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This is a gripping and incredibly well-made documentary about the demise of the last two Brazilian presidents, Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva (2003-2011) and Dilma Rousseff (2011-2016). The first is now in prison, while the second was impeached.The Edge of Democracy is narrated in English by the filmmaker, Petra Costa, a renown Brazilian director. Costa intertwines her family history with Brazil’s, as her parents were activists who were sent to jail in the ‘70s (her mother was held in the same facility as ex-president Rousseff).This grounds the documentary and turns it into a personal story that illustrates the bigger political picture. The Edge of Democracy knows that you don’t know much about Brazilian politics, but makes that a source of suspense rather than a disadvantage. It’s a perfect instructive watch.
A dramatic take on the life and capture of Ted Kaczynski, popularly known as UNABOMBER(UNiversity and Airline BOMber) from the eyes of an FBI profiler. Kaczynski was responsible for 16 bombings, and it took 17 years for the FBI to catch him. To date, he's the target of the most expensive chase the FBI has ever launched. The show is not a mystery (facts are the matter of public domain) and doesn't even pretend to be one. Instead, it focuses on the complex motives of the UNABOMBER, as well as the bureaucracy that the FBI ran through trying to catch him. It's a really well-made, engrossing show that's hard not to watch in one take. It's 8 episodes of 40 minutes, so pick the time you start it wisely.
Lion is the award-sweeping movie based on the true story of a kid in India who gets lost in a train and suddenly finds himself thousands of kilometers away from home. 25 years later, after being adopted by an Australian couple, he embarks on a journey through his memory and across continents to reconnect with his lost family. Dev Patel plays Saroo, and Nicole Kidman plays his Australian adoptive mother. Two truly amazing performances that will transport you to the time and place of the events, as well as its emotions spanning tear-jerking moments and pure joy. An uplifting, meaningful, and beautiful movie.
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Each episode of Abstract is a look into an art discipline through the lens of a selected contemporary pioneer. From illustration to footwear design, the show follows how the artists create and live, how they got started, etc. The documentary itself is really aesthetically pleasing, which kind of taps into your own creativity. The designers in the series are unknowingly well-known. Does that make sense? You will instantly recognise their work even though you’ve never heard of them before. A light, easy-going and inspirational documentary.
In The Salesman, Oscar-winning director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation, About Elly), tells the story of a happily married couple who live in Tehran: Emad (Shahab Hosseini) and Rana (Taraneh Alidoosti). When they are forced to move to a new apartment, something about the previous tenant causes a sudden eruption of violence that turns their lives upside down, causing strain on their relationship. Farhadi does what he does best here: deliver on complex issues that characterize his society through ordinary events. Every scene is a privileged look into Iran's collective consciousness. And even with all that aside, the film still stands as an extraordinary drama, with a tense plot and amazing performances across the board.
Yes, it is adapted from the book. Now let’s get on to more critical information I can give you as someone who has already watched it: clear up the next 7 hours. I started it at midnight, finished it at 7am. This binge-worthy historical drama tells the story of how the illegitimate son of the richest man in Russia (played by Paul Dano) finds himself in the center of his country’s downfall as it faces another Napoleon invasion. Romance intertwines with war, tragedy and greed. Tolstoy himself (author of the book this series is based on) recognized that the tangled story is not novel-like, “even less is it a poem, and still less a historical chronicle". Directed by Tom Harper (Peaky Blinders), it has an almost obsessive attention to detail that captures the glamor, deceit, and insanity of its time. More importantly, it stays true to the philosophical nature of the written material, and by extension becomes an illustrative work on the human condition in general.
The Salt of the Earth is a 2014 biographical documentary about famed Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado. Directed and narrated by Wim Wenders in collaboration with Salgado’s son, Juliano, the film tells Salgado’s life story from his childhood in northern Brazil, his early career as an economist, and ultimately the shift to photography that would lead him to over 120 countries as a world-renowned photojournalist. Shot in stunning black and white by Juliano and Hugo Barbier, The Salt of the Earth is a mesmerizing exhibition of one man’s lifelong dedication to capturing humanity and nature in remarkable states of peril, compromise and elegance. From the Brazilian gold mine of Serra Pelada to the Yali Tribe of Papua New Guinea to the war-ravaged people of Rwanda (to name just a few), the film follows Salgado’s career through his photography, accompanied by his personal accounts of his many encounters and impressions. It’s Salgado’s grace, empathy and kindness that shine the brightest—remarkable for a man who has seen (and photographed) the worst of humanity over the course of his lifetime. It’s an utterly enthralling experience, upsetting at times in its frank display of war and death, but it ultimately serves as an exemplary presentation of Salgado’s work and his intimate reflections upon a career dedicated to truth, awareness and beauty.
There are movies that make you a bit more mature when you watch them. This movie is one of them. They took very hard and controversial topic, but presented in so you do understand both sides and agree with them. Winner of an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, it tells the true story of a man who spent 28 years campaigning for the right to end his own life. Now you get why I said it was a hard topic, right? It's a heart-wrenching watch to say the least, but thanks to a perfect performance from Javier Bardem the complex story gains such a big grasp that it ends up having uplifting and even funny moments.

domain: library


- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford flubs daylight saving time advice: ‘Turn your clocks back’
- Americans don’t support sending U.S. troops to Ukraine
- Florida lawmakers move to wipe corrupt ‘Boss Hogg’ town from map
- N.C. math whiz to unveil secret of March Madness picks
- An appealing offer: Chiquita merges with Fyffes to make world’s largest banana firm
- Amnesty International says Syria guilty of war crimes for food blockade
- Mitch McConnell on beating tea party: ‘We are going to crush them’
- Adam Lanza’s dad: He would’ve killed me ‘in a heartbeat’
- North Korea holds election: 100% turnout, Kim Jong-un gets — 100% of vote
- Gentlemen, start your drones: Judge’s ruling opens door for commercial use
Pro-life Catholic leader roots for Sotomayor
A prominent pro-life Catholic says he will be quietly rooting for Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court and said she may even be an improvement over retiring Justice David H. Souter - as both sides of the abortion issue try to discern her position.
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said Judge Sotomayor’s record has more bright spots than conservative Catholics can reasonably expect to get from an appointee of President Obama.
“If the Republicans are smart, they would not fight this one,” he told The Washington Times in an interview Thursday.
“I wish I knew more about her. But from what we know, it looks like she’ll be at least a wash with Souter, and maybe we’ll even see improvement.”
Judge Sotomayor’s record on abortion-related cases is thin and tangential. She ruled on the right of pro-life protesters to sue on charges of police brutality and on a challenge to the “Mexico City policy,” which prevented U.S. government funds from going to aid organizations that counsel for or provide abortions.
The White House said that Mr. Obama did not specifically ask her about her views on the issue but that the president is confident she agrees with him on the fundamental constitutional issues.
But pro-choice groups are uncertain about Judge Sotomayor, and this week they called on senators to ask her directly how she would rule on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to an abortion.
“We encourage the Senate Judiciary Committee to engage Judge Sotomayor and any future nominees to the Court on their commitment to the principles of Roe v. Wade,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Anything less threatens not only a woman’s constitutional rights, but her life and health.”
Pro-life groups also said senators should press for answers.
“We believe it is critical that senators thoroughly explore whether Judge Sotomayor believes that Supreme Court justices have the right to override the decisions of elected lawmakers on such issues as partial-birth abortion, tax funding of abortion and parental notification for abortion,” said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee.
In the protester case, she said the pro-lifers had a right to have their police-brutality claims adjudicated by a jury rather than be summarily dismissed.
In the 2002 Mexico City policy case, Judge Sotomayor rejected claims from the Center for Reproductive Rights and its attorneys, based on both appeals court and Supreme Court precedent.
Although the decision didn’t deal with the fundamental constitutional issue of abortion rights, she said in the Mexico City case that the “Supreme Court has made clear that the government is free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position, and can do so with public funds.”
Mr. Obama ended the Mexico City policy soon after taking office this year.
At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs said Mr. Obama did not ask Judge Sotomayor about her views on the legality of abortion but asked her enough to be comfortable that she sees the constitutional issues the same way he does. Mr. Obama is pro-choice.
About the Author
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- Christian film stripped of 'Best Song' Oscar nomination
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- Investigators puzzle: How does a 777 jetliner just disappear into thin air?
- As Crimea falls, Obama takes Key Largo golf vacation, Biden hits Virgin Islands
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Winter storm hits states — again


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1148 Robson Street is centrally located within Vancouver’s renowned Robson Street shopping district. The property enjoys excellent frontage with high pedestrian and vehicular traffic counts year round. Shopping is what Robson Street is famous for. The main retail shopping area starts around Granville Street, which is where you’ll find Nordstrom and the entrance to the Pacific Centre shopping mall,and stretches down to Jervis Street. In between, you’ll find most of the major North American fashion brands, along with a lively mix of sporting goods, accessories, homewares, beauty and wellness purveyors. Area tenants include Eddie Bauer, Guess, Cactus Club, Ladurée, Steve Madden, Nike, Aritzia, Banana Republic, Zara and many more.

