 99.9% of the time.
49. What is the difference between PROC SUMMARY and PROC MEANS?
PROC MEANS refers to the subgroup statistician that will be used in the persistence of the BY statement. With the help of BY variables, the data is sorted ahead of time.
PROC SUMMARY is a statistical tool that allows all types of data to be processed simultaneously and is generated automatically for each subgroup. The data in the outlet was not generated.
50. What is CSRUN in Azure?
Csrun is a command-line tool for deploying packaged applications on the Windows Azure compute emulator and managing the running service.
51. Explain the Microsoft Azure Guest OS.
The Guest OS is a virtual machine operating system that allows you to host an instance of a role.
52. Why should someone use Azure CDN?
The Azure CDN cuts down on bandwidth and load time. It also aids in improving responsiveness.
53. Define Azure App Service.
Azure App Service is a fully managed Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) offering for experienced developers that provides a comprehensive set of abilities for web, mobile, and integration scenarios. Mobile apps in Azure App Service provide Enterprise Developers and System Integrators with a very versatile, universally accessible mobile application development platform that provides a rich set of capacities to mobile engineers.
54. What do you understand by Azure Search?
It is a cloud search-as-a-service solution that allows you to delegate server and infrastructure maintenance to Microsoft. It leaves you with a ready-to-use service that you can populate with your data and use to bring search to your web or mobile application. It allows using a simple REST API or.NET SDK, then you can simply add a powerful search experience to your applications without managing search infrastructure or becoming a search specialist.
55. Define Windows Azure Scheduler.
You can use Windows Azure Scheduler to plan tasks like calling HTTP/S endpoints or delivering a message on a storage queue.
With Scheduler, you can create cloud jobs that reliably call services both inside and outside of Windows Azure and run them on-demand, on a regularly repeating schedule, or on a future date.
56. Define Domain.
The domain refers to the interrelated and interlinked nodes that are frequently a measure undertaken by an organization. Only one point of the organization is responsible for these connections.
57. What is Log Analytics?
The Log Analytics operational management service fulfills all of the requirements for a certain service. A specific dashboard manifests automation, security, log analytics, and availability. It creates a Power data source that allows the user to see the raw data visually. It is available in three price tiers: free, premium, and standard. You appreciate the ease of searching and exporting data from a single dashboard.
58. Define Availability Set.
It is a logical grouping of virtual machines that enables Azure to understand how your application is constructed for redundancy and availability. To ensure a highly available application and to achieve the 99.95 percent Azure SLA, two or more VMs should be established within an availability set. When using Azure Premium Storage with a single VM, the Azure SLA applies to unscheduled maintenance occurrences.
59. What is the purpose of the Azure Diagnostics API?
The Azure Diagnostics API collects diagnostic data from Azure apps, such as system event logs and performance monitoring. The cloud service roles must have Azure Diagnostics enabled. The information gathered can then be used to build visual chart representations for enhanced monitoring and performance metric alerts.
60. What do you understand by role instance in Azure?
A role instance is a virtual machine that executes application code based on running role specifications. According to the definition in cloud service configuration files, multiple instances of a role are also permitted.
61. What types of deployment environments does Azure offer?
Staging environment: This is where an application's modifications are tested before going live.
Production environment: It is where apps go live and where target consumers can access them via a DNS-friendly URL.
62. What do you understand about the Azure Storage Key?
Depending on the project's needs, it is used to authenticate access to Azure storage service data. Authentication is performed using two sorts of storage keys:
Primary access key
Secondary access key, to eliminate website or application unavailability.
I hope you enjoyed these Azure Interview Questions and Answers.
I have divided the latest Azure interview questions as per their difficulty level. These Microsoft Azure interview questions will surely help you to get that extra benefit in an interview over other candidates.
Related/References
Azure Data Factory interview Questions
What is Microsoft Cloud Background Check?
Top 10 Microsoft Azure Security Best Practices in 2022
Top 11 Reasons to Get a Microsoft Azure Certification in 2022
Microsoft Azure Certification Path 2022
Microsoft Azure Certification Path in 2023 | Azure Certification Roadmap for Beginners
Azure Storage Explorer: Download, Install, and Setup Overview
What are Azure Logic Apps: Components, Advantages and How it Works
Microsoft Azure Application Insights: A Complete Beginners Guide
Microsoft Azure Service Bus: A Complete Beginners Guide
Copyrights © 2021-22, cloudkeeda. All Rights Reserved


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Danny DeVito explains why he's really the kid in the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia family
Christian Holub
December 1, 2021, 11:00 a.m. ·2 min read
Like all great sitcoms, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the story of a family. But while Danny DeVito's Frank Reynolds may technically be the father of this family — literally in the case of Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson), figuratively for Charlie (Charlie Day) and Mac (Rob McElhenney) — the actor insists the opposite is true.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm the kid," DeVito tells EW about his relationship with the rest of the cast. "I have a little bit more of an irreverent attitude towards everything, I'm like the anarchistic child in the bunch. We have so much fun doing the show. It's been such a joy to do."
