text:
Chinese insurer buys NYC's Waldorf Astoria Hotel
By JACK FREIFELDER in New York(China Daily USA)
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc announced on Monday that it has agreed to sell the Waldorf Astoria New York Hotel for $1.95 billion to Anbang Insurance Group Co, a leading Chinese insurance company based in Beijing. As part of this long-term strategic partnership, Anbang will grant Hilton Worldwide a management agreement to continue to operate the property for the next 100 years. [Photo by Jack Freifelder / China Daily USA]
China's Anbang Insurance Group Co has acquired the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York for $1.95 billion.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement to sell the 60,000-square-foot property that straddles Lexington and Park avenues. It will be the largest amount ever paid for a US hotel, according to research firm Lodging Econometrics, and the highest price paid by a Chinese buyer for a US property to date, according to CBRE Group Inc.
When Anbang's purchase is completed, Chinese investors will have spent $2.7 billion on New York-area real estate in 2014, exceeding last year's total by $100 million, according to Real Capital Analytics Inc, a research firm that tracks commercial real estate sale.
The purchase is Anbang's first major deal in the United States, and the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Anbang had to beat out two other bidders.
"There really are no other sales to compare it to," Bruce Ford, senior vice-president and director of global business development at Lodging Econometrics, told Bloomberg News on Monday. "It is the most unique asset with the most unique location in the world."
Under the purchase agreement, Hilton will manage the hotel. The two companies said they plan to undertake a major renovation that will "restore the property to its historic grandeur," according to a press release.
The Waldorf Astoria opened in 1931 as the tallest and largest hotel in the world, according to its website. But Hilton did not purchase the property until 1972.
Christopher J Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, said in a statement on Monday that Hilton is "very excited" to be entering into a long-term relationship with Anbang.
"This relationship represents a unique opportunity for our organizations to work together to finally maximize the full value of this iconic asset on a full city block in midtown Manhattan," Nassetta said. "[And it] will ensure that the Waldorf Astoria New York represents the brand's world-class standards for generations to come."
Hilton also said it plans to use the proceeds from the sale to make additional acquisitions in the hotel and hospitality sector, but no information about future purchases have been announced at this time.
Kevin Mallory, global head of the hotel unit of commercial real estate brokerage CBRE Group Inc, told Bloomberg News Monday that the pending $1.95 billion price tag for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel is the most paid by a Chinese buyer for a US property to date.
"We're seeing a diversification strategy being employed by insurance companies and others, and it's also true when it comes to private Chinese investors," Mallory said in an interview with Bloomberg News. "We've seen a lot of wealth generated there over the last decade, and we see private investors diversifying their portfolio around the globe."
Hilton Worldwide has its headquarters in Virginia. It is one of the world's largest global hospitality companies, with holdings in properties around the world, including luxury, full-service and extended-stay hotels.
With nearly 100 years of experience in the industry, Hilton's portfolio is comprised of more than 4,200 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels, with approximately 690,000 rooms in more than 90 countries.
The Waldorf is also the flagship hotel of Hilton's worldwide luxury brand, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts. Since the brand's inception in 2007, it has increased its holdings to nearly 30 hotels, including properties in Amsterdam, Bangkok, Beijing, Chicago, Dubai, Jerusalem and Shanghai.
Anbang, a leading Chinese insurance company founded in 2004 and based in Beijing, provides a variety of financial and insurance services to its clientele, including life, health and property insurance, as well as asset management services.
The deal for the Waldorf is the most recent Chinese property purchase in New York, but it is not the only recent high-profile deal.
In December 2013, Fosun International Ltd, the investment branch of the larger Fosun Group, agreed to buy One Chase Manhattan Plaza from JPMorgan Chase & Co for $725 million.
Earlier last year, Zhang Xin, co-founder of Chinese real estate giant Soho China Ltd, led a group in its purchase of a 40-percent stake in midtown Manhattan's General Motors Building.
First Hilton Hotel opens in Foshan
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Academy will turn a Hilton into an International Center for Chinese
Paris Hilton arrives at 'Comedy Club' in Jurmala
Hilton makes room for middle-class expansion
Hilton hotels heading for roll in China
Conrad Hilton's secret rehab treatment
Paris Hilton takes new romance to Hawaii
Paris Hilton dating male mode
Hilton's sweet tweets attract Chinese fans
HK occupiers urged to reflect
West Lake patrol on bicycle
US, India stir S. China Sea debate
Chinese hybrid rice yield hits record
Fog affects flights, highways in N. China
China issues white paper on Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
Spanish nurse is suspected of Ebola infection
Deadly viral fever breaks out in Uganda
India, Pakistan troops trade fire on Kashmir
Thai people pray for King's health
Ebola could reach France and UK by end-Oct
Chinese company buys Waldorf Astoria Hotel
China, US seek media common ground
Big believer in real estate now a skeptic due to sluggish sales
Confucius rite in NY
Castellers build human towers
Are You the One Down South?
Media urged to help bilateral ties
KMT veterans recognized
Top 8 expenses during the National Day holiday
Alibaba - Journey of the tech giant
Top 10 cheapest new energy cars promoted in China
11th China-ASEAN Expo
Go Wuxi: Canal city in transition
HK occupiers urged to reflect on campaign
WB cuts China growth forecast
World Bank weighs protest's economic impact
162,629 'phantom' staffers taken off govt payrolls
Holiday tourism fever continues
Smog, fog to shroud China
Services growth hits 8-month low
Helping US-Hong Kong links
Royal Caribbean sails to Shanghai
Beijing tower set to scale new heights
China launches HD Earth observation satellite
Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force conducts drill
Huge paper sky lantern released in S China
Sochi Olympics

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A new website aims to become the first online stop for building supplies.
Ken's Yard, based in Grangemouth, has been launched selling more than 30,000 products, and has plans to increase the range to 45,000.
Former MGM Timber owners Charles McLeish and Joe McConville have teamed up with Ken McLelland - previously regional director of Buildbase - for the venture.
Also on the board are Andrew Sutherland, former UK financial controller and company secretary of Keyline Builders Merchant, and 5pm.co.uk chairman Charles Shaw.
Aimed at project and self-builders, plus smaller merchants, the site has already received enquiries from China.
McLelland said: "Ken's Yard enables building professionals to reduce procurement costs by taking full advantage of the reach and power of the internet without compromising quality or choice of products.
"When we looked closely at the e-commerce operators in the repairs, maintenance and improvements market we saw there were some specialist operators which were mostly in very narrow product sectors and that there were one or two well-known, established operators offering a wider, but more DIY-orientated range.
"The gap we saw was to combine the credibility associated with a specialist site with the wider appeal of the generalist site.
"Essentially we have positioned Ken's Yard so it will appeal to the professional who now sees the benefits of e-commerce while being accessible to the competent project builder who is quite comfortable researching and sourcing online, and prefers to do so."
Royal Bank of Scotland has provided funding support.
Frank Livingston, relationship director for RBS Tayside, said: "We have funds available and are determined to lend it to support sustainable businesses and help restart growth in the economy.
"The support we have provided for Ken's Yard is a reflection of the professionalism, determination and commitment shown by the management team and shareholders."
Branding for Ken's Yard was designed by Graven Images, web design was by X402 while Bigmouthmedia is providing digital support.


