Legend of the Paladin Uzeta
Paolino.uccello - CC4.0
The Paladino Uzeta is the protagonist of a story born from imagination of a puppeteer from Catania, Don Raffaele Trombetta.
Uzeta was a humble, modest man of popular origins who became a knight thanks to his courage and tough values. Its history, in fact, comes to life from the popular legend of the Saracen giants who conquered the Ursino Castle. In fact, Frederick II of Swabia had this majestic and imposing castle built which overlooked the entire Gulf of Catania from the coast, dominating it. Due to its position, it was called, precisely, Castello del Golfo, or "Castrum sinus" in Latin. Over time, it lost its original pronunciation, acquiring the current name of the Bourbon building: Castello Ursino. For the people of Catania and their galloping imagination, however, the castle took its name rather from the disturbing presence of the Ursini Giants, who had occupied the fortress. At this point in history, we find the figure of the brave Uzeta who faced the terrible giants, defeating them with strength and vigor, and finally freeing the Castle from the oppressors. The paladin Uzeta thus won the benevolence of the King who in exchange granted him the hand of his daughter.
The legend of Paladin Uzeda is represented in one of the four artistic candelabra in Piazza Università in Catania.


Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (NIV)
One common misunderstanding about faithful marriages is that such marriages are between two utterly compatible people who share most common interests and who think alike on most things.
There are such marriages, and such compatibility can help a relationship function smoothly.
However, other marriages survive and even flourish as unions of two very different individuals. One such marriage has been described as a rusty trellis propping up a thorned rose! Somehow the partnership works. The essence of such relationships is not easy compatibility but consistent acceptance.
Our text today refers to differences within the church and points to something beyond these differences. God accepts very different people and invites them to serve Jesus and one another, not letting differences divide but rather enrich.
So it can be with a marriage. We may marry a person believing certain things about them and discover over many years that our first impressions have to be modified. After all, none of us remains just the same, no relationships are immune from change. And so we need to learn to live with differences.
Such changes can cause couples to wonder if they made some “mistake”. Is this person the right person for me? One reply to such a doubt is that we don’t so much marry the “right person”, but we work on being the right people for one another.
Two very different people, odd couples, somehow learn to accept and to love one another as they are, not as we imagined or dreamed they might be.


Selected proposals will help formulate of one or more new programs within Facebook Connectivity for future funded work and targeted Requests for Proposal (RFP) calls through the following mechanisms.
Proposers of selected white papers will receive an invitation to participate in a December 11–12, 2019 workshop at Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park. Invited participants will share their concepts in focused sessions with Facebook Connectivity personnel, other proposers, and potentially other external guests such as domain expert specialists. Collaborations between proposers resulting from these sessions are highly encouraged and do not need to include Facebook directly. Facebook will pay for reasonable travel and lodging expenses for invited participants.
Presenters at the workshop will also have the option to include their workshop presentation material, subject to Facebook publication review, in any public release of the workshop findings and conclusions, such as at research.fb.com and connectivity.fb.com.
Future Facebook Requests for Proposals will likely look to fund proposals in a phased manner, with phases typically in the 6 to 12-month range. Per-phase funding could range from approximately $50,000 for a small study up to approximately $1,000,000 for a project with direct impact to a population. Please note such awards are prospective and not being offered in this RFI.
Especially meritorious white paper proposals under this RFI may be selected for an immediate Request for Full Proposal to include additional requested information and a binding Statement of Work to be performed under contract, project schedule, and not-to-exceed cost including a Basis of Estimate.
- Proposed work must comply with applicable U.S. and international laws, regulations and policies
- White paper proposals from academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and other for-profit and non-profit organizations will all be considered for both the current program evaluation and future funded activities
- Multiple white paper proposals may be submitted from an organization
- Multiple white paper proposals may be submitted by an individual
- You agree that Facebook will not be required to treat any part of the proposal not clearly and locally identified “proprietary” as confidential or protected by copyright. (Please note that this overrides the confidentiality item in our terms and conditions below.)
For more information about Verdant Place, visit our blog. For questions related to this RFI, please email email@example.com.


My philosophy is to always choose hope when the alternative is hopelessness.
If you have difficulty understanding a purpose for hope after loss, you are not alone. Consider that through hope, you can find paths to peace and healing in your life, and perhaps the lives of others.
How will you continue forward with your own life after the loss of a loved one? It can seem quite impossible, but somehow we make our way wearily through the days, weeks, months and beyond. And hope can help us to live a life that honors the legacy of loved ones and would make them proud.
There is very often an ongoing flurry of questions in our minds and hearts about the purpose of life and death after a devastating loss. Hope can be the catalyst for spiritual growth that that gives more purpose and meaning to life and its challenges and hardships.


Grab your tissues for a beautiful fairy tale…
“Once Upon a Time, there was a mom who wanted to bring the world to her community and family. A mom who knew that dreams came true, and wanted to share that happiness with others. She decided to become a Queen, in order to bring joy to the people she loved the most. Being a Queen is hard work, but there is NOTHING LIKE IT.
Queen Katie spent 6 years building up a dream, which was to serve her family and community with magical memories and happiness that they had never experienced before. The kingdom high and low was filled with tears of sheer joy, with gratitude, with smiles, with hope. The Queen’s heart was filled with joy herself, knowing how many people were changed for the better to have experienced such magic!
As all good people know, fairy tales are true because good always wins, even among great trials. But sometimes, changes have to happen in order to bring the greater good about for everyone. This leads us to the next beautiful chapter of our story: a new King and Queen! Queen Katie knew in her heart that after 6 years, her work was done. She knew that is was time for new hearts to lead the people of the kingdom and spread even more joy than had ever been experienced before! And so it was, with bittersweet feelings of sadness, joy and gratitude, that the Queen passed on her rule to her dear friends, King Chris and Queen Kemi.
King Chris and Queen Kemi have been a part of the royal court for several years, faithfully helping Queen Katie bring smiles to the kingdom. They are now the ones to carry the traditions of happiness, and make new traditions as well. They will serve with glad and humble spirits, with the vision in mind, to always make dreams come true.
And it is with that, the story of Once Upon a Dream Performances comes to a close, only to be transformed into a new name with new ways to bring magic to the kingdom.”It is with great happiness and pride, that I, Queen Katie, retire from my position and hand the keys to the treasure chest of magical memories, to the new owners, Chris and Kemi!
You will see many beautiful changes in the weeks to come: new name, logo, services etc. But the one thing that will not change is the dedication and faithfulness to you! The magic will continue! Please stay tuned as your new King and Queen introduce themselves, and show you just how amazing they are! With much gratitude for all your love, smiles and support these beautiful 6 years,Queen Katie.


MEDICA will take place in mid November in Düsseldorf, Germany. The show is expected to be back at pre-pandemic attendance levels, and BioPortUSA looks forward to meeting old friends and meeting new ones. Mark Lesselroth, president and CEO will be attending the show November 14 and 15th and should you be interested in a meeting please contact him directly at mark
MEDICA is the world’s largest event for the medical sector. For more than 40 years it has been firmly established on every expert’s calendar. There are many reasons why MEDICA is so unique. Firstly, the event is the largest medical trade fair in the world – it attracted several thousand exhibitors from more than 50 countries in the halls. Furthermore, each year, leading individuals from the fields of business, research, and politics grace this top-class event with their presence — naturally alongside tens of thousands of national and international experts and decision-makers from the sector.
You can find these seven main product categories in the exhibition halls: Electromedicine / Medical Technology, Laboratory Equipment, Diagnostics, Physiotherapy / Orthopaedic Technology, Commodities and Consumer Goods, Information and Communication Technology, Medical Service and Publications.
In addition, the professional "MEDICA Forums and Conferences" have become an integral part of the trade fair. Forums and several special shows on varied medical-technological topics are concisely presented in the halls as an attractive complement to the trade fair. E.g. MEDICA CONNECTED HEALTHCARE FORUM with MEDICA App COMPETITION, MEDICA HEALTH IT FORUM, MEDICA ECON FORUM, MEDICA TECH FORUM and MEDICA LABMED FORUM. The conferences are the German Hospital Conference (the leading communication platform for decision-makers in German hospitals), the MEDICA MEDICINE + SPORTS CONFERENCE and the International Conference on Disaster and Military Medicine (DiMiMED). Another highlight is the MEDICA START-UP PARK where innovative young comanpies present the trends in the medical technology of the future.


