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Unique Travel Destinations
Mindful stays
a conscious journey
How to discover the world responsibly
Traveling is what we live for. We have fallen in love with the world, one step at a time. However, during our trips, we became painfully aware of how vulnerable the world and its inhabitants truly are to the impact of tourism.
Nonetheless, we believe that traveling has a unique power to foster empathy and understanding. Travelling connects people.
We started Unique Universe not just to introduce you to beautiful places and people, but to encourage responsible travel practices.
To us, responsible traveling is so much more than minimizing waste. Responsible travel practices strengthen people and their environment by including respecting and protecting them. We believe that responsible traveling can not just build bridges between cultures, but will most likely enhance your experience.
Sustainable tourism doesn't imply that you have to give up on all comfort. Responsible travel merely means conscious decision-making and behavior. It's often as easy as making some clicks. Let us show you how!
Follow us on our journey. Find out how to leave a positive impact, strengthen local communities, and reduce your footprint while exploring.
Responsible travel - learn more!
Travelling is our elixir of life. As the free spirits, we are, we love to explore the most beautiful places in the world on our own. However, traveling is much more than just visiting a destination. We love to go way beyond the destination-travel: we meet and learn from locals and their cultures. Uncovering hidden gems while we venture off-the-beaten-path is our thing. We are on a quest to find out what makes a destination truly unique. We don't have fixed itineraries, and we only seldom pre-book accommodations. Admittedly, we are slow travelers, but we love to go with the flow.
The best stories come from life itself
The world is a place of encounters. For us, traveling means talking with and about different cultures and learning together.
Unique Universe tells stories of people and shared moments during our journey. Even though we visited breathtaking places, the people we crossed path with shaped the experience. We shared life stories and philosophized about happiness and life. While we discussed differences, we discovered even more similarities.
We noticed one thing above all: Even if our life stories differ, our desires, fears, and dreams are so similar.
Follow our quest for happiness
Taste exotic traditional recipes
The way through one's heart goes through the stomach. It might be even more true for places when you travel.
In a faraway place, local recipes give insights into the story of the country and its people. Ingredients and food cultures vary across the world. But food has one thing in common everywhere: all over the world bonds are created, and stories are told over a shared meal.
Do you feel like trying an exotic recipe? Or do you want to feed your nostalgia and dwell on your travel memories?
We have collected recipes of typical, local food from across the world to feed your wanderlust!
Taste the world!
CHANGEMAKER
Bright ideas changing the world
During our travels, we often observe people coping with challenges. Challenges very different from the ones we know from our life in Germany. Many of those issues were unfamiliar to us, hadn't crossed our minds before or seemed too severe to overcome.
In countries with sky-high issues, we have met incredible changemakers. Individuals and social enterprises who apply innovative ideas to better lives, protect nature, and overcome existing problems. Social entrepreneurship is growing worldwide as creative innovators work on sustainable solutions. We were deeply impressed by the changemakers we crossed path with on our journey. It's a matter of the heart for us to share their fabulous ideas for a better future.
Learn more about the world's changemakers!
UNIQUE UNIVERSE
Discovering the world with our backpacks is our source of happiness. We take you off the beaten path and introduce you to the unique destinations, it's people and food culture.
We are true believers of slow and conscious traveling and hope to inspire you to learn more about responsible traveling!
Dani& Lauri
Nemasu Eco-lodge
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Bee's Mouth - The Gambia
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Africa, Destinations, Gambia
Gambia's South - discover the best beaches
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Africa, Tanzania
Pearl of the Indian ocean - Zanzibar's best beaches
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Africa, The Gambia
Serrekunda - Gambia's secret capital
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foodculture
Domoda Recipe: Enjoy Gambia's National dish
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Kololi
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Responsible Travel: Is it still ok to book an AirBnb?
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Responsible Travel Tips: How to choose the right Airbnb
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Costa Rica, Destinations
Costa Rica Off the Beaten Path: Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica
26. December 2021 /0 Comments/by Dani's Unique Universe
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From a hippie haven to a tourist hub
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Destinations, Jamaica
Backpacking Montego Bay
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I joined the R.A.F. at the end of 1940 and spent the first half of '41 in a remote spot on the west coast of Northern Ireland. I then took a course and passed out at Cranwell in the full glory of a Wireless Mechanic (A/C.2) in February, '42, and in March "Orders came for sailing" and we landed in India in July.
I was posted to a station about 25 miles from Calcutta. Following the evacuation of Burma, troops began to pour into Bengal and Assam and mostly found themselves in jungle sites with work, heat flies and malaria in plenty and little else to relieve the deadly monotony.
Eventually an organisation sponsored by The Lady Mary Herbert (wife of the then Governor of Bengal) and a number of prominent Calcutta citizens came into being. The Army and the R.A.F. co-operated and a few of us were attached to what was called The Bengal Entertainments Services Association (B.E.S.A.); our job was to go round in small parties to give badly needed entertainment in that area. I was one of a party of five who made the first trip into Assam in October, '42.
We travelled as light as possible, each taking only a small tin box to carry our props and personal gear. I had to rely on finding a piano, if possible. You can imagine some of the "instruments" I came across, mostly minus dampers, and if one was found with all hammers and strings intact, it was invariably half a tone to as much as three tones flat.
Many times we reached places where even the worst type of piano was unheard of, so I accompanied the show (and played a solo) on a small Indian "Baja," something like a piano accordion, played with the right hand with a small bellows worked with the left. These are much used by the Indians and the incredible "music" they get from them has to be heard to be believed.
After this first four months' trip in the wilds we again reached Calcutta and I scouted round until I found a tiny four octave American Billhorn folding organ, the sort used by the backwoods parson for "the church in the wildwood." It had two sets of reeds, the normal 8ft. pitch and a knee pedal brought in a set of 4ft. pitch reeds, two foot pedals connected to the small bellows, its height, length and breadth were 24" x 29" x 14. The tone, surprisingly, was fairly powerful, the reeds were well voiced with a definite diapason quality.
True to the cinema organ tradition I designed and had fixed a minute "flutter" tremulant. I couldn't have felt prouder of a twenty rank job when I sat down and "gave out" for the first time at the small theatre in Calcutta which had been taken as a shop window to try out our shows prior to touring.
By this time the authorities had decided we might travel a small piano, but in addition I took the "Mighty" organ on our next trip, more as a novelty than anything, I'm a pretty tall and hefty bloke and when I used to produce this vest-pocket affair and sit down to play it, amusement gradually changed to astonishment as I started all too literally to sweat it out and show that something could be made of it.
We finished our next tour and on reaching Calcutta again, I set about finding a practical way of putting into operation an idea that had been continually on my mind: How could I devise a touring slide show? Something that could be used anywhere. Any thought of actual slides was out of the question but with the co-operation of Coiling Pyper, Calcutta producer, we solved the problem.
A collapsible wooden frame was made, about 6' 6" high and 4' wide with two wooden rollers, one top one bottom, a roll of fine white cloth, 36" wide, was bought and Ted Salter, one time commercial artist, attached to 1.E.S,A. drew my designs and painted them in colour on the cloth. I chose the old "Trip Round London" and though Ted had never been there, he made terrific sketches a la Morgan of all the well-known London scenes, Marble Arch, Old Kent Road, Limehouse, Strand, Westminster Abbey, etc.
The finished product was wound on the rollers, the frame masked in, and a light from a screened 100 watt bulb directed from behind, on each change the light was blacked out with a piece of wood and the roller turned to show a different scene. The result exceeded all our expectations, a "slide" about 4' x 3' being shown that could be seen fifty yards away.
This touring Organ Interlude was a great success, though I must confess that the constant longing for home was many times coupled with a nostalgic yearning to play a real theatre organ again (there are no theatre organs in India), but I always felt it worthwhile when I sat in front of the "screen" in a stage blackout after my opening patter, and the audience saw "all the old familiar places." It was a moving experience to hear every audience join in "Abide with me," which I played for the sketch of Westminster Abbey.
With another "slide" show and the original "London" interlude, the organ was part and parcel of the five hundred performances (apart from many church services) in which I covered over 70,000 miles in Bengal, Assam and Burma. B.E.S.A. was eventually taken over by E.N.S.A., from whom I bought the organ on my return to England in '45.
It's now in my small son's bedroom where he uses it as a dressing table. One of these days I'll have to shoot an awful line and tell him the tale of My "Mightiest" Organ.


On March 10, enjoy a Film to Table dinner at Babette, the cafe at BAMPFA. Join an intimate group of fellow filmgoers for a four-course, prix-fixe meal in a convivial, dinner-party atmosphere. Purchase dinner tickets in advance at babettecafe.com (film tickets must be purchased separately).
Winner of the Best Director prize for Hou Hsiao-hsien at the 2015 Cannes film festival, The Assassin is a work of exceptional beauty. Ostensibly a wuxia set in the ninth-century Tang dynasty, it is poetic and enigmatic, a Hou film through and through, making use of long takes, stillness, and stunning landscapes lensed by the talented cinematographer Mark Lee Ping Bin and starring Shu Qi in a standout performance. "A mesmerizing slow burn of a martial-arts movie that boldly merges stasis and kinesis, turns momentum into abstraction, and achieves breathtaking heights of compositional elegance" (Justin Chang, Variety).


