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The case is Scott v. General Motors Co et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-05124.
President at Advanced RF Technologies (ADRF), responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company globally.
This can lead to issues. As carriers sunset their legacy networks, it is likely that many Americans will be required to upgrade their phones. Verizon, for instance, is planning to retire its 2G network by the end of 2019. While there presumably isn’t a ton of traffic on that particular network, there are still consumer use cases for it.
It isn’t just consumers who could be affected. Verizon’s 2G network is also used for machine-to-machine communications (internet of things applications). IT departments across the U.S. are realizing these same issues, as the nearly universal adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) has left companies trying to support and increase connectivity for dozens of models of phones across all four major U.S. carriers.
These issues may be increased by the coming proliferation of 5G. IT departments aren’t stranded, however, as a number of technologies and design principles are being introduced that can alleviate connectivity concerns today and as 5G becomes more common. These include MIMO, modularity and the 600 MHz spectrum.
Multiple-input multiple-output antennas are gaining popularity because each unit increases the information sent and received without requiring additional power. Essentially, MIMO antennas are built into one enclosure, but they can access multiple frequency bands. These are becoming common in both consumer and enterprise settings. On the consumer side, Apple’s latest iPhone incorporates MIMO antennas into its units, which improves each phone’s average connection, as well as improving upload and download speeds.
On the enterprise side, a pair of MIMO developments are improving connection for employees. Many of the wireless carriers are using massive MIMO to increase the reach of their networks and support multiple bands. In addition, many building operators and commercial real estate developers are incorporating MIMO into their connectivity solutions, such as distributed antennas systems and small cells.
A technique for hardware development that’s gaining traction in telecom is modular design. Many of the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are making a point of building solutions that can easily be combined or bolted together.
There are a number of reasons for this. The first is simply a matter of space. Telecom closets across enterprises aren’t typically very large, so while there is a need for enterprise IT to support more connectivity, there is limited room in which they’re able to do so without leaving equipment in plain sight.
The second reason is that there are a number of connectivity transitions that are coming in the near future. AT&T’s public safety initiative, called FirstNet, will be a nationwide LTE network that keeps first responders connected in times of emergency. As that initiative comes online, it’s possible municipalities will require buildings to offer 100% FirstNet connectivity, which means new hardware. 5G could also require new hardware. In order to ensure that enterprise investments of today aren’t obsolete in the next couple years, OEMs must find ways to build modular solutions that can accommodate what’s to come.
In the U.S., one of the most transformative components of in-building connectivity could be T-Mobile’s rollout of its LTE network across the 600 MHz spectrum band. In short, lower frequency bands have the ability to travel further, including the ability to easily penetrate buildings. After spending nearly $8 billion to gain access to the band, T-Mobile has aggressively introduced services and hardware that support and utilize this spectrum (for reference, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T all utilize higher frequencies).
This means that much of today’s 4G connections, which are great for voice, text, web browsing and watching video, can be leveraged further in enterprise settings where employees use T-Mobile.
It’s also important to consider what a combined T-Mobile and Sprint could mean for enterprise users, beyond something simple like “IT will only need to support three carriers.” The robust access to a wide range of spectrum that the combined entity would have will allow it to ultimately build out a strong combined 4G and 5G offering that can both penetrate buildings and deliver a tremendous amount of data rapidly.
In general, the near future of connectivity for enterprises is somewhat murky, as a number of new technologies will combine with BYOD initiatives to increase pressure on IT departments to provide solutions that keep all employees connected. However, factors like newly utilized spectrum, 5G, modular design and MIMO highlight how these issues may be rapidly overcome. Sometimes the best solution for uncertainty is to be ready for anything once the dust settles.
The UN Human Rights Council has voted for a resolution which paves the way for an inquiry into rights abuses at the close of Sri Lanka's civil war.
The US and the UK were among the countries which sponsored a resolution which for the first time explicitly calls for an international probe.
Sri Lanka's army defeated separatist Tamil Tiger rebels after 26 years of bloody civil war in May 2009.
But it is events in the final phase of the war that has come under scrutiny, with one UN report saying that as many as 40,000 Tamil civilians may have been killed, mostly by government shelling in those final months.
Sri Lanka has consistently denied such allegations and says it is being unfairly targeted. It also claims that Tamil rebels are attempting to regroup in the north of the country.
But the resolution calls for a "comprehensive investigation into alleged serious violations and abuses of human rights and related crimes by both parties in Sri Lanka".
"We reject this," Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa told the AFP news agency. "This resolution only hurts our reconciliation efforts. It does not help."