domain: geography


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Preliminary Program Grid for Jon Skovron
This is the Preliminary program schedule. Jon Skovron may or may not actually be on these items, but probably will. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, modifications to the program can occur throughout the convention.
|Friday 3:00 pm: "Holy Shuftik!" He Cried. (Ends at: 3:55 pm) Frederick|
Panelists:Jeanne Adams (M), Lawrence M. Schoen, Jon Skovron
How does an author create a distinctive language for characters in the future or in a different world and keep it understandable to the reader? What's the right balance between creating language and making sure the reader can figure it out without a dictionary appendix to the story?
|Friday 4:00 pm: Rituals for Creativity (Ends at: 4:55 pm) Bethesda|
Panelists:Sarah Avery, Will McIntosh (M), Irette Y. Patterson, Jon Skovron
How do you prepare to write each day? Do you have a special space or time of day? Do you need to have a particular snack nearby or listen to just the right music? Authors share their rituals from the ordinary to the strange that help them create the right atmosphere to write.
|Friday 10:00 pm: Don't Go There - Unless You Really Want To… (Ends at: 10:55 pm) Salon A|
Panelists:Jon Skovron (M), Lawrence Watt-Evans
Taboo subjects in fantasy and science fiction. Are there any? What lines won't you cross? What lines should you cross?
|Saturday 11:00 am: Reimagining Fairy Tales (Ends at: 11:55 am) Rockville/ Potomac|
Panelists:Marilyn "Mattie" Brahen, Margaret Ronald, Jon Skovron, Michelle D. Sonnier, A.C. Wise (M)
Who doesn't love a fairy tale retelling? Part of the universal appeal of fairy tales is that they were never a static form, at least not as an oral tradition. Re-tellers have used these archetypes and modes to spin new variations ever since these stories first came to the page. Angela Carter once said that "Ours is a highly individualized culture, with a great faith in the work of art as a unique one-off.... But fairy tales are not like that, and nor are their makers." We can find fresh insight into our own lives and connections through these age old tales. This panel will focus on a variety of approaches in reconstructing fairy tales with a modern bent, both in their favorite respins and in their own work.
|Saturday 4:00 pm: Jon Skovron Reading (Ends at: 4:25 pm) Bethesda|
|Site Design Copyright 2017 Amperzen Design Studios||Page last updated: 10 October 2017|

domain: literature


SpaceX is getting ready to launch a secret satellite to orbit Wednesday night (Nov. 15). (Space.com) More
This RSS feed URL is deprecated, please update. New URLs can be found in the footers at https://news.google.com/news
Posted on 21 April 2018 | 2:51 am | Google News
4 things you need to know about NASA's new planet-hunting satellite
NASA is set to launch its latest satellite, called TESS, aboard a SpaceX rocket with one mission: locate distant worlds that could harbour alien life. NASA has been told it has to wait until 18 April for the launch of its latest satellite – the ...
Posted on 18 April 2018 | 11:08 am | Google News
Investigation into Zuma failure reportedly lays blame on Northrop Grumman
Government investigators have exonerated SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket in the loss of a top secret space mission known as Zuma in January, blaming a malfunction in a component modified by Northrop Grumman that connected the launcher with its classified ...
SpaceX vindicated in failed Zuma mission
Probes Point to Northrop Grumman Errors in January Spy-Satellite Failure
Posted on 9 April 2018 | 4:58 pm | Google News
Air Force Maintains Trust in SpaceX After Secret Zuma Mission: Report
The U.S. Air Force has given SpaceX a qualified vote of confidence in the wake of the presumed loss of the mysterious Zuma satellite, according to Bloomberg News. The news bolsters SpaceX's claim that its Falcon 9 rocket performed just fine during the ...
Air Force stands by SpaceX after failed Zuma mission
After Zuma Debacle, the Air Force Gives Elon Musk Vote of Confidence
So what really happened to that Zuma satellite?
Posted on 23 January 2018 | 11:30 am | Google News
Strange Sky Spiral May Come from Secretive SpaceX Zuma Launch
A pair of spectacular images of an ethereal spiral in the night sky may show the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket after it launched a secret satellite for the U.S. government on Sunday night (Jan. 7). The photos, posted on Twitter, show a ...
After delays, SpaceX set to launch mysterious Zuma mission from Cape Canaveral
Black hole? What happened to this multi-billion-dollar spy satellite?
Did US government's secret Zuma mission fail or not?
Posted on 9 January 2018 | 6:43 pm | Google News
Did SpaceX's secret Zuma mission actually fail?
Late Sunday night, SpaceX appeared to successfully launch a classified satellite named Zuma for some unknown government agency — but it's possible the mysterious spacecraft may have been lost once in space. Rumors started circulating on Monday that ...
SpaceX denies Falcon rocket caused secret Zuma mission failure
SpaceX Launches Secret Zuma Mission for US Government, Lands Rocket
Fate of secret satellite a mystery amid reports of failure
Posted on 9 January 2018 | 12:34 am | Google News
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You might be surprised to know that many typical houseplants sold in floral shops and garden centers are tropical plants. They’re good choices for indoor gardening because of their easy care. That may be a surprise as well, but most of them have the same basic needs as other house plants. Let’s look at some popular types and how to best care for them.
Popular types of tropical plants
If you look up how many different types of tropical plants there are, you’re likely to find hundreds. These are some of the most common ones found at your local floral shop.
- Palm plants
- Spider plants
- ZZ plants
- Chinese evergreen
- Dumb cane
- Money tree plant
- Rubber tree plant
- Peace Lily
- Bamboo plants
Properly Watering Tropical Plants
The proper way to water any plant is to get information from your local florist, then do some research on your own, keeping in mind the environment in which it will live. Special care depends on the type of plant and its placement in your home.
As with any houseplant, finding the right moisture is tricky, but most tropical plants like soil that stays evenly moist. Some common house plants can tolerate being occasionally underwatered, but the number one cause of death for tropical plants is overwatering. It’s important to monitor watering them to avoid extremes.
The easiest way to see if a plant needs water is to stick your finger into the soil about an inch. If the soil feels wet, then it doesn’t need to be watered. Check daily and the plant will eventually tell you it needs water.
If you tend to forget watering your plants, indoor plant watering devices help make watering tropical plants easier. If you’re unsure about watering houseplants correctly, a soil moisture gauge is another handy device. It could go hand in hand with a watering device.
Keeping Humidity Levels Just Right.
The humidity level in your home is another factor in properly caring for tropical plants. Tropical plants like it humid, which makes sense, considering they originally come from the tropics. Most common tropical houseplants will easily adapt to living indoors where the air isn’t naturally humid.
Keep in mind, however, some plants are more sensitive to a lack of humidity than others. So, humidifying the air never hurts. Increasing the humidity of your home using a humidifier near them is one way to introduce a moist climate. You can also simply mist them regularly with a plant mister. Another method is to put the plants on a bed of pebbles in a try with water. A bed of pebbles can make an attractive presentation while being practical. If you choose this method, keep the water level just below the pebbles so the roots don’t constantly sit in the water.
Other ways to keep humidity optimal are decorative plant cloches or mini greenhouses. An indoor humidity monitor kept near your tropical plants can give you an idea about whether to adjust humidity levels.
Providing Proper Light to Tropical Plants
Tropical plant types vary in their requirements for light: some require little, and some are best kept in bright light. Get tips from your florist and ask to see how they display theirs. Do research into the plants you’ve selected so you can adapt the home environment to the plants you’ve chosen.
For instance, if you put a plant that prefers low light in a sunny window, its leaves will burn, and the plant might die. On the other hand, growing houseplants like croton, rubber tree, and some varieties of dracaena without sufficient light, makes them long and leggy rather than lush. They’ll also lose their attractive colors.
If your plants have burnt leaves, move them out of direct sunlight. And if your light-craving plants produce the mentioned results, move them to a sunnier spot. If one’s not available or practical, add indoor plant lights.
Choosing the Best Soil
When it comes to indoor houseplants, sometimes dirt isn’t just dirt. But when it comes to growing indoor tropical plants, most of them will grow just fine in a general-purpose potting soil. If you usually end up overwatering plants, try adding perlite or pumice to the soil. They have the quality of filtering and draining so water leaves the soil quicker. Ask your florist about mixing the right percentages of perlite-to-soil.
On the other hand, if you often forget to water your plants, mix peat moss or vermiculite into the general-purpose soil before potting plants to help retain moisture longer. You can add both, but again, be sure of the proper mix of peat and vermiculite to potting soil.
Some exotic plants, like bromeliads and orchids, do require special soil, so be sure to do a bit of research for the types of indoor plants you’re growing before repotting them.
Fertilizing Tropical Plants
A regular routine of fertilization is part of tropical houseplant care. Be sure to find the proper fertilizer for your plants and add it during the spring and summer months. Winter fertilization is only for plants that require it and the difference in seasons for each type of plant is good advice to get from your florist.
While a tropical plant fertilizer is ideal, general-purpose fertilizers work fine. Using organic plant fertilizer on tropical plants is good for some because of sensitivities to chemical fertilizers, making them burn easily. Another great choice is a compost fertilizer. Pre-made compost liquid fertilizers are available or buy compost tea bags and brew your own. Slow-release granular fertilizer also works great.
A Quick Tip When Starting Out
Your local florist shop is the best place to find not only some of the tropical plant varieties mentioned here, but expert knowledge in caring for them. Ask your florist for help and get to know them. When you’re serious about caring for your plants, your florist takes you seriously.
As you can see, tropical plants don’t have to be hard to care for while adding beauty and life to your home. They might become one of your favorite types of indoor plants because who doesn’t want to add a little bit of the tropics to home sweet home?
Next time, we’ll help you troubleshoot problems in growing tropical house plants.

