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HOOD AND ASSOCIATES
Daily Hot News
[ April 3, 2019 ] Daily Music Video	Music
[ January 14, 2021 ] Artist Spotlight: Jaes	Music
[ January 13, 2021 ] Artist Spotlight: Manu Francois from New Zealand	News
[ November 15, 2020 ] Brennen Dopwell Focus One News Artist Spotlight	Music
[ October 24, 2020 ] ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DON CHE	Music
[ October 22, 2020 ] At Tucson's Canyon Ranch spa, stressed guests learn to stroll instead of run	Events
HomeFashionDolly Parton wants tourists to help Smoky Mountains fire recovery
Dolly Parton wants tourists to help Smoky Mountains fire recovery
May 8, 2017 Fashion, Gallery, Music, News, Sports 0
Dolly Parton has urged fans to visit the Smoky Mountains region in her native Tennessee to help it recover from last year's (16) devastating wildfires.
Writing on CNN.com, the Jolene singer issued a plea asking tourists to return to the Tennessee National Park, where many residents lost their businesses and homes in November's blazes.
"People still ask me every day how they can help, ask is there is still anything we need," she wrote. "That's easy – come see for yourself. Bring your family and have the time of your lives. Take a hike in our beautiful mountains."
Among the area's attractions is her theme park Dollywood, which was evacuated after being threatened by the wildfires.
"Make memories at the great attractions here, eat some of our great cookin' (sic). You'll find it as hard to leave my mountains as I do, but I'll tell you my secret – once you make the Smokies part of your life, the mountains will live in your heart forever," she continued.
The country superstar launched her My People Fund charity initiative in December to help families left homeless in Sevier County, Tennessee, the area of the mountains the fires devastated.
After a charity drive spearheaded by a star-studded telethon raised $9.3 million (£7.2 million), Dolly handed out cheques for $1,000 (£810) a month to the hundreds of affected families, supplemented by a final payment of $5,000 (£4,000) this month (May17).
The remaining $3 million (£2.3 million) in the fund will be used to rebuild Smoky Mountains communities.
"I'm as proud of being part of this, helping my people, as anything I've ever done in my life," she wrote of the rebuilding effort. "And our next step is to continue to look at what's ahead for everyone and our long-term recovery here."
Artist Spotlight: Jaes
Focus one news artist spotlight JAES What got you into making music? Ive been doing music for a long time, i just came to a point where other artist didnt have the sound for my [...]
Artist Spotlight: Manu Francois from New Zealand
Manu a man of many talents What got you into making music?Hi! Thanks for having me on today. Music… well, I've been playing music my whole life. Born in St. Lucia in the Caribbean, my father [...]
Brennen Dopwell Focus One News Artist Spotlight
Brennen Dopwell | Focus One News Artist Spotlight What got you into making music? It started as a hobby but it quickly developed into more than just that. As I dived deeper into studying the [...]
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DON CHE
Focus one news artist spotlight DON CHE What got you into making music? Tired of hearing the exact same music, nothing original! What has been your best experience musically so far? Completing my 1st album [...]
At Tucson's Canyon Ranch spa, stressed guests learn to stroll instead of run
By Randy Hood October 23 2020 I hate yoga. With a passion. I once gave it four months — three days a week of namastes, shavasanas and warrior poses. At the end of this trial period, my [...]
© 2001-2021 FOCUS ONE NEWS - All Rights Reserved. A Ditch Executive Production


LOTTO Hamburg is the state licensed lottery of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and offers state licensed games such as LOTTO 6aus49, GlücksSpirale, KENO, EuroJackpot and the legal sports betting games ODDSET and Toto, for over 60 years. In 2017 the Lottery generated ca. €150 million in stakes.
The agreement includes the supply, customization and installation of INTRALOT's holistic and cross-channel Lottery Gaming Platform based on the L10 Product, the next generation of LOTOS platform, along with the terminal software for the operation of its 450 terminals, the Interactive Gaming Platform (based on the Player PULSE CRM-Platform) as well as the innovative Content Management System (based on CANVAS Platform).
INTRALOT will also provide the Lottery with training, Terminal installation and related maintenance and support services.
Mr. Michael Heinrich, Managing Director of LOTTO Hamburg GmbH, stated: "As result of an extensive tendering process we tasked INTRALOT with implementing a new Lottery Suite based on LOTOS 10. The Lottery Suite will cover all processes and distribution channels of our lottery business. We are convinced that we will get a future-proof system meeting all our requirements for adapting to customer needs and legal changes much faster and at less costs because of its new modular and micro-services-oriented architecture. We know the professionalism and efficiency of INTRALOT since 2006, so we are looking forward to a smooth customization and implementation process followed by another 10 years of successful operation and cooperation period.


Pride of ownership shows throughout this waterfront retreat! This beautiful home has 4-5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 fireplaces and close to 3,000 finished square feet! Enjoy great water views from your living room. This house has a huge garage partially set up for woodworking. Outside, you will find fruit trees, gardens, and a gigantic wrap around deck all on almost an acre and a half. The water frontage includes a putting green, beach, docks and a boat house. Park your boat in your own house and go cruising whenever you feel like it! Call today.


How to make XLD automatically number tracks?
It's been a long while since I've encoded music. Now I can't find my way back to a basic function that I believe I used to use frequently.
I'm trying to create folders of compressed tracks from CD's and FLAC's using XLD. When I go to play back an album-folder of compressed tracks, the tracks appear (and play) in alphabetical order - not in the order they appeared in on the album.
I'm trying to accomplish two things ... #1) automatically add a track number to the file name (ie, "01 Stairway to Nowhere.m4a ... 02 Ready for Anything.m4a ... etc" .... and #2) also have each track embedded with the track number in its respective tag.
I just want my folders (of individual tracks) to play exactly like the original album ... and using song-embedded info, not a separate cue file.
I could have sworn this was a simple pref to check when I last used XLD. Now I can't find it and I have no idea how to get those two simple outcomes.
Re: How to make XLD automatically number tracks?


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« Breastfeeding harassment in our own backyard
ACLU joins the Toys 'R Us fray »
By The Midwife | Published: September 19, 2006
Today I missed one hell of an opportunity: I was invited, along with several other feminist bloggers and activists (and cheers to Melissa from A Womb of Her Own for asking them to extend the invitiation my way), to partipate in a conference call with Lynn Paltrow, the executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Woman, aka NAPW. Unfortunately, my class on shoulder dystocia ran late, and I wasn't able to join the call in time. Nevertheless, something needs to be said about Lynn Paltrow and NAPW. This is an oganization that seems truly committed to starting up a sincere dialogue on the inequalities, challenges and legal barriers that are placed in front of women—and in particular pregnant women—that prevent them from accessing the help they need and deserve. And not just "opening up a dialogue" in the politically-correct sense that looks good on a mission statement, but an honest, open, all-encompassing debate that encourages women, lawmakers and organizations to move beyond the pro-this/ anti-that polarity. And not just "inequalities" in the abstract sense, but a real examination of the socioeconomic, racial, educational, sexual and gender unfairness that every woman on this planet has to deal with every day (to quote Shannon from Egotistical Whining, who was able to attend the conference call: "I'm just saying it's not super difficult to include people of color in your political movement.") It seems like this is an organization that doesn't dwell on whether or not a woman should be allowed to have an abortion (although NAPW has a pretty strong opinion on that, I'd wager), but on the social circumstances which lead women to seek abortions in the first place, or to carry unplanned pregnancies to term. This is an organization that asks "how" instead of "why", taking the punitive blame off of the woman, and turning the microscope onto the world she lives in which forces such choices to be made.
We live in a scary, scary world right now. I was looking over some of the articles Lynn Paltrow has written or commented on, such as Blaming Pregnant Women, The Pregnancy Police Are Watching You, The Rights of "Unborn Children" and the Value of Pregnant Women and Do Pregnant Women Have Rights? , and I was shocked, not to mention frightened, by how far current and proposed laws have gone at eroding the civil liberties of women. While the Unborn Victims of Violence Act was blinking somewhere on my radar, it was mostly framed in terms of what this meant for abortion rights, without taking in the larger picture. I had no idea things had gotten so bad (guess I need to be reading The Mommy Blawg more often, huh?). These articles talk about cases where women have been forced to undergo surgery against their will; where women have been jailed as criminals for "murdering" their children through drug use; where fetal rights have been found to trump the rights of the living, breathing women who are "housing" them…women who used to be entitled to their own personal freedom and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…until they got pregnant, that is. Granted, these cases are rare, and seem like aberrations rather than the norm, but in a legal system that is built on precedent, even a single case can yield terrifying future implications.
As Melissa from A Womb of Her Own rightly pointed out, though, this goes beyond the abortion debate. This isn't even remotely about abortion any more. This is about women losing their voice, their rights, their power. And this is about a system that seeks to punish individual women, isntead of asking: why do so many women turn to drugs? How can we help them with that? Why do so many women live in fear for their lives? Surely it's not just because abuse is a pattern, and some women "just keep dating the wrong guys", like it's her fault for choosing such a poor partner, instead of his fault for beating her in the first place? Why do so many women live in poverty? Why do so many of these women happen to be brown or black? Why is the health of a fetus more important than the health of the mother? And if we're so concerned with the pain of the fetus that we're now requiring doctors to counsel women about it before performing abortions after 22 weeks, why are we so unconcerned about invasive procedures during pregnancy that hurt the fetus, or circumcision, or children living in poverty and neglect?
Hummm. I bet some of these questions were addressed in the conference call that I missed. *sniff* However, the good news is: NAPW is hosting a summit in January, and we're in the process of putting together another conference call or interactive chat with Lynn Paltrow and NAPW for midwives, student midwives and doulas. Because, let's face it: this is something we should be more than just up-to-date on. This is something we should be razor-sharp-cutting-edge on, because as midwives, these aren't just abstract questions to us, but the lives and choices and challenges of the women we're taking care of every day.
This entry was posted in Choice, Feminism, Politics, Pregnancy, Violence Against Women. Bookmark the permalink. Trackbacks are closed, but you can post a comment.