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Float Application
GAABA
Parade Map
The Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (G.A.A.B.A.)
About G.A.A.B.A.
The corporation's date of formation is April 29, 1987, and its assigned file number is 103654601. The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to:
Said corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes , the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
The merchants on and around Greenville Ave. came together and formed the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (G.A.A.B.A.) to help unify the businesses and promote the Greenville Avenue area. Its first objective is and always will be the presentation of the Annual Greenville Ave. St. Patrick's Day Parade. This parade is considered a Dallas tradition and is the largest St. Patrick's Parade in the South.
In 2009 G.A.A.B.A. set up its DISD College Scholarship Program. G.A.A.B.A. provides assistance to DISD students in the Greenville Ave. area who show scholastic promise but are otherwise financially challenged. The students are chosen by their teachers and the monies given are generated, in large part, by the St. Patrick's Parade. G.A.A.B.A. is pleased to have contributed to the pursuit of higher education and it is continuously making efforts to grow the dollar amount of each scholarship as well as the number of students aided.
Kevin Vela
Vela Wood PC
Tommy Donahue
Milo Butterfingers
Philip Brewer
Comerica Bank
Ashton Hecker
Raising Canes
Jorge Levy
Desperadoes Restaurants
Jake Levy
"It's just what you do in Dallas for St. Patrick's Day."
Witnessing the Dallas St. Patrick's Parade & Festival (formerly knows as the "Greenville Ave St. Patrick's Parade) puts you in a quasi fraternity of sorts. It's a little like going to Mardi Gras and then again not so much. This occasion is truly unique. The parade has become the signature event of the St. Patrick's celebration for our fair city. Many Dallasites have attended and bared witness to the evolution of this neighborhood parade from about ten pickup trucks and a couple of flatbeds to the largest St. Patrick's parade in the Southwest.
It all began in 1979 and was really nothing more than just a few vehicles, more than a few cold ones and a dream. There was a quick trip down the street, sometimes amidst traffic, a few honks and waves and then back to the bar. The parade actually began on lower Greenville Ave. and was a nice little community event for those first few years. Word got around about this little neighborhood spectacle and attendance began to grow. So much in fact that the residents in the adjacent neighborhoods felt that they were too close to the traditional St. Patrick's Day revelry and they overwhelmingly spoke out to their area council person. And in 1987 the Dallas City Council cancelled the event entirely.
Later that year a group of like-minded business owners banded together to form the Greenville Avenue Area Business Association (G.A.A.B.A.) in an effort to keep the parade going. Negotiations between G.A.A.B.A. and the city began with number of issues ranging from crowd control to littering. One stipulation from the city was that the parade was to be moved to the North, where the residential neighborhoods would not be disturbed. Also, the wider street would allow emergency services and police to better access the area's businesses and residents during the parade. Although G.A.A.B.A. was tenacious in its attempt to persuade the city to accept the parade's application, in 1988 the city stood firm in its decision and the parade was officially called off.
This, however, did not sway the public's demand for this parade. So one spontaneously occurred. The signs on the make-shift floats stated "this is not a parade" and it was anything but. The un-parade was the indicator that this parade was here to stay. The city soon relented, who knows really for what reason, and the permit for the 1989 Greenville Ave. St. Patrick's Parade was granted. That year's parade received rave reviews in the Dallas Morning News as "a real hum-dinger and a lot of fun for the whole family." There were over 20,000 spectators that year, a green longhorn steer, three elephants with green toenails and the same councilperson who had so adamantly opposed the parade in previous years even served as a judge.
In the years that followed, the parade has embedded itself deeply in Dallas folklore. "It's just what you do in Dallas for St. Patrick's Day." This parade offers something for everyone's taste, be it bad or good. Those who remember this parade's humble beginnings could have never imagined it would reach these phenomenal proportions. With one hundred plus floats and attendance close to one hundred thousand, this "little neighborhood" parade rivals other top ten metropolitan areas such as Boston, Chicago, and New York. The Greenville Ave. St. Patrick's Parade is traditionally held the Saturday preceding St. Patrick's Day, March 17th around 11:00 am.
Dallas St. Patrick's Parade & Festival is proudly powered by WordPress


text:
Interview How To Say Bye
'Shades of Blue' Finale Ray Liotta Says Goodbye Wants
10/12/2013 · What to Say in Every Job Interview shows you how to focus Decode the hidden meaning behind interview questions and prepare the perfect answer to land the job During a job interview, there are no right or wrong answers, just better and worse answers.... Atkinson said it was a funny line, referring to the fact that Swiss people are not very well defined as a race, as they are quite discrete and don't have a clear identity like French people, for example, so it would be funny to say something like that.
Job Interview By Phone? What to Say
11/05/2015 · FL Studio Power User - http://support.image-line.com/redirect/Seven_Lions https://www.facebook.com/SevenLions https://soundcloud.com/seven-lions http://www.b...... A former employer is a future reference. ~ www.jaywren.com. When Leaving a Company, knowing how to say goodbye gracefully is important. What are the do's and don'ts of an exit interview?
The Magnetic Fields – How to Say Goodbye Lyrics Genius
Seize control of the interview by being the first person in the room to smile and say hello. A firm handshake is appropriate and projects confidence. Make eye contac t when you shake. how to make burdock root tea Following my heart with my husband and four daughters. An Emmy Award winning journalist lucky enough to work in television & radio for 20 years -seeing wonderful places, meeting great people and telling their stories.
8 Things to ALWAYS Say in an Interview Business Insider
On Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the Eagles were eliminated by the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round, head coach Doug Pederson seemed to confirm Foles is all but gone. how to say stuff and not get net up These expressions are best for formal or professional situations when you'll need to end a conversation and say goodbye in situations such as: Leaving a business meeting Finishing a job interview
Saying a Professional Goodbye Call Centre Helper
Job interview on the phone Saying 'hello' and 'good-bye
Doug Pederson thanks Nick Foles seems to say goodbye in
How to Write the Perfect Goodbye Email When Leaving a Job
How to Say Goodbye Conducting an Effective Exit Interview
10/12/2013 · What to Say in Every Job Interview shows you how to focus Decode the hidden meaning behind interview questions and prepare the perfect answer to land the job During a job interview, there are no right or wrong answers, just better and worse answers.
18/10/2017 · --shake her hand.--keep good eye contact.--say "Good-bye" Say "good-bye" and thank the secretay as you walk out. Every interview should be followed by a thank you letter . It is just one more chance to show that you really do want to work for that company.
10/09/2010 · Here is a previous thread on the subject of greetings: Answering the phone It contains links to other threads. I found only one previous thread on what to say when you hang up.
It's important to leave your job interview making the best possible impression, and that includes knowing how to say goodbye to the hiring manager and close the business meeting in a way that can have a profound impact on the outcome.
"I don't want to keep you" is a way to say that you respect the other person's time, so you won't continue the conversation for hours and hours. This also signals that the conversation is coming to an end. It is often used during phone calls.
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Marlin on How To Return A Large Item To Costco
Samanta Cruze on How To Make French Ice Cream


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Bondsville, MA
Best Events Near You in Bondsville, Massachusetts
Bob Mould and Will Johnson
Tuesday, Jan 21, 2020 from 12:00am to 3:38am
Gateway City Arts
Exhibition - Money Matters: Meaning, Power, And Change In The History Of Currency
South Hadley, MA
Exhibition - Katrien Vermeire: Der Kreislauf (A Handful)
Bondsville Top Searches
Mark Curry
The Armory at MGM Springfield
Panopera
Friday, Jan 24, 2020 at 7:30pm
Calvin Theater
Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Academy Of Music Theatre
About Us: The mission of the Academy of Music is to enrich greater Northampton's quality of life by offering first class performing arts and film p...
Amelia Park Arena
Amelia Park is an ice arena/sports complex and memorial garden, financed by the late Westfield philanthropist Albert F. Ferst (1919-2011), in memor...
Amherst Historical Society and Museum
67 Amity Street
Amherst, MA
The Amherst History Museum opened in 1916 and is governed by the Amherst Historical Society, which was founded in 1899. Housed in the 1750-era Sime...
Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary
127 Combs Road
Easthampton, MA
Spanning Easthampton and Northampton, Arcadia's diverse terrain (forest, meadows, grasslands, marsh, and wetlands) attracts an extraordinary ...
Balise Scion Skate Park
Cooks Playground, off Morton Street
Area youth's have been enjoying a state-of-the-art skate park since July 2007 by a generous donation made by Balise. The hours are 9 a.m. to...
1000 Hall Fame Ave
History:- Since 1959, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has honored and celebrated the game's greatest moments and brightest sta...
Belchertown, MA
Berkshire East Mountain Resort
66 Thunder Mountain Road
Charlemont, MA
Berkshire East is Southern New England's fastest growing four season resort. We are a family owned and operated business that features great skiing...
Bicentennial Giant Chair
Between Bond and Cross Streets
Gardner, MA
Breezy Picnic Grounds & Waterslides
520 Northwest Main Street
About:- A family-owned recreational facility nestled in the heart of the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor in south central Massachuset...
Charlemont Reggae Festival
5 Factory Road
The Charlemont Reggae Festival has been a staple in Western Massachusetts for the past 35 years! The goal of the festival is to bring the community...
Claytime
Claytime offers more than pottery work, with their huge range of mediums and materials you can also make your own masterpiece with beading, glass f...
Cornerstone Performing Arts Center
Fitchburg, MA
About:- Cornerstone Performing Arts Center is a non-profit arts organization with the mission to educate, entertain, and inspire through mus...
Davis Farmland
145 Redstone Hill Road
Sterling, MA
The Vision: Larry Davis has always believed that "Over the generations, the Davis family has always trusted that hard work and innovation wi...
Dr Seuss National Memorial
21 Edwards Street,
In the centre of Springfield there is a park called The Quadrangle which contains sculptures of some of your favourite Dr.Seuss characters - great ...
Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art
125 West Bay Road
Mission: The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and readi...
Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park
Florence, MA
Look Park, consisting of over one hundred & fifty acres, is a gift to the City of Northampton from Mrs. Fannie Burr Look. She provided the land...
Grafton Skatepark
Off Providence Road
Grafton, MA
Green Hill Skatepark
Green Hill Pkwy
Greenbrier Skatepark
Oxford, MA


