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Let Them Eat Cake…100 years of baking with the wonderful WI
Posted on January 29, 2015	by marygwynn
This is the original text for a feature I've written to celebrate the Centenary of the WI for the February issue of WI Life magazine. It goes out to all members but I thought it might be interesting for non-WI members to read the piece in full here… (the photos I have used come from other sources)
One hundred years of home baking make for a lot of cake! And what better way to explore the development of the WI and its fascinating history than with a look at how the simple sponge has played its own part in a century of social change. Mary Gwynn gets to the sticky heart of the Victoria sandwich and its place in the evolution of the organisation…
Is there a more potent symbol of the WI than the Victoria sandwich? Buttery and light, filled with a layer of raspberry jam – home-made for preference – with its golden surface dusted with a fine coating of caster sugar, its very simplicity denotes the challenge it presents to bakers. But back in 1915 as the organisation embarked on its first year in existence, were members baking and eating the famous sponge as they all sang a rousing chorus of Jerusalem at the earliest gatherings? Of course not! The truth is far more complex and revealing. Nor did the ladies at those early meetings sing the eponymous hymn – this would not happen until 1924, nearly a decade after the inaugural meeting in September 1915. It was finally introduced to WI's around the country following a request from the NFWI (National Federation of Women's Institutes) for suggestions for a 'national Institute Song', which when initiated in 1922, led to much heart searching over the following months in letters to the magazine Home & Country about what might be appropriate.
And today as we trace the development of the Viccy sandwich over the past century, its story neatly reflects that of the WI as it progressed from its earliest days in the midst of the dark days of the First World War to the iconic status of the modern organisation today here in the 21st century. The very first recipe for a sponge cake – a sandwich cake (but with no acknowledged royal connection) – to appear in the pages of H&C appears in an issue the very same year as the debate over an institute song was taking place. In July 1922, three years after the magazine was first published, a short note in H.H.H.! (Helpful Handy Hints – a regular item of cooking and household tips in those early issues, all sent in by members) finds the first of three short recipes appearing as follows: Sponge Sandwich.- 2 oz. butter or Margarine, ¼ lb. of sugar. Beat up to a cream. Add 2 eggs well beaten then stir in ¼ lb flour, 2 teaspoonfuls of baking powder and 1 tablespoonful of milk. Bake in a quick oven for a quarter of an hour. It's more or less the recipe we cook today apart from the use of half the amount of butter. Members who sent in recipes to the magazine were reminded firmly that any hints provided must be guaranteed 'tested' and I can assure you it works well!
1922 – the earliest WI recipe for a sponge cake
The Victoria sponge itself predates the WI, going back, as one would expect, to the years of the young Queen Victoria's reign. The queen was known for her sweet tooth and gave her name to all kinds of foods apart from the said cake – from the popular plum and sponge cake we still know today but also to a variety of rhubarb, a pea and a sweet suet pudding made with apples, dried cherries and apricot jam. It was Mrs. Beeton herself who wrote the first recipe to appear in print for 'Victoria Sandwiches' in her landmark book 'Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management', which first appeared in 1861. That recipe is based on 4 eggs with their weight in 'pounded sugar, butter and flour'. The mixture would appear to contain no raising agent but is beaten for 10 minutes to add air before it is cooked in a Yorkshire pudding tin. The cake is then split, spread with 'nice preserve' and cut into long 'finger pieces'.
The arrival of refined white flour and sugar along with the invention of baking powder in the 1840s had transformed baking to allow the making of rich buttery cakes with a fine crumb, ideal for serving with that other sign of luxury, leaf tea imported from her majesty's colonies, made in a silver pot and served in the finest bone china. Victoria and her ladies-in-waiting enjoyed this new meal as the perfect filler for the long gap between luncheon and dinner – and afternoon tea parties became all the rage. In the new century, for the members of the newly established WI in the years immediately after the Great War the social side of meetings, as it had been for Queen Victoria and her guests enjoying the new fashion for afternoon tea, was viewed as being of supreme importance. A Mrs. Nugent Harris writes on the 'Institute's Guide to Knowledge' in Home & Country in Aug 1919 that 'members of an Institute get to know each other best when they meet for social intercourse', and in her view, the simplest way to achieve that is with 'the Institute tea'. She goes on to remind members that 'tea-time should be the informal part of the meeting, when a real neighbourly chat can be enjoyed'. (And it's advice that still holds true today!).
My favourite lemon and lime Victoria sandwich cake (recipe in my Busy Mum's Cookbook) Picture – David Merewether
As ingredients such as sugar, eggs and butter, previously in short supply due to wartime restrictions, began to find their way back into the shops, WI members started to bake and preserve once more, and also take on the vital task of educating those whose own domestic skills might be lacking. Federation news from those early years includes details of a 'cake guessing' competion at South Pickenham WI's annual flower show and fete in September 1920, which raised £6.17s.3p to be 'added to the funds of the Women's Institute', while Lowdham WI embodied the remit for education that was part of the earliest aims of the WI, by holding weekly 'Fruit, Vegetable, Bottling and Preserving' lectures which were reportedly very 'well attended'. Edwinstowe WI formed its own 'Infant Welfare Centre' and 'twenty five splendid babies' were registered at its first meeting.
And this desire to educate and preserve essential skills and traditions (whilst also having fun!) takes us on to the next step in the joint development of the Victoria sandwich recipe and the WI. The years between the wars saw local federations produce their own cookery books that celebrated and, most importantly, recorded for posterity, all kinds of regional recipes and dishes. This protection of our culinary heritage has been seen by many as one of the most vital functions of the WI during its history; to the point where Elisabeth David in her 1977 English Bread and Yeast Cookery wrote, "recipes have been preserved, recorded and published…owing to the initiative of the ladies of the Women's Institute".
But interestingly in amongst the many recipes for cakes of all styles and sizes that appear in WI publications from the 1920's up until well into the 1950s, although there are many for sponges (the Yorkshire Federation's cookbook Seven Hundred Recipes in its twenty fifth edition in 1950 contains no less than three different recipes for sandwich cakes in its pages plus an orange cake that is in essence the classic Victoria cake recipe we use today), the Victoria sponge/sandwich itself does not appear by name until 1957. As the long drawn-out restrictions of rationing finally came to a conclusion in summer 1954, nine years after the end of the Second World War itself, and butter and meat finally came off ration, the nation's women could start to bake once more but now faced a new worry. Many women, drafted into work in factories and formerly male-dominated roles in support of the war effort, and faced with restrictions on ingredients such as fat, flour, eggs and butter, had lost the skills that their mothers and grandmothers had taken for granted. Basic recipes such as crumble, batters and cakes that previously they would have held in their heads were no longer commonplace. Once again the WI leapt to fill the gap. In 1954 a specially commissioned 54-page booklet entitled County Fare was handed out from the WI stand at The Ideal Home Exhibition, containing over 130 recipes for regional specialities such as Guernsey Gache and Monmouth Pudding, as well as detailed leaflets on breadmaking and pastry skills.
And, as Mrs. Beeton's classic recipe for Victoria sandwich finally appeared in print once more in the pages of the newly published The Constance Spry Cookbook (1956), a year later the cake received its first official recognition in a WI publication. The 1957 cookbook More Good Recipes from the Norfolk Federation contains a recipe for 'chocolate Victoria sponge'. And finally a year later the traditional 'Standard Victoria Sandwich' in the form we now recognise – 3 egg, jam filling, sugar dusting – makes its first appearance on page 64 of the The Berkshire Cookery Book.
And we've been cooking it for competitions and meetings in the WI ever since. As a competition cake it is the ultimate test for the baker – the simple ingredients and method allow no hiding place for sloppy technique or poor quality ingredients (it's also why the cake is used to check new ovens and how they perform). The detailed guidelines for making the Victoria sandwich for competition are set out in the pages of the NFWI Education Committee's handbook On with the Show, available to all institutes, and include:
May be baked in one or two tins
No cooling rack marks on top or bottom surface
Traditional filling raspberry jam, sufficient and evenly spread
Light sprinkling of caster sugar on top
Pale golden colour, evenly baked
Texture fine, even
Flavour delicate, characteristic, with no strong flavour predominating
And if baking such a cake for tough WI judges can be daunting, making one for your local WI is also putting a clear marker down that you are ready and confident to be judged by your peers! Today a welcoming cup of tea and a slice of cake are as integral to the success of a WI meeting as they were to Mrs. Nugent and her co-members back in 1919. And if the cake is a perfectly baked Victoria sandwich, then hallelujah to that – the heritage of a hundred years is safe in the hands of today's WI members.
This entry was posted in Food history, The WI and tagged cakes, Constance Spry, food history, Queen Victoria, Victoria sandwich, Victoria sponge, WI centenary. Bookmark the permalink.


