At Witmer's Furniture, we want to help you select the highest quality furniture for your home. We have years of experience building custom furniture, and helping our customers select the perfect furniture. We can have your custom furniture built exactly the way you want it built. From specialized hardware to selecting the correct solid hardwoods, we can handle it all. Stop into Witmer's Furniture in Memphis, MO today and let us help you find the perfect furniture for the way you live!
Here at Witmer's Furniture we have the experience that is needed to help you with all of your furniture needs! From traditional to transitional styles, and everything in between, we have something for everyone. Stop into our Memphis, MO showroom, and let us show you all of the benefits of owning American and Amish built furniture!
I guess you could say that Witmer's Furniture started back in 2004 in Lancaster County, PA. Matthew Witmer had just lost his job as a hog farm manager due to the market collapse and he was looking for a new career path. He applied to a small store specializing in locally handcrafted furniture, in the heart of Amish Country and found out that not only were they hiring but they had recently been bought by another company and their 2,000 sq ft showroom was going to become a 20,000 sq ft showroom! They also owned a furniture finishing facility and here is where Matthew learned a lot of what he knows about wood furniture.
Matthew started in the finishing shop learning wood species, stain colors, specialty finishes and more and then moved on to helping set up and display the new showroom. He moved into sales and then added delivery scheduling and basic management duties for a time.
He then was transferred back to the finishing shop as the facility manager tasked with bringing in new clients, expanding the services of the shop and managing daily schedules and deadlines. Under his leadership, the finishing facility brought on new clients of custom cabinets, high-end antique reproductions, furniture, and garage doors with polyurethane finishes. Lots of study into techniques and applications along with traveling to international wood shows allowed him to increase his expertise in quality wood finishing and truly know what it takes to make a quality product.
Fast forward 10+ years and Matthew and his family now live in Memphis, MO and Matthew was remembering his love of wood furniture and contemplating applying for a position at Oakwood Industries when they came to him asking if he would consider becoming an independent Oakwood dealer. They wanted to go strictly to manufacturing and wholesaling and needed someone to continue to service their 30 years worth of retail customers.
After talking to a number of his old contacts, Matthew decided they would convert the existing building they had into a furniture store and so Witmer's Furniture was established. As an independent dealer, Witmer's Furniture carries the full line of Oakwood products plus other lines of Amish and Mennonite shops to offer a full line of options. You will also find some leather upholstered furniture and Dutch Craft Mattresses in the showroom.
Matt and Monica's two boys help out as well, when they are not in school, from answering the phone to trash removal and helping with the deliveries, going along to shows etc. Figure they will be where the action is!


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USPTO Board Rules Against Sequenom on Certain NIPT Patent Claims
Sep 17, 2014 | staff reporter
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – A US Patent and Trademark Office board has declared that certain claims on a patent held by Sequenom are unpatentable, while it upheld other claims on the patent, US Patent No. 6,258,540.
In a final decision, the patent trial and appeal board of the USPTO recently ruled that Ariosa Diagnostics has shown that nine claims on the patent — claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 19, 20, 24, and 25 — are unpatentable, but found that Ariosa did not demonstrate that seven other claims contained in the '540 patent — claims 3, 12, 13, 15, 18, 21, and 22 — were unpatentable.
Further, the board denied motions by Isis Innovations, which was assigned the '540 patent, to amend the claims and to exclude evidence. Sequenom holds an exclusive license to the '540 patent, which underlies its MaterniT21 Plus non-invasive prenatal diagnostic test, from Isis.
The decision by the USPTO board is the latest development in a nearly three-year long battle between Ariosa and Sequenom. In late 2011 Ariosa, then called Aria Diagnostics, sought a declaratory judgment from the US District Court for the Northern District of California that Ariosa's test, eventually called Harmony, did not infringe the '540 patent, as Clinical Sequencing News reported at the time.
Last October, the federal court delivered a blow to Sequenom by invalidating the patent, saying that it covers a phenomenon of nature, making it unpatentable. That decision is currently on appeal at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
In declaring some of the claims unpatentable, the USPTO board found that, among other things, certain claims of the '540 patent were obvious,making them unpatentable. "[I]f the differences between the claimed subject matter and the prior art are such that the subject matter, as a whole, would have been obvious at the time the invention made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains," the claim in question would be unpatentable, the board said.
Among the claims that it said are unpatentable is a "method for detecting a paternally inherited nucleic acid of fetal origin performed on a maternal serum or plasma sample from a pregnant female … [comprising the amplification of] a paternally inherited nucleic acid from the serum or plasma sample and detecting the presence of a paternally inherited nucleic acid of fetal origin in the sample," as described in the '540 patent.
The board's ruling could have a negative effect on Sequenom, Piper Jaffray analyst William Quirk said in a research note today. The ruling, along with the anticipated upcoming decision by the federal appeals court "could significantly weaken [Sequenom's] IP position, adding risk to [its] recent royalty/in-licensing strategy," he said, referring to Sequenom's agreement with Quest Diagnostics.
If the federal appeals court upholds the earlier decision that invalidated the '540 patent, royalties from in-licensing deals could be "materially impaired and/or third parties may opt to forego a deal entirely. …Irrespective, it implies lower future revenue from this strategy," Quirk said.
He added that he expects Sequenom will find it difficult to win its appeal.
Ariosa CEO Ken Song declined to comment on the USPTO board ruling, saying the firm does not comment on ongoing litigation. Sequenom officials could not be reached for comment.
Disease Research
Laboratory Corporation of America

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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arts entertainmentPop Music
Kelly Clarkson talks growing up poor in a broken home, Nashville and life after 30
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2013 file photo, Kelly Clarkson performs at Green Mountain Coffee's "Great Coffee, Good Vibes, Choose Fair Trade" campaign concert in New York. The Grammy winner announced the birth of her daughter in a Saturday, June 14, 2014, post on Twitter.(Charles Sykes / Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
By Rand Duren
11:38 AM on Mar 2, 2015 CST
Kelly Clarkson has started doing the promotional rounds for her sixth studio album, Piece by Piece, which will be released on March 3. One of her first stop was at CBS Sunday Morning where the singer shared about growing up in a tumultuous home, how her parent's divorce affected her view of relationships and life with her perfect baby River Rose.
On how her broken family impacted how she looked at love:
I never thought, honestly, I would get married, or fall in, like, love like they said in the movies. And not so because I didn't think it was true, you know, I just wasn't presented with that growing up. I just didn't know it was possible.
On growing up worrying about money:
We lived pre-pay check to pre-pay check. So I definitely had this whole mentality, I was like, whatever I'm gonna do, I just don't wanna have to worry that. I always used to hate when people would be like, money doesn't buy everything, when you are little and poor. Rich people say that. Not poor people, I don't know one poor person that's going, money doesn't buy happiness, it pays you to get out of eviction notices.
On life in Nashville:
I chose Nashville because it's avery musical community, and you know with New York and L.A. they're very musical and everyone lives there in general, but I just wanted to live somewhere that reminded me of home.
On how her reaction to gossip changed when she turned 30:
In my 20's, yes, I felt that pressure all the time. Everybody always had something to say, musically, physically, what I was saying disappointed, whatever. Once I hit 30, I don't know what happened, but like, I'm cool, if you think that I should do that, that's awesome, that's great for you in your world, but like this is what's happening in my world, this is what I'm rocking musically, this is what I'm rocking physically, this is what I'm rocking emotionally. You can either love it, or you don't have to, there's plenty of other artists out there to love and adore.
See the full interview below. As always, Kelly is a pleasure to watch, and very funny too.
Rand Duren. Social media dude for GuideLive. Lover of reality TV, delicious food, art, flashy colors and all things Pop. Lady Gaga is my diva of choice. Proud Dallas dweller, originally from Puerto Rico.
rduren@dallasnews.com @RandDuren
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I just upgraded to cox contour2. All is well but I can't get on your 2 remote to pair with my Yamaha av receiver. It's a Yamaha TX-v1600 model.
now I have to swotch back and forth on the remotes. Tried all the codes that show up whe av reviver is a Yamaha.
can anyone help. Isthere a special cpdethat does't show up in the learn mode on the contour 2 remote?


