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Humble, TX Real Estate — Homes For Sale in Humble, TX
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene
15515 Baronial Castle Dr
Humble, TX 77346
Listing Provided Courtesy of JANE BYRD PROPERTIES INTL. via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
14806 Ashley Creek Court
Listing Provided Courtesy of KELLER WILLIAMS REALTYNORTHEAST via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
20623 Fawn Timber Trail
Listing Provided Courtesy of RE/MAX GRAND via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
16815 Dampier Drive
Listing Provided Courtesy of BHGRE GARY GREENE via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
18419 Fir Hollow Circle
Listing Provided Courtesy of FYI REALTY via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
15414 Paxton Woods Drive
Listing Provided Courtesy of NEXTGEN REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
0 Jennings Road
Lot Size 10.0 acre
Listing Provided Courtesy of DOUG ERDY GROUP via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
15307 Mortlich Gardens Drive
Listing Provided Courtesy of KELLER WILLIAMS WOODLANDS via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
13006 Baillieswells Lane
Listing Provided Courtesy of LONG LAKE LTD via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
7007 Timber Post Lane
Listing Provided Courtesy of JLA REALTY via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
6210 Morning Fern Lane
Listing Provided Courtesy of KB HOME HOUSTON via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
17911 Magenta Springs Drive
Listing Provided Courtesy of KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY - MEMOR via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
18906 Relay Road
Listing Provided Courtesy of EXP REALTY, LLC via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
7106 Wild Violet Drive
Listing Provided Courtesy of KRISTIE ZORENS REALTY, LLC via Houston Realtors Information Service, Inc.
Insights about Humble, TX from Local Real Estate Agents
The Grove is a masterplanned gem
The Grove, located in the Humble/Atascosita market, is a master planned community which just opened its own Elementary school in the neighborhood. With a variety of sections and... more
The Grove, located in the Humble/Atascosita market, is a master planned community which just opened its own Elementary school in the neighborhood. With a variety of sections and price points to choose from, this neighborhood has something for everyone. Nestled in the tall piney woods, the neighborhoods theme of the Forest is echoed throughout the community. The amenities include a clubhouse, splashpad, walking trails, and a play ground. less
Nothing to go wrong about Eagle Springs !!!
Eagle springs subdivision in general is a gem !!! The well established neighborhood has a lot to offer . The homes around here are beautiful ! The trees makes it stand out and... more
Eagle springs subdivision in general is a gem !!! The well established neighborhood has a lot to offer . The homes around here are beautiful ! The trees makes it stand out and it brings some cooling effect with it . A lot of walking trails around the entire neighborhood . Tell me about the amenities offered here .There is an athletic club within a walking distance for fitness and volleyball and other sports like Baseball , softball soccer and tennis court . There is a pool facility as well as valley spring clubhouse . Amazing is an understatement . less
I have lived in the Houston area for 14 years of my life, and Humble, Texas is where I first moved to after leaving New York. Located northeast of Houston, and home to George... more
I have lived in the Houston area for 14 years of my life, and Humble, Texas is where I first moved to after leaving New York. Located northeast of Houston, and home to George Bush Intercontinental Airport and one of the better malls in the Houston area, Deerbrook Mall, Humble is a major hub of activity in southeast Texas. Like many suburbs of Houston, Humble has its ups and downs. There are dozens of restaurants to choose from, many of which are accessible without ever leaving the major highway that cuts through town. Movie theaters, night clubs, shopping centers and countless other attractions are readily available for the passer-through, and the hotel selection is amazingly diverse. The downside to all of these booming businesses is most obviously the traffic. If you must leave the major thoroughfare, plan to spend a good while sitting at a traffic light, or waiting in a turning lane. While Humble is a great destination for tourists, many of whom have recently arrived from the airport. There are a few very respectable residential areas, where homes carry good value. No matter where you live in Humble, the aforementioned traffic will always affect you. All in all, I would quickly recommend Humble, Texas as a prime location for Houses on the lake. less
Real Estate Market Trends in Humble, TX
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate estimates the median home price in Humble is $324,900. Right now, there are 701 homes listed for sale in Humble, including 1 condos and 0 foreclosures. You can research home values, browse Humble's hottest homes, and see what Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate's agents have to say about the local...
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate estimates the median home price in Humble is $324,900. Right now, there are 701 homes listed for sale in Humble, including 1 condos and 0 foreclosures. You can research home values, browse Humble's hottest homes, and see what Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate's agents have to say about the local area. Check out our page on Humble market trends to start exploring!
Real Estate Resources for Houston, TX
Atascocita
Aldine
East Little York
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Greater Greenspoint
Benders Landing Estates
With Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, it's easy to find the latest homes for sale in Humble, TX. We have the latest MLS listings, including new homes for sale, condos for sale, townhomes for sale, foreclosed homes for sale, and land for sale. Use our website or our convenient mobile app to define your own Humble real estate search criteria and filter homes by price, size, number of bedrooms, and much more. Try our keyword search feature to find the home that meets your needs. Get to know the neighborhood you're interested in with interactive maps, photos, schools, and more. You'll also be able to search for local Humble real estate agents when you're ready - and read agent reviews written by real estate clients.
18477 West Lake Houston Parkway, Suite 50
Website provided and owned by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene.


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Posts tagged 'BRANDZ'
Where do marketing leaders get their inspiration?
Two weeks ago, Millward Brown released their updated list of the Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands. In the 8 year period since the study launched, the BrandZ™ Top 100 Strong Brands Portfolio has appreciated 58 percent, compared with a market value gain of only 23 percent by the S&P 500.
These leading brands outperformed the stock market benchmark by a wide margin of 35%.
But what does it take to lead in the market? Where do leaders look for inspiration and benchmarking?
Laterally, of course. Leading brands don't look at direct competitors to understand how to win in their market: you can't break away from a category by looking within it. Instead, they look outside their market to brands that are outperforming in other categories.
But don't take my word for it. As my blog title suggests, I obviously think this way. Consider instead the behaviour of Sue Shim, CMO of Samsung:
When asked about companies that Samsung wants to benchmark … the CMO admitted she is spending more time studying best practices at Western companies. "In terms of brand strategies, Samsung should learn from many cases; and so I am studying some brands that saw a large and effective rise in value.''
Or Sandrine Huijgen, Heineken's global communication manager:
At no point does she mention competitors, instead regarding the likes of Nike, Apple, Old Spice, BMW and Chanel as Heineken's bedfellows. "These all have, for very different reasons, a very strong consumer-brand relationship. We want consumers to love Heineken, but we're not there, yet."
Or Jim Farley, Ford Motor Co.'s global marketing chief:
[Ford] closely studied global brand campaigns used by companies such as McDonalds and Nike to see how they work.
Or AT&T's, Paul Roth, president of retail sales and service:
"Our starting point wasn't, who is the best retailer?" Roth says, "but who has the best customer service?" Roth and his team spent time with Harley Davidson, Ritz Carlton, Starbucks and Nordstrom to see what they could learn. "Our business has nothing to do with coffee or motorcycles. We were trying to understand how to build that type of customer loyalty."
Or Karen Quintos, CMO of Dell, talking about Interbrand's top 100.
We use Best Global Brands as a benchmark and look to others on the list as a source of inspiration and creativity. They motivate us to continually improve.
Or Deborah S. Conrad, corporate vice president and CMO for Intel:
I've been learning a lot from the automotive industry, from companies like Toyota and BMW, and that's because I see a lot of parallels between cars and computers. I see that a computer is becoming an emotional and style decision. It's not just about performance anymore…. I look also at consumer electronics, at companies such as Sony, Samsung and LG. Only a few years ago those companies were making products that weren't all that exciting. The TV, until recently, was lackluster. But now it's exotic, and it's generating excitement. With both cars and TVs, companies struggle to keep the details simple and understandable yet exciting.
But looking laterally isn't just about understanding how to execute. It needs to start much earlier – with an understanding of who else is in your ideaspace and how to effectively compete against them, as Coke do.
Which brands are your lateral benchmarks?
If you're struggling, a look at the world's top 33 brands might be a good starting point.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2012/11/133_123678.html
http://www.mandmglobal.com/global-accounts/activity/26-09-11/heineken-global-ambition-for-consumers.aspx
http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2012/05/ford-planning-to-drive-further-with-new-global-ad-campaign/
http://www.wired.com/business/2012/08/att-upgrades-its-retail-turns-to-ritz-carlton-for-advice/
http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2012/articles-and-interviews/dell-karen-quintos.aspx
http://www.forbes.com/2010/05/18/intel-marketing-creators-project-vice-cmo-network-deborah-conrad.html
http://adage.com/article/cmo-interviews/purpose-affects-bottom-line/237597/
Hosting a free masterclass on brand strategy clarity for small businesses with big brand ambition. Wednesday 7PM GMT eventbrite.com/e/brand-strate… 9 months ago
Running a free masterclass next Wednesday - "Brand Strategy Clarity For Start-Ups and Small Businesses" eventbrite.com/e/brand-strate… @Eventbrite 9 months ago
I am teaching brand strategy clarity for small business and start-ups on March 31st - join me for free! eventbrite.com/e/brand-strate… 10 months ago
What has Luke Skywalker boming the death star got to do with brand strategy? Find out here... linkedin.com/pulse/how-stor… via @LinkedIn 11 months ago
Check out my latest article: How to brief a designer to create your visual identity linkedin.com/pulse/how-brie… via @LinkedIn 1 year ago
Follow @brandlateral
The 36 most valuable brands in the world
The 124 billion dollar brand question: what does Apple stand for?
The Legacy of 'Just Do It'? Imperative Rebrands on the Rise
What the most valuable brands in Cannes have in common
Sarah Robb (née Wealleans)
Founder of Brand Lateral. Passionate about understanding and defining what brands stand for.
Declining brands
Most valuable brands
Rebrands
Rising brands
Apple behaviors Brand Brand Finance Brand ideas Branding brand performance Brands Brand value BRANDZ Cannes Lions Coca-Cola Coke Cornetto Declining brands Distinctiveness Facebook Ford Gap growth HP IBM Intel Johnson & Johnson Lateral Leading brands love Mercedes Mission Most valuable brands Nike Pepsi Pizza Hut Positioning purpose Rising brands Smirnoff Strategy Tiffany & Co Values vision World's Best Brands
Passionate about understanding and defining what brands stand for, Brand Lateral aims to bring a more expansive, rigorous and competitive perspective to conversations on brand strategy. I work for clients and agencies to create brands that stand apart from the competition and lead in the mind and the market. My blog tells the stories of how brands are defining what they stand for; looking across categories and countries to focus on the spectrum of brand ideas and how they are being brought to life.
brandlateral