Chances are you work for an organization that spends a lot of effort coalescing employees around their brand. After all, employees are perfectly positioned to be great brand ambassadors for a company.
Company brands are big business – the clearer and more memorable the brand the better the revenue. Even public serving organizations have jumped on the bandwagon. Just think of the Big Apple and you immediately think of New York.
If branding is so successful for companies, it makes sense it could do the same for people. Just google "personal branding" and you'll find a plethora of articles and guides to turn you into Andy Warhol's next soup can!
While recently working with new leaders in a global IT firm, I was taken aback the first time I heard one of them describe their personal brand. I was told the company encourages employees to develop their own brand.
This got me really curious to think about what would go into an employee's brand and how they could use it to further their career.
Basically, your personal brand is how you tell people what you do and what you stand for; personal branding's your reputation, expertise and values rolled into one professional identity or descriptor.
In his recent INC. article, Jayson Demers of AudienceBloom says personal branding requires you to find a signature image, a unique voice, and a recognizable standard that your readers, fans, and customers can grow to recognize. This includes your stakeholders, managers, and prospective employers – anyone who's interested in working with you.
Before you jump to the notion we all have to have personal avatars, I want to make clear that isn't the case. Sure, if you're in an industry where your audience and stakeholders work in visuals, then you may want to use colours, images and cool fonts or even a website to represent you.
What personal branding really boils down to is a crystal clear synthesis of your own self-awareness, how others see you and what you bring to the table.
What do you stand for? Write an honest list of the most important things you value and believe.
What are the key skills you want others to know you have? Add those to the list.
Ask 20 people you know for 3 words that describe you. Add their responses to your growing list.
Distill the list into 4 themes that accurately describe you (if you find this hard, ask a trusted friend to help).
Turn the 4 words/themes into your brand statement and write an elevator pitch to use at your next networking event.
Be creative – design an avatar, have a one-page website full of carefully chosen visuals or whatever makes sense to convey you (while not necessary, it can set you apart to have visual representations).
Align all future tweets and content with your brand.
Practice conveying your brand at networking events and opportunities. (Don't dilute yourself – focus on who you meet with without spending precious energy on gatherings that aren't in alignment with your brand and where you're headed).
Be who you say you are. (Because this is always the most important part of your brand and career).
Finally, the biggest benefit to going through the process of brand creation (if you haven't figured it out already) is this: greater self-awareness, which is a combination of what you know of yourself and of how others see you. The truth is, people want to hire people who have the right talent and are authentic.
Like what you read? Check out more at eveofchange executive coaching inc.


When I first met Saul Colt at Twiistup 4 in Santa Monica, CA, he treated me like the most important and prettiest person in the room. Perhaps it was all part of his master plan but the conversations we had after our first encounter are what really won me over. There is a reason why Saul has been named as one of the iMEDIA 25: Internet Marketing Leaders & Innovators and has been called one of Canada's best community builders/experiential marketers. His greatest strength, in my opinion, is his ability to listen, connect and nurture the community around him. Saul got my attention at Twiistup and not only did I become a fan of his in the years to come, I also became a fan of Freshbooks – the online invoicing company he worked for at the time. And now as the Lead Evangelist for Thoora, Saul still has my attention.
Fascinated by the 50's, when everyone knew everyone else's business, Saul spends the majority of his time "listening" to his community. In fact, he spent at least 2-3 weeks just listening before he engaged the Thoora community, an online service that helps people discover the hottest news stories. Before you dive in to the online conversation, Saul believes it is important to "Listen! Listen! Listen!," and set the tone for the brand. For instance, some brands may be more conversational and playful, other businesses may be more formal. It's important to pay attention to the way people are conversing and interacting online before you introduce yourself.
When Saul was at Freshbooks, he followed many of their customers on Twitter. One day, one of their customers tweeted that she had been stood up by her date. Saul saw this person's tweet and replied back under the Freshbook's account -"We would never stand you up!" The next day he followed up by sending the same person flowers from Freshbooks with a note that said "We think you are awesome!" As a result, this customer wrote a cool blog post about Freshbooks.
I was a bit floored when I received the flowers. Saul's right, they've never stood me up, always kept their word and made my billing life so much easier. It was a great gesture and it won me totally over (even more!) as a customer.
By sending flowers, Saul showed that Freshbooks was listening and cared about their customers. If he had sent flowers in the hopes of getting something in return, then Freshbooks may not have been able to turn that first encounter into a long lasting customer relationship.
"Never expect anything in return," says Saul. Building relationships and getting to know your customers takes time. As a community manager or startup founder, you have to make that extra effort to get to know your customers first and follow through on your promises. You can't just send flowers and expect your customers to fall in love with you. You actually have to be there for your customer when there is a problem or pick up the phone when she calls. If it is your goal to "execute extraordinary experiences everyday," then Magic will happen. The Magic that Saul is referring to is word of mouth marketing. If your customers genuinely love you and your product, they will talk about you as @chelpixie did for Freshbooks.
When you are in love, you need to constantly be thinking of ways to keep the conversation and flame alive. Saul believes the same holds true for customer development. Rather than say everything you need to say at once, he suggests breaking the "conversation up into little chunks" to keep things interesting and go beyond customer expectations.
For example, one of Saul's favorite promotions of all time was a cereal contest giveaway he did during the early days of Twitter. One Monday, Freshbooks decided to hold a Twitter Contest. Saul tweeted "What was the Best Song Ever Written?" and was overwhelmed with the response! Even though customers did not probably expect to receive a box of cereal, Freshbooks ended up sending out 100 boxes of cereal with $25 gift cards from iTunes. For less than $2600, they engaged hundreds of customers online and exceeded their expectations by delivering more than they initially promised. As a result, more than ½ the people, who won blogged and tweeted about the contest.
Dressed in a Thoora.com sweatshirt with Thoora logos emblazoned on his Nikes, it is evident that Saul completely submerges himself in a brand and believes that a community manager position should not be outsourced or a jr. position. A community manager needs to be able to interact with and have conversations with many different types of people from customers to press. In addition, a full time employee is constantly thinking about ways to make YOUR brand stand out.
As a person, who lives on his iPhone, Saul sets up RSS Feeds and Google alerts for all of his keywords and uses Twitter tools like Hootsuite to notify him instantly when someone comments on Thoora or messages him personally. He also tracks competitors, listens to competitor's customers and keeps a private Twitter list of all people, who RT.
In addition, Saul is not afraid of taking calculated risks and will try 100 things a month. He keeps a notebook of every crazy idea he has ever done. Even though he is not motivated by numbers, Saul always hits his target.
Many thanks to Saul for flying out last week to share some of his secrets and wisdom with us.
In July 2008, my company Strutta was selected out of over 100 applicants to be one of 11 companies to demo at Twiistup 4. Our team, dressed in white to celebrate the launch of our new white label contest platform, descended on the Viceroy in Santa Monica, CA to make some noise.
On top of attracting some new customers and dominating the Skee Ball table in the Twiistup Arcade late night (oh yes, I did!), I met some really great people including Saul Colt, the Smartest Man in the World, who introduced me to Mike McDerment, the CEO and Founder of Freshbooks.
I really enjoyed meeting Saul, Sunir and Mike and learning more about the itch that caused Mike to start Freshbooks. Upon returning to Vancouver, I continued to hear rave reviews about his company and read stories of how the Freshbooks team went out of their way to deliver exceptional customer service time and time again. It was abundantly clear that Mike and his team had successfully started and built a customer driven product and organization. Not an easy feat!
So, when I sat down with the VEF Ops committee last May to help put together a wish list of engaging speakers for the year ahead, Mike's name immediately came to mind. Lucky for us, Mike happily accepted our invitation to come West to share his start-up story and answer your questions at the VEF on Tuesday, November 24.
While Mike is in town, he will also be delivering a very informative workshop on How to Build a Web App Business at Earl's V Lounge in Yaletown on November 25 at 9am. Mike will cover everything from building your app and your team to marketing, product management, metrics and financing.
For an entrepreneur, who recently graced the cover of Entrepreneur magazine as the Founder of 1 of 100 Brilliant Companies that has attracted more than 1M users, I trust Mike knows a thing or two about building a successful web app business. Sign up now while there are still some spots left! Tickets are $100, includes lunch and refreshments.


