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Programs & Activities » Livestock Programs »
Prepared by AL Brown, with assistance from JC Potter, 2009
The Livestock Branch was a spin off from the larger Animal Health Branch that was primarily responsible for the health of farm animals, and had hitherto undertaken advisory work in relation to animal husbandry that was not necessarily related to animal health. Established in the late 1950s under Dr Cyril T McKenna and followed by Dr HV Chamberlain, both of whom moved from the Animal Health Branch. This new Livestock Branch initially comprised of a few officers principally dealing with the husbandry of: sheep, beef cattle, pigs and poultry. Dairy cattle and dairy factory matters were dealt with by the separate Dairy Branch.
W.J Wilkie was the initial Pig Husbandry Adviser following a period as Senior Livestock Officer. He was subsequently supported by a pig research officer, Joe Bryson, who carried on in that position for many years. Paul Heap, who was formerly a Stock Inspector, was later to be the most successful manager of the Pig Research Unit at Northfield.
Photo No.105243. Automatic feeder for poultry in Broiler shed
On the left is Allan Mc Ardle, FAO/UN Poultry Production adviser to the Government of India seen talking to J. N. Panda, Deputy Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Indian Government at the Parafield Research Centre in 1968
Allan McArdle was the initial Poultry Husbandry Adviser. He published the renowned text "Poultry Husbandry in Australia" and undertook a major overseas consultancy in India. Allan is credited with making a major contribution to the production of poultry in that country and thereby improving the basic nutrition of many Indian people.
Allan was succeeded by Dr Hugh Bray and then Ray Fuge as Senior Poultry Husbandry Advisers, who made a significant contribution to the production from farm poultry flocks and with Rod Woolford and Errol Polden who oversaw the transition of the poultry industry from small farm flocks to large, intensively housed and caged flocks in large air-conditioned sheds.
The inaugural Beef Cattle Husbandry Adviser was Ron Mc Neil who joined the Animal Husbandry Branch following several years experience as an Animal Health Officer. Ron served beef cattle producers throughout the State and was instrumental in establishing the SA Beef Cattle Carcase Competition that did much to encourage producers to select and breed animals that best met the carcase requirements of the meat trade. Establishing Struan Research Centre as a separate entity led to extensive beef cattle research and Ron's extension role was supported by Bob Carraill in the 1960s and Michael Milne who was based at Naracoorte.
The largest section of Livestock Branch was the Sheep Section under the initial leadership of Denis Muirhead, until he left to join the CSIRO Regional Pastoral Laboratory at Armidale. He was then seconded to the Australian Meat Board, firstly as their North American representative and then as their European representative based in London.
Brian Jefferies joined the Livestock section in 1953 but left to join the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture in 1959 as their Senior Sheep and Wool Officer before later returning to SA. John Doolette was also a livestock adviser in the late 1950s until he resigned and was replaced by John C Potter who was recruited from Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1955. John brought a new focus, having worked with Dr Phil Schinckel at the College where much of the early research into the follicular bases of wool production had been carried out by Phil and Dr Helen Newton Turner of CSIRO. As a result, sheep and wool extension officers, initially funded by the Wool Research Trust Fund, provided a service to the South Australian Stud Merino Industry whereby they fleece weighed reserve rams from the various studs and took samples that were scoured and measured at Roseworthy College. The College then ranked these reserve rams, enabling the studmasters to select those which were the most productive based on clean scoured fleece weight and fibre diameter. This 'extension' activity was a major focus for most of the five or six extension officers and provided an excellent opportunity to gain an understanding of the stud merino industry at 'grass roots' level.
Photo No.105595. Bugle yard for sheep
Photo No.105394. Hayward and Messenger in top pen of hoggets
Other areas of sheep husbandry that gained special attention were blowfly control, woolclip preparation, shearing and crutching and sheep husbandry schools. At these schools a whole farm approach to sheep management was promoted. Important Statewide research into weaner ill-thrift was undertaken in the 1960s by the senior research officer Dr Cec Mulhearn. Cec subsequently followed Dr Harold Chamberlain as the Branch Head. Harold was later to head the Research Centre Branch when it was established as the number of research facilities grew.
During the 1960s the role of the Department changed dramatically because of the greatly increased production of cereals and sheep that followed the widespread use of medics and clovers to boost soil fertility. Increased cattle numbers on farms followed later. The establishment of these legumes, initially to enhance cereal production also provided grazing for sheep. The high wool prices of the late 1950s and early 1960s also stimulated sheep numbers, often on farms that had none previously or had used sheep only to 'clear-up' weeds. By the 1960s there were six Sheep and Wool Officers across the State to meet the expanded need for extension services Statewide.
In 1956 Brian Jefferies established "Blowfly Control Courses" for young farmers with the assistance of Stan Green, part-time shearing instructor who provided crutching training that incorporated handpiece maintenance, grinding combs and cutters. During the period 1956–1965, these courses trained some 550 young men in these techniques.
Photo No. 105900. Shearing sheep demonstration, Stan Green, shearing instructor, Shearing Shed Management School, crutching
These courses were sponsored by local branches of the Agricultural Bureaux who identified the trainees and provided the sheep, shearing shed and other physical resources. Prior to these two/three day courses the Department's extension effort in relation to blowfly control had focussed on mulesing demonstrations and field days which had been initiated by WS (Steve) Reid during the previous decade. Then, in about 1965, Rhys Roberts invigorated this mulesing 'thrust' by organizing mulesing training courses for potential mulesing contractors as well as 'stepping up' the training of farmers across the state.
Former professional woolclasser Andrew Brown identified a need for improved farm woolclip preparation when he joined Livestock Branch in 1960 and initiated Shearing Shed Management Courses (SSMC) in 1961, with the specific aim of improving the preparation of farm woolclips. These three-day courses encompassed instruction in shearing, handpiece maintenance, grinding combs and cutters, in addition to all aspects of woolclip preparation including the management of sheep for and during the shearing operation, so they built upon the crutching courses that had commenced during the 1950s. These SSM courses developed additional skills so that trainees could shear 40 or so sheep/day and competently prepare their own farm woolclip for sale. This was the aim of these courses, so they were derived from a different perceived training need than the "Crutching Courses". At this time, only the Livestock Branch and Soils Branch within the Department were involved in formally developed training courses or schools for farmers, the main thrust of the Department at that time was on group or 'person to person' extension activities.
Photo No. 108718. Andrew Brown, wool classing instructor, demonstrating fleece skirting to a group of trainees in Ken Trengove's Broughton Park shed at Spalding in 1962.
'On Farm' woolharvesting training flourished under the Shearing Shed Management Courses, with some 20 or so courses offered each year when a second 'team' of instructors was employed in 1965 to join Andrew Brown and Stan Green. Alan Harris was recruited from Elders-GM and Tony Ryan a widely experienced and highly regarded shearing contractor from Burra. An interview with Tony Ryan is summarized as attachment . Some 537 young men and women were trained in shearing and woolhandling practices during the period 1961–1967, in a total of 58 Shearing Shed Management Courses.
Advanced SSM courses of one week's duration were also offered for young farmers who expressed a desire to progress to professional shearing and "Improver Courses" for young professional shearers were provided from 1965 for trainees nominated by shearing contractors.
Funding for the Department's woolharvesting training program was at this time provided by the Wool Research Trust Fund, itself funded from the Woolgrowers' Research and Extension Levy, managed by the Australian Wool Corporation/Board. (The AWC subsequently ceased this funding in 1967 when they decided that they were not going to be involved with the training of 'part-time' shearers. Several years later, however, the AWC Shearer Training program manager realized the great contrbution made by 'part-time' shearers and these shearer trainees were then trained through their National program, in South Australia initially using the former Ag Department senior shearing instructor Tony Ryan).
From about 1963 Andrew Brown offered South Australian woolgrowers a "Woolclip Inspection Service" to provide an objective opinion on the way their woolclip was prepared this was a year or more before the AWC offered the same service and is an indication of the pro-active role then undertaken by Livestock Branch officers in relation to woolharvesting extension. In fact Alan Harris and Andrew Brown presented the latest method of woolclip preparation: Objective Clip Preparation (OCP), to woolgrowers at Iron Knob before OCP was formally launched Australia-wide.
Alan Harris had complementary wool industry experience to that of Andrew Brown in that Alan was a competent wool valuer and auctioneer and was able to type and value fleeces from experimental sheep flocks, as well as providing excellent in-shed woolhandling training. He also was the leader in woolclip extension when Objective Clip Preparation was introduced by the Australian Wool Board in the mid 1960's. SA was the national leader when Sale by Description was introduced in the late 1970s with nearly 90% of our flocks adopting this radical change.
Shearer Training was provided through the Agriculture Department from 1960 until 1967 when the Senior Instructor, Tony Ryan was engaged by the AWC. He subsequently became Senior National Shearing Coach with the AWC where his extensive industry experience as a shearer and shearing contractor for over 20 years was invaluable in the training of young professional shearers as well as in the then current research carried out in relation to shearing techniques, shearing handpieces and shearing combs and cutters.
Tony Ryan's vast industry experience enabled he and Andrew Brown to develop a comprehensive training program in commercially functioning shearing sheds, unlike any other in Australia. In most states shearer training comprised shearing skills and handpiece maintenance. In South Australia it was recognised that shearers required the additional skills and knowledge relating to small business management, record keeping, an understanding of insurance issues, the role of the Australian Workers Union, as well as a thorough knowledge of the operation and maintenance of shearing machinery and handpieces including correct sharpening of combs and cutters. These and other related topics were dealt with in evening sessions using a 240 volt generator for lighting and to power a movie projector as well as the provision of sufficient 'write-on ' chairs for the trainees to use whilst sitting in the wool room or in the mess room whichever was appropriate for the topic. Tony and Andrew invited industry specialists in relevant topics to visit the stations and provide instruction as required for the trainees, so that they had a complete 'package' of industry related topics. All this was carried out as part of the commercial shearing operations which turned out to be at marginally less cost to the owner than his prior contract rate. Andrew found this most interesting because at that time sheep owners in the Eastern States were attempting to get a subsidy from the Government for training shearers!!
In summary, the Department of Agriculture played a pivotal role in shearer training in South Australia and was instrumental in providing this training for both 'part-time' and professional shearers during the 1960s and 1970s. Andrew Brown together with Tony Ryan established the 'Improver Shearer' Training courses in 1965. These courses are still (2007) being conducted, now under the auspices of TAFE. The success of shearer training in South Australia was due in part to the foresight of Livestock Branch officers in the 1960s and to the cooperation given by woolgrowers who made available their sheep and facilities for this training.
To stimulate and update Sheep and Wool extension Officers State-wide, the Australian Wool Board/Corporation provided "Sheep and Wool Extension/Refresher Courses". These National courses were conducted under the leadership of Dr George Moule, who had been seconded to the Australian Wool Board. They were held in each State in turn, enabling officers from all over Australia to see at first hand, relevant research in other States. These courses provided a wonderful opportunity to meet one's peers face to face and to fully appreciate what may otherwise have just been read in a scientific journal.
Schools of several days duration relating to sheep husbandry were conducted across South Australia for producers who wanted some intensive 'education' in sheep husbandry, including the economic implications of different activities and enterprises. As was much of the extension work undertaken by Livestock Branch, these schools were usually sponsored by Branch's of the Agricultural Bureau.
During the 1960s several graduate officers were appointed to the Livestock Branch through special funding from the Wool Research Trust Fund and Commonwealth Extension Services Grants. This enabled the Livestock Branch to expand and to become more involved with sheep for meat production. John C Potter had transferred from the position of Senior Livestock Research Officer (Wool) to Senior Livestock Officer (Meat). In 1967, upon returning from an overseas study tour investigating specific breeds and practices of sheep and cattle bred for meat production, John then managed the staff dealing with beef cattle, sheep for meat production and pigs.
Another role undertaken by Livestock Branch involved the training of Colombo Plan 'students' from India, Kenya and elsewhere, as well as others with specific training needs. Two officers from Libya were introduced to Australian dryland farming techniques after other agencies declined helping them. This led to the Department's involvement in its first major overseas contract. This project, and others that followed, often involved Livestock Branch personnel.
The greatly increased emphasis on livestock production in the 1960s and 1970s saw the formation of a South Australian branch of the Australian Society of Animal Production and a commitment by Livestock Branch Officers to fill leadership roles, thus helping to encourage a more scientific approach to animal breeding and management.
So in the 20 years from the establishment of the Livestock Branch, it changed from a small group with a focus on sheep for wool production to a broadly based branch encompassing some officers with a special focus on sheep for wool production with others focusing on sheep meat, beef cattle, pigs and poultry for both egg and meat production as well as taking a leadership role nationally on livestock industry matters.
By the late 1970s Sheep and Wool or Livestock Officers were established across South Australia from Port Lincoln to Jamestown to Mt Gambier, These 'Regional' staff managed many individual queries from producers as well as speaking at meetings and field days, so the demands from 'Head Office' staff were much less. This coincided with a change of focus of Head Office staff from providing a service to producers to providing a service to the government of the day. For economic reasons too there was a change of focus with Departmental staff generally servicing groups rather than individuals who paid for a customized service.
Attachment 1
This is a summary of an interview conducted by Andrew Browne with Tony Ryan and held by the State Library of South Australia see link:
https://encore.slsa.sa.gov.au/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2180988__Stony+Ryan__P0%2C6__Orightresult__X3?lang=eng&suite=cobalt
Interview with Tony Ryan who was born in Burra 9 November 1923. Tony Ryan, one of nine children, three girls and six boys, was born in Burra in 1923. The family lived in crowded conditions in two of the minersʼ cottages. His father was an experienced farm labourer who was really interested in mining. Tony attended St. Josephʼs School from 1929 to 1936. He attributes his strong Catholic faith to the mother and the nuns. During his youth Anthony boxed, cycled and played football. After leaving school he worked in the shearing sheds of Mt. Horrocks and Princess Royal Stations. There he worked alongside experienced shearers from whom he learnt much. He was appointed the union representative to negotiate with the station managers. Although he spent some time working in Adelaide, Tony was shearing when World War II broke out. Because shearing was an essential occupation, Tonyʼs application to enlist was refused. Later Tony and his brother Pat became shearing contractors working all over South Australia. The interview provides many details about shearing and contracting conditions post World War II. With a daughter with Down Syndrome and a son entering secondary education, Tony moved his family to Adelaide. He became a shearing instructor in the South Australian Department of Agriculture. His courses began as farm and shed management for prospective farmers and then developed into specialist training for shearers. Tony became the senior shearing instructor of Australia with the Wool Corporation. He also helped established the Shearing Competition Federation. Tony went to Asia and Africa to demonstrate Australian shearing practices. The strength of this interview lies in its details, for example combs and cutters, the physical health and training of shearers etc. Tony concluded with a short account of his recreational activities and voluntary work
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Event photo gallery: First Circle Reception by the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco
Cover story: Vihari Poddar is bringing a renewed vigour into her jewellery line
Annabel Tan
Alicia Thian, Celeste Basapa, Pauline Chan, Serene Chua and Karen Ong-tan
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Recognising the urgent need to address climate change and related environmental issues, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco decided to start his eponymous foundation in 2006 to tackle the problem at a global level. The foundation prioritises issues such as the conservation of biodiversity and water management, which also includes combating desertification. To generate increased awareness of its mission, the Singapore branch of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco was started in 2008 – one of the 10 representative countries globally – to galvanise the support of citizens, politicians, scientists and other stakeholders. To induct new members into the foundation, a reception was hosted by Madam Jacky Deromedi, President of the Foundation Prince Albert II of Monaco — Asian Branch — and Jean Marc Deromedi, Honorary Consul of Monaco in Singapore and Director of Asian branch of the foundation at the Consulate of the Principality of Monaco. The theme was a touch of green, a subtle nod to the foundation’s Trees for Water programme that aims to plant teak and bamboo along the rivers of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The long-term benefits of the project include encouraging the production of humus which, in turn, will reduce surface run-off and soil erosion; the absorption of carbon dioxide and generation of oxygen; as well as creating 4,125 days of work for the local people.
Jacky Deromedi and Jean-Marc Deromedi
Janet Stride, Lizah Bywater, Lisa Ganesh and Ganesh Ramalingam
Celeste Basapa, Joy Tan, Tan Min-Li and Manju Chandran
Manju Chandran and Laurence Harel
Patrick Fiat and Lizah Bywater
Sathia Moorthy and Sonia Ong
Annabel Tan, Elsie Yeo and Gerti Iwatake
Pauline Chan and Puna Thirakul
Ron Stride and Puna Thirakul
first circle reception
fondation prince albert ii de monaco
Annabel Tan is a watches, jewellery, lifestyle and features writer who is also a true pleasure-seeking Taurus pursuing the finer things in life. When she’s not enraptured by shiny objects she enjoys stimulating her other senses with food, fragrances, Freddie Mercury’s vocal range and, to her own surprise, fitness (hello, endorphins!).
Event photo gallery: Prestige X Fauré Le Page
Lionnel Lim
The founder of Forty Hands wants to talk about fraud in the food industry
Kelly Randall Sia: “Eat well. Dress well. Live well”
Raena Lim of Style Theory is leading the future of sustainable fashion
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The fault with salt
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TORONTO — Many people admit they reach for the salt shaker too often but it is the hidden sodium in the average diet that is more risky.
“The salt shaker on average only contributes 10 percent of the sodium. It is what is already in the food you are ordering that you can’t touch. That is why governments are putting so much pressure on the food manufacturers to lower their sodium,” said Brian Boor, president of Nutek Food Sciences. His company, based in Nebraska, has patented a technology to use more potassium chloride as a partial substitute for sodium chloride in food processing.
Sodium chloride has been used for thousands of years for taste and food preservation. It is an essential element required in small amounts for normal functioning of the body but excessive amounts may cause high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
As those diseases affect people’s health and tax health-care systems, governments around the world are taking a more active role in encouraging their citizens to eat healthier.
Some countries have mandated allowable levels of sodium in processed foods while others like Canada have a voluntary approach.
People are eating more processed foods for convenience but may not be aware of sodium levels in many common foods like baked goods, processed meats, prepared dishes and soups, said Charmaine Kuran of Health Canada.
Health Canada estimates the average daily sodium intake of Canadians is about 2,760 milligrams, which is higher than the recommended goal of 2,300 mg. One teaspoon of salt contains 2,300 mg of sodium.
However more Canadians are eating less than a few years ago when the average daily intake was 3,400 mg.
Foods with lower sodium levels have been available for 20 years but work is ongoing to find new formulations or substitutes to maintain taste and quality.
Companies are encouraged to commit to meet reduction targets and while some progress has been made, recent surveys show many food manufacturers are just scratching the surface.
“Maybe it is enough to say there is this momentum in the industry to start removing sodium and how that can be achieved,” Kuran said at a recent sodium reduction workshop sponsored by the Canadian Meat Council.
In February 2018, Health Canada proposed regulations that would require a front-of-package nutrition symbol on foods high in sodium, sugars, or saturated fat to help Canadians make healthier food choices.
Health Canada examined more than 10,000 food labels across Canada to evaluate sodium levels in the different food categories. The final report card said voluntary sodium reduction in processed foods accounted for a decrease of about eight percent in average daily intake between 2010 and 2017.
“Under half the categories hadn’t been really anywhere significant. They are pretty much hovering around zero progress,” Kuran said.
The surveys also learned about half of females aged 14-18 are eating more sodium than they should while the other half are following better eating habits.
Sodium consumption is well over the limit for young men between 14-30.
“There aren’t hugely different types of foods that that age group is eating. A lot of it has to do with the amount they are eating,” Kuran said.
Sodium appears in unexpected products.
The top five food items with higher amount of sodium include bakery products in everything from bread to cookies, mixed dishes, processed meats, cheeses and soups.
When it comes to processed meats the government found bacon did not always meet the maximum reduction target but deli meats were more successful in reducing sodium levels.
Food served in restaurants showed a wide range of sodium content.
For example, breaded chicken served at food service ranges between 100 to 1,071 mg of sodium per 100 grams. Marinated and seasoned meats were 38 mg to 3,372 mg per 100 grams of product.
However, a similar product found at grocery stores appears to be lower but that may be due to a different analysis.
Cookies sold at food service and retail could range between 120-672 mg/100 grams.
During a recent meat council workshop processors discussed the challenges of reformulating recipes, guarding against food borne pathogens and following government regulations. Sodium can extend the shelf life of products and make recipes work. For example certain recipes need salt for protein and gluten development in bread production.
In addition, regulatory requirements may state a specific amount of salt is needed in certain meat products for food safety. If the salt is removed, introducing other technologies could be expensive. Further, companies attempting salt reduction have to prove their approaches are acceptable to regulators like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
There are other ingredients and processing strategies that may allow some salt reduction in meat processing. These include substitutions like potassium chloride, use of phosphates or high pressure processing.
Food microbiologist Lynn McMullen of the University of Alberta has researched different meat processing techniques using less sodium to understand how reduced levels in recipes might affect the growth of harmful bacteria like listeria.
“Adding salt to foods provides a hurdle to microbial growth. It acts as a barrier to bacterial pathogens to be able to grow in food,” she said.
Listeria is the major concern in processed meats. Reduction in sodium could cause an increase in the growth of bacteria in packaged meat like sausages, hot dogs and ham.
Research into a sodium-reduced ham found listeria grew faster when salt levels were at 0.5 percent than one percent sodium chloride. However adding special microflora to the surface of the product minimized the impact of lower sodium chloride concentrations.
There are also some beneficial antimicrobial compounds herbs and spices. Essential oils in oregano have antimicrobial properties but so much is required, the flavour is changed.
“As soon as you start taking out the flavour you are also taking out the antimicrobials. It is a fine balancing game. There are probably places where you can use them because you want that flavour there but there are places where you can’t,” she said.
Some meat processors have invested millions into high pressure processing machines to control pathogens. However, McMullen’s research and private companies have found the process destroys the colour pigment in meat so it looks unappetizing.
The private company Nutek Food Services works on a patented process to make potassium chloride a suitable substitute.
Potassium is an electrolyte and key ingredient to help regulate fluid retention, lower blood pressure, and control electrical activity of the heart and muscles. Adding it to foods could be beneficial said Brian Boor.
It has been used worldwide as a substitute for about 40 years but levels had to be held at around 10 percent because higher amounts leave a metallic aftertaste.
However, advanced technologies have been adapted to use potassium chloride as a replacement for sodium chloride at levels of up to 30 to 40 percent.
“What makes removing salt difficult beyond taste is when you pull out salt, the chloride ion does a great deal for shelf life, food safety and water control,” he said.
Companies using potassium chloride are lobbying governments to change nomenclature on labels.
It could be identified as potassium salt, which consumers may find more palatable.
“A lot of people have forgotten ninth grade chemistry. A lot of people think it sounds like something in their swimming pool,” he said.
“Consumers don’t understand chloride so they think it is a chemical and they have no idea why it is in there,” he said.
Many people are not consuming enough potassium, which benefits heart health. Using it as a salt substitute may be another way to ensure people get enough.
“Potassium is skyrocketing in the consumers’ minds as a nutrient of need,” he said.
People are encouraged to eat more whole foods and fewer processed products but the majority goes for convenience and taste. Reformulations with substitutes may be one way to improve nutrition.
“If we do it right, they won’t even know. If we can reformulate what they eat as we try to change what they eat, then we are operating with multiple platforms to get this problem under control,” he said.
High sodium consumption of more than two grams per day and insufficient potassium at less than 3.5 grams per day contributes to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The main source of sodium in our diet is salt, although it can come from sodium glutamate, used as a condiment in many parts of the world.
WHO member states have agreed to reduce the global intake of salt by 30 percent by 2025 for improved health. Key salt reduction measures will generate an extra year of healthy life for a cost that falls below the average annual income or gross domestic product per person.
An estimated 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt consumption was reduced to the recommended level.
Reduce salt consumption at home by:
omitting added salt during food preparation
removing the salt shaker from the table
limiting the consumption of msalty snacks
choosing products with lower sodium content
Source: World Health Organization
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Albany County Legislature Passes Microbeads Ban
Microbeads are found in personal-care products, including toothpaste and facial scrubs. Credit: Dantor/Wikimedia Commons
ALBANY, N.Y. - Albany County is on track to be the fifth county in the state to ban products containing microbeads. The county legislature passed a bill Monday night banning the sale of products containing the tiny plastic particles.
Microbeads are used as exfoliants in a wide variety of personal-care products, including toothpaste and facial scrubs. Once microbeads wash down the drain, said Saima Anjam, environmental health director for Environmental Advocates of New York, they absorb toxics in the water.
"They collect PCBs, motor oil, pesticides, you name it," she said. "They are consumed by worms, by mussels, by fish, and then we eat the fish and they travel up the food chain."
About 19 tons of microbeads end up in New York wastewater every year. A statewide ban had broad, bipartisan support but failed to make it through the state Senate.
At least six states have laws restricting the use of microbeads in products, and some manufacturers have agreed to remove them voluntarily. Anjam said a variety of environmentally sound exfoliants can be used instead.
"We're talking about sea salt, sugar, oatmeal, ground-up walnut shells," she said. "There are a lot of alternatives out there and already available on the store shelves."
Several other counties and New York City now are considering bans. If County Executive Daniel McCoy signs the Albany bill, it will go into effect six months later.
More information is online at ag.ny.gov.
Andrea Sears, Public News Service - NY
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Emile Short's Commission petitioned to invite Mahama
Evans Annang
The Justice Emile Short Commission of Enquiry has been petitioned to invite former president John Mahama to testify before it.
Justice Emile Short Commission
The petitioner, Dawda Eric, said the ex-president needs to testify because he has in possession some videos that will help the Commission.
He further noted the former President’s public commentary makes him an interested party who should be invited by the commission.
The Commission was inaugurated by government to ascertain the facts regarding the shootings that happened during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election.
Check out his full petition below:
A PETITION FOR THE INVITATION OF EX PRESIDENT MAHAMA TO GIVE HIS TESTIMONY WITH REGARD TO HIS PUBLIC COMMENTARY ON THE AWW BY- ELECTION INCIDENT
READ ALSO: Mahama deliberately causing fear and panic ahead of 2020 elections - NPP
I am a Ghanaian citizen who lives in sefwi wiawso. The work of the commission of inquiry is of an utmost importance in unraveling the mysteries that surrounded the just ended by- election at Ayawaso West Wuogon. As a citizen of the Republic of Ghana, it is my duty to assist the commission in any other form to get to the core of this disturbing issue which is currently before this commission pursuant to article 278 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Ayawaso SWAT
Sir, Ex president mahama on the 13th day of February gathered some foreign diplomats and made an audio visual presentation to them by way of cataloging what characterized the just ended by-election. In his presentation, he adduced video evidence to support his claim and pointed out to these diplomats that, those who were deployed that very day were actually not security men but members believed to associated with the invicible forces(militia group). He further corroborated his evidence with a video of men dressed in a security uniform who were dancing at a funeral grounds and alleged that, those were the people who were deployed on the election day to unleash violence on innocent Ghanaians.
His public commentary by extension makes ex president mahama an interested party who should be invited before the commission to submit same evidence he presented to the diplomats before the commission.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama
I have in my possession one of his interviews on the AWW by election with CitiTV after his engagement with the foreign diplomats and i am willing to adduce same to the commission when the need arises.
I am verily aware and believe same to be truth that, his invitation would help the commission to get to the logical conclusion of the subject matter once and for all.
Yours in service for God and country
Dawda Eric
Source: Pulse Ghana
Evans Annang More from the author »
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Why Making Payroll Faster Slows Employee Churn
Posted on July 18, 2018 July 18, 2018 9:59 am
Even in the best of times, turnover wastes employers’ time and money, and the problem only gets worse with low unemployment. But what if one could combine digital technology, payment processing, existing card rails and easy, instant access to daily wages to build a perk that can help persuade workers to stay put?
That’s the thinking behind the latest edition of the PYMNTS “Walk to the Elevator” podcast series. Karen Webster talks with Chuck Schmitz, CFO of senior living facility operator Christian Horizons; Jason Lee, CEO of wage payment service firm DailyPay; and Tammi Shapiro, vice president of product strategy and management for Fiserv, about how using such a tool can make labor and management happier.
The tool strives to upend payroll tradition by allowing workers to get their pay now instead of waiting for the end of a payroll period.
“We are trying to do something that will move the needle” on employee retention, Schmitz said. “We want to let employees access their money anytime they want it.”
Worker Retention
Among the biggest issues in the assisted living industry is the difficulty of keeping employees. These workers often work entry-level jobs that are in high demand as the population ages. When Christian Horizons started using DailyPay earlier this year, turnover stood at 64 percent. In general, the workers Christian Horizons had trouble retaining were also people who had the most trouble paying bills, often accumulating late fees and risking services being cut off or housing disappearance.
The service is not just for people living paycheck to paycheck, however. Lee from DailyPay pointed out that 12 percent of the service’s users in the workforce earn six figures a year, underscoring the difficulties that various social and income classes can have with bills and money management.
After four months of offering DailyPay to all workers (not just lower paid ones), the Christian Horizon turnover rate has ticked down to 56.8 percent, Schmitz told Webster during the podcast interview, with declines coming in each of those months.
DailyPay has turned into a better retention tool than the company’s mentorship program. Christian Horizons has tried assigning experienced, trusted employees to guide and help new workers, offering a bonus to mentors after a 90-day period.
“We spent a lot of money (on that program), but did not move the needle,” on retention, Schmitz said.
How does DailyPay work?
The company works with mid-cap to large enterprise companies in services industries, including healthcare, retail, hospitality, call centers and more. Its technology exists as an “overlay” on top of payroll and time management systems, and requires no change to a company’s current payroll process or timing of payroll funds.
Employees use the DailyPay app to request their wages; they can access their pay and direct it toward a bank account, payroll or debit card. Accelerated access to funds is always available as an optional perk, and workers are not required to move money during any specific period, Lee said.
The role of Fiserv in this wage payment service involves “the payment processing and delivering those payments in real time,” Shapiro said during the podcast.
Fiserv is making an enhancement to the Digital Disbursements product that will allow the recipients of disbursements payments to pay bills directly within the app where they request funds. The company provides the payment rails behind the scenes to facilitate workers in accessing their wages instantly. It also provides capabilities to address payments compliance requirements and manage risk, she said. Fiserv has nearly 25 million active bill payment users at almost 4,000 financial institutions.
Isn’t there a risk that employees using the service will run out of pay by the end of the pay period? Schmitz said he hasn’t seen that happen. He credits that to the fact that DailyPay serves as a money management tool, updating pay details three times a day, which leaves no attentive employee surprised about how much pay they still have coming.
According to Lee, only 9 percent of workers who use DailyPay take out more than 50 percent of their wages before the end of the pay period. And those workers are not usually the same people, he said, because two-thirds of that 9 percent “is different each week.” He likened the wage service to health insurance, drawing a comparison to the variability and need-based nature in how people access this on-demand capability.
“Very few of us use it every single day,” Lee said.
Future Appeal
The broader healthcare industry accounts for approximately 30 percent of DailyPay corporate clients, Lee said. The ongoing “labor shortage and the boomers exiting the workforce” will work to keep the labor market tight in that industry.
That labor market in healthcare — along with other industries — will almost certainly include younger workers, and that’s another competitive advantage for Christian Horizons offering such a perk, according to Schmitz.
Offering quicker wage payments via mobile phones will appeal to those younger workers, who are already used to scheduling shifts and performing other tasks with those devices, Schmitz said.
“Millennial [employees] will be our workforce going forward,” he said.
Related Items:Christian Horizons, dailypay, Digital Payments, disbursements, employee retention, Featured News, Fiserv, Millennials, News, nursing home, podcast, wages, Walk To The Elevator
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Bubbakoo’s Burritos to Enter Louisville Market
Industry News June 13, 2019
With nearly 30 locations open in New Jersey and Philadelphia, Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a Jersey Shore-based eatery that touts Mexican food fused with American flavor, has set its sight on a new market—Louisville. The brand signed a development deal to open five restaurants in the Bluegrass State capital city.
The new deal in Kentucky hurdled the booming brand to over 50 locations open or under development in five states. The deal follows a slew of other agreements beyond New Jersey, including Philadelphia, Savannah, Long Island and Rockland County, New York. Company plans call for a total of 500 locations open with the next five years.
“We are ecstatic to introduce Bubbakoo’s Burritos to the Louisville community,” says co-owner and co-founder Paul Altero. “Louisville is an exciting city—full of culture, flavor and Southern hospitality. The qualities perfectly align with Bubbakoo’s Burritos’ unique Jersey Shore-vibe, renowned and innovative menu options, and excellent customer service.”
The Louisville locations will be owned and operated by the Paresh family. Local Kentucky residents, the family barrels their own bourbon and are excited to apply their experience to growing Bubbakoo’s Burritos in the state.
Bubbakoo’s offers the usual fast-casual burrito fare such as burritos, tacos, bowls and quesadillas, but with 16 different protein options, including crispy buffalo chicken, hibachi steak and shrimp, Sriracha shredded pork, and Southern-style barbecue chicken and pork. Vegetarian options include a bean-cheese-guacamole combo and batter-fried jalapeños. And, originals such as The Chiwawa, a cheese-smothered, panko-crusted fried rice ball, keeps Bubbakoo’s faithfuls coming back.
The burgeoning burrito joint also offers sides such as jalapeño poppers, Southwest egg rolls, chips, salsa, queso, guacamole, curly fries and nachos, as well as desserts including batter-fried Oreo cookies and “love chips,” which are tortilla chips dusted in powdered sugar and drizzled with caramel or raspberry syrup.
“There's a lot of competition in the nearly $23 billion market that makes up Mexican limited service restaurants, but we have a menu you won't find anywhere else,” adds Altero.
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RAM Ratings reaffirms the Philippines’ ratings
Published on 27 Nov 2019.
RAM Ratings has reaffirmed the gBBB2(pi)/Stable and seaAA3(pi)/Stable ratings of the Philippines on the global and ASEAN scales, respectively, premised on the country’s resilient domestic demand and strong external position as well as continuous progress in reforms. A lower unemployment rate, easing price pressures and aggressive tourism promotion continued to support local demand while the industrial production output contracted. The government had also sped up infrastructure spending in 3Q 2019 to make up for softer GDP growth in the first half of the year. “Although execution risks and capacity constraints remain key challenges to accelerating infrastructure activities, ongoing reforms have remarkably improved the country’s ranking in the Ease of Doing Business Index while tax reforms gradually progress,” highlights Esther Lai, RAM’s Head of Sovereign Ratings.
Notwithstanding the government’s full-year GDP forecast of 6.0% to 7.0%, we anticipate slower economic expansion of 5.8% for 2019. Investment activity stalled in 1H 2019, primarily due to the delayed passage of the 2019 national budget and a ban on public spending around the election period in May. Out of 75 flagship projects under the “Build, Build, Build” programme, only two have been completed while 44 others were at different stages of implementation as at 31 July 2019. Although faster expansion of the national road network and improvement in road quality have been observed, the authorities’ target of completing 21 projects by 2022 seems ambitious. Private investments were also slow in 1H because of uncertainties surrounding tax reforms and the weak external environment. That said, an uptrend in consumer sentiment and FDI approved in September 2019 bode well for the domestic economy amid sluggish external demand.
Backed by sturdy remittance income (2018: 8.8% of GDP), the Philippines’ robust external position remains its key rating strength despite a wider current account deficit (2018: -2.4% of GDP; 2017: -0.7% of GDP). In the absence of capital imports, the country’s current account was essentially in a near-balance position in 1H 2019. The reopening of Boracay Island, a popular tourist destination, after six months of rehabilitation in 2018 had contributed to the largest uptick in tourist arrivals in the Philippines in 8M 2019. While external debt had increased, further accumulation of official reserve assets – up 14.2% to USD85.6 billion (24.5% of GDP) as at end-September 2019 – provides a cover of more than five times the country’s short-term external debt, better compared to peers’.
The Philippines’ ratings could be upgraded if reforms meaningfully contribute to more inclusive growth, especially by reducing poverty and underemployment rates in a sustainable manner. Smooth delivery of infrastructure projects with no significant cost overruns and the successful implementation of tax reform measures that lead to a continuous increase in government revenue will also provide upside potential. Conversely, substantial weakening of the country’s external position would be viewed negatively, as would deterioration in price and financial stability or the reversal of growth enhancing strategies.
Analytical contact
Lynette Lee
lynette@ram.com.my
Padthma Subbiah
padthma@ram.com.my
The credit rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a security, inasmuch as it does not comment on the security’s market price or its suitability for a particular investor, nor does it involve any audit by RAM Ratings. The credit rating also does not reflect the legality and enforceability of financial obligations.
RAM Ratings receives compensation for its rating services, normally paid by the issuers of such securities or the rated entity, and sometimes third parties participating in marketing the securities, insurers, guarantors, other obligors, underwriters, etc. The receipt of this compensation has no influence on RAM Ratings’ credit opinions or other analytical processes. In all instances, RAM Ratings is committed to preserving the objectivity, integrity and independence of its ratings. Rating fees are communicated to clients prior to the issuance of rating opinions. While RAM Ratings reserves the right to disseminate the ratings, it receives no payment for doing so, except for subscriptions to its publications.
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You are here: Home / What We Do / Prevention of Sexual Violence
The Rape Crisis Movement’s founding principles include ending all forms of sexual violence. RCNI dedicate and focus rape crisis sector resources to work towards a society free from abuse and are leaders in the development of prevention initiatives.
Providing leadership:
RCNI developed a Guidance On Prevention for our membership which was subsequently adapted and became The Guiding Principles on Prevention of the Irish National Strategy on Preventing Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. RCNI has since used these principals to produce a Prevention Model to assist all those working to effect prevention.
RCNI shares expertise on prevention with other agencies and bodies including policy makers, government departments, NGOs, statutory agencies, professionals and youth organisations. We do so through one to one engagement, such as consultation on the school curriculum, as well as through formal structures such as the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women’s communications subcommittee and through participation in conferences, most recently presenting at the UN at the invitation of the Irish government.
Partnership to deliver Prevention:
Working with the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI), the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) first made the inclusion of consent mainstream across it sexual health activities in 2013. That same year USI with the support of Cosc developed and undertook the first quantitative research of sexual violence experiences on campus (the ‘Say it’ report ) while RCNI commissioned the School of Psychology NUIG to undertake qualitative research of 3rd level students resulting in a report entitled, ‘Young People, Alcohol and Sex: What’s consent got to do with it?’.
Dr Padraig MacNeela at NUIG extended this work to include large surveys on student experiences of unwanted sexual contact and consent. Based on the research findings he and his team developed the Smart Consent initiative in 2015 – consisting of theory- and evidence-driven workshops and other engagement strategies. Working in collaboration with USI, Student Unions, Student Services, RCNI and a number of the third level institutions, notably UCC, this group have recently received a Research for Policy and Society grant from the Irish Research Council and the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme to study the implementation of the Smart Consent workshop approach.
Meanwhile an RCNI collaboration of Rape Crisis Centres reviewed long standing education practice. One of those leading centres, Kerry Rape and Sexual Abuse centre went on to work with the HSE and the local 3rd level Tralee IT and the Students Union to set up an interagency partnership. Under that initiative the KRSAC delivered training to three of the IT’s schools, nursing, social studies and health promotion, who in turn trained up students who then delivered peer led workshops to all incoming students in those schools last year.
Influenced by these activities a range of doctoral and post-doctoral research projects on sexual activity, culture and consent are now underway across a number of universities. The various consent workshops continue to be rolled out and the critical conversations across campuses and about how we run and support programmes, how we evaluate them and how the target audience accesses them, continue.
In the research young people themselves identified how unprepared they felt for the complexity of negotiating sexual activity and they strongly recommended consent workshops be delivered at school age. Much work is being undertaken to address this critical gap. RCNI have a 5 year collaboration with Foróige to provide an integrated consent and sex and the law training to young people 12- 24 and has recently developed consent modules for inclusion in the B4uDecide.ie Relationship and Sexual Education resource materials. The Be4uDecide.ie resource materials are being revised by the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme as an action under the National Sexual Health Strategy 2015-2020. The 2nd National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence aims to develop relevant education programmes within Youth Reach with the Department of Education and Skills.
Developing an Evidence Based Approach:
RCNI commission research and give a platform to best international practice through learning fora such as conferences, workshops and seminars. Major events have included the founding of Rape Crisis Network Europe through leading on a Daphne funded project, hosting the 3rd International Conference on Survivors of Rape, and the Agenda for Justice Conference to launch the RCNI commissioned Rape and Justice in Ireland research. A new research on alcohol and consent was launched in January 2014, “Young People, Alcohol and Sex: What’s Consent Got To Do With It?”; furthermore, in July 2016, it was launched the first report with quantitative data “Finding a Safe Place: LGBT Survivors of Sexual Violence and Disclosure in Rape Crisis Centres”. Click here to find out more about our Research and Reports.
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The first big lesson of college
Jo Ann Kirby
The front room of the Herrington house is stacked with boxes.
Taitum Herrington, a 2012 Tokay High grad, is heading off to California State University, Northridge.
She has lists. Lots of them. And she's checked them thrice.
Thursday, it was go time.
"I'll be living in a two-bedroom apartment on campus. I will share a room with a teammate on my water polo team," the 18-year-old said. "I have all kinds of checklists for what I will need to take with me. I have my list. We found some online. Then my sisters gave me checklists, which included the gotta-have-its and the you're-never-gonna-need-its."
Her sisters should know. One just graduated from San Jose State University, and another is a junior at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
"You're never going to use an iron or an ironing board. You do need a power strip," Taitum's oldest sister, Karly, said. "And the school supplies are totally different. No one uses binders. You don't realize, though, how many notecards and pens you go through."
National retailers, eager to capitalize on back-to-dorm shopping, have handy dandy checklists online or even - as is the case at the Target in north Stockton's Park West Place - at the customer service counter.
That's because, according to the National Retail Federation's 2012 Back-to-College Survey, college students and their families will spend an average $907.22 on everything from dorm furniture and collegiate gear to school supplies and personal care items.
Taitum's mom, Kari, isn't surprised and said that the family has spent about $1,000 getting each of their girls dorm-ready their freshman year.
Herrington and her new roommates used the instant messaging feature on Facebook to plot out what they will bring so no one duplicates on the big stuff.
That's smart, because the room she's sharing is small.
"Students and family members try to re-create the living environment they have at home, but often do not consider they will be sharing the environment with another individual," said Torry Brouillard-Bruce, Pacific's executive director of housing, Residential and Greek Life. The average traditional dorm room at Pacific is around 173 square feet. "If residents do not communicate prior to arriving, you could see two TVs, two microwaves. Rooms become the Noah's Ark of home appliances and furnishings."
Back-to-dorm pictures at Pacific were featured this summer in Pottery Barn's PB Dorm catalog. The furnishing retailer features a dorm collection and checklist at pbteen.com.
Gio Brusa, a 2012 St. Mary's grad who has signed to play baseball at Pacific, will be living in the university's Grace Covell Hall.
Brusa doesn't have to worry about having it all, because he can always go home to Lodi if he forgets something.
"We finished shopping last week," he said. "I'm bringing lots of pillows. I know for sure we're bringing a mini basketball hoop."
Brenda Pozzo, a Stockton mom with one son at University of California, Los Angeles, and another son at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, said guys work off a whole different checklist.
"From my experience, boys do have more electronics, less clothes and less shoes," she said. "Boys don't hang photos on the wall. They hang posters. Boys have empty hangers in the closet, because their clean clothes are on the floor. Moms pack extra sheets and towels but boys don't use them. They never change their sheets."
She has a bit of advice. Send matches for the bathroom.
Yuck? Not really.
Tucker Carlson agrees.
"Guys definitely need to bring a fan. You need some air flow going through, especially in a guys' room," said Carlson, a junior at Santa Clara University whose mom, Becky, sneaks fresh-smelling dryer sheets into his bedding. "It can get pretty stuffy, if you know what I mean."
He said Ikea is the go-to place for outfitting a dorm room or for the eventual big move off campus.
Carlson advises incoming freshmen do a little research about what they need to bring that's particular to their hall.
"I play water polo, and the guys on my team gave me a heads-up on what to bring. They said bring movies, because the cable in the dorms sucks. Anything sports-related, like 'Friday Night Lights' and anything Will Ferrell," the 20-year-old Carlson, who grew up in Lodi, said. "I'd throw in some rom-coms (romantic comedies) if you plan on having a date ever."
And most guys manage to squeeze in a flat-screen TV and an Xbox.
"I would say get your 'FIFA' skills up. That's a video game you're going to play in college," Carlson said of the soccer game for XBox 360 that some older students (think 21 and up) have naturally turned into a drinking contest. "XBox is the way to go. I'd bring 'Call of Duty.' "
Along with the checklists from stores and students, schools also have recommendations.
Lauren Morelli, a 2012 Bear Creek grad, has not one but two checklists to consult on the website of University of California, Davis.
One features what TO bring. The other warns of what NOT to bring.
What's on that no-go list?
Torchiere lamps, candles, hot plates, burners, amplifiers and large stereo systems.
Because UC Davis is known to be environmentally conscious, there's one thing Morelli won't have to bring.
A water bottle.
That's because UC Davis students living in a residence hall are gifted a new stainless steel bottle that they can fill up for free with cold, filtered water at residence hall bottle filling stations.
Contact reporter Jo Ann Kirby at (209) 546-8256 or jkirby@recordnet.com.
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Robert Courts MP
MP for Witney & West Oxfordshire
My Plan for West Oxon
Robert Meets the Rail Minister to Push for Cotswold Line Upgrades
Tuesday, 9 April, 2019
Robert said: "Really constructive meeting with the Rail Minister, Andrew Jones, to discuss the need for upgrades to the Cotswold Line, including further redoubling and more frequent services. I'll continue to keep the pressure on all involved to ensure we secure these vital railway upgrades for West Oxfordshire."
Better Roads, Trains & Buses
Our community needs a better transport system, from trains and buses to roads and cycling. Living in Bladon, I know first-hand that that congestion on the A40 is a daily issue for many of us, and we need reliable public transport to provide a realistic alternative.
Making West Oxfordshire's Railways Fit for the Future
People across West Oxfordshire rely on our railways to get to work and to visit family and friends. With heavy congestion on our main roads, it is essential that we have railways that are fit for the future and a transport system that keeps us moving.
Robert Supports Launch of Open Doors' World Watch List Report
On Wednesday, Witney-based charity Open Doors UK launched their 2020 World Watch List Report, raising awareness of the persecution of Christians around the World. The event provided attendees with in-depth research and analysis into the 50 countries where Christians face the worst persecution.
Westminster News
Robert Courts MP Member of Parliament for Witney & West Oxfordshire
About Robert Courts
Expenses and Register of Interests
Promoted by Ian Galletley, on behalf of Robert Courts MP, both at West Oxfordshire Conservative Association, 58-60 High Street, Witney, OX28 6HJ.
Copyright 2020 Robert Courts MP Member of Parliament for Witney & West Oxfordshire. All rights reserved.
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Video of Rick Winston on THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
Burlington Film Society Presents Rick Winston on THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
Topics: Cinema
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Rick Winston on THE LADY VANISHES (1938)
Burlington Film Society Presents
Rick Winston, co-founder and former co-owner of Montpelier's Savoy Theater, introduces Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 suspense classic THE LADY VANISHES.
This introduction was recorded downstairs at the Savoy Theater in Montpelier, Vermont. For more information, visit savoytheater.com
From 1972 to 1980, Rick ran the Lightning Ridge Film Society in Montpelier. He owned and managed the Savoy Theater from its founding in 1981 until 2009 and was the Programming Director for the Green Mountain Film Festival from 1999 to 2012. The last few years he has also been teaching film history at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Burlington College, and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, as well as curating several film series at the Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. He and Bill Mornacy have a weekly public access show, "Talking About Movies."
Burlington Film Society
IMDB: The Lady Vanishes (1938)
rickwinston.org
WATCH The Lady Vanishes
SAVOY THEATER
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The original zombie classic, starring Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre, who runs a sugar plantation mill in Haiti using . . .
Rick Winston, co-founder and former co-owner of Montpelier's Savoy Theater, introduces Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 . . .
Stephen Bissette on WHITE ZOMBIE (1932)
Stephen Bissette, comics artist and instructor at The Center for Cartoon Studies, introduces Victor Halperin's 1932 . . .
THE LADY VANISHES is a 1938 British comic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Margaret Lockwood, . . .
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Barry Snyder, co-founder of the Burlington Film Society, introduces the 1963 B-sci-fi classic Day of the Triffids, . . .
Barry Snyder and Eric Ford Introduce "Burlington Film Society Presents"
Burlington Film Society Presents is a community-curated series of classic films, from Hollywood hits to B-list sci-fi . . .
His Girl Friday (1940)
Craziness abounds in this classic re-working of the original 1930 film version of the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur . . .
Cyrano de Bergerac (1950)
One of the greatest love stories of all time is brought to the screen by legendary producer, Stanley Kramer, with an . . .
The Bigamist (1953)
The subject of bigamy is well handled in this man-with-a-double life film noir, starring Edmond O’Brien, a few years . . .
Black Tights (1961)
Live scenes of Paris and a continuity Narrator link together four dramatic choreographies, all by Roland Petit: Carmen . . .
Kathryn Blume on CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1950)
Kathryn Blume is a speaker, writer, director, and award-winning solo performer who has toured her original work to . . .
Eric Ford on CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962)
Eric Ford is currently the Communication Director at Burlington City Arts, where for the past 8 years in addition to . . .
Barry Snyder on MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS (1934)
Barry Snyder, film scholar and co-founder of the Burlington Film Society, introduces the 1934 Laurel and Hardy holiday . . .
Carnival of Souls (1962)
One of the great “atmospheric” horror films of the 60’s, featuring a remarkable performance by Candace Hilligoss as a . . .
March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934)
1934 film based on Victor Herbert's operetta Babes in Toyland. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy star as Stannie Dum and . . .
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Retro Game Reviews
Amstrad CPC (17)
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Kirby's Dream Land 3 (SNES review)
Developer: HAL Laboratory
Kirby's Dream Land 3 is a platformer and the follow-up to 1995's Kirby's Dream Land 2 (Nintendo Game Boy).
Your mission across the game's five worlds is to save the planet of Popstar by getting rid of the black clouds that are controlling King Dedede and his minions. As usual, Kirby can inhale enemies and copy their powers, but here he's joined by a cast of six animal friends that can be ridden for extra abilities. Additionally, either the CPU or a second player can control Gooey, an ally that has the same moves as Kirby and who can be thrown into action at any time. Strangely, the game's speed feels dramatically slower than previous Kirby titles, and even though you can dash the screen doesn't always scroll far enough which can lead to cheap hits where enemies attack out of sight. The level design is bland with barely any memorable moments to stop the drudgery of moving from left-to-right and you'll also see lots of repetition where the exact same layout or enemy placement is duplicated in the same level. Using Gooey is a cool idea, but it's pretty useless as unlike in Kirby Super Star (1996, SNES) using an ally takes away two of your hit points. To be honest though, with the game's low difficulty and short length it's a mechanic that's not really needed. However, I do like the playable animals and the fact that they all have different abilities (depending on your current power-up) adds to the replayability. Also, the bosses are all enjoyable and even though Whispy Woods appears yet again it's a great twist that the tree starts chasing you in a forced scrolling battle! The graphics are stunning with a gorgeous pastel look, and the special effects (such as rolling log bridges) are mind-blowing for the time.
Kirby's Dream Land 3 is a massive disappointment after the previous two games and its uninspired gameplay and level design is hard to fathom in a series so chock full of highlights. Despite its top-notch visuals, it's a rather soulless platformer that fails to excite for the majority of its all-too-brief adventure.
Random trivia: An extensive debug menu can be accessed by changing the ROM address in a HEX editor.
Posted by Roberto Rodriguez at 18:29
Labels: 1997, hal laboratory, Kirby's Dream Land 3 SNES review, nintendo, snes reviews, super nintendo reviews
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The Ethiopia PM's warning at Nobel Prize ceremony
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in ending decades of hostility with Eritrea. But he says the Horn of Africa faces a new rising threat: militant groups and global superpowers' thirst for supremacy.
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623 N Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20879
Rosenthal Acura
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Acura Has Some Awesome Plans For The New NSX
November 3rd, 2015 by Rosenthal Acura
Time to get down to business.
It’s been less than a year since the all-new, second generation Acura NSX debuted at Detroit, and sales are set to begin shortly. With demand expected to be high, at least initially, we’ve been hearing about plans to not only keep the NSX fresh but also more competitive against a growing number of rivals. The latest bit of news comes to us today from Australia’s CarAdvice who, speaking with NSX project leader Ted Klaus, confirmed that two more NSX variants are in the pipeline.
Expect an open top NSX to arrive fairly soon and it’ll likely pay homage to the original NSX with a targa style removable roof. But what ought to be really quite something is the even more powerful NSX Type R. According to Klaus, the NSX’s “chassis has way more capability, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we take advantage of that in the future as well.” If any NSX fans recall, the original NSX Type R, put more of an emphasis on weight reduction as opposed to added power. This time, however, Acura/Honda is intent on doing both. The “base” NSX is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that’s paired to three electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack for a combined output of 573 hp.
The state-of-the-art Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive System, according to Honda, provides superior handling and Ferrari 458-matching acceleration but with far greater fuel efficiency. So when will that NSX targa and Type R appear? No timetable for either has been announced just yet but we’re guessing the targa will come along first.
About Rosenthal Acura
Since 1986 Rosenthal Acura has provided top of the line vehicles with exceptional service. We have received Acura’s highly coveted Precision Team Award for customer service for 19 consecutive years. We are proud to be the only Acura dealership to achieve this honor 19 years in a row.
Our dealership was founded on the principle that the customer always comes first. This means that we do not simply sell cars, our professionals help you choose a vehicle that fits your needs and after the sale we will help you keep it running like new. We attend to every detail and accommodate your personal preferences. We always go the extra mile as the premier Acura dealership in the Washington DC Metropolitan Region.
Contact us to find out more about Rosenthal Acura’s Personal Approach at 1-877-300-4226.
To visit our dealership, check our Map and Location and Department Hours – we would like to meet you in person and help you with your car ownership needs. Our dealership is conveniently located in the Gaithersburg area and worth the drive.
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What Can Couples Do In Midland?
By Wilma McKay inHome Loans Midland
Emotionally focused couples therapy
Midland county judge halts wedding ceremonies
Official visit. oklahoma. texas
Barley mactavish fund accepts letters
Tourist attractions. find
Midland city forest
Marriage Therapy | Professional Counseling Midland, MI 48640 – Counseling that includes a mix of individual and couples work can help. What is emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) and why do we. The Woodhouse Day Spa – Midland – Midland, TX – Yelp – 14 reviews of The Woodhouse Day Spa – Midland "My husband sent me in for a massage as a treat because I hadn’t been feeling so good. He and I have had couples massages before at Woodhouse but in our hometown city and it was.
People in long distance relationships can have a hard time staying connected, because couples are limited in what they can do together. Many are limited to phone calls, emails, instant messaging, and texting which can become a bit humdrum over time, if you ask me. It is important to keep things.
But today I just went up there and was confident in what I can do.” And that performance had Smith grinning. at the very least. “We have a couple of things to work on, but other than that, our.
midland county judge halts wedding ceremonies, others step in – Midland County judge halts wedding ceremonies, others step in Couples in Midland County can still get married. "Anything we don’t have to do, we’re not going to do," he told the newspaper.
What Is The Best Month To Visit Texas? The Dotted Line: Trio of Arizona prospects among legitimate out-of-state targets for Texas – He took his official visit. oklahoma. texas needs to land at least one dynamic prospect at the position in 2020 and.Mortgage Loans Midland Mortgage Lenders In Texas | Midland, TX Mortgage Company. – Combined with the lowest rates and multiple loan programs available in Texas, makes The Texas Mortgage Pros one of the best Midland, Texas mortgage companies – Spring, Tomball, The Woodlands, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Grand Prairie, Abilene, and Houston, Texas. Our outstanding mortgage professionals with years of.
EDITOR’S NOTE – The barley mactavish fund accepts letters from Midland County residents about. Thank you for what you do for people in our community. Congratulations on your good news! You can be.
14 reviews of The Woodhouse Day Spa – Midland "My husband sent me in for a massage as a treat because I hadn’t been feeling so good. He and I have had couples massages before at Woodhouse but in our hometown city and it was wonderful so naturally.
Things to Do in Midland, Texas: See TripAdvisor’s 1,177 traveler reviews and photos of Midland tourist attractions. find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. We have reviews of the best places to see in Midland. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
Date Ideas in Midland, MI. TripBuzz discovered 44 different types of activities for couples in the Midland area, including National & State Parks (like midland city forest), Movie Theaters (like NCG Midland Cinemas), Gardens (like Dow Gardens) and Bowling (like Valley Lanes), and much more. [+] We discovered a total of 60 date ideas in or.
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Hire Soul Writers Now!
Browse Our Top Soul Writers
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Go RVing's Unexpected Series
Experiential Events - Where is Go RVing?
Adventure skier Brody Leven and photographer Adam Clark are proving to be a dynamic duo across Go RVing’s social media platforms racking up a combined 20 million views of their quests from their eight video episodes and series teaser. The two friends are featured in Go RVing’s Unexpected series which chronicles their adventures in four different regions of the U.S. using four different types of RVs.
The first two episodes feature Brody in a Citation Sprinter Class C Motorhome by Thor Motor Coach as he prepares to compete in a 100-mile foot race in Lake Tahoe. He and Adam stop by for a visit in Denver, Colo., to train with his friend for the race. With almost no experience in running marathons, let alone ultra-marathons, Brody is in for a grueling challenge. With his girlfriend and buddies cheering him on, see how Brody performs in this ultimate test of endurance.
The next two episodes see the pair traveling to southern Utah in a TAXA Mantis. It’s a brand-new adventure as they get off the paved highways and onto the dirt roads of the desert. It’s another first for Brody as he tries his hand at canyoneering in the slot canyons with his friends, a couple living in true vanlife style. Episode four continues in Utah with Adam and Brody’s girlfriends joining them to explore and rock climb the rugged landscape.
UNEXPECTED Episode 1: Preparing For Race Day
UNEXPECTED Episode 2: The 100-Mile Race
UNEXPECTED Episode 3: Canyoneering In Southern Utah
UNEXPECTED Episode 4: The Utah Adventure Continues
UNEXPECTED Episode 5: Skiing Cooke City
UNEXPECTED Episode 6: Ice Climbing Hyalite Canyon
UNEXPECTED Episode 7: Desert Ski Trip
UNEXPECTED Episode 8: Sierra Mountains Grand Finale
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San Diego Dispensary Operator Sentenced, Advocates Vow to Appeal
December 17, 2010 | Kris Hermes
On Wednesday, San Diego Superior Court Judge Howard H. Shore told a crowded courtroom of patient advocates:
“Medical marijuana is a scam.”
[caption id="attachment_1101" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Jovan Jackson (right) and attorney Lance Rogers at Jackson's sentencing"]
During his vitriolic rants, Judge Shore found time to sentence Jovan Jackson, a dispensary operator who was recently convicted after being denied a defense at trial. Judge Shore harshly sentenced Jackson to 180 days in jail, and imposed a $5,000 fine and three years of probation, during which time Jackson is prohibited from using marijuana to legally treat his medical condition.
Unsurprisingly, Judge Shore also denied ASA’s motion for a new trial, based on double jeopardy and the denial of Jackson’s defense. This was the second time Jackson had been tried on the same charges-- the first time he was acquitted. Not satisfied with just skirting double jeopardy laws, San Diego District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis fought to exclude Jackson’s defense on the most dubious grounds. Though not written into law, nor part of the 2008 California Attorney General guidelines on medical marijuana, the court held that most or all of Jackson’s patient membership must participate in the cultivation to be afforded a defense.
Judge Shore’s contempt for medical marijuana could also be seen in other ways than just his bombastic statements from the bench. For example, patients were required to pass through a second metal detector placed directly outside the courtroom, a requirement unique to Jackson’s hearing. And, although there was no jury to influence at Jackson’s sentencing hearing, his supporters were once again prevented from brandishing Americans for Safe Access (ASA) logos on their shirts or bags, as if doing so would injure the court’s sensibilities. Judge Shore had imposed similar restrictions during Jackson’s trial.
Judge Shore also ignored -- at his own peril -- the recent Los Angeles Superior Court decision and its affirmation of dispensaries’ right to operate in accordance with local and state laws. To make the laws less ambiguous, the LA court recommended more decisive regulations, rather than impeding the efforts of the patient community. Contradicting Judge Shore’s interpretation of state law, the LA court ruled in its unpublished decision that the Medical Marijuana Program Act,
“does not deal with issues like who must be involved in the cultivation…”
The irony of San Diego’s failed efforts to adopt a meaningful regulatory ordinance is not lost on the city’s patients. The San Diego City Council has been trying unsuccessfully to pass a local law for months, a law that would license the same activity for which Jackson was just convicted and sentenced. Coincidence? Whether or not foul play can be attributed, the patient community is demanding reasonable regulations to set a standard for the area’s dozens of dispensaries to meet.
In the meantime, ASA will be appealing Jackson’s conviction and sentencing well before he is scheduled to surrender to authorities on February 1st. ASA will also argue for Jackson’s release on bail pending appeal. Stay tuned for more from San Diego in the fight for safe access.
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Our Ever-Changing Backyard--Sailing with Scoots
16 December 2019 | Opua, New Zealand
Catching up - Arriving in Opua
25 November 2019 | On passage from Fiji to New Zealand
I Spy Something Blue...