domain: hobby


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Buy it Again
Skhis Chicken Coconut - 11 Oz
Chicken Coconut Curry, with Naan Bread & Basmati Rice
Tender white chicken in a creamy spiced coconut sauce. 34 g protein per serving. Certified Halal (Certified by The Islamic Services of America). Naan bread included. Irresistible Indian cuisine. Chicken used in raised with no antibiotics ever, no added hormones (Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in poultry), no preservatives added. Fully cooked. Our Chicken Coconut Curry is bursting with coastal flavors from South India. This smooth, rich curry has the perfect amount of heat, balanced with creamy coconut milk and tangy tomatoes. Serve with warm Naan bread and Basmati rice. There are two types of people: people who love Indian cuisine and the people who just haven't tried it yet. Come into my kitchen and fall in love. - Sukhi Singh. Inspected for wholesomeness by U.S. Department of Agriculture. www.sukhis.com. Follow us! Facebook. Instagram. Pinterest. Twitter. For more products and serving ideas: www.sukhis.com. Made in the U.S.A. Product of U.S.A.
|Serving size||9 ONZ|
|Servings Per Container||1|
|Amount Per Serving||(+)|
|Calories from Fat||(-)||(-)|
|Calories from Saturated Fat|
|% Daily Value*|
|Total Fat 12g||18%||9%|
|Saturated Fat 66||30%||0%|
|Trans Fat 0|
|Total Carbohydrate 33g||11%||10%|
|Dietary Fiber 3g||12%||4%|
|Total Sugars 4g|
|Added Sugars (-)|
|(-) Information is currently not available for this nutrient.|
|* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs**.|
|** Percent Daily Values listed below are intended for adults and children over 4 years of age. Foods represented or purported to be for use by infants, children less than 4 years of age, pregnant women, or lactating women shall use the RDI’s that are specified for the intended group provided by the FDA.|
|Total Fat||Less than||65g||80g|
|Sat. Fat||Less than||20g||25g|
|Calories per gram:|
Chicken Coconut Curry: White Chicken, Coconut Curry Sauce [Coconut Milk (Coconut Extract, Water), Water, Tomato Paste, Rice Flour, Coconut, Cane Sugar, Vinegar, Expeller Pressed Canola Sauce Contains 2% or Less of: Curry Paste (Lemongrass, Spices, Garlic, Shallot, Salt, Kaffir Lime Peel Turmeric), Garlic, Black Mustard Seed, Lentil Flour, Paprika, Potato Flakes, Ginger, Spice, Turmeric, Garlic Powder, Salt, Curry Leaves], Water, Sugar, Salt, Rice: Water, Basmati Rice, Naan: Raw Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Folic Acid), Water, Yeast, Sugar, Canola Oil, Salt.
Warning Contains: Contains: tree nut (coconut), wheat.
Directions Heating Instructions: Microwave (1200 watt): microwave cook times may vary depending on oven wattage: 1. Remove tray from carton and puncture film 2 to 3 times. 2. Heat on high for 2 minutes. 3. Carefully peel back film enough to gently stir sauce. 4. Heat for an additional 1 minute or until heated through. 5. Carefully remove film and serve. Naan: Remove naan from bag and cook on high for 15 seconds. Conventional oven: 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 2. Remove entree from carton and cut out plastic film from tray. 3. Cover with foil. 1. Place tray on baking sheet and bake for 35 - 40 minutes. Keep frozen.
About the Producer Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Foods
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domain: food


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https://i2.wp.com/www.knotsewgranny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/DSC_0006-3.jpg?fit=659%2C298 298 659 Annabelle http://www.knotsewgranny.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/knotsewgrannylogoPNG.png Annabelle2019-01-02 06:19:372019-01-27 22:49:23Wattlebird Top
With the arrival of summer this top has very very quickly become a favourite in my wardrobe. The linen and loose fit means that it holds almost no heat, making this perfect for hot summer days. I made this top by modifying the Wattlebird Jumpsuit by Common Stitch. It's made in a linen blend my mum bought me from the fabric store earlier in the year.


On May 12, 2022, Google’s DeepMind released Gato, which they described as a “generalist agent.” They were able to use a single transformer architecture to train an agent that could perform 600 different tasks including captioning images, playing video games, and moving real robotic arms.
In my opinion, this does seem like it could be a path towards a kind of general AI. There are some serious limitations that will prevent it from being the kind of intelligence that humans possess. One limitation is that it will be a single thread for sequential action. Human intelligence involves multiple sequential threads.
Transformers can likely be used to do some “thinking,” but the symbolic output needs to be transformed by a different kind of network into a parallel program for execution (consider the diffusion model of DALL-E 2). This would be akin to the motor system in the human brain. It would also be necessary to provide an embedding for time so that the model can output symbolic time data to help in the formulation of the action plan.
Gato seems like a fruitful first step in building more general agents, and we can be certain that scaling it to a high number of parameters will provide impressive results.


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Bodega Santa Cruz de Alpera closes its Asian tour successfully
Bodega Santa Cruz de Alpera continues consolidating their wines in the Asian market. Last week, our sales team made a tour in which they visited three countries of Asia: Singapore, Japan and Taiwan.
Our team has assessed in a very «positive and optimistic» way the work that has been done in these three countries of the region, in which we have maintained contact with regular customers, while we have held meetings with clients interested in our wines.
The next international stop of Bodega Santa Cruz de Alpera will be in Europe. We will be in the tenth edition of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (Amsterdam), on November 26 and 27, where our winery will have its own stand to present all the wines at the most important bulk wine fair in the world.


How does bike shocks work?
- How do bike shocks work?
- How do I know if my bike shocks are working?
- Do bike shocks wear out?
- Do bike shocks need maintenance?
- What does a piggyback shock do?
- Is air forks better than coil?
- How do you know if you blew a mountain bike shock?
- How do I fix my bike suspension?
- Is it possible to use WD-40 on bike forks?
- Can you use GT85 on a bike?
- Can I use a spray on my bike suspension?
- Do I need a shock?
- An inline shock is what it is
- What is a rear shock?
- What is a fork?
- Where does fork oil go?
A small hole is created when the shock absorber is compressed. The energy needed to force the fluid through the orifice is converted to heat in the oil.
How do bike shocks work?
Allowing the sprung wheel to ride up and down over bumps saved the rider. The rear shock provides two basic functions: Supporting the weight of the rear of the bike and controlling the suspension's up-and-down movement.
How do I know if my bike shocks are working?
Weird noises coming from the shocks and forks. This is a sign that it may need to be replaced. The damper oil needs to be replaced if the rear shocks are slurping or swishing.
Do bike shocks wear out?
It's time to replace coil springs if they start to get shorter over time. The Springs on a MTB are not that stressed and should last a long time.
Do bike shocks need maintenance?
RockShox recommends that the fork lowers and shock air be serviced every 50 riding hours, and that a complete overhaul be done between 100 and 200 hours depending on the model of your fork. The basic air can service involves replacing the air sleeve seals and float fluid.
What does a piggyback shock do?
By keeping the IFP and damper charge away from the main body of the shock, heat build up over a long descent isn't as much of an issue.
Is air forks better than coil?
A number of mountain bikers have converted their air suspension forks into coal forks because of the advantages of coil forks. The main advantage of coil forks is the ride that they provide, coil forks are smooth, and provide greater performance where maximum travel is important.
How do you know if you blew a mountain bike shock?
Your shock needs to be rebuilt if there is any whooshing noise during the compression or rebound. It has a bad air. The shock is most likely blown if you have been riding it for longer than a season or two.
How do I fix my bike suspension?
To encourage the oil to lubricate the upper bushes and the seals in the fork leg, it is helpful to turn the fork upside down. Allow 20 minutes for the oil to run down into the seals after you turn your bike upside down.
Is it possible to use WD-40 on bike forks?
It should only be used to free up frozen parts that have been abused. It can be used as a degreaser on bearings. Keep your bike away from the garage. No 3 in 1 oil is one of the better products to use on your bike.
Can you use GT85 on a bike?
Instead of cleaning your seals, they will wash away the grease under the seals, letting dirt in much more easily, even if you are careful.
Can I use a spray on my bike suspension?
It doesn't lubricate much of anything. It will remove lubricant from bicycle chains, cables and other pivot joints. If you are cleaning your chain with a product other than WD-40, you should use it.
Do I need a shock?
If you do shuttle runs more than three times a year, don't bother to switch the shock to Pedal or Lock, or if racing to the top of the hill isn't at all your thing, Boobar suggests you upgrade to a piggyback-style shock.
An inline shock is what it is
Inline style shocks use an internal floating piston. The rubber bladder is used to separate the damper oil from the gas chamber. This is a unique feature for a shock.
What is a rear shock?
There are two telescopic tubes which slide into each other, housed by the shock body. As with a front suspension, rear shocks can be air or coil sprung, come in different shaft diameters and feature a large amount of tuning and adjustability to suit rider's demands.
What is a fork?
A lockout is a small switch on the front stanchion of your mountain bike's suspension that decreases the low speed compression rate of the front fork.
Where does fork oil go?
A tube inside each fork leg has holes and chambers that control the movement of the oil. The owner's manual will give you information on how much oil is in each leg and what grade or weight of oil should be used.


