In a democratic one-party system, the party may fear losing power if they do not listen to the views of the public. Most of the present structure, however, dates to the. The France-based watchdog group Reporters Without Borders ranked China 176 out of 180 countries in its 2016 worldwide. Environmental issues The traffic in In recent decades, China has suffered from. Chinese mathematicians were the first to use. The Chinese government has responded to foreign criticism by arguing that the right to subsistence and economic development is a prerequisite to other types of human rights, and that the notion of human rights should take into account a country's present level of.
So how is this possible in a one party system? Since Xi has come to power, experts have noted an apparent easing of tough rhetoric against, and even a promotion of, traditional beliefs in China. In 2012, the structure looked like this. In practice, however, monitoring and crackdowns often target peaceful activities that are protected under international law, say human rights watchdogs. The incumbent premier is , who is also a senior member of the , China's de facto top decision-making body. The demonstrations were eventually by force in early 2014.
Within the framework of this ideology, religion was treated as a 'contorted' world-view and people believed that religion would necessarily disappear at the end, along with the development of human society. After the in 1945, Taiwan, including the , was returned to Chinese control. The type of government found in China is that which combinesdemocratic ideals, federalism, socialism, and authoritarian … ism. China maintains healthy and highly diversified trade links with the European Union. China's coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometers 9,000 mi long and is bounded by the , , and seas. Urbanization Map of the ten in China 2010 China has urbanized significantly in recent decades.
In 2012, Bloomberg and the New York Times both on the private wealth of then Party Secretary Xi Jinping and Premier Wen Jiabao. State Councillors : Liu Yandong, Liang Guanglie, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu, Dai Bingguo. The party prohibits its nearly ninety million party members from holding religious beliefs, and it has demanded the expulsion of party members who belong to religious organizations. He enacted Qin's reforms throughout China, notably the forced standardization of , , road widths i. Portuguese China is thought to derive from Chīn , which may be traced further back to. Bo, once the charismatic Party Secretary of Chongqing in southwestern China, is now in prison. And the country went from its shattered state to the China we know today.
Politics: What are the disadvantages and advantages of one party rule?
For much of the country's dynastic era, opportunities for social advancement could be provided by high performance in the prestigious , which have their origins in the. Rulers may be succeeded or rotated peacefully within established systems of governance. Archived from on 11 May 2010. Terminal 3 of is the 2nd-largest airport terminal in the world. No one could deny that its leaders, from Mao to Deng, from Jiang to Hu and to Xi next year, differ as widely in political outlooks and policy priorities as those who move in and out of power under any other political systems.
However, in recent years, China's rapid economic growth has contributed to severe consumer inflation, leading to increased government regulation. An upcoming study in the linguistics journal Language found that 27 Philadelphia stenographers, presented with recordings of Black English grammatical patterns, made transcription errors on average in two out of every five sentences, and could accurately paraphrase only one in three sentences. Urban air pollution is a severe health issue in the country; the estimated in 2013 that 16 of the world's 20 most-polluted cities are located in China. The state recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Catholicism, Daoism, Islam, and Protestantism. Dynastic rule ended in 1912 with the , when a replaced the.
The People's Republic of China is a single-party republic. Cockell had once forgotten about a dried petri dish of Chroococcidiopsis for 10 years,. China is additionally involved in multilateral disputes over the ownership of several small islands in the East and South China Seas, such as the and the. As China is a de facto , the holds ultimate power and authority over state and government serving as the. Chinese officials stated that spending on the military will rise to U.
Policy is implemented more quickly and efficiently. Access to foreign media remains heavily restricted. Examples of one-party nation-states are , , and. The Qing dynasty also began experiencing in which tens of millions of people died, especially in the , the failed that ravaged southern China in the 1850s and 1860s and the 1862—77 in the northwest. But, in practice, these provisions have remained dead letter.
In , governments regularly get voted in and out, but no elections have produced even the minimal corrections required to address their monumental distress. Then successfully docked with Tiangong-2 on 19 October 2016. In 2011 China's highways had reached a total length of 85,000 km 53,000 mi , making it the. The national average broadband connection speed is 9. However, they fell quickly when their conscription for public works and a in provoked widespread unrest. In 2014, the internal freshwater resources per capita of China reduced to 2,062m 3, and it was below 500m 3 in the , while 5,920m 3 in the world. In 2012, China's official was 0.
High level of heavy metal exposure can also cause permanent intellectual and developmental disabilities, including reading and learning disabilities, behavioral problems, hearing loss, attention problems, and disruption in the development of visual and motor function. Citizens, Democracy, and Markets Around the : Congruence Theory and Political Culture. It is an example of Taoist temple that hosts various chapels dedicated to popular gods. In the winter, northern winds coming from high-latitude areas are cold and dry; in summer, southern winds from coastal areas at lower latitudes are warm and moist. New York: Columbia University Press. Economic reforms beginning in the 1980s that aimed at improving efficiency and work motivation sought to smash the iron rice bowl and link employment and income more directly to individual effort.


Directions : In these questions, a sentence has been given in Active/Passive Voice. Out of the four suggested alternatives, select the one which best expresses the same sentence Passive/Active Voice.
1. They will demolish the entire block.
(a) The entire block is being demolished. (b) The block may be demolished entirely.
2. This surface feels smooth.
3. Our task had been completed before sunset.
(a) We completed our task before sunset. (b) We have completed our task before sunset.
4. We have already done the exercise.
5. Why do you tell a lie?
(a) Why a lie told by you? (b) Why is a lie be told by you?
7. Did you visit a zoo?
(a) Was a zoo being visited by you? (b) Was a zoo be visited by you?
8. It is time to ring the bell.
(a) It is time the bell rings. (b) It is being time to ring the bell.
9. The boys were playing Cricket.
(a) Cricket had been played by the boys. (b) Cricket has been played by the boys.
10. Who can question Gandhi’s integrity ?
(a) By whom Gandhi’s integrity can be questioned ? (b) By whom can Gandhi’s integrity be questioned ?
11. I take exercise daily.
(a) Exercise are taken daily by me. (b) Exercise is taken daily by me.
12. This surface feels smooth.
(a) This surface is felt smooth. (b) This surface is smooth when it is felt.
13. The boy laughed at the beggar.
(a) The beggar was laughed by the boy. (b) The beggar was being laughed by the boy.
14. The main skills we seek to develop include analysing, interpreting and evaluating ideas.
15. She will invite me.
(a) I shall be invited by her. (b) I will invited by her.
(a) He is known by me. (b) He was known to me.
17. You will praise her very much.
(a) She will praised very much by you. (b) She will be praised very much by you.
18. Let me do this.
19. They drew a circle in the morning.
(a) A circle was being drawn by them in the morning. (b) A circle was drawn by them in the morning.
20. He presented me a bouquet on my birthday.


Find below the list of Embassies, Consulates and High Commissions in Colombia. The country-wise embassies in Colombia is stacked in alphabetical order.
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 8:00 a.m.- 12:30p.m., 1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Calle 67 N. 7-35, Oficina 1102, Piso 11, Edificio Plaza 67.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 to 11 a.m., 2 to 5 p.m.


The difference between minutes and report of a meeting is that minutes are more structured and detailed, and a report is shorter and only covers the main points. Minutes are used more commonly, though some companies also use reports.
Corporate meeting minutes keep a record of key information for historical documentation. They preserve the business that was done at the meeting, plus the resolutions that were adopted. Minutes also include actions taken by the board, any officers or directors that were elected, and reports from various committees and groups. Minutes are a record of what happened at a meeting, not what was said. Minutes are taken at a variety of types of meetings including a board of directors gathering, shareholder meetings, and manager meetings.
Minutes are useful to look back on and help share information with people who could not attend the meeting. In most companies, the recording or corresponding secretary records the meeting and then transcribes the minutes and sends them to all attendees. The term minutes doesn't refer to the measurement of time, but rather the minute details of what happened at the meeting.
Minutes aren't finalized and approved until the next meeting when they are presented to attendees. In most situations, the minutes are approved by whoever is in charge, such as the board of directors or executives leading the meeting.
For events that take place out of the office, retreat notes create a record of what was done and accomplished. Many companies hold off-site retreats for team-building and planning in a less structured environment. During these brainstorming sessions, many ideas and creative solutions are born.
Many employees take casual notes to record their thoughts or things they want to try later. These notes can be a great starting point for the official report, but they should be vetted before they are included in the official meeting minutes for historical purposes. It would be unwise to include ideas that aren't possible or that won't work.
What Is the Format for Meeting Minutes?
Meeting minutes become part of a company's official record, so they should be formatted the same each time. This not only creates a more cohesive look but also makes it easier to find things in different minutes. Minutes don't need to include everything, but they should be detailed enough to be of use in the future.
Notes are different from minutes because they aren't added to the official record. Notes written by an individual during the meeting can include comments made by other people during the meeting. In some cases, confidential or sensitive information is included in the notes, but it is not part of the minutes.
How are Meeting Minutes Distributed?
The secretary in charge of taking the minutes during the meeting is often also in charge of distributing the minutes afterwards. Before they can be circulated, the minutes need to be approved by the chair of the board of directors.
The minutes should be transcribed from the recording of the meeting and any notes that were taken. The written notes should then be sent to everyone on the distribution list and entered into the company's official record. Minutes can also be given to any shareholders who request a copy.
Minutes are made part of the permanent record after they are approved at the next meeting. This means that everyone agrees that the minutes are accurate and can, therefore, be used as evidence in legal proceedings or if needed during an audit by the IRS.
Notes, on the other hand, are not distributed and do not become part of the permanent record. Notes are personal and are often made using shorthand that only the person writing them understands. Notes aren't given to all attendees, although they can be shared with small groups of people.
If you need help with the difference between minutes and report of a meeting, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.