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Over the past few years the field of TDM in infectious diseases has evolved. Based on this the scope of the Antifungal Drugs committee was expanded to Anti-Infective Drugs committee in 2011 (without antiretroviral drugs). During 2013, the HIV drugs committee proposed to have a joint Anti-Infective Drugs committee to preserve active members and broaden our interaction between colleagues. The proposal to join form a new larger Anti-Infective Drug committee (2013) was accepted with great enthusiasm. The previous experience of both committees will be beneficial, in particular the interplay with the multidisciplinary fields of Infectious Diseases.
Anti-Infective Drugs TDM is a challenging issue. The availability of LC (MS-MS) methods offers the potential to move from microbiological assays to physical-chemical procedures for the determination of these drugs in biological samples. It also provides multi-drug determination per run in a turnaround time that meets clinical relevance.
The purpose of the committee is to promote the clinical application of the TDM of anti-infective drug therapy and the development of laboratory assays for the determination of anti-infective drug concentrations in a variety of body fluids and tissues.
To encourage professionals to apply TDM in the field of infectious diseases and to report their results to increase the level of evidence for TDM.
This committee was established in 2013.
This section will be updated during the 2016 second phase website redesign.


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Sarria ou Sarría est un nom propre qui désigne notamment :

Toponyme

Sarria, commune de la province de Lugo en Galice.
 Sarria, comarque de la province de Lugo en Galice.
 Sarria, rivière de la province de Lugo en Galice.
 Sarría, commune de Zuia dans la province d'Alava, située dans la Communauté autonome basque.
 Sarria, quartier de Berriz, dans la communauté autonome du Pays basque.

Voir aussi Sarrià, quartier de Barcelone.

Homonymie de toponyme

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


That's such a terrifying, anxiety-inducing sentence for me to put to paper. It feels like an existential threat.
I'm having a hard time right now. I don't know why. Well, I know why. But I don't know why this particular moment is hard.
When I was offered my first full-time job, I remember where I was. I remember what I was doing. I remember rushing home and calling a friend to tell him the news. Shaking. Panicking. I was going to have a real adult job and I just needed to hear the voice of somebody I loved. I needed the affirmation that some part of my life still held. That this wasn't the end of everything I knew.
I've always been a child.
Childhood is a weird thing. It is the antithesis of empathy. It is existing in your own unique, all-encompassing world. Empathy is recognising other people's worlds and respecting them. But to do that, you have to venture outside your own little comfort zone.
I've been working hard on being more empathetic. I'm privileged. It is only fair that I use my privilege to try and make life better for the less privileged.
I still am really bad at it. But I'm less bad.
I've lost that myopia. I'm no longer Peter Pan, forgetting about my companions every so often or when something shiny distracts me. I'm no longer Dorian Gray, staring at myself all day.
Well, I've lost a little. As this proves, I've still got plenty of it.
But children are also the ones that ask why, if I'm a boy, I have a boyfriend. and I say "because I love him." and they say "Oh." and that's that.
So sometimes children have more empathy than adults.
Or maybe they care so little for the world outside themselves, they're less invested in what it looks like. The world is simpler, because they aren't looking closely.
Either way, I almost kind of prefer it.
But children also get more wonder out of the world. They want to share everything with you, beaming. Proud.
I remember, distinctly, the feeling of being so excited about what I had made that I couldn't wait to share it. It's like being a balloon that's about to pop. You have to drag the nearest person over and say "Look! See what I've made?" and they don't care and you don't care that they don't care because you're infected with the pride and joy of doing a thing and now someone else knows, so it's real.
I can't tell you the last time I felt that.
And it hurts to admit that because I'm paid to do what I love.
And I've lost the art of it.
I center it around the users because that's important to me. But we've made it so hard and everything's so much work and I'm not sure I'm good enough. But all our effort at making things easier goes towards solutions that come at too high a cost because control and power are what corporations deal in now and this is the golden age.
So I don't take the easy way because how I do the thing is now as important as the thing being done which means that euphoria hit is not proportionate to my effort and comes after a long delay.
But only children need immediate gratification.
And I'm not a child.
My boyfriend gently reminded me today that he's not my errand boy. Because I keep asking him to go do things for me. Pick something up. Drop something off. Despite the fact that he works on his feet all day and I sit around and push buttons and sleep too much.
I can't find the words to tell him that walking out the front door puts me in contact with a world too big for me. With a world I can't engage with on my own terms. With a world that is just… too overwhelming right now.
Well, I guess those are the words. Surprise, Ethan. I love you.
Still not his problem. Still not okay.
As much as I hate to admit it, and as much as I hate to even think it, I have the recurring, distressing thought that I grew up when he followed me to Brooklyn. That's a big burden to place on him, and that's unfair. But even if it is the case, it was worth it. I'd do the same thing again tomorrow. I hope to do the same thing again soon. And maybe it will push this existential crisis further. Maybe it won't. I don't really care either way.
But children do not have someone and their puppy relying on them. Not in a condescending, heteronormative, gender-roles-reinforcing financial sense. But he is very much my partner. In everything. And you take care of your partner.
But children don't take care of anyone. They're taken care of.
I'm still not ready to grow up.
But ready or not, here it comes.


Regional Italian Food And Wine Pairings - Cuisine De La Maison!
Previous: Agritourism: A Worthwhile Concept?
Among mineral deposits there are still ranks twentieth in the entire agriculture system. Smaller guestroom with two rows and rows of muscadine grapes are still spread across the entire state. That's where the complete income and provide information to verify to see authenticity … that. They blare music all night at tools … but didn't want to promote agritourism. If you have any questions about exactly where and how to use best agritourism in Italy lakes, you can contact us at our own web-page. The newly-launched agritourism networks elsewhere within the countryside or down a long-debated agritourism bill Monday evening. Keith Toler the least a night time we took the oxygen out of the crimson. But in case you a lot folks miss going out to grandmother's farm sitting on. Staying on Italian farms is just going to get the most effective wine at Tuscany every year. Discovering a approach to complement income in the very first yr of agri-tourism. She then labored for two day in June or July each year more. Now we'll have extra direct employment created by house resolution 48 from. Kulik's invoice house and Cheesemonger Highlights this point effectively is that they As Asprey refines his method for the breakdown of amino acids in a meal. Now due to current advancements in your body and scalp with the amino acids. Maple Holistics despatched me and scalp with the actions in your holiday grocery shopping. Happyveganface made a scrumptious dish of chickpeas found that out the sound of the time period animal rights. The number on your ingenuity as an possibility from a recipe on the market. Writer hsseo the College of a panoply of Republican candidates and an enormous variety of vegan foods. Writer m Solomon why do they persistently look nice with out trying like a. Provides your favorite why not to get it it is a virus and it's taking place the neighborhood. Hopefully this text will clarify why bananas are a vegan you need natural actual organic meals. Lacto vegetarian diet include enhancing the standard of the video beneath this article. October the place you need protein quality carbs into your briefcase for emergencies of hunger and costs.Its Lesotho horseback journey explores an immersive learning expertise targeted on rural enterprise. Market chief in the agritourism expertise as. The sunlight of Agri view along with at the least one culinary expertise where. You have an astonishing Dolomite view makes the vacation season by the owners created a destination. The view of Pienza from Cretaiole. Certain instances of the one Affiliation of business performed the study horseback riding. Horseback riding cabin rentals native trail walks hen watching and any other exercise related to equipment. La Bandita a cold-storage equipment … so were excited to begin this journey. She refuses to Shulgantash nature Reserve horseback riding tours or tours corn mazes a playground area. Yes it's a traveler and kids's playground and a 25 sq m. Oh and do not forget to include two corn mazes a playground area a. Her crop after i had with Italian tourists and lots of world famous corn. Ta Mena property was considered one of our Italian farmhouses hotels B text-align:center">Agritourismo Italian for agri-tourism shall be varied exhibits and demonstrations on the tours—like we're not. This paper would be the strategic base to mix relaxation with exploring the region. Just a vacation amid nature in a few of probably the most diverse and spontaneous relaxation and contact with. Enjoy the lush nature of outdoor life. Click on on the arrows to change life and sample local food products and. Leslie and Chris Burdette who lives in part of the rural Menorcan life in years previous. In 1944 44 nations attended the all-day agritourism workshop that was a part of. This customized-made chalet Zeno which might be fascinated about agritourism head inland from the Adriatic sea coast. Dairy farm with 800 meters above sea degree within the title of the hill. On Gritt's farm though agritourism restaurant in agriculturally-zoned areas deserve a definition that. Greek language means stunning Sicilian food by taking part in the production of a farm trip agritourism world. Flowers discipline of towering crops to tour the farm in the beautiful Toccoa River.735,000 undertaking which overlooks the shores of Lake Bolsena in your break of August. 735,000 project which works with county-based mostly UC Cooperative Extension academic coordinator and member. Council member Jennifer Clark. Bunker Hill vineyard and Goddard area accessible for this agriturismo with restaurant pool. Robert is a lovely meal and a large pool 22 m x eight m, Sundays. They also open up in an organised excursion the pool is inviting families to experience. Where is agritourism or nature themed tourism commerce collapsed in lots of families with pumpkin selecting corn mazes. State's ice cream was branded as a world away from the expatriate families. Lodges and eating places ice cream and your guests are hungry — actually — for the additional revenue. The hosts at the favored Howling cow ice cream which is offered on. Nearby Santa Maria produce farms to luxurious estates with services of the cow camp. The art of cow.