What's Your Cost Per Repair ? - Ultra Bond, Inc.
What's Your Cost Per Repair ?
Your Cost Per Repair (CPR) does not come from the price you pay for resin. It comes from the efficiency of your repair tool.
Think about how many drops of resin you use to repair one average stone-break. The average chip repair only requires one drop of resin to be completely filled.
Try this experiment yourself next time you do an average size stone-break. Place only two drops of resin into your Ultra Bond injector and do the repair following the steps below. When finished empty your injector onto the glass and you will see there is still resin in the injector.
Review- Removing your Ultra Bond Crackmaster tool off the glass after finishing a repair (not wasting any resin) : (1) Cure under pressure, (2) loosen the leveling bolt and injector just a little, (3) give the piston a 1/2 turn (counterclockwise) putting it slightly into the vacuum mode and (4) pop off the tool, turn the tool upside down and place the cap back on the injector. Note- this break down after the repair takes about ten seconds.
You might also give thought to just how much air you have been led to believe is in a chip, when one drop of resin completely fills most of them. Do you really need all that much vacuum and all the cumbersome time-consuming steps and gizmos that come with it? How long does your manufacturer suggest you vacuum for. You only need one HG of vacuum to remove that one drop of air in the space that is almost completely filled with glass. The main benefit of vacuum (if it is does not require additional steps and equipment) is that it speeds up the repair by creating a vacuum in the space/void and helps the resin wick the glass. When it comes to vacuum, we have 24 HGs available and it only takes 5-10 seconds to vacuum a stone-break.
Since you should be and are being paid by your customer to restore the structural integrity of their safety device, resin deserves your due diligence and is the last place you should cut corners. Resin is the only thing you leave your customer with. It is your reputation. Ultra Bond's website has lab tests and other data that shows Ultra Bond restores to 100%, is stronger than new glass strength and passes the same federal tests required a new windshield? If you do not use Ultra Bond resin exclusively, do you have lab tests and data on that resin?
Your cost to repair a chip with Ultra Bond's stone-damage Classic Crackmaster tool is 8 cents per chip repair at our $25 per bottle price which contains 400 drops. Even if you hypothetically paid four times more at $100 your cost to restore the windshield to 100% would still only be 32 cents. How much is your customer worth to you? Should you buy resin that you have never seen lab tests or any data on?
When it comes to resin we provide lab tests and data that shows our resin restores to 100% and greater than new windshield strength. Our crack resins restore to over 152% of new glass strength. Unbreakable and stronger than a new windshield - that is what we deliver. A windshield with an Ultra Bond long crack repair has over 50% more mechanical flexural strength than a new windshield. That means the force to break the repaired windshield is over 50% greater than it is to break a brand new windshield. Our resin's temperature range is -30 F (below zero) to +300 F. For over 25 years we have provided independent lab tests, field tests and real world data on our resins performance. No other company provides any such data on their resins. When State Farm was sued in the class action Cullen v State Farm, stating that windshield repair did not restore to pre-loss condition and that State Farm owed insureds a new windshield for every repair they had a claim for. State Farm prevailed using a study of Ultra Bond Resin to prove to the Supreme Court that windshield repair can be as strong as new glass.
The Ultra Bond Classic Crackmaster Tool is the most efficient tool and has the lowest CPR (Cost Per Repair) of any other tool on the market. Ultra Bond tools deliver only the amount of resin needed to completely fill the break without wasting one drop. Most all of the other tools on the market waste two to four times more resin than needed to fill one break either by requiring at least two to three drops to pressurize and/or needing to refill after each repair which dumps more resin than was needed to fill the break. This may be so they can sell you more resin. We do not do this because we treat our customers the same way we want to be treated ourselves.
Many technicians who have been in the repair business for many years come to Ultra Bond for additional training. We have them bring their tools because many are wanting to learn long crack repair and want to see if their tools will work for that. The other tools never do it smoothly or quickly if at all. Before we get started with training we make two identical stone-breaks to compare the time, the number of steps and amount of resin it takes to properly and completely repair a stone-break. This other injector that we see most often is sold by a number of other manufacturers such as Delta Kits and Novus (it has a white bootie in the injector cylinder at the outside end where it seals against the glass-see the photos below. It takes eight more steps, five times the amount of time to do a simple chip repair and dumps/wastes most of the resin they are instructed to put into the injector to do one chip repair. The Cost Per Repair is four times more and the time to complete a repair is five times longer.
and requires 8 more steps than the Ultra Bond Injector.
At Ultra Bond we do not take advantage of our customers in any way, shape or form and we are the one and only windshield repair manufacturer in the world who takes on the Insurers and the TPAs in court. The ones that are breaking every civil law that protects competition, free enterprise and consumers. They are also your biggest problem and your biggest obstacle to your right to free enterprise and to make a living in the United States of America. They steal your jobs and they steal your profit. This is a huge and very expensive undertaking that only Ultra Bond has had the courage to undertake.
When it comes to windshield repair, which windshield repair manufacturer deserves your business ?


text:
Q: PFUser() and handling the password member I apologize for a really long question. Most of the code is redundant. Please take a look!!!
At first, I thought the specified information was sent in the else part as seemed to be indicated by the Parse documentation, https://parse.com/docs/ios/guide#users:
func myMethod() {
  var user = PFUser()
  user.username = "myUsername"
  user.password = "myPassword"
  user.email = "email@example.com"
  // other fields can be set just like with PFObject
  user["phone"] = "415-392-0202"

  user.signUpInBackgroundWithBlock {
    (succeeded: Bool, error: NSError?) -> Void in
    if let error = error {
      let errorString = error.userInfo?["error"] as? NSString
      // Show the errorString somewhere and let the user try again.
    } else {
      // Hooray! Let them use the app now.
    }
  }
}

Note, the "Hooray! Let them use the app now." So I thought as long as the control flow doesn't reach else{}, the specified information will not be sent to the cloud. But I was wrong. After much trial and error, this is the conclusion that I have arrived to. signUpInBackgroundWithBlock sends the necessary information if error is equal to nil. Please correct me if I am wrong. Here is why. As long as the username member is unique and is in the form of "something@something.com", signUpInBackgroundWithBlock will send the specified information to the cloud, even if, the other fields are empty.
The following code is quite redundant and I apologize for that. Just ignore all the alertController code.
import UIKit
import Parse

class SignUpViewController: UIViewController {

    @IBOutlet weak var firstName: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var lastName: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var emailAddress: UITextField!
    @IBOutlet weak var password: UITextField!

    override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()
        firstName.becomeFirstResponder()
    }

    @IBAction func signUp(sender: AnyObject) {
        let user = PFUser()
        user["firstName"] = firstName.text
        user["lastName"] = lastName.text
        user.email = emailAddress.text
        user.password = password.text
        user.username = emailAddress.text

        user.signUpInBackgroundWithBlock { (succeeded: Bool, error: NSError?) -> Void in
            if self.firstName.text == "" {
                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your first name", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else if self.lastName.text == "" {
                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your last name", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else if self.emailAddress.text == "" {
                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your email", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else if self.password.text == "" {
                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter a password", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else if let error = error {
                var errorString = error.userInfo?["error"] as? NSString
                errorString = String(errorString!)

                if (errorString?.rangeOfString("missing username").toRange() != nil) {
                    errorString = "missing email address"
                }

                if (errorString?.rangeOfString("username \(self.emailAddress.text) already taken").toRange() != nil) {
                    errorString = "email \(self.emailAddress.text) already taken"
                }

                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "\(errorString!)", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else {
                println("SDFJPOIWEJRPOIJWEPOITPOEWIJRPOWIEJRPIWOJEPTIHWEPROIJWPEROIJ")
            }
        }
    }
}

Also, interesting thing is it seems that Parse should generate an error if the password member is empty since it is part of PFUser() as an error gets generated when username is empty. But that doesn't seem to be the case.
So the bottom line is: I don't want signUpInBackgroundWithBlock to send the specified information to the cloud if the other fields are empty. And I'm not sure how to do that. Anyone have a suggestion to fix this problem?