The writers — which include McElhenney, Howerton, and Day, among others — never hesitate to give DeVito the wildest things to play. That continues in the season 15 premiere this week, which explains how the gang spent the year 2020. In addition to pandemic jokes, Frank's hilarious connections to some real-world evildoers are revealed.
"So far, there's nothing they've come up with in their addled brains that I've refused," DeVito says. "I've been slimed, I've fallen out of windows, I've climbed out of couches naked, I've done all kinds of things. I don't want to give anything away about the new season, but Frank's attitude towards who he would work with in the world is pretty mercenary. For Frank, it's all about the shekels."
Everett Collection Frank Reynolds (Danny DeVito) and the rest of the Paddy's gang in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.'
The Always Sunny gang had originally planned to film a couple episodes in Ireland this season, but COVID-19 quarantine rules made that unworkable. So they used California's Bodega Bay as a stand-in, and ended up getting lucky with the weather.
"California's got the great weather, we love it and all that, but we were looking for something unique. That's why we wanted to go to Ireland, with its really cool hills and cliffs," DeVito says. "We went to Bodega Bay instead, but what happened is we had three days of fog. Oh my god, it was so great for the show. It gave you that feeling of being on the Emerald Isle and that bad weather. It really worked out for us."
The record-breaking 15th season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia premieres Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET on FXX.
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.
Kaitlin Olson will still do anything for a laugh on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
The gang makes history: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia cast on their record-tying run
Never Gonna Give You Up: An It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia A-to-Z guide
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's top diplomat angrily rejected U.S. allegations that Moscow was preparing a pretext to invade Ukraine, as Russian troops that are amassed near the Ukraine border launched more drills Monday. The White House said Friday that U.S. intelligence officials had concluded that Russia had already deployed operatives to rebel-controlled eastern Ukraine to carry out acts of sabotage there and blame them on Ukraine in a "false-flag operation" to create a pretext for possible invasion.
Double dealing: Legal, illicit blur in California pot market
LOS ANGELES (AP) — On an isolated farm, greenhouses stand in regimental order, sheltered by a fringe of trees. Inside are hundreds of head-high cannabis plants in precise rows, each rising from a pot nourished by coils of irrigation tubing. Lights powerful enough to turn night into day blaze overhead. In the five years since California voters approved a broad legal marketplace for marijuana, thousands of greenhouses have sprouted across the state. But these, under their plastic canopies, conceal


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DUI Manslaughter Arrest in Pompano Beach Crash
Statements made to police detectives from a hospital bed will make it difficult for a man to build a solid defense following a fatal car accident in Pompano Beach in June.
The decedent in the case was working with one other as a driver/delivery person on a car hauler. The workers stopped on South Dixie Highway on June 23rd to drop off a vehicle to a business there. The workers parked the semi-truck on the far right lane of the roadway. The flashing hazard lights were turned on. They lowered the ramp in the rear and were working on unloading the vehicle from the lower ramp.
Decedent was standing inside near the back of the trailer trying to unchain another vehicle. Meanwhile, according to police, defendant driver was operating his vehicle in the right lane. He reportedly did not stop or swerved as he approached the stopped truck. Instead, he drove right up the ramp. He struck decedent with the front bumper of his vehicle, and decedent was launched through the front of defendant's vehicle.
Fire and rescue crews transported the worker to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.First responders also had to work to extricate defendant driver from his vehicle, as it had become stuck between the upper and lower decks of the large truck. He too was transported to the hospital, though his injuries were described as minor.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for that vehicle and discovered inside there were several bottles of prescription medication, as well as several canisters of compressed gas.
Assuming he had a valid prescription for those medications, possession of those items in and of itself would not be a crime. It would only be criminal if he was deemed "under the influence" of those medications while operating a motor vehicle. Even someone who consumes controlled substances valid prescription can be convicted with DUI, so long as prosecutors can show that the person was impaired by that medication.
Initially at the hospital, defendant told detectives at a bedside interview that he is diabetic, had gotten dizzy and blacked out while he was driving. However, he also told investigators that he had the gas canisters with him in the vehicle for purposes of "getting high." He also then told investigators he thought the truck had been moving, which contradicted his statement about being "blacked out" at the time of impact.
It was at this point detectives sought to have defendant's blood drawn, and they did not defendant "appeared lethargic," and was "swaying" while sitting up in the bed.
Police can extract blood samples without a person's consent, but they must first have a warrant to do so. In some cases, refusing a blood draw can result in a delay that may be advantageous to the defense.