NEW YORK, Feb. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Auctions closed out its first decade in business with continued dominance in the global luxury real estate auction sector, remaining the No. 1 choice to sell the world's most distinguished properties and achieving its third world record for the highest auction sale ever in the U.S. and Europe. The firm exceeded $2 billion in historic sales, with an average sale price of $4.3 million, and its digital platform processed nearly $8 billion in competitive bids in 2018 alone. Continuing its geographic expansion, Concierge Auctions grew activity to 40 U.S. states and 27 countries, including first-time sales in Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and the Dominican Republic. Additionally, the firm established several new alliances with leading brokerages and exceeded 200 homes funded for families in need through its Key for Key® giving program.
"This is an exciting time for the industry, as we continue to receive more interest than ever from sellers, buyers, and agents seeking an enhancement to the traditional sales method," said Concierge Auctions President and Founder Laura Brady. "Sellers and agents especially value the time-certainty of our process and the direct reach of our database to wealthy buyers worldwide. Buyers appreciate our curation of top-caliber properties offered by sellers with market-driven price expectations."
The firm's bidding app enables 24/7 access to its online marketplace. Buyers and sellers can purchase and sell at any time, from anywhere in the world.
"Ten years ago, we set out to build a solution that puts sellers in the driver seat, helping them sell expensive properties around the world in a predictable, timely manner. We refined the price, and today, we can take any property in the world and sell it in six weeks," stated Concierge Auctions Chairman Chad Roffers. "We are more committed than ever to helping our customers get the on-demand results they are looking for."
Concierge Auctions further established itself in the $10 million to $100 million-plus market in 2018, representing more than 90 percent of $10 million-plus auction sales with an A+ satisfaction rating. Recent, record-breaking transactions include Summertide — a furnished estate previously owned by business magnate Howard Hughes, located in the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada — which sold for its previously listed price of $17.5 million after just 10 days of exposure; Circle R Ranch in Aspen, Colorado, which sold for $14.28 million; and Playa Vista Isle located in Hillsboro Beach, Florida — one of the country's most expensive listings previously offered at $159 million — which broke the US record for the highest price ever achieved for a home at auction and the highest sale ever in Broward County.
"I hired Concierge Auctions because their reach to the most elite buyers across the globe is unsurpassed, and I've been equally impressed by the attention to detail and business acumen of their entire organization," stated the seller, Robert Pereira. "If I had the chance to sell this property again, Concierge Auctions would be my first call. They are the best organization in the world to produce the highest price for one-of-a-kind properties in an efficient manner."
In addition to selling more than 10 $10 million-plus properties in the last year — and more than 30 historically — Concierge Auctions made significant strides in Europe, expanding its UK-based team, and selling one of the continent's most expensive listings — Villa Passalacqua, a historic villa on the shore of Lake Como, Italy, once quietly listed for €100 million. Additional trophy European sales include Les Fleurs Sauvages in Verbier, Switzerland and El Martinete, a luxury villa in the sought-after Puerto Banus region of Marbella, Spain.
"Concierge Auctions was the perfect choice for selling one of the most cherished residences in Spain's Costa Del Sol region," said the seller's representative of El Martinete. "The sense of urgency that was created by the accelerated marketing period leading up to the auction best accommodated my client's needs. In addition, the firm's global team reached their impressive database of some of the world's most qualified buyers, and we were pleased with the outcome."
The firm has grown to more than 100 professionals in eight countries (the United States, Canada, Mexico, the UK, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland) and maintains alliances with leading brokerages around the world, including Sotheby's International Realty, Engel & Völkers Americas and Canada, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of America, Luxury Portfolio International, Who's Who in Luxury Real Estate, Leverage Global Partners, and more.
"Concierge Auctions has a lot to offer the luxury real estate agent," said Paul Benson, licensed partner of Engel & Völkers shops throughout Utah and California. "In situations where a client wants to sell within a fixed time frame, it's essential to have options to really deliver desired results for our clients. Concierge Auctions has helped me produce solid results, and I would highly recommend their services to any agent who wants quality exposure for their clients' properties."
Alongside achieving these outstanding milestones, Concierge Auctions expanded its philanthropic initiative, Key for Key®, in cooperation with Giveback Homes, to El Salvador. The giving program ensures that a new home is built for a family in need with every property the firm sells. More than 200 homes have been funded since the inception of the program, resulting in hundreds of lives forever changed.
For a full list of properties sold in 2018 and prior, visit ConciergeAuctions2018.com. To inquire about purchasing the world's finest homes, or if you have a remarkable property to submit for consideration to the Concierge Auctions platform, call 212.202.2940.
Concierge Auctions is the largest luxury real estate marketplace in the world, powered by state-of-the-art technology. Since its inception in 2008, the firm has generated billions of dollars in sales, broken world records for the highest priced homes ever achieved at auction, and is active in 40 U.S. states/territories and 27 countries. Concierge curates the most prestigious properties globally, matches them with qualified buyers, and facilitates transparent, market-driven transactions in an expedited timeframe. The firm owns arguably the most comprehensive and intelligent database of high-net-worth real estate buyers and sellers in the world. As a five-time honoree to the annual Inc Magazine list of America's fastest-growing companies, it now joins the Inc5000 Hall of Fame; was named No. 38 on the 2018 Entrepreneur 360™ List recognizing 360 small businesses every year that are mastering the art of and science of growing a business in the areas of impact, innovation, growth, leadership, and business valuation; and has contributed more than 200 homes to-date as part of its Key for Key® giving program in partnership with Giveback Homes, which guarantees that for every property the company sells, a new home will be built for a family in need. For more information visit conciergeauctions.com.


Motocaddy are the top-selling electric trolley brand in the UK, but a huge part of their business comes from their excellent range of bags.
They pay the same attention to detail with their cart bags as they do with their trolleys and the quality speaks for itself.
Whether you are a Motocaddy trolley user or not, we feel their new range for 2017 – which includes 15 models – is well worth a look.
Updates have been made to the premium Dry and Pro Series bags with new colours, styles and features.
There's also plenty to choose from in the Lite and Club Series.
We're big fans of the waterproof Dry-Series – which, if we're being picky, isn't technically waterproof as it has a massive hole in the top to put your clubs in.
But apart from that, there's heat-welded seams and and thermo-sealed zips that have been put through rigorous testing to ensure that the contents of the bag remain dry.
The new Dry-Series bags have seven spacious pockets plus a practical scorecard holder to protect the scorecard against inclement weather.
These study cart-bags are more like tour bags in size and have some bold new colour options for 2017.
New features include seven extra spacious pockets, scorecard and pencil holders.
There's 14-full length dividers, a dedicated putter well, upper and lower grab handles, an external umbrella sleeve and an Easilock base.
These bags are made from durable Nylon fabric and feature 14 full-length dividers, an external putter well and eight spacious pockets.
There's a dedicated compartment to keep valuables dry, a towel hook, Velcro glove grip, umbrella sleeve and Easilock base.
At 2.2kg, it's the lightest and most compact bag in the Motocaddy range.
Made from a super-lightweight Nylon material, it features 14 club dividers, seven pockets, upper and lower grab handles, a detachable rain hood, towel hook, external umbrella loop and Easilock base.


Perfect for families or groups, this lovely property is surrounded by rolling fields and is perfect for those wishing to explore the beautiful countryside.
Surrounded by rolling fields, this holiday property is the ideal base for a large family or group to discover the wonderful countryside of southern Burgundy. It is ideal for children, with table tennis, a swing in the garden and indoor games to enjoy. Trambly (4km) is a charming village, which has a beautiful historical church and many walking routes from the doorstep. From this property, visit Mâcon (34km) a city brimming with wonderful architecture, cathedrals, churches, museums and châteaux, as well as having cosmopolitan areas, with shopping centres and places to eat and drink. Shop and restaurant 4km.
Approximate distance to Lyon airport is 86 km.
Electric central heating, woodburner in lounge, two cots, highchair, washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, microwave, terrace, garden furniture, barbecue, on street parking. Up to 2 pets welcome.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Puilboreau (Saintongeais: Peulboria) ist eine französische Gemeinde mit  Einwohnern (Stand: ) im Département Charente-Maritime in der Region Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Sie gehört zum Arrondissement La Rochelle und zum Kanton Aytré. Die Bewohner nennen sich Puilborain(e)s.

Geographie
Puilboreau liegt nordöstlich von La Rochelle. Umgeben wird Puilboreau von den Nachbargemeinden Saint-Xandre im Norden, Dompierre-sur-Mer im Osten, Périgny im Süden und Südosten, La Rochelle im Süden und Südwesten, Lagord im Westen und Nieul-sur-Mer im Nordwesten.

Das Gemeindegebiet wird von der Route nationale 11 (RN11) und der 237 durchquert.

Geschichte
Die ersten Erwähnungen des Ortes datieren auf das 12. Jahrhundert mit dem Namen Podioliborelli.

Bevölkerungsentwicklung

Sehenswürdigkeiten

Siehe auch: Liste der Monuments historiques in Puilboreau
 La Tourtillière, eine Domäne, die auf dem Grund der alten Festungsanlage im 18. Jahrhundert errichtet wurde
 Kirche Saint-Louis, errichtet 1881 bis 1884

Gemeindepartnerschaften
Mit der Ortschaft Autrans in der französischen Gemeinde Autrans-Méaudre en Vercors im Département Isère besteht eine Partnerschaft.