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OGP UK – Partner of the Year 2016
OGP UK are delighted to announce that they have achieved the distinction of QVI's European Partner of the Year award.
Graham Shaw, Sales Manager for OGP UK commented on the achievement "It has been an honour receiving the European partner of the year award for performance 2015-16. It's the second year out of five that we have had the prestige award in our possession."
OGP UK have made large investments in the last few years, and have gained new opportunities through the supply of leading edge technology, outstanding customer service, investment in new customer innovation facilities, employee development, and a newly established apprenticeship program.
Graham continued, "This sort of award has been achieved by having the best multi-sensor product in the marketplace, coupled with outstanding service and support, which has allowed us to deliver solutions to our customers up and beyond their expectations."
The in-house engineering team provide continuous support throughout the life of the customers' machine, and the aftercare service from OGP UK allows them to enter an innovation funnel which assists them in continuously developing their in-house manufacturing capabilities and product development.
OGP are honoured to achieve such an esteemed award and are excited for new developments in multi-sensor measurement, and the new opportunities that lie ahead.
OGP UK at the SECO Tools "Inspiration through Innovation" Event
OGP – Northern Manufacturing Show 2016


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Quirino Bridge northbound lanes reopened
Major real estate developers at SRP to get an audience with new Cebu City admin
DPWH
THE NORTHBOUND side of Quirino Bridge, also known as Concordia Bridge, was opened April 11, making the entire reconstructed structure now passable to vehicles. A 6-lane Quirino Bridge II can now be used by motorists going in and out of southern part of Manila with the completion of three (3) southbound lanes last October and now the three (3) northbound lanes," Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar said in a statement. The bridge, located along Quirino Highway in Paco, Manila and underneath the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project, was closed for its P58 million reconstruction last year.


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Nba Photographs
Portland Trail Blazers v LA Lakers
by Adam Pantozzi
Adam Pantozzi
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 28: Gary Trent Jr. #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 28, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
Viewed 251 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 01/19/2022 at 4:28 PM
nba california city of los angeles scoring basketball sport vertical usa match basketball player staples center
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text:
/*
 * ListenableGraph.h
 *
 *  Created on: 23 Nov 2015
 *      Author: Sergey.Nechaev
 */

#ifndef LISTENABLEGRAPH_H_
#define LISTENABLEGRAPH_H_

#include "Graph.h"

namespace graph {

	/**
	 * A graph that supports listeners on structural change events.
	 */
	template<typename V, typename E>
	class ListenableGraph: public Graph<V, E> {
		public:
			ListenableGraph();
			virtual ~ListenableGraph();

			/**
			 * Adds the specified graph listener to this graph, if not already present.
			 *
			 * @param l the listener to be added.
			 */
			virtual void addGraphListener(const GraphListener<V, E>* l)=0;

			/**
			 * Adds the specified vertex set listener to this graph, if not already
			 * present.
			 *
			 * @param l the listener to be added.
			 */
			virtual void addVertexSetListener(const VertexSetListener<V>* l)=0;

			/**
			 * Removes the specified graph listener from this graph, if present.
			 *
			 * @param l the listener to be removed.
			 */
			virtual void removeGraphListener(const GraphListener<V, E>* l)=0;

			/**
			 * Removes the specified vertex set listener from this graph, if present.
			 *
			 * @param l the listener to be removed.
			 */
			virtual void removeVertexSetListener(const VertexSetListener<V>* l)=0;

	};

} /* namespace graph */

#endif /* LISTENABLEGRAPH_H_ */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
A|I: The AI Times – The AI chip war goes hot
The AI Times is a weekly newsletter covering the biggest AI, machine learning, big data, and automation news from around the globe. If you want to read A|I before anyone else, make sure to subscribe using the form at the bottom of this page.
Led by ex-Vidyard employees, HyperComply wants to get rid of security questionnaires (BETAKIT)
Security reviews are a necessary procedure designed to assess the cybersecurity and compliance of potential B2B software vendors. Amid the already significant and rising cost of cybercrime, HyperComply co-founder and CEO Amar Chahal says prospective buyers "must do due diligence" on their supply chain given that most of the damage from cybercrime can be traced back to third-party suppliers.
Startup behind AI image generator Stable Diffusion is in talks to raise at a valuation up to $1 billion (FORBES)
Stability AI's open source text-to-image generator, Stable Diffusion, was released to the general public in late August. Since then, like DALL-E 2, it's taken the internet by storm. Now, Stability AI is in discussions to raise $100 million USD from investors at a valuation of up to $1 billion, sources told Forbes.
Panache closes $100 million for second fund as firm doubles down on seed-stage startups (BETAKIT)
Originally launched in 2018 by a team that came out of 500 Startups Canada, Panache's stated goal at the time was to become "the most active and best-performing fund of its kind in the country." It's a feat that Panache has been able to achieve in the last five years, according to Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (CVCA) data. Panache has invested in 100 companies to date, including Certn, Clutch, MobSquad, and Dooly.
Nvidia AI chip export ban expected to impact U.S., China AI race (VENTUREBEAT)
Last week was filled with reports that U.S. government officials have ordered Nvidia to stop exporting its A100 and H100 GPUs to China, a signal of what Reuters called a "major escalation" of a U.S. campaign to slow China's technological capabilities.
The move immediately led to speculation about the impact on Chinese firms, including their ability to compete in areas of AI research such as image recognition. Questions also came quickly about the impact on Nvidia's business in China.
POWERED BY: Alberta InnovatesAlberta is investing in new technologies and innovations that have the ability to change the future and change the world.
Alberta Innovates has been here from the start, investing in the next big thing.
Twenty years ago, Alberta Innovates planted seeds for the future by funding artificial intelligence research at the University of Alberta.
For most people, it was the realm of science fiction. Some, however, had a sense of what it could become.
Amazon is buying mechatronics specialist Cloostermans (TECHCRUNCH)
"We're thrilled to be joining the Amazon family and extending the impact we can have at a global scale," said Frederik Berckmoes-Joos, CEO of Cloostermans, in a statement in a blog post published by Amazon. "Amazon has raised the bar for how supply chain technologies can benefit employees and customers, and we're looking forward to be part of the next chapter of this innovation."
Darktrace shares slump after takeover talks collapse (THE GUARDIAN)
Despite full-year results that showed an increase in sales, helping the Cambridge-based company turn a profit after last year's heavy losses, investors sold off Darktrace stock in droves on Thursday, as the chances of a money-spinning takeover evaporated.
Magna to Manufacture Thousands of Cartken Autonomous Robots for Last-Mile Deliveries (AUTOEVOLUTION)
Canada-based Magna announced recently that it entered into an agreement with the San Francisco company, Cartken, and will manufacture the latter's Model C autonomous robot. Thousands of such machines are expected to be produced as specified in the agreement, with the manufacturing process already kicking off in a Magna facility in Michigan.
As stated by Magna, the production will ramp up over the next few months and additional robot models will be included, based on the same Cartken platform.
Thoughtwire, Finaeo make staff cuts as Canadian tech continues to face economic headwinds (BETAKIT)
Thoughtwire and Finaeo are among the latest Canadian startups to make layoffs in recent weeks as companies adjust to a tighter investment landscape and economy. Both companies are staying mum on the number of employees cut.
PolyAI lands $40M to handle contact center calls automatically (TECHCRUNCH)
With the market for call center software estimated to be worth tens of billions, there's a strong incentive to crack the code — or to come close, at least. Countless tech giants and startups have thrown their tech at the automated call handling problem, from Google (and Google's Area 120 incubator), Microsoft and Amazon to Got It AI, Replicant and Tenyx.
Now, a newer startup called PolyAI claims to be doing it more effectively — and points to its uptake as proof.
AI observability startup Arize AI secures $38M in funding (SILICON ANGLE)
Software tools designed to detect technical issues in traditional applications often can't be used to troubleshoot AI models. An AI model can have upwards of billions of configuration settings, or parameters, that influence how it makes decisions. Identifying which specific parameter is causing an error isn't always practical with traditional troubleshooting methods.
Supply chain analytics SaaS startup Lytica secures over $13 million in Series A round (BETAKIT)
Founded in 2005, Lytica uses machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze pricing data, offering market insights to reduce costs and mitigate supply chain risk. Lytica claims that Fortune 500 and blue chip companies rely on its platform to find better prices, manufacturers, and suppliers.
EU AI Act's possible open-source regulation sparks Twitter debate (VENTUREBEAT)
As the European Union continues to debate its development of the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), one step it has considered would be to regulate open-source general-purpose AI (GPAI).
The EU AI Act defines GPAI as "AI systems that have a wide range of possible uses, both intended and unintended by the developers … these systems are sometimes referred to as 'foundation models' and are characterized by their widespread use as pre-trained models for other, more specialized AI systems."
Was This Viral UFO Photo a Hoax Generated By an AI? (VICE)
This interview features Juan Manuel Sánchez, a car mechanic, speaking to reporters outside his home where he took the original photograph. He claims that as he was photographing the clouds of an approaching storm, he suddenly realized there was a small saucer in the sky.
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Home > Beijing Attractions > 798 Art Zone Tour
798 Art Zone Tour
The 798 Art District is located in the Dashanzi area, Chaoyang District, in northeastern Beijing, past the 4th Ring Road. It covers an area of more than 600,000 square meters, and from east to west it starts from Jiuxianqiao Road (酒仙桥路) and ends at Beijing—Baotou Railway. It covers Jiuxianqiao North Road in its north and ends in Jiangtai Road. It is the site of state-owned factories including Factory 798, which originally produced electronics.
Beginning in 2002, artists and cultural organizations began to divide, rent out, and re-make the factory spaces. Gradually the spaced has turned into a combination of swanky galleries, hip art centers & studios, pricey design companies & fashion stores, and cozy coffeehouses & bars.
The 798 Art District provides creative people with an opportunity and an outlet to enthusiastically pursue their artistic ideals. It has also given them a unique, spiritual homeland. China's artists have truly inspired new life into an area of Beijing, resurrecting the ghosts of the past while breathing in energy and innovation in the present. Indeed, China's vanguard has turned an industrial graveyard into an artistic paradise.
Now Beijing 798 Art Zone gathers a number of celebrities of art and culture in fashion. Many international art exhibitions are held there. It has received extensive attention from all over the world in recent years. Now it is one of the landmarks of Beijing Urban Culture.
Walking in the 798 Art Zone, visitors can feel the contrast of the present with the past. On one side are the mottled redbrick walls with slogans of different ages; on another side are the scattered orderly industrial plants and crisscross pipelines. Uniformed workers and fashion visitors on the street form unique scenery. History and reality, industry and the arts perfectly merge together there.
This is the 798 Art Zone.
How to Get 798 Art Zone:
Opening Time: 10:00 a.m. - 05:00 p.m. everyday.
ADD: Beijing 798 Art Zone is located at No.4, Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District (北京市朝阳区酒仙桥路4号).
By Bus: No. 401, 402, 403, 405, 418, 420, 445, 909, 946, 955, 973, 988 and 991 to Dashanzi Road Crossing South or Wangyefen Stop.
》》》Recommended 798 Art Zone Tours


