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The taxation of business income is a complex and ever-changing topic that can be challenging for business owners to navigate. Understanding the various tax laws and regulations is crucial for ensuring compliance and minimizing tax liabilities. This comprehensive guide aims to provide business owners with valuable insights into the taxation of business income, covering key concepts, strategies, and considerations. By exploring topics such as types of business income, deductions and credits, tax planning, and international taxation, this guide will equip business owners with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and optimize their tax positions.
Types of Business Income
Business income can be categorized into different types, each with its own tax implications. It is important for business owners to understand these categories to accurately report and pay taxes on their income. The following are some common types of business income:
- Ordinary Income: This includes income generated from the regular operations of a business, such as sales revenue, service fees, and rental income. Ordinary income is typically subject to ordinary income tax rates.
- Capital Gains: Capital gains are profits generated from the sale of assets, such as stocks, real estate, or business property. The tax treatment of capital gains depends on the holding period of the asset and the applicable tax rates.
- Dividend Income: Dividends are payments made by corporations to their shareholders. Dividend income can be classified as either qualified or non-qualified, with different tax rates applying to each.
- Interest Income: Interest income is earned from investments or loans made by the business. It is subject to ordinary income tax rates unless it qualifies for certain exemptions or preferential tax treatment.
- Rental Income: Rental income is generated from leasing or renting out property. It is generally subject to ordinary income tax rates, but certain deductions and allowances may apply.
Understanding the different types of business income is essential for accurate reporting and tax planning. By properly categorizing income, business owners can take advantage of applicable deductions, credits, and tax strategies to optimize their tax positions.
Deductions and Credits
Deductions and credits play a crucial role in reducing the taxable income of a business. By taking advantage of these tax incentives, business owners can lower their overall tax liabilities. Here are some common deductions and credits that businesses may be eligible for:
- Business Expenses: Business expenses are costs incurred in the ordinary course of business operations. These can include rent, utilities, salaries, advertising, and office supplies. Deducting these expenses reduces the taxable income of the business.
- Depreciation: Depreciation allows businesses to deduct the cost of assets over their useful lives. This deduction recognizes that assets, such as machinery or vehicles, lose value over time. Different depreciation methods and rules apply, so it is important to consult tax professionals or refer to IRS guidelines.
- Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit: The R&D tax credit is designed to incentivize businesses to invest in research and development activities. Eligible businesses can claim a tax credit for qualified R&D expenses, reducing their tax liabilities.
- Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: Small businesses that provide health insurance coverage to their employees may qualify for this tax credit. The credit helps offset the cost of providing health insurance and is available to businesses with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees.
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC): The WOTC is a federal tax credit available to employers who hire individuals from certain targeted groups, such as veterans, ex-felons, or individuals receiving government assistance. The credit amount varies depending on the target group and the number of hours worked by the employee.
These are just a few examples of the deductions and credits available to businesses. It is important for business owners to consult with tax professionals or refer to IRS guidelines to determine their eligibility for specific deductions and credits. By taking advantage of these tax incentives, businesses can significantly reduce their tax liabilities and improve their financial position.
Tax Planning Strategies
Tax planning involves proactively managing a business’s financial affairs to minimize tax liabilities and maximize after-tax profits. By implementing effective tax planning strategies, businesses can optimize their tax positions and improve their overall financial performance. Here are some key tax planning strategies to consider:
- Entity Selection: The choice of business entity, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or limited liability company (LLC), can have significant tax implications. Each entity type has its own tax rules and advantages, so it is important to carefully consider the tax implications before selecting an entity.
- Accounting Methods: Businesses can choose between different accounting methods, such as cash basis or accrual basis, to determine when income and expenses are recognized for tax purposes. The choice of accounting method can impact the timing of tax liabilities and cash flow, so it is important to select the most advantageous method for the business.
- Income Shifting: Income shifting involves redistributing income among family members or related entities to take advantage of lower tax brackets or utilize unused deductions. This strategy can be complex and may have legal limitations, so it is important to consult with tax professionals to ensure compliance.
- Retirement Plans: Contributing to retirement plans, such as a 401(k) or SEP IRA, can provide tax advantages for businesses and their owners. These contributions are typically tax-deductible and can help reduce current tax liabilities while saving for retirement.
- Charitable Contributions: Donating to qualified charitable organizations can provide tax benefits for businesses. Charitable contributions are generally tax-deductible, allowing businesses to reduce their taxable income while supporting causes they care about.
These are just a few examples of tax planning strategies that businesses can implement. It is important to note that tax planning should be tailored to the specific circumstances and goals of each business. Consulting with tax professionals or financial advisors can help businesses develop customized tax planning strategies that align with their objectives.
With the increasing globalization of business operations, international taxation has become a critical consideration for businesses engaged in cross-border activities. International taxation involves understanding and complying with the tax laws and regulations of multiple jurisdictions. Here are some key aspects of international taxation:
- Double Taxation: Double taxation occurs when income is subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction. To mitigate the impact of double taxation, countries often enter into tax treaties that provide relief, such as allowing for the deduction or credit of foreign taxes paid.
- Transfer Pricing: Transfer pricing refers to the pricing of goods, services, or intellectual property transferred between related entities in different countries. It is important to establish transfer prices that reflect arm’s length transactions to avoid tax disputes and penalties.
- Foreign Tax Credits: Foreign tax credits allow businesses to offset their U.S. tax liabilities with taxes paid to foreign jurisdictions. These credits help prevent double taxation and encourage cross-border investment.
- Controlled Foreign Corporations (CFCs): CFCs are foreign corporations in which U.S. shareholders own a significant amount of stock. The U.S. tax code imposes certain reporting and tax obligations on U.S. shareholders of CFCs to prevent tax avoidance.
- Permanent Establishment: A permanent establishment refers to a fixed place of business in a foreign country that gives rise to tax obligations in that country. Understanding the concept of permanent establishment is crucial for determining the tax liabilities of businesses operating internationally.
International taxation is a complex area that requires specialized knowledge and expertise. Businesses engaged in international activities should seek guidance from international tax professionals to ensure compliance with the tax laws of multiple jurisdictions and optimize their international tax positions.
The taxation of business income is a multifaceted topic that requires careful consideration and planning. By understanding the different types of business income, taking advantage of deductions and credits, implementing effective tax planning strategies, and navigating international taxation, business owners can optimize their tax positions and minimize tax liabilities. It is important for business owners to stay informed about changes in tax laws and regulations and seek professional advice when necessary. By proactively managing their tax affairs, businesses can enhance their financial performance and achieve long-term success.


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Tejaswin Shankar overcame a bleeding nose and an unstable ankle in testing conditions over two days to achieve the Asian Games qualifying mark and win the decathlon gold medal in the National inter-state athletics championships at the Kalinga Stadium here on Saturday.
The lanky well-built Delhi lad relied on his good showing in his pet event (high jump), clearing 2.20m on day one, and pole vault, achieving 4m while being guided by National record holder Siva Subramani, on day two to gather 7576 points, including a fine second day effort that fetched him 3367 points.
“This win belongs to all my co-competitors who pushed me and supported me throughout the event, including the last 1500m race,” said Tejaswin.
Swapna Barman, whose participation in the Asian championships was in doubt like Tejaswin, won the heptathlon event with 5918 points and earned Asian Games qualification.
In men’s triple jump, Praveen Chithravel leaped 17.07m to win the gold and lead a pack of three athletes who breached the qualifying mark. Karnataka’s Akhilesh badly injured his right leg during the event.
Jyothi Yarraji equaled her own meet record in the morning and then dipped below it in the final to win the 100m hurdles with 12.92.
Pavithra Venkatesh did 4.10m in the women’s pole vault to earn the Hangzhou Games mark.
The results (finals)
- Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal Super Giant, ISL 10 LIVE Streaming info: When, where to watch KBFC v EBFC?
- PAK vs NZ T20I series: Michael Bracewell appointed New Zealand captain with top Kiwi stars missing due to IPL
- IPL 2024: Ishant Sharma told me that I should never compromise on speed for extra skills, says Mayank Yadav
- Singapore rules out hosting Commonwealth Games: reports
- IPL 2024: Why CSK is the place to be for youngsters despite limited game time