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says this is the first concrete step towards any kind of international inquiry on the conduct of the island's government and the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.
The resolution was carried in a 23-12 vote.
That means that 23 member states of the 47-member Human Rights Council voted for this resolution, 12 voted against it while 12 abstained - including India which many had expected to vote against its neighbour.
The document also expresses "serious concern" at events said to be still going on in Sri Lanka - including the intimidation of civil society, disappearances and torture.
Earlier this month Sri Lankan detained two prominent human rights activists for 48 hours under anti-terrorism laws. While rights groups point to continuing abuses, the government just as vehemently denies such allegations.
Resolutions expressing alarm at the human rights situation in Sri Lanka have been passed before by the council, but the distinctiveness of this draft is that it asks the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out an inquiry.
Family is extremely important to life in Myanmar. However, it’s important to recognise that the Burmese notion of ‘family’ extends well beyond the nuclear family. As an example, there is no such thing as a “cousin” in Burmese culture. Cousins are understood and referred to as one’s brothers and sisters. Men and women are usually called “uncle” and “aunty” no matter the relation. A great deal of importance is attached to extended-family relationships.
Burmese families are also very close-knit. In Myanmar, families are perceived to have a collective reputation or face. In this way, the act of an individual can impact the perception of the entire family by others and the interests of the family supersede those of the individual. One’s behaviour is often immediately correlated to their upbringing in Myanmar. It is said that “bad language from bad mother, bad body-language from bad father”. As such, people are careful not to damage their family and parent’s reputations.
Most Burmese families have two or three children. Traditionally, several generations and extended family members lived together in the same household. This is still common in rural areas; however, in urban areas, there are now many nuclear family structures. According to the national census taken in 2014, the average household size is 4.4 people. Such an arrangement may seem like it would lead to a cheaper/easier standard of living. However, in reality, it can be harder for the family to provide for themselves without the help of extra hands. Many families have domestic helpers to assist with the household operations. Furthermore, most adult children continue to live at home with their parents until they are married, or even longer. They can leave home earlier, but not without a reason (for example, having to relocate for a job).
Families are generally matrilocal, matrilineal and patriarchal. This means they trace family through the female line of heritage and may stay in the wife’s family’s home for a year after marriage before moving out together. Yet, the oldest male (either father or eldest son) has the most authority. In traditional Karen villages, there may be a village chief that is the authority for many families.
Elders hold high status and respect in the family. They are often consulted on any major decisions and their opinion presides over most matters. Some families in Australia had to leave their elder family members behind in refugee camps when they migrated to Australia because they didn’t meet entry requirements. This can be a significant cause of stress and grief.
Burmese women have generally enjoyed a high social and economic status, relative to neighbouring traditional cultures. A sense of equality is encouraged between husband and wife, and women have had equal access to education, inheritance rights and property rights in divorce. However, there is some variation among ethnic minorities. For example, customarily, Chin women cannot inherit family property.
While women enjoy equal rights in most areas, they are generally expected to perform the domestic chores for men in addition to any day job. Many fulfil the role as cleaner, cook, and child minder as well as an income earner. Generally speaking, women are expected to be unobtrusive and reserved.
Buddhist practices also reinforce women's subordinate status in the society. Under Buddhist teaching, they are unable to enter some parts of monasteries or touch monks. This comes down to the idea of ‘hpon’ in Buddhism that delegates men more spiritual potential, and thus status. Though “hpon” directly translates to ‘”power”, it has a more intricate meaning that seeks to explain the varying ethnic, socioeconomic and gender differences in society. It is believed that only men possess hpon. For example, the Burmese word for monk ‘hpongyi’ supports the view that men alone have the qualities required to be a monk.
It is rare for Burmese young adults to date casually. Marriage is almost always factored into interactions as the eventual goal. Opposite genders may begin socialising with one another as groups in their teen years. If a young couple like each other, they generally date for a couple of years to decide if they will marry. They tend to only inform their respective families of the relationship once they are certain they want to marry. It is very rare for a couple to marry without the approval and consent of both families.
Arranged marriages are also customary in Myanmar. They are usually negotiated by a female family member (such as the aunt or grandmother). In some cases, the families may consult an astrologer who can determine a couple’s compatibility. The Karen people are generally free to choose their own partners.
Once the decision to marry has been settled, the man will send his parents to formally ask the permission of the prospective bride’s parents to marry their daughter. Some young couples may hold an engagement ceremony. The wedding ceremony itself is generally not so much religious as a social ceremony where families invite many guests. The person who marries the couple is often a close family friend of the parents. The Chin may practise the giving of ‘man’, which is an exchange of goods and a social gesture between the families. Buddhist couples generally avoid getting married between July and October during the Buddhist fasting period.