Visualizing molecular polar order in tissues via electromechanical coupling
10T12:19:24Z June 2013
Electron microscopy (EM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques have long been used to characterize collagen fibril ordering and alignment in connective tissues. These techniques, however, are unable to map collagen fibril polarity, i.e., the polar orientation that is directed from the amine to the carboxyl termini. Using a voltage modulated AFM-based technique called piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), we show it is possible to visualize both the alignment of collagen fibrils within a tissue and the polar orientation of the fibrils with minimal sample preparation. We demonstrate the technique on rat tail tendon and porcine eye tissues in ambient conditions. In each sample, fibrils are arranged into domains whereby neighboring domains exhibit opposite polarizations, which in some cases extend to the individual fibrillar level. Uniform polarity has not been observed in any of the tissues studied. Evidence of anti-parallel ordering of the amine to carboxyl polarity in bundles of fibrils or in individual fibrils is found in all tissues, which has relevance for understanding mechanical and biofunctional properties and the formation of connective tissues. The technique can be applied to any biological material containing piezoelectric biopolymers or polysaccharides.
Type of Material
Journal of Structural Biology
Copyright (Published Version)
2012 Elsevier Inc.
Status of Item
This item is made available under a Creative Commons License


Towards Zero Bridge Fatalities
One of the main challenges is that most existing bridge decks have not been designed with the structural capacity to meet the needs of higher capacity, traditionally designed bridge traffic barriers.
The reason: transfer of impact energy. Put simply, the energy of an impact into a traditional bridge traffic barrier affects more that the just the traffic barrier itself. It flows through the barrier to the bridge deck and then the greater structure.
In many cases, the increase in load from the traffic barrier is too great for the bridge deck capacity, and the bridge deck will be damaged. Thus, the grater majority of existing bridges are unable to be fitted with higher capacity, traditionally designed barriers without first being fitted with additional reinforcement such as carbon fibre – an expensive solution in terms of both time and cost. In some instances, increasing the capacity of the traditional bridge traffic barrier would necessitate a complete replacement of the bridge deck.
The solution: The innovative solution to this common problem has come in the form of a bridge traffic barrier system developed by Belgian bridge engineer, David De Saedeleer, a director of Belgian manufacturer Desami.
Working with world-renowned FEA specialists Global Design Solutions (GDTech), Desami developed a ground-breaking design that restricts the energy from the vehicle impact to a fraction of the capacity of the bridge deck, resulting in a low load in the bridge deck.
Known as the DOLRE Low Stress Parapet System, this world-leading bridge traffic barrier system has been fully crash tested to European Standards and simulated to US MASH TL4 requirements, and has been Approved by ASBAP for use throughout Australia.
Ideal for bridge refurbishment projects, the DOLRE Low Stress Parapet System offers a cost-effective and easy to install method of upgrading existing bridges to meet the current Standard without the need for significant and expensive deck strengthening or deck replacement works. DOLRE also offers the added advantage of being easy to dismantle and remove in times of flood, thereby helping to significantly reduce the risk of damage to valuable bridge assets.


Did Jacob Arminius move the church away from Augustine and toward Pelagius? To what degree?
Your question is beyond the scope of our discussions, but we might say that from the records of history, Arminius was one who, during the Sixteenth Century, disagreed openly with the doctrine of predestination as it was being taught by Calvin and others. Though he did not understand all the true teachings of the Bible, he could see that this doctrine was grossly in error, that the Bible taught the free will of man, man’s own free choice and man’s ability to choose either to do right or wrong. We are not prepared to comment on the effects of his teachings, though we might say that his thinking was more in line with Pelagius than other teachers of the early centuries.
The Bible tells of the drastic turning away from the doctrine which occurred during the early centuries of our era, following the ascension of Christ. The apostle Paul predicted that even among his own church people there would be “men coming forward who will distort the truth to induce the disciples to break away and follow them” (Acts 20:30,). He said also, speaking prophetically, that the “time will come when they will not stand wholesome teaching, but will follow their own fancy and gather a crowd of teachers to tickle their ears. They will stop their ears to the truth and turn to mythology” (2 Tim. 4:3-4, NEB). This prophecy was literally fulfilled, and very soon after the time of Paul.


Surface Velocity Radar Gun
All new SVR3D – Surface Velocity Radar Gun –
This next generation SVR allows scientists and hydrologists determine the surface velocity of water. Designed specifically to measure streams and rivers, the SVR 3D gives you precise speed measurement from a stationary position outside the body of water in real- time data.
Now lighter weight ( 1.8 lbs ) and smaller than any previous SVR model for ease of use.
Powered by a lithium Ion battery for longer periods of time between charges via a standard USB cable and the USB-C port.
Display Screen upgrades:
- 2x the size ofd the prior SVR version
- Can be viewed in bright sunlight even when the operator is wearing polarized sunglasses.
- The face panel includes a 3-digit speed display and three buttons: menu, select, and power. Using the “menu” and “select” buttons you can control display backlighting, cosine correction, serial communication output mode, and high / low speed range settings.
- The SVR includes cosine error correction, allowing the unit to account for target angles not parrellel to the direction of water travel.
- The SVR includes an internal sensor to detect vertical angle, and allows users to set horizontal angles to ensure accurate speeds.
- Standard package includes… SVR Radar Gun, Hard Carry Case, Cigarette Plug Adapter , 6 AA Rechargeable Batteries, and Battery Charger.
- Allows scientists to determine the surface velocity of water
- Measurement- Feet per second or Meters per second
- Includes cosine error correction ,allowing the unit to compensate for verticle angles
- High and Low Speed selection
- Accepts Tripod mounting
- User friendly measurement and reading
- Simple, more useable 5 digit display
- Recall previous speed
- Based on the Scout platform


Cities of Service helps mayors and city leaders tap into the knowledge, creativity, and service of citizens to solve public problems and create vibrant cities. We work with cities to build city-led, citizen-powered initiatives that target specific needs, achieve long-term and measurable outcomes, improve quality of life and build stronger cities.
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(W) Simcha Whitehill (A) Simcha WhitehillThe adventure and humor of the Pokémon animated TV series springs to life in this full-color comics collection! This book includes two full-color graphic stories. The Search for Kingdra: Ash, Goh, and their Pokémon pals explore under the sea on a trial mission for Project Mew. Can Goh catch a wild Kingdra? Team Rocket In Luck: After one loss too many, Jessie, James, Meowth, and Wobbuffet go on a wild chase after Pelipper. Will their bad luck ever improve? With tons of art on every page from the animated show streaming on Netflix, this graphic novel is the perfect format for Pokémon fans.
POKEMON GRAPHIC COLLECTION GN UNDERWATER MISSION
Little Shop Of Heroes are happy to refund unwanted items on presentation of a valid receipt provided they are returned within 30 days and in pristine condition. The purchaser must pay for the safe return of the goods. Monies will be refunded on receipt of the goods.


Fired for misconduct: Can former employee collect unemployment benefits?
Q. A former employee engaged in misconduct, which resulted in his discharge. Now he is requesting unemployment compensation benefits under California law. Is an employee entitled to these benefits if he or she is no longer employed, regardless of the circumstances?
A. California provides unemployment compensation benefits to certain employees who are no longer employed, but there are several situations that can prevent an individual from receiving such benefits.
The California Unemployment Insurance Code specifically disqualifies certain employees from receiving unemployment compensation benefits, including those who were discharged for misconduct, left work voluntarily and without good cause, refused to accept suitable employment without good cause or failed to apply for suitable employment when notified by a public employment office.
Further, an employee cannot claim unemployment insurance benefits if he or she was unable or unavailable to work during the week for which he or she is claiming benefits.
Q. Now I know that our former employee may not be eligible for unemployment benefits, as he was discharged for misconduct. What behavior qualifies as misconduct sufficient to deny unemployment insurance benefits under California law?
A. Under California Code of Regulations Title 22 Section 1256-30, an employer must establish the following elements to demonstrate that a former employee engaged in misconduct:
- The individual owed a material duty to the employer under his or her employment contract.
- There was a substantial breach of this duty.
- The breach was “a willful or wanton disregard of that duty.”
- The breach disregarded the employer’s interests and injured or tended to injure the employer’s interests.
There also needs to be a causal connection between the individual’s breach of duty and his or her discharge to demonstrate that the discharge was for misconduct.
Examples of misconduct severe enough to preclude collection of unemployment benefits may include stealing from an employer, intoxication at work, sleeping on the job, creating false records and sexual harassment.
Misconduct is not likely to be established and preclude collection of unemployment benefits if the employee was simply inefficient, unable to perform adequately, made a mistake, was ordinarily negligent on occasion or made a good-faith error. For example, a clerk who failed to file properly a document and was discharged for his error would not have been discharged for misconduct, and thus his error would not be sufficient to impede his right to collect unemployment compensation benefits.


Wide Area Communications specialists Hermes Datacomms has been awarded a Telecommunications License in Libya.
The license was issued by the Libyan government and allows Hermes Datacomms to provide communications to the oil and gas industry and other sectors in Libya including Fixed-line networks, International Telecommunications, Communication Networks, VSAT Communications and Internet Services.
Hermes Datacomms Country Manager Libya, Glynn Wagg, explains:
"Our aim is to ensure that all our customers in Libya are provided with direct and extensive support and a more dependable and secure service. This license will aid our customers in receiving faster installations, clearer costs and the assurance of legal requirements."
Hermes Datacomms has an established presence within the Libyan capital, Tripoli, trading continuously and operating in Libya since 2005; supplying VSAT communication, onshore and offshore, in city and remote locations.
Hermes Datacomms specialises in providing tailored Wide Area Communications to the upstream oil and gas industry worldwide including remote and challenging locations such as Algeria, Angola, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Libya, the Middle East, Iraq, Russia and Turkmenistan.


Monetizing 5G at Hyperscale
The new revenue opportunities opened up by the move to 5G are built on a set of richer capabilities enabled by Cloud, automation, and programmability of the network. Cloud-based 5G is garnering a lot of attention as Cloud makes automated infrastructure scaling and network edge transaction processing possible. These scaling and edge capabilities are key to many of the new revenue models enabled by 5G. Operators are increasingly partnering with hyperscalers to embed new efficiencies and intelligence into their networks enabled by Cloud technology advances. Similarly, vendors are redesigning their solutions to be Cloud-based to support this evolution of the telco ecosystem.
In this paper, we lay out how the promises of 5G are progressing rapidly to become reality and are benefitting significantly from optimised Cloud-driven scale. We also describe how Amdocs’ Cloud-native 5G Charging solution, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services, is successfully demonstrating at scale capacity of 12 billion complex charging transactions daily.