text:
38 U.S. Code § 3680A - Disapproval of enrollment in certain courses
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(a) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in—
(2) any sales or sales management course which does not provide specialized training within a specific vocational field;
(3) any type of course which the Secretary finds to be avocational or recreational in character (or the advertising for which the Secretary finds contains significant avocational or recreational themes) unless the veteran submits justification showing that the course will be of bona fide use in the pursuit of the veteran’s present or contemplated business or occupation; or
(b) Except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in this title or chapter 106 of title 10, the Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in any course of flight training other than one given by an educational institution of higher learning for credit toward a standard college degree the eligible veteran is seeking.
(c) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in any course to be pursued by radio.
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of any eligible veteran, not already enrolled, in any course for any period during which the Secretary finds that more than 85 percent of the students enrolled in the course are having all or part of their tuition, fees, or other charges paid to or for them by the educational institution or by the Department of Veterans Affairs under this title or under chapter 106 of title 10. The Secretary may waive the requirements of this subsection, in whole or in part, if the Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, it to be in the interest of the eligible veteran and the Federal Government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any course offered by an educational institution if the total number of veterans and persons receiving assistance under this chapter or chapter 30, 31, 32, or 35 of this title or under chapter 106 of title 10 who are enrolled in such institution equals 35 percent or less, or such other percent as the Secretary prescribes in regulations, of the total student enrollment at such institution (computed separately for the main campus and any branch or extension of such institution), except that the Secretary may apply the provisions of this subsection with respect to any course in which the Secretary has reason to believe that the enrollment of such veterans and persons may be in excess of 85 percent of the total student enrollment in such course.
(e) The Secretary may not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course not leading to a standard college degree offered by a proprietary profit or proprietary nonprofit educational institution if—
(2) the course is offered at a branch of the educational institution and the branch has been operating for less than two years; or
(3) following either a change in ownership or a complete move outside its original general locality, the educational institution does not retain substantially the same faculty, student body, and courses as before the change in ownership or the move outside the general locality (as determined in accordance with regulations the Secretary shall prescribe) unless the educational institution following such change or move has been in operation for at least two years.
(f) The Secretary may not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course as a part of a program of education offered by an educational institution if the course is provided under contract by another educational institution or entity and—
(1) the Secretary would be barred under subsection (e) from approving the enrollment of an eligible veteran in the course of the educational institution or entity providing the course under contract; or
(g) Notwithstanding subsections (e) and (f)(1), the Secretary may approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course approved under this chapter if the course is offered by an educational institution under contract with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security and is given on or immediately adjacent to a military base, Coast Guard station, National Guard facility, or facility of the Selected Reserve.
Source(Added Pub. L. 102–568, title III, § 313(a)(2),Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4331; amended Pub. L. 104–275, title I, §§ 103(a)(2), (b), 104 (c),Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3326, 3327; Pub. L. 105–114, title IV, § 401(d), (e),Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2293; Pub. L. 105–368, title X, § 1005(b)(9),Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3365; Pub. L. 107–103, title I, § 111(a),Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 986; Pub. L. 107–296, title XVII, § 1704(d),Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2315.)
2002—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 107–296substituted “of Homeland Security” for “of Transportation”.
2001—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 107–103inserted “(A)” after “leading” and “, or (B) to a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning” before period at end.
1998—Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 105–368struck out “section” before “subsection (g)”.
1997—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–114, § 401(d), inserted “(including open circuit television)” before “leading to a standard”.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 105–114, § 401(e), substituted “subsections (e) and (f)(1)” for “subsections (e) and (f)”.
1996—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 104–275, § 104(c), substituted “radio.” for “radio or by open circuit television, except that the Secretary may approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course, to be pursued in residence, leading to a standard college degree which includes, as an integral part thereof, subjects offered through open circuit television.”
Subsec. (d)(2)(C). Pub. L. 104–275, § 103(a)(2), substituted “subsection (g)” for “3689(b)(6) of this title”.
Subsecs. (e) to (g). Pub. L. 104–275, § 103(b), added subsecs. (e) to (g).
Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 107–296effective on the date of transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security, see section 1704(g) ofPub. L. 107–296, set out as a note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Effective Date of 2001 Amendment
Pub. L. 107–103, title I, § 111(b),Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 987, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to enrollments in independent study courses beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 27, 2001].”
Section not applicable to any person receiving educational assistance for pursuit of an independent study program in which the person was enrolled on Oct. 29, 1992, for as long as such person is continuously thereafter so enrolled and meets requirements of eligibility for such assistance, see section 313(b) ofPub. L. 102–568, set out as a note under section 16136 of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468 (b), 551 (d), 552 (d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.

domain: politics


Yesterday, I speculated on some of the possible reasons why Sen. Judd Gregg would make the puzzling decision to give up his Senate seat and put Republicans in a precarious position for a meaningless cabinet post. But for President Obama, this was an absolutely brilliant political move. After Bill Richardson was forced to withdraw his nomination as Commerce Secretary due to an investigation, the post became a huge headache for the new administration. Yet somehow, Obama managed to turn the position into pure gold. By appointing Gregg, it means that in the best case scenario for Republicans, a conservative Senator will be replaced by a moderate who will be vulnerable for reelection in 2010. And Obama gets to weaken the Republican caucus in the Senate while at the same time appearing bipartisan by having appointed a conservative to fill a cabinet position. It’s stunning that Gregg would agree to this, but demonstrates once again how creative and politically savvy Obama is.


text:
Farming can make a big difference in the carbon footprint of a farm, but it’s also the source of the most trouble.
Here’s how to find out.
Pick a good location to farmIn many cases, farmers will just choose to farm in a place that offers good farmland.
That’s usually the best option for a farm like a farm with lots of potential for growing crops, which means it’s a good place to start.
But there’s a reason for that: farmers can’t farm in the same spot for all of their crops.
This is the case with a lot of farms, like the one I grew my grain in on.
A few years ago, I decided to buy some land and try to grow my own tomatoes, which is the easiest way to do it.
I was able to do so because I was willing to pay a bit more for my farmland than others.
Choose a good growing areaYou may be surprised to find that a lot is actually wasted in the first place.
If you’re growing tomatoes in a small backyard, you probably don’t need to worry about soil or water quality.
But if you grow them all in a large, well-maintained farm, then you may need to.
Some of the best growing areas in the world are located in the tropics and subtropics, which tend to have more acidic soil, and those soils have a lot more nutrients in them.
It’s also easier to cultivate vegetables in the hot, dry, windy climate of the South American rainforest, where there are more plants to grow.
And because of these factors, many tropical farming areas have more fertile soil.
Choose an organic soilWhen it comes to growing vegetables, most people will choose an organic farm soil because it’s the best, most environmentally friendly option for growing vegetables.
But you shouldn’t let that deter you from growing your own vegetables.
Organic farming has been around for a while, and the growing of organic vegetables has become increasingly popular in recent years.
But the benefits of organic farming are much more important than the costs.
Organic crops tend to be much smaller in size, which helps to reduce the amount of nutrients in the soil, making it more resilient to drought and pests.
Get your soil testedWhen it’s time to pick your soil for growing your vegetables, there are several steps you should take to make sure it’s actually a good choice.
First, you need to test it for bacteria.
You can test it by soaking it in water for a few hours, and then it will absorb all the bacteria it can.
If it doesn’t, then there’s probably something wrong with it.
Once you’ve confirmed that it’s good for growing a healthy crop, you can add organic fertilizer to it.
The more organic fertilizer you add, the better it will be for your soil.
You should also add organic fertilizers for every other plant in your yard, because they will help keep it healthier.
Add fertilizer before you beginThere’s a whole range of fertilizers that you can use for vegetables, but here are some recommended options: organic manure is one of the simplest ways to get started.
It doesn’t require any chemicals, but just like manure from a cow, it’s not the easiest to manage.
Organic manure is also a good source of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
And organic fertilizer can be used with most garden and garden supplies.
For larger plants, consider using synthetic fertilizer instead of manure.
Synthetic fertilizer is a synthetic chemical that doesn’t contain pesticides or herbicides.
However, it can be difficult to control the weeds that may be growing on it, so you may want to test the soil to make certain it’s organic before you start using it. 6.
Don’t add fertilizers at the same timeAs with organic manure, it may be best to add fertilisers at the very beginning of your planting season.
To get started, just add a few drops to your soil in a bucket, and leave it there for a week or two.
This way, you won’t add too much fertilizer.
And by adding fertilizer before your plants start growing, you’ll have a good foundation for growing veggies in a healthy way.
Keep your fertilizer in a bottleWhen you’re ready to plant your own veggies, it makes sense to get your fertilizer out of the can before you do.
But this isn’t always the best idea.
You may want your fertilizer to be in a plastic bag.
The plastic is a good option for keeping your fertilizer away from water, but keep in mind that a plastic container may not last forever.
If your compost is in a landfill, your compost may get lost.
Use fertilizer that’s organic for vegetables It’s important to check the label of any fertilizer you buy.
Organic fertilizer is made of organic chemicals, which are safe for human consumption.
Organic fertilizers are often the cheapest option when it comes time to buy a container of fertilizer.
They’re easy to find, and