What also would have been advantageous to the defense in this case is if defendant had not spoken to detectives without his attorney present. He had that right, as do all people.
Likely, his attorney would have advised him not to speak on the purpose of the containers of gas and other statements that will likely prove harmful. To be sure, there was other incriminating evidence in this case, and that may have been sufficient grounds to make an arrest anyway. But the defense may have had better odds prevailing at trial or in the course of a plea agreement had the defendant not tried to talk his way out of the situation.
Our Broward DUI defense lawyers know that after a crash, most people are dazed. It can be a traumatic, confusing time. But if you were the person behind the wheel, it's imperative to discuss the case first with a criminal defense lawyer before giving a statement to police. Just because you are laying in a hospital bed does not mean the statements you make won't be used against you.
Search warrant: Prescription drugs, canisters of compressed gas found in car after fatal crash, Aug. 7, 2015, By Emily Miller, Sun-Sentinel
Bretherick v. Florida – Stand Your Ground Immunity is Defense Burden, Aug. 10, 2015, Broward Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog


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The Education Gradebook
Timeline: The Judy Genshaft era at USF
TAMPA — University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft, who in her 18 years at the school's helm has steered the research powerhouse along a swift upward trajectory into a new era of 'preeminence,' is expected to announce her retirement Monday.
Here is a timeline chronicling her career at USF:
• July 5, 2000: Judy Genshaft's first day at USF.
• December 2000: Women's basketball coach Jerry Ann Winters fired after administrators conclude she retaliated against a player for participating in an internal review of racial discrimination claims against the coach.
• May 2001: Genshaft promotes NFL Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon to be USF's director of athletics.
• June 2001: USF's first Board of Trustees is appointed following the abolition of the state Board of Regents.
• September 2001: Computer science professor Sami Al-Arian banned from campus amid controversy over allegations that he supported terrorists.
• June 2002: St. Petersburg leaders criticize Genshaft over the ouster of Bill Heller, longtime leader of USF St. Petersburg.
• February 2003: Al-Arian arrested on federal charges, then fired.
• October 2003: Genshaft orders medical school dean Robert Daugherty to resign after he asks his staff to contribute to the U.S. Senate campaign of state House Speaker Johnnie Byrd.
RELATED: After 18 years, USF president Judy Genshaft retiring as USF president
• August 2007: Two USF students are arrested in South Carolina and charged with possession of an explosive device. One acquitted. One sentenced to 15 years for posting a YouTube video showing how to turn a child's toy into a detonator.
• November 2007: USF tightens vaccination requirements for students after a sophomore dies of bacterial meningitis.
• June 2008: USF St. Petersburg put on probation for not meeting two accrediting standards; gets off probation a year later.
• May 2009: Genshaft says USF will review safety procedures for university-organized trips abroad after a recent USF graduate drowns off the coast of Costa Rica.
• August 2009: The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that from 2000 to 2007 USF increased its federal research funding 213 percent, faster than any university in the nation.
• October 2009: USF rolls out "Unstoppable," a $600 million fundraising campaign.
• January 2010: Genshaft fires USF's first football coach, Jim Leavitt, after an investigation finds he grabbed a player by the throat, slapped him twice and lied to investigators about the incident. Skip Holtz is hired to take his place a week later.
• August 2010: Genshaft is elected to serve a term as chairwoman of the NCAA Board of Directors.
• February 2011: Genshaft and her husband, Steven Greenbaum, donate $1 million to USF over five years for scholarships aiding students studying abroad. Two months earlier, she was awarded a five-year contract that paid her $470,000 annually with bonuses that could bring the total to $745,000. The couple had previously donated $400,000 to the school.
• December 2011: Frank and Carol Morsani donate $20 million and put their name on USF's Morsani College of Medicine.
• February 2012: The Florida Senate votes to split off USF's Lakeland branch as a new stand-alone school, creating Florida Polytechnic University.
PHOTO GALLERY: Judy Genshaft's time at USF in pictures
• October 2012: Kiran and Pallavi Patel create a $12 million endowment to transform a University of South Florida graduate program into USF's Patel College of Global Sustainability.
• October 2014: Les and Pam Muma donate $25 million to name the College of Business in Tampa.
• September 2015: USF garners a record $441 million in research dollars during the 2014-15 academic year, Genshaft announces during her fall address.
• March 2016: USF's Board of Trustees raises Genshaft's base salary to $493,500, a 5 percent bump. With a bonus based on performance, and deferred compensation, she could make up to $867,200.
• September 2017: Construction begins in downtown Tampa on USF's Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute.
• October 2017: USF St. Petersburg regional chancellor Sophia Wisniewska is ousted after Hurricane Irma, for incompetence and "lack of leadership." Wisniewska is excoriated by Genshaft for her decisions amid the storm.
• November 2017: USF surpasses its $1 billion fundraising goal. The Mumas donate another $15 million to encourage continued giving.