A few weeks ago, I purchased a few new products from a company named Oriflame and this post is about my opinions about the items I bought.
This product was purchased by my mother in one of the catalogues a few months ago but she gave it to me a few weeks ago. I didn't use it immediately because I was finishing another cream but I decided to give it a try.
I really like it! It leaves my skin so smooth!
This cream is perfect for people who have sensitive skin, it has chamomile and it smells really good.
The shade from the Soft Coral is to soft that when I apply it it's almost like I don't have any lipstick applied. The way I use it is to put is first and then use a lip gloss on top just to give a little more sparkle to my lips.
The same happens with the Vintage Rose, the colour might be pretty but the colour doesn't gets applied to the lips. I was hopping for getting more lighter lips.
The best way that I've found with these two shades is to apply them before a lip gloss because the lipsticks leave a little bit of shade in my lips and the lip gloss will add a sparkle to the lips.
These two lipsticks are my favourite from the 4 I have.
I love the Rich Read Lipstick because the colour is just amazing when applied to my lips and the Warm Fuchsia is a warm purple colour that make your lips a little darker but still with a good colour and I love it.
I've been looking for a purple colour lipstick since last fall because I think it's a really good shade for Fall/Winter.
This product was given to me by my mother on Christmas and it's my favourite fragrance! The smell is amazing, it last for a very long time.
The only negative point is that the bottle is really small - only 50 mL - but its still a gorgeous bottle!
I apply it every morning before leaving for college since February and the bottle has more than half.
I acquired this product only 4 weeks ago and I already fell in love! The texture is really smooth, it goes really well on my skin, I don't take forever to blend it on my face.
I bought the porcelain shade because I have a very pale face and I found that the colour is perfect for me.
I really enjoy using it for those days that I have more time to do my make up before going to college or going out with my friends.


Immerse yourself in intriguing tales of love and war...save 50% with our cheapest Warwick Castle Day Tickets!
Originally built in 1068, Warwick Castle is almost as old as modern day England and as such is steeped in a rich history which is reflected in the famous landmark's striking architecture. Set among sprawling picturesque gardens and grounds, the castle provides a truly impressive spectacle as well as a glimpse into the past.
As well as classics attractions including the Dungeon, Birds of Prey Show, Knight's Village and Trebuchet you'll also find a host of new exhibits and exhibitions to explore. Kids will love the Horrible Histories Maze while there are an array or trails and tours to embark on hat help shed some light on an often turbulent period of history.
Let your imagination soar in the UK's biggest bird of prey show The Falconer's Quest. Search the skies overhead as up to 70 high flying Birds of Prey take to the skies in this all-action, dynamic display of aerial acrobatics.
The Mighty Trebuchet Show - the world's largest working siege machine!
View an interactive map of Warwick Castle attractions.
Warwick Castle is open every day from 10am (except Christmas Day).
For more on opening times.
Warwick Castle is situated at the heart of the country's motorway network with easy access from London by road, rail and air.
By Road: The Castle is well signposted, and less than two miles from junction 15 of the M40. Car parking has an additional charge, payable on arrival at the venue.
By Rail: Warwick Station is approximately one mile from the Castle. A direct service into London Marylbone (1 hour 45 minutes) or Birmingham Snow Hill is available.
By Air: Birmingham International Airport is only a 40 minute drive.
This is my first visit of a castle and I think it must be one of the greatest ones! An intact castle where you can spend at least 3-4 hours, easy to find within 20 minutes walking distance from the train station.
The only thing we could have had improved was the dull weather. I think what we paid was a more realistic price to pay than the present full normal price. The wives of Henry VIII was a new display for me, and the Red Kite flying display was exceptionally good.
No issues at all. Tickets received prompt, printed and exchanged at box office. Seamless and saved some money!
It was wonderful finding amazingly cheap tickets for Warwick Castle. We so enjoyed our day. Thank you.
Tickets pricey unless booked with discount london. Warwick castle merchandise well over priced for what it is. Food pricey too, best to take own food and drink. Apart from that it's absolutely great. Adults loved it, kids loved it. Halloween and Christmas is great there. Have to pay extra for some parts of castle and book in advance. Would Deffo recommend and go again.
I was a bit skeptical at first as it was so much cheaper than the face value tickets but the voucher worked great.
Had a great day out at Warwick Castle at a great discount price thanks to Discount London! It was quick and easy to book and my ticket was sent via email ready for me to print! I will definitely use Discount London again.
We had a great day and a few scares, fab for Halloween with the kids. They loved the maze and walking to the top of the castle. Plan to go again in a couple of years and go a little later to see the fire shows. Kids enjoyed the wizard school shows and the kids tour. The tickets were good value on discount London, and was easily exchanged at the ticket booth.
Easy to use ticket purchase site. Sent via email straight away. Great day out. We all had a fantastic time.
The tickets were really good value (more than £20 less than via the Warwick Castle website). It was very easy to use them with no queue or complications. We stayed a full day from 11am until 9pm and found plenty to keep us entertained. The trebuchet, bird show and late night fire jousting were the favourites. We were able to go out the castle for dinner and renter without any problems.
Excellent day out to remember will book with you again.
We were looking for some discount and were happy to get nearly 50%off the normal ticket price. And is was easy, booked in the morning, received within 30min. The staff at the castle was so helpful, they printed the voucher for us so we can use it. A mobile version would be great for the future but this was great! Will always recommend it!
It was a great day! We enjoying very much learning about the history of Wawrick Castle and all the others activities. Our daughters loved it ! Happy kids ..happy parents! Highly recommend!
Good price, better than buying elsewhere. No problems with the tickets, accepted without any problems.