The families of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy actually see no reason to change the ceremony they have been having. I wouldn't do it for Fox News, CNN, or any media outlet either.
In year one, they missed their family members. In year two, they missed their family members. For 9 straight years they have missed their family members, each differently, each uniquely.
I am happy I have forgotten the date my father died. Unfortunately, my mother died on Christmas Day, so it is not so easy. I wonder, are there any family members of 9/11 victims who happened to have birthdays on September 11? Or are there any family's with wedding anniversaries on that date?
Because my mother died on Christmas Day, I didn't celebrate Christmas for a long time. It took a special effort to rehabilitate the holiday. I'm very happy I finally made the effort.
10th anniversary ceremonies are not usually thought of for dates upon which a family member died. Isn't it the same as anniversary number 9? Is it any different from day 987? But this 9/11 anniversary is different for the networks of the news cycle. Perhaps this is the real problem. It is money to some.
Someone posted a Budweiser commercial on Facebook that was "only shown 1 time." The horses bow near the New York skyline, then "Budweiser" is emblazoned across the screen. "Only shown 1 time" leads to the mystique but I sincerely doubt that Budweiser did not consider the possible viral distribution, or the legend of their ad. "Budweiser" not an "anonymous" "We will never forget" or something. The Clydesdales were plenty recognizable.
Death is something very personal and it doesn't do well with cameras. The first responders whose colleagues died in the September 11 attacks can really choose another day or spot for their ceremony. Perhaps they might meet at Central Park. That is very big and a New York icon.
But the families of the victims, which include the families of first responders who died, should have the peace and solemnity that they have had for 9 years. And they should have their spot on the map if they want it. After all, there are many empty graves.
I wouldn't want to attend such an event, I don't think. And I am so blessed that my Mother and Father's deaths are not linked to the retaliatory killing of 100's of thousands of other innocents.


text:
Colorful, Interactive, & Semi-Functional
The Gray Muse Color Wheel Enamel Keychain is an ideal present for yourself or the creative person. This vivid and colorful keychain is interactive and semi-functional and meant for pure enjoyment. Use it as a traditional key chain or a zipper pull on your notions pouch. However, it is not intended to replace conventional educational color wheels.

domain: artistic


text:
Narrow Results Clear All
Search results for "Nurses"
Journal Article > Commentary
Intrahospital transport to the radiology department: risk for adverse events, nursing surveillance, utilization of a MET and practice implications.
Ott LK, Hoffman LA, Hravnak M. J Radiol Nurs. 2011;30:49-52.
This commentary discusses issues surrounding inpatient transitions and offers recommendations for nurses involved in transport to improve safety.
Journal Article > Study
Gazarian PK, Henneman EA, Chandler GE. Clin Nurs Res. 2010;19:21-37.
This qualitative study explored the cues that nurses use to determine when a patient's clinical condition is worsening, with specific attention to factors influencing nurses' decisions to obtain assistance from the rapid response team or call a "code blue." Rather than relying on specific vital sign abnormalities, nurses relied on a combination of clinical findings (such as altered mental status), help from other experienced nurses, and their prior knowledge of the patient's baseline condition to determine when urgent physician assessment was needed. The study reveals the importance of a positive safety culture in ensuring that frontline staff feel empowered to enlist additional help when necessary.

domain: medical


text:
Qaddafi’s Relatives Arrive in Algeria
(Corrects spelling of Qaddafi’s wife in second paragraph. See EXTRA for more on the conflict.)
The family members include his wife Safia, his daughter Aisha, and two sons, Hannibal and Mohammad, with their wives and children, state-run Algérie Presse Service reported today, citing a statement by the country’s foreign ministry. NTC Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon have been informed of their arrival, the statement said.
Rebels have been trying to find Muammar Qaddafi, consolidate gains and bring stability to the country since entering Tripoli last week, backed by airstrikes from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The rebel council moved its headquarters to the capital from Benghazi on Aug. 24.
Algeria has adhered to a policy of “strict neutrality” throughout the Libya crisis and respects “the decision of every person under its sovereignty,” Foreign Minister Amar Belan said in a statement published on the ministry website Aug. 27. Algeria has no intention to “interfere in any manner whatsoever in the internal affairs” of Libya.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: news


A Wakefield-based tech business which promises mission critical transport management and eProcurement software has secured £3 million to accelerate development and scale up.
Led by founder & CEO Sarah Fatchett, former Operations Director for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, 365 Response has created the first integrated digital platform that supports the buying, booking and delivery of vital patient and home-to-school transport services.
The business provides a specialist transport management service for councils and the NHS, and also has a standalone software platform that facilitates social prescribing.
The 365 Smart Platform is currently used by a range of organisations from ambulance trusts and local authority councils, to smaller private transport and wellbeing providers, and is helping to support the mobility needs of some of the most vulnerable members of society.
With growing momentum being seen across the business, the investment from growth capital investor BGF will be used to accelerate the development of the technology platform and support the scale up of 365’s commercial and operational teams.
Ms Fatchett said: “When we started the business there were clear gaps in how special needs schools and hospitals were managing transport services.
“Our business is based on getting care to people who need it as quickly and efficiently as possible and this investment is going to fast track the roll out of our technology while also expanding the team to make that vision a reality.
“BGF clearly understood our mission and the pressing need for a technology-based solution to make specialist transport services as efficient as possible.”
Rob Johnson, an investor at BGF led the deal with Barry Jackson, said: “We are excited to be working with 365 Response. This is a highly experienced team, with a well-thought out product that fulfils a clear and increasing demand for smart, compliant, and affordable transport services to both councils and the NHS.”


MOUNT OLIVE TWP. A bitter legal battle fought by the township clerk to win back pay has passed the final legal hurdle as the state Supreme Court has re fused to hear the case. The latest ruling means that the clerk, Lisa Lashway, is entitled to a retro active pay raise of $760 per year over her $59,000 salary for the last three years, totaling about $2,280. Lashway said the pay increase is dwarfed by her legal bill of $12,000 and that she will be requesting the Township Council to reimburse all or part of the costs.
"I'm relieved it's over," Lashway said. "But I feel my $12,000 legal bill is
a terrible thing to leave someone after fighting for what was right."
Lashway had initially lost her case in Superior Court but was successful on appeal. The Municipal Excess Liability fund, which insures the township against
suits by employees, subsequently asked the Supreme Court to consider the case.
A brief statement from Chief Justice Deborah T. Poritz was issued on Friday, denying the request for Supreme Court review.
Lashway had sued the Township Council in May, claiming she deserved the same 4.5 percent pay raise as union employees received. Lashway had been granted a 3
Superior Court Judge Reginald Stanton ruled that Lashway had not filed her complaint within the required 45 day deadline to challenge municipal decisions.
But an appellate panel reversed Stanton's ruling, saying the unfairness of the issue was more important than adhering to the 45-day rule.
James Higgins, an attorney representing the Municipal Excess Liability Fund, said the sanctity of the 45-day rule was vital because it allowed municipalities to make financial decisions after 45 days without fear they would be challenged.
Township Attorney John Dorsey, who also is the legal counsel for the Municipal Excess Liability, had supported the appeal to the Supreme Court.
In her suit, Lashway claimed that she was bypassed for the raise not long after
she complained that Dorsey had made derogatory comments at a holiday party for municipal employees.
Council members had objected to extending the appeal to the Supreme Court. Lashway said she believed the Supreme Court challenge was a "smokescreen" for
attempts to drain her of funds to continue her legal fight.
"I don't think the (Municipal Excess Liability fund) ever took this kind of vindictive action over a municipal employee for $2,400," Lashway said.
Lashway's lawyer, Richard Pompelio of Sparta, said he was not surprised that the high court turned down the review.
"There was no basis to file in the first place," Pompelio said. "They said this was a monumental issue in the area of protecting municipalities over the 45-day rule. Their argument never had merit."
Pompelio said the request to the Supreme Court was made in retaliation for Lashway having won on the appellate level. He said the appellate panel correctly set aside the 45-day rule in Lashway's favor.
"The appellate panel was so taken back by the conduct of the council in the way Lisa was treated," Pompelio said. "This case did not set any precedent."
Higgins did not return a telephone call for comment.
The clerk said she expects Pompelio to request the council to reimburse for the
legal costs. A legal defense fund has been established and about $1,750 has been collected, according to one of its founders, Richard Bonte.
Council Vice President David Scapicchio was among the council members who opposed the Supreme Court review. He said he hasn't considered reimbursing Lashway's legal costs but that the council will review the request. "I'm happy Lisa won this part of the appeal," Scapicchio said. "I was never in favor of the (Municipal Excess Liability fund) filing an appeal. I thought it was a waste of time."