International Standard for Organization Certification: To Ensure Quality Management
ISO Certification and Quality Management is consider as the root of the success of any business. To gain customer loyalty and compete effectively with competitors, a quality standard should be always maintained by organizations. Good quality management through ISO certification can make sure that all the stakeholders of the organization work together and maintain standard. To enhance the business’s procedures, goods, services, and traditions to obtain the long-term success that stems from customer satisfaction.
Thus, ISO 9001:2015 is a standard that assists organizations to develop a robust Quality Management System (QMS) providing continual improvement. Although, this standard is globally recognize and trusted. It also he provides a flexible option for organizations to create designs for their specific offerings, customer requirements, and risks. The standard operates as a necessary building block for any organization seeking to develop its risk and quality management.
The ISO 9001:2015 standard can be implemented in any organization, despite its size, type of the goods or services it offers. The standard is guide by a senior ISO certified representative. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the organization’s background, strengths, and weaknesses. The organizations can even recognize non-conformities. So, the obtain constant enhancement in quality by the use of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and sustain it by annual audits from auditors around the globe. With implementation of ISO 9001:2015, QMS, organizations can decrease unnecessary errors, develop internal communications. Moreover, make more efficient processes, and create valuable management time.
Benefits of implementing ISO 9001:2015 standard:
· Increase in revenue: By implementing ISO 9001, organizations can grab more contracts and tenders, attract. Also retain more customers towards the business, and experience more repeated customers.
· Increase in efficiency. Organizations can reduce their cost by following industry best practices and focusing on providing quality products and services to its customers.
· Improved relationships with the supplier: With the best industry practice, ISO 9001:2015 standard can contribute to more effective supply chains.
· Enhanced employee morale. With enhanced internal communications, organizations can ensure that everyone is working on a single agenda.
· Customer Satisfaction: Customer confidence to buy goods and services increases. As the standard assists organizations to understand customer requirements by reducing errors.


The Garden of Ninfa
The Garden of Ninfa was lovingly created around a ruined mediaeval town by the Anglo-Italian family of Caetani. The town was abandoned in 1500 as result of plague and its resurrection began to take place at the end of the nineteenth century and has continued up until the present day. The gardens are built around the remains of the original buildings. It is a magical, peaceful place, one hour from the bustle of modern day Rome. Access is restricted as the garden is a natural reserve. The Garden of Ninfa traces the history of the garden and the family who created it using archive photographs. New colour photographs have been especially taken by Marella Agnelli and they re-create, in so far as it is possible, the magical atmosphere of these lush gardens amongst the ruins of the original village.
By: Marella Caracciolo


Aruba National Flag - Budget 5 x 3 feet
Budget National Flag 5 x 3 Feet
- 100% Polyester with two metal eyelets.
- Screen printed in bold, clear colours.
- Flag Size: 5ft x 3ft (150 x 90 cm)
- Double stitched hems on three sides.
- Reinforced banding on the pole edge.
- Suitable for indoor or light outdoor use.
- Eyelets as standard, rope and toggle or spinnaker clips on request.
Budget printed flags are manufactured in bold colour fast colours, and suitable for a wide variety of display applications.
If you would like more information call our sales team on 0161 653 6381.
Officially adopted on March 18, 1976, along with the official anthem 'Aruba Dushi Tera'. It was chosen on March 18 because it was on this day in 1948 that Holland accepted Aruba's right to choose for an autonomous status in the kingdom of the Netherlands. The Aruba flag has four colours: bunting yellow, larkspur (or U.N.) blue, Union red and white. Each of these colors is significant: the blue represents the sea that surrounds Aruba; yellow is the colour of abundance, representing the island's past and present industries of gold, aloe and oil; red is for love each Aruban has for his or her country and the ancient industry of Brazil wood; and white symbolized the snow-white beaches as well as the purity of the hearts of Aruba's people who strive for justice, order and liberty. The symbols on the flag consist of a red star and two yellow stripes. The star also represents the island itself, surrounded by the beautiful blue sea. The horizontal yellow stripes denote the free and separate position.
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Are you looking to create the perfect climate for your business premises? Wondering about the best way to keep your workspace cool and comfortable? ClimateLink is your local family-owned air-conditioning and ventilation expert, ready to transform your commercial space into an oasis of comfort.
As specialists in home and business climate control, we understand the unique challenges that commercial settings present. If you’re struggling to find the most efficient and cost-effective commercial air conditioning installation service for your needs, look no further — ClimateLink has the expertise to guide you.
We ensure quality installations and maintenance in commercial office buildings, shopping centres, health care facilities, light industrial facilities and schools across Brisbane and Gold Coast areas. Each commercial facility has its own unique air conditioning and operating characteristics, our team always works closely with customers to understand individual requirements. We aim to deliver the highest level of service and support necessary to keep the systems operating in a mint condition. You can ensure the comfort of your employees and/or customers with a system designed, installed or maintained by ClimateLink. With our vast knowledge and experience, we will work with you to design, install or repair your air conditioning system.
The Importance of Professional Commercial Air Conditioning Installation
When it comes to commercial air conditioning installation, expertise matters. Poorly installed systems can lead to inefficiency, increased energy bills, and a less comfortable working environment.
At ClimateLink, we recognise the significance of professional commercial air conditioning installation in ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your air conditioning system. Our team of qualified technicians brings years of experience to the table, guaranteeing that your installation is seamless and tailored to your specific requirements.
The Commercial Air Conditioning Installation Process: What to Expect
Curious about what happens during a commercial air conditioning installation? At ClimateLink, we pride ourselves on transparency and communication.
From the initial assessment to the final checks, our team will guide you through the entire process, keeping you informed every step of the way. Expect efficiency, precision and minimal disruption to your daily operations.
Why Choose ClimateLink for Your Commercial Air Conditioning Installation Needs
When you choose ClimateLink, you’re choosing a partner committed to your comfort and success. With a track record of excellence, 100+ 5-star Google reviews and recognition as a top HVAC service provider, we stand out among air conditioning companies.
Experience the difference with ClimateLink — contact us today for expert commercial air conditioning installation and take the first step towards a perfectly climate-controlled commercial space.
What are the different types of commercial air conditioning systems available?
How do I determine my commercial AC unit's right size and capacity?
What are the key factors to consider when choosing a commercial air conditioning system?
What maintenance is required after commercial air conditioning installation to ensure optimal AC system performance?
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Made in honour of [deadname] Turner. May he rest in peace, 2005 - 2019.
Almost 3 years ago, on the 26th of August 2019, at 1:29 am, I came out as non-binary. I had already come out as bi a year earlier so luckily I didn't also have that to deal with. But the term “non-binary” never truly fit me. It felt like a patchwork over a hole that needed to be filled. It wasn’t a true representation of me.
Since then, I’ve met a bunch of cool people that have helped me with my identity.
From my exes to my best friends, all the very cool trans people I know to the souls of the people who aren't here anymore. And now I'm very happy to announce that I believe that I have finally found my identity. It may have taken years of confusion but I should hopefully be able to rest now. So here goes, eh?
Hey, I’m Laker, I use she/her pronouns and I’m a trans girl. This is who I am, this is who I always was and this is who I want to be. I feel so much happier when i am perceived as a girl.
The Laker (or indeed, [deadname]) you once knew is still here. I’m still me, except I'm standing prouder than I ever have and happier than I have been in years.
I know that in the opening sentence of this post I described myself before I came out the first time as dead, but that simply isn't true.
My soul, although withered by many years of many mental issues and disorders, is still the same one that was found in that child.
So now that we know the past and present, what about the… no, my future? I’ve already started to transition socially to a few friends, both in real life and online. My gender expression was already going more and more feminine by the day and I'm glad to finally make that official :) I know that i want to transition medically but I haven't thought of the logistics of that yet so i’m not going to talk about it publicly.
… breathes out wow damn i needed to get that off my chest, huh. well, here’s to 2022. more writing stuff coming soon :P
Want to comment on this post? Email me!


When it comes to top-tier medical equipment manufacturers, Edan stands tall as a renowned industry leader. With a steadfast commitment to providing healthcare institutions with cutting-edge products and tailored solutions, Edan has carved a name for itself in the medical technology arena. Offering a diverse range of medical devices and precision instruments, Edan’s dedication to excellence sets it apart from the competition.
Innovative Solutions for Clinical Needs
At Edan, innovation is the beating heart of everything they do. Their team of experts works tirelessly to design and develop medical equipment that caters directly to the clinical requirements of healthcare professionals. Whether it’s advanced imaging systems, diagnostic tools, or monitoring devices, Edan’s products are crafted to deliver precise and reliable results.
Unmatched Product Portfolio
Edan takes pride in its comprehensive product portfolio, encompassing a wide array of medical solutions. From state-of-the-art ultrasound machines to sophisticated patient monitors, every product bears the mark of Edan’s unwavering dedication to quality. Their commitment to meeting the diverse needs of healthcare facilities ensures that each instrument is engineered to enhance patient care and streamline workflows.
Global Reach, Local Impact
While Edan is a global player, its focus remains local – on improving healthcare outcomes worldwide. As a trusted medical equipment manufacturer, Edan operates with a profound understanding of different healthcare systems and cultural nuances. This enables them to tailor their solutions to suit specific regions, making a tangible impact on healthcare delivery across the globe.
Partnering for Success
Collaborating with Edan means partnering for success. Their seamless integration of quality products and exceptional service enables healthcare institutions to focus on what matters most – patient care. Edan’s commitment to reliability and efficiency ensures that medical professionals can trust their equipment, giving them the confidence to make critical decisions with precision.
Empowering Healthcare with Edan
In conclusion, Edan’s unwavering dedication to crafting quality solutions for healthcare has solidified its position as a leading medical equipment manufacturer. With an impressive range of products tailored to meet clinical needs, Edan empowers healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care to their patients. Across borders and cultures, Edan’s impact on global healthcare is undeniable, making them the go-to partner for medical institutions seeking excellence in every aspect of their practice.


