#tdu courses

[bangalorestudy22]

Explore TDU University that was established as an innovation centred University. Know more about the courses, admissions, infrastructure etc. Check out now!

[organizeworkers]

Our Organizing Wins in 2023

Over the past year, EWOC had its busiest year yet with some truly extraordinary organizing wins. These include EWOC’s direct support in 14 successful union recognition wins and 15 more workplaces currently in a union drive. We’ve also connected 65 workplace campaigns and represented more than 7,000 workers to outside unions.

Growth in 2023

EWOC has also supported workers in

Taking one form of collective action at 447 workplaces

Winning demands at 47 pre-union workplaces

Marching on the boss at 17 workplaces

Striking at two workplaces

EWOC accomplished these wins by mobilizing our volunteers in 2023

200 EWOC volunteer organizers supported worker organizers

67 EWOC volunteers made worker intake calls, guaranteeing that every worker who reached out to us received a call within 48 hours

75 EWOC volunteers took on the role of support organizers. These are typically organizers with decades of experience, who mentor younger organizers working on EWOC campaigns.

Our 2023 Campaigns

These are some of the incredible stories from campaigns in 2023.

Residents at Beth-Israel Deaconess hospital in Boston ran a petition campaign with support from EWOC volunteers. That campaign garnered a supermajority of signatures in less than a week, and management conceded to the overwhelming pressure. They won a $10,000-per-year housing stipend and additional benefits for the 700 residents on staff.

Twenty-six workers at a Juiceland warehouse in Austin, Texas, won a $2-per-hour pay increase after marching on their boss.

Workers at The Basement, an escape room in Los Angeles, worked with EWOC volunteers to learn the foundations of organizing. They then went on to work with Actors Equity and become the first unionized escape room in the U.S.

In New York City, workers at Hex&Co., a gaming cafe, worked with EWOC volunteers for more than a year to develop organizing skills before connecting with a union. Their successful union drive with Workers United sparked a wave of game store union organizing across New York City. Two more stores have since announced union drives.

In Princeton, New Jersey, 19 workers at Labyrinth Books, an independent bookstore, are unionizing with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) after working with EWOC for over a year to develop their organizing skills.

Workers at Barboncino in Brooklyn worked with EWOC volunteers one-on-one over the course of many months. They learned and applied their organizing skills to become the first unionized pizzeria in New York City. Leaders from this campaign have even become organizing volunteers with EWOC. They use their experience and skills to support other service workers interested in organizing across the city.

2023 Special Events

In addition to EWOC’s organizing support, we had a record year of training. About 480 workers participated in our foundational training program. This four-week program runs six times a year at no cost to participants. We also put on two “Train the Trainers” events, growing from 10 to 55 foundational program facilitators. This has greatly helped expand our capacity to support workers interested in our training.

In 2023, EWOC launched a fellowship program designed as a follow-up to the foundational training, specifically for workers engaged in ongoing workplace campaigns. Participants were invited to apply with their co-workers. We welcomed 49 participants split into four cohort sessions, each lasting six weeks.

EWOC also put on a number of events in 2023. We discussed many labor topics, including salting, corporate research and power mapping, the Cemex decision, and organizing in remote workplaces. Jane MacAlevey joined EWOC for training on winning a first contract, and members of UAWD and TDU came to speak about the power of strikes and contract campaigns. Adam Conover attended an EWOC volunteer call and gave us a shout-out on his show.

In 2023, EWOC released a 26-part video series entitled “Unionizing 101.” These short videos were designed to make unionizing accessible and fun. They broke down core organizing questions like leader identification, power mapping, and more! These videos have more than 6,000 views on YouTube alone.

[thedesign-village]

https://www.shiksha.com/college/the-design-village-noida-47045

The Design Village also known as TDV, is located at sector-8 Noida. Institute in collaboration with Noida International University offers UG and PG courses in designing stream. Designing today is not only limited to clothing or interiors, it has become more about creating experiences, memories, building lifestyles, and cultural exchanges. TDU has a joint studio programme running with TU Delft, and Politecnico Milano with a unique idea of designing anthropological attitudes towards cities. The programme also focuses on creating designers who can design sustainable cities.

[thetoxicgamer]

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release window and beta date revealed

Before the iconic racing game is released on Steam, Nacon and KT Racing share the release window and closed beta dates for Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, as well as the first look at the game's gameplay. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown is the first Test Drive game since 2012 and continues in the footsteps (or, more accurately, tyre tracks) of the original TDU, as well as Forza Horizon, Need for Speed, and The Crew. It is a drop-in-drop-out multiplayer racer set on a 1:1 reproduction of Hong Kong Island. We can see the social hub, open-world exploring, and of course the race itself. Additionally, we have information on how to sign up for the initial playtest. Directed by Alain Jarniou, co-creator of the original Test Drive Unlimited games, Solar Crown focuses on the eponymous, in-universe racing tournament, and sees players compete across a gigantic, open-world map based directly on the real Hong Kong Island. Initially teased all the way back in 2020, though we’ve seen glimpses of Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown in action, this is the first live gameplay footage ever. It starts with all the players meeting in a luxurious, very well-appointed hotel. The social hub in Test Drive Unlimited can be accessed on foot, as you exit your vehicles to explore some of the glamorous interiors dotted around Hong Kong. Racers are broadly divided into two clans: ‘streets’ and ‘sharps,’ with each owning and gathering at their respective social venues. Once everyone has teamed up, they hit the road for some open-ended driving and exploration. Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release date: Hong Kong as it appears in racing game Test Drive Unlimited Solar CrownIt’s fast. It’s vibrant. And there’s certainly an eye for environmental detail. The faster you go, the more you overtake, and the closer you skirt to other cars, the more you accumulate combo points, a la Forza Horizon. The actual driving appears physical and believable, with Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown aiming for a more plausible simulation than some of its distant predecessors. Likewise, there are a lot of real-world branded cars on display, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bugattis, and the occasional Dodge. Cars do take damage, but based on this first footage, it appears to be purely cosmetic and not consistent with the actual collisions – a head-on crash might leave a dent or two, but it seems closer to the Gran Turismo style, whereby you can notice a little impact or scuffing, but performance isn’t affected. You can check out the full presentation, complete with the first Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown gameplay, below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nxMNoZ-wVc As for the Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown release, while we don’t have a specific date, KT Racing and publisher Nacon confirm it’s arriving in “early 2024.” If you’re eager to try it out, however, you won’t need to wait anywhere near that long, as the closed beta is set to begin on Monday, July 24, and last until Thursday, July 27. It will only be available to select players, but if you want to sign up, you can head to the official Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown website. Otherwise, take a look at some of the other best multiplayer games available right now, or keep an eye on all the upcoming games due to arrive on PC in the near future. Read the full article

[toptrampolines]

In ground Trampoline Review: Why is In-ground Trampolines or Ground Level Trampoline Safer?

An inground or ground floor trampoline, you've heard, is cooler than a leg trampoline. So why is this the case? Centered on a variety of critical trampoline properties, we explain why these versions are safer. And you'll quickly understand that your inground or ground floor trampoline is the perfect and safest trampoline for you.

In Ground Trampoline

Low stepping

One of the reasons why an inground trampoline is better than a leg trampoline is the low stage. A buried trampoline is 20 centimeters above the ground on average. It is suitable for children as young as three years old. Another kind of buried trampoline that is the safest is the ground level trampoline. Since it is buried in the earth, there is no move at all.

Both kinds of trampolines have additional advantages: no fumbling or risky scenes on a ladder, and no headaches for you. As a (possibly concerned) parent, you stand there watching helplessly as your child climbs up his jumping device. And, of course, you will enjoy it to the fullest in this secure setting.

Low fall height

Before you buy a gorgeous trampoline, you don't want to hear about the risks of trampoline jumping. However, it is important to consider this. Your child has a risk of falling off the trampoline. The 'dropping distance' of a trampoline on legs is far greater than that of an inground or ground floor trampoline. Under the case of a buried trampoline, the kid will crash on a soft surface if he or she falls (which we hope will not happen). A trampoline with a built-in trampoline is typically covered by grass or rubber tiles. And, of course, seeing your jumper land on grass rather than the rusty asphalt floor you chose to replace years ago is a better option.

There isn't much under the trampoline.

The more items you can stack beneath the trampoline, the higher it is above the deck. Kids, for example, enjoy building a hut for the dog or forgetting to put their balance bike under the trampoline due to their excitement. When jumping on a trampoline with the thighs, this is exactly where the risk is. Both in-ground trampolines and a trampoline on the ground floor are fully enclosed. A long skirt encircles the dig hole and is securely tied. This indicates that there is plenty distance between the trampoline and the void. As a result, in terms of protection, it has an advantage over a leg trampoline.

Both trampoline components are essential.