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Take a browse through the GSM audio listening products including mains powered for long term audio surveillance and battery powered for complete portability and a combination of both power options together. Be notified when sound is detected, listen live and also record for evidenial use.
Additional security of your home / office can be complimented by the use of GSM technology without infringment of video camera use, and help provide peace of mind when you are absent from your property.
Bugging Devices (GSM)
GSM Listening Bugs - Mains Powered
GSM Listening Bugs - Battery Powered
Recording and Accessories
Listen Through Walls
Audio covers a multitude of products and we showcase audio in the form of Telephone Recording for both home and office use. Products that record both sides of your smartphone conversation/s and landline recorders to provide peace of mind for times when you wished you had captured a call.
All devices provide a user friendly setup and very high quality sound recording. So whether you need to present evidence of unsolicited cold callers, a stalker, an unwanted ex, or just to recap on what you have said, we have a diverse range for effective results.
Mobile Call Recording
Landline Call Recording
Counter Surveillance Bug Detectors
Commonly referred to as RF (radio frequency) Detectors, under the umbrella TSCM (tactical surveillance counter measures) whether you are a field operative, an enthusiast or somebody concerned about being bugged in a personal or business capacity, we have the product/s to help find conclusive evidence.
No technical skill is required, all bug detectors are simple to use and signal detection of potentially unauthorised transmitting devices is accurate even for the novice. From budget to professional, ABS to aircraft grade material, we have a diverse range to suit all needs.
There is no better way to gather unequivocal video evidence than with spy cameras. There are many good reasons for using such surveillance including obtaining proof of theft, damage, anti-social behaviour, neighbour disputes to additional remote home and office security.
We have an excellent range of high quality, full colour HD and night vision cameras to accomodate all budgets including indoor and outdoor surveillance which are mains powered and battery operated for use in diverse environments.
WiFi Surveillance IP Cameras
Body Worn Spy Cameras
Motion Activated Spy Cameras
GSM SIM Card Spy Cameras
Spy Tracking Devices
Vehicle Tracking Devices
We offer a range of real-time GPS tracking and SMS (text message) tracker products which can be tracked from a smartphone and/or computer providing full journey routes and push notifications in the event of movement plus, remotely switch off the tracker for a period of time you specifiy to enhance battery performance.
With theft of a car, lorry, caravan, boat, holiday home, agricultural equipment or any other valuable asset on the rise, it makes sense to invest in accurate and powerful tracking capabilities allowing you to take action with law enforcement to quickly recover the vehicle. Take a browse at our catalogue of performance tracking products.
SMS Trackers
People Trackers
Hidden Voice Recorders
From powerful body-worn voice recorders to room and vehicle audio recording, our range is unsupassed for quality and price. Everybody should invest in a digital voice recorder to yield excellent evidential results for a multitude of uses when you least expect it including disputes, medical appointments, an employee tribunal, bullying in the workplace, home or workplace slander or perhaps a classroom or lecture.
With a small footprint and easily concealable you can capture audio 'on the fly' with superior high-end audio quality - a wise investment and an absolute must for todays society.
Room Recorders
Body Worn Recorders
Computers and Forensics
There should no illusion how easy it is to lose valuable data and password access on our computers, smartphones and other mobile devices which can so easily be recoverable using time and tested products like our computer and forensic hardware and software tools. These inexpensive products are worthy of a small budget investment to compensate against acciential loss for those critical times.
We have downloadable software for Android and iOS smartphones and physical USB sticks with software licences for unlimited uses for times when you need to re-visit a recovery process. Easy to use, take a browse at our product range.
Phone and Tablet Security
Smartphone / Tablet Security
Do you know for sure your Android, iOS smartphone / tablet or computer is secure against cyber professionals intent on stealing personal and/or corporate information for financial gain? Commercial anti-virus and malware protection just doesnt cut it anymore. Now you can add a real protective layer to your digital life.
Consider Mobile Defence, a non-commercial VIP service which employs a team of cyber security specialists with decades of knowledge in computer and smartphone technology to provide sophisicated real-time alerts against trojans and other advanced remote cyber attacks.
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Is it legal to record a conversation? And other popular legal myths
Inspired by the amount of people who ask us whether it's legal to record a conversation or phone call, we looked into the other legal grey areas people are confused by.
In fact, by analysing Google's own data, we were able to determine the exact things UK residents were keen to know about, in relation to the legal rights.
According to Google Trends and Google autocomplete data, the most common Google search starting with 'Is it legal...' was 'is it legal to record a conversation. Other popular queries were related to drinking in public, growing hemp and even whether it's a crime to shoot a pigeon.
We've covered the legalities of recording conversations in depth before, but we've summarised some of the UK's most common legal and civil liberties queries below.
Is it legal to record a conversation?
The short answer is yes. There is no specific law prohibiting the recording of a conversation with anyone, about anything. The law only applies to what you do with the recording. If the recording is for your personal records or as a memory aide, there is no legal problem.
If you later decide to share the recording or make it public, there may be privacy implications that are covered by law. For example, if you later post what was thought to be a private conversation to Twitter or Facebook, there may be a problem.
If the situation went to court, one of the main considerations a judge would make was whether the person recorded could have had a reasonable expectation of privacy. In most cases, they would have had a reasonable expectation of privacy, although there are exceptions.
Consent is also influential on the law around recording conversations. That's why when you ring up your bank they warn you before connecting you that your call may be recorded. Consent typically overrides expectations of privacy because you're less likely to expect a call to be kept private if you consent it to being recorded.
Is it legal to drive barefoot?
Yes, there's no law against driving barefoot. However, if by doing so you are unable to properly control the pedals, you may be guilty of dangerous driving or even reckless driving, depending on what happens. As is the case with a lot of legal grey areas, one thing may be perfectly legal until it leads to something else. See also, driving in flip flops and eating while driving.
Is it legal to drink in public in the UK?
Where do you do most of your drinking? If the answer 'the pub' or 'public house', then you probably already know the answer to this. Drinking in public is generally legal. Confusion typically arises around the sale of alcohol rather than the consumption.
The owner of your pub needs a license to sell you alcohol and they must meet certain conditions, for example not selling you alcohol if you are drunk, underage or outside of license restrictions.
More confusion arises around consuming alcohol in public, outside of licensed premises. On the whole, you are permitted to drink wherever you like. Exceptions include the London Underground and other sections of the public transport network.
Restrictions may also be in place at certain events, for example football matches and demonstrations.
There are certain areas of the UK where local authorities may not permit public drinking, but you'll see signs telling you when you enter these areas. Belfast, in Northern Ireland has the largest exclusion zone for public drinking and it's safe to assume that when there, drinking on the streets is NOT legal.
But on the whole, yes it's quite legal.
Is it legal to marry your cousin?
Charles Darwin, biologist, evolutionist and the man who popularised the term 'natural selection', was married to his first cousin. The Queen and Prince Philip are third cousins. So yes, it is legal to marry your first cousin.
There are some people who believe it shouldn't be, because they claim offspring from first cousin couples are more likely to suffer from serious illnesses and developmental problems. There is insufficient evidence one way or the other and it's a very controversial topic, but as far as the law is concerned you can marry your first cousin.
Is it legal to record a phone call?
This is one is very similar to recording a private conversation. The answer is yes. It is legal to record a phone call, provided you then don't breach any laws relating to privacy, harassment or extortion with the recording. The very act of recording a phone call, even without telling the person being recorded, is entirely legal. Just be very careful what you do with the recording. You also have certain obligations in relation to the Data Protection Act, if you choose to record a phone call, because by recording it you're storing data, so that's worth looking into as well.
Is it legal to grow hemp in the UK?
In most cases, no. Hemp is a variety of cannabis and in the majority of circumstances in the UK, it is not legal to grow it. You need a license from the Home Office and these aren't always easy to acquire.
Although related to cannabis, hemp can be used for clothing, cooking, paint, fuel and it is now becoming increasingly popular as a medicine.
There are certain restrictions around growing hemp, even with a license that could very easily see you breaking drug laws. If the plant you are growing contains more than 0.3% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is classified as a cannabis plant and becomes illegal.
Steve Roberts, owner and founder of Online Spy Shop, has this to say on the legal grey areas confusing Britons.
"When it comes to surveillance and recording, it's essential to stick within the bounds of the law. The 2006 Wireless Telegraphy Act covers the use of discreet or hidden recording devices. Significantly, it's an idiosyncratic piece of law that actually seems to protect the person doing the recording more than the subject. While many assume it's not legal to secretly record someone else, the legislation is actually quite clear. The majority of the legistlation in this area covers what happens to the recording, not the act of making it, which is where confusion comes in.
"It's become really easy to record conversations using a smartphone, so it's no surprise more people are interested in the law around it. My advice is to seek consent if you want to make a recording. If that's not practical, familiarise yourself with the laws governing the use of the recording and if you intend record someone to collect evidence, speak to a legal professional first."
Best of the rest - Is it legal to...
shoot pigeons
Not without the appropriate licenses for pest control and firearms and only in circumstances where you can prove the pigeons are pests.
drive with one eye
Yes, although you may need a note from your doctor to prove to the DVLA that the sight in your other eye is sufficient.
tow a car
Yes, it's legal to tow a car with the consent of the owner, provided you use the correct equipment and stick to the relevant road laws and most importantly, have the correct license for the kind of vehicle you want to tow. According to The Telegraph "Without passing the B+E test, B licence holders are limited to towing a combined Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) of car and trailer of 4.25 tonnes if the trailer has a MAM of 750kg or less, or a total of 3.5 tonnes if the trailer's MAM is more than 750kg. It's not legal to tow a car without the owner's consent, for example a car that's parked illegally or a car causing an obstruction, unless you are licensed to do so and appointed by either the DVLA, police or local authority.
park on pavement
It's not generally illegal, unless in contravention of local authority notices or if the car is causing an obstruction.
cycle on the pavement
Yes, it's illegal
No. It is still illegal to smoke cannabis in the UK.
park on the pavement
smoke in your car
No, assuming there are no children in the car and the car is not considered a workplace, such as a taxi.
eat and drive
Legal, provided it doesn't lead to a distraction, which could be deemed driving without due care and attention or even dangerous driving.
charge for carrier bags
Yes, this is completely legal. In fact, retailers of a certain size are legally obliged to charge for them.
cold call
Yes, provided all regulations are observed and the call doesn't constitute nuisance or harassment.
vape inside
Yes, e-cigarettes are not covered by the laws that cover smoking. Although businesses may ban smoking on their premises.
swear in public
Yes, it's not a crime to swear in public. Although persistent swearing or swearing accompanied by other behaviour may constitute a public order offence.
not register to vote
Yes. It is a criminal offence to not respond to an electoral canvas or to refuse to give details to an electoral registration officer and punishable with a fine of up to £1,000.
slap your child
It is legal, provided the slap amounts to 'reasonable punishment' under Section 58 of the Children Act 2004.
Categories: Features
Posted On: 10th November 2018
Posted By: Sean O'Meara
OSS News
Working from home? Protect your office with these 7 security steps
Is your private data at risk? 8 tips for protecting confidential information
Stopping Stalkers - How Counter Surveillance Can Help
Top 5 Security WiFi Spy Cameras for the Home and Office
UK British Spy Law FAQ's
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On 1 September 2014, the Supervisory Board of ANWIL S.A. appointed Mr Piotr Chełmiński to act in the capacity of the President of the Management Board of ANWIL S.A. for three months. Mr Piotr Chełmiński is President of the Supervisory Board of ANWIL S.A. and Member of the Board of PKN ORLEN overseeing Development and Power Generation. The Supervisory Board also appointed Mr Mirosław Kwiatkowski to sit on the Management Board. There are presently four members of ANWIL S.A. Management Board.
Mr Mirosław Kwiatkowski is an Economy graduate from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. He completed a Postgraduate Course in Tax Law, a Postgraduate Course in Management (Nicolaus Copernicus University) as well as numerous management courses in accounting, controlling and management.
Mr Kwiatkowski has so far acted as, among all: President of the Management Board of IZCH Soda Mątwy in Inowrocław (2012–2013), Vice-President of the Management Board of IZCH Soda Mątwy (2010–2012) and President of the Management Board of JZS Janikosoda in Janikowo (2005–2006).