Literatur
 Le Patrimoine des Communes de la Charente-Maritime. Flohic Editions, Band 2, Paris 2002, ISBN 2-84234-129-5, S. 677–678.

Weblinks

Ort in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Ersterwähnung im 12. Jahrhundert

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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NewsLifestylePeople
Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde extends support to Mika Singh
Popular Tv actor and Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde has extended her support to Bollywood singer Mika Singh, who was banned by FWICE for performing at an event in Pakistan.
Written By Zee Media Bureau|Edited By: Ankita Chakravarti|Last Updated: Aug 25, 2019, 01:28 PM IST|Source: Bureau
New Delhi: Popular Tv actor and Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde has extended her support to Bollywood singer Mika Singh, who was banned by FWICE for performing at an event in Pakistan.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Shilpa said, "Artists ki koi sarhad nahin hoti. I completely support Mika Singh. It's really sad how he has been pressured into apologising. Has he committed a crime? He is an artist who can perform anywhere. No one can be stopped from earning his/ her bread and butter. If, today, actors like Hrithik Roshan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan… or singers like Mika… don't perform in Pakistan, will that stop the war and terrorism?" she tells us over the phone.
The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) on Tuesday imposed a ban on the singer as an act of punishment.The singer reportedly performed at the event in Pakistan which was organised by former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf's close relative.
However, the ban was revoked by Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on Wednesday after the singer issued an apology for performing at an event in Karachi.
Shilpa ShindeMika SinghBigg Bossbhabiji

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: design functionality React native I want user profile pic in half on modal and half on outside of modal
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Back From Vacation, For The First Time In SIX Years!!!
After being on vacation, and seeing the sights of home, I have decided that it is of utmost importance to finish the finale of the Grintana Series and bring it to your local Kindle and Nook books. The final of this series is going to be coming to you in three separate books, or all in one for those of you who haven't read the first two.
Along with this I am working on another collection of poetry, some works that are new, old but goodies and then some other stuff that probably doesn't make the first lick of sense when you first read it. But then again, I wouldn't be the Mystery Diva without a little confusion in all of this, now would I?
As far as my first vacation in over six years, yes, thank you, I did have a wonderful time. I can;t imagine ever being able to not see my family for more than 6 years again. I hope that I will be able to see them more than what it has been. It truly has been way too long since I last saw them all. My brother, God love him, married a wonderful woman, the mother of his son, and I could NOT be happier for them both than what I am.
Being able to spend quality time with my dad has been so beneficial to this writer lady here. I tell my boys all the time that family is not always blood, but those that are family should be treated as such. Well such the hypocrite am I that I have not even seen my own family in so long. But now that I have, it reminds me to tell you all to take in what the Grintana Series really is. It is about family. Who is family and who is not.... who should you know that will be there, no matter how long it may take. Who are the people that are brought into your life, why they were brought there and why they decided to exit or stay.
Life is all about what you want, and who you want to be. There is no one that can live your life for you, and if there is a mission in your life that you need to conquer, then no one can do it but you. The fact is though you should know that there is no shame in asking those you consider real family for help, and always understand that there is nothing more fulfilling that knowing that there is someone out there who is willing to drop everything, come to your aid, and bless your heart the way you feel is the best way.
No need to introduce myself. If you have come this far, read on!!!


One thing that changes drastically once you have kids is your hair. Somehow, it's always messy, and you never seem to have time to style it the way you used to. But, you don't have to give up on it completely!
Here are ten awesome and easy hairstyles for busy moms that will make you a rockstar again!
This messy bun is the perfect solutions for busy moms – it takes about a minute to style your hair – even if it's dirty – this way, and all you need is a quality headband.
Rock that chignon anytime you want with this easy tutorial, and make sure you have plenty of bobby pins to keep it in place. It's a good alternative to the everyday bun and gives your hair more volume and texture if you're trying to be fancy!
If you are having an epic bad hair day and the bun just doesn't want to stay together, go for the low bun. If you want a big bun, you can use the bun sponge ring. If you want a quick low bun, you can make a messy bun without it.
If you're looking for curls but don't want to spend hours, these 5 minute curls can do the trick! Get the extra volume you're looking for before the school run, and you can let them set whilst you're doing other things too!
Spice up that ponytail by giving it more volume and texture. The trick is to make several headbands and work in layers. This will give your ponytail more structure and bring this classic hairstyle to a whole new level.
This hairstyle is also a go-to when you have greasy hair because let's be real – nobody can tell whether it's greasy when it's super sleek!
Ponytail too bland for you? Go for a fishtail instead – it's actually super easy to make and will become a favorite when you're too busy to do more, since it looks really elaborate. You don't have to blow dry your hair right before either.
The pipe braid looks awesome on any type of hair. It will take a bit to master the twisting, but once you do that, you can have it ready in a few minutes! This is one you can do to impress and works on the kids too!
The bun is a go-to for most moms with long hair and tends to become boring after a while. You can switch things up by choosing to do a half bun instead – it will keep your long hair flowing while solving the problem of it always ending up in your face.
Many moms decided pixie is the easiest look when you have kids. The thing with the pixie cut is that you need regular styling to keep it looking good. If you don't have time for regular trips to the hair salon or you're growing out your pixie, you can still style it in awesome ways, as this tutorial shows.
Ladies, kids don't mean the end of the world for your hairstyle! These ten easy hairstyles will make your hair look awesome in minutes!


text:
TF_BINARY_URL = https://storage.googleapis.com/tensorflow/linux/cpu/tensorflow-0.12.0rc0-cp27-none-linux_x86_64.whl

all: env/bin/python

env/bin/python:
	virtualenv env -p python2.7 --no-site-packages
	env/bin/pip install --upgrade pip
	env/bin/pip install wheel
	env/bin/pip install --upgrade $(TF_BINARY_URL)
	env/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt

clean:
	rm -rfv bin develop-eggs dist downloads eggs env parts
	rm -fv .DS_Store .coverage .installed.cfg bootstrap.py
	rm -fv logs/*.txt
	find . -name '*.pyc' -exec rm -fv {} \;
	find . -name '*.pyo' -exec rm -fv {} \;
	find . -depth -name '*.egg-info' -exec rm -rfv {} \;
	find . -depth -name '__pycache__' -exec rm -rfv {} \;

.PHONY: clean

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Overall Commercial Vehicle Traffic Dips, While Trucking Activity is Strong
April 8, 2020 • Automotive Fleet Staff • Bookmark +
Graphic: Geotab
Commercial vehicle traffic volume across the United States has seen an overall drop across the United States and Canada as a result of COVID-19, even while heavy-duty trucking activity remains robust, according to Geotab data.
This is based on Geotab data on commercial vehicle activity and the flow of goods across North America, according to Geotab. The data, which is processed from more than 2 million Geotab connected vehicles, shows that despite an overall drop in commercial traffic volume across the continent, heavy-duty trucks are still on the road and are helping to provide essential goods to communities throughout Canada and the United States.
Indeed, heavy-duty vehicles have recorded the lowest decline, with 84% of normal activity on March 27, 2020 compared to baselines taken from February 1 to March 15, 2020, according to Geotab. And while commercial traffic has shown a decline overall, commercial transportation activity to grocery stores has recorded the least impact.
"While many communities across North America and the world are declaring a state of emergency and are mandating the closure of non-essential businesses, trucking and logistics companies are continuing to deliver the goods that we rely on every single day," said Neil Cawse, CEO at Geotab.
Geotab data shows that while commercial vehicle movement surrounding warehouses and retail stores has dropped 20-30%, the flow of commercial vehicle traffic to grocery stores has only declined by 10% since March 15, 2020.
Data also shows that while fuel fill ups have declined rapidly in all other commercial vehicle types, including cars and light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty truck fill ups remain very similar to prior to the pandemic.
Related: Post COVID-19 Fleet Initiatives to Focus on Cost Reduction & Utilization
Read more about COVID-19 Geotab Heavy-Duty Trucks Food