As a result, we can conclude that using in-ground trampolins is better than using a trampoline on hips. Of course, this isn't the case if the trampoline's components don't follow the required safety standards. The in-ground trampolines are not stable if the safety net is not correctly protected or if the trampoline edge is broken. As a result, we suggest that you thoroughly inspect all trampoline parts. Are they all up to snuff in terms of quality? You will find out how to do that in the article:

How do you know if an inground trampoline is of good quality?

Well, indeed! You've been kicked out. You'd like to purchase a trampoline for yourself, your child, nephew, or grandchild. When it comes to trampoline efficiency, you simply don't know what to look for. When are trampoline components of decent quality? We'd like to help you out by describing which points you should pay attention to in this post. Parts that are crucial A trampoline is made up of a variety of fixed components. In a few years, they will need to be replaced. When you need to fix an item, it depends on the part and how much you use the trampoline. However, the nature of these parts plays a big role in this substitution. Pay attention to the following things to determine whether you are purchasing a high-quality trampoline:

The trampoline base, springs, trampoline edge, jumping pad, and safety net

The framework

A trampoline's base is similar to a house's foundation block. It serves as the trampoline's sturdy, stable foundation. Stainless steel is used for the majority of the doors. A decent frame has a tube diameter of at least 1.6 millimeters and no more than 3 millimeters. The frame is also galvanized, which adds to its consistency. The frame is rust-resistant thanks to the additional zinc coating, and it can survive all weather conditions. The consistency of the frame is often determined by the welds. To avoid denting, a thicker frame tube has a smooth weld seam without additional metal plates. With a warranty duration ranging from 6 to 10 years, you can be assured that the frame will fulfill your expectations. And the longer the service span is, the more robust the trampoline is.

The springs are plentiful.

The quality of a trampoline's springs determines how well it springs after a hop. The more the strength of jumps is spread, the longer the spring. Pay attention to the length, thickness, and form of the springs to assess their consistency. Feathers with an average length of 16 to 18 centimeters are used on a less robust trampoline. Springs that have been treated against corrosion and have an average length of 21 to 23 centimeters are used in healthy in-ground trampolines. The more a spring will stretch, the thicker it is. As a consequence, the jump's force is more evenly spread. Conical springs are shaped like a cone and spread force more equally than straight springs.

The edge of the trampoline

A trampoline's edge is typically brightly colored. The edge's primary purpose is to conceal the iron frame and springs. So that your child would not interfere with this situation with his foot. Closed cell foam that is firm and retains water is used to make a strong trampoline lip. A minimum thickness of 20 millimeters and an average width of 26 to 40 centimeters are needed. The safer, firmer, and more robust the edge is, the thicker the filling. It's a good idea to cover the edge with a cover to preserve the quality. This indicates that it will last longer.

The trampoline pad is a versatile piece of equipment.

Check to see what kind of substance the jumping mat is made of. This tells a lot about the trampoline's stability and consistency. The majority of jumping mats are made of permatron from the United States. Polypropylene and plastic fiber are combined in this product. Permatron from the United States is UV-resistant and mold-resistant. Permatron also performs admirably, allowing for high leaps. In-ground trampolines with a non-permatron spring mat are less environmentally friendly. The jumping mat's material can seem to be the same, but it is less sturdy and robust. A jumping mat will last for years if properly cared for, but it must be treated. On the trampoline, jumping for your pet or wearing sneakers is not a smart idea.

The security net

A trampoline safety net protects the trampoline from falling over which is essential for safety. A safety net is required, especially for in-ground trampolines with legs. However, the standard of safety nets varies greatly. Polypropylene piles are covered with firm foam and surrounded by a PVC cover in a high-quality, good safety net. These nets also have additional fastening solutions, such as screws to connect them to the frame. The net will remain close and firm around the trampoline in this manner. Finally, it is important to close the safety net. A overlapping closing is more secure and long-lasting than a zipper. Here, your child will have a more difficult time getting out.

High-quality in-ground trampolines

So, ideally, the above points have given you a better understanding of trampoline efficiency. If you want to leave the trampoline in your garden for an extended period of time, anchoring pins should be used to protect the trampoline. The trampoline edge is protected from dirt from the outside by a plastic shell, which increases the trampoline's longevity. The consistency of your trampoline will last longer if you maintain it properly. According to our research, the following trampolines are the finest. Examine your own desires and interests in particular, and focus your final decision on them.

Final thoughts

As a result, a trampoline with legs is smoother than one with a built-in trampoline. Because of the low step and the drop gap, this is the case. Stepping on the trampoline is simple for kids, and they fall from a shorter distance. Soft materials, such as grass or rubber tiles, are often used to surround in-ground trampolines, reducing the effect of the fall. Furthermore, there is no room under the table for children to store their belongings. It's time for a side note. Every trampoline (both an inground and a trampoline on legs) is dangerous if one or more sections do not meet the safety standards.

• Everything you need - Our full in-ground trampoline package comes with the trampoline, retaining wall, and simple directions.

• Brilliant Bounce - The springs are the key. Our in-ground trampolines are the only ones to use commercial-grade springs, are extra-long, and use 33% more springs than our rivals.

• Shhhh - We're the only ones that use the one-of-a-kind TDU Vented Frame Pads, which enable all of the air to escape through the padding, avoiding the annoying pad slap noise.

• Security - We are the only organization that offers absolute, half, and quarter net solutions if you want to install a safety net.

• Easy - Our trampolines were created with ease of installation in mind. Don't take our word for it; see what our customers have to say.

• Long-lasting - Our in-ground trampolines are made entirely of high-quality European materials, from German steel to Italian springs.

• Are you not a fan of digging? - In certain cases, we have expert installation services.

Specifications Made in Europe

Capital in-ground trampolines are made in Europe from the best quality fabrics and components. Quality monitoring and inspection practices are strictly followed in our European manufacturing plants.

Frame with a Purpose

The frame is made of galvanized steel that is heavy. The top of the rectangular frame is attached to the mat, while the bottom segment serves as the foundation. The top and bottom frame pieces are connected by the retaining wall.

Built-in Retaining Wall

The retention wall keeps the earth firm around the cavity and prevents dirt from slipping into it. This tough and long-lasting retention wall is made of an eco-friendly recycled polypropylene/polyethelyne compound that is 4mm thick. Self-tapping screws are used to connect it to the frame quickly and securely.

TDU T Pads with Vents

Trampolines Down is a trademarked trampoline. The under-ventilated safety pad makes proper ventilation across the pad, which eliminates 'pad slap' noise that can occur with most in-ground trampolines and increases bounce efficiency.

Springs of Superior Quality

Pre-tensiled and conical in shape, these German-made 8.5" springs will never stretch or deteriorate in performance. For added rust resistance, the springs are double dipped 'cooked' galvanized. For added protection, the springs have a curl at one end.

Instructions for Assembly

Installing a Capital In-Ground Trampoline in your garden is better than you would imagine. See this brief video for a step-by-step tutorial about how to set up your trampoline:

Visit Our Official Website

Additional Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trampoline

[penguin-writes-books]