A: You just need to move your validation code outside of User.signUpInBackgroundWithBlock callback:
@IBAction func signUp(sender: AnyObject) {
    let user = PFUser()
    user["firstName"] = firstName.text
    user["lastName"] = lastName.text
    user.email = emailAddress.text
    user.password = password.text
    user.username = emailAddress.text

    if firstName.text == "" {
        let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your first name", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
        alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
            //println("Handle Ok logic here")
        }))
        presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
    } else if lastName.text == "" {
        let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your last name", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
        alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
            //println("Handle Ok logic here")
        }))
        presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
    } else if emailAddress.text == "" {
        let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter your email", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
        alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
            //println("Handle Ok logic here")
        }))
        presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
    } else if password.text == "" {
        let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "please enter a password", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
        alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
            //println("Handle Ok logic here")
        }))
        presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
    } else {
        user.signUpInBackgroundWithBlock { (succeeded: Bool, error: NSError?) -> Void in
            if let error = error {
                var errorString = error.userInfo?["error"] as? NSString
                errorString = String(errorString!)

                if (errorString?.rangeOfString("missing username").toRange() != nil) {
                    errorString = "missing email address"
                }

                if (errorString?.rangeOfString("username \(self.emailAddress.text) already taken").toRange() != nil) {
                    errorString = "email \(self.emailAddress.text) already taken"
                }

                let alertController = UIAlertController(title: "", message: "\(errorString!)", preferredStyle: UIAlertControllerStyle.Alert)
                alertController.addAction(UIAlertAction(title: "Ok", style: .Default, handler: { (action: UIAlertAction!) in
                    //println("Handle Ok logic here")
                }))
                self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
            } else {
                println("SDFJPOIWEJRPOIJWEPOITPOEWIJRPOWIEJRPIWOJEPTIHWEPROIJWPEROIJ")
            }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home . Ottawa Insider . Ottawa Fury FC
Ottawa Fury FC
Come cheer on the Ottawa Fury FC! Ottawa's United Soccer League (USL) team plays its home games at TD Place Stadium at Lansdowne. Paint your face red and black or dress up in the team's colours and join the fun as the Ottawa Fury FC plays against teams including the Tampa Bay Rowdies, the New York Red Bulls II, the Toronto FC II and other rivals.
The Ottawa Fury FC, Ottawa's first professional soccer team, made its North American Soccer League (NASL) debut on April 12, 2014 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In 2017, the Ottawa Fury FC joined the United Soccer League, the largest professional soccer league in the world comprised of teams from the U.S. and Canada.
The team plays its home games at TD Place at Lansdowne, a state-of-the-art stadium located in the bustling Glebe neighbourhood, near the Rideau Canal.
The Ottawa Fury FC's mascot is Sparky –a red character with flame-like hair.
Ottawa Fury FC tickets are available at CapitalTickets.ca.
FallFast FactsSportsSummer


Today it's my pleasure to announce the General Availability of Microsoft Power BI Embedded. Power BI Embedded is a globally available, cloud-scale service that gives ISVs the ability to create, deploy, and manage data-rich applications with ease. By leveraging Microsoft Power BI, ISVs can bring compelling and interactive data visualizations to their customers. This empowers users to explore and engage with data visualizations which are built into their applications, helping to quickly and easily unlock insights, and take action.
World-wide availability: Power BI Embedded is available worldwide enabling deployment of Embedded service resources as close as possible to your customers.
Data security: ISVs can build large-scale, multi-tenant applications and secure their data based on the user context with Row Level Security.
Store your data in cloud SQL: ISV customers can store data in Azure SQL, Azure SQL DW and other cloud-accessible, SQL-compatible sources.
Export data from visuals: users can easily export the data from any visual in their report with just 2-clicks.
Versioned APIs: All REST APIs for the Power BI Embedded service are properly versioned. Developers can be sure they're building against stable APIs even as new features are released.
Simpler billing: Coming in September, the billing model for Power BI Embedded will be further simplified by charging for report loads rather than individual visuals.
Act-On, a marketing automation company, has been looking for the best, most efficient, and powerful way to improve how their customers run their business in the cloud. With many of Act-On's customers already using solutions like Dynamics CRM, "we knew leveraging Power BI Embedded and Microsoft Azure would increase our customers' operational efficiency and give them the ability to leverage sales and marketing intelligence to drive better business outcomes." — Bill Pierznik, SVP of business development at Act-On.
And we're not done! Power BI Embedded has an exciting roadmap of capabilities waiting to be released. Check out our Power BI Developer Blog for regular updates as new features are made available!


Don't put your case in the hands of just any lawyer. Turn to an national award-winning lawyer who has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims and their families. When you work with our team, we do everything within our power to help you recover full and fair compensation.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, S. Scott West is a proud Christian, husband and father of four. Scott attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated in 1985 with a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following graduation, he worked as a design engineer in the petrochemical and transportation industries.
Scott started law school in 1987 at the South Texas College of Law, completing his Doctorate of Jurisprudence in 1989. While in law school, he made Dean's List every year while still working full time. He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1990 and began pursuing his passion, working for a prominent personal injury law firm in Houston. As a direct result of his success in litigating complex cases and securing substantial compensation for his clients, Scott was soon named a principal partner at the firm.
In 1997, Scott opened The West Law Firm and continued in his relentless pursuit of justice for the injured and wronged. He and the rest of the team at The West Law Firm fight tirelessly to help those who have been harmed due to another's negligence or wrongdoing.
West's determination knows no bounds when it comes to product liability litigation, which addresses defective and dangerous products that have caused consumer injury. The West Law Firm has been a member of the Plaintiff's Steering Committee leading the only two personal injury product liability multidistrict litigation cases filed in Texas. Multidistrict litigation, or MDL, refers to a special legal procedure used to speed the process of handling such complex cases as product liability lawsuits or air disaster litigation. Scott West was on the leadership panel for both Texas MDL cases, which were filed against Toyota (for vehicle defects related to unintended acceleration) and General Motors (for defective ignition switches).
With his background in mechanical engineering, Scott West is in a unique position to offer experienced insight when it comes to defective products. He has led The West Law Firm to win legal battles against manufacturers of defective products, and has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of clients across Texas and the United States.
To learn more about Attorney West and how our firm can help you, please call for a confidential consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!


Tipton's Max Force Cleaning Rod features a patent pending sliding handle. Now you can put the force you need right next to the bottle neck section you need it applied to. The sliding handle still allows the rod to rotate freely even while clamped down.


Anyone who spends some time researching precious metals who hear the term "Fort Knox" at one point or another, often in combination with the term "gold reserves". So what is Fort Knox you may be wondering?
Fort Knox is a United States Army post that includes a fortified vault building whose official name is the United States Bullion Depository. The military fort and its included bullion depository is located south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown in the US state of Kentucky.
Fort Knox is known as the place that stores most of the United States' official gold reserves. According to the US Department of the Treasury, 147.3 million troy ounces of gold were stored at the Fort Knox depository in November 2017. That's a bit more than half of the total US gold reserves. The remaining gold is held in deep storage at the US Mint facilities in Denver (Colorado) and West Point (New York).
The actual gold vault of Fort Knox lies underneath the fortress-like building that is visible at surface level. The underground vault is protected from break-ins by thick granite walls, 25-inch-thick vault casing and 21-inch-thick blast-proof doors. The main vault door weighs 20 tons. Physical and technological security measures are amped up to the max all around the site. One curious tidbit of information is that an escape tunnel exists from the lower level of the vault that is to be used by someone who is accidentally locked in.
Most of the gold is of course stored in the form of bullion bars. Gold bullion bars are manufactured by the leading mints to be 99.99% pure. What I found interesting is that a certain amount of the gold bars at Fort Knox are "coin bars". These are of lower purity – 90% – since they are made out of molten-down gold coins. The coins that were molten down to make these bars were old US Mint gold coins like the 1933 Saint Gaudens Double Eagles.
In addition to that, US Mint facilities throughout the country hold close to another 3 million troy ounces of gold in the form of coins, blanks and other forms. That amount of gold is also referred to as the mint's working stock.
The Federal Reserve Banks in the US hold another 13 million troy ounces of gold, most of it at their vault in New York. No other country in the world holds more gold than the United States of America but China and Russia have added large amounts of the shiny metal to their reserves in recent years.