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Your winter commute will involve ice at some point, usually when you are short on time. Heated wiper blades from Crystal Clear can be purchased for less than $70 and will allow you to drive off instantly with good visibility. This dramatically reduces the safety risks involved in your early morning drive. Although heated windscreen wiper blades are often associated with emergency response vehicles and luxury cars, they can be purchased for virtually any type of vehicle and are an excellent investment.
One of the most tedious elements of the daily commute is the fact that it is the same scenery every day; in fact, it is often the same drivers that you will pass or follow. This adds to the boredom factor; and increases the risk of having an accident. One excellent way to avoid this is to change your route; choose two or three alternatives and drive each of them every week to help stay alert. You may be surprised at how much more interesting your drive is and that you are more alert.
These are an essential item for anyone who drives regularly in wintery conditions. These tires are specifically designed to improve grip and handling in cold weather. Having confidence in your vehicle will allow you to make an emergency maneuver when you need to.
Everyone should have an annual health check and the best time to do this is just before the winter starts. This can also be a good time to change to your winter tires. The health check will ensure your coolant level is correct and your oil is fresh as well as all the other fluids. It also involves a visual inspection of all the major components of your vehicle; this will help to ensure your vehicle is safe and responds properly when you need it to. Simply not breaking down through the winter is also a bonus!
If you play loud music in the car you are likely to be distracted. However, research suggests that some types of music will help you to complete tasks faster and others will calm and sooth you. Ideally you wish to pick a music that you enjoy and has a fast enough tempo to wake you whilst being soothing enough to help you deal with any issues on the drive to work. The music will help to lift your spirits even on the coldest winter day!
It is also beneficial not to make your vehicle too warm in the morning; it is likely to make you want to go back to sleep!


On January 29, 2019, an unidentified Southern California man in his 20s, climbed out of one of Space Mountain's vehicles and jumped down to the stairs beneath, while the ride was in motion.
According to Anaheim police Sergeant Daron Wyatt, the man "had to maneuver himself around the safety mechanism," which refers to the lap bar guests must pull down over their legs upon boarding the attraction.
The designer of Space Mountain sits in one of the attraction's spaceships, with the lap bar in question over his waist.
As the man climbed out of the ride, the attraction was in the beginning portion of the ride as the "spaceship" vehicle climbs up a lift hill, with a flight of stairs flanking each side of the track.
The lift hill where the man reportedly climbed off the attraction and onto the stairs on either side of the track.
The man reportedly "walked on his own to a first aid station within the park and appeared to be uninjured," according to Fox News, one of the multiple sources Disney confirmed the incident to. As soon as Disney cast members noticed the absence of the man, they immediately stopped, and eventually "temporarily closed," the ride.
The unidentified man who climbed off the attraction is said to be cognitively disabled and, as a precaution, the authorities transported him to a nearby hospital at the conclusion of the incident.
After two days of Space Mountain being "temporarily closed," it reopened after OSHA concluded its investigations and determined the man had resorted to force to exit the ride. Thankfully, due to the close attention of Disneyland cast members and the quick response of the authorities, no one was injured in this strange occurrence.


I wanted to take some sheet music from a song I knew and hard code it out. Below I have linked a folder with the source code and a cruddy recording that doesn't actually start until 10 seconds in. I'm pretty dang proud of myself so I figured I'd share with the community.


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Q: How to do type hinting for a template parameter in pycharm3? I noticed that when I use the function render or render_to_reponse in a django view, I can auto complete and referenced the template in the template string.
When I tried to do the same for my method the string does not response the same way even though I named the parameter template_name same as the "render" method.
def my_render(self, template_name):
    """
    My custom render method
    :type template_name: Template|str
    """
    return render(self.request, template_name, self.context)

A: Those code insight features are attached to specific full-qualified function names from the Django implementation. It's unfortunately not currently possible to enable those features for a function in your own project.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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These insurance products are provided by Insurance Australia Limited ABN 11 000 016 722 trading as CGU Insurance. In arranging this insurance Community First Credit Union Limited acts as an intermediary for the insurer of the particular insured product, not as your agent. A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for each product is available at our offices. We will give you a PDS on application, which you should read and consider in deciding whether to use any product. This is general advice only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs ("your personal circumstances"). Before using this advice to decide whether to purchase this insurance policy, you should consider the appropriateness of it having regard to your personal circumstances, plus obtain and consider the current Product Disclosure Statement for the particular insurance policy.
Purchases are up to 55 days interest free and the card features a $40 annual fee.
Load and use multiple currencies including Euros, US Dollars and Great British Pounds.


Apparel and accessories designer Alexander Wang is targeting young, fashion-forward consumers with an exclusive pre-sale of its first wallet and leather goods collection in the eBay Fashion Vault on Friday.
The designer is selling accessories from the collection with prices ranging from $235 to $525. The sale will last 60 hours and starts at 6 a.m. EST on June 17.


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Get The Devil Out Of Me - singel holenderskiego zespołu symfoniczno-metalowego Delain, który pochodzi z ich trzeciego studyjnego albumu We Are the Others.

Lista utworów
Opracowano na podstawie materiału źródłowego
 "Get the Devil Out of Me" - 3:21

Twórcy
Opracowano na podstawie materiału źródłowego
 Zespół Delain w składzie
 Charlotte Wessels - śpiew
 Timo Somers - gitara
 Martijn Westerholt - instrumenty klawiszowe
 Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije - gitara basowa
 Sander Zoer - perkusja

