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Z-Man Games No Thanks! Card Game
- Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
- Family card game with bidding, auction, and set collection
- 55 chips, 33 cards, 1 rulebook
- For 3-5 players
- Takes about 20 minutes to play
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
Top Customer Reviews
This is not a heavy game, but the idea is very simple and quick to explain. I've been able to teach this to my Game Group and get a game in while other games were being set up.
The idea behind the game is that there are X number of cards in a stack(you remove 9 before the game starts to keep the game random)and every player has a small pile of chips in front of them. At the beginning of the game you turn over the top card from the stack and have to decide if you're going to take the card or pass. You don't want cards, cards are points, but you do want chips because chips are worth negative points. If you pass you have to put a chip on the card and say "No Thanks!" and it goes to the next player who has the same decision and it goes around until someone decides that the chips are worth the risk. The clever part of this game is what happens next: If you have two or more cards in consecutive order you get to count ONLY the lowest card at the end of the game, so if you have 19 and 21 you've got 40 points, but if you can pick up that 20 card your score suddenly drops to 19 points. If you don't have any chips you can't pass and have to take the card.
And that's the entire game, you go through the stack of cards until all have been played. It's simple(what other game can be explained in a single paragraph?) and it's fast. There isn't enough chance to really give anyone analysis paralysis and it's surprisingly fun for a game that is simply about putting chips on cards.
For the low price this is one of my favorite games.Read more ›
Cards are numbered 3-35, you can take a card that is flipped up or pass by playing a chip. Any cards in a sequence you take score only the smallest in the sequence. Any chips you have deduct one from your score. When all cards are played the one with the lowest points wins.
Doesn't sound like much? Just wait till you play it! There will be trash talking, risk taking and sacrificing. This is a game almost anyone can get into.
No Thanks has a deck of numbered cards (3-35) and chips. That's it. The object of the game is to have the least amount of points in your pile when the game ends.
So how does it work?
A certain amount of cards are removed from the shuffled deck and are placed out of the game. Each player is then given so many red chips, which serve as both a negative one point for end game scoring and for being able to pass on a card.
One player is chosen to start the game and draws a card from the deck.
This player can either:
1) Accept the card, placing it in front of them.
2) Pass, placing a red chip near the card.
If that player passes, the next player (clockwise) has the choice of taking the card and the red chip, or places their own red chip into the mix. Players continue passing until a player finally accepts the card, adding the chips that have accumulated on said card to their pile. Passing may happen frequently, especially if a large number card is drawn...which obviously no one would want.
Once a player has taken a card, the next player (clockwise) draws a new card and the above process repeats.
There is a twist however...if you manage to get two or more numbers that form a straight, you only count the lowest number in that straight to your final score. For example, if a player has a 12 card and accepts a 13 card, they'd still only score 12 points rather than 25. In the process, this hypothetical player may have gotten some free red chips out of the deal which he or she could later use for passing or end game scoring.
There is a bit of math involved, but I approve as it helps to keep the minds of the young ones sharp.Read more ›
The game is very easy to learn and takes a while to master. My favorite part about this game is how much interaction there is with other players. Your choices affect others and a big part of the game is predicting what other players will do and trying to guess how far you can "push it". There is a good mix of risk/reward, strategy and luck.
No Thanks is a game just about everyone will like a great deal from the first play. I sometimes will carry this game around with me if I think I may end up sitting around with a few people waiting on someone or something. It can make the wait a great deal of fun. This game is rated very high on the gaming sites as a "filler game". It is very popular and highly recognized among gamers.
You can't go wrong with this game.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
It's a decent filler game. Don't expect too much out of it as a strategy game, but then again that's not really what it's billed to be.Published 9 days ago by B. Cook
Fast quick game. Great for ages 10+. We typically take 10-15 minutes to play a hand and are having lots of fun with it!Published 1 month ago by Amazon Customer
I like the game as something quick and simple. Definitely a game for those who like really simple easy to pick up games. Read morePublished 1 month ago by Amazon Customer
Simple and very fun game! Easily portable, quick to learn, and fun to play. Even a great economics lesson built right in...teach those kids!Published 5 months ago by Daniel

domain: entertainment


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– About Us –
Lake Superior Endodontics is a specialty
practice located in Duluth, MN with patients from all over the beautiful
Twin Ports area including Superior, WI, Northern Minnesota, and Northwestern
Our practice is limited to Endodontics (Root Canals). If you
need a root canal or have a dental emergency due to severe pain,
and or infection of the tooth, you can come to us. Your general
dentist can best advise you when endodontic treatment is warranted
and will typically refer you to us for evaluation and possible treatment.
– Services Provided –
If you are experiencing severe pain
or have an obvious infection, please do not delay treatment. Diagnosis
and immediate treatment gives you the best chance of correcting the
problem before it reaches a serious condition. Contact your
general dentist immediately. Your general dentist will let
you know of the treatment that is necessary and if the problem involves
root canal therapy, they can refer you to Lake Superior Endodontics
to start treatment as quickly as possible.
– We Offer –
Same day emergency visits.
Free and convienent parking at front door.
Accept major credit cards.
For patients with insurance, we will determine and collect your estimated
portion of the fees and bill your insurance for the remaining amount.
State-of-the-art dental facility just past the Miller Hill Mall.

domain: medical


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Snow covers parts of the SAHARA DESERT for the third time in 40 years as freak storm sees 16 INCHES fall in one day
- Snow fell in small Saharan desert town of Ain Sefra, Algeria, in the early hours of Sunday morning
- It is the third time in 40 years snow has fallen on the city, it was also spotted in 2016 and 2017
- Locals noted up to 16 inches of snow in some areas of the desert
Up to 16 inches of snow has fallen on an town in the Sahara desert after a freak winter storm hit the area on Sunday.
This is the third time in 37 years that the town of Ain Sefra in Algeria has seen snow cover the red sand dunes of the desert.
Snow started falling in the early hours of Sunday morning and it quickly began settling on the sand.
Let it snow: Up to 16 inches of snow fell on the town of Ain Sefra in Algeria on Sunday
Unusual sight: The usually orange-coloured sand dunes of the Sahara desert were covered in snow
This is the third time in 37 years that the town of Ain Sefra in Algeria has seen snow
While the town saw an inch or two, the sand dunes on its outskirts were covered in snow.
Photographer Karim Bouchetata said: 'We were really surprised when we woke up to see snow again. It stayed all day on Sunday and began melting at around 5pm.'
In 2016, the town known as 'The Gateway to the Desert' saw deep snow shortly after Christmas and it caused chaos, with passengers stranded on buses after the roads became slippery and icy.
Come January 2017, the town saw snowfall yet again, and children made snowmen and even sledged on the sand dunes.
Before that, snow was last seen in Ain Sefra on February 18, 1979, when the snow storm lasted just half an hour.
A spokesman for the Met Office said this morning: 'Cold air was pulled down south in to North Africa over the weekend as a result of high pressure over Europe.
Going, going, gone: By 5pm in the afternoon, the snow had melted away from the sand dunes
Unusual: The Saharan desert town has only seen snow three times int he past 37 years - in 1979, in 2016 and in 2017
Footsteps: The snowy footprints of people walking on the snow is all that remains as the dunes are heated up
'The high pressure meant the cold weather extended further south than normal.'
Ain Sefra is located around 3,280ft above sea level and surrounded by the Atlas Mountains.
Despite its altitude, it is extremely rare to see snow in the town, and it is normally six to 12 degrees Celsius in January.
The Sahara Desert covers most of Northern Africa and it has gone through shifts in temperature and moisture over the past few hundred thousand years.
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domain: geography


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OMG !! This morning I sneezed !
It’s so lucky that I had finished washing up, replaced the cat litter, swept the apartment and checked my emails. Then it happened. I sneezed !! Have I got flu ? Well it’s going around the local schools. Maybe a virus flew in the window and straight up my nose. Maybe I have SARs or Mad Ralph Disease. Panic !! Am I going to die ??
So I went straight back to bed. Wrapped a scarf around my ears. Put my new hat on. Thermal gloves on. Hot water bottle and tissues ready. Then I waited ….. and waited ….. and waited …. NOTHING !!
So here I am, in bed, waiting for the next sneeze or sniffle. I know it’s coming. When is another question. So I wait … and wait .. and wait ….
Ralph xox 🙂
Travels in Paradise
As I navigate through this life ...
Every step is a memory
Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s. Billy Wilder
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Musings and memories, words and wisdom... of a working family woman
Se nessuno ti vede mentre lo mangi, quel dolce non ha calorie.
Life,emotions,and adventures of an Italian woman,wife and mum in Ireland
Curiosity run amok . . .
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WRITING LESBIAN FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION, AND FANTASY, SINCE THE 20TH CENTURY
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domain: literature