Halfway there...maybe
Hello from the South Pacific - It's always about the weather
11 November 2019 | Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
Full Masti! Family -Part 3: Cloud Nine, Now We Are Four, The Wishlist, Saying Goodbye, Now We Are Two
22 October 2019 | Mamanuca Islands, Fiji
Full Masti! Family - Part 2: Wet dinghy rides and cruise bruises, looking for Wilson, chilling at Musket Cove, Now we are Seven
14 October 2019 | Savusavu, Fiji
Pumice Among Us
Full Masti! Family - Part 1: Get Ready, Get Set, GO!, Now we are Five
27 July 2019 | Tavoro Waterfalls, Taveuni Island, Fiji
Waterfalls with friends
15 July 2019 | Viani Bay
Stars and stripes and planets
03 July 2019 | Savusavu, Fiji
Settling into Savusavu, a trip to Labasa, and a "minor road" adventure
23 June 2019 | En route to Savusavu, Fiji, from N. Minerva Reef
A mechanical bull, scheming for arrival, lovely sailing weather
20 June 2019 | North Minerva Reef
On our way again
Passage to the Tropics - Day 5: Arrival in Minerva Reef
17 June 2019 | In the ocean, NE of New Zealand
Passage to the Tropics - Day 4: Happy Father's Day, the China Net
Passage to the Tropics - Day 3: Moderation, the magic latitude, my new electronic friend, butter, and earthquake
Passage to the Tropics - Day 2: Requiem for a sail, lots of wind
Passage to the Tropics - Day 1
12 June 2019 | Marsden Cove Marina, Ruakaka, NZ
Getting Ready to Leave for Fiji! :D
06 May 2019 | Paradise Taveuni Resort
Vandy Shrader
My friend, Alison, very gently alerted me to the fact that I had neglected to update our Sailblog after Nov. 25, leaving everyone hanging, with SCOOTS still more than 100 miles from her destination at Opua, NZ. Sorry about that!
We are, in fact in New Zealand now, having arrived in Opua on Nov. 27. We enjoyed a week there, before sailing SCOOTS south to the Town Basin Marina in Whangarei, where she spends her summers.
Since I posted to Yachts in Transit every day during our passage, I'll include those updates here, to catch everyone on up the last day or so of our passage, and our first few days back in NZ.
Making great time toward Opua in lovely conditions. Blue skies with no clouds except for a Long White Cloud over NZ.
We arrived at Opua today at 3:15pm...9 days, 3 hours after leaving Fiji. We motorsailed for our last night, cruising along over smooth seas at 8-9 knots, making great time. Our friends, Annie & Liam on the boat, Gone With the Wind, who had arrived from Fiji last week, pulled up their anchor at Urupukapuka Island to come sail into the marina with us.
Annie and Liam on Gone With the Wind
We cleared in with Customs, Immigration, and Biosecurity within a half hour, and then moved to our slip in the marina. Annie & Liam were there to catch our lines and welcome us back to NZ. After celebratory drinks and a good dinner at the Opua Yacht Club, we're ready for bed. Ah, the luxury of being able to sleep more than 3 hours at a stretch!
With SCOOTS tucked into a slip in the Bay of Islands Marina, Eric and I enjoyed the opportunity to sleep all night, though Eric woke up for a little while during his usual watch time, and I dreamed about sailing on passage all night. This morning, we've begun the process of cleaning up and settling in - doing some laundry, washing all the dried salt from SCOOTS (no we didn't have those tequila shots with hull salt), topping up our NZ phone all figuring highly - and taking care of some things we'd been planning to do, once arriving in New Zealand.
To begin these tasks, Roger from North Sails has already been by to measure SCOOTS for a new Code 0 sail (after being repaired by Roger a couple of years ago, and providing propulsion for the two years that he predicted it had left in it, the original Code 0 blew out spectacularly on our way to Fiji last June, and is now really, really done.)
We're both still swaying a bit - funny, we never noticed how much the land moved before - reacquainting our leg muscles with that thing called "walking," enjoying the sounds of gulls and tuis, happy to be back in the country that most feels like home to us.
I've included some photos that Eric took while I was feeding some of the “chocolate-colored shearwaters,” which allowed me to figure out that these weren't shearwaters after all, but were Black Petrels.
I'm sure that we did we did see some chocolate-colored shearwaters while we were farther out at sea, but these weren't them.
He also got photos of the Wandering Albatrosses that flew over.
We�'re in the eighth day of what�'s usually a seven-day passage for us, and which will probably end up being a nine-day
passage. That�'s what happens, when you go a couple hundred miles west of the rhumb line: you have to tack back. We
knew that would happen, but decided when we left, that it was worth it to us, to have a nice nine-day passage, rather
than a sucky shorter passage. Or to wait around in Fiji to see whether that cyclone that was in the forecast would hit us
When we left, one of the models showed it making a direct hit on Fiji sometime this week. Since then, it has gone from
being an imaginary cyclone to a real cyclone �- Cyclone Rita, to be specific. It�'s taken aim at the island nation of
Vanuatu, about 600 miles west of Fiji, and is predicted to fizzle out in a couple of days. So our friends who chose to
stay behind in Fiji, hoping that the cyclone wouldn�'t come, and waiting for a better weather window, may just receive
that. Good on �'em. I hope they have a great passage. As for us, you may recall that our hurricane plan is RUN. So we
did. And it�'s been quite a nice passage, so far.
Out here, about 190 miles north of New Zealand, the sun is shining and we have blue skies above us. In fact, every day
of our passage so far has been sunny and blue, every night starry and clear �- except for yesterday, which was cloudy.
If we�'re going to be out here for a couple of extra days, it�'s good that the weather is nice. The seas have also settled
down, and are undulating slowly, like an expansive blue plain.
Every inch of SCOOTS�' exterior is covered in a thick layer of salt. Friends of ours, on arrival after a particularly
splashy passage, have a tradition of having a shot of tequila along with a dash of sea salt swiped from the hull. It�'s a fun
idea; we might do that when we get to Opua.
About a half dozen large, chocolate-brown shearwaters are flying zigzag patterns behind SCOOTS, scanning her wake
for tidbits. I may have thrown them some pieces of meat. I was going to tell you which species I think this is, but on
consulting my bird book I just discovered that there are four or five large, chocolate-brown shearwaters native to NZ,
so I�'m just going to leave it at that. An albatross also showed up for a slow, regal fly-by, the C5 to the shearwaters�'
C130. So I�'ve gotten to see my albatross.
We�'re in what I�'m calling Phase 3 of our passage: tacking back to NZ. You may recall that Phase 1 was: sailing SW to
stay ahead of the Low that was rolling in from the east, but not so far west that it would take forever to get back; a time
of some angst (on my part), partially relieved by obsessively studying the forecasts, trying to figure out where that point
was. Phase 2 was: squash zones; sailing in higher winds and seas; lots of heeling, pounding, seawater washing over the
deck. Each Phase is taking about three days. Phase 1 and Phase 3 have had comfortable sailing conditions; Phase 2,
When I last wrote, I described the conditions during our first day of squash zone sailing. The next two days were
similar. We did end up far enough west, when the Low made its closest point of approach, that we never saw more
than 22 knots of true wind, or more than 29 knots of apparent wind. The seas never rose above about 8 feet, were
about 8 seconds apart, and most were rolling rather than breaking. The meter-high wind waves, however, added some
chaos to the mix, coming at us at a higher frequency, bouncing SCOOTS around a bit.
Yesterday we entered Phase 3. The wind slowly eased down through the teens to the less than 5 knots that it is now,
where it will remain for the next couple days. The seas have also slowly abated, taking on that slow, low, rolling that I
mentioned. After days and days of sailing, we fired up Yanmar the Magnificent yesterday. He�'ll provide most of our
propulsion from now on, until we tie up at the Customs dock in Opua, hopefully tomorrow evening.
When we were scanning the horizon for traffic yesterday afternoon, we spotted a sail about a mile away. This would be
only the second boat we�'d seen on our passage, the other being a cargo ship several days earlier. Our call on VHF
was answered by the boat�'s skipper, who told us that it was s/v Taliesin, Lin and Larry Pardey�'s second boat, which
they had sold. He was tacking to NZ as well, having left Tonga two weeks earlier. In case you�'re not familiar with Lin
and Larry, they spent decades sailing all over the world in their first boat, s/v Seraffyn, and later, s/v Taliesin. They
shared their adventures in several interesting and entertaining books, books that have been instrumental in recruiting
many people into the cruising life, yours truly included. Though we had no intention of cruising �"their�" way, which was
quite minimalistic - Seraffyn had no head (yes, they did �"bucket and chuck it�" for years), nor engine, and I believe that
Taliesin has a head, but is also engineless �- we were drawn to the mobile, self-sufficient, out-in-nature, exploratory life
that they described.
I made a roast chicken yesterday, an early Thanksgiving dinner for us. We have a tradition of eating a Thanksgiving
meal on this passage, except for last year, when we had Thanksgiving in Fiji. Since we�'ll have to surrender all our meat
and produce to the Biosecurity officials in Opua, I decided that we�'d better eat it sooner rather than later. Along with
some peas and carrots, I also made something like a cranberry sauce, out of dried cranberries (try getting fresh ones in
Fiji!), that I soaked in orange juice, and then cooked for a little while, adding sugar and spices. We were happy with
the result! And, the conditions on this first day of Phase 3 were reasonable enough that we were able to enjoy our meal
at the cockpit table, rather than holding our plates (or bowls) in our laps, for the first time on this passage.
Eric just reminded me that our bodies are going to have to start making their own body heat again, something they
haven�'t had to do, during our last six months in the tropics. He�'s right, of course. It�'s 68 degrees in the cabin, and
we�'ve been sleeping under a comforter for the past three nights!
I�'ll leave you now, with today�'s Numbers at Noon:
31 57S/173 44E
Course: 172T
Speed: 6.7 kn motorsailing
Wind: 2.9 kn from the NE
Seas: <1m
Miles gone: 1104NM (the rhumb line distance from Denarau to the Opua Approach is 1040 NM)
Miles to go: 188.6NM
We are looking to arrive at the Customs dock in Opua at about 7pm tomorrow.
Cheers, Vandy
Hello again. We're just entering our fifth day of sailing from Fiji to New Zealand. I'm only posting to Sailblogs every other day because the motion of the
boat isn't particularly conducive to sitting inside staring at letters on a computer screen for very long. I am posting a short update to YIT every day , so if
you get a hankering to see where we are and what we're up to more often than every other day, you can pop over there. www.yit.co.nz
Since I last posted to the blog, we had one more day and night of absolutely lovely sailing, and then we entered the squash zone that I talked about.
We've been in the squash zone for about a day now, with perhaps another day of it to go. What it looks and feels like is...we have wind from 16-25
knots, from the SSE, and the waves have built to about 2.5 meters (about 8 feet), also from the SSE. We are going SSW so SCOOTS is still hard on the
wind. Every now and then, SCOOTS goes off the top of a wave, banging down hard into the trough behind it, or plows into a wave, instead of sliding
over it, bringing a cascade of water washing over the deck. Inside, as well as under our hard dodger in the forward part of the cockpit, we're cozy and
dry. Every once in awhile, though, it's as if some guy tosses a bucketful of water across the aft part of the cockpit, dousing everything aft of the dodger.
SCOOTS is well-equipped for these conditions, with two reefing points (places to shorten her mainsail) and a staysail (a headsail that's smaller than our
genoa jib), and a sturdy, streamlined construction. Yesterday, when the wind and seas rose, we swapped the staysail for the genoa, and pulled the main
down into the second reef. That kept the ride pretty comfortable for the rest of the day and night. This morning, hoping to make more headway to the
south, we pulled the mainsail up into the first reef. Less comfortable, more speed.
Given the conditions, we're pretty satisfied with our progress. We've made some headway to the south, and we've come far enough west to dodge the
most intense wind and waves of the Low. This is good, but in doing that, we've sailed by New Zealand. Yes, we're now west of New Zealand. While
this is a bit annoying, it's not a problem, really. We'll just have to tack at some point, and start sailing SE. According to the forecasts, it looks like a good
time to do that would be sometime on Sunday (today is Friday), as the wind is predicted to be coming straight out of the south by then, so sailing SE
would be another close reach. Hopefully not as close as our reaches have been for the past four days.
Two days ago, a tropicbird flew near SCOOTS for awhile. These are one of my favorite kinds of seabirds, and I almost never see them anymore, since
they're very rare in Fiji and not native to New Zealand. About once per passage, one does a fly-by, and it makes my day.
Course 218T
Speed 7.0 kn
Wind 16 knots SSE
Sea 1.5m SSE
Temp 81F
Bar 1014mb
Miles gone 462
Speed 6.5kn
Wind 16-21kn SSE
Sea 2.5m swell + 1m wind waves SSE
Hello from the South Pacific!
We�'re on our way from Fiji to New Zealand. We left Port Denarau noon local time on Monday, so we�'ve
been at sea for two days now. The weather is sunny and warm, very nice. If you�'d like to follow along,
look for SCOOTS at Yachts in Transit (www.yit.co.nz <http://www.yit.co.nz/>). I�'ll be sending daily
We took a weather window that I would describe as �"the best that we would get for awhile, considering
the circumstances.�" I like to wait for an optimum weather window, but this year, my hand has been forced
by the forecast of an early season tropical storm that may in fact become a cyclone and will either impact
Fiji or Vanuatu sometime next week.
Rather than hanging around in Fiji to see whether or not it was visited by a tropical storm next week, and
then wait another week or two (into December now), for another weather window to (hopefully) develop,
we took what we had and we�'re making it work. This fits nicely with our tried-and-true hurricane plan:
RUN, rather than hide.
So here�'s what we�'ve got: The players in our passage weather are a High pressure system between us and
NZ (this is good), and a big, nasty Low forming well to the east of us that�'s going to move a little bit
towards us on Friday or Saturday as we sail southwest toward NZ (this is bad), but is not going to come all
the way to where we are (this is good). What it is going to to do, as it moves in our direction, is press on
the isobars of our High to make them squish together, creating what is aptly called a �"squash zone,�" where
the wind is stronger than it would otherwise be. And also, in this case, it will cause these strong winds to
blow from the south, which is basically the direction that we want to be going.
But, we saw that if we left last Monday, the forecast for the first three days called for light to moderate
wind, and reasonable seas, which would give us time to get south, and then head more west away from the
big, nasty Low as it moved toward us.
So that�'s what we�'ve been doing for the past two days...heading as much south as we can. We�'re on a
tight reach, which means pointing SCOOTS close to the wind (in this case we�'ve been sailing between 35
and 45 degrees off the wind) while keeping her speed up. She�'s been doing great, and while we�'re heeled
over a bit, the ride�'s pretty comfortable at the moment. Almost no water over the bow at all.
We expect to enter the squash zone sometime tomorrow, which means 20-25 knot winds and probably
some higher seas for a day or so. This may slow our southern progress, but if it does that�'s okay. We�'ll put
in some more west and keep going. West is away from the Low.
The winds should start to ease late Saturday or early Sunday, as the Low moves off toward the east and
the squash zone relaxes. Then, we�'ll figure out our best course to Opua.
Yesterday, while we were out doing some odd jobs on deck, a small private jet flew towards us from the
SW (nothing in that direction for like a thousand miles), and began to circle us. At first we thought it was
cool, and we waved. But on the third time around, it began to get a little creepy. We were relieved when
they finally headed toward Fiji.
Here are the numbers for yesterday and today, in case anyone�'s keeping track.
11/19/2019 �- 24 hours
20 02�'S/176 48�'E
Course: 194* True
Speed: 6.4 knots motorsailing
Wind: 5 knots SE
Waves: <1m SE
Water temp: 78F
Air temp: 85F
Sunny with a few cumulus clouds.
Miles gone: 146
Miles to Opua: 912
No fish or squid on deck.
Course 211* True
Speed: 7.4 knots mainsail and jib
Wind: 12 kn SE
Sunny with almost no clouds.
Miles gone last 24 hrs: 143; Miles total: 289
Cloud Nine is a floating bar, pizza restaurant, party spot and diving platform, anchored out by the reef near the Cloud Break surf spot, a few miles west of Musket Cove. We'd never been there, but we'd been looking for a reason to go. Now, with The Fam visiting, we had our reason!
A couple hours after leaving Saweni Bay, we threaded our way through the narrow entrance in the reef around Cloud Nine, and dropped SCOOTS' anchor in 40 feet of the clearest water I'd seen in months. I could watch the anchor drop all the way to the white sand! What a stunningly beautiful place!
With plans for a pizza dinner a few hours later on Cloud Nine, Tara, Eric, Kelly, Daniel, and I headed for a nearby reef to do some snorkeling. The water was calm and clear, there were lots of fish and colorful coral, even a giant clam!
Late in the afternoon, our friend Jose, who'd been hanging out on Cloud Nine, swam over to SCOOTS. During our chat, he mentioned that Cloud Nine closes at around sunset. Seeing as how it was already 4:30, we realized we'd better get a move-on!
Since Eric was net controller for the South Pacific Radio Net that evening at 5:30, and since dinghies aren't allowed to tie up to Cloud Nine, he dropped the rest of us off there at about 5:00, with a request to bring him back some pizza. With friendly shouts of "Bula!", three smiling Cloud Nine employees helped us from our dinghy to the floating platform, where loud electronic music was playing, and let us know that we had about 30 minutes to enjoy the place. Now, what would we like to drink?
After perusing the extensive cocktail menu, and the short pizza menu, we each chose a different, intriguing-sounding drink, ordered pizza, and settled into comfy seats to enjoy the ambiance and the scenery. Kelly, Daniel, and Peyton lounged on a large, cushy mattress at the edge of the platform while they enjoyed their drinks. "This is wonderful," Tara said. "The only thing that would make it better is Fijian music."
At 5:30 pm, closing time, the electronic music was switched off, and Fijian reggae took its place. Tara and I looked at each other and smiled. We enjoyed our drinks, our pizza, and a spectacular sunset. The employees went about their closing tasks while singing along to the music, unconcerned that we were still there. I'd told them that we'd be leaving a little late.
While we'd been enjoying our drinks and pizza, the wind had come up. What had been calm water when we'd arrived, was now choppy waves. It was going to be a very wet ride back, and I was a little worried about everyone getting safely onto SCOOTS' deck from the dinghy. I needn't have worried: everyone arrived back completely soaked, laughing uproariously at every dousing wave (what else can you do?), and managed to get safely onto SCOOTS' deck from the pitching dinghy.
The wind was now blowing more than 20 knots, in defiance of the forecast of calm, settled weather that had been pivotal to our decision to anchor here for the night. When Eric gave me a "WTF?" look, all I could do was shrug. With the prospect of a very windy night ahead, Eric and I, pros at taking down our large sunshade (AKA Bedouin tent) in high wind, because we always wait too long to do it, did so again, grabbing handfuls of the flapping fabric, pulling it down, and stuffing it into its canvas bag while the tie-down ropes slapped at our faces.
A couple of hours later, as inexplicably as it had come, the wind calmed down, and we were treated to a beautiful, calm, starry night, enjoyed especially by Kelly and Daniel, who slept on the dodger roof, with the Southern Cross and Milky Way as their night lights.
The next morning, we made the short trip back to Musket Cove, where, after a lovely morning and afternoon at the resort's beach, and a nice lunch, we said a sad farewell to Tara, Peyton, and Bob - who'd transmogrified during his time with us from Vanilla Chief, through Strawberry Chief, to become more of a Caramel Chief - as they boarded the Malolo Cat IV ferry to Denarau, and would catch their flight back to the States later that night.
During their time with us, Tara, Bob, and Peyton had completely relaxed into the cruising life: enjoying an unscheduled existence, a slow pace of life, and freedom from societal pressures such as feeling the need to wear a different outfit every day, to wear makeup, or to shave. Tara had taken off her watch when she'd boarded her flight to Fiji. and she'd left it off the whole time she was with us. She embraced every aspect of her time with us with full-on appreciation and gusto: she loved the colors of the water, the scents of the islands, the friendliness of the Fijians, the variety of the marine life; the songs of the birds on shore. She rose before dawn each morning, capturing the sunrise in a time-lapse video as she sat quietly on deck, and returned each dusk to capture the sunset. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
After saying goodbye to Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief, we grilled some sausages at the nightly cruisers' potluck at the Island Bar, and talked about what Kelly and Daniel would like to do for the remaining five days of their vacation. On their list: snorkeling; relaxing; a visit to Tom Hanks (Monuriki) Island; trying kava; seeing mantas, sharks, turtles, and fruit bats.
We were joined by Chuck and Lauri from s/v Free Spirit, who'd wanted to meet Kelly and Daniel, particularly since they knew that Kelly had come up with the term "ginner," to describe the heavy hors d'ouevres and drinks that we cruisers sometimes enjoy instead of more "traditional" dinner fare. Having shared many ginners with Chuck and Lauri, this was a fun and fitting introduction.
Keen to get started on Kelly and Daniel's wish list, we left the next morning and motored north to Monuriki Island.
This time, we arrived before the tourist boats, and had the island to ourselves for a couple of hours. We wandered its beaches, tidepools, and jungle trails; Kelly and Daniel posed for a picture reminiscent of a scene from Castaway;
and we spent awhile lounging in the warm, clear water that lapped on the beach. The breakers were much smaller than when we'd visited with Tara & Co., and our dinghy trip back to SCOOTS was much less exciting. Nobody arrived with cruise bruises.
With the sea state so calm, we decided to take a chance and head north to Navadra. One of our favorite places on the west side of Fiji, Navadra is a beautiful lagoon bordered by three curving islands. White sand beckons from shore, and coral from below. The water is a lovely shade of dark turquoise. A flock of goats roams the islands, and who doesn't like goats? The flip side of all this perfection is the tendency for the anchorage to be rolly. When we dropped the anchor, mid-afternoon, the water was calm, and the forecast was for the settled conditions to continue. We decided to stay.
Kelly, Daniel, and Eric answered the call of the coral and went for a snorkel. They were rewarded with lots of colorful fish and coral, and a sea turtle. Afterwards, back on SCOOTS, we played a rousing game of Oh Hell,
our usual evening entertainment. Every now and then, a small swell would lift SCOOTS up a little bit on one side and she would gently roll back and forth a couple of times. This late in the day, we were committed to staying the night in Navadra - no one travels Fiji's reef-filled waters after dark. We hoped that the swells, still pretty mellow, wouldn't get any more insistent.
But of course, they did. By bedtime, SCOOTS had a moderate roll going, which continued through the night. Kelly and Daniel, who by now had their sea legs, rolled with it like true seafarers.
In the morning, we wasted no time in pulling SCOOTS' anchor up, leaving the now-rolly Navadra anchorage for the calmer water of Mana Lagoon, happening to arrive at low tide, just as we had with Tara, Bob, and Vanilla Chief. The entrance to Mana Lagoon snakes through a shallow, narrow cut in the coral, marked here and there with sticks, buoys, and poles as guidance. At low tide, it can be quite a butt-puckering - and yet a really beautiful - experience. Jagged coral lines the edges of the reef cut, only a few feet away on either side. Swirls and eddies in the channel catch your boat in their meandering flow, slewing it first one way, then the other, with the current. If your engine dies, you're toast. Beneath the surface, colorful coral bommies loom up, in water so clear that it's hard to tell how deep they are. Maybe they're ten feet below, maybe only two. Like Tara and Vanilla Chief a week earlier, Kelly and Daniel took all this in from SCOOTS' deck. It's not something you see every day.
As soon as SCOOTS' anchor was set in the sandy bottom of the lagoon, I went kayaking on the flat-calm water, while Kelly, Daniel, and Eric went snorkeling near the pass. Later in the afternoon, Eric dropped Kelly, Daniel, and me off at the pier. We walked to the north side of the island, in search of the turtle sanctuary, fruit bats, a young dog that lives near the backpacker resort, and ice cream. We found three out of four.
We bought ice cream in one of the resort shops, saw the turtles in the sanctuary, and found the dog, but the fruit bats never made an appearance. Not even one! Just a few days before, when I'd been there with Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief, dozens of them had flown over, or landed in the trees near the pool. We'd watched them for an hour. Today, not a single one flapped across the sky. We couldn't check that one off Kelly and Daniel's list. Along with mantas. Oh well, something for next time.
The wind had come up while we'd been on the island, which meant that we all got soaked by the choppy waves on our way back to SCOOTS. Like Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief before them, Kelly and Daniel also took the dousing in stride, laughing as each wave drenched us with salt water. Because what else can you do?
The next morning, Kelly and Eric went snorkeling near the pass, where they saw a black-tipped reef shark. After they returned, we pulled up SCOOTS' anchor and made our way back to Musket Cove. It was Thursday, the day of the resort's weekly kava ceremony and Fijian feast; there'd be no better opportunity for Kelly and Daniel to try kava and taste some traditional Fijian food. To make things even better, our friends on Gone With the Wind and Rewa were now at Musket Cove!
During the kava ceremony, the four of us each had several cups of kava, while learning some of the culture and history of Fiji. It was fun to experience this Fijian tradition with Kelly and Daniel.
When the kava ceremony ended, we joined our friends, Annie and Liam from Gone With the Wind, and Dave, Tessa, Nick, and Heike from Rewa, at a long table in the restaurant. Smiles, hugs, and introductions were shared, and then we all enjoyed a lovely Fijian feast together. Eric and I were happy that Kelly and Daniel and our cruising family finally got to meet each other.
The next morning, Daniel untied us from the mooring and we left for Castaway Island, where Kelly and Daniel would spend their last night in Fiji. After dropping the anchor, we dinghied around to the beach - staying much drier this time, than we had with Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief - for a nice lunch
and a hike up the hill, oohing and ahhing at the spectacular vistas.
Kelly and Daniel really liked the vibe of Castaway Resort, with its winding paths and cute bures tucked among tropical foliage; it was their favorite of the three resorts that they visited in Fiji.
Our last night together - like all our nights with The Fam - was a delight of card games, stories, and laughing. Lots of laughing.
In the morning, Kelly, Daniel and Eric went snorkeling one last time, and then returned to SCOOTS to begin collecting their things, and packing. Mid-morning, we pulled up SCOOTS' anchor and began heading toward Denarau, where we were expecting to anchor outside the marina and dinghy in. SCOOTS had been on the waiting list for a slip in the marina for a couple of weeks, but none had come available. We decided to call the marina, and check one last time, while we were on our way there. A slip had come available, last minute, that we could take for the night! This would make things much more convenient!
After tying SCOOTS up in her slip, we walked around the shops at Denarau, where Kelly and Daniel shopped for souvenirs and Bula shirts, and took in the vibe of the busy tourist hub. Shopping accomplished, we enjoyed a very tasty lunch at Indigo Indian Restaurant, which never fails to please. While we were there, Kelly and Daniel said that they felt as if the ground were swaying, and asked us if we ever feel that way. Yes, we do, we said, but you get used to it. It just comes with the lifestyle.
The hour of their departure looming, Kelly and Daniel packed their new purchases, and were ready to go. Their ride, Joe, met us in the parking lot in his taxi. After lots of hugs all around, Kelly and Daniel loaded their bags into the trunk of Joe's taxi, got in, and waved goodbye as he drove away.
As I watched them go, I teared up. I missed Kelly and Daniel, Tara, Peyton, and Bob so much already. We'd been looking forward to their visit for so long, had such a good time with them, enjoyed their company so much...and now it was over. Eric, noticing my expression, and maybe feeling the same himself, put his arm around me. As we turned to begin walking back to SCOOTS, he leaned his head toward mine and said, "How about a shot of some good rum?"
PS. I explain the origin of "Full Masti!" and "Vanilla Chief" in Part 1.
We'd told Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief that if you're a cruiser, it's pretty much a given that anywhere you go in your dinghy, you'll arrive with a wet butt. The next day, when we took the dinghy around the corner to the beach at Castaway Resort, looking forward to a hike up the hill and lunch at the resort restaurant, wet butts would have been preferable to the complete soaking we received from slogging through the choppy waves. (Our dinghy doesn't plane with five people on board.)
“We would've been drier if we'd swum here!” Eric announced, as he guided our dinghy through the shallows toward the beach. Dripping from head to toe, as we all were, Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief were good sports, taking their dousing in stride, with good humor. And why not? The weather was warm and sunny, the company friendly, the scenery spectacular. We were together in Fiji!
The Flying Piantanida Sisters in Fiji
Walking the meandering paths through the resort's grounds and the bush walk up the hill behind the resort, was a scenic way to stretch our legs. The trail included not just one but two vista points, each offering spectacular views from a different side of the island.
By the time we'd hiked up to the top of the hill and back down, our clothes were dry, and we were ready to enjoy lunch on the deck of the resort's beachside restaurant.
Our friends, Chuck and Lauri, anchored their boat, Free Spirit, near SCOOTS, and invited all of us over for drinks and snacks (“ginner”), giving Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief their first opportunity to experience the fun and warmth of the cruising community.
Anchored off Castaway Island, Eric and I were happy to see Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief slipping the yoke of their fast-paced life back home and relaxing into the slow tempo of cruising life and Fiji time: enjoying a slow pace, an unscheduled existence, and freedom from such nuisances as wearing shoes or makeup, shaving, and wearing a different outfit every day.
When we were ready for a change of scenery, we moved to the lagoon at Mana Island, about four miles away, where we received several more soakings in the dinghy on our way to and from shore. The next day, having learned that the extensive coral near shore made getting our dinghy to the beach at any time other than high tide nearly impossible, Eric dropped the rest of us off at the floating dock at the pier. Tara, Peyton, Vanilla Chief, and I enjoyed a day at the resort, lounging by the pool, visiting the turtle sanctuary, exploring the tide pools at low tide, and being charmed by the fruit bats who swooped in, late in the afternoon.
Lounging at Mana Island Resort
The next day, we motorsailed eight miles to Monuriki (AKA Tom Hanks Island), crossing, in the process, a stretch of water that wasn't protected by a barrier reef. Here, the ocean waves rolled through unobstructed. About a meter high on this day, they caught SCOOTS on her stern quarter, rolling her first one way, and then the other, in a corkscrew motion. Though we hadn't known beforehand whether Tara, Peyton, or Vanilla Chief were prone to seasickness, I'm happy to report that apparently they're not.
A visit to Monuriki is a must for anyone in the Mamanucas. This is the island where the movie Castaway was filmed. It's a stunningly beautiful place, with white sand, green palms, and water in every imaginable shade of blue. Though uninhabited, it's inundated with several boatloads of tourists for a few hours each day beginning at about 11:30 am. We arrived from Mana Island just as the Jolly Bula sailboat disgorged a couple dozen of them. As we pulled our dinghy up the beach, a Fijian man came by and told us that his village – “Over there, at Yanuya Island”– now requires a $10FJ per person “landing fee.” This was a new development since our visit two years ago. We wondered if it was actually the tour vendors who were extracting the fee, rather than the villagers. Tara graciously paid for all of us, since Eric and I hadn't brought any money to shore.
We explored the island's beaches and took a short walk through the jungle, looking for places that we'd seen in the movie.
Peyton shouted,“Wilson!” On a sandy hillside, the words “Help Me” were spelled out in coconuts. We laughed at how, had Tom Hanks looked out from the island in any other direction than the one he always did in the movie, he would've seen lots of other islands, many of them inhabited. After an hour or so, we returned to our dinghy, and, with careful timing and speedy execution by all, successfully boarded the dinghy and got out past the breakers. Successfully, but not without incident: Tara picked up a trio of “cruise bruises” in the process. Ouch. The marks of a true cruiser!
We sailed SCOOTS to the other side of Mana Island this time, dropping her anchor a few hundred yards off the long white sand beach, and enjoyed a couple days of snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing at this beautiful island paradise.
Musket Cove, on Malolo Lailai Island, was our next stop. With its large resort and cruiser-friendly atmosphere, as well as being a gorgeous spot, Musket Cove was another place we wanted to share with our family. Tara, Peyton, and Vanilla Chief loved relaxing by the resort pool,
Chillin' by the pool at Musket Cove
and hanging out with some of our cruiser friends at the nightly cruisers' potluck at the Island Bar. While at Musket Cove, we attended a kava ceremony put on by the resort. It was really well done! The man who acted as MC had a good sense of humor and also shared a lot of Fijian culture and history with us. As well as plenty of yaqona (the Fijian word for kava). As the eldest man present (by virtue of being one month older than Eric) Vanilla Chief was chosen to preside over the ceremony.
Vanilla Chief drinking kava
Mrs. Vanilla Chief enjoying kava
Peyton trying kava
Afterwards, we enjoyed a Fijian feast (complete with spit-roasted pig) and a meke (Fijian singing and dance). A full masti Fiji experience!
Now we are Seven
A couple of days later, we said goodbye to Musket Cove and motorsailed across to the “mainland” (the big island of Viti Levu), anchoring at Saweni Bay, just south of Lautoka, to await Kelly and Daniel's arrival the next morning.
Our taxi driver friend Raj picked Kelly and Daniel up at the airport and brought them to the beach at Saweni Bay, where Eric and I were waiting. After hugging Kelly and Daniel, we arranged for Raj and a friend to come back with two cars later in the day to transport all of us to Lautoka. We loaded Kelly and Daniel's bags into our dinghy, got in, and zipped back to SCOOTS, where Tara, Bob, and Peyton were waiting with more greetings and hugs.
In the afternoon, we all dinghied to shore, glad for the flat-calm water, as this was the first time our dinghy had transported seven people; had there been any texture to the water at all, it would have been a very, very wet ride. Raj and his cousin were waiting for us in matching Priuses, and after we split up into the two cars, they whisked us off to Lautoka.
We had two reasons for visiting Lautoka: first, we needed to do some more provisioning. Second, we wanted to show Kelly and Daniel a Fijian town. We accomplished both, and more, as Raj and his cousin acted as tour guides during our ride into town, pointing out such attractions as the tracks for the narrow-gauge sugar cane train; the rum distillery, its parking lot jammed with dozens of flatbed trucks piled high with bundles of sugar cane; the sugar mill; and the huge pile of pine chips that gets sent to China on ships and sold back to Fiji as particle board.
Our first stop was the public market. Walking along the aisles, between tables piled high with different local fruits, vegetables, or kava, Kelly and Daniel got to see how we typically shop for our produce. After the public market, we walked down the crowded sidewalk, stopping into Naginda's to check out their selection of Bula shirts, eventually ending up at the shiny Tappoo City mall, where we had lunch at the food court and shopped for groceries at Extra, the clean, modern supermarket. Waiting outside with our full shopping cart, we called Raj who, along with his cousin, turned up five minutes later, to take us back to Saweni Beach.
Enjoying a swim in Saweni Bay
The next morning, Kelly, who gets plenty of experience with mud and anchors for her job at the USGS, helped me pull up SCOOTS' anchor. She sprayed the cylinder of thick, gooey mud off the anchor chain, while I ran the windlass. Anchor up, we were off to our next destination: Cloud Nine.
P.S. If you're wondering about the term Full Masti!, I explain it in Part 1
Vessel Name: SCOOTS
Vessel Make/Model: Able Apogee 50
Hailing Port: San Francisco, CA
Crew: Eric and Vandy Shrader
About: We've been living aboard full time since September 2014. We sailed to Mexico with the 2014 Baja Haha and had fun exploring Mexico until April 2016, when we turned SCOOTS west and headed to the South Pacific. As of late Nov. 2016, SCOOTS and her crew are exploring New Zealand.
SCOOTS's Photos - La Paz
Photos 1 to 10 of 10 | Main
Who: Eric and Vandy Shrader
Port: San Francisco, CA
Thoughts and Impressions
Fixing Adventures
Hearts, Rainbows, Flowers & Critters
Samoan Fire Dancing
SCOOTS' Boatyard Adventure
Sea of Cortez Dolphins
VIDEO: South to Baja
Where we are right now
VIDEO: Seattle to San Francisco, Nov. 2013
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Expressionist nuance: Elektra at the COC
Greg Finney Feb 1, 2019
Hello Schmop-tops! The new year is here and it brought Old Man Winter to Toronto, but the stage was on fire for the premiere of the Canadian Opera Company’s remount of their production of Richard Strauss’ Elektra.
Directed by James Robinson and starring soprano Christine Goerke in the title role, this production sees the fall of the house of Agamemnon after his murder at the hands of his wife Klytämnestra and her lover Aegisth. After word reaches Elektra and her sister Chrysothemis of their estranged brother Orest’s death, Elektra vows to avenge her father in her brother’s stead. Orest arrives incognito and fulfils his sonly duty and the joy of knowing her tortures will end overcomes Elektra at the moment her father’s house is reunited.
Christine Goerke (left) in a scene from the Canadian Opera Company's production of Elektra, 2019. Photo: Michael Cooper.
What can one possibly say about Christine Goerke in this role and still do justice to the kind of singing we experienced on Saturday night? Her vocal range is not of this dimension and her finesse to Strauss’ bombastic score is something to be witnessed in person. The production was directed in a rather expressionistic style with large, presentational gestures and somewhat heightened physicality. Using her full body seamlessly as both an aural and visual instrument, Goerke’s Elektra brought very much the psychological struggle she was undergoing to the fore.
Erin Wall as Chrysothemis (foreground) and Christine Goerke as Elektra in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Elektra, 2019. Photo: Michael Cooper.
Singing the role of Elektra’s sister Chrysothemis, Soprano Erin Wall’s more delicate timbre was perfect embodiment of Chrysothemis’s longing for a simpler life of a wife and mother. The peace in Wall’s timbre was also a perfect match for Goerke’s more bombastic, revenge-driven tone. When they sang together the effect was thrilling.
(l-r) Susan Bullock as Klytämnestra and Christine Goerke as Elektra in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Elektra, 2019. Photo: Michael Cooper.
After singing the title role in 2007, Susan Bullock returns in the role of the murderous queen Klytämnestra. Her powerful voice coupled with her incredible characterization actually stirred sympathy for the anguish she suffers caused by her guilt. You could see the weight of the consequences of killing Agamemnon lying heavily on her shoulders as she tells of dreams that haunt her. Her fear was palpable when she begs Elektra how and who to sacrifice to rid herself of this torture.
Christine Goerke as Elektra and Wilhelm Schwinghammer as Orest in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Elektra, 2019. Photo: Michael Cooper.
Singing the role of Orest, Elektra’s exiled younger brother, bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer strode onstage and filled the hall with his robust, dark tone. The recognition scene with Goerke was mesmerizing. Tenor Michael Schade was every bit the grotesque that Elektra had spent the show describing. In his short appearance he manages to conjure enough animosity that you’re relieved to see him enter the house to his doom.
A rather large supporting all sang beautifully as well as dramatically. The placement of the COC Chorus at the end of the show was chilling. You felt as though the whole city was chanting “Orest” outside the theatre.
Christine Goerke as Elektra in the Canadian Opera Company's production of Elektra, 2019. Photo: Michael Cooper.
The COC Orchestra under Johannes Debus played a nuanced score full of subtleties - not something usually attributed to Strauss. In the hands of great players and singers, that notion is put soundly to rest.
Elektra runs until February 22, and I highly suggest you don’t miss this. This is Strauss at his best, sung by phenomenal singers, played with an incredible orchestra, and all coming together in a production to remember.
Elektra runs through February 22 at the Four Seasons Centre. For details and tickets, click here.
So true it hurts: Hook Up Bucking trends: Hook Up
Hadrian: a true grand opera
In review: Siegfried
Michael Schade
Susan Bullock
Erin Wall
Christine Goerke
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Country United Kingdom - SIR Ranking of United Kingdom
Subject Area and Category Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Publisher Elsevier Ltd.
Publication type Journals
Coverage 1980-ongoing
Scope Biomaterials is an international journal covering the science and clinical application of biomaterials. A biomaterial is now defined as a substance that has been engineered to take a form which, alone or as part of a complex system, is used to direct, by control of interactions with components of living systems, the course of any therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. It is the aim of the journal to provide a peer-reviewed forum for the publication of original papers and authoritative review and opinion papers dealing with the most important issues facing the use of biomaterials in clinical practice. The scope of the journal covers the wide range of physical, biological and chemical sciences that underpin the design of biomaterials and the clinical disciplines in which they are used. These sciences include polymer synthesis and characterization, drug and gene vector design, the biology of the host response, immunology and toxicology and self assembly at the nanoscale. Clinical applications include the therapies of medical technology and regenerative medicine in all clinical disciplines, and diagnostic systems that reply on innovative contrast and sensing agents. The journal is relevant to areas such as cancer diagnosis and therapy, implantable devices, drug delivery systems, gene vectors, bionanotechnology and tissue engineering.
How to publish in this journal
Join the conversation about this journal
The set of journals have been ranked according to their SJR and divided into four equal groups, four quartiles. Q1 (green) comprises the quarter of the journals with the highest values, Q2 (yellow) the second highest values, Q3 (orange) the third highest values and Q4 (red) the lowest values.
Quartile
Bioengineering 1999 Q1
Biomaterials 1999 Q1
Biophysics 1999 Q2
Ceramics and Composites 1999 Q1
Mechanics of Materials 1999 Q1
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 1999 Q1
The SJR is a size-independent prestige indicator that ranks journals by their 'average prestige per article'. It is based on the idea that 'all citations are not created equal'. SJR is a measure of scientific influence of journals that accounts for both the number of citations received by a journal and the importance or prestige of the journals where such citations come from It measures the scientific influence of the average article in a journal, it expresses how central to the global scientific discussion an average article of the journal is.
Citations per document
This indicator counts the number of citations received by documents from a journal and divides them by the total number of documents published in that journal. The chart shows the evolution of the average number of times documents published in a journal in the past two, three and four years have been cited in the current year. The two years line is equivalent to journal impact factor ™ (Thomson Reuters) metric.
Cites per document
Cites / Doc. (4 years) 1999 1.981
Cites / Doc. (4 years) 2014 10.397
Total Cites
Self-Cites
Evolution of the total number of citations and journal's self-citations received by a journal's published documents during the three previous years.
Journal Self-citation is defined as the number of citation from a journal citing article to articles published by the same journal.
Self Cites 1999 220
Self Cites 2005 1549
Total Cites 1999 1557
Total Cites 2006 12082
External Cites per Doc
Cites per Doc
Evolution of the number of total citation per document and external citation per document (i.e. journal self-citations removed) received by a journal's published documents during the three previous years. External citations are calculated by subtracting the number of self-citations from the total number of citations received by the journal’s documents.
External Cites per document 1999 1.701
Cites per document 1999 1.981
Cites per document 2014 10.170
% International Collaboration
International Collaboration accounts for the articles that have been produced by researchers from several countries. The chart shows the ratio of a journal's documents signed by researchers from more than one country; that is including more than one country address.
Citable documents
Non-citable documents
Not every article in a journal is considered primary research and therefore "citable", this chart shows the ratio of a journal's articles including substantial research (research articles, conference papers and reviews) in three year windows vs. those documents other than research articles, reviews and conference papers.
Non-citable documents 1999 5
Non-citable documents 2001 10
Citable documents 1999 786
Citable documents 2003 1200
Cited documents
Uncited documents
Ratio of a journal's items, grouped in three years windows, that have been cited at least once vs. those not cited during the following year.
Uncited documents 1999 261
Uncited documents 2008 95
Cited documents 1999 530
Cited documents 2004 1312
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The users of Scimago Journal & Country Rank have the possibility to dialogue through comments linked to a specific journal. The purpose is to have a forum in which general doubts about the processes of publication in the journal, experiences and other issues derived from the publication of papers are resolved. For topics on particular articles, maintain the dialogue through the usual channels with your editor.
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Eagle Scout finds Thor's wallet
By RememberSchiff, April 20, 2016 in Open Discussion - Program
RememberSchiff 1962
old fogey nostalgic for the good old days
When Australian actor Chris Hemsworth left his wallet in a Los Angeles restaurant, 17-year-old Tristin Budzyn-Baker came to his rescue.
"I looked up at my mom and was like, 'ma, do you know who this is?'" he recounted Monday on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (H/T Mashable). "We found Thor's wallet."
Instead of pocketing it, Budzyn-Baker tracked down Hemsworth and returned the wallet full of cash.
"I expected it was going to be empty, and all the cash was in there" Hemsworth said on Ellen, sitting beside Budzyn-Baker.
In return, the teen scored his family some tickets, a stack of wash (typo? for cash) from Hemsworth and a $10,000 reward from the publishing service, Shutterfly.
Budzyn-Baker, a boy scout, also got a letter of recommendation from Hemsworth for the Eagle Scout award.
"Thank you for being such an honest guy," DeGeneres said.
Thor's brother, Loki, could not be reached for comment.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/04/20/teen-returns-chris-hemsworth-wallet-gets-10k-reward/83267728/
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/ellen-teen-10-000-finding-chris-hemworth-wallet-article-1.2607514
Edited April 20, 2016 by RememberSchiff
Stosh 3445
Whatever happened to doing a Good Turn and refusing anything in return? Like maybe handing the man his wallet, saying "Compliments of the Boy Scouts of America" and then disappearing into the crowed..... Kinda like the W. D. Boyce story?
NJCubScouter 1386
Well, first of all, the W.D. Boyce story is just that, a story, and it's a nice story to tell the kids, and there is at least some truth to it - I think it has been verified that a Scout pointed Boyce in the direction of his hotel (not Scout Headquarters) and refused a tip - but beyond that there has been quite a bit of "embellishment" along the way. As I said, it is a good story with a good lesson, and I am not suggesting that it be expunged from the Scout Handbook after all these years (or at least I assume it is still there), but let's not take it as "history."
Other than that, I think you make a good point. I think the reason why a big deal is made of something like this, and rewards are offered and accepted, has a lot to do with our 24/7/365 celebrity/news culture, where everybody is famous for 15 minutes. (And that time estimate is getting closer and closer to being literally true.) Why turn down a chance to be on tv? And the reward that goes with it? Maybe the kid donated a big chunk of the money to charity. (I might know if I actually read the article. Perhaps I just want to believe there is a possibility of that, and the reading the article might just dash my hopes.)
Krampus 696
Side Kick to Nikolaus
I'm surprised a mere mortal could pick up Thor's wallet!
@@Stosh, my Scout found $40 at our hotel in Disney World and turned it in. They found the owner and the resort gave my son a free no-line pass...which he turned down. His sister didn't forgive him for the rest of the trip.
We received an invitation to the castle for dinner. We were told we "won" it in a contest. Had a three hour exclusive dinner with about 10 characters in a private room at the top of the castle.
At check out I was told by the GM of the property (an Eagle Scout) that he wanted tor reward our Scout and knew he would not take charity for his good deed. I tried to pay for the dinner and he simply said to make sure the Scout grew up to be an honest and responsible adult doing good deeds for others.
Edited April 20, 2016 by Krampus
If he be worthy, a scout is worthy in trust.
Maybe @@NJCubScouter is correct about the embellishments, but the helping and refusing a tip is the core of the story that is true.
And yet stories like @@Krampus further reinforce the point that there are Real Scouts/Eagles out there (GM of the property and Krampus' ScoutSon--and Krampus) still being produced by BSA.
ianwilkins 338
I ran a camp for about 400 of the older sections in the UK, and at the end of the first night, a leader handed in £10 (about $15) he'd found on the floor. At the camp briefing the next morning I asked whose it was, had a few wags pipe up "mine" of course, but then as one lad was on a coach on his way to the theme park, he looked in his wallet and discovered he had just £10, when previously he'd had £20 in there. He spoke to his leader, who spoke to us, and we reunited him with his £10 (well, maybe not exactly the same note but...)
I was in Windsor to watch the annual Queen's Scout Award Parade, in my uniform, and someone handed me a mobile phone they'd just found on a bench "because you're a scout". And yes, I managed to reunite it with the owner of course. It felt good. Why would you do anything else?
(and picking up Thor's wallet - very droll)
Edited April 20, 2016 by ianwilkins
blw2 432
Retired - former CM, ACM, ADL, CC, Treasurer, & MBC
The thing about is accepting a reward is, at least in my thinking, ok. It's not like it was asked for.... or demanded /negotiated in any way.
If an item is returned no string attached, then if the grateful person wants to reciprocate to help them feel better why take that opportunity away from them.... and get a little perk yourself too?
Ian, wouldn't the Scout have immediately noticed the difference in weight if his wallet had 10 pounds in it instead of 20?
Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
qwazse 3010
Just one more beggar ...
Instead of the cash, I would have asked if he could come visit the troop while setting up camp. It would be nice to have a hand pounding those steaks pounded into rocky ground.
CalicoPenn 727
Thor gave the lad the cash that was in the wallet and the $10K from Shutterfly appears to be in the form of a College Scholarship.
I agree with the sentiments here - it would have been better had the Scout handed the cash back to Hemsworth and told him to donate it to the charity of Hemsworth's choice (while slyly suggesting his local Scout Council) and had he asked Ellen to give that Shutterfly college money to someone else. But the age of Chivalry has been dead for, well, ages - even for Boy Scouts.
It doesn't help that too many Troops have adult leaders who use Scout Spirit as some kind of activity measurement when it's supposed to measure whether a Scout lives the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives.
I can't recall the last time anyone brought up the Scout Slogan (until Stosh's mention of it in this thread) - Do a Good Turn Daily. This is something that should be emphasized a lot more. For all those folks wondering how to measure "Duty to God" - what better way than to ask how the Scout has being doing good turns daily.
Perhaps we need to reconsider our answers when asked about Scout Spirit - "Live your daily life by the Scout Oath and Scout Law" is good but not very pithy - perhaps we need to emphasis a shorter sound bite - what's the best way to show Scout Spirit? DO A GOOD TURN DAILY.
All that being said, Ellen, if you happen to be lurking - I'm an Eagle Scout who found a wallet with a man's last $100 in it about 40 years ago and made it a point to track him down and hand deliver it to his home - and didn't take a dime of reward. Where's my invitation to your show??
Calico, the problem is that you had the poor judgment to find the wallet of a regular person rather than a celebrity.
Decline or accept the reward? This would make an interesting EBOR question. I thought he was already an Eagle but some reports say not yet.
He and his family may need the money.
Whenever someone insists on "rewarding" me for my Good Turn, I give them my phone number and insist that they do a Good Turn for someone else and then call and tell me about it. Most of those calls are from really happy excited people telling me how great it felt for helping someone else. I have been "paying it forward" for 50 years and some of the stories I've been told are really neat. None of them have ever been "downers".
Police help other people and get paid, as do firemen, medical, etc. It's part of their jobs, who they are and what makes them tick. These are professional people
A scout can mow the elderly lady's lawn next door to earn his way to camp and call it helping other people at all times. He can go down and serve lunch at the Salvation Army to help other people at all times and they will probably offer him a plate, too. These are community minded people.
But when someone does something just to be nice and didn't have to.... well, that's a Real Scout.
Go To Topic Listing Open Discussion - Program
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The Growing Segment Of Ecological Conscious Serious Games
By Eliane Alhadeff Friday, September 02, 2011
Okabu - Pollution has reached the land of the cloud whales in the cartoony Okabu for PlayStation 3
Growing Green Game Wave Is Spreading From Computers To Home Console Systems And Smartphones
Via: USA TODAY - Green Games Gain In Popularity
USA TODAY reported last week the growing movement of ecologically conscious Serious Games that deals with the real destiny of our actual habitat.
I had early identified this trend, to the point of creating a dedicated category in both my previous blog FUTURE MAKING SERIOUS GAMES Ecology Games (31) and the current one SERIOUS GAMES MARKET Ecology Games (30).
USA TODAY article covers Fate of the World, object of my prior post Red Redemption Porting Fate Of The World Serious Game To Platforms Other Than PC, “the PC strategy game where players try their hand at juggling sociopolitical events, energy consumption, population growth, food production and natural disasters. As the head of a fictitious world environmental organization, the goal is to improve the global climate-change patterns over the next 200 years.”
Fate of the World - U.K. studio Red Redemption, created the game after finishing the Flash-based Web game Climate Challenge for the BBC in 2006
According to the article, “while unlikely to overshadow the steady stream of mainstream video game releases, the growing green game wave is spreading from computers to home console systems and smartphones.”
As the cost of development has dropped, games have gained in popularity as a method to spread environmental messages. "Many different organizations want to put out green messages, be associated with the environmental movement and develop competence and conviction in saving energy," says Clark Aldrich.
Serious Games with environmental and ecological themes are becoming a tool for non-profits and governmental groups because, "This is an issue that resonates with the next generation," Aldrich says. "Both the inclusion of emotion and engagement make the messages stickier, and it speaks the language of the students."
Face the Waste - Toxic Tim tries to thwart players as they sort trash into the correct recycling bins. Find the game on the iPhone or iPod Touch for 99 cents.
The article also provides examples of Recycling Serious Games for the iPhone/iPod Touch, Web games, with a wide variety of free-to-play Flash-based games addressing environmental issues, as well as Downloadable games, like the upcoming game Okabu that will be available on the PlayStation Network (later this fall).
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Mass Effect:
Nitpicks Part 1
By Shamus Posted Monday Jan 12, 2009
Filed under: Game Reviews 50 comments
Mass Effect:
CodexPrevious Post
Next PostMass Effect:
Nitpicks Part 2
As promised, I have compiled my gripes with this game into a single, easy-to-access (and also easy to ignore) list of problems, complaints, issues, and little grievances.
I do this ostensibly as a sort of armchair game design and analysis, but in the case of Mass Effect I’m doing it also as a form of catharsis. Some of these flaws truly grate, and served to yank me out of my entertainment for a helping of petty annoyances at regular intervals. I will not feel like justice has been served until I have unpacked the full list. This will take two posts.
I have tried to arrange my complaints in order from the trivial to the traumatic, but this is an imprecise process at best.
This is spoiler-free, aside from the sections blocked in red.
Whoops. I thought ‘I have to go’ would mean that I want to leave.
Games in the past have used the same obviously-a-white-man voice for your character, regardless of what skin tone you choose. Mass Effect does not overthrow this tradition. The voice of the Male Captain Shepherd has the passion and depth of Ben Stein reading from a list of random numbers. My first time through the game I was male, but his voice drove me to abandon the way of the Y chromosome in subsequent playthroughs. (Which totals four. (So far.))
In the past, dialog-driven games have offered you a bunch of possible answers and left you to read each and every one of them, looking for what you want to say. This is a lot of pointless skimming if you’re just looking for the one that boils down to, “How much will you pay me for killing ten rats?” This breaks the flow of conversation, and all that prose eats up a ton of screen real estate. Mass Effect has a much better system, where you’re offered a very short summary of your answers, and the option to select it appears while the other person is still speaking, letting you get your answer ready before it’s your turn to talk. When it works right it provides a smooth conversation with lots of options that doesn’t require a lot of reading and doesn’t obscure the visuals. You choose your intent and tone, and the dialog flows naturally. Wonderful.
But there are places where the summary doesn’t match what you actually say, and others where the tone isn’t at all clear. When I see the option to say, “What do you want?”, I can’t be sure if my character is going to say, “Can I help you, sir?”, or, “What do YOU want, anus-face?” They’re usually arranged in order from “nice” to “jerk”, but there are still times where you still can’t figure out what’s going to come out of your mouth when you hit the button. And there are plenty of rail-roadish moments where all of your possible responses are variants on the same stupid question or offensive remark.
On the dialog controls: The A button selects dialog options from the list. The X button skips the currently spoken line of dialog. This much is good. But then some savage idiot made it so that the X button also selects dialog, so that as you skip past spoken dialog, the menu can appear and grab that button-press, causing you to blurt out whatever was highlighted. There is no reason in the world for it to do this. We already have a key for select. Why make the skip button also perform a select? Madness.
Most importantly, when I choose the “kill this guy” dialog option, it means I want to blast him in the face, captain Malcom-style. It does not mean I want to verbosely announce to my enemy my intent to kill them, then wait for them to get in the last word, and then wait patiently for them to get ready. (And they always get in the last word, thank you so much writers.)
Everyone must carry one of every possible weapon, even if they have no training in that weapon. It’s impossible, for example, to not carry a sniper rifle. This brings about eye-crossing weirdness, like the fact that if I want two party members to trade shotguns, I need a third shotgun to act as a placeholder.
The game gave me a good bit more inventory busywork than I was able to enjoy.
Mini-Game
Time to press a button!
All non-combat actions, from hacking to lockpicking, are abstracted away as little button-pressing minigames. It’s a quicktime event, but they show a picture of the button pad during the exercise. This is very important if – like me – this happens to be the first game you play on a particular console. My full rant against the over-use of quicktime events in games will have to wait for another time, but for now I’ll point out that without a picture of the pad, quicktime events are first and foremost a test of controller knowledge, and a reflex test second.
But problem here isn’t that it’s too easy or too hard (which will vary depending on who you ask) but that it’s just not very interesting. It was only a challenge in the sense that signing my full name is a “challenge”. It’s something you are required to do, but it is not stimulating. If I had to sign my full name every time I wanted to (say) access my stapler, then on a busy day I’d probably just conclude I didn’t want those papers stapled together in the first place. This is exactly how things played in in the game. After a while, I was passing up locked containers because I didn’t want to have to break the flow with momentary tedium.
Are Lootboxes Gambling?
Obviously they are. Right? Actually, is this another one of those sneaky hard-to-define things?
The Truth About Piracy
What are publishers doing to fight piracy and why is it all wrong?
Autoblography
The story of me. If you're looking for a picture of what it was like growing up in the seventies, then this is for you.
50 thoughts on “Mass Effect:
Kel'Thuzad says:
Monday Jan 12, 2009 at 12:05 pm
So you’re going to say why you love it at the end?
*grabs popcorn*
They never did well with the inventory. I always had maximum omni-gel because I would melt things down. I never needed to sell things, because I had loads of cash.
What’s a quicktime event?
Wikipedia: “It allows for limited control of the game character during cut scenes or cinematic sequences in the game, and generally involves the player following onscreen prompts to press buttons.”
So… something like an interactive cutscene?
“What's a quicktime event?”
^ It’s sort of like a mini-game. While something goes on in the background, an instruction appears on the screen.
So, for instance:
You are playing Army Man X. In a cutscene, Army Man Y sneaks up behind you, grabs you, and puts a knife up to your throat. Then, “Press X To Not Die” shows up on-screen, and if you do so fast enough, your character Judo-throws the bad guy and the cutscene resumes. If not, you get your throat slit, and get a GAME OVER.
Note that you aren’t actually fighting the bad guy with the control stick and the combat-specific buttons, you’re just fulfilling an arbitrary reflex test for…what reason, exactly?
MintSkittle says:
I didn’t have any problems with the dialog wheel or the lockpicking/hacking mini-game.
The inventory, though, was fairly overwhelming at first. After I got it figured out, it was fairly smooth sailing here.
The only thing I found strange is how much inventory I didn’t buy. Aside from medigel/grenade upgrades, armory licenses, and the Spectre gear, I didn’t buy anything.
I liked the button mashing. either it was easy or I was good at it. I happily believe the latter. :)
Maiven7 says:
The Dialog issue seems to be a case of Your Mileage May Vary…I can’t remember any instances where dear ol’ Shep popped off with anything too drastically different from what I wanted her to say.
Except, of course, when I was trying to skip dialog and she started talking without any prior consultation. Eventually I just started waiting for the dialog wheel to show up. It was safer that way.
Can’t really say much about the inventory. I didn’t…excessively mind the Everyone Carries Everything bit, because everyone came equipped with their own placeholders for weapons they couldn’t use. I just never bothered to upgrade those unless and until it became useful for them to do so. It was silly, but bypassable.
The greater sin was the Bottomless Backpack nature of it, since I don’t remember them ever addressing the standard issue power armors of the ME universe as coming equipped with vector traps. It wound up being both more busywork and frankly economy-breaking, inasmuch as ME has an economy.
Breaking a million credits is another one of those things that happened entirely by accident fairly early on because I’d topped up on omni-gel and still needed to clean out inventory. By the end of the game, I was set up to be permanently rich for my second play through on the same character as I was able to spec out everyone with the top-end of everything, even if they didn’t need it.
This is amusing, but not something I expect or necessarily approve of in a game like this.
And the minigame.
Oh yes. The minigame.
Never mind my initial complete and embarrassing failures through the fine art of not knowing it was going to pull that crap, nor the apparent disconnect between my controller and the screen. Far worse is that once I came to grips with it the first time, it never, ever troubled me again.
About the only thing it ever did was get longer. But once you’ve got the timing down, it’s completely trivial. Every time.
Whether you’re cracking the lock on a locker or rewiring bits of the Citadel itself. They mixed it up with another simple, un-timed puzzle all of what, once?
A missed opportunity, one feels. A whole LOT of missed opportunities. The triviality of the act actually led me to never bypassing anything…there was no reason for me not to loot each and every box of everything anywhere I went, ever.
Which ensured there was little to no reason for me to look back once I’d raided and looted a given region.
I remember System Shock having a fairly unique set of hacking/rewiring puzzles that were different based on exactly what it was you were doing (ie: rerouting power for a force-bridge, or bridging a signal across a circuit board.)
They required you to think about what you were doing, and you couldn’t apply a solution for one problem to a completely different problem. What ever happened to that?
DNi says:
That’s your only problem with the inventory system? I would have thought the 150 item limit and the girth of item drops you get from enemies, combined with the user-unfriendly menu would have been the annoyance, which force you to take twenty minutes at a time to convert useless junk into omni-gels.
Omni-Gels, by the way, make the button pressing mini-games go away.
Inventory meshes into mini-game fairly easily: get rid of your excess inventory by making it Omni-gel, then use Omni-gel to bypass the mini-game.
I just play the mini-game, but I’ve got enough console experience (if not 360 experience) that a few button pushes are just a brief exercise.
Anaphyis says:
The question isn’t easy or not, but immersion breaking or not. And I never encountered (semi) quicktime events outside God of War (and maybe Indigo Prophecy to some degree) where they could get away with it as these minigames are pointless exercises of button matching and reflex and especially setting wise a wall banger. If it is that mundane to break into a computer terminal, they should get cryptographers and security consultants instead of spectres. (And, considering other things going on in the station, that may be ESPECIALLY wise). You have a hacking stat anyway, you have things to hack, so why not simply leave it with a >= check and be done with it? You cannot replicate the real experience anyway (fallout 3’s lockpicking was nice though) so a repetitive minigame serves nothing but padding the game and building up annoyance.
The hacking gets especially grating when ME’s immersion level is already at it’s lowest: In the cardboard cutout map o’ grates shooting generic enemy after driving the mako through a generic environment (though the skybox rocks.)
At least you can circumvent this with gel, which gets pretty inflationary later in the game.
God of War did quick-time events right because God of War was the one that started the trend. Before God of War, every game did not have to have quick-time; now they do.
Game manufacturers decided it was the quick-time events that made God of War great (not entirely untrue, as they were very well done there), and thus including quick-time events would make their games great.
Now would be the time for me to link back to Shamus’s post a few days ago about the birdman fallacy.
Magnus says:
I have to say I detest “mini-games” in my RPGs, system shock almost gets away with it because they did them well, and you could choose alternative character types which allowed you to get by in a different way. The main reason behind the hate is simple, you have a statistic for how good you are at hacking/lockpicking etc., so why should you have the mini game aswell?
You’ll be glad to know that in the PC version the dialog problem still exists, I thought it was PC only, since the left mouse click is both “skip” and “select”. Glad to know they annoyed us all! The other gripe for a mouse user is the radial menu, which was obviously designed for ease of use with a 360 controller, rather than the mouse, because selecting the option you want was slightly tricky at times, when the number of options was high.