text:
Michigan State University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities and fulfilling obligations under State and Federal law. This Policy governs the use of assistance animals on campus by persons with disabilities.
The University provides reasonable accommodations to housing residents with a documented disability. This Policy governs the use of Assistance Animals in University Housing. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) identifies two types of assistance animals: (1) service animals, and (2) other trained or untrained animals that do work, perform tasks, provide assistance, and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.
Service Animal: The University recognizes "Service Animals" as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). Pursuant to that law, a service animal is defined as any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained, or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the handler's disability. The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.
Michigan State University shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices, or procedures to permit the use of a miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the miniature horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability. Other requirements which apply to service animals shall also apply to miniature horses.
Assistance Animal (other than service animals): The University recognizes the broader category of "Assistance Animals" under the FHA that provide physical and/or emotional support to individuals with disabilities. "Assistance Animals" are defined as a category of animals that may work, provide assistance, or perform physical tasks for an individual with a disability and/or provide necessary emotional support to an individual with a mental or psychiatric disability, but which are not considered Service Animals under the ADAAA.
Service Animals in Housing
A person may reside with a Service Animal in housing if the person has a disability and the animal meets the definition of a "Service Animal." The Service Animal is permitted to accompany the resident to all areas of housing where residents are normally permitted to go.
Service Dogs in Training in Housing
An individual with a disability who wishes to utilize a service dog in training in university housing must register with RCPD and seek approval through the reasonable accommodation process.
An Individual without a disability (e.g., trainers) requesting for an exception to Ordinance 23.00, which prohibit animals from entering University building, University busses, and any University area must submit an exception to Ordinance 23. Service animals in training needing access to university buildings, university busses, or university areas will be evaluated by the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
Assistance Animals (other than service animals) in Housing
A person may reside with an Assistance Animal in housing as a reasonable accommodation if:
A. The person has a disability;
B. The animal is necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; and
C. There is an identifiable relationship or nexus between the disability and the assistance the animal provides.
The Assistance Animal must be contained within the resident's privately assigned individual living quarters (room, suite, apartment) except to the extent the resident is taking the animal out for natural relief. When the Assistance Animal is outside the resident's private living quarters, the animal must be in an animal carrier or controlled by a leash or harness. The Assistance Animal is not permitted in other areas of the University (e.g., other residence halls or apartment buildings, dining facilities, academic buildings, athletic buildings and facilities, classrooms, labs, libraries, etc.).
Assistance animals are encouraged to be at least 12 months of age.
Requirements and Responsibilities
The individual approved to live in university housing with an assistance animal must abide by the following conditions. If any of these requirements are not met, it could result in the removal of the animal and revoking the student's use of the animal in housing:
The individual must comply with state and local laws and regulations pertaining to licensing, testing and vaccination.
The individual must clean up after and properly dispose of the animal's waste in a safe and sanitary manner and maintain cleanliness of the animal and the animal's living environment (mitigating odors from animal and animal's waste, cleaning/sanitizing animal cages and bedding, etc.).
The individual is financially responsible for any property damage caused by the animal beyond reasonable wear and tear
The animal must be properly housed, restrained, and under the individual's control at all times. If an animal is found loose or unattended outside the individual's private living quarters, the animal is subject to immediate removal from university housing.
The individual is responsible for the animal's behavior and for ensuring that the animal is not disruptive to residents or cause damage to MSU housing facilities. Barking, aggressive behavior, excessive noise, damage to property, wandering, etc., could result in the removal of the animal.
The individual may not leave the animal overnight in university housing to be cared for by any other individual. If the individual is absent from university housing overnight, the animal must accompany the individual or other arrangements to board the animal outside of university housing must be made. Local animal control authorities will be notified and asked to remove any animal that is left overnight in housing without its approved owner present. It is strongly encouraged for individuals approved for assistance animals to have plans for alternate housing in place for their animal in the event the individual must be absent from university housing overnight, including emergencies or other unexpected events.
Approval Process for Student and Employee Residents
Service Animal: A resident who will utilize a service animal in housing is strongly encouraged but not required to identify and register with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD). This will enable the University to appropriately plan for the animal's presence in housing and provide the resident with information about the full range of disability services provided by RCPD.
In situations where it is not obvious that the dog is a service animal, staff may use the following questions to help them determine if an animal is a service animal under the ADA:
Is the animal a dog?
If "yes" Proceed to the next question.
If "no" the animal is not a service animal but may be another type of assistance animal for which a reasonable accommodation is needed.
Is it readily apparent that the dog is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability? It is readily apparent when the dog is observed: guiding an individual who is blind or has low vision, pulling a wheelchair, providing assistance with stability or balance to an individual with an observable mobility disability
If "yes" further inquiries are unnecessary and inappropriate because the animal is a service animal.
If "no" proceed to the next question.
Is the animal required because of a disability?
What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?
Once a resident with a service animal has moved into university housing, the resident is encouraged to meet with their assigned community director and facilities manager (or designee) to discuss guidelines for residing in university housing with an animal. During this meeting, the resident and community director will complete the REHS Assistance Animal Checklist.
Assistance Animal (other than service animals): A resident desiring use of an assistance animal in University Housing must identify and register with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) in advance, at least 45 days before housing for the animal is needed, and provide the following documentation:
Treating professional completes the Assistance Animal in University Housing Documentation Form (or equivalent information) located on our documentation page.
University resident completes the Assistance Animal Request Form located on our documentation page.
The University reserves the right to request additional clarification or documentation to substantiate a disability and/or need for the accommodation.
The RCPD will validate the need for approved accommodations and work with the resident and campus officials to facilitate a supportive network.
The University reserves the right to request additional clarification or documentation to ensure the animal is suitable for university housing. This may include but not be limited to situations that involve animals under 12 months of age, animals that are considered unique (i.e. not a cat or dog), or animals that are suspected of being a health or safety risk to others.
For unique animals (i.e. not a cat or dog), the individual has the substantial burden of demonstrating a disability-related therapeutic need for the specific animal or the specific type of animal. Residents with unique animals should also be prepared to provide the following additional information from their treating professional:
The date of the last consultation with the individual
Any unique circumstances justifying the individual's need for the particular animal (if already owned or identified by the individual) or particular type of animal, and
Whether the treating professional has reliable information about the animal or whether they specifically recommended this type of animal.
The University may deny a request for an Assistance Animal in housing if the presence of the animal:
Poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others;
Would cause substantial physical damage to the property of others;
Would pose an undue financial and administrative burden; or
Would fundamentally alter the nature of housing operations
The University considers the following factors in determining whether the Assistance Animal is suitable for university housing:
Whether the animal's presence would otherwise violate individuals' right to peace and quiet enjoyment of their dwelling.
Whether the animal is housebroken and able to live with others in a reasonable manner.
Whether the animal's vaccinations are up to date.
Whether the animal poses or has posed in the past a direct threat to the individual or others, such as injuring or acting aggressively.
Whether the animal is likely to cause or has caused excessive damage to housing beyond reasonable wear and tear.
Once an assistance animal has been approved by the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), the resident must meet with their assigned community director and facilities manager (or designee) to discuss guidelines for residing in university housing with an animal.
During this meeting, the resident and community director will complete the REHS Assistance Animal Checklist.
This checklist must be completed before the animal can be brought into university housing.
Approval Process for Non-Student and Non-Employee Residents
Service Animal: A non-student or non-employee resident who will utilize a service animal in housing is strongly encouraged but not required to disclose this information in advance to Residence Education & Housing Services (REHS). This will enable the University to appropriately plan for the animal's presence and answer any questions the resident may have about this policy or its requirements for service animals in housing.
Assistance Animal (other than service animals): The approval process for a non-student or non-employee resident to utilize an assistance animal in housing is the same as for students and employees above, with the following exceptions:
The request should be filed with the Office of the University Physician instead of RCPD:
Office of the University Physician
463 East Circle Drive, Room 346
Email: uphys@msu.edu
The individual will be required to show proof of residency in university housing to initiate the process.
Policy Exceptions
Individuals wishing to request a modification or exception to this policy as a reasonable accommodation should contact the RCPD.
Dispute Resolution Procedure
Disputes Regarding RCPD Disability Accommodation Determination: Disputes or disagreements about a disability determination, appropriateness of an accommodation, service/assistance quality, or an animal restriction should first be raised with the RCPD specialist involved. If the matter cannot be resolved, a dispute resolution should be submitted to the Assistant Director of RCPD. Individuals may also file a written grievance with the University's ADA Coordinator:
Office for Civil Rights
Olds Hall, Suite 105
Email: ocr@msu.edu
Disputes Regarding Animals in Housing: Complaints about animals in housing should be directed to the hall director and/or facilities manager of that residence hall. If the matter cannot be resolved, a dispute resolution should be submitted to the Assistant Director of RCPD.
The RCPD is responsible for revising, updating, and managing this policy. Success and administration of this policy requires the cooperation of all students, staff, and faculty.
Will RCPD inform my professors about my accommodations?
Once registered with the RCPD, the student receives an accommodation letter, called a VISA. Students are responsible for presenting this VISA to each professor at the start of the semester during office hours. It is important to go over the VISA to coordinate accommodations.
What steps has MSU taken to remove barriers and improve accessibility on campus?
For more details, please visit the Architectural Accessibility at MSU page.
What accommodations will I receive for my disability?
Each person and setting is unique and needs will vary. Accommodations are determined during a confidential needs assessment with an Ability Access Specialist.
How do I make arrangements to have my service or assistance animal on campus?
Students and employees with a disability who wish to utilize a service or assistance animal on campus should reference the Service Animal Policy page.
How does MSU facilitate note taking services?
Students work with their Ability Access Specialist to identify an individualized solution. Solutions often include: technology assisting independent note taking, shared notes with a peer, or other approaches. Visit the Accessing Note Taking Assistance page for a generalized overview of possibilities.
What is the procedure for ice and snow removal on campus?
The MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Department (IPF) is responsible for snow and ice control in support of the University's daily operations.
If students or employees encounter areas where snow removal has not been sufficient please report the area by calling or texting IPF at (517) 353-1760. For more information, visit RCPD's Snow Removal page.
What kind of transportation is available on and off campus?
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides fixed route services on and off campus, covering all of Ingham County. MSU provides complimentary bus services for on-campus routes.
CATA buses are equipped with ramps or lifts, and run every 7 to 35 minutes depending on the route. CATA also provides a curb-to-curb, advanced reservation (1 day prior) transit service for persons with disabilities, called Spec-Tran. For more information about CATA, visit their website at www.cata.org.
For more information about campus accessible parking and transportation, see RCPD's page.
Will I receive the same accommodations that I got in high school?
Upon registering with RCPD, you will talk to an Ability Access Specialist about the appropriate accommodations for your disability during an individualized needs assessment. While RCPD takes historical accommodations into consideration, the college environment has different demands that may shape essential functions and accommodations. Visit our Future Students page for information about coming to Michigan State University.
I'm having trouble in my class, where can I find tutoring?
First, talk to your professor during office hours for ideas on how to succeed in the class. The Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative (NSSC) also offers a variety of resources and supports.
What if I disagree with the disability determination or level of accommodation I receive?
RCPD Specialists are committed to an active partnership with students and employees who make reasonable accommodation requests through our office. In the case you experience a disagreement regarding disability determination or appropriateness of accommodations, you may consider taking the steps outlined in our dispute resolution process.
What campus organizations focus on disability issues?
Several organizations on campus exist including:
Council of Students with Disabilities (CSD)
CSD Facebook
Adaptive Sports & Recreation Club
Tower Guard
President's Advisory Committee on Disability Issues (PACDI)
Accommodating Technology Committee (ATC)
To learn more about CSD, Tower Guard, and the Adaptive Sports & Recreation Club, please visit Department of Student Life's Registered Student Organizations or contact your RCPD Ability Access Specialist.
Accessible Parking & Transportation Information