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"if you think you can do something like this without consequences then you’re wrong, it will come back into your life in a really bad way"
An East Riding councillor who is paying damages to Jeremy Corbyn says he is facing a bleak Christmas for his family.
Dad-of-three Councillor Paul Nickerson agreed to pay the former Labour leader after reaching a settlement out of court for sharing a doctored picture of Mr Corbyn holding a Remembrance wreath by the taxi blown up outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital.
The amount is undisclosed for legal reasons, but the councillor, who had been a Conservative until the backlash over his social media post, said it has left him “penniless”.
The councillor, of Minster and Woodmansey ward, briefly launched a GoFundMe appeal called “Jeremy Corbyn VS Cllr Paul Nickerson Legal Fees” – but it only raised £30 before he decided to remove it.
He said the experience of reaching a settlement with the former Labour leader had been a sharp shock.
The councillor says he had seen some people share the image online in apparent defiance of the legal settlement, but has issued a warning about doing so.
The councillor said:
“The things we say about other people, particularly things like that affect people in the same way it would affect me.
“This has left me in a very challenging situation financially, it’s been a short, sharp shock because you realise there are serious consequences to things that I didn’t realise before.
“It’s really important to realise how litigation works, if you think you can do something like this without consequences then you’re wrong, it will come back into your life in a really bad way.
“Lawyers will get involved, you can’t afford to take that risk because the consequences will be worse in terms of costs.
“The best thing to do is to try and be kind as often as possible in what you say and do, I normally try to do that but I failed.
“I’m going through a difficult process and it’s been a knock, but I’m determined to go back to the things I was doing in my ward before with more gusto.
“I don’t want to complain about it all, I want to fix it and I can only sit in the stocks for so long.
“I’m going to carry on with the work I started with Track Boxing Club and other issues I’ve been involved with in Beverley.
“I’ve committed to raising £10,000 for charities in my ward in the next year, I think the first even will be held in January and anyone who wants to get involved can do.”
Beverley and Holderness Labour have called for his resignation but East Riding opposition Liberal Democrat leader Cllr David Nolan said his apology and damages should be the end of it.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Cllr Denis Healy, whose St Marys ward neighbours Cllr Nickerson’s, said he should resign and then contest a by election to get a fresh mandate.
Cllr Nickerson said he would stay on as a councillor as he had several open pieces of case work with residents, some of them in need of help quickly.

domain: news


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Honorable Mention / 2018 / Fine Art / Digitally Enhanced
Passion for Music
Julia J. Sugarbaker
The music is an composition of artistic parts to form a unified whole,
and has the power to influence the mind, body and soul of the
Individual through melody, harmony or rhythm.
I have been creating art since I was old enough to hold a pencil. I have the drive to explore new ideas to create an image in either pencil, ink or camera that is full of figurative thought or symbolism. Upon completing art courses, I created a company called Hidden.Treasures Enterprises L.L.C that produces fine art.
Awards Peer Awards, and Silver and Bronze awards in international contest. Honorable mention in fashion, and fine art. Show cased in art gallery.

domain: artistic


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Honda extended its sales bonus for the revolutionary new Elsinore CR250M from May 31 to July 31. The lightweight two-stroke dirt bike caught on as Gary Jones, his brother Dewayne, and Marty Tripes continued to excel on their Elsinores in the AMA 250 National Motocross Championship.
The one and only AMA National at Secession MX in South Carolina took place, and Team Honda's Rick Johnson won the 250 Class while Suzuki's Donny Schmit won the 125 Class. Johnson went 2-1 to Kawasaki's Jeff Ward's 1-2, with Suzuki rider Johnny O'Mara third with 4-3 scores.
The 125 Class was a little wilder—much more so! Future two-time FIM Motocross World Champion and AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famer Schmit won the overall with unlikely 7-1 moto scores, topping Guy Cooper's 6-3 and Micky Dymond's 1-9 score. The man with the with the absolute worst luck of all was Honda Support rider Larry Brooks. The future team manager of numerous AMA Supercross Championships had this thing won, going second in the first moto and running away with the second moto before his bike DNF'd with a mechanical problem. It was Larry's race to win, but fate dealt him other cards. Like Kyle Lewis, Ron Tichenor, Doug Dubach, Mike Fisher, and Michael Byrne, he must be considered among the best riders of recent vintage to have never won an AMA National.
Belgian riders Eric Geboers (Suzuki) and Marc Velkeneers (Yamaha) won the motos at the FIM 125cc Grand Prix of Poland, but the overall went to the 4-2 scores of reigning series champion Harry Everts to earn himself another 125 GP win.
And in Bulgaria, soon-to-be 250cc Motocross World Champion Neil Hudson of the U.K. won the overall with 1-2 finishes, though he did lose the second moto to reigning 250cc Grand Prix #1 Georges Jobe.
In Italy, Honda HRC's Andre Malherbe was the overall winner in the 500cc Grand Prix there. His teammate and reigning world champ Graham Noyce was second, and French rider Jean-Jacques Bruno won a moto. U.S. title hopeful Brad Lackey finished fifth in the second moto.
Georges Jobe won this time in the FIM 500cc Grand Prix of Germany with 1-1 scores. Finishing second in the first moto was longtime Racer X friend and contributor Rob Andrews on a Honda.
In the 250 Class, Pekka Vehkonnen and Eric Geboers swapped moto wins, with soon-to-be 250cc World Champ Geboers taking the overall aboard his Suzuki.

domain: sports


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Video marketing may have once played a small role on the digital marketing stage, but the ROI it delivers to marketers has moved it closer to the spotlight. Research shows that 88% of video marketers report that video gives them a positive ROI — a 5% increase from 2019, and a 33% increase from the poll in 2015.
While these results can be attributed in part to the growing consumption of video content, it’s also a matter of how businesses are using video to drive demand around their products/services. Gone are the days where videos were simply uploaded to a company’s website or YouTube channel. Now, businesses are embracing the value of leveraging video content across multiple platforms while optimizing their presence on traditional mediums to boost demand generation.
Consider these three ways to give video a leading role in your demand generation strategy.
Scrolling through your Facebook feed for a few minutes, chances are you’ll come across a few ads — some of which include static images and others that include videos. Which ones tend to engage you more? If you said the video ads, you’re with the majority of consumers. In a HubSpot test, video ads earned 20% more clicks than their static counterparts.
Beyond the movement of video ads that naturally appeals to the eye, their dynamic format also provides more opportunities to educate your audience. Whereas a single static image can leave little room to explain the benefits of your product/service, a video offers additional real estate to expand upon these elements. The more informed individuals are, the more likely they are to act.
While we’ve used the example of Facebook in this case, video ads can also be run across other social media networks as well. Take Instagram, for instance, where video ads make up more than half of all ads run on the platform. As shown in the example below for Lemonade — a provider of renter’s insurance — subtle movements and the right framework can help amplify the message of the ad in a creative and effective manner.
Of the estimated 2 trillion search queries performed on Google every year, half are four words or longer. This shift toward long-tail keyword searches reflects the need to think about your audience not just in terms of keywords, but also the specific questions they have. In the case of a landscape design firm, to name an example, potential customers are less likely to search for “outdoor kitchen” and instead search for phrases like “outdoor kitchen ideas for small spaces” or “does an outdoor kitchen add value to a home.”
While blog posts are the perfect forum for delivering answers to these types of questions, the integration of video maximizes your ROI. For one, Google favors website pages that include video. Along with boosting organic traffic from SERPs by an estimated 157%, adding videos to blog posts increases the likelihood of earning quality backlinks that improve your SEO rankings.
Another consideration is how video helps readers digest blog content. Statistics show that people tend to retain more of a message when they watch a video versus read an article. Combining these two elements in a single blog post increases the odds that your message will stick with the reader and by extension, that they’ll also remember your brand.
When Google crawls a video uploaded to YouTube, it’s extracting information from the video and the framework that surrounds it. In this sense, YouTube functions much like a blog does. Just as you would write a blog to rank for long-tail keywords, your video scripts should include targeted keywords that relate to your products/services. When transcribed, these scripts can help Google better understand the meaning of your video and with that, give it more relevant exposure in search results.
To illustrate this, we’ll use an example of a video recently added to the Kuno YouTube channel. As part of a series of videos designed to answer questions we often hear from clients, the focus here was “How to Save Time and Money Generating Leads.” The closed captions reiterate the keywords heard in the audio — target leads, demand generation strategies, paid ad dollars. While Google can crawl this text to help understand and properly index the video content, having captions also increases the accessibility of your content, naturally expanding its reach.
The description for your YouTube video is also an important part of this conversation. Like closed captions, descriptions can be optimized to rank for relevant keywords while providing room to expand on messaging from the video and point to relevant links on your website. Tip: YouTube algorithms put more weight on keywords that are included in the first 2-3 sentences of your video description, so try to lead with those that are most relevant.
While on the topic of optimized YouTube descriptions, it’s worth mentioning the key moments feature. With this feature, content creators can add timestamps to videos and link to them from the YouTube description, making it easier for viewers to scan videos and find information. As the SEO value of the video improves, so do the chances of it being found in relevant search results.
The most effective demand generation programs are the ones that span across multiple marketing departments. Amid the consumers’ requests for more video content and the value that search engines place on this type of content, the video marketing department should have an integral role in planning and executing demand generation initiatives. Together, the video team can collaborate with other marketing departments within your business or at an agency to develop a demand generation program that helps your brand get found and earn qualified leads.