They fix the minigame in the PC version. It isn’t amazing, but I’d say it’s comparable to the enjoyability of the lockpick minigame in Fallout 3.
The deal with the dialog is that each slot on the dialogue wheel always represents a certain tone of dialog. If you want to say something mean you select lower left, if you want to say something inspiring and/or insightful, select upper left. Etc… You can really move your way through a conversation without ever reading the dialog tree itself.
It was hailed as a revolutionary system, so I knew about it going in, but I was surprised that the game never really explains it to you. You don’t really need to understand it to play the game, but it makes more sense if you know because of the sheer number of times you have two choices that are basically the same on the wheel, but have much different meaning when selected.
potemkin.hr says:
@Magnus:
I agree with you, I hate mini-games in RPG-s (although I LOVE kotor’s pazzak :D )
Mike Kozlowski says:
You know how the wheel works, so that up is the nice and down is mean, right? That’s the particular genius of the system to me, such that you never have to worry about whether your words are going to come out sarcastic or nice.
Lukasa says:
This is probably the only advantage of owning ME on PC, which is that some of the more annoying stuff got an overhaul. We have a similar issue involving skipping dialogue, but it’s far easier to navigate around the inventory screen with a mouse than it is with a controller.
Also, we got a different minigame for unlocking than you guys did. Don’t get me wrong: it also rapidly becomes easy and pointless, but it isn’t a quick-time event, which makes it better.
Pederson says:
I found the inventory system deeply aggravating. I’m a packrat, so I tend to hold on to anything and everything I can. There’s a limit to how many items you can carry (an invisible limit; you only find out about it when you reach or get close to it), but I’m at a loss to explain exactly why, given the reach of nanotechnology involved, weapon and armor upgrades aren’t simply a set of schematics, with the upgrades themselves being manufactured from all that Omnigel I had on hand by the end of the game.
Nothing in the inventory ever stacks, and sorting within equipment levels appeared to be either nonexistent, random, or totally arbitrary, making finding this or that specific item a real joy.
Man, did I ever hate the inventory system by the end of that game.
Colonel Slate says:
Yes, I’ve played both versions of Mass Effect, on the 360 and on the PC, and all in all, the PC version was much more worth it. It seems like it was made for PC more than 360, but that’s due to the over haul, and with steam having Mass Effect, it’s much more worth owning ME for the PC
Jennifer Snow says:
There are several places in the game where you get the same line *regardless* of what dialog choice you make. If it’s the same line, just have the dialog wheel pop up with “continue”. Don’t give me a choice that isn’t a choice.
I have to say, I do like the places where they pared it down to the absolute minimum you needed to know to choose between options. I think there’s one spot on Noveria where the “ending a quest” dialog options are:
Is that a perfect condensation or what?
From what I read, Dragon’s Lair had to be the ultimate quicktime event.
Robyrt says:
I’m surprised the inventory doesn’t get a fuller measure of your ire there. It’s a pain to navigate, especially considering that the only inventory item you might possibly want to change more than once an hour – the mods on your characters’ primary guns – are the most difficult to get to and the hardest to set up.
Say what you will about Too Human, but its “auto-drop my worst gun when my backpack is full” option turned an awkward inventory into smooth sailing. If only Mass Effect could have done the same.
Are there distinctions made between memorizable & random quicktime events? The hacking ones in Mass Effect were (IIRC) random, while the ones used for “boss-finishing” moves in SW: Force Unleashed were the same sequence and therefore if you missed one you very likely would hit it the next time because you could recall the sequence.
For that matter, the quicktime events in Force Unleashed had another thing going for them – the individual button-presses had meaning. That is, when it flashed the “jump” button and you hit it, you would do some huge jump; when it flashed the “lightning” button and you hit it, you’d hit the boss with lightning; when it flashed the saber button and you hit it, you’d either throw the saber at the rancor’s nose or do the big slice-an-AT-ST-bottom-to-top move; when it flashed the “push” button and you hit it, you’d crumple the AT-ST into a ball.
Those two things (memorizable & meaningful) probably go hand-in-hand.
Danel says:
I’m pretty sure God of War didn’t invent the Quick-Time Event, though it may have popularised them. I’m pretty sure the name itself was invented for Shen Mue, but it possibly predates that – it’s not really that different from the awful “interactive movies” dead-end of the Mega-CD era.
In theory, the Quick-Time Event provides a fascinating and dynamic compromise between normal gameplay – which can unfortunately consist of the player making constant mistakes – and uninteractive cutscenes. They allow the player to involve themselves in the most dramatic and action-packed sequences, drawing the player even further into the game’s world! – except of course that they’re neither as fun as proper gameplay, and don’t even allow you to sit back and watch awesome action gymnastics because you have to focus on a tiny postage-stamp sized area in the centre of the screen.
To be fair, Mass Effect doesn’t really do that – it’s Quick-Time Events are more of a mini-game attempting to make lock-picking more interesting. It doesn’t work. Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy was lousy with it, though.
The most infuriating aspect of it all is that the Quick-Time Events in games usually only take place in the awesome and action-packed cutscenes that you wouldn’t usually mind watching anyway. You still have to sit through the dull ones.
The business with them carrying one of every gun is – presumably – so Sheppard can threaten someone with a pistol in a cutscene, even if you prefer to use sniper rifles. Still fairly silly, though.
Scourge says:
I get reminded of the fanfiction someone wrote called “The bore effect” or something similiar.
“So, what can you do?”
“I can hack things with my omnipad and make people fly.”
“So you are carrying around 4 weapons which you can’t even handle?”
“I.. ehm…”
“What about you?” *turns to the brother*
“I can handle all 4 of them!”
It was entertaining to read.
Tryss says:
I remember Penny arcade made a joke about the minigame and how it’s really not a good deterrent for theft:
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/14/
I believe the Quick Time Event was invented back in the arcade days, but as a modern concept (and I believe the name itself) QTEs really hit it big in Shenmue for Dreamcast.
It’s become the thing to criticize in games these days. Just as with any gameplay concept they can be done well and they can be done badly. I thought the QTEs in Force Unleashed were sort of in between. It was stupid that you couldn’t ever fail at them, but at least they made sense and correlated to the actual game controls.
God of War has probably the best QTEs of any game I’ve ever played. Shenmue had good ones as well, but it relied on them far too much and all you ever really did was run fast and dodge things, but that’s more or less setting-appropriate for that game.
I didn’t say God of War invented quick-times (I tried hard to avoid saying that, actually), just that it started the trend of “every game needs quick-times”.
God of War had good quick-times, and that led in part to its great success, so the birdmen said “Ooo, quick-times are popular, let’s put in quick-times so we’ll be popular!” without actually figuring out why God of War’s quick-times made it popular.
Yeah, quick-times can be good if done well. They allow the game to make you do cool things that would be too complex to let you do normally(except God of War, where awesome was commonplace). The thing is that they have to make sense. Moving a character down a hallway filled with lazers would be tough with traditional controls, but can be great with quicktime. The key is though that the buttons on-screen should be prompts for stuff you are already doing. If ‘A’ is jump, then in any quicktime if something is coming at your legs you should press ‘A’. They’re just usually so poorly implemented that they’re a detriment to the game. After all, why bother with quicktime for lockpicking when Splenter Cell:Double Agent does it so well?
Zel says:
I usually like QTE, probably because I’m a big fan of rhythm games, and the mechanism is very close : you have to push a certain button in a certain time frame.
However, in any context other than rhythm games, I find it awful. Fahrenheit, and God of War to a lesser degree, are perfect example of what is wrong with it. During these sequences, you have to focus your attention on the next key you have to hit, which means you don’t get to see what happens in the meantime. If you try to watch the (usually cool) on-screen action, you’re very likely to miss the next input and fail the whole sequence.
As for ME mini-games, I played it on PC and had to think for a few minutes and search the net to remind me of what the hacking/lockpicking game was. It’s basically a circular labyrinth, you start on the outer ring and have to get to the center in ~10 seconds. There are static and moving walls, if you get hit by the moving walls you have to start again. It’s ok as far as mini-games go (better than Bioshock’s tubes at least), but the random pattern of the labyrinth sometimes provides no possible path to the center, or a clear line to the exit.
What I didn’t like was that as the lock became harder, the mini game got harder AND you needed a high level of electronics/repair just to attempt it. Either do one or the other, but both don’t make much sense. I mean, what kind of an expert am I if the only benefit of my high skill is that I can try. If they want to keep the mini-game, they could have made the game very hard without skill and get progressively easier as your skill went up. Or they could have put more focus on the character’s skill (instead of the player’s skill) and ditch the mini-game altogether, automatically opening the lock once your skill is high enough (no % chances please, quicksave/quickload defeats the purpose of this entirely). An added advantage of the latter is that you save your player the hassle of constant save/load until he finally succeeds.
Inventory was a pain on PC because you only see about 10 items at a time on the list, and can’t select multiple items at once for “omni-gelification”, which results in lots and lots of clicks… The naming convention of items was also strangely confusing, in the sense that more often than not an “X mark II” gun/armor was better than another “Y mark V” gun/armor. Considering how many different weapons there are, the manufacturer’s name seems to be the best clue (apart from analysis of stats) when guessing a weapon/armor’s power.
Veloxyll says:
I’m surprised there’s not more complaining with the economy. by the end of the game I had almost 5 million credits, and yet, even before I got the SPECTRE weapons, there was NOTHING at all for me to buy. I spent more money on Medkit and Grenade slots than on armour or weapons. Well, not counting the 500,000 I blew on the Explosive rounds upgrade for giggles (+500% heat generation & shotguns = instant overheat!)
Also, no word on the ending? :O
It’s been a few months since I played through ME, and that was the PC version, so here’s my recollection:
Dialogue: I don’t really remember, but I don’t think I had any problem with it. Put this down as “I think they fixed it in the PC version.”
Inventory: Yep. Out of four BioWare games I’ve played, only Jade Empire had a good inventory system, and that’s because there wasn’t much stuff to manage anyway. (KotOR’s was okay.)
Mini-Game: Judging by the screenshot, this was reworked in the PC version. The PC version wasn’t much of a challenge either, but it was vaguely interesting.
Oy, the mini-game… For some reason, there is a disconnect between my keyboard and my computer, ONLY FOR THAT GAME. So when I press a key, sometimes the thing will acknowledge it properly, sometimes it will overacknowledge (and cause me to lose) and sometimes it’ll just ignore me.
I hate the minigame, and it hates me.
@ 31, 28
The PC minigame was basically Frogger, wasn’t it?
I wouldn’t have thought of it as such, but yeah, it is.
JKjoker says:
i tried the instant overheat explosive shotgun as well, but a bug caused my weapons to lock up in overheated state 1 out of every 2 times i overheated forcing me to restart the game so it had to go -_- (pc version)
also, the console minigame looks a lot less annoying than the pc minigame, i solved that damn minigame so many times i dont want to ever see it again, i wish for a “you solved the minigame 500 times so now its auto-overridden” achievement, you could get it before you finish the first planet
UtopiaV1 says:
I prefer the hacking minigame for the pc, very reminiscent of that safe cracking game that i got when i was 12 and i booted it from DOS. (can’t remember for the life of me what it’s name was)
Also, I love the dialog options for Mass Effect, cos of ONE mistake i made near the beginning (not really my fault, which is why it’s so goddam funny)! Anyway, I was talking to a maddened survivor of the raid Eden Prime (not spoiler, it happens 5 seconds into the game!), and one of my options was to tell him to be quiet… at least that’s what i thought. Shepard knocked the mans lights out! I mean bloody hell, i choose points in intimidation, but it’s a bit hard to intimidate someone when they’re unconscious!!!
Anyway, so far so good Shamus, keep it up!
Spider Dave says:
I think the inventory is up there on my list of annoyances. Inevitably in inventory games, I manage it religiously for a little while, and then once I’m good enough I stop.
Your point about the different buttons being used for the dialog and the accidental choosing of an answer you didn’t necessarily want to choose reminded me of another game that did something a little similar: Riviera the Promised Land for GBA. There were moments during my first playthrough where I would be hitting the A button to make the text pop up immediately instead of waiting for it to scroll, and there would be a dialog box that pops up wanting a yes or no answer from you. But I was concentrating on making the text fly by that I accidentally answered yes several times where I might not have wanted to answer that way. It was very frustrating, because I was trying to keep all of my party members happy (it’s an RPG/somewhat of a dating sim but not really), and skipping past the dialog box made some characters very disappointed in me. Never got around to finishing that game…
Also, I agree with the “generic white guy” voice problem. Hearing that voice out an Obama lookalike was just strange.
Karizma says:
The excess of inventory bugged the boogers out of me. Mass Effect seems to have “Swords in Rats Syndrome.” Make people drop stuff less. I want to blast men in the face, not scavenge every corpse of every womp-rat (yes I’m intentionally mixing scifi universes, bite me).
Make me want to BUY armor and weapons. Further, I wish there was a BIT more balance with weapons and armors. Imbalance would work if the player was offered little for free. But the truth is that I walk around with twelve suits of armor, not counting my four krogan suits, the two turian suits… hell I might as well put Joker in one of them white and pink ones. Rant over.
errolian says:
Nobody seems to have mentioned the elevator rides yet. Step into an elevator, go make a drink, make dinner, phone a friend, play Minesweeper for a while and come back to find you have still not arrived at your destination. In a setting where reaching out across Galaxy’s is no problem, is it too much to ask that the elevator ride time is more realistic?
Luvian says:
The elevator rides were the loading screens. They didn’t want to have to take you away from the game for the loadings, so they made them that way instead.
What you are really complaining about are the long load time.
Having played on PC, I don’t remember particularly long loading times during the elevator rides. There was usually just enough time for a radio announcement of my recent deeds and I would have arrived. Still, I guess having to read data from the DVD didn’t help the 360 in this area.
I remember the permanent overheat lock mentioned above, forcing you to restart the game (changing weapons didn’t help). When faced with enemies that overheat your weapon on purpose, it’s not fun at all. It’s been a while since I had the game, maybe it’s been patched by now.
JemyM says:
My largest complains about Mass Effect are the terrible inventory system, the cheap “middle part” and the dumbed down dialogue system.
The Inventory System is really one of the worst I have seen in modern history. I have tried to compare it with older games but yet haven’t found an inventory system more frustrating than ME. First of all it’s dumbed down from previous bioware titles such as KOTOR. It lacks the amount of inventory slots the old one did, and basically “more damage = better”. Optional ammunition was pretty much a choice between “bonus dmg vs organics” and “bonus damage vs machine”. Selling off useless stuff had the problem that to be able to get a good overview of what you had in your inventory you pretty much needed an extra notepad. I was keeping a copy of my inventory on my laptop because scrolling through a looong list to do stuff like finding the three highest-damage “bonus dmg vs organics” boosters took a lot of jumping back and forth. If I only wanted 3 (one per character), and I had like 2xIV 3xIII and 1xII (meaning I should keep 2xIV and 1xIII) and then I had to browse back and forth to find them all, complicated further by stuff changing names at higher levels.
Then we have the Middle Part as I call it, where Bioware wanted to copy Oblivions terrible scaling system, offering us with a “great amount” of generic, computer generated design, which you quickly realized was just the same stuff over and over again. Yes, it made the game significally longer, but the game would have also been significally better for me if they just skipped that part entirely. Computer generated design does not equal and will never equal real man-made design, the one that made previous bioware titles so great. The only exception to that I ever saw was Space Rangers II.
Finally, the Dumbed Down Dialogue Design, where the game pointed out “reply this if you are nice” and “reply this if you are rude”, so if you wanted to pump paragon points you could in theory macro through all your dialogues. The game mostly skips the greyzone, which really means that the only two options of character development you got is “black or white”. There are no choice between “discipline/code” vs “freedom/pragmatic” like the chaos/law system of D&D. There are no other great questions debated, except for a minor quest regarding amniocentesis.
Furthermore, neither black or white fits the role that the game wants you to have as the captain of Normandy. The paragon are willing to break code and waste resources to be the ultimate “nice guy to every one, including villains” on the edge of being blue-eyed and naive. The renegade put up a psychotic explosive bipolar behavior that wouldn’t made him/her trusted by anyone, yet they end up with the trust to be “last hope of humanity”. The dialogue choices also run with Christian ethics on sexuality meaning being “bad” leads to more sex and being “good” means refraining from sex.
There’s very little in terms of moral choices and deep philosophical questions in ME. This isn’t Planescape Torment. It isn’t Mask of the Betrayer. It’s a streamlined sci-fi game with an interesting story and a decently fleshed out world, but gameplay itself sucks.
I agree with Veloxyll about the economy. I was very excited when my savings first exceeded a million credits, imagining that I would soon be riding a brand new speeder-bike (or something). But that turned to an equal amount of disappointment when I discovered that weapons and armor are about the only thing you can spend money on, and that that pile of money would continue to grow no matter what I did.
Geno says:
The PC version’s mini game is so much better.
I liked the dialog system.
I hated the dialog.
Often it was incredibly railroady (Yes / Acknowledged / Ok), and when you try out different choices, the character actually says the exact same line. Also, the lines were all written for an asshole white guy. If you wanted to play as a friendly person, of even just not insult people all the time, you had a huge problem. “Kill all the eggs” – “No, don’t do this” – Choice: “I have to / It is necessary / I will enjoy killing them”. I DON’T WANT TO KILL THEM?!
Next, Renegade choices are more often than not utterly lunatic, but to make up for that, dialog has no meaning in this game at all. In the end, you will have to accept the quest go shoot some bugs and then either instul the questgiver some more or not and get your reward. There is only ONE SINGLE interesting dialog in the game, against the evil spectre before the bomb goes off. All other dialog should be skipped.
The christian ethics thing also bothers me to no end. Why do you have to be bad to have sex? Can’t we all agree that sex is *not* evil? It’s hundreds of years in the future, but concensus is that sex is evil? Even nowadays that is not correct, since only (some) christians think so, which is not even the majority of earth population. But enough religious debate.
They actally managed to avoid the pitfall of “good vs bad” everywhere else: It’s not good vs bad, it’s two defined alignments. Paragon vs Lunatic.
When I played Mass Effect, I was immensly pissed by how much potential there was and how they messed up. And all the fanboys calling it the Best RPG Evar don’t make this better, because it clearly is somewhere in the “passabe / mediocre / ok” area. I blame the graphics. ME is really pretty, and that is what counts most for fanboys nowadays.
Also, horrible inventory system.
Picador says:
When I see the option to say, “What do you want?”, I can't be sure if my character is going to say, “Can I help you, sir?”, or, “What do YOU want, anus-face?”
This is a problem in a lot of games, but Indigo Prophecy (which, like you, I really liked for about the first 40%) was by far the worst I’ve seen. It used (and may have invented) the “choose while they’re still talking” system for smooth conversation, which was a clever idea, but the mouse-gesture interface and the single-word summaries combined with the time pressure meant that you had about 500 milliseconds to read four words and try to figure out what each one meant before making a weird mouse gesture to choose one of them. This resulted in 1) not paying attention at all to what the NPC was saying, and 2) almost never having any idea what you were actually choosing to say in response.
On the dialogue:
My second playthrough was a militantly pro-human character; I ended the game nearly equal in Paragon and Renegade points. I never once felt my Renegade choices were “Lunatic”; they were rampantly pro-human, for the most part, and often anti-corruption (I had a hierarchy in my head: honest human > corrupt human > honest alien > corrupt alien > Krogan (the game spends a lot of time, especially on high difficulties, making you hate all the Krogan that aren’t Wrex. And I ended up shooting him, too.))
This character spent the entire game at odds with the Council – growing frustrated at their refusal to listen to him, annoyed with their denial of resources and aid, and irritated with their steadfast denial of the Reaper threat even after he had completed many tasks and uncovered many clues of them. So when the final choice came, it seemed natural that he would let – nay, encourage – the Council’s death. They were blind fools that couldn’t see the truth, and the galaxy needed humans to protect it.
My first playthrough was a very nice, Paragon-y woman, who also never particularly felt out of character. Except for the part where you absolutely cannot, no way, negotiate with the Thorian. I had max Charm at that point!
Tizzy says:
I LOATHE mini-games, especially in adventure game. Others crave the variety, and welcome the distraction. Surely, it should be possible for games to satisfy both camps. Akin to your multiple difficulty sliders you suggested for Prince of Persia, except we’re not only talking about difficulty any more but just customizing your game experience. Such customization was unthinkable in the Dark Ages (1980’s), but now?…
I was on the PC, the latest patch available, with a pretty sweet rig.
The elevator load times weren’t notable, I tended to hear the (sometimes interesting) news blurb, and then I’d see my destination coming up.
Load screen IN my ship was annoying, since the quartermaster restocks every new system (or was it planet?).
Never got the overheat but or endless elevator rides… just saying. Do people not patch? Or did they fail to patch it? Did have to turn my SLi off though, iirc. That was annoying, but it still ran fine on a single GeForce9800GT.
JDintheOC says:
Wednesday Dec 22, 2010 at 4:10 pm
You don’t play Mass Effect 2 – It plays you. You’re like a cow in a chute, prodded in the direction the designers want you to go. I have a new PC with Win 7 and I cannot get the Bypass mini game to work. I’v even looked on You Tube and am playing the game the same way and still cannot get either game to work correctly. I find the two alike symbols, click one untill a green spot appears and before I can drag the spot over to the mating symbol, the spot disappears halfway there. Once I had two symbols very close to each other and when I managed to get the spot over the mating symbol, nothing happened. The other game basically doesn’t work either. To make matters worse, in some areas it seems I can’t continue unless I complete the game. I’m ready to go back to Oblivion.
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The company, which counts City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO), Qatar Airways and Jaguar Land Rover among its clients, had been using its executive coaches, buses, cars and people carriers to full capacity.
However, thanks to funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial, the West Midlands business has been able to add two new Mercedes Turas 900 coaches to its impressive 28-vehicle fleet.
LandFlight director Akhtar Ali said: “Our business has been growing steadily over recent years, to the point where we now need to expand our fleet of vehicles. The support from Santander has been invaluable, allowing us to purchase two new coaches which, in turn, means we can take on even more new customers and contracts.”
Dalia Ahmed, relationship director at Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “LandFlight has been extremely successful in offering a high quality service to both businesses and private individuals, which is reflected in their need to expand the fleet. We are confident we will see the business continue to go from strength to strength.”
The information contained in this press release is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions
For Landflight media enquiries, please contact:
Newsline PR on 01926 888308.
Bijal Tanna 020 7756 4189 Mobile: 07860 259 217
Leonora Burtenshaw 020 7756 4543 Mobile: 07701 004 107
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Jeremy Dutcher puts spotlight on ‘Indigenous renaissance’ in Canadian arts scene
A wave of Indigenous artists making inroads in fields including music, literature, dance and film is exhilarating for playwright Reneltta Arluk, who pauses while discussing musician Jeremy Dutcher’s recent Polaris Prize win to say she’s about to choke up.
The theatre veteran says she was deeply moved by Dutcher’s rousing celebration of talent in an acceptance speech that declared: “Canada, you are in the midst of Indigenous renaissance.”
Arluk says she, too, is buoyed by an apparent cultural boom that has seen Inuit throat singer turned author Tanya Tagaq and Oji-Cree, two-spirit writer Joshua Whitehead make the Giller Prize long list, and the Haida-language drama Edge of the Knife draw acclaim at the recent Toronto International Film Festival.
She’s intent on making sure those gains persist and deepen, and hopes that her role as director of Indigenous arts courses at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity can help assure that.
“When space is being given for Indigenous voice it’s a way that the nation rises and I really love how that is celebrated,” says Arluk, director of the centre’s first year-round program of contemporary Indigenous arts programming.
Arluk isn’t sure why there seems to be a cultural boom now, but she’s glad it’s finally arrived.
“We are all feeling excited about that and that excites our community and allows them to take bigger risks, have bigger vision, because we can,” she says.
“Space is being made at Banff Centre, National Arts Centre, AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), Winnipeg Art Gallery, Stratford Festival. These are now places that are asking for Indigenous voice: in our voice, not their voice … actually making space for Indigenous voice to be heard autonomously, self-determined and that is a sense of renaissance.”
Dutcher’s album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa was a culmination of five years of work that involved Dutcher diving into an archive of recordings of his ancestors dating back nearly a century.
The trained operatic singer, who was raised partly in the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, sang the album entirely in the endangered Wolastoq language.
After his win at a gala Monday night, he called on Canadian audiences to recognize and acknowledge long-standing artistry now gaining critical attention but still waiting to break into the mainstream.
“You don’t have to look too much further than the top prizes in art, in literature, in music in this country — Giller Prize, Sobey Prize, Polaris Prize — we’re here and we’re making beautiful work. So my question to you is, are you ready to listen?”
Indigenous writer and academic Leanne Betasamosake Simpson says she “felt incredibly proud” for Dutcher accomplishing so much on his own terms.
“A lot of Indigenous people and our elders have been doing this work for generations and generations and generations without much recognition or affirmation so I think to have younger Indigenous people just be able to see him just shining, I think that’s a really lovely gift,” says Simpson, who befriended Dutcher while both took part in the New Constellations tour, which brought together Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.
As for why the boom is happening now, she credits the groundwork of unsung artists who came before and the passage of time.
“The work that the elder artists have done to come before us, the ones that came before me built community, they spent a long time nurturing emerging Indigenous artists. This is part of a movement that has been going on for decades now and we’ve sort of got a foothold, and there’s enough of this new generation or next wave of Indigenous artists that recognition and support has started to come.”
While the talent isn’t new, the reaction from the Canadian public and media is, says Simpson, whose recent work includes a collaboration with director Amanda Strong on a stop-motion animation short that screened at TIFF.
Inuit singer Beatrice Deer, who mostly sings in Inuktitut, says she also sees the surge as part of a “movement of empowerment.”
“Finally Canada is starting to pick up on that and the next thing would be to act on it and to do something about it, to make it right,” says Deer, who moved to Montreal 11 years ago from Quaqtaq, a small town in Nunavik.
“First is acknowledging the wrongs that’s (been) done and then on a government-level implement real resources to places that lack resources … I really believe that there needs to be focus on getting to the root of our pain.”
Freddie Highmore calls The Good Doctor a hopeful remedy for dark times
‘BTS Army’ invades Hamilton for K-pop band’s three sold-out shows
Michael Moore envies Canada — for its chocolate bars
English soccer star Wayne Rooney signs with MLS’s D.C. United
New Real Madrid tested in Champions League without Ronaldo
Japanese spacecraft arrives safely at asteroid after 3.5-year journey
Merkel works to save the EU and her career during high-stakes migration meeting
Austria urges EU to launch migrant talks with Egypt
US military joins search for boys’ soccer team missing in Thailand cave
Interstellar visitor is a comet, not an asteroid, astronomers suggest
Students weighed down by heavy backpacks, ‘text neck’
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Our hopes for the Conference
“We have great hopes for this conference. By bringing so much wisdom together in one room we hope to take a step towards establishing the whole truth about bovine TB, and, in a frank and open discussion, open a new era of genuine cooperation in the fight against this pernicious pathogen.” Dr Brian May’s opening remarks at this unique event set the tone for the proceedings as Farmers, badger experts, veterinarians, and wildlife groups gathered together to listen to the leading experts, drawn from all around the UK and the Republic of Ireland, united for the first time on a journey to discover science fact - not science fiction.
BTB Conference 2013
Chairman Prof. David Macdonald CBE DSc FRSE
Director, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford Chair, Science Advisory Committee, Natural England
SESSION 1: THE SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF BADGER VACCINATION
10:15 Comparing the epidemiological effects of badger vaccination and culling
Prof. Rosie Woodroffe - Zoological Society of London
Vaccination and culling have both been used in attempts to control wildlife diseases, but work in fundamentally different ways. Culling is intended to reduce transmission by removing infected animals (which can transmit disease) and by removing susceptible animals (which can become infected). By contrast, vaccination is intended to “remove” susceptible animals by making them immune. Although culling is generally intended to reduce disease transmission, badger culling is associated with increases in the proportion of badgers infected with Mycobacterium bovis (the pathogen which causes bovine tuberculosis [TB]). This increase in M. bovis transmission reflects changes in badger behaviour caused by culling. Such changes limit the extent to which culling can reduce the density of infected badgers. Unless badger numbers are drastically reduced, badger culling increases the incidence of TB in cattle.
Fewer data are available on the impacts of badger vaccination for TB control. Nevertheless, scientific consensus indicates that this approach would be expected to reduce the proportion of infected badgers, if implemented annually over several years. Vaccination is likely to be less costly than culling because it is unlikely to require much policing. Costs can be reduced still further by involving volunteers in fieldwork.
There is interest in exploring combinations of badger vaccination and culling. Culling would be expected to undermine the benefits of subsequent vaccination by leaving a lower proportion of susceptible animals to be protected by vaccination. Moreover, evidence suggests that perturbation might also compromise attempts at selective culling of infected badgers.
Overall, badger vaccination may potentially contribute more than culling to eventual TB eradication, because the proportion of infected badgers would be reduced rather than increased. While the consequences of badger vaccination for cattle TB control are still unknown, unfavourable comparisons with culling are frequently based on an incomplete picture of the consequences of culling.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ABOVE AND PRESENTATION BELOW
10:35 Badger vaccine development and efficacy
Dr. Mark Chambers, Animal Health - Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Increased incidence of Bovine TB in the UK caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis is a cause of considerable economic loss to farmers and Government. Eurasian badgers represent the most significant wildlife source of recurrent M. bovis infection to cattle in the UK.
In March 2010 a licence was granted to AHVLA for an injectable form of Bacille Calmette-‐Guérin (BCG) vaccine for use in Eurasian badgers in the UK ‐ called BadgerBCG. This was the culmination of 10 years of effort and £11 million of government investment. Vaccination of badgers against TB with BCG is now one of the disease control options available. Over 4000 doses of the vaccine have been administered since July 2010.
To obtain the licence, a series of studies were conducted in both captive and wild badgers to demonstrate vaccine safety and efficacy. I shall describe these and present highlights from the programme of work.
The cost of trapping and vaccinating badgers with BadgerBCG has been estimated to be £1700 - £4,000 per km2. A vaccine that can be delivered orally is a potentially cheaper and more practical way of vaccinating large numbers of badgers in the wild than an injectable vaccine, although this is dependent on the required dose and number of baits that need to be delivered per sett to ensure adequate uptake.
AHVLA has been leading on the oral badger vaccine effort since 2005. Whilst the steps to licensing an oral vaccine are the same as for the injectable vaccine, the research and development phase is demanding and there is no guarantee of a successful outcome. I shall give a brief outline of some of the issues to consider in the development and licensing of an oral vaccine and describe progress to date. Much of the work is ongoing and specific details are commercial in confidence.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ABOVE
10:55 Development of oral badger vaccines
Dr. Eamonn Gormley - School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Dublin
The eradication of tuberculosis from cattle herds in Ireland and the UK is compromised because infected wildlife species, such as Eurasian badgers (Meles meles), share the same environment and contribute to transmission of infection. The short-term options for dealing with tuberculosis in the wildlife reservoir hosts are limited to segregation of domestic animals from the wildlife or culling of the wildlife host, which remains highly controversial. Vaccination of badgers against M. bovis, if successfully employed, could directly facilitate the advancement of bovine tuberculosis eradication. Programmes of research into vaccination of badgers are being undertaken in both countries and vaccine trials in captive badgers have established that the M. bovis bacille Calmette-‐Guérin (BCG) vaccine, when delivered by the oral route, can induce a protective response that limits the distribution and severity of tuberculosis disease following experimental challenge. The results from a field oral vaccine trial in Ireland will provide a framework for the development and implementation of strategies that will address the disease in badger populations, and if successful will remove this major impediment to bovine tuberculosis eradication.
11:30 Badger vaccination – impacts and implementation in the field
Dr. Gavin Wilson - Wildlife Programme, Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency
BadgerBCG, an injectable vaccine against bovine tuberculosis, was licenced in March 2010 after being shown to be safe and efficacious in badgers. Soon after, the Veterinary Surgery (Vaccination of Badgers against Tuberculosis) Order 2010 came into effect allowing trained lay persons to vaccinate badgers by injection, under the direction of a veterinary surgeon. In June 2010, the Badger Vaccine Deployment Project (BVDP) was launched, aiming to vaccinate badgers in the endemic TB area, build farmer confidence in vaccination, and learn lessons about vaccine deployment. The BVDP area includes over 100 farm premises, covering approximately 100km2 of Gloucestershire farmland. A key component of the BVDP is a bespoke course to train lay vaccinators, approved by the Secretary of State and developed in consultation with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. This four day course covers the essentials of legal responsibilities, cage trapping badgers, and storage and handling of BadgerBCG. Under the Certificate of Competence Scheme, all lay vaccinators submit detailed records to AHVLA showing location and numbers of badgers vaccinated. Hence, we maintain a growing record of all vaccinations carried out in England and Wales. Up to the end of 2012, a total of 4029 vaccine doses had been delivered in England and Wales. In 2012 alone, 998 were vaccinated in the BVDP, 1424 in the Welsh Intensive Action Area, and a further 278 vaccinations were delivered by a range of other organisations. To date, 167 people have attended the training course. Although BadgerBCG has a proven protective effect in badgers, a key knowledge gap is an understanding of the effect that badger vaccination may have on reducing the incidence of disease in cattle. We are discussing with Defra and academic
collaborators the possible use of the growing badger vaccination database to help address this issue.
GAVIN'S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION ABOVE AND PRESENTATION BELOW
11:50 From fridge to field - using badger vaccination at the business scale
Dr. Gordon McGlone OBE - former CEO of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust
BadgerBCG is available as a veterinary product. It can be used by lay badger vaccinators licensed by Natural England working under the aegis of organisations with a Certificate of Competence.
A summary of the practical experience of field deployment of badger vaccination for the period 2011 to 2013 in England has been compiled for a number of SMEs, including not for profit organisations and a specialist commercial company. Estimated and actual costs have been considered and a typical figure for badger vaccination within land management presented.
Conventional audit cycle headings of Commitment, Planning, Doing and Reviewing have been used for compiling a number of recommendations for improvements to and increased uptake of badger vaccination in England at the business scale.
SESSION 2: THE SCIENCE AND DEVELOPMENT OF CATTLE VACCINATION
12:10 Development of cattle vaccines
Dr. Martin Vordermeier - Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency
Co-authors: Adam Whelan, Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos, Gareth Jones & R. Glyn Hewinson
Cattle vaccination against bovine TB (bTB) is a disease control tool that could reduce the prevalence, incidence and spread of bTB in the cattle population. Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG), the human TB vaccine, is the only vaccine that could become available in the medium term for use in cattle. However, it is not licensed for this application, and its functional characterisation in respect to its protective efficacy and safety in this target species are required to support licensure. As BCG will compromise the specificity of conventional tuberculin based ante-mortem diagnostic tests, there is also a need for the parallel development of associated diagnostic tests that distinguish infected from vaccinated animals (so-‐called DIVA). Consequently, research in GB has been directed towards these goals, namely the characterisation of BCG in respect to efficacy and safety and the development of immunological DIVA. I will summarise data generated towards these two objectives and also highlight issues that need to be resolved before BCG can be trialed in the field, which is one of the conditions sine qua non towards eventual licensure. However, our development efforts are not restricted to testing BCG as we are also developing measures that improve BCG efficacy, such as so called heterologous-prime boost approaches that comprise of BCG combined with subunit vaccines. We are also exploring the possibility that vaccines can be developed that will not compromise tuberculin specificity, which would allow the continuation with tuberculin based diagnosis alongside vaccination. An overarching goal is the definition of host biomarkers that predict vaccine efficacy, whose application would significantly accelerate vaccine development. These objectives are not being developed in isolation as we are fully embedded in a wide network of national and international collaborators of researchers working not only on cattle vaccines but also with those engaged in the human TB vaccine development effort.
12:30 The development of a test to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals
Dr. Cath Rees - Associate Professor of Microbiology, University of Nottingham
A rapid method for the detection of human tuberculosis was developed by the University of Nottingham in the 1990’s and was commercialised as the FASTPlaqueTB test. We have recently been developing new applications for this bacteriophage technology, initially focussing on rapid detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (MAP) - the causative agent of Johne’s disease in cattle. Using the original technology combined with PCR we have
demonstrated the sensitive detection of MAP in blood samples from infected cattle within 48 h. Interestingly we have been able to detect MAP in the blood of cattle in the very early stages of infection, before any signs of clinical disease are evident, and also in animals that give negative antibody based test results. We have also shown that the same phage based methodology developed for detection of MAP is able to detect bovine TB. There are many reports in the literature that TB can be isolated from the blood of TB infected cattle, but this cannot be used as a practical diagnostic method due to the long periods of incubation required, the need to work under high levels of biosecurity, and the low sensitivity of culture based methods. We are now beginning to investigate whether the phage based technology can be used to detect live bovine TB cells in blood samples to form the basis of a DIVA test that can Distinguish between Infected and Vaccinated Animals. To allow high through put analysis of large numbers of samples we have also developed a new assay format that allows detection and identification of Mycobacterial pathogens within 5 h.
14:00 Developing policy for the use of TB vaccines in badgers and cattle in England
Stephen Cane - Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Few people would dispute that achieving freedom from bovine TB in England should be high on any Government’s agenda. There is far less agreement, however, on the means by which it should be achieved – or, more precisely, whether it is right to use some of the available tools at all. So decisions for Ministers on what interventions to deploy – or not deploy -‐ are always tough and often controversial.
Happily, vaccination is a tool that just about all organisations agree should be in the toolbox. The questions with which Governments grapple then tend to be about how much of a finite resource should be devoted to vaccination – resource for delivery of available vaccines and resource for developing new and better vaccines – which in turn informs things like who does it, what is done and how.
In England, the Coalition Government’s ambition to develop an oral vaccine for badgers and bring a cattle vaccine to the market is evidenced by its investment in R&D. Despite the fact it is possible that research will never yield an efficacious oral badger vaccine, high priority is being given to further efficacy studies. On cattle vaccination, despite the big regulatory hurdles – necessary hurdles given that any veterinary medicine needs to be safe to animals, those who administer them and those who consume their products – work towards field trials likely to cost tens of millions of pounds is moving with pace. It is necessary process, rather than money, that will continue to be the major constraint to progress towards both of these highly prized goals.
There is more of a debate to be had on the ways in which the Government can be the catalyst for increased use of the injectable badger vaccine. There is no sizeable army of public sector vaccinators that could be turned loose in those parts of the countryside where the Government would like to see more and quicker progress. The capacity of others with whom the Government might share responsibility for vaccination is similarly constrained. The uptake of the badger vaccination fund this year is evidence of that. So it is important to look more closely at ways in which capacity can be built and the good intentions of many turned into practical action.
14:30 Developing policy for the use of TB vaccines in badgers and cattle in Wales
Prof. Christianne Glossop - Chief Veterinary Officer, Welsh Government
TB eradication is a priority for Welsh Government, farmers and veterinary profession. Launched in 2007, our TB Eradication Programme is based on four basic principles of infectious disease control namely:
⋅ Keeping infection out (biosecurity)
⋅ Rapid early identification of infection Limiting the spread of infection
⋅ Elimination of all sources of infection
Over the past 5 years, the focus has been on the development and delivery of policy at the national level e.g. annual testing of all herds of cattle, zero tolerance to non-compliance, and increased awareness of biosecurity. It is clear however, that the disease picture across Wales is not uniform, and that alongside these national measures we need also to take a more localised approach. To achieve this we have now appointed a dedicated TB epidemiologist to work with the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency case vets and also private practitioners to start acting in a more focussed way to deal with the unique characteristics of the TB epidemic of each area. The challenge is to identify the most appropriate tools for the differing disease scenarios – to achieve a more targeted approach as we drive towards eradication.
The overall strategy is underpinned by the recognition that all interested parties need to work honestly and in co-operation with each other – hence our programme structure which includes Regional Eradication Boards and significant engagement at a local level. It also recognises that we must keep abreast of new developments across all disease control disciplines if we are to achieve our ambitious and long-‐term objective of a TB Free Wales.
As a long term objective, we aim to make best use of new technologies as they become available e.g. in the fields of disease prevention, diagnostics and genetics. Vaccination is a tool that has yet to be exploited to the full. This presentation will consider the Welsh approach to exploring the potential benefits and limitations of vaccination in badgers, and in cattle, as we strive towards freedom from TB.
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Rebranding TV Land
TV Land is a Viacom cable channel running both syndicated and original comedy series catering to Gen X audiences. Recently the network established an updated brand identity, with a new logo and look to reflect its programming shift. The rebrand was a major undertaking for the network’s in-house creative team and they relied heavily on Shotgun to get them through the complex process. Senior Director of Motion Graphics and Edit, Kurt Hartman, and Senior Manager of Motion Graphics and Edit, Janice McDonnell, share the inside scoop.
TV Land's Artists & Art Directors
Tell us about your company and the type of projects you work on.
Kurt: We work in the brand creative group department at TV Land, and there are about 70 of us here who handle promotional and marketing materials for all TV Land shows, marketing buys, events and anything that we’re trying to draw attention to. We also take care of any advertising needs, which include: on-air promos, digital and social promotional ads and out of home key art.
How long have you been using Shotgun?
Kurt: We really started testing Shotgun last January, so we’re coming up on 12 months. It wasn’t the first time that I’ve tried to impose a production management tool, and I have had some failures in the past. We came from a place where everything that we now use Shotgun for was previously done through Word documents that were emailed around. It was pretty painful, but some people were happy with the way things were. This year, we’ve gotten so much busier than we’ve ever been in the past. Right when we were starting to first test Shotgun we were also starting a complete rebrand of our network—everything from the look to the attitude and programming; so change was already in the air. We also had a significant staffing shakeup where we had to find creative ways to do more with less, which is why we finally got the buy-in that we needed to build Shotgun into our pipeline.
Janice: It started with a small guinea pig group. There are a couple of members of the group who really drive the operations of everything, so once they embraced it and it made their workload much easier, it became easier to sell adoption throughout the larger organization.
Can you give me sense of volume of how many projects you’re pushing through?
Kurt: At any given time we usually have around 20-to-30 projects open inside of Shotgun. Some projects may just entail one on-air spot, while others may have hundreds of associated assets. On average we deliver anywhere from 20-50 spots per week. They’re mostly short form promos for on-air and digital. In-house editors, designers and mo-graph animators will work in both 2D and 3D applications to deliver elements for the promos. The project slate really runs the gamut. We do everything in-house. Our goal with Shotgun was to replace the massive Word documents that we used to use to track projects, these would house all of a project’s information — from who was working on it, to who was the approver, to due dates. The doc would be emailed and re-emailed with every change, so often we would find people working with an outdated version and completing an incorrect task. This was first thing we fixed when we moved into Shotgun.
I do think that we are not the typical Shotgun client — or user — but what really drew us to the product was how easily we could adapt it to our needs. I think that there are similarities between the work we do and deliver, and what VFX houses do, but our naming conventions are different. With Shotgun, we could use existing templates, but could easily rename things so that nomenclature matched up to what people are used to here, which is one thing I love about Shotgun.
Are you using Shotgun for review?
Kurt: At first we knew that would be something we would want to do, but we had to pace ourselves a little bit because we were dealing with a group of people who had a set process in place. We have just started to use Shotgun review and approval with a small group. We were early adopters of the 6.3 release, including updates to the Client Review Site which we’ve really benefitted from.
What review features introduced in the 6.3 release are most useful to you?
Kurt: I would say that the best feature was the ability to share work in the Client Review Site with not only clients, but also other users of Shotgun. Another feature was the ability to share things with the option to make them password protected or not. We’re sending things to executive VPs and senior VPs, and they are always pressed for time, so making review as seamless and easy as possible is key. Sometimes a password requirement can be a deal breaker, so this release opened the door to review with our executives.
NY Office
Where is your team based and who is primarily using Shotgun?
Kurt: About 90% of the team is at the same facility in New York City. We also have an office on the West Coast using Shotgun, and have several people working remotely from on set at any given time. We have shows that we make ourselves at TV Land, and we embed producers and social media people on set, always with access to our Shotgun database.
There’s not one category that outweighs another as far as Shotgun usage goes. 25% of our Shotgun users are producers, 25% are artists, 25% are reviewing info (like the programming team and the production management team — they’re not putting much in, but they’re reading it every day), and then 25% would be the people that are really tasked with entering all the data – the operations team and administrators.
How did you first hear about Shotgun?
Kurt: I was doing research to find tools that help with workflow, and was seeing things like Basecamp, ON-AIR Pro, Showrunner, FTrack, and Shotgun. When I reached out to the people at Shotgun, I can honestly say it was the best interaction that I‘ve had with a support team. When I first reached out to them I said, “Hey, this is what we do, this is what we need, and can I talk to someone?” and within 24 hours I was on the phone with someone sharing screens. Nobody else did that for me, and that really helped me see that this was the right product for us, and that the level of support that was in place was unmatched.
Can you describe a recent project where using Shotgun was essential?
Janice: Our recent network rebrand, because I don’t think we could have done it without Shotgun. There are so many elements to generate for a network redesign. We’re trying to get so much done. Shotgun made a huge difference in communicating with each other and staying on the same page, because we’re not all in the same room. The redesign project involved hundreds of assets that needed to be delivered to our network operations center, and to think that we used to be crossing things off on a printout of paper. Now we’re having real-time statuses on what’s been approved. It’s like keeping a birds-eye-view on the status of all of these elements at once. I can’t believe we ever worked any other way.
What are your favorite features of Shotgun and what do you primarily use it for?
Kurt: It really helps our less data-oriented people when they can go into Shotgun and see features similar to other apps they’re used to using, like Facebook—it’s a friendlier interface. When you can tell people they can follow things in Shotgun and get notifications automatically, that opens their eyes to the fact that this isn’t super complicated and won’t take them weeks or months to master. Once they knew they could make a request on something they’d like to see or do within Shotgun, they took ownership — maybe adding a new notes field, new rules or filtering, things they were excited to do on their own. There always seems to be a way to figure out how to leverage Shotgun to replace something that we had been communicating previously via email, IM, you name it.
We even started using Shotgun for inventory tracking as well. We have a lot of equipment here in the department such as drives, laptops, cameras, lenses and lighting kits, and we had trouble keeping an eye on who had what, so we made a checkout database in Shotgun where we could track who has the camera, who has the light, and so forth.
I also really like the custom entities, which come in super handy when there isn’t something that’s in Shotgun out-of-the box; there are all these widgets and entities so you can get them to do whatever you need them to. Building custom pages is something that I’ve started to get into to consolidate all of our essential project information in one place. I think that review and approval will be hugely important for us with Shotgun in the future, even though we’re still just dipping our toes in. Another big strength of Shotgun is that you’re easily able to self-service the pipeline!
Data Entry Team using Shotgun
Janice: I really like the customization of crew planning. I work across many departments and we’ve developed pages that make our teams’ lives easier. It helps their buy-in with our process and makes the team members more self-sufficient because they can find information on their own. Even with our freelance talent, they can see all their budget codes when filling out time sheets directly within Shotgun. We have a production manager, and she needs to know who is handing in time sheets that day, and she has a page where she can see if she needs to update their paperwork. That customization is really valuable.
I also manage in-show graphics, which is a lot of information. With Shotgun, I can see what work lies ahead and at-a-glance keep track of it in the system. Because we are a creative group, the less time we spend on making things run smoothly, the more creative we can be.
With Shotgun, I can see what work lies ahead and at-a-glance keep track of it in the system. Because we are a creative group, the less time we spend on making things run smoothly, the more creative we can be.
What content creation tools do you use in-house?
Kurt: We primarily use Adobe Creative Suite. That’s the workhorse here: After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. For 3D animation we use Cinema 4D.
TV Land's Art Room
What are the three most important things in your office?
Kurt:
- My coworkers
- The great New York City neighborhood my office is in
- Our art room—it just had a real renaissance. We used to do everything digitally, but recently we’ve started making things by hand, and we do all of that in this room we call the art room. It’s been really nice to use paintbrushes, paper, and the things that were forgotten about for the last ten years when the first thing you turn to is software.
Janice:
- Shotgun would be my number one
- The people here
- Good communication
Sr Director of Motion Graphics & Edit, Kurt Hartman and Sr Manager of Motion Graphics & Edit, Janice McDonnell
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Shure Announces Upgrades To...
CHICAGO, September 05, 2019
Commuting, Traveling, and Workouts Just Got Better With New Premium Earphone Features
Flexibility, improved audio quality, and longer wireless battery life are some of the most important features for earphone consumers. Today, Shure announced that its innovative line of detachable SE Sound Isolating™ Earphones is now available with enhanced features that provide enriched audio quality, improved wireless battery life, and convenient options to switch between wireless or wired listening.
The Company’s established line of SE earphones now includes Shure’s High-Resolution Bluetooth® 5 Earphone Communication Cable (RMCE-BT2), offering music lovers and mobile listeners the best wireless audio experience to date.
Engineered with the same precision components used by professional musicians, the upgraded and expanded configurations deliver detailed sound and durability. With new BT2 integration, listeners can easily transform from wired to wireless via the SE earphone solution of their choice—regardless of price or model.
High-Performance Audio
No matter the connection, the comfortable Sound Isolating design eliminates outside noise, easily transforming a daily commute, gym workout, or airplane trip into a personal concert.
Even the most discerning sound aficionados and casual listeners alike can take advantage of the convenience and portability of wireless without sacrificing quality. The dedicated, high-performance headphone amplifier provides lower noise and distortion while accurately maintaining frequency response, supporting popular audio codecs, including Qualcomm® aptX™ audio, aptX™ HD, aptX™ Low Latency, AAC, and SBC. Retaining a wireless range of up to 30 feet, the SE line maintains quality even from a distance.
“Not only do professional musicians use Shure earphones, they trust Shure microphones and other Shure audio equipment to record and perform live,” said Sean Sullivan, Associate Director of Global Product Management at Shure. “From the performer’s voice and the instrument’s sound to the listener’s ears, the complete end-to-end audio experience starts and ends with Shure.”
25 Percent Better Battery Life and Fast Charging
The wireless option has been upgraded, offering up to ten hours of continuous quality sound when paired with any Bluetooth-enabled device – a 25 percent improvement over the previous version. With ten hours of playback, it essentially might mean that commuters could go an entire week using these earphones during their commutes without having to recharge. Even a quick 15-minute recharge can provide up to two hours of wireless enjoyment.
From Wireless to Wired in a Snap
If the wireless charge runs out, the SE earphones quickly and conveniently switch to a wired connection to an Apple or Android device through the innovative detachable cable system.
“Our SE earphones have long been a staple for artists, musicians, and music lovers all over the world. In recent years, we’ve worked to elevate this product line even further, prioritizing wireless connectivity and features that mobile listeners want,” added Sullivan. “We understand modern-day situations like lengthy flights and commutes can interfere with long-lasting wireless listening, which is why we offer a solution to go from wireless to wired. With a quick twist of the earphones, listeners have multiple options that help them stay connected no matter the device or situation.”
Fit and Function
Secure, over-the-ear design ensure the earphones stay in place for unmatched, long-wearing comfort. The Sound Isolating™ design features a fit kit with a variety of sleeves for a custom fit that can block up to 37 dB of outside noise for immersive listening no matter the location – airplane, school, bus, the gym, or home.
Conference Calls and Calls from Mom
The flexibility of the SE line of earphones extends into calling features, where the audio continues to shine. The inline microphone and three-button remote ensures clarity for calls and voice prompts and provides volume and playback control with ease, so key details won’t be missed like who joined the conference call late or the big news from mom about holiday plans.
Shure has various options in its SE line based on listening preferences. Each model has a wide variation of color choices to fit the personality of every user.
SE215 Wireless Sound Isolating™ Earphones provide clear sound and amazing bass in a secure, over-the-ear design with detachable cable and choice of sleeves for long-lasting comfort and custom fit.
SE425 Wireless Sound Isolating™ Earphones feature dual high-definition drivers for accurate, balanced sound with comfortable fit.
SE535 Wireless Sound Isolating™ Earphones feature triple high-definition drivers for spacious sound and rich bass with a comfortable, low-profile fit.
SE846 Wireless Sound Isolating™ Earphones feature four high-definition drivers for extended high-end clarity and a groundbreaking low-pass filter for true subwoofer performance. Featuring a customizable frequency response and an innovative, detachable cable system, SE846 Earphones provide a perfectly tailored listening experience.
Shure’s updated SE Sound Isolating Earphones are available now, starting at $149 for SE 215 Wireless with Bluetooth 5. The High-Res Bluetooth 5 Accessory Cable is sold separately at a new lower price of $119 USD. All models are now available on www.shure.com/asia and at participating authorized dealers throughout the U.S.
Marketing Communications Department
Contact us at here.
About Shure Incorporated
Shure (www.shure.com) has been making people sound extraordinary for nearly a century. Founded in 1925, the Company is a leading global manufacturer of audio equipment known for quality, performance, and durability. We make microphones, wireless microphone systems, in-ear monitors, earphones and headphones, conferencing systems, and more. For critical listening, or high-stakes moments on stage, in the studio, and from the meeting room, you can always rely on Shure.
Shure Incorporated is headquartered in Niles, Illinois, in the United States. We have more than 30 manufacturing facilities and regional sales offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.
About Shure Asia Limited
Shure Asia Limited (www.shure.com/asia)is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shure Incorporated. Established in Hong Kong in 1999, the company’s regional presence is an extension of the head office providing sales, marketing and technical support for its channel partners within the Asia-Pacific region.
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David Fanshaw’s visionary work first premiered in London in 1972.
In 1975 African Sanctus was made popular by a documentary broadcast on BBC1’s Omnibus programme and has since had more than 1000 performances round the world.
Fusing genres, bringing pop, ethnic and classical instruments and vocal styles together, introducing sampling and using backing tracks “live” African Sanctus was way ahead of its time.
“New Recording - Full, definitive and magnificent”
“Afro Latin, tribal choral masterpiece”
The Observer Review
“Hailed as triumph”
African Sanctus & Dona Nobis Pacem
SharePlay AllDownload AllCopy
Performed by: David Fanshawe
Record Label: Silva Screen Records
Genres: Classical - Choral Music
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New partners, new clients, acquisition and wide use of CRM distinguish 2010 third quarter for simpleview, inc.
TUCSON, October 5, 2010 - Simpleview's third quarter included the acquisition of New Media Gateway, being named to the Inc. 5000 list for the fourth year in a row, the launch of its first DMO website to include Kayak search tools and room nights associated with events booked through Simpleview CRM surpassing the four million mark.
New Media Gateway Acquisition
On July 12, CEO Ryan George announced the acquisition of New Media Gateway Inc. (NMG), a company that, like Simpleview, provided CRM and CMS platforms and interactive marketing services to destination marketing organizations.
The transaction included Simpleview's hiring of several key employees formerly with NMG. It also expanded simpleview's market share by adding several notable clients, including the State of Hawaii, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Vancouver, B.C. and clients as far afield as Australia.
Awards & Honors: WebAwards, Inc. 5000
We are pleased to announce that websites developed in collaboration with two of our outstanding clients were honored with 2010 WebAwards from the Web Marketing Association in September. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau website was honored with the Outstanding Website award, and the Beaumont Convention & Visitors Bureau website was awarded the Travel Standard of Excellence.
In August, simpleview was once again named to Inc. magazine's Inc. 5000 list, an annual ranking of America's fastest-growing privately held companies. In 2010, Simpleview ranked #8 in the travel industry category. simpleview debuted on the list in 2007 and has made the list every year since.
New Partners: Distribion, Kayak
In July, Simpleview formed a strategic alliance with Distribion, a spin-off from NMG (see information about the NMG acquisition above) and is now the exclusive reseller of Distribion's Bid Book Generator and other products in the DMO space.
In September, Simpleview also launched its first DMO website integrating a search interface for the popular travel search site Kayak.com.
Simpleview CRM backs $10+ Billion in EEI
Year-to-date, Simpleview clients have logged more than 4.69 million room nights for confirmed events using Simpleview CRM as their meetings sales platform. Aggregate data from destinations using simpleview CRM indicates that bookings in simpleview CRM have driven $10,347,844,713 in estimated economic impact year-to-date through third quarter 2010.
New Clients: Cleveland, Dunwoody, Irvine, Lancaster
We're pleased to welcome several new destinations to the simpleview family -- Irvine and Lancaster, CA, Cleveland, OH and Dunwoody, GA. simpleview is also developing a custom application for the Ohio Travel Association and the Northern Indiana Tourism Development Commission, a former website client, recently selected simpleview CRM for its organization and the seven counties it represents.
Website Launches & Redesigns
Simpleview launched several new destination marketing and related specialty websites in Q3:
Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.visitcharlottesville.org
Experience Grand Rapids: www.experiencegrandrapids.org
Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau: www.sitka.org
Visit Lake Norman (N.C.): www.visitlakenorman.org
Tucson International Airport: www.flytucsonairport.com
Film Ventura: www.filmventura.com (for Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau)
Madison Area Sports Commission: www.madisonsports.org (for Greater Madison CVB)
Women's Basketball Coaches Association: http://www.wbca.org/
In addition, Q3 marked the launch of three website redesigns for current simpleview customers:
Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and Tourism (Columbia, S.C.): http://www.columbiacvb.com/
Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau (Gwinnett County, Atlanta): www.gcvb.org
Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau: www.solvangusa.com
You can learn more about these sites at the simpleview blog post on Q3 site launches.
MINT Integration
In July, Simpleview's first MINT integration went live after more than a month of beta testing with the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. The integration offers access to all MINT data and functions from within simpleview CRM, including tools to manage duplicate data and advanced features to accept or reject data from MINT on a field-by-field basis.
The integration is free and enabled for all simpleview clients. Currently, ten DMOs are using simpleview CRM to search and pull information from MINT and add information to the MINT database.
Continuing Education Through Webinar Trainings
Year to date, simpleview has offered 17 free client training and education webinars. Launched in March, the ongoing program has seen an average of 71 registrations per webinar, covering topics that range from basic and advanced use of simpleview CRM and CMS to email marketing, search engine optimization, social media and more. The program will continue in Q4 with 10 new webinars to be announced this month.
Simpleview helps destination marketing organizations (DMOs) succeed on every front, from convention sales to tourism marketing and day-to-day operations. The company offers integrated products and services including the industry's most advanced CRM and CMS platforms, powerful forecasting and reporting tools, dynamic websites, sites for mobile web, search engine optimization and interactive marketing. Founded in 1991, simpleview employs 70+ people with offices in Tucson, Dallas and San Diego serving 165+ domestic and international destination marketing organizations.
Director of Marketing & Communications, simpleview, inc.
Categories: Press Releases
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© Media Group Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
THE DAPPER GENTLEMAN
Classy timepieces for your dashing groom
Your big day has finally arrived, and you naturally want your groom to look his best when you both say, ‘I do’. Whether he has decided to wear a tuxedo and a bow tie or the classic suit and tie, make sure he doesn’t take for granted the little finishing touches to spice up his look.
Accessories are an important component to complement your groom’s outfit, show off his personality, and reflect his personal style. Besides cufflinks and pocket squares, a wristwatch is essential. A classic timepiece is recommended — no chunky sports watches or over-the-top designs here — to match your groom’s formal or semi-formal attire. Here are eight of our favourite dapper timepieces.
Blancpain Villeret Quantième Perpétuel
The Villeret Quantième Perpétuel is one of the iconic classic Blancpain timepieces that have stood the test of time. Now, the Manufacture has updated it for 2019, with larger proportions and updates to the dial. This boutique-exclusive, limited-edition timepiece comes in a 40mm titanium case with double stepped bezel and slim lugs, but retains the signature dial layout, with day, date and month at 3, 9 and 12 o’clock, and moon phase at 6 o’ clock. The design is enhanced by a sunray-brushed deep blue dial and a matching alligator strap. It has an in-house Calibre 5954 automatic movement with a 72-hour power reserve and a silicon hairspring.
Besides cufflinks and pocket squares, a wristwatch is essential for the groom
Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds
The Omega Seamaster 1948 Small Seconds is an unabashed tribute to the original collection that debuted in 1948. The modern version of the Small Seconds features a 38mm stainless steel case and domed silvered dial. But despite its traditional look, it is powered by the robust Omega Calibre 8804 that is METAS Master Chronometer Certified and anti-magnetic. It includes a small seconds indication at 6 o’clock, as well as leaf-style hour and domed minute hand. The flat sapphire crystal caseback is laser engraved and lacquered by hand with a 70th anniversary logo, a Chris-Craft boat and Gloster Meteor aircraft — the first jet plane used by the Royal Air Force.
Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale Ref 5547
A sportier timepiece but no less elegant is the Breguet Marine Alarme Musicale Ref 5547. The brand’s nautical legacy is celebrated with this collection available in rose gold, gold and titanium. This rose gold version features a hand-guilloche wave pattern engraved on a rose engine. It does not, despite the name, play any music. Instead, it has an alarm complication — the larger subdial at three o’clock — and a second time zone at 9 o’clock. Apertures at 12 and 6 o’clock indicate the alarm’s status and date, while the power reserve is indicated between 9 and 12 o’clock. All these are powered by the self-winding Calibre 519F with 45-hour power reserve.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Moon Enamel
This is a sophisticated dress watch that will easily slip under the cuff, thanks to its ultra-thin construction. At 39mm in diameter and 10.04mm thick, its in-house automatic movement is an upgraded version of the Calibre 925, where it runs for 70 hours instead of the usual 40 hours. The blue guilloche enamel dial framed by a white gold bezel is a sight to behold, and boasts a moon phase with a polished new moon against a starry sky background, and an engraved date counter.
Cartier Santos-Dumont
It may use a quartz movement, but this means that the Cartier Santos-Dumont is an affordable luxury timepiece that your man can wear daily, and not just at your wedding. The movement, which boasts a long battery life of six years, allows for a slimmer design at just 7mm thick. It is a classic timepiece that pays homage to the original 1904 model, but now updated with elongated Roman numerals and a larger domed cabochon crown. It is available in two sizes, with the larger one at 31.4mm wide, and in three versions: 18K rose gold, gold and steel, or steel. All models come with a leather strap.
Patek Philippe 52121 Calatrava Weekly Calendar
Like the other models in the Calatrava collection, this 40mm timepiece is elegant and timeless. The standout feature is its new complication, the weekly calendar. It is a semi-integrated mechanism displaying the current week number, in addition to the day and date. It also houses a completely new self-winding movement. The silvery opaline dial, housed in a smooth, polished, stainless steel case, features blackened gold applied hour markers and an exclusive font based on handwritten letters and numerals. Completing the retro look is its light brown, hand-stitched calf leather strap.