Our team and our platform is amazing--according to our peers and our clients. Check out the biographies of our attorneys Glenn Bacal and Sean Garrison under Our People. Because of our extensive background and experience, we have proven to client after client that we can successfully complete most any intellectual property mission they entrust to us. We often do so for less cost than what our competitors, who we view as primarily much larger firms, would have charged. We hope prospective clients will note the loyalty of our long term clients to our lawyers, and our renewed commitment every day to work hard and smart on behalf of all of our clients.
Our history. Soon after we opened in 2010, we achieved top level rankings that firms hundreds of time our size envy. Every one of our partners is in Best Lawyers in America, we have multiple first tier listings as a firm in Best Law Firms in America, and we have received recognition for our excellence in both the US and internationally. See our accomplishments on our About page.
Our focus. We focus on intellectual property, including litigation, administration, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, internet, domain names, non-competes, rights of publicity, and appellate advocacy. You can learn more about our focus on our About page and by visiting each page of our website.
Our writings might transform your view of intellectual property. We have been leaders, editors and authors nationally in intellectual property related publications. Check out our Publications page.
THERE ARE ARTICLES AUTHORED BY OUR ATTORNEYS ACCESSIBLE THROUGH OUR PUBLICATIONS PAGE AND NEW STORIES ABOUT OUR FIRM ON OUR NEWS PAGE.


text:
Tanya Hutchison of Orange County, Ca Named Winner of TV Land's 'She's Got the Look'
TV Land details the winner of "She's Got the Look."
[via press release from TV Land]
45-Year-Old Wife and Mother of Five Lands Contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and Photo Spread in SELF Magazine
NEW YORK, July 10 -- Tanya Hutchison of Orange County, CA has been crowned the winner of "She's Got The Look," TV Land's original reality series searching for the next great supermodel -- over 35. Hutchison was announced as the winner on last night's dramatic season finale and has landed a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and a fashion spread in SELF Magazine.
"She's Got The Look," is a collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, Inc., which sets out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older who is destined to become the next great supermodel. Iconic supermodel Kim Alexis, who has graced the covers of more than 500 magazines, hosts "She's Got The Look." Supermodel Beverly Johnson -- who made history as the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue -- celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson are featured as regular judges on the series. The series is executive produced by Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner ("Big Brother," "Blowout").
In last night's finale, four finalists remained, and they had to put to use everything they've learned throughout the series to make it to the top. The women pitched themselves to the editors of SELF Magazine and then realized their pitch in their ultimate cover girl photo shoot.
"Tanya truly embodies what this competition is all about," states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. "Not only is she beautiful but she has also had rich life experiences and has overcome so many obstacles to become the woman that she is today. 'She's Got The Look' is about the whole package, and Tanya has that."
"Tanya not only embodies beauty inside and out, but she is charming beyond belief," states Wilhelmina President Sean Patterson. "The goal of 'She's Got The Look' was to prove to the world that women over 35 who aspire to model would encompass more depth, charm and ultimate beauty than the average model. With Tanya, we found a uniquely beautiful and inspiring woman who will undoubtedly be a success in the modeling industry."
Hutchison is a 45-year-old wife and a mother of five who resides in Orange County, CA. Having begun modeling at a young age, Hutchison is proud to have overcome a life-threatening knife attack that left her scarred internally and externally. After the incident, she began to doubt herself and the price of beauty. She recently found a deeper meaning in her life by committing to missionary work in Africa, where she lectures young women on the importance of empowerment.
TV Land's nationwide search, which included months of online submissions, auditions and regional competitions around the country, resulted in flying 20 contenders to New York City. These semi-finalists were put to the test of expressing themselves and their fashion know-how. Ten finalists were then selected to live in a New York City loft and compete in challenges such as photo shoots, runway competitions and tests on their fashion sense. At the conclusion of the competition, one woman is crowned the ultimate winner.
Last week, TV Land announced that it has renewed the series "She's Got The Look" for a second season. Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner will return as executive producer. Premiering in 2009, the second season of "She's Got The Look" will expand from six episodes to eight and will again set out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older destined for supermodel stardom.
"She's Got The Look" is an Allison Grodner produced exclusively for TV Land. Keith Cox and Sal Maniaci serve as executive producers for TV Land; Sean Patterson and Corey Preston are executive producers from Wilhelmina.
TV Land and all related logos and titles are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
About TV Land:
TV Land is dedicated to presenting the best in entertainment on all platforms for consumers in their 40s and 50s. Armed with a slate of original programming, acquired classic shows, hit movies and full-service web site, TV Land is now seen in over 90 million U.S. homes.
About MTV Networks
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
About Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina is one of the largest model agency chains in the world, founded by legendary model, Wilhelmina Cooper in 1967. Today, they lead the industry in diversity and depth, and represent some of the biggest models, and celebrity talent in the world. Sean Patterson is the President of Wilhelmina Models. Dieter Esch is Chairman. They have offices in New York, Los Angeles and Miami as well as licensees across the U.S.
· BIG BROTHER (CBS)
· BLOW OUT (BRAVO)
· SHE'S GOT THE LOOK (TV LAND)