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At almost every Santa Clara Unified board meeting from mid-December through March there’s been an agenda item about extending the grades at Bracher Elementary. Trustees Chris Stampolis and Ina Bendis have promoted the idea, but the board has repeatedly tabled it, noting practical problems.
“I first requested this because the Bracher School Site Council, as I had understood, had explicitly come to the board requesting extension beyond fifth grade,” Bendis explained at the March 28 meeting – the most recent discussion. “Parents and teachers…had unanimously, as I understood it, asked the board to look into this option for the school.”
“There was no communication [about extending Bracher] in this school year,” explained Stampolis, who was formerly Bracher School Site Council chair. “However…in early spring 2012 Mr. [Hector] Sandoval made a presentation from the school site council [and] asked the board to start that dialog.”
Stampolis was referring to a report Superintendent Bobbie Plough made at the May 10, 2012 board meeting about her meeting with some Bracher parents. “I think it’s important that we show respect for the parent community as a whole over at Bracher for two years of discussion,” he said.
Some Bracher parents say no request was made by them, as a body, to extend grades.
“Saying that the Bracher School Site Council came to the board [asking to make Bracher K-8] is false,” Bracher teacher and parent Susie Tulowitzki told the board. “We never had any discussion this year. Last year there was a discussion about a few parents on School Site Council being interested in making Bracher K-8. We did not vote.”
So what’s been going on?
Plough’s report about the May 2012 meeting – which involved five Bracher parents, the principal, and three Asst. Superintendents – reveals that any drive to add grades to Bracher may have more to do with unawareness about middle school programs than with supposed educational advantages.
“Two points were very clear,” Plough reported. “The parents appreciate the learning environment at Bracher School and they want that same experience for their children as they move into the middle grades.
“A large portion of parent discussion centered around our current middle schools,” she continued. “They felt that student achievement scores are not high enough in middle school. They feel that middle schools aren’t good environments for their children, that they will be exposed to drugs and alcohol, bullying. They feel that by keeping them on a K-8 campus they won’t be exposed to those types of behaviors.
“We encouraged parents to visit our schools,” continued Plough. “Of the five, three had never been on any of our middle school campuses. The others hadn’t in the last two-to-three years. We’re asking middle school principals to reach out to those parents.” Plough also noted Cabrillo’s programs for ensuring high school readiness, including the Read 180-Plus English program, after school tutoring, Step Up to Algebra, and Saturday classes.
Changing Bracher would bring significant compromises, she said, to add the 10-12 classrooms needed. That would mean adding portables or eliminating Bracher’s after-school programs and preschool.
Other challenges include delivering modern expectations for middle grades – locker rooms, science labs, band practice rooms. “It would be hard to offer the advanced programs and electives we offer to middle school students,” Plough added.
These kinds of questions, in the final analysis, have led to the board’s repeated agreement that any discussion of school grade organization had to be more considered than simply adding it to the board agenda.
quot;If we’re going to have a conversation about K-6 or K-8, this needs to be district-wide,” Trustee Jim Canova said. “Once we have that conversation, there’s another: How much would it cost?”
Trustee Andy Ratermann backed up Canova’s position. “The information should come from our staff curriculum committee, which has the global perspective. A focus on one school at the expense of all others is not the way to go about it. This has a ripple effect on the entire district.”
“We need to look at what problem we’re trying to solve,” observed Trustee Albert Gonzalez, noting that as a unified district, SCUSD has ample resources to smooth students’ transition into high school. “I don’t see how this is moving forward on any meaningful issues.”
“We have the Callejon campus built from the ground up to be K-8,” added Canova, who was board president when Callejon was designed. “I’m very enthusiastic about K-8 schools – from the ground up.”


Authorities warn against protest by Malaysian Indians
The protest has been called by a group called the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen's Counsel to represent the Indian community.
Earlier in August, Hindraf, had filed a class action suit against the British Government claiming compensation for bringing Indians as labourers during colonization of the then Malaya in the 1870s and thereafter exploiting them.
The road-block operations, which began yesterday, will screen motorists entering the city centre and to identify troublemakers ahead of the planned mass gathering.
The police said it will not hesitate to take stern actions against those who refused to heed the warning to stay away from the gathering.
"We have received information that there will be criminal activities taking place right up to Sunday's gathering. From our intelligence gathering, we have found that riots and fights had been planned. We are now taking precautionary measures," city police chief Zul Baharudin was quoted in the Star newspaper as saying.
At least 20,000 people are expected to take part in Sunday's gathering and the protesters had been told to dress in orange, the paper said.
Thousands of Indians were brought by the British to Malaya to work at the plantations and to build railway lines. The Indians, mostly from Tamil Nadu, lived a hard life. Though several Indians left after India attained independence, hundreds stayed back in the country.
Indians form seven per cent of Malaysia's multi-ethnic population. The majority 60 per cent are Muslim Malays and 25 per cent Chinese.
The class action suit has been filed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Hindraf Chief P Wathyamoorthy, seeking a compensation of up to one million US dollar for every Indian in Malaysia.


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Kemper, 31, shared the happy news on Conan Wednesday night. Korman was a writer on Late Night with Conan O'Brien from 2001 to 2008. "Michael's a delight, as you know, so of course [my parents] like him a lot," Kemper told O'Brien, who called Koman "a very talented writer."
Koman currently serves as a writer and producer on the Adult Swim series Eagleheart, which is produced by O'Brien's production company, Conaco.
Kemper, best known for her role as Erin on The Office, also co-starred in Bridesmaids earlier this year.
Watch Kemper's interview to see her fiancée dressed as a hot dog (you know you can't resist):

domain: celebrity


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Cosmetic White Fillings to repair that broken tooth !
Cosmetic Dentistry Ealing, Perivale – dentael
As your local cosmetic dentist, we offer Modern Minimally Invasive Dentistry to repair broken or decayed teeth. Cosmetic white fillings blend into the tooth, making them less noticeable, compared to silver amalgam fillings. They also stick to the tooth thereby supporting the remaining tooth structure. This makes them a cost effective alternative option to crowns and also avoids extensive cutting of the tooth to prepare for a crown. Fees for cosmetic white fillings are on average approximately £100 per tooth compared to crowns which average approximately £550 per tooth.
Before treatment the front tooth had been chipped.
Result after replacing the metal filling with a white filling.
To book your appointment and find out how we can help you … please call 020 8997 0006 or submit online appointment request form.


It can be used for the development of the many different relative and temperature measuring applications, including the PC case temperature monitoring, office equipment, and entertainment systems thermal monitoring, general purpose thermal measurement, etc.
The key features of the Thermo 15 click click include:
- Temperature Range from −55°C to +125°C
- low power consumption
- interrupt engine
- One-shot Mode
For more information about the Thermo 15 click, visit the product page.


Girls’ Generation (SNSD) showed that they still got it, reaching the top of M.net’s M! Countdown on February 6. The “comeback” concert was their first show in over a year. During the live show, the girls group showcased their new single, “Mr. Mr.,” and showed off their perfectly choreographed dance moves.


Carpinteria boys won their fist Tri-Valley League dual meet of the season beating the Malibu Sharks. The Warrior girls lost to the first place Sharks.
Daniel Burquez won three events and finished second in a fourth, leading the Carpinteria boys track & field team to its first Tri-Valley League dual meet victory of the season, a 77-58 deicsion over visiting Malibu.
Malibu won the girls competition, 82-53.
Burquez took the long jump (19-11.50), triple jump (41-10.25) and 200 meters (24.00) and came in second (12.25) to teammate Wyatt Stevenson (11.71) in the 100.
Bernardo Cardona was a double winner in the 1600 (4:55.46) and 3200 meters (11.15.43). Freshman Victor Rinaldi won the 400 (54.15), Marcos Alpizar won the 800 with a new personal record (2:11.83) and Wyatt Stevenson earned a victory in the 100 meters.
Annalisa DeAlba won the shot put (32-6.25) and discus (112-02) with seasonal bests in both throws. Mikela Keefer captured wins in both the 1600 (5:37.75) and 3200 meters (12:08.31) and Shay Alexander won the 400 meters (1:04.88).


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VIV Global is meaning a global village full of happy people with their work, family and friends. It is a prosperous village where technological advancement is benefiting every single member of community.
Vision – People live in harmony. Not fighting for limited resources.
Innovation – New technologies enable us to do more with less.
Value – Eventually, technology is meaningful when it delivers value to people.

domain: sociology


Work starts on new energy curriculumNov 4, 2013 The Associated Press
CHEYENNE -- Preliminary work has begun on a program that will teach Wyoming youngsters about energy development and natural resources in their state.
The Legislature approved the energy and natural resources education program last winter. The Wyoming Afterschool Alliance got a $75,000 state grant two months ago to recommend how to further develop and fund the program.
A report is due to the governor's office and state lawmakers next month.
The program will teach children at potentially all grade levels about Wyoming's coal, oil, gas, uranium and renewable energy industries, as well as about Wyoming's natural resources. Schools will be able to use the program as they see fit -- it will be up to educators whether to adopt the curriculum.
The program will align with the state's state science teaching standards and encourage critical thinking skills while teaching a "balanced approach to energy and natural resource development, use and stewardship," according to the legislation.
Kids will participate in related activities both in and out of the classroom and learn firsthand from experts in energy development and natural resources.
While the program will play a role in learning during school hours, the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance has experience bringing together schools, nonprofits and others. The Lander-based alliance promotes after-school programs that boost learning and help keep kids out of trouble. It was the only group to apply for the contract.
Since getting the contract, the alliance has been holding focus group meetings around Wyoming.