domain: sports


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Taking audiences on a wild ride, this emotional and humorous documentary from filmmaker Andrea Marini follows the evolution of New York artist Joey Skaggs, a fierce proponent of independent thinking and an early critic of media irresponsibility.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 85-minutes / USA
Producer/director Jon Brewer captures, for the first time, the incredible story of one of rock’s original super-groups, Bad Company, creators of a powerful true rock sound and spirit that imprinted upon the 1970s and continues to sell out stadium tours worldwide.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 85-minutes / UK & USA
Bad Rap follows the lives and careers of four Asian-American rappers trying to break into a world that often treats them as outsiders. Sharing dynamic live performance footage and revealing interviews, these artists make the most skeptical critics into believers.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 82-minutes / USA
A loving tribute to a man who contributed to the landscape of music with a unique style imitated to this day, as told by those who knew him best: his crew, friends and many band members as they symbolically travel from Nashville across America's deep South in B.B. King's tour bus.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 90-minutes
From Emperor Media Ltd. and acclaimed producer/director Jon Brewer, with exclusive voice over contributions from David Bowie, this feature documentary is an unprecedented celebration of the life and works of guitar virtuoso Mick Ronson – a rock hero virtually unknown despite his direct contribution and involvement in countless compositions, lyrics and recordings that changed the face of music forever.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 104-minutes / UK & USA
At 140 million years old, Borneo’s rainforest is one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Take a look at all the remarkable flora and fauna of Borneo in unprecedented sharpness and colourful 4K Ultra HD.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 50-minutes / Borneo
Producer/director Jon Brewer presents this extensive series of fully authorised and seminal documentaries honouring rock music’s greatest legends, featuring globally renowned bands and artists such as Cream, The Moody Blues, Yes, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, Crosby, Stills & Nash and Jim Morrison.
Non-Fiction / SEASON 1: 1 x 113-minutes, 1 x 153-minutes, 1 x 205-minutes,.. / UK & USA
Following its 7th consecutive sell-out last year, the UK’s No.1 dance festival Creamfields returns this summer, and with a 4th day added, has officially become the world’s biggest electronic music festival!
Non-Fiction / 1 x 90-minutes (Also available: livestream of 32 hours split..
Sundance's World Premiere Cries from Syria incorporates gripping firsthand accounts from activists, child protesters, and a former army general who joined the uprising.
Acclaimed director Evgeny Afineevsky has created a powerful and immediate depiction of the recent and current situation in Syria.
This compelling documentary bears witness to the resiliency of the people in the wake of their exposure to unthinkable crimes against humanity.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 112-minutes / USA/Syria/Czech Republic
Cruel and Unusual has been eight years in the making. But that’s nothing compared to the 43 years that Albert Woodfox spent in a 6 foot by 9 foot cell for a crime he did not commit.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 102-minutes / USA & UK
How to live when you're going to die. The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson confronts our worst nightmares of impending death and turns them upside down.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 91-minutes / UK
Executive produced by Academy Award® winner Alex Gibney, this is the remarkable story of Elián González, a five-year-old Cuban boy plucked from the Florida Straits, and how the fight for his future changed the course of US–Cuban relations.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 110-minutes / Northern Ireland & USA
Co-produced by Woodcut Media and The Development Partnership, lifelong football fan Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones) uncovers a century’s worth of stories, moments and characters in this intimate and engaging documentary, as he searches for football’s roots and, at the same time, the seeds of contemporary Britain.
Non-Fiction / 2 x one hour / UK
Using hard-hitting investigative journalism to delve into the world of the scam artist, this awareness-raising TV series addresses the global problem of fraud.
Non-Fiction / 26 x half hours / UK
The 70s cult classic Heartworn Highways intimately explores the roots of outlaw country music, offering a rare insight into the lives of the musicians who set the bar for those who came after.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 92-minutes / USA
Award-winning film and television production company Banger Films (Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey, Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage) presents Hip-Hop Evolution. Critically acclaimed MC and journalist Shad Kabango sets out to uncover the foundations of hip-hop music.
Non-Fiction / 4 x one hour / Canada
Over five years in production, director Martin Stalker’s film examines age-old questions about the existence of the Devil and the debate over good versus evil, through the life of controversial Irish-born Jesuit priest, Father Malachi Martin.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 96-minutes / Ireland/UK
Lost in France, an exhilarating new documentary, explores the rise of this Glaswegian music scene, revisiting a defining, chaotic trip to France in the musicians’ early careers.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 97-minutes / Ireland/UK
Director Jon Brewer (B.B. King: The Life of Riley) shines a light on America's boiling kettle of racial unrest for the past 300 years to present day, and the musical by-product that resulted: blues, rock and roll and rap.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 90-minutes (3 x one hour also available) / UK & USA
Featuring never before seen archive and exclusive interviews, this candid account of the ‘fairy-tale’ life of Nat King Cole, directed by Jon Brewer (B.B. King: The Life of Riley), honours the journey of a true icon, revealing his feelings behind his calling as a “beacon of hope” to the oppressed.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 94-minutes / USA & UK
Change your thoughts to help you change your world - this unique 4K film of positive affirmations will make your day and lead you into a better life. Meditation and affirmation will open your mind, helping you to believe in yourself, become strong and confident, invigorate your mind and, ultimately, find peace.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 60-minutes / Thailand
Acclaimed filmmaker and director AJ Schnack (Caucus, Midterms) uncovers the turning points of an unprecedented US Presidential primary race, pulling back the curtain to reveal the intricate steps to the main stage, in this six-part series from First Look Media.
Non-Fiction / 6 x half hours / USA
Welcome to Rich and Acquitted, a non-fiction series that explores six notorious cases of celebrities and other glaringly wealthy accused perpetrators who have used their vast resources to retain top-flight attorneys in order to escape legal situations that would otherwise destroy any normal human being.
Non-Fiction / 6 x one hour / USA
South Africa’s most awarded tattoo artist Lewis “Vudulew” Williams and his expert team cater for the inking and piercing desires of the country’s most elite and wealthy clientele in this new reality and lifestyle series from NV Studios.
Non-Fiction / 10 x one hour / South Africa
Featuring never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with some of today’s most respected rock artists, this Grammy-nominated special is the first in-depth portrait of Canadian trio Rush, revealing the inner workings of one of the world’s most enduring rock bands
Non-Fiction / 1 x 108-minutes / Canada
The story of a band, its fans, and their 40-year relationship.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 97-minutes / USA
Naomi seems like a typical 11-year-old Orthodox Jewish girl - watching her lift almost three times her bodyweight tells a very different story. Supergirl is a unique coming-of-age documentary which explores the extraordinary life of Naomi Kutin, an Orthodox Jewish pre-teen, who at the age of nine broke world records in powerlifting and became an international phenomenon.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 80-minutes / USA
Become a part of the blue ocean life of the stunning Red Sea in this unique underwater experience, as ultra-sharp imagery and powerful colours immerse viewers in picture perfect scenery.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 50-minutes / Egypt
Teenagers from around the world are paired with master filmmakers, including the late Albert Maysles (Salesman), Susan Hoenig (For Love or Money) and Joyce Chopra (Smooth Talk), to create these personal documentaries that educate and encourage international understanding about globally relevant issues.
Non-Fiction / 5 x half hours / USA
It is one of humankind’s greatest achievements. More than twelve billion miles away a tiny spaceship is leaving our Solar System and entering the void of deep space – the first human-made object ever to do so.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 121-minutes / Ireland
Swimming phenomenon and multiple Olympic gold medallist Missy Franklin was destined for greatness at an early age, but destiny can be a burden. When four-time Olympic silver medallist Kara Lynn Joyce joins Missy’s teenage swim club, destiny starts to become reality.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 102-minutes (1 x one hour version also available) / USA
When Trigger Happy TV hit screens in 2000, it went on to become Britain's biggest hidden camera comedy export, sold to over 80 countries worldwide. To this day, the show still has a huge and passionate fan base across the globe. Back by popular demand, Trigger Happy is returning with a brand-new series. No one is safe!!
Non-Fiction / 6 x half hours / UK
Unsolved Mysteries is one of the longest running programmes in the history of television and the inspiration for dozens of imitators.
Non-Fiction / Hosted by Dennis Farina: 175 x one hour (HD), Hosted by Robert.. / USA
Women on Death Row reveals an unflinching depiction of the personal lives of women who are currently awaiting execution on death row. This unprecedented documentary series offers a close look into the joy, the sorrow and the demons that pushed these women to commit bloody and vicious acts of murder.
Non-Fiction / 5 x 90-minutes / USA
Head off the beaten track in Thailand, as razor sharp Ultra HD pictures, accompanied by dreamlike music and voiceover, welcome viewers to beautiful deserted beaches, tropical vegetation and azure waters.
Non-Fiction / 1 x 60-minutes / Thailand

domain: artistic


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n South African Journal of Higher Education - Notions of transformative possibility : equality, accountability, development and quality within higher education
|Article Title||Notions of transformative possibility : equality, accountability, development and quality within higher education|
|© Publisher:||Higher Education South Africa (HESA)|
|Journal||South African Journal of Higher Education|
|Publication Date||Jan 2000|
|Pages||101 - 111|
This article is an attempt to analyse equality, accountability, development and quality which hold much promise for shaping higher education transformation in South Africa. First, I give an overview of the South African higher education policy framework, in particular its concern with issues of equality, development, accountability and quality which can be linked to educational transformation. Thereafter, I show how notions of equal access, relevance and dialogism can contribute towards initiating equality and development and enhancing accountability and quality in higher education transformation in South Africa.
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domain: literature


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Our famous cheese coney has been named one of America’s 35 best hot dogs!
There are a couple of things you’re going to need to know if you’re planning on visiting one of Cincinnati’s ubiquitous “chili parlors.” One, the chili is of the Greek style, rich with cumin, cinnamon, and chocolate, but unique from the other regional variations. Two, it goes really well on hot dogs (and spaghetti), with chopped onions and a heap of shredded cheese. Three, there’s a method of ordering: “Three ways” comes with chili and cheese, “four ways” adds beans or onions, “five ways” adds both beans and onions, and at a few places “six ways” adds garlic or jalapeños… [The] locals swear by Blue Ash, an institution since 1969. Go for the Cheese Coney: a medium-sized frank topped with chili, mustard, onions, and a giant mound of shredded Cheddar cheese.