This March, WDG's creative and technical experts were invited to give a talk about our user experience and redesign processes.
When the United States Patent and Trademark Office—the agency responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks—saw the great work we had done for the Folger Shakespeare Library, they reached out immediately asking if WDG could give a UX play-by-play (and how our UX team worked with our Drupal development team) to their internal UX and Drupal team.
This was a really great opportunity to share insights into our strategy methodologies with others. Here are a few of the biggest takeaways we presented. Drop me a line if you have any questions!
A successful redesign starts first and foremost with an effective content strategy. What's that, you ask? A great content strategy takes business goals and audience needs and melds them into something that works for both business and user.
Take a look above for what we did with Folger!
Parsing out stakeholder expectations is essential for understanding business goals and audience motivations, and leads to better user experiences. Exercises, like the SWOT analysis above, help us determine what elements should be elevated, completely rehashed, and prioritized.
What's a good looking Drupal website if it doesn't cater to your users? Discovering user requirements is absolutely crucial for the redesign process. Along with other practices, we use proto-personas to foster a user-centered mindset for the stakeholders to understand targeted audiences, and discover new ones.
Now it's time to turn those approved sitemaps and wireframes into visually stunning concepts. The key to winning? Over deliver, and show various directions when appropriate. Come out with design guns blazing to show clients how you'll transform their website goals into real life solutions.
Want to see more examples of fantastic Drupal and WordPress website redesigns? Be sure to check out our case studies, and let WDG know what you think!


Instead CEOs and their exec staff should start with a high-level discussion to decide whether their companies should even establish an innovation outpost, whether in Silicon Valley or some other innovation ecosystem. Because this is a critical decision that requires broad management buy-in, the conversation should include senior management, particularly the Chief Digital Officer, the Chief Strategy Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Head of R&D, and maybe even the board of directors.
A disruption has not already happened or is not imminent. In other words, the disruption is expected to happen within 5+ years.
Acquiring a growth-stage private startup can provide a faster ROI at lower risk than the acquisition of an early-stage startup. For example, Google's acquisition of Nest (which had customers, revenue, and a distribution channel) allowed it to enter the connected home market immediately. In contrast, Facebook's acquisition of virtual reality hardware company Oculus still requires significant product development and identification of a viable business model – and the target market and revenue may never materialize.
Senior managers should define the 1-2 big strategic problems that can be addressed through a day-to-day presence in the innovation ecosystem. These challenges may be either strategic or tactical. For example, one of Verizon's strategic innovation goals for its Silicon Valley organization is to create disruptive solutions (technologies and business models) to monetize the digital media its subscribers access on their mobile devices.
In the process of defining the challenges and goals for an innovation outpost, a company must understand why these can be addressed in a particular innovation ecosystem. They may require the utilization of technologies that are prevalent in the ecosystem (big data or 3D printing) or specialized business models (on-demand services) or specific innovation practices (design thinking and lean startup) or the development of a particular type of partner ecosystem (IBM's Watson partner ecosystem).
Identifying these strategic problems enables the corporation to decide on the location of the innovation outpost, define success, and decide on the innovation KPIs that will be used to measure progress.
Before committing to a particular innovation ecosystem, the CEO and exec staff need to get out of the building and visit the ecosystem to be assured that the reality on the ground matches the corporation's innovation challenges. These visits should be led by the CEO and maybe even include the corporation's board of directors, along with execs who are expected to be innovation change agents. This exploration requires a deeper understanding than can be accomplished in a single visit.
While the default for most innovation outposts is Silicon Valley, it may not necessarily be the best fit for a particular company. Visiting the Valley might help an exec staff understand whether this innovation ecosystem would be right for them. For example, CVS opened its Digital Innovation Lab in Boston as did John Hancock, while Thomson Reuters picked both Boston and Waterloo, Canada, and Coca-Cola has its Bridge Innovation Lab in Tel Aviv. Exploration may require several visits to each of the innovation ecosystems of interest to pick the right one.
Innovation outposts most often fail when they come up with innovations no operating division wants and/or the company refuses to fund. (The ghosts of Xerox's failure to adopt its innovation outpost inventions that became the Apple Macintosh still haunt innovation outposts.) There needs to be prior agreement on what happens if the division develops disruptive products that do not fit the existing company business model. Does it become a new division? Does it get spun out? Sold?
6. How do we establish the innovation outpost and staff the innovation enabling group(s) that will be part of the first phase of the outpost?
How to leverage startup innovation in the cluster – will the outpost invest, partner, acquire, incubate, or invent?
The complete six-step decision process is shown in the figure below.
Stay tuned for a future post outlining how to establish an innovation outpost.
If the innovation outpost is successful, it will almost certainly conflict with other corporate innovation-related decisions.


Building a presence in Web 2.0: Gaining attention in a crowded space.
You're planning to talk on the web, is anyone listening? Photograph by Mark Lyndersay.
You've got a Facebook page and a LinkedIn profile, but, as Sprang says, "You still need something."
What should you or your business be doing on the web?
The answer to that is as simple as it is complex. You need to be addressing the attention deficit that is going to be the reality of your web presence.
Lennox Grant, who has read this column critically since it was first published, wouldn't let me get away with just name-dropping something like "the attention economy."
The essential principle of the attention economy was articulated as early as 1971 in scholarly analyses of information overload. In reviewing the first stages of what would become something of a crisis within a decade, the principles of economics were applied to the problem of growing information access. It was soon understood that the emphasis on information throughout history had been on opening up supply, and the new delivery systems were starved of ways to filter, analyse and target it to an audience.
Traditional media acted like a funnel for facts while the Internet reversed that flow, turning ordinary users into tributaries that fed into a raging river of information.
The legacy of that architectural failure in a world of proliferating media and the 24/7 expansion of Internet outlets into millions of feeds of information is that knowledge, once reserved for the few and privileged is now abundant, and the time available for assimilating it all has shrunk dramatically.
I first encountered some early ways of addressing this dramatic mismatch of information supply and demand while reading Emanuel Rosen's seminal work The Anatomy of Buzz, now available in a revised edition that embraces some of the more potent changes in the information market since the turn of the century.
Buzz, as Rosen explains it, is the critical lever in winning audiences to your messages and effectively winning their attention.
Traditional sales techniques of marketing and advertising have begun the slow but steady migration from dictating to inviting, engaging attention in products and services not by force of will but by crafting the kind of stories that people are interested in hearing.
Media is moving from central sources of authoritative information to more personalised vectors selected by individual consumers, who will, increasingly, choose to visit a YouTube channel as often as they flip through them on a television set.
The challenge facing anyone with a web presence or planning to create one is the same whether you are a sole proprietor offering creative services or a multinational corporation with subsidiaries spread all over the planet.
The only worthwhile goal is the creation of a web presence that meets and exceeds the expectations of your existing and potential audience by addressing their needs, listening to their wishes and crafting real-time responses that create what buzz pros call conversations, exchanges between supplier and customer that inform both positively.
Make no mistake, on the web, you're either selling something or buying it and the currency of trade is attention.
Conversations in virtual space are, quite possibly, the most difficult thing to get started and to maintain because they demand a fundamental change in corporate thinking.
You can't engage in an exchange with customers, whether they be readers of your blog or volume buyers of your product, unless you can respond to them with the richness and detail of authority.
BitDepth 676 - Who's out there?


The largest and most prestigious show of its kind in the area!
This spectacular three-day showcase of the country's most talented artists, craftspeople, and entertainers is centered around historic Columbus Circle in Downtown Syracuse. The show typically features more than 160 representing at least 25 U.S. states and Canada. The festival draws more than 50,000 visitors who shop and browse the art and craft exhibits, and enjoy a wide variety of music, multi-cultural performances, summer refreshments, and participatory activities.
The Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival provides an opportunity for visitors to experience the vitality of life in Downtown Syracuse through a showcase of visual and performing arts that demonstrate diverse art forms and cultures. It's one of the premier events of ArtsWeek, a partnership among several organizations committed to showcasing and celebrating the arts in Downtown Syracuse.
This event is made possible, in part, by a grant through New York State Senator John A. DeFrancisco.
This event is made possible, in part, by a grant through NYS Senator John A. DeFrancisco.
The festival presents an exceptionally wide selection of contemporary arts and crafts, ranging from functional to decorative boths. 2- and 3-dimensional works will be featured including ceramics, fabric and fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, wood, painting, graphics, drawing, sculpture, and photography. Exhibitors participate from all over the United States.
The festival also features the performing arts. A full schedule of free live entertainment will include staged and street performances by musicians, costumed ethnic dance groups, and local singers and songwriters.
Families play a big role in the festival's success, and interactive art activities are offered with them in mind. For example, sign up with the Syracuse New Times, (315) 422-7011, to participate in the Street Painting Contest on Saturday, rain date Sunday.
Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.
Downtown Committee of Syracuse Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.
This website is being supported in part by a Preserve America grant administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.