• June 2018: The Florida Board of Governors, looking at USF's achievements in academics and research, unanimously vote to designate USF as a preeminent state research university, winning USF more than $6 million in bonus dollars.
• September 2018: Genshaft unveils USF's new academic logo during her fall address last Wednesday.
Up next:Lithia school moms create nonprofit to boost school security
Local Government Editor


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Description: Clinker. Brass Riveted, Mahogany wood, Solid wood Deck, Excellent "Bristol" original condition; Markings "George Odel" (assume previous owner?) ; Gorgeous boat for Rowing or Display!


What happened?Twitter ended 2015 by clarifying what it considers to be abusive behavior from its users. The popular micro-messaging service has updated its rules of use, which more strictly spell out the criteria. The new standards were announced in a company blog post titled "Fighting abuse to protect freedom of expression," attributed to the company's director of trust + safety, Megan Cristina.
The post explains that "[t]he updated language emphasizes that Twitter will not tolerate behavior intended to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence another user's voice." The behavior is broken down into seven categories in the company's rules: violent threats (direct or indirect), harassment, hateful conduct, multiple account abuse, [dissemination of] private information, impersonation, and [threatening] self-harm. Violators of the policy are subject to temporary or permanent suspension from the service.
Does it matter?The move is a good and heartening one, although it seems as if it was due more to external pressure than any homegrown corporate initiative. Criticism had been growing that Twitter was not acting sufficiently to prevent terrorist groups like ISIS from using the service for propaganda and recruitment purposes.
Whatever the impetus, it's a step in a good direction. It also brings Twitter more in line with the reigning king of social media, Facebook , which has had similar guidelines in place for some time. Facebook's policy is to "remove content, disable accounts, and work with law enforcement when we believe there is a genuine risk of physical harm or direct threats to public safety." The bigger social media site operator breaks these threats down into eight categories, quite close to Twitter's seven.
I don't think this will have a major impact on Twitter stock; investors are more concerned with the company's uninspiring fundamentals. But any change that might help to boost user confidence, not to mention the service's reputation, is welcome.
The article Instant Analysis: Twitter Clarifies Definition of "Abusive" Behavior originally appeared on Fool.com.
Eric Volkman owns shares of Facebook. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends both Facebook and Twitter. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


Fire Exploring is open to young men and women who have completed the 8th grade and is 14 years to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of fire or emergency services.
Fire Exploring is a hands-on program that exposes young people to fire and emergency services. It offers fire and emergency experiences, as a possible career choice.
Career Exploring combines some classroom training with hands-on lessons. You get to experience firsthand what it's like to be a firefighter, emergency services coordinator or paramedic.
You will learn about the educational requirements for a career in Fire & EMS and will receive tangible advice on steps you could take now to prepare and position yourself for a successful career in the field of fire or emergency services.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Fire Exploring program can contact me at tholliday@gtmetrofire.org or (231) 313-7276.


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UPDATE: Hawaii Bill To Allow Military Vehicle Titling Passes Legislature; Goes to Governor
DON'T DELAY! Please contact Governor David Ige immediately to request support for H.B. 323:
H.B. 323 allows for the titling and registration of "former military vehicles."
H.B. 323 defines former military vehicle as a vehicle 25 years or older that is a "Pinzgauer", "Kaiser Jeep M715", "Humvee", or "DUKW".
H.B. 323 recognizes important historical and patriotic purpose of these vehicles.
H.B. 323 acknowledges the fact that government surplus (former military) vehicles are becoming valued collectors' items among the automotive community.
H.B. 323 would bring the state in line with others that are moving to allow former military vehicles similar accommodations as those available to civilian vehicles.
Overview: Legislation (H.B. 323) has been introduced to allow for the titling and registration of former military vehicles. Currently, former military vehicles are not allowed to be registered or titled for on-road use in the state. The bill now goes to Governor Ige for enactment into law.


The Pilgrim Soldiered Row tool set expresses the simple appeal of vintage Hand forged by expert artisans. A twist at the top of each tool harkens back to early American design. Four tools hang atop a t-bar, peg-legged stand.


Carlos Alario-Hoyos, Mar Prez-Sanagustn, Carlos Delgado-Kloos Israel Gutirrez-Rojas, Derick Leony, Hugo A. Parada G.
To be aware of the workload to create the course structure and upload the materials To define a flexible schedule so that latecomers can join To decide whether the course addresses wellestablished topics or latest trends in the field.
To define formative and summative activities from the beginning. To inform clearly about assessment policies and how scores are calculated.