Polygamy is frowned upon in Myanmar and divorce is considered shameful. However, if divorce cannot be avoided, it is used as the last resort.
Proving himself a real-life superhero, Benedict Cumberbatch - best known as the star of Sherlock and Marvel's Doctor Strange - intervened when he saw a cyclist attacked by four muggers in London. He dragged them off the cyclist, and defended himself with the kind of skill only an actor who's played a superhero could display.
One of Hollywood's rising talents, London-born Benedict Cumberbatch has gained international renown as the star of BBC drama Sherlock, a modernized retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous novellas. He's since moved on to become one of Marvel's biggest stars, playing the future Sorcerer Supreme, and had a major role in Avengers: Infinity War. But no one outright expected Cumberbatch to be a hero in his own right when he stumbled across a mugging.
According to The Sun, Cumberbatch had taken an Uber from his London home and was traveling close to Sherlock Holmes's fictional residence of 221B Baker Street. Looking out the window, the actor saw a mugging in progress, with four men attacking a Deliveroo cyclist. He leaped from the car and raced to the cyclist's help, yelling for the thugs to "Leave him alone." Cumberbatch dragged the four muggers from their victim along with the help of the driver Manuel Dias. When they attempted to fight back, he defended himself, and they fled.
"I had hold of one lad and Benedict another. He seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He was very brave. He did most of it, to be honest. They tried to hit him but he defended himself and pushed them away. He wasn’t injured. Then I think they also recognised it was Benedict and ran away."
Cumberbatch is proving to be one of Hollywood's most remarkable figures. Just a few weeks ago, he publicly called for equal pay for his female co-stars, and he's pledged to do his part to push for gender equality in the film industry. He suggested, "Ask what women are being paid, and say: ‘If she’s not paid the same as the men, I’m not doing it.’" It seems that isn't the limit of the actor's belief in justice, though, as he's clearly willing to intervene when he sees someone vulnerable under attack. What's more, the actor doesn't seem to be comfortable grandstanding in this; the incident happened in November, according to the Independent, but details were only published last night, and Cumberbatch was reluctant to comment.
Jets rumbled and roared overhead. One passed about every minute. I was aware of the air traffic because of the contrast with the deep silence that pervaded the desert canyon where I sat perched on a jut of rimrock.
Sitting quietly, alone, is an unusual pastime today when culture commands that we must be doing something with someone. Check your phone. Post on Facebook. Schedule a meeting. Answer an email. Prepare to die.
Preparing to die is the furthest thing from minds that are overbooked by the immediate and infinite demands of industrial life. Preparing to die requires a lifetime, but most hold it off until the bitter end when they fearfully struggle against mortality and resist the mystery that lies beyond.
Silence must be part of that preparation because it is the grounding for reflection, introspection and meditation — a connection with self. Silence helps us plumb the depths of truths that emanate from deep internal sources.
Silence is undervalued today because we live in a world where the externalities of commerce and culture are incredibly demanding. We obey the dictates of institutions instead of from the “still small voice,” which was described by the prophet Elijah as the essence of God.
Elijah may have sensed the solitary realization of conscience, or the echo of the Big Bang, or the thumping of his heart as metronome to the first and last rhythm we sense as the measure and beat of life, which is the rhythmic foundation of music.
Try to find silence today if you live in a city and you must either use sound muffs or close yourself up in a padded room. Others choose to lose themselves in the remote and distant wilderness, in places where human noise has yet to intrude on the overworked senses.
Desert hikers exalt about the profound silence of canyons, but with national flight paths over-arching most of the Southwest, these silences are harder and harder to find. It’s the same in the mountains, where countless jets trace the deep blue of the western sky with contrails and the resounding thunder of their engines.
In 1939, there were only 347 commercial aircraft in service globally. By 1960, that number had grown to 1,848. Today, there are 39,000 aircraft navigating the world’s skyways, serving almost 3 billion passengers. Of that, nearly a billion passengers are U.S. travelers to whom air travel is as matter-of-fact as getting on a bus.
How foreign is this experience when earbuds are standard equipment, when cellphones are pressed against ears, when the droning static of technological media blots out the silence as if it were a pestilence, a curse.
If people had more quiet time, their ambient anxiety and stress might melt away. The strains of life could be lessened and managed. Instead, most of us are geared to a compelling fascination with the external at the expense of the internal.