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You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Bills and legislation > Bills before Parliament > Commons Bill
House of Commons Session 1999-2000
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament
Arrangement of Clauses (Contents)
Energy Efficiency Bill
B I L L
Make further provision for energy efficiency.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-
Energy efficiency report. 1. - (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, it shall be the duty of any person in whose favour a mortgage of any legal estate in a dwelling is granted (in this Act referred to as "the lender") to ensure that, if any qualifying survey of the dwelling has been undertaken by him or on his behalf in connection with the mortgage-
(a) a report on the energy efficiency of the dwelling (in this Act referred to as "an energy efficiency report") has been prepared by or on behalf of the lender in accordance with regulations under section 5 on the basis of the physical inspection undertaken for the purpose of the qualifying survey, and
(b) the person granting the mortgage (in this Act referred to as "the borrower") has been provided, before the grant of the mortgage, with a copy of the energy efficiency report.
(2) No duty arises under subsection (1) unless-
(a) the mortgage relates only-
(i) to a single dwelling, or
(ii) to a single dwelling together with premises occupied or intended to be occupied for business purposes,
(b) the loan to which the mortgage relates was made in pursuance of an application made to the lender by the borrower,
(c) the borrower is an individual, and
(d) the dwelling is occupied by, or is intended for occupation by, the borrower as his residence.
(3) The lender may, in fixing the amount of any fee to be charged for a qualifying survey, take into account any additional costs reasonably incurred in preparing the energy efficiency report, but the duty in subsection (1) arises whether or not the borrower has paid, or agreed to pay, any such additional costs.
(4) In subsection (1) a "qualifying survey", in relation to a dwelling, means any survey or valuation which includes a physical inspection of both the exterior and the interior of the dwelling.
Exemption where dwelling provided within previous three years. 2. The duty in section 1 does not arise in relation to any dwelling which was provided (by construction or conversion) less than three years before the date on which the borrower applied for the loan to which the mortgage relates.
Exemption where report prepared within previous twelve months. 3. The duty in section 1 does not arise where, before the grant of the mortgage, the borrower has obtained, or been given a copy of, a report which-
(a) relates to the dwelling,
(b) complies with regulations under section 5, and
(c) was prepared less than twelve months before the date on which the borrower applied for the loan to which the mortgage relates.
Exemption for loans between family members and by family trusts. 4. - (1) The duty in section 1 does not arise where-
(a) the lender is a member of the borrower's family and is not lending in the course of a business carried on by the lender, or
(b) the lenders are the trustees of a trust created by an individual for the benefit of members of his family and their descendants.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) a person is a member of another's family if-
(a) he is the spouse of that person, or he and that person live together as husband and wife, or
(b) he is that person's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(b)-
(a) a relationship by marriage shall be treated as a relationship by blood,
(b) a relationship of the half-blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole blood, and
(c) the stepchild of a person shall be treated as his child.
Prepared 2 March 2000


Somehow, this painting dribbled off my brush, effortlessly, the way I dream of painting. She's one of several female dancers who perform with the Mevlani in Istanbul. They give concerts and perform the dance ritual on alternate Fridays. Phone in Istanbul 90 (212) 243 50 45 for time and location.


FrontGP allows private equity General Partners to optimize their management of both investments and investors.
It is a front-to-back office solution for managing and monitoring portfolios of diverse alternative assets, and for managing relationships and communications with investors.
FrontGP helps General Partners operate more efficiently, improve accuracy, and gain deeper insights into their operations and investment performance.
On the investor side, FrontGP helps streamline such tasks tracking activities, and generating and distributing reports.


The Windsor Stars soccer club has named Shane Topalovic as the team's head coach for the 2015 season.
The Windsor Stars soccer club named Shane Topalovic head coach Tuesday less than two weeks before the team's League1Ontario season-opening game.
The 31-year-old Topalovic had a brief career at midfield for the Windsor Border Stars a decade ago.
"I played two games, sprained my knee and things never went back the same," Topalovic said.
Instead, he focused on being a strength and conditioning coach. He's worked the past few seasons with the Stars as well as the NBL of Canada champion Windsor Express and owns Next Level Athletics.
Topalovic has been coaching locally the past few years and said his passion for the game hasn't changed.
at 2 p.m. at Academie Ste. Cecile.
In the club's first season in League1Ontario play, the Stars finished sixth in the league with six wins, two draws and eight losses. The club scored 25 goals while allowing 25 goals.
"The first goal's to win more games than last year, then score more goals than last year and allow fewe goals than last year," Topalovic said.
And you can players can be certain that conditioning will be a big part of preparation this season.
"Conditioning is the base where all your skill is built upon," Topalovic said.


FAQ - Do I include pins when measuring a tube?
Home › Frequently Asked Lighting Questions › Do I include pins in my measurements?
Do I include pins in my measurements?
When measuring fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent light bulbs try to include the pins because this will give you the most accurate result. Generally we will include measurements with and without pins in the product description for fluorescent tubes.
We hope this has helped, if you have any other queries please contact us on 01473 716418.


Glenn Murray scored an 87th minute winner for Brighton against his former side Crystal Palace in the Emirates FA Cup on Monday night. The victory saw the Seagulls progress to face Championship side Middlesborough away in the 4th round of the competition.
Coming off the substitutes bench, Murray bundled the ball into the unguarded net with the use of his knee, but refused to celebrate the goal especially as the travelling Palace supporters had passionately chanted his name when he came on in the 81st minute. Read the 90min match report of the game.
"I don't take any enjoyment scoring against my ex-employers, as I didn't when I scored against Brighton [for Palace]. It's just great to be in the next round of the cup. I've got no reason to rub salt into the wounds.
"I had a great time up there as I did back at Brighton before I left here and both clubs have been very successful periods for me.
"I think both clubs would have been happy to get it sorted out on the night either way, so I think it's one that probably when we were drawn together it was one that both clubs probably didn't need with their positions in the league.
"But we got it done and luckily it's us in the next round."
It is back to league action for both clubs this weekend as each team battles to maintain their Premier League status. Brighton travel to West Brom, while Crystal Palace are at home to Burnley.


Palma's Nit de l'Art (Art Night) is one of the must-go events for art lovers, it's a night when the city's museums and art galleries open their doors to offer, free of charge, the opportunity to discover the new exhibitions of the city's art season.
At the Costa Azul Hotel in Palma, artistic expression is one of our priorities, and is the concept that makes us one of the best luxury hotels in Palma. So, we encourage you to join in this red-letter event on our city's cultural agenda by strolling through the Old Town in search of the museums and art galleries that open on this special evening.
Many other cities from Paris to New York have embraced this type of event. Initially known as nuits blanches, "white nights", because they usually last from sunset until midnight or later, these artistic activities have four aims: they're free of charge, they centre on avant-garde expressions, they're at grassroots level and they're sustainable.
The Nit de l'Art in Palma was first held in 1997, and was the first initiative of its kind in our country. You can read the latest news about this year's event on its official website. From our hotel in Palma we also recommend to you the videos of previous years' events, from which you'll see that it's really worth taking part.
Not only do the art galleries and museums shown in the official programme take part, most of the professionals from Mallorca's art community come to Palma to share their art pieces with everyone. Balconies, bars, rooftops, streets and public squares become art galleries for a day.
The Nit de l'Art 2014 will take place on September 18th. Our hotel in the centre of Palma de Mallorca is located really close to the Old Town, so you'll be able to get there easily on foot or by bus. Join more than 15,000 people at this celebration of contemporary art in our city and enjoy Palma in a different way.
Photos: Galería Pelaires, Galería Kewenig.


This Detached home at 62 Palisade Crescent in the city of Richmond Hill and found in the neighbourhood of Rouge Woods is no longer active.
Other neighbourhoods nearby are Headford Business Park, Beaver Creek Business Park, Crosby, Mill Pond, Harding. Palisade Crescent has 0 postings currently on the market, while the area of Rouge Woods has 57 postings on the market. That's just 3.7% of the 1547 total properties for sale in the city of Richmond Hill. Properties in Rouge Woods are listed for an average asking price of $1,303,159, or an approximate monthly mortgage of $4,415 . That is 1.1 times less of the average asking price of $1,461,663 in Richmond Hill. The average Rouge Woods listed property is 1548 sq ft, has 3.6 beds, and 4 baths. The neighbourhood around 62 Palisade Crescent has 0% apartments.
The city of Richmond Hill in York has 1547 homes for sale and lease currently on the market which can be seen here Richmond Hill real estate.


Yesterday, I shared about the donations that I am making to Valley Children's NICU. Today, I am going to share one of the headband patterns. We will start with the Preemie Bow Headband.
I love how cute this little headband is. The bow is only 3 1/2 inches long, but on a preemie's little head, it will look like one of the oversize bows that are fashionable right now. After all, you are never too young to be fashionable!
While this bow is adorable, it carries a little weight to it. For this reason, it would be perfect for a photo shoot, but not as practical for long term wear... which is why I only included one in my gift. I had to share the pattern, though, because really, can we ever have too many tiny photo props?
Keep in mind, too, you can always size the headband larger for older babies!
Round 1: ch 3, skip 2 ch, hdc in next ch, [ch 2, skip 2 ch, hdc in next ch] repeat around, joining the last ch 2 to the beginning st with sl st.
Ch 26, join with sl st to first ch to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc in same ch as join, sc 2, hdc 8,sc 2, join to first sc with sl st.
Round 2-3: Ch 1, sc in same ch as join, sc 2, hdc 8,sc 2, join to first sc with sl st.
Finish off, leaving extra long tail.
Flatten round, lining up the sc stitches in the center. Wrap the tail around the center a few times and secure it with a knot. Secure bow to headband.