Audemars Piguet Code 11.59
Code 11.59 is a brand new collection from Audemars Piguet and a bold departure from the signature Royal Oak and Millenary collections. It is modern and contemporary, yet subtly references the company’s traditions. Case in point: the 41mm pink gold case that has an octagonal architecture sandwiched in-between a very thin bezel and caseback. The timepiece has a double curved sapphire crystal over a lacquered white dial with pink gold applied hour markers and hands, and raised 3D Audemars Piguet signature in galvanic growth. The lugs are openworked and welded to the bezel, and it is powered by the new Calibre 4302, featuring a large diameter of 32mm that offers improved reliability and accuracy.
Piaget Altiplano Automatic 40mm with Meteorite Dial
The ultra-thin timepiece is a new version of its best-selling collection, the Altiplano Automatic 40mm, where it features a metallic brown (or grey) meteorite dial. Each of the 300 limited pieces has a unique pattern, so no one is alike. The movement, self-winding Calibre 1203P, is only 3mm thick but provides a good 44 hours of power reserve. It is housed in an 18K pink gold case that is polished for an elegant look. The slim hour indexes and hands, as well as the date display and matching leather strap, add to its refined aesthetic.
fine timepiece fine timepieces fine watches groom groom watches luxury luxury watch watch watches wedding wedding style
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Founded in 2002, SOLITAIRE is a well-established and most recognised women’s jewellery magazine circulated in the Asia Pacific region. It covers the best and latest news and stories on fine jewellery, luxury watches and fashion from around the world. Published bi-monthly in Singapore, SOLITAIRE is an all-around guide for jewellery connoisseurs and collectors, providing insights into the exciting and glamorous world of high jewellery and the people that make it happen.
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With a focus on fine jewellery and ladies’ timepieces, SOLITAIRE Magazine is published six times per year and is followed by jewellery connoisseurs throughout the Asia Pacific region and the world.
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Robert D. (Bo) Links
Adam G. Slote
Stephen M. Boreman
Marglyn E. Paseka
California Administrative Law, Education Law, Business Law & Litigation
CLICK HERE FOR A CONSULTATION
Student & Parent Rights
Education Law Topics: Student & Parent Rights
Threats of Violence May Justify Student's Suspension or Expulsion
by Bo Links on September 04, 2013
The Ninth Circuit appropriately summarized the difficult job of a school administrator in Wynar v. Douglas County School District when Circuit Judge Margaret McKeown noted that “[w]ith the advent of the Internet and in the wake of school shootings at Columbine, Santee, Newtown and many others, school administrators face the daunting task of evaluating potential threats of violence and keeping their students safe without impinging on their constitutional rights. It is a feat like tightrope balancing, where an error in judgment can lead to a tragic result.”
Read more about Threats of Violence May Justify Student's Suspension or Expulsion
Court Rules Schools Must Meet Stricter Standards Under ADA than IDEA
by Bo Links on August 07, 2013
The IDEA and the ADA are related, but they are not the same.
The beginning premise is simple enough: When a disabled student requests help under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)(20 USC §1412) in order to obtain a “free appropriate public education,” commonly known as a FAPE in education law lingo, school districts must develop an Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”) to bridge the gap.
Read more about Court Rules Schools Must Meet Stricter Standards Under ADA than IDEA
Cyber-Bullying Update - U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review in Three Cyber-Bullying Cases
by Bo Links on January 19, 2012
We previously reported on the decision in J.C. v. Beverly Hills Schools, 757 F.Supp.2d 1094 (C.D. Cal. 2010), a case that held in favor of a suspended student and established the principle that in order to discipline students for off-campus Internet bullying, school administrators must establish that the activity in question had a substantial disruptive impact on school related activities.
Read more about Cyber-Bullying Update - U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review in Three Cyber-Bullying Cases
Students First Amendment Rights Upheld in Major Cases Related to Cyber-Bullying; Third Circuit Affirms Rule That There Must be a Substantial Disruption At The School Site In Order To Justify Discipline For Posting On-Line Content
by Bo Links on July 01, 2011
Cyber-bullying is a major topic of discussion in every school district in America. Not surprisingly, this issue is finding its way into the courthouses all across the country, too.
Read more about Students First Amendment Rights Upheld in Major Cases Related to Cyber-Bullying; Third Circuit Affirms Rule That There Must be a Substantial Disruption At The School Site In Order To Justify Discipline For Posting On-Line Content
Forest Grove Update – Parents Denied Reimbursement Under IDEA Statute in Groundbreaking FAPE Case
by Bo Links on May 05, 2011
In the context of free appropriate public education (FAPE) litigation under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the words "Forest Grove" mean many things, especially to lawyers.
This is because the case bearing that caption has landed in several courts and there are multiple published opinions which bear the name “Forest Grove.”
Read more about Forest Grove Update – Parents Denied Reimbursement Under IDEA Statute in Groundbreaking FAPE Case
IDEA Rights – Court Awards Full Reimbursement for Less Than Perfect Private Placement
by Bo Links on April 07, 2011
In Florence County School District Four v. Carter, 510 U.S. 7 (1993), the U.S. Supreme Court set minimum criteria that must be met before a guardian may obtain reimbursement for the unilateral placement of a child in a private school.
Read more about IDEA Rights – Court Awards Full Reimbursement for Less Than Perfect Private Placement
Parent Who Loses IDEA Case Is Not Liable for School District's Attorney's Fees, Unless the Claim is Frivolous
by Bo Links on March 11, 2011
Parents can breathe a sigh of relief now that the Ninth Circuit has decided the case of RP Prescott Unified School District. In that case, parents sued a school district, contending that the special education services for their autistic son were inadequate. But they lost, and rubbing salt in the wound, the trial court awarded the winning school district a whopping $140,000 in legal fees that had been incurred to defend the case.
Read more about Parent Who Loses IDEA Case Is Not Liable for School District's Attorney's Fees, Unless the Claim is Frivolous
California Supreme Court Rules that School District May be Sued for “Negligent Hiring”
by Bo Links on February 25, 2011
The California Supreme Court has ruled that a school district may face liability if it negligently hired a known child abuser and then allowed the person to closely interact with students as a counselor without adequate supervision.
Read more about California Supreme Court Rules that School District May be Sued for “Negligent Hiring”
California Supreme Court Upholds Resident Tuition Break for Illegal Aliens; Federal Immigration Law Does Not Preempt Education Code Provision That Allows Certain Illegal Aliens to Pay In State Tuition
by Bo Links on November 17, 2010
Illegal immigration is a hot topic, and so are laws that allow undocumented aliens to enjoy benefits provided to legal residents. In Martinez v. Regents of the University of California, the California Supreme Court has upheld a provision in the state Education Code that allows certain illegal aliens to enjoy favorable tuition rates that apply to legal California residents.
Read more about California Supreme Court Upholds Resident Tuition Break for Illegal Aliens; Federal Immigration Law Does Not Preempt Education Code Provision That Allows Certain Illegal Aliens to Pay In State Tuition
Federal Rehabilitation Act Is Potent Weapon For Disabled Students Because It Authorizes Damages, While IDEA Statute Is Restricted to Injuncitve Relief
by Bo Links on October 19, 2010
When it comes to disabled students, there are two potent weapons for parents in the form of the Federal Rehabilitation Act (29 USC § 794) and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA,” 20 USC § 1400, et seq.). The Rehabilitation Act forbids organizations that receive federal funding, including public schools, from discriminating against people with disabilities. Thus, section 504 of the Act states that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability . . .
Read more about Federal Rehabilitation Act Is Potent Weapon For Disabled Students Because It Authorizes Damages, While IDEA Statute Is Restricted to Injuncitve Relief
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Fancy and fabulous, Carmine's raises the bar in New Bedford
Brendan Kurie @BrendanKurieSCT
It’s hard to keep up with all the new restaurants gracing downtown New Bedford’s cobblestoned streets, but don’t let Carmine’s get lost in the mix of all the new breweries.
The fine-dining Italian restaurant opened in mid-December with a little less fanfare than some of the other recent additions, but if my wife Becca and my recent dining experience there there was any indication, their delectable food and sparkling service speaks for itself.
We arrived around 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening at the beautifully appointed restaurant in the old Candleworks building, which most recently housed Seafire. The Italian restorante is named after Carmine Romano, a New York mobster and captain in the Genovese crime family who controlled the famous Fulton Fish Market for years. After his release from prison in 1999, he moved to New Bedford where he became the owner of Hygrade Ocean Products. He died on Jan. 28, 2011, in New Bedford.
His eponymous restaurant was opened by Albert Santos, the owner of The Black Whale, and is run by general manager Luis DaSilva, who also runs The Black Whale. The menu was created by chef Stephen Chandler II, the former chef at Tavolo and Andrea’s in Providence.
You walk into a dark, inviting waiting room with a Carmine’s lightbulb sign on one wall and a small waiting area across from a large maitre-d stand. We were quickly whisked inside to a table in the secondary dining room. To get there, we walked through the main dining room, which is one of the most beautiful in the SouthCoast. The walls are exposed fieldstone and the lighting and bar appointments melded perfectly to create a combination of classic elegance with modern touches, including the red lighting along the bar front. The large bar takes up much of the main room, which also features a wall of wine coolers and an open dessert booth in the corner that was manned by a talented pastry chef. The secondary dining room is less noteworthy, although clean and crisp. It’s a simply appointed room, white walls and white tablecloths, and is where the majority of the tables reside.
Our extremely helpful and friendly waitress, Jamie, quickly arrived and asked if we’d like to start with a bottle of wine, but in solidarity with my pregnant wife, we opted for just ice water, despite an enticingly paired and extensive wine list. Soon, a basket of breads arrived, along with garlic oil, red pepper oil and a tapenade. The bread was warm and fresh and the dipping oils divine. The tapenade was maybe a little too garlicky for me, but had a nice salty touch from the capers.
Browsing the insalata/antipasto section of the menu, we considered the Tavole di Carne e Formaggio (meat and cheese plate) for $24 or the polpetta grande (oversized meatball) for $12, which we later learned weighs in at a whopping 14 ounces.
Wanting to slowly parcel out our appetites throughout the meal, we kept it small with the arancini ($9), fried risotto balls served with tomato sauce. It was at this point we knew our meal was going to be something special. Two large rice balls arrived on a small plate sitting in a pool of thin, red tomato sauce. The arancini made me wish I’d ordered a dish that came with risotto, it was so creamy and smooth without any of the crunch you get from a hasty preparation. The bits of peas added some sweetness, and the tang of parmesan cheese came through. The coating was light but crunchy and the sweet sauce, made with San Marzano tomatoes, was bright, fresh and delicate. Unfortunately, we had finished all our bread or we would have sopped up the rest of the sauce with it. While our bread was refilled, their service is so outstanding our empty appetizer plate had already been removed.
My wife ordered the gnocchi alla panna and added grilled chicken ($21), while I went for one of the specials, the veal osso bucco ravioli ($27). This was a menu that I could revisit for days on end, an endless list of classic Italian dishes, each with a unique twist. I considered the pappardelle bolognese (braised veal, pork and beef simmered in a ragu with parmigiano-reggiano for $18), the Manzo Costola Breve (beef short ribs with cannellini bean cassoulet, sautéed escarole, lemon gremolata and a port wine demi for $22) or the cavatelli e rabe (spicy Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, roasted tomatoes and red pepper flakes in a parmigiano-reggiano broth for $18).
Becca’s potato gnocchi was light and fluffy, and competes with Little Moss in Dartmouth for the best fresh pasta I’ve had in this area. The sauce was light and creamy and she noted the chicken was almost unnecessary because of the crispy, large chunks of salty prosciutto. The peas and mushrooms added some fresh, earthy flavors and made the dish a standout.
My veal osso bucco ravioli dish was a cavalcade of flavors: A plate with five large-sized ravioli stuffed with tender veal and topped with chopped tomatoes, peppers, onions and mushrooms and a dollop of ricotta cheese. I would have preferred some cheese inside the ravioli, and for my taste the mushroom was a little too prominent, but that comes down to personal preference and I’m not a big mushroom fan to begin with. It was the care and thought that went into the dish that impressed me the most and left me feeling certain I could find a dish I would fall in love with after another visit or two — the arancini already counts.
After seeing the pastry chef hard at work on the extensive dessert menu, we opted to try the chocolate chip cannoli ($4) and the chocolate bundino cake a la mode ($9). Both were superb and magnificently presented. The chocolate cake was decadent and dense, both moist and warm, and paired perfectly with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The cannoli was as good as anything you’ll find in Boston’s North End, sitting on the sweet side of savory, without too much cheesy tang.
As we sat and ate, we discussed whether Carmine’s was the fanciest restaurant in town. There’s not too many places featuring a pastry chef, assistant waiters and white tablecloths. If it’s not the nicest, it’s certainly in the conversation. The only thing I was disappointed about was the state of the men’s room, which had a roll of paper towel sitting on the counter you had to unspool yourself and a large amount of paper waste on the floor. It wasn’t anything atrocious, but compared to the standards set everywhere else in the restaurant, it fell a little short.
In all, our bill came to $74.91, after tax and before a healthy tip for the sterling service. If you’re looking for a date night spot, headed out for a special occasion or simply looking for some of the best, freshest Italian food in the SouthCoast, Carmine’s is a great choice. If you’re looking for budget pasta and sauce to feed a large family, it’s probably not the place to go.
I know we’ll be back; there’s too much menu left to explore. And we might be in even sooner to pick up cannolis.
Dine Out's reviewer visits restaurants unannounced and at his or her discretion. The Standard-Times pays for the meals reviewed. The reviews merely reflect one diner's experience. Ratings range from 1 to 5 stars.
Check out a map of all Dine Out reviews done in the last three years:
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Sociology, Texts
Criminology, Southern Theory and Cognitive Justice
Aside January 28, 2018 mzantsi Leave a comment
In the contemporary world of high-speed communication technologies and porous national borders, empire building has shifted from colonizing territories to colonizing knowledge. Hence the question of whose voices, experiences and theories are reflected in discourse is more important now than ever before. Yet the global production of knowledge in the social sciences is, like the distribution of wealth, income and power, structurally skewed towards the global North. This collection seeks to initiate the task of closing that gap by opening discursive spaces that bridge current global divides and inequities in the production of knowledge. This chapter provides an overview of criminologies of the global periphery and introduces readers to the diverse contributions on and from the global South that challenge how we think and do criminology and justice.
Source: Criminology, Southern Theory and Cognitive Justice | SpringerLink
criminologyjournalsouthern theory
Latin America, Political science
Pensamiento del Sur
The second edition of an important journal of southern thinking has just been published. Articles cover critical thinking about the role of cities in building peace.
PENSAMIENTO DEL SUR, Es una revista científica arbitrada de publicación digital, su enfoque se establece en publicaciones de artículos empíricos, teóricos, metodológicos, estudios de caso, reseñas de literatura y pósteres académicos y su alcance en los campos científicos de: Ciencias Económicas, Pensamiento Complejo, Ciencias de la Complejidad, Economia Ecológica y Geoeconomía.
Source: Pensamiento del Sur
Big Data from the South: The beginning of a conversation we must have – DATACTIVE
Aside October 25, 2017 Kevin Murray Leave a comment
how does datafication unfold in countries with fragile democracies, flimsy economies, impending poverty? Is our conceptual and methodological toolbox able to capture and to understand the dark developments and the amazing creativity emerging at the periphery of the empire?
Source: Big Data from the South: The beginning of a conversation we must have – DATACTIVE
Happening Now – Seniman Coffee
“Being served a coffee by a barista who actually processed their green beans is vastly different than being served a coffee that is just well… well- made.” A fascinating “southern perspective” on the world of coffee today.
Source: Happening Now – Seniman Coffee
coffeeIndonesia
Innovation Studies from a Southern Perspective: What New Insights for Comparative and International Education?
Aside July 12, 2017 Kevin Murray Leave a comment
The chapter reflects on research that rethinks classic concerns of comparative and international education – the relationships between education and work and the role of education in development. The promises of knowledge-led economic growth have instead yielded increased inequality, poverty, environmental degradation and a decline in the quality of life for the majority, whether in advanced economies of the North, or least developed economies of the South. For education and training systems, the ability to understand these complex social, economic and technological challenges, interpret implications and integrate new practices in response, becomes critical. We reflect on the use of an innovation systems approach in the South, over time, to investigate the ways in which higher education responds to and interacts with, demand for skills from the economy. By highlighting the role of university actors and their interaction in networks, comparative and international researchers can move beyond dominant human capital accounts that focus only on the responsibility of higher education to become more responsive to firms, or on individuals to prepare themselves to be more employable, in a mechanistic reactive manner. This is a promising new emphasis for comparative research.
Source: Innovation Studies from a Southern Perspective: What New Insights for Comparative and International Education? | Annual Review of Comparative and International Education 2016
Critical Times – A new journal
Aside May 7, 2017 Kevin Murray 1 Comment
Critical Times seeks to reflect upon and enact forms of transnational solidarity that draw upon critical theory and political practice from various world regions, calling into question hemispheric epistemologies in order to revitalize left critical thought for these times. Critical Times is under the editorship of Juan Obarrio.
Christine Black: A Mosaic of Indigenous Legal Thought: Legendary Tales and Other Writings
Aside December 4, 2016 Kevin Murray Leave a comment
This book offers an Indigenous supplement to the rich and growing area of visual legal scholarship. Organized around three narratives, each with an associated politico-poetic reading, the book addresses three major global issues: climate change, the trade in human body parts and bio-policing. Manifesting and engaging the traditional storytelling mode of classical Indigenous ontology, these narratives convey legal and political knowledge, not merely through logical argument, but rather through the feelings o
Source: A Mosaic of Indigenous Legal Thought: Legendary Tales and Other Writings (Hardback) – Routledge
Aboriginalbooklaw
Crime & Justice in Asia & the Global South
Aside November 13, 2016 Kevin Murray Leave a comment
Abstracts due 31 January 2017
Criminology has concentrated mainly on problems of crime and justice in the metropolitan centres of the Global North, while the global south has remained largely invisible in criminological thinking. This is an historical legacy of the dominance of the social science in the northern hemisphere. This joint conference aims to redress this imbalance by providing an expansive overview of criminologies of the global periphery. Rather than being held in a city centre, the conference is being convened in the picturesque coastal city of Cairns in the far north of Queensland, Australia. It has an international airport and is within close proximity to Asia and other parts of the global south, as well as the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Forest and a number of Indigenous communities.
Source: Crime & Justice in Asia & the Global South
Conferencelaw
Alice invites you to a (northern) Summer School
The Third Edition of the International Summer School “Epistemologies of the South” is a collective space designed to meet, experience, discuss and broaden Epistemologies of the South. This school includes Boaventura de Sousa Santos, author of the epistemological proposal that gives its name to the course, researchers from the Alice project, as well as invited speakers that dialogue with the themes and perspectives under discussion. Among the latter is the well-known philosopher, political thinker and musician Lewis Gordon, along with artists and activists who will challenge and broaden the way we think and feel the world.
June 22 to 30, 2017, Curia (Portugal)
South by Merlin Coverley
Is South a Northern Thing?
Artists and writers from the colder climes of northern Europe have long felt the lure of the South of the continent. Goethe was revitalised by his encounters with Mediterranean culture on his journey to Italy. Nietzsche took flight to the south to begin his life anew. D H Lawrence sought the health-giving southern sun in Sicily and Sardinia.
bookidea of south
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OPEC aiming for oil price stability between $60-$70/b: Equatorial Guinea
NGL | Oil | Crude Oil | LPG | Oil Risk | Petrochemicals
Platts University New York
Author Herman Wang Dania Saadi
Editor Claudia Carpenter
Commodity Oil
Topic OPEC/non-OPEC Supply Cuts
Herman Wang Dania Saadi
Claudia Carpenter
OPEC/non-OPEC Supply Cuts
OPEC members largely agree that maintaining a stable oil price between $60-70/b is ideal for the global economy, Equatorial Guinea's energy minister said Sunday.
"We all probably would like higher [oil prices] because we have more revenue, but we are conscious this is not good for the economy," Gabriel Obiang Lima told reporters at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi. "It depends on who you ask, but I think the consensus is that that $60-70/b is OK for producers and for consumers."
Front-month ICE Brent closed Friday at $64.98/b, and OPEC and its allies will be closely watching the benchmark in the lead-up to their next meeting March 5-6 in Vienna, when they will decide whether to deepen, ease or extend their production cut accord, said Obiang, who represents OPEC's smallest producer.
OPEC, Russia and nine other countries are in the fourth year of output cuts aimed at supporting prices, with the current deal calling on the 24 countries to cut 1.7 million b/d through the end of March.
"We are saying that the right price is between $60/b and $70/b," Obiang said. "Anything lower than $60/b creates problems for us. Anything above $70/b we understand will not be good for the consumer. If we do the evaluation and that [current] price continues, we should be maintaining the deal."
OPEC ministers are largely loathe to comment on prices, for fear of triggering complaints of anti-competitive collusion. In particular, the US Congress has been considering legislation that would allow the US Justice Department to sue OPEC under antitrust law for manipulating oil prices.
On Saturday, UAE energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei focused his OPEC comments at the forum on the bloc's desire to prevent market volatility.
The current round of production cuts is aimed at avoiding a supply glut that many forecasters had predicted for the first quarter of 2020, he said.
"We are meeting in March to discuss any measures that we need to do," Mazrouei said. "The objective for all of us in OPEC and OPEC+ is not to achieve a certain price. The objective is to maintain the market balance, so investors can invest."
Obiang said a stable price band helps his country plan for development. Equatorial Guinea's 2020 budget is based on a conservative assumption of $51/b, he said.
The West African producer, which Obiang said was currently producing 120,000 b/d of crude, is expecting to boost output by 20,000 b/d by the end of 2020 as new projects at its Aseng and Ceiba fields ramp up and offset declines from its Zafiro and Alba fields. If the OPEC+ cuts are extended beyond March, that increase would put the country over its quota of 122,000 b/d in the OPEC+ deal.
"We will have to evaluate what we do," Obiang said. "In the meantime, let's see what happens in March."
The minister said Equatorial Guinea expects to announce by June which company will take over ExxonMobil's license in the mature Zafiro field.
The American major still has three years left on its contract but is seeking to divest its holdings in the country.
Output at the aging field, producing since 1996, has been steadily falling, and Obiang said the new operator will be expected to invest a minimum of $1 billion to stem the decline. He estimated that the field still contains reserves of some 1 billion barrels.
ExxonMobil has discovered gas condensates in the south of the field, which could be included in the package that the company plans to divest, Obiang said.
Equatorial Guinea also plans to announce in April a new licensing round that will consist of four to five blocks, he added.
Meanwhile, construction of two modular oil refineries that will process at least 20,000 b/d each should begin by the end of this year, Obiang said. The facilities will allow the country, which currently has no oil refineries, to meet its own refined product needs and export fuels to its neighbors.
A joint venture with Angola on a new refinery in Angola's Cabinda enclave is also still under consideration, Obiang said.
--Herman Wang, herman.wang@spglobal.com
--Dania Saadi, dania.el.saadi@spglobal.com
--Edited by Claudia Carpenter, claudia.carpenter@spglobal.com
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Senior citizens get subsidised health checks at mosque
An-Nur Mosque manager Mohd Bahrul-Ulum Buang helping a senior citizen undergoing a medical consultation at the mosque with language translation. About 60 people went for the subsidised health screening on Wednesday.PHOTO: BERITA HARIAN
http://str.sg/oAF2
Felicia Choo
feliciac@sph.com.sg
To encourage senior citizens to take charge of their well-being, a mosque here offered health screening for the first time.
For four hours on Wednesday, the An-Nur Mosque in Admiralty Road in Woodlands provided subsidised vision, dental and hearing checks targeted at those aged 60 and above. The idea was initiated by Minister of State for National Development and Manpower Zaqy Mohamad, who is also an MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC.
The mosque tied up with the Agency for Integrated Care to organise the screening.
Participants collected their results on the same day.
About 60 people went for the screening, most of them aged 69 and above, said Madam Rusmah Lamri, a member of the mosque's management board.
"We want to educate the elderly (on health matters) to improve their quality of life because our population is getting older," said Madam Rusmah, adding that many of the seniors are not aware of the importance of regular health screenings.
The mosque also conducts other health programmes, such as anti-smoking and anti-drug campaigns, as well as fitness activities.
Mosque offers subsidised health screening for the elderly
The health screening was free for the pioneer generation. Community Health Assist Scheme card holders paid $2 and other residents paid $5.
Madam Sapiah Ahmad and her husband, both 64, went for the screening because it was cheap and near their home. She was given the all-clear.
The retired pharmacy technician goes for regular check-ups at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for diabetes.
"I must control my diabetes, because I'm scared I might become blind," said Madam Sapiah, who also has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which are under control.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 27, 2018, with the headline 'Senior citizens get subsidised health checks at mosque'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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Home | News Tuesday 11 December 2007
Sudan president appoints new advisor and six state ministers
December 10, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir has reshuffled the government of the national unity appointing one presidential advisor and six new state ministers.
Omer al-Bashir
The reshuffle was limited to the ministers of the governing National Congress Party. The decrees included appointment of al-Sadiq al-Hadi Abdelrahman al-Mahdi as presidential advisor besides another decree appointing the following states ministers:
1- Kamal Mohamed Obeid as State Minister at the Ministry of Information and Communications, to replace Farah Ibrahim Aggar.
2- Al-Sadik Mohamed Ali Hasaballah as State Minister at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, to replace Ahmed al-Majzoub.
3- Al-Fatih Mohamed Saeed as State Minister at the Ministry of Transport, Road and Bridges.
4- Salah Ali Adam as State Minister at the Ministry of Health, to replace Al-Fatih Mohamed Saeed.
5- Amin Hassan Omer as State Minister at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to replace Abdelgadir Mohamed Zain
6- Eissa Bushra Mohamed as State Minister at the Ministry of Science and Technology, to replace Salah Ali Adam .
This is the first important reshuffle for the ministers of ruling National Congress Party since the formation of national unity government on September 20, 2005. The SPLM is expected to reshuffle its ministers the next weeks after the resolution of the current political crisis between the two peace partners.
11 December 2007 18:11, by Ahmed Chol
Bashir,
Now you have reshuffle your ministers freely and we in the SPLM were not consulted and we don’t feel offended. We are not complaining about it now.
I don’t know why you complained when we reshuffled our ministers sir.
Sometimes lack of education and reasoning are seen as the only reasons for this mess the country is in right now.
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National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum
"Promoting the Future by Preserving the Past"
Sprint Car Polls
Driver of the Year
Media Member of the Year
Outstanding Contribution to the Sport
2nd Floor Race Seating
Museum Store/Online Store
Salute to AJ Foyt Merchandise
Second Floor Race Seating
One Sprint Capital Place
Knoxville, Iowa 50138
Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday 12 Noon to 5 p.m.
(open until the last green flag drops on race nights)
Adults: $5.00
Students: $4.00
Seniors (over 60): $4.00
Children (under 5): Free
Support the Hall of Fame & Museum!
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved. Web Development by Iowa Web Development. Web Hosting by HostIowa.net.
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Tasmanian Government - www.tas.gov.au
State Revenue Office of Tasmania
FHOG
Motor Vehicle & Insurance Duty
Property Transfer Duties
Home>Payroll Tax>Rulings
Concessions and Exemptions
Lodging Payroll Tax returns online
Payroll Tax Mistakes to Avoid
Rates and Thresholds
PTA001 - Tasmanian Payroll Tax Liability for Wages Paid by an Employer (ceased) (205Kb)
Clarified the circumstances when wages must be declared in Tasmania for payroll tax purposes and the liability for wages paid for services performed in another country (or countries). (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009). Ceased
PTA002 - Expatriate Employees (ceased) (143Kb)
Clarified an employer’s liability under Section 10 of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 for wages paid to expatriate employees. (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009). Ceased
PTA003 (Version 2) - Fringe benefits (220Kb)
Examines the value of fringe benefits to be declared for payroll tax purposes. Effective from 1 July 2016.
Superseded version PTA003 (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2016)
PTA004 - Termination Payments (158Kb)
Clarifies which termination payments are subject to payroll tax. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA005 (Version 3) - Exempt Allowances Motor Vehicle and Accommodation (199Kb)
Explains exempt allowances: motor vehicles and accommodation. Effective from 1 July 2008.
Superseded version PTA005 (1 July 2008 to 14 April 2019)
PTA006 - Payroll tax exemption for payments to owner-drivers (155Kb)
Sets out the conditions that need to be satisfied for payments made to owner-drivers to be exempt under Section 32(2)(d)(i) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008. Effective from 1 July 2008. Ceased
PTA007 - Contractor Provisions - Door-to-Door Sale of Goods (176Kb)
Explain the exemption for contractors engaged in the door-to-door sales of goods for domestic purposes. Effective from 1 July 2008. Ceased
PTA008 - GST Considerations for the Calculations of Payroll Tax Liability. (127Kb)
Explains how the GST impacts on the calculation of an employer’s liability for payroll tax. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA009 - Payroll Tax Charitable Exemption - Meaning of Exclusively (ceased) (153Kb)
Clarifies the payroll tax treatment of wages paid to employees engaged in commercial activities and those who are engaged in both charitable and non-charitable functions of the organisation. Ceased
PTA010 - Wage subsidies (132Kb)
Clarifies that where a wage subsidy has been received the full amount of gross wages paid or payable to employees is subject to payroll tax. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA011 - Allowances and reimbursements (133Kb)
Explains the payroll tax treatment of allowances and reimbursements paid to an employee and any person taken to be an employee under Division 7 of Part 3 of the Payroll Tax Act 2008. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA012 - Exemption for maternity and adoption leave pay (152Kb)
Explains the application of the exemption for maternity and adoption leave pay and clarifies the elements of the exemption. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA013 (Version 2) - Fees paid to golf professionals by golf clubs (155Kb)
Clarifies a golf club’s payroll tax liability on payments made to a golf professional. Effective from 31 May 2013.
Superseded version PTA013(1 July 2008 to 30 May2013)
PTA014 (Version 2) - Contractors - What constitutes a days work (117Kb)
Clarifies what constitutes a day’s work for the purposes of Sections 32(2)(b)(ii) and 32(2)(b)(iii) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008. Effective from 26 May 2015.
Superseded version PTA014 (1 July 2008 to 25 May 2015)
PTA015 - Workers Compensation Payments (136Kb)
Clarifies how workers’ compensation payments are treated for payroll tax purposes. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA016 - Profit Distributions and Loan Accounts (141Kb)
Clarifies the payroll tax treatment of payments and loans made to a proprietor of a business, who is also an employee of that business. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA017 (Version 2) - Grouping of Professional Practices and Administration Businesses (128Kb)
Clarifies the circumstances in which professional practices and administrative service businesses are regarded as a group. Effective from 26 May 2015.
Superseded version PTA017(1 July 2008 to 25 May 2015)
PTA018 - Contractor Deductions (131Kb)
Sets out the deductions for materials and equipment for certain types of contractors and way in which new deductions may be granted. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA019 - Contractors - labour and non-labour components (115Kb)
Clarifies which amounts paid would be taken to be wages and would be subject to payroll tax where payments under a relevant contract are made against separate invoices for the labour and non-labour components or itemised separately under a single invoice in which the labour and non-labour components are separately charged. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA020 - Contractors - 180-day Exemption (124Kb)
Explains the 180-day exemption under Section 32(2)(b)(ii) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 and provide examples to clarify the application of the exemption. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA021 - Exemption for Contractors Ordinarily Rendering Services to the Public (170Kb)
Provides a non-exhaustive list of factors that the Commissioner takes into consideration in exercising their discretion under Section 32(2)(b)(iv) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA022 - Contractors - Services not ordinarily required (127Kb)
Explain the criteria that must be met for a contract to be excluded under Section 32(2)(b)(i) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA023 - Contractors Engaging Others (203Kb)
Explains how Section 32(2)(c) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 would apply to exclude a contract from the definition of ‘relevant contract’. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA024 (Version 2) - Overnight accommodation allowances paid to truck drivers (116Kb)
Clarifies the payroll tax treatment of overnight allowances paid to truck drivers. Effective from 15 April 2019.
Superseded version PTA024 (1 July 2008 to 14 April 2019).
PTA025 (Version 2) - Motor vehicle allowance paid to real estate salespersons (81Kb)
Explains the payroll tax treatment of a motor vehicle allowance paid as a fixed amount to a real estate salesperson (also known as a locomotion allowance). Effective from 15 April 2019.
Superseded version PTA025 (1 July 2008 to 14 April 2019).
PTA026 - Employment agency contracts - declaration by exempt clients (146Kb)
Explains the operation of the exemption under Section 40(2) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 and its requirements. Effective from 1 July 2011.
Superseded version PTA026 (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011).
PTA027 - Employment Agency Contracts - Chain of on-hire (153Kb)
Explains the payroll tax implications of an employment agency arrangement which involves multiple employment agents (‘chain of on-hire’). Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA028 - Employment Agency Contracts - Workers on-hired to government (99Kb)
Clarifies the correct payroll tax treatment of payments made by an employment agent to a worker on-hired to a government department. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA029 - Recruitment Agencies Placement Agencies Job Placement Agencies (132Kb)
Clarifies who bears the payroll tax liability in circumstances where a recruitment agency places a worker with an employer who is a client of the agency. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA030 - Penalty Changes under Superannuation Guarantee Charge (109Kb)
Clarifies which components of a superannuation guarantee charge are subject to payroll tax. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA031 - Commissioner's discretion to exclude from a group (140Kb)
Explains the exclusion discretion available under Section 79 of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 including the matters the Commissioner takes into account in exercising the discretion. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA032 - Payroll tax exemption for schools (250Kb)
Explains the operation of the payroll tax exemption in Tasmania for wages paid by certain schools, colleges and Group Training Organisations. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA033 - Contractors - Services Ancillary to the Supply of Goods (164Kb)
Explains how Section 32(2)(a) of the Payroll Tax Act 2008 would apply to exclude a contract from the definition of ‘relevant contract’. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA034 Contributions to the Construction Industry Long Service Leave and Redundancy Funds (157Kb)
Clarifies whether payroll tax is payable on contributions made to Construction Industry Long Service Leave and Redundancy Funds. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA035 Contractors - 90 Day Exemption (142Kb)
Sets out a replacement method approved by the Commissioner of State Revenue in determining the application of the 90-day exemption where a principal encounters difficulty in determining the actual number of days that a contractor has rendered services in a financial year. Effective from 1 July 2008.
PTA036 - Payroll Tax - Interest and Penalty Tax (305Kb)
Explains the application of interest and penalty tax to a range of payroll tax defaults and should be read in conjunction with Revenue Ruling PUB-GEN-2011-1. Effective from 1 July 2011.
PTA037 - Paid Parental Leave (140Kb)
Clarifies how PPL payments are to be treated for payroll tax purposes. Effective from 1 January 2011.
PTA038 - Determining whether a worker is an employee (282Kb)
Provides information about employment relationships to assist employers, principals and their professional representatives determine whether their workers are common law employees. Effective from 1 July 2011.
PTA039 - Payroll Tax Nexus Provisions (213Kb)
Explains the nexus rules and clarifies the circumstances when wages must be declared in Tasmania for payroll tax purposes. Effective from 1 July 2009.
PUB-GEN-2019-4 Explanation and Status of Revenue Rulings (169Kb)
Clarifies the status and effect of Revenue Rulings. Effective from 05 November 2019.
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2014-5 (30 September 2014 to 04 November 2019).
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2011-3 (1 July 2011 to 29 September 2014).
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2008-29 (1 July 2008 to 30 June 2011).
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2005-5 (4 July 2005 to 30 June 2008).
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2001-1 (23 February 2001 to 3 July 2005).
PUB-GEN-2014-6 Interest and Penalty Tax (188Kb)
Explains the application of interest and penalty tax. Effective from 5 November 2014.
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2011-1 (1 July 2011 to 4 November 2014).
Superseded version PUB-GEN-2006-1 (15 May 2006 to 30 June 2011).
Motor Vehicle and Insurance Duty
Pensioner Rates Remission and Electricity Concessions
Tasmanian Revenue Online
This page was created by the Department of Treasury and Finance (Tasmania).
Questions concerning its content can be sent using the feedback form or by telephone.
Last published on: 5/11/2019 3:25 PM
Tasmanian Government
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Riddick kicks more ass than ever in gory NSFW 3-minute trailer
Tag: Riddick
Tag: Pitch Black
We’ve been wondering how Riddick would utilize that nifty R rating, and the latest redband trailer has the answer. You’ve seen Vin Diesel kick ass before, but not like this.
The lengthy new trailer shows off a ton of new footage, including some gory kills, salty language and a lot more of those wicked alien monsters.
More Riddick
Katee Sackhoff blames Riddick's R-rating on side boob + F-bombs
Now THAT's commitment: Vin Diesel leveraged his house to make Riddick
We also get a better setup of the plot, which finds Riddick (Diesel) taken captive by a team of mercenaries (including Battlestar Galactica alum Katee Sackhoff). But things go off the rails quickly once their camp is attacked by some crazy alien creatures. The more we see, the more this reminds us of Pitch Black — and that's a very good thing.
The film finally opens Sept. 6. Until then, check out the new trailer above and catch up with the official synopsis below:
The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty.
The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy.
Is this the Riddick sequel you've been waiting for all these years?
(Via Screen Crush)
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Gillian ClearySenior Software Engineer
Posted: 16 Aug, 2018 9 Min ReadThreat Intelligence
Mobile Privacy: What Do Your Apps Know About You?
Just how much personal information are your apps gathering? And do they really need so much?
The average smartphone user these days has between 60 and 90 apps on their device. Most of these apps request some sort of information about you and the device you are using. They may want to know your name, your email address, or your real-world address. But because smartphones are so powerful, they can also get quite a bit more than that, such as your exact location. Some apps will even request access to the device’s camera or microphone.
While all of this is done with the user’s consent, you may be surprised at the level of access some apps have to personal data. Did you know that 45 percent of the most popular Android apps and 25 percent of the most popular iOS apps request location tracking, for example? Or that 46 percent of popular Android apps and 25 percent of popular iOS apps request permission to access your device’s camera? Some Android apps even ask you to give them access to your SMS messages and phone call logs.
Under the microscope
In order to find out what kind of data your apps may be looking for, we decided to put the most popular to the test. We downloaded and analyzed the top 100 free apps as listed on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store on May 3, 2018. For each app, we tried to find out two main things: how much personal information was the user sharing with the app and which smartphone features the app accessed?
"We tested the top 100 free #Android and #iOS apps. Here's what we found. https://symc.ly/2MpMeXB"
Neither practice is inherently suspicious. In most cases, information is shared and device permissions are enabled with the user’s consent. And there is usually a very good reason why apps require either. For example, a taxi app will need to be able to access a user’s location in order to tell the driver where to go. Instead, we were more interested in whether any apps were requesting excessive access to information or if app developers were doing everything they could to protect users’ privacy.
One of the first things we looked at was the amount of personally identifiable information (PII) that apps requested users share with them. Email addresses were the most common piece of PII shared with apps and were shared with 48 percent of the iOS apps and 44 percent of the Android apps analyzed. The next most common piece of PII was the username (which is usually someone’s full name as they’ve entered it on social networking sites or on the app), which was shared with 33 percent of iOS apps and 30 percent of Android apps. Phone numbers, meanwhile, were shared with 12 percent of iOS apps and 9 percent of Android apps. Finally, the user’s address was shared with 4 percent of iOS apps and 5 percent of Android apps.
However, these stats don’t fully account for the full amount of PII being shared with apps.
Several apps integrate with social media so that the user can log into the app using their social media account and allow the app to post directly to the social networking site. For the user, this means they don’t need to manage passwords for every app, can invite friends to play mobile games, and share app info on their timeline.
But this symbiotic relationship also allows the app to collect user data from the social media account, while also allowing the social media service to collect data from the app. In the case of iOS apps using social media integration, we were able to see what PII was being shared. However, in the case of Android apps, we weren’t. This was because the apps in question all employed Facebook’s widely used Graph application programming interface (API) and the Android version of Graph uses certificate pinning, which prevented us from seeing what PII was being shared (we’ll discuss certificate pinning in more detail later).
Therefore, when we say that email addresses are shared with 44 percent of the Android apps, that figure could be higher because some Android apps use the Facebook Graph API and this may share an email address with them too.
Facebook Graph may be familiar to some people because it was used by Cambridge Analytica to compile personal information relating to 87 million Facebook users. This information was reportedly then used in targeted social media campaigns directed at voters during the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. Facebook responded to this incident by significantly tightening up its API and restricting the amount of personal information that can be shared through it.
While Facebook Graph may be the best-known integration service, it isn’t the most widely used. Of the apps we analyzed, 47 percent of Android apps and 29 percent of iOS apps offered the Google integration service, while 41 percent of Android apps and 26 percent of iOS apps offered the Facebook Graph API service.
Some permissions are more risky than others
Aside from personal information, apps will also need permission to access various features on your mobile device. For example, if you want to take a picture using Instagram, the app will need permission to use your device’s camera.
There is a massive amount of permissions an app could request, but not all permissions are the same. For that reason, we took a closer look at what we term “risky permissions” - permissions that could provide access to data or resources that involve the user's private information or could potentially affect the user's stored data or the operation of other apps. Examples of risky permissions include access to the user’s location, contacts, SMS messages, phone logs, camera, or calendar.
What did we find? Camera access was the most requested common risky permission, with 46 percent of Android apps and 25 percent of iOS apps seeking it. That was closely followed by location tracking, which was sought by 45 percent of Android apps and 25 percent of iOS apps. Twenty five percent of Android apps requested permission to record audio, while 9 percent of iOS apps did. Finally, 15 percent of Android apps sought permission to read SMS messages and 10 percent sought access to phone call logs. Neither of these permissions are available in iOS.
Two things should be stressed when talking about risky permissions. Firstly, they require the user’s permission to access this data. And secondly, just because we’ve called them risky permissions doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be granted. As explained before, there’s usually a reason they’re required. Instead, they should be seen as permissions the user should exercise more caution about granting, asking themselves if the app really does need this permission and if they’re comfortable granting it to this particular app. For example, do you really want to give an app access to your calls and text messages simply to provide personalized alerts?
Interestingly, in cases where we were analyzing both the Android and iOS versions of apps, some Android apps requested more risky permissions than their iOS counterparts. Seven Android apps requested access to SMS messages, while their iOS versions did not. One Android app requested access to phone call logs, while its iOS version did not. While neither permission is available in iOS, it does beg the question of why these permissions were requested in the Android version while the iOS version can do without them.
Are all permissions necessary?
Do some apps request too many permissions? We took a closer look at several that seemed to request a lot. The first was the Android horoscope app “Zodiac Signs 101 – 12 Zodiac Signs & Astrology", which has been downloaded more than 1 million times. Among the permissions it sought were:
Precise user location
Access to user’s contacts
Send and receive SMS messages
Receive MMS messages
Permission to directly call phone numbers
Permission to reroute outgoing calls
Access to phone call logs
Access to camera
Read/write contents of USB storage
The second example we looked at was the Android flashlight app "Brightest Flashlight LED - Super Bright Torch", which has 10 million installs. Included in the list of permissions it sought were:
Send SMS messages
Record audio via microphone
Ultimately, it may be up to the user to ask if these additional features are essential to the function of the app and if it’s worth granting permissions for features that only provide marginal benefits.
Do these apps really need all of these permissions? In each case, there were features in the app which made use of the permission. For example, Brightest Flashlight LED offers the user extensive customization options and the ability to make it flash in different ways when the user receives incoming calls or texts. In order to do that, it would need access to calls and messages.
Are some app developers adding features simply to gain access to permissions? It’s a possibility, but something we can’t provide a definitive answer to. Ultimately, it may be up to the user to ask if these additional features are essential to the function of the app and if it’s worth granting permissions for features that only provide marginal benefits.
Lax security practices
Worryingly, a small number of the apps we examined employed very poor security and privacy practices. Four percent of the Android apps and 3 percent of the iOS apps requesting risky permissions didn’t have any privacy policy. Ideally, every app should have a privacy policy which states clearly what data is being collected, where it is being stored, who it is being shared with, and so on.
Meanwhile, only a minority of apps implement certificate pinning at login: 8 percent of Android apps and 11 percent of iOS apps. What is certificate pinning? It’s a security precaution that helps prevent attackers intercepting supposedly secure communications. It does this by ensuring the app only communicates with a server using the correct security certificate.
However, there are differing opinions about certificate pinning. For example, Apple says it doesn’t recommend that apps do their own certificate pinning, as it’s an approach that can lead to overall fragility and problems in enterprise environments.
Bamboozled by privacy policies
Even when apps do have privacy policies, users can still find it difficult to keep track of what they are consenting to. While each app has its own set of permissions and privacy policies, there are several complicating factors.
While some apps are self-contained, there are many that require additional apps or links to third party websites to function correctly (e.g. display advertising) or provide additional functionality, such as installing themes or providing additional levels in games. Some of these may be third-party apps.
Each additional app may have its own privacy policy (or none) and the user cannot assume the top-level app’s privacy policy covers subsequent app downloads.
However, most apps will disclaim any responsibility for use of the data by third parties.
In short, while you may be sure of your ground when it comes to a single app with a single privacy policy, once additional apps are plugged into it, the picture becomes increasingly complex, particularly when it comes to third-party apps.
Is this something to be concerned about? A significant number of apps that request risky permissions are tied to third-party apps. Of the Android apps that require risky permissions, 40 percent have links to third-party apps. Either normal app functionality is interrupted with advertisements or there were links to third-party apps for normal functionality (for example purchase links to seller sites). Meanwhile, 16 percent of the iOS apps that require risky permissions have links to third-party apps.
How to avoid granting excessive permissions
Before you install an app:
Read the permissions required for the app.
Think about why an app needs the permissions it requests. If the permissions seem excessive, ask yourself if it’s likely they are there simply to acquire data about you.
Read the privacy policy. If there's none, or if it's impossible to determine from it where your data will go, don't install the app.
If you have already installed the app:
In the case of Android apps, you can remove unnecessary permissions by going to the Settings menu and then clicking on Permissions. Removing permissions may cause a poorly designed app to stop working. Well-designed apps will indicate if they need a permission when you attempt to perform the function that requires it.
In the case of iOS apps, you can remove unnecessary permissions by going to the Settings menu and then clicking on Privacy.
How to protect your personal information
Read the privacy policy on each social networking site and app you use.
Ideally, don't sign into an app using your social networking site account. If you do, check what data the app will receive from the social network account.
If you do sign into apps using your social network account, be frugal about how much information you provide in your public profile on social networking sites.
When you post data to a social networking site from an app, think about whether you want the social networking site to have this information about your app.
How to check what apps are using data from your Facebook account
Go to the small down-arrow at the top right of the homepage and select Settings.
Select “Apps & Websites in the menu on the left to discover what apps are actively using your data.
Select each app to view and edit the permissions on the data it uses.
How to check what apps are using data from your Google account
Visit https://myaccount.google.com/permissions
Here you can review and edit what third-party apps have access to your Google account.
You can also review and edit which apps are using Google for sign in and what information is being shared with them.
Gillian Cleary
Gillian is a software engineer working for Symantec's Security Technology and Response (STAR) team. She analyses emerging threat trends and develops tools for use within the department.
Posted: 15 Jan, 2020 14 Min Read
Microsoft Patch Tuesday – January 2020
Living off the Land: Attackers Leverage Legitimate Tools for Malicious Ends
Posted: 11 Dec, 2019 11 Min Read
Microsoft Patch Tuesday – December 2019
Posted: 15 Nov, 2019 22 Min Read
Microsoft Patch Tuesday – November 2019
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Úvodní stránka » ARCHIVE » The Muffins
The Muffins — Double Negative (2004)
The Muffins — Double Negative
Name: In 1973, soon after the band, at the time unnamed, had moved into the large farmhouse in Gaithersburg, Maryland, a friend arrived with a tray of blueberry muffins as a housewarming gift and shouted "The muffins are here!" Sounding like they were being introduced, the band adopted the name "The Muffins".
Formed: 1970 in Washington
Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Genres: Progressive rock, avant-garde jazz, free improvisation
Album release: September 21, 2004
Record Label: Cuneiform Records
01. The Highlands (Thomas Scott) - 6:05
02. Writing Blind (Dave Newhouse) - 5:55
03. Choombachang (Dave Newhouse) - 2:46
04. The Ugly Buttling (Thomas Scott) - 3:39
05. The Man In The Skin-Painted Suit (Dave Newhouse) - 2:45
06. Childhood's End (Thomas Scott) - 6:15
07. Exquisite Corpse (Dave Newhouse) - 6:53
08. They Come On Unknown Nights (Dave Newhouse) - 4:21
09. Cat's Game (Dave Newhouse) - 3:52
10. Stethorus Punctum (Thomas Scott) - 4:04
11. Dawning Star (Thomas Scott) - 5:19
12. 5:00 Shadow (Dave Newhouse) - 3:15
13. Metropolis (The Muffins) - 3:34
14. Angel From Lebanon (Dave Newhouse) - 6:55
15. Frozen Charlotte (Dave Newhouse) - 2:53
16. Maya (Thomas Scott) - 4:24
17. The Two Georges (Dave Newhouse) - 5:18
• Dave Newhouse
• Paul Sears
• Thomas Frasier Scott
• Billy Swann
¤ Thomas Frasier Scott - alto & soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet, alto clarinet, keyboards, percussion, programming
¤ Dave Newhouse - ketboards, baritone & tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, flarinette
¤ Billy Swann - bass, acoustic guitar
¤ Paul Sears - drums, electric guitar
¤ Marshall Allen - alto saxophone (12, 13)
¤ Knoel Scott - alto saxophone (03, 11-13), baritone saxophone (12)
¤ Doug Elliott - trombone (02, 03, 07, 12-15, 17)
¤ Amy Taylor - violin (04, 06-08, 11, 15)
¤ Kristin Snyder - viola (04, 06, 08, 11, 15)
¤ Laura Dent - cello (04, 06, 08, 11)
¤ Okorie Johnson - cello (04, 06, 08, 11, 15)
With Sun Ra Arkestra guests:
¤ Marshall Allen (alto sax on "5:00 Shadow," "Metrolpolis")
¤ Knoel Scott (alto sax on "Choombachang," "5:00 Shadow," "Metropolis," "Dawning Star," baritone sax on "5:00 Shadow")
¤ Doug Elliot (trombone on "Writing Blind," "Choombachang," "Exquisite Corpse," "5:00 ¤ Shadow," "Metropolis," "Angel From Lebanon," "Frozen Charlotte," "The Two Georges")
¤ Amy Taylor (violin on "The Ugly Buttling," "Childhood's End," "Exquisite Corpse," "They Come on Unknown Nights," "Dawning Star," "Frozen Charlotte")
¤ Kristin Snyder (viola on "The Ugly Buttling," "Childhood's End," "They Come on Unknown Nights," "Dawning Star," "Frozen Charlotte")
¤ Laura Dent (cello on "The Ugly Buttling," "Childhood's End," "They Come on Unknown Nights," "Dawning Star")
¤ Okorie Johnson (cello on "The Ugly Buttling," "Childhood's End," "They Come on Unknown Nights," "Dawning Star," "Frozen Charlotte")
¤ Janusch (Czech speaking voice on "Exquisite Corpse")
Website: http://www.themuffins.org/
Description from Cuneiform Records:
¤ It is an all-too-rare occurrence for a band, throughout its career, to create music that continually pushes the envelope and transforms the landscape. It is an even rarer occurrence for such a band to reunite after a long separation, and embark on a second musical career that proves as innovative as the first. For The Muffins, lightning has struck twice. In 1998, The Muffins reformed with all four members, and it proved to be the genuine article. Double Negative is The Muffins' second studio recording released since reforming and possibly the most ambitious work of their career. Featuring 75 minutes of music spread over 17 songs, Double Negative is The Muffins' most compositionally diverse work, featuring pieces that vary in style and tone greatly, but which are always theirs (although they might fool you for a bit here and there!). The Muffins have long been noted for the way they craft memorable themes with adventurous musical structures and this is no exception. In addition, it is the band's most instrumentally rich work, featuring an unprecedented number of musical guest appearances. Two principal members of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott, play sax on several tracks, while longtime Muffins contributor, Doug Elliott, contributes excellent trombone parts to half the pieces and string players also contribute.
By JOHN KELMAN, Published: October 18, 2004
¤ When the Muffins, with their own take on music influenced by the British Canterbury Scene and Rock In Opposition bands like Henry Cow, reformed after nearly twenty years and released Bandwidth (Cuneiform, '02), expectations were high. But in the truly progressive tradition, they proved you can't go home again, nor should you want to.
¤ Sure, the broad textures were there, thanks mainly to the multi-instrumental wizardry of Thomas Frasier Scott and Dave Newhouse, who both play a wide variety of woodwind instruments and keyboards, but gone was the more avant edge, replaced instead by a more approachable sound that was still no less challenging or complex. The reunited Muffins, also including founding member Billy Swann on bass and drummer Paul Sears who, while not an original member was part of the lineup that recorded their classic albums Manna/Mirage and <185>, may be less quirky, but their influences run as wide as ever on the captivating Double Negative.
¤ Over the course of seventeen compositions, the Muffins, augmented by guests including Sun Ra Arkestra members Marshall Allen and Knoel Scott on saxophones, as well as trombonist Doug Elliott and a string section that includes violinist Amy Taylor, violist Kristin Snyder and cellists Laura Dent and Okorie Johnson, create a sound that draws from Henry Cow on "Writing Blind," skewed soul on "Choombachang," Emerson, Lake and Palmer on "The Ugly Buttling" and Van Der Graaf Generator on the anthemic "The Man in the Skin Painted Suit," without being directly imitative. The Muffins lack the bombast and melodrama of some of the progressive groups that are their progenitors and favour a more relaxed approach.
¤ That's not to say there aren't moments of chaos and rapid shifts in time and feel. "Angel from Lebanon" starts lyrically enough, but soon segues into a section that revolves around a foreboding bass ostinato over which dissonant piano chords and outré horns build to a dark intensity before moving into a keyboard solo that hearkens back to Soft Machine and, to some extent, National Health.
¤ Tracks including "5:00 Shadow," featuring some fine improvisation by Allen, Scott and Elliott, show a looser improvisational approach, as does the free jazz of "Metropolis." "Dawning Star" feels like a more assertive play on Brian Eno's ambient music, while "They Come on Unknown Nights" represents a skewed chamber music.
¤ The question, after 78 minutes of varying moods, colours, rhythms and harmonies that range from the melodious to the oblique is this: does it hang together as a focused piece of music? The answer is an undeniable yes. Stylistically schizophrenic though the Muffins may be, they have devoted a significant amount of time sequencing the compositions, painting a broader picture; there's a clear arc here that, when taken as whole, tells its story through its very diversity. Double Negative lays waste to claims that progressive rock is inherently anachronistic. With a wealth of ideas executed with a large palette the Muffins show that it is not only alive, but moving forward.
Fortaken: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/
Review by William Tilland/Allmusic.com: ****½ (http://www.allmusic.com/)
• Secret Signals II (1975, privately distributed cassette)
• Manna/Mirage (1978, LP, Random Radar Records, U.S.)
• Air Fiction (1979, LP) – live and home studio recordings of improvisations
• <185> (1981, LP, Random Radar Records, U.S.)
• Open City (1985, LP, Cuneiform Records, U.S.) – a collection of unreleased tracks
• Chronometers (1993, CD, Cuneiform Records, U.S.) – studio and home demos recorded in 1975 and 1976
• Loveletter #1 (2001, CD, Contorted Records, U.S.) – outtakes and live performances (1999–2001)
• Bandwidth (2002, CD, Cuneiform Records, U.S.)
• Air Live (2002, CD)
• Double Negative (2004, CD, Cuneiform Records, U.S.)
• Loveletter #2 (2005, CD, Hobart Films & Records, U.S.) – outtakes and live performances
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H.S. SOFTBALL: Bridgewater-Raynham's bid for a title comes to a halt
Glen Farley The Enterprise @GFarley_ent
Methuen scores five runs with two outs in the third inning and the Trojans strand seven runners in scoring position in the game as they fall to the Rangers, 6-2, in Wednesday night's MIAA Division 1 state semifinal.
TAUNTON – Two-out trouble. Too many missed opportunities.
Those were the two major factors that brought the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School softball team’s bid for a state championship to an end.
Methuen scored five times with two outs in the third inning and the Trojans stranded eight runners, seven runners of them in scoring position, as the Rangers advanced to Saturday’s (4:30 p.m.) MIAA Division 1 final with undefeated Wachusett Regional at Worcester State University, topping B-R, 6-2,in Wednesday night's state semifinal at Jack Tripp Field on the campus of Taunton High School.
“Tough one,” veteran B-R head coach Mike Carrozza, whose team’s season is over at 23-2, said. “We gave up the five runs in that one inning. With two outs, everything (pitcher Julia Ferry) threw up there they squared it up and they hit it. As far as offense, we just didn’t execute. We had second and third (with one out) twice (and scored only one run) and just didn’t execute. We left runners on base. One or two hits in a couple of key situations and I think the score would have been a lot different.”
It was the Trojans who seized a quick 1-0 lead, scoring in the bottom of the first when Jill Johnson poked a two-out single to right field and sped all the way around when cleanup hitter Summer Sheerin stroked a double off the fence in left-center field.
Two innings later, though, the Rangers (21-4) struck for the inning that ultimately brought the Trojans’ season to an end.
Methuen erupted for five runs in the top of the third, stringing together consecutive two-out singles by Steph Tardugno, Claudia Crowe, Nyah Mazzone and Dana Littlefield before No. 5 hitter Cori Rizzo unloaded for a two-run homer to left.
The Rangers made it 6-1 in the fourth, an inning pitcher Jillian McCoy led off with a single to left. Courtesy runner Avry Nelson moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Kerri Horan and scored on Tardugno’s second two-out single to left in as many innings.
When all was said and done, Ferry, the Trojans’ outstanding junior right-hander, had struck out 10, but the Rangers, led by Tardugno with three, had matched that number in the hits column.
After putting two runners in scoring position with one out in the fourth inning only to fail to score, the Trojans pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth when Emma Talpey beat out a bunt, Kylee Piche walked, CeCe Barron moved the runners along with a sacrifice bunt and Johnson lofted a sacrifice fly to right.
But that would be B-R’s final run of the 2019 season.
Emily Newcomb’s one-out triple to center field in the sixth inning was wasted. Down to their last out, the Trojans put two on in the seventh when Barron singled and Johnson walked, but again nothing, the game ending on a fly ball to left fielder Kayla Allbee.
While she allowed seven hits and walked three, McCoy was tough when she had to be, striking out eight and bearing down to get outs when she needed them most.
“The bottom line is, the better team beat us tonight,” said Carrozza. “Their offense showed up in that one inning with two outs. And with two outs if you score all those runs, my hat’s off to them. The better team beat us tonight.”
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St. John Vianney
schools stjohnvianney stjohnvianney 0B8CCF13-00D5-459E-9FC3-54B66EF622A5 7785
/schools/Style Library/ci_upload/f7f453ca-c674-4211-852d-3a8f708cc318n.png?rev=1814235033 /schools/Style Library/ci_upload/3f4927dc-72ed-4e09-adae-3b0c4113677cs.png?rev=1081087979
St. John Vianney Catholic School A Caring Community
Donating to your School
Construction of Child Care Centre
Safe Schools Plan
The electronic translation service on the Toronto Catholic District School Board's website is hosted by Google Translate. The quality of the translation will vary in some of the languages offered by Google. Google Translate is a free service and currently offers translation in over 50 languages, although an impressive number, this does not capture all languages or dialects. The basic translation's goal is to capture the general intention of the original English material.
School Cash Online
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is registering for School Cash Online mandatory for parents/guardians of TCDSB students and will cheque or cash be accepted?
A: Participation in School Cash Online is optional. Parents/guardians will still be able to pay by cheque or cash for school activities. In this case, cheque is the preferred option to help minimize cash in schools, and to increase the safety of students who no longer need to carry large sums for payment.
Q: Which credit card options are available?
A: The credit card options available are Visa and Mastercard.
Q: How secure are my purchases?
A: School Cash Online is committed to protecting your information. We adhere to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Canada) (PIPEDA), Canada's anti-spam legislation (CASL) and are compliant with the latest industry standards for payment card security (PCI). For more information, please visit: www.schoolcashonline.com/Home/Privacypolicy
Q: How long does it take for money to be deducted from my bank account?
A: Most payments are deducted within three to five business days. This also depends on your individual banking institution.
Q: Will I get a receipt for purchases?
A: The individual who paid for the item will receive confirmation of the purchase on screen once payment has been successfully processed. They are able to print a copy of the electronic receipt by clicking the “Print” icon. This information is also recorded in the “Payment History” tab. A receipt will also be emailed to the email address associated with your system account.
Q: What if I want a refund?
A: Please contact your school office if you would like to request refunds for any items purchased.
Q: How do I donate to my School
A: Please visit the Donate To Your School web page for full instructions.
Q: Can parents/guardians have separate accounts?
A: Yes. School Cash Online was designed for parents/guardians to have individual accounts. Students can be added to up to five different accounts.
Q: Do I need to re-register a student that moves to a different school?
A: If the student is moving to another school within the district, and School Cash Online is available for that school, then the items for the student will automatically be updated to reflect the new school.
Q: What if I can’t find my student?
A: Contact your school to confirm your student’s details (name, birthday, student #) to ensure it matches exactly what was entered in your school’s records.
Q: What if I can’t find my school?
A: TCDSB is implementing the application in 5 phases. Not all schools may be starting School Cash Online at the same time. Consult the TCDSB website for the tab listing the implementation timeline for each school by Phase.
Q: What if I can’t see any items?
A: Each school creates their own items for purchase and assigns them to the students. Once assigned, they will appear in the Student Items tab on School Cash Online. Please contact your child's school if you do not see the item you are looking for.
Q: Why does School Cash Online need my email address?
A: Your email is needed for your username to log into the system, to email you receipts for payments or donations made, and to enable you to receive email notifications of school events and activities.
Q: How often will I receive email notifications?
A: Email notifications are sent when new items have been posted and assigned to your child. If there are no new items, you will not be sent an email notification.