Here's a really sad fact about me: I get chronic post-alcohol anxiety. So this year, I've done the unthinkable and committed to Dry January. This is very unlike me, because A) I generally advocate for moderation not deprivation and B) I bloody love a drink.
This sounds awful, but it's true. I love red wine and cold pints. I enjoy fruity, overpriced cocktails and the camaraderie of popping a bottle of prosecco in the office on a Friday afternoon. I like squeezing fresh lime into a rum and ginger on a sunny day, and I'm especially fond of a glass of Baileys as a nightcap in a hotel.
In light of this admission, I really don't want there to be a link between alcohol and anxiety, because that spoils my fun big time.
Sadly, all too often after a glass or two, my sleep is strangely disturbed. I wake in a panic, heart pounding, mind racing. It makes sense, to be fair. Alcohol raises your blood pressure and reduces serotonin levels in the brain. The depletion of this feel good chemical is enough to give anybody a touch of hangover ennui.
Hangovers also make me scatty AF, so I spend the whole miserable time panicking I've forgotten to do something important; I once travelled 45 minutes back across London to check I'd turned the hob off on a hangover. I had. Dope. I'm usually happy to put up with this, given it clears within a day or so.
But managing my anxiety is a daily battle, and whilst 90% of the time I have it well under control, recently I've needed all the help I can get—so I finally decided to commit to a booze free month. So what are the results?
Actually, pretty good. I was worried it would kabosh my social life, but instead of avoiding socialising altogether, I'm still going to the pub for a ginger and lime so I don't feel like I'm missing out too much. Actually, there are some really good low-alcohol alternatives nowadays–check out my favourites here! My sleep is less disturbed, my heart rate is under control, and I'm generally feeling less maudlin.
I can't promise never to do this again.
It took about two weeks for me to really start feeling better, so moving forward, I'm definitely going to try and incorporate some booze-free fortnights into my life. I can't say I'd quite forever – I'm too attached to drinking rum out of coconuts – but I'll certainly be more mindful now I know the benefits for sure.
If you're suffering with anxiety, and tend to drink quite a bit, I'd definitely recommend giving a few sober weeks a whirl. If you're worried about the peer pressure of drinking, or people calling you out, I strongly recommend dead-eying them and bluntly saying 'I'm taking a break from drinking for my mental health'.
It's also surprisingly easy to be at the pub and have nobody notice you're not drinking – nowadays, there are all sorts of great low-alcohol options that look and taste surprisingly similar to the real deal, like Kombucha.
I've still got another ten days, but the mixture of my mental clarity and my noticeably healthier bank balance is spurring me on no end. So next time you're going through a bad anxiety patch, give it a go, even if it's just for a two weeks—because if you're anything like me, the relationship between alcohol and anxiety might be stronger than you think.


"At Power Up Audio, teamwork divides the task and doubles the success, without compromising your budget. We don't assign only one sound generalist to your project; we employ a specialized and cooperative team of dedicated designers, composers, voice-over engineers, actors, and pipeline managers. By doing so, you're assured the assets you receive are of the highest quality, and produced by world-class professionals - not only experts in their respective field, but with a lifetime of video gaming to back it up.
Our team works closely with one another to create a natural affinity between mix levels, key signatures, and thematic vision. This harmonized audio package ensures that your sound effects, music, and voice-over will not only sound fantastic on their own, but even better when played together. Once we are ready to ship, we provide personalized access to our private FTP server for immediate retrieval of your audio assets. Every package we deliver is structured to minimize implementation time.
Just drop it in, and watch your project come to life."


[This list contains a competition – see comment 1 for details] St Valentine's day is fast approaching and those who are in love, want to be in love, or want to re-ignite their love are preparing flowers, candy, and cards for the object of their desires. But not all is fun and roses when it comes to the 14th of February as this list attests.
1. In the two week period leading up to Valentine's Day, American sales of gold jewelry lead to 34 million metric tons of waste.
2. The vast majority of roses sold for Valentine's Day in the U.S. are imported from South America, wasting fossil fuels.
3. Valentine's Day traces its roots to an ancient pagan holiday called Lupercalia, in which men stripped naked, grabbed whips, and spanked young women in hopes of increasing their fertility.
4. The Christian martyr St. Valentine was beheaded on February 14 for performing marriages in secret.
5. Research suggests that 75 percent of suicide attempts are attributable to relationship problems.
6. 46 percent of Americans will exchange Valentine's Day candy.
7. 67 percent of Americans are overweight or obese.
8. The first Valentine's Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He remained a prisoner of war for the next twenty-four years.
9. A recent poll found that one in ten young adults admitted to feeling lonely, insecure, depressed, or unwanted on Valentine's Day. And that's just the ones that admitted it.
10. Forty percent of people have negative feelings towards Valentine's Day.
11. The famous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, in which seven Chicago gangsters were gunned down on February 14, 1929, was one of the bloodiest in mob history (pictured above).
12. 64 percent of American men do not make Valentine's Day plans in advance.
13. Candy hearts taste like crap.
14. Even if you're really, really in love right now, you're still going to die eventually.
Lia Romeo and Nick Romeo are the authors of the humor book 11,002 Things to Be Miserable About and the humor blog www.thingstobemiserableabout.com.


A groovy treat for your weekend.
This week's episode of Select comes from a a DJ, producer and label owner who has contributed a lot to the region's electronic music scene. Amr Mohey, a man with a keen understanding of the electronic music realm and its subgenres, has already scored many achievements in Egypt, including signing top local talents to his label, including Chaiti and The Meteors Project, organising several BESWORX nights to showcase the label roster, and gaining the support of heavyweights in the industry like Nick Warren and Undercatt to name but a few. Moving to Dubai was a game changer for him as it expanded his horizons and opened many doors for him when talking gigs. The groove-infused set reveals Mohey's tranquil musical side, and is built on a mature selection of tracks that would slowly but surely heat the floor in preparation for the headliner to come in and smash it. Listen in and groove on.
Follow Mohey on Soundcloud and Facebook.


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Q: How does Magento save your cart? Magento has two ways to store a cart. Logged In users can have cart saving defined for as long as you want to define it and it is stored in the database tied to the user number. Non-logged in users seem to be bound by how long your site keeps it's session variables. This leads me to 2 questions.
1) Am I correct in thinking that non-logged in users carts are tied to session timeouts?
2) Since Magento/Varien recommends fairly short times for killing session variables (usually only 4 hours), if question one is true, is there a way to keep a non-logged in cart around without changing the session time out variable?

A: Take a look into your magento database at the table "sales_flat_quote"
Regards boti

A: As I understand it carts are saved as quotes, even for guests. Logged in users have a customer ID which is stored with the quote, guests do not so their quote has a null customer ID, hence you may find a store has a lot of orphaned/incomplete quotes in the DB. The only way to associate a guest with their cart is by storing the quote ID in their session.
You could extend how long their quote is available to them by storing the quote ID directly in their cookie with a long timeout but this leads to an obvious security breach; anyone could adjust the value in their cookie and view anyone else's cart.
The only safe way is to proceed is to create a table of guest tokens and associate it with quotes (sorry no code this time, there's too much to explain in a low level). The token is the only public part and is set in the cookie. Tokens should be random and long, say 512-bits/64-chars, but not too long because they are included in every HTTP header. Every time a new session is created it might be a returning guest so check for a token and look it up in the table. Take the found quote ID and store that in the session thereby resurrecting the old cart. Quotes with customer IDs don't need to be rescued this way so should be exempt, especially since a logging-out customer doesn't want to see any part of their account remain visible.

A: Carts are saved to the 'sales_flat_quote' table
The items in the basket are saved to 'sales_flat_quote_item', linked by the quote's entity_id
Finally the options of the items are saved to 'sales_flat_quote_item_option' linked by the item_id above
Therefore to view all items and options for a saved quote
select sfqi.item_id, sfqio.code, sfqio.value from sales_flat_quote AS sfq, sales_flat_quote_item AS sfqi, sales_flat_quote_item_option AS sfqio where sfqi.item_id = sfqio.item_id AND sfqi.quote_id = sfq.entity_id AND sfq.entity_id = '133940';

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Justin Timberlake Archive - New Trolls Trailer ft. "True Colors"!
You are here: Home / News / New Trolls Trailer ft. "True Colors"!
New Trolls Trailer ft. "True Colors"!
Another peek at the DreamWorks animated film Trolls has been released! Watch Anna Kendrick and JT goof around as they explain their hilariously unforgettable characters. You can also hear a clip from their new cover of the 1986 hit "True Colors"!


Over on YouTube user ranickel (aka W9RAN) has uploaded a video showing his review of the Airpsy software defined radio. Although the Airspy is not yet shipping, several independent reviewers received a unit early.
In the video W9RAN compares the Airspy against seven traditional analogue hardware radios and the RTL-SDR using a amateur radio beacon at 28 MHz. He also demonstrates the software decimation feature of the Airspy drivers and shows how it can increase the sensitivity and signal to noise ratio.
Shame that the pre-order is sold out. Now comes the long wait for the second batch to be ready. Lead time on key components of a bulk order can be 14-30 weeks ( e.g. http://www.cyclops-electronics.com/Userfiles/File/HandyTableOfTop14MajorManufacturersLeadTimes.pdf ).