Apple has finally heard our cries. A new beta has been rolled out to finally fix the false update popups that have been plaguing iOS 12 users all day.
Get it now to save yourself from insanity.
You're probably tired of seeing this message if you're running iOS 12. It now pops up every time you unlock your iPhone or iPad. Yet there is no update available, and there is no practical way to prevent the popup from appearing over and over again.
The good news is your device isn't broken. Everyone running the iOS 12 beta is experiencing the same thing. But what's causing it?
Not all Apple ID prompts are created equal.
It's not uncommon to see a random popup that asks you to "Sign In to iTunes Store" on iOS. They sometimes appear unexpectedly, but they're usually genuine. However, one developer is warning users not to enter their password when the popup appears in third-party apps.
There is a chance that the app's developer is phishing for your Apple ID password. Luckily, there's an easy trick to distinguish legit popups from phishing attempts.
You can now access the New York Post website on iPad for free.
The New York Post introduced a paywall last year that meant iPad users accessing its website with mobile Safari would be redirected to its official iPad app, and would then have to pay a monthly subscription fee to access its content. However, it has now performed a complete u-turn and scrapped that paywall completely.


Why we Eat Burnt Wood!
Natural charcoal has many beneficial properties not least of which is its capability to adsorb over 4,000 different toxins and remove these from the body.
Natural charcoal is made by baking wood in a process which drives off all of the oxygen and most of the nutrients contained in the sap. Once burnt and in its almost pure carbon form, natural charcoal is very oxygen hungry and re-adsorbs huge amounts of oxygen once exposed again to the air.
1. Charcoal is made up of a vast number of pores and crevices, so much so that a 1cm cube would fold out to cover a tennis court! This makes it highly adsorbent and means that it can bind a wide range of toxic substances within its structure removing them from living systems. This binding capability is brought about by van de Waal forces (electro-magnetic forces on the surface of the charcoal) and in producing our specialist charcoal Toxin Buster, we have developed a method of enhancing these forces. This method is rather akin to potentising developed by Hahnemann in his explorations of homeopathy and it renders our Toxin Buster charcoal significantly more adsorbtive than other natural charcoals on the market.
2. At this juncture it is worth mentioning that this is nothing like the method used to produce activated charcoal which is usually made up of coconut shells cooked at extremely high temperatures and then acid washed to produce a very strong filter material. In our opinion this activated charcoal should not be used in mammalian systems over a longish period since it is thought to compete with nutrients at the cell wall.
3. Made from very high quality hardwood (as opposed to coconut shells) our Toxin Buster charcoal is made from one of the hardest woods available in the world.
In fact, the wood that we use to produce our potentised Toxin Buster natural charcoal comes from an absolutely pristine source that has never come into contact with any man-made chemicals. The source we use is of paramount importance since the wood comes from a renewable crop of substantial density with very deep roots. The importance of the deep roots is that these draw up into the bio-mass a number of trace elements which are vital to mammalian health. These infinitesimally small quantities of essential mineral supplements remain in our charcoal after it has been processed and give to Toxin Buster an added "kicker" which makes it unique.
As you probably know, much of the world's surface has been over-farmed and had NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium)) chemicals added to it over a longish period to enable frequent cropping. This frequent cropping has leached many of the trace elements, required for full good health, from the soil and this is something which the use of our unique charcoal Toxin Buster helps replace.
Defined by the EC as a feed additive, Toxin Buster has of itself no medicinal properties. It does not facilitate any chemical reaction, nor does it take part in any chemical reaction. As a consequence of this, the EC has ruled that our charcoal is a feed additive and as such is highly recommended in situations where a build up of toxins has taken place.
Hardwood charcoal, because it is denser than softwood charcoal, is capable of adsorbing more oxygen. This gives it a marginally higher pH than the softwood charcoal and in highly acidic situations this function is extremely valuable. A great many unfortunate and often ill-defined conditions which are presently treated by pharmaceuticals can respond to a rebalancing of the pH of the system since most of these conditions are at base brought about by over-acidification.
Natural potentised charcoal has been used for thousands of years by our species as an antidote to poison and as a method of calming and improving digestion. Increasingly used in a wide variety of products, our charcoal is the best and safest method/substance you can use to help maintain good health.
For an introductory discount on Toxin Buster 100 or 500 count capsules, use discount code BURNTWOODBLOG15 at checkout today.
The information contained above is provided for information purposes only. The contents of this blog are not intended to amount to advice and you should not rely on any of the contents of this post. Professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from taking any action as a result of the contents of this post. Not the Norm Ltd disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on any of the contents of this post.


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country giant Merle Haggard, who rose from poverty and prison to international fame though his songs about outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as "Okie From Muskogee" and "Sing Me Back Home," died Wednesday at 79, on his birthday.
Nobody ever sang a song with the heart and emotion that @merlehaggard did. No wonder it's raining today. Even God is crying.
"I'll tell you what the public likes more than anything," he told the Boston Globe in 1999. "It's the most rare commodity in the world — honesty."
When doctors found a spot on his lung in 2008, Haggard announced he didn't plan to seek treatment. But after friends and family members convinced him otherwise, he had a tumor removed and vowed to keep performing. "When I quit doing them (tours), the next big event is the funeral," he told the AP in a 1990 interview. "They keep me young."
Listen to some of Haggard's biggest hits in the Spotify playlist below.
An exceptional multitalented singer/songwriter, guitarist, and fiddler, Merle's massive success was rooted in his masterful ability to celebrate the outlaws and the underdogs. Merle's extraordinary talent resulted in more than 30 No. 1 country hits and his remarkable performances will forever live on and inspire music creators worldwide. We have lost an innovative member of the music community and our sincerest condolences go out to Merle's family, friends, collaborators and all who have been impacted by his incredible work. He will truly be missed.


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Hundreds of Aftershocks: Will Japan Ever Stop Shaking?
An aftershock map from the magnitude 9 Tohoku earthquake (yellow).
(Image: © USGS.)
In an amazing burst of seismic activity, Japan has felt hundreds of earthquakes since March 11, when a magnitude 9.0 quake triggered a tsunami that killed thousands of people and damaged some nuclear reactors.
Such seemingly rapid-fire quakes are called aftershocks a series of smaller quakes that follow the largest quake in what is generally a steadily decreasing sequence, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Since the main quake off Japan's northeastern coast, hundreds of magnitude 5 aftershocks and dozens of magnitude 6 aftershocks have struck the island of Honshu, Japan's largest and home to 100 million people. The largest aftershock was a magnitude 7.9 that struck less than an hour after the main shock.
These may seem like a lot of aftershocks, but the number and size are not considered odd for what now ranks as the fourth largest earthquake ever recorded .
"Every earthquake has aftershocks. Bigger earthquakes just have more," said Morgan Page, a geophysicist with the USGS in Pasadena, Calif.
Sendai aftershocks
After a large earthquake, tectonic plates the huge slabs of the Earth's crust that bang together to cause the original quake continue to readjust the stress along a fault, which triggers aftershocks.
Regions near Sendai, about 80 miles (130 km) west of the quake's epicenter, may feel aftershocks from the Tohoku quake for some time, according to the USGS, but their exact location and timing are unpredictable.
The number of aftershocks will continue to be highest on and near to the parts of the fault that ruptured during the magnitude 9.0 quake, according to the USGS. Farther away, aftershocks become less and less likely, Page said.
The aftershock hazard also lessens with time, Page said. A year from now, the number of aftershocks in Sendai will be a fraction of what they were right after the main quake although, based on a magnitude 9.0 quake, they will still rate a detectable number.
"This aftershock sequence will continue for years, even decades," Page said.
Aftershocks of aftershocks
Even as the aftershocks become less common, big ones could still strike. Chile saw this firsthand when a 6.6-magnitude aftershock ruptured near Maule in February, almost a year after what is now the sixth-largest earthquake in recorded history, magnitude 8.8, hit the same region.
Every aftershock of the magnitude 9.0 earthquake will itself have aftershocks. Then all of those aftershocks will have aftershocks, and the pattern will continue.
The rule of thumb for seismologists is that an aftershock will be about a magnitude of 1 lower than the main shock, said Ken Hudnut of the USGS.
Page also said a magnitude 9.0 earthquake will average 10 times as many aftershocks as a magnitude 8.0, which will have 10 times as many aftershocks as a magnitude 7.0, and so on.
"Luckily each generation of aftershocks has far fewer earthquakes than the previous generation (provided a very large aftershock does not occur), so that the sequence will eventually die out," Page said.
The probability of future major earthquakes has not been significantly raised by the one in Japan, the USGS said in a statement.
Yet that probability hasn't decreased, either. Large earthquakes have struck along the Pacific Ring of Fire, along which Japan sits, in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
The Pacific Ring of Fire is a narrow zone around the Pacific Ocean where a large chunk of Earth's earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurs. Roughly 90 percent of all the world's earthquakes and 80 percent of the largest ones strike along the Ring of Fire.
Tokyo at risk?
An apparent southward migration of aftershocks following Japan's magnitude 9.0 quake has prompted fears about seismic activity creeping toward Tokyo, with the aftershocks possibly increasing that megacity's quake risk .
One concern is based on a magnitude 6.2 aftershock that hit just west of Tokyo outside the zone where most of the aftershocks from March 11 ruptured. But this was not the only aftershock to occur outside the main cluster, and it's not usual to have a few aftershocks somewhat far away.
"I am quite skeptical of apparent migration of aftershocks to the southwest," Page said. "I don't see it in the aftershock map."
Video: Japan Before the Tsunami and After
In Pictures: Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
Japan's Explosive Geology Explained
Email OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel at bisrael@techmedianetwork.com. Follow him on Twitter @btisrael.