Q: What emails will I get from School Cash Online?
A: Don’t worry, we hate spam too! You will only receive emails with your receipts, and payment reminders when you have things to purchase.
Q: Why is Personal Information Collected
A: The Toronto Catholic District School Board (the “TCDSB”) collects, uses and shares personal information for the purposes of planning, administering, and delivering its educational programs and services. The purpose of this collection is to allow parents and guardians to identify and add their students for online payment of school fees and donations. The collection, use and disclosure of personal information for this purpose are expressly authorized under the authority of sections 58.5, 170(1) and 171(1) of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2. The information is retained in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M. 56. The information will be shared with authorized TCDSB staff and School Cash Online service provider, KEV Software Inc., in order to administer the above purpose. Questions about this collection should be directed to your school principal.
Q: What if I have children attending two different school boards that use School Cash Online? OR What if I accidentally sign into another school board’s School Cash Online home page?
A: School Cash Online accounts are not linked with an individual school board, as some families may have children attending different school boards.
School Cash Online’s “ease of use” feature allows parent/guardians to log into their account from any School Cash Online school board home page in order to access their child’s payment history and purchase items.
If you log into your School Cash Online account via another school board’s website, you may be able to view purchase items from that school board. Please note that under no circumstances can another school board view personal details of TCDSB students via their School Cash Online account.
Back to top https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stjohnvianney/_layouts/ci/tcdsb2/searchResults.aspx?u=http://www.tcdsb.org/schools/{SchoolUrlName}&k=
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Dominion Valley Sharks Swim Team
Board of DirectorsCoaching StaffPool LocationPool LayoutSharks Give BackTeam Records
The TeamTeam RecordsTeam ApparelSigning Up for MeetsSigning up for EventsSigning Up to Volunteer
MEGA-CUP
Registration2019 Team CalendarOfficials ClinicsPractice ScheduleTeam ApparelAbout PWSLDirections to PWSL MeetsPWSL Meet Scoring
Visitor/Meet Info
Visiting Team InfoDirectionsPWSL Meet ResultsPWSL League ResultsReach for the WallLost & FoundDivisionals 2018 Information
The team's Board of Directors is available at any time throughout the year to answer any questions that you may have. Please don't hesitate to contact our board president, president@dvsharks.com, with any specific questions. In the meantime, here are some common swim team Q&As.
Q: Do I need to be a member of the Dominion Valley Country Club to join?
Yes, you need to be a member of the club to join our swim team.
Q: How large is the team?
The Dominion Valley Sharks is one of the largest teams in the Prince William Swim League, with over 380 summer Sharks. In the winter months, we host swim clinics at the Waverly Club pool that offer stroke development and instruction to our younger sharks. We typically see about 30 Sharks per month at our winter clinics. About 35% of our swim team is in our 8 and Under age group, so we're a growing team.
Q: How do I register?
Winter clinic registration opens about two weeks prior to the start of the month. Summer swim registration is open from March 1-21. Both may be accessed from the Sharks homepage (see the left column under Registration). Registration is $150 per family for the first child for the 2019 swim season, with a $10 discount per additional child. Registration fees include all practices and meet fees, as well as a team t-shirt and swim cap.
Q: I received an email after I registered that says, "Pending Team Approval." What does that mean?
Once you register, you should receive a confirmation email that we received your registration, "Pending Team Approval." After the registration period ends, and we've confirmed with the HOA and Club that everyone who registered is in good standing and able to participate this summer, then the team will send out an "Approved" email, usually in May.
Q: What do I need to know before summer?
Please plan to attend our summer kick-off meeting, which is scheduled this year for Friday, May 10, 2019 at Regency. It's a great opportunity to meet the board, coaching staff, and fellow swim families, and learn about the upcoming season.
Q: What if we are new to the team?
If this is your first swim season, the swim team experience can be overwhelming, you may email memberatlarge@dvsharks.com or vicepresident@dvsharks.com for questions regarding swim team, such as registering for practices and meets, how to volunteer, and what to do at a swim meet.
Q: How do I order apparel?
We invite swim team families to order a custom competition suit as well as spirit wear. Every swimmer receives a DV Sharks latex cap and t-shirt at the kick-off meeting. No one is required to buy any new spirit wear--it's entirely optional. It is recommended that you have appropriate swim suits for racing. For the team picture, it is nice to see all of the kids in the Sharks suits. If you want to order a Sharks suit and team swag, you'll need to do so well before the start of the swim season. Click on the Team Info tab and scroll down to Team Apparel for information on suits and spirit wear.
Q: What are swim meets and what is expected of me at meets?
The DV Sharks is a competitive swim team within the Prince William County Swim League. During the summer, we compete against other teams in our division at dual meets. These meets are giant sporting events--picture several hundred families all coming together in a spirit of goodwill, cooperation, and good sportsmanship to participate in an athletic event that lasts about five hours every Saturday morning.
Every meet we attend or host requires over 160 volunteers in order to function, so we expect our swim team parents to fill these roles. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful and range from timing and scoring to ribbon writing, concessions, grilling, and more!
Please see our updated 2017 Team Handbook for complete information on swim meet rules and requirements.
Q: What are the DV Sharks volunteer requirements?
All of our families are required to volunteer at least six times at meets throughout the summer.
This is a non-negotiable aspect of swim team membership because it truly takes a village to run a swim meet! However, it's not hard work. Volunteering is a wonderful way to experience swim meets from the best seats in the house--right next to the swimmers! It gives you something to do during a long event, and the swimmers love to see their parents on-deck, supporting them. We find that the people who volunteer, when surveyed at the end of the summer, are the people who have enjoyed their swim team experience the most! So don't be afraid to volunteer your time; you'll get back what you put into it, and make great friends along the way!
If you have special challenges, such as young children, an illness that prevents you from traveling to meets, or other issues, please don't hesitate to contact our volunteer coordinator who can match you to a job that works for you. We have plenty of behind-the-scenes work that needs to get done, as well as social event volunteer opportunities, and we're happy to accommodate our parent volunteers.
Q: What other events does the swim team offer?
We are so pleased to provide a wealth of social events for our swimmers to enjoy throughout the summer season! We have a wide variety of team-building events such as Movie on the Green, team picture day, roller skating, and many more! Many of these events are also open to non-swim-team siblings as well. Please plan to join us when you can. New for 2019: Be the Meg! The team is divided into four shark houses to help build team spirit and have fun. Teams will compete all summer long for the Megaladon Cup. Shark houses are selected at the Kickoff Meeting.
Q: Where can I access information on upcoming meets and social events?
Our DV Sharks website is the best source of information on upcoming events, and the place to go in order to sign up to volunteer and register for meets and social events. Meets and events will be loaded into the system in the early spring. In the meantime, you can download a calendar of events. There is a button for the Team Calendar to the right of the scrolling picuture on the homepage too.
Q: What about the weather?
The weather can change quickly in our area. If there is thunder or lightening, the DVCC pool closes for 45 minutes from the last incidence and the DVOA pools close for 30 minutes. Practices during these times will be canceled. The coaches and board will work together to make a decision and alert Shark families via email, text, and DVCC Sharks FB page, if practices are canceled.
Please note that if it's just rain, practices and meets will go on unless the coaches cannot see the bottom of the pool. If the weather or water is not suitable for swim, you will be notified. If for any other reason the pools are closed, practices will not be held. Additionally, you know your swimmer(s) best, you make the ultimate call.
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How to watch the NBA playoffs—and championship series—without cable
Cord cutters: You can watch all the hardwood heroics without paying for a cable subscription.
By Michael Ansaldo
Go with your antenna for ABC
TNT Overtime is your ticket to TNT broadcasts
DirectTV Now
Hulu with Live TV and You Tube TV
The Golden State Warriors face off against the Toronto Raptors at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time tonight in the first game of the NBA finals. If you’re a cord-cutter, you can watch the entire championship series on ABC, either with an over-the-air antenna or with one of the TV-streaming services that include ABC in their lineup.
If you don’t live within range of your local ABC affiliate and can’t use an over-the-air antenna, you can catch the entire series by signing up for one of the following streaming services (but you’ll need to verify that the one you pick carries your local ABC broadcaster).
DirecTV Now (starting with the Plus bundle, $50 per month)
Hulu + Live TV ($45 per month before add-ons)
PlayStation Vue (starting with the Access bundle, $45 per month)
YouTube TV ($50 per month before add-ons)
Updated May 30, 2019 to add information about watching the NBA championship series without cable TV access.
Cord cutting brings particularly thorny challenges for sports fans, and they’re never more apparent than when the postseason rolls around. Case in point: the NBA playoffs that get underway Saturday, April 13. As in previous years, broadcasting of the postseason tournament will be divided between four networks: ABC, TNT, ESPN, and NBA TV.
Three of those are cable networks, but there are still ways for the enterprising cord-cutter to catch most of the action. Based on the TV schedule available at press time, we’ve outlined your options for watching the playoffs without a cable- or satellite-TV subscription. Follow our guide and you’ll be able to watch many—but not all—of the live broadcasts and see which team eventually lifts the Larry O’Brien Trophy this June.
Martyn Williams/IDG
The Winegard Flatwave is one of our favorite indoor TV antennas for tuning in local broadcasts.
ABC remains the only over-the-air (OTA) network broadcasting the NBA playoffs. The good news is you need an antenna only to watch that network’s games. As ABC has exclusive rights to the NBA Finals, you won’t miss a single layup when the best from the Eastern and Western conferences face off in June.
But your antenna will only get you so much game in the earlier rounds: According to the current TV schedule, ABC will carry seven games in the first round, and possibly more if any of the matchups go seven games (each match-up is a best-of-seven elimination tournament). ABC will also broadcast three games in the Semifinals, but none in the Conference Finals, as those rights are owned by ESPN and TNT. Fortunately, there are online options for watching all of those games.
TNT Overtime is a second-screen site that offers customized views of the game from four HD camera angles. But you’ll need a laptop, tablet or smartphone to take advantage of it while you watch the primary action on TNT on your TV.
The full TV schedule wasn’t available at press time, but TNT televised more than 40 playoff games each of the past two postseasons, so it’s fair to expect about the same this year. About half of those will be broadcast in the first round—though that number will certainly go up if any matchups go more than four games—and TNT typically splits the bulk of the Semifinals with ESPN. TNT also exclusively carries the Eastern Conference Finals this year.
Winegard FlatWave Amped (model FL-5500A)
Read TechHive's review
The easiest way to see those TNT games without cable is with TNT Overtime, a second-screen site that brings “enhanced coverage” of the network’s NBA games—including the playoffs—to your computer, tablet, or phone for free.
TNT Overtime doesn’t stream the TV broadcast feed. Instead, it offers you a customized view of the game with your choice of four HD camera angles—the Backboard Cam gets you up close to the scoring, two Player Cams exclusively track individual players as voted on by fans, and the Action Cam gives you a court-level view of all the, well, action—with exclusive content and analysis from TNT commentators.
If you can’t decide on one angle, you can watch all four at the same time in Mosaic view. The site also posts highlight clips from each angle and offers a few social-media features, so you can connect with other fans during the game. An additional feature this season, TNT Overtime’s highlights, stats and play-by-play integrations will be available alongside the live game experience.
Most of TNT’s playoff games usually get the TNT Overtime treatment, so this is great time to try out the service if you’ve never used it before.
These free options will only get you part way through the playoffs, though; you’ll need to subscribe to a streaming service—at least temporarily—to get access to the bulk of the broadcasts. Here’s what’s available.
Sling TV offers one of the least-expensive alternatives to cable, but you’ll need a TV antenna to watch your local broadcast channels.
Sling TV has been a godsend for cable-cutting sports junkies, and it’s downright essential during the NBA postseason. The service’s $15-per-month Sling Orange package offers 30 channels, including ESPN and ESPN2, which will account for 19 games throughout the first round and semifinals. ESPN also has exclusive rights to the Western Conference Finals.
On April 26, however, ESPN will be in the thick of its NFL Draft coverage. That means ESPNews might pick up the slack by carrying some of that day’s four first-round Game 6’s if necessary. To get ESPNews and catch those games, you’ll need to add Sling TV’s Sports Extra package ($5 per month in addition to the basic subscription).
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
SlingTV will also give you access to TNT. Sling TV streams live TV broadcasts, so unlike with TNT Overtime, you’ll be seeing exactly what you would if you were watching the games as part of a cable package.
You can watch Sling TV on your iOS or Android device, or on your big screen with a Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV, or Amazon FireTV. In fact, Currently, the service is offering a discounted Roku Ultra with a three-month commitment, or a free Roku Express when you pre-pay for two months. To help you turn in local channels, Sling is also offering a free RCA HDTV Indoor Antenna and AirTV Bundle when you prepay for three months, and the same antenna a la carte when you prepay for two months.
Sling TV comes with a seven-day free trial and requires no commitment or contract. You can cancel as soon as the playoffs end—though with such other offerings as A&E, CNN, Food Network, and Disney Channel, you might find you want to keep it around.
A multi-view feature that lets you watch three live channels on the same screen is one of the Sony’s PlayStation Vue best features.
Sony’s PlayStation Vue service brings another streaming option this postseason, but its subscription price and what’s included is dependent on where you live. Its basic Core package offer more than 70 channels, including TNT, ABC ESPN, ESPN2, and NBA TV. If you live in a market where Sony has the right to carry live feeds of some or all of the major networks, you might also get ABC. The cost for all this, though, is a comparatively high $50 a month.
But the extra cost does come with benefits: You’ll also get PlayStation Vue’s multi-view feature, which allows you to watch up to three live channels all on one screen, so you can focus on one game while keeping an eye on one or two others at the same time. You can determine your local channel availability by entering your zip code on the PlayStation Vue site.
Roku Streaming Stick+
DirectTV Now, AT&T’s streaming service, offers many of the same channels as SlingTV and PlayStation Vue. For $50 a month, its Plus package will give you more than 40 channels—including, ABC, TNT, ESPN and ESPN2. To get ESPNews, though, you’ll need to bump yourself up to the 50-plus channel Max package for $70 a month. As with Sling TV, you get the first seven days free.
You can stream DirectTV Now to your computer, iOS or Android devices, Apple TV, Android Fire TV, and Chromecast. The service is currently offering and Apple TV 4K free when you prepay for four months.
YouTube TV is one of several good choices for cord-cutters looking to catch all the NBA action because it offers so many relevant channels.
Hulu and You Tube have made things simpler for cord-cutters by offering single flat-fee packages that include the bulk of their channel offerings. YouTube TV is the better choice for NBA fans as it includes NBA TV along with ABC, TNT, and the three ESPN networks you need to catch all the playoff action. With YouTube TV’s recent price increase, Hulu with Live TV is five bucks cheaper and offers those same channels minus NBA TV.
Don’t let the price decide for you, though. You’ll need to check with each service to see which offers the required live channel streams in your area before making your ultimate decision. As with many of the services, there’s a seven-day free trial available.
Sports broadcasting still lags other types of TV programming in offering streaming options. But with the cord-cutting solutions above, we’re confident you’ll be able to tune in when your favorite team hits the hardwood.
Roku Inc.
Michael Ansaldo is a veteran consumer and small-business technology journalist. He contributes regularly to TechHive and writes the Max Productivity column for PCWorld.
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Category: Smartphones
Adarsh Patel
2 (Rs 2)
Is there any heating issue with Ringing Bells Freedom 251 ?
Are you worried whether the latest Ringing Bells Freedom 251 smartphone has any heating issue? Ask our experts for their timely predictions.
Ringing Bells Freedom 251 smartphone was launched in February 2016. The phone comes with a 4.00-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 540 pixels by 960 pixels. The Ringing Bells Freedom 251 is powered by 1.3GHz quad-core and it comes with 1GB of RAM. The phone packs 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card.
3 Answers found.
Timmappa Kamat
(Rs 4)
The smartphone is yet to be available. In fact, there are no sources to indicate that the production of the unit has commenced. The review units provided at the time of launch happen to be from a competitor - AdCom. Without even a prototype in hand it would not be possible to assess the possibility of Hest issues or any other such problem with the Freedom251.
However, given the fact that the device is being made available at such a low price, it could be possible that it uses some low cost components. The processor make has not been revealed so far. Using some substandard processor can result in heating issues in the phone. Having said that, I would still consider it to be too early to predict anything related to performance.
Live....and Let Live!
Joy Joon
Fun part about Freedom 251 which makes it look like a scam is non-production. There are not even single units of Freedom 251 because for promotion company used a model of smartphone with same specification from Adcom. As per Ringing Bells, soon they will start manufacturing the devices and will be delivered by June, 2016.
With no units for testing, experts can't say a single word about the device. Looking at the smartphone price and specifications, it is definite that it will come with low-quality hardware components . It may or may not cause heating issue but results are still yet to be revealed.
I am currently pursuing High School and planning to pursue career in Computer. Currently, I work on one of my blog - JTech Articles.
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Home » Broadband » Security » Mnangagwa’s Govt Getting Facial Recognition Tech From China
Mnangagwa’s Govt Getting Facial Recognition Tech From China
Posted Fri 13 Apr 2018 Sat 14 Apr 2018 by Farai Mudzingwa (@FariM9)
The Zimbabwean Government is believed to be importing a mass facial recognition system, Cloudwalk Technology, as they look to ramp up security efforts. The system is being imported as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Belt and Road Initiative is a is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government that focuses on connectivity and cooperation between China and foreign powers. Initially it was a Eurasian agreement that would see China deal exclusively with European countries but this move seems suggest the initiative is now going global. Or maybe Zimbabwe is just getting preferential treatment.
What is this cloudwalk technology?
Cloudwalk technology was launched in February this year which means Zimbabwe is one of the first countries to adopt this kind of technology. The technology has been described as 3D light facial technology. It’s been touted as a better service than 2D facial recognition. 2D facial recognition was not reliable because it could not easily recognize darker skin shades which limited it’s functionality.
CloudWalk provides hardware products such as facial recognition terminals, facial recognition physical access controls, and big data and facial recognition platforms for use by commercial airlines and police departments.
Still I have a lot of questions to ask and understand before making a verdict on the technology…
How good is this technology and who else is using it?
Cloudwalk’s big data facial recognition technology is used by 23 police departments and was also used in China’s ‘Police Cloud’ effort but this program was ended after Human Rights Watch complained about the program.
The report by Global Times states that :
The company is also developing an AI system which can recognize different people from their gait, shape or haircut and could be added to facial recognition,
Does this mean the system being deployed is not yet complete. If the system is incomplete what will happen once the provider of this tech has a more updated solution. Will we have to buy new hardware or a software update will do the trick?
Are the government’s priorities right?
At a time where government cannot afford to pay doctors or to buy medical supplies it comes into question whether this type of advancement is necessary. Yes technological advancement excites us but when technology is implemented without a particular use case then the question becomes whether this technology is necessary at all.
Will the technology be used appropriately?
The introduction of this technology is a welcome step but it’s a cause for concern as well…
As always, when a surveillance tool is introduced we have to ask whether this tool might be used for nefarious purposes. In a country such as ours where there have been multiple human rights violations over the years I am genuinely concerned whether this technology will be used for greater good. Hopefully the facial recognition will not become a political tool used to hound opposition members.
Tagged Face ID, facial recognition, Government, Mnangagwa
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10 thoughts on “Mnangagwa’s Govt Getting Facial Recognition Tech From China”
tapiwa says:
The editor and writer did not check the article for errors
The Belt and Road Initiative is a is a development strategy proposed by the Chinese government that focuses on connectivity and cooperation between”
Farai Mudzingwa says:
Tapiwa, thanks for the feedback had not seen that glaring omission but it has now been addressed
@ad_maku says:
This article is full of BS airports worldwide use facial recognition to weedout terrorists and criminals yet somehow this article chooses to focus on paranoia about human rights abuses. TechZim tikwanireiwo pliz.
wamba dia wamba says:
pane asingazive kuti mnangagwa had more than 20 years of misusing govt funds. he is a human rights abuser who will use this technology to undermine human rights
MaraMechavio says:
It’s the first time he has heard of it.And his objective is to sensationalise this issue to foster hatred of the Chinese by Zimbabweans.Anything done by government must be taken with a lot of suspicion in order to create momentum for the puppet party MDC-T.
Yeah I’m not a political guy man, I was talking about past human rights abuses that I assumed were common knowledge to anyone who has lived in Zimbabwe… Our job is not to endlessly praise a product when it is launched but to have level-headed conversations weighing the pros and cons around these products…
Lol! Yes airports use this system ‘worldwide’ as you say, but judging from prior human rights abuses in the country it would not be shocking if the systems are used for the wrong purposes… I did not say thats what it WILL be used for… Just that it MIGHT be used for such purposes
The fact that human rights advocates also put a ban to the Police Cloud is a clear indication that these kind of tools can be used for other purposes which are unintended. Yes I may be paranoid but do you trust the authorities will use this type of technology respectfully? Well, I don’t!
iTariro says:
@techzim, BRI is much bigger than what this article purports, in fact I call BS if you even know what BRI is all about or the context with this article. You are also quick to judge on the human rights abuses and yet you didn’t even state where the Government even intends to use this technology or better yet it’s advantages. Airports worldwide use more advanced face, object and activity recognition tools, so this is no issue. First understand the use cases then judge, seems you didn’t bother doing your homework on this.
Even in first world countries there are cameras on every street, they are for securty purposes and the citizens don’t even complain about human rights abuses.
Chisora says:
couldn’t agree more, these Techzim guys are dump
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Theatrical screenings in cinemas are organized by CoolConnections art association.
E-mail: info@coolconnections.ru
Веб-сайт: www.coolconnections.ru
Tickets can be purchased on the website through widgets of ticket sales units of Yandex.Afisha, Kinohod and Rambler.Kassa or directly at cinemas in Your city.
If you have a problem with buying a ticket online, please contact one of the following:
KINOHOD
Detailed instructions on how to buy tickets on Kinohod:
http://kinohod.ru/help/
Kinohod support service
On questions about buying/returning tickets:
Email: support@kinohod.ru
Hotline: 8 (800) 333 80 97 – calls are free around Russia
Detailed instructions on how to buy tickets on Rambler
http://help.rambler.ru/kassa/kassa-kak-rabotaet-rambler-kassa/1288/
Rambler support service
kassa@rambler-co.ru
+7 (495) 785-17-03 / 8 (800) 505-67-91
Feedback form:
http://help.rambler.ru/feedback/kassa/
YANDEX.AFISHA
How to buy/return cinema tickets
https://yandex.ru/support/afisha/cinema-return.html
https://yandex.ru/support/afisha/index.html
Attention! Tickets to Cinemas of the following cinema chains: “Kinostar”, “Cinema Park”, “Karo”, cinemas “Labyrinth” and “GUM Cinema hall” can be returned only by writing a written statement at the Cinema itself. To do so, one needs to approach the Cinema’s administration staff not later than 1 hour before the film is scheduled to start. The return price in cinemas “Labyrinth” and “GUM Cinema hall” is not more than 95% from the original ticket price, paid by the client. Return of electronic tickets in the cinema chain “Monitor” is possible no later than 30 (thirty) minutes before the is scheduled to start (under the condition that the ticket was not printed at the terminal or was not issued at the ticket office at the Cinema).
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A Tale of Two Police Chiefs: Madison vs. Ferguson
by Matt March 10, 2015, 1:30 pm 1.7k Views 1 Comment
Madison’s police chief Mike Koval is choosing to handle the shooting death of an unarmed black man differently from Ferguson’s Thomas Jackson, and it shows. (Koval: dailyherald.com photo; Jackson: ksn.com photo)
Mere hours after one of his officers fatally shot an unarmed black man, the chief of police in Madison, Wis., sought to strike a conciliatory tone with the family of the victim and an incensed community who renewed calls for an end to violent police-citizen encounters.
Mike Koval not only met with the family of 19-year-old Tony Terrell Robinson Jr., but prayed with them as well. At a press briefing, he released the name of the officer who pulled the trigger — Matt Kenny, a 12-year veteran with his agency — and disclosed that the victim had not been armed. And he acknowledged that there were similarities between the shooting in Madison with one that happened just a few states away that sparked violent protests and a push for law enforcement reform.
“To the extent that you have, again, a person of color, unarmed, who subsequently loses his life at the hands of the police, I can’t very well distance myself from that brutal reality,” Koval said.
But Koval is determined to prevent what happened in Ferguson from happening in Madison. To that, Madison’s police chief has taken a different approach over the past few days compared to that of Ferguson’s police chief Thomas Jackson last August.
When protests erupted across Ferguson last year following the shooting death of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr., Jackson urged demonstrators to leave the streets and go home. When protests broke out in Madison immediately following the shooting, Koval said the reaction by citizens was “appropriate under the circumstances.”
Read more: DOJ Slams Ferguson Police in Scathing Report
In Ferguson, police donned riot gear and launched tear gas in an effort to disperse protesters and arrested citizens and journalists alike when they refused to leave the streets. In Madison, police have kept watch on protesters from a distance; the demonstrations have been civil, and no arrests have been made.
Shortly after the shooting in Ferguson, Jackson released a convenience-store surveillance tape connecting Brown to an alleged shoplifting incident just minutes before he was shot by police officer Darren Wilson (Jackson said the tape was released due to numerous records requests, something TheBlot Magazine debunked weeks later). In Madison, Koval refused to answer reporters when pressed about Robinson’s criminal history, saying the timing was not appropriate given the shooting that had taken place the night before (The Associated Press later reported on Robinson’s criminal history based on documents it had obtained).
In Ferguson, Jackson withheld Wilson’s name from reporters without any apparent legitimate reason and despite numerous requests from local, national and international reporters. In Madison, Koval disclosed Kenny’s name within hours of the shooting without prompt.
Jackson eventually apologized for Brown’s death in a scripted, edited and polished video released online (“I am truly sorry for the loss of your son,” he said). Koval apologized for the shooting the day after it happened in an off-the-cuff remark at a press briefing (“We have to say we are sorry at the outset for it and then we have to show affirmative steps in moving forward to bring community back into the fold,” he said).
The difference in how Ferguson’s law enforcement leadership handled an unfolding crisis over how Madison is choosing to handle its crisis has not gone unnoticed. And while some have suggested the Madison police department has taken a lesson from the mismanagement in Ferguson, others point to a strong police-citizen bond in the Wisconsin metro city.
“I think it’s very clear that Madison, Wisconsin, is not Ferguson, Missouri,” Jim Palmer, the executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, told CNN in an interview.
There will continue to be protests in Madison over the next few days, and perhaps weeks. A community will try to heal itself through calls for reform to a very broken police system in which blacks are routinely singled out, charged and convicted of crimes at a disproportionately higher rate than any other group.
But what you won’t see in Madison: Burning liquor stores, looted toy stores, tear gas and riot police. Unlike Ferguson’s Thomas Jackson, Madison’s Mike Koval knows the community has a fuse, and he has the match.
Matthew Keys is a contributing journalist for TheBlot Magazine.
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Triple Amputee Vet Has GoFundMe for Racist Trump Wall
by Daniel C. Morgenstern December 21, 2018, 5:00 pm 1.6k Views
TRIPLE AMPUTEE VET LOVES MAGA, STARTS GOFUNDME PAGE FOR TRUMP WALL
Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ. He’s that son of God guy who epitomized sacrifice and promoted humility and generosity to all. But most especially to those with the least. Many of the people who love the idea of the racist Trump Wall identify as Christian. But somehow the gospels never seem to overcome their xenophobia and/or racism. Sure, this is nothing new. But the fact that an American hero who gave and lost so much supports it is appalling. A triple amputee vet started a GoFundMe page in support of the Trump Wall.
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MOST SEVERELY INJURED AIRMAN IN US HISTORY USES PLATFORM TO CLOSE BORDER
His name is Brian Kolfage and he is an Air Force veteran who lost two legs and an arm while serving in Iraq in 2004. No other airman in US history has been so severely injured and survived. Kolfage has spent several years working as a motivational speaker. But he’s a long-time Trump supporter. So he started a GoFundMe page, “We The People Will Fund The Wall.” He hopes his personal platform will help it raise $1 billion. So far, people donated $5 million. As someone who did more than read the gospels, I find that appalling. But sure, it is only .05% of the total. Yet it is still appalling. More than 78,000 people donated so far.
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FOR SOME, THE GOSPELS ARE JUST WORDS, EVEN AS CHRISTMAS APPROACHES FAST
Kolfage believes in Trump and the whole MAGA message. But especially the wall. So this American who lost so much said, “As a veteran who has given so much, 3 limbs, I feel deeply invested to this nation to ensure future generations have everything we have today. Too many Americans have been murdered by illegal aliens and too many illegals are taking advantage of the United States taxpayers with no means of ever contributing to our society.” Reading that just takes some of the wind out of my Christmas sails. He has every right to his opinion. And he has every right to express it. But I have every right to completely disagree as an American citizen and as a Christian.
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Clubs in Frankfurt
Clubs in Hamburg
Clubs in Köln
Clubs in Leipzig
Clubs in München
Clubs in Nuernberg
Falckensteinstr. 48, 10997 Berlin
The successor of the Magnet Club, which closed on 5.9.2015, is Musik & Frieden, and opened on 11.09.2015. The venue is operated by Musik & Frieden Kulturbetriebe GmbH, which is closely linked to Landstreicher Konzerte. The company acts as co-owner of the club. The managing directors of the club are Johanna Ohrt and Marlon Schröter.
Musically the club is on the road in the genres of indiepop, hip hop, punk, singer/songwriter and metal and thus not so far from its predecessor. Due to the rebuilds on the former magnet, the location has also changed its appearance. Many new installations have been added. However, the colours have remained classically indie dark.
Different party series have their home in music & peace like for example #gönn dir and “Drop the bomb”. At concerts, opinions are divided, the sound is problematic, as is the column in the room. In addition, on the upper floor is the Baumhaus Bar, where a view of the Spree and the U1 can be enjoyed during daytime operation.
Concerning the personnel at concerts….. In case of rentals, the organizer’s staff will be seated at the counter accordingly. If they’re bad, you shouldn’t count them towards the club.
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Rape cases top first grand jury list of 2020
HENDERSON, Ky. - The January grand jury list for Henderson County has been released.
Rape cases top first grand jury list of 2020 HENDERSON, Ky. - The January grand jury list for Henderson County has been released. Check out this story on thegleaner.com: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/news/2020/01/10/alleged-rape-city-park-lands-before-grand-jury/2846162001/
Beth Smith, Henderson Gleaner Published 8:35 a.m. CT Jan. 10, 2020 | Updated 8:41 a.m. CT Jan. 10, 2020
HENDERSON, Ky. - A Webster County man charged with raping a girl in a Henderson city park has been indicted.
A Henderson County grand jury this week moved forward with the charge against Valik Bellis, 20, Providence. He's been accused of the first-degree rape of a 14-year-old girl.
The alleged crime occurred last summer near the tennis courts in the park along the Ohio River, the Kentucky State Police said.
Valik Bellis (Photo: Furnished)
The victim told police that she and a friend met Bellis and his friend at the park. She said she and Bellis went for a walk, and that's when he allegedly forced himself on her.
This wasn't the only alleged rape case the grand jury had before them.
Jacob Martin
Jacob Martin, 23, formerly of Henderson, was also indicted for first-degree rape.
Henderson police said the crime against a child under the age of 13 was reported in December of 2018.
Jacob Martin (Photo: Furnished)
Currently a resident of Mount Vernon, Indiana, Martin is accused of raping the child in Henderson over the course of a year.
He was initially charged with sexual abuse, but after taking another look at the evidence and clarifying statements with victim, we added first-degree rape charge.
Indicted in 2019 for first-degree sexual abuse, officials said the grand jury revisited the case and decided to indict Martin on an additional charge of first-degree rape.
Those cases dismissed by a Henderson County grand jury are as follows:
George Nelson III, 48, first-degree robbery and third-degree terroristic threatening.
J'Yeon Chambers, 22, first-degree criminal mischief.
Katie N. Carter, 25, Thomas Cates, 37, George Johnson, 54, and Josh Martinez, 32, each charged with first-degree trafficking.
Drugs, assaults, robbery charges
Those who were indicted on drug, assault or robbery-related charges are as follows:
Junior Balan, 23, first-degree robbery and/or complicity.
Genesson Beraut, 21, complicity to first-degree robbery.
Matthew R. Book, 27, three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, one count of trafficking and/or complicity and being a second-degree persistent felony offender.
Crystal Stone, 23, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and/or complicity.
Ariel P. Acuff, 26, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Ryan Jobe, 30, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Zachary Armstead, 26, four counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
April Grigsby, 41, six counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
Michael Williams, 25, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
David G. Stone II, 39, felon in possession of a handgun, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and third-degree possession of a controlled substance.
Willie Tinsley, 45, first-degree promoting contraband, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (second offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, operating on a suspended/revoked license and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Aric Freels, 42, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Radonna Hogue, 48, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.
Tara Curtis, 27, two counts of first-degree possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.
Anthony Kladis, 44, kidnapping, second-degree assault and alcohol intoxication.
Christopher Norman, 23, three counts of wanton endangerment, one count of first-degree fleeing/evading police, operating on a suspended/revoked license and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Teisha Thompson, 39, theft of a controlled substance and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Dylan Wallace, 20, Aaron Peaugh, 24, and Kyle Peaugh, 24, trafficking in industrial hemp (more than 5 pounds) and/or complicity, third-degree criminal mischief and third-degree criminal trespass. Charges of possession of industrial hemp and theft under $500 were dismissed.
Robert Sweeney, 55, second-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and third-degree terroristic threatening.
Trevor Foster,19, trafficking in marijuana (second offense) and rear license not illuminated.
Wesley Bowles, 36, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (second offense).
Kara Givens, 25, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and speeding.
Joy B. Wilson, 35, first-degree possession of a controlled substance.
Clifton Phillips, 47, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of a legend drug.
Rashenna Trail, 35, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and being a second-degree persistent felony offender.
Brendan Duncan, 21, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.
William R. Stone, 54, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Kyle Pfitzner, 26, failure to comply with sex offender registration.
Theft, fraud, other offenses
Ryan Baker, 30, two counts of theft under $10,000.
Nicholas Downey, 34, two counts of theft under $10,000.
Kimberly Mays, 45, fraudulent use of a credit card under $10,000.
Marcellus Mason, 48, second-degree burglary, harassment and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Kelli Bilderback, 32, theft by deception under $10,000 and being a second-degree persistent felony offender.
Teisha Thompson, 39, theft of a controlled substance under $10,000 and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Angel Diaz Rosado, 40, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, carrying a concealed weapon and being a first-degree persistent felony offender.
Jason T. Godsey, 24, first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, theft by deception under $500 and being a second-degree persistent felony offender.
Brian K. Stone, 34, and Tocarra Romero, 33, each were indicted for first-degree bail jumping.
More: Henderson County woman charged in Louisiana for having 23 pounds of meth
GALLERY: Morgan Family groundbreaking for Habitat home
Habitat for Humanity of Henderson's Exec. Dir. Britney Smith, left, introduces Christina Morgan and her son, Hemi, 16, during their ceremonial "groundbreaking" of their new home Friday afternoon. DENNY SIMMONS / THE GLEANER
Theresa Steele, volunteers coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Henderson, signs a stud in the new home of Christina Morgan and her son, Hemi, 16, during the ceremonial "groundbreaking" Friday afternoon. DENNY SIMMONS / THE GLEANER
Donna Scheffer, left, gives her grandson, Hemi Morgan, 16, a hug and a kiss after they signed their names on the studs of Hemi's new Habitat for Humanity of Henderson home Friday afternoon. Hemi and his mom, Christina Morgan, would be moving into the home when it is completed. DENNY SIMMONS / THE GLEANER
Hemi Morgan, 16, autographs a stud in his family's new home Friday afternoon. Hemi and his mom, Christiana, are working with Habitat for Humanity of Henderson on the home. DENNY SIMMONS / THE GLEANER
Habitat for Humanity of Henderson's Britney Smith, executive director, far left, welcomes attendees to the Morgan Family groundbreaking at 218 S. Adams Street Friday afternoon. Christina Morgan and her son, Hemi, 16, will be moving into the home when it is completed. DENNY SIMMONS / THE GLEANER
Read or Share this story: https://www.thegleaner.com/story/news/2020/01/10/alleged-rape-city-park-lands-before-grand-jury/2846162001/
Five more file for Henderson City Commission race
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HPD stats show reported crime down; focused enforcement credited
Free Air Guard Band show to benefit food pantry
Murder of Chloe Randolph spurs bill in Kentucky Senate
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Muncie admin picked as RCS superintendent
Todd Terrill was a teacher, assistant principal in Richmond, now works for Muncie Community Schools.
Muncie admin picked as RCS superintendent Todd Terrill was a teacher, assistant principal in Richmond, now works for Muncie Community Schools. Check out this story on thestarpress.com: http://tspne.ws/1G1dVdB
Published 12:28 p.m. ET April 17, 2015 | Updated 4:45 p.m. ET April 17, 2015
Todd Terrill, a Muncie Community Schools administrator, has been named as finalist for Richmond Community Schools superintendent.(Photo: Photo provided)
The RCS board of trustees has named Todd Terrill as its choice candidate for superintendent.
Terrill is director of secondary education for Muncie Community Schools.
He previously taught and was an assistant principal in Richmond.
A public meeting about Terrill's contract will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
RICHMOND - A Muncie Community Schools administrator is "absolutely thrilled and excited" about the possibility of becoming the next superintendent of Richmond Community Schools.
The Richmond School Board announced Todd Terrill as its choice for the position Friday morning. Terrill is now director of secondary education for Muncie, where he has worked for eight years.
Richmond will have a public hearing about the provisions of Terrill's proposed contract will at 6 p.m. April 28, and a board meeting to approve the contract is set for 2:30 p.m. May 5. If approved, Terrill will begin work on June 15.
Terrill taught and coached at several Richmond schools before going to Muncie.
He will replace former RCS Superintendent Allen Bourff, who left Dec. 31, 2014, to take the same position with Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Fishers.
Bourff had discussed the job with Terrill but was unaware of the board's choice until contacted by The Palladium-Item on Friday. "I think he'll do very well," Bourff said.
If the contract is approved, this would be Terrill's first job as a superintendent.
His departure will leave Muncie Schools with another administrative spot to fill. A finalist for the Muncie superintendent's job was also announced on Friday morning, but the district was waiting for the new superintendent to be named before searching for a new chief financial officer.
Muncie names final superintendent candidate
Read or Share this story: http://tspne.ws/1G1dVdB
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'SEX TERMINATOR'
Porn star spent £380,000 on plastic surgery to become ‘living sex ROBOT’ – and says ‘real sex-bots can’t compete’
Sybil Stallone has referred to herself as “the sex terminator” and now works at a legal brothel near Las Vegas
Charlotte Edwards
Updated: 3 Apr 2019, 10:58
A PORN STAR has undergone numerous surgeries to transform herself into a "living sex doll" – and says sex robots have "no chance" of matching her.
Sybil Stallone refers to herself as a “Brunette Barbie” and now works at Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel located near Las Vegas.
Stallone has spent $500,000 on her surgeriesCredit: Sheri's Ranch
The infamous brothel says it has become acutely aware of the growing worldwide popularity of sex robot brothels and so was keen to add Stallone to its line up of sex workers.
Stallone was already a well-known porn star with nearly 1.5million Instagram followers.
She has invested $500,000 (£380,000) in surgeries to turn her body into what Sheri's Ranch is referring to as the ultimate living sex machine.
However, Stallone says that it takes more that surgery to make her the ultimate sex partner.
She refers to herself a “Brunette Barbie” living sex dollCredit: Sheri's Ranch
She said: "I am literally built for sex. In our modern age of virtual reality, teledildonics, and sex robots, sex buyers are constantly looking for a more unique experience.
"Through my enhancements, I offer my lovers something that transcends human, better than anything you could get with a sex robot or most other women. I’m the best of both worlds – a living sex doll.”
Stallone started working at the brothel at the end of 2018 and says she has had considerable success with clients.
She has had to undergo significant surgical augmentations in order to turn herself into a sentient sex doll and these surgeries include a nose job, cheek, chin, and lip fillers, a butt lift, and a boob job that increased her breast size from a D-cup to a G-cup.
Stallone started working at the Sheri's Ranch brothel in late 2018Credit: Sheri's Ranch
Stallone does not regret any of her surgeries and says the response from her clients and fans has has been overwhelmingly positive.
She added: "When you combine my physical augmentations with my intense workout regimen, sex-positive attitude, and my years of experience having great sex as a highly successful porn star – there’s just nothing on the market that comes close to what I offer.
"I’m the sex-terminator. No sex robot has a chance."
Stallone has called herself "the sex terminator"Credit: Sheri's Ranch
Stallone's colleague Allissa commented: "Sybil is an empowered woman with the agency to make her own choices. She has the right to be whatever she wants to be – and Sybil has a lot of fans that love her.
"But if you ask me, Sybil’s amazing body isn’t the best thing about her or the thing that makes her fans love her the most. She’s a sweet person with genuine compassion for the people in her life – and no sex robot can offer that."
The sex robot industry is continuing to growCredit: EPA
Stallone even claims that more women will choose to look like her – as sex robots become more common.
"I feel that as time goes on, and sex robots become more and more accepted as a part of sexual culture, that you’ll definitely see more women, especially sex workers, use advances in plastic surgery and technology to create a sexually competitive look," she told The Sun.
"I consider myself a pioneer in this regard – one of the first to dramatically and unapologetically alter my body to enhance my sexual attractiveness."
Stallone's claims that no sex robot could ever compete with her come at a time when the safety of sex robots is being questioned and their are claims that they could even crush limbs.
Existing sex products are not currently well regulated and this is could be a cause for concern due to the many ways in which sex robots could harm users.
Despite concerns, just yesterday a £7,000 ‘Harmony’ sex-bot with a Scottish accent went on sale.
Harmony is a lifelike robotic head and attaches onto silicon bodies. The robot can talk to you, tell jokes, and even recall facts from previous conversations.
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In September 2018, The Sun exclusively revealed how one sex-bot collector had spent $200,000 on love dolls.
Sex robots are proving big business and top models were discounted as part of last year's Black Friday sale.
Sex dolls are already starring in adult films and a new 18+ "erotic sci-fi TV series" about the robots has recently aired online.
What's your opinion on sex robots? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
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Beyond brand consideration: 3 ways to help convert Canadian car buyers
/ January 2018 / Automotive, Data & Measurement
With so much complex consumer data on hand, it can be hard to connect it all to what really matters: finding and converting your best customers. Here, we look at how two of Canada’s luxury vehicle brands are driving more qualified leads using an audience-first strategy.
Today, the Canadian car shopper makes, on average, three visits to a car dealership.1 And these consumers are more informed than ever before by the time they walk through the door.
Let’s look at a real-life example: In partnership with Luth Research, a U.S. car buyer shared her journey to buy a new car with us. Throughout her path to purchase, she encountered over 900 digital touchpoints, including 139 searches, 14 YouTube videos, 89 images, 69 dealer interactions, and 186 manufacturer interactions.2 What’s more, 71% of her journey occurred on mobile.2
Luxury vehicle brands BMW and MINI Canada recognized the value of these insights and built a successful audience-first strategy across its marketing campaigns. By identifying the most valuable actions on their sites, both brands were able to reach their most-qualified leads throughout their purchase journeys.
How to turn consideration into conversions
In today’s multi-device, multi-platform world, consolidating channels may seem challenging. But research shows that marketers who make the effort to unify customer data are more successful: Leading marketers are 1.5X more likely to have an integrated marketing and advertising technology stack.3 With that in mind, here’s how you can turn consideration into conversions:
1. Action digital data. Search audiences are made up of prospects who interact with your brand or industry across multiple touchpoints. They’ve conducted repeated searches for high-value keywords and have revisited relevant websites. Doubling down on these qualified leads is key to an efficient and accountable marketing strategy.
2. Focus on the customer journey. Determine who is looking to purchase vs. who is in the research phase, and optimize your investment to drive your most likely conversion. This will help you understand which consumers are further down the purchase funnel and allow you to tailor your advertising based on their interests.
3. Use tools and technology available to you. Smart data collection begins with audience lists. These lists live as assets for brands to leverage over time and rely heavily on data inputs to become more intelligent—all so they can cut through Canada’s online population to find more potential customers.
BMW and MINI acted fast on these crucial insights, doubling down on their most qualified leads.
BMW and MINI engage more qualified leads with audience solutions
BMW Group opened its first dealership in Canada nearly 50 years ago and now has 49 BMW dealerships and 30 MINI dealerships across the country. The brand had optimized both digital and traditional media channels to deliver impressive consideration results, but it was pushing for new ways to engage a higher value audience. Media Experts, BMW Group’s partner in digital marketing, wanted to leverage the brand’s leading position as one of the most-considered brands in luxury.1 Together, the teams developed an innovative, audience-first strategy that would help push more high-consideration consumers down the purchase funnel.
Google/Ipsos, Think Auto Research, 2017, n=2500, Google Canada conducted surveys in June 2017 among a representative sample of 2,500 Canadians 18+ who purchased or leased a vehicle in the past 12 months.
BMW and MINI drove more leads through segmented audience lists than any other media tactic. A quick definition: segmented audiences are subsets of users you can isolate based on data (e.g., a group of users who have completed a certain action, such as requesting a quote). BMW and MINI valued these lists, and while these audiences displayed a higher cost-per-click, the segments they identified and targeted were much further along the path to purchase and therefore more likely to convert.
By leveraging audience solution tools and insights, both brands have been able to invest in high-value customers who are actively engaged in the luxury car buying process and ultimately more likely to book a test drive or buy a BMW or MINI vehicle.
BMW and MINI leveraged audience solutions to gain a clear view of the customer and realize the true value of their digital efforts. Brands and marketers looking to follow suit should start by asking themselves these three questions:
1. Am I leveraging all of the data coming from highly interested customers on digital?
2. What new customer insights can I unlock by combining my customer data with digital data?
3. How can I connect audience insights to media activation and drive better performance?
Today’s path to purchase is more complex than ever. It’s critical for marketers to rethink their audience targeting strategies and understand the lifetime value of customers by getting smarter with data.
1 Google/Ipsos, Think Auto Research, 2017, n=2500, Google Canada conducted surveys in June 2017 among a representative sample of 2,500 Canadians 18+ who purchased or leased a vehicle in the past 12 months.
2 Methodology: Google partnered with Luth Research. Luth analyzed the digital activity of its opt-in panel participants. This article details the cross-device clickstream data of one individual over a period of three months, 2016, U.S.
3 Google/Econsultancy, Marketing and Measurement Survey, March 2017.
Redefining your consumer: How 3 Canadian brands used intent to find their best customers
Canadian retailers: Are you realizing the full value of your online advertising?
Research, reach, and revenue: How 3 Canadians startups grew with digital
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Second French citizen identified in ISIS execution video
An image grab taken from a propaganda video by al-Furqan Media allegedly shows Mickael Dos Santos, a jihadist believed to be French citizen and member of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.PHOTO: AFP
A second Frenchman was identified on Wednesday (Nov 19) after appearing unmasked in a grisly execution video among Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) jihadists, many of whom are believed to be Western fighters.
Several European countries are probing the possible involvement of their nationals in the execution of 18 Syrian prisoners and kidnapped US aid worker Peter Kassig.
The video sparked global horror after its release on Sunday by ISIS.
One foreigner, 22-year-old Maxime Hauchard from Normandy in northern France, was quickly identified by French prosecutors.
He is one of several young French nationals from a middle class, atheist or Catholic background to have converted to radical Islam and gone to fight in Syria, making a profile of potential jihadists nearly impossible to pin down, experts say.
A source close to the French investigation on Wednesday identified a second national as 22-year-old Mickael Dos Santos from an eastern Paris suburb, who goes by the name of Abu Othman.
Malaysian leaders on IS hit list
Who is 'Jihadi Jake'?
Jihadists organise holiday tours in their Syria, Iraq ‘caliphate’
Chanelling jihadists
He is believed to have left for Syria in the autumn of last year, and became known to investigators shortly afterwards during a probe into a network channelling jihadists into the war-torn country.
“The man concerned is known for his terrorist involvement in Syria and his violent behaviour shown on social networks,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said, without confirming his identity.
In July, Hauchard said in an interview with French television he had decided to join ISIS after watching videos online.
“The personal objective of everyone here is (to become a) shahid (martyr). That is the greatest reward,” he said.
ISvideoFranceidentified
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Tom Mason MSP
About Tom Mason
Aberdeen hospital failing the elderly following unannounced visit by inspectors
Thursday, 21 February, 2019
The north-east’s flagship hospital has been slammed for a spate of basic failings in its care of some of its most vulnerable patients.
Healthcare Improvement Scotland yesterday published a report following an unannounced visit to the royal infirmary in December, which found it had failed in eight out of 10 “seemingly elementary” areas.
Inspectors visited six geriatric wards – including stroke and orthopaedic trauma units – as part of its programme to see how older people in acute care were being looked after.
And although there was a number of positive patients’ experiences recorded by the inspectors, they also found a number of issues that needed urgent overhaul.
Not all patients had been properly assessed for malnutrition risk within the required 24 hour period after admission, and in some instances this did not happen until four to eight days later, or not at all.
There was also a vast array of forms and paperwork or regular checks which had not been carried out to ensure patients were not in discomfort, pain or needed the toilet.
The report also stated that one diabetic’s ulcer assessment did not reflect that the patient even had the disease.
Meanwhile another patient’s pressure ulcer check was not carried out until nine days after admission, when the target time is within eight hours.
North east MSP Tom Mason said he hoped the report would push NHS Grampian to strive for improvement and said: “It is disappointing then to hear some seemingly elementary things have gone wrong for some patients at ARI.
“I know staff will do their utmost for those in their care – It’s a hard job with long hours.”
Age Scotland said it was often the “overlooked admin” tasks that can affect “life-saving decisions”.
Adam Stachura, head of policy and communications, said: “It’s vitally important that within 24 hours of being admitted, all new patients are screened for malnutrition and are re-assessed routinely during their stay.
“This allows medical staff to treat any issues that arise and allow them to give correct dosage based on weight.
“It’s also important that this quality of care extends into end of life especially when its documenting patients’ decision to not receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation.”
Other paperwork had not been reviewed or completed, including a do not attempt to resuscitate certificate, which had not been signed off by a senior medic, despite being ready for more than week.
A patient told the inspectors they felt there was a “lack of communication” between doctors and that it seemed the “left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing”.
Another patient said senior staff often “skirted around” decisions leaving them “feeling confused”.
However, inspectors did receive some good feedback from patients with one referring to their stay as being like the “Foresterhill Hilton” and another mentioned the “wonderful” staff.
A spokesperson for the health board admitted there was room for improvement and said: “We accept all these points and have prepared a detailed action plan.
“However, the feedback from our patients is most pleasing. They consistently highlight the caring and empathetic attitude of staff.”
-The Press and Journal
Portfolio Questions 18 June 2019
In order to support our tourism industry, we need more people studying the subject at college and university.
I hope that the Scottish Government will work to champion this as a career of choice for our young people.
Holyrood News
Tom Mason MSP North East Scotland Region
Promoted by Fiona Craigen on behalf of Tom Mason, both of 2 West Mount Street, Aberdeen, AB25 2RJ
Copyright 2020 Tom Mason MSP North East Scotland Region. All rights reserved.
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Here's what could be lost if Trump bombs Iran's cultural treasures
The US president has warned Iran he will obliterate its cultural sites. Here is our guide to the nation’s jewels, from hilltop citadels to a disco-ball mausoleum
Steve Rose
@steverose7
Mon 6 Jan 2020 12.27 EST Last modified on Wed 8 Jan 2020 06.43 EST
Inside the Sheik Loftallah mosque, in Isfahan, Iran. It is a Unesco world heritage site. Photograph: BornaMir/Getty Images/iStockphoto
If carried out, Donald Trump’s threat to target “cultural sites” in Iran would put him into an axis of architectural evil alongside the Taliban and Isis, both of which have wreaked similar forms of destruction this century. The Taliban dynamited Afghanistan’s sixth-century Buddhas of Bamiyan in 2001; Isis has destroyed mosques, shrines and other structures across Iraq and Syria since 2014, some in the ancient city of Palmyra. Not, you might have thought, company the US president would prefer to be associated with.
Does Trump know what would be lost? Probably not – but he’s hardly the only one. The fact that the country is rarely visited by western tourists is not due to a lack of attractions. With a civilisation dating back 5,000 years, and over 20 Unesco world heritage sites, Iran’s cultural heritage is rich and unique, especially its religious architecture, which displays a mastery of geometry, abstract design and pre-industrial engineering practically unparalleled in civilisation. This is is not just Iran’s cultural heritage, it is humanity’s.
Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid empire and one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites. Photograph: Alireza Hosseinzadeh/Getty Images/iStockphoto
The jewel in Iran’s archaeological crown: a monumental complex dating back to the sixth century BC that was designed to impress – with a vast raised terrace, grand staircases and marble palaces and temples. The city has been sacked by numerous visitors, starting with Alexander the Great, but much still remains for Trump to obliterate, including some incredibly well-preserved statues and bas reliefs of bulls, lions, mythical creatures and citizens of the multicultural Achaemenid empire.
Shah Cheragh mosque, Shiraz
Shah Cheragh mosque, Shiraz, Iran. Photograph: Feng Wei Photography/Getty Images
The name translates as “King of the Light” and with good reason. Relatively typical-looking from the outside, this mausoleum’s interior is entirely covered in intricate geometric designs of mirrored mosaic tile, creating a cosmic, otherworldly lightshow. It is a sombre place of pilgrimage but the effect has been likened to being inside a giant, Islamic disco ball. Just the sort of thing a hotelier with a penchant for shiny things might appreciate.
Vank Cathedral
Interior of dome of Vank (Armenian) Cathedral, Isfahan, Iran. Photograph: James Strachan/Getty Images/Robert Harding World Imagery
Iran has a long Christian history, particularly associated with Armenia at its northwestern border. Three of the oldest churches in the region are Unesco world heritage sites. Vank Cathedral, near Isfahan, was built by Armenians driven to the area by Shah Abbas I of Persia during the Ottoman wars in the 17th century. The interior is a riotous patchwork of frescoes and gilded carvings.
Bridges of Isfahan
Si-o-Se-Pol Bridge (33 Arches bridge) over the Zayanderud river in Isfahan. Photograph: Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
Western visitors marvelled at the beauty and sophistication of the long, covered bridges of Iran’s former capital, mostly built during the 17th century. They are feats of engineering but also pure functionality. The stately, 130m-long Khaju Bridge, for example, served as a dam and sluice gate to control the Zayanderud river as well as a way to cross it, while its central aisle was a shaded public meeting space boasting a tea house.
Sheik Lotfallah mosque, Isfahan
Sheik Lotfallah mosque in Isfahan. Photograph: Leonid Andronov/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Not the largest mosque in the city but one of the most stupendously ornate, since it was built for the royal court rather than the general public. Its interior contains some of the finest tilework to be found anywhere in the world, especially the dome with its unfathomably complex geometric patterns, said to resemble a peacock’s tail – testament to untold millions of hours of care and labour.
Imam Reza Shrine, Mashhad
This is the largest mosque in the world, one of the holiest sites in the holiest city in Iran, with over 25 million visitors a year. The destruction of this mosque complex would be unforgivable to many of the world’s Muslims. As well as the tomb of Imam Reza, the eighth Shia imam, and numerous other religious figures, the complex is home to mosques, courtyards, a madrasa, and a museum containing priceless historical artefacts.
The first capital of the Achaemenid empire, built by Cyrus the Great in a distinctive style, with spectacular columned palaces and other buildings laid out across large gardens divided by waterways. This influential Persian garden style was a prototype for Asian design, the inspiration for India’s Taj Mahal and Spain’s Alhambra. The buildings are mostly remnants, though one surviving structure is the supposed tomb of Cyrus himself.
Tomb of Daniel
The tomb of prophet Daniel, Susa, Iran. Photograph: Dea/Archivio J Lange/De Agostini via Getty Images
Even if he hasn’t actually read his supposed favourite book – The Bible – Trump is likely familiar with Daniel, AKA that dude with the lions. He might be surprised to discover Daniel – a prophet in Islam as well as Christianity – is presumed to be buried in the ancient Iranian city of Susa. Daniel’s Tomb, with its distinctive conical dome, was first chronicled in the 12th century and is still a popular pilgrimage site.
The Citadel of Bam
The largest adobe building in the world, dating back to the sixth century BC. It is more a hilltop town than a single structure, spread across 180,000 sq metres (44 acres), with a central fortress surrounded by streets, houses and bazaars, all surrounded by seven metre-high walls. Bam was largely destroyed in an earthquake in 2003 but reconstruction has been going on ever since.
Gonbad-e Kavus
Gonbad-e Kavus tower in Golestan, Iran. Photograph: Image Professionals GmbH/Alamy Stock Photo
Another example of ancient Iranian excellence in both engineering and style. This 50 metre-tall funerary tower dates back to the early 11th century, and a millennium later it is still apparently the tallest brick tower in the world. The design is beautifully austere, a 10-pointed star in plan, with a conical roof, completely plain save for two bands of calligraphy around the bottom and the top.
• This article was amended on 8 January 2020 to clarify that Armenians were forced to move to the Isfahan area by Persia’s shah in the early 1600s, rather than fleeing there.
Congress to vote on curbing president's war powers – as it happened
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Published: 8 Jan 2020
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Iran chose to miss when firing rockets, British sources suggest
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That Apple Watch you're eyeing up isn't going to be a standalone device
New guidelines for developers has revealed a number of details about the smartwatch including the fact you will need your iPhone to work it.
By Quinton O'Reilly Wednesday 19 Nov 2014, 6:09 PM
Nov 19th 2014, 6:09 PM 11,586 Views 19 Comments
Image: Apple
APPLE WATCH MAY still be a few months from release – the company is still sticking to its ‘early 2015′ timeline – but that hasn’t stopped it from releasing its Software Development Kit for those who want to develop apps for it.
While it’s mainly for developers, the kit reveals more details about the device as developer get to grips with it. Here are a few of the most noticeable details from it.
Apple Watch is pretty much dependent on your iPhone: For anyone who has ever owned a smartwatch, this won’t come as a surprise, but this is designed to be an extension of your iPhone. To put it in Apple’s words, “a Watch app complements your iOS app, it does not replace it.”
The first native apps will arrive next year: The team behind Instagram and ESPN have described what it’s like to develop apps for the watch (since it’s a press release, they’re all positive) but near the end, it says “starting later next year, developers will be able to create fully native apps for Apple Watch.”
There will be two types of notifications: Short Looks which lets the user know which app received a notification and are visible only briefly, and Long Looks, which will provide more detail about an incoming notification.
Both are activated by raising your wrist, with the Long Look notification appearing when you keep it raised or if you tap the short look interface.
Gestures will be consistent: Whatever type of app you’re designing, all gestures will be consistent across the board. For example, vertical swipes scrolls, horizontal swipes switches between pages, and the digital crown scrolls through pages.
There’s a new font: Which was designed specifically for Apple Watch called San Francisco. Apple recommends adopting Dynamic Type when designing apps, which will make automatic adjustments to letter spacing and line height for every font size and responds to changes the user makes to text-size settings.
Read: Explainer: Why is Uber in such hot water right now? >
Read: These are the keyboard shortcuts that you will find useful >
Quinton O'Reilly
@qoreilly
quinton@thejournal.ie
See more articles by Quinton O'Reilly
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From Disruption To Dystopia: Is Silicon Valley's Future Vision Good For Humanity?
The smart city as urban trap for the monitored and managed. JL
Joel Kotkin reports in The Daily Beast:
The unaffordable Bay Area, ‘built from the internet up,’ and China’s police state offer glimpses of what tech plans. Unlike urban centers of the past, the new oligarchic city (does) not spur adulthood, family, or independence. The idea is to create an extended quasi-college experience, in which tech giants get to play dorm mother. Firms seek employees who embrace "a fully realized life” based on a modernist version of “monasticism.”“The point of a smart city is that everything that can be collected will be collected.”
The tech oligarchs who already dominate our culture and commerce, manipulate our moods, and shape the behaviors of our children while accumulating capital at a rate unprecedented in at least a century want to fashion our urban future in a way that dramatically extends the reach of the surveillance state already evident in airports and on our phones.
Redesigning cities has become all the rage in the tech world, with Google parent company Alphabet leading the race to build a new city of its own and companies like Y Combinator, Lyft, Cisco, and Panasonic all vying to design the so-called smart city.
It goes without saying, this is not a matter of merely wanting to do good. These companies are promoting these new cities as fitter, happier, more productive, and convenient places, even as they are envisioning cities with expanded means to monitor our lives, and better market our previously private information to advertisers.
This drive is the latest expansion of the Valley’s narcissistic notion of “changing the world” through disruption of its existing structures and governments and the limits those still place on the tech giants’ grandest ambitions. This new urban vision negates the notion of organic city-building and replaces it with an algorithmic regime that seeks to rationalize, and control, our way of life.
In reality, Google is entering the “smart city” business in no small part to develop high-tech dormitories for youthful tech workers and the cheaper foreign noncitizen workers in the U.S., including H1B indentured servants; overall noncitizens make up the vast majority of the Valley’s tech workforce. Even as the tech fortunes have grown ever larger, the companies own workers have been left behind, with the average programmer earning about as much today as she did in 1998 even as housing costs in tech hubs have exploded.
The drive to redesign our cities, however, is not really the end of the agenda of those who Aldous Huxley described as the top of the “scientific caste system.” The oligarchy has also worked to make our homes, our personal space, “connected” to their monitoring and money machines. This may be a multibillion-dollar market soon, but many who have employed such devices at home—appliances that track our activities and speak to us like loyal servants—find them “creepy,” as they should, given that their daily activities are fed back to enrich the high-tech hive mind. Both the city and house the future may owe more to Brave New World than Better Homes and Gardens.
This is a vision of the urban future in which the tech companies’ own workers and whatever other people with skills the machines haven’t yet replaced are a new class of urban serfs living in small apartments, along with a much larger class of dependent persons living on “income maintenance” and housing or housing subsidies provided by the state. “Bees exist on Earth to pollinate flowers, and maybe humans are here to build the machines,” observes professor Andrew Hudson-Smith, from University College London’s Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. “The city will be one big joined-up urban machine, and humans’ role on Earth will be done.”