DIRECTOR’S CUT THAT DAMNED UNIVERSE. -L

Spoilers!That Damned Universe was heavily inspired by a couple of books I once read, and I think it has a lot of meaning that goes under the radar of a lot of people, instead being registered subconsciously (the whole point of my writing, frankly). Here’s a ridiculously in-depth rundown of each chapter, from the writer’s point of view.Chapter 1The first chapter was meant to introduce the storyline, and show some exposition. Lincoln Academy was named after my elementary school, and is structured in a ridiculously unconventional manner, given the strong academic drive of the academy. We find out quickly that Cyrus, TJ, Andi, and Buffy all room in Stanford Dormitory along with the rest of the freshman class, and Amber is in Halsey. Halsey was named after my favorite building of the college in my hometown, while Stanford was after the university, where Cyrus would end up going to major in psychology if TDU extended that far.I put Cyrus on the fourth floor and Andi and Buffy on the second for the sole purpose of creating conversational periods between characters as they go between one another’s rooms or to and from classes. This set up the framework for TJ and Cyrus’ first kiss later on.I intentionally wrote Cyrus to react to his arrival at Lincoln with minimal homesickness for two reasons. The first, of course, is that Cyrus grew up with four incredibly overbearing but well-meaning parents, and he is eager to take a deep breath. The second is that Cyrus, as all characters and people must be, is a psychologically complex character, and his immediate lack of emotional displacement comes from that fact. He’s so overwhelmed upon arriving at Lincoln that he doesn’t have the time to catch his breath, let alone miss his parents.Finally, the last line. TJ almost immediately tells Cyrus he finds him fascinating upon meeting him, which feels almost rushed, but was planned to feel as such. TJ’s first impression of Cyrus is so sudden and rushed because he immediately likes Cyrus, and isn’t quite sure how to express his emotions, so he naturally does his best to make Cyrus happy.Chapter 2The first line of the second chapter (Cyrus woke to his alarm, going off at exactly 5:55 am, as it always had - Cyrus was sure it always would.) is a representation of how Cyrus follows a schedule in his life that doesn’t change, and he assumes it never will. However, in chapter 6, he doesn’t wake to his alarm, because he’d fallen asleep with TJ the night before. This was coded to imply that TJ teaches Cyrus to let himself be human and have a little more fun.Cyrus wakes to TJ gone, because I wanted to show TJ’s elusive nature early on in the story, then introduce his character a little bit later. His leaving confuses and intrigues Cyrus, effectively prompting him to get to know TJ better.He spends an exorbitant amount of type getting ready on the first day of school, which was to further cement the notion that he’s a touch over-specific in all areas of his life, especially when he’s in a new, unfamiliar, or stressful environment (Lincoln Academy just so happens to be all three).Their odd choice of cereal (both Rice Krispies and Cap'n Crunch) is a little reference to Gilmore Girls, in which Paris and Rory both make interesting and unique cereal and milk mixtures on a couple of occasions.Cyrus’s offhanded comment that TJ hates the universe is not only the root of the title, but a slight character development from TJ, giving him a human characteristic. This at the very least proves that Cyrus and TJ had a conversation of substance the night before, and had learned more than trivial things about one another.Andi and Buffy lightheartedly making fun of him for his taste in unobtainable athletes was meant to allude to his crush on Jonah back home, and to show that he’d grown more comfortable with his sexuality since coming out to them.Lincoln’s class periods are 40 minutes, with a 20-minute break between. This seems absurd at first, but later we’ll find that classes constantly run lat, justifying the minor absurdity.Cyrus and TJ’s conversation between 5th and 6th period is meant to show their friendship and the way Cyrus affects TJ in a positive way. They joke back and forth naturally, complimenting one another and letting the conversation carry without trying too hard.Chapter 3This chapter follows my own change and interpretation of actual things from Andi Mack, turning some of my favorite pieces of the show in relation to Tyrus into my own plotlines. The first is, of course, TJ’s acrimony towards Buffy. In the show, this is expressed as jealousy of her basketball skills, whereas I chose to change it into jealousy of her close relationship with Cyrus. TJ immediately leaving when Cyrus and Buffy walk into the dorm room is meant to further stabilize the notion that TJ thinks she and Cyrus are together, though at this point it hasn’t been confirmed.Buffy and Cyrus getting into a fight over his feelings for TJ shows that Cyrus isn’t ready to admit how he feels. This also allows for TJ and Cyrus to become closer when Cyrus can’t turn to Andi and Buffy for constant friendship.Cyrus’s conversation with TJ in the library is interesting, as the second TJ finds out that Cyrus and Buffy aren’t dating, the conversation lightens. They’re then able to have a conversation that moves along without the weight of their mutual awkwardness resting on it. Their academic banter throughout the conversation was meant to show that TJ and Cyrus were both highly academically minded, despite showing that trait in very different ways.Cyrus being unable to stop himself from asking if TJ is okay shows two things about him and his relationship with TJ. The first is that Cyrus is the type of person who cannot refrain from helping others. He shows unconditional empathy for others, and those he loves are never free from his well-meaning comfort. The second thing this shows is that he has grown so comfortable with TJ in under 24 hours that he’s willing to risk stepping possibly outside of his boundaries as an acquaintance/friend to ensure that TJ is going to be alright.

Chapter 4

All of Cyrus’s teachers (Mr. Marlow, Madame Aguillard, Mr. Stile, Mrs. Elliot, Ms. Anderson, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Barnett, Mrs. Bailey) are slight variations of teachers I’ve had this year or last, most of which teach the same subjects I had them for.This chapter has one last interpretation of a classic detail from Andi Mack - the muffin. Their exchange of sandwich for chocolate-chocolate chip muffin proves that they’re friends, and care about one another enough to insist they have their favorite foods.I chose for them to play a game of 20 questions as a way to reveal exposition without stating their backgrounds, interests, and hobbies point-blank. This also allowed me to build their relationship through verbal learning.Marty being the friend who accidentally outed TJ let me introduce him to the story, and having him, Amber, Buffy and Andi rush into TJ and Cyrus’s room let me introduce them to one another. Amber and Andi’s quickness to flirt with one another showed that TJ and Amber inadvertently learned about love in the same way - they both grew up learning from their parents that those you love can leave quickly. Thus, they both picked up a habit of quickly establishing a close relationship with those they’re attracted to before they leave.Chapter 5 Cyrus wakes with a terrible headache the next day (and jokes with TJ about being hungover) because of the yelling and conflict the night before. I put this aspect in for two main reasons. One is, of course, showing that Cyrus can’t stand conflict, and is consistently trying to resolve it. The second reason I put this bit into the story is so that I could allow TJ to minorly comfort Cyrus in a platonic (but romantically intentioned) manner.Cyrus quickly saving TJ from having to out himself to Buffy and Andi was a move that I wrote in to show Cyrus’s growing ability to cut into conversations and protect those he loves, as taught to him by TJ.The small scene of TJ and Cyrus studying together exhibits the lighthearted, carefree side of their relationship that I thought was very important to introduce at some point in the story.The romantic tension between Cyrus and TJ as the former helps TJ with his compass foreshadows their awkward encounter following their first kiss later on. When it ultimately built to them falling asleep holding pinkies, that was meant to show that they were each aware of their feelings for the other, but reluctant to show them.Chapter 6When Cyrus and TJ wake up the next morning, they’re curled around one another, and it causes intense romantic tension between the pair as they go about starting the day. This ends when they go back and forth in a short exchange of ‘I wasn’t’ and 'well neither was I’. TJ tries to kiss Cyrus, but they’re interrupted by a phone call. This signifies the awkward, fumbling nature of the relationship, especially as they go to help Andi. Their acknowledgment of the awkwardness between them is a huge step in their relationship, which ultimately leads to their first kiss.Their argument in the stairwell being the lead up to their kiss was a choice I made because in the heat of an argument, emotions are heightened. This was important for the scene to work, as if they hadn’t been arguing, neither would have the courage to kiss the other.Final ChapterI had Cyrus start the seventh chapter regretting his kiss with TJ to drive the plot. This forced TJ and him to have an actual conversation about what exactly their relationship was at the end of the chapter.Honestly, there were only two reasons I made Buffy aroace. First, I’m ace and I wanted representation, so I took the opportunity when it arose. Second, I wanted to tease you guys with Muffy (anyone paying really close attention to AO3 will have noticed that I tagged TDU as a Marty/Buffy fic, then took away the tag for the last chapter).Cyrus wagering his asking TJ out for Andi doing the same with Amber was a way for me to close the Ambi storyline in a satisfactory way without dedicating an entire chapter exclusively to it.The mini-monologue of Cyrus deciding whether or not to kiss TJ was one I’d been writing in my head since beginning to write TDU, and completed the fic in a way that was so characteristic of my writing that I couldn’t help but throw it in just to make the story feel completely finished.

[newstrides]

Study Abroad – Ireland is the best choice for Foreign Education

Ireland is not only a beautiful island in Europe but also known for its deep-rooted traditions and history. Ireland also has a great reputation in the education industry. If you’re planning to study in Ireland, it’s indeed the right decision.

You can easily find a dedicated team of Ireland consultants who have a vast knowledge of the education system and the best university in Ireland. Many reputed universities are offering a plethora of bachelor’s and master’s programs – from BBA, BCA and other bachelors’ courses to masters’ programs like MBA in Ireland. However, you need the help of the best education consultants to decide which particular institute is best for your education in Ireland.

Is Ireland the best choice to study abroad?

It is one of the best places in the world to attain higher education. Over the past few years, Ireland has become a preferred destination for international students due to the number of high education institutions in the country.

Here are some top reasons why students prefer to study in Ireland:

Top Universities: Ireland has some of the best universities and higher education institutes in the world. Griffith College, Trinity College, UCC, TDU, NUIG, etc. are some of the popular colleges and universities in Ireland. Most educational institutes in Ireland have an international reputation in terms of providing excellent education to international students.

Scholarships: Different universities in Ireland offer various scholarship opportunities for students coming from different parts of the world. There are also separate scholarships awarded for students who excel in extracurricular activities and sports.

Post-study Visa: The best thing for any international student in Ireland is that they can apply for a post study work visa after completing their education. Typically, a two-year work permit is given to students in Ireland. Hence, it’s easier for students to find job opportunities in Ireland soon after their graduation. After finding employment, they are even eligible for a work permit or green card if they want to settle here.