domain: food


4 edition of High performance fiber reinforced cement composites 2 (HPFRCC2) found in the catalog.
High performance fiber reinforced cement composites 2 (HPFRCC2)
International Workshop "High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites" (2nd 1995 Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
|Statement||edited by A.E Naaman and H.W. Reinhardt.|
|Series||RILEM proceedings ;, 31|
|Contributions||Naaman, Antoine E., Reinhardt, H. W. 1931-, International Union of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures.|
|LC Classifications||TA438 .I59 1995|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||xviii, 502 p. :|
|Number of Pages||502|
|LC Control Number||96067733|
High performance fiber reinforced cement composites: proceedings of the International Workshop "High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites" held by RILEM (the International Union of Testing and Research Laboratories for Materials and Structures) and ACI (American Concrete Institute), Stuttgart University and the University of Michigan. A great diversity of different cement based fibre reinforced (FRC) materials can be found today either in practical use or under development in research laboratories. These include materials with significantly different material properties as well as materials with very different constituents and structure. At the same time a need for design guidelines for the use of FRC-materials has been.
High performance fiber reinforced cement composites 2 (HPFRCC2): proceedings of the Second International Workshop "High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites" sponsored by RILEM [and others], Ann Arbor, USA, June , Qinghua Li, Xiang Gao, Shilang Xu, Multiple effects of nano-SiO2 and hybrid fibers on properties of high toughness fiber reinforced cementitious composites with high-volume fly ash, Cement and Concrete Composites, /comp, 72, (), ().
In the mids, Naaman and Reinhardt proposed a new class of FRCC, that is, high-performance fiber-reinforced cement composite (HPFRCC). HPFRCC is a special class of FRCC that is able to resolve the problems associated with the post-crack, strain-softening behavior of tensile-loaded FRCCs. The crack self-healing behavior of high-performance steel-fiber reinforced cement composites (HPSFRCs) was investigated. High-strength deformed steel fibers were employed in a high strength mortar with very fine silica sand to decreasing the crack width by generating higher interfacial bond strength. The width of micro-cracks, strongly affected by the type of fiber and sand, clearly produced.
Wood engravings and words
Simulation analysis of a model based on the life-cycle hypothesis
Success in marriage.
political catechism, or, Certain questions concerning the government of this land
Amish moving day
Michigan Northern Highlands
Stress-induced phase transformation in ZrO2 materials
Mali Country Review 2003
Concepts of nursing home administration
Defining, managing, and monitoring wilderness visitor experiences
Rachel A. Webster.
Refugees in North West and North East Thames Regional Health Authorities
Overland to Klondike through Cariboo, Ominica [i.e. Omineca], Cassiar, and Lake Teslin
Series: High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (Book 2) Hardcover: pages; Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (J ) Language: English; ISBN ; ISBN ; Product Dimensions: x x inches Shipping Weight: pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Customer Reviews: Be the first to.
High ductile fiber reinforced concrete (HDC)  is a class of fiber reinforced cementitious composite like engineered cementitious composites (ECC)  and high performance fiber Author: Antoine Naaman.
High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (HPFRCC) represent a class of cement composites whose stress-strain response in tension undergoes strain hardening behaviour accompanied by multiple cracking, leading to a high strain prior to primary objective of this International Workshop was to provide a compendium of up-to-date information on the most recent developments.
High-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) are a group of fiber-reinforced cement-based composites which possess the unique ability to flex and self-strengthen before fracturing. This particular class of concrete was developed with the goal of solving the structural problems inherent with today’s typical concrete, such as its tendency to fail in a brittle manner.
The leading international authorities bring together in this contributed volume the latest research and current thinking on advanced fiber reinforced cement composites. Under rigorous editorial control, 13 chapters map out the key properties and behaviour of these materials, which promise to extend their applications into many more areas in the coming years.
High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites 2: Proceedings of the International Workshop A.E. Naaman, H.W. Reinhardt (eds.) The leading international authorities bring together in this contributed volume the latest research and current thinking on advanced fiber reinforced cement composites.
High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites Antoine E. Naaman Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI,U.S.A.
High performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC) are a class of fiber cement composites that exhibit post-cracking strain hardening response when subjected to direct tension.
While undergoing this hardening behavior, the composite experiences the formation of multiple cracks prior to damage localization (i.e. crack opening) . Compressive compressive strength of cement composites including ferrocement, fiber RC, and TRC is predominantly dictated by the strength of the cementitious matrix.
Thus any advances in the matrix can be translated to the composite, such as the use of high performance or ultra-high performance matrices of strength exceeding – MPa, and where durability is. Engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC), also called Strain Hardening Cement-based Composites (SHCC) or more popularly as bendable concrete, is an easily molded mortar-based composite reinforced with specially selected short random fibers, usually polymer fibers.
Unlike regular concrete, ECC has a strain capacity in the range of 3–7%, compared to % for ordinary portland cement.
High volume flyash cement composites were reinforced with fibers atand % by volume and these mixtures were tested for the compressive stress-strain curves. Different sizes of fibers are combined to modify the crack propagation mechanism, thus producing an increase in the peak strain and the post-peak ductility.
High Performance Natural Fiber-Nanoclay Reinforced Cement Nanocomposites (Briefs in Molecular Science) by It-Meng Low, Ahmad Hakamy, Faiz Shaikh English | Ap | ISBN: | pages | PDF | Mb High Performance Natural Fiber-Nanoclay Reinforced Cement Nanocomposites.
Prof. It-Meng (Jim) Low is based in the Applied Physics department Curtin University, Australia. He has been involved in the synthesis and characterization of MAX phases, UHTCs, advanced ceramics and composite materials for the past 20 Low has published over archival research papers, books and book chapters have been produced and in excess of citations have been received.
High performance fiber reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCC), mixed short polyvinyl Alcohol fiber into mortar, have been realized with reaching about one percent of tensile strain. As part of the research on cement composites using cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aqueous solution instead of general water, this study produced high-toughness cement composites reinforced with flax and steel fibers to improve the tensile deformation capacity, assessing the isothermal conduction calorimetry analysis, drying shrinkage, and strength characteristics.
The mixing amount of. High performance fiber reinforced cement composites (HPFRCC) Test setup In order to evaluate the tensile strength of the developed cement-based composites, three point bending tests of prismatic speci-mens ( mm x mm x mm) with central notch as rec-ommended by Rilem  has been carried out.
The tests were. Home > High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Usage statistics ; Files. High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (HPFRCC3) Proceedings of the Third International RILEM Workshop REINHARDT, H.
W.; NAAMAN, A. Year: ISBN: Laboratories: BIBMCS. Record appears in: Documentary Resources > MCS Library Books. Click Download or Read Online button to get cement based composites materials mechanical properties and performance book now.
This site is like a library, Use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites 2.
Author by: A.E authorities bring together in this contributed volume. High performance fiber reinforced cement composites 2 (HPFRCC2): proceedings of the Second International Workshop "High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites" sponsored by RILEM, ACI, ACBM, the University of Michigan and the University of Stuttgart, Ann Arbor, USA, June/ edited by A.E.
Naaman and H.W. Reinhardt. Also Titled. A structural experiment and analyses have been conducted to investigate the shear and flexural performance of reinforced beams with high performance fiber reinforced cement composite (HPFRCC).
Beams with HPFRCC showed higher shear strength, ultimate flexural moment and ductility after flexural yielding than reinforced concrete beams. 7. Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) and hybrid composites. Summary High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites (HPFRCC) represent a class of cement composites whose stress-strain response in tension undergoes strain hardening behaviour accompanied by multiple cracking, leading to a high strain prior to failure.High performance fiber reinforced cement composites 6: HPFRCC 6 ; [Sixth International RILEM Conference on High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cement Composites.This journal is designed to reflect current developments and advances being made in the general field of cement-concrete composites technology and in the production, use, and performance of cement-based construction word cement is interpreted in a wide sense, including not only Portland cement but also blended cements and other binding materials.