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January 12, 2021 Politics
On Monday, there were 9,294 new cases of covid-19 in the Czech Republic, which is about a quarter less than the previous Monday. According to the Ministry of Health, the proportion of reported cases of the number of tests performed also dropped from about 37 percent a week ago to the current 29.3 percent. Already on Sunday, the increase in the number of infected, and the share of positive tests was significantly lower than the same day in the previous week. The risk index of the PES system has not changed today. As of Monday, it is at 84 points out of a hundred.
The number of people who ended up in hospitals with covid-19 on Monday was about the same as a week ago. Compared to Sunday, however, according to updated data from the Ministry, it has increased from approximately 6,800 to 7,732. Of these, 1,099 patients are in serious condition.
Since the beginning of the covid-19 epidemic in the Czech Republic in March, almost 845,000 cases of this disease have been recorded. 13,485 infected died. According to the ministry, there were 66 deaths on Monday, but the office regularly increases the number of deaths in statistics retrospectively. In previous days, the daily death rates were mostly around 150 to 170.
The highest daily increase in covid-19 cases since the onset of the epidemic was recorded last week on Wednesday when it was more than 17,700 infected. The share of positive cases was also very high, rising to 45.6 percent on Wednesday last week. The highest for the epidemic was on January 1, when it exceeded 52 percent. The number of hospitalized persons also grew the previous week. There were almost 7,500 people in hospitals with covid-19. At that time, the situation was already close to the record numbers from last November when over 8,000 were hospitalized.
In the last week, the infection spread the most, especially in the Hradec Králové region. Four of the five districts of the region now have the highest numbers of infected people of all the Czech Republic regions. The most significant number of people infected in the Trutnov region has increased in the past seven days, with 1,248 cases of covid-19 per 100,000 inhabitants. The other three districts of the Hradec Králové region – Hradec Králové, Rychnov and Náchod regions – had a weekly increase in the number of infected people around 1,100.


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Sector - Commercial
It's time the UK starts supporting the next generation of vehicles
For the better part of a century, the fundamentals of road transportation in the UK have remain unchanged. The internal combustion engine has remained king of the road while millions of vehicles journeyed across Britain's 262,000-mile road network. For decades, car manufacturers competed to go faster, but with the increased awareness of air pollution and its impact on climate change, car manufacturers started to deliver on greater fuel economy rather than more horsepower. And with the UK government deciding to phase-out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030, we find ourselves at the start of an electric vehicle revolution on our roads.
Manufacturers must now prioritise and compete with each other on new metrics – battery life, efficiency, and reliability. Supporting the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs) and infrastructure will be vital in curbing our nation's carbon footprint.
Supercharging the UK's electric vehicle market
Despite a global pandemic, last year's sales of electrified vehicles in the UK significantly outperformed expectations. Registrations of EVs rose by 186%, while plug-in hybrids increased by 91.2%. Demand for diesel cars fell by almost half (47.6%) in comparison.
Isobel Sheldon, Chief Strategy Officer at UK battery manufacturer Britishvolt, says, "The majority of electric vehicles, which have come to market as purpose-built, ground-up electric vehicles, have sold out 18 months of production in a few days. It's clear that the car-buying public are demanding good electric vehicles. The manufacturers see that level of demand from the public and know that they have to do more to speed up production and meet current and future demand."
S&P Global estimates that 18 million vehicles will be sold in Europe in 2021, up 10% from 2020. It also predicts that Europe will lead the way in electric vehicle sales, with 30% of new vehicles expected to be sold as electric vehicles by 2025.
World business leaders are also taking the long-term strategic challenge of decarbonisation seriously. Ahead of the World Economic Forum's 50th annual meeting in Davos in January 2020, 800 global experts and decision-makers named inaction on climate change and extreme weather as the greatest long-term threats to the world economy.
As the world's population increases, so too will the demand for transport. It is crucial that the UK decarbonises its transport sector and road transport – not just to lead the way in global emissions reduction, but to meet its legally binding pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 through the Climate Change Act.
But McKinsey & Company's research for its report on the material roadmap for the zero-carbon car argues that the automotive industry must go beyond simply replacing petrol/diesel with electric. Emissions reduction must also take into account materials used for vehicle production, and it suggests that 97% of emissions from materials in electric cars could be ended by 2030 with no net increase to the cost of materials.
The environmental impact of batteries is a huge focus. For example, Britishvolt plans to deliver enough cells for around 300,000 lithium-ion battery packs per year from 100% renewable sources. These renewables can come from offshore wind capacity and using hydro-electric power from Norway's North Sea Link, implementing an environmentally-conscious approach that extends to the entire supply chain as well as focusing on the impact of mining for battery materials.
Building a roadmap for electric vehicles
In October 2020, electric cars outsold diesel in Britain for the first time, and Auto Trader now estimates that sales of new electric vehicles could overtake new petrol and diesel cars by 2025.
But the market is intensifying the need for greater battery technology, with the Faraday Institute estimates that the UK electric vehicle market will require about 120 gigawatt hours of capacity by mid-2030.