Preheat oven to 400° F..
Mix ground beef, ground pork, 2 eggs, bread crumbs, nutmeg, paprika, curry and cayenne and salt. Knead by hand until well blended.
Unfold the puff pastry sheets and cut at the seams. Cut each of the rectangles in half. You will now have 24 small rectangular pieces of puff pastry. In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg.
Take a small handful of the ground meat mixture, form it with your hand into a small sausage and place this in the middle of a piece of puff pastry. Fold the pastry in half and press the ends together firmly. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and brush the top with some of the beaten egg. Bake for 25 minutes.
You can keep the rolls in the fridge for up to 2 days. Rolls can be eaten cold or they can quickly be re-heated in the oven or microwave. If you wish to make only 12 rolls, you can freeze half the ground beef mixture and it will be ready for use the next time you need it.


We are looking for a well presented, credible and professional person who is required to achieve and exceed sales KPI targets in the bathroom showroom by providing an excellent service to both trade and retail customers.
Ensure optimum margins are achieved for our trade and showroom customers, through the control of customer discounting and the use of Group preferred suppliers with Iflo products always being actively promoted.
Assisting with the general duties within the branch, ensuring the housekeeping standards are maintained both on the trade counter and showroom. You may be required to take accountability for the trade counter and branch on weekends.
Take ownership and manage the showroom customer experience, ensure that all quotations, when raised, are followed-up and manage all customer queries in a timely manner.
Provide a first class CAD bathroom design service, with close attention to detail, whilst ensuring that products offered are in line with Group preferred suppliers.
Ensuring we maintain high standards, creating and maintaining a loyal customer base and providing a first class service, including customer home visits.
Generate new and repeat business through building rapport with customers and existing channels to support the development of showroom sales.


I need to add assessments to the gradebook.
Scenario: Setting all weights in a category to exactly one hundred in total.
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "44.444"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "22.222"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "33.333"
When I set the field "Override weight of Test assignment five" to "1"
And I set the field "Override weight of Test assignment six" to "1"
And I set the field "Override weight of Test assignment seven" to "1"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "30"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "50"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" to "20"
Then I should not see "Your weights have been adjusted to total 100."
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "30.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "50.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "20.0"
Scenario: Setting all weights in a category to less than one hundred is normalised.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "1"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "1"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" to "2"
Then I should see "Your weights have been adjusted to total 100."
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "25.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "25.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "50.0"
Scenario: Set one of the grade item weights to a figure over one hundred.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "120"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "100.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "0.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "0.0"
Scenario: Setting several but not all grade item weights to over one hundred each.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "150"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "150"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "50.000"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "50.000"
Scenario: Grade items weights are not normalised when all grade item weights are overridden (sum exactly 100). Extra credit is set respectful to number of items.
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "66.667"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "33.333"
And I set the field "Override weight of Test assignment five" to "1"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "60"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "40"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "60.000"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "40.000"
And I reset weights for grade category "Sub category 1"
Scenario: Grade items weights are normalised when all grade item weights are overridden (sum over 100). Extra credit is set respectful to number of items.
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "54.545"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "45.455"
Scenario: Grade items weights are normalised when all grade item weights are overridden (sum under 100). Extra credit is set respectful to number of items.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "40"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "30"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "57.143"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "42.857"
Scenario: Grade items weights are normalised when not all grade item weights are overridden. Extra credit is set respectful to number of items.
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "40.00"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "60.000"
the grade item is set to normal.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" to "105"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "105.0"
And I should see "Your weights have been adjusted to total 100."
And the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "0.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "100.0"
the grade category is reset.
Scenario: Two out of three grade items weights are overridden and one is not.
The overridden grade item weights total over one hundred.
Given I set the field "Override weight of Test assignment six" to "1"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "55"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" to "65"
Then the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "0.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "45.833"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "54.167"
Scenario: With one grade item set as extra credit, when I reset the weights for a category they return to the natural weights.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" to "40"
Then the field "Weight of Test assignment five" matches value "80.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "40.0"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment seven" matches value "60.0"
Scenario: Overriding a grade item with a negative value results in the value being changed to zero.
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "-15"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "-25"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment five" to "-10"
And I set the field "Weight of Test assignment six" to "120"
And the field "Weight of Test assignment six" matches value "100.0"


Is there anything more fun than a costume party? All the moments that involve the party - from the organization to the big day - are great fun.
A costume party can be planned for birthday celebrations (especially those that mark a significant time in life, such as 15 years, 18 years and 30 years), school (for graduations or year-end balls), business or end-of-the-year reunion) or just to gather friends without a specific reason. The fact is that in all these occasions it fits a celebration to the fantasy.
This is perhaps the most interesting and fun topic of the party: defining the theme. You can let your imagination fly high and think from the most common and recurring themes such as the 60s, or go to something more specific like a movie - Harry Potter is a good example - or TV series.
Other common themes are Halloween, the June party and the carnival. These parties, besides being an opportunity to take fantasy out of the closet, are still a way to enjoy the holidays and calendar dates.
You can also think of topics like cinema, music, sports, literature, fairy tales and historical periods such as prehistory or medieval times. Looking for inspirations in ancient civilizations may also be interesting, in which case the suggestions are the Egyptians, the Persians or who knows even the Latin American Indians. But you can also choose to leave the theme of the party free and allow your guests to define the theme of their own fantasies.
The important thing is to decide whether the party will be thematic or not as soon as possible, since it is this small and significant detail that will guide the whole organization of the party to fantasy. And a tip: never send the invitation without setting the theme. The guests are lost and will feel the unpreparedness of the organization.
After setting the theme, choose the location. This is also a very important stage for the success of the costume party. Some themes combine especially with open places and in the midst of nature, such as a medieval-themed party. Already others like a 60's costume party look better if held in an enclosed space.
Determine the location of the party according to the theme and how much you are willing to spend to complete it. If the money is short the tip is to do it at home or ask for that legal farm of your friend loaned.
Set theme and location it's time to start sending party invitations. The date and time of the party by then should already be set.
Distribute the invitations 30 days before the party, enough time for the guests to plan and look for the costumes. And by the way, make it clear in the invitation that to enter the party is essential the use of fantasy according to the theme.
Enjoy and make the themed invitation, so your guests already have that taste of what is to come and you can surprise them.
Fantasy party, as a rule, has to be colored. This guarantees the air of relaxation and joy typical of this type of event. Colors can be combined together in a harmonious and fun palette, or use them freely, like a true rainbow.
Balloons, streamers and masks are a great way to make the fancy party decor inexpensive and affordable. Another way to cheapen the cost of decorating is to invest in paper flowers and candles. The DIY concept - Do It Yourself - or the famous "Do It Yourself" can also be incorporated into the fancy party decoration. Recyclable materials like pet bottles, glass and cans give that extra touch in the decor.
The fantasy party is by itself relaxed and casual. For this reason, treats that can be eaten by hand without the need for dishes and cutlery fit perfectly into this type of party. To leave them in the mood of the party, invest in shapes and colors that refer to the chosen theme.
As for drinks, do not miss the traditional juices, soft drinks, water and beer. But to make a charm at the party, serve some drinks - alcoholic and non-alcoholic - very colorful. Another tip is to serve punches.
How fancy am I going?
When thinking fantasy is creative and do not be afraid to dare. You can buy one ready, have it done at a seamstress or do it on your own. Also innovate in the use of different materials to create futuristic fantasies and well original.
But be careful not to make the fantasy uncomfortable. Remember that you will have a whole night ahead to dance, talk and have fun and the last thing you will want is a fantasy of tightening or limiting your movements.
A fantasy party to stay in history needs proper lighting and a selection of songs to make everyone dance. You can choose to hire a DJ or a band depending on your budget. But it is also possible to control the sound on its own, so you have a play list able to hold the animation throughout the party.
Picture 1 - Want a fancy and luxurious fancy party? So take inspiration from this table.
Picture 2 - Feathers and feathers: from the invitation to the menu.
Picture 3 - For a cheap fantasy party decoration invest in balloons, streamers and paper embellishments.
Picture 4 - All attention to the bar.
Picture 5 - A stall of lights and colors to surprise your guests.
Picture 6 - Chocolate at will.
Image 7 - A fantasy party inspired by the discomusic times.
Image 8 - Light and shine on the dance floor.
Picture 9 - How about an instant photo machine for your guests to eternalize the party?
Picture 10 - The gold is the base color of this party to the fantasy, complemented by the black and red.
Image 11 - Flowered Skulls!
Picture 12 - A photo machine on each table.
Picture 13 - Moulin Rouge! The musical turned movie is the theme of this party.
Picture 14 - Even the cake comes dressed for the party.
Image 15 - Crepe paper strips give a sensational effect to the party.
Picture 17 - And if all your favorite movies become a party theme, have you thought about that possibility?
Image 18 - Playing cards may suggest various themes for a costume party, including Las Vegas or Alice in Wonderland.
Image 19 - Here, vinyl records saw sousplat.
Image 20 - In this party, the masks accompany the dishes.
Image 21 - Paper flags and flowers to color the party.
Image 22 - Day of the dead celebrated outdoors.
Picture 23 - What to do with toy springs? Fantasy party decoration of course!
Picture 24 - Masks are the symbol of the fancy parties.
Picture 25 - Can it be more playful than a fantasy party? Children who say so.
Image 26 - The elegance of the black and gold lent to the decoration of the costume party.
Image 27 - Tunes holding the cutlery.
Image 28 - Serpentine on all sides.
Picture 29 - Chairs with tulle skirt.
Picture 30 - A colorful fantasy party in the middle of nature: the yellowish lighting guarantees the cozy atmosphere for the celebration.
Picture 31 - The costume party can have a rustic footprint too.
Image 32 - A menu right at the entrance to the party.
Picture 33 - Night of games!
Image 34 - The candlelight.
Picture 36 - Pillows to accommodate the guests.
Image 37 - A neat corner for the bar of the costume party.
Picture 38 - And what about a luminous sign to decorate the party?
Picture 39 - A table decorated in a relaxed and very irreverent way.
Image 40 - A glass that looks more like a disco ball? It can only be his fantasy!
Image 41 - Ladies and gentlemen, the theme of the party is "The Circus".
Image 42 - Fantasy party with funeral touch.
Picture 43 - Eat, drink and dance! Have you seen any similar titles in the movies?
Image 44 - Fantasy party decorated with field flowers and delicate fabrics.
Image 45 - Balloons, confetti and blinks.
Picture 46 - For an elegant party go of black, white and silver.
Image 47 - Paper masks.
Image 48 - The theme is rainbow.
Picture 49 - Here comes the woman bird.
Picture 50 - And the child ice cream cone!
Picture 51 - The dream of the wedding realized in the celebration to the fantasy.
Picture 52 - Masks and feathers: have these accessories in hand to distribute to those guests who have forgotten the fantasy; You bet, there's always one!
Image 53 - Drinks and lights to "light up" the party.
Image 54 - Shiny curtain and paper folds.
Image 55 - A scenario within the costume party.
Picture 56 - Light and soft shades contrasted by dark velvety green: a decoration and both for the costume party.
Image 57 - Look what paper stars can do for the party decoration.
Image 58 - From the outside you can already have an idea of what is inside the party.
Image 59 - A little macabre for a costume party?
Image 60 - A well-decorated bar enhances the fancy party.