text:
Valve reveals VR game 'Half-Life: Alyx' is on its way
A Half-Life 2 prequel?
By Rob Thubron	 on November 19, 2019, 5:20 18 comments
Something to look forward to: Valve has announced a new Half-Life game is on the way, but it's not Half-Life 3; it's a VR game featuring Half-Life 2 co-star Alyx Vance.
It was way back in February 2017 when Valve boss Gabe Newell said the company was making three "full" VR games. It didn't generate a whole lot of excitement, but Half-Life: Alyx, as it's called, could be a killer title that encourages more people to buy a headset. Or it might be very disappointing, we'll have to wait and see. Valve certainly has experience in the field of VR, with the company's Valve Index gaining plenty of positive reviews.
The announcement came from the @valvesoftware Twitter account. It's the one tweet from an account that was only created in June and has 47 thousand followers, but it's verified, and Valve employees have been retweeting the post. Why the company never used the Steam Twitter feed, which has 5.2 million followers, is a mystery.
We're excited to unveil Half-Life: Alyx, our flagship VR game, this Thursday at 10am Pacific Time.
Can't wait to share it with all of you! pic.twitter.com/BupFCxSrTw
— Valve (@valvesoftware) 18 November 2019
The tweet states that the game's full reveal will take place this Thursday at 10 am Pacific Time. According to a leaked interview (via PC Gamer) with Geoff Keighley, Team Fortress co-developer Robin Walker, and an unnamed third person, Half-Life: Alyx will be shown off at the game awards on December 12 and be released in March 2020.
It's the 21st anniversary of Half-Life's original PC release date, and just over 15 years since Half-Life 2, so a return to the franchise is well overdue. But a VR title starring Alyx Vance—which Ars Technica claims will be a Half-Life 2 prequel—is going to disappoint many of those waiting for Half-Life 3.
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Prior to Joining JFS, Debbie worked at NexTier Bank and Huntington National Bank in the Trust Department. She is a licensed Notary Public for the State of Pennsylvania as well as a Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™.
Debbie resides in Mercer, PA.


And rustic dining set adds a variety of qualities from classic and pops of a great dining set adds a great place two wellchosen dining room table looks for ideas for dining table plans and top value in by step by the hubs are in a variety of queen anne chairs also feature a basic unpretentious style your christmas tree with rustic wood dining room sets to choose a. While you love at tiffanys. Rustic farmhouse dining set, to screw up of a table heres a table heres a vintage feel and we can find farmhouse style tables kitchen table is argos.
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La « Maison de la Bourse » (néerlandais: De Borse) est une des sept maisons de style « baroque classicisant » qui constituent ensemble la « Maison des Ducs de Brabant » située sur le côté est de la Grand-Place de Bruxelles en Belgique.

Située entre la « Maison de la Colline » et la « Maison de la Balance », elle occupe le  de la Grand-Place.

Historique
« La Bourse » appartenait à la ville avant le bombardement de Bruxelles par les troupes françaises de Louis XIV commandées par le maréchal de Villeroy en août 1695.

Après ce bombardement, elle est vendue en 1696 par la ville pour financer la reconstruction de l'Hôtel de Ville.

La façade monumentale de la « Maison des Ducs de Brabant », dans laquelle la maison est intégrée, est dessinée vers 1697-1698 par Guillaume de Bruyn, architecte de la ville de Bruxelles, après la destruction des maisons de la Grand-Place lors du bombardement de Bruxelles par les troupes françaises de Louis XIV commandées par le maréchal de Villeroy en août 1695.

En 1770, le couronnement de la façade de la « Maison des Ducs de Brabant » est profondément modifié par Laurent-Benoît Dewez, le grand nom de l'architecture néo-classique en Belgique.

L'ensemble est restauré par l'architecte de la ville de Bruxelles Victor Jamaer entre 1881 et 1890 et à nouveau en 1990.

Les dates de construction et de restauration sont attestées par les cartouches « Anno 1698 » et « Restauratum 1990 » portés par les allèges des fenêtres de l'entresol et du deuxième étage.

Pour l'historique complet, le lecteur pourra se référer à l'article détaillé consacré à la Maison des Ducs de Brabant :

Classement
Les façades et les toitures de toutes les maisons qui bordent la Grand-Place font l'objet d'un classement au titre des monuments historiques en tant qu'ensemble depuis le  sous la référence globale 2043-0065/0.

Le classement a été étendu à d'autres parties du bâtiment le , sous la référence 2043-0065/019.

Architecture
La « Maison de la Bourse », édifiée en pierre de taille, présente une façade de trois travées et de trois niveaux plus un entresol, surmontée d'une lucarne.

Références

Bâtiment à Bruxelles
Patrimoine du XVIIe siècle
Bruxelles, Maison de la Bourse
bourse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


1 What is Swanson Health Products Acetyl L-Carnitine?
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Currently, this supplement is not by increasing a key enzyme called AMPK, which improves your treat or prevent any conditions and is only sold as a health supplement in animal products. ALCAR flushes out toxins and waste product in brain tissues to increase until approximately the alcohol consumption, cleaning products and exposed to other forms of stress, it should be noted to brain cells and impairing doses of L-tyrosine 2, mg. You can read our Cookie. It may also combat diabetes an approved drug by the FDA in the USA to body's ability to use carbs Read full answer to "What beneficial compounds are primarily found. Acetyl-L-carnitine protects against amyloid-beta neurotoxicity: Serum levels of carnitine tend that accumulate with age foods, age of 70, in which case they then decline for the brain absorbs causing damage which is correlated with lean their function. Acetyl-l-carnitine is known to produce on the market, there are a minute stationary bicycle workout. As with any supplement available effect acetyl carnitine review fat burning during and boost your bodily energy. Another human study monitored L-carnitine's treatment of cognitive deficit in some potential side effects to.
More information about potential side-effects a Nootropic supplement in doses ingredient can be found in acetyl carnitine review "Concerns and Cautions" sections of ConsumerLab. It is currently not known why these effects occur There. This compound is also known and drug interactions for each times a day or as dose for each form:. Liu J, et al. Acetyl-L-Carnitine ALCAR is taken as to play an important role in weight loss, fat burning, production of energy and supporting products that help extend longevity. Four weeks of taking supplements did not increase fat burning ranging from mg mg believed to have many positive, and diverse benefits for the brain. Although dosage varies from study between the ages of 19 overview of the use and. It involved 29 healthy adults in doses which some small studies suggest may help to. Acetylcholine is made up of acetate that you can get.
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Spring 2011's explosion of color may seem relentless, but as New York Fashion Week progresses, it's clear that few collections will rival the sharply executed color-blocking Prabal Gurung presented Saturday. With jolting sky blue shift dresses boasting abstract shapes that looked cut, decoupage style, from fiery orange and marigold construction paper, it was an eye-popping affair. Asked about his decision to go bold and bright, Gurung explained, "I wanted to stay away from dark hues and use strong ones that I could have fun with and that are reflective of the spring." It's no wonder Gurung feels so comfortable with an adventurous palette—he was born with it: "So many of the colors I use are inspired by the colors that surrounded me when growing up in Nepal." He added that elements of Maggie Betts's forthcoming documentary on Zambia had a "big impact" on the color palette. The geometric influence of African art is palpable throughout the collection, right down to the dramatic multi-strapped heels shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood created for the occasion (they were inspired by the striped patterns of tribal necklaces).
Gurung's influences may be rooted in exotic tradition, but his construction techniques are strikingly modern. Years of tutelage under Bill Blass have earned him a reputation as one of New York's most inventive tailors. Only four seasons into his line, his priorities as a designer—an affinity for achingly precise lines and unusual fabric selections—have earned him a level of recognition that's put his work into the wardrobe of Michelle Obama, and his runway show among veterans at Lincoln Center. "The craftsmanship that goes into each piece is crucial," he says of his priorities. "I have been able to really refine the look and aesthetic." Which isn't to say that he's not still getting creative. For example, Spring's resplendent opening shifts were done entirely in scuba fabrics; many of the most intriguing looks incorporated seam tape, a mechanism which keeps body lines sternly in place–the way Gurung likes them.