Seven senior executives promoted; new executive role created.
A business code of ethics will outline employee conduct on issues such as ethics, values, environment, diversity, employee respect and customer service.
Packaging industry leader Placon will exhibit at the upcoming International Dairy Deli Bakery (IDDBA) show in Orlando June 2-4.
Organic packaged salad producer had sales of $400 million in 2018.
For the 12th consecutive year, ITW Food Equipment Group, the parent company of Hobart, Baxter, Traulsen, Vulcan, Wolf, Stero, Wittco and other equipment brands, has earned the nation's highest honor for energy efficiency.


My big Christmas present this year was a spin bike. I always enjoyed going to spin classes at the Y, so I thought it would be great to have my own bike. I don't know about you, but after all day at work it's really hard to want to stop at the gym. So having the bike has been a great way to make sure I get a workout in.
I am always impressed at those who are good at making up their own spin workouts. However, I am not experienced enough to make my own, so after much searching, I found an app called Cycle Coach. It makes it more like being in an actual spin class. There are multiple workouts to choose from based on time and level. You can also choose to use the music provided or input your own music. The good thing about spin workouts is that you control your own pace and resistance, so the same workout can be used over and over - just increase your pace and resistance. I also like it because it gives you an estimate of how many calories you burn in each workout and shows you what's coming up so you are able to pace yourself. What's your favorite way to burn some calories??


Madeleine Princevalli, 85, of Ansonia, entered into eternal rest on July 6, 2014, at Griffin Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph A. Princevalli.
Mrs. Princevalli was born in LaRochelle, France on Nov. 28, 1928. A resident of Ansonia for many years, she enjoyed crewel work.
She is survived by two loving sons, Frank Princevalli (Donna) of Shelton and Joel Princevalli (Lynette) of North Haven, a loving daughter, Lida Princevalli (Paul) of Ansonia, five cherished grandchildren, Kristine, Kimberly, Michael and Shaena Princevalli and Somer Lewis (Jeremy), three great grandchildren, Alexia, Ashlee and Adelyn and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a son, Noel Princevalli.
Per Madeleine's request, her funeral service will be private and inurnment will take place at the convenience of the family in Pine Grove Cemetery in Ansonia. The SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia has been privileged with the arrangements.


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Q: How to improve my YouTube video upload data v3 I have the following problem. Google recently limited my queries per day to 10,000 and I'm looking to increase or decrease my chunksize. I honestly don't know how much I need to increase / decrease to use a few queries per upload, follow the code below that I did:
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VW Ireland expects all of its dealers to be EV-ready by the summer.
Volkswagen BEV dealers must meet exact standards when it comes to tooling, training, servicing standards and product knowledge before they can be certified to sell BEVs and with the brand's increased focus on the future of e-mobility, have appointed new BEV dealers across the breadth of the country.
Prices start at €35,995 including Government incentives, with the Executive Edition, which is described as "the ultimate e-Golf" with the addition of a host of optional extras such as sporty 17 inch Madrid alloy wheels, LED tail lights, a full leather interior, active info display, a rear-view camera and keyless access. The e-Golf Executive Edition is available from €39,495 after Government incentives.
Don't fancy electric power? VW can also offer you the ultimate in petrol power with the special edition TCR version of the Golf GTI.
This 290hp hot Golf can reach speeds of up to 260 km/h, and is fitted with a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG), petrol particulate filter and highly exclusive equipment as standard.
Price for the car in Ireland is €47,495 in either three-door or five-door body styles. Only 20 examples will be sold to Irish customers.
The new Golf GTI TCR was derived from the racing car of the same name – the two-time overall winner of the international TCR racing series.
The road version passes the 100 km/h mark after just 5.6 seconds, while the maximum speed is 250 km/h. The top speed can optionally be increased to 260 km/h.
The Golf GTI TCR is even more exclusive than the Golf GTI Performance (which produces 245hp) and features technology such as front assist, active info display and LED headlights. The standard equipment includes a front-axle differential lock, perforated brake discs, driving profile selection, premium front sport seats with a new microfibre/fabric design, seat belts with red edging plus an exclusive sports steering wheel.
As with the racing series, its leather is specially imprinted (perforated leather) at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions as well as with a red mark at 12 o'clock.
The GTI TCR is also distinguished by the standard 18 inch Belvedere forged wheels (or 18 inch Milton Keynes alloy wheels, as an alternative), black exterior mirror caps, sill extensions, front splitter, TCR roof spoiler and a diffuser at the rear.
The newcomer makes a further strong impression even before the driver settles behind the wheel, as the TCR logo is projected onto the road when the front doors are opened. The CR can be further customised with optional equipment such as a new honeycomb decor foil for the side sections, exterior mirror caps in carbon look, a black painted roof and two wheel packages to choose from.
In addition to the Vmax increase from 250 to 260 km/h, the option package at a price of €2,895 includes the 19 inch Reifnitz wheels, adaptive chassis control, including lowering by 20mm compared to the standard running gear (five millimetres less as compared to the GTI running gear) and a special, sporty tuning of the front and rear axle shock absorbers.
The second tier package costs €3,895 and is tailored especially for the racetrack. Compared to the first tier package, the distinguishing feature here is the set of 19 inch Pretoria rims with semi-slick tyres.
Deliveries for the lucky 20 customers are expected to commence in March.


A great website is the perfect calling card for most businesses. Sometimes you have a site that serves purely as a digital business card. Sometimes it's to generate leads. Of course, for eCommerce businesses, sometimes the site is your actual storefront.
At any rate, you usually start with a great design. A logo here, a carousel banner there, and then some concerted effort in writing the content. Once your site is ready, you might even decide to invest time and effort in drumming up traffic to your website.
You can decide to go down the quick pay-per-click media activation, such as Google and Bing Search ads, or social media paid-for solutions, such as the ones on Facebook and Twitter. Alternatively, you might decide to try and improve your natural rankings on search results pages by investing in content. This process usually starts with getting a plan together on which keywords you would like to rank for. It's all a balancing act between how much traffic you think specific keywords will generate, how difficult it will be to try and rank for these terms, and how suitable it is for your business.
Lower funnel activity, which reaches an audience that is ready to convert, such as paid and organic search.
Media activation specialists are great at activation across all these phases, but usually not as well equipped to provide the right guidance on the on-page user experience, let alone giving advice.
In digital marketing, improving the user's website experience (with the intent of generating a lead or sale) is called conversion rate optimization (CRO). While CRO might start off as entirely subjective, i.e. changing the position of a button or changing the color, the process is quite a scientific one, especially if done well.
CRO is not a magical pie in the sky. It is something that website owners should consider and even prioritize over other improvements. It's like running the perfect marketing campaign, driving masses of people to your store, whipping them in a frenzy to buy your products … and then telling them you only accept cash at the till, causing you to lose 80% of your potential customer base.
You will be surprised how difficult it can be for some companies to get CRO right. The reason for that is that media activation usually sits with marketing managers, and the website with IT. CRO, essentially, lies in that grey area between media specialists and web developers. From an execution point of view, that already tells you there is disconnect. You can also see this disconnect from an internal point of view, with the website owner/business.
This means that the responsibility for CRO usually falls in no man's land. Budgets might already be divvied up before someone realizes that more attention should be paid to CRO. And once the value of CRO is acknowledged, we tend to gravitate to the website developers, who will look at it from their perspective and frame it into their development street thinking (development, testing, production). That then makes CRO extremely heavy-handed and costly. CRO should be a light touch, which is not helped by the many misunderstandings that exist on the topic.
We want to clear up some of that confusion by explaining the basics of CRO, which should help you understand its value and what to look for. The aim is to demystify these arcane arts and get you thinking about how it should be part of your digital perspective.
One of the first things to sort out when doing CRO is your infrastructure. If you decide to go down the route of not employing a software solution, at least ensure that your tracking solution is up to snuff. In most cases, that means ensuring Google Analytics is fully deployed, firing correctly, and loaded up with all the right goal completions or eCommerce deployment.
This is where a specialist comes in handy, as they will be able to tackle potential issues early on, such as the usage of fragments or virtual page views (hint: you want to avoid these). You will want to give the specialist time and scope to put your tracking to the test and ask them to determine the baseline performance of your sales funnel.
Be aware that there might be some website developer time needed. Unless you're using an all-in-one ecommerce platform, like 3dcart, website, online store, and payment portals are usually on different domains, which can wreak havoc on something that is known as cross-domain tracking.
Once your analytics solution (read: measurement solution) has been signed off as fully working, you will need some way to alter the website in an experiment and monitor group type fashion. Again, if you have chosen a software solution, this is usually embedded.
One of the fundamental principles that you can rely on when performing CRO via GTM is something called DOM scraping. Document Objects help you pinpoint particular elements in the page you might want to do something with.
Handling the infrastructure, measurement framework, and how the CRO tests are implemented is very much a specialist's role. You can decide to hire someone or get a freelancer to ensure this is done correctly. The next part, however, will require your input.
A common misconception is that CRO is "just" a temporary process, that there is a level when you are 'finished.' Nothing is further from the truth. CRO is a continuous state of testing. Even more so, it's a continuous state of making small incremental changes to find incremental improvement.
For example, you may have a conversion page and decide to change the 'buy now' button's color, size, and shape. You may also decide to place it a little bit more to the right. If the results show there was an improvement, how would you know which of the changes made the difference? This is a crucial element of CRO: make small changes, so the results are more accurate.
This is one of the main reasons why CRO is an ongoing project. Significant changes tested in just a few experiments will simply not give you enough data points to decide what made the difference. Patience is key, and with patience comes careful planning. Some tests can co-exist, some will not.
Aim for 2-3 tests each lasting 3-4 weeks in any given period. This way you will allow enough data to come through to see significant changes.
Is my buy button attractive enough?
Is there too much information on this page?
Is there too little information on this page?
It could help to get an extra pair of eyes on this topic and build up 3-4 more prominent theories on how your website conversion rate could improve. This is usually the part of the process where you must deal with many different opinions and the input of many different people. As with design, CRO ideas usually start out as very subjective until you have more data to explain the results.
All in all, this may sound like a lot of work just to get your conversion rate higher by a few decimal points, but the math usually tells you differently. Let's say you have 10,000 users each month, converting at 2%. A mere 0.2% increase in conversion rate will get you 10% more conversions. Not bad for an assumption where traffic was equal.
Another element that is tightly linked to CRO is the effort to upsell or cross-sell in the conversion funnel. If you manage to increase your conversion rate at the same time you are able to increase the average basket value, the effect will be compounded.
So, there you have it. CRO is about infrastructure, tools to make incremental changes (ideally in an A/B testing environment), ensuring you bet small and win small, and having the patience and foresight to test theories over an extended period. Excellent website design in combination with a disciplined and structured CRO approach should be in your mind as soon as you decide to build a website.