Przypisy

Linki zewnętrzne
 Okładka

Albumy Delain
Albumy Roadrunner Records
Single wydane w roku 2012

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Congress Must Maintain Ban on Conflict Minerals and Oppose H. R. 4248
by Lucy Graham, Researcher / Adviser — Business & Human Rights Team
This week marks the latest in a long line of attempts to get rid of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act — a landmark transparency law designed to tackle an issue that links some of the world's biggest companies to conflict and serious human rights abuses in parts of central Africa. As the current U.S. government continues to undermine efforts to bring much-needed transparency into the minerals sector, we at Amnesty International continue our fight to defend Section 1502 and we need the US Congress to defend it as well, by opposing H.R. 4248. Here's why.
Did you know that your smartphone contains gold? Do you know where that gold comes from? What if the gold or other minerals in your phone connected you to a violent armed group or child labour?
Armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) generate significant revenues through looting, extortion and the illicit sale of natural resources like gold. These armed groups routinely recruit child soldiers and are responsible for horrific attacks against the civilian population including killings and kidnappings. Local exporters sell the gold to international buyers, meaning it can end up in products sold and used in the U.S. every day like jewellery, smartphones and laptops.
The link between gold and the conflict in the eastern DRC has been known for a number of years, as has the fact that companies may be exacerbating the conflict when buying gold. Despite this, most U.S. companies were doing little if anything to check where the gold in their products came from or if it may have financed conflict or human rights abuses. Amnesty International found a remarkably similar story when investigating child labour and hazardous working conditions in the mining of cobalt in the DRC — a mineral that ends up in the rechargeable batteries in our smartphones, laptops and electric cars.
Section 1502 has changed that, at least for certain minerals. It creates a legal requirement on U.S.-listed companies to essentially check the backstory of four minerals — tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (otherwise known as "3TG") — linked to the conflict in the eastern DRC. If a company finds that it is or could be buying 3TG from the DRC or certain other countries in central Africa, the company then has to make sure it is doing so responsibly and report publicly on the steps it takes.
The European Union and various African countries have also adopted "responsible sourcing" laws and recent Chinese industry guidelines set out similar expectations. Section 1502 is therefore a key plank of global efforts to break the link between minerals, conflict and human rights abuse. All of these efforts are simply about making sure that companies do their part to avoid fuelling conflict and abuse. The ultimate aim is to ensure that minerals bring benefit rather than harm to people.
Given that, you would think that all companies and governments would support this kind of law. But since Section 1502 came into force, some industry groups have been doing all they can to undermine or repeal the law, as well as the "Conflict Minerals Rule" that the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) was required to bring into law under Section 1502.
These efforts have, unsurprisingly, stepped-up since the election of President Trump. In 2017 alone, we have seen a proposed Presidential Memorandum to suspend Section 1502, a unilateral decision by the SEC to suspend a key part of its Conflict Minerals Rule, an attempt to defund the implementation and enforcement of Section 1502 as well as State Department and SEC consultations that appear to be part of efforts to undermine the law.
The current administration and some members of Congress seem determined to destroy a law that — by making companies be more responsible and transparent — is helping to reduce conflict financing and serious human rights abuses in central Africa. The latest attack is H.R. 4248, a bill currently going through Congress and which aims to repeal Section 1502 and the Conflict Minerals Rule in its entirety.
Amnesty International — together with various other organizations — is calling on members of Congress to oppose this law. We are also calling on the companies that use these minerals in their products to step forward and support Section 1502 and the Conflict Minerals Rule.
Here's how you can make your voice heard too: Call your representative and urge him or her to oppose H. R. 4248.
Donald Trump's Reckless Response to Climate Change
No Dem Left Behind
Solace and reconciliation after the emotional rollercoaster of a Trump presidency
Natasha Scripture
Why 'trigger-happy Trump' should be culpable for mass murder
Bill Bonvie
This Time I Got Suspended by an Actual Insurrectionist
Jim Stewartson
The Terrible Three Pillars of Undemocratic Governance: "Resistance is Futile"
Guillermo Calvo Mahé
NSC's Ben Rhodes Busted for Lying about the Syrian Opposition and Al-Qaeda
al-Hamra
Commissioners working to mitigate construction chaos
Kelly Flynn in The Haddonfield Sun
Donald Trump, the Kremlin's Man in the White House
Alexander Ziperovich in Politics: Fast and Slow


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Tap to make the Ball bounce jump upwards & avoid the platforms.How high can you jump?


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Keep Your Eye on the Pinstripes
Stephen Miller, the obituary writer for the WSJ, scored the equivalent of an obituary scoop the other day when he wrote a bylined obit about Barry Bremen, a compulsive imposter who crashed events and gained at least 15 minutes of fame several times over.
The paper of record, The NYT just today printed a bylined obit. Mr Miller's appeard July 8, closer to when Mr. Bremen died, June 30th. Making it more of a scoop is that the WSJ only prints at best, one obituary an issue; the Times, several each day, all the time.
Regardless, Mr. Bremen is no longer with us. It turns out, he gave up being an imposter several years ago when he felt it might be too dangerous to tempt security people to mistreat him on being collared.
He portrayed himself as many different people, and even as the San Diego Padres' Chicken mascot. What's best about reading about him is seeing the 1979 picture the WSJ and the NYT both used in their pieces: Mr. Bremen wearing Yankee pinstripes and looking like Bobby Murcer (or is it Joe Pepitone?), albeit a
6-foot-4 version.
In the movie and the Broadway musical versions of 'Catch Me if You Can' the Frank Abagnales, father and son, remind us that getting away with portraying someone else can be easy when you make everyone else focus on the "Yankee pinstripes." Look the part, and you've got the part. Turns out a reference to pinstripes in a phone conversation with FBI agent Carl Hanratty becomes part of the puzzle piece that aids in Frank Jr. being collared. If you're unfamiliar with this, it's enough to say there's a happy ending.
The power of Yankee pinstripes might also help to explain why a young man with fresh debt of his own, who catches Derek Jeter's 3000th hit, a home run, in effect gives a winning lottery ticket to a millionaire: Derek Jeter.
By both obituary accounts, it seems Barry Bremen had a good time and hurt no one. And Christian Lopez, who if he doesn't do anything else noteworthy, will forever be known as the young man who gave Derek Jeter the ball.
Sounds like he's poised to have a good time as well.
http:/:www.onofframp.blogspot.com
Polygamy in Your Grocer's Freezer
Homographs
The Triumvirate
Eating Fish
Modern Day Churchill
Not All Metaphors Apply
Jimmy Roselli
Open and Shut Case
The Church Key


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Things To Do In Barcelona / 5 Great Things to do in Montjuic
5 Great Things to do in Montjuic
So many visitors overlook Montjuic in favour of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter and the beaches, but this hillside neighbourhood is well worth a wander, particularly if you like museums and good views.
Visit Montjuic's many museums
The Catalan national art museum occupies one of Barcelona's most majestic buildings
The area is a cultural hub, featuring a number of the city's great bastions of art, design, and history. There's the Catalonian National Art Museum, with grand Romanesque frescoes and Catalan delights, there's the Miro Foundation, dedicated to the iconic sculptures and paintings by Miro, and there's the CaixaForum, a cultural complex with regularly rotating exhibitions. For something a little further back in time, head to the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya.
Explore a castle with a rich history
Montjuic Castle has a rich history, including some particularly gristly episodes worth learning aboutNathan Rupert/Flickr.com
Ah, Montjuic Castle is basically the cherry on top of the hill. Despite its pretty, ivy-covered facade it's had a pretty tough life, having been battered and bruised during the Civil War. Now it celebrates a much calmer scene, with great views of the Mediterranean.
See the magic fountain show
The magic fountain show is a great way to end a day exploring Montjuic hill
Barcelona's one and only light show takes place in Montjuic on Thursday and Saturday evenings – reason alone to take a wander here. Hotfoot it to the fountains in Placa Espanya to watch light and water dance to heavy beats and cheesy pop music. What's not to love? Find out more about Montjuic's Magic Fountain here.
Get to know the rest of Spain at Poble Espanyol
Poble Espanyol is an open-air Spanish architecture museumShadowgate/Flickr.com
Spain is a hotbed of architectural design, particularly Barcelona, what with Gaudi's gaudy contributions and plenty of old classical facades sitting shoulder to shoulder with new-age design. At Poble Espanyol you can explore several of the architectural gems of Spain, from Galician townhouses to wine cellars in Jerez. It offers a little taste of traditional Spanish life in the quaint surroundings of Montjuic. Find out more about Poble Espanyol here.
Visit a bull fighting ring turned shopping mall
Las Arenas is a shopping mall housed in an modernista bull-fighting ring
Towards the foot of Montjuic you're bound to stumble upon the Las Arenas Bullring (it's great size is difficult to miss). At one point this was the pivotal point for bullfights and people from all around would come and watch matadors stick spears into raging bulls. In 2010 bullfighting was banned in Barcelona, which meant the bullring became obsolete. But it didn't stay abandoned for long – it's now a huge shopping mall where you can buy everything from clothes and home ware to souvenirs and food.
No matter how many other great places you want to explore in Barcelona, make sure you tack Montjuic onto the end of your to-do list (or the beginning, if you're feeling rebellious). Though it might just seem like a hill, it has some great hidden wonders within its clutches – the views are pretty good, too.
¡Hola! We're Annebeth, Carola and Carlijn. We live and work in Barcelona as journalists and tour guides, and we want to share the best this wonderful city has to offer.
Made with ♥ in Barcelona