Chris Martin, CEO of Martin & Co., heads a company with the most celebrated history in the landscape of luthiery. We talked with him about his participation in the MusicWood Coalition and hit on other topics that we couldn''t fit in our print edition - like how the depletion of resources led to the creation of the D-35 and how today''s guitars might just be better than the prized vintage ones.
Outside of the MusicWood Coalition, what other things are you involved with?
This probably goes back 15 years, we began to realize that the materials were getting scarcer and the price was going up. We took a closer look at what we were willing to accept and we kind of realized that we had painted ourselves into a corner with they way the wood looked.
One of the first things we did was expand the parameters within which we will accept wood that is supplied to us, based on the appearance of it. We had to do some education with our dealers and our customers and say, look, just because the wood has some character to it doesn''t mean that it''s defective. We still get customers saying, "Oh, I want the perfect looking piece of wood," in which case I say, "Well then you''d better buy a D-45, because that''s where we use the perfect wood." They''re very expensive, and they''re very rare, and then people get it.
We were also involved with the Forest Stewardship Council several years ago. We introduced a guitar where the back, sides and neck were made out of cherry and we were using some spruce that was reclaimed - it was part of a tree where most of it was used for a different purpose, and there was a section left over that couldn''t be made into lumber but made a fine guitar top. Unfortunately the FSC tightened up the requirements to be FSC certified, and we walked away. We continued to make the guitars, and put our own labels on them. We are now back in conversation with the FSC because they''ve realized that they can''t make their restriction so high that nobody can qualify to be certified.
What were the criteria that were so hard to meet?
I''m not exactly sure; it was a couple years ago. I think they wanted us to be responsible for everybody in the supply chain. We can be responsible for the people that we buy the wood from, but we can''t guarantee the behavior of people three or four vendors removed. We are having a wood summit and all of our vendors are coming in and we''re going to talk to them about what they see in the short term and long term. We''re going to try to encourage all of them to become FSC certified.
The guitar made with the cherry and reclaimed spruce, is that the SW model? How has the response been?
Yes. It was slow initially, particularly from the dealers. They are used to selling very traditional guitars made from very traditional materials, and we actually had to put in our dealer agreement that if you were going to be a Martin dealer, you were going to buy one of these. They were not doing it voluntarily; it was kind of a shame. I think now there''s more talk about global warming, and just how small the world is, and people are becoming more open-minded about what a guitar can be made of.
How do you help your customers transition to different woods than they''re used to?
We show the guitars at trade shows, we do press releases, we talk about it - the fact that you''re writing this article is going to make the consumer and the player more aware of these alternatives. Sometimes they have to go in a music store and look for this guitar. You go into a music store today, most of the guitars are still going to be made of rosewood and mahogany. You really have to pick and choose and say, "What''s that one?" The one thing we''re happy with is the sound. We wouldn''t use a wood that didn''t sound good. We''re not compromising on the sound, they just look a little different.
How do man-made alternatives, like laminates or micarta compare tonally?
They are very durable. They have a good sound initially, but they don''t have the rich overtones. That''s the first thing you''ll notice - the sound decays a lot faster. Some of these, particularly the exotic hardwoods, they can just ring forever.


Could the Investing in Innovation grant program go away at the end of the Obama administration? Not if U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., and Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, have anything to say about it.
Begich has already introduced a bill that would authorize (Congress-speak for "officially create") the i3 program, which was initially developed through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the stimulus). And now Polis is planning to introduce a similar measure over on the House side.
Quick background: The Investing in Innovation grant program, which was financed at nearly $150 million in fiscal year 2013, helps scale up promising practices at the district level. The program serves as a testing ground of sorts for interesting ideas, but applicants' must back up their ideas with a rigorous research base. The i3 fund has also financed larger, more established approaches, including Teach for America.
So far, i3 doesn't seem to have drawn as much congressional heat as Race to the Top, which Republicans (and even some Democrats) have dissed and sought to chip away at.
Still, Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee have tried to defund i3 (along with a whole host of the Obama administration's very favorite competitive grant programs). And an i3 authorization wasn't included in the bill to renew the Elementary and Secondary Education Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives (with only Republican support) over the summer. Meanwhile, outside reports, including this one by Bellwether Education Consultants, have questioned whether the first round of i3 grants actually funded anything "innovative."
But the program's supporters are hoping the idea at the heart of the i3—trying to figure out what educational strategies work best—can attract some cross-aisle love.
"The program is very important because it put an emphasis on evidence," said Augustus Mays, the director of government relations at WestEd, a non-profit research and development service agency. West Ed has partnered with school districts on i3 projects dealing with adolescent literacy and early math intervention—the projects total nearly $38 million in federal funding. "We need to make sure that educational practices and programs are supported by what works and it needs to be shared and brought to scale. ... I think there is support on the Republican side around putting federal dollars towards educational programs that have shown success."
Both Polis and Begich want to put a new twist on the program: a bigger emphasis on rural schools. The Begich bill and the still-under-development Polis bill would include a 25 percent set-aside for rural schools. And the Polis measure would also put more federal focus on financing smaller grants to test out promising ideas with a more-limited evidence track record. His in-progress bill would call for steering at least 50 percent of the funds to so-called "development" and "validation" grants (the smaller categories, meant to test out ideas with potential or some evidence). More than a dozen organizations—including Teach Plus, the Knowledge Alliance, Democrats for Reform, and WestEd support the forthcoming bill.