Thank you Jason. Probably, the discrepancy comes from my ligand.
One additional question. How critical is inadequate neutralisation, say 7 instead of 8 Na+?
>> be 8 ions instead?
>> Asking this out of curiosity. Thanks in advance for any answer.
> assigning that 0.002 e-charges somewhere on that residue.
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With enough equity free in your portfolio, you can get finance to buy more properties — allowing you to grow your property portfolio without having liquid cash. Final thoughts As you can see, property development is a complex area, especially when it comes to finance.... How to raise finance to buy a business The question of how you can go about raising the capital that you need may be causing you some concern.
For more finance insights subscribe to our FREE monthly e-newsletter on investment property finance visit www.investorsdirect.com.au Whether you are looking to buy your first home, move home, refinance, or invest in property, a mortgage broker can help.... 27/01/2016 · 7 Ways To Raise A Deposit To Invest In Property Real Estate Investing Finance - Andy Walker gives 7 ways, or ideas, to raise funds for property investing, to help you start or expand your business.
8/01/2017 · I am considering buying property in the USA as I see it as a better investment than UK at the moment. Can anyone break down for me how taxes are paid as I am based in U.K. and also how is it best to raise finance as it seems difficult to raise in US without social security number.
A combination of Britain's obsession with the property market and the rapid growth of alternative finance, has delivered new routes into property for investors.
Investing Negative gearing, capital gains, depreciation, yields or investment mortgages – whether you're a novice uncertain of investment property jargon or already building an empire, we have the insights and explanations to help you achieve your goals.


Apple today held its March 2015 press event and used the occasion to unveil a new MacBook model and confirmed the launch details for the Apple Watch. The company also introduced the medical-oriented ResearchKit and announced a partnership with HBO that brings the HBO Now streaming service exclusively to the Apple TV. If you missed the original live stream when it happened, you now can watch the event in its entirety on Apple's event website.


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Amy Ellis, 19 was put on life support after her body began to reject her heart transplant, but she was able to make an unexpected recovery and is now feeling hopeful for the future
A new teenage mum has made a miracle recovery after her body rejected a heart transplant shortly after giving birth to her child.
Amy Ellis, 19 was told to say her final goodbyes to her newborn daughter Ivy Rae after doctors believed she was soon due to pass away without any options left.
However, after four doses of a chemotherapy drug, her heart miraculously restarted and Amy was able to start recovering.
Amy, of Allerton, near Bradford, West Yorks., said: "I was so poorly my antibodies started attacking my heart which sent me into one off the rarest rejections going.
"The doctors didn't know what to do, they had run out of options and everyone was brought to the hospital to say goodbye to me.
"My daughter came to say goodbye to me, everyone I care about was outside that hospital that day and the heart-breaking thing about it all is I didn't even know I was knocking on death's door.
"Everything was blank, the last thing I imagined was dying. I ended up having four doses off a chemo drug that saved my life my heart started again."
Amy is now feeling much better and hoping to return home to her daughter and fiance Charlie.
Woman born without a womb becomes first in US to have two 'miracle babies' after uterus transplant
She needed a heart transplant due to suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle where it becomes stretched and thin.
This means her heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. Amy has been taking medication since she was diagnosed with the condition aged eight.
Last December, Amy discovered she was pregnant and was informed by doctors that she could no longer take her heart tablets due to the risk to her unborn baby's health.
When she was 32 weeks into her pregnancy, her health took a turn and she was required to stay in hospital and needed a pacemaker.
Ivy Rae was born in June through a cesarean section due to Amy's declining health.
Amy said: "Doctors came to me on the 17th and said if they didn't bring Ivy Rae the next day I wouldn't have made it, my body was too weak my heart was failing massively."
Two days after giving birth, Amy was fitted with a pacemaker and was able to go home, but she was brought back to hospital six weeks later after falling ill from a blood clot.
After being rushed into surgery for a life-saving biventricular assist device, fitted to help pump blood around her body as her heart was failing, Amy was put on the urgent transplant list in September.
A donor match was found but after undergoing the transplant, Amy's antibodies began attacking her new heart and she was on life support for 14 days.
It was unlikely at that time that she would survive, but she was able to somehow make a recovery.
She recalls waking up one day attached to wires and medical equipment and the medication she was on meant that she didn't even recognise her fiance.
Since her unexpected recovery, she is slowly working towards feeling herself again, and is currently in hospital learning to walk again for the third time.
She feels hopeful that she will be able to get home to her family soon.
Amy has emphasised the importance of having an organ donor register, which all people in the UK are now automatically enrolled onto unless they opt out.
She added: "I really think people should be on the organ donor list as if it wasn't for a kind soul being a donor I wouldn't be here today and I wouldn't have had the chance to watch my daughter grow.
"I think it's really important to give people a chance at life so anybody who reads this I really hope you all become organ donors and save innocent lives."
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa: match preview

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Literally Palkhi means palanquin, a procession of revered deity (God or Goddess) carried out from the temple during 'Shimgo' festival. The reason behind procession is to seek mercy and grace of God.
The customs and traditions of Palkhi procession in Konkan Varies from village to village. The persons holding the Palkhi are known as Bhoyas. Their duty is to make Palkhi dance over their shoulders by putting their head down. Displaying the skill Bhoyas dance in front of every house. Everyone appreciates the skill when they rile Palkhi from one hand to other over the shoulders. Families eagerly wait for the Palkhi's arrival at their doorsteps so that they can welcome God.


Colorado has one of the fastest growing homeless populations in America. Have you ever seen a seemingly able-bodied person standing somewhere on a corner, perhaps holding a sign asking for help? You might wonder, "Why doesn't this person go to work?" Perhaps you've seen somebody sleeping behind a building and wondered, "Why don't they go to a shelter?" These seemingly simple solutions are often impossible for a homeless person because they lack something we all take for granted — identification documents.
Without basic identification documents it is difficult or impossible to do any of these things.
Homeless people do not have computers, internet access, phones, or mailing addresses. Without even one form of ID, it is very difficult to gain the other forms of identification. Additionally, the processes to re-establish these documents are often lengthy, involving multiple steps, persistence, and a good deal of patience. Many people may begin it, but sadly after running into multiple obstacles, they give up.
I AM values each individual and proposes this support ministry to extend to homeless people the dignity that Christ bestowed upon each person as He lived often with only a stone for a pillow.
Josh is currently requesting prayer for this ministry.
Please contact Josh at neverlostjosh@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about I Am.


text:
using JSON

function parse_notebook(document_body)
    nb = JSON.parse(document_body)
    code_no = 0
    doc_no = 0

    # TODO: handle some of options ?
    options = Dict{Symbol,Any}()
    opt_string = ""

    chunks = map(nb["cells"]) do cell
        text = string('\n', join(cell["source"]), '\n')
        return if cell["cell_type"] == "code"
            CodeChunk(text, code_no += 1, 0, opt_string, options)
        else
            DocChunk(text, doc_no += 1, 0; notebook = true)
        end
    end

    return Dict(), chunks
end


Birthday cake will taste all the sweeter when its served with a slice of super strength in the form of Mr. Incredible. The heroic dad launches into action on these Incredibles 2 Dessert Plates that pack a real punch.


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NDP National Revenue critic calls for investigation of CRA political audits
By Selina Chignall. Published on Jan 22, 2016 5:44pm
NDP National Revenue Critic Pierre-Luc Dusseault is calling for an investigation into the Canada Revenue Agency charity audit program, saying the Liberal government's move Wednesday to redress the damage done to some Canadian charities by the Harper government's controversial tax audits doesn't go far enough.
"The NDP strongly criticized the Conservatives' campaign of audits against charities which sent a chill through the sector and made many afraid to speak out," Dusseault told iPolitics.
"We need to not only enshrine the role of charities in informing public policy debates, but the Liberals should also follow through on promises of greater transparency by launching an independent investigation into the CRA charity audit program launched by the Conservatives."
The previous Conservative government launched the $13.4 million audit initiative in 2012 to determine if charities were violating the rule of the current Income Tax Act, which stipulates that charities are restricted to spending no more than 10 per cent of their resources on political activity. They must report their political activity to the taxman on a yearly basis.
On Wednesday, Revenue Minister Diane Lebouthillier announced that the Harper government's controversial charity audit program would be closed down, specifying that the charities investigated had largely been following the rules restricting political activities.
"In light of these outcomes, the program will be concluded," she said in a release.
Since the program was created, 30 charities have been audited, 24 that were scheduled to be reviewed will be completed and six charities that were to be audited will no longer be, said the release.
"There's no question that the Harper government used the tax system and the Canada Revenue Agency audit process to target organizations that they viewed as political opponents. The goal was to shut them down," said Rick Smith, the executive director of the left-leaning Broadbent Institute.
"Canadians expect that the tax agency is dispassionate and acting in the best interest of Canadian taxpayers," said Smith, "what seems to have happened in the Canada Revenue Agency in the past few years is that they were turned into a tool of political harassment by the government."
In October 2014, the Broadbent Institute released their report, Stephen Harper's CRA: Selective Audits, "Political Activity" and Right Leaning Charities, which found that charities that could be considered "progressive" and critical of the Harper government had been targeted for auditing.
Some groups who were targeted fo this audit program were: Canada Without Poverty, PEN Canada, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecology Action Centre and Environmental Defence.
"The Harper government was applying a very different set of rules to progressive charities than to charities they deemed friendly to their interest," Smith said.
"High-profile critics like ourselves were put on an enemies list," said Bruce Campbell, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a think tank that was audited for its political activities.
The audit of the CCPA began in October 2013 and continued into the spring of 2014, said Campbell. Since then, they have not been cleared by the audit, nor have they heard from the CRA.
"Not a word."
iPolitics contacted both Lebouthillier's office and the CRA for comment and further detail. Media spokespeople in Lebouthillier's office did not respond to a request for comment. A spokesperson for the CRA responded by questions by referring back to the news release.
Campbell says the move towards ending the audit program is the right move by the Liberal government who mandated a change in how charities are treated.
Lebouthillier was tasked with "allowing charities to do their work on behalf of Canadians free from political harassment, and modernize the rules governing the charitable and not-for-profit sectors and clarifying the rules governing 'political activity'."
Campbell is hoping CCPA will get a "clean bill of health" from the government — or if there are any issues, they can be addressed.