Ich habe immer meine Workshops oder Masterclasses auf Englisch gehalten, dementsprechend geht es auch auf Englisch weiter...
Themes for masterclasses:
Masterclasses: 1 or 3 day company-customized masterclasses about one of the three topics.
Themes for Workshops
The fundament: Soil
The SOIL-method © was developed by Cor van Leeuwen and serves as the basis of his procedure. Cor provides certified NLP-SOIL trainings (master and practitioner). His work and life are based on:
the empowerment of the US;
the intuition of the East;
the knowledge of the West;
the history of the Middle East;
the magic of the South
the strength of the universe
SOIL means earth, the basis where everything begins: here we have to show it tangibly. At the same time we respect the enormous miracle that life is. We are space and we give space a colour. Our passion is our driving force which lies in our intuition and our skills are to pay attention to it. There is always a cooperation between the interpretation, the development, the result and the shareability.


From a recent article in ASQ’s Quality Progress I came across a fascinating article about ‘Big Data’ by Shu Liu. To go cliché mad and cut to the chase, Big Data will be a big deal in making big decisions in the future.
Big Data is defined as ‘a collection of data sets that are too big and complex to be processed using traditional database and data processing tools’. It is characterised by the 3 Vs….Volume, Velocity and Variety and is growing exponentially due to ever increasing deployment and capability of technology in every facet of our lives, be it our social media communication, our spending patterns, our medical histories, our diets, our travel history, etc.
Volume refers to the fact that in 2013 there was 1.2 zettabytes of data (a zettabyte is 10 to the power of 23) and is estimated to exceed 10 times that amount early this year.
Velocity refers to the increasing speed at which data is generated, collected, processed and stored
Variety is in the sources of data that exist and is also growing….databases, documents, emails, phone and text records, social media records, audio and video flies, transactional records, etc.
The author makes a very valid point in that if big data is not managed properly it may pose a threat to our privacy, security and indeed democracy.
So what has all this got to do with Continuous Improvement and Industry? Well in a nutshell, Data (big or small) is the lifeline of a CI Program and likewise if not managed strategically and prudently ‘Big Data’ may also hinder our ability to identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings, manage our processes effectively and efficiently to meet every increasing customer and market demands. How many times have you heard your colleagues say? ….Sure we have no shortage of data, we just don’t know how to extract it, analyse and make sense of it….that is the 1st sign of the Big Data Phenomena and it is not likely to diminish anytime soon!
Submitted by our Lean Six Sigma tutor, Éamon Ó Béarra
Full details of our Lean Six Sigma training courses are available here
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The town of Perushtitsa is situated in the outskirts of the Rhodope mountain, at a distance of 21 km from Plovdiv.
The historical museum in the town of Perushtitsa is situated in the very center of the town – opposite to the community center. It was established in 1955, in order to preserve a part of the rich history of this ancient settlement.
The complex includes four halls. The exposition of the museum traces out the course of development of the settlement from the Neolith (6000 years BC) to its contemporary look. The ethnographic exposition introduces the style of life of the local residents: labor tools, clothes, pots, jewelry.
Special attention is paid to the period before the Liberation (1878). Interesting items are the original revolutionary uniform from 1876, the gun of Spas Ginov (one of the victims of the Perushtitsa slaughter during the suppression of the April Uprising of 1876, who first murdered his family, then himself, in order to protect them from the grip of the Ottomans), the painting entitled “The Defense of Perushtitsa” by the painter D. Dobrev, personal belongings and guns.
A part of museum is the church “St. Archangels Gabriel and Michael”, in which during the April Uprising the residents of Perustitsa were hiding and for 7 days they were fighting for their life and freedom. It was built by constructors from Bratsigovo in 1847 – 1848.
The bones of the revolutionaries are kept in a stone sarcophagus. At the east wall there is a large marble slab where the names of the killed people are inscribed, and near the sarcophagus is placed the sculpture group called “Kocho”. The rebel Kocho Chestimenski is one of the many Perushtitsa residents, who put an end to their lives together with their families, to save themselves from the Turks.
Another interesting landmark, situated in a close proximity to the Church, is the Danovo school – the first class school in the town. In 1876 the school was turned into a hospital, functioning with the funds of Lady Emily Strangford (an English social figure who organized the collection of funds for the harmed Bulgarian population after the suppression of the April Uprising).
Above the town, on the Vlasevitsa hill, a majestic monument is raised – Monument of Three Generation. It was built to the memory of the people killed during the April Uprising.
It is situated at a distance of about a kilometer from the town – one can reach it by an asphalted road – by car or on foot. A view to the entire locality, the city of Plovdiv and the Rhodope Mountain opens from the monument.
Information materials and souvenirs are sold in the museum.
Perushtitsa, Plovdiv Province, 4225, Bulgaria.


The goal of our research is to generate cell lines from neurons with the long term goal to understand how to generate the best possible stem-cell derived models for human neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. These studies might also reveal basic mechanisms of disease that could inspire new drug development efforts. We proposed to use two cutting edge methods in stem cell biology to accomplish this: cloning and direct reprogramming (generation of induced pluripotent stem cells with reprogramming factors). At the time, methods for direct reprogramming were in their infancy and it was not possible to generate mice entirely from these cells. Because reprogramming neurons is likely to be inefficient and difficult, we proposed to generate entire mice derived from reprogrammed cells. Al cell types, including neurons in these mice would carry special genes to allow us to then turn their neurons into stem cell lines. We have successfully generate such mice and in doing so, we became the first to show that fertile adult mice could be generated from skin cells using induced pluripotent stem cells. This result helps to validate the utility of stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells and represents the achievement of a critical milestone in our project timeline. Present efforts will use these mice as a unique resource to achieve the goal of the application.


Early Marriage Entrance to Poverty
By : Wiyanto Dan Aldo Bella Putra | Monday, August 06 2018 - 17:30 IWST
Ilustrasi pernikahan (Foto Ist)
INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Lately the underage marriages have now begun to be frequently spoken by the media. In a relatively young age, a child mentally / psychologically is not ready to face marriage. Early marriage increases the risk of maternal and child mortality. The quality of children born is low.
Lenny N. Rosalin, Deputy for Child Growth and Development at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, said that early marriage is believed to extend the poverty chain.
"Children who get married at an early age can no longer get the right to education. In fact, besides being able to become a ladder for society to change their social status, education is the most important thing to shape personality, gain experience, and form a brilliant generation of nation. "he said in Jakarta, Monday (08/06/2018).
He said the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) in collaboration with the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2016 had collected information about the level of education taken by women aged 20 24 years who had ever married who had married under or above 18 years.
He said, the results were quite alarming, as much as 94.72% of women aged 20 24 years who had ever married who were married under the age of 18 or the age of the children were no longer attending school, while those who were still attending school were only 4.38%.
Women aged 20 24 years who have ever married who are married at the age of children also tend to have lower education than those who marry above the age of 18.
So far, the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise is pushing for a revision of Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage, especially the article that regulates the age limit for marriage.
"We recommend that the minimum marriage limit be increased, especially for women, because the age of 16 is still classified as a child or not yet an adult," he said.


The paper discusses possible ways of transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), compares the estimated capital cost of the projects on marine and pipeline transportation of LNG and argues for the economic efficiency of LNG transfer pipelines. The authors offered the most likely options pipelines and LNG method of calculation of hydraulic parameters.
Water-coal slurries (WCS) are not much inferior to such fuels as oil, fuel oil and gas in their energy characteristics. Their combustion is characterized by high environmental safety, low ash content and high combustion efficiency. For efficient combustion of such fuels special requirements should be imposed on burner devices. Thus, the design of these devices should provide supply not only of fuel itself, but also special channels for supplying air as an oxidizer and atomizer and gas for ignition and maintaining combustion in the initial period. The calculation of basic values, describing the process of fuel combustion, the basic geometrical parameters for burner design and justification of design characteristics of a microdiffusion gas burner for WVS combustion are given.