Who has their finger on Kim Jong Un's 'nuclear button' while he's away?
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un signed a "historic" document at the momentous summit Tuesday, with Trump calling it "pretty comprehensive." The Trump-Kim joint statement declares that North Korea commits to work toward "complete denuclearization of Korean Peninsula."
The document reads: "President Trump committed to provide security guarantees to the DPRK, and Chairman Kim Jong Un reaffirmed his firm and unwavering commitment to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."
During the meeting, Trump, who called Kim "a very talented man," said that "we're starting that process quickly, very quickly," and that he will "absolutely" invite Kim to the White House.
At the same time, Kim declared that the "world will see a major change" and he and Trump "decided to leave the past behind" as they signed the document. Kim departed for North Korea shortly after the signing.
Both leaders kicked off the summit meeting Tuesday morning, with Trump declaring the two "will solve it" and Kim saying they had overcome "obstacles" to get to this point.
Before a row of alternating U.S. and North Korean flags, the leaders shook hands warmly at a Singapore island resort, creating an indelible image of two unorthodox leaders as they opened a conversation that could determine historic peace or raise the specter of a growing nuclear threat.
"We are going to have a great discussion and I think tremendous success. We will be tremendously successful," Trump said before their private session. Kim said through an interpreter: "It wasn't easy for us to come here. There was a past that grabbed our ankles and wrong prejudices and practices that at times covered our eyes and ears. We overcame all that and we are here now." Aware that the eyes of the world were on a moment that many people never expected to ever see, Kim remarked that many of those watching "will think of this as a scene from a fantasy ... science fiction movie."
Trump and Kim met privately for some 41 minutes — joined only by interpreters. Then aides to each joined for more discussions and a working lunch. "Working together we will get it taken care of," Trump told Kim at the start of the wider meeting.
Trump concluded that the meeting with Kim went "better than anybody could have expected."
After their meeting, Trump offered the North Korean leader a rare glimpse inside the presidential limousine known as "The Beast" as their historic summit wound down.
Trump and Kim were spotted approaching Trump's hulking black limousine, adorned with an American flag. Trump gestured to the car and then a Secret Service agent opened the right passenger door.
Kim could be seen smiling as the two stood chatting and Kim peeked inside.
While there was initially some confusion about what the leaders were doing, it quickly became clear that Trump was making a classic alpha male move: showing Kim his ride.
But even before they met, Trump announced plans to leave early, raising questions about whether his aspirations for an ambitious outcome had been scaled back. The first meeting of a sitting U.S. president and a North Korean leader was the product of dizzying weeks of negotiations over logistics and policy.
Up early in Singapore, Trump tweeted with cautious optimism: "Meetings between staffs and representatives are going well and quickly ... but in the end, that doesn't matter. We will all know soon whether or not a real deal, unlike those of the past, can happen!"
In the run-up to the talks, Trump had hopefully predicted the two men might strike a nuclear deal or forge a formal end to the Korean War in the course of a single meeting or over several days. But on the eve of the summit, the White House unexpectedly announced Trump would depart Singapore by Tuesday evening, meaning his time with Kim would be fairly brief. And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sought to keep expectations for the summit in check.
"We are hopeful this summit will have set the conditions for future successful talks," Pompeo said, describing a far more modest goal than Trump had outlined days earlier.
The sudden change in schedule added to a dizzying few days of foreign policy activity for Trump, who shocked U.S. allies over the weekend when he used a meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized economies in Canada to alienate America's closest friends in the West. Lashing out over trade practices, Trump lobbed insults at his G-7 host, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trump left the summit early, and as he flew to Singapore, he tweeted that he was yanking the U.S. out of the group's traditional closing statement.
As for Singapore, the White House said Trump was leaving early because negotiations had moved "more quickly than expected," but gave no details about any possible progress in preliminary talks. On the day before the meeting, weeks of preparation appeared to pick up in pace, with U.S. and North Korean officials meeting throughout Monday at a Singapore hotel.
The president planned to stop in Guam and Hawaii on his way back to Washington.
Trump spoke only briefly in public on Monday, forecasting a "nice" outcome. Kim spent the day mostly out of view — until he left his hotel for a late-night tour of Singapore sights, including the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, billed as the world's biggest glass greenhouse.
As Trump and Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong sat down for a working lunch at the Istana house, the president sounded optimistic, telling Lee, "We've got a very interesting meeting in particular tomorrow, and I think things can work out very nicely." Trump had earlier tweeted about "excitement in the air!"
It was a striking about-face from less than a year ago, when Trump was threatening "fire and fury" against Kim, who in turn scorned the American president as a "mentally deranged U.S. dotard." As it happens, the North Korean and the American share a tendency to act unpredictably on the world stage.
Beyond the impact on both leaders' political fortunes, the summit could shape the fate of countless people — the citizens of impoverished North Korea, the tens of millions living in the shadow of the North's nuclear threat, and millions more worldwide. Or, it could amount to little more than a much-photographed handshake.
Still, the sense of anticipation was great in Singapore, with people lining spotless streets holding cellphones high as Trump headed to meet Lee.
U.S. and North Korean officials huddled throughout Monday at the Ritz-Carlton hotel ahead of the sit-down aimed at resolving a standoff over Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. Delegates were outlining specific goals for what the leaders should try to accomplish and multiple scenarios for resolving key issues, a senior U.S official said, adding that the meetings were also an ice breaker of sorts, allowing the teams to get better acquainted after decades of minimal contact between their nations.
Trump's early exit will be his second from a summit in just a few days.
As he was trying to build a bridge with Kim, he was smashing longtime alliances with Western allies with his abrasive performance at the G-7. After his premature departure from Quebec, he continued to tweet angrily at Trudeau from Singapore, saying Monday, "Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal."
Trump advisers cast his actions as a show of strength before the Kim meeting.
Alluding to the North's concerns that giving up its nuclear weapons could surrender its primary deterrent to forced regime change, Pompeo told reporters that the U.S. was prepared to take action to provide North Korea with "sufficient certainty" that denuclearization "is not something that ends badly for them."
He would not say whether that included the possibility of withdrawing U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula, but said the context of the discussions was "radically different than ever before."
The North has faced crippling diplomatic and economic sanctions as it has advanced development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Pompeo held firm to Trump's position that sanctions will remain in place until North Korea denuclearizes — and said they would even increase if diplomatic discussions did not progress positively.
While advisers say Trump has been reviewing briefing materials, the president insists his gut instincts will matter most when he gets in the room with Kim. He told reporters he thinks he will know almost immediately whether a deal can be made, saying: "I will know, just my touch, my feel. That's what I do."


Educators will understand what Open Educational Resources (OER) are, as well as common terminology used when talking about OER.
Educators will understand the potential benefits of using OER.
Educators will identify key questions to ask when searching for high-quality, rigorous, and standards-aligned OER.
What defines content as OER?
How can I know if the OER I find are high-quality?
Increasing equity: All students have access to high-quality learning materials that have the most up-to-date and relevant content.
Keeping content relevant and high-quality: Textbooks are perpetually outdated, but using OER allows educators to maintain quality and relevance through continuous updates.
Empowering teachers: With OER, teachers have the ability to adapt and customize learning materials to meet the needs of their students without breaking copyright laws.
Saving money: Schools can repurpose funding spent on textbooks for other pressing needs, such as the transition to digital learning.
Educators just getting started with OER need to understand some fundamental components that make content “open” (as opposed to just “free” or accessible online). Further, just because a material is licensed as OER doesn’t mean it will actually be of high quality or well aligned with specific instructional aims. Educators need to understand what OER are, where to find it, and how to assess fit and quality, given their goals.
All published content is traditionally protected by copyright, which allows authors to dictate whether and how others can use their work. Unlike traditionally copyrighted materials, OER, which may reside in the public domain or carry a specific license, may be freely used and reused at no cost without permission. While often thought of as course materials, OER can come in many forms, such as textbooks, full courses and modules, software, assessments, videos, and many other tools and materials – digital and non-digital – that educators and students might use in the classroom.
Another way to think about OER is to understand the ways in which open licensing supports users in engaging in what David Wiley, Chief Academic Officer of Lumen Learning, calls “the 5R activities:"
These five ways of engaging with content allow OER to be used more openly and dynamically than more traditional materials. OER content creators can choose to restrict the types of activities allowable and specify this in the specific open license they choose (often, but not always, a Creative Commons license).
It is important for educators to understand that freely available materials and open content are not technically the same thing. Free materials may carry licenses that prevent educators from many of the "5R" activities described above, including allowing users to share, modify, or remix content. These options can serve a purpose and benefit for educators, though they are rarely (if ever) as flexible as OER.
Assuming that free curriculum or content is not open unless expressly stated otherwise. While educators may miss out on some open content, they won’t risk violating copyrights.
Accessing open content through common sites dedicated to providing OER (more on this below).
Searching organization sites’ terms of service or the internet for licensing information. For example, it is immediately clear when visiting Khan Academy that their content is free, but it is not clear whether it is open. By looking at the terms of service or simply Googling “Khan Academy license,” two of the top three results direct users to a page that says Khan Academy uses CC BY-NC-SA for its videos and exercises.
What might make OER a good choice for students?
Reducing inequities by offering students materials at a much lower cost (and thereby freeing up resources to be used in other areas).
Offering student voice and choice in materials.
Focusing on specific learning objectives, either through standalone materials or “unbundling” full courses into unit-based materials.
Creating “collections” to support more pathways through materials.
Offering educators the opportunity to work together to dig deeply into the curriculum and develop content for use by others.
Guidance for planning and using OER is covered more deeply in the following Problems of Practice guide. However, a few strategies illustrating how OER can be used adaptively are provided below.
How do I find OER?
There are many places to find openly licensed, authentic resources from which you can build a coherent, rigorous curriculum. This work can be challenging, however, given the breadth of materials available.
What are you looking for, as there are many options to choose from?
How might OER fit into your coherent plan for student learning across the year?
Are you seeking general inspiration on a topic, or are you looking for instructional materials that address a particular learning standard?
Do you want to replace your current materials with full-course OER or are you interested in developing a core set of materials from a variety of sources?
Once you (or your curriculum team) have clearly identified the standards or learning objectives you want to address, it will be easier to search through resources and cut down on the time you need to spend on this work.
Explore the strategies below for a list of a few OER resources, repositories, and collections which align open content to applicable standards. It is also possible that your school, district, or state may already have invested in the development of an OER repository or hub. If this is the case, explore the other strategy focused on district OER journeys!
Given multiple media formats and the sheer volume of OER, educators seeking to use OER must identify and adopt mechanisms for ensuring the resources they select are of high quality. These mechanisms, as well as the dimensions of quality an educator might be selecting for, will depend very much on the context the educator is working in (e.g., school, system, community), as well as the instructional aim they have for the materials they’re seeking.
As a first step, all educators should see if their district or state has already developed tools or guides for curricular material selection; some district teams have already done some of the work to articulate quality standards. In addition, there are a number of simple tools that outline key elements to look for, such as BCOER Librarians’ Faculty Guide for Evaluating Open Education Resources, a simple but effective checklist.
However, educators who are just getting started with OER can start with a few key criteria as they begin to evaluate OER content, including: rigorous alignment to learning standards, licensing and flexibility of use, and production quality.
As a starting point, check to make sure that the OER content you are considering covers the content you’d like your students to learn. Again, some educators might be working in schools and systems that have their own methodology for evaluating alignment and rigor of materials.
But for those who don’t, a good first step is to see if the resources have already been vetted against one of several existing rubrics to determine their quality and alignment. For example, the OER Commons allows educators to search for materials evaluated against the Achieve OER and EQuIP rubrics (see strategy below for links to these and other tools).
Does the license of the instructional material you’ve selected allow for your intended use? So long as the license allows for it, educators can modify the content so it can align with student interests, resonate with students on a cultural level, be used in collections for personalized learning, or be unbundled (using parts of whole lessons, units, or full-course curriculum, based on need).
If you find a resource not already vetted or do not trust an existing evaluation, you can use a rubric to evaluate the content. Explore a few rubrics below and think about ways you can apply them to your own content exploration.
** This material was created by BCOER Librarians and published freely under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
Districts interested in “Going Open” can download the Office of Educational Technology’s #GoOpen District Launch Packet (PDF), which provides a multi-phase, detailed approach for districts interested in starting their OER journey.
Discover how to leverage OER to plan lessons and assessments.
Learn ways to support your teachers with personalized professional development to leverage, curate, and publish OER.