"There's a creeping realisation that a commodity approach to the battery industry isn't going to work long-term because they cannot differentiate from each other," Sheldon says. "If you have a BMW, Jaguar, and Bentley all running off the same technology, they are all going to perform exactly the same. Manufacturers have lost the ability to differentiate themselves based on improvements to their powertrain as they have for the past 100 years.
"At Britishvolt, we're not saying, 'Here's the battery that we're going to sell to everyone else, so what price will you pay?' Instead, we're speaking to manufacturers very early on in the process and saying, 'Why don't we design cells that work for your brand, look at the different level of vehicles within your product portfolio, and tweak and adjust the cells for the cars within your portfolio?'"
If we compound the growth over a couple of years, we will soon get to large quantities of electric vehicles on the road, which will require that significant increase in electric vehicle charging points.
The International Council on Clean Transportation estimates that we will require a 30% annual growth in Britain's electric vehicle infrastructure required to keep pace with the 2030 goals, with Deloitte estimating a cost of around GBP 18 billion to help get us there.
We are currently 1% of the way there. To convert the remaining 99%, entire industries and ecosystems will have to emerge to meet future demand.
We need a nationally unified approach to electric vehicle roll-out. According to recent RAC data, London and the South East have 35% of all electric vehicles sold in the UK, whereas the North East has just 3%. There are less than 1,000 drivers per charger in Bristol yet this rises to more than 10,000 drivers in Stoke-on-Trent.
It's vital that no region of the country is left behind with electric vehicle roll-out and clean air strategy. The UK automotive industry and the entire economy needs to come together to power the future. The sooner we start, the better.
Article supplied by Mark Coates, International Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at Bentley Systems
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Self propelled lawn mowers make tackling a garden easy. Husqvarna has a range of products which are specifically engineered for rigorous cutting on a daily basis, and many machines are designed for semi- or fully-professional use.
The Husqvarna LC451S is a durable semi-professional petrol mower with self-propulsion and is designed for part-time use. The single speed self-propulsion takes all the hard work out of mowing. This tough machine features an aluminium deck and excellent grass collection performance, and is a fantastic model for those who need a mower as part of a home gardening business.
Designed for a homeowner with medium to large sized gardens, the Husqvarna LC247SP petrol self-propelled mower offers a range of useful features, including a Briggs & Stratton 575EX 140cc engine with autochoke, lightweight and durable composite decks. The handlebars can be folded down and the grass box removed from the mower which makes storage much easier.
For more self-propelled lawnmowers, browse through the Husqvarna range on Lawnmowers Direct.


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NorthernNorth CaliforniaNorCalnorthern portionCalifornianorthern part of the stateCalifornia (northern)central portionN'''orthern '''C'''alifornianorth
Northern California (colloquially known as NorCal) is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California.wikipedia
San JoseSan Jose, CASan José
Spanning the state's northernmost 48 counties, its main population centers include the San Francisco Bay Area (anchored by the cities of San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland), the Greater Sacramento area (anchored by the state capital Sacramento), and the Metropolitan Fresno area (anchored by the city of Fresno).
San Jose, officially the City of San José, is the economic, cultural and political center of Silicon Valley, and the largest city in Northern California (both by population and area).
Northern CaliforniaSilicon ValleySan Francisco BayList of largest California cities by populationCisco Systems
Bay AreaSan FranciscoBay Area, California
The San Francisco Bay Area (popularly referred to as the Bay Area) is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California.
San Francisco BayNorthern CaliforniaMarin County, CaliforniaCaliforniaSan Mateo County, California
Northern California Megaregion
The 48-county definition is not used for the Northern California Megaregion, one of the 11 megaregions of the United States.
The Northern California Megaregion (also Northern California Megalopolis), distinct from Northern California, is an urbanized region of California consisting of many large cities including San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Oakland.
Northern CaliforniaMegaregions of the United StatesSan FranciscoSan Jose, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Cascade Range
CascadesCascade MountainsCascade
Northern California also contains redwood forests, along with the Sierra Nevada, including Yosemite Valley and part of Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta (the second-highest peak in the Cascade Range after Mount Rainier in Washington), and most of the Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions.
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California.
North CascadesNorthern CaliforniaMount RainierWashington (state)Lassen Peak
Fresno-Madera, CA Combined Statistical AreaCombined Statistical AreaFresno
It is the third-largest metropolitan region in Northern California, behind the Bay Area and Greater Sacramento.
Fresno County, CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaMadera County, CaliforniaFresno, CaliforniaSacramento metropolitan area
San Joaquin Valley
San JoaquinSan Joaquin Valley (North)San Joaquin Valley, California
For example, the Central Valley is a region that is distinct both culturally and topographically from coastal California, though in northern versus southern California divisions, the Sacramento Valley and most of the San Joaquin Valley are usually placed in northern California.