The Rockwood team focuses on taking substantial equity positions in medium to large sized companies that have experienced management teams. Such companies should preferably have excellent profit histories and / or good growth opportunities as well as being number one or two in their industry.
The Rockwood team forms strong relationships with the management teams of its portfolio companies and works closely with them in determining strategy and implementing value-enhancing initiatives.
Mandate to invest in South Africa, however, our portfolio companies are encouraged to seek commercial and M&A opportunities within sub-Saharan Africa.
Equity investments of R300 million to R1 billion, with a preferred investment size of R750 million.
Generalist industry approach, with a focus on companies that are expected to grow faster than South African Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Primary agriculture, property, armaments, tobacco and mining.
Typically Management Buy-Out / Leveraged Buy-Out but including expansion, growth and replacement capital.
The Rockwood team members have wide personal and professional relationships and reputations for executing transactions once committed, which allow them to source transactions.
Rockwood seeks controlling or significant minority positions in investee companies, as well as board representation or other means of significant influence on every investment.
Together with portfolio management teams, Rockwood invites potential BEE partners to invest alongside them.
Together with portfolio management teams, Rockwood invites leveraged finance providers to tender for appropriately structured debt packages.
Rockwood only invests in well-established businesses with a long track record of success. Target investments are market leaders and led by well-balanced and experienced management teams. The Rockwood portfolio of Fund I investments is well diversified in terms of industries, investment date in the economic cycle, growth assets v cash converters, gearing levels and margins which serves as an additional protection against earnings volatility.
Rockwood recognises that responsible investing is vital to building sustainable businesses.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters are therefore considered during the investment appraisal process and continue to be monitored during the investment holding period.


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Home / Forums / Social / The Lounge / MLK Day "I have a dream" … one thing you dream about?
MLK Day "I have a dream" … one thing you dream about?
Dynasty 1 week, 5 days ago.
I dream that one day, Khmer people can come together as a group and do big things. For example, I see Koreans making Samsung phones, Japanese making Toyota and white people doing software engineering. I just think it would be great that Khmer people can do that. It doesn't have to be that..but at least like the Indians. I yearn for the days when I was younger where I was naturally around a lot of my Khmer peers because it was normal.
I'm doing my own civil rights movement. Just filed a $3.1 million lawsuit with the Human Rights Tribunal. My dream is of tomorrow.
Understanding quantum implications and beyond, ie the biggest picture.
Having to go out without having to carry any weapons with me.
I thought LB is a lot safer now. It doesn't sound like that's the case.
You're in Canada? I thought it was safe there. Well, most areas there.
I recently had a dream Thursday night that I went to the casino and won $1million.
I had a dream that people were really positive on here. Then I woke up.


Neighbors are welcome to keep up to three indoor cats or three dogs (with the exception of the breeds listed below). Fish are also welcome, though there is a 20 gallon aquarium maximum.
"Permanently caged" animals such as birds and hamsters are accepted with no deposit or pet rent. There are no restrictions on accommodation or service animals.
Provide pet vaccination records and photo.
Sign and follow the rules of our Pet Agreement.
Pay your monthly pet rent.


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Cheap IWC Replica
IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Replica Watches
Posted on: March 6, 2018 by: iwcwatches
The Portugieser line was considered to be large-sized watches when launched in the 1930s. However, at 42mm, the new IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Replica is about the median by today's standards. Offered in either stainless steel or rose gold, the case is elegant with a touch of sportiness thanks to the broad, double-stepped case and round chronograph pushers. In addition, the Cheap IWC Replica is also available in two dial colors: silver and blue. Both dial colors are available in the stainless steel option but the rose-gold is only offered with a silver dial.
On the IWC Replica Watches US dial side, we have a two-register layout with running seconds at 6 o'clock and, unique to this movement, a combined totalizer for chronograph hours and minutes at 12 o'clock. The familiar way of displaying the hours and minutes makes reading the elapsed chronograph time easier and more intuitive. In the images here, for example, the elapsed time would be 10 hours, 9 minutes, and 23 seconds. The dial is completed by a railway track chapter ring, date window, applied Arabic numeral indexes, and elegant minute and hour leaf-shaped hands.
The color of the indexes and hands differ and are designed to contrast with the dial color. The stainless-steel with silver dial has blue indexes with heat-blued steel hands, while the blue dial has polished steel hands with silver indexes. The rose-gold Best IWC Watches, of course, has gold hands and indexes. This is the most noticeable change from the predecessor which had silver indexes and hour and minute hands on a silver dial. This change is definitely an improvement and enhances the aesthetics and, more importantly, the legibility of the dial.
While the Fake IWC Portugieser Chronograph Classic Watches ships with an alligator leather strap, black for stainless steel variants and brown for rose-gold, it is likely to also pair well with more casual straps making it a versatile daily wearer that plays well with both formal and more casual attire.
IWC Da Vinci Replica Watch Re-Introduce Round Case
The Da Vinci has gone through a number of redesigns since it was introduced in 1969, housing the first Swiss quartz movement, the Beta 21.One thing I can say for the new IWC Da Vinci Replica Watches is that articulating lugs are usually something I appreciate, but – and maybe it's just me – it seems like the dressy, restrained character of the round Da Vinci is already pretty well represented at IWC by the Portofino and Portugieser collections.
The IWC Da Vinci Fake Watches is 40.4mm wide and 12.1mm thick in a steel case, with a water-resistance of 30m – even though it's clearly not a sport watch, something designed as a daily wear like this could have perhaps had a bit better water-resistance rating as a promise of general durability. The brand tells us that the dials are created with "up to 12 layers" of lacquer, flat-polished and brushed, and then printed several times. The hands are rhodium-plated, and date-haters will not have that to complain about here, as IWC has chosen to omit a date display.
It builds on the 80000 family of movements, as those found in, say, some Aquatimer watches. The automatic 82200 operates at 4Hz with a nice 60-hour power reserve and features a seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock. Like other IWC Replica Swiss Made movements, the 82200 uses the Pellaton bi-directional winding system and ceramic parts for their wear-resistance. It's visible through a sapphire caseback, with Geneva stripes, circular graining, and a skeletonized gold rotor with an "IWC Anniversary medallion."
IWC is continuing to highlight the updated IWC Da Vinci Replica Watches US by including it in its birthday celebration models, and an in-house movement might help get the attention of watch enthusiasts more than last year's basic three-hand models using the Sellita-based 35111.