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Jay Morris Video Productions has specialized in dance recital production since its inception. Dance recitals can now be sold to the entire dance studio as a media package. Students and their families can access the recital with an online link and also have a dvd copy. Dance recital DVD production is a specialty that includes much more than just the recital. Dancers have enjoyed music videos that feature up close views of the recital and a getting ready montage. The recital DVDs feature chapter stops for each dance routine so that dancers and parents can easily find and navigate each dance.
View the following dance recital examples below:


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Our wine’s journey starts in the clay soil we have in abundance in the region. When we moved here in 1996, the land was overgrown and clearing it was no mean feat, the hillside where we would go on to grow our vines being virtually as steep as a black run.
However, what this did mean was the ground had never been sprayed, a completely unspoiled soil for our exquisite Seyval and Phoenix grapes to grow.
Being on a slope, the ground does not become waterlogged, the rain simply runs off, and with air flowing right through the vines, our grapes are more robust and grow better. We don’t need to spray herbicides, insecticides and fungicides, unlike most vineyards.
Low carbon footprint
When you think about how far wines come from the New World, even from France, the miles add up. We are proud to offer you an outstanding alternative with an extremely low carbon footprint.
We don’t use heavy farm machinery at all, and where we do use strimmers and other maintenance equipment, they are battery or solar-powered.
Once picked and collected, our beautiful bunches of grapes are whisked off to Three Choirs Vineyard, not hours away, just 21 miles over the Malverns, to be transformed into the delicious sparkling wine that is Easing Hill, magnificent bubbles ready for your delectation.
Once ripened, our delicious crop is hand-pruned and hand-picked by ourselves.
And because we don’t use any chemicals, you can rest assured that every vine, every grape, here at Easing Hill Vineyard is unsprayed and completely natural.
Harnessing the power
of the sun
Where we do need to use energy to grow our vines, we rely on solar panels or photovoltaics (PV) installed on the roof at Easing Hill.
These cells don’t need direct sunlight to work – they generate electricity even on a cloudy day – and enable us to reinforce the sustainable approach at the heart of everything we do.


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Gay former D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) says he’s offering his LGBT constituents in Ward 1 a chance to overcome cabin fever following the epic snowstorm last weekend by inviting them to visit the male strip club he operates on Georgia Avenue, N.W. free of charge on Tuesday night, Jan. 26.
In a Jan. 25 email to a Ward 1 listserv Graham said his invitation to visit his RockHard venue of male strippers at The House nightclub at 3530 Georgia Ave., N.W., comes at a time when he plans to become more active in city politics and LGBT-related issues.
“After 16 years of service as your councilmember, I intentionally stepped back these past 12 months,” he said in his email. “I now feel it is time for me to again engage, as a businessman and neighbor, with issues of concern to me in D.C.,” he said.
Graham lost his re-election bid in the 2014 Democratic primary to political newcomer Brianne Nadeau, who took office as the Ward 1 Council member in January 2015. In a development that surprised his former Council colleagues, Graham announced last year that he was teaming up with the owner of The House, a longstanding female strip club, to operate a Sunday night male strip club venue at the Georgia Avenue club that Graham called RockHard.
Graham told the Blade that Tuesday night’s RockHard operation would be a one-time endeavor but that he would consider the possibility of holding the male stripper venue on other nights in addition to the regular Sunday night venue.
“What I am about to say is obviously not for everyone,” he said in his Jan. 25 email message. “But I know there are many LGBTQ persons 21 and over who live in our area. So I’m having a special NO admission charge on tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 26, for those persons who may enjoy such entertainment,” he said.
“I have followed closely the actions and messages on the blizzard and its consequences by Mayor Bowser and Councilmember Nadeau,” he wrote in his email. “They are to be commended for all of what they are doing.”


NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus, says fantasy football is great for business and for the National Football League, and he wants to see it has integrity.» Read More
I spoke to Kotick in an exclusive interview — he said Activision Blizzard's more modest projections for the current quarter were due to the timing of game releases. That lack of new games is one factor behind the 22 percent drop in game sales in April from a year ago.
Can Google, the master online search advertising, harness another form of advertising—display ads—and pull in millions?
Sports teams and organization are not just in the entertainment business. They are in the relationship business. The idea of developing a fan base is really just about cultivating a relationship.
As the argument over whether states should impose sales tax on all online purchases heats up, a government organization released a report showing how much revenue each state could shave off its deficit if it imposed taxes on all Web and catalog sales.
How this Internet giant is laying the groundwork in the People’s Republic.
Facebook's millions of users are a lucrative target for Internet criminals looking to steal passwords and more.
For the first time in Google's short, but colorful and profitable history, the company may be faced with more challenges than opportunities; no where is that concern reflected more clearly than in the company's stock price.
Google runs over one million servers and processes one billion searches a day. How much do you know about the most successful search engine in the world?
Google shares have dropped almost 11 percent in the last month. So should investors still consider buying the search engine giant? Steve Weinstein, senior analyst at Pacific Crest Securities shared his insights.
If you want to know the true extent of Adobe's underdog status in its ongoing war of words with Apple over Flash, consider today's strange "love letter" appearing in national and regional dailies all over the country.
The company beat, and beat handily Wall Street expectations with its third quarter earnings, coming in at 42 cents when the Street was looking for something closer to 39 cents.
Yeah, you read that headline right: IBM is offering up a 5-year earnings plan, and for a company in tech — really any company — to offer such visibility is substantial, and intriguing. Oh, and the 5-year plan has IBM reporting $20 a share in operating earnings by 2015.
After Disney reported its fiscal second quarter results I spoke exclusively with CEO Bob Iger, who is optimistic about what the company's results indicate about economic recovery.
So here we go again with rumors of a tablet computer coming from Google. And even though these latest "rumors" come courtesy of Verizon Wireless' Lowell McAdam himself, they're still rumors nonetheless.
Apple-watchers, especially analysts and investors, are keen to see the innovative tech titan’s deep bench of talented executives come to the fore, even while they support its legendary founder, Steve Jobs.
The market research from yesterday showing that Google's Android operating system phones had surpassed Apple's iPhone in terms of US marketshare grabbed an enormous press attention.
There’s one group in this industry that’s been held back, and Cramer thinks they’re worth a serious look.
As Apple continues its foray into the mobile computing market with the introduction of the iPad, it has an even greater opportunity to redefine computing.
How much do you know about one of the most profitable technological titans in the world? Take our Apple quiz and find out.
The Twittersphere erupted with protest when it appeared that users are following zero other people on Twitter and have 0 followers. Twitter quickly explained that it's fixing this glitch.