A few of examples of native advertising and marketing stuck in �the wild�. Native Twitter ads are some other form of native advertising and If you have any type of concerns concerning where and the best ways to make use of buy native ads, you could contact us at our web page. marketing is Twitter�s promoted tweets. As you may see beneath, aside from the �Promoted by way of� textual content, a promoted tweet seems similar to any other. The second one is local information Feed ads. These are promoted posts that display up subsequent to actual information in a writer�s news feed. 0.33 One is native Advertorial ads. Advertorials seem like normal editorial content material but are virtually created to advertise an emblem. These advertisements are popular both online and off and had been around for a long time.
The reason why native advertising is so useful for visibility reasons is that native ads are often gotten much better by target audiences. They`re seen as less of an imposition than popups and other types of advertising, and they`re also less likely to struggle with problems like banner loss of sight when it pertains to drawing in a highly disengaged audience. Because native ads don`t feel the same as typical marketing, people are more likely to view them and read or consume the material they provide. In traditional marketing, on the other hand, a lot of graphics and text are disregarded, as people can possibly overlook basic ads as part of the sound in their daily environment. This is so true if you have observed.
Native advertising is making use of paid ads that match the look, feel and function of the media format in which they appear. Native ads are often found in social media feeds, or as recommended content on a websites. Unlike display ads or banner advertisements, native ads don`t really look like ads. They look like part of the editorial circulation of the page. The essential to native advertising is that it is non-disruptive. Native ads can come in virtually any shape or size, so long as the publisher and advertiser clearly label the unit as "sponsored". In 2015, the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) started recognizing some of the most widely used native formats, including in-feed units, promoted product listings, and suggestion widgets.


* Fashion design with unique exquisite appearance Ladies Quartz Watch, white dial inside with 3 hands and marks for easy to read.
* High quality round watch case and 100% satisfaction!!!
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* Best gift choice for man!
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* Put out knob of the Silvery Watch to adjust time.
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"Few biblical books are as neglected by the church as 1 & 2 Kings," says Paul R. House in the New American Commentary.
Many read 1 & 2 Kings as approximately 400 years of boring Old Testament history that doesn't lend itself easily to devotional reading and they doubt the relevance and practicality of studying events that occurred 3,000 years ago. So how could it help us in our evangelism?
The answer begins with the root of the very word evangelism—"good news." To appreciate and understand the good news we need to know the whole news, including the bad news. For it is in the context of the bad news that we come to realize our need for a Savior.
1 & 2 Kings isn't just the spiritual history of Israel; instead, it is a microcosm of the history of humanity. Without knowing history, we are doomed to repeat it. Thus, some ask today, "How could a good God punish His people?" After reading through this history of Kings, we are left wondering, "It's about time! What took God so long?" Kings reveals the incredible patience of God who is both long-suffering and compassionate.
1 Kings begins with the last days of David and Solomon's building of the Temple; 2 Kings ends with the destruction of the Temple. What we find in between is a litany of the wickedness of human kings. Beginning with Solomon and a united kingdom of Israel, then through the divided kingdom of Israel in the north and Judah in the south, 1 & 2 Kings records the spiritual history covering 41 kings in all.
By 1 Kings 11, Solomon already turns away from God and towards idols and foreign women. And God appears to Solomon a third time, now provoked to anger, and subsequently divides the kingdom north and south, Israel and Judah.
As we read through the rest of the divided kingdom's 40 kings to follow, the kings get worse and worse. Only eight kings are assessed as good, but six of those failed to remove idol worship from their people. One of the greatest kings, Hezekiah, is followed by perhaps the worst, his son Manasseh. Through this long litany of wicked kings, God is gracious, sparing Israel and Judah from destruction, and the Temple still stands as the symbol of God's presence with His people.
Two hundred and eight years later Israel is exiled to Assyria; 135 years after that Judah is exiled to Babylon and the Temple is finally destroyed. The survival of the kings for this long was clearly not due to anyone's goodness, but to God's grace. In the end, royal wisdom fails. The kings walk according to what was right in their own eyes and consistently rejected following the Lord.
Within this context comes for us a mirror to read the story for today's world. The 40 kings are introduced with an accession notice and then concluded with a death notice. And there is a formula: For most, the king is described as having walked in all the sins of his father, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father. Each king had a choice: to walk in the ways of David, loving God with all his heart, or to walk in the ways of evil, the sins of his father.
You and I have the same choice. Which of us by human wisdom or in human strength has been wholly true to the Lord our God? Which of us is wholly true in walking in the ways of the Lord, or instead at times walks in the ways of this world? Have we "done what was right in the Lord's eyes" or done what was best in our own eyes?
Paul sums it up for all of us like this in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Yet while we are convicted of this throughout history and in our own life, the gospel remains the good news. John 3:16 proclaims: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." God delivered on His promise to David, and sent a descendant of David to save us all. Jesus Christ died for our sins, so that we may not end in ruins. For all who believe, we are forgiven and reconciled with God for eternity.
This is truly the good news!
Tom Burns is a chaplain at the Chicago O'Hare Airport Chapel, ministering to travelers and the over 40,000 employees working at O'Hare Airport. He is an executive coach and consultant, working with Christian business executives and church/nonprofit leaders.