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The Raven Spoke: Is Scott Gottlieb lying?
The other day TheRaven was flying along and blew through a 15mph school zone at 35 miles an hour.
If we stop here, without looking at all the facts, you'd have typical Faux "news". A sliver of fact plucked from a complete picture and served up completely out of context, with every intent to deceive. TheRaven wonders how the irony of Rupert Murdoch turning a profit from the Tass business model is so overlooked.
Schools aren't in session where TheRaven lives. The Raven went flying on a Sunday, there wasn't a kid in sight and the posted speed limit for non-school hours is.....35 miles per hour. The complete picture is much different than the selected fact....blew through a 15mph school zone at 35 miles an hour...and the initial presentation sought to influence your opinion by suggesting irresponsible action ("blew through"). This simple example illustrates how the right-wing lies: one or two facts are used out of context to subvert understanding of government programs, laws and market forces. From anti-government lunatics to sophisticated lobbyists, regardless of subject and irrespective of rhetoric, the playbook doesn't vary.
Scott Gottlieb, a physician/fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, published an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal which is reproduced here, with commentary from TheRaven interspersed with Mr. Gottlieb's case study in disinformation.
Insurers and doctors are already consolidating their businesses in the wake of ObamaCare's passage.
TheRaven: deception at the outset. Gottlieb says that insurers and physicians are "reshaping their businesses" because of "Mr. Obama's plan". The unstated presumption here is that said plan has taken away all other options from insurers and physicians leaving them only with "reshaping" that is somehow detrimental to patients.
The health-reform law caps how much insurers can spend on expenses and take for profits. Starting next year, health plans will have a regulated "floor" on their medical-loss ratios, which is the amount of revenue they spend on medical claims. Insurers can only spend 20% of their premiums on running their plans if they offer policies directly to consumers or to small employers. The spending cap is 15% for policies sold to large employers.
TheRaven: there is nothing inherently wrong with requiring medical insurers to spend 80% of their premium intake on patients. There's also no reason why medical insurers can't turn a reasonable profit with 15%-20% of premium intake consigned to administrative overheads and profit. Insurers can deploy technology improvements to lower labor costs, reduce management layers, shrink executive bonuses and perks, relocate back-office operations to lower cost areas and stop wasting resources persecuting patients with, for example, automatic fraud reviews for patients diagnosed with cancer. There are plenty of high-volume, low-margin industries (grocery stores, mining, agricultural commodities) and each one has a few standout companies that earn above-average returns for their shareholders. These companies have common traits, such as competent management teams and an aversion to needless overheads, like fancy corporate headquarters. The law doesn't limit profitability, it limits the share of premium intake to be split between overhead expenses and profit at 20%. The rest is up to the insurer.
This regulation is going to have its biggest impact on insurance sold directly to consumers—what's referred to as the "individual market." These policies cost more to market. They also have higher medical costs, owing partly to selection by less healthy consumers. Finally, individual policies have high start-up costs. If insurers cannot spend more of their revenue getting plans on track, fewer new policies will be offered.
TheRaven: regarding patients with more complicated medical histories, Gottlieb omits a few considerations: 1) the cost of such patients will be spread over a larger insured population; 2) U.S. economic growth has been impinged by decades of falling workforce mobility, which has been caused in part by the increasing cost and unavailability of reasonable medical coverage. He's looking only at the cost side of the ledger. Increased availability of coverage will drive economic growth, which in turn will create more business for health insurers.
Why would policies sold over the Internet with a one-hour follow-up telephone interview have "high start-up costs"? The customer invests their own time filling out forms online and is then directed to a local lab for specimen collection. The insurance company basically waits for an inflow of digital information it doesn't have to pay for. The only real cost is that one-hour interview which, including all overheads, might cost $100-$200. Fairly small change to bring in policies with annual premiums of several thousand dollars.
This will hit Wellpoint, one of the biggest players in the individual market, particularly hard. The insurance company already has a strained relationship with the White House: Earlier this month Mr. Obama accused Wellpoint of systemically denying coverage to breast cancer patients, though the facts don't bear that out.
Restrictions on how insurers can spend money are compounded by simultaneous constraints on how they can manage their costs. Beginning in 2014, a new federal agency will standardize insurance benefits, placing minimum actuarial values on medical policies. There are also mandates forcing insurers to cover a lot of expensive primary-care services in full. At the same time, insurers are being blocked from raising premiums—for now by political jawboning, but the threat of legislative restrictions looms.
TheRaven: a doctor defending an insurance company wants us to believe that the President issued his opinion on Wellpoint without DHS first doing some due diligence? He then conflates "minimum actuarial values" with insurer's ability to control costs, which suggests that all medical cases are created equal. The old DRG system has more than 500 codes and there are approximately 9,000 ICD-9 codes, hardly a uniform picture. "Standardized insurance benefits" will lower aggregate costs, for example, by lowering insurer's legal expenses to defend their claims denials. "Expensive primary care services?" Exactly what is expensive about primary care, compared to specialties like radiology and cardiology? Gottlieb doesn't mention the cost reduction benefits of expanded primary care, for example, nutritional counseling for diabetics that reduces the incidence of expensive surgery.
One of the few remaining ways to manage expenses is to reduce the actual cost of the products. In health care, this means pushing providers to accept lower fees and reduce their use of costly services like radiology or other diagnostic testing. To implement this strategy, companies need to be able to exert more control over doctors. So insurers are trying to buy up medical clinics and doctor practices. Where they can't own providers outright, they'll maintain smaller "networks" of physicians that they will contract with so they can manage doctors more closely. That means even fewer choices for beneficiaries. Insurers hope that owning providers will enable health policies to offset the cost of the new regulations.
TheRaven: Gottlieb doesn't mention the billions of dollars wasted each year on duplicated testing and he also fails to mention risk to patients from excessive use of medical imaging. Insurers can realize cost savings by cracking down on cowboy physicians who don't coordinate care on co-morbid patients.
Gottlieb argues that insurers will give up revenue for sake of control? Why would a for-profit corporation ever want to give up revenue, especially when the 80% payout rule will motivate insurers to find economies of scale? He refutes himself by mentioning insurers are trying to vertically integrate. Vertical integration is typically motivated by potential economies of scale.
Doctors, meanwhile, are selling their practices to local hospitals. In 2005, doctors owned more than two-thirds of all medical practices. By next year, more than 60% of physicians will be salaried employees. About a third of those will be working for hospitals, according to the American Medical Association. A review of the open job searches held by one of the country's largest physician-recruiting firms shows that nearly 50% are for jobs in hospitals, up from about 25% five years ago.
Last month, a hospital I'm affiliated with outside of Manhattan sent a note to its physicians announcing a new subsidiary it's forming to buy up local medical practices. Nearby physicians are lining up to sell—and not just primary-care doctors, but highly paid specialists like orthopedic surgeons and neurologists. Similar developments are unfolding nationwide.
TheRaven: Gottlieb is saying here is that ObamaCare is causing market consolidation towards the care delivery model proven by Kaiser Permenente and the Mayo Clinic. These organizations deliver the same quality care as market leaders like UCLA at half the cost. When doctors work for the hospital, cowboy medicine is replaced by integrated care. Tests aren't needlessly repeated, costs are dramatically lowered and human health care isn't run as a physician annuity. Gottlieb would apparently prefer the model reported by Atul Gawande, in which a poor Texas town racked up the highest per-capita Medicare spending in the U.S. because each physician ran his own show.
Consolidated practices and salaried doctors will leave fewer options for patients and longer waiting times for routine appointments. Like the insurers, physicians are responding to the economic burdens of the president's plan in one of the few ways they're permitted to.
For physicians, the strains include higher operating costs. The Obama health plan puts expensive new mandates on doctors, such as a requirement to purchase IT systems and keep more records. Overhead costs already consume more than 60% of the revenue generated by an average medical practice, according to a 2007 survey by the Medical Group Management Association. At the same time, reimbursement under Medicare is falling. Some specialists, such as radiologists and cardiologists, will see their Medicare payments fall by more than 10% next year. Then there's the fact that medical malpractice premiums have risen by 10%-20% annually for specialists like surgeons, particularly in states that haven't passed liability reform.
The bottom line: Defensive business arrangements designed to blunt ObamaCare's economic impacts will mean less patient choice.
TheRaven: there is no evidence that Kaiser or Mayo patients experience longer waiting times. How does more efficient care delivery translate to higher operating costs? Is Gottlieb really complaining about the IT investment needed to provide integrated care? Physicians should benefit from lower malpractice insurance premiums and surrounded by hospital infrastructure, better use of their time. The traditional group practice doesn't scale. Gottlieb doesn't mention that U.S. physicians are better paid than in any other developed nation and that, thanks to the President's legislation, they will remain well-compensated, as hospital employees.
Dr. Gottlieb, a former official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a practicing internist. He's partner to a firm that invests in health-care companies.
TheRaven: Gottlieb is a contemptible shill for insurance companies and old-school physician entitlement.
UPDATE 1: A New York Times piece reports results of a study indicating that reductions in medicare fees paid to doctors didn't reduce patient access to healthcare, as was previously feared. Such reductions had exactly the opposite effect. To maintain incomes, doctors treated more patients. Such response is precisely what we'd expect in a rational economic system and runs counter to Gottlieb's "thesis".
UPDATE 2: A LA Times article reports that Aetna is the 2nd of California's four big health insurer to withdraw a proposed double-digit rate hike because it had made "math errors". The other large health insurer suffering from an arithmetic deficit is Blue Cross Blue Shield. "This was a simple human error," said spokeswoman Anjanette Coplin, who did not elaborate. "As soon as we uncovered this mistake, we informed the California Department of Insurance."....."There were multiple errors … in the way [Aetna] annualized premiums and in the compounding of the rate increase," said state Insurance Department spokesman Darrel Ng. Perhaps the health insurance industry will blame their computational challenge on healthcare reform. People like Mr. Gottlieb are certainly willing to make that case.


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WHAT CAN CNY, WALTER MITTY AND STEVE JOBS TEACH US ABOUT SUCCESS?
What is creativity exactly? The late, great Steve Jobs famously said "Creativity is just connecting things". It's a rare commodity because most people are afraid of stepping outside of their comfort zones. If you never step out, you'll always have the same old experience. The more you step out of your comfy zone be it your cushy job or your couch or whatever safe routine you got going on, the more diverse experiences you'll have, and the more dots you'll have to join. For me, this is also what that Ben Stiller movie, "Walter MItty" was about. He didn't have an awful lot of dots but man did he collect them in a hurry!
If creative people merely "see" the connections between previously unconnected dots then creativity must be alive and kicking in Singapore. Who would've thought of connecting the bak kwa dot to the ice cream dot and the pineapple tart dot to the cupcake dot but obviously somebody creative saw something and went out and did something about it. Just like the "Cronut "inventor that literally joined the Croissant to the Donut all these people saw something that didn't exist before and then went out there to to realize what only existed in their dreams.
You need dots and some creativity to join them but a great idea alone is nothing. You need execution too. And when you break execution down, it's really just a series of mini-ideas that make up the big one. Whatever it is, only time and the market will tell if these ideas will be a success. Oh I did forget one last thing. It's CNY and if it's one thing the Chinese keep going on about it's about superstition and luck. Luck and timing are often overlooked by those venturing out into new territories business-wise or life-wise. To y'all out there that are going out collecting and connecting dots in the year of the horse, Gong Xi Fa Cai (congratulations on your wealth) , Wan Shi Ru Yi (May all your wishes be fulfilled) and Da Ji Da Li (Good luck and smooth sailing).
Why are they even called love letters anyway? Shouldn't this be a Valentines Day snack instead? Added with the aromatic smell of pandan, this is indeed love at first bite.
How about a little sugar, spice, and everything nice? This is what you'll end up with – Spicy Bakkwa ice cream.
What do you do with leftover bak kwa (if that's even possible) and cookie dough? Well, you combine them of course!
Is it a cupcake or a pineapple tart? You decide. You may need to try more than one before a decision can be made on this tartcake.
Fancy an ice cream in this blistering weather in your swanky new CNY clothes? Try a pineapple tart ice cream. It's like eating sub-zero temperature pineapple tarts.
Who says CNY goodies are always unhealthy? A combination of Red tea infused cookies and Roselle flowers fixes your cravings while looking after those calories.