What titles most shaped the site's readers? Harry Potter, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Lord of the Rings—and the Bible.
A few weeks ago, I started to see a viral status being passed around my Facebook friends.
I’m usually a skeptic of such meme-y Facebook statuses, but people gathering around books that meant something to them melted even my cold heart. So I asked the Facebook Data Science team if this status had gotten “big” enough to attract their attention, and what they had seen in it.
They replied with something I wasn’t expecting: a list of the 20 books most cited by Facebook users who participated in the game.
In a new blog post, they’ve released that list (it’s also below) and some of their methodology. The data science team analyzed more than 130,000 statuses, stripped them of their identifying information and looked for common strings—that is, shared snippets of text and title—and ranked them by popularity.
The final list is an interesting, somewhat intuitive list of of titles. There’s some fantasy on it, some contemporary fiction, some classics. It’s also also steeped in books that Americans typically encounter during adolescence, whether as a traditional school assignment (The Great Gatsby) or on their own, as a “young adult” novel (Harry Potter, etc.). Even before “young adult” literature was a thing, books were shaping young adults.
Whose taste are we seeing here? Of the hundred-thousand English-speaking users sampled, women outnumbered men more than three to one. Sixty-three percent of the participants live in the United States, 9.3 percent live in India, and 6.3 percent live in the United Kingdom. And the average age of participants was 37.
One can also look at connections between the books, e.g. ‘people who listed X also listed Y’, using pointwise mutual information. In the network visualization, each node represents a book, sized by the frequency with which it was mentioned, as an edge represents an usual number of co-occurrences of the two books in the lists.
You can click on the map for a higher level of detail. One thing that strikes me about it is how genres appear to clump: Up at the top, you have a high fantasy cluster; to the left, European classics like Shakespeare; at the right, American classics like East of Eden.
Another fun feature of that map: People who loved Persuasion, Emma, and Jane Eyre also love Princess Bride. Mawwiage!
These are the books people confess to loving. But are they also the books people put their buck behind?
I turned to another online data source: Amazon’s list of its top-selling books of the two-thousand-aughts—the Books of the Decade—can give us a clue. While imperfect, it gives us a different window into literary taste from the same period.
On Amazon’s list, as on Facebook’s, Harry Potter reigns supreme, filling four of the top 10 slots. But Amazon accounts for an entire genre which Facebook users seemingly neglected to mention. Readers may want to know Who Moved My Cheese, or make the leap from Good to Great, but all that cheddar transportation doesn’t stick with them.
Some familiar titles follow: The Help, Water for Elephants, and the complete boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. That said, this is a fairly different list from Facebook’s, with absent-on-Facebook Twilight making a strong showing. You can chalk this up to the older age of the average respondent—or to the fact that Twilight, while popular, failed to “stick with” its readers.
As a devout Millennial, I choose of course to believe the latter option.


Each group should choose a recorder who will read aloud the assigned section and record the group's responses to the questions outlined below.
1.	Have someone in the group read the poem aloud. As the poem is being read, note both the narrative of the poem and the language used to describe the woman getting dressed. What is the relationship between the speaker and the woman?
2.	Look at the words (adjectives, verbs, nouns) of the poem. What words stand out? How do these words relate to each other? What image of the woman do these words suggest?
3.	To whom is the poem addressed? What is the speaker's attitude towards the woman? How does the title contribute to the poem? How do the poem's form (such as the break between stanzas) and (perhaps more importantly) the speaker's rhetorical strategy shape our view of the woman?
4.	Given your responses to the previous questions, how would you characterize the poem's tone? Choose 3-5 words or phrases which best illustrate your answer to present your reading to the class.
1.	Have someone in the group read the poem aloud. As the poem is being read, note both the narrative of the poem and the language used to describe the London morning scene. What scenes are presented? Are there any similarities between the scenes? Differences?
2.	Look at the words (adjectives, verbs, nouns) of the poem. (Note: "Betty" was an all-purpose name for a maid; "Moll" was a lewd or promiscuous woman of a low social class, a harlot). What words stand out? How do these words relate to each other? What image (sight, sound, smell) or view of London do these words suggest?
3.	To whom is the poem addressed? What is the speaker's attitude towards the morning scene? How does the poem's form (rhyme scheme, sentence grammar) contribute to the shape of its narrative?
1.	Have someone in the group read the poem aloud. As the poem is being read, note both the narrative of the poem and the language used to describe the morning scene. What scenes are presented?
2.	Look at the words (adjectives, verbs, nouns) of the poem. What words stand out? How do these words relate to each other? What is the relationship between the "he" and the clock? What image (sight, sound, smell) or view of the morning scene do these words suggest?
3. To whom is the poem addressed? What is the speaker's attitude towards the morning scene? How does the title contribute to the poem? How does the poem's form -- particularly its phrasing and sentence structure -- shape our view of the morning scene?
Return to Phil Nel's syllabus for English 112W, section 5 (M-W-F).


President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen and attorney general nominee William Barr.
Updated: In a rare public statement, the office of Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Friday evening that a report implicating President Donald Trump in obstruction of justice is not accurate.
A statement by Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr, who is detailed to the Office of Special Counsel, was reported by multiple news agencies Friday night.
“BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the special counsel’s office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony are not accurate,” Carr said, as reported by the Washington Post.
The original BuzzFeed report said Mueller has evidence that Trump directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.
The article had led to a re-examination of attorney general nominee William Barr’s unsolicited memo on obstruction of justice. The initial focus was on Barr’s disagreement with the special counsel’s apparent obstruction investigation, but now the focus is on its reference to suborning perjury as classic obstruction, the Washington Post reports.
The original BuzzFeed report said Mueller has evidence that Trump directed his former attorney, Michael Cohen, to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. The story was based on information from two anonymous federal law enforcement officials.
According to BuzzFeed’s sources, Cohen acknowledged the directive to lie after the special counsel’s office already had gathered information about it from witness interviews, emails, text messages and a cache of other documents.
Cohen pleaded guilty in November to lying to about the project to the Senate and House intelligence committees.
Earlier in the day before Mueller’s office released its denial, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, said his committee will investigate the allegations, report BuzzFeed News and the Washington Post. Some like former Attorney General Eric Holder said that the allegations, if true, would be grounds for impeachment.
The Post notes that any statement at all from the special counsel’s office is unusual. The office had never before made a statement regarding evidence in the investigation.
The Buzzfeed story prompted the Washington Post to take another look at Barr’s unsolicited June 2018 memo to the Justice Department in which he said Mueller was apparently “proposing an unprecedented expansion of obstruction laws” in his investigation of Trump.
The memo said that suborning perjury or inducing a witness to change testimony amounts to obstruction in the “classic sense.” Barr thought Mueller’s obstruction investigation appeared to be focusing on other alleged matters: Trump telling then-FBI Director James Comey he hoped he could let go of the investigation of his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, and Trump later firing Comey.
“Obviously, the president and any other official can commit obstruction in this classic sense of sabotaging a proceeding’s truth-finding function,” Barr wrote.
Barr also confirmed his views on classic obstruction during his confirmation hearing to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, and to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat.
Updated at 7:46 p.m. throughout to add the statements from the Office of Special Counsel and BuzzFeed.