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First Place in 2012 Risk Technology Rankings for CVA, FVA & DVA
Leadership Position Upheld in Pricing Analytics Categories Securing the Top Spot for CrossAsset and Structured Products
New York, NY – December 10, 2012 – Numerix, (www.numerix.com) the leading provider of cross-asset analytics for derivatives valuations and risk management, today announced that it has won first place in the Risk Magazine Technology Awards 2012 for the individual categories of "Enterprise Risk Management" - Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA), Debt Valuation Adjustment (DVA) and Funding Valuation Adjustment (FVA) calculations and "Pricing Analytics" - Structured Products and Cross-Asset. Numerix moved up in nearly every asset class and entered two new categories that include System Support and System Implementation Efficiency.
Through optimization, quantitative innovation and meeting significant performance benchmarks Numerix CVA continued to set the standard for the management of counterparty risk in 2012. The ability to produce robust risk calculations over large, complex portfolios in near-real time – holistically across an entire enterprise were critical components to the success of the offering. Recognized as a first mover to support OIS discounting and its intricate interconnectivity with DVA and FVA, Numerix clients are empowered to more thoroughly examine the impact of collateral optimization and its role in managing the regulatory cost of capital. Editors also highlighted Numerix innovation for Model Validation, noting successful implementations at Banque Internationale à Luxembourg and Belgium-based Belfius Bank.
"The innovative risk techniques Numerix has developed to accelerate the computation of exposures and CVA calculations combine with our hybrid modeling allows clients to capture all risk elements for the managing, monitoring and reporting of market risk and counterparty risk," said Steven R. O'Hanlon, President and COO of Numerix. "We're incredibly honored and proud to once again be recognized for our pioneering efforts in the areas of risk and pricing and look forward to strategically expanding our analytics solutions over the coming months as our ability to anticipate shifts in the market continue to propel us forward."
The top category wins in this year's Risk Technology Rankings caps a strong 2012 for Numerix. These rankings follow Numerix being named "Technology Provider of the Year" in both the Americas and APAC by Structured Products Magazine. The organization was also recognized by the editors of Asia Risk Magazine in its annual technology vendor rankings and secured the top position overall in the Structured Products Technology Rankings.
Numerix is the award winning, leading independent analytics institution providing cross-asset solutions for structuring, pre-trade price discovery, trade capture, valuation and portfolio management of derivatives and structured products. Since its inception in 1996, over 700 clients and 75 partners across more than 25 countries have come to rely on Numerix analytics for speed and accuracy in valuing and managing the most sophisticated financial instruments. With offices in New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Milan, Stockholm, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, South Korea, India and Australia, Numerix brings together unparalleled expertise across all asset classes and engineering disciplines. For more information please visit: www.numerix.com.


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Why Would a Whiskey Distillery Buy a Golf Course? We Chatted With the Founder to Find Out
Image via Firestone & Robertson
by Luke McCormick
"I may be getting this wrong but the reason there's 18 holes in golf is that there's 18 shots in a bottle of whiskey."
Troy Robertson is on the phone from his brand new 112-acre "Whiskey Ranch" distillery in Forth Worth, Texas—a massive compound for the bottling and tasting of Firestone and Robertson Whiskey. This will be the brand's second distillery in the city.
The property also houses a full golf course.
The Ranch won't be producing bottles until mid-December, but folks are welcome to poke around the new property as the partners get ready to go. For the next few Thursdays and Fridays, people can take a peek at the golf course, massive visitor's center, and all the amenities. The owners had to come a very long way before the new digs were even a sliver of an idea. There were sleepless nights of bottling by hand, creating wooden bottle toppers, and the convincing of wives that this venture was a good idea.
Texas Distillery Has Stroke of Genius and Opens Golf Course
Robertson chatted about the brand's come-up while looking out his office window, wishing he had time for at least a little pitch and putt.
How was Firestone & Robertson born?
I was in the oil business and the company I was working for had just been sold. I had toyed with the idea of starting a new oil and gas company but always had this idea bout a distillery. I knew Leonard through our wives and kids being around the same age, so we were friends socially. It turns out he was having the same distillery idea at the same time.
So, I made the choice to focus full time on entering the whiskey business and went to speak with a distiller in Central Texas. Within ten minutes of that conversation starting, he told me there was another guy from Fort Worth coming in to talk about opening his own distillery. I got him to tell me who it was and couldn't believe it. On my way home I called Leonard, and it's safe to say he was surprised. From there we got together and were kind of having a competitive investigation. By the end of our conversation we decided to partner up. We had the same vision and idea about what we wanted to do.
That's crazy. You aligned on everything you wanted to do in a new business venture?
It was amazing and serendipitous. Both of us had developed basically half business plans. He had just sold his media company, so we decided to give this our all. We worked everyday for a year meshing our business plans. We knew that if we're going to just stick with making whiskey it'd take a lot of capital. Two guys looking for money who had never been in the business before.
That had to be quite the sales pitch.
Two guys not from the industry that are wanting to make the whiskey, with no product to taste. Needless to say it was tough at first. We saw our fair share of slammed doors. Over the course of 12 months we did about 100 meetings with a 10 percent hit ratio. Thankfully, we had some people believe in what we were doing and we closed our money. However, it takes so long to get your distilling license that we couldn't wait until our money was raised. We funded the operation out of pocket at the beginning. It got real. Very real.
The first discussion with our wives didn't go very well [laughs].
They weren't into you guys paying for a new whiskey distillery?
My wife is a banker so I knew she'd be my toughest critic. At first she was like "you gotta be kidding me." After I walked her through our business plan she thought I really had something there.
Where did that confidence come from to go into those meetings, to tell your significant others about this dream, when you were new to the world and didn't even have a product to try?
We formed in 2010 and then for the next two years we were spending time in Kentucky making friends and trying to understand the tribal knowledge of the industry. We knew that if we were going to be successful we needed to get educated. We met great people in Kentucky who let us get in the facilities and ask questions. We became experts, in theory.
We also knew we were going after a specific consumer. Being in Texas, we surveyed the market and by in large the biggest brand was Crown Royal. A Canadian blend. So we knew there was a huge appetite for blended whiskey and we looked at the American blends and they were not that great. We saw a consumer base that likes this whiskey and we knew we could make something better.
We literally crossed our fingers when the first shipment went out. Thankfully we made the right decision.
So then you've opened the first distillery.
Yep, we were the first distillery in North Texas. With that of course came a lot of interest and a lot of hurdles. Fort Worth had never seen a distillery. There were city codes and building codes. We were working with machines that are dealing with flammable liquids. That makes the fire department's ears perk up. It's just me, Leonard, we hired a full time distiller, and we had a part-time person to help with tax reporting which you do every two weeks.
Wait, you have to report your taxes every two weeks?
Yep. We do tax returns every two weeks. Whether you sell a drop or not you have to turn in the paper work.
You guys are wading through all the city codes, etc… what else is happening at this time?
We're bottling by hand, distilling, blending. We don't do anything easy. We don't mean to do it hard. What we like just ends up being really difficult.
Case in point, our tops for the bottles, we make those by hand. When we were designing the packaging we wanted to showcase elements of where we are from. Cowboy boots are a big part of our culture. I'm a hobbyist wood worker and wondered if we could make a top out of wood and some boot leather. I made some prototypes and sacrificed a pair of my own boots. Now each of our bottles features that type of top.
Did it take a bit for people to catch on or were you guys a hit quickly?
We released our TX blended whiskey in 2012 and didn't know what to expect. The distributor told us we'd probably sell a couple hundred cases in the first few months. After the fist two months we had sold about 1,500 cases. The four of us were pulling all nighters to meet demand but it was so thrilling. Even the distributors were in awe. It hasn't stopped growing.
So when did ideas for the Whiskey Ranch start blossoming?
About six months after the blend was for sale we knew we'd need a bigger facility. We looked at Kentucky distilleries and saw they were all on large pieces of property. So we started looking at ranches around Fort Worth but quickly realized it'd be crazy expensive to pull in all the utilities we'd need, like water, gas, basic things like that. We were a bit disheartened and bummed out but still scouring real estate listings. That's when we came across the Glen Garden Country Club for sale.
It had been for sale for two years and they were having trouble finding a buyer. We were intrigued by the size and it's proximity to Fort Worth's downtown. We have been hyperfocused on tours and the education process on what it is we are making. Plus the land has four deep water wells. Water is so important for what we're doing and they're in aquifers that are limestone. That's imperative to good brewing water.
Plus, it had a golf course.
Oh yeah. We started learning more about the history of the property. We are both big golfers and we found out that Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson grew up caddying and learning to play there. It was euphoria for us.
Are whiskey and golf two things that usually go together?
Absolutely! Our wives, when we told them about this property they were just like "What? You guys need another distraction? Now you can just leave your whiskey office and go play golf?"
How does Texas and your guys's love of the state work itself into the product you're producing?
Texas is kind of it's own brand. It's also the second largest consuming state of whiskey in the country. Little is made here though. There's no reason we can't be a world renowned distillery from Texas that makes actual great whiskey. We wanted to put the boot leather in our tops, and real canvass around the necks of bottles to represent chuckwagons and stagecoaches of the old west. The stacked T and X on the bottles is meant to look like a cattle brand. This is all purposeful.
We just knew we had to do these things without it feeling cliche. We didn't want to come off as airport Texan.
Lastly, have you found yourself sneaking out to play the back 9?
As much as I'd love to say yes, the last four years have just been going at a breakneck speed. We've been buried. However, as I'm looking out my window the course does look pretty inviting.
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Critical Race Theory! what is it?
iruo June 28, 2022 0 Comments
Hello everyone! I trust y'all are doing great. The focus of today's article is Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT. There has been much dissension lately in the US about CRT, and it's been a big deal. Sometime in 2021, the topic exploded in the public arena, particularly in K-12, where numerous state legislatures debated bills seeking to prohibit its use in the classroom.
Is Critical Race Theory a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or a divisive discourse that pits people of colour against white people? Liberals and conservatives are in strong disagreement in regard to this.
To be fair, the ridges are not nearly as neat as they may seem. The occurrences of the last decade have increased public awareness about things like; housing segregation, the impacts of criminal justice policy in the 1990s, and the legacy of enslavement on Black Americans. But there is much less consensus on what the government's role should be in correcting these past wrongs. When you add children and schooling into the mix, the debate becomes especially explosive.
Just what is Critical Race Theory?
Critical Race Theory is a cross-disciplinary intellectual and social movement of civil-rights scholars and activists who seek to investigate the intersection of race, society, and law in the United States and to challenge mainstream American liberal approaches to racial justice. The word "critical" is an academic term that refers to critical thinking, critical theory, and scholarly criticism, rather than criticizing or blaming people. CRT is also used in sociology to explain social, political, and legal structures and power distribution through the lens of race. For example, the CRT conceptual framework is one way to study racial bias in laws and institutions, such as the how and why of imprisonment rates and how sentencing varies among racial groups in the United States. It first arose in the 1970s, like other critical schools of thought, such as critical legal studies, which examines how legal rules protect the status quo.
In other words, CRT is an intellectual and social movement and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour. Critical race theorists hold that racism is inherent in the law and legal institutions of the United States insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans. Critical race theorists are generally dedicated to applying their understanding of the institutional or structural nature of racism to the concrete (if distant) goal of eliminating all race-based and other unjust hierarchies.
Fundamental Tenets of Critical Race Theory
Pursuant to the legal scholars; Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, there are several general submissions regarding race and racism that many critical race theorists would accept, despite the considerable variation of belief among members of the movement. These submissions constitute a set of fundamental tenets of CRT. They include:
Ordinariness.
The social construction of race.
Storytelling and counter-storytelling.
A unique voice of colour.
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SaaS vs. Cloud Computing – What's the Difference?
The term SaaS is often mentioned within the context of cloud computing, and rightly so. SaaS, according to Wikipedia, is the application layer of cloud computing. So, how do we distinguish these two terms from each other?
The industry term "the cloud" was created as a way to sell a variety of remote computing solutions to businesses, but it is not a new invention. For example, millions of people have been interacting with their emails on remote servers, such as the ones at Google and Yahoo, for decades. The primary purpose of cloud services, when this term is used, is to offer businesses an alternative to purchasing and running in-house servers or a data center.
The acronym stands for "software as a service." What does this mean? Basically, rather than installing and running software on a local machine, the customer accesses it remotely, typically via a web browser. Many of the business applications used today are accessed via SaaS platforms. Some examples include messaging software, management software, antivirus software and software development applications.
Cloud computing and SaaS are the same type of technology, but the terms are not interchangeable. Cloud computing is a broader term. It refers to any type of resource that is not tied to any specific location. SaaS, on the other hand, deals with software only. Simply put, SaaS applications run "in the cloud," but they are not the cloud.
For more information about this topic or to speak to a representative about our data management and business dashboard platform, please contact us.