Morris J. Wright, age 96 years + 357 days, was born on April 10, 1942 in Houston, Texas and went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 2, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Wright served as missionaries for 35 years in Japan and the Cayman Islands. He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Joyce H. Wright; children, Sara Butler and her husband Billy, Robert Wright and his wife Sandy and John Wright and his wife Rhonda; grandchildren, Marc and Katie Krickbaum, Jesse and Valerie Wright, Debra and Nate Anding, Jon Marc and Hiromi Wright, Matt and Amberly Krickbaum and Mykah Wright; great grandchildren, Ameri Wright, Hannah and Charlotte Krickbaum, Luke and Gavin Wright, Frances Krickbaum, Vincent and Eilan Anding, Jasmyne and Jayce Wright. Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, April 6, 2019 at El Shaddai World Out Reach Center, 4000 East Rosedale Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76105.
The Garrotts and Wrights did not have a lot of direct contact, as we were in Fukuoka, with our parents' work at Seinan Gakuin, and were not "Nojiri-ites." However, I do remember them well from mission meetings, specifically at Amagi Sanso. Our JABAS family is very precious to me, and the Wright family is in my thoughts and prayers.
The missionaries of the Southern Baptist Mission Board came back to Japan after the war, believing Japan's rehabilitation should begin with the hearts of the Japanese people. When they returned, they were accompanied by newly-sent missionaries as well, including Mr. Morris Wright. As part of the process of sending these missionaries to Japan, several agreements were made between the Southern Baptist Convention and the Japan Baptist Convention. One of the important agreements made was that a newly appointed missionary would first concentrate on studying the Japanese language for two years before beginning their work. Mr. Wright did not follow this rule, saying "I want to share the gospel right now. I cannot spend two years just studying Japanese." Ignoring the agreement, Mr. Wright began spreading the gospel right away. Needless to say, he was advised not to do so by the leaders of both the US and Japan Baptist Conventions. The leaders of JBC in Tokyo were at a loss and told him to do his mission work across the river where they couldn't see him. This was the start of Urawa Baptist Church.
While there are many episodes concerning Mr. Morris Wright' passion, I'd like to introduce just one more.
When Mr. Wright began looking for land to build a church in Urawa, the group managed to find three potential sites. Two of the sites seemed easy to purchase. Mr. Wright, however, looked ahead to the future and insisted on purchasing the site in Tokiwa 7-chome on which our church is now standing. He discussed his plans with the landowner many times. After a while, rumors started circulating about a foreigner praying on the land every day. Following the example in the Bible of the fall of the wall of Jericho, Mr. Wright prayed on the site every day that they would be able to purchase the land for the church.
Here at Urawa Baptist Church, we are eternally grateful for the wonderful legacy of faith, passion and evangelism that Mr. Wright has left us.
We praise the LORD for the life and ministry of our brother Morris and wish that it had been possible for us to make the trip to Texas for the Memorial Service. Morris and Joyce were very special to us. At the time we arrived in Tokyo in 1975, Morris was the Business Manager for the Japan Baptist Mission. He had done a great job, but in spite of that, the Mission had put in a request for someone to come and serve as the Business Manager. I was that person. Morris was multi-gifted and was more than capable in any mission assignment given to them. Morris encouraged me and prepared the Office Staff and business contacts so that I, a young buck, wet behind the ears could follow. To this day, I am grateful for all that he did.
We were next door neighbors for our first year in Japan and then we occupied their mission house after they left. Morris and Joyce were a blessing to us, "showed us the ropes", nurtured, and encouraged us in many ways (spoken and unspoken). When we think of Morris and Joyce, we have only the warmest and fondest memories.
Joshua 1:9 says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Morris was a courageous person who saw the future potential for the Japan Baptist mission. He was a role model to me. I was thankful to be following some one of his nature and character.
Again, we regret not being able to make the trip from Alabama to the Memorial Service, but please know that Morris will be greatly missed. Joyce and family, please know that we are praying for you and look forward to a time in the future for a personal visit.
We wish to express our deepest condolences to you and your family. We received the news that Morris Wright Sensei went to be with his Lord in peace.
Morris Sensei served the Lord here in Urawa Christ Church with his wife Mrs. Joyce. He trained the church members as he was an expert of disciple training. The mission spirit of Morris Sensei has been passed down to Urawa Church successfully.
We know how hard Morris Sensei tried to purchase the land which our church is standing on now. He was so determined to own the land but the landowner didn't agree. Day after day he prayed and walked around the land. God heard his prayer and the landowner finally gave in and agreed to sell it.
We have been passing this story to the next generation as we see how the Lord worked through Morris Sensei. The history of Urawa Church cannot be told without the work of God through Morris Sensei.
He also had a keen foresight about the way of the mission in Japan and did great work in IMB.
When our church building was newly built, we invited Morris Sensei and Mrs. Joyce to celebrate with us. He gave a speech about the history of Urawa Church. We were so touched when he recounted the beginning of Urawa Church all in Japanese for one and half hours. He must have remembered all the events of the church in Japanese.
We are deeply grateful for the missionary work of Morris Sensei and Mrs. Joyce Wright in Urawa, and also in all Japan. We pray that the comfort and peace of the Lord will be upon all his family.
Praise the Lord for the memories of Morris Wright Sensei.
The pastors and congregations of the Japan Baptist Convention wish to express their deepest condolences to the family of Wright Sensei upon receiving news of his going home to be with the Lord.
The work of Wright Sensei had a splendid impact here in Japan, especially in Urawa Christ Church, Tokyo First Baptist Church, and Tamagawa Christ Church (formerly Nishi Setagaya Mission). We express our sincere thanks to his work. We also rejoice in the work continued through his family of God.
We give heartfelt thanks to God for your continued prayers on behalf of Japan and for the sake of His gospel mission here.
May God give you His special peace and comfort at this time.
In Memory Of Morris Jesse Wright Jr.


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The cover art of Seattle Now & Then by Paul Dorpat with photography by Jean Sherrard.
Readers of the new book, Seattle Now & Then: The Historic Hundred (Documentary Media, 244 pages, $49.95) will see the culmination of a lifetime of work by author Paul Dorpat. The book follows a familiar format first introduced in his long-running Seattle Times column: show a historic photo paired with a recent image that attempts to recreate the same view from the same location. The "Now" photos are beautifully composed by Dorpat's more recent sidekick, photographer Jean Sherrard, but they take a back seat to the rich detail and almost exotic imagery of the "Then" photos. However, as intended, they serve as a helpful guide to unlock the past.
In 100 such pairings, the book celebrates the topographical and architectural changes over almost 170 years of Seattle history as it tells our city's stories. For Dorpat, it's always about the story, which helps bring the past alive. Through these stories, the book not only documents our history and industry but also reminds us of all that makes our city what it is today. This includes telling the story whenever possible of the Native Americans who made this area their home for millennia before European American settlers arrived in the mid-19th century.
The book serves as a touchstone for longtime residents but also a guide for newcomers, even those who may plan to stay only a few years. Many of the historic photos are readily available while others are rare finds from Dorpat's collection, but it's worth buying the book to have them all together. It's also worth spending time with the book and taking a deep dive into its pages in what becomes a guided meditation on our past and present.
A quick perusal can elicit an initial reaction of surprise at all the changes that have occurred over the years. Pioneer homes once stood where today's skyscrapers now rise, and nondescript parking lots or freeway overpasses reveal themselves to be the site of some past architectural treasure. Thankfully, the book roots the present in a landscape often from the unrecognizable past, especially photos of long gone hills that were sluiced into Elliott Bay in the name of progress. In Seattle, we see that we not only took hills away but made new land with them on former tide flats and at the base of bluffs that lined our shores. Despite these epic transformations, the contours of the remaining hills and the waters are familiar even in the early photos of a sparsely settled Seattle.
A closer look shows how much remains. For lovers of old buildings, each set of photos is a search for something familiar that resides in both. Panoramic photos in particular become a "Where's Waldo?" game, and players are rewarded with new views of old friends, some of whom are no longer with us. Finding those survivors brings the past into the present with the extant buildings that remain. What also becomes apparent is that buildings that look old to us today are themselves the second, third or even fourth structure on the site with only their older neighbors to guide us in the historic photos. Every generation thinks that the change going on in the present is greater than any in the past. This book stands testament to the fact that change has always been present in Seattle. It also demonstrates the importance of managing that change so that we can still glimpse familiar friends in old photos. More than anything, our efforts as preservationists and the love people have for buildings all over the city stand out, especially as the book also celebrates the survival of local landmarks such as West Seattle's beloved Admiral Theatre.
Two views of downtown Seattle, both taken from similar vantage points high in the Smith Tower. The historic photo is from 1913, just as the tower was being completed, and the modern view was taken in 2017 by Jean Sherrard.