|Publication number||US6222952 B1|
|Application number||US 09/355,399|
|Publication date||Apr 24, 2001|
|Filing date||Jan 30, 1998|
|Priority date||Feb 1, 1997|
|Also published as||WO1998034083A1|
|Publication number||09355399, 355399, PCT/1998/296, PCT/GB/1998/000296, PCT/GB/1998/00296, PCT/GB/98/000296, PCT/GB/98/00296, PCT/GB1998/000296, PCT/GB1998/00296, PCT/GB1998000296, PCT/GB199800296, PCT/GB98/000296, PCT/GB98/00296, PCT/GB98000296, PCT/GB9800296, US 6222952 B1, US 6222952B1, US-B1-6222952, US6222952 B1, US6222952B1|
|Inventors||Christopher Raymond Moran, Walter Craig Michie|
|Original Assignee||University Of Strathclyde|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (4), Referenced by (2), Classifications (7), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This invention relates to detection of a measurand utilising a transducer unit in association with an optical fibre or optical fibre cable.
According to a first aspect the present invention provides a transducer unit adapted to be fitted to an optical fibre, the transducer unit comprising a support structure carrying an assembly of clamp members mutually spaced from one another in a generally linear direction, the clamp members being adapted and arranged to be secured individually to an optical fibre extending in said direction, obstructive means disposed in the path of the optical fibres between first and second clamp members of the assembly for pre-bending the fibre from its lenear path when the fibre is clamped, a sensor element which is sensitive to a particular measurand disposed between at least one of the first and second clamp members and another clamp member of the assembly, the sensor element being such that in operation exposure to the particular measurand causes a dimensional change of the sensor element in said linear direction, the arrangement of the transducer unit being such that the magnitude of the bend in the fibre is enlarged to an abnormal level which introduces a measurable loss in the transmission characteristics of the fibre when the sensor element is exposed to the particular measurand.
The sensor element may be of the type which dimensionally enlarges or dimensionally contracts in said linear direction. Such sensor elements may be made of hydrogel material or shape memory alloy material. Dimensionally contracting sensor elements are disposed between the first and second clamp members.
The sensor element is preferably made of a material where the dimensional change is reversible on removal from exposure to the particular measurand. Such sensor elements are preferably secured at each end to at least one of the first and second clamp members and to the said another clamp member of the assembly.
The sensor element may be in the form of a hydrogel plug for sensing aqueous environments such as the presence of water or water vapour or pH value. It may be a rubber plug for sensing hydrocarbon presence. It may be a swellable wax plug for sensing heat or it may be a shape-memory-alloy element such as a spring for sensing heat. It will of course be recognised that the foregoing materials are given only by way of example of the many materials which are suitable to form the sensor elements.
In one embodiment the assembly of clamp members are three in number and have limited movement with respect to the support structure and are arranged so as to be mutually separated by respective distances each of which is less than the length of the corresponding fibre portion when the clamp members are secured to be fibre. The sensor element is disposed between the second and third clamp members. In this way when the sensor element is of the type which becomes enlarged on exposure to the particular measurand it causes movement of the second or central clamp member without being restrained by the presence of a comparatively rigid portion of fibre between the first and second clamp members.
It is preferred that a resilient biasing element is located between the first and second clamp members for restoring the position of the central or second clamp member after activation of the sensor element and in the absence of the particular measurand.
The optical fibre is preferably a single mode fibre or a bundle of single mode fibres forming a fibre cable. In this connection it will be understood that the integrity of the optical fibre does not require to be compromised by use of the transducer unit in that there is no stripping of fibre cladding or overcovering or the like.
The condition of the optical fibre and the transducer unit associated therewith may be interrogated by transmission of a signal along the length of the fibre and which is detected at the fibre output and by a power threshold detection unit. Alternatively a detection system which uses optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) may be used to locate the position of a transducer unit incorporating an abnormally bent fibre. This is of particular value where several transducer units are fitted along the length of the optical fibre. Several different types of sensor elements can be used in transducer units along the length of the same cable in order to detect different measurands. The loss characteristics can be tuned so that different sensor types have different loss signatures on activation thereby enabling detection of different measurands to be prioritised.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a transducer unit in accordance with the present invention when fitted to an optical fibre;
FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but with components removed in the interests of clarity; and
FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2.
The transducer unit 10 illustrated in the drawings has a box-like support structure which is capable of being fitted to an optical fibre 11 with minimal disturbance of the fibre. Unit 10 has a base portion 9 which internally houses a set or assembly of three clamp members 12, 13, 14 which are mutually spaced from one another in a generally linear direction, being the direction of the fibre 11. The clamp members 12, 13, 14 respectively include releasable clamp elements 12A, 13A, 14A which can be retrofitted to clamp against the outer surface of the fibre 11. Extending transversely with respect to the fibre direction, and between clamp members 13 and 14, there is an obstructive member 15 which projects into the path of the fibre 11 for pre-bending the fibre out of its strictly linear path. The obstructive member 15 conveniently is in the form of a rod secured to the walls of the base 9.
Clamp member 12 is capable of limited movement towards clamp member 13 and the latter is also capable of limited movement towards clamp member 14. Clamp member 14, however, is effectively rigidly secured. An overfill feed wedge 16 is provided as part of a lid portion 8 of the unit 10 to adjust the position of clamp member 12 after it is clamped to the fibre 11 so as to introduce an excess of fibre between clamp members 12 and 13 as a result of which the fibre does not extend strictly linearly in that portion.
A sensor element 17 which is sensitive to a particular measurand and dimensionally enlarges as a consequence is disposed between the clamp members 12 and 13. In the illustrated embodiment this sensor element is in the form of a coil spring made of shape memory alloy (eg nitinol). As the temperature of the environment surrounding the spring 17 rises above a trigger threshold level the nitinol goes through a phase transition and the spring attempts to return to its pre-determined shape which is of greater axial length than is illustrated in FIG. 1. During this recovery process the spring releases large amounts of energy and is sufficient to move clamp member 13 in the direction of clamp member 14 at least to a limited extent. This movement causes buckling of the fibre portion overlying the obstructive member 15 and this buckling constitutes an abnormal bend which introduces a measurable loss in the transmission characteristics of the fibre 11 at the location of the transducer unit 10.
Once the temperature of the spring sensor element 17 returns to normal the sensor element 17 can be restored to its FIG. 1 condition and this is achieved by the provision of a resilient biasing member 18 which conveniently is in the form of a stainless steel coil spring located between the clamp elements 13 and 14. Coil springs 17 and 18 conveniently surround rod elements which ensure that the springs retain their coil shape.
It will be understood that the fibre 11 is associated with a detection system 19 which enables the presence of an abnormally bent fibre 11 to be identified. Detection unit 19 is preferably an optical time domain reflectometry system which provides a pulse or series of pulses to the fibre 11 and detects pulse reflections from abnormally bent fibre portions and is thereby able to locate the position of the abnormally bent fibre portions.
It will be understood that the transducer unit 10 can be attached anywhere along the length of an optical fibre or optical fibre cable. It will also be appreciated that the various clamp members may take any individual format and for example it may not be necessary for the unit 10 to incorporate a lid. It could be an open housing. Furthermore the overfill feed element 16 may itself form a clamp element so that it may be integrated with clamp element 12A.
When the transducer unit 10 is fitted to the fibre 11 fibre portion 11A which extends between clamp elements 13A and 14A is deflected from its strictly linear condition by the obstructive member or rod 15. Accordingly when clamp member 13 is moved by the sensor element 17 in the direction of the clamp member 14 there is minimal resistance to further bending of the fibre 11 imposed by the fibre itself because it already incorporates a bend. Likewise clamp member 12 is initially fitted and clamped to the fibre 11 but thereafter the overfill feed element 16 is applied and this causes movement of the member 12 towards clamp member 13 which initial movement causes a minor deflection of the fibre portion 11B which lies between clamp members 12 and 13. Accordingly when the sensor element 17 expands the fibre portion 11B imposes no restraint on movement of the clamp member 13. Clamp member 12 is effectively fixed as is clamp member 14.
It will be understood that the transducer unit disclosed herein is electrically passive and immune to electromagnetic interference and is virtually maintenance free and can be retrofitted to the fibre 11.
|Cited Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US4725124 *||Sep 26, 1985||Feb 16, 1988||The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy||Fiber optic microbend phase shifter and modulator|
|US4729630 *||Feb 10, 1986||Mar 8, 1988||Martinez Armando S||Fiber optic transducer|
|US4789241 *||Feb 24, 1987||Dec 6, 1988||Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation||Optical fiber sensing systems having acoustical optical deflection and; modulation devices|
|US5093569||Sep 21, 1990||Mar 3, 1992||The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy||Tapered optical fiber sensor|
|Citing Patent||Filing date||Publication date||Applicant||Title|
|US7195033||Feb 24, 2003||Mar 27, 2007||Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.||Method and system for determining and controlling position of valve|
|US20040163809 *||Feb 24, 2003||Aug 26, 2004||Mayeu Christopher W.||Method and system for determining and controlling position of valve|
|U.S. Classification||385/15, 385/13, 385/16, 385/4|
|Sep 29, 1999||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: STRATHCLYDE, UNIVERSITY OF, UNITED KINGDOM
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MORAN, CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND;MICHIE, WALTER CRAIG;REEL/FRAME:010253/0434
Effective date: 19990916
|Nov 11, 2004||REMI||Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
|Apr 25, 2005||LAPS||Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
|Jun 21, 2005||FP||Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|
Effective date: 20050424


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The report, released by ingredients firm Kerry at Natural Products Expo West, sheds insight on what motivates certain customers to purchase clean-label products.
Trends & Business
A look at the diversifying sports nutrition market
Manufacturers are offering innovative solutions for achieving dairy-like taste and texture in dairy-free products.
The rising popularity of medicinal mushrooms is opening up new avenues of growth for savvy manufacturers, but these avenues can be fraught with pitfalls and risk for the unprepared.
Ginger Set to Become the Next Big Digestive-Health Ingredient, Companies Say at Natural Products Expo West 2018
As demand for ginger in the digestive-health category grows, companies like OmniActive and Naturex say that the ingredient could see the same kind of sales growth as fellow trending botanical turmeric.
Most recently, DuPont Nutrition & Health announced it is partnering with the Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies to explore new processes for producing “next generation” probiotics.
The sports drinks market is continuing to diversify, with consumers driving demand for healthier sports drinks products. This demand for healthy drinks—coupled with growing niches that have very specific functional needs—is likely to open up new opportunities for brands that fine-tune their formulations and marketing in response.
Nutritional Outlook interviewed representatives from the International Probiotics Association and the Global Prebiotic Association about whether there is growing collaboration between the probiotic and prebiotic industries.
NutraProtein Power Blend is formulated with plant proteins, essential amino acids, and other nutrients, says the company.
Ingredients supplier Sabinsa has named analytic testing firm Eurofins as its global testing partner for both raw materials and ingredients. Eurofins will also adapt some of Sabinsa’s own proprietary testing methods.