Ways to finance your education in Ireland

Following are some easy ways to finance your education in Ireland:

Tuition fees: All students, including the ones with free education tuition, are required to pay the student contribution charge for every institute. It is mandatory to pay this fee of around €2,750, which includes the cost of the library, clubs and other student facilities. However, Ireland also offers the Free Fee Scheme that waives the tuition fees for the ones who are qualifying first-cycle students. For more details about this scheme, you need to consult Ireland education consultants near you.

Cost of living: Ireland is known for its high living costs. Apart from this, a high minimum wage often offsets this cost of living. Students may apply for part-time jobs for financing their education.

Public support: In Ireland, student grants are considered to be the major source of aid from the Republic. The Student Assistance Fund is the main supplement for this grant, as well as other costs, such as childcare, bills, books and medical emergency.

Some tips for travelling to Ireland on a budget

Here are some easy tips for travelling to Ireland on a budget:

Look for cheap airfares: Book flights with cheap airfares and flexible dates. Sometimes it is cheaper to take a flight to London from the United States and, after that, you have to change the planes at Heathrow or Gatwick for another short flight to Cork or Dublin.

Stay at hostels: You may reduce the cost of your travel by booking your stay at hostels. While many people stay at hostels with communal sleeping, most hostels in the country offer private rooms. Travelling off-season will help you find hostels at even lesser prices than usual.

Rent a car: You can pre-book your rental car, along with a discounter, to get an additional discounted price on your trip. If your credit card offers you insurance within Ireland, you may even request a letter from the credit card company saying that you need insurance in Ireland for travel.

Public transportation: To reduce your transportation cost in Ireland, you may choose public transportation facilities, including buses and trains. The best prices for these transportation mediums are offered online. You may book and pay for a train ticket online and later pick it from an Irish Rail ticket machine before you start your journey.  

How is Ireland for studying and working for Indians?

Ireland is a great place for Indians to study and work in the country. The best thing is that you can easily get a student visa to submit the right documents. If you are worried about earning while pursuing your higher education, the government here enables international students to apply for a green card or work permit.

Many universities in Ireland offer various internship opportunities for students to get practical experience in their field. Even study abroad loans are offered for international students to finance their education in the country. You may even apply for a scholarship to study in Ireland for sponsored education. For the best results, you must look for the financial aid options suitable for you before applying for a specific program.

Is an MBA from Trinity College Dublin worth it?

The simple answer to this question is YES. The Trinity College in Dublin is the best institute for completing an MBA, which is an intensive, invigorating and transformative programme. This course has been designed to develop one’s leadership skills and general management skills so that they can develop a strategic perspective while becoming analytically competent. The course also makes them able to be more articulate and creative while using their emotional intelligence in different contexts. The programme is also distinguished by its multiple live company projects, as well as strong international character.

Conclusion

If you are planning to study in Ireland, you’ll be glad to know that there are numerous benefits to study in this country. Besides the best higher education in different fields, international students even get unique study experience, knowledge of rich history, the ability to travel alone, access to the English language and more exposure. All these aspects are necessary for an individual to grow personally while attaining an educational degree. Being the top study destination for international students, Ireland is ideal for completing your course in higher education institutions.

Study in Irelanduniversity in Irelandinternational studentspost study work visafree educationhigher education​Close

[berniesrevolution]

JACOBIN MAGAZINE

Twenty years ago, the Teamsters’ national strike against United Parcel Service (UPS) produced panic, if not outright hysteria, in the corporate boardrooms of the United States.

The editorial writers of the Wall Street Journal were at their wits’ end:

The UPS strike is so weird it’s hard to know where to begin. Somehow, we’re supposed to believe that the mighty Teamsters has suddenly decided it must paralyze the nation’s parcel-distribution system to have it out over mostly voluntary part-timers and various pension arcana. These matters may be worth an argument, but Armageddon? What’s this weird, awful strike about anyway?

Everybody else, though, seemed to get it.

Then-New York Times columnist Bob Herbert wrote that the UPS strike “is best seen as the angry fist-waving response of the frustrated American worker, a revolt against the ruthless treatment of workers by so many powerful corporations.” Even right-wing Chicago Sun-Times columnist Dennis Byrne didn’t have to think too hard about it: “Working men and women have paid dues enough; it’s time to pass around some of the prosperity.”

With 185,000 Teamsters on strike for nearly three weeks beginning on August 4, 1997, fighting under the slogan of “Part-Time America Won’t Work,” the UPS strike proved to be the most popular strike in a generation. Now that the US and world economy revolves around the burgeoning logistics industry — dominated by giant corporations like UPS, FedEx, Walmart, and the quickly growing Amazon — we should look back to the 1997 UPS strike for lessons on how to revive a dying labor movement, and how to hit capital where it hurts.

Contract Campaign

The future of the Teamsters hung on the outcome of the 1997 UPS contract.

Ron Carey, the Teamsters’ first reform-minded general president, was elected to office in 1991 against two old-guard slates in the first government-monitored, rank-and-file election in the union’s history. The majority of his slate were members of the Teamsters for Democratic Union (TDU), the longstanding Teamsters reform group whose origins were in the radical rank-and-file movements of the 1970s.

Carey won the election with a little more than 48 percent of the vote, shocking the media, labor officialdom, and major employers who thought he didn’t have a shot at winning. The TDU imprint on the victory of the Carey slate was unmistakable. Post-election, TDU concluded:

A close look at the election results shows clearly that where TDU organizing has been strongest, the Carey Slate win was strongest — even in the opposing camp’s back yards.

Carey’s triumph set off a chain reaction of events that toppled the sclerotic leadership of the AFL-CIO in 1995 and culminated in the 1997 UPS strike. Soon after taking office in 1992, Carey cut his own salary and eliminated the many perks of office held dear by previous old-guard officers and staff such as limousines and private jets — the infamous “Teamsters air force.” He also began the difficult and painstaking process of removing dozens of corrupt local leaders, many connected to the mob.

He shocked UPS in February 1994 with a national safety strike after the company unilaterally raised the weight limit of packages, in violation of the contract. The company was not expecting such a militant response to a move they considered to be their prerogative. Clearly, UPS was dealing with a different type of Teamster leader.

Carey won re-election in 1996 against an old-guard slate led by James P. Hoffa, son of the notorious and presumed-dead Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa. It was a physically demanding and bruising contest. Teamster employers clearly favored a Hoffa victory as akin to something of a welcome counterrevolution in their eyes. “In all honesty, my clients’ interests are best served by a return to the Old Teamsters,” declared Gary Marsack, a Milwaukee-based lawyer representing Teamster employers, and a former grocery industry executive.

Ron Carey and the reformers triumphed in no small part due to Carey promising major gains in the upcoming 1997 contract. In order to win those gains at UPS, the Teamsters organized a contract campaign on a massive scale. “First, you have to get organized. You have to have something that brings you together. When you are organized, you then create the leverage you need,” recalled Ron Carey. The leverage Carey wanted could only be achieved by a national contract campaign.

Rand Wilson was tapped to be communications coordinator and campaign strategist for the contract campaign. Before being recruited by Teamster friends to work under the new reform leadership, Wilson had worked since the 1980s as a union organizer and led several important labor-centered political campaigns.

Steven Greenhouse, the labor reporter for the New York Times, observed Wilson in action during the fractious 1996 Teamster convention in Philadelphia:

Tucked in a booth belonging to the union’s Parcel & Small Package Division, Rand Wilson was preoccupied with another, distant battle. He was buttonholing dozens of UPS shop stewards and stuffing their pockets with a booklet called “Countdown to the Contract.” It contained a month-by-month calendar until the July 31 strike deadline and gave myriad tips on how to escalate pressure on the company and build a communications network to keep workers informed and involved.

“The International Union began sending bulletins to every UPS member’s home,” Wilson later wrote. Fellow communication department staffer Matt Witt,

highlight[ed] the importance of Teamster families’ involvement in the upcoming contract campaign. Nine months before the contract deadline, every member received a survey asking them to help shape the union’s bargaining priorities.

Wilson crafted the membership survey with Ron Carey and Ken Hall, a West Virginia Teamster and the new parcel director for the Teamsters. The survey asked members what priority the union negotiating committee should place on either creating more full-time jobs, winning wage increases, or improving pensions. The “Countdown to the Contract: UPS Teamster Bargaining Survey” was more than a long list of questions. “The bargaining survey was a very important part of the contract campaign,” according to Wilson.

Working closely with the Research Department, we put a lot of effort into how we framed issues so that the questions didn’t divide full timers from part timers, or feeder drivers from package car drivers. The distribution and return of the surveys was just as important because that allowed the leadership to gain intelligence about which locals had the organizational capacity to get a large number filled-out and returned.  It signaled who were willing to actively participate.