Today was a hard day to get myself motivated, however I did complete over 5,000 steps, so woo hoo! I also decided to share my journey with some of my co-workers who are going to be nothing but supportive, and I couldn't be happier! I really thought that they would judge me weird, but they offered some really great advice, and I gained a "workout" buddy. We decided that in order to get some fitness time in, we would take a few minutes every hour to get away from our desk and get moving! What I plan to do at work next week is, for at least 2 days, I will get up every hour and talk a walk down the hall or just stretch. Then I will take a 10-15 minute break (where I normally go outside to smoke) to shut my door and do some wall push ups or lunges. Super excited to get some extra time in without the distraction of food or television!
Terrific and right in line with new research that tells all of us who sit for much of work to do...get up and move throughout the day...10 mins at break, a few steps in between, and maybe 10 mins or so at lunch..it adds up and it's ALL great for you...wtg on the 5,000 steps!


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Saurosuchus (dobesedno »plazilski krokodil«) je izumrl rod plazilcev, ki pripada redu Rauisuchia. Živel je v poznem triasu. Z velikostjo 7 metrov je bil največji pripadnik skupine. Kot drugi pripadniki redu, je tudi Saurosuchus hodil po štirih popolnoma iztegnjenih nogah. Najbrž se je bil sposoben za kratek čas dvigniti na zadnji dve nogi. Verjetno je napadal iz zasede. Hranil se je z dicynodonti in manjšimi zgodnjimi dinozavri.

Do sedaj je poznana le vrsta Saurosuchus galilei.

Izumrle živali
Arhozavri
Taksoni, opisani leta 1959

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


CNAIR is pleased to announce 2018-2019 faculty grants for curriculum design. As the university's and Chicago's intellectual hub for Indigenous-centered research, CNAIR supports undergraduate, graduate, and faculty research and teaching in all disciplines. The Curriculum Design Grant will provide faculty with resources to create and integrate Native American and Indigenous Studies (NAIS) course content into their classes. We anticipate that the outcome of the grants may include course redesigns, new content added to an existing course, or new pedagogical methods. For example, faculty might conduct research on Indigenous Studies pedagogies and incorporate them into a course; they might plan a new course topic informed by NAIS. We ask that applicants commit to teaching the redesigned course within two years of receiving the funding. We welcome fellowship applications from faculty in all disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, business, law, and medicine.
Proposals should indicate how the curriculum design aligns with the Center's mission to advance scholarship, teaching, learning, and artistic or cultural practices related to Native American and Indigenous communities, priorities, histories, and lifeways. NAIS methodologies and topics should be central to the course redesign.
A 2 page (single spaced) proposal for the curriculum design.
Indicate specifically which course you propose to redesign and delineate the nature of the design (are you creating a new unit? Redesigning the focus of a course? Seeking to research and apply new methodologies?). Explain how the course aligns with CNAIR's mission, vision, and goals. Please indicate the anticipated results of your work: how will it transform student learning at Northwestern, and how will it contribute to NAIS course offerings?
Please provide a detailed budget. The budget may include up to $5000 in summer salary. Please note that the grants do not support faculty research except in cases when that research directly affects undergraduate teaching.


** SUPER CLEAN **, **LOW MILEAGE**, and **POWER WINDOWS & LOCKS** Shottenkirk Ford of Jasper is pleased to offer you this exceptional 2017 Chevrolet Cruze. This LT Cruze Exterior is finished in Gray and the interior is finished in Dark Atmosphere/Medium Atmosphere w/Cloth Seat Trim. CARFAX One-Owner. Clean CARFAX. 2017 Chevrolet Cruze LT FWD 6-Speed Automatic 1.4L 4-Cylinder Turbo DOHC CVVT Awards: * 2017 KBB.com 10 Most Awarded Brands Shottenkirk Customer Care* is included in all Purchases! 6 Months or 6000 Miles Powertrain Coverage, 1 Year Paintless Dent/Ding Removal - One year Windshield Repair, see dealer for complete details in store or at www.shottenkirkfordjasper.com Another fine automobile offered by Shottenkirk Automotive Group Online All the Time!


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Sen-Sa-Shun as recorded by Freddie King
August 27, 2018 August 27, 2018 / patrickfinch	/ 1 Comment
Meant to post this sooner. I just about get through this, but I don't quite manage to summon up the presence of the big man, whom I regard as the greatest blues guitarist of them all.
All Your Love, as recorded by Earl Hooker
August 18, 2010 / patrickfinch	/ 2 Comments
On my Gibson ES-335. Earl Hooker probably improvised this. It took me several months to not-quite-actually-not-even-close-master.
Hagström Viking, my review
March 14, 2010 August 27, 2010 / patrickfinch	/ 49 Comments
Online reviews, especially those solicited by Amazon and their ilk, tend to be pretty useless. Most people that are compelled to write a review of something seem to do it out of a particular love for that thing, or conversely, because of a particular axe to grind. You see few 3/5s on Amazon.com, and I recently trawled all the reviews available on Guitarcentre.com and found little that did not represent amazing value.
For all of this, I could find little online in the past year to feed what I freely admit was becoming something of an obsession with the Hagström Viking semi-hollowbody electric guitar. I think I first read that these instruments were being reissued in late 2008, but you don't see many in the wild, nor indeed, many reviews.
So, why the obsession? Well, I tend to be a fan of semi-acoustic guitars in general, although very few ever seem to match original Gibson models. But just a quick glance at the Viking tells you how much character it has, and if Hagstöm cannot boast the heritage of Gibson, the Viking can at least call upon quite some pedigree of its own. Secondly, Hagström is a Swedish brand, originally producing all their guitars from Älvdalen in central Sweden until the early 1980s (a casualty, it seems, of the trashy Strat copy business that sprung up at that time). And lastly, today's Vikings are really, really cheap. I determined that if I got one, I would provide as full a review as I could – what you now see before you.
I took the plunge, then, breaking the golden rule (try before you buy) and ordered a Viking online. It saddens me to think that local guitar shops will suffer, but I was able to save about €200 doing so, bringing the Viking in at around €600. If I compare to my other semi-acoustics:
The Epiphone Sorento (on the left) cost €700 in 2002, and the Gibson ES-335 was $2,000 in 2007. The Hagström Viking is on the right.
the Viking is very competitive. Looking at the other two models, the Epiphone is Korean made, and retains a very faithful 1950s shape to it. The Gibson is the "dot" model with only a "satin" finish, making it just one step up from a studio model, but it is made in US. The Viking, by contrast, is the deluxe model, which was around €100 more than the standard. The components are mostly manufactured in the US, the guitar is assembled in China (and it is of course, still designed in Sweden).
There is one very important difference between these guitars: the Epiphone is a true hollow-body, while the Gibson and the Hagström are semi-hollow bodies (meaning that the neck is a single piece that continues through the length of the body, making two small sound compartments, rather than one large one).
I tend to look at a lot of guitars, and love-at-first-sight with anything that is not a Gibson tends to be rare for me, but I will admit, it was the Viking's looks that ensnared me.
The Viking immediately gets placed in the ES-335-clone camp because that is essentially its capability (semi-hollowbody, two humbuckers, two cutaways, dual volume and tone controls). And yes, the 335 is a design classic (and without wishing to give too much away, remains my ultimate guitar). But the Hagström is daring, has its name splashed over its (daringly shaped) pick-guard and has a tighter body shape. The body is more squat, flaring lower down, and the horns are slightly pinched, giving the whole instrument a slightly more "attacking" feel, compared to the ES-335's more feminine shape:
While the Gibson feels fairly timeless, the Hagström is more of a style piece, having something of a 70s feel -the Guild Starfire (no longer in production since Guild were bought out by Fender), has similar lines to the Viking. But it is not the body shape that really stands out on the Viking. It is the sheer quantity of design and accoutrement.
For example, the Viking sports a luxurious tail-piece and bridge:
proudly showing the Hagstrom crest and boasting "Swedish Design". The very distinctive bridge anchor is not in fact unique to Hagström – Rickenbacher have similar pieces – but it is an obvious indication that the Viking is its own guitar.
I bought the slightly upmarket Viking Deluxe which has block inlays and is available in a natural finish. The finish is impressive – thick and even lacquer and showing off two beautifully flamed pieces of maple. This model also has unusual f-holes (unusual in the sense that they are not a lowercase 'f' any more, but more like an "s"). Compare the Viking's flame top with that of the (more expensive) Epiphone:
Both the Gibson and the Epiphone have single-piece tops, but the Hagström has by far the better looking wood. I think the Epiphone's sunburst is great, (and the Viking is available in a truly horrid amber sunburst) but neither the Epiphone's wood grain nor finish are anywhere near the Hagström's standard.
The Viking's delightful narcissism is properly reflected in the headstock.
The depth of detail and willingness to be different – the wave shape, the sculpted tuning-knobs and the fleur-de-lis all speak of self-confidence. The Viking is not imitating anything – it almost feels like it is daring other guitars to be so stylish.
There does come a time when you do need to stop just looking at the Viking and play it.
Hagström do the eminently sensible thing of having a technician set up the guitar before they ship it. So, the guitar that came out of the box was very, very playable. My only quibble would be a slight buzz on the lower E string which I might get around to adjusting.
The guitar stays in tune very well and the tuning pegs have a nice feeling of even stiffness about them, and my only real concern at the moment is the lead plug which already appears to be coming loose. It can be tightened, but an electric guitar with poorly-installed electrics is very close to becoming an acoustic guitar.
Most importantly, the Viking's neck really surprised me. First, it is both shallow and narrow. I have quite big hands and like both the depth of a Gibson's neck and the width of a Fender neck, so I was apprehensive, but as I note, the guitar is very easy to play (easier than, say, the Gibson which does ask more of you). The neck has no dead-spots and I only registered a very little buzz on one string. Up the neck, the fret spacing seems as perfect as my ear can tell.
What is really interesting about the neck is (stop yawning) the structure and composition. There is some discussion of this on the Hagström site but nothing there actually tells you just how good the neck is: I have never played an instrument that offered so much real sustain (I say real sustain as opposed to the artificial, electronic variety or indeed, the overdriven feedback kind). The guitar really encourages left-hand vibrato and just seems to resonate with the body extremely well. The Hagström offers more sustain than the Gibson then, and has me working on my technique in anticipation of further rewards.
If the Viking is sounding too good to be true, then read on. I was actually quite relieved to see the flaws in the build quality (and, surprisingly, component quality), because I wanted to know just where it was that my money was not going. So happily, it does not take much digging to see the corners which are cut in producing the Viking. The crest itself actually contains a flaw in the mold (between the upper stanchions of the letter H).
A peek inside the f-holes s-holes shows that the wood has been fairly roughly gouged to fit the wiring in, and there is quite a mess of glue inside.
The bridge-piece had not been terribly well cast:
And the join of the neck to the body showed a little distress:
If these things seem trivial, they are, but it is worth noting that these kinds of details are perfect on a Gibson.
And there is one thing that no blog can convey. Even at 3 years old, the Gibson still has a soft, sweet smell of maple wood. The Hagström, by contrast, smells entirely of glue.
So, let's say it: the Hagström sounds great. It has a bright twang, a reasonably soft neck pickup and plenty of bite on the bridge. I play exclusively with a clean sound, so I have not gone looking for much crunch, but even at the slightest hint of overdrive, the Viking performs well. It might not have the Gibson's manageable power (and by the way, I have played a few unmanageable Gibsons too) but it has plenty of body. It sounds authentically like a semi-acoustic, much more so than the relatively weedy Epiphone Sorento.
And yet, and yet, if we compare with the ES-335, the Hagström, inevitably, comes up short. Same amplification, same licks:
and the Gibson's tone is markedly more distinguished: more warmth and sweetness which lend more sympathy and authority to the playing.
The remarkable thing about the Viking is that I find myself comparing it not to a guitar in a similar price bracket (the Epiphone Sorento), but to an instrument that would cost up to five times as much, the Gibson ES-335, and it certainly looks like an instrument in that range, at least at first blush.
I cannot score the Viking better than the ES-335 because, in the end, it is all about the sound. And what's more, the ES-335 is an icon to me, and to many other guitarists.
For all that, anyone considering a semi-acoustic should consider a Hagström Viking. It really is a lot – a lot – of guitar for your money (for the price of the Gibson you could buy a Viking and a high-end solid body and still have change) and still seemingly a relatively well kept secret. Hagström are to be commended for this instrument.
Musicians Find New Backers as Labels Lose Power
July 23, 2009 August 19, 2010 / patrickfinch	/ Leave a comment
Musicians Find New Backers as Labels Lose Power – NYTimes.com
Looks like progress in the music business to me