domain: food


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Prior to joining the HVW team, I worked as a trade support specialist in the listed derivatives space at Morgan Stanley. I graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
I grew up in PA but currently live in Baltimore, Maryland. I enjoy working out and wandering around the city. I’m also an avid golfer and snowboarder; I prefer to spend as much time as possible outdoors.
Edgar Allan Poe is a distant relative of mine.Speak with Cory Poe
Get started with
Speak With a Wealth Advisor

domain: hobby


text:
While PED use is unfortunately prevalent in many sports, including combat sports like BJJ, it is important to recognize that not all athletes engage in such practices. Many BJJ champions have achieved their success through hard work, dedication, genetics and a commitment to fair play.
It is essential that all athletes compete on a level playing field, and organizations such as the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) have implemented testing protocols to detect and deter PED use.
Felipe Pena recently reflected on how Gi and Nogi BJJ are different modalities – that make very different demands on the body. Nogi BJJ requires more wrestling and more athleticism so it invites more scrutiny.
During a recent appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, B Team’s Craig Jones shared an interesting take on how widespread PED use is in the BJJ Community.
“I MEAN IT’S HARD TO SAY. YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE LOOK LIKE S**T AND THEY’RE ON STER0IDS. SOME PEOPLE LOOK EXCELLENT AND THEY’RE NOT ON STER0IDS. IT’S SO, SO HARD TO TELL.”
Later on Jones added:
“Yeah, I mean if a sport doesn’t test, you’ve got to assume most people are going to do it. And especially now as more money comes into this what you’ve got to assume more people are going to do it.”
Jones also addressed the moral qualms of taking PEDs, considering major BJJ competitions (besides IBJJF Worlds) aren’t testing:
“I mean, it is cheating for sure. Whether they test for it or not, I think it is cheating. Obviously, some people are going to say, oh, if everyone’s on it, I should be able to get away with it. It makes it even playing field.”
“You know, but it kind of becomes Russian roulette because it’s like if one guy is taking a small amount. And the other guy is taking a huge amount. He’s going to reap huge rewards in the short time. Probably be dead pretty early, but die a champion, mind you.”
But this was all prior to the major USADA news. Late yesterday, the news broke that 5 participants in Nogi World championships received substantial suspensions.
Among the suspensions are ADCC winner Roberto Cyborg Abreu, Vagner Rocha, Jonnatas Gracie and more.
Jones reacted to the news on his social media and highlighted the fact that USADA caught up with these men despite the fact they initially passed on appearing on the podium following IBJJF Nogi World championships.
“USADA followed these boys for out of competition testing. You ain’t safe nowhere. Even if you run from the podium.”
While this wasn’t explicitly outlined in the press release, it’s very apparent once you observe the varying testing dates for different athletes considering that USADA tests BJJ athletes just twice a year, following a win at either Gi or Nogi world championships.
At the time, Victor Hugo expressed his disdain for their absence from the podium. Now he raised an interesting question – will they be allowed to compete in non-IBJJF competitions featured on the same streaming service?


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To achieve these goals, cut down on saturated fat from animal products (meat and the skin of poultry, whole-fat dairy products, and certain vegetable foods — palm oil, palm kernel oil, cocoa butter, and coconut). And it's just as important to reduce your consumption of trans fatty acids, the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils found in stick margarine, fried foods, and many commercially baked goods and snack foods.
When women reach childbearing age, they need to eat enough folate (or folic acid) to help decrease the risk of birth defects. The requirement for women who are not pregnant is 400 micrograms (mcg) per day. Including adequate amounts of foods that naturally contain folate, such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, beans and peas will help increase your intake of this B vitamin. There also are many foods that are fortified with folic acid, such as breakfast cereals, some rices and breads. Eating a variety of foods is recommended to help meet nutrient needs, but a dietary supplement with folic acid also may be necessary. This is especially true for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, since their daily need for folate is higher, 600 mcg and 500 mcg per day, respectively. Be sure to check with your physician or a registered dietitian nutritionist before taking any supplements., .
Folate or vitamin B9 (also known as folic acid when used in fortified foods or taken as a supplement) is another nutrient that many women don’t get enough of in their diets. Folate can greatly reduce the chance of neurological birth defects when taken before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Folate can also lower a woman’s risk for heart disease and certain types of cancer, so even if you’re not planning on getting pregnant (and many pregnancies are unplanned), it’s an essential nutrient for every woman of childbearing age. In later life, folate can help your body manufacture estrogen during menopause.
Women's Health magazine focuses on the emotional and physical process of healthy living. Featuring sections such as fitness, food, weight loss, Sex & Relationships, health, Eat This!, style, and beauty, this magazine focuses on the health of the whole woman. Although the magazine is relatively new, the success it has reached since its inception in 2005 speaks volumes about the magazine's ability to connect with women everywhere.


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For two judokas at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games the pandemic was the push they needed to make the match of a lifetime.
USA's Ben Goodrich and Sweden's Nicolina Pernheim met during a competition at Tokyo's Kodokan Judo Institute in 2017 and started dating in 2018. Now they are back at Kodokan, the official training venue for judo at Tokyo 2020, as experienced Paralympians and engaged.
Almost 8,000km separated the international judo couple as they began their long-distance relationship. As Covid-19 struck, Colorado-based Goodrich discovered he was not only missing his girlfriend, but also judo sparring partners.
"Judo is a close-contact sport, so you need to be touching your opponent, especially in Paralympic judo, and that's totally the opposite of what we’re trying to do with Covid," Goodrich said.
“It was definitely hard to train at some points. During some months things were shut down. You couldn’t train with other people. Like shadow boxing, you could do shadow sparring and grappling, but you can only learn so much from that.
"So I spent most of my year over in Sweden where they had fewer restrictions as far as masking (is concerned), and being able to work out in small groups, especially for national team members there and people on the elite level."
Despite the nearly 40kg difference in their weight classes, Goodrich and Pernheim often found themselves helping each other during judo training in Sweden.
“He’s just moved to Sweden," Pernheim said. "Since about Christmas, we’ve been training together, at the same club. He’s under 100 kilos, and I’m 63 kilos, so same club, but not the closest of training partners. But during Covid, early spring, I was allowed to train with him, but no one else because we were already together."
Somewhere between the grappling and the throws, Goodrich ended up with more than a new training partner.
“I proposed in December last year and we’re planning to have a small wedding with just family in January because of Covid. We're trying to make sure we can get that going, because we want to start that part of our lives too,” he said.
Goodrich finished ninth in the men's +100kg event at Rio 2016, while Pernheim was fifth at Rio 2016 and seventh at London 2012 in the women's -63kg event, and fifth at Beijing 2008 in the women's -70kg.
Pernheim is in action on Saturday and faces Ukraine's Iryna Husieva in the B1 quarter-final while Goodrich competes in B2 on Sunday against RPC's Anatolii Shevchenko.
Having twice finished one place off the podium, Pernheim is determined to go one better at her fourth Paralympic Games, now with her fiancé's help.
“I don’t want to be close. I want to take a medal. That’s what I want, very much," she said. "And it’s good that we both understand the sport and how important it is in our life, and prioritising judo over social things. It would be different if you were with someone else who didn’t understand it as much."


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Get to know me better
an enthusiastic, hard working, and passionate chef
I am a professionally trained chef with 12 years experience in the culinary industry. I learned to cook at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Piper's Heath Golf Course, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and George Brown College. I began my journey as a young apprentice in Canada and worked my way up and around many different types of kitchens. From working in casual restaurants and pubs, to golf courses and luxury lodges, to ski resorts and food trucks, I have been able to gather a diverse amount of experience and knowledge.
My love for the industry and my passion for food continues to grow as I travel. Starting off my training with classical French cuisine, it has now expanded to a range of different ethnicities including: Italian, German, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Jamaican, Mexican, Spanish, American, Indian, and most recently, New Zealand.
I've also extended my dishes to be able to cater for many different types of dietary needs including: gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, dairy-free, and allergy-friendly.
When choosing ingredients I always ensure to pick the best quality seasonal ingredients that are locally sourced. And when I'm not too busy in the kitchen I love growing my own herbs, vegetables, and fruits to cook with.