It was expected that UPS would continue their push for major concessions from the union — possibly greater ones than demanded in the past. Unsurprisingly, the survey found that for 90 percent of part timers, the top priority was creating more full-time jobs. The Teamsters Research Department produced a well-documented booklet Half a Job Is Not Enough that revealed, among many other shocking things:

The last Teamster-UPS contract was negotiated in 1993. Since then, the part-time work force at UPS had grown by 43 percent, while the number of full-time jobs has grown by only 10 percent. UPS has hired an additional 46,300 workers, but more than 38,500 of them have been placed in part-time jobs. Therefore, 83 percent of the new jobs at UPS have been part-time jobs.

It was not just the growth in the number of part-time jobs at UPS, but the shift toward part-time work.

Of course, one would expect part-time employment to grow, as the company expands. However, the shift to part-time jobs is way out of proportion when compared with overall growth in the economy. Since 1993, the volume of packages handled by UPS grew by eight percent. Total company revenues grew by 26 percent. But part-time jobs grew by 43 percent, much more rapidly than the company as a whole.

UPS made over $4 billion in profits during the life of the 1993-97 contract. It was well positioned to create more full-time jobs and close the wage gap between part-time and full-time workers and UPS workers knew it. More than 100,000 of them signed a petition demanding that UPS stop increasing the number of part-time jobs and start creating more full-time ones.

During the past two contract negotiations, the Teamsters struggled to successfully counter the company’s daily propaganda broadcasts at “Pre-Work Communication Meetings” (PCMs). For this contract campaign, to ensure a regular flow of information to the ranks, Ken Hall instructed

all Teamster local unions to set up “member-to-member” communication networks. Under these networks, each steward or other volunteer was responsible for communication with approximately twenty workers. The International Union deployed education staff and field representatives — some of them UPS rank-and-filers — to help locals get the networks established.

The “member-to-member” campaign was certainly the largest initiative ever in the union — if not the entire US labor movement — to involve 185,000 rank-and-file union members in a contract campaign.

We Wanted People We Could Count On

The Field Services Department was to play a crucial role in the upcoming contract campaign. Carey created it soon after taking office for his first term, and it organized contract campaigns and ran strikes for contracts negotiated by the international union in Washington. Field Services Department director David Eckstein worked closely with Rand Wilson, training a crew of field representatives for the upcoming UPS contract campaign.

Eventually forty people, drawn from a cross-section of the varied Teamster membership including freight, car haul, warehousing, and UPS, were trained to focus exclusively on the campaign. “We wanted people we could count on,” David Eckstein recalled. “We wanted to create an army the company couldn’t buy.”

The field representatives were expected to work around uncooperative local officials, mostly old-guard figures allied with James P. Hoffa. “We had a lot of resistance in Minnesota and Wisconsin,” Eckstein remembered. Carey and Eckstein held two-man meetings with local officials about the upcoming contract. Eckstein vividly remembers Carey laying it on the line:

I know some of you don’t like me, but this is a national contract campaign and it is going to happen. We have two plans: Plan A is where we give you everything you need to move the campaign in your local, and Plan B is the same as Plan A but we move it in your local without you.

According to Eckstein, Carey made it clear that the full weight of the general president’s office would be brought to bear on uncooperative local officials — including the possibility of the nuclear option, trusteeship, in which the international union would seize control of a local and dismiss much of its leadership.

On March 7, four days before national negotiations began, the Teamsters organized a national contract meeting with two representatives from each of the 206 local unions representing UPS workers to outline contract goals and strategy.

Three days later, UPS Teamsters rallied in ten major cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and Seattle. “UPS is a billion-dollar company,” Carey told the media, “that can afford to provide good full-time jobs with pensions and health care.” The rallies around the country gave UPS Teamsters confidence that the international union was solidly behind their most important demands and grievances.

On March 11, contract proposals were exchanged. As predicted, UPS, despite making record profits, demanded wide-ranging concessions on subcontracting, pensions, and health care coverage.

(Continue Reading)

[entergamingxp]

Test Drive Unlimited drew a new horizon for racing games • Eurogamer.net

Did you know that they’re making a new Test Drive Unlimited? It’s true! Kylotonn, the French studio behind the well-regarded WRC and Isle of Man TT series, has acquired the Test Drive licence from Atari, and there are veterans of the Eden Games team that made it working at the studio. It’s exciting, but also a little scary. Kylotonn is a small studio owned by a small publisher. Test Drive Unlimited was something of a scrappy underdog in its day, too, of course, but back then its only competition in open-world racing was Need for Speed, a very different beast. Now, a new TDU would be going up against a game that has taken its rough frame and polished it to a gleaming finish: Playground Games’ Forza Horizon. Why bother?

It is, however, only fair that the French series returns to try to grab a slice of this pie: it wrote the recipe. Forza Horizon simply wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for 2006’s Test Drive Unlimited. Released so early in the last generation that it beat the PS3 to market, TDU dreamed of a different kind of real-world road racing to the studious lapping and tweaking of Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Inspired by the original 1987 Test Drive’s winding ribbon of cliffside tarmac, this would be a game about the glory of the open road; about exploring exotic, sun-kissed landscapes; about freedom and danger as you weave through traffic; about cruising as well as going flat out.

Revisiting the game on Xbox 360 now, it’s almost hard to believe it launched on the same platform that hosted the first Forza Horizon in 2012. It wobbles on what was then new hardware, stretching the limits of what the Eden team could achieve with it. The visuals now look muddy and plain, the car handling is agricultural, the frame tears and stutters and the human characters all look like weirdly sarcastic shop mannequins. (Did I mention the game is French?) Some aspects of the game seem embarrassingly dated now: the fashion brands (remember when people wore Ecko Unltd hoodies with cargo shorts?); the glossy, Second Life-style lifestyle MMO elements; the missions that require you to give ladies a lift home with their shopping. Suddenly the noughties seem like a distant land.

But good lord, it can still intoxicate too. It turns out that there are a few specific ingredients in Test Drive Unlimited that haven’t been successfully copied by Forza Horizon or, for that matter, anything else. So here is my entirely unsolicited advice to the Kylotonn team on what they need to preserve from the original TDU to set the game apart.

Let me choose my upholstery colour. Long before Forza Vista, TDU offered the ultimate car-shopping experience. You could poke around the car in the showroom, rolling down the windows, turning the ignition, listening to the reassuring thunk of the doors. And although its customisation options are dwarfed elsewhere, this is the only game I can think of that lets you match paint and upholstery colours straight out of the factory catalogue to find the perfect combination. Beautiful.

Don’t put too many cars in it, and don’t let me have all of them. The art and licensing teams can thank me later for this one. But it’s not just about reducing the scope to something a small developer can manage. It’s about the amazing sense of ownership TDU achieves. The way the game paces its economy, combined with the slowly expanding number of garage slots it gives you, forces you to make tough choices about what to buy; for the longest time, you can only afford one car in each performance band as you unlock them. You really invest in these machines, and consequently you love them all the more. Forza boasts an incredible selection, but its Gacha machine spits them out at a rate you can never keep up with. It becomes collection for collection’s sake, and looking at your garage is overwhelming. Going to your garage in TDU – which, by the way, is a physical space at your home – you feel the glowing pride of the curator.

Keep it real. Where Forza goes for condensed, fantasy versions of real-world locations, crafted to provide excitement wherever you turn your wheel, TDU and its sequel recreated the islands of Oahu and Ibiza more or less to scale, with a more or less accurate road map. It isn’t all thrilling; there’s a lot of freeway. But it feels like a real place, and driving fast there feels illicit, whereas Playground’s wonderful creations feel like, well, playgrounds: the real shrunk down and smoothed out into a sort of racing paradise.

Pile on the traffic. Comparing TDU to the latest Forza Horizon, I notice that in the latter game, the traffic is spaced out just enough that, with a bit of skill, I can thread through it without ever having to take my foot off the gas. Not so in the former. You’re constantly having to lift off, swerve, tap the brakes, check your speed. When you hit long stretches of freeway, every mile per hour you can add feels hard won and puts your heart further in your mouth. The great sensation of speed here has nothing to do with a dolly zoom camera effect or a whooshing sound in the audio mix – it’s all to do with your awareness of the risk you’re taking.

Do the car delivery missions. All of the above come together in my favourite part of TDU: missions that ask you to deliver an exotic car, one you probably can’t afford yourself yet, from one end of the map to the other. Crucially, there’s no time limit, but every scrape you add to the car knocks thousands of dollars off your fee. You can dawdle at 30mph the whole way if you like, but then you will have missed the chance to hear this Ferrari Enzo in song, to see what it can really do. So you watch the traffic, and the lights, and the junctions, cautiously but with an eye to an opportunity to open up the throttle. You spot your chance, floor it. The thrill is incredible.