In-reply-to: Manoj Srivastava's message of "05 Nov 1998 11:56:24 -600"
matter in a nearby black hole.
1.  No information can leak out of your storage area in any way.
data, they're still unable to report anything back to HQ.
any way whatsoever.  They are effectively non-existant in this case.
Next by thread: libgtop0 ==> libgtop1?


You need to turn the open home into an Asset. An Asset that requires investment of your time, and money.
If you are serious about getting your home sold quickly, cleaning is a must do. Buyers will notice the difference between a professional clean and a DIY clean. We can help with both options.
In 2017, we surveyed 1,000 buyers and asked them what put them off a home when visiting an open home.
The number #1 reason was, not presenting a clean and tidy home!
When walking into an open home, regardless of whether it was staged or not, if the home was dirty, then it brought up questions of if the seller didn't bother to clean it, what else did they not bother to do?
A dirty home turns an emotional buyer into a bargain hunter. If they connect and want to make an offer they will want to bring the price down as much as they can. But 80% of emotional buyers won't even make and offer! You are missing out on offers, if you skip the cleaning part of the process.
Don't have the time? Let's get Team Swift in, call today.
If you have been in the real estate industry for more than 5 minutes you know what a bond clean is. But you need to forget what you know about bond cleaning, this is not a detailed enough clean to make a home sparkle like a showroom. This enough to get a renters bond back.
A Pre-Sale clean, is next level. We understand that in the market today, buyers are looking at your pre-loved home and they are looking at brand new never lived in homes. Buyers are asking themselves why should they buy a home that has already been lived in! Location baby, that is it. But if you want top dollar for your already used home, you need to make it look like new again, or as near new as possible. That means a detailed cleaning service is required. Your bond cleaner on Airtasker will not have the first clue on how to do a pre-sale clean, neither will your domestic cleaner. So get a specialist cleaner in, with an eye for detail.