Since voters approved the bond referendum in 2014, their tax dollars have been improving the infrastructure of schools and changing the educational landscape across Broward County through investments in Safety, Music & Art, Athletics, Renovation and Technology – known as the SMART Bond Program. The SMART Bond Program’s impact extends far beyond the classroom walls, with local businesses, including small and minority-owned companies (E/S/M/WBEs), playing a vital role in the completion of renovations.
Through partnerships with local businesses like Francis Engineering, D. Stephenson Construction, Grace & Naeem, and LEGO Construction, the SMART Bond Program fulfills its goal of renovating and enhancing educational spaces throughout the district. From essential upgrades such as new roofing, HVAC systems, and fire sprinkler enhancements to building renovations and classroom additions, these businesses have been instrumental in making these transformations possible.
Emphasizing the impact of district-wide renovations in 232 Broward County Public Schools (BCPS), the “Bringing Business to Broward” theme highlights the profound influence of the SMART Bond Program on the community


Microwave-Supported Acid Hydrolysis for Proteomics
Publication or External Link
Our goal is to develop, optimize and demonstrate workflows that incorporate rapid Asp-selective chemical proteolysis into proteomic studies of complex mixtures. This can be further divided into several specific aims. The first aim is to develop and optimize the sample preparation, mass spectrometric, and bioinformatic methods required for complex mixture analysis of peptides resulting from acid digestion both in solution and in polyacrylamide gels. Second, the optimized methods will be applied to three model systems. In the first application, the large peptides derived from microwave-supported acid hydrolysis of human ribosomes isolated from MCF-7 breast cancer cells are analyzed. Secondly, acid hydrolysis will be applied to characterize Lys63 linkages in polyubiquitins. Finally, all the above methods will be combined for the analysis of extracellular vesicles shed by myeloid derived suppressor cells from a murine mammary carcinoma model.
After optimizing the mass spectrometric and bioinformatic methods required for analysis of peptides resulting from acid hydrolysis, the most comprehensive analysis using this digestion technique to date was achieved both for in gel and in solution analysis. In gel digestion resulted in identification of over twelve hundred peptides representing 642 proteins, and in solution digestion via mass biased partitioning allowed identification of over 300 proteins. Mass biased partitioning also resulted in two distinct peptide populations from the high and low mass analyses implemented.
Nearly 90% of the predicted human ribosomal proteins were identified after acid hydrolysis. High resolution analysis of both precursor and product ions resulted in an average sequence coverage of 46% among identified proteins. It was also demonstrated that microwave-supported acid hydrolysis facilitates a more informative method for analysis of Lys63 linked polyubiquitin. After acid hydrolysis, ~629 Da mass shifts were found to be indicative of isopeptides. These isopeptides were easily identified from complex mixtures using tandem mass spectrometry and diagnostic b ions. Extracellular vesicles from a murine carcinoma model were then analyzed using in gel microwave-supported acid hydrolysis, mass biased partitioning after in solution digestion, and the sample was interrogated for the presence of ubiquitinated peptides.


There are many great objective and subjective reasons for a coworking space to connect with a surrounding community. The biggest reason is the deeper the roots in the community, the more solid ground the business is on. The businesses untethered to their communities risk losing everything when the community finds a business seeking to connect. Therefore, a coworking space has unique value propositions allowing it to connect to the community and create bonds lasting a long time.
Catered Lunches and Promotions
The easiest way to bring people together is with food. Members love a catered lunch, and a local restaurant loves the idea of catering lunch. There are many opportunities to build relationships, but the easiest way is to make a deal with local restaurants to provide discounts to members. The members get a taste for the restaurant with the catered lunch. Ultimately, these partnerships work for both entities, and it develops roots in the community.
Coworking spaces are perfect for hosting many different types of events. Getting in touch with community leaders helps with the building of different types of events. For example, there are several types of events, fundraisers, and other ways for the community to gather. The facilities at a coworking space are ideal for keeping people inside, feeling like they have space and yet intimately gathered. The community feels the coworking space invests in them, and the coworking space gets community members to check out what the coworking space offers.
Sponsoring Events and Teams
Youth sports is an incredibly effective method for deepening ties to a community. Same with events too. When people see the name of a business on the back of a jersey or as a title sponsor for an event, they know the business cares about them. Thanks to these sponsorships, the community literally feels the investment made by the coworking space. In turn, when people need a place to do business, the coworking space that’s top of mind is the one with it’s roots in the community.
There are plenty of ways coworking spaces involve themselves in the community similar to Venture X. Join a coworking space that looks outward by visiting your local Venture X franchise today.


The Age Forward Coalition is a broad consortium of San Mateo County (SMC) nonprofit and community organizations and advocates dedicated to serving
older adults and adults with disabilities in SMC for many years.
Engages in advocacy & acts as a catalyst for community partners
Strives to ensure the highest possible attainment of independence, health, and well-being for this target population
Provides a means for collaboration among the members to network andaddress goals for improving the lives for this target population


Born in 1945, Akin Ongor completed his secondary education in TED Ankara College and then graduated from METU- Faculty of Administrative Sciences in 1967.
In his career, he worked as a marketing manager for 13 years in various industrial firms. He joined the banking sector as the senior manager in Pamukbank in 1981. In 1987, he was nominated as the Vice General Manager in charge of Marketing and Foreign Affairs in the Departmen of Corporate and Commercial Banking in Garanti Bank. Between 1991-2000, he continued working as the Managing Director and CEO of Garanti Bank. He led to Garanti’s major transformation.
Develop A Different Personality Out of Business
Until 2003, he served as the Managing Member of Administrative Board of Garanti Bank and as the Board of Directors of Garanti Bank International, Garanti Moscow, Garanti Insurance and Garanti Technology. During this period, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish American Business Council and the Board Membership of Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation.
He received METU recognition award in 1994 and a “METU Outstanding Service Award” for his contributions to the country and the university in 1999. He received many times “the most successful manager” award by leading economics journals and newspapers. In 2009, he was awarded “the Man of Foundation” by the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Foundations.
At present he is the head of CEO Club. He is a member of Board of Trustees of WWF-Turkey, Boğaziçi University Foundation and TED Istanbul College Foundation.
After leaving professional business life, he started producing chateau style Selendi brand vintage wine in the vineyard he built in Akhisar. He also published a book named “ia orana” in which he reminisces about his memories in the Pacific Ocean and a book named “Benden Sonra Devam” in which he wrote out his fabulous success story he lead when he was in the General Directorate of Garanti Bank.


A source at the PRAAD said, that the level of compliance by the various financial institutions in the country to transfer their records to the PRAAD for further retention was low.
Per the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2008, Act 749, the banks are required to send their records to the PRAAD six years after the date on which a business relationship is terminated or the date after a transaction is concluded.
“If the financial institutions are complying with their own law and we are generating revenue, we will get to where we should be. PRAAD is sitting on gold,” the source said.
The Act states that the National Records Centre under the PRAAD shall maintain a register of account table institutions.
It also states that an accountable institution that establishes a business relationship with a person shall keep records of, (a) the identity of the person or the agent of the person; (b) transaction made through the accountable institution, and (c) suspicious transaction reports made to the Centre.
It adds that, “(2) For the purposes of this Act, records may be kept on a computer system or an electronic device capable of being used to store information. (3) This section applies to each single transaction with an accountable institution.”
However, due to limited space, the PRAAD is cautious in enforcing its mandate.
“The challenge is that we don’t have the storage facilities so now if they decide to bring their records, what at are we going to do? How are we going to keep them? Do we have the facilities?” the source asked.
He said there were numerous traditional banks coupled with the micro financial intuitions and other non-banking institutions, and so if all of them were to bring their records at the same time, it would be a problem.
“Twenty years after setting up the department and looking at the volume of documents here, there will be the need to expand. Government should help us expand because we are the custodians of the collective memory of Ghana,” the source said.
Functions of PRAAD
The PRAAD was established under the PRAAD Instrument, 1996 (L.I. 1628) to be responsible for the proper and effective management of records in public institutions of government to which the Act applies.
The department’s role includes ensuring that public offices, institutions and individuals who create and maintain public records follow good record keeping practices; and establishing and implementing procedures for the timely disposal of public records of continuing value.
Importance of a records centre
A records centre provides safe and environmentally controlled security for inactive records for as long as their retention is required.
Processes are put in place to ensure that when a record is needed, it can be easily located, retrieved, used and then safely returned to storage.
However, when a record’s retention is no longer required, correct disposition procedures are followed.


China’s crumbling property market risks popping a debt bubble that has floated out of control for more than two decades.
On Monday, a Hong Kong court ordered the liquidation of Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, which is sinking in at least US$300 billion of red ink. The crisis unfolded in 2021 and has since spread across the entire real estate sector.
“I think the bigger surprise here is that it took so long for Evergrande to be liquidated,” Matt Simpson, a senior analyst at the City Index in Brisbane, said.
“Clearing out the deadwood should be seen as a positive, but I doubt it will boost confidence in the property sector,” he added as reported by the Reuters news agency.
- Evergrande was once “a pillar of China’s economy.”
- Its rise and fall have spread beyond the housing market.
- Rival developer Country Garden is also in deep trouble with debts of $196 billion.
Why this matters: Up to 90% of household wealth in China is tied up in property. Real estate also makes up around 30% of gross domestic product in the world’s second-largest economy.
Delve deeper: Fallout from the property crash has descended on the broader economy, squeezing consumer spending and plunging local governments into spiraling debt.
Big picture: “We’re in a recession. If you talk to 10 people, seven will say we’ve had a bad year. I don’t think the government can afford that,” Zhu Tian, an economics professor at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai, said.
China Factor comment: As we pointed out last week, local government debt is hovering around $11 trillion. Land sales have dried up during the real estate crisis while excessive borrowing in the past 20 years has created the perfect economic storm for Beijing.