At its I/O 2017 conference, Google today announced Google Lens, the next generation in its image recognition capabilities, allowing AI to easily identify objects and locations in your pictures, and in turn enabling you to do some really cool things with them.
Using its Knowledge Graph, Google can not only identify the objects contained within a given picture or video but also other traits, such as a person's facial expressions and their surroundings. The company even went so far as to claim that its image recognition algorithm was now better than humans and less error-prone.
The same technology can then be used for a number of interesting applications. For example, a picture taken with your phone in poor lightning conditions can be analysed by Google's systems and automatically adjusted to add a lot of the detail and colour that was initially missing based on its pre-existing data on how a specific object shoud look like.
Pichai also teased a future functionality which would allow users to remove unnecessary objects or obstructions in their pictures automatically, something that previously required playing around with image editing software like Photoshop and a certain level of expertise with using them.
All of Google's effort in image recognition is supposed to culminate in Google Lens, a group of features that are to be bundled with Google's Assistant and Photos apps. This will allow for automatic recognition of objects by simply pointing toward them with your camera. Lens can even identify locations and organisations by pointing toward the relevant building, supplementing the image with further information about the establishment such as user reviews and so on.
All in all, these improvements in image recognition will not only make users' lives a little more convenient but also serve as a powerful foundation for further technologies to do with machine learning, AI and search, all of which will yield improvements over time across the entirety of Google's lineup.


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Who is the best detective?
Home > News Archives > Tag: Season 7 > 706 'Trying' Press Release
706 'Trying' Press Release Posted February 19 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the March 5 episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's seventh season.
"Trying" - 03/05/2020 (08:30PM - 09:00PM) (Thursday) : Jake and Amy work an uncrackable case while Holt adjusts to a new beat. Hitchcock looks for the love of his life. TV-14
Episode: Trying Tags: episodes, Season 7
Season 7, Episode 6 - Aired March 5, 2020
Jake and Amy try different approaches to getting pregnant, while Captain Holt grows weary for being a beat cop. Meanwhile, Hitchcock searches the city for the love of his life.
713 'Lights Out' Press Release April 6 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the seventh season finale of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "Lights Out", which airs Thursday, April 23. Read the full story
712 'Ransom' Press Release March 31 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the penultimate episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine's seventh season, "Ransom", which airs Thursday, April 16. Read the full story
711 'Valloweaster' Press Release March 25 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the April 9 episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "Valloweaster", the latest instalment in the previously Halloween-based heist series to determine the greatest human/genius. Read the full story
710 'Admiral Peralta' Press Release March 23 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the April 2 episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "Admiral Peralta". Bradley Whitford returns as Jake's father, Roger, in the episode. Read the full story
709 'Dillman' Press Release March 11 2020
NBC has released the synopsis for the March 26 episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, "Dillman". Read the full story


text:
Q: Android browser with jQuery rendering is slow I have a web app that downloads about 20KB of JSON data (through jQuery/AJAX) and turns it into an HTML table with over 300 lines and 6 columns. The desktop Chrome browser handles this in under a second, but the Chrome browser on Android takes about eight seconds to render this table.
How can I find out what is taking up all the time on the browser?  Are there tools that show the Javascript code profiling like the desktop Chrome browser?

A: It looks like it's possible to perform Remote Debugging on Android to allow debugging and profiling.  This requires a USB cable and some terminal commands.


text:
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Page last updated at 15:48 GMT, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Peer's plea for Magna Carta Day
A Liberal Democrat peer has called for an annual day of celebration of the Magna Carta.
Baroness Benjamin said many people were unaware that "our freedoms" were the "greatest legacy" of the Magna Carta.
A Magna Carta Day would help children and young people to "appreciate" the "precious gift" of freedom with "respect and responsibility", she argued at question time on 7 February 2012.
The treaty marked peace between King John and the barons, who were in revolt against him, and set out the principles of freedom under the law.
It provided the basis for legal and political systems around the world.
Responding to Baroness Benjamin's comments, the deputy leader of the House of Lords, Lord McNally, said he would put the idea to the chair of the Magna Carta Trust, Sir Robert Worcester.
Earlier on, Lord McNally told peers the government was keeping in "close contact" with the trust, which is making preparations to commemorate the 800th anniversary of "the signing of Magna Carta" on 15 June 2015.
But crossbench peer Lord Elystan-Morgan told peers the Magna Carta was never actually signed. "As a charter, as the name implies, it was sealed; sealed by the royal seal of King John."
He added: "May I apologise for making such a pettifogging legal point," prompting the chamber to erupt in laughter.
"Not at all," Lord McNally responded. "I have long considered [Lord Elystan-Morgan] a master of the pettifogging legal point," he quipped.
The final contribution came from Labour peer Lord Wills, who accused the government of attacking clause 29 of the Magna Carta - which enshrines the right to due process - by restricting access to legal aid.
He called on the government to scrap the plans contained in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill.
"Once again confirming, never take that last question," Lord McNally responded, to laughter from peers.
MP calls for Magna Carta holiday
Queen becomes Magna Carta patron
Terror suspect 'not direct threat to public'
MP brands tax avoidance a 'growing crisis'
UK welfare reforms 'coming too deep and fast'


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Q: google maps api request/googlemaps javascript I develop an application and i need to use somehow with google maps.
I tries both:
1.send request to "http://googleapis.com/maps/api........"(with key..).
2.javascript file of googlemaps.
and now I'm stuck with a big question that i cant find any complete answer(from what i understand).
The question:
I need from any user in my application to use the request something like 5-20 times a day(if the user will be very active). I read that there is a limit of 2500 requests a day. This 2500 requests a day is per user?(sound the limit is only for not flooding google..am i right?). if it is 2500 requests for all users so I need much much much more then 2500.
there is a difference for google if I use option 1 or 2?(regular request/javascript file).
Thanks.

A: If you are talking about a displaying a Google map to a user, then there are no restrictions.
2500 requests/day is the limit for Google Directions API, which is used to create directions that you can get and display for your users (e.g. driving route from point A to point B).
However if the directions you are getting from the Directions API are repeated over and over, you could just save them as an XML file on your server (or the device) and re-use them, that way you can stay inside the 2500 limits.


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Pool Service Franchise Sees Spike During COVID-19
By Pool Scouts
Franchise Times recently shared an article highlighting the growth in the residential pool industry during COVID-19.
With many public swimming areas, such as pools, water parks, and beaches closed due to the pandemic, people are spending more time at home. While pool construction has also increased, the pool cleaning and service industry has taken off the most, as people are using their pools more than usual. Combine this with the contactless service that pool cleaning provides, it's a safe and effective business model during COVID-19.
Pool Scouts president Michael Wagner shares why now is the time to get into the pool cleaning franchise industry.
"You don't have to be a pool person to come into this business and be successful," Wagner said. "On a given day, our franchisees could be servicing 50-60 pools or more with unique households and invoices, plus managing four to six vehicles out on the road…Being able to deal with a lot of moving parts and the people side of the business is what makes successful business owners."
This essential business has seen much success for existing franchisees, with a 45% increase in sales year over year.
"We're certainly seeing a demand as people evaluate the opportunities out there. We're a home service business where you don't have the need to interest with customers face-to-face, which is really attractive," Wagner said. "The pipeline has never been better for growth and opportunities."


The Washington Post claims that in recent months, Russia allegedly offered a nuclear power station to North Korea in exchange for the dismantling of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles as Moscow reportedly looked to bypass the stalled negotiations between North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump.
Russia is alleged to have proposed, as a world-leading nuclear power exporter, that it would handle all the operations and transport any byproducts and waste across the border into eastern Russia to prevent Pyongyang from using the site as a source for weapons development and fabrication. The impoverished pariah state would receive a much-needed power source in exchange for ditching its weapons programme.
It is not known how Washington responded to the story or whether the offer is still on the table for Pyongyang.
Russia appears keen for Kim to pay a visit to Moscow, but he has so far not committed to doing so.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin would like Kim to visit Moscow.
"Of course, it is on the agenda," Igor Morgulov, the Russian deputy foreign minister, without mentioning any dates, according to Kremlin mouthpiece Tass.
Kim, who travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, now appears to be focusing his diplomatic attention on another diplomatic summit with tycoon turned populist Trump later this month or in early March.
The Russian nuclear idea borrows from the original blueprint of an abandoned 1994 accord between North Korea and ex-president Bill Clinton's administration known as the Agreed Framework, which sought to provide for North Korean energy requirements.
"It was technically possible for the US to provide light-water reactors to North Korea under the Agreed Framework because Pyongyang agreed to remain a party of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and receive safeguards from the International Atomic Energy Agency," said Duyeon Kim, a Korea analyst at the Centre for a New American Security.
Victor Cha, who was purportedly considered last year to become US ambassador to South Korea, condemned the Russian proposal to North Korea. "The Russians are very opportunistic when it comes to North Korea, and this is not the first time they've pursued an energy stake in Korea," Cha said. But the former White House staff member said the Trump administration might accept the Russian proposals. "Previous administrations have not welcomed these Russian overtures, but with Trump, you never know because he doesn't adhere to traditional thinking," Cha told the Post.