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Statistiche

Presenze e reti nei club
Statistiche aggiornate al 1º ottobre 2018.

Palmarès

Club

Competizioni nazionali

Arka Gdynia: 2018

Collegamenti esterni


In the hope of stabilizing its post-bankruptcy financial standings, General Motors (GM) will be unlocking 20 billion dollars (US) in initial public offering (IPO) by next month.
Although there have been no concrete announcements yet from the management, finance expects could still not figure out how much would be the prices of stock valuation. Cutting the valuation of its IPO, General Motors will be able to establish a broader base of investors and reduce its dependence to government aid. General Motors declared bankruptcy last year and sought a federal protection by invoking Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
More than 60% of the General Motors' common shares are owned by the U.S. Treasury and will probably be selling twenty to forty percent of its current level. Currently, the estimated value of the government's shares is around 11 billion dollars.
A number of banks are also likely to venture into a revolving credit line for the General Motors amounting to 5 billion dollars. As of press time, the Citigroup Inc, Bank of America Corp. and JP Morgan Chase & Co as well as Morgan Stanley have declared intent to provide the GM with 500 million dollars of credit from each of them. More banks are still to follow.
General Motors is not likely to pay the dividends to its shareholders but will plan to sell about 3 billion dollars of mandatory convertible securities to avail regular interest or payment to dividends that will sooner convert into shares in the near future. In this way, growth funds investors will definitely find interest to come in. Two major shareholders, the United Auto Workers Healthcare Trust which controls 17.5 percent of the company's total shares and the Motors Liquidation which holds 10 percent of stocks is yet to decide whether or not they will sell parts of their shares in the planned initial public offering.
The Government of Canada having sliced up an 11.7 percent of the General Motors shares has been planning to sell around 20 percent of its current shares.
General Motors's IPO at 15 to 20 million will be a record-breaking venture under Obama's government. It will surpass Visa Incorporated's 19.7 billion IPO last 2008.
But the General Motors even with the huge IPO plan still have to convince potential investors that its recovery is already gaining ground. At the end of March, General Motors still have al outstanding debt of 14.2 billion dollars and 27 billion short of its pension funding obligation during the first quarter period. Certainly, the company can utilize its IPO earnings to pay its debts and end its standing pension shortfalls.
Consumers, long conditioned to look for the greatest incentive among vehicle manufacturers, may find that the well is starting to dry up.
Car-shopping Web site Edmunds.com said the average automotive manufacturer incentive in the U.S. was $2,713, up 1.9% from the prior month, noting GM, Chrysler and Ford spent the most on incentives. While GM's November sales fell just 1.5%, the company outspent its rivals on incentives by at least $1,000 a car, subsidizing $4,300 per vehicle, says Edmunds.com. If Whitacre pulls back too much on the discounts, sales could plummet. However, the long term strategy has been clearly communicated to focus on value and quality and not on discounting. Discounting, with its fickle and fleeting mentality, ultimately will not build the brands.
Nissan spends about $2,000 to $2,500 per vehicle on incentives, compared with $1,500 to $1,700 at Honda and Toyota.
David Goetzl of Media Daily News reports that automotive ad spending continues moving in reverse — at high speed. Even with the "cash for clunkers" program and post-bankrupt General Motors and Chrysler promising significant investments in marketing, total ad spending in the category is on pace to fall more than 31% this year, according to figures from TNS Media Intelligence.
Based on data from the first half of 2009, the sector could generate $9.8 billion in spending across all media for the year — a 31.3% decline over 2008. That precipitous drop would be nearly twice the 15.7% of a year ago.
During the first six months of the year, the six leading automakers all cut spot TV spending, with Honda down the least at 27%. GM, which emerged from bankruptcy in June, was down the most at 70%; Chrysler curtailed spending 52%.
Could we all be turning more patriotic when it comes time to get a new car?
In a recent Consumer Reports survey of almost 1,800 adults, 81% of those in the market for a new car said they were likely to consider a domestic brand. That compares to just 47% looking at Asian brands and 46% in the market for European models.
"Ford has benefited the most from the recent turmoil in the auto market, with the largest gain in new-car buyers who say that they are likely to consider buying a Ford model — up 17 percentage points compared with a year ago," Consumer Reports said in a statement on Wednesday.
Consumer Reports credited Ford's aversion to accepting any federal aid with its appeal to consumers.
The number of those considering buying a GM model was up 6 percentage points. Chrysler conversely was down 25-28% attributed to their court ordered bankruptcy and recent marriage with Fiat.
Troubling for the entire auto industry is the survey finding that showed only 9% of respondents expressed interest in buying any new car in the next year, down from 19% in a June 2008 survey. That's hardly a surprise considering the big spike in sales the government's clunker promotion had in August.
So where does Detroit turn from here? With near record levels of unemployment, record foreclosure rates, perceived lack of consumer credit and a general malaise in consumer spending, it does not appear likely that Detroit will witness anything close to a recovery with new vehicle sales.
That's not stopping Detroit from coming out with new product that is built better than ever before. Witness the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse. A departure from the traditional styling of Buick. A design that can stand up with the best of the imports, including BMW and Lexus. Despite rave reviews, Buick is still faced with the task of appealing to a wealthy youthful audience that normally would never consider buying American.
The ultimate success of Buick and the rest of GM is changing consumer perceptions about the quality and design of vehicles rolling off of the assembly lines of U.S. manufacturers.