text:
News Conference following Russian-Ukrainian Summit Talks
President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych: Ladies and gentlemen,
Today Mr Medvedev and I held the third meeting of the Interstate Commission and came to a conclusion that this is not the way we should work: holding seven meetings in such a short period of time and putting the heads of our working groups in a situation when they actually need to run around preparing a whole range of decisions. But this all stems from the fact that both Ukraine and Russia are still in their post-crisis period and not making these decisions would mean stunting economic growth and slowing down trade and economic development. So today, we instructed our governments to continue work in a number of areas that are mutually beneficial for both Ukraine and Russia. These include shipbuilding, aviation, space industry, and a number of energy projects that create conditions for economic growth, and, of course, most importantly, for obtaining a financial result.
Tomorrow we will hold our joint business forum. And Ukrainian and Russian business representatives will express their views. We have agreed that in areas where our alliance can produce synergy, we will encourage the creation of joint ventures, maybe holdings or corporations, which would increase the size of our economies and make them competitive by complementing each other and cooperating, including joint operation in third markets.
Of course, our today's decisions on national security look to the future. We invite our neighbours, the whole Euro-Atlantic area, to create a security architecture that will correspond to the current stage and address the threats that currently exist in the world.
We have agreed to work on our humanitarian cooperation. It is also very important, because the citizens of our countries on both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian border are linked by kinship, linked by the history of our nations — their rights must not be violated on the territories of our states. And we have to decide together on a number of issues related to social protection, pensions. There are still some old issues, but they are very sensitive and painful for our peoples. We also agreed that we will seek to resolve them as soon as possible.
What else do I want to say? We have agreed that we will not 'team up' against a third country. And all the decisions we make will be made with a view to protecting our national interests.
I want to say that, of course, we have some matters of principle that we will still have to work on; for example, the delimitation of our water boundaries. We were unable to make a decision this time, because we had very little time, but we will work on this issue, and I think that we will soon finalize it.
On the whole, I want to say that the partnership, neighbourly, strategic relation between Ukraine and Russia has now been restored. And we hope that we will see the positive effect of this already this year. President Medvedev said in his interview that a 7 billion dollar trade turnover our countries achieved in the first three months of this year, it's a sort of first sign of hope that this year our trade turnover might stand at approximately 35 billion dollars at least. But I think that we will boost the turnover between our countries even further in the second half of the year.
I want to thank Mr Medvedev for being his usual businesslike when instructing to Russian Government, the Russian side of our Interstate Commission, and it was easy for us to work with our colleagues. Naturally, we could not react otherwise. All we did during this period of time was an intense bilateral work we were engaged in in various regions of Ukraine and Russia.
In addition, we have agreed to significantly strengthen our inter-regional cooperation and cross-border trade between our regions. This issue also concerns the simplification of our border crossing procedures, simplification of procedures for our citizens at border crossing points. And, of course, the migration policy, which is also important: this policy should not be humiliating for people working in Ukraine and in Russia, those who are unable to find work in their own country. We will also work on this.
In general, we are satisfied with this third meeting [of the Commission]. We believe that, objectively, we have achieved everything we could have in such a short period of time.
President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev: Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to concur with everything that has been said by President of Ukraine, but, perhaps, with one exception. Mr Yanukovych said that it is impossible to work like this, but I would like to add that we will have to work like this for several reasons. First, because in the past few years we lost a great deal. I would like to note that today we are having the third meeting of the Interstate Commission, the third in five years. While in fact such countries as Russia and Ukraine should meet twice a year. So, unfortunately, almost nothing has been done until now. And, second, which I think is very important, Mr Yanukovych just said that we worked well, that the Russian side was businesslike: I am pleased to hear that, I will not hide it.
I would like to say that the Russian side worked well because it finally has a full-fledged Ukrainian partner, meaning a normal leadership that makes decisions and performs them. It is very important in international relations to have a partner who lives up to his word, who is guided not by short-term political interests, by political conjuncture, which of course exists in every country, but by the strategic interests of his country's development, the development of his nation. And the Russian Federation has found such partners in the person of President of Ukraine and the people that make up his team today, working in the Government and the Presidential Administration.
We have talked about almost everything that has been done. Indeed, it is nice to see our trade turnover grow so quickly. I have already talked about it. I am sure that this is a result of not only the general improvement in our countries' economic situation. We have a serious subjective factor here too, and it is good, because we hope that getting back to pre-crisis turnover levels is not far off.
And I will go even further: I think we need to set ambitious goals. During our visits to various countries, we are always looking forward. We think about what our trade and economic relations will look like, say, in three, five, or seven years. Today, we also spoke about this with Mr Yanukovych and agreed to come up with a special plan to coordinate our socio-economic development over a period of ten years. And our trade turnover has to be planned for the future as well. I believe that if we are talking now about some 35–40 billion [dollars], this is the figure for this year, it must be achieved this year, and for the future, we must aim at 100. This is precisely the level that matches the size of our economies and our desire to develop mutual cooperation, our understanding of the place our economies occupy in the European market, and not only in Europe, of course.
We have already spoken about the things we have done. Of course, we still have specific projects ahead of us. I hope that we will soon finalize a series of documents that are currently being discussed, in the energy sector, including nuclear power, and that we will expand our cooperation in such sectors as rocket and space technology, aerospace, and shipbuilding. I would like our cooperation to be very high-tech in nature, especially taking into account the potential of our economies, our technological and production similarity, even despite the difficult post-Soviet period and the crisis period of the past two years. The two economies remain closely connected to each other. And that is very important, because this is the only way we can achieve full results.
Of course, humanitarian projects are also important. I would like to remind everyone that we have signed several documents in this area. Our cultural exchanges, contacts between civil societies remain very important. I already mentioned it last time that we are ready to begin full-scale broadcasts in Ukrainian language using Russian satellite capacity, so that all the people in Russia who are interested in Ukrainian language and Ukrainian culture, can get the information directly from the source, as we say, with a 24-hour access to broadcasts from one of Ukraine's major TV channels. The list could be expanded subsequently.
We have some outstanding issues where we need to hold fairly complex consultations. We are all sensible people, and we understand that it is impossible to solve all problems in just three months. We understand that we still have some long consultations ahead of us on a number of issues. But the most important thing is that we are back on friendly terms, sitting at the same table. And today, concluding the meeting of the Interstate Commission, addressing both the Russian and the Ukrainian side, I said: "The whole thing now depends on our colleagues who will need to communicate almost on a daily basis, resolving minor issues, promote ambitious goals, and negotiate the implementation of joint projects. Then it will work." Business needs to engage, too. I hope that Mr President and I will talk tomorrow with business community representatives and send all the necessary signals that we are open to mutual investments, that the 'witch-hunt' era is over, that investments from our countries (Ukrainian and Russian) are welcome, that they will get the necessary level of protection in both countries, the level of most favoured nation, as they usually say in international law.
This is what I want to say first. I would sincerely like to thank Mr Yanukovych and our Ukrainian partners for the productive work and for the businesslike atmosphere of the Interstate Commission's meeting.
Question: You already mentioned that you have reached an agreement to step up cooperation in shipbuilding, aviation, space research, and energy sectors. Could you be a little more specific on these projects? And, more important, on what terms will they be implemented, because the Ukrainian opposition warns that, with creation of joint ventures and holdings, Ukraine will lose its aviation industry, its energy sector, and, as a result, its gas pipeline.
And the second question concerns borders: when will the land frontier demarcation finally be launched? And given friendship like this, what will this frontier give the two nations?
Dmitry Medvedev: Are you asking me?
Reply: You too, yes. I'm asking both presidents.
Dmitry Medvedev: Ok, I see.
With regard to projects in shipbuilding, aviation, space and energy sectors. You know, if we were happy with everything, there would be no need to launch any joint projects. But to be honest, we know the problems the industry faces, both in Ukraine and in Russia. And the crisis has made these problems even worse. Besides that our industry requires radical reshaping and modernisation, the crisis has negatively affected our competitiveness.
What should we do in this case? First, we should not get frustrated, but rather try to get the maximum positive effect even from the negative processes currently underway. And positive here means creating brand new standards of competitiveness. So, we need to implement all these projects we plan to carry out based on two principles.
The first principle is that these should be absolutely pragmatic approaches. No charity, no unilateral decisions, but projects that are totally mutually beneficial. This is the only way to make these projects viable, otherwise one party might feel hurt or offended and retract from implementing them.
The second principle means that we must seek to find the most advanced technological solutions.
We already have, for example, in aircraft engineering, a good potential for cooperation and a desire to continue work along the entire range of aviation products, which, for example, can be developed jointly by the Antonov State Aircraft Building Concern and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. We are talking here about all aircrafts that have been already manufactured and, what we call it, ready to be put into production, or future aircraft. I mean the An-140 and An-148; in the future — the An-70 and An-124. But we must not stop there. Looking to the future, we must think about the products that will be in demand in the aviation market in 10–15 years. And, to be honest, all of the machines I have mentioned are still mostly from the past.
We need to create new products; these must be digital models of aircraft and vessels. Only then can we enter the market with these models: the Ukrainian market, the Russian market, and the European market. That's why our cooperation in this area must rest on such basis.
As for specific agreements, they are being prepared in all of these areas. By the way, we have signed a very serious document on GLONASS today. This is an absolutely practical work that will be mutually beneficial and will allow using this system on Ukraine's territory using the most advanced technology. So I hope that we will soon be in position to sign specific agreements on cooperation in all the main sectors of our economies.
Viktor Yanukovych: I would like to add a few words to what Mr Medvedev has just said. The Antonov aircraft line he spoke about has been supplemented by the An-158, which has 15 seats more than the An-148, and which is better in terms of cost performance. I think that this aircraft will also be competitive on the market; we have it ready to be put into production.
I want to say that tentatively our cooperation in aircraft engineering, which we currently discuss, contemplates, for example, that if an aircraft is being assembled in Russia, the share of Russian assembly parts will be 60 percent, and the Ukraine's – 40 percent. If assembled in Ukraine, the share of Ukrainian assembly parts will be 60 percent, and Russian — 40 percent. Our specialists have been working together for a long time now, only that at certain moments this joint work has been hitting political or bureaucratic obstacles. Today, we understand full well that to enter the third countries' markets, we don't need a limited production, as was the case until recently, — we need full-scale, serial production. And it will mean a completely different competitive price, it will mean a totally different quality. And of course, the related companies producing aircraft assembly parts will also cut prices, because they will produce parts in larger numbers, and they will come out much cheaper. That means that, together, we will earn more than struggling to enter global markets alone.
We can say the same thing about shipbuilding, and draw a similar parallel with the space industry. On shipbuilding (Mr Medvedev didn't mention it), we have agreed with President Medvedev that Russia will complete the 1164 Project, cruiser Ukraine. I would say, this project is crucial for us, too, because it has been delayed for so long, though it is actually 95 percent complete. But we have little opportunity to complete it without Russia's help.
You asked about frontier demarcation: the agreement on the border between Ukraine and Russia was signed in 2003. Just imagine, it's been seven years — it took us seven years to come down to the frontier demarcation agreement. Of course, it was our joint political decision. And now, under this agreement, a commission will be set up that will quickly solve this problem and create additional conditions for Ukraine and for Russia to solve various problems, including international ones.
Question: Mr Yanukovych, we have actually witnessed recently the significant strengthening of Russian-Ukrainian relations, but nevertheless it is no secret that in Ukraine there are forces that oppose it. What is your opinion? Is there now a real danger that the new trend in our relations will not be maintained?
And Mr Medvedev, a question for you, if I may. It was reported today that Iran, Turkey, and Brazil have agreed on the shipment of uranium to Turkey for further enrichment. Will that serve as a guarantee against the use of sanctions against Iran? And will Russia's facilities be engaged in this process in any way?
Viktor Yanukovych: I am convinced that today the Ukrainian people understand clearly where we were for five years. And if we need to return to the past, that question should not be addressed to me. You have to ask every citizen in every region of Ukraine. I repeat, not only in the west, south, or east. In any region of Ukraine today, there is an understanding that stability is crucial, because it is the factor that can improve the economic situation and people's lives. And we have to be effective not only in domestic policy. The leadership must enjoy the confidence of the people. And confidence can be achieved only by solving various problems, I would say, the problem of living standards in our country, life support. And without a vibrant economy, this cannot be achieved.
And as regards international relations, please tell me, when was confrontation a good policy? I know of no country that was successful in defending its national interests with such a policy. So, naturally, the principle of protecting our national interests will always exist in our policy. It will always be our principal position. And it will be the foundation.
Dmitry Medvedev: Before I say a few words on the Iranian nuclear program — although the question was not addressed to me —and it is President Yanukovych, the elected president and no one else, who is responsible to the Ukrainian people, I will say maybe a simple thing, but I think it is the most important. Ultimately, the people living here or in Russia will feel whether or not there is a change for the better. Their perception will be based on a variety of facts that make up their welfare, their well-being. So if the cooperation between Russia and Ukraine brings to people who live here, or in the east, or in the west or in central Ukraine, only positive changes, if they feel that the inflow of investment and increased trade ultimately create new jobs, increasing their salaries and creating opportunities for regular payment of pensions and social benefits, I'm sure there will be no doubts in their minds, because that is the main criterion by which ordinary people judge their leadership's domestic and foreign policy choices.
Now concerning the developments on the Iranian track. Indeed, we have received interesting information from Iran. The work conducted with involvement of Brazil and Turkey has produced a corresponding declaration. We are currently analysing this declaration very carefully. Tonight I hope to have a telephone conversation with my colleague and my friend, President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and I hope to get the information at first hand.
This is what I can say at this moment. First of all, it is good news that there is a concrete result: the most complicated aspect of the Iranian nuclear problem was discussed.
Second, there is a desire to exchange low-enriched uranium for highly enriched uranium in proportions set forth in the agreement.
The question now arises as to whether this level of exchange operations is sufficient and adequate? Will all members of the international community be satisfied with that? I do not know. Apparently, separate consultations will be needed with all those who, as they say, are parties to this process.
A separate question also arises as to whether Iran will undertake further enrichment itself. As I understand it, based on the statements made by certain Iranian officials, Iran will continue this work. In that case, of course, the concerns the international community has expressed could remain.
And finally, we still have to wait and see what will follow the declaration. So, I think, in any case, we should welcome the results achieved by our colleagues from Brazil and Turkey. This is a political and diplomatic way to solve the Iranian problem. We need to hold urgent consultations with all the parties concerned, including Iran, before making any decisions as to what to do next, whether the decisions proposed are enough, or whether we need to do something else. Therefore, I think, a brief pause on this issue would be useful. I am sure that we will continue our consultations with our partners – Brazil and Turkey, as well as other colleagues involved in Iran's nuclear program, — in the near future.
Published in section: Transcripts
Last updated at May 28, 2014, 20:03