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20 Best Restaurants In Warrenton, VA
Last Updated: Jul 1, 2022
Sibby's
Sibby's is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 11 South 2nd Street. They are open every day except Monday. Pulled pork: Cooked in smoker for 16 hours to perfection $ 13.00 Beef Brisket: Cooked in smoker for 16 hours to perfection $ 14.50 Ribs: Tender baby back cooked to perfection (half rack $14.00) (full rack $ 22.00) Grilled Salmon: nice tender Alaskan salmon cooked to perfection...
11 South 2nd Street, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Claire's at the Depot
Claire's at the Depot is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 65 South 3rd Street. This restaurant serves grilled angus burger, yellowfin ahi tuna wontons, virginia fall chicken, asian beef lettuce wraps, beet and goat cheese salad, blackened sea scallops, and claire's famous she crab soup. They also serve butternut squash risotto, greek shrimp salad, gomashio seared ahi tuna, double...
65 South 3rd Street, Warrenton, VA, 20186
The Brick is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 32 Main Street. They are open every day of the week. Sunday Brunch is epic at Black Bear. Award winning restaurant in Warrenton, VA. Farm fresh local and organic ingredients with daily menu specials. **Most Brunch items come with...
32 Main Street, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Faang Thai Restaurant & Bar
Faang Thai Restaurant & Bar is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 251 West Lee Highway. They are open every day of the week. Available only at bar area. Not valid with other offers or discounts.
251 West Lee Highway, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Black Bear Bistro & Brick Oven
Black Bear Bistro & Brick Oven is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 32 Main Street. This restaurant serves caprese salad#, the jack russell, hummus plate, the pit bull, smoked pork, thai curry dip, and capra rosso. They also serve giovani, cuban, the sheep dog, hummus wrap, papa...
Shawns Smokehouse BBQ
Shawns Smokehouse BBQ is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 251 West Lee Highway. Includes three pounds of pork, three pounds of beef brisket, three whole chickens, three full racks of ribs, 24 rolls, choice of eight quart size sides, plus three bottles of your favorite Shawn's signature BBQ sauce. Feeds 18-24… $295. Includes two pounds of pork, two pounds of beef brisket, two whole...
BBQ Country
BBQ Country is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 9719 James Madison Highway. They are open every day of the week.
9719 James Madison Highway, Warrenton, VA, 20187
Molly's Irish Pub
Molly's Irish Pub is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 36 Main Street. They are open every day of the week. Special Events and Group luncheons are opportunities for us to work more closely with our guests. Please give us a call - it would be our pleasure to serve your larger needs. Call for our Daily Specials - Walk-Ins Welcome, Good For Groups, Great For Kids, Take Out and Waiter...
McMahon's Irish Pub
McMahon's Irish Pub is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 380 Broadview Avenue. This restaurant serves gaelic steak, tuna melt, ballycar "spuds" (gluten free), corned beef & cabbage (glunten free), homemade bailey's irish cream cheese cake, key lime pie, and chocolate mousse (gluten free). They also serve peach crumble, guinness steak and mushroom stew, rueben, mcdonagh fish &...
380 Broadview Avenue, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Northside 29
Northside 29 is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 5037 Lee Highway. They are open every day except Monday. Together at YiaYia's house in Vourvoura, a village in southern Greece, Spiro Chakalos who immigrated to the United States with his wife Demetra in 1956 came with nothing but pocket change and an eagerness to work hard. They together struggled to learn the language and to live...
5037 Lee Highway, Warrenton, VA, 20187
Great Harvest Bread Co.
Great Harvest Bread Co. is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 108 Main Street. They are open every day of the week. Slice the loaf into 2" cubes and store in a brown paper bag for 3-4 days before preparing stuffing (or you can dry in the oven for 3 hours at 200o). Place cubes in a large bowl and add in 1 stick of butter that has been cut into small pieces. Add enough chicken broth...
108 Main Street, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Spitony's Pizza
Spitony's Pizza is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 5063 Lee Highway. They are open every day of the week. Spitony's Pizza has been a family tradition since 1975. It was started by Spiro Chakalos and his brother Tony Harris. Putting their names together wasn't the only thing they incorporated to make Spitony's unique and successful. They merged their families into the entire daily...
Cafe Torino & Bakery
Cafe Torino & Bakery is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 388 Waterloo Street. They are open every day except Monday and Sunday. The Ferreros Originally from Torino, Italy, Andrea studied at culinary school to be a chef; with a change of mind after graduating, he pursued training as a pastry chef. Coming to the U.S. in 1991, Andrea began working in Warrenton as the pastry chef for...
388 Waterloo Street, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Longhorn Steakhouse is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 505 Fletcher Drive. This restaurant serves flo's filet® * 6 oz., mashed potatoes, strawberry lemonade, wild-caught swordfish steak^^, captain's mule, grilled chicken and avocado half sandwich, and pineapple coconut margarita. They also serve caramel apple goldrush, longhorn® gourmet burger, chop steak, roasted tomato basil...
505 Fletcher Drive, Warrenton, VA, 20186
El Toro Mexican Restaurant
El Toro Mexican Restaurant is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 86 Broadview Avenue. They are open every day of the week.
86 Broadview Avenue, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Mojitos & Tapas Restaurant & Bar
Mojitos & Tapas Restaurant & Bar is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 251 Lee Highway. They are open every day of the week.
251 Lee Highway, Warrenton, VA, 20186
Hidden Julles Cafe
Hidden Julles Cafe is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 70 Main Street. They are open every day of the week. Hidden Julles Cafe is a locally owned and operated cafe featuring local, organic and natural breakfast lunches and dinner. Hidden Julles Cafe is a locally owned and operated cafe featuring local, organic and natural breakfast, lunches and dinner.
Frost Diner
Frost Diner is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 55 Broadview Avenue. They are open every day of the week.
Joe and Vinnie's Pizza
Joe and Vinnie's Pizza is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 385 West Shirley Avenue. This restaurant serves buffalo wings, hamburger deluxe on bun, the italian hoagie combo, roast beef, eggplant, curly fries, and meatball. They also serve gyro, spaghetti or penne w/ tomato sauce, manicotti, eggplant parmigiana w/ spaghetti, greek salad, steak & cheese, and combo sub. They are open...
385 West Shirley Avenue, Warrenton, VA, 20186
El Agave is a restaurant located in Warrenton, Virginia at 251 Lee Highway. They are open every day of the week. Learn more about El Agave located in Warrenton, VA. You can also view the menu and order online. El Agave offers delicious dining and takeout to Warrenton, VA. El Agave is a cornerstone in the Warrenton community and has been recognized for its outstanding Mexican cuisine, excellent...


New to the Co-op? Well this is for you. Co-op Nights will begin June 1st. Come join our volunteers for an informal introduction to the Co-op fleet. Come ready to sail and, weather permitting, we will get you started with an appropriate boat. If the weather is bad, we will do some dry land rigging practice and other sailing related activities. Typical start time is 6PM however many people come earlier to make the most of the evening.


The 3-star Saina Hotel started with 30 rooms in 2011. The rooms of this hotel are located in the first to fifth floors. The Saina Hotel is renovated every year to increase the efficiency and satisfaction of guests, providing travelers with high quality travel services.
This hotel, with its unique location and proximity to the administrative and commercial centers of Tehran, avoids the waste of valuable time and the cost of its guests and allows guests to travel with secure services and subway lines.


Our second in a new series of afternoon readings at New Horizons in James Bay.
Hosted by Sheila Marshall, poet Cornelia Hoogland is featured.
The Planet Earth Poetry reading series is a launching pad for the energies of writers and poets established and not. It is a place where words are most important. A venue in which all manner of poets and writers are welcome; a place for excellence, innovation, collaboration, diverse projects and experiments. The evening begins at 7:30 with an open mic, followed by a featured reader(s). Planet Earth Poetry is located at Hillside Coffee and Tea, 1633 Hillside Ave (across from Bolen Books). Between 7 and 7:15, put your name in the hat to read at open mic. Planet Earth Poetry acknowledges that we have the honour to host this reading series on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen peoples.
Heidi Greco lives in Surrey, BC, where she has long advocated for the literary arts. She is proudest of convincing her city to hire an official Poet Laureate. With poems, fiction, essays and reviews to her credit, her books include a novella, Shrinking Violets, and the forthcoming poetry collection, Practical Anxiety.
Amelia Earhart went missing in 1937, while attempting to fly around the world. But besides being a famous pilot, Earhart was a feminist, a best-selling author, a pacifist, a poet, a punster – and more.
Even today, her disappearance is enshrouded in mystery. The poems in flightpaths, presented as if written by Earhart herself, consider a range of theories regarding her disappearance. Through logbook entries, recollections and letters, the work explores some of the various flightpaths she may have taken.
Russell Thornton's The Hundred Lives (2014) was shortlisted for the Griffin Poetry Prize. His Birds, Metals, Stones & Rain (2013) was shortlisted for the General's Award for Poetry, the Raymond Souster Award and the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. His newest collection, The Broken Face, is due out in fall 2018.
Poet and paper artist Terry Ann Carter lives and works in Victoria, BC, where she serves Haiku Canada as president and teaches Japanese literary forms at Royal Roads University. She is a member of the League of Canadian Poets, and founder of KaDo Ottawa and Haiku Arbutus. Terry Ann is also a member of the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild. Last year Terry Ann served a "community fellowship" at the Centre for Study in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria where she devoted time to deepening her own practice of haiku and studying the influence of Buddhism on contemporary haiku poetry. She is the author of six books of long form poetry and five chapbooks of haiku. A Crazy Man Thinks He's Ernest in Paris (Black Moss Press, 2010) was shortlisted for the Archibald Lampman Award; Lighting the Global Lantern: A Teacher's Guide to Writing Haiku and Related Literary Forms(Wintergreen Studios Press, 2011) is used in Canadian and American classrooms. She will be reading from Tokaido (Red Moon Press, 2017).
Cornelia Hoogland's Trailer Park Elegy, (Harbour, 2017), a book-length long poem, is her 7th book. Two previous books were on the Relit 2011 National Poetry Award; Woods Wolf Girl (Wolsak and Wynn), was a finalist. Sea Level, short-listed for the CBC Nonfiction Awards, was published with Baseline Press, 2012. Cornelia was a finalist in the 2017 CBC Poetry Awards.
Life and death. My brother's life, and his death. Not only the facts of it, but our relationship – that even in death – is reciprocal. It's his work to find me as well as mine to get to know the new him. Trailer Park Elegy's form, a long poem, provides thematic coherence for the multiple contingencies that disturb the narrator's present. Like keeping balls up in the air, my task is to catch and toss, thus sustaining my imaginative energies throughout the book.
Danika Dinsmore's writing career began with experimental poetry & collaborative spokenword performance. After receiving her MFA from Naropa University, she and poet Bernadette Mayer launched the 3:15 Experiment, a poetic exploration of hypnogogic states. With poet Paul Nelson, Danika co-founded the Northwest SPokenword LAB and later produced the Seattle Poetry Festival and Future for Word Multi-Media Poetry Exhibition. She currently serves on the editorial staff of Reckoning, a literary journal of environmental justice, and writes and performs for children.
In this inspiring memoir, Naomi Beth Wakan takes the reader on a journey through her lifelong experiences writing various forms of Japanese poetry, especially haiku and its related genres. She explains the rules and structure that distinguish the various forms, providing many examples of her own work as well as poems from well-known historical and contemporary poets. Very importantly, however, Wakan shows by example that the "rules" are not to be taken as impediments, but rather as guideposts on the journey to discover and explore oneself. Looking back, Wakan realizes that her practice of poetry writing has enabled her to develop awareness, dispassionate interest, personal healing, and compassion. In her own words: "I have come to see that in creating poetry, I am creating myself."
Poetry That Heals is part of a planned trilogy on poetry. The other volume published to date is The Way of Tanka, an approachable yet comprehensive examination of the Japanese form.