This idea is at the heart of everything we do at Greenwood. Our personalized approach ensures that each student is known as an individual and gets what they need to flourish. In the classroom, that means understanding where each student is at and meeting them there with the right level of challenge to encourage engagement and growth. Outside of the classroom, each student is paired with an Adviser
; Advisers provide unparalleled support, acting as “champions” and advocates for their advisees in all aspects of school life.
This customized approach extends to our diverse offering of experiences. From the courses we offer
to our wide range of extracurriculars
, we help students find and follow their passions. We also strongly believe in the value of experiential education, and our trailblazing outdoor education
and service learning
programs provide authentic, hands-on learning opportunities. When students design their own personalized pathways, they feel a sense of ownership over their education -- and we know from experience that this consistently drives dedication and determination.
While our enrollment has grown to 500 students since our founding, we have maintained our tight-knit community and small-school feel. We believe in the power of learning from, and laughing with, each other, and students have ample opportunity to get to know their peers both in and out of the classroom. Our passionate, caring staff
are committed to every student’s success, health, and well-being; the meaningful relationships they develop with students are what make our engaging and interactive approach to learning possible.
When our alumni
leave Greenwood, they know what success means to them and they are ready to achieve it. Our graduates have followed a wide range of paths, from volunteering with Doctors Without Borders, to pursuing a graduate degree at Cambridge, to opening an art studio. Our hope for our alumni is that they lead fulfilling lives, and we are committed to helping them develop the character, knowledge, critical thinking and resilience needed to do so.
We are proud of what we have achieved over the past 20 years, but Greenwood is not content to stand still. Moving forward is critical to staying on the leading edge of education and delivering the best experience possible for our students. Our Strategic Plan for 2021-2026 charts an ambitious and exciting future for our school - learn more about it here
Exploring our website is a great way for you to get to know Greenwood, but there is even more to discover. We hope you will join us for one of our in-person or virtual events
and experience first-hand what makes this community so unique.


The article ‘Analysing the influence of the presentation of fashion garments on young consumers’ online behaviour’ by McCormick and Livett seeks to identify the web experience elements that aid the interaction between the consumer and fashion garments online (McCormick & Livett, 2012). The basic argument presented is that by consumers exposed to both practical and aesthetic garment attributes can increase the consumer’s satisfaction (McCormick & Livett, 2012).
To accomplish this purpose the following method was used: evaluation of published research in literature review and then design and implementation of research strategy utilizing in-depth interviews.The information and thought process presented in the introduction lead coherently to the purpose originally aimed in the study. The research informs clearly the reader of its objectives and thorough terminology is defined.
A diverse literature review is provided with reports of previous findings and comparisons between the authors’ research and prior research findings. The research presented in the paper aims to provide a theoretical explanation of the effects of the interaction between the consumer and fashion garments online since this aspect has not been recorded in the collection of the so-far studies (McCormick & Livett, 2012). This is an elaborate and of high importance issue, since the incorporation of internet is inevitable and inseparable in all business sectors and specifically in apparel industry. Thus the research can be considered as suitable and adequate.Sampling strategy is clearly defined regarding the age and sex of the participants.
Although the authors recognize that its target group is the most common group of e-shoppers, they miss out to take into consideration -or mention in the article- other criteria that should probably be taken into consideration while choosing the participants, e.g. how often do these participants shop online, as this information can determine whether their answers will be well-thought and representative of their real beliefs. Additionally, ‘high fashion interest consumers’ (McCormick & Livett, 2012, p.
25) constitutes a generic criterion. However, it is recognized in the paper that the findings cannot be generalized.The research method is qualitative in nature; however additional quantitative findings could contribute and validate the findings. The evaluation of the significance of the findings would increase objectivity.The presentation of the research findings is objective, reasonable and credible since all of the participants’ responses are illustrated in the article. Considering ethics, no ethical issues are addressed or mentioned in the article, thus leaving undefined whether ethical standards were met or not.The research contributes to the literature to date with new theoretical understanding of the interaction between the consumer and fashion garments online and raises additional questions for future work (McCormick & Livett, 2012).
The suggestion to expand the research to multi-channel retailers can add valuable insight to the study of the interaction between garment industry and consumer’s behaviour, as the interaction between the channels is inevitable. Overall the article is well-structured and organized and the research procedures well documented rendering the study replicable (Kawamura, 2011). The authors were able to test and support their hypothesis and the research findings validate the authors’ conclusions.?


This paper proposes a new model which can approximate the delay time distribution in the Internet. It is well known that the delay time in communication links follows the exponential distribution. However, the earlier models cannot explain the distribution when a communication link is heavily overloaded. This paper proposes to use the M/M/S(m) model for the Internet. We have applied our model to the measurement results. This paper deals with one-way delay because it reflects the actual characteristics of communication links. Most measurement statistics in the Internet have been based on roundtrip time delay between two end nodes. These characteristics are easily measured by sending sample packets from one node to the other. The receiver side echoes back the packets. However, the results are not always useful. A long distance communication link, such as a leased line, has two different fibers or wires for each direction: an incoming link, and an outgoing link. When the link is overloaded, the traffic in each link is quite different. The measurement of one-way delay is especially important for multimedia communications, because audio and video transmissions are essentially one-way traffic.
|IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems
|Published - 1999
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- コンピュータ グラフィックスおよびコンピュータ支援設計


Indebtedness of Americans Nearing Retirement Has Risen Sharply, Increasing Risk of Bankruptcies
For Americans aged 56–61, median indebtedness rose sharply from 1992 to 2004. For the top quartile, debt doubled between 1992 and 2004, and almost tripled by 2010.
In Debt and Financial Vulnerability on the Verge of Retirement (NBER Working Paper No. 23664), Annamaria Lusardi, Olivia S. Mitchell, and Noemi Oggero show that, in recent decades, more and more Americans are entering retirement with significant debt. Debt-to-asset and debt-to-income ratios, as well as total debt, have been on the rise. Most seniors seem to be paying off their debt in retirement, but the trends reflect a higher risk of default and bankruptcy, especially for those faced with variable interest rates and falling incomes.
Drawing upon data from the Health and Retirement Study, the researchers examined the debt patterns of three different cohorts — Americans on the verge of retirement (aged 56–61) in 1992, 2004, and 2010. They also studied the debt patterns of older respondents (aged 62–66) to better analyze retirement security. To learn more about older individuals' ability to manage debt and shield themselves from financial shocks, they also analyzed responses to the 2012 and 2015 waves of the National Financial Capability Study.
Indicators of total debt— including the percentage of individuals arriving at retirement with debt, the median amount of debt, and the debt held by the top quartile and the top 10 percent — increased with each cohort. The increase in the median amount of debt was particularly sharp from 1992 to 2004, from $6,800 to $31,200. Top-quartile debt doubled between 1992 and 2004, and almost tripled by 2010.
Indicators of debt burden, such as the ratio of debt to liquid assets and the ratio of debt to total income, also increased. Primary-residence mortgage debt rose in part because people were buying more expensive homes with lower down payments; this also meant that the home represented a progressively greater percentage of total assets. Incidence and median amounts of credit card and other non-mortgage debt, including high-interest non-collateralized debt, also increased. In 2010, many more senior households held non-mortgage debt equaling or exceeding their liquid assets, suggesting missed opportunities to reduce high-interest debt. The median ratio of debt to total income jumped from 14 percent in 1992 to 45 percent in 2004, and to 50 percent in 2010, making many more households potentially vulnerable to interest-rate increases or financial shocks.
Despite the rise in debt levels, most retirement-age borrowers seemed to be servicing their debt. The researchers found that those in the 62–66 age group carried less debt than those aged 56–61, even though they carried more debt than their counterparts from previous years. They were also less likely to report carrying credit card debt, incurring late fees, and using high-cost borrowing methods such as paying only the minimum due or using their credit cards for cash advances.
— Deborah Kreuze


Planned giving can take many forms, but all share the unique characteristic that they allow you to ultimately donate more to help save the lives of animals than you may have ever thought possible while retaining the flexibility to donate conservatively during the course of your lifetime.
What does Planned Giving look like?
A planned gift can be:
- A gift or “bequest” from your Will or Trust
- Naming Animal Haven a beneficiary of your Retirement Plan (IRA)
- Naming Animal Haven a beneficiary of a Life Insurance Policy
- Naming Animal Haven a beneficiary of a savings, checking, brokerage or other transfer on death account (TOD)
Each of these gifts will allow you to enjoy specific tax advantages as well, so we always recommend that you discuss your personal financial plan with a professional.
We encourage pet lovers who have made a planned gift to Animal Haven to let us know so that we can formally welcome them into the Animal Haven Legacy Society. Society members are a treasured group of donors whose generosity will ensure that we can continue our good work for years to come.
Getting started is easier than you think!
To make it straightforward and easy for you to begin writing your will, we’ve partnered with FreeWill. Click here to start the process of writing your will at no cost to you. This tool is free to you and can be used to create a fully valid legal will or guide you through planning your will before finding a lawyer near you.


Once selected as EUREKA Scholars, the students embark upon an academic-year long program of scientific research and educational enrichment guided by individual Faculty Mentors and staff at the Center for Science and Engineering Parternships (CSEP). Scholars are provided with an invaluable opportunity to explore their discipline, experience a research environment, and improve their opportunities for future study in their chosen field. Each scholar is mentored by a member of the UCSB faculty, who assists the student in designing a plan of research and enrichment activities fitted to the individual interests and academic goals of the scholar which includes:
- Summer research experience ($4800 stipend)
- Oral and written science communication skills development
- Weekly seminar course with faculty speakers from various departments
- Attendance at professional or scientific society meetings
Must Meet the Following Eligibility Criteria
The EUREKA program is open to any student who meets ALL of the following requirements.
- Applicants must currently be enrolled as a full-time UCSB student and should be in their first year.
- Student must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Must be in a Mathematics, Science, or Engineering major. Psychology/Neuroscience ok, but no clinical research.
- Although not a requirement, students who have participated in the Summer Institute in Mathematics and Science (SIMS) are especially encouraged to apply.
- Applicants may not enroll in summer classes during the 8-week program without approval of the program coordinator.
Up to 8 scholarships awards will be given. Interns will participate in the Practice of Science course in Spring quarter in preparation for a 8-week research appointment during the Summer. Scholars will receive a $4800.00 stipend for the program during the summer. Students will give final talks at the end of the summer program and a poster presentation. Applicants will need to identify four faculty whose research field match their interests before they apply for this scholarship, and these names should be included in the application.