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"Dirty Harry" Is Released
Dirty Harry is a 1971 crime thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry series.
Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan.
Dirty Harry was followed by four sequels: Magnum Force in 1973, The Enforcer in 1976, Sudden Impact in 1983 directed by Eastwood himself, and The Dead Pool in 1988.
Source: Wikipedia Added by: Aimee Lucido
"You've got to ask yourself a question: 'do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?" Dirty Harry provoked a critical uproar in 1971 for its "fascist" message about the power of one, as it also elevated Clint Eastwood to superstar status through his most enduring screen persona. Harry Callahan (Eastwood, in a role meant for Frank Sinatra) is a sardonic, hard-working San Francisco cop who can't finish his lunch without having to foil a bank robbery with his 44 Magnum, "the most powerful handgun in the world." When hippie-esque psycho Scorpio (Andy Robinson) goes on a killing spree, Harry and new partner Chico (Reni Santoni) are assigned to hunt him down, but not before the Mayor (John Vernon) and Lt. Bressler (Harry Guardino) admonish Callahan about his heavy-handed tactics. Racing against a deadline to save a kidnap victim from suffocating to death and unbothered by the niceties of Miranda rights and search warrants, Callahan brings in Scorpio, only to see him released on technicalities. "The law's crazy," opines Harry in disgust, before taking it upon himself to ensure that Scorpio doesn't kill again. Directed in violent and efficient fashion by Don Siegel, with a propulsive score by Lalo Schifrin, Dirty Harry was the fourth Siegel-Eastwood collaboration after Coogan's Bluff (1968), Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970), and The Beguiled (1970). Critics at the time strongly objected to the heroic image of a cop's violations of a suspect's Miranda rights, forcing Siegel and Eastwood to deny that they were right-wing reactionaries. All the same, Dirty Harry proved to be highly popular and spawned four sequels: Magnum Force (1973), The Enforcer (1976), Sudden Impact (1983), and The Dead Pool (1988). ~ Lucia Bozzola, All Movie Guide
Source: The New York Times Added by: Aimee Lucido
Wikipedia: Dirty Harry
The New York Times: The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made
movies.nytimes.com
View other events that happened on December 22