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Best Dining in Temperance, Michigan: See 89 TripAdvisor traveler reviews of 23
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Thought of experimenting with my after workout drink today. Instead of plain coconut water, I thought of mixing it with something tangy and came up with this idea of Coconut Kokum Cooler.
Coconut water, found in young coconuts, is tasty and refreshing and has many health benefits. It helps hydrate the body and is loaded with nutrients. Here are some benefits of this sweet tropical fruit:
1. Aids in weight loss
2. Helps in digestion
3. Improves heart health
4. Helps reduce blood pressure
5. Is useful in treating urinary problems
6. Boosts immunity
7. Fights depression
Amsul or Kokum is a red colored tangy fruit that has multiple health and medicinal benefits:
- It is an excellent source of anti-oxidants
- It is used in treatment of piles, flatulence, constipation, heatstroke, etc.
- Kokum is also known as ‘cool king’ of Indian fruits and is, thus, used in treatment of hyper-acidity.
Coconut Kokum Cooler
A healthy tangy cool drink.
- 1 Coconut fruit yield (I used fresh Coconut water. You can use packaged Coconut water too.)
- 2-3 Tbsp Kokum Syrup (I have used sweetened kokum syrup here. )
- 1 Slice Lemon (Optional)
- 2-3 Ice cubes (Optional)
- Mix the sweetened kokum syrup with one coconut fruit yield.
- Take ice cubes in a glass. Add one lemon slice and pour the kokum mixed coconut water over this. Serve chilled.
- I have used sweetened kokum syrup brought from the market. You may use the unsweetened one too if you wish to have the drink without sugar.
- Another way is to soak 4-5 pieces of dried kokum in one cup water for 15-20 minutes and then use this water to make the drink. You may add some sugar if desired.
Here are some other juices/cool drinks which you may like to enjoy:


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As the year comes to a close, and the holiday stress puts your therapist on speed dial, why not take a moment from your debilitating rage against the department store cashier to reflect upon the last calendar year of music—we sure have. 2012 has brought us tripped out folk singers, potty-mouthed mermaids, indie super groups and jams hot enough to boil a waterbed, just to name a few.
While some of these artists have been around for longer than a hot second, we're selecting them based on their debut studio or major label albums dropping in 2012. After all, how can you choose a "Best New Artist" without hearing a completed effort? So let’s take a look at the artists we think gave this year a real good shakedown.
Kendrick Lamar: Certainly not a new face to the game, but this year marks the beginning of Kendrick Lamar’s journey into the hip-hop stratos as a full-fledged star. Following in the footsteps of other Dre protégés like Eminem and Snoop Dogg , the LA-based artist’s first major label album good kid m.A.A.d city peaked at #2 in the US after having already worked with the top names in the industry. Lamar doesn’t need million-dollar cars and a mouth full of diamonds to blow you away; just a mic, a stage, and a moment of your time. This one will be around for a long time, trust.
Alabama Shakes: As their name suggests, the Georgia born-and-bred rock band came out with a truly seismic debut album accompanied by rousing stage shows has music fans praising them to the high heavens. The band’s blend of Southern rock, blues, soul and flairs of classic rock paired with frontwoman Brittany Howard’s wailing vocals (as if possessed by the grittiest of bluesmen) makes one think they’ve sold their souls to the hungriest, most dapper demons of the deep South. But what landed the Alabama Shakes on our Best Of list this year is their ability to attract fans whom would normally be disinterested in roots rock.
Father John Misty: Former Fleet Foxes member Joshua Tillman fell off his rocker, off the porch and into a puddle of mind-altering, sadomasochistic inspiration with his newly formed persona Father John Misty. The musician had been releasing indie folk solo albums as J. Tillman for years that were, well, pretty all the same, but nothing compared to the charmingly wicked, utterly random, and sometimes confusing (but funny) body of work in his 2012 release Fear Fun. With lyrics like, “pour me another drink / And punch me in the face / You can call me Nancy” and singing about running down the road with his pants around his ankles, Tillman somehow made bad mushroom trips sound fun and beautiful.
The Lumineers: Most times it’s harder to tell a story in a sentence than in a novel—that’s the genius of the Lumineers. Their rootsy, stripped down folk is a refreshing antithesis to intricately produced popular music, but the band was still able to sell over a million records. With acts like Arcade Fire and Bon Iver winning top awards at the Grammys, the Lumineers may prove to be next year’s underdogs. Better register that parody Tumblr now.
Azealia Banks: Rihanna may have co-opted a piece the seapunk trend that worships late 90s 3D internet animation, rave, grunge and goth (do an image search if you don’t get it), but rapper Azealia Banks is queen mermaid. The 21-year-old Harlem native’s own mix of sweet, shamelessly vulgar hip-hop and electronic dance quickly surpassed peers like Iggy Azealia and Kreashawn to become a rap game Aaliyah for the twenty-tens. Banks has also drawn attention from the fashion community for her colorful hair and style, working with Lady Gaga’s superstar stylist Nicola Formichetti and famed photographer Rankin for her “Liquorice” video and even releasing a purple lipstick for MAC cosmetics.
Emeli Sandé: Already a veteran songwriter at 25, the Scottish songbird has put pen to paper for a range of acts from Susan Boyle to Rihanna to Tine Tempah. But this year was Sandé’s turn in the spotlight, with a chart-topping debut album and singles, performing at both the Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies, raking in the awards and of course singing a set for Y! Music! But our own preferences aside, the numbers and critics are behind the stunning singer, known for her raw, soulful vocals, earnest lyrics and musical arrangements that can envelop break beats just as easily as retro horn sections.
The Weeknd: Canadian R&B singer Abel Tesfaye is a one-man after after after hours. Smooth as milk laced with ecstacy, Tesfaye’s project The Weeknd is a velvety tongue in your ear with its powerfully hypnotic quality and incredibly sexy lyrics. But that mouth has teeth as well, mixing in subtle electronic elements and sudden breakdowns. It’s unimaginable that such disarming music could come from a 22-year-old, who came to prominence releasing mixtapes on YouTube. But finally, now you’ve got completely appropriate bedroom music that doesn’t make you roll your eyes.
Divine Fits: Formed by Spoon frontman Britt Daniel and Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs just early this year, somehow the band released an album by August and was booked on Letterman by November. They barely even had enough songs to play for their first gig, having to bolstering the set with covers. But the Divine Fits gathered tons of attention in that short time with their feel-good indie rock, the lovely likes of which we haven't heard since the 90s.
Imagine Dragons: While the music snobs in us cringe at the thought of a new superstar rock band, it’s undeniable that Imagine Dragons are burning it down this year. Their sweeping, cinematic songs put the band in a class with the likes of Coldplay and The Fray, as if they cut out all the steps in between forming a band and playing arenas. Their extremely well-produced first album Night Visions debuted at #2, with their first single “It’s Time” going platinum. There’s no use in imagining anymore—this band is the real deal.
Howler: The greenest of the list, the indie rock band was so impressive live that a freelance writer sent their EP to their future record label without them even knowing, getting signed when frontman Jordan Gatesmith was just 19. Claiming influence from the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds, their garage-y, surf-y album America Give Up (barely making our cut with its January release date) is full of energetic rock ‘n’ roll with a smirk with song titles like “Beach Sluts” and “Too Much Blood”. The band can’t seem to get away from comparisons to the Strokes, but I for one don’t think that’s a bad thing.
What other artists do you think belong on our list? Leave your votes in the comment below!