AMOXYCILLIN & POTASSIUM CLAVULANATE TABLETS MANUFACTURERS SUPPLIERS - THIRD PARTY CONTRACT MANUFACTURING - PCD PHARMA FRANCHISE
Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets: A Powerful Combination for Bacterial Infections
Dr.D Pharma introduces Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets, a potent antibiotic medication that combines the effectiveness of two active ingredients, amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate, to tackle a wide range of bacterial infections. This product offers a reliable solution for treating bacterial illnesses with its unique formulation.
Amoxicillin is a member of the penicillin family, known for its bactericidal properties. It works by inhibiting the growth and multiplication of bacteria, thereby eliminating the infection. Potassium clavulanate, on the other hand, is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that enhances the effectiveness of amoxicillin by preventing the breakdown of the antibiotic by certain bacteria that produce beta-lactamase enzymes. This combination of amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate offers a synergistic effect, making it highly effective against many bacterial strains.
Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets are widely prescribed for various types of infections, including respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, and even dental infections. The presence of potassium clavulanate helps to extend the spectrum of activity of amoxicillin, allowing for a broader coverage against bacteria that may be resistant to amoxicillin alone.
Each tablet of Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate contains a specific ratio of amoxicillin to potassium clavulanate, ensuring a balanced combination for optimal efficacy. It is important to follow the prescribed dosage and duration as directed by a healthcare professional to ensure the best outcomes.
These tablets are typically taken orally, with or without food, as per the instructions of the prescribing physician. It is crucial to complete the full course of treatment, even if symptoms improve, to ensure the complete eradication of the infection and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance.
As with any medication, Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets may cause certain side effects. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and allergic reactions. It is essential to consult a healthcare professional if any adverse effects are experienced during the course of treatment.
Please note that Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets require a valid prescription from a qualified healthcare professional. It is crucial to consult a licensed healthcare practitioner for accurate diagnosis, dosage determination, and guidance on the use of this antibiotic.
Dr.D Pharma’s Amoxicillin Potassium Clavulanate Tablets provide a powerful combination to combat bacterial infections effectively. With its reliable formulation and the synergistic effect of amoxicillin and potassium clavulanate, this antibiotic offers a trusted solution for treating various bacterial illnesses, promoting a speedy recovery and restoring health.
AMOXYCILLIN 200 MG & POTASSIUM CLAVULANATE 125 MG


The communist-inspired dictatorship of North Korea is founded upon Juche, a distinctly North Korean religious ideology that requires worship and subservience to the Kim family.
Christianity is considered subversive and is brutally opposed. Anyone discovered to be a Christian or to express any interest in Christ or the Bible is considered an enemy of the state.
The gospel is still proclaimed in North Korea through various creative means, including shortwave radio. However, North Korea has maintained and expanded its efforts to block VOM Korea’s broadcasts into North Korea. These programmes have continued to be among the highest-priority information-blocking targets of the NK authorities.
Due to VOM’s continued quick-response counter-measures (based on daily monitoring and analysis), the extent of successful interference against the broadcasts is significantly mitigated.
The brutal crackdown this autumn-winter on possessing and viewing foreign media (including teenagers reportedly executed in public for watching South Korean entertainment) highlights two prominent facts: North Koreans especially the young, keep searching for alternatives to the state’s propaganda and values, and radio stands out more than ever for both access and security of delivered programming.
Against the background of NK’s severely restricted borders, as well as the regime’s ever-tightening “total surveillance state” using digital tracking and technological media controls per the Chinese model, international public broadcasters have reconfirmed that radio broadcasting remains by far the most effective and safest way to reach audiences inside of North Korea.


Rescue Dog's Name
Levi the Labrador
Where Did You Find Your Dog?
Levi was found dumped at a school hiding, animal control picked him up and then adopted him out three times only to be returned each time because he wasn't "what they expected" among other reasons.
Tell Us About the Moment When You Knew that You Two Were Meant for Each Other.
Having gotten attached and then being left and discarded so many times at such a young age left Levi with a lot of anxiety and no confidence. I applied for his next adoption and they thought we would be the right fit! Levi was hyper sensitive to loud noises, he acted like he had been hit and would shy away from people and almost sneak by any human around him as to not be noticed. He was so unsure of himself, he had been stripped of any confidence within himself and his fear of me leaving him even at home was just to much for him. This is what humans had done to him left him a shell of a soul. His sweet eyes just cried out for reassurance and I was and still am happy to give it to him. Levi got to come to work with me for a long time until we built a bond and he could trust me. He just needed a little patience, a lot of love and kind treatment.
How Has Your Hero Changed Your Life?
He is my heart walking around on four legs. He is my best friend a loyal beyond words, a little kindness goes a long way. He has taught me though not to give up, even when so many people had hurt him he still offered his heart to me. That forgiveness is a gift to yourself, by forgiving those who stripped him of confidence he was able to move forward in a much better life full of love with us. Most of all he has shown me that it is okay to be sensitive, and while some people may not appreciate you for who you are just keep your tail wagging, hold your head up high, surround yourself with people who love you for you and you will always be okay.


Many books have covered the rapidly evolving fields of information and communication technology (ICT) and space technology separately. However, no single book has ever focused on how the integration of these two areas is creating a stronger platform for various scientific advancements—including some research work that cannot be performed on Earth.
To fill the void, Information, Communication, and Space Technology provides a novel illustration of that connection. Dividing content into sections that cover ICT, existing and future space technologies, and satellites, the author demonstrates the individual and combined power of each of these parts of the overall system. He explores how the combination of concepts from each of these interrelated fields is creating massive potential for broader advances in areas such as robotics, communications, navigation, agriculture, health care, and nanotechnology. The book introduces particular potential innovations, including "rocket-less" spacecraft launches, and development of a global system to balance energy distribution by using satellites that would collect solar energy and transmit it via microwave beams to different locations around the world.
Equally useful to students and professionals, this work is a culmination of the domestic and international experience that the author has acquired throughout more than three decades as an instructor and researcher. Emphasizing the strong need to incorporate ICT and space technology into the general university curriculum, the book starts with basic explanations of key concepts and theories, building toward more concrete, application-oriented examples that reveal the importance and impact of new technologies. This includes coverage of how satellites transfer voice, video, and other data across continents, as well as techniques used to obtain very-high-resolution images from space for use in agricultural and environmental sciences.This timely work employs a logical, practically structured approach that will help readers to better understand existing and emerging ICT and space technologies, including the most recent developments and achievements in the field.


Lily Rosales, a name that reverberates through the fashion industry, is more than just a pretty face. Her life, like a blooming flower, has unfolded with determination, perseverance, and sheer talent. Born on a warm summer day in Eastern Laos, Lily Rosales grew up in modest surroundings, with dreams as vast as the azure sky above her.
From an early age, Lily exhibited an innate sense of style and an irresistible charisma. Her journey to fame, however, was not a cakewalk. With her family’s blessings and unwavering support, Lily ventured out to pursue her dreams as a model. Setting foot into the competitive world of fashion, she encountered numerous obstacles that would have deterred the faint-hearted. But Lily, armed with unwavering determination and an unfading smile, refused to be swayed by adversity.
It was in Vietnam that Lily’s stellar rise to stardom began. During her teenage years, she joined local beauty pageants, captivating audiences with her elegance, poise, and magnetic personality. Her radiant smile, framed by expressive eyes, captured the hearts of judges and spectators alike. Despite her immense success in the pageant circuit, Lily yearned for something more significant – the glamorous world of high fashion.
At age 18, Lily Rosales took the bold step of moving to the bustling fashion capital of New York City. Armed with few connections and a burning passion, she walked through doors with unwavering determination, leaving no runway unexplored. Her unique features, a mesmerizing blend of Eastern and Western beauty standards, made her stand out from the crowd.
Lily’s striking looks caught the eye of prominent designers and iconic fashion houses. She graced the covers of renowned fashion magazines, mesmerizing readers with her ethereal beauty. With each step on the runway, Lily commanded attention, her presence radiating confidence and grace. Designers clamored to dress her, eager to embellish her statuesque frame with their creations.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, Lily Rosales is a woman who empowers others. She established the Lily Rosales Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to providing education and opportunities to underprivileged children in her homeland. Lily believes that beauty should not be limited to physical appearance but should be used as a platform to make a positive impact on society.
Lily’s extensive travels and exposure to diverse cultures have fueled her passion for diversity and inclusion. She advocates for representation and equal opportunities within the fashion industry, using her influence to redefine beauty standards. Through social media and speaking engagements, she has encouraged aspiring models from all walks of life to embrace their uniqueness and be proud of who they are.
Despite her meteoric rise to fame, Lily Rosales remains grounded, cherishing her humble beginnings. She credits her success to her Vietnamese heritage, the unyielding support of her family, and the love she shares with her fans. Lily’s authenticity, determination, and unwavering spirit continue to inspire millions across the globe.
Today, Lily Rosales stands tall as a symbol of beauty, strength, and resilience. Her story encapsulates the transformative power of dreams and the significance of staying true to oneself. As the world admires her breathtaking beauty and impeccable style, it is her philanthropy and advocacy for change that make Lily Rosales a true icon of our time.