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Tag: digitization
The Friends of the Rylander Theatre, winners of a 2021 Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council (GHRAC) grant, have partnered with the Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) to make materials documenting the Americus, Georgia theater's history from 1921 to 1957 available freely online.
Rylander Theatre Special Collections was digitized and described as part of the DLG's competitive digitization subgrant program, broadening partner participation amongst nonprofit cultural heritage institutions across the state.
The items in this collection show the "first life" (1921- c. 1951) of the Rylander Theatre and the various types of entertainment the establishment hosted, including live musicals, vaudeville shows, and movies (both silent and "talkies"). In addition, a 1929 school club card and a 1930 theater coupon book show a detailed picture of Depression-era Americus, the popular tastes of this South Georgia town, and details of how local businesses sought to incentivize commerce in their communities during dire times.
Other materials, like photographs, programs, and fliers, provide factual information like names and dates on programs, visual and aesthetic information such as the design of movie advertisement floats in the lobby of the Rylander. The interior design and decoration of the soda shop owned by local businessman George Saliba attached to the Rylander Theatre (and identified in the 1937 Americus city directory as "George's Place") are essential to researchers who wish to fill in details related to life in south Georgia. There are also key examples of rural southern movie theater culture within the Jim Crow era, where establishments like the Rylander accommodated segregated audiences and the impact of the Hays Code (the motion picture industry's self-imposed production code implemented between 1934 and 1968).
Researchers interested in the early life of young Jimmy Carter (the Rylander Theatre's most famous local patron) would also find the materials in this collection enlightening. Those researchers can dig even deeper into advertisements for Rylander Theatre programming that appear in issues of the Americus Times-Recorder digitized for presentation in Georgia Historic Newspapers. And Carter researchers will be able to connect his lifelong enthusiasm in movies to his presidential daily diary.
Jacob A. Ross, Park Ranger at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia, describes the importance of this collection:
"As a park ranger for the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park, I consider the Rylander Theatre's history of being part of President Carter's history, as the young Carter would often attend shows at the Theatre during the same era these items were created. As a historian interested in southern American culture, this collection has been an enlightening and revealing addition to the unique entertainment and racial histories of theater venues in southwest Georgia…These items also appeal to communities looking to perform a similar restoration of their local theater."
[View the entire collection online]
About the Friends of the Rylander Theatre (Americus, Ga.)
The Rylander Theater in Americus, Georgia, provides community and area visitors a theater and meeting hall for dramatic and musical stage performances, motion pictures, and lectures, with its unique architecture, artistic legacy, and social history to be interpreted through tours and other educational presentations. Read more at rylander.org
Selected images from the collection:
Title: Mon Tue Bette Davis Rylander Theatre street view. Credit: Image courtesy of the Rylander Theatre. Description: A photo of the front of the Rylander Theatre when it was owned by the Martin Theatre Company, a chain of more than sixty-five theaters owned by R. E. Martin of Columbus, Georgia. The marquee reads "Mon Tue Bette Davis Edw[ard] G. Robinson in Kid Galahad."
Title: Parade of spring attractions. Credit: Image courtesy of the Rylander Theatre. Description: Original photo of movie display in the entryway of the Rylander Theatre when it was under Martin Theatre management. The Martin Theatre chain was comprised of more than sixty-five theaters in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida owned by R. E. Martin of Columbus, Georgia. The movies on display include After The Thin Man (1936), starring William Powell and Myrna Loy; and The Plainsman (1936), starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The display also announces that the "Imperial Hawaiians," a group of male musicians, were scheduled to perform onstage. The "R" at the top of the display as well as the architectural details at the top of the photograph point to the location of this photo as the Rylander Theatre, as opposed to the Martin Theatre that opened up across town in 1957.
Tags: Americus (Ga.), Animated films--History, architecture, digitization, history, Jimmy Carter--Childhood and youth, Motion picture film--History, Rylander Theatre, segregation, Small businesses, Soda fountains, South Georgia, Theaters, Theatrical posters
Historic Georgian African American newspapers dating from 1886-1926 are now available freely online, thanks to a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
The Digital Library of Georgia (DLG) is pleased to announce that it has completed the digitization of two historically significant Georgia African American newspapers as part of a National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The digital images will be included in the Library of Congress' newspaper site: Chronicling America http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ and the DLG's own site: Georgia Historic Newspapers (GHN), http://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/.
"NEH grants help strengthen and sustain American cultural life, in communities, at museums, libraries, and historic sites, and in classrooms," said former NEH Chairman Jon Parrish Peede. "As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary in 2026, NEH is proud to help lay the foundations for public engagement with America's past by funding projects that safeguard cultural heritage and advance our understanding of the events, ideas, and people that have shaped our nation."
The newspapers include:
Savannah Tribune, 1886-1888 – Founded in 1875, the Tribune, except for two hiatuses, is one of the longest-running African American newspapers in the South. https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn84020323/
Athens Republique, 1921-1924 – From 1919 until its cessation in 1927, the Republique served the African American community in Athens and surrounding towns. https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/2012233098/
Featured images:
Savannah Tribune of November 10, 1888, celebrates Republican Benjamin Harrison's presidential victory: https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn84020323/1888-11-10/ed-1/seq-1/
Athens Republique of January 7, 1922, covers Athens' 59th Anniversary of Emancipation celebration and looks back on Booker T. Washington's legacy: https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/2012233098/1922-01-07/ed-1/seq-1/
The GHN website also includes several other African American newspaper titles published in Georgia ranging from 1867-2018 that were digitized as part of previous grant-funded projects. These titles can be browsed through at https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/types/#africanamerican
African American newspapers from across the country can be found in the Chronicling America website at https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/newspapers/?state=&ethnicity=African+American
About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
Twitter: @nehgov
Facebook: facebook.com/nehgov/
Tags: African American history, African American newspapers, Black newspapers, digitization, Georgia, Georgia Historic Newspapers, grants, learning, libraries, National Digital Newspaper Program, National Endowment for the Humanities, NDNP, Newspapers, programs


… Make 'em Watch, Make 'em Pay.
Some people feel 2017 will be a year of uncertainty. Some businesses are worried about the uncertainty itself. Will their business cope with Brexit? What about the Trump effect? How should they promote their services in such a world?
Personally, I find myself thinking about silhouettes and trade shows. Silhouettes are a unique promotional tool in an uncertain world.
Anybody who has ever tried to sell their services at a trade show or conference knows what a soul-destroying experience it can be. Does your company, like many others, routinely spend thousands on elegant and eye-catching conference stands? Do you then stand there all day, watching delegates walk past your stand, and wishing you were back in the office?
Some delegates walk by with a mobile phone glued to their ear, or deep in conversation with colleagues. They may barely even glance at your stand. The reason you are there is to interact with these potential new clients, but how to make them stop? A few make a point of politely visiting all the stands, but many don't. Can you really rely on them to do this?
The problem with trade shows – how to make them stop!
Next time you find yourself watching a street performer do think about this. You will soon realise how universal it is. The successful ones think carefully about all four stages of this mantra, they consciously use it as a promotional tool.
First, the artist needs to build their audience: the public simply needs to stop walking.
Having stopped, they need to make a conscious decision to stay, if only for a while.
Once they stay, they can't be allowed to get bored: the audience needs to keep watching until the end.
Finally, they need to pay: the most brilliant of acts will never survive if their audience walks away without paying.
For the performer, the last stage is the most important of all.
Street art is the most micro of micro businesses. Yet this simple mantra can be applied to many businesses, and perhaps most directly to your company's conference stand.
Make 'em Stop: delegates need to physically stop walking past your stand.
Make 'em Stay: having momentarily stopped, delegates need to make a conscious decision to stay and talk to you. If they are walking as a group, all of them need to decide this.
Make 'em Watch: delegates can't be allowed to get bored. They need to listen to what you have to say and understand your business.
Make 'em Pay: although you are not asking for money, delegates do need to give you something. At a minimum their contact details, and preferably a promise to meet up and continue the conversation at a later date.
For you, the last stage is the most important of all.
Make 'em Stop: how will you do this?
My own approach is simply to ask "Excuse me, have you had your silhouette cut yet?" At, say, an insurance conference this question is random and unexpected enough to make most people stop in their tracks.
Make 'em Stay: you have about 3 seconds before they remember where else they have to be.
I show them a silhouette and then explain that the process takes about 60 seconds. I also add that they'll get a free silhouette – the best freebie in the show (which it will be). Usually, they stay.
Make 'em Watch: it's you they need to watch, not me.
To cut a silhouette I need to see the subject's profile. I position them so they are looking directly at your stand and begin cutting. This is your cue to approach the subject and begin to engage them in conversation. You have about 60 seconds to talk, while I cut, but in that time they are – almost literally – a captive audience. It's amazing how much you can say about your business in 60 seconds.
Finally, I produce their silhouette and mount it on a presentation card branded with your logo.
Make 'em Pay: are they any use?
Most people will happily give you a business card in exchange for their silhouette. What happens next is really up to you. If they seem like a useful prospect you could then offer them a drink and invite them to talk some more, Or, perhaps arrange to meet up next week. If not, they at least walk away with a silhouette and good impression of your company. You can ask them to show their silhouette to all their colleagues (some of whom may be more use). Or, you could later photograph all the silhouettes for an artistic social-media campaign.
If you enjoyed this post – but don't organise your company's conference stands – please do forward it to the person who does. Ask them to get in touch. I am always happy to meet up and discuss these ideas further, either in person or over Skype. I will both demonstrate my art and explain how to use it as a promotional tool. Conference stands are challenging environments; the key to success lies in making the artist a part of the sales team. This takes a little advance planning, but the rewards can be huge.
At the end of a conference you should be feeling that you've talked to as many people as you possibly could, not that too many people walked past without noticing you.


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Art Paris 2020. © Art Paris 2021.
Art Paris 2021
Grand Palais Éphémère, Grand Palais / Paris
The first art fair to re-open its doors in September 2020 is back again with its 2021 program. Featuring 140 exhibitors from 22 countries, a strong international reach brings artists from across the continents, working with international galleries such as Perrotin and Almine Rech. Guest curator Hervé Mikaeloff spearheads "Portraiture and Figuration—A Focus on the French Scene," and there are also 27 solo shows, including one on the photographs of Andy Warhol. Art Paris additionally hosts multiple up-and-coming young talents and galleries, and is displaying Ether (Equality)—a 25-meter-high sculpture that suggests faceted droplets of water—by Kohei Nawa with Danae.io. —Ariella Paradise
Grand Palais Éphémère Av. Pierre Loti, 75007 Paris, France


Founded by Kary Chendo and Miranda Abrams, Hutchinson Fine Jewelry was launched to share a passion for artisanship with lovers of fine jewelry everywhere. Their partnership is based on a mutual love of art, music, fashion, beauty and design. With Hutchinson, they hope to share that inspiration with their clientele by offering a fantastic collection of fine jewelry, with warm and knowledgeable service, in a beautiful setting. As curators, Kary and Miranda search for the most alluring, chic and wearable pieces -- treasures to be worn and loved every day, then handed down. Crafted by master artisans using precious and unique materials, these one-of-a-kind creations are works of art. Their singularity and beauty, and their meaning to the wearer, lend them a soulful power.
It is with honor and delight that Hutchinson presents their iconic fine jewelry brands, created by extraordinary designers -- including Temple St. Clair, Cathy Waterman, Todd Reed, Pippa Small and Monique Pean.