No other racing game has ever made me feel like that. In no other racing game do I consciously move between different registers of driving: relaxed, fast or racing. I just go as fast as I can because that’s what you do. TDU showed another way. It was a gem, and a new one will always be welcome to show us a different way to drive.

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/07/test-drive-unlimited-drew-a-new-horizon-for-racing-games-%e2%80%a2-eurogamer-net/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=test-drive-unlimited-drew-a-new-horizon-for-racing-games-%25e2%2580%25a2-eurogamer-net

[pes2019patch]

Did you know that they're making a new Test Drive Unlimited? It's true! Kylotonn, the French studio behind the well-regarded WRC and Isle of Man TT series, has acquired the Test Drive licence from Atari, and there are veterans of the Eden Games team that made it working at the studio. It's exciting, but also a little scary. Kylotonn is a small studio owned by a small publisher. Test Drive Unlimited was something of a scrappy underdog in its day, too, of course, but back then its only competition in open-world racing was Need for Speed, a very different beast. Now, a new TDU would be going up against a game that has taken its rough frame and polished it to a gleaming finish: Playground Games' Forza Horizon. Why bother?

It is, however, only fair that the French series returns to try to grab a slice of this pie: it wrote the recipe. Forza Horizon simply wouldn't exist if it wasn't for 2006's Test Drive Unlimited. Released so early in the last generation that it beat the PS3 to market, TDU dreamed of a different kind of real-world road racing to the studious lapping and tweaking of Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Inspired by the original 1987 Test Drive's winding ribbon of cliffside tarmac, this would be a game about the glory of the open road; about exploring exotic, sun-kissed landscapes; about freedom and danger as you weave through traffic; about cruising as well as going flat out.

Revisiting the game on Xbox 360 now, it's almost hard to believe it launched on the same platform that hosted the first Forza Horizon in 2012. It wobbles on what was then new hardware, stretching the limits of what the Eden team could achieve with it. The visuals now look muddy and plain, the car handling is agricultural, the frame tears and stutters and the human characters all look like weirdly sarcastic shop mannequins. (Did I mention the game is French?) Some aspects of the game seem embarrassingly dated now: the fashion brands (remember when people wore Ecko Unltd hoodies with cargo shorts?); the glossy, Second Life-style lifestyle MMO elements; the missions that require you to give ladies a lift home with their shopping. Suddenly the noughties seem like a distant land.

Read more

[texas-electricity-ratings]

How Much Is Houston No-Contract Electricity?

New Post has been published on https://www.texaselectricityratings.com/blog/2019/09/25/how-much-is-houston-no-contract-electricity/

How Much Is Houston No-Contract Electricity?

You can save money with no-contract electricity in Houston. Compare these rates and shop for the plan that’s right for you!

Do Houston electricity companies offer no-contract plans?

Customers purchasing through Griddy got stung by shockingly high electricity bills this summer. That’s because these customers plans were based on high wholesale electricity prices. Power bought and used in the middle of a sunny August day in cost much more than most Texas customers wanted to pay.

While Griddy’s situation caused a unique uproar, similar surprises can happen to no-contract plans as well. That’s because rates can change from day to day with the wholesale market. Of course, month-to-month electricity can be beneficial for some customers with short term needs.  True, you do pay more with these plans, but that’s the trade-off for not committing to a fixed rate electricity plan. Consequently, if you become dissatisfied with the company for any reason, a no-contract Houston electricity plan lets you terminate your service immediately and go with a different provider.

Luckily, some of the best priced no-contract plans in Houston are available at Texas Electricity Ratings.

Best Houston no-contract electricity for low usage customers

The Free Weekends plan from Hello Energy is an anomaly among most plans. That’s because it offers  a flat rate no matter your usage. Usually, low usage customers pay a higher average price than moderate and high usage customers. That isn’t the case with this plan. That’s because the average price of 13.2 cents per kWh is calculated based on an 18.5-cent price with the assumption a customer consumes 29% of all home energy on the weekends.

Usage 500 kWh 1,000 kWh 2,000 kWh Average Price Per kWh 13.2 cents 13.2 cents 13.2 cents

Customers in  this prepaid electricity plan must fund their account balances with $75 at the outset. While this up-front payment may probably feel like a deposit, it is not. That’s because you start using that money on day one of your service.

TXU Energy wins on price for moderate usage Houston homes

Customers who live in average to large sized homes and use average amounts of electricity will likely do well with the Flex Forward plan from TXU Energy. That’s because the plan comes with a $9.95 monthly base fee, so the average price per kilowatt-hour goes down as usage goes up.

Usage 500 kWh 1,000 kWh 2,000 kWh Average Price Per kWh 14.2 cents 12.7 cents 11.9 cents

Green energy for high usage customers

The 100% Clean Energy plan from Pogo Energy gives Houston customers completely renewable energy without a contract. While a clear advantage to eco-conscious customers, the one drawback is that this plan includes a $0.50 daily base charge. As a result, the base charge can add up to $15 per month in a typical month. Plus, there’s also the CenterPoint TDU delivery charges. However, high usage customers get the best no-contract price available through this plan.

Usage 500 kWh 1,000 kWh 2,000 kWh Average Price Per kWh 14.9 cents 12.8 cents 11.8 cents

Shop for all types of Houston electricity plans

Whether you want a no-contract plan or are seeking to lock in a multiyear energy contract, the best place to research and sign up is http://www.texaselectricityratings.com. Not only can you save money on your energy bills, but you can also find the plan that’s right for your Houston home.

[pogoenergy]

Cheap Electricity Doesn’t Mean Bad Electricity

Looking for cheap electricity? Hey, good for you, more people should! Unfortunately, it’s almost as tough to find as it is to define – despite all of the advertisements out there promising low rates – but hey, you’ve come to the right place for both of those answers!

First, yes, we have cheap electricity – but don’t call us “cheap”, please. We certainly provide energy at a lower cost to you than a lot of the other guys, because we know that in our modern world, electricity is a necessity, and shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Why do some electric plans on the Power To Choose site cost less, though? For that, let’s go to our Marketplace Fairness Correspondent*, Caelynn from ABC’s The Bachelor. Hey Caelynn, is cheap electricity different than expensive electricity, or the same?

[*Note: She doesn’t work for us, it was just the first GIF that popped up when we typed ‘same’]

Thank you, Caelynn from ABC’s The Bachelor!

So, will your lights flicker if I choose a “cheap electric company”? Absolutely not.

Will your grandma’s chili recipe take longer to bring up to a simmer on your electric stove? Dude, no, but share that recipe with us.

Is the electricity different in any way? Nope!

See, we all get our power from the same Transmission and Distribution Utilities (TDUs) across Texas. You have the power to choose how much you pay, and how you pay for it. So “cheap lights” doesn’t mean lower quality.

In other instances, yeah, going cheap isn’t a great idea. How do you feel after picking Taco Bell over Torchy’s or Chipotle? Not great!

Love you, Torchy’s! Send us free tacos please!

Sometime we have to buy some  cheap shoes, and they just don’t last as long and they’re not as comfortable. And let’s skip past that time you saved some money one-ply toilet paper. You see where we’re going with this, folks, and “cheap” can get pretty ugly.

What about with utilities? Good luck streaming the best show on Netflix (spoiler alert: it’s Jeopardy! reruns) on the cheapest internet plan. Skimping on your cable TV package (or skipping it altogether) might not be a huge deal if you have your friend’s HBO Go password. But don’t you hate getting cheap (and bad) internet service. After all, Game of Thrones is coming back soon, and we can’t wait to see if [REDACTED SPOILER] finally kills [REDACTED SPOILER].

We’d just be happy with more screen time for the direwolves, to be honest.

Electricity is a different story, though, because of *what* makes it expensive. Why do the big guys charge more? Do they have some kind of special VIP electrical grid with a velvet rope, sparklers and bottle service? Nope. Is it artisanal, hand-crafted electricity? Nope.

Obviously, if there was some kind of VIP section, we would’ve been on the guest list.

The difference isn’t the electrons themselves – it’s the companies peddling it. They pretend that their plans are the cheapest, then lock you into a long-term contract and make their profits off of all the hidden fees they didn’t tell you about. You shouldn’t need a law degree to save on your energy bills – electricity is a necessity! – but with some of these contracts, that’s the only way.

Contracts and fees aren’t the only shady practices these companies engage in. That “free nights and weekends” plan you signed up for is probably a scam, too.

And energy companies with higher rates don’t have much reason behind that. Do they charge more because of their customer service? Ha, good one. You’ve called your electric company with a billing questionThat usually ends with their customers doing this.

(Of course, if you do want good customer service… well, click here)

So, even if a company claims that they have the lowest rate, you can bet they’ll make up for it with fees. And… if a company has a high rate, you’re not really getting anything extra for that money.

Want actual cheap electricity? Here’s how: find a better energy company. Like us!