text:
BG Group COO Resigns
BG Group plc today announced that Martin Houston, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Executive Director, has stepped down from the Board and Group Executive Committee (GEC) with immediate effect, and will retire from the Group by 31 December 2014.
Sami Iskander, Executive Vice President Operations will now take over the role of Chief Operating Officer, with immediate effect, reporting to Chris Finlayson. Sami was appointed to the GEC in 2009.
Matt Schatzman, Executive Vice President, Global Energy Marketing & Shipping will now also report directly to Chris Finlayson. Matt was appointed to the GEC in January 2012.
Houstin joined the predecessor company to BG Group, British Gas Corporation, in 1983 as a petroleum geologist. During his time with BG Group he gained extensive international experience from a wide variety of technical, commercial and management roles, and played a leading role in developing the Group's unique LNG business model. He became BG Group Executive Vice President in 2000.
In the past year, he has been heavily involved with QGC in Australia, in developing the long term LNG growth options for BG Group and in building the COO organisation.
Commenting on Houston's decision to retire from BG Group, the Group's Chairman, Andrew Gould, said:
"The Board and I would like to sincerely thank Martin for his outstanding contribution to BG Group, and its predecessor companies, over the last 30 years. He was one of the principal architects of the Group's LNG and shipping business during the formative years. We have benefited greatly from Martin's support and the value that he has added to the Group".
Prior to his retirement from the Group, Martin will continue to assist QGC with the delivery of Phase 1 of the QCLNG project in Australia, where the Group is on track for first LNG in 2014.
Chris Finlayson, Chief Executive Officer, said: "In addition to the comments made by Andrew, I would like to add my personal thanks to Martin for his tremendous support during my first year in office. I would also like to congratulate Sami on his appointment and look forward to working closely with both Sami and Matt over the coming years."
Press Release, November 13, 2013
Posted on November 13, 2013 with tags BG, COO, Group, martin houston, Resigns.
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text:
NE1 Launches New Business Crime Reduction Partnership
NE1 is launching a new Business Crime Reduction Partnership in Newcastle, collaborating with the business community, Northumbria Police, and Newcastle City Council.
Businesses across the city are being invited to join the partnership which will be free for all NE1 levy-paying businesses, and available for companies outside the NE1 postcode area to join for a small annual fee. Delivered through an online platform, and similar to a neighbourhood watch scheme, the partnership will provide access to a members' forum to record incidents, share information, and raise alerts to help prevent, and reduce crime in the city centre, as well as improving safety for businesses, staff, and visitors.
A survey conducted among NE1 businesses earlier this year found that the majority of respondents do not report minor incidents to the police as they feel the process takes too long and few had confidence that something would be done. Under the new NE1 Business Crime Reduction Partnership, NE1 is encouraging businesses to report incidents of anti-social behaviour or criminal activity via the platform, allowing the partnership to accurately determine the extent of the problem, and work with the police to allocate the resource to tackle the issues.
As well as logging incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour, businesses will be able to review information on offenders operating in the city centre and keep abreast of criminal trends and activity. The platform will alert businesses to the presence of offenders in the city before they go into shops, or leisure venues, and enable businesses to manage the risk appropriately.
Members agree to be bound by data protection rules relating to data sharing, how the information can be used, and access to the platform. A number of prominent North East businesses and national retail brands have already signed up to join the partnership including John Lewis.
Commenting on the new Business Crime Reduction Partnership, Mark Sumner, Operations Manager at NE1 Ltd said:
"It's important to remember that Newcastle is a safe city, however, we do not have facts and figures on the scale of anti-social behaviour and associated issues that are occurring in the city because businesses aren't reporting incidents to the Police.
"NE1's Street Rangers are doing a stellar job helping to keep the streets of Newcastle safe and working with the police to be their eyes and ears on the ground, but they are doing this without concrete data on where the major problems lie, how extensive they are, and what resources are needed to tackle the issues. This new business crime reduction partnership will provide this information and will help to make Newcastle an even safer place as we constantly strive to improve."
"This is a major step forward in the support we offer our businesses in the city centre, and one that we know will be of huge benefit to our members. By tackling crime and improving safety for visitors and staff, business losses will be prevented, and Newcastle will be a safer, more welcoming, and prosperous environment for everyone.
"Business crime reduction partnerships work well in other parts of the country, and we are confident that it will deliver a positive impact on reducing crime and disorder in Newcastle city centre."
Lisa Kendal, Deputy Branch Manager from John Lewis Newcastle, explained why they have joined the Business Crime Reduction Partnership.
"We were keen to join the Crime Reduction Partnership to do what we can to cut retail theft and improve safety for our staff and customers. Thankfully, we don't have a big problem in Newcastle but working together to help minimise the threats and risk makes sense for our business and the wider community. We already work closely with NE1 and their Street Rangers and are familiar with the team, and this new online partnership will help us all to improve the retail environment in the city."
NE1 has enlisted the help of a national business crime management company, NBCS, to help set up and operate the Business Crime Reduction Partnership. In addition, some of the city's key business players including Primark, Fenwick, Nexus, Greggs, JD Sport and M&S have all expressed an interest in joining the steering group to help run the partnership and decide on its priorities, working alongside NE1, the Police, and the City Council.
Any businesses keen to register to be part of the NE1 Business Crime Reduction Partnership should contact Mark Sumner, Operations Manager, at mark.sumner@newcastlene1ltd.com.
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