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Athletic Gear Open Lockers
Athletic team gear lockers are designed with the athlete in mind, but their open steel construction and diamond perforated sides also make them great for military and law enforcement. The lockers have an open front and hanger rod, making it quick and easy for users to access their uniforms or garments whether it’s an emergency or time for the big game. For secured personal storage, the lockers also come with a lockable upper security box compartment.
The lockers are available in four styles:
- Upper shelf only with open locker
- Lockable security box and open upper shelf
- Open locker with upper shelf and lockable bottom compartment
- Open locker with upper lockable compartment and bottom lockable compartment
Despite the locker’s open design, the optional upper compartment allows users to secure their personal items such as cell phones or wallets. An upper shelf provides a convenient space to store hats or helmets for quick retrieval. You can also include a bottom compartment to store shoes and extra gear.
And we’re all familiar with the “locker room smell”—that’s why the gear lockers have ventilated sides. This allows air flow through the lockers, which prevents odors and bacteria from forming. It also adds a measure of safety, since staph infections spread quickly among athletes.
Athletic Team Gear Locker Features
- Available in 24″ wide x 18″ or 22″ deep x 72″high
- Include two single-prong garment hooks and full-width 1/2″ diameter hanger rod (hangers not included)
- 16 gauge diamond-perforated steel body allows air flow and ventilation to reduce odors and bacteria
- Top and bottom compartment doors constructed from 16 gauge continuous piano hinges for extra strength
- Available in colors blue or red
- Factory-assembled option available
- 2 year manufacturer’s warranty
Buy Athletic Team Gear Lockers Online
Athletic team gear lockers are available to buy online and ship knocked-down or fully assembled. For more information or additional assistance, call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Heavy Duty Industrial Storage
For industrial environments, you need a storage solution that is long-lasting, durable, and flexible. Our heavy duty steel cabinets are designed specifically for these applications and are built like a tank to give you the most durable options on the market.
The heavy duty steel cabinets are all-welded for extra durability and are available in two styles and three widths (36″, 48″, and 60″). Considered the ultimate in industrial storage, these cabinets allow you to store and organize a wide variety of items in one area. And with a heavy duty steel construction that protects against tampering, the cabinets are an excellent deterrent to theft. For keyless management, the cabinets can also be configured with digital locks.
Heavy Duty Steel Cabinet Features
- All-welded cabinet body provides added strength and integrity
- Adjustable shelves allow you to store multiple item sizes in one cabinet
- 12-gauge cold rolled steel panels with integral vertical frame provides extra stability
- Heavy capacity per shelf for storing all types of industrial materials
- Combination-type cabinets include a full-width upper shelf, center partition, 3 partial-width shelves, and one partial-width coat rod
- Standard-type cabinets include four adjustable full-width shelves
- Double-hinged doors are constructed of 12 gauge steel with three 13 gauge knuckle type hinges per door. These hinges are welded to the door and securely riveted to the frame.
- Includes padlock hasp door handle with 3-point latching to enable more secure locking
- 14 gauge welded top and bottom shelves adjustable on 3″ centers
- Keyless digital locking options available
- Optional leg kits available
- Charcoal color finish
- One year manufacturer’s warranty
Shelving Capacities per SizeShelf Weight Capacity Chart (Capacities are Per Shelf) 36″ x 24″ Shelf 48″ x 24″ Shelf 60″ x 24″ Shelf Standard Cabinet 1,950 1,800 1,700 Combination Cabinet 1,000 1,325 1,650
Buy Industrial Storage Cabinets Online
These heavy duty steel cabinets are available to buy online and ship fully assembled and ready to use. For more information or to receive additional assistance, please call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Storing Rolled Plans & Flat Drawings
Rolled plan drawing storage cabinets and counters will store rolled drawings, architectural blueprints, maps, flat drawings, and more within the same unit. While traditional shelving makes storing rolled materials difficult, these shelves are specifically designed for it. And with adjustable cubbies, you can customize the shelves to your exact needs.
If you work in industries like architecture, design, engineering, landscaping, construction, drafting, etc. then you know you need a convenient way to store oversized documents while keeping them undamaged. Storing these documents stacked on top of each other can make them difficult to find and organize. Documents laying flat on tables also leaves them prone to damage from accidents—most of us have probably spilled coffee on a paper document at some point. Additionally, flat shelving can take up a lot of space and may not fit extra large documents.
Full Height Rolled Plan Drawing Shelves
These full-height steel shelving units are designed to maximize the storage of bulky rolled drawings. You can also remove the dividers to store flat drawings within the same unit. Other features include:
- Heights available from 24″ to 121″
- Closed side panels adds stability & a clean appearance
- Unit comes with twelve 6″ high and adjustable vertical dividers (2 per shelf)
- Additional shelving options available
- Removable and adjustable dividers can adjust to fit rolled or flat drawings and storing oversized documents
- Adjustable steel shelves
- Available in 19 standard colors
- Made in the USA
- Volume discounts available
Counter-Height Rolled Plan Drawing Units
Counter-high units are also available, and provide a convenient work surface when retrieving and viewing items.
- Units include 6″ high adjustable and removable partition dividers for storing rolled and flat drawings in the same unit
- Steel shelves are adjustable on 1.5″ increments
- Includes closed metal side panels and front base
- Easy do-it-yourself instructions with quick set-up
- Wide selection of colors and laminate finishes
- Volume discounts available
- Made in USA
Buy Rolled Plan Drawing Storage Units Online
Rolled plan drawing storage units are available to buy online and are easy to set up and use. For more information or to receive additional assistance, please call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Storing Bikes in Less Space
Since 2000, the use of bicycles for transportation has increased by 62 percent. Biking is great for a healthy lifestyle, but this requires more bike storage areas that can take up a large amount of room. Otherwise, users may store bikes haphazardly, which leaves them prone to damage or theft. Vertical bike racks and hanging shelves for are ideal solutions for storing a large amount of bikes indoors and in less space. Read on to see two different types of vertical bike racks.
Vertical Bike Racks with Gear Storage Shelves
These bike racks come with one or two shelves above for storing additional gear and accessories. Bikes hang vertically, which saves space and allows users to quickly and easily retrieve stored bikes. The bikes are easy for users to reach and prevents bikes from leaning against others, which can cause damage. Simply hang the front wheel on the wall bracket, and the rack keeps it in place. The vertical design makes these bike racks perfect for condos, dorms, apartments, property rooms, unclaimed bike storage areas, and more.
Additional features include:
- Vertical open uprights
- Adjustable hooks on 1.5″ centers
- Heavy-duty steel construction for durability
- Available in heights of 76″ and 88″ with widths of 42″ and 48″
- Three shelf reinforcements provided for all shelves
- Corrosion and scratch-resistance powder coat finish available in a variety of colors
- Simple, do-it-yourself installation with components that snap together
- Made in USA
Double-Tier Bike Racks
The double-tier racks provide two-level storage for bikes to save space in a small footprint. To load bikes, simply place it into one of the rack trays and roll it forward until the front wheel drops into the slot. This allows each bike its own storage area while maximizing your available space. These are great for commercial and retail bike storage, high rise apartments, universities, police stations, and more.
Additional features of the double-tier bike racks include:
- Available in 8, 10, 12, and 14 capacity bike models
- Bike racks only use 5′ to 8′ of space with a high storage density
- 16-gauge galvanized steel construction provides durability
- Staggered horizontal and diagonal wheel trays allow clearance between bikes, which prevents damage
- Accommodates any type or size of bicycle excluding tandem bikes
Buy Vertical Bike Racks Online
Vertical bike racks are available to buy online and are easy to set up and use. For more information or additional assistance, please call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Storing Hanging Garments & Accessories
Many organizations have difficulty with storing uniforms while they’re not in use, especially with a limited amount of space. Steel rod shelving with overhead storage instead allows you to combine hanging uniform storage with space for additional items such as headgear, instruments or other folded garments.
Hassle-Free Uniform Hanger Shelves
Wire racks are frequently used for hanging garment storage, but wire can easily snag on fabric and cause damage. Keeping them folded is also inefficient and prone to wrinkling or damaging clothing. It also wastes valuable time to constantly fold clothes in a manner that keeps them wrinkle-free. And when they need to be retrieved, it’s difficult for users to find the uniform they need if they’re piled on top of each other.
With smooth steel construction, the steel rod shelving offer commercial-quality hanging garment storage with unmatched strength and durability. The overhead compartment also provides convenient storage for additional items. This makes them perfect for storing items that need to remain within easy and quick access such as helmets, hats, instruments, costume accessories, athletic gear, and more.
- Closed uprights constructed from heavy duty 18-gauge steel for long-lasting strength
- Shelves and hanging rods are adjustable on 1 ½ centers to store many different garment sizes
- Available in heights of 76.25″ and 88.25″; widths of 30″, 36″, and 42″
- Shelf reinforcements are provided for all shelves except the top dust cover for extra durability and stability
- 2.75″ high kick places prevent items from rolling under the shelves
- Corrosion and scratch-resistant powder coat paint finishes available in a variety of colors
- Installation is quick and easy with components that snap together using a rubber mallet hammer
- Add doors for more security
- Made in U.S.A.
Buy Steel Rod Shelving Online
Steel rod shelving with overhead storage is available to buy online for your hanging uniform needs. For more information or if you need assistance, call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Riot Shield & Vest Racks
To do their jobs, law enforcement officials need to always be ready. And when it’s needed, officers need to access riot gear quickly. Due to lack of space or funding, many law enforcement facilities find it difficult to store gear and equipment like riot shields, ballistic vests, helmets, etc. efficiently and securely. Riot shield and ballistic vest racks offer a specialized storage solution for these difficult items that avoids stacking, stores them in a small footprint, and allows for fast access.
Common Issues with Riot Gear Storage
Incorrect storage such as piling and stacking shields and vests on top of each other causes damage to this vital and expensive equipment. And without an efficient storage system, this equipment is difficult to retrieve and account for. It’s difficult to see how much equipment is available or in use at one time. And when officers need this equipment, there’s not an efficient system that gets them in and out of the storage area quickly. This situation not only delays response time, but is frustrating for officers. However, many law enforcement facilities simply don’t have the space for dedicated riot shield and vest storage.
These riot shield racks are a great solution for both space, organization, and security concerns. With partitioned top and bottom shelves to maximize space, you can store more in a smaller footprint. Racks make it easy to organize so officers can easily see how much equipment they have with just a glance. And an organized gear storage system makes retrieval fast and easy. Should you have items of various sizes, the partitions are also completely adjustable. Customize the openings whichever way works best for you.
Features and options for the riot shield shelving includes:
- Vertically adjustable shelves on 1 ½” increments
- Additional shelves can be added
- Each shelf rated to hold 250 lbs.
- With intermediate shelf, the racks provide 41″ of space for the top and bottom openings for a unit 88 ¼” high
- Metal divider rods constructed from 6 gauge metal and can be placed as needed on 2″ centers across the width of the shelf
- 30″ wide shelves come with 16 rods, 36″ wide shelves come with 20 rods, 42″ wide shelves come with 24 rods, and 48″ wide shelves come with 28 rods
- Bottom kick plates to prevent items from rolling under the unit
- Closed uprights constructed from heavy duty 18-gauge steel
- Textured powder coat finish available in several colors
- Limited lifetime manufacturer’s warranty
- Made in the USA
- Volume discounts available
Buy Riot Shield Storage Shelves Online
Riot shield storage shelves are available to buy online. For more information or if you need assistance, call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
An Easy Way to Secure Your Storage
With businesses growing and information storage becoming more complex, security is a bigger concern than ever. You’re likely storing items and files you want to keep secure on your shelving, and expensive security systems may not be in your budget. Automatic locking doors are a simple solution that mount directly onto your new or pre-existing shelves to cost-effectively increase security. Additionally, the doors are available with multiple operation options depending on your needs.
Automatic locking doors can be installed with a remote or wireless keypad, or can even be used manually. While hinged doors require extra space in front of your shelves so they have room to swing out, the automatic doors roll up instead. This requires no use of your floor space. And with hinged doors, you would need to take extra time to move any boxes or obstructions in front of them. Rolling doors still allow you to access stored contents even with boxes stacked in front of it.
Its built-in sensor is one of the most useful and unique features of the doors. This automatically stops the motion of the door if it comes into contact with an obstruction. If a box or other item is left hanging partially off a shelf, the door stops immediately without crushing or damaging the item. Simply roll the door back up, remove the obstruction, and reset the door so it can roll down again. Watch the video above to see how it works.
Rolling Shelving Door Features
Additional features of the locking doors include:
- Availability in a variety of sizes and widths (see table)
- Choose from manual operation, wireless paddle switch, hardwired keyswitch, wireless keypad, or wireless remote control
- Doors include 1 ¾” spacers between the shelving and door to allow for slight overhang without causing an obstruction
- Multiple color options available to match your existing decor
- Installation on almost any type of static or mobile shelving, doors, or counters
- Easily add a neat, clean look while providing security
- Requires no routine maintenance
- Included with one year limited manufacturer’s warranty
Buy Automatic Locking Doors Online
Automated roll-down doors are available to buy online in multiple sizes and options. For additional information, please call us toll free at 1-855-786-766.
Create A Cooler, Healthier Space
The more you save on electricity, the better your bill looks for your budget. Plus, making efforts to save energy is great for the environment, too. But you still want your building to be cool and comfortable for staff or visitors. Wind turbines install on your roof without any wiring or electricity, providing a budget and eco-friendly alternative (or addition) to expensive HVAC systems.
How the Turbines Work
The turbines are a great natural ventilation system, which are proven to keep operating costs down and don’t require frequent maintenance.
Normally, hot air becomes trapped within buildings, making them hot and uncomfortable. As hot air rises to the ceiling, the wind turbines actively exhaust and replace it with cooler, fresher air. This creates an ambient temperature in your building that is up to 10ºF cooler.
Wind turbines only need a breeze of 10 miles per hour to exhaust over 7,000 cubic feet of air per minute, and four miles per hour to exhaust over 3,000. This allows for multiple air exchanges per hour, which not only keeps your building cooler, but also prevents “sick building syndrome.” A clean, healthy environment is proven to make staff more productive and customers happier. Additionally, keeping your building cool and free of contaminants prevents employees from missing work due to illness. The wind turbines also prevent condensation from humidity, which damages some equipment and materials.
Compared to powered turbines, the wind turbines are incredibly quiet and require very little maintenance. They are designed to withstand harsh weather and leave a low structural impact on your building. And with a 15 year warranty, the turbines are a smart and quick-returning investment.
Buy Wind Turbines Online
Wind-powered turbines are available to buy online in multiple sizes. For more information or if you need assistance, call us at 1-855-786-7667.
Modular Mailroom Furniture Improves Organization
Everyone in the office is always busy, but the mail waits for no one. Since no one has time to organize it, your mailroom soon becomes cluttered and disorganized. Employees spend valuable time sorting through clutter and can lose or misplace important items. Modular mailroom furniture sorter kits and casegoods provide reusable, adjustable storage and sorting solutions so you can stay organized and on task.
The modular mailroom furniture sorter kits are designed for a wide variety of applications. Tables, cabinets, carts, through-wall sorters, and cubbies are just a few options. Constructed with aluminum extrusion framework, these casegoods are the strongest in the industry. Hundreds of sorters and complimentary options such as riser platforms, display boards, and dump rims are also available help organize your mailroom.
With incredibly flexible options, the modular mailroom furniture can be modified at any time to adapt to your needs. If you relocate or simply need to move your furniture, it easily comes with you. This is an eco-friendly alternative to built-in millwork. Modular mailroom furniture requires no construction costs and is completely reusable.
Modular Mailroom Tables
- Available in three heights, ten widths, and three depths
- Custom configurations available based on your specifications
- Include modesty panels on three sides for rigidity & structural integrity
- Available with optional casters, adjustable height legs, bottom shelves, consoles, and two modesty panel sizes
- Tables are shipped unassembled with easy do-it-yourself instructions
Mailroom Sort Modules
- Sorter shelves adjust on 1″ increments
- Shelves have no sharp edges, which prevents snags and hand injuries
- Transparent shelves allow more visibility of stored documents
- Sort modules come with label holders and Excel/Word templates. The label holders easily snap on and off for quick changes.
- Sorters come assembled and ready to use. Just unpack and slide in the shelves.
Buy Modular Mailroom Furniture Online
Modular mailroom furniture is available to buy online in standard or customized configurations. To order your mailroom casework, please call us at 1-855-786-7667.
Sustainable Pharmacy Casework
Whether it’s for inpatient or outpatient services, pharmacies require a great deal of organization and flexibility in order to serve patients quickly and efficiently. Pharmacy casework is a reusable and adaptable medication dispensing and storage solution that is designed with the ability to change as fast as patient needs do.
Unlike built-in millwork, the pharmacy casework is preconfigured at the factory. Once shipped, the casework arrives fully assembled and ready to set in place without professional installers. If your workflow processes change, you can easily modify the casework to better fit your needs. Additionally, moving isn’t a problem, either; if you need to relocate, just take the casework with you. Built-in millwork, meanwhile, is built directly into the building and is immovable once installed. Additionally, casework installation doesn’t require any building modifications. Set it where you want, and move it later on if you need to.
Features & Options
Casework kits are available in a wide variety of cabinet and countertop finishes with upper shelves or cabinets. You can order a standard configuration or contact us for casework designed to your exact specifications. Either way, you’ll receive a pharmacy casework solution constructed of only the highest-quality hardware. Due to an increasing focus on sustainability, the casework is an environmentally friendly option for pharmacies. Whether your pharmacy is old or new, consider casework if you want a professional, reusable, and smart furniture solution designed for your exact needs. Additional options and features include:
- 3/4″ thick industrial grade 40-50 lb substrate, double-faced melamine construction provides durability
- All exposed edges covered with 2mm PVC edge banding
- Adjustable upper shelves installed flat or in four tilting positions for more efficient dispensing
- All base and upper cabinets come with one adjustable shelf for full access
- Sustainable design
- GREENGUARD® Indoor Air Quality Certified
- Constructed from recycled materials where applicable
- Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) standards
- Powder coat paint used on all metal surfaces
- Water-based environmentally friendly adhesives
- Optional features: side splash, lock options for cabinet doors and drawers, sinks & faucet
Buy Pharmacy Casework Online
Pharmacy casework is available to buy online in standard or customized configurations. For more information or to receive additional assistance, send us a message or call us at 1-855-786-7667. Volume discounts available.