You won’t find any hidden fees here, not because they’re hidden *really* well, it’s because we don’t have any to begin with. Same goes for things like deposits, credit checks, annual contracts, snakes, etc.

What we do have, though, is a ton of extremely satisfied customers, low rates, full transparency, excellent service, 100% clean energy, fresh baked cookies (just kidding on that one – we wish!) and a burning desire to change the electricity game in Texas. In other words, you could pick us on price alone, but there are so many other reasons to switch.

Speaking of paying less, you know the best way to do that? Actually being aware of your usage in real-time! Our pay-as-you-go model (also known as prepaid electricity, but without all the dirty tricks that many prepaid providers pull) includes daily text alerts telling you how much energy you’re using. Putting you in control helps you reduce your usage, which means reducing your bill no matter what your rate is.

Looking for cheap electricity? Hey, it doesn’t get any cheaper than free – and we’ll cover your first three days at no cost to you and no strings attached. Don’t like us? No worries – you can cancel any time – but we’re confident that won’t happen.

Between helping you cut your usage, not charging you hidden fees and not locking you into a long contract, we think we’ve got the perfect recipe for *actual* cheap electricity.

The post Cheap Electricity Doesn’t Mean Bad Electricity appeared first on Pogo Energy.

This article originally appeared at https://ift.tt/2VGNffd

[diafphowgame-blog]

More About Fastest Video Game Car

Fastest Video Game Car

WindowsGameson Your browser indicates if you've visited this link NewWindowsgames .DownloadbestgamesforWindows . /windows/ More results. IQGames Your browser indicates if you've visited this link Play freeIQgamesonline: Know your Planet, The Ignorance Quiz, Geography USA,IQTest , Math Mountain, The True or False Quiz and more! More results. SportsGamesat Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. IQTests-GamesXL .com Your browser indicates if you've visited this link.

LabTestGames- UncommonGoods Your browser indicates if you've visited this link

. PlayTop KidsGames- Best Free Online Gaming Your browser indicates if you've visited this link Playthe best free onlinegameswith your favorite Nick characters like SpongeBob, Power Rangers, Winx Club, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more! Find new free ... /games/top-games/ More results. Best newAndroidgamestodownloadin February - AndroidPIT Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. Play the DMVGameto Learn Traffic Signs and Get a Course ... Your browser indicates if you've visited this link DMVGame- play and learn ... In- CarDrivingLessons ... Study road signs with our DMVgame ! Then see if you can pass thetestand win a discount on one of our courses. More : Apps &Games Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. VideoGameBetaTests. Join thebetatesters and play the best upcoming videogamesfor free. Below you can find a list of allbetatests currently available Click License User Agreements Test A Gamevideos. Shop fordsgamesnew3ds online at Target. Free shipping on purchases over $35 and save 5% every day with your Target In DsNews. The BestLoveTest Ever -Girlsgames-GamesXL .com Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. Download Games - Apps for Android - Softonic. ThisisNotaTest courtney summers Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. BARBIESDRIVINGTEST- - Play GirlGamesOnline Your browser indicates if you've visited this link BARBIESDRIVINGTEST : Play freeonlinegirlgamesincludes dress up, makeover, barbie, decoratinggamesand much more. Whatevergameyou are searching for, we've got ... /s/Barbies-Driving-Test-games More results.

List ofPlayStation Portablegames- Wikipedia

. Test Drive Unlimited 2 Game- Free Download Full …. GameTesterJobs , Employment Your browser indicates if you've visited this link.

Love Tester- A Free GirlGameon to check if you two are really inlove ? Enter your names and check if you match with each other!.

BarbieStyleQuiz - GirlGames Your browser indicates if you've visited this link

. Free Download LatestPoular AndroidGameMOD APK - play anygamewith unlimited Free Download PC Game With LatestUpdates

. 24 Mar 2014 ... The first TDU game from Xbox 360. Enjoy! ... Test Drive UnlimitedGameplay ( Free Roam, Race, Buying and Painting a Car, Easy Money)- Xbox 360. TheHawtDawg1 .... Can I add you in Xbox and when you level up do you unlock other cars because I'm oly a pro and I saw you had a Lamborghini Countach ..

Free TruckGamesOnline at GamesFreak Your browser indicates if you've visited this link

. Free LaptopGamesDownload For Windows 7,8,XP- FullPCGames Your browser indicates if you've visited this link Free Laptop Games,BestfullversionPCgamesdownload for windows 7gamesFor action,cargames . More results. Blizzard Entertainment:Warcraft III Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. SennheiserGameOne Review +MicTest- Your browser indicates if you've visited this link 💥 SennheiserGameOne Headset - Finally I have found the best gaming headset for making lets play videos, themictestsounds ... /watch?v=VJEpAbml0m8 More results. Get PS4 and PS4 ProgamesfromPlayStationofficial website. Browse allPlayStation4 andPlayStation4 Pro new andupcoming games . Explore PS4 and PS4 Progame'sdetail and buy Playstation 4 Video Game Releases - Metacritic. Dragon Ball Z Budokai Sony Playstation 2Game Your browser indicates if you've visited this link Get Dragon Ball Z Budokai Playstation 2Gamenow on ... I have played most of the new dragon ball zgamesand i have to admit the first one is still better the story ... More results. TheVisionTestby trademark604 - See if you can answer these questions - some questions may require more than just good EyeTests , Free Eye Exams andVisionTest- Your ColorVision ? This SimpleGameWill Tell You. ... helping you move up in the animal kingdom in the area of colorvision : After thetestis complete, ColorVisionTestGameHere - A PuzzleGameon you developed an HTML5game ? If you’re a developer or publisher and would like to publish yourgameson our network, then please don’t hesitate to submit them!. Test Drive Unlimited-PC- -Test DriveUnlimited -PC .PC ; DriveFerrari Racing Legends –PC . TorrentsGamesforPC ,

Test Drive Unlimited-PC- DriveUnlimited 2Download . Are you a fan of racinggamescategory? Try well known simulation, full version ofTest DriveUnlimited 2Download .. .

The 40bestfreegamesforAndroid Stuff Your browser indicates if you've visited this link

. DragonTest- Products - Muscle Fortress Your browser indicates if you've visited this link DragonTestis a powerful NaturalTestBooster with clinically proven ingredients such as DIIM, Yohimbine HCL and other novel ingredients like Bulbine Natalensis and ... More results. AccountingCrossword Puzzles Free Practice Quiz My ... Your browser indicates if you've visited this link. FreeDMV PracticeTestfor Driving License and Learner's ... Your browser indicates if you've visited this link.

PCGames- Buy & Download the BestNewPCGames GameStop

. Love Tester - Girl Games Your browser indicates if you've visited this link If you're confused of your feelings, this Love Tester can help you out! Write your name and your crush's name, then you'll find out if it's true love or friends /love-tester-html More results. Download Latest Games For Free

[penguin-writes-books]

Favorite things about each other? (Ambi, Wonah, Muffy, Tyrus) Sorry, I might be annoying u with this kjhkksdkkgs

You’re not annoying!! Anything to procrastinate finishing TDU

Ambi - Amber loves how completely herself Andi is. She’s never met someone so unapologetically different from everyone around them, and she’s completely in love with it. Andi loves Amber’s ability to charge forward into a battle without a second thought. Amber is a leader in every sense of the word, and Andi falls in love with her for it.

Wonah - Walker loves Jonah’s emotional vulnerability and the way he expresses love and affection. When they first met, Walker immediately noticed the way Jonah kind of fumbled over his words but was ultimately able to find his way through the conversation. Jonah loves Walker’s creativity, and the unique presence he conveys in his work. From the first day they meet, he treasures every piece of artwork Walker creates, starting with his portrait of Andi.

Muffy - Marty’s favorite thing about Buffy is her boldness, and her apparent entire lack of fear. He admires her willingness to be the loudest in a room, but he also loves her emotional side; her few moments of vulnerability are some of Marty’s favorites. Buffy is generally in love with Marty's kindness. From the beginning of their relationship, he has always been there for her, no matter what.

Tyrus - Cyrus struggles to pinpoint his favorite aspect of TJ’s personality, but he knows if it came down to it, he’d choose TJ’s soft side; the side of him that loves books, music, history, animals, and of course, Cyrus. He loves the moments when TJ is a true softie, engrossed in a good book or absentmindedly dancing to his favorite song. TJ loves Cyrus’s unfailing individuality. He’s always been enraptured by Cyrus’s love of dinosaurs and baby taters, and his entirely unique personality.

[theslowridepodcast]

Ep 189 - Magpies At Training Camp

This week we continue to heap praise on Katie F. Compton, and wonder out loud if this is the year she secures rainbows. We also discuss how we've all just come to expect greatness from MVDP; and of course, we try to not discuss the TDU much, (but we had to a little bit). We also dig deep into some very important listener questions.