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With more and more companies and organizations looking to hold events in luxurious conference centers across the globe, it’s important to know which ones are the best candidates for your needs. In this article, we take a look at the ten most promising conference centers around the world in 2020, based on their potential to attract visitors and offer excellent facilities. So if you’re looking for a place to hold your next big meeting, be sure to check out these top contenders!
The Ten Best International Conference Centers of 2020
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur – The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur is one of the most luxurious and well-equipped conference centers in the world, and it has been ranked as one of the best hotels in the world.
2. Sheraton Manila, Philippines – The Sheraton Manila is another excellent conference center that offers luxurious amenities and excellent facilities.
3. Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok – The Shangri-La Bangkok is a popular hotel that has been ranked as one of the best hotels in the world. It offers top-notch accommodations and superb facilities for hosting events.
4. Novotel London West, United Kingdom – The Novotel London West is a highly rated hotel that offers excellent facilities for hosting events. It is also ideally situated for visitors to London.
5. Park Hyatt Sydney, Australia – The Park Hyatt Sydney is an iconic hotel that offers superb facilities for hosting events. It is also centrally located in Sydney, making it easy for guests to get around.
6. Kempinski Hotel Milan & Spa, Italy – The Kempinski Hotel Milan & Spa is a luxurious hotel that offers excellent facilities for hosting events. It also has a spa that is renowned for its quality treatments.
7. Intercontinental Toronto Centre, Canada – The Intercontinental Toronto Centre is one of the most popular conference centers in North America. It offers excellent facilities and outstanding customer service.
8. Westin Tokyo Yokoino, Japan – The Westin Tokyo Yokoino ranks as one of the best Japanese hotels for hosting events, due to its superb facilities and impressive range of services.
9. Grand Hyatt New York, United States – The Grand Hyatt New York is an impressive hotel that offers excellent facilities for hosting events. Its location in the heart of Manhattan makes it a popular choice for visitors to New York City.
10. Shangri-La Hong Kong – One of the most highly regarded luxury hotels in Asia, the Shangri-La Hong Kong offers superb facilities and exceptional customer service for holding events.
The Top 5 Global Event Venues of 2020
1. The Venetian Macao Resort and Casino – With its opulent Venetian architecture, world-class casinos, and renowned restaurants, the Venetian Macao Resort and Casino is one of the world’s most renowned event destinations.
2. The Toronto Convention Centre – As one of the largest convention centers in North America, the Toronto Convention Centre is perfect for hosting large events and exhibitions.
3. The London Olympia – With its rich history and stunning architecture, the London Olympia is one of the most popular venues for large-scale concerts and sporting events in Europe.
4. The ADAC Congress Center Berlin – One of Europe’s newest conference centers, the ADAC Congress Center Berlin offers a wide range of facilities and services for events.
5. The Olympic Stadium – Recognized as one of the world’s best sporting venues, the Olympic Stadium is perfect for hosting major events and concerts.
6. The Central Park Summerstage – Located in New York City’s beautiful Central Park, the Central Park Summerstage offers an intimate setting for concerts and performances.
The Top 10 Most Luxurious Conference Centers in the World
When it comes to luxury and pampering, few places can rival the most luxurious conference centers in the world. From exotic locations to celebrity-filled venues, these centers offer everything a visitor could desire, from top-notch meeting facilities to world-class cuisine and recreation.
Some of the most luxurious conference centers in the world are located in exotic locations, such as the grandiose Dubai World Heritage site Palm Jumeirah or the glistening Lake Como Resort in Italy. These venues often boast jaw-dropping views of their respective landscapes, making for breathtakingly scenic meetings. Celebrity-filled conferences also take place at some of the world’s most luxurious conference centers, such as The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles or The Ritz-Carlton in Madrid. These events are often attended by high-profile individuals and provide an opportunity to rub shoulders with A-listers.
Other luxury conference centers offer a range of additional amenities that make them stand out from the pack. Facilities such as The Bentley Hotel in London or The Intercontinental Park Hyatt in Singapore come complete with world-class restaurants and impressive meeting spaces. Many of these centers also offer excellent recreational opportunities, such as spa treatments and golf courses. In fact, many of the world’s most luxurious conference centers have their own courses. The Intercontinental Park Hyatt, for example, features eighteen championship-level golf holes.
As evident by the list of luxurious conference centers presented here, there is no shortage of choice when it comes to finding a venue that offers impeccable accommodations and unparalleled service. Visitors to any of these centers will be spoilt for choice, making it easy to find the perfect destination for your next meeting.
The 10 Best Facilities for Held Events in 2020
When it comes to hosting events, nothing beats a powerhouse like a world-class conference center. Whether you’re planning an intimate meeting with friends or an elaborate international conference with hundreds of participants, these hubs have all the amenities you need to make your event a huge success. From top-of-the-line equipment and facilities to attentive and professional staff, these centers have it all.
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
2. The Grand Hyatt Beijing
3. The InterContinental Singapore
4. The Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur
5. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
6. The W Tokyo
7. The Corinthia London
8. The Four Seasons George V Paris
9. Le Meridien Istanbul
10. The Ambassador Boston
The Top 5 Countries That Will Host the Most Events in 2020
The United States will continue to be the dominant country when it comes to hosting events, with over half of all events hosted in 2020 taking place there. China will see a surge in activity, as they look to compete with America as the leading country for hosting events. European countries will remain popular destinations for conferences, with France and Italy expected to be top providers in 2020. Brazil is set to become a major player in the global conference market, with more and more organizations looking to host events in the country due to its excellent facilities and low cost of living. India is also set to make a major impact on the global conference market in 2020, as the country looks to grow its businesses and attract more international visitors.
The Top 10 Cities That Will Be the Most Popular for Events in 2020
New York City will continue to be the top city for events in 2020, as it continues to grow in popularity and become a leading global city. Paris will remain one of the most popular cities for events, thanks to its world-renowned luxury hotels and many cultural and historical attractions. London will continue to be a leading city for events, thanks to its many luxury venues and booming economy. Amsterdam will see a surge in events due to its thriving nightlife and growing cultural scene. Barcelona will continue to be a popular destination for events, thanks to its Mediterranean climate and rich history. Berlin will continue to grow in popularity due to its thriving arts and culture scene, as well as its excellent facilities for hosting events. Other cities that will be popular for events in 2020 include Rome, Madrid, Istanbul, and Tokyo.
The Top 5 Countries That Will Be the Most Expensive for Events in 2020
The Brazilian Amazon is one of the most expensive places to hold events, due to its luxury hotels and other facilities. The Italian Peninsula is another expensive place to hold events, due to its stunning scenery and luxurious hotels. Switzerland offers some of the best facilities for conference visits, including high-end hotels and breathtaking mountain views. Norway is a popular destination for conferences because of its incredibly scenic landscape and luxury hotels. Iceland is another country that offers excellent facilities for hosting events, with plenty of options for luxury accommodation. The United Arab Emirates is the most expensive country in the world for events, thanks to its luxurious hotels and other amenities.
The Top 5 Countries that Offer the Best Facilities for Conference Visits in 2020
When it comes to hosting successful events, there are few places on earth that can rival the luxury and world-class facilities that countries like the United Arab Emirates, France, Spain, Switzerland, and the Netherlands offer. Each of these destinations is known for its beautiful architecture, state-of-the-art amenities, and expansive landscapes. Whether you’re looking for a small meeting room or an entire city to host your event, these five countries have everything you need.
As the global conference industry continues to grow, these five destination countries will continue to thrive as the most popular and luxurious places in the world to hold events. If you’re interested in hosting a successful conference in one of these countries, be sure to research all of their available options carefully. With so many superb facilities to choose from, your attendees will never regret attending your event!
The Top 10 Ways to Save on Conference Visits in 2020
One way to save on your conference visit is to be savvy about your budget. There are a number of costs you can avoid by pre-planning your trip and knowing the discounts available. Some of the top ways to save on your conference visit include: checking out hotel rates in advance, exploring meal deals, and getting travel insurance.
Another way to save on your conference visit is to be savvy about your time. Make sure you have all of the information you need before booking your flight, and be mindful of the time zones you will be visiting. By planning ahead, you can avoid potential hassles and save time during your trip.
Another way to save on your conference visit is to consider using travel insurance. This guarantees you a refund if something goes wrong during your trip, and it can help cover some of the costs of an unexpected expense.
Finally, be mindful of the cost of food when planning your conference diet. By eating at local restaurants near the conference center, you can save money without sacrificing taste or quality.
By following these tips, you can save on your conference visit without compromising the quality or convenience of your experience.
The Top 10 Tips for Making the Most of Conference Visits in 2020
When you’re planning your conference visit, make sure to take the following tips into account:
1. Know the Venue
Before you even leave home, it’s important to do some research on the conference center you’re visiting. Get a feel for the layout and surroundings, so you know where to find whatever you need.
2. Be Flexible
If something comes up that you can’t change, don’t stress – just go with the flow. There’s no need to cram your conference into a rigid schedule just to please everyone. And if something does go wrong, remember that conference centers are usually very accommodating.
3. Book Early
This one should go without saying, but it bears repeating nonetheless: book your reservation as early as possible! The sooner you have your name on the list, the better chance you have of getting a room with a reasonable price.
4. Bring Your Entertainment IQ Up a notch
Make sure to bring along some entertainment options – whether it’s books, games, or music – to keep yourself busy while you’re waiting in line or sitting on the bus.
5. Don’t Waste Time Waiting in Line
It might seem like a waste of time to stand in line for hours upon hours, but trust us when we say it’s worth it. Not only will you save money on your ticket, but staying calm and collected during long lines can make the experience much more pleasant.
6. Eat Well on your Trip
Chances are you’ll be spending most of your time inside the conference center, so it’s important that you fuel up properly beforehand. Pack snacks and a few meals so you won’t have to worry about staying out late night or skipping breakfast in order to make it to your meeting on time.
7. Take Advantage of Services Available
From wireless internet access to fitness centers and even special events organized by the conference center, there’s usually something available for free or at a discounted price.
8. Bring Money With You
Even if everything goes according to plan and you have a great time at the conference, don’t forget to tip your waitstaff and security guards – they did an amazing job keeping you safe and comfortable!
9. Bring Photo Memories With You
Once you get back home, make sure to save all
As the global conference industry continues to grow, the ten best international conference centers of 2020 are sure to attract a lot of attention. With excellent facilities and locations around the world, these centers are perfect for hosting events of all kinds. When planning your conference travel, be sure to consider these top centers!


Konica Minolta Sensing measuring instruments are a natural extension of our advanced optical and image processing technologies. A high precision instrument is an essential element in design, R&D, quality assurance and quality control in a variety of industries. For example in automotive, there is a wide range of measurement needs for car body exterior, interior parts, headlights, dashboard, etc. Konica Minolta Sensing has extensive solutions for measuring color, appearance, luminance and illuminance.
Customers have found our bench and portable spectrophotometers, colorimeters are essential for color management in many different manufacturing environments. Our products offer a wide range of solutions for material with solid state, liquid, powder, paste. Opaque or transparent materials. In addition to, materials with a flat surface, curvature large or tiny.
The display industry relies on our Display Color Analyzer for quality control and color adjustment by taking advantage of fast and accurate measurement. Our spectroradiometers serve for analysis of spectral characteristic of various light sources.
When accurate, consistent measurements of color, appearance, luminance and illuminance are essential to the success of your products or services. Trust Konica Minolta Sensing Americas' expertise to match you with the right instrument for your application.


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Desert At Night
There’s nothing more beautiful than the Desert at Night. Starting out as a fountain shooting sparks high into the air, this seven-shot stunner lights up the night sky with vibrant colors and various aerial effects. Create a breathtaking display with the Desert at Night.
Color: Blue, Green, Red, White
Contains Finale: No
Duration: 25 Seconds
Firing Pattern: Up
Size: 6″ H x 3-1/4″ W x 3-1/4″ D
Cart Unavailable until December 20, 2023.