This is an automatic sentry turret equipped with paintball weaponry.
Squirrels and other small creatures are absolutely terrified.
It's only a matter of time before some redneck modifies one of these to shoot real bullets, gets drunk, forgets about his sentry, and the robot kill count rises.
Although, in paintball form… it would be a great deterrent for the cat the keeps leaving little muddy paw prints all over my truck.
Judging from the lethal accuracy displayed in the video below… arming something like this with live ammunition would only end badly. I wouldn't trust that it's 'off' when it says it's 'off' because I know that's EXACTLY what the machine wants me to think.


Live a better life with massage.
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De Sint-Hermes-en-Alexanderkerk () is een romaans kerkgebouw in de Belgische gemeente Theux in de provincie Luik. De kerk is toegewijd aan Hermes en Alexander.

Historiek
De huidige kerk is een gebouw dat een aantal gebedshuizen op deze plek opvolgt en is het enige voorbeeld van een romaanse hallenkerk met één beuk uit de elfde eeuw die bewaard is gebleven in het gebied tussen de Loire en de Rijn.

Het gebouw maakt sinds 1942 deel uit van het onroerend erfgoed van Wallonië.

Vorige gebedshuizen
Op de plaats van de kerk van de heiligen Hermes en Alexander volgden vier gebouwen elkaar op:

 een kleine rechthoekige constructie, waarvan we overblijfselen vinden onder het koor van het huidige gebouw
 een kleine Merovingische kapel die het resultaat is van de westwaartse uitbreiding
 een Karolingische kerk gebouwd in de tweede helft van de negende eeuw, voorafgegaan door een toren in het westen
 een romaanse kerk uit het einde van de tiende of het begin van de twaalfde eeuw met een kleine rechthoekige chevet en een toren aan de westzijde

De romaanse kerk onderging vervolgens vele wijzigingen die het huidige uiterlijk hebben bepaald met onder meer de bouw van een versterkte toren tegen de noordgevel in de dertiende eeuw. In de veertiende eeuw volgde de toevoeging van een uurwerk (houten structuur met kraagstenen) aan de top van de toren.

Galerij

Theux
Hermes
Beschermd erfgoed in Wallonië

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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North Korea coal shipment tests Seoul-Washington sanctions alliance
By Kim Bo-eun
Multiple reports of ships allegedly carrying North Korean coal to South Korea are expected to weigh on the alliance between South Korea and the U.S., despite the two governments stating that this is an excessive concern.
But these discoveries are becoming a sensitive issue for the U.S., which has vowed to maintain sanctions strictly until the North takes concrete denuclearization steps.
The government is currently investigating nine instances of suspected North Korean coal imports. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) sanctions imposed last August ban Pyongyang from exporting coal, iron and other mineral resources, and member states from buying them.
A further damning allegation is that suspected North Korean coal was bought by a subsidiary of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
The U.S. has maintained a clear stance on North Korean sanctions, with Washington issuing an enforcement advisory last month, days after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited the UNSC and called for the strict maintenance of the restrictions imposed on Pyongyang.
"We still want strict enforcement of all the sanctions _ we continuously speak with all the countries in the region about the importance of that," National Security Adviser John Bolton said in an interview with Fox News, referring to the cases under investigation.
"We're not going to tolerate diminution of the effect of the sanctions and will take necessary steps including enforcement steps to keep the sanctions tight."
The U.S. referred earlier to South Korea as a partner that is heeding UNSC sanctions, but concerns may develop as new findings continue to surface.
A VOA report stated Tuesday that a vessel suspected to have carried coal from North Korea is currently anchored at South Korea's southern port of Pohang, based on data from Marine Traffic.
The Belize-flagged vessel Jin Long departed from Russia's Nakhodka Port that handles coal shipments, and is presumed to have entered Pohang carrying coal from Russia, based on satellite images from Planet Labs. It is one of the three vessels Rep. Yoo Ki-june of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party referred to as having brought North Korean coal to the South. The lawmaker leads a taskforce looking into suspicions over North Korean coal imports.
"The Jin Long, which has been reported as a vessel suspected to have carried North Korean coal, carried 5,100 tons of what is presumed to be coal from Russia's Nakhodka port and entered Pohang port Saturday and will leave today," Yoo said in a press conference Tuesday.
The lawmaker as well as data from Marine Traffic state the Jin Long has entered South Korean ports on 18 or 19 occasions since August last year.
Resolution 2397 adopted by the UNSC last December states "member states shall seize, inspect and freeze any vessel in their ports" if there are grounds to believe the vessel was involved in activities or the transport of items prohibited by resolutions.
The government's stance is that investigations are ongoing, and it is too early to take measures such as seizing suspicious vessels.
"The government conducted inspections and did not find allegations of UNSC resolution violations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said in a briefing, Tuesday.
"Measures such as seizures and inspections must be taken immediately according to the UNSC resolutions for vessels suspected to have carried coal, including the Jing Long," Yoo said.
bkim@ktimes.com More articles by this reporter
UN approves plan to unlock humanitarian aid to North Korea
A Security Council committee that monitors sanctions on North Korea said none of the 15 council members objected to the plan, and it would be circulated among all 193 U.N. member s...
US holds key to ending Korean War
South Korea is taking cautious steps toward signing a treaty to formally end the Korean War, with North Korea, the United States and possibly China as Washington appears to be link...
What are possible steps to ease North Korean sanctions
The United States, although it insists on maintaining nuclear sanctions on North Korea, is apparently willing to engage with the Kim Jong-un regime. This raises speculation on how ...