It comprises seven counties of Northern and one of Southern California, including, in the north, all of San Joaquin and Kings counties, most of Stanislaus, Merced, and Fresno counties, and parts of Madera and Tulare counties, along with a majority of Kern County, in Southern California.
San Joaquin RiverMerced County, CaliforniaCentral Valley (California)Northern CaliforniaFresno, California
Partition and secession in California
California National PartySplitting California1859 Pico Act
Extreme northern residents have felt under-represented in state government and in 1941 attempted to form a new state with southwestern Oregon to be called Jefferson, or more recently to introduce legislation to split California into two or three states.
In addition, there have been some calls for the secession of multiple states or large regions in the American West (such as the proposal of Cascadia) which often include parts of Northern California.
Northern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaAndrés PicoYes CaliforniaJefferson (proposed Pacific state)
SacramentoSacramento Regioncentral valley
It encompasses all or parts of ten Northern California counties.
Central Valley (California)Sacramento RiverNorthern CaliforniaCaliforniaSutter Buttes
Miwok peopleCoast MiwokMe-wuk
Inhabited for millennia by Native Americans, from the Shasta tribe in the north, to the Miwoks in the central coast and Sierra Nevada, to the Yokuts of the southern Central Valley, northern California was among the most densely populated areas of pre-Columbian North America.
The Miwok (also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk) are members of four linguistically related Native American groups indigenous to what is now Northern California, who traditionally spoke one of the Miwok languages in the Utian family.
Plains and Sierra MiwokNorthern CaliforniaCoast MiwokSan Joaquin ValleyLake Miwok
CAState of CaliforniaCalifornia, USA
Northern California (colloquially known as NorCal) is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California.
California is often geographically bisected into two regions, Southern California, comprising the 10 southernmost counties, and Northern California, comprising the 48 northernmost counties.
List of Playboy Playmates of 1959Good Time MaxFirestarrChicago Mercantile Independent Battery Light ArtilleryValery Ortiz
CaliforniaCalifornianCalifornian wine
Cultural contributions include the works of Ansel Adams, George Lucas, and Clint Eastwood, as well as beatniks, the Summer of Love, winemaking, the cradle of the international environmental movement, and the open, casual workplace first popularized in the Silicon Valley dot-com boom and now widely in use around the world.
The newly growing wine industry took hold in Northern California around the counties of Sonoma and Napa.
American wineNew World wineSonoma, CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaWine
northwestNorthwest CoastPacific Northwest Coast
A network of railroads spread throughout northern California, and in 1887, a rail link was completed to the Pacific Northwest.
Broader conceptions reach north into Southeast Alaska and Yukon, south into northern California, and east to the Continental Divide to include Western Montana and parts of Wyoming.
OregonWashington (state)British ColumbiaOregon CountryIdaho
Silicon Valley, CaliforniaSan JoseSan Francisco Bay Area technology industry
Its economy is diverse, though more concentrated in high technology, and subject to the whims of venture capital than any other major regional economy in the nation especially within Silicon Valley, and less dependent on oil and residential housing than Southern California.
Silicon Valley is a region in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology, innovation, and social media.
San Jose, CaliforniaSanta Clara ValleySunnyvale, CaliforniaRedwood City, CaliforniaSan Francisco Bay Area
ORState of OregonOregon, USA
The first European to explore the coast was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, sailing for the Spanish Crown; in 1542, Cabrillo's expedition sailed perhaps as far north as the Rogue River in today's Oregon.
The state's southwestern portion, particularly the Rogue Valley, has a Mediterranean climate with drier and sunnier winters and hotter summers, similar to Northern California.
Pacific NorthwestColumbia RiverWashington (state)NevadaSalem, Oregon
Rogue River (Oregon)
Rogue RiverRogueRogue River Valley
Draining 5156 mi2, the Rogue River watershed covers parts of Jackson, Josephine, Curry, Douglas, and Klamath counties in southwestern Oregon and Siskiyou and Del Norte counties in northern California.
Illinois River (Oregon)Grave Creek (Oregon)Rogue ValleyMedford, OregonGrants Pass, Oregon
Lassen National ParkLassen VolcanicLassen Volcanic Park
Other prominent parks are the Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Park complex, Redwood National Park, Pinnacles National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park and the largest in the contiguous forty-eight states, Death Valley National Park.
The source of heat for the volcanism in the Lassen area is subduction of the Gorda Plate diving below the North American Plate off the Northern California coast.
Lassen PeakCalifornia State Route 89Cinder Cone and the Fantastic Lava BedsCaribou WildernessNorthern California
Gold RushForty-niners49er
Since the events of the California Gold Rush, Northern California has been a leader on the world's economic, scientific, and cultural stages.