This new urban form is an extension of the notion—shared by most top internet founders—that their industry will exacerbate inequality between the rich and the middle class, while eradicating abject poverty by making cheap essential goods. Companies prosper in this model by avoiding the messy reality of paying higher wages through automating ever higher-end functions. As the hoi polloi cluster in small apartments, the choice spots will be left for the extremely wealthy workaholics who create technologies. Everyone else will enjoy leisurely prosperity—playing with their phones, video games, and virtual reality in what Google calls “immersive computing.”This is markedly different from the capitalist system that emerged after the Second World War, when large employers like General Motors or Lockheed did not so consciously monitor their employees’ lives once they left work. The growth of these companies also allowed many working and middle class people to buy homes, primarily in suburbia, where they could separate corporate life from family life.
Silicon Valley remains stubbornly suburban in form, but the oligarchs now believe that “urbanization is a moral imperative,” notes author Greg Ferenstein, who has interviewed them extensively. Conveniently for the new rulers sopping up a share of the capital unmatched since the gilded age, cramming people into tighter and heavily monitored spaces also discourages them from having large families, or any children at all, and thus fewer “excess” people without coding skills to be housed and fed.
Even as the suburban garage remains the Valley’s preferred symbol, suggesting that anyone with a vision can build the next Facebook, in fact today’s giants prefer to buy up emerging innovators and to build dense urban complexes inhabited by workers who will become ever more corporate, consolidated, and controlled.
Even as the oligarchs’ apologists insist dense cities are “home to more innovation and income equality,” research shows quite the opposite, with San Francisco, for example, recently ranked by the Brookings Institution as America’s second most unequal city. Perhaps Facebook should look at what happens to its contract workers sleeping in their cars and working numerous jobs to afford to stay near the mother ship.
Unlike urban centers of the past, the new oligarchic city is not a mechanism that spurs individuals toward adulthood, family, or independence. Instead, the idea is to create a kind of extended adolescence or quasi-college experience, in which the tech giants or the government acting as their proxy gets to play dorm mother, encouraging people to behave and think in ways the oligarchs deem useful.
In this world, there is little room for home ownership. The oligarchs have endorsed Bay Area regulations that limit single family-home development and have helped created some of the world’s highest housing prices and rents. According to Zillow, rent costs now claim upward of 45 percent of income for young workers in San Francisco, compared to closer to 30 percent of income in metropolitan areas like Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. The average new mortgage for a home in San Francisco takes, on average, close to 40 percent of income, compared to 15 percent nationally.
Under this regime, the new generation of Bay Area residents seems destined to live as renters, without enjoying equity in property. The 2040 regional plan for the Bay Area calls for 75 percent of new housing development to take place on barely 5 percent of the land mass, all but guaranteeing high prices for those who can (barely) afford to live crammed into small apartments.
One well-used rationale for densification lies with the assumption that building more units on these pricey pieces of land will help solve California’s severe housing affordability crisis. Yet in reality, construction costs for higher density housing are much higher—up to 7.5 times the cost per square foot of building detached housing. Nor will densification do much to address climate issues: Savings cited in a recent Berkeley study suggest that enforced densification would contribute less than 1 percent of the new emissions reductions the state has mandated by 2030.
Yet the CEOs of Lyft, Salesforce.com, Square, Twitter, and Yelp, as well senior executives at Google, all support densification, and have rallied behind a new bill by California state Sen. Scott Wiener to strip local communities of most of their zoning powers to allow significant densification virtually everywhere there is basic transit or rail bus service. This shift in power from localities to the state follows the oligarch’s preference for centralized power that avoids the messiness of dealing with the local peasantry. Like your bucolic suburb or human scale urban neighborhood? Too bad. The oligarchs have spoken.
Instead of the lower density and relatively affordable post-war suburbs that “smart” planners and progressives have long mocked as cultural wastelands, the tech giants are pushing a 21st century high-tech update of the grim worker housing that dotted the Lancastrian and New England landscapes of the early industrial revolution.
In developing dense housing estates around their headquarters, the new “company town” for the 21st century will erase both privacy and financial independence. Firms like Google, Apple, and Facebook seek employees who embrace, as the New Yorker recently observed, “not only a life style but a fully realized life” based on a modernist version of “monasticism.”
Mark Zuckerberg, even as he fought to expand his own sprawling suburban homestead, envisions his employees living in crowded dormitories close to work, including a planned 1,500-unit apartment development near Facebook’s Menlo Park campus. Zuckerberg, like most oligarchs, prefers workers unengaged with the mundanities of family life.
“Young people just have simpler lives,” he explained to the San Francisco Chronicle. “We may not own a car. We may not have a family. Simplicity in life is what allows you to focus on what’s important.”
The man preaching this diminished view of urban life, of course, has a car, a family and all the benefits that come with a vast fortune. He is not part of the “we” he’s purporting to speak for.
The city that he is envisioning, that “we” are supposed to enjoy, will be organized not by civic loyalty but pools of constantly tracked personal information collected and sold by his company.
One early indicator: Google is working to create a new, “smart” neighborhood in an undeveloped 12-acre portion of Toronto called Quayside. Sidewalk, the Alphabet unit run by former New York Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff, describes its vision for Quayside as the prototype for a city “built from the internet up… merging the physical and digital realms,” with its residents acting in effect as the company’s beta-testers.
This “smart” urbanity revolves around surveillance and relentless data-gathering. Swarms of monitoring sensors inside and outside buildings and on streets will be constantly on duty. Google would collect data about everything from water use to air quality to the movements of Quayside’s residents, using that data to run energy, transport, and all other systems. In this controlled environment, consent over pillaging personal data “goes out the window straight away” says David Murakami Wood, an associate professor at Queens University who studies surveillance in cities.
“The whole point of a smart city is that everything that can be collected will be collected,” Al Gidari, the director of privacy at Stanford University’s Center for Internet and Society in California, told the CBC. If smart cities really wanted to give people more control over their privacy, they wouldn’t collect any of it unless people opted in.
Relentless monitoring, no doubt, will create some efficiencies for things such as trash collection, but at an enormous cost to privacy. Where people walk, what they do will all be fed into Google’s advertising and marketing machine. Meanwhile, Google, Wired notes, will be gaining insights about urban life—including energy use, transit effectiveness, climate mitigation strategies, and social service delivery patterns—that it will then be able to sell to cities around the world.
While Canadians may still be able to object to attempts at this kind of control, citizens in Russia, India, and China are less likely do so. In China, tech firms are desperate enough for future profits to cooperate openly with the state’s surveillance and censorship regime in exchange for market access.
China presents the oligarchic city builders with a real-life laboratory for surveillance. In western China, where Muslim dissidents are a problem, Chinese authorities are testing a facial-recognition system that alerts authorities when targets stray more than 300 meters from their home or workplace. The state is also working on the harvesting of biometric data, smartphone scanners, voice analysis, and compulsory satellite-tracking systems for vehicles.
The tech giants, who know a market opportunity when they see one, are already selling gear and software to expand China’s surveillance state while the venture community in Silicon Valley is raising funds for startups specializing in these intrusive technologies.
What is occurring in Silicon Valley, being proposed in Toronto, and now implemented in China all points toward efforts by tech companies and governments to create new dense and data-driven cities that shape what the British academic David Lyon calls a “surveillance society,” where all of our data is shared with the governments and companies that use it to control us (PDF). In many ways these “cities” will be the opposite of the real thing, driven by a technological culture that, as David Byrne has suggested, substitutes spontaneous human interaction—the glory of the traditional city—with machine-driven interfaces.
The idea is not, to paraphrase the late William F. Buckley, to stand athwart the internet, yelling stop. But instead this is a call for urbanites and all citizens to rise up against the transformation of our cities into tech satrapies. One obvious step is enhanced anti-trust enforcement, something increasingly attractive on both left and right. Unlike in the internet boom of the 1990s, the current one has seen a dearth of new listings and a general decline in business startups, including in tech.
Another step would be to look toward Europe, which has taken an increasingly hardline stance against social media intrusion into personal lives, for ways to curb the tech oligarchs’ ability to control content on the internet and the profits that flow through it.
This is not about rejecting technology, but regaining control of it and being sure that its advances, and the information culled from our individual and collective lives, is used for our benefit, not only the private profits of a handful of monopolists. If giants aren’t allowed to hoard our information that is the source of their great power and profit, the incredible technologies at our disposal now should allow all of us access to ever more sophisticated information that provides the basis for decentralized self-government.
The more cities genuflect to firms like Amazon, Facebook, and Google, the more our communities will be shaped not by our own preferences but by the controlling vision of oligarchs who know more than it’s pleasant to imagine about each of our habits, inclinations, and desires.
To maintain the freedom of the city requires that citizens, not the oligarchy, drive its development. Anything else undermines the very idea of democracy. When a city manager suggests that changes are dictated by data collected by the smart city operators, rather than popular sentiment, democracy itself has been unplugged.
This is the time to reclaim cities suited to human aspiration. We need to do this before control is ceded to a small tech elite that profits by shaping our future, stealing our privacy and nudging us toward a new era of mass serfdom.
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Teasing Master Takagi-San 2
AKA: Yamibou, Traveler of Darkness with Hat and Books, ヤミと帽子と本の旅人 (Japanese)
Genre: Fantasy / shoujo-ai
Length: Television series, 13 episodes, 24 minutes each
Distributor: Currently licensed by Media Blasters.
Content Rating: PG-13 (adult situations, brief nudity, violence)
Related Series: N/A
Also Recommended: Revolutionary Girl Utena, Rose of Versailles
Notes: Based on the 2002 eroge visual novel game developed by Root and published by ORBIT.
Azuma Hazuki and Azuma Hatsumi are sisters. One day, on Hatsumi's 16th birthday (why is it *always* 16?), she disappears into thin air while calling out Hazuki's name, even though Hatsumi is supposed to be mute.
Thus began Hazuki's strange journey through different worlds in search of Hatsumi.
This would have been one great anime save for one thing. If only one can be bothered to sit down and watch it! But by THEM policy, we sit through bad anime so you don't have to! How's that for integrity?
The premise of the story is promising and the eye-candy is ... well, sufficient for the first episode to keep viewers like me satisfied. Then it all started going downhill and downright weird.
There are lots of females in the show and the only male is simply begging for a tutu - and an axe through the television. Oh wait! Make that his head. It's really a feat that the creators managed to make him so awful. And if you are not offended by lesbianism, let's get down to the review.
The plot. What plot? The creators simply throw you in the middle of it all, then use one whole next episode to explain and recap the previous episode. It feels like you are one step (or episode) behind the show the whole time. Now, if this were a thriller a la Perfect Blue, this would be fine, but it's not! It's an anime based on a hentai game, so such gimmicks only serve to drag down the story and impede the flow. Perhaps the creators would have fared better if this anime were just outright hentai.
As for the eye-candy, the scenery is great and the character designs are good. We are, after all, dealing with Studio Deen. But the action scenes, which are actually few and far in between, could use a little more work. Granted, this is not an action anime but they could take some lessons from the likes of MadHouse. There are far too many stock images, stills, speed lines, and light shows.
The only saving grace of this anime is the treatment of the requisite not-so-kawaii mascot, Ken-chan, by Lilith (one of the main characters, if you *must* know). She's always treating him ill and flicking him to one side, which is precisely what I felt like doing myself. Then there's the irritating shrouded what-manner-of-creature-I-have-no-idea that always tries to blow things up. If there's a point to its existence, it has eluded me completely.
The music is pretty nice and appropriate for the anime but nothing to shout about.
"But wait! You haven't even talked about the plot and the characters in this review!"
Well, yeah. That's because they aren't worth talking about!
Never has an anime been this disappointing. This anime is best watched with your finger on the fast-forward button. Viewers who disagree with me may add more stars, provided that you've survived the show first. — Diane Tiu
Recommended Audience: Teens and above. Lesbianism might offend some and there's implied incest and torture. Plenty of fan-service and minor violence.
Version(s) Viewed: Pre-license digital source
Review Status: Full (13/13)
Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito © 2003 ORBIT / Yamiyama Library Management Association
© 1996-2015 THEM Anime Reviews. All rights reserved.
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Eduard's new P-38J over Europe in 1/48th scale preview
Eduard are releasing a special limited edition P-38 kit in 1/48th scale and it look like it will be a cracker! Several parts of the kit are to be improved by Eduard’s “Brassin” accessories and with the choice of six different markings this looks promising, let’s have a look at what we know so far…
This info is courtesy of Jan at Eduard – you can find out lots about this kit on their site and their Facebook page which is updated pretty much every day.
Eduard Limited Edition P-38J overETO in 1/48.
Boxart by Martin Lébl..
Great box design for the next month’s limited edition of P-38J over ETO, featuring Academy plastic, Eduard designed decals with amazing nose arts worn on Lightnings in 8th and 9th USAAF, Eduard Brassin complete cockpit, wheels, superchargers and their accessories.
The kit promises:
Large 1/48th scale kit with many extras
· “Brassin” high quality wheels and tyres
· New “Brassin” supercharger unit
· Six different marking choices from the European theatre of operations
· Brand new Eduard “Brassin” super detailed cockpit including Photo etched details and pre coloured sets
Brand new Eduard “Brassin” super detailed cockpit
In these photos you can see the whole collection of this particular set (resin and PE symbiosis). Note the gun-sight and its supports made from clear resin.
Sidewalls easily fit to the cockpit floor locks – no fit problems here!.
This is a plate with several photo-etched and colorized frets that are waiting to be checked, cut, packed and delivered to you as a part of the P-38J over Europe. This is just one of more frets which will be included in this limited-edition kit. As you may understand, these are part of the Brassin bonuses for this kit
Details on the floor and wing structure behind pilots seat. Note also the radio equipment supports designed on way to help the modeller to place the radio boxes easily…
Complete breakdown to particular resin parts. The PE details are not shown on this picture.
Note the design philosophy giving you easiest assembly and by the same way a great accessibility for painting every detail…
“Brassin” wheel and Tyre set
This Brassin set attached to the P-38J over Europe 1/48 limited edition kit includes nicely designed wheels for this wonderful bird.
The front wheel consists from tire and two separate discs.
The main wheel (2 pcs) consists with the tire that includes the internal structure and from the disc and a brake wheel.
Superchargers are third and final Brassin set included in our limited edition of P-38J over Europe in 1/48 (Academy moulds).
New “Brassin” supercharger unit
Eduard Brassin superchargers replacing original plastic parts from the academy base kit. This set consist of the main superchargers, exhaust tubes and photo-etched metal plates (originally on the plane made from stainless steel) covering the surrounding area. There are also two pairs of air intakes for each engine. So this set consists of 8 Brassin and two PE parts.
Six different Markings:
Six amazing nose-arts feature on these 8th and 9th USAAF serving in Europe during 1943/1945.
The text by Martin Ferkl will introduce you the particular plane in an advanced detail.
Livingston´s Lightning wore D-day stripes on upper surfaces formerly. The photos show that the stripes were applied by hand and the lines between black & white are not straight. The black and white paints were not applied directly on the natural metal surface but on the Olive Drab paint to improve the adhesion of the b&w paint. The D-day stripes were removed from the upper surfaces later on. Note the unpainted area surrounding the individual code letters. Livingston also took part in the aerial battle with Focke-Wulfs from II. Gruppe of JG 6 over Clastres on August 25, 1944. He was awarded with one confirmed kill and one probable kill. US forces lost 17 Lightnings from 367th FG, Luftwaffe had to write off 17 destroyed and 2 damaged Fw 190s.
There is a very interesting story behind this nose art. The artwork was based on the picture taken on the beach. The artist didn’t forget to depict the ball and the steam boat floating in the background. After the war Sam Plotecia married the girl from the picture and they lived together till his death in 2004. Nowadays Anastassia Plotecia (her maiden name was Koza) lives in Maryland. Despite of the help coming from the pilot´s family side we didn´t managed to fully restore the appearance of the aircraft – the individual code letter is chosen randomly. Only first two letters – Ni…- from the female name on the left engine are known. Nicol has been chosen. Sam Plotecia was one of the participants in the aerial battle over Clastres airfield on August 25, 1944. He is credited with one Focke-Wulf damaged. The 367th FG was awarded with Presidential Unit Citation for this battle, the highest award for the combat unit.
The shark mouths are to seen on the single-engined fighters more frequently than on two-engined Lightnings, especially in ETO. This kind of artwork was perfectly visible on the Olive Drab / Neutral Gray camouflage on Capt. Scruthfield´s personal aircraft. The white triangles identified 55th FS within 20th FG. You can see temporary Scruthfiled´s score on the nose – a dozen of bomber escort missions (tophats), two top cover missions (umbrellas) and three sweeps (broomsticks).
Lt. Jack M. Jarell died on December 14, 1944 being shot down during the aerial clash near Wiesbaden. He managed to bail out from his airplane but his fate remains a mystery and has been noted as missing in action. He fell victim to Oblt. Lothar Wolff (min. 6 kills) from 14./JG 4 who flew Bf 109 fighter. The black&white D-day stripes were removed from the upper surfaces of his personal P-38 but the remains are still visible. The individual letter „M“ was painted on the inner side of both tails.
This Lightning was flown by Maj. R. C. Rogers, CO of 392nd Fighter Squadron. Five swastikas beneath the cockpit symbolize five Junkers Ju 52s destroyed on the ground during attack on French airfields on August 25, 1944. Rogers served with USAF though many years after the war, he became the air attache in US embassy in Brazil also. He passed away on March 2, 2010.
Joe Myers was awarded with three confirmed and two probable kills during WW2. He downed three Bf 109s and damaged one Fw-190 and one Ju-88. The aircraft depicted was flown by this pilot by January 4, 1944. Myers crashed this Lightning during the take-off that day. Besides the aircraft he destroyed 2000 ltr. fuel tank also. Myers´s P-38 wore camouflage scheme of Olive Drab / Neutral Grey. The white triangle identified the 38th FS within the 55th FG. The nose-art is in the interesting contrast with pin-up girls. Note the author´s, Mr. Robert T. Sand´s sign. The individual code letter „O“ was present on the both inner sides of the tail. The serial numberon the tail is not photographically documented. Mission symbols in the form of broomsticks, sometimes with red umbrella are visible on the nose.
The full story of our research focused on this aircraft is available in Info No. 7 Vol. 12 on www.eduard.cz.
Thanks to JanZ for the info – and keep an eye on the Eduard Facebook page for more info as well!
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TE PAEPAE O TANGAROA
OCEANS SYMPOSIUM
Moananui : The Ocean Speaks
Te Paepae o Tangaroa Symposium
A two-day forum about our ancestral ocean, Te Moananui a Kiwa
Sunday 6 October 10am – 5pm
Monday 7 October 10am – 4pm
Te Poho o Whirikoka Campus, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Te Paepae o Tangaroa was an opportunity to kōrero about the challenges facing Te Moananui a Kiwa – the Pacific Ocean. Our panelists shared their knowledge, experience, and solutions in engaging and encouraging conversations with attendees about the life and voice of the ocean.
The ocean that connects our coastlines also connects us as people all faced with a rapidly changing environment.
We started with a wealth of local knowledge from people doing critical work in Tairāwhiti and around Aotearoa. We then heard from inspirational environmental leaders from Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Samoa, all doing ground-breaking work for their own communities.
Video highlights from the symposium will be shared on this website in early 2020.
Rā Tuatahi | Day One - Sunday 6 October 10am – 5pm
Join MCs Ngahuia Mita and Te Aomihia Walker, as the symposium opens with kōrero about the long history of our region and the amazing mahi of local people to protect and restore the places we love. Manuhiri from around the Pacific will share about how their communities are using their own knowledge to revive and maintain connections to the ocean.
Mihimihi and Karakia
from Dr Wayne Ngata and Dame Anne Salmond.
Ngā Kōrero o Te Tairāwhiti | The Stories of Te Tairāwhiti
Local voices begin our conversation. Understand our deeper story of connection to the ocean by exploring the history of Te Tairāwhiti and Tūranga, and our relationship to Te Moananui a Kiwa.
Presented by Walton Walker (Ngati Porou, Ngati Rangi, Te Whanau-a-Takimoana, Te Whanau-a-Iritekura and Te Whanau-a-Rakaihoea) and Peter Boyd (Te Whanau a Tuwhakairiora, Ngati Porou).
Panel facilitated by Dr Wayne Ngata.
Walton Walker is an expert in the Māori history and whakapapa of the Tairāwhiti region, and currently works at Gisborne District Council. Walton formerly worked as a Senior Advisor for the Ministry of Education, as a researcher for the Department of Justice, an editor of Te Reo Māori educational publications, and as a tutor in Māori Studies at Tairāwhiti Polytechnic. Walton wrote Ngā Maunga Kōrero o Te Tairāwhiti involving hours of reading, consultation, travel and photography.
Peter Boyd is an all-round waterman and has been a key figure in the revival of ocean culture in Tairāwhiti through waka ama, waka hourua and water safety. Peter has been a surf life saver since 1984 and founded the Ngāti Porou Surf Life Saving Club in 2013, reconnecting his people to the sea by helping to patrol over 200km of Tairāwhiti coastline.
Peter is also a co-founder of Ngaru Toa Tribal Surfwear and is passionate about supporting Māori in business and marine industries.
Ngā Take Kei Mua i te Aroaro: Tuatahi | The Challenges We Face: One
We explore the current state of Te Moananui a Kiwa from the perspective of those who interact with it every day and know the signs - our researchers, scientists and sportspeople who have the opportunity to observe the ocean, the wider environment, and its impact on us.
Dr Amber Dunn (Te Aitanga-a-Hauiti, Te Whānau-a-Apanui, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri; Coastal Scientist), Regan Fairlie (Ngāti Porou; Lead Researcher, Manaaki Te Awanui Trust), and some of our local Moananui ambassadors from the world champion Aotearoa J19 waka ama crews.
Panel facilitated by Dame Anne Salmond.
Dr Amber Dunn spent most of her childhood at Wainui Beach where she developed a great passion for competitive surfing - becoming a New Zealand champion and national representative. This addiction to saltwater flowed through to her career where she studied marine and coastal science. By profession, she is a coastal scientist; by choice, she is a project manager, talent developer and local (elected) politician.
A journey spent rediscovering the wayfinding abilities of his ancestors has led Regan Pahewa Fairlie to learn more about our marine environment and the effects of human impact. Originally from Tokomaru Bay, he works for Manaaki Te Awanui, a Māori marine research organisation in Tauranga, investigating ways to enhance and empower the work of kaitiaki in the ocean. Regan has been a competitive surfer and kaumoana on the waka hourua Ngahiraka Mai Tawhiti.
Ngā Take Kei Mua i te Aroaro: Tuarua | The Challenges We Face: Two
We widen our frame to explore larger scale problems prevalent across Aotearoa, understanding the signs from both Western science and traditional mātauranga perspectives.
Presented by Ian Ruru (Te Aitanga a Mahaki; Ngāti Porou Fisheries Ltd, Te Aitanga a Māhaki Fisheries Ltd, Ngāi Tai Fisheries, Iwi Collective Partnership, Te Wai Māori Trust), Stephen Harris (Pākehā, Te Whanganui a Tara; Special Representative, Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance), Liliana Clarke (Ngāti Porou, Waikato, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi; Maramataka Māori and climate change expert) and Maia Ingoe (Pākehā, Te Tairāwhiti; School Strike 4 Climate Gisborne).
Ian Ruru has a scientific background in marine and freshwater fisheries, is a director of several commercial fishing entities and is a customary fisheries kaitiaki for his iwi Te Aitanga a Māhaki. Ian gained his appreciation for mātauranga Māori from his father, the late Bill Ruru, as they taught qualifications in aquaculture and customary fishing at 300 marae.
Liliana Clarke is an expert in maramataka (the Māori lunar phase calendar) and researches how present-day climate change is affecting indigenous calendars. Her team recently ran a series of workshops around Aotearoa, asking iwi and hapū how the traditional environmental tohu (signs) of the maramataka are changing. Liliana lives in Whakatane, and also works on environmental contamination issues affecting Māori communities.
Stephen Harris is midway through a two-year assignment to lead a Commonwealth-wide collaboration to reduce the harm of marine plastics pollution: working to bring communities, nations and regions together to act internationally on a challenge that respects no borders. Stephen is a former journalist and diplomat, with much of his work in the small island – or ‘great ocean’ – states of the Pacific and Caribbean.
Maia Ingoe is a local climate change activist through the School Strike 4 Climate movement. Currently, Gisborne SS4C (Tairawhiti Environment Youth) are campaigning for the district council to declare a climate emergency and are preparing for September 27th's Intergenerational Strike for Climate. Climate justice is SS4C’s overall mission, and Maia is excited to discuss these issues in relation to the ocean.
Session Four
He Huarahi ki Mua | Ways Forward
Recognising the importance of indigenous environmental knowledge, we host a cross-Pacific conversation exploring the different ways we protect the ocean and the communities who rely on it - identifying the issues and opportunities that present themselves as we negotiate, cooperate and express our different responsibilities to our wider environment.
Presented by Teurumereariki Hinano Teavai-Murphy (Mo’orea, French Polynesia. President, Te Pu Atita Cultural Center, Mo'orea. Associate Director, University of California Berkeley Gump Research Station), Aroha Te Pareake Mead (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa. Independent political scientist and researcher), and Kennedy Warne (Pākehā, Tāmaki Makaurau. Co-founder and editor-at-large, New Zealand Geographic).
Hinano Teavai-Murphy is Associate Director of the University of California Berkeley's Gump Station: a world-leading research station on Mo’orea focusing on biocomplexity and sustainability science. Hinano is also president of the cultural association Te Pu Atitia, which aims to preserve and promote Tahitian biocultural heritage for the wellbeing of local people. She has been a school teacher and an education advisor for Polynesian language teaching.
Hinano's attendance is supported by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
The grandson of a boatbuilder and swordfisherman, Kennedy Warne has a masters degree in marine zoology, but chose not to pursue a career in the sciences. Instead he leaned on his other great love, writing, to become the founding editor of New Zealand Geographic magazine in 1988. He relinquished the editorship in 2004 to pursue his own writing and photography. Kennedy is an accomplished author, and contributes regularly to National Geographic, New Zealand Geographic, Radio New Zealand and e-Tangata. He is also an experienced sailor, and regularly puts to sea.
Aroha Te Pareake Mead is a political scientist who works across disciplines on indigenous rights and sustainable development issues. She has held senior positions in public policy, academia, international organisations and the not for profit sector. Aroha's work focuses on biocultural heritage and conservation, indigenous intellectual property, Māori representation and engagement in international processes, and indigenous perspectives on biotechnology. She is also advising the voyaging community in Aotearoa on a major new kaupapa about the protection of Te Moananui a Kiwa.
Whakakapi | Concluding Remarks
with Dr Wayne Ngata and Dame Anne Salmond
Rā Tuarua | Day Two - Monday 7 October 10am – 4pm
On our second day, key thinkers in indigenous environmental law launch new proposals to recognise the rights and voice of the Pacific Ocean. This is a new kaupapa with its first public forum right here in Te Tairāwhiti – making this an opportunity to be involved at the start of this important initiative for Te Moananui a Kiwa.
Symposium Recap
with Dr Wayne Ngata
Ngā Tātai Hono | Connections and Obligations
We explore the connections that Pacific communities have to their own ocean environments, and how they express their obligations to these places, particularly through modern and traditional practices of rāhui.
Presented by Astrid Drollet (Tahiti, French Polynesia. Vai Ara o Teahupo’o), Tiffany Laitame (Rapa, French Polynesia. President, Raumatariki), Sheridan Waitai (Ngāti Kuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto, Tainui. Taiātea project lead, Ngāti Kuri Trust Board) and Arna Whaanga (Rongomaiwahine, Rakaipaaka, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri. Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Parehuia).
Panel facilitated by Dame Anne Salmond.
Astrid Hinano Drollett is a retired Tahitian language teacher whose knowledge was passed to her through her grandparents, linguist Turo a Raapoto, a cultural association named Haururu, personal research and studies for a Masters degree at the University of French Polynesia. Astrid will speak of the protection of marine resources as seen and practiced in her community of Teahupo'o, and the process of setting the first Rahui in Tahiti since colonisation.
Tiffany Vehiatua Narii Laitame has a Masters degree and is a PhD candidate in environment. She is the president of a local NGO called Raumatariki, which aims to preserve the inland and coastal natural and cultural sites of the island of Rapa. One of her missions is to support the Rāhui committee in their task of managing and maintaining this traditional system, and in reviving traditional fishing practices. Tiffany is also an experienced voyager on Fa'afaite and Haunui waka.
Sheridan Waitai is a servant for her iwi and a strong advocate for the proposed Rangitāhua Sanctuary (Kermadec Islands). She coordinates a range of relationships for Te Moananui a Hiva, a collective of Pacific peoples focused on the protection of the ocean. She is also a founding member of Taiātea: a movement to put mana whenua at the heart of sustainable ocean solutions. Sheridan leads the WAI262 'fauna and flora' claim to the Waitangi Tribunal.
Arna Whaanga navigates pathways to engrain and enhance Mātauranga Māori at the forefront of Environmental Science for her children, nieces and nephews. The roles of Ohu Taiao Leader, Chair, and a founding whānau member of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Parehuia, aligned with her Masters in Māori Studies research at Te Whare Wānanga ō Awanuiārangi, has enabled Arna to activate relationships and spaces to transfer intergenerational mātauranga. This is supported by pūrakau o te whānau (family stories) and whakapapa to the moana (connection to the sea) harnessed by karakia, tohu o te taiao (environmental indicators) and Te Toiroa Ikariki.
He Atua, He Tipua | Who is the Ocean?
In this session, we come to the heart of Te Paepae o Tangaroa. We kōrero about the life of the ocean, as atua and ancestor, and how we might reflect this in our systems of governance.
Presented by Dr Daniel Hikuroa (Ngāti Maniapoto, Tainui, Te Arawa. Senior Lecturer in Māori Studies, University of Auckland), Jacqueline Evans (Cook Islands. Formerly Marae Moana Director, Office of the Prime Minister, Cook Islands), Professor Jacinta Ruru (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Maniapoto, Pākehā. Professor of Law, University of Otago) and Kosi Latu (Samoa. Director-General, Pacific Regional Environment Programme).
Jacqueline Evans, from the Cook Islands, helped create the Marae Moana marine park, a protected area that covers the entire Cook Islands Exclusive Economic Zone with special use zones for local island communities. Jacqui was recently awarded the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize, known as the 'Green Nobel Prize' for grassroots environmental activists.
Jacqui's attendance is supported by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Professor Jacinta Ruru is an award winning Professor of Law at the University of Otago, and Co-Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Centre of Māori Research Excellence. Her extensive research considers Indigenous’ peoples’ rights, interests and responsibilities to own and care for lands and waters. She seeks to disrupt colonial legal norms and inspire a more just legal system.
From Samoa, Kosi Latu is Director General of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), a collective of 26 countries including Aotearoa with the purpose of protecting and managing the natural environment of the Pacific. Kosi is one of the Pacific’s greatest champions on the international stage, where he argues for the health of the ocean and the wellbeing of Pacific peoples.
Kosi's attendance is supported by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
Dr Dan Hikuroa is an Earth System Scientist and established world expert on weaving indigenous knowledge and science to realise the dreams and aspirations of the communities he works with. He has previously been Research Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, and he is currently a member of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao (EPA Statutory Māori Advisory), Watercare & Pāmu Environmental Reference Groups and Pūniu River Care Board.
He Huarahi ki te Ora | Pathways to Wellness
We close by reflecting on the many ways that the health of our ocean affects the health of our people.
Presented by Ngahuia Mita (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hako. University of Otago; Tairāwhiti Voyaging Trust).
Whakakapi | Concluding Remarks and Close
with Dr Wayne Ngata and Dame Anne Salmond
Your MCs
Ko Maungahaumi, Pukehāpopo me Te Rae o te papa ōku maunga
Ko Turanganui-a-Kiwa me Tikapa ōku moana
Ko Waipaoa, Waiomoko me Waihou ōku awa
Ko Horouta, Tereānini me Tohorā ōku waka
Ko Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hako ōku iwi
Ko Ngāti Wāhia me Ngāti Konohi ōku hapū
Ko Parihimanihi, Whangara me Tirohia ōku marae
Ko Ngahuia Mita tōku ingoa
Nō Te Tairawhiti me Hauraki ahau.
Kia ora, ko Ngahuia Mita tōku ingoa i te taha o tōku kuia he uri ahau nō te Tairawhiti, i te taha o tōku koroua he uri ahau nō Tikapa Moana, tēnā koutou. I am currently a PhD student based in Tairāwhiti. My kaupapa is working alongside the Tairāwhiti Voyaging Trust examining Tairāwhiti voyaging philosophies and how Tairāwhiti waka hourua can be positive for the health and well-being of our rohe.
Ko Hikurangi te maunga.
Ko Waiapu te awa.
Ko Horouta me Nukutaimemeha ōku waka.
Ko Ngati Rangi me Te Whanau-a-Takimoana ōku hapū.
Ko Reporua me Ohinewaiapu ōku marae
He kākano āhau i ruia mai i Te Tairawhiti.
Ko Te Aomihia Walker tōku ingoa.
Te Aomihia Walker is a Policy Analyst at Te Ohu Kaimoana working to advance Māori interests in the marine environment through providing policy and fisheries management advice and recommendations to iwi and the wider Māori community. Te Aomihia formerly worked as analyst at StatsNZ, with a passion for evidence-based decision making. Being raised on the beaches of the Tairawhiti, Te Aomihia has always been passionate about the moana which flowed through to her career where she studied marine biology and statistics. She has also represented Tairawhiti and Aotearoa in a number of water sports including waka ama, surf life-saving and swimming.
Session facilitators
Dame Anne Salmond is a Distinguished Professor in Māori Studies and Anthropology at the University of Auckland.
In 2013 she became the Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year. In 2017 she hosted Artefact, a TV series about the power of iconic taonga, past, present and future; with more episodes to come in 2020. Dame Anne has written many prize-winning books on Māori life and early cross-cultural encounters in Aotearoa, Tahiti and the Pacific, and received the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement. She has a strong interest in Maori and Pacific philosophies relating to land and sea, and a fascination with voyaging, reflecting on these in her latest book Tears of Rangi: Experiments across Worlds. Dame Anne is the patron of many cultural and environmental organisations, and co-founder of the Waikereru Ecosanctuary in Gisborne.
Dr Wayne Ngata was raised in Ūawa (Tolaga Bay), and is of Ngāti Ira, Te Aitanga a Hauiti and Ngāti Porou descent.
Wayne has been Raukura/Chief Advisor Te Ao Māori at the Ministry of Education since September 2017. A former teacher, Wayne has a lifelong professional and personal commitment to transforming the futures of Māori through education. He has previously been the Ministry’s Group Manager, Te Reo Māori Schooling. Wayne is the current Board Chair of the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (the Māori Language Commission). He has also been an Associate Professor with the School of Indigenous Graduate Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, and a Principal Investigator with Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, New Zealand’s Māori Centre for Research Excellence at the University of Auckland. Wayne has a keen interest in traditional navigation and waka hourua.
Find the symposium
Please note: Programme is correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
Lancaster House,
1st Floor, 57 Customhouse St, Gisborne, New Zealand.
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Celebrating Being Zimbabwean
Home Old_Posts Zimbabwe national dress and identity crisis
Old_Posts
Zimbabwe national dress and identity crisis
Elliot Siamonga
IN 2005, the then Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Aeneas Chigwedere launched what was to be called a national dress but it never saw the light of day.
The fabric had all colours of the national flag with a print of animals representing various totems such as lion, zebra and elephant among other unique features of the country. The idea died a natural death.
Designers and tailors were invited to submit samples of what they deemed would be a suitable dress for Zimbabweans, but unfortunately no accepted dress was found and Cde Chigwedere left the ministry, since then no one has taken it up. It seems Western dress code has become synonymous with our culture, as a result of cultural imperialism.
While Zimbabweans have expressed their wish to be identified as Africans by wearing West African garb at some functions, there is nothing at the moment that identifies Zimbabweans in terms of dressing except, of course, political party regalia, which does not really count, at least outside the country.
As a way of trying to shrug off Western attire, Zimbabweans have sometimes been forced to wear what has become known as African attire even though it is West African fabric.
Many Zimbabweans say that they feel out of place when confronted with the problem of what to wear when asked to wear traditional dress.
Gradually outfits inspired by Nigeria and Ghana have begun to be termed traditional dress locally, although in reality there is nothing that our ancestors would recognise in the resulting get ups.
Perhaps the term African attire is more suitable as the outfits have been traditional in countries like Ghana and Nigeria for a long time. If countries with complex cultures like South Africa and Malaysia can have a national dress, how about Zimbabwe with its more of a unified culture, bar of course the political polarisation that has divided the country for over a decade now.
Traditional dress in Zimbabwe includes a wrap around cloth, headdress and ornaments, including necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
The people of Zimbabwe no longer wear these types of clothing on a regular basis. Some choose traditional dress for ceremonial or state occasions, such as Heroes’ Day or Independence Day, according to countries and their cultures.
Traditionalists and cultural observers in Zimbabwe say any nation worth its name on this planet must have a national dress anchored in its cultural beliefs, values and principles of its people and a national dress will definitely assist in defining and distinguishing Zimbabweans from other nationalities.
They argue that above all, national dressing unifies citizens of a country regardless of the fact that they are dispersed across the globe.
They argue Government, therefore, must quickly address this issue at policy level and ensure that we have a national dress that will invoke a sense of patriotism and confidence among Zimbabweans. They said the nation, nationhood and national identity are just theoretical but critical aspects for any country on the planet.
The national dress just like the country’s national monuments, national anthem and national flag are some of the crucial aspects in reinforcing the concept of the nation and national identity.
The national dress as an aspect and a signification of people’s values, identity and culture should also play its part in helping Zimbabweans’ imaginations of the nation real. At the moment, we do not have what we can call an embodiment of the country’s national heritage.
According to officials from the then Ministry of Sport and Recreation, the company that was producing what was adopted as national dress years back was no longer operational.
They admitted and claimed we have a national dress that was launched some years ago and Zimbabweans are still using the national fabric but it cannot be availed now because it is no longer available.
However, given such a scenario the national dress issue should be looked at a broader perspective of things that will include inter-alia national dress, national identity, cohesion and patriotism.
There has been no co-ordinated approach to the national dress agenda over the years.
Some beauty pageants are having models to wear another proposed national dress like the “Nhowe Zimbabwe Dress” but the idea seems to have died a natural death again.
The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe, an organisation that champions the arts and cultural values of Zimbabweans, feels coming up with a national dress is a complex process that required consideration of a number of things.
The organisation argues that if there is a desire to have national dress what could have caused the failure of past efforts considering that churches, political parties, schools, and other groupings have uniforms that identify them.
Zimbabwe being one of the most outspoken against imperialism, it is time, we walk the talk by showing that we have not only gained political independence and in the process of being economically empowered but is completely independent in all facets including culture.
There is need for wide consultations on how the national dress should look like so that it can be adopted effortlessly. The national dress could be the tonic we need to be united because at the moment citizens are divided along political party lines, race, religion and even football clubs.
According to some scholars Africa has a long history of weaving and drawings of looms have been discovered in Egyptian grave sites dating back to 2000 BC. Countries like Mauritius, Nigeria, Madagascar and Uganda have long histories of cloth weaving, dyeing and clothes manufacture.
However there seems to be no cloth weaving history for Zimbabwe where apparently our introduction to cloth came with the Portuguese traders who contributed so richly to the Shona and Munhumatapa Empire.
Prior to that it is believed that locals made do with cured hides which were a distinction that clothing items like the Mhapa, shashiko and nhembeshure were designed to only cover the parts that really matter at the front and back respectively.
Royalty and nobility were singled out by their privilege to wear the skins of animals like lions and leopards which were forbidden for the commoners.
The dress problem is a challenge of the larger picture where our present culture is diverse and bears little resemblance to the traditions of our deceased ancestors.
The absence of defining boundaries does not give us an identity crisis but instead allows us to define the future, in fashion and other sectors of culture.
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koodzie January 29, 2016 at 10:54 am
Zimbabweans really needs an i dentity. We are hosting a cultural event and we running with dress your culture…and everyone s question lately has been you mean nhembe??or do we have one?? our culture has been so diluted that we dont even know who we are anymore
Netsai May 5, 2016 at 10:12 am
Identity is the very least of Zimbabwe’s problems. Leave people to decide what they wish to wear otherwise politicians do your jobs, people lack the most basic needs and you are trying to find a dress code!!!
Natasha March 15, 2018 at 1:33 pm
Dude, politics are things we can’t change individually, even if we get on track politically, we still don’t have an identity we can hold on to. We have dying culture. Why are you even on this website if you’re so stuck up on politics. It’s shit we can’t change right now but let’s at least focus on something we can.
Bezi October 21, 2018 at 10:23 pm
What does a national dress code do for people who are desperately in dire need of basic necessities? People should be left alone to make their own choices as to what they want to wear. My identity is more than what the eye can see. Let’s talk about creating jobs, upgrading hospitals so healthcare is accessible to everyone, bring back a functional agricultural sector to produce food for citizens. Clothing should not a priority at all!
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Butte”s jobless rate down for August; ag and…
Butte”s jobless rate down for August; ag and manufacturing helped
By Laura Urseny |
For the first time in months, the jobless picture for Butte County has brightened, a little.
The preliminary unemployment rate released Friday by the state for August stood at 12.8 percent, down from 13.2 percent in June and July.
Statewide, the rate jumped from 11.9 percent to 12.2 percent from July to August.
The Butte County numbers translate to 13,700 people without work, down from 14,100. The labor force grew, as did those who held jobs, the state report showed.
“When you don”t see job loss, that”s good news,” said Susan Molyneux of Redding, labor market analyst for the state Employment Development Department.
Molyneux said new jobs in agriculture — about 1,000 — manufacturing, and the leisure and hospitality industry helped the picture improve. In manufacturing, additional jobs in food and beverage production helped as well, she said.
Even so, “This is the highest August rate since the data series began in 1990,” she said.
In a year-over comparison to August 2008, all industries showed a loss of jobs, except for farm, health care and social assistance, and state government, including education.
Butte County”s August 2008 unemployment rate was 8.5 percent.
In Glenn County, the August unemployment rate was 15.6 percent, compared to 16.1 percent in July.
In Tehama County, the August unemployment rate was 14.2 percent, and the same in July.
Vacaville High School boys basketball team stuns Vanden
Laura Urseny
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Find Trails > California > Marsh Creek Trail
Marsh Creek Trail
Photo by: cherylremillard
Marsh Creek Trail Facts
States: California
Counties: Contra Costa
Trail end points: Concord Ave. (Brentwood) and Big Break Regional Park (Oakley)
Marsh Creek Trail Photos
Marsh Creek Trail Description
Marsh Creek Trail follows the sinuous course of Marsh Creek through the outskirts of suburbia and among the rich farmland of Contra Costa County. The 8.5-mile paved extends between Concord Road in Brentwood and Big Break Lake, where the trail intersects Big Break Regional Trail. Where the Marsh Creek Trail crosses Cypress Lane, you can pick up the Delta de Anza Regional Trail to the west.
There are plans to extend the trail south and west through Round Valley Regional Preserve and Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, for a total of 14 miles.
There are several places to park along the Marsh Creek Trail, including
*Concord Ave. (southern endpoint)
*just north off Central Blvd. where it intersects the trail
*north off Cypress Rd. where it intersects the trail
Visit Marsh Creek Trail
Marsh Creek Trail Reviews
Thumbs up for Marsh Creek Trail (southern half)
November, 2016 by cherylremillard
Road north from Concord Avenue up to Brentwood Boulevard. Trail was flat and very well maintained and clean. Only once was there any question about which way it went and we found it very quickly. Was surprisingly deserted on a late Saturday afternoon. The trail parallels the Creek and passes some fields and parks as well as the backs of houses. There were some underpasses and some places where we had to cross a road, but car traffic was light. I look forward to riding Marsh Creek Trail all the way up to Big Break.
Need more signs at the trail closure and street riding.
March, 2015 by rondi
I was visiting from out of state. I rode from the parking lot on Cypress out to the VERY nice park at the Big Break end--a nice trail. some street riding witch was poorly marked for an out of town rider.
From the BB end I planned to ride to the southern end of Marsh Creek Trl, but at Sunset Rd the trail is closed (it looks like it was never a tail). I rode thru the tiny park at the end, over to Brentwood Blvd, where a sign pointed to the direction I just came from. wt? Nothing pointing to ride south on Brentwood. Looking at Gmaps with the Bicycling highlighted, it looks like if I would have crossed Brentwood and picked up a trail just west of it, ridden south on that trail, it would have taken me to a bridge which crosses over the creek to the trail. Again looking at Gmaps, it looks like there is gate blocking entrance to the trail from Brentwood on the east side of the road bridge.
Perhaps some local who rides this trail could post the detours so a lost person like me can connect the loose ends.
Pit in a poke
June, 2014 by rgblock24
My wife liked that we were on a path without cars. Unfortunately, the path was a pit. This is not the worst suburbia has to offer, but it is close.
Update on review of Marsh Creek Trail
February, 2014 by ssaxt0
In late 2013, I took the Big Break Regional Trail to extend my ride of Marsh Creak to 13 miles and it was a pleasant ride. It takes you to Big Break recreational area and it is very pretty area and park. Also in late 2013, a lot of the Marsh Creek trail has been repaved so it is a nicer ride on bike. You are still riding behind bldgs and homes but it is okay and many areas to stop and take a break and enjoy the nature around you. I love this ride but wish it was closer to me. The one closer to me is not as well kept as this trail.
September, 2012 by ssaxt0
This is a very nice trail for 3 miles of it and the rest is not too bad. The first three miles that starts out in Brentwood Concord Avenue starts in a residential area and a nice area which is kept up and clean. This portion flows into a park area nearby which is also a nice park area. They have benches spaced out for these 2 - 3 miles or so. After about 3 miles, the trail gets pretty basic with portions behind office building and people's backyard but it is not a bad ride. You go under a couple of over passes, over some wooden bridges and a couple of tunnels. It dumps you in Oakley near the marshes almost to the Delta and you can see the bridge crossing from there. I enjoy this ride very much and have started using this trail more than Delta de la Anza. The one thing is that I have to drive over to trail and Delta de la Anza is near my home.
Mokelumne Trail
California - 9.7 miles
The Mokelumne Trail begins at a shopping center near the intersection of Buchanan Rd. and Somersville Rd in Antioch, California. A section of the...
Delta de Anza Regional Trail
California - 21 miles
The Delta de Anza Regional Trail is 15 miles long, running between Willow Pass Road at Route 4 near Concord and Main Street (Rt. 4) at E. Cypress Road...
Black Diamond Railroad Trail
The Black Diamond Railroad Trail is within the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, a splendid place to visit with a fascinating and unique history....
Isabel Avenue Trail
The Isabel Avenue Trail runs north-south on the western boundary of Livermore in the eastern San Francisco Bay area's Tri-Valley region. As its name...
Arroyo Mocho Trail
California - 12.9 miles
The Arroyo Mocho Trail is a part of a network of multi-use trails in Livermore and which also links with the city of Pleasanton. The trail provides...
Ygnacio Canal Trail
The Ygnacio Canal Trail begins at a junction with the Contra Costa Canal Trail. Most of the trail runs along the Ygnacio Canal, a narrow irrigation...
Iron Horse Regional Trail
The area surrounding the Iron Horse Regional Trail has an important history as part of the San Ramon Valley's agricultural and ranching past. Today,...
Contra Costa Canal Trail
The Contra Costa Canal Trail forms a horseshoe shape route, traversing through the urban and neighborhood landscape of Martinez, Pleasant Hill, Walnut...
Bear Creek Trail (CA)
California - 8 miles
The Bear Creek Trail is an 8 mile-long paved trail in Stockton, California. The trail has connections to neighborhoods as well as parks and...
East Bay Municipal Utility District Right-of-Way
The East Bay Municipal Utility District Right-of-Way, as its name suggests, is a trail open on a utility corridor in Stockton, although that city is...
Calaveras River Bike Path
California - 6.71 miles
Coursing alongside one of Stockton's levees, the Calaveras River Bike Trail services many neighborhoods and provides access to many amenities in the...
Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail
The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail links its two namesake communities via a former logging railroad corridor that largely parallels St. Mary's Road....
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LIFE & SOCIAL
Home Events & Entertainment
Turlock and Pitman Gear Up for “Iron Chef” BBQ Competition, Ticket Deadline Nears
by Eric Escalante - eric@turlockcitynews.com
in Events & Entertainment
It will be a battle of barbeque at this year’s Iron Chef Turlock competition between Turlock High School and Pitman High School, held outside at Woods Furniture.
The rivalry between the Turlock High School Bulldogs and Pitman High School Pride will be heating up as the culinary action spills to the outside for a battle of barbeque in this year’s Iron Chef competition.
Pride and Bulldogs will have one hour to prepare three meals for five judges in the 4th edition of the annual contest. However, as with previous years, the challenge in Turlock’s iteration of Iron Chef, an event and fundraiser put on by Turlock Education Foundation, continues to evolve.
While past years challenged students with Mexican and Indian cuisine respectively, this year, the Pride and Bulldogs will be embroiled in a clash over barbeque.
Whether it be the steaks seared on the bbq or vegetables roasted over open flames, the challenge for this year’s culinary students will be to find a way to use the barbeque to cook their food for an appetizer, main course, and dessert.
“I’ve wanted an outdoor bbq event for quite a while, so I’m excited for that,” said TEF Board member and coordinator Barney Gordon.
In many ways, the Iron Chef Turlock competition is doing its best to reflect the television show, emphasizing a dedicated 1 hour time limit, cooking themes, and panel of judges.
“We try to parallel the show as much as we can. We don’t surprise them with a surprise ingredient or anything like that, but we do have a theme that they either have to use this one ingredient but we tell them in advance what that ingredient is,” said Gordon.
“We wanted to change it up and do an outdoor theme, so this year’s going to be out at Wood’s Furniture and their front parking lot.”
Four students from the culinary program at the respective high schools are selected for the showdown and are joined with the site principal. The culinary teachers will sit out the competition, maintaining a more supervisory role over their team in the competition.
Students have been preparing for the annual competition for some time, often practicing their meals well in advance of the competition, according to Gordon.
“It’s always fun to see the students compete. The kids really get into it. They take it very seriously and you can tell the food that they make is fabulous looking and fabulous tasting.”
While culinary bravado and bragging rights are at stake for the two teams, the competition also brings the chance to even the score between the Bulldogs and Pride, as the Bulldogs currently trail the Pride in victories (1 to 2), and bring the Iron Chef trophy to THS for a year or offer the chance for the Pride to extend their lead.
Tickets will be on sale for the event through the weekend at $40 per ticket, which offers admission to the event and dinner from Neto’s catering.
The event will take place on Apr. 28 at Wood’s Furniture, located at 4918 Taylor Court.
Appetizers and drinks kick off the event at 5:30 p.m. and the program and dinner begin at 7 p.m.
The event acts as a fundraiser for TEF, allowing them to put money toward their classroom grants. Every year they donate approximately $15,000 directly into classrooms from the classroom grant program.
Tickets can be purchased online at http://turlockedfoundation.org/ironchef or at Pitman High School, Turlock High School, or Woods Furniture.
Woods Furniture will have tickets at their showroom until Friday at 12 p.m.
Tags: ChefCompetitionContestCookingEntertainmentEventFundraiserHigh SchoolIronIron ChefSchoolWoods Furniture
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Cleveland, OH (View All Cities)
Eastern (8:11pm)
Acceptable:
Bedford Heights, Bedford Hts, Garfield Heights, Garfield Hts, Highland Hills, Highland Hls, North Randall, Warrensville Heights, Warrensvl Hts
Orange Village, Warrensville Hts
ZIP code 44128 is located in northeast Ohio and covers a slightly less than average land area compared to other ZIP codes in the United States. It also has a slightly higher than average population density.
The people living in ZIP code 44128 are primarily black or African American. The number of seniors is extremely large while the number of middle aged adults is large. There are also an extremely large number of single parents and an extremely small number of families. The percentage of children under 18 living in the 44128 ZIP code is slightly higher than average compared to other areas of the country.
Male 858 843 1,003 1,384 852 638 628 682 718 799 901 791 713 583 518 453 334 236
Female 844 879 925 1,093 923 906 780 865 953 1,106 1,278 1,188 1,093 933 800 729 579 466
Owner 37 314 809 1,339 1,522 1,465 1,251 394
Renter 401 1,138 1,017 1,100 877 537 314 111
ZIP code 44128 has a slightly less than average percentage of vacancies. The Census also indicates that there are one or more correctional facilities and nursing homes nearby.
The majority of household are owned or have a mortgage. Homes in ZIP code 44128 were primarily built in the 1950s. Looking at 44128 real estate data, the median home value of $80,600 is low compared to the rest of the country. It is also low compared to nearby ZIP codes. 44128 could be an area to look for cheap housing compared to surrounding areas. Rentals in 44128 are most commonly 2 bedrooms. The rent for 2 bedrooms is normally $750-$999/month including utilities. Prices for rental property include ZIP code 44128 apartments, townhouses, and homes that are primary residences.
For more information, see Cleveland, OH real estate.
As with most parts of the country, vehicles are the most common form of transportation to places of employment. Residents in ZIP code 44128 use public transportation to travel to work more than most areas of the nation. In most parts of the country, the majority of commuters get to work in under half an hour. Most commuters in 44128 can expect to fall in that range. There are a slightly smaller percentage of employees that have to travel over 45 minutes to reach their place of employment.
The percentage of people that did not graduate high school is among the highest in the nation. Despite the lower high school graduation rates, compared to other ZIPs, a much higher percentage of the population has received a college degree.
ZIP Code 44128 is in the following school districts: T2 Honors Academy, Cleveland Municipal School District, Green Inspiration Academy, The Haley School District, Steam Academy of Warrensville Heights, Citizens Academy Southeast, Warrensville Heights City School District, Buckeye United School District, and Private. There are 16 different elementary schools and high schools with mailing addresses in ZIP code 44128.
T2 Honors Academy
18450 S Miles Rd
Grade Level: Other/Combined or Ungraded
District: T2 Honors Academy
Whitney Young School
17900 Harvard Ave
District: Cleveland Municipal School District
Green Inspiration Academy
4265 Northfield Rd
Highland Hills, OH 44128
District: Green Inspiration Academy
The Haley School
4901 Galaxy Pkwy Ste a
District: The Haley School District
Steam Academy of Warrensville Heights
4700 Richmond Rd Ste 3000
District: Steam Academy of Warrensville Heights
Citizens Academy Southeast
District: Citizens Academy Southeast
Charles W Eliot School
15700 Lotus Dr
Robert H Jamison School
4092 E 146th St
Warrensville Heights Middle School
4285 Warrensville Center Rd
District: Warrensville Heights City School District
John Dewey Elementary School
23401 Emery Rd
Warrensville, OH 44128
Luther E Ball (chjcf)
4321 Green Rd
District: Buckeye United School District
John F Kennedy High School
Warrensville Heights High School
Archbishop Lyke-Elementa Campus
Ramah Junior Academy
4770 Lee Rd
Bethlehem Christian Academy
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ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines - Mental Disorders and Behavioral Disorders (Chapter 5) and Diseases of the Nervous System (Chapter 6)
Mental Disorders and Behavioral Disorders (Chapter 5)
Mental health conditions and behavioral disorders can be caused by issue during fetal development, genetic factors, chemical imbalances, environmental factors, psychoactive substance abuse, and physiological conditions. The ICD-10-CM Chapter 5 is titled "Mental and Behavioral Disorders," which includes code categories F01-F99:
F01-F09 Mental Disorders Due to Known Physiological Conditions – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 2 – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 290-310 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded inlclude organic brain syndrome, postconcussion syndrome, and dementia due to vascular disease processes.
F10-F19 Mental and Behavioral Disorders Due to Psychoactive Substance Use – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 291-305 in ICD-9-CM. Coded conditions include those specific to the use of alcohol and drugs.
F20-F29 Schizophrenia, Schizotypal, Delusional, and Other Non-Mood Psychotic Disorders – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in category 295 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include various psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, and schizotypal disorders.
F30-F39 Mood (Affective) Disorders – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in category 296 in ICD-9-CM. Several mood disorders are coded in this subsection.
F40-F48 Anxiety, Dissociative, Stress-Related, Somatoform, and Other Non-Psychotic Mental Disorders - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 300,308, and 309 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include phobias, panic disorders, anxiety disorders, stress disorders, dissociative disorders, adjustment disorders, and somatoform disorders.
F50-F59 Behavioral Syndromes Associated with Physiological Disturbances and Physical Factors - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 293, 302, and 307 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, puerperal psychoses, and abuse of nonpsychoactive substances.
F60-F69 Disorders of Adult Personality and Behavior - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 297, 301, 302, and 312 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include personality disorders, gender identity disorders, impulse disorders, and paraphilias.
F70-F79 Mental Retardation - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 317-319 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include autism disorders, mental retardation, and pervasive development disorders.
F80-F89 Pervasive and Specific Developmental Disorders - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 299 and 315 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include speech and language development disorders, pervasive development disorders, and scholastic skill development disorders.
F90-F99 Behavioral and Emotional Disorders with Onset Usually Occurring in Childhood and Adolescence - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 307, 309, 312, and 314 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include conduct disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, childhood-specific emotional disorders, and tic disorders (Grebner & Suarez, 2013).
Interested in learning more? Why not take an online class in ICD-10?
When a condition is considered to be "in remission," categories F10-F19, they require the use of -.21.
If a patient has pain that is reported as psychological, the coder should assign code F45.41.
If insomnia is due to a mental health disorder or behavioral condition, the coder should assign code F51.05, followed by a code that identifies the specific mental disorder.
When a patient has a speech and language development delay due to hearing loss, the coder should identify the type of hearing loss with a secondary code.
If delirium is due to a known physiological condition, the coder should code first the underlying condition, followed by F05, Delirium due to known physiological condition (Davis, 2011; Grebner & Suarez, 2013).
Diseases of the Nervous System (Chapter 6)
There are many central nervous system disorders and diseases that affect extrapyramidal movement. These include inflammatory diseases, degenerative disorders, demyelinating diseases, and systemic atrophies. In ICD-10-CM Chapter 6 "Diseases of the Nervous System," the code categories are G00-G99.
G00-G09 Inflammatory Disease of the Central Nervous System – Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 320-326 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include encephalitis, meningitis, encephalopathy, intracranial and intraspinal abscesses, granulomas, and phlebitis, and sequelae of inflammatory diseases.
G10-G14 Systemic Atrophies Primarily Affecting the Central Nervous System - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 333-335 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include hereditary ataxias, Huntington's disease, spinal muscular atrophies, and systemic atrophies.
G20-G26 Extrapyramidal and Movement Disorders - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 331-333 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include degenerative basal ganglia diseases, extrapyramidal disorders, Parkinson's disease, and movement disorders.
G30-G32 Other Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 330, 331, and 336 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include Alzheimer's disease and degenerative nervous system disorders.
G35-G37 Demyelinating Diseases of the Central Nervous System - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 323 and 340 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating conditions.
G40-G47 Episodic and Paroxysmal Disorders - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 345-347 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include migraines, epilepsy, headaches, transient ischemic attacks, vascular syndromes of the brain, and sleep disorders.
G50-G59 Nerve, Nerve Root, and Plexus Disorders - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 350-355 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include cranial nerve disorders, mononeuropathies, nerve root diseases, and plexus disorders.
G60-G65 Polyneuropathies and Other Disorders of the Peripheral Nervous System - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 356-359 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include hereditary neuropathies, inflammatory polyneuropathies, idiopathic neuropathies, disorders of the peripheral nervous system, and sequelae of inflammatory and toxic polyneuropathies.
G70-G73 Diseases of Myoneural Junction and Muscle - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 358-359 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include myoneural disorders, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, myopathies, and disorders of the myoneural junction and muscles.
G80-G83 Cerebral Palsy and Other Paralytic Syndromes - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 342-344 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia, hemiparesis, and other paralytic syndromes.
G89-G99 Other Disorders of the Nervous System - Codes in this subsection correspond with those in categories 331, 336-338, and 348-349 in ICD-9-CM. Conditions coded include pain disorders, autonomic nervous system conditions, hydrocephalus, brain disorders, spinal cord conditions, and other central nervous system disorders (Grebner & Suarez, 2013).
When the coder must provide more detail about acute or chronic pain, or neoplasm-related pain, codes in the category G89, Pain, not elsewhere classified can be used along with other codes.
When the reason for the encounter is pain management or control rather than treatment of the underlying condition, the coder can assign G89.
Avoid the use of G89.0, Central pain syndrome and G89.4, Chronic pain syndrome unless the provider has specifically documented this as a diagnosis.
When coding G09, Sequelae of inflammatory disease of central nervous system, the coder should first assign a code for the residual condition, followed by G09 as a secondary code.
All codes in category G13 should be used as secondary codes, following assignment of underlying disease and/or neoplasms (Davis, 2011; Grebner & Suarez, 2013).
ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines - Injury, Poisoning, and Certain other Consequences of External Causes (Chapter 19)
ICD-10-CM: Data and Billing Basics
ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines - Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium (Chapter 15) and Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period (Chapter 16)
What is ICD-10-PCS?
ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines - Disease of the Blood and Blood-Forming Organs and Certain Disorders involving the Immune Mechanism (Chapter 3) and Endocrine, Nutritional, and Metabolic Diseases (Chapter 4)
How to Adhere to HIPAA
General Overview of Concussions
HIPAA Enforcement and Penalties
Job Overview: Medical Records Transcriptionists
Obstacles Faced by the Volunteer Care Givers
Job Overview: Medical Billers
HIPPA: Patient Rights and Access to PHI
What are the Symptoms of HIV?
A Career as a Medical Assistant
Obstacles and Optimism in the Aging Industry
Medical Terminology 101$75.001.8 CEUs
Anatomy and Physiology 101$90.002.1 CEUs
Introduction to Medical Billing$110.001.7 CEUs
Introduction to Medical Coding$154.002.0 CEUs
Comprehensive Medical Terminology 1 & 2$115.003.3 CEUs
CPT Coding for Beginners$154.002.0 CEUs
Careers in Healthcare$75.000.2 CEUs
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Microbiology 101$110.003.0 CEUs
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HIV: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment$75.000.5 CEUs
Concussions 101$75.000.7 CEUs
Medical Billing and Coding Course Bundle$175.007.4 CEUs
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Major security flaw found in Windows 10 operating system
• Source: Associated Press
The US National Security Agency has discovered a major security flaw in Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system that could let hackers intercept seemingly secure communications.