domain: design


text: LOOK. - $K‡ŁŁ£† [FREE DOWNLOAD] by STYLSS published on 2012/11/15 01:21:09 +0000 LOOK. - $K‡ŁŁ£† Click "Buy Link" for a FREE download. We hit 1k likes on facebook so we figured this would be an excellent opportunity to welcome dat yung LOOK. to the STYLSS family. LOOK. is 1/2 of DRVG$ and will have a solo EP release with STYLSS in the future as well as DRVG$ debut EP. http://soundcloud.com/l-o-o-k http://soundcloud.com/drvgsss https://www.facebook.com/lxxkproductions https://www.facebook.com/stoptakingyourlifesoseriously Thank you!


Product and Services Catalog (Not up to date)
Wondering what product wiil fit your application? Browse through our Product Catalog for ideas.
LIDA - (Logic Ignition Diagnostic Analyzer)
Lida has application in automotive service industry. With its miniature and robust logic design is capable to diagnose ignition problems within seconds without the use of a sophisticated engine analyzer.
PICAD (Pasive Interference Colission Avoidance Device)
With its sleek portable design and original circuitry, PICAD can detect and indicate in real time the relative position of two aircrafts from up to five miles away. The pilot can guide the airplain using the Picad's directional display to avoid a potential collision with another aircraft.
MATE 32 (Multifunctional Automatic Test Equipment)
Mate is capable to "learn" and store the electrical signature of a known good active circuit and use it to compare and determine the fault in seconds. The unit has IEEE488 interface to a PC capability along with windows software to collect process and view data from UUT.
Stock Market Prediction Analysis Software
An original Stock Market prediction computer program is capable using unique algoritms to determine in advance with several days the trend of a selected stock based on previous records.
Fast Intermittent Tester 2000
The modern, computer controlled engine used on combustion engine have demanded fast and accurate handheld electronic testers to detect intermittent problems. FIT 2000 is design to do just that. By using a fast Motorolla microcontroller chip and few electromagnetic sensors is capable to detect fast, intermittent events in the ignition, injection, ECM and associated componnets.


Comparison of optimization-based approaches to imaging spectroscopic inversion in coastal waters
Additional Document Info
The United States Navy has recently shifted focus from open-ocean warfare to joint operations in optically complex nearshore regions. Accurately estimating bathymetry and water column inherent optical properties (IOPs) from passive remotely sensed imagery can be an important facilitator of naval operations. Lee et al. 1 developed a semianalytical model that describes the relationship between shallow-water bottom depth, IOPs and subsurface and above-surface reflectance. They also developed a nonlinear optimization-based technique 2 that estimates bottom depth and IOPs, using only measured spectral remote sensing reflectance as input. While quite effective, inversion using noisy field data can limit its accuracy. In this research, the nonlinear optimization-based Lee et al. 2 inversion algorithm was used as a baseline method, and it provided the framework for a proposed hybrid evolutionary/classical optimization approach to hyperspectral data processing. All aspects of the proposed implementation were held constant with that of Lee et al. 2, except that a hybrid evolutionary/classical optimizer (HECO) was substituted for the nonlinear method. HECO required more computer-processing time. In addition, HECO is nondeterministic, and the termination strategy is heuristic. However, the HECO method makes no assumptions regarding the mathematical form of the problem functions. Also, whereas smooth nonlinear optimization is only guaranteed to find a locally optimal solution, HECO has a higher probability of finding a more globally optimal result. While the HECO-acquired results are not provably optimal, we have empirically found that for certain variables, HECO does provide estimates comparable to nonlinear optimization (e.g., bottom albedo at 550 nm).
name of conference
Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XI


text:
CryptoQuip is the challenging puzzle game where you decode famous quotes. Version 2.2 has incorporated lots of your feedback and is the best version yet! The game is based on letter substitution. To solve the secret message you just drag and drop alphabet tiles onto the puzzle board. The quotes are fun and educational - whether they contain witty, wise or warm sentiments.
With 150 puzzles included, CryptoQuip will keep your brain engaged for hours. If you want to play more you can buy puzzle packs right inside the game! Development of this game is funded by AdMob advertising revenue, and the option to turn off ads is available as an in-app purchase as well.