Is Marketing becoming the new I.T.?
Marketing automation software has become integral to sales & marketing departments. Managed Service Providers can help your business thrive.
Marketers can learn a lot from IT when it comes to deploying the latest marketing automation technology.
As marketing automation software becomes increasingly integral to sales and marketing departments, marketers are faced with the challenge of navigating technology while keeping up with their core business goals. To deal with this technology growth challenge, Marketing can take a lesson from IT about outsourcing technical tasks to Managed Service Providers (MSP). For marketers, the right MSP will provide services to set-up and maintain the Marketing Automation platform you have chosen, establish and execute a plan, handle technical issues, and motivate everyone to be part of your MarTech shift.
In the context of IT, a managed service provider (MSP) is defined as “a company that remotely manages a customer’s IT infrastructure and/or end-user systems, typically on a proactive basis and under a subscription model”. An MSP supplements the IT team of a company by providing knowledge, skills, and expertise on a contractual basis.
Managed Service Providers offer several benefits for companies. Most enterprises need their IT team to focus on projects that support business operations, deal with requests, and enable an organization to run efficiently without a service outage. New platforms that lie outside the core operations of the IT department can drain its valuable time and energy. Outsourcing to an MSP enables the business to conveniently acquire specialists with the expertise needed to manage the day-to-day tasks associated with new technology, while freeing up the IT team to focus on the core operations of the business.
As any IT colleague might say, outsourcing specialized work to MSPs is not only convenient but a common solution. A 2016 study found that 64% of enterprises use some form of managed services, and another survey found that the managed-services market is expected to grow to $193 billion by 2019.
A 2014 Gartner report (paywall), states that 81% of companies surveyed had the “equivalent of a chief marketing technologist”. Data like this demonstrates the growing presence of MarTech in business and, in turn, the added responsibility for marketing departments to deal with the challenge of managing the utilization, uptime, and maintenance of new technology.
In other words, marketers are now faced with the same problem IT teams have dealt with for years: keeping up with new software while performing the essential tasks they were hired to do. Like their IT counterparts, marketers need to find the expertise and experience that their business requires to thrive with the technology investments they have made.
In this context, acquiring the help of professionals with both technical expertise and the business savvy to support the vision and strategy developed by the marketing team becomes critical.
The right MSP enables Marketing to take the stress out of implementing new technology and motivates everyone to be part of the Martech shift. As renowned marketing technologist Scott Brinker points out, the most difficult part “is changing how marketing thinks and behaves, given the capabilities that these new tools enable. It requires a different cadence of marketing management, where agile sprints, iterative experiments, and adaptive feedback loops are more important than the traditional yearly marketing plan.” Sound complicated? This is where having a swift and ready team of marketing technologists can take a lot of worry and stress from the daunting task of digital transformation.
The right MSP will provide a solid set up and consistently service the system you have chosen, migrate information safely and accurately, train your stakeholders, manage technical issues, and motivate everyone involved to be part of your MarTech shift. They will lay the foundation for success with high-performing email templates, segmentation, and a refined marketing database. Finally, quality MSP support will minimize recruiting, manage risk, and save money for your business.
The right MSP for managing your MarTech brings the unique expertise and insights of an experienced marketing technologist and helps transform your marketing department into a revenue center that is agile and responsive to the trends in your target market.
Managed Services from MASS Engines can take your MarTech to the next level.
Your database is at the center of your B2B Marketing campaigns. Here’s how to care for your contact list, and the consequences if you don’t.


Cá bhfuil na nóid limfe i ndaoine?
Is cuid thábhachtach de chóras limfeach an choirp nóid limfe iad na nóid limfe agus tá siad páirteach i dtáirgeadh na n-antasubstaintí agus na gceall atá bainteach leis an gcóras imdhíonachta. Fad is a bhí staid na nóid limfe, bhí dochtúirí in ann breithniú a dhéanamh ar phróiseas athlastacha i gcorp an othair, ós rud é gurb iad an chéad duine iad chun freagairt don treá ionfhabhtaithe.
Baineann a lán daoine i bhfad ón leigheas leis an gceist - cá bhfuil na nóid limfe? Go deimhin, ar an meán bíonn idir 450 agus 1000 nód limfe ag an gcorp daonna, tá siad suite ar fud an choirp i mbraislí beaga, go príomha i bhfoisceanna na bpríomh-soithigh fola. Is iad na nóid is mó a fhreagraíonn do láithreacht ionfhabhtaithe sa chorp ná na nóid lymph ceirbheacs, axillary agus inguinal.
I ngnáthmhéid na nóid limfe athraíonn ó 1 go 2 cm, gan lámh. Le galair, méadaíonn méid na nóid, agus d'fhéadfadh an t-othar mothúcháin phianmhara a bhrath le linn plúchadh.
Tá gach nód limfe freagrach as sláinte na n-orgán atá suite gar dó, a cheadaíonn don dochtúir a mholadh go díreach cá bhfuil an próiseas athlastacha. Mar shampla, d'fhéadfadh méadú agus tabhairneacht na nóid lymph ceirbheacs a léiriú go bhfuil próiseas athlastacha san inchinn nó sa mhuineál (scornach tinn, cógaisíocht agus daoine eile). Léiríonn nód limfe méadaithe sa groin forbairt próisis athlastaigh in orgáin an pheilbheacha.
Nuair a athlasadh na nóid limfe, labhraíonn dochtúirí faoi lymphadenitis. Is é an chúis is mó atá le hathlasadh na nóid limfe ná treá micreafhrafaig phataigineach isteach i gcorp an duine, agus an fhuil agus an lymph ag sreabhadh go saor leis na horgáin inmheánacha. De ghnáth, staphylococci agus streptococci is cúis leis an bpróiseas athlastacha go minic.
Braitheann déine an phictiúir chliniciúil den chuid is mó ar an gcaoi a bhfuil an próiseas paiteolaíoch sáite. I ngnáth-lymphadenitis, ní dhéantar an próiseas athlastacha a logánú ach i nód áirithe, rud a fhéadann a bheith in ann uaireanta.
I lymphadenitis millteach, d'fhéadfadh an próiseas athlastacha dul thar an nód agus é a scaipeadh ar orgáin inmheánacha in aice láimhe. Le dul chun cinn an phróisis phaiteolaíoch sin i bhformhór na gcásanna, tarlaíonn deacrachtaí mar thrombophlebitis agus fistula.
Tá sé tábhachtach a thuiscint, i gcás athlasadh na nóid limfe, go bhfuil sé riachtanach dul i gcomhairle le dochtúir chomh luath agus is féidir agus gan aon chás féin-íoc. Is féidir le Lymphadenitis a bheith ar cheann de na cineálacha oinceolaíochta, agus mar sin tá sé an-tábhachtach paiteolaíocht a aithint agus a chóireáil go tráthúil.
De ghnáth, nuair a bhraitear próiseas athlastacha sna nóid limfe a bhaineann le treá na mbaictéar pataigineach isteach sa chorp, déantar teiripe antaibheathach speictrim leathan a fhorordú don othar. Má fhaightear pus sna nóid, osclaítear an t-othar le fócas paiteolaíoch, agus ansin déantar an nód lymph a dhraenáil.
Próisis thógálacha sa chorp - damáiste fiacla carious, ionfhabhtuithe géara víreasacha, athlasadh guma, tonsillitis , niúmóine, eitinn .
Ailse - is minic nach féidir ach méadú ar nóid limfe réigiúnacha a úsáid mar an chéad chomhartha cliniciúil den ailse sa chorp.
Biteann feithidí - breathnaítear ar mhéadú ar nóid lymph sa chás seo i ndaoine a bhfuil frithghníomh ailléirgeach orthu.
Is é ailse na nóid limfe an galar is tromchúisí agus forbraíonn sé de bharr nochta do chorp an charcanaiginí, as a dtagann sóchán na gceall agus a gclaochlú breise go cinn neamhthipiciúla. Is é ceann de na cineálacha oinceolaíochta den chóras limfeach ná lymphogranulomatosis, galar arb é is sainairíonna ná defeat nód limfe amháin ar dtús, dul chun cinn tapa paiteolaíochta agus foirmiú metastases i nóid in aice láimhe agus in aice le horgáin.
Níl go leor daoine a bhfuil nóid lymph mhéadaithe acu i ndrugaí cuairt a thabhairt ar an dochtúir agus tá siad ag iarraidh féin-íoc a dhéanamh trí phillíní teasa te agus compresses teasa a chur i bhfeidhm. Tá sé tábhachtach a thuiscint go bhfuil fréamhaithe go hiomlán le nósanna imeachta teirmeacha a dhéanamh! Is féidir le nóid lymph ata a bheith ina gcúis le hathlasadh dian agus fiú ídiú, agus cuireann teas chun leathadh pus agus baictéir phataigineacha ar fud an choirp.
Ag brath ar an gcúis, ba chúis leis an bpian, at agus nóid limfe ata, tá cóireáil ordaithe ar an othar: d'fhéadfadh antaibheathaigh, cúrsa teiripe radaíochta nó ceimiteiripe iad seo a dhéanamh. Beag beann ar chúis an phróisis phaiteolaíoch, ní mór vitimíní agus imdhíoltóirí a fhorordú.
Go raibh maith agat as an bhfreagra mionsonraithe, tá gach rud soiléir. 09/27/2015.