text:
package com.flextao.rest;

import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;

import org.junit.After;
import org.junit.Before;
import org.junit.Test;

import com.flextao.rest.format.XmlFormat;
import com.flextao.rest.test.TestResourceRequest;
import com.flextao.rest.test.TestResourceResponse;
import com.google.gson.Gson;

public class FormatTest {

    private Routes route;
    private TestResourceRequest request;
    private TestResourceResponse response;
    private String resourceName;
    private Gson gson;
    private AResourceDao dao;

    @Before
    public void setUp() {
        gson = new Gson();
        route = new Routes();
        request = new TestResourceRequest();
        response = new TestResourceResponse();
        dao = AResourceDao.getInstance();
        resourceName = "test_resource";
        route.getResourceMap().add(resourceName, AResourceController.class);
    }

    @After
    public void tearDown() {
        dao.clear();
    }

    @Test
    public void specify_response_format_in_uri() {
        dao.add(new AResource(1));
        request.setResourceUri(resourceName + ".json");
        route.doGet(request, response);
        AResource[] resources = responseResources();
        assertEquals(1, resources.length);
    }

    @Test
    public void use_json_as_default_format() {
        dao.add(new AResource(1));
        request.setResourceUri(resourceName);
        route.doGet(request, response);
        AResource[] resources = responseResources();
        assertEquals(1, resources.length);
    }

    @Test
    public void specify_input_content_format() {
        request.setResourceUri(resourceName);
        request.setBody(new XmlFormat().serialize(new AResource(123)));
        request.setContentType("application/xml");
        route.doPost(request, response);

        assertEquals(1, dao.resources().size());
        assertEquals(123, dao.resources().get(0).getId());
        assertEquals(resourceName + "/123", response.getCreatedResourceURI());
    }

    @Test
    public void specify_input_content_format_with_encoding() {
        request.setResourceUri(resourceName);
        request.setBody(new XmlFormat().serialize(new AResource(123)));
        request.setContentType("application/xml; charset=UTF-8");
        route.doPost(request, response);

        assertEquals(1, dao.resources().size());
        assertEquals(123, dao.resources().get(0).getId());
        assertEquals(resourceName + "/123", response.getCreatedResourceURI());
    }

    @Test(expected = ResourceNotFoundException.class)
    public void should_throw_reousrce_not_found_exception_when_specified_an_unknown_format() {
        dao.add(new AResource(1));
        request.setResourceUri(resourceName + ".unknown");
        route.doGet(request, response);
    }

    private AResource[] responseResources() {
        return gson.fromJson(response.body(), AResource[].class);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I received a Nursing Assistant Certification in 2011 and spent time and experience in nursing homes for clinicals. I've used my two previous jobs to gain experience with customer satisfaction and teamwork.
My duties included, preparing, keeping inventory, stocking and maintaining product and overall upholding appearances of the store and the company.
Where can I find a Pepin Distributing Company Merchandiser/Assistant Service Representative resume example in Plant City, Florida ?
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When I went to Oregon with my friends Julie and Dave last month we anticipated cold and rain. After all, we were headed to Oregon in the winter.
Although the vineyards looked wintery in shades of gold and brown, they were still beautiful and a delight to observe around every bend in the road.
Dave found a great place to stay that was located right in the middle of vineyard. It was called Red Ridge Lodge and it was actually a small house.
It was a perfect place with views out over the vineyard and the trees in every direction. It had two bedrooms and two baths and a porch that wrapped around the outside. It was a perfect retreat.
On Sunday morning we were surprised to find our vineyard view had turned white with snow. For us desert dwellers, it was a bit of a treat to see all that frosting decorating the scenery.
All those pretty vineyards were now a patchwork of green, brown and white.
It was interesting to observe. The snow would stop for a while and the snow on the ground would melt.
And then, it would start again and quickly cover everything in sight.
It was a treat to see for our short visit to this winter wonderland.
You keep surprising me! Snow in Oregon in wine country. Love all of your photos and that beautiful house! Thanks for sharing!
That last one would make a perfect Christmas card!
The snow is a delightful sight!


The Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA, evaluates the academic competencies of 15-year-olds in a select group of largely industrialized countries and a much smaller group of developing nations. It was first launched three years ago, when the test included some mathematics but focused primarily on reading literacy.
The scores of U.S. students during that first round of testing were comparable with those in other countries, but the performance on this round, conducted during 2003, was markedly poorer.
In mathematics literacy, which measured students' ability to make judgments about space and shape, change and relationships, quantity, and mathematical uncertainties, the U.S. score was 483, below the average score of 500 for industrialized nations. The United States ranked 24th out of 29 nations in that category.
The problem-solving abilities of Americans were no better. The U.S. students earned an average combined score of 477, below the international average among industrialized countries of 500, also resulting in a ranking of 24th out of 29 nations. PISA officials do not give a top score on those sections of the test, but the international average for the highest-percentile scores among industrialized nations were 660 for math literacy and 655 for problem-solving.
A report on the 2003 PISA results is available from the National Center for Education Statistics.
"This data tells us we're not as competitive as we need to be on the ability of our 15-year-old students," Eugene W. Hickok, the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, said at a Dec. 6 press conference here announcing the results.
Finland ranked at the top of industrialized nations in mathematics literacy, with a score of 544, followed by South Korea, the Netherlands, and Japan. South Korea, Finland, Japan, and New Zealand were at the top of the list in problem-solving.
Over the past decade, a number of international measurements and analyses of student academic ability, most notably the Trends in International Mathematics Study, or TIMSS, have shown the United States with relatively unimpressive results compared with other countries'. Those results have been especially poor among socioeconomically disadvantaged students in the United States.
At a time when many U.S. educators and policymakers are consumed with the task of improving the academic performance of schools and districts, that issue is likely to be thrust into a worldwide context in the coming weeks. As international leaders scrutinize PISA scores, the latest TIMSS results are scheduled to be released Dec. 14.
PISA is conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovermental research and policy organization based in Paris that focuses on education, trade, and other social and economic issues. Each PISA test measures one subject area in depth. Unlike some tests, PISA seeks to assess skills that students have acquired both in and outside of school, and their ability to apply them in "real-world contexts," according to officials at the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. government's primary clearinghouse for education data, which administers PISA in the United States.
The PISA test is a two-hour assessment students take with paper and pencil. Each participating nation seeks a representative sample of 15-year-olds. In the United States, 262 schools and 5,456 public and private school students were randomly selected for participation. The results are divided to show the performance of industrialized nations in the OECD and that of developing countries that don't belong to the organization.
The U.S. scores show a relatively strong relationship between the socioeconomic status of test-takers and students' performance on PISA. Hispanic and black children in the United States scored lower on average than the overall average for industrialized countries, while white students scored above the country-by-country average.
Those gaps along racial and ethnic lines are "very disturbing," said Mr. Hickok, who argued that the data lent new urgency to the need to improve student performance among minority youths. In 2002, President Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, a sweeping reauthorization of the main federal law in K-12 education, which calls for measurements of the academic performance of specific racial and other subgroups of students.
Earlier this year, President Bush vowed to push academic reforms at the high school level, noted Mr. Hickok, an effort that would address the needs highlighted in the PISA study, the deputy secretary said. The president has proposed a series of tests in reading and mathematics for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders, which go beyond the current federal testing mandates.
The United States also had greater percentages of students scoring at the lowest levels of proficiency in those two subjects than the international average, and a smaller percentage of top performers, the PISA study found. In addition, the highest-achieving U.S. students in mathematics literacy and problem-solving were outperformed by their top-performing international counterparts. Those numbers contrast with the test in 2000, when the United States had a relatively strong percentage of students in the top tier of reading literacy.
Because PISA focused primarily on reading literacy in 2000, there are few means of comparison available between this year's test and the first exam, U.S. officials said. In two subcategories—space and shape, and change and relationships—where that comparison is possible, the United States was outperformed by about two-thirds of other industrialized countries in both 2000 and 2003.
Barry McGaw, the director of education for the OECD, said the U.S. results could in some ways be traced to the decentralized nature of the nation's educational system, with divided responsibilities among federal, state, and local education officials.
But the OECD official also suggested that the U.S. effort to raise student performance through the No Child Left Behind Act—particularly for minority students—was a far-reaching one, even on an international scale.
"U.S. Students Rank Among World's Best and Worst Readers," December 12, 2001.
"A World-Class Education Eludes Many in the U.S.," April 11, 2001.