domain: game


text:
WELL I definitely did not finish the game but I did submit it! So there is a playable demo up for now. I hope to finish this game pretty soon though, I've been moving along at a good clip.
Recent community posts
So realistically speaking I'm PROBABLY not going to be able to finish by the deadline, because I still haven't managed to hit the turning point, but regardless of whether or not the game is finished by the end of the week, by god, I am GOING TO FINISH THIS GAME.
I'M STILL SO BEHIND, I'M RUSHIN' LIKE CRAZY god i really hope i can finish this
the last day of this jam is my mother's wedding LMAO SO.......
i'm trying to just get to the Turning Point of this game as my next concrete but i've still got a lot to do there too WEEPS... wish me luck, friends, i think i'm gonna need it
Ahh thanks so much :D I'm hoping Rashida's route will be just as interesting.
I've noticed that in the past, one of my major weaknesses as a writer is saying TOO much and overexposing, so this is very much an attempt/experiment in reining that in and learning to be more ~~mysterious. So far it's really fun!
UPDATE: I'm still trucking away at this, although I'm still a little behind. I've been squeezing in productivity when I can, but it's been a pretty busy week. But I am determined!!!
I've started on Rashida's route in earnest; I'm trying to write them more or less side-by-side, tackling them in chunks. I'm focusing on getting most of the story done before I worry about sound implementation, although I still need to gather assets for it. Mostly I'm just concerned about whether or not I'll be able to finish on time.
I can't do much in the way of screenshots, so here is a very short playable demo of Ivy's route!
Thanks everyone, I'm so glad that people are interested!
So far I'm finding that the biggest challenge, more than anything, is getting the delay timing for the text right. The ideal is that the next chunk of text shouldn't appear until you're done reading what's already there, but of course everyone reads at different speeds so I'm trying to find a good common ground. I've been getting some helpful feedback about the timing from some friends, though, so hopefully I'm getting closer to nailing it! It's pretty crucial to the feel of the game, so I've been spending...a lot of time on it, whoops.
I had to call out of work today so hopefully I can turn this into a super productive game dev day!
Oh man, I know this has been said several times but I am LOVING the aesthetic and colors of this game. The character designs are simple but distinctive and really lively, and even that basic walking animation you have for the PC is pretty smooth-looking!
Food is my one true love, so I'm automatically a sucker for any game that's about cooking, and this sounds like a really fun spin on popular fairy lore :D I'm looking forward to seeing more!
Hello everyone! Madi Ballista here, diving into my very first game jam. This is not my first experience with Twine, though it will be my first finished game, and a solo effort at that!
overview & gameplay
"two truths and a..." is a psychological horror game built in Twine 1.4 with Sugarcube 2. The game chronicles the strange series of events that follow the mysterious appearance of wind turbines in a small New England town one summer, as perceived by the two main characters, best friends Rashida and Ivy. "two truths and a..." (2ta2, because I'm lazy) incorporates some of my favorite elements of psychological horror, such as missing time, reality and perception dissonance, unreliable narrators, unexplained suicides, and a whole host of other things. I've been binge watching horror movies for the last two weeks, so I am set.
Why wind turbines? I don't know, man. The sight of wind turbines on the horizon has always filled me with an inexplicable sense of dread, so I thought I'd try and convey that bizarre fear in the form of an interactive fiction game.
2ta2 is a pretty straightforward click-through interactive fiction game with branching story paths. The game can be played from the perspective of either Rashida or Ivy, chosen at game start, to explore the different series of events and the intersections of their experiences. The gameplay itself is simple, so the aim here is to convey that atmosphere of growing discomfort and dread and slowly build suspense for the player, and leave them constantly guessing as to what, exactly, is going on, and what they can really trust.
Also: numbers stations. Numbers stations are creepy as hell, so naturally they play a role in 2ta2's story.
1. Learn something new. I'm already fairly familiar with Twine, so my main goal for this project is to do something with it I've never done before: including sound, and using timed text. The majority of the sound assets in this game will be sound effects rather than music, meant to serve as very light jump scares or add to the suspense.
2. Create an effective atmosphere. Rather than just focusing on the content, I'm experimenting with the presentation of the content in order to achieve that chilling, spooky feeling. Time-delayed text is a big part of this experiment. In setting subsequent blocks of text to appear on timed delays in each passage, I hope to gradually build an air of suspense and helplessness that reflects the characters' mental states.
3. Multiple endings. Although I'm working to make a short, compact game that can be reasonably finished within the time frame, I'm also aiming to have five different endings the player can get in 2ta2.
The first two days of the jam were kind of a wash for me due to RL stuff, so I got a bit of a late start, but I am on track! So far I've got about ~15% of Ivy's route done, and I've been fine-tuning the timing on the text delays to get the right pace (as well as spending about half a day figuring out how to get the timed delays to work properly). I've collected a handful of sound assets, but I'll need to spend more time hunting down the right sound effects and implement them later this week.
There's nothing really interesting to screenshot since it's a text-only game, so in lieu of anything visually snazzy to show you, here's a piece of music that plays a thematic and narrative role in the game.
Looking forward to posting further updates!!


text:
In the realm of French real estate, many buyers opt for property acquisition through SCI companies. Let's delve deeper into this method of real estate purchase and explore how acquiring property in the name of an SCI offers distinct advantages.
SCI (Société Civile Immobilière)
An SCI, or Société Civile Immobilière, is a legal non-commercial company designed for real estate ownership. This type of company enables family members or a group of individuals to become co-owners of one or several real estate properties, distributing ownership shares as they see fit. SCI is exceptionally adaptable, catering to those seeking additional income through property rentals or a progressive inheritance plan.
Creating an SCI: Procedures and Requirements
The establishment of an SCI typically occurs during the real estate purchase process, between the preliminary and final sales contract. A notary often handles the administrative and registration formalities. They create the company's articles of incorporation, publish a notice of SCI registration in the legal journal JAL, register the company with the Chamber of Commerce, and file the company's articles with the tax authorities. Once completed, a registration certificate is issued, containing comprehensive information about the company and its founders, available upon request to third parties.
Functioning and Ownership Structure
Number of individuals required to establish
Establishing an SCI requires the involvement of at least two individuals, who can be either physical or legal entities. There are no set limits on the number of owners, nor nationality restrictions, unlike other corporate forms. Even minors can become SCI members since the company isn't commercially oriented. An SCI can exist for up to 99 years.
Diversity of members and their rights
The SCI's articles of incorporation dictate its functionality. These documents must be written and specify the company's name and legal address, which can be the property's location or another address provided by another company. The purpose of the SCI should not be of a commercial nature. Founders' information and the distribution of shares and contributions are outlined, and contributions can vary, including monetary or property-based contributions. Property contributions should be noted as they may trigger taxation upon transfer.
Inheritance and Gifting through
Transferring shares within an SCI presents tax advantages. Each child is entitled to a €100,000 exemption every 15 years when receiving shares. To avoid exceeding this threshold, it's advisable to make rounded contributions (e.g., €100 or €1,000). Parents can retain "ususfruct" rights, allowing them to use, rent, and generate income from the property while transferring ownership to their children. Upon the parents' passing, these rights are nullified, and the children inherit the shares without inheritance tax obligations.
An SCI is recognized as a transparent entity, thereby placing the tax obligation on the founders. Typically, SCI income from long-term, unfurnished rentals is subject to income tax. For French residents, the tax rate follows a progressive scale from 11% to 45%, with an additional 17.2% in social contributions. Non-residents face a flat tax rate of 30%, plus 17.2% in social contributions. However, if a non-resident is part of a social security scheme in another EU country, they are subject to a lower solidarity levy of 7.5%.
Each member of the SCI must declare their portion of rental income based on their share of the SCI's capital. This income is then combined with their other earnings and reported on their individual tax return. The taxation process mirrors that of direct property ownership. It's important to note that income retained within the SCI for future investments is also taxable. Capital gains from selling real estate or SCI shares incur a tax of 19%, plus 17.2% social contributions, totaling 36.2%.
Tax exemptions are available based on the duration of ownership: a partial exemption after five years and complete exemption after thirty years. Buyers of SCI shares are obliged to pay a 5% registration fee plus a departmental tax.
SCI founders have the option to choose corporate profit taxation. This irreversible decision allows for deductions including management costs and property depreciation, potentially reducing taxable income. If the SCI is profitable, earnings up to €38,120 are taxed at a reduced 15% rate, earnings between €38,120 and €500,000 at 25%, and any amount over €500,000 at 33.33%. Choosing dividends subjects members to a 40% tax allowance on these earnings, with the remaining 60% taxed as income from movable capital. However, this corporate tax choice can complicate property sales, as it excludes members from long-term ownership benefits. This option is advantageous for members with high incomes who do not plan to sell their properties in the near future.
Compliance and Formalities for Managing an SCI
Annual general meetings and record-keeping
Properly managing an SCI entails certain obligations, such as organizing an annual general meeting and maintaining written records of proceedings. For SCI entities subject to income tax, maintaining simplified accounting records using tools like Excel is advisable. However, those subject to corporate tax must maintain proper accounting.
Banking and financial management
All income and expenses should flow through an SCI's dedicated bank account. Failing to adhere to these rules may result in financial penalties imposed by tax authorities.
Monaco SCI: A Unique Alternative
Overview of Monaco SCI
In contrast to French SCI companies, Monaco SCI companies offer a distinctive approach to real estate ownership. Acquiring property in France through a Monaco-based SCI involves a registration process that closely mirrors that of its French counterpart. However, there are key distinctions worth noting. The legal address of a Monaco SCI must be situated within Monaco itself, often provided by a Monaco-based company. The annual cost of renting a legal address in Monaco for an SCI is approximately 700–1500 euros. Notably, information about Monaco-based SCI companies and their owners remains confidential, although it may be disclosed to government authorities, such as the French tax administration.
Differences Between French and Monaco SCIs
Monaco SCIs introduce unique capabilities, such as the ability to hold movable assets in addition to real estate. When more than 50% of an Monaco SCI's assets consist of movable property, the transfer of shares under inheritance can, in specific cases, be subject to Monaco's inheritance tax. For instance, when transferring shares from parents to children, Monaco imposes a zero-rate inheritance tax (compared to a maximum of 45% in France), while transfers to third parties may incur a 16% tax (compared to 60% in France). Other taxes applicable to company owners, including residence tax, property tax, wealth tax, income tax, and capital gains tax on the sale of shares, remain consistent with the French SCI framework.
This comprehensive overview highlights the numerous advantages of SCI companies in the realm of French real estate. They offer flexibility, tax benefits, and simplified inheritance and gifting options. Additionally, the option of a Monaco-based SCI adds a layer of versatility to this approach. Understanding these benefits can significantly enhance one's real estate investment strategy in France.