The air raids of World War 2 brought a new dimension to international conflicts - the Blitz - the fight was now brought onto the ‘The Home Front'. J.B. Priestley, the great Yorkshire writer, summarised it in 1940 "For this is total war, and total war is war right inside the home itself. Emptying the clothes cupboards and the larder, screaming its threats through the radio at the hearth - burning and bombing its way from roof to cellar."
Kingston upon Hull suffered longer and more frequently than any other place outside London. For security purposes Hull was referred to in wartime news as ‘a North East Coast Town' and most Britons at the time were unaware of the enormous battering that the city was enduring. With its docks, wharves and industrial sites, the city was viewed as a prime target for aerial bombardment. Air raids on Hull went on longer than on any other British city, partly it is thought for German internal propaganda purposes. The city is distinguished not only for the intensity and scale of its wartime aerial bombardment, but also for being the first and last to suffer its impacts. It was subject to the first daylight air-raid on Britain during the war, and it also suffered the last civilian casualties in Britain as a result of the Blitz, when the last piloted air raid, on 17th March 1945, resulted in deaths and injuries of people leaving the Savoy Cinema (there is a wall plaque on the front wall of Boyes Store, Holderness Road, recording this tragic event).
By the end of hostilities, Hull had suffered over eighty recorded raids. In 1951, it was calculated that of the 91,660 houses in the city only 5,945 had survived undamaged. In his autobiography the wartime Home Secretary Herbert Morrison concluded that, 'in my experience the town that suffered most was Kingston-upon-Hull'.
Of over a hundred thousand buildings in Hull affected by the Blitz, and the many hundreds of thousands of buildings in the UK affected by aerial bombardment during WW2, only a handful survive. There are less than 20 bombed building ruins surviving in England, the majority of which are in the south of England, and most of which are churches preserved as ruins. The National Picture Theatre is the only civilian secular example to survive, not only in the city, but in the whole country, and serves as a reminder of the courage, bravery of those who lived, worked and held communities together through the Blitz.
"The historic interest is so strong that the building merits listing because of its iconic importance in the history of the conflict in the C20. Hull Suffered arguably more grievously than any other English city from bombing during the 1939-45 War, and this building is an eloquent testimony to the period that is of outstanding local but indisputably national interest. More than 60 years later, the handful of sites and buildings that are witness to the Second World War are of more significance than ever, and the National Picture Theatre in Hull deserves to be recognised as one of the most powerful reminders of one of the most formative periods in the C20."


In order to achieve best results in class and make sure they are doing well in their academics, it is necessary for students to work hard and write great papers when asked by their teachers. no matter in which part of the world students live or study, writing dissertations on the given topic and subject is very necessary for them as this is the only way they can impress their teachers an secure highest marks in class.
Teachers can also grade students the right way when they get dissertation that are most top quality and custom and showcase their skills and intellect the right way. It becomes necessary for students to understand their dissertation subject and topic so that they can achieve success in class and do well in their future too as it is only when they do a good job in their assessment that they get their degrees on time. This article is a guide for students as it helps them understand some of the best ways to know their subject and topic really well and write a brilliant dissertation.
The first and the most important thing for students to know when they are making efforts to write a dissertation is to focus on their subject and topic and find as much about them as they can. They need to know if they are able to write dissertation on their own or they will need to hire a dissertation writing service. They should not reply on information that they have been given in class by the teachers because it is just a cursory knowledge, meant to help them understand what they are being asked to do. They must carry out thorough research that enables them to go deep and actually make out what the subject and topic is all about and how it should be presented in their dissertation.
It is also necessary for student sot know that they must only look in the most reliable and authentic places to conduct research for their dissertation because looking in the wrong direction can guide them the other way and instead of securing highest marks in class, they might end up with a rejected paper. It is because there are many views regarding particular theories and cases and students should consult their teachers and stick to the guidelines provided by them to work on their papers. Dissertation writing is all about research but it requires students to work hard and come up with the best scholarly resources that are accepted by their teachers and help the m achieve success in class.
It is important that students learn how to find out the best information and verify it too. There is no use working hard on their dissertations for months and weeks, only to know in the end that their efforts were in the wrong direction. They must check out the list of resources provided by their teachers to come up with information that is verified and authentic and helps them write brilliant dissertations to write top quality and custom papers.
What Getting a Master’s Degree Is All About?


I found Newton sitting with his son, Roger Lee, inside his garage, watching the downpour of rain a few feet away.
With no work to do on account of the weather - Newton owns a concrete business - he offered a chair and told me how he came to own the old shanty.
Although originally built in the historic district on Union Street South, the house was moved 25 years ago when the contractor bought it, then sold it to an elderly woman a few miles down the road from Newton's home.
Five years ago, he offered her $1,000 to buy it back. That's not what he paid.
"She was real old, but her mind was perfect," he said of the former owner. "She said, 'I can get a lot of my medicine for $2,000.' "
Today, the house sits on Newton's property, the modern world springing up all around it. To its left stands the family home. To its right, construction trucks park nearby. An in-ground swimming pool with a light-blue slide teases from its front yard.
But inside, the smell of damp, aged wood musters up the feel of a long-ago era.
The original mortar and thick logs keep the small, windowless room consistently 20 degrees cooler than outside, something Newton enjoys.
"Me and my dog will come here in the summertime. We'll sit here on the couch and be plum knocked out," he said. "We take ourselves a nap for a couple of hours."
Newton said he didn't do much to the old cabin. He rebuilt the rock chimney, repaired the roof and put in a new porch after the old one crumbled away. Other than that, it just didn't need any work.
"It was put together really good," he said. "If I was going to build myself another house tomorrow, I would build me an old log cabin."
Newton can't explain why he likes old things. Outside his garage stand old parking meters and a gas pump. Inside, a 1963 Ford Falcon and a 1966 Chevrolet Nova are parked.
"I've collected a lot of stuff. I just like old stuff," he said. "It's just built a lot better."
The curious have never stopped coming to take a peek at his oldest relic. He's accustomed to people asking for permission to take their picture outside it.
Come spring, neatly dressed teenagers in tuxedos and prom dresses will rap on his door, asking for a photo. In the summer, he expects a wedding party or two will stop by.
He's happy to share the old building.
"I say, go out and do what you want to do."


Queen of Soul: The greatest hits of Aretha Franklin's life - One of the greatest singers in the world, and Rolling Stone's number one singer of all time, is currently in critical condition at her home in Detroit. The iconic singer has been struggling with health issues for years, but no matter what happens in the following days, her legacy will be felt for years to come. Check out this gallery to see some of Franklin's greatest moments.
How she won millions of people's hearts and ears - In combination with the incredible power of her voice, she has a vast musical intelligence that allows her to artfully sing behind the beat and stretch a single syllable into a swath of notes.
Her reputation is out of this world - Literally: in 2014, Asteroid 249516 Aretha was named in her honor.
One of the best-selling musical artists of all time - The incredible artist has sold over 75 million records worldwide. But before she became a household name, where did it all begin?
A slow start - Signing to Columbia Records in 1960, when she was just 18, wasn't a mistake, but the label never brought her real commercial success.
Before that, she was a gospel singer in her father's church - And who knew one of her greatest moments would be performing for Pope Francis in 2015, 55 years after taking that first leap into her career?
‘I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You’ (1967) - This piano-led blues track was the defining song that became Franklin's first real hit of her career.
'Respect' (1967) - This R&B classic was originally written by Otis Redding as a man's plea for respect from a woman. Franklin reversed it and consequently pioneered one of the first and greatest musical moments of female empowerment.
'(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ (1967) - Franklin recorded this tender ode to a lover at the request of famous songwriter Carole King, and it has since been often imitated but never duplicated.
'Think’ (1968) - Franklin cemented herself as a feminist icon with her seventh top-ten hit in two years—a soulful, didactic song that attracted an audience of forward-thinking liberals.
Her first (of many) Grammys - Franklin won her first two Grammy Awards in 1968—Best R&B Recording, and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance—which she would continue to dominate for eight consecutive years.
'Spanish Harlem' (1971) - Franklin's version of the song exceeded the success of all other covers, making it to second-place on the pop singles chart and topping the R&B chart.
"The Queen of Soul" - The name actually originated in the early '60s, before Franklin would go on to achieve greater success than anyone could have imagined.
Hard times ensued - The rest of the '70s saw a decrease in hits, and in 1979 Franklin’s father was tragically shot (he remained in a coma for five years and died in 1984). But when Clive Davis signed her to Arista Records, things took an upward turn for the singer.
It was about time to give her a star - The same year her father died, the singer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Queen performed for the Queen - In 1980, Franklin shone during her Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth in London, England.
Her first platinum album - The 1985 'Who’s Zoomin’ Who?' album was her first record to go platinum.
First female in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Franklin made history as the first female inductee in 1987, and she was also the second woman ever inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005.
Franklin paired up with the iconic '80s pop singer and proved that she could still keep up with the times. The Grammy Award-winning number one song would also become her biggest hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
The chorus of icons at Bill Clinton's inauguration - In 1993, Franklin sang alongside Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross in a truly monumental music history moment.
She headlined the first 'VH1 Divas Live' - The televised concert also featured Mariah Carey, Céline Dion, Gloria Estefan, Carole King, and Shania Twain at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
'A Rose Is Still a Rose' - That same year, soon after wowing the world with her operatic skills, Franklin released a new album, ending a seven-year drought. The title song was written by Lauryn Hill!
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom - Franklin received the highest civilian honor in 2005, marking one of her greatest patriotic moments.
She brought former President Obama to tears - First at his inauguration, and again in 2015 at the Kennedy Center Honors. Obama praised Franklin for embodying the African-American connection to blues, R&B, and rock and roll, adding that her music is an example of the transformation of hardship and sorrow into beauty and hope.
She wasn't ever irrelevant - Almost 50 years after her career began, Franklin flawlessly performed 'The Star-Spangled Banner' at the 2016 Super Bowl XL.
More than just a voice - In 2012, around the time she was inducted into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Franklin was often described as a symbol of black equality, as well as the voice of both black America and the civil rights movement.
Honorary degrees - Franklin received honorary degrees and doctorates in music from Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, University of Michigan, and more.
She stopped flying a while ago - Due to a scary incident on a two-engine flight, Franklin hasn’t flown overseas since 1983, performing shows only in North America.
She received a lifetime achievement award when she was 52 - Her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award of 1994 is a nice addition to her collection of 18 Grammy awards, three special recognition prizes, and a Golden Globe.
Most charted female artist - She recorded a total of 112 charted singles on Billboard, including 77 Hot 100 entries, 17 top ten pop singles, 100 R&B entries, and 20 number one R&B singles.
No word on her album with Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Lionel Richie - In early 2017, Franklin simultaneously announced her retirement and a forthcoming album. The world is praying for her health!
One of the greatest singers in the world, and Rolling Stone's number one singer of all time, is currently in critical condition at her home in Detroit. The iconic singer has been struggling with health issues for years, but no matter what happens in the following days, her legacy will be felt for years to come. Check out this gallery to see some of Franklin's greatest moments.