← Featured in the Fall River News!
Bright Night is an artist-run, arts oriented New Year's Eve Celebration that features some of Rhode Island's best musicians, actors, singers, dancers, storytellers, acrobats, magicians, visual artists, and clowns. Last year, fantastic performers starred on 17 stages. This year will be the 10 Year Anniversary of the festival!
Commissioned Bright Night artists will be paid for their work and have the chance to use downtown Providence as their canvas. Proposals from artists of all types – theater performers, storytellers, musicians, filmmakers, visual and large installations artists, performance artists, dancers, digital media artists and spoken-word performers – are sought.
Artists are encouraged to be adventurous, try new forms and further their own creative processes.
The deadline for submission is August 31, 2012. Applications will be accepted late, but earlier submissions are given preference. Preference is also given to local artists, although no one will be excluded due to geography alone.
Alexandra (Ali) Kreher at (401) 864-5973.


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Mercedes-Benz EQE breaks cover – EV assault continues with E-class-sized saloon
Sep 6, 2021 Jordan Katsianis
This is Mercedes' most important EV yet – a new E-class, but not as you know it
Mercedes-Benz has taken the covers off its most important all-electric model yet, the E-class-sized EQE. This new model is part of a new generation of all-electric models from Mercedes, and just like the luxury EQS it has a bespoke platform, interior and styling, but takes the size, equipment and price point down a notch to those of traditional executive car levels.
It will form a key element of Mercedes' electrification journey, and joins the range as one of the brand's core models that will need to pick up the reins when combustion-engined cars finally call it a day. It will also join rivals such as Audi's forthcoming A6 e-tron and the new BMW i5.
Key figures are as follows: at 4946mm in length it's only 23mm longer than an E-class, yet yields a far bigger cabin due to the 3120mm wheelbase, which is up a whopping 247mm. It is also quite significantly wider at 1961mm (+89mm), and also 44mm taller. Unlike the EQS, the EQE utilises a traditional bootlid, rather than a larger hatchback, but retains a fixed bonnet and cab-forward silhouette.
For now, the range is fairly limited, but it will expand in time. As of its Munich reveal, the EQE will be offered in a EQE350 variant, with a single rear-mounted electric motor fed by a 90kWh (useable) battery pack. Power and torque are rated at 288bhp and 391lb ft, but given its role as a commuter, rather than performance car, it's the total range which many will find to be more important, which is rated at up to 660 kilometres.
The electrical architecture means you won't be able to recharge the EQE quite as quickly as you can the Porsche Taycan, but the 400V system does still support up to 170kW charging. Higher-specification models incorporating the EQS's 200kW charging capability, plus extended options for different battery capacities and motor layouts – including a dual-motor set-up – are all on the way.
Its chassis layout is otherwise pretty standard for an electric car, with four-link front suspension and a multi-link rear. Initial models will run on steel springs and dampers, with the option of air springs and adaptive dampers also in the works. With the latter option selected, the suspension will adapt to the various driving modes, varying ride height and damper stiffness.
It will sit on 19- to 21-inch wheel options, all aerodynamically optimised, and like its underpinnings, the EQE shares a similar overall aesthetic to that of the larger EQS, sharing its bow-like shape and short bonnet. With less physical length to stretch that graphic, plus blockier lighting elements, the overall design looks interesting to say the least, but we'll reserve judgement until we see it on the road amongst traffic.
The EQE will also almost certainly be offered in AMG form, likely mimicking the EQS53 revealed alongside it, although it's far too early to speculate how much of its hardware will be shared. Regardless, the EQE represents the sort of future Mercedes-Benz you're likely to see barreling down motorways and painted in beige sitting at German airports. This focus on practicality and efficiency doesn't completely preclude it from potentially turning into a high-performance model in a similar sense to the E63, but we suspect that for now Mercedes is more concerned about selling enough volume to make it profitable – something all manufacturers are finding difficult with their EVs. Mercedes is expected to bring it to market from early 2022.
This article originally appeared at evo.co.uk
Copyright © evo UK, Autovia Publishing
EQE,Mercedes,Mercedes-Benz,Mercedes-Benz EQE
Jordan Katsianis
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Mercedes Vision EQXX Concept previews efficient new generation of EVs
New details of Mercedes Vision EQXX Concept revealed
2022 Mercedes SL revealed – an icon reborn with the Porsche 911 in its crosshairs


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Members of Pedro the Lion and Starflyer 59 Form Indie Rock Supergroup Lo Tom
The band also features TW Walsh and His Name Is Alive's Trey Many
It's almost impossible to believe, but there was a time when Christian indie rock was an incredibly fertile, high-quality subgenre. While the so-called scene has since died down, and members have moved on to other projects and, in some cases, other beliefs, there's no denying that they made some great music along the way. Now, some of the subgenre's best and brightest have formed a supergroup.
Called Lo Tom, the band's lineup is enough to have anyone familiar with this world salivating — David Bazan plays bass and sings, and he's joined by regular collaborator TW Walsh and Starflyer 59's Jason Martin on guitars. Drumming duties are handled by Trey Many of His Name Is Alive (and also a former Pedro the Lion touring member).
Better than the lineup is the fact that the music actually sounds really good. Like classic Pedro the Lion, the band's lead single "Overboard" is a straight-ahead rock song that embraces subtlety over studio theatrics. It's a post-Christian rock miracle!
Lo Tom will release their self-titled debut on July 14 through Barsuk. Until then, check out their musical history together with the handy chart below.
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How David Bazan Found Himself in Pedro the Lion
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Following 2004's Achilles Heel, David Bazan retired his Pedro the Lion moniker and started making music under his own name. After reuniting...


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Brittany Higgins Called Out Scott Morrison For 'Victim Blaming' & It's Fkd She Has To At All
By Zac Crellin
CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses rape.
Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has come out swinging against Scott Morrison's "victim-blaming rhetoric", two days after she went public with allegations that she was raped inside Parliament House by a colleague in 2019.
Morrison claimed he didn't know about the allegations until now, despite the fact that two staff members from his office were involved in handling the response to Higgins' allegations at the time.
Then came his weird apology, in which he demonstrated that he can apparently only feel empathy for alleged survivors if he can compare their trauma to the imagined experiences of his own daughters – and only after his wife talked him through it.
But worse was the victim-blaming language of his statement, where at one point he even doubted Higgins' recollection of events by claiming that "information can become confused over time about who makes contact."
"The continued victim-blaming rhetoric by the Prime Minister is personally very distressing to me and countless other survivors," Higgins said in a statement on Wednesday.
Scott Morrison Invoking His Daughters To Say That Rape Is Bad Isn't Just Tired, It's Pathetic
She went on to point out that so much of the info surrounding her alleged rape, such as CCTV footage from that night, remained hidden from her until she went public with her story two years later.
"I have only been made aware of key elements of my own sexual assault as a result of coming forward publicly with my story," she continued.
"I didn't know that security guards let me into [then-Defense Industry Minister Linda Reynolds'] suite.
Grace Tame Has Praised Brittany Higgins' Courage After Inspiring Her To Speak Out About Rape
"I didn't know that a security guards came into the office multiple times seeing me in a state of undress.
"I didn't know they were undertaking an internal review into how the matter was handled at the time of the incident."
None of this information was available when Higgins first alerted her boss at the time, Linda Reynolds, to the alleged incident.
"A current senior staffer to the Prime Minister and my former Chief-of-Staff refused to provide me with access to the CCTV footage from that evening and continually made me feel as if my ongoing employment would be jeopardised if I proceeded any further with the matter," Higgins said.
Brittany Higgins Says It Shouldn't Have Taken Her Story For Parliament To Be A Safe Workplace
This thing has now snowballed into something much bigger than Higgins' alleged rape.
Higgins' allegations and the PM's woefully delayed, victim-blaming response show that there's an entire toxic culture within Canberra that needs to be addressed. It's no longer just about her alleged rapist.
Higgins made herself clear: "The government has questions to answer for their own conduct."
Help is available.
If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
If you'd like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
Brittany Higgins Finally Met With Scott Morrison And Said It Was 'Emotional' & 'Challenging'
Brittany Higgins Has Accepted Scott Morrison's Extremely Late Offer To Meet In Person
The Absolute Spud Who Got Fired For Calling Brittany Higgins A 'Silly Girl' Has Doubled Down
Peep Brittany Higgins' Response To The Radio Host Who Was Sacked For Calling Her A 'Silly Girl'
Image: Getty Images / Diego Fedele