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So Angry Birds is the latest game to turn into a movie… watch the trailer
if you're ready for the Angry Birds to take flight in cinemas, that's exactly what's going to happen next summer! The movie takes us to an island populated entirely by happy, flightless birds – or almost entirely. In this paradise, Red (Jason Sudeikis), a bird with a temper problem, speedy Chuck (Josh Gad), and the […]
For the First Time Ever – TWIZTID to Perform with Full Band "The Wickedness" on Select Upcoming Tour Dates
"Welcome To The Underground" 2015 Tour Kicks Off THIS FRIDAY, September 25th Featuring Support from the FAM – BLAZE, BOONDOX, PROZAK, WOLFPAC, SCUM, and TRILOGY Get TWIZTID's New Album The Darkness via www.Twiztid-Shop.com Demented rap duo TWIZTID are thrilled to announce that for the first time ever, they will perform with […]
Watch the Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks & Haim Perform Together Live in L.A.
For those who love rock n' roll, last night's Foo Fighters show at the Forum in L.A. (Sept. 21) was certainly a night to remember. Dave Grohl (still in his guitar throne after this summer's broken leg) and company brought out the legendary Stevie Nicks, as well as her contemporary musical descendants Haim, The multi-generational super-group performed Fleetwood […]
Snoop Dogg Launches Media Platform For All Things Marijuana
It ain't nuthin' but a ".com" thang. Rapper Snoop Dogg on Monday unveiled a new media company website devoted to — what else — marijuana. Born Calvin Broadus Jr., the music mogul and co-founder of MerryJane.com described his new online destination as "the encyclopedia to the cannabis world" during TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. = […]
Rose McGowan Debuts Eerie 'RM486' Music Video, Says She 'Hated' Acting
Rose McGowan — who you know from her many acting roles, includingGrindhouse, Scream and TV's Charmed — is now delving into music. The video for her song "RM486," which debuted Monday (Sept. 21) on Nowness, features McGowan portraying multiple eccentric characters, including a pale, naked alien-like creature. The "RM486" video was directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who […]
Taryn Manning Wants Britney Spears for 'Crossroads' Reunion on 'Orange Is the New Black'
When Taryn Manning was on the red carpet Sunday night for the 2015 Emmys (prior to her Orange Is the New Black co-star Uzo Aduba winning her second Emmy), Entertainment Tonight hit her with a question that was on no one's mind, but now we can't stop thinking about: Will Britney Spears be on OITNB? For […]
Bruce Dickinson: 'First Iron Maiden Album Sounded Like a Sack of Shit'
Iron Maiden's self-titled album is an undisputed heavy metal classic — one of the great debut albums in history. And the band continues to perform tracks like "Running Free," "Iron Maiden" and "Phantom of the Opera" live despite original vocalist Paul Di'Anno having left the band over three decades ago. However, Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson […]
Dave Grohl Foo Fighters Emmy Diss … You Can't Cut Our Songs Short
Now we know why Dave Grohl was so pissed about the Foo Fighters getting yanked from the Emmy Awards stage — and it's all about size. Yes, it matters … especially at award shows. A rep for Grohl tells TMZ … the band was all set to perform, and would have been the first ever […]
UFC Legend Tank Abbott I'll Fight Ronda Rousey … No Chick Could Beat Me
UFC icon Tank Abbott says there's NO WOMAN on Earth who could beat him in a fight — Ronda Rousey included — because at the end of the day … "She's a girl." Abbott went on a rant explaining why men are simply superior when it comes to combat — saying Ronda would get rolled […]
U2 Concert in Stockholm Evacuated and Rescheduled Due to 'Security Breach'
U2 has canceled Sunday night's concert in Stockholm, Sweden, following a security breach at the show's venue, The Globe. The Sept. 20 show is rescheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22. In a statement issued on the band's official website, U2 wrote that "audience safety is paramount" and that there was "no option but to postpone tonight's […]
Yelawolf Misses Toronto Riot Fest tells Shit Talking Canadian Fans to "Get you're maple leaf panties out of a wad" then Offers free show
Hey … All you fans that missed a show today at Riot .. I apologize .. My bag was left in Georgia yesterday along with my passport on #devilspass … I was feelin really under the weather this mornin' in need of a break .. Sometimes our schedules as artist can be over whelming .. […]
Alexisonfire announce official reunion
During their set at Riot Fest Toronto earlier this evening, Canadian-natives Alexisonfire announced that they have officially reunited. "Thank you for believing in this band when we couldn't even believe in this band," guitarist Wade MacNeil said to an immaculate crowd. "Thank you for sticking with us. We promise to never leave you again. No […]
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Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 414 › PROCACCINI v. JONES
PROCACCINI v. JONES, 414 U.S. 951 (1973)
PROCACCINI v. JONES , 414 U.S. 951 (1973)
Judy PROCACCINI et al.
Clarence JONES et al.
No. 73-212.
The appeal is dismissed for want of a substantial federal question.
Mr. Justice BRENNAN, with whom Mr. Justice STEWART and Mr. Justice MARSHALL concur, dissenting.
Appellants sought in the 44th Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas, to enjoin pending and future prosecutions uner Vernon's Ann. Texas Penal Code Art. 527, 3, arising out of the seizure of motion picture films alleged to be 'obscene matter' within 3. All parties agree that Texas law permits equitable intervention in a criminal proceeding if the criminal statute involved is unconstitutional, or otherwise void, and enforcement would result in irreparable injury to property rights. See State ex rel. Flowers v. Woodruff, 150 Tex.Cr.R. 255, 200 S.W.2d 178 (1947 ). Appellants challenged the constitutionality under the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments of Art. 527, 9(h) of the Texas Penal Code, enacted as an aid to the enforcement of 3, which is Texas' basic criminal obscenity statute. Section 9(h) provides as follows:
'In the event that a search warrant is issued and matter alleged to be obscene is seized under the provisions of this section, any person alleged to be in possession of the said matter or claiming ownership of the matter at the time of its posses-
Page 414 U.S. 951 , 952
sion or seizure may file a notice in writing with the magistrate within 10 days of the date of the seizure alleging that the matter is not obscene and the magistrate shall set a hearing within one day after request therefor, or at such time as the requesting party might agree, and at such hearing evidence may be presented as to the obscenity of the matter seized and at the conclusion of such additional hearing, the magistrate shall make a further determination as to the obscenity or nonobscenity of the matter. If at such hearing the magistrate finds the matter to be obscene, then it shall be returned to the person or persons from whom it was seized.'
Obscenity for purposes of Art. 527 is defined in 1:
'(A) 'Obscene' material means material (a) the dominant theme of which, taken as a whole, appeals to a prurient interest; (b) which is pattently offensive because it affronts contemporary community standards relating to the description or representation of sexual matters; and (c) which is utterly without redeeming social value.
'(B) 'Prurient interest' means a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sex, or excretion, which goes substantially beyond customary limits of candor in description or representation of such matters. If it appears from the character of the material or the circumstances of its dissemination that the subject matter is designed for a specially susceptible audience, the appeal of the subject matter shall be judged with reference to such audience.'
The 44th Judicial District Court denied appellants' request for relief. The Texas Court of Civil Appeals affirmed, holding that the appellants had failed to establish the unconstitutionality of 9(h). Procaccini v. Jones, 488 S.W.2d 543 (Tex.Civ.App. [414 U.S. 951 , 953]
The 44th Judicial District Court denied appellants' request for relief. The Texas Court of Civil Appeals affirmed, holding that the appellants had failed to establish the unconstitutionality of 9(h). Procaccini v. Jones, 488 S.W.2d 543 (Tex.Civ.App.
1972). The Supreme Court of Texas denied a writ of error and overruled a subsequent motion for rehearing.
It is my view that 'at least in the absence of distribution to juveniles or obtrusive exposure to unconsenting adults, the First and Fourteenth Amendments prohibit the state and federal governments from attempting wholly to supress sexually oriented materials on the basis of their allegedly 'obscene' contents.' Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton, 413 U.S. 49, 113 (1973) (dissenting opinion). Since it is clear that, when tested by that constitutional standard, the word 'obscene' in 3 and 9(h), read as defined in 1, renders 3 and 9(h) unconstitutionally overbroad and therefore facially invalid, I disagree with the holding that the appeal does not present a substantial federal question, and therefore dissent from the Court's dismissal of the appeal.
For the reasons stated in my dissent in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15, 47 (1973), I would therefore vacate the judgment below and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with my Paris Adult dissent. In that circumstance, I have no occasion to consider at this time whether, if 1 were properly narrowed, appellants' challenge to the constitutionality of 9(h) would merit plenary review. See Heller v. New York, 413 U.S. 483, 494 (1973) ( Brennan, J., dissenting).
Mr. Justice DOUGLAS, being of the view that the Fourteenth and Firth Amendments prohibit state obscenity regulation, would vacate the judgment below and remand for further proceedings consistent with his dissent in Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton, 413 U.S. 49, 70d 446.


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Category Archives: Funding
Category "Funding"
Florida Forced to Stagger Timing of Payments
Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp July 9, 2014
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is being forced to stagger payments to schools and health care providers because of limits with its 30-year old computer-based accounting system. State officials took the drastic actions because the current system can't pay out $1 billion or more in a single 24-hour period. The state was forced to delay…
Learning disabled get money, but not always help
Charter Schools, Florida Schools, Funding, In the News, VoucherBy fsbawp June 9, 2014
Learning disabled students can get up to $19,829 of taxpayer money each year to attend private school if they choose – but there is no state accountability to ensure the kids' needs are being met. The law that created the vouchers does not require private schools to have anyone on staff with any sort of…
Lawsuit challenging Florida school funding seeks to broaden, cites vouchers, charters, pre-K as evidence of state failures
Florida Schools, Funding, In the News, VoucherBy fsbawp June 3, 2014
A sweeping lawsuit that argues Florida failed to adequately fund its public education system should be amended so that the state's support of voucher programs and charter schools can also be challenged, attorneys for the plaintiffs said today. They have asked the court to allow them to amend the lawsuit, filed in 2009. The lawsuit…
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signs state budget, vetoes just $69 million in spending
Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp June 2, 2014
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott signed a $77 billion budget Monday, the largest in Florida history, and protected hundreds of millions of dollars in hometown projects by his fellow Republicans in the Legislature. Scott's use of the line-item veto was his most surgical yet, as he trimmed only $69 million in spending and preserved spending…
School tax increase equals Scott's other tax cuts
Florida Schools, Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp May 6, 2014
TAMPA — Gov. Rick Scott will bring his re-election campaign to Tampa on Tuesday to tout a new state budget with $574 million in increased education spending along with $500 million in tax cuts. What Scott isn't mentioning is that while the new budget cuts some taxes, it includes an increase of almost as much,…
With cash to spare, legislators clamor to get pet projects in the budget
Now, in the final week of the session, lawmakers have about $1.2 billion in surplus, bonus money that can go pretty much anywhere they choose. That fact has stirred loose an avalanche of hometown projects, the likes of which Tallahassee hasn't seen in an election year since 2006. "Think about it: What's the average size…
Lawmakers poised to change state pension
Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp April 26, 2014
The House advanced a sweeping overhaul of the Florida Retirement System Thursday, setting it for a key floor vote Friday as a major bargaining chip in late negotiations with the Senate during the final week of the 2014 legislative session. "This narrow approach to pension reform will save taxpayers about $28 billion over 30 years,"…
Public and charter schools compete for shrinking building funds
Funding, In the NewsBy fsbawp March 31, 2014
TALLAHASSEE — It's become one of the perennial fights in the Florida Legislature. In one corner: cash-strapped school systems with aging facilities and billions of dollars tied up in debt service. In the other: charter schools looking to build and refurbish facilities of their own. Both want dollars from the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO)…