A girl in a restaurant asked me "Are you single?". I happily replied "Yes". She took away the extra chair in front of me.


Can you identify the drivers for all these vehicles?
Before I get into this, let me first say that I am not a NASCAR fan. I am not even a casual watcher. I don't dislike the activity, but you'd find me scrubbing the bathroom shower soap scum before you'd catch me watching a race. No offense, you millions of NASCAR fans out there. It's just not for me.
As you may or may not know, this Sunday is the Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. For the past week or so, there have been races, events, festivals, and all general hoo-haw in town to promote this or ride on the coattails of this event. Traffic has been sucky, the lots near the speedway are full of RVs and people parking tailgating, and since my house is somewhat close to the track, I get the privilege of hearing all those cars go VROOM VROOM in the evenings while they run time trials or races.


MTV has the edge over YouTube for music, but for how much longer?
A higher percentage of 15-24 year olds in the UK have watched a music video on YouTube than on dedicated music channels, according to a new study.
The report found that 57% of 15-24 year olds watched music on YouTube, compared to 56% watching them on TV.
However, TV still has a commanding lead when it comes to adults as a whole.
The survey also found that half of all adults who watched a YouTube music video went on to buy music released by that artist.
The study, by market research firm Ipsos MediaCT, looked at the viewing habits of more than 1500 people, across the United Kingdom, in March 2009.
It found that double the number of 15-24 year olds were using YouTube to watch music videos, compared to other age groups. This percentage rose even more for those still in education, with 69% using the music channels on YouTube.
Television still has the edge when it comes to children. Or at least, families with children aged 10-15.
48% of these families have watched a music video on TV compared with 39% having watched music videos on YouTube.
Speaking to the BBC, Ipsos' head of entertainment research, Ian Bramley, said that TV music channels may have to rethink their position.
"There is a significant shift in the way the youngest adult age group watches its music videos. One would think this age group would stick with watching music videos online as they get older.
"TV music channels are doing very well, but they need to look at exactly who is actually watching their channel. It's probably not who they think their target market is.
"There may be a case, when we do this again, that the market starts to fragment and that TV music channels will need to reposition themselves for an older market," added Mr Bramley.
The survey also looked at what people do as a result of watching a YouTube video. It found that 50% of adult users then go on to purchase music, although the majority (36%) buy a CD, rather than a paid for digital download (15%). Another 7% go on to buy concert tickets.
Among the 15-24 age bracket, the difference becomes more pronounced, with 45% opting for a CD/DVD and 19% buying music via a digital download service.
The public's perception of the ongoing dispute between YouTube and the PRS for Music (formerly known as the Performing Rights Society) was also surveyed.
At the beginning of March 2009, YouTube started to remove all premium music videos after failing to reach a new licensing agreement with the PRS.
47% of adults surveyed though YouTube was right to take this action, with 28% of those surveyed opposed to the move. Another 25% said they either didn't know enough about the issue or were unsure what the right decision should have been.


Reclaiming the past sometimes involves altering it.
In the case of a church in the Spanish town of Estrella, efforts to restore a piece of artwork have produced an unintended result -- one that has frustrated the town's mayor.
The Guardian newspaper of London recently reported that a painted wooden effigy of St. George received a facelift that had people drawing comparisons to the Ecce Homo Monkey Christ, another unfortunate restoration that wound up portraying the visage of Christ as the disparaging nickname suggests. The reference stems from an event that happened six years ago at a different Spanish church in Borja, characterized as "the worst restoration in history."
The latest restoration was apparently requested by authorities of the Church of St. Michael -- without consulting local government officials. As a result, the mayor of Estrella has demanded an explanation as to why he and members of the town council were kept in the dark about the project.
Loez noted that experts had been requested to pay the statue a visit to see if the statue could be restored to what it looked like before the most recent work began.
Can Google Translate Replace Human Translators?


Today marks a momentous occasion - today is the first day of 2018! Here's hoping your celebratory activities were in equal parts memorable and enjoyable. Other than the new year arriving today, today is special for another reason - the launch of the Parris tool for machine learning training automation. TL;DR: this makes the training of algorithms easier on you.
But, pertaining to the title of the post, the Parris automated ML training tool is out today in its first iteration on Github. It's an open source project for which I'm hoping others find use in, and within which to find opportunities to contribute.
Parris is a tool for automating the training of machine learning algorithms. If you're the kind of person that works on ML algorithms and spends too much time setting up a server to run it on, having to log into it to monitor its progress, etc., then you will find this tool helpful. No need to SSH into instances to get your training jobs done!
stops the EC2 instance when it has finished.
The primary purpose of this tool is to reduce the amount of repetitive setup it takes for you to train your machine learning algorithms, and in doing so save some cost by utilizing your server's compute hours more effectively (server starts the training jobh as soon as it's launched, and stops when you've configured it to stop).
Consult the Getting Started guide! It's very detailed and walks you through a full setup, all the way to launching a machine learning training job and terminating it. Be warned that you'll find it easiest if you have an AWS account already set up.
This tool is missing something. Can I contribute to this?
Absolutely! Feel free to open an Issue to track the missing item while I and/or others work on it, or open a new Pull Request if you've already coded your addition.
Hoping to hear that this tool has helped you!


People always want to look beautiful and stay healthy in their entire life, so they all do a lot of exercises and food diet in order to stay healthy. But this will not work for all types of people, some people will may not be able to put on weight, whereas there are some kinds of people who may not be able to reduce their body weight. They all face a lot of problems because of their health issue and visit the doctors to find a solution to their problems. Thus, the medical industry has found a lot of advanced supplements in order to get the desired result. One among such powerful supplement is the steroids which are the highly powerful supplements and are helpful in increasing the muscle growth. The steroids are highly powerful and are most commonly used by the bodybuilders in order to gain the body weight. The steroids need to be taken under the prescription of a doctor, it has been stated that dosage levels need to be maintained properly, otherwise the high dosage level of the steroids will affect sperm count in men thus one need to have a special attention on the dosage level.
What are the features of the steroids?
The steroids are mainly used by the bodybuilders in order to increase the muscle growth; they even can be used for increasing the level of testosterone in the body. The steroids help in giving the energy in comparison to the other kinds of protein food supplements. These supplements are available in online stores and are also monitored by the food regulatory organizations.
When the steroids need to be taken?
People who are willing to reduce the weight or to increase the muscle mass, then they should take the medicine regularly along with the morning breakfast. The supplement should be taken either before the training or after the training. Similarly, the dosage level plays a vital role in protecting your health, as the over dosage level of the steroids may cause some effects like it may affect sperm count in men in some cases. But if you consult a doctor then you can get the medicine with the perfect level of dosage as he or she will diagnose your body completely and then the doctor will decide the correct dosage level that suits to your body requirements.
Similarly, if you are a person who wants to reduce the body weight, then the steroids will help in achieving the desired result. Thus, in common, it is better to consult your doctor irrespective of what your problem is, so that you can get the effective results. They will also help in increasing the energy level of your body so that the athletes are using the steroids during the match in order to win the match. The steroids should be taken either orally or through the injection depending on the requirements of your body and all these are given only under the medical prescription. Similarly, if you would like to buy online, then you need the prescription to buy the steroids.