text:
'President T' turns French fuel protests into rant about how ‘badly’ EU treats America
The US president took to Twitter on Sunday to address protests in France over rising fuel costs, which turned violent in Paris and led to tear gas and water cannon being deployed by police.
“The large and violent French protests don’t take into account how badly the United States has been treated on Trade by the European Union or on fair and reasonable payments for our GREAT military protection. Both of these topics must be remedied soon,” he tweeted.
He then went on to toot his own horn for falling oil prices. “Thank you, President T,” he wrote.
So great that oil prices are falling (thank you President T). Add that, which is like a big Tax Cut, to our other good Economic news. Inflation down (are you listening Fed)!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 25, 2018
The internet, unsurprisingly, had a few things to say about his most recent tweets.
You are an amoral monster who thrives on the pain and suffering of others. Astounding how you could turn this unfortunate #Paris chaos into your typical narcissistic “I’m the victim” bullshit. You are so unfit for office is staggering... #Trump— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) November 25, 2018
Not everything in the world is about you or the US.— Lincoln RNW (@Lincoln_WVU) November 25, 2018
Some were left completely blown away as to why Trump was dragging the US and himself into a French domestic matter.
Bizarre. Of course they don't, because these protests have zero to do with the US. They concern France and French citizens— Cynos Argos (@QuestEditor) November 25, 2018
The French are paying over $7 a gallon for gas. It has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.— MikeinAZ (@ClownShow1) November 25, 2018
One person attempted to offer a bit of logic as to why Trump was getting involved.
trump has had so many protests against him since being elected that now he thinks if there's a protest anywhere in the world, there must be a connection to him & something he has done.— danger_pig (@rulerstsd) November 25, 2018
And a French person took to Twitter to point out that while citizens are angry at President Emmanuel Macron, everyone in France seems to at least agree on one thing: “At least we don’t have Trump.”
I don't know why you're talking about something you don't understand, Donald. The French people are mad at Macron and that is our right. But EVERYONE agrees to say "at least, we don't have Trump !". pic.twitter.com/kqs7H7yPtg— Len' 🇫🇷 (@Lenou44000) November 25, 2018
Trump’s tweets come as his relationship with Macron remains at a low point, after Macron announced his support for a European army to protect the continent against the likes of China, Russia, and “even the United States of America.”
The US president responded by slamming Macron and his “low approval rating” on Twitter, and went on to say that Germany (whose chancellor, Angela Merkel, also supports the idea of a European army) was France’s problem during both World Wars – not China, Russia, or America.
The Sunday tweets come just days after Trump was asked a common Thanksgiving question by a reporter: “What are you thankful for?” His answer was, well, himself.
“I’ve made a tremendous difference in the country,” he confidently told reporters.
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text:
- Common Name:
- Dog Snapper
- Scientific Name:
- Lutjanus jocu
- Group Name:
- 24 inches
- IUCN Red List Status:
- Data deficient
- Current Population Trend:
These tough-looking fish boast large canine teeth, set in their upper jaws, which are visible even when their mouths are closed. Smaller fish often fall victim to the dog snapper's powerful bite, as do shrimp, crabs, and other bottom-dwelling creatures.
Habitat and Range
Adult dog snappers prowl rocky seafloors and reefs at average depths of about 100 feet. Their turf includes the western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to Florida and, more rarely, north to Massachusetts.
The dog snapper is a bit of a lone wolf and tends to keep to itself most of the year. All that changes in March, however, when the fish gather in large groups to reproduce at spawning sites in the northeastern Caribbean and near the island of Jamaica.
Snappers may travel large distances to reach these spots. Once there they mingle en masse to release sperm (males) and eggs (females) into the sea. The eggs, and later the hatched larvae, are left to drift, and many individuals are devoured—but good numbers survive to eventual adulthood. Vulnerable young dog snappers tend to stay closer to shore and are often found swimming in estuaries.
Several things still puzzle scientists studying spawning aggregations, including how the fish choose these special sites and find their way back to them year after year. The fish do return, however, with amazing attention to both time and place.
Though this species is formidable it’s not the top dog in the neighborhood. Adults fall victim to larger hunters like sharks and groupers, while tiny larvae are far more vulnerable and consumed with relish by all manner of marine creatures. Humans also prey on dog snappers because they are considered a quality meal—though one that sometimes requires caution. Some diners have experienced mild poisonings from the consumption of dog snapper.
The fish produce no poison but may build up harmful levels of ciguatera as that toxin works its way up the marine food chain. Ciguatera is created by dinoflagellates, tiny microalgae that reside on dead corals or algae. When smaller, herbivorous fish snap up the coral and algae they also ingest this toxin and pass it along in turn to any dog snappers, which prey upon them.
But dog snappers and other aggregating reef fish have far more to fear from humans than vice versa. Because fishermen know exactly where and when to find huge numbers of these fish, the snappers are vulnerable to overharvesting—at the exact time of year when the survival of a new generation hangs in the balance.
Dog snappers and their relatives can be protected by banning or limiting fishing at known spawning sites and during prime spawning periods.

domain: biology


text:
Tags: ISO certification
K-Tec Earthmovers Inc., a supplier of heavy-duty earthmoving scrapers for the construction and mining industries, announced that it has achieved ISO 9001:2008 Certification. Quality testing, standardized processes, and a focus on customer satisfaction are several of the compliances that K-Tec instituted to ...
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Yorkshire 51-1 v Nottinghamshire: Vaughan stands up to the early threat of Sidebottom and Broad
Thursday 01 May 2008
Were he Yorkshire's captain, Michael Vaughan might have come up with several reasons not to bat first here yesterday, among them the prospect of exposing his lack of runs so far this season to the twin threat of Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad.
No two England bowlers shone more during the winter, and given that nothing excites an England bowler more than a chance to embarrass their international captain, Darren Gough seemed to be asking for trouble by inviting Nottinghamshire to bowl first, especially – after a delayed start – in conditions unlikely to favour the batsman.
So it was probably with some satisfaction that Vaughan left the field unscathed after the two hours' play possible, having faced 81 balls for his 25 runs with a couple of streaky moments but no major alarms.
Sidebottom, who needs to impress no one, did so anyway, opening his new ball spell at the Kirkstall Lane with seven consecutive maidens. Broad appealed loudly for leg before against Vaughan in his first over and tried hard to look menacing after every delivery.
On his Championship debut for Nottinghamshire, Broad may feel he is measuring himself against Matthew Hoggard, whom he displaced from the England side in New Zealand, and made his case for a recall with eight wickets against Hampshire last week.
Mark Ealham took the wicket to fall, beating Joe Sayers' defensive push to bowl the opener off an inside edge.
How Liverpool can catch Manchester United and secure Champions League football next season
Arsenal transfer news: Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini set for showdown summer talks over future
Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger reveals: 'We are not close to signing anybody. We need to lose some players'
Danny Jones: Keighley Cougars half-back dies after cardiac arrest during league game
Chelsea season player ratings: Grading the entire squad of the new Premier League champions
- 2 How the language you speak changes your view of the world
- 3 Russell Brand backs Ed Miliband: 'You gotta vote Labour'
- 4 General Election 2015: 14-year-old boy asks Nick Clegg – 'can you kill Katie Hopkins?'
Over 50,000 families shipped out of London boroughs in the past three years due to welfare cuts and soaring rents
EU asylum policy is 'a direct threat to our civilisation', says Nigel Farage
The Rothschild Libel: Why has it taken 200 years for an anti-Semitic slur that emerged from the Battle of Waterloo to be dismissed?
General Election 2015: UK will be 'run for the wealthy and powerful' if Tories retain power, Labour warns
In defence of liberal democracy
Schools forced to act as 'miniature welfare states' with teachers buying underwear and even haircuts for poor pupils


Continuing my return to the albums that have shaped my listening over the years (and this is a series that could run and run), I’ve grabbed two albums with something in common: both are live albums, and each was the album that drew me in to the rest of the band’s music — maybe not the usual way it goes.
First of the two is Hell Freezes Over, by The Eagles, titled with a cute reference to the band’s assertion that they would play together again “when hell freezes over.” :-/ The disc is a recording, for MTV, of the reunion gig 14 years after they disbanded in 1980, with four new studio tracks making up the numbers.
The Eagles made their name with an easy-going kind of country rock, and that’s the dominant style on this disc. Even the songs from their later, harder days maintain the easy vibe.
Standout moments are the acoustic duelling of “Hotel California”, an epic “The Last Resort” and a plaintive yet hopeful “Desperado”. Few of the arrangements are very different from the studio versions in the back catalogue, but there’s something in the delivery that feels a little more mellow, a little more grown-up and weary. All this combined makes Hell Freezes Over my favourite Eagles record and one I’m glad to have dug out again. I’m still listening to it.


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You are in Santiago de Chile, the weather is fine and you want to take a leisurely stroll in a picturesque, fun area with all kinds of cool places to eat something delicious or enjoy a refreshing drink to brighten the morning. You ask in your hotel or anyone you meet walking down the street, and all recommend you go to the same place: the always lively neighborhood of Bellavista.
Why is this neighborhood so fashionable? Well, we’ll begin by pointing out that it is the quintessential bohemian neighborhood in Santiago de Chile, and that it’s perfect for spending the day strolling among its streets flanked by colonial buildings in beautiful pastel colors and glorious murals and street art. It has a joyous atmosphere full of good vibes and the desire to have fun.
In fact, the most impressive characteristic of the Bellavista neighborhood is its striking architecture, one that could actually be considered an open-air museum where a sense of peaceful tranquility reigns constantly. And you will find lots of things to do in Bellavista, whether you want to immerse yourself in culture or to bar-hop until late in the evening. That’s because as the lights of the bars in Bellavista turn on at night, the funs begins, often lasting until the next morning.
If you’d like to know a bit more about the history of this neighborhood, you can always visit the House of Pablo Neruda, which today is a museum open to the public. The most interesting things in this place are the objects that the famed poet collected as a result of his travels, and that are now shown as witnesses to his life in the old house.
Like many bohemian neighborhoods, the Bellavista district stands out from the gastronomic point of view, which is good news for the visitor, as there are hundreds of options to taste the popular cuisine. From the famous pancakes at Café Les Trois to the amazing delicacies at La Picá Francesa, the neighborhood is full of opportunities to treat your palate. In short, if you’d like to spend a day feasting your senses, visit the enchanting neighborhood of Bellavista in Santiago de Chile.


|Location||18th Street near Calumet Avenue|
Near South Side, Chicago, IL
|Line(s)||University Park Sub District|
|Platforms||1 island platform|
|2018||23 (average weekday) 45.2%|
|Rank||226 out of 236|
18th Street station is a commuter rail station on the Near South Side of Chicago, at 18th Street near Calumet Avenue. It serves the Metra Electric Line north to Millennium Station and south to University Park, Blue Island, and South Chicago. For many Metra Electric trains, this is a flag stop, and the train will only stop there if specifically requested by a passenger. As of 2018, 18th Street is the 226th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 23 weekday boardings.
The station was originally built by the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR). The railroad was first built in 1907.