From where does truth come? Spirituality? Truth and spirit are translated into externalities, but they stem from internal awakenings. We escape those internal prods by bombarding ourselves with commercial and cultural externalities that distract us from the deeper need for introspection.
Maybe it’s just me … and Sigurd … and a scant minority who resonate with silence because we have sensitized ourselves to the quiet calm of nature. We hear the roar of the jets and rue the tumult of a rapidly urbanizing world that’s noisily spinning into chaos.
MULTAN: The Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has said the government will provide legal assistance to Dr Aafia Siddiqui, who is jailed in the US for almost a decade. He said he would meet Aafia’s sister, Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, next week. “Whatever assistance can be provided to her will be given while remaining within the ambit of law, it is my duty and I will do that,” he told the media.
Talking to the media on Thursday at the book launching ceremony of renowned scholar Allama Ghazanfar Mehdi, he said Pakistan is serious in resuming talks with India. However, India is passing through an election process and the dialogue may resume after its elections. About his meeting with the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, he said the US is not demanding ‘do more’ from Pakistan. He said the government did not send Aasia Bibi abroad because a review petition was filed in the Supreme Court. There is international pressure for her early release but Pakistan would fulfil all the legal requirements.
To a query, he said police would soon apprehend Maulana Samiul Haq’s killers. To another query, he said the government has formed committees reviewing the creation of South Punjab province.
Unfortunately, the PTI does not have two-thirds majority in assemblies and the party is seeking national consensus for the issue, he added. The party needs support from all the federating units for making the new province. Prime Minister Imran Khan is personally monitoring 100 days performance, he further added.
Meanwhile, addressing an International Sufi Conference at the Bahauddin Zakaria University, the foreign minister stressed the need to spread the teachings of sufism for eradication of terrorism. He said sufis have given the message of peace and brotherhood. He said in the current atmosphere, cohesion and unity is the need of Pakistan. He said a lot is being said about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, adding we term it a game changer and future of Pakistan is linked to it. President Dr Arif Alvi also addressed the conference.
Not too long ago, Dan Brown's Robert Langdon series of books was the toast of Hollywood and the best seller list. With The DaVinci Code bringing in a boatload in 2006 and Angels And Demons making a more modest success of itself, the franchise starring Tom Hanks and directed by Ron Howard was on financially stable ground, but it still wasn't clear whether the series would have the momentum to continue over the long haul. It was assumed The Lost Symbol would give fans a definitive answer to the franchise question, but that project died on the vine rather quickly.
For those still waiting for the team of Hanks and Howard to make a return, Deadline is your new best friend, as they've confirmed an April 2015 start date for the adaptation of Dan Brown's latest entry in the series, Inferno. We previously reported that this team up was probably happening, but now we can confirm that the ink has dried and Italy will be preparing itself to host the filming next spring. The fourth book in the series finds Robert Langdon with a mild case of amnesia, and recovering from an accident he can't recall. These details will be crucial though, as a fanatic obsessed with Dante's Inferno is looking to unleash some biblical punishment on the world.
I have to admit, I haven't read Inferno just yet, but I have read the first three books in the Robert Langdon series. The Lost Symbol is probably being skipped because it really isn't that exciting of a book. At the very least, it's not exciting enough to revive a five years dormant franchise to a point that it could be as financially viable as Sony is going to want it to be. As their motion picture arm has found itself in an elongated patch of financial difficulty, Sony is going to want to put their best foot forward with this flick. With Tom Hanks and Ron Howard back in the game, they've made a really good move positioning themselves towards cashing in on the adult audiences that are hungry for a film like this.
There's just one huge problem staring this film down: it's scheduled to be released on the same day as Star Wars: Episode VII. I don't care what type of audience you're trying to play towards, if you're opening on December 18th, 2015; and your name isn't Star Wars: Episode VII, I hope you have a pint of Ben And Jerry's handy because it's going to be a horrific weekend. With April 2015 marking the start of production on Inferno, it's probably a good call to move the film's release date to a more friendly release slot. Hell, if they programmed themselves for a February 12th, 2016 release, they'd be shooting fish in a barrel against Gods Of Egypt and they wouldn't be that far off the mark.
We'll keep you updated on whether or not Inferno keeps its release date.
Ex-acquisition service commissioner Tom Sharpe wins settlement.
The Office of Special Counsel on Thursday announced it had reached a settlement with the General Services Administration on behalf of recently resigned Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Tom Sharpe.