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Filter: Displaying all film/event showings scheduled at Focal Point Hastings.
Rating: G / Runtime: 97 mins.
A young girls love for a tiny puppy named Clifford makes the dog grow to an enormous size… More Info
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Rating: PG / Runtime: 124 mins.
When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.… More Info
Rating: R-13 / Runtime: 150 mins.
When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) endears himself to clairvoyant Zeena (Toni Collette) and her has-been mentalist husband Pete (David Strathairn) at a traveling… More Info
Rating: R16 / Runtime: 114 mins.
Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new killer emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth.… More Info
Buster Moon and his friends must persuade reclusive rock star Clay Calloway to join them for the opening of a new show.… More Info
Rating: M / Runtime: 148 mins.
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a Super Hero. When… More Info
When a top-secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step ahead of a mysterious… More Info
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Everyone's favourite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping… More Info
As a collection of history's worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first… More Info
From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes "The Matrix Resurrections," the long-awaited fourth film in the ground breaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars… More Info
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Chairs may not be something you think of when buying furniture for your bedroom, but a comfortable, eye catching accent chair can be the perfect accompaniment to your existing furniture and provides a great place to relax and get away from it all.
If space allows, a comfortable chair in the bedroom can be very useful. The Ridley accent chair is an ideal piece of furniture for this purpose. The contemporary design of the upholstery is not so bold that it will detract from your decor and there is a choice of style available for the feet. A well-designed sitting area can be something of a focal point in a bedroom.
Accent chairs are a great addition to any bedroom, and this chair comes in a neutral fabric that works well with any type of decor. Reversible seat cushions and a deep padded back add to the comfort that this chair provides, making it a great place to relax if you just need to put your feet up for a while.
The beautiful floral fabric of these bedroom chairs is perfect for anyone opting for a traditionally designed room. The simple style of the chair means that it can fit into a fairly small space, providing a comfortable seating area in which to relax. A vintage-style room would benefit from a very feminine design such as this.
These bold accent chairs particularly suit contemporary homes. Upholstered in purple leather, these chairs have a simple design that will look really attractive in the right situation. Creating an eye-catching feature in a room is easy with these bedroom chairs that would also not look out of place in a living area or a study.
When it comes to selecting and buying bedroom furniture, most people think only of beds, wardrobes and drawer units. Creating a seating area with accent chairs is a must to give a bedroom design that professional touch.


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Home/Expert Corner/Watches/Manufacture Watch Movements: A New Frontier of Practical Innovation
Manufacture Watch Movements: A New Frontier of Practical Innovation
Adam Watches Leave a comment 642 Views
Consider an exotic car like a Ferrari: People who own and covet these fine cars will admit to some occasion or another where a given car had to receive some attention (sometimes multiple times) for maintenance, or adjustment; yet this seldom blunts their enthusiasm to enjoy their Ferrari(s) to the fullest, or acquire further examples for their collection. This sometimes temperamental behavior from the car is a trade off these Ferraristi accept, given the thrilling performance, scintillating history, and incomparable sex appeal that the Ferrari embodies. At first glance, the question of temperamentality in a car like a Ferrari may seem odd – how can a largely hand-built engine, with only a few thousand produced per year, be anything but perfect, especially with all the devoted attention its passionate builders put into it? But upon a closer consideration, the following point becomes clear – the more of an engine that are made, the more statistical samples a company will have to measure performance, reliability, long term durability and other valuable intangibles. Any problems can be categorized, and optimizations can be made on subsequent production runs. As a result, after such a product has been refined over the course or years or even decades, you are left with a machine which performs with excellent repeatability and predictability.
I'm going to cool the car/watch analogy now, first of all because its been beaten to death by every watch scribbler out there (including yours truly) and secondly because, like many analogies, its not terribly exact. There are as many differences between cars and watches as there are similarities, but that is the topic for another blog. Here is my point – in watches, there can be an excellent compromise between exclusivity and performance, and the key to that is the design priorities of those who create the movement. Getting controversial perhaps, I will bring up Rolex. While the mere mention of this brand can agitate a formerly peaceful watch discussion like no other, the fact remains that it is a pure Manufacture of granitic solidity and nearly complete autonomy. And one of the foremost reasons their watches have been successful is the quality of their movements. Now, this is not a quality indicated by exquisite finissage, gold rotors, or prestigious hallmarks, but rather the kind that is proven through an ability to endure the elements, rough treatment, and remain functional and serviceable for decades – one reason that you still see many well-worn Rolex Oysters from the 1960's or even earlier still ticking away merrily on the arms of their owner, or a descendant of that owner. A large part of this is the priorities that Rolex has long placed upon practical considerations – functional reliability, durable movement architecture (such as their long-time use of an adjustable full balance bridge), and an extensive and trained service network, all very good things for a watch owner, irrespective of whether you love this brand, cant stand it, or are somewhere in between.
So, can we have our cake and eat it too? Can we have a movement which is on the one hand, special and exclusive, yet also trustworthy and suited for use as a "daily driver", so to speak? Very possibly, yes. Other manufacturers have taken notice of consumers, and their likes and dislikes, and we are starting to see more and more fine movements which are Manufacture, yet reflect a preoccupation with user-friendliness, serviceability, and reliability. Audemars Piguet has done well with its handwound 3090 Caliber and selfwinding 3120 Caliber movements – reminiscent of the Rolex 31X series of movements, these in-house AP calibers feature a full balance bridge; this and many other aspects of these two AP movements were optimized to ease the burden on watchmakers who service and adjust the watch in the future, as well as reduce the need for more frequent servicing intervals; at the same time, these mechanisms are exceptionally beautiful and reflect the haute horlogerie background of Audemars Piguet.
How about Ulysse Nardin? They have recently introduced a brand-spanking new Manufacture movement – the UN-160 Caliber – which also uses the full balance bridge, is designed for optimal long term durability and precision, and also uses a host of new technologies, such as the extremely cool Dual-Ulysse escapement (with unique escape wheels manufactured from nickel-phosphorus), an in-house designed balance wheel, and a rotor mounted on lubrication-free ceramic bearings. Then, there is Patek Philippe – the venerable Geneva manufacturer has added to its long list of Manufacture movements a new chronograph caliber specifically created to be used – and used lots. Recognizing that many users do like to actually play with their chronograph functions, and furthermore like to run the chronograph all the time (using the central chrono seconds as a main second hand) their designers got to work and created a caliber designed to specifically do just that, without any excess wear and tear on the chronograph gear train. The Jaeger-LeCoultre "Autotractor" movement, which occupied the company for a considerable period of time, was specifically created to be as durable as possible, and reports on this movement by owners have been very positive. When IWC needed to create a durable movement for their new Ingenieur watch, they went back to the drawing board and created the 80110 caliber, which is thickly built for maximum resistance to shock, employs a highly reliable bi-directional system (the Pellaton mechanism, which IWC has refined since the 1950's) and even utilizes a rotor mounting which absorbs shock, as well as Delrin cushions against the bottom surface of the rotor in case an extremely severe shock should cause the rotor to actually flex enough to strike the movement. Like the other examples, IWC's 80110 caliber movement was also designed to be extremely watchmaker friendly, so that long term servicing issues can be dealt with as expediently as possible for the owner.
The quest for trouble-free operation has extended into smaller, less visually evident (yet tremendously important, from a watchmaking perspective) details such as the hairspring and escapement. Audemars Piguet and Ulysse Nardin, like Omega before them, have both introduced exciting new escapements, designed to reduce or eliminate the need for lubrication (and hence, more frequent servicings), while Patek Philippe and Rolex have both created new anti-magnetic hairsprings which promise to be far more resistant to environmental interferences such as magnetism. Yet, these are only a few examples of some of the new wave of innovative techniques we are seeing within the mechanical watchmaking industry, and I apologize in advance for the many I have no doubt left out in my haste. Much is also being done within the highly creative independent watchmaking sector, an incubator for brilliant horological concepts that sometimes find their way into production—such as was the case with Omega adopting the revolutionary Co-Axial escapement, invented by the incomparable horologist George Daniels.
Reliability or exclusivity? Perhaps the choice is not so stark. Based on current developments in the watch industry, I think we are on the verge of having both. Time will tell of course, as these new developments in movements prove themselves over time, but with the current commitment of the watch companies, I am optimistic that watch lovers have a lot to be excited about.
Tags watchmaking
A family heirloom in the form of a Rolex Explorer 1016 started Adam Keith's fascination with the watch world. From that day forth, Adam became completely fascinated with watches and has spent many hours researching and collecting rare timepieces. While Adam may be the youngest of the our editors, he is considered one of the most knowledgeable when it comes to movements and complications. Many other employees have utilized this walking timepiece encyclopedia when they needed to information about a specific movement. Challenge with Adam any question you may have about movements and complications and I am sure he will have an answer. Adam is a classical violinist who enjoys reading.
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