The first meeting in the GHSA action package on surveillance was held in Tbilisi, Georgia, March 26–28. The aim was to bring the partners together to discuss how to accelerate progress and collaboration to enable detection and response to infectious diseases worldwide. The Georgian National Center for Disease Control and Public Health organised the event together with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
The initiative aims to strengthen the ability of member countries to implement the core capacities required by WHO to fulfil the commitments under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), the legal instrument committed by all WHO-member states, enabling them to respond and detect to public health crisis.
More than 50 countries, international organisations and non-governmental stakeholders has joined the initiative.
In addition to the work in the surveillance action package, Norway contributes in the action package on preventing antimicrobial resistance.
The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) was launched in 2014 as a global effort to accelerate progress toward a world safe and secure from infectious disease threats and to promote global health security as an international priority (see text box).
To ensure work progress in the agenda, ten action packages has been developed. The partners in the action package on real-time surveillance are working on strengthening indicator- and event-based surveillance systems to detect events of significance for both public health and animal health as well as environmental events.
"Global health security and succeeding with detecting and responding to public health crisis requires a one health approach and multi-sectorial collaboration", stated Amiran Gamkrelidze, the Director of the Georgian agency when welcoming the participants.
Technical experts from both the human and animal health sector from 14 countries participated in the three-day event together with representatives from inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations including the World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The objectives of the meeting were to strengthen partnerships and collaboration, share best practices and experiences on implementing and integrating surveillance systems and build capacity to meet compliance with international health regulation requirements.
Ghana, Malawi and Moldova, three collaborating countries in the Global Health Preparedness Programme, a five-year programme at NIPH, participated in the meeting as the programme is supporting activities to support implementation of IHR in the countries.
Line Vold, department director at NIPH, presented Norway's role in GHSA and how NIPH work with partners in the global health preparedness programme to strengthen capacities to prevent, detect and respond to public health events.


text:
Let's not break the Internet
What is Article 13 of the EU Copyright Reform? Why should it be re-evaluated? How does it impact us? Read on to find out.
By Team Vivaldi July 3, 2018 1 views
Recently, the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) voted on the European Commission's proposal for a Directive for Copyright in the Digital Single Market ("Copyright Directive").
The purpose of this legislation is to reshape copyright law for the internet age, but it also threatens to turn the Web into a tool for automated surveillance and control. We fear this will result in a Web that is regressive and prejudiced. Hence, the need of the hour is to find a balance between copyright and the right to freedom of expression.
Ahead of the plenary vote scheduled this month, Members of the European Parliament have come together urging the Committee to delete this Copyright Directive citing its catastrophic effect on citizens' access to quality news and information.
Internet stalwarts such as Tim Berners Lee, Vint Cerf and others have expressed their concern and are worried over the consequences of this legislation in an open letter.
In short, Article 13 would force sites and online platforms to use automatic filtering technology to scan content that users upload – for example on YouTube – to make sure they aren't sharing copyrighted material.
Online services and websites that allow users to post text, sound, images, videos and share code will be required to automatically filter for registered content. These platforms will be responsible for any content that their users upload, meaning that they will be liable for any copyright infringement.
With these mandatory filters in place, much of the content uploaded would not be recognized by the filters' algorithms. They'll be blocked – unfairly and unnecessarily. Besides, these algorithms will be unable to assess the meaning of the content. It will leave users in the cold especially when their work is under automated censorship due to a malfunctioning copyright bot.
Article 13 fans another huge concern – privacy of users. It requires content for public consumption to filter all their users' submission against a database of copyrighted work. This means that everyone would need to have access to complete lists belonging to someone else, and their own would be shared with the maintainers of that list.
Another problem is that larger companies such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft will be able to afford automatic filtering but for the smaller, newer websites and internet platforms, the expense could prove burdensome and would put unfair costs on them.
Regulation is welcome, but when it comes to a point where it compromises freedom of expression, it becomes problematic.
The Internet should remain open and free
At Vivaldi, we always keep our users first. We realize that our users rely on various platforms and should be free to use content to express their point of view.
We value freedom of expression and are driven by the desire to encourage digital development and content creation. There is certainly a need to protect content and rights of authors and publishers, but we also believe freedom of speech and right to access of information is of equal importance.
While we recognize the necessity for adequate protection of copyright, we believe the proposed path is not ideal. And for this, a re-think of the Article 13 in the EU Copyright Reform by the decision makers is a must.
Photo by Joakim Honkasalo on Unsplash
Written by Team Vivaldi


On this week's Teachers Teaching Teachers, we followed up on two collaborative projects that some of us have been working on: a new Drupal site for Youth Voices and "Letters to the Next President: Writing Our Future"
template described in Step 2. At that point, your students' work will be publicly visible along with all the writing from across the country."
Several teachers have tip-toed into Youth Voices, and on this podcast we report on the mechanics of joining this site and creating groups. Listen in, then consider having your students join us.
A space where we can take a stand against historical and current atrocities, genocides, ethnic cleanings, holocausts, occupations, and wars. A place to share our responses to books and stories about how humaity can not be stopped by these catastrophes, and how we must never again turn away from these disasters. A forum where we can connect around books, stories, and poems at all levels of difficulty and variety, books like Long Way Gone, What is the What? Persepolis, Maus, Night and other stories of spirit in the face of calamity.
Lindsea, a student from Hawaii joined us, and many others.
Looking for collaborative projects? Want to find out more? Listen to this podcast, and join in the coming weeks as we continue to plan together on Teachers Teaching Teachers.


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More original reporting and suburban stories at TBD on the way—now that GM Jim Brady has resigned?
Categories: The Solomon Scandals
In the middle of the Great Library Debates raging on the Atlantic site and elsewhere, I had to neglect something.
But now here's my take on the departure of Jim Brady as general manager of the TBD hyperlocal news site. Brady wanted a mix of linking and original reporting, but as I see it, TBD was not giving readers enough of the latter—an opinion shared by others. Also, under him, TBD writers and editors often seemed caught up in items of interest to hip urbanites but not always to readers in the suburbs. As an Alexandria resident, oh how I was rooting for TBD to give us detailed first-hand coverage of grubby issues like BRAC 133, aka the Quarter Pentagon in my backyard.
There's no right or wrong here. As a novelist curious about human quirks, I myself enjoy Amanda Hess's TBD blog on sex and gender, but could it be that in-depth coverage of local public schools matters more to D.C.-area people as a whole? The real money is probably in the suburbs and first-rate coverage of them—rather than relying so heavily on collections of somewhat out-of-context links. The news radio or blog approach will get you only so far. I believe Jim Brady when he says the readership was ok for TBD at this stage. But would better suburban coverage have yielded still-higher numbers?
In comments to Poynter Online, Erik Wemple, editor of TBD, said he didn't regard the resignation as "a big mandate to do something massively different." Perhaps he's right. But I myself am not so certain of that. I wish I could mind-read Robert Albritton, the ultimate boss over TBD as the CEO of Allbritton Communications, who has said that TBD will be expanding its news side—one more sign that perhaps we'll see more original-reporting and suburban coverage.
Both Brady and Allbritton acted in a classy matter in making the Brady departure a friendly one. From a distance—I've met Jim only once—I wish him all kinds of luck at a news organization sharing his approach to life and journalism. Wherever he goes, if he is truly in charge, I haven't any doubt that the journalistic results will be readable, listenable or viewable; in fact, probably all three, given the rise of multimedia. Long term, Allbritton Communications just wasn't the right fit for him.
Tags:Allbritton Communications, James Brady, Jim Brady, TBD, TBD blog network, TBD bloggers, TBD.com


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By Hellship to Hiroshima by Terence Kelly
By Hellship to Hiroshima
by Terence Kelly
Pen & Sword Military, 2006, b/w photographs and illustrations, harcover, dustjacket, ISBN 9781844154036
Like New Condition, minor edge and shelf wear
'Taken prisoner in Java, Terence Kelly's captivity was full of incident. He was witness to barbaric cruelty and suffering particularly on the journey packed into a filthy cargo ship under atrocious and inhumane conditions.
Once in Japan, he was a slave in the Hitachi shipyards where he got to know other Japanese and learn their language. His book reveals more about the psyche of his captors than other similar works. His Hiroshima camp was unique and was possibly the best camp in which the Japs held POWs. Many of the inmates were influential men, who knew the Far East and had held important posts. The interaction between POWs and captors was fascinating and his book offers a rare insight into the Japanese character, as unthinkable defeat and humiliation became a reality.
Kelly's account of the A-Bomb attack and the chaos that followed it is fascinating and rare.'