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5,700 years ago, a woman in what is now Denmark chewed a lump of birch-bark pitch for a while and then dropped it. Millennia later, the DNA she left behind reveals her entire genome, a census of the bacteria living in her mouth, and a few hints about a recent meal.
If you’re a hunter-gatherer who needs to haft a stone tool, birch-bark pitch makes a handy adhesive, but you might have to chew it to make it pliable enough to work with. Pitch is watertight and contains an antiseptic compound called betulin, so it’s great at preserving DNA. In fact, archaeologists in Scandinavia have found more human DNA in bits of chewed pitch than they have in skeletons (which have been relatively rare at prehistoric Scandinavian sites we've studied thus far).
But this is the first time researchers have managed to sequence an ancient person's whole genome from a lump of chewed pitch. Only about a third of the DNA bioarchaeologist Hannes Schroeder, of the University of Copenhagen, sampled was human; the other 68 percent came from the ancient woman’s microbiome and traces of a prehistoric meal. This single discarded piece of ancient chewing gum tells us that the ancient woman, who Schroeder and his colleagues have nicknamed Lola, was probably lactose intolerant, ate duck and hazelnuts, and may recently have had pneumonia. She also had blue eyes, dark brown hair, and dark skin.
"This combination of physical traits has been previously noted in other European hunter-gatherers, suggesting that this phenotype was widespread in Mesolithic Europe and that the adaptive spread of light skin pigmentation in European populations only occurred later in prehistory,” wrote Schroeder and his colleagues.
She lived through the Neolithic revolution
The detail we can extract with DNA turns a seriously unprepossessing artifact into a deeply personal link to life in the past. It also sheds light on the much larger cultural upheaval that was reshaping Lola’s world. While Lola was eating hazelnuts at the prehistoric settlement now called Syltholm, people from southwest Asia were spreading westward across Europe, bringing a new way of life with them: farming.
Around the time Lola lived in Denmark, the hunter-gatherer culture called Erlebolle gave way to the Funnel Beaker culture, a way of life built on farming and livestock. From archaeological data, we know that cultural change happened very quickly in Denmark, with people’s settlement patterns and ways of making a living changing almost overnight. But what we don’t know is whether that’s because new people moved in, displacing the old Erlebolle hunter-gatherers, or if it’s because the people already living in Denmark adopted new ideas.
Lola’s genome suggests that she’s not related to the Neolithic farmers who swept westward. And that implies that the newcomers didn’t immediately replace or absorb the hunter-gatherers who had been living in Denmark since the end of the Ice Age. In Lola’s day, it seems that at least a few of the old hunter-gatherer groups were still around, even if they’d adopted new ways of life. That lines up well with other genomic evidence from elsewhere in Europe, but it’s important not to draw firm conclusions based on a single genome.
Duck and hazelnut were on the menu
But what was Lola’s life like during this time of cultural change? A small percentage of the DNA in the pitch came from other things she had recently chewed: hazelnut and a species of mallard, bits of which must still have been in her mouth when she picked up the pitch. That’s potentially a more detailed image than you wanted, but it suggests that even after Lola’s community took up farming, they still relied on wild foods, too. Duck bones and hazelnuts at the site back up the DNA evidence.
Lola’s genome also contained alleles that are usually associated with the inability to produce lactase—an enzyme that’s important in digesting milk—as an adult. If lactose intolerance was still common among people in Scandinavia just after the Neolithic revolution (the wave of migration and cultural change that introduced agriculture to most of Europe), then Europeans probably evolved the ability to drink milk as adults relatively recently, after dairy farming became a common way of life. DNA evidence from other sites supports that idea, too.
A Neolithic case of pneumonia?
Most of the DNA recovered from the lump of pitch belonged to bacteria and viruses. At other sites, archaeologists have gotten some information about ancient microbiomes from DNA and proteins preserved in calculus—hardened dental plaque still clinging to the teeth of ancient skeletal remains. But calculus is a long-term record of the tiny organisms that live in your mouth; the DNA Lola left behind in her chewing gum is more like a snapshot.
Overall, Lola’s oral microbiome looked a lot like modern ones (there are whole datasets of oral microbiomes for comparison). Other than a few bacteria associated with periodontal disease, the microbes in Lola’s mouth were harmless, and that’s still the case for modern people. Schroeder and his colleagues did find some genetic sequences from the Epstein-Barr virus, which is something Lola would have in common with about 90 percent of adults in the world today. It’s likely that the virus never made her sick; most people catch it as children and never experience symptoms (occasionally Epstein-Barr virus can cause a serious fever or increase a person’s risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and some autoimmune diseases later in life).
Lola may have been recovering from a case of pneumonia on the day she chewed the birch-bark pitch, because genetic sequences from the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae showed up in her microbiome. Schroeder and his colleagues found several sets of genes called virulence factors, traits associated with the pathogen’s ability to infect a host and thwart the immune system. S. pneumoniae has a knack for picking up virulence factors from other related bacteria, so ancient DNA may help researchers trace its evolutionary history.
Hints about an even more ancient past
Lola's genome also tells archaeologists about the first people to move into Scandinavia after the ice sheets retreated between 12,000 and 11,000 years ago, generations before she lived at Syltholm.
Based on other archaeological and genetic evidence, we know that after the ice's retreat, people from different areas of Eurasia moved into Scandinavia along two routes. Some hunter-gatherers from mainland Europe moved northward through Denmark, while others from farther northeast moved southward along the coast of Norway. Lola is much more closely related to the group from mainland Europe—in fact, her genome carries no traces of ancestry from the second group at all.
Schroeder and his colleagues say Lola’s DNA supports the current theory that the people moving in from the northeast (archaeologists creatively call them Eastern Hunter-Gatherers) hadn’t reached southern Denmark by 5,700 years ago. But that idea, Schroeder and his colleagues admit, must be taken with a grain of salt, because we only have one genome to work with.
As always, we need more data, but for now, researchers have something to chew on.


Samsung QE55Q9FN (2018) QLED HDR 2000 4K Ultra HD Smart TV, 55" with TVPlus/Freesat HD & 360 Design, Ultra HD Premium Certified, Black + Free Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Mobile Phone (via redemption) Witness pure colour and the deepest blacks in a whole new light with Samsung's flagship Q9. Samsung's QLED screens are at the cutting edge of home visual entertainment, with a picture quality that will take your breath away. QLED, a refinement of their Quantum Dot technology, delivers UHD Premium picture quality for jaw-dropping colour and a flawlessly realistic HDR picture of the highest luminance and exceptionally deep blacks. Usher in a new era of home style with minimalist 360 design, Near-Invisible Optical Cable, One Connect box and Premium One Remote to control all of your compatible devices. Access a world of online entertainment via Samsung's Smart Hub, utilise its voice interaction, and the QLED screen can blend into your living space with Ambient Mode.*
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I plan on getting busy hooking so I will have something to do while watching a race each Sunday. I have been knitting the last few months but no way can I knit and watch something on TV. Way too much counting and paying attention to knitting. With hooking there is no thinking..........no counting or reading a pattern or dropping a stitch. Hooking is such a relaxing thing to do. But with knitting there is not the mess of wool lint compared to hooking.
Here is a picture of a rug I did a few years back. It is adapted from an antique rug from the collection of textiles at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. The original wasn't a hooked rug but more of a sewn/shirred type of rug. I dyed the colors close to the original colors. I have this rug mounted on a frame but it is in the closet. I really need to find a place to hang this. Guess I need to change a few things that are on the wall now and display this rug. Many of my rugs are in the closet. Since I have a 'bad' cat they just can't go on the floor.
And since I have had Bee/ the Bad Cat for many years, lots of my rugs have been cleaned. A few have been tossed in the washer. Many more have been cleaned by soaking in warm water with some type of detergent and I have to say they all survived. Now I wouldn't advise this but it was either that or throw them way. Very little fading of colors........ and I have done this with rugs on burlap, monks cloth & linen.
I have also washed patterns that have been drawn with a black Sharpie pen. In no way did the marks fade or bleed. When it says permanent it means it.
Did you notice there are no new picture of the wool studio...........NO, I didn't get it organized. It is still on my list of things to do in January. How many days do I have? Better get this pair of socks knit so I will have time to get to the room.