The Windows 10 operating system logo. Source: 1 NEWS
But rather than exploit the flaw for its own intelligence needs, the NSA tipped off Microsoft so that it can fix the system for everyone.
Microsoft released a free software patch to fix the flaw overnight and credited the intelligence agency for discovering it. The company said it has not seen any evidence that hackers have used the technique.
Amit Yoran, CEO of security firm Tenable, said it is "exceptionally rare if not unprecedented" for the US government to share its discovery of such a critical vulnerability with a company.
Yoran, who was a founding director of the Department of Homeland Security's computer emergency readiness team, urged all organisations to prioritise patching their systems quickly.
An advisory sent by the NSA said "the consequences of not patching the vulnerability are severe and widespread."
Microsoft said an attacker could exploit the vulnerability by spoofing a code-signing certificate so it looked like a file came from a trusted source.
"The user would have no way of knowing the file was malicious, because the digital signature would appear to be from a trusted provider," the company said.
If successfully exploited, an attacker would have been able to conduct "man-in-the-middle attacks" and decrypt confidential information it intercepts on user connections, the company said.
Some computers will get the fix automatically, if they have the automatic update option turned on. Others can get it manually by going to Windows Update in the computer's settings.
Microsoft typically releases security and other updates once a month and waited until Tuesday to disclose the flaw and the NSA's involvement. Microsoft and the NSA both declined to say when the agency privately notified the company.
The agency shared the vulnerability with Microsoft "quickly and responsibly," Neal Ziring, technical director of the NSA's cybersecurity directorate, said in a blog post Tuesday.
Priscilla Moriuchi, who retired from the NSA in 2017 after running its East Asia and Pacific operations, said this is a good example of the "constructive role" that the NSA can play in improving global information security.
Moriuchi, now an analyst at the US cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, said it's likely a reflection of changes made in 2017 to how the US determines whether to disclose a major vulnerability or exploit it for intelligence purposes.
The revamping of what's known as the "Vulnerability Equities Process" put more emphasis on disclosing vulnerabilities whenever possible to protect core internet systems and the US economy and general public.
Those changes happened after a mysterious group calling itself the "Shadow Brokers" released a trove of high-level hacking tools stolen from the NSA, forcing companies including Microsoft to repair their systems.
The US believes that North Korea and Russia were able to capitalise on those stolen hacking tools to unleash devastating global cyberattacks.
The hotter Earth gets, the greater your risk of a violent death, new research shows
Orchard employer fined for breaches against 'young, vulnerable' migrant workers in Bay of Plenty
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Typewriters 101
Portable Typewriters For Sale
Desktop Typewriters For Sale
Typewriter Ribbons For Sale
Typewriter Posters for Sale
Electric Typewriters For Sale
Parts/Repair/As-Is Typewriters For Sale
Why Buy a Typewriter?
What You Need To Know About Buying a Typewriter
How to Sell a Typewriter
How to Ship a Typewriter
How to Maintain a Typewriter
How to Install a Typewriter Ribbon
How to Clean a Typewriter
What Is My Typewriter Worth?
Sold Typewriters
1960s Smith-Corona Super Sterling
Up for sale is a nice green Smith-Corona Super Sterling which was manufactured sometime in the 1960s. This typewriter is fairly common and popular, and for good reason- it's an excellent machine to type on. This typewriter has an elite typeface (slightly smaller than normal) however it's still very crisp and legible. Cosmetically, this typewriter is in near mint shape except for a few scratches that are mainly near where the typewriter latches to the case. Mechanically, this typewriter is fully functional and is an amazing typer. This was one of Smith-Corona's last manual portable designs, which went unchanged for decades because it was just about perfected. This model is also extremely easy to use and care for, and uses universal ribbons which are sold on this site. This Super-Sterling comes with a handful of extras, however it does not have an original copy of the owner's manual. No worries though, because the manual for a similar model can be downloaded for free here: http://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/SC1976.pdf
To sum it up, if you are looking for a reliable typer to use heavily for something like a novel or any other large writing task, this is an excellent option.
Thank you for visiting Typewriters 101!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to Contact Us!
Saturday, January 4, 2020 @ 12:37 PM EST
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Restaurant review: Newbury Park's Vegan Thyme serves bold flavors, styles
Vegan Thyme announces its plant-based café with the confidence of folks who know what they’re doing, and it deserves every bit of attention for its intriguing combinations.
Restaurant review: Newbury Park's Vegan Thyme serves bold flavors, styles Vegan Thyme announces its plant-based café with the confidence of folks who know what they’re doing, and it deserves every bit of attention for its intriguing combinations. Check out this story on vcstar.com: https://www.vcstar.com/story/life/2019/08/15/restaurant-review-newbury-park-vegan-thyme-menu-food-combinations/1986878001/
Rita Moran, Restaurant critic Published 11:00 a.m. PT Aug. 15, 2019
At Vegan Thyme in Newbury Park, pad Thai noodles can be ordered with tofu, soy shrimp or, as seen here, grilled strips of soy chicken. STAR FILE PHOTO/LISA MCKINNON (Photo: PHOTO BY LISA MCKINNON/ THE STAR)
The Newbury Park spot, which combines vegan fare with a bounty of Thai specialties, is a family-owned restaurant that offers something for everyone who enjoys good food well-prepared.
It offers options from appetizers to noodles to salads and “burgers,” which use primary ingredients that are either vegetarian or veggie-based options. Whether they’re dishing up flavorful soups, noodle or rice dishes, salads, burritos made of soy “beef “ or “chicken,” or burgers with a vegan base, their hearts are definitely vegan.
All is creatively presented so that those who love particular dishes can get many of them in the style they desire, with vegan substitutes where meat might have been the more familiar element.
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And they do it all with bold flavors and styles that might well make converts of some who haven’t previously sampled vegan preparations. Couple all that with a freshly designed and decorated main room, and a very helpful staff happy to take orders and deliver food to the tables, diners get both good food and good service.
We started our food exploration with an appetizer of Brussels sprouts ($7.95), a delightful preparation of flash-fried sprouts cooked with sweet soy sauce and topped with vegan spicy mayo. It’s similar to other versions of sprouts we’ve tried, but definitely has lots of character.
Vegan Thyme is located in the Park Plaza shopping center in Newbury Park. STAR FILE PHOTO/LISA MCKINNON (Photo: PHOTO BY LISA MCKINNON/ THE STAR)
The shiitake mushroom soup ($6.95 for a generous small size) was brimming with the main ingredient along with onions, carrots and cabbage, all full of flavor.
My main dish of pineapple fried rice ($10.95) brought together the yellow-tinged rice with flavorful bits of pineapple, raisins and onions, plus slivers of what I gathered was soy “chicken,” to add a different texture and mild flavor. It was a fine dish and in such a generous portion that I had enough to take home for another meal.
But my friend had the most interesting item of our day, mee kati (beet-dyed noodle, ($10.95). It arrived with a mound of rice vermicelli infused with beet juice and combined with bean sprouts. Added flavor boosters were coconut, tamarind and fermented soy bean.
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Beverages of Thai tea ($3.50) and a piquant homemade ginger juice ($2.50) completed our very pleasant lunch.
Whether you’re lured to Vegan Thyme by the vegan aspect or the Thai accents in the menu, there are ample options from which to choose.
Among the appetizers are sweet potato fries, fried spring rolls and avocado spring rolls, with the latter combining avocado, sun-dried tomato and cilantro fried in a crispy wonton.
Soup options include tom yum with a choice of tofu or vegetable along with its mushrooms, tomato, cilantro, lemongrass, galanga and kaffir lime leaf in a hot and sour lemongrass broth.
Gip Suthon balances a tray topped with a salad, foreground, and an order of crispy soy-beef jerky at Vegan Thyme, her family's new restaurant in Newbury Park. STAR FILE PHOTO/LISA MCKINNON (Photo: PHOTO BY LISA MCKINNON/ THE STAR)
Noodle dishes offer a choice of gluten, vegetables, organic tofu, soy chicken, beef, fish or shrimp. Among the variations are the spicy Drunken Noodles, rice noodles stir-fried with house spicy sauce, plus tomatoes, onions, carrots, basil and bell peppers.
Taking a few steps off a routine path are the Buena Comida, an assortment of wraps and “burgers.” The first leads with a cheese quesadilla and includes a soy beef or chicken burrito.
Wraps, served with Vegenaise, chopped romaine, avocado and salsa, are offered in soy versions of chicken, pepper steak, fish, vegetables or tofu.
Burgers begin with a “classic” version with choice of soy chicken, fish, veggie or grilled tofu. There are also a pepper steak burger with pieces of soy beef marinated in garlic cilantro sauce, and a crispy chicken burger that consists of a breaded soy chicken patty.
The “a la carte” page offers variations that include spicy basil leaves, a stir-fried dish that includes fresh chili, garlic, onions and bell pepper; stir-fried roasted cashew nuts with celery, mushrooms, carrots and onion in a light brown sauce; and Sweet & Sour, with stir-fried pineapple, tomato, cucumber, bell pepper and onion sautéed in a sweet and sour sauce.
Cafe Society: Santa Barbara says 'bon appetit!' to new event honoring Julia Child
Rita Moran visits restaurants unannounced and pays for her food. If you know of a new, unusual or just plain good restaurant, please contact her at rita.j.moran@gmail.com.
What: Vegan Thyme cafe
Where: 2205 Michael Drive, Newbury Park
Information: 805-716-3088
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fridays; noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays. Noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Impressions: Very pleasant atmosphere at family-run spot that is vegan with a Thai influence, given the ethnic background of the owners. A handsome, fresh-looking spot with orders taken at your table, and served steaming from the kitchen. A wide range of familiar foods are offered, including appetizers, soups, noodle or rice dishes, salads, burritos, wraps and burgers, all featuring soy chicken, soy pepper steak or soy fish, in addition to vegetables or tofu.
What’s hot: Brussels sprouts appetizer, shiitake mushroom soup, mee kati (beet-dyed noodles), pineapple fried rice.
2 for lunch or dinner
Starters: Brussels sprouts cooked with sweet soy sauce ($7.95) + shiitake mushroom soup ($6.95)
Main dishes: mee kati (beet-died noodles) with fried tofu ($9.95) + pineapple fried rice ($9.95)
Tab for 2: $16-$22
Read or Share this story: https://www.vcstar.com/story/life/2019/08/15/restaurant-review-newbury-park-vegan-thyme-menu-food-combinations/1986878001/
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Petition to Revive Abandoned Patent Application
A petition to revive abandoned patent application is filed to restart the patent application process after it has been abandoned.3 min read
A petition to revive abandoned patent application is filed to restart the patent application process after it has been abandoned. Depending on the length of the abandonment, reviving the application may be very difficult.
Reviving a Patent Application
According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), there can be a variety of reasons for an abandoned patent application or patent. For example, failing to pay required maintenance fees can easily result in a patent being declared abandoned. The most common reason that a patent application is declared abandoned is that the person filing for the patent has not responded to a USPTO communication by the required deadline. Failure to pay fees can also result in an abandoned patent application.
Fortunately, after a patent application has been declared abandoned, it can usually be revived by completing a few simple steps:
Filing a petition to revive abandoned patent application.
Paying a revival fee and any other fees that are owed.
Correcting the issue that resulted in the abandonment.
Intentional and Unintentional Abandonment
It's important to remember that there is a difference between a patent application that has been unintentionally abandoned and one whose abandonment was intentional.
Whether a patent application has been abandoned intentionally or unintentionally can depend on several factors, including the explanation provided by the applicant and the amount of time they delayed responding to the USPTO. Once a patent has been declared intentionally abandoned, it cannot be revived.
In patent law, it can be hard to define exactly what constitutes unintentional abandonment. For example, on the petition to revive, you could state that the delay in response was unintentional. The lengthier your delay, however, the harder it will be to believe that you failed to respond unintentionally, which means the USPTO may request a different explanation before reviving your patent or may reject your petition outright.
Basically, once your patent application has been declared abandoned, you should petition for revival as soon as possible. If you file your petition within six months of your application being abandoned, it is likely that it will be revived. You may even be able to file your petition two years after your application has been abandoned and have a good shot at revival. Waiting any longer than this will make reviving your patent much more difficult.
For instance, after the two-year mark, your petition will be at much greater risk of being rejected, and the USPTO will likely request a detailed explanation for the delay. You should remember that expired patents, which are patents whose full 20-year term have been completed, are impossible to revive.
Office Actions and Abandoned Patents
After you've filed your patent application, you should expect to receive notices from the USPTO soon after, and you must be certain you're responding to these notices as soon as you can. Every notice, also called an Office Action, that the USPTO sends will have a deadline by which you must respond. If you miss this deadline, your idea will have been disclosed, and you may have lost the right to patent the idea.
Not responding to Office Actions will result in your patent application being declared abandoned. Generally, Office Actions will come with a three-month time limit. You can, however, sometimes extend this deadline by an additional three months. If you have not responded to the Office Action six months after the original mailing date, your patent application will be considered abandoned by the USPTO, meaning you will no longer be able to patent your idea unless you can provide a valid explanation for the delayed response.
For unintentional delays, you must explain the delay and then pay the correct petition fee for your entity:
Large entity: $1,700.
Small entity: $850.
Micro entity: $850.
You may also be required to pay maintenance fees or extension fees.
In some cases, you may be able to claim that the delay was not only unintentional but was also unavoidable. Proving an unavoidable delay, however, can be difficult, and the USPTO only accepts this explanation in limited circumstances. For instance, an avoidable delay would be the death of a person you have appointed to pay your maintenance fees. You will generally have more success filing a petition to revive your application based on an unintentional delay.
If you need help with a petition to revive abandoned patent application, you can post your legal needs on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.
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Press Release Details
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Canon XF405 4K UHD Camcorder with handle- EVF OPEN
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Canon Launches Three New Compact and Lightweight 4K UHD Video Camcorders: The XF405, XF400 and VIXIA GX10
MELVILLE, N.Y., September 12, 2017 – Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced three new additions to the company’s video camcorder lineup: the XF405 4K UHD Video Camcorder, the XF400 4K UHD Video Camcorder and the VIXIA GX10 4K UHD Video Camcorder, three lightweight and compact video camcorders that feature 4K/60p video recording.
Canon XF405, XF400 and VIXIA GX10 4K UHD Video Camcorders
The Canon XF405 and XF400 4K UHD Video Camcorders are both ideal for applications like broadcast interviews, documentaries and weddings. Designed with advanced amateurs and hobbyists in mind, the VIXIA GX10 4K UHD Video Camcorder provides the same high- image quality as the Canon XF405 and XF400.
All three models feature a newly developed 15x optical zoom lens (35 mm film equivalent: 25.5mm–382.5mm), to support 4K recording, alongside a 1.0-inch CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC DV 6 image-processing platform, to produce stunning 4K/60p recording across the entire zoom range. In addition, the compact and lightweight body designs measure approximately 5.3in (l) x 3.8in(h) x 8.4in(d) and weigh approximately 40.5oz, 40.3oz and 40.2oz for the XF405, XF400 and VIXIA GX10, respectively. The compact and lightweight nature of all three 4K UHD models provide great mobility when shooting such scenes as news reports and events.
All three camcorders provide users with fast, highly accurate focusing through intuitive touch-panel operations and feature Dual Pixel CMOS AF—a technology that offers smooth Auto Focus(AF) operation with high-tracking capabilities, making it ideal for shooting video.
The Canon XF405 4K UHD video camcorder, the XF400 4K UHD video camcorder and the VIXIA GX10 4K UHD video camcorder are scheduled to be available in November 2017 for estimated retail prices of $3499.001, $2999.001 and $2499.00.1 respectively. For more information, please visit, usa.canon.com
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $29 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2016.† Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.
† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
1 Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
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Home > About Us > Directorates and Program Offices > Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate
Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate
Matthew D. Emrich is the associate director of the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
The Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) will safeguard the integrity of the nation’s lawful immigration system by leading agency efforts to combat fraud, detect national security and public safety threats, and maximize law enforcement and Intelligence Community partnerships.
FDNS plays a key role in USCIS’ efforts to safeguard the integrity of our immigration laws, protect American workers, and safeguard the homeland. FDNS officers are located in USCIS service centers, asylum offices, and domestic and international field offices. Some FDNS immigration officers are embedded in other government agencies.
FDNS employs numerous measures to detect and deter immigration benefit fraud and aggressively pursues benefit fraud cases in collaboration with USCIS adjudication officers and federal law enforcement agencies. Since 2004, FDNS and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have collaborated in a strategic partnership to combat immigration fraud.
FDNS officers work closely with law enforcement and intelligence community partners to resolve potential fraud, national security, and public safety concerns, and to ensure the mutual exchange of current and comprehensive information. They are responsible for conducting administrative investigations into suspected benefit fraud and aiding in the resolution of national security or criminal concerns. Administrative investigations may include compliance reviews, interviews, site visits, requests for evidence, and may also result in a referral to ICE for consideration of a criminal investigation.
In April 2017, FDNS created and implemented the Targeted Site Visit and Verification Program (TSVVP) as part of its continuous efforts to enhance the integrity of the immigration benefit process. TSVVP allows USCIS to focus resources where fraud and abuse of employment and family based visa types is more likely to occur.
In July 2009, USCIS created and implemented the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program (ASVVP) as part of its efforts to enhance the integrity of the immigration benefit process. Under ASVVP, FDNS immigration officers conduct unannounced pre- and post-adjudication site visits to verify information contained in certain visa petitions as part of a Compliance Review (CR). The verification process is designed to assess whether petitioners and beneficiaries are in compliance with applicable immigration laws and regulations.
Protecting the integrity of the immigration process is a priority for USCIS, so FDNS makes it easy for you to report immigration fraud and abuse. Visit our Report Fraud page for information on how to report fraud related to immigration benefits, such as marriage or asylum fraud, as well as employment-based visa violations.
FDNS also maintains email addresses dedicated to receiving information on suspected H-1B and H-2B fraud or abuse. Anyone (including American workers and workers who suspect they or others may be the victim of H-1B or H-2B fraud or abuse) can email us to submit tips, alleged violations, and other relevant information about potential fraud or abuse.
For H-1B fraud or abuse, email ReportH1BAbuse@uscis.dhs.gov.
USCIS created FDNS in 2004 in order to strengthen USCIS’ efforts to ensure immigration benefits are not granted to individuals who pose a threat to national security or public safety, or who seek to defraud our immigration system. In 2010, FDNS became a Directorate, which elevated the profile of this work within USCIS, brought about operational improvements, and enhanced the integration of the FDNS mission in all facets of the agency’s work. Today FDNS continues to lead the USCIS effort to ensure the integrity of the nation’s immigration benefits processes.
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UTI Graduate Returns to School, This Time as an Instructor
Universal Technical Institute Jul 23, 2018 ·
UTI Blog
From the age of 2, Gerardo Mendez had an interest in cars. As a toddler, Gerardo played with Hot Wheels and Tonka trucks, and says he was always drawn to what would eventually become his future career.
Gerardo joins Universal Technical Institute (UTI) at its new Bloomfield, New Jersey, campus as an automotive technology instructor.
Gerardo teaches an introduction to undercar course, where students learn about safety features, inspection systems, springs, data-sf-ec-immutable=""> , struts and brake systems. He also teaches an electrical fundamentals course.
Gerardo has been learning about the intricacies of motor vehicles since he was a high school student, when his school offered automotive technology training.
The Chicago native, who moved to Wharton, New Jersey, when he was 1 year old, also took a weekend course for mobile technical training during his high school senior year.
He learned about mobile electronics installations, including remote starters, sound systems and navigation, the beginnings of what would turn into a now decade-long profession.
“I learned how to take things apart and put things back together and saw how everything worked,” says Gerardo. “A car has so many moving systems and components. I got really interested in them. Tearing up a car and putting it back together drew me in.” This is when Gerardo decided that he wanted to become automotive technician.
He went straight to UTI in Exton, Pennsylvania, after high school. Since graduating in 2008, he has worked for Audi and Porsche dealerships. When he saw the opportunity to teach at UTI in the state he had grown up in, he eagerly applied.
“I thought, what better way to put my two passions together – being in the automotive field and being able to pass on my knowledge and teach future technicians what I learned and what I experienced?” Gerardo says. “I can give back what I got.”
Why Gerardo Credits Universal Technical Institute
While Gerardo says he always knew he wanted a career in the automotive industry, he credits UTI for helping him succeed. He considered several trade schools offering automotive courses, but he says UTI always stood out.
“The professionalism and overall first impression of everyone I spoke to there was great, and everything seemed so organized,” Gerardo says. “I had seen other schools and spoken to people who had attended other schools, and there always seemed to be something negative. My goals matched with what UTI was offering.”
After his core automotive training, Gerardo enrolled in UTI’s Manufacturer-Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) program for Audi.
He was employed and working at an Audi dealership within two weeks of graduation, coming in as an entry-level registered Audi technician and moving up the ranks to become an expert Audi technician. He went on to train other employees with Audi before working for a Porsche dealership, and later returned to work with Audi.
“I feel like UTI delivers the curriculum in a way that is what is expected in the field,” Gerardo says. “Your work while you're here as a student is like being out in the automotive field, having all the tools and equipment and books here.”
Gerardo adds that in addition to the technical aspect of UTI training, the career help that is available makes UTI beneficial.
“UTI takes you through the whole process, from learning the trade and professionalism, to getting help with résumés, job placements and interviews,” Gerardo says. “From start to finish, UTI is there, and even after, once you're in your career, if you ever need assistance.”
More Than an Instructor… a Mentor
In addition to a love for cars, Gerardo has also enjoyed teaching. Besides helping up-and-coming technicians at the dealerships where he worked, Gerardo was an assistant instructor in Isshin-ryū, a form of karate. He taught one-on-one and in group settings, and he's excited to be in a classroom environment today.
“Being that I was a former UTI student, I have been in their shoes and can relate to what they're going through,” Gerardo says. “I really have a passion for teaching, seeing when a student grasps an idea, and seeing the smile on their face.”
Gerardo says he enjoys sharing what he has learned in the field and making personal connections with students, whether he can offer technical assistance, or have a laugh and be an instructor who students feel comfortable talking with.
As someone who has spent his life in New Jersey, Gerardo enjoys contributing to the community as a UTI instructor.
“Having a good automotive trade school in this area and so close to home is exciting,” Gerardo says. “I can be part of it and teach and see students as they graduate and move on in their careers. Being part of this community and the great team at UTI is something I look forward to.”
From a Former Student to New Students: UTI Is There for You
Gerardo encourages anyone who enjoys working with their hands, tearing things apart, and seeing how things work, to consider a career in automotive. When you study at UTI, you get access to the resources you need, no matter what your skill level is.
“The beautiful thing about UTI is that anyone can come in here with or without experience, and you're going to be in the right place to learn how to get it done,” Gerardo says. “You start with the fundamentals and move on from there. The staff and other students are supportive and helpful.”
For students who might be uncertain about their future after high school and for those who want to obtain more meaningful careers, Gerardo says UTI can help them find success.
“The automotive field is always in high demand, and it's not going to change anytime soon,” Gerardo says. “Employers are always looking for great technicians. From my personal situation, college isn't for everyone, but there are job opportunities for everyone. If you put your time and effort into it, there's no way to fail. Just go for it, and follow your dream.”
To learn more about UTI Bloomfield, request info or visit online.
YOU COULD START YOUR EXCITING NEW CAREER AS A MECHANIC TECHNICIAN TODAY.
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Hands-on training. Get hands on experience with the industry's leading brands.
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6) UTI graduates' achievements may vary. Individual circumstances and wages depend on personal credentials and economic factors. Work experience, industry certifications, the location of the employer and their compensation programs affect wages. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
7) Some programs may require longer than one year to complete.
10) Financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify. Awards vary due to specific conditions, criteria and state.
12) Based on data compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2016-2026), www.bls.gov, viewed October 24, 2017. The projected number of annual job openings, by job classification is: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, 75,900; Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists, 28,300; Automotive Body and Related Repairers, 17,200. Job openings include openings due to growth and net replacements.
15) Manufacturer-paid advanced training programs are conducted by UTI’s Custom Training Group on behalf of manufacturers who determine acceptance criteria and conditions. These programs are not part of UTI’s accreditation.
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6 Skill-Related Elements to Improving Athletic Training
Focus on these areas to impact your performance
Laura Williams, MSEd, ASCM-CEP
Laura Williams is a fitness expert and advocate with certifications from the American Council on Exercise and the American College of Sports Medicine.
Reviewed by Tara Laferrara, CPT on October 19, 2019
Tara Laferrara is a certified NASM personal trainer, yoga teacher, and fitness coach. She also created her own online training program, the TL Method.
Learn about our Wellness Board
Tara Laferrara, CPT
Improving your overall fitness can help you no matter what sport or other form of exercise you engage in. But where performance (hitting harder shots, shaving off time, etc.) is concerned, the greatest improvements arise from specificity of training—that which develops the skills specifically related to your activity of choice. For instance, you simply can't become good at tennis without working on your agility, power, speed, and hand-eye coordination.
It's this focus on activity-related skills that differentiate two distinct areas of fitness development.
Getting Fit vs. Improving Performance
The five health-related components of fitness are:
Cardiovascular endurance
Muscular endurance
Muscular strength
These standard components are important for everyone, in all walks of life, regardless of whether you have a desire to compete or perform at an optimum level.
For instance, when you train to improve your cardiovascular endurance, you're helping reduce your risk of heart disease. When you train to improve your flexibility, you're helping maintain range of motion, which improves your ability to perform activities of daily living, like picking things up off the floor or stretching to reach items on high shelves.
Cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body composition are crucial for health and lend themselves to positive lifestyle outcomes, especially for those who meet the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) physical activity guidelines.
The 5 Health-Related Components of Fitness
But if you're already meeting the ACSM's guidelines for physical activity and you want to do more to train for a specific fitness-related event or goal, you also need to consider the six skill-related fitness components:
Hand/Foot-Eye Coordination
In contrast to the health components of fitness, which are universally important, these are more so for some people than others.
For example, while everyone can benefit from daily walks, someone who hits the path just to get their heart pumping doesn't need to worry about developing the speed necessary to run a five-minute mile, though a race-runner does. Likewise, baseball players need to target all skill-related areas in order to perform at the highest levels, but Olympic weightlifters can get away with focusing most of their effort on power, balance, and strength.
If you're interested in developing your level of fitness beyond the basic requirements for health, consider tailoring your workout program to include exercises designed to improve the skill-related components of fitness.
Peter Bernik/Stocksy United
Power is a measure that combines speed and strength. In essence, it's how fast you can generate a maximal force. In sports, "power athletes" are those who exert brute strength in short, all-out efforts. Olympic weightlifters, football players, and "power gymnasts" are all clear examples.
But that doesn't mean athletes in other sports, like basketball, volleyball, and tennis, don't benefit from developing greater power. For instance, jumping to get a rebound requires leg power, while forcefully spiking a volleyball requires a combination of upper- and lower-body power. The key to enhancing your power is combining resistance and speed with fast-paced strength-training moves.
Examples of power exercises:
Plyometric box jumps
Pushing a weighted sled while sprinting
Kettlebell swings
Weight Training for Power
When you think of speed training, you might think of the speed it takes to run a 100-meter sprint, but that narrow definition ignores one important fact: Speed, by nature, is relative.
An Olympic-level 100-meter sprinter needs to be very, very fast, but only for about 10 seconds. On the other hand, an amateur marathon runner may want to improve his speed to set a new personal best, reducing his per-mile race pace from 10 minutes per mile to 9.5 minutes per mile—a speed he'd have to maintain for a little over four hours.
These two fictional athletes train differently, but with a similar goal: To become faster for their sports.
The definition of "speed," then, is incredibly variable, and training will differ based on the sport you're training for. That said, regardless of sport, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is one of the best ways to improve your speed.
HIIT training involves working at an all-out or near all-out effort for set periods of time, followed by set periods of rest. This type of training enables you to repeatedly challenge your aerobic and anaerobic systems, teaching your working muscles, heart, and lungs to grow accustomed to working at higher levels of intensity.
The length and intensity of the intervals you use will be longer or shorter, less challenging or more, depending on your sport.
Examples of HIIT speed drills for runners:
For marathon training, try mile repeats, a style of interval training where the runner goes all-out for a full mile before resting and doing it again.
For sprint training, try shorter intervals: A sprinter would be better off performing shorter, more intense intervals ranging from 40- to 400-meters in length, running all-out, and then resting before repeating.
These same concepts apply whether you want to be faster in swimming, cycling, or even sports like soccer and basketball. Interval training featuring bouts of high-intensity exercise related to your specific sport can help you improve your speed.
Interval Training for Speed
The simple definition of agility is the ability to move quickly and easily, but this definition doesn't necessarily paint an obvious picture as to how it relates to sport. A clearer definition is that agility is the ability to move quickly and easily change direction.
Basketball players, for instance, are incredibly agile. They don't simply run up and down the court—they have to move in every direction, jumping, sliding, and backpedaling in quick response to the movement of the ball and other players. Their bodies have to be trained to respond and change course at the drop of a hat.
Agility drills commonly involve exercises that develop foot speed and direction change.
Examples of agility exercises:
Ladder drills: Use an agility ladder to practice quick and specific foot placement.
Cone drills: Simply set cones up in a "T" or star shape, then sprint, slide, backpedal, or change direction depending on which cone you're approaching.
Best Agility Exercises for Athletes
Think of all the sports and activities that benefit from well-honed hand-eye (or foot-eye) coordination. Badminton, golf, soccer, basketball, football, racquetball, archery, softball, and ultimate frisbee are just a few of the many examples that require you to be able to see an external object and respond precisely with your hands and feet to meet a pre-determined objective.
In some cases, that means hitting a golf ball off a tee, and in other cases, that means catching a fly ball.
Examples of simple hand-eye coordination drills:
Playing catch
Jumping rope
Dribbling a ball
Throwing objects at specific targets
Gymnasts, yogis, and surfers all need highly-refined balance skills to be able to participate in their sports, but these aren't the only athletes that benefit from balance training.
Balance itself refers to your ability to adjust your body position to remain upright. It deals with proprioception, or knowing where your body is in space, and being able to make adjustments to your body position as your center of gravity changes during movement. For instance, every time you take a step, your body has to adjust to its constantly-shifting center of gravity in order to keep you from toppling over.
In physical activity settings, balance is required for running, changing direction, landing a jump, and staying upright after you get jostled by an opponent.
There are few sports where balance doesn't play an important role, and there are lots of activities where balance is required for enhanced performance and safety. Trail runners, for instance, benefit from balance training because it can help prevent them from rolling an ankle or taking a nasty fall after tripping over a root or slipping on a muddy path.
Examples of balance training exercises:
Incorporating standing yoga poses
Using tools such as BOSU balls
Using balance discs to perform exercises like squats, lunges, and pushups
By performing standard strength training movements on an unstable surface, you're simultaneously improving your strength and balance.
Balance-Training Exercises
Reaction time refers to how quickly you can respond to an external stimulus. Think about a tennis match for a moment—the best competitors react almost instantaneously when the ball comes off their opponent's racquet, sprinting toward the location where they expect the ball to bounce.
Reaction time hinges heavily on your mind-body connection. Your eyes see a stimulus, your mind interprets the stimulus, and your body reacts in accordance with that interpretation.
Much of this mind-body reaction relates to knowledge of the sport or activity in question. Going back to the tennis example, a professional tennis player who has played for many years can almost instantly interpret and predict the movement of a ball as it bounces off an opponent's racquet. This knowledge enables them to react more quickly (and accurately) to the stimulus.
On the other hand, a novice tennis player may see the ball coming off the opponent's racquet, but won't be able to interpret what they're seeing as quickly, causing their reaction time to slow.
In many cases, improving reaction time comes down to gaining experience in the sport and performing sport-specific drills.
Examples of reaction-time drills:
Softball players can work on fielding balls
Soccer goalies can work on protecting the goal as other players try to score
Using tools such as lopsided reaction balls
Playing table tennis or hacky sack with friends
Zemková E, Hamar D. Sport-Specific Assessment of the Effectiveness of Neuromuscular Training in Young Athletes. Front Physiol. 2018;9:264. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00264
Alansare A, Alford K, Lee S, Church T, Jung HC. The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Heart Rate Variability in Physically Inactive Adults. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(7) doi:10.3390/ijerph15071508
Aman JE, Elangovan N, Yeh IL, Konczak J. The effectiveness of proprioceptive training for improving motor function: a systematic review. Front Hum Neurosci. 2014;8:1075. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.01075
Why Is Agility so Important in Sports?
How to Safely Perform Plyometric Rebounding Exercises
How Having Good Balance Can Reduce Your Chance of an Ankle Sprain
Everything You Need to Know About the 5 Components of Fitness
Increase Your Vertical Jump With Weight Training
Weight Training Can Provide Tennis Players With a Strength Advantage
An Overview of Cross-Training
The 9 Best Tennis Rackets of 2020
Get Faster Starts With Acceleration Drills
How Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, and Weightlifting Are Different
Selecting and Performing Cross-Training Workouts
Top 10 Best Balance Training Products to Buy in 2020
A General Weight Training Program for Ice Hockey
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What You Should Know About Beta Thalassemia
More in Blood Disorders
Inherited Anemias
White Blood Cell Disorders
Polycythemia Vera & Myelofibrosis
CBC Test Analyzer
Amber Yates, MD
Amber Yates, MD, is a board-certified pediatric hematologist and a practicing physician at Baylor College of Medicine.
a board-certified physician
Violka08 / Getty Images
Beta thalassemia is inherited anemia where the body is unable to produce hemoglobin normally. Hemoglobin A (the major hemoglobin in adults) contains two alpha globin chains and two beta globin chains. In beta thalassemia, the bone marrow is unable to produce a normal amount of beta globin resulting in little to no hemoglobin A. Also, there is an excess of alpha globin not bound to beta globin that causes red cell breakdown known as hemolysis.
Beta thalassemia is an inherited condition. It requires both parents to be carriers of the disorder called beta thalassemia trait or minor. When both parents have beta thalassemia trait, they have a one in four chance of having a child with beta thalassemia disease. Unfortunately, because beta thalassemia trait causes no symptoms, parents may be unaware of this risk prior to pregnancy.
What Are the Types of Beta Thalassemia?
Beta thalassemia can be classified in two ways: by the genetic mutation inherited or by transfusion need.
Beta zero thalassemia: The zero in beta zero mutation indicates that no beta globin can be produced by that chromosome.
Beta plus thalassemia: Beta globin is produced by in reduced amounts. The amount of beta globin produced varies greatly with the particular mutation inherited. Some mutations produce almost no beta globin making them clinically similar to beta zero.
Transfusion Need
Beta thalassemia major: Beta thalassemia major is defined by the need for life-long transfusions, usually monthly (termed hypertransfusion therapy).
Beta thalassemia intermedia: Usually moderate anemia that may require occasional transfusions (during illnesses, puberty, etc) but not on a regular basis.
Beta thalassemia trait/minor: This results in mild asymptomatic anemia usually picked up on routine complete blood count.
How Is Beta Thalassemia Diagnosed?
In general, beta thalassemia major is identified on the newborn screen. In these infants, the test will only identify hemoglobin F (or fetal), no hemoglobin A. These children are referred to a hematologist to be monitored closely. Some more severely affected beta thalassemia intermedia patients will also be identified this way.
Some more mildly affected patients will be identified on routine complete blood count (CBC). The CBC will reveal a mild to moderate anemia with very small red blood cells. This can be confused with iron deficiency anemia. Diagnosis is confirmed by a hemoglobin profile (also called electrophoresis). In beta thalassemia intermedia and trait this testing reveals elevation in hemoglobin A2 (a 2nd form of adult hemoglobin) and sometimes F (fetal).
What Are the Treatments for Beta Thalassemia?
Beta thalassemia trait requires no treatment. People with beta thalassemia trait will have lifelong mild anemia.
Transfusion: Patients with beta thalassemia major require lifelong transfusions. Transfusion therapy is used to suppress red blood cell production in the bone marrow. Beta thalassemia intermedia patients may require transfusion therapy during illnesses and puberty (during growth spurt).
Iron chelation therapy: Patients with beta thalassemia major receive excess iron through red blood cell transfusions. This excess iron can cause damage to organs, particularly the heart. Iron chelation assists the body in removing iron. These can be given as an oral medication or an infusion under the skin. Patients with beta thalassemia intermedia may develop iron overload even in the absence of blood transfusions secondary to increased absorption of iron in the small intestine.
Splenectomy: The spleen can become massively enlarged due to red cell breakdown (hemolysis) as well as red blood cell production in the spleen. If transfusion need increases or other blood cell counts go down due to trapping in the spleen, the spleen may need to be removed surgically.
Hydroxyurea: Hydroxyurea has been used to increase fetal hemoglobin production. Success has been variable.
Thalassemia Intermedia: Causes, Treatments, and More
Alpha Thalassemia Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment
When Is Iron Deficiency Anemia Not What It Appears to Be?
Thalassemia: Understanding the Inherited Blood Disorder
Learn About the Blood Disorders That the Newborn Screen Can Detect
Interferon Alpha for Polycythemia Vera
An Overview of Blood Disorders
Anemia: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Why Early Intervention Is Key to Avoiding Thalassemia Complications
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency: A Rare Cause of Anemia
This Rare Blood Disorder May Require Regular Blood Transfusions
Living With Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle-Cell Disease—Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
What Is MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) on Your Blood Count?
Essential Information for Understanding Therapeutic Phlebotomy
Iron Overload: When You Have Too Much of a Good Thing
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Best experiences in Naples
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Napoletanity
From Magna Graecia to the myth of Hemingway: diving into the beauties of Cilento
In questo articolo si parla di:
The beauty of Campania: visit the Cilento
Cilento, an area of undoubted beauty and rich in natural landscapes, but also of history, which often merge with the myth, finding a foothold to nurse and confirm what is enchanting in this land.
An almost uncontaminated land, where man has entered, respecting nature, and guaranteeing its innate leadership. In these lands some of the most wonderful ancient myths are born, from the myth of Palinuro, mythical helmsman of Aeneas, who died in these waters according to legend, up to one of the most renowned writers of our time Ernest Hemingway, who stayed for some time right in Cilento, near Acciaroli, and where popular tradition has it that it drew inspiration for its great novel "The Old Man and the Sea".
There are dozens of places you can visit, here in Cilento. They range from ancient history with the Archaeological Park of Paestum and Velia, to the countless caves and inlets that overlook the Gulf of Salerno, from Capo Palinuro to Punta Licosa, passing through the Cilento National Park and the beauties of the Infreschi Bay.
But let's find out which are the most important beauties of Cilento that you absolutely can't miss.
History and archeology in Cilento: Paestum and Velia
The archaeological area of Paestum is one of the most beautiful and important archaeological parks in the world and it is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city was founded in the early sixth century. BC with the name of Poseidonia, the city of Neptune. Inside there are three large areas: two sacred and one public in the center.
Velia, or even Elea, is a Greek city first, then Roman, very important for the development of this territory and not only. Very well known is the Eleatic school of philosophy, originating precisely from this land, of which there remains much of the city walls and different areas of public and religious life.
Marine protected areas in Cilento: Capo Palinuro and Punta Licosa
Two places so similar not only in their conformation but also in the mythology behind their birth. Capo Palinuro owes its name to Palinuro, helmsman of Aeneas, who fell into the sea and was killed by the inhabitants once on land, but what makes this place special is its conformation. It looks like 5 rocky points overlooking the sea that define caves of inestimable beauty.
Punta Licosa, instead, owes its mythological origins to a mermaid, Licosa, who for a repudiated love, decided to take her life right here, giving, according to the myth, one of the most beautiful protected marine areas of Campania.
Nature in Cilento: the National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano
The National Park of Cilento and Vallo di Diano is a place included in the UNESCO World Heritage Siteand includes a territory of about 180,000 hectares, it is a true cult of nature, in which the work of man combines perfectly with the design of nature. Composed of coastal environments, but also of mountains and plains, its immeasurable beauty is enriched thanks to the diversity of the flora and fauna found within it.
Pristine coasts where perhaps no one has ever set foot, rocky plateaus, footpaths and more, but also streams, mysterious caves, which make this an ideal place to rediscover the pleasure of being in contact with nature.
Cilento in flight: 'visiting' Cilento from the sky?
A beautiful landscape that can be enjoyed in its entirety through one of the most popular initiatives at the moment. In fact, in Trentinara, a town in the Cilento area, a zip-line was installed, an activity that allows us to enjoy the Cilento landscape crossing it, suspended in flight. With Cilento in Volo's guys , in fact, you can go through the whole territory at 1500 m above sea level and fly over it and enjoy it from above.
A new way to see a magnificent landscape, the only way to observe certain glimpses and certain really beautiful spots.
And what are you waiting for? Run to take flight and enjoy Cilento.
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BOTTICELLI TOUR - Milan, Venice, Florence and 5 Terre
GHIBERTI TOUR - Tuscany, Rome and the Amalfi Coast
RAFFAELLO TOUR - Rome, Assisi and Florence
TIZIANO TOUR - Naples, Bari, Matera and Alberobello
10 DAYS TOURS
ITALY IN 10 DAYS - Milan, 5 Terre, Florence and Rome
ITALY IN 10 DAYS - Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast
2 WEEKS TOURS
ITALY IN 2 WEEKS – THE GRAND TOURS - Milan, Florence, Rome and Venice
ITALY IN 2 WEEKS – THE GRAND TOURS - Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome and Amalfi Coast
AUTHENTIC ITALY
AUTHENTIC ITALY GUIDED GRAND TOUR NORTH - The Northern Lakes, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria in 12 days
AUTHENTIC ITALY GUIDED GRAND TOUR SOUTH - Naples, Amalfi, Matera, Puglia in 12 days
CUSTOM TOUR
AUTHENTIC ITALY GUIDED GRAND TOUR NORTH
The Northern Lakes, Florence, Tuscany, Umbria in 12 days
A tour for connoisseurs, from Milan to Rome via Florence, admiring the extraordinary beauty of Italy and its “borghi”. You will enjoy the diversity of habits and traditions across the country, as well as the diverse yet most savoury regional cuisines of Lombardy, Emilia, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio!!
Group size: 4 to 10 Pax
Tour Start Date: June 11th, 2019
Tour End Date: June 23rd, 2019
Type of tour: point to point
Duration: 12 full days + 12 nights
Tour starts in Milan
Tour ends in Rome
Group Size from 6 to 10 persons
Price per Person, accommodation in Double Room: € 5,690
Supplement for accommodation in Single Room: € 895
Self-guided tours and private group tours available upon request
The Tour is led by an Italian Authorised Tour Leader
Accommodations in Double Room with Continental Breakfast (*):
Day 1: 3* Hotel La Perla - Via Romolo Quaglino 7, Tremezzo (CO)
Day 4: 4* Hotel Al Cappello Rosso - Via De' Fusari 9, Bologna
Day 5: 4* Hotel De La Ville - Piazza Antinori 1, Firenze
Day 6: Castello di Tornano - Loc. Tornano, Gaiole in Chianti
Day 9: Castello di Petrata - Via Petrata, Assisi (PG)
Day 10: Palazzo Dragoni - Via del Duomo 13, Spoleto (PG)
Day 11: Borgo Pallavicini Mori - Via Tiberina 571, Roma
Day 12: 4* Hotel Monti Palace - Via Cavour 185, Roma
(*) Accommodations are indicative. Before confirmation, we reserve the right to replace the ones indicated above with others with similar or higher characteristics.
All transfers by private minibus
Private Guided Visits / Tours / Activities:
Day 1: Meeting Point at NH Hotel Concordia in Milan – Visit of Villa Balbianello in Lenno – Round trip to Bellagio by public ferry – Free time in Bellagio
Day 2: Private Boat Tour of Borromean Islands Isola Bella and Isola Madre on Lake Maggiore
Day 3: Full day tour of Parma area with an Authorised Tourist Guide, including visits of a Parmesan Cheese factory, a Parma Ham factory and a Cooking class in a Villa near Parma
Day 4: Full day tour of Modena area, including a visit to a Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Estate and admission to Museo Ferrari in Maranello
Day 5: “Michelangelo’s Legacy” walking tour of Florence city centre with an Authorised Tourist Guide
Day 6: Visit of a wine cellar in Chianti with tasting
Day 7: 2-hour private walking tour of Siena city centre with an Authorised Tourist Guide
Day 8: Full-day tour of Val d’Orcia: Bagno Vignoni, Pienza, Montepulciano - Visit of a “Pecorino di Pienza” cheese factory - Gourmet walking tour of Montepulciano city centre with food tastings
Day 9: 2-hour walking tour of Assisi city centre with an Authorised Tourist Guide
Day 10: Visit of an organic farm near Todi with tasting of local olive oil
Day 11: Tour of Orvieto Underground
Day 12: Full day tour or Tivoli area with an authorized Tourist Guide, including admission to Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa
Admission Tickets to:
Villa Balbianello on Lake Como
Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore
Museo Ferrari in Maranello
Orvieto Underground
Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli
All dinners at selected home-style local restaurants (wine not included)
Lunch at an organic farm in Spoleto area
Full assistance 24 hours/day by our Back Office
All taxes (tips not mandatory)
DAY 1 – LAKE COMO
Benvenuti in Italia, welcome to Italy! Your Tour Leader will meet you at NH Concordia Hotel in Milan, here you’ll meet your travel mates too. Let’s have a coffee together, just to know each other!
From Milan, we will head north for Lake Como, one of Italy's most popular lakes and also its deepest. Shaped like an inverted Y, giving it a long perimeter, it is surrounded by mountains and hills and dotted with beautiful and resort villages. The magnificent scenery of Lake Como (also known as Lake Lario) has enchanted artists and travellers for centuries: from French novelist Flaubert to musicians of the calibre of Gioacchino Rossini, Giuseppe Verdi, and Vincenzo Bellini; it was here that he composed his opera Norma. Today Lake Como continues to attract members of the international jet-set and celebrities that appreciate the evocative beauty of the Lake and its surroundings.
Villa Melzi in Bellagio
Driving along the lake road we will enjoy multiple, fascinating views: suggestive borgoes, splendid villas and lush gardens await visitors in search of a little charm and relaxation, or a little culture and contact with nature.
Breathtaking villas, one after the other, encircle the lake, a resort destination of the nobles of Lombardy since the 16th Century. Cernobbio is the site of the Villa d’Este (1600s), location in Alfred Hitchcock’s celebrated film “The Pleasure Garden”; and the celebrated Villa Erba, one of the most important Italian lake villas from the 1800s - today it is an internationally-known convention and expository complex. In the nearby Comunes of Moltrasio and Lenno, Passalacqua and Villa Balbianello (used in films such as “Star Wars: Episode II” and “Casino Royale”) are important touristic attractions.
Along the coast is Tremezzo, famous for its Villa Carlotta, with terrace gardens and a museum boasting works by Canova, Thorvaldsen, and Hayez. It was built in the 17th century for a powerful Milanese family and in the 2nd half of the 19th century Princess Marianne of Nassau bought the villa and gave it to her daughter Carlotta as a wedding present, hence the name. Her husband was a keen botanist and over the years turned it into the lush garden that we see here today.
Later on, we will reach Bellagio, where we will relax and enjoy the lakeside ambience.
DAY 2 – LAKE MAGGIORE
In the early morning we will head for our next destination, Lake Maggiore.
It has the magnificent vintage air of old-fashioned vacations, but it never goes out of style. Lake Maggiore is the second largest in Italy in size (the biggest is Lake Garda) but the largest—and that’s why it’s called Maggiore—of the lakes closest to the Alps. Geographically, it straddles two Italian regions, Lombardy and Piedmont, and a small part juts into Switzerland’s Canton Ticino. But the main thing is that since the 19th century it has been one of the top vacation and weekend destinations for wealthy families from big cities, who built some of Northern Italy’s most stunning villas on its shores. The secret to Lake Maggiore’s success is its position just under Mount Rosa, a varied landscape, easy accessibility from both Milan and Piedmont, and a climate that allows very distinctive vegetation to thrive. In spring, the blossoming of azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias, lemons and magnolias rightfully attract plant lovers.
The Fountain on Isola Bella
The jewels of the lake are the Borromean Islands: anyone who has seen a postcard of Lake Maggiore is bound to be familiar with their outline. The archipelago is one of the biggest attractions for travellers and Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori have plenty of charm. The archipelago is named after the Borromeo family, which acquired the islands in the 14th century and still owns two of them. The noble palaces on the islands, with their rooms filled with antique furniture, paintings and priceless porcelain, and the enchanting gardens are open to visitors and are a must on your list of things to see. From Laveno we will explore them on the boat, before getting to elegant Stresa.
We will then drive south to our next destination, a particularly savoury one: Parma.
DAY 3 - PARMA
Parma is known for its delicious food products. First, you will visit a Parmigiano Reggiano factory, where you will see cheese masters at work: a very special way to get into the production culture of the area and to discover how a true gastronomic gem is made. A real “tasty” experience! (see our BLOG at https://www.vitoritalytours.com/blog/item/5-my-private-italy-parmigiano-reggiano-please-don%E2%80%99t-call-me-parmesan.html).
Later on, time for a visit to a Parma ham factory, where you will learn the secrets of the most delicious ham, Prosciutto di Parma. And finally, we will savour authentic Italian cuisine on a fun-filled cooking class led by a local "rezdora". Immerse yourself into the tradition of fresh Italian pasta and study the secrets of preparing pasta dough from the scratch, using just flour and eggs. You will make your own “tortelli d'erbetta” (Parma most traditional pasta with a filling of ricotta cheese and chards) and delicious tagliatelle with tomato sauce – all local ingredients! Once our amazing meal is ready, we will enjoy what we prepared matched with a glass of local Lambrusco wine. A very tasty experience at the end of an unforgettable day!
Parma, Prosciutto di Parma
DAY 4 - MODENA AND THE MOTOR VALLEY
Modena is a very beautiful city, and derives its name for the famous people - Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti - who were born and lived here, as well as for some of its gastronomical products. Modena lies in the so-called “Motor Valley”: actually the factories of the famous Italian sports car makers Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini and Maserati are located here.
In Maranello, we will visit Museo Ferrari, not just a collection of the past, but an extraordinary experience of the world of Ferrari and sports car racing! How exciting to see live the most beautiful cars of the world, exceptional artworks made by modern mechanic artisan masters.
Afterwards, we will move to the estate of a Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Producer, to delight in the unique, enticing taste of traditional balsamic vinegar. Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is obtained from partially fermented, cooked and concentrated grape must. The grapes come exclusively from the vines of the area, and the most important processing phase is refinement, inside containers of fine wood, such as oak, chestnut, oak, mulberry and juniper. The minimum period of ageing is 60 days; at the end of refinement, the product obtained is subjected to an analytical and organoleptic examination, entrusted to a group of expert technicians and tasters: this is the step to be taken to ensure that the product can be certified as Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.
Gilles Villeneuve’s Formula 1 Ferrari at Museo Ferrari in Maranello
DAY 5 – FLORENCE
Here we are in Florence, the land of Dante and Michelangelo!
Despite its international fame and greatness, Florence is also a small city, whose history is interwoven with that of its passionate citizens for more than one thousand years
In Piazza Duomo you will be astonished by the Duomo, with the incredible Brunelleschi’s cupola, a masterpiece of art and architecture whose building techniques building are still covered with a veil of mystery. Beside it, Giotto’s Campanile (Belltower) and the Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, with its famous bronze doors made by Pisano and Ghiberti in the 14th and 15th centuries. In Piazza della Signoria you will walk in the middle of bronze and marble masterpieces by Giambologna and Cellini inside the marvellous Loggia dei Lanzi, and will admire the imposing Palazzo Vecchio, one of the symbols of Florence and still the seat of government of the city. You may also spare some time to relax, visiting a typical market for shopping, strolling through the pedestrian streets of the city and crossing the oldest bridge in Florence, “Ponte Vecchio” (Old Bridge), rich of jewellery shops.
For a full understanding of the Renaissance period and the incredible competition which took place among the best artists in the period, we will engage in the “Michelangelo’s Experience”: our partner Giovanni, an Authorised Tourist Guide and Art Historian specialized in Michelangelo, will help you enter Michelangelo's’ world thanks to a deeper exploration of his works and the places where he lived. We will meet Michelangelo in person in front of his tomb in the Basilica di Santa Croce, an unforgettable moment!
Florence is also the main Italian centre for the production of high-quality leather goods. The Florentine artisans are so famous that many fashion brands have opened their factories in the city or close to it, due to the high skill of the artisans involved and to the continuous inspiration that designers take from the town’s masterpieces. The area around Piazza Santa Croce is full of leather shops and workshops.
Thanks to the tradition of Tuscan tanneries, there is no better place to find shoes for all tastes than Florence: from the creations, designed and produced by hand by skilled craftsmen, to the large collections available in stores, renewed every season. Above all, for refinement and elegance, Ferragamo (also worth seeing the museum), Gucci and Prada. If you prefer a simpler style, across the river Arno there are many shops specialized in handmade shoes and sandals.
At dinner you will taste the typical Tuscan cuisine at a home-style local restaurant in Florence, enjoying simple yet unforgettable recipes of the Tuscan tradition (see our BLOG at https://www.vitoritalytours.com/blog/item/8-in-tuscany,-eat-like-a-tuscan.html).
Florence: Santa Maria del Fiore with Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower
DAY 6 – CHIANTI AND SAN GIMIGNANO
Today we will explore the hilly area of Chianti, home of the world-famous wine!
Only a few regions can offer such a beautiful and rich panorama as Chianti: green hills sketched by miles and miles of vineyards and olive groves, ancient walled villages, panoramic curvy roads. Chianti Classico spreads from Florence to Siena and includes the municipalities of Greve, Panzano, Radda, Gaiole and Castellina. Most of the route consists of the grid of roads connecting the larger towns to villages and castles, like the one leading to Radda, former headquarters of the Chianti Military League, and then to Castello di Brolio where Bettino Ricasoli devised the “recipe” for Chianti wine.
In the afternoon, we will stroll with our head upwards along the streets of one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany, San Gimignano, also known as the "Medieval Manhattan", thanks to its very old and impressive 14 towers that dominate the town skyline. Originally the towers were 72, built by patrician families probably to demonstrate their wealth and power. Seven of San Gimignano's towers are around Piazza del Duomo, the tallest one is Torre Grossa, 54 meters high, dating back to 1298.
San Gimignano, the Towers
DAY 7 – SIENA
Leaving San Gimignano, today we will first head for Monteriggioni, the famous Senese fortress which guarded the boundary between the Senese Republic and the Florentine “Signoria”. A step back in the medieval times that will impress you. All around are Chianti vineyards and pasturelands, it’s amazing! The village can only evoke the Middle Ages with its 13th-century walls and 14 quadrilateral towers. Towers that Dante compared to the Giants of hell, in the time when this fortified site was an outpost of the Senese against the Florentines, passing several times from one to the other.
The fortified village of Monteriggioni
We will then move to Siena, city of the Palio, where you will walk on the famous Piazza del Campo, the concave square where horses run twice a year in a dangerous race that symbolizes the city’s freedom (see article in our BLOG at https://www.vitoritalytours.com/blog/item/4-my-private-italy-dreaming-twice-a-year-in-siena.html).
But, maybe, the thing that you are going to remember better is the colour of frontages and roofs, the renowned colour “Sienna”, a pigment first produced during the Renaissance, that makes the city lovely and warm. And don’t forget to taste the Senese sweets: “cantucci” (biscuits with toasted almonds), “ricciarelli” (soft biscuits with icing sugar), “panforte” (cake with fruit nuts and spices) and “cavallucci” (biscuits with honey, walnut, candied fruits and spices. Travellers who love dessert will be delighted!
Siena, Piazza del Campo on the day of the Palio
DAY 8 – VAL D'ORCIA
On the way to Val d’Orcia, we will take a diversion to one of the most fascinating spots of Tuscany. Here we are in Chiusdino, to see the famous Abbey of San Galgano. What a stunning place!
The Abbey of San Galgano dates back to 1218 and was considerably wealthy until the 14th century, so much as to be disputed between the Papacy and the Republic of Siena. Unfortunately, a great decline followed so much splendour: local people used it as a warehouse of building materials, even selling the roof of lead to make ammunition and transforming it into what we see today. It is really impressive for those who see it for the first time, for the isolation in which it is located as well as for the absence of the roof. In fact, finding yourself inside a church and having the sky as a cover is not common and when the evening comes, the stars offer a wonderful show. But why did the Cistercis Monks decided to build such an imposing complex in that secluded valley crossed by the river Merse? The answer is simple. Very close to it a church, the hermitage of Montesiepi, whose first nucleus is due to the same saint (and his direct followers), already existed. In its Chapel, also called "Rotonda" because of the circular shape of the central structure, an old iron sword is encased in stone, a clear reference to the legend of Excalibur, the mythic sword of King Arthur!
From Chiusdino we will then drive to Val d’Orcia, one of the most fascinating places in Italy, included by UNESCO in the list of World Heritage Sites. The landscape of Val d’Orcia is part of the agricultural hinterland of Siena, redrawn and developed when it was integrated into the territory of the city-state in the 14th and 15th centuries to reflect an idealized model of good governance and to create an aesthetically pleasing picture. The landscape’s distinctive aesthetics, flat chalk plains out of which rise almost conical hills with fortified settlements on top, inspired many artists. Their images have come to exemplify the beauty of well-managed Renaissance agricultural landscapes.
Our first stop will be Pienza, “Pio’s town”: here the Pope Pius II decided to build the perfect palazzo for his papal court according to the project of an “Ideal City" drawn up by artists such as Piero della Francesca. From the loggia of the Palace you will enjoy a breath-taking panorama of the landscape all around! And for lunch don’t forget to try the typical Pecorino cheese of Pienza, a real delight to the palate!
Then, we will get to Montepulciano, for a history and gourmet food tour of the city with our Guide Francesca, at the discovery of this land’s delicacies: Nobile di Montepulciano wine and local olive oil.
We will finally stop in Bagno Vignoni, a tiny and charming village where the main square is a pool 49 meters long and 29 wide, from the bottom of which bubble up a number of hot springs whose therapeutic quality has been renowned since antiquity! All this creates such a pleasant sensation, it will be hard to leave!
Bagno Vignoni in Val d’Orcia
Our first step today will be Tuoro on Lake Trasimeno; this small town is built on the site which in 217 B.C. witnessed one of the most disastrous battles of Roman times when more than 16,000 Roman soldiers were killed by Hannibal's army! Here you will understand how the Roman Armies fought and conquered most of the ancient Western World.
We will then proceed to Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, the nobleman who renounced all his possessions in order to devote his life to helping the needy.
The splendid Basilica, one of the emblems of Christianity, located on Mount Subasio and overlooking the entire valley, is dedicated to him. Apart from being a strong appeal for millions of religious believers, the Basilica is a monument of great artistic value. The construction of the Basilica began two years after his death, in 1228, and between the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th century the basilica's walls were frescoed by the best artists of that time: Giotto, Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti. St. Francis's Basilica consists of two churches laid upon each other and a crypt containing the tomb of the Saint. The Lower Basilica, with a double front portal, presents a simple facade embellished with a rose window and a mosaic. The interior is decorated with frescoes by some of the most important painters from 1200 to 1300, from Cimabue to Giotto and from the Lorenzettis to Simone Martini.
In the Upper Basilica, it is possible to see the life cycle of St. Francis in frescoes painted by maestro Giotto, and the stories of the Old and New Testament covering the entire nave, and other wonderful frescoes by Cimabue and Torriti.
Another figure who has deeply influenced these places is Saint Clare, to whom the homonymous Basilica - presenting a facade made of white and pink stone and divided into three sections by horizontal cornices - is dedicated. The engaging interior frescoes and the remains of the Saint are visible through a window in the crypt.
Assisi: St. Francis’ Basilica
Try to enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Assisi:
"Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
Who feeds us and rules us,
And produces various fruits with coloured flowers and herbs."
(St. Francis, Prayer of the Canticle of the Creatures)
DAY 10 – UMBRIA
Today we will explore the area between Assisi and Spoleto, the heart of Italy.
First, we will head for Spello, a charming medieval town on the top of a hill, far from tourists’ destination.
We will end our daily tour in Spoleto, a medieval hill town in the Umbria region, famous for its summer music festival, “Festival dei Due Mondi”. Thick walls and a magnificent gorge surround the city and fine medieval and Roman monuments sit along the streets. The Duomo is one of Spoleto's finest sights: begun in the 12th century, the cathedral is set against a backdrop of hills and valleys. High above the town stand the Rocca, a Papal fortress which was used as a prison until the 1980s. A massive bridge, Ponte delle Torri, built in the 14th century, functioned as both a bridge and aqueduct; we can walk on it for breath-taking views of the valley and gorge below.
Ceramics in Deruta
Tonight for dinner we’ll enjoy “salumi di cinghiale o cervo” (boar or deer sausage) and pecorino cheese, and taste the region's prized white truffle oil while sipping the red Rubesco Riserva or Sagrantino di Montefalco.
DAY 11 –ORVIETO
From Spoleto today we will reach Orvieto, one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy, perched up on volcanic rock, its history dating back to the Etruscans.
Although just an hour from Rome, the architecture is different, with many of the buildings constructed out of tufo, a type of volcanic rock. Orvieto’s main attraction is its 14th-century Cathedral – a masterpiece of Gothic architecture with a glistening façade of stained glass, mosaics and sculptures. Another attraction is St. Patrick’s Well, a 62-meter-deep (203 feet) feat of engineering characterized by two spiral staircases that wind around the well (yet never meet), with 248 steps down to the water. A pleasant guided tour along a very easy route makes it possible to get to know Orvieto’s underground world, created by its ancient inhabitants over about 2,500 years of uninterrupted digging. A tour on a discovery of a millenary, surprising and unexpected “Underground City”, which you will surely enjoy!
At lunch don’t’ miss “salumi di cinghiale o cervo” (boar or deer sausage) and pecorino cheese and taste the region's prized white truffle oil, together with the delicious white wine of the area, Orvieto Classico!
Orvieto, a town “on the rocks”
Alternatively, you may stop in Civita di Bagnoregio, the spectacular “borgo” slowly sliding towards the valley, is also known as the “Dying City”. The town is noted for its striking position atop a plateau of friable volcanic tuff overlooking the Tiber river valley. It is in constant danger of destruction as the edges of the plateau collapse due to erosion, leaving the buildings to crumble as their underlying support falls away.