Sharpe resigned abruptly from the agency in June (his job is now occupied by Alan Thomas) just as the GSA inspector general was reporting Sharpe had earlier made “protected disclosures” about “concerns of violations of law, gross mismanagement, a gross waste of funds and abuse of authority” to former GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth, the former deputy administrator, the former general counsel, and the OIG.
Sharpe had disagreed with the funding mechanisms for the digital services team called 18F and GSA’s subsequent reorganization to build innovation into its technology programs for other agencies.
The IG found Roth had threatened to transfer Sharpe and reduce his duties at FAS after he objected to her funding the new Technology Transformation Service with money from the multibillion-dollar Acquisition Services Fund, which had been run out of Sharpe’s office. The IG referred its retaliation findings to OSC, and on June 28, OSC obtained unspecified relief for Sharpe, who entered into a settlement with the GSA to resolve his whistleblower retaliation claim, OSC said.
In its report, GSA said TTS financial forecast models reflected an established pattern of overestimating revenue projections and willfully disregarding losses, OSC wrote. These losses exceeded $31 million, according to Sharpe and the GSA OIG, and continued to grow in fiscal 2016.
However, GSA did not substantiate Sharpe’s related allegation that the legal framework for TTS also violated the General Services Modernization Act.
Roth, in an email last month to Federal News Radio, said she was disappointed in the IG’s report.
It’s disappointing, Tangherlini added, that the IG had to spend more time on “various questions about the process” rather than on the cost savings of the 18F program.
Things happening in Grant County.
SILVER CITY - For the fifth year in a row, the Grant County Community Foundation and the Southwest New Mexico Non-Profit Coalition are sponsoring a 24-hour community giving marathon on May 5.
Give Grandly! Give Local! will support 50-plus nonprofit organizations serving Grant, Luna, Catron and Hidalgo counties. These diverse nonprofits cover important gaps in governmental or private sector programs, including health and human services, literacy and work skills, arts and cultural activities, environmental advocacy and animal welfare.
The Give Grandly Celebration will be held on 7th and Bullard Streets, next to the Silver City Farmers’ Market from 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, Participating nonprofits will have tables with staff and volunteers to highlight their work on behalf of southwest New Mexico, answer your questions, and accept donations by cash, check or credit cards. There will be musical entertainment, and refreshments will be available.
Anyone anywhere will be able to donate online at www.givegrandly.org anytime between 12:01 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on May 5.
SILVER CITY - The Silver City Community Theatre announces auditions for its upcoming production of Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, "Disgraced," to be presented the first two weekends in August.
The auditions will be held on Saturday, May 5 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 6 at 2:30 p.m. at Penney Playhouse, 405 North Bullard St.
The group is seeking actors, ages 20-59, including two women (one African-American, one Caucasian) and three men (two South Asian/Middle Eastern, one Caucasian).
Rehearsal dates and times will be flexible.
For information, call 575-388-0243 and leave a message.
SILVER CITY - Upper Mimbres Fire and Rescue invites everyone to its annual Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale on Saturday, May 12, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the department's main station.
Breakfast is $5 and includes freshly made pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee, hot chocolate, and juice. Cookies, pies, homemade bread, and other treats will be available for sale.
The fire station is at 3072 Hwy 35, Milepost 4.5. For more information, contact umvfr@gilanet.com or call 575-536-2227.
Ghana forward Jordan Ayew is buoyant about Swansea City's chances of avoiding relegation despite their precarious position on the table.
The Welsh-based side have gone seven games without a win and their last Saturday's 1-0 defeat against AFC Bournemouth dropped the side into the relegation zone with two games to end the campaign.
However, the club's player of the season believes they can avoid the drop should they take advantage of their next two games - which will come off at the Liberty Stadium - starting from their Tuesday clash with fellow strugglers Southampton.
The south Wales based attacker to capitalize on their two straight home matches to maintain their premier league status.
The Swansea City player of the year believes time is running out of their side after another defeat in the home streak end of the campaign.
The former Olympique Marseilles man revealed his side’s readiness for the final phase of the campaign.
“Time is running out, but we are confident when we play at home. With the support of the fans, we can beat any team.
“We’re not scared of anyone and we can get a lot of points at home. We know that we have two more tough games, but we can only take one at a time."
“Everything is in our hands and we need to win the games”, Jordan told Jack Magazine.
Swansea City, who sit 18th on the standings, will next welcome Southampton to the Liberty Stadium in the midweek clash before rounding up their campaign with another home clash against an already Stoke City FC.
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has admitted his team's desire to win games dropped after clinching the Bundesliga, but believes they are returning to their peak going into the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

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