domain: law


text:
[...] Read more
At a Poetry Party I Am Given the Rhyme Chih
Although I've studied poetry for thirty years
I try to keep my mouth shut and avoid reputation.
Now who is this nosy gentleman talking about my poetry
Like Yang Ching-chih
Who spoke of Hsiang Ssu everywhere he went.
Our Boat Starts At Night
Our boat starts at night
from the beach of Yen Kuang.
Great ships sail only for profit
Only small boats come here because of your fame.
The passers-by are embarrassed by your virtue.
So in the night we steal by the place where you used to fish.
As in a Dream
To the melody of "Ru Meng Lin"
Last night in the light rain as rough winds blew,
My drunken sleep left me no merrier.
I question one that raised the curtain, who
Replies: "The wild quince trees -- are as they were."
But no, but no!
Their rose is waning, and their green leaves grow.
Tz'u No. 2 (Wine Joy)
To the tune "As in a Dream"
I have long remembered
on the stream
the falling sun
so deep in wine
we did not know
the way home
how pleasure spent
a lotus deep place
and struggling through
we scared up
from the sand
gulls and herons.
Tz'u No. 3
To the tune "Red Lips"
Tired of swinging
I rise with a slender hand
the dew thick
on frail blossoms
sweat seeping through
my thin robe
my friend come
gold hairpins askew
I walk over
lean against the door
turn my head
grasp the dark green plums
[...] Read more
The Sun Sets in Molten Gold
The sun sets in molten gold.
The evening clouds form a jade disk.
Where is he?
Dense white mist envelops the willows.
A sad flute plays “Falling Plum Blossoms.”
How many Spring days are left now?
This Feast of Lanterns should be joyful.
The weather is calm and lovely.
But who can tell if it
Will be followed by wind and rain?
To the Tune
Breeze soft, sun frail, spring still early.
In a new lined dress my heart was refreshed,
But when I rose from sleep I felt a chill.
I put plum blossoms in my hair.
Now they are withered.
Where is my homeland?
I forgot it only when drunk.
The sandal wood incense burned out while I slept.
Now the perfume has gone,
But the wine has not gone.
Tz'u No. 5
To the tune of "Like a Dream"
I always remember the sunset
over the pavilion by the river,
so tipsy we could not find our way home.
Our interest exhausted, the evening late,
we tried to turn the boat homeward.
By mistake, we entered deep within the lotus bed.
Row! Row the boat!
A flock of herons, frightened,
suddenly flew skyward.
Tz'u No. 15
To the tune of "Rinsing Silk Stream"
Thousands of light flakes of crushed gold
for its blossoms,
Trimmed jade for its layers of leaves.
This flower has the air of scholar Yen Fu.
Plum flowers are too common;
Lilacs too coarse when compared.
Yet, its penetrating fragrance
drives away my fond dreams
of far away places.


Did you hear that ingredient exposure from cosmetics could be less than we thought? A new test model shows this. If you missed the news this week from Cosmetics & Toiletries, you missed out! Check out our video re-cap, including:
- Korean inventors developed a liposome that can deliver extracellular matrix to cells.
- Scientists from Sweden’s Lund University developed a method to see how molecules from solvents affect skin molecules.
- Researchers at Oregon State University uncovered a way to identify lipids in compromised skin, which could lead to ultimate skin care personalization.
- Not to mention several ingredient and finished product launches, reported all week.


text:
1 12 oz packages SeaPak Shrimp Scampi
1 package (12 oz) New Orleans Style Dirty Rice Mix (we used Zatarain’s)
1⁄4 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped scallions for garnish (optional)
Prepare Dirty Rice according to package directions.
Add shrimp scampi and Creole seasoning into the saucepan with the dirty rice.
Cover and place over medium-low heat for 5 minutes.
Stir to combine.
Sprinkle with cheese and place the cover back on for another 5 minutes.
Garnish with scallions and serve.


text:
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| Sep 13, 2011
| 11:10 PM
Yankees right-hander A.J. Burnett and three relievers combined to strike out 17 Mariners and Mariano Rivera racked up the 600th save of his career as Seattle lost its fourth straight, dropping a 3-2 decision Tuesday at Safeco Field.
The youthful Mariners...
| Jul 25, 2011
| 7:49 AM
There was a lot of skepticism and criticism directed towards the Yankees when they signed Bartolo Colon, citing his health and absence from the Majors as major concerns.
When Colon injured himself from running the short distance of the pitching mound...
| Jul 26, 2011
| 10:09 PM
Just when the Mariners thought things couldn't get any worse, CC Sabathia and the Yankees introduced a new level of frustration Tuesday in a 4-1 loss, in which Seattle managed just one hit and struck out 18 times.
In extending their franchise-record...
| Jul 27, 2011
| 6:39 AM
This will always be remembered as the game of "what if" for C.C Sabathia.
The Big Yank was unhittable through the first six innings last night against the lowly Seattle Mariners. His pitches were so dominating that it seemed like a no-hitter was in the...


text:
In today’s topsy-turvy world of electric-power generation and delivery anything can happen, and it does. Recall that only a couple of years ago, the OEM with the largest position in the generation sector purchased a major competitor and tried to take by storm the industry’s aftermarket business—worldwide. That might have led some to conclude that other companies would shy away from investments in outage, maintenance, and repair activities and there would be fewer options for powerplant owner/operators.
Not true. One example: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co (Doosan), a 123-year-old company with deep ties in power generation, purchased privately held ACT Independent Turbo Services July 26, 2017, renaming it Doosan Turbomachinery Services (DTS) and establishing an aftermarket presence in North America to serve the world. The Korean firm did not have a formal gas-turbine repair group before acquiring ACT.
Doosan had a small footprint in the North American electric-power market at the time, which is why you might not be familiar with the company. But it has been a force in Asia, Europe and the Middle East for decades. Doosan may have been best known here for its fossil-fired boiler and combustion systems expertise and products gained through the company’s acquisition of Mitsui’s Babcock Energy Ltd in 2006.
More than 90% of Doosan’s $16.4-billion revenue stream (2016) is generated by its infrastructure support activities divided among six business groups: EPC, turbine/generator (Sidebar 1), nuclear, power service, water, and castings and forgings. Doosan Turbomachinery Services reports directly to James Kim, director of the gas-turbine business unit in the turbine/generator business group.
1.Turbine/generator development highlights
Doosan was a pioneer in the development of steam turbine/generators, its work in the field dating back 114 years. The company has supplied more than 650 units worldwide (about half of those in Europe) for conventional fossil-fired steam plants, combined cycles, nuclear, etc, with a combined capability of more than 130,000 MW (about half that total in Asia). Milestones include the following:
Today Doosan manufactures steam turbines and generators, and excitation and control systems, for industrial and utility customers with ratings up to 1500 MW (50 and 60 Hz), plus supporting Rankine cycle equipment (condensers and heat exchangers). Manufacturing centers are located in Changwon, Korea, and Doosan Skoda Power in Plzen (A/K/A Pilsen), Czech Republic. Together they can ship units with a combined rating of up to 9000 MW annually.
Gas turbines. Doosan has a gas-turbine manufacturing history that dates back to 1991, when it was licensed by GE. In 2007, it also was licensed to produce gas turbines by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (Sidebar 2).
2. Gas-turbine manufacturing
Highlights of Doosan’s work as a licensee of GE and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems include the following:
Today the company is transforming itself into an OEM, expecting to introduce a 270-MW (60 Hz) engine to owner/operators in 2022. Full-scale/full-load tests are scheduled for mid-2019 to mid-2020 in Doosan’s Changwon (Korea) manufacturing facility. Development of a 340-MW (60 Hz) H-class engine is well underway with design completion anticipated about a year after commercial introduction of the F-class machine. Previously the company developed and tested a 5-MW gas turbine/generator which was offered commercially in 2009.
Changwon is an “A to Z” manufacturing facility for gas turbines, as it is for steamers, handling everything from the production of producing castings and forgings through engine assembly and testing. A big plus for gas-turbine customers is the facility’s capability in the manufacture of turbine and compressor discs for all legacy engines. Inconel discs are under development.
Changwon’s hot-parts shop, equipped for manufacturing and repairs, does coatings, heat treatment, machining, welding, inspection, etc. The full-speed/full-load test rig has more than 3000 sensors to verify gas-turbine operational stability, structural integrity, and performance.
DTS, which opened its doors as Advanced Combustion Technology in 1996, expanded dramatically in both size and capability in the second decade of the new millennium and today has a global footprint among the industry’s leaders in aftermarket gas-turbine services (Sidebar 3).
3. Milestones in DTS’s history
Future plans include a cold-rotor coating facility and final expansion of the rotor building to 420 ft long.
Industrial gas turbine (IGT) component repairs were the company’s bread-and-butter until 2012. The editors visited the original shop of the founding owner during a user-group meeting in the mid-2000s and the expanded facilities in the same location near Houston’s William P Hobby Airport early in this decade after the company was purchased by an investment group.
The new, high-tech La Porte shop, toured by the editors in February 2018, dwarfs its predecessors with more than 100,000 ft2 of production facilities on an 11-acre site with room to expand (Sidebar 4). ACT had begun transitioning to La Porte under the direction of industry veteran Billy Coleman in 2012 with the opening of what it called its Phase 1 rotor shop.
4. La Porte facilities
Doosan’s La Porte complex is divided into five active shop areas, with a sixth set aside for expansion when necessary:
Particularly important to gas-turbine owner/operators are the rotor and heavy-mechanical capabilities added as part of ACT’s expansion in the 2011 to 2017 period before the sale to Doosan, and since. Today, the company has a Tier-1 F-class rating by major power producers and ISO 9001 and OHSAS 18001 certifications.
The La Porte team’s accomplishments in rotor repair are a source of great pride at DTS. Forty GE rotors, Frame 3s through 7FAs, have been repaired there already—including five 7FAs in 2017, two with complete unstack/re-stack (Fig 1). One rotor had a long history of problems and was running with up to 6 mils vibration. Repairs reduced that to 1.2 mils, validating staff capabilities.
Doosan’s first 501F rotor was at La Porte during CCJ’s visit. Replacement of the torque tube and air separator were among the action items. Other noteworthy 501F work involves the exhaust system where issues abound, at least according to presentations and discussion at user-group meetings. Seven two-piece exhaust systems, overhauled and upgraded with Doosan’s zero-hour mod, have been returned to service (Fig 2).
The management team (Fig 3) stressed DTS’s wide range of repair experience on both new and mature engine technologies and its work in developing innovative engineered solutions to solve chronic issues facing users. The following stops were included in the shop tour:
- Component repair.
- Rotor unstacking/restacking, de-blading/re-blading.
- Heavy mechanical—exhaust sections, for example—including rounding and jacking capability, dimensional correction, weld repairs, heavy-duty lifting beams and rigging, specialized fixtures.
- New parts, including 7EA and 7FA rotor discs.
- Cleaning and surface treatment conducted in large drive-through blast booth.
- Rotor balancing up to 175.000 lbs.
- Thermal spray booth.
- Machining centers with lathes, boring mills (vertical and horizontal), blade tip and surface grinder, etc.
- Electrical discharge machining (EDM) and CNC.
- Welding booth.
- Heat treatment.
- Sonic-nozzle flow testing. CCJ