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Suzanne C. Suber's Profile
A long time ago in a far away land...
I was born in the south of France, on the outskirts of Marseille. I have also resided in Trieste, Italy and St. Louis, Missouri, and currently travel with my husband between Estero, Florida and Shawnee Mission, Kansas.
My love for lace comes from sewing with my French grandmother who taught me to sew at the age of 5. Her handcrafted lace and embroideries were works of art. In my adult years I specialized in Heirloom sewing for children and ladies formalwear; to include wedding gowns and accessories.
Most of the lace listed here was obtained from the Missouri Historical Society.
My other etsy site is http://www.frenchmermaid.etsy.com. There you will find my Designer Jewelry Collection…
- Born on January 25
- Joined April 25, 2012


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Judging by the letters which are already coming into MOTOR SPORT’s offices, motorists, although well aware that they represent the most heavily-taxed members of a savagely-taxed community, are aghast that in his Budget speech the Chancellor of the Exchequer should have increased the cost of car licences by 20%.
The excuse that the additional taxation will be spent on new roads will only be accepted by the very gullible, in view of the fact that motorists have in the past paid well over four times Exchequer expenditure on roads—last year £645-million against road expenditure of £137-million. This is a Budget not only extremely unpalatable to millions of motorists but to business people and housewives who know full well that commodity costs always rise with an increase in the cost of road transport. Let the Chancellor think deeply—especially before introducing the threatened 10% increase in the tax on petrol!
Turning to happier things—there will be a Traction Engine Rally at Elham, near Canterbury, on Whit-Monday.


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Cheesy Black Bean Quesadillas
These cheesy quesadillas, packed with black beans and lots of flavor, are guaranteed to satisfy and delight. The best part? You can make this four-person meal for less than $25.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Cook it With Our
- 1, 8-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup frozen corn kernels
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
- 1 cup mexican cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 4 , 10-inch flour tortillas
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 jalapeno, sliced thinly for garnish
- 1 lime, quartered for garnish
- 1 avocado, sliced for garnish
- Sour cream
- Preheat 1 tablespoon of oil in a 12 Inch Skillet over medium heat 4-5 minutes. While the skillet preheats, mix together black beans and corn.
- Add onion and garlic to the skillet, sauté 1-2 minutes. Add bean and corn mixture and taco seasoning, stir, and cook 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer bean filling to a small bowl. Stir in cilantro and the juice of 1 lime wedge.
- Wipe out pan with paper towels and spray with cooking spray. Lower heat to medium low. Place approximately ¼ cup of the black bean mixture in the center of a tortilla. Top with 1 tablespoon of cheese. Repeat until the tortillas are filled with quesadilla mixture.
- Cook two quesadillas at a time, 2-3 minutes per side, until tortilla is crisp and cheese is melted. Repeat with remaining 2 quesadillas. Top with sour cream and avocado. Garnish with lime.


In the past decade, companies from Facebook to IBM have gone through massive transformations. Change management as a concept has prevailed for more than half a century and many academics, consultants, and managers of organizations have explored in detail the organizational culture, communication, and employee attitudes that are affected by the change.
Despite many studies on change management theory, change management in practice has proved to be challenging. A report by Gartner in 2019 states that though nearly 75% of the workforce expects to multiply the types of major change initiatives they will undertake in the next three years, half of them expect to see the change initiatives fail.
Harvard Business Review states that a reason for this could be that, ‘the content of change management is reasonably correct, but the managerial capacity to implement it has been woefully underdeveloped.’
But is the burden of effective change management only the concern of top management? If everyone in your organization resonates with change management, what role should they play to ensure a smooth transition into something new?
What is different about change management in SaaS?
With the global pandemic forcing companies to go remote and SaaS products being easy to adopt and implement, Gartner anticipates SaaS to generate nearly $105 billion in revenue in 2020 alone. With SaaS products and their adoption evolving at a massive speed, it seems to be recession-proof as well.
However, the flip side is that the software buying model is different. The initial model was sales-driven with a focus on the IT departments which bought the software and rolled it out to the entire organization. But in today’s world, the end-user gets to decide on the software they want to use on a daily basis. Since buyers at sales or marketing do not necessarily care about change management at an organization level, the full potential of the software is often overlooked.
So, SaaS businesses need to tweak their customer success strategies a notch up to cross-sell or up-sell after understanding the problem the software is trying to solve for the organization.
Context of Change in SaaS
Software developers use the term ‘change management’ loosely. Software solutions tend to be more rigid and change refers to the upgrades or different versions released on a frequent basis. Indium, a software testing firm says, “Each time the SaaS application is upgraded, there is a need for users to understand the changes that the application went through, the effect of the changes, the validation of the application against existing systems, and ensuring that the app upgrade does not affect existing features negatively.”
This gives more reason for SaaS companies to provide a brief demo to its users and make them understand the changes to the product.
Steps to manage change effectively
Since the software comes as a plug-and-use solution oftentimes, companies assume it’ll be easier for employees to adapt to it which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Setting up a change management process is crucial to not only prepare your employees for the change but also to plan out exactly which tools you’re going to implement and how they’re going to work together within your environment.
Step 1# Understand the problem, solution, and your employees
The first step to introducing change would be to understand the touchpoints and processes that would be affected by the software. Conduct an impact study by doing the following,
- Understand how many people would be affected by the change and at what stage in the process.
- Understand how often they are using the current technology or how often they would use the new software for their work.
Step 2# Strengthen your common purpose through communication
Once this knowledge is there, it is vital to make the user group affected by the change to understand the benefits of the software being used.
- Why change? – Explain to the employees the reason behind the change. This would give you the opportunity to talk about the bigger picture or the overall impact the change would have on the organization. Tell them your future vision for the organization and how this change brings them closer to it.
- What’s in it for them? – While conveying the benefits of the product to the users, let them know what’s in it for them. Showing the employees how this product would make their life easier would help them embrace the new technology and contribute to the software’s ROI.
- How do their roles change? – Allocate responsibility with the help of clear KPIs that would give your employees direction and ensure that the product is used efficiently. Attaching KPIs to change initiatives, not only helps people get on board the new software quickly but also helps them understand how this change affects them.
A study by McKinsey on organizational transformation showed that when the senior management is transparent about the progress or success of the change, the change was eight times more likely to be successful.
Many implementations fail because the organization does not use new technology as it is supposed to be used. This is because they do not understand the entire value that the software can offer. The management doesn’t get to see the full ROI and the software is discontinued soon.
Step 3# Create a clear implementation plan
The impact study would give you a clear picture of the amount of training required by each person for them to utilize the software to its full potential. A detailed plan for training should be drafted based on this.
A study by McKinsey on organizational transformation says that employees tend to model the behavior of their senior management and when this management leads with a positive attitude towards change, transformations are 5-times more likely to be successful.
Chart out timelines to at least train crucial members in the team on how to use the software. A hub and spoke model can be adopted where trained people train others and so on.
Learning something new always has a mixed reaction. Some people are excited about the change and others hate being disturbed from their routine. To keep employee motivation at its high, invest in internal marketing techniques. Create one-pagers, graphics, animated videos, and trivia contests to educate people on the benefits of the new tool and also motivate them to use it. Keeping people on-board from day zero, even during the planning stages, would help to enable a smooth transition.
Step 4# Build Momentum by taking action
Often people are unaware that a change is more difficult because the people working on the processes are too involved in the problem. Bryan Walker, Partner and Managing Director at IDEO states, “Start with mobilizing people around a purpose, then create momentum through action (tangible quick wins to get people to believe that the change is possible), and then scale and sustain that change.”
Quick wins help to build momentum by addressing small and easy-to-fix issues within an organization. This helps to bring in confidence in the change-maker with the leadership team who then might show less resistance to larger and complex recommendations. It also helps gain the trust of front-line staff who see first-hand the impact of business changes.
Small changes in a few departments of the organizations can lead to massive ripples across the organization. Identify the key champions of change who harness change and embrace innovation within each team and with their help, drive the implementation and adoption of the software across multiple teams in the organization.
Step 5# Scale and sustain
It is never easy to be an agent of change. You are going against the norm and this could lead to many friction points or setbacks across the journey. However, your perspective and the respective actions you take in these instances can make all the difference.
- Identify bottlenecks immediately and don’t let confusion prevail for a long time.
- Tie up OKRs in such a way that they represent the success of the software implementation. Track each OKR and see if it was achieved or failed. Understand the reasons for both the outcomes and modify the OKRs accordingly.
- Find out if the software is being used to its fullest potential and if not re-educate the people involved in the process again.
- Track feedback from users of the software on a regular basis. Conduct polls or ask them to fill out feedback forms through emails. This would help you understand if the users need any further customization that would improve the user interface.
Change management gives you a chance to reinvent the wheel. It gives you an opportunity to let others create their own wheels too. And remember, people, support what they create. So instead of selling an idea, you want to bring everyone to work together and create something together. In the end, you build a movement and unless everyone in the organization views it as their idea, it would be hard to make the change effective.
As an ode to the champions we know, we are bringing together the largest gathering of Champions of Change with more than 20 speakers on a single platform to tear into the stories behind the transformations they brought about.
Do you identify yourself as a Champion of Change at your organization or think that a colleague of yours is one? Write back to email@example.com to get in touch with us.