Civita di Bagnoregio, the “Dying City”
DAY 12 – TIVOLI
Today you will discover one of Italy’s hidden gems! Here is Tivoli, a small town in Lazio, about 30 Km east of Rome. The first major sight is Hadrian’s Villa: Emperor Hadrian built it to escape the crowd and turmoil of the capital. Much of the enormous, luxurious ancient villa remains intact today, and you will be surprised by the clever application of Renaissance plumbing in the fountains and waterworks, perfectly integrated with the landscape. There are about 500 fountains here!
The other masterpiece in the area is Villa d’Este, the great Villa commissioned by Cardinal Ippolito of the Este family around 1560. Among the masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance that most inspired landscape architects and painters, it is an ideal reinterpretation - in a sumptuous way - of the hanging Eden of Babylon. The prestigious residence is surrounded by terraces, stairways and avenues set on each other, decorated with water games so audacious as to reveal considerable engineering skills. The monument was elected the most beautiful park in Europe, as well as UNESCO Heritage with the motivation: "one of the first gardens of wonders, which from the beginning had a decisive influence on the development of European landscape painting ».
Villa d’Este in Tivoli
The tour is over, but the memories of a fantastic journey will accompany you for a lifetime!
Arrivederci for another tour with VITOR, Visit Italy on the Road.
PRIVATE TOURS OF ITALY - VITOR S.R.L.
Via Aldo Moro, 16 - 25124 - Brescia - Italy
Authorization Number: 82596/14
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CARAVAGGIO TOUR - Rome, Pompei and Amalfi
LEONARDO GRAN TOUR WEST - Rome, Siena, Florence, 5 Terre and Milan in 13 days
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As we are based in Italy, we are available from 08.00 to 19.00. Pls check your local time
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MAKE THE MEDIA WANT YOU
MY SEPSIS STORY
CELEBRITY TANTRUMS
Veteran broadcaster Lisa Brandt has booked and interviewed thousands of guests. She knows firsthand that people in the media are deluged with pitches for airtime and print space. Sometimes, what’s offered is of value to them. Other times, it’s not. The media must keep its listeners, viewers and readers in mind while making these decisions.
PR reps, publicists, business owners and artists have to make a business case. But too often, they have no idea how to do it or who they’re pitching to. Or worse, they expect the media personnel to do the work for them.
Make the Media Want You takes the mystery out of the process from the pitch to the interview and everything in between. It includes examples of good and bad interviews, major mistakes to avoid and insider tips on how to approach an overworked, overtired broadcaster or journalist. Hint: Bribes don’t work. But Lisa will share what does.
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Cisco Introduces New Unified Communications System to Streamline Business Processes, Drive Productivity
WEBWIRE – Monday, March 6, 2006
New presence, desktop tools, mobile integration and network intelligence improve business agility and customer interaction.
ORLANDO, Florida (VoiceCon Spring 2006) - March 6, 2006 - Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced the Cisco® Unified Communications system, a new suite of voice, data and video products and applications specifically designed to help organizations of all sizes to communicate more effectively. It will allow customers to integrate their communications system with their IT infrastructure, streamlining business processes for the way effective businesses need to work today.
Based on the Cisco Service-Oriented Network Architecture (SONA) announced in December 2005, the Cisco Unified Communications system is an open and extensible platform for real-time communications based on presence, mobility and the intelligent information network. By using the IT data network as the service delivery platform, the system helps workers to reach the right resource the first time by delivering presence and preference information to an organization’s employees.
“The Cisco Unified Communications system is the first true second-generation Internet Protocol (IP) Communications system providing not just telephone services, but rather a rich communications environment that seamlessly integrates voice, video and data collaboration in one system. It is also the first new Cisco system to fully support Cisco SONA, announced in December 2005,” said Charles Giancarlo, chief development officer, Cisco Systems, Inc. “Cisco SONA extends the power of the network to optimize applications, processes and resources to deliver greater business benefits to enterprises. By building on Cisco SONA, Cisco Unified Communications leverages network intelligence to greatly simplify the day-to-day challenges of collaboration with colleagues.”
The Cisco Unified Communications system is based on Cisco’s industry-leading IP Communications portfolio including Cisco CallManager, Cisco Unity, Cisco MeetingPlace and Cisco IP Contact Center and now includes additional innovative products, applications, features and capabilities. New to the Cisco Unified Communications system are Cisco Unified Personal Communicator, Cisco Unified Presence Server and Customer Interaction Analyzer. Current customers will be able to upgrade their existing systems to take advantage of the new capabilities.
Cisco Unified Personal Communicator simplifies the way workers share information by helping them to communicate in real time. Its user-friendly GUI (Graphical User Interface) makes it easy to move through multiple communications applications. The Unified Personal Communicator bridges the gap between the stand-alone applications on the desktop, telephone and network. Using dynamic presence information, employees can search existing directories to locate contacts and simply “click to call” using voice and video, allowing them to exchange ideas face-to-face. The virtual nature of IP networks allows remote or traveling employees to securely access these tools from wherever they are.
The Cisco Unified Presence Server collects information about a user’s status, such as whether or not they are using a device such as a telephone, personal computer or video terminal at a particular time. Using this information, applications such as Cisco Unified Personal Communicator and Cisco Unified CallManager can help users connect with colleagues more efficiently by determining the most effective method of communication. The Cisco Unified Presence Server aggregates presence information from the network as well as Cisco Unified CallManager and third-party devices using SIP and SIP for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) and then publishes that information to Cisco Unified IP Phones, Cisco Unified Personal Communicator and third-party services and applications such as IBM Lotus Sametime and Microsoft Live Communications Server (LCS) 2005.
The Customer Interaction Analyzer is being introduced to maximize effective communications with customers, a new approach to analytics in the contact center. It uses information from customer interactions, including self service and agent assisted interactions, to determine things like customer distress, agent distress, silence and word patterns. The data helps to give the conversations business context and can help a business to coach and train agents, make changes to processes and self service scripts based upon findings - ultimately creating better customer relationships and growth for the business.
Additional new features of the Cisco Unified Communications system include the following:
Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 and Cisco Unified CallManager Express 3.4 and Survivable Remote Site Telephony (SRST) 3.4 now natively support SIP, effectively opening up the system to an emerging standards-based developer community while retaining the current security and resiliency features. A new program, SIP Verified, provides third-party verification for voice, data and video SIP endpoints. An initial set of vendors who have completed this testing is also announced.
Cisco Unified CallManager 5.0 is now available in a choice of operating models based on customer and channel partner preference. A new appliance model version based on Linux is available now and a version based on the existing open operating system model is scheduled to be available within 12 months.
“Miercom has exercised and reviewed key components of the entire Cisco Unified Communications system and after seeing it in action, we believe that Cisco has leapfrogged their competition in a number of areas,” said Ed Mier, principal, Miercom. “Cisco’s native implementation of SIP, which is interoperable with Skinny Client Control Protocol (SCCP) helps give customers investment protection for their system so that it can adapt as quickly as the standard does.”
Cisco continues to bridge the communications islands with innovative solutions building on the enterprise Wi-Fi (802.11) networks and the GSM public networks. In conjunction with leading wireless handset suppliers such as Nokia and RIM, Cisco will soon bring to market single and dual mode Smartphone solutions which drive enhanced productivity of mobile enterprise employees both inside and outside the office. These single device products allow users to reduce the communications complexity and help companies manage costs without losing the productivity.
“Because of their expertise in network infrastructure, Cisco was really the only vendor we considered when we decided to implement an end-to-end IP Communications solution,” said Mike DeDecker, network administrator at Warner Pacific Insurance Services. “As we move forward with our implementation and look for new ways to reduce costs and streamline processes, Cisco Unified Communications is at the top of the list. Cisco’s long-term networking background gives us the assurance we need when we’re looking to put applications in place.”
Cisco and its partners provide a lifecycle services approach to deploy and manage the Cisco Unified Communications system. New Cisco Operate Services for Unified Communications combine technical support services capabilities such as server replacement, application software updates and hardware and software problem resolution into one service that covers the entire system. To ensure proper deployment, Cisco is also offering Planning and Design Service Bundles and Optimization Services that are packaged for easy ordering.
Cisco also today introduced a number of new phones and updates to existing applications, as well as announcing Cisco Unified CallManager and Cisco Unified IP Phone are localized for China, Korea and Japan. For more information on the Cisco Unified Communications system visit: www.cisco.com/go/unified.
About Cisco Systems
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to: http://newsroom.cisco.com.
LeAnne Frank
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LaLigaTV launches on Virgin Media
LaLigaTV, the UK’s first dedicated channel showing all live matches and 24/7 content from LaLiga, will launch on Virgin Media’s TV platform on Thursday 16 January.
The new channel – in HD on channel 554 – is available to all Premier Sports subscribers at no extra cost. At the end of January, LaLigaTV will be available to watch on the move on Virgin TV Go, meaning that fans won’t miss any of the action.
Those who don’t currently subscribe to Premier Sports, and want to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, João Félix and Eden Hazard in action, can sign up on a monthly basis including access to LaLigaTV as well as Premier Sports’ two HD channels.
Offering “All of LaLiga, All in one place”, LaLigaTV will show every available live game from LaLiga Santander as well as daily studio shows, expert analysis, features, documentaries and more.
This weekend’s round of fixtures stretches from Friday into Sunday with key matches including: Leganés vs Getafe (Fri - 8pm GMT) and Barcelona vs Granada (Sun – 8pm GMT).
The addition of the channel to Virgin Media’s TV platform will provide its customers with increased access to one of the most competitive leagues in the world which boasts some of the best players around.
Virgin Media customers can already watch Premier League football via Sky Sports and BT Sport – with the option of stunning 4k Ultra HD on BT’s dedicated channel – as well as the Champions League and Europa League.
In December, Virgin Media’s powerful V6 set top box gave its customers the ability to seamlessly watch Premier League football on Amazon Prime Video courtesy of its integrated app, with some matches shows in 4K Ultra HD.
David Bouchier, Chief Digital Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media, said: “The addition of LaLigaTV to our football line-up will give customers access to some of the best talent and matches from one of the most popular leagues in the world. Our customers can now watch more football than ever which is why Virgin TV remains the home of televised football.”
Richard Sweeney, CEO at Premier Sports, said: “We are delighted to launch LaLigaTV on Virgin TV as part of the Premier Sports bundle giving our customers even more incredible value. Premier Sports has built up a loyal following of football fans and we’re thrilled to bring the dedicated 24/7 channel of top-flight Spanish football to Virgin TV customers.”
A Premier Sports subscription and access to LaLigaTV can be added to any Virgin Media account online, by phone or set top box.
LaLigaTV on Virgin Media
The new channel launches on Thursday 16 January on channel 554 (HD)
Available at no extra cost to current Premier Sports subscribers
Subscription to Premier Sports and LaLigaTV is charged at £9.99 per month
( Press Release Image: https://photos.webwire.com/prmedia/6/253522/253522-1.jpg )
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43 Awesome Things To Do This Mother’s Day Weekend in L.A. [5-10-2019 to 5-12-2019]
May 9, 2019 by We Like L.A. Staff
Afternoon at Row DTLA. Photo by Christina Champlin / We Like L.A.
Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend, from Friday, May 10 to Sunday, May 12 features L.A. Times Food Bowl Night Market, Popfuji, pop-up roller-skating, a Dandelion art installation, Mother’s Day brunches (see our food pick at end of article), and MUCH more.
Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your weekend!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Friday May 10th, 2019
1. L.A. Times Food Bowl Night Market continues through Sunday with an outdoor celebration of Los Angeles’ deliciously diverse food scene. Each night feature a specific theme, an array of food vendors, pop-ups, chef collaborations, art installations and live music all in one space.
2. POP SK8 brings a pop-up outdoor roller-skating rink to the Westfield Valencia now through May 27.
3. The Pacific Dining Car will once again celebrate their anniversary with a baseball steak at a throwback price of just 98 cents. The price signifies how many years the 1920’s railway train car restaurant has been in business. The promo is only redeemable if you sign up to reserve the steak and make a reservation to come in.
4. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles brings back their Summer of Salsa concert series this Friday. Dance to the sounds of some of the city’s best salsa and Cuban bands one Friday evening each month through summer. FREE
5. It’s Pasadena Restaurant Week (May 6-10) diners can expect dozens of restaurants in participation offering special prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus.
6. Echo Park Craft Fair’s Spring Edition at Mack Sennett Studios (May 10-12) features over 120 artists with various ceramic, jewelry, clothing, woodworking and textile design booths. Friday night features a limited ticket preview party, with the main event happening Saturday and Sunday.
7. Culina & Vinoteca’s Second Annual MAMMA MIA! week long celebration of moms includes a “Movies Moms Love” dinner series from May 8-10 and a special MAMMA MIA! dinner menu featuring Chef de Cuisine Luca Moriconi’s very own mother Grazia’s authentic Tuscan specialties all week long. On Sunday a lavish Mother’s Day brunch buffet will take place8.
8. One Friday a month, Cal Tech opens their doors to provide a free 30 minute public lecture followed by a 90-minute stargazing session featuring a Q&A panel with world-class scientists. This month’s theme will be A Star is Born, with lecture by Mike Grudic. No reservations are necessary, but stargazing is weather dependent. Lecture starts at 8 p.m. FREE
9. There’s a midnight screening of Office Space at The Vista in celebration of their 20th anniversary. Guests are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters.
10. Yann Tiersen the composer famous for the music in the french film Amélie will embark on a North American tour that kicks off at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles this Friday.
11. The NoMad Los Angeles recently launched a new food series titled ‘For A Limited Time Only‘ transforming the hotel’s coffee shop into a variety of themed pop-ups every Friday and Saturday evening. The second iteration The Kentucky Derby featuring mint juleps, hot chicken sandwiches, deviled eggs and Derby decor to match.
12. Get up close and personal with sharks at the Aquarium of the Pacific during Shark Lagoon Nights. Guests will have the opportunity to touch bamboo sharks and view large sharks in an after hours setting. FREE
13. Head to Marina Del Rey to shop the James Perse sample sale. Menswear, womenswear, home, accessories and footwear will all be discounted. Happening May 10-12.
14. Museum of Illusions has recently launched a brand new experience. Guests can walk through eye popping 3D exhibits inspired by cartoons, art, current events, pop culture and more. The museum is open daily. Check for discounted tickets before your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar
15. Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts free jazz performances on Fridays through November. Concerts take place at the main entrance. FREE
16. 260LA will host a Maje sample sale from May 7-12 in their Beverly Hills location.
17. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival dedicated to showcasing films by and about Asians and Pacific Islanders, returns May 2-10 with a variety of screenings and activities.
18. The American Cinematheque and the European Union presents the sixth annual Starring Europe, New Films from the EU (May 9-13) a film festival to celebrate and discover new films from across the European Union.
Saturday May 11th, 2019
19. The Travel Expo comes to the Pasadena Convention Center for a consumer-focused, experiential travel exhibition featuring industry leaders, influencers, travelers, tour operators offering guests panel discussions, interactive roundtables, and more.
20. Celebrate mom all weekend long by first stopping at ROW DTLA for their Mother’s Day celebration with plenty of activities for the whole family including glam sessions from BeGlammed and workshops with Makers Mess and Still Life Ceramics. There will be special deals and activities from many vendors at ROW DTLA and dollar oysters and rosé specials will be offered at Rappahannock Oyster Bar. Baby2Baby will be onsite to accept donations like diapers, toys and other supplies for Angelenos who want to give back.
21. The formerly anonymous art collective now known as The Art Department first captured Angelenos attention when they created the Griffith Park Teahouse in 2015. Now they’re back again with a new installation called Dandelions, which promises surreal factory of flowers somewhere south of Downtown L.A. (details are intentionally vague). The installation runs May 9 and 11-12, and is free to the public. FREE
22. This Saturday waterfront brewery Brouwerij West hosts the first of five free 2019 summer concerts as part of their annual Popfuji series. Saturday’s event kicks off at 6 p.m. and features co-headliners Starcrawler and Death Valley Girls, plus multiple food trucks on hand and plenty of craft beer for purchase. Admission is free. FREE
23. Queen Mary’s Waterfront BBQ & Chili Festival will feature 50 top grill masters and chili cooks serving up their tastiest dishes, from ribs, brisket o pots of spicy, verde or homestyle chili. They’ll all be competing for California State Championship titles sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and ICS, so you know these cooks mean business. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
24. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2019 with a screening of Crazy Rich Asians. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
25. Unique Markets Spring Pop-Up comes to the California Market Center May 11 – 12 for a curated shopping experience. This pop-up features one-of-a-kind gifts from modern, independent designers, artists, and emerging brands. Aside from shopping, Unique Markets offers two afternoons of fun music, free bites, drinks, DIY projects, and a photo booth.
26. Los Angeles LGBT Center will host the second annual WxW: For Women. By Women., a community celebration for LBTQ women and their allies. Held jointly at the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza and the new Anita May Rosenstein Campus located directly across the street, the free event will include live music, performance art, a short film screening, a gender and size inclusive fashion show, interactive LBTQ-centric activities, and more. FREE
27. Santa Monica Cultural Affairs presents Indigenous Now, a day of dance, music, spoken word and visual art by Indigenous artists based in Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, and Santa Fe. The event is free to attend and takes place at Tongva Park. FREE
28. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of The Princess Bride and Dirty Dancing. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar
29. L.A.’s only live animated comedy show Picture This! is back with a free show on Saturday at The Virgil with over a dozen well known comedians and animators. FREE
30. There’s a Gudetama’s Lazy Diner Experience happening in Little Tokyo every Saturday of this month. There is no actual food at this pop-up but rather a space designed to look like a diner that folks can explore.
31. The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire returns April 6 through May 19 (Saturday and Sundays) at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale for another year of fantasy and fun. Adults and kids alike can enjoy an afternoon of games, rides, mouthwatering food and artisan crafts.
32. The Pasadena Showcase House of Design will take place at the Boddy House on the grounds of Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge from April 21 through May 19.
Sunday May 12th, 2019
33. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden located in Claremont is celebrating Mother’s Day with free admission for moms plus a free gift to the first 200 moms who show up this Sunday. FREE
34. Newly opened Barcade in Highland Park will host a Family Day this Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. They’ll have a kids menu for the occasion and arcade games will keep every family member happy.
35. Take a free dance lesson with legendary choreographer Debbie Allen on the second Sunday of every month at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. This month the theme is Vogue in honor of pride. FREE
36. There’s a Game of Thrones viewing party happening at Hotel Figueroa at ‘House Tangier’ each Sunday leading up to the series finale. The food and drink menu will be inspired by GOT for the event. A peek at the menu shows dishes like Open Faceless Man Sandwich and a Stark Courage cocktail made of tequila, mezcal and Chartreuse.
37. Challenge yourself with a 70-minute yoga class while enjoying views of the DTLA skyline during Flow + Flavor: Rooftop Yoga at Smorgasburg x ROW DTLA. This week CBD wellness brand Papa & Barkley will be on hand to discuss the benefits of their products.
38. East Los Angeles Art Walk, a monthly event brought to you by the East LA Business Association of the 1st St corridor invites guests to meet independent artists, muralists, crafters as well as local brands from the Eastside and surrounding neighborhoods every second Sunday of the month. FREE
39. The Autry will host Latin Dance Sunday with music from Cal State LA’s award-winning Afro Latin Ensemble. There will be a bar and light refreshments served, select galleries will also remain open for the event.
40. French bread pizza makers Pain Pizza pop-ups at Good Housekeeping in Highland Park this Sunday from 6 p.m. til they sell out.
41. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
42. If Halloween and horror movies are your favorite topics then I Like Scary Movies Experience will be just what you’re looking for. Guests can expect to see, hear, feel, and smell recreations of iconic moments from IT (2017), Beetlejuice, The Shining, The Lost Boys, and A Nightmare on Elm Street. There won’t be costumed actors jumping out trying to startle but there will be multi-sensory surprises along your winding path. The pop-up experience runs April 4 through June 16 Thursday through Sunday. Check for discounted tickets before your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar
43. Free museum days: Museum of Latin American Art, USC Pacific Asian Museum (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can)
Food Pick for the Week
Sunday brunch situation at Farmhouse ✌🏽💐🥑
A post shared by FARMHOUSE (@farmhouselosangeles) on Mar 17, 2019 at 2:27pm PDT
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
It’s kind of a cliche but we know you’re thinking about taking mom to brunch for Mother’s Day weekend (and why not!). There’s still time to make reservations but you have to act fast. Check out our list of where to brunch with mom in L.A. for 2019, and and a few other food-centric fun things to do with the special woman in your life for this Sunday, May 12. Happy Mother’s Day!
Want to get our to-do lists straight to your inbox every week? Sign up for our email program. Have an upcoming event you’d like suggest for listing? Drop us a line at tips@welikela.com
We Like L.A. Staff
We Like L.A. staff articles are compilations created by our site editors.
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The Golden Globes might be a sea of black dresses, as women unite in protest
by Tehrene Firman, December 15, 2017
Photo: Stocksy/Lyuba Burakova
The Golden Globe Awards show might look a little different this year. While stars typically walk the red carpet in gowns of all vibrant colors, this year, many of the women in attendance will reportedly wear black for one empowering reason.
According to the web series The Morning Breath, a number of female actors are planning on wearing a black dress to the January 7 broadcast as a means to protest sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry—occurrences of which have dominated the news cycle as of late.
The world got a peek into what happens behind closed doors from the women who spoke out against Harvey Weinstein (in recent damning exposés in The New Yorker and The New York Times) and other predators as well, but the systemic problem is far from being solved—and #bossbabes are continuing to take a stand, together, this time in black. Although this black-tie movement started with just a handful of women, now as many as 30 are participating, according to Us Weekly.
“Pretty much all the nominated women and others attending are participating. All the stylists who already did fittings are now changing out their clients’ original picks.” —an anonymous source to Us Weekly
“This movement is spreading rampantly, and pretty much all the nominated women and others attending are participating,” an insider told the magazine. “All the stylists who already did fittings are now changing out their clients’ original picks for Globes.”
No names of participants have been revealed as of yet, but there are plenty of women who would make a big impact if they took part—and seeing them come together for this powerful purpose would help “progress” prevail as the lead award winner at the show.
This is how the #MeToo campaign is already helping women. Also, here’s how to handle sexual abuse when it happens at work.
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Popular soldier, 20, dies suddenly at house in Cardiff
Sion Rosier, of Caerau, was a member of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
Thomas DeaconSenior reporter
Sion Rosier, 20, from Caerau (Image: South Wales Police)
A young soldier has died suddenly at house in Cardiff.
Emergency services arrived at a home in Cathays on Saturday morning amid reports of a man being unresponsive.
South Wales Police have confirmed the male was later pronounced dead.
He has been named as 20-year-old Sion Rosier.
Tributes have been paid to Mr Rosier, from Caerau - including from his regiment in the army.
Writing on Facebook the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards said: "It is with great sadness that we have to inform the wider regiment that Trooper Sion Rosier sadly passed away on August 3.
"Sion was a good soldier, a true regimental character always cheerful and ready to laugh.
"He will be sorely missed by the regiment.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this tragic time."
Thousands turn up at Welsh rugby club to celebrate the life of player who died aged just 20
A number of other friends have also paid tribute to Mr Rosier on social media.
One friend wrote: "Known by many, Loved by all."
Another added: "Will always remember you driving me around the California desert. A good hearted lad with so much potential. Gone but never forgotten."
Others described him as "polite, helpful, funny and mischievous"
Police confirmed that Mr Rosier's death was not suspicious.
A force spokeswoman said: "South Wales Police can confirm the sudden death of Sion Rosier, 20, from Caerau, at a house in Cathays, Cardiff, on Saturday morning.
"There are no suspicious circumstances and officers are preparing a file for HM Coroner."
Cathays
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Used 2018 FordFocus SE Sedan
VIN: 1FADP3F22JL269842
2.0L I4 16V GDI DOHC
Coil rear spring
Four-wheel Independent Suspension
Front and rear suspension stabilizer bars
Fuel Capacity: 12.4 gal.
Fuel Consumption: City: 30 mpg
Fuel Consumption: Highway: 40 mpg
Max cargo capacity: 13 cu.ft.
Painted aluminum rims
Privacy glass: Light
Rear Stabilizer Bar: Regular
Rear bench
Short and long arm rear suspension
Spare Tire Mount Location: Inside under cargo
Strut front suspension
Wheel Width: 6
2nd Worst Car I Have Ever Owned
By Mike | on Monday, July 01, 2019
Loved this car when I first got it. Great ride, handling (at least until the factory tires hit snow for the first time), large enough trunk to put almost everything I have ever needed it to do. Liked it so much that I convinced my wife to buy a Ford Escape a year later (also a mistake). Only problem at the beginning was that the transmission seemed off and it hesitated a lot when trying to get started from a red light. Ford denied it was a problem for about 2 years, then did a "recall" for the problem (which essentially was just a new program for the transmission) and VIOLA!!! it was fixed and the car was great. Well, it was great... if you ignore that the Sync system never really worked and really wouldn't play audio from my iPhone or Android over Bluetooth, other than actual phone calls (which would still randomly go into "privacy" mode after you answered the call, which translate to the handset while you were driving after you used the car to answer it)... and it would only pick up music from the USB connection on a random basis that sometimes involved shutting off the car, then opening and closing the doors, then restarting the car with the phone/mp3 player plugged into the jack already playing the music... but, sometimes it only worked if the phone wasn't playing music already... but, sometimes...etc.. etc.. All of that was frustrating but like most things, you just accept it and move on because the car itself was good and fun to drive. But of course, there was also the plastic cover under the car that either never seemed to stay up or the dealer just kept forgetting to put it back on properly... and the time when the check engine light came on and I took it into the dealer about 2000 miles after parts of the warranty expired just for them to say my catalytic converter was having a problem, the warranty covering it had just expired and it would eventually be a $1500 repair if/when it finally went (I decided to drive with the light on)... then at only 115,000 miles the transmission blew out while driving on cruise control on a straight highway at 70mph (meaning it wasn't shifting or doing anything at that point). Y'know, the kind of thing that everyone who does car repairs tells you, in the most maddening way, "shouldn't happen with that little wear on it". This is a $6000 repair on a car that had a trade in value of $2000 - $2500 at that point (to put it in another perspective, the equivalent 2013 Toyota... a Camry... is valued at around $6000 as a trade-in at the same time with the same mileage by KBB). I have driven a Ford since 1997 (when I had a Geo Tracker... which is actually the worst car I ever owned) and have never driven anything that was not sold by an American car company, but this is definitely my last one. Maybe Ford has gotten better again in the last couple of years (looking at recalls and complaints between 2010 & 2016... they definitely had some terrible years), but I won't chance it.…
Poor transmission
By Myfirstford | on Thursday, July 25, 2019
This is my first owned ford. The vehicle did not last too long. I buy my cars used and never has seen such poor quality performance in an American car. After putting in about 8k miles car battery dies, radio dies, and now the trans. The car went kaput and the cost to repair reaches past the value of the vehicle I still owe on it, over 5K. My first and last Ford I shall ever own, let it be known that my experience shall be spread across the streets and everyone I meet or know shall know the poor craftsmanship ford has put into their vehicle.…
Best vehicle Ive ever owned!
By Sam | on Wednesday, January 24, 2018
If youre looking for a super efficient and reliable car, youve found it! Ive had this car for almost a year. I keep up on all general maintenance and its never given me a single problem. I have all-season tires on it and its still a champ in the snow too! I love the bluetooth capabilities, great gas mileage, great interior and exterior, great vehicle! Would buy again in a heartbeat.…
2018 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Short…
Crew Cab Short Bed Truck
5.0L V8 32V PDI DOHC Engine
2014 Ford F-150 Crew Cab Truck…
Crew Cab Truck
3.5L V6 24V GDI DOHC Twin Turbo Engine
2010 Ford Transit Connect XLT…
2.0L I4 16V MPFI DOHC Engine
2017 Ford Edge Titanium SUV V6…
3.5L V6 24V MPFI DOHC Engine
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Watergen’s GENNY Wins 2020 CTA Mark of Excellence Award For Its Innovative Water-From-Air Solution
CTA recognizes GENNY as a Smart Home Division Mark of Excellence Award recipient during CES 2020 January 8, 2020, [LAS VEGAS, Nev.] – Watergen’s…
Man vs. Nature – How to Overcome the Water Crisis
As water crises multiply around the globe, a CES award-winner tackles the problem by making fresh drinking water from air. WE ARE WATER. It…
CES 2020 – WATERGEN TO LAUNCH NEW APPLICATION FOR ITS INNOVATIVE WATER-FROM-AIR SOLUTION
CES 2020 – WATERGEN TO LAUNCH NEW APPLICATION FOR ITS INNOVATIVE WATER-FROM-AIR SOLUTION GENNY brings the company’s patented GENius technology to the home and…
Uzbekistan Signs MOU With Israel’s Watergen to Fight Water Shortage
The government of Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday with the Israel-based company, Watergen in an effort aimed at harnessing and using…
Israeli Technology Converts Air Into Water For Residents in Northern Colombia
The residents of El Talento, a small town located in Colombia and adjacent to the city of Cúcuta, have been introduced to the GEN-M, Watergen’s Medium Scale atmospheric water generator (AWG) that produces water…
Watergen supplied water at the Shalom Game
On 29th of October, 2019, Watergen supplied water at the Shalom Game an All-Star Football match between legendary Brazilian players and former Israeli National…
Watergen at the Chad Basin hearing in UN Headquarters in NY
Watergen’s AWG creating water from air is presented as the solution to solve the lack of fresh water in the Chad Basin area in…
WatergenUSA and NBC25 Partnered to Bring Clean Drinking Water Solutions to Flint, Michigan
MIAMI, July 16, 2019 – WatergenUSA has been working with community leaders, business owners, ministers, churches and the people of Flint on finding and bringing an innovative solution to…
Watch the video: Watergen’s GEN-350 water from air solution installed in a school in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Watergen’s GEN-350 water from air solution installed in a school in Bukhara is featured in a promotional movie on Uzbekistan by Asia-Plus Media Group….
Watergen Provides 120 Orphans in Uzbekistan With Fresh Water From Air
Watergen, an Israel-based innovative company that creates clean water out of air is now providing a source of freshwater for over 120 children living…
Watergen’s GEN-350 To Undergo Test Pilot in Uzbekistan
A test pilot of the GEN-350 medium-scale atmospheric water generator will take place in Uzbekistan’s region of Bukhara as part of a larger effort…
Delegation of UN Ambassadors See, Hear and Taste From Watergen’s Life-Saving Technology
A delegation of 30 UN ambassadors got the chance to learn about Watergen’s life-saving technology on Tuesday at Watergen’s rooftop in Herzliya. The group…
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San Diego County / Southern California
California and the U.S.
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Archive for date: May 1st, 2019
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Imperial Irrigation District Board Calls For Plan To Pull Out Of Coachella Valley
May 1, 2019 /in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Samantha Huante /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Sam Metz
Imperial Irrigation District Board President Erik Ortega proposed withdrawing electricity services from the Coachella Valley at a Tuesday board meeting following debates over how the region’s ratepayers are represented on the district’s board. The proposal could potentially force residents of La Quinta, Indio, Coachella and the unincorporated eastern Coachella Valley to seek coverage from Southern California Edison. IID charges its ratepayers a base rate of 11.69 cents per kilowatt-hour, while Southern California
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 10:06:002019-06-11 09:57:22Imperial Irrigation District Board Calls For Plan To Pull Out Of Coachella Valley
Supervisors OK $14 Million In Improvements To Lindo Lake Park In Lakeside
May 1, 2019 /in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Samantha Huante /Times of San Diegoby Debbie L. Sklar
The project at Lindo Lake Park is designed to improve the health of the lake, deepening it to 10 feet and improving the aquatic ecosystem, county officials said. The project will also add a fishing pier, birdwatching stations, picnic tables and landscaping, while also restoring wetland and native habitats and improving trails. “This project will restore the health and beauty to Lindo Lake, the heart of the Lakeside community,” said Jill Bankston, county chief of development.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 10:02:512019-05-02 10:05:53Supervisors OK $14 Million In Improvements To Lindo Lake Park In Lakeside
Check Please! Californians Can Fight Global Warming With Restaurant Surcharge
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /The Sacramento Beeby Andrew Sheeler
A new state program gives Californians a way to fight climate change, one restaurant meal at a time. “Restore California” is a public-private partnership between the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California Air Resources Board, and farms, ranches and restaurants across the state, according to a news release from the government agencies. Participating restaurants will add a 1 percent surcharge to their bills, with that money going into a fund aimed at helping farmers remove carbon from the atmosphere and adopt climate-friendly practices.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 09:48:372019-06-11 09:57:30Check Please! Californians Can Fight Global Warming With Restaurant Surcharge
‘Lot of History.’ Fire Destroys Sierra Nevada Cabin Where California Measures Snowpack
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /The Sacramento Beeby Dale Kasler
Carol Pearson’s backyard in the Sierra Nevada has witnessed more than its share of California history: It’s been a cattle ranch, stagecoach stop and post office. The property, a peaceful meadow sitting at 6,820 feet elevation near Echo Summit, is also home to the state Department of Water Resources’ closely watched Sierra Nevada snowpack survey a monthly event that attracts hordes of reporters and photographers who tromp through the property on snowshoes.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 09:44:582019-05-02 14:46:57‘Lot of History.’ Fire Destroys Sierra Nevada Cabin Where California Measures Snowpack
OPINION: Power Companies Want To Dodge Clean Energy Goals By Counting In Old Dams.
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /The San Francisco Chronicle
California power companies have an appealing but flawed argument with the state’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2045. They want existing dams that churn out carbon free electricity to count toward that mark, making it easier and cheaper to meet their climate friendly obligations. A pending bill, SB386, sounds narrow and focused, but it’s not. It would allow the Modesto irrigation district that operates Don Pedro Dam astride the Tuolumne River to total the cranked out electricity toward its renewable energy quota. That exemption would mean less need to buy juice from solar, wind and other green sources and save money for ratepayers.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 09:39:222019-05-02 09:44:56OPINION: Power Companies Want To Dodge Clean Energy Goals By Counting In Old Dams.
Years Into Tijuana Sewage Crisis, California Senators Call for Federal Help
May 1, 2019 /in Media Coverage, San Diego County, Uncategorized /by Ed Joyce /Times of San Diegoby Ken Stone
A group of Democratic senators and San Diego County-based congressional representatives sent a letter to multiple federal agencies Tuesday urging them to address sewage runoff in the Tijuana River, which then flows into the Pacific Ocean. California Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein and Reps. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, Scott Peters, D-San Diego, Susan Davis, D-San Diego, and Mike Levin, D-Dana Point, co-signed the letter addressed to the directors of the U.S. Department of State, Environmental Protection Agency, Customs and Border Protection, Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, which oversees bodies of water that traverse the U.S.-Mexico border.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Ed Joyce https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Ed Joyce2019-05-01 09:37:442019-06-11 09:57:42Years Into Tijuana Sewage Crisis, California Senators Call for Federal Help
Morning Report: Fired Water Department Employee Says She Is A Scapegoat
May 1, 2019 /in Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Ed Joyce /Voice of San Diego
A former city water department official who was let go during a recent shakeup said she is the victim of retaliation for raising concerns about spending of ratepayer money. Susan LaNier, a former deputy director, was pushed out as part a housecleaning by Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s administration, which has been responding for over a year to problems with the department, problems that first bubbled up when customers began receiving unreasonably high water bills.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Ed Joyce https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Ed Joyce2019-05-01 09:33:152019-05-01 15:30:56Morning Report: Fired Water Department Employee Says She Is A Scapegoat
California’s Population Growth Is The Slowest In Recorded History
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /The Los Angeles Timesby Javier Panzar and Sarah Parvini
California’s 2018 population growth was the slowest in state history, new demographic data show underscoring shifting immigration patterns, declining birthrates and economic strains that are making it harder for some to afford living here. The state added 186,807 residents last year, bringing the estimated total population to 39,927,315 as of Jan. 1, according to estimates released by the state Department of Finance on Wednesday. The overall growth rate slipped to 0.47% last year from 0.78% in 2017, the slowest since data collection started in 1900, department spokesman H.D. Palmer said.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 09:31:472019-05-02 09:35:04California’s Population Growth Is The Slowest In Recorded History
Calif. Drainage Deal Sinks Into Doldrums
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /E&E News by Michael Doyle and Jeremy P. Jacobs
An ambitious California irrigation drainage deal is now mired deeper than ever in legislative and legal limbo, alarming farmers, spinning government wheels and costing taxpayers money with no relief in sight. Though nearly four years have passed since the Obama administration and the Westlands Water District agreed to settle their high-stakes drainage differences, the deal remains incomplete. Progress, if there is any, can be measured in inches. The author of a prior bill necessary to implement the settlement is out of office. His successor is still weighing action. Opponents hold the upper hand in the Democratic-controlled House, the Senate appears simply disengaged and negotiations aren’t happening
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png 0 0 Samantha Huante https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/water-news-network.png Samantha Huante2019-05-01 09:18:012019-05-06 10:27:55Calif. Drainage Deal Sinks Into Doldrums
California Water Board Faces Lawsuit Over New Wetlands Rules
May 1, 2019 /in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Samantha Huante /The Court News Serviceby Nick Cahill
With the Trump administration trudging ahead and re-writing another Obama era environmental law, wary California regulators last month approved new protections for wetlands in the Golden State. The decision by the State Water Resources Control Board came after 11 years of debate between the board, cities, farmers and environmentalists over how to best define and protect the state’s nearly vanished wetlands streams from being paved into extinction. Supporters said the move was a major step toward shielding California streams from Trump’s weakened Clean Water Act. Opponents argued that the rules will create new regulatory hurdles for farmers and businesses.
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More than 200 people attending the 2020 Women in Water Conference explored careers in water and heard abo...
Protecting and monitoring sensitive wildlife species is a key component of the Mission Trails Project in San Diego.
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What inspectors say about the region's worst and best care homes
Taz Ali
11 care homes in Norfolk and Waveney are in special measures, with some under review and at risk of closing down. Pictured is Nadra Ahmed OBE, of the National Care Association. Picture: Archant Library
Archant Library
Faeces under fingernails, weeks without baths and calls to emergency services for support - these are some of the damning observations made at our region's failing care homes.
However, just 3pc of the 329 care homes in Norfolk and Waveney are rated as inadequate while 19.6pc are rated as outstanding.
Of the 11 homes currently rated inadequate and placed in special measures by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), three are under review and at risk of losing contracts and closing down.
Norfolk County Council said there were significant challenges across the care industry but it vowed to provide thousands more care home beds in the next decade.
The vast majority of care homes, 236, are rated good while another 63 require improvement.
-Inadequate care homes
Dunsland, Paston Road, Mundesley
Dunsland care home in Mundesley has been rated inadequate by CQC. Picture: Stuart Anderson
Inspectors said incontinence pads were not being thrown away properly to prevent infections spreading, as some were found in bedroom bins.
Bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and shared bathroom facilities were not clean and the care home also had a one-star food hygiene rating, inspectors added in October 2019.
Managing director David Finch said he faced the option of closing down the service but decided against it, as it would have left residents without a home, some of whom have been there for decades. He said funding cuts had a huge impact on the home and described recruitment as a struggle, but he said improvements were being made.
He also criticised the CQC for being "inconsistent".
Ivy Court, Ivy Road, Norwich
During a visit in July 2019, inspectors said they saw two residents being physically restrained, despite the care home having a no restraint policy.
Ivy Court Care Home in Norwich has been rated inadequate by CQC. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY
They said when residents refused their medicine there were often no further attempts by staff to offer them later.
Inspectors found one resident at high risk of falls did not have a risk assessment reviewed in three months, despite having three falls within that time.
The care home, which is under review, was previously rated good in 2018.
A spokesman from Ivy Court said: "We continue to work with all key stakeholders and have an ongoing plan in place to further develop and embed improvements."
Kingsgate Residential Home, North Street, Sheringham
A report following an inspection in March 2019 states there were incidents of a resident repeatedly wandering off and being found by members of the public or staff who passed them while in their car.
There were no risk assessments in place for residents who managed their own medicine and there were only two staff members on shift at night supporting 25 people, inspectors said.
Owner Ginny Taylor said: "It has been an extremely tough period for everyone since the report was published, and we'd like to thank everyone for their continued support and positive feedback.
"We are striving to improve the areas highlighted in the report."
Northfields, West Earlham, Norwich
Inspectors found only one staff member worked at night - one carer had to call emergency services to help a resident off the floor as they were unable to do this alone.
One staff member told inspectors that they were advised by management to not wake up one resident if they wet the bed during the night, as a lack of staff meant they could not be supported to the toilet.
Staff and residents at Ford Place Nursing Home in Thetford celebrating an outstanding CQC rating in 2019. Picture: Ian Burt
The care home was rated inadequate in July last year but it was rated good in its previous inspection in 2016.
Care home provider FitzRoy said: "We work closely with the local authority to ensure that we provide a responsive service that meets the needs of the people we support.
"We have taken immediate action to ensure we are offering a safe and well-led service."
St Michael's Court, St Michaels Avenue, Aylsham
Inspectors said one resident at high risk of malnutrition had lost weight while another resident at high risk of pressure ulcers was taken to hospital after their symptoms "significantly" worsened.
A report following an inspection in September 2019 states one person had bruises on their legs and face which was most likely caused by a carer using poor moving and handling techniques.
St Michael's Court in Aylsham has been rated inadequate by CQC for the third time in ten months. Picture: Runwood Homes
The care home is now under review after being rated inadequate for the third time in ten months.
A spokesman from St Michael's Court said: "We can confirm that a robust action plan has been implemented since the last inspection and a very capable, skilled team of nursing and care staff have been recruited within the service and we are now ready for re-inspection by the regulator to demonstrate the improvements across our service.
"A skilled, professional and highly regarded nurse manager now leads our service with exceptional feedback from our residents, staff and visitors."
Walsham Grange, Bacton Road, North Walsham
Inspectors found staff members were pre-filling residents' records with times and details of care yet to be provided.
During the inspection in August last year, inspectors said one diabetic person was fed chocolate cake twice in one day, while one family member said their relative had faeces under their fingernails, which they had to ask staff to clean.
Chiswick House care home in Christchurch Road, Norwich was rated outstanding by CQC. Picture: James Bass
The care home was previously rated good in 2017.
Walsham Grange did not respond to a request for comment.
The Windmill Care Home, Main Road, Rollesby
Records showed some people were not getting baths or showers for as long as five weeks, a report stated following an inspection in August 2019.
One person who needed to be continuously supervised was found eating tissue while another resident who had asked for a drink did not get one until 90 minutes later, inspectors said.
The owners did not respond to a request for comment.
Badgers Wood Care Home in Drayton, was given an outstanding CQC rating. Picture: Jamie Garbutt
Sunnyside, Damgate Lane, Martham
In August last year, inspectors found staff were not getting regular breaks on 12-hour shifts.
They said access to risk items were putting residents in harm, with one person repeatedly attempting to tie ligatures around their neck, a report states.
Another environmental risk was loose bricks in the garden which could be used as a weapon or to cause damage to property, inspectors added.
Sunnyside did not respond to a request for comment.
St Georges Care Home, St Georges Road, Beccles
Hassingham House care home, in Hingham, was rated 'outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in 2019. Pictured is manager Caroline Newman with staff. Photo: Hassingham House
An inspector found one staff member spoon-feeding a resident without checking if they had swallowed their food between mouthfuls.
An October 2019 report states residents were being left unsupervised for long periods of time - one person almost hit their head on a table from falling asleep before an inspector intervened.
They also found four out of five mattresses were covered with urine stains, while another 23 mattress covers were also stained.
The care home did not respond to a request for comment.
Oak House, Victoria Road, Diss
Munhaven Care Home in Mundesley celebrating an outstanding rating by CQC with a party. Picture: Sonya Duncan
A report states staff had called police to "numerous incidents" when dealing with residents with challenging behaviour.
Some carers told inspectors in June 2019 that they were not confident with supporting people with their needs, which they felt outweighed what the service could provide.
Staff said the manager "had no appreciation of the level of aggression, some unprovoked, that they were expected to manage", the report states.
St Nicholas Care Home, St Nicholas Place, Sheringham
When inspectors visited in May 2019 they found a cleaning schedule showed the lounges and bathrooms had not been cleaned for a week and what appeared to be faeces was on the side of one toilet.
Raj Sehgal, owner and managing director of Docking House. Picture: Docking House
The inspection report stated one person had not had their inconsistence pad changed for more than 12 hours.
A family member said they saw a resident eating a potato off the floor, pointing to the lack of staff supervising the lunchtime meal, inspectors said.
The care home is currently under review.
-Outstanding care homes
CQC rated 19 care homes in Norfolk and Waveney as 'outstanding' last year, all of which have consistently scored top marks in safety and quality of care.
Nadra Ahmed OBE, chairman of the National Care Association. Photo: Archant Library
- Hassingham House Care Centre, Hingham
- Meadow House Nursing Home and Westfields, Swaffham
- Windmill House, Wymondham
- The Beeches, East Harling
- New Boundaries Group, Taverham
- Badgers Wood, Drayton
- Ford Place Nursing Home, Thetford
- Cascade (Charlton House), Chiswick House and Highwater House, Norwich
- Brandon Park Residential and Nursing Home, Brandon
- Kevlin House, North Walsham
- Holmwood Residential Home, Bungay
- Nightingale Lodge, Hunstanton
- Munhaven, Mundesley
- Ealing House Residential Care Home, Great Yarmouth
- Broadlands and Harleston House, Lowestoft
Hassingham House, in Hingham, near Wymondham, was praised by the CQC in March 2019 for the "exceptionally kind and responsive" care provided by staff, who "understood how to make people feel valued".
"They had a strong focus on reducing isolation, loneliness and promoting intergenerational connection," the inspection report states.
Centre manager Caroline Newman said the care home created good links with the community, who got involved in activities both at Hassingham House and in the village.
The CQC also gave a glowing review of Munhaven, in Mundesley, when it visited the care home in June last year.
Inspectors described staff as "extremely sensitive and compassionate" and said residents were "encouraged to have a voice".
Manager Alison Roberts said: "We work hard as a team, whatever our job role is, to support our residents and their families who remain an integral part of the individual's lives."
'Poor practice will not be tolerated'
A Norfolk County Council report on adult social care, published in July last year, states the county lost 173 care home beds in the 2018/19 financial year.
It cited one major challenge in the care sector as the high turnover of nurses.
The latest care home to lose its contract with the council is Cawston Lodge, which closed in November last year after just six months of opening.
As part of a £29m investment, the council said it would deliver 3,000 extra homes for older people by 2028.
A spokesman said: "We face significant challenges across the care market in the county - increasing demand, meeting people's care needs, provider quality and market sustainability are just some of the issues adult social care manages on a day-to-day basis.
"We have always encouraged providers to request support before they reach crisis point, however ongoing poor practice will not be tolerated by the county council or the CQC."
'Tarred with the same brush'
One care leader who has seen his care home go from 'requiring improvement' to 'good' in one inspection criticised the CQC for being too subjective.
"I'm all in favour of constantly improving standards in the industry, but the issue I have with CQC is it's very much perception-based," said Raj Sehgal, owner of Docking House, in Docking, near Hunstanton.
"What's good to one inspector may not be good to another, based on a day or two of viewing.
"Everything is tarred with the same brush and that's where it goes wrong - it's the one size fits all approach."
He said the care sector was being "brought to its knees" by a funding and staffing crisis - in one year, Docking House lost all but five of 38 new staff within a month.
He said Docking House now offered a competitive salary which had helped to retain staff and in turn improve standards.
But he said this has had a knock-on effect on their overall budget.
"In our region we are competing against the hospitality sector - seasonal work pays higher," Mr Sehgal said. "How can we entice people to join the care sector if we pay less than Tesco?"
This sentiment was shared by Nadra Ahmed OBE, chairman of the National Care Association.
She said: "Underinvestment in social care has left providers to pick up the subsidy for the state which is unsustainable."
The CQC was contacted for comment.
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Vehicle with person inside found in area river 14 hours after crash
MAUREPAS - A 14-hour search along Old River in Livingston Parish ended with authorities finding a vehicle with a person inside. 71-year-oldEugene Duplessis of Prairieville...
VIDEO: Bumbling burglar scared away by alarm during salon break-in
BATON ROUGE - Deputies arrested a 13-year-old after a silly business burglary was caught on camera.
The teenager, identified and charged after people who knew him recognized him from WBRZ-TV reports, was seen on surveillance video trying to burglarize a hair salon on Old Hammond Highway. The teenager is seen rummaging through the register while a low alarm sounds in the background but is shaken and scared when a louder alarm blares. The teenager stumbles as he tries to get away but nearly got stuck trying to escape through the small hole he smashed in the front, glass door of the business.
“It's just kind of like dumb. You know like why,” stylist Ing Lam said. "You're already hearing it and you know it's coming and you're still coming. And he had to really rush out to get out on time."
“He wasn't very smart about doing it, because whenever the alarm went off he ran out the door and as you can see he dropped the bat,” said another stylist, Margaret Crawford.
The incident was reported on April 15 at the Hair Studio on Old Hammond Highway. It was the second time in weeks the salon has had to replace that glass door.
“It's a small spot and he's kind of big a little bit, so he had to try to rush out,” Lam said.
The salon staff has a message for the crook, who was arrested the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office revealed Friday: “Go to school. Graduate. Get a job. Take care of you. Take care of your family. Don't do it again,” Lam said.
Deputies said the teenager was also charged with three additional cases that occurred within the last three months at the same business. The juvenile, whose name was not released because of his age, confessed, deputies told WBRZ.
Teenager arrested after haphazard burglary attempt went...
Teenager arrested after haphazard burglary attempt went viral
BATON ROUGE - Deputies arrested a 13-year-old after a silly business burglary was caught on camera. The teenager, identified... More >>
8 months ago Friday, April 26 2019 Apr 26, 2019 Friday, April 26, 2019 3:00:00 PM CDT April 26, 2019
Coach O Celebration Speech
Gov. John Bel Edward LSU Speech
Lake Borgne Coast Guard Rescue
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Business picking back up in Savannah following Hurricane Matthew
Restaurant, bar and shop owners in Savannah say business is starting to pick back up as a week has passed since Hurricane Matthew. However, they say their establishments are still not as busy as usual.
Updated: 12:08 AM EDT Oct 17, 2016
Restaurant, bar and shop owners in Savannah say business is starting to pick back up as a week has passed since Hurricane Matthew. However, they say their establishments are still not as busy as usual. At Bernie’s Oyster House on River Street, management says this week, business has been about a third of what it normally is. "Not back to normal, it's just better. If it was back to normal I would be busy right now,” said Peggi Davison, the manager of Bernie’s Oyster House. Meanwhile, local residents say River Street itself looks less busy. "I think there's probably less people here now,” said Gena McNulty, who lives in Bluffton but visits River Street often. "In comparison it is very, very slow down here,” said Devan Cokley, who lives in Savannah. Davison says this weekend has been the busiest couple of days at Bernie’s Oyster House. That’s partly because of tourists like Stephen Perello, who ultimately decided to come to Savannah after some consideration. “We were really crossing our fingers that everybody was going to be safe here in savannah and everything was going to be ok and not too distraught so that way we could actually still make out plans and make this visit," said Perello, who lives in San Antonio. Business managers say while they’re confident business will pick back up shortly, they hope that happens sooner rather than later. “I pray every day that it just gets better, a little bit better every day, i don’t need it to be better all at once, just a little bit a day,” Davison said.
At Bernie’s Oyster House on River Street, management says this week, business has been about a third of what it normally is.
"Not back to normal, it's just better. If it was back to normal I would be busy right now,” said Peggi Davison, the manager of Bernie’s Oyster House.
Meanwhile, local residents say River Street itself looks less busy.
"I think there's probably less people here now,” said Gena McNulty, who lives in Bluffton but visits River Street often.
"In comparison it is very, very slow down here,” said Devan Cokley, who lives in Savannah.
Davison says this weekend has been the busiest couple of days at Bernie’s Oyster House. That’s partly because of tourists like Stephen Perello, who ultimately decided to come to Savannah after some consideration.
“We were really crossing our fingers that everybody was going to be safe here in savannah and everything was going to be ok and not too distraught so that way we could actually still make out plans and make this visit," said Perello, who lives in San Antonio.
Business managers say while they’re confident business will pick back up shortly, they hope that happens sooner rather than later.
“I pray every day that it just gets better, a little bit better every day, i don’t need it to be better all at once, just a little bit a day,” Davison said.
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Word Quote | Famous Quotes
Best Motivational Quotes
Short Famous Quotes
Short Quotes Authors
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Pictures Quotes
Short Picture Quotes
Short Quote Authors:
You can have 10 bucks to 10 million bucks and if you got a crew imagination and a lot of people willing to turn in some work next to nothing you going to have a feature. But you can’t get beyond how expensive marketing the movie is it’s so crushing.
Kevin Smith Imagination Quote
There’s something to be said for failing. It’s not the failure you feel it’s the failure that people project when something disappoints. You’re back to ground zero where there’s no expectations and that’s where I like to be.
Kevin Smith Failure Quote
The writer crafts their ideal world. In my world everyone has really long conversations or just picks apart pop culture to death and everyone talks in monologue.
Kevin Smith Death Quote
I think the advent of the Internet gave us all a big boost because by the time the Internet became mainstream and you could get it in your home a lot of us were used to dealing in fan culture writing to magazines or anything at the back of comic books.
Kevin Smith Home Quote
I saw Richard Linklater’s film ‘Slacker’ for my twenty-first birthday. That was the moment when it all seemed possible. This guy gave me hope.
Kevin Smith Birthday Quote
Haven’t two hundred years of failed missionary work overseas taught anybody anything? You can’t convert people to anything – whether religion or something as inane as our flicks.
Kevin Smith Religion Quote
Everybody’s got one killer story. It doesn’t take talent to tell that story it just takes experience.
Kevin Smith Experience Quote
All these people who say success changes people well no it just magnifies what’s there.
Kevin Smith Success Quote
I just love movies so suddenly you’re political about movies and that’s dark. It’s just not fun when something you love becomes calculated.
I’d see movies comedies and I loved ‘Animal House’ I loved all the John Hughes stuff but I never saw me and my friends totally represented.
In anything I’ve ever written all the characters sound like me which I don’t think is a bad thing. It makes sense. But I had always admired filmmakers who made movies that didn’t sound like them at all.
It’s too expensive that’s the thing nobody wants to talk about. It is too expensive to make movies. That’s not true it is too expensive to market movies. Making movies is not.
Other filmmakers make their movies and put them out and that’s that. For me for some odd reason it goes deeper than that.
So I know how I watch movies which is on my laptop man. And that’s how I suspect a lot of people do it.
You know comics and movies even if you take a comic and turn it into a movie we can’t all be Joss Whedon.
Kevin Smith Movies Quotes
I know what it feels like to carry a lot of weight in a society that’s very image-conscious. It’s a thin person’s world and we try to navigate within it without being made fun of.
The only thing of value I have in this life is my ability to tell a story whether in print orating writing it down or having people acting it out. That’s why I’m always hoping society never collapses because the first ones to go will be entertainers.
Kevin Smith Society Quotes
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Why we deserve $500M
ABC Watch
Home Opinion Turnbull wrong on Islam
Turnbull wrong on Islam
David Hiscox
On Monday, November 23, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the Federal Parliament expressing his condolences to and solidarity with the French people, and his determination to destroy the Islamic State. Importantly, the French Ambassador to Australia was present, and I share the Prime Minister’s sentiments, although I disagree with him on some policy positions.
Today I want to highlight what I argue is a factual error the Prime Minister is making with regard to the nature of Islam. In his effort to make the case that Islam is a peaceful religion, and that the Islamic State and their ilk misrepresent Islam when they cite it as justification for violence, Malcolm Turnbull mentioned the words of the Malaysian Prime Minister:
“Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia reminded us at the East Asia Summit that Islam teaches that to kill one innocent life is as though to kill all humanity.”
This teaching to which Turnbull and Najib refer, purportedly comes from The Koran, 5:32:
“Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.”
As you can see, just from reading this verse in full, the Malaysian PM has omitted significant portions of the verse from which this purported teaching comes, in a manner which completely alters the meaning.
Firstly, the words directly preceding the “teaching” indicate that it applies (applied) only to “the Children of Israel,” ie, the Jews. This verse does not make it clear that the teaching is binding on Muslims.
Secondly, and more pertinently, there are words between “whoever kills a soul,” and “it is though he has killed mankind entirely,” which turn the meaning around. Two qualifiers are given:
“Unless for a soul” – this is fair enough, the death penalty for murder is not uncommon, or unreasonable;
“Or for corruption [done] in the land.” This changes everything. This “corruption” – or mischief in other English translations – the koran speaks of refers to disbelief in or opposition to Islam. The literal interpretation of this full verse, that it is ok to kill a soul if corruption is done in the land, ie, it is ok to kill those who disobey Islam, is at the heart of the Islamic State’s belief structure and purpose. And clearly when you read the full verse, this is what the verse actually means.
This meaning is made even more clear when we read the verse (5:33) which immediately follows:
“Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment,”
This verse makes it clear that the penalty for waging war upon Islam, or even for causing “corruption” is death, maiming, or exile.
We cannot blame Malcolm Turnbull for not knowing this. But we can rest assured that the Malaysian Prime Minister knows this. It is logical to conclude that the Malaysian Prime Minister has engaged in a deliberate act of deception.
Furthermore, this deception, using this verse, is not uncommon. In fact it is the most widely quoted “teaching” of Islam, by Muslims and Islamic apologists, to claim that Islamic ideology is peaceful, and that those who use Islam to justify violence are blasphemous and distorting it. But this claim is actually distorting the true, violent teaching of Islam, which explicitly instructs its followers to kill those who wage war on Islam or disobey Islam.
Crucially, we want to believe that many Muslims want nothing to do with violence or murder. But when Muslims commit violence and murder in the name of Islam, rather than trying to insist that Islam is a religion of peace which does not condone violence or murder, it would be more credible for Muslims to acknowledge the incitement to violence and murder which exists in the koran, and to work to expunge it from Islamic ideology, so that it can be truly peaceful.
Until this openness occurs, the insistence that Islamic ideology is peaceful is simply not credible. As for government policy, we should be insisting on this greater opennes, rather than taking claims of the peacefulness of Islamic ideology at face value.
Photo by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts
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David has studied history and political science at Melbourne University. His thesis was written on how the utilisation of Missile Defence can help to achieve nuclear disarmament. His interest in history was piqued by playing a flight simulator computer game about the Battle of Britain, and he hopes to one day siphon the earnings from his political writings into funding the greatest prog-rock concept album the world has ever seen.
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America's Cup Diary: Day 7 - Valencia, Spain
The Cup is won.
By Barry Pickthall,/
ytgfeb14acblog525
Today, America's Cup challenger BMW Oracle Racing won the second race of the best-of-three series, defeating Alinghi syndicate. Here is how the day's events transpired:
05:30. Another lie-in. Due to expected lack of wind for today's race around a 39-mile triangular course, the Race Committee delayed the start overnight.
08:30. Alinghi and BMW Oracle depart from their docks. It is match point against the Swiss defender. Have they come up with any answers overnight to combat the speed exhibited by Larry Ellison's American wing-masted wonder in race one?
11:00. The postponement flag is still limp, but forecasters are predicting 4 to 10 knots of wind filling in between 13:00 and 14:00. Certainly there is a good sea breeze blowing across the harbor wall, but this does not extend out to the race course 25 miles out in the Mediterranean. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
14:15. The Postponement flag still flies. Winds are now between 4 and 7 knots, but the direction has just shifted through 90 degrees. The Race Committee rushing to relay course before time runs out at 15:00.
15:00. Start time has been extended to 15:30. The Race Committee have warned crews of an expected start at 15:25.
15:15. The 10 minute gun fired-we have a boat race!
15:25. What an incredible race! Ernesto Bertarelli's Alinghi crew came back from a self-imposed penalty during the start sequence after failing to clear the box before the 5 minute gun, and came back from a 62-second, 300-meter deficit at the start, to not only overtake BMW Oracle Racing, but extend that advantage to more than 500 meters within 35 minutes.
The catamaran's performance was completely transformed from the first race on Friday when BMW Oracle Racing dominated proceedings upwind and down to win by 15 minutes, 28 seconds. This time, Alinghi was not only footing faster, but pointing higher than the American challenger. How? While the pundits were suggesting the use of a more powerful mainsail and greater water ballast, Alinghi skipper Ernesto Bertarelli handed the wheel to his French deputy Loïck Peyron as they raced out to to the favored right hand of the course. BMW Oracle, which had strode out to the left-hand side of the course, suddenly saw their initial 300-meter advantage disappear and tacked to give chase. The two kept track with each other for a further 5 minutes before Alinghi tacked onto port, now wearing a protest flag, with a complaint, not against her rival perhaps, but the race committee. Word back in the press office was of a war of words had broken out onboard the committee boat on their judgement to start the race. Principal Race Officer Harold Bennett from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron had ruled a start within 5 minutes of the time limit. His fellow committee members, all representing the defending club, Société Nautique de Genève, it is suggested by the BMW Oracle representative onboard, disagreed. The truth of all this will not be known until much later tonight.
16:15. BMW Oracle Racing tacked on the port lay-line for the windward mark, 309 meters behind Alinghi, and as the two multihulls closed on each other at a combined speed of 40 knots, the gap closed rapidly. By 16:19, it was down to 110 meters. Alinghi just had the space to cross ahead on starboard, but not to tack in front of BMW, and the American challenger sailed under her stern and into the lead. Within a further 2 minutes, the gap had been reversed by 220 meters, and Alinghi rounded the windward mark 28 seconds adrift. But now BMW Oracle's 223-foot wing mast began to really show its advantage on this first reach on the triangular course. Within 6 minutes, her lead was 385 meters as her leeward hull sliced through the water, touching 33 knots. The Alinghi crew had no answer. They were 12 percent slower on this tight reach, and by the gybe mark were 2,066 meters behind. Alinghi kept a better pace on the broader second reach and, after completing their 270-degree penalty turn, finished 5 minutes, 26 seconds behind the challenger.
17:45. Word from the Alinghi Camp is that Ernesto Bertarelli has dropped his protest-Larry Ellison and his crew have recovered the America's Cup for America for the first time since Dennis Conner last lost it to Peter Blake's Team New Zealand back in 1995!
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