domain: economics


text:
Thank you again, Jarek, for the kind words and the Like. I appreciate it and your visit very much!
Best wishes, Marlene
Successful Launch and good ship
Amazing beauty, very well captured! ♣ L, All the best from Iran, Mahdi ♣
محل تگینگش درست نیستا
I LIKE IT
Amazing beauty, very well captured, my friend
a very beautiful road => LIKE => greetings from Italy,
♥Impressive shot, nice composition and colors….….. LIKE74!!! Greetings from Sweden, Inge:)))♥
I am very glad you like it Yuri. Best regards to Ukraine cheers scally.


text:
Throw Pillows: Decorative and Accent | Crate and Barrel
Shop plush throw pillows in square, rectangle and oval shapes from Crate and Barrel. Add comfort to your home with feather-down or down-alternative styles.
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Bucilla Candy Express ~ 6 Pce.Felt Christmas Ornament Kit #86157, Train, Frosty
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Your place to buy and sell all things handmade
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46" x 17" Handmade Embroider Applique Bead SNOWMAN scene CHRISTMAS TABLE RUNNER
This is a 46 x 17" New Handmade "Snowman Village", Beaded, Embroidered & Appliqued Winter & Christmas Table Runner. It will be a family treasure decade after decade! This table runner is all handmade.


text:
The West Usk Lighhouse is the ultimate unique bed and breakfast for the perfect getaway. Containing rooms with breathtaking views, the West Usk Lighthouse has received great recognition from TV and magazines.
All rooms are wedge-shaped and there is a stone spiral staircase in the centre, right above a collecting well, which is now our wishing well! The entrance hall is slate bedded and we have a Dalek at the bottom of the stairs and a Tardis on the roof, which is an added bonus for Dr Who fans and those visiting the new Dr Who Exhibition in Cardiff.
We have 4 rooms inside the lighthouse used for accommodation. The prices include a full English breakfast with vegetarian and vegan options available.
The West Usk Lighthouse is a cosy bed and breakfast plus a small wedding venue situated near the City of Newport, Gwent, at the junction of the Severn and the Usk Estuaries, overlooking the Bristol Channel.
Quite close to the lighthouse are palatial Tredegar House (lake and craft shops in its grounds) and romantic little Castell Coch ('the red castle').
Also well worth visiting are the Roman city of Caerleon, and the castles of Caldicot, Chepstow, Raglan, Cardiff, and Caerphilly. Check their websites for events.
Other places include Tintern Abbey, Comeston Lakes and Medieval Village, Parc Bryn Bach, Rhondda Heritage Park, Techniquest, Big Pit, Llanciar Fawr Manor, Cwmcarn Forest Drive, Dyffryn Gardens and Arboretum, National Museum Cardiff, St. Fagans National History Museum, and lots more.
Both the Usk Valley, the Brecon Beacons and the Mumbles are scenic and within easy drive. Experience the island of Flat Holm, 50 minutes crossing from Cardiff Bay.
- Children Allowed

domain: geography


Enigma: The Man Behind The Mystery
by David Knight
dotmusic October 21, 1996
Wherever you are in the world, you are likely to hear it: the chant of a Native American, a remote African tribe or an austere religious order backed by the rhythms of Western pop music.
The music of Enigma, and the whole genre it has inspired, has become so widespread it is hard to believe it did not exist before one man conceived it. That man, Michael Cretu, remains largely unheralded but, as he refuses to be photographed and styles himself as an enigma, he has little cause for complaint.
Cretu was born in Romania and, after classical training, became a studio musician in the Seventies. His first significant success came in the Eighties with Europe-wide hits for the German pop star Sandra, who later became his wife.
For the past eight years, Cretu has lived in Ibiza, creating the music of Enigma in almost complete seclusion.
However, Cretu has recently opened his doors and permitted a brief glimpse into his private world by giving the first public airing of the third Enigma album, Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!, at the place it was recorded, the studio that adjoins his home.
Cretu, 39, is genial and hospitable and certainly no recluse, but he's most comfortable within the confines of the studio he created in 1989, which he describes as his "living room".
He says, "After a big Sandra album, I had some free time for the first time in years and I started to make music for myself."
Coming out of Europop, Cretu began working on something closer to his own favourite music: the conceptual, album-orientated work of bands like Pink Floyd and Yes. "I always liked music like this, but I could no longer buy it, so I did it myself," he says.
Cretu's use of two very different and highly unfashionable sampled sounds - the Peruvian-styled panpipes and monks singing the Gregorian Cantus - over laid-back disco beats was his masterstroke. "The panpipe was one of the basic samples on the old Fairlight and I'd been trying to find a reason to use it for years," he explains.
Cretu took the Enigma project to Virgin Records Germany, where he had already been for several years as an artist/producer, signed by the now managing director Udo Lange. In October 1990, the first Enigma single, Sadeness Part One was released, followed by the album MCMXC A.D.
Sadeness topped the charts in 23 countries and the album has become the most successful German production internationally of all time: it has sold 12m units, reached number one in 41 countries and was in the US album charts for five years.
Now Virgin is preparing for the first globally simultaneous Enigma album release, on November 25, preceded by the single Beyond the Invisible.
Cretu describes the first tweo albums as the musical parents of his latest work. "The intention was to mix the elements of the first two and to give them a role," he says. The Gregorian chants and panpies are back, acting as signatures before Cretu moves into new ground.
"They are no longer soloists and more part of the band," he explains. "The intention was to do a very harmonic, and more middle of the road album, in that there are more songs, not only atmospheres. And also I've moved away from the familiar drum grooves because I can't stand them any more. The drum sounds are quite different on this album and quieter."
New ethnic voices are heard, from Zulus to Latvians with Lange describing the album as, "definitely the most unified Enigma record so far".
Cretu has certainly showed there is still a place for the concept album and each Enigma record carries an amount of philiosophical baggage. Cretu says there is a simple message behind the Le Roi Est Mort, Vive Le Roi!. "It is about how things change and how they stay the same," he says. "In a naive, philosophical way, the songs on this album are a reflection on our daily lives, why we do this or that."
The question 'Why?' is the subject of one of the album's strongest songs and is centrally important in the album. "'Why?' is the most basic questions there is," he says. "It follows us through life from when we are kids asking 'why is the sky blue?' to when we are old and asking 'why must we die?'"
Cretu spent nearly a year making the record in almost complete solitude - he engineers as well as produces. "To be separated from the world is very important," he says. "I have to spend months in one atmosphere in order to dive into the back of my mind."
Building the album as one unified whole, Cretu tinkers with all parts of the work until completion and he emphasises how important it is to work out the running order and crossfading the tracks. "I'm obsessed with crossfades, it is my personal madness," he admits "But these are the best I've done."
He says potential hit singles were omitted in order to preserve the integrity of the entire project. "The album is the master and the single is the slave," says Cretu. But Beyond the Invisible, released worldwide today (October 21) is a classic Enigma single; an irresistable chanted refrain overlaid with a powerful melody supplied by Cretu's own vocals.
The video is directed by Julien Temple, his third for Enigma. In supplying a public image while Cretu remains hidden, Temple is very important to the whole Enigma concept. He says, "Working with Michael is unique. He doesn't appear in the videos, but he has a very clear idea about what his music can achieve visually. It's an interesting combination and you have the sense you can try anything."
Cretu has nothing but praise for Temple's approach. "It's amazing how he interprets my thoughts. He reads between the lines of my music."
Virgin UK deputy managing director Ray Cooper is excited about the project. "Michael has a strong understanding of what radio needs on a worldwide basis," he says. "And retail reaction is really good already."
The company is mounting a massive campaign around the album, which includes radio and TV advertisinbg, an ILR completition based on the theme of the video and, according to Cooper "a special event".
Meanwhile, Cretu can sit back in Ibiza, stay out of the public eye and look forward to more success. "I'm important while the record is being made, but not now," he says. "What is important is the result. The music is the star, not me."
Reproduced without permission from dotmusic for private and research purposes only.