The first people to rush to the goldfields, beginning in the spring of 1848, were the residents of California themselves—primarily agriculturally oriented Americans and Europeans living in Northern California, along with Native Americans and some Californios (Spanish-speaking Californians).
California GenocideJohn C. FrémontJames W. MarshallCaliforniaSutter's Mill
SacramentoBonaventura Riverriver
The Sacramento River (Río Sacramento) is the principal river of Northern California in the United States, and is the largest river in California.
San Francisco BaySacramento ValleyPit RiverMcCloud RiverDunsmuir, California
ChicoChico, CACity of Chico
Key cities in the region which are not in major metropolitan areas include Eureka on the far North Coast, Redding, at the northern end of the Central Valley, Chico, and Yuba City in the mid-north of the Central Valley, as well as Fresno and Visalia on the southern end.
In the works for more than 10 years, the Gateway Science Museum is the leading center for science education and Northern California's local history, natural resources, seacoast, Sacramento Valley, and surrounding foothills and mountains.
Butte County, CaliforniaBidwell ParkOroville, CaliforniaCohasset, CaliforniaChico Municipal Airport
Hudson's Bay CompanyHBCHudson Bay Company
In 1825, the Hudson's Bay Company established a major trading post just north of today's Portland, Oregon.
During the 1820s and 1830s, HBC trappers were deeply involved in the early exploration and development of Northern California.
Hudson's Bay (retailer)Rupert's LandSaks, Inc.Royal charterPierre-Esprit Radisson
UC MercedMercedUniversity of California Merced
Most UC Merced students are from California with enrollment nearly evenly divided among Southern California, the Central Valley, and Northern California.
University of CaliforniaMerced, CaliforniaLake YosemiteUniversity of California, Merced stabbing attackSung-Mo Kang
southernSoCalCalifornia
Coachella ValleyRiverside County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County, CaliforniaSanta Barbara County, CaliforniaSan Luis Obispo County, California
Spanish missions in California
California missionsmissionsSpanish missions
In 1770, the Spanish mission at Monterey was the first European settlement in the area, followed by other missions along the coast—eventually extending as far north as Sonoma County.
By 1819, Spain decided to limit its "reach" in the New World to Northern California due to the costs involved in sustaining these remote outposts; the northernmost settlement therefore is Mission San Francisco Solano, founded in Sonoma in 1823.
Mexican secularization act of 1833Mission Revival architectureEl Camino Real (California)CaliforniaJunípero Serra
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras CountyCalaverasCalaveras Counties
Calaveras County, officially the County of Calaveras, is a county in the northern portion of the U.S. state, California.
San Andreas, CaliforniaArnold, CaliforniaGold CountryCalaveras RiverCalaverite
Fresno County, California
Fresno CountyFresnoFresno Counties
Fresno County, officially the County of Fresno, is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of California.
Fresno, CaliforniaTulare County, CaliforniaMerced County, CaliforniaCentral Valley (California)Coalinga, California


Expressing serious concern over the train derailment in Karnataka, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday lashed out at the BJP-led NDA Government over its failure to check the frequent rail accidents in the country.
Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said the number of rail accidents have increased in the last 15 months. "The government had assured safety and punctuality in the railways, but even those areas where such incidents were rare are witnessing accidents now," Kharge told ANI here.
"Hope the relief is sent to the people soon and that the satisfactory ex-gratia is also provided to the victims,"he added. At least two passengers died and eight others injured after nine coaches of the Duranto Express going from Secunderabad to Mumbai derailed in Karnataka early this morning.
The accident took place around 2 am at Martur village station in Gulbarga district, near the Maharashtra-Karnataka border.


Easily add a Sphinn it! FeedFlare (a preconfigured link at the bottom of each item) to your FeedBurner feeds in two easy steps - thanks to the FeedFlare Open API.
1. Make a copy of this file from my site - http://www.mobile-seo.co.uk/sphinn.xml - and upload it to your own server. No changes required.
2. Login to your FeedBurner account, navigate to one of your feeds and hit the Optimize tab. Click on FeedFlare (under SERVICES - left hand menu) and scroll down to the 'Add New Flare' option.
Let's make that link live: http://www.mobile-seo.co.uk/sphinn.xml I did my own here last week: http://searchengineland.com/sphinn.xml Basically, the same! Great minds, heh.... I do want to come up with a more intelligent flare, one that reflects if an item is already got some Sphinns like flares for Delicious or Digg work. Hopefully next week, we'll have functionality that allows for this.
Done! Here is the FeedFlare with Sphinn counts http://hamletbatista.com/sphinnit.xml. It is active on my site and feed. I will write a detailed post after I get something to eat. Feel free to copy it to your site and add it to your FeedBurner flares.
Thanks, Hamlet -- this is wonderful. I've got it implemented on SEL!