Common bile duct stones may be primary stones originating from the duct itself or secondary stones that have fallen out of the gallbladder. They can be single or multiple. Common bile duct stones are found in 15 % of a group of patients with gallbladder stones. Secondary stones are generally bilirubin and cholesterol stones. Primary bile duct stones occur at least 2 years after cholecystectomy. These stones are also bilirubin and cholesterol stones and calcium stones are rarely detected. In this patient presented here, sixty five stones nearly 10 mm were extracted from the common bile duct by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Previously, fourty four 10 mm stones and twenty two 5 mm to 10 mm stones had been removed during cholecystectomy. This case is interesting for multiple and large size calcium carbonate stones that are secondary, which in the common bile duct are usually encountered.


The Career Wise extended family consists of many different clients together with their own distinct student groups. The gallery showcases some of the events hosted by our clients for their students. They include various camps, workshops, training events, award evenings, gala dinners, etc. We have tried to capture some important milestones and in so doing create lifetime memories. Explore our gallery and share some of your favourite memories from your university experience with a Career Wise administered bursary or scholarship with friends and family.


Laure de Marcellus’ velvety timbre and riveting stage presence delight both critics and audiences. She honed her craft at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin.
She made her celebrated debut as CARMEN at the Fêtes de Genève and appeared as Dalila SAMSON ET DALILA for the Opéra Studio of Geneva’s 20th Anniversary, and for the Gabriel Fauré Festival in Annecy. She sang Brangäne in TRISTAN UND ISOLDE with the Norddeutches Philharmonie conducted by Peter Leonard.
At the Deutsche Oper, she sang such diverse roles as Maddalena RIGOLETTO with Mikhail Jurowski, Grimgerde DIE WALKÜRE with Christian Thielemann, Smeton ANNA BOLENA, Mérope OEDIPE staged by Götz Friedrich who also directed her in his final production, AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS; Third Lady DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, and Flora LA TRAVIATA. Miss de Marcellus appeared in Berlin’s nationally televised annual gala for AIDS research under the baton of the late Marcello Viotti with Sumi Jo and Ramon Vargas.
Other roles in Miss de Marcellus’ repertoire are Eboli, DON CARLO, Orsini LUCREZIA BORGIA, Fricka DIE WALKÜRE, Waltraute GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG, Erda RHEINGOLD, Federica LUISA MILLER, Sesto CLEMENZA DI TITO and Orlofsky DIE FLEDERMAUS. Her early roles include the title role ORFEO E EURIDICE, and Eustazio RINALDO.
In May 2022 she was the Countess in West Bay Opera's Pique Dame and in May 2023 she sang Mary in The Flying Dutchman.
Her collaboration with pianist Alberto Urroz is becoming a regular feature at Navarra’s Mendigorría Music Festival. After their last recital of a very well-received program of songs by Schubert, Liszt, and Fauré, they performed a Schumann program to rave reviews before Covid hit. In the spring of 2021 they recorded an album of previously unrecorded romantic melodies by and dedicated to Pauline Viardot which was released by Centaur Records in 2022.
Her broad concert repertoire includes oratorios from VERDI REQUIEM to lesser-known works such as César Franck’s RÉDEMPTION or Britten’s NOAH’S ARK which she performed with Jun Märkl for Radio France. She has performed concerts in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Spain, and Germany. She appeared in Beethoven’s 9th at Serbia’s Nomus festival and sang the Messiah with the Singapore Symphony.
Laure de Marcellus was born in Geneva, Switzerland, studied at the Zurich Conservatory and in Tel Aviv where she obtained a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance Summa Cum Laude. Miss de Marcellus went on to New York to study with Mignon Dunn, and Munich with Josef Loibl. She currently works with Jorge Pita Carreras. She won many prizes and scholarships, including the Migros Scholarship in Switzerland and the American Berlin Opera Scholarship.


For more mature skin types, the high antioxidant content in our Rose Facial Toner will protect skin cells against damage, encouraging healthy skin cell turnover for reduced pigmentation and boosted collagen levels. This means that our Rose Toner is very helpful for those combatting UV damage or compromised skin tissue due environmental factors or skin weakening over time. The reduced lipid levels and slower collagen production that occur in our skin as it ages can be effectively treated with the essential fatty acids present in rose hydrosol, which strengthen the skin’s lipid layer while plumping and firming for reduced fine lines. For more blemish-prone skin types, our Rose Toner is also an effective antidote. A potent anti-inflammatory, applying rose water topically means soothed skin and reduced redness and inflammation. For those suffering from acne, rose water toner is super helpful when it comes to cleansing clogged pores, while still maintaining the integrity of the lipid barrier. And due to its antibacterial properties, a rose toner can drastically reduce the size and severity of active blemishes, plus the natural astringent properties mean that it can clean pores, tighten capillaries and remove excess sebum.
Rose Hydrosol, Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera, Rose & Frankincense Essential Oil


UN food program to provide more than 60,000 Ukrainian students with school lunches
The World Food Programme (WFP) has signed agreements to support daily school meals for over 60,000 children in 420 schools across 11 regions of Ukraine.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the WFP will finance 30% of daily hot meals for students in grades 1-4, Rubryka reports, citing the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
Schools will allocate the funds received through the program to improve the quality of nutrition and reduce the cost of meals covered by parents.
The support program will operate in schools in Kyiv, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Cherkasy, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Poltava regions.
The selection of regions was based on various criteria, including the level of food security and the number of internally displaced persons.
The WFP supported the Ukrainian school nutrition reform during the previous academic year, financing the preparation of meals for 12,000 children in 58 schools in the Kyiv region. This academic year, the support has expanded.
Ukraine recently presented the School Nutrition Reform Strategy, approved at the end of October. The reform aims to ensure diverse, balanced, and high-quality nutrition in schools and preschool institutions.
The Kyiv region became a pilot province, which was among the first to implement changes in the organization of the nutrition system in educational institutions and showed positive results.
During the presentation, Minister of Education and Science Oksana Liovochkina explained that the government was trying to provide free healthy meals for all students in grades 1-4 and children in privileged categories.
However, Ukraine currently lacks the resources due to the number of such children. Since 650,000 students in grades 1-11 belong to vulnerable categories, including over 223,000 children with IDP status. Also, a new category of children who suffered from military actions received privileged status.
The total cost of hot meals for children in these categories is ₴13.87 billion. The support of donors and partners, including the World Food Programme of the UN in Ukraine, is crucial, said the minister.
What do we know about the reform of school nutrition in Ukraine?
The reform of school nutrition in Ukraine started in 2020 at the initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska.
On January 1, 2022, updated menus for students were introduced in Ukrainian schools, developed by Ukrainian chef Yevhen Klopotenko. The key feature of the changes was a shift towards healthier nutrition: less sugar, salt, bread, fats, and by-products.
Not all parents reacted positively to the reform, sparking a debate around school nutrition.
In the comments on the "New School" page, one can find many angry comments directed at both Klopotenko and the First Lady.
Allegedly, children go home hungry, and during breaks, they run to kiosks to buy snacks. There are also complaints about the increase in prices for school meals.
On October 31, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the strategy for reforming the school nutrition system for 2023-2027.


Real Property Taxes
All real property located within the town limits is subject to taxation, except that which is specifically exempt. Each property is reassessed every three years by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). The property assessment used by the town to calculate the tax represents 100% of full cash value. The real property tax is levied annually on all taxable land and improvements. The tax rate, which is set each year by the Board of Town Commissioners, is currently $0.54 per $100 of assessed value.
All property within the town limits is located in Harford County, District 03. The town uses the same property identification number as Harford County, in a format such as “03-123456”.
If you wish to change your mailing address, as the "Owner" of the property, please complete the Address Change Request Form. Please forward the completed form to the Town via email to email@example.com
Semi-Annual Tax Payment PlanAs of July 1, 2000, the State of Maryland authorized a mandatory semi-annual tax payment plan, whereby a property owner of an owner-occupied property can pay 50% of their property tax by September 30 and the remaining 50% (with an additional service charge) by December 31. The service charge calculated by the town must be approved by the state and is approved by the Board of Town Commissioners each year as part of the final budget resolution.
In the event that the second installment is not timely paid by December 31, interest, at the rate of 1.5% per month, will start to accrue on the unpaid balance. Property owners not wishing to pay on a semi-annual basis must expressly opt out by notifying their mortgage company. The department mails reminder notices for the second installment during the first week of December each year.
As of July 1, 2012, the State of Maryland passed a bill that gave businesses with a cumulative (town, county, and state) real estate tax less than $100,000 an option to pay the taxes semi-annually.
Payment InformationReal property taxes are assessed and billed in advance on a fiscal year basis, commencing July 1 of each year, and the town bills and collects its own real property taxes. Interest will start to accrue, at the rate of 1.5% per month, on October 1 of each year for annual and for the first installment for semi-annual payers.
Taxes shall become delinquent on April 1, nine months after they have been levied. Properties with delinquent taxes will be advertised six times between April and June and will be taken to tax sale on the third Monday of June if they remain unpaid. Taxpayers whose accounts have been advertised and/or go to tax sale will be responsible for advertising costs. The department mails delinquent notices for unpaid taxes during the first week of March each year. After March 31, checks will no longer be accepted as a form of payment for delinquent accounts. The liability for timely payment is the responsibility of the property owner, irrespective of whether a mortgage lender customarily makes payment from an escrow.
The Town provides for exemptions under State law for disabled veterans and blind persons, as well as credits certified by the Town’s Historic District Commission. The State also administers a Homeowner’s Property Tax Credit Program and the Homestead Tax Credit Program. For the State’s credit or exemption programs, please visit the State Department of Assessments and Taxation website.