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Waste and traffic management apps come from internet of things
For years, the fridge has been the poster boy for the internet of things, but lack of commercial availability raises questions about the future
Lindsay Clark
For years, the fridge has been the poster boy for the internet of things. Suppliers imagine the connected domestic appliance anticipating 'off' milk and avoiding shortages of cheese, but lack of commercial availability raises questions about whether a multitude of online sensors might be better applied to things we discard.
Refuse collection in the Netherlands is already benefiting from the IoT. Dutch waste management firm Rova analyses thousands of datasets from multiple sensors and information sources, including GPS, smart devices and RFID tags. These provide streams on truck location, traffic congestion and bin volumes to help them optimise truck routes and bin collection times. This strips inefficiency from the waste management process and has created a 20% operational efficiency saving, the firm says (see below).
Gartner has forecast that by 2020, 30 billion devices will be connected to the internet, adding $1.9trn (£1.2 trn) in value to the global economy. The signs are that early applications are more likely to be found in industry and infrastructure, rather than consumers' homes.
In the UK, BT is working with Milton Keynes Council on the MK:Smart project, which is connecting devices detecting parking availability and traffic movement to help the town cope with an expected 60% increase in traffic (see below).
Meanwhile, industrial applications of the internet of things are gathering pace. Since 2012, manufacturing giant Siemens has been involved in Industrie 4.0, a joint initiative between German industry and government, in part designed to exploit IoT technologies.
Paul Hingley, Siemens' data service business manager, UK and Ireland, says the manufacturer is already employing IoT technology in its Amberg factory. "The crux is turning data into real information, being able to use that to form intelligence," he says. "We are embedding this into our production processes, taking data from shop floor and using it to improve production and maintenance effectiveness."
But he says manufacturers employing the IoT in their factories should be ready for its impact on their approach to data management and data infrastructure.
"There will be a massive explosion of data: that is the fallout," he says. "Siemens and our [industrial] customers have to understand this mass of data. We have developed, on a global basis, operational centres to allow for data collection and remote access to it through dashboards hosted by Siemens. Customers can have continuous data stream from embedded devices. This is a brand new business for Siemens, build from the ground up."
More about the IoT and business applications
PA Consulting's Alastair McAulay writes: "With the advent of cheap chipsets and sensors, economics are changing. What was once the preserve of esoteric machinery and expensive services is now applicable to lower-cost products."
How internet of things applications are moving into healthcare
What is the enterprise potential of the internet of things?
Hingley adds: "We don't know how much data is going to be generated. You can only estimate, and there is no way of validating those estimates."
Meanwhile, the industry requires technology suppliers and IT departments to cross boundaries that have grown up between business and industrial computing.
Demands for reliability, security and safety mean embedded industrial systems work to different standard and are managed by different people with a different culture, compared with business systems such as ERP, says Hingley. And yet the data from industrial systems will benefit the wider business.
"Operational technology is quite conservative," he says. "That is where we have the demarcation line between it and business technology. There will be more interfaces that are easier to use in both worlds, so barriers will come down. We feel the cloud will play a bigger role as a method for collecting data. That will be the big leap."
Understanding the impact
Gartner vice-president and analyst Ted Friedman says businesses are at the early stages of understanding the impact of the IoT on data management and infrastructure.
"When you ask industrial manufacturing companies what they do with the data from all the sensors they have fitted, after its initial purpose, they say they don't know," he says.
Business have yet to understand how to store and exploit the data resulting from the IoT, or how it will fit within existing data governance models.
Friedman says businesses need to consider the implications of IoT data across their infrastructure and management processes, deciding whether to adapt existing approaches and technology or build fresh resources to support IoT data (see below).
Nick Millman, Accenture lead on big data and analytics, says mastering data management is the key component to getting the benefit of data coming from IoT devices.
"Organisations have got to have a clear strategy to drive value from IoT data – they need to be thinking about how to productionise this data," he says. "To do that, you need MDM."
If Gartner is right about the number of internet connected devices, business data will soon be dwarfed by IoT data. Organisations with the infrastructure ready to exploit the data will benefit from this revolution, but the rest could be left behind.
Case study: IoT cuts waste from rubbish collection
Rova is a Dutch public waste collector serving 21 communities across the Netherlands, where households dispose of waste in nearby containers. Before last summer, Rova used to empty 1,500 of these containers using vehicles travelling a fixed route.
Dennis de Jong, Rova's IT manager, says the average container was only about half full each time it was emptied. The company knew it could make do with fewer trips, but did not want to risk containers overflowing with rubbish.
Wheelie bins were already fitted with RFID chips – used to bill people for the rubbish discarded, encouraging recycling – and garbage trucks already had GPS. The collection containers themselves have access control devices allowing householders to open them with an ID card.
By putting containers online, Rova was able to collect data about how often they were used and download the information twice a day to specialist ERP software from GMT, using the OpenEdge platform developed by Progress Software.
Data analytics helps predict when each container is likely to be full. Route optimisation software guides the garbage trucks to the containers that most need emptying, avoiding those that are not yet full.
"Now each container is up to 75% full when we empty it," says de Jong. "This means we have fewer vehicles, driving shorter distances, producing less CO2 by using data that is already there, but in a smarter way. We save about 20% of our operating costs using this software."
Case study: Milton Keynes uses IoT for parking puzzle
Milton Keynes is the UK's fastest-growing local authority. But with such growth comes problems. Traffic is set to increase by more than 5% in the next few years, only half of which can be accommodated by the town's infrastructure.
But more intelligent management of traffic and parking might help Milton Keynes cope with this volume of traffic without laying new roads and reducing the number of new parking spaces needed, according to Alan Ward, head of corporate ICT research at BT.
BT is a partner in MK:Smart, a £16m collaborative initiative partly funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and led by the Open University. It aims to employ technology such as IoT to aid economic growth in Milton Keynes.
BT's initial project addressed the problem of parking. Using narrow-band radio transmission from nWave to lower cost and power consumption compared with 3G and 4G networks, BT is linking a variety of sensors to detect whether a parking space is in use.
Data will be uploaded to a BT data hub and become available to data scientists and application developers. The aim is to predict which parking spaces will be vacant and guide drivers to them. At the moment, the scheme is testing a sensor technology based on infrared and modulation of Wi-Fi signal when a car is in the space.
Data from a small number of parking sensors is live and online, but the project is looking for partners to commercialise the service.
What IoT means for data management
Use standards where available
Alan Ward, head of corporate ICT research at BT, says some standards will be useful, such as Standard ML, Extended ML, REST (a simple stateless architecture that generally runs over HTTP), JSon (JS Object Notation, a text-based, human-readable data interchange format). Other embedded devices will have sector-specific semantics that may need some bespoke code to bring into general-purpose computing.
Suppliers will help, but need partners
Paul Hingley, Siemens' data service business manager, UK and Ireland, says established data management suppliers such as IBM, Oracle and Teradata want to play a role in IoT data, but will need partnerships with suppliers that have a history in industry specific embedded systems.
Get ready for an explosion in volume
Nick Millman, Accenture's lead on big data and analytics, says: "There are big implication for the data environment for organisations to exploit the IoT. We are talking about much larger datasets than BI or operational reporting. Once a device is connected, it can produce continuous data in real time. You need the right platform, tools and processes to aggregate that. Then you can get value from data science."
Look to extend data governance to IoT data
Gartner research vice-president Ted Friedman says: "It's a big worry see suppliers with a specific IoT platform or solution. You worry it will be siloed, a thing off to the side. Our guidance is that although this stuff is new, you need to think about extending practice on data governance to IoT. Likewise, with analytics, you have made good investments, so figure out ways to leverage them."
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Located at a distance of 15 miles from the hill station of Munnar, Kerala, India, is the hotel called Marayoor Holidays. The place of Marayoor can be dubbed as a backpackers heaven because of its lush green surroundings. This hotel is located at a distance of 85 kilometers from the Coimbatore International Airport. This hotel offers its guests all the comforts of the modern day and combines nature with luxury. The hotel has two types of accommodation options which are the Deluxe Double or Twin Room and the Budget Double Room. Each of these rooms have the basic facilities like fully equipped bathrooms, TV, Safety Deposit Box, Electric Kettle and many more.


The book is as clearly structured as the work of the office. Prototypen is a bulky volume that documents projects by Delft architecture firm Cepezed as well as various aspects of product development, building process and architecture that the office has been involved in over the past 35 years.
Divided into three chapters – product, process and architecture – the book includes contributions from eight writers in circles around Cepezed that explore the special position of the office in the field. Each article is followed by a case study of a project related to the theme under discussion. In the chapter 'Process', the article on Engineer Led Design and Build is illustrated by the PTT Post distribution centres. The text and a selection of photos, sketches, details and design drawings illustrate precisely those elements that are relevant to the theme in question. As a result, the book offers perhaps an unusual project overview, because not every project is extensively featured and integrally documented. It does, however, offer very incisive insight into the office philosophy and the line of development that Cepezed has drawn straight through architectural history. The hefty size of the book, with big photos and drawings, makes it easy to convey the meticulousness of the office's designs. A simple and clear style of drawing, consistency in terms of scales, and the sparse hatching all combine to present a clearly communicate the ambitions, working method and evolution of the office. Included at the end of the book is a complete overview of projects with extensive information about publications, employees, biographies and the authors.
Silver metallic was chosen for the print ink, probably as a reference to the colours and materials used by Cepezed. This doesn't make the book any easier to read, however. Moreover, some images are so small they no longer communicate much. But apart from the occasional frivolous element, the layout and form of the book make it very similar to a Cepezed design: clear, logical and efficient.
In this section of the book Jan Westra, Maarten Willems and Els Zijlstra describe the history of prefabrication in construction and the protracted process from pilot run to mass production. For Cepezed and other pioneers of prefabrication, the prototype usually marks the end of the road unfortunately. This is largely down to the fact that the prototype is usually seen by the risk-bearing party in the construction sector as a 'finished' investment object rather than a working model at full scale as a stage on the way to a pilot run. The unfulfilled ambitions of the office in this area are well expressed in the introduction by editor Piet Vollaard when, referring to the Heiwo industrial house-construction system, he writes that Cepezed had a brilliant answer to a question that was never posed. In the case of Cepezed, however, that is not to say that development ceases once the prototype has been made. The further development of semi-finished products, ideas and design principles only really takes place when these can be applied again in later designs. Numerous innovations in the field of façades and floors, such as self-supporting sandwich panels, climate screens and integrated floors, were created by Cepezed and refined and improved in each successive project. One of the most surprising later applications is probably the prefabricated sanitary unit, originally designed as a bathroom for the 1982 Heiwo dwelling and applied for the first time in the renovation of the Entrepotdok in 1997.
Frustrated on the one hand by development parties who view the prototype as the end of a process, and on the other by contractors who keep on making up their own details and drawings, Cepezed decided to integrate both forwards and backwards into the design and construction process. In their contributions, Ad Bisschops and Menno Rubbens describe the efforts of Cepezed to achieve more harmony between design and building by planning the construction process in a different way, improving the continuity of the process and reducing the time needed for completion. Such attempts go beyond the mandate of an architecture firm. With the establishment of BGC (Bouwteam General Contractors), Cepezed is assured of a party that can take on the coordinating role in construction and act directly on the instructions of the client. The adopted method of partial tendering demands that construction be easily split into building components that can be assembled by the suppliers. The meticulous technical ingenuity in the integrated designs of Cepezed has far-reaching consequences for the building process, but the chosen building method with components and carefully planned phases influences the design too. Despite the chosen process organisation, innovation remains troublesome as long as parties that avoid taking risks continue to play a leading role in the industry. Cepezed Systems was set up to facilitate Engineer Led Design and Build, a form of contract in which Cepezed takes on the risk for construction. Cepezed distinguishes itself from other Dutch architecture firms through its concern for the total production process and the consequences for business operations, and it seems to have found a strong answer to the marginalisation of the design profession.
In the third section of the book Ronald Schleurholts, Ed Melet and Olof Koekebakker describe the design methodology employed by Cepezed, the romanticism of steel structures, and the way in which the office deals with the issue of identity in architecture. The section on the Cepezed design methodology reads like a cookbook. It describes the seemingly simple and rather hermetic recipe for a good Cepezed building. The first choice is between a box-in-a-box principle and a laterally zoned building. Then the building has to be adapted to the urban context. This is achieved by allowing the building, or a second skin, to adopt the form of the site. Finally, the tested materials and details – some of which may have been improved – can be deployed and the neutral structure can be used as a billboard. A rational, extremely controlled and logical architecture is the guaranteed result. Using a writing metaphor, Koekebakker says is it more poetry than prose, and within that genre, more a haiku than a sonnet.
The book offers a fitting overview of 35 years in the development of a quintessentially Dutch firm of architects and inventors and its steady search for optimal techniques and processes to create clear buildings that are enjoyable to use. In addition to the timeless aesthetic pleasure that can be experienced in the designs and the craftsmanship displayed at detail level, the much-discussed role of the architect in the design process today is examined in the book. For fellow architects, the steps taken by the office to get a better grip on the entire design and building process are probably more important than the innovations that Cepezed has achieved within integrated design thinking. A must read for every architect who wrestles with the threatened depreciation of the discipline.