We are supported this week (and every week!) by the amazing Health IQ! HealthIQ is a life insurance company that celebrates the health conscious, including cyclists. Please visit HealthIQ.com/slowride to learn more & get a free quote!

Also, the SRP is supported by Endura! please please please check out Endurasport.com and use coupon code wideangle20 to save 20% on anything you order!

Find us, and other fantastic cycling podcasts on the Wide Angle Podium Network, at wideanglepodium.com! Check out the brand new WAP app available in the Apple and Android app stores!

You can listen to us in a variety of ways:

Find us on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and anywhere great podcasts are found. Give us a review and rating! We’d appreciate it!

You can email us at theslowridepodcast@gmail.com

Find us on Twitter: The show (@theslowridepod) Matt (@littleguymatt) Spencer (@spencerhaugh) Tim (@thesuperrookie)

Check out this episode!

[theardoisier-blog]

Santos Women’s Tour

For its third edition, the Santos Women’s Tour keeps faith in its recipe with an interesting mix of sprint stages and more challenging courses lined up for the riders. However, this one looks like a tougher version on paper, with two hill-top finishes squeezed in between two stages aimed for a pair of fast legs. The result is a four-day course with several opportunities to seize the general classification which should allow all sorts of riders to seize the day.

 The race kicks off with a stage in Gumeracha across a rolling terrain. Across a 115 kilometres, the Cyanide Climb must be tackled twice and especially the last appearance might weed out the bunch. Add to that enough bumps in the road to launch attacks until the very end and you have yourself set up for an interesting race. The odds are on a group sprint, but with limited numbers.

 None of such the day after as the peloton goes to the feared Menglers Hill – 2.8 kilometres of gruelling uphill with stretches up to 10 percent. It’s a first encounter for the race and even if it flats out a little near the end, we expect a solo victory at the top. Definitely the sort of finish that can stand the comparison with the traditional Old Willunga Hill.

 Saturday sees even more uphill spectacle as the riders traverse the Adelaide Hills for a potentially interesting finish. With some gaps created on Menglers Hill, ambitious riders will want to get away on Comet Mine Climb. However, the finish in Hahndorf boasts a nasty kicker in the finish straight, going to an approximate 10% for the last 400 metres. It will be a matter of power, but also of timing to grab this stage.

 Last but not least, the Santos Women’s Tour wraps up with a traditional crit race in Adelaide. Little to say about this fine example of a local specialty but that it is a perfect set-up for a royal sprint to wrap up affairs.

 Needless to say that Mitchelton-Scott is eager to make it three in a row for their home crowd, underlining their reputation as local UCI team. Amanda Spratt came out on top last year after an opening stage success in Meadows in which she shook off the entire field on Paris Creek Road. An impressive victory although one can wonder whether the rugged mountain top finish would not better suit her Dutch teammate Annemiek Van Vleuten. Coming out of her best season, it’s not clear in how far she will focus on this race but if she sets her mind to it, there’s a reputation as one of the world best climbers to defend. Either way, Mitchelton-Scott has two clear favourites at the starting line and can back it up with a consistent squad containing Allen, Manly, Roy and Lucy Kennedy. The latter, a late bloomer, might be an unknown quantity to many but her Tour de l’Ardèche triumph shows she could be a perfect lieutenant for Spratt and Van Vleuten.

 Does this mean that a threepeat is in the books already? Far from it, we must say and the danger might come from closer than they would like. Former winner Kat Garfoot left Orica/Mitchelton during the off-season to focus on her family and the Commonwealth Games but showcased in the Nationals she’s still up for the task. Winning the time trial and animating the road race, Garfoot starts as a GC candidate for the UniSA team – a national selection. Whilst this formation usually contains less heralded riders in the men’s race, it’s a force to reckon in the women’s TDU. Apart from a motivated Garfoot, look out for the FDJ duo Gillow and Kitchen. Especially the latter, who lighted up the Nationals for a silver medal, has an excellent record in this race and can rival for the medals. With Neylan and Cromwell at the starting line as well, this side consists of high-quality riders only.

 These first few paragraphs might give one the idea that this whole race is one for the Australian inner circle but nothing is further from the truth. With ten UCI teams lining up, this is by far the most international edition so far and a proof that the cycling season really kicks off Down Under. High up my list of GC candidates is Sabrina Stultiens, who left Sunweb behind to spread her wings on her own account with Waowdeals. Leading out a team that has quality in Koster and Markus, she could be near the pointy end of the action.

 A new team, a new start – that goes for Lauren Stephens as well. Joining Cylance after years for Team TIBCO will form a whole new challenge for her. Her La Course performance shows she can stand Menglers Hill making her an interesting outsider for the trophies.  Her compatriot Tayler Wiles should not be too far off either, likewise debuting for her team Trek-Drops. In both previous editions she was on the first few rows and if a team filled with hungry candidates, such as The Little Rocket Buurman and Weaver, who aims to get past her injury woes, can support her adequately, they’ll be in the mix.

 A small skim across the other teams reveals a few other candidates for a high finish. Wiggle High5 sends a team without their biggest stars but with Audrey Cordon and newcomer Yomamine, they should be able to show their jersey in the frontline. Alé-Cippolini lines up their new blood as well and there are high hopes for them: Roxane Knetemann should be in the mix and many wonder how Hagiwara will fare, having left the High5 wings behind. Up there as well is Linda Villumsen, leading out a reborn Team Virtu: always a force to reckon and one to appreciate the opportunities given by the course.

 The TDU always offers a fertile ground for local riders to capture the international limelight. Last year, we saw the already mentioned Kennedy fare well and so did Shannon Malseed. It got her a spot on the TIBCO-SVB team for 2018 and she immediately delivered with a victory in home town Ballarat for her new outfit – expect her to show off the national colours from the first row. She wasn’t the only to show her form as bronze medallist Grace Brown will turn up for one of the local teams – standing your ground on the demanding Ballarat course shows potential – which also allows us to point out Ashlee Andukinoff. Rounding it up for the GC ambitions, we obviously salute Carlee Taylor who rides her last few miles on home ground before retiring. We would be stunned if she doesn’t take on an attack during the race.

 As the GC battle shapes up nicely, the same can definitely be said about the sprints set up – even without last year’s dominant Kirsten Wild signing in. Wiggle High 5 instead opts for domestic firepower with Nettie Edmondson – still jubilating over her brothers title – who can count on compatriot Amy Cure and the promising Rachele Barbieri to tackle the lead-out. She takes up an underdog role against Ozzie’s fastest legs Chloe Hosking, strong in the crits but also a candidate for the opening stage. Mitchelton-Scott is not as rugged for the sprints as they are for the GC, but Sarah Roy will probably attempt to live it from the first row.

 However, the home gals will not get their victories for granted as a series of strong competitors take the start, not in the least Giorgia Bronzini who cannot be entirely satisfied with last season. Despite consistently being in the mix, she clocked off on a solitary win and will aim to wipe out the zero right from the start for her new team Cylance. Having Jelena Eric and Rossella Ratto in support should give her a chance to grab it.

 As dangerous is the firepower from Team Virtu who bring three of their new names side by side to challenge for the flowers. Guarischi wants to get back to her winning ways, reminding us of the one who could beat up any sprinter on her day. Add to that Katarzyna Pawlowska – another one who left a bigger team to get more time in the picture – and the fast legs of Emilie Moberg who ventures for the first time away from Hitec, and you have a Team Virtu that kicks off with options to spare.

 Further on the second row, we have a string of sprinters who could definitely sneak into the top positions. Maria Vittoria Sperotto leads a young BePink squad – with road captain Valsecchi – that lost its Russian connection and seems to fold back on its core task of training young Italians. Sperotto’s Guangxi Challenge victory in the tail end of 2017 shows there are options. For Team Tibco, we expect Kendall Ryan to appear at the front whilst Waowdeals might support Van de Ree. Last but not least, do not discard former stage winner Kimberley Wells, especially for the Adelaide stage.

  Prediction Corner

 Stage 1 – Some thirty-odd riders, including the main GC favourites go to the line. Bronzini opens her season with a bang, beating Chloe Hosking and compatriot Guarischi.

Stage 2 – Quite a race to the foot of the mountain, but Van Vleuten delivers in her Mitchelton jersey and has enough time to raise her hands before Stephens and Stultiens cross the line.

Stage 3 – A queens’ stage with a fitting winner – Garfoot goes from far out and brings home the victory, edging out her compatriots Spratt and Malseed after a close call.

Stage 4 – Crits are a special trade and Nettie Edmondson masters it, managing to pop up from behind and beats Hosking, Moberg and Wells.

GC – The victory on Menglers Hill suffices for Van Vleuten to